7 Quick Takes - A Few of My Favorite Things

1. Ever since Tory moved out of the high chair and onto the family table during meals, I've racked my brain for a way to protect the quality of my dining room table. Our wooden table was a gift from my in-laws when Andi and I moved into our first house together. I love everything about it, and we've taken very good care of it over the years ... until Little Miss Messy joined the party. Dried food is forever stuck in the cracks of the table and the wood is turning dull at her spot where I continually wipe up after her meals. Don't get me started on how many table runners have met the trash can after being stained with grape jelly, yogurt and wine (okay, so the last one wasn't her fault).

I bought a placemat for Tory to use and it helped a little bit, but she'd smear food outside the covered area. I thought about using a cloth tablecloth, but it'd be stained and need washing after every single meal. I even considered purchasing a plastic tablecloth that could be wiped down after every meal, but I hated the idea of covering up my beautiful dark wood table. Then, one day I had an idea and it's been the solution to all my table woes. I moved Tory's toddler play table from her bedroom to the kitchen and started feeding her meals there. What purpose was the little table serving in her bedroom anyway, other than to look cute with tea cups and plates set up for a doll party? Tory enjoys eating meals at her little table and believe it or not, she actually sits down and eats there vs. standing on the wooden bench or getting up and down from the big table 50 gazillion times per meal. I do end up stumbling around that little table while I'm cooking in the kitchen or unloading the dishwasher, but it's saving my nice dining room table from destruction, so WIN.

2. A while back, someone left a comment on my blog suggesting I purchase baby mittens on Etsy to prevent Aden from scratching his head. I did just that, and to you I say -- thank you! I ended up buying two pairs of these waterproof baby mittens for him, and they're so wonderful. The size fits Aden's hands better than the cloth newborn ones available in stores, they're waterproof so the material isn't soaked within seconds of putting them on his hands and best of all, Aden's head and neck look so much better now they're not scratched all over. One of the many reasons I love the blog-o-sphere so much. People helping people. Thank you!

3. Andi bought a rotisserie attachment for our grill at the cabin and we're ... kinda obsessed with it. I rolled my eyes like I always do when another Amazon box showed up on my doorstep one day, but then we used it and now I think it's the most awesome cooking accessory we've purchased in a long time. (One point for Andi.) So far, we've made a few roasts and whole chickens on the grill and they were so delicious. Cooking with the rotisserie is easy too, especially for me because I don't have to do a thing. Last weekend, I planned to have rotisserie chicken for a meal at the cabin and asked Andi to shred the leftovers to use later in the week for recipes. (See what I did there? Weaseled my way out of preparing multiple meals.) For some reason, those rotisserie chickens in the grocery store deli always yuck me out and while it seems like such a convenient thing to pick up for dinner, I can never bring myself to do it. Now, problem solved. We make our own!

4. Let's talk about flax - another one of my new favorite things. Tory had some (ahem) bathroom issues a while back, which is understandable considering Girlfriend lives on yogurt, toast and cheese -- not exactly the most balanced diet. We bought some Pedia-Lax for desperate measures, but I also knew I needed to improve Tory's overall diet. Though, getting a toddler to eat something she doesn't want to is easier said than done. We've started offering Tory a larger variety of food and have had a bit of success. I also started sprinkling ground flax onto her toast every morning and it's been the best thing ever. She's none the wiser and it's really seemed to regulate things, if you know what I mean. With this big win, I've started sprinkling ground flax into other things, like homemade cookies and granola bars, ground beef for enchiladas, etc. You seriously cannot tell it's in there and it works magic.

5. I discovered mini-size bobby pins in the beauty aisle the other day, and I love them. At first I wasn't so sure because the small-sized pins were a little tricky to place in my hair but now I've got the hang of grasping them, they stay in place so much better. I use the little bobby pins on Tory's hair too, and they're perfect to pin her wisp of bangs off to the side.

6. Andi got me hooked on a series of books about families who travel around the world. So far, I've read A Life Without Borders (which I loved), Freeways to Flip-flops: A Family's Year of Gusty Living on a Tropical Island (which was just OK) and One Year Off: Leaving It All Behind for a Round-the-World Journey with Our Children (which was interesting). These books are easy, happy reads and have me wishing we could drop everything and travel the world with our kids. Someday, I hope.

7. This girl turns THREE at the end of the summer and man, I'm going to miss Age Two something fierce.

Mostly, this year of Tory's life has been so much fun - many, many laughs (and a few frustrated tears). It may very well be my favorite age yet. Tory's requested a "pink" birthday party, so I've got my crafty wheels rolling to dream up something adorable for her big day. Lately when you ask Tory if you can come to her birthday party, she'll sweetly say, "if you bring me presents." Ha.

Must-Have Baby Gear, Round Two

The good thing about having Baby #2 (or #3, #4, etc. ) is the feeling of preparedness. All you really need for Baby is clothes, diapers and milk. The rest is just icing on the cake.

In the days leading up to Aden's birth and in the months after, I wasn't too worried about reusing all the pink stuff we accumulated with Tory. The little mister is using his sister's pick bathtub, sporting some of her pink and purple blankets and even wearing a few of her old PJ's sometimes. I think he's secure enough in his masculinity to take it. Ha!

