Claire's Easter Basket

It's time for Easter!

I always loved Easter growing up. As far back as I can remember, we always got kites from the Easter Bunny. It was kind of a tradition... get a kite in our basket and then fly them after church.

It's such a beautiful time of the year. The sun is starting to shine, the days are getting progressively longer, and the flowers are beginning to bloom.

The Easter season is a time for reflection and trying to become a better person in this household. I hope that with each Easter, Matt and I can become the people that we would make Claire proud to have one day. She certainly makes up count our blessing, that's for sure.

Easter time also means pastel clothes and baskets filled with goodies! Having a little girl is super fun because I get to dress her up for Easter morning mass! I cannot wait :)

So, for Easter mass Claire will be wearing this cute lil dress.  It's Janie & Jack but I purchased it new on Ebay. I plan on accessorizing it with a white sweater, simple bow, and silver ballet flats.

After church, she will wear this darling lil "HAPPY EASTER" dress. I purchased this last week at babies"r"us.

Now onto the goodies we'll go

First stop, a spotted rooster...

Matt got this precious rooster at a boutique and it screams EASTER!!

Next, there's this rabbit hand puppet...

we got this at a gift store when we went on our first date since Claire's birth. It's so much cuter in person!

Okay here's the mother load...

Of course she's getting a dozen books! But lil miss is also getting a new lamby towel & bath toy, a My First Easter bib and bunny finger puppet. 

Everything was purchased at Pottery Barn, minus the finger puppet, bib, Sophie bath toy, and the Happy Easter Mouse & Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck books.

I also ordered these Uggs but they haven't arrived.

Can't wait for her to dig in to this stuff :)

What to Buy: Teething Edition

Claire has been teething for a few weeks and in those weeks, I've learned exactly what she loves on her sore gums. These products have become clear front runners in her teething toys, along with some other essential items.

1. Vulli Vanilla Flavored Ring Teethers

I was slightly hesitant to go these to Claire when they first arrived. Honestly, they smelled exactly like  formaldehyde. But after they were sanitized, they were good to go with no funky smells!

2. Lifefactory Multi-Sensory Silicone Teether

I'm fairly certain that these are her favorite teethers. They're so easy to hold and have a few different textures to keep her gums smiling :)

3. Pacifier Clip

Of course most brands will work, but these are a necessity if your little one's constantly chewing on a toy! Not only does it keep your little one's toy within reach, it keeps it from constantly falling on the floor and needing to be cleaned a hundred times each day! 

 4. Baby Bullet Sanitizer/Steamer

This has been a huge help in keeping Claire's toys clean. I'm not a germaphobe by any means but her teethers need to be sanitized sometimes and this is so easy to use. No more having to worry about boiling her toys and trying to remember to turn off the burner/take out the toys. It will be used for thawing her baby food when she starts eating solids :)

5. Lots of BIBS!

No need to discuss the importance of these!

6. Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether

Everyone knows about Sophie! All I can say is that it's worth the money! We love ours.

7. Vulli Chan Pie Gnon Teether

Another Vulli product, and another great product. I cannot say enough about this company's products. This particular one make a lot of noise. Matt hates it but Claire loves it's silly shriek. It makes her smile when she's having a meltdown.

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An important thing I forgot to include above are teething tablets. These bad boys work almost instantly.  I suggest getting some before your little one starts teething too bad because they will be your saving grace! They're called Hylands Homeopathic Baby Teething Tablets

A few favorites

Here are some of the things that Claire has loved thus far. 

I threw a couple of my favorite products in too!

Click the product names if you want more information!

 

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 1. Yookidoo Snail

She loved the little black and white dots on the wheels when she was super little and now she watches the whole thing! The one pictured is the one we have but there is a new design on the market.

2. Carter's Sleep and Play

These are an absolute staple in any baby's wardrobe. They're soft and comfy cozy! Matt has a hard time with tops that go over her head and these are perfect for when they are alone. They are good for both bedtime and going out and about. I usually pair a headband with one when we go out! These are so much more practical than other articles of clothing because they are no-fuss-- nothing to keep rearranging/fixing.

3. Pottery Barn Bath Wrap

Santa brought Claire a Cheetah wrap for Christmas. It's furry and luxurious! They are so much thicker than the ones you buy at the big box store, which means baby stays dry and warm. Bath wraps are worth the splurge and I'll be ordering more in the future.

4. Fisher Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse

I held this lullaby seahorse to my stomach every night before bed and when Claire was born it would soothe her. The nurses at the hospital were shocked when she stopped crying when I played it. She still enjoys listening to it and stares at the glowing belly when we turn it on for her.

5. Dr. Seuss Sneetches on Beaches

Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss? This book is from the Nursery Collection and features pull tabs and exciting and bright illustrations. It has a good moral to the story too! Claire loves the rhyming.

