once a teacher...

I found myself in the airport the other day, returning from my Nashville trip. I was playing with Blythe and the four kids in the family next to us were quite interested in my cute daughter. I asked them their ages and, per the usual, the oldest son told me, speaking for his three younger siblings, "I'm 7, he's 5, Sofia's 4 and Zoe's 2." 

"I'm the only one in school," he continued.

"Nuh-uh, I'm in school too," piped up the other boy smiling at Blythe. 

"He just goes to preschool…" the eldest continued. 

Sensing a little fight brewing I chimed in, "Well did you know I'm a teacher?" 

And then my brain caught up. Nuh-uh, Kels, you're not any more. 

"Oh, what do you teach?" The mom decided to join our conversation. 

I didn't want to seem like a crazy lady that was talking to her innocent children, so instead of saying, "Oh, actually, I'm not anymore. I lied to your 7 and 5 year old sons," I said, "High school Language Arts." And then melted into my seat. 

I don't even really know how it happened, but it did. I wasn't ashamed of being a stay at home mother, as for all I know this woman traveling in the middle of the week with her 4 kids could have very easily been one too. But "I'm a teacher" was just engrained on my tongue in moments like that. 

I returned home, avoiding lying to anyone else on the plane, and returned to life as usual. This morning I went and filled up my car and while at the gas station I heard, "MRS. I…!!" I turned and saw a former student of mine walking my way, waving a piece of paper. 

I had taught this student for two years, his  sophomore and junior year. At the end of his sophomore year he had given me a piece of folded up notebook paper that simply said, "THANK YOU FOR LISTENING ."

"Guess what I just got?! My college acceptance letter! I got in!" 

I proceeded to congratulate him, tell him how wonderful it was, ask him about the school and what his major would be. 

And then we were both off on our separate paths again. 

And I realized I hadn't really lied to the family in the airport. I'm still a teacher of sorts. It's still in me. 

grace

Last week Blythe and I hopped on an airplane and headed to Nashville, leaving a sad daddy behind for a week spent with my sister and Blythe's cousins. It was…active…loud…a bit chaotic…and so full of love and wonderfulness. 

I left my camera's SIM card there, so pictures will have to come later, but for now here is a little story about something I learned:

If you've ever spent much time around a toddler, you know that they will remind you of your sin nature quite often. Even well behaved, sweet, disciplined toddlers like my 3 year old niece, Caroline. First you see that side glance, surveying the area for any prospective disciplinarians who may be watching. Then the slow, calculated move to snatch the toy out of a sibling's hand, or unroll the toilet paper, or sidewalk chalk on the house. 

And you are reminded again that we are born ready to sin and go against what we know is right. 

While I was visiting, Caroline was recovering from a bit of a rash that had been the culprit of a few potty accidents. She was feeling better, the rash was pretty much gone, but she was being a bit stubborn about going to the bathroom still. It was the cause of a few meltdowns, and inevitably a few more accidents.

One evening as Dan and I were sitting at the table feeding Ellie and Blythe, Kali and Caroline were back in the bathroom, trying once AGAIN. Caroline started out alone in the bathroom, but lured Kali in with her sweet rendition of, "Read a book to me, read a book to me, hi-ho-the-dairy-o, I need you to read a book to me." 

Kali proceeded to the bathroom just off the kitchen to encourage Caroline to "just go potty," where she discovered that Caroline's panties were indeed, not quite dry. 

"Caroline, what is going on?!" Kali sternly questioned her daughter. "You know how to get to the bathroom. You canNOT keep having accidents." 

Caroline, pants around her ankles, reaches out and gently grabs ahold of Kali's face. "Mommy, are you going to give me grace?" 

Of course, Dan and I chuckled a bit as we overheard her sweet remarks, but Kali came out just shaking her head. She KNEW Caroline knew better. She KNEW Caroline was capable of making it the bathroom. She KNEW Caroline was just being stubborn. Yet those sweet hands on her cheeks, and those blue eyes pleading for grace….what is a mom to do?

