If you're a new mom or mom-to-be, I'm sure you know by now that there are an INSANE amount of baby products out there and while it can be fun to shop around and pick out things for your new little bundle, this process can be more overwhelming than it needs to be due to the limitless options. I know I probably spent a little too much time during my pregnancy reading all the mommy blogs and product reviews trying to decide what to register for! Not only that, but there are so many different products for each age and stage of baby's life and in all honesty, you really don't need most of it right away.

So what DO you need in those first three months of your newborn's life?

Now that Elsie is almost five months old, I have a much better idea of what items are essential for surviving that 4th trimester, what you don't need, and what you can hold off on purchasing. Here are the things we personally loved and still, for the most part, continue to use regularly!

1. Copper Pearl Knit Swaddle Blankets

I love these blankets so much! They are amazingly soft, generously sized, and you can use them for so many different things. Elsie was breaking out of her swaddles from literally day one (the nurses in the hospital constantly commented on how strong of a newborn she was) and this was the only kind of blanket that allowed us to swaddle her tightly enough due to the stretchiness. You can also lay them on the floor for play/tummy time, use them as a nursing cover, or cover baby's feet while laying in the carseat. Not to mention, Copper Pearl has the most gorgeous prints. These are a MUST.

2. Ryan & Rose Cutie PAT

My child has recently decided she only wants to suck her thumb now, but while she was taking a pacifier in those first couple of months, the Cutie PAT was her favorite! It is so much cuter than just your standard paci, comes in a variety of adorable colors, and turns into a teether when you pop the nipple in. It's such a neat design and I love that I can continue using them now as Elsie enters the teething stage. It is also a great option for breastfeeding babes due to the way the nipple gets wider at the base.

3. Hatch Baby Rest

A sound machine is a baby must have, but this one is the coolest of them all! It connects to an app that allows you to create and customize several different sound/color/brightness/volume presets that you can turn on and off just by touching the metal ring on the top of the Rest. You can also control it from another room via the app, which is a super nice feature!

4. DockATot Deluxe+

Oh the DockATot - the saving grace of new moms everywhere! This thing is amazing and a must-have from the day you bring baby home. It's especially useful in the first couple months before your little one is a bit more mobile when you need a place for them to lounge or nap - whether that's on the couch, bed, or even the kitchen table! It can also be used as a co-sleeper or for transitioning to the crib, which is how we used it with Elsie (this is not approved usage of the DockATot so please read the warning label if you choose to purchase). It has a padded bottom and slightly hugs your baby making them feel comforted and secure. We still use it for play time under her play gym and occasional lounging!

5. Boppy Nursing Pillow

If you plan to nurse, the Boppy is essential. It was especially helpful in those first few weeks during middle of the night feedings and kept my arms from getting tired when I was already tired, ha! You can also continue using it as a lounger and tummy time pillow as your baby grows!

6. HALO SleepSack Swaddle

The SleepSack Swaddle is another great item! It gives you the option to swaddle your baby's arms in or leave them out, which is especially useful when they're older and transitioning out of the swaddle, but still need to feel secure. Elsie has slept great it in from the time we brought her home up until now and I love that it comes in different materials (warmer fleece, regular cotton, and cooler muslin) and sizes.

7. Burt's Bees Baby Sleep & Play Pajamas

These Burt's Bees Baby sleepers are so adorable and made with organic cotton, which is perfect for your new bundle's sensitive, baby skin. They come in all different kinds of prints for boys, girls, and in neutral colors as well. Plus the newborn and 0-3 month sizes come with fold-over sleeves that turn into no-scratch mitts. We love these!

8. Baby Shusher

I was really skeptical about this until finally, after listening to our baby scream for 20 minutes straight the whole way home, Amazon Primed it out of desperation! And let me tell you... it works. We hung it on Elsie's car seat and I watched her go from crying to smiling within seconds. We also put it in the crib if she's particularly fussy during naps or bedtime. The hype is real, y'all! Get the Baby Shusher for sure.

9. Gripe Water

This was super helpful in those first couple of months when gas, colic, and hiccups were frequent. We would give this to Elsie if she had any stomach discomfort or even when she was just extremely fussy and it would calm her down instantly! Babies love the sweet taste and it's made with all natural ingredients. They also make a nighttime version with chamomile, which is great as well! You'll definitely want to have this on hand from day one.

10. Boon NURSH Bottle

I loved this bottle in the early newborn days. Every other kind we tried seemed to be too fast of a flow for Elsie and milk would come pouring out of the sides of her mouth, but this one worked really well. Plus it's shaped especially for breastfed babies to be able to transition easily, which is a huge plus!

