Disclosure: Fresh Bellies sent us samples to try out in exchange for my honest opinion.

Finding out what food to give your baby for the first time can be one of the most daunting tasks for your little one. I remember when Camila was around 5 months, I had no idea where to begin. Our pediatrician told us at the time there wasn't a set age, just to let her guide us. Remember to always consult your pediatrician before making big changes!

As first time parents I had no idea what that meant then, but going through this the second time I felt like I had it down. What clued us in the first time was Mila reaching for food, and opening her mouth like she was waiting for us to feed her. It was pretty cute actually! With Bella, she was a little more aggressive and threw a fit every time we would pull the plate away from her lol. 

When we decided to feed Mila for the first time, we knew we weren't going to give her fruit. At the time we didn't really have a reason, we just wanted her first food to be something safe that we knew she wasn't going to have a reaction to. We went with a Hispanic staple, fresh refried beans boiled with lots of garlic so it didn't make her gassy! So when it was Bella's turn we did the same thing. 

I connected with Fresh Bellies, we had just started our solid's journey with Bella. I was looking for an alternative to store bought baby food, and baby food that I make myself. Yes I know it's pretty easy to make baby food, it's just time-consuming. There are plenty of good store bought baby food brands that we tried but I still couldn't kick the mom-guilt from feeding Bella preservatives. I felt like Fresh Bellies was a happy and affordable middle ground. One thing that really sold me on this particular brand of baby food was the different types of herbs, spices, and flavor combinations they offered. One of Bella's favorites right now is Cauliflower & Red Bell Pepper! 

According to Amy Shapiro, Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist, and advisor to Fresh Bellies, the first-ever savory kid product for palate training, parents should be aware of 5 common misconceptions  when they start solids:

#1 YOU NEED TO START WITH BLAND FOODS

For most parents, spices are out, and fruits are first for babies. Instead, the first foods should teach young palates to learn to love savory food. Many typical pre-made baby foods add sugar, which changes a baby's taste profile to crave sweets. Go for unmasked veggies seasoned with herbs and spices (yes garlic!).

#2 YOUR BABY MUST WAIT UNTIL MONTH 6

There’s no set rule around baby’s first solid foods - it really depends on your baby. It’s totally okay to start at month 4 or even start all the way up to month 8.

#3 NUTS ARE A NO GO

No need to avoid nuts. In fact, the earlier you introduce your kids, in pureed form,  (as long as there is no family history of nut allergy), the less risk they have of developing these and other types of allergies. Introduce them at around 6 months.

#4 BABY’S FIRST MEATBALLS?

Early on, your child does not yet have the enzymes necessary to digest meats. Always start with veggies, and avoid those chicken nuggets for now.

#5 CLEAN YOUR PLATE

Worried your child isn’t eating enough? Don’t. Let your kid tell you when they are finished with their meal. If you teach them to ignore their natural "full" tendency, they will have trouble self-regulating their eating portions for the rest of their lives

These common misconceptions really helped me in guiding Bella down a veggie lover path. This was also knowledge I really wish I would have had the first time around with Mila. We ended up keeping her food bland and weren't very adventurous in the food and spices we gave her. As she sees Bella eating though she asks to taste her foods and finds new things that she likes which is a total mom-win. 

What advice would you give new moms introducing their baby's to solids for the first time? 

While these two are the cutest things on planet earth to us, they are also the biggest tornadoes. I feel like so much time was spent on prepping us for having a newborn that I wasn't ready for Mila or Noah to enter into toddler-hood. There are so many things I wish more moms would share, but that's what I'm here for right? To share things I wish other people would have shared with me! 

1. There is SO much attitude. 

When they say threenager they really mean toddlernager because once they learn to talk the attitude, and sass just comes rollin off their tongue. I had some sense that Mila was going to give me a run for my money, but was not fully prepared for her to try and parent me. One day I was getting mad at her for something I really can't remember what it was, but most likely for Mila to clean her room, she told me "Mom, remember, I told you not to get mad at me. I just need a break." I was so in shock and wanted to laugh that I just walked out of the room. They also repeat everything you say, so watch what you say! 

