If you follow along on Instagram, then you know we've got a new addition over here- a beautiful black lab pup we call Georgia. We picked her up on my husband's birthday- July 3rd- just in time for fireworks and America's birthday. Unfortunately, her arrival also coincided with a summer cold for our girl. So, needless to say, our hands have been a bit full.

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It's officially May; and yet the weather here in New England has remained somewhat gloomy and just a touch chilly. I've been in full wanderlust mode over here- daydreaming of an island vacation in the tropics So the chance at a quick beach getaway with the family couldn't have come at a better time.

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Every now and then I come across a product that I just wish was around when MM was an itty-bitty newborn- must-haves that would have made my life all that much easier as a new mama. And then there are the products I find that just make me scream, "why didn't I think of that?!"

And when I came across baby company Cozy Cheekz, I found TWO such products: Cozy Cheekz Heated Changing Pad and the Cozy Cradle. 

In the nearly eighteen months since I had our little girl I've been able to sneak out of the house a whopping three times to get my hair cut and colored. To be fair, I've never been the kind of girl that goes for a regular cut and color; but since Madeline's been around, spa-pampering and trips to the salon have have become sporadic, at best. Nowadays, a cut and color either means hours away from home, or {eek} bringing her along. Which I only did once with the help of my sister, when Madeline was itty-bitty and slept right through most of it. 

After a few weeks weeks of being steadfast homebodies, we are officially gearing up for a much needed family vacation- yay! Just a few days away, nothing too crazy- but a change of scenery before the holidays are in full swing. We're staying relatively local- road tripping just a few hours north to beautiful Old Saybrook, where the agenda includes: enjoying some yummy food, relaxing at the spa, perusing shops with MM and Nana, taking in the coast's fall foliage and a local fall festival. We've always loved taking these little trips here and there, but there's just something about discovering new places with MM that makes it all the more fun.

For the first several months of her life, if not the first year, I was Madeline's blankie. She had plenty of real life blanket options- hand-knit ones, quilted ones, cotton ones and plush ones- but she was never really interested. Rather than warm up to one of those beauties, she preferred to cuddle her mama. And I happily obliged. But in the last few months this little lady has taken quite the liking to her blankets- one in particular, in fact. 

Truth: sometimes when MM won't nap I drive her around until she falls fast asleep. And sometimes those drives take us to Buy Buy Baby. Which works out, because I almost always need something there. And even when I don't, I always end up finding something I never even knew I needed- baby must-haves that totally up my mommy-game.

Yesterday was one of those days.

A little over a year ago we celebrated our baby girl at a beautiful backyard baby shower- just a few weeks before she arrived.

We were so blessed to celebrate with family and friends, all of whom gifted us so many amazing things in hopes of making that journey into parenthood all that much easier.

The best part about these helpful tokens was that we were given essentials we could use throughout the first year of new parenthood. Some of my most favorite gifts have been the ones we couldn't necessarily use right away. Of course we love and needed the onesies, swaddles and binkies; but there's something about opening a gift or two every few months throughout that first year that makes you feel like a kid on Christmas the whole year through.

This B.O.B Stroller is one of those gifts.

When we were expecting, my husband and I were clueless as to what we would need when Maddie Mae arrived. In fact, after nursery furniture was purchased my husband said to me, "that's pretty much it, right?" Not so much.

Over the past five and a half weeks, things have changed around here.

I've mastered the art of doing almost anything with just one hand...