What's In YOUR Diaper Bag?

A friend of mine posted the contents of her diaper bag on her blog and I instantly loved the idea. I've always preferred carrying tote bags to purses because I always feel like I have so much stuff to carry around so I was really excited about finally getting to tote a diaper bag around!



Ready to take a peek inside?!


The contents, spread out on the table!

Because I admittedly love looking into the bags of others or seeing what they tote around with them, here's an up-close look at the contents of my diaper bag.


My "mommy stuff" now consists of an EOS lip balm, my cell phone and my wallet. Bare essentials these days!


Three burp cloths and three bibs!


Two spare outfits! Ethan's reflux is pretty well-managed now (thank you, Gelmix!) but if he pukes...oh, it's messy. Two spare outfits are a must!


Ethan's Alimentum, Gelmix travel packets and a spare Dr. Brown's bottle.


We love California Baby! They make our diaper cream and Calendula cream! Also seen here are Little Tummy's gas drops, vaseline and a nasal aspirator we...um...lovingly borrowed from our hospital.


It's Florida, it's hot, it's muggy, it's summertime, I'm neurotic. These are our Natrapel all-natural, baby-safe mosquito repellent wipes. On the same vein, this is our all-natural insect bite spray. Fingers crossed we never actually have to use these things!


Soothies are a must! Ethan and I are champions at losing them, so there are never less than three in our "paci pouch."


Our changing pad, a stack of Seventh Generation diapers and a package of Seventh Generation wipes. By the way, these size one diapers need to replaced with size twos! That's right, my little boy has moved up to the world of size two diapers! He's growing so quickly!


Boogie Wipes and BabyGanics alcohol-free hand sanitizing wipes.


Reading is power! We never leave the house without books!


And, finally, a blankie!



As I mentioned, I love seeing the contents of other people's bags! What's in YOUR diaper bag?!

Ethan Watch 2011 Is Officially On

As you can see from the photo to the left, I'm back to my faithful bed-resting position (or couch-resting, as it is) but I am sporting a nice L&D wristband. I could have taken it off last night when I went home but my mind was too busy sputtering everywhere and having miniature freak-outs that it didn't cross my mind until my aunt asked me about it this morning. I had noticed a very slight amount of spotting after urinating last night and decided to call my doctor to play it safe, as I've been told over and over to not play around with preeclampsia. As I was waiting his call back, I started getting this surge of discomfort in my pelvic area. My doctor called back (from his cell phone on his way into the hospital because he's that awesome) and told me he was on-call at the hospital so to come in and sit on the monitor for a while. The monitor showed that Ethan was awesome...but it also showed that I was having contractions. Remember that surge of discomfort that I mentioned feeling? Halfway to the hospital, it morphed into these super painful contractions. (I should also note that I have no pain tolerance whatsoever and was not in actual labor.) Due to the preeclampsia and the fact I'll be 36 weeks along on Thursday, the doctor doesn't want to do anything to stop my labor. Labor. The word almost knocked me off of my feet as, as silly as this sounds, it's not something I even thought about given the fact I had my c-section scheduled so early on. I never remotely anticipated going into labor or that it would be possible for me to go into labor.

I'm not in actual labor now, but as the nurse said as she hugged me on my way out: "expect this baby any day now!" I had just wrapped my mind around the fact the perinatologist gave me a 37-39 week window for delivery but "any day now" was a whole 'nother shock altogether. Since waking up this morning, I've had no more spotting and no contractions but I'm still so nervous, anxious, impatient-and-yet-still-wouldn't-be-sad-if-this-baby-baked-a-little-bit-longer. Every new bump or thump or flutter in my belly, I find myself going "WHAT WAS THAT?!" and trying to analyze it into oblivion.

Since we can expect Ethan any day now (it still gets me every time!), my hospital bag is officially finished and waiting to go. After hounding my friends with children for suggestions, I finally managed to finish compiling everything thanks to the help of my husband. (Let's just say that yesterday's L&D visit helped me give him that kick to hurry and get everything done!)


1. Boppy pillow and my Emily's Garden cover.
2. Cord blood and cord tissue banking kit from CBR.
3. Nursing bras from Anita.
4. Ethan's super special Peter Rabbit baby book from my friend, Rhiannon, in New Zealand.
5. Always pads, though I suppose these are self-explanatory.
6. Nursing nightgowns (since I'm a c-section, I'm pretty wary about pajama pants and opted to go the nightgown route for the hospital).
7. Granny panties that start nice and high over my incision. Attractive, no?
8. Maternity sundress to wear home from the hospital.
9. Earth Mama & Angel Baby's Nipple Butter.
10. Lansinoh nursing pads.
11. Earth Mama & Angel Baby's Boobie Tubes.
12. Episencial's Body Butter.
13. EOS Lip Balm.
14. Hair ties.
15. Warm, fuzzy socks.
16. Make-up, because I am determined to look fabulous in these post-baby pictures. Yes, be prepared to laugh at my silly pre-baby goals when I note afterward how the eyeliner never came out of the bag.
17. Flip-flops for the shower.
18. Cell phone and charger...with all of our important phone numbers (pediatrician, cord blood registry, etc.) saved into our phones.
19. Travel-sized toiletries.
20. Gluten-free snacks for my Celiac husband because he in no way benefits from the food and snacks the hospital provides.
21. Camera and charger.
22. CD's with my super-relaxing music playlists.
23. Ethan's coming home outfit.
24. Ethan's custom newborn beanie for his hospital stay, which was a gift from our friend Victoria @ Adventures In Mommyhood.

