Chattahoochee Mama

Nesting

So I REALLY want new crib bedding for the baby. I know, I know... I'm having another boy, so it makes practical sense to use what I already have. But it's been 5 years since I picked out the current crib set for Wyatt and I'm in a different place now. I want fresh colors. I need something new.

Of course, I'm only dreaming here... but I love looking at Serena and Lily's nursery collections for inspiration. Here are a few of my favorites for both girls and boys (clockwise from top left: wren, dylan, hazel, ben, frances, graham).

 

This Weather Is Driving Me Crazy!

A few weeks, ago I picked up these cute spring jackets for the boys (which are now on sale for $14.99). Anyway, I immediately packed away their winter jackets (I am so over wearing a big coat) and we happily embraced the warmer days.

So I was pretty bummed to have to unpack their winter coats again this week when temps dropped to the 20s. But even though snow covered the ground this past Sunday, we'll be enjoying a balmy 73 degrees again this weekend. So apparently, we're going to skip light jacket weather all together, and my money would've been better spent on bathing suits. Nevertheless, I'll take it... bring on Spring!

For The Gents

My hubby is a minimalist, which is why he never embraced the whole "daddy diaper bag" phenom that emerged around the time Wyatt was born. I remember seeing the first diaper bag for men, looking very camouflaged and usually having "Dude" in the title. I thought about getting one for Ben but quickly realized that he wouldn't use it. When he goes out with the kids, he usually just grabs some diapers and wipes before heading out the door.

If your man is anything like mine, then check out the Gents Line from Goober Baby. The 'Spare Change' shown at left comes in chocolate cuordoroy and fits wipes, diapers and a changing pad (included). No man bag necessary. You might even be able to sneak some antibacterial gel inside.=)

Preparing for My Little Peanut

Not only do Phil & Teds have an edgy new look, but they also has some great new products to check out.  One of my favorites is the Peanut - a super light, carry cot that clicks into the Vibe. Its peanut-shape is perfect for your little peanut to snooze away in while cruising, and can be easily detached to continue slumbering at home.

This new baby on the way is making me covet cool new baby products all over again!

Go Green, Young Baby

These days, it's possible to find "green" baby products almost everywhere on the internet. But my favorite site that I've found so far is Happy Green Baby, an on-line boutique that carries any and everything, from glass or plastic bottles and pacifiers to baby clothing and gear... all non-toxic and eco-friendly. It is definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a baby gift or just need some baby items for yourself.

Currently they are having a pre-holiday sale - 15% off your total order now through Friday, Nov. 14th.

"The Baby Is Safe!"

You may have seen Dwight try to crash test an Orbit stroller on "The Office" a few weeks ago. Here's a deleted scene with more of his "crash testing." That's one hearty stroller. =)

Green with Belly?

If your belly's ripe with baby and you're too big to hug a tree, check out this unique baby registry at Organic Green Mommy. It's a complete and green registry with over 300 items, including green gear, organic clothes and bedding, BPA-free bottles, natural toys and furniture... even organic mattresses.

Not pregnant? Create a Child Registry for your kids next birthday party. I used to think birthday registries were a little ridiculous, but after shopping from one for a little friend, I'm singing a different tune. It's quick and easy, and you know you're getting something the child wants.

Maybe being green isn't as hard as I thought.=)

Overdue, but brilliant nonetheless

Backseat Tandem Sunshade for Phil & Teds

Another Reason to Love Dwell Baby

I've been a little lax in keeping up with all the cool baby products, gear, etc. popping up these days. Blame it on my kids getting older or just sheer laziness, but I mostly rely on my weekly stops over at Goody Blog and Cool Mom Picks to keep me in the loop of fun new products.

All that to say, I saw these Bottle Warmers from Dwell and instantly wanted one. Yes, Dylan still takes a bottle for his milk. Yes, he is perfectly capable of drinking from a sippy cup. And yes, buying yet another prop for his bottles seems silly. But I really want one! Just yesterday, I spent the afternoon cleaning up a messy diaper bag from a leaky bottle. So it's really an incredibly practical thing for me to have. And it doesn't hurt that really cute, too. =)

(via goody blog)

Baby Gear for Baby Daddies

Now fathers don't have to be ashamed to stroll their tots around town in frilly baby buggies. The sportscar company Porsche has just unveiled its new stroller with pneumatic tires on Carrera S rims (whatever that means =)... for $690. Hey, it might be the closest we'll ever get to the real thing.

