Mommy's Favorites

As I sit here watching my baby take his afternoon nap, I look around at some of the things that have been my favorites while being a mom. Things that I am thankful to have and would recommend to anyone expecting a baby, or anyone who is already a mom wanting new "stuff."



#1 Plain ole' white Gerber onesies.

They come in a pack of 5. Mills wears them at home when we're not going anywhere. They're inexpensive, so if he spits up on them, tee tees on them or we get them stained in any form or fashion, its not a big loss. He also sleeps in them on warmer nights.


#2 Summer Infant Best-view color handheld monitor.



This video monitor is the BEST! We use it all of the time. It has a 2.5" screen for a great view of the baby. It will pan 360 degrees, move up and down and zoom in all with the touch of a button. It has various volume control, night vision, and you can add cameras for different rooms of the house. All of this controlled with the handheld screen. Also, if you turn the volume off, it has a "scale" if you will that measures sound, so if Mills is really crying, it turns from green to red. It is a tad bit expensive at $230 (Babies "R" Us), but I bought ours with monetary gifts on ebay for $150, new in box, and free shipping.



#3 Boppy Cradle and Comfort Bouncer


This papasan style bouncy seat keeps Mills soothed with its large frame and cushioned cradle and vibrations. It also plays music, but we don't use it most of the time. We can put him in it and not worry about him falling out, like with other bouncers. I usually don't strap him in, because I am usually nearby.



#4 Gripe Water


My sister and a friend told me about this stuff. I guess that its what our parents used to call "temper drops." Maybe? There are several types of "gripe water" on the market. It is an herbal supplement used to ease the gas and stomach discomfort of babies occasionally associated with colic, hiccups, and teething. I bought this kind because it did not have to be refrigerated, and I can keep it with me at all times. You can get it at Walgreens. Erik and I use Mylicon too, but usually alternate between the two.



#5 Kissy Kissy gowns and hats







Found at the freckled frog, these are my absolute favorite! They are so comfy and soft. I wish I had one in my size! I love the hats too. The gowns allow for easier access during diaper changes during those poop and pee pee every 5 minute days. I prefer these much more than the footed sleepers. All of those snaps become difficult when you have a baby that squirms as much as mine. I frequent "the frog" to scope out the new patterns every so often, and to see if there are any that Mills just can't live without, which are all of them. I sent the one above with my nurse at the hospital so that the nursery staff could put it on Mills after his first bath. He looked adorable! It was much better than those over sized kimono tops that they put them in.



#6 Pampers Swaddlers diapers



The softest diapers I've found. They have a yellow stripe in the front that turns green after Mills "tee-tees." I've heard that after size 1, there is no stripe, but the Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive diapers do have it, so we may be switching when Mills reaches the appropriate weight. I haven't had any problem with leakage either.



#7 My "Best Chair Storytime Series" swivel-glider and rocker





This by far has been the best purchase. It is the most comfortable chair!! I could literally sit in it for hours, and there are nights that I have. I have fallen asleep several times. This style is the "Patoka." My friend and co-worker Rachel got one for her nursery and told me about it. So, I decided to check it out. It is the perfect size for me, because I am so small. If you are taller, you may want to check out a bigger style. My feet touch the ground in this one, which is more than I can say for most other chairs! I bought mine at Galleria Furniture & Interiors in Atoka.



#8 Tavi Raine receiving blankets


Also at the freckled frog, these blankets are very soft and hold up very well in the wash. Love'em!



#9 The First Years Night and Day bottle warmer

Now, I will be the first to admit that I did NOT want a bottle warmer. I have heard numerous negative reviews on them, so I decided to be old fashioned and heat my bottles in a cup of warm water. Okay, thats all fine and dandy if your nursery is downstairs and you want to wait 5 minutes to get your bottle warmed up. I however, can't! My nursery is upstairs, and as you all know, my baby has had tummy troubles and there are many nights when he is screaming bloody murder. I don't have time to run down to the fridge and get a bottle of his formula supplement and heat it up. (Erik and I are upstairs now too.)

This warmer has a cooler on the back for 2 bottles, and will heat a bottle in about 1 minute or less depending on the size of the bottle and amt. of formula in it. So, half-way through nursing, I reach over, push a button, and viola!...heated bottle and HAPPY BABY! I couldn't resist, so I gave in. It has been great. Although, I do use the old-fashioned heat in a cup bottle warming method downstairs.

#10 Plain ole' white burping towels. Is that what they are? ( We "crept" them from the hospital.) I came home with about 5 of these. We use them for everything from burping to spit-up, sprinkling tee-tee, etc. Again, not fancy, but no loss!