Month 2 Must Haves

I can't believe Graysen is two and a half months old! Here are some things we couldn't live without during month two.

Tommee Tippee Bottles

Since we are mainly pumping and bottling breast milk, these Tommee Tippee bottles are a must. We LOVE them! They have a great anti-colic/anti-gas valve and are closer to breastfeeding than other bottles. Graysen likes them and doesn't choke on his milk like with the Medela bottles. We have them in 5oz and 9oz. Graysen drinks anywhere between 4-6oz and sometimes 7oz at a time. 

PlayGro Play Mat

Graysen loves this play mat that he got for a shower gift. The toys on the side hang low enough for him to hit right now. The arch also comes off and can go over the crib or along the crib rail. Lots of floor time is spent here playing. 

Avent Pacifiers

We like these Avent Pacifiers that were also given to us. They are orthodontic, so they don't hurt his gums or the teeth that will come in. It's almost time to move to the next ones.  

Fleurville Carrier

We got this Fleurville carrier and it's wonderful. We have it in gray and green. It's great for doing things around the house and having your hands free. It also has three different carrying options. 

Carter's Rompers

Carter's rompers are a must for the summer time. They are so easy to throw on, wash well and are so stinkin' cute! I love all the striped polo shirts!

Carter's Sleep & Plays

Carter's sleep and plays are a MUST! You can't have too many of these! They also wash well and don't lose their shape or softness. Also, babies are so darn cute in these jammies!

Brica Bug Cover

Living in MN in the summer brings lots of mosquitoes and other pests. This bug cover by Brica is amazing! It fits right over his car seat for walks on the trail through the woods and also has a sun cover. We got ours at Target. If you couldn't tell, we love shopping at Target!

Brica Travel Bassinet

Another must is by Brica as well! It's a travel bassinet. We have used this in two hotels, at the beach, at Grandma and Grandpas and many other places. It folds up easily and comes with two sheets. It's also available at Target.  

Those are a few of the things that we have loved over the past month. What are some things that you couldn't live without??

MB

Month 1 Must Haves

Month one flew by! We are already almost done with two months! Here are a few things that helped us survive the first month with Graysen. Note: The things that were lifesavers to us, may not be for everyone. These are just things that made our lives significantly easier! 

Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets

These are AMAZING! I cannot say enough good things about these blankets! They are thin, soft, stretchy and big! They are great for swaddling, burp rags, nursing covers and more!

Boppy Pillow

 These are great. We have one upstairs and one downstairs. They can be used as a nursing pillow or a baby seat to prop him up in. They can be used for Tummy Time and photo props! 

Naked Juice

I LOVE these. I was sad when I couldn't drink them while pregnant because they are only partially pasteurized, but now that I can drink them again, they are my lunch sometimes when the craziness of a newborn has set in. I can make sure I get fruits and veggies at every meal this way. The green one is my favorite! Looks funny, but tastes great! 

Cannon Sx40HS

 My camera is a must have as well. It's important to document all these precious moments now!

Fisher-Price Snuggabunny Bouncer

We LOVE this bouncer! It is so big and plush. It vibrates, plays music and has nature sounds. Graysen loves to sit in it and watch the birds at the top. This is a must so that Mommy can get a few things like dishes done during the day. I also bring it into the bathroom and strap him in while I'm in the shower. 

White Noise Machine

We use a white noise machine at night. Graysen loves the ocean and brook sounds. They are soothing and also block some of the noises from our noisy street so that his startle reflex isn't triggered while he sleeps.  

 Lifefactory Glass Water Bottles

I've said it before, but these water bottles are great. They are glass with a silicone cover. They go in the dishwasher cover and all. The cover also does a great job of protecting the glass. I can throw it in my bag or in the car and don't have to worry about it breaking and the glass is more sanitary and eco-friendly. 

Medela Pump in Style Breast Pump

This is most definitely a must. I had to pump like crazy to make my milk come in after a traumatic post-delivery experience and so this was my lifesaver. I was pumping every 2 hours around the clock while Graysen was learning to nurse. Now that he is nursing better, I'm still pumping in between but it's not as much. I would recommend getting the battery pack as well for those times when you have to pump in the car or some other random place.  

Summer Shower System

We got this shower system at Target. It looks a little different than this style, but it makes bath time go faster and smoother. Once his cord fell off, the shower was great. He loves to be showered with warm water. He doesn't get cold sitting there. This seems like a frivolous thing, but it is so worth it! 

Those are a few of the things that helped us. What helped you???

MB

My Pregnancy Lifesavers!

Here are a few things that have helped me tremendously throughout this pregnancy. There are many more, but these are the things that popped into my head first.

Bolthouse Farms Juices: They are packed with vitamins, nutrients, fruits and veggies. They are very similar to Naked Juices, but Naked Juices are only partially pasteurized and so you shouldn't really drink them while pregnant since you are supposed to only have pasteurized things. 

Goldfish Crackers: These really helped when I was so nauseous in the beginning. I still am really liking them now at 35 weeks. Well, I've always liked them, but they are a good grab and go snack. 

