I love love love Wall Decals

I keep telling myself not to post so frequently, but I really can't stop. So many fun products and ideas I'd like to share.  


People have recently been commenting on photos that show the tree wall decal in Aiden's room...I love it as much as you all seem to, so I thought I'd post some info, links, and my favorite ones:


Wall Decals are the perfect way to decorate your little one's room (they have great adult versions as well, but I'm focusing on the kids).  They are basically huge stickers that you arrange on the wall, but the BEST part is that they peel on and off with ease.  We have moved twice with ours, and it sticks just as perfectly! 2nd BEST part, they are so affordable. 

RoomMates Scroll Tree Mega Pack is hands-down the best wall decal I've seen for a girl's room. The numbers on each sticker obviously aren't on the actual product, in case anyone was wondering :)  You can arrange all the parts together, like shown, but I think it'd be cute to have some of the flowers and animals separate from the tree.

FunToSee Polly Patch Flowers
are adorable for a girl's room, as well.

CostSell Submarine and Fish decal is so cute for a boys room, play room, or bathroom. The scuba diver sticker is ridiculously adorable.

RoomMates Jungle Adventure Wall Decal would work for any nursery, and lets you be a little more creative with placement.

RoomMates Dotted Tree Wall Decal is what we have in Aiden's room, and works for baby girl or boy decor.  We will be updating to a more "big boy" version once he is out of his crib :)

RoomMates Transportation Wall Decal and RoomMates Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Wall Decal are perfect for your slightly older little man.














Check out Amazon.com for more wall decals (I search: "wall decals kids") They have princess decals, lots of flower and tree decals, and speciality decals like spiderman and star wars. 








XOXO, t.c. mommy

Favorite Book of the Week

Aiden and I were at TCAPS Way to Grow play group today (upcoming post on this great, free playgroup, 4 days a week!)  and I spotted a book that made me feel instantly nostalgic:

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

We don't own this book, and I haven't seen or thought of it since my childhood.

It is the simple story of a boy who wakes up to find that it snowed overnight; he celebrates the magical day by going on snow adventures - making snow angels, snowballs, footprints in the snow. All great, easy activities to do with your own children!


I have the best memories of The Snowy Day, and it is the perfect book to help your little one understand how wonderful the snow is!

XOXO, t.c. mommy

Mommy must-haves for the diaper bag

When my sister, Liz, suggested this blog topic I was excited to cover it, because your diaper bag is like your 2nd child.   


We should get one thing straight though.... I don't think there has been even a single time where I am out with Aiden, and have everything I need in my diaper bag.  It simply does not happen. I constantly find myself rummaging around in the bag for that one item that will stop Aiden's screaming, even though I just know I forgot to bring it.  Good luck, mommies!


The Essentials:
These are the most boring and the most obvious.
10.a. Diapers
10.b Wipes (I love the to-go packets that pampers makes - nice and thin, with a flip-top lid)
9. Pacifier if your little one uses one
8. A change of clothes for your little one
7. Formula, milk, water, etc. (I'm not a juice fan; it's completely unnecessary.  Introduce your little one to water right off the bat and they will continue to love it)

The Fun Stuff:

6. One or two board books - I am continually impressed with Bright  Baby Board Books.  Simple, bright      
      colors, great pictures.  Aiden liked looking at them when he was a baby, and now "reads" them nonstop  
      when we are out.

5. Disposable placemats, like these from Babies R Us -  Especially for Baby Table Toppers
     You peel off the tape on the edges and it sticks to any restaurant table or highchair tray that you might
     not trust your little one to eat off. Pack a Bumpkins Bib and your child's eating utensils, as I have
     yet to find a restaurant that provides them.

4. Lip gloss and blush.  Nothing helps wake up your face like blush, and lip gloss moisturizes and shows the
    world that you have everything - including yourself - under control.  Even when you don't.

     I use good ol' fashioned drug store powder blush in a rosey pink, and my absolute favorite lip gloss is  
     TheBalm Plump Your Pucker Tinted Gloss.  Feels just like a lip balm, but with a little oomph. Cocoa my
     Coconut is a nice, neutral shade.

3. Snacks.  Endless possibilities, but here are some of our favorites:
    - Gerber Graduates Puffs are the perfect finger food for babies. Not filling whatsoever, but good to keep
      then busy, and mess-free.
    - Same as above for Gerber Graduates Yogurt Melts
    - Archer Farms Organic Fruit Strips are semi-dried fruit strips.  Can be ridiculously messy, but they are like
     crack to toddlers.  Aiden can't get enough. Purchase at Target.
    - Peanut butter Sandwich crackers
    - Stauffer's animal crackers. Mostly for me, because I am obsessed with them, but Aiden eats them
      too.

