My Top 10 Baby Items

After having two kids, relatively close in age, I've realized that I bought/registered for stuff I didn't use. Too many to list, so I'll give a list of the top 10 most used. Of course, this is all in my humble opinion. These are in no particular order...

1. Baby Crack Machine {HoMedics SoundSpa Lullaby sound machine} - I started using this thing just a few weeks after Jacob was born. I'm still using it for #2, and it's a God send. I've even taken it on trips. It only cost me around $20, and it was well worth it. However, I do have to mention that the projector broke after only 3 months of use. It stopped turning, but instead, I used it as a night light.

2. Video Monitor {Summer Infant Day & Night Video Monitor} - I HIGHLY recommend a video monitor. I had registered for a regular thinking, eh, it'll do. And then we moved into a bigger place and the nursery was a bit far (not the next room over),  I got a VM. And what a difference. I had so much more peace of mind being able to see my baby on the screen. I still use it and I plan on using it until the kids are a bit older. I not only use it every time they sleep, but also when they are playing in their room. It was well worth the price tag. I love it!

3. Boppy pillow - So some people hate this, but it worked well for me and hubby. We used it for both #1 and #2 during feedings and putting babies to sleep. And it's held up decently. It's been used and abused. 

4. Bouncy Chair {Fisher Price} - Each of my children liked this thing. More than the swing. And it was easy to take from place to place within the house. It soothed my babies and they slept in it for decent periods of time.

5. Playtex Bottles {Drop-In System} - Seriously, I loved these bottles. They were easy to use, and super convenient. I was going to try a new bottle with #2 but why fix something that isn't broke. #2 is still on the bottle, but only 'til we finish up our last box of bottle liners.

6. Jumper/Saucer {Fisher Price/Little Einstein}- I used both of mine to death. We had a Rainforest Jumper and an Einstein Saucer. And the saucer is on it's last limb while the jumper has held up nicely. But I can say that #1 liked it much more than #2. They're so great for those times you need to do something like cook, take child #1 potty, or you need a little break.

7. Changing table/dresser - I loved my changing table, and I loved it so much that when #2 came along I bought another one for the master bedroom. However, I bought the second one used on Craigslist, and sold it again when I was done with it. I basically got free use out of it for a few months.

8. Swaddles {SwaddleMe} - OMG. All I can say is: life savers! Both of my kids loved these. From the get go, I used them for each child. And I used them up until they no longer fit in them or wiggled out of them. Actually, #2 was a more crazy sleeper so she gave these up much quicker, but they worked when we really needed it. #1 used these until he was 10 months and #2 until she was around 7 months.

9. Receiving Blankets {SwaddleDesigns}- Yes, these are different from swaddles. These are huge blankets that you can use to swaddle. They are not like those little tiny ones from Gerber or Target, these are the real deal. I used the ones by Swaddle Designs, and I loved them. I still use them as light blankets whenever we go on trips.

10. Glider/Rocker {Dutailier glider/ottoman} - Whichever one you can get, get one! My glider was a hand me down from my sister. It's actually now going to be 18 years old, but it's in perfect condition after 4 kids. I had the covers done to match my kids' room and I still love it. We used it. A lot! It was awesome for feedings and rocking to sleep. I also had the ottoman.

*Pics are of actual or similar brand/item I used.

A Decade

The #1 question I've heard all week was, Where were you?

Ten years ago today, I was a young, 20 year old college student unaware of my future and the future of the world. Classes had only been on for a few weeks, and luckily, I had been sick and bed-ridden at home. I had slept through the live destruction taking place on the other side of the US. But the chilling effects had reached through my TV screen and touched me. I remember turning on the TV and seeing the images and watching in disbelief. I cried. I could not believe what was happening. But it was all too real. The phone calls had been coming in and thankfully everyone I loved was coming/had come home safely. Sadly, 3,000 others would not be returning home.

As we remember those who did not return home, and those men and women who are now defending and dying for our freedom, let us squeeze our loved ones a little tighter, and say a quiet prayer for ALL those who have been affected. Let us NEVER forget.

Pitter Patter x 2!

Isabella's walking! It's almost been a week, and I can say she is almost completely walking. The only time she crawls is if she's uncertain, or excited. Crawling is faster in these instances! She started taking steps on Sept. 1, and each day got progressively better, just like Jacob. She was exactly at 13.5 months before she started walking. In all honesty, i was starting to get a little concerned, not a bad concerned, just wondering why it was taking her a little longer to start walking. You know you always hear all these stories about someone who knows someone whose kid started walking at like 9 months. But I know, every kid is different, but we all still compare. But here we are, and Isabella's loving this new freedom. Everyday she walks a little farther and is a little less wobbly. I have a video!!!

