A Pregnancy Update!!
Just wanted to pop in and give you a pregnancy update. I know this is a food blog, but so many of you have been so kind and sent the sweetest emails, so I’d like to try to keep you posted as I go along.
Also, I am one of those people who thinks the world revolves around them when they’re pregnant, and I have my own website. Sooooo….
Last week I hit twelve weeks, the week I’d been anxiously awaiting since I got my positive test 8 weeks earlier. I started feeling a lot better around week 11, and I’m so glad to say that I have a ton more energy and nausea is almost nonexistent. I still get heartburn, but only when I’m on an empty stomach, so I try not to let myself get too hungry. Unfortunately I’m not sleeping well, I wake up to pee a lot and have trouble falling back asleep because my back hurts and I can’t get comfortable.
Hopefully that gets better soon!! If not, I am considering waking my husband up to discuss important life issues and watch reruns of Friends with me. He would love it. *ahem*
I’m steadily growing and am about the size I was at 5 months with Jon David. I measure between 37 1/2 and 38 inches on the largest part of my belly.
Cravings:
Cheeseburgers
Macaroni and Cheese
Salads
Sweet Tea (although I try to drink sparingly because of the caffeine)
Yogurt
With Jon David I craved spicy food, and with this baby I find myself wanting comfort food, cheese, and sugary drinks but not a ton of dessert. My doctor appointment isn’t until the 31st, so until then I am praying that all is well and really really hope that he can tell me what we’re having although 15 weeks may be a bit too soon.
Right now I have a feeling that it’s a girl, but I could totally be wrong. When I was pregnant with Jon David I wanted a boy desperately, and now that I got him, I can honestly say I’d be thrilled with either. All I want is a healthy baby who never cries and sleeps through the night.
That isn’t too much to ask for, right?
Not only has it been almost 8 years since my last baby, but my husband and I had decided we were not having anymore. A growing kid and a bit of maturity on our part changed that last Fall — as our priorities changed, we realized that growing our family was more important to us than our freedom. Needless to say, the decision surprised us both, so I can honestly say that I have not even thought about having a baby for a very long time. So….I am totally out of the loop on baby stuff. Big time.
Any suggestions on products that I need or stuff that you couldn’t live without? Please let me know, I need all the help I can get!!
Thank you again for being a part of my family. I love reading your comments and I love that I can share this with you.
Have a very happy Tuesday!!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I realize you could be doing more important things with your time. Like watching the news or washing socks. I hope you stay awhile. Much more fun than socks, I promise. 
Love your blog! And I craved sweet tea as well, but good news! There are caffeine free tea bags & it tastes just as good!
LOVE, love, LOVED our Rock n play by Fisher Price. We have an 8 month old and that thing was a life saver with reflux and just keeping her in the bedroom at night until she was ready for her crib… Which was promptly at 6 weeks because she is a noisy sleeper and mama needed her rest lol.
When I had my daughter (she is three now, a Christmas Eve baby!), my aunt bought me a Boppy pillow to my baby shower and said to me she wished they had been around when she had her kids. She is right, this is now my no fail gift to give at every baby shower and to anyone who is expecting, it has SO many uses: if you are going to breast feed, it helps you feel like your arms arent going to break, its a great way to help little babies sit up, etc. I HIGHLY recommend one!! Also, my biggest life saver when I was prego was a body pillow. No, I didnt go out and get a 200 dollar one, I just bought a 10 dollar one from Wal-mart and its STILL with me every night, I dont know how I slept before one!! Good luck, God bless, and cant wait to see photos of your latest addition, because your son is absolutely adorable!!
My absolute favorite gift from a baby shower was the book Super Baby Food. It was SO much more than how to make your own baby food — there were directions on homemade (& safe) cleaning products, playdough, etc. A definite must-have. Also, they make newborn diapers with a blue strip down the front that changes color when the baby is wet! GENIUS! I wish they’d had that when I had my kiddos. (I’ve got a 9yo, 7yo, and 5yo.)
How cute are you!! I love the updates!
I’d love to see an update every day! :) Your pictures are so cute! I’m thinking girl, too, Kristan. But, as we well know, boys are pretty awesome. CAN’T WAIT!!!
Love your blog! I don’t know how I missed that you were preggo until like last week! Congrats!! My top 3 baby gear must haves: ergo baby carrier, a vibrating bouncy seat, and my new FAVEORITE thing in the world is a product called Sili squeeze!
The bumco chair was a life saver in our house. My daughter didnt like to lie flat and of course they cant sit on their own for about 5-6 months. This little chairs helps with their core muscle and they can sit in it as soon as they are able to hold their sweet little heads up. We took it every where with us and just plopped her up on the table. AWESOME!!! Now they make a tray for it which is even better. Looking great by the way!!!
its BUMBO…sorry
Just a tip that Bumbo’s can be very dangerous if left on a table. There have been cases of kids falling out of them, so never use them on a table.