2. Diaper/Potty Must Haves.  For your little one in diapers, the Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Bags &    Dispenser. Used when Aiden decides to poop on a beach, in a nice boutique or, god forbid, on an airplane.
You and others near the trash can where you will dispose these nice, scented, diaper bags, will thank you.

For potty trained/training little ones, the Kalencom 2-in-1 Portable Potty Seat. My sister-in-law, Brandee,
made this discovery, and I really can't see how parents survive without it.  It folds up nice and small, and you can attach a bag under it and set it up on the ground for moments when a potty isn't readily available.

When your little has to go, they simply have to go, and it's best to avoid: a. instilling the fear of falling in the big person potty, and b. not making it to a bathroom quickly enough while at an outdoor, public gathering.

1. A few small, fun toys.

Whether they be infant toys, like The World of Eric Carle Activity Caterpillar

Mini trucks, like the Tonka Chuck and Pals Mini Fleet (Your little guy can drive this tiny trucks on just about
       anything.)

Or,  the always entertaining Sing-A-Ma-Jigs
        Squeeze their belliy and they sing in different pitches as their mouth moves.  Aiden thinks it is
        hilarious, and they are nice and small.  Not good for the attention-shy, because people will stop
        and stare.



 Crayons and a mini-pad of paper are essential as well, if your little one is old enough to color.  Aiden
         spends lots of time in church contemplating his religious thoughts....or coloring. :)



XOXO, t.c. mommy

Those terrible, awful, new baby teeth...

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe
I feel somewhat silly for recommending such an expensive teething item, but I simply can't resist a french giraffe who eases the teething pain of our little ones.  In all seriousness, Sophie the Giraffe has excellent reviews from actual parents - that seems to be the most important, in my opinion. 

Click on the link for more info from the manufacturer, but Sophie the Giraffe is intended to appeal to all of baby's senses.  After seeing Aiden with his Sophie, I can see that it is lightweight, with 5 "limbs" to easily hold on to, has a distinct smell, is satisfying to chew on, and is oh so cute.  I've seen many babies claim it as their "favorite", carrying it everywhere with an unbelievable ability to not lose it.

Other Teething Tips
I'm in no place to give medical information regarding teething - another constant debate in mommy-world: whether teething causes certain medical symptoms or can manifest itself within certain medical symptoms. My thought; it can make your little one absolutely miserable (in turn, making you a bit miserable), so it is well-worth trying most solutions!

We thought Aiden was teething at around 4 months-old, but his first tooth didn't decide to arrive until he was almost a year old.  We relied on the more traditional teething solutions, such as cold washcloths, frozen teething rings, and rubbing our fingers on his gums.  Teething babies will love to chew on just about everything, so as long as it's safe for them, chew away.  We had it fairly easy (lucky, I know) judging from the horror stories I hear from some parents.

I've noticed many mommies using teething feeders.  You can insert ice cubes or frozen fruit for your baby to suck on, or even frozen cubes of breast milk or formula if you haven't reached the food stage.

 My best advice is to share info with other mommies! We are each other's best resource, not to mention that it feels wonderful and relieving to relate to each other. To state the obvious: every baby is different, and your attitude as their mommy can make all the difference in how your day with your teething baby turns out.

I LOVE BabyCenter, and here is a great resource on Teething Solutions from Parents - What we wish we would have known. 

Diapers and wipes

There have been long-standing debates regarding diaper brands - mainly, Huggie and Pampers, - and I really can't say that there is a clear winner.  Every parent has a preference, and it really doesn't come down to gender, as some argue.  In my opinion, you pay for what you get, but even generic brands are good.

Pampers Swaddlers Diapers 
We have used Pampers from day 1, starting with "Newborn Swaddlers", and now up to "Cruisers."  I can honestly not say why we chose pampers - it was likely the diaper choice of mommies in our families, or the type of diaper used for a diaper cake we received at our baby showers :)

Huggies Little Snugglers
 I have yet to hear a realistic reason that Huggies is better or worse than Pampers.  However, seeing as my beautiful, talented older sister works on the Huggie's account within advertising, I'll encourage any new mommies to try them....Love you, Liz <3.  However, I did just notice that Huggies are more expensive than Pampers, at least the newborn size, on Diapers.com

Diapers.com might not seem like the most convenient way to buy diapers, but it is a great option if you use it consistently! They have awesome diaper discounts, especially for buying multiple boxes over time. (And yes, you will buy a horrifying amount of those things)

Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes
We began using this sensitive version as opposed to the regular Pampers Baby Wipes, likely for just as nonexistent of a reason as our diapers.

