Sleep Training: 101

Now that Xavier is older, bigger and filled to the max with baby chub and drool, he is sleeping through the night (YEA!).  He's always been an okay sleeper, but now after we put him down at 7PM, he usually doesn't cry for us until 7 the next morning or sometimes even 8.  *counting my blessings*

Preemies always sleep a lot when they first come home from the hospital and we found that to be true the first 2 months.  The question was whether to put him in our room or his own.  I'd heard different opinions on both.  The first night home, we put Xavier in our bedroom, but those loud baby grunts and groans kept me from sleeping.  Starting with night #2, off to his own room we go!  In case he woke up and was bored, we placed pictures of us on the ceiling, placed these art cards and some toys along the crib railing.  We had a 3 hour rotation.  We occasionally heard him wake up, play with the toys, and fall back asleep.  He slept 2 hours of every 3 hour rotation.  

Around 2 months, he kept the 3 hour rotation, but during the night he'd usually sleep up to 5 hours (finally!!).  We had occasional stretches where he'd wake us up several times during the night, but I'd just rub his tummy and hold those green hospital paci's in his mouth until he fell asleep.  Most of the time, this worked, but many times it didn't.  It was around this time that I went back to work.  Sleepless nights like this made me thankful for daycare - I could go home early from work, nap, then go pick him up.  It amazed me how the motherhood gene lets you get 3 or 4 hours of sporadic sleep in a night and still be able to function.  Somehow your body adjusts to no sleep.

When he turned 4 months old, he started waking up all the time, every night.  He seemed to completely forget how to sleep in long stretches.  So we tried doing a bath every night before bed, that didn't work as he seemed to start hating baths.  We tried letting him cry it out, but that only lasted for 5 minutes.  I couldn't stand to hear him crying like that for me.  I'd go in his room, rub his tummy, make "ssshhh"-ing sounds, all of which seemed to calm him down.  The pacifier always fell out of his mouth, so I had to stand there and hold it, until my dad bought him the NUK.  Once we let him cry long enough to get tired, we gave him the NUK and he was out in no time.  It took a few tries some nights, but that NUK is the best invention ever!  One thing I never did was pick him up during the night, unless of course I thought he needed a bottle.  I think he got used to knowing I would only rub his tummy so he shouldn't expect otherwise.  

My sleep training with Xavier revolved mostly around him and what he seemed to like.  I did make him always sleep in his own room/and crib, never picked him up, and that's about as harsh as I was with the training.  I didn't force him to cry it out long periods of time and never put him to bed at 7 (or whatever time we chose for the age he was) if he wasn't tired.  Once he started sleeping 5 hours a night, we tried to put him to bed around 10.  As he slept in longer stretches, we moved bedtime up until eventually we got to the 7pm-7am routine.  Sometimes we'd put him to bed at 5:30 if he seemed sleepy enough.  We just went with the flow and it seemed to work out.  I'm sure baby #2 will be a sh*t show.

Every family has their own opinions on sleep training and some babies are more difficult to train than others.  Xavier was easy to train, but some babies may require a more strict schedule/harsher training.  We still run in to our stretches of sleepless nights (usually when he's sick), but it was never as bad as it was when he was younger.  So far, I've learned that it gets better.  Hoping the trend continues.  Happy training!

Easter Basket Goodies

I mentioned before that holidays are way more fun when a kid is around and can join in on the excitement.  Plus, I'll take any excuse to celebrate with my little babe.  Although he can't enjoy the white chocolate drizzled popcorn w/ Easter M&M's (oooh, but I can!), I wanted to give him a basket filled with goodies to remember his first Easter.  I thought I'd share some things we'll be putting in Xavier's first Easter basket.

Pat the Bunny (touch and feel) Book
My First Easter bib
Bubble wands - from Walmart
Guess How Much I Love You book
Sock Monkey toy
Fisher Price Stack N Sounds Blocks
Plastic Easter Eggs filled with beans, pennies, etc. that make noise when he shakes

We got Xavier's basket from Walmart.  It's very simple.  But, for you girl-moms out there, the baskets from Pottery Barn Kids are adorable!  You can choose from tons of different cute liners and can even have her name engraved on it.  My personal fave is this one.  We didn't get one for Xavier because even the boy liners I think are a bit too girly.

I did some quick holiday decorating around the house, too!

Plastic eggs from Target

And made this amazing popcorn to snack on.

Glass jar - Heritage HIll small canister from Target

Update on Easter traditions - things have changed since we were kids.  I saw a cute idea on Pinterest where you can put glow sticks (bracelets might work better) in the eggs and have a glow in the dark egg hunt!  I think we'll do that for Xavier since he is so intrigued by lights.  And, we will be leaving bunny bait for the Easter Bunny (recipe found here, I like to replace the pretzels with plain Rice Chex) and planting magic jelly beans that turn in to lollipops.  Some other things I've heard the bunny is up to - there is an app you can download to your phone where kids can receive calls from him, he leaves jelly beans in the toilet and adds a sign that he forgot to flush, and leaves a cotton ball/jellybean/candy trail leading out the front door.  The Easter Bunny is a very, busy bunny.

I can't wait to start family traditions for all the holidays to come.  I am really getting into this stuff!

Daily Routine: 6-7 Months

Oh, this is by far my favorite baby age!  Just look at his royal cuteness!

