Bringing Home Baby
As a military family, we are constantly questioning every single purchase before we make it. Around these holiday seasons, I feel the pressure to have more and more every year and it brings me back to this one thought, “do I want to move this?”
Adjusting to a new home every time we move often means purchases of items to fill space we didn’t have before, or downsizing to make room room for the things we really love and desire to have with us abroad when we are far from family.
We decided to take this same approach when we found out we were expecting our first baby.
Babies come with a LOT of stuff! The deeper you get into a registry, you begin to think, where is this all going to fit!? That is exactly where I was when I realized after our PCS, I was going to be sharing my office with my little one. One of the very first questions/comments I got when we announced the pregnancy was, “I can’t wait to see your nursery! What is your theme going to be?” Many were very surprised to hear that I didn’t have plans for one at all! In true military fashion, we were PCSing when I was 34 weeks along to a training that was going to last for less than a year. The thought of setting up a nursery was looming and to ease the entire transition, we decided to keep her in our room the entirety of our time here in New Mexico.
At first, I was a bit heartbroken, as I would LOVE to design a room for my own little one after having the opportunity to design a few nurseries now. But, realizing everything we would have double of that we wouldn’t need during our time here was daunting! As was the thought that I couldn’t really make it the way I’d love, as it would require a lot of prep and a bit of paint, which wasn’t allowed in our rental.
So, my newest hunt was to figure out items for the baby that would fit seamlessly into our home. Especially if I was sharing office space with her things! We also wanted to consider the possibility of another child coming along, so all of the re-usable items we wanted to be gender neutral as much as possible so that we wouldn’t be lugging a ton of items around only to have to donate them if the next kiddo was a boy.
Transitioning into motherhood has been hard, but having baby items fit into my design style hasn’t been! I wanted to share a few of my favorite items with my sweet military families to help you minimize your home and maximize your time spent with your new little one. None of these are affiliate links, these are simply items we chose and have come to love.
Breastfeeding can be so overwhelming! So can formula feeding! No matter how you feed your baby, this bottle warmer is a great way to warm it to the temp they like without cluttering up your counter with a giant machine! We loved the simplicity of this and my husband says it’s a breeze to work.
I ADORE this play gym! It looks so fabulous in my living room and isn’t crazy colors! I could easily paint the sides of it if I desired more color, as it’s raw wood. The strings are adjustable so you can move them up as the baby grows, making it usable for a longer amount of time. One of the strings even has a bell to it, which my sweet girl loves.
It’s so difficult to find gender neutral clothing! Companies are getting a bit better, but almost everything is grey. I love Kate Quinn Organics. They’re always having a sale (yay!), look great in Bella’s closet, and are made of fabrics that are great for her sensitive skin. The little girls’ dresses come in patterns that are cute, but not loud, and also in blues without looking too “boy”. But lets be real, I dress her in pretty much all neutrals and the poor kid is mistaken for a boy at least 3 times a week.
This tub is LIFE. It fits in almost any sink and is a great white color. It’s super easy to clean and even empty bath water mid bath for all those really messy blow out days. We often forget it in our guest bath sink and most of our friends don’t even notice it! It can never overflow, so you don’t have to worry about your little one as you grab wash cloths and let them play. If Bella could live in anything other than her Beary suit, it would be this tub.
One of my biggest decisions was how we were going to incorporate her living space into our existing room. How would it flow? Where would it be best to place a rocker? How many times would I be getting up in the night? All the big questions. This pack and play did it all for us. We weren’t going to be able to fit a traditional changing table into our space, so this allows us to have it all in one, crib and changing space! I spend less time moving her throughout the room. The napper is also fabulous for moving into our bathroom to get those precious moments in for a shower or maybe even makeup on a good day. The storage on the sides is especially handy, as it’s the perfect size for burp cloths, diapers, and the next item on our list!
This dispenser is almost a perfect fit for the side organizer of the Pack n Play. It doesn’t plug in, it is simply weighted to allow one wipe to be dispensed at a time. I didn’t realize how critical this was until a week in when my Miss Priss demanded her diaper to be changed abut 14 times a day. Using two hands to open the wipes and grab them out in the middle of the night turned out to be a way bigger hassle than I expected! This dispenser also allows for you to use any wipe you like! We prefer Honest + Co. or Water Wipes to fill this. It makes for such an easy changing experience.
This is a recent purchase for us, but I’ve been low key stalking their Instagram for almost a year now. These vegan leather mats can be wiped down and fit perfectly in our decor, so much so that I don’t have to fold and put it away! They also make changing pads for itty bitties and a perfect size for high chairs once your child begins to eat. I’m all about some easy cleanup. I’m dying over this scallop option they just released and am planning to get another one for Bella!
The MommaRoo has been a lifesaver for me as I transition into being a working mom. The removable mobile has a noise maker, high contrast patterns, and a mirror to keep the baby entertained. The motion is more natural than a traditional rocker and it’s footprint is a quarter of the size. It’s light enough to move from room to room as I work around the house. Did I mention it has an app where you can change the speed and music from across the room?! Total game changer for dinner time.
One of the hardest things I’ve realized in this new chapter of our lives is that sometimes, moms get left behind. You only get a check up six weeks later. Your body and hormones are all over the place. It’s tough work and minimal sleep. As great as all these items are above, you need to take care of yourself to momma. So as a bonus, I’m adding a couple of my favorite things I’ve been using to give myself a bit of break and feel more like myself.
I got these in my FabFitFun Winter Box and they are a dream. They totally decreased my puffiness and I ended up leaving them on for 40 minutes extra because they just felt so relaxing. I may not have time to go to the spa anymore, but I have time for these!
Pretty enough to leave on your counter for the days where you reach for them in the dark. If you’re as terrible as I am at taking your makeup off or paying attention to your tired skin, leave these on your counter as a good reminder!
If you have Tricare, make sure that you stock up on the free breast pump that is offered. They even supply bags and freezable bottles under the healthcare plan, so it’s a great money saver. This is by far one of my best decisions. When choosing my pump, I considered our lifestyle. We tend to be on the go, have to use airline travel to get home, and I work from home but am also on the road to projects. This handy little pump can literally fit in your pocket. I’m able to pump while making dinner, while emailing clients, and even in the car as it doesn’t require a power source! You can charge the rechargeable battery, which lasts for several sessions and pump whenever you have a moment. The size makes it easy to tuck away into a drawer for easy accessibility in your living room, or wherever you’re most comfortable. You can even sneak it in your purse for on the go!
Ring Slings
Lastly, carrying around your sweet pea can be a pain, literally! Save your back with these super easy carriers. It requires minimal setup, so getting from the car to the grocery store and short errands is a breeze. They’re even stylish, so you don’t feel like a transformer around the town. Bonus: they look amazing hung up in a nursery and double as decor when you braid them!
Here are a few brands I would recommend:
