I'm Sorry, But I Must Insist

on sitting in the "beeg chair," even though my head barely clears the counter...

on wearing my fox hat at breakfast...

on doing stick-ERS with a woodland companion and buttered-toast hands...

(deer not pictured, but you can see his shadow on the paper)

Lots of opinions on this Halloween morning. 

More spooky fun to come!

October Fun

To avoid killing everyone with seasonal overload, I thought I'd condense several of our fun fall adventures into one post...

Riding choo-choo with Yaya at Georgia's birthday party! He loved the choo-choo but REALLY loved the bounce house.

Painting pumpkins at Georgia's.

Hazmat suits provided by Mary H. #ppe

 Decorating pumpkin cookies at Georgia's (girlfriend's got it goin' on)

Mr. C mainly dipped his paintbrush in the frosting and ate it

should have kept on those hazmat suits

The big house got spooky!

Making pumpkin bread.

it's shaped like pumpkins. It's like so meta.

This is not fall-related (other than perhaps the hockey jersey), but this kid is bro-in' out so hard.

Halloween foam stickers were 30% off at Target and a huge hit. I was running a Halloween decoration sweatshop. The kid churned them out.

Football birthday party!

more bounce house

next up...Halloween week! ("ticka treet!")

Mighty Machines

Work has begun on our new neighborhood school...

They forgot to ask Brooks and Mr. C if they could use their field.

Boots Chooses: Gear

For previous Boots Chooses lists, go HERE and HERE.

This one is like, the main one. The big stuff. Babies and kids require a lot of gear, and this is the gear we have. If any of these lists could serve as a "How to Make Your Baby Registry" guide, this one probably comes the closest.

I've started with the items that make more sense to include on a registry--simply because you're more likely to use them at/from the beginning--and progress into other big items you need but perhaps not until later. Registry-type items are marked with an *.

The Infant Car Seat:
Graco infant seat*

SnugRide Classic Connect, Platinum

It goes without saying that car safety is paramount around here. I operated under the assumption that all infant seats are stringently tested and impact safe. For that reason, I went no-frills with our infant seat. One, the weight of the seat was more important to me than lots of bells and whistles. You tote that sucker a lot. Two, I had some bigger-ticket items on my registry and wanted a balance. Three, I knew from friends that you don't actually use the infant carrier for long, so didn't want to sink a lot of dough into it.

It worked well for us; we used it for about 7 months and it ended its run in perfect shape. It also came on a few plane trips, so I was happy it wasn't a heavy beast. Get two bases (or more, depending on how many cars and grandparents' cars are in your life--but also remember you don't technically need the base to use it. It's just for convenience). Also get a padded cover for the handle (e.g., Little Luxe Infant Car Seat Handle Arm Cushion, Black).

with itzy ritzy reversible seat cover

It was also tremendously convenient--and part of why I chose it--that there was an available adapter so the infant carrier seat could snap right on to our stroller frame (discussed below).

BUT--before choosing a car seat and/or stroller, definitely check compatibility between brands and adapters. These jerk manufacturers are always changing their products, so what was available to me might not be available now. I still have my Graco adapter for Bugaboo so could use it again (or loan it to you), but I am not sure Bugaboo still makes them. On top of that, Graco has changed their seats so that some (I think the "Classic Connect") work with other brands' adapters, but some (I think "Click Connect" do not). Point is--I think this cross-brand compatibility can be really important. Manufacturers want you to buy ALL their product. Do your research and know that it can change between babies. Like we needed one more thing to worry about.

Pack n Play*

This was solid gold from day 1, which I wrote about in the Newborn Essentials post. Read the info there for options, how we used it, and so on. I will repeat one important point: we used it for more than sleeping, and we used it well beyond the newborn stage. In the beginning, it's a diaper station or your bassinet. Then it becomes a playpen. This was a lifesaver for us in our bathroom so he could be contained and have fun while we did the getting-ready routine. That doesn't even account for using it the way most people think of, which is as a travel crib. C is a year and a half now and we've probably just retired it--though it would probably still be an option for sleep while traveling if we really needed it.

The Carrier:
ERGObaby*


Original, Black with Camel
but color/style options abound  

I will start by saying I really liked the Moby, which I've written about, and I think there's definitely a place for it--particularly in the early days. We also have a Baby Bjorn, which did its job solidly. But I'm approaching this as if I'm answering the question, "if you could only get ONE carrier...which one would it be?"

It would be the ergo, friend. I didn't have it when he was a newborn, so I can't speak to the infant insert, but I've seen moms use it a lot. Particularly moms of more than one who are wearing the newbie while chasing around the toddler (God help them). I bought ours for a plane trip where I'd be flying alone with C. We had already done a trip with the Bjorn, and--while I knew a carrier was essential--it didn't quite meet muster for that purpose in my opinion. I was jealous of my friend Ashley (and all the other moms on the flight, it seemed) (thanks for TELLING ME, GUYS) who had an ergo, primarily because it looked much quicker and easier to get on and off when it's just you. 

