Momma Meg Loves: Babywearing

While I was pregnant, I spent a great deal of time wondering what it would be like to leave the hospital holding a baby that was INSIDE me just days before. Although I hadn’t given it much thought before Olivia arrived, I could have predicted that I would be a huge fan of baby wearing. From the newborn stage, I have loved carrying Olivia close to me – the same way I loved carrying her for 9+ months in my belly. (Yes, I am one of those crazy people who can say I truly loved pregnancy – physically and emotionally. I can honestly say, I’d never felt better…healthier and happier – More on that Here)

On the subject of babywearing (one word – the act of wearing a baby); I am no expert. Among other things, babywearing is one of the topics I wish I had researched more while I was pregnant. Mostly what to buy vs. what not to buy. We were gifted both a sling + structured front carrier (both items I registered for) which I love(d)… And even after the few purchases I’ve made in the past 6 months – I’m finding myself with a growing wish list of baby carrying contraptions.

The Peanut Shell Adjustable Sling – Only recently started to become more useful. Olivia didn’t like laying in a reclined position in it… even as a newborn. never could figure out how to nurse with her in it either. However, in the past few months, now that she’s sitting up, she’s more comfortable sitting on my hip and so this sling has started to come in handy. It’s much easier to get her in/out of than the Baby Bjorn – great for just running in to the grocery store/dry cleaners/etc. but not nearly as secure. READ: No heavy lifting or bending over. The quality is definitely great – durable yet soft. washable. Darling pattern (I have the Vanilla Bean). The Peanut Shell also makes cute shopping cart covers and other accessories. Here

Baby Bjorn Mesh Carrier – Mentioned Here this was one of my MOST essential baby products in the first few months of Olivia’s life. Since it’s really structured, it was easy for her to sleep in while I walked (I walked a TON after about 3 weeks) and did chores around the house. We used the Bjorn at the very least, daily up through about 4 months. Now that Olivia is a little bit bigger (Almost 16 pounds) it doesn’t seem to fit quite as well (leaves marks on her chubby little thighs) and puts too much pressure on my lower back and shoulders. Hindsight is always 20/20 – and I am definitely glad we had the Bjorn for the first 3-4 months but it didn’t grow with her as much as I wanted it to. Here

Bjorning all the time

Seven Sling – I ordered this sling online Here during a “Giveaway” where you only paid the shipping fee. It was TINY, the fabric was too stiff to stretch and by the time I was ready to give it a go – Olivia was already too big to fit in it.

Here are the most recent additions to our babywearing arsenal:

Snugli Front/Back Carrier – My mom actually found this carrier at a resale shop in CA and snagged it for us to use while we were in town. I had mentioned that I wanted to find something that worked more like a backpack to use while we were hiking and playing outdoors. Also secretly knew that Dan would be more inclined to share the experience if it were a back carry. Here

Hiking in the Snugli

Moby Wrap – Just picked this up a few days ago – Let me tell you… it’s a game changer. I LOVE it. I might not ever use any other baby wearing contraption again. Why didn’t I start with this?! Would have been PERFECT for the newborn stage and yet still perfect for a bigger baby. In the first 3 carries – Olivia giggled (my happy baby is very smiley – but she saves the giggles for the REALLY good stuff- Like Moby) and fell asleep twice… FELL ASLEEP. While I was doing laundry. Just layed her little head down… and konked. At first, I thought – Whoa. She must have been really tired and I didn’t notice the signs. Then the next day – It happened again. One minute we were doing housework, talking, she had “Chewie” and the next minute… KONK – asleep, “Chewie” still in her mouth. I think the Moby might have magical powers. Highly recommended. Buy Here Video Tutorial Here

Hug Hold in the Moby Wrap

Helpful Resources

http://www.thebabywearer.com/
http://www.wrapyourbaby.com/

Instructional Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tabl1-dQfjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_qpFYDpHcw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uXn3yr9-X4

One for the road…

Watching Manatees at the DWA

Olivia: 6 Months

6 Month Wellness Check-Up

15 lbs 14 oz

26 inches

Size: “6-9 months”, “Size 2” Diapers

Nicknames: Sneekle Freetzie, Liv, Liver Dude

6 Months

Loves:

