Baby

Breast Friend tea

All throughout my pregnancy the one thing I was most stressed about was breastfeeding. I did know, however, that I wanted to breastfeed Carlota for as long as I could. I knew of the many health benefits that it provides for the baby and for myself and I knew this was something I wanted to do. But, I was worried about baby girl not latching properly, about the pain, about not being able to stick to it, and the list goes on. The hubby and I went to a breastfeeding class which was very helpful and informative, so I felt like I was better prepared and less anxious.

Initially Colostrum is produced. It functions to protect the newborn from infection by coating the baby’s intestinal tract and acting as a barrier against harmful bacteria. It protects your baby from illness and also provides important nutrients. After a few days when the milk comes in, it still provides the baby with antibodies from the mother. Breast milk can help minimize chances of allergies and helps prevent many childhood illnesses.

Unfortunately I had to go back to work after only 2 months home with my baby. That’s when the stress started. Having to pump while at work is not easy. For some reason, when I pump, very little milk gets released. I knew I needed to try something. I read about milk production teas and was excited to try Breast Friend Tea from Your Tea. Breast Friend Tea is made from ingredients that increase the quality of breast milk, energy levels, and support digestion. It contains Chinese Angelica; a well known herb that is included for its very powerful ability to nourish blood. Nourishing the blood directly supplements the quality and quantity of breast milk.

I have been using the tea daily and haven’t looked back. So far I have been able to maintain exclusively breastfeeding Carlota even though I’m back to work. I’m constantly worried about loosing my milk supply and am drinking tea and trying to up my water intake. So far so good. I don’t know how long I will breastfeed for, but right now it seems like the right thing for the both of us.

Lalabu baby soothe shirt – Giveaway!!

From the very beginning Carlota has constantly wanted to be in our arms. This definitely melts my heart and I wouldn’t want it any other way, but it also makes it very challenging to get anything done. Whether it’s at home or on walks, she doesn’t last very long in her rocker or stroller. When I discovered the soothe shirt I knew this was a must for Carlota and I.

The Lalabu soothe shirt is a nursing tank top with a kangaroo pouch to hold your baby close to your heart. How genius is this!! I can walk around keeping Carlota close to me and have my hands free to run errands, eat, do chores etc.. It is so simple, a part of your outfit without having to mess around with wraps and slings. You can also nurse your baby while they are in the pouch. This is the perfect gift for any expecting mama.

The soothe shirt was inspired by Lalabu, a mother in Africa, and 2% of all proceeds are donated to moms in Africa. I love supporting growing companies especially when they are from mommy entrepreneurs. I have teamed up with Keri, the founder of Lalabu baby, to give one of my readers a lalabu soothe shirt of their own.

To enter into this giveaway all you need to do is :

1) Comment below and let me know how old your little one is or when you are due.

2) For an additional entry you can follow my blog by email or on bloglovin etc.. let me know in your comment that you have done that

3) For a 3rd entry follow me @withloveandrea and @lalabubaby on Instagram and follow the instructions posted there.

Your chance to enter starts today June 29th and will close Friday July 3rd at midnight PST.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE

**The winner was randomly selected and is @kyrsteen_web from an instagram entry**

Cover me Poncho Giveaway

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to breastfeed Carlota. Throughout my pregnancy I kept hearing how much of a challenge it can be, especially for first time moms. I read about problems getting the baby to latch correctly, not enough milk supply, nipple pain etc.. I even took a class in my third trimester to get myself prepared. When I started nursing Carlota we quickly fell into our rhythm and routine, until we started venturing out into the real world. No one mentions the challenges of feeding when you are out of the confines of your home. Newborns feed ALL THE TIME!! In my classes they mentioned nursing your baby 6-8 times daily….that was an understatement for us. Carlota feeds every 1.5-2 hrs. I needed to get comfortable nursing in public and quickly. Initially this was something that would stress me out or make me feel nervous. I am so thankful for products such as Cover me Ponchos which have helped make breastfeeding in public simple and convenient.

I keep my poncho with me at all times. This way I don’t have to worry if my outfit of the day is breastfeeding friendly. I just plop on my poncho and I’m always good to go. The best part about it, is that it’s very versatile. It can be worn as a maternity/postpartum cover, scarf, used as a blanket for the baby and my other favorite use is as a car seat cover.

Most of the time when Carlota’s in the stroller, she’s in her car seat. The poncho acts like the perfect cover. I prefer it to a blanket or swaddle because it doesn’t fly off when you hit a gust of wind, and with the opening on the top, you have easy access to keep an eye on your little one.

