mommy – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Baby August 15, 2014

Isla Loves: The Honest Co. Diapers

I will admit it – I was one of those new moms who brought diapers to the hospital because I wanted her in the cute patterned ones right away. I never, ever thought I would be a diaper snob, but The Honest Co. has proved me wrong. I am indeed very picky about the diapers Isla wears – and these are the best. Not only do I love picking out Isla’s outfits every morning, I also love deciding which pattern of diaper she’ll wear. We subscribe to the monthly delivery, and you get to pick six prints from the wide assortment offered (see a selection below). My absolute favorite pattern is the strawberry one, while Sasha loves the giraffes. I happily let her do tummy time in just her diaper because they are so cute. I highly recommend that you get premium diapers and wipes for less than $20 a week from Honest.com – you and your little loved ones won’t regret it. Just this week, we got our monthly shipment, and I mistakenly ordered another package of size 1 diapers. While they still fit her now, I doubt they will in another four weeks. We gave The Honest Co. a call on the day they arrived, and they immediately sent a return label and waived the shipping and restocking fees. I love them!

We also use and love the Honest Shampoo & Body Wash. It contains only natural and organic ingredients and doesn’t hurt when it gets in baby’s eyes (trust me, Isla would let me know if it did!). I cannot wait to try some of their other bath products!

I’m excited to announce that I am a new Honest Company Ambassador! I am really passionate about this wholesome company and proud to help promote their products. I’ll be sharing other reviews of their many items – I hope you give them a try as well.

P.S. Dearest Isla, sorry for sharing so many pictures of that tiny little butt and cute chunky thighs with the world! 🙂

I was given Honest Co. diapers for my review. I was allowed to keep the product, but the opinion I am sharing remains my own.

Baby August 6, 2014

Isla Loves: MAM Pacifiers (Giveaway)

In the months leading up to Isla’s arrival, Sasha and I had many parenting discussions – some of the them were tough due to varying opinions, like the use of pacifiers. After reading about the various benefits (watch this informative video), I was completely pro-paci. Sasha, on the other hand, was against them. Without any research whatsoever, he deemed them as enabling a bad habit. However, come week one when Isla is crying inconsolably, Sasha immediately scrambles to Isla’s closet, looking for the pacifier drawer. I had stocked up on three brands, given advice from other first-time moms who said that some babies take to different types of teats. The MAM pacifier was the only one Isla liked, as others seemed more difficult to keep in her mouth. If you watch the video below, you can see it come slightly out of her mouth, yet she is able to keep on sucking due to the textured teat.

Quite contrary to Sasha’s declaration that pacifiers mess up teeth, the MAM Perfect Pacifier‘s innovative design incorporates an extra thin, super-soft and flexible nipple specially engineered to reduce the risk of misaligned teeth. The unique Dento-FlexTM nipple neck is 60% thinner and 3 times softer than those of comparable pacifiers; the thinner, softer nipple provides less pressure on baby’s jaw and teeth to help reduce the risk of jaw deformations and malocclusions. Extra small and lightweight, MAM Perfect is available for babies age 0-6 months and age 6 + months. Click here to watch a Perfect Pacifier YouTube video.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJUEQln1ojQ]

I’m excited to be teaming up with MAM to give away two packs of pacifiers to one lucky follower! In order to enter the giveaway, you must do the following:

Reply to this post, including your name, email and who you want to win the pacifier for (a friend’s baby, your child, your grandchild, etc.)
Follow MAM on their Instagram
You will get an extra entry by becoming a follower of Snapshots and My Thoughts (see ‘Follow’ button at the bottom righthand corner on desktop version of the blog)

One winner will be drawn at random. The more entries you have, the higher the chance you’ll win! The giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, August 8. I will announce the winner by Friday. I look forward to your responses!

Follow MAM

Facebook: facebook.com/MAMbabyUSA

Twitter: @MAMBABY

Pinterest: Pinterest.com/MAMUSA

YouTube: Subscribe to MAMbabyUSA

Instagram: instagram.com/mambaby_com

Announcement July 31, 2014

Isla’s Rifle Paper Co. Inspired Birth Announcements

At long last, Isla’s birth announcements have been sent! I am so relieved to have completed this major project – one which started well before she was born! I did the calligraphy on all 100 envelopes prior to her birth (thank goodness!), cut the envelope liners using this Rifle Paper Co. wrapping paper, stamped our return address using a custom stamp from Angelique Ink, and created the design for the announcement (which was printed by Czar Press). When Isla arrived, all I had left to do was update the design with the appropriate information, get it printed, have Isla’s photos taken by Taylor Lord and printed locally, add the photos to the glassine bags, punch holes, tie bows, and voila – done. Whew. Yes, I am exhausted, but so happy to have finished my second big project (first being Sasha’s graduation announcements). Baby number two will likely have an e-card (ha!).

Duplex announcement card printing by Czar Press

Ribbon and kraft envelopes from Paper Source

Wildflower Liner from Rifle Paper Co.

Isla photo by Taylor Lord

Custom return stamp from Angelique Ink

Dr. Martin’s Pen White calligraphy ink from Paper and Ink Arts

Glassine bags from JenStampz

Calligraphy and photos by me

Baby July 30, 2014

Isla Loves: Trumpette (Giveaway)

For years, my ‘go-to’ gift for newborns has been Trumpette socks. What little Texan boy doesn’t need these cowboy socks, and what tiny baby girl doesn’t need some ballet socks? My mum introduced me to these sweet shoe-like socks, and I was excited when she gave Isla her first pair of Jitterbug Jennys. Isla wears a different pair almost every day, as each box comes in a variety of colors. She’s had lots of compliments while strolling around downtown Durango so far! While I love Isla’s shoe collection (15 pairs so far!), I know realize that Trumpette socks are much, much more realistic and useful.

I’m excited to be teaming up with Trumpette to give away a box of socks to one lucky follower! In order to enter the giveaway, you must do the following:

Go to Trumpette.com and decide which set of socks you’d like to win – then write a comment at the bottom of this post explaining which set you’d like and who you’d be buying them for
You will get an extra entry by becoming a follower of Snapshots and My Thoughts (see ‘Follow’ button at the bottom righthand corner on desktop version of the blog)
You can also get additional entries by liking Trumpette on their Facebook page and by following them on Instagram

One winner will be drawn at random. The more entries you have, the higher the chance you’ll win! The giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, August 1. I am looking forward to your responses! For more Trumpette photos, click here.

Baby July 29, 2014

A Photo A Day

Every year, I create a Shutterfly book that encompasses all of the big events and trips I take. You can view 2012 here and 2013 here. I’m almost caught up with my 2014 book, and quickly realized that as of June 2014, it will be all about Isla – except our trip to Mexico in September for Paola’s wedding! I also wanted to create another Shutterfly book with one photo a day for the first year of Isla’s life. It astonishes me how much she has already changed in under two months, and I know that I’ll love looking back and seeing her grow day-by-day on her first birthday.

Have you seen other creative ways to chronicle life’s big events? Do you use Shutterfly? I know that my friend Mara does Project Life, which I love as well.