The Registry Series: Extras

And here we are... the final installment of the series!  This last section is all about the extras!  These items are all pieces that you may not need right away, but will be so happy you have them when the time rolls around!

1. Car Seat Protector:  This item is one that I really get tons of use out of!  We installed this the minute we put Chase's car seat in the car and it really helps protect your seats!  I never realized how much of a mark/imprint car seats leave and if you have leather seats it's even worse!  This item is super sturdy and has a nice high back so it protects from kicking little feet!
2. Solly Baby Wrap:  This particular wrap is all the rage with mommy bloggers!  I completely understand why!  It is very lightweight, but very sturdy!  It supports babies from birth up to 25lbs and is easily folded to fit in just about any space!  As a bonus, they come in a variety of adorable colors and patterns!
3. Car Storage Organizer:  This item I use on the daily!  I have it on the floor right in front of Chase's seat and inside I always have extra diapers, wipes, a light blanket, and a few toys.  There are also spaces for two cups/bottles and lots of pockets for smaller items!  This organizer is highly recommended! 
4. Mommy & Baby Hook Duo:  These are great to have on hand.  I keep them both inside the car organizer for when I need them.  We use them from time to time for toys, bags, and small purses.  They're great to have!
5. Bumbo:  This is an updated version of the beloved Bumbo chair as it has a handy tray.  This seat acts as a portable high chair and a booster seat.  Chase got lots of use out of his! 
6. Boppy Pillow:  We love, love, LOVE the Boppy pillow!  This item is a dream because not only is it a lifesaver for a nursing mom, it also helps with tummy time, propping the baby up, and helping them learn to sit.  If you don't put anything but one item from this particular list on your registry, let it be this.. trust me! 
7. Bath Toy Storage Bin: We didn't use this for a few months, but once Chase started playing with toys in the bath, I was so glad we had this!  It holds several toys, can be mounted to the wall, and has tons of drainage holes to prevent mildew.  We love this storage bin so so much! 
8. Dockatot:  I really wish I had registered for this portable sleeper!  In those early stages, this would have been wonderful to have around!  At $165 it's a bit of a pricier item, but every review I've read has been wonderful! 

So there you have it... the final piece of the puzzle!  I really hope you all enjoyed this series and found it informative and helpful!  I was so excited to prepare this series for you all because these items really have been used and loved by us!  I hope those of you who are preparing to register for your new bundles of joy are able to use this as a helpful guide!

The Registry Series: Gear

This is probably my most favorite of the "Registry Series" categories because these products are the ones we got the most use out of during those early months!  Looking at them really tugged at my heartstrings because I can picture a brand new little Chase and now he's just so big!  Time flies people!

Anyway, these are four of the main gear items that I feel are completely worth every cent!  They are not only extremely easy to put together (while my husband was putting together furtniture, my nine month pregnant self put all these together!), but even easier to use!

1. Rock and Play:  This item was honestly the most used item in our house when Chase was an infant.  He not only napped here, but he slept in this every night next to my side of the bed.  We never purchased a bassinet, so this did the trick (knowing about this bassinet now, I'd probably chose this for him to sleep in for a bit - maybe next baby). This particular Rock and Play model (there are a few to chose from) features 12 songs, 3 calming sound effects, and two different auto rocking modes.  This is a great item to have!
2. 4moms Mamaroo:  When I found out I was pregnant, this was one of the five items I knew I had to register for right away (followed by the high chair, play yard, stroller, and car seat).  Almost every mommy blogger I read and every new mom I knew personally, couldn't rave enough about this gadget!  It's perfect for giving mom a break because it mimics motions rather than just sway side to side.  It also features soothing sounds, a hookup for your phone, and 4moms has an app that you can use to control it from another room!  This is another favorite of ours!  
3. 4moms Bounceroo:  After the Rock and Play, this is probably the second most used item from when Chase was an infant.  I can't tell you how much I love this bouncer!  It's super light weight, portable, and easy to store away!  He's hung out in here while I cooked, showered, you name it - it's a mommy life saver! 
4. 4moms Breeze: If you can't tell by now, I have major love and appreciation for the 4moms brand!  All of their items are geared towards making babies comfortable and ease of use for parents.  The Breeze is a bit on the pricier side in terms of other play yards, but as far as ease, it's in a league all its own!  Breeze may be the name of this item but it also speaks volumes as to how easy it is to put together and take down!  We love ours!  I can pop it up with the baby in my arms and take it down just as easily!  Save yourself the headache of fighting with other play yards and register for this one... you will be so glad you did!

We are coming to the end of this series... the final installment (all the extras!) will be posted next week.  I hope you all have enjoyed it this far!  

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The Registry Series: Nursery and Bedding

When it comes to registering for your nursery, you can keep it simple or go big!  When I mean by "go big" is registering for basically everything - from furniture down to decor.  For our registry, we kept it relatively simple and down to a few basics.  I had purchased most items for Chase's nursery throughout my pregnancy, and my parents generously bought his furniture, so (thankfully) we didn't really need much.

