When 'Walkers' Were Fun

In the 90's walkers were a big baby item, or so it seemed to my adolescent self. We can all remember the commercial with the baby in the walker running around (also featured on Hocus Pocus, which is why it is so easily recalled). But, are walkers really a thing anymore? I don't know. I'm sure some idiot allowed a child to walk it down the stairs and then the walker got a stigma...

I digress. I'm not really in the mood to have the walker debate. Short story is, Olive has one and she loves it.

She hasn't quite figured out the crawling thing. And, when I am cooking, she gets bored sitting in her highchair just watching me. So, Heath often puts her in the walker. She chases the dogs, tries to open cabinets and drawers, and grabs anything that she can possibly reach.

This results in me trying to unload and then reload the dishwasher, with someone trying to roll away with the empty bottom basket. I will roll her away, which only results in her running full speed into the dishwasher. Then, she starts grabbing again...

I end up using one leg to hold her at a distance while trying to load dirty dishes. I even tried distracting her with items across the room. No such luck.

That part, isn't even the biggest problem.

She rams my ankles. 

She starts at one end of the kitchen, gathers momentum, and gets 6 to 8 foot of speed....right into the back of my ankles. I don't even see it coming.

It hurts. It hurts real bad. That walker cuts right into my achilles. And, well, Olive seems oblivious.

It is the first time that I have actually said "No" to Olive.

"Olive, no-no, please."

I actually beg. "Olive, please, no."

It's like those less severe tortures...like the Chinese water torture or something.

"Okay, okay. I'll talk! Just don't hit me in the ankles again!"

The only reason I have allowed for the continuous use of this item, is that Olive loves it. She loves it so much. She runs all over. She has learned how to maneuver it really well too. I just don't know if I can take this pure joy from her. Heath has even suggested that I wear boots. I'm not sold on that one yet...

Perhaps I can find some kind of ankle protectors or braces - that I won't sweat in during the summer heat. If not, I can't promise that this thing won't find it's way to the donate pile...but, I continue to try.

The things I do for those little girls! :)

29 Week Update

This post will likely be short, since not much has changed in the last week or so. Here I am again...

My hair is down! What? Yep, that is me and my hair is really getting long. It's so long that I can barely stand it being down in this heat!

How far along?
I am 30 weeks and 1 day (a little late again on the update). I have 69 days left and only 48 days until I'm full-term.

Baby is the size of a...
butternut squash. Or, in my terms, one of those gourds that hallow out in the fall and you can make a birdhouse of them. :) Olive is approximately 15 inches long (probably more like 13), and 3 lbs! She should start gaining about 1/2 lb a week from here on out. That would put her around 8 lbs, which is right on.

Symptoms:
I am still achy, uncomfortable, excited, and above all - HOT! It is so flippin' hot! I sweat just sitting here...if a third child is in our future, it will NOT be a summer baby! Plus, did we pick the hottest summer in years or what? Gee-whiz.

I am just carrying so much lower this time. Everyone thinks that means the ultrasound technician was wrong and I'm really carrying a boy. I think it is a testament to how awful my abs were and that my uterus just flopped out there, with nothing holding it back! We will see this weekend at our 3D ultrasound who is right. :)  Anyway, carrying lower is much more painful, or at least in my experience. It stresses my pelvis and lower back; I didn't have the same aches with Lucy. I get up from sitting on a hard bench or the floor and can barely walk for a few steps. I'm like an old person! Eh, maybe I am old...

Anything new?
Not really. We got Olive's sleeper in. Isn't it cute. Heath and Lucy put it together.

It looks just like the picture. It really folds easily too. I think it was a great purchase for us!

New with Heath?
Either Heath is very intuitive or I complain like crazy. I think the latter is probably more true, no offense to Heath. He has been super helpful this last week. I made supper and he even wrote on our board, "I love you because...you cooked supper even though you were tired. - Thank you!"

It was sweet. He has also pampered me pretty well. I imagine that with him start up night classes again (6 weeks, two nights a week), that I will be a little bit on the back-burner again. But, I understand. We are all excited for that MBA to be done in August! :) I'm so proud of him.

New with Lucy?
She still acts excited about Olive in theory. But, when it comes to Olive's things vs. hers, that is another story. I think she will have a hard time sharing things; she hasn't ever really had to before. I am still 100% positive that sharing her daddy will be the biggest problem.

Oh, and one a cute note, she tried to put a diaper on my belly the other day - "for baby Olive."

Anything else?
The biggest new item will be the 3D ultrasound. Prepare for a post about it and pictures on Facebook. :) I am so excited. We are going to see if she is still a girl and see if she looks like Lucy at all. I can't wait! Here is what Lucy looked like:

Let's hope we get a good picture like that of Olive...and that Olive is still an "Olive" and not a boy! haha. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world; but, we would have to do a lot of shopping.

Oh, and for the few in the family, we will also be verifying that only one baby exists....crazy people...haha.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Week 28 Update

Okay, so here I am a bit late - yes. But, better late than never...

I'm still big. But, I think the gray does a little bit more for me than the yellow. Do you recognize the shirt? You should...I have only shown you a picture of me wearing it, like, 800 times. Okay, I exaggerate. Nonetheless, I thought it would be nice to compare the two.

The position is close, not exact; however, I think it is clear that I can, in fact get bigger people. I think everyone just forgot how big I actually was with Lucy.

How far along?
I am late posting this, so I am actually 29 weeks and 1 day now. :[ I have 76 days left and I am 73.2% done with this pregnancy! Oh, how I love to see those numbers go by!

