Fav Baby Gear (at 9mo)

Just a quick post for all you mommys-to-be someday. Thought I would share some of the things we use daily at this stage of the game. Everyone is different when it comes to how they want to raise their lil ones and what products they want to use but these are things that have worked for us!

First, the Bob stroller.. I don't know if you remember my post back when I was prego and trying to decide/research which strollers were best but EVERY mom was telling me to get this stroller. I ended up getting a City Mini which is a lighter weight more affordable everyday stroller and this Bob Stroller (as a gift- THANK YOU AUNT VICKY & UNCLE VIC!). The Bob is worth every penny. You can also get many gently used on craigslist etc. It's amazing.. easy to push, holds everything you need, goes over almost any surface you can dream up and fits the lil guy very well and will up until should no longer be in a stroller :). It does it all.. just a little heavy to haul around (only complaint).

Second, the Wubba Nub binky. I have said it before and i'll say it again, amazing. I send it to all of my prego friends. These binkis are great from day one. They make it easy to find them in the dark in the bed or in your purse and the lil guy LOVES it. He was able to grab the animal and put it in his mouth pretty early on. AND, its like a binky and toy in one.. it has become Trenton's little comfort. Great invention. Kinda looks funny as he is standing and crawling now with the monkey or giraffe hanging from his face :) We love it.

Playtime.. I'm sorry, many (including pediatricians) are against the walkers but our lil' guy has loved his walkers ever since he was big enough to hold his head up. At first, it wasnt used to move anywhere, he could just sit up and play with the toys on it which was great. Now, he RUNS in the thing, which I get could be a little dangerous but we have a one story house so he's not falling down any flights of stairs. He is able to run from room to room or walk around the kitchen with me while I cook dinner. He is happy, we are happy. We don't leave him in it all day, but I can see how some might abuse it. We do try to keep him on the ground, exploring and learning to stand as much as possible. We aren't worried about his stregnth or motor skills though so I guess it really depends on your childs developement.

In close second to his walkers are his bouncer and excersaucer. He really likes being able to bounce and scream and we LOVE these because he CAN'T go anywhere.. probably a better choice over the walker from a parents point of view.

Before the walker & bouncer was the playmats. This one in particular was fun to watch him play the piano with his feet and shrill with excitement. Now, he can sit at the piano and bang on it. Great invention. Too cute. Playmats are great becuase they are on the ground, safe and entertained for hours.. well ok, 10 mins.

Out 'n About.. the beloved cart/high chair cover. This item is so nice to have.. restaurant high chairs and shopping carts are NASTY and this thing just makes me feel so much better since he touches everything then sucks on his hands. It is so cute, folds up into a cute little package, easy to throw on and whip off one handed. Just another product that makes a mommy feel a little bit better when out and about.  

Feeding.. the pouches of food these days are great. They come in the craziest concoctions like the kale, zucchini, apple & greek yogurt is one of Trenton's fav combos. They are great for on the go. The recently discovered spoons that click onto the pouches and the food comes out of the pouch and into the spoon is great. You can turn to close it and cap it off to throw it in the diaper bag or purse for later too. In addition to the pouches, all of the snacks like puffs and yogurt melts that he can easily eat with only 2 teeth have really been great. He hums as he eats each puff or melt.. they taste great and i dont worrry about him choking. ALSO, if you noticed, i put the UP&UP brand on there.. we have really enjoyed all of targets brand baby stuff including these snacks and their pouches of food. Great prices too which is helpful becuase our lil' tank goes through food like crazy!

Speaking of Target.. that brings me to the diapering section of the baby gear world. The target Up & Up diapers have worked GREAT for us. They are very affordable (psst! even cheaper than costco!) and are a good quality to me. I mean common, its a diaper people.. they are on and off in a matter of minutes and you go through them like water. Thus, I'm a huge fan of the Target brand :)

Lastly, the least fun of all the products but a total must have.. the Arm & Hammer Diapering Pail. These diaper pails sure have mixed reviews.. some LOVE the genie, some HATE it. Really?!? How could that be, it stores stinky diapers. Well, we like this one just fine and the liners arent too expensive. I also love the fact that you can refill the baking soda if things get real stinky which hasnt happened yet (believe it or not). He is a stinky kid and its done a really good job at keeping the stench out of our nose and his room so again, i'm a fan!

Things I bought and won't/haven't used much... milkies milk saver (not as easy as it looks), hands free pumping bra, Petunia Picklebottom Diaper Bag (hate to say it, i HAD to have it- but it is SO big and hard to find things in. Just cute. Use it only for trips not day-to-day) & miracle swaddle blankets (The velcro seems to be uncomfortable on a little baby- i used Aden & Anais blankets as swaddlers and burp rags- love them still!).

Things I never bought and haven't needed; baby monitor, bottle warmer, wipe warmer, nap nanny, crib bumber.. i'm sure there are more things but those are the obvious/popular ones that I can think of.