These are the nursery items we registered for and all but one we still use daily with our little man:

1. Motorola Baby Monitor: There are tons of different baby monitors out there and I had one stipulation when it came to narrowing ours down.  I really wanted a monitor that had wifi capabilities.  I chose this monitor by Motorola and it's been wonderful.
2. Sound Machine:  Every single night and during each nap, we use my iPad mini as a sound machine for Chase.  We had originally purchased this one, but it turns out he's a big fan of Elvis and would rather listen to him instead 😉
3. Humidifier:  This is one of those items where you might not use it every single day, but you are super thankful you have it when you need it!  Since Chase has bouts with Asthma, we need this a bit more than we probably would have and this one by Crane is a great size and super cute!  Plus, they come in tons of different colors!
4. Wipe Warmer: We learned the hard way with this one in particular.  There is absolutely nothing worse than an ice cold wipe in the middle of the night when your little one wakes up!  A wipe warmer is a God send - trust me on this!!
5. Sleep Sack: The Halo sleep sack is a favorite for moms all over!  This makes night time less worrisome because it is suggested that you don't put blankets on your baby until they are over a year old.  This also keeps them swaddled which is super soothing to most babies and helps them (and you!) get a more restful night's sleep!

As for bedding, there is one brand in particular that I love and would highly recommend to everyone and that is Aden + Anais!  We use their products all over Chase's nursery and LOVE them all!  Currently, we use the Aden + Anais crib sheet covers on top of a waterproof mattress protector.  He sleeps comfortably at night with his dream blanket that is a perfect weight and super soft (it gets softer with each wash!).

We also used nothing but the Aden + Anais swaddle blankets when he was a baby.  Once I tried them,  all the others I purchased when right back to the store!  I appreciate the breathable fabric so much and their softness!

And finally, we use and love the changing pad covers as well.  He's just a month shy of a year and a half old and I've been using these since day #1!

Next up is some baby gear I think you will all love!

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The Registry Series: Medicine Cabinet

I know medicines for babies can be a bit controversial but all of these items above, we've used with Chase and have discussed them and got approval from out pediatrician.  I am in no way a doctor or medical professional, these are simply items that I've found worked for us and I hope will work for you as well.

1. When Chase has a stuffy nose, nasal spray is helpful in getting the tough stuff out!  This formula is made by the same company that makes Boogie Wipes and it's gentle for sensitize little noses!

2. I had never heard of this miracle cream prior to having Chase but I'm so very glad I know about it now!  In Chase's whole year of life, he's had only one minor diaper rash when he first came home from the hospital.  I contacted our pediatrician late one night and they recommended this cream.  We ran out to get it that same night and by the next morning it was just about gone!  After that, I used it with each diaper change as a preventative measure for a bit.  It's a little on the pricier side but it's worth it's weight in gold!

3. Vick's Baby Rub was also recommended by our pediatrician when Chase had his first cold.  We used it sparingly but it definitely helped with his congestion.  It's a great item to have handy!

4. Boogie Wipes are a favorite of ours!  I have them in Chase's nursery, my car, and my diaper bag.  I like to use them over regular tissues because they never dry out his nose.

5. We have this thermometer and love that it's a noninvasive product that can be used on newborns and adults alike.  It's very easy to use as well!

6.  It's always good to have some sort of pain reliever in the house - especially when it's teething time!  We love both Infant Motrin and Infant Tylenol.

7.  The idea of the Nose Frida nasal aspirator may be very unappealing and might actually deter some from purchasing and using it but honestly, this product is amazing!  It's much more effective than a traditional aspirator and it's easy to clean.

8. This outdoor duo pack from Babyganics has both mineral based sunscreen and natural insect repellent - both very important to have!

9. The First Years American Red Cross Baby Healthcare and Grooming Kit has all of the essentials for your baby.  It's a 17 piece set that includes a nasal aspirator, digital thermometer with case, soft-tip medicine dispenser, comfort tip medicine spoon with cap, brush, comb, scissors, nail clipper, fingertip toothbrush, emery boards, and a rattle.  It all comes in a handy zippered case for easy storage.

Next up is nursery and bedding essentials!

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Chase's First Birthday Inspiration and Wish List

Our little man will ofishally be one on May 12th and it's really hard to believe!  It seriously feels like just yesterday I woke up with pains in my stomach and we met him a few hours later!  It's been such a whirlwind of a year and the fastest one of my life for sure!  I get a little emotional thinking about it all, but I'm so excited for the future because of him!  I can't wait to see him do everything and anything!

I've had his party theme set in stone since November and I slowly purchased decor items and pinned away a ton of different ideas.  We decided on a fish themed party since he's infatuated with water and sea life. Above are some of the photos I found on Pinterest that inspired me!  I can't wait to see everything come together for him!  We aren't having a huge party, but rather a small gathering at home of family and friends - who we lovingly refer to as his fan club ;)  I'll share more photos of Chase's big day in the next few weeks!

As far as his birthday wish list, he really has all that he could possibly need.  I've put together a list for him of items that he could have fun with, but also things he could use as well.

