August 26, 2013

Week 27 and Registry Busy!

August 19 -25
Romaine lettuce isn't so accurate, we just didn't have a rutabaga on hand. Genevieve is now over 15 inches from head to toe. She can open her eyes and weighs over 2 pounds. I am carrying her really low which means bathroom breaks every hour. It is definitely more frequent than 1st trimester. I have to get up 4-5 times a night. Preparing for late night feedings? I think so.

This week has been marked with the craziest movements.
Seriously, I have never seen my stomach move like this. It is like a wave in my belly. She moves CONSTANTLY. I am always aware of her presence. I can't get through a staff meeting without staring at my belly and watching her jump and turn and stretch. Soon I will be able to tell where her arms, legs and head are located. Right now I just feel a hard mass from where she is curled up.

Every day I am one moment closer to grasping the magnitude of what is about to happen and I fall more in love. Only 10 more weeks until I am full term!
How our evenings are spent
I was wondering why I was feeling so anxious about Genevieve arriving. Besides just the change in it all, I realized it is because I don't have any baby items! Nothing! It is time to reach out to friends and family and for us to do some shopping too so we can get our home ready for our daughter.

So this week I have put all my energy on the baby registry. Especially now that our baby shower invites are out! Thanks to incredible friends and new mommas, I have been given so much advice on what to register for. It can be a little daunting! Michael and I also attended a babywearing and cloth diaper workshop to help educate us on our options. I am all about being informed so I did lots of research when putting the registry together.

This is a lot of information but I hope it will be helpful for anyone wondering what to register for!

Here are my registries: 

Top Registry Items:

1. I love wooden toys. I like the simplicity of it. I also love toys that encourage imagination. I want to avoid electronic, plastic toys as long as possible. I found this company (Plan Toys) and really loved reading about their principles. They are based in Thailand and make all their products from preservative-free rubberwood. It is one of the leading companies committed to keeping the environmental sustainability, no waste concept.
It is safe, sustainable, and smart.
I like it.
Buy it here (Amazon).

2. Sakura Bloom Sling - Having been to a workshop on baby-wearing, I knew exactly what type of carrier I wanted. And actually this is my husband's favorite too. I like ring slings because they are adjustable for different body sizes. Our family will be a dual baby-wearing family so we needed this option. Baby Genevieve will probably live in this sling for the first 3-4 months of her life. I also adore the driftwood color, perfect for both my husband and me to wear.
Buy it here (Amazon).

3. Ergo Baby Carrier - This continues the theme of baby-wearing. Which, by the way, has so many benefits for both you and baby!
1. Convenience - you can multi-task!
2. Happy Baby - babies, especially 0-3 months old, are still in the gestational period. They need to be close to mom. Feeling safe against mom and hearing her heartbeat makes a happy baby. 
3. Muscle growth - once babies are sitting up, being in a carrier helps with their spinal and muscular development. 
4. Oxytocin - skin to skin contact with baby and mommy (or daddy) releases oxytocin which helps regulate baby's body temperature.
5. Smarter baby - their heads are right up near their mom's face so moms tend to talk a lot more to their babies, pointing out the world around them. 
6. Keep strangers away - especially in the cold months after Genevieve is born. No one will be poking at her like they would if she was in a stroller or carseat. 
7. Breast feed discreetly - to name a few...

The Ergo is one of the top rated soft-structure carriers. And great for babies 3 months - 3 years. You can find them at big-box stores like Target now. We can't wait for Genevieve to use this once she has neck support!
Buy it here (Target)

4. Baby Swaddle -  these swaddles are made by Summer Infant. I know that you can swaddle with a receiving blanket or just any small blanket, but I have heard that some babies love these little swaddle sacks. It has been the lifesaver for many moms I talked too. We will see what little lady thinks about them!
Buy it here (Target)

5. Fuzzibunz Pocket Diapers- Ok, Michael and I went to a 3 hour cloth diaper workshop. I learned A LOT. I learned the pros and cons to all types and got to test out many different brands. All the moms I talked to raved about Fuzzibunz. I can see why. They are super easy and convenient. They are called pocket diapers because they have inserts that go inside the diaper making it one piece. I also registered for GroVia All-in-One diapers (AIO). The difference is that the inserts are attached to cover so you wash it all together. Diapers have come a long way. I am super excited to give these diapers a try.
Buy it here (Amazon)

6. Thirstie Diaper Covers - Part 2 of cloth diapers. I actually loved pre-folds and covers more than pocket diapers. It made more sense to me and it is so much more versatile. But with pre-fold diapers you need the fastener (I registered for Snappis) and you need a cover on top. I really liked the Thirstie brand and I can't wait to try them out. I also registered for Diaper Safari covers.
Buy it here (Amazon)

*Another thing to think about is getting a wet bag for the dirty diapers and a diaper bag size bag for on the go diaper changes.
*I also registered for an attachable hose on the back of the toilet for easy rinsing once baby is eating solid food.
*And you will need some laundry detergent to wash the diapers. Everyone I talked to recommended Charlie's Soap. It is biodegradable, safe for the environment and does not irritate the skin.
 I feel like there is a science behind reusable diapers but I am excited to learn the system that works for my family.

