Mommy blog

Our first visit to the Pumpkin Patch

Holiday season is officially commencing…..first up, Halloween!! We were so excited to take Carlota to her first pumpkin patch. We went to Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch and if you’re in the LA area I recommend you go. Although she isn’t old enough to run around, get her face painted or play on the inflatable bouncy houses; she was pretty happy sitting by the pumpkins and eating hay. It’s the little things!!! Sharing these memories with her are priceless, and I know they are just going to get better as the years progress. Watching her experience things for the first time are some of the best joys of motherhood. She was wide eyed the entire time and soaking it all in. I hope this will be one family tradition we continue throughout the years.

We found Carlota’s jumper from the Gap (on sale) and knew this was the perfect outfit for the patch. I love finding cute seasonal outfits for the babe. Since she won’t get to wear them very much, I always wait until they are on sale…..because once it’s a few days away from the holiday they always go on sale.

We just had a cute Halloween shoot with Carlota and Pinxo and I can’t wait to share that with you later this week. I love getting in the spirit with her.

On Carlota:

Jumper: Gap (other seasonal here, here and here) //

On Me:

Tank: Banana Republic on sale (Similar here on sale) Use code BRSALE to receive an extra 50%off //

Jeans: 7 For All Mankind (Similar here) //

Hat: Anthropologie (I also love this and this) //

Boots: Anine Bing //

Months 5 & 6 with Carlota

My baby girl is half a year old. Looking back at the days I first brought her home I can’t believe how much she’s grown. Every day I’m learning more and more about this little bundle of joy and I can’t get enough.

Month 5

This little girl is such a character and social butterfly. She is so happy when we are surrounded by other babies and children. At daycare, I’m told she’s always observing her classmates with curious eyes. When we pick her up at the end of the day, she always has the biggest smile that just melts our hearts.

Carlota has found her feet and is constantly playing with them and putting them in her mouth. Actually she’s putting just about anything she sees into her mouth. Exploring the world through tastes and textures. She’s started to want whatever her mama’s having. When I’m drinking my morning Soy lattes she’s desperately wanting a sip. Thankfully she hasn’t mastered the use of the straw yet, so I let her chew on the end and she’s very happy to be sharing with me.

Carlota has started squeeling and saying “bababa”. She’s exploring her voice. I’m looking forward to the day she starts to connect the sounds with words.

I’m so thankful to be so close to my little angel. No words can express the bond I feel with her. She is currently a mama’s girl and I’m going to cherish every second of this. I may even remind her of this in a few years (hehe). In the evenings when she’s starting to get tired from a long day nothing beats being in Mama’s arms.

Dress: Rock your baby (Similar here and here)

Teddy Bear: Bla Bla kids (others here, and here)

Month 6

This has been a big month of transitions for this little bean. She’s eating foods, starting to crawl, and taking swimming lessons. So many huge milestones in one short month. Carlota loves getting on her hands and knees and even almost into plank position. She is shimmying around and learning to use her arms and legs to get to that toy she’s eyeing. She’s almost in full fledge crawling mode, so its definitely time we baby proof the home. I think we’re in denial our little pumpkin is no longer a newborn.

This month we started Carlota on solid foods. The faces she makes when she tries a food for the first time is priceless. Most of the time she really isn’t a fan, and is sure to let us know. She spits out what she does’t like and will refuse to take more bites. Currently the two foods she likes and will happily eat, are avocados and yams. Let’s hope she gets over this phase and starts to like a wider variety of foods.

In September, Carlota officially started swim lessons. She’s such a water baby. She loves playing in the water with both her mom and dad and is a splashing machine. She plays with the toys in the water, kicks along, loves when we make bubbles and constantly splashing. It’s such a special time we get to have as a family.

Both of us are Dentists so its no wonder baby girl is already using her toothbrush. She’s still toothless but getting an early start to her oral hygiene. We couldn’t be more proud. At the moment her toothbrush is one of her favorite toys…..let’s hope we can keep it that way.

Bow: Janie and Jack (Similar here)

Jumper: Neck & Neck (Similar here, here and here)

I can’t believe its been half a year with this beautiful being by our side. I can’t wait to experience the next 6 months with her. Thank you for sharing this journey with us.

24 hours are just not enough

I’m starting this blog post on my sofa at 7 am, pumping and getting ready for my workday. It seems this may be the best or only time this week to work on a post. My days are slowly melting into weeks and before I know it, it’s a new month. Evenings of relaxing, watching TV, and catching up on blog posts are a thing of the past. Carlota has started a phase where all she wants is to be in mommy’s arms. Sitting beside me playing is not enough. As much as I long for some more “me time” , I’m going to cherish these precious moments. Before you know it, miss independent will want nothing to do with me and I will reminisce on these days.

This post is all about my favorite neutrals white and pink. I can’t get enough. With October being Breast Cancer awareness month, I can’t think of a more appropriate color. I have an obsession with white jeans lately and these J brands are my favorite. They are stretchy and soft and fit in all the right places. I love the knee rips and ankle cut off. Showing a little ankle can help add a little length to your legs. Just add a pair of rocking heels and you are set.

These rockstuds have been all the rage on Instagram the past couple of years and don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. With their gunmetal pyramid stud detailing they make a statement with any simple look. For 4 1/4 inch heels, they are surprisingly comfortable. They have quickly become my favorite heel.

Two pumping sessions later, I think I have finally finished my first blog post in October. When did 24 hours a day become not enough?