I am so excited to announce that I have teamed up with Mariah from Cover me Ponchos to give one lucky reader a poncho of their choice. For those of you that don’t win we will give you 10% off your purchase with code: Andrea

To enter into this giveaway all you need to do is :

1) Comment below and let me know which color you would like to win.

2) For an additional entry you can follow my blog by email or on bloglovin etc.. let me know in your comment that you have done that

3) For a 3rd entry follow me @withloveandrea and @covermeponcho on Instagram and follow the instructions posted there.

Your chance to enter starts today June 15th and will close Friday June 19th at midnight PST.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE

The winner was randomly selected and is Kristen. Please email me to claim your prize. Thank you to all who entered!!

Our first 2 Months with Carlota

Our first month with baby Carlota was like a whirlwind. In a blink of an eye it was over. My husband and I felt like zombies the first couple of weeks. With the lack of sleep, constant worrying, and entertaining of family and friends I almost can’t remember much. Carlota would nap multiple times daily the first month but refused to go to bed at night. There were a few nights where all she wanted was to be nursed. This lasted from 10 pm until 3 or 4 in the morning….we called this her Monster Phase!! Just when we thought she was sleeping and we tried to put her down from our arms the waterworks went off, and the whole process started again. How was she such an angel all day….and such a monster at night!! Thankfully this only lasted a few weeks and after the first month there was more consistency at nighttime.

We loved getting out of the house and going for walks, especially when carried in the wrap. Carlota really enjoyed spending time with her grandparents who were here visiting. Constant snuggling for this cutie pie.

MONTH 2
Carlota has grown so much from month 1. She is much more alert and constantly scanning her surroundings. When we go on walks she loves to look out and take everything in. She is starting to have more control and holding her head up on her own.

We started our Mommy and Me class and met some new friends. Carlota is already such a social butterfly and busy lady. We have had a few play dates, one of which was going to see our first movie together in the theaters (Pitch Perfect 2). Who knew family matinee shows existed? It was such a fun experience. Carlota ate and slept through most of the movie, but watched the parts she thought were important. We had our first road trip to Palm Springs. Carlota is not a fan of the car or her car seat and definitely let us know. There were multiple poopies, and feedings…and with Memorial Day traffic it felt like an eternity to get to our destination. Once we were there it was a great family vacation.

This month Carlota has definitely started to recognize us. She smiles more when we speak to her, and wants to constantly be in our arms. This is especially true during the witching hours. Secretly I don’t mind and want to forever keep her a mama’s girl. Our little bean is growing up so fast, I’m trying my hardest to soak it all in.

Hat: Infanteenie Beenie //

First week back to work

During my younger years, when summer vacation was over and it was time to go back to school I always had mixed emotions. I was partly excited to see my friends and classmates and to see what the new year would bring, but I was also sad that my carefree summer days were over. Going back to work this week brought back similar feelings.

I must say I love what I do, and feel such a satisfaction helping people through dentistry. I’ve invested many years (9 to be exact) in schooling and specialty training in my field, but it has been a passion of mine for longer than that. A part of me was itching to go back and get into my groove. I feel alive when I’m working on a big case and giving someone a smile they have always dreamed of. The other part of me….the new part of me, is a wreck leaving my little bean.

I’ve never understood the love a mother has for her child until Carlota was born. I’ve always known my parents love me and would do anything for me, but I just never realized how deep that love truly is. I could sit for hours just staring at her and feel completely fulfilled (for someone who can never sit still, this is CRAZY talk!!) Thankfully for my sanity I am going back part-time for the time being. Three days a week. Carlota has started Daycare and is such a champ. Her teachers say she is adjusting perfectly. She is taking the bottle, sleeping in her crib, and making friends. I know she is in great hands but thinking of her spending such long hours without me makes me so heartbroken. Today we have the day together and I couldn’t be happier. I can’t wait to soak up every second. I guess the time apart has really made me realize to stop and cherish all the precious moments we have together. I’m sure this transition will get easier….at least I hope so.

What have been your experiences with going back to work or not post baby??

Dress: BUMPstyle box Tees by Tina //

Jacket: BB Dakota (Similar here and here)

Sandals: Rebecca Minkoff

Some of my postpartum essentials

Prior to Carlota’s birth I was clueless to anything baby. The journey starting from pregnancy, to birth, and now caring for her has been such a learning experience. Thankfully by speaking to friends, searching Instagram and reading blogs I have found some amazing products that have been essential to me & her these past 8 weeks. I want to share with you what products have been our favorites.

