My little man has been with us for as long as he was in my belly! He's sporting 2 teeth, tan little toes you just can't help but nibble on and a ton of personality. It's been a crazy, amazing 9 months. I can't believe the changes we've seen in him.
I remember being a big ball of anxiety before his arrival, worrying about having all the "right things" to make those early weeks and months easier. Now, nine months later I'm happy to share the stuff that had real staying power. The toys and products I've used virtually everyday and those that have saved my sanity on more than one occasion.
1. Little Giraffe Satin Trim Chenille Blanky & Blanket: We have over a dozen baby blankets but this is the only one that sends me into a total panic if I misplace it. I had never heard of Little Giraffe until Knox's aunts got him the blanket/blanky set for Christmas last year. It has not left his side since that day. He snuggles with the tiny blanky at every nap and it is a bedtime must.
2. Manhattan Toy Whoozit: I have no idea why this thing is so fascinating to babies but it was one of the first toys he showed any interest in and to this day is the first toy he reaches for at playtime.
3. Sophie the Giraffe: Admittedly, $20 (give or take) is not chump change for a teething toy. But from the moments his little pudgy fingers could grasp, he was holding Sophie's neck and shoving her face in his mouth. Now that he's older, he likes twisting her all around to get a good, loud squeak out of her. I literally DO NOT leave the house without Sophie. Stroller walks, drives to the grocery store, play dates...she is a constant in my diaper bag.
4. Bugaboo Cameleon: I know. $900+ for a stroller makes me gag too. Luckily we got ours very, very lightly used and have never looked back. We have already gotten SO MUCH use out of this thing. I purchase the Graco car seat adapter for it (which essentially turns it into a Snap 'n Go) and used it whenever we were out and about with him in his carrier. When he was small, the bassinet on the Bugaboo was perfect for afternoon walks. Even in the midst of winter (albeit a Carolina winter), I always felt like he was cozy and warm in his bassinet while I pushed him along. Now that he's in the more upright seat, I am loving the 3 different recline positions, including one that lays him all the way flat for naps on the go. It has the deepest canopy I think I've ever seen on a stroller which comes in very handy to keep him almost completely shaded on those afternoon walks to the pool. We have an umbrella stroller too which I love for air travel (make no mistake about it, this Cadillac of strollers is NOT compact) but you can't beat the Bugaboo for easy, one hand maneuverability and comfort.
5. Aiden + Anais Muslin Wraps: These gauzy blankets are so multifunctional, it's ridiculous. Early on I swaddled with them. Then I tucked them into the stroller in case a walk got chillier than expected. They'll even double as a burp cloth in a pinch. They are super light weight and take up virtually no room in your diaper bag. For that reason, I always have one in there.
6. Fisher Price Luv-U-Zoo Jumperoo: I was dead set on keeping any kind of big, plastic, "Excerwalkaroo" thing out of our house. We registered for none of it. But at 4 months my mom got us this jumper and OH MY GOD, was life better after this came into our lives. Suddenly, I could cook dinner, fold laundry or GASP! even update my blog all while Knox was happily and independently bouncing away. I am not one to tell an expecting mom "you need this" but listen to me - YOU NEED THIS (or some kind of jumper thingy).
7. Tiny Love Sweet Island Dreams Mobile: I agonized over what to do about a mobile in this post. After going without for a while, I finally caved to function over form and got this plastic monstrosity. And y'know what? Knox LOVES it. In the early weeks, it would buy me a few precious minutes of his happiness or even a few extra minutes at the tail end of a nap. Doesn't sound like much but any new mom will tell you, that is PRICELESS. And yes...worth looking at all that insane plastic spinning above his head. The Sweet Island Dreams Mobile plays 4 different tunes, all of the classical music variety. There's also a great, non-obtrusive nightlight and the little animals don't just spin around like a normal mobile. In addition they each individually also spin. But that's not what makes this mobile awesome. No...what makes it awesome is that it comes with a remote control! I don't know why every mobile doesn't come with a remote. It's genius. I just hang it on the door to his nursery and I can turn it on or off and remain completely incognito.
8. JJ Cole Essentials Blanket: You spend a lot of time on the floor/ground with a baby. This blanket has a nice, lightly padded surface, is easily wiped clean and has a waterproof backing. Perfect for the beach or those outdoor play dates on damp grass. It's also nice and big at 5'x5' which is great for when the whole family is out together. And it all folds up neatly and Velcros closed.