And isn't that a little bit like our lives? Aren't we all having accidents all day long? Don't we usually KNOW better, but choose to be stubborn instead? 

And yet when we reach out to God, covered in our own mess, and ask for GRACE, He simply gives it to us. He helps us clean up, he hugs us, shows us the better way to choose next time, and gives us GRACE. We are not so far away from being toddlers ourselves, now are we? 

Pin that Piece!

Do you guys out there on the internet know about Pinterest? [Of course you do, who am I kidding]. 

When I first learned about Pinterest I was determined not to join. Why? I knew I would like it, but I HATED the name. I know that may seem like a silly reason, but you know me and words. And "PINTEREST"? Really? I mean, I get it people, it's a PIN board that shows my INTERESTS… pINTEREST…but seriously? I hate it. 

But never the less, I bucked up and got on the bandwagon. [But I still try to avoid the word as much as possible].

Brent has come to appreciate this site as well, as he has gotten to try out a lot of its creations with me. Once I was cruising around and he looked over my shoulder and saw a recipe and said, "Pin that piece!!!" 

I try to only pin things that I think I will really try out. I see some people with thousands of pins and I know they will never get to everything :-). 

Here are the things I have tried so far:

I'm not going to take the time to link up pictures as well, but if you click on the link it will take you to the website and there will be a picture there-- for you visual learners ;-) 

FOOD [Brent's favorite]

Made THIS WILD RICE CASSEROLE last night. We loved it. It made a lot, and I always like recipes that do that because we aren't too good for left overs around here. 

PIZZA PINWHEELS.  I made ours with ham and pepperoni. Brent was wanting Stromboli, and I didn't have time to make it, and this was a nice alternative. I think kids would like it. 

CROCK POT BAKED POTATO SOUP- I literally threw ingredients in crock pot in less than 15 minutes. I didn't have a food processor, but used my immersion blender to mix in cream cheese at end. It was delicious and makes PLENTY if you like to freeze soup. We didn't add the toppings and it was just as good.

COWBOY CASSEROLE-  If you can get past the look of it dished up on your plate…it is quite tasty! Brent LOVED this one, and I thought it was okay. I'm not a huge fan of the texture of corn in casseroles, but I did like the taste. Brent liked it even better as leftovers, whereas I liked it straight out of oven because the tots were crispy.

CROCK POT CHICKEN PARM-  I wasn't super impressed with this one. I've posted THIS RECIPE awhile back that I like much better and is really just as simple. 

JOHN WAYNE CASSEROLE-  I was a little skeptical of this, but thought I'd give it a whirl since it looked fairly simple: Brent LOVED it and I thought it was quite tasty as well. I substituted a can of Rotel instead of tomatoes and jalepenos.

LASAGNA ROLL UPS-   Yes, yes, and YES! These were awesome. They are made with chicken instead of traditional beef, and for that reason I think they would even be delicious with a white sauce if you have anyone who can't have tomato sauce [like my dad]. They served up really pretty also. I didn't have any feta cheese on hand, so I used mozzarella. 

PARMESAN BAKED POTATOE HALVES-  Mine didn't look as pretty as the picture but they still were pretty tasty. Brent liked taking them for lunches. The smaller potatoes will work best for this. 

SAUSAGE CHEESE MUFFINS-  I have made these multiple times and we LOVE THEM! I made them when we had friends over one time and they thought they sort of tasted like Red Lobster's Cheddar biscuits plus sausage plus a little kick…and I think that's a pretty great description. We've had them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! They reheat wonderfully. 

LOADED POTATO BUFFALO CHICKEN CASSEROLE-  Another I was a bit skeptical of but we really liked it. I didn't use hot sauce, as I usually tame the heat in recipes like this. Instead I used the same amount of water [as it called for hot sauce], and added a little southwestern seasoning to the water before I added to the rest. It was still plenty "warm" for us but still tasty!