1) Little Tikes Spiralin' Seas Waterpark - The weather is getting a little nicer everyday & we've been trying to spend as much time as we can outside.  This water table is sure to keep him occupied and cool on those warm days!

2) Paw Patrol Staw Bottle Thermos - We could definitely use this to keep his drinks cold as he's outside playing!  And we love the Paw Patrol at our house ;)

3) Janod Alphabet Puzzle - It's never too early to start learning the ABCs!  Chase loves blocks and this puzzle is perfect because the pieces are similar to the blocks he loves to play with.  I've read great reviews on this item.

4) Yikes Twins Shark Hooded Towel - I really wanted a shark robe for him but all the ones I could find were for up to 9 mos.  This towel is adorable and the quality is great!

5) Yikes Twins Shark Slippers - Matching slippers for the towel that are almost too cute to handle!

We are really looking forward to celebrating our little man in a few short weeks!  I still can't get over the fact that he's going to be ONE!

The Registry Series: Bath

Other than playtime, bath time is definitely Chase's favorite part of the day!  We've been using these items since we came home from the hospital and he could take his first bath!

1. & 2. Just Bath by Just Born Hooded Towels  and  Just Bath by Just Born Washcloths - I'm a little weird when it comes to bath towels and washcloths for Chase.  I really dislike the ones that are silky soft and tissue thin because they don't get much of the job done (in my opinion).  These Just Bath by Just Born towels have the perfect amount of weight and texture, as do the washcloths.   J.J. Cole is another brand we are fond of at our house.

3. Spout Cover: 4Moms - There are a lot of different spout covers on the market and we have two that we really love and would recommend.  The first one is this 4Moms cover.  This will give you a piece of mind when you are filling up the tub for your baby as it has a heat sensing element that will notify you by sounding an alarm and flashing bright red if the water is too hot.  If it is just right, it will stay in the green zone.  It also displays the exact temperature.  The 4Moms cover does double duty by acting as a thermometer and barrier from the metal.  We also love the Boon Flo - we recently purchased this and like it a lot!  The Flo has a bath bubble dispenser and the bottom comes out to help was soap away, all while protecting your child.

4. Bath Seat: Angelcare Bath Support - After seeing how gross baby tubs can get, I read wonderful reviews on this seat and am so glad it is ultimately the one we chose.  This is such an easy item to clean and it doesn't get moldy or disgusting.  We love that it supports your child from birth to 30 pounds.  A must have!

5. Aveeno Baby Bathtime Solutions Set - Chase has super sensitive skin and he also has infant eczema in certain areas.  We tried Johnson & Johnson products and they would irritate the eczema so we talked with our pediatrician who recommended the Aveeno Baby product line.  We currently use their bath soaps, lotions, and eczema relief products.  They have helped his skin tremendously!

6. Nuby Tear Free Rinse Pail - You can always use a good old fashioned cup to get this job done, but we love our Nuby rinse pail because it perfectly contours to the baby's head so nothing gets in his eyes.

I hope you find these items worth looking into!  Next up are medicine cabinet must haves!

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Chase's Easter Basket

I've been slowly collecting items to fill Chase's very first Easter basket for a while now.  Since he's still so little, we won't be doing an egg hunt with him this year so I went a little extra with his basket.  I did purchase a package of 8 clear eggs and I'm going to fill them with Puffs, Cheerios, and yogurt melts for him and put them on the floor in our living room - kind of like a mini egg hunt for our mini man ;)

Last Easter I ordered this wire basket from H&M (I ordered a copper colored one as well for future a sibling one day - yes, thinking WAY ahead!) for him knowing that I would use this for years to come as his main basket.  I love this because it's large enough to hold all of his goodies!  I'm going to purchase a more traditional basket for him to do his egg hunts with since this one doesn't really have handles that would be practical for such a thing ;)

We always had a tradition growing up where we would get one gift on Easter (usually we would find it with a series of clues), and we'd also get a basket with goodies.  For Chase's "big" gift, I purchased this awesome bath toy by Yookidoo and I can not wait for him to open it!  He's such a huge fan of bath time so I know he's going to LOVE this!

For his basket fillers, I did a mixture of his favorite snacks, useful items, educational items, and some fun toys!

-  For the snacks, I picked up a tin of Gerber Lil' Crunchies and a pack of colorful Goldfish crackers.
- For useful items, I grabbed him this festive shortie PJ set, a new tooth brush (the boy loves to brush his teeth!), and this fun little silverware set (Paw Patrol is a favorite in our house).
- For the educational items, I love to get him a holiday book for each passing holiday and this board book is a classic.  This egg toy is not only festive for the Easter holiday, but it encourages dexterity and helps kids recongize shapes and colors!  Fisher Price makes great toys for every age and this alphabet tablet has three levels for development and helps kids learn letters and words!
- For the fun items, he has the VTech Go! Go! Police Station already so I got the fire truck to add to the road!  A teddy bear will be in the basket too - it's seriously the softest thing ever and I can already see him cuddling up to it - heart melt!  And finally, these bath drops are going to be fun to use during one of his favorite times of the day!