11. Earth Mama Diaper Balm

I am very picky when it comes to any products that go on skin, which is why I love this diaper balm! It's completely natural, smells amazing, and is very soothing on their fresh skin. We put it on after every diaper change in the early weeks as a preventative and she has yet to get a diaper rash, so I highly recommend this stuff.

12. Boon Soak 3-Stage Bathtub

I was unsure about this tub at first and I kind of picked it on a whim, but let me tell you... it's amazing! I remember putting Elsie in it for her first bath at home and to my surprise, it held her tiny little self in so well without me having to hold onto her. The wedge in the bottom is able to be flipped for when they are big enough and they can also turn the opposite way and sit upright in it when they are able to sit unassisted. Plus it fits perfectly in the sink, which is super convenient. I love baby products that grow with your baby and this is definitely one of them!

13. Fridababy Bitty Bundle of Joy

ALL HAIL the Fridababy products! Everything in this little pack is a must-have for SURE. The NoseFrida works 1000x better than any standard nasal aspirator. The Windi is great for trapped gas and constipation. The nail clippers are amazing and have made cutting Elsie's nails a breeze due to the way they are designed. And the Fridet is amazing for postpartum care - down there. I loved it way more than the regular peri bottle I was given by the hospital. 10/10 recommend this entire set!

14. Ring Sling

Any soft baby carrier is perfect for those early newborn days and weeks (and beyond!), but I am in love with our WildBird ring sling. They have the most gorgeous fabrics and prints and it is the quickest and most beautiful way to wear your baby. It doesn't take long to get the hang of it and once you do, it is a breeze to get them in and out without any help! Not to mention, it keeps you hands-free and able to get things done around the house, shop, eat, etc... all while snuggling your little babe. Elsie still loves the sling and I plan to wear her all the way up into toddlerhood.

15. Copper Pearl Multi-Use Cover

This cover is everything! I mostly use it as a car seat cover, which is great when Elsie is asleep and I need to block out light, and for a nursing cover. It can also be used as a high chair cover, shopping cart cover, and infinity scarf. Such a handy little piece of fabric and comes in a large variety of gorgeous prints!


So there you have it - my top 15 newborn must-haves! I would love to know if this was helpful to you, if you have used and loved any of these products as well, or if there is anything I didn't include that was personally helpful to you in those first three months. Leave a comment below!

Every pregnant woman knows about the typical pregnancy symptoms (morning sickness, growing belly, etc.), hears the same old same old advice, and is told stories about the good (like baby kicks) and the bad (like being sick the entire pregnancy). But after getting through my first trimester and into my second, I quickly realized that there are a LOT of things that people just don't seem to mention or talk about - not necessarily good or bad, but just things no one told me were going to happen!

So at 18 weeks, here is a list of things I have experienced so far in my pregnancy that no one warned me about...

1. The exhaustion is so real.

Before I even got a positive pregnancy test (I even took one too early and it came back negative), I knew I was pregnant just by the changes in my body and the symptoms I was already experiencing. The main one being pure and utter exhaustion. I have never ever been a napper and actually hate the way I feel when I wake up from a long nap midday, but let me tell you... getting pregnant turned me into one! I found myself falling asleep at any given moment and every normal activity suddenly became, well, exhausting. Anything from the workouts I used to breeze through, to sweeping the floor, to walking around for extended periods of time just got so much harder.

But here's the bright side: as soon as I hit my second trimester, I got a burst of energy and suddenly felt like my normal self again! So if you're on the exhaustion struggle bus right now, hang in there because it WILL get better soon.

2. That cute bump probably won't show up as soon as you think.

So I totally thought that within a couple weeks of being pregnant my baby bump would begin to show, but womp womp... I was so wrong. Even though I could feel the changes in my body during the first trimester by the way that my clothes fit, I am just now starting to see a REAL bump at 18 weeks pregnant. I will say that every woman is totally different and some begin to show a lot earlier than others, but if this is your first pregnancy, you will most likely take a lot longer to show than someone who is pregnant for the second or third time.

3. You may suddenly hate the things you've always loved.

Especially during the first trimester when your taste buds begin to change and those cravings kick in, some of the things you used to LOVE may (unfortunately) suddenly become repulsive. For me, this was sweet potatoes, avocado egg toast (which I used to eat every single morning), and coffee wasn't even as satisfying anymore! But if we are being honest, during those few weeks of ongoing nausea, anything but bread, crackers, and cheese was a no-go.

4. Your body immediately starts to change.

Like I mentioned earlier, before I even officially found out I was pregnant, I could feel changes in my body. My pants got tighter, boobs started to get bigger (sorry, it's a fact), and even though other people may not be able to visibly notice these changes right away, you will! It's actually pretty amazing how your body knows exactly what to do to start preparing for your growing baby from the moment they are conceived.