CROCK POT ITALIAN CHICKEN- I just realized the link is wrong right now, but here is the recipe:  Crockpot Italian Chicken: 4 chicken breasts, 1 packet Zesty Italian dressing seasoning, 1 8 oz. cream cheese (softened), 2 cans cream of chicken soup; Cook on low for 4 hours. If sauce is too thick, add a little milk. Serve over pasta. We liked this! I used 1/2-3/4 of the packet because a friend had made it and said it was too strong otherwise. Very creamy and delicious [I'm not saying any of these recipes are HEALTHY…:)]

CHICKEN ROLL UPS- I made these one night because I thought they looked easy. They were easy, but not very tasty. At least we didn't think so. I think I threw most of them away :-( Hate when that happens. 

FROZEN CHOCOLATE BANANA BITES-   I skipped the coconut. These were tasty but almost too cold to eat!

ANDES MINT COOKIES:  These were the cookies that inspired Brent's "Pin that piece!" quote. They were very good and super, super, super easy. 

CRAFTY THINGS I'VE TRIED:

YEAR OF DATE NIGHTS BINDER:  I made this as a wedding gift for some good friends. I modified a few of the dates/ created some new ones that fit them better, but used this as a template.  It took quite a bit of time and got a little spendy [apparently my aunt Lois loves that term?] by the end, but I think it beats giving a 30-40 dollar gift card.

GRATITUDE CHART: I made a variation of this with my niece, Caroline. We put it on poster board, and it worked really well. I also simply cut regular envelopes in half, and used index cards for inserts. It looked super cute and she loved it. I will post a picture when I write about my recent visit. 

SALT DOUGH FOOTPRINTS:   This isn't modeling clay quality, but it works really well. I hope to post a picture of this creation sometime soon as well. 

LEAF CROWN: I took Caroline for a walk and we picked up "cool" leaves, then returned home and made this crown. She loved it. It was later something she wanted to add to her gratitude chart as something she was thankful for. 

MESS FREE ART:   Again, this was a great craft with Caroline [age 3]. I modified this a bit though- we didn't cute anything out for the insert, and I used a gallon ziplock bag instead of the page protector. It was fun!

TODDLER SCRIBBLE ART CANVAS: This was really fun for me to make. I took old picture that Caroline had created and cut them up and applied them to a canvas like in the tutorial. Kali liked it a lot, and it's a fun way to display your kids' drawings…Caroline, however, didn't understand that it was her artwork too!

COVERED LIGHT SWITCHES AND OUTLETS: This was simple and I love how it turned out. In the tutorial they use scrapbook paper, but I used left over fabric from the curtains and crib skirt and bumper pad so it matched B's nursery. Really added something fun to the room AND covered up outdated outlets :-) 

LITTLE GIRL'S BOW HOLDER:   I wanted a place in the nursery to keep Blythe's headbands and bows, and found this tutorial. I had an old frame I'd snatched at a garage sale for about 25 cents, painted it to match the trim, used cute ribbon that wrapped a gift I'd received, and spent  less than $2 on the hooks. So for under 3 bucks I made a pretty cute, practical piece of art of Blythe's room! You can sort of see it  in this picture [remember when I was PREGNANT?!], but this was before I attached the hooks on the bottom. This was also 6 days before Blythe's birth :-) 

FRAMED NAME: This link wasn't working currently, but I posted a picture of this in my  LAST POST at the bottom, and here. I again found the frame cheap at a garage sale and then painted the letters however I wanted them.

LETTERS ON CANVAS:    I modified this one quite a bit, I used cheap letter stickers from the dollar section at target. They didn't peel off as easily but the result was still great. I made several canvases for Blythe's room this way. 

GRAPHIC ARTWORK: [Again link isn't working] This is essentially the same idea as the last one, but with masking tape/painters tape to create a design. I liked the result but ended up needing the canvas for another project so I had to paint over it.

