sahd – BurritoBuzz

Delta DX Side by Side Stroller {Review}

Published on September 13, 2016September 8, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

I had been dragging my feet about getting a second double stroller. We have an awesome hand-me-down double jogger that has been well loved, but it’s perfect until it’s not. Almost all double strollers have three things in common:

THEY ARE HUGE, HEAVY AND EXPENSIVE.

Just about every single one on the market. I got to thinking, how long are they really going to tolerate sitting in a stroller? Is it worth spending $300 on the one I really want? In the end my answer was no, it was most definitely not worth it. Even though I didn’t see the value in a super expensive, but more compact double stroller, I also needed something to help me out.

You can’t baby wear all the time. I do a lot, but in some situations it’s just not the easiest. Don’t even get me started on tandem wearing toddlers. Good grief is it a hassle. When we were getting ready to go on vacation, I decided that we had to get something. Long walks, back and forth to the pool, shopping, going in and out of attractions, whatever vacation might bring, I didn’t want to be chasing my toddler and fighting my one year old to stay on my back. I asked some friends what they used and came across this gem of a stroller.

I always thought that umbrella strollers were cheap and not worth my money, but I was incredibly wrong!

Details:

Super compact fold for travel and storage. I can literally shove it under their seats behind my seat, it’s super small!
Two separate canopies
Soft and comfortable handles
360 degree shock absorbing, locking front wheels
Large 6”front and back wheels
Back wheel brakes
JPMA certified and exceeds all ASTM and applicable CPSC standards
Assembled Dimensions (in inches): 22.8 (width) by 36.8 (height) by 18.5 (depth)
Weight: 19.16 lbs
Each seat has a 35 lb weight limit
Fits through standard 30″ wide doorways
Cup holder with 2 attachment points and 2 hanging storage bags
Foot push to collapse and one lever to secure close

Pros:

Assembly was a breeze. All you had to do was pop the wheels on and take some plastic off. It literally took me two minutes.
Super easy to move! You can push it with one finger with the kids in it.
It fits through doors! I haven’t had a door that I couldn’t get through and because it is so compact, you don’t have to have anyone hold the door open for you to get through.
The 35 lb weight limit is great! I know I am going to get a lot of use out of this even though I have large toddlers.
It’s a very smooth ride. I can go in and out of stores, through door ways, over hills, up embankments and over gravel, and my kids stay asleep.
It’s not heavy! I can carry my one year old on one hip, fold the stroller and get it in the car. Thank you Stroller Gods!
Tiny, tiny, tiny. You can fit this stroller into any car and it’s great for travel when you have more than your stroller to put in your trunk. My big jogger literally takes up my entire cargo area.
Cup holder fits adult cups!
Reflective material. The white stripes are reflective, so if you take evening walks, you don’t have to worry about pushing a black stroller and no one seeing it.
It’s inexpensive but high quality. I’ve had this stroller for about a month and have used it almost daily. There is no sign of any wear and tear and nothing feels cheap or like it’s going to break. If I didn’t tell you that it was cheap, you wouldn’t know it!
Delta Children City Street Side by Side Stroller, Black

Cons:

The canopies are small and don’t really do a whole lot. I didn’t purchase it with a canopy in mind, but after a few times of walking directly into the sun, I wish I would have taken the very small canopy into consideration. I throw an Aden + Anais swaddle` over them and it’s fine, but that’s not always convenient.
The wheels are super small, making rough terrain difficult to navigate.
The description on their site and on Amazon says that it has a “Large Under-Frame Storage Bag” and it does not. I thought I would be able to slide a diaper bag under the seats or something and that is not the case. There are the two small hanging bags on the back of the seat that work nicely for a few diapers and wipes, but that is about all they can hold.
Advertised as a 5 point harness and it’s not.
The handles are short (as are most umbrella strollers). I am 5’4″ and I have no problem, but my 5’11” husband wasn’t too happy with them after a while.

Overall, this stroller is amazing! My complaints are small and I do not regret purchasing it at all. A few changes would make it a little better, but for the amazing price, it can’t be beat! If you have a second little one on the way, this is definitely a must have!

– Amanda

27 Steps to Being an Awesome Stay-at- Home-Mom

Published on September 9, 2016September 9, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

Wake up before your kids.
Schedule your meals and cook ahead to save time.
Always plan time for your own physical activity.
Have a set routine.
Be sure to have naptime and meals at the same time every day.
Schedule your cleaning and only tackle one chore a day.
Don’t forget to have play dates.
This list is a bunch of crap… Sorry about the click bait.

If you’re a stay at home parent, you’re laughing hysterically at this list because 99% of the time all of those are virtually impossible.

I am so sick of seeing Mommy Blog posts about “How to be a Stay at Home Mom”

10 Things To Ensure You Are A Great Stay At Home Mom

6 Ways To Be A Productive Stay At Home Mom

How To Afford Being a Stay At Home Mom

Habits of an Effective Stay At Home Mom

It’s all a bunch of malarkey. You want to know why? Because it looks different for every single mom. Heck, sometimes it looks completely different and it’s a stay at home dad.**gasp** I’m guilty though, because yes, I do click on and read almost all of them. Hoping and praying that somehow this little circus that I got myself into can be more manageable. Honestly, I wish I had an answer for all of your stay at home mom questions, but I don’t. I have tips and tricks that have worked for me and my family, but I guarantee that they won’t work for everyone.

What will help is some brutal honesty.

You will never sleep. Like ever. It just doesn’t happen. We get the kids to bed, I try to get some chores done, spend time with my husband, get ready for bed and by the time I am in bed it is 11pm. In two or three hours, my 2 year old will be up wandering the halls asking for her soccer ball or something ridiculous. After getting her back to bed, I lay back down and generally get another 2 hours of sleep because one or both of my little ones are up at 5 AM every day. Every single day. Today it was 4:45…

3 or 4 hours of sleep at night on repeat. My husband works nights, so sleep is just out of the questions for like, ever. Getting up early for “me time” and to get ready for the day is hilarious.

I have some OCD tendencies but I despise housework. It’s not that I don’t do it. My house is almost always spotless. Especially if we are planning on having company over. I do it, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Your chores never go away. It is a constant stream of dishes, laundry, vacuuming, picking up, dusting, washing the floors, cleaning up outside, cleaning up after pets, picking up toys. Your house never gets a break. No one is at work and daycare all day. It is constantly getting filthy. It might not stay that way for long, but you never stop moving. Between chasing kids and picking up toys, you don’t sit down a whole lot. I never understand when people say they love doing dishes or laundry. I never used to hate it, but I do now. It’s a constant chore that never ends. Someone always has something dirty in their room or on them, and there is always a sippy cup or snack cup hidden away that needs washed.

I told my husband the other day that I am an awesome stay at home mom but I suck at being a housewife. There are many days when I am asked what’s for dinner and the answer is “whatever you can find and you better use paper products.”

It’s hard. Our job is never done.

Your coworkers like to touch you a lot, they are mean sometimes and they don’t do a whole lot of work. Quietly sitting at the computer typing this post and que the 2 year old that just jumped on my back requesting a “pony ride.” There is also a 1 year old over in the corner emptying a basket full of freshly folded clothes on top of the very hairy lab.

You’re never alone. There isn’t a lot of explanation for this. It’s simple. You are your children’s everything, so that means they have to be attached to you all day long. Good luck with your coffee break. I just warmed mine up for the 3rd time this morning.

People will ask you if you want help all the time. Believe it or not, I really can do this. I have two kids and taking them to the store with me is my job. Cleaning my house with kids at home is my job, among many other things.

I will let you spend time with my kids, and sometimes, yes you do need to get out, but I promise you can do chores and things without people helping you all the time. Help is nice. I have been getting better about letting people give me a hand, but just be warned. People have this attitude that because you didn’t wash your hair today that you must need help. It’s annoying and approaching disrespectful. If I was anyone else doing a hard job, would you offer to give me a break because I had a long day? This is a 24/7 job and I am well aware that I signed up for a crazy job.

When are you getting a real job? ……Please ask me that one more time, I dare you. People even say “I just could never stay home and not work, I would have to get a real job and provide for my child.” So when you are at your “real job”, do you hire a real person to watch your kids or a fake one? People are ignorant, say it to your face and want an actual answer, like what they said wasn’t the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard. I am warning you now, if you haven’t heard it already, you will.

Being a homebody isn’t a bad thing. I love being at home. Ever heard of yoga pants and leggings? An endless supply of coffee and baby breath? Keep it coming. I literally have to pump myself up to go out with friends. Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends. I love spending time with other adults. I know it is important. I just like my kids, my coffee, my Netflix and my blog more than dinner and drinks.

“Affording” to be a stay at home mom isn’t easy. Affording is in quotes because I am still trying to figure that out. I am not a couponer. I shop sales and I shop at Aldi. We don’t do a lot of extra stuff, we are a middle class suburban family and I am happy that way. We don’t always get all the new shiny things we want, and there are times that I look back at a month when we had extra expenses and wonder how we did it. But you make it. I promise that there is always a way that things work out. All we knew was that we could pay all of our bills and a little more on one income, that we wanted the kids to have me 24/7, until they were at least in school and that we were going to make it work.

You will never regret the decision to stay home and it is so much fun! I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom. Luckily, my dream came true. Such a simple dream. There is never a bad day when I say “if I could just clock out and go to work.” You will never regret getting extra time with your kids. Getting to see every single milestone unfold before your eyes. Teaching them everything and watching them learn from you. It really is a gift. Don’t take it lightly and don’t brag to your working mom friends about it either.

Not everyone can do it. Being a stay at home mom is not for everyone and there is nothing wrong with that. Working parents are beyond awesome! I have a friend who is an amazing mother but would lose her mind if she was surrounded by her kids all day. Not everyone can do it and that’s completely normal. If you are a working parent, don’t feel bad about working. You spend time and teach your children in your own way, and provide them with awesome caregivers.