Some of my must-have baby items were: a Boppy pillow (this helped not only with feeding, but with his bellyaches), a Bumbo seat, a swing that moves BOTH directions (my son only liked the side-to-side motion, not front-to-back), some sort of baby-wearing method (sling, wrap, etc……really saved me during my son’s don’t-want-to-be-put-down phase), and a baby monitor (my “baby” is 3 & we still use it).
I very rarely suggest products to people, but my husband and I have found two particular items invaluable with our two little girls. The first is a mamaroo swing http://www.4moms.com/mamaroo (it’s pricey, but worth it.. you can usually find it on amazon for cheaper). We also found baby slings (instead of a typical carrier) to be life savers. For baby #1 we bought a handmade sling off etsy. For baby #2 we bought a moby wrap. My husband prefers the sling, I prefer the moby but either way we both agree they were a great investment. They aren’t for everyone but I’m a little bit “granola” and feel that SOME aspects of attachment parenting are spot on and “baby wearing” is totally one of the things I agree with.
I’ll cast another vote for the book Super Baby Food. I referred to it alllllll the time.
I know this a food blog, but thank you so much for updating us on your pregnancy! I’m glad everything is going well and that your cravings are manageable. Imaging wanting to eat pickles and ice cream or something, hehe.
The old wives tale that seems to hold true..if you have heartburn while your preggy your baby will have a full head of hair.. Football food (spicy, chicken wings etc) = boy, while sweet stuff = girl… we’ll see can’t wait to find out
;o0
lol, this was true for my son, except all his hair was on the back of his head like a mullet! Was the funniest thing :)
Awww, you are just too cute for words pregnant!! And I love that you have your son in all of your pregnancy update pictures. It makes it that much better.
I just had my son, well almost 6 months ago. My first son is 5. Even only after 5 years, I feel like I was out of the loop as well! Probably because I was a lot younger when I had my first son. One thing I did say I wouldn’t do was buy the car-seat/stroller set. I hate those. The car-seat is fine, but the stroller is another story. They are so bulky, heavy, and so hard to fold back together. I got the City Mini GT Baby Jogger for my second son and I love it!! Best investment everrrr. Another thing we purchased this time around was a Bumbo. Those things are too cute! And it’s great because I can have him sit in there and put him on the kitchen counter when I’m cooking or on the dining room table when we’re eating dinner. It’s great.
I remember being pregnant with my second son. It was totally different from my first, so I was sure I’d have a girl. I wanted a girl so bad, but after having my second, I wouldn’t want it any other way. BOYS ARE GREAT!!!
I have a Baby Bjorn that my hubby used all the time. Esp at night he would take the baby stick him in and play xbox :O) It is like new and clean, If you would like it please let me know and I’ll send it to you. My boys LOVED the Fisher Price Jungle Jumparoo. I loved the Bumbo seat to feed my boys it let them sit up when they were still a bit wobbly on their own, and the FisherPrice travel swing(not because I did that much traveling , but because it was small could be put on the table top or island while I was prepping dinner , or on the bathroom floor while i was in the shower etc
Ooh, yea, I second the baby bjorn. I used mine and actually took the baby grocery shopping and such. She loved it cause she could face outward and people watch. :) She made it to about 12 months before she hit the weight limit I think.
Awww, you are just too cute for words pregnant!! And I love that you have your son in all of your pregnancy update pictures. It makes it that much better.
I just had my son, well almost 6 months ago. My first son is 5. Even only after 5 years, I feel like I was out of the loop as well! Probably because I was a lot younger when I had my first son. One thing I did say I wouldn’t do was buy the car-seat/stroller set. I hate those. The car-seat is fine, but the stroller is another story. They are so bulky, heavy, and so hard to fold back together. I got the City Mini GT Baby Jogger for my second son and I love it!! Best investment everrrr. Another thing we purchased this time around was a Bumbo. Those things are too cute! And it’s great because I can have him sit in there and put him on the kitchen counter when I’m cooking or on the dining room table when we’re eating dinner. It’s great.
I remember being pregnant with my second son. It was totally different from my first, so I was sure I’d have a girl. I wanted a girl so bad, but after having my second, I wouldn’t want it any other way. BOYS ARE GREAT!!!
I’m so glad you are doing pregnancy updates! This will be so fun! Glad you’re feeling better, too. :)
you are a doll! The best gift I got for my “new baby” was a gift card to get a massage and having my MIL over to watch the little doll while I went! HA!
