This post is sponsored by our friends at Baby Dove. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I started to write this post I wanted to share all the ways we were prepping for the arrival of our second. And because life never goes quite as planned, he made his arrival before I finished. We’re home and settling into our new life as a family of four and while he naps away I finally have a few minutes to share my thoughts on preparing for real life with two.

Our first born turned five today! I spent so much time wondering if and when we should have another child. My husband and I talked about it again and again. On one hand we thought maybe it would be best to have two close in age so they would have each other to play with. On the other hand I worried that I would be so overwhelmed with two small children I wouldn’t be the best mom I could be.So, we waited, and as our son got older we got busier and our wondering over the topic kinda got put on hold.

In March we found out we were expecting and it was such a sweet surprise! We weren’t planning on having another baby, but we weren’t not planning either. I twas just something we decided would be if it were meant to be. And now that he is here I couldn’t be more happy and it couldn’t be more perfect.

The reality is that there is no perfect time to have a baby, whether it’s your first, second or fifth! There’s no perfect plan that will prepare you for welcoming a newborn, and that’s ok! Because the beauty of motherhood is that every experience is unique and you are innately prepared for it.

The first few days of bringing a baby home are wonderful and wildly chaotic no matter how well you prepare. It’s a crazy, messy, beautiful time and all mamas deserve to feel loved and supported. The best way to prepare for bringing home a new baby is to give yourself time to feel all the feels. Let go of the pressure to have picture-perfect moments and soak in the sweet simplicity of something so real and beautiful it needs no filter. Let the laundry pile up and give yourself all the grace you need.

Now that our little love is home my only plans for the next few weeks are to snuggle up with him and celebrate all the mini milestones. Those first smiles, sweet baby kisses, first bath and bedtime stories with both my boys.  

A sweet friend gave us a basket full of baby must-haves that will take us from bath time to bedtime. We started using them with my son and I love that they are soft and gentle, and they smell amazing. Baby Dove cleansers and lotions are made with 100%skin-natural nutrients so they are ultra-gentle for delicate baby skin.

I use Baby Dove Rich Moisture Tip to Toe Wash for bath time to help replenish essential moisture and nutrients.

Did you know that during a single bath, baby’s skin can lose moisture up to five times faster than an adult’s? All Baby Dove products are dermatologist and pediatrician tested, hypoallergenic and created with no dyes, no parabens, and no phthalates. So I don’t have to worry about it irritating my son’s sensitive skin or our newborn’s delicate parts.

After bath we moisturize with BabyDove Rich Moisture Baby Lotion. It’s made with 100% skin-natural nutrients and gentle moisturizers for 24 hours of moisture. I love that it soothes dry skin from first use and it leaves baby’s skin feeling soft and delicately scented.

There’s no right or best way to parent. You’ll know what’s best for your child and your family as you go.

Try Baby Dove’s products for yourself and get a coupon here for savings on your next purchase, and don’t forget to check out their adorable new video.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Baby Dove.