While babies don't need much, there are a few essentials I love and recommend for the newborn days. From our favorite bassinet and diaper bag to the best swaddles and sound machine. Here's a complete list of the products we couldn't live without.

The daddy of our home doesn’t care too much for “things”. He typically receives clothing or experiences for gifts. This summer, he decided to take some golf lessons & called them his Father’s Day gift.  So while gift giving isn’t that important to him, words of affirmation and acts of service are his love language, so we still love to make him feel special on Father’s Day in creative ways!

Our little ones seem to inundate our home with so much paper. Whether it’s birthday cards or growth charts or handprint art or spelling tests, it’s just nice to have a designated place to keep it all. It’s even better if this place is an organized space (not the junk drawer in your kitchen!). Which is why I decided to create a Childhood Memory Box for each of my boys. The simplicity of this box means no fuss yet lots of organization! As papers come into our home, I simply sort them into the appropriate section of each child’s box. Currently, I keep most everything! As the box grows, I plan to sort through each folder and purge things that aren’t super memorable. I hope this simple filing system helps you take authority over that stack of papers on your countertop once and for all!

A little over a year ago, I decided to switch to better beauty. As I began my research, I was overwhelmed by my lack of knowledge and awareness of the chemicals in our home. I couldn’t dismiss what I had learned, so I immediately began swapping products in our home: cleaning supplies, detergent, skin-care, make-up, etc. My babies inspired my desire to make changes to my skin-care and make-up products. From pregnancy and nursing to hugs and kisses, my babies are directly impacted by these decisions. As I explored my options, Beautycounter was at the top of my list for skin-care and make-up. I loved their mission, knowledge, and was eager to try their most loved products.

Happy Father’s Day to the daddy of our home! We love you and are so thankful for you!

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I’ve had motherhood on my mind. As I read Proverbs 31, I was reminded of my need for Jesus in this journey of motherhood. I’ll never be a good wife, a good woman, or a good mama without him. I’m in desperate need of His grace, His wisdom, and the Holy Spirit.