Yesterday morning we had no plans for our weekend. Yesterday morning we had no plans for our weekend. But somehow we woke up in Savannah, GA this morning 🌅 The 4 of us piled into a one-bed hotel room (pretty much like real life 🙄) and Josh and I hung out in the lobby while the kids slept. This morning we explored down by the river and then headed up to Hilton Head since we'd never been. Then by 3 pm, we were headed home again! Love having people who will go on 24 hour adventures with me 🔥
• To be stronger • To feel better • To trai • To be stronger
• To feel better 
• To train my mind to know that hard things are good things
• To set an example 
• For longevity
• To get out of the house 
• To start the day on the right foot
• To listen to good music for a little while
• To have productive alone time

I just wanted to list a few "Why"s in case you were having a hard time finding yours today. Goodness knows I struggle some days but usually one of these pulls through for me ❤️

@nakd.sport
It might be a couple years later, but we're doing It might be a couple years later, but we're doing the same old stuff still today ☺️❤️
My Valentines 💘 #happyvalentinesday❤️ My Valentines 💘

#happyvalentinesday❤️
How many kids did you say you wanted growing up an How many kids did you say you wanted growing up and how many do you have (or hope for) now? Growing up I used to say I wanted 6 kids 😭💀💀 Love these babes but let's just say I have a new perspective these days 😂
The best sandles are the ones you can paint your n The best sandles are the ones you can paint your nails in 5 minutes after you should have already left 😂💅

@naotfootwear is one of my favorite all time brands for many reasons, but one of the best is the fact that when you purchase any shoe from naot.com, the order is fulfilled by the closest independent retailer to you. How genius is that?? #shopsmall #naottogether #naotic
Ok well by the time I'm posting this our snow has Ok well by the time I'm posting this our snow has already melted but the kids woke up to the best surprise today! ❄️❄️
Healthy habits > motivation Yeh? This seamless se Healthy habits > motivation
Yeh?

This seamless set that moves everywhere you do is called The Braden by @nakd.sport 🖤
#ad I love to pack @lifeseasons Clinical Immunity #ad I love to pack @lifeseasons Clinical Immunity Elderberry Drink powder mix in my bag to have on the go. The elderberry drink has vitamin C, vitamin d, and zinc plus the power of 300 elderberries to help increase my immune cell production and activation. PSSST - it also is amazingly soothing as a hot drink in the evening to boost my immune system before going to sleep and allowing my body to recover overnight. Hit the link in my stories to grab a pack of @lifeseasons Clinical Immunity Elderberry Drink and gummies! Use code CHELSEA for 15% off!

#clinicalimmunity 
#lifeseasonspartner
@lifeseasons
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Baby, Family, Kids, Motherhood, travel · September 2, 2017

My Favorite Bottle for Picky, Breastfed Babies and How to Bring Breast Milk on a Plane!

Some babies will take whatever you put in their mouths, some babies are picky. This is our story of how our breastfed baby rejected every bottle we gave her until we tried this one…

Hey mamas!

Some babies will take whatever you put in their mouths, some babies are picky. This is our story of how our breastfed baby rejected every bottle we gave her until we tried this one…

Our story begins:

You may or may not know that 2017 has been a crazy (exciting) year for us! First off, we had our baby girl, Evy in the Spring. A couple months later, we finally (after 7 years) said that we were moving to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to my husband’s family. That’s something we ALWAYS said we would do, but the timing was never right until now. So leading up to our planned departure date of August 7th, we were selling our stuff, dropping our stuff off at Goodwill, or just giving it away to friends. We packed everything we owned into a Honda Pilot with 275,000 miles on it and a little box trailer. This one, to be exact.

Anyway, we were NOT about to go on a 40+ hour drive with a 2-year-old and 4 month old. So, back at the beginning of the summer, our wonderful families volunteered to help pack us up and then fly to WA with the kids so Josh and I could make it to WA with our sanity still intact.

