I promised a birth story, so here it goes.

It really isn’t that dramatic.  We had a scheduled c-section for May 9th at noon and she was born at 12:15.  I never felt a contraction or went into labor.  I got an IV went into the operating room, got my spinal, and then she was born!  This was my third surgery so there was a lot of scar tissue they had to get through, but other than that, it was pretty routine and went really well.

She weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces and was 20 inches long.

We named her Caroline Jayne.  Caroline is the only name that my husband and I could agree on.  I had a Caroline in one of my classes a few years ago and fell in love with her.  She has a bubbly personality that I wanted my child to have as well.  I also loved her name.  It is classic, yet you don’t hear it every where.  Jayne is my middle name and I am named after my paternal grandmother’s maiden name.  I am very glad that the name remains in my family.  When we found out she was actually a girl and not a boy, we agreed upon the middle name.

Baby C or BC as I will refer to her here at AMomsImpression has been a very “easy” baby.  She doesn’t really cry that much, she eats great, and last night I only had to get up to feed her once.  We took her to her newborn appointment at the pediatrician’s office yesterday and here are her vitals:

Weight: 7 pounds 6 ounces (almost back to her birth weight) 27% Percentile

Length:  20 inches 42% Percentile

Head: 35 cm 30% Percentile

So, for right now she is small, but perfect!

Recovery is going okay.  To be completely honest, the first week was not fun at all.  I am now off of my meds and only taking Tylenol.  The worst part is that I had an allergic reaction to the surgery dressing thingy that they put over you during surgery (of course).  I have a very large, rectangular shaped area on my body that is a giant rash.  I have been covering myself with hydrocortisone cream, but it is still painful and it itches like crazy!  Most of you know that TJ and I suffer from extremely sensitive skin, so this doesn’t come as a surprise, but it didn’t happen the other two times so I wasn’t prepared for this.  I guess in a way it is good because it has distracted me from the scar across my abdomen.

I am adjusting to life with two children.  We pulled TJ out of daycare last week, and my parents were in town so they were able to spend some time with him. They left to go back to Idaho on Tuesday.

My husband was able to spend all of last week at home with us.  He had to go back yesterday.

I survived my first day at home with two kids.  Actually, I didn’t just survive, I made it to BC’s doctor’s appointment and we went grocery shopping!  I felt very accomplished, yet exhausted.

Here are some random pictures from BC’s first two weeks:

Are you addicted to Pandora Radio like I am?  I use Pandora on my iPad and at school for when I am there late grading papers.  I love how you can type in what kind of music you like to listen to and “POOF” all of a sudden it is playing music that you wouldn’t normally listen to but love!  It is kind of like it is ready my mind.

Now moms and dads everywhere can listen in with their little ones. Introducing the new Pampers Radio Stations.  Beginning April 13^th, Moms will be able to select either “Baby Lullabies” to help them sooth newborns or “Toddler Sing-a-Longs” to entertain little ones. Instead of trying to find that CD that you got at your baby shower and put away safely and now you can’t find, log onto Pandora and search for Pampers Radio.  Pampers has also teamed up with Babies”R”Us and Toys”R”Us to offer parents special offers while you listen to their station.

Win It

To celebrate the new listening Stations, Proctor & Gamble is giving one (1) reader a $25 Gift Card to Babies”R”Us/Toys”R”Us!
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This post was made possible by Proctor & Gamble.  I received a gift card for my participation. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have two kids in diapers.

I just realized that this is the first time I have said that.  I knew this day would come, and now I have to say that I do in fact have two kids in diapers.  Hopefully soon I can go back to saying that I have one kid in diapers, but for now this is my reality.