The Registry Series: Playtime and Toys

This section of the Registry Series can be considered optional because it's all about playtime and toys. Some of you will not find it absolutely essential to register for toys and that is fine - to each their own.  However, those of you who would like to add a few playtime items to your registry, I've broken this list down to essentials and extras.  All of these items I've used with Chase and some he still plays with (most actually).  Here we go ;)

I think all registries should have a jumper, playmat, and walker on them which is why I've listed these three as my essential items.  You will use these relatively quickly and for a pretty long period of time.  These three items are Chase's favorites!  He still uses them all to this day - the police car gets the most use right now because he's always on the go!

1. Play Mat: Infantino Grow-With-Me Mat & Ball Pit - This was one of the first "large toys" Chase played with.  We love this in our house because it gets more and more fun with each stage.  At first it is an activity mat and it converts into a ball pit!  It's a multipurpose item that is sure to get a lot of use!

2. Jumper: Disney Finding Nemo Sea of Activities Jumper - We love this thing!  I'm talking a deep deep love!!  We purchased this for Chase over the summer and once he went in, there was no getting him out!  This jumper is highly interactive and will stimulate almost all of your baby's senses!  There's so much color, lights, sounds, textures, and tons of  toys to play with!  It has three different height settings to grow with your baby. It's just so awesome!  Chase is quickly outgrowing it now and I think it's about time to box it up - although I have to admit, I'm going to miss seeing him bounce around in it!

3. Walker: Combi Police Car Entertainer - Play time gets more fun once your little one is ready to move!  This police car walker is adorable!  It is definitely Chase's most favorite at the moment!  It has a padded seat, a little steering wheel that honks and plays melodies, adjustable height, and a snack tray.

For the extras, I wanted to include some of the items that my son has loved and used for a while.  We are going on 11 months and almost all of these toys are still played with daily.

1. Jacques the Peacock was the first toy we ever played with and from time to time now he will pick it up.  This is a great starter item!

2. The WubbaNub isn't necessarily a toy per say, but for an infant it doubles as a toy and pacifier!

3. We have both the Sit to Stand Learning Walker by Vtech and the Little Tikes Light N Go Activity Walker and they are both wonderful!

4. Our beloved Sophie has had a bit of a bad rep lately but if you use her carefully and follow the guides/instructions, she's wonderful to have when the baby is teething or just looking for something to squeak ;)

5. The Sassy Link Ring is another great beginner item - and as a bonus, you can take it apart and use the links to extend other toys!

6. This Baby Einstein ball set was in Chase's Christmas stocking and he just loves it!  All of the balls have different elements inside of them that keep him occupied and curious!

So there you have our playtime favorites from birth to the first year!  Now don't get me wrong, there are lots of other items that he plays with now, but all of these have been kept in rotation and played with over the last 11 months.  We love them all and hope you and your babies will too!

Next up is bath time - our favorite!

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Easter Sunday Best

Easter is one of my favorite holidays.  I love spending time with family celebrating each holiday and Easter is always a special one.

As we look forward to any oncoming holiday, there is always so much to prepare for!  Easter is a big one, especially if you have children!  Not only are you planning menus, baskets, and egg hunts, you also have to find a sweet little outfit for your bunnies!  I've had Chase's first Easter outfit since the end of February (yes, I'm turning into one of those moms that plan for everything in serious advance!), but below, I've rounded up some style inspiration for kids that are very budget friendly!

Dress // Headband // Bunny Flats // Plaid Shorty // Straw Hat // Bunny Sneakers

The Ten Month Update

It's hard to believe that Chase will be eleven months old on Wednesday - only a single month away from being a whole YEAR OLD - what??!!

Ten months has been a ton of fun!  It's definitely the most mobile month we've experienced so far!  All he wants to do is either be in his police car cruising around or pushing his activity walker around,!  Chase also wants to stand a lot and is now pulling himself up from just about anything!

Here are some stats from month 10!

