Mother Stories
At Home With Minibrook Founder Nina Westbrook
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Nicki Sebastian
Oct 6, 2020
To say Nina Westbrook is a busy woman would be an understatement. In addition to juggling three children (Noah, 3, and twin girls Jordyn and Skye, 22 months), she also serves as founder and CEO of Oklahoma-based boutique The Little Ark, and just launched the adorable children’s label Minibrook, which is filled with gender-neutral pieces in a modern array of muted hues (and a splash of tie-dye!). When she’s not doing all of the above, the Los Angeles-based mom (whose husband is NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook) is also keeping it real on her popular Instagram feed and putting her Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist (LFMT) degree to good use by lending mental health advice through her website and online speaking engagements.
Luckily, even with all she has going on, we were able to grab a couple of hours with Nina and her precious kiddos (all decked out in Minibrook!) to talk about starting a business during the COVID-era, her upbringing (she was the sole sister amongst 3 brothers!), parenting philosophy, raising three kids who are three and younger, and more!
Speaking of the baby and toddler juggle—especially when it comes to diapers—Playtex Baby partnered with us to tell Nina’s story. The makers of the beloved Diaper Genie (which now comes in 5 pretty hues), provided some products for Nina’s family to take for a spin—the Diaper Genie Complete, Diaper Genie Quick Caddy, and tiny cups and plates embellished with Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig graphics—which you’ll notice while taking a tour of Nina’s beautiful home. Enjoy!
This post is brought to you by Mother + Playtex Baby.
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- "We have been living in our home for almost 3 years now. I think the aesthetic is very light, but at the same time very vibrant, and not to mention, very baby proofed! We love art and open space, so I think that we definitely made it a point to keep things open, and bring in a lot of the fun stuff and hang it on the walls."
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The Playtex Diaper Genie Complete (in White), also comes in Blue, Mint Green, Baby Pink, and Grey, and can be combined with Diaper Genie Max Fresh Refills.
Nina wears an Isabel Marant dress.
Jordyn and Skye wear Minibrook Signature Onesies in Pink and Yellow Candy Stripe.
Noah wears a Minibrook Signature T-Shirt and Minibrook Joggers in tie-dye.
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"Honestly speaking, the girls room is not my absolute favorite, but there is an interesting story behind this. When my son was born, I made it my mission to design and decorate his room all by myself. Turned out, the entire process gave me so much anxiety, to the point that his room was not finished when he was born! I just procrastinated, and finally decided that I was going to enlist the help of our friends Tommy and Kathy from Clements Design
to help out. They pulled it together using some of the random pieces I had already purchased and picked, and it turned out well. When it came to doing the girls' nursery, I swore I would do it all by myself this time. This process was much easier, because by this time I had The Little Ark up and running, and I was able to purchase most of the items we needed from there, not to mention the fact that the store itself is just one big nursery inspo. In the end it really came together, and I really went with the forest friends theme. I don't love pink, so I settled on very muted versions of pinks, greens, and yellows. I guess I do really enjoy the twins nursery, but of course I'm very excited to redesign a 'big girl' room for them. I was very pleased to have been able to put the twins nursery together on my own, which is what makes it very special to me, even though it didn't turn out exactly how I had envisioned it."
Playtex Diaper Genie Complete, $37.44, Amazon.Playtex Diaper Genie Max Fresh Refill Bags, $19.99 (for 2), Amazon.
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"My favorite part of the twins' room is their little storytime nook. I love that they love to play games there, and my hope is that as they get older, and we remove the rocking chair, they will use that space to hang out together and read and lounge."
Playtex Diaper Genie Complete, $37.44, Amazon.Playtex Diaper Genie Max Fresh Refill Bags, $19.99 (for 2), Amazon.
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- On Jordyn's side of the room: A Classic Oeuf Toddler Bed and the Diaper Genie Quick Caddy, a mini, portable diaper pail that's great for changes around the house and on-the-go.
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- "I love it when everything is functional. I think it's pointless to have a space in the house that is off limits. I grew up sort of living all over, and it makes me happy that everyone can go someplace in the home and be comfortable. I don't know if I have a philosophy, but I don't like too much 'stuff' around. I like to be able to move things around, reposition things, and switch things up a bit. It is always refreshing to be able to change the scenery up when necessary. Avoiding lots of 'stuff' also helps to keep things neat and easy to clean. We have three kids 3 and under, so any tricks to speed up the cleaning process are always implemented."