Phew.

So, really, we're...ready? Ready or not, Ethan perhaps is ready to come? Maybe?

You-Need-This Pregnancy Product: Anita Baby Belt

Today has already consisted of a breakfast date with a friend, a trip to the mall (Macy's, JC Penney, Yankee Candle and Hallmark), buying cat food and going to the grocery store. These were three hours worth of errands that all involved a lot of walking and a whole lot of schlepping. We're also experiencing record heat down here in South Florida (with a feels-like temperature of 98 degrees). These were all of the factors (plus, you know, being almost 30 weeks pregnant) that make for an absolutely miserable day. Surprisingly, though, I don't want to die.


We can thank this product for that.

This is the BabyBelt Maternity belt (style 1700) by Anita. I know, I've raved on and on about Anita bras (have you tried them yet?) and you certainly haven't read the last of my declaration of love for Anita. However, this was a product I had no idea about until I was given one to try by Anita. I've worn it on an errand here, an errand there...but today I actually wore it as I ran across town like an insane person. Today I'm not quite sure how I made it this far without one!

It's hot out. I'm pregnant. My back hurts. My hips hurt. I hurt. My legs hurt. I don't want to run 7,000 errands (even though it's my fault I put everything off yesterday) but we didn't have any milk or cans of cat food and I had coupons for the mall that expired and...well, you get the idea. Things needed to be done.

From the moment I first put the belt on, I felt the nice, stable security in my hip and belly area. On my first stop through the mall, I noticed I was able to run from store to store without clutching my back or my hips. In fact, the cashier at Hallmark even remarked how much energy I had and when she was pregnant in the summer, she refused to leave her couch. Okay, so the BabyBelt 1700 doesn't give you energy but it sure as hell gives you the tolerance to fake having energy. I felt lighter on my feet as I paced up and down the mall. I didn't have the urge to lay down across the mall floor and rest for a bit. I was able to locate my car in the parking lot and drive to my next destination without thinking about the throbbing pain in my lower back. It was awesome.

I'm pretty sure that if I was left to my own devices and not equipped with the BabyBelt, I wouldn't have made it to all of the destinations that I was able to make it to without dying. The BabyBelt 1700 is very lightweight and breathable. You can't see a single thing under your clothing, which is always a plus since maternity clothing tends to make you feel a bit bulkier anyway. You can also use it for extra support while sitting (like I am now) or even laying down. Yes, it's true...after a day of running around in the heat like a madwoman, I'm still able to comfortably blog and eat my grilled-cheese sandwich thanks to the added support from the belt.

I also thought it was really cool how the belt grows with you and is fully adjustable with the Velcro band. The belt comes in XS-XL so there's a fit for everybody! I saw one reviewer online refer to this as their "belly bra." That made me laugh and, you know, it's so true! This belt does the job of an awesome bra: straps you in, holds you in and provides awesome support on your heavy, aching body!

Purchasing one for yourself is extremely easy. Just head on over to Amazon!

For The Love Of Bras!

I'm really, really excited to make this post! A little while ago, I added a new sponsor banner here to my blog. Maybe you noticed it, maybe you didn't. Either way, I'm going to tell you all about them now because I have the totally awesome honor of working with Anita.

Anita has been around for 125 years and, yet, I wonder where they've been all my life! I know the majority of my entries tend to revolve around breasts but, hey, breasts are a big deal. They're a big deal especially when you're a difficult size and you spend more time you ever imagined possible trying to find a bra that fits. Trust me. Like I've said, pre-pregnancy I was a 34F and now the third trimester has made me a 38H. I also had the daunting task of finding a maternity swimsuit the other day. Now that was a laugh (okay, or a cry).

After I could no longer fit in my pre-pregnancy bras, I went to barenecessities.com, closed my eyes and selected a few bras at random in larger sizes. One of those bras was #5527 by Anita. I swear, the heavens opened up, birds started singing and candy fell from the sky as soon as I put that bra on. I returned the other bras I had also bought and ordered another of the same bra by Anita. Long story short, I was contacted by Anita's awesome general manager and I got the most incredible opportunity ever: to try on and try out bras!