Jeans: J Brand (Also here, in pink here) //

Shirt: Gap (On Sale here, here) //

Jacket: BB Dakota (Similar here and here) //

Heels: Valentino (More affordable option here)

Off the shoulder

The off the shoulder trend has been all the rage this summer. There is just something so feminine about showing your decollete and shoulders. When I saw this denim ruffle off the shoulder dress I knew this was how I wanted to rock this trend. With my changing postpartum body this dress finds the right areas to emphasize. I am slowly learning to be more comfortable and confident in my new skin. Choosing the right style, cut and fit for your figure is so important. Most women have areas of their body they are more confident with and finding clothing that flaunts those areas are keys to successful dressing.

I added my favorite pop of blue with my accessories. This clutch and these espadrilles have been on major repeat this summer. I find that warmer weather calls for color and LA has been a scorcher this year.

I just realized, in 2 days With Love Andrea will be a year old. I can’t believe how quickly time has flown. This blog has been such a fun outlet for me and I can’t thank you enough for your support.

Dress: Express old (Similar here and here)

Clutch: Clare V (on SALE here)

Espadrilles: Aquazzura

Sunglasses: Ray-ban on Sale here

Dr Browns – Giveaway

I’m always on the lookout for great baby products. One of the first items on my baby registry were my Dr. Brown’s bottles. Since I had to go back to work part-time after 2 months of maternity leave I knew I needed to get Carlota comfortable with bottle feeding. When it came time to choosing a brand, I knew Dr. Brown’s natural flow was the one for us. Dr. Brown’s bottles are well known to help reduce colic, spit-up, burping and gas. They also help preserve Vitamins C, A, E and lipids, key ingredients for a healthy development. Something I learned is that their vacuum-free feeding helps digestion and the fully vented bottle design is the closest to breastfeeding.

Thankfully Carlota has taken to these bottles with ease. I’ve been so happy with their bottles that I was excited to venture out and try some of their other products.

Carlota is a teething monster and will chew on my fingers any chance she gets. This girl is not gentle when it comes to finger chewing, so finding alternatives are on the top of my priority list. Thankfully she loves the Watermelon Coolees Soothing Teether, by Dr. Brown’s. Designed by a Pediatric Dentist and approved by little Miss Sunshine. It’s a two thumbs up from me.

I am also very excited about these wipes because anyone with a little one knows how often they are needed. Carlota is constantly dropping her chew toys or pacifier. When you are out and about it’s not easy to constantly clean them. Having wipes in my diaper bag are a lifesaver. They also make Nose & Face Wipes, and Tooth & Gum Wipes. The best part about all the wipes is that they all contain xylitol. Being a dentist myself, I know of the importance of this ingredient. Xylitol is a sugar that cavity causing bacteria can’t metabolize. This means that it helps to reduce the amount of that bacteria in your mouth. This will be very important for when her teeth start to come in. I always recommend xylitol candies or gum to chew after meals to my patients, especially if they are at a high risk for cavities.

I am happy to be partnering up with Dr. Brown’s and offering one of my readers a gift pack of everything pictured here. This includes a set of Dr Brown’s Natural Flow bottles, a Coolees Soothing Teether, Silicone Pacifiers, Pacifier & Bottle Wipes, Teeth & Gum Wipes, and Nose & Face Wipes.

Romper: Rags to Raches //

Elephant Rug: Pottery Barn //To enter into this giveaway all you need to do is :

1) Comment below and let me know what is your favorite Dr. Brown’s product or what you are most excited to try out.

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 @drbrowns on Instagram and follow the instructions posted there.

Your chance to enter starts today September 9th and will close Saturday September 12th at midnight PST.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE

Summer Palette

I can’t believe the summer is almost over. Carlota will be 5 months in less than a week and the Pumpkin Spiced latte will be hitting Starbucks in no time. Eeeekkk….time needs to slow down! As much as I’m excited for the cooler weather and my favorite season for fashion, I’m trying to live up the last few days of summer and bright colors.

Labor Day is quickly approaching and I’m not going to put these white jeans on hold until next Spring. I’m loving that white is no longer only a summer color but its being worn all season long. I’m obsessed with an all white look. Its clean, simple and fresh. The best part is that it goes with EVERYTHING.

This summer was all about pops of color for me. I don’t dress very colorfully but I do love to have bright accessories. I have found that certain colors compliment me better than others and tend to stick with them. For me, pink, blue and red are the colors of choice. By sticking to a few colors you can get accessories that match without having to buy one of everything in all colors of the rainbow. I love how my royal blue accessories pop with this look.

Photography by Audra Arbas

Shirt: Gap //

Jeans: J Brand //

Sunglasses: Ray-ban //

Clutch: Clare V (on sale here) //

Espadrilles: Aquazzura //

Wear-a-blanket

My baby girl is growing up so quickly. I feel like I blinked and she’s no longer a newborn. Just yesterday this girl was just content sleeping, eating and laying in my arms. Now this little angel is just soaking up her surroundings. She loves going on walks. Her eyes are so wide as she’s looking all around observing and taking it all in. She’s grasping my hands and her toys and she’s exploring my face whenever I get close.

Once of the big milestones Carlota has recently achieved is rolling over. She moved from back to side quite early and recently she’s been doing the full back to tummy, and tummy to back. It seems like whenever I put her on her back and walk away for a second, she’s in full tummy time mode when I return. With this new milestone Carlota can no longer be swaddled to sleep. To make this transition easier we are using the Just Born Wear-a-blanket. It’s perfect because her arms are free but her legs at still semi-swaddled. The first couple of naps were an adjustment for her but after just a week she is back to her regular sleeping schedule.

The Sleep sack is a safer alternative to loose blankets in the crib. This model has air vents on the side for temperature control, a comforting tummy wrap and a zipper that makes late-night changes a snap.

Sleep Sack: Just Born //

Onesie: Old Navy //

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??