Potty Training Update {& a giveaway!}

Thank you all for your potty training wisdom on my previous post. As I had mentioned, Kenley has shown great interest in all things potty - from following me in to the bathroom, to washing her hands and grabbing her diaper with a pouty face after she has gone. We realize that she is a little young but we figured why not get the ball rolling and approach this with a no-stress, no-pressure attitude? Since buying a potty two months ago, Kenley has peed in it twice. The first time being the second day we had it. Initially we thought she was super-baby but quickly realized that both instances were total coincidence. I am thrilled that she loves her potty and knows what "potty" means but obviously the key to potty training is teaching her to tell us BEFORE she has to go.

If I'm being completely honest, Jason and I have been pretty lazy about the whole thing. We put Kenley on her potty every night before bed, but beyond that it's totally random and really when we feel like it. It really is a process because each time we put her on the potty she has to get undressed, take off her diaper, sit on the potty {while we pray she is entertained for more than 2 seconds} and then we have to carry her to her room hoping she won't pee on anything and then diaper her and redress her. 

Enter Pampers Easy-Ups. 

Exactly the solution we needed. These diapers are not only adorable {I mean what little boy or girl wouldn't want Dora or Diego hanging from their booty?}, they are super absorbent {holding 25% more than the leading training pants}, and {in my opinion the best part} they pull up! Having that ease of sliding the diaper on and off has been a game changer for us. The whole potty process is so much quicker and easier and as a result Kenley is on the potty more which I know will help her in the long run. I also think that the Easy-Ups have a more underwear-like look and feel which will surely make the transition to big girl undies easier. 

I know a lot of you mamas are in the same boat or are dangerously close to being in the same boat, so I am thrilled to be teaming up with Pampers to offer all my readers an AWESOME giveaway!  

The winner will receive a 100ct box of Pampers Easy-Ups, a portable potty {which is amazing} and fun items to kick off your summer- Kenley got an adorable octopus bubble machine, a huge sidewalk chalk kit and an Elmo Potty Training book which keeps her on the pot for more than 2 seconds. A $100 value!

Enter here to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As if that wasn't enough, join me on Tuesday, June 10th at 9:00pm EST for the Pampers Easy-Ups twitter party! 

Just RSVP here: http://twtvite.com/PampersEasyUps

and follow the hosts: @DoubleDutyDivas, @BridgetteLA, @CeceliaMecca @AngieKcom @WhatMommiesNeed @RamblingChick, and our sponsor @Pampers

for a chance to win one of the following amazing prizes:

• 100 ct Easy Ups, Sesame Street Portable Potty
• 100 ct Easy Ups, Baby BanZ Sun Protective Beach Tent
• 100 ct Easy Ups, Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Trike
• 100 ct Easy Ups and Splash Zone Spray N Splash Inflatable Water Park
• RSVP: 100 ct Easy Ups

For more updates and information make sure to follow Pampers on Facebook & Twitter.

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Kenley's Baby Book

I didn't start Kenley's baby book until after she was born - which I regret. BUT, thanks to this here blog I had my entire pregnancy and her whole first year documented. Thank goodness because without it I don't think I'd remember a dang thing.I looked at A LOT of different baby books, none of which really got me excited so I decided to create my own using Shutterfly. Shutterfly offers a ton of different photobook layouts and designs but also allows you to customize it - which is what I did. I am pretty obsessed with how it turned out and Kenley loves it too! 

Here are a few of our favorite pages...

Let me tell you, this book was a labor of love. I put more time than I care to admit putting it together but am so, so happy with it. It's such a special keepsake that I can share with Kenley and I think it will mean even more that I made it special just for her.

be sure to visit my friend:

Kenley's 1st Birthday Wishlist

My little nugget turns ONE YEAR OLD on Friday! How, how, HOW, is this even possible? I have already been a basket case of emotions and it's only Tuesday morning. I'm not really sure how I'm going to get through this week. 

Turning ONE comes with it's fair share of perks - fancy 1st Birthday Party, eating cake for the first time AND some super special 1st Birthday presents. 

Kenley has been sending me links from her iPhone to some super neat things that she would really like for her birthday {I hope you know that's a joke}. If Kenley did have an iPhone and could send me links or if she even knew what the heck all of this meant, I imagine her Birthday Wishlist would look something like this: 

1. Diono Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat

{Toys R Us}

My mom and step-dad were so kind to buy this for Kenley a little early and we love it so much! I'd love to have a second one for Jason's car and so would Kenley! She's so safe in that thing! 

2. Gucci GG Rain Boot, Pink

{Neimann Marcus}

OK, I'm not made of money so there is no way my one-year-old is getting a pair of Gucci Rainboots {especially before MAMA has a pair of Gucci Rainboots} but you have to admire a girl for trying. 

Pretty stinkin' cute if you ask me. 

3. Gray Mini Dot with White Piping Anywhere Chair

{Pottery Barn Kids}

Every little kid needs a personalized reading chair from Pottery Barn - I mean come on, can you handle the cuteness?

4. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 4-in-1 Ride on Minnie Mouse

{Toys R Us}

Kenley was once again spoiled BEFORE her birthday and received this adorable little car from her Auntie/Godmama Nicole and LOVES it! She loves riding it but her favorite is storing her little Mickey books in the trunk. 

5. Fisher-Price Laugh Learn Fun with Friends Musical Table

{Amazon}
Kenley has a fun little play table thingy at her grandma & grandpa's and I know she would love to have one at home to keep her busy too! 