5. Round ligament pain. Holy moly.

One day, around 12-13ish weeks along, I found myself bent over, breathless, with an intense amount of sharp pain in my abdomen that lasted for about 10 seconds. I had no idea what had just happened, so I went on a googling spree only to find out that what I was experiencing was round ligament pain, an extremely common pregnancy symptom caused by the stretching of your uterus. I had never ever heard of this, but after sharing about it on social media, I realized that almost every other pregnant women has experienced this. I honestly could not believe that I had never heard anyone talk about this before, so I'm telling all of you so that if you are newly pregnant or plan to be at some point, you can be prepared unlike I was!

6. You'll have some of the craziest, most vivid dreams.

Now that I think about it, I guess this was one I did hear about previously, but didn't pay much attention to. But from what I can tell, just about every pregnant woman experiences this to some degree. From scary dreams (borderline nightmares) to just straight up weird dreams to even dreams that reveal things about your pregnancy - it will happen. I read that this has something to do with the extra level of hormones in your body.

Fun fact: a few days before our gender ultrasound, I had two dreams two nights in a row that we were having a girl. And guess what? They were true!!

7. Nipples. That is all.

Need I say more?? Ha!

Let's just say, your nipples will get huge. Massive actually. To the point where you may look in the mirror one day, probably sometime during the second trimester, and gasp out loud. But it's all normal and natural - it's your body's way of preparing to breastfeed your newborn in the next few months. But don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

8. Those doctors appointments aren't actually very eventful.

I was so excited to start going to my prenatal appointments and get the process moving! Until I went to my first, and then my second... and then I realized that they actually aren't that exciting. Especially if you go the more natural route with minimal ultrasounds and testing, they most likely will just check your vitals, weigh you (the best part), and talk to you for a few minutes to make sure everything is smooth sailing. The coolest part is definitely getting to hear your little one's heartbeat, but other than that, don't get your hopes up.

9. Old wives tales are just that - tales.

Before we found out what we were having, I tried to determine the gender based off of all of those old wives tales such as if you are craving sweets, it's a girl, and if you are craving salty foods, it's a boy... or if your spouse is gaining weight alongside you, it's a girl, and if they aren't, it a boy. Turns out, for me, more of those actually leaned towards having a boy and surprise surprise... we're having a girl!

Moral of the story: it's fun to play around with those tests, but don't count on them being accurate by any means!

10. Pregnancy brain is a very real thing.

Now I will say this is something I have heard talked about quite a bit, but I guess I never really thought it was a real thing... until I started to experience it.

Yes, you will mix up your words all. the. time. Yes, you will walk into a room and forget what you went in there for. Yes, you will look around for your phone for 10 minutes while it was in your hand the entire time. Yes, you will easily forget about commitments you made previously (google cal has never been more vital!). It's all true. And don't think you're immune to it because you're not. 

(Rumor has it this just turns into mom brain and never actually goes away... yay.)

So there you have it! If you are newly pregnant or may become pregnant soon, hopefully this was helpful for you. I will definitely write a second and maybe even third part to this post after baby is here and talk about things regarding the third trimester, labor, delivery, and life with a newborn!

 Jordan and I celebrated two years of marriage the other day and it's honestly so hard to believe! In some ways it feels like our wedding day was just yesterday and in others it feels like we've been together forever. When I reflect over the past two years, I think most about how much we've grown and learned and changed and become better in so many different areas of life. 

Getting married at 19 years old was definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made and I have never once regretted it for a second, but sometimes I think getting married young has a negative stigma attached to it...

I want to dive into some of those common misconceptions and frequently asked questions and share what life has really been like for the past two years:

1. "Why do you want to throw your life away so early?"

First of all, when did marriage become associated with "throwing your life away"? It's hard to believe that some people think once you say "I do," you are no longer free to live your life, pursue your dreams, go on adventures, see the world, fill in the blank... That you are forced to settle down, work, wash dishes, and pop out babies for the rest of your days.

This is not at ALL how I perceived marriage to be from the beginning and it is not at all what it has been. From day one, marriage has been full of adventure! We have travelled so many places together, taken countless, spontaneous trips to Disney just for fun, and we plan for the future together and talk about our goals and dreams. We even try to find ways to keep life exciting even in the day-to-day, whether that be little coffee dates or walks on the beach or spending time with our friends.

Not to mention, it's like having a sleepover every night with your very best friend! I think that's one of my favorite parts. Marriage is supposed to be fun, y'all!

2. "How do you know he's 'the one'?"

Instead thinking of it as finding "the one," I prefer to think of it as discovering "God's best."

I believe God has a perfect plan for each of our lives and when we walk in His will every single day by listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, we are going to get God's very BEST for us. This can be as small as feeling in your spirit that you should turn right instead of left or as big as knowing deep down that you need to end the relationship you are in.

