Nursery "Revisit"

I've started this post so many times. The first time was when Ethan was six months. Then again last summer. Then again when he turned a year. Now that I've finally finished decorating the nursery, I finally got around to taking some pictures and put this post together.

OK, so I realize I never did an initial nursery visit. I thought I had on my pregnancy blog, but then I went back to look and found no such post. Oops. So instead of a revisit, this will be more of a "before and after" because I always thought it was neat to see how nurseries changed as they were lived in. Ours really hasn't changed TOO much in the past year. I did finally get some curtains made (9 months late) and get something up on the walls (which are painted a light green that always shows up more yellow in pictures for some reason). Regardless of the amount of change, it's still my favorite room in the house.

Before:


After:

Sorry to switch things up with portrait/landscape, but there's a lot more to see from the doorway now! The swing was moved to our bedroom as soon as Ethan was born and last summer Ethan's daddy built him a bookcase for his toys and books. The dirty clothes hamper also made its way into the room because it's much easier to toss a soiled onesie over your shoulder from the changing pad than to juggle a naked baby while trying to open the closet door.

Before:


After:

A closer shot of the bookcase and the wall decor. Also notice that the fancy crib set has been replaced by a blue sheet and a breathable bumper. The bedskirt held in there until the last lowering of the crib, though! The "E" was made by me as explained in this post, but the prints were purchased off Etsy from this seller. I got them in colors to match the nursery, and they say "Someday I'll be taller than Dad," "Someday I'll sail the seven seas," and "Someday I'll have my own tools"

Before:
After:

Not too much has changed here. The stuffed bear has been moved to the bookcase to make way for Kleenex and hand sanitizer. The Boppy is no longer used since Ethan fills up my lap all on his own now. The other addition of decor is a needlepoint made by my mother-in-law. It's the last stanza of this poem, which I first discovered while I was pregnant. The first couple of weeks after Ethan was born, I couldn't think of it without tearing up, so when my mother-in-law brought this up when Ethan was 5-weeks-old, above the glider seemed like the perfect place for it, not only because it's the scene of much rocking but also because I knew if I was staring at it all the time, I'd start crying!

Before:
After:

Ethan's closet door no longer stores bibs and booties but shoes and socks. It went through a phase of storing both and was filled to overflowing, so I finally had to begin to pack away the newborn supplies. ::tear::

Before:
After:

Likewise, his closet no longer stores tiny newborn garments but big toddler clothes. The extra burp cloths and wet pads have been replaced by empty shoe boxes. A large underbed storage box in the floor of the closet is ready to be filled each time he outgrows an outfit.

Additional decor:

I finally got around to getting Ethan a growth chart, just after his first birthday (we'd marked his birthday height on the wall to be transferred once I decided on one). I had several cute ones picked out but ended up going with one from a website I had a coupon code for so all I had to pay was like $7 shipping. And I think it works just fine!

So there you have it. The transition from nursery to toddler room. Just like the room, Ethan has slowly changed over time, but it still seems like it happened in the blink of an eye. I remember sitting on the floor of the nursery when I was pregnant, resting my back up against the crib and imagining what it would be like once the room's occupant arrived. And I know the room will continue to change, reflecting Ethan's continued growth and then the arrival and growth of his future little brother or sister. Regardless of how it changes, I think it will always be my favorite room in the house.

Mommy Must Haves: The Later Months

It's time for the (semi-)final installment of my Mommy Must Haves, my series on my must-have baby gear for the first year. You can read the Early Months (0-4mo) here and the Middle Months (4-8mo) here. Since most of the must-have gear was purchased prior to these last months, this edition will be slightly more abstract in nature =)

Must Haves:

1) Ring Sling (specifically a Sleeping Baby Productions Slingified BBslen Wrap Ring Sling in Passionfruit)


C'mon, you had to see this one coming, right? While I still use my woven on a daily basis and the Ergo whenever I'm running to the store, the ring sling has become my go-to for short tasks (like when Ethan's refusing to be set down when I need to wash bottles), walks around the neighborhood, and even quick errands. Since he started walking at 9 months and loves to get down and run around, I needed something I could quickly pop him in and out of but that didn't leave me holding onto a bulky carrier while he played. I've already talked a lot about ring slings in my intro to babywearing, so I'll wrap this up by saying I wish I'd had this earlier, and it's my new must-have carrier for older babies/toddlers.

