Happy Friday, a Little Anxiety and Winners Announced!

                                                     Source: love-luck-kisses-cake.blogspot.com via jennifer on Pinterest

It's Friday once again, friends!  Am I the only one who thinks the weeks are flying by?  I can't seem to keep up anymore.

Tomorrow marks one month til our due date.....how crazy is that!?  I find myself in a state of denial lately.  I can't quite seem to wrap my brain around the fact that we're having a baby, let alone that we're having it within the next few weeks!  I say to Jon at least once a day, "do you realize we're about to be parents?"  He's much more chill about it than I am, and doesn't seem quite as perplexed by it as I am.  I guess that sort of makes sense considering he doesn't have labor to look forward to.....OMG.  I have to give birth to a person.....seriously, people!  How did this happen!? 

Don't get me wrong, I'm getting so excited to meet this little person!  I just can't believe it's really real.  This thing I've been dreaming  of my whole life is about to happen.  Motherhood.  I'm gonna be someone's mom!  Sometimes I try to imagine what it will be like two months from now.  I know there's no way for me to fathom what's about to happen to my life, and my heart...but I still try.

I also find myself getting sentimental about the ending of the phase of just Jon and I.  We've dreamed of a family for so long, but I can't help but be a little sad to see our 'just us' time end.

Am I normal?  Or, is this all evidence that I'm going to be a horrible mother?  

Please reassure me.

Also, the Baby Shower Event was a huge success!  Winners have been announced on the posts!  I'm so excited to see some familiar names among the winners!  Thanks for the blog love, everyone!

I'll be contacting the winners today to get your information to pass along to our sponsors.  Hooray!

Happy Friday, friends.  Have a great weekend! 

Thank you!

What a fun week it's been here on the blog!  I hope you have all enjoyed the posts, and the fantastic giveaways from our sponsors!  There is still time to enter all the giveaways...they'll be up and active until 12:01 Eastern on 10/04, and winners will be announced shortly after.  You can find all the giveaways and reviews here. 

I wanted to also take a moment and thank our sponsors again.  All these companies were so generous to offer up their wonderful products, not only to our sweet BabyD, but many of them to you all as well!  I cannot wait to try out all the great things we received! 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, sweet friends!  We are bound and determined to finish up BabyD's nursery.  We are THIS CLOSE!  I'm also planning on spending a little time with my sister, and I'm hoping to make some crock pot soup on Sunday.  Any suggestions for great recipes?

Swaddle Designs Review & Giveaway...

Swaddle Designs has a wide variety of products for baby, including blankets, burp cloths and even an adult swaddle wrap!  Seriously.  Take a look around their website!  As much as I know I'd enjoy that adult wrap, I'm so excited that they offered to send me a Swaddle Lite set of 3 Marquisette Blankets and a White Noise CD from The Happiest Baby for BabyD.

It was so hard to decide which adorable print to choose from their line of Swaddle Lites.  I ultimately went with the Jewel Tone Turquoise set.  I love the cute little birds, and turquoise and green are great for boys or girls!

The lightweight fabric of these blankets is awesome!  They would be great for babies born in warmer temps.  Since BabyD is due in November, we'll probably be bundling him/her up, but I still think these will be perfect inside.  I was really impressed with how big they are!  46"  x 46".  And, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that they each have a tag with a 1-2-3 Swaddle instructional label sewn in to help us learn to swaddle correctly!  I know that will come in handy in the early days. 

The Swaddle Designs website also has great information on How To Swaddle.  We'll certainly be referencing that as well. 

The White Noise CD, by Dr. Harvey Karp, Author of the Happiest Baby on the Block promises to add 1-3 hours to baby's sleep cycle.  Um, yes, please!  While some of the sounds seem a little scary to me, I totally believe this just might work!  I actually have a white noise app on my phone that I use when I'm having trouble falling asleep, and it works like a charm every time.  The CD has sounds for soothing fussing.  The "fast & vigorous" one is the one that sounds scary to me.  It's even described as "strange" right on the label, but hey, whatever works!  There are also sounds for increasing sleep.  They're more "womb" sounds, much like what you hear on the doplar at the Dr.'s office.  Of course, my favorite is the rain noise.  We could both nap to that one! I'm excited to give that a try. 