6. Bumbo

I started setting Claire in this a little earlier than recommended but she has had great neck control since day one. I would set her in for just a minute or two, keeping my hands close to her head in case she got tired from holding it up. She sits in it for longer periods but only when I am sitting directly beside her.

7. Vulli Chan Pie Gnon Chew Toy

WOW! This toy is so silly! It's soft like the Sophie but the squeak is much more shrill. Claire thinks it's funny so we keep it around the house for her... Matt on the other hand, hates it!

8. Fisher Price Kick & Play Piano Gym

Claire got this for Christmas and it is my saving grace! She will lay on this for over an hour sometimes. I fully contribute her new found reaching ability to this toy. It features a mirror that looks down on baby and lots of toys to keep baby busy and entertained. Not to mention the keyboard at their toes! Perfect for babies with busy feet!

9. Vulli Sophie the Giraffe

Claire just recently started liking her Sophie. While most of her other toys are still a little too heavy, this one light enough for her to pick up and play with. She hasn't figured out how to make it squeak, and that's okay with momma and daddy!

10. Fisher Price Luv U Zoo Jumperoo

Another piece of equipment that I started using sooner than recommended. But it really helped her with her neck and back muscles. She isn't a fan of tummy time so I put her in this and put some small hand towels around her to support her. Once again, we started out in really small time intervals and have made our way to not having anything in the seat but Claire. She love the lights and the music.

11. Dr. Seuss Fox in Socks Bricks and Blocks

Same as the other book- silly with bright colors. This one is more of a tongue twister which will help your child when he/she starts to read. There are some interesting touchy/feely tabs along the side of the book that correlate with the story.

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12. Eric Carle firefly toy 

We have this for her carseat when it's dark out. She likes to watch it blink :)

13. Fisher-Price Little Glamour Set

Ohh how she loves this set! The big "diamond" ring is her favorite and is our go to toy in the car when she's upset. It's really reflective/shiny and makes loads of rattling noises!

14. Babylegs legwarmers

These make diaper changes a breeze, and they’re adorable too! Pair with a onsie and you're good to go! If it's cold, throw on a pair of socks!

15. Restoration Hardware Baby Luxe Faux Fur Stroller Blanket

Another item Santa brought for Christmas! This is my far one of my favorite items of all! It's so incredibly soft on one side and fuzzy, furry on the other! We use this all the time for photo shoots, cuddle time, and nap time.

16. Bumgenius Newborn Cloth Diaper

We have used these since Claire was a couple days old and we love them! She is currently only wearing them during the day as they are getting too small and don't provide the leak protection we need for nighttime.

17. Bumgenius 4.0 Cloth Diaper 

This is our nighttime diaper and soon to be full time diaper. We love these because they're pocket diaper which means you add as much absorbency as your baby needs. During the day, perhaps one insert will suffice, if not add another! These are great too because they dry much quicker than all-in-one diapers.

Cloth continued

In continuation to my routine, here is a list of my fluff & gear!

25 Newborn Bumgenius

25 Bumgenius 4.0 

10 Hemp Babies liners

I forget to mention that we store her dirty diapers in a wet bag. I recently bought a scent port from Bath & Body Works to put next to the wetbags to chase any smells may arise, though very rare. 

For more specifics on what brands I have and where to find them, check out this post.

Here are a couple videos with how I do things :)

Have a Bumbo for your little one? Please read...

Bumbo has issued a recall on their seats due to several reports of infant skull fractures. Here's a link to an informative article. It also includes the link to the Bumbo website where you can file a claim and get a safety strap sent to you to make your Bumbo safer (is this a real word??) for your little one(s).

What's in the bags?

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I have my hospital bags all packed and ready to go! I do still have a couple of last minute things that I will get together when it time comes, and I still have a few things to pick up at the store, but for the most part they're ready to rock when this baby decides to come!

Here's what we have in our bags...

This is what I call my "at hand bag". It's the bag I will have beside my bed. It houses the following on the outside:
1. A few headbands
2. Deodorant and lotion for back/foot rubs
3. Shampoo, brush, and hair ties
4. Body wash ( this and the lotion are all Bath & Body Works Sleep Aromatherapy collection, cinnamon and vanilla, I think)
5. Camera and Ipod chargers

What you cannot see are the pockets on the other side- I have some nursing pads and my Point and Shoot camera tucked in them.