Affordable diaper bags you'll love

You don't have to sacrifice a great looking diaper bag in order to stay on budget. Just recently I've come across quite a few chic-looking bags that had a super-friendly pricetag. I noticed in Target the other day some REALLY CUTE ones that didn't look too diaper bag-ish. Both were from Amy Coe - the Foldover Slouch Diaper Bag for 29.95 and the Bucket Tote Diaper Bag, also for 29.95.

I also found 2 great finds at Babies R Us. One is called the Cocoa Dots Tulip Tote for 49.99 and the other is the Ima Rose-N-Bloom II Diaper Backpack & Shoulder Bag for 44.99.

What's in your diaper bag?

When Wyatt was an infant, I carried around something like this, but I found after a few months that it was unnecessary to have a bag so big. I couldn't even fit it in the stroller storage compartment! I remember putting in "the essentials" - I think I had something like 20 diapers!

So I deliberately bought a small diaper bag (different color) when I was pregnant with Dylan that I'm still using over a year later. It's plenty big for what I need - a pair of clean undies (for Wyatt) a few diapers and a pack of wipes, some small snacks and a bottle or sippy. There's even room to toss my wallet in if I don't want to carry a purse. I realize it's time to clean it out when I can't jam anything else inside.

I did this today and found a bunch of extra stuff that had made it's way in there: 3 pacifiers, 4 pairs of socks, a superhero figurine, an old bottle, a wet diaper, 2 lipglosses and some granola bar wrappers. Which leads me to this question: What's in your diaper bag?

My Double trouble

I'm anti-double strollers. I despise them all. The ones that aren't too wide are too long, the ones that aren't too heavy are too flimsy, the ones that aren't too boat-like are too impractical.  And so, I refuse to put down a couple hundy towards something I loathe, just because the Mommy mags tout their necessity. I have yet to find a double stroller that suits me; and this is not a call to convince me otherwise - I'm extremely stubborn and have made up my mind that I will not own one. I'm just wondering, is there anyone else out there who hates bulky duo-gliders and unfoldable Phil and Teds as much as me?  Has anyone (besides my own Mom, back in the day) gotten by without one?

Let 'em give it a whirl

Here is a toy that I just thought looked like so much fun. The Whirly Bounce Rider - which is a bouncer, a see-saw, a merry-go-round all in one. For kids starting at age two and up to 70 lbs, it can be used indoors or out. Hey, if I were a kid, this thing would definitely keep me busy for a little while!

Back-seat driver no more

I wish I had a bike. To tell the truth, I haven't ridden a bicycle since highschool, but now that my daughter is learning how to ride and since we live in the land of paved trails, it would be nice to do the family bike ride thing sometimes. I wonder what we would do with Maddie since she is still so little right now.

I have seen the child seat behind the driver and the trailer pulled by the bike, but I recently came across this Bobike Mini. I like the idea of being able to see the baby and that the baby has a great view of everything ahead instead of my behind. It even works for children up to 3yrs or 33lbs. I can imagine that after a while of peddling myself and Hope around, my legs would look awesome!

Push, carry... or both?

We were out and about the other day when my husband said, "We should invent a stroller that folds up into a frame backpack." I thought it was a great idea, but figured I'd google it because I had a hunch that someone else had thought of that already... well, I was right. 

I love the idea of having a small lightweight stroller for spacious town center areas and then a backpack for more narrow, less stroller-friendly areas like Georgetown, or a stroller for picnicing at Shenandoah with the option of backpacking through some of the trails. I can think of a million scenarios where I definitely needed a stroller, but later wished I had the use of my two hands for a short while instead of needing to push. If you are beginning to feel curious, visit here and here and here for the only three options currently available.

Kiddie leashes: yea or nea?