1) Happy Baby Wrap

The wrap is one of the greatest baby inventions EVER!! I swear by it. By the first week I was itching to get out of the house and go for walks with the little miss. I love keeping baby girl close to me and she loves it as well. She does better on walks when she is in the wrap and close to me hearing my heartbeat, than when she’s in her stroller. I think it reminds her of her first home in the womb. When I was pregnant, I would walk and workout so I’m sure she is used to the bouncing. She is also a monster when it comes to feeding and I swear some days she nurses almost every hour. With the wrap I’m able to walk and continue with my errands while she eats and sleeps. What more can a mom ask for. It’s also a perfect way to get her to sleep….when she’s not nursing she falls fast asleep instantly as soon as I start to move.

Happy Wrap

2) 4 Moms rockaRoo

The rockaRoo has been my saving grace. As soon as my parents left after the first 2 weeks of baby girls arrival, I depended on the rockaRoo so much. Having somewhere to place Carlota that keeps her calm and moving while I take a shower, or do some chores has been my life saver. They come in cool colors and patterns and if you want a version with more movements 4 Moms have the mamaRoo as well.

RockaRoo

MamaRoo

3) Burp Necessity – Burpshawls

I didn’t fully realize the necessity of the burp shawl until Carlota’s arrival. Babies have the knack for spitting up whenever you are not ready or wearing your favorite shirt. The burp shawl covers your back and both shoulders so you’re always prepared. They are handmade and come in a variety of patterns. They are a staple in my diaper bag.

Burp Shawl

4) Covered Goods

Carlota was out an about within the first week. Since I felt like I was in the hospital for days without getting fresh air and sunshine, as soon as I got home I was itching to get out. With a newborn I was worried and didn’t want her to get sick. Covered Goods was the perfect solution. I could walk her and keep her covered and sheltered. There is also access so you can see your baby as you’re walking. Many times moms just use a swaddle or blanket to cover the seat. I tried that and noticed they fall off the car seat when you hit a little wind and don’t allow you to see and check up on your little one. Covered goods stays in place and with its cool patterns gives a stylish twist to your stroller. I can’t tell you how many times I would be asked where I got my cover from while walking Carlota. It can also be used as a nursing cover.

Covered Goods

5) Body Shapers – Bounce back – belly bandit

Getting back my pre-pregnancy figure has been something I have been concerned about since I first found out I was pregnant. I tried to keep as fit as I could throughout my pregnancy but with my ravenous appetite I packed on the pounds. After baby Carlota was born I was ready to get back in shape. One of the key items for me are post pregnancy body shapers. They work to compress the stomach, hips and waist which have expanded during pregnancy. I wore them 24/7 for the first 7 weeks postpartum. Now that I am past 8 weeks I wear them here and there but not as religiously. It is most important to wear the first 6-8 weeks as that is when the hormone relaxin is circulating in the body.

Motherhood Maternity not only has maternity wear, but they also have postpartum items as well. From shape forming tank tops, tummy transformer, and denim. I have used all 3 of these items. The bounce back denim are one of my favorites. For those of us that are not able to just “bounce back” into our pre-pregnancy jeans these are that perfect transition. They are just like maternity jeans with an elastic waist, but that part that normally stretches over your belly is made with elastic to compress and shape your mid-section.

Daily I wear the New mom tummy transformer under my clothing. It helps tuck it all in by smoothing, supporting and shaping the mid-section. In the first few weeks postpartum I would wear the Belly Bandit on top of the transformer. I felt like this gave me that extra tightness and support for my muscles as everything was healing.

Bounce Back Jeans – A pea in the Pod

Bounce back Tummy Transformer

Belly Bandit

I will have a few more blog posts about some new mama essentials coming up mixed in with my fashion posts. My life currently revolves around baby Charlie so I will be incorporating more of these kind of posts in the mix as well.

Freshly picked – Giveaway

As soon as I saw these sweet little moccasins I knew I needed to have them for baby Carlota. Before baby girl was even born, my husband and I were obsessed with baby shoes. Something about seeing shoes we loved in a tiny size…we were sold instantly! How cute are these little mocs with those chubby legs…..definitely irresistible.

Once my husband saw Susan and Freshly Picked featured on Shark Tank he wanted a pair for Carlota as well.