Baby is the size of a...
At 28 weeks, she was the size of a Chinese cabbage. Which, my understanding is a tall version of a regular cabbage ball...head of cabbage? Oh, whatever the verbiage may be. Here is a picture of it, compared to a quarter.

Technically speaking, Olive is approximately between 2.9 and 3.5 lbs. And, she should be a little over a foot in length (14.8 inches).

Symptoms:
I have been having Braxton-Hicks like crazy. It seems like I have them more often than I did with Lucy; but, I am not for certain that I remember my pregnancy with Lucy clearly or accurately. It seems like so long ago and it seemed like it went fast - ha! I doubt that...considering that this one seems like it is crawling by, now that I can barely bend over anymore. 

I have tried to make a conscience effort to stay away from salty foods. However, to me that means if it leaves salt on my fingers when I pick it up, I should probably stay away. I still eat hot-pockets for lunch and snack on Doritos - both of which have high sodium levels.  My doctor didn't indicate that my sodium intake was a problem; I just don't want my face/feet/ankles to get any puffier than they already are!

I have found a friend in Frosted Mini-Wheats. :) I've always like them and well, we all know I love cereal. It has been the high in fiber item that my body needed! Hopefully it continues to work for me. I've been eating a bowl almost every night!

Anything new?
 I admit; I have forgotten what I have told you and what I haven't. I think I told you about my recent nesting. It has been in decline. My energy level goes down as the heat index raises. It is amazing how a hot day can just make me feel so tired. Anyway, we made a few more Olive purchases! :) We bought and received her crib mattress the other day! Heath picked it out, based on reviews of course. He even put the sheets on it and it is in the crib.  You are probably wondering why we needed a new one. Well, Lucy uses her mattress with her toddler bed. I like the water-proof idea for potty training...

We also got Olive a sleeper. With Lucy, she was constantly in the big, bulky pack n' play that was hard to get around. Or, she was in the living room in a vibrating chair on the floor. Both worked, but we wanted something a little more convenient and easy to take when visiting family. We found this:

We are really excited. Plus, we also ordered a sleep-mate for Olive. It is a noise maker/sound machine. It makes a "whooshing" sound. We thought it would be nice to have.

New with Heath?
I think Lucy and Heath see me as...a lame, old relative that isn't any fun. It's like "I'll ruin their fun" if they hang around me. They are constantly running off and playing or doing things without me. I admit; sometimes it is nice. I get to rest, take a cat-nap, or watch Pretty Little Liars (which I usually don't watch with Lucy in the room). On other occasions, I just feel like I'm boring and lame to be around. I can't crawl on the floor, let Lucy ride my back like a horsie, and I can't even begin to fit through the "door" of the "house" they made and put in our living room (it's made out of Heath's new grill box, which as you can imagine is huge; but, the door is little :( ). I understand...I just never realized how much the pregnancy would limit me from doing things that I normally do. I have a hard time squatting down to cook with Lucy in the kitchen now too. But, things will get better.

New with Lucy?
Well, in the last couple of days I have noticed how much I have been telling Lucy, "No - that is Olive's." I feel really guilty about it too. When the crib mattress came, Lucy wanted to lay on it. So, we let her lay on it. We told her who's it was and why we got it, etc. But, then she wanted to get into the crib and lay on it. Then, she wanted to play with the mobile. Then, she wanted to take the stuffed animals out of the nursery. It made me realize how bad the jealousy is going to be.

Then, the other night she saw Olive's bottles that I had unpacked. She wanted to have them. I told her no. She then saw the formula in the pantry (I got some really good price-matching/couponing deals on Enfamil recently; don't worry I looked at the dates and it will be good until February 2013). She said, "mine." I told her no, she couldn't have it. It was a mess - all of it. I feel bad for her.

We are going to try our absolute best to make this transition easier for her; but, I may have to look into ways to do so...

Anything else?
The results of my gestational diabetes check came back normal. The nurse said the results, "looked good." Whew! :) I was pleased with that news. I was really nervous this time around, for some reason.  

I guess I don't have much else. I thought I would share one more thing though. BabyCenter.com sent me an email about birthing class questions. This was one of them that made me laugh:

 
Good idea for the future...haha! Where were they when I was in high school?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Pregnancy & Old Wives Tale

Well, I guess this is a week all about the gender of Baby #2. Can you handle that? Or, did I immediately lose you since I've been blabbing about the same thing for...well...ever? You have to understand though, that with an upcoming ultrasound, I can't get it off of my mind. Plus, I'm a planner. Once I know the gender, we can start making a lot more plans (i.e. name, finances, nursery, additional baby products, etc.). So, I'm dying to know!

I took a little time this week to round up as many gender telling wives tales that I could. Below is what I came up with. Now, I understand some of these make no sense or aren't true for everyone; but, it's still fun to look into! :)

Wives Tale: Carrying the baby high means it is a girl. Carrying the baby low means it is a boy.
Baby #2 Verdict? I am carrying the baby high, in my opinion. However, it is lower than where I carried Lucy. So, I declare this one as Inconclusive.

Wives Tale: If the mother craves salty or sour things, it is a boy. If she craves sweets, then it is a girl.
Baby #2 Verdict? I am craving salty snacks and have enjoy pickles more than in months past. Boy


Wives Tale: Put toilet cleaner in the toilet and go to the bathroom (#1). If the water turns green, it is a girl. If it remains blue, it is a boy.
Baby #2 Verdict? I actually tried this. The color was a teal color. I deemed it Inconclusive.