Another reason I'd go ergo if you're only getting one is that it way outlasts other carriers. I definitely had C in it when we flew to London, and he was 16 months old then. Granted, he's not the biggest kid in town, but it works. The carrier states you can use it up to 45 pounds, which will get you pretty far. More importantly, it's comfortable.  I think it distributes baby's weight better across the body compared to the Bjorn, which starts to matter when they chunk up. But the real bonus is that you can flip it around to wear bigger kids on your back (by which I mean dad. Dad can do this). 

One caveat is that baby can only face in when you're wearing it on your front*. I thought this would really matter, because C did like to look at the world when he was a little bigger, but it wasn't actually a deal breaker. At all. Plus, if they want to see the world you can just wear it with baby on your back. 

So: 

• easiest on/off I've encountered, especially when solo
• great for travel--handy zipper pockets and nap hood!
• most comfortable for adult wearer 
• and more easily/quickly adjustable (e.g., when switching from mom to dad)
• best longevity
• option for back-wearing
• not a "crotch dangler" style, if that concerns you--baby is more in a sitting position
• p.s. this more natural positioning of baby is why there's not a facing-out option

*If the inability to face outward really is an issue for you, they now make one called ERGObaby 360 (4-position carry) that does allow it. So you can have your cake and eat it too. The extra position will cost you about $40 more.

The Stroller:
Bugaboo Bee*

How do I love my stroller? Let me count the ways. It's a lot of ways. 

As I've said before, for full and exhaustive reviews, you can go elsewhere. But I will quickly run through why I chose this one and why I still love it. 

I initially chose it because duh, they're cool. And I read that the Duchess of Cambridge had one. But more specifically, I liked the idea that I could use just this one stroller through many phases. In the beginning, we removed the seat, used the infant seat adapter (sold separately), and would just snap the car seat on to that bad boy. For walks around the 'hood and such, you can definitely recline the seat fully and use the infant insert, but I liked being able to just remove the car seat from the stroller and plop it in the car if he had fallen asleep. I realize that there are lots of other stroller combos that do this, but I can say that the Bee did this well. 

We're now almost 2 years in, and I still love it. In fact, I love it more than I did at the beginning. I always tell people to stop looking for the holy grail of strollers, because the reality is that you will ultimately need more than one (e.g., if you have a big jogger, you will definitely need an umbrella stroller for travel and such). But here's the thing...I have not yet needed a second stroller. Sure, it could maybe be a little lighter, but I haul that thing all over the place. We walk in the neighborhood and in the park. I load it in and out of the car. We fly with it (and gate check). I am still able to carry it up our front stairs with him in it. It's sturdy enough to take everyday abuse but simple enough to make it worth it. I can unfold it while I'm holding the kiddo in one arm. 

Basically, this would be in the category of an all-terrain stroller. I guess that just means it has shock absorption and real wheels. What I think makes it different is that it's an all-terrain stroller with an urban look (and profile), as opposed to the sporty look the rest of them have. Obviously, that comes down to your lifestyle and how you'll use it. For the way we live, it's been a massive payoff to be able to navigate it through restaurants/tables, fit through standard doorways, maneuver with one hand, get through store aisles, and cover different terrain without rattling his teeth out. Watch the demo video for how it can grow with a child--I've extended the seat and the backrest as he has gotten taller and he is still comfy. 

It probably goes without saying, but one thing it is NOT is a jogging stroller. If you want one of those, you'll have to look elsewhere. I also wouldn't use it often on, like, wooded trails. For both of those, you want the 3-wheel setup with locking front wheel option. Although, my understanding is that most people with joggers definitely accept on the front end that they'll need that second stroller as the joggers are heavy and don't fold as small as others. 

Should you end up choosing this (I think it's the best of the single Bugaboos but people like the others, too), one of the bonuses--if that's what you can call more ways to get you to bleed money--is all the accessory options. Some are functional, and some, like all the color options, are just fun. I guess if you're going to drop that kind of money on a stroller you better damn well be able to get a color you like. I'll run through my favorite and most well-worn stroller accessories next.

