9 Baby Essentials

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Now that Elise is coming up on a year, I feel like I have somewhat of a grasp on what we used almost everyday in her infant days.  These are in no way “necessities” but they made and still make babyhood a whole lot easier on us.  So here is my list of 9 things that are great for the first year of life!

1.  Johnny Jump:  When Elise was a newborn, I would have to bounce her on a yoga ball to calm her down and put her down for naps (nothing else worked).  I knew when she was old enough she would love jumping and bouncing.  And I was right!  I absolutely loved this thing and so did Elise.  This allowed me to cook dinner, clean up the house, and have a few moments to rest my arms. 

2.  4Moms Baby Bathtub:  This tub makes bathing a baby a breeze!  The temp indicator is a great feature because our faucet likes to change temperatures on us.  She still takes baths in this and will continue until she no longer fits in it.

3.  OXO Tot Sprout chair: I love the look of this chair and it goes with our house décor.  The other great feature of this is the one-handed tray release.  It is nice and sturdy and wipes up very easily!

4.  Ergo Carrier: The Ergo made shopping a breeze.  At first, I was a little hesitant because it was so darn bulky but as soon as I learned how to put it on, I never left the house without it.  We even had some dog walks with this… I’m sure Chloe and Gracie even apprecialted this carrier.  In fact, when I put it on the dogs still get excited like we are going for a walk.  Lately, I have been putting her on my back and doing yard work and vacuuming (Elise hates, hates the vacuum if no one is holding her.)

5.  California Baby Bath and Lotion:  About a year before Elise was conceived, Mike and I got rid of all parabens, sulfates, dyes, phalates, and animal tested products.  I actually did a lot of research and testing of baby washes and lotions while I was pregnant.  This one wins hands down!  It’s gunk-free and has a perfect baby lavender scent to it. 

6.  Dohm Sound Machine: Hands down, the best sound machine out there.  Mike and I got this before Elise was born and we can’t sleep without it.  As soon as she was born, we invested in another one. 

7.  Little Castle Glider: My mom ordered this for me while I was pregnant.  It was a great gift!  It is a bit pricey but it is so comfy!  And a comfy chair is a necessity when learning how to nurse an infant.  This also will be a good addition to living room furniture once the breastfeeding part of my life is complete.

8.  Hape Galloping Zebras Baby Walker: We just got this walker for Elise and she loves it!  Shes is still a little bit unsturdy and needs one of us behind her but it definetly will help her learn how to walk a lot quicker! I am also a fan of wooden toys.  I read that toys that are not interactive develops a baby’s imagination much quicker and better than interactive and loud toys. Plus, the zebras are just so darn cute!

9.  Summer Video Baby Monitor: Even though Elise does not sleep in her room at night, this is still awesome for her naps.  I love being able to see her and knowing she is ok so I can go about my day.

Elise is 9 eh.. 9.5 Months Old

WOW!  I am late with this update!

Elise,

You are now just over 9 ½ months old going on 3! Your personality is BIG!  You know what you want and you won’t stop until you get it.

This month you got your two bottom teeth and you are working on your top left one.  You love showing them off, too!  You even realized that I have a full set of them and giggle when you touch them.  Hopefully, the teeth explain your sleep…

One reason why this update is so late is because you have been keeping mommy up a lot at night.  Your naps are also suffering.  So, whenever I have a moment to myself, I am either working on a project or catching up on sleep.  There are nights that you wake once, you eat and you go right back to sleep.  Others include up to 6 wakings with little that will console you.  Last night was a rough night but we did have a big day and you ate something new.  Beside last night, I THINK it is slowly getting better. 

On another front, you are not quite crawling… but oh soooo close!  You are rolling everywhere though and there are times I put you in a spot walk away and return a few minutes later and you aren’t there anymore!  Granted, you are only 5 or 6 feet away from where I left you but it still makes my heart drop a bit.  You’re really good at doing the yoga position “pigeon”.  For the third month in a row… I am guessing you will be crawling by Daddy’s birthday. 

Pigeon pose

You love, love, love to eat!  Some of your favorites include: Blueberries, peas, mushrooms, pasta, green smoothies, and your #1 favorite is Chicken Marsala.  You love flavor and veggies.  My dream come true!  Hopefully it lasts into toddlerhood. 

Speaking of toddlerhood, I can see that phase creeping up on us.  You have the biggest personality.  You do this face when you want something (squinting eyes, smiling really big, and waving your arms everywhere)… this happens especially with food or a toy that you love.  You are also starting to throw little tantrums…

You tell that bird!

    

                           

  

You have started forming relationships with some of your favorite toys.  Your bathtoys are some of your favorite things to “talk” to about how your day went.  You giggle, wave your arms about, and your eyes light up when I bring them out during your bath.  You also talk to a counting giraffe and kiss all of your stuffed animals.  

You have started giving kisses, clapping, waving, and (what I believe is one of your first words) saying “mama” (but only when you’re crying) and “dada”. 

This last month you have become your own little person!  You have your own wants and preferences.  You are definitely doing better with strangers especially if they are women.  You also love other kids!

