The Baby Item List

My apologies that this blog has turned into baby central here lately, but it is our blog and we are in the trenches of all things baby right now.  I guess that is the beauty about blogs...if you aren't interested then you don't have to read them.
I digress...I wanted to be sure to list some of the products that we have found invaluable over the past few months.  There are many items in baby world that are ridiculous and completely a waste of money then there are others that are worth their weight in gold.  Here are a few that are Julie and Nick Baggett approved.

Boppy - Get one (or maybe even two)...your arms and back will thank you.  We use this multiple times everyday and have since we came home from the hospital.

Aden + Anais Blankets - These are great everyday blankets.   They are larger that most blankets, and they are made of muslin which is thin and breathable.  Not to mention that they are cute!  (We also have the Aden + Anais sleep sack which we use more now that he isn't swaddled.)

Dr. Brown's Bottle Warmer - Ok I admit that this was one of those items that I thought initially was a waste of money, but boy was I wrong.  When the child is screaming because he/she is hungry this gizmo heats the bottle to the perfect temperature in 4 minutes!  No more microwave hot spots or dunking the bottle in hot water...this is the ticket.

Munchkin Microwave Sterlizer Bags -  The bottle pieces and parts will quickly take over your life, and you can either run your dishwasher all the time or invest in these great Microwave Sterilizer Bags!  Three minutes and done...love them.  You can use each back 20 times.  There are a lot of different brands, but I prefer Munchkin.

Summer Video Monitor - Next to the stroller this was the most expensive item on our registry, but three of my aunts went in together and got it for us and we have LOVED it!  Is it slim and easy to carry around, and the picture is great even at night.  Our one complaint is that it pretty much kills any wireless internet signal if you are close to it, but in our opinion a small price to pay for being able to not only hear but see what is happening in that crib.

Little Lamb Cradle n Swing - Last, but certainly not least, the swing.  Folks I am not lying when I say that we survived the newborn phase thanks to this invention.  We didn't have one the first month, but quickly realized that Graham loved motion, and once we got it he napped exclusively in it for over three months.  Even though he doesn't nap in it anymore he still plays in it everyday.  It is pretty big and does take up a good bit of space, but I am not quite sure what we would have done without it.

I am sure there will be a part two at some point but for those who are just about to start this journey or those who just need ideas for baby gifts...I cannot say enough good things about these six items.

Easter and The Masters

A month late...I know!  We kicked off our Easter celebration with an Easter Egg hunt at the Johnsey's house.  It was the perfect day and the party was complete with the Easter bunny and a visit from an ice cream truck!  Graham napped through most of it, but we had a good time.  Next year he will be running around hunting eggs with all the big kids.

Easter snuck up on me this year so I only had a few weeks to get Graham's Easter outfit made.  I went back and forth over which pattern to make, but in the end I went with the Chery Williams bubble.  I used white linen with ecru tatting on the collar and sleeves. 

A few weeks ago I headed down to Gulf Shores with three of my best friends from college for our annual girls weekend.  The rule is that if anyone has a baby under the age of one they can come along so Graham was the lucky bug this year.  In anticipation of the upcoming trip the Easter bunny loaded him up with beach gear!  His Easter bucket was stuffed with a spiffy swim diaper, monogrammed sun hat, sun glasses, and suncreen.  (too bad the weather wasn't great and he didn't get to use any of this new stuff)

This year the Masters fell on Easter Sunday, and we always enjoy hosting a Masters Party.  Several of our usual attendees were out of town, but the Branchs were able to come and we had a lovely afternoon.

Graham and Brooks in their Easter outfits

Brooks had a minor blowout and required a wardrobe change, but he returned so that we could finish up the photo shoot.

Emily made a cute cake in honor of the event

I have a feeling that these two will be watching many more Masters together! 

Sewing Projects

I have been sewing/smocking for almost 9 years now, and last year thanks to my parents and Nick I added embroidery to the mix.  I certainly have all of the necessary training and tools to be able to make Graham lots of cute things...now if I could only find the time to make them.  These are a random assortment of items I have done in the past few months.  There are more, but these happen to be the ones I took pictures of.

towels for Graham's bathroom

bib for Graham
(sorry I don't know how to rotate pictures in blogger...if anyone knows please tell me.)

puffy vest for Anna Kathryn
(Kiley's daughter)

burp cloths for Libby
(Natalie's daughter)

bib for Jackson
(Whitney's son...he was born TODAY!)

crab bubble for Graham
(Children's Corner - Taylor pattern)

monogram bubble for Graham

I have been working on some smocking as well but those take a good bit longer...hope to have them finished soon.

I did make Graham's Easter out fit this year, but I will include those pictures in my next post.

Graham - 4 Months

If I was one of those really "on top of it" moms I would have been posting these pictures each month, but I am here to tell you that I am no where near being "on top of if." I take it week by week...no more like day by day if I am being completely honest.  So here is my attempt to catch up on Grahams monthly pictures.  (Hey at least I did manage to take the pictures even if I didn't get around to posting them!)
 

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

 We are having so much fun with this little guy!  For the most part he is a genuinely happy boy.  This month he started sleeping through the night (consistently) which has made life so much easier (on average he sleeps for 8 hours a night).  He has found his hands and just this past week his feet.  His motor skills are improving, and he is able to hold toys which typically end up in his mouth.  As you can tell from the pictures he isn't having any trouble putting on weight!  It seems like I put away clothes every week that he has outgrown.  We are headed to the doctor this week for a check up, and it will be interesting to see how much he has grown since our last appointment.

Later this week I plan to post on Easter and The Masters (I know I am a month late) and some of the sewing projects I have been working on lately.  Until then I hope everyone has a great week!

Here is his current schedule:
6:30 -7:00 Wake Up
7:00 Eat
7:30-8:30 Play
8:30-10:00 Nap 1
10:00 Eat
10:30-11:30 Play
11:30- 1:00 Nap 2
1:00 Eat
1:30-3:00 Play
3:00-4:00 Nap 3
4:00 Eat
4:30-6:30 Play
6:30 Eat
7:00 Bath
7:30 Bed
10:00 Dream Feed