6. VTech Rhyme & Discover Book

{Toys R Us}

Kenley loves to read books and anything that makes sounds or lights up, so something like this that makes noise and lights up would be right up her alley!

7. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Sing-Along Songs Book

{Toys R Us}

I truly can't describe the obsession my daughter has with Mickey Mouse - so really anything with his face on it will get a reaction but this sing-a-long book would surely be a favorite!

8. Fisher-Price Sing & Giggle Mickey

{Toys R Us}

Again, obsessed with Mickey. 

9. Snowsuit Set

{Carters}

It's getting cold and snow is just around the corner. Girlfriend has to be bundled and have something cute to wear while making snow angels.

10. LeapFrog Poppin' Play Piano

{Toys R Us}

Kenley plays the real piano at Grandma & Grandpa's and LOVES it. I know she'd love to have her own set of "ivories" to bang. 

Link up every Tuesday!

Baby Talk :: Mama Must Haves

Happy Tuesday mamas....it's time for another edition of BABY TALK!

Here's the rules:
{1} Write a post on ANYTHING baby related...pregnancy, parenting, products, stories, advice, you name it!
{2} Grab this button and put it somewhere, anywhere in your post!

<div class="BUSY-BEE-button" style="width: 250px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://fawver.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r529/knfawver/baby-talk-button_zps829f6bd6.jpg" alt="BUSY BEE" width="250" height="250" /> </a> </div>

{3} Publish your post on Tuesday!
{4} Come back and enter your post in the super neat link-up tool found at the bottom of every Baby Talk post.
{5} Check back and read the other blogs who have linked up!

Easy as pie!

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I've been a mom for over a year now {I am counting pregnancy as being a mom--because you totally count as a mom the second you see that plus sign} and I feel like I've done a pretty good job so far, but not without help. It takes a lot to take of a baby but you also need to take care of yourself - the happier mama is, the happier baby is.

I've complied a list of the things I deem "Must Have" for mamas and have broken them down into Pregnancy, Childbirth and New Mamahood categories:

Pregnancy

• Tums - I popped these bad boys from day one. I had crazy heartburn and tons of tummy aches so Tums were always found in my purse, at my desk and on my nightstand. 
• Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy - I love this book so much. It's a hysterical look at the craziness that is pregnancy. It's so sarcastic and funny but still helpful. Out of all the pregnancy books I read {and I read a lot of them}, this one was my favorite! 
• Tumbler - I am horrible at drinking water but I was constantly thirsty while pregnant and found that a cute tumbler helped me to drink more water throughout the day. 
• Pillows - I know mom-to-bes who swear by their body pillows, but I could just never justify the cost. I did find that a butt load of regular pillows did the trick! I'd sleep with one or two under my head, one between my legs and then I hugged one. 
• Cocoa Butter Lotion - Stretch marks are hereditary, so I don't know how much help this lotion actually is for that but I do know that stretch marks or not your belly will ITCH as it stretches and gets bigger and for that reason this stuff is amazing! Plus, I love how it smells! 

Childbirth

• Tuck's Medicated Pads - I've heard of people making "padsicles" but in my opinion ain't nobody got time for that. In the hospital and for probably two weeks after delivery I lined my pad with three medicated pads and it felt like absolutely bliss on my beat up hoo-ha. 
• Lightweight Comfy Robe - Hospital rooms are freezing! But, along with childbirth comes post-delivery night sweats (so fun), so having a comfy lightweight robe is crucial. Plus it's easy to open up for breastfeeding and great to cover up when visitors stop by. And let's be honest..it's been 7 months and I still wear mine pretty much every day. 
• Gatorade - While laboring at home and after getting my epidural I was so dang thirsty. Gatorade was perfect because it tasted yummy, hydrated me and had calories to give me some energy since I couldn't eat. 
• CHAPSTICK - Along with being so dang thirsty comes incredibly chapped lips, like brutally dry. EOS Lip Balm is my all time favorite and it definitely came in handy during labor and delivery and those first few days in the hospital and at home. 
• Movies / TV Season DVDs - I suppose this depends on your labor / delivery / hospital but I was SO glad we brought a season of Friends. We watched a bunch of episodes after I got my epidural and we were waiting for progress and we also watched it in the hospital room between visitors. There were very few TV channels so it was nice to have something we enjoyed to occupy the down time. 

New Mamahood

• Easy Expression Bustier - The precursor to this is that you need an electric breast pump! I cannot imagine using one of the hand express ones---I imagine hand cramps and carpel tunnel and a fast track to formula town. But anyways, this bra is the bomb.com. 
• Sleep Sheep - If your baby is sleeping in your room to start I HIGHLY recommend the sleep sheep {thank you Brynn for ours!} Babies make crazy noises when they sleep and when you're a new mom you will wake up to ALL of them. The sleep sheep makes white noise to help drown out babies noises as well as your noises so you don't wake baby. Plus, look how cute it is! 
• What to Expect the First Year - This is a monstrous book but I love having it on hand to read as a new month in Kenley's life comes up. It's got super helpful information and guidelines.
• A cute diaper bag - let's be honest, this bag becomes your purse the second you leave the house for the first time, so you better like it and love carrying it. Dad probably won't love carrying it no matter what it looks like...so get it for you! 
• Netflix - Whether you are able to "sleep when baby sleeps" or not, Netflix is a must have in my opinion. When I was on maternity leave I pretty much had it on non-stop. The baby sleeps a lot, but when she's awake pretty much all she does is eat, so it was nice to be entertained while nursing. Plus, Jason and I didn't get out much so we watched shows and movies together pretty much every night those first few weeks couple of months. 

Any of you mamas have anything to add?