Monica Lee

The baby book of my dreams

Happy Friday Friends,
I’ve been a little quieter on Instagram stories this week because Hayes and I had our first {bad} cold and
BOY was it rough…
Not only did I feel like absolute crap but seeing Hayes be so uncomfortable was freaking heartbreaking.
BUT we are almost back to feeling ourselves and I can’t thank all of you enough for your prayers and sweet messages!!

I’m talking all about Hayes’s new baby book today and I’ve got a DISCOUNT CODE for y’all!!
Use code “MONICA99” to get this baby book for $99 (originally $120), code is valid through October 12th!
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I remember before Hayes was born, finding “the perfect” baby book was extremely important to me. I absolutely love going through my old baby book and old photos anytime I’m back home at my parents house, and I wanted to make sure Hayes’s baby book was something I was proud of, something that he’d love to look through one day, and something that was unique. I purchased a baby book before Hayes was born but for some reason I just wasn’t in love with it like I was hoping to be. When I’d go to fill in the blanks or add photos I kept finding myself stressed or disappointed because it just wasn’t looking how I wanted it too.

 Well, Recently I came across this baby book called “The Story of You” by Artifact Uprising and I pretty much fell in love as soon as I saw the name of it. It was a more modern take on a baby book and the more I researched it the more I knew I NEEDED it.

As soon as the book arrived in the mail I was SO excited, it even comes with a rose gold pen and some adhesives for your prints!
OH, and the best part?! You can order print sets straight from the Artifact uprising site and they come in a variety of different sizes. You can also choose to have a border (like mine) or no border. I wasn’t aware of this before I ordered my prints but they’re actually not regular prints, they’re this awesome textured card stock paper and the pictures are such good quality!!
Kyle was SO impressed when he saw them and loved the uniqueness and quality of the pictures.

This baby book is typically $120 (worth every penny) but they’re offering all of my followers a special discount code through October 12th and you seriously DO NOT want to miss this deal! I wish I could go through and show you every page BUT I didn’t have time to take that many photos haha BUT I just might hop on instagram stories today and do a little flip through so y’all can see the book in more detail!

Some of the pages have the sweetest quotes that literally bring tears to my eyes, this book is so incredibly well made and is definitely not your “average baby book”. But it still has all the best things that a baby book should have!
Each month has the same three prompts + two unique prompts or questions!
Each month you’ll get to write about the following
“You spent most of this month…”,
“You surprised us when you…”,
“This month we learned…”

I LOVE that this book gives you prompts and it’s not just a list of things you check off.
You can write as much or as little as you want and make it as personal and detailed as you want it to be!


I can’t wait to fill these pages with the sweetest memories – thank you Artifact Uprising for creating just what this mama had always pictured but couldn’t find.

Make sure y’all head over to my Instagram to see a more in depth look at the book!
And if you decide to order don’t forget to use my code.
Love y’all, hope you have the best weekend ever!!

Kissing the last days of Summer goodbye

Thank you JaM Cellars for sponsoring this post. Looking for JaM Cabernet and Butter Chardonnay near you? Check out their easy-to-use Store Locator! Just pop in your zip code and the wines will be waiting!

Well y’all, Fall is officially here! My little fam spent the last week of Summer vacationing in Hawaii and it was SO nice getting away. It was really important to me to spend the last few days of Summer soaking up the sun, soaking in some beautiful scenery and relaxing with some GOOD wine (and my 2 best dudes of course). This past week we stayed at a cute little condo in Kauai that actually sat on a cliff which made for some pretty awesome views, and some really relaxing evenings!

Now, If y’all know me, you KNOW that I’m a huge fan of wine – red, white, rose…you name it, I love it all. Having a picnic in Hawaii near the ocean & on top of a cliff was all my heart wanted and I’m happy to say WE MADE IT HAPPEN. We ordered a pizza from a local pizza place and had the cutest little picnic outside of our condo, and I mean, is a picnic even a picnic without wine?! NOPE. We enjoyed some JaM & Butter from JaM Cellars, which may just be my new “go to” weekly wine order.

