Mommy Pigg

You really just have to roll with it when you fall madly in love with a man whose last name is Pigg. Ten years of marriage later, hubby and the kiddos (which I refer to as ‘my people’) get a real kick out of calling me Mommy Pigg. So here I am in all my Mommy Pigg glory.

How did I get here? You know that girl with whole heart? We were freshman year college roommates! Oh girl, how did we get here? I am crazy honored that she asked me to blog for you all!

The journey: After college I got married, became a school counselor, and had three sweet boys. My life journey thus far has included many seasons; joy, sorrow, relief, longing, calmness, and wild. We walked alongside my sister-in-law through a 20 month battle with cancer that ended with her joyously meeting our Lord. We lost a baby to miscarriage but had three healthy boys. We made two major moves and started over with friendships, churches, and jobs. I talk a lot about seasons and believe that they are a huge part of our lives.

The here and now: So in this season every day looks just about the same; I stay at home with my three boys, ages 5, 2, and 6 months! I work hard to take care of my family, feed them well (hear me saying ‘feed them enough’ because they are human garbage disposals), honor God, and spread joy around me. The boys take an incredible amount of brain power (and some days there just isn’t enough) but I long to raise men of character.

My passions: Let me just say that I am passionate about my husband; this man is so wonderful! He and I began a mission in January to simplify our life and create space to enjoy it while serving others. I love to be active, be on the go, and take my people with me! We are trying to figure out how to be better versions of ourselves both individually and as a couple. As much as I hate to admit it, I am a little behind the times on the clean and organic movements. So we can walk the journey together as I become a healthier and more thoughtful consumer.

Moving forward: Yes! Let’s walk this life journey together through the crazy seasons and celebrate the highs, stick together in the lows, and laugh through it all! For me, laughter is key. Why, you ask?

Because my people call me Mommy Pigg.

Steph

10 Products New Moms Don’t Even Know They Need

If you’re one of those “with it” chicks who does all her research and knows just what she needs, and wants, for every life transition, this post may not apply to you; however, I’ve compiled a list of must haves most moms don’t even know they need for the other 95%. 

Most, if not all, of these products are available at ShopWholeHeart.com via the links in the post or page on this blog. Toot, toot! (#ShamelessPlug)

New moms have a habit (that must be broken) of getting pregnant, rushing to big name baby store, and registering for everything they’ve seen at friend’s houses figuring it must be the best. I’m here to say, “Stop it!” Alot of these products are low quality, high toxin, and poorly constructed. But don’t worry, I gotcha covered.

1. Keekaroo Diaper Changing Pad

Ever changed a kid’s diaper on a regular diaper changing pad or table? It’s a great way to get your eye gauged, drop a kid on their head, or paint the walls a, ahem…baby poop green. Well, the Keekaroo company has designed a peanut shaped pad that prevents the gymnastics your wee one will inevitably do during a diaper change. Plus, it’s not made from the highly toxic polyurethane, vinyl, plastic, or foam that mainstream pads are made of. It’s 100% nontoxic, ecofriendly materials, AND it’s puncture proof, water resistant, and stain resistant. Plus, it comes in a plethora, if you will, of colors. Check it out!

2. Baby Shusher

Dr. Harvey Karp, famed pediatrician and author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, includes shushing loudly as one of his “5 S’s for Calming” fussy babies. The Baby Shusher is the ONLY white noise machine on the market with a human voice doing the shushing. What will they think of next?!

3. Lalabu Soothe Shirt

Many parents nowadays have learned that babywearing is not only convenient (hands free rocks my world), but it’s also best for baby. Better trunk control, physiological development, language development, sleep, etc. yada yada yada…but, many carriers aren’t safe for a newborn. Either they’re only front facing which is overstimulating, or they’re rear facing, but have the face squished against mom and the hips splayed out (hip dysplasia, anyone? Bueller?) Well, there’s always wraps for newborns, but alot of moms are overwhelmed by wraps. The Lalabu Soothe Shirt is actually a shirt, with a pouch like a kangaroo that you just place “Roo” in and snuggle. Plus, it doubles as a nursing tank. I can hear you sighing in relief.

