We're dreaming about nice sunny weather over here in Washington state. It's been pretty gloomy and rainy the last few weeks. We've gotten random spurts of sunshine and definitely have been taking advantage of it by going on walks and getting out but we're still missing the water! So I've decided to do a lot of water play with Calvin lately. When the weather is nice, we take our inflatable bathtub outside or we simply just play in the bathtub.
Nuby water play toys!We are obsessed with Nuby products because they're so fun and affordable. I just love that they're available at basically every retail store. These Silly Squirts are so fun! I get nervous with most water toys because I don't like the idea of having water trapped inside. I don't want mold or mildew to grow inside of them and especially since Calvin puts everything in his mouth. These Silly Squirts untwist so you can easily clean and dry them! You can also mix and match the tops and bottoms to make them look even more silly. We also read that you can use soapy water to squirt bubbles so we'll have to try that! You can find these on Nuby's Website or HEB. These Little Squirts are just adorable. They come in a pack of 10 little sea characters (we are missing 2. The little one was currently playing with them when we took these photos). They're soft and easy to squeeze. Each character squirts water through their mouth! I love the vibrant colors and how easy easy it was to squeeze water though them.
You can find these on Amazon! Beautifully simple customized giftsWe recently received some gorgeous customized gifts from Pinhole Press and we're beyond impressed! Pinhole Press allows you to customize personal gifts straight from your phone or computer! We love how easy it was to upload images and create our items. Everything was so easy to crop and edit! You're able to autofocus and filter images to maximize the picture quality! Speaking of quality, holy smokes, they're amazing! Every item is thick and durable! They have everything from calendars, magnets, wall art/decor, books, games and more! Family bookWe made a book about Calvin's Family and we're obsessed! The pages are so thick and the spiral binding seems like it'll last a long time! We love the glossy finish and ease of turning the pages! Our book has photos of single family members and then Calvin with each member. The last page ends up with a full family photo that says, "Our family." Isn't that precious? You can customize it to say anything you want and input any photos. Memory gamesThese memory cards are so much fun! You can have them printed on matte or glossy finish. You get 12 cards and they're super thick! I honestly love the quality of these because they'll definitely last but the thickness is also important not to see the photo when flipped over- LOL.Although Calvin is too young to play with them, he's having a lot of fun recognizing the photos! I cannot wait for him to be able to play with these! tangrams
A special gift or keepsakeLet Pinhole Press create precious keepsakes for you, your family and friends! You'll be sure to cherish these items forever! Use code: Jenni15 for 15% off your orderEssentially Jenni is partnered with Nuby's Parent Blogger program and we received many items as gifts. All reviews are honest and genuine about their products. Fun toys
Introducing the new... |
In terms of price, it's $399 but you won't be disappointed. You might be turned off at the price at first but I can promise you it's worth every penny! It's very comparable to other high end strollers on the market but even better! It comes already assembled in the box. You literally just take it out of the bag and can use it! lifetime warranty! |
That's right! You get a full lifetime warranty with this stroller! Holy smokes! You have to register this lifetime warranty within 6 months of purchase and it's only valid towards the original owner. They cover any manufacturing faults as long as you followed the manual usage!
lightweight meets luxury!
This is the MOST compact stroller I have ever seen. It closes down to a little square!
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The wheels
The wheels on this stroller drives like butter! I mentioned above that this stroller comes assembled already so you don't have to worry about attaching the wheels before using it. If you do have to replace the wheels for whatever reason or want to take it off to clean, you simply detach it with some buttons on the side. So far we've taken it around to the grocery store, library, to the lake and park! We haven't had any issues on any terrain and I think it's because of the 4-wheel built in suspension! |
The seat
Holy smokes! This is the most comfortable seat on the market! I was so surprised at how cushioned it is. I've actually never seen a stroller with such comfortable seats before. It also has very comfortable built in shoulder straps. I like that the shoulder straps are attached at the top so they don't fall up and down when baby is moving.
The 5-point harness is adjustable and so easy to use. It never gets stuck and clips/unclips so easily. You can just push down from the center and all points of the harness detaches! This makes getting baby out so quick and easy!
The 5-point harness is adjustable and so easy to use. It never gets stuck and clips/unclips so easily. You can just push down from the center and all points of the harness detaches! This makes getting baby out so quick and easy!
The canopy
The waterproof canopy is sturdy and high quality. I love how easy it is to fold and unfold. It also has a zippered extension making it very easy to protect Calvin. It has a small mesh opening when unzipped as great air flow and peek-a-boo window! The canopy is UPF 50+ ensuring to keep them safe!
