My Favorite Things 2010

Well, tomorrow is NYE and with a 14+ week old we aren't planning on celebrating in a huge way. Its weird, but I would much rather ring in the new year with June and Jason than at some huge party. This year has been so incredible and I am so excited to see what 2011 has in store for us.

So much has happened in the past week alone, besides all the craziness that Christmas brings. Santa spoiled June and she doesn't even realize it. Our house is filled with toys, bouncers, walkers and even an infant keyboard chair. We have officially grown out of our house and June isn't even 4 months old yet. We now have a rollie pollie on our hands! Woo hoo! June has learned to roll over from belly to back and vice versa. We actually have to closely watch her on her play mat because somehow she knows how to scooch herself in circles off the mat, off the rug and onto the hardwood floors; and when she is on her belly, she seems like she actually wants to start moving. June also had her real first giggle from the gut, as I now call it. Its so awesome! She has really learned that she has a voice and man she likes to hear herself! Jason and I are just loving that she "talks". Its fun to have conversations and hear her respond in some form. June also found her feet this week and can't stop playing with them. I told you a lot has happened in the past week...

I wanted to write my last post of the year about the baby products that I swear by and couldn't live without. When I found out I was having June, I asked my friends with kids what products they couldn't live without and for the most part, I agree with their suggestions. Jason laughs at me because he says that I buy every "widget" out there. Thank God he laughs at me and sees this as endearing. Its terrible, but its true. So I have tried a lot of what's out there, some have made my life easier and others have been a waste of time and money, but oh well, now I know. So in case you are pregnant, have an infant or need to buy a gift for someone expecting, here is my list of top 10 Favorite Things. And sorry, unlike Oprah's show, you will not all be receiving these awesome items.

1. Sleep Sheep We couldn't live without this! We even have the Sleep Sheep on the Go attached to June's car seat. Its essentially a white noise machine but its a sheep and super soft and ultra soothing to babies, especially a newborn. It has 4 sound options: ocean, heartbeat, whale and rain. We use the ocean sound everytime June gets strapped into her car seat and when she goes down for a nap or sleep for the night. They also make a giraffe one. LOVE this!

2. ERGObaby Carrier with Newborn Insert If it wasn't for this carrier we would never have food in our house because I put June in this everytime we go to the grocery store, Target and even when I just want to hold her close but have things to do. At first glance, it looks kinda bulky, like a hiking pack. But its all those straps that keep it from hurting your back, waist and shoulders. Its a backpack, but also a carrier for the front. You have to spend the extra money and get the newborn insert until the baby is 12lbs., but its so worth it. June loves being in it. I carry her in the front chest to chest, and it is soooo comfy. She doesn't like slings (although I have 5 different kinds), so this is a must-have product for us.

3. Puj Tub This tub fits perfectly in sinks of all sizes and is super comfy for your baby. June loves bath time and I really think its because she is so comfortable in this. You can't overfill this with water because of the holes in the middle, its easy to put together and you only need 1 hand to do so (just 2 sets of magnets that stick together), and you can store it anywhere since its just thin foam. Its worth the money, trust me!

4. WubbaNub Infant Pacifier Before we put June on formula, this was the only thing that soothed her and stopped her crying. They are so cute. June has the long horn steer, giraffe, dolly and caterpillar. They are great pacifiers (the ones given to preemies in the hospitals) and easy to hold because of the mini animals attached to them. They are sold in children's boutiques but Babies 'R Us just started selling them as well.

5. Fisher Price My Little Lamb Cradle N Swing CAN'T live without this! June sleeps in it, plays in it and just chills out. Its super soft and swings forever, I mean forever but be prepared to have lots of batteries. The best swing out there!

6. Baby Einstein Neptune Ocean Adventure Mat June loves playing on this mat. The octopus is her favorite and she loves the music. We named him Ozzie and her Mima got her a bigger one for Christmas that can hang on this as well. Super fun!

7. Baby's Bliss Gripe Water Saved our lives before formula. Its great for babies who have tummy and gas issues associated with colic and teething. Its an herbal supplement, but you should ask your doctor if its okay to give to your little one. You can find it at Rite Aid, but it is much cheaper to order online. We were buying it by the case...

8. Nosefrida Snot Sucker Great recommedation from my friends Kari and Colette. Its much easier to get the snot out than an infant nasal aspirator bulb and doesn't hurt as much. Don't worry, the snot never actually reaches your mouth because of the soft filter inside the tube. Some recommendations for this: its super hard to find in stores. So don't make the mistake and try to find it when your baby is actually sick like I did. Buy it online at Target and make sure and buy 1-2 extra packs of filters.

9. Prince Lionheart Wipes Warmer Okay, not a necessity but June sure does love the warm wipes. I mean, think about it: would you want a freezing cold wipe on your tush in the middle of the night? Probably not. Make sure to buy the replacement pillows for this as well.

10. Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Vanilla Teether I'm sure you have seen the regular Sophie the giraffe teether. With all the rants and raves about it, I was disappointed that June wasn't quite into it yet. But I found this smaller, more teether-friendly version and its awesome. She is starting to suck on toys, her hands and her sleeves, and this is the best of the toys. Its soft and has small bumps that feel good on her gums, AND its super easy for her little hands to hold. I'm sure she will like the bigger one in a few months but this one does the job for now.

