Favorite Baby Gear – Months 3, 4 and 5

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I found navigating the baby registry waters a bit difficult.  There are SO many products out there and everyone has a different take on what one should buy.  Since all babies are different it is nice to have options, but at the same time it’s so EASY to feel overwhelmed with choices.

My newborn necessity list was quite robust (you can find that here).  For purposes of these favorite/must have lists I guess I am qualifying newborn as 0-2 months old.  We still consistently use all items on the list with the exception of the wubbanub.  Jellybean decided at some point she was over pacifiers, which is both good and bad…I think!

As Jellybean grows so does my list of must have baby items.  Some stuff we didn’t know to put on the registry and I wish we had known how handy they would be!

So for months 3, 4 and 5 here are my favorites …

Favorite Baby Gear - Months 3, 4 and 5 | Life's Tidbits

Puj – I really love this tub.  It’s small/compact and easily fits into the bathroom sink, which means NO bending over to wash baby!  The no bending over was key while I was still recovering from the cesarean.  I must admit I still prefer it to the bigger tub because it’s easier.  My only complaint would be baby girl falls down during her baths since she can’t sit up on her own yet. I wish there was something to help keep her upright.

Skip Hop Moby Waterfall Bath Rinser – This item came in SUPER handy when I finally worked up the courage to bathe JB without a second set of hands.  I found it difficult to hold her in place, put a hand over her face and pour water over her head all at the same time.  The way this thing is shaped it helps ensure the water cascades down the baby’s back instead of letting the soapy water get in their eyes.

Snugli – There are many baby carriers out there and honestly I felt overwhelmed trying to choose one.  We registered for (and received) the ErgoBaby.  I do love our ErgoBaby … the snugli is just SO much easier to snap baby in and go.  The other positive is your don’t have to deal with an infant insert.  As soon as the baby is 7 lbs you are good to go.  And if like me, your baby is born over 7 lbs to start with you can just it day one!  Our snugli was gifted from a friend (thanks Jessica!) and is getting a  TON of good use especially when we walk the dog.

Playmat – First ‘toy’ Jellybean was really able to play with.  So far it has really grown with her and whether she was 6 weeks or 5 months it’s a hit.  The playmat is super colorful, plays music and the toys included each provide a different type of stimulus.

Honest Hand Sanitizer – Total impulse buy, but I love it! Smells good and we got the under 3oz size so it’s FAA friendly too.

Video Monitor – The transition from our room in the cradle to Jellybean’s own room in the crib was fairly easy.  Actually it was really easy for her and super difficult for me.  I missed rolling over at night and seeing her little chest rise and fall with each breath.  Though her ‘noises’ would sometimes keep me awake I was comforted by them at the same time!  The video monitor was the only thing that kept me from demanding my husband ‘let’ me move the baby back into our bedroom.  Though JB has been in her own room for over 2 months there are still nights I check the monitor in the middle of the night just to see her little face :)

Sleep Sacks – When Jellybean started rolling over it quickly became apparent the swaddling days were, sadly, over.  We have warm and light weight sleep sacks.  If I had realized how soon we would need them I would have put a few small sized sleep sacks on the baby registry.

White Noise (SimplyNoise) App – At first we were really into the Sheep, however it turns off after 45 minutes.  A friend turned us onto the SimplyNoise app.  The only problem with using the app is our iPad has turned into an EXTREMELY expensive sound machine hahahaha.  I’ve started researching sound machines, but have yet to pull the trigger and buy one (suggestions?!?).

Baby Bullet – We just started introducing solids and I’m having fun making the baby food!  The baby bullet makes the process simple and is very to clean.  I could certainly use my Cuisinart, however the bullet is easier.

So mamas what am I missing?  Any recommendations for month 6??

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High Five Friday {Vol. 3}

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What, what … it’s Friday!! Seriously now — TGIF!  The work week has gone by at a steady pace, but I am definitely ready for the long weekend.  We have a fun, but jam packed weekend planned!  

High5Friday

1. Our nanny wasn’t able to come into work on Monday so I did a partial work from home day so I could take care of my little Jellybean! I was surprised how ‘easy’ it was to work while JB slept or played in her jumper. I enjoyed the mix of mommy and project manager ‘tasks’ throughout the day. It opened my eyes to the possibility that maybe one day (fingers crossed) I can have the best of both worlds – part SAHM and part working mom.

2. I was able to cross a lot of my to dos off the list this week!! Car registration renewal, booking hotels, ordering wedding gifts for friends and more all checked off the list. Feels good to be productive. Next week it’s time to tackle doctor and dentist appointments — I hate going to the doctor/dentist so procrastinating is the name of the game.

3. The husband and I decided to take Jellybean for a walk Tuesday night. The walk turned into dinner at Matchbox. The weather was perfect and we were able to grab a table outside. JB spent most of the time happily eating her firefly toy. Towards the end of dinner she decided it was time to get out of that car seat. She sat on my lap and observed everyone around her. The husband took a turn holding her so I could finish eating and she shrieked with glee. Not sure if everyone around us appreciated it, but JB is really starting to use that vocal box! :) I got some super cute photos of my lovelies …

JBandDad_Matchbox

4. Discovered salted caramel at Chopt. Yum!

5. It’s date night! The nanny is staying late tonight so the hubby and I can go on a ‘date’. I do believe this is will be the 4th time we’ve gone out alone since our little miss jellybean made her debut. I’m sure all we will do is talk about our adorable daughter, but a little alone time is definitely in order. =)

What’s your high 5 moment(s) from this week?

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A Blowout at 30,000 Feet

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Let me set the scene, so to speak.  It’s my first Mother’s Day and overall it was a very busy, yet perfect, day.  There have been a few isolated bouts of crying, but those were mostly a result of Jellybean being overtired.

We took Jellybean to meet my grandmother, Mamma, for the first time.  JB took a liking to Mamma immediately (no shock there – all kids and animals love her).  A few photos were snapped to capture the precious moments of great-grandmother and great-granddaughter in all their cuteness glory.  Before we left Mamma took the opportunity to encourage the husband and me to have another baby … and maybe try for a boy this time she added.  Oh boy (pun intended) … why is it you have one kid and everyone immediately asks about the next?!

JB_Mamma

After the meet and greet we headed to my sister’s for a yummy Mother’s Day brunch.  Sadly, the day was flying by (pun not intended) and it was time to head to the airport.

Jellybean took a nap on the way to Logan Airport.  Security was a breeze.  There was no line and JB was all smiles for the security guards.  As we stood at the gate JB shrieked with glee and posed for a couple of adorable photos.
JB_MotherDay_PreFlight

As people boarded the plane, many stopped to say ‘Happy 1st Mother’s Day’ and commented on JB’s big beautiful blue eyes and/or her adorable smile.

As the flight took off we fed Jellybean a bottle. Right about the time we reach 30,000 feet she let one rip! O.H. M.Y. GOODNESS did she smell horrible. I giggled to myself and smiled as the husband said “Was that her?” to which I simply replied “yup!”

Only minutes later did my first mother’s day turn into a $h!T show. Yup I said it!

And then … we became ‘THOSE’ people on the plane.

Jellybean had a serious blow out. In fact it was so bad, the disaster extended to my clothing as well.  The smells drifted in the air-tight cabin, with nowhere else to go.  There was no changing table option in the bathroom.  We were almost at the flight’s drink service, and soon there would be large silver carts in the aisle.  After a few horrified glances at my husband, we realized there was no other option. We stripped her naked and attempted to change her right then and there in the main cabin, feces and all.

She screamed while we worked as fast as we possibly could to rectify the situation. She was in a strange place, wiggling over seat, caught in the seat belt and between arm rests. Thank goodness for the poopy bags I had put into the diaper bag. We wound up using six of them, along with one air sickness bag (sorry U.S. Airways). Without the bags to contain the mess as well as the smell we would have been in serious trouble!!

The people surrounding us didn’t say a word. They adverted their eyes. While some were probably thankful they weren’t us I’m pretty sure others were less than pleased with us.  In all honesty, we were doing the absolute best we could.

One relatively clean child and two very embarrassed parents arrived at DCA shortly after 7pm.  We pilled into a cab and (secretly) prayed the cab-ie didn’t smell the blow out disaster on us.  Jellybean went directly into the tub after dropping the bags on the floor.  She happily played with her frogs as we thoroughly scrubbed bathed her.

We were ever so thankful when she went to bed without any fussing.   And then … we remembered we had a bag full of feces to tend to.  Oh what a stinky end to my Mother’s Day it was!! =)

Anyone else have a funny story they care to share?!

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Favorite Bottle Feeding Products

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At some point, unless someone is a stay at home mom, bottle feeding becomes a necessary way to feeding a baby.  We started introducing bottles at two months, however when I went back to work it became the only way we fed Jellybean.  Bottle feeding was such an adjustment for our schedules.  Bottles require a lot more planning, dishes and effort than nursing!  I absolutely took for granted the convenience of having milk ‘on tap’ for my daughter while on maternity leave.  It took a few weeks, but the we got a routine down with the bottles.  We also made some additional purchases, which made our lives easier.  With the exception of one of these items, it doesn’t matter if you are using exclusively pumped milk or formula – I believe – these items are must haves.  Great things to put on a baby registry even if they won’t be needed for a couple of months (or weeks, day, hours or whatever your time frame is).

Favorite Bottle Feeding Products | Life's Tidbits

1 &2 – Stem & Drying Rack
The grass drying rack came up on SO many of the must have baby registries I looked at.  Before Jellybean arrived I purchased the drying rack, however the stem was an impulse buy when we were at Buy Buy Baby.  The stem adds extra space to dry the nipples and such, PLUS it doesn’t take up additional counter space.

