Moments of Musing

What Works (for You) is What’s Right

Filed Under: motherhood //

Ah, motherhood. 
This new(ish) season in life is unlike any I’ve ever experienced — and I’ve pulled all-nighters for law school exams, which were worth 100% of my grade, and stayed inside for 12 straight days while studying for the bar exam. I am no stranger to stress or spreading myself thin. 
But I am new to this experience and what I’ve learned over and over and over again, is that it is different for everyone. And everyone does it differently. Similarly to other life experiences, I do what works, I cut myself slack when I fall short, and I promise to be better.

What I’m getting at is that I’m not perfect and neither are you. And that’s okay. You can do a lot but you can’t do it all, and that’s okay, too. That’s been my biggest takeaway–I can be Mom, Wife, Attorney, etc., but (and it’s a pretty big but) I have to compartmentalize. I can’t FaceTime my son while I’m meeting a client. That doesn’t mean I’m any less of a mom–it just means I’m doing what I can when I can.
I’m sure you are, too. So, be proud of yourself and love yourself–shortcomings and all. Speak up and speak out. Know it’s also okay to take a step back. Be in solitude if you need to. Cry if you want to. Vent if you have to. You know you better than anyone else. So, be you. Do what you have to. Be it work. Me time. Sleep time. Do what works for you. Be it formula. Bottle. Breast.

And don’t you apologize for it. You have nothing to be sorry about. You have nothing to feel guilty about.

You care, you love, and you’re trying to be the best mom you can be. You’re doing everything right.

A Letter to my Little Love (Excerpts)

Filed Under: motherhood //

Happy June! AKA Summer month!

Things I can not believe:

  • It is already JUNE.
  • It is my baby’s birthday month.
  • He will be one-year-old in a few weeks.
  • I have been a mom for almost one year.


I may or may not have cried about all of the above a few times already, with many more tears to be shed this month. I’m not ashamed to admit that… I’m an emotional person, okay?

In honor of his upcoming birthday, I’ve decided to share excerpts from a letter I wrote him around the time I returned back to work from maternity leave:

To my little love, 

You, my boy, have given me so much to live for. At the age of 27.9 years, I’d thought I was pretty grown up. Then you came, silently at first but then screeching, into my life and you’ve taught me more about myself, life and love than I ever thought was possible. And I’m still learning… 

I am writing this now because I have recently gone back to work, and I never, ever want you to think it is because I didn’t want to spend my days with you. Actually, I want that more than anything. And while I do enjoy working, which gives me guilt, I hope you’ll grow to be proud and independent because of the example I’m setting. 

And so, here I am, writing a letter of gratitude to you. Because I am so grateful for all you’ve brought into my life–and I’m hopeful this is just the very beginning of a long, long life together. 

You, my boy, made me a mommy. Your mom. In doing so, you’ve made my dream come true. 

I know our journey has just begun and one day you might be joined by other siblings (don’t worry, they’ll be your best friends) and our routine will probably grow hectic. But in both tough times–heartbreak, sorrow, disappointment–and happy times–success, triumph, celebration–I want you to always remember that life is a beautiful thing. After all, it gave us you.  

I love you. I love you. I love you.  

~ Mama


5 Tips for Road Trips with a Baby

Filed Under: travel with baby, traveling //

This post contains affiliate links, for which I may receive compensation if a purchase is made using the links. 
We have been on quite a few road trips thus far, with another planned for this weekend. Our first one with our son was just three hours (each way) when he was one month new (such a little guy!). He wailed two and a half hours in so we pulled over to calm him, and had to do the same afterwards. Still, it was not a long ride — we figured it was a good test trip for our 10 hour drive the next month. We have done that drive four times now and thankfully, they have gone very well.
It is my hope that these tips will make your road trips with your baby/babies go smoothly, too:

1. Use a safe car seat.
This should go without saying but a car seat for your baby is required by law. (In fact, kids under 80 pounds have to be in child restraints and then booster seats.) We have used this car seat and highly recommend it. It seems very comfortable, which is key. As for the included newborn headrest, it was very supportive and holds the head in place well. There’s never been a need for any extra support, which is not recommended anyhow. For car seat safety tips, go here.
2. Leave during naptime or bedtime, especially if it’s a long drive.
Many babies do not love staying in their car seats for extended periods of time. Deciding on the right time to leave just might alleviate–or even prevent–meltdowns. If you want to leave during the day, try to leave earlier than usual so your baby will still be asleep. For longer car trips, it can be helpful to leave late at night either right around bedtime or after he’s fallen asleep. This way, the baby sleeps and you avoid traffic. (If your baby is having trouble falling asleep, try playing classical music or white noise.) Just be careful driving and make sure to rest up during the day so you do not get sleepy during the drive.
3. Have plenty of formula/milk, food/snacks and toys in the car.
If you leave during a time when the baby is awake, be prepared to feed them when they get hungry and try keeping him occupied with toys. On a recent podcast I listened to, Jacqui Saldana of Baby Boy Bakery said she brings a new toy for her daughter when they travel so her daughter is not already bored of the toy. If you agree with her idea, you can head on and find interesting educational yet fun Montessori travel toys from this new website I found. That seems like a good tip. I also know breastfeeding moms bring wireless pumps so they can pump in the car.
4. Be prepared to stop as much as is needed.
Fortunately, babies wear diapers so you don’t have to stop every time they wet their diaper. You will eventually have to stop to change them, though, because you wouldn’t want your baby to get a diaper rash and be uncomfortable during the ride. As for dirty diapers, you probably would want to stop as soon as they get a dirty diaper to maximize their comfort and avoid a rash. You will also want to stop to feed and burp your baby if they are still really young, so plan accordingly.
5. Take your time. 
Do not rush. Pay attention to the road. Get comfortable– maybe consider bringing along a lumbar support pillow or roll. Stop when you have to. Stop if you feel tired, or if your baby’s crying is getting to you. Safety is key. Your and your family’s lives are far too important to risk speeding or driving recklessly.
Have fun where you’re going!