Wives Tale: If both the year you conceived and the age of the mother at the time of conception are odd or even, then it is a girl. If one is odd and the other is even, then it is a boy.
Baby #2 Verdict? I conceived in 2011 and I was 25 - both odd. Girl

Wives Tale: If your skin breaks out, then it is a girl. She is "stealing her mother's beauty." If you have clear skin, it is a boy.
Baby #2 Verdict? I have about the same amount of break-outs on my face. But, grossly enough, my back and shoulders have had break-outs now, unlike when I was pregnant with Lucy. Inconclusive

Wives Tale: If you have bad morning sickness, then it is a girl. If you feel fine, it is a boy.
Baby #2 Verdict? I felt much better than when I was pregnant with Lucy, that's for sure! Boy

Wives Tale: If your leg hair seems to grow faster than usual, it is a boy. If it slows or remains the same, it is a girl.
Baby #2 Verdict? No joke, this one took me by surprise. Because I just thought the other day that my leg hair was growing faster! Boy

Wives Tale: If the mother has a high libido, then the baby is a girl. If it is lower or the same, it is a boy.
Baby #2 Verdict? I am the same, in my opinion. Boy

 Wives Tale: If the mother is moodier throughout the pregnancy, then it is a girl. If she isn't, it is a boy.
Baby #2 Verdict? I really need to ask Heath about this one. I am not sure. I think I am moodier though. Girl

Wives Tale: If the mother is clumsier, then it is a boy. If she is graceful, it is a girl.
Baby #2 Verdict? I doubt I would call myself graceful; but, I don't think I'm clumsier. Girl

Wives Tale: If the mother has dry skin, then it is a boy. If it regular, it is a girl.
Baby #2 Verdict? I do have dry skin. I think it is the weather; but, no arguing with old wives...Boy

Wives Tale: If your hair is shiny and healthy, it is a boy. If it becomes wiry and greasy, it is a girl.
Baby #2 Verdict? At first my hair was really healthy and shiny. Well, now it is all of a sudden gross feeling. :( So, it is Inconclusive.

Wives Tale: According to a Mayan Tale, if you add the year of conception and age of the mother at the time of conception, and it's even, it's a boy. If it is odd, it's a girl.
Baby #2 Verdict? I added 2011 and 25, to equal 2036. Boy

Wives Tale: If you have cold feet throughout the pregnancy, it is a boy. If you don't notice a change, it is a girl.
Baby #2 Verdict? I have seriously had really cold feet and hands lately. Boy

Wives Tale: A mother dreams about having the opposite sex.
Baby #2 Verdict? I have had dreams about having girls. Boy

Wives Tale: If the mother has headaches throughout the pregnancy, it is a boy. If she doesn't, it is a girl.
Baby #2 Verdict? I have had really bad headaches, consistently. It is letting up a bit now though. Boy

Wives Tale: If the daddy gains weight with you, it is a girl. If he stays the same weight, it is a boy.
Baby #2 Verdict? Heath never gains weight...ever. Inconclusive

Wives Tale: If the heart rate is over 140 (I've also heard 150), then it is a girl. If it is under 140 (or 150), then it is a boy.
Baby #2 Verdict? I didn't ask at the last appointment how fast it was. So, I will have to get back to you on this one...Inconclusive

Two more things...  


Chinese Birth Chart: Basically, you just use the chart and it tells boy or girl. Google it. :)
Baby #2 Verdict? The chart said it was a Boy.

I had a reader contact me on Facebook. She told me to point at my mouth or nose. So, I did. She went on to type that if I pointed at my nose it was a boy and if I pointed at my mouth, it was a girl. She heard it from one of her nurses and the nurse claimed it was 85% accurate. :)  I pointed at my nose. Boy

Old Wives Tale Results are:  11 Boy, 3 Girl, 5 Inconclusive

We shall see how accurate these "tales" are...here is a couple of weeks! So excited! Have a great weekend everyone!

Gender Guessing

I was filling in my weekly update in my Belly Book...

I really recommend this book, by the way. :)

I was filling in additional pages about the upcoming ultrasound and was asked, "What does everyone else think I am?"

Hmm...I don't know. With Lucy, everyone kept telling me, "I think it's a boy." But, with this one, no one had said anything really. So, I decided to do a poll. :) Would you all help me answer the question in my baby book?

I made a two question survey. You can click on it to answer the two questions, completely anonymously. :) Please, please, please take a second to answer them. It's easy.  Also, just so you know, I randomized the answers; so, "boy" or "girl" will change from listed first.  The color of the survey means nothing as well. I tried just green, but blue was added to the top. :-/


Click here to take survey

Again, I really appreciate you taking part in my craziness. I'll share the results later this week! :)

Thank you in advance! 

Pre-Lucy Thoughts

Each child is different and each one may need different 'tactics'!

Of course all moms like to give advice and let me be the first mom to tell you that my way works best. haha. Just kidding. But, here you go...

1. What kind of diaper bag did you use? Purse-type? Diaper-bag type? Did your husband carry it? Did you use the straps to hold it on to the stroller? Did you also carry a purse?

First of all, wowsers! That is a lot of questions. That type of fast-firing of questions is how I imagine a chihuahua would talk, if it could. :)  Anyway - I had a larger, black diaper bag. I wanted one that didn't have pastels and animals on it. So, my husband researched for "the best" one he could. It was online and had the best reviews. It looked more like a luggage-type bag than a diaper bag or purse, or at least I think so. My husband did carry it, since it was so ambiguous. We did use the straps for the stroller; we also used the straps that hold it onto the shopping cart. It was really helpful! Most of the time I still carried a purse, unless we were just running to a family members house or something, then I just threw my stuff in the diaper bag.

2. When did you fit back into your pre-baby pants? Did you buy larger pants or stay in maternity pants after baby?

I think it is unrealistic to think you are going to just hop back into your pre-baby pants. However, you are talking to someone who gained 54 lbs while pregnant. :[ I know those types of "freaks-of-nature" exist (no offense to those of you out there); but, I was NOT one of them. I didn't get back into my pre-baby pants until, like, 6 months later. Before that I had to buy new, big clothes (boo!). Just remember that everyone is different and hopefully my story makes you feel a bit better about it! haha.

3. Favorite brands of diapers? Wipes?

We quickly became Pampers fans. We tried Huggies once when Lucy was a newborn and didn't like them. We never tried any other kind after that. For wipes, we prefer Huggies. That is weird; I know. We buy both though. Huggies are just a bit thicker and don't rip as easily when you pull them out. An argument for Pampers: Children's hospital uses Pampers - must be good! :)

4. Where did baby sleep those first few weeks (or longer)? Your bed? Bassinet? Crib? In your room or his/her own?

Lucy was our first, and it's me we're talking about here. So, the paranoia was through the roof! SIDS scares the poop out of me! I didn't want Lucy sleeping away from me for at least a month. It ended up, she slept in our room for 2 months before moving to her own room. She slept in a pack-n-play, in the shallow insert they have...hard to describe. The next one may move to his or her room faster; who knows? Lucy had a hard time soothing herself. Or, we had a hard time letting her soothe herself, something like that...

5. How long until baby made a public appearance? Where was baby's first public appearance?

Our family visited a lot immediately; so, we didn't really need to leave the house a lot. Since Lucy was born in the middle of winter, we were also encouraged to not let her be around a lot of people (flu!). I think her first real public appearance was to the doctor and back. I think we made a trip shopping all day when she was 6 weeks and that was a big deal - and tough! I honestly didn't feel like getting out too much; I was still really self-conscious and sleep deprived!

6. Most useful baby item? I ran into a girl shopping for a baby gift in Target & she was looking at hooded towels. I said they were useful but should have thought of more useful items!

It is really tough to say what was the most useful. We have had a lot of items that we really needed to get by. The most would probably have to be the boppy. It helped me support Lucy when I breastfed and she was able to nap in it. It comforted her; she felt like she was still being held. It was our infant savior!

7. Did you find out the baby's gender beforehand?

Yes. I wanted to be able to plan out clothing and colors and a name. I like to plan and be organized. Experiencing birth and seeing Lucy's face was enough excitement for one day. We wanted to have something revealed throughout the pregnancy. :)

8. How long was your hospital stay? Did your hospital provide any cool services (special meal, spa treatment, etc)?

We were there technically three nights, since I went in at 9 pm and was in labor all night. It seemed to be the perfect number of days for our first baby. The hospital had a special menu for the parents, where Heath was able to eat too. It was nice. :) No spa treatments though. :(

9. Were you induced? Have a c-section? Use drugs? Epidural? Or au natural the whole way?

I went into labor naturally, a couple of days before she was due. I was lucky. I was also able to have her vaginally, which is what we wanted. The labor was long and slow - 36 hours; however, Lucy did really well and they never felt the need to rush it or do a C-Section. My doctor actually claimed, "Lucy [was] loving the birthing process." I was offered something to "take the edge off" while I waited for the epidural. I said yes; I would take anything they thought I could have at that point. It really did help a little. Then, I got an epidural at 4 cm and about 26 hours in. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

10. Do you like when friends come to the hospital to congratulate you or would you prefer that time just for your family (extended or immediate?)?

I really liked everyone being there for Lucy's birth. However, it was a little overwhelming. I felt at my absolute most vulnerable. I just wanted to shower and cuddle my baby. However, two hours after and a shower later, I was ready to show her off. Most visitors respected our exhaustion though and kept their visits somewhat brief. But, I think I preferred the visits in the hospital to the ones when we got home. Visitors during the first couple of weeks at home really made it tough to get into a routine or to take naps. :[ Everyone is different though.  Perhaps adjusting with a second child is easier - ?

Have a good Tuesday! And, please mothers out there chime in all you want! :)

Baby Registering

Look at me with all the baby talk now!

Well, I recently found, in the bottom of my nightstand drawer, a couple of lists I made while I was pregnant. I made a list of things I wanted to be sure I registered for. Of course, we always register for way more than that; but, I wanted to make sure I registered for some items at either Target, Walmart, or Amazon.com.

I thought about sharing the list with my friend. However, why not share it with everyone else too? Sure! Then, those fellow mothers out there could add other things. It sure would save her some time searching the internet! :)

Here were my 'Must Register For' items:

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Enfamil Formula
• Hamper
• Video Monitor
• Play Pen (with bassinet and changing table)
• Car Seat
• Stroller
• High Chair
• Tub
• Car Seat ‘Snuzzler’
• Pacifiers
• Bottles & Liners
• Bottle Washer
• Baby Hangers
• Crib Bedding
• Extra crib sheets
• Water proof crib sheets (2)
• Swing
• Thermometer
• Brush/Comb
• Nail clippers
• Clothes (all sizes)
• Pajamas (all sizes)
• Bibs
• Socks/Booties
• Anti-scratch mittens
• Diaper Bag
• Hats/stocking caps/PJ hats
• Blankets
• Hooded towels
• Diaper Genie II, Elite
• Diaper Genie II, Elite refills
• Changing pads
• Sun shades for the car
• Rattle/Toys
• Play Mat/Gym
• Vibrating/bouncy chair
• Diaper rash ointment
• Baby powder
• Travel wipes
• Baby oil
• Baby shampoo/body wash
• Wash cloths
• Teethers
• Travel formula dispenser
• Gas relief medicine
• Long sleeved onesies
• Baby Orajel
• Baby Tylenol
• Night Light
• Nasal Bulb
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Boppy
• Water for formula
• Breast pump
• Car sear cover (for winter babies)
• Boogie wipes
• Sleep sacks