For me, I know the Holy Spirit spoke through my mom the day I was invited to a kick-off meeting for the college group at our church. I did not want to go, but she was convinced I should.. so against my flesh, I went. And I met my husband for the first time that night. The end. (Haha, but seriously! I'll share that story in more detail in another post.)

Jordan came into my life when I was least expecting it or even looking for a relationship. Once we really started getting to know each other though, I just knew he was God's best for me. I knew through his actions, his character, his love for people and for the Lord, our mutual goals and dreams, our likemindedness... And ultimately, I knew this was someone I could honor, glorify, and serve God as well as advance the Kingdom along with, which is our sole purpose on this earth as believers.

(But remember: once you say "I do," that person is "the one!")


3. "Are your parents okay with it?"

Our parents were all for it!

Once my parents got to know Jordan and saw how the Lord worked to bring us together and how He worked through our relationship, they also knew (going back to the point above) that he was God's best for me. Plus my parents have the exact same age gap as Jordan and I have (five years) and actually got married a year younger than we did, so they got it because they were in our shoes once.

I'm so thankful we had their support because they were able to speak into our lives and work through things with us as we were preparing to get married. Parents want the best for you and can see things you can't always see when you're blinded by love, so it's important to hear what they have to say.

4. "How do you know you are ready for that kind of commitment?"

I don't think you are every truly ready for big life events like marriage, having kids, etc...

However, we knew we wanted to be married. We were ready to start our lives together and that was that. By no means did we have it all figured out and we definitely had a lot of growing up to do (still do!). But that's the beauty of getting married young... you get to grow up, form your lives, establish your own traditions, experience the world, and learn together!

5. "You don't want to live your life before being tied down?"

I have several friends who have that free-spirited, independent personality and just want to do life, explore the world, and figure themselves out on their own while they are still single, and I totally get that. Everyone's journey is different and not everyone wants to get married young. If that's you, then awesome! Go enjoy your season of singleness and enjoy the freedom your schedule allows. But just know that when do you get married one day, you can still do all of those exciting things you want to do right alongside your spouse. I don't see it at all as being "tied down." Marriage is what you make of it and it can be a truly amazing adventure!


I'm so thankful to the Lord for bringing Jordan into my life when he did. Being married to him has been the greatest gift and the past two years have been the best of our lives!

Jordan and I were laying in bed watching Shark Tank (best show!) the other night and one of the sharks said something to the entrepreneur who was presenting that struck a chord with me:

"Perfectionism is the enemy of profitability."

Now before I get any further, what you may or may not know about me is that I am a Type A perfectionist, so it's a little bit ironic that I am writing a blog post on how to deal with perfectionism (LOL). But then again, I have also had to learn how to combat it over the years, so while it's still something I struggle with, I am definitely much more experienced in the art of perfectionism and how to push past it.

Anyways, back to the quote. When he said this, I knew he was speaking in regards to "profitability" in a business, but I immediately began thinking about how this can apply to our personal lives.

Where do we (especially as women) allow perfectionism to get in the way of profitability in various aspects of our lives - in our marriages, relationships, jobs, goals, or dreams? When does our striving to be perfect, or lack of action altogether as a result of feeling inadequate, become our enemy?

I know for me that can look like stressing about the house being dirty and snapping at my husband as a result, or even just sacrificing quality time with him when he's home to go on a cleaning binge. Or thinking that if we don't get in this grand date night with an expensive dinner regularly that our marriage is going to suffer. Or stressing over my business and barely getting anything done if my desk isn't perfectly organized and I don't have the perfect to-do lists written out. Or even spending all my time writing those "perfect" to-do lists and not actually DOING the things on them.

I know at least one of you reading this can relate, right?!

Whatever perfectionism looks like for you, just know that when you allow it to have it's way, you are allowing it to kill your profitability in that area of your life. Because girl, if you wait for everything to be perfect or until you feel 100% "ready", you're going to be waiting a LONG time.

Maybe you've been wanting to lose weight and get in shape. Maybe you've been wanting to start a side business or chase a dream you've had for a while. Maybe you've been wanting to invest more in your relationships.

Whatever it is, I want you to decide today to stop giving into the lies you've been telling yourself (you don't have the time, you don't have the money, you aren't qualified enough, etc.) and take that first step, even if you're scared. Stop waiting for things to feel perfect and commit once and for all to simply START! Any result is better than NO result.

And if you fail, just pick yourself back up and keep on truckin'. It won't always be easy, but when you put one foot in front of the other and take it one step at a time, you'll look back one day and realize just how far you've come.

xoxo,
Lily


P.S. Did this encourage you? Are you a perfectionist too? What do you struggle with the most? Let me know below!