Products I Love: Infant

Ok so this time around there is no messing around with baby products. I know that I've been there before but there are some things out there that I didn't know about before that are great.

Breast Friend Feeding Pillow

This is the best breast feeding pillow that I've found. The Boppy is good in that it is shaped well for you to hold the baby and be comfortable, but I found that the boppy tends to move, slide away from your body as you're feeding or if the baby moves. The breast friend has a front shaped like the boppy, but it also has a back that wraps around you and buckles to the front. This not onl keeps the pillow in place, it supports your back nicely to. My only complaint about this, is that it is a little trickier to get into or get out of if the baby is fussy and you need to try and feed her quickly or get out and change her as you have to unbuckle yourself from it. But that is a minor detail to the comfort of breast feeding overall.


Nursing Scarf/Nursing Cover

I just found this scarf that doubles as a nursing cover. I never used a nursing cover with my first daughter but I didn't really ever find myself in a place to need it. I could always plan or get to a place where I didn't need it. Now with a toddler who likes doing all kinds of activities, like go to the farm or the aquarium or dance class, I find that I'm out in public way more with her and a newborn in tow. This scarf is an easy thing to wear and convert into a cover if I need to nurse baby #2. I got mine here on etsy.




Nursing Necklace

You're nursing and all of a sudden the little hands are clamped down on your necklace, the nice one that your husband got you for your first mother's day, and you're afraid she's going to break it. Well I've discovered nursing necklaces this go around. Wooden beaded necklaces or wood with fabric over them, for their little hands to grab on to without breaking it! It also can be used later on down the road as a teething necklace. I got mine here on etsy.

Products I love: Toddler

                                   Better than sippy cups sippy cups

I recently funded a kick starter that came through on their deadline and is awesome. SipSnap are silicone lids that slip on to any cup and turn that cup into a sippy cup. Its great because it is super easy to clean, super portable and spill proof but best of all it is only one piece. I keep one in my diaper bag and am even thinking of getting them as gifts for my parents and in-laws so we can get rid of those horrid, hard to clean, multi piece sippy cups everywhere!

                                    Bento Boxes

This year I got N a bento box for her lunches. After many years of a lunch box with small ziplock containers, I splurged and got a good one. The one I got was Fit & Fresh's Bento Lunch Kit. The reason why I settled on this one was because this has a built in ice pack in the lid. Since N will not be able to store her lunch in a refrigerator I needed to figure out how to keep it cold. I could've just put the ice pack into any bento kit, but why do that when this one was designed for what I needed! Exactly what I needed! I do wish they sold an extra set of ice packs for this specific lunch box because there have been days where we've forgotten to put the ice packs in the freezer after washing her lunch box. But other than that I like this kit.

Pitchers

Since N is n Montessori Preschool, one of the things they teach the kids is pouring.  So we now have her pour her own drinks.  This is the best pitcher I've seen thats a good size, not too big, that has a lid.  We were using a creamer pitcher, which was a good size, but there was no lid. Right now we only put in enough for one serving, as N will pour the whole pitcher out into her cup, but hopefully soon we'll be able to have one with milk and one with water and she'll be able to go get something to drink on her own,

Montessori At Home

This past fall N started preschool. She's at a Montessori preschool and it has been a great thing for her. Some people see Montessori as unstructured and therefore not good for their child. However, this is not the case, this method lets kids learn at their own pace, with great freedom and independence. It builds upon skills that they are taught throughout the year and lets them explore and master these skills in their own time by watching others, usually older kids, and trying when they are ready.



We first heard about Montessori a while back as my mother happens to work at the school that N is at. She showed us a video when N was first starting to walk of a kid at montessori and how their parents brought it into the house. Here the parents had a helper tower for their child. (if you've read previous posts you know we have one and I LOVE it) Here is where we first heard of this helping tower, which has been a great thing for us in the kitchen. But now we're beyond that. We have coat hooks at N's level, an art board at her level for her to hang up her artwork she brings home from school, a shelf in the pantry for her snacks and for the dog food - one of her jobs/chores, a shelf in the kitchen with her bowls, cups, plates and pitchers.

N has chores or jobs as we call them too. She feeds the dog each morning and evening. She sets the table. She clears her place at the table when she is finished and she cleans up her work and toys when she is all through. N likes to help sweep if that needs to be done as well. And she loves to help cook, especially when it comes to cooking treats like cookies or desserts. And when all the cooking is done, N helps do the dishes too. All these things help her to learn and grow and also help her to feel like she is part of the family and feel good about helping out.

