Lifestyle

Camper Life: 3 Months In

We have been living in Iowa now for three whole months! To be honest, it has felt like a really long three months with the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial divide in our country and the riots, everything with the election and the media, downsizing our lives, moving states, and being pregnant.

There have been many times I have wanted to be done with living in the camper (and that’s not good considering that we are only three months in and still have at least a year left). As we drove back from our anniversary trip in Wisconsin I had this overwhelming feeling of homesickness. Usually when coming home from a vacation you’re eager to get back. With the exception of seeing my daughter, I didn’t feel like I was going “home”. Maybe that’s normal when you move, but for a week or two I was desperately missing my hometown, friends, and having a house with more space.

I miss a lot of things like a big couch, a kitchen to easily cook things in and more counter space, a bathroom that two people can fit in, a king-sized bed, having the cat litter box in the garage, having a dining room where fitting a high chair isn’t an issue, and I especially miss a room for my baby. Oh, and a Target nearby, good coffee, and a decent sandwich shop.

I’m learning that the tension I’m feeling isn’t always because of the camper and sometimes mothering a (sweet and sassy) toddler would be difficult no matter where I am living. As my due date draws closer I also have some anxiousness about how life will be like with two babies under two years old and living in a tiny space.

Then I remember my WHY and I’m okay again (but I often have to remind myself because I am still human). My home is where my husband and daughter are. We didn’t do this because it would be easy or comfortable. We have a plan and I can visually see on paper when we’ll be able to have a “home” again. My daughters won’t remember living in a small space and how little of toys they had to play with, but they will remember being loved so much and getting so much time with their parents and grandparents. We are so blessed to get this “restart” and to set our family up for success for the future!

This is what you’ll see when you open the camper door. We have a mini sectional, rocker/recliner, and a small dining area.

This is the view of the camper from the bedroom door. It is 31 feet long.

Next to the slideout/dining area is where we keep this cart that holds Emery’s toys. We also have the hanging storage from the bathroom door and that houses diapers, wipes, and other baby things.

This is the closet. We keep cleaning supplies on the top shelf. In the “dresser” is where Emery’s clothes are (and some of mine).

These are the bunk beds. Emery sleeps on the top with a durable baby gate that also blocks out light.

Our bathroom is small but functional! We have only what we need in it and no longer have a drawer of 3-year-old beauty products that I rarely use! There is a vent on the roof that circulates air and the shower doubles as a tub for bathtime (for Emery. Only a kid could fit.)

View of the whole camper from the bathroom/bunk bed area.

This is our queen-sized bed that lifts up and has storage underneath. Our “closets” are above the bed. We also have a TV in the room that can swivel out into the main area as well.

The cat enjoys laying in the bottom bunk next to the window.

This is the kitchen area. To the right of the refrigerator are cabinets that we use for our pantry. We keep pots, pans, and a trash can under the sink area and put our dishes in the cabinet to the left of the sink.

Big Changes: Surprise Baby!

I’ve always wanted our kids to be close in age and when Emery was born I was thinking that I’d love to have another baby after she turned two years old. It seemed like a good time frame to really enjoy her and prepare for another newborn. However, during those first few weeks with a newborn, I remember asking Nick, “How do people do this more than once?”

On February 9th we were having lunch with some friends after church and they asked us when we planned on having another one. I said my usual spiel and then Nick blurts out, “I think she’s already pregnant!” His reasoning was because I was mildly moody and tired a lot lately, but since I plan out so much of my life (and this wasn’t in my plan) I knew there was no way I could be pregnant. This was all despite the fact that with my first two pregnancies we got pregnant VERY easily (Nick is quite proud of this).

We talked about the RV for the first time that night and we were ready to really explore this idea seriously. The next day I took a test just to be sure. To my utter shock, it was positive. Every pregnancy test I’ve taken I’ve desperately wanted it to be positive. So, it was a very different experience this time. Going from thankful, to shocked, indifferent, and to crying because I really wasn’t ready to be pregnant again or go through labor again so soon, haha!

Image may contain: 3 people, including Nick Bacon and Taylor Bacon

I was terrified to tell Nick because it was my idea to do the Natural Family Planning method. So, I worried that he would be disappointed in me for unintentionally derailing our plans. I cried because I felt I should be overjoyed. There are so many women who are pleading to God each month for a positive test. I cried because my baby girl who was 9 months was going to be a “big” sister and how do I give her what she needs from me while being super pregnant and then while having a newborn? I cried because we had just talked about living in an RV and how in the world do we do that with a 17-month-old and a newborn? We’ll be going from a king-size bed to a queen (I know. First world problems. But my pregnancy pillow took up half our bed now. How do we downsize that?) My babies won’t have a normal crib or nursery to sleep in or mounds of toys to play with.