The backside
It has a back pocket! This was so convenient when we were out. The pocket is as deep as the entire seat! Zippered extension makes it easy to adjust the seat! Unlike other strollers, the seat extension is hidden in the zipper and out of the way when not used. The under basket is HUGE! You can easily store your diaper bag or some groceries below! Very easy flip-flop brake system locks and unlocks the wheels! |
Accesories
Included
| Not included
|
We are seriously obsessed with our new stroller! I am so happy that Calvin's big enough to be able to use an actual stroller instead of a whole travel system. He's been the happiest being able to sit and see the world. The new Joolz Aer also makes our life just so much more convenient since it drives like butter and is so lightweight and compact. If you're on the market, YOU NEED THIS!
giveaway with @ofafternoons
custom ultrasound embroidery
GIVEAWAY!
We had so many questions and wonderful compliments on our customized ultrasound stitching from @ofafternoons so we partnered up to give one away! .
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.
To enter:
1. Follow @essentiallyjennimcculloch and @ofafternoons
2. Tag as many friends below in separate comments. Each tag is an additional entry.
3. Share this post to your IG stories and tag @essentiallyjennimcculloch for 10 additional entries .
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This giveaway is in no way sponsored or hosted by Instagram. Winner must reside in the US. Giveaway closes Thursday and winner will be announced Friday in stories.
We had so many questions and wonderful compliments on our customized ultrasound stitching from @ofafternoons so we partnered up to give one away! .
.
.
To enter:
1. Follow @essentiallyjennimcculloch and @ofafternoons
2. Tag as many friends below in separate comments. Each tag is an additional entry.
3. Share this post to your IG stories and tag @essentiallyjennimcculloch for 10 additional entries .
.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored or hosted by Instagram. Winner must reside in the US. Giveaway closes Thursday and winner will be announced Friday in stories.
Essentially Jenni is partnered with Nuby's Parent Blogger program and we received many items as gifts. All reviews are honest and genuine about their products.
Feeding spoons
Squeeze feederThis is our favorite spoon for feeding now! There's no more messes involved because you're able to put your purees inside the feeder spoon and slowly squeeze. It seals the food inside so well that it doesn't leak. I especially enjoy the fact that there are measurements on the side so you can keep track of how much baby eats. You can find these on Amazon! | Dipeez SpoonsThis is such a fun spoon to teach baby to feed themselves. It's thick and has great texture so it's easy for them to hold. The textures are also great for relieving any teething pains. There's the round safe guard that is very useful for preventing them to gag/choke. You can find these at Walmart! |
Easy grip bottle brushes
I mentioned in a previous post that I needed to find a bottle cleaning brush that I could use for my narrow neck bottles. I finally found something that works great! These easy grip bottle brushes are flexible and fit inside narrow neck bottles.
The sponge tip helps scrub out any fat residue and crevices. The soft bristles assure that you get everything. The bottom piece detaches and useful to clean smaller nooks and crannies such as anti-colic pieces or bottle nipples. The end also has a looped handle making it easy to hang to dry!
You can find these on Amazon, Walmart, Buy Buy Baby Direct stores and more.
Stacking boats
Calvin isn't old enough to use these in the bath yet but we've been loving them for sensory play. We place them in a pan and fill it up with water and other floating toys. He gets to practice more tummy time and splash! These stacking boats are light and colorful. You can turn them upside down for such a fun waterfall! You get a total of about 5 boats that stack on top of each other making it super easy to store away. You can find these on Amazon. |
As a new mama, I was completely oblivious about breastfeeding. I honestly thought it would come "natural" and we wouldn't have any issues. Let me tell you that was a complete and utter naive thought. I wouldn't say my breastfeeding journey at the beginning was challenging but we've definitely hit many obstacles along the way.
Calvin's latch was pretty solid at the beginning and I was definitely an over producer. I was able to save a lot of milk and get that stored in our deep freezer. I was so engorged from the beginning and was leaking a ton. My best friend bought me a silicone letdown catcher so I used that at every feeding on the opposite breast.
Calvin's latch was pretty solid at the beginning and I was definitely an over producer. I was able to save a lot of milk and get that stored in our deep freezer. I was so engorged from the beginning and was leaking a ton. My best friend bought me a silicone letdown catcher so I used that at every feeding on the opposite breast.