A lot of the things she learns at school carry over at home. For example, she comes home and takes off her shoes and puts them by the door, and takes off her coat and hangs it on the hook. This is what she does when she gets to school in the morning too. She clears her place when she is done eating lunch at school and she clears her place when she is done with dinner at home too.

Last week my husband went to the parent night for first year parents and brought home some information on brining montessori into the home and continuing the work they do at school. I think we've been doing almost everything on their check list for over a year with N. It just seemed to make sense to get her involved in what we were doing. I mean kids do play kitchen and play cleaning, why not let them actually do it for real and help you out?! Sure it may not be done as well and may be painstakingly slow but they're learning and that's what really matters right?

Second Time Around: Newborn & Toddler

The last few days of pregnancy I was SO ready to be done being pregnant. And then I finally went into labor and thought, I don't remember it being this painful last time. I guess we forget how painful it is for a reason... otherwise people wouldn't have more than one kid! Once I got the epidural though, things were much better!

J was born in the morning and this time my mom was there in the delivery room. At first I thought that it might be weird, kind of take away from this moment from me and m husband, but it was fine. I mean by that time there are so many people in the room looking at you giving birth, what's one more person? I think it was really special for my mom to be there, so I'm glad she was, even if she headed off to work after the baby was born! (She did return later that day to hold the baby!)

I was a bit nervous figuring out how to introduce N to her new little sister. My husband and I thought and over thought how we should have them meet. The good news, even though we didn't know it, was that the hospital maternity ward, did not let kids under the age of 19 in, which at first we were bummed about. But I think it worked out better that N didn't meet J in the hospital, and see mom hooked up to IV's and wearing a weird gown.

We brought J home on a Friday afternoon and had a few hours to settle her and myself in before Dad went and picked up N at school. N was SO excited to see the baby she barely said hi to me, I mean she hadn't seen me in 3 days, I guess I'm chopped liver! Anyway, she was so excited to see the new baby and hold her and put her in the swing and then the bouncy seat and then the bassinet, that we had to slow her down a bit and tell her that in time she will use all of these things, but now she just needed to sleep.

J is now 6 weeks old and N likes to help out with her little sister. She likes to help mom changer her, she doesn't seem to mind her crying as much as mom and dad do, she likes to snuggle with her in the morning and she LOVES to have matching jammies with J.

The first week for me was really hard. I kept thinking once I was done being pregnant, which was just no fun in the end, things would be way better. I mean after all I'd done this before. I knew what I was getting myself into...breast feeding, washing bottles, taking the baby out for walks in the stroller with the dog, getting a few winks while she napped in the swing or bouncy seat or bassinet, because that't what I did with N. But let me tell you this kid is a whole new kid with a whole new set of rules and no instruction book. J hates the car seat, hates the stroller, hates being put down in the swing or bouncy seat or bassinet. So I spend most of the day holding her. If I put her down she cries. If she's not eating, sleeping or being held, she's crying. This makes doing things a little trickier. Its hard to nap when you are holding a baby, so naps are few and far between. Its hard to get things done with one hand, while the other is holding the baby. So my husband, has been doing 110%. He's been doing the laundry, dishes, dinner, cleaning, and most importantly taking care of N. He makes her lunch, does her tub, reads to her at night, puts her to bed, gets her up in the morning, gives her breakfast, gets her dressed and takes her to school. And what do I do during all this, I take care of J. I hold her or feed her, but mostly hold her. And I feel extremely guilty about not helping him or helping around the house or helping with N. In fact the first week home I was so emotional, mostly with guilt about not being able to give N my undivided attention and do things with her that we used to do, that I would just burst into tears randomly. Mostly at night when I could hear my husband playing with N in the tub or reading her books and tucking her in. It really caught me off guard because I didn't have any of these feelings or this reaction when N was a newborn.

After a few weeks, we as a family got into a routine. Or we just got used to having J around. We still sat down as a family for dinners (even if J was crying in her bouncy seat), N still read books before bed in our room. And N and my husband got used to me and J not getting up and going to work or helping in the morning. The biggest change I think was that N started to get up in the middle of the night and come into our room. I think she was doing this because she was a little jealous that J was sleeping in our room with us. So we implemented the Sandman - who leaves surprises under your pillow if you stay in bed all night. It got to the point where N was waking up at 4am and turning the light on to look under her pillow each morning, that we now have a sticker chart. So after x amount of days in a row of staying in bed all night the Sandman would leave a surprise. So we're not waking up each morning early looking under our pillow! So far it's been working well. We do have days that she does get up and that's expected, after all she's only 2!

