Top Baby Items Continued

After my last post I thought about some other top baby items...

6) The Bumbo Seat - It's a seat that helps the baby sit up and not tip over. This has been a livesaver for Noah and I when we need to get little things done around the house. We use it for her to sit in while we eat dinner at night, if I need to do the dishes, sweep/vacuum, or even so I can write this post :)

7) The Graco Flip-it Travel System - This stroller just came out this year. I was so excited when I was flipping through a baby magazine and saw this new stroller from Graco. It comes with a car seat, car seat base, and stroller. The reason I like it is because it is light-weight, it breaks down easily, and because it gives you two options for the baby to ride. You can flip the handle so the baby can face everyone else or they can face you. We liked the travel system in general because everything comes together and we didn't have to buy the car seat and base separately. It was also pretty affordable. Other strollers with a flip handle option are in the $300s and up and that is ridiculous to spend that much when they will outgrow this stroller eventually.

8) Body support by JJ Cole -I bought this for Ava's carseat. It is a reversible body support that adds some cushion and keeps her in place. It definitely was handy for when she was a newborn because she was so much smaller than the car seat. The cushion comes with a detachable head support and strap covers for the safety belts. When she sleeps her head isn't wobbling all over the place and the belts aren't cutting into her neck. I didn't like the wool ones I saw out there and this one is reversible fabrics so I can still use it this fall/winter.

9) Changing pad - the diaper bag I bought came with a changing pad. I like the idea of a changing pad because I use it every time I change her when I'm not at home. It cleans up easily with a cloth in case of any accidents and it's so nifty. I use it in the car, in public restrooms (when I absolutely have to change her in one), even on the couch or bed.

10) Diaper bookbag - I opted for a bookbag style diaper bag because Noah didn't want to carry around a girly diaper bag. It comes in handy because I can just throw it on my shoulders and I don't have to worry about the straps falling off my shoulder when I have to carry her car seat. The one I got also has many compartments and an insulated section for bottles and food. The brand I went with was Columbia. It was the most manly one I could find and live with.

More I won't go into detail: mylicon drops, bottle cleaning brush with suction base to keep away from germs (by munchkin), bottle drying rack Avent microwave sterilizer... man I can't even stop with this list...

And for a short list of money wasters:
1) wipe warmer- way too fancy. what are you going to do when you're in public? the baby will be fine with regular wipes. trust me.

2) bottle warmer- same thing here. just stick to room temperature.

3) infant positioner - I tried using this for Ava to sleep in her crib but she woke up every time. I didn't get one good use out of it and could have just lived without it.

Okay. I need to stop. I'm sorry for rambling. Hope this helps someone :)

Top Baby Items

So being a new mommy I didn't know what I would need when I had a baby. I registered for almost every gadget and thing-a-ma-jig I read about or heard moms use. I talked to other moms and listened to their suggestions.

I thought I'd share the top 5 baby items I swear by since I've had Ava.

1) onesies and burp diapers - I guess this counts as two items but I use these every day. Ava practically lives in her onesie unless we are going out on the weekends. They are comfy and easy. Also, you don't feel too bad if it gets pooped on or soaked because you can just throw on another one. I actually haven't used any on the ones that cover her feet. It's been too hot and also I don't want to bother with them at night when I have to change her diaper. And burp diapers. I use them with every bottle feeding and since she's been teething they come in handy. Alot.

2) playpen/napper/changing table combo - This sucker definitely was worth having. I needed something to put in our bedroom because the first months of her life she slept in our room. It was so convenient to have a place for her to sleep without having her in our bed. The changing table is definitely put to good use and I use the playpen to store her clothes, diapers, wash cloths, and all her other goodies I use daily.

3) formula dispenser - I love this thing. It makes fixing bottles so simple. It has sections to separate each feeding. I measure out the correct amount of nursery water in each bottle and keep the formula dispensers full so when she needs a bottle I just dump the formula in the bottles and voila! no brainer. It keeps from having spoiled milk when we are out and about on the weekends bc we just fix bottles as we need them.

4) video monitor - For those who know me I have anxiety issues. I don't think I would be able to sleep if it were not for my video monitor. I opted for this rather than the regular audio monitor because I like being able to see the baby. Sometimes Ava will make noises in her sleep but not really be awake so it's nice to see her on the screen and not have to get up to check on her every time I hear something on the monitor. Also, it helps put my mind at ease when I don't hear anything to be able to see she is sleeping peacefully and not suffocating under her blankets or anything.

5) receiving blankets - You can never have enough of these. I used them alot when Ava first came home from the hospital to swaddle her in. They are really light so I use them when she goes to sleep. I can also lay them down anywhere and have tummy time instead of pulling out playmats.

Ava's Trip to VA

we bought a jenny jump up

i love this one.

and this one.

I put Ava down for the night. She has been simply pooped from such a busy weekend. She was in high demand and met so many people. Thursday she met her Aunt Sarah, who has been anticipating her arrival since she was born. Sarah even asked for us to meet her Friday so she could show the baby off. All of her co-workers came out to see her and said Sarah sends them daily pictures of Ava, how cute.

