Our Current Reads + a Book Giveaway!

Our Current Reads + a Book Giveaway!

Ah, the joy of opening up a new book.

I am not even going to pretend that I am reading a whole lot these days. I wish I were. I was given Bread and Wine for Christmas, which is excellent thus far, and I've been reading Bringing Up Bebe since before Everett was even born, but honestly? I'll read perhaps two pages a week of something. That sounds incredibly illiterate of me, but that's the truth. This just ain't the season for in-depth reading! I miss it. I miss diving into a great novel, having my mind opened and illuminated to a fresh story, a transformative world. I will live to really read again, but for now, I am enjoying the nightly storytime sessions in the children's book section of our home, AKA, Everett's nursery.

I will often read board books to Everett during the daytime, but when bedtime rolls around, we pull out the lengthier storybooks. Stevie and I take turns doing "voices" for the different characters and I think we might enjoy each other's goofiness more than our child even comprehends. But he laughs (sometimes) and we are all having a good time with it, so you know, there's that.

We love the classics. We have read through the obvious Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss standbys, but lately we've been reading some oldie-but-goodies, like the Winnie the Pooh and Peter Rabbit Collections. We got both of these story sets for Christmas and have been taking our time to get through them because, like I said, we are having so much fun. My "Eeyore" voice is the worst. Stevie's "Rabbit" voice is really the worst. And Everett doesn't always cooperate (he prefers eating the books over reading them). But we pretend that means he has a great appetite for knowledge and adventure and we just keep going.

A Few of our Current Favorite Reads:

- The Jesus Storybook Bible

- Pooh's Library: The Winnie the Pooh Complete Set

- Make Way for Ducklings

- Oh, The Places You'll Go!

- The Complete Peter Rabbit Library

- You Are My Baby: Ocean

If you're anything like us, you enjoy reading these stories to your kiddos, but often get bored reading the same stories over and over again. It's always good to have a new book to dive into! I was recently asked to review the story Homer the Little Stray Cat, written by Pam Laskin, and I am excited to be able to offer two copies of the book as a giveaway!

My take on Homer the Little Stray Cat:

This book makes me really happy because it seems to be set in New York's Upper West Side, a former home of mine. The story follows Homer, a darling adventurous cat who likes to roam the city streets, never looking to settle down in one place. Homer is much like the millennials who are reading the book out loud to their little ones - his heart is ever divided between the joys of wanderlust and the comforts of home. Who can't relate to that? As he simultaneously longs for both, he discovers a love he wasn't sure he was looking for - in the eyes (and arms!) of a sweet boy who needs him, too. Homer is a poignant tale that teaches our littles it's okay to draw strength from the love and support of others. It's the very fuel that propels the discovery of big dreams with wide open hearts!

If you'd like to win a copy of this book, enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter below. The winners will be randomly selected and emailed a week from today, on March 30. Many thanks to Lisa Vanterpool (check out her online magazine Flat8!) for making this giveaway possible :)

Also, a quick reminder that the Lucky Palm Tree $50 gift card giveaway is still going on until the 24th at midnight - if you haven't entered yet, you can do so here! And you can get 20% off "new arrival" items online using the code OYKRISTEN at checkout.

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Good luck, sweet readers!

Feeling Beautiful.

Feeling Beautiful.

I had this moment.

I was putting Everett to bed. I was alone for the evening, with Stevie out of town for work. We had just finished a tumultuous bath time experience. Someone was very, very tired. Okay, two someones were very very tired, but only one of us could rightfully wail about it.

I sat down in Everett's room, in my little second-hand glider chair, nursing him in silence for what seemed like a long time. He slowly calmed down, drifted into a drowsy lull, and finally, oh so finally, fell asleep in my arms.

A sigh of relief. Success. My glass of wine was awaiting.

But his room was so cozy and so warm, I decided to linger for just a moment longer than usual. I was finally on my own time, and I wanted to take in this little bit of quiet bliss. To breathe. I looked around at this little baby haven we had created. I looked at his sweet bedding, already gently worn in by his raucous sleep behavior. I looked at his books, beautiful stories all carefully curated by treasured friends and family. I looked at the pictures on the wall, all items of grand sentiment to me and to Stevie. This was a lovely, sweet space. Something that took time and effort to create. I loved this moment, this moment to enjoy all the pieces of my son's special room.

