Friday, August 31, 2012
LA DE DAH
I think it's so cute to see Baby Girl's eyes light up when we turn on music or begin singing to her, she loves it and thinks we are just so silly! We enjoy singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Patty Cake, but most of the time the songs we sing to her, we make up on the fly...usually to the tune of Christmas songs or simple nursery songs. This comes a little easier to me than it does for Mike by the simple fact I did this in my classroom with my kiddos. One of first songs I sang with them was about the leaves falling off the trees in the fall.
The Leaves Are Falling Down
The Leaves Are Falling Down
(To the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
The leaves are falling down,
The leaves are falling down,
Oh my it's fall again,
The leaves are falling down.
See all their colors,
See all their colors,
The leaves are yellow, orange and red,
See all their colors.
They don't necessarily have to rhyme. Just this morning I was singing to Kensington about getting her diaper changed. Here are some of the other flukey songs we sing to sweet Baby Girl.
Peanut Butter, Jelly Time
(Hilarious! If you are not familiar with it, google it)
Apples
One little, two little, three little apples
Four little, five little, six little apples
Seven little, eight little, nine little apples,
Ten little apples in the tree!
Where is Kensi?
Where is Kensi?
Where is Kensi?
There she is!
There she is!
Kensi has blue eyes
Kensi has blue eyes
Yes she does
Yes she does
Kensi has brown hair
Kensi has brown hair
On her head
On her head
Kensi's wearing yellow
Kensi's wearing yellow
Yes she is
Yes she is
Like I said...we make these up on the fly, and she doesn't mind at all. As long as we're singing to her she loves it.
To see more photos you can follow us on Instagram at rmbraden09
Peanut Butter, Jelly Time
(Hilarious! If you are not familiar with it, google it)
Apples
One little, two little, three little apples
Four little, five little, six little apples
Seven little, eight little, nine little apples,
Ten little apples in the tree!
Where is Kensi?
Where is Kensi?
Where is Kensi?
There she is!
There she is!
Kensi has blue eyes
Kensi has blue eyes
Yes she does
Yes she does
Kensi has brown hair
Kensi has brown hair
On her head
On her head
Kensi's wearing yellow
Kensi's wearing yellow
Yes she is
Yes she is
Like I said...we make these up on the fly, and she doesn't mind at all. As long as we're singing to her she loves it.
A couple of weekends ago we took our first little road trip and of course listened to quite a bit of music. Kensi actually became really happy when we played Flo Rida's Whistle song. Kensi began blowing bubbles during the song....we like to think she was trying to whistle and then realized it's a bit more difficult than you'd think. She's just too cute!
We listen to variety of music, it all depends on our mood. We listen to everything from country to pop to rock. I do love that they make songs into lullabies. Some of them include songs by Rascall Flatts, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, The Beatles.
Feel free to share some songs that you sing to your little one.
We listen to variety of music, it all depends on our mood. We listen to everything from country to pop to rock. I do love that they make songs into lullabies. Some of them include songs by Rascall Flatts, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, The Beatles.
Feel free to share some songs that you sing to your little one.
These are a huge lifesaver! I usually pump once a night and these pumping bags have been great. They now come with an adapter that screws right on to the whole pumping mechanism which makes it so much easier than having to pump into a bottle, then pour in the bag. Now you can just attach the bag to the adapter, pump away, seal and freeze! This makes it much more doable, especially late at night when all you want to do is sleep :)
Other breastfeeding tips...Mostly what we learned from our BF class...
- If engorged try placing raw cabbage leaves on your breasts...I haven't tried this personally, but I've been told it works great.
- Before feeding place a heating pad on your chest to relieve engorgement.
- If milk is coming in and you need it to stop, apply pressure to your breast with your hands...works EVERY time.
- Buy cloth nursing pads, get them wet with water and place in the freezer. Great for sliding into your bra after feeding if you experience soreness.