2) Baby Gates (specifically the KidCo Gateway and Safeway gates)


After Ethan crawled 1/4 of the way down the stairs when his daddy was supposed to be watching him (but was actually playing a game on the computer), I quickly researched baby gates and ordered these from Amazon. They were fairly easy to install (though they have both been reinstalled to fix things I didn't think of when I hastily put them up), and they do the job without being too complex to figure out. Ethan loves throwing balls through the slats of the one at the top of the stairs and hanging onto the one at the bottom of the stairs, so they double as toys (though I doubt the manufacturer would recommend this usage). With an active baby, gates are CRUCIAL!

3) Push Toys/Walkers (specifically Chicco Toys Play 'N Ride Train)


I hadn't originally planned on including toys in these lists, but, honestly, there wasn't as much new gear for these months, and Ethan LOVED his walker. Plus, I think it really helped him with his coordination for learning to walk. If you'll recall, he was pretty good at cruising around with it from the beginning, as seen here, and his first steps were taken to reach the train, as reenacted here. And it also helped him learn opposites like "open" vs. "closed" and "in" vs. "out" as seen here. Even months after he learned to walk, he still loves pushing it around, putting toys into the seat, and playing with all the buttons and levers. He hasn't quite figured out riding on it, yet, but our 3-year-old neighbor loves doing that when he visits, so I'm sure it will continue to grow with him. My only complaint is that the backrest/handle comes out extremely easily so Ethan often yanks it out and throws it, but he has trouble getting it back in by himself so then he gets frustrated.

4) Puffs (specifically HAPPYBABY Organic Puffs)


Again, we're low on gear for these months, but I don't know what we would have done without puffs. They were a great first finger food and provided reassurance that my child could indeed eat table foods, despite all the evidence otherwise. We still had a rough initial start with puffs, but he soon had it down like a pro, as you'll see here. While they aren't extremely nutritious, they got him used to chewing and are a great thing to have in the diaper bag. For a couple of months until he was able to eat off our plates, we would keep him busy with puffs if we went out to eat. Even now, I'll dole out some puffs at a restaurant while we're waiting for our food to come. Both times I've flown with him, puffs have been key to a happy baby (as seen in the photo above). And if he's in a mood where he's refusing all the food I offer, I know I can always count on him to scarf down some puffs so he's at least not quite as hungry. I know some people never even bother with them, but puffs will always have a place on our shelves when there's a baby in the house!

5) A sharp eye and a sense of humor


From years of playing with and working with babies, I've always said my favorite age is 6-9 months. And while I still have loved the months since then, I think this was foreshadowing my having a walker at 9 months and all the mischief he can get into! I seriously cannot take my eyes off him for a moment or else he's trying to climb on top of tables, finding inedibles to eat, or yanking the cat's tail. Is it any wonder the house hasn't been this dirty since he was a newborn? In all seriousness, these months are a lot of fun, but if your child is anything like mine, you'd better keep on your toes!

Mommy Must Haves: The Middle Months

(My apologies for the belatedness of this post! First I was waiting for pictures, and then our internet was down, so I'm just now getting it posted!)

This post is a continuation of the series on my must-have baby gear for the first year. The Middle Months covers months 4-8. You can read part one, The Early Months, here.

Must Haves:

1) Woven wrap (specifically an Amazonas Classic Carry Sling 5.1m in Laguna)

I continued to use the Moby wrap exclusively until Ethan was about six months old when he just became too heavy for a stretchy wrap. They can technically be used up to 35 lbs, but it's just not as supportive anymore. After doing some research, I discovered my love of wrapping could go on with a woven wrap! It is the same idea as the Moby, but it's made out of a specially woven material, making it extremely supportive for larger babies while still being cuddly enough for a newborn. Plus, woven wraps can be used for side and back carries that are unsafe to do with a stretchy wrap. I'll save more of my woven-love for an upcoming post on babywearing, but my Amazonas carries on the legacy of the Moby for the #1 spot.