I stood up carefully, sure not jostle him too much, and lifted his head into my chest. He murmured a few indistinguishable "wah-ma-ra-ma-wa"s and rustled around a bit, eyes closed, finally opening his mouth widely. And then.

Then.

He let out the loudest, milkiest, manliest, most bellowing burp a human baby could possibly summon. I mean loud. Right in my face. I mean like a half an inch from my mouth.

It was a big boy burp. It was like a sumo wrestler burp.

Hooowwwwww did my child just create that noise? I could practically hear an echo! Oh how I wish someone were here to experience this with me! Stevie would have lost it. I was having trouble holding back my laughter, but I didn't want to shake too much and waken him.

I calmly laid my baby boy down in his crib and silently chuckled to myself. What an absolute character I have given birth to. What a riot this boy is. What joy!

As I was witholding the verbal glee, I caught a glance of myself in Everett's bedroom mirror. And for this moment, I felt very very beautiful. Not beautiful because someone told me so, and not beautiful because I was trying to convince myself that I needed to believe it. Just beautiful, in this moment, in this mothering role that has taken me so long to figure out, in this season of life that has stumped me in a thousand ways. But letting all those maniac pressures go, and laughing at my baby son's gigantic burp in his darkly-lit room, I felt this grace of motherhood wash over me so gently, so greatly, and I felt a new kind of beauty. A beauty in the moment and a beauty in myself. I felt a new kind of appreciation for me, for what I have created, fostered, loved, and now, just now, was able to enjoy. It was the kind of beautiful that you don't apologize for. That you don't create some self-deprecating resistance to. It was about time for me to feel beautiful, for my own sake. It's not anyone else's job to convince me of what is mine.

It was a moment of sheer simplicity, yet I felt the impact in the deepest part of my abdomen. Ironically, exactly where my son had occupied for 9 months. I soaked the moment in, smiled to myself, and said a quick prayer of thanks.

As a woman, I shouldn't find these moments so fleeting. I should do a better job of appreciating me and loving me and openly allowing these moments where beauty surprises me with it's easy presence.

What I'm saying is that it shouldn't be a rare occurrence.

And I wanted to take the time to share this little nugget. Because, as women, we can spend a lot of time facilitating our external beauty, but when was the last time you actually, deep down in your bones, felt beautiful? Like, really really relaxed in your own beautiful self? It shouldn't be hard to remember a time like that, but... it's kind of hard, isn't it?

Take a moment for you today. Take as long as you need. Moments are hard to come by, because they are expensive, they cost us time with others and doing other things. But I guarantee that you are worth your own investment. Take your moment and relax really good into it and allow yourself to focus on this truth:

I am so beautiful.

I am lovely and I am strong and I am worthy and I am able.

I don't have to strive for my beauty because I just am.

And my beauty manifests in everything I hold dear.

I am rooted and I am winged, prime for my flight.

I am easily convinced of this truth.

I am because I say I am.

Yes, I am getting a little mushy on you today. But it's really up to you to follow through with the mush. What could it possibly hurt?

Baby Registry Picks: Sleeping + a Giveaway with Lucky Palm Tree!

Baby Registry Picks: Sleeping

Baby Registry Picks: Sleeping by oykristen // 1. Summer Infant Clear Sight Digital Color Video Monitor // 2. HoMedics SS-2000E Sound Machine // 3. Aden & Anais Crib Sheet // 4. Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets // 5. Lucky Palm Tree Sleepwear // 6. Halo Sleep Sack // 7. Serena & Lily Sausalito Moses Basket //

Registry Picks: Sleeping

Ah, the continuation of baby gear continues. If you are without a child, you must be thinking, "wait, another one of these roundup things? Hasn't she mentioned enough baby stuff already??" I will go ahead and answer your unsaid question: NO. No I haven't mentioned enough baby gear (you can see my "Feeding" gear here and my "Out and About" gear here.) I haven't mentioned enough because babies require a LOT of stuff and I don't care how "minimalist" you think you are - you need the stuff. I have lived in teeeeeeeensy tiny places in my life (Boston and NYC), and I am totally into living minimally. I really am. But my baby? He is NOT. He needs the stuff to be awesome and content. And I need the stuff to be awesome and sane. So... yeah.

Shall we talk about baby sleep? Lets. I have opinions. Here is a good snapshot of products we have come to love since our experimentation with this fragile thing we call infant sleep.