I also did NOT want to have a baby in Iowa. I was worried about going through the postpartum time in a small camper, without my support systems close by. Let’s just say the bathroom is small and those extra huge panties you wear postpartum will barely fit. I worried about having a newborn crying in the night with my toddler in such close proximity. How will we all sleep?

These questions still aren’t answered, but I’m asking them “out loud” so that you get a small picture of what we’re trying to figure out. I’ve also had so many mothers tell me that their children who are close in age is the best thing ever. Ultimately, I’m so thankful for this pregnancy and this sweet little baby (Nick said to Emery, “Someone else is in your room!”).

Big Changes: Hello Small Town

The incredible support that we’ve received regarding selling our house and moving into an RV has been nothing short of amazing. We’ve made huge, life-changing decisions in less than a month and sometimes I’ve thought that we’re crazy, so the fact that no one is in agreement with that really puts my mind at ease. We began talking about buying an RV on February 9th and as of today, March 4th, we are under contract with our house, have purchased the RV, and have a date for our huge garage sale. There are still several puzzle pieces that are waiting to find their places but for the first time in a really long time, my hands are off of this situation and Jesus has literally taken ALL the wheels!

Many people assumed that when I said we were moving into an RV and “living small” that it meant we would be starting adventures traveling the country and visiting RV parks all over. As wonderful as that would be, it would defeat the entire purpose of us selling our home and most of our belongings to free ourselves from debt and save money. Most RV parks are around $500 or more per month to stay (still cheaper than a mortgage I suppose!) but that doesn’t include the gas money to get to where you’re going plus other travel expenses that arise. Not to mention we have two German Shepherds that I can’t imagine staying at an RV park with long term. Additionally, my husband’s job requires him to work in a brick and mortar office with hard-wired internet. So, although he works from home, it’s not as remote as people may think.

Our conclusion? Family. My husband’s mom and stepdad live on beautiful acreage in Iowa and they are so gracious to allow us to come and be their neighbors. It checks all the boxes of the things that we need: our dogs will be living their best life, Nick will work inside of their home, there is a perfect place for the RV to be parked and hooked up, a place to do laundry right next to us, no costly monthly fees like an RV park, and we will also have an area to store our belongings that we want to keep for a future home or things that just won’t fit in the RV. I also like to think there might be a mutual benefit here, too, with some extra grandbaby cuddles for them!

Despite all of the perfect things about this move and this beautifully perfect location, it doesn’t make it easy. We will be in southern Iowa, about five hours from where home is now, Springfield, Missouri. It is a small town and I am not a small-town girl. I say that because I thrive off of community like my friendships and our church. I also love being near fun events in the city, having restaurants to choose from, and getting a really good latte. You won’t find that in Keokuk, IA.

But, when you realize your monthly cost of housing will go from around $1,300 (mortgage, utilities, gas, internet, TV) to around $280 (RV loan payment, RV insurance, and utilities) you make the sacrifices for the time being and for the future of your family. We are so incredibly thankful for this opportunity to set our family up for success, whatever that may look like when this season is over.

We also have plans to travel back home monthly to get those lattes and most importantly, to see our friends and family in the Springfield area. I keep saying, “We’ll make it work.” but I realize that sounds a little less than enthusiastic. Since everything has moved so fast, I’m still processing everything and I know it won’t truly set in until we’re on the road to Iowa with our new house in my rearview mirror. I plan to document our journey all along the way because that will bring me some of that community even though it will be online rather than in person. Keep following along for part three for one more change happening for us that we want to share!

Big Changes: We’re Moving!

We have some big news and I have grappled with mixed feelings regarding it for weeks. It would be a lot to read in one blog post so I plan to split it up into three. So, for part one of the trilogy:

WE’RE MOVING!

Lots of people move. It’s usually a part of life. But this kind of move is different because it’s a bit radical and a lot out of my comfort zone. It’s completely out of the ordinary for what the majority of society would deem “normal,” and it’s also a move out of necessity and not out of excitement (okay, maybe a little excitement has started to form!). Simply stated: we’re not moving into a new house.