But, there has been a handful of things we picked up for Baby #2 that made our lives just a little bit easier. Here's my (second time around) favorite baby things:

Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker Napper

When Andi purchased this bassinet for Baby Aden a few weeks before he was born, I rolled my eyes (secretly, not to his face, of course). I didn't think it was really necessary; couldn't Aden just sleep in the pack-n-play we already owned on cabin weekends? Yes, of course Aden could have ... but I have to admit, this bassinet was one of my favorite baby things. We used it mostly for naps and nighttime sleeping next to our bed, though I suppose you could use it for hanging out. The legs on the bottom of the bassinet can be flipped up or down to allow for a "steady" or "rocking" motion, so I flipped one up and one down to create a lift on one side. Since Aden spit up so much, this really gave me piece of mind having him sleep at an elevated angle.

Fisher Price Cradle N' Swing

Oh my goodness, this swing has been a lifesaver with Aden. It's very possibly he's just a good-natured baby, but Aden loving this swing has saved my sanity so much. I was a little apprehensive to invest in another piece of baby equipment with the second baby (and luckily we didn't have to since Andi's parents gifted it to us when Aden was born), but it was worth it. I love this swing because it's so cozy and lays flatter than others I've seen. The number of naps Aden clocks in this thing are numerous. Best baby gear purchase EVER.

Breathable Mesh Crib Bumper

I'm in the "play it safe / not a fan of the crib bumper" category of mothers, but I've also never had a baby who used a pacifier until Aden. One little nuisance I never saw coming is the task of searching for pacifiers lost in the crib during the night. Good lord, what a pain! The other day, I moved Aden's crib away from the wall to find four pacifiers underneath there. No wonder I can't find them in the night -- they're falling through the rails! So, I purchased a breathable crib bumper to keep those little guys safely secured within the walls of the crib.

Uniden Wireless Video Surveillance Portable Security System
aka: our baby monitor

I'm one of those parents who just can't sleep unless I've got a view of what's going on in my little kiddo's bedrooms. I'd be peaking in the door a million times throughout the night if it wasn't for this baby monitor. Actually, I don't think it really is classified as a "baby monitor," but let me tell you ... it does a great job as one. My favorite feature of this video surveillance system is that you can switch to up to four different cameras using the same picture receiver. I can even set it as split screen view if I want to see both kids' rooms at the same time. It's the best.

Things I Love: Toddler 18-24 Months Edition

Just when it seems like I've got a handle on things as a parent, something changes and I'm left scrambling to figure out Tory's new "thing." This past month, it was Tory's refusal to sit in a high chair which had me re-learning how to manage meal times with her. I mean, obviously it isn't an Earth-shattering problem I'm facing over here (I can almost hear Andi say "that is your biggest worry?") but it was an interruption in my daily routine; a new road block to navigate.

Tory started eating meals at the dining room table (my expensive dining room table which I've prided myself in having decorated and pristine over the years). After a handful of meal periods, there was yogurt smeared all over my table runner and food smashed into the grooves of the table. I sighed with defeat at the end of every meal time, thinking there had to be a way to contain the food mess previously controlled by her high chair tray. Then, a mama light bulb moment hit: a placemat.

Of course, I turned to trusty Amazon to see what options were available to two-day ship to my doorstep. I thought they were fairly expensive for simple placements, so I picked up a Minnie Mouse one at Target for $1.99 (can't find the link online). The good news: the placemat discovery is working ... mostly. The $1.99 Target version slips around on the table, so it doesn't always contain Tory's food mess, but it helps. I might have been better off spending $10 for a non-slip placemat on Amazon (and I may still buy one.) Now I just need to work on getting Tory to actually *sit* at the table to eat her meal vs. getting up a million times to play.

- USEFUL -

Placemat

Source

Sippy Cup
Tory's been off the bottle for a while now, but she still demands a cup of water at naps and bedtime. The only no-spill sippy cup I've found is this Nuby Super Spout Gripper Cup and believe me, I've tried a lot of different cups. They all say they're no-spill but this one really, truly is. If you have a Wal-Mart near you, buy them there because they're about half the cost of anywhere else.

Umbrella Stroller
Another helpful purchase as of late has been this umbrella stroller. I have a feeling we're turning into one of those families who has 17 baby strollers in their garage (we have three currently), but this one is great for toddlers. A few months back, Andi and I took our expensive City Mini stroller on a flight to Nebraska and found it returned to us planeside with a bum wheel. Technically, the stroller wasn't broken completely but the front wheel's brace was loose from poor handling. We immediately purchased an umbrella stroller to use for travel that a) we didn't care as deeply about, and b) was smaller to maneuver through airports. I like this particular umbrella stroller because it's still high quality (comfortable for Tory, turns nicely) compared to some of the very-cheap umbrella stroller versions out there. My only gripes about this stroller are that it's difficult to turn using only one hand and the sun shade is virtually useless as designed. For the purchase of airport / compact travel though, it's perfect.

Source

iPad Mini Car Mount
I've mentioned this find before, but one of my favorite purchases lately has been this iPad Mini Car Mount. It's no secret Tory isn't a fan of car rides and a little Mickey Mouse Clubhouse goes a long way to make our cabin trips on the weekends more pleasant. This car mount fits easily over a car headrest and the iPad attaches with Velcro so it's easy to install / un-install.

Fruit Bowl
One recent 'a ha parenting moment' has been the addition of a fresh fruit bowl in Tory's view. I usually have a fruit and veggie bowl on the counter, but I ran out of room the other day and set it in the center of the dining room table. Suddenly my never-eat-fruits toddler turned into a bananas / peaches / plum hound. I know most parents don't have a hard time getting their toddlers to eat fruit, but I realized that putting anything in her eyesight made it more visible and appealing.