Having two kids in diapers can be exhausting.  It can also be very expensive.  While I am frugal and I love my coupons, I refuse to sacrifice when it comes to diapers.  You get what you pay for!  I have trusted the Huggies brand with most of my first child’s diapering needs.  I have always loved the Snug and Dry diapers because while they aren’t the most expensive package of diapers out there, they get the job done! While they have worked for me in the past, Huggies is constantly finding a way to improve on the Sung & Dry Diapers.  Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers now feature improved Leak Lock to pull wetness in and lock it away, protecting both parents and babies from leaks.  I can go on long walks to the park with TJ without worrying if his diaper is going to hold up!  Believe me, I can’t stand going places with TJ and having to stop in the middle of my errands to find a restroom with a diaper changer in it in order to change him.  I know that the diaper will hold up until we can find a suitable place for a diaper change.

I also use Huggies for TJ overnight.  I have not had very many leaks when it comes to the Snug & Dry diapers from Huggies.  They hold up with even the heaviest wetters (I know I have one of them), making my job as mom and chief laundry washer even easier by not having to wash his sheets every single day!

I have been challenged to put the Huggies brand to the test over the next three months.  I hope you will follow along and tell me about your own experiences using Huggies brand diapers.  Have you conducted your own tests?  If so, tell me about them.

To learn more about Huggies you can visit their website, the Huggies Facebook Page, and follow them on Twitter.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central for Huggies. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

We welcomed Caroline Jayne into the world on May 9th at 12:15 pm.  She weighed in at 7 pounds 7 ounces and was 20 inches long!  Baby and mommy are doing great!  More pictures and birth story to come!

I am still in denial that baby girl is going to be here next week!  I am so looking forward to not being pregnant ever again!  Reality is starting to set in, however, because I haven’t been getting much sleep lately.   The lack of sleep for the first few months is something that I am not looking forward to.  I am fortunate to be off from school for the summer, but still I do have a three year old that still needs taking care of in addition to my newborn.  I am going to be sleep deprived!

I remember the sleep deprivation with TJ.  Trying to remember when the last time I fed him or changed his diaper became a chore, especially if I forgot to write it down.  I knew there had to be a better way.  I first saw the ITZBEEN baby care timer in a store when TJ was about a year old and thought to myself that if I ever was pregnant again, this would be the first thing I would buy.

So… what is a pocket nanny?  The ITZBEEN Baby Care Timer is a multi-purpose tool that helps you remember the basic details of baby care. ITZBEEN has four timers that count up with the touch of a button…so you will always know how long it’s been since the last diaper change or feeding or nap!  You can even program the last timer for whatever you need, medication maybe.

ITZBEEN™ Baby Care Timer was developed by a new mom and dad who found themselves sleep-deprived and needing help to remember baby care details, such as when their baby last ate or napped. They tried charts and journals, but thought there had to be a better way. So, they created the ITZBEEN™: a multi-purpose nursery tool that helps new parents remember the basic details of baby care. The ITZBEEN™ has four timers that count up with the touch of a button, and a host of other helpful features, all designed with the needs of a new parent in mind.

If you are a breastfeeding mom, there is even a little reminder switch letting you now what side your newborn nursed on during the last feeding.  I haven’t had to use the timers yet, but I can tell you that the nightlight feature and the clock on the ITZBEEN have been a lifesaver over the past month.  I often check it when I get up in the middle of the night for those frequent bathroom breaks that pregnant women have.  I don’t want to wake up the hubby, so I just take my ITZBEEN with me to the restroom to find out what time it is.  If it is already so helpful before the baby comes, just think at how helpful it is going to be afterwards.

The suggested retail price of the ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny is $24.99 and can be purchased at stores nationwide and at their website.  It has been awarded a 2007 Juvenile Products Manufacturing Associations Innovation Award, and a 2007 iParenting Media Award for Best Baby Care Product.

Want to win one for yourself?

Win It

One (1) lucky reader will win an ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny in their choice of color (blue, pink or green).

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This giveaway will end at midnight on  May 14.  
Open to US residents only.  Good Luck!

A huge thank you to ITZBEEN who provided the product featured in this post.  This review is my honest opinion and is not influenced by any other source.