“Freezie Treats” (Freezable Teething Toys)

The “Liv, Liv Liv” Song

The Longtime Sunshine Song

Loves faces – Pulling on noses, eyes and mouths

Moby Wrap

Swimming @ Gramma B’s

Playing with Ice Cubes at the dinner table

Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag

Uncle Chippy’s beard

Sleeping in Mom + Dad’s bed

Nursing

Listening to Dad play Piano/ Guitar

Poppa G’s Watch

Play Dates with Charley (+Momma Michelle)

Dogs – Especially Gramma G’s Yellow Lab Terra and Auntie Maggie’s Toy Poodle Bella

Cranks:

Getting in the car seat

Not being able to be outside (in the Texas heat + threat of West Nile virus)

Taking a bottle

Infant Life Vest

Milestones:

Sitting-Up alone!

First trip to California to visit Gramma + Poppa G

First plane ride

Hiking on Dad’s back in the Snugli Carrier

First trip to the San Diego Zoo

Hanging with the Giraffes at the San Diego Zoo

Riding like a big girl (forward facing) in the stroller

First time in the Johnny Jump Up (Bought Here)

First time meeting 2nd Cousin Alex + Great Aunt Pam

VERY interested in food + drinks (Starting Solids this weekend!)

Blowing lips to make high pitched motor boat noise

Giggling / Belly Laughing

Rolling, Scooting, Moving, Inching… Everything but crawling.

Not Where I left my baby…

6 Months

Daily Routine:

4:00 AM Nurse in bed – Snuggle/ Sleep with Mom + Dad

7:00AM Nurse – Wake Up

9:00AM Nap (45min-1hr)

10:00 AM Nurse

~12:30 PM Nap (30min – usually in the car)

1:00PM Nurse

3:00 Nap (1hr-2hrs)

4:00PM Nurse

6:00PM Nurse

6:30PM Hangout in the Highchair while Mom + Dad eat dinner

7:00PM Read a few books with Mom in bed while Dad gets the bath ready

7:15PM Bath time with Dad while Mom cleans up in the kitchen

7:30 Lotion + Massage, ~~Teeth~~ Gum Brushing, Hair Brushing, Vitamin D

7:45PM Nurse

8:00PM Snuggle with Bunny Blanket for Bedtime Prayers + Songs (Usually a few rounds of Longtime Sunshine)

Between 10:00PM +11:00PM Nurse

(Usually wakes up right as Mom + Dad are winding down for a final snack, Occasionally Mom attempts a “dream feed”)

Olivia: 5 Months

5 Months

15.2 Pounds

25 Inches

Size: “6 month”, Size 2 Diapers

Nicknames: Sneekle Freetzie (AKA Snickle Fritz), Liv, LiverDude, Peanut, OKP

Loves…

The Skip Hop Tree Top Play Mat

The Baby Einstein Exersaucer (AKA “The Disc”)

Sophie the Giraffe and Sophie “Chewie”

The “Liv, Liv, Liv” Song

The Belly Button Song

Reading before bedtime, especially “Where’s Spot?”

Going to the Aquarium

Swimming

“Longtime Sunshine” Song

Bath Time, Baby Massage, Bed Time

Putting fingers, hands, and feet in her mouth.

Interested in food and drinks, wants to put everything in her mouth

The flying baby game

any type of baby wearing: Bjorn, peanut sling (finally!)

Pulling mom’s hair

Cranks…

getting in the carseat

being in the stroller for long enough for mom to shop

watching mom blog

watching dad study

staying up past 9:00pm

watching mom + dad eat dinner

Milestones:

Almost sitting up alone

Meeting cousins Rylie + Remie for the first time

First trip to the Lake with Bilbo/McElyea/Darley fam

Sleeping 5+ hour stretch at night, occasionally 8+

First Fourth of July

First Bubble Bath

Swim Diapers Size S/P finally fit!