3 – Formula Mixing Pitcher
When we transitioned away from using only breast milk I quickly started dreading making formula. It took an annoying amount of time to shake each bottle and ensure all the formula dissolved. My husband was doing one of our many Amazon purchases and impulse bought the mixing pitcher.  He figured it was worth a try and a the price point was low enough even if it didn’t work it wouldn’t have been a huge deal.  While I still don’t love making formula it certainly makes the process faster and easier!!

4 – Munchkin Bottle and Nipple Brush
A bottle brush is kind of a given.  I did a lot of research for our baby registry and the munchkin bush was very highly recommended … I’m a big fan!

5 – Bottles and Nipples (any brand your baby likes)
Duh!  This is kind of key to bottle feeding.  If I was to purchase bottles again I would buy only three 4 ounce bottles and the rest I would get the 8 ounce bottles.  You can always put less in an 8 oz bottle, but clearly more doesn’t fit in the 4 oz ones.  Read about our decision to use Dr. Brown bottles with preemie nipples here.

6 – Bibs
I really didn’t find the need for bibs while I was exclusively breastfeeding (EBF).  Once we started using bottles more often it quickly became apparent if I didn’t want to change my daughter’ clothes after each feeding we were going to have to start putting a bib on her.  I’m not entirely sure what the difference is, but baby girl was a much neater eater when nursing.

7 – Dishwasher Basket
Bottle parts (especially when you use bottles like Dr. Brown’s, which have like a gazillion parts) take time to wash.  It is SO much easier to throw all the parts into the basket and run the dishwasher at the end of the day.  We discussed washing the bottles in the dishwasher with our doctor and she said it was totally kosher — in fact it’s how she washer’s her baby boy’s bottles.  The basket keeps all the parts together and we have yet to loose or melt a bottle part.  In fact, I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a second basket.

While I don’t need a bottle warmer, I do believe this would be a must have item for most moms.  My little one really doesn’t care if the bottle is warm or cold and since she is one of those babies who wants to eat IMMEDIATELY (like within seconds of deciding she’s hungry) we’ve decided to forgo warming the bottle.

Though I think we have the bottle feeding products down I still haven’t conquered the storage of said bottles and accessories!  What are your favorite item(s) for bottle feeding?  Anything good I’m missing?

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3 Months Old {Jellybean}

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I’m a little bit behind in this post given the little one is almost 4 months old.  Time just keeps getting away from me – it’s crazy!  Sadly I officially turned in my stay-at-home-mommy hat and put on my bringing-home-the-bacon-mommy hat this month.  It has definitely been an adjustment for baby and mama, but probably harder on me than my  little one.  Being separated during the day has gotten easier though I would be lying if I said I didn’t still miss her terribly.  It would have been nice to put my career on hold for a couple more months (or even a year), however that just wasn’t in cards for us.  I feel fortunate to have been able to stay home for 12 weeks … I bow down to you mamas who go back to work after just 6 weeks!

I had a lot of fun doing Jellybean’s 3 month photo shoot, but I also learned some valuable lessons on the photography side of things.  Although I thought it would be easier to do the photo shoot with help it was actually more complicated.  JB kept looking at my husband and mother-in-law instead of at the camera.  For her four month photos I will probably go back to doing it solo like the one and two month shoots.

3monthsold_brownie

Sleeping

Jellybean is sleeping anywhere from 3 to 7 hours in a row during the night, which I redefined as 7pm to 8am.  She will wake 1-2 time during the night to eat and go back to bed fairly easily.  I am looking forward to the days of consistent sleep, but I will take those nights of 7 hours of sleep in a row with no questions asked!  =)

We have her on a pretty good night time routine of playing, bath, book (sometimes if she isn’t too tired) followed by a bottle/rocking and then directly to bed.  It’s been working pretty well for us so far.  I’m ever so hopeful of some sort of daytime routine in the near future.

Eating

She eats about 3-4 oz at each of her 6-7 feedings per day.  We had to increase her ounces per serving from the 2-3 we were originally offering.  The doctor explained she should eat approximately 2 to 2.5 times her body weight per day.  Ever since we’ve increased how much we offer her she has been able to wait longer between feedings, which is really nice!

Wearing

She’s wearing all of her 0-3 and 3 month clothing.  A few of her 6 month clothes are starting to fit.  The 6 month clothes mainly fit her in length and are still quite large in the belly area.  I’m not really sure how she’s pulling it off, but she’s tall … unlike her mum and dad!

Milestones

Smiles and “giggles”/coos more frequently.  Though you still have to work for it, she’s handing out more smiles by the day.

Rolling over from back to tummy.  She rolled for the first time on  a Saturday morning.  The husband, my mother-in-law and I were all sitting around and JB was on her play mat.  Out of no where she slowly started to roll.  I started screaming for my husband and MIL to pay attention.  Then she was on her belly with one arm stuck under her body … poor kiddo couldn’t figure out how to get it out at first.  I was beyond excited her first time was when I was around and not while she was with the nanny!!

Goodbye pacifier and HELLO hands.  She’s totally over her pacifiers.  She will briefly suck on them, spit it out and shove not one, but BOTH of her hands into her mouth.

 3monthsold

What is your favorite tidbit from your baby’s third month?

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