Friday night, the hubby and I went out on a date for the first time since the baby. Our dinner was fantastic but all we did was talk about Richie Jr. We wondered how he was doing and talked about all the funny things he does. It made us realize that we love being with him and while having our time together is important, its not completely necessary right now. We love spending time with the babe. Our priorities have changed and going out to a bar or to a fancy dinner is just not in our cards right now. Don't get me wrong, we totally enjoyed it but at the same time, all we did was think and talk about the babe. Maybe when he gets older, it will be different but he is so little now and he is such a good kid that we don't want to be away from him. We went out as a celebration for my hubby's birthday so we made the best of it. The next day, on my hubby's actual birthday, we went to Belmont Racetrack for a picnic and to bet on the horses. The weather was fantastic for October so we spent most of the time outside. It was such a fun day. We won two races. Richie Jr. had to be our good luck charm. It was a perfect day.
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I’ve always loved makeup. When I was a little girl I used to sit in the bathroom and watch my Mom apply hers. She actually found me going through her purse and apply makeup to my face when I was 5 years old. I'd beg her to wear it to kindergarden. I was born a girl girly what can I say.
My beauty routines have generally been the same since I started wearing makeup at the age of 13 except for a few product swaps like anti-aging lotions and different shades of makeup. As a new Mom, I quickly realized my makeup routine would need to change big time. First and foremost, I have less time. Secondly, the dark circles are insane from the lack of sleep and constantly being ON! I needed a makeup routine that would help keep me looking refreshed and awake. Here are a few of my essentials. Concealer Since I'm short on sleep, looking refreshed and awake makes me feel better. My favorite concealer for hiding my hideous, dark circles is Nars. I add a little extra to the corner of my eyes to act as a highlighter which also helps disguise the circles. Eye Brow Pencil Another great way to look awake, define your eyebrows! It helps bring attention to the arch of your brow instead of the bags or dark circle under your eyes. Anastasia’s Brow Wiz glides perfectly and comes in many different shades. Eye Shadow Apply any color you chose in the crease of your lid then swoop the eye shadow up towards your brow. It will instantly lift the eye making it look more awake. Urban Decay's Naked 2 Eye Shadow palette has a slew of different shades to chose from. Everything from dark colors for the evening to softer pinks and golds for day. Nail Polish I always had long nails but it's just impossible to keep them when you have a baby since you want to avoid scratching them. I’ve included my favorite soft shade of pink, Pink-ing of You by OPI. Perfect shade for a clean, simple manicure. Blush If I could only chose one product to carry around with me, it would be blush. I love how a little bit of color can really brighten up your face. My favorite blush is from MAC. Perfume I never wear perfume around the baby. It can irritate them especially if you are nursing. I keep a small pulse pen of my favorite perfume, Prada’s Candy, for date nights and parties. It has a really soft, sweet smell. Eyeliner You don’t have to be a cat eye expert to use eyeliner, adding just a little line across your lids will do the trick. MAC’s liner lasts long and is easy to glide. Lip Stain & Gloss You can’t beat the all-day wear of a lip stain. Glide some lip gloss over the stain for shine. A nice moistened and bold lip is a sure way to stand out. If you wear nothing else, a sure way to look 'put together' is a bold lip. I love Stila's lips stain and Vince Longo's gloss. Lastly, I throw some business cards in the pocket of my makeup bag since I always have it with me. You never know when you might need to hand one out. It happens on the playground more often then you think! Many people have asked me how I get Richie Owen to pose for photos. Yes, the fact that he is a total ham makes it easy but there are a few things tips I can share for capturing the best photo.
A Shiny or Glittery Phone Cover Richie always stares at the back of mine so it’s easy to get a straight on photo of him. If you don’t have one, then I would suggest a small toy that you know they like and will focus on. Baby’s Mood Photograph them when they are in the best mood. For Richie, that’s 20 minutes after he has eaten. Set-up Set up the picture beforehand. I usually get an idea and start to set it up while he is napping. That’s if it requires a set-up. Funny Noises The craziest, funniest, silliest noises you could ever make to help get them to smile. Seriously, like no one is listening! Richie cracks up over my craziness and that’s how we score the best photos of him. Natural Light is Best I try to take photos in the day versus at night. If I’m taking the photo inside, I open up all the curtains. Temperature Control Make sure the room is nice and warm. This is most important for a newborn. They should always be bundled up and they usually aren’t for photos. Props Richie isn’t sitting yet so I use props like pillows and blankets when I want to capture him in an upright position. There are so many fun things to do on Long Island, NY. Aside from the beautiful beaches and summer fun, there are plenty of fun filled family activities in the fall. Our favorites are wine tasting, pumpkin picking, visiting our favorite farms and taking trips to our in-laws house out east. That is exactly what we did this weekend. We visited W&K Farms, Harbes and Hanks to pick pumpkins, purchase some fresh veggies and nosh on roasted corn & apple cider donuts. Sunflowers are my absolute favorite flower. We made sure to load up on a bunch. Saturday was raining but we were able to make it out to Bedell Cellars. The winery we got married at. It was so special to take our little man there for the first time. After a day visiting the farms, we headed to my in laws who live on the bay in Center Moriches. Love these family photos we were able to capture by the water.