Crayola Washable Finger Paint found here

It was an eventful two months.  So far, I've seen the biggest developmental changes during these two months.  He also is growing faster than ever!  I recently had to pack away all his 3-9 month clothes.  Yes, this baby is wearing 12 month -18 month outfits.  It was a sad day for mama because he will never be able to wear those cute little sleep sacks again.  Or the Sock Monkey suspenders.  But, now that this little guy is here, I totally have a reason to celebrate more than ever!  Starting with the half-birthday.  Yea, I've never heard of this pre-Xavier, but I will go with any excuse to celebrate and party with the little chub!  The theme was "half", so half the room was decorated, half the cupcakes had sprinkles, we cut the subs in half, and no half-birthday is complete unless the celebratee only gets half his presents!  

We had 6 month photos taken, he learned to sit on his own, and he continues to babble all day long.  He really is starting to act more like a real-life person!

Our daily routine:

Wake up at 7AM, usually twisted 180 degrees in the crib and on his tummy, and flashes a HUGE smile when he sees me because he just slept through the whole night and knows he's about to get smothered in mama kisses!  He has breakfast (8oz. bottle) then I sit him on the floor to play with his toys while I get ready for work.  I drop him off at day care and he takes a morning nap around 9 or 10.  He has another bottle (6 oz. bottles are fed the rest of the day) around 11 and then plays with his buds at day care.  He has his first serving of solid foods (stage 2) around 12-12:30 and it's mixed with 4 Tbsp of oatmeal cereal.  He listens to music or makes a craft (seriously cannot get enough of the handprint/footprint animals he makes at daycare!) then goes down for another nap around 2.  He wakes up and is fed another bottle.  When that settles, about an hour and a half later, he'll take his second serving of solid foods mixed with oatmeal cereal.  I pick him up from day care around 5.  He's usually hungry for another bottle when we get home.  I find that he eats more at home on the weekends than he does at daycare.  Probably because he's so stimulated around the kids, he forgets he's hungry.  I'll let him play in his jumper while I change and put something together (VERY QUICKLY) for dinner.  Around 6:30 he starts rubbing his eyes.  I'll change him, give him a bath if it's bath night (we do baths twice a week unless it's bad blow-out season), then I give him his final bottle.  I didn't really push him in to the 7AM to 7PM routine, he just sort of fell into it on his own.  If he doesn't fall asleep after the bottle, I'll rock him with a pacifier and read him a story.  Usually stories stimulate him, so I try to do stories during the day.

Honestly, he is such a good baby.  So easy to take care of, so curious to look at everything when we take him out of the house, and content most of the time.  He usually only fusses if he's bored or tired.  He's never bored at day care with all the kids and toys, but at home on the weekends, it can be difficult to keep him entertained.  My best advice is to create the best routine and sleeping environment as early as possible.  The sooner your baby catches on, the sooner you will be a happy, happy mama!

See all daily routines here.

What's In My Diaper Bag?

I have a Fisher Price Fast-Finder diaper bag that has tons of interior pockets for pacifiers, bottles, hand sanitizer, a big shoulder strap so you can wear it cross-body, and it's a neutral gray color so Steve can carry it too.  I really wanted to get a Petunia Pickle Bottom bag because the boxy backpack is so big it was sure to hold everything I needed.  It also appeared easy to carry the bag and baby at the same time, but the designs are so diaper-bag-esque.  I couldn't find a design that didn't scream "Look at me and my diaper bag!!"  And, I swear they did not have this PPB bag for sale when I was looking for a bag or I might have gotten it (but it might be odd to watch Steve to carry it-don't want to discourage your baby-daddy's from carrying the diaper bag, trust me!!).  We considered getting the Diaper Dude for him, but I'm glad we have only one bag that's unisex.  Keeping one bag stocked is hassle enough!  

A Word on the Essentials:

Changing pad  - usually included with the diaper bag you purchase, or you can buy a Diaper Changing Station to stick in your bag

Bibs - keep the gross, carrot stained bibs at home, and get these nicer bibs from Dwell Studio for going out in public

Dr Brown's Container for pre-dished out Servings of Formula, can be used later for solids

A Word on the Extras:

Itzy Ritzy Cart/High Chair Cover - I like these because there will be a bit of extra room when you place baby in the chair/cart.  These are good for filling up the extra gap so he's snug and not wobbling all over.  You could also use a blanket or swaddle.

Itzy Ritzy Snack bag AND Itzy Ritzy Sealed Wet Bag - These are more fashionable than using ziplock baggies or the Kroger plastic bags, and more fun too!  I put pacifiers, chapstick, tissues, anything small in the snack bag.  The wet bag is good for diapers, swimwear, beach, travel, etc.

Daily Routine: 3-6 months

Xavier:  master bubble-blower

Big changes I noticed during the 3-6 months stage, was that Xavier had longer periods of "awake" time from nap to nap.  He also started sleeping longer during the night.  And by that we are talking like 5 hour stretches which felt AMAZING!!!!  I always rewarded him with bunches and bunches of kisses when he let me sleep that long.  I also started to realize how much I despised that baby monitor!  I literally wanted to throw it out the window.  Xavier was a noisy sleeper starting from day 1 with all those baby grunts during the night.  I started to get more confident that if he really needed me, he would belt out the cries.  And.  He.  Did.  Too bad it took me until month 4 to get comfortable with that.  Would have saved me from lots of sleepless nights!

Look at all this pinchable baby chub!