As we all know, babies are expensive.  The first time around we made sure that the products we bought for our firstborn would work for any additional children we might decide to have to help defray costs.  Our stroller is a grey/blue that works for boys and girls.  Our car seats are black and are gender neutral, and our diaper bag is brown and would work again for either a boy or a girl.  We really have everything we need for this new baby.  That is until I set my eyes on this:

It captured my heart when I opened it and saw this…

… the little bit of pink/purple sealed the deal.  I wanted this bag.  The problem?  I already have a diaper bag that is in good shape and would work fine.  I decided (after talking to my husband) that this one time I could splurge and buy the bag so I ordered it online and about a month later it came!  I absolutely adore it (if you couldn’t tell). The Satchel diaper bag comes in several different patterns that any mom would love.  My husband also said that it wasn’t too girlie for him to carry around if he needed to as well!

JJ Cole Collections has been making stylish baby products for parents for over 14 years.  We love the stylish look of JJ Cole and have several of their products including the Diaper & Wipes Caddy and the Hamper in brown.  These products look great in our nursery and work well with our gender neutral theme that we have going on since our kids are sharing a room for the time being.

I have also fallen in love with JJ Cole Collections Broadway Stroller, but then again there is the whole “we don’t need another stroller we already have a nice one,” thing to worry about. (Hey, he gave in on the diaper bag so there is still hope out there right?)

Recently, JJ Cole Collections sent me a set of Muslin Blankets in Primrose to welcome our new baby girl next month.  I remember finding muslin blankets towards the end of TJ’s swaddling days.  Muslin blankets are wonderful because they become softer after every wash and they are lightweight and breathable.  I was a little skeptical at first, but its true!  I couldn’t believe how soft the blankets get after being repeatedly washed.  These JJ Cole muslin blankets are fantastic because they are very large.  At 48 in x 48 in, you can still swaddle larger babies and older babies.  I know we tried to swaddle TJ until he was about a year old.  He loved it, but finding swaddle blankets that large is very difficult.  I love these blankets because you can use them for more than just swaddling.  They can be a receiving blanket, a blanket you can throw on the floor for baby to lay on, or a blanket to cover your infant seat when baby is sleeping.  Check out how large these are:

I love the pink design.  They also have a blue design that would work great for boys or if the mommy your buying for is keeping the gender a secret.  You can purchase the Muslin Blanket set at stores nationwide as well as on JJ Cole Collection’s website for $21.95 for a set of two.

Want to win a set for yourself?

Win It

One (1) lucky reader will win their choice of Primrose or Jacks Muslin Blanket set from JJ Cole Collections!

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This giveaway will end at midnight on  May 11.  
Open to US residents only.  Good Luck!

A huge thank you to JJ Cole Collections who provided the Muslin Blanket set featured in this post.  This review is my honest opinion and is not influenced by any other source.

I had another ultrasound yesterday to check on my growing fibroid so I got a lot of cute pictures of our little girl.  I thought I would share some of them!

She looks just like her big brother!

Isn't She Adorable!

Here is her profile.

Here is her little foot!

I can’t believe we will be seeing our little girl in less than 3 weeks.  While it feels like I have been pregnant forever, these past couple of months have gone by quickly.  I am not sure I am ready, but do you ever feel that way?

I worried a lot my first pregnancy, this one has been a little easier.  I don’t worry about all the pains and aches.  I generally know what to expect this time around.  What I didn’t expect was how much love I would have for my son.  I didn’t know that people could love something this much.

What did you least expect when you were pregnant or a new Mom? We all have great stories to share, and Playtex Baby wants to hear them! Starting April 16th Playtex Baby is holding a contest on their Facebook page, asking Moms to share candid, unexpected moments of pregnancy and motherhood. They will be selecting daily winners, as well as a grand prize winner who will be flown to LA for the premiere of What To Expect When You’re Expecting. The film will feature Playtex Baby products including the Playtex® Nurser with Drop-Ins® Liners and the Playtex® Diaper Genie® Disposal System! So what are you waiting for – log on and share your story today! https://www.facebook.com/PlaytexBaby/app_321062914616209

I am really excited for the new movie coming out next month!  I hope one of you are the lucky winners.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Playtex Baby. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.