Bugaboo Breezy Sun Canopy
*this particular one is for the Bee, but they have "breezy sun canopies" for Buffalo and Donkey, too

As you can see from any website, it comes with a canopy, and you have a choice of lots of colors. They even change some from year to year so you can get really fancy. But early on, I swapped out the standard canopy for the "Breezy Sun Canopy:" 

This shows it 3/4 extended, which makes it look a little extreme. Basically, it starts as a standard-size canopy but has the mesh panels for air flow and a little sunroof on top. For extra coverage, you can zip out one more top panel--that's how it's shown here. I got it for this option before we went on a beach vacation (the canopy itself is also SPF 50+). Finally, you can zip an extra mesh panel out the very bottom; I think the primary purpose is to keep mosquitos out--good for a summer baby. We fully extended it once when we were caught in a torrential downpour, and he stayed totally dry. He was little, so the seat was in parent-facing position, but yesterday we were walking in the rain--he's facing out now, of course--and it covered all but his shoes. But if you live in Seattle or something and rain is your main concern, the stroller itself actually comes with a rain cover. But I digress. Breezy Sun Canopy (4 colors; that one is Arctic Grey) is my fave upgrade I've made. 

Bugaboo High Performance Footmuff

fits all Bugaboo strollers

This thing. Love it. Wrote about it here: Thanks, Santa!

Just really works with the way we use the stroller, which is lots of walking to activities and restaurants from our house. When it's cool, cold, or rainy, we can keep him comfortable without having to actually dress the kiddo in all the layers. It actually comes with 2: a lighter one for spring/fall and a down-filled one for winter.

Diono Buggy Buddy Stroller Organizer

not brand specific

Oh yeah. Finally something on the cheap. This guy is EIGHT DOLLARS on Amazon (pic is link). The loops just velcro on to the handles, so I imagine it would fit many to most strollers. You can't tell without squinting at the picture, but there is a cupholder on each end. The center is an open space with a zip mesh pocket. Fits my phone, keys, and let's be honest probably a fire truck. I do have the add-on Bugaboo cupholder, but it's nice to have several for his sippy cup and such. 

The Big Kid Car Seat:
Britax Marathon or Britax Boulevard
convertible seat

 

 I didn't put this on our registry, but you might consider doing that if you have room on your list and already know which one you might want. You need it sooner than you might think, and they're significantly more pricey than the infant carrier car seats. PLUS you probably need two (as opposed to the infant carrier, where you just get one seat but can buy a second base for other cars).

This one seems like the gold standard, based on my unscientific poll of friends. It is very solid--and thus very heavy--is pretty easy to keep clean, and is simple for load in/load out. For a complete convertible car seat review, check out this one on Lucie's List.

We have traveled with it several times--you can buy a Britax rolling thing that it attaches to and essentially becomes a stroller--but it is too wide to roll down an airplane aisle and this sucker is heavy. I don't think you should buy your primary car seat based on ease of travel; safety is just too important and the thing stays anchored in your car the vast majority of the time. But we are considering buying a second, more lightweight seat for future travel, which I feel like I should state up front.

The Highchair:
Graco Blossom 4 in 1

Some people put the high chair on their registry; I didn't. It's just a matter of preference. I also didn't start solids until 6 months, which is later than some people do it, so they may have needed their high chairs earlier. I know you're capable enough to read Amazon reviews, so I will try not to repeat them here, but we've been using this for over a year and there are three main things I like about it:

1. Yes, it is that easy to clean. It wipes down really well, and it's easy to take the straps out and do those if you really need to.
2. The three-tray setup. There's a small grey tray, plus a full-size white one that snaps over that, and then a thin full-size one that snaps on over that. Practically speaking, what that means is that you don't have to have cleaned the tray from breakfast in order to be ready for lunch! 
3. It's probably obvious, but...the 4-in-1 feature. Sometimes we still use it as a regular high chair, though he's moving away from that. More often, he wants to sit in the toddler booster seat at the counter. We always put him in the booster on a regular chair if we are eating dinner together at the table--it's nice to have him at the same level as everyone and not have to scoot the high chair around. Note also that this theoretically means you could use this one high chair for two children simultaneously (I mean, one in the high chair and one in the booster). That's what I call a good deal. 

That was all the big stuff I could think of. Did I miss anything? 

Starting Solid Foods Part 1: Adventures and Opinions

I'm no parenting expert, but a lot of my friends are in the early phases of the parenting journey at present, so there are a lot of emails and text chains in which questions and experiences are traded. Questions about when and how to introduce baby to solid foods are by far the most common and consistent emails I get from friends--usually when baby is about 4 months old and they start to face pressure and conflicting information from different directions.