Our daily routine was very similar to the one I mentioned in the 0-3 month post.  Change his diaper, feed him a bottle, sit up-right about a half hour now since he was taking more formula, let him play for 1-2 hours, then put him down for a nap in the swing or bouncer.  Playtime consisted of more tummy time with help from the boppy, playing music on my iPhone (Baby Einstein has a great baby station on Pandora), placing books infront of him, time in the doorway jumper, exersaucer (an absolute favorite!!), and bumbo seat, time under his activity gym, and stroller rides around the neighborhood/mall.  His favorite napping spot was in his swing.  At some point during this stage, he started smiling and interacting more with me.  We're not talking big changes in that department, just more swats at things I placed infront of him and more eye contact with me.  The best part is when he started smiling!  Those toothless grins are the most adorable ever!  I also started feeling a little better, anxiety-wise.  When Xavier started reaching milestones, like propping his head up during tummy time, smiling, rolling on his side, I started to feel less anxious.  I was getting used to having him around, more comfortable with the whole take him to daycare/go to work routine, and I really started to miss him during the day.

The first outfit I bought for Xavier when I found out I was pregnant.  Unfortunately, he only got to wear it a couple times.  Babies this age grow super duper fast!

We kept Xavier exclusively on formula until very close to his 6 month birthday.  Once he started drinking 55-60 ounces a day, we started him on solids.  See that post here.

Some random observations during this stage:

--I was never going to let my kid watch as much TV as other moms I knew, buuuuuut, enter parenthood.  Now that Xavier was staying awake for longer stretches of time, the TV was becoming my best friend for calming him down during those fussy, evening hours between 5 - 8 PM.

--I have never been so sick in my life, until this little guy entered my world.  Wow, daycare is infused with so many germy kids and it seemed Xavier has had a runny nose every day since we started him there around his 3 month birthday.  He is now 7 months old and still snotty.

--When your kid is sick, nothing else in the world matters.  You will stay up with him all night, rock with him to keep him from crying, call off work and not think twice about it, anything you have to do.  Xavier had the worst diaper rash in history close to his 4 month birthday.  Red sores covered his cute little tooshey and he screamed whenever I dabbed it with a wipe.  I frantically texted every mom I knew about how to cure it, called the emergency nurse line, laid on the floor crying with him because he wouldn't stop crying..... oh it was awful.  I was so worried I felt like vomiting.  But once it cleared up the next morning and I could stop worrying, the biggest feeling of relief, bigger than I ever thought possible, came over me.  You've never experienced real relief until you have a kid.

See all daily routines here.

About Me

Wife to Steve & Mama to Xavier.  I love online shopping, photography, decorating, and holidays.

I met my husband,Steve, through friends at a cafe one night.  It was love at first sight.  We quickly broke up with the people we were dating so we could be together.  We got engaged at this same cafe about a year later, were married in Barbados, and have an adorable son, Xavier.  I am originally from the Cincinnati area and Steve is from the Toledo area.  We both are graduates of The Ohio State University and love everything Columbus has to offer.  I believe we will be retired before we leave this wonderful city!

Xavier James was born on August 15, 2013.  He is the most wonderful thing that has happened to us and this blog documents my journey as a new mom to him.

Daily Routine: 0-3 Months

It's hard to hear it when you're living through it, but the first three months are by far the toughest and it does get better.  So many things go through a new mom's head and I was shocked at what other moms never talk about.  The biggest thing I found moms don't really talk about was the post-partum anxiety/depression.  I was miserable the first week home, crying all the time, trying to successfully pump, waking up every 2-3 hours to pump, can't go to the store now because in an hour I have to pump.  Just like that, pumping consumed my every thought.  On top of that, Xavier wasn't around me (he was in the NICU for about 2 weeks) so I had no desire to pump.  It was the longest week of my life.  Finally, after being tortured long enough, we agreed I would stop pumping/breast feeding.  Most moms feel inadequate after deciding this and quickly enter a state of depression, but I was so relieved and excited that Steve took me out for a glass of wine!  Finally, I didn't have to think about anything I was putting in to my body!!  And I no longer had to slave away at the sink washing pump parts all day long.  It was a wonderful feeling.

Xavier finally came home and it was difficult to get used to the new routine.  The first few nights, I was afraid to sleep for fear I wouldn't hear the baby cry.  I now understand why there is such a thing as maternity leave.  However, it didn't affect me mentally, like depression-wise, I was just always tired and worn out.  But, I quickly learned to take naps during the day when he slept.  My routine with him was to change his diaper, feed him 2-4 ounces, burp him, hold him upright for 15 minutes so he wouldn't spit it up, play with him as long as he could stay awake (usually just a half hour to an hour), put him down for a nap, then do it all over again when he woke up.  I did this routine 7 or 8 times every 24 hour period.  It really begins to drain on you because it's all you do, all day long, over and over, and your baby can't give you any response that you're doing a great job taking care of him/satisfying all his needs!  He can't smile or interact with you at all.  But, somehow I got through it.  I tried my hardest to enjoy being off work and being a "Stay At Home Mom" the short period it lasted.  I took walks with him around the neighborhood, we went on stroller rides at the mall, and would visit Daddy at work.  It's important to take advantage of all the time your baby sleeps during the first few months.  Take him on stroller rides, out to restaurants, anywhere!  There are lots of opinions on how long you should wait before letting your little one leave the house.  We took him outside when he was 2 weeks old.  But no one was allowed to touch him without washing their hands up until he was 3 months old.

