I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! This Christmas was probably the most fun I’ve had since I was a kid. James and Emma had such a blast opening their presents and playing with the wrapping paper. If you follow me on Instagram, I’m sure you saw them having a blast. And I have to admit my family and friends spoiled me with gifts this year. I’m a lucky, lucky girl.

We’re in the Midwest for the week, spending time with family. While I always enjoy visiting with the in-laws (that is not sarcasm, my husband’s family is made up of some AMAZING people), I’m loving the fact that the babies will get this special time with their great-grandparents and great-great-great grandmother. That’s right! We’ve got five generations of living relatives which is just the coolest thing in the world, in my opinion. And lots of grandparents mean lots of willing babysitters 😉

Y’all know I love my kids, but it sure is nice to get a little bit of break. Having twins can be quite overwhelming, but I also feel it has really taught me how to prioritze as a mother. When you have two infants, sometimes one just has to cry it out while the other is consoled. And coordinated naps, meals, and bath time requires a lot of patience. I also have to be very selective with the items I bring with me. Double everything is not an option, nor is it really necessary. Before the babies were born, I scoured countless websites and blogs for advice on everything, including what I needed in my diaper bags. Lists and photos sometimes showed between 50-75 objects at all times, and that was just the recommendations for a single baby! Nope, that was not going to work for me. I carried, maybe half the recommended items once the babies were born, and a year of trial and error determined what was really needed.

During a normal trip running errands or going to the park, not much is needed at all. I rarely touch any of the above baby items, to be honest. But they are there just in case, since you can’t really wing it when a diaper needs to be changed. For the babies’ needs, I always carry the following:

• a changing pad in case I don’t have a clean surface to use (came with the diaper bag)
• 4 diapers (we’ve had The Honest Company diaper subscription since they were newborns and it is flawless)
• 10-25 wipes in a travel container (also Honest Co. brand)
• 2 pairs of white Babiators sunglasses
• diaper cream/multipurpose balm (Honest Co.)
• hand sanitizer spray (Honest Co.)
• travel stain remover (Honest Co. in a plastic spray bottle)
• sunscreen stick (Honest Co.)

Since the diaper bag is also my purse, I have to carry some momma essentials as well:

• umbrella
• water bottle
• Lilly Pulitzer wristlet wallet
• car & house keys
• Ray-Ban sunglasses & case
• VerMints peppermints
• Boscia Clear Complexion face blotting sheets
• Beautycounter Lip Sheer in Petal
• The Honest Company lip balm
• small knife
• earbuds
• travel charger
• my cell phone (not pictured because I needed it to take the photos)

The diaper bag I have been using since the babies’ birth is the Skip Hop Duo Special Edition in French Stripe. It is a great bag in general with TONS of zipper pockets and magnetic closures. When I do have to throw some feeding items, toys, and outfit changes for longer trips, it fits everything and keeps me super organized. There is also a smaller cross-body diaper clutch that is super cute, but I have no need for TWO diaper bags.

As I continue on this mom journey, I know I’ll edit down the items I carry. For example, the sunscreen, umbrella, water bottle, blotting papers, mints, and earbuds are never really used when I’m on the go. Does anyone else sometimes feel like a crazy bag lady carrying things you really don’t need? Or what are your essentials that you are constantly using and can’t be without? Thanks for reading!