Swaddle Designs has generously offered up a Swaddle Lite set for one of you readers!  Enter to win via the form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the great reviews and giveaways that are part of the baby shower event!  Posts have been going up all week!

I was given a Swaddle Lite and White Noise CD in exchange for this review, but all opinions remain my own.
 

Wall Sticker Company Review...

The kind people at The Wall Sticker Company sent us one of their Perched Owl wall stickers for review.

For starters, their shipping from Australia was super fast and it made it all the way from down under in perfect condition. 

It took me a while to figure out the best place for our new little hooty friend, but eventually, I decided on using it in BabyD's bathroom.  We received lots of frog bathroom things at our shower, so we thought we'd start there for a theme.  We painted the walls a soft yellow {it looks a little brighter in the photos}, and I came across the perfect shower curtain at Target that pulled it all together!  There aren't any frogs on it, but there are owls, and squirrels and trees....so we have a happy little woodland theme in the bathroom.  I think the Perched Owl wall sticker adds the perfect touch to make it extra special!

We did have a little problem at first, as the decal didn't work exactly as the instructions described.  They said to gently scratch the top layer {to get the decal to stick to it} and pull it up to then stick on the wall.  That did not work for us at all.  I emailed our contact at the company, and she said that they could re-do the top layer adhesive, but that it would be difficult to get it to us in time for this week's festivities, so we decided to give it a go by just peeling and sticking per her advice, which as you can see, was a success!  It was definitely a feat that required all four of our hands...no way you'd be able to do it this way by yourself.  Hence no in-progress photos. 

Overall, I'm so happy with the way it turned out!  I'm sure it's easier when you can position it through the clear upper layer, but this way worked just great with a little patience. 

I love the whimsy that it adds to the bathroom, and can just imagine our little one pointing up to it someday and saying "hoo, hoo!". 

Thanks Wall Sticker Company!

You can find the Wall Sticker Company's website here.
Like them on Facebook.  {I spy a great coupon code!}
Follow them on Pinterest.
Follow them on Twitter.

Be sure to check out all the great reviews and giveaways that are part of the baby shower event!  Posts are going up all week!

I was given a wall sticker from The Wall Sticker Company in exchange for this review, but all opinions remain my own.

Medela Calma Bottle Review & Giveaway...

I plan on breastfeeding whenever possible, but at some point, we will need to be able to feed from a bottle.  I want Jon to be able to participate in feedings, and at some point we'll want to be able to leave the baby with Grammy for the evening, not to mention when I go back to work.  We've all heard how difficult it can be to switch from breast to bottle and back again.  I've never quite understood why.  Until now.

Calma is specifically designed based on research done on how breastfed babies nurse.  The Calma system is made to mimic breastfeeding.  Baby is able to control the flow of milk through creating a vacuum, just like they do at the breast.  The Calma nipple is also designed to fit in the baby's mouth just like your own nipple does.  {which is quite surprising, considering how long it looks!  Who knew your nipple expanded that much? Ha!}

Now, I've never known much about what makes one bottle better than another, but I can see how this one would be great for a breastfed baby.  I'm looking forward to using Calma as our bottle alternative to nursing.  The Calma nipples will work seamlessly with my Medela breast pump.

Medela has a great video that shows exactly how Calma works.  I'd recommend taking a look at it!
You can find retailers for Calma here.

Also of note, Medela let me know about the iBreastfeed App, available in the Apple App Store.  It provides information and resources for breastfeeding along with helping you track your breastfeeding and pumping for up to six babies.  {yikes!}  I've already downloaded it so I can familiarize myself with how it works before BabyD makes his/her arrival.

One lucky jdavissquared reader is going to get a free Calma breastmilk feeding set of their very own!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Be sure to check out all the great reviews and giveaways that are part of the baby shower event!  Posts are going up all week!

I was given a Medela Calma Bottle in exchange for this review, but all opinions remain my own.

Woombie Wrap & Snap Baby Swaddler Review...

I'm not gonna lie.  The first time I saw a Woombie, I immediately thought "baby straight jacket".