Here were my 'Need - Later On' items:

• Toilet Seat Locks
• Toddler Shoes
• Safety Plugs for Electrical Outlets
• Cabinet locks
• Sippy Cups
• Plates & bowls
• Spoons & forks
• Potty chair
• Booster seat
• Tooth brush/paste
• Bath toys
• Snack cups, to-go
• Cheap stroller to keep in the car
• Toy box of some sort
• Faucet cover
• Outdoor swing
• Bath bucket
• Baby gates

Here were my 'Want to Register For' items:


• Bows/Headbands/Hats

• Infant Shoes
• Bumbo
• Bumbo tray
• Baby leggings
• Pacifier clip
• Baby food carousel
• Bedtime books
• Sound machine
• Dishwasher basket, for baby accessories

Here was the list of items that I wanted or needed for myself before Lucy came:

• Pads
• Nursing pads
• Nursing Bras
• Nursing pajamas
• “Granny panties”
• Tummy compressor

If anyone has any questions about what an item is or what I used it for or why I used it, I would be happy to share. Please share any other items that you thought were very helpful or necessary for you.

One thing I didn't use; but, I know a lot of mothers do, is a baby bjorn or a swaddler/carrier. New moms might want to try them out. :)

Happy baby registering, friend!

Fail Gate

Ahh...parents, remember those days when your child didn't move? Let your mind take you back...

Remember when they just laid there and could barely even roll over? You could put a play gym over them and get along with your chores/cooking/cleaning/etc. You could walk through door ways without having to step over gates or open and close swinging doors.

This is what our entryway looked like back in those good 'ole days.

But then...

She started rolling, then army crawling, then real crawling, then climbing, then climbing stairs...yipes. We had to do something! And, as you can see, this is an awkward area to block off.

Heath wanted to buy a long baby gate, the kind that screws into the wall. Nope. Not having it. I don't want to screw something into the wall. We'll just have to keep her away from it.

Ha!

We were so sick of going over and saving her from the stairs that we would make games of it.

"If I throw this block and it lands in the toy bin (7 feet away), then you have to go get Lucy. If I miss, I have to go get her."

Just after her first birthday, this is what had happened.

Obviously, this jimmy-rigged, trashy, fail gate wasn't going to work. It would be a temporary fix until Heath got the other one ordered online.

And, then he screwed it to the wall. :{

Again, the lighting is kind of yellowish on my phone. Sorry!

It makes going in and out of our living room kind of a nightmare. However, I have come to the realization that it will probably be there for the next five years or so, through all of our children becoming mobile (three planned, as of now).

Childproofing your home kind of takes all design out - not that those TV trays and dog bowls were adding much to my initial decor.

Here's to five plus years of gated-ness. :(

When we take it out, the room will seem huge! That's a plus I look forward to.

Our ABCs

My house has given it's best. I'll give it credit. It tried very hard not to let Lucy take over. But, without the playroom finished, the poor house lost.

The living room was the first to go. My leather ottomans with lids, used to be filled with blankets and our electronic gadgets. Now? Toys. Each cabinet has baby locks on it, and we have to use a swing door baby gate to go in and out of the room (because of stairs - ugh!).

Now, the kitchen has succumbed. We already had the highchair, the safety latches for the cabinets, and a baby gate. We also had a small, ride-on car in the corner. The cherry on top? New ABC magnets on the fridge - lots of them!

When I first brought them home, Lucy was napping. So, I used the two pack to spell out our names, our last name, the dogs' names, and even some random words. The magnets were neatly ordered just as I, being super anal, would have it. :)

Heath: "You know they won't stay like that."

Me: "I know!"

I said this in a slightly annoyed tone. He knew that I was being a bit particular about it, and there was a good chance that it would continue as long as the magnets stayed.

To my credit, they have been on the fridge, post-Lucy play, for four days now and I haven't reorganized them. Every time I walk by the fridge though, I see the beginning and the end of our last name. The middle? Who even knows where those letters went? They might possibly be under the fridge. I know it's only a matter of time until I put our names back together. It's for learning purposes right? :{

Anyway, enough with my antics...

Here is something else about ABCs that has been circling the Blog and Facebook worlds.  I thought I would join in too.

Cori's ABCs

A - Age: 20 something

B-Bed Size: Queen. Sometimes I wish it was a king (no offense Hun!).

C-Chore you hate: Sweeping/Moping - it is a wonder it ever gets done.

D-Dogs: Our two chihuahuas, Chico (black, 6 yrs. old) and Squirt (tan, long-haired, 5 yrs. old)



E-Essential start to your day: hitting the snooze button. I am not a morning person!

F-Favorite color: dark red

G-gold or silver: I like both; but, lately I've been into white gold and silver.

H-Height: average

I-Instruments you play: Trumpet, French Horn, and little Tuba. I also rocked the bells in 4th grade. :)

J-Job Title: ---------

K-Kids: Lucy, my beautiful little girl

L-Live: to the fullest! :) In the Midwest...

