Breastfeeding Brody did not come naturally. I envisioned it being an ethereal experience and a natural process that would just click at first latch. I remember struggling at the hospital with the lactation consultant as his little lip curled under and he could not get a firm latch. The first month or two of nursing was far from enjoyable, but we stuck it out and ended up having a great first year of breastfeeding. I have had quite a few moms ask how nursing has been going with Isla. It has been quite different so far, but in a good way.<

The best purchase we made this year was a king-sized bed. It has become our hangout spot during early mornings with two little ones. It has become our wind down spot where the kids change into their pajamas. And on Sunday mornings, it has become our donut spot--our favorite weekend tradition.

The clock slowly creeps towards 5:00pm and my husband and I look at each other with panicked faces as we try to decide what to do for dinner tonight. Brody is usually standing in the pantry begging for a snack. We finally agree on a recipe and pull it out only to realize we are missing half of the ingredients. All the while, the witching hour has begun for Isla. This is what most evenings in our house look like these days. Pure chaos.

This post is sponsored by Cozy Cheekz.

With Isla, I have loved discovering useful products that make life with a new baby easier. Cozy Cheekz is one of those companies I wish I would have known about with Brody. They are the creators of two awesome products---a heated diaper changing pad and their Cozy Cradle, which is a lightweight multi-purpose pad designed for life on the go.

Thank-you Owlet for collaborating on this post. Owlet provided us with their new Owlet Smart Sock 2, but all opinions are our own. We only share products and brands we truly love and use.

I love discovering devices and products that make motherhood easier. Welcoming a new baby home is already stressful enough and anything that helps make the transition a little easier is worth every penny. The Owlet is just that. After hearing rave reviews from lots of you, we have given it a try and I can truly say it has been a sanity saver. 

I find it so easy for newborn life to take its toll on me mentally and physically. The late nights and early mornings, the constant tending to others, the feedings and diaper changes--it is exhausting. When Brody was born, I lost myself in motherhood. All of my needs and the things that were important to me fell to the wayside. It took months and months to find myself again. This time I vowed to make sure that did not happen.

Celebrating sweet babies. Is there anything better!? I debated for months whether or not I wanted to have a celebration for our little one on the way. After a big, beautiful shower for Brody and 2+ years of parenting, I felt like we had nearly everything we could possibly need for baby #2.

But a baby celebration is so much more than the registry and the gifts, it is a time to get excited for baby. It is a time to gather with dear friends and family before life gets hectic. It is a time to celebrate the miracle of life. Our celebration was just that. The perfect morning with those I love dearly, those who have made this motherhood gig so rewarding.

The crisp air in Fall, the cozy holidays that come along with Winter, the sunshine in Spring, and the sweetness of Summer--I feel like I am always declaring each new season as my favorite. With sweet summertime in the air, we've been filing our bellies with popsicles and watermelon, spending our afternoons in the pool, and dressing up in our red, white and blue. 

One thing I am learning about toddlers is how hard it is to get them to smile or sit still for pictures. Perhaps it is the fact that I am always chasing Brody around for pictures, or perhaps it is his disinterest in smiling when there is a big lens in front of his face, regardless I refuse to give up.