Baby favourites*

 Again, nothing too interesting to post yet, and this weekend is proving to turn out to be a pretty low-key one for us, finally :) So as I am sitting here watching Garett playing away in his exersaucer and watching Sesame Street, I decided to write a blog about the shows and toys/products I couldn't have made it through the last few months without! I was so worried while I was preggo about what I would need, so I pretty much just bought every imaginable thing in existence. I will know better for my next pregnancy what works for me--but like everything else, what I use and what works for me may not be so fantastic for others!

*ps. Cuba Gooding Jr. and Dr. Phil are on Sesame Street today--did celebrities used to be on it when we were little????....*

During Pregnancy:

The main thing I was SO happy to have while I was pregnant (that is, until it went flat), was my Snoogie Pillow. I paid full price for this puppy which was about 70 buckaroos, but if anyone else will buy it (and I will have to buy another next time), they go on sale at Babies R Us for like $40 sometimes, and THAT'S when it should be purchased. Not too many other things were a huge necessity while pregnant--though if you're preggers in the winter like I was, invest in some easy to tug on boots--it was SO hard to even bend over to put socks

For Nursing:

1) Since I couldn't breastfeed the old fashioned way (Garett wouldn't latch on at the hospital and I never tried again after that), I S-W-O-R-E by my amazing breast pump. This thing was amazzzinggggg. It holds a heftier price tag than some pumps found in the stores, at around $550 or so, though I believe you can buy it for cheaper on Amazon (so check that out). But this pump is a double electric, hands free, with an adapter, carry bag and an insulated carrier with an ice pack (and comes with a few bottles). It comes with strap things to hook the pumps onto your bra (though I never tried the hands free), and you can use it either plugged into the wall or running on the battery clipped onto your belt as you walk around the house. The machine itself has a memory if you so choose to do things for exactly the same amount of time, etc. Anyways--there aren't enough words I can say to praise this machine enough. It's gently packed away right now and I will be SO happy to have it next time around too :)

2) Definitely invest in some GOOD reusable breast pads. I used some of the NUK ones, Avent ones, Medela ones...they all SUCK. You pay about $7 for a few pairs of those. I bought some Bamboobies (4 pairs of overnight ones for $30). They are much more absorbant. And let me tell you--you will think it's worth it when you wake up wringing your shirt out over the sink and changing nursing bras and tops every hour. This pain in the butt kept me up longer than the baby did until I got the new pads. 

3) Good nursing bras. Even if you're not breastfeeding the old fashioned way, you want to be comfortable. The pump would be really annoying if you had to de-robe entirely everytime. The nursing portion comes in very handy. They are also made with no underwire (which can cause really uncomfortable mastitis--blocked milk ducts). I was lucky enough not to get this but I can say I didn't want it from stories I've heard. OUCH.

Favourite Products:

1) Avent Electric Bottle Sterilizer

BUY BUY BUY a good sterilizer. I can't imagine how much of a pain it would be to have to boil everything everytime you needed them sterilized. This thing saves so much time. Simply wash your bottles, fill the sterilizer up (bottom half for bottles, top for lids and nipples), add a lid full of water into the part for water, put the lid on and push the power button. I believe the entire process is 3-5 minutes or something while it cleans it, then you let it rest for 10 before touching it so it cools down. Take it as precious advice from this mama...do NOT open this puppy right after the cycle is done, you will nearly burn your fingers off with the temp the bottles get to! Anyways, mine holds 7 big bottles in the bottom. Price tag, about $100. Well worth it.

2) Bottles, Bottles, Bottles. I have 3 different bottles on the go right now, the only way I can truly rule out what he does and doesn't like. He seems to drink well from the Avent bottles (we used the size 1 for breast milk and now the size 2 for formula too). The 4 oz bottles are about $24 for 3 and the 9 oz bottles are the same price in most places. 

We also are using Medela bottles--I had a ton of the 5 oz bottles and he loved these while drinking breast milk. So I bought some of the 8 oz bottles to0. 5 oz bottles--3 for $25 (beware, the small ones do NOT come with nipples, so you have to buy those separately). The large 8 oz bottles are about $30 for 3 but come with nipples.

I also bought a pack of Nuk bottles since they claim to be orthodontic nipples. I think he likes sucking on these but boy, what a M.E.S.S. The liquid just pours out the side of his mouth (true to the small bottles and big bottles). I hate these nipples.They're a bit cheaper at around $16 for three big bottles (10oz). NOT worth it--splurge the extra few bucks for the better ones--I don't think orthodontic does anything different for him. In fact, I even heard from people whose dentists say the orthodontic nipples and soothers are BAD for their mouths.

3) Pampers Swaddlers (sensitive). These things were a God send. How did parents tell if their babies diaper was just a little or alot wet before these were invented???? hahahaha...there's a colour sensitive yellow stripe down the front and back of these diapers that turn blue when they're wet. I love them. Makes it so easy to just take a peek for the line when he;s in his car seat or whatever!

Favourite Toys:

1) Lamaze Lion Toy--it makes this purring noise with a ball in his head (lol) If he's fussing, the noise of this calms him right now and his eyes get so wide and he just STARES at this thing like it's alive.

2) His jungle themed exersaucer is his FAVOURITE thing, no joke. He would sit in this all day if I let him. He wants to be standing 24/7 and sometimes just screams the second you lay him on his back because he wants to walk around. He loves to smash the toys around on it and stare into the eyes of the animals (birds, lizard, alligator, monkeys, etc)

3) Play mat--now just play mat blankets. He LOVES tummy time as well and these mats allow for him to scoot around without getting a face full of hardwood or carpet lol

4) His Skip Hop mirror for when he's doing tummy time. He'll sit up and just stare with a big poop eating grin on his face at himself for 5 minutes lol.

Well those are his top few anyways, he loves ALL of his toys though, so it was hard to just choose a few lol.   I hope everyone's Friday goes quick and enjoy your weekend!!