M-Mom's name: Mom, and Mimi :)

N-Nickname: Momma, Mum, Sweetheart, Babydoll, Cori Dee, and occasionally, the dreaded Corky. :{

O-Overnight hospital stay: only when I had Lucy. I stayed three nights! One of them I was in labor all night.

P-Pet Peeve: Lots! Improper grammar (like double negatives!), when people say "a hunerd" instead of "a hundred", when people say "warsh" and "warsh-cloth" instead of "wash", loud talkers at movies, and when people's jeans get stuck on the tongues of their tennis shoes (not in purposely, Justin Beiber kinda way).

Q-Quote from a movie: "So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day." - The Notebook

Photo from IMDB.com

R-right/left: righty

S-Siblings: an older sister

my sister, my mom, and me

T-Time you wake up normally: the alarm starts going off at 6:20 am. I usually drag myself out of bed around 7, depending on if I need to take a shower.

U-underwear: Umm, yes....? Victoria Secret?

V-veggies you dislike: Spinach, raw onions, peppers, squash, tomatoes

W-What makes you run late: sometimes Lucy, most of the time it's shear laziness and being slow

X-x-rays you've had: teeth a couple of times and my hip/pelvis once

Y-Yummy Food You Make: tonight we are having grilled chicken wraps! :)

 Z-Zoo animal: I love to watch the monkeys and the polar bears

Happy Hump Day!

My Top 20 Baby to Toddler Musts

I was thinking the other day, as I was using one of our many 'transition' products, "Wow, I couldn't do without this!" I felt compelled. I just needed to share with someone the awesomeness of the product and tell every mom that they should get one!

Now, here we are. I decided to make another list of my top 20; however, this time, it is for the transition from 'Baby' to 'Toddler'. Many items we purchased a long time ago and we have been using them for months; but, they are becoming even more useful. So, soon-to-be-moms out there: register for these too! You will need them before you know it!

Again, these are in no particular order and most are musts. Some, however, are just Lucy favorites. Enjoy!

1) Dishwasher Basket


We use this every time we put dishes in the dishwasher. It has become a permanent fixture. Unless you hand wash or boil the nipples for bottles (which we did every once in a while), it is impossible to keep them from flipping over in the dishwasher. Then they collect water and need to be washed all over again. Also, the small parts to bottles and sippy cups sometimes slip through the top shelf in the dishwasher; so, putting them inside is great! We also put Lucy's silverware in the basket!


2) Toy Box

I had a toy box growing up. So, this is a pretty 'usual' thing in our family. In fact, after I used mine, we gave it to our cousins. Then after they got older, they gave it back to Lucy! :) The box will go in her big-girl bedroom for all of her random, small toys. It is a great storage place and it hides all of the clutter. Plus, the top is a great place for all of her stuffed animals to sit. :)

3) Outdoor Swing

Lucy used this swing at daycare from the time she could hold her head up, and somewhat sit up on her own. She loved it. In fact, she would sit and swing for a good 20 minutes or so. We hadn't purchased one yet, since winter was coming. But, Lucy just got one for her birthday from Grandma (thanks!). This spring will be filled with swinging. I love the type of latch too; it is near impossible to fall out of. And, it comes in blue and red too.

4) Stacking Cups

Santa Claus got Lucy these for Christmas. It is a Lucy favorite and not a must. However, they are great for learning and development. Lucy and Heath play with these almost every night. They stack them and Lucy knocks them over. They yell into them, put them on each other's heads, and even put them on the dogs. The are so simple and cheap; but, they are one toy she plays with the most.

5) Snack Dispensers

Where would we be without these?! For car rides, they are a must! With dogs who like to steal snacks, they are a must! For babies on the go, they are a must! For babies who get antsy in high chairs, they are a must! Whew! Okay, get my point? They are so helpful!

We use these so often that I wish I had more than just two. We put Gerber Puffs, Crunchies, Yogurt Bites, and even Cheerios in these containers all the time. When you tip it upside down, nothing falls out. Plus, Lucy caught on right away. She didn't struggle with getting snacks out at all. She carries the container around during snack time, whether that be at the house in the living room, in her car seat, or in a shopping cart. She can snack anywhere and not make a huge mess. And, I don't have to do a thing!

6) Sippy Cups

We weaned Lucy off of her bottles pretty early. Almost as soon as she could hold one on her own, we started to integrate sippy cups. We did it because bottles slowly drip and caused a big mess when Lucy would throw hers down. Sippy cups, or more specifically these cups, don't leak. You have to suck or pinch the nipple for it to leak. We can put her to bed with a cup of water and it is no problem at all. She just throws it down when she is done and it there isn't a big wet stain the next morning. These are what we use; they are made by Munchkin.

7) Sun Blockers

These are something you need with an infant too, not just a toddler. However, it seems like we travel a lot more now-a-days. Lucy is finally 'travel-friendly'. Haha. We got this set for both backseat windows in our SUV. They work really well and don't block the view completely. There are only two complaints that I have. 1) The heat warning dot turned white once and never went back. Not a big deal though. 2) The bottom suction cups are either amazing (you can't get them off the window) or they are horrible (you can't get them to stick). I think it has to do with the temperature of the window. In the cold, not so helpful!