Bumbo!! I don’t have any kids but I have a niece and nephew and my sister LOVED the bumbo chair. I also have a few friends that have recently had kids and they all have one and love it. It’s a great thing to have, especially when you get one with a tray. And when they’re able to hold their head up is when they can use it. The best thing I’ve seen with them is to help out at bath time when the baby gets a little older (7 mos and up (ish)) you can put the chair in the tub and put them in it and let them play and they can’t go anywhere, so you’re able to watch them instead of holding them and being terrified of the dreaded slipery bath tub! Hope all is going well!
Get a pregnancy pillow to sleep with, it will really help with your discomfort. Mine was so comfortable, my fiance kicked it out of the bed because I didn’t want to give it up once I delivered. I have a Graco Alano Travel system which is a carrier, car seat and stroller in one. Love it! Boppy pillow, as someone mentioned. And a jumperoo totally saved our lives when Kirin started wanting to play at 2am, it also helped me be able to brush my teeth and use the bathroom without worry. Can’t wait to find out what you’re having! (i’m usually happy either way, it’s a baby so i’m always excited)
For us the absolute must have is a the vibrating infant chairs. Fisher price brand. They are amazing!!! I have spent many many many sleepless nights half asleep on the couch rocking baby with one hand half asleep zombified. I have three boys 6yr, 26months, and 8 months,. and I probably couldnt have survived the newborn stage without it. lol
my first two loved the vibrating, the baby, not so much. But whatever :) We use the chair EVERY day, its lightweight, I can drag it all over the house with me with baby in my arms. We have a second one outside on our deck, and a third that our toddler still uses.
You look great! Congrats on 12 weeks..woohoo hope the nausea is done with you. I am 27 weeks along with my second (1st monkey is 3yrs old). I had the same cravings..cheese!, sugar! And we are having a girl. Has been different this time around, lots of heartburn, cannot lay down to sleep either. Hang in there, take care!! The products I loved was the boppy pillow and a low to the ground swing. This time I’m gonna need a wrap or sling and that book (super foods) sounds awesome. Thanks!
We love the updates!! I have a baby girl rounding the bend to 18 months now. Hm, what did we find indispensable…
If I had to pick one thing, it’d be the Angelcare baby movement and sound monitor (amazon has it). It’s what you’d call a SIDS monitor. It senses breath motions and goes off if they stop for over 20-30 seconds. You get some false alarms here and there if you have a wiggle worm, but it’s SO worth it for the peace of mind. Especially for us since baby girl wanted to sleep on her tummy no matter what! I’m betting the deluxe with two sensor pads would cut down on false alarms when baby gets into the corners. We also loved (but got shorter duration use with) the Bright Starts Ingenuity Automatic Bouncer. It actually bounces by itself and also plays music or white noise. During the first 6 months, it was a godsend and you can get it online or at Target.
Those would probably be my top two picks. Hope they help! :)
Amen to the Angel Care baby monitor. My daughters both ended up sleeping on their tummies and it really helped our peace of mind.
Loved my Angel Care monitor!
Another vote for Angelcare!!
You are so stinkin’ adorable! So excited for you and love reading your updates! The only products I could recommend have already been listed on here (boppy, Bumbo, etc). I don’t have any children yet, but my these really helped out with my nephew. Congratulations!
You look really great… And, your photos are just adorable. Glad to hear you’re starting to feel better, too!
My son is 1.5 yrs old now, but some of the things I couldn’t/can’t live without are:
-Temporal Thermometer – They’re as accurate as a rectal temp and it saves you from having to put something up your newborn’s butt, especially when they don’t feel good!
-Munchkin/Arm & Hammer Diaper Bag Dispenser and bags – An absolute MUST HAVE. So easy to throw away/transport dirty diapers when you’re in a place that doesn’t have a trash can or even at family/friend’s house The bags keep the smell down, so you don’t have to feel too bad about stinking up their trash.
-Baby Mum-Mum crackers – Perfect for teething babies, they fit in your purse, dissolve easily in the baby’s mouth and are big enough for the baby to hold themselves.
-Stroller Hook – you can hang grocery bags, your purse, etc. form this. No more searching for your purse underneath the stroller!
-Britax Boulevard Convertible Car Seat – We LOVE this car seat. We got it as soon as my son was too big for the carrier/car seat. This seat is SO easy to install (with or without the LATCH system) and you can adjust the straps while the kid is still sitting in it/without having to remove the cover or re-thread the straps. You can use it rear-facing or forward-facing. LOVE. IT.
And I second the Boppy pillow, Bumbo and Pac n Play that have already been mentioned.
Happy pregnancy!