You pull the flange back and attach it onto the opposite breast and the natural suction just pulls your milk out. This was so convenient because I didn't need any addition pieces or anything and it just pulled all my milk out. Like I mentioned, I used it at EVERY feeding. It would catch 3-4oz of milk on average and I would still be able to switch him to feed on that side. |
They all felt amazing but he preferred the two above the most. I would say try and get some small samples before buying the actual jars because it can get pretty expensive. I would lather these on after EACH feeding.
Nursing pads
Disposable vs reusable | I didn't like the thought of having to wash reusable ones ALL the time so I tried disposable nursing pads. Welp, I hated them! For some reason they all made me itchy. I tried Medela, Lansinoh, Bamboobies, generic brands and more. I just didn't like them. I actually loved using organic reusable nursing pads. I bought 2 sets and just washed them about every other day. |
Breast pumps | Many of my friends were able to purchase their breast pump through insurance prior to delivering baby. Unfortunately that wasn't the case with me. My insurance allowed me to "choose" a pump but they wouldn't ship it out until baby arrived. This meant my husband had to call the day we had Calvin. |
I stared longingly at the list of breast pumps available that my insurance would either fully cover or partially cover. I had no idea which one to get. I did extensive research and decided on a Spectra. Some things I looked for in a breast pump were: suction level, attachments (ease of replacements and price of replacement parts) and quietness. I liked the size of the Medela breast pumps but I heard they're a little louder so I went with a Spectra instead. When I was choosing it, they had a pink (S2) or blue (S1) breast pump. The only difference between those was the fact that the blue (S1) was portable so I didn't have to be plugged into the wall to pump. I chose to upgrade to that pump and pay an addition few dollars for convenience.
Using the breast pump | I wanted to be able to bring the pump to the hospital but since they wouldn't ship it until he was born, we didn't have that option. I would highly recommend you to bring your breast pump to the hospital and work with a lactation consultant before going home. This way they can help you navigate all of the settings and making sure everything fits nicely so you maximize your milk supply with it. |
When I finally pumped at home it hurt so bad and I honestly made about 1oz on each breast. I eventually gave up and only used the silicone milk catcher. It wasn't until weeks later that my best friend came over and helped me with it. She watched and helped me figure out my fitting and realized my flange size was too large so it was pulling more of my areola. Our friendship definitely hit another level at that point- haha! So if you can, get fitted properly because this makes a HUGE difference!
Freeze the milkies
We have a deep freezer so we ended up freezing the milk. I bought plain rectangle 6oz milk bags and froze them flat. When I had 10 bags of frozen milk, I stored it in a gallon size ziploc. I was able to fit 10 bags of milk in each gallon size bag and stored it in our deep freezer.
What happened after 4 months
of feeding for us?
I was able to breastfeed him for about 4 months when I had a surplus supply of milk. I noticed that my letdown was slowing after 4 months and my breasts got a lot smaller. TMI but I noticed my nipples were smaller too. This was around the time he stopped latching and didn't want to be breastfed anymore. We were bottle feeding him at night so my husband could feed him and I could get ready for bed. We also wanted to be able to physically see how much he ate before bed and also give him some probiotics. Welp, I think he got use to or preferred the flow of the bottle nipples and he started refusing my breast. That was fine since he was still eating. The only pain is now I'm exclusively pumping and washing all the pump parts.
Well if you noticed above, I have the S2 Spectra. The pump itself is pretty large! I hated having to lug it around for the day when we're out and about. So I actually purchased a second pump. I had to find one that was comparable and adaptable with some of my Spectra parts. I definitely needed something much more compact because I hated bringing a second large backpack or tote to carry my pump.
Well if you noticed above, I have the S2 Spectra. The pump itself is pretty large! I hated having to lug it around for the day when we're out and about. So I actually purchased a second pump. I had to find one that was comparable and adaptable with some of my Spectra parts. I definitely needed something much more compact because I hated bringing a second large backpack or tote to carry my pump.

I opted for the Motif Duo breast pump. The suction isn't as strong as the Spectra but it definitely does the job. It's also very quiet. The best part was it fits in the palm of my hand! I can also stick it in my pocket if I needed (from my jacket or leggings with the side pocket for your phone).
The Motif Duo tubing also fit on my Spectra bottles which meant I didn't have to buy any additional flanges or pieces.
To be honest, I still try to breast feed him once or twice throughout the day. It's hard to explain but I miss being able to breastfeed him. He'll take for about 10 minutes before he unlatches because my milk isn't coming as fast as he wants.
