Since we are on the topic of breastfeeding, I have a fantastic company that helped me, as a pregnant military spouse, by providing a Tricare Breast Pump with all the bells and whistles when I needed it the most. 

They offer a variety of products including Breast Pumps, Compression Socks, Medela Accessories, and Spectra Accessories for pregnant and new Moms. If you are a military family like me, you can get all of these items from free through Tricare! 

Learn more here. 

 

I breastfed both my babies for years and as a military family I am so grateful for our Tricare insurance and all the breastfeeding supplies they provided. The following five simple steps will take less than 5 minutes, and your breast pump through Tricare will be on its way! 

 

o Step 1 – Fill out our insurance information form found below

o Step 2 – Select your breast pump model (Tricare covers all models we offer)

o Step 3 – Enroll in our Monthly breastfeeding accessories program (called Resupply)

o Step 4 – Provide us with a prescription or your doctor’s information, and we will obtain one for you

o Step 5 – Your pump and supplies will ship right to your front door via UPS or USPS

1 Natural Way also offers breast pump accessories, compression socks and postpartum care supplies.

Some of these accessories include: 

Kiinde Breastmilk Storage Bags 

Replacement Tubing

Different Sized Breast Shields 

Extra Breast Pump Parts

 

1 Natural Way handles contacting both your health insurance provider and your physician on your behalf. We offer the easiest process in the industry-backed my thousands of reviews and testimonials from moms everywhere. We work hard to make it an enjoyable experience to receive your breast pump with minimal or no out of pocket expense to you. On average, the ordering process takes 7-10 days and ships right to your doorstep.

You can receive a breast pump for FREE just like me through your Tricare insurance.

Visit 1 Natural Way to get started!

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1naturalway/

1 Natural Way as the premiere resource for the highest quality breast pumps from Medela and Spectra to TRICARE members.

 

 

 

Since we are on the topic of breastfeeding, I have a fantastic company that helped me, as a pregnant military spouse, by providing a Tricare Breast Pump with all the bells and whistles when I needed it the most. 

They offer a variety of products including Breast Pumps, Compression Socks, Medela Accessories, and Spectra Accessories for pregnant and new Moms. If you are a military family like me, you can get all of these items from free through Tricare! 

Learn more here. 

I breastfed both my babies for years and as a military family I am so grateful for our Tricare insurance. 

The Medela Breast Pump I was given from 1 Natural Way was a blessing! No charge at all and included all the accessories. I cannot tell you how handy it was to have that pump on all of our long road trips and vacations! My Medela Pump in Style Tote was easy to carry and use and lasted for years!

1 Natural Way also offers breast pump accessories, compression socks and postpartum care supplies.

Some of these accessories include: 

Kiinde Breastmilk Storage Bags 

Replacement Tubing

Different Sized Breast Shields 

Extra Breast Pump Parts

 

1 Natural Way handles contacting both your health insurance provider and your physician on your behalf. We offer the easiest process in the industry-backed my thousands of reviews and testimonials from moms everywhere. We work hard to make it an enjoyable experience to receive your breast pump with minimal or no out of pocket expense to you. On average, the ordering process takes 7-10 days and ships right to your doorstep.

 

You can receive a breast pump for FREE just like me through your Tricare insurance.

Visit 1 Natural Way to get started!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1naturalway/

 

 

This recipe was given to me from my dear friend and Lactation Consultant, Ms Marilyn. 

She hosts monthly Breastfeeding Classes for soon to be and new Moms and serves these delicious cookies at every meeting! 

My sweet Stella nursed for over 2 years. I love the bond we share!

1 Natural Way as the premiere resource for the highest quality breast pumps from Medela and Spectra to TRICARE members.

 

Made Boobie Cookies for our local breastfeeding support meeting and I thought they were prefect to share for World Breastfeeding Week. So glad to live in an area where I have so much support from the local breastfeeding community. These cookies are easy to make and perfect for bachelorette parties, breastfeeding groups, and even Mardi Gras!

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

We have also been lovin’ the new Gerber 3rd Foods® Lil’ Bits®. They are super convenient for a busy Momma like me, since they are healthy and flavor packed for my little one and come in a resealable container. Earlier this month I made Frozen Fruit Bites with the Sweet Potato Apple Carrots & Cinnamon flavor and Stella {and Ava too} gobbled them up. I really like that they have Lil’ Bits of fruits and veggies mixed in the purees to encourage Stella to mash and chew her foods and help transition her to table food. They also have 10 different fruit and veggie combos to try so my hungry girl can try all sorts of tasty flavors and combinations and have a wide range taste palate just like her big sister! 