You are a gorgeous woman. I never looked good pregnant so I’m a bit jealous. Thanks for the updates. Glad to hear your past the nausea. I didn’t get over it with any of my three boys until I delivered. Best of luck in the remaining weeks! I wish I could offer great baby product ideas but my youngest is nearly six so I’m out of the loop too!
Aww, I’m glad you’re doing well! I can’t speak for the baby products (my husband and I are still working on getting a bun in the oven), but I CAN tell you that I know of something that might just help you out with your sweet tea cravings. Celestial Seasonings Caffeine Fee Herbal Tea. Tastes almost identical to black tea, but it’s made with all herbal ingredients, no tea at all. I love it. So far I haven’t found it anywhere but online, but it’s well worth it if you love tea but not the caffeine. Good luck and keep these pregnancy updates coming, I love them (especially the pictures)!
I agree with everyone else on the boppy, a must have! To sit on on the way home, to nurse, or even feed if you are not nursing, to help your older son hold the baby.
Also a bouncy seat, used ours every single day!
I had a bumbo, didn’t use it, and it was an expensive waste of money.
Mylicon (may be misspelled) drops, they are gas drops. Could not have lived without them and should have bought stock in the company. I give them to everyone at a baby shower!
Have fun shopping!
You’re looking fabulous! Great to hear the update. I am glad all is well! Very exciting.
So happy for you Kristan! 12 weeks is always a welcome checkpoint. You look beautiful and glowing!!
I have to second the comment about the Angelcare sound and movement monitor. We bought it with out first and are still using it with our second and she is 2.5 years. I love the peace of mind it gives you knowing that if for any reason they stop moving or breathing, it will let you know. We have only have a couple of false alarms because they had rolled to the end of the crib and squished up against the side and it couldn’t read them. If you forget to turn it off, it lets you know too.
I also love the bumbo seats. You can ofttimes find them in children’s second-hand stores for a good price.
Congrats! I love the photos with you and the soon to be big brother!
Love the updates thanks! Youre 4 weeks ahead of me :) Snap and gos are the best- just keep the baby in the car seat and pop out the wheels from the trunk, snap the car seat in, and go! Graco car seats are my fave. Good luck!
You look fabulous! I have a 20 month-old and a 3 month-old and the one thing that has been indispensable for both kiddos’ infancy is my Moby. I can wear/feed baby girl anywhere and still have my hands free to wrangle the toddler, cook dinner, vacuum, eat, read your blog, etc. As for their individual preferences: DS loved his activity gym thing and DD enjoys the side to side motion of the swing. Oh and bouncing on one of those big plastic exercise balls is my go-to fussy-time cure. :-)
super cute post! i love the fact that you take a pic & your son is holding the measuring tape! gets me every time!
It’s so awesome that you so freely share your life with all of us. I’m too shy to open up to strangers but I’m learning. Congratulations on the new addition. My husband & I would like to start a family soon and it’s nice to hear how you’re feeling and what you are craving. A lot of women tend to make pregnancy seem like it’s all roses and you’re always glowing. I want to know the truth of what to expect. LOL!
I second most of the above mention — and the newish fisher price high chairs that sit on a regular chair. We were recently pregnant, and investigating them — they take up so much less space, but are adjustable for different ages. No more stubbing toes on those metal legs. It is bittersweet to watch you grow, as we were not successful in our pregnancy. Wish you the absolute best!
For sure get the Snap and Go. It is so light weight and is universal, so it fits most car seats. It was my go to item and I never even used her stroller that came with the travel system, until she was out of her infant car seat. For serious, get one, they’re awesome.
You look beautiful and you are adorable! Love the pregnancy updates. Last time I was pregnant was 1968. Yep. A long, long time ago. NO disposable diapers. (No color TV either!) Oh Lord. Fabric diapers with plastic pants over them. Yuck. You knew when your baby had peed. Immediately. Oh well, it only lasted two years. Right? Things have changed SO much and in so many ways — and it’s all for the better. I was at the park the other day and started talking to a lovely woman. I told her she had the Mercedes Benz of child strollers. Really, you should have seen it. It had a holder for your coffee cup. Whoa, baby. What does Jon David say about his becoming a big brother? Any chance it’s twins? triplets?
My brother and SIL swore by their Itzbeen for thier first, not having had any previous baby experience. http://www.itzbeen.com/ There are probably apps that serve a similar function, but they could pass the itzbeen to each other and know everything they needed to know about my niece’s last feeding, sleep, diaper change, etc.
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing this journey, you make it fun.
Congrats! My “baby” just turned 1, and there are 2 new things that we had for her that weren’t around when my 5 yr old was born – 2 things I wish I’d had!
1) Nap Nanny http://www.napnanny.com/ ~ It’s like a baby recliner & it was a lifesaver!! Plus she can still use it. Love.
