The BEST baby gear for your baby's FIRST year

Looking back here are some things we couldn't live without during Hunter's first year of life!

1  Ergo baby carrier: Get this new updated 360 version--|CLICK HERE|
Hunter LOVED being held close, it was so soothing for that fussy 5-7pm time at home, and I was able to have 2 hands free to prepare dinner, score! Throw this baby in your diaper bag for easy grocery shopping too…no more pushing baby in the cart and running out of room for food!

2  Exercise ball. YEP! this was a LIFESAVER! Use this size to save your back-- |CLICK HERE|
The Bouncing motion is so soothing for baby, just like in the womb! This was hands down better than a rocking chair…and it's a great workout for your bum while you bounce.

3  Quality Stroller like the Bob (or another GREAT quality stroller). This is my favorite version-- |CLICK HERE|
I have used other strollers and the ease of these tires makes getting around so convenient!

4  Video Monitor. It is SO worth it to pay the extra to be able to SEE what baby is doing--|CLICK HERE|
We had quite the scare around Hunters first birthday, he had a febrile seizure. (more about that in a different post). The noise alerted me, but the fact that I was able to see what was happening in the video made me rush in there, rather than waiting to see if I could here him stop fussing. This monitor was truly a lifesaver.

5  Baby Activity Seat. I highly recommend this Baby Einstein version-- |CLICK HERE|
Hunter LOVED this! The great thing is he was getting exercise while staying stationary.

6  Infant gas drops, save by buying online-- |CLICK HERE|
My little guy had such terrible gas, and even though he was exclusively breastfed, and I changed my diet as much as possible, the gas persisted! So the doctor advised he received gas drops before each feeding. They work only in babies GI track, so there is no neurolgical side effects from using this too often. These work wonders!

7  Baby Bath Sling, the easiest way to clean baby in the sink-- |CLICK HERE|
This compact light little number works well in my kitchen sink, and supports baby's head! I used this until Hunter was almost 6 months!

8  Breast pump--|CLICK HERE|
You should be able to contact your health insurance provider to cover some, if not ALL the cost of your breast pump! There are MANY options out there, but I highly suggest that you get a pump if you are nursing, even if you don't "plan" on pumping, pumping is a great way to check your milk supply output!

9  White Noise Sound Machine...you NEED this! --|CLICK HERE|
My entire family uses this machine! Baby loves it because it reminds them of the soothing sound from being in the womb. It also blocks out any noise that could cause sleep disruptions (dog, alarm, other siblings)

10  Car Seat Mirror…see baby while you drive--|CLICK HERE|
This pivot mirror works well, at all different angels for a clear view of your little one.

How to SNEAK in more veggies for Baby/Toddler: PIZZA!

Who doesn't love Pizza? Sneak in more veggies for your baby/toddler by mixing yummy vegetables into the red sauce.

WHAT YOU NEED:

1) Assorted veggies: I used Cauliflower, carrots, broccoli and zucchini.
2) Peeler
3) Blender (this one is great for the price & it has a food processor! Click here )
4) Crock Pot (THIS one is amazing:)
5) Whole Wheat Pizza Crust (I use this brand CLICK)
6) Assorted Seasonings: I used italian, garlic, minced onion
7) Mozzarella cheese (or really anything baby loves)
8) 1 Can of crushed tomatoes
9) 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Step 1: Wash, Peel and Slice up veggies

 Step 2: Place veggies in crockpot, with crushed tomatoes and seasonings. Set time on Low for 6-8 hours. (It will smell DELISH)

Step 3: Brush whole wheat crust with olive oil, then spread the sauce/veggie mixture on top of crust. Top with Cheese and meat if desired. (I used shredded chicken).

Step 4: Bake in preheated oven at 400 for 8-10 minutes (or until crust is light brown and toasted) and Serve warm, your kid will love it and YOU will love that you have snuck in some more veggies :)

Baby's first year: 5 Things I never knew!

I cant believe a year has passed since Hunter was born. I've been reflecting on things "I wish I knew" before we had him to better prepare for this roller coaster of a year. But of course as any mom will tell you, the challenges and uncertainty that we faced last year were completely overshadowed by the pure joy raising a baby has been. (Super sappy but true). God has blessed us this past year and on his birthday I just wanted to shout "we made it!" 

Here are a few things I've learned as a first time mom in baby's first year.

1) Get out!

Yep, get out! Go outside! Run an errand even! I was so focused on keeping the baby on the schedule that I forgot that I needed to get out! (It is possible to do this and still keep baby on the schedule by the way) When Hunter was about five months old I really started feeling sad during the day, not depressed or anything, just kind of struggling with feeling overwhelmed, and feeling like I was not getting anything accomplished. I joined stroller strides... It is a wonderful program that gets moms together for an hour most days of the week to work out with their babies! We meet in the park or in malls before the stores open, runaround, workout, sing to the babies etc. I got an awesome workout, and Hunter got to socialize with the other kids. This was life-changing for me! I realized the value of a good community, and what a solid workout does to your mood. So if you don't have a program like this, I would encourage you to find something else to do! I'll be writing a post soon on outings for you and your little one, so stay tuned :)

2) You won't always know WHY

This was one of the harder lessons for me to learn. I am so calculated and I try to have everything boiled down to an exact science, but that is not at all how babies work! Once you figure out one problem, the next one is brewing right around the corner. First you wonder why your baby is waking early from naps, then you figure out it's because they're hungry...A few days after that they start waking up early again and it takes you two weeks to figure out that they were popping a tooth! OYE! so I had to change my attitude and obsessive behaviors of trying to figure out the WHY, and focused on the WHEN. The WHEN symbolized the reassurance that everything is just for a short period of time, just a quick season of little trial that helped further shape me into the person I am supposed to be: to become more patient, slow to anger, gracious, and thankful. Lord knows that it's going to take many more trials to shape me into this person! So every time a rough day loomed and I would shout out in frustration "WHY!" I would remember when: when it passes it will be a fleeting memory, and me and baby will come out the other side all the better.

3) Never say never!

Have you seen that commercial for State Farm? where the couple always says "we will never do_____", and they always end up doing it? Ya... That was me! Call it judgmental, call it naivety, call it what you want... but I will never say never again! You just don't know where you will be in that stage of life, so you can't proclaim you will never do something if you've never been there! "I will never let my kid have sugar!" ....  My boy has definitely had sugar, just look at the first birthday pictures of that huge cake he is dominating. "I will never post pictures of my baby all the time!" ... Um, so guilty! ... You get the picture! So, I have committed to never say never.

4) Accept Help!

Okay so you have this massive to do list, and you don't think you can get what's most important done in time, you know what I learned you kind of have to do you? ACCEPT HELP! Wow this is a hard one! This speaks right to our pride that we can do it all! There's no shame in accepting help from friends or family members that are willing to lend a hand, even if they want to babysit while you run some errands! Take the help! Don't rob somebody the gift of helping you because you are too proud ;)

5) Give grace!

To yourself, your body, your spouse, pretty much any when you come in contact with on a regular basis, they need grace! I say "to yourself" first because this is probably the area where people struggle the most. Have you checked out Pinterest lately? How many people are making their own baby food, using cloth diapers, and have lost all the baby weight within a matter of days after birth! I mean come on! Where are you hiding the nanny and personal trainer? Ah! I need so much Grace! And you noticed how I mentioned your spouse? Yep, they need grace to! This is a whole new world to have somebody else to share your attention with! Most guys are new at the whole baby thing altogether! So if they don't ooooo and ahhhh over your child every single moment of the day, give them grace! Its all new:)