Baby Essentials That Will Make Mommy's Life Easier

I can honestly tell you, I wouldn't survive without all these baby products! They're life savers through and through. I own all of these, use them on a daily basis and they really make my life easier - and keep the baby happy!

1) Snugli Carrier - We got ours at a second-hand local sale and it was quite a good deal! I use it whenever there's something I need to do / somewhere I need to go, and the baby just won't sit in her stroller / saucer patiently. For instance, I once baked cupcakes and then loaded the dishwasher while Victoria was snuggled in her Snugli. She was so comfy in it, she eventually fell asleep. How awesome is that?

2) Evenflo Excersaucer / Jumper - We got this awesome device from our family friends. It is the single most used baby product in the household. Victoria loves spending time in it - thanks to this jumper her legs are very strong now (like seriously, this girl can kick!). I can put her in it and she is content playing with the moving parts for as long as 40 minutes at a time. And guess what? After a 40 minute jumping session is ready for a nap :) Mommy loves this thing!!!

3) Organic Swaddle - This beauty is so big (47x47 inch), not even my little kicker can get out of it! She sleeps soundly through the night. No more struggling to swaddle your baby in a too small blanket, no more getting up at night multiple times to re-do the wrap. My nights have been made! And did I mention it's ORGANIC?!

4) Chewbeads - Whether your baby is teething or not, they probably enjoy chewing on things. I know my daughter does. I also know she struggles with oddly shaped chewing toys and slippery teethers. Chewbeads makes amazing silicone teethers that are healthy for the baby, easy to grab and hold on to, and really quite fashionable! Love these!

5) Soundspa - A very helpful little lullaby system that also works as a projector! It has 3 lullabies, 3 white noise recordings and 3 discs for the projector (ocean theme, nigh sky theme and jungle theme). I don't use the projector and the lullabies all that often, but I do play the white noise for my daughter every single night. It helps her sleep for sure, especially when mommy is working on a blog post just a few feet away from her crib.

6) Large and spacious Diaper Bag (Indigo Maldives Tote)- And the LARGE and SPACIOUS is the key phrase here. I finally have a diaper bag that works as a, well, diaper bag, but can also hold my bulky wallet, my phone, a book, and possibly some groceries. Seriously, it's that awesome! And it doesn't look like a diaper bag at all - just look at it, it's gorgeous! Stylish mommy, hello!

7) Baby Swing - Great for getting baby to take a nap. I love this swing, really. When it's warm enough, I drag it outside on the porch and Victoria is either happy swinging and looking around, or - even better - sleeping. And mommy can have a cup of coffee! 

10 Magical Uses For Coconut Oil | I Put That Sh__ on Everything!

Confession time: I am hopelessly addicted to the smell of coconut. 

Thankfully, unlike my addiction to coffee and chocolate, this is actually a good thing. Why? Because coconut is nothing short of miraculous! If you're into healthy & organic, you're going to LOVE all the many ways you can incorporate coconut oil into your daily life! 

1) Makeup Remover - Coconut oil is GREAT for removing makeup. Take it from someone who was very skeptical about it for a very long time. I did not think it would be a good idea to rub coconut oil on my eyelids, particularly on the eyelashes. I thought it would be too greasy, or maybe it would get in my eye and sting.. (how ignorant of me, right?). But hey, I love challenges, so one day I decided to give it a try and (surprise, surprise) it worked like a miracle. Not only is coconut oil very gentle on your skin, it's actually quite a powerful cleanser. It even works on the kind of yuck stuffy that doesn't wash off easily, like waterproof mascara, or waterproof eyeliner, or particularly greasy concealer (I am looking at you Coastal Scents concealer palette). And you don't even have to wash it off afterwards, it's a great face moisturizer. 

2) Face & Body Moisturizer - It's 100% natural, it absorbs well and keeps your skin moist and glowing for a very long time. It also has some amazing anti-aging properties. Unlike commercial moisturizes, it does not contain parabens or petroleum, so you won't be rubbing any potentially harmful substances on to your skin. And did you know that store-bought moisturizers all contain lots of water? So even though you feel like you're moisturizing your skin, the effect is very short-lived; once the water in your lotion evaporates, your skin is back to being dry again. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is REALLY good for your skin. It penetrates your skin deeply, helps strengthen the underlying tissues and remove dead skin. And even though your skin is wrapped in a soft and moist blanket, it can still breathe. It can't do that with petroleum-based lotions. 

A spoonful of coconut oil is enough to moisturize your entire body.