2) Tommee Tippee bottles & sippy cups http://www.tommeetippee.us/ ~ These sippy cups seriously don’t leak! It’s outstanding!!
Glad you are doing well! You look great!
You look adorable, these pictures are really cute.
I couldn’t live without sleep sacs, makes midnight diaper changes easier and you don’t have to worry about blankets. Second I used my Baby Bjorn all the time. I would even bake with my baby in there! Good luck! I like the updates. As one who is not having anymore babies it’s fun to live vicariously!
I’m out of the baby loop, so no suggestions. I just wanted to pop in and say that you look completely adorable!!!!
You look great and I completely agree that you should be the centre of the universe when you’re pregnant!
Here is a link to a blog post that I did on my favorite baby things. http://culpgal.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-favorite-baby-things.html
In short these are the items listed: Moby Wrap, Itzbeen, Bouncer, SwaddleMe or SwaddlePod, Diaper Genie, Breastfeeding Pillow, and good glider.
A few additional comments: The Baby K’Tan is similar to the Moby Wrap, so you may opt for it instead – it’s easier to get situated, but it’s sized (the moby wrap isn’t), so if you have dramatic post baby weight loss, you may have issues. I later discovered the Woombie which is similar to the SwaddlePod and I’m a fan – plus it comes in many more sizes, styles, and even a convertible version. For the breastfeeding pillow, I did break down and buy the My BrestFriend pillow and loved it so much more than the Boppy. The Boppy turned into a nice baby recliner and sitting training aid for me.
Happy Shopping!
Congrads! So glad things are going well – Hope your doctors appt goes well, and every mother should have a girl – I think it’s payback for things we did, I have a 17 year old that drives me crazy even though I love her.
Redbush tea is caffeine free, supposed to help with sleep too and is very clean and fresh tasting. Some makes are better than others though!
You’re beautiful!!!
Pregnancy totally agrees with you. You are always beautiful, but now you are beautiful AND glowing. Keep the updates coming. I love them! Finding out more about people is my favorite part of blogs (including food ones). :)
Love these updates! You look beautiful and glowing :) I don’t have any kids of my own so I can’t make any recommendations but I am looking forward to following along on your journey!
It’s been 28 years since my last baby (12 years after my first!). The only things I would recommend are breastfeeding and some kind of (cloth :) wrap so you can “wear” your baby when going through your daily routine. Such fun listening to you tell your feelings throughout this pregnancy. Brings back memories. Keep writing…
You two are adorable. I have never been pregnant so I have no tips for you…but I love hearing about your journey!
“First Meals” by Annabel Karmel. This was my baby-food cookbook, and the food was so good, my husband still asks for some of those recipes. And cloth diapers–they make the cutest covers for them now.
Sounds like a girl–I was always craving ketchup with my girl. (For my two boys, I only wanted plain things–like Rice Krispies without milk or sugar.)
Diapers with the wetness indicator…always a must
Pre-made bottles for the diaper bag
Boppy pillow (it really saves your back, plus the baby can sleep on it while you are working on your website)
Diaper genie (holds lots of diapers and you REALLY cannot smell them)
Soft rattles (some tie around the baby’s wrist, others they can hold)
Radio for the baby
Glow in the dark binky (keep it in the crib, so much easier to find in the middle of the night when it pops out)
Cloth diapers – use as burp rags
Graco car seat & stroller (you can also buy bases, you hook them up in the car, then just snap the car seat in and out, the car seat snaps onto the stroller)
Congratulations to you and your family. You look adorable! There is nothing more exciting in life than a precious new baby. I am a grandma to 2 grandsons. the youngest being 10 months old. My daughter has found she can’t live without a nose sucker called Nose Frida. We found it at a small boutique, but i know she ordered one for a baby shower gift from Amazon. In the package it looks like a stange contraption, but it works amazing. Also i know she loved a cd of popular 80″s Rock songs converted to Lullabye music. It is a great CD. I wish you the best of luck with your pregnancy. Keep us all updated. Your website is the first one i check everyday, because your posts are so cute and funny. Always brings a smile to my face.
Sophie the Giraffe!
Maybe someone has already mentioned it but babies LOVE this thing and its super cute, looks french:) If you do a little research they are the perfect toy for a baby, they can chew away on it. It squeaks, but if you run it through the dishwasher it pretty much kills the squeaking which is not so bad if you ask me
YES YES YES!! LOVE Sophie the Giraffe! I never considered the dishwasher to kill the squeaking, I may have to try that with my son’s Sophie!