Said meeting happened today and, as I type this, I'm wearing one of my new bras (#5529) and enjoying the sense of back relief and overall joy that comes with wearing a bra that feels like you're not wearing one at all. I've always been under the impression that I'm "hard to fit" when it comes to a bra. Heck, my wedding undergarments were custom made for that very reason. Yet Anita makes me feel like I'm totally and completely normal. When Steven, the GM, showed up with a beach bag (that he let me keep, no less!) full of bras and swim tops and belly bands and all sorts of goodies, it was like I was a 36B or something else average and normal. (Did I also mention that Steven brought me chocolates with Anita logo? As if I needed another reason to love Anita with all of my pregnant little heart!)

Anita makes all sorts of great bras no matter your size, from sports bras to regular bras to swim wear to nursing bras to breast surgery bras. They make it all. There is no "hard to fit" around here. I'm not even nervous about beginning my quest into nursing bras soon, as today I got to see some of the awesome selections they have. Steven brought bras up to an I cup! (To those reading this with a smaller cup, Anita does start at an A cup for your convenience, too!)

I don't normally do two blog posts in one day but this one needed to be made. Ladies, do yourselves a favor. Get professionally fitted and get yourself some quality bras! One of the highlights of my pregnancy has been being able to work with Anita and thus ridding myself of the discomfort of heavy, annoying breasts. I feel like I've tried just about every brand of bra under the sun. International brands, too. Nothing has ever fit me as perfectly or felt as comfortable as my Anita bras. I'm not a professional by any means, but I can spot quality material when I wear it. These bras? They're quality bras.

Visit anita.com and learn more about some of the products they offer! They don't sell to the public from their website, you'll have to do your ordering from Bare Necessities (don't fear the online ordering -- they have a great exchange system until you find your perfect size and style!).

Review & Giveaway: KUSH Support!

The KUSH is one of those products that fell into my life while I was pregnant and made me wish (over and over again) that I'd known about it prior to my pregnancy. Let's just say that my KUSH and I are totally soulmates. We won't be sleeping without one another ever again now that we've found one another!

Let's talk about breasts, shall we? I entered my pregnancy at a 34F and pregnancy shot me up to a monstrous 36/38H (and as anyone who has been pregnant knows, it doesn't stop with just a size increase but added soreness and discomfort). Even during my pre-pregnancy nights, I found myself sleeping with a bra just for the added support. Going to sleep with a sports bra on is way more restrictive than slipping into a comfortable silk nightgown and crawling under your covers waiting to enter dreamland, but I always assumed it was what I had to do as a woman with larger breasts. As a side-sleeper, pregnancy confirmed this theory of having to strap my breasts in to prepare them for slumber. I thought this was just one of those things that I'd have to deal with without there really being any other alternative.

Then the Kush was brought to my attention.


The Kush, my friends, is awesome. It's uniquely designed to fit between your breasts to maintain a more natural shape while sleeping on your side. The Kush means no more sleeping with bras, no more straps, no more restraints or wires: just a comfortable night of sleep without the pressure of your breasts resting on top of one another (can I also mention that this alleviates back and neck pain, too?). Comfort aside, I want to superficially note that the Kush also prevents wrinkles in your cleavage area as well!

The Kush is everything it's cracked up to be. No more neck pain or back pain (as a small banded, larger cupped woman, this is almost unheard of). No more restrictive sports bra harnesses at nighttime. No more soreness from the weight of my breasts pushing down on one another as I try to fall asleep. Speaking again as a pregnant woman, I should note that the slip-resistant surface of the Kush survives all 5,000 of my middle of the night bathroom breaks and stays securely in place until I wake up in the morning (from a blissful, comfortable night of sleep).

I especially love how the Kush is great for everyone during all phases of life. Larger breasted? Side sleeper? Implants? Post-operative recovery? Nursing? Pregnant? Suffering from back or neck pain? Wanting a non-cream or lotion alternative to preventing cleavage wrinkles? I mean, here's your answer in the form of one amazing creation (that also donates a portion of it's proceeds to breast cancer research -- as if they could even be any more awesome!). Take my word for it, as a pregnant woman with annoyingly large breasts who thought a decent night of sleep might never be possible again: the Kush is a godsend.


My favorite Kush, size medium in "Expectant Mother Blue" (L) and the great bags they come in (R)

Yeah, the Kush is just plain awesome. I like to stand behind products that really do help people and that I really do love, so I want to shout it from the rooftops that the Kush really does support like a dream.

Even better is that the marvelous folks over at Kush are offering my readers a chance to win a Kush of their own! Fear not, ladies, as a fabulous night of sleep isn't that far away!


Here are the details: the great folks at Kush are offering my readers a chance to win a support set of their own with a medium and small Kush!

To enter (you must complete all steps!)...
1. "Like" Kush Support on Facebook!
2. Vote for You Are The Roots on Top Mommy Blogs & Picket Fence Blogs by clicking on the buttons on my main blog page.
3. "Like" You Are The Roots on Facebook.
4. Tell us in a comment why YOU want to try Kush! (PLEASE make sure you include your e-mail address so we are able to contact you if you're the winner!)

Giveaway closes on Tuesday, April 12th at 9:30 a.m. EST. Winner will be announced later in the afternoon!