I had Spring Break this week (thank goodness) and wanted to switch our room with the kids’ room.  We live in a very small house with only two bedrooms and ours was the larger room.  Since the kiddos need to share a room until we move, we wanted them to have the bigger space.  I thought a week was plenty of time to do it…  I guess I didn’t account for my moody behavior and lack of motivation!

I am not a very pleasant pregnant women these days.

Yesterday I burst into tears when my husband asked me to put my shoes away.  And then I was mad at him for hours afterwards.

My back aches constantly.  I can’t sit in one spot for more than 5 minutes.

I can’t breathe.

I waddle.

At my doctor’s appointment on Wednesday, I learned that I am going to get one more ultrasound.  While most women would be excited about this, I was a little bummed because I feel like there is something else besides this fibroid that I should be worried about.  I mean, I have had about 8 ultrasounds this pregnancy.  My doctor keeps assuring me that everything looks great, but I still wonder.  I think I am paranoid.

After this one, I am done being pregnant.  I am grateful I can have babies, but this is it!

Then I look through TJ’s baby pictures and I am reminded why I am doing this:

Rant Over!

I had to save my favorite baby item for last!  What a wonderful couple of months we had here at A Mom’s Impression.  I loved bringing all of these wonderful baby items to you with amazing giveaways as well.  All of these products are going to make welcoming baby girl in May so much easier.  I do have a couple of more products that I will share this month, but for my grand finale, I am bringing you the baby item I could not possibly live without!

When TJ was born, I didn’t really know what to expect.  I was a first time mom, and really in our family he was the first newborn.  I didn’t know what products I would use, so I did a little research.  This is how I decided to blog about product reviews.  I knew from my research that I needed to get a breastfeeding pillow, and the Boppy received the most accolades so I decided to put that one on our registry.

While breastfeeding didn’t work out as planned (I ended up pumping the entire time), I couldn’t have lived without the Boppy.  We had TJ laying in the Boppy everywhere.  When we went on the plane to visit my family, the Boppy came with us.  When TJ needed some extra support, we would run and get the Boppy.  At the hospital when I was trying to breastfeed, the Boppy was an essential item that helped me get through it.  When he was on our laps, we used the Boppy to support his little head!  This product is very versatile and practical which probably has something to do with it winning the the number one baby product for the 9^th time by readers of American Baby magazine!

The Boppy has been around for a little while, but what I love about this company is that they are always updating their products and improving them.  The Boppy Pillow used to have to be thrown in the wash in order to get it clean, now they have removable covers in a very large assortment of fabrics and designs to choose from.  With TJ, I got a “Three peas in a pod” design that was adorable!  I also went and purchased a spare cover for when I was washing his usual one.  Boppy recently created a travel pillow for moms on the go!  I wish I had that for our plane trips with the baby, but I do know that the original Boppy also travels well.  I also have a couple of other Boppy products that I love, the body pillow and these pads that save my changing pad from having to be washed about 4 times a day!  I really couldn’t live without them! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find them this time around.

For little girls arrival, Boppy was kind enough to send me a Boppy pillow with an additional slipcover.  I had such a hard time picking out what slipcover I wanted because of all the options available.  I think there are over 25 different covers that you can find for your Boppy.  I wanted something very girlie this time around so I picked out the Soft Pink Stripes Signiture Slipcover. This cover features brown and pink stripes on one side and soft pink minky fabric on the other.  Perfect for any little girl!

I love the pink owl print that came with my Boppy Pillow.  It is exactly what I wanted, very girlie!  Last time I gave birth I made my husband run home and grab the Boppy Pillow.  This time I know better and will be packing it in our suitcase for our trip to the hospital.  I will make room!

So… now that you know why you need this pillow, here is your chance to win one for yourself!

Win It

One (1) lucky reader will win a Boppy Pillow and their choice of slipcover from Boppy!

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This giveaway will end at midnight on April 20. Winner will be picked from Random.org. 
Open to US residents only.  Good Luck!

A huge thank you to Boppy who provided the products featured in this post.  This review is my honest opinion and is not influenced by any other source.