Our daily routine consisted of the 3 hour cycle I mentioned above.  During his very short "awake" times, we would read stories, lay tummy down on the boppy pillow, play with rattles, I'd lay him down in the swing or bouncer, or I'd let him look at black and white designs for baby stimulation, found here or here.  It was fun watching him focus on these for the first time!

For extra help on things you can do during the day, download the Babycenter app to your phone.  It gives you daily tips on games you can play, where your baby might be developmentally, funny quotes, etc.  This app helped me feel more confident.

Our bedtime routine the first few months was kind of hit or miss.  We only gave Xavier a real bath once a week, sometimes twice, but for that second bath that week we wouldn't use soap.  Xavier started to get this scaling type thing happen to him where he "shed a layer of skin" as my pediatrician put it, and he had a little bit of cradle cap, too.  We didn't want the soap to dry him out or interfere too much.  We cured cradle cap with baby oil and a soft brush.  Around 1 month, we started using the white noise on the sound machine, feeding him a bottle, and zipping him up in a sleep sack when we put him down.  

When Xavier was about 2 months old, I started to think about going back to work.  That's when the anxiety set in.  It hit me like a big COTA bus.  How was I going to go back to work when the baby wakes me up every 3 hours?  I won't be able to function.  How will I get all my grocery shopping done, the chores, all the other things we regularly do AND take care of the baby.  It made me absolutely crazy worrying about this.  So much that I had to see my doctor about it.

I still remember that first doctor's visit.  It was one of my lowest points.  I couldn't get Xavier to eat his bottle, he dropped such a huge #2 that it blew out and onto his clothes and onto my lap, he was crying because he was hungry, and while all this was going on I had to explain to my doctor my symptoms.  So, I placed Xavier on the doctor's table and told him I couldn't take care of Xavier right now.  I sat in the chair and cried.  Luckily, my doctor is wonderful and brought in a nurse to take care of Xavier while I calmed down.

He diagnosed me with post-partum anxiety and said I could seek counseling, take meds, or do a combination of the two.  I tried both.  He gave me some meds to relieve it.  Oh, the side effects of these drugs (awful)!!  I tried 3 different ones before I found one I could tolerate.  Getting the correct drug cocktail took a lot of time, patience, and lots of crying because I didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Also, I sort of felt like a loser because I needed medication to get back to normal.  My counselor recommended I go back to work as soon as possible.  That helped big time!  Interacting with adults, getting away from the baby, forced to focus on myself was a huge help.  It so happened that when I went back to work, Xavier started sleeping 5- 6 hours straight.  I was so, so, so lucky.

A couple random observations through this journey of motherhood:

--Just when you start to laugh at yourself because you've eaten a turkey sandwich for lunch the past 5 days in a row, you will find yourself eating the lunch meat right out the deli bag and shoving a piece of bread in your mouth because you don't have the extra eleven seconds to make it into a sandwich.

--Baby product manufacturers need to start making more products than can be opened and closed with one hand.  Seriously, when you have a poopy, screaming baby in one hand that only leaves one free hand!  Not fun to deal with when trying to keep one hand on the baby on the changing table and open the box of wipes with the other hand and you realize you need a kitchen knife to break through the the gobs and gobs of packaging that seals it.  Ugh.
--The human body is truly a work of art.  It learns that it can function on only 4 hours of sporadic sleep in a night, with a couple cat naps hear and there.

The first three months were the roughest of my life.  It is not fair that overnight your life changes so drastically.  You don't get any preparation for it.  Xavier is now 7 months old and I am perfectly fine.  Looking back on it, I don't even know who that person was worrying about everything, not able to sleep, scared I'd never be back to who I was again.  But, I now realize that whole time I wanted to get back to my old self, I should have been thinking about my new self with a new baby.  I now have a new role and it would take some time to get used to that.

See all daily routines here.

Our Third Anniversary

This past weekend, my husband and I celebrated our third anniversary.

Steve's parents took Xavier for the weekend so we could have some alone time.  I was nervous about being away from him as I've never been away from him since he was born.  But, it worked out well!  We had a jam packed agenda for the weekend.  We started Friday night by exchanging gifts and watching a movie.  Steve got me a "Movie themed" gift complete with a couple DVD's and all my favorite movie snacks - twizzlers, popcorn, Fererro Rocher hazlenut truffles, Cherry Coke Zero, Double Stuf Oreos and Whoppers.  It was one of the best gifts he has ever gotten me.  It was tailored to things I love and I appreciated the thought he put in to it!  

On Saturday, we slept in, had brunch at Due Amici where I had my first bellini (AMAZING!), and sipped tea at ZenCha.  Dinner was at Hyde Park Steakhouse and then we went home for a jammie party.  One of my favorite things to do is put on my jammies early in the evening and hang out all night in them!  

On Sunday, we had breakfast at the local tea house with a friend, then I drove up to Fremont to pick up Xavier.  I was so excited to see him that morning that I woke up at 5 AM and couldn't fall back asleep!  

Looking back on our life as a married couple, it's been eventful.  Three years ago, we would be in Barbados, sipping cocktails, and relaxing on a cruise ship.  Today, we feel all grown up.  We have both been busy focusing on our careers, decorating our new home, and raising little Xavier.  

Cheers to three amazing years!!

Introducing... Baby Food!