- FAVORITE TOYS / PRESENTS -

Kitchen and Accessories
My parents gave Tory a play kitchen for her 2nd birthday and it's been a big hit every since she opened the package. But even before that, Tory loved pretending with toy food, plates, spoons and cups. Her favorite thing to do is "make soup" by stirring a pot and serve "tea" with little cups. Even measuring spoons, silicone muffin cups and muffin tins make it into her pretend play.

The kitchen set my parents gifted is this one with electronic stove burns and a play phone. Tory really loves all the action and shouts "oh no!" every time her pot boils over for too long. There were some "fancier" kitchen sets out there, but I specifically asked for this one because it's plastic, easy to move around (it's currently stationed in my living room but will eventually make it downstairs to the playroom) and perfect for Tory's size at age 2.

Cozy Coupe
There's a reason just about every kid on the planet has a certain toy and the Cozy Coupe is one of them. Tory loves this toy. Actually, every single kid I've ever seen play with this car loves it ... even my six year old niece. Andi's parents gave Tory a Cozy Coupe car with trailer for her 2nd birthday and she's obsessed with it. I've never seen the trailer before, but it's a great addition. Tory puts all her babies and toys inside for a ride and I can picture her little brother riding in there someday, too. Too cute and so much fun.

Books
Tory's always loved books and they were still a big hit between the age of 18-24 months. We read the same few books over and over and over before she initiates a new one into the rotation. Some of Tory's favorites the last few months have been Amazing Airplanes (which is a great way to introduce / explain airport travel), Press Here, Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? (responsible for Tory learning to recognize colors), Noisy Barn and the Animals book.

Nest

Andi's a technology lover. He's always got the "latest and greatest" of anything as soon as it hits the market. Fine by me, really, because the last generation version of whatchamacallit usually gets passed down to me.

A few months ago, our old-school thermostat bit the dust and Andi installed a Nest thermostat. I didn't really care what thermostat he selected, so long as it functioned properly. Although I have to admit, I did do some eye-rolling over the "need" for a $250 thermostat. After having it in our house for a few months now, I have to say it's pretty awesome. (It should go without saying, I didn't get paid to write this post; I just really like how our new thermostat functions and wanted to share).

First, the Nest took Andi about three minutes to install without any frustration, so that's a big win. Not that my husband isn't capable of installing a thermostat, but you know how those things go ... home improvement projects almost always puts someone in a bad mood in our house.

It's really easy to adjust the temperature throughout the day by just turning the dial higher or lower. My favorite feature though, is the iPhone app which allows you to adjust the temperature from any location. As in, far away from your house. Yesterday we were driving home from the cabin and Andi said, "oh, I better turn on the heat since it's 55 [friggin'] degrees outside!" (Okay, I added the friggin' part because, seriously, come on Minnesota!) By the time we got home, our house was warmed up nice and toasty. I think we save quite a bit of energy, too, because I'm more apt to turn off the heat / air when I think about it ... usually after I've already left the house using the app on my phone. Nest also defaults to a pre-set "away" temperature after it hasn't seen any movement by the thermostat in X amount of time, so we'd save energy even if I didn't turn off the heat / air manually. As soon as it detects movement in its vicinity, it kicks back up to the "home" temperature.

There's all kinds of charts and graphs which show your energy usage available, if you're into that sort of thing. I think it's safe to say, we paid for the initial cost by now.

Technology is pretty crazy when you think about it. I often wonder what things will be like when Tory's my age. What kinds of thing will be old hat to her (Internet, cell phones) and what new things will help make her life easier. I never thought a digital thermostat would make me so happy, that's for sure. (Read also: I think I've officially become an adult if these are the things that get me going.) Good job, Husband, for adding a new piece of technology to our home which really makes my quality of life better.'

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Edited September 2013: We're on the budget plan for energy (we pay an average rate 12 months of the year vs. extreme highs or lows each month based on usage). In the last three months, our energy provider has credited our account $262 due to our "under-usage" of energy based on a 12-month average. The Nest has paid for itself and now we're just saving money. Love this!

Things I Love: Toddler 15-18 Months Edition

I'm continually amazed how blips in time fly by at record speed since Tory entered our lives. I suppose time always marched on, but I'm surely more aware of how different our lives seem to fly by as directed by a growing (infant, now) toddler.

The 15-18 month stage is my favorite, favorite, favorite by far. Suddenly, there's a new sheriff in town with her own opinions on what cups, plates and bibs to use and most certainly in clothing, blankets and toddler gadgets. Some of our old tried-and-true kid stuff is still in the mix, but I've also discovered some new things the last few months that have made our lives much easier.


-USEFUL -
Aden + Anais Cozy Slumber Four Layer Sleeping Bag
The Aden + Anais sleep sack has been on my "things I love" list since the beginning, but this winter I discovered the Cozy Slumber Four Layer Sleeping Bag and it's quickly become my favorite product. Tory still wears a sleep sack at naps and bedtime, partly because she's quite the climber and I'm confident she'd learn to monkey right out of her crib if her legs weren't contained, and also because I worry about her sleeping uncovered in the night. She has the coldest bedroom in the house and I want to make sure she says warm and snuggly (and sleeping!) through the night.

