4 Months Old (17.5 weeks)

At exactly 17 weeks old

Bri is four months old today! If you have seen her recently you would know she is getting quite the little personality. Her favorite things to do are talk, play on the floor, jump in her Jumparoo, eat her hands (and mine), and look at things in the mirror. She can now roll to her side from her back, do "baby crunches" in attempts to sit up and this morning I caught her actually petting the dog. She has decided that she will take decent naps and sleeps ok at night (generally 4-6 hrs) but fights going to sleep pretty hard, as poor Grandma Shirley recently discovered while babysitting her. We are also training her out of having to be nursed to sleep, which is going pretty well, but has been substituted for the "bounce and sway" as Matt has coined it.

At the doctors

Bri's four month appointment was yesterday. She received two more shots. The doctor says she is growing very well. She is now 14lbs 8oz. and she is 26 inches long. We were told we could start her on solids but for now we have decided to hold off other than a taste of this or that. We did try a jar of baby bananas a few days ago which didn't go over well, but I guess you have to learn to eat just like everything else!

I have had several interviews recently so it's possible that I will be going back to work very soon. This is extremely bittersweet for me as I am looking forward to some adult time and not living quite so tightly, financially. However the fact that I must be away from Brianna for eight + hours a day truly breaks my heart. I never thought I would feel this way, but I do. I know it will be a hard transition for both of us, but it must be done- at least for now.
Love, Catherine

16 Weeks Old

Brianna was 16 weeks old on Wednesday. The countdown to 4 months is officially underway with 8 days left. No major milestones except that she is finally back to sleeping five hours or more in a row woo hoo!!

Overall Bri has been very active. When laying on her tummy she will turn 90 degrees with her hands. She is still not rolling over much, but she'll get there! Her current favorite toy is her jumparoo where she can stand and play with (eat) the little plastic toys attached to it. If you have seen her recently, you have probably also noticed how grabby she has gotten, which is great for her but bad for your hair/shirt/earrings/necklaces.

Now for some photos to celebrate the event!

Lovies!
Matt, Catherine & Bri

Mommy's Breastfeeding Favorites

Breastfeeding 0-(6?) Month Favorites

Breastfeeding was something that Matt and I chose to do for several personal reasons. If you are squeamish about this topic, feel free to skip this post! For the most part, it has been a smooth (and inexpensive) experience for us. When I say "us" of course I really mean me ;-). To complete my "Mommy's Favorites" for this month, I am going to share a few of the products that have made breastfeeding easier over the past few months. First let me say I would have not been near as prepared if it hadnt been for my SIL Amy, who set me up with pretty much everything I needed to succeed. Thank you!!

There are many pumps out there to chose from. Manual, electric, single or double. Medela Pump N' Style™ is the pump I chose and it has been absolutely wonderful. It is a double pump, although I admit I would have been just fine with a single-sided one. Medela is one of the most expensive brands out there, but for very good reason. They put out a truly quality product. It is quiet, fast, durable and is contained in a semi-attractive carrying case so it is discreet. I have hauled this with me to family outings, visits with friends, and the hospital when Matt and I were there. It has a million customizable attachments and accessories you can buy, but I have been perfectly happy with the basic set-up. New, this pump is $279.99 from Target.

In addition to their superior breast pump, Medela also makes a great storage bag. I have tried other brands and have found this to be the best. They are made from durable plastic for long months in the freezer and come with a handly little yellow hook that saves you from having to hold them up while trying to pump, nearly an impossible feat if attempting to use a double pump. The only downside to these is that they only hold five or six ounces, so if your baby needs more than that, you'll have to use two bags. That is when I like to use the Lanisoh bags.


Of course no breastfeeding product list can be complete without the Boppy™ pillow, as you have probably noticed, Boppy is one of my favorite brands all around. This pillow has been a lifesaver for more than just nursing. We also used it to prop her up when she was a newborn and has been used to assist in bottle feeding as well. The cheapest I have found them is $20 from Burlington Coat Factory's Baby depot. You can also buy a cover in just about any design, this is just the one I chose. Hint: Inexpensive (new) on Amazon! I also have a protective cover underneath the regular cover since blowouts do happen.

