My baby must haves

Hey hey!

I’ve been meaning to type up this post for awhile now and since Sawyer is officially 2 months old, I think it’s high time I share what must haves got us through the first 8+ weeks of his life.

In no particular order:

The binky (aka pacifier, or nuk):

Some moms are adamantly against using a pacifier for fear of nipple confusion (if breastfeeding) or a reliance as they get older.  Or also fear of it impacting tooth growth.  We have those concerns, but believe it’s self-soothing abilities far outweigh the possible future unknowns.  Since the bean likes his binky (Nuk brand), my boob never (or rarely) gets used as his human pacifier.  I’m also able to be far more independent since the binky keeps him happy and quiet.

The Boppy:

Okay this actually may be my favorite baby item ever.  It’s sort of fabulous.  It’s primary use may be for breastfeeding, which I still use all.the.time.  But it is also the bean’s home-base.  He naps in it, hangs out in it, takes a bottle in it, chills in it, and sometimes even sleeps in it while it’s nestled in the bassinet at night.  I like to lay a blanket inside(or over it, as shown) so he doesn’t slither underneath the cushion.  The blanket also kept him more propped up when he was really little.

The Bjorn:

As far as baby carriers go, I’ve only tried the Bjorn, but any ol’ baby carrier will do as long as it’s comfy for you!  It’s just so wonderful to have both hands free!  This has been a life saver for me, especially for walking the dog.  I learned the hard way how difficult it is to push a stroller and walk my 45 lb dog.  Not fun my friends. 

The Babee Covee:

I randomly picked this up while at a Baby Pallooza fair I attended in my pregnancy.  It is literally like 7 different items in one: a blanket, an infant carrier cover, a grocery cart seat cover, a breastfeeding cover, and more.  As you can see I use it to cover the infant carrier.  I love being able to peek through the hole to check on the soybean while still keeping him completely shielded from the wind or bright sun.  Seriously love this cover.  I would highly highly recommend getting one.  Even the hubby came around to loving it

The bouncy chair:

We got the Fisher Price Comfy Time bouncy chair in Coco Sorbet for Sawyer.  While he doesn’t use it all that much, it is perfect for bringing him into the bathroom while I shower.  The combo of steam, rushing water, and calming vibrations keep the bean happy so I can take my daily shower in peace. 

Chicco KeyFit Caddy:

Yep we bought a $400 jogging stroller and use this <$100 stroller so much more!  It has a huge basket in the bottom great for carrying groceries, coats, diaper bags, purses, etc.  It’s super light and folds up in a cinch.  This has been a fabulous post-baby purchase.  We envision bringing this stroller with us to NYC in May.  And if it breaks before then (due to over use by me!) then it’s cheap enough to buy another.  Perfect!

There are a number of items that we got and don’t really use, but that would be another post.

But in other news, my Mom arrived last night– she is staying for 2 weeks.  Wahoooo!  I’m so stoked.  I have a ton of plans in store for us, including the zoo

If you’re a new parent, what item[s] worked for you?

First things and next things

Happy Friday and welcome to the (almost) weekend friends!

I’ve had an interesting last few days filled with a few new-to-me experiences/things.

First of all, we are officially without family.  My SIL left on Wednesday (Sawyer misses his aunt CC ).

Here is a photo of the first time Sawyer tried on glasses (he looks so smart, no?):

Monday was the first time I drove in weeks.  It was also the first time I used our stroller – trying to fit the infant carrier in was a bit of a feat, but I managed it.

After dropping off Carly at SFO on Wednesday I drove home – just me and the lil man – and all was well until I got out of the car.  For those that follow me on twitter, you may have got a hint of what happened, and it was not good.

Warning: TMI coming your way…

As I got out of my car, I felt a bit of a gush.  Now if you’ve had a baby. you know that you still bleed weeks after birth.  Completely normal.  What is not normal is what happened to me.  I bled so much that it went through my clothes and dripped in the parking space (yeah I told ya, TMI, but I’m writing because I think it’s helpful to share these experiences…).  Immediately I grabbed Sawyer and waddled up to my townhouse.  With Sawyer safe inside, I ran upstairs to the bathroom only to discover I passed a larger-than-golf-ball sized blood clot.  Ewww / yikes / meep!  Oddly enough the doctors at the hospital did mention this could happen and I filed that way back in my brain as “impossible.”   But sure enough, first blood clot.

To make a long story short, I had to see my doctor asap and subsequently had to have an internal exam (yes 2 weeks after birth ) to determine whether there was still placenta or membranes inside.  Verdict was that things looked good, but I was put on anti-hemorrhage meds for a couple days to be sure.  Oye.  What an adventure.

Moving on to other more pleasant firsts.

Like Sawyer sleeping a whole 8 hours on Wednesday night for the first time.  Pure bliss!  However, we know it won’t last.  And since we had his first pediatrician’s appointment yesterday, she confirmed that it’s okay every once in awhile if he sleeps that long, but until he is two months, we need to wake him up every 4 hours to feed. Sigh. 

Yesterday I also went for a walk with both Sawyer and Naava on my own for the first time.  Wahooo!  The Baby Bjorn works great for walks. Yippeee!

Also yesterday, Sawyer has his first play date!  Here is with Preston  

Adorable right?  Preston was born just 2 weeks before Sawyer.  He had a lot to say in this picture, but Sawyer wasn’t havin’ it

So yeah, as for as ‘next things,’ it’s high time I get my @ss in gear.  And by that I mean, stop using postpartum recovery and holidays as an excuse not to get back into shape.  My doctor’s appointment on Wednesday confirmed my stitches are healed and I can start walking longer and being a bit more active.  With that, I need to stop the bad eating habits and start resuming a healthy eating life style.  For me, that will mean tracking calories so I can be accountable for what I eat. 

I’ll do a weekly weigh in with you guys so you can help me stay on track, starting on Monday.

But please know that should anything come up with my baby boy, he will always take precedence over my desire to lose weight or get an extra walk in. 

What are your tips for breaking bad eating habits and resuming a healthy lifestyle?