8) Popcorn Puffs (Cheesy Optional)

When Lucy first started eating semi-solid food, I remembered popcorn puffs. I used to love them as a child because they literally would disintegrate in your mouth. Since they are only $2 at the store, what an affordable snack?! Although they aren't as nutritional at Gerber products, Lucy loves them. We used the plain ones as an occasional snack when she was little and now that she is older, we have integrated the cheese ones. She really loves those! Warning: the child may become addicted. ;)

9) Music Play Table

As soon as Lucy could pull herself up, she played with one of these at daycare. She would play until her little legs got tired. Grandma Jeannie got her one for Christmas (thanks!) and now she plays at our house all the time. She dances to the music, moves all the little gadgets and I have even caught her trying to repeat the colors and sounds. It is great for development.

10) Outlet Plugs

Of all the baby-proofing items out there, this one is the most needed in our house. Lucy thinks plug-ins are so neat. And, our house was built fairly recently; so, we have a ton of outlets. In addition, I have found that these help put my mind at ease for other things too. We usually fold our blankets and put them behind our love seat. Sometimes they topple over and I find them pushed up against one of our outlets. I always get freaked out about it possibly starting a fire. So, I covered the outlets with these! I feel so much better now! :) Irrational? Eh, what's the price of peace of mind?

11) Crib Music Box

Lucy has two music boxes (thanks Mimi!). One is very similar to the one above. It is more of a fun item for Lucy to play with until she falls asleep. The other has 'cry recognition'. It's amazing! We turn it on at night and it plays a lullaby for 15 minutes and then fades out. It even has a light that shines on the ceiling. Then, if Lucy starts crying, it recognizes the pitch and starts playing again for 15 minutes. Sometimes we don't even have to get up with her, the box will comfort her back to sleep! It sucks a lot of batteries; but, it is worth it! Warning: high-pitched chihuahua barking sometimes sets it off too. :{

12) Fleece Jacket

Heath and I have read that you are not supposed to put your baby in their car seat with a big winter jacket on. It claimed that the car seat isn't being as effective. So, we try not to do this with Lucy. It's tough with Midwest winters! So, we usually bundle her in stocking caps and blankets. With her carrying car seat, it wasn't a problem lugging her back and forth. Now, with her big girl car seat, we can't do that anymore. So, we use one of these little jackets in addition to the blankets (thanks Mimi!).

13) Formula/Snack Dispensers

We used something very similar to this when Lucy a newborn. We used them for formula. You could measure out the formula into these and just throw them in the diaper bag. I highly recommend them for that use! It beats trying to lug around a big container or buy those expensive packets.

Now, that Lucy is older we can use if for small snacks. They aren't really as good as the snack dispensers, like above; however, it would be nice to send with her when she is getting babysat. Not everyone has Cheerios in the house. :)

14) Faucet Cover

This has saved a lot of bumps on the head! Granted, we aren't as careful because we know the faucet is covered; but, it helps nonetheless. He is great! Lucy likes him, he covers all the sharp parts of the faucet, and she can't pull on the shower knob!

15) Cardboard Books

Right now Lucy destroys any book that isn't cardboard. She is in a tearing stage. :( Sad day for my magazines. She loves to look at books and jabber. We joke that she is imitating us reading them to her. Her favorite is 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. It has smaller pages; so, she can turn them easily. And, the colors are vibrant too!

16) Cabinet Locks

Another baby-proofing item that we got were these, or something similar. There are so many locks out there and we have found that we had to get different ones for different kinds of knobs. Our kitchen and bathroom cabinets have handles and the corner cabinet and TV stand have knobs. So, be careful buying and it will be worth it!

17) Bumbo Tray

I never really recommended the Bumbo before; sorry about that. I do though. It is a nice addition. However, you really can't have the Bumbo without the tray! Even at one year old, we put Lucy in here for snack time. It is a nice change from the high chair. Plus, she likes being on the floor, next to her toys and the chihuahuas.

18) Boogie Wipes

One splurge that is worth it! Okay, they aren't that expensive; but, they are worth the money! These wipes are very soft, softer than diaper wipes. They also have saline in them to help their little noses. And, they smell good. Lucy would cry when we would use tissues or damp cloths. She actually allows these. They also fit nicely in the diaper bag.

19) Bath Bucket

This is it! The item that was so awesome that I had to recommend it. I know, I know. Anyone who has been down the baby aisle at Walmart has seen these. But, if you are like me, your first thought was that it probably didn't work that well. Wrong! It does! It is amazing. I really don't know how people get all the soap out without one of these. I've become spoiled. Lucy has even learned to tilt her head back for me.

20) Baby Gate, Extreme

We broke down and bought one. We had been blocking our stairs for a long time now and finally broke down this last weekend. Lucy cannot and will not stay off of the stairs. A regular baby gate isn't cutting it either; they just aren't long enough and don't work well with open staircases. We need one that doesn't mount to the wall (I don't want to drill holes!) and that has a gate. Plus, I think our chihuahuas just may be able to slip through too. Haha.

Online portions of this gate were around stairs, a fire place, and a entertainment center. It is great for 'cornering' items in.

Those are my recommendations for the 6 month to 18 month range. I will be sure to share any other wonder-products that I find along the way. Any mothers out there want to add any items or comments?

My Top 20 Baby Musts

I, again, was visiting my #1 online shopping spot this evening. I often rate and critique products. I know how much I use other buyers' feedback; therefore, I try to pay it forward. So, I decided to make a list of all of the items that Heath and I have been so thankful for in this first 8 months of raising Lucy -others are just Lucy's favorites.

Please know that there are many other things that we needed and are thankful for; but, these are the little 'extras' that have made this process so much easier! They are in no particular order.

