Lactation Boosting Protein Balls

Breastfeeding this time around has been totally different from my experience with Georgia.  Some good.  Some bad.  But all around just different.  However there has been one common thread - my supply.  It was an issue with G and continues to be an issue with M.  Luckily, Mrs. Patel's makes some amazing Chai Tea that helped a ton with G and continues to work it's magic this time around with M. And I've recently added the Munch Crunch to my daily menu and it is so yummy!  I made a version Emily Jesser's lactation balls and the recipe is below.  I eat one every morning with my breakfast and one before I got to bed.  I truly believe they help!  And they are delicious.  See below.

Mix 2 TBS of Munch Crunch, 2 TBS of Chia sees + 1 scoop of protein powder (I used a packet of Shakeology Chocolate but you can use anything!).  Then add 2 TBS Honey and 4 TBS of Peanut Butter/Almond Butter/Nutella (I used Vanilla Almond Butter in this batch - AMAZE!).  Mix everything well and divide into about 12 small balls.  Enjoy :)

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We are having a baby BOY!

Last Thursday morning, Matt and I got up bright and early and headed to the doctor!  Georgia was so distracted and excited that her Nanny and Pop Pop were taking her to preschool that she had no idea what a big morning it was.  First and foremost, we are beyond grateful to say that there is a healthy baby in my belly right now!  And then the kind nurse immediately found our baby's....... MAN PARTS!  We are having a tiny, wiggle worm, cuddly, lovable baby BOY.  I'm still kind of in shock.  Matt immediately started crying, which made me tear up.  I mean a boy?!?!  We were both kind fo expecting a girl because well, that's what we know!  But to say we are excited is the understatement of the century.  So baby boy here I come.  Luckily I've got 4 nephews that have given me practice over the years but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.  Oh but I love that little man so very much already! 

So yay!  A crazy, rambunctious toddler girl and now a tiny, baby boy!  So fun.  On the name front we are still deciding... And naturally, the next day, Georgia, my mom and I ran to Target to get a blue bean bag that matches Georgia's pink one for the play room.  So like any good big sis, Gigi broke it in a little :)

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mama's life

being a mama is hard sometimes.  there's puke everywhere, you usually have a messy house, you're always always late, dinner is never ready on time, your tummy is soft and your hair full of grease.  at least that's how it is most of the time around my house.  but i've come to find the hard mess the most beautiful thing.  matt has been a big help in this.  he makes sure i know he finds me even more beautiful than before.  he tells me he loves our messy house way better than our perfectly straight house.  and that means the world.  one of my favorite boards on my pinterest page is this one.  most of these photos don't show the mess, but they do show the small moments in between the mess.  dancing around the kitchen, holding tight to mama's sleep (probably after she just cleaned up puke), sleepy cuddles.  they make my heart happy. i just love seeing mama's and babies and their different style and way-of-life.  which is why i've also fallen in love with the grace tales.  and before i was a mama i loved being an aunt and a teacher.  these women in these photos may not even me mamas.  they could just be women in a young babe's life that loves them dearly.  and i love that.  so cheers to special women and the role they play in a child's life.  and a special shout out to our teachers as they go back to school!  your influence in our child's life is immense and i am forever grateful.

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XOve Baby Q & A // PROMO CODE!

So remember that adorable company that sells baby blankets and onesies I introduced y'all to a few weeks back?  And told y'all how about not only do they sell the softest things imaginable but they also give back for every purchase?!?!  Well the owners, Donnie and Bethany, are here to share a little bit more about themselves.  So read below and check out their shop here.  Also you can use the promo code LABORDAY14 for 14% off of your entire purchase through the weekend!  

Happy Shopping!

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Names: Donnie & Bethany  (Owners)

Hometown:

D: Wilmington, NC

B: Durham, NC

Current Town:

B: We love calling Wilmington home!

How did you two love birds meet?

B: We had both recently graduated from UNCW but our paths had (somehow) never crossed.  Donnie randomly moved into an apartment on Wrightsville Beach with some of my closest guy friends from Durham. We met at one of their beach cookouts and became friends over the summer.  I wasn’t looking for the love of my life at the time, but when I met Donnie that ALL changed!  I was quickly smitten and the rest is history.

