Baby Gear- Part 2

Happy Thursday, Friends!  This week is flying by for me...woohoo!!!  I've had a couple great days at work, hung out with Mr. S a couple of evenings (when he isn't studying) & have gotten in some great workouts this week :)  & tonight, we are headed to the Sugerland concert!  A fun "school night" date...I'll take it!   

 

Ok, ok enough about our boring lives, I know you all are dying to see part 2 of operation "baby gear", so I won't delay any longer!  Since we covered most of the "big" gear in part 1, here are some smaller, but just as important, items we've picked for our sweet girl....

 

SKIP*HOP Alphabet Zoo Activity Gym- An activity mat is a must for playtime/tummy time.  A great way for the baby to interact and start developing coordination, so we knew we would want one for Lily.  We picked this one because we liked the different textures, sounds, colors & patterns, plus it isn't too obnoxious...some of the options I couldn't live with day in and out! 

Dr. Brown's Bottles-  I have only heard wonderful things about these bottles from the internet, other blogs & Mom's, so it was a no brainer on which bottles to register for when we got to this section.  Dr. Brown's bottles are BPA free, and the design helps minimize colic, spit up & gas.  While I do plan to breastfeed & wait a couple of week to introduce the bottle to Lily,  I know these will come in handy for those middle of the night feedings Mr. S will be performing! :)

aden + anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets- I don't really think these need any description as they are the most common swaddling blanket on the market!  Made from soft, mulsin fabric, these blankets are breathable and light.  Plus the cute prints don't hurt either :)

Brica Day & Night Light Musical Mirror- Once again, a suggestion from my sister, this rear facing carseat mirror is the perfect solution for being able to keep an eye on Lily at all times (I promise I'll still watch the road too)!  Equipped with a remote controlled light (for the nighttime) & music, along with crash testing success, I'll be able to make sure Little Miss is ok at all times :)

cloud b Sleep Sheep- How cute is this?!?!?!  A pleasant looking noise machine---sign me up!  The Sleep Sheep has 4 soothing sounds to help Miss Lily sleep peacefully (so we hope!) from day one.  This sheep can sit in the room or connect to the bed, plus is small enough to travel with & has a timer.  Maybe I should get one of these for myself!

 

Lamaze Toys- Lily is going to have a ball chewing, grasping & looking at these fun, colorful toys!  Easily interchangeable from carseat to playmat, these toys will be in tow from the get go.

 

Puj Tub- Love the idea of a foldable/collapsible tub!  This easy to store, easy on the eyes tub will fit in our sink for Lily's first several of months of bathing (insert huge smile on my face thinking of bathing our baby girl!) :)  While she will outgrow this faster than some others on the market, I think this makes the most sense for us now.

 

 

Well I think that is it for operation baby gear!  While this is only a  small selection of things we will need/want for Lily's arrival, I hope it gives someone out there some guidance or at least entertainment! :)  I also think it'll be fun to see if my opinion changes after a couple of months of using these products...I'm sure Little Miss will have her own opinion/preference on some of the items & Mommy will have been completely wrong!   

 

Baby Registry- Part 1- The Gear

Happy Monday y'all! :) 

Hope everyone out there had a great weekend.  The Mr. & I spent the weekend at home, which was much needed!  I was able to get some stuff done around the house, we attended a graduation party for a friend, worked out, enjoyed church...so wonderful to have a weekend at home :)  However, a weekend at home, spending most of my time in PJ's, means no pictures...sorry friends :(

Another fun thing we did on Friday night was REGISTER for Lily! :)  Mr. S was a good sport/ supportive husband and came along to help me pick things out.  WOW---it is crazy how much a little baby needs!  We decided to register at BuyBuyBaby, but will probably set up a registery on Amazon.com too. Mr. S & I tried to not over do it...sometimes you can get gun happy when registering :)  We tried to stick to things we really think we will use/need when Lily arrives.  It was so exciting to go thru and talk about Lily & how our daily life is about to change...for the better of course!  So, without anymore jabber, here is some of the "gear" we decided would be the best bet for our family...

Britax Chaperone- The carseat decision was probably the toughest.  We went back and forth between the Britax Chaperone and the Chicco Keyfit.  Our biggest concern (other than safety) was the size.  However, Mr. S fixed that with the purchase of my new car!  The Britax Chaperone is the only infant car seat that received an excellent rating by independent crash testers & has ergonomic handles, an extra-long canopy, easily adjustable straps and extra safety features like the anti-rebound bar.  We feel this seat is the best choice for us to keep Lily as safe and secure as possible....safety first! :)

Baby Jogger Summit XC- My ultimate jogging stroller! :)  Going into registering, I was sold on the BOB, but after some research and talking to the helpful guy at BBB, my mind was changed.  The Baby Jogger Summit is relatively new to the market, but has some cool features that won me over--  a 1-step folding process, all-wheel independent suspension, a hand brake, easier reclining back, larger canopy & a wrist wrap that is attached to the bottom brake (just to name a few!).  Also, the infant seat attachment is universal, so it will work with the Britax Chaperone...can't wait to take Miss Lily on her first run ;) 

Baby Trend Snap-N-Go- While I am super excited about the jogging stoller, I felt I needed something that will be easier to use for day in and out errands.  This is a super light, easy to unfold/fold snap-n-go stroller that is compatable with the Britax Chaperone, so I'll be able to pop in the carseat and run into stores, restaurants, etc. with ease.



Ergo Baby- I’ve been told this is the Land Rover of baby carriers out there-- easy to use, comfortable when wearing for long periods of time, it adapts to both mom and dad’s sizes, and is overall practical—you can do normal activities while having the little one attached to you! :) 

Chicco Lullaby LX Playard - Romantic- This 4 in 1 playard includes portable playard, infant bassinet, changing station & removable playmat with toy gym. It it is easy to assemble & closes with one easy step.  We chose a gender neutral color, so we can use it again.  It will be perfect for travel!

Angelcare 3-in-1 Monitor- We chose this monitor because it offers the visual and sound features along with another feature that is super important to me.  The Angelcare 3-in-1 video baby monitor with LCD touch screen combines a video and sound monitor & movement monitor in a single system. The under-the-mattress Sensor Pad detects movements and an alarm will sound if no movement has been detected for 20 seconds...this sold me on the product.  Our goal is to have Lily sleeping in her bed ASAP (& I know this won't be easy for mommy), so I think having this monitor will ease the anxiety a bit.

mamaRoo Plush Baby Swing-  My sister swore by this swing & said it was a must!  While it is a bit pricier than some of the other swings on the market, it has 5 unique motions that will soothe and comfort the baby.  Along with movement, it has sound and is Ipod compatible.  It is also more compact than most swings, which I really like.  Overall, I think this will be the perfect place for Lily to have some playtime :)

I hope y'all haven't fallen asleep over all this baby talk :)  I'll be back for Part 2 & maybe Part 3 of baby registering excitement!  I'll probably leave off talk of breastfeeding & diapers for now...got to leave some topics for when baby arrives :)  Oh the joys of motherhood...I can't wait! :)