Time is fleeting and whatever time we get with our tiny humans is a blessing.

Now that this written maybe I wrote it for myself, to make me feel better. I don’t know. I just hope that someone can relate and has days where they feel like this is the craziest job on the planet, too. ❤

– Amanda

Weleda Skin Care For Moms & Babies {GIVEAWAY!}

Published on August 30, 2016August 26, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

We all want the best for our little ones. Many children have sensitive skin and/or allergies. The worst thing about it is, as a parent, it is so hard to figure out what causes your child’s sensitive skin. My little girl has always had sensitive skin. She breaks out all the time and most of the time, we have no idea what caused it. I am really hoping that she grows out of it, but in the meantime, I seek out organic and extremely gentle products for my babies.

The Weleda Baby Calendula line is absolutely fantastic for allergy prone skin.

First of all, calendula is a flower that is used in multiple ways for health and wellness, but it is mainly used for skin care and as an anti-inflammatory. It is a great moisturizer, helps reduce pain and helps soothe irritated skin. Weleda’s flowers are organically grown in their own gardens in Germany. Weleda has an extensive line of creams, oils, and soaps for all your baby care needs.

ALL OF THEIR PRODUCTS ARE:

Certified natural and dermatologist tested safe for babies.

Free of parabens and other chemical preservatives, synthetic fragrance and petroleum ingredients.

Not tested on animals

Free of GMOs

Diaper Rash Cream

This cream is one of the best I have used in a long time! BK#2 has horrible diaper rash on a regular basis. Any time he cuts a tooth or a dirty diaper doesn’t get changed immediately, he breaks out in a rash and even gets blisters. It’s absolutely heart breaking and I wish I could just let him stay in the nude all the time to help prevent it. This cream got rid of a bumpy and horrifying red rash in one diaper change.

Cloth diaper friendly cream!

It’s thick, but creamy and easily wipes from your finger without leaving a horrible smell.

Key ingredients include: calendula flower extract, sweet almond oil, clary sage oil, beeswax and 12% zinc oxide.

A 2.8oz tube is priced at $14. I found this to be the only downside because it is pretty expensive for such a small tube. Right now it is pretty well discounted on amazon at $8.45, so I will probably be placing an order here soon.
Weleda Calendula Baby Diaper Rash Cream 2.8-Ounce

Body Cream

This is a pretty typical cream. I felt it was more of a lotion than a cream. It is pretty thin and absorbs fairly quickly. As all of the calendula products do, this smells amazing! It’s the perfect amount moisture to keep your little one’s skin nourished daily, but is rich enough that it soothes dry and irritated skin. I have really sensitive, dry, and eczema prone skin, so I was slathering it on and I really like it!

This body cream doubles as a diaper cream as a preventative barrier when your baby doesn’t have a rash.

Key ingredients: calendula, sesame oil, lanolin and almond oil.

A 2.5oz bottle is $12.50 but it’s on sale right now on Amazon! Weleda Baby Calendula Baby Cream 2.5 oz

Face Cream

The face cream was just a little thicker than the body cream and it smelled exactly the same. My littles don’t really get dry skin on their face, but they had awful baby acne and flakey faces as infants so I am sure this would have a God send when they were tiny. There aren’t many lotions specifically for a baby’s face.

Infants get the most random rashes on their faces and most of the time the doctors can’t or won’t do anything because they are so little. A baby face cream gives you the ability to soothe your baby without having to resort to any type of prescriptions.

Key ingredients: sweet almond oil, calendula, lanolin, and beeswax

IIt’s a little more pricey, but again, it’s cheaper on Amazon at $8.16! Seeing a pattern yet? BurritoBuzz moms love Amazon! Weleda Baby Calendula Face Cream, 1.7-Ounce

Shampoo and Body Wash

I really liked this wash. It wasn’t heavily scented, didn’t bubble up too much and get in their eyes, and it cleaned up any sticky mess my babies were covered in at the end of the day. The wash also has just enough moisture in it to not need a conditioner for babies that have a lot of hair. It left my babies with silky soft curly locks!

It’s tear free and naturally fragranced with essential oils, so there is no worry about the suds getting in tiny and delicate little eyes.

Ingredients: calendula, coco-glucoside, disodium cocoyl glutamate,

I will most definitely be purchasing this again because it worked really well and it is priced right at $13 for 6.8oz. Weleda Calendula Baby Shampoo and Body Wash, 6.8-Ounce

Baby Oil

I know not everyone uses baby oil on their babies and kids, but I love it. I have super dry easily-irritated skin, so I try to keep up with theirs as much as I can. Baby oil gives them just a little bit more than a lotion would to lock in all the moisture. I generally only put it on them after a bath and before bed. That way it has all night to soak in. This has such a mild scent and I didn’t feel like I was overwhelming them with scent like some that I have used. It absorbs extremely fast and doesn’t leave a residue if you get it on clothes. The only down side is the hole in the spout is pretty large. I have had much more than I wanted come out multiple times!

Key Ingredients: calendula, chamomile and sesame oil

Priced at $17.50 for 6.85 oz but I feel like this will probably last me a very long time. Well worth the price! Weleda Calendula Baby Oil, 6.8 Ounce

Stretch Mark Massage Oil

My littles left me looking like a tiger. Not just on my belly but everywhere! I am talking my stomach, thighs, calves and chest. I blew up like a balloon. I always try any stretch mark oil that I can get my hands on!

This oil was great. It wasn’t sticky or thick and didn’t leave much of a residue.

I didn’t have much of a result with the oil, but man it was nice. I did notice that my stretch marks were slightly lighter and not as rough around the edges. So that’s a big plus! I’m sure with more time it will do more!

A 3.4 oz bottle is $25.50 but on Amazon, it’s only $15! Weleda: Pregnancy Body Oil for Stretch Marks, 3.4 oz

Nursing Tea

Weleda Nursing Tea is a blend of 100% organic herbs that supports lactation and soothes digestion. Organic fenugreek seed, used traditionally to increase milk supply, is mixed with organic anise seed, organic fennel seed and other organic herbs to help ease digestion, for both mother and baby.

You get 20 bags in a box for $12.50. Nursing Tea Weleda 20 Bag

We obviously love Weleda! It’s such an awesome company with great products! They also sent us several products to do a giveaway!

How to enter:

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook.
Like Weleda
Comment and tag friends!
Winner will be drawn at random on September 4, 2016!

Good Luck!

– Amanda

**BurritoBuzz received these products at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

8 Annoying Toys for Babies & Toddlers

Published on August 13, 2016August 9, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

When you become a parent, you also become an expert on all things that are annoying. It just comes with the territory. I think toy companies create the most annoying toys for babies and toddlers to drive their parents insane. Literally. Whether or not you buy these annoying toys, or if you try to keep them out of your house, they’ll still likely end up in you child’s toy box thanks to birthdays, holidays or from grandparents who love to spoil their grandchildren. As a mom to an almost four year old and four month old, I’m remembering all of the annoying baby toys my oldest used to have (and thought I got rid of forever) because they’ve once again popped up in our toy boxes. Here is a list of the most annoying toys (baby and toddler) according to me:

Brilliant Basics Corn Popper by Fisher-Price – you all know why this is at the top of the list. It is possibly the most annoying toy ever created (thanks Fisher-Price!) Baby just pushes it and pop, pop, pop, pop, pop goes the balls. It. Never. Ends. If someone gifts your child this toy, they secretly despise you.
See n’ Say by Fisher-Price – it seems like Fisher-Price makes several toys that torment parents. This toy is decades old, I remember annoying my mom with it as a child. Point the arrow at an animal and pull the lever down to hear what animal is is and what is says. You’ll hear “the cow goes moooooooooooooo” over and over and over.
Any kind of musical instrument – this is self explanatory. I love music and my husband is a musician but we cannot stand hearing the our toddler’s toy instruments. Her keyboard, maracas, tambourine, drums and recorder (oh, the recorder is a nightmare) are often hidden because they’re just too much for us to hear all at once when our daughter is playing in her “band”.
Go Baby Go!™ 1-2-3 Crawl-Along Snail by Fisher-Price – another Fisher-Price toy, this snail would always start singing and lighting up when just sitting in the toy box with no one near it because there are no buttons to push to make it turn on. Simply touching it turns it on. Its songs and sound effects are highly annoying and my crazy kids absolutely love it.
Playskool Poppin’ Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper by Playskool – the fan noise this
thing projects is really annoying in and of itself but then it spits balls all over the place. My precious toddler loves throwing them at at me. They’re good for target practice I guess.
Doc McStuffins Musical Light-Up Microphone – my husband brought this home for our daughter about a month ago and I thank my lucky stars everyday that he did (I’m being totally sarcastic). This thing never freaking stops and it’s so loud that it wakes my sleeping baby during nap time when my oldest plays with it. It’s now hiding on the top shelf of her closet and won’t be found for some time.
My Pal Scout & Violet by Leapfrog – at first I loved this dog when my oldest got it as a gift a few years. I liked that it could be programmed with your child’s name so it could talk to them. But the buttons get jammed and the songs get stuck on one word or sound and it just repeats. The only way to stop it just turning it off or taking out the batteries. So annoying.
Shake & Sounds Learning Pup by VTech – the only thing I can’t stand about this puppy is the constant barking. It’s cute and my daughter loves to play with it (she even named it Pumpkin Bubble Gum) but it barks. All. The. Time.

This is by no means a complete list, because according to my husband, any toy that lights up and makes noise is annoying. This is just a small list of the most annoying toys (in my opinion) that we own or have owned. My husband and I often talk about taking the kids’ noisiest toys outside and going Office Space on their annoying asses.

If you have an annoying or noisy toy that you’d add to my list, let me know in the comments or tell us in the comments on this post on Facebook or Instagram! I know I am missing a lot and I’m curious which toys to stay away from!