We live in a state with a low cost of living (Missouri). This is fantastic while you’re living here, but not so great if you ever want to move because moving means you will probably have to downsize your home if you haven’t planned well. As we looked into moving to a different state for my husband’s job (Texas) we began to realize that we would be downsizing tremendously and we would be in a not so fun financial situation. No fun money. No vacations. And definitely no home with a basement and big yard. We would basically be living paycheck to paycheck just to pay for our housing. The next reality check to our dreams was the fact that I resigned from my full-time job of teaching so that I could be a work from home mom. I haven’t recouped that monthly deficit that we lost. Then, add in our past decisions with money that has left us with some debt and you have a really bad equation that equals YOU’RE STUCK and you’re never moving and your dreams are crushed. That’s how it felt.

I have loved our home but really wanted to one day, sooner than later, live in a bigger home with a huge yard, a real laundry room, a basement, and of course the most beautiful kitchen. But, when you’re stuck financially– in debt and living on one income, it’s really hard to get out quickly and patience has never been a virtue of mine.

We have options. I could put my baby in daycare and go to work outside the home full time. Nick could get a second, third, fourth job. But saying yes to options such as those meant saying no to our family, and that wasn’t something we were willing to compromise on. So we started thinking a bit more out of the ordinary.

We have some friends who have been renovating a travel trailer/RV/camper and I was the one who brought the idea up to Nick at first. I was so ready to be free from the chains of debt that I wasn’t really thinking about all the implications of something like moving into an RV. Nick loved the idea and started his research and ran with it as I was wondering what I had created, ha! We made the decision to just DO IT. If we thought about it too much we would think of every negative thing to talk ourselves out of it. We went to see the RV in person and I started making lists of things we would sell and things we would put in storage.

Going from wanting to move into a larger home and then ending up with moving into an RV was going from one extreme to another. Our plans turned a complete 180 within mere weeks!

We did the math estimations and we’ll pay off our debt, the trailer, and begin a nice savings for a future home and other plans within around 15 months of living in the RV (thanks, also, to the sale of our house). This is one-fourth the time it would take us if we continued living in our current home, trying to pay our bills as is, and get out of debt. I have grappled with feelings like: what will people think? Are we failures? Will I regret this immediately? Will my baby have everything she needs to thrive in such a small space? I have already mourned the loss of our “stuff” and have worried about downsizing to such a small space.

Thanks to our friends, Dan and Sam, the RV is gorgeous and we’ll still be living in style. The RV has been transformed to a “farmhouse on wheels” with modern touches and everything we’ll need to still live comfortably. We’ll be going from our 20-year-old home to a completely renovated “new” space! Enjoy some pictures below of our new home and stay tuned for parts two and three of our new journey ahead that will include some more exciting details!

Teaching for VIPKID

I have been a teacher in the brick and mortar school for six years. Like any job, teaching has its pros and cons. A huge con of going into a career in education is the pay. We all know that teachers don’t go into the profession for the huge paychecks, but rather to make an impact and to do what they feel they’ve been called to do. In my time teaching, there were so many of my colleagues that had “side gigs” to make some extra money. This is how I found VIPKID.

If you’ve never heard of such a thing, it is where you can teach children who live in China the English language (and you don’t need to know any Chinese to do it!)! Pretty cool, huh? There are other similar companies who have this same concept and each one varies a little. Since I’ve had so many people interested in teaching for VIPKID, I figured I’d write my list of pros and cons. I have worked for this company since February of 2017 and I have never worked “full time”, so my thoughts may differ from others who have worked longer/more hours.

First, in order to be eligible to teach for VIPKID you must be a native English speaker, have a bachelors degree, and have experience working with children.

Payment: is paid per class, not per hour. Classes are 25 minutes each and the payment ranges between $7-$9/class, and this will equate to around $16-$22/hour.

You get an extra $1 per class for being on time and an extra $1 per class when you teach 45 classes a month (and an extra $0.50 per class when you teach 30 classes a month)
You are considered an “independent contractor” so taxes are not taken out of your paychecks so you would want to plan for that. This, obviously, makes the hourly wage listed above seem a bit less. It is advised to put 20-30% of your paychecks into a savings account so that you’re ready to pay when tax season rolls around.

Students: The kids range in age from 3 years to 15 or so. You teach just one student at a time (this is a huge perk to VIPKID in my opinion). The parents pay big money for these classes for their child(ren)!