Xavier is a preemie, born 6 weeks early, so our pediatrician recommended waiting until 6 months to start him on baby food.  Right around 5 and half months, Xavier was taking 55-60 ounces of formula a day.  The kid couldn't stay full and it was wearing on me to constantly have to feed him bottles all day!  So we decided, with the assistance of our awesome day care, to try him on baby food a little early.  We started giving him rice cereal mixed with formula, but it was so runny and such a mess!  He took to the spoon pretty well; he mostly just wanted to suck on it.  We called the help line at our pediatricians office and they recommended we start with stage 1 foods twice a day and mix in 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal cereal because it's a little thicker/more nutritious than rice cereal.  The thicker food made it easier for Xavier to eat and made it nicer for momma come clean up time.

We started him on apples and some other fruits.  He loved them.  Then we tried vegetables and he loved those too!  After a couple weeks of trying out stage 1 foods with no problems, we, at the recommendation of our pediatrician, started feeding him stage 2 foods.  We still feed him twice a day and mix in the oatmeal cereal.  We sometimes will let him taste some of our foods by dabbing our fingers in his mouth, but for the most part, we only feed him pureed baby food.  This kid loves to eat.  He has taken everything we feed him, squash, green beans, stinky peas...  Day care only serves organic food (Earth's Best brand), but we only serve him non-organic food at home.  We want him to get used to all kinds so his body doesn't build a preference to only organic food.  He has no preferences yet.  Just eats everything!  *Knocking on wood*

Fifth & Sixth Month Favorites

Gerber Graduates Soft Tip Spoons - Great for those first bites your baby takes from a spoon!  They are small enough to fit in the baby's mouth and soft so they won't hurt him.
JJ Cole bibs - These vinyl bibs are big to catch pureed food anywhere it lands on your baby's front side and they are super easy to clean.  Just wipe them off or run them under hot water.  The snaps are a nice feature because Xavier has started pulling off the bibs that close with velcro.
Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder - Great for introducing real food to your baby!  We put sliced up apples and grapes in these and let Xavier chew on them to get the juice.  I hear most fruits are good to use in these, except bananas, which get stuck in the mesh and are difficult to clean out.  Also, you have to clean these as soon as your baby finishes eating or it makes it more difficult.
Gerber 2nd Stage Foods - We use the cheap-o Gerber baby food.  It is available in organic, but Xavier gets so much organic food at daycare (they use Earth's Best brand), I want him to learn to take the hard stuff!  This is all we use at home.  We used stage 1 for a couple weeks to make sure he didn't have any food allergies, but quickly switched to stage 2.  I didn't notice much of a difference in thickness between the two stages; just that portions were different.  Also, we always add 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal cereal to all the baby food to make it a little thicker.  Otherwise it's too runny and messy.
Britax B-Agile Stroller - This is the stroller that's part of the travel system we bought.  I LOVE Britax products!  This stroller is lightweight, easy to push, reclines and sits up, and unfold/tears down with 1 hand.  Can't get any better than that!  Only downside is the accessories (cup holder, infant tray) are all sold separately.

See all monthly favorites here.

Fourth Month Favorites

Sophie the Giraffe - A classic teething toy.  Not really a necessity, but a VERY popular toy.
Bumbo Seat with Tray - We placed Xavier in this seat around 3 months and he was able to sit in it by his own around 4 months.  It also works as a portable high chair.
Gerber Single Grain Oatmeal Cereal - We first introduced rice cereal to Xavier around 6 months, but he didn't take it very well.  It was so runny.  The oatmeal is a bit thicker and has more nutrition in it.  Now we mix 4 tablespoons of oatmeal cereal to his pureed baby food to thicken it and make it easier for Xavier to take.
Cow Jumped Over Moon Plush Toy - This toy was a gift to us at the baby shower.  I have no clue where it came from, but Xavier loves to shake it up and down because it make a ringing sound that he likes.  He also likes to chew on the cow's ears.
Fisher Price Go Wild Jumperoo - My friend has one of these and the first time I sat Xavier in it, he was entertained for over an hour.  No joke.  I didn't have to give him any attention.  He LOVES this jumper and has been using it for 2 months.  It's a little expensive, but perfect for entertaining kids who are in between sitting and standing on their own.
Boogie Wipes - These wipes seem to suck the junk right out of Xavier's little nose.  Gotta get the grape scent or your kid may not let you anywhere near him with a wipe-ee!
Green Sprouts Waterproof Bibs - Great for catching baby drool.  These are waterproof and large enough to work for kids up to a year old.  We started using these the day we brought Xavier home from the hospital.

See all monthly favorites here.