4. Woombie

Halle-freakin-lujah for the Woombie, y’all! I’ve been told I’m pretty kick ass at swaddling babies (shout out to Julie Nietzel, another baby whisperer, for her fine training), but I’m not a fan of swaddling once babies get their super human strength around day 3 and can houdini out of things. I love the peanut shaped Woombie because it allows baby to be swaddled snuggly WITHOUT wrapping, baby can be hands down or hands-to-heart for comfort, Plus, the legs are free to roam which again protects them from hip dysplasia. Bonus: It’s got a double zipper for easy late night diaper changes. wahoo!

5. 5 Phases Bottles

I hate…no, I LOATHE, plastic bottles! You don’t heat your food up in plastic tupperware, right? Why not? Because you know that plastics contain BPAs which are endocrine system disruptors and have been linked to cancer. So, why would you use a plastic bottle for baby’s milk? Glass is the ONLY sure fire way to protect baby from BPAs because even the “BPA free bottles” are made with a cousin of BPA that hasn’t been tested for safety logitudinally yet. 5 Phases are glass, ecofriendly, come in 4oz or 8oz, have vented silicone nipples and a silicone sleeve for added protection.

6. Knock Nanny

This lil device slides right over your doorbell and has a heap full of decals you can use to let noisy neighbors or the UPS man know that mama bear will kick some ass if they ring the doorbell during naptime. We love it!

7. Shrinkx Belly Wrap

Shrinkx Belly Wrap should be in your travel bag for the hospital so you can wrap your belly after birth and encourage your uterus to retake shape, hold ab muscles in for comfort, and encourage healthy posture while nursing. Plus, there’s the added benefit of getting your pre-baby body back, but we heart moms who don’t make that a number one priority.

8. Softskin Stretch Mark Prevention System

This system includes the Soft Skin Signature Oil (all natural, paraben free, organic) and a soft tank and boy short made from a material that keeps the oil on your skin without making clothes sticky or rubbing the oil away.

9. Humidifier

We have a whole section on humidifiers and air purifiers because babies breathe through their noses primarily until 6 months. If their nose is stuffed, they can’t breathe. Yikes! Keep their noses wet with a cool mist humidifier in the nursery.

10. EzPz Less Mess Happy Mat

This mat is great once baby starts eating solids. The mat is made from nontoxic, food grade silicone so food won’t stick to it which makes for easy clean up. Nonstick, dishwasher safe, microwave safe, oven safe, AND, the coolest part? It sticks to the table’s surface and will NOT budge unless an adult lifts the corners. Get it here.

If you’re a veteran mom, what would you add to this list? Create a registery on ShopWholeHeart.com for 10% off and FREE shipping.

ACK Wrap Love!!!

The first time you see the ACK Wrap, you think, “Oh that’s cute”. The second time you see the ACK Wrap you think, “Yeah, I need one of those.” The third time you see the ACK Wrap you think,

“Dammit, I’m buying one right now!” 

Meet Leslie, the adorable founder and designer of the ACK Wrap. “When our daughter, Charlotte, was born July 4, 2014, I was instantly in love. I stared at her the entire first night..she instantly became the center of my world. When Charlotte was just five weeks old, we flew to Nantucket to visit my parents. I had gone to the island every summer for the preceding decade and couldn’t wait to take my daughter. I soon realized that the cobblestone streets and uneven brick sidewalks of Nantucket made navigating a stroller nearly impossible. Furthermore, I struggled traveling through the airport with my stroller and finding a good way to breastfeed was frustrating to the point that I was in tears.

Dissatisfied by the monotony of other baby carriers on the market, I knew there had to be a better option. I decided to make my own carrier from fabric that matched my style and with that, the first ACK Wrap was born.”

Leslie is now an Austinite and you know how we heart keeping things local! ShopWholeHeart.com HAS the ACK Wraps available for you!!!

Babywearing benefits include:

• Better sleep
• Happier baby
• Less crying
• Hands free mom is a happy mom
• Improved bonding
• Increased trunk and head control
• Improved language development
• Healthy physiological patterns

Plus, ACK Wrap donates a portion of their proceeds to help NICU families in Austin!!! Gotta love a grass roots company with a heart like that.

We heart the ACK Wrap!

MamaDoo Kids: Vacation Saver

Meet the “Vacation Saver” aka The MamaDoo

The Smart Play Yard Mattress Topper turns Vacation into Baby Sleep Heaven

Millions of babies and toddlers will be sleeping in a play yard during vacation this summer. And their parents look forward to a resting, relaxing vacation. But these vacations often become nightmares because it turns out that babies and toddlers sleep much worse than at home! A way to avoid that is by using the Smart Play Yard Mattress Topper.