I'm honestly just thankful that I produce enough milk to feed him and that he's fine with taking a bottle. This is great because anybody can feed him without a fight. If my milk runs dry and we run out of our frozen stash and need to use formula, I'll keep you guys posted!
Our feeding journey has been such a rollercoaster. Nothing is every consistent with a baby! Everything changes once you think you've got things figured out. So if you're a new mama or soon to be mama, know that things probably won't go as planned! Just go with it and do what you think is necessary and don't be afraid to ask for help! Remember, fed is best!
I'm honestly just thankful that I produce enough milk to feed him and that he's fine with taking a bottle. This is great because anybody can feed him without a fight. If my milk runs dry and we run out of our frozen stash and need to use formula, I'll keep you guys posted!
Our feeding journey has been such a rollercoaster. Nothing is every consistent with a baby! Everything changes once you think you've got things figured out. So if you're a new mama or soon to be mama, know that things probably won't go as planned! Just go with it and do what you think is necessary and don't be afraid to ask for help! Remember, fed is best!
💕Time for a G I V E A W A Y!💕
I've teamed up with a couple of my favorite shops to host this amazing giveaway. ONE lucky winner will receive the goodies pictured above! Entering is easy. .
Here are the steps enter:
- Click this link to enter on Instagram
PRIZE INCLUDES:
@Hafmall_Official diaper backpack
@Milky__Chic nursing poncho
@HuxnHarper 2 silicone teethers, 2 teething rings and a "Mom Life" keychain
@DreameggOfficial sound machine with night light
_________
Giveaway closes on Feb. 12th at 12pm PST.
This giveaway is not affiliated with or sponsored by Instagram. Must be 18 years of age or older. No purchases necessary.
I've teamed up with a couple of my favorite shops to host this amazing giveaway. ONE lucky winner will receive the goodies pictured above! Entering is easy. .
Here are the steps enter:
- Click this link to enter on Instagram
PRIZE INCLUDES:
@Hafmall_Official diaper backpack
@Milky__Chic nursing poncho
@HuxnHarper 2 silicone teethers, 2 teething rings and a "Mom Life" keychain
@DreameggOfficial sound machine with night light
_________
Giveaway closes on Feb. 12th at 12pm PST.
This giveaway is not affiliated with or sponsored by Instagram. Must be 18 years of age or older. No purchases necessary.
Newborns and tummy time?
is it a good idea?
YES! A lot of people think you shouldn't do tummy time until they're a few months old but you can actually start tummy time right away! We had to take Calvin to physical therapy once he was born because he was breech and never flipped. We found out his shoulder was lodged against his neck in the womb and he had this major flat spot behind his ear. The hospital pediatrician and physical therapist also noticed that his neck was stiff. So after we were discharged we started physical therapy. She actually recommended starting tummy time as soon as we can.
Why is tummy time important and recommended?
Tummy time strengthens your baby's muscles! It's important to do a few minutes of tummy time from the beginning and building their stamina. It will help strengthen their neck and shoulder muscles! It will also help prevent flat spots around their head. It's also a great bonding time for you and baby. Don't forget to cheer them on! You'll be surprised to see how strong they are from the beginning! I know I sure was!
What's recommended?
- Have baby start tummy time on your chest! We had him on our chest before a feeding or throughout the day. It's great and motivating because they are close to you and release more oxytocin!
- We used a boppy nursing pillow or lounger to help prop him up. Our physical therapist recommended this because it helps them see a different angle of the world. At the beginning it helped support him a bit more than just flat on the couch or mat.
- Do it often!
- Use toys or props to motivate them. As they continue to do it, they'll start reaching and grabbing for things.
- Find out when they're the happiest and do it. For us it was right when he woke up or right before bed!
I should've captured more or better pictures of him but I didn't. I have a ton of pictures of Calvin on my husband's chest without a shirt when he was first born but I won't post those- HAHA. But the encouraging part of this whole process is that because we started so early, he strengthened his neck and shoulder muscles very quickly. He was able to have full range of movement in both directions and the flat spot behind his ear filled out as he grew. We were able to stop PT for his torticollis pretty quickly! His physical therapist believes that he was able to start rolling over from his belly to back before he was three months old because we started so early. But remember that every baby's development is different!
Cleaning and caring for your baby's bottles is important because bacteria and mold can easily form inside and around your bottle. Since your baby is still young, their immune system is still developing so the risks of getting sick can be higher. It's crucial that you wash and care for your bottles as soon as you can to lessen their risks of being sick.