2) ERGObaby baby carrier
Seriously? Two baby carriers in the first two slots? A-yup! Again, I'll save most of my explanation and adoration of the Ergo for a babywearing post, but the Ergo has been great for short trips out and about. While I still always wrap at home, if I'm just going in to the store or am somewhere where wrapping is less desirable, I can just plop him in the Ergo and go on my way. I received my Ergo for Christmas from my in-laws, but Ethan was still too little for it. I tried it starting at 4 months, and Ethan hated it at first! I did some research and tried sticking a receiving blanket under his butt, which seemed to help, and by 5.5 months, he was just fine in it. He still definitely prefers being wrapped, but you can't beat the ease of a soft-structured carrier.
(Disclaimer: This picture was taken with Ethan at almost 10 months, but I didn't have any pictures from earlier)

3) Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Jumperoo

As seen in this post, Ethan loves his Jumperoo, and we loved having a safe place for him to play while we did short tasks. We limited the amount of time he spent in it, of course, per recommendations, but I think he could happily play in it for at least a half hour at that age. Right around eight months, he started rebelling against it some because he wanted the freedom to crawl around, but he still loves playing with all the toys from the outside as he cruises around. And I have all of the little songs memorized. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing!

4) Graco Pack-n-Play

Once Ethan became mobile, containment became key for those times we just couldn't hold or watch him as carefully as needed. Most often, he goes in the Pack-n-Play while I'm washing bottles or fixing lunch or dinner. He has his walker in there to climb on, as well as several of his favorite toys, and while it's no substitute for Mommy and Daddy, he usually doesn't mind it too much for short periods of time. On our side, though, it's been a life saver as it keeps my little mischief out of trouble!

5) Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair
For the first few weeks that Ethan was eating solids, I fed him while he sat in my lap. This had the potential to get very messy, but since he could already climb out of the Bumbo seat, this was the safest way. I didn't want to get a huge high chair because they are bulky and just look bad (and the ones that look nice are too expensive!), so this high chair was perfect for us! It straps onto almost any chair but functions just like a full-sized high chair, complete with removable tray and cover. Plus, when Ethan is older, it will convert into a booster seat. As an added bonus, the color works well with the walls in the kitchen and dining room, so it blends into our decor even better!

We also liked:

1) Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack
I cannot tell you how much I made fun of this product for a very long time. It just looked stupid! I remember laughing when I saw my cousin registered for it. Who would put that on their counter??? This girl, apparently. For several months after we started supplementing, I dried bottles and parts on paper towels on the counter. It did the job, but it looked pretty crappy. So finally I gave in to our need of a drying rack of some kind. I researched and researched and imagine my surprise when every place I looked recommended the Boon drying rack. I contemplated getting the Dr. Brown's drying rack anyway just to save face, but I couldn't argue with the comparisons. I wish we'd had this since the first time we used bottles because it holds so much and looks so much better than paper towels. I even recommend it to friends! The only reason this is on the Middle Months instead of the Early Months is because I took so long to give in to it, but I'm not looking back now!

2) Bumbo Baby Seat

The Bumbo was a great item and would have earned a higher place on this list if Ethan hadn't figured out how to get out of it quicker than most babies. Once he could hold his spine straight but before he could sit up stably by himself, the Bumbo allowed him to be upright without one of us holding him. Plus, again before he could climb out of it, it kept him out of trouble while I washed bottles or did laundry or even while we ate meals. There are big warnings all over the Bumbo about not putting it on a raised surface, but I'll admit it ended up on the counter or dining room table quite often, though never without us standing right by him. We started using it right around four months so he was sitting independently just two weeks later, but we still got a few more weeks use out of it before he began climbing out (and of course the first time he climbed out, he was on the counter... so maybe that warning should be heeded after all). We also received the tray that goes with it, but we didn't get as much use out of that. So even though we didn't get to use the Bumbo for as long as most parents, it still was a big help during that in between time.

