Just Baby Steps: January 2012

I recently had a friend ask me to create a blog post about what baby items we use for Kaelyn. She was getting ready to do her baby registry, and like many moms, overwhelmed with the numerous items to choose from! I decided to do a post on some of our favorite "extras," because I'm assuming you are probably aware that you will need some clothing items... and have already been brainstorming nursery ideas... and are already planning on getting some extra furniture such as a crib, rocking chair, baby bedding, etc :) So, here are some of our favorite "extra" items that we use most often!

Activity or Play Gym - It is nice to have somewhere to be able to put Kaelyn down while I grab breakfast or finish getting ready for the day. The colors are great for stimulating your baby's development, and you can also use it for tummy time! The one we have is below.

2. Bouncer and/or Swing - Most moms with babies I know say they couldn't live without their swing... but Kaelyn doesn't care much for hers. She much prefers her bouncy seat! I think every mom would agree that this is a super handy tool to have around. Sometimes I put it in the kitchen with me as I'm cooking, or at my feet as I'm eating, reading, or doing anything really! It's also a nice place to be able to put your baby down that will entertain him/her when you have something else you need to be doing. I just got the cheapest one I could find at Target, and it works great! Kaelyn loves the gentle bouncing motion, and the attached toys keep her attention. The one we have vibrates too... but we've never used that function... I don't really think it's neccessary!

3. Some kind of Carrier - We have the Moby wrap and the Ergo carrier. Right now, I prefer the Moby. It is so small and lightweight, and I love having her so close to me. It's great to put on while doing chores around the house or at the grocery store! I typically put it on before I leave the house. That way it is easy to just stick her in once we get to the store. I hardly feel the extra baby weight at all! Granted she is still only about 12.5 lbs. :) As Kaelyn grows, I know I will love the Ergo more and more as it is comfortable and can be worn on the front or back. It has great shoulder and hip support.

Moby

Ergo

4. Stroller - We went ahead and invested in the Baby Jogger City Select. It is more expensive than your basic stroller, but we are viewing it more like saving money in the long run because you can turn it into a double. No, we're not planning for our second yet, just planning ahead! :) You can also customize it to fit into 16 different positions, and it folds in one simple step. Very easy to use and push around. Love this thing!

5. Burp cloths - A friend of ours made ours... so I don't have any suggestions on what kind to get, but you will need them! It doesn't really matter what you get... your baby will be throwing up on them... just remember to always keep them handy! :)

6. Pacifier - The ever controversial paci plug!! If you are going to use one, I recommend getting a couple of different kinds as every baby prefers a different type (if your baby even will take it). Kaelyn likes the Avent brand... it's the only one she will take!

7. Breastpump - We went with the Medela Swing for a few different reasons. First of all, I had heard good things about Medela, and I knew I wanted an electric pump. I am at home full time, but pump enough to have extra milk for the occasional babysitter or when I go to my weekly night classes. We went with the single pump as we didn't want to cough up the nearly $300 for the double.

8. Swaddle blanket(s) - I have heard amazing things about the Aden + Anais swaddle blankets... so you might want to register for a few of those, but we have LOVED our Summer Infant SwaddleMe blankets. They velcro on, so you can get as tight of a fit as you want, and they are harder for your baby to bust out of. Swaddling definitely helps K sleep for longer stretches of time because she can't accidentally hit herself in the face!

9. Waterproof liners for changing pad - Your baby WILL go to the bathroom while you are changing him or her at some point... so make sure you change your baby on something waterproof that you can easily throw in the wash.

10. Baby Bath Tub - We got the one shown below in the picture... it's the Fisher Price Aquarium Bath Center. If ya'll were like me, your parents probably used the sink to bathe you.... not anymore, my friends. These bath tubs are awesome! Kaelyn LOVES playing in her bath tub. It's great to not have to worry about holding her the right way, or bonking her head on anything. Definitely worth the $20 bucks.

What are your favorite baby items or the items you are most excited to use??

Baby K is such a joy! I feel like we hit some kind of magic age or something in the last couple of weeks. All of a sudden, she doesn't cry as much, babbles and squeals way more, and is an infectious smiling machine. She has always been relatively easy going, but all of a sudden, things seem so much easier! Here are some things I would like to remember about her second month of life!

First of all, she started sleeping between 5-8 hours every night which is a HUGE DEAL! She doesn't have a set bedtime yet, but from whatever time she goes down, she will sleep 5-8 hours from that point on. AMAZING. It feels so good to feel like a normal functioning person again! I am experimenting with eating and nap times during the day to try and give us both optimal sleep at night.
She rolled over from front to back!
She makes really high pitched squealing noises when she is talking to herself... so amusing. She has really found her voice this month!
I am feeling more confident and learning to trust my instincts. We are starting to establish a routine where she nurses, plays, and then takes a nap. I am getting the hang of determining between the hungry cry, the tired fussy sounds, and the I want to be held noises.
She is a super curious baby with the brightest, widest eyes imaginable. Right after her naps, I feel like she is contemplating quantum physics. When I put her Moby wrap or Ergo carrier, she can't stand to have her head covered up because she likes to be able to look around at everything around her.
When she has a bath, she looks down at her feet and then pumps them up and down making splashes in the water while squealing happily. Definitely her favorite part of the day!

It is SUCH a joy and blessing to be able to be home for each and every new noise and expression she makes and never have to be away from her for very long! I love that I have the time to be able to give her my full attention, focus on being the best wife I can be, take care of myself, actually enjoy time with friends and family, do more cooking, and keep up with housework for once (most of the time...)! In listening to a recent sermon on motherhood, it has come to my attention just how much of a ministry being a mom is. I have so much influence in her life and how wonderful it is to be able to be there for each teachable moment as she grows! Now let's see how I do when we add a couple night classes and x amount of hours of writing papers, presentations, projects, and reading to the equation. Hello, 2012! I'm ready for you!

Here are some pictures that capture her 2nd month of life!

Meeting Santa.... she decided to sleep on Santa's lap instead of tell him what she wanted for Christmas. I'm still not sure how she still got so many presents anyway.