Sincerely Lauren

With three kids, I’ve done my fair share of research on baby products over the years. I’m thankful to also be able to work with brands that have amazing baby products as well. Never in a million years would I have thought that I’d get excited about baby gear, but even now with all three kids, I still get giddy when someone asks me what products I suggest for their little one.

There are so many products I love, but there are specific ones that I tell my friends that they must go and buy. These are products that the kids have used and have helped those insane moments feel a little bit more sane.

Over the weekend I gave myself a little Mother’s Day treat and headed over to Target for a little shopping. There is something about that store that just makes me happy and I could be there for hours perfectly content shopping. Their baby sale started on Sunday and it is definitely something worth checking out.

So many of the products that I have used for the kids are on sale. And I even had a chance to buy some more products that Macks can use (because I still refuse to believe that he’s outgrowing his baby stage.)

Target is having a major baby sale this week and all of my baby must-haves are available either on their site or in store!

If you’re anything like me and take a trip to Target for a little “vacation” away, make sure you go this week and hit Target’s Baby sale!

{Disclosure: This post is brought to you in partnership with Target. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make A Mommy in the City possible!}

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Motherhood, Pregnancy

Learning to Love

May 7, 2015

Last month, as I put on my bathing suit for the very first time in nearly a year, I looked in the mirror and a smile immediately popped onto my face. Finally. All of the hard work that I’ve been putting in for the last few months have paid off. I was happy with my body. The body that created three wonderful human beings.

I’d given up on the idea of perfection. I was never going to get exactly what I had before and I was finally okay with that. As I looked in the mirror, rather that looking at all of the negatives, I looked at the postives. I saw my stomach finally coming back to shape. It’s what I’d worked the hardest on and it was showing. Teeny bits of my abs were showing through and I felt as if I had finally won the lottery.

I walked outside with confidence. Some may look at me and not be as impressed, but for me, this was big. In nearly six years, I was finally really happy with who I was and what my body looked like. And I wanted to show it off. I wasn’t asking for compliments or even second glances, I’d already gotten enough compliments just from myself, and that was worth more than anything.

Fast forward to last week when I was at a conference in Arizona. I planned the trip so that at the end of it, I’d have one day all to myself. I wanted to relax by the pool all day, something I hadn’t done in way too many years. So that’s what I did. I was surrounded by friends, had drinks served to me when I asked, and didn’t have a care in the world.

Of course the moment had to be documented, so I shared the photo above on Instagram. The scene really was picture perfect and I could not have been more relaxed. After going for a quick dip in the pool I came back and noticed that I had a missed called and a text message from my sister. “Your insta looks like your legs got beat.”

I honestly had no clue what she was talking about, so I looked at the photo again. I didn’t see anything wrong with it, so I decided to give her a call. She said that someone called her asking what was wrong with my leg because it looked like I had a huge bruise on it. I looked at the photo again and the only thing that might have resembled a bruise was my vein that still remains from when I was pregnant with Avery and Macks.

My first thought was that I should delete the photo all together. For both of my latest pregnancies I was so self concious about the veins in my leg. My right leg was so bad. Vericose veins, spider veins, big veins, you name it. It was painful, it was ugly, and I didn’t want anyone to look at my leg while I was pregnant.

Thankfully after I had the babies some of the swelling and veins went away, but there is still some that are left. A big vein that is on my thigh is the most visible. That’s the one that was shown in the photo.

But even when talking to my sister, I told her that was a gift left by Avery and Macks and is a part of being a mom. I decided not to delete the photo and show the real side of motherhood, the one that people are too scared to show or want to cover up with filters (me included.) It would be easier to do that. To hide it and be ashamed of it. But I’m done hiding and I’m done being ashamed.

All of these bits and pieces that are left over from my pregnancies are now a part of me. They are a gift and while it’s hard to look at in that way, they were given to me by my children and represent so much. They represent nearly 30 months of my body being a home. A safe haven for them to grow and develop. They tell a story and it’s one that I’m proud to tell.

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Motherhood

Closing In On A Chapter

May 3, 2015

Tonight I return home from a five day business trip. Five days since I’ve hugged and kissed on my little ones. Five days since I’ve had to change diapers. Five days since I’ve heard the little high-pitched voices yelling for mom. Five days since I’ve nursed Macks.

Macks is 15 months next week. This is the longest I’ve ever gone with nursing one of my children. The girls weaned themselves around 13 months. Macks is still holding onto those late night and early morning feelings. And honestly, I’m okay with it. He’s most likely our last baby and this is the one thing that I can solely still provide him with. One thing that still keeps me holding onto the baby stage that I know is inching closer to being gone.