Wore Vans tennies for the first time

Stuck tongue out and made a funny face

Getting a little furrier! More blondish red hair coming in…

Went to the nursery at Church for the first time

Daily Routine:

7:30 Wake Up, Nurse

10:00 Nurse

11:00 Nap (30 min – 1hr)

1:00 Nurse

3:00 Nap (1hr-2hrs)

4:00 Nurse

7:00 Nurse

8:00 Read books in bed with Mom + Dad

8:30 Bathtime, Lotion and Massage, “Jammies”

9:00 Nurse, Songs, Prayers*

*In the process of pushing the whole night-time routine up to 7:00 pm… slowly shaving a few minutes off every night

Momma Meg Loves: The Dallas World Aquarium

Daniel and I first visited the aquarium when I came to visit just a few months after we started dating. We’ve since celebrated a few Birthdays and even a Valentine’s day there. Most recently, we celebrated our first Mother’s Day at the Dallas World Aquarium – where Daniel (+ Olivia) gifted me an annual pass.

December 2005 at The Dallas World Aquarium

Mother’s Day 2012

The Dallas World Aquarium Individual Pass $95 + One Non-Designated Guest $80 = $175 allows either our family (Kids under 3 are free!) or I can invite a friend, mom, etc. We decided that it would be best to invest in the extra $80 knowing that Olivia and I would go more often if we could invite friends. Become a Member Here. No matter what, the annual pass is the way to go at the DWA – General Admission tickets for adults are $20.95, Kids 3-12 are $12.95. As fabulous as it is, $20.95 is outrageous to visit the DWA once. Even the Ft. Worth Zoo is cheaper! At an average of 2 visits/month, each trip would cost $7.29.

The DWA is open 9:00AM-5:00PM daily. I’ve found that the best time to go (especially during the summer) to avoid the field trip and summer camp crowds is first thing in the morning when they open, or towards the end of the day (after 3:30PM) You can definitely see it all in a few hours, especially if you have a pass and don’t feel pressured to get your 20 bucks worth.
It’s VERY difficult to maneuver strollers (and wheelchairs) through the DWA so I usually make sure to have Olivia freshly fed and diapered when we arrive to avoid having to nurse or change her. Highly recommend baby wearing for this adventure + a backpack!
The only downside with the DWA pass is that it does NOT include free parking. Parking downtown (in the touristy West End District) can be pricey. Liv and I usually opt to take DART (The West End Station is just a few blocks from the DWA) adding only a few dollars to our visit cost.
Also – They sell beer.

Watching the Waterfall at The Dallas World Aquarium

Most Recently, we visited the DWA while Gramma G + Auntie Em were in town. My sister in law, Tricia, her two girls, Rylie (5) and Remie (5 weeks) and my darling granddad joined us. Liv always loves the manatees and the pengiuns. Oh! and the waterfall – she could sit and stare at it all day.

This is Liv’s “I love Manatees” face

At the DWA with Cousin Rylie

Baby Wearing at the DWA

Featured Image From Here

Momma Meg Loves: Things to Register For

As a first time momma I was TOTALLY clueless when creating a baby registry. I had no idea what I would need and want… I really only knew what I thought was cute. And it’s ALL cute. Especially when you’re having a girl! Here’s a list of the products I found most essential in my arsenal. Also – a list of the things I registered for… and/or purchased that I probably should have skipped or waited on.

Momma Meg Loves…

Baby Bjorn Air Mesh Baby Carrier

Baby Bjorn – I took Liv out for walks starting around 3 weeks. It was not only great for her… but good for me to get out at least once a day to get some fresh air and a little exercise. In the first few months, I used it at least once a day… most days more like 3 or 4 times. Found it especially useful to calm her when she just wanted to be held. The “Bjorn” brand works wonderfully for me – although at 4 months… looking into the future… I might have looked into something that converted into a backpack type carrier. Also – I registered for the grey/white mesh carrier because it claimed to be more “breathable”… but I probably should have opted for the “stain-hiding” classic black. Buy Here with a 20% off coupon, or Buy Here in All black mesh! Image From Here (Note: I wanted Liv to Love this sling SO badly… but she HATES it. Maybe once she likes to sit on my hip we can try it again… I REALLY wish we could figure out the whole nursing-while-baby-wearing thing… )

