Are you getting a new breast pump and unsure which one you should get? Here’s a complete review of the new Medela Pump in Style with Max Flow, including the pros and cons, and what else to consider. After weeks of using the Medela Pump in Style With Max Flow, I can safely share my thoughts about this breast pump. Short story, I love it! I had an older Medela model with Rowan (they don’t even make it anymore) and liked that one, but this is vastly better. I’m exclusively breastfeeding, I do pump once a day, trying to build […]

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We are nearing the end! There are just a couple of weeks left unless this baby comes. I also have a c-section scheduled for a backup just in case, because Rowan was a c-section baby. I’m hoping for a vaginal birth this time though, the recovery should be easier and less tolling on my body than a c-section. Overall, I’m feeling ok, just tired and starting to the heaviness of the bump. Plus making a conscious reminder to try to relax and not take on too much. But enjoy this downtime before the new baby comes… as much as I […]

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Having maternity photos to look back on has also reminded me of how strong I am—as a woman and as a mother. I can appreciate just how amazing the human body is and the things that it is capable of doing. I had my friend Ana take my photos at home, just like with Rowan. Documenting both pregnancies was important to me, photos to look back on in the future together with them. I have to give a big thank you to Ana! Check out her Instagram to see her other work, she’s based in Vancouver.

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My hospital bags are OFFICIALLY packed and I am feeling relieved! I wanted to be packed before the last four weeks of pregnancy and I did it. I even packed Rowan’s little bag to go to my mom’s when I go into labour. I trimmed down what I’m taking this time — not nearly as much postpartum stuff (since the hospital had everything I needed for the baby and me) and not as much for labour either. The first bag will be my bag with all my essentials. The second bag (baby + husband) with a spare pillow, blanket, snacks, […]

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This past weekend, I celebrated this baby with my friends and family! My mom and sister hosted the shower, which we had at the H Tasting Lounge in Vancouver for their Winnie the Pooh-themed afternoon tea. It was the perfect venue and way to celebrate. What was perfect about this shower, was the fact that my mom and sister didn’t have to worry too much about decor. The tea had all these fun props like a honey jar, red balloon, cotton candy trees, Ferris wheels for the afternoon tea bites and the lounge itself was beautiful. Every delectable sweet and […]

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6 Weeks to go! Wow, in just a few weeks we will meet this little person growing inside of my belly. I’m trying to just enjoy the next month and a bit. We’ve been nesting like crazy, finishing up little projects like resanding and staining our coffee table, painting the closet, washing all the baby clothes I kept and putting those away, and just organizing the apartment, making room for another human in here. Let me tell you, not as easy when you have to get two kids into a bedroom (still love Rowan’s bedroom!) at different ages. Thankfully a […]

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The past 29 weeks have flown by! I’m in my 29th week of this pregnancy, in my 7th month!! NOT READY LOL Let’s see where we left off. We went on our babymoon and will share a babymoon guide on this later in the week (hopefully!), but we ended up going to Oahu, Hawaii. It was perfect, we relaxed, rented a car drove around the island, and ate well for the week. Rowan stayed with my parents and had her mini holiday haha. I just had my gestational diabetes test and this time didn’t pass! It was the longest 2 […]

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You read that right, we are expecting baby number 2 this April! Everyone is pretty excited over here, especially Rowan! She’s constantly asking about the baby, reading to it, planning where it’s going to sleep in her room, does it have coats, you know all the normal questions toddlers ask. I’m in my second trimester and wow, that first one was over 2 months of nausea. Pretty glad I’m now over it and feeling more energized to get back to work. It’s still a hit or miss when I drink coffee, some days I’m fine, and some days I feel […]

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Congrats! You’ve made it past the pregnancy stage and have successfully created a new human. Now what? If the idea of raising a kid without some guidance seems daunting, these parenting books will get you through the finish line. Because no one starts out with perfect knowledge of everything that goes into parenting, so you’re going to have a blind spot or two at some point. I believe that if you’re going to invest your time and money in reading a parenting book, it should leave you feeling better than you did before. It shouldn’t leave you feeling terrible or […]

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How did a month pass by already?! We’ve been in this little bubble at home, besides being in a loose quarantine due to Covid-19, it’s been non-stop feeding, diaper changing, sleeping and it all starts up again. I guess that’s how days pass by like a flash! It’s only been a month, and Rowan is still such a newborn, but she’s growing so fast! Already surpassed her birth weight of 6lbs and 15oz within a week at home and I’m pretty sure by now she is around 10lbs. She’s also extremely long haha so I will definitely be the short […]

The post Rowan’s First Month appeared first on A Life Well Consumed by Leslie Rossi.

On March 25, my life changed forever when Rowan was born. 

I’m finally happy to introduce you to Rowan Blair Rossi-Murray, we’ve been home for a month, and honestly, I’m lucky if I shower before noon some days. Hence the delay in getting this written up for you! She was born 5:37 AM on March 25, 2020, weighing in at 6lbs 15 oz. Don’t ask me where we got the name Rowan from, but her middle name Blair is after Curtis’s dad who passed away two years ago. 

Since we are in a pandemic, weird times! we didn’t get to […]

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I’m beyond excited to share a few photos from my maternity shoot I did at home with my friend Ana Douglas! It’s so nice when you have talented friends, also more comfortable getting into my underwear with a friend than a stranger haha. I wanted a pretty look, and ordered a boho style robe from Amazon, and picked up this beautiful plum robe from Nordstrom that I will wear all year round at home. We also lucked out it was a nice day outside and not a gloomy, rainy day in Vancouver. I’m happy I did this, I have beautiful […]

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Here we are, in my 39th week of this pregnancy! March 17 is my due date and it’s only a handful of days away. I will love looking back on these updates, it’s sort of a diary you could say. I would say we both feel pretty ready for the baby, the nursery is all set-up, hospital bags have been packed for weeks, the apartment has been deep-cleaned (we do a big clean weekly anyways), freezer is stocked, the pantry is ready, went to all my pampering appointments and now just being lazy on the couch waiting. Feeling the same, […]

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Let’s talk about the hard parts of pregnancy, the things that most women are scared to admit. First off, there’s a lot of positive stages of pregnancy and it’s all very exciting. But there are so many other pieces that are annoying, frustrating, drive you mental, tough both emotionally and physically, straining on your relationship, and the list can go on. I don’t want this to come off as if I’m complaining about my pregnancy. I had a pretty easy one thankfully and for the most part, have enjoyed it. I just want to be transparent and to share my […]

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I wanted to share this hospital bag guide + checklist with you a month ago as I was starting to pack my hospital bags, & welcome the bambino. But then the last month has gotten away from me and here I am, 38 weeks pregnant and better to get this out now. So today I want to share my essential hospital bag checklist, using this also as a bookmark for our next baby so I don’t overpack again! I have also included a free printable checklist at the bottom – this is great for not only you but giving it […]

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