Summer Essentials: Nuby Review & Giveaway

Living in such a hot dry climate it is essential that I keep my kids cool and hydrated. We are in the "learning" to use a sippy cup stage and are trying several different types out. One of mine and my babies favorites is this awesome 360 degree Straw Flip N' Sip from Nuby. Here are some of my favorite features:

360 Straw Flip N' Sip

• Helps with discovering true straw drinking
• No - Spill soft silicone straw that runs down the base of the cup encouraging your child to hold the cup upright. 
• 360 degree straw allows your little one to drink from any angle!

Both Archie and Paige took to the cup right away. My Archie boy always likes to hold his cups up like a bottle which let us put the 360 degree sipping to the test. It worked and he drank his water like a champ. These cups are great! I love them and so do the babes! Available HERE.

With our temps being over 100 degrees in the afternoon our bathtub becomes our swimming pool. The babies enjoy the water and we are both protected from the scorching sun. The Nuby bath toys have become our favorite. They also go crazy about our Hippo Spout Guard. Here is what we love about them:

Nuby Tub Tugs Bath Toy

• Bright and colorful and easy to hold
• Soft rubber that floats in the water
• We love that they fill with water and spray :) 

Available HERE.

Nuby Hippo Bathtub Spout Guard

• Soft protective cover for hard faucets
• Leave hippo's mouth open to experience waterfall fun
• Close the hippo's mouth hinge and enjoy a fountain of water

Available HERE.

Now head over to my Instagram @kourtjack for your chance to win a Nuby Hippo Bathtub Spout Guard!

Transitioning from baby to toddler: Nuby Review & Giveaway

      My sweet twinners Archie and Paige are growing up! This summer has been full of changes as they have become mobile and more independent. They are wanting to do everything themselves, including feeding themselves. Here are a few of my favorite Nuby items that have made this phase smoother and a little less messy (if that's possible).

1st Sipeez Designer Grip N’ Sip^TM 

We have been transitioning from bottles to sipeez and these Nuby Grip N' Sip cups have been great! The twins quickly figured out how to use them and have taken to them with ease. Some of my favorite features are:

•  Has a no spill soft silicone spout 
• The trainer handles that help baby learn to use the cup and bring it to their mouth
•  The Click-It technology that lets you know when the base is locked to the lid

These are currently available at Babies R Us stores!

Nuby^TM Hot Safe Spoons

The babies still eat a good amount of purees. These spoons have been nice for me to use and great for my little ones as they are learning what spoons are and how to use them their selves. Here are a few more features:

• The safety tip changes color when the food is too hot
• The soft is edge is gentle on teeth and gums
• The long handle is great for reaching in the bottom of tall jars
• Makes great drum sticks :)

Currently available on Amazon.com HERE.

Nuby Designer Series FlexStraw

Since Archie and Paige have learned how to use the Sipeez the next step was teaching them how to use a straw. These super cute Nuby FlexStraw cups have been awesome! Here are a few things I like about them:

• The soft straw is gentle on gums and emerging teeth
• The touch flow valve opens so liquids pass through the straw only when your child sips
• It has the same Click-It technology letting you know when the lid is secure to the base 

These cups are currently available at Walmart stores.

Nuby^TM Sure grip^TM Miracle Mat

One of my least favorite phases is when babies want to feed themselves. So messy and food is always everywhere. These amazing mats have working so good to help my little ones keep their food on their tray, or at least not throw their bowl on the floor :) Here is what we love about them:

• The Nuby^TM Sure grip^TM Miracle Mat is made of 100% silicone with super gripping action! The built in suction grip easily seals to tabletops and highchairs keeping it firmly in one place! 
• Sealing Tips: Press down in the center of the plate to remove any air trapped underneath to help ensure a complete seal for added suction. Also please ensure that the surface is clean grease/oil free and dry (e.g  Baby Wipes can affect the suction)

These are currently available at Babies R Us stores and Amazon.com HERE.

NOW HEAD OVER TO MY INSTAGRAM @KOURTJACK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A NUBY SURE GRIP MIRACLE MAT FOR YOUR LITTLE ONE!

Nuby Review & Giveaway

     I got a fun opportunity to review some amazing products from Nuby, a company that sells some of the top baby/toddler products on the market. Being a mom of three I was familiar with Nuby, I loved the products I had previously purchased from them, so I was excited to try more!