I love road trips, so I was so excited to be able to spend time alone with the hubs, if only for the reason that we could have an entire conversation without being asked if we had snacks. There was just one problem.

Evy, being only 4 months, was still exclusively breastfeeding. I exclusively breastfed David and really wanted to do the same for Ev girl. Luckily (ha!) I was super engorged when she was a newborn and I pumped SO MUCH MILK in order to try to get some relief which gave me more than enough of a supply to keep her fed for the 4-5 days we planned to be away from the kiddos. Talk about a blessing in disguise.

“So what was the problem?” you’re asking? Evy never took a bottle. I had tried. And failed miserably. I used the bottles that her brother had loved when he was an infant (I went back to work full time when he was just 8 weeks) but she would just spit them out and cry. Even when she was super hungry.

So I figured I’d just grab some bottled that were advertised for newborns.

Waste of money, she hated them.

Then I bought a variety pack of various nipples for young babies.

Tried every single one. She hated them. And probably hated me a little at this point.

I was starting to freak out a little, wondering if I should just buy myself a plane ticket to fly out with the rest of my family so Ev could be fed. Our moms were starting to get nervous about it as well as the date was getting closer and closer.

The thing is, when I looked at the bottle nipples I had been using, I knew exactly what the problem was. The nipples I had been trying to use were not at all shaped like the ones Evy was used to (ahem, mine). I could tell that my own breast would flatten out in her mouth as she ate, but the rubber used on the bottle nipples I had been trying was too… strong? And it wouldn’t flatten out in her mouth. Hence why she would gag and spit the bottles out of her mouth.

I started a new search. There HAD to be a bottle out there that was more “breast-like.” And I mean, really breast-like. Not just with those words printed on the outside of a box. So I searched harder and longer until I somehow came to a review on Amazon. The reviewer mentioned several types of baby bottles but said that only one worked for her very picky baby. I clicked the link and lo and behold, there it was.

This bottle was exactly what I was imagining in my head a bottle nipple should look like. Triangular and would flatten some in a baby’s mouth without collapsing.

I give you: The Lansinoh mOmma Breastmilk Feeding Bottle with NaturalWave Nipple

Check out that nipple:

It was perfect. Just the right size for a single feeding as to not waste thawed milk. From what I could tell just by looking at the picture online, it looked like Ev wouldn’t gag on it because of the way the base of the nipple flared out (so breast- like. CRAZY).

Anyway. I bought a box. When they came, I pumped some milk and put it in the bottle. Ev drank it no problem. Like there was never any struggle or pickiness to begin with. She ate the entire bottle and fell asleep.

O.M.G.

I texted our moms and they were overjoyed and relieved. The rest is history. The plane ride went great and Ev didn’t starve while we enjoyed our road trip.

If you’re wondering how our moms handled the breast milk/bottle feeding on the plane, here’s the rundown on that:

We had your basic, small to medium-sized Coleman cooler. We packed all the milk (it was 3 gallon-size bags filled with smaller breast milk bags) and several ice packs. They took out a few of the breast milk bags for the flight itself and kept them frozen in an insulated lunch bag like this adorable one and checked the cooler at the gate. Once on the plane, they asked a flight attendant to heat up the milk for them one bag at a time as they needed it. (Side note, don’t microwave breastmilk. Still not 100% sure why it’s bad but that’s what everyone says so I’m repeating it). The best way to heat the milk evenly is in hot water, so the flight attendant put hot water in a *clean* barf bag and they dipped the frozen milk in that until it was thawed. There might have been a better way to do that but that’s the story I got after they landed and what worked for them. The rest of the milk stayed frozen solid in the cooler until they arrived home from the airport (6 hour flight, waited 1 hour on the tarmac, 2 hour layover, 1 hour drive home from the airport- give or take). #ftw!