If your breastfeeding and out and about, you will surely come across a time where baby is screaming to be fed and you dont have a bottle available. That is when having a nursing cover comes in handy. I of course am way to private of a person to nurse in public cover or not, so I usually hide in the car with my Udder Cover™, which is my last favorite BFing product. This brand in particular is nice because it features a piece of bendable plastic at the top of the cover to prevent outsiders peeking and to allow you to look in and see how baby is doing. They also come in very stylish colors and store easily in your diaper bag. The best part is, although these usually retail for $32 + s&h, you can get one free by just paying the shipping and handling and entering the promo code "onefree" at checkout.

And one more deal for the formula parents out there... You can get 20 $5 Similac coupons on Ebay for $2, which anyone buying formula on a weekly basis knows is an amazing deal. Just search "Similac Coupons".

Tata(s) for now! ;-)
Catherine

Mommy's Favorites 2-4 Mos.

Ages 2-4 months come with a lot of fun new milestones for baby and even more great new baby products to utilize. 

Two - Four Months

The first product I am going to tell you about we have actually used all along. It is the Soothie™ brand bottles.  These are not sold in all stores and from what I have heard, are not very well known. We tried several brands of bottles and pacifiers but this is the only one Brianna will take. It is the same shape and feel as the pacifier she was given in the hospital (also the only paci she will take). I believe she is extra picky because she is breastfed and the nipple shape and wide base is closest to the real thing. The bottles are durable, have no problems being repeatedly put in the dishwasher, have no extra little parts, are easy to clean and seem to do very well with air control. They have also never leaked on me. I plan to use the Soothie™ brand sippy cups when she grows out of a bottle. Soothie bottles can be purchased at Walmart or Kohls or Burlington Coat Factory- Baby Depot and are relatively inexpensive at less than $17 for a five-bottle starter set or less than $5 a bottle sold separately. 

While we are discussing the Soothie™ brand, I will tell you about my latest favorite product. It is called a Wubbanub and can be found at Jensens department store in Anoka, MN or Babies R Us. A bigger selection is available online at Amazon.com. This is a Soothie Pacifier that is permanently attached to a small stuffed animal. The purpose of this is for babies who cannot yet replace their own pacifier and mommies and daddies who are sick of doing it three hundred times in a row. It is designed to be clutched by the baby so the pacifier does not fall out. Brianna LOVES her monkey Wubbanub. She is pictured with it a few posts back. Prices range from $10-$16 and there is a large variety of stuffed animals to chose from.

On kind of a side note, the Soothie pacifier itself is also one of our staple baby items (pictured above in the monkey's mouth) however a special find was the BooginHead Soothie pacifier clip, which we use to attach her pacifier to her swaddle blanket or clothing. Works just like any other paci clip but is designed specifically for the hospital pacifiers. Can be found on Amazon.com here.

While sucking on her Wubbanub to fall asleep, Brianna enjoys soft music and a light show on her Fisher Price Precious Planet 2 in 1 projection mobile. This is not a necessity, but something that Bri has enjoyed and has made the transition from screaming tired baby to peacefully sleeping baby. New, they come with a remote control that can turn the music or mobile on and off without entering the room to wake up the baby. It looks like a normal, rotating mobile except it has a tiny projector that projects colorful pictures of animals to the underside of the "umbrella". When baby is older you can take the mobile off and it will project the pictures on the ceiling, which I think is freaking cool! I found ours for $12 at Once Upon A Child, but they can be purchased new for $47 at Target and $50 at Babies R Us.

Lastly, the Fisher Price™ Lil' Lamb Dream Swing (aka Little Lamb Cradle N' Swing) which was borrowed to us by Matt's sister, Amy who used it with her two boys. This particular model has been on the market a long time, and I can see why. It has the ability to swing back and forth and side to side. It plays several very obnoxious noises, and has different speeds. It also sucks batteries down like any high powered swing. It has also lulled my baby girl to sleep more times than I can count. Doesn't seem to matter what she is screaming about, I can let her swing for just a few moments and she will calm down. We recently used this on New Years Eve so that we could enjoy hanging out with our neighbors for a few hours. She wasn't in it the whole time, of course- just when she got tired and needed a nap. It's a sanity saver! Retails at Target for $150 and Babies R Us for $119.

