We recently took our first European vacation with both kids. Traveling with a baby and toddler is not for the faint of heart,  but it is most definitely doable. This topic was probably the most talked about during my travels; for every IG story that I uploaded I had a few moms reach out and ask for ideas for traveling with littles. Europe was our first 8+ hour flight, but we have traveled extensively with them (as soon as their vaccines allowed us). We got our routine and packing list down. It all comes down to planning ahead, packing smart and being patient. You’ll arrive to your destination before you know it. 

All products are linked and available to shop at the bottom of this post. 

Prep & Planning

• If you are traveling with a toddler who’s over two years old (they’ll need their own ticket and seat) make sure you secure seat numbers by paying ahead, you don’t want to end up getting separate seats from your children. If you are able to book a window seat for a toddler you’ll be ahead on the entertaining-while-flying game. 
•  If it’s a long flight and you are traveling with a baby under 12 months-old, I recommend you request a bassinet. They are free but there’s usually only a couple available per flight. They attach to the front wall/partition of the plane so you do have to book those seats first, then call and book the bassinet.
• Because my husband travels so much, and we stick to a single airline, we often get upgraded. Such upgrades often come with bedding and blankets, but I still always pack their Little Giraffe blankets. Eloise has the pink one and Nico has the blue one. They are the warmest most perfect stroller/travel blanket. 
• Bring all of the snacks. Pack a lot of variety and small portions. We usually swap activities and snacks to keep them busy. We usually have: yogurt (frozen sticks), cheerios, crackers, popcorn, cuties/oranges, bananas and M&M’s as a last resource (it’s the iPad of snacks HA!). I love these reusable containers. 

The Carry-On & Stroller 

• Bring a travel stroller. Prior to taking our first flight with Eloise we did extensive research on bringing our existing stroller or buying a travel one. Long story short, airlines often break strollers and they are not responsible for the damage or cost to replace. For this reason we decided to invest in a Silver Cross travel stroller that folds into a carry on. This is our most loved travel baby item, it deserves it’s own post (coming up soon!). It is on the pricier side but there are other good options like this one and this one. 
• Pack a lot of small activities. I have one of these Pehr bags for each of my kids and will typically fill it up with toys when we travel. Some of my favorites include:
• Small play-dough jars
• Stickers
• Gel Clings (Target dollar bin often has seasonal ones for $2 dollars)
• Coloring pad and markers
• Polly Pocket
• Jewelry making set
• Current favorite toy (it’s small Disney princesses for Eloise right now)
• For Nico is usually whatever baby toy he’s into, plus his grapple. This magical device that prevents his toys from falling to the floor.
• We typically use a backpack as a diaper bag when we travel (this Tory Burch has been my go-to since I got it, very roomy and easy to clean). I’ll pack one full extra outfit for each kid for every four hours of flight. So for Europe I had two outfits for each kid plus pajamas. 
• Because I packed more than usual for Europe, I used this carry-on bag. It was great because I could access all of my things easily. 
• For long flights I will pack slippers for my toddler. She usually likes to take her shoes off and slippers are much easier to slide in and out (particularly for bathroom breaks). 
• For Nico I will pack a diaper for every two hours I’ll be out. Never actually go through all of them but I like having enough. 
• Bring the iPad. It is out last resource for entertaining. We will use up all of out other activities before we bring it out. But it does always work. The Peppa Pig app is great and has features that work even if there is no WIFI available. 
• Bring hand sanitizer and wipes. Airplanes are yucky and it’s best to sanitize your space as much as you can before your littles take over the space. We bring Clorox wipes and my favorite sanitizer from Trader Joe’s. 

Packing

• We do one large luggage for both kids and separate their clothes in color coded packing cubes. This helps us find stuff quick as I have a cube for outfits, one for pajamas and one for socks and undies. 
• I pack an outfit per day, plus an extra outfit for every 3 days (which I typically have in my diaper bag). One pajama set per night plus two extra per kid. 
• Both kids have their own monogrammed toiletry bag. That’s where I put Eloise’s bows and accessories as well.
• I pack this drying rack plus my own small detergent. Makes bottle washing at a hotel so much easier.  
• This bottle warmer works like a charm. 
• We travel with our Hatch. Both kids are used to it and we use it to signal it’s time for bed. 
• We always travel with our baby first-aid kit, this bag makes it super easy to spot what we need right away. We typically have:
• Band Aids (Peppa Pig of course)
• Neosporin
• Arnica
• Baby Tylenol
• Baby Motrin
• Fever Patches
• Thermomether
• Nose Frida
• Medi-Frida Pacifier
• Elastic Bandage Wrap
• Dramamine
• Lollipops (works wonders when they are on tears)
• Use a travel wallet to keep track of all your passports and tickets. I have this Smythson one and love all the room and tabs to keep all my things organized. Amazon has this one and this one available at a lower price point too. 