– Casey

Baby Spring Float by SwimWays {Review}

Published on July 17, 2016July 14, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

I have been prepping like a mad woman for our end- of-summer vacation! Taking BK#1 &#2 on vacation is not going to be an easy task. I have been diligently researching and trying to make sure we have all the essentials to make this an enjoyable and fun vacation! I might be wound a little tight, but my anxiety kicks in and I kinda loose it thinking about a 10 hour car ride, miles of open play areas, sleeping arrangements, making sure we don’t forget anything, oh and safety!

Obviously, I have been looking into beach safety, but I have really been worried about the pool! We don’t have one at home, so my babies aren’t around them often. Besides that, they are 1 and 2! Rules don’t mean a whole lot to them right now! When I came across the SwimWays Baby Spring Float (Whale), I was so relieved! Most baby floats have a weight limit that my oldest child exceeds and usual pool floaties are only safe when your child is at least 30 pounds, so my toddler can’t use ones like the Puddle Jumper! SwimWays covered that 20-30 lbs gap that most floats don’t.

About the Spring Float:

No weight limit.. within reason. Don’t try and put your 4 year old in it.
Ages 9-24 months
It comes in different color patterns and they are all adorable!
Low seat provides secure center of gravity
It has their patented “inner spring” for better stability in the water.
Flat area around them to put toys on or to splash without flipping into the water.
Folds flat and compact for easy storage and portability – it’s perfect for travel! I was going to wait and post this review in my Beach Babies post, but it’s too awesome not to share now.
Very light and comes with a mesh storage bag.
Some styles comes with removable and adjustable sun canopy.

This float is priced fabulously! Only about $18. The construction of this float is superb and I’m sure it will hold up for a long time! Even though the price point is affordable, they didn’t skimp on quality.

While doing research on it, I found some people were upset because water got on top of the float. I didn’t have this problem, but I did see some photos where people didn’t blow up the little air pockets. It is designed like a pop up kid’s play tent, but you still have to inflate it! Be sure to follow the directions when you use it.

I am very happy with the Spring Float and it is definitely a must-have for summer! Keep a look out for an update on this post. I will probably add some more pictures when we use it at the beach!

– Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

{Jellycat} My Favorite Baby Shower Gift

Published on July 7, 2016July 6, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

I adore all things baby. I mean, who doesn’t? Baby clothes and toys are just adorable 100% of the time. When we had a shower for BK#1, we received our first Jellycat and I fell in love! Above is our little Jellycat collection.

Woodland Fox Woodland Owl Bashful Hippo Bashful Monkey

These are my favorite stuffed animals and the cutest ones I have ever come across. They are a cross between a beanie baby and a super plush stuffed animal. The hands and feet generally have the beanies and the rest is an amazingly plush body. I love that they are all an A-line design. Meaning that the neck is generally smaller than the rest of the body, making it really easy for a younger child to hold. They are the perfect size for a little one to carry around.

They are all suitable from birth!
Made of polyester, filled plastic pellets and all have plastic eyes
Spot clean only
They’re available in multiple sizes and styles. All of ours are 12 inches.

Besides being very lovable, Jellycat made them even better and matched them up with their own board books! Each character has its own book. They are all little sensory baby books, but BK#1 is two now and still asks me to read them on a daily basis!

I also have never had a stuffed animal that has held up this well! Technically, you aren’t supposed to wash them but we all know sometimes you have no other option. The monkey in the picture has been washed more times than I can count and it still looks and feels like its new! I honestly should buy a second monkey to have a backup because I don’t even want to think about what would happen if BK#1 didn’t have it to sleep with.

The price is based on the style and size but they are generally around $15-$25. The books are usually $12.50 but sometimes you can find a sale on Amazon or at your local boutique!

Visit Jellycat.com to see all of the styles and products that they carry.

If you have a baby sprinkle or shower coming up and can’t decide what to buy, a Jellycat stuffed animal and book set would be the perfect gift!

– Amanda

Gun Safety In The Home

Published on July 3, 2016July 3, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

Self-defense is a very big part of my family’s life. My husband is in law enforcement and keeping our family safe is extremely important to us.

There is a lot of debate about gun control right now, but I am not going to get into that here. Owning a gun is your right and your choice. If your family makes that choice, it needs to be an safe and educated choice! BurritoBuzz is not taking a stance on your gun rights. This is merely an informational article.

I am personally not an expert. These safety tips are just from my family’s safety practices, years of education and experiences.

Twelve steps to safely have a gun in your home.

Always use a safe. Your safe should be specifically made for guns and it should only hold guns, you should have a completely different safe for personal belongings. Even if the kids know there are guns in the home, they shouldn’t know where the safe is or have any type of access to it even if they are within age of teaching gun safety. There should always be parental supervision even when teaching.
Gunvault GV1000S Mini Vault Standard Gun Safe This is a simple hand gun safe that we have. I really like it for two reasons. One, you can bolt it anywhere you want to conceal it and two, you don’t have to fumble around for keys. (There is a key provided, but not necessary to open)
Learn how to properly handle a firearm. Whether you take a CCW class or a small class at your local range, you need to learn about your personal gun to ensure proper safety and use make sure you are knowledgeable in your specific firearm.
Practice. You have a gun for emergencies. It is not going to do you any good if you don’t know how to handle it properly. I’m not saying you have to go to the range every weekend, but you should go at least once or twice so you feel comfortable having it in your home and now how to properly handle it.
Ease of access. The gun needs to be secured in a hidden safe but somewhere where you can get to it easily.
Teach everyone in your home about firearm safety. Read up on Project child safe and get here their free firearm safety kit!
Always unload and clean your gun after every use. Any firearm should also be cleaned on a regular basis even, when not in use, to keep it clean from dust and to prevent any rust.
All guns should be treated as if they were loaded. When not actually in use, remember to point it in a safe direction and be sure it is unloaded.
Keep your finger off the trigger.
Always keep your safety in place.
Your children and “Gun play”. It is a very real activity. Even if you don’t have any play guns in your own home, be sure to teach your children the difference between toy guns and real guns, because they may encounter “gun play” when you’re not around.
Talk to your children at a young age about gun safety. Teach them to do the following if they see a gun: “Stop. Don’t Touch. Find an adult to tell.” My husband carries a gun on him at times and my two year old knows not to touch it when it’s attached to daddy (or ever for that matter). Even if you aren’t going to have your gun around your children, please teach them those three steps. It is a simple lesson and it may save a life.
Check state and local laws for storage, transport, and securing requirements. Here is a great overview.

As parents, we are always worrying about our children. We are always worrying if we are doing the right or wrong thing for them. No matter how you do it, I can assure you that if you are taking steps to protect them, you are doing the right thing no matter how you choose to do protect them. If you choose to have a gun in your home, please do it safely! Guns are not toys or collectables. I will be sure to post more about gun safety at the end of this post. The more you educate yourself about this topic, the safer you and your family will be!

– Amanda

Bebámour BéBéar Baby Carrier {Review}

Published on July 1, 2016July 1, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

Wearing my little ones makes my life so much easier! With a two year old and almost one year old, it seems like someone always wants held. Thankfully, I found the babywearing world when BK#1 was only a few months old. I’ve used so many different types of carriers since she was born (soft structured carriers like this one and the Tula/Lille, stretchy wraps, woven wraps, etc.) When the BurritoBuzz moms were approached about Bebamour, I was very interested in trying a product that I had honestly never heard of.

This carrier is very different than any carrier I have tried. It took quite a bit of practice to feel comfortable carrying my child.

The Bebámour Bébéar Carrier is a 3-in-1 functional baby carrier: infant carry, “single hip seat” and baby carrier combined the with hip seat.

The weight limit is 43 pounds.

The waist band measures as small as 25 inches or as large as 46 inches.

Mesh linings that can be zipped up or stay closed.

It includes the sleeping hood, 2 baby bibs, neck support and zippered Pocket

PROS:

It’s a bright fun color! I love when my carriers have personality, especially when I feel like I wear them more than clothes.

Pocket placement is great. I have been saying for a while that I need a carrier with a side waistband pocket. With most SSCs you can’t reach your pocket if your baby is on your back. This waistband pocket isn’t that big, but great for keys, ID and/or debit card.

Shoulder straps are very soft.

The chest clip straps moved easily. I like to move my chest strap, depending on what carry I have my child in, so being able to move my chest strap easily is essential.

The zip up front panel with mesh lining makes it really nice for hot weather.

CONS:

The waist belt is extremely odd. There is a large hard styrofoam insert inside the belt which is the seat for your child. I haven’t quite figured out why, but you can completely detach the carrier from the waist band so that your child can just sit on the seat. This is in no way realistic or safe in my opinion. Supposedly, it’s meant to comfortably carry your child’s weight but it was not comfortable and the belt sags when the child is sitting on it.

Securing the waistband is time consuming and I didn’t feel like it was safe either. It velcros on and has a larger snap, but that larger snap does not have safety elastic around it in case it would come undone, a feature most carriers have now.

If you chose to wear the carrier without the waistband, the carrier is no longer ergonomic and your child’s legs are no longer in an “M” position.

If you wear your baby in the optional front carry, your child’s legs are also no longer in an ergonomic position.

Read more why the “M” position is essential to baby wearing here !

You must strap your baby to the carrier and then place the carrier to your body. You can’t put the carrier on and then put baby in. Eventually, I got to a point where I could snap my baby in quick enough, but I have quite a bit of experience in wearing my babies. For someone new to wearing their child, this carrier would most likely discourage them because it is so difficult. In my opinion babywearing should be simple, quick and easy!

Be sure to have a helper to put this carrier on your back. There was no safe and easy way to do it because the large seat got in the way and I couldn’t reach the straps.

They don’t have a US website that I could find and there aren’t many resources to help with this carrier.

The Amazon listing says that there are videos on YouTube. Yes there are, but they are all in Chinese. I watched every single video related to this carrier and was able to get the gist of it, but it was not because I understood what they were saying. Along those same lines, the instruction manual that came with the carrier wasn’t even partially in English. If something is sold on an American site (Amazon) the resources should be accessible in English. [I have the English translation at the bottom of this post.]