The contents of my "at hand bag" include the following:
1. Wireless Ipod charger
2. (2) Copies of my birth plan
3. Ipod loaded with a slew of both inspirational and ass-kicking music
4. On the Night You Were Born book. {I have been reading this book to Claire since like February and it will be one of my points of focus during labor and I also plan on reading it to her after she's born and while we're in the hospital.} 

I will also be packing my laptop in this bag. I will be in the hospital for at least 2 days so I will need something to do during  the day, or at least that's what I think ;) I plan on bringing a couple of movies for during labor, something to try to keep my focus away from labor, I'm thinking Don't Mess With the Zohan will have to be rented/bought because it's pretty much the funniest movie ever. {i have a bad sense of humor!}

My aunt bought this for me and I absolutlely love it. I was so undecided on which diaper bag to purchase. At first, I really wanted a Petunia Pickle Bottom but I was not about to shell out $175 for a diaper bag. I passed up on a beautiful Skip Hop messenger bag at a discount store (for like $16) when I first found out I was pregnant and I spent a lot of time kicking myself in the butt for it. In the end it all worked out and I couldn't be happier. It's plenty big for everything I will need for cloth diapering and yet it's not sooo big that I will end up over-stuffing it with unnecessary items. Here's what's inside Claire's diaper bag...

1. Wipes
2. Nursing Pads
3. Pacifier- Avent Soothies
4. Disposable diapers {only for the first few days. once the meconium stage has subsided we'll move straight into her newborn cloth diapers. once that happens we will have a couple of bumgenius all-in-one newborn diapers in the place of disposables, as well as a small wetbag.}
5. Coming home outfits & hat
6. Lotion & baby powder

1. 3 month coming home outfit
2. Newborn coming home outfit
3. Hat

Since I have no idea how big this little one will be when she's born, I decided it would be wise to bring a newborn AND 3 month outfit. A hat will keep her little body warm when we leave the hospital.

{OMG, I cannot believe the professionals at the hospital let you just leave with your baby. the concept, for some reason, is so hard for me to grasp. i feel like we should be required to take some sort of common sense and parenting 101 classes before they let us take our baby out of the hospital. anyone else feel like this, or am i completely nuts?!?!}

This is the clothing bag, the name is rather self-explanatory, but if not, read on and you will get a glimpse of what it contains!

1. Tank tops, cotton long-sleeved shirt/wrap & cotton skirt
2. Sports bra
3. Underwear- brief style
4. Socks (and I even packed the pair of non-slip ones I acquired while in the hospital a few weeks ago}

Since I plan on wearing my own clothes during labor, I have a couple extra articles of clothing. The tank tops are for walking through the halls, if I end up doing so. In my mind I will labor in my sports bra and skirt. This will make it easy for me to get in and out of the tub and will allow my midwife to easily check my progress and intermittently monitor baby Claire throughout labor. If I do decide to roam the halls, I can throw a tank top on over my bra and if I get cold, I have the long-sleeved shirt thingy if, in the rare event, I get cold.

1. Nursing top and comfy/silky capris
2. Nursing nightgown

My mom got these for me when she was up because she said I would need something "nice to wear" after giving birth! haha I love her. I also have another open-front sweatshirt thingy to wear post labor.

1. Shoes for coming home :)
2. (1) cotton swaddle and (1) fleece swaddle
3. Several pairs of socks
4. Swaddle blanket (aden & anais) for coming home- to cover her in the care seat.
5. Head bands

Her gown for her hospital photo. She'll also be donning one of the headbands shown above. This was another shower gift from my aunt. I just think it's absolutely precious.

1. Sleeping gowns.
I think these will be the easiest to maneuver on a newborn and should keep her nice and toasty when paired with a pair of socks and a swaddle. I have a feeling that these will be my best friend when it comes to bedtime :)

I will also be packing a toothbrush, toothpaste, my pillow, a boppy, gatorade, snacks for both Matty and I, a goody basket for the nurses, back massager (we're still currently using this bad boy daily), Matt's things, and my Canon DSLR & lenses.

Shopping!

I went shopping (officially) for the first time in a LONG time yesterday. I planned on getting myself a few maternity pieces but after I browsed the selections, I decided against it and instead, I got Clarie a few outfits. I was super excited to find that Bon Ton was having a huge sale on a lot of their Carter's clothes and later found some OshKosh sales. Plus I had a $50 off a $100 dollar purchase coupon!! I was in heaven! Here are some of the outfits/pieces I purchased for her cute lil bum!

to wear with the denim romper & flowered skirt above

for next summer :) to be paired with the doggie onsie

I love this onsie!

Also for next summer!

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Baby's First Notre Dame Outfit

I know it's early but I bought our little kumquat his or her very first Notre Dame outfit. It's safe to say that boy or girl, this baby will be fashioning Irish garb every College Game Day this fall. I.cannot.wait. OMG. I cannot wait!

Now if only I could find an Irish cloth diaper... hmmmm I should go check out etsy.

Well, I couldn't find one but I did find these bad boys:

Umm... yes please! I may be ordering a pair of leg warmers in the near future!