I remember the thought of wiping my precious newborn's butt with anything but a "sensitive" wipe seeming unimaginable.... but we have since switched to the regular version, and they work just great!

If your little one is prone to diaper rash or has extremely sensitive skin, you might consider the sensitive version - in my opinion, why not? The sensitive version is slightly more expensive, but it's all relative.

Pampers Baby Wipes are super strong - we have literally not had one tear, ever.  You definitely have to use 2 or 3 for a messy diaper, though.   


Generic Brand Diapers and Wipes
Generic brands (Meijier, Target's "Up and Up", etc) are effective diapers, but you might have to modify how you use them.  I was peed on a few times during our test run of Target diapers, but I will shamelessly admit that I went as long as possible without changing Aiden's diapers.  It's hard to tell if they are cost effective in the long run, but I know many mommies who use them!

Mealtime with your little one

I have wasted an embarassing amount of money on baby spoons, forks, plates, cups, etc.  Some simply don't cut it. =)  Really though...here are the ones we have found to be the best:


Spoon-feeding (4-12+ months)  (For an age-by-age guide to feeding your baby, check out this BabyCenter article)

NUK Gerber BPA Free Soft Bite Infant Spoon

These are the best for 1st foods (rice cereal, oatmeal, Gerber 1st pureed foods - fruits and veggies).  Small enough spoonfuls for your little one to get used to manipulating food in their mouth.

Nuby Spoon and Fork 

Once your little one gets the hang of eating, these spoons will hold more pureed foods, yogurt, applesauce, etc. Lightweight, dishwasher-safe.

The "Spork" (you really can't call that a fork), is nice to have as well.  Good for more textured foods, eggs, pasta, etc.

Gerber Bunch a Bowls
The perfect accompaniment to your infant feeding utensils.  Aiden rarely finished the yogurt or pureed foods I fed him, so we both served and stored in these bowls. 

Self-feeding (with utensils)

We continued to use the Nuby Spoon and Fork.  

It is the perfect spoon for your little one when they are learning.  The spork serves pretty much the same function as the spoon, but can "poke" pasta, or other flexible solids.

NUK Gerber BPA Free Graduates Kiddie Cutlery Forks

Hands-down the best fork.  When your little one is old enough to use a sharper fork (Aiden really couldn't manage one until he was around 15 months-old, but the age varies) this fork is literally the only we could find that he could actually spear food with.   

They sell a set with a spoon and knife too; the spoon wasn't deep enough to survive Aiden's tippy grip, but the knife might be useful later on, when he is learning to cut his own food. 

Munchkin Suction Bowls - 3 Pack
Suction right to their highchair tray or the table.  Genius :)  Great if your little one likes to see what happens if they tip their bowl, put their bowl on their head, throw their bowl....I know it can't just have been Aiden. Good lids for storage, too! 

Sippy Cups & toddler cups

We haven't found much of a difference between brands of sippy cups, but here are the ones we've been satisfied with along the way (ALL DISHWASHER SAFE):

NUK BPA Free Sip and Smile Spill Proof Cup

A good first cup.  Short, so it is easy for little, unsteady hands.

Playtex Sipster Cups 

Hold more than the above cups, once they can handle the length

Munchkin Mighty Grip Flip Straw Cups 

Good straw cups, still technically a sippy.  The straw can hold into the lid so it doesn't get dirty.  Only downside is that liquid sometimes spews out the straw.  

My mom and I searched high and low for a two-handled cup with an open top, once Aiden was ready to try regular cups.  We had the worst time, but here is what we eventually found:

TO BE CONTINUED!

Plates

Plates are pretty straightforward, but I love the Emily Green brand. Much more expensive on her site, but I buy her plates, bowls and cups at Meijer in the "Youth dinnerware" aisle. At Meijer they are a few dollars each, such a steal!  Very dishwasher safe, and the best prints. Her plates aren't divided, which I prefer.  

I have bought the majority of our plates and bowls from Meijer.  They have great ones for only a few dollars each - also can be found in the "youth dinnerware" aisle, next to the canning supplies. 

Bibs

This is an easy one:   Bumpkins SuperBibs

Super light and well-made.  The easiest to wash and the most comfortable for your little one to wear.  Folds up nice and tiny to pack in a diaper bag!

Yum Yum

Absolutely delicious.

Twice the protein of regular yogurt, less lactose, and fewer carbs. 

So filling! And the caramel on the bottom is amazing. 

Perfect snack or breakfast for a busy mommy.