That being said, I've heard great things about this product!  The Woombie makes it easy to swaddle your baby, and its uniquely designed four way stretch fabric is made to mimic the womb, making your baby feel nice and secure.  Swaddling is said to help babies sleep better, and keeps them from inadvertently startling themselves or scratching their own face.

It was immediately evident to me that the Woombie is very well constructed.  I love this cute design, and that I can adjust the tightness of the swaddling around the arms with the velcro fasteners.  The fabric feels so soft and high quality.  I could see how a baby would snuggle in for the night in it.  Also, there's a double zipper, which makes for easy diaper changes.

Can't wait to make a little BabyD Burrito. ;)

Visit Woombie's website at www.woombie.com 
 Follow Woombie on Facebook

Be sure to check out all the great reviews and giveaways that are part of the baby shower event!  Posts are going up all week!

I was given a Woombie in exchange for this review, but all opinions remain my own.

Sensible Lines Milk Trays Review & Giveaway....

As a first time mom-to-be, I'm admittedly quite clueless when it comes to breastfeeding, let alone breast pumping and milk storage.  {I'm hoping to feel more confident on the subject come tomorrow evening when we take our breastfeeding class!}  Seems to me that the simpler the solution, the better it would work.

I've seen the breast milk bags in the nursing section of Target, but those just look messy and expensive!  When I came across Milk Trays by Sensible Lines, I knew they looked like something worth trying. 

I love the idea that the milk gets frozen in perfect one ounce bars, which makes measuring easy and waste free.  Milk can be frozen in the BPA-free, medical grade trays, and then stored in regular freezer bags for up to four months.  When you're ready to use, you can simply take out the quantity you need, thaw and use.  I can't imagine it getting any simpler.  Plus, the versatile shape of the trays means the frozen bars will fit through any bottle opening on the market. Also, the trays are reusable, which will keep costs down....always a bonus!

I know the whole breast feeding thing will take some trial and error, but I'm confident with this system, freezing the milk won't be a cause for worry!

The kind ladies at Sensible Lines have offered up a breast milk freezing system for one lucky jdavissquared reader!  Fill out the form below to enter to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the great reviews and giveaways that are part of the baby shower event!  Posts are going up all week!
I was given a set of Milk Trays from Sensible Lines in exchange for this review, but all opinions remain my own.   

Moby Wrap Review & Giveaway...

I've always been intrigued by baby wearing.  I've seen moms out and about with their babies strapped into these wraps and always thought they looked so cozy.  At the same time, I was mesmerized with how on earth the moms were able to tie that wrap!

Since getting pregnant, I've learned a little more about Moby Wraps, and knew I wanted to reach out to them for the baby shower event here on jdavissquared.  I'm thrilled that they were willing to participate, and am so excited to kick off this week of reviews and giveaways with the Moby Wrap!

I chose the Original Wrap in Leaf as shown above.  I love the rich green color, and felt like it will transition well from season to season.  My first impression was of the darling packaging.  The wrap comes perfectly rolled up and in a self fabric bag. 

Jon and I "tested" out tying the wrap using the detailed instruction booklet that came with it.  {There are also great instructions on the website, along with videos!} Honestly, it was slightly intimidating at first.  This wrap is LONG!  Definitely something I'll have to plan ahead to wear.  For instance, I could see myself putting it on before leaving the house if I plan to carry BabyD around the store, and then place them in it when I get there.  Not something you want to be trying to tie in a parking lot.
It didn't take long before we realized it's really quite simple.  I think it will just take a little practice.

I had planned to take pictures of me wearing it, but it was a little awkward with the belly!  I can see how it will fit much better after the baby is born.  

One thing I haven't quite figured out, is how to store it.  I'm not sure I'll ever get it rolled back up like it came.  Any advice for "neat" storage?  You know, other than wadding it into a ball? 

And now for the super fun part....One jdavissquared reader is going to get a Moby Wrap of their very own!  Fill out the form below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the great reviews and giveaways that are part of the baby shower event!  Posts are going up all week!

I was given a Moby Wrap in exchange for this review, but all opinions remain my own.