Hey y’all!! 

It has been the BEST two weeks with our sweet new little nugget! Gibson David Allphin was born October 5th at 8:23 am, weighing in at 7 lbs. 8 oz with a head full of hair! We are just completely smitten & in newborn heaven. Sweet big brother Mills is stepping into his role as big brother seamlessly and absolutely loves our new tiny dude! He really enjoys giving the baby his Paci and helping to buckle him into all of the things, its adorable and melts my mama heart. I am just soaking in all of the Gibson Dee snuggles while they last because Y’ALL babies don’t keep (insert sobbing emoji). I feel like he has already grown so much in these last 14 days, its really not fair BUT also I can’t wait until my little loves can play together and make lots of memories. As y’all can tell I just have wayyyyy too many emotions right now, send help! 

I am so excited for Gibson’s nursery reveal, it turned out just as cute as I imagined it! As soon as we found out we were having a boy I knew right away that light blue, white and a gingham pattern were going to be involved, after that I let my creative juices fly and love how everything came together! I have linked the nursery details at the bottom of the post! 

It was so fun putting this special room together, I don’t know what it is about a nursery but it just brings my heart so much happiness and peace! Its my favorite room in the house and I could just sit in there for hours snuggling my precious baby boy. 

I was beyond excited to try out the Newton Baby Crib Mattress, it’s not only the perfect baby blue to go along with his nursery but its 100% breathable, washable & recyclable. It helps promote safe sleep with a breathe- thru technology allowing you to breath right through the mattress to help avoid suffocation. It brings my mama heart such peace knowing that he could breath if he rolled over from his back to his belly at any given time! The mattress is also hypoallergenic and the cover is machine washable while the actual mattress can be washed in the tub or shower which is a definite YES in my book! It also comes with a 100 night trail guarantee so you can try it out and decide if its the right fit for you and your tiny babe! I have a coupon code for $50 off HERE, use code amanda_allphin50 at checkout to try it out for a little less 🙂 I am SO excited for y’all to try this mattress out, its absolutely amazing and brings this mama such peace of mind!

My sister came to stay with us for these past two weeks to help take care of the boys, she is an angel and we were so sad to see her leave. She was so sweet and took family photos of us in Gibsons nursery, its so crazy to think that these were taken like a day after he got home from the hospital! How has it already been TWO WEEKS LIKE HOWWW!? Time slow down. My mom made the crib bedding and of course all things Mudpie made their appearance all over his nursery. I can’t wait to get these photos printed and hang them in our home! Having a newborn brings such a special spirit into our home, these straight from heaven baby snuggles are absolutely everything. It can be complete chaos at times but then the dust settles and all is right in the world. Watching our tiny family grow yet again is the biggest blessing I could have ever asked for. I would go through all of the heartache over and over again to have these moments, they are worth it all! 

These two sweet boys bring more joy to our lives than we ever could have imagined, they are so precious and the biggest blessings! Its funny, the other day Kyle was sitting on the couch holding Gibson and he said “ I can’t believe he is here, and that he was in your belly just a few days ago. I could stare at his little face all day!”  Excuse me while I melt into a puddle! Watching Kyle become a dad has truly made me fall in love with him all over again! I am surrounded by 3 boys and I couldn’t be happier about it! They truly complete me. Our little family is all I have ever wanted. I wish I could tell my aching heart years ago to be patient, that Heavenly Father would bless you with the family you longed for. I wish I could tell her to be strong, to not lose hope and to keep fighting because it would all be worth it. Sometimes we have to go through the bad to truly appreciate the good, I understand that now but infertility was heartbreaking! If you are struggling, the things that I wish I could tell myself are for you….keep your head up, don’t lose hope and trust in the Lord He will NEVER leave you lonely!  

Wooden Name Sign: 48 Hour Monogram

Lou Lou & Company Swaddle: Finley Swaddle

Miller Brooks Blue Gingham Outfit: Oaks Apparel

Newton Crib Mattress

Hi friends! 

I can’t believe we are officially into August, like where did the summer go? We have been so busy trying to make memories over here that I have been neglecting the blog just a little, forgive me!! Miller is 8 months already and I feel like time just needs to SLOW DOWN, like how are you already 8 months old HOW!? I swear he was just in my belly and now we are officially closer to a year old than to my fresh new babe. Insert alllllll the crying faces! I say that as he is sitting next to be pitching a fit….#MOMLIFE, what can you do? He just popped two bottom teeth within the last week & has two top teeth making their debut as well!  Miller Brooks has had a rough go at it lately, poor baby! All of you Mama’s, What are your teething remedies, help a girl out pleaseeeeee!!!!

Speaking of teeth, I had the opportunity to try out the new Smile Brilliant CariPRO Ultrasonic Electric toothbrush and Y’ALL I love it! I was asked to share a true review and my thoughts on their new toothbrush so here we go! 

Let me start off by saying that I have been using a Sonicare Toothbrush for the past 5 years and never in a million years did I think I would ever make any kind of switch. I had braces growing up with a less than perfect smile, I was SO embarrassed of my teeth that I actually got veneers my senior year in high school. It was one of those things that I felt like EVERYONE was staring at, it was my biggest insecurity and I just had to get my smile fixed.  Other than that, I have always had a clean dental report from the dentist and was always complimented on my dental hygiene, probably because I was so obsessed. The Sonicare toothbrush had a great run with me, but with a hefty price tag and limited settings I made the switch to the Smile Brilliant CariPRO and I’m never looking back! The CariPro is first & foremost very reasonably priced & comes with all the bells and whistles so speak! It has five different modes to brush with from sensitive all the way to whitening mode, so depending on your brushing routine you can switch up whichever mode works best for you. I think my favorite mode to brush on is White, it leaves my teeth feeling fresh & squeaky clean 🙂 It’s also very sleek and lightweight, comes with an additional toothbrush head and has a really great battery life! We went on a little weekend trip last weekend. I charged my CariPRO before the trip and it didn’t need a charge until we returned! With one less thing to pack, sign me up! This toothbrush definitely improved my brushing routine and already helped me feel more confident on my journey to a beautiful smile! 

I loved the Smile Brilliant CariPRO Ultrasonic toothbrush so much that I wanted to give one away! All you need to do to enter is follow this link HERE + enter your name & email address! Also make sure you are following me @pearlsandpinkpeonies and for an additional entry make sure to follow @smilebrilliant on instagram! Don’t worry if you weren’t chosen for the giveaway I also scored a little discount code for y’all, because I mean EVERYONE needs this toothbrush in their lives! Use code PEARLSANDPINKPEONIES20 for 20% off!!!! 

I hope y’all have the most wonderful rest of your week!!

Xoxo

Amanda 

Hey y’all!

There are SO many baby products out there to choose from for your little one! As a first time mom I had no clue what I would actually need, what would make life a little easier & what was honestly just a waste of money. There are just a ridiculous amount of sponsored posts so I really couldn’t figure out what was useful and what wasn’t from other mom blogs out there. Of course there were a few honest post and reviews that were helpful but you just never know what YOUR baby will like, love or hate. So today I have put together a NON-SPONSORED post of baby items I actually love as a first time mama. I really hope this helps all of my sweet mama friends who are looking to put together that perfect baby registry!

1.) UPPABABY Vista

A GOOD STROLLER IS KEY YALL!!! I wish I could politely scream this from the roof tops! Kyle and I were both very skeptical of investing in such an expensive stroller. I mean its for a baby right? and the baby could honestly care less about what gets them from point A to B. Really it’s about convenience & productivity from the mama and papa’s point of view and let me tell you its worth EVERY.SINGLE.PENNY. Uppababy take my money! The Vista has it all from comfort for baby to convenience for mama. It comes with a bassinet, which Miller slept in for the first 3 weeks of his life ( so we didn’t have to buy an additional bassinet). It also comes with the seat which is awesome and perfect once baby likes to sit up and look around a little more than when they were newborns. The Vista also turns into a double stroller if having more than one kiddo is your jam. It seriously is such a smooth ride and really easy to push around! The Uppababy Mesa carseat also fits directly onto the stroller for a wonderful travel system or it has adapters for other carseats to fit on it as well. Also the warranty is amazing, if anything breaks you just contact the customer service team and they will send you the part that broke or even a new stroller if needs be! We have pushed around friends strollers and the Vista just does not even compare, it is on a whole other level and we just love it so much. Its definitely our favorite baby purchase and we tell anyone and everyone who will listen!