Classes: There is generally no planning or prep work needed before classes. Everything you teach is provided for you on a slideshow (similar to a PowerPoint) with little reminders/teacher directions on the page in case you need them. You are the one changing the slides that you and the student see.

Teaching Time/Hours: China is a 12-13 hour time difference, depending on the time of year (daylight savings time). Peak times to teach are around:

4AM-9AM Every day
6:30PM – Midnight, Friday & Saturday nights
Midnight-8AM Saturday & Sunday mornings
March-November everything is one hour later

Forbes #1 At Home Job in 2018: Forbes 2018

If this is something you’re interested in, you can click below to apply using my referral code. And of course, comment below or message me privately if you have more questions! Apply Here!

After doing this “side gig” for a year now here are some of my personal pros and cons.

Pros:

Online Facebook pages to connect with other teachers.
VIPKID offers great professional development opportunities to become a better online teacher. One con to this- none of this training is paid. This is something that kind of drove me bonkers- I hated that I wasn’t getting paid for my time.
Fair pay for the amount of work you do. Some teachers put in a ton of planning, but I found that after a month or so I didn’t need to plan too much ahead of time for my lessons.
It’s EASY and usually pretty fun.
It’s a real job that makes real money! You can choose to get paid monthly or bi-monthly.
Flexible scheduling. If you want to work, you open up slots that parents can book. If you don’t want to work, you just don’t open up slots.
You can work at home, and this is the best. I would often wake up at 5:45 and be teaching a class by 6:00AM.
You can travel and work if you need to. There have been many times I’ve been out of town and still brought my computer and a few props to teach a class.
There are some really great kids you get to teach!
You learn about Chinese culture and meet people on the other side of the world!

Cons:

The hours can be hard with the time difference… especially if you don’t enjoy waking up early.
Let’s be honest- there can be some kids that get on your nerves. It can be hard to build a relationship with a student (especially when it’s your first class with them) due to your interaction being on a computer screen and due to the language barrier.
Just because you open up a slot to teach, doesn’t mean you’ll get booked during that time (especially when you first get hired. Sometimes it can take some time to get booked, depending on when you’re hired) So, sadly, if you’re counting on VIPKID for a steady paycheck sometimes it isn’t always guaranteed. Once you’ve been teaching a while, though, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll always be booked when you open up slots.
Taxes are not taken out of your paycheck so the hourly wage isn’t as worthwhile.
Classes can get a bit redundant. Sometimes it can wear on you if you’re teaching the same lesson several times in a week.
It is not a work from home job that you can have distractions around you. You must have a quiet workspace and a great internet connection.
A contract is 6 months long. You can have 6 “teacher no-shows” or “cancellations” during a contract. This usually isn’t a big deal, but if you have a family emergency that comes up or a health issue, you really have to watch how many cancellations you have. There is more information and specific details about this on the VIPKID website.

All in all, I would definitely suggest giving this company, or others, a try. You’ll find that the interview process seems a bit intimidating because it is multi-step and involves sending in videos and scheduling a time to meet online with an interviewer. However, it is worth it once you’re hired and get to start teaching! As always, drop your questions below if you have any!

Happy teaching!

What I Packed In My Hospital Bag

Packing a hospital bag before having a baby means that things are getting REAL! I packed my bag weeks before my due date in hopes that I would go into labor early but I ended up being 5 days late. Regardless of how soon I packed it, though, I was still a bit anxious when my water broke and was double checking all of the things in it to make sure I had everything I needed.

Not only was this my first baby, but it was also my first hospital stay ever (in fact, I have never even had a broken bone, stitches, or anything else that would require me to have care at a hospital). The problem for us first-time moms is… what do you really need? This is definitely not a hotel stay or vacation, so what are the essentials to keep you comfortable (especially items that are practical for those of you who will be nursing with visitors and hospital staff coming in and out of your room constantly).

Since I did a lot of researching and asking around beforehand, I felt super prepared and ended up having everything I needed. Here’s what I packed for myself and for baby.

Clothing

Our hospital room was kept at a mandatory 74 degrees which was very warm for us! I had originally packed some pairs of leggings and I did not wear them because the temperature of our room mixed with my medications and hormones would have made me sweat like crazy. I ended up wearing a pair of shorts and nursing tank tops for both of the days we were in the hospital. I was also thankful to have loose-fitting clothing. I brought a nursing bra but I did not care to wear it since my nursing tank top covered enough.