Using a carrier incorrectly is extremely dangerous to the baby wearer and the baby. The company did email us an English translation, however it should be policy to be printed in multiple languages.

I did not find the carrier to be very comfortable. The weight of the baby is not distributed evenly which resulted in aching shoulders, hips and back. I can wear my children for hours and often at the same time, but I couldn’t wear this carrier for more than 15 minutes with my 26 pound son. The shoulder straps dug in and were especially uncomfortable. Also, you can’t easily bend over, because the hard seat is in your way, rubbing against the front of your hips.

The listing says that it comes with baby bibs for the straps, but it did not. I am not sure if there is a way to order them separately, but they looked nicer than ones that I have had to purchase separately for my other carriers.

All in all, this carrier is a nice idea but poor execution. There is a lot of work to be done to make it a safe and practical carrier for all parents. I hope to see improvements in the future!

– Amanda

BurritoBuzz Is Now On YouTube! | Bluum Box Subscription

Published on June 23, 2016June 24, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

You can now see what we are like in person! I have been wanting to do little videos, and I finally got the guts to do it! Vlogging is a whole new world! Bare with me while I work all of the kinks out and figure out the best ways to do things. I am not a public speaker, so this is totally something new for me. I felt like the easiest way to talk about some products and just life in general was to start a YouTube channel.

I have a review coming up that will be mostly all on Youtube, because there is no good way to take pictures of a book we got.

Here is the video! Be sure to like the video and subscribe to our channel. You will get an email when a video is posted and chances are you will see it before there is a blog post about it!

Mudpuppy Under the Sea Puzzle Wheel

Babyganics Alcohol Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer – Mandarin – 1.69 oz

Nature’s Baby Organics PU All Purpose Deodorizer, Lavender Chamomile, 4-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2)

Baby BanZ Boys 2-7 Adventure Kidz Trunk, Camo Bloom, 2-5 Years

Thanks for watching!

~Amanda

Cake Maternity Nursing Bra {Review}

Published on June 17, 2016June 17, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

Maternity and nursing apparel can be fun and exciting to shop for, but I have always found it inevitably frustrating. Nothing I found ever fit the way I really wanted it to or it wasn’t as comfortable as it should have been. I started transitioning into nursing bras about halfway through my pregnancies for a few reasons. My milk came in super early, so I needed something that would clean up easily and with that, I grew very quickly. My bras now needed to be a little more comfortable.

After two babies I have found that nursing bras either are functional or they are cute, never both. I was always frustrated that I could never find a bra that was supportive enough for my surprise DD’s and not frumpy. Anything that was lacy and pretty ended up being too thin and not giving enough support, or had super stiff underwire making it extremely uncomfortable. Some companies have cute “demi” styles which I quickly found out that a leaking nip creeping out the top of your bra is not fun! The comfortable ones are basically rectangle cotton sports bras. But you can’t classify them as sports bras because they are not supportive at all. I found myself buying every nursing bra I saw, in hopes it would be a new favorite.

I have a ridiculously large stash of horrible bras. It’s sad, really.

Cake Maternity and I started working together about a month ago. I was honored when they wanted to collaborate to get some breastfeeding education out there, and even more excited when they wanted me to try out their nursing bra. But I have to admit, I didn’t have high hopes. The bras looked awesome, they have done a lot of research and cater to women so well, but I had been stuck with my comfy-frumpy bra for so long that I didn’t think I would find something.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

You know the phrase “you can’t have your cake and eat it too”? Well you can if you are wearing “Cake”! Happy boobs are making me corny.

I tried the Cake Lingerie Plunge Maternity Nursing Fig Mousse Non-wire Padded Bra,Slate,36D UK/36D US and Cake Lingerie Maternity Nursing Croissant Smoothing Seamfree Flexi-wire Bra,Nude,36F UK/36G US

Pros:

So comfortable while also attractive. Even though they are simple bras, I didn’t feel like I was wearing a nursing bra. My husband even said “If I didn’t see the snaps you would never know if was a nursing bra!”

It’s supportive. You will notice that in the picture of the first bra (wire free), the bottom band is wide to support you, and even though the neckline plunges, the cup still gives you adequate coverage. The is no worry of a nip slip or a nursing pad slipping out because the cups are too small.

Full Coverage. I cannot stand a bra that gives me side boob. I just want them both in there snug, and nothing trying to come out the sides. Cake’s bras have a full coverage cup without looking like you are wearing your grandma’s bra. These are the first bras that I have worn that I am comfortable ALL DAY LONG. At bedtime, I’m not rushing to rip it off because I have a permanent indent.

They’re so soft. Both bras’s fabric are extremely soft and did not rub at all.

The snaps are large and there is a double inside connection instead of just one strap. Believe me, this is worth noting. At 3 am it is extremely frustrating to turn on a light just so you can get your bra situated. I can get baby latched, fed, burped, and back in his bassinet in the pitch black, but I can’t even tell you how many times I have tip -toed to the bathroom to get my bra straps situated. Some bras have one continuous strap that you just unclasp the cup from, but inside it is a triangle shape making it impossible for them to tangle.

There are more adjustments than most bras. Standard hooks are usually 3 or 4 rows, but these have 6! This makes it well worth your money, as it can grow with you.

Flex underwire. Unlike other underwire bras, there was absolutely zero poking or rubbing.

In the underwire bra, the straps had little ridges. The straps helped keep the height adjustment from sliding down the silky strap.

Cons: Not all of the bras have the same design straps. I wish the ridges were on all of them. It would definitely help with comfort.

They aren’t machine washable. You have to wash by hand and line dry. This was a major disappointment. I am a busy mom, and I don’t have time to hand wash my bras. If you have ever had a leak in the middle of the night, you will understand. I do not want to be scrubbing milky bras. Most machines have a delicate setting, and a higher end bra should be durable enough to go through a cold delicate cycle. That brings me to my next point.

It is a little pricey. They all tend to be priced in the $50 range. But you get what you pay for. I really wish I would have found Cake Maternity 2 years ago! I would have much rather purchased a couple higher end nursing bras that actually worked than 20 different bras from maternity stores that didn’t work nearly as well.

Cake only makes maternity so it’s their specialty. The quality is amazing and it really goes above and beyond my Victoria’s Secret bras. I wish they had a sister company for non- maternity undergarments. This isn’t really a downside to the bras, just something I found while learning about the company.

Cake Maternity is a brand I will be definitely recommend to my pregnant and nursing friends and I will be gifting to close friends and family. They have a huge line of clothes and underwear for pregnancy and postpartum. Check out their entire line out here.

Cake also has a lot of helpful education on their website. I found this graphic extremely helpful!

Have fun shopping mamas!

~Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Ingenuity SmartClean ChairMate High Chair {Review}

Published on June 10, 2016June 12, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

Gone are the days of huge bulky high chairs. I don’t have space or patience for them anymore! I shared a while ago about how I downsized my baby gear to accommodate having two under two.

I hated our big & bulky “fold away” high chair. It was something like this one. I can’t even find the original one that we had anymore. It was a gift, so NO COMPLAINING here! But I will tell you what made me crazy! Obviously it was large, and took up so much room! Sure, I could fold the legs together, but that didn’t do too much as far as storage goes. It was super hard to clean! It had so many little crevices that you couldn’t take apart to clean, leaving you scrubbing with a tooth brush, and just grossed out after a peanut butter & jelly! I just couldn’t imagine having two. We switched BK#1 into a simple booster seat like this : Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat, Green/Blue, and then I went searching for a chair top high chair. I found this Ingenuity one and purchased, because of the ability to completely dismantle it to clean it!

Ingenuity SmartClean ChairMate Chair Top High Chair, Aqua
Pros: Sleek design. There isn’t any fabric to wash or that can get stained.

Can sit on any chair, and has a very large base to insure that your child isn’t going to tip backwards.

The height is adjustable, so you can push it up to any table.

Reclining seat. I love this for when I feed little babies who cant sit up on their own just yet. There is no worry of them flopping forward, and you know they are comfortable.

The headrest portion can completely be removed to turn it into a booster seat for a toddler.

5 Point Harness. The straps on high chairs always make my DH nuts, but I am alone a lot, so it is definitely a safety feature I appreciate! I can walk away without worrying that my 10 month old is somehow going to get out of his chair. (He can climb out of just about anything that doesn’t have a strap!)

Super soft foam on the seat and head rest.

The tray has a removable top, to make clean up really easy!

Both pieces of the tray, the foam seat, and the foam head rest can be put in the dishwasher! Parents don’t always have time to scrub every nook and cranny of baby gear; I love that it can just be put in the washer, and you know its going to be clean & sanitary!

Cons: The removable tray doesn’t always sit flush. The front edge pops up and creates a gap.It’s not a huge deal, but definitely something that I wish could be fixed.

Also not a huge deal, but I wish the seat itself sat a little higher. My LO has just about zero room to grow with this seat. Unfortunately, it is sitting pretty close to his lap, and I’m not sure what we are going to do if he has a big growth spurt.

Overall we really do like this chair! It has saved me a lot of time cleaning, and we now have a lot more room in our dining room.

4 stars, and a great registry item!

I hope to see some adjustments in the future. Ingenuity makes a lot of products, and I had never really heard of the company, so I will be sure to share if we purchase anything else!

~Amanda

Gummee Glove {Product Review}

Published on May 26, 2016May 25, 2016 by Amanda1 Comment

I don’t know about you but when my babies are teething, they chew on EVERYTHING! When they are young, teething is especially frustrating because they can’t hold anything in their mouths yet. I have spent countless hours holding a frozen washcloth or teether because both my babies started teething very young!

Teething became concerning for me when my little ones chewed on their hands or their clothes. I would use pacifier clips and attach them to their shirt hoping it would be a solution. It never really worked as well as I wished it did.