2.) The MamaRoo

okay okay I’m sure you have heard mixed reviews but for us this swing was a lifesaver! Miller LOVES it! He’s honestly sitting in it right now as I write this & that is just proof enough, the mamaroo helps me get stuff done! He never sleeps in it at night but he is always down for a GOOOOOD nap in the mamaroo. Miller is 5 months and still fits in it just fine, He will probably use it for at least a few more months. It will be a sad day when he grows out of it! It has many different positions, speeds and motions to choose from and is this mamas saving grace!

3.) The BabyBrezza

This is hands down the BEST invention ever!!! I tried so hard to breastfeed and it just wasn’t working for mama or baby. My milk production was low and Miller needed to supplement with formula. I still breastfed but only a few times a day, the rest of his feedings were formula. The Baby Brezza just makes life soooo much easier if you formula feed! You literally press a button and the formula is made for you. It goes straight into the bottle at the perfect temperature the the perfect amount for your little one. It saves us so much time and energy! Its pretty much a baby Keurig and its the best baby product ever!

4.) Tommee Tippee Bottles

BEST.BOTTLES.EVER! I wish people had told me about Tommee Tippee Bottles from the beginning. So many moms told me that Doctor Browns bottles were the best but honestly we hated them. Maybe we are just lazy but Doctors browns bottles had wayyyy too many parts to wash and so many parts that could get gross and moldy if not washed correctly. We were at TJMaxx one day and saw Tommee Tippy Bottles, we decided to try them and let me tell y’all it was the best decision ever! They have a bottle & a nipple and thats it! The nipples are shaped like an actual nipple so Miller latched really well right away to them. They also have a vent in the nipple that prevents air bubbles, so they help with gas without having that awful tube you have to wash every time. They are very similar to ComoTomo bottles without the price tag and we are all about that!

5.) The Ollie Swaddle

The Ollie Swaddle is not the cheapest swaddle but it is our absolute fav! Its a velcro swaddle that is made out of a really breathable fabric. It grows with your baby. When you decide they no longer need their arms swaddled you can swaddle them with their arms out to transition them to no swaddle. It has a very calming effect and Miller loves this swaddle.

6.) The Dockatot

I won’t say much about it, but for us the dockatot was our saving grace. Miller slept in his dock from the first night he went in his crib and he has slept through the night since he was 4 weeks old. We LOVE it & can’t live without it but to each his own!

7.) Ryan & Rose Pacifiers

We have tried pretty much every paci under the sun. Miller honestly isn’t very picky, as long as he has something to suck on he is a happy baby! BUT with that being said you can tell he has his favorite and its without a doubt the Ryan and Rose Cutie Pat. They come in round and flat nipples depending on what your baby likes ( we went with round and Miller LOVES IT!) It has a teether on the opposite side of the paci, its big enough for Miller to take in & out of his mouth, its silicon and easily washable & it folds into itself for clean transport when its not in his mouth! You can order them through amazon & we are big fans!

8.) Monat Baby Shampoo & Gentle Detangler

There are some baby products that are not worth the money but Monat Baby Shampoo & detangler spray will forever and always make the cut. It not only smells amazing but helps with baby hair loss as well cradle cap and dry skin. It’s tear free, Sulfate & Paraben as well as dermatologist & ophthalmologist tested. Its also cruelty free!

9.) Tubby Todd All Over Ointment

Poor sweet baby Miller had THE WORST diaper rash I have ever seen when he was just a few weeks old. I tried every diaper rash cream I could think of and nothing worked. It was so bad, it would bleed and he would just cry, I had no idea what to do it was just the saddest thing. One of my friends reached out and told me to try Tubby Todd AAO and it worked & I mean within 24 hours his terrible diaper rash was COMPLETELY GONE! I have never used another diaper rash cream since and Miller has never had another diaper rash. That stuff is a miracle worker and will be going in every single baby shower gift that I give from now on! It also works on other skin issues like cradle cap, bug bits, skin irritations, burns or any other skin related issue. Its not just for baby it works for mama too!

10.) Ergo Baby 360

There are so many baby carriers out there but Ergo baby is by far my fav! Miller fits so easily in the carrier without his hips being in a weird position. Its also comfy for mama and the straps don’t slide off of your shoulder. It has a sun visor that flips up to protect baby from the sun or strangers touching your baby if thats not your thing. Baby can sit facing you or facing the world and can hold up to 45 lbs though I don’t think I will be carrying Miller when he is 45 lbs lol! It also comes with an infant insert for when they are tiny. All around we have loved this baby carrier and so does sweet Miller boy!

