MY NEW LOVE INTEREST & GIVEAWAY

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This post is sponsored by Carter’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Ryan won my heart, but Levi has stolen it. Being a mom to a boy feels different than being a mom to my daughter. Not better, not worse...just different. I'm the first woman he has loved, and it feels so special. Moms of boys told me leading up to Levi's birth that it would feel special in this way, and they sure were right. So, I have started to take Levi on dates just like Ryan has taken Elle on dates for he past three years. And, to celebrate turning Levi turning nine months old, I have teamed up with Carter's to share with you what we love to do on our dates together.

Ryan and Elle always go on a date to Starbucks so she can talk to him all about her ideas, eat madeleines and drink chocolate milk. Levi, on the other hand, loves to eat and run (or shall I say crawl). So, our dates include good food and any place that lets him roam free and explore. I dressed him in a Carter's Little Baby Basics t-shirt that says "wild one," because he is sure is wild. He wore black and white striped pants and his mini Birksenstock style sandals from Carter's. I really want to get a pair just so we can have matching shoes. He is too young to be embarrassed by that, right. ;)

I took him to The Original Chop Shop for a cold pressed juice and a chia pudding parfait. His favorite part is pounding on the table and staring at new faces. While he is doing that I just stare back at him, and marvel at how nine months have already passed by since we first met. Of course, I strapped a bib on him because he is the messiest eater in the world. Somehow food ends up glued in his hair and eyebrows every time. I love that Carter's makes bibs that coordinate with their outfits too. 

When we play outside Levi wears nothing but a soft, breathable onesie because it's so warm in the summer. I love this cute outer space onesie. You don't see black onesies too often, so I liked that Carter's offered something modern and different. Plus, onesies show off those delectable baby thighs. (Can he stay little forever?!)

Being a fashion stylist, I thought dressing a boy wouldn't be as fun as dressing a girl. I thought wrong. I love dressing Levi because it's so easy and there are endless outfit combinations between the shirts and pants and onesies he can wear. Carter's makes dressing kids a breeze with all of their matching sets down to the accessories. I think everything in Levi's closet is Carter's just because it's also affordable. This kid grows like a weed. Did you know he is wearing 18 month clothes at he is only nine months old?! Holy smokes we have gone through a lot of clothes very fast! If you're in the same boat and you are looking for stylish, affordable clothes for your littles, look no further than Carter's. Carter's actually has a 20% coupon that you can use until July 4th. 

We finished our date with some exploration, chalk writing and kisses. I think next time we'll go to the splash pad or the zoo. I would love to hear where you want to take your daughter or son on a date. You can WIN a $100 Carter's gift card if you comment below before 5pm on Friday, June 10th with your date idea, and you can have additional entries by visiting my Facebook page or following me on Twitter. NOTE: In order to track ALL entries I am using Rafflecopter. See the widget below to enter. I promise you won't get any spammy stuff. It's just to make sure the contest is fair and square. The winner will be notified by email, and I will personally send the gift card to you.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

BABY BOY ESSENTIALS

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I'm thankful that I have been able to experience being a mom to both a boy and a girl. When we found out the news that we were having  a boy we were so excited, but I quickly realized that I didn't have any clothes for a boy and many of the toys and books we had collected over the years for Elle were fairly feminine. I am of the mindset that there isn't a color or a toy or a book that is for just one gender by any means, but I also didn't want Levi to only have hand-me-downs that are pink and purple. The little guy definitely deserved to have some shiny, new gifts just for him in an array of colors.

Today, I'm sharing with you a list of things that I have been given or have purchased since having baby number two that I have really loved and would recommend to any other mom. 

1. Freshly Picked moccasins - There's no real need for babies to wear shoes when they are first born, but having these mocs starting around 5 months has been wonderful. Levi loves to plant his feet on the ground and jump in his jumper. These shoes are stretchy and easy to get on and off, which is nice when they have those pudgy baby feet. One mistake I made with Elle was never getting her used to having shoes on, so when it came time for her to wear them all she did was sit on the floor and cry. Haha! The poor kid didn't understand why she had to wear shoes.

2. Your Baby's First Word Will Be Dada - This is the funniest and cutest baby book out there right now. Jimmy Fallon really did a wonderful job creating it, and I think it's a great gift for any mom.

3. Special Nursery Decor - There are toys that are meant to be played with and then there are toys that are so cute you want to display them. Every mom and dad wants these as gifts too. The Land of Nod has a ton of these toys, and I especially love this gray hippo. I'm going to save it for Levi forever and one day give it to his kids.

4. A cool hat - If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen a couple posts about Levi getting the worst case of cradle cap. We are STILL dealing with it, and having a cool, cute hat for him to wear through this process has been critical. I adore this winter hat by 7AM Enfant. It's probably cutest, and coolest winter accessory there is for babies.

5. Zipadee-Zip - This MIRACLE product isn't pictured in the photo, but every single mom needs this flying squirrel-ish swaddle. After 3 months you are supposed to stop swaddling your baby, but Levi would still wake himself up if we didn't keep his hands away from his face. Enter in our saving grace the Zipadee-Zip. It was featured on Shark Tank, and it has blown up since then because moms across the U.S. know what I know...This thing works! Levi loves sleeping in it, and it keeps him warm without having to put on heavy jammies.

6. Bandana Drool Bibs - Forget the cheesy, "My First Christmas," bibs for eating and drooling. Go get these incredibly cool bandana drool bibs by Copper Pearl. They come in all sorts of designs for girls and boys.

7. Cute boy clothes - This is a whole topic for another blog post, but all I have to say is that I have searched high and low for cute boy clothes, and the line of affordable clothes I like for Levi that is by Burt's Bees. Yes, the chapstick company makes flippin' adorable baby clothes, and you need to check them out. I didn't want to constantly have to buy things on Etsy and wait for them to ship or spend a fortune at Baby Gap. You can grab these cute clothes at Buy Buy Baby.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer