Good Enough to Share

I remember saying way back when that I was clueless and overwhelmed at the vast variety of baby products available nowadays.  When getting Griffin something, be it bottles, toys, etc. I try to stick with the most simple option or one that I know has stood the test of time.  For the most part, that's worked for the last 5 months.  Then sometimes someone like my blog pal, Kim, comes along and recommends something that's worked well for her little Elle.  This is something that I had walked past many times during my countless trips through the baby isle, but this is something that Griffin loves.  

Lately I've had curious hands swatting at whatever I'm eating.  Just the other day I was eating an apple and Griffin kept grabbing for it so I gave him a chunk to suck on.  He was going to town on it, but it kept slipping out of his hands, frustrating him.  Then as I was eating today's apple I thought to throw some chunks in the Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder and give it a whirl.  Thumbs Up!  Griffin was able to suck and gnaw away, and I didn't have to hold anything but my baby.  

I love suggestions like this, so keep 'em coming my way!

Baby Crazy

I hope that you get as much enjoyment from reading this post as I did writing it. Over the last few months I have been browsing through tons and tons of baby gear, necessary and not so necessary. I knew that there was a whole world of things out there that I didn’t know existed, but I didn’t realize how outrageous some of these things were. The other day I was talking to my best friend, Liz, about some of the things that I have found online, and got the idea to share a few of them with the rest of you. My hope is not to offend anyone with my personal opinions on these things, so please take what I say with a grain of salt.

Peter Potty Toddler Urinal
I do wish that I had room in my bathroom for this. I actually wish I had room for four or five of these, so my little boy could feel the real experience of going to the mens’ room. I would assume that this would be a nice conversation starter too. Now, one con I see here is when your little boy goes over to his friends’ houses and he doesn't know where to pee since there’s no Peter Potty Toddler Urinal.



Safety 1st Jack Potty

This is one that I wish they had in an adult version. If gambling were legal here, I would be awful tempted to get one. I mean, who doesn’t wish that their toilet looked like a slot machine? “Flashing lights and spinning shapes” would make pottying much more exciting. Too bad you can't insert quarters anywhere.




Toilet Buddies
These are fun; they are stickers that you apply to your toilet to "empower your child to explore the toilet independently. Sounds intriguing. They also claim to " HELP REDUCE THE FEAR AND ANXIETY CHILDREN EXPERIENCE DURING THE TOILET TRAINING PROCESS." Personally I think I might be afraid of going anywhere near the toilet if it looked like an animal. Although the 12 sets that they offer are all named. So now if you're not sure what you want your little one to refer to the bathroom or bathroom acts as, your solution is here! Instead of Little Johnny saying, "Mommy, I need to go poop," he could say "Mommy, I need to go see Poo-Poo Panda (or Doo-Doo Duck)." Now that sounds much more appropriate. You can also choose from Gatago Giraffe, P.P. Pig, Leaky Frog, or Can Go Roo. If you're worried about the animal staring at your little Johnny while he's doing his business, there's no need to fear. Every animal comes with an additional eyes closed face that goes inside of the lid, how thoughtful. The first thing that came to my mind was amusement park photo-op spots. I can hear it now, "Look Mommy, there's Poo P. Bunny. Time to potty." Then you're running after little Johnny as he's pulling his pants down in public and he's scarred for life. Maybe these aren't so thoughtful.
GatorGripper®
One of the most traumatizing things I remember as a child was getting a loose tooth. The loose tooth wasn't scary, but what normally came next was. I remember looping a piece of floss around my tooth and the other end to a door knob, then praying to God that my Dad would be right and "I wouldn't feel a thing." No one ever offered to do all this for me and I remember always feeling like I needed to get the loose tooth out so it wouldn't come out on its own and choke me in the middle of the night. If only my family would have had a Gator Gripper, then I wouldn't be nearly as disturbed as I am today. The claims to make tooth removal pain free and FUN sound awful promising.

Zaky Infant Pillow
I enjoy looking at this one. The point is to have your child feel like you're still holding him after you have laid him down to sleep. On their website they say to bring it to the hospital when your child is born and ask the nurse to put these around your child in his bassinet while he's in the nursery. I would expect to be laughed at. And if I ever went looking at babies in a nursery and saw one with these fake puppet hands around him, I would laugh really really hard.