JaM Cabernet and Butter Chardonnay both made an appearance at our date night picnic, because sometimes ya just can’t choose between white or red so you gotta go with BOTH. We did a little exploring, a whole lot of sipping and listened to the waves crash into the rocks – talk about #SummerBucketList goals…

All my wine loving ladies LISTEN UP,  I’m obviously no wine connoisseur BUT I do know what I like and what I don’t like and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I took my first sip of JaM Cabernet. It was ridiculously smooth and so delicious, the flavor has just the right amount of fruitiness and if I’m being honest I could totally drink the entire bottle in one sitting…Okay, okay I totally did drink the entire bottle in one sitting because Lord have mercy it was GOOD and mama needed some wine!! Don’t worry I did share some with Kyle, the JaM Cab was both mine and Kyle’s favorite – I typically get sick of the taste of red wine after one or two glasses but JaM Cab is definitely an exception. I’m placing an order for more this evening because Kyle and I are completely obsessed. The Butter Chardonnay was really tasty as well, and SO refreshing, we actually took it to the beach with us one day – it kind of just melts in your mouth which is actually fitting seeing as it’s called “Butter”…and I mean, let’s be real, everything’s better with butter!

Oh, and the best part?! JaM Cellars products are extremely affordable. so If you go through wine QUICKLY, like me, these are perfect for you! Let me know if you end up getting some for yourself, these would also make such a great gift!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

5 Tips on surviving at home with a newborn once your husband goes back to work!

Happy Wednesday Y’all!
I’ve received tons of messages recently asking for tips on how to get through those first few weeks after having a baby especially once your husband goes back to work! I think I may have actually done a post like this when Hayes was a newborn but I figured I’d put another post together for y’all because, well, you can never have enough encouragement as a new mom!

I remember the day Kyle went back to work like it was yesterday…
Before I had Hayes I was SO scared of when that day would come.
Would I be able to handle him by myself? Would I cry all day and beg Kyle to come home? Would I be a good mom? What the heck were we going to do all day?!

Hayes was born on a Sunday morning (3:35AM) and Kyle stayed home with us for that first week, he had planned on taking two weeks off but ended up staying home the week before Hayes was born because our doctor had told us that he could come any minute..and being first time parents we took that VERY seriously and I didn’t want Kyle to leave my side in case I went into labor.

After Hayes was born we had visitors NONSTOP, like for real, it felt like every hour of every day someone new was coming over! Which was honestly, SO awesome… but also really overwhelming and totally exhausting.
I remember being a little excited to have Hayes all to myself and finally see what it would be like, BUT of course also very nervous about it. That Monday morning came quickly and I remember waking up and feeling totally fine, I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be and I felt confident that we’d be just fine. I remember nursing Hayes in bed that morning and Kyle kissing us both goodbye, I was absolutely fine until the front door shut…I immediately burst into tears (HELLO hormones).
I wasn’t scared or nervous, I just missed Kyle already. We had just experienced the most incredible thing together and been side by side nonstop being a team and learning and growing together for two weeks straight. Our relationship grew and strengthened so much that week Hayes was born and gosh I missed Kyle SO much when he left us for work…
(For those of you messaging me about how our marriage has changed since having a baby, I talk about that on this blog post {HERE})

If you’re not a mama yet, but will be soon, you’ll learn VERY quickly that motherhood is full of ups and downs, there are really great days and there are really bad days…BUT even on the really really bad days there are still good moments, and I’ve learned that those moments are what you’ve got to cling onto when you’re about to lose your mind or start to consider selling your baby on instagram. (no joke, I literally told (shouted at) Hayes if he didn’t stop crying I was going to sell him…#momoftheyear)

There will be days where you will feel like superwoman and your child behaves perfectly, you shower and put makeup on, you clean the house and do the laundry, and you feel like you WERE MADE FOR THIS. And then there are other days where your baby won’t stop crying and the house is a mess and your dog won’t stop barking and you stink and haven’t had time to eat and you call and text your husband all day long in tears begging him to come home and help you.
We all have those days, all of us!