Okay, I admit that I have seen parents using kiddie leashes and have always thought, "No way. That just isn't right!" It seems so wrong on so many levels to me. I certainly understand the desire - any mother of a 2-year-old would. Then I got to thinking about small children with special needs, who need a little extra attention and supervision - you know how easily toddlers can get away from you - I just imagine it's even harder. So I sort of dismissed it as a "not my cup of tea, but..." thing.

Well, today at Reston Town Center, I saw a lady using one on her toddler. He was very content and happy, but my old feelings reemerged. So I have to ask all of you:

What's your take on kiddie leashes? Is there another perspective out there that I'm not seeing?

Table for two

With the onset of some truly Spring-tastic days, we have been taking advantage of time outside. At lunchtime yesterday, I pulled Hope's Little Tykes table into the front yard so that she and her friend could dine alfresco. I love that table - it isn't as cute and quaint as say... a painted wooden table set from Pottery Barn Kids, but it is just the right size, sturdy, plastic, easily cleaned, and totally durable!

Great for picnics, arts and crafts, and play - and light enough to carry from room to room (even Maddie can move one of the chairs by herself) plus rounded edges that keep kids (and walls) safe. Ours is an older version of the classic table, but Little Tykes makes all kinds of cute tables for kids including picnic tables and activity tables. 

Diaper duty is messy enough

I have enjoyed getting to know Maddie as she gets a bit older... she is so different in many ways from her sister. She has lots of interesting little quirks that are all her own. One that I am loving right now is that whenever she poops, she points to her diaper and says "poop," so nonchalantly.

Speaking of such... an area where I have not found quirkiness so appealing is with diaper disposal systems. I was given a diaper genie when Hope was born, which lasted only a very short while until I decided that it didn't work that well for me. The twisting was annoying, and the bags - which you have to buy specially made for this contraption - weren't so easy to remove. Now, I know that there actually are some great disposal systems out there, but somehow I was disinterested in having one more can to remember to empty, and a surplus of old poopy diapers hidden away neatly in my child's sweet nursery. It just didn't jive with me. But what to do?

Well, I simply keep a supply of those handy travel disposal bags at our changing station. After a change, I secure the diapers in said bag and remove it to my larger kitchen trashcan downstairs, which gets taken out at least every other day. The smell is contained, the diapers are removed from the house fairly promptly, I have one less can to empty, and no hidden stashes of yuckiness. It may seem like more effort, but really it isn't. Anyway, I'm finally happy with my diaper disposal system.

The lowdown on Phil and Teds e3 stroller

Every time I go out, someone stops to ask me how I like my Phil and Teds e3 double stroller. I always tell them that I am really happy with it and my boys like it, too. Lately, I've had several moms e-mail me about some of the pros and cons. I thought I'd share my thoughts here, in case you're interested, as well.

What I love:

• It's lightweight and compact (I didn't want to feel like I was driving a bus)
• It can be used as a single or a double with just a click - no need to push a double when you just have one kiddo
• It can be a jogger stroller just by locking the front wheel
• It comes in lots of fun colors like lime green and coming soon: blue camo (see pic)
• It has 4 positions from being totally flat for a newborn to upright for a toddler

What I would improve:

• The cargo area is a little small and hard to reach when the double seat is attached
• The extra seat folds open, so it's not flat or as sturdy as the front seat
• The toddler in back can touch the wheels, but no harm can come from it, except dirty hands (my boys haven't tried it yet, but my friend's child has)
• The "tray" attachment is a little lame, but I got the BOB attachment and it works great (cheaper too)
• The extra seat has to come off to fold down for storage - no biggy, but worth the mention

A concern for a lot of moms is "the view from the back," and whether the child minds not being able to see. So far this hasn't been a problem. When Dylan was in the flat-bed infant stage, he just liked kicking around and looking up at us. Now that he's in the toddler position, he looks around and seems content with his view. Although it is recommended to put the heavier child in front (for proper weight distribution) Wyatt likes riding in the back sometimes - it makes him feel like he's in a secret compartment. That's my two cents. If anyone else has one, feel free to add yours!

Some of our stroller-in-action pics: