Bathtime

When you’re on your fourth kid in six years, there really aren’t too many things you need. Especially if it’s your fourth daughter! Dottie has all the handmedowns she could ever need! One thing we ditched right after Edith, however, was the clunky, giant, plastic baby bathtub. It was huge, and a pain to use because I had to bend over the bathtub which meant I ended up with a backache and soaked by the end. So when I discovered the Summer Infant® Clean Rinse™ Baby Bather that grows with baby from birth until sitting. This bather can be used on the counter, in the sink, or in the tub. It features a 3-position recline and folds flat for storage: meaning it’s not a giant nuisance! I have found that bathing on the countertop is so much more convenient. Especially after have a cesarean when it’s far to painful to bend. The bather is designed to allow water to flow easily into the sink and keep countertop dry.

As for Dorothie’s review, she loves it! She is starting to coo and kick and smile during baths. I’m pretty sure she makes extra big messes just so she can have a bath!

The bath was provided by Summer Infant, however all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Tips for Better Photography & a Cohesive Instagram Feed.

I am so excited to be a guest blogger in the Mom Blog Collective! To be honest, I feel like quite the small fry in the company of some fantastic women that I have looked up to and secretly admired for a LONG time. To call them peers and to partner together this week is such a fun dream come true! And if you are wondering what the Mom Blog Collective is, I’ve got your back. It’s a group of amazing and inspiring Mamas who will all answer the same set of questions regarding blogging, Instagram, photography, sponsored posts, and balancing it all with motherhood and more. You can also search the #themomblogcollective on Instagram to see more posts from these talented ladies.

Now, I mentioned the small fry thing. I LOVE Instagram. It’s a small micro blog that holds all my memories beautifully in chronological order. But I wouldn’t call myself a “blogger”. I started a blog the day I found out I was pregnant with my oldest daughter Vivienne. That was over 6 years ago! I began my blog as a way to connect with family that lived a bit too far away and as a place to document memories. Fast forward six years and three daughters, and my blog is still that. I am not the most faithful blogger (um hello! My last blog post was in 2016!). I certainly don’t have all the answers. And most of the time I am winging it with a latte in hand and a toddler or two on my lap. So with that disclaimer… here is my Hopefeathers Wisdom:

What do you use to take your photos? iPhone? DSLR? Any fave photo equipment or cameras?
I have been a wedding and portrait photographer for almost 8 years. So naturally I have a camera bag (or three) filled with lenses and camera bodies and other photography must have gadgets. And yet, even with all that stash, I always go back to my favorites: Canon 5d Mark ii usually paired with my Canon 50mm f1.2 or my Canon 24-70mm f2.8 lenses. I also recently got a GoPro and had some fun this summer dabbling in underwater photography. When I first started Instagram, I used 100% iPhone photos and 100% crazy vintage filters with frames. Now the pendulum has swung, and I currently post about 85% photos from my “big camera”. My editing process has changed a bit from those heavily filtered days.

What apps do you use and your editing process?
I spend most evenings after the girls are in bed editing photos for my wedding and portrait clients. So it’s not hard to upload a CF card each night of photos from the girls as well. I upload straight to Lightroom and I do minor adjustments like white balance and exposure. Occasionally, I will use my VSCO presents to add that special something. Mostly, I prefer my photos to be colorful, bright, and clear and try to shoot that way SOOC (straight out of camera). Then, I add the photos to the cloud which connects to my phone so I have them on retainer to post when I am ready. I try to keep everything organized, so each mini session I do of the girls goes into it’s own specific album titled by the special event or collaboration. It makes it easier to find later.

What photos of yours tend to do well? What do your followers really respond to?
This is a tough one because to be honest most days I feel like I have no idea what will be a successful Instagram post. It’s kinda a shot in the dark. I will say, however, that a triple sister shot or a photo with our puppy tends to do well. Maybe it’s the fact that all moms agree that the more kids you have, the harder it is to “nail the shot” of them all. That being said, I have a couple tips for accomplishing this feat:

1) Don’t worry about smiles. If you line them all up and expect gorgeous smiles from them all, you will quickly turn into a fire breathing dragon mama whispering empty threats to force compliance. Trust me. So instead, let them be candid! If that means shooting a photo from behind so you don’t see their cranky faces, SO BE IT!

