Thanksgiving is next week and there are just over 6 weeks until Christmas. So crazy! I know it’s cliche to say, but I can’t believe how fast this year has gone. This time last year I was pregnant with Wilder and now he’s over seven months old and getting ready for his first holiday season. I’m also trying to prepare for the holidays and today I wanted to share a gift guide with my favorite items for newborns and infants – and mostly, their parents!

This year, like the past several, I plan to do the bulk of my holiday shopping online. Lately I’ve been really impressed with Walmart for baby items, and plan to do a lot of my shopping there. They carry so many of my favorite baby brands – from DockaTot to Babybjorn and everything in between. Plus they offer next day shipping on so many items, which is perfect if you wait to do your shopping last minute like me. I wanted to break down some of my favorite items I’m shopping for (for Wilder) along with items we have and love.

BabyBjorn bouncer – I have raved about this item countless times and used it since Crosby was a newborn. I will continue to sing it’s praises. Babies love it! But I love it because it’s portable and SO easy to use. I often bring it into the bathroom with me so Wilder can hang out in a safe place when I shower. We also bring it to friend’s houses all the time.

Franky Beats – This is a fun activity for babies. Great for development and gross motor skills. Babies can play, dance and crawl along with it. It tumbles, teaches and lets out coloful lights. I’ve been a fan of this since Crosby was a baby and love it for Wilder too.

DockaTot – I loved this with both babies from birth up until they were about 5 months old. It’s SO nice to have a safe place you can put your baby down. Also great for travel!

VTech Sit to Stand Walker – Another item I’ve loved since Crosby was a baby is this walker. It helps your child develop from a crawler to a walker through adaptive technology. Crosby got one of these for Christmas when she was 9 months old and was pulling herself up to stand about a month later and using it to walk around the house. Wilder loves it too and I know he’ll be trying to get around with it really soon.

Pajamas – If you’re lost on what to get a baby (or really anyone!) pajamas are an easy go-to. The pair Wilder is wearing is so soft and I love neutral print. It comes in a 2-pack!

– Other items I love – 

4moms mamaRoo  – Again, I used this with both babies and cannot reccomend it enough. I’d still be using it with Wilder if I had it my way… but he got too big and tried to escape it a few times. It’s proably best to use before your baby is actively trying/or can sit up.

Baby Brezza Formula Pro (+ a $50 gift card with purchase) – This might be my #1 baby product. I supplemented with formula with both babies and used this – it was a HUGE life saver. Still use it with Wilder and love that I can get a bottle made in seconds in the size I want and the temperature he wants.

Baby Brezza Food Maker – Now that Wilder is eating purees I’ve really loved using this. It’s the easiest machine that cooks and blends in one step. It can steam and automatically blend foods with just a push of a button in about 10 minutes.

Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale officially opens to card holders today. Honestly the sale has been hit or miss in recent years. Back in the day I remember shopping the sale early in the morning and buying my first pair of 7 jeans. 🙂 This year I’m going in with a short list and sticking to it. I don’t really need to stock up on fall items because summer is just starting and I’ll probably be interested in something else come December (when it’s finally fall-ish here). That said there are still a lot of cute fall pieces I will share in case you’re looking.

What I am looking for are some new jeans. I have this pair by Free People in a couple of different washes, but I wore them to death when I was pregnant and they got stretched out a bit lot. I love the lighter wash that’s included in the sale, they’re just over $50.

I’m breaking it all down by category below. I think the best buys are the baby items. My favorite convertible carseat, high chair and umbrella stroller are all included in the sale and are items that typically don’t get marked down.

I plan to shop the sale in person today and will have an updated post of what I’m loving early next week. Items go fast so if you’re eying something it’s best to buy it now or you might miss out.

Women’s clothing:

Free People jeans

Topshop Satin Button Up blouse

Leopard Cardigan

Madewell jeans

Topshop jeans

Leopard dress

Fuzzy jacket

Suede jacket

Topshop sweater

Green sweater

Alo leggings

Alo sports crop sweatshirt

Leopard sweater

Thermal henley

Spanx leggings

Cowl Neck sweater

Shoes:

Leopard sneakers

Snakeskin loafers

Madewell mules

Asics sneakers

Chuck Taylor flatforms 

Baby Gear:

Nuna Rava

Babyzen YOYO

Stokke Tripp Trapp

Nuna Pipa Lite

Nuna Mixx

Thule Urban Glide jogging stroller

Are you shopping the sale? Would love to hear what you’re buying/looking for!

Time is moving so fast! Wilder is already three months old… and I’m in disbelief. I actually first titled this post “Two Months…” before I realized that was incorrect. So here we are, three months in with two.

I have to say it’s a lot easier the second time around. I remember when Crosby was a newborn thinking the hard times felt endless. Now I know everything is a stage… and it eventually ends. We’ve gotten really lucky with Wilder – he is such a chill baby! Started sleeping through the night at eight weeks and has been a dream ever since. Ha! He eats a lot… I feel like I spend half the day feeding him, but if that’s how we get a full night’s sleep, I’ll take it. He basically only cries when he’s hungry… or in the bath. He HATES baths.

Crosby is still being so amazing with him. I don’t think she remembers life before “Baby Wida,” as she calls him. He’s the first thing she asks for in the morning and is not happy until we get him out of his bassinet. Poor guy gets woken up a lot by her.

I want to share my 10 favorite baby products that have helped get us through the first three months:

Mamaroo – what he naps in during the day

White noise machine – use one with Crosby too/always travel with them.

Baby Bjorn Bouncer – probably my favorite baby item. Can be easily moved around the house, travel with or stored when you aren’t using.

Baby Bjorn Mini Carrier – hands down my favorite baby carrier. So easy to use and comfortable!

Breast Friend Nursing Pillow – most comfortable pillow for breast feeding.

Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced – makes the perfect temp bottle in seconds.

Comotomo Bottles – great bottles for breastfed babies to avoid “nipple confusion”

Playmat – both of my babies have been obsessed with this bright mat.

Freshly Picked Diaper Bag – I’ve used lots of diaper bags but this one remains my favorite. Comes in lots of colors too! Gets 40% off with code FPxAshnfashn

Halo Sleep Sack Swaddles – easy to use and it velcros so they can’t escape.

I know I said top 10, but I have to include a bonus…

Bambo Nature Diapers – I’ve used these since Crosby was a newborn. Eco-friendly and still really absorbent.

Today is the first day of early access for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. If you’re a Nordstrom card holder, you can now shop the sale! Yesterday I got to preview the sale and found so many great deals.I can’t wait to start shopping. I want to share some of my favorites – things I personally own and love as well as new items I’m hoping to snag.

If you want to shop the sale now you need to be a Nordstrom card holder. To do that you can sign up here or in your local store. If you’re not a card holder, you can start shopping July 20th!

This sweater was hands down my favorite clothing item and is just around $30! I love the color – it’s such a pretty but bright watermelon. I paired it with my denim shorts here but will take it into fall with darker jeans. Can also be worn with white shorts in the summer.

The cutest cami that has a slight peplum hem. I’d wear this until at least November in Southern California. I layered this cozy cardigan over it to show how it could be taken into cooler temps. I’m also loving these jeans.  I went with my normal size and they fit like a glove and they’re under $60

Will definitely be purchasing.

This romper was just too cute to pass up. I love that it’s a summery piece on sale. This would be so perfect for a bride to be – for a shower, bachelorette party or any other wedding related event. I’m not a bride but and it still works. I’d typically wear an xs but sized up to a small and love that it’s not too tight.

This dress is really cute and can be worn now with sandals… or later with a cardigan or suede jacket and booties. It comes in another color too!

Denim skirts are back! This one was a bit too big on me but I loved the length. I paired it with this cute lavender top and love the combo.

These Pumas bring me back and I love it! Their ribbon laces and rose gold bow update the trend. I’m also loving these peach Adidas.

Soludos makes the best espidrilles. Love this slip on pair for summer and am also loving the mint and gray pairs pictured in the back.

Booties are always a hit at this sale. This pair is such a great color and practical heel height.

My favorite beauty products that I own that are included in the sale:

Simple Human Mirror

Elemis Marine Cream

Clinique Clarifying Lotion

Mario Badescu Set

Herbivore After Sun Spray

T3 Blowdryer

Baby items I love on sale:

Freshly Picked shoes for baby girls and boys.

Baby Bling head bands

Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair

DockATot

Humidifier 

Jogging Stroller

The holidays are always a fun time but having a baby this year makes them even more special. Even though Crosby has no idea what’s going on, I like to think seeing things for the first time (like our Christmas tree and decorations) is stimulating for her. Plus she’s in the phase where she’s pulling herself up on everything… so the bottom of our tree is without ornaments.

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My favorite department from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale is always the shoes! I’m a totally shoe hoarder, so that’s really no surprise. I thought I’d break the shoes into three categories: booties, flats and sneakers. All the best everyday shoes!