Nuby Teething Bib Favorite Features

• Soft absorbent cotton with dribble feature
• The multi texture teething corner
• Machine washable
• The reversible cute, bright patterns 
  

     I put the bibs on my twins and right away they both grabbed the teething corner. Both of them are getting molars and wanting to chew on everything. The soft, textured (BPA free) plastic corner seemed to satisfy and sooth their gums. I left the bibs on through meal time and they absorbed any spills or drool perfectly. The bibs are available in a 2pk on Amazon. HERE

Nuby Garden Fresh Fruitsicle Tray Favorite Features

• You can turn fresh fruit, vegetables, juice ect. into popsicles
• Perfect size for little hands
• Wide base to help with dripping
• Dishwasher safe 

      The first batch of fruitsicles I blended up peaches and banana and poured that into the molds to freeze. I pulled them out of the freezer and ran the tray under warm water for less than a minute to loosen the pops. They very easily came out! I gave one to each of the twins and they LOVED them! The cold helped sooth their sore gums and the fruit was yummy. They could hold them so easily and their hands didn't get cold. I've already made a few more batches! The tray is available on Amazon. HERE

Nuby Stackable Bowls & Long Handle Feeding Spoons Favorite Features

• Locking lids that seal tight
• Stack-able for easy storage
• Long handle spoons that reach to the bottom of baby food jars

    These are so practical and great for every day use. I cut up some fruit for the babies the day before and stored it in one of the bowls. The fruit stayed fresh and it was nice to have it prepped beforehand. They will be awesome to store snacks in to put in the diaper bag or take to the park. I gave the twins the containers to play with and neither one of them were able to get the lids off, major success! You can get the four pk of bowls and 2 long handle spoons on Amazon. HERE
    

Now head over to my Instagram @kourtjack for my first giveaway ever! 

Hello Babies

     Early on in my pregnancy I had decided that I wanted to do a VBAC. Mack had been delivered by C-Section because he was breech. Because of this reason I was a good candidate. I had two very supportive doctors who said as long as both babies were head down and I progressed on my own, I could go for a VBAC.
    At 32 weeks my body started to dialate and I figured the babies would be coming soon. My doctor gave me the shots for the babies lungs because it was still a little early for them. Surprising enough, the twins stayed put. From this point on in my pregnancy I began going to the doctor twice a week for non stress tests and to check for dialation.
    By the time 36 weeks got here, I was physically, emotionally, mentally done. Everything hurt and I was struggling to sleep. I decided that I needed a blessing to carry me through to the end and through the delivery. I had my dad come over one night and he and Luke gave me a really special blessing. I knew after that, that everything would go good and my babies would arrive safely.
     On January 15, 2 days shy of 37 weeks I went in for my non stress test. I had been up with a headache the night before so I drank some coke that morning. On the monitors that morning, Baby A's heart rate was high. I figured it was the caffeine but my Dr sent me over to Labor and Delivery to be monitored. The babies heart rate calmed down but my Dr considered keeping me and just inducing me right then. I was an emotional wreck. Recently we had found out that Mack couldn't come visit us at the hospital due to flu season restrictions. I had not said good bye to him that morning and was not prepared to leave him for however long I'd be there. My Dr decided that an extra few days would be best for the babies. They sent me home and scheduled the induction for Saturday, January 17th! We had a birthday!
    On January 16 I spent the day cuddling my Mack. Then that night we went to dinner for the last time as a family of 3. After dinner my mom came to spend the night to be with Mack for whenever they called me in. Funny enough the morning came and we still hadn't received a call. So at 9:30am I called L&D to see when to come in. They let me know that they had gotten busy and didn't have room for me until later in the day. They said they'd call when a room became available. So we played with Mack for awhile and then I felt like I could sleep (which I struggled with) so I decided to take a nap. I laid down and fell into a deep sleep. Only a few minutes later Luke came in holding his phone saying that L&D was on the line. I got on the phone and they let me know they were ready for us! With tears in my eyes, I gathered our stuff to load in the car, got Mack lunch and then we were ready to go. As we were pulling out of the neighborhood we got a phone call from my Dad (who was now at our house watching Mack with my Mom) telling us we forgot our suitcase! Ha! After returning home and getting our bags we head over to the hospital. Once we arrived we were quickly checked in and ready to go! 