2) Give them a prop or activity. My girls will gladly let me take photos of them when they are crafting, playing, and creating chaos. And some props just make the photo even cuter! Like playing at a playground, coloring, or enjoying an ice cream cone or lollipop. Which, of course leads me to my next tip:

3) I am all about bribes. We have a jar of chocolate chips in our kitchen specifically used for photoshoots. And for Mommy. Enough said.

4) Prepare to be a dork. Like for real. The bigger a dork I become, the bigger the smiles the girls give. I tell a TON of potty jokes, make strange noises and chase them for tickle fights. And it works! For now. I’m sure this strategy may need to be altered as the girls become Tweens! Yikes!

5) My last tip is to stay calm. Kiddos can smell stress. I swear the girls can tell when I have a “high pressure” photo shoot required for a collaboration or whatever because they loose their minds and I do to. We all just need to calm down! Worst case scenario, it’s not perfect. And is that really all that bad? None of us are perfect… so our Instagram feeds shouldn’t be either!

Be true to who you are. Don’t copy others photos, but feel free to be inspired by the amazing community on the fun little app. And most of all, HAVE FUN! That's why we all joined Instagram in the first place, right?

Speaking of fun, I totally suggest that you check out the other Mamas in #themomblogcollective linked bellow.

@helloerinv - http://helloerin.com/

@mrsseacannon - http://mrsseacannon.com/

@steph__pollock - http://www.koleimpressions.com/blog/

@cultivatemotherhood - http://cultivatemotherhood.com/

@blessednestblog - http://www.a-blessed-nest.com/

@darlingnightingale - http://darlingnightingale.com/

@_ashley_noel_ - http://www.ashleynoel.life/

@britthavens - http://britthavens.com/

@thelovedesignedlife - https://thelovedesignedlife.com/

@hollynbaron - http://psimfromthemidwest.com/

@hellobabybrown - http://www.hellobabybrown.com/

@occasionally_perfect - http://www.occasionallyperfectstyle.com/

Native Wilds Nest

Edith is our third little girl in three years. She is surely set in the clothes department (although I have sneaked in a few sweet outfits here and there). So when it comes to baby products, there aren't too many things we needed this time around. However, as an "experienced mom", I now feel like I know the things I actually will need vs. the things that are unnecessary. The things that make having lots of littles easier vs. the things that spend more time in storage under our bed than in use (aka our giant plastic baby bath tub). I'm going to be sharing this "wisdom" with you as I find these products.

I love products with multiple uses. Products that are beautiful as well as practical. So when I came across the Native Wilds Nest, I was intrigued! I exclusively nursed my first two daughters and plan to do the same with Edith. I love breastfeeding! The snuggles, the comfort, the unique bond between Mama and Baby. It's heaven! Feeding a squirmy baby in public? Not so heavenly. Feeding a squirmy baby in public with your two and three year olds running around causing a ruckus... it's torture! I used to have a few of those nursing capes with the gaping neck. I nursed my babies in fear that a squishy little arm would grasp the flimsy fabric and pull it down or aside and expose me. The Nest is a multi-functional nursing cover, infinity scarf, car seat canopy and shopping cart cover. Because it wraps all the way around, I love the peace of mind that comes from nursing Edie under the nest. According the website, the nests are hyper-allergenic, temperature regulating, breathable, lightweight, silky soft, and have a high UV protection factor. Edith is constantly grasping the fabric. I think she is soothed by the way it feels in her hands.

We seriously use the nest daily. Whether it be for nursing while on the go, to protect our little babe from the germs of curious strangers, from the snow, and cold of winter, or as a cozy soft swaddle for a little nap. It seems like a little thing, but we LOVE it! It goes with us everywhere!