Nosefrida, the snotsucker
I plan on having a nasal aspirator and I see the benefits of having one. However, I do not see the benefit of sucking my babies snot myself when there are little devices that we've been using for many many years successfully. There are many gross things that I realize that I'll be doing for my child, but I don't think he will feel like I love him any less if it's not me that sucking his snot out of his little nose. Eww.




Tinkle Tube
I am going to let their website explain what this is for, they do it much better than I can do. Although I want to say first that I thought this was used when you couldn't find a bathroom while traveling, then I found out that I was wrong.
“Stand the child on or in front of the toilet seat with your assistance. Be sure to hold the child securely at all times to prevent him from slipping and falling. Unzip or pull down the boys pants. Remove both caps from the Tinkle Tube. Place the Tinkle Tube over the boys little soldier. Now hold and aim the tube towards the toilet. Shake the tube out, rinse and replace the caps. Store the Tinkle Tube in your bag for the next use.” I feel so bad for the child whose parents felt that this was a necessary potty training item.

Baby Toupee
One of my worries about my baby arriving into the world is not the possibility of him being bald. But if it were, there's a solution for that! I do hope that once I go into mommy-mode I have lots of brilliant ideas, like the baby toupee. Maybe I could get a few of these so the baby and the dogs could go as the same thing for halloween next year. Oh...the possibilities....

Baby Mop
Just the other day I was sitting around wondering how I could teach my baby work ethic as soon as possible. And maybe when I could start expecting him to do his chores. Just a second ago I found the Baby Mop. I tell you....there's a solution for EVERYTHING on the internet.



Since Bean Sprout isn't here to help me out yet, I must do my chores alone. Hope you enjoyed this, there should be more on the way.

17 Weeks

I am accustomed to being pregnant now, for the most part I have figured out how my body is going to act to certain things. I can't eat till it hurts anymore, because it hurts worse. I now eat little meals and then get hungry a couple of hours later. Sometimes I want to eat more than I should, but I know the feeling that follows and know I should avoid it. I rarely want sweets and recently I thought I wanted ice cream sandwiches, but now the idea of ice cream makes me feel slightly sick. Watermelon and apples are the exception to this sweet issue, I always want fruit. I have more energy than in my first trimester but I get tired more quickly than normal. Thankfully being 17 weeks pregnant isn't too out of the norm, there's not many surprises. I still don't really like being pregnant, and I still don't find it cute. I wish I could understand the women that love being pregnant but I just don't. I enjoyed my predictability pre-pregnancy, now it could change on a weekly basis.

My number one complaint about being pregnant is that I get hotter than normal. I knew this would happen, but I didn't know how bad it would be. It's only going to get hotter and I am only going to get bigger. Ugh. But when the weather gets tolerable and the sweaters come out, pregnancy will be over. Oh the irony makes me giggle.

Speaking of sweaters, we bought Bean Sprout his first cute little sweater. I never realized the effect that baby clothes would have on me. I had seen this sweater in Gap Kids prior to finding out the sex of BS, but there was no way I was going to pay the price on the tag for something only to fit for 3 months, but the cuteness of it almost brought tears to my eyes. This Sunday we ran into Gap Kids again, just for fun, and there it was, on the sale rack. The only 0-3 month one there, and to my delight had a much lower price tag. This was a sign that it would indeed be BS's first Thanksgiving sweater. Sunday ended up like Christmas for Bean Sprout, we had no intentions for this. We found our ideal stroller/infant seat set. I had to eat my words, because I said that I wouldn't buy anything from Babies R Us and I didn't want to own a travel system. I really should stop trying to predict my future. We went only to look and while we were looking at the strollers, Dave's eye was caught by a smaller lightweight one with a clearance tag. He pulled it down, we played around with it, and we were very impressed. It wasn't big at all and the seat leaned back further than the others in it's same class, had nice storage, and was easy to open and close. It also had flip up pieces on the side rails that we couldn't figure out a purpose for. I noticed a matching infant car seat on the clearance table and wondered if that had something to do with the unknown pieces. It did! The seat slide right on to those pieces and didn't add much bulk at all. This thing was great, exactly what we both wanted but didn't realize even existed. We hadn't planned on buying a stroller yet, and decided to go home to search the internet to compare prices. Turned out that this was a great deal on both, and the particular color was just being discontinued. It also has great safety ratings and got great user reviews. The deal was too good to let pass, so we now own a "travel system" from Babies R Us.