FABRIC HANGING BOOK SHELF:     This is the most recent addition to the nursery and I LOVE THEM. I asked Joan, Brent's super talented mom, if she would make these for us. She used left over fabric from the bedding and curtains my grandma made and whipped them right up!  I will try to get pictures up of these soon!

CLEANING/ORGANIZING TIPS I'VE TRIED:

REPURPOSED WIPES CONTAINER: Because who doesn't want to find a more convenient way to store all those grocery store bags! 

CLEANING MY WASHING MACHINE: I should probably do this more often. It did clean it very well. I also used her method of cleaning the dishwasher.

I've also used some FREE PRINTABLES as well as TIPS FOR CURLY HAIR.

So….even though it has a silly name, I think I'll keep coming back to Pinterest to try more fun projects, recipes, and tips! 

What about you? Anything fun or delicious you've discovered? Share the link in the comment section please :-) 

never too old to carve a pumpkin

"Daddy is under my spell"

Serious business

Left to Right: Torri's, Brent's, Mine, Paige's

My little pumpkin

impromptu game of touch football. Brent and I were strategizing

Making our pumpkin faces :) 

Hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween! 

Your candy, however, will not be sweeter than this: 

neat

I know that I am jinxing everything by posting this but…

I seriously have THE NEATEST EATER of all time. 

I kid you not, Blythe is amazing with a spoon and food. From the first day I fed her, she has neatly accepted anything I put in her mouth. She never reaches for the spoon, or wipes her mouth with her hands. She doesn't spit food back out. She will eat for as long as I put food in her mouth. 

If she needs wiped up at all when she is finished [and sometimes she doesn't], it is because I messed up with the spoon. If there is anything on her bib it is my fault, not hers. Seriously, it is unreal. My mom marvels at it, as she has fed many, many, many babies in her day. 

THe food you see on her upper lip and bib was my fault, as I was distracted and missed her mouth

 It is truly amazing…and wonderful. I'm sure it will all change but for now, it makes feeding her a breeze as she cleans up the food in about 2 minutes or less! 

Oh baby girl, you are spoiling me! Thank you. 

And on one other note: look at this picture and tell me your heart doesn't melt into a gigantic puddle of 'oh-my-goodness'!

genetics are funny

I was sorting through pictures the other day and found some of my niece, Ellie, when my sister Kali was home last February for my baby shower. According to my calculations, Elz-a-bellz [as we like to call her, per Caroline], was roughly the same age [6 1/2 months] as Blythe is now. 

And genetics are a funny thing because these two could not be more different!! :-) 

First we have an eating picture of both of them:

Ellie has never been the neatest eater. 

And I barely have to wipe B up after I feed her. 

[If this were a competition: POINT FOR BLYTHE!]

And size:

Clearly the POINT GOES TO ELLIE here. 

I think B weighs about what Ellie weighed at two months. My little peanut. 

And smiles:

 IT'S AN OBVIOUS TIE :-)

They are both adorable, in my biased opinion….

Now if we had a competition on hair Blythe would lose that one, so we'll just stop right there. 

Happy weekend, everybody. 

blogstipated and baby items

Yesterday I mentioned to Brent that I had about four blog post ideas milling around in my brain, but I just hadn't had time to sit down to write them. He said, "Ah, you're blog constipated…you're blogstipated." Lovely, Brent. Lovely.

Well here is one of those posts I've had bouncing around [it took me awhile to get all the pictures and links set up, so I hope it is helpful to a few]:

I have several good friends that are currently pregnant. It is still kind of strange to think that I am on this side of pregnancy, with my little peanut laughing at and slobbering on me all day, but nevertheless I am. I loved pregnancy.  I loved writing my baby girl letters and dreaming about meeting her. But there were moments that it was a bit overwhelming: how do I prepare for birth? how do I prepare to bring a baby home? how do I prepare to be the best mom I can be? etc. etc. etc. All unknowns.

