Baby Must Haves: For First & Second Babys

My baby must haves for first and second babys!

Motorola <span>Baby Monitors</span>
Target <span>Bras</span>

My baby must haves for first and second babys!

I wanted to share with you ladies my list of  "must haves" for first but especially second babys or multiples. I always love hearing other moms opinions on products, especially the big ones like strollers, before purchasing or adding to my registry.  These are items I have tried before or have done a ton of "mom to mom" research on or borrowed from friends to see if I like them.  

So lets start from the top and move our way across from left to right. When you have a toddler to chase after, especially one under two years old, you need a good baby carrier that youre baby will be comfortable in and enjoy as well as one that wont kill your back (cough, my bjorn).  The Ergo 360 gives you the option to carry an infant and a toddler, they can face you or turn outwards (which by 4 months old thats all my little guy wanted to do so i know thats a must for us), it can also be worn as a backpack with a bigger toddler or baby on your back, a must for fun hikes!   Thats on my registry and I think its one of the biggest must haves for us.  The second baby carrier is the Solly baby wrap, its the best wrap by far.  I have tried several others and wasnt too big of a fan. I love wraps for when theyre itty bitty and you just want them wrapped around you constantly while cleaning or cooking or just walking around.  Theres something about a newborn wrapped up in a tiny bit of soft fabric hanging around your front that just feels right.  

Next up we have the swing, this is the swing we used with Cash and loved it (obviously a different color). It can go different speeds, has a mobile and plays different sounds.  We have heard good and bad things about the MamaRoo so we decided not to buy one, but our good friends said we can borrow theirs if our baby is fond of it. Sometimes swings are a baby to baby preference kind of thing.  

I added some Aiden + Anais burp cloths, towel, and their bamboo swaddle blankies because theyre the best!! If you havent tried them, you must!!  I also added the cute pottery barn critter towels that have little animal heads on them for the hoodie.. i just loved these on my first and would love one for my second in a girlier version.

The first video monitor is the one we currently have, we had a Summer video monitor and it broke twice, it never had service even when we were 10 feet away.. so we returned it. The store clerk told me they get the most returns for Summer and to get a Motorola video monitor so thats what we did and we have had no problems whatsoever.  We would like to have a split camera video monitor for both kids rooms so we can see both of them on one screen. It comes with two cameras and you can link up to 4 kids on one screen i believe. I think this is essential for when we go on vacations, or you have people babysitting them that want to check up on them, or they're sick and not sleeping well, or even for when we switch Cash into a big boy bed we'll want to see him and see what hes doing in his room after we leave and close the door, for a new baby its obviously a give in to be able to see them and make sure they're breathing and you can hear them when they wake for feedings (since we alll know how exhausted parents are of a new baby, hearing the monitor right next to my head was the only way i was waking up for those night feedings).  

Lets talk strollers.  I LOVE our Britax B-Ready so we are keeping it and getting the second seat adapter. Our britax B safe infant carseat snaps right into the stroller and can face either direction. Once they're around 4-5 months they can go in the big seat and snap either direction as well. The second seat sits behind/below the original seat but doesnt impair too much of the childs view.  I also wanted a side by side option in the jogger, we LOOOOOOVE our Bob single jogger, its so light weight, easy for walks and runs and also for the beach or disneyland, you barely can tell youre pushing anything.  My only complaint about all joggers is that they are required to be at a 70% incline which means the baby is somewhat reclined and cant ever sit all the way up to see everything around them.  THis is a safety feature to keep them sturdy and safe for running.  This is one of the main reasons i wouldnt have just the jogger as my only stroller option. I would also like to be able to only have a single stroller for when Cash is a little older and wants to walk rather than be put in his stroller, so thats what the Britax offers.  I also like how the britax isnt a side by side so its easily fit through doors and can be taken to restaurants and the mall without knocking people over lol.  So we've decided to do both options. For the BOb double Jogger we also wanted the infant adapter so we could stick our britax B safe infant carseat right in there, it comes with a snack tray for the other child sitting in the other seat.  I put the Britax Bsafe infant carseat up there too, we love love love ours and have so many friends with the same carseat that adore it as well, most importantly it has great safety reviews.