- Stretch marks on your breasts, use a stretch mark cream such as Mustela Double Action.
- To help increase milk supply try eating oatmeal (oats), malt powder (whenever I eat/drink anything with malt I can usually pump 5-6oz per side!) and alfalfa.
Things to Avoid...
- Bras with wires - can lead to clogging
- Peppermint - decreases milk supply
- Excessive Exercise -- also limits milk supply
Monday, August 27, 2012
BABY REGISTRY CONTINUED...
Months ago, I did a post about some of our top registry items...today's post is more or less the rest of our registry and what products specifically we have and really enjoy. There are so many items out there for baby and some people seem to think you HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THEM....NOT TRUE!!! Especially not right away.
Also, we registered at Babies 'R Us because it was one of the only baby stores in our city. We didn't have a great experience with them. Sure they give you tons of 20% coupons which seem really great until you read the fine print. They pretty much exclude all brands except for Fisher Price and Graco.
We would recommend registering at BuyBuyBaby before Babies 'R us or even better try out MyRegistery.com. We came across this after having the bright idea of starting a site that allows you to create a registry strictly online that you could pull items from multiple stores and put on one list... and sure enough after checking to see if it existed...it does! I think this would be the best way to register as long as you had people who were willing to do online shopping.
Most of the items listed were put on our registry, but keep in mind, we do have other items that we've purchased on our own, but would not put them on our registry...you want to have good registry etiquette...you don't want people to think you're greedy or completely ridiculous by going overboard with unnecessary items.
We added a (*) next to our favorites....Even though I posted earlier about some of these items, it just goes to show you how truly awesome they are!
- Diapering
- No diapers!
- Too many different brands that fit/work differently with all children. Also you don't want a ton of diapers in one size because every baby grows differently.
- Changing Pad
- Diaper Bag
- Diaper Pail - Arm & Hammer
- Don't forget the bag refills!
- Baby Gear
- Baby Carrier (Sling) - Baby K'Tan*
- Stroller - Baby Jogger City Mini GT*
- We originally bought the original Baby Jogger City Mini and loved this stroller, but we just exchanged it for the City Mini GT. We love the GT even more. There are a few upgrades on the GT that are well worth the extra cash.
- Also, if you decide to buy a Baby Jogger Stroller....look into the carseat adapter, instead of buying a whole extra frame stroller.
- Car Seat - Chico Keyfit 30
- Portable Play Yard - Aprica Haven
- Feeding
- Breast Feeding Pillow - Boppy
- Also recommend purchasing the Boppy Protective Cover that goes between the cover and pillow. It helps protect the pillow from spit up, water, etc.
- Breast Pump - Medela Breast Pump*
- Also check with your insurance...many insurance companies now offer vouchers to buy a pump because they want to encourage breast feeding. Some vouchers can be up to $200!!!!
- Breast Pump Accessories
- We also recommend registering for one set of the Self Cleaning Steam bags.
- Milk Storage Bags*
- Freeze milk flat by laying them down in the freezer, then transfer to a gallon size bag labeled with the month.
- Dishwasher Caddy for Bottle Parts - Munchkin
- Bottles - Born Free*
- BPA Free, option of glass, don't leak, easy to hold.
- High Chair
- Baby Spoons - Munchkin
- Bowls - Munchkin
- Sippy/Training Cups - Born Free
- Stationary Entertainers
- Swing/Bouncer - Bright Starts Automatic Bouncer*
- Playmat - Mamas & Papas Playmat
- Bumbo (Yes this was recalled for the millionth time)
- We also got the Bumbo Tray.
- Toys/Books
- The only reason we added toys to our registry was to add items with a lower price tag as an option for shoppers. We highly recommend adding books!
- Stroller Toys - Kushies by Zolo*, Lamaze, SkipHop
- Rattle
- Teether - Sopie the Giraffe*
- Links - Sassy
- Children's Books
- Never too early to read!!!