We also love the Sleep Sheep – I think there is a Giraffe by the same company (Cloud 9) that does the same thing as the sheep, in case sheep aren’t your thing. It’s a noisemaker and there are on-the-go versions that are smaller. We use it all the time with our little ones at every nap time and every bedtime. Getting used to one sound like that, our kids could sleep anywhere at any time. Sleepovers at Grandma’s or staying in a hotel were never an issue, the comforting sounds were all they needed. Plus, with the small size, they can easily go anywhere.
Wipe warmers, bottle warmers, diaper pails… all are bunk and a waste. Diaper Genies and stuff are nice, but gross to change out and the bags for them are expensive. We just take ours outside to the garbage right away and it’s easy. I have twins and a singleton and with only one baby, there aren’t that many diapers, so it’s like nothing to take them out!
We used bandannas as burp rags – good size, good weight, and cute! The white diaper cloths that lots of people use tend to get yellowy and stained and gross looking after a big, so I liked having colored rags to use.
I think that’s all I’ve got – you look great – congrats!!
You’re so darn cute. :)
I didn’t take the time to read all of the comments, so I am not sure it’s been brought up or not, but I would suggest 2 things. #1 – some sort of white noise machine for nap and bed time. My hubby and I just use a fan for our baby and she never wakes up when there is a loud noise. #2 – a mat for you to kneel on when you start to bath your baby in the bathtub. Save your knees is all I can say! Congrats on the little bundle!
The main product I couldn’t live without was my My Brest Friend nursing pillow. SOO much better than a Boppy! I don’t know if you’re planning to nurse, but honestly even if you’re not, this pillow is amazing. It sits higher than a Boppy so he/she will be at just the right place for nursing (or bottle feeding) and you can practically do it hands-free! (*ahem* you could, like, blog and feed at the same time. I know that’s exactly what you’re looking for.)
You’ll definitely want a Bumbo and a Boppy. I thought the Bumbos were a bit silly before I had mine, but my little guy was never satisfied laying down– he wanted to see what was going on. Since he couldn’t sit up yet, that meant someone holding him all the time. The Bumbo lets him sit up as soon as he can hold his head up. And the tray lets them eat while they’re sitting there or keeps toys handy. If you’re breastfeeding, the Boppy makes it sooo much easier. Baby is comfy and can stay in the right spot without you having to hold him.
My son didn’t like the baby sling because he couldn’t look around. I used a carrier that could be strapped to the front or back instead. Mine wasn’t very comfortable for me, though. Friends of mine have used the Ergo Baby and it looks really comfy.
Those swaddling blankets with the velcro are awesome, too, because the baby can’t wiggle out of them at night. They helped my son sleep a lot better as a newborn.
I didn’t do cloth diapers because my husband was dead set against it, but friends who have done them liked them a lot. Still, it’s much more work than disposable ones.
Unless your baby has problems with colic, I would skip the fancy Dr. Brown’s bottles. There are so many little pieces to wash! The cheap-o Walmart bottles worked fine for us.
I also recommend “acquiring” as many of the hospital receiving blankets as you can. They’re bigger than the standard ones you get at the store and are much easier to swaddle with. You’ll also need lots of regular receiving blankets for spit-up and spills and whatnot.
We decided to invest in a pack and play with the bassinet attachment instead of buying a bassinet. It definitely served that purpose but we haven’t really used it since. Although if you travel fairly often and are not co-sleeping, then it probably be a good idea for you. Plus you can use it as a playpen when baby is older, though my son would never stand to be left in there for long.
Cloth diapers aren’t that much more work than disposables, necessarily :) It’s a matter of finding the routine that works best for you:)
Although something tells me cloth diapering is not up Kristan’s alley. lol
It’s so cool you posted about your pregnancy!! I’m fixed, not having anymore, so it’s fun following along with yours! I had our second son when our oldest was 8, getting ready to turn 9. It’s very interesting having that big of an age difference between, although, it’s hard now, having a 5 yo going to start kindergarten in the fall & an almost 14 yo going into 8th @ the same time.
One minute I’m all snuggly with the 5 yo, then screaming fights with the 13 yo…lol. I do get sad sometimes, thinking we won’t be having anymore children, I think I just need a new puppy. Or some snuggle time with my friends new baby.
Thank you so much for letting me live vicariously through your pregnancy!! I’m praying for you & your family & can’t wait to hear about your next adventure!!
Er, sorry I’m not a mom yet so I have no baby tips to give, but can I just say I love your top in the picture!
I LOVE that you’re sharing about your pregnancy and everyone knows that the world revolves around you when you’re a preggie princess. :)
As far as what’s good these days for babies, here are my suggestions:
– A sling or one of those wrappy things so you can wear baby. Mine was very colic-y so this was how I kept him calm a lot of the time.