Motherhood can be extremely lonely and I know I’ve talked to y’all about this before but there are a few different things I did at the beginning that really helped me get through each day! I remember getting overwhelmed with visitors coming every day and I was honestly totally over it and couldn’t wait for Hayes and I to just have some time to ourselves! But once the visitors stopped coming, I’m not going to lie, I totally felt sad. So if people want to come hold your baby so you can shower, or want to bring you coffee or whatever LET THEM!
Tips for surviving:
#1 GO OUTSIDE – this is so so important. Fresh air is so good and it really does help when you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, sad, tired, you name it…do yourself a favor if you’re a new mom and go on a walk, or sit in your backyard or on your front porch because I’m telling you it is SO much better than being locked inside your house all day.

#2 Get in the car and listen to music – If you have a baby that loves the car and falls asleep as soon as you turn on the engine, TAKE ADVANTAGE of it! Even if you don’t actually go to a store or public place, get in your car and drive around and listen to music or get yourself a milkshake (you deserve it), I swear a car ride with some good music is good for the soul.

#3 Join a facebook group or some kind of community for new moms – If you don’t have friends that are going through the same thing as you or people that can relate to you, you will feel SO ALONE. I was extremely lucky and had a good amount of friends going through the same thing as me or friends that had just gone through the same thing but also having all of you on here and on Instagram to chat with or ask questions was seriously so incredibly helpful.

#4 Start your day with Jesus and coffee. In the beginning when I was extra hormonal and extra exhausted I would always start my mornings with worship music and I swear it would always put me in a better mood and make me feel so grateful no matter how tough our night was. And well, coffee is everything…

#5 Stop putting so much pressure on yourself to have it all together – This may be the most important tip, the absolute worst thing you can do to yourself as a new mom is compare yourself to other moms. Everyones story is different, everyones baby is different. The moms you see on social media with perfectly posed pictures and beautifully decorated spotless houses are a freaking hot mess too they just know how to hide it! Y’all should see the amount of laundry I let pile up each week, its absurd. And don’t even get me started on the dog hair all over E V E R Y T H I N G. I post cute outfits on Instagram pretty often but day to day? I’m wearing the ugliest/most comfortable granny panties with a huge tee shirt, no make up, and dirty hair. So embrace the chaos mamas, we’re all just doing our best, and YOU are doing great and deserve a really nice prize.

For those of you that will become a mama soon or are in that newborn phase, HANG IN THERE!
I promise you it does get easier, and as each month passes your baby will just get cuter and cuter and more fun!
I still learn new things every day but I also feel like I’m really getting the hang of this whole “mom” thing,
and heck I feel pretty proud of myself and YOU should too!
We are 5.5 months in and we are all sleeping through the night (since a few days ago, shout out to Jesus)
Hoping it stays that way, but not counting on it because as soon as we all get an awesome routine going Hayes decides to go through a growth spurt, or developmental leap, or starts teething or SOMETHING and throws us all off.
BUT, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Mom life is the best life.

Raising a good human


There is something about becoming a mom that completely changes you.
Ever since Hayes was born I’m different, in the best possible way.
There really is no way of explaining it, or pinpointing exactly what has changed, but once you become a mama,
you’ll know what I’m talking about.

It is mine and Kyles responsibility to raise Hayes to become a wonderful human being and incredible husband one day. And we don’t take the job lightly!

Hayes is only 5 months old so he’s not learning any major life lessons right now BUT,
as his mom I am constantly praying for him and the man that I hope he becomes.
There is SO much negativity in this world and evil things are ridiculously easy to access these days thanks to technology, which gives me soooo much anxiety.
(please just stay a baby forever Hayes Wyatt)

I was chatting with my mom the other day and she mentioned some friends of hers having
a special bible verse that you pray over your child, a “life verse” and I absolutely fell in love with that idea.
When it came to choosing a verse for Hayes I had SUCH a hard time.
So I’ve decided to change it //add on each year, as he grows into his own little person.

Hayes’s current life verse is Isaiah 26:3
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
I pray every day that Hayes doesn’t get my anxiety, I pray that he trusts in the Lord always.
That he looks to the Lord for wisdom & advice first, before he comes to me or Kyle.

I’m not going to lie, it is NOT every day that I’m able to sit down and spend time with Jesus.
My talks with Jesus are usually short and sporadic throughout the day.
But I wanted to share a few different books with y’all that I HIGHLY recommend!
Whether you sit down for a few minutes every day, or for a few minutes each week, I promise they will fuel you,
make you a better parent, and help you pray for your children!