1. Summer Infant Clear Sight Digital Color Video Monitor

I am so grateful to have a video monitor. My child is a maverick when it comes to wailing. I mean it. He often sounds like he's writhing in pain while he's "going to sleep", which sounds awful to you, I know. It sounds awful to me, too. But when I've done everything that I know to do, sometimes you just have to "wait it out" for a bit and let the child take his own journey into dream land. Having a video monitor reeeeeally helps that process. I can watch him, eat some popcorn and see that he's totally fine and just needs some alone time to find his rhythm. Rem cycle. Whatnot. Video monitors allow you to spy. Moving on.  

2. HoMedics SS-2000E Sound Machine

So, we got this device for a baby shower and sort of forgot to use it. But by the time we transitioned our little man into his own room (around 10 weeks), he was in the heavy throws of his colic-ness and I was reminded of this nifty white noise machine. It definitely helped with his sleep, though I will admit that it didn't "cure" the colic. But this is a fantastic machine because it has several different soothing sounds. I sort of want to steal it out of his room so that I can fall asleep to the murmur of the ocean or the jungle or "mother's heartbeat" (which also sounds a little bit like Darth Vader breathing). But I'm kind of too afraid to take it out of his room. For fear of his middle-of-the-night reawakenings. I can't go back to that, people. Can't even. CAN'T.

3. Aden & Anais Crib Sheet 

My baby has nicer sheets than me. I will leave it at that.

4. Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets

Aw, I miss swaddling my little guy. I loved wrapping him up like a little Chipotle burrito in these blankets. These are the best because the muslin really wrapped him tightly in a way that he had some trouble unraveling. He managed to unravel other swaddle blankets, but these? They stumped him. SUCCESS WAS MINE. I ended up purchasing some more of these when he was about 3 weeks old, just because we were going through so many of them. These are so worth the investment! Also, it seemed worthwhile to get the larger size. The ones sold at Target are a tad bit smaller, measuring 44" x 44", whereas most of the versions sold on Amazon are 47" x 47" - and those few inches really make a difference!

5. Lucky Palm Tree Sleepwear

I was recently introduced to Lucky Palm Tree clothing and I am so hooked. This handmade baby wear is all created out of 100% GOTS organic certified cotton and is printed with non-toxic ink. And the whole organic baby clothing is becoming a big thing, especially for a sleeping baby, because (I had no idea!) how many brands use flame retardants on infant sleepwear! Ew. I can't dress my baby in all-organic all the time (I'm sorry Jessica Alba, I really am), but when he's sleeping, it's nice to know that he isn't breathing in all those gross toxins. And not only is Lucky Palm Tree sleepwear super safe and natural, it is GORGEOUS. Like seriously, seriously a work of babylicious art. The material is thick and supple and the prints are outrageously cute. And guess what - there's a giveaway below! Scroll to the bottom for more pics and details :)

6. Halo Sleep Sack 

We started using this sleep sack the day we stopped swaddling my son. As soon as he learned how to roll over, we couldn't stop him from doing it in his crib. And if I tried to roll him onto his back (because all the pediatricians practically beat you over the head with the "back is best!" jargon), he would wake up and scream. Great job mom. Way to wake a sleeping baby. So we had to stop swaddling him (and stop rolling him onto his back when he preferred sleeping on his belly), and we chose to wrap him in these sleep sacks. They keep him warm and snuggly in a safe way. Of course, now that spring is underway, he probably won't need to sleep in these as much. He's a bit hot-natured. His sweat is cute.

7. Serena & Lily Sausalito Moses Basket 

I really lucked out here. My big sis lent me this Moses basket and it was so so perfect for those first few months that Everett was a tiny tot. We could move it around the house when he was a newborn, so he had a napping spot anywhere that we were. And it's a bigger-sized Moses basket, so we were able to keep him in it for a while, which was a big blessing. A lot of the Moses baskets I checked out were pretty tiny and wouldn't have accommodated him for very long. This one is strong and safe, and as you can see, really really beautiful. Almost like a keepsake AND a baby bed.

And now for that giveaway!

Giveaway!

I am honored to be partnering with Lucky Palm Tree to give away a $50 gift card to their online store! This is such a luxurious, quality baby brand that offers parents the gift of clothing their children in organic, American-made works of art. I mean, take a look at these photos of my little man in this gear. He's drooling and I am a little, too.

Everett is wearing the organic Mustache Bodysuit & Hat, C/O Lucky Palm Tree

Enter Below!