Edit: Instead of deleting the above blurb about the Baby Bjorn, I thought I’d leave it so you might see (if anyone actually refers to/ reads back this far) what I did LOVE about this product in the earlier stages. I could have predicted at about 4 months (See above) that we were growing out of the Bjorn. Olivia was a pretty petite baby so it really did work wonderfully for me for the first few months… didn’t strain my back, was comfortable, she seemed comfortable, etc. The last time we tried to use it was around 6 months – on our trip to CA. Still petite, I can’t bear to carry Olivia in it for more than a few minutes – she’s squished in there, the straps dig in to my shoulders and after 5 minutes I can already feel the backache coming on. After ~~lots of careful research~~ polling all my momma friends and experts, I’ve decided to invest in an Ergo Baby Carrier. (Just waiting for one to pop up on sale on Zulily, Totsy, Amazon, etc.)

Ergo Baby Carrier

Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Glazed Diaper Bag

Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag – If I had to pick one thing to SPLURGE on… this would be it. Ours was gifted by my Godmother to whom I will be forever grateful… because this is truly a wonderful bag! The reasons I love it are endless… so here are the top 3. First, most diaper bags come with a changing pad cover that folds and stores INSIDE the bag… so when you encounter that questionable public changing table, you have to dig through the diaper bag… find the pad… the wipeys and the diapeys… PPB makes things SO MUCH easier. the pad unzips and folds out from the side of the bag revealing two pockets… perfectly sized for diapers… and for wipes. Oh.. and a tiny pocket for travel-sized diaper rash cream. Two Words… EASY ACCESS. Also a really nice feature for changing diapers when you DON’T have access to a changing table… like… on a picnic blanket… or at a friend’s house. And BONUS… because it’s access from the outside of the bag… no lost storage space on the INSIDE of the bag. Second, PPB is waterproof! and the fold-out changing pad is machine washable. I can already tell that this bag will wear REALLY well through as many kiddos as I want to have (and for the price tag… it should!) Third, convertible straps allow PPB to be worn cross-body, over-the-shoulder, or as a backpack! Also fits REALLY well hanging our stroller! and Duh…the cute factor is obvious… Buy Here (lots of matching accessories too!) or Buy Here (discontinued prints are a little bit less expensive) Image from Here

WubbaNub

WubbaNub – Obviously not something I had heard of pre-#momlife. This pacifier (A soothie) is attached to a small stuffed animal friend… awesome because a) the stuffed animal acts as a weight making it easier to find when the pacifier falls out. b) most of the stuffed creatures have perfectly sized arms/legs for little hands to hold on to. c) they’re easier to find for mommy too! Buy Here (best variety) or Buy Here (for convenience) Image from Here

Aiden + Anais Bamboo Swaddle Blankets

Aiden + Anais Swaddle Blankets – These were something I put on my registry purely because I thought they were pretty. Soft and sheer… I just loved the way they looked and felt. We have both the bamboo blend and regular muslin variety. The bamboo are definitely softer and easier to swaddle with but pricier and don’t hold up as well after several washes. The muslin are lightweight enough to use as a nursing cover (especially nice when it’s too hot out to use one of those heavy canvas “hooter hiders”). I keep one of these blankets in my diaper bag at all times! Also worth mentioning – Aiden + Anais makes great burp rags too! Same soft material and darling prints…. also feature a great curved shape that fits as perfectly as a burp rag can over your shoulder and BONUS… snaps into a “bib” … which is great to snap around a stroller handle or car seat for easy access. Buy Here or Buy Here (best variety) or Buy Here (for convenience) Image From Here

Sophie The Giraffe

Sophie The Giraffe & Sophie The Teether – Definitely worth every penny! I had a hard time justifying this purchase… but as soon as Liv was old enough to enjoy “toys”… Sophie quickly became a favorite. The feet are just the right size for tiny hands to hold on to and the “PURE” rubber is safe for drool-y exploring. Liv is almost 4.5 months old and unfortunately (to be confirmed by the pediatrician) at the very beginning stages of teething…. so we also invested in the Sophie Teether (who is fondly referred to as “Chewie” as to not create any confusion)… This version of Sophie is harder rubber and has ridged rings… great for teething… but also great for little hands to hold. Buy Here (Cheaper) or Here (In Stores) Image from Here