#1. The Power of a Praying Parent

I can’t recommend this book enough, it is SO SO good and relatable and empowering.
As parents we always want to pray for our children and their future, but with lack of sleep and busy schedules sometimes it’s hard to know where to start or what exactly to pray for…this book is INCREDIBLE and I promise you will be so thankful you ordered it.

#2 Embraced-100 Devotions to know God is holding you close

This devotional is SO good!!! and it’s for anyone!

#3. Treasuring Christ when your hands are full

I haven’t started this one yet but I am SO excited too, and will be keeping y’all updated on how I like it!
I’m pretty positive I’m going to L O V E it because it’s an “encouraging book for frazzled moms”, which um,
HELLO, that’s me.

I know this post is totally random and short and unorganized BUT for some reason I really felt like it needed to go live TODAY.
No clue why, but here we are!
Hope all of you have THE BEST weekend.

FAQ: What are you favorite essential oils to use for Hayes?! ANSWERED.

I have mentioned a few times now that we LOVE essential oils and that I diffuse them and use them on Hayes every single day! A lot of you have been wanting more details on the oils we use and how we use them,
so that’s what todays post is all about!
{link for starter kit is at the bottom of this post!}

I’ve started to become more aware of the dangers of chemically filled products since Hayes was born.
These oils have been a lifesaver for our health AND my peace of mind. We use them for sleep, for occasional tummy aches, for soothing his skin, for calming him down, for boosting his immune system – ALL THE THINGS.
And I mean, just look at that little dude…he’s the happiest & healthiest baby because of it!
We diffuse them, apply them, and you can take them internally too. I can’t recommend this starter kit enough. There’s actually a KILLER sale going on until Friday, where you get a second diffuser for 40% off with the purchase of your starter kit.
The oils that come in the starter kit are MUSTS, I’ll never be without these – for Hayes and for myself!

Hayes will be 5 months old next week and he is teething like crazy,
the drool & the fussiness are on another level and nothing breaks my heart more than knowing he’s in pain.
I recently started using Copaiba and it is a total game changer!!
Here’s a quick summary of how I use the oils that come with the premium starter kit!!
(For Hayes)
Copaiba: Excellent for teething
Stress away: Helps calm nerves and fussiness
Lavender: Helps Hayes sleep better/more soundly – Also smells freaking AMAZING
Raven: For healthy breathing during seasonal changes (I’m pretty positive Hayes got my allergies, sorry dude!!)
DiGize: For happy tummies
Thieves: For a healthy immune system

(For me, all of the above, PLUS..)
Panaway: For muscle soothing & relieving head tension
Peppermint: For first trimester queasiness & healthy digestions (I also LOVE diffusing this)
Citrus Fresh: For clean aromas
Lemon: For cleansing my body and taking off sticky residue (love diffusing this with thieves for a clean smelling house)

If you’re planning on getting a starter kit I also HIGHLY suggest their baby wipes..
We have been using them from the beginning and Hayes has NOT ONCE ever had a diaper rash.
Also, I totally use them as makeup remover wipes occasionally!
If you’re currently pregnant you MUST start drinking Ningxia red…
I drank it throughout my pregnancy and it made me feel so much better knowing all of that healthy goodness was going into my body and nourishing my growing baby every single day.

I’m pretty much obsessed with all of the YL seedlings products as well.
We use the wipes and the baby wash every single day!

We put Gentle Baby oil on Hayes’s tummy every night and y’all I JUST DISCOVERED that you can dilute it
with V-6 vegetable oil and massage it into your skin for a healthier complexion.

We use a ton of other oils BUT these are the main ones I use for Hayes, and I wanted to get this post up ASAP while this major deal was still going on so if y’all have ANY questions whatsoever leave a comment here OR leave me a comment on my most recent Instagram post. Can’t wait to chat with y’all!

Here’s the link to order the Premium Starter Kit.
-Make sure “member” is selected.
-Then select Premium Starter Kit (the one with the 10 everyday oils collection and the diffuser), or the duo diffuser.
>>Signup link: Click {HERE}<<