2. Do Not, I repeat, DO NOT leave them alone. 

There is no such thing as a quiet toddler if they are quiet 9/10 they're doing something bad or making a huge mess. My apartment isn't huge, and I am usually in the living room but Mila has a restroom that connects to her door. I cannot tell you how many times I've made the mistake of noticing how quiet they were a little too late, and how many rolls of toilet paper and toys have gone into that poor toilet. Even when I take Mila to my mom's house, her and Noah sneak their way up the stairs and always end up in my sister's paints. 

My poor mom has it a little worse than I do. My brother, Noah, has dumped out all of her makeup remover, gone upstairs and dumped a bottle of Tobasco sauce on my sister's bed, repainted the carpet with paints, cut up 2 chairs, and the list goes on. 

3. It's Hard To Get Mad At Them

Don't get me wrong I've doled out my fair share of punishments, but they're just so cute that it's hard to for me to stay mad at them. I think that's their saving grace, they're so darn cute. They get really good at apologizing too, in fact, I think Mila has mastered it. They just get so curious about everything, I forget that it's so new to them. 

That's the thing, the world is so new to them, they're just trying to figure it out. Toddlers are a lot smarter than we give them credit for, and since there is still not a lot of fear of the world around them they run into everything head first. I always try to go into things with the same amount of confidence Mila in a lot of things that I do. Toddler-hood doesn't last very long, and it's not long before they're off to school, so enjoy it. All of it. All of the sass, the mess, and the tantrums. They really have a way of teaching you new things, and showing you how to sit back and wonder about the world around you. While it's not as sleep depriving as baby-hood was, it has it's own up's & downs! 

Mila & Noah's matching bows are from Johnny & Tate!

This post is sponsored by Walmart, however, all the opinions expressed below are my own true and honest opinions. This post also contains affiliate links so I may make a commission! Thank you for supporting my blog. 

Spring-time is literally my favorite time of the year, not only because it's my birthday season, but because of all of the fresh new fashion trends that are birthed in spring! The weather, however, can be a little unpredictable, especially here in Texas! As a mom, I look for items that are functional, multi-purposeful, and give me a good value for the price. One of my favorite places to shop for things like this is Walmart.com. I found out Ellen DeGeneres just released her new spring line at Walmart and couldn't help but buy myself a couple of pieces to try for myself.  

I loved a lot of pieces from her line but settled on trying these wide leg cropped jeans. I tend to stay away from wide leg pants only because I'm afraid they'll make me look shorter than I actually am. I made a resolution to try things that I normally stay away from this year, so I went for it. I pair them with a pair of comfortable heeled sandals to give me some height, but I've also worn these with slip-on sneakers and they look good both ways! I love how comfortable and stretchy these pants are, so it's easy to wear these while chasing my kiddos around. I also decided on grabbing this cute canvas bag, because honestly, you can never have enough bags. 

Ellen's EV1 line at Walmart is full of athleisure gear so the material of the clothes is all very breathable and comfortable to wear! Here are some of my other favorites: 

1. Allie Wide Leg Cropped Jean Women's | 2. Women's Cupsole Lace Up Trainer | 3. EV1 Ombre Heart Market Tote | 4. Making History Sweatshirt Women's | 5. Good Vibes Short Sleeve Graphic Tee Women's | 6. Multi Love Pouch Wristlet | 7. Preston High Rise Skinny Ankle Jean Women's | 8. Chambray 2-Pocket Short Sleeve Dress Women's

You can shop all of these and more at Walmart.com! Which piece is your favorite? 

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and NicePak, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #NicenCleanatHEB  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

As a mom of two, I feel like I finally have my list of must-haves down. This is the question I get asked the most! With Mila, it definitely was a lot of trial and error, and even now some things that worked for Mila don't work for Bella. As a mom, you always have to remember that every baby is different, so take all the advice you get with an open mind. At the end of the day, you are that precious little baby's momma so you know what's best for them!  Motherhood is the hardest most rewarding job out there, especially when it's your first time around. I'm happy to be here to help you through it, with the help of Nice 'n CLEAN wipes. 

I've divided my list into the 3 most important parts of a baby's life in the first few months, feeding, diapering, and sleep. 

