Well I'm way past due for my 18-week post, but my teaching schedule changed this week and the time I usually blog (in the mornings) is now being spent teaching! This weekend was our first anniversary so we were too busy playing to blog!
So here it is - two days before my 19 week mark - my 18-week post!
Pictures first
giving the self-portrait-in-the-bathroom-mirror tactic a try.
My belly is definitely growing, and I'm feeling that little mango move around a bit!
This week the baby weighs half a pound and is six inches long!
The arms and legs are proportional to the body now, brain neurons are connected between the muscles and brain and cartilage is turning to bone. Also this week is the famous "cheese varnish" (a literal translation from the latin vernix caseosa - that's for you, Rae) that will keep the baby from looking like he/she has been in a bathtub for nine months when he/she is born. Made from oils on the baby's skin and that soft fuzzy baby hair (lanugo), it's a self-made anti-wrinkle cream!
We are counting down the days until the ultrasound! Less than 2 weeks until we get a peek at our little girl or boy. We're pretty excited :)
I've been doing research on baby products this week and have decided that there are far too many products and far too many options to sort through!! Which diaper? which wipe? which breast pump? rear-facing or convertible car seat? which stroller? which baby bath tub? where to register? boppy/bumbo? baby sling? baby Einstein? Nam, nuk, soothies? Blah blah blah.
Someone just equip me and bill me later.
But seriously, I'm excited to get buying/receiving baby stuff. But it sure is a lot!
In other baby news, my newest nephew, Neil was born this weekend - on our anniversary!! It was so fun visiting that tiny newborn knowing that in a few months I'll be holding my own little one. I was much more interested in observing the nurse check out his diaper and take his temperature than ever before! Neil came 10 days early (just like his oldest brother, Mark) and my sister-in-law had a pretty short labor (which is what I'm interested in!). I guess by her fifth birth she deserves an easy one!
He's a great-looking baby, take a look: (and click here to visit Ken and Julie's family blog).
Neil Ross
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I'll wrap it up with that sweet little face!
Well not that you asked for any opinions but... I got all the bells and whistles with Kaylee and learned what I did and didnt use/need. I vote a normal baby rear facing car seat because, if you have to take the baby to a store or something its so much easier with a car seat that you can remove that way you dont wake up the baby if they are sleeping or being good, as far and brands chicco is the tope rater (or was) but I found they run ALOT smaller so I went with a graco still an awesome car seat and will work until your baby is big enough for the next stage of car seat. A stroller, I think I used my stroller combo twice so my vote there is get a cheaper one seperate rather than the combo becuase the combo ones that come with the car seats are alot bigger and heavier. I went with a jeep brand stroller that still has a tray and bottom basket but was about half the price and size. Baby bath tub, I never used mine its so much easier to just get one of the foam mat things and alot cheaper, they learn to sit up so fast that the tubs arent really worth it. My vote on boppy/bumbo is both! They are both lifesavers especially if you get the tray to the bumbo. I used both my boppy and bumbo a TON! Baby slings are nice for around the house or quick trips place but I didnt really used mine I think i will more with this baby though now that I have another little monster that way she can ride in the stroller and he can ride in the sling but I am not completely sold on the slings. As far as binkis go I didnt like the soothies because they blocked kaylees nose. I found which bottle I was going to use (I picked NUK) and then got the same brand of binkis that way the nipples were the same. Anywho... sorry I just wrote you a novel if you have any other questions ask anytime! Hope this helps! :)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, congrats on one year! Secondly, I'm so excited for you Steph! I wish I had advice, but maybe when the time comes for Aaron and me, you'll have lots of advice to give us! ;) LOVE YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so exciting!! Congratulations! I just found your blog on facebook and thought I'd come take a look.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of Lyndsey's advice. I got the whole shebang for Jocelyn and really you don't need everything they say. My thoughts: Definitely get the infant car seat. They really are so nice. As far as the travel system- I feel like they are so big and bulky, but if I did it again I would get a jogger travel system because I want a jogger. :) I got but didn't use the diaper pail (just took stuff right outside because it still smelled), or the baby bathtub (I used the sink). I would recommend getting an electric pump and plan to do so my next time. It would have saved me. Also, the walmart parent's choice diapers are like 1/2 the price so I would look into those. I know not everyone likes them but I have loved them. Oh, and I loved a front baby carrier for hiking.
Good luck! It's so fun to start the shopping! And please, if you find any good places for maternity clothes let us all know. I couldn't find any pants that I liked the last time around.