The Aden + Anais sleep sacks / sleeping bags are very durable and actually become softer the more times you wash them. I have two Cozy Slumber Four Layer Sleeping Bags in rotation because inevitably, one is in the wash due to a leaky diaper, poop, puke, etc. What makes this sleeping bag better than the cotton sleep sacks is the four layers of warmth it provides without causing overheating.

Bumkins Bibs
Tory is quite insistent on wearing a bib during meal times (hallelujah for protecting her clothes!) and the older she's gets, the more I've grown to love the Bumkins Bibs. I remember people telling me about these bibs months ago when Tory first started solid foods, but for us they never caught all the food she was dropping and therefore, didn't cut down on the mess. Back then, I liked the Tommee Tippee bibs much better. Now that Tory can efficiently feed herself (as in, most of the food on her spoon actually makes it to her mouth), the trough-like function of the Tommee Tippee bib isn't necessary. The Bumkins Bibs provide a nice shield on the front of her shirt to combat food splatters and I like how small they fold so I can toss one in my purse if we're going out to eat.

Columbia Snowsuit and Fleece Jacket
We purchased these two items for Tory during the winter that just wouldn't end (aka: winter 2012-13) and I have to say, we got our money's worth. I have been so pleased with the quality and warmth the fleece jacket (Tory's everyday coat) and snowsuit (Tory's heavier winter coat on blustery days and/or snowsuit for playing outside) provided. I've washed the fleece jacket numerous times and it's still held its shape and color perfectly. The snow suit is easy for Tory to move around in and protected her perfectly through all our winter outdoor adventures.


-FAVORITE TOYS / GIFTS -
Tea Set
Tory received this tea set from my parents at Christmas and she's played with it non-stop ever since. The tea pot makes a "pouring sound" she finds very life-like and therefore, our tea cups are never empty.

Baby Dolls
We have our share of baby dolls in this household and surprisingly, they are receive equal amounts of love from Tory. We have several versions of this cheap Target baby doll and they've held up well to her continual playing. The legs, arms and head also wipe clean easily.

Doll Stroller
No baby doll would be complete without a doll stroller! Tory received this one at Christmas from Andi's Grandma and she plays with it constantly. It's more sturdy than some of the other ones I've seen in stores, but probably wouldn't be sturdy enough for a baby who's just learning to walk on their own. For Tory's age and skill set, this doll stroller fits the bill.

Things I Love: Toddler 12-15 Months Edition

Tory turned 16 months old recently which means we've hit another milestone point in chronicling the stuff that made our lives easier the last few months. If feels like watching paint dry when I'm typing these things up, but more than once I've gone back to these posts to see what baby items were our favorite. I'm glad I take the time to jot them down. With Tory, it seems every three months she hits a big developmental leap and we're onto the next stage. New likes. New hurdles. New interests. Here's some of our favorites during 12-15 months of age:

Items we continued to loved:
Tommee Tippee Bibs
Aden + Anais Sleep Sack

-Useful -
Snack Cup

I've mentioned it many times before, Tory is a bit of a picky eater. Her delicate palate even extends into the snack category. (She's never liked Gerber Puffs or Cheerio's cereal and her interest in Gerber Lil' Crunchies was short-lived). Normally, I wouldn't be so intent on peaking her interest in munching, but at times when she's melting down in Target or flying on an airplane, snacks provide a great distraction.

Enter these toddler snack cups (well, and animal crackers inside of them). No surprise, Tory loves the ability to control the flow of her own snack dispersal. She stays busy with the cup for several minutes, removing the crackers from the webbed top, and it's usually enough of a distraction for me to wrap up a shopping trip and avoid a major meltdown.

Dr. Brown's Plates

We're finally at a stage where Tory can be trusted with a plate. These are my favorite because they're on the smaller size and fit perfectly in Tory's highchair tray. The equally portioned sections help her see the difference between foods and remind me to balance out her meal with fruits, dairy and vegetables.

Anti Monkey Butt for Diaper Rash

Over the last three months, Tory gained three of her four one-year molars and they didn't come easy. We battled many unpretty bouts of diaper rash and many times, regular diaper creme didn't cut it. Andi picked up this powder one day and it works wonders when alternated between Butt Paste creme. Basically this is corn starch powder like the home remedy my mom recommended in an easy shakable/storable container.

Robeez Shoes

During the age of 12-15 months, Tory was really learning to move. It was over this stretch she went from toddling along to full-on running. Robeez shoes were an excellent first shoe because they held up to wear and tear (compared to other "first" shoes she had from Old Navy) and they were easy for her to walk in (shoes with a big sole were clunky and harder for her to maneuver).

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-Favorite Toys/Gifts -
Some of Tory's favorite toys this age were a little more "creative." A playroom full of colorful, noisy toys and everyday this kiddo played with the following items:

Plastic Eggs
I took an old egg carton and painted the insides of each egg nest? egg hole? (whatever the heck you call it) a different color. Then, I put matching colored plastic Easter egg in each spot. Seriously, this was Tory's favorite (favorite, favorite, favorite) toy for months. She dumped the eggs out. Put them back in (not necessarily in the correct color spot, although that was the intention) and dumped them out again. Sometimes she loaded the eggs into a bag and waved "bye-bye" as she walked away. Leaving the grocery store perhaps? Aside from my kitchen floor being littered with plastic eggs all the time, it was the best toy ever.