One of the things that we've started doing to make N feel special, or to know that she's still loved is have sleepovers with Grammy and Nana. This way she gets that individual attention from the grandparents - ok spoiled is the word - and she loves it. In fact she asks to have a sleepover quite frequently! I know it's because they let her run the show, but she needs that release! Especially because we expect so much of her as a big sister now!

Second Time Around: Pregnancy

Ok so we're doing it again. Having another baby. And it's been really different this time around. I'm 35 weeks and my how the time flies the second time around. I honestly haven't kept track of the weeks. Each time I go to the doctor they tell me how far along I am, that's the only way I know! Unlike last time when I kept track of every week, day, second....

This pregnancy has been different in many ways, but mostly because I'm constantly chasing a toddler and well, there isn't much time to rest. This third trimester I've been exhausted. The doctor warned me but I didn't believe them! I'm much larger and still trying to do the same things, like pick up N and put her in the car, carry her places when she needs me to, walk her and the dog down the street. And well its just not as easy when you've got a baby in your belly!

One of the other things that is different is that I've done this before, so I think I'm an expert. I remember that I shouldn't eat certain things, but not sure why anymore. And every now and again I forget and have a sandwich with lunch meat or french toast for breakfast. And only after do I think, should I have eaten that?!

I also haven't taken one belly picture. First time around I think we took photos every week! 35 weeks in and not one posed photo of me and the belly. But I'm totally fine with that! Even though this is most likely my last time being pregnant, I don't seem to feel the need to record every second of it!

I'm also so ready to be done with being pregnant this time around. The nostalgia of it has most definitely worn off this time. I don't feel that glow that people speak of, I'm not enjoying it as much - as I'm chasing a toddler and am exhausted - or maybe it's because I know exactly what I'm in for this time. I know they say each kid is different, but having a new born with needs 24 hours and sleep being an option for mom, not a necessity in the newborn's eyes, isn't something that I look forward to. Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited about 'Thing 2" as we're calling it - no we didn't find out the gender so Thing 2 it is. I can't wait for the little tiny feet and hands and person to arrive, to snuggle with and love - unlike my toddler who's favorite word is No, questions everything, repeats the same new sentence 100 times and won't snuggle with you anymore! I know this sound cynical but I do love her to the moon and back! I think the one reason I'm ready to be done with this pregnancy is because sleeping is super uncomfortable. Not just the getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom every few hours, more that I'm a back sleeper, and well, you can't sleep on your back when you're pregnant. ( I knew why the first pregnancy, but can't seem to remember why now - something to do with circulation to the baby being cut off....maybe?) And sleeping on my side gives me a terrible soreness in my lower back. Yes I'm using a body pillow to help with this but it's not comfortable no matter how I sleep. And I find once I do get up to go to the bathroom, falling back asleep is really hard if not impossible some days. My brain just turns on and starts thinking about: all the things I need to do that day, for the baby, for work, what I should make for breakfast, how the people in the movie we watched last night really got away with whatever they got away with... anything and everything. So I keep telling myself, once the baby comes, sleeping will be better...at least the few hours in between feedings will be better!

Products I love: Toddler (Summer)

This summer has been an amazing opportunity for me to really hang out with N. I've had the month of August off and we've spent as many days as we could outside. I signed her up for swim lessons at the local pool and she really enjoyed and payed attention (sometimes) to what the instructor said. She has definitely taken away - kicking, scooping (doggie paddle with hand motions), talking to the fish (blowing bubbles) & jumping in! She's even dunked over her head!

We spend a lot of time at the beach in the late spring, summer and early fall, so swim lessons was key not only for N to learn how to swim but for mom to be able to relax a little bit more on the beach. No she can't swim on her own, but she is more comfortable in the water and more cautious about it, knowing she can sink!

To help with swimming we got the puddle jumper life jacket. No its not something I'd let her ride my dad's power boat in, but its a super great swim aid. Ugh, I grew up with those styrofoam bubbles that you wear on your back. This is so much better, especially for those learning how to swim. Its a combination of arm swimmies (like the ones we used that you had to inflate!) and a belt that goes around their chest. The arms and chest belt are connected, so they can float but also are free enough to swim. N feels real comfortable in the water with them.