Okay, I didn't have the patience to read through the other comments (LOL), but here's what I've learned in my 7 months of experience (has it really been 7 MONTHS?!?!!):
ReplyDeleteDiapers and wipes are really just a personal preference. I prefer Luvs, Pampers, and Huggies for diapers (others *cough cough*Parent's Choice*cough* leak too easily, but maybe that's just because my baby came equipped with a pretty powerful water hose...) I HATE the smell and feel of Pampers wipes. Ugh. And Parent's Choice wipes are decent, but they aren't layered like the others in order to "pop up" in the wipes box--which can be REALLY frustrating when changing a poopy, squirmy baby. I like Huggies wipes and Target brand wipes.
The breast pump depends on how often you'll be using it. If it's going to be an every day, multiple times a day situation, get an electric made for long-term, daily use so it will last. If you just plan on pumping here and there, you could do a manual. The consensus on BabyFit is that Medela makes the best pumps.
I got a fold up space saver bathtub that I really liked. I also invested in a big bathing sponge that proved to be invaluable! Just make sure the bath tub doesn't have that bump in the middle (you'll know what I'm talking about when you go shopping....) because most of the people I've talked to said their baby hated it because it was uncomfortable and just got in the way. The next time around, I'm going to get one with the mesh sling--that seems to be most functional. In the beginning, though, you're going to have to sponge bathe because of the healing umbilical cord and for that, I HIGHLY suggest the disposable washcloths for baby. All you have to do is get them wet and they suds up and you're good to go!
Car Seat: I had a Graco SungRide and I really liked it. I bought the Graco SnugRider stroller--one of the ones that's just a frame that you snap the car seat into. I LOVED IT!! It was light, compact, and super easy to maneuver. It folded up surprisingly flat, so it didn't take up much trunk space. Now that Gabriel is too big for that car seat, I bought him a convertible car seat that I am totally obsessed with--the Combi Zeus 360 - perfection - and a Combi stroller that reclines completely so he can still lay down if needed.
I registered at Target and Babies R Us--they'll get you covered!!
Boppy? Absolutely!! At WalMart (and ONLY WalMart, for some reason...) they sell one called the "Cuddle-U" that comes with a little harness strap so you can lay baby in it and s/he won't slide out. I have one and I still use it every day. Shoot, CANDACE has one and even she still uses it daily--and Lily is 2 years old!! The cuddle-u saved my little booty on many occasions. Gabriel slept through the night EARLY early on thanks to his comfy cuddle-u! And then I used it to help him learn to sit up. It's also good for inclined tummy time. And thanks to the harness, I know he's not going to slide away!
Bumbo: I'm not gonna lie--they're awesome. But see if you can find a good used one on CraigsList. You won't use it until baby can hold his/her head up pretty well, so this is something you can wait on. I love it though! If I'm cooking or doing something in the kitchen, I just put Gabe in Lily's old (PINK--LOL) bumbo and pop him up on the counter and he's happy as can be! When Candace and Lily are over for dinner, she puts Lily in the bumbo (yes, still fits in it!! and she's BIG!!) and sets her on a chair and it works as a booster seat!
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ReplyDeleteBaby Slings: Okay, this is one that I am REALLY passionate about. A lot of the baby slings out there and Baby Bjorn-style carriers are just bad news. A lot of the slings are being recalled because they are dangerous and the baby bjorn-style carriers can cause a lot problems for baby. There is SO MUCH I could go on and on about. I have a Sleepy Wrap. It is, in one word, AMAZING. I love it almost more than any other baby item I own. At first, I thought it would be complicated and possibly too warm--but I was SO WRONG!! It's easy to use, comfortable for both mom and baby, SAFE, and oh man is it versatile!! Because of the way it is wrapped, it evenly distributes weight across your back and baby feels incredibly light. Gabriel loves to be carried around in it! I have even put LILY (two year old niece) in it and carried her comfortably. Because of its design you can use it from birth to...well, as long as you're comfortable carrying the kid!! My only regret is not buying one sooner. It would have been so handy to have it when Gabriel was a newborn! To read more about it, and to read up on research done on baby carriers of all types, go here: http://www.sleepywrap.com/ (I bought mine on Amazon for a screamin' deal!!)
Bottles and pacifiers: I bought one of every kind because every baby is different and they all prefer different things. Well wouldn't you know--Gabriel won't suck on a pacifier and he prefers regular ol' cheap no frills bottles/nipples. He hated the oddly-formed nipples like Nuk and the like. The wide/fat bottles/nipples were hard for him to hold and suck (plus they take up a lot more room in the diaper bag). Ho-hum....no exciting bottles for me! LOL
I have baby Einstein toys for Gabriel, but no videos. I have the Your Baby Can Read set and Gabriel really enjoys watching the videos! Candace has a set for Lily and she started reading words aloud as soon as she was able to speak! I've seen some babies too young to talk recognize the words and instead point to the object (belly, eyes, mouth, dog) or act them out (arms up, kick, etc.) The program is expensive though and I only have it because a guy on Craigslist sold an unused (still in the shrinkwrap!) set to me for $50--he obviously didn't know what he had!!