Baby Photos
Another handmade favorite? Old photos. For Tory's birthday, I'd cut some pictures into circles for a craft project I was making. I didn't end up using the photos, so I gave them to Tory to play with. Every day, Tory lined up the photos on the ground and pointed to all the babies (herself, ha!). She put the photos in a bucket, emptied them out and put them in the bucket again.

Learning Home
Tory's favorite toy this stage was the Fisher Price Learning Home. She played with this house every single day and with its many gadgets, lights and sounds there was plenty to occupy her.

Push Toys
Anything pushable like the Corn Popper toy and Activity Walker were big hits. Tory played with the activity walker more once she knew how to walk than she did when she was learning. One day I tied her baby doll to the front of the walker like a make-shift stroller and she lost her marbles in a full-on meltdown. Apparently this type of creative play was a little out of her realm. Oops.

Things I Love: 9-12 Months Edition

The 9-12 month stage ... oh, it's a fun one! Tory developed such a lively personality in the span of a few months. Her preferences and schedule changed quite a bit, too. I'm always trying new products and baby gadgets to make life a little easier. I think I've found the perfect bib or sippy cup until I stumble upon a product even more functional. With so many baby items out there, I wanted to jot down a few of our favorite things during this baby stage.

Items we continued to use/like in the 9-12 month range:
Nuby No-Spill Super Spout Sippy Cup
Sleep Sheep
Adan + Anais Sleep Sack
OxyClean Baby

New to us items for this age which quickly became our fav's:

- Useful-
Britax Boulevard Convertible Car Seat
Around 10 months, we transitioned Tory to a convertible car seat. I did some online research and asked around to see which car seat all of my mommy friends had purchased. There were mixed reviews - most people said they were happy with Britax but other didn't think a big, bulky, expensive car seat was necessary. I read a review online somewhere (Amazon maybe?) where a lady said she's been in a severe car accident and her two boys walked away without a scratch thanks to the Britax Boulevard. SOLD. We bought that car seat the very next day. My verdict? I love it. It's absolutely worth the money. I can tell how solid and supportive it is just by touching it. The material's soft and comfortable and all the straps and clicks function like they're suppose to. A few days after we bought it I thought to myself, "this would be better if there were Velcro here to hold the straps" and lo and behold, there they were! Perfect. The Boulevard is big and somewhat heavy (28 pounds) but it's obviously safe. Best of all, Tory loves it (and she's the biggest car seat critic around). Regularly, she falls asleep minutes after she's strapped into her seat.

We also purchased this Evenflo Tribute Convertible Car Seat as a back-up for the nanny to use and for traveling. It's alright; definitely less supportive when compared to the Britax Boulevard and more cheaply made. It works fine for the nanny's occasional trips to the library with Tory or when we travel through the airport. It's lightweight at 13 pounds (half the weight of Britax) and buckles into vehicles easily.

We also purchased this JL Childress Car Seat Cover and it's works great for lugging around either car seat. It fits both car seats and is comfortably worn like a backpack. No complaints about this at all. A must-have if you're planning to travel with a car seat and don't want it to be dirty and damaged by baggage handlers.

Tommee Tippee Explora Bibs
A-mazing! On a whim, I threw these bibs in my cart one day at Target and I am in love. I dreaded meal times like math homework because Tory was seriously such a messy eater. I spent 15 minutes deconstructing her high chair and wiping it down 3-4 times a day and it was getting ridiculous. Once I started using these bibs, messy meal times were drastically reduced. Tory doesn't mind wearing the Explora bibs at all (she ripped the Bumpkins bibs off in two seconds flat) and these bibs catch 99% of the food she drops. In fact, they're so good at catching crumbs, Tory often says "oh!" and re-eats the food she dropped in the little bib flap! I like the button-hole latch at the back as well (vs. Bumpkin's Velcro) because she can't pull them off either.

Baby Bath Sponge
Around 9 months of age, Tory outgrew her baby bath tub and I started giving her baths in the regular tub. She was still learning her balance and definitely wasn't comfortable sitting in the tub alone. I heard people talk about those bath seats but as wiggly as she is, I imagined her popping right out of that. My mom sent me a baby bath sponge and it worked perfectly for our needs. I think it's intended for small infants to lay on, but I used it to give Tory something to sit on and provide traction in the water. It allowed her to explore and learn to balance in a bathtub environment while giving her some stability at the same time. Although she doesn't need it as much now, I still put it in the bathtub with her to lay and crawl around on. Cheap, easy solution to the slippery baby learning-how-to-function-in-a-bathtub stage.

Old Navy Sun Hat
Of course I can't find the link on their website any longer, but it's still worth mentioning. The Easter Bunny bought this sun hat for Tory with a matching pair of little baby flip flops. The sandals were crap because, duh, shoes on crawling babies are kind of awkward (lesson learned). However, this sun hat was perfect for Tory because it actually stayed on her head. The bill was short enough that she it shaded her face without hanging over her eyes in a floppy way and most of the time she forgot she was even wearing it. That's the best kind of baby hat in my book.

-Favorite Toys/Gifts -
Poppity Pop Dino Toy
Goofy name. Great toy. Around 11 months, the nanny picked up this toy at Target for Tory and she loves it. Mostly she carries around the balls and is completely amazed by watching them shoot out the dino's mouth. I like how the same balls are used with multiple Fisher Price toys.

Baby Dolls
Tory's not attached to a blanket, pacifier or stuffed animal but she adores her baby dolls. She has two babies and carries them all over the house with her. Yesterday, she had one stuffed in a trick-or-treating pail. It may have been the cutest thing ever. I'm amazed by her natural instincts to love them, hug and kiss them and even put them in her toys and push them around. What a little mommy girl she's become.