We have found the perfect solution for you parents!
Gummee Glove Wearable Multi Sensory Baby Teether Toy, with Detachable Food Grade Silicone Teething Ring for Easy Cleaning and Refrigeration

It is a little blue mitt that slips onto your baby’s hand, and secures with a Velcro strap. it has textured teether tags on each side, a crinkle patch in the center and a detachable teething ring. The Gummee Glove also comes with a laundry pouch so you can just toss it in the wash.

Pros:

100% cotton mittFood grade silicone teethers
BPA & Phthalate Free
It works perfectly for babies who don’t have the ability to grasp and hang on to a toy without dropping it.
The Inside measures 7 cm from wrist to fingertip & 7 cm at its widest point. It is quite a bit bigger than other teething mitts that I have tried.
Super engaging! The crinkle pad excites baby before they even have it on their hand.
The teething ring is detachable, so you can attach a pacifier or another favorite teether if you want.

The Velcro on the wrist strap isn’t the typical pokey type. Its barely bumpy, and there is no worry of your baby scratching themselves.

Amazon currently has it $5 off its usual price of $25!

Cons:

It’s a little on the bulky side. The fabric that it is made out of is pretty thick. This prevents your baby from chewing on their hand, but I found that babies didn’t seem to like the weight on their hand for very long.
After washing the lining seemed to loose it’s integrity. It was still in the same shape but just a little loose. Not a big issue, but for future upgrades it would definitely be something I would like to see improve.

Overall the Gummee Glove is a great product, and definitely gives mommy and daddy a little bit of quiet during those exhausting teething months! The Gummee company is a small family owned company and I am excited to see what else they do!

~Amanda

Update : Vita-Lize Fenugreek {Review}

Published on May 24, 2016June 4, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

I have to admit, I was scared to death to try this product. It was sitting on my shelf just
staring at me for quite a while.

I was so thankful that the company wanted me to try their product, but when I started researching fenugreek, I got spooked. I heard that it could make you gain weight, cause clogged ducts and over supply. I never had a problem with supply, but I loved knowing that there was a product to help if need be. Well, with BK#2 my chest was exploding from day one. I’m talking pumping 12 to 20 ounces every 3 hours and two times as much if I went longer. I don’t even want to know how much he was actually eating! (Usually, babies eat more than you can pump.) So the thought of increasing my supply was simply frightening.

Then there is that little disclaimer you can read about from other brands… “Some weight gain is normal”…What??? I am still trying to loose weight from BK#1 and you want me to take a pill that might make me gain weight?! Nope! It was a psychological thing and thankfully I got past it!

When BK#2 finally slowed down with his nursing schedule (I nursed on demand), I found that my supply dropped drastically! I’m pretty sure my body was really confused when he stared eating actual food. Before, I used to be able to pump when I got up in the morning to have a stash and I went from producing 15 oz every morning to 4 ounces. Only 4 ounces! This happened for almost a week. I was frantic to be honest.

I got over my worry of weight gain (because I never really saw anything scientific stating this was a side affect, just moms and reviews of other brands) and popped those amazing pills for a day.

THESE PILLS ARE AWESOME!

The NEXT MORNING I was back to my usual 15 ounces. Not even 24 hours and I had amazing results already.

If you’ve never heard of fenugreek, you’re probably clueless. Fenugreek is an all-natural herb. If you do a little Googling, you will find that there are many healthy side affects to fenugreek, it’s not just for increasing breast milk. It has been known to help with digestion, prostate (for men), it can increase libido and many more benefits. It is just most commonly known for helping increase breast milk supply.

“Fenugreek seeds contain hormone precursors that increase milk supply. Scientists do not know for sure how this happens. Some believe it is possible because breasts are modified sweat glands, and fenugreek stimulates sweat production. It has been found that fenugreek can increase a nursing mother’s milk supply within 24 to 72 hours after first taking the herb. Once an adequate level of milk production is reached, most women can discontinue the fenugreek and maintain the milk supply with adequate breast stimulation”

Pros: Vitalize makes a very inexpensive fix to a very stressful problem. For $17.95, you get 120 pills. The bottle will last you at least a month, maybe two.

FENUGREEK Vita-lize: #1 Best GMO-FREE Fenugreek – 120 Vegetarian Capsules – 610mg Of Seed Powder Extract Supplement

You only have to take it until your supply regulates. My supply didn’t diminish after I stopped taking the pills! I really appreciated this aspect, because I already take many medications daily.

ALL NATURAL and GMO FREE

Vegetarian capsules.

Curbs your appetite. No joke, I found myself feeling fuller and not having cravings that come with the nursing hormones!

If you don’t like taking pills, then you can just pop open the capsule and mix it into a smoothie.

Made in the USA

Cons: It is a large pill. So if you are one who taking hates pills, I recommend just popping it in a smoothie or a spoon of peanut butter.

I did experience a little bit of a “maple” after-taste, but if I took it with juice I didn’t notice it as much.

Vita-Lize introduced me to an all-natural product and I am so thankful they did! Keep up with them on Instagram. They have new products planned for the future! You can follow them here, @vita_lize. I am pretty sure I am going to be adding Vita-Lize to gifts for baby showers!

As always… fed is best and no shaming breastfeeding mamas!

~Amanda

FENUGREEK Vita-lize: 1 Best GMO-FREE Fenugreek – 120 Vegetarian Capsules – 610mg Of Seed Powder Extract Supplement
Use Code : 6D4YCTPY

Shea Moisture Baby Nighttime Soothing Products {Review}

Published on May 19, 2016May 19, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

I am always trying to find the latest and greatest baby products for my babies, and to share with our amazing readers. One of the moms here at BurritoBuzz opened my eyes to all of the junk in your typical Johnson & Johnson baby wash and I can’t go back. Since then, I have been using organic, natural and chemical free products on my babies! If you want to learn a little about the chemicals found in Johnson & Johnson’s baby products, you can read more here.

With that being said, finding a product that is organic, all natural, chemical free, cruelty free and at an affordable price is pretty hard. Shea Moisture’s baby line is all of that and more!

I searched for a “nighttime lotion” that was good for my babies and I found Shea Moisture’s Nighttime Soothing Lotion. I quickly ended up purchasing the baby wash too!

Pros:

Certified organic and natural ingredients

Cruelty free

No sulfates! This a big one for my lttle ones because they inherited my husband and I’s curly hair. Sulfates aren’t good for anyone but they do a number on curly hair!

No parabens

No mineral oil

No dyes

It smells DIVINE! I’m not even exaggerating, I use it myself sometimes and it’s just heaven. It’s not just a typical lavender nighttime lotion. Together the manuka honey, ylang ylang and lavender create a scent that will put anyone in dream land!

The price is right! $9.99 for the lotion and $9.99 for the Shampoo & Bath Milk. If you compare that to other organic/all natural brands that is priced really well! I must not be the only parent loving it, because Amazon and their website is sold out, but you can still snag it on the links above on Target’s website.

Not only is the product itself fabulous, but the company is, too! I love promoting strong ethical companies that are doing good things! 10% of your purchase goes to community commerce programs. The company helps fund women-led businesses, support the communities that supply ingredients for their products and/or to support The Sofi Tucker Foundation. If you want to learn more, you can read about the ways Shea Moisture gives back on their website. It really is a great program.

Cons: I have zero complaints about these products! It moisturizes and cleanses without making my sensitive-skinned babies break out and it keeps them smelling fresh until they decide to sludge applesauce through their hair.

I only have one complaint… It’s really hard to find!

I originally found it at Target and it was the only bottle. Thankfully, when I was running low on the lotion there was one bottle on the shelf when I went back. It’s not on Amazon and their site is sold out also.

I really want to try the Baby Nighttime Soothing Slumber Mist, but like I said, the whole line is hard to find. I did find it on Amazon, but it was almost $10 more than what they have it listed for on their site. I still might order it… Yes, this stuff is that good! SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Provence Lavender Baby Nighttime Soothing Slumber Mist 4 oz

The entire line is a registry must! I give it 5 stars!

I will keep a look out if Amazon or somewhere else gets it in stock, and I will be sure to update.

Have fun snuggling those delicious smelling babies!

– Amanda

Pouchie Pals {Product Review}

Published on May 6, 2016May 6, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

I know that I am not the only one out there who has a LO who refuses to do anything, or go anywhere without a certain object! For BK#1 its usually her baby, and she wont sleep without a different one and the lovey. It certainly makes me insane some days, but they are important to her, they make her feel safe, and they calm her down. So, who am I to deny her a toy or blankie to sleep with, or a doll to take to the doctor’s office.

There is A LOT of research in the psychology of transition objects, and how they help our toddlers develop. Lovies, teddies, dollies etc. help with the stress of day to day activities that our children are learning to handle. We have to TEACH our children emotions and feelings, and I believe it is so important to do it as gently as possible. I could go on and on about this, but I will digress today, because I want to get back to reviewing this product! If you are planning on having kids, or have little ones, you should definitely read this post in Psychology today just to understand a little more about what I am talking about.

Pouchie Pals heard that my DH is in Law Enforcement and understands how hard that can be on my LO’s some days. There are many times that my babies don’t see there dad for a few days, and they dont know when that is going to happen. Even harder, they see him for 20 min a day some days. His schedule is crazy! That’s the life though, and we love it most days. But there are days that BK#1 is wandering around the house looking for daddy, or questioning why daddy isn’t reading her a bedtime story. BK#2 is pretty much constantly chanting “Da da da”, and flips out when dad leaves. Bangs on the door and yells. It’s anything but fun.

When BK#1 was around 1 year old she found a picture of her dad and her as a baby. (She was dumping drawers, per usual toddler antics) The picture is adorable all by itself, but the fact that she decided to carry it around the house with her just made it that much better. She would put it in purses, take it in the car, carry it around the house for hours, and on and on. Well, let me tell you this picture is a mess now! Crinkled and bent almost beyond recognition but, she knows its “Me baby and Daddy! The simple picture gives her comfort and JOY that I obviously can’t supplement. No one can fill the daddy void, but that 4×6 photo helps just a little. This is where Pouchie Pals enters our lives.