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- "The concept of home for me has changed drastically during the quarantine period. Home used to be a place where it was just easy and a place to relax and restore. Now, home is the office, school, restaurant, coffee shop, playground, and everything else you can think of. If you aren't careful with how you manage your time, home can be a pretty stressful place to be. I'm learning to manage the whole work from home, school from home, and everything else from home by sticking to a schedule. Only working during 'work hours,' taking the kids out to safe places where they can run free and experience things out in the world. It's been a huge adjustment, but I think we are getting into a good groove now."
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- "I was never a huge fan of color. I wore neutrals all of the time, and my go-to was black. One day I realized that I was missing out on a whole world of color out there, so I had to train my mind to be more accepting of it. The mixture of muted and neutral colors that you see in both my girls' room and in the Minibrook collection is the result of the work that I had to do internally to get outside of my neutral box. I definitely did not go from one end of the spectrum to the next, but I landed somewhere in between. At times that was one of the issues I had when it came to choosing color palettes for Minibrook. I was forced to get outside of my own head and try to figure out what colors 'people' wanted to see their kids in, and still have it be something that I was happy with. Some of my favorite hues right now are in the pastel family. It's fall, so I'm trying to balance that with being seasonally appropriate. My favorites two colors at the moment are softer pastel pinks, and a new color we are launching in the next Minibrook collections that we refer to as ocean."
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- "Watching my kids learn and grow is one of the most exciting things to happen to me. They are all so young right now, and they are growing so fast, but it's so great to see how our parenting choices have such a strong correlation to everything that they do and say. We are literally molding little people to hopefully be amazing, smart, fearless, and kind individuals. It's a beautiful thing to be a part of."
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- "Oh, so many things! I think the thing that makes me most nervous is doing anything to cause my kids any type of trauma. On a lighter note, just being away from the kids in general. I saw a meme on Instagram that perfectly described me as a mom. Don't quote me on this, but I recall it saying, 'My two favorite things to do are be with my kids, and not be with my kids.' It's the trickiest little thing I'm dealing with."
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- "I actually did not know that I wanted to have kids this close in age. It wasn't until life happened, and my husband and I decided that it would be good to do. It just so happened that we got 2 at once, which was much more than we could have ever asked."
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"It's a lot of work! We are now dipping our toe in the potty training water with our girls, and so far no luck. It was sort of the same process with Noah. We tried a couple of times before we really got serious with it. It helps a lot not having to change Noah's diapers anymore, and I have a feeling that the girls will be coming along sometime in the near future. I will definitely say that when the twins were babies, we changed a lot of diapers. I could not believe how many diapers we went through. We were buying box and box of diapers, and that was a huge expense for us at one point. The girls are older, and the diaper changing has slowed down tremendously, so for that, I'm grateful."
Until the potty training journey with the twins is complete, the Diaper Genie helps keep the stink out of the nursery and saves families like Nina's from making never-ending trips to the garbage.
Playtex Diaper Genie Complete, $37.44, Amazon.Playtex Diaper Genie Max Fresh Refill Bags, $19.99 (for 2), Amazon.
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- "Honestly, there are so many things. My advice would be to stay strong, and know that it gets easier each day. The other thing that I would say is that you are already a warrior after having carried two babies at once, and let that serve as a reminder to you that all things are possible. And if you are a twin mother, then I know that this will resonate with you, because carrying my twins was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. That experience has truly taught me that I can do anything, and never to take anything for granted."
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Having twins = Double the cuteness, everywhere you look.
Playtex Sipsters Paw Patrol Glitter Spout Sippy Cup, $16.38 (for 2), Amazon.
Playtex Sipsters Stage 2 360-Degree Peppa Pig Spill-Proof, Leak-Proof, Break-Proof Spoutless Cup, $10.35 (for 2), Amazon.
Playtex Mealtime Paw Patrol Plates, $9.35 (for 3), Amazon.