EDIT: If you liked this post, you may also like 'My Top 20 Baby to Toddler Musts'.

1) The Boppy

I have no idea how Heath and I would have made it through the first month without this holder. Lucy would feel like we were still holding her; therefore, we were actually able to eat every once in a while! Also, when I was breast-feeding, this was a great arm rest. I was able to have a free arm.

2) Graco SwingThis swing plays a heart-beat sound that put Lucy right to sleep when she was a newborn. Also, her car seat is Graco and can be added to the cradle (just take the current one out). So, after car rides, we don't have to wake her; we just put her on the swing cradle and go about our routine.

3) Video Monitor Heath found this video monitoring system. It is really more like a security camera. We mounted it over her crib. It puts my mind so much at ease. Also, it is not a constant sounding monitor. When it is quiet in the nursery, there isn't any sound omitted. When Lucy cries, the sound kicks on and an alarm goes off. Finally, it hooks up to the television too for a picture in picture view. We will watch a movie and Lucy will be in the corner sleeping like a log.

4. Pacifiers (or "binkies" - in our house) Just when you think you have enough pacifiers, buy another package. We have already lost 4. We just had to buy some more. Now granted, your baby may not be a binkie baby. Perhaps you could leave them in the package until you know for sure. Lucy sure is and she LOVES them!

5. Baby Orajel

This one is clearly on my mind because we are right in the middle of teething! We use this all the time. It calms her down almost immediately.

6. Playtex Bottles with Drop-Ins
This is probably, purely a preference thing. My family all uses drop-ins; so, naturally, I did too. But, honestly, we favor these bottles over all our others. It seemed to be the best for not making her gassy as a newborn and now they are the easiest to mix formula in. Making an 8 oz. or 10 oz. bottle in anything else is a mess!

7. Changing PadWe decided on not getting a changing table. We just didn't think we'd use it enough to warrant buying one. So, we use changing pads. I have to admit though, we don't use these, above. We use Dollar Store pads - hey, they work! :)

8. Car Seat Cover I had Lucy in the dead of winter, so we used this a lot. It was so nice not to be fighting blankets and it didn't lay directly on her face. Plus, it kept her very toasty in there!

9. Diaper Genie II (Elite)I had heard both good and bad things about this product; but, we thought, hey, why not try it out ourselves. Oh, how thankful I am for it! It isn't too ugly to put in Lucy's room, it's short enough to fit in a closet (if need be), and it truly does keep the smell in. I highly, highly, recommend it to anyone, as long as you don't mind buying the refill sacks (about $6 every 6-8 weeks, for us).

10. Usborne Books - Touch & Feel

We recently bought some touch and feel books from an Usborne Consultant and Lucy just loves them! We have the one above and we also got another one about animals. They are thick and durable. Here is a link to their website: http://www.usborne.com/. Also, I know a consultant, if you want to make an order or have a book party! :)

11. Rubber Duckies

This is a Lucy favorite. She loves playing with them in the tub. The little ones are small enough for her to grab onto easily. She chews on them through her entire bath.

12. Baby Bath TubI know a lot of people just go from sink bathing to the big tub; but, we enjoy our baby tub. She started as a newborn in the sling and she continues to use it now without. The only issue we have is where to store it. It ends up just staying in the tub; we move it in and out when we take showers.

13. 'God Gave Us You'
This story is just so touching. Lucy isn't old enough yet to understand; but, I am excited for when she can. It is all about a couple planning for a baby (getting the nursery ready, the growing belly, being excited). It is very sweet and it tells a story so much like Heath and me, getting ready for Lucy - adorable! (Thanks Gigi!)

14. Sleepmate Sound Machine
This machine started out as Heath and mine, in the master bedroom. I used to live near a highway and silence just doesn't work for me. So, we had this and turned it on every night. It makes just a real hollow-type sound, basically white noise or 'whooshing.' Anyway, we had Lucy sleep in our room for the first two-months. She was next to my side of the bed and the sleepmate on the nightstand. Needless to say, when she made the move to her nursery the machine had to go too. It took us about three nights to figure out that is what she needed to sleep.

15. Sleep-Sacks

Again, since Lucy was a winter baby, we used a lot of warm items. Because of SIDS, we didn't want her to sleep in the crib with a blanket. Also, Lucy has to have her arms over her head when she sleeps; so, swaddling never worked for us. These were a great was to keep a 'blanket' on her, on cold nights. I just wish they were easier to find!

16. Razz-Berry Teether

This is another Lucy favorite. She could chew on this thing for hours. It can also be put in the refrigerator, to cool down like other teethers. Warning - keep bibs on standby; they will drool a LOT.

17. Play Gym

Before Lucy was mobile, this was her favorite past-time. We don't have this exact one, but a similar one. It folds up easily too for trips or to get it out of the way.

18. Graco Pack N' Play This system was a great addition to our Graco set. Although we didn't really use the nap area or changing table, we did use the crib aspect. This is where Lucy slept for the first two months and when she stays the night at Mimi's house. She is big enough now that we use it as a play pen; but, she still naps in it occasionally.

19. Gas Relief Drops I can't forget these! When she was a newborn, I swear she was always gassy! These drops would work within about 10 minutes.

20. Vibrating Chair We have two different vibrating chairs, this is one of them. As a newborn, she loved to nap in her chair. It was comforting. Now, she likes to nap in this one because she can play and rock before hand. She'll be playing pretty hard and next thing we know, she's asleep. :)

There you have it. My recommendations for the parent-to-be. Any moms out there have any other recommendations? What could you not live without, then or now?