Touch and Feel Books
Tory's a little book worm, she has been from an early age. I like to think it's because she's a baby genius but likely it's the one-on-one attention she gets when we read her stories. Anyway, during this age (and still today), her favorite books were touch and feel ones. Specifically, she likes On The Farm because she's obsessed with farm animals and Curious George at the Zoo.

Sesame Street Stacking Cups
Cups of all kinds were a big hit with Tory during 9-12 months of age, especially these Sesame Street Stacking Cups. It was right around the time she starting drinking from a cup and I'd see her pretend to drink from these all the time. She never really learned to nest them into one another, or stack them for that matter, but she carried them around with her constantly.

Hope this helps share a few of our tried-and-true favorite things. I think I'll seriously refer back to these lists for every baby gift I ever buy because who doesn't love getting things that really work.

Things I Love: 6-9 Months Edition

Keeping with my quarterly review of favorite baby things, I wanted to share a few items I loved during the 6-9 month baby age. Tory changes so quickly over the months, I want to remember (and recommend!) all the things we grew especially fond of during this stage.

- Useful -
My little girl began eating fruit and vegetable purees at 6 months and this opened a whole new world of baby gear for us. I'm doing a mix of homemade purees and store-bought organic varieties and quickly learned by trial and error which items in the food category saved me time, energy and clean-up. I bought the Beaba Babycook Baby Food Processor before Tory was even born and while I like it and I use it, looking back I didn't really need it. It doesn't do anything my standard blender or Magic Bullet couldn't do. This would not be on my must-have recommendation list although it does work great for its purpose. Here are a few things that are definitely on my must-have list:

Bibs
We have a rotation of 20 bibs of so, but these Carters Just One You bibs are my favorite. I think they're actually teething bibs, but they've held up great to many washings over the months. And because Tory's only eating purees at this point, they capture all of her spilled food. The Carters bibs also have a snap closure which I prefer over the Velcro you see on most other bibs. Andi bought a bulk pack of terry cloth bibs which we use as well and while they do the job, I hate the way the Velcro sticks to other laundry in the washing machine / dryer. I know I'll eventually need to upgrade bibs to those capable of catching crumbs so if you have recommendations on your favorites, clue me in!

Sippy Cups
We've collected a variety of sippy cups over the months and thus far, my favorite is Nuby Super Spout. This cup seems easy enough for Tory to drink from and don't spill like the other Tommee Tippee cups we have.

Organic Food
When I don't make my own baby food, I buy pre-made organic purees. I find it a little irritating how Gerber only offers a few select varieties and some of them aren't very health-focused (ie: Mac and Cheese). I've tried Full Circle Organics, but found their purees to be really thick - so much so, I had to add water to avoid choking from my uber-gaggy baby. My favorite organic puree is Earth's Best because of their vast variety of options and overall quality. The purees actually taste good and that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy about serving it to my child.

Butt Paste

The addition of solid food and er, smelly poop, has brought diaper rash a knockin' on our door. Or should I say, at Tory's back door (Ha! Too far? Alright). When I first had Tory and brought her by Andi's office, one of his male employees went on and on about butt paste. At the time, Tory was only a few weeks old and I remember thinking, "Really? He's THIS EXCITED about diaper creme?" Now I get it. (Sorry for doubting you Andi's co-worker). Boudreaux's Butt Paste is where it's at. Seriously. We were gifted various tubes of Desitin and Palmer's Cocoa Butter diaper creme brands but nothing holds a candle to Boudreaux's effectiveness and overall prevention.  

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Best Gifts / Toys -
Tory's interest in toys blossomed at the 6-9 month stage. It was also my first glimpse in getting something done without holding a baby 24/7. Where would I have been without the glorious invention of the activity center? This gadget entertained Tory many mornings while I cleaned up the house, washed bottles and quickly shoved some food in my mouth.

Baby Einstein Activity Center

Lift Flap Books and Indestructables
My heart melts every time I watch Tory discover what's beneath a flap in her activity books. She loves the Karen Katz ones, but I don't necessarily as I've already had to tape many of the flimsy paper flaps back in place. Grandma Janie bought Tory this book and she loves it just as much ... plus, it's made of a chunkier board book material that can withstand slobber and curious hands.

Another kid tested, mommy approved book are Indestructable Books. My cousin Jen told me about these non-toxic books made for babies to hold, grab, bend and chew. The paper-like material lets Tory feel like she's creating a ruckus and so far, they've held up perfectly. She loves them.

Chew Beads

I may have mentioned these before, but I love my pairs of Chew Beads. This last few months, Tory's been biting on everything in sight - including me - and Chew Beads offer her a great alternative to gnawing on my face! This baby-safe jewelry is made of the same material as pacifiers so Tory can literally chew away on the beads. To disinfect, simply throw in the dishwasher. How wonderful is that?

Things I Love: 3-6 Months Baby Edition

From time to time, people ask me which baby things I've found most useful. A few months ago, I told you about my favorite newborn baby things. I'm glad I jotted down my thoughts as babies change and along with it, my favorite baby items evolved too. Here's a run-down of my favorites for Tory - age 3-6 months.

