Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3

Dear Gianna,

Here’s a list of the necessary things you’ll need as a mom:

1. Crib
2. Baby clothes, pajamas, and bibs
3. Receiving blankets and sleeping blankets
4. Pacifiers
5. Bottles
6. Breast Pump
7. Boppy or My Breast Friend
8. Monitor
9. Crib sheets
10. Diaper bag
11. Changing pads
12. Crawl mats/blankets
13. Car seat
14. Stroller
15. Baby carrier
16. Toys
17. Books
18. Infant swing
19. Desitin
20. Diapers
21. Wash cloth
22. Burp rags
23. Bumper
24. Infant Bathtub and Shampoo
25. Nursing cover
26. Baby book

1.  Cribs: this is something that is best to buy new, because the safety regulations change and many times are recalled.

You in your crib :

2.  Baby clothes, p.j.s , and bibs: Don’t buy any clothes until after the baby is born!  We got a billion little outfits and most people seem to prefer buying clothes than shopping on your registry.

Cute clothes:

3.  Receiving blankets and sleeping blankets: Used not only for warmth but also to shade baby and put down on the ground as a barrier.  If your baby is an acid reflux baby, you’ll be going through loads of receiving blankets.

Receiving blanket:

4.  Pacifiers: Buy lots and be pro-active about trying to get your baby to take a pacy.  Just make sure to wait until the baby is around 4 weeks old before you give baby the pacifier otherwise, crazy nipple confusion could ensue.

Pacifier:

5.  Bottles: I blogged about this earlier here, but you will need at least two.

6.  Breast Pump:  You’ll need one.  The reason here.

7.  Boppy or Breast Friend:  Good positioning is everything when it comes to nursing.  You’ll be able to avoid some pain and suffering if you have a breast prop.  I blogged about the difference here.

Boppy:

8. Monitors:  If you live in a tiny apartment or condo, these will not actually be necessary, but otherwise a must.  Read what my choice was here.

9.  Crib sheets:  You had/have a blowout almost every night, so I’m a sheet changing expert.  Get enough to last at least a week.

10. Diaper bag:  This is something that will become your new purse, so get one that you like and most important, functional.  Petunia Pickle Bottom bags are a popular choice.

11. Changing pads:  Early on, we needed lots of these because you would blow out when we were changing you.

12.  Crawl mats/blankets:  We got a ton of cute homemade blankets, and the way we use them is to let you crawl all over them (plus they’re always included in the photos that way!)

13.  Car seat:  You must buy this new, because safety regulations change so often.  Also, you must buy a new one every five years.  A popular choice is Chicco because they are high quality but we went with the $150 dollar cheaper option of Graco and it’s working just fine.

14.  Stroller:  My back ached so bad, that a baby carrier was not an option for any distance.  We used a car seat/stroller combination that seem to be ever popular with moms.  I must say, being able to lift you out of the car and into a stroller without waking you up is essential but if I had to do it all over again, I might be tempted to get a car seat, and then a simple stroller frame.  The verdicts still out whether or not this would be better.

15. Baby carrier:  My poor aching back couldn’t handle a baby carrier very well, but on days when I couldn’t get you settled down, I would put the ergo on and even just sitting would somehow placate you ( I’m so amazing that you didn’t want to be away from me… that’s what I’ll remind you of when you’re a teenager !:) ) Read why I love the ergo the best here.

16.  Toys:  One day out the blue, you started swiping for the toys around you.  I thought I had missed something, but each day brings a whole new baby!  Right now your favorite toys are anything crinkly or anything with lots of lights and music ( such as my phone, ipod touch haha etc)

17. Books:  I was a slacker and didn’t read to you until about the 2 month mark.  Read, read, read to you baby!

18. Infant swing:  These were a life line for many of the young moms I know, although we didn’t get one!  I’m looking forward to getting one next time!

19. Desitin: Daddy calls this your baby butt paint, or your baby war paint.  It’s messy, smells funky, and stains everything but it works wonders on diaper rash.

20. Diapers: A landfill of disposable diapers or spraying out day old poop in cloth ones.  Your choice

21. Wash Cloths: I use these everyday for random things!

22. Burp rags:  Babies burp up a lot!

23. Bumper:  Needed so that little arms and legs don’t get stuck.  Take this off after the baby can pull him or her self up.