7. Sophie the Giraffe - We had to register for the iconic Sophie. This teether is found in everyone's nurseries these days and I love it. It's been around for over 50 years, originating in France, and babies love it! It is known for stimulating all 5 of a baby's senses:
-Sight - the spots attract babies because of the high contrast.
-Hearing - it makes little squeak noises that help baby link cause and effect.
-Taste - it is made out of 100% natural rubber and food paint making it safe to chew.
-Smell - the scent is the natural rubber of the Hevea tree which makes it easy for babies to identify.
-Touch- it is super soft emulating the mother's skin and is comforting to the baby.
Ok, it's a glorified chew toy but I still love it ;)
Buy it here (Amazon)

8. Cloud b Sound Machine - And keeping with the giraffe theme (my favorite animal), we added another giraffe item. Michael and I sleep with a fan every night. I love white noise. Genevieve is currently sleeping with the sound of my heartbeat, amniotic fluid swooshing, blood pumping and the noise of the outside world. Having white noise to sleep makes sense to me. But here is another item that our baby may love or hate. Either way, it's cute :)
Buy it here (Amazon)

Giraffe love

9.  Hand Teether - by Green Sprouts. This teether is made out of a cornstarch based eco-friendly plastic. It contains no synthetic or toxic substances. It is even biodegradable and compostable. Another earth-friendly option in case Sophie goes missing! 
Buy it here (Amazon)

10. Itzbeen - I am not sure how much I will use this handy device. Some swear by it, others don't use it at all. I think I'll like it. It helps foggy brained new moms keep track of the last feeding, how long it lasted, which side was the last nursed on, etc. It can schedule diaper changes, tracks sleeping and timing medicine if needed. I have no intention of being a rigid scheduler for all of those things. My hope is to use some common sense, some routine, and being in tune to Genevieve's natural schedule and needs. But a little helpful reminder may be very useful. I will update post baby!
Buy it here (Target)
11. Bumbo - These things are another household item. I love how squishy and easy to clean they are. We don't intend on getting a highchair and I prefer this alternative for keeping baby in place once she starts sitting up and eating solids.
Buy it here (Target)

12. Boppy - Just like the Bumbo, a Boppy is on everyone's registry. There is also "my breast friend" brand but this one is more readily available. This will greatly assist me when I breastfeed and need extra support under my arms and baby. I think I am really going to love it. Plus all the cute covers. We registered for a few different types.
Buy it here (Target)

13. Baby night gowns - All the moms I talked to said I must have these on the registry, especially for the earlier months. The gown makes it super easy to change diapers in the middle of the night. And there are so many cute options! I registered for night gowns from Baby Soy and Tadpoles Organic. Oh I just love it all. Of course I love the idea of using natural fibers on my baby and I love all the neutral colors and simple designs too. However, Michael and I gladly take second-hand, gently used items. We already have a decent collection of little girl clothes that people have given us. That is the ultimate green - reusing clothes. But a few cute, organic pieces are fun too!
Buy it here and here (Amazon)

14. Muslin Swaddles by Anden + Anasis, ok really anything from this company. I absolutely love the muslin swaddles because they are so soft and really big. I also  registered for crib sheets, diaper pad cover, burp clothes, and bibs from this company. The simple colors and designs are right up my alley, too. And like the night gowns, we love anything organic on baby.
Buy it here (Amazon)

There are so many other items we need before our little one arrives and I put an equal amount of work into researching which type to get.
-Stroller - we just wanted an umbrella stroller because we intend on using the ring sling and ergo carrier for a majority of the first months of Genenvieve's life.
-Car seat
-Bottles - I was recommended Dr. Brown's bottles because it has the most natural flow
-Pacifiers - still try to decide how we want to use them
-Breast pump - Medela is the king of breast pumps. Super expensive but necessary!
-Diaper changing pad - no need for a changing table. We will just put one of these on top of a dresser.
-And the not so glamorous but useful items: nipple brush, bottle warmer, newborn disposable diapers, first-aid kit, nasal aspirator, to name a few.

Little Genevive,
Everyday I spend time connecting with you, talking to you and rubbing your current home.
I've been processing your arrival and getting so excited to meet you. It is now time for your daddy and me to prepare your physical home. I am so excited to watch you in your new room, to put all these little outfits on you and to see you use all these things we are getting specially for you. But more than that, we smile thinking of the day your presence fills our home and brings fullness to our family.

6 comments:

  1. I love your registry! You are so cute! I just have some personal-experience feedback I thought I'd share, so take it or leave it... :)

    1. Yes, Bumbos are essential. They are great highchair replacements, especially for small spaces. We take ours to restaurants, move it around the house, use it outside to eat in the yard, etc. We use it exclusively until 8 months or so. BUT! Once they are 8-10 months and begin picking up little soft foods to put in their own mouths (which is GREAT), more tray space is necessary! The bumbo tray doesn't have edges and is too small. The baby will rake anything you give her off onto the floor. We have a highchair that we bust out of storage once the baby is eating some solid foods with their own hands. You could also get one of those hook-to-the-counter highchair seats if you have the right table or countertop (and room on the countertop) for it. That's what we would have if it worked in our kitchen!