Hope my tips are helpful to you. Traveling with children is different, but seeing your kids enjoying the destination makes it all worth it. 

Until next time, 

Nicole 

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Must-Haves For Baby Number Two

Stroller // Blanket // Bunny // Bottles // Dock-A-Tot

Bath Caddy // Shampoo // Pacifiers // Muslin Blankets 

One of the many joys of having a second baby is being far more relaxed while making preparations. We were so lucky to get everything we needed for Eloise before she was born so we didn't have to buy much this time around. I did make a few purchases because I wanted some updated items for our baby. While there is nothing wrong with boys wearing/using pink, I was really looking forward to getting lots of blue in since it's one of my favorite colors. So here's some of the things we purchased:

1. Uppa Baby Vista 2 Double Stroller in Declan {Oatmeal Color}

This was one of the first purchases we made. I wanted a double stroller that was somewhat light. When Eloise was born I bought the Bugaboo Donkey {which is beautiful by the way} but could not handle the weight so I ended up getting rid of it. This time around I did a lot of research and decided on the Uppa Baby. So far it has been great! Love the height of the stroller and all the storage space. Looking forward to using it as a double once baby arrives. 

2. Little Giraffe Luxe Baby Blanket
Found this brand at Nordstrom while shopping for a travel blanket for Eloise. The size and weight are PERFECT. They are so warm and soft and I feel like they get better with each wash. We got the dusty pink color for Eloise and the Cornflower Blue for baby. Would make a great holiday gift too!

4. Avent Natural Baby Bottle Blue

We used Avent for Eloise and loved them. So easy to clean and store and loved the different sizes and nipples they had available. We added some blue bottles to our stash just for fun. 

5. Dock-A-Tot Cover
This was easily one of our most used baby items. We had Eloise in it until she could no longer fit. It was her favorite spot to nap. I wanted an updated cover and found this gorgeous blue floral from their collaboration with Morris & Co. I loved every print they had and wish I could get them all.

6. Nursery Caddy Tote
We will be doing sink baths for the foreseeable future so this caddy is very handy in keeping things organized and accessible.

 
7. Noodle & Boo Newborn Hair & Body Wash
Love the smell of Noodle & Boo, it's probably my favorite shampoo brand. Could not help myself and had to get a couple bottles for baby.

8. Bibs Baby Pacifier
This brand has the best colors and sizes for pacifiers. Eloise was not a huge fan so I am hoping baby boy will actually like them so I can get all of the colors {mom nerd-alert, I know haha}.

9. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets
We love swaddle blankets! Added a few to our collections with these adorable animal prints that are both masculine and sweet at the same time.

Aside from boy clothing this is pretty much all we have gotten for the baby. I can't believe we are only a couple weeks away!

Stay tuned for a few more blog posts before I go away for a few weeks to attend to my newborn.

All the best,
N. 

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Hatch Collection Dress: One Of My Top Maternity Brands

Dress // Shoes // Sunglasses // Earrings

Hatch Collection is one of those brands that I started to follow long before I became pregnant with my first baby. I love their signature styles of easy flowing dresses and comfortable jumpsuits. I purchased 3 or 4 pieces while pregnant with Eloise and wore them well into my post-partum days. I knew that we wanted to have a second baby so I continued to add a few more items to my wardrobe. This dress is one of those purchases, I got it last summer and I find myself wearing it over and over with espadrilles, sneakers and sandals. As per usual with HATCH, the dress runs true to size and it's machine washable. This will easily transition into Fall once Austin gets cooler {someday!} with suede booties and a chunky cardigan. 