The most helpful thing I did during that time was talk to other mothers. I asked a lot of questions. One thing I was clueless on, and I think a lot of first time mom's are, was what "stuff" was essential to have, and what baby gear was really unnecessary.

I think the items you need varies a bit, based on your lifestyle, but in an attempt to help my friends create registries or rush out and buy last minute items, here are a few things we have found essential/helpful/fun to have on hand:

Bouncy Seat

We didn't register for a fancy one…although there are fancy ones out there for sure [that turn into toddler rockers and everything!]… but this was one of our most valuable items early on. 

HERE is ours. 

Blythe loved being able to see things around her, and if she had a little gas she slept better in this than in her crib. It was also easy to throw in the car and take with us.

Travel System

This was the first thing I registered for. I obviously knew we would need a carseat and a stroller, and everyone I knew recommended the travel system. Everyone that had the CHICCO system HIGHLY recommended it, and now I know why. 

HERE is ours.

The car seat locks into a base in the car, but it also quickly and easily attaches to the stroller. The stroller can also be used just as a regular stroller [as pictured above] once the child is big enough. And like everything CHICCO makes, it is all easy to use and most things [like unfolding the stroller/ unlocking the carseat] can be done with one hand. We also love the pattern of ours! Check and see how many pounds the seat goes up to-- I recommend getting one that goes over 30. Your child should be rear-facing until over a year anyway, so the seat will last you longer that way. They are pricey…but WORTH IT!

Boppy Pillow

I haven't used this as much as some people I know, but used it enough to consider it necessary/ helpful. 

HERE is ours. 

Obviously this is nice if you're going to nurse. Blythe is/was such a tiny baby that I don't always use it, but it does save your back a bit. We used it a lot when she was tiny, to prop her up after a feeding, or lay her on her belly/arms over it and she would hold her head up. Then when she got closer to sitting up it was nice to put around her as a little extra support until she perfected it. One good hint as well: Bring this with you to the hospital and SIT ON IT on the way home [I can thank my sister for that tip!].  Register for a couple of covers as well. 

ITZBEEN Timer

This may seem like a silly thing to some people, but it is so unbelievably handy. My mom was a little skeptical when Kali and I got these, but I think she is a believer now :). 

HERE is ours. 

The concept is basic, and I'm sure there is some time of App you can download now, but this little guy was awesome in the first months. I didn't ever keep track of diaper changes on here, but used most of the other buttons at some point. Obviously I kept track of her feedings, and it was so nice to not have to think or count or subtract…just looked at the timer. It also has a space at the bottom to keep track of which side you last nursed on-- because you will NEVER remember. I kept track of her sleep early on as well, and then I used the extra button to keep track of MY pain meds and when I could take them next…which in my early state was AWESOME! 

Diaper Genie [Elite]

The Diaper Genie is a must, in my opinion, if you're going to work with disposable diapers. 

HERE is ours. 

I would recommend registering for the ELITE. The refill bags cost the same, but it has a foot pedestal to open the top-- again, anything you can operate with one hand is fantastic! I know the bags are a little pricier than trash bags, but they really do completely eliminate the odor [and I used a few gift cards and bought several refill boxes and still have one left]. 

[Funny story: One of Brent's cousins had ordered this for us and it arrived on March 23rd. I drug it inside from the porch, plopped it on the coffee table, put it together, sat down and realized I was having contractions. I started keeping track of them by writing down the time on the lid of the box! It came in the knick of time :) ] 

AVENT Pacifiers

I was a little overwhelmed when I thought about registering for a pacifier. I know a lot of people that have used the AVENT pacis, but I always thought they looked HUGE for a little infant. I registered for others…but found that Blythe took to these WAY more easily. 

They are easy to sterilize and clean because they are all rubber. Also, as she has started teething [or I think so anyway…we have yet to see a TOOTH!], Blythe LOVES to chew on them :). She can also handle them very easily herself. I know others have had success with different pacifiers, but this would be my pick from now on! One of the downsides to these is that if dropped…they BOUNCE away, sometimes clear across the room! :) 

Bumbo Seat

Ah, yes, the recalled Bumbo seat! :) Another must have!