The Smart Play Yard Mattress Topper is a basic vacation item for families this summer. By placing the product on top of the play yard´s hard “mattress”, either in the bassinet or in the bottom position, the play yard will turn into a cozy crib and finally millions of families will be much rested and therefore vacations will be saved.

The firm, versatile Smart Play Yard Mattress Topper is the ultimate sleeping pad. Made in California, it matches the density and firmness of mommy´s or daddy´s chest, babies´ favorite place to sleep, and prevents plagiocephaly (flat spots on babies’ head) by keeping their head off the play yard’s hard-floor-board and onto the Mattress Topper.

Why is it so Smart?
Multiple uses!

1) Turns a play yard into a crib

2) Tummy time mat

3) On-the-go changing table

4) A portable pad for playing at grandma’s

5) Floor pad under baby jumper

6) Wedge to prop up a crib mattress or a toddler bed when folded

• Folds easily for travel and storage.
• Correctly sized: fits perfectly in all standard play yards.
• Washes by simply unzipping the soft cotton cover.
• Safe for baby & home, free of all toxic chemicals & flame retardants, exceeds all US safety standards.
• Includes Travel/Storage Bag and a separate carrying handle.

Smart On The Go: light and ultra-portable. Great for hotels, grandparents’ house, camping, daycare…

Here is one of the many of examples of what people are saying:
“Vacation saver! My daughter absolutely hated sleeping in the pack and play from the day she was born. We had a trip planned to the beach and I was soooo worried about sleep!! Then I found this product. I am happy to say she slept through the night and took wonderful naps every day. Thank you thank you thank you for selling this wonderful product!!!!”, Nibsmom (amazon.com)

The Smart Play Yard Mattress Topper fits perfectly in all standard play yards: Graco, Chicco, Nuna Sena, Boppy, Eddie Bauer, Evenflo, Baby Trend, Safety 1st, Arms Reach Original, Aprica, Cosco, Combi, Boppy, Nature’s Purest Comfort, Bright Starts and more.

It is available in 3 colors, Blue, Pink and, the brand new color, Silver

MamaDoo®Kids truly sets the standard in the industry. It selects only high density and high resiliency foam: it can be used for a long time without suffering indentations, or losing its shape.

MamaDoo Kids products are available at MamaDooKids.com, diapers.com, amazon.com, amazon.ca, maisondrake.com, babyhaven.com, and boutiques nationwide.

Contact: Ana Vega-Woller ana@mamadookids.com (818) 371-2234

Tell her “That Girl from Whole Heart” sent you!

http://www.mamadookids.com

Must Have Baby Item: The Woombie

I’ll never forget the phone call I got from a fellow newborn care provider around 10:00 pm one night wondering if I had any Woombies on hand. Of course I have a Woombie, I ALWAYS have a Woombie. She drove all the way out to my home to pick one up, knowing the baby she was caring for wouldn’t likely sleep without it. 

The Woombie is MAGIC!

What the hell is a Woombie?

• Sleep sack unlike any other
• A womb simulator
• Idiot proof swaddle blanket
• Substitute for mom’s arms in the middle of the night

If you’re a new mom, or expecting, by now you’ve learned that the safest way for a baby to sleep is swaddle tight and on their back, right? Well, swaddling blankets can come loose, end up around the neck, or atop the face…HAZARD! In comes the “sleep sack”, but the problem with a sleep sack is that it doesn’t provide the tight feel or boundaries created by swaddling. Spastic newborns swaddle in their sleep and wake themselves up.

So, manufacturers created “swaddle sacks”; however, they’re still lacking because they’re:

shopwholeheart.com

1. Too loose, ill fitting

2. Too tight causing hip dysplasia

3. Velcro

• Velcro gets caught on things in the dryer
• Velcro is loud in the middle of the night
• Velcro doesn’t allow for easy diaper changes

This is why I HEART the Woombie! 

It was designed by an RN, Karen Barski, who knew what baby’s needed to sleep safely and soundly.

The Woombie has a patented peanut shape design so it fits snuggly in the right places.

The Woombie allows for range of motion at, and below, the hips.

The Woombie Air has a vented front that allows for air flow to prevent overheating.

The Woombie is made from nontoxic fabrics.

The Woombie has a double zipper to allow for easier diaper changes without unswaddling.

The Woombie comes in a variety of styles and prints AND you can get matching hats for your lil one!