3) Hair treatment - You can rub a teaspoon of coconut oil on to dry/split ends of your hair, or you can apply two tablespoons of it on to the entire length (kind of like a mask). If your hair gets frizzy due to too much moisture in the air, coconut oil will help you tame it. It'll make your hair smooth, shiny, healthy and smelling delicious. 

If your hair is very dry and damaged from frequent coloring and blow-drying, try this: 

Apply 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil onto the entire length of your hair. Cover your head with a shower cap. Use your hairdryer to apply heat to your hair for 10-15 minutes (it is optional, you don't have to do that, but it'll help your hair absorb all the moisture). Leave the coconut oil in your hair for another 10-15 minutes. Wash your hair and voila! 

TIP: if you rub it into your scalp daily, coconut oil will stimulate hair growth. Works also on eyelashes! 

4) Cooking & baking ingredient - Coconut oil has a very high smoke point, which means that if you use it for cooking (stir-frying) or baking, it won't produce any harmful (carcinogenic) substances. It's also healthier than most of the other oils and it makes for a fantastic alternative to butter. Love baking? Try using coconut oil instead of regular oil/butter! Add a little bit of it to your favorite home-made curry (it's DELISH!), or put a spoonful on your pancakes. You'll fall in love! I have also heard that some people add coconut oil to their coffee as a creamer, though I have not tried that myself. 

5) Treating skin diseases - Your skin is so dry it's cracking and bleeding? Struggling with eczema? Picked up a foot fungi at the pool? Coconut oil will help you with all that. When used regularly, it will also treat acne. 

If your kid ever picks up lice at school, you can use it to get rid of them. Soak hair in coconut oil, put a shower cap over your child's hair and leave on for a couple hours. Lice can't survive in a greasy environment. 

6) Pregnant? Use it to prevent stretch marks. It will also help you get rid of cellulite. Mix a spoonful with ginger tea to treat heartburn and nausea. 

7) For the baby - You can use it as a daily lotion, to get rid of the cradle cap (just massage onto baby's scalp, rub for a couple minutes and rinse with warm water), and to prevent/treat diaper rash. If you're nursing, you can also apply it onto your nipples - it will soothe the irritation and it's also good for your baby! 

8) Health benefits - Boy, where do I even begin?! Coconut oil has antibacterial properties, some go as far as to say it will even treat yeast infection. It increases absorption of magnesium and calcium. It also increases digestion and boosts absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which helps improve cholesterol levels. The fatty acids in coconut oil are turned into ketones and can help reduce seizures. The same fatty acids can also improve brain function, even in patients with Alzheimers disease. Coconut oil can also increase your energy expenditure, and therefore, help you burn calories/fat. 

9) Teeth & gums - Ever heard of oil pulling? It's basically using coconut oil as mouthwash. You put a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for 15-20 minutes. The way it works is really quite simple. The bacteria in your mouth can cause anything from bad breath, to bad teeth, and when you oil pull, the very same nasty bacteria gets "stuck" in the oil and then it dissolves in the liquid. Oil pulling is also good for your gums, can help with tooth ache, teeth sensitivity, and whitens your teeth. 

10) Healthy snack for your dog - Our Sheltie boy, Wilson, LOVES coconut oil. We give him a teaspoon of it daily as a treat, and it not only makes him happy, it also keeps his teeth healthy, freshens up his breath and makes his fur all shiny and healthy-looking.

One thing to keep in mind when buying coconut oil: Look for extra virgin, one that has not been bleached, deodorized and hydrogenated. 

Reading to your baby

We started reading to Victoria when she was still in my womb. We made our little story time a daily habit. I talked to her a lot when she was still in my belly, so she knew the sound of my voice well, but I also decided it was important for her to hear Jaesung (my husband) speak, and so every day I would bring a book, place it firmly in his hands and demand our story time. As busy as he always is with all the dental school stuff, I could tell he enjoyed it a lot, too, even though he probably wouldn't admit it. Eventually, he'd pick a book and "initiate" the story time himself. I believe it made him feel needed, and I think it was an important bonding experience. But hey, we're here to talk about reading to babies, not about my husband, right? :) 

After Victoria was born, we continued on with our little tradition. Of course, it wasn't easy at first (OK, more like impossible!). She was too small, too fragile and too.. well, uninterested, at the beginning. We would still try to read to her, but not as much as before. It wasn't until she was about 3 months old when we picked it up again, and she seems to love it now. 

It is truly amazing to sit there and watch my husband read to Victoria. This tiny little creature sitting in her dad's lap, staring at the colorful pictures with interest and amazement. I love those little moments! I love reading to her myself, observing her reactions as I point to different pictures, seeing her turn her head occasionally towards the sound of my voice and then turning her attention back to the book. It's such an amazing experience. 

