Pampers Deal @ CVS This Week

The Answer To My Prayers!

The Dilemma:

I have a VW Beetle and a 2 year old. These two things do not mesh well. My car has arguably the smallest trunk in the history of the automobile and I'm lucky if I can fit a jumbo pack of toilet paper in there on grocery day! 

The Desire:

Any moms out there with compact cars know just how difficult it is to find a stroller that will fit into their trunks, let alone in the back next to a car seat. My son's first stroller was an Eddie Bauer and it would only fit in the trunk if I lay it on it's side and took both of the front wheels off. His next stroller was a Kolcraft and it would only fit in the back seat if I put it in through the trunk and removed the back seat head rests. (Can you feel my frustration??) Umbrella strollers were all I could bring on most trips and they're uncomfortable for all involved. My mission was to find a reasonable sized stroller at a fair price that would maybe (just maybe) fit into my tiny car while there were people riding in it. If said stroller did exist, it wouldn't hurt if it had a snack tray and some storage too. 

The Solution:

While browsing through Walmart.com I came across their lightweight stroller section. Lo and behold, there was an attractive, inexpensive model with rave reviews! The Jeep Cherokee Sport goes for around $50 and I am ecstatic to report that it FITS INTO MY TRUNK! There's even room leftover for a diaper bag and miscellaneous items like an umbrella, some eco shopping bags and a pack of emergency diapers. 

Where have you been all my [son's] life?

If you know anyone who's struggling with the same problem, I'd without a doubt recommend this Jeep model. My only complaints are that the child's cup holder is too small to hold anything but a baby bottle and the underneath storage is a tad too small for my liking, but overall I am so thankful for our new stroller! I wish I had found it sooner! 

Mommy Must Haves: Baby Feeding

Nikki's just about grown out of being fed baby food, so I wanted to post this awesome product while it was still relevant to me. Boon's Squirt spoon has got to be one of the best inventions ever made! I only wish I found it sooner! I've been using it for a few months now and I'm absolutely smitten. No more messy meals to clean up! Everything is contained inside the spoon and you just gently squeeze the food onto the spoon when baby is ready for another bite. So simple! And very easy to clean.

Boon has a ton of other awesome products, but this one is definitely my favorite! Their line is very cool and modern, plus 10% of their profits go to children's charities. Check them out here: booninc.com.

Pregnant? What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag!

This list is taken from one of my favorite websites, BabyCenter.com. I adapted it to reflect the items that I felt were necessary. Everyone has different needs, so keep that in mind if you think I left anything out :)

For labor

• A couple copies of your birth plan (if you have one).

• Your license/i.d., insurance card and any hospital paperwork you need.

• Your eyeglasses, if you need any. Even if you usually wear contacts, you'll probably need or want to take them out at some point during your stay.

• Toiletries. Include items you might want during labor and your postpartum stay, such as lip balm, a toothbrush and toothpaste, body spray, deodorant, a brush and comb, and makeup, if it's important to you. Hospitals will have soap, shampoo, and lotion, but you might prefer your own brands. Don't forget a hair band and barrettes, if you think you might want them.

• A bathrobe, slippers, and a pair of socks. Hospitals provide gowns for you to use during labor and afterward, but most will allow you to wear your own clothes if you prefer. Choose something loose and comfortable that you don't mind getting ruined.

• Something light to read, if you're so inclined. (This might be especially helpful if you're heading to the hospital to be induced and might be there quite a while before you have any serious contractions to deal with.)

*I recommend trashy gossip magazines and The Modern Girls Guide To Motherhood by Jane Buckingham. It's full of tips, tricks, advice and life lessons for the modern day mama. Another good (and hysterically honest) book is Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy.

• A massage tool (tennis ball, rolling pin, etc), a fan, spray bottle for water, music, a body pillow, whatever you need to help you relax. If you do bring your own pillow, be sure to use a patterned or colorful pillowcase so it doesn't get mixed up with the hospital's.

For your partner/labor coach

• Money for parking and change for vending machines.

• A few basic toiletries, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant.

• A change of clothes.

• Some snacks and something to read during the early stages.

• A camera/video camera with memory card and batteries (or film or tape). Someone has to document the big event! (Note: Not all hospitals allow videotaping of the birth itself, but there's usually no rule against taping during labor or after the birth.)


Postpartum

• A sports bra/nursing bra, and breast pads.

• A going-home outfit. Bring something roomy and easy to get into (believe it or not, you'll probably still look 5 or 6 months pregnant ) — along with a pair of flat shoes. The last thing you'll be worrying about when you go home is whether your outfit is fashionable.

For your baby

• An infant car seat. You can't drive your baby home without one! In fact, you'll want to have the seat properly installed ahead of time, and you'll want to know exactly how to correctly buckle in your baby. The nurse who walks you out to your car will help you if necessary.

• A going-home outfit (one-piece stretchy outfits are easiest) and a snowsuit if it's very cold. Include a pair of socks or booties if the outfit doesn't have feet.

• Baby nail clippers or emery board. "The hospital where my son was born didn't supply clippers for fear of liability, and as a result my son gouged his face before he was 12 hours old," says Jen Morin of Vancouver, British Columbia.

• Your baby book for his/her first footprints.

*The nurse will give you a pair of mesh underwear (sexy!), plenty of pads and a peri bottle for...well, you'll find out. So don't worry about bringing any of those things.
**Your hospital will also provide you with plenty of diapers, wipes, & formula for your new baby. They will also give you pacifiers and an aspirator (bulb syringe). Make sure to take home as much "free" stuff as possible! They don't re-use those items for other patients, so if it's in your room, it's fair game! I took home 3 pacifiers, about 30 diapers and 40 oz of formula. Just don't steal any linens, pillows or blankets!

If I Have A Baby Girl

When I found out I was having a boy I almost jumped off of the ultrasound table and smacked the technician in the mouth. I really, really wanted a girl. I was sure it was a girl. I even bought some girl things in preparation for her arrival. But after a few weeks of feeling my baby boy swimming around in my tummy and the fact that Jason really, really wanted a boy, I grew to love the fact that my she was going to be a he. I can't imagine Nikki being a girl now that he's here (although people are constantly asking if he is one). He'll grow up playing football with his daddy, making me mud pies and when he hits adolescence, he'll give us a shitload less grief than his female counterpart ever would.

With all that said... I still do secretly want a girl. It would be so adorable to watch Nikki look after his baby sister and to see her don pink tutus and tiaras. Plus, I could have someone to go shopping with and share all of my womanly wisdom with. We do plan on having one more baby and if it is a girl, these are some things I've picked out for her (and me):