It’s been exactly two months since Richard Owen was born. He is a happy, healthy little man but my husband and I feel like we’ve been hit by a truck. I’m so amazed by how much we have muddled through. Here are some things we learned to make your first eight weeks easier. Newborn Poop
Holy Crap! Literally. The first poop is like black tar. We weren’t prepared for that. Its very thick too so it sticks like glue to their little bums. It’s called Meconium and it’s made up of everything he collected while in utero. Very different from the poops that come after, those are mustard yellow and seedy. The first month, he pooped after every single feeding. Insane diaper duty! Oh and what they say is true. Breastfed baby poop doesn’t smell. I thought it was bull but it’s true! We are, however, bracing ourselves for the odor that will come once he starts eating real food. Not something we are looking forward to. Sneezing No one told me how much a newborn baby sneezes. I remember Richie having a sneeze attack at the hospital and we franticly called the nurses in thinking something was wrong with him. Nope! It’s totally normal. It’s how they clear their nasal and respiratory passages of congestion and airborne particles. The sneezing is actually cute. Richie would sometimes sneeze 3-4 times in a row and we would crack up over it. New Parent Worries The first two weeks are easy breezy. All he did was eat and sleep. Aside from the new parent worries – for me, that was checking him 1,000,000 times to make sure he was breathing – and lack of sleep since they feed throughout the night, it’s a pretty chill time so enjoy every second of it. Holy Gas Around three weeks, we learned what gas was all about. My goodness, that was insane and still is. The remedy: burp them like crazy, bicycle their legs and make sure they sit up for 20 minutes after eating. Works like a charm! Sleep or Lack Thereof The truth of the matter is you are not going to get sleep so don’t obsess over it. Just get used to it and do whatever works. For me, it is all about survival! I let Richie sleep on my chest, in bed with us, in the swing. Whatever works! I learned from my pediatrician and tons of research that babies cannot form habits this early on so I’m doing whatever it takes. For the first month or so, Richie slept in a bassinet. Pediatricians will tell you that babies have to sleep lying on their backs since new research suggests that it’s the best way to prevent SIDS. However, once your baby gets a fussier because of all the gas, you will do anything to make sure they sleep more comfortably and for us, that is keeping him a little elevated. A few of my parent friends suggested a Sleep and Play long before we even had him but we didn’t listen for the reasons I mentioned above. At week six, we broke down and bought one! So happy we did because it allowed him to sleep a little longer without waking up from the discomfort of gas. My advice, get the Sleep and Play! Newborn Clothing By week three, I had to store away his newborn clothing and newborn diapers. There were clothes he didn’t even get to wear. I cried putting them away (yes, I’m hormonal! I blame it on the breastfeeding). I couldn’t believe my little itty, bitty baby graduated from his newborn clothing already. My advice to any new moms, don’t invest in clothes or diapers in this stage. You are better off getting size 0-3, not NB. They will last longer. Mr. Social By week four, he was much more alert when he was awake and we started to see his first smiles. This was the best time to break out the camera! Now, at week eight, not only is he all smiles, he is trying to talk by cooing and gurgling. It’s the cutest thing ever! It really helps remedy the lack of sleep we are getting. Month two to three will all about scheduling and getting him to sleep throughout the night. I pray to the sleep Gods that by month three, I will be sharing with you how I got him on a perfect schedule. Every day is a new adventure with our baby boy but we are listening to all the advice and soaking up all the newborn deliciousness. He won’t be little like this forever so we are cherishing every step – challenging or not! Richie and I spent some time in the park today. It was absolutely beautiful out. Warm with a crisp cool breeze in the air. We enjoyed every second. Here are some photos from our day. Below, you'll find the items I carry with us on our trips outside of the house. Some items I pack in my diaper bag and stroller:
DIAPER BAG My diaper bag is made from Skip Hop. I purchased the backpack so that I can be hands-free to carry Richie. Diapers (obviously) I love Pampers. Old school, I know, but the hospital uses them for a reason. The NEVER leak and fit him so comfortably. I tried almost ever other brand out there but keep going back to Pampers. Baby Wipes The Honest Company is my favorite brand. Organic Healing Balm The balm I use is also made from The Honest Company. I put it on him every diaper change to prevent a rash. I love that it is made with all organic ingredients. Johnson & Johnson Face and Hand Wipes I use these on Richie's face and hands as well as my own. I prefer these over the baby wipes. Sound Machine I purchased this portable one called Hush and I hang it this in the stroller if he gets a little fussy. The soothing noises help to calm him down. A Blanket I love Aden & Anais’ muslin swaddles. The material is soft and breathable. Burping Cloth Also Aden & Anais. Baby SPF I use California Baby’s brand. It’s all natural and organic. Pacifiers Hands down the best brand is MAM. It is the ONLY pacifier he will take. They are BPA-free Orthodontic pacifiers that were developed by dentists to allow for healthy jaw and teeth development. Pacifier Wipes Same brand as the pacifiers, MAM. I like to keep these handy so that I can make sure his pacifier is germ free at all times. STROLLER One of my best girlfriends bought me a Stroller Organizer and it's genius. I clip it on the stroller and it makes all the items I need easily accessable. The organizer is also made from Skip Hop. In it, I put the following items. Hand Sanitizer This is so uber important to have handy at all times. I purchased a ton of the mini ones and planted them all over the house, car, stroller, etc. Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso Can I get these delivered from Pea Pod so that I can grab one when I’m on the go. GOD knows I need my coffee. All Moms do! Kind Bar It’s important to eat enough calories throughout the day when you are nursing so I always carry something to snack on. Cell Phone and an extra charger (just to be safe!) |
natalie ferro aurigemaSharing all the things that make me happy through this blog. *Disclosure*
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