4 Month Favorite Things

So I'm late with the 4 month favorite things... so shoot me

I can only say we have 2 things to add to the favorites list this month.  Things haven't changed much around here.  Ezra is a jumping machine, we love our fisherprice seahorse, and the grapes still make the diaper bag every day.

Diaper sprayer

This is my new BFF.  Affectionately called "the crap blaster," it is a homemade attachment to our toilet.  Basically it blasts all the "solid waste" (aka poop) off the dirty diaper and sends it into the toilet where it belongs.  Ezra's poop has not made it to "ploppable" yet, and I refuse to scrape (yes, folks, these are the things you must contemplate when diapering, plopping/scraping/blasting poop) so the sprayer is a necessity to keep the nasties out of the washing machine.

Mike the Builder was able to McGyver a sink sprayer to the back of the toilet.  Retail, a diaper sprayer will cost you about 40 smackers.  Mike saved us about 30.  Sweet.

The sprayer is also good for cleaning the toilet and sink, and spraying Mike with cold water when he's in the shower.

Kodak Playsport HD Waterproof Video Camera

Love this.  It is basically like a Flip video camera except you use a memory card instead of internal memory.  It fits in your pocket and is super easy to use.

We have a larger video camera that we just don't ever take out to take quick videos of the little guy so this is perfect.  I love to record short videos of all the cute things he does and this works great.  The picture looks good and it's really easy to transfer to the computer.  I love that it's waterproof, too, so that I don't really have to worry about it around the pool or when covered in Ezra's drool.

Plus, we got in on clearance at Target.  Sah-weet.

Some Favorite Things: 3 months

So, sorry for the blog-cation.  Things have been a little nutty around here, more on that later...

I have to say we only have 3 new favorite things now.  Ezra is showing lots more interest in his toys but I think once he can sit, roll, possibly crawl, he'll show even more interest.  Right now, everything is just going in his mouth, including the dog's nose, my hair, and other things that are not meant to be baby toys, so I'm not sure we can really  judge which items are his favorite.  heehee


Terry Cloth Bibs

Ezra can most definitely drool through a bib in about .4 seconds.  We're going through about 5 bibs a day, maybe more.  We've been speculating that a tooth might be coming in - with the way he gnaws on his hands and toys and all the drool - but nothing.

I prefer these bibs because they don't have a waterproof backing.  They are super absorbent, and absorb quickly.  The ones we have with waterproof backing seem to just make the spit-up and drool just roll off and onto his clothing.  I think the ones with the backing will be better once he starts eating food and we really just need a splash mat as opposed to something with absorbency.

These are from my least favorite store, Babies R Us.  10 for $12.99

Vibrating Teether

Affectionately called "the grapes."  We also have one that is shaped like a strawberry.  They sell for about $12 each on Amazon, but I got ours cheaper at Babies R Us ::gasp:: I almost can't believe it myself.

One of the main reasons we think Ezra might be teething is because he chomps on these grapes like nobody's business.  He is still working on how to hold them himself and get them into his mouth so that he can bite them the right way to make them vibrate. 

I don't know if they soothe him or not, but I've hung them from his floor gym and he always goes for them first.



Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Jumperoo

This was the bargain of the century!  I actually got the floor model from BRU, put together, with batteries for $22.  These things sell for $80 and up so I'll take it!

My sister in law has a similar one and Ezra loves to jump in it during the day at her house.  I was so excited to find one so cheap for our house! He definitely prefers this over the stationary excersaucer and is quite the jumper.  I like that the music and lights play when he moves and they aren't too annoying yet.

My only complaint is that it isn't as sturdy as the newer versions (precious planet, rainforest, laugh 'n learn).  This one's legs are quite wobbly.  I don't usually leave him in it if I'm planning to leave the room for more than a pee break.  All the pieces are snapped together, so I'm not worried about it coming apart, at all, I just would prefer if it were a little more stable.

Here's a photo of the little guy enjoying some of his favorite things! (and yes there's Maybel being nosy)

Our Favorite Things - 2 months

Fisher Price Soothe and Glow Seahorse

Love this! It was a gift from my sister in law as recommended by a friend of hers and has been a Godsend. It has become part of our bedtime routine, and works pretty much every time.

It's belly lights up with a soft yellow glow (helpful for finding lost pacifiers before he falls asleep, too) and plays 5 minutes of different sleepy lullabies. They go slower and slower and the light fades away.

I can honestly say that it has become a cue for him that it's bed time (we don't use it during naps) and it helps him chill. There have been only a few times that I've had to play it more than once.

WubbaNub

I have seen babies with these in the past and thought it was the stupidest thing ever.  Boy, was I wrong. 

Best. Invention.  I could kiss whoever thought of this.

Basically, it's purpose has nothing to do with being cute (although they are cute).  It helps to keep the pacifier in the baby's mouth so they don't lose it every 2 point 5 seconds and start crying.  I refer to a previous post about how it is very frustrating to have to stand right next to the baby as he's about to fall asleep and continue to pop the pacifier back in his mouth for fear of a screaming, angry, crying baby.

Ashley and my thoughtful cousin Heather pointed these out to me.  It is pricey at 9.99 (I know for 1 pacifier, a little outrageous) but worth it in the end.  I'm already thinking of buying another one for the babysitter's house.

Crib Mobile

I couldn't understand why people spent so much money on a crib mobile - they even have those ones that run on batteries and cost a whopping 50 bucks.  I just didn't get it.

I take it back. 

How can anyone live without a crib mobile?!

I found one on clearance (not the one in the picture) and Ezra is mesmerized by it every time he sees it.  He could watch those animals go round and round endlessly.  He kicks his little feet to the tune.  It gives me a chance to put away baby clothes, stuff diapers, or even run to the bathroom.