Oh Kraft Macaroni and Cheese...how I love thee! I know that I am approaching 30 years of age in a couple years, but I still love Macaroni and Cheese. This was one food that I actually could stomach while having morning all day sickness!

Leachco Back 'n Belly Pillow: This pillow was a God sent! Sleep now is going to be miserable no matter what...pillow or no pillow, but this pillow helped so much. I'm glad I got it as early as I did. It can be used for breastfeeding later as well. My husband will tell you that this is why we had to upgrade to a King Sized bed, but it was well worth it!!

Ina May's Guild to Childbirth: A friend recently gave me this book to read and it was so inspiring. Ina May is a well-known midwife and her stories are so empowering. If you are expecting, you should really read this!

What To Expect When You're Expecting: Ok...so some refer to this as the "pregnancy Bible". I did/do read it religiously every week to check on baby's progress and my symptoms. It's very informative and pretty much has everything you'll need to know as you are going through these major changes. 

Honey Nut Cheerios: Another staple in my diet...especially when I was sick. Cereal has always been one of my favorite foods. 

Edy's Fruit Bars: These ROCK MY WORLD! My husband loves them too! They also tasted great when those bouts of nausea would come on.  

Maternity Cardigans: Ok...any cardigan in general. I wore a ton of cardigans before pregnant, and now that I'm pregnant, they are still a staple in my wardrobe. I have a couple "maternity" ones, but I am wearing a lot of the ones that I had before I was pregnant. They seem to flatter you while being very forgiving! Not to mention...they are easy to throw on over a maternity t-shirt which I will talk about next. 

Maternity T-Shirts: Liz Lange for Target has some great maternity t-shirts. I pretty much live in maternity t-shirts and cardigans. I do did still wear long-sleeve t-shirts that were just longer in length for the longest time, but now...I pretty much have to wear "maternity" ones. I love them though...they are easy to throw on over a maternity/long tank top and then throw a cardigan over the top. I bought a few other maternity tops, but it's the t-shirts that I live in! 

Maternity/Long Tank Tops: They are a MUST! They work great under t-shirts, cardigans, etc. The ones from Target are so soft and wash up so nice. I basically wear one to work every day and then sleep in one every night!

LifeFactory Glass Water Bottles: I LOVE my LifeFactory Water Bottle. They have various sizes and also baby bottles of various sizes. They are glass and then have a silicone cover. You throw them in the dishwasher, cover and all and you are good to go. It makes me feel so much better about a reusable water bottle than the plastic ones do. Also, I'm kind of clumsy and I drop mine often...the silicone cover really does protect it! I love the colors they come in too!

My Camera: Tim bought me a Canon Powershot SX40 HS for Christmas. It was the best gift ever! He really surprised me with it! I was mad at first because I thought he spent way too much on it, but it was so worth it! I use it all the time! We needed something to take pictures/video of the baby when he arrives. Little did I know that it would be documenting my whole pregnancy! 

Last but certainly not least....my husband, friends and family! They have been so supportive during this whole pregnancy. We have had a lot of ups and downs and they have been there every step of the way. My husband has been WONDERFUL throughout this whole thing. When I was uber sick and crabby, he was there to make me a PB & J sandwich, bring it to me on the couch, force me to eat it and then clean the house. He went to basically every doctor appointment, except when he had a game. (He coaches football and softball.) He put/puts up with my crabbiness and never hardly ever complains! 

My friend and family were awesome as well. I got the joy of sharing this pregnancy with several friends. It's so nice to have someone going through the same thing at the same time as you. You need someone to bounce things off of and vent/downright bitch to. Someone who is going through the same gross things you are and understands. Believe me...pregnancy is downright yucky at times! 

Thank you to everyone who has been there through this all!

MB

Baby Bag for the Hospital

Hey bloggers! Here is a look inside the Baby Bag for the Hospital. There are still a couple things to put in yet and my bag is not packed. When it is though, I will post pictures. I also have just a couple finishing touches to put on the nursery as well so when those are done, I can post the final result! :) 

1- Sleep sack from Grandma Armstrong for those possibly cold days/nights

2 - Sleep and play with hat to stay cozy and warm

3 - Multiple onsies with matching hats, socks, and mittens 

We'll be there 2 days and you never know with babies how many they'll go through!

4 - Coming home outfit with hat, socks, and mittens

5 - Newborn Diaper, Wipes, and Ointment

Yes, they will have these, but they are in the bag anyway. Also, we are going to be using these awesomely adorable cloth diapers, but for the first couple days (when the "black stuff" comes out) we'll be using disposables as to not "ruin" the cloth ones. Also, someone has given us quite a few newborn disposables.

6 - Diaper Bag to hold it all

7 - Birth Plan

This is VERY IMPORTANT! We have multiple copies in the diaper bag, my bag, our Doula has one, as does the hospital. This will just ensure that everyone is on the same page when things get crazy!

8 - NOT PICTURED: A couple receiving blankets and the quilt I made

(Pictures of the quilt will be uploaded soon also now that it's FINALLY finished!)

9 - NOT PICTURED: Boppy Pillow, bottles (just in case)