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- "I'm so excited that I get to experience the best of both worlds. I wanted to find out the sex as soon as I could, with both pregnancies. I was so thrilled to have a son because I've always been really comfortable around boys/men. I have 3 brothers, and I have never really been around girls or women outside of my mother and a few close girlfriends. So, finding out that I was having twin girls came as a huge shock to me. I definitely cried thinking about all of the challenges they'd be faced with as they grow, but I can honestly say that I am now thrilled to have two girls and the prospect that I will be able to share the same kind of closeness with them that I have with my own mother. I don't think you can beat that. It's also nice to finally outnumber the guys in the house."
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- "I always knew, but it was never a dream. I just always knew that I wanted to be a mom. I didn't know how I'd get there, or when, but it was always in the plans."
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- "Noah Russell is my son. We chose Noah's name a couple days after he was born. We went off script with that one. We knew that we wanted him to have his own identity, and did not want to be the cause of any added stress to his life by calling him Russell like his dad, so we opted to change things up a bit. The girls are Jordyn Mia and Skye Marie. I always loved the name Jordyn, and Russell loved Mia, so that's how we came up with her name. One of my best friends began dating her now husband whose name happens to be Jordan. One of the first things I told her was, 'I'm naming my kid Jordyn whether you date/marry a Jordan or not. We will both have kids named Jordyn,' and we both laughed about that. I wanted Jordyn and Skye's name to have a nod to each other without being too matchy (again with the whole, 'we want them to each have their own identities'). My middle name is Ann-Marie after both of my grandmothers, so we just picked one, and named Skye. We didn't know which name would go to which baby, so we decided to wait until they were born to see if we could tell who was who, and I definitely think we hit the nail on the head."
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- "Noah is 3, he is very smart, a great swimmer, and very much into the 'why?' stage. He has a question for everything. Skye is 22 months, and she is the sweetest, most enthusiastic little ball of joy. She is also very caring and is very intuitive to how others are feeling. She offers back rubs and snuggles when she sees that someone may be upset. She asks to listen to the Frozen soundtrack every single day. Jordyn, also 22 months, is the adventurer of the two. She is also very independent, and very persistent. She reminds me a lot of myself actually. Jordyn loves learning and reading books."
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- "I think my husband and I share the same parenting philosophy, and goals as far as parenting goes, but he is definitely a little more lenient at times, and a little too forthcoming with the snacks and junk food for my liking. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that he travels so often for work. When he sees them, he's always so thrilled, and he just wants to do anything to make them so happy (even though his presence already does this). As far as our parenting style goes, we like to expose our children to all things. I want them to have as many experiences as they can, and I want them to know that nothing in this world is off limits to them as long as they work hard. I also want them to exemplify humility, kindness, and respect for themselves and others. So, our parenting style is always providing the tools, and empowering them to make the necessary choices, and being there to guide them along the way and redirect them when necessary."
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"My dad was a hard working entrepreneur. He was also a real estate broker, and he taught me the importance of working hard, and going for the things we want out of life. My mother was always stressing the importance of education, and leading by example. She recently retired from her career as a physician's assistant at King Drew Medical Center where she spent the majority of her career. My parents divorced when I was around my son Noah's age. They worked very hard to raise my three brothers and I, and put us first in everything that they did. We moved back and forth between each of our parents' homes, which they made a point to always live nearby. One of the things that has always stood out to me is the fact that I lived with my mother throughout my 4 years in high school, yet it was my father who picked me up and drove me to school each day, and back home afterward. To me, that was a testament to how dedicated each of my parents were to providing my brothers and I the best life possible, and for that I'm so grateful."
"Growing up and being raised around boys was tough at times, but I think it was also amazing. I am very close with my brothers, and they never made me feel like I was different from them. On the plus side, I never really took the trash out, or cleaned up dog poop, or other random chores like that. I truly enjoyed being the only girl (most of the time)."
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- "My husband and I had made a conscious choice to try to sift through the things we want to carry over, and the things better left behind. The main few things that come up would be to instill the importance of education and hard work, to always value and honor family, friends, and meaningful relationships, and to be confident individuals without the fear of staying true to who they really are."
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"I delved into lots of parenting books when I was pregnant, and once Noah was born, but not so much with the twins. There was a book called Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish that I really enjoyed. One of the worst things that siblings can do is compare themselves to each other. I think it's one thing to have a healthy competition, but comparison kills creativity and joy."