I've heard a lot of moms rave about bottle warmers and bottle sterilizers but wasn't sure if we should get another "thing" to take up space on our counters. There's a ton out there and all have mixed reviews. So how were we to figure out which one to get? My husband and I opted out of registering or purchasing a sterilizer for while because we figured we would just wash Calvin's bottles right away or boil it to sterilize. This was great until we actually used a sterilizer. In my opinion they're definitely worth it! We have a big sterilizer by Pabalic that we sterilize our big 8 oz bottles, toys and bigger items. But we use our Nuby one-touch electric warmer and sterilizer every day and sterilize just about every other day.
I've heard a lot of moms rave about bottle warmers and bottle sterilizers but wasn't sure if we should get another "thing" to take up space on our counters. There's a ton out there and all have mixed reviews. So how were we to figure out which one to get? My husband and I opted out of registering or purchasing a sterilizer for while because we figured we would just wash Calvin's bottles right away or boil it to sterilize. This was great until we actually used a sterilizer. In my opinion they're definitely worth it! We have a big sterilizer by Pabalic that we sterilize our big 8 oz bottles, toys and bigger items. But we use our Nuby one-touch electric warmer and sterilizer every day and sterilize just about every other day.
Nuby's one-touch electric warmer & sterilizer
I love this warmer and sterilizer by Nuby! It heats up your milk or formula evenly and super quick! It even comes with measuring cup on the side. Simply measure your water, dump it in and push down on the button! It only takes a few minutes to evenly warm up.
Inside of the warmer/sterilizer is a small tray. For small items such as bink binks (pacifiers) and nipples, toss it inside of the tray, attach the lid and push the button down to sterilize.
I love that it has that inner tray. It helps prevent your bottle or small items to touch the heating plate. I also love that it's small and compact so it's not taking much counter space. It's small and easy to store in a cupboard if you're not using it everyday.
This one-touch electric warmer and sterilizer is available at Amazon, Walmart and most retailers.
Inside of the warmer/sterilizer is a small tray. For small items such as bink binks (pacifiers) and nipples, toss it inside of the tray, attach the lid and push the button down to sterilize.
I love that it has that inner tray. It helps prevent your bottle or small items to touch the heating plate. I also love that it's small and compact so it's not taking much counter space. It's small and easy to store in a cupboard if you're not using it everyday.
This one-touch electric warmer and sterilizer is available at Amazon, Walmart and most retailers.
Here's how we care for our bottles to make sure they're long lasting
We use our Nuby easy clean soap dispensing bottle brush with a suction base and Dapple's bottle and dish soap to clean all of our bottles and nipples. We also like to use our small Munchkin bottle and cup cleaners to get in the nooks and crannies. | I'll take all of the bottle pieces apart and stick in in the sink. Sometimes i'll soak it with some Dapple soap in a bucket while I wash the pieces. I use the Nuby soap dispensing brush to clean the large pieces and the Munchkin brushes to get in the small spaces. This was important and really helpful for my pump flanges and the small pieces for my bottle. |
Why do we use these specific items?
- Nuby easy clean soap dispensing bottle brush: It's in the name! The soap reservoir actually holds quite a lot of soap. It also tightens well which prevents any leakage. It's super easy to dispense soap without wasting any. I also love that the suction base is super strong! I can suction it on the side of my sink and allow it to air dry without it flopping off. I also really like how firm the bristles are. It definitely gets all the milk residue. This was important because my breastmilk can be very fatty and sometimes you can see the fatty film inside the bottle- gross, I know! This bottle brush is great for wide mouth bottles such as my pumping bottles. It is a bit of a struggle to get into narrow neck bottles but it's not unmanageable.
- Available at Walmart, Amazon and most retailers
- Munchkin bottle and cup cleaner brushes are great because they come with various size cleaner bristles. This was the only way I found to clean between some of the nooks and crannies of my anti-colic bottle pieces or pumping flanges.
- Available at Target, Amazon and most retailers
- Dapple bottle and dish soap is something I recommend and buy for all of my friends. It's plant based and hypoallergenic! It's also the only dish soap I found that works quick! It cleans your bottle and pieces super fast and clean without all the crazy suds and bubbles.
- Available at Target, Amazon and most retailers
Once cleaned, I usually try to sterilize all of the items about every 2-3 days in either our big sterilizer or one-touch warmer/sterilizer.
Essentially Jenni is partnered with Nuby's Parent Blogger program and we received many items as gifts.
All reviews are honest and genuine about their products.
All reviews are honest and genuine about their products.
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