Future Preacher's Kid

aka The Best Bib Ever

Mommy Must Haves: The Early Months

This post has been months in the making. Back when Ethan was a newborn, I'd planned a post about what baby gear was invaluable, what stuff we used occasionally, and what we could have done without, not including obvious necessities like a car seat, crib, diapers, clothes, etc. Yeah, it never got written, except for in my head. So instead, I'm going to do a 3-part series to see how my Mommy Must Haves changed over the course of Ethan's first year. The Early Months will cover the newborn stage to 4 months. The Middle Months will cover 4-8 months. The Later Months will cover 8-12 months. And perhaps there will be a final installment entitled Toddler Edition. So here goes!

Must Haves:

1) Moby Wrap


Hands down the best baby gift ever! I've already detailed my love of the Moby in previous posts, but not only did it save my sanity on many occasion, it also served as my introduction to the world of babywearing. Further exclamations of adoration will be saved for another babywearing post, though, so suffice it to say it's my #1 newborn must have.

2) Fisher-Price My Little Lamb Swing


This was also essential to our sanity because Ethan slept exclusively in his swing at night for the first 3 months. He also sporadically slept in it for naps, which was the only time we actually turned the swing on. It allowed us to cosleep safely (until he began rolling back-to-front at least), and its rocking enabled him to put himself to sleep on several occasions. However, it did become a bit of a crutch, so I'm not sure what our plan will be for future kids. At the very least, I may want to try out the bassinet of the Pack-n-Play with #2 and attempt a crib transition a bit earlier.

3) aden + anais SwaddlePlus Wraps


Talk about a baby-multitasker! These light-weight muslin blankets are perfect for swaddling, of course, and Ethan was swaddled in them every night for the first 3 months. They were also great blankets for the car seat and out and about. When rolled up, they made a great head-support for the car seat. They doubled as nursing covers for times I felt modest about nursing in public. They served as burp cloths when a cloth diaper wasn't at hand. They kept baby warm during sponge baths. We have 8 of them, and honestly, we needed that many, especially in the beginning. I cannot say enough about how much I love them!

4) Boppy Pillow


Another versatile item. The Boppy is of course great for supporting a baby during breastfeeding, but it also serves as an infant "chair" before they can roll. If he was content to just sit and smile, we could plop him in the Boppy on the couch and sit with him without needing to hold him. It also kept him stationary when I was getting ready to feed him or when I needed to pump afterwards. Definitely one of those baby items I didn't expect would get as much use as it did. We actually have two (one a shower gift; one a yard sale find) so that we can keep one in the nursery by the glider and the other downstairs.

5) Dutalier Comfort Plus 2 Post Glider


I spent many hours nursing and rocking in this chair. In the beginning, Ethan would often nurse for over an hour, so comfort was important, especially for those night feedings when I really didn't want to get up to begin with. Even now, I often read to Ethan in the glider, I rock Ethan before bedtime, and he has his first nursing of the day in the glider. It's also the stage for his monthly photos. Well worth the investment to have a custom glider!

We also liked:

1) Dr. Brown's BottlesWe hadn't expected to need these very much since I had hoped to exclusively breastfeed. However, my body had other plans, so starting a little after the first month, we began bottle-feeding supplements. We still only have the newborn starter kit, which means I wash bottles on the regular, and all of the parts of these bottles can get a little tedious. Nevertheless, Ethan took them immediately, which makes them winners in my book.

2) Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe Lights and Music Activity Mat


Ethan loved staring up at the dangling toys and eventually batting at them, too. And I loved having a soft place I could put him while I folded laundry. The utility of a quilt with the engagement of a toy. I'm not sure I would have purchased one if we didn't receive it as a gift, but we definitely got a lot of use out of it!




I may add a bit more to second part of this list later, but for now, it's time for bed!