I am stoked to gift one of my lucky-duck readers with the opportunity to dress up their child in these super fancy threads! Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter below. And for the next week (until March 25th)

Lucky Palm Tree is offering a 20% discount on all "New Arrivals" items to Oy! readers using the code OYKRISTEN

. So make sure to visit the Lucky Palm Tree online store and perhaps treat yourself (and your mini-me) to a cheeky little item :)

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Many thanks to Lucky Palm Tree for sponsoring this giveaway for Oy! readers :)

Baby Registry Picks: Out & About + a Giveaway with Baya Collections! (CLOSED)

Baby Registry Picks: Out & About

Baby Registry Picks: Out & About by oykristen // 1. Baby Bjorn Carrier // 2. Uppababy Vista Convertible Stroller // 3. Chicco Keyfit 30 Carseat // 4. Booginhead Pacifier Clip // 5. Gumdrop Pacifier  // 6. Baby K'Tan Wrap Carrier  // 7. Baya Diaper Clutch // 8. Bob Revolution SE Jogging Stroller // 9. Ergobaby Carrier // 

Baby Registry Picks: Out & About  

This is the second installment in my Baby Registry Picks series (see my feeding picks), and I am so excited to share these products with you! We are an active family, and this roundup of gear has made our adventures so manageable and fun. Many of these were recommended to me by friends and family, and it has been a really joyous process seeing what works well for our own little family. I own every single item on this list and stand by them! Also, I am hosting an awesome giveaway to win this diaper clutch (see #7 below!), so make sure to scroll to the bottom to see more pics and to enter the giveaway!

1. Baby Bjorn Carrier 

This is a great carrier for the 3-5 month stage, especially when going out and about. And it's great for husbands to wear, too! I could get away with wearing the sling (see #6 below) for a long time, but Stevie could never fit my sling around him. This structured carrier was the perfect "in-between" from the sling to the Ergo Carrier.

2. Uppababy Vista Convertible Stroller 

I can't say enough great things about this stroller. It's perfect. It's honestly the perfect option for city life, because it sort of becomes your car. It wheels so smoothly, it practically drives itself. It travels flawlessly, comes with a bassinet (which we sincerely loved having for those first 3-4 months) along with the toddler seat, has an enormous amount of storage space, folds up easily, has a reversible seat... I could go on and on. One of the big selling points is that it has the ability to "add on" and can carry up to three children at a time. For a full-sized stroller, this one is the jam. 

3. Chicco Keyfit 30 Carseat 

I kind of hate carseats in general (so big! so heavy!), but this one is tolerable. It's compatible with a ton of different strollers (including the two we own), and most importantly, is super duper safe. And if you're into looks, this one comes in a zillion color options.

4. Booginhead Pacifier Clip

I can't tell you what a HUGE difference this tiny little device has made. Once we finally got Everett to start taking a pacifier, it was a game changer. The sucking motion really calmed him down. Using this clip to connect his pacifier to his clothes was a lifesaver, because we never lost pacifiers and they didn't get dirty from constantly falling on the ground. If you're okay with giving your child a paci, go ahead and throw a few of these clips on your registry. You will be so relieved to have a few on hand! 

5. Gumdrop Pacifier

There are so many different pacifiers on the market, and each child gravitates towards different kinds. However, this is the one that worked for Everett, so we have stuck with it. He is completely at ease with this type of pacifier, and while we don't really use them at home, I always make sure to have one when we're out and about. Especially when we're traveling!  

6. Baby K'Tan Wrap Carrier

This was the first carrier that I put Everett in, when he was just a wee little one. I only used this for a few months because he grew at such a rapid pace, but I really loved wearing him so close to me. This wrap is unstructured, so the baby is able to snuggle extra close to you. For those beginning months when my son was so colicky, this was the only way I could get him to nap. I think it made him feel like he was still in my tummy. I really loved this wrap and was super sad when he outgrew it. 

7. Baya Diaper Clutch

I have used a few different diaper changing stations, but when Baya sent me this one I was floored by how quickly it became my favorite. It's super small and portable (big bonus points for that) and has an interchangeable wristlet/purse strap that allows you to carry it a few different ways. On those errand days when I'm running around town and don't need to take my enormous diaper bag everywhere with me, this diaper clutch is the perfect option. It's obviously cute (no dorky mom product here!) but it's also super functional. There are two compartments that I can easily tuck a few diapers and packs of travel wipes into, along with a separate zippable pocket that I toss my phone and keys into, and voila, we are ready for an hour or two out and about! I have really loved having this for quick diaper changes in the car (especially on my recent road trip) and in public places. See below for more pics of this handy little tool "in action" and for a giveaway to win one for yourself! 

