The more you know, right?
Today I am here to report on our favorite things after one year in the books. But before I do that, please note that the first rule with babies is that there are no rules! What works for some will not work for others. This includes but is not limited to sleeping, eating, drinking, nursing, not nursing, oksobasically – everything. Every human being has different needs and the human we are attempting to raise is no exception.
But here are the things that stick out in my mind that have made this journey, well, better.
These have (hands down) been our favorite sleep sacks. The Cozy zzZipMe Sack is perfect for winter, or if you like to crank the AC in the summer. SwaddleDesigns swaddles, sleep sacks and blankets come in ALL different kinds of fabrics from cotton to fleece. We have made these sleepsacks part of our “routine” for both naps and bedtime and I feel like when we slip her into it, she knows it’s time to go to sleep. I basically want one for myself.
2. Bek and Jet Vegan Leather Bib
These bibs are wipeable and waterproof, yet surprisingly soft for being made of pleather! I am no Vegan but I can appreciate that they are. I mean, does a baby need real leather? I think not. I love that this thing stays looks nice no matter how much we spill. I have brought it out to dinner a few times because it is our “classy” bib.
Clara gives it a thumb’s up too.
We got this Skip Hop playpen second hand when we realized we needed a way to keep Clara away from the Christmas tree. Since then, it has stuck around and been an immense help with keeping her little paws away from stuff. As you can see below in the super high quality photo I took of Clara sitting in her toy box, it goes across the fireplace and bookshelf so she cant get up on the hearth. What I love about this baby gate in particular is that it is pretty transparent (you can see through it) and it isn’t completely unsightly. It actually goes fairly well with the colors in our living room! I also love that it can be a playpen or just a babygate, as the wall sections bend either way and can be removed so it can fit any space.
I should also shout out this PINK baby piano she got for her birthday (thanks Grandma and Grandpa!), She absolutely adores it.
The photo below is how we wrapped it around the Christmas tree. And also…
4. THIS TRIKE! (Little Tikes 4-in-1 Trike)
We won this at a silent auction and have taken her out for a spin a few times with GREAT success. The kid absolutely loves it. I cannot image the fun we are going to have when it isn’t drizzling 24-7. Here we are on a couple more adventures.
Hat tip to Auntie Megan for the matching hats.
5. MUSIC!
Trying to open the piano.
I realized early on, that this child LOVES and reacts very strongly to music. She loves something with a beat, but also sways her arms back and forth to slower stuff too. If you have been following this blog for the ALMOST DECADE that I have been writing (holy t*ts) you know that music is in my veins. I sincerely hope that love gets passed on to Clara. Here is a list of our favorite songs at the mome:
- Mozart – Rondo alla Turca
- Vivaldi – The Ring of Mystery (on Spotify)
- Fitz and the Tantrums – Hand Clap
- The Office Theme Song
And that’s the list!
I mean, we have a million other things that make life easier for us. But when I find myself getting caught up in making sure she has alllll the “right” things (age-appropriate mind-stimulating toys, cute all-natural cotton clothes, grass-fed antibiotic-free milk, etc. etc.) I try to take a sec to realize she already has everything she needs. Because she has US. *cue the violins*
thenataliediaries.com 