I was initially attracted to the brand by the cuteness of the moccs. They come in so many different colors and patterns they can suit any outfit. I knew I wanted to have a little mini me fashionista so these shoes were a must. It wasn’t until I had baby girl that I realized how great they are.

Anyone with a newborn knows that as soon as you put socks on them, they are off in about 5 minutes….if you’re lucky. She is moving like crazy when she’s awake, kicking her legs all over the place. That’s why these moccs are a gem. They are made with an elastic at the ankle to keep them in place for your active baby. They start from newborn size all the way up to toddler. She still needs to grow into these moccasins so I’m happy we have some time with them.

I can’t wait until she’s walking to really put them to use. But please don’t grow up too fast baby Carlota, mommy wants to soak in every second with you 🙂

I am excited to announce that I’ve teamed up with Freshly Picked to give one of my readers a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins of your choice. (Open to US residents only.)

To enter into this giveaway all you need to do is :

1) Comment below and let me know which color you would like to win.

2) For an additional entry you can follow my blog by email or on bloglovin etc.. let me know in your comment that you have done that

3) For a 3rd entry follow me @withloveandrea and @freshlypicked on instagram and follow the instructions posted there.

Your chance to enter starts today May 21st and will close Monday May 25th at midnight PST.

**** Unfortunately this is open to US residents only. You will not be eligible if you have won a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins within the past 60 days. ****

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!

The Winner is Kaitlyn from the Birdsnest Blog!! Please contact me to claim your prize!!

My First Mother’s Day

Today is mother’s day and right now I am on the sofa snuggling with the little angel and I can’t stop staring at her beautiful face! I could watch her for hours on end, and I would just be so happy. Being a mom is such a blessing, and I feel very fortunate to have her in my life. She is the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I look at when I go to sleep. This girl has my whole heart!

Today Carlota slept from 1:30 am until 6:15. She must have secretly known it was Mothers Day because that is the longest she has slept so far. We went for lunch to Il Fornaio. This is our favorite weekend lunch spot and it was a beautiful day to walk around Beverly Hills. The afternoon was spent snuggling on the sofa and taking much needed naps. I couldn’t have asked for a better day to spend with my loves.

These are Carlotas’ newborn pictures. It was so nice to have her grandparents in town to be able to have them in the photos as well. I don’t know if I would have survived the first 2 weeks without the help of family!

Dress: Rachel Pally

Newborn hat: Infanteenie beenie

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas out there!!!

The challenges of postpartum dressing

The struggle is real….dressing post baby is almost as hard as dressing the bump. I think I lived in my fantasy world when I assumed I would be able to jump right back into my wardrobe a few weeks postpartum. You look at magazines and the internet and you see all the celebs and models doing it, so isn’t that the norm?? Boy was I wrong. I’m at 5 weeks postpartum and I’m still not even close to fitting into my jeans. Breastfeeding does not magically shed the pounds like everyone makes you believe. This will definitely take a few more months. In the meantime I’m thankful for those comfy maternity jeans that are still a wardrobe staple.

Another challenge to dressing is breastfeeding. Little miss sunshine loves to eat. Hence all my pregnancy weight gain!!! hehe Depending on the day or even time of day this little munchkin can eat every hour. When I get a 2-3 hour break I’m lucky. So when I get the chance to be out and about I need to wear something that will allow me to feed her. This means dresses (other than button downs), tight shirts, and multiple layers are out of the question. The easier the access, the better. This was something that never occurred to me prior to baby girls’ arrival. Nursing bras and tanks are my best friends and are definite necessities.

The final challenge is finding the time to shower, select that perfect outfit with accessories, and put on makeup. Days that I’m home alone with baby girl I’m lucky if I even get to shower before the hubby returns from work. This baby girl loves to be in my arms and I’m soaking up every second of it.

This denim dress was purchased at the early stages of my pregnancy. It’s that perfect piece that you can easily throw on and still look chic. I paired it with my beloved Anine Bing ankle boots.

Dress: Gap old (Similar here, here and here)

Boots: Anine Bing

Glasses: Karen Walker

Bag: Celine

Stroller Cover: Covered Goods

Carlota’s Birth Story

Thursday March 26th 2015 will be a day I will always hold dear to my heart. This was when our beautiful baby girl finally graced us with her presence at 39 weeks and 5 days.