3 words that your family would use to describe you:

D: Kind-hearted, focused, and passionate (answered by Bethany J)

B: HUGE heart, beautiful inside & out, nurturing (answered by Donnie J)

Boy or girl, what are your guesses? 

D: Sweet little girl so I can go and buy that tutu I saw on our first baby shopping trip.

B: I go back and forth every day!  Definitely thinking boy more than girl.  I can’t wait until I hear those words on delivery day!

What is one thing you are most excited about becoming a parent?

D: All the baby laughs! This baby is sure to fill our home with lots of laughter.

B: The feeling of being a mommy. The thing I’m most excited about doing is rocking my babe to sleep and just savoring that moment.

What is one prayer/hope you have for Baby B?

D: There is nothing I could want more than a healthy happy baby.

B: That they’re like their daddy!

How did XOve Baby come to life?

D: It has always been a desire of mine and Bethany’s to do more and help others. We are passionate about knowing that everything happens for a reason and knew the perfect opportunity was right in front of us when we dreamed up XOve Baby.

With her experience working as a Nanny and true love for babies, combined with my passion for business, we knew we wanted to make our job helping children.

Unfortunately, not every child is brought into this world under perfect conditions, and this is all out of their control. It is for these reasons that we feel strongly about helping children feel a sense of comfort through our products.

Where is the name from?

B: I moved away for work for 6 months right when Donnie and I got engaged.  Between planning a wedding and the distance, we covered a lot of texts and emails.  Our exchanges either always ended with a ‘love you’ or a ‘XO’.  Eventually that evolved into XOve.  It embodies what we had always envisioned our company being about. 

Why give back?

B: Giving back wasn’t an afterthought for us; it was one of our first thoughts.  It’s what we wanted to build a company around.  At the end of the day, if we’re not doing something to really help others- why do it?

What inspires you and fires you up?

D: Knowing that with every new day comes an opportunity to meet new people, influence the lives of others, and learn something we didn’t know the day before.

When you aren’t filling orders and giving to those in need what are you doing?

D: Bethany and I are both currently working full-time jobs outside of XOve Baby so that does take up most of our “free time”. However, I do enjoy to play golf, surf, swim in the pool, or hang out in Starbucks with my iPad and a nice tall coffee in hand!

B: Getting ready for Baby B and living up our 2-person family status while we can!  We’ve been trying to fit in impromptu dates- whether it’s jumping in the car for a day getaway, a dinner out, or just going to the beach without having to pack the whole house! We’re trying to do things now that we may not be able to do for a while.

What is one goal for XOve Baby?

D: One goal for our company is to build a community around what we do for others through the business. The quality of the products that we make for each and every baby is very important to us, but the support and influence of each new member of our community is priceless.

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I mean their hearts... love them.  And love their mission and purpose!  Yall support this sweet company and go shop!  Remember to use the promo code LABORDAY14 through the weekend!

XOve Baby

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xove baby review

disclaimer: 

getting 3 babies to sit still on the couch for more than half a second is serious yall.... but we tried :)

When I find a brand that I love, you can pretty much count me as a fan for life.  Anytime that brand is local? Fist pump please!  Anytime that brand also gives back?!  Double fist pump.  And today, I get to share a brand that does all of the above - XOve Baby.  It has become my go-to for baby shower gifts with their adorable onesies and baby blankets.  The onesies are soft enough (made with 100% organic cotton) for the newest baby skin but sturdy enough for serious play dates (as proved above!).  Their blankets are perfect for swaddling or cuddling.  We are transitioning G out of the sleep sack during her naps and at night and this blanket is the only one I trust with the job.  It's soft and still breathable and G loves curling up in her crib or on the couch with it.  There are three designs currently and I'm planning on stocking G with all of them.  Check them out below and get your shop on!

XOve Baby SHOP

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*** side note - while the largest size currently offered is 9-12 months it fits G perfectly!  They have some stretch which is nice so you can get a lot of wear out of them.  Tripp is modeling the Signature Print above in a 3-6 month size and he is 8 months!  Like I said, the onesies have stretch and are a great staple for a baby wardrobe because they really can continue to wear them for months and months.  Miss Anna Davis is modeling the Pearl Print in a 6-9 months.

thank you to my adorable models Tripp (8 months), Anna Davis (7 months) and Georgia (1 year)

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