A few other things on my list that are worth adding to your registry….

Nose Frida, Bubla Steal Diaper Pail, Bonds Wondersuit Zip Up Jammies, Dreft Newborn Laundry Detergent, Boon Lawn Drying Rack, Boon Soak 3- Stage Bathtub, carseat/nursing cover, nursing dress for mama, Boppy Pillow or My Breast Friend Nursing pillow for nursing, Jujube Diaper Bag.

I am by no means an expert on babies or mothering this is just my two cents on what worked for us and what I love as a mama! All of these products changed mama hood for me and I honestly couldn’t live without a single thing on this list! I was not sponsored to talk about any of these products & all opinions are 100% my own! I really hope this helps take at least a little stress off of making your registry & makes the transition to mama hood a little less chaotic! 🙂

Last Saturday was Amanda’s baby shower! This was a day that we had been looking forward to for SO long! I wanted the day to be absolutely perfect because Amanda deserved it after so gracefully throwing multiple baby showers for friends, while she was suffering through infertility. We will share more details about the shower in another post because today, I wanted to share with you the greatest stationery company EVER!

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Hi Friends!

It’s been a little while! Sorry about that, we have just been busy bust getting ready for baby boy to make his arrival! I am officially in my third trimester and I literally cannot believe it! I feel like this pregnancy is flying bye, though EVERYONE tells me that times slows to a crawl once you hit 30 weeks so we shall see!

Kyle and I took a much needed getaway to Scottsdale Arizona a few weekends ago & it was magical to say the least. Its a whole different ball game out there with the beautiful desert, no humidity & soaring temperatures. We spent ALOT of time relaxing by the pool & taking in the beautiful scenery. It’s so different from the south but I especially loved that my hair stayed curled for longer than 5 min outside! Am I right or am I right?

We were lucky enough to stay at the gorgeous HYATT REGENCY SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA AT GAINEY RANCH for the weekend and IT.WAS.A.DREAM!!! The grounds are unlike anything we have ever experienced with majestic cacti, palms & true Arizona scenery all around, we felt like we were in a desert paradise! We spent all day Saturday lounging by the adults only pool in our cute little private cabana overlooking the lake and golf course. We felt like royalty and could have spent the entire weekend at that exact spot 🙂 The Rooms at the Hyatt were large & clean and the bathroom was AMAZING! The soft robes and exta comfy bed made for a glorious weekend stay! The staff even noticed I was pregnant & brought plenty of extra pillows! The service was top notch to say the least! Kyle & I felt beyond relaxed and well rested for our 6 am flight the next morning and are itching to get back there again soon! If you are in the Scottsdale area or planning a trip add the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale to your must stay list!

A few must do’s in Scottsdale 

1.) They have a Cafe Rio so you can bet that was our first stop! If you haven’t tried this place you are in for a treat, its my fav! make sure to get the Pork Salad, you won’t regret it!

2.) Take a little trip out to the desert. I am not the most outdoorsy type of girl but hiking & exploring the beautiful Arizona desert is a must! Here is a link to Scottsdale’s best hikes!

3.) Lounge by the pool! Check out the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale for your relaxing day in the sun!

4.) Shop till you drop! Scottsdale Fashion Square in Arizona’s largest mall. It has all of your upscale stores including Nordstrom. Plus lots of places to dine & relax from your shopping spree!

5.) Set up a photoshoot! We took our maternity photos with Amy & Jordan Demos and they did not disappoint! Being from Georgia a destination maternity shoot was on the radar for us from the beginning! we couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate our miracle boy than with our dream photographers in a dream location! Arizona is full or the most gorgeous scenery and beautiful light with no trees blocking that golden hour glow. Remember your trip with the photoshoot of a lifetime!

Traveling has always been a favorite of ours, exploring new places whether it be in the US or internationally has brought us so much joy! We can’t wait to show our sweet boy all of the breathtaking ventures with world has to offer! With that being said what are your fav tips for traveling with a baby!? We are complete newbies to parenthood and can’t wait to hear all about your tips and tricks! leave your advice in the comments below 🙂

Have a wonderful Monday!

xoxo

Amanda