I love shopping for my kids. With so many people sporting bumps these days, thought I would tell you about a few of my favourite purchases for Oliver our newest edition, currently 2 months old.

Aden and Anais Dream Blanket

The Aden and Anais Dream Blanket. 4 layers of muslin that gets softer every time its washed, know wonder it gets along so well with babies. It is generously sized for tucking him in a night or snuggling with mom. I can not tell you how much I love this blanket, the patterns are so cute, this may end up being Ollie’s blankie, or mine.

 

Burpy Bibs

Burpy bibs by aden and Anais. Super thick and soft, great for wiping up barf, drool, other leaky stuff,  shaped to fit perfectly over your shoulder or snapped closed around your babies neck as a bib. Received a pack as a gift and I love them!

Daphne Bath Seat

My first Owen had a Daphne Bath Seat when he was a baby. Saved me from that broken back feeling during bath time.  Ollie loves the water and now that he is a little older he loves the freedom it gives him in his bath.  It fully supports his body, which allows for hands free bathing and super fun bath time. Of course, never leave your baby alone in the bath.

 

Norwex Baby Clothes

These clothes are antibacterial, chemical free, and the baby clothes are super soft. They have been wonderful for bathtime, wiping goopy eyes, cleaning diaper rash bum. I’ve even used them on Oliver’s baby acne. Not sure if they made a difference, but I felt like a better mother.

Hooter Hiders

“Ryan, can you grab my Hooter Hider?” Hehe. Did I really need a designer boob cover? Yes I did. Love the stylish patterns that don’t scream “Nursing baby, possible peep show!” The top has a stiff wire thing in it so you can peek at your baby and a handy little pocket for nursing pads, your IPhone…..

 

Fisher Price Rock and Play Sleeper

Okay, I know there are way cooler looking bassinets and bouncy chairs, but it was the reviews that sold me on this one. Parents claiming their newborns would sleep 4-5 hours at time right of day one. If you are a sleep deprived parent of a newborn,  you would spend anything for a sold 4-5 hours sleep. So did it work? Well Oliver slept 4-5 hours right from day one and continued when we brought him home from the hospital. I think the bassinet did help. It kept him slightly elevated and cradles his body while sleeping. He is now in his crib, but spent the last week back in his bassinet with a cold. It kept his head elevated so he could sleep, and his parents could sleep…….did I mention he slept 10 hours with a cold, in this bassinet?

Nose Frieda: The Snot Sucker

Speaking of colds. As a mother I am obsessed with picking at my baby, and boogers are not an exception. I remember with Owen the big blue bulbs you had to stick up their little noses and they would scream like you were killing them, not fun. Then I found “The Snot Sucker”. The tube is placed on the outside of the nose,  and the other end, well it goes in your mouth, and you suck. Not to worry snot will not make it up the tube, but I’ll be darned, that sucker really works, no tears to boot!

 

 

Beco Gemini Baby Carrier

There are so many ways to carry your baby these days, it really comes down to what is right you, and what your baby likes.  I did a ton of research on carriers and found the Beco. I love how versatile it is allowing to wear your baby facing you, facing away from you, on your hip and on your back. It is very comfortable and easy to put on. Oliver likes it too, we go for walks, clean the house and some fussy afternoons, I just let him hang out there. It is a great carrier, kind of coveting the super cute new bird pattern though. Although you can wear black with anything.

 

Graco Sleep Slumber Machine

A lot of baby sleep books  recommend a sleep sound machine for infants at night. I like it because the white noise drowns out the household sounds. This machine has music, white noise, womb sounds (How do they know how that sounds to a baby?) and if you don’t like those options you can plug in your Ipod. We like that we can hear it through the baby monitor, I find it helps me sleep too.

Grobag

How cute are these baby sleepbags? Sleepbags are a safe way for a baby sleep as loose bedding is not recommended. These bags are very soft and easy to access the baby in for middle of the night diaper changes. The cute patterns make up for not being able to use the down baby comforter you spent over a hundred dollars on before found out it would probably suffocate your baby.

 

Bugaboo Bee

And my next purchase….the Bugaboo Bee.  I have a decent jogger stroller, but since hubby runs not me, I am looking for a great compact sidewalk/mall stroller. This baby does it all. The seat faces both directions, I like the over sized canopy and it turns on a dime. Now we are done having babies, so this is a great option for us. I’ll let you know how I like it. When I finish saving up to pay for this bad boy.

Well these are few of my favourite things. Hope you found it helpful. I am a bit crazy about all things to do with Oliver. Owen is pretty much just into hockey these days, which for me is not that fun to shop for, that is more fulfilling for Ryan.

A six year old boy.

I can’t shake the feeling of the importance of this moment in Owen’s life. I look at the last 6 months, he has gone off to Grade One, learned to rollerblade, lost his two front teeth and half grown them back. He can make his bed, play hockey and burp on demand. He cries during movies (Air Bud) and laughs. The sun rises and sets on his father, and is too heavy to carry around anymore. (Although I do try, sometimes) I am watching my baby stand on the door step of manhood and have to wonder, have I done it right?

We graduated to the drive thru drop off at school and every morning I drop him off I see him running away with his back pack, it’s half his size and he pauses to turn and give me a half wave with a sweet sweet smile, probably cause I am yelling like a lunatic “I love you honey, have a great day!” What I am really saying? “Get back in the car, drive home with me sit on my lap, I’ll tell you a hundred times that I love you and all things about you that make me believe in miracles.” In that moment I know what is feels like to have your heart run away from you.

This is when “cut the umbilical cord chime”s in my head. Owen has his own world now filled with friends, adventure victories and defeat. Do I really have to let him go? Does he really need a wife, career and his own children? Makes me think of the creepy/sweet Robert Munch Love you Forever, where the mom sneaks into her sons’ room every night to sing to him and rock him

“I’ll you forever
I”ll like you for always
As long as I’m living
My Baby you’ll be”

“Sniff”

, but I get it. I sneak into Owen bedroom at night to hug him. I want to stop every bad thing he may face in life. A broken heart, a broken dream, whatever this crazy world may throw our kids. I know in that moment, at night with my arms around him he is safe. Then he wakes up and tells me I am bugging him, my nose is snorting. I’ve been given the boot. (Apparently I am a heavy nose breather when I am trying to stop time and defend my child in the middle of the night)

In all this I see my scruffy little boy, half his teeth missing, cowlick sticking his hair up in the back, dirty face, dirty designer clothes, bursting with potential, dreams and life. You can sense God smiling down on him, admiring his perfect creation. A six year old boy.