Preparing for Baby :)

First of all...this is not a way to tell all of you that I'm expecting!!! My baby is 5 months old for goodness sakes (LOL!) So many people are pregnant and expecting their first babies right now. Such a wonderful time that it makes me reflect on my own baby preparation. A good friend of mine just posted a blog asking for advice on what we had that made our lives easier with our new little bundles. Another good friend of mine posted a blog a while back that I believe was titled "What we could not live without the first year". Well, my little bundle's only 5 months...so here's my list of:

What We Could Not Live Without the First 5 Months :)

1) Baby gowns (even for little newborn boys)
I'll agree with my cousin Katheryn...trying to snap a million snaps on a tiny, little newborn in the middle of the night is a nightmare! Baby gowns were wonderful for us to keep our little one warm and cozy and the newborn ones always had fold-over hand mits.

2) Pacifiers (Nuk)
Since we started out nursing the Nuk Pacifiers were the ONLY ones Chandani would take. Now I know "the paci" can be a subject debated down to the ground for some moms but they were a lifesavor for us and a HUGE comfort for Chandani. She only takes them now at bedtime or naptime, but they help lull her to sleep and then she spits thems out :)

3) Receiving blankets
After being swaddled in the hospital for three days the receiving blankets we got were a lifesavor for swaddling at home! Chandani loved to be swaddled up and snug and warm so we definitely got a lot of use out of them.

4) Baby Furniture (Crib, Dresser, Changing table & Co-Sleeper)
Again this could be debated by some moms but ALL of the furniture we got we use almost everyday if not everyday. We've always used her crib for naps and now nighttime too. We love her tall dresser (or I guess it's called a Chest-of-drawers) for all her clothes, her Changing Table is her FAVORITE place...it's where we change diapers, get ready for bathtime, and just coo and PLAY), the Co-Sleeper is a wonderful bassinette that hooks on to the side of the bed for easy access and she still uses it at 5 months when she's having a rough night and we bring her in with us.

5) Exersaucer
This piece of baby furniture is SO wonderful it gets its own description. What can I "not" say about the Exersaucer?! Chandani's used her since 3 & 1/2 months old and she LOVES IT! It helps strengthen her back, stomach and legs and gives her a place to exercise, explore and burn off energy while mommy eats, uses the potty and takes a much needed break :) This little item was DEFINITELY a must for us.

6) Boppy Bouncer
We don't quite use this anymore at 5 months now that she LOVES to sit up, but it was practically her bassinette from birth to 2 & 1/2 months. She WOULD NOT sleep in the co-sleeper or her crib. So if I didn't want to sleep with a baby on me every night the Boppy Bouncer was my saving grace. Because it was a Boppy product it really craddled her and made her feeling cozy enough to sleep really sound...when she slept that is :(
b) Baby Positioner
Once she started sleeping in the bassinette the Baby Positioner made the transition REALLY smooth. It helps craddle them and support them during sleep.

7) Graco Swing
After the bouncer, next came the Swing!!! For a whole month, the swing was the only place she'd nap during the day. I'd put a soft blanket in it, strap her in and give her her Pooh Bear Snuggly and Paci and she'd be out before you could say Pooh :)
b) Soft blankets
These were and are a must now that she's getting older. She loves the way they feel, cuddles them and uses them as teethers when she's cranky going down

8) Pooh Bear Snuggly
Speaking of Pooh Bear Snuggly, Chandani has pretty much used this since birth. A snuggly is basically a little soft, silky blanet with an animal head attached...sounds a little creepy but it truly is quite the wonderful invention. We take it everywhere we go as a little travel companion. She just loves to feel it with her hands, chew on its nose and I always put in her arm so if she falls asleep (which she usually always does) she has something soft to fall asleep against.

9) Graco Travel System
This comes with a Carseat Carrier, base and Stroller :) This has been the biggest help when it comes to getting out of the house, giving mommy and baby a break. After being pinned up in the house all day long, sometimes the best medicine is a little trip out and about. I hook her in to her carrier, slip Pooh in her arms and head out the door. Next we lock the carrier into the base and we're off. Finally, when I get to my destination I just unhook the carrier from the base pop it into the stroller and I'm set for a day of shopping, walking and getting out and about.

10) Bathtub and Bath Products
When Chandani was a teeny, tiny newborn she'd SCREAM bloodly murder through her bathtime. Finally at about 2 & 1/2 months when my piggy-mama finally got some fat she LOVED her bathtime and still does to this very day. So the infant bathtub with sling was a GREAT help. She used the sling to cradle her until about 4 months. Then she'd lay back in the tub without it until 5 months. Now, she wants to sit up in the tub during bathtime. I especially loved the Bedtime Bath Set that came with the lullabye CD!!! Chandani LOVES the songs and we play them in the van over and OVER when we go on car rides :)

***As far as diapers go...we've used them all so here's our take on it...
Luvs - Fine but don't hold as much so they have to be changed A LOT more frequently
Nature's Best Organic - Ok, but kind of stiff feeling and hold a little more than Luvs
Huggies - Fit nice, hold pretty good but tended to be more narrow and leak more often with our Miss Chub, Chub
Pampers - by far seem to be our best Diapering experience...they do cost a little more but coupons help cut cost and they're worth every penny
(The newborn swaddlers gave her a little rash, but the "Baby Dry" and "Cruisers" have been great)