• As far as his height and weight, we didn't have a doctors appointment this month so if I had to guesstimate, I'd say he's at least 25 pounds now and he's getting taller by the day!
• He's still in size four diapers but he fluctuates so much when it comes to clothing!  He's in mainly 18 months but he can get away with some 12 month shirts and he's also in a few 24 month and 2T pieces (mainly jammies)
• He finally started to put his knees down when he crawls - he's been doing the "inchworm" or army crawl for a few months now so this is exiting!
• I think his beloved Nemo bouncer is officially going to retire - he does not like to be in anything stationary anymore
• Chase tries to imitate EVERYTHING - whether it be a sound or a motion, little man is sure to try to copy whatever you do!
• Words are starting to form now - he says things like Mama and Dada, but he also calls for his cousin Tyler (Ty Ty) and Myles (My My), and he says buh-bye when you leave
• If you ask him, "How old is Chase man going to be?" he will lift up his pointer finger ;)
• He had his first taste of Sunday dinner at my grandmother's house - pasta and meatballs - and loved it!
• We've finally broken a barrier with table foods!  He eats mainly what we are eating now (but getting molars has set him back a bit, so he still does the purees from time to time).  Some of his favorites are banana pancakes, blueberry waffles, fresh fruit, american cheese, oatmeal with fruit mixed in, grilled cheese, pasta, potatoes of any form, eggs, and homemade chicken soup.  Breakfast items are by far his favorite!
• Tubby time is his favorite time of the day for sure!
• Sleep is still a mystery - some days he does really well but most we battle to fall asleep and wake at least once (or he's asleep all night but up with the chickens in the am)
• Chase loves to be outside!  We had the cop car and his Raptor out finally and he loved the fresh air!  Come on spring/summer!  
• Little man is weary of people he's unfamiliar with and definitely makes connections when I tell him we are going to see people that he knows well
• He strongly dislikes whenever mom leaves the room!
• As far as toys, he loves anything for the bath, his new activity table that he can stand around, his push walker & police car, blocks of any kind, and his Vulli fawn teether when he's in the car 
• We are beginning the weaning process with him and he's doing very well - he's down to three nursing sessions a day now.  I feel the night/bedtime session is going to be the hardest one for both of us to stop :( 

Those are just a few of the moments of the month!  We've had such a good one (although the night thing kills me most days) and I can't wait to see what his eleventh month has in store for us!  

We just love you baby boy!

The Registry Series: Feeding

I hope you all enjoyed the first installment of the series!  For today's post, I am going to discuss some feeding essentials for a new baby.  Just to let you know, I did not include my nursing favorites in this section.  I am going to devote an entire post to nursing favorites at a later date.  I will also do a post on toddler feeding favorites once I get a list going - Chase is still new to eating solid table foods so we are still experimenting with products now.

1. Spoons:  Munchkin Soft-Tip Infant Spoons - We have gone through several different types and brands of spoons but these are by far my favorites.  They are sturdy, soft enough to not bother teething gums, dishwasher safe, and very inexpensive.  We also really like these spoons by Munchkin (they tell you if the food is too hot)  and Chase really loved these by Beaba when he first started eating solids (they are super soft and are great for teething gums).

2. Boon Lawn Drying Rack - This seems to be an essential item on any registry I've come across!  It is wonderful for all of the little bottle parts, pump parts, sippy cups... you name it!  It fits all shapes and sizes!  It also comes with an array of different attachments (we have this one) for extra space and is easy to clean as it's only two pieces!  I was originally going to return the lawn, which is the largest size, for the grass but I'm so glad I didn't!  It's amazing how much this holds and it doesn't take up as much space as I thought it would (which was my reason for wanting a smaller one).  This is a must!!

3.  High Chair: Peg Perego Siesta - This is one of the pricier high chair options but it's an example of you get what you pay for.  This is also a wonderful investment piece for babies because your child can use it from birth throughout toddlerhood.  It has 9 different height positions and 5 recline positions.  It also has a 5 point safety strap and lock buttons for the wheels.  There is a double tray that stacks on top of each other and each piece is dishwasher safe.  It's easy to clean and my favorite feature is that it is one of the slimmest folding chairs on the market!  I love this chair and highly recommend it!  Well worth the money!

4.  Bottle Set: Philips Avent Infant Starter Set - This is a great set to register for because you get a little bit of everything - 5 bottles of various sizes, a soothie pacifier, a dispenser, and a bottle brush.  This is also a great set for both breast and formula fed babies - my son has been exclusively breast fed and loves these bottles and I also have a niece and a nephew who were both formula fed babies and they used them as well.  For a breastfed baby these are great because they have a breast shaped nipple which helps to prevent nipple confusion.  We also have these bottles and love them too!

5.  Bibs - The amount of different bibs on the market is amazing!  There are so many different fabrics, styles, and brands out there.  For infants, I love these by Frenchie and these by Tommee Tippee because they have a neckline that prevents leaks.  We have both and love them!

So these are a few of my essential feeding items for little ones.  Like the items in the previous post, we own all of these, love them, and use them on the daily for Chase.  I hope you find this information helpful!  Next up is playtime!

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Easter Baskets Ideas

Happy April everybody!  Easter is officially right around the corner and it's time to do some thinking about what to fill up those baskets with!  It's Chase's very first Easter and I've been planning his basket for a few months now (I'll do a post on his basket and the contents as soon as I get it all together).  I've rounded up a few simple ideas for both little ladies and little men below.  I tried to include a festive toy, some colorful pajamas, and a little something to use.  All of the items are fun and functional - which is a win win!

For the Little Ladies

ONE     //     TWO     //     THREE     //     FOUR     //     FIVE 

For the Little Men

ONE     //     TWO     //     THREE     //     FOUR     //     FIVE 

A few other items to add into baskets are holiday books, snacks (other than candy), coloring tools and books, puzzles, hair accessories for the girls, hats for the boys, DVDs, tooth brushes, bubbles, bath toys... just to name a few.  I hope these ideas were helpful in some way!