Seriously, though, The Lansinoh mOmma Breastmilk Feeding Bottle with NaturalWave Nipple was worth every penny (FYI, a 3-pack is only $16). We still use them when I need to run out of the house and my MIL watches the baby. I would recommend these to every mom ever.

So mamas, what are your favorite bottles for breastfed babies? Have you ever had to go the distance (literally) with breastmilk? Share your story below and help a mama who might need it someday!

So, to prepare for our long road trip, I’ve been doing some research and compiling a list of things and tips that will help us actually enjoy the drive and not go insane. Here’s that list:

Some babies will take whatever you put in their mouths, some babies are picky. This is our story of how our breastfed baby rejected every bottle we gave her until we tried this one…

This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you purchase through my link, I get a cut of the sale, but prices are exactly the same for you. Thanks in advance for the support! Of course, I only post products that I truly believe in and/or use myself.

In: Baby, Family, Kids, Motherhood, travel · Tagged: airport, baby, best, bottle, bottle nipple, breasfeed, breast, breastfed, cooler, eat, favorite, frozen, infant, lansinoh, milk, newborn, picky, plane, pump, travel

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Hi! I'm Chelsea and we're the Damon's. We spent the last two years in WA state paying off student loans and just bought our first house in SC! I love a smooth black coffee, Josh's first love is the Seattle Sounders. Our kids are huge dorks and constantly make us laugh and we all love spending as much time outside as possible.

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Yesterday morning we had no plans for our weekend. Yesterday morning we had no plans for our weekend. But somehow we woke up in Savannah, GA this morning 🌅 The 4 of us piled into a one-bed hotel room (pretty much like real life 🙄) and Josh and I hung out in the lobby while the kids slept. This morning we explored down by the river and then headed up to Hilton Head since we'd never been. Then by 3 pm, we were headed home again! Love having people who will go on 24 hour adventures with me 🔥
• To be stronger • To feel better • To trai • To be stronger
• To feel better 
• To train my mind to know that hard things are good things
• To set an example 
• For longevity
• To get out of the house 
• To start the day on the right foot
• To listen to good music for a little while
• To have productive alone time

I just wanted to list a few "Why"s in case you were having a hard time finding yours today. Goodness knows I struggle some days but usually one of these pulls through for me ❤️

@nakd.sport
It might be a couple years later, but we're doing It might be a couple years later, but we're doing the same old stuff still today ☺️❤️
My Valentines 💘 #happyvalentinesday❤️ My Valentines 💘

#happyvalentinesday❤️

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  • So I know the title of this post says, “What men want most in a wife,” but to be more realistic, this is about what men need most in a wife. Like men, there are a lot of things that we (women) would really like in a husband. Like, it’d be a huge plus if he looked like Chris Hemsworth. But that’s not really what we need in order to have a positive relationship with our spouse. If we married him, we probably think he’s pretty cute, anyway. Take a look at these 5 things a man really needs in a wife, and if you can think of anything else, share your thoughts in the comments below! 5 Things men want most in a wife
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  • Disrespect in marriage can go both ways. Women can react to disrespect from their husbands in many ways. I'm here to share a few positive ways women can react to disrespect in their marriages in order to handle it well and steer their marriage in the direction of grace and kindness again. How to Handle Disrespect in Marriage
  • Sure, they say don’t go to bed while you’re still angry, but sometimes husbands and wives just need some space! That being said, there are healthy ways and unhealthy ways (productive and hurtful, if you will) to get space away from a spouse. Let’s talk about those. The Right and Wrong Way To Give Your Spouse Space

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Yesterday morning we had no plans for our weekend. Yesterday morning we had no plans for our weekend. But somehow we woke up in Savannah, GA this morning 🌅 The 4 of us piled into a one-bed hotel room (pretty much like real life 🙄) and Josh and I hung out in the lobby while the kids slept. This morning we explored down by the river and then headed up to Hilton Head since we'd never been. Then by 3 pm, we were headed home again! Love having people who will go on 24 hour adventures with me 🔥
• To be stronger • To feel better • To trai • To be stronger
• To feel better 
• To train my mind to know that hard things are good things
• To set an example 
• For longevity
• To get out of the house 
• To start the day on the right foot
• To listen to good music for a little while
• To have productive alone time