I decided to make these Teething Biscuits to have a healthy and natural snack option for my little one. I like knowing exactly what ingredients are in these and adding Gerber Organic Brown Rice Cereal and Gerber 3rd Foods® Lil’ Bits® not only adds texture but also gives them a light sweet flavor too that I know Stella will love! 

 

 

• 80 experts spent over 120,000 hours on product development for Lil’ Bits recipes.

• Over 80 taste tests were held with 700+ samples to ensure that Lil’ Bits recipes had a baby-approved taste.

• Experts analyzed over 20 hours of video footage and spent 150 hours of analysis and coding on chewing and mashing.

• Gerber tested 30,000 spoonfuls of Lil’s Bits recipes to develop perfectly sized bits to help babies master chewing.

 

Only Gerber works with the best farmers, the best cooks, and tests with 2,000 babies, whose little faces tell us that it is delicious as it is nutritious! 

 

I was sent their products to try on my little ones {and myself} and seriously I am hooked!

These natural baby products are gentle and allergy tested. Even my Stella’s sensitive skin did fine with all the Baby Mantra products we tried. 

 

Here’s some info on the company and then scroll down for a

review of the products I tried. 

 

Baby Mantra was founded by Nupoor and Vinnie, two sisters committed to a natural and organic lifestyle. A deep appreciation for natural skin care was ingrained in them at a very young age as their mother relied greatly on the use of all-natural home-based remedies growing up. 

 

Made in the U.S.A from only top quality all-natural and organic ingredients, Baby Mantra hosts an entire product line of baby lotions, baby oils, Mommy Body butter, shampoo & body wash all tested and approved by Nupoor and her beautiful baby girls. These products safeguard baby soft skin by forming a natural barrier to lock in moisture and guarantee soft, supple, healthy skin for years to come.

 

Baby Mantra uses base oils such as avocado, jojoba, wheat germ, apricot kernel, and grapeseed oil. Their products calm sensitive baby skin and deeply nourish it with our toxin-free, naturally moisturizing and vitamin E rich ingredients. 

 

Learn more at : http://www.babymantra.com/

 

Bath time is silly -and loud- time at our house.

 

Ava loves bubbles and she was so excited to use the Baby Mantra 3 in 1 Bubble Bath, Shampoo, and Wash. Until now I have always had problems finding a good quality bubble bath product for my toddler that isn’t full of dyes, chemicals, and other scary ingredients. This bubble bath didn’t get overly bubbly, which was fine with me, and didn’t leave any sticky residue on the skin. Made with aloe vera and lavender it softened Ava’s skin and calmed her down for bedtime. 

I used Baby Mantra Newborn Shampoo and Wash on Stella and really like how light and moisturizing it was. It is made with coconut oil {my fave} and aloe and leaves my babe squeaky clean with a light, fresh scent. 

I was super stoked to see Baby Mantra makes a Detangling Conditioner with shea butter. Ava has thick hair that is constantly knotted and sticky, no surprise there since she’s a rowdy toddler, right? But I have yet to find a good conditioner for her- until now! We use this conditioner during every bath and I’ll admit I have borrowed it for my shower too! It makes her mane not only manageable but soft and silky! Now after the bath I no longer have to fight with tangles galore when I comb her hair. 

That pic above is my silly girl with her new favorite product.

 I told her to smile and that’s what I got! 

Beggars can’t be choosers, folks. 

At least she slowed down for 2 seconds for me to snap a pic!

 

Bedtime is quiet and relaxing time in our house.

 

We go through a lot of lotion with 2 girls and I have always used organic brands since Ava was born.

I have tried quite a few and most are pretty thick and hard to rub in. 

That was my favorite thing about the Baby Mantra Calming Lotion. It is super lightweight and glides right onto baby’s skin and absorbs easily with no greasy feeling. It has a faint lavender aroma which smells so sweet on my little ones and helps them to relax too.  

Baby Mantra Diaper Rash Ointment seems to be another winner.

We don’t use this product every day but the few times I have I like to feel and smell of it {it includes Almond Oil and Rosemary}. It helps calm the irritation and my kid’s were redness free in no time! 

Baby Mantra Calming Massage Oi is the only product I have yet to try on my little ones. Most times I end up massaging Stella with lotion and I keep forgetting to try the oil!

 Blame it on Mommy Brain! 

The oil includes the essence of Avocado, Apricot, Grape seed, & Jojoba so it sounds fantastic and I can’t wait to add it to the girls’ bedtime routine! 

 

Place clean ring pop bottoms in each nipple, with the ring part facing up.