- Sleeping
- Bassinet/Bedside Sleeper - Fisher Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper *
- Swaddle Blankets - Aden + Anais*
- Waterproof Crib Mattress Cover (2-3)
- Play Yard Sheets (2-3)
- Fitted Crib Sheets (2-3)
- Or you could make your own!
- Bathing
- Bathtub
- We didn't get the Puj tub, we used our sink instead; we're thinking about getting the Eurobath Kit.
- Towels - Summer Infant Luxuries*
- Washclothes - Thirsties Fab Wipes (Amazon or Specialty Stores)
- These don't roll up after washing and lay flat.
- Health & Safety
- Healthcare Kit - American Red Cross
- Like, because it comes with spoons and syringe for giving medicine.
- Thermometer - ThermoScan*
- Baby Monitor
- Diapers - The Honest Company*
- Crib - DaVinci Jenny Lind
- Dresser -
- Glider - Babyletto Nara
- Mattress - Colgate
- Nightlights - Great for using in the hospital.
- Sound Machine - ConAir
- Humidifier
- Safety Gates
- We already had.
- Nursing Cover
- Binkies/Pacifiers
- Bibs
- Blankets
- We received many as gifts.
- Wearable Blankets - Aden + Anais and Halo
- Never thought about this until a friend mentioned it to us...use the zip up ones over the Velcro ones, because when pulling the Velcro away it's loud and can wake the baby.
- Baby Shampoo - Mustela
- Baby Hangers for Closet
- Clothing
- People are going to buy you so many random clothes and they get changed out in the stores so quickly. We also felt weird about registering for clothes. Also, our baby girl is only 2 months old, but because she's so long she's already fitting into a lot of her 3-6 month size onesies and bodysuits.
- Bottle Warmer
- Try using a mini crock-pot filled with water and keep on warm for the day.
- Diaper Wipe Warmer
- Walker
- Baby Food Maker
- We have a food processor which we love and it does the exact same thing...if you're thinking of getting a baby food thingy and don't have a food processor....check out a food processor, it's amazing all the things they can do---it's an investment, but WELL WORTH IT! The baby food accessories are a different story---although you could just as well use ice cube trays :)
- Nursing Stool (really???)
- DVD's (iTunes is way easier and babies REALLY don't need to be sitting in front of the t.v. ....it's not a babysitter)
- Music CD's (iTunes is way easier)
Wow! Now that's a list! Hope this helps any of you who are/were struggling with different products for your babies....Happy Shopping!
Friday, August 17, 2012
TWO MONTHS
I can't believe our little baby girl is already 2 months! We've been taking her picture every week to document all her changes. We also started taking her monthly picture. (Which I LOVE!!!!!!!) We bought some pjs in each size that we found on sale and pose her in her glider with a framed chalkboard that my sister made for the baby shower. It really is very cute. I can't say it enough....document, document, document your baby's growth! They grow WAY TOO FAST!
Age: 1 Month
Weight: 9lbs 4oz
Height: 21 inches long
Firsts: Began lifting her head during tummy time.
Events: Celebrated Daddy's birthday, Father's Day & Independence Day
Travel: None
Foods: Just Mama's milk!
Favorite Toys: LOVES her swing.
Favorite Thing to Do: Eat, Sleep & Poop!
Sitting Up: Nope, much too little.
Rolling Over: Yes, twice, but not on purpose.
Crawling: Whoa...No!
Walking: Heavens NO!
Smiling: Not yet.
Talking: Just girly noises and grunting.
If talking, what words: None.
Sleeping Through the Night: Wakes up once, maybe twice to eat every 4-ish hours.
Age: 2 Months
Weight: 11lbs 4oz
Height: 23 inches long
Firsts: Smiling!!!!!
Events: She had two baby showers in her honor.
Travel: First family road trip to Kansas City for a DC United/KC Sporting game.