Our next doctor's visit is on June 23, and we'll be 20 weeks--the half way mark. Woohoo!!

*Pictures coming soon.

today's lesson

Today was an interesting and educational experience. This morning, Dave and I went to Target and Babies R Us and tried to teach ourselves about strollers. (I should have filmed this.) First off, it was Dave's idea to look at strollers and it seems as though he's really been thinking about pushing our kid around (I'm laughing and I shouldn't be). I would consider us to be rather practical people; I think that we take function over most other options, even when it comes to strollers. Ideally we would both like something that is lightweight, will have longevity through infancy and toddler years, and is easy to push around. There is a lot of stuff out there that doesn't fit into our criteria.

Let me point out that I do not like, no--make that hate using buggies/carts when I'm out shopping. I am usually found with stuff piled up in my arms, a la Gus, the cheese-carrying mouse from Cinderella. I enjoy being able to weave in and out of "traffic" without worrying that I am going to injure someone else (or myself) with my cart. I find that this not only helps cut down on my shopping time, but also helps distract my shopping ADD by not being able to fit anything else in my arms and needing to race to the register before everything falls.

I realize that I am going to have to sacrifice a bit of convenience when the little one arrives, but I don't see why I need the largest SUV of strollers to carry an itty bitty baby. We played around with several models, and I laughed as Dave attempted to fold them up and then unfold them--who knew this could be so entertaining? I was afraid that we were going to break a couple...which means that we have already ruled those out. If we aren't able to figure them out in less than a minute, then out the door with practicality and off our list. The only reason that I would want a large stroller is so that I could fit in it, I don't want to be tempted to be jealous of the babies luxuries. Just kidding, just kidding (Or am I?)

By the way, I think that this was my first time ever in Babies R Us. I was impressed with seeing a larger selection of stuff, but why do they have to be so MUCH more expensive than Target? (Actually I do understand this concept of Retail Science) But goodness! While we were at BRU I tried on a sling and found out that I do, in fact, want one. The one wasn't a ring sling but it let me see the approximate size relative to my body. It fit comfortably on my (without a baby in tow), and I think I like the idea of using one for grocery shopping or dancing or whatever else.

I am getting more and more anxious every day to get to meet the bean sprout. The pregnancy does not excite me as much as having a little baby around. Today I was thinking how beautiful and miraculous life is, and how amazing the idea of growing a baby inside MY womb is. So why can't pregnancy be as well? Why can't I feel warm and cozy instead of nauseous and cold? Why can't my clothes fit better than they did before the pregnancy? Why can't I have less headaches and be less hungry? I know I am being selfish, but I think it would fit into this theme of beauty and amazement much better than what is actually going on now. I hope you don't mind my honesty here.

Since I should be doing Spanish, I will instead post my latest obsession: Ugly Dolls! I can't get over how much I love them. Maybe I'll get one for myself and then pass it on to bean sprout, like an heirloom, an ugly little heirloom.
Oh...how they make me smile :)

Now I should really get to my homework so later I can make some miniature Peaches 'N Cream Cheesecakes for tomorrow. Click here for the recipe.

Happy Easter!

Time for another

I am rather excited about this week, because my 1st doctor's visit is Tuesday. I don't believe that I have ever been so excited about a doctor's appointment before. It will be nice to finally know how far along we are and when to expect to meet the little one. Right now I am guessing that I am about 8 weeks along.

I haven't had much of any morning sickness since the first two weeks (after I found out), but I wish I could get over the constant tiredness. I know that I am asking too much here, but if I could get a 3 week spurt of energy to last me till the end of this semester, that would be fabulous. I have so much to write (for my scientific writing class), but my brain doesn't want to function after 5 PM. At least the end is only 3 weeks away. Other than being tired I am not experiencing any symptoms yet. I haven't noticed a change in what I like to eat or had any cravings yet. Expect wanting to eat all the time, but I always have liked to eat anyway. I wonder when the changes will hit me, like swollen feet or pickle and ice cream cravings or (what I really want to know) when is this baby bump going to make it's debut? By no means am I trying to rush into these, I am just not a big fan of surprises.