- USEFUL -
Halo Sleep Sack
Pre-rolling baby, the Summer Infant swaddle wraps were a favorite of mine. Around 17 weeks, when Tory learned to roll from back to tummy, I turned a little freaky about her swaddling situation. The rolling transition inspired quite possibly my darkest month of parenting (a la, frequent wake-ups every hour or two until Tory learned to sleep without startling herself awake) but the little sleep I did get was peaceful knowing my baby was snuggled up in her Halo Sleep Sack. The fuzzy material is warm enough for her during winter nights and still allows her to move around without the threat of suffocating.

OxyClean
Oh, boy! This age brought lots of "up the back" messy poops. While I'm normally very good at keeping up with the laundry, Tory's diaper blow-outs were causing me to fret over the decision to wash one teeny tiny outfit by itself (because all of my other laundry was caught up) or let the poopy stain sit while I waited for the next round of wash to accumulate. Enter OxyClean. Too many times to count, I soaked the soiled outfit in a bucket in the laundry room until I was ready to wash it clean. The result? Bright, non-stained outfits and a life outside the laundry room.

Baby Bjorn
Somewhere around 3 months of age, I finally had the realization to "wear" Tory around the house and while running errands since she was never content to lay on a blanket by herself or quietly chill in her car seat like every other baby I saw at Target. I had a variety of options and believe me, I tried them all. I use the Moby wrap from time to time, but it's a little too complicated for me to maneuver by myself with a fussy, wiggly baby. I have a ring sling which I use around the house quite a bit but I never feel comfortable enough using it in public (as it looks like baby torture the way Tory's stuffed in there kangaroo style). The Baby Bjorn quickly became our "favorite" baby carrier because it's easy to strap the baby in one-handed, secure enough to wear in busy situations (the airport, on walks, shopping, etc). Speaking of the airport, we wore Tory right through security checkpoints many times which allows two free hands to manage everything else.

- BEST GIFTS -
Sophie The Giraffe
It's a rubber giraffe and the #1 rated baby item on Amazon. It costs $20. I have to admit, I didn't get it either until Tory hit teething age and went bananas over it. Sophie is, by far, one of her favorite toys. She squeaks and plays and chews on it for hours (ok, several minutes ... which feel like hours in baby time). Definitely worth every penny.

Baby Einstein Piano and Take Along Tunes
During 3-6 months of age, Tory discovered toys and especially loves the ones with lights and music. These two Baby Einstein ones are her favorites. The portable Take Along Tunes has diverted many car seat meltdowns over the months and the piano is a favorite for playtime on a blanket. I was surprised when she knew exactly how to push the "piano keys" and move the rattle on the top. What a smart cookie!

Books
My mom looked at me like I was crazy when I was back home a few months ago and proclaimed Tory's love for books. A few hours later, as we were driving in the car and Tory started screaming, I pulled out one of our favorite reads and she instantly stopped to listen to the story. Tory really does love books, especially board books with few words and vibrant pictures. It melts my heart when she touches the pages as I read to her and tries to flip the pages by herself. Okay, she tries to eat them too!

Things I Love: Newborn Baby Edition

It seems like everyone I know is either trying to become pregnant or currently expecting. Prior to having a baby myself, I often bought baby items I thought were newborn baby essentials for the mama-to-be, but now I know there are a few items I couldn't live without. Here are some of my most utilized and/or favorite baby items thus far:

- USEFUL -
Boppy Pillow
No item do I use more than my Boppy pillow. It's an awesome compliment to nursing (and therefore used every few hours, every single day) but also helpful for daddy when feeding Tory a bottle too. The only thing I wish I would've received (and ended up buying myself) are additional covers for my Boppy so I can rotate and wash them regularly.

Summer Infant Swaddle Wraps
Before I became a parent myself, I always heard swaddling a baby helped them sleep so much better. And I loved the cuteness factor of Swaddle Designs or similar blankets. I even purchased a few for friends and family members who had babies. But since becoming a mama, I realized my very favorite swaddle blankets were Summer Infant Swaddle Wraps. These stay in place and Tory seems to really find security in being swaddled in them too (even though my mom refers to them as a straight jacket!). Best of all, she SLEEPS better with them vs. wrapped in a standard receiving blanket.

Receiving Blankets
Speaking of blankets, I'm not sure you can ever have enough. We go through TONS of them on a weekly basis because I like to change them out to match her different outfits or if we've been out and about when them (to eliminate germs, etc). I especially like these thermal ones from Gerber, although they've shrunk quite a bit in size since being washed a few times. I also like these Carters stretchy ones, which are nice for swaddling.

Carter's Brand Pajamas
Sure, baby jeans and frilly dresses are cute, but the best clothing I've received are Carter's brand pajamas. Most days, we're hanging out at home and I dress Tory in these sleepers because they seem to fit her body the best. If you were laying around and napping all day, wouldn't you want to hang out in something comfy too?

Little Bamboo Hooded Towel
There's nothing better than wrapping your squiggly little baby in a towel soooo soft to the touch. Plus, it holds up in the wash. 'Nuff said.

Summer Infant Video Monitor
Nothing soothes a worried first-time mama's nerves more than being able to watch her baby sleep. While the picture on this monitor may be reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project (thanks for the spooky ghost reference, Lindsay), it helps me know what she's up to in her nursery. It's stopped me from going into there many times when I think she's awake (based on the squeaking sounds she's making) only to realize she's still fast asleep.

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- HEARTFELT -
I'm a sucker for personalized gifts and three of my favorites we received are:

Personalized Baby Bible
It's a perfect keepsake and something unique, just for her. The bible cover is a soft pink leather and personalized with her name and birthday. So cute.