So there you have it. My fave things since being blessed with June. They are in no particluar order. There are a TON of products out there for babies and you obviously can get by with the bare minimum but its always fun to have some specialty items too. I hope I've become more laid back since having June. I've learned so much about babies, life and love, and I hope I am passing some of what I have learned on to you. I hope, at the very least, that you are enjoying what I am sharing. Just in case you were wondering, I use Tommee Tippee Bottles, love my Petunia Picklebottom diaperbag and her clutches, get lots of compliments on my Fancee Pants Designs wipes case (check her out on Etsy), swore by my Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump, push a Peg Perego Primo Viaggio travel system, can't resist baby clothes at Target and love the ever-so-popular and mass produced Carter's brand of infant clothes, use good ole' Johnson & Johnson all over soap to bathe June and their unscented lotion for her baby massages, clean June's face with Mustela facial wipes (for some reason the scent really calms her down), couldn't live without Pampers Swaddlers disposable diapers or Pampers Sensitive Wipes, don't swaddle June but if I did I would use Under the Nile's swaddle blankets (their clothes are to die for comfy too), loves Baby Gap and Little MissMatched sales, splurge on Right Bank Babies clothes, and I listen to Kristen Chenoweth's music in the nursery and sing the songs from Wicked to June.

In case you aren't members on these sites, join them for AMAZING deals on fabulous brands of children's clothing:
Zulily, Hautelook, Totsy, and GiltGroup

Have a safe New Year's Eve and here's to a wonderfully awesome 2011! Cheers!

Things I have learned from 2010

Seeing as we are only 2 weeks away from 2011 and so many changes have/are occurring, I thought that my next post might be about the things I have learned this past year. When Jason and I kissed to 2010 on New Year's, we had no clue what was in store for us. I found out I was pregnant on January 3rd, my Dad's birthday. Many know the story but just in case you don't, this is the basic version:

I had been eating a lot of pickles, and as Jason and I were getting ready to drive to my parents' to celebrate my Dad's birthday, I was walking around the house eating a pickle. Jason said, "you've been eating a lot of pickles lately." I jokingly responed, "maybe I'm pregnant." Then I went into the bathroom took a test without Jason knowing, and then I started yelling his name, with the door shut. He came to the door, asking if I was ok. I just kept saying, "hold on," as the positive symbol got darker and darker. I opened the door and said, "I think I'm pregnant." I was so excited but didn't want to get my hopes up, in case the test was wrong (you can't get a false positive I later learned), but honestly, I was terrified. Jason just remained calm and collected, as always, smiling and hugging me. We both weren't expecting our lives to change in that way less than a year after we were married, but God had other plans. That plan is now the most precious thing and biggest blessing of our lives.

With June being born, so much of mine and Jason's life has changed drastically: we don't hit up the bars on the weekends, its tough to see our college friends who don't live close, I haven't bought clothes for myself in ages yet I can't seem to stop buying them for June (sorry Jason), date night is hard to come by, no more cussing, going to Starbucks takes 30 minutes of prep time, and so much more. But none of these things seem to matter anymore. We both would give it all up, and honestly, I would have given everything up sooner had I known how much joy and love June would bring to my life.

So here is my list of things I have learned from the wonderful year of 2010:

1. I don't have control of anything anymore. June is in control of everything. She is Queen Bee.

2. I am emotional. Everything makes me cry now, even the joyful things. I cried feeding June in the backseat of my car in the Trader Joes parking lot last week because of a song that came on.

3. A baby's smile can make all confusion, sadness and frustration fly right out the window.

4. Not taking a shower for 3 days, having perfectly manicured hands and feet, and having roots will not kill me, I just might not want to venture out of the house until I clean myself up.

5. A baby spitting up/pooping on an expensive shirt is not the end of the world.

6. Not losing all the baby weight yet means that I obviously focus all my attention on my baby and in a way makes me selfless.

7. That uncontrollable sobbing can only be soothed by my/your mom's voice, even if its on the phone (whether you're a baby or a 27 year old woman).

8. Babies bring families together.

9. Being a stay-at-home mom is actually a profession.

10. Getting 10 minutes alone is progress.

11. A baby can both laugh and cry at the same time.

12. Snuggling with June is now my favorite past time. I even wake her up sometimes just because I want to hold her so bad.

13. God has a plan and truly is the one in control.

14. My husband is the most amazing man and father, and I am so lucky that he chose me. And that through the lows and the highs that he is truly the only person who understands me.

15. Siblings are one of those gifts that God gives, because He knows the positive impact that they will have not only on your life, but on your childrens' lives as well.

16. Grandparents/our parents are a blessing who take over when you can't seem to move forward.

17. The word sacrifice shouldn't have a negative connotation to it. Its actually such a positive aspect of our lives now.

18. Mother's intuition actually exists and trumps any medical journal or profession.

19. I actually am very maternal and have patience (I know many people doubted this).

20. That I couldn't love anything or anyone more that I love June, unconditionally, forever and forever.

On that note, I will stop. June just woke-up and I get to snuggle with her and feed her. 2010 has been the best year of my life. Can't wait to see what 2011 has in store... oh yeah! I'm getting a brother-in-law!