Woombie also created the Cotton Indian Gown like the one shown here that is for a baby 16lbs-23lbs and allows for knotting at the feet to create boundaries.

The Cuddle Blanket and Old Fashioned Air Wrap Blankets are also favorite Woombie products. Check them all out here on shopwholeheart.com. The Woombie is the #1 perfect baby shower gift. In fact, I’d suggest you keep these on hand and bring one with you every time you meet a new baby!

Which print is your favorite?

Expecting Twins? 15 Must-Have Items for your Registry

I’m a twin fanatic! My best friend growing up was a twin, my high school crush & college sweetheart was a twin, I studied the psychosocial and emotional development of twins in grad school, and have provided care for…umpteen number of twins as a professional, including the two I’m caring for now.

Twins are fascinating to me; however, if you’re a mother of twins, you might say, “Yeah, I love my twins, but they keep me uber busy”, or if you’re expecting twins you may be wondering what exactly you’re getting yourself into (and potentially wondering if you can get a redo).

Have no fear, the twin master is here! 

Not only do I LOVE twins, but I also have a super high chance of having twins. Twins run on both sides of my family, I’m in my thirties, AND I’m undergoing fertility treatments so, according to statistics…I’m having twins.

This has got me thinking of what my “dream registry” for twins would include and I’m happy to share:

1. Orbit baby Double Helix Stroller/Carseat: Chic, modern, clean, functional

2. Stokke Sleep Basinettes: They start small for your newborns so they can easily fit into the master bedroom or other “nook” of the house or nursery

…but they grow with your child/ren, too! They convert from basinettes to cribs, to toddler beds, to a full size kid’s bed.

3. Two 4Moms Mamaroos: When you’re a mom of twins, you need lots (I mean, lots) of places to set your babies. Rockers, swings, cribs, carriers, etc…but the Mamaroo is not just another place to set baby. It rocks, swings, swivels, with the touch of a hand (or toe) and lulls baby gently to sleep.

4. Baby K’tan Twin Carrier and a Happy Baby Wrap

5. Two Keekaroo Peanut Changers, Height Right Seats and Cafe Boosters.

6. Two PateMM Pads

NOTE: As a twin mom you can never have too many places to change a baby. Keep a Keekaroo Peanut Changer in the nursery/playroom and/or the main living area. Keep a PateMM pad in the car AND a diaper bag.

7. 50 Rumparooz Cloth Diapers and 10 wet bags: If the average person spends $3000 on diapers for a singleton, that’s $6000 for twins so…I’ll go with 50 cloth diapers that’ll take me from NB-3y and only spend $1000

Photo credit: Gilt.com

8. Kiinde Twist and Store Feeding System

9. 4 EzPz Fun Mats: 2 for my house, 2 for grandma’s house

10. 4 Mimijumi Bottles, 6 5Phases Bottles, and 2 Pacific BabyWorld Bottles

11. MimoBaby Smart Monitor and bottle warmer: this monitor actually signals the bottle warmer to heat up with the babies start to wake up. You’re welcome. 

12. Simple Wishes Hands-free Pumping Bra & Freemies!: Functionality during pumping, but also a way to save every precious ounce is vital to mom’s survival. Get the Freemies and get some milksavers.

13. So-Ro Twin Rocker: Again, never enough places to place a baby when you have two.

14. My Brestfriend Nursing Pillow (for twins)

15. Table for Two Feeding Pillow (buytablefortwo.com)

Need I say more?

Obviously you should also register for all the other necessities, swaddle blankets, infant care kits, thermometers, breast pumps, humidifiers, clothing, etc., but these are in my opinion the things one does NOT forget when they’re expecting twins!

Also, when you have twins, triplets, quads, quints…anything other than a singleton, organization is your friend. Channel your inner pre-k teacher and create a designated space for everything. Label, color code, and sort to your heart’s desire. 

What would you add to this list?

From Wine Bottles to Baby Bottles

Several words in your vocabulary as a woman change meaning when you become a mom and a few phrases get misinterpreted. Wine becomes whine. When your husband says, “Baby, the waitress brought our change,” you hear, “the baby needs to be changed”. Shopping rows of wine bottles at the liquor store has been replaced by browsing your local baby store for the perfect bottle. But, your lil’ bambino is totally worth the changes!