The Registry Series: On the Go

I'm excited to share the first post of the Registry Series with you all!  This one is all about on the go essentials.  It's amazing how many different options there are for strollers and car seats! The options I will discuss below are ones that I highly recommend.  Each item mentioned and photographed are things that I currently own, use, and love for Chase - I highly recommend them all!

1.  Stroller:  Baby Jogger City Select - There aren't enough good things I can say about this stroller! First and foremost is that it is extremely easy to use!  It has over 16 different configurations so you can literally create whatever it is that works best for your family - from forward to rear facing and from one to two seats.  It easily folds and converts into a double stroller.  It also has adapters for just about every infant carrier seat out there (including my beloved Nuna Pipa - #2).  It rides like a dream and is relatively lightweight.  Well worth the price!

2.  Infant Carrier:  Nuna Pipa - This is one of the very first items I purchased after finding out I was pregnant.  I did tons of research on infant carriers and this one was highly rated, reviewed, and recommended.  My favorite feature is the dream drape which comes down to cover the baby almost completely to shield them from the sun and elements.  It's very easy to use and install - the base is easily movable from one car to another.   You will definitely feel secure when your baby is in this seat!

3.  Convertible Car Seat:  Graco 4ever All-in-1 - The Graco 4ever seat can be used from infancy throughout childhood.  It ranges from 4-120 pounds and can be broken down from a full seat (as pictured), to a highback booster, to a backless booster.  This seat grows along with your baby which makes it a wonderful investment piece!

4. Britax Back Seat Mirror - This is simply for a piece of mind.  As your driving and prior to your baby facing forward, this mirror will allow you to see them fully.  I couldn't imagine driving without one!

5.  Summer Infant Cart Cover - You will be really glad that you have this once your baby is able to situp in a shopping cart or a restaurant high chair!  It protects your baby from directly touching the carts and high chairs which helps to prevent germs and other bacteria.  This one has a vinyl pocket for your smartphone and a positioner to help prop up younger babies.  We've only recently started to use this with Chase and it's a life saver!

I hope you've enjoyed this first installment of the series!  And I also hope those of you registering found this helpful!  I'll discuss feeding essentials next week!

MAIN POST

Stand Up!

When I first had Chase, I found myself saying, "I can't wait for him to...." all the time.  Whether it was sit up, play with his toys.. you name it.  As a parent, you are always looking forward to milestones and as much as you look forward to them, you also don't want to rush away their baby years because they go by just way to quickly.

With that being said, my husband is always saying how he can't wait for the baby to walk.. well I think we are getting close to that point now!  All the little man wants to do is stand up or be on the move in his walker or pushing his Little Tikes toy around.  He's ten months old now and this has officially been then on-the-move month for sure!

When he's not buzzing around, he wants to stand up all over the place... his favorites are being in the front window, against his toy basket, and hanging onto the coffee table,.  This weekend he was standing with such ease and it amazed me.  Every time I'd pick him up or sit him down to play with his toys, he'd squirm all around until he was at a spot he could pull himself up or until I'd prop him up.

My baby is officially gone and has been replaced by this little man!  It's definitely time to baby proof the house!

The Makings of a Baby Registry

The thought of creating a registry for a new baby is an exciting yet overwhelming task.  There are so many different categories and items that fit into them --- then to top it off, there are numerous brands, types, styles, and variations of just about every baby item out there!  It can definitely be a scary time because as new parents, you want to make sure you are getting the best for your new bundle of joy!  There's lots of research to do, reviews to read, and decisions to make!

If you are anything like me, you want multi purpose (or even multi baby) use items that you can use for a while and pack away for a possible future brother or sister.  I also wanted items that weren't going to clutter my house because space is not necessarily abundant - especially when most baby gear is unnecessarily large! 

Starting next week, I will be posting the Registry Series, which will be broken down into the following categories:

On the Go

Feeding

Play Time

Bath

Medicine Cabinet 

Nursery & Bedding

Gear
Extras

I will be posting one category each week on Wednesday.  I will refer to this post as the MAIN post and at the bottom of the the category posts, I will link back here where you can find them all.  For each category, I'll put essential items I feel should be included on a registry, links to easily find/purchase the items mentioned, some of my personal opinions on them, etc. 

I'm looking forward to posting this series because I did so much homework when putting together our registry!  I hope you enjoy it and find the information helpful for either your own registry, future registry, or maybe for a friend/relative!

A Recap of Chase Ryan: Months 1-6

It's incredibly difficult for me to comprehend that my son will be one in just a few short weeks!  I look at pictures of him from these early months and I swear it feels like they were taken just yesterday!  When they say time waits for no one, they aren't joking!  Even though the first months felt long as the weeks passed (thanks to adjusting to life with a newborn and a complete loss of sleep), they really did go by quickly! 

Here are a just few milestones from Chase's first six months... 