Second & Third Month Favorites

Baby Magic Baby Lotion - Other lotions seemed to wear off quickly.  Not this one!  I love that Xavier smells like PURE BABY until his next bath!
Cetaphil Lotion - Xavier had a rash for a few weeks and our pediatrician recommended this lotion since it has no irritating scents or ingredients.  Worked like a charm.
Sassy Ring O Links - One of the first toys Xavier played with.  He liked hearing the rings click together and watching them move as he held it.
Aquaphor - Baby - Great for healing cuts, chapped lips, diaper rash, etc.  We love this stuff!
Bright Starts Rattle Barbell Toy - A favorite to attach to the car seat.  Xavier loves to swat at this toy while in the car.
Johnson's Head to Toe Baby Wash - We used this as shampoo and soap.  We love the scent.  Only one extra bottle in the tub!
Triple Paste - Xavier had a bad diaper rash around 3 months.  I don't know if it was just coincidence, but after we switched from Desitin to Triple Paste, his rash was remarkably better the next morning.  It's expensive, but when your baby screams in pain every time you touch his rash, you don't care the cost of a diaper cream that will work.  We use the cheaper Desitin on his mild rashes and it works just fine.  Another tip for bad rash - buy the puppy pads at a pet store and lay your baby on them naked for a half hour to air out the rash.
Up & Up Diapers - We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Target brand diapers.  They are half the price of Pampers and work just as well.  We have an occasional leak, but I've used Pampers and they sometimes leak too.  We started using these when Xavier grew out of the Pampers newborn diapers.
Carter's onesies - The best onesies out there.  They don't lose their shape, shrink in the dryer, or stretch out like the Gerber ones.  We have about 10 of these and pair them with pants w/ an elastic waist.
I cannot remember the name of the yellow toy with the rings on it, but there are tons of toys like that out there.  Xavier loves this one and I think we got it at Babies R Us.  But any toy like this that has bright colors, rings, rattles, shakers, and make a lot of noise when you move it is sure to keep your baby entertained.

See all monthly favorites here.

Month 1 Favorites & Registry (pt. 3)

Boogie Mist - Saline Spray - It's impossible to get baby boogers out of their tiny noses, but just spray this stuff up the nostril and it clears baby's nose within 5 minutes.  Xavier never minded this stuff, probably because it smelled like grape!
Summer Infant Changing Pad - We put this on top of Xavier's dresser and diaper changes now make him smile and giggle.  A large variety of covers are available.
NUK Pacifiers - Xavier couldn't keep the green hospital pacifiers in his mouth.  These have a flat part on the tip that made it easier for him to suck on.  NUK also makes bottles that have the same design for the nipple.  It might make it easier for baby to use the same bottle and paci.  I hear the MAM brand pacifiers are good too.  They have a similar design.
Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier - We rebelliously used a warm mist instead of cool mist because Xavier's room is always cold in the winter months.  We monitored the temperature with his baby monitor so it never bothered us.  This humidifier has Vicks drops you can put in it that push a Vapo-Rub type smell/effect into the air.  When Xavier was congested, the humidifier kept his mucous loose.
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Oil - I hate the smell of cocoa butter, but in this oil form, it's not so bad.  This oil worked wonders on my c-section scar.  I used it several times a day and now I just have a faint, pink line.
Nuna SENA Play Yard - Fits in with my all black and white gear preference.  It is very sturdy so Xavier won't tear it up when he gets older.  It sets up and tears down with the push of one button and one hand!  Other play yards can take up to 10 minutes to set up/take down.
Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair and Booster - Our dining room is small so we wanted something that either attached to the table or to a chair.  We opted for this because it also has a booster that Xavier can use when he gets older.  And for the price, nothing compares!

See complete registry list here.

Month 1 Favorites & Registry (pt. 2)

Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier - We used this baby carrier the first couple months until Xavier got to be too heavy for me to comfortably carry around.  It was comfortable to wear and had nice neck support for the babe.
Munchkin Bottle Brushes - Super cheap, which is good since you are supposed to replace them every 30 days.  The brush gets in the bottles well and the nipple brush is a nice feature.
Avent Bottles - Every baby is different, but after trying out the Playtex brand we found Xavier liked these better.  We tried the Dr. Brown bottles too, but there were so many parts it made cleaning difficult.  The nipple is very sturdy on these and Xavier found it easier to latch onto them.  I believe drop-in liners are available on Amazon but we never used them.  I hear the liners are nice for day care because you don't have to wash bottles as frequently.  Oh, and don't waste your money buying too many of the smaller 4 oz. bottles.  You won't use them long enough to justify the purchase!  Stock up on the 9 oz.'ers!  Buy enough to get you through an entire day or you'll be constantly washing bottles!  If only formula feeding, babies usually eat every 3 hours.
Similac Neosure - Our little guy was a preemie arriving 6 weeks before his due date.  The hospital recommended feeding him this formula for the first 9 months to help him catch up in weight and height.  Since Xavier was a big preemie at 7.5 lbs birthweight, we only used this formula for a few months before switching to regular formula.  He was starting to get in the 99th percentile and around 2 months, we figured he'd been on this formula long enough and decided to stop using NeoSure.  You have to use your own judgement sometimes!
Similiac Sensitive Formula - Xavier was in the hospital his first 2 wks of life, which made it nearly impossible for me to breastfeed since I was home.  After a week of trying to exclusively pump (pumping is a nightmare, by the way), we decided to formula feed him.  Hospitals will try to brainwash you in to thinking breast is best, but you have to do what's best for you and baby.  Breast feeding is not for everyone, especially if your baby is premature, and Xavier is one of the healthiest babies my pediatrician has seen.  He is 7 months old and made it though this winter without ever getting sick or having a fever/infection.  Other moms are shocked when I tell them that.  Oh, young babies tend to have constipation issues, but my pediatrician recommended giving him an ounce of apple juice 3 times a day and using gas drops.  It kicked the problem!
Motorola Digital Baby Monitor - Great for easing your fears of not hearing your crying baby when you're asleep.  I was afraid to sleep the first few days Xavier was home.  This monitor helped ease my worries.  It has night vision, tells you the temperature of the baby's room, and has a feature that lets you talk to your baby.  We sometimes take the monitor with us when hanging out on the back porch.  After 3 months or so, you will want to throw this thing out the window, but it put us at ease early on.  Some monitors have features where you can stream the video to your phone or hook the video up to wi-fi so you or grandparents can see the baby at all times.  I was around him a lot when I was on maternity leave and didn't feel the need to be THAT connected.
BabyGanics Hand Sanitzer - Great for after all those diaper changes and first few months when you don't want anyone to touch your baby without clean hands.  This sanitizer doesn't dry out your hands so feel free to use as often as you like!  But make sure to wash with real soap after all poopy diapers!
Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive diapers - newborn - We didn't have any trouble with these diapers leaking and there is a cutout for the baby's healing belly button.  A little expensive, so we just used these when Xavier was in newborn/size 1 diapers.  Don't stock up on too many packs of newborn diapers; they aren't in them long.
Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes - Huggies diapers aren't my favorite, but their wipes are great!  We tried several brands and found these to be the best value.  They are thick, which is nice for poopy diapers because you won't go through as many wipes, and they are a good price.  Stock up on a TON of these.  You will go through them quickly!!
Boppy pillow - I've been using this pillow almost daily the past 7 months.  It's great for supporting the baby while he's feeding, you can prop him on it laying down on his back, use it to for tummy time, and we are now using it to support him while he sits.
Boon Lawn Drying Rack - A stylish way to dry your bottles and accessories.  We also use it to dry his spoons and sippy cups.  Buy the largest one you can find (the lawn version, not the grass version) and you can purchase branches that are good for holding the bottle nipples.
Aden & Anais Swaddle Wraps - My absolute favorite for swaddling the first few months.  These blankets are big, stretchy, and made of breathable material.  As Xavier grew, we found he outgrew other swaddle blankets, but these were big enough to always work for him.  Now we use these as his security blanket and don't have to worry if they cover his mouth.  He can breathe right through the material.