The Greatest Father for my Child(ren) + JORD Giveaway

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

This post is sponsored by JORD Watches but all opinions are my own.

 JORD Watches
When my husband and I got married, I deemed it the best day ever. Then, we became parents. That trumped all days and easily was the best day of our lives. Seeing my husband transform and grow into a parent has opened my eyes to a different side of him. He is more emotional, loving and sensitive. He is everything I could have wanted in a father for my children. 
The way he loves and cares for our son is more than I could have ever asked for. He is so hands-on. He changed the first diapers, took the lead on the first baths, and even stayed home with our little guy for the first nine months of his life. He’s also been a great partner– he was caring, patient and understanding while I recovered from child birth. I’ve never felt more connected to him. 
Watching him as a father has been such a joy.  I’ve fallen more in love with him.
With Father’s Day coming up, I knew my husband deserved something special, like a unique watch. When I saw JORD watches, I immediately thought one would make the perfect gift for him. Not only does he enjoy wearing watches but he had wanted a skeletal watch for quite some time. The uniqueness of a JORD watch — its frame is made of 100% natural wood — is an added bonus. JORD has both men’s and women’s watches. 
When my husband’s Dover Olive and Acacia men’s watch arrived, he raved about it. He has already worn it a few times and he recently told me it is now his favorite watch. I am so glad he loves his Father’s Day present.
Enter here for a chance to win $100 towards a JORD watch for yourself or someone special in your life!
JORD Watches

JORD Watches
JORD Watches

7 Tips for Vacationing with a Baby

Filed Under: travel with baby, traveling //

     Disclosure: Affiliate links are present. I may receive compensation if you make a purchase using any of my links. 

Before speaking about what it is like to vacation with a baby and sharing my tips, you should read my tips for flying with your baby so your vacation is off to as stress-free a start as possible. I decided to separate the posts because each presents its unique challenges.

Here are seven tips I hope you find helpful the next time you go away with your little one:

1. Be patient.
I start off with the last tip I gave for flying with your baby because patience is key. Be prepared to take more breaks and spend more time in the hotel room than you probably normally would. A baby’s naps don’t stop just because you want to lay out longer or swim in the ocean. If you’re a parent then you know very well that mostly everything takes longer, from walks to dining out, with a little one in tow. That’s okay–they’re worth all the time in the world.

2. Apply (and re-apply!) the SPF!
Sunblock is SO important. Aside from pampers and formula (if applicable), this is the most essential thing you’ll need if you’ll be in the sun with your baby (i.e. Coppertone Baby Sunscreen).  In line with sunblock are a baby UV-protective hat and rash guard, if they’ll be exposed to the sun for periods of time, as well as a UV-protective tent for beach days that is easy to travel with. Ultimately, try to keep the little one in shade as much as possible. Try to avoid the strong afternoon sun and keep him hydrated and well fed to avoid dehydration. 

3. Bring a lighter weight stroller. 
Our Baby Jogger City Select is entirely way too heavy and bulky (and expensive) to be placed under an airplane and lugged around on vacation. So, we bought this stroller and recommend it. The one downside is the small size of the umbrella but the company makes a slightly more expensive version that could work just as well. 
4. It’s best to over pack for your baby.
Some might disagree with me on this one but I am an over packer. I used to over pack for myself but now, not so much. I do over pack for my little one and I have not regretted it yet. Babies are notorious for going through multiple outfits in a day. If you don’t over pack what are you going to do when all the clothes is dirty, especially if there are no washing machine facilities in your hotel? Just pack extra for them. Their cute little clothes doesn’t take up much space, anyway. 🙂
5. Relax when you can. 
The biggest difference when vacationing with kids is how much less relaxation and downtime there seems to be. Even when the baby is sleeping, there are bottles to be cleaned, organization to be done, and possibly catching up on social media or writing if you unplug while the baby is awake. Days spent laying out by the pool or on the beach will likely only happen on a parents-only vacation. But if you are vacationing with family or friends, don’t hesitate to take them up on their offer to play with the baby while you lay out. It’s actually a win-win. Your baby will be kept occupied and you’ll be able to relax, if even just for 15 minutes.
5. Soak in all of your baby’s experiences.
There might be a lot of firsts happening (first swim in the pool and/or ocean) and simply fun times being had by your baby. Relish in your baby’s joy. My baby’s happiness makes me happy. Needless to say, I was ecstatic our whole vacation.
6. Enjoy!
There might be some stress, whether it be from traveling with the baby or the baby’s routine being messed up. Just remember: you went away to relax. To spend time together. To make memories. To have a good time. Don’t forget that.