I'm considering saving up for an expensive one - that I don't have to crank every 42 seconds.  And might have a variety of tunes, because, lets face it, how many times can you listen to the same 15 second song without pulling out your hair?

Ezra's Favorite Thing: Himself!!

He would look at himself in this mirror all day if I let him.  He's so vain...

I also have a mirror in his crib and there have been times he's fallen asleep just looking at himself.  It can get him to attempt to roll over too and makes tummy time a little more fun for everyone.

I like this mirror because I can prop it on a table or on the floor next to him and I don't have to mess with velcro.  Also, it doesn't distort his face like a lot of the mirrors on his toys do.  I'm not sure if he likes looking at himself all wonky - but I figure its best for him to get sense of what he actually looks like.

Our Favorite Things - 1 month

Another idea that I'm stealing from some blogs that I like to read... (and I guess from Oprah, except you're not all getting these products, sorry I'm not that famous)  Trust me, these are truthful, I'm not getting paid by anyone to sell you anything (but I'm not against doing shameless plugs for free stuff) ;)

BumGenius 4.0 with snaps

I'm loving my cloth diapers!!

I'm going to hold off on a full fledged review of the ones that I've been using, but I will say that my BumGenius with snaps are my favorite so far.

I've only had 1 leak with them, and that's because I was a neglectful mom and left him in the diaper for like 4 hours (where was my mind that morning).  I am looking forward to using the regular size inserts and not the newborn ones because I'm thinking they look much more absorbent.

As far as washing, I haven't had any problems.  Cold rinse, hot wash with 2nd rinse, covers hang in the baby's room over night, inserts in the dryer for 20 minutes.  I've only been doing laundry every other day, and using disposables at night or if/when I run out of these.

I've tried using my softbums when I run out, but I just don't like those as much.  I'm going to try them with some larger, more absorbent inserts to see if that helps me like them more.

I do prefer the snaps over aplix/velcro because you don't end up with diapers and inserts all stuck together in the wash (even when I use the laundry tabs this still happens!).  Just a preference, I still love my BumGenius with aplix!

Soothie pacifier

These are recommended by lactation consultant for breastfed babies to help prevent nipple confusion.  They're also latex free, one piece, and made from hospital grade silicone.  They are the ones that some hospitals give to babies.

Ezra took this pacifier one week after he had been born with no problems.  We haven't had any kind of issues with nipple confusion or him refusing to take my nipple.

I am not a pacifier advocate, and I'm already having anxiety about having to take it away from him in a few months, but it definitely helps calm him when he's really upset and helps him to fall asleep when he's tired but fighting it.

Also, it gives my nipples a break because he is definitely a nursing-for-comfort baby and I think he'd be attached to my boob if I wasn't careful.

Circo socks from Target

Yes, these socks are on my favorites list.  You can laugh at me, it's ok.

Socks for a newborn have to be one of the most irritating and frustrating things.  No one likes to have cold feet, I'm sure Ezra doesn't either, but it took me almost 4 weeks of his life to find socks that actually stay on his feet, no matter how much he moves them around.

Sometimes I feel like a crazy sock obsessed mother
"You dropped his sock"
"Where's his sock?"
"Oh no, his sock is falling off"

He doesn't like me to put socks on him, he screams.  When I'm hungry, I don't want you to take a minute to put your sock on before you feed me.  I don't know how many times I've almost dropped him trying to pick up a freaking sock off the floor.  And I'm already finding friendless newborn socks strewn around the house.  I prefer clothes with feet, but I love the cute little outfits I have for him and most of them are footless.

So these socks are a dollar a pair, but they do not fall off.  Not even all day.  Not even when I take his pants off.

They even have grips on the bottom in case he decides to make a run for it, he'll have traction on the hardwoods.

Graco Pack 'n Play with Newborn Napper

This lives in our room right now and Ezra is sleeping in it.

The best feature of this pack 'n play is the newborn napper.  It has an attachment for a light, music, nature sounds, and a vibration setting.  Ezra LOVES the vibration setting and mom and dad would probably get less sleep if it didn't have this setting.

The newborn napper on the top, hugs him perfectly (although he's almost grown out of it) and we can usually get him from almost asleep to passed out with a push of the vibrations button.

I'm a little worried about putting him in his crib eventually because his crib does not have a vibrations setting.  EEK.

The First Years Newborn to Toddler bath tub

Now that Ezra has the cutest belly button ever, we get to take real baths, and I love this tub.

It fits almost perfectly in our kitchen sink (it's a little funny because our counter top sits on top of the sink, so it's higher on the counter side than in the middle, we have a double sink) and Ezra gets to look out the window while he bathes.

It has a handy newborn sling that goes in it too, but my baby is too big for it.  He sits right in the water and kicks his feet.  I like that it holds his butt and keeps him upright, for the most part, but he does end up leaning over to one side and is not usually happy about it.  Also, it will supposedly grow with him - when he can sit up, he'll sit on the other side.

It's a good size, too, not too big.  Some of the tubs are HUGE.  It has a nice plug in the bottom that you can pull to drain the water and I keep his body wash and lotion in the little compartment at the end so I have everything I need in one place.  Plus, it's only $20 bucks, I love a bargain!



I'm hoping in our next installment of our favorite things, I'll be able to add some things that Ezra actually likes, but right now it's really just my favorite things.  He's not really interested in his toys yet, so maybe he'll have a few favorites at 2 months. 

P.S. I know it's supposed to be Wordless Wednesday but I'm hoping to get a good picture with Daddy for his birthday tonight, so you might get Wordless Wednesday later today or tomorrow. :)