Blog | Mom Needs Merlot

Oct 7, 2020
2 min

Colton's First Haircut! 5-Month-Old's Before and After Transformation (PICS + VIDEO)

Never had I ever seen an infant more in need of a haircut. When I was 37 weeks pregnant, the ultrasound tech at my OB's office remarked to me - "Oh, wow. He's got long hair!" There it was, right on the screen, floating freely in a peaceful pool of amniotic fluid. After he was born, I could count on the first two things out of anyone's mouth, without fail: "That HAIR!" and "Those LIPS!" My boy, how precious you are! WATCH: The Birth Story of Colton Dean One of the first things

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'9 Months to Put It On, 9 Months to Get It Off': Postpartum Update

Sophie Schillaci

May 14, 2019
4 min

'9 Months to Put It On, 9 Months to Get It Off': Postpartum Update

9 Months Postpartum: Despite what the magazine covers tell you, there's no real quick fix for "bouncing back after baby." The advice I'd heard often was, "It takes nine months to put it on, and it will take nine months to get it off." In my experience, I have found this to be relatively true, although circumstances -- from breastfeeding to diet, exercise and resources -- are different for every mom. Everly will be nine months old on May 16. As the date approaches, I'm feeling

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Sophie Schillaci

Apr 24, 2019
1 min

How To Dress an Awkward Baby Bump

Burrito baby or Baby-baby? That is the first (and often second) trimester question. You've made it through the morning sickness, and you've clued in all your nearest and dearest... but if you're anything like me, it'll be a while before your adorable, round bump is fully on display. Cue the fashion crisis. Especially when you've got somewhere important to be. True story: My pants stopped fitting comfortably around week 10 of pregnancy. Hair ties around the buttons on my jeans

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The Ultimate Baby Registry: Everything I Love (and Covet) on Amazon

Sophie Schillaci

Apr 17, 2019
6 min

The Ultimate Baby Registry: Everything I Love (and Covet) on Amazon

You're expecting! Congratulations! You're gonna need a lot of s**t. CLICK HERE TO SEE MY ULTIMATE BABY REGISTRY. First thing's first, I cannot recommend an Amazon baby registry highly enough. Not only can you find (almost) everything you'll need, but they offer a completion discount on items that aren't gifted -- which you can use on some of those big ticket, pricey items like high-end strollers -- and they have great perks and freebies as your due date approaches. (I got a d

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Sophie Schillaci

Apr 2, 2019
2 min

Why Don't I Feel Like a "Mom"?

My baby is only a few months old, but I've been going by the name "Mom" for years. When my husband and I brought home our beloved dogs, we quickly became "those people" with the fur babies. (And I regret nothing!) Opie and Sadie are part of our family and I have no doubt that they helped to prepare us for parenthood in many ways. Including, but not limited to, answering to the names "Mom" and "Dad." But when I actually became "Mom" to a beautiful human baby -- the title someh

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What's In My Diaper Bag? 19 Essentials For a Babe About Town

Sophie Schillaci

Mar 7, 2019
3 min

What's In My Diaper Bag? 19 Essentials For a Babe About Town

You've got a milk bottle for baby and a water bottle for you -- but what else do you really need? These are the things that Everly and I never leave home without. (FYI: I'm wearing Skip Hop's Chelsea Downtown Chic Diaper Backpack... because if there's one word I'd use to describe changing poopy diapers, it's chic. But in all seriousness, I highly recommend a backpack over a shoulder bag and this one has handy straps that can connect right to your stroller handlebar. Cute and

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Giving Birth? Here's What You Need to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

Sophie Schillaci

Jan 10, 2019
3 min

Giving Birth? Here's What You Need to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

Unless you're having a scheduled C-section, packing for the hospital is hard. You'll want to have your bases covered for wherever your birthing journey takes you, but fear not! There are a few staples that will have you totally covered during those first few days with your sweet new baby. A Lightweight Robe You don't need anything extravagant, but you may want to upgrade considering this robe will likely be your best friend for a few weeks (or months) after delivery. I found

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Everly's Pink and Grey Nursery Reveal: See All the Special Details!

Sophie Schillaci

Dec 20, 2018
4 min

Everly's Pink and Grey Nursery Reveal: See All the Special Details!

When I was pregnant, we bought our first house. A fixer-upper, no less. My husband and I drove ourselves crazy getting as many projects completed as possible before baby girl arrived, but her nursery, luckily, was a piece of cake. Once we had furniture, I loved to waddle myself into that sweet room and plop down for a nap with our pups. Something about those gray walls were so soothing, along with the simplicity of the space. Though it's filled with more stuff these days, it'

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UPDATED: Traveling With Baby (Without the Headache) - Top Tips for Air Travel

Sophie Schillaci

Dec 13, 2018
6 min

UPDATED: Traveling With Baby (Without the Headache) - Top Tips for Air Travel

When Everly was two months old, she took her first flight. Not just any flight, but she flew all the way from Los Angeles to New York... ...And I tore my hair out for weeks leading up to that day. What would we carry on? What would we check? How would she handle takeoff and landing? Would she cry the whole way? I can't tell you how your own baby will tolerate air travel, but I can tell you what helped Everly and exactly how we got all that insane amount of baby gear from the

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My Baby Hates the Bottle, Now What?: My Breastfeeding Journey

Sophie Schillaci

Dec 11, 2018
5 min

My Baby Hates the Bottle, Now What?: My Breastfeeding Journey

My boobs have had a long four months. While I was pregnant, I'd often get asked whether I intended to breast feed. In addition to that being a super personal question (which, truth be told, didn't bother me -- but another mama could be rightfully annoyed by it), I just didn't know. "I'd like to breastfeed if I can," I'd answer. "But I'm not putting pressure on myself. We'll see what happens when the time comes." Let me say this for the record: I believe that fed is best. Howe

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My 32-Hour Birth Story -- and the Two Questions Every Pregnant Mom Wants to Ask

Sophie Schillaci

Dec 7, 2018
8 min

My 32-Hour Birth Story -- and the Two Questions Every Pregnant Mom Wants to Ask

In honor of the birth of "Mom Needs Merlot," I'm sharing an unfiltered account of my own birth story. What follows is the real deal -- and, yes, I'll answer those two questions I know you want to ask. Let's take it back to the beginning. My pregnancy with Everly was relatively uneventful and by the book. We had no trouble conceiving, I felt sick during my first trimester, great during my second, and majorly uncomfortable in my third. That final month everyone talks about? Bru

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Sophie Schillaci

Dec 6, 2018
1 min

Mom Needs Merlot...

Merlot, Malbec, Chardonnay or Champagne - I love it all. And while a high quality vino is one of my favorite things, hearing my baby’s giggles is truly THE best kind of buzz. (But sometimes you just need a wine buzz, too.) I’m a new mama to baby girl Everly and already I’ve seen how our journeys through motherhood can be wildly, beautifully different. I'm incredibly grateful to the tribe of mothers both IRL and on Insta that have offered support, words of encouragement and ad

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