     Since it was a VBAC and a twins delivery my dr had to stay the entire time. We also had a nurse in our room pretty much the entire time. They gave me my epidural, which worked awesome! I could still feel the contractions and move my legs but I felt no pain. Then they started the pitocin. The game plan was to keep the pitocin low and progress slow for the best, safest chance at a VBAC. My family visited and hung out. And I slowly progressed. I was a 4 when I checked in and by about 8pm I was a 6. My family needed to run home so they knew they had enough time, or so they thought. Not long after they left our baby B's heart rate  sky rocketed. I just sat there full of anxiety and worry as it was well above 200bmp. I knew that was way too high. My nurse decided to check me and I was at a 7. She thought her heart rate might be high because she was descending into the birth canal. A few moments later my dr came in the room. He explained that for a VBAC everything needed to go perfectly and right now there was something wrong. He made the decision to call it and go in for an emergency C-section. I began sobbing for so many reasons. I was scared for my baby's life, I was scared for the c-section recovery, I was disappointed. Guilt for being dissapointed. I had Luke hurry and call my family to get there quick. And they began prepping me for surgery. My family quickly arrived and gave me hugs and then I was wheeled back to the OR. By this point I no longer worried so much about me but was terrified that they get my babies out safely before anything critical happened. They transferred me to the OR table and began the surgery. A few minutes later they had Luke come in and sit by my head. I just remember squeezing his hand and just praying that my babies were ok. I remember crying more this time too. Moments later at 8:44pm Baby A, Archie Luke, came into the world. He was screaming and he was tiny. He sounded just like a kitten. My dr mentioned how little he was. They then brought him around the drape to show us as they took him to be cleaned up and weighed. Then almost instantly it was Baby B's turn. While she was still in me she started crying and my dr joked and said you can't cry yet, your not even born! Haha. At 8:45pm Paige Everly entered the world screaming too. As they brought her by our side me and Luke both commented that she looked like her big brother Mack. I sent Luke to go take pictures and be with the babies while they finished my surgery. As I laid there by myself I just prayed some more. This time a prayer of gratitude. I was just so overcome with how thankful I was for these two new beautiful spirits that joined our family. I truly felt so blessed. Luke eventually came back in to report sizes. Archie was 4.15lbs and 17.5in. Such a little guy. Paige was about a pound bigger at 5.14lbs and 19in. The best news though was that they both were healthy! They were breathing well and got to stay with us! No nicu! Something else we had been praying for during my pregnancy. 

     After they completed my surgery I was taken back to my room where our families were waiting for us. That's when I got to experience what I'd been waiting for. Both babies were placed in my arms and I got to hold my sweet little miracles. We were now a family of five.
    

Christmas 2014

     On Christmas Eve, as a family we went and looked at Christmas lights and got pizza for dinner. We finally switched Mack's car seat forward facing and he loves it! We thought it was perfect timing so he could enjoy all the lights. He kept saying woah all night! He's the cutest. After dinner we opened Christmas jammies. Mack wanted nothing to do with it. He could care less about ripping the paper and got mad when we tried to force him. Once we let him down he ran and got his Christmas book and was happy.
     On Christmas day I woke up sick. Luke and Mack had both been sick so now it was my turn. Even being miserable I still had a wonderful day with my family. When we got up in the morning we did gifts with Mack. He had the cutest surprised look on his face looking at his toys. He also was a little confused and afraid, not sure what to do. He once again didn't really want to unwrap his gifts so we just did it for him and he played along as we unwrapped. We took our time and let him enjoy what he got. Then around 10:30 we had Luke's mom over for breakfast. I made a breakfast casserole and we had gifts with her. We spent some time hanging out then we all relaxed and took a nap. After nap time we headed over to my parents house. This year was really special. We had everyone of my siblings there together. This hasn't happened in years. It was so good just to hang out and be with each other. My mom made a yummy dinner and we had gifts with them. Over all Christmas was a great day and it was so nice to not have to travel or rush anywhere.
     One experience I wanted to write about. A few days before Christmas I had realized I hadn't even listened to any Christmas music this year. So while me and Mack were running a few errands I put a Christmas CD on in the car. The song "O holy night" came on and Mack just started singing at the top of his lungs. Right then I felt the spirit so strong. I started crying and singing right along with him. I know why we celebrate this special time of year and I need to remember to take time and think of the Savior. I need to be that example for Mack, even though he most of the time is my example. Our Savior is pure love and I feel so so blessed to have that knowledge in my life.