HERE is ours.[With an added restraint belt] 

Blythe helped me do many dishes, prepare many meals, sing many songs, and brush my teeth while perched in her Bumbo seat. Around 2 1/2 months she was strong enough to sit in it for a minute or two, and progressively could last longer until the point that she preferred it over her bouncy. It is super easy to wash, easy to transport, and very convenient. It was recalled recently, but you can still buy it-- now it just has to have straps. Whatever- if you watch your child and don't put them in it when they are 8 months old, you'll be alright. You can also get a tray with it for the early spoon feedings when your child is too small to sit in a high chair. 

Play Mat/ Activity Gym

This is something I did't register for but am so thankful someone gave me. 

HERE is ours [newer version of the same thing].

I didn't really want to get one of these because I thought it would take up a lot of space and not be very useful. Well I was wrong. It folds up to nothing, practically, but we never fold it up because we are using it all the time! When Blythe first started tracking toys it was great for her to lay and look. Soon she could reach for items and bat at them. It was good for tummy time to, as she could look at all the objects as she pushed herself up. Now she still loves it as she can sit and play with the items. I like that I can bring it from room to room easily. I've even thrown it in the car when we are going to be at someone's house for awhile. You don't need anything fancy, but I would recommend one. 

Boba Wrap/Infant Carrier

There are a million different versions of this wrap, but this is the one my sister and I use and really like. 

HERE is ours. 

Once you figure out how to tie it, it is an excellent tool! It is great to use during grocery shopping [I still put her in this when we grocery shop], going through airline security [it has no metal so you can leave the baby in it], or to go to track meets [like pictured above :)]. I liked putting her in her early on when we would be outside because then I knew she stayed a little warmer. I also like it because it is easy to stuff in a bag. Brent even wears it. It is remarkably comfortable and distributes the baby's weight evenly enough that you don't feel the strain--very unlike just carrying your child. Plus when I want to just feel a little pregnant again….:) 

Another option is something like the Chicco Infant carrier:

Here is ours. 

Brent thinks this is a little more acceptable for him to wear than the wrap. However, I find this doesn't distribute the weight as well, and another mom and I were just talking and we find it way more difficult to get the baby in and out of this thing [you almost need another person to help]. Also, Blythe wasn't really big enough for it for awhile because, unlike the wrap, she is not as secure. Still, it's nice to have…not a necessity if you have a wrap though, and I wouldn't purchase this over the wrap. 

A Good Breast Pump

If you plan on breast feeding, investing in a good pump is essential. I would not have stuck with it had I not had a good one. 

HERE is mine.

If you plan on working and breastfeeding, then obviously you'll need one [unless you can take your child to work with you!]. But even if you plan on being home, like me, you'll need one. I had a good family friend who had a relatively new one she is letting me use. It says not to share "this product", but if you clean everything properly it really isn't a problem, and could help with the big pricetag that comes with these suckers! Also, check with your insurance because a lot of times it will cover a portion, or let you use your flex spending to purchase one. 

Hand Blender

My sister was a genius and got me this and a baby food cookbook, along with silicon ice cube trays so I could make my own baby food. If you want to make your own baby food…this is the way to go. 

Here is ours. 

It is the only thing I have used so far to make all sorts of baby food. It is unbelievably easy too! It will process just about anything [here are steamed peas]. THESE are the ice cube trays. I have spent maybe 2-3 hours on making baby food so far, and have been feeding Blythe solids for over a month. It doesn't take much time at all but saves a ton of money! 

Pack-N-Play
Some people will use this more than others. We haven't used ours a ton, but I think if you have a multi-level home it would be nice to use as a changing table early on downstairs/upstairs. Also if you plan on traveling a lot it is almost a must. You can also use this instead of a bassinet if you plan on having the baby in your room for a while in the beginning, as most can be raised up for when the baby is tiny. 