8. Bob Revolution SE Jogging Stroller

I stand by this stroller as the single reason why I am able to get some exercise as a new mama. It's nearly impossible to carve out a ton of time for yourself as a new mom. However, exercise is a huge priority to me, as I'm sure it is for a lot of you. Being able to take my baby along with me as I spend time outdoors and try to get back in shape, well, that's honestly been a lifesaver for me. Not only physically, but mentally and spiritually, too. And Everett LOVES being outside, so putting him in his Bob stroller has become our daily ritual. A little secret: the 4:00 pm hour has become nicknamed "the witching hour" in our household, because it's the time of day where exhaustion hits (for me) and whining hits (for him.) That's usually the time we take to the Bob and get outdoors. So you if you ever want to know what we're doing from about 4-5:30pm on any given day, we are probably out, Bob-bing around. Pun intended :) 

9. Ergobaby Carrier 

This is the carrier of all carriers. The Ergo is structured perfectly for both the mom and the dad to wear the baby, so we often switch off! My experience with a lot of other carriers is that they seem to favor the body type of one gender more than the other. This carrier is super soft but still structured, has all the bells and whistles (head cover, extra safety clips, etc.) and just seems to work so naturally for our family. It goes with us everywhere!

And now for a giveaway!

Giveaway with Baya Collections!

I am really excited to partner with Baya Collections to give away this Diaper Clutch in any of the three colors in stock. Like I mentioned above, this has become my go-to diaper clutch when I don't want to lug around an entire diaper bag. This is great to toss into the bottom of the stroller, to unfold in the airplane, or even lay on the ground in the park to perform a quick diaper change. It's one of those items you don't realize you need until you're in that panic moment of "I have to change my baby's diaper NOW and I'm in the middle of Target and there's no changing table and I can't bear the thought of laying my baby's head on the dirty ground!" Baya Clutch to the rescue. 

Enter Now!

You can enter this giveaway using the Rafflecopter below. You just have to sign up on the Baya site and you may additionally enter the giveaway by following Baya Collections on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. And score! Baya is offering my readers a 15% discount on all products from now until March 21st using the code OYKRISTEN. Make sure to browse the site and utilize this great discount while you can! Good luck!

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Baby Registry Picks: Feeding + a Giveaway with Whisper Baby! (CLOSED)

Baby Registry Picks: Feeding

Baby Registry Picks: Feeding by oykristen // 1. Whisper Baby Milkmaid Nursing Pillow // 2. Medela Pump in Style Breast Pump // 3. Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover // 4. Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottles // 5. Lasinoh Storage Bags, Breast Pads & Soothies // 6. Boon Lawn Drying Rack // 7. Keekaroo High Chair // 8. Tommee Tippee Bibs //

Baby Registry Picks: Feeding

Today I am so amped to share my absolute favorite baby registry picks with you!

Since my son arrived in my life 7+ months ago, it has been an ongoing adventure of trial-and-error with different products as we approach each stage. And it feels like we are in a new stage every 2 weeks (sometimes sooner!) Over the course of this month of March, I will be sharing 5 categories of my baby registry picks with you, along with some awesome giveaways. Today, we focus on feeding! And be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post, it's a gooooooood one!

1. Whisper Baby Milkmaid Nursing Pillow

I cannot say enough excellent things about this divine nursing pillow. The Milkmaid has been the single most important feeding item (other than, you know, my nursing udders) that I have utilized during this new season of feeding my baby. Learning how to nurse a baby can be an uncomfortable, and sometimes, frustrating process. But this pillow eased the struggle of that transition. It is super structured, strong and supportive, constructed with layers of firm and malleable foam to create that perfect pillow "squish". It made the seemingly constant nursing sessions seem not so laborious on my back, neck and shoulders. I've tried out friends' nursing pillows, the traditional ones you find in the typical baby stores, and none of them are nearly as comfortable or supportive as this pillow. It's so worth adding to the registry and keeping your fingers crossed that some wonderful, compassionate relative purchases it for you! Side note - my husband has used this pillow to bottle feed Everett, and he loves it just as much as me. So it's great for both bottle and breastfeeding your babe :) Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to see pics of the pillow in action and enter the giveaway to win a pillow for yourself!

