a lifestyle, family and travel blog
I knew immediately I wanted to try the Elvie Pump as soon as I found out I was pregnant with baby number two. I'd heard mixed reviews - not to mention the steep price tag - but wearable breast pumps sounded like a convenience too good to pass up, especially knowing I'd be working full time and running after a toddler this go around.
eels weird to already be moving on so quickly from the holidays but here we are. Last year, I did a blog post about Non-Material Valentine's Day Activities & Gifts but this year I'm excited to share some Valentine's Day ideas for the kids and babies in your life!
sit down and write Islas's birth story because it was a wild, incredible experience like none I've ever had! In my last Pregnancy Update + Q & A I said I didn't have a birth plan but "in a perfect world, I will have a quick, unmedicated, vaginal birth but we all know reality isn't perfect..." Turns out, that's pretty much how the story goes - haha. Continue reading for more details on how little miss Isla Fe entered this world and changed our lives forever!
SURPRISE, WE'RE PREGNANT! If you follow me on Instagram [@karavallari] then you know that we're expecting baby #2 this coming June. Kevin and I are beyond excited to be growing our family and can't wait to watch Palmer become a big sister! It still feels a little surreal to be on this journey again and I feel so blessed to be growing a second life.
I know the holidays are only a few short weeks behind us but I'm already excited for Valentine's Day! Here in Chicago there's not a whole lot to look forward to in January or February. The days are short, cold and we're still stuck at home for the foreseeable future [thank you, COVID] so why not go all out celebrating Valentine's Day this year!?
Over the last 18ish months, I've become a pro at packing for Palmer. Whether it's a short trip to visit my parents in the suburbs or a week long vacation, I've got you covered! Continue reading for a full check list on what to pack for every occasion!
It's crazy to think we're leaving this schedule behind after almost nine months! I honestly loved the two nap days because it gave me a ton of flexibility to get things done during two significant chunks of the day. Luckily, Palmer has always been a good sleeper and we never had any issues with her napping two plus hours 2x day and still sleeping through the night.
Fall fashion is one of my favorites and having a toddler to dress and shop for makes it even more fun. Living in San Diego, we definitely missed out on the oversized sweaters, chunky scarfs and warm puffy vests the past three seasons so we're going all out this year.
As I mentioned in my post about Palmer's Schedule: 0 - 3 months, we took most of our cues from her natural circadian rhythms in order to determine her schedule moving forward. We were fortunate from the beginning because she never confused her days and nights and started sleeping through the night around seven weeks. I remember this vividly because we took her on her first trip to Chicago when she was just shy of two months and she slept the entire night each day we were there, I'm sure due in large part to the time change.
A new recipe that I tried this week which Palmer LOVED is Baby Bolognese. It is super simple, chock full of vegetables, no added salt or spices and still delicious. So good that I'm actually planning to make a second batch for Kevin and myself to eat.
KARA VALLARI 