Personalized Blanket
My cousin Tara gifted Tory a personalized baby blanket from The Blanket Lady. It's absolutely adorable with her name repeated all throughout. I also love its softness and thickness.

Personalized Frame(s)
Tory received this personalized frame and another one similar to this as gifts. I think they're so special because they're especially made for her. Perfect for her nursery.

My Christmas Wish List

I'm way into the holiday spirit this year. I think it's because I've had a long fall season at work and I'm looking forward to some quality time relaxing with my family. Also, I love to buy gifts. And receiving them ain't too shabby, either!

My "wish list" for the holidays has been rapidly multiplying this year. There's something about having your own house home that makes you want to cook and decorate and entertain. Somewhere along this line, your Christmas list becomes boring and practical. Here's what I have my eye on this year:

1. US Weekly Subscription

photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

My mom has gifted me a year subscription every year since I was in college because I'm desperately hooked on celebrity gossip. It's like a drug, I NEED this gift.

2. Woman's Day subscription

photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

.... and while you're at it, I wouldn't mind a year subscription to Woman's Day either. I used to get this magazine and I loved all the decorating craft projects and recipe ideas.

3. Sleep shirts

photo credit: http://www.victoriassecret.com/

I'm trying really hard lately not to dress like a 70 year old women at bedtime. My long-sleeve t-shirt, flannel pants, hoodie, socks, slippers and stocking hat (I kid not!) must be quite the turn on for my poor husband. If I had some cute sleep shirts - with sleeves! - I think I might be more inclined to wear something cute to bed. Oh, and if I could also have this girl's legs, that'd be good too.

4. Roll-Up Makeup Bag

photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

I really need a new roll-up makeup bag as mine is full of icky makeup and starting to tear. I love the ones Victoria's Secret sold in the past, but I can't seem to find them anywhere. I would settle for any cute makeup bag, really.

5. Minnesota Home Grown Cookbook

photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

Love the idea of Minnesota recipes featuring local ingredients. I still struggle with seasonality in the North and sticking to foods when they're freshest in my neck of the woods. I'm hoping this book will give me some great ideas on what to cook all through the seasons.

6. BUILT Kindle Sleeve

photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

I've been wishing for a Kindle case ever since I got mine in October. Carrying it around in my bag uncovered isn't the best of ideas, so I really need a fancy case to carry it in. Being the spoiled wife I am, I asked Andi to send back the one he bought me a few weeks ago. I like the BUILT case in Lime Green because it's a) stylish b) protects the Kindle and c) allows the Kindle to be separated from the case. The hard leather cover has a flap like a book and that's what I really love about the Kindle -- that you don't have to fold back/hold the flap while you read.

7. BUILT laptop sleeve

Photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

I also want a BUILT laptop sleeve to cover my MacBook at home. I like this one w/ dots because it's colorful and matches my camera sleeve.

8. Kitchenaid Ice Cream Maker Attachment

Photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

My mother-in-law gave me a Kitchenaid mixer for Christmas last year and I love it! I'm wishing for the ice cream attachment because I think it'd be something fun to have, but also something I would never buy myself. Actually, I bet Andi would love the ice cream attachment even more than me!

9. Ivory Cloth Napkins

Photo credit: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/

I absolutely looove setting my dining room table and pulling out all my cloth napkins, napkin rings and charger plates every chance I get. I would love a set of ivory or off-white cloth napkins. I think they look fancy and they'd go with everything.

10. Bundt Pan

Photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

Because Andi and I had a smaller wedding, we didn't receive seventeen toasters and all the home goods other people probably do. So, I'm still trying to collect all the bundt pans, angel food cake pans, etc. A simple gift, but one I would probably use a lot and wouldn't ever buy myself until I'm elbow deep in batter.

11. Angel Food Cake Pan

Photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

Same goes for this guy ... think of all the lovely Angel Food Cakes I could make!

12. Rolling Pin

Photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

My pool rolling pin was violated with a black Sharpie marker during a party at our house last year. I wouldn't mind a new wooden one with handles on the sides for easy rolling.

13. Pie Plate

Photo credit: http://www.pamperedchef.com/

I don't have a good pie plate either and I realized this over the summer when I was about ready to bake up a feast for the cabin. I love the Pampered Chef Deep Dish Pie Plate because it's stoneware and matches some of my other baking dishes but I'd really be happy with any.

14. Wigwam Wool Socks

Photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

Some of the best socks I received last year were Wigwam brand from my mother in law. They are so warm and perfect for the heart of winter in Minnesota. It always makes my day when the black pair she gave me are clean = happy, warm feet.

15. iTunes Gift Card

Photo credit: http://www.amazon.com/

I realize gift cards are boring and no one likes to give them because they seem impersonal and blah, blah, blah. I hear ya. But seriously, I finally have a personal laptop with my own music library so I'd would love a iTunes gift card to buy a few songs I like. Isn't it funny when you'll buy hundreds of dollars worth of stuff at Target but you find it desperately difficult to buy a $1 song on iTunes? For real, that's how I feel. 

There you have it! A laundry list of all the things I'm crushing on these days. Truthfully though, if I never received one of these items and only had awesome Christmas memories with both Andi and I's families, I'd be one happy gal. I'm pretty blessed so any of this is just icing on the cake (which I'll bake you if I can get an angel food cake pan for Christmas - ha!)