That's it for tonight folks! Just got Bri back down to sleep (its 12am) and I plan on hitting the hay myself.

Cheers!

Catherine

Mommy's Favorites 0-2 Mos.

The next three blog posts I write will be "Mommy's Favorites". I will be documenting the baby products that I have found to be the most helpful over the last four months. I will also be doing a blog on breastfeeding and the products that have been most useful for me in that adventure. Please note that I do not own any of the pictures used. If you have any questions, let me know!

Newborn - Two Months

In the Hospital we were introduced to the Halo™ Sleep Sack with Swaddle. It is a wearable blanket with an attached swaddle that holds baby's arms in- to imitate the womb. Brianna has been swaddled from day one. She is very active and we have found that in addition to making her feel safe, this blanket controlled her constant startle reflex, which would keep her awake. It is high quality and easy to use. The one drawback to this product is that it is made of fleece and can overheat an already very warm baby. I purchased ours for $7 at Once Upon A Child, however it retails for $20 at Target and Babies R Us.

In the early weeks, before we discovered baby chiropractic, Brianna could not sleep for more than an hour or so unless it was at an incline, which as you can imagine led to very sleepy parents. I began to search for some sort of a wedge to put under her bassinet mattress. What I found was the Fisher Price Rock N' Play Sleeper. The only sleeper that is set at an incline and approved for long term infant sleeping. There are so many things I like about this sleeper in addition to its stylish appearance. First and foremost it is light and portable. It folds up and can easily be tossed in the trunk. We have brought it along to friends houses multiple times for afternoon napping. Secondly, it has breathable mesh sides so I don't have to worry about suffocation. Thirdly, it rocks with a light push and can calm an overly tired baby in seconds. Personally, we could not have survived without this product. Unfortunately, Bri prefers it over her crib so I try to use it as little as possible these days. Also comes in pink! I found ours for $35 on Craigslist. It retails for $50 at Babies R Us and Target.

During the day, Brianna likes to be carried around a lot. In the earlier weeks when she was still sleeping most of the day, I liked to wear her in a baby sling. I tried a few different swings but found that I liked the Boppy ™ Sling the best. It is very breathable, adjustable, and best of all comfortable! Most slings out there are very hard on your back, neck and shoulders. This one has an added strap in the front to take some of the weight off your neck. It also has a function inside to fasten baby in for added safety; I have never used this as it seems to have awkward placement, but I can see how some would like it. I found ours for $18 at Once Upon A Child. I have been unable to locate them elsewhere.

When she was not being carried around, Brianna spent a lot of quality time in her Boppy ™ Cradle In Comfort pink bouncer. Out of all of the bouncer's I have seen, this one is the most well made, and comfortable looking. It has music and heartbeat/nature sounds as well as a vibrating feature, which are typical of most bouncers but out of all the hours and hours we have used this, I have never once had to replace the batteries. It is slightly bulkier than most, but in my opinion, totally worth the space. I found ours at a garage sale for $15, but they can be purchased on Ebay for around $25. You can also occasionally find them on Amazon.com.

Last but not least, the single most often used baby product that I have used since Brianna was born is the iPhone app, Baby Connect. As you can see by the pictures below, it tracks everything from medical information to Milestones to diaper monitoring. I most commonly use it to time when she eats and when she sleeps. I have the worlds worst memory and this has made setting up a routine and keeping track of Bri's needs a snap. I also like to look at the auto-populated graphs to monitor her sleep patterns and growth spurts. It even has a website that continually backs up my information in case my phone crashes. For those of you without iPhones, they have also made a product called the Itzbeen Babycare Timer that does essentially the same thing although I have not tried it so I don't know how it compares. The app is $6, which seems a little steep as far as baby apps go, but is worth every penny.

Well there you have it, my favorite baby products used from ages 0-2 months. Stay tuned for my 2-3 month favorites!

Lovies!

Catherine