Newborn (Weeks 0-4):  

• Wears newborn size diapers and clothes
• Loves to be cuddled and held
• Spends the day sleeping and eating (such a life!)
• Loves his Rock N Play 

One Month (Weeks 5-8):

• Wears size one diapers and size NB and 0-3 months in clothes
• Loves to be rocked
• Loves to cat nap in his MamaRoo 
• Holds his head up a bit

Two Months (Weeks 9-12):

• Wears size 1 & 2 diapers and size 3 months in clothes 
• Loves to be in his Bounceroo 
• Is up more frequently throughout the day
• Smiles and coos
• Loves to play on his play mat
• Loves when dad sings to him - Elvis is his favorite!

Three Months (Weeks 13-16):

• Wears size 2 diapers and 3 and 3-6 months in clothes
• Mimics sounds, smiles, follows with his eyes, and blows bubbles
• Recognizes familiar faces
• Loves the morning and usually sleeps through the night or wakes once
• Doesn't like to sleep on his back 
• Rolls from his back to his side
• Responds to noises
• Loves his play mat, peacock, and whale toys

Four Months (Weeks 17-20)

• Wears size 3 diapers and size 6 and 6-9 months in clothes
• Laughed for the first time
• Flips from his stomach to his back
• Slept in his Breeze in the beginning but was in his crib by the middle of the month
• Eats cereal with fruits 
• Doctor visit - weight was 17.2 and height was 26.5"
• Sleep regression and teething hit at the same time - no fun!

Five Months (Weeks 21-24):

• Still wears size 3 diapers and he fluctuates between sizes 6, 6-9, and 9 months in clothing
• Bottom two teeth broke the skin finally!
• Spends more time on his belly now and is able to fully roll!
• Loves to be in his Nemo jumper
• Doctor visit - weight was 18.8 and height was 27"
• Had his first Halloween!
• Reaches his arms for you when you ask if he wants to come
• Little man loves to eat!

Six Months (Weeks 25-28):

• Still in size 3 diapers but now he can wear size 9, 9-12, and 12 months in clothing
• Caught his first cold - and upper respiratory and ear infection at the same time :( 
• Now has his top two teeth
• He now has a daily menu that consists of fruit, veggies, and meats
• Loves to splash and play in the tub
• Can sit up for a bit unassisted 
• Celebrated his first Thanksgiving!

So there you have it... six months worth of milestones for Chase man!  He's growing so fast and it's amazing how much he's changed in each of the photos above!

Weekend Food Adventures

Recently, we have been trying to transition Chase from baby food to table food and from bottles to sippy cups.  This weekend we made major progress in both areas!

As far as food goes, he's been eating Gerber's second and third stage foods for a little while now.  The second stage foods usually get star shaped pastina added into them or rice/oatmeal cereal.  Typically, breakfast is a fruit mixed with one of the cereals, lunch is often a veggie mixed with a bit of pastina and half a container of fruit, and dinner is usually a meat/veggie combo with pastina (depending on what the food is made of) and he usually polishes off an entire fruit container for his dessert.  He loves to snack on puffs, baby cookies, yogurt melts, and he loves fresh fruit also.  We have been offering him bits of solid table foods for the past few weeks but not as an entire meal.... more of just a sample to see what he will like.

This weekend (I count Thurs-Mon as my weekend because I'm home those days) I decided to give him solid foods for his meals and he did great!  Everything I gave him he gobbled right up!  He has eight teeth but he's currently getting his molars so some of the "harder" things to chew he would spit out.  Overall, we tried pancakes, waffles, toast, grilled cheese, flounder (which I baked and went through with a fine tooth comb to omit any bones), chicken, turkey lunch meat, oatmeal with fruit, asparagus, and peas - just to name a few.  His pediatrician said he can have whatever we are eating but to stay away from peanut butter and raw uncooked honey for now.   Above is his dinner plate from Friday night,  He loved everything!  It makes me so happy when I know he has a fully belly!

We also crossed a major hurdle this weekend and transitioned him from his bottle to a sippy cup for his juice/water.  We tried a few spouted cups but he didn't like them and I've tried ones with straws but he doesn't exactly know how to use them just yet so those are still in the cabinet.  I did read rave reviews on the Munchkin Miracle 360 trainer cup and purchased them to test out.  Saturday we tried it out and by Sunday he was doing it all by himself!  If you are searching for a new cup, try these!  They are called a Miracle for a reason! They are easy to use, clean, and the only time I found them to leak was when they were hurled across the kitchen ;)

It made me so proud (and a little emotional) to see him being such a big boy this weekend with his big boy meals and cups!  I just can't get enough of this little guy!

The Nine Month Update

February 12, 2017

Mr. Chase had his nine month check up this passed Thursday and he is growing like a weed!  He will be ten months old on the twelfth and I can't believe how quickly time is flying by!  I look at him now and no longer see a little baby but rather a little mini man - it's sad and so exciting at the same time!

Here are a few of the big guy's nine month stats!

Height: 29.5 inches - 85th percentile

Weight: 21 pounds - 75th percentile 

Diaper Size: He's been in a four for a bit now

Clothing Size:  As far as his tops and onesies, he can wear 12 months but we are basically in 18 month everything

Favorite Toys:  He really loves bath time and all of his bath toys.  He's also a really big fan of being pushed around in his little Ford Raptor that Santa brought him for Christmas, books are fun now too - especially touch and feel, and his little ball pit

Teeth:  Chase already has eight teeth and right now his molars are coming in - not fun at all!