This week Dave got a crib on Craigslist, and it was the exact one that I was wanting [woohoo!]. That's one thing checked off the list. Our plan is to clean the "nursery" out and paint the walls as soon as possible. There are a few people at work that have laughed that I just found out that I was pregnant but yet already have the nursery planned. I guess I am still able to plan some things. This past summer we had a painting spree and choose the wrong shade of green for the dining room, but ironically it should work perfect for a gender neutral nursery. For months we have been trying to figure out what we could paint that shade of green and I am happy that it's not going to be a wasted can of paint.

Speaking of the nursery, I was talking to my dad today about the plans for the room and he was saying that it wouldn't be appropriate for a little girl. However, I think otherwise. My color scheme is brown, green (like a muted grass green), and white. The walls will be green, the crib is white, and have I found brown and white bedding that I liked. I like the idea of a woodland theme, but not going overboard with the theme. I have found and fallen in love with tons of owl, squirrel, fox, hedgehog, rabbit, etc things.
For example I saw this swing at Target the other day and got excited that it fit in my plan. I don't see this being too masculine at all. Dad's point was if the room ended up being for a little girl, that it would be all sorts of things that were out in the "dirty outdoors." He also offered some of his deer heads for decoration. Am I right by thinking that this nursery is more for the parents than it is for the baby? I am getting a little giddy about decorating the nursery, I can't wait to prove him wrong.

Old Wives' Tales and How to Carry a Baby

Since I am a wonderful procrastinator when it comes to homework, I am going to make one more post for today and then start working on my long list of things that should be done before tomorrow.
I believe that one of my pregnancy symptoms has being increasing impatience, at least when it comes to figuring out the sex of our baby. Let me go ahead and mention that I have not yet even gone to my first OB visit, no blood work has been taken, no ultrasounds ran, or anything. I have peed on two sticks and quickly both said "pregnant." For about 9 days straight I had terrible morning sickness (that I went to the doctor for and was diagnosed with the stomach virus--more about this later) and after I thought I was in the clear with no more morning blues, I started to feel like I haven't slept in months. Something is obviously going on.
My first doctor's visit is on April 22, by this time I am assuming that I will be around 10-11 weeks. I don't have much to base this off of, but I feel like this may be a little late to see the doctor. A lot can happen in 11 weeks, based on the web info I have been reading, my baby should have already started to develop muscles and fingernails. I just think that I should have a "do" and "do not do" list.
I have already said that I am clueless about babies, well...intimidated is a better description. And then intimidated is an understatement as to how I feel about raising a little girl. I grew up as a little tomboy, expect for the random dancing and modeling--my mother's ideas. Now I feel more drawn to boyish things; like when we're shopping for toys for our nieces, I always end up playing with the boy toys and wanting to get them dinosaurs and tool belts. It's not just toys, boys just seem a little easier in several regards (at least for me).
Dave and I are on the same page as to what gender we are hoping this baby to be. We don't like saying it out loud, thinking we're lowering our chances of that possibility. I had heard about the old wives' tale that says that you're going to have your babies in the same order that your mother had her babies. My mother's mother had a girl first, and then my mother had me first, and this was true for just about everyone I could think of. This made me a little paranoid. To my rescue, Dave's friend Krystal called yesterday, and she told him about the gender test of hanging a needle from a thread tied to a pencil over the mom-to-be's hand. If the needle swings back and forth, it's a boy, and if the needles swings in a circular motion, it's a girl. She said this was true for both of her pregnancies. We tried this as soon as we got home. This test worked in my favor. YAY!
disclaimer: Although I am clueless, I wouldn't consider myself stupid. I do know these tests were just for fun, and I will love this baby equally, whether girl or boy, or anything in between.

Since finding out about my pregnancy, I have been browsing the internet to find what it takes to take care of a child. I know it needs a place to sleep, some blankets and bibs, bottles, diapers, clothes, milk, and love, but what about the other stuff? I have found a world of neat things that I never knew existed. Some of these things I realize wouldn't be as useful as they claim, and some I am not so sure what to think. One of these things is a baby sling. I like the idea of this, it looks useful and less cumbersome than hauling a stroller around for short trips out into the world. This one from RaspberryBaby on Etsy has caught my attention. It appears to be holding that toddler just fine and it says that it easily fits into a diaper bag when not in use. Does anyone have experience with one of these? I haven't ever seen one of these in use and that makes me wonder if they are as practical as they appear.
FYI: I love Etsy and love buying handmade.