And, as per usual, I've been planning Jake & Bella's Halloween costumes since last month! This year they are going to coordinate! I'm so excited! Isabella's costume is going to be homemade while Jacob's is a hand-me-down. A rather nice hand-me-down. We got lucky on his 'cause I didn't want to pay an arm and a leg for it....or a hand for it?! Hmmm, teeny tiny little hint there! But I'll be sharing those when they are done!

Video by: Me
Music by: Cradle Rock - I Walk the Line

Pinterest {Project}

I've mentioned before that I love Pinterest, and I've pinned a bunch of projects. And to my surprise, I've done quite a few. But one thing I've noticed, is that the projects are easy and fast. For my next project, I was redoing one of my bathrooms. It used to be boring, and I hated it. It's still not 100% done, but I like it much better. I needed some cheap and easy art. Enter: Pinterest. I found a few art projects that I wanted to try, but one in particular was sweet and cute. It's from Andrea Steed's blog and can be found in a post titled Dated Design Wall Art. While I love Steed's design, I wanted it even easier. So, I found some digital damask paper, typed out the dates, arranged them on the paper, printed it out, and I was done (in Photoshop, BTW). I love it! It was so easy, and it has meaning. Our birthdays, and our anniversary date.

Andrea Steed's version:

My version:

Jacob's 1st Pet

Yep, you read that right. Jacob has his very first new pet. Or, should I say, I have a new pet? For Jacob's 3rd birthday, my niece thought it would be fun to get him a gold fish. I thought, sure, how long would this thing really last? Well, turns out that my niece got him a gold fish and a beta fish. Apparently, she got the gold fish for free when she bought the beta. Great, that's fine, what's one more fish? Unfortunately, I'm sad to say, the little gold fish only lasted 2 days, and he was caput. But we still have little beta whom I've named Fred. Yes, since it is my fish, I get to name him. So, beta is now known as Fred the fish. I liked the ring to it. And now it's been about 2.5 weeks since we acquired Fred, and he's doing well. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Jacob, as per usual, has already forgotten about him. It could be because we keep him in the bathroom. I have no idea where else to put him. But he gets fed by me morning and night, and forget about his bowl. That thing is nasty to clean. Could be the reason why the water is sooo foggy. Hmmm, I guess I should really try to clean it instead of just kinda cleaning it. One day. It really grosses me out to touch the water. And the smell...yuck! But it's relatively easy. Thank goodness! Meet Fred...

Pinterest {Love}

So, for the past month or so...maybe a little longer, I've been having a love affair. With Pinterest. It's a site devoted to all things crafty, funky, tasty, clever, neat...everything. It's a virtual pinboard where you can "pin" your favorite images across the web. So far, I have 15 pinboards with almost 200 pins. I pin stuff like quotes to recipes to craft projects. I love it. At first, I thought I would pin away and not actually do any of the crafts I pinned, but oh no, I've done a few pins.

The most recent pin I did try was a Nutella Milkshake recipe, and it was delish. I did my own variation of course. You can find the original recipe here, but this is what I did...

In my good old magic bullet, I threw in:

6 oz of 2% milk
1/2 a banana
1 heaping tablespoon of Nutella
A splash of vanilla extract
And enough ice to fit in my bullet.

And Blend.

Minor changes, but it was still sooo tasty. Definitely toddler approved. Jacob and Isabella loved it. And like I said, I've done a few projects. I'll be sharing those soon.

Follow me on Pinterest and I'll follow you too!

Jacob's 3rd Birthday Party - Cars!

A couple of weeks ago, on Jacob's actual birthday, we celebrated with a Cars party. A couple months before the party, when Cars 2 came out, I asked him what kind of party he wanted, and he said Cars. Thing is, the week of his party he had become utterly obsessed with Captain Hook and pirates. So, when I asked him again what kind of party he wanted, he said...Pirates! Ugh. But despite being a Cars party, he still loved it!

For his special day, we got Jacob a Cars jumper. He absolutely loves these things. Anytime he sees one he has to go in it and jump to his heart's desire. But, trying to get him out was always a hassle. So, we got one he could jump in all day long. And he did, as soon as the jumper arrived, Jacob jumped right in. It was also a pool party, so the kids had a great time. Well, I think so, at least. Favors were Cars paper lunch bags filled with candy, a water gun, a Cars Pez dispenser, Cars sticker, and Cars bubbles. The kids' eyes were buggin' when they saw the bag was stuffed.

For dinner, we served up Hawaiian food. Chicken Katsu, BBQ beef, macaroni salad, green salad, and white rice. we ordered it from a local place and it was a big hit. The cake was from Sam's Club and was really moist and delicious...and cheap!

We all had a 'rip racing' good time! And I know Jacob had a fun and memorable birthday. He's still talking about it!