Foods: Just Mama's milk!
Favorite Toys: She still loves her swing, but now enjoys her bouncer and looks at her toys that hang.
Favorite Thing to Do: She loves when someone is talking to her.
Sitting Up: Nope, still too little.
Rolling Over: She always rolls onto her side.
Crawling: Nope
Walking: Nope
Smiling: YES!
Talking: Still just girly noises and grunting.
If talking, what words: None.
Sleeping Through the Night: Goes to bed at 9:30 and wakes up around 5am to eat....we're happy with that!
Sleeping Through the Night: Goes to bed at 9:30 and wakes up around 5am to eat....we're happy with that!
This collage was done on the iPhone through the PicFrame app.
Friday, August 10, 2012
BRIGHTEN UP THEIR WORLD
It's never too early to start introducing your baby to colors. Because Kensi is so little, we can't actually sit down and play a game about basically anything with her. However, we can point out the many different colors on her toys and in her books. This is a very simple way to start teaching your child.
Start simple. Point out the object in the picture and its color, most infant board books have just a few colors per page.
Here's how....very easy....
Here's how....very easy....
When we read to Kensi, we try to point to the words and describe the pictures...
"Look at the cat! The cat is purple!"
"It has green eyes!"
"It has green eyes!"
Read through the book and say the colors and items on each page. After reading it a few times add more descriptions.
Add another description about the same picture...
"The cat has a long tail and says 'meow.'"
Kensi LOVES being read to....This is one of her favorite books and she coos and smiles with many of the animals!
We also do this with her toys....
"The butterfly is purple."
"The wings have lots of colors. It has pink, orange, blue, black and white!"
"The wings have lots of colors. It has pink, orange, blue, black and white!"
"The butterfly has wings that flutter!"
"The butterfly likes flowers!"
Because so many infant toys have crunchy paper, squeakers or rattles inside you can also talk about the sounds they make while you play with the toy. It's also important to be silly with the toys and your child. Show them how the toy (i.e. plush frog) can talk to them, kiss them on their cheek or tickle them. By doing so you're planting a seed in your child to help spark their imagination to grow!
If you need some book ideas, check out our earlier post about Children's Books!
If you need some book ideas, check out our earlier post about Children's Books!
Monday, August 6, 2012
FABULOUS FINDS: SUMMER INFANT LIL' LUXURIES BATH WRAP
We honestly stumbled across this little wonder as we were quickly looking to pick up an extra bath towel for Kensi. We've bought and still use a few different bath towels from Target and Carters, however our most favorite towel bath wrap (it's sounds much more fancy) is made by Summer Infant.
Why do we love it so? It's double layered, 100% terry cloth and extra cozy. Not only is it hooded, but it has a foot pocket and it wraps around your sweet lil babe just like a swaddle to keep them nice and warm after their bubble bath!
We really hope they make more prints because we would much rather invest in these instead of the thin, single layer bath towels that are just much too easy to find! Right now we've only found this sweet bath wrap in pink and aqua.
Go ahead - spoil your bebe!
Go ahead - spoil your bebe!
Friday, August 3, 2012
SO CUTE & SO SCREWED
After our Christmas in July celebration we hit the mall and outdoor shopping centers over the weekend to pick up a few baby gifts, and oh my goodness....they already have some Halloween outfits and clothing out for sale. They are flippin adorable! I am so screwed that we have a baby girl...our poor wallets!
1. Trick or Treat Sleep Set | 2. Monster Lunch Box | 3. Candy Corn Sleeper | 4. Mommy's Little Pumpkin (Carters) | 5. Wickedly Handsome | 6. Ghost Hat | 7. Mummy Long Sleeve Onesie
| 8. Halloween Socks
I'm not sure how I'm going to resist some of the new clothing lines that will be hitting the stores for fall. I may have to open up an Etsy shop sooner than later just to cover Kensi's shopping expenses!
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