Feeding

Bottle feeding - for the first 3 months I would advise 4 oz bottles and a variety of nipple types. Some babies are extremely picky when it comes to their bottles. 

Breastfeeding- I couldn't live without nursing bras, a nursing cover, washable breast pads, and a few nursing shirts. I didn't know this until after I had already started breastfeeding though! I struggled because I tried to save a few bucks but ultimately ended up buying everything.

Pumping- a good electric pump (that can be portable as well) and breast milk storage bags are definitely must-haves on my list. Make sure that the breast pump flanges are the correct size, if not it can cause a world of problems. Also, remember that you should be prepared to pump anywhere! 

Diapering

When it came to diapering, we knew we didn't want to do cloth diapers. What we did do was stock up on different sizes of diapers. Do not buy too many newborn diapers (one box should be fine) you'd be surprised on how fast they grow out of them! I do suggest having storage for diapers to be readily available to anyone in the house. That way when you're not around everything is together in one place. We have a changing station in our house, but don't always change the baby there!

Wipes were huge must have to have around the house even when Mila entered toddlerhood. You can use them for just about anything. However, the kind of wipe matters a lot to us. I knew that since Mila had such sensitive skin, it was highly likely that Bella would too. So I stuck with a brand that was familiar to us, and stocked up!

Not only does the wipe have to be sensitive but also sturdy enough to power through a blow out without it ripping up. We loved Nice 'n CLEAN baby wipes. Not only are they strong but they are 100% plant-based fibers. Making them gently enough for hands, faces & bottoms. I love that they're hypoallergenic so I don't have to worry about my wipes causing a breakout. The best part about these wipes is that the packaging is material is quieter, that way you don't startle your sweet little newborn awake when you're changing them in the middle of the night! They come in a variety of package sizing options and are available for purchase at your local H-E-B.

Sleep

While I love receiving blankets I replaced these with easy to use Swaddlers instead! They make it easy and fast to get your bundle of joy to sleep. Since newborns are getting used to the outside world being swaddled is the most comfortable for them. I also always used a sound machine with both of the girls because it lulls them to sleep a lot faster than me singing to them. On tough nights I wouldn't have survived without our swing! This was one item I didn't mind spending good money on because it would rock our baby to sleep when mama's arms were just too exhausted. 

I hope all of these items help you on your journey through motherhood! 

Head into your local HEB to purchase Nice ‘n CLEAN Baby Wipes today.

As Valentine's day quickly approaches, I'm usually scrambling to pick out an outfit. Instead of buying a whole new outfit, I thought maybe I'd mix & match something I already had in my closet. I ended up just getting a cute pair of heels from JustFab (JustFab provided me with the shoes for this outfit, thank you!) for something casual for our usual lunch date! While we might not do anything too extravagant, we do our best to have some us time, and then make the day special for Mila. 💖

We start out the morning by making heart shaped pancakes, then make Valentine's day cards & cookies for Mila's grandparents. I let her decorate the cookies anyway she wants and she has the best time. Last year we announced that I was pregnant with a couple of valentine's day themed pictures & cupcakes. This year I get to take pictures of Mila & Bella together! I'm so excited.

I never really cared too much about Valentine's day until I had Mila, now that she's older I love how excited she gets about all of the holiday's because they love to celebrate and have parties. I can't wait until she has little class parties. (Will I regret saying that later on? lol) 

Can you tell I was totally feeling myself here? 🔥This is probably one of the first time's since I had Bella that I felt like myself. I loved everything about this look, and it made me decide that I probably need to wear red lipstick more often! My red lipstick is from Vive Cosmetics, in the shade Amor Eterno, a latina owned cosmetics company I love supporting. Their makeup products are honestly amazing, and the Que Matte liquid lipstick is beso proof 😘

Get the look!

Sweatshirt | Jeans | Earrings

My shoes are from JustFab, a cool monthly subscription with access to the cutest shoes! I love it because you can skip the months you don't feel like getting shoes. It makes it super easy to spice up your wardrobe. I have personally used the service for about 1 year & love it! I stopped it when I got pregnant and decided to put that money aside for the baby, but now I'm excited to start it back up again. 

What are some of your family's Valentine's day traditions? 

Shop some of my fav's for V-Day! 💋