See complete registry list here.

Month 1 Favorites & Registry (pt. 1)

Right around the time of my baby shower, it dawned on me I had no idea what baby stuff I needed.  My family has no little ones running around and I have no idea how to take care of a baby, let alone how to raise one.  So, when it came time to make my baby registry, I was CLUELESS.  But thanks to the Internet and hours in front of my computer, I compiled a list of must-haves for the new baby.  I did a huge amount of research and talked to as many new moms as I could about things they wish they didn't waste the money on (i.e. diaper wipe warmer) and things they would buy no matter the cost (baby swing with an electrical cord, not battery).  Here's my list of must-haves for new baby.  I'm posting in 3 different posts.

Fisher Price Snugabunny Swing - If there is only one piece of equipment you buy for your baby, let it be this!  This swing was used so much for Xavier during the first few months.  First of all, it's one of the only ones that plugs into the wall, so there's no hassle of constantly replacing the batteries.  It swings side to side, or front to back if you twist the cradle around.  It has several different sounds, speeds and a mobile at the top that Xavier liked to watch.  This is guaranteed to calm a fussy baby in no time at all!  During those difficult first few months, this swing was a lifesaver!!!
Conair Noise Machine - Not sure if Xavier needs the white noise on to sleep or if he just ironically has been a great sleeper, but we use this every night as part of the bedtime routine.  It has several settings, waterfall, ocean waves, etc., but we usually just use the white noise.  And since our house creaks a lot, we turn it up LOUD!
Exergen Thermometer - This is perfect for when you want to check your sleeping babe's temperature and not wake him up.  Just swipe this across his forehead and you're done!
Satsuma Mittens - Compared to other mittens, we liked these the best.  They are made from organic material and they stay on all night!
Lanolin Cream - I used this cream while I was pregnant when I started to get larger in the chest department.  This cream is very soothing and a definite must for dealing with chapped, sensitive ta-ta's.  The hospital will offer you a bunch when you deliver, so be sure to ask for as much as they'll give you.
Diaper Genie Elite - These things do not let the stinky diaper smell in to your baby's room.  We use the Target brand refill bags and they seem to work just fine.  Other moms complain about how they only use this for poopy diapers because the refill bags are so expensive, but I'm convinced they don't know how the refill bags work.  We used this for every single diaper and I had no problems with going through the bags too quickly.  Just got to know how to use the refill properly so you don't waste it.  There is a trick!
Britax B-Safe and B-Agile Travel System - I insisted on having all black and white gear, so this was one of the first ones I tested.  Cannot say enough wonderful things about this travel system!  Not only is it one of the safest out there, I can quickly fold/unfold the stroller with one hand!  The carrier snaps so easily in and out of the stroller and the base.  I also am a fan of the one wheel in the front design - makes it easier to push and turn, plus it looks so cute!  We can adjust the reclining stroller seat based on whether the baby is sleeping or awake.  Only downside - all the accessories (cup holder, stroller lap bar, diaper bag/purse hooks) are sold separately.
Summer Infant Baby Tub - There are tons of baby tubs to choose from, some are crazy luxurious with and considered a baby spa, but we wanted one that was small enough to fit in our tiny bathroom.  This tub has an infant sling we used for the first couple months of sponge baths we gave Xavier.  It has a plug at the bottom of the tub to let soapy water out and clean water in.
Fisher Price Adorable Animals Bouncer - A must-have during those awkward first few months when your baby can't sit up yet.  Xavier spent a lot of time switching between his swing, activity gym mat, and this bouncer.  It has a smooth vibrator that calmed him when he was crying.  We also used it for some of Xavier's day time naps.
Fisher Price Fast Finder Deluxe Diaper Bag - I wanted a diaper bag that wasn't covered in paisley or other loud designs that screamed "Look at me!  I'm carrying a diaper bag!"  I also wanted a bag with a long strap that I could easily wear crossed over my chest, since I knew it would be heavy carrying this and a baby at the same time.  This bag is large enough to carry everything you could possibly want in your diaper bag, has tons of interior pockets to organize paci's, bottles, tissues, etc., but it's not too bulky to carry around.  I love it!