With all of the options out there for baby bottles, finding the perfect one for your baby can be overwhelming! At shopwholeheart.com we offer 3 bottles. That’s it; just 3. We only offer three because we have browsed the aisles, shopped the expos, attended conventions, read the reviews, and ultimately decided that the three bottles we hold in our selection are THE three best bottles on the market.

We proudly introduce you to…

The Mimijumi “very hungry” bottle and “not so hungry” bottle. These BPA free bottles are designed to mimic the breast to prevent nipple confusion and help baby transition smoothly between breast and bottle. This bottle is also super easy to assemble because it only has two parts! There’s no insert or outer sleeve, no gas preventing tubes, no adaptors, etc. Just bottle (with an easy to hold shape) and a nipple that snaps on. It’s dishwasher safe, nontoxic, prevents gas and colic, and is FABULOUS. Is it worth the price? Um…yeah! You will love it and only need 2-3 bottles per kiddo.

Mamachi. No, I’m not suggesting a new sushi roll. The Mamachi is the newest, and the creme de la creme, of baby bottles. I discovered this lil gem walking through the ABC Baby and Kids Expo in Vegas this past year. I wasn’t in the market for new bottles because I thought I’d already found the best that was out there, but I was wrong! The team behind the Mamachi stopped me and asked me to feel the bottle. “Feel it?”, I asked. Well, once I touched this bottle I knew why they wanted me to touch it, lol. It genuinely feels like the female breast! Soft, squishy, maleable, ha ha. I can see how a little baby would be drawn to it and adjust easily to the Mamachi when mama can’t be around.

The Mamachi is the ONLY 100% Silicone Bottle in the world! Made of food grade silicone this plastic free bottle is free of harmful BPA and Phthalates.

• BPA Free (zero detection of endocrine disrupting BPA) and pthalates
• Highest grade silicone
• Anti-colic
• Wide neck for easy cleaning
• Microwave/Dishwasher Safe
• 5oz / 160ml or 9oz
• Shaped like the breast

The 5 Phases. I LOVE the 5 Phases bottle because it’s a glass bottle without the added fear of breaking a bottle. The glass part holds the milk and allows you to feed baby without fear of BPA, toxins, pthalates, etc. Glass is the safest way to heat milk and truth be told, the only surefire way to protect your baby from toxins brought on by plastics. The glass gets inserted into a no-slip silicone sleeve. If the bottle is dropped, it’s protected by the silicone and is unlikely to break. Even if it did break, the glass is contained in the silicone sleeve! The 5Phases bottles comes with individual bottles, or you can order a starter kit that comes with 1 fully assembled bottle, 2 additional glass inserts, and extra silicone nipples.

Check out the rest of our feeding products including:

• The EzPz Fun Mat
• Squooshi Reusable Food Pouches
• Keekaroo Height Right High Chairs
• Keekaroo Booster Seats
• AhGoo Baby Bibs
• Keep Leaf Lunch Bags, reusable sandwich wraps, reusable baggies
• Kiinde Twist and Store Milk Storage Starter Kits

 

What bottle did you use with your kiddo? Which of these would you like to try?

Christmas Gift Guide: Babies, Moms, Tots

For Christmas this year I’ll be getting a nephew! I’ll also have an 18 month old niece to play Santa to. This got me thinkin’…what are the perfect gifts for babies, moms, and tots?

For lil bambinos (aka “babies” for y’all southern folk)…

Rompers, footies, and ‘jammers from Baby Soy organic clothing

Patterned soft blocks

Musical Farmyard Learning Cube

Thermal Baby Bottle by Pacific Baby:

This is the world’s first thermal baby bottle that keeps milk (or other liquids) hot or colf for up to 7 hours! This is perfect for travelers, babies on-the-go, or late night feedings at the bedside. It’s not just for babies either! Kiddos from birth to 5 years old will love this easy to grip, nontoxic, dishwasher safe 7oz to 9oz bottle/sip cup. It’s free from BPA, PVC, pthalates, and any other yucky stuff we don’t want our precious ones consuming.

Swaddle blankets that double as nursing covers and sun shields

Hungry Pelican

Receiving Blankets (perfect to monogram)

Keekaroo Peanut Changer, Booster Seat or High Chair

 Only the best baby bottle on the market! The innovative nipple design replicates a mother’s breast, creating a natural feeding and latching experience for a happier and healthier bottle fed baby. Bold colors and soft textures are combined to give the Mimijumi bottle a distinctive, eye-catching appearance. All mimijumi bottles are BPA and latex free, and exceed US safety standards.