2. Medela Pump in Style Breast Pump

This pump took me a minute to get the hang of it, but once I did, I loved it. I'll be honest, I am not a diligent "pumper", but when I do, this contraption gets the job done! Thankfully, most insurance companies cover the cost of pumps these days (check your policy), so the hefty price tag doesn't have to make you choke. I also really appreciate (and use!) the tote bag and little cooler that comes with the accessories kit.

3. Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover

This nursing cover has simplified the activity of feeding my baby in public places. In restaurants, while traveling on planes, in the middle of the park, at church... just to name a few. I couldn't find the link to the exact color of my cover (it's a orange one), but I would recommend a solid-color or darker patterned print. My child is always distracted by the pattern of the cover and it's enough to deter him from nursing sometimes. He gets all wide-eyed and transfixed, as if he's on the inside of a kaleidoscope. So, a little tip... maybe aim for a less busy print.

4. Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottles

I love these bottles. My baby does not. But I still want to share this brand with you because it's pretty amazing and I can't really get my child to really love any bottle - we've tried several different brands including different nipples - so I think he's just a little spoiled rotten (if you have tips for tricking a 7-month into suddenly loving bottles, I am all ears!) But I personally love this brand because the bottles are made completely free of BPA, BPS and phthalates and designed with medical-grade silicon nipples. I love quality materials. Next time around (if there is a next time around!) I will attempt to introduce bottle feeding a little sooner, and hopefully my child will fall in love with these products the same way I have. 

5. Lasinoh Storage Bags, Breast Pads & Soothies

I am grateful for this product line by Lasinoh - these are all necessary "tools" to have ready for when the baby arrives! The storage bags for expressed breast milk, the pads for those sore nipples and soothies for the occasional (but necessary) nipple therapy. These are simple "must haves" for those breastfeeding and pumping mamas! Go ahead and have these on-hand before the baby arrives. You won't be sorry.

6. Boon Lawn Drying Rack

This is a drying rack with personality. Some creative genius came up with a fun way to jazz up the annoying process of cleaning and drying those rascal breast pump parts. This is a peppy kitchen accessory that you will be happy to leave out on your kitchen counter top.

7. Keekaroo High Chair 

Best high chair ever. My darling physical therapist friend Lorin shared the tip that this chair is developed to be ergonomically correct for baby's sitting posture. And hey, if the physical therapist says its true... well then I trust her! It's super safe (with a 3-point harness system), made without BPAs or harsh chemicals (lacquered with a plant-based, non-toxic finish), is made in the USA (American manufacturing, woohoo!) and is pretty darn beautiful to look at. Everett has gotten really comfortable in his special seat after only about 8 weeks of using it - it's made meal time really hilarious and fun for all.

8. Tommee Tippee Bibs

These bibs. Are the bomb. Don't buy any others! Draping your child in a rubbery food-catcher is the only way to ensure a stain-free mealtime experience. Which means less laundry. Which means mommy is happy. Also, Everett likes to store prizes in these bibs, from time to time. It's darn cute.

These are the most-used, best-loved products in our feeding arsenal. Do you have any feeding picks to add to the list? If so, make sure to comment below! It's been an exploratory 7+ months for me and my little one and I love sharing what I've learned. Hopefully it will help you in your own baby-feeding journey! For in-depth (and perhaps an overshare) of nursing info, see my post about about breastfeeding and postpartum recovery. For more info on baby food resources and recipes, you can check out my post about Stage 1 Baby Foods

Now for a Giveaway!

I am so so SO thrilled to be partnering with Whisperbaby to give away the mother of all nursing pillows, the Milkmaid! I cannot possibly describe this pillow grandly enough - it's made my entire transition into nursing as flawless as it could be. It's such a quality product for such a vulnerable time in every mama's life - I am stoked to gift one of my lucky readers with this incredible product! And for the next month (until April 9th)

Whisper Baby is offering a 15% discount to Oy! readers using the code OYKRISTEN. Seriously, if you are pregnant or nursing (or ever plan to!) you should really take advantage of this stellar deal :)

*Photos by Rachel Spencer

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter below (sorry - U.S based entries, only!) You just have to "like" Whisper Baby and Oykristen on Facebook and follow on Instagram, simple as that! 1 winner will be chosen at random within 1 week and contacted by email. Best of luck to all of you!

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Many thanks to Whisper Baby for sponsoring this giveaway for Oykristen readers :)