The company has multiple different types of pouches. They sent me the “Memory Keeper” in pink swiss dot. (They have 9 different fabric patterns you can chose from)

Its a simple back-pack design cloth pocket to attach to a stuffed animal, that includes a phalate – free vinyl envelope for a photo. You insert a 3.5×5 (I trimmed a 4×6) into the envelope, put the envelope in the pocket, and then put it on your LO’s favorite toy.

Pros: All of their products are non-toxic, machine washable (with the removal of insert, obviously), and all of the packaging is “green”.

Made in the USA! <-Big one for me lately! I actively seek out products for my family that are made here at home, and local if I can swing it!

We put in a new picture of her and daddy, and off she went without a care in the world. She has been carrying a favorite teddy around the house, and not letting it go for anything! Oh! And flipping out when BK#2 touches it! I would definitely say it is kid approved!

I really loved that we wouldn’t be searching for the little picture everytime she forgot where she left if for safe-keeping last!

Cons: The ONLY thing I am not happy about is the elastic backpack strap. I wish it was some sort of velcro to ensure it wouldn’t come off, and so you could put it on whatever! BK#1’s favorite stuffed animal is a Monkey by Jelly cat that she sleeps with for every nap, and every night at bedtime. They are designed for babies to be able to hold easily with one hand. (They all have a small upper body) She has multiple Jelly Cat’s and they are all her faves. Unfortunately the elastic doesn’t really stay on the stuffed animals shoulders, because it’s too narrow. I would have loved to make the product even more special to her by adding it to something she is already super attached to! She didn’t know any better and loved the product! So, really not a big complaint.

If you are a military family, LEO, your child is having a hard time with separation anxiety at day care, or you even need a way to get rid of another transition item like a binky the Pouchie Pal is exactly what you need!

~Amanda

Pregnancy For The Control Freak: Intro

Published on March 7, 2016March 7, 2016 by Amanda2 Comments

*I am not a medical professional. All of this information has come from my own experience and research. If you have any serious questions please, consult a physician.*

Trying to get pregnant? Already pregnant? Are you asking yourself “Why isn’t there a list of EVERYTHING I need to know/get ready?”

I was there! I read about 500 million articles, sifted through the nonsense, made about 20 lists a day, and drove my DH and family crazy!

I am a planner, but more than that I am an anxious planner. Those lists I made, not only did I stress about what was on them, I stressed about what to put on them! What am I going to forget? What order should I do things in?

Fast forward 2 ½ years, and I feel like I am removed enough from pregnancy and the post-partum hormones to share some of my lists with you! Yes, my precious lists of articles, topics, products, and resources at your fingertips. And, don’t you worry I will add a PDF version at the end of these posts without all of my commentary for you to print if you wish.

OBGYN vs Midwifery/ Why I chose midwife.
Pregnancy
Pregnant can/can’t
Hospital bag
Labor and Delivery
Post- Partum Care
Hubby To-Do/ Read
Newborn FYI
Newborn To-do

These are the lists that I had in my notebook that I carried around. They are most definitely not everything you need to know, nor do you need to stress about everything that I did. I just always felt like the more I read, and understood the less anxiety that I had! Everyone has their own opinion about things, and you can find about 50 different opinions about every topic, but at least I was aware, and not completely clueless.

You might think I am completely outside my mind making lists for everything, but if it helped me, I am hoping it helps someone else!

~Amanda

***Be sure to check the blog for updates! This series will post over the course of a few days!

BK#1 Turns 2! – A Curious George Party!

Published on February 25, 2016February 25, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

BK#1 is obsessed with Curious George lately, so naturally I decided to have a “Curious George” birthday party. I sifted through the internet and Pinterest for months deciding what decorations I was going to do, favors, etc.

I compiled a lot of ideas, and made my own printables and I thought I would share some inspiration and show you where I got mine!

Links for other parties will be at the bottom of the post along with some printables I made!

Enjoy!

I originally made these bags for the piñata I bought.. or so I thought I put in my Amazon cart! They just ended up being cute candy bags to go along with the favors.

Party City had a lot of Curious George items, too!

The treasury

I made The Man In The Yellow Hat’s “hat” just by putting electrical tape around a yellow cup!

The banana Runts were a fiasco. The 5lb bag of just bananas that I bought off of Amazon didn’t come in time to make a “pile of bananas” cake so my husband and friend ended up digging through about 10 boxes of Runts for only bananas, it was a mess!

An amazing local shop made our cupcakes!

The Curious George face-in-the-hole took my dad and I a lot of time, but was well worth the time and effort! Thank so much Dad! It was a huge hit!

Curious George masks were just the monkey on cardstock, with string attached. Nothing fancy!

BK#1 was over the moon about the little GUND Curious George stuffed animals! They are super soft, and worked great unwrapped for decorations!

BurritoBuzzAmandaCuriousGeorgeFood <<<<I had these set up at the food table!

bananas <<< I used these for “Pin the Banana on the Monkey”

monkey <<< This is the monkey I used for the favor bags, and the masks!

Hostest with the Mostest had a ton of cute ideas! Here

The Howard Family blog had another great party! Here

Seriously, just type in “Curious George Party” on Pinterest and the possibilities are ENDLESS!!!

Have fun!

~Amanda~

Finding Mary Poppins

Published on February 19, 2016February 19, 2016 by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

At some point in our crazy journey of parenthood we’ve all needed a babysitter… Which means we’ve all realized just how virtually impossible it is to find someone who is the perfect fit, and who won’t break the bank.

After over a year as a SAHM, this momma has rejoined the workforce…which also means, I’ve rejoined the someone-else-has-to-watch-my-kiddo-force too.

So, how exactly do you pick the perfect sitter? Note: I have not personally used every resource listed in this post, so please do your own homework and research.

Try sites such as care.com or sittercity.com. They require tons of information from people soliciting their sitter services, and most have background checks available to.

You can even turn to Facebook to the local buy, sell, trade pages as they often contain a vast amount of information. Do your research. Ask for references. Meet with the sitter prior to dropping your child off, and go with your gut.

Your best place to start would be writing down just exactly what you want in a sitter so you can narrow your search down.

CPR/SIDS/First Aid Certified

If you’re going to have someone with your child during the day, unless you’re going to wrap your kid in a bubble, it’s good to find someone who has been trained for the worst. Things happen. Even under the best care and watchful eye, things happen. If someone is prepared to deal with said “things” then it makes it all the better.

Cost

I have found that home childcare ranges from $50-$200/week. I always shoot for somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. It needs to be worth while for you to work. If you’re working just enough to pay for childcare, then what is the point of working? But also remember, you get what you pay for, typically.

Availability

Will the sitter be available when you need them to be? Do they offer drop in care or last minute care? Nights? Weekends?

Meal Plans

Maybe it’s just me but this is a big one. If someone is going to feed my kid junk food all day and sugary juice, I won’t even entertain it. I’m not asking for free range chicken and bacon wrapped filets, but at least hit some different food groups other than “highly processed” and “full of sugar”

Experience with food allergies

If the potential sitter has no clue what gluten is, and your child has a gluten allergy, this is probably not a good match. I prefer someone who knows the warning signs of a real, true allergy attack and knows when action is needed.

Punishment tactics

This is a touchy subject. I am not so picky on who punishes my child…but better yet how they punish him. I had a potential sitter tell me that she has spanked children before. She has SPANKED a child that did NOT belong to her. I was baffled. I mean, I can deal with an age appropriate time out, removal from the situation, or even a stern “no”, but lord help the person who lays their hand on my child.

Activity plan

Coloring? ABCs? Macaroni pictures? Something other than a TV on a constant repeat of a DVRd Peppa Pig? Ask. Seriously.

Duties

Are you expecting the potential sitter to come to your home and clean? Take the child to appointments, or play dates? Are you wanting them to help with bottle weaning, or potty training? This all needs to be conveyed and explained.

It’s hard enough to find child care. It’s even harder to find someone you trust.

Do your research. Don’t be scared to ask for references and follow your gut.

Your Mary Poppins is out there.

-Kirstyn

Reese & Luke – Organic Skin care {Product Review}

Published on February 17, 2016February 16, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

Last month in BK#1’s Bluum box there was a small glass jar of organic “balm”.

I have tried a million and one creams and lotions for my babies, and I finally found a combo of coconut oil and A&D that works for them. Most of the time. If you have sensitive skin, and/or your children do, you know what I am talking about! It really is a nightmare finding something that works for everything that doesn’t break the bank and that also isn’t filled with chemicals and steroids.

I am constantly battling my eczema, and haven’t really found anything that works as well as the steroid cream that you get from the doc.

I also find myself constantly trying new things on my babies, because I feel like their skin is always dry and flakey, and/ or they always have some sort of rash. Their pediatrician said that they just have sensitive skin, and baby acne. Sorry kids.

Nothing besides coconut oil has really soothed AND eliminated irritation/dry skin/ rash/ acne/ etc. But,coconut oil makes me crazy sometimes, because of the mess it causes! It makes diapers fall apart, its oily for hours, makes their hair greasy, and I have to constantly re- apply for it to work.

UNTIL NOW!

Reese and Luke makes a Shea Butter Baby Balm (I received the Tea Tree & Lavender) that is miracle cream! Magic in a cute little glass jar!

The product description is pretty amazing really….

” Our Shea butter organic baby balm is formulated to be the best product to naturally protect and soothe baby’s delicate skin. Our blend of certified organic ingredients combines raw Shea butter, olive & Jojoba oil and a mix of herbs and pure essential oils to create an everyday skin care balm that protects and serves as a natural barrier against excess moisture. Our organic baby balm formula can be used for soothing dry skin and does not damage or stain cloth diapers allowing your cloth diapers to be fully absorbent. It also works great for Moms too!” – Reese and Luke {reeseandluke.com}

All pure ingredients, no parebens, no dyes, no animal testing, etc. ! It seriously can NOT get better!