• Easy to open
• Easy to clean
• Integrated venting prevents colic
• Screw on one-piece nipple
• Skid-free base
• Top rack dishwasher-safe
• BPA-, and latex- free
• Exceeds US safety standards

Mushroom Nursery Humidifier

Hape Play Cube

Woombie Swaddle Sacks

Hats, mittens, booties

For the tots and other wee ones…

Plush Rocking Horse

Stacking Train or Train Set

Shape Sorters

Discovery Space Center

Pacific Baby Natural Bamboo Feeding: Picture filling this BPA free, nontoxic, bamboo feeding bowl filled with hot oatmeal Christmas morning, sprinkled with cinnamon, sugar, and candied cranberries! Or, top their bamboo plates with pumpkin pancakes and fresh maple syrup after discovering what Santa brought. Pacific Baby, Inc., natural bamboo, eco-friendly feeding products include bowl, cup, plates, and utensils are biodegradable, machine washable, and durable.

Toddler Scoot Around

Dress-up clothes

Grand Piano

Growth Ruler by White Loft

Fold and Go Castles, Dollhouses, or Barns

Goldieblox & Her Spinning Machine 

Pretend Kitchen or Master Workbench

Christmas Cookie Set

Nesting & Sorting ABC Cubes

Fill & Spill Set

Monster Bowling Game

Adorable Animal Humidifier

Magnetic Toys

Puzzles

Pacific Play Tents: Over 50 different kinds of play tents, tunnels, teepees, parachutes and cabanas! There’s even a super cool space tunnel tent for your lil’ explorer. Pacific Play Tents offer hours of imaginary play time and they offer free shipping on orders over $50. Get a teepee or camo tent for the backyard and host a campout, fill a pop up tent with stuffed animals and books for a reading corner, or use the tents below for pretend play in the playroom. Kiddos love spaces that are all their own and these play tents provide just that!

For moms-to-be, new moms, or veteran moms…

Spa day! You can’t go wrong with a spa day or spa certificate. I love Lake Austin Spa and Milk & Honey Spa!

Kendra Scott jewelry

PJs or Nightgown

Lalabu Soothe Shirt

Air Purifier or Humidifier (for more sleep!)

Pottery Barn potpurri or Reed Difusers (mission fig rocks my world)

The Knock Nanny

I’m obsessed with the Tiffany Blue Hunter boots!

Boots! Uggs or Hunter boots

Worry-Free Bath Products by Original Sprout

City Mini Baby Jogger

Tiffany & Co. (you can never go wrong with a gift that comes in a robin’s egg blue bag or box)

Scarves, boot socks, or gloves

Travel coffee mug

Fleece or knit throws

Stocking Stuffers!

Don’t forget the stockings! My mother asked me this year if she (aka “Santa”) needed to do stockings, “Chelsea, you’re almost 32 years old, do I still need to do a stocking?” My reply, “Um? Yeah!”

• Neat Cheeks stevia sweetened face wipes
• Napinol Nursery Therapies
• Ringley Teethers
• Organic cotton baby Buddies
• Sleep Sheep
• Pacifiers
• Miracle Detangler
• Tooth Tissues
• Babyganics Hand Sanitizer
• Hair bows and accessories
• Wysi Wipes

Many (if not all) of the above gifts can be found at shopwholeheart.com!

Enter below to WIN a Cossettie Shopping Cart & High Chair Cover and Cossettie Portable Changing Mat!

Cossettie Changing Mat

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maternity Concierge, Austin

Ever since the reality show, “Pregnant in Heels” starring Rosie Pope, Maternity Concierge services have been perceived as something for elitists. In fact, instead of putting us “on the map” so to speak, I feel like Rosie Pope gave us a bad rap.

My services, unlike Rosie Pope’s are not just for the elite! I keep my prices affordable as I like to think of my services as something every new mother needs in order to feel prepared and confident and SAVE money. Yup, paying a Maternity Concierge, such as myself can help you SAVE MONEY.

Here’s how I help you save:

1. I help you narrow down your baby registry and wishlist only the things you need based on your lifestyle. I also help you utilize things you already have at home instead of what’s marketed as a “must have for baby”.

2. I prevent you from wasting time researching service providers and baby gear or driving around town interviewing pediatricians, photographers, Ob/Gyns, child care providers and doulas.