Nursing tank tops– for a future baby, this is all I will plan to bring to wear on top. Especially for someone learning how to breastfeed, I needed something super easy to use so I could cover up quickly if we had visitors show up. I ended up going to Walmart to get two more after delivery because they were so handy!
Comfortable, loose-fitting shorts
Lightweight cardigan- this was nice if we had a visitor come in and I felt a little too exposed.
Robe- I labored in my robe and was thankful to have it, but I ended up not needing it after delivery.
Flip flops- I didn’t wear shoes at all in our hospital room (because I never even left the room!), but an easy-to-wear pair of shoes is good to have!
Some people may want to bring some pajamas, but I ended up just wearing the hospital gown because it was easiest for the middle of the night feedings and kept me cool

Yep, that’s it. Notice I did not add in any other undergarments. Mesh panties from the hospital will be your best friend!

Toiletries

The hospital is not a hotel, so the only thing provided was shampoo/body wash combo soap in the shower. I brought all of my usual toiletries and I’m thankful I did. Maybe it would be different if I only stayed one night, but I was happy to have all of my own things. My first shower after a 37-hour labor was INCREDIBLE! All postpartum care items I needed (such as pads) were provided by my hospital.

Shampoo & conditioner
Body wash
Face wash/make-up wipes
Razor
Deodorant
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Dry shampoo
Brush
Makeup (I brought powder, mascara, and lipgloss)
Blow dryer (I probably didn’t really need this, but I’m putting it here just in case. I had lost so much blood in delivery that I got very light-headed when I stood up. So, I ended up feeling sick after using my blow dryer and didn’t get my hair all the way dry anyway.)

Natural Remedies

Diffuser
Lavender essential oil- I used this one
Chapstick- you’ll need this to moisturize after all that hard breathing!
Handheld fan– I used this in labor a little (we’ll eventually use it as a stroller fan), but I mainly got use out of it when I had it clipped on my hospital bed and had it running as I slept
These aren’t really considered natural remedies, but I was thankful to have some trail mix and Gatorade to snack on during labor

Other Items

Phone and charger
Copy of my birth plan (my midwives already had mine on file because I gave it to them at one of my appointments a few weeks prior, but some hospitals may not do this)
Photo ID
Blanket- I didn’t end up needing mine because, again, our hospital room was entirely too hot but I could see this being beneficial.
Pillow- I didn’t bring mine because I didn’t think the bulk of carrying it in would have been worth it. That was dumb. I really wish I would have had my pillow… or 4 of them. The hospital pillows are not comfortable and neither was the bed. On top of having a sore bottom from delivery, I wish I had more pillows to properly prop myself up.
Bluetooth speaker and charger- We used this while I was in labor and had it playing the Labor & Delivery playlist I made
Nipple cream if you’re breastfeeding, I personally love this one from Earth Mama. The hospital gave me a sample of Lanolin and I preferred the one I brought more.

For Baby

I packed Emery’s things in our diaper bag. She didn’t need much as she was mostly just swaddled in a blanket the entire time. The hospital provided the wipes and diapers we needed.

Boppy pillow (or something similar). I forgot to bring mine and wished I’d had it every time I nursed (which was constantly)
One “going home” outfit
Swaddle, or two (the hospital provided a blanket to use but you could bring something cuter or softer)
Soap (if you prefer something besides what the hospital will use)
Car seat installed in the car

I am usually a heavy packer (and you may still think this is a lot), so I was pretty proud of myself. Other things to consider before packing are the number of days/nights you are staying in the hospital and what kind of birth you plan for. We had only planned to be at the hospital one night but had to stay two so my mom ended up bringing me another tank top and pair of shorts.

What are some other things you felt were must-haves during your hospital stay after having a baby? Feel free to share below!

Things I thought about bringing but I’m glad I didn’t: my laptop, nursing bra, nursing breast pads, my breast pump, any postpartum needs like pads or panties, our baby book, postpartum belly wrap, and lots of outfits for baby.

My Baby Registry Must Haves

Creating a baby registry was the LONGEST process for me. I was honestly changing it up until Emery’s due date, even after our baby showers were over! I remember (jokingly) telling Nick that we needed to create a business centered around baby products because moms flock to anything cute for their babies and we’d be millionaires. I also watched countless YouTube videos from vlogger moms who contradicted one another on what was a “Must Have” and what they could do without. It was so overwhelming and I think many first time moms would agree. How in the world do you know what to get?

