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Preparing for a Brooklyn Baby with Cybex

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My Outfit: sunglasses/top/leggings/sandals/bracelet/diaper bag/car seat

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The following post is a sponsored post in partnership with Cybex. As part of this partnership, Cybex reached out to expecting moms who are busy preparing for their new bundle of joy. As part of the journey and experience, Cybex as us to test out one of their most popular items, the Cybex Q Infant Car Seat to see if it was a good fit for our Brooklyn lifestyle. 

While having a child in Brooklyn or New York City would give some people hives, it actually excites us. So many of our friends who have children have raved about having a newborn in Brooklyn. There is so much that is accessible just steps from our apartment. Whether we want to grab a strong iced coffee after a night of little sleep, run errands, head to the playground or meet friends for a beer, it’s all just a few blocks away.

We asked our Brooklyn friends what their “must have” registry items were and everyone said a great carrier and car seat were two of the most important items.

We were excited when Cybex asked us to test the Cybex Q Infant Car Seat car seat even before Baby Girl Diamond arrives. We spent some time testing the car seat both in the car and around the neighborhood. We definitely received some funny looks since we were carrying around an empty car seat, but we definitely benefitted from the trial run, especially learning how to quickly install it in a car.

As soon as we unboxed the car seat we were immediately in love with the sleek design as well as the innovation. Here are just a few of the features that make it a great option for families on the go.

  • It has a full reclining position which means that if we’re at a coffee shop, grabbing a quick bite or out and about, she will hopefully be able to fall asleep easier and more comfortably.
  • The car seat includes an integrated XXL foldaway sun canopy with UVP 50+ to protect Baby Girl Diamond’s skin from the Summer sun.
  • The car seat base has a “load leg” which keeps the car seat in place and protects the baby’s head, neck, and spine in case of an accident.
  • It will grow with our daughter, as it is able to be used with infants up to 35 lbs or 30” tall.
  • They Cybex Q is available in eight different colors, including Moon Dust, the color you can see in these pictures.

Since some people have asked, yes Bo and I definitely plan on sharing an updated review of the car seat/carrier once we’ve used it. In addition, this is one of the reasons that I’m not sharing things like hospital bag, baby essentials or even registry list until after the baby. I think it’ll be more helpful for readers to share what I actually use at the hospital and in the first few weeks with baby.

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 Thank you to CYBEX for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.

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ashleyd /

Our Favorite Items At The 2017 New York Baby Show

New York Baby Show

Last weekend, Bo and I had the opportunity to attend the 2017 New York Baby Show thanks to Momtrends. Each year Momtrends partners with the New York Baby Show to host an exclusive blogger and media lounge as well as provide information about the show to their members in advance. The information we received in advanced helped our first experience at the 2017 New York Baby Show feel less overwhelming since we knew which brands would be there and could map out a list of priority brands.

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With over 200 exhibitors and brands present, we spent more than three hours chatting with brand representatives, experiencing and interacting with products and listening to experts such as Dr. Harvey Karp, the author of Happiest Baby on The Block, share tips and tricks with attendees. I love that the event featured not only large brands such as Uppababy, Baby Bjorn, and Canon but also small, new-to-the market brand as well as local services.  We were even able to learn newborn and child photography tips from Jennifer Borget, the blogger and photographer behind the blog, Cherish 365! We were so impressed with her tips and tricks that we even purchased her Canon photography course, Child’s Play: Simple Tips for Photographing Children.

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Here are a few the items we fell in love with at the New York Baby Show.

Baby Tripster – As everybody knows from your experience with Tupperwares, one of the most annoying things is matching lids with containers. As far as we know, even most of the systems designed for toddlers and little ones have detachable lids. This system is designed with a hinged lid so that you’ll never have to match the lids nor worry about your little one throwing the lid on the street. In addition, it is the world’s first and only guaranteed leak-proof travel food container. They highlight using the containers with fruit and yogurt, but you can use for anything. Made out of dishwasher safe and shatterproof materials and also nest within each other for easy storage.

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StorkSak Aubrey– After reading numerous reviews of various bags posed as “Dad Bags” and knowing that he prefers the look of a messenger bag over a backpack, this bag is a perfect option for Bo. Made out of canvas and leather, the bag looks like it could be a brief case or gym bag, but under the flap it has all the things you expect in a diaper bag such as changing pad, insulated bottle storage and wipe-clean interior.  The one he’s wearing below was our second favorite bag, the Sandy, which is super lightweight and looks like a chic gymbag while featuring all the bells and whistles of a diaper bag.

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Bare Air Free Baby Bottles – Choosing baby bottles has been so overwhelming thus far. Every friend or website has a different “best recommendation” and at the end of the day, rumor has it, that our baby will decide which bottle she likes best. Every bottle has a different benefit that the brand highlights. But, before the New York Baby Show, we had not heard of a bottle that combines two important qualities – replicating the breast experience and reducing gas. Bare’s unique anti-colic technology delivers air-free milk while also allowing for babies to use the bottle in a natural, upright feeding position. The shallow perfe-latch nipple also minimizes nipple confusion and makes it easier for babies to switch back and forth between nipple and bottle.