For my breast Pump I added to the list what i used for my first baby, i used this ALL THE TIME, i am a working mama a couple days a week so I knew i needed a double pump that would do a good job and be efficient.  I love this pump, you have the option of plugging into an outlet or if youre on the go you can use the battery pack and pump literally anywhere, in the car, in a restaurant, at the beach etc.  It also comes with a portable cooler with an icepack that lasts up to 24 hours i believe.  And several bottles come with it as well as all of the pieces you need to pump with and several extras.  All of this fits inside this cute discrete black purse (which is the pump motor itself).  FUnny story, i took my pump with me to Aspen Colorado  when Cash was 5 months (he came too) and i put it through the bag screening at the airport and they basically thought it was a bomb or something crazy. They pulled that thing apart and inspected it for at least 15 minutes, I had to explain to them that it was a pump implanted inside of the purse for breastfeeding...finally they believed me and let me go. HA! So if you're at the airport let them know in advance before you put it through.  (;

Next up, my black leather diaper bag! I love this diaper bag, it comes with so many great pockets, a mini clutch purse inside, a changing pad for on the go usage and it doesnt look like a diaper bag! I love that. My hubby can carry it and still looks manly and it has plenty of space for 2 kiddos.

I added a couple nursing bras, one for comfort when you're around your home or for when you sleep at night those first couple months, and then a second for every day out of the house use that doesnt look funky underneath clothes.

I hope this helps any of you that had questions about second baby must haves or on any of these products. IF you want to know anything else that I may have forgotten please ask away in the comments section. Also, if you have any other great items to add for us mamas please do so in the comments! And as always be sure to subscribe on the right with your email so i know who my followers are!! 

XO

My Baby Boy is 7 Months Old

My Baby Boy is 7 Months Old

Wow, time sure does fly by with these littles. Or maybe they just make you realize how quickly the days pass because you don't want them to change so its something we are more aware of. Who knows, but it is zipping by!  This little boy is just such a doll! We are seeing more of his personality come out now that hes a bit older and able to be really interactive with us and others.  He knows what he wants and he is strong willed and I love that about him. He is such a calm angel baby, so when hes upset or fussy I know somethings wrong (i.e. tired, hungry, teething.. its usually one of those).  He can play by himself and be perfectly content. He is the ultimate curious little person, observing anything and everything around him. He wants to move but thinks in order to move he should just roll..which isnt quite working for him. Lol.  He will figure it out eventually.  He sometimes will try to scoot forward using his legs but ends up rolling over again.  He loves to stand and has the proudest look on his face when he does, he sits perfectly, he sleeps on his tummy and then wakes up upset about it (and loves sleeping on his side), he is currently sleeping from 6pm to 7:45am (waking up once to eat..some nights twice).  He takes 3 naps a day usually (lately he has been taking 2 & fighting the third), he tries to snack feed (every 2-2.5 hours) when im with him but when my hubby is watching him and im not there he can go 3-3.5 hours, he is eating solids twice a day (pureed) morning and night, being naked is his favorite because he loves to grab and suck his feet, he is so happy and anyone who meets this little guy adores his sweet smile and his flirty eyes. I constantly get comments on how calm and mellow he is in public, hes so talkative and entertaining at home so hes a completely different baby when hes in his element. I think he just likes to take everything in when its a new environment. I love seeing life through this angels eyes.  He has defnitely changed us for the better and we would love to have 20 kids if they were all like him. Hes so easy and makes being parents such a blessing. We adore him more than words could ever convey. Happy 7 months old my sweet baby boy!! These posts will go into his baby book, im thankful i will have an entire online journal of our journey with our first!

Enjoy these pictures from his month 6-7. 

xo

Our Baby Is 6 Months Old!: Happy Half Birthday Little One!

Our Baby Is 6 Months Old: Happy Half Birthday Little One!

he sure loves that paper at the Dr's office!

Tried some organic brown rice cereal for the first time at 6 months old to the day!

He didn't have an extreme reaction, he seemed to like it i think

Kisses from Grandpa in Aspen, Colorado

Laying with mama who was sick with the stomach flu.

I love his facination with shadows.