Being a book blogger of 5 years and an avid reader, it is very important to me that my daughter grows up to be a reader herself. Lucky for me, I have plenty of books I can read to her (books aren't cheap, I think we all know that). Being able to receive free children's books is a huge privilege and I'm grateful for each and every single one of them. 

If you wonder about benefits of reading to your baby, or when is a good time to start, here's some information & tips I hope you'll find helpful:

• Reading to your baby is an important form of stimulation and it's never too early to start. Fetuses recognize their mother's voice from the womb. Newborn babies love hearing your voice. Reading to your toddler will help develop listening skills, stimulate interest in sounds, build memory, vocabulary, and give your child information about the surrounding world. 
• It's also a phenomenal bonding time and a great opportunity to cuddle and enjoy something together. Turn it into a daily routine, and your child will eventually start demanding story time himself. 
• Reading introduces your baby to new concepts and teaches them about colors, shapes, numbers and ideas in a fun way. 
• Board books and picture books with bold, colorful illustrations are sure to spark your baby's interest and help him focus on the book. He won't understand the story just yet, but he'll enjoy listening to your voice. Try reading to him using different, silly voices to make it more fun. Repetition is your friend - it will help familiarize your child with different words and, eventually, help improve his language skills. 
• It's scientifically proven that children that are read to at an early age, are smarter. They learn to read earlier and more easily, and their communication and learning skills develop at a much younger age. Remember, your baby is like a sponge, the habits he'll learn at a very young age will likely stay with him forever. 
• Cuddling with mommy + listening to mommy's voice + seeing colorful pictures = positive experience that will solidify your child's love for books. 

Growing Up with a Pet | Victoria and Wilson

You don't need to read through thousands of child psychology or baby development textbooks to know that children love animals. The bond that is formed between the baby and the family pet - whether it's a dog, a cat, a hamster or a bird - is proven to be a big factor in child's emotional development. Being around an animal is beneficial in many ways. 

A pet is a great friend and loyal companion. Most pets have it in their nature to look after babies, though some breeds will be better for your baby than others. For a list of suggested breeds, please visit: Just Dog Breeds

Research has shown that children living with pets are less likely to develop certain allergies, as well as asthma and eczema. Their immunity is boosted through regular interactions with the pet, and so they develop a natural immunity to all sorts of yucky stuff, including seasonal colds and many types of bacteria. 

Regular exercise and, therefore, a more healthy life style, is yet another "side-effect" of owning a pet, particularly a dog. As soon as your baby learns how to crawl, they will start chasing the dog around the apartment, trying to pull its tail or grab a fistful of that fluffy fur. Then comes actual running after the dog, playing with the ball or frisbee, jogging around the neighborhood or even just playing in the backyard. 

Caring for a pet helps teach them become more responsible and improves their nurturing skills. They are more empathic and more caring. Being able to care for another creature, boosts their confidence and gives them a sense of accomplishment. 

Additionally, the relationship between children and their pets offers a special kind of comfort, one that not even parents can provide. According to studies, children with pets are more mature, have higher self-esteem, better social skills, and have virtually no trouble forming and maintaining peer connections. In other words, your child is happier with a little furry friend around. 

Growing up, I always had at least one pet keeping me company. When I was only 5, my parents brought home an adorable, loving dachshund. We named her Sandra. I still remember running around the apartment with that little monkey-dog, cuddling together on the couch while watching Disney movies (well, at least I was watching, I don't know what kept Sandra sitting so still and fascinated), and going for long walks into the woods area surrounding our home. These are some wonderful memories and I will always cherish them. 

Sandra was my first pet, but far from the last one. After she was gone, we had two German Shepherds, two mixed breeds, a parrot, two hamsters and a fish-tank full of, well, fish. One time, my dad brought home a wounded hedgehog, and we took care of that poor guy, too, until he was healthy enough to be released into the "wild". I grew up surrounded by animals, learning how to take care of them and feeling their unconditional love. Nothing could ever replace their presence in my life, no games, no movies, no books, not even my friends. 

When I found out that I was pregnant, I knew I wanted the same kind of wonderful experience for my baby. Luckily, we already had a wonderful pet, a loving Sheltie boy named Wilson. Now, Wilson is a real sweetheart. He is smart, caring, gentle, and - as weird as this may sound - very considerate. And so I knew from the get-go that he would be a wonderful big brother to our baby girl. And of course, he is. Moreover, he's even better with her than I could have ever hoped for.

Of course, I was a bit worried about the logistics of it all. With my husband in dental school and my parents all the way across the ocean, I am virtually all by myself here. A toddler to take care of seems like enough work, especially in the first few months when you're barely getting any sleep and constantly smell like baby vomit. Or poop. Or both. 