Angel Dear Giraffe Lovie

Angel Dear Giraffe Lovie – Don’t REALLY understand why this is Liv’s fav… but I picked it up at Baby Bliss (in a weak pregnant moment – I had a thing for all things giraffe… and this super plush… darling little giraffe “lovie” was too much to pass up). It’s slowly becoming a diaper bag staple… actually… it never really makes it in the bag… because it pretty much goes everywhere with Liv. Bumbo to Car Seat… even as we speak… she’s snuggled up, paci in one hand, Lovie in the other. Buy Here (Cheapest! $13!!) or Buy Here (In Stores)

Products I would RE-Think

The stroller – I’m convinced now (Yep, that’s right mom! I’ll admit I was wrong) expensive strollers are just that… expensive. Don’t get me wrong. There are lots of things that I love about my Peg Perego Switch Four stroller… and I AM glad I talked myself out of the uber fancy Uppa Baby or Bugaboo. I love that the stroller base + car seat snapped in combo is super easy to snap-in, fold-up, navigate, etc. The base is REALLY light weight… I can successfully collapse AND load the base one-handed (with an iced coffee in the other hand, of course!). We do get tons of use out of the bassinet, (that will later flip to face forward as the stroller seat) Olivia LOVES to lay down… and it allows her more room to wiggle around (READ: less likely to develop a flat spot from leaning head in one direction). Occasionally, I’ll strap her in, like a big girl and let her sit up slightly… Only downsides a) the straps are still to big for her at 4 months and b)without fastening the straps, she scoots down so far that her legs end up hanging off the end of the stroller. Things I dislike: a) the cup holder falls off… ALL the time. and it’s tiny. Not big enough for a larger drink… basically only big enough for a small plastic water bottle – which is probably the only thing I should be drinking) b) the basket (on the bottom) is not easy to access from the back because of the frame of the stroller… that’s just poor design. c) I wish that I had looked at something that had a handle bar that went all the way across as opposed to two handles. Daniel says our stroller handles are also too short for him to push… that’s just his fault for not wanting to go stroller shopping.

I’m already finding myself wanting a jogging stroller of some sort to use when we’re out walking or outdoors. I think I like this Tike Tech City X3 Swivel the best! Would welcome other thoughts.

The Carseat – again… I have a love/hate relationship with our car seat. We opted for the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 which I was told was “the safest” option for baby. At 9 months pregnant – I probably would have believed ANYTHING the salesperson told me… especially concerning the necessity of at $250 Car Seat. I do believe that it is one of the safest on the market… and I am all for that. But this thing… WEIGHS A TON! Pro: Toned Arms Con:I probably won’t be able to carry it much longer. Even Daniel HATES carrying it for extended amounts of time… any further than car to restaurant, he insists that we bring the stroller.

The Crib Bedding – I should have listened… when my mother told me it was ridiculous to spend $300 on this crib bedding. Darling as it is… it a) doesn’t fit our crib well and b) the bumper (basically… the cute part) was safe for a whole 2 months before Liv started rolling over and smooshing her face up against the side of her crib. I should have just had fun with different printed sheets (like these from Dwell Studio)

The Bouncer Chair – I registered for a moderately priced… very muted… creamy color theme with precious little lambs and plush off-white cushioning. Not practical for MANY reasons…two of the biggest reasons being a) off-white and blowouts is a terrible combination and b)muted tones are NOT interesting for babies. pretty in your living room…but not entertaining for baby… and that’s really priority #1.

The Environmentally Friendly Diaper – As much as I REALLY wanted to make an effort at a more environmentally conscious diapering option… Seventh Generation diapers feel like paper bags… not to mention being the ugliest diapers you could possibly imagine. I registered and was gifted several packages…and after opening/using the first one.. I immediately packed ’em up and took them in to Babies R Us…. Exchanged for Pampers Swaddlers… which I love. And as guilty as I feel about the harsh chemicals on baby’s bottom and # of diapers I’m putting in a landfill somewhere… I hated those paper bags more. (Stay tuned for a review of these eco-friendly diapers – We may go this route after we get through our gifted stash). Also – I would absolutely consider cloth diapering round 2. Or at least some sort of hybrid solution.