Before I left for my trip I debated on whether or not I wanted to bring my pump. Macks doesn’t use pumped milk anymore and really doesn’t even nurse for long when I do feed him. Bringing my pump was just more space in my bag and knowing that I wouldn’t do anything with the milk (the very little that’s left) made me even more of an excuse just to leave it at home. As much as I didn’t want to bring it with me, I wanted to make sure I could keep up with my supply, because deep down I’m not ready to close this chapter of our lives.

While incredible, breastfeeding hasn’t always been a facile journey. Supply issues, weight problems with the kids, doctors telling me to give up and move on, yet this deep desire inside me to stick with it. What I once thought was just a simple way to feed my child, has now grown into something that has helped shape the person and mother I am today. So while this pump might have been an extra burden for this trip, I wasn’t ready to part with it just yet.

As I return home tonight, I do so with butterflies in my stomach, not sure if Macks is ready to close this door. Ultimately it’s his decision, and as painstakingly difficult it might be for me, I know that there will be many more doors that will open up for just the two of us to take on as he gets older.

This breastfeeding path of mine has led to many things, which is why it has helped form my journey in motherhood. A few weeks ago I had the chance to be a part of something that I am so proud and honored to partake in. I traveled to Long Island with friends (and fellow writers and influencers) to visit the Ronald McDonald House Long Island for the Medela Recycles Program.

Four years ago, after I was finished breastfeeding Harlan, I had no idea what I was supposed to do with my breast pump. Rather than doing research, I just stuck it in a box for it to sit for another few years. Because there are so many other mothers that have experienced the same issue, Medela launched Medela Recycles, a program designed to allow more moms the opportunity to breastfeed—supported by the recycling of used Medela personal-use electric breastpumps.

Moms that are ready to part with their pump can visit the Medela website where they can print out a pre-paid shipping label to send their pump to Medela. Medela will then send all eligible breastpumps to a third-party processing center where they will be broken down and all recyclable parts will be recycled appropriately.

All pumps recycled through the Medela Recycles program will go toward a donation of hospital-grade Medela Symphony Preemie Breastpumps and breastfeeding supplies to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The Ronald McDonald House has always held a special place in my heart because it was our chosen charity for the sorority I belonged to in college. Our fundraisers and volunteer efforts all went towards Ronald McDonald House Charities which provides families with seriously ill children a safe and comfortable place to stay while their child is away in the hospital receiving care.

During my visit to the Ronald McDonald House Long Island, Medela donated two hospital grade breastpumps for moms with babies in the NICU. I had the chance to speak with a mom that was staying in the house who had a baby currently in the NICU and she couldn’t express how grateful she was to Medela for providing these pumps for her to use while she isn’t in the hospital.

We were also treated to a tour of the house. The Ronald McDonald House Long Island recently renovated their property and when I tell you that I was in awe of the house, my jaw literally dropped as I entered every room of the house.

Each room was designed by a different designer who donated their time and resources to making all of the families that stay at the Ronald McDonald House Long Island feel like home while they are there.

The bunny wallpaper in the Tower Lounge is everything. I would love a room in my house with this.

Every room I walked in I kept saying, “No this room is my favorite.” But I really think this one was my favorite. The entire wall was New York City and it was covered with plexi-glass so that you could grab a white board marker and color is. This IS going in my house. My next DIY.

This little nook was so bright and cheery and comfortable. I loved the curtain that you could pull for privacy if you needed to. It just so happened that I perfectly matched the decor, so a picture was necessary.

This was the inside of the elevator. I kept staring and touching it. I love the virbrancy of the colors and the texture of the fabric. The most interesting elevator I’ve ever been in.

My favorite candy is Swedish Fish, so naturaly I had to document the coolest hand-made Swedish Fish art.

The Great Room was beyond great and such a welcoming room for families.

And finally the Nursing Room, which was so quaint and warm. The perfect space for a mom to privately pump so she can provide her little one with the nutrition they need.

This house was beyond my wildest imagination and it was so wonderful to see amazingly generous people who give their time to helping families in need. I am so happy I could just have a small slice in all of that.

The time for me to say goodbye to this chapter is coming soon and as much as I try to kick and scream to make it end, time trumps it all. At least I know that with the end of this story, it helps start a new story for not only myself but for another mom too.

For more information about Medela Recycles and to find out how you can recycle your used breast pump, visit the Medela website.

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