Now, its marketed for the baby bum, and their dry skin, but I have been using it for EVERYTHING!

I have used it on……

Diaper rash
Baby’s rug burned knees
Scrapes and scratches (I’m not kidding, the next day it was gone)
Dry skin
Chapped lips/ cheeks
Cracked nose
Unmanagable curly hair (DH is Greek and our kids have WILD hair 100% of the time)

Did you see that little blip about “works great for moms too”? – My eczema is pretty much gone, no cracked hands from washing them a million times a day, tames my fly aways, and is a fabulous lip balm!

“Our formulas work for all skin types and on everything “from bum to thumb” and for those in hot areas (we’re all super jealous!), our balms work perfectly as an after sun “- Reese and Luke on Facebook.

The smell is divine!

It lasts forever! We have had our 3.5fl oz jar for about a month now, I have barely made a dent, and I use it daily for everything! That being said, it is priced fabulously! A 3.5 fl oz. jar will cost you around $20. I am hoping that my local boutique starts stocking it, so I don’t have to order from Amazon or other boutiques. Check your area out first though, your local cloth diaper shop might have it!

The ONLY negative thing I have to say is that its slightly oily. SLIGHTLY! It doesn’t bother me one bit, but it does leave you a little sticky and shiny until it soaks in.

I am so excited to try more of their products!

Reese and Luke is a MUST for your baby registry, and your home even if you don’t have babies!

5 stars!!!

~Amanda

The Registry Items BurritoBuzz Moms Can’t Live Without!

Published on February 14, 2016February 14, 2016 by Amanda1 Comment

I don’t know about you, but I loved doing my baby registry! I was so excited to plan and prepare for my baby! Well, as months passed after BK#1 arrived, I realized I had forgotten a few items! Even worse, seeing a friend have one item that does what 10 of yours does!

The BurritoBuzz moms got together and compiled a list of “must have” items that we just couldn’t live without!

NURSERY

Rock N Play – A sleeper that is inclined to help with reflux, rocks to soothe back to sleep, portable to move from room to room, vibrates, and the cover is machine washable! All of our moms have used this and would purchase it again! MUST for those first few months.

Pack n play with a bassinet – Like a Graco Play yard. It’s great alternative instead of a typical bassinet in your room. You have changing table, storage, and bed all right there.

Aden and Anais Swaddles – Get them from a Boutique near you so you get the high quality. {Boutiques get the ones that are bigger and thicker than the ones in a chain store.}

BATH & DAIPERING

A&D Diaper cream– It works for everything! Prevents and soothes diaper rash!

Boppy changing pad liners– These are AMAZING! It’s a waterproof liner to put on top of your pretty pad cover! Pee or poo mess? Just toss it in the wash! So much nicer than having to buy multiple covers.

Diapers – Buy more than you think you need, and put every size on your registry!

GEAR

Diaper Bag– We all have our favorites, but be sure to get one with a lot of space and pockets. Back pack style is a life saver if you have more than one child!

Swing – The Fisher Price Swing is great! Its mobile, small, entertaining, and keeps a fussy baby happy! By far my favorite swing on the market, and it’s much cheaper than most!

Infant to Toddler Chair– One like this is a must. Your baby will love sitting in anything that is not theirs, and having something that is safe for them is important! The swings and newborn items are essential, but aren’t safe after 20 or so pounds.

Good Monitor – This is not an item you want to cheap out on. The cheap ones are just that- CHEAP! They don’t last, and you will be kicking yourself when it dies in 6 months. I have tired multiple simple radio monitors, video “baby” monitors, and we have finally found our favorite! It’s the GE wireless Monitor. We have cameras in two rooms, it’s still a radio frequency (no creeps hacking in this house), and its works great!

Infant Carrier Car Seat -30 + lbs.! When you have a 3 month old that is 20 lbs. chances are you don’t feel comfortable putting them in a convertible car seat, and if the weather if cold and gross you don’t want them exposed to the elements. Finding a higher end seat that will last, is well worth your money.

Car mirror – These have been a life saver! Neither of my kids like the car! If they start getting fussy I can click the garage door-like button and start some music and lights to distract them! We bought one two years ago, and another when BK#2 was born and I seriously can’t live without!

Stroller – You will want one that is sturdy and that has varying levels of height for your baby! A click and connect stroller is nice, because it lasts from birth to 50 lbs!

Soft structured Carrier. – Baby wearing has saved our lives! Skin to skin soothes any baby! it helps with reflux, lets you get things done….The list goes on for days. Tula is one of our favorites!

Baby Care & Play

Gas drops – alcohol free gas drops! Little remedies works wonders!

Natural body wash and lotion –The more you read the more you will hate buying the popular lines of things for your child! I promise! Check out this post to find out more!

Teethers – Teething is a nightmare. Put a dozen different types on your registry, and literally have dozens, because you will want them everywhere, and you will want to wash them daily!

Taggy – Taggy’s soothe my babies so easily! They are cute, easy to pop in the wash, and make the baby happy! Taggies Pal and Taggies lovey are our favorites!

FEEDING

Lanolin – Lansinoh brand is the best you can get! If you are planning on nursing be sure to stock up. You can read more why here.

Nursing Pillow– Even if you are not nursing, a “nursing” pillow is great for feeding, propping and play!

Bottles –MAM seem to be the unanimous favorite! They are a little bit pricey, but start there to alleviate/ prevent any type of reflux.

Pacifier – Soothie or MAM (These MAM ones glow in the dark! If your baby will take them try them first!) are the favorites around here! I said I never wanted my babies to have them….I quickly changed my mind at 3 am day 4 of my first baby. I promise they wont go to college with them, and with some tough love in a year you can break them of it!

Burp cloths– Gerber diapers! If you have a baby that spits up at all the “burp clothes” are more like wash cloths, and don’t do ANYTHING! Save yourself time and money, and just buy the diapers. They are white, so if you need to you can bleach them, and they are super absorbent!

Breast Pumps – Manual single (for on the go) and Double electric –Medela. The BurritoBuzz mommas have tried multiple brands and we will just save you time and money and tell you ITS NOT WORTH IT buying the cheaper ones! And 99.9% of the time your insurance will cover one!

Medela hands free pump bra – If you are a working mother this is crucial! You tend to only get a 15 minute break to pump in, and that tends not to be enough! This is a time saver! You can hook up, eat, check your email, or even just sit at your desk and pump if you have your own office! (When I worked when BK#1 was little, I made a sign like this to hang on my office door, so I didn’t even have to think about someone walking in!)

CLOTHING

Halo sleep sack – IF your baby is like mine, he hated being swaddled, but also hated being cold! This is a life saver!

Zip up nighties – I am not sure why they even make button ones. Don’t buy them, and ask people NOT to buy them. GET THE ZIP UP ones! In the middle of the night you wont want to fumble with the buttons, and when you see that you missed one you wont care, but then you will go fix your sleeping baby in fear they will get a draft and be cold. These for example!

Socks– There are simply never enough! They get lost so much easier than adult socks.

Onsies – I put them under most outfits to keep the baby warm and cozy!

Mitts– I hated the way these looked, but the first time your baby scratches themselves in the face you will never go without a baby mitt!

*More clothes than you think you will need* <<< And take a look at sizing before you start buying clothes. Its super frustrating, and if you know before hand it will make it a little easier to shop for your LO.

I can almost guarantee we forgot something, but we went over this list multiple times and between the 5 of us you should be covered!!

Be sure to use a good checklist when making your first registry, so you don’t forget the basics that we might not have mentioned!

What was your favorite baby item? What did you have to go buy that you didn’t get?

~Amanda and the BurritoBuzz Momma’s

Tears On My Stearing Wheel

Published on February 9, 2016February 10, 2016 by Amanda4 Comments

I’m 100% sure I met some angels today.
They had gray hair, kind eyes, slumped shoulders, they were holding hands, and bundled up ready to leave Target.
I didn’t know it, but they had been around the store with me, going through the same isles, seeing my morning unfold, hearing my toddler’s screams, and I’m sure feeling the tension that was in the air, as I was trying to keep my calm.
I don’t even know what set BK#1 off.
She was being good and then all of a sudden she was screaming, shouting and pointing at something. I have no idea what, but she for sure was not getting it now. She never acts like this in public! I was trying to reason with her, trying to figure out what she wanted so we could talk about it, distracting her with talk of lunch and then seeing her Aunt later. NOTHING worked!
By the time I got to the check out {Normally if she acts out and it can’t be corrected we leave. I refuse to be embarrassed, reward her with an audience, and people trying to calm her, but I needed toilet paper and laundry detergent} she was full on loosing it. She took her shoe off and threw it at me. I caught it, placed it in the cart, leaned in close to her and said “If you do not stop right this second you are going to stand in the corner, in this store, in front of everyone”. She calmed to a small whimper, but still acting out. THEN the cashier asked HER if she she wanted a sticker! Ughhh mmm thanks for trying to help lady, but in our home stickers are rewards, and she is most definitely not getting one right now!
I replied kindly, because she really was just trying to help, “I really appreciate it, but no thank you. She has been yelling and not acting nice and made mommy very sad, so no sticker.”
BK#1 lost it!
“Mommy sad??” There was no more screaming and yelling, and inaudible sentences, but weeping. Big, sad, ugly, heartbreaking tears.
I quickly paid and hurried towards the door.
Back to the angels.
I was getting her coat on her, covering up BK#2’s head (he was sleeping on my chest in the Tula), and Mrs. Angel touched my arm and said “You are doing the right thing, and you are an amazing mother, may we help you?”
I was hesitant, but I told them “Thank you, and absolutely you can help!”
Mrs. Angel grabbed BK#1’s hat and put it on her and grabbed the TP. Mr. Angel grabbed the laundry detergent and the bags, and told me “pick up your baby and tell us where your car is.
My mind is programmed to be scared of someone following me to my car, but in this instance there was no fear, I was greatful beyond words.
We made it out to the car, I opened the back and they placed my items in, Mr smiled and grabbed Mrs’ hand, and she looked at me with the kindest eyes I have seen in a very long time and said “Keep doing what you are doing, you wont regret it, thank you for letting us help you. Have a good day!”