Earlier this week they released their Fall 2021 Collection and there's a few items I'm loving: this dress, this sweater and this amazing set. I want it all! I have been also eyeing this dress for the longest time;  perfect 4th trimester piece. I'll be wearing it long after I am done having babies. 

Until next time!

N. 

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Blues On Blues

Dress // Shoes // Bag // Sunglasses // Earrings

Monochromatic outfits are everywhere lately, I blame it on the return of matching sweatsuits we all have been wearing at home {AKA pandemic fashion}. It was only a matter of time before the tonal outfits started happening in my closet too. I am a big fan of the Royal Dress from Tuckernuck {seen here in red} it is loose, comfortable and looks dressed up without being too constricting. This cotton navy one I am wearing is perfect for the sunny days ahead. Paired it with my monogrammed flats I got myself for Christmas, obsessed with the color and fit! The hand painted monogram gives it such a fun pop of color. The cord earrings have been on my radar for over a year now, but could not decide on a color. Imagine my surprise when I came across a gracious woman who hand makes them for a reasonable price...got myself four different colors and styles already haha. They are SO WELL MADE and light. Can't wait to wear them all summer!

Happy Friday! Hope you have fun socially-distanced Super Bowl plans. We are staying home {duh!} and cooking a few recipes to watch the game. I'm in charge of mac & cheese, wish me luck! 

xx, 

N. 

 

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Happy Birthday Eloise!

Before I had my first baby I remember hearing people talk about how fast time passes and how quickly children grow up. Didn't click in my head until we started preparations for Eloise's first birthday. Where did time go? When did she get so big?.

We are very excited to see her grow into a VERY active toddler but it's also a bit heartbreaking to no longer have that newborn baby that would snuggle against my body all day. Makes no sense when I put it into words but I miss that tiny baby while I'm excited about the one-year old screaming next to me.

Our original preparations were for a much bigger party. Parents and siblings were planning on flying in, we were going to have a dessert bar and a big cake. But COVID changed our plans and we ended up with a small five person party and a DIY balloon arch. I sure wish we could have had the party we originally imagined but this tiny quarONEtine birthday was just as lovely.

Eloise loves pasta so we had it catered by North Italia. Had mimosas and cocktails for our friends and a delicious lemon lavender cake from Sugar Mama Bakery. Guests arrived around noon and we enjoyed charcuterie boards and mimosas while Eloise opened a couple gifts and played with her new toys.

The balloon arch for her cake table is a DIY! That's right! A few people messaged me on Instagram asking about the local vendor and I was sharing with them that I made it myself the night before, took me about two hours and it was $25.00 dollars! I did spend an extra $20 on an electric pump which I highly recommend since it makes the process much easier. You can buy the balloon arch kit here and the pump here.

We ate, danced, opened gifts and played with Eloise until she happily went to bed exhausted. I still cannot believe how big she is. A week before her birthday she started taking her firsts steps and now she is full on speed walking all over the house. Love this nugget of mine!

And here's the monthly shots I did for her, they got increasingly harder as she got older, but it was so much fun to see how much she physically changed from month to month. 

Thanks for reading me, hope you're staying safe and healthy. 

xx, Nicole 

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Favorite Baby Products // Newborn to Six Months

SNOO // Baby Gym // Sound Machine // MediFrida 

Diaper Bag // High Chair // Bouncer // Stroller 

 Dock A Tot // NoseFrida // Bath Cushion

Eloise is officially seven months old, we have been out of the ‘newborn’ phase for a while now. While some things get much easier to handle {sleep} others get more complicated {mobility}. In Eloise’s first six months we have come across several products that quickly became favorites. Here’s a few of our must-haves from newborn to six months. There are some favorite travel products that have also made life on the road easier, but I will do a separate post for those. Hope this list is helpful for those of you who are working on your registries!

Snoo
With its $1295 price tag it is definitely an investment, but QUITE helpful. We had Eloise in it a lot when she was a newborn. It’s like a robot mom that rocks your baby while you do other things like shower or eat. She outgrew the length before we hit the max weight {we have a tall girl!} but we loved it. It is beautiful and loved the clean look in our bedroom. It is now safely tucked in a closet waiting for baby # 2 (someday).