Other tidbits:
When searching for a nasal aspirator, just go with the classic, all-one-piece bulb. They make them now where they separate into two pieces so they're "easier to clean" (nasal aspirators aren't that difficult to clean...) but because they're not one whole piece, they lose suction at the seam, rendering them almost completely ineffective.
Thermometer: if it looks too easy to be true, it probably is. And there's no need to get some crazy, expensive, fancy one either. To get the best, most accurate reading think O.A.R. (oral, armpit, rectal) and for those you just need a normal every day digital thermometer and some disposable covers. Don't waste time or money on forehead, temple, or ear thermometers (unless you're a doctor with a professional ear thermometer).
You can never have too many onesies or too many sleepers/PJs. Just a fact.
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ReplyDeleteDiaper Bag Essentials: Get a diaper bag with separate compartments INSIDE the main compartment. A travel wipes container is worth the extra couple bucks. Having your own changing mat will save your butt (and baby's!!) more than once. If you end up formula feeding, a formula dispenser is time saver, space saver, and sanity saver! You can never be too prepared--I always bring two bibs, an extra outfit in case Gabriel spits up or has an explosive poop or pees through his diaper onto his clothes (believe me, it happens to the best of parents...), fingernail clippers, bandaids, diaper rash cream, gas drops, baby orajel, infant tylenol/motrin/ibuprofen, an extra toy or two, hand sanitizer, etc. (and diapers, of course!) Sounds like a lot but you can get all of these things in a small/travel size and there will come a day (many, in fact) that you will be glad you packed it!
Those little baby hand mitt things are really good to have. I didn't get them at first because I thought "Uhh--just keep their fingernails clipped and they won't scratch themselves..." WRONG. They will. You and your friends and family are going to find any excuse to take pictures of your little one and when s/he has scratches on her/his face, it's such a bummer!!
A baby swing is a great investment--as is a bouncer seat (not a jumper, though those are fun for when they're older). When your arms need a rest and/or you need to take a shower or clean or whatever else, it really helps to have a comfy and entertaining place to put baby.
This is so stinking long. I'm sorry. I'll stop now. Just a few last little things. Craigslist saved me HUNDREDS of dollars. Of course, there are many things you should buy new but for everything else, why not save money?! Most things are washable or have a removable pad/cover that you can throw in the washer. If you haven't heard of FreeCycle, get on yahoo right now and search for the FreeCycle group in your area. It's a group of giving, environmentally friendly folks who need to get rid of stuff (and not just baby items!), but don't want to take the time and effort to sell it and don't want to throw it away. Also, http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/ is an AWESOME site to check out!! You get weekly updates on baby's development and your body, a weight gain tracker, nutrient tracker, meal planner, fitness & workout tracker, health and how-to articles and lots of other useful and meaningful content! Plus, a large community of other moms and moms-to-be to bounce ideas off of and get ideas and advice from. You can join groups/teams like "Utah Mommies", "First Time Mommies", "Young Adult Moms", "Mormon Mommies", "November 2010 Moms" and so on. There's nothing like this community of mommy-peers!!
So sorry for the novel--just wanted to share the things I learned so you don't have to learn the hard/more expensive way!
Well, Sheri and I have been through the product selection rigamarole, and we're actually still in it. So if you find anything out, let us know.
ReplyDeleteWe were given a relatively cheep sling thingy and found that it got pretty good reviews. But, we've also heard the Bjorns are the way to go. And it's got a cool name, so that might just push it over the top.
Also, we looked into cloth diapers (the enviro nerd in me wanted to avoid contaminating the environment with thousands more diapers) and found this site:
http://www.gdiapers.com/
We think we'll use gdiapers for size 2 and 3, but we're going with the good old fashion polluting diapers for size 1.
Just some thoughts.
I agree a lot with that first comment..although honestly, if you're going to go with a pacifier at all, make sure your baby *only* gets it in the crib, and not during the rest of the time. Or better yet, get it to fall asleep with a favorite blankie or animal, because honestly, getting our first child off of the pacifier was a nightmare, and we never could get him to consistently nap once it was taken away, and our second child is as easy as pie to get to nap, and who cares if he's attached to a blanket?
ReplyDeleteKroger brand babywipes. The cheapest, and I like them better than the pampers wipes.
Nursing pillow: priceless! It was practically an item of clothing for me!
I liked the travel system stroller for the extra storage space in the bottom, but honestly, once you have two, you might as well use the double-stroller for that and keep the teeny one for when you want to go light.
Yeah, don't bother with a baby bathtub. If you want to use a foam pad for traction, that's fine. My mother-in-law taught me the trick of only filling the tub up about an inch or two, so that if you lay your baby in their back, Its face is still above water. It works really well, and they like feeling the solid tub under their heads!
Anyhow, those are my thoughts!