3. I provide comprehensive education for you and your partner in one sitting, preventing you from taking 2-5 different types of classes and expensive, unnecessary workshops.

My Maternity Concierge services can be purchased a la carte, or as a comprehensive package. Money is saved by purchasing services in bulk…

• Maternity Concierge $495
  • 1.5 hr Newborn Care Education ($125 value)
  • Nursery preparation, design support & organization
  • Registry assistance/completion, product research
  • Pediatrician interviews, follow-up and appointments set
  • Referral Services (doula/midwife, pediatrician, nanny, babyproofer, sleep consultant, lactation support and photographers)
  • Postpartum support (1hr support in-home)
  • 4th Trimester training (sleeping/calming)

Other parenting services I offer include:

Lactation Consultation

• 3 packages based on your needs

Sleep Coaching with a Certified Infant Sleep Coach

• 4^th Trimester Training
• Sleep coaching in-home
• Sleep consulting via phone or email
• Various packages available

Healthy Baby Food Making 

• Personal chef
• In-home class & food prep

Placenta Encapsulation $175

• PCBI Trained Professional has your placenta picked up following the birth, encapsulated within 24 hours and returned to you in-home or birth site (hospitals or birth centers)

Parenting Support

• Love & Logic workshops in home and around town
• In-home parent training
• Behavior management
• Counseling, Sandtray Therapy, and Play Therapy

 Visit www.maternityconciergeaustin.com for more information and to book services. 

I Do…For Worse…Until Death Do We Part

What if these were our wedding vows?

I, ________ take thee, __________

For worse, for poor, in sickness, not health.

In bad times and sorrows, in let downs and disappointments,

Until death do us part.

Fortunately for the institute of marriage there’s an upside for each one of those in traditional wedding vows. When we’re reciting our vows we’re all secretly praying for nothing but the upsides and blessings. Of course we go in to it knowing that things will get rough from time to time, but “we’ll get through it together”, right? But, what if things spiraled downward the moment you said your “I Dos?”

No, I’m not talking about the fact that the AC was out in the newlywed suite, or about the 11 fingered cab driver that drove insanely through the windy streets of St. Thomas, causing my new husband to vomit for hours upon arriving at our honeymoon destination. I’m not even referring to the 4 inch gash he cut in his foot on the bathtub faucet when we checked in. We were able to laugh about all of that…

I’m talking about once real life started.

We had been together almost 8 years by the time we got married so we knew we wanted to start trying for a family right away. He wanted a baby so badly that even before the wedding he tried to convince me we were in the “safe zone” and no one would know any different, lol. We wanted a child that was a piece of him and a piece of me to complete the family that we’d built a foundation for. I knew after 2-3 months of trying that something was wrong that we hadn’t conceived yet. It’s been a downward spiral for me ever since then (my journey HERE). I tried for so long not to involve him in my fears and pain, but that only made it worse. I hated suffering alone.

Over the past two and a half years we’ve gone through tests, procedures, ultrasounds, lab work, medicines, shots, and surgeries. The hormones make me Suzy Homemaker one minute and Loraina Bobbit the next minute. Sometimes I’m thin, sometimes I’m fat. Sometimes I’m hungry and sometimes the thought of food makes me sick. I have no control over my schedule because the doctors decide my every move. I had to quit my job to work from home because the stress of work, the refridgerated medicines, and the doctor’s appointments became too much to juggle (as if it wasn’t already hard enough to pay the fertility bills).

He’s had to listen to me through let down after let down after let down. Every time the doctors call, I get off the phone in tears. Every time someone announces their pregnancy I feel like I’m choking. He’s seen me scared, sick, sad, hurt, sweating, bleeding, exhausted, and annoyed. I’m sure he’s thought, “Where’d my bride go?” Now here I am, 4 days post operative with a balloon in my newly restructured uterus. I’ve been teeth chattering in pain for days, confined to my bed and loopy from the pills and every day I wonder to myself, “Would he have married me if he knew he was marrying me in sickness, in poor, with faults, in bad times, and sorrows, in disappointments and failures”?

I know walking down that aisle looking at the love of my life all I saw was rainbows and butterflies. I saw a house full of kids. I saw love, laughter, happiness, and a world full of possibilities. On days like this, it’s hard to see that still, but I try.

My hope is that he still remembers his bride and knows deep down that…this too shall pass! There is an end to this road and it’s effing awesome!