I couldn't have asked for a better trip up here. I was so nervous, but Ava slept almost the entire trip. We did have a poopy explosion about 8 hours in, but we survived! I am not looking forward to the drive home. Nothing to look forward to on the drive home.

Today, we had portraits done of Ava and her cousins, Kiara and Monet. I didn't know if Ava was going to cooperate but she was perfect. She smiled and didn't have one meltdown. The pictures turned out so good and I can't wait to get the prints out.

I was expecting a total meltdown here because she hates tummy time, but she was an angel :)

4 Months!

Ava went in for her 4 month check-up yesterday. She weighs 14lbs. and is 24 inches long. She rolled over for the first time last Sunday and her doctor said she's a head of the gang and we may even see her crawling soon. He said she can have baby food and rice cereal. Holy moly, time has flown by and even in a matter of weeks I've seen her get bigger and learn new things. She can grasp toys and move them toward her mouth, she can swat at things, and her new favorite thing is to make spit bubbles. This is her before the bad lady gave her shots and made my baby girl cry.

We are going on our first road trip tomorrow to reunite with daddy. Thinking about what I needed to pack gave me major anxiety. I pretty much packed the entire house up it feels like. You have to remember to pack diapers, clothes, bottles, bath stuff, toys, sleeping stuff, strollers, carseats, and the list goes on and on. On top of that, I have to pack for myself and for Paxx. I think it took me 4 hours to get it all done and I still feel like I'm forgetting something.

We are leaving in about 7 hours. I should be getting my rest because I'm taking the first shift but I can't sleep for some reason. I really hope we have a peaceful trip and Ava makes it all 81/2 hours without a major melt-down. She usually is good in the car, but she's never been in her carseat for this long before. Wish me luck.

Noah is the bestman for his bestman so he is in charge of the bachelor party. They are renting a huge 40 person party bus for 8 hours on Saturday night. I'm sure he'll be useless on Sunday. I'll be making my rounds visiting friends and family with the baby. There are alot of people that haven't met Ava yet so I'm happy they will get a chance to meet my monkey girl.

I guess I need to hit the sheets. NOT looking forward to this drive. Especially the drive home on Monday.

Adventures in Grass Cutting

I sound like a spoiled brat but I have never cut the grass. I have never had to because 1) I avoided yardwork like it was the plague and 2) because that's what sons are for uh hmm Anthony!

It's been raining for the past week and so our grass has not been cut. Noah is in on a work trip and won't be back for a week and a half. Needless to say our yard needed desparately to be mowed. So I thought last night, the first night it stopped raining, I would go outside and knock it out. How hard could it be?

Well let me tell you. I was not cut out to mow the lawn. First, I have never really seen a lawn mower up close. I thought all you do it pull the cord and you're on your way. Well my MIL and I were pulling with all our might on the cord and it would not budge. Turns out you need to pull a knob into choke (?) position and hold the blade bar down as you pull the cord. That took about 15 minutes to figure out. It still took about ten tries t0 pull the cord successfully. I was definitely getting frustrated. Even Ava found my frustration hilarious. (she's such a cutie!)

After getting the lawn mower working I thought I could just push it and I would need minimal effort. I guess I didn't realize I had to also hold another bar down to propel the wheels. I couldn't figure out how to turn the lawn mover so it looks like I was creating crop circles in the lawn and I was too scared to cut the grass closest to the driveway and the sidewalk because it made an awful scraping nose the one time I tried.

I didn't finish the front yard. I gave up. I was defeated. I thought I may do more harm than good if I keep going. So my yard looks totally terrible. Maybe worse than before I even mowed the lawn. My OCD kept me thinking about how embarrassing my yard looked. And there is no way I can wait until Noah comes home.

Solution??? Tommy's Lawn Care Service. Tuesday. 8:00 am. and $40 bucks later.

Ava Growing

I cannot believe Ava is turning 4 months this week. She is growing way too fast for me to handle. I was in denial that she could start teething this soon but for the past few days she's been fussy and stuffing those fingers in her mouth like crazy. I've also talked to people that say their babies went through the same thing around this age. I will cry when that first tooth breaks through.

I get emails weekly telling me what I can expect and I was so sad when it said Ava is no longer considered a newborn but has graduated to infant status. I know it doesn't seem like a huge milestone but it just blows my mind how fast the time has gone. I feel like I just started back at work.

She's really animated these days, smiling and talking at everything. I am excited about taking her to Virginia in a couple of weeks to meet her aunt and cousins. I am a bit nervous about that drive though because Noah won't be with me. He is actually going to Baltimore starting on Wednesday for work for two weeks. Thank goodness my MIL is here. We are riding up together and I am hoping we have a successful road trip. I don't even want to think about what I will need to pack this first trip.

Okay... dinner is ready. Until next time...

4th of July 2010

Hectic family gatherings. eating way too much. good seafood eatin'. lots of baby lovin'. Enough said. Happy Fourth of July!