And off they went.

I wont ever see them again.

I got in my car and drove away, crying, (if you haven’t figured out from my other posts, but I am an emotional person, obviously) and listening to the soft cries behind me.

Raising a tiny human is really hard!

But, in these days being a good person is too! I am in shock and awe of the kindness that I was shown today. I was raised to serve people. I was raised to do nice things for people who don’t deserve it. I was raised to do the good thing, even when no one else is!

We are surrounded by horrible bad things. We are programmed not to let anyone near us, not to let anyone help us. Its the world that we live in. We are just trying to get by and keep our LO’s safe.

I know all of that. I am well to aware of the bad things going on in our small towns. I know that those strangers could have very well stolen my groceries at least, followed me home, taken my child, etc. ….the horrifying list of things that happens in our world all could have happened.

I choose not to live in fear.

I choose to serve, and let others serve me.

How am I supposed to raise wonderful, kind- hearted children if I never look for the good?

I encourage you to stay strong while you are disciplining your children.

I hope you find the calm and peaceful words that diffuse a situation.

Most of all, I encourage you to look for the Angels in your life.

Is it an old couple missing their grandkids? Is it in laws trying to be better grandparents? Is it parents LEARNING to be grandparents and letting you be the parent? Is it your husband bringing you coffee in the morning? Is it your wife folding all your laundry and putting it away so you don’t have to?

Look for the Angels, and importantly – actively and purposefully be an angel to someone else!

~Amanda

Today, I Nursed You To Sleep

Published on February 7, 2016February 7, 2016 by Amanda4 Comments

My sweet little boy,

Right now I am staring at you sleeping in my arms.

I nursed you to sleep.

Again.

But before that, I fed you, rocked you and then I laid you in your crib with your mobile going ‘round, hoping you would drift off to sleep like I know you can.

You do it all the time.

But right now you just want your mommy. You want to snuggle, feel my warmth, smell my smell and know you are safe.

I have tried a binky and you won’t take it.

You don’t care for your lovey.

Daddy can put you to sleep on rare occasions.

Sometimes, you have worn yourself out and mommy’s parenting book-tactics work.

Not today.

You cried and cried and mommy just couldn’t take it, little mister.

I scooped you up, snuggled you close, you latched, drank a little and passed out. I closed my shirt and just sat there and cried.

“Why were you crying mommy?” You might want to know.

Because my sweet angel, I know this is temporary. Your sister didn’t want to be snuggled to sleep when she was your age. She wanted her binky, her bed and to be left alone. These days, she has to be convinced for a hug or kiss.

I know that there will be a time when you are just too busy playing with your sister.

A time when you’re chasing the dog around the house.

A time when building a big block tower will be all you can think about

A time when you and sissy will play prince and princess in your table fort all day.

A time when you walk into a classroom and don’t look back.

A time when you talk about growing up and being “just like daddy”, wanting to wear that shiny uniform and mommy will encourage your dreams, but will be scared to death.

A time when after school all I get is a hug and asked for a snack before you are running out to the back yard where you dad is waiting to pitch you the baseball.

A time when you have your first crush and its not me. 5cd5246dc7dd5d844b585c1ef60425d9

A time when you spend your days pranking your sister and I.

A time when we have to talk about the birds and the bees.

A time that we your rent a tux for prom.

A time when we tour colleges.

A time you bring “the one” home and mommy just knows.

A time when you bring home your own baby.

A time when you call me in the middle of the night, because like you, your child won’t sleep.

A time you get to hold and take care of me.

And when most of these days pass, your mommy will be the very last thing on your mind. There will be a day that I can hardly remember this moment.

So I’m throwing out the parenting books. Forget the sleep training. I don’t care how tired I am. I don’t care if I look clingy. I will nurse you, snuggle you, rock you, whatever you want for as long as you want.

These moments only last for a short time and I will keep you little for as long as I can.

I love you my little mister.

Forever my baby you will stay. BurritoBuzz.forever my baby you will stay.png

~ Love, Mommy

-Amanda

My Birth Control Journey/Paraguard {Product review}

Published on February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 by Amanda2 Comments

**I am definitely not a medical professional. This article is based on my personal experience. As always, please talk to your doctor before making any medical decisions for yourself**

“The best way to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy among women who are sexually active is to use effective birth control correctly and consistently……..”

Screenshot (59).jpg

BK#1 was conceived with combined oral contraceptive. That “typical failure rate of 9%”, yeah that is me. I took my pill daily, and had alarm set on my phone so even if I was busy, I couldn’t forget. She is a blessing, we adore her, and in no way is she an “oops”, “accident” or many other things I have heard. The pill simply didn’t work for me.

After she was born I went on a progestin only pill (because I was nursing BK#1) AND we used condoms!

condoms

8 months later I found out I was pregnant with BK#2!! >>> Insert chaos here<<<<

Okay CDC I got you…I am the 9% and apparently in the 18% also?!?!

Our babies are our WORLD and we wouldn’t have it any other way!! Birth control, in general, just infuriates me and scares me. Why spend all this money, if planning your life for your children doesn’t work! God obviously wanted these babies, and they better become lawyers or the president or something.

For those who have a very hard time TTC, or can’t I am truly sorry. This post is not to make you feel bad, but to make woman aware of the stats, and the reality of birth control failure.

After BK#2 was born we made the decision that I would get an IUD. We were not ready to get anything permanent, and make the decision to be done having babies, but SOMETHING had to be done! My body is still recovering 6 months later. A pregnancy a year is not easy on the body, at all. Doctors say it takes a woman’s body 18 months to completely heal…..well BK#1 and BK#2 are only 17 months apart. So, even though I was scared of getting an IUD because of the risk factors, I chose to get one for my health, and sanity!

After months of talking with my DH, doctor, and midwife, we decided that I would get a Paragard. BurritoBuzz Paragard2

burritobuzzparagard

Pros: Its more than 99% effective! I like those odds a little better. The string is a cotton string unlike most IUD’s. It is still stiff at first, but it does soften up after a few weeks. Even though it caused a little discomfort at first with my husband, after a week or so it was fine! It lasts for 10 years. No more alarms going off to take my pill, no more counting days and checking the calendar to see if I missed a day, or if the pack is right, and no more taking pills!!!! YES PLEASE.

There are no hormones, because it is a copper device. >>> No weight gain, mood swings, etc. that come along with a hormone based birth control.

I have had no spotting, or periods since the initial spotting after insertion. I don’t know if that is due to still breastfeeding, or the IUD.

I had no “adjustment time”. No cramping or pain later. BUrritoBuzz Paragard.png

6 months after being pregnant, and I’m not pregnant!!!!!!

My insurance paid for it in FULL! We don’t have that great of insurance either, so be sure to contact them first!

Cons: It hurt like you wouldn’t believe getting it put in! I had two natural births , and I was crying while it was getting put in, I almost passed out, I puked after she was done, and I sat in the office for 30 minutes after it was done to calm down so I could leave.

There are a lot of horror stories about IUD implanting in the uterus etc., but never did I read anything about how I felt that day.

When you get it put in after birth you have to wait a month or so. I scheduled my insertion promptly after delivery, and my midwife and OBGYN insured me that it would be super easy to insert, because of just delivering a huge baby.

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EASY FOR THEM!

Honestly, I felt bad for my doctor. I was a mess, but I couldn’t help it! When they dilated my cervix and inserted it I could have swore she was trying to rip out my uterus.

I suggest asking to be numbed, and some valium if you are getting it!

There are the horror stories of IUDs, but that comes with anything. There are even horror stories for the pill. Its really how you take care of yourself, and making sure you go for your regular checks, and are checking yourself!

The pain of insertion is the only bad thing I have to say about Paragard!

Would I do it again? Maybe? If they could drug me up, or knock me out! I think its worth it for 10 years.

Be sure to talk about all of your options with your doctor, and educate yourself before putting anything into your body! I hope my experiences can help you!!

~Amanda~

Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center {Product Review}

Published on January 25, 2016January 25, 2016 by Amanda1 Comment

If I had a quarter for every time someone asked “How do you do it?” I would be swimming in money! Two under two is NOT for the faint of heart- that is for sure! It is accomplished with a lot of patience, love, coffee, a lot of planning ahead, and purposeful play.

This little wonder is AHHHMAAAZZIINNGGG!

A friend got it for us for BK#1’s baby shower, and it has been in constant use since!

Pros: This toy keeps a baby’s attention for a large amount of time! I stick it on high chairs, walkers, the floor, and restaurant tables. The base attaches to pretty much anything that is flat and clean! It twists around the base, the wheel itself spins, and the little pieces inside with beads spin and rotate also. There are beads inside the wheel itself, so it makes an entertaining noise for them.

Very Durable!

We have had it for almost two years now, and it still looks new even though it has taken a beating! The wheel has been tossed from tables, thrown across the room, beaten on a drum, and I could go on and on with a list of things BK#1 uses toys for. The pieces are not loose, and it has not cracked anywhere!

It’s even been through the dishwasher a few times! ***Nowhere does Sassy say that this is okay, but I felt it needed sanitized more than I could with some Clorox wipes. ***

The wheel is advertised for 6 months plus, but BK#1 is approaching two next month and still adores it, and still distracts her when we are out to dinner!

I found it cheapest on Amazon for $7.23. It regularly is around $9 everywhere else.

Cons: The ONLY complaint that I have, is that it’s a little big. So, you have to have a larger bag to be able to tote it around. I have a pretty large diaper bag, and it’s not an issue. Not everyone does though.

I was really surprised that our babies would love such a simple toy, but it has become the item that goes everywhere with us, and we probably should purchase a second in case of emergencies.

Absolutely a 5 star and a MUST for any parent!

~Amanda