I just wanted to list a few "Why"s in case you were having a hard time finding yours today. Goodness knows I struggle some days but usually one of these pulls through for me ❤️

@nakd.sport
It might be a couple years later, but we're doing It might be a couple years later, but we're doing the same old stuff still today ☺️❤️
My Valentines 💘 #happyvalentinesday❤️ My Valentines 💘

#happyvalentinesday❤️
How many kids did you say you wanted growing up an How many kids did you say you wanted growing up and how many do you have (or hope for) now? Growing up I used to say I wanted 6 kids 😭💀💀 Love these babes but let's just say I have a new perspective these days 😂
The best sandles are the ones you can paint your n The best sandles are the ones you can paint your nails in 5 minutes after you should have already left 😂💅

@naotfootwear is one of my favorite all time brands for many reasons, but one of the best is the fact that when you purchase any shoe from naot.com, the order is fulfilled by the closest independent retailer to you. How genius is that?? #shopsmall #naottogether #naotic
Ok well by the time I'm posting this our snow has Ok well by the time I'm posting this our snow has already melted but the kids woke up to the best surprise today! ❄️❄️
Healthy habits > motivation Yeh? This seamless se Healthy habits > motivation
Yeh?

This seamless set that moves everywhere you do is called The Braden by @nakd.sport 🖤
#ad I love to pack @lifeseasons Clinical Immunity #ad I love to pack @lifeseasons Clinical Immunity Elderberry Drink powder mix in my bag to have on the go. The elderberry drink has vitamin C, vitamin d, and zinc plus the power of 300 elderberries to help increase my immune cell production and activation. PSSST - it also is amazingly soothing as a hot drink in the evening to boost my immune system before going to sleep and allowing my body to recover overnight. Hit the link in my stories to grab a pack of @lifeseasons Clinical Immunity Elderberry Drink and gummies! Use code CHELSEA for 15% off!

#clinicalimmunity 
#lifeseasonspartner
@lifeseasons
I’ve talked about this before but never to its f I’ve talked about this before but never to its full extent. 

6ish years ago I was working full-time as a doctor’s assistant and coming home to an 8-month-old baby while Josh worked 12-hour shifts until midnight. I was so busy that I felt like I was losing my sense of identity. 

That year I decided to start my blog. I kept it a secret for a while because I was embarrassed. I didn’t want anyone to think, “Who does she think she is? We’ve known her for years and she thinks she has something to say??”

But - I loved it! I wrote posts on everything! Random pizza recipes, how my run went that day, marriage, motherhood - I had absolutely no direction. But, I started sharing my blog and got a bunch of great feedback on my marriage and family posts. So, I decided to focus on that because that was, afterall, my favorite thing to write about anyway.

A few months later, I started pinning my posts on Pinterest and educating myself on what it meant to blog well, set up posts for good SEO, how to engage an audience, etc. I had a couple posts go viral on Pinterest and for a few months I had over 350,000 views on my blog/month.

Way late in the game, I started posting to Instagram in 2017. By then we had 2 babies and I had been working with brands for a while so I was able to quit my (at the time) part-time job to stay home with them which I was stoked about! 

Later that year, we packed up our stuff and moved to WA. The original plan was for Josh to find work and for me to continue blogging & be a SAHM. But, after several months later and finding it much harder for Josh to find work than we anticipated, I told him, "Hey, don't feel bad, I don't want you to feel pressure. I will look for work to take some of the pressure off."

So, I started applying for jobs in social media and content marketing. About a month into my search I made a profile on a job-matching platform called @scouted.io. A couple weeks later, I got an email from someone at Scouted saying that they were looking for someone to help with their content and they wanted to have a conversation. 

** Continued in comments **

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