24. Infant Bathtub and shampoo:  Our peditrician recommended Aveeno shampoo.  We used a tub with an infant insert that sits in the sink ( A must for a bad back ! ).  As the splashing intensifies and my back heals, we will probably opt for a bathtub cushion.

25. Nursing cover: If you ever want to go out in public and cover yourself, you must have one of these.

26. Baby book: Don’t forget to buy one of these before you give birth!  It will be worth it’s weight in gold someday.  I couldn’t find what I wanted in the stores, so look on Amazon.  There’s quite the selection!

Love,

Mommy

Why Isn’t Every Day Mother’s Day?

Dear Gianna,

Look at how happy we were on Mother’s Day:

Do you know that saying, “Keep Christmas in your heart?”, well I think there should be another saying called, “Keep Mother’s Day in your heart”.  Not to toot my own horn or anything, but being a Mom is hard work.  You “hear” how hard it is all the time from your own Mother, except you don’t listen ( to be fair, Grammy actually never really complained about the woes of being a Young Dumb Mom.  She is a very clever woman; this was a good stagey for getting Grandbabies as soon as possible ).  Instead you think, “Was it really all that hard to raise my angelic self?”  Scoff, scoff.

It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.  But oddly my bad memories have already begun to fade.  You might think this strange, but with each smile and laugh the trauma of those sleepless nights and constant crying become more and more of a distant memory and soon they will be forgotten completely.  Then you’ll have a sibling.

That’s the neat thing about being a mom.  It requires no effort to forget those unpleasant memories, because you’ve been blessed as the tour guide to the beginning of an amazing life and journey.  And, soon enough, those memories are erased and you’re free to move on to simply enjoy these ever fleeting moments with your children.  I stayed awake those nights, and endured the crying but look what I got in return:

I’d say, it’s worth it.

Love,

Mommy

Deception Pass

Dear Gianna,

We had the most glorious day.  As an early Mother’s day present, Spencer took us to Deception Pass.  Here are some photos to prove that we were really there:

Northwest Paradise

Look at those snow-capped mountains in the background!

Happy family!

The photo wasn’t edited.  Look at the color of the water!

Okay, Okay, so some of the photos were from previous visits to Deception Pass, but it’s all the same place!

I have an OBSESSION with Deception Pass.  This is the Northwest at it’s best; a reverie from the real world.  The beauty is so stunning it’s necessary to pinch oneself in order to remember this is still reality.  Seals and eagles complete this surreal experience.

We woke up early, which we’ve decided is an absolute must in order to procure the best parking spots.  After walking around, taking pictures, and a picnic lunch, we were in Deception Pass bliss.  An ergo pack and nursing cover were the key to our success ( plus loads of sunscreen )

Love,

Mommy

 

 

Money Saving Tip!

Dear Gianna,

Here is a money-saving tip.  Instead of this:

Buy this:

While exclusively breast-feeding, doctors will recommend giving baby vitamin supplements, particularly for vitamin D.  Instead of buying a $10 tri-vi-sol every month, this Baby D will last you a year + for the same price.

Love,

Mommy

Bainbridge, WA

Carnation WA

Lesson Learned: To Think or Not to Think

Dear Gianna,

Being a mom means sympathy, patience, and a lot of ingenuity.  It means having to learn how to think in a new way, to put the needs of others ahead of yourself.  I had to learn to think for someone who couldn’t communicate her needs, which was harder than I had imagined.  Your room was freezing cold and when I would check on you in the morning, you were an ice cube.  A few days later it occurred to me to put an extra blanket on you.  It was cold outside so I would dress you in this warm jumper.

Only it never dawned to me to put socks on you.  Thankfully Grammy suggested to put socks on you.  Here you are moments later:

It took your father forever to change a diaper.  Wondering what was the commotion, I spied on his technique to find him taking off all your clothes, changing you, then putting all your clothes back on.  He didn’t figure out taking off only the your pants was necessary until I sweetly suggested otherwise

I hope someday you can laugh at all these amateur parent antics.  The scary part is, I know we’ll be making plenty more mistakes in the future.  I just want you to know, my dearest daughter, that your parents are not perfect.  Not even close.   But I hope you know we always want the absolute best for you.  That is part of being a parent, to learn from the mistakes you’ve made and set out tomorrow knowing those mistakes won’t be repeated.

Love,

Mommy