"As far as mom role models, I think my husband and I both look up to our own mothers for many reasons. I think if I'm looking outward, I would say that I'm more drawn to the mom who is willing to keep it real. Parenthood is tough, so it's nice to know that you aren't in it alone."
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- "Of course it has. I think that one of the things that I value and cherish most right now is just my own happiness. There is so much going on right now that can alter your mood in such a negative way, I've had to start making some really intentional decisions to protect my peace. If that means someone else may be a little upset, so be it. I've learned that my peace is mine to have, and mine to protect. As we've all witnessed over the past several months, life is not promised. Living in the here and now has been my mission. Enjoying my children, enjoying my husband, enjoying the struggles, cherishing each moment and memory. That's what 2020 has taught me."
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- "Any and everything that makes me happy that doesn't risk the safety of myself or the people around me, and of course my family. I'm open to a lot more experiences. I've been really dedicated to making our home a place that we can each enjoy spending all of our time at. It's been fun. I've also channeled a lot of my energy into working. That helps me to feel as though I am fulfilling my purpose."
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- Slip on your shoes, we're heading outside!
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- "I studied Psychology and English at UCLA, where I also played basketball. I later received my Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, eventually becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I practiced at Antioch University Counseling Center in L.A. where I provided therapy and counseling services to families and individuals of all ages before moving to INTEGRIS Mental Health, the largest hospital network in Oklahoma. While there, I served children and adolescents who were struggling with mood disorders, including major and postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief issues, and bipolar disorder, as well as victims of sexual trauma. I also practiced therapy at INTEGRIS Generations, an inpatient psychiatric program for adults age 55 and older who require comprehensive cognitive and emotional support. I was yearning for new experiences in an educational setting and eventually made a home for myself at Project HOPE, an innovative teen dropout prevention and recovery program within Oklahoma’s Francis Tuttle Technology Center. I served as a counselor for over two years, providing Project HOPE students with the emotional and psychological support they need to obtain their diploma and prepare for a successful career or pursue further education. During my pregnancy with the twins, I decided it was time to take a temporary step back from active practice."
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- "I was definitely nervous about launching Minibrook during the COVID-era. It was a challenge to move forward, and that choice came with a whole set of unforeseen circumstances. Nonetheless, I was able to make it work, and adapt to the current times, and overall had a pretty okay time. I also figured that the casual and easy going style of Minibrook was something that was still necessary, even during COVID. Babies and kids still need something to wear, right?"
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"I think the collection is just easy. I wanted Minibrook
to compliment the busy and active lives of parents and their small children. I think Minibrook
is something you don't have to put a lot of time into. You know you are going to get quality clothes that improves with wear, and you know you have what you need, but it has a modern and fresh flare to it."
Noah wears the Minibrook Cozy Pant in Heather Grey.
The twins wear Minibrook Hooded Rompers in Grey and Sage.
Nina wears an Acne Studio cardigan and Anine Bing tank.
The whole family wears Converse sneakers!
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- "I am a mother to a boy and two girls, I grew up with all boys, and my husband and I share clothes at times, believe it or not. My husband also has a clothing brand called Honor the Gift, which is unisex. All the signs just naturally led me to that decision. I don't really know how much thought I put into it aside from the fact that it made it easier to pass clothes between brothers and sisters. One of the main goals for Minibrook was to make sustainable kids clothes. I know how costly it can be shopping for small kids who are growing each day, and especially when you are having to buy two of everything. By delivering a higher quality product that just gets better and softer with each wash, and that can be shared between siblings or passed down between siblings no matter their sex, we've managed to create sustainability in kids clothes."
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- "The fact that I am a twin mom who birthed two tiny babies who in turn had nothing that would fit them the first couple months of their lives inspired me to include preemie sizes. I know that most people do not plan to have premature babies, but there are some people who do know ahead of time that their baby may come a little early, or there are some people who are expecting twins whom they may anticipate will be a little smaller than a singleton babe. I wanted to offer sizes for those moms and their babies. As far as the cut of the clothes, I just wanted to make sure to add a little room for growth. There is nothing worse than ordering your kids clothes and as soon as you open the bag, you realize that they are too small. At least if they are big, your kid can grow into them."
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- "I chose the palette based on the idea that any child could be wearing any of the items. I didn't want to pick many colors that were 'drawing any lines in the sand.'"