    2. Also, just a couple thoughts about sound machines: 1) they can be awesome and block out sound, especially when you are somewhere unusual with uncontrollable noise spikes, so I am not against them. 2) if your baby is addicted to it like any other sleep crutch (nursing to sleep, having to have a totally dark room, etc), they can be nightmares. Of course, I would imagine babies PREFER a dark room because I would, but if they are tired and it's their naptime but they refuse to sleep because they don't have a sound machine and a dark room, well... that sucks. So have those pros and cons in mind. :)

    3. I love that you both want to use the sling a lot! But from personal experience... I think planning to carry her around for the first 3ish months is a little idealistic. :) Unless you don't plan on keeping a sleep schedule. If you do plan on keeping a sleep/feed schedule (which is how you get them to sleep through the night consistently fyi), you will want to be able to put them down for their naps at the right time... ie at home in their beds, or in their carseats covered with a blanket so they know it's naptime. Also, having a baby on you is pretty restrictive, even though it is sweet. It also gets heavy if you carry them longer than 30min-1hr, regardless of what kind of carrier you use. So all that to say, if you were to ask me what I recommend, I'd recommend a Combi travel system. They are by far the lightest and most compact (carseats AND strollers), and you will be able to use the stroller with or without the carseat. The stroller is literally just a fraction bigger than a plain umbrella stoller, too. But umbrellas are great too! Especially since they are all over the place (craigslist) for like $5 and easily replaceable. But they don't recline and have no place to store things, except for maybe a small bag for keys and a phone. The combi will have a basket underneath to hold your diaper bag etc, and still be light and compact. Just something to consider.

    4. You need the zip-up sleep sacks along with the amazing bottomless nightgowns you listed! The sleep sacks are great when they need a blanket but roll around and don't stay under a regular blanket. :)

    5. Oh! And the itzbeen thing... there are free apps that do the exact same thing! like... all of the same things. I think the one I used was baby tracker. Tracks nursing times and sides, diaper changes, growth, sleep, etc. And then you wouldn't have to carry an extra device around. :)

    So excited for youuuu! Can't believe you're going to brave the world of cloth diapers! I'll be interested to see if you keep it up once you have more than one haha! So far all my friends stopped at that point, if not earlier haha!

    Oh and don't forget lanolin cream for sore nips in case no one has mentioned it - especially when you first start nursing. You'll want to have it and lots of burp cloths or wash cloths around from day one!

    Ok enough mom-rambling. It's just so exciting!!
    Love,
    Faith

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    1. Faith! I should have asked you too! But I got all your tips regardless ;)

      -Good thing to now about the free apps! That makes way more sense because I carry my i-phone everywhere anyway.

      -Yes, I have definitely considered a frame type stroller for the carseat. Not something we registered for but is on my craigslist/consignment sale list! Totally agree - I personally can not carry baby for 3 months, my husband on the other hand seems to think we will ;) Trying to be a little more realistic here...

      -Do you have favorite zip-up sleeps sacks or are they all virtually the same? I didn't put that many clothing items on the registry because everyone buys it for you anyway ;) But I am going to a consignment sale this week. Something I will look for!

      -Oh goodness...cloth diapers... after the workshop we went to, we about threw in the towel. It felt really daunting. But I talked to lots of moms that cloth diaper and they made it sound manageable. We plan on using disposable for the first few weeks so we don't have to stress about loads of diapers in those beginning days. And we have also accepted that it may end up being a combo of disposable and reusable depending on how it works for our family. Trying to be open-minded about it because it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

      -Yes, haha I have some lanolin cream!

      Thank you thank you for all your suggestions. It is really great to get some advice from experienced mommas, especially those who just have and are having babies!

      And congrats on your little boy!!!

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  2. Great list! For diapering, we use Fuzzibunz and a bunch of hand-me-down prefolds and covers. We used to wash them with Charlie's but we found a homemade detergent that works just as well and is way cheaper: equal parts washing soda, backing soda, and Oxyclean. :-)

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    1. Another great suggestion! I would much prefer to make our detergent, way cheaper! Thank you for the tip!!

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  3. I loved the itzbeen, but only for the first couple of months. We looked for apps, but like the simplicty of the stand alone device. Baby wearing is great! Sometimes it's the best thing and others it's just heavy and sweaty. Sleep sacks are great. We had the some with Velcro. Supposedly there's a way to change diapers without removing it, but it didn't work for us. You may also want a swing or bouncy seat. You two are so close to ready and right on schedule!

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    1. We definitely registered for a bouncy seat! My sister-in-law has a swing we can use if Genevieve likes it. So many of these items will be determined by our baby and our family needs. I am so curious to see how we end up loving/hating some of it. I'll have to write a follow up post in 6 months sharing what worked for us and what didn't. It really is so soon! :)

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