See complete registry list here.

Seventh Month Favorites

Time continues to fly by and Xavier is getting more and more fun to play with.  I used to not believe it when people said it, but it really does get better as they get older.  Xavier is now sleeping 12 hours straight through every night.  I get so excited when I hear the little morning cries because it means I can run in there and smother those chubby cheeks with kisses!  The seven month toys are the best and most fun by far.

Dino Ball Popper - We sit Xavier infront of this ball popper and he intently stares at the balls bouncing up and down.  This toy keeps his attention more than any other toy we have!  The balls pop like popcorn and it helps his fine motor skills as he reaches to grab the moving balls.

UGG Infant Bixbee Booties - We LOVE these shoes!  They are the only pair Xavier can't pull off.  They come in a variety of colors, too!  If you want a pair that stay on and are comfy/soft, get these!

Abacus - This keeps Xavier entertained while I get ready in the morning.  We sit him on the floor of his room with this in front of him and he's happy for at least a half hour.  He likes to slide the beads from side to side and roll his hands down it.  I think he likes the bright colors as well.

Bright Starts Grab and Stack Blocks - These blocks are a must have!  We count the blocks as we stack them on top of each other and Xavier loves to knock them down!  These blocks are soft and perfect for putting in his mouth.  They also make a crinkly sound that he always loves to play with.

Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat - Disclaimer:  We do not actually own this car seat.  We have a cheap Cosco carseat from Walmart.  But, I read tons of reviews and did research and found this seat to be the safest and best for babies who outgrow the infant carrier (at around 30 pounds).  They come in a variety of colors, too.  If the Cosco one fails us, we are getting this one!  I do own the Britax B-Agile B-Safe Travel system and I have to say, Britax products are WONDERFUL.

Go, Dog Go - Of all the books we read to Xavier, this book has been one of his favorites since we started reading to him around 3 months.  When I turn to a new page, he looks all around the pages at the bright colors and illustrations!  This book is engaging for him and he now helps me turn the pages.

See all Monthly Favorites posts here.

St. Patrick's Day

Larry the Leprechaun stopped by our house and left some treasure for Xavier to find.  He turned the toilet water green and left green footprints throughout the house.  It will be so much more fun when Xavier has an idea of what's going on!  I also made some rainbow pretzels for dessert.  Hope you all had lots of green, festive fun this St. Patrick's Day!

Meet Xavier!

We have been extremely busy the past 7+ months adjusting to our new lives as parents to the sweetest, happiest baby in the world, Xavier.  He has brought so much joy to our lives.  Steve and I joke how routine our world would be if he wasn't here.  We'd probably be going to dinner at J. Alexander's for the hundredth time or keeping up with the latest Hollywood gossip.  We can do that any other time!

Xavier really is the happiest baby I have ever met.  Starting at around 5 months, he began smiling and laughing pretty much non-stop.  We adore it!  His favorite things to do right now are to knock over the blocks we stack up, chewing on Sophie the Giraffe, taking the pieces off the ring stacker, moving the rings on the abacus, jumping in his spaceship-look-alike exersaucer, and staring in amazement at the dino ball popper.  He is a very content baby and hardly needs us around to entertain him.

With that, I present to you, Baby Xavier!

August 15, 2013 - seems like just yesterday

We welcomed Xavier into our lives on August 15, 2013; about 7  months ago.  He was 6 weeks early and we were totally shocked by his arrival!  On that late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning, I woke up to roll my largeness from one side to the other and realized I had been slumbering on a small pool of water.  As I rose out of bed, I heard a splash of water hit the floor.  "Steve!" I called.  No response.  "Steeeeeeve!!!"  I told him I thought my water broke.  And yep, we were totally unprepared.  The thought to pack a hospital bag hadn't crossed our minds, for the baby wasn't coming for another 6 weeks.  None of the furniture was put together, baby supplies not purchased, no car seat; we had plenty of time!  Panic set in.  I tell Steve we need to go to the hospital.  He seems to not hear me and instead runs up and down the stairs.  I tell him again and that I'm going to wait for him in the car.  As I walk outside, Steve is still running up and down the stairs.  He finally comes to the car with both our toothbrushes in his pocket!  At least we'll have clean teeth!

The drive to the hospital seemed to take an eternity.  When we finally got there, I am soaked in water and my stomach seemed to shrink to half its size.  The nurses were shocked my water broke.  They said this usually only happens in the movies and they normally have to break the water when the moms arrive.  I was examined and everything was fine; little baby Xavier just decided he wanted to meet us a little early!

We waited for Dr. Crauser to arrive to the hospital at 7.  She performed my c-section and other than being sprawled out on the operating table, it was a wonderful experience.  The most painful part was when the nurses stuck the IV in my hand.  We heard Dr. Crauser say, "What a biiiig boy!  He's the size of a full-term baby!"  Then we heard the strong cries.  She lifted him over the sheet and buddy stuck his tongue out at Steve and me!  Nice to meet you too, Buddy!  :)