Food: We are starting to introduce more "grown up" foods now and he likes pretty much everything we've been giving to him.  Puffs are a favorite for sure... little man does the happy dance as soon as he sees the container!

Sleep:  Ah the constant battle for sleep is yet to be won!  He typically goes to sleep between 8 and 8:30, wakes up at least once in the middle of the night, and is usually up for the day between 6 and 7.  Someday we will make it through the whole night... I hope!

Dislikes:  He would rather be on the go than be in anything stationary right now - the beloved bouncer is now totally pushed to the side!

Misc:  Chase visited the barber shop and got his first scissor hair cut!  He sat on Dad's lap and never fussed or moved!  

Even though we battle sleep and naps daily, this has been such a fun month!  His little personality shines through more and more each day!  He's so energetic and tries so hard to talk to you - it's the sweetest thing!  

What am I going to do with a Boy??

May 14, 2016

Before I was even pregnant, I used to say that I wanted a little girl but knew I would eventually be a boy mom.  

When I found out we were expecting, towards the 20 week mark, my husband and I went in for a scan and blood test and the doctor (who wasn't my OB) said to us that the baby looked to be a little lady.  I was so excited.. so much so that we had her name picked out, nursery theme selected, and I even purchased a few items.  When we got the results of the blood test a few days later (which were 100% accurate on the gender), I was told that we were having a boy - and I panicked!  The idea of having a son completely terrified me.  This may sound silly, but I was super nervous to have a boy simply because I've always been such a girly girl.  I had dreams of a little ballerina with glittery hair bows in her hair and now the idea of sports and trucks and muddy messes made me so nervous.  Yes, I know girls can be total tomboys and my little ballerina might have favored soccer cleats over pointe shoes, but the whole boy thing just had me scared!  I'm not ashamed to admit that I did have a little moment where I teared up and allowed myself to be upset.  I just didn't know what I would do with a little guy.  

I had so many people tell me that I would love having a son and that there was nothing like a little boy for a mom - and I tell you, they were 100% right!  The second Chase arrived, I knew that all of my worry and fear was so ridiculous!  This little guy completely stole my heart from the first second and now I don't even know what I would've done if he actually had been a little girl!  Some of the things I feared are things I cannot wait to see him do - like the first time he runs out on a field of some sort (I'm sports illiterate), and the day he comes home with the first fish he catches (I've never been the outdoorsy type either!).  The simple things that I know will be the source of so much joy for him are the things I cannot wait for!

I've only been blessed to be a boy mom for a mere 9 months, but in that short span, here are just a few of my favorite things about being a boy mom:

• He's so much fun!
• He reminds me not to take life so seriously
• His morning smile when I walk into his room completely melts me!
• When he reaches his arms out for me to hold him or pick him up 
• Dressing him - Those who know me personally are probably mouth open right about now because this is one ridiculous thing I used to complain about, but honestly boy clothes are fun and I know if I had had a girl, I'd need about three more jobs!
• He brings out the best of myself and my husband
• He makes me so excited for the future 

If you were like me and always wanted a little girl and now find yourself terrified because you are expecting a boy, take it from someone who is now such a fan of being a boy mom, that I hope to have another one some day!  Having a son is so awesome!  He will brighten your day in his own little way and will make you so excited for the littlest things!  He will completely take over your life and your heart and trust me... you wouldn't have it any other way!

The Day Life Changed

They say the day your baby is born is the day your life changes... I find that to be untrue.  For me and my husband, the day that I had a positive result on a pregnancy test was the official day our lives changed.  From that point forward, we were no longer concerned with just our daily life.  Instead, we began to worry about our daily life AND the new life that would soon enter into it.

We were very fortunate and I got pregnant right away.  We had only been trying for about a month and I never imagined it would happen so fast!  I remember that morning like it was just yesterday.  I got up for work and assumed my routine.  I was having breakfast when an alert came up on my phone from Glow (an app I had been using) saying I should take a test that day and the best time to do it was first thing in the morning.  So I did.  My husband had already left for work, so I sat and waited for those three minutes to pass by.  They felt like they took forever, but after they were up, I walked into the bathroom and found this...

September 1, 2015

Tears immediately filled my eyes and I called Jay.  He was just as surprised as I was!  No feeling in the world can describe how I felt reading that test!  I was such a mix of emotions - shocked, scared, happy, excited..  all rolled into one!

Later that day I made a doctors appointment only to find out that the test they gave me there was negative.  Talk about feeling confused!  I then proceeded to stock up on pregnancy tests and took one each morning for the next few days... ALL of which came back positive.  Needless to say I found another doctor's office (that I loved!) and it all went very well from there!

I feel very fortunate and blessed that I had a healthy pregnancy and was able to carry my son 40 weeks and one day!  He was born on his original due date (they changed it at my second appointment) and he's been a happy and healthy little guy ever since!