9. The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton: My college roommate and very close friend gave us this book as a gift. It's a great length - less than 10 pages which is perfect for keeping his attention before bed. Best of all, it's short enough that I've completely memorized it word for word. So if I'm ever caught away from home at bedtime without this book (like when we were at the beach for a week and I forgot to pack the book!) I can just recite the words and he immediately recognizes it as bedtime.
2. Manhattan Toy Whoozit: I have no idea why this thing is so fascinating to babies but it was one of the first toys he showed any interest in and to this day is the first toy he reaches for at playtime.
3. Sophie the Giraffe: Admittedly, $20 (give or take) is not chump change for a teething toy. But from the moments his little pudgy fingers could grasp, he was holding Sophie's neck and shoving her face in his mouth. Now that he's older, he likes twisting her all around to get a good, loud squeak out of her. I literally DO NOT leave the house without Sophie. Stroller walks, drives to the grocery store, play dates...she is a constant in my diaper bag.
4. Bugaboo Cameleon: I know. $900+ for a stroller makes me gag too. Luckily we got ours very, very lightly used and have never looked back. We have already gotten SO MUCH use out of this thing. I purchase the Graco car seat adapter for it (which essentially turns it into a Snap 'n Go) and used it whenever we were out and about with him in his carrier. When he was small, the bassinet on the Bugaboo was perfect for afternoon walks. Even in the midst of winter (albeit a Carolina winter), I always felt like he was cozy and warm in his bassinet while I pushed him along. Now that he's in the more upright seat, I am loving the 3 different recline positions, including one that lays him all the way flat for naps on the go. It has the deepest canopy I think I've ever seen on a stroller which comes in very handy to keep him almost completely shaded on those afternoon walks to the pool. We have an umbrella stroller too which I love for air travel (make no mistake about it, this Cadillac of strollers is NOT compact) but you can't beat the Bugaboo for easy, one hand maneuverability and comfort.
5. Aiden + Anais Muslin Wraps: These gauzy blankets are so multifunctional, it's ridiculous. Early on I swaddled with them. Then I tucked them into the stroller in case a walk got chillier than expected. They'll even double as a burp cloth in a pinch. They are super light weight and take up virtually no room in your diaper bag. For that reason, I always have one in there.
6. Fisher Price Luv-U-Zoo Jumperoo: I was dead set on keeping any kind of big, plastic, "Excerwalkaroo" thing out of our house. We registered for none of it. But at 4 months my mom got us this jumper and OH MY GOD, was life better after this came into our lives. Suddenly, I could cook dinner, fold laundry or GASP! even update my blog all while Knox was happily and independently bouncing away. I am not one to tell an expecting mom "you need this" but listen to me - YOU NEED THIS (or some kind of jumper thingy).
7. Tiny Love Sweet Island Dreams Mobile: I agonized over what to do about a mobile in this post. After going without for a while, I finally caved to function over form and got this plastic monstrosity. And y'know what? Knox LOVES it. In the early weeks, it would buy me a few precious minutes of his happiness or even a few extra minutes at the tail end of a nap. Doesn't sound like much but any new mom will tell you, that is PRICELESS. And yes...worth looking at all that insane plastic spinning above his head. The Sweet Island Dreams Mobile plays 4 different tunes, all of the classical music variety. There's also a great, non-obtrusive nightlight and the little animals don't just spin around like a normal mobile. In addition they each individually also spin. But that's not what makes this mobile awesome. No...what makes it awesome is that it comes with a remote control! I don't know why every mobile doesn't come with a remote. It's genius. I just hang it on the door to his nursery and I can turn it on or off and remain completely incognito.
8. JJ Cole Essentials Blanket: You spend a lot of time on the floor/ground with a baby. This blanket has a nice, lightly padded surface, is easily wiped clean and has a waterproof backing. Perfect for the beach or those outdoor play dates on damp grass. It's also nice and big at 5'x5' which is great for when the whole family is out together. And it all folds up neatly and Velcros closed.
9. The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton: My college roommate and very close friend gave us this book as a gift. It's a great length - less than 10 pages which is perfect for keeping his attention before bed. Best of all, it's short enough that I've completely memorized it word for word. So if I'm ever caught away from home at bedtime without this book (like when we were at the beach for a week and I forgot to pack the book!) I can just recite the words and he immediately recognizes it as bedtime.
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