Fav Baby Gear by taylorengle featuring medela

Medela / up&up Baby Diapers Bulk Pack (Select Size) / Happy Baby happy tot Green Beans, Pears Peas / Fisher Price Discover 'N Grow Kick & Play Piano Gym / Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder 2 Pk Girl / Munchkin 2 Pack Mighty Grip Straw Cup, 10 Ounce, Colors May Vary / Munchkin Click Lock Food Pouch Spoon Tips 2 Pk Girl / Evenflo ExerSaucerJump Learn Stationary Jumper Jam Session / Munchkin Arm Hammer Diaper Pail / Safety 1st Sound 'n Lights Activity Walker Surfin Safari / Balboa Baby Shopping Cart Cover - Suri - Free Shipping / Balboa Baby Shopping Cart Cover - Suri - Free Shipping / Balboa Baby Shopping Cart Cover - Suri - Free Shipping / UP STRAWBERRY YOGURT BITE / WubbaNub Giraffe / up up Little Puffs Blueberry (1.48 oz.) / Munchkin Stay Put Suction Bowls

9 Months

I feel like 9 months is a huge milestone and I can't believe we are already here.

My 'baby' is almost a toddler.. he is growing too fast  :(

Trenton is eating finger foods (favs are blueberries, cheese, watermelon and cheerios), he has 6 teeth (4 on top! & 2 on bottom), he is standing on his own without holding on to anything and is learning new things everyday. The teething part has been rough lately, he is not sleeping well and is up multiple times a night. Poor little guy has been in a lot of pain lately and doesn't really want to eat becuase of it. Besides that, he is doing so well. I'm sure every parent thinks this (at least of their first child) but he is SO SMART. He is an observer like my brother is. He sits, watches/listens then does. He mimics things we do, he finds things we hide, he can totally understand us.. it is so incredible to see how much he learns each day! Not to mention, he will be walking any day now. Catching him standing on his own in the middle of the room freaked us out! He just doesnt quite know what to do from there.. yet. We have lowered his crib all the way down as he stands up and is tall enough to jump that bad boy if he got really determined.

He is still such a good, mellow mannered kid. I saw him in a totally different light when he was around other babies his age a couple of weeks ago. One baby was a month younger and one a month older than him. They were both all over the place and Trenton just kind of sat back and observed. One of the babies just ran right over him, took his toy right out of his hands and kept going.. Trenton just watched and looked at me like "did you just see her?" haha. I learned so much about him that day. Compared to other kids, I saw how his personality differed. It is hard when all you know and see is your child day in and day out. I also realized that he is HUGE for his age. He is not fat, unhealthy or too chunky but he is just a BIG baby.. his hands, feet, head.. everthing. He is a big healthy boy. It was so interesting seeing him interact with other babies that were so close in age and how each of them reach the certain milestones at different times.

He shakes his head 'No' now but I'm not quite sure he knows the meaning (YET! thank goodness). We are trying to teach him to shake his head up and down but it is just not sticking, haha. How do they learn 'No' so easily and before they learn 'Yes'? He claps his hands, waves goodbye and dances to music. He LOVES to snuggle, hug and kiss (with his mouth wide open and usually making a humming sound). He is such a happy, sweet little boy and still never cries. Although, he does make a mean pouting face & has 'the whine' down for sure. I'll have to catch that one on camera.. his face scrunches up in amazing ways. It makes us laugh but he doesn't think it's funny.

We have tried to 'baby proof' the house but haven't gone too crazy. He figured out how to get the baby latch off of the kitchen sink cupboard.. lil smarty pants. He found the pots & pans cupboard which was an exciting discovery. He opens & closes every door, drawer, cupboard and top that he can find. He bangs everything and throws it on the floor. He LOVES to unplug every cord in the house and suck on it (yeah..). We have socket plugs in all the sockets but he thinks those are fun toys too. When we say 'No Trenton' he tends to laugh at us then repeat that same action 12 more times. He thinks it is a game until we distract him with something else to do. I joke that he has OCD like me (in ways) becuase he will clean the same spot with a towel over and over and over again.. he gets in this zone where you can call his name loud and in his face and he will not stop doing what he is doing. He does things repeatedly A LOT. It is probably just one of the ways babies learn.. but is pretty funny to watch. When he sees somthing he wants, no matter how far across the room, how high up or how difficult to get to.. he WILL get it. His determination is unreal. There is NO stopping him at that point.

We just love him so much and can't even imagine (or really remember) life without our little boy. Life is so FULL when you have a child.. it is amazing. It is as if we finally 'woke up' and are really living life now. He is our everything and we both just cannot wait to get home and see that smile each night. We talk about the second one sometime soon but don't have any definate plans as to when. I just already miss the little baby that he was just a minute ago. I hardly remember the days when he was 8 lbs. He is so NOT anymore.. haha.

Here is a quick peek at our 9 MONTH OLD! I really need to take more pictures.. these aren't the best but it is what i've got right now. He is just so darn cute. I just love my boys.

hugs, Momma T