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- "We mill and dye our own GOT-certified fabrics in Los Angeles, which is such a dream for me. With everything that is going on in our economy, I don't think it was ever an option to manufacture Minibrook anywhere else. I am also very hands on and a part of the process each step of the way, so being able to drive to downtown L.A., where Minibrook is made, to check in and be a part of the production process has been huge for me."
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- "We have a great new color palette coming out, we're adding 5 new styles, plus 2 new accessories on top of the kids non-medical masks we just added, and a collaboration with an amazing company that I can't wait to share more information about coming up very soon. It's going to be a big holiday season for Minibrook, and I'm looking forward to it."
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- "The Minibrook movement is about so much more than handcrafted sustainable clothing. It’s a celebration of the inimitable spirit of Mighty Minis, who are actively doing what they do best—chasing their dreams and making the world a better place. Inspired by the strength of brave Mighty Minis everywhere, we recognize that it’s essential we help as many children overcome adversity as possible. With that in mind, Minibrook is donating a portion of all proceeds each quarter to a non-profit organization whose mission is focused on serving and uplifting youth. Our first beneficiary will be the WhyNot? Foundation and additional beneficiaries will be shared here."
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- "A Mighty Mini is a young person who inspires us to be kind to one another, to be fierce, and to follow our dreams. Every Mighty Mini has a unique story to tell and it is our sincere privilege to share a collection of those stories here. We hope they serve as a reminder of the extraordinary impact these fierce little hearts have on us all. If you would like us to feature your Mighty Mini on our website, you can simply post a photo of them on Instagram, be sure to tag @minibrooklook and use the hashtag #mighyministories. Or simply send us an email at [email protected] along with a photo of your Mighty Mini and a story you'd like to share about them."
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- "I think that my style during quarantine and as a mother is very similar. I love sweater sets, loungewear, sneakers, pajamas, and ponytails. Anything comfortable and cozy to snuggle up in. It is nice to put on pants or jeans whenever my husband and I get a chance to get out and about."
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Simply the cutest.
Minibrook Romper, $19.25, Minibrook.
Converse Summer Fruit Sneakers, $24.50, Kohls.
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- "I love doing yoga. It is such an escape for me to be mindful of my body and how I'm feeling. It also allows me to get grounded before the chaos of the day ensues. I also love catching up with my friends. They are each so inspiring that I always leave a conversation feeling like I'm ready to take on the next thing. Connecting with others is such a huge need for me."
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- "I guess I say that because at some point I realized that I was striving for something constantly that never really happened for me. It was much more practical for me to approach things in the sense of seasons. Seasons come and go, and they are a huge part of our life until they aren't anymore. With that said, I am able to focus my energy and attention into the things that I deem need me most at any given time. I can control my priority list, but I have no control over the idea of balance and whether or not I could achieve it or not. Instead of the anxiety that came along with chasing balance, I am able to choose what I deem important and determine the amount of time I think it deserves. It may not work for everyone, but it has definitely worked for me."
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- "I work mostly from home and I still deal with 'mom guilt' every single day. It's more about being present, but not really being present. I want my children to always know and feel that they are always my priority, and more important than anything else."
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- "I make 'me time' by keeping my kids on a schedule. Getting my kids to bed by 7:30 p.m. each day allows me my evenings to myself, and with my husband when he is home. In that time I am usually sitting down and having meals, drinking wine, watching television, catching up with loved ones. Whatever it be, I always make sure that it is relaxing. My husband's favorite thing to do is to tell me to 'relax,' so I try to just relax."
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- "Keep working at it. It's not an easy feat, and no matter how easy some may make it look, it isn't. It's not difficult to do a lot of things, but to do a lot of things well takes some real work, planning, grace, energy, and support. Build up a team/community of support in whichever way suits you, so that you can strive to do all of these things well. It's going to be really tough alone."
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- "Honestly, I'm most excited about getting my kids into the world and school to learn, make friends, and new experiences. For myself, I'd love to get back to movie date nights with my husband. It was our thing."
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For more on Nina, her family, and her businesses, be sure to follow her @ninawestbrook, @minibrooklook, and @thelittlearkokc on Instagram, and at nina-westbrook.com.
For more on the Playtex Baby products featured in this shoot, check out Playtex Baby.
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