Its a Cereal Party!!

I will post more pictures and details if anyone wants anything specific, but for now, here is a quick glimpse at Lillian's 4th Birthday Party

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Lillian's Birthday List

I intend to do a Christmas review post but for right now Lillian's birthday party is creeping up on me.  For family that wishes to get her a gift, we would like to request:

- money for her savings account or something fun (like a movie date, out to eat at a restaurant or a trip to a show)
-savings bonds
-itunes gift card

We just found out that we are going to be putting all of our stuff in storage for a year and moving several states away, into someone else's house.  You can imagine, that the last thing we want to do right now is to add more STUFF.

That said, there are a few things that she needs or really wants:
Balance bike $45

Books, CDs and Movies that are on her Amazon wish list
5T swimsuit in Purple/White or Teal/White
2 pair jean shorts 5T
1pr 5T shorts, with a dark pink pattern (stripes, plaid, polka dots, flowers...)
2 long sleeve 5T shirts-any color/style
1 long sleeve 5T shirt-tunic style to go with dark pink leggings

Toy Storage

Here are photos, if someone reminds me later, I will add tips and tricks in text.

Christmas 2011

Here is what we received:
ELLISON
Want: Leap Frog Music Table
Need: Straw Sippy Cup
Wear: Butterfly 12m PJs
Read: A book Daddy picked out
Daddy's Gift: Walker Wagon

LILLIAN

Want: Birdie Necklace
Need: Rolling Suitcase
Wear: Butterfly PJs 5T
Read: A-Z books w/ CD
Daddy's Gift: Connectagons

RICHARD:

Want: Ipad Stylus
Need: I-thing multi charger
Wear: Boxers
Read: Movie Gift Card (he can read the credits)

STACEY

Want: iphone
Need: Laptop
Wear: (he forgot wear) and got me Scattegories
Read: Kindle gift card and Mercy by Jodi Piccoult

We are blessed!

Milestones

Ellison started waving AND crawling just before Christmas and then yesterday, she popped her first two teeth through!  What a big week for her!

Similac Simply Smart Bottle Review

I asked for the opportunity to review the Similac Simply Smart Bottle because I thought it was innovative and exactly what I needed.  They graciously agreed to send me one to try out.  I received it yesterday and have already put it to good use and I have to say, I love it!

And, the bottle came with a HANDWRITTEN NOTE.  HANDWRITTEN people.  Talk about a lost art form. And from a corporation no less.  Made me smile right out of the box.  One point for Similac's media relations team.

The Simply Smart bottle is new, and I haven't seen it on any store shelves yet.  But it is available at Similac's online store as well as Walmart and Target online.

The features I liked best were the formula "mixer" inside the bottle and the optional formula dispenser cap.  As most of you know, both of my girls have had medical issues and have been on formula since they were very young.  The rubber portion in the bottle, does indeed, help to mix and de-clump the formula and I LOVE that although removable, it is firmly attached.  I tend to use a bottle once, rinse it out, set it on the drying rack and use it again for the next bottle.  The rubber part stays in, even upside down.  It might seem little, but its big because its one less step, I don't have to take it out and put it in each time I use the bottle. But it does come out for easy deep cleaning.

I was a little disappointed that the bottle I was sent did not include the optional formula holder cap.  I understand that this is purchased separately, because the added feature would mean added cost and I wouldn't want that added on to every bottle.  But, I figured for review purposes, the optional top would also be included.  I am looking forward to getting my hands on one of these caps and