HERE is ours. 
We used it in our hotel room and other times traveling, but haven't had to use it at home much. I registered for the CHICCO, but ended up purchasing this one with gift cards. It was over $100 less, and has been just as great. If you plan on using yours ALL THE TIME you may put more money towards it, but I've been very pleased with this one [and really liked the pattern]. 

Other Items You May Want On Hand:

These are items that WE have found useful over the last few months.

Gas drops Gas drops Gas drops!

I know some people don't like giving "medicine" to their infants, but these are super gentle and REALLY can make a difference. We gave them to B when she was just a week old and they settled her right down. I've been giving them to her ever since! 

Butt Paste [or other ointment]

I didn't have to use mine for awhile, as B never got a rash until she started eating solids, but it was nice to have some on hand and not have to rush out and buy them. I put this on my registry as it was a good "stuffer". 

BURP CLOTHES!

Obviously you'll need these, as every baby is going to spit up, but I didn't realize HOW MANY I would need! Blythe was a pretty mild spitter-upper too, but it was nice to have PLENTY and not have to do wash ALL the time. I would recommend not taking any back that are gifted to you, even if they seem like too many [and the old clothe diapers really do make the best burp rags]. 

Infant Tylenol

Again, some people don't like giving this to their infant, but after Blythe had her first shots [around 3 months], I checked to make sure I had the correct dosage and gave her some to bring down her fever. I have also given her some when I think that teething is bothering her. 

Lanolin Cream, Gel pads, Extra soft nursing pads, Milk bags, etc.

If you plan on breastfeeding, have these things on hand to help you get through the first few weeks of discomfort. Though it is a little more expensive, the Lansinoh brand really is the best [especially the pads], but the NUK milk storage bags are okay too. 

Infant Bathtub

I don't think this is a necessity for everyone, but it was nice to have one for the first months. We were able to set it right up on our counter and Blythe always loved her baths. 

Car Mirror
There are many varieties of these, and I didn't know if we would use one or not, but I loved having it, especially for our long road trips. 

Just make sure you aren't too distracted by how adorable your baby is while looking in the review mirror and driving to drive down the interstate :) 

 Dreft [or other gentle laundry soap]

It smells great too…and it is gentle on their fragile skin. I registered for it along with baby hangers etc. in case someone wanted to do a practical gift.

A few Bottles

Even if you plan on breastfeeding it may be nice to have a few on hand. I introduced B to a bottle at about 2 weeks when she was still fussy after a full feeding. I knew I had no more milk for her, so gave her some I had frozen. She took to the bottle right away. I use the AVENT brand. 

There are more I'm sure like: LAMAZE toys, Johnson and Johnson soap and lotion, monitors [though we hardly use ours, but this depends on layout of house probably…DON'T get SONY brand- we've had bad luck with them], changing pad, bottle brush, etc. etc. etc. :) But those are the little things…

And finally…
Every baby is different, but there were a couple things that we didn't use:

Swing
Blythe enjoyed the swing, like most infants, but I didn't want her to get used to sleeping in it so I didn't use it much. I seriously probably used it 5 or 6 times. And it took up a ton of space. Luckily someone had let me borrow theirs, so I wasn't out any money. It may be a good idea to see if you can borrow one, and if you like it, then invest in one?

Excersaucer that doesn't convert to a walker
I didn't want to get a huge excersaucer that she would only be content in for a month, maybe two. Instead we have a walker, which is sleeker, still has toys for her to play with, and moves as she becomes mobile. 

Changing table
I didn't want to invest in a changing table that we would only use for 2 or so years. SO we just bought a dresser and put a changing pad on top. It has worked very well and is longer than most changing tables which give me extra space to store diapers in a basket, and have a lamp on the dresser. 

* * *

I am going to stop there, though I'm sure there are some things I am forgetting. 

Many of you are out of the baby stage, or not new to this game: What products have YOU found useful?