If you're not currently wrangling very small humans, some background:

1. When we were babies, the general recommendation from pediatricians and others in the know was to begin introducing solids (i.e., rice cereal) when baby was 4 months old. Cereal was the name of the game for a while and then jarred/strained baby food joined the party. Gerber was the shizz.
1. This means that our moms were told--by doctors and their mothers--to start solids at 4 months. They also thought that adding rice cereal helped babies sleep (current evidence does not support this and rice cereal is empty calories anyway). But at that point, you'd try anything if someone said it would help with sleep.
2. Current recommendations are moving toward introducing solids at 6 months of age. This is particularly true of breastfed babies, as there is a push toward exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months (for those who choose and are able to do so), but also applies to formula-fed babies.
3. This leads to present-day parents receiving conflicting messages about when to start solids. Some pediatricians are old-school, and some more up on newer research, so even different actual doctor people will tell us different things.
1. On top of that, our parents (now the grandparent set) know how they did it, and that's how they assume we will/should do it. Some because they simply pass on their experience, and some because they think any other way is just plain wrong. 
1. On top of THAT, there are few issues more emotionally fraught than how you feed your child, so any suggestion that encroaches on your parenting territory on that question feels extremely critical and indicative of The Type of Parent You Are.

Before continuing, I'll just say that the rest of this post is probably not relevant to anyone other than current parents and also contains a lot of talk about breastfeeding, so if that's not your thing, feel free to move along.

Googly Eyes

Gets me every time.

I always knew it would be the ferns...

In Case You Thought I Was Exaggerating...

I call this one "Hockey Guy."

#superfan

Chatty Mr. C

I'll tell anyone that asks that I think this age is super fun (Mr. C is 20 months now, but I've been saying it since about 18 months). Yes, he has a lot of opinions and it takes us 12 minutes just to walk in from the car (STICKS! STAIRS!), but he is so sweet and really starting to talk.

I think we tend to judge people's cognitive abilities based on their ability to communicate, which is clearly an error but probably innately human. As C has started gathering more words--too many to count or list now!--and stringing them together, I've realized that there's a lot more going on in that little noggin than I may have been giving him credit for. Both in terms of what he understands or puts together, and what he is able to remember from the past.

We're typically hearing two- and three-word phrases now, with an occasional four-plus utterance to kind of tell a story of sorts. Some notable phrases of late:

• Reminding himself what belongs to whom: "mommy water" or "dada work"
• Quantities: "yights! More yights!" and requests: "More awuls [waffles] please" 
• he almost always says those while still signing them, which kills me with the cute
• animal cracker shoe! (I look over to see that, yes, he is filling his shoe with his animal crackers)
• Yaya ride choo choo! (We saw a choo choo in a book on Wednesday, but I didn't understand what that had to do with Yaya. Then he said, "Yaya ride choo choo...baby" and I realized he was talking about riding a train with her at a birthday party the previous Sunday)

• watch hockey [with] dada?
  
  
• We saw a fire truck drive by the house and waved at them. The firefighters waved back! He later told BA "Hi, wee ooo wee ooo! BIG wee ooo wee ooo."

He's pretty much right on track: lots of nouns, a few verbs, and missing prepositions/other connector words, and I'm not making claims of baby geniusing, but it's so interesting to see how he puts it all together to get his message across.

Back in the Saddle

Hey everyone--

Thanks for hanging around during a bit of a hiatus. As you likely know, my favorite middle sister got hitched 2 weekends ago, so the time leading up to that was a whirlwind. Add in some school closings in the weeks since then, and I've been spending my time coming up with rainy day activities for the little man in lieu of writing posts. But I'm here now and will try to get caught up!

As a token of my laziness gratitude, I will throw some random photos at you while I work on some bigger posts.

Wedding teaser...

I have some iPhone photos of the weekend and the event, but it really doesn't do everything justice. I think I'll wait for the professional shots to come back and ask Yaya what we can share. So I'm not trying to do a full recap here.

He only wanted to sit with her on the bus to church

(and is still talking about BUS--maybe his highlight)

The outfit!

Contemplating the path ahead...

 They handed (threw?) these out on the dance floor at the wedding...

Obviously C was not present at the dance party, but found several afterwards and was reluctant to let the party go

("Neckniss?")

 and LOTS of hockey!

all of the above photos were taken on separate days...I just wash the jersey a lot and always have the hat handy. He gets full credit for the jaunty angle of his backwards chapeau--that's all him.

He loves the jersey, but it's undeniably too small. Like, they're half sleeves on him and he looks like a 7-months-preg lady trying to make a regular shirt happen in the belly region. The grownups went to a game a few nights ago and I was on the prowl for a new (toddler-sized) jersey, but apparently they only make jerseys in infant and adult sizes. All the kid options are t-shirts, which I didn't feel as wild about. So now we have a toddler shirt but...as predicted...it didn't replace the jersey. I merely have TWO items I must now wash nightly.

I think we can stretch it--literally and figuratively--another few weeks so that he can be a "hockey guy" for Halloween. Resistance to the wee ooo wee ooo has not abated and we know he'll happily wear his ah-ckey gear, so there you go. Laziest. Costume. Ever. I will be sure to explain the photos to him when he's older and point out I was not depriving him, but that he was scared of all costumes. 

How are YOU?? What has everyone been up to? Pictures or stories you are particularly wanting to see/hear? Burning questions you want answered?