There are also many products that your baby may or may not enjoy. These items can include, but are not limited to pacifiers, bottles if you’re using them, baby swings, swaddles, and more.

I’m a minimalist (or I like to think that I am), so I was sure to put things on our registry that were intended to make my life easier and not just take up space. I created registries on Amazon and on Target. These two places made it perfect for people who wanted to shop online and for people who wanted to get something from a store. I also went ahead and price compared my items so that our gift givers got the best deal.

I was pregnany during the holidays so we always took advantage of some of the Black Friday deals- I highly suggest doing this! We ended up having 60 items on our Amazon registry and 30 items on our Target one. I’m only three weeks into motherhood right now so I am a self-proclaimed rookie, but I am still fresh in my registry making skills so I figured I would share what has been a must-have (and why!) for us so far. All items are linked to Amazon. You’ll also find a complete Amazon list at the bottom of this post if you wish to see EVERYTHING.

We love these baby washcloths! They are incredibly soft for babies’ delicate skin and they are a nice size as well. I also like that they are white, but be sure not to wash them with bleach!
This may not be a must-have for everyone, but I desperately wanted one of these bath kneeler/elbow rests for bath time. We haven’t used this yet because Emery’s baths haven’t taken long (and have been mostly sponge baths in the sink until recently), but I know I’ll be thankful for it when I’m sitting next to her playing in the future!

I love these cute reusable baby wipe pouches. When you’re packing a diaper bag you don’t always have room to put in an entire package of wipes and it’s not as cost-effective to buy smaller packages of wipes. With these, you can take one package of wipes and disperse it between these pouches and place them where needed (we keep one in each of our cars, our diaper bag, and one in our bedroom where baby is sleeping right now).
THIS. All of this. Get it and put it on after every feeding if you plan to breastfeed. It comes in a very small container, but will last you a while! Hint: It also works great as a chapstick!
A baby lounger, like the Snuggle Me Organic (or the DockATot), was something I debated getting my entire pregnancy. So much so that I didn’t purchase it until the week Emery was due. Luckily Amazon gives you a discount on the items not yet purchased from your registry so I was able to get it a bit cheaper. After a few weeks of having her at home, it’s been something we use more than anything else so that’s why it makes my “Must Have” list. This particular lounger will be useful until she’s around 6 months old, it is super easy to clean, and she loves sleeping in it because it “hugs” her. As with all baby products, supervision is best in a sleeping item such as this.

This stroller fan served a purpose before Emery was born and I already love it (we used it at the hospital when I was in labor and then I clipped it onto my hospital bed because the room was so hot). It will come in handy to clip on to the stroller on hot summer outings like the many baseball games we attend!
The boppy pillow (or something similar) is another item I use every time I breastfeed. Which is like ALL DAY. I also have two covers for mine which have already been handy when I needed to wash one.

We love the LILLEbaby carrier so far! My top priorities in a carrier were the comfortability, easy to clean, keep me cool, and are user-friendly. I also preferred one that didn’t need a separate insert for a newborn. This one met all of the criteria I was looking for and my husband can wear it just as easily as I can!

We have enjoyed the Hatch Baby sound machine. I appreciate the ability to control it from my phone, the many options of sounds and light colors, and the fact that it can grow with the child and be used as a time-to-rise device when she’s older.

The Owlet Smart Sock has been amazing. It monitors the baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels during sleep and shows you graphs of these levels as well as times they are asleep hour by hour. If they drop below what is safe, it will sound off an alarm to wake you. It really pays for itself in the piece of mind it gives! It comes with three socks to grow with your baby. We also love looking at the graphs from our night to see how little of sleep we’ve been getting, haha!

We just pulled out the Baby Merlins Magic Sleepsuit this week even though our girl is a bit too small for it. Our girl dislikes being swaddled. I don’t blame her. It looks miserable. But, this became a problem in the third week when she wasn’t sleeping as well and her startle reflex was waking her up constantly. This suit worked like a charm to keep her arms down and it keeps her warm.

This certainly is not a full registry because we know babies need so much! We were so fortunate to have three baby showers so we haven’t needed to buy anything for Emery since she’s been here with us and I don’t see us needing anything for a little while. I created a more extensive list that includes even the smallest things that you can find by clicking HERE! This list also includes the stroller we chose (which I LOVE!)

I hope these items, as well as my full Amazon list, was helpful for you in creating or thinking about your registry (or maybe gave you some gift ideas for someone else!) Questions? Leave a comment and I’d be happy to help!