Your first "selfie"

I cannot believe you are only 2.5 months away from your 1^st birthday!  You and I are going to have to start planning the big event, very soon!

I love you, goose!  Thank you for making me your mommy!

First 4th of July... you just wanted to eat watermelon

You are my angel, my darling, my star!

Love,

mommy

Elise is 7 Months Old!

Goose,

What a month does!  You have suddenly become your own little person who knows what she wants.  You are a curious, happy, demanding, cuddly, and above all, oh so loving.

You are a mama’s girl but your face lights up when you see your daddy.   You give him the biggest smile (one that I only see when you see him) I read somewhere that babies seek fun and excitement from their dads and love and comfort from their moms…that fits you to a T.  However, I think we lose out to your pups.  They get the biggest smiles and happiest laughs from you.

You hate when your dad or me walks away from you.    In fact, you are typing with me right now because you didn’t want to be one foot away.  You have become very attached this last week and it is hard for us to get anything done.  I love that you love to cuddle.  You reach for me in your sleep and if you don’t feel me you wake up (which has its own problems) but I still love it no matter what.  Speaking of sleep… what is sleep?  I am chalking it up to teething and I hope this new found hate for sleeping of yours ends soon.  It takes about 45 minutes to get you to take a nap and go to bed.  Whatever it is just make it end soon… mommy is tired!

You absolutely love to eat.  You still despise avocados but everything else you love.  You love feeding yourself already and will get mad if I try feeding you.  I have recently started giving you whatever we are eating for dinner.  Last night, you ate chicken, pasta, and veggies.  I blended some at first but you weren’t having that, so I cut little pieces up and you gobbled it down.  You were happily eating away for about 30 minutes.  Your other favorites are HappyPuffs and Little Yums.  You also love sharing my morning bowl of oatmeal.

You are sitting up like a pro now.  You are pulling yourself forward so that you end up on your belly, which I think is a good start to crawling.  I’m thinking that by next month you will be mobile.  We need to get going on baby proofing!

You absolutely love being outside.  Whether it be in the yard or out for walk.  I can put you in your bumbo and garden away and you’ll be happily pulling at the grass, watching the dogs, or just watching what I am doing.  If you’re having a particularly bad day, I can take you outside and you will stop crying instantly.

You had your first trip to the zoo this month and your first ride on the carousel. Daddy was so excited…get ready to go with him a lot!

You also celebrated your first Easter and dyed your first Easter egg. We went on an egghunt together.  So far, that has been the best holiday with you! 

Things you love:

Eating

Cuddling

Your pups

Anything that is not a toy (my wallet and hair especially)

Walks

Your Ergo

Jumping

Your mommy and daddy (but that goes without saying)

Things you hate:

Napping

Sleep in general

Being left alone for 0.3 seconds

One of the funniest things you have started to do when you’re mad is turning really red and putting your firsts up in the air and yelling.  All I can do is laugh.

You are my angel, my star, my darling! Mommy loves you!  Happy SEVEN months!

Pinch Me! Elise is 6 Months Old!

Goose, you are 6 months old!!!  It feels like you have been with us forever but at the same time I cannot believe it has been 6 months since you have been born!

It just keeps getting more fun with you.  Even though I miss your cuddling, sleepy days, I love being able to play with you and make you laugh.  You make me laugh and smile more than I thought possible.  Your personality is really shining through and I think you are a good mix of both your dad and I.  I can tell you are going to be a talker around us (you’re a little shy around other family members) and you definitely like things your way.  You definitely love your parents and the life we have given you.

Look at those beautiful blue eyes!

You finally have rolled over both ways.  I think you think you don’t know how to do it because it happens spontaneously and you get this surprised look on your face.  You are sitting pretty well on your own but still sway a bunch so we keep the Boppy behind you.  You’re starting to react to your toys, which is really fun to watch.  You shake rattles, hug and kiss stuffed animals, and reach for your favorite toys.  You have also found your feet and love them!

Bath time is still your favorite time of day.  You have taken up splashing and water is starting to get everywhere.  I have a feeling that once you are sitting up better we will have to move you to the big bathtub. 

I have started running with you in the jogging stroller and boy is it hard.  You don’t seem to mind it much but get a little annoyed with bumps and if it is longer than 20-30 minutes.  You have to be well rested and fed to enjoy things like that. 

This is one of my favorite pictures.  It tells my story...

You grab everything that is in your reach.  You love your door bouncer.  You have just started really enjoying eating.  You love your pups.  You love being read to and looking at the books.  You love being sung to and talked to.  You love mornings.  You love the Ergo (and so do I… I wouldn’t be able to get any shopping done without it)! You love being close to your parents.

Your first time at the park... you aren't too sure about the swings yet.  No tears though so that was good!

You do not like not getting what you want.  You do not like not being able to move from point a to point b.  You do not like when I walk away from you.  You HATE the carseat and “long” (more than 5 minutes) car rides. 

We got a camera this month and I have been having so much fun playing around with you as my favorite model. Here are some of my favorites...

You like life… what can I say?!  I love watching you grow and learn about yourself.  And, I love that you are mine!  

You are my angel, my darling, my star and my love will find you wherever you are!

Love, Mom