I worried about taking the dog for a walk with a newborn baby. I worried about finding the time to feed him. I worried he may accidentally do something to hurt her (he is a hugger, he likes forcing his furry butt on your lap). I worried about many things... And sure, it's not exactly a walk in the park and it takes some serious planning and trouble-shooting, but it is definitely do-able. Not to mention rewarding. Just seeing these two together makes all the running around, not getting any sleep or rest and often-times, not eating so these two can eat WORTHWHILE. 

I get up in the morning, I feed the little one, change her diaper, change her clothes and then I make myself a cup coffee. I no longer have the privilege of enjoying it on the porch in the morning sun. Instead, I pour it into my go-mug, I leash the dog, get the baby settled in her stroller, and off we go. Two rounds around the neighborhood and one coffee later, we are back home. Baby is napping, why, wouldn't that be a perfect time to sit down and read a bit? Nope, I quickly take a shower to wash the morning vomit off and then I prepare the meal for Wilson. Baby wakes up, it's playtime. Then it's feeding time again, and we go for another walk. If I'm lucky, I had the time to grab a snack for myself to enjoy, if not - oh, well! I'll just wait till hubby gets home (around 6 p.m.). Sure, it takes some sacrifices. Sure, it's not easy. Is it worth it though? Totally. 

Victoria is only 4 months old and I can already tell how much she adores Wilson. And vice versa. She cries a bit and he is the first one to run to check on her. He comes around and she is grinning like the happiest kid in the world. I tell him "say hi to Victoria" and he sticks his cold nose into her cheek and licks her chin a bit, and she is so delighted, she squees out loud. They are so good for each other and I am so happy to see them growing up together. After all, Wilson is still just a baby himself, he's only 2 years old this July. 

I really can't wait to see them playing together when she's old enough to walk. I can't wait to witness more of their adorable little moments and I can only hope to have the camera handy when they happen. I know he'll be a good friend, a good older brother to Victoria. And I know she'll love and care for him. What more could I hope for?

Swimming With Your Baby | Biggest Tub Evah!

     Last Sunday, we finally made the decision to take Victoria to a swimming pool. Our local YMCA has an amazing facility for children, with a separate pool that is just perfect for introducing your baby to the biggest tub evah. It was a hot, sunny day. We were all exhausted and annoyed by the heat, and Victoria was getting her usual "I'm too hot" crank on. What could possibly be better than relaxing and splashing around in cool water? We bought the swimming nappies, packed all the necessary things, and off we went! And it was awesome!

     Victoria is an Aquarius. She just loves water. She won't go to sleep without a long, relaxing dip in her WashPod. Still, I was a little bit worried how she'd react to being in a pool, surrounded by bright lights, lots of water and laughing kids, but thankfully, she really loved it. She wasn't even all that surprised to be honest, she was splashing around like it was her daily routine. 

     Hubby came along, and so we took turns holding Victoria and swishing her around. Because it was our first time taking her to YMCA, we didn't want to overdo it, so we only stayed for about 15 minutes, but next time we'll definitely be spending more time in the water! 

     For those of you who are about to take your little ones swimming for the first time, here are some tips that you might find helpful.

What to bring with you:

- First and foremost - Swim Diapers (You'll have a choice of either getting the reusable ones or a package of disposable ones from, say, Pampers [Splashers] or Huggies [Little Swimmers]. They're more or less in the same price range, so it all comes down to your preference)

- A towel or a towelling dressing gown - and don't forget to bring it to the pool area, you want to keep the baby warm after leaving the pool.

- A couple of your baby's favorite bath toys - it'll make them feel more relaxed.

- Food for the baby, because, you know, babies get super hungry after swimming! Either a warm bottle of formula, or - if you're breastfeeding - account for the extra 10-15 minutes for nursing.

- A bag with: changing mat, change of clothes, either a lotion or baby oil (pool water contains lots of chlorine, so it's really necessary to make sure baby's skin gets the extra pampering it'll need!), diapers, baby powder.

-  If your spouse is coming along, you can also bring a camera to take some adorable pictures of your little one's first swimming experience.

- If it'll be just you and the baby, bring your baby's carrier / car seat. You'll need a place to put the baby down while you're getting dressed.

In The Pool:

- Take it slow, let your baby get familiar with the new surroundings - after all, it's the biggest tub evah!

- Hold your baby close, keep an eye contact and talk to your baby in a soothing, cheerful voice.

- Once your baby gets used to being in water, try splashing a little or swishing her around. Try playing with toys.

- If your baby is old enough, play some fun water games. Encourage her to kick around while you hold her head  and back up in a horizontal position.