The other great thing we got this summer was a kids size kayak. Its a Wave, 6 foot, won't sink due to holes going through the center in a few places and won't tip kayak. N was playing with kids on the beach that had them and she didn't want to come off. We have adult kayaks and she likes going in it but she is way to small to really move or paddle or do anything in it. This is a sit on top kayak that she can get on and off and she can 'paddle' or at least have the paddles touch the water easily!

Products I love: Toddler

Here are a few more products that I think are spectacular.

  

N using her knife to cut up the wooden foods!

Cutting Food by Melissa & Doug
This product is a great life skill for little ones. It teaches them how to cut up different foods. Its well made of solid wood and has velcro on all the pieces making it easy and fun to cut the food an put it all back together. Each type of food has different styles of cuts teaching kids how you would cut up different food. N loves this toy. She uses it in the kitchen with me when I'm chopping and cooking. It makes her feel like she's helping with dinner!


Yoga Pretzels
This is a pack of cards for kids to learn and practice yoga. Each card has a different illustration of a yoga pose and instructions how to get into that pose on the back. N loves playing with these yoga cards, especially the partner cards! This is has been a great indoor activity this past winter. We were snowed in so many times and these cards got N moving around and kept her from going stir crazy!

Pinterest: Life Hacks

So I'm a big Pinterest user. I love looking on it to see what I can make with N, or find things that will make our lives easier. Here are a couple of things I've seen on Pinterest that we use regularly to make our life easier!

                                         Pool Noodle

We have this on N's door. This is most helpful as she loves to go into different rooms and close the door. Recently she's been doing this more and more in her room, as she can now get into the closet full of toys there, so closing the door to her room is just one more 'big girl' thing she does. Closing the door is one thing, opening is a whole other problem, as she can't do that yet she'll yell for help and sometimes it takes a minute to figure out which room she's in! With the pool noodle on the door she can 'close' the door and not get stuck in her room and need help getting out. Just cut a piece of the pool noodle and stick it on the door. Some noodles have holes through the center and this will just cling to the door when placed on it. If there is no hole in the middle, you're just going to have to dig out a bit of the middle so it can wrap around the door.



Bath Tub Organizer
We as adults use tub organizers for our shampoos and soaps, so why shouldn't we use these for our kids stuff? We were in Walmart the other day and we were getting a new potty seat for N (one of those that has the built in kids seat to the adult seat) and I saw all kinds of organization bins with suction for adults to put their stuff in the bathroom. I got to thinking we need this for N's tub toys. So we got two of those corner suction bins and have all N's' toys in them now. This way she can reach the toys she wants too instead of us storing them outside the tub in the bathroom cabinet.

Books: 2 Year Olds

I love children's books. I have such fond memories of reading certain books over and over again; Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, There's No Such Thing as Dragons, The Butter Battle Book, Green Eggs and Ham, Corduroy, Make Way For Ducklings, Madeline, just to name a few.  So when I found out I was pregnant, I had my mom search through her book shelf to see what we still had and went to the store to get copies of these books for our little N. These books though are too wordy and don't hold N's attention right now but there are some other great books out there that weren't around when I was a kid that N really loves.

The Little Blue Truck Leads the Way By Alice Schertle
published by HMH Books for Young Readers
This book has great illustrations and a great message too. N loves finding the truck on each page as he drives along in the big city.

Each Peach Pear Plum By Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg (Illustrator)
published by Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
This is an awesome 'I Spy' book that uses all fairy tale characters in a really cute way. N loves looking for the character on each page.








Snowmen at Night By Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner (Illustrator)
published by Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
This book is a wonderful story about what happens to your snowman and why each morning he looks a little more droopy each day. It really gets the imagination going and N loves to look and point out what each snowman are doing on each page.






Barnyard Dance & Pajama Time By Sandra Boynton
published by Workman Publishing Company

These two books (and there are many more by this author) are fun books with animals. Pajama Time is about getting in your PJ's and getting ready for bed. We look at our PJ's when reading the this book and see what colors and styles match up with the animals in the book.
The Barnyard Dance is about all the animals in the barn dancing together. When we read this we do all the jumping and bowing and hopping that all the animals in the book do.

Fisher Price Lift The Flap Books
We have several of these and for the last 6 months N has loved looking at each page and lifting the flaps on them and seeing whats under. Usually each page has to do with some category - shapes, colors, numbers, animals, etc. and its exciting to see he face as she lifts each flap to find what's underneath. ( We haven't read these as much recently but over the summer we did, so I'd say these are good for 1-2 year olds!)