 

This is a sponsored story via Momtrends. As always, all opinions regarding the New York Baby Show and featured brands are my own and are honest.

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ashleyd /

The Best Maternity Workout Gear

It is no secret that I believe staying active has helped me maintain my sanity during the past 32 weeks of pregnancy. From the very beginning, it was my goal to stay healthy and active throughout pregnancy while still listening to my body. While I realized that I pushed my body too hard by running through week 28, now that I’ve taken a break from running, I feel terrific.   In fact, this morning during our Orangetheory workout, Bo told me that I look like I’ve actually built muscle over the past few months.  Since taking a break from running, I’ve maintained a great workout routine that has ensured I get my heart rate up and break a sweat six days a week through long power walks, swimming, prenatal pilates, Orangetheory, Xtend Barre and prenatal yoga.

Best Maternity Workout Gear

I’ve enjoyed the many benefits of working out during pregnancy including:

  • Lowered my risk of gestational diabetes
  • Reducing aches and pains
  • No constipation
  • Minimal swelling which didn’t begin until Week 31
  • Minimal weight gain
  • Increase my stamina and strength for labor
  • Endorphins
  • Better sleep

However, the one thing that I didn’t enjoy about working out during pregnancy was finding clothes that fit well and flattered my growing figure. While I was able to wear most of the workout clothes through the first trimester, as soon as I started to pop in the second trimester, I started feeling like a stuffed sausage.  In addition, as my belly grew each week, I started to feel some aches and pains after workouts from the extra weight.  I knew it was time to invest in some maternity workout clothes but I didn’t know where to shop. I actually reached out to a few friends as many posts I found included links to brands that no longer sell maternity clothing, such as Athleta. The reviews on sites like Gap and Target had VERY mixed reviews which made me fearful of the quality or fit.

Luckily, at this same time, the team at Mumberry Fit reached out to me offering to send me one piece of their gear as well as provide a discount code for other items I may want to purchase as part of their Fit Mom Squad.

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Similar to the sigh of relief I expressed the first time I slipped on a pair of maternity jeans, this workout gear made me feel comfortable and confident while working out. It is hands down the best maternity workout gear that I have tried! Since the clothing is made for pregnant women and takes into account their needs during this time of their life.  Since it was designed by pregnant women, each of the pieces is flattering and sweat-wicking since pregnant women tend to get hot faster. But, the biggest thing that separates Mumberry from any other maternity workout clothing is the Mumband. The Mumband is a support band that is built into each Mumberry item. It features elastic and compression that supports and secures your stomach while providing much-needed support for your lower back.  Since their clothing is meant to grow with you throughout pregnancy, the band can be worn either expanded, across the belly during later pregnancy months, or rolled down during the first trimester or after delivery when the added support isn’t needed.

The Mumband<sup>®</sup> belly support by Mumberry

Since discovering Mumberry, I’ve tested the following three items, each of which I’ve loved and wear on a regular basis.

Mumberry Maternity Active Wear

  • Ease Maternity Yoga Pant with Mumband Support –  After wearing the capris for six weeks, I was looking for a longer pant version to wear for errands, yoga, and even while working from home. The “buttery” soft fabric makes me forget I’m wearing them while the Mumband support makes sure that my back and stomach are supported even when I’m sitting at my home office desk working. They also feature a back zipper pocket, perfect for storing keys or even my iPhone during errands and workouts. My only request is that they feature a longer length for tall women like myself as these aren’t quite as long as I’d like.
  • Flourish Maternity Tank with Mumband Support –  I fell head over heels for this tank as soon as I put it on back in February. The built in sports bra meant that I had one less thing to worry about when I was getting ready in the morning and the high impact support allowed me to run in it without issues. I love that the bra cups can serve as nursing pads after Baby Girl Diamond is born and for now, they provide some added shape. The empire waist is very flattering and has provided plenty of room for growth. Of course, just like every other piece of Mumberry activewear, the back and belly support provides my back and stomach with the compression and lift needed to keep workouts comfortable.  I love this tank SO much that I actually just ordered the black one today to enjoy throughout the rest of pregnancy and beyond.
  • Move Maternity Active Capris with Mumband Support –  These capris fit wonderfully and the soft, thick fabric ensures that there are no surprises when I flow through prenatal yoga class as the material is definitely NOT see through. The built in Mumband fits perfectly over my stomach now that I’m 32 weeks and before this, I was able to adjust it to fit accordingly. I love that the capris also feature a side pocket, perfect for storing my keys, phone or credit card during a long, power walk.

Want to try Mumberry for yourself? Right now you can use the code MEGASALE30 to receive 30% off everything sitewide!

Thank you to Mumberry for sending me a piece of your clothing to try as well as providing a discount code for me to use on additional products. As always, all opinions are my own.

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