Tiny Love Magical Tales Gymini
We own two of these, we keep one downstairs and one upstairs. One of the easiest ways to keep her entertained. She has been laying in these ever since she was a newborn. Loves all the hanging toys, and now that she rolls over she plays with the ribbons sewn into the mat for her entertainment. She often hangs on it while we drink our morning coffee and read the news. 

HATCH
We still use this every night. Eloise’s bedroom faces the front of our house so it can get quite noisy. Has different light colors and sounds to choose from and it’s very light. You can use the app or manually turn it on/off and change the settings.

MediFrida
We discovered this $12 dollar device at Target during a trip to Arizona. Eloise had a cold and we were having the hardest time giving her medicine because she would spit it up. Bough this on a whim and it’s magical! She has allergies and takes syrup medicine every day, this little device make it an easy step during our busy mornings.

Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag
Wanted a simple sleek diaper back that would be roomy enough for everything but not too bulky. This black one is perfect because Carlos is able to use it as well. It has a diaper change pad that rolls out and makes everything very accessible. Love the leather tabs and nylon fabric that’s easy to wipe down. One of our most used items for sure. We don’t use this bag for daycare. We have this Baggu tote bag that fits all of her daily needs.

Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair
We had initially registered for a high chair at Target. We had no idea what to look for and we picked on a whim. After a few months {and visits} I discovered this lovely little chair at Nordstrom. I loved the clean look and the different color options. Everything is sold separately {cusions, tray, chair} but it is so worth it. We decided to go for it since it is an item that would be sitting in our dining room for years to come. It is very sturdy, safe and comfortable. Worth every penny. 

BabyBjorn Bouncer
Still use this, though it’s becoming more difficult as she is more interested in sitting up rather than resting. This little device went all over the house with us the first few months: on the porch during summer while we had our morning coffee, on the kitchen island while we cooked dinner, on the bathroom floor while I was home alone taking a shower and even in the laundry room while I was folding clothes. She took naps in it and hung out while we did stuff around the house. The fabric slip is easily washable. Such great item for your registry. 

Maxi Cosi Zelia Max Stroller
This was a gift from Maxi Cosi and it was heaven sent, We had initially purchased the Bugaboo Donkey {knowing we wanted two babies eventually} but it turned out to be incredibly heavy and bulky for my relatively small SUV {I drive a Volvo XC60}. When Eloise was two months Maxi Cosi reached out about a partnership and I got this stroller. It’s amazing! It’s a two piece stroller, comes with a super comfortable ergonomic car seat {Eloise HATED her prior Chicco car seat} and has so much space for all the stuff we carry. We use it every weekend and can’t say enough great things about it. The price is great considering you are getting a bundle of stroller and car seat; and it’s a great looking stroller. Very clean and modern. One of our most loved items for sure. 

Dock A Tot
We registered for this not knowing much about it. I did some research and everyone seemed to love it so I added it to my list. Yes, it is just a cushion and yes it is $200 dollars. I figured we could use the registry discount at the end if we really wanted it; to my surprise my co-workers {who are AWESOME} got it for me. Such a great gift. We used it every day up until Eloise was about 5 months old. It literally ‘docks’ the baby in place so we can move around. She would take naps on it, drink her bottle, hang out {always supervised} while comfortably hanging in there. I have the white one, we would toss a blanket over it to keep it clean longer.

NoseFrida
I was the first one to scream horrified once I realized what this product was…”suck snot with my mouth!? I DON’T THINK SO!” Little did I know it would become one of our most used products. Works wonderfully when cleaning up baby’s nose. And no, the snot does not make it to your mouth, it doesn’t even reach further than the tip of the pen-like device. It is a life saver, there is nothing more frustrating and scary than seeing your baby struggling to breath because of a cold.

Blooming Bath Lotus
When I was pregnant bath time for a newborn seemed like the most terrifying experience for me. I thought a small wet squirmy baby was an accident waiting to happen, I made Carlos and mom do all her baths the first few times. Then I realize how helpful this flower was. You lay it on your sink and the baby comfortably rests while you do the rest. Used it every night for the first five months, until she got too big for the sink and uses a regular tub now.

Hope this list was helpful! Can’t wait to fill you in on my favorite travel items for baby; writing these posts is so much fun!

Everyhting is linked below the picture or under the SHOP tab.

xx,
N.

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