I finished working at exactly 39 weeks. My OB GYN kept reminding me that most first time babies come after their due dates; so I was fully expecting this. I was on my first week of maternity leave and I had so much I wanted to do and organize before baby girl made her appearance. That didn’t happen!!! Wednesday morning March 25th started like any other day. I slept in and went to run my errands. Around 1 pm I finished and went to Century City Mall, Bloomingdales was having a Friends and Family sale. I can’t resist a good sale. I pulled up in the parking lot and started to feel cramping. It felt like period cramps and lasted for a few minutes. I freaked out for a second and quickly looked these symptoms up. The internet stated this was a symptom of pre-labor. Since I had not felt any Braxton hicks I assumed this was something like that. I shook it off and entered the mall.

At 2:15 an associate in Bloomingdales was helping me out when all of a sudden a gush of water started flowing down my pants. Eeeeekk….either I’m starting to not have control of my bladder or my water just broke. I didn’t want to be rude and just bolt out of the store so I quickly excused myself with another associate asking for the washroom. When I got in, there was a full house with quite the line. OF COURSE!!! How was it full on a Wednesday in the middle of the day…don’t people work? In my head I wanted to scream and yell telling them all to get out of my way my water broke and I’m about to look like I had an accident in my pants. Instead I stayed very calm, pulled my shirt down to make sure I hid my wet pants and waited in line. When it was finally my turn I had another gush of water and I noticed the mucus plug in the toilet. I was confident, this was my water breaking.

I knew it was time to go home and finish packing my hospital bag. (This was another item on my to-do list!!). Waiting for the elevator to the parking lot seemed like an eternity. A mom with her toddler was also waiting and asked me when I was due. That was the moment it hit me…..I’m in labor. I told her that my water just broke and I could see in her face she was more anxious than I. In a panicked voice she asked if I called my OB or my husband etc… I calmly said no. I was waiting to get out of the mall and into the privacy of my car before I made a big deal of anything. By the time the elevator came an entire army was waiting for it. Everyone telling me their experiences with birth and congratulating me. In my head all I was thinking was “I’m having a baby!!!”.

When I got into the car I called my husbands’ cell immediately….no answer. I tried his clinic and immediately the receptionist asked if I was in labor. He came to the phone frantic. When I told him my water broke he was definitely in shock and panic mode. We both called Labor and delivery at the UCLA hospital waiting to hear if we should go in. He dropped everything and came rushing to meet me at home. I quickly started to pack my bag (of course leave it to me to not have it ready weeks before). Water kept flowing….I felt like a leaking faucet. I knew I still had time before baby girl was going to arrive since I was not feeling any contractions. My husband on the other hand was on high alert and stressed. I realized that until I was at the hospital he was not going to be calm. So much for your significant other being the calming force.

We arrived to the Ronald Reagan UCLA hospital and I was admitted. I couldn’t believe baby Pi-Henderson was coming. They confirmed my water broke and checked my dilation. Since I wasn’t experiencing contractions or dilating they wanted to induce me. I elected to wait a while to see if it would occur naturally before they gave me the pitocin. In the middle of the night my contractions started and I couldn’t sleep. They were painful, but nothing I couldn’t handle. When they checked my dilation I was only 1 cm dilated. This was nothing and my water broke over 16 hrs ago. It was time to proceed with the pitocin and epidural. I was the most nervous for the epidural but thankfully everything went smoothly. I no longer felt the contractions and could finally sleep a little. It was taking me forever to dilate everyone thought baby wouldn’t come until Friday. In a matter of a couple hours I went from 3 cm dilated to 10 cm. Everyone was shocked and it was go time! Time to convert the room into a delivery room. I was so calm for this entire process until the moment they told me it was time to deliver. My emotions were on overload and I started to shake out of anxiety and excitement….I was going to be holding my baby girl in just a few hours.

Active labor lasted for just under an hour. With the epidural I felt no pain. I did feel slight pressure at times, this is helpful because it lets you know when to push. It was such an amazing experience and I had my husband right by my side to help me through the entire process. It’s such a miraculous event, words can’t express how empowered you feel while going through labor. I watched as my little angel made her entry in the world with a mirror the entire time. I never thought I wanted to see any of it but its crazy how your viewpoint changes. Carlota Pi-Henderson was born Thursday March 26th at 10:48pm. 7 lbs 0.9 ounces 20 1/4 inches long.

My world had officially changed and I was a mom to a little angel. As soon as they placed her on my chest my husband and I fell in love instantly. Both of us had tears running down our faces as we gazed at our little princess. Our family of 3 (our dog Pinxo included) had become 4. Carlota stopped crying as soon as she was placed on my chest….she looked into my eyes and smiled. This is a moment I will cherish forever.