Remove from the freezer one at a time, 

gently twist and remove from the lid and give to your baby. 

This kid cracks me up. She loves food!

Learning hand and eye coordination is important for babies that are just starting solids like Stella. 

These Pops are perfect for that.

She may get a little messy but it’s worth the excitement 

she will have to try a new thing!

My sweet Stella Rose, who was born in April, is growing fast! She is a giggly, smiley baby and has brought so much joy to our family. But to my surprise, she is very different from her sister as a baby.

I thought I was prepared with pacifiers, a carseat, a bassinet, and swaddles and this one didn’t care for any of them. Ava had to be swaddled to sleep for her first 4-5 months. She loved riding in the car. She slept in her bassinet all night long after a couple weeks and she was hooked on her paci. Stella not so much. Stella loves bathes where Ava didn’t. Stella is a light sleeper. Ava wasn’t. Stella moves and wiggles, Ava was the opposite again. I’ve said all this to make the point that every baby is different. Who knows what they may prefer until you meet them and learn their personality. I put together this Top 5 list of items I recommend for babies and I would love to hear what your kiddos liked too in the comments!

I waited the standard 2 weeks after my baby was born to give her a pumped bottle, in hopes that it would not cause nipple confusion. She is exclusively breastfed but I like to pump bottles so my husband can feed her and I can have a bottle on hand when we travel. 

She took right to the Minbie bottle, even trying to hold it. She had no problems latching and drank the whole bottle in gulps! We have used our Minbie bottle numerous times since and I really enjoy the shape of the small plastic bottle and the natural shaped bottle nipple. I am happy to say my daughter is an excellent eater- whether nursing or drinking a pumped bottle! 

Thanks Mimbie for a great product! 

Babywearing for the win! 

Since having Ava three years ago I have been a huge fan of babywearing {aka wearing your baby/child in a carrier}. I still use my two favorites from when Ava was a baby with Stella. Both are available for purchase online and at Target, Marshalls, Babies R Us, and more!

 

 My Moby Wrap, which I like best for colder months {since it can get hot} and when the baby is smaller, newborn to 6 months. You can wearing it many different ways and the baby is snuggly and securly wrapped up.

My Ergo Carrier is my favorite all around carrier. You can wear it on the front {baby facing in}, on the side hip. or on your back when they are toddlers. It has a hood for covering baby from the sun and it is padded, comfy, and pretty darn cute! You can buy add ons like an infant insert, pouches/bags, and suck pads. I definitely recommend it for parents looking for a reliable carrier to use for a while since it can be used up to age 4! 

Babywearing Portraits by Sweet Rose.

The family that babywears together, stays together!

 

“Stella” printed romper bought secondhand. 

“Stella” printed newborn hat from Etsy Store: PiratesandPeonies 

My little sleeping Army babe. 

Army name hat from Etsy. 

Portraits by Sweet Rose and Tiffany Hess.

 

Sweet Stella’s first bath was filled with coos and smiles mostly because she was comfy and cozy sitting in her Blooming Bath.

We had a regular plastic baby tub with Ava but I found this Blooming Bath for Stella and love it!

It’s bendable, soft, and made of a terrycloth material. It can be thrown in the dryer after you use it and it’s cute enough to use for photo ops too! 

How tiny my little one was during her first bath!

4 months old already?! The Blooming Bath is great for pictures too! 

Hands down my favorite baby craft are signed baby onesies.

I iron one letters to a plain colored onesie, add some jewels or a flower to dress it up, and bring along a pack of fabric markers. I have the doctors, nurses, and our visitors sign it for the new baby. Then it gets hung up in a shadowbox in the babies room!

I just love, love these knit crowns! 

Stella outgrew hers pretty fast so I have to reorder soon {order a size or two up}.

Find them on Etsy or Instagram. 

This month Ava and I spent a few weeks visiting my family in both Northwest Florida and Kentucky. One of my favorite things to do with my family is cook (and eat), so I had fun creating new recipes with my relatives. These cookies were inspired by a Lactation Cookie recipe I found. Since I am breastfeeding I was on the lookout for natural, healthy recipes to help with my milk supply. This recipe includes oatmeal and flax seed (and you can add a few tablespoons of Brewer’s Yeast too), which are both known to help with milk production. However, these cookies were so tasty so I played around with them, changing some ingredients and adding cranberry and coconut. My family loved them and their large size made my Dad think they were muffins which is why I named them Muffin Cookies. These cookies store well and last for a week or so. Make them for your family today, they make a delicious snack, like trail mix and cookies combined!