He basically just kills me when he barries his head into my chest and wants to cuddle.

Wearing his Broncos onesie watching the big game.

Hes pretty excited to show off his two new bottom teeth!

And of course playing naked for a bit in the morning (;

I am fighting back tears as I write this post. Its not because im sad that he is growing, changing, learning, expanding, exploring, becoming even more loveable and fun! I love every minute of being a part of that! I think its really about fear of the future.. the unknown.  Cash still seems so small and sweet and is my little baby. I don't look at him and see a big boy or think hes grown too quickly, as some moms feel. I love the pace that he has grown, my heart can handle this pace so far. So i suppose listening to so many mother's say over and over how quickly they grow (myself included at times), scares me. I suppose I am waiting for that one day where I wake up and he has grown SO much over night. Or theres a week where he goes through a miraculous growth spurt that just blows my mind and my baby is gone. The more I really think about that subconcious fear and bring it to my concious thoughts, I hear how irrational and silly it sounds. So I am going to try my best to let go of the worry that my baby will grow quicker than my heart can bare. I am going to enjoy every moment as I have been, encouraging his milestones, teaching him more every day, and when those days come when I have to pack away more and more clothes that no longer fit him, I will thank God for my son who is growing healthily, who is able to have a deeper relationship with his father and I the smarter he becomes, who can see God more and more the more he learns about life, and that he is alive and well.

That brings me to my brother Brock. Brock passed away before I was born. He was born on my moms birthday and he passed 6 months later on my dads birthday. He died from SIDs (Sudden Infant Death Syndrom).  Devastating. Painful. Despair. I cry when I think about the hurt my parents must have faced. I don't think I ever understood how intenstly that must have hurt growing up.. but having my own son, who is now 6 months old to the day, my heart aches so badly for my parents. I think about how they must have felt losing their first and only son at the time. . that must have been earth s h a t t e r i n g. It would break my soul. I wanted to share this in todays post because of all the moms that follow this little blog of mine.. if any of you have faced this hardship, I am so so so sorry. I want you to know you have a friend in me and if you ever want to talk or need prayer, I would love to be able to be that person for you. I also wanted to share some hope with you. My parents are believers in our Almighty God, they trusted Him with their sons life, they trusted His plan and the path that He chose for their little family. My mom says to this day that Brock was an angel baby, he was perfect in every way, a gift to them. She says at the time my father didn't know the Lord and she had been battling an eating disorder, Brocks dead led my dad to salvation in Christ, it also helped my mom find the healing she needed. She was able to overcome her disorder and find freedom from those shakles.  Brock saved them both. I wouldn't be here today if he hadn't had passed. Neither would my little brother. Our family, my parents, and my four siblings had such a great life growing up together, we are all so very close and I can see how Gods hand was all over our family. Our family is what it is today because of Brock. My moms story, my parents faith together, that has all shaped us in extraordinary ways. I am reminded of how majestic our Lord is and that even in tragic moments in life, we can trust He is soveriegn. Brock, we will see you in heaven someday soon, I cannot wait to meet you and hold you.

Cash, you are a mother's dream come true. We love every part of you. Here are some beautiful things about you this 6th month:  You laugh like crazy, we're talking belly laughing at its finest, you smile all day long, you understand some of things we say ("im going to get you.." that is your favorite! You crack up when we say that), you look when we call your name, you sit up all on your own without assistance (sometimes you topple over so we put the boppy behind you for extra safety), you have managed to live 6 months without 1 single injury, you had your first cold this month (thanks to your cousins, lol), you went on your first airplane (to Aspen, Colorado), you are still exclusively nursing (we are introducing solids today!), you can't keep your hands and toys out of your mouth, you had two teeth cut through this month on the bottom, you only cry when you are tired, hungry or dont feel good, you are starting to try to wiggle and move, you roll all over the place, you sleep on your side, you love to bounce, you are a mamas boy, you think daddy is the funniest person on the planet, you are a cuddler, an observer, and both super calm and a little wild rascal. You are the greatest gift God has given to mommy and daddy adn we thank Him every single day for you.  

Cash you are everything to mommy and daddy, we love you!

Happy Half Birthday our sweet little love!!!