- A “relaxing sounds” machine. They have ones out there that will play sounds that mimic Mommy’s heart beat in the womb which are supposed to be nice. My little one seemed to like rain and white noise sounds best. These are great for you to help you relax when you need to as well…
- We also loved our Fisher Price swing. I think it’s pretty standard now, but make sure you find the ones that run on electricity. I have heard from other parents that the travel one was a great asset to have as well, but we just didn’t have the $$ at the time to get it.
- Swaddle blankets. There were two brands I loved. The first was the Ultimate Receiving Blanket by Swaddle Designs. These were cotton flannelish ones that are very fashionable. The second was Kidpottomas (sp?) Swaddle Set, but I’m thinking they may have discontinued this product. I liked it because it was stretchy cotton jersey that could keep the little guy contained.
- Sleep Sacks. These are great alternatives to blankies in the crib. Just make sure you have them dressed in a long sleeve onesie so their little arms don’t get chilly.
- Laugh, but get some of those disposable bed pads from a hospital supply store. They are a great life saver as far as when little one goes more than his/her diaper can hold…we saved ourselves from having to change crib sheets a lot.
- Bibs – My favorite were the Bumpkins ones – they’re terry cloth and actually caught a lot of the spit up.
- Burp Clothes – honestly, I found some cute hand towels and used them.
- If you’ll be breast feeding they have wonderful covers out there now and I would definitely suggest that to give you both some comfy privacy!
- High chair wise, we got one by the First Years that straps to a kitchen chair. Loved it.
- A floor play toy so he can do his tummy time and have some fun.
That’s a pretty decent list so I’ll stop! I hope some of those are helpful for you!! :)
- A bath seat – was super handy in keeping him safe while sink bathing.
i am sure alot of these will be repeats but that just shows how bad you need them!
–boppy http://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Pillow-with-Slipcover-Owls/dp/B00473YTZS/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1337181022&sr=1-3
–BUMBO http://www.amazon.com/Bumbo-407-Baby-Seat-Pink/dp/B000VRPB6K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337180893&sr=8-1
–COMFY CADDY BATHER http://www.amazon.com/Leachco-Comfy-Caddy-Bather-Shower/dp/B00078EK9C
–ROCK AND PLAY http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Deluxe-Lightweight-Sleeper-Snugabunny/dp/B005IWM73S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337181478&sr=8-2
– SWADDLE ME (laugh all you want but this is amazing!!!) http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-SwaddleMe-Microfleece-Green/dp/B0038JDLVU/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1337181516&sr=1-3
– PERSONALIZED BINKEE’S http://www.mypacifier.com/Products.aspx?SalesArticleID=51201
I love hearing updates on your pregnancy! Your pictures with Jon David are so cute, too. As for baby products there are a couple that I couldn’t have lived without for my baby boy who is 6 months old now. A lot of them have already been said but I will add my agreement for my rock and play bassinet, moby wrap, the bumbo chair and the fisher price high chair that sits on the kitchen chair. One other thing that I have and couldn’t live without is my ergobaby carrier. I don’t know if someone already mentioned it but it is fantastic. When Logan was really little the moby was great for snuggling him up, but once he was a little bigger you really can’t beat the ergobaby. It can be a front pack, backpack or hip carrier. We really love the hip carrier way because he can face forward but isn’t directly in my way of doing things or seeing in front of me. Anyhow, congratulations again and I can’t wait for more updates!
I agree the Moby wrap is awesome and so versatile. We also loved our Bumbo. My daughter was bad about not wanting to lay down and the Bumbo definitely helped with that so I didn’t have to hold her sitting up half the day. For me the most important thing is our baby monitor. Our second son was sick when he was born, spent two weeks in NICU, and had several apnic spells when he was there. We heard about the Angelcare sound and movement monitor and I knew I had to have it to give myself peace of of mind. I’m glad we did. A couple days after we brought him home he was napping and I heard the monitor go off. It stopped before I got to him but when I got in there I could tell he had had another spell of apnea. The skin over his lips had started to turn blue. So I definitely think the monitor saved his life. The alarm on the monitor was loud enough to stimulate him to breathe again. When I found out I was pregnant again I knew I would be using the monitor for the next baby too. When I compare how well I’ve slept with these two babies using the monitor versus how terribly I slept with my first son because I was up constantly checking on him I definitely think the monitor is a necessity. And its reasonably priced. I also agree that sleep sacks are wonderful. My daughter used to kick her blanket off then she would get cold and wake up. She loved her sleep sacks though.
You are too cute with your belly! Glad you are starting to feel better, I still remember how horrible that part was!
You are soooo super cute with your belly! You look fantastic! And I LOVE the pictures of you with Jon David when he is measuring your belly! He always has the best looks on his face! I love reading your blog everyday so it is exciting to read your pregnancy updates now! Take care :)
We couldn’t have lived w/o a swing that moved both front and back and side to side…I think it was by Graco and was called Little lamb or something like that. And for when their older, the jumperoo! We got one that had a little bit of head support for when he’d put his head back, but that kid loved that thing!
Congrads to you and your family! I love the expression on
your son’s face. It makes you wonder what he’s thinking.lol
I love all your updates! It’s so fun :) and your son, SO adorable & funny! You’re gorgeous!
I love these updates, Kristan. And I stand by my claim that you are seriously the cutest pregnant girl – ever!
I second the Pack ‘n Play with bassinet attachment. Mine also had a changing table attachment! So convenient! We had a “real” bassinet too, a hand-me-down, but never had to use it! My little boy was only five pounds when we came home, and I found that the angle that the baby is at while lying down (head slightly elevated) was best for preventing the chin-to-chest thing that happens when they are that tiny. We used it until our son was about twelve pounds and ready for the regular crib.
I enjoy reading your pregnancy updates. I’m almost 7 weeks along with my precious baby(FIRST!!) and I like to get a little bit of an idea of what to expect!
You should definitely check out The Fitnessista’s family page @ fitnessista.com, she recently had a baby and did lots of product & book reviews throughout her pregnancy that were super informative. And I love the updates, I hope you keep doing them!
Ps. You look so adorable pregnant :) absolutely glowing!
My little ones are 20, 17 and 12 SO, I won’t give ya any baby advice. I do want to let you know that I am enjoying following along with you. Have a great day!
You are beautiful! Isn’t it fun to grow a little person? :)
Have you tried a full body pillow to help you sleep? I had bad back pain when I was pregnant with my daughter Claire, but then I got a body pillow & it helped.
Congratulations! So exciting! Love the picture! It’s awesome!
So glad you asked! I’m pregnant also so that means the world revolves around the both of us, right?? (right?..?) Anyhoo…I haven’t read through the comments so I’m betting I might be the only one daring enough to say all I’m about to say.
I’m a big fan of breastfeeding, baby led weaning, co sleeping, NOT vaccinating, babywearing, keeping boys as intact as we keep girls, and all that other “crunchy” stuff (except if you ever saw me you’d laugh hysterically that anyone could ever call me crunchy..I’m from Bklyn and have been referred to as a guidette all my life..even though I’m not Italian.)
I’m mentioning *just in case* any of these things ever crossed your mind or ever will cross your mind and you want to know more from one high maintenance, dessert-loving mom to another :) I’m also a nurse so I sometimes assume that lends me some credibility…
Oh and one of my fave products is the Boppy!
Wishing you an awesome pregnancy <3
You look lovely! Congratulations! I was in a similar situation. I was told I could not have more children after my son was born. Then, guess what? Yup. 4 years later. Surprise! My husband will sometimes remind me he would have liked a sports car, but we wouldn’t change a thing.
My favorite baby item was called the “Ultimate Crib Sheet” I buy it for every baby shower. It’s a soft, white, water(pee) proof back that snaps onto the pretty fitted crib sheet. Come in handy in the middle of the night when baby has wet through everything. As you may remember, to get the sheet off a crib mattress you have to pretty much take the entire thing apart. Not fun at 3a.m. when you are deliriously tired. This just pulls right off. I’ve even done it with a crying baby in one arm. I always had 2, just so i could throw a clean one on after the wet one was removed. You must get one. I insist. I was given one by my friend with triplets, who could not live without it! They carry them at Babies R Us.
Good luck. Stay well
Congratulations!! I hope you and baby stay happy and healthy through the whole thing. :)
I just put together a list of baby gear that for a pregnant girlfriend of mine. Really, I just went through everything I use day to day with my kiddo (who’s almost 7 months) and included some links for some of it. If you want to check it out, I posted it on my blog:
http://girl-dog-oven.blogspot.com/2012/04/first-time-mommy-tips-for-baby.html
Good luck!!
I have to recommend the beet swaddle blankets ever. They are made by aiden&anais and I have started giving them to all new moms I know! They are super soft and extra large. My now one year old still carries hers everywhere. :)
Hi, I just started reading your blog because my new friend, Darla of Bakingdom, talks about you (in a good way) every time we hang out.
Anyway, I wanted to tell you about my favorite baby product. It’s the Indie stroller from Bumbleride. It is an all terrain stroller. My husband didn’t understand why we needed an all terrain stroller until we went to the state fair and had to walk across a parking lot covered with a thick layer of gravel. People with regular strollers had to pick their strollers up and carry them across, but my Bumbleride went like a champ. It’s light weight (20 lbs), comes in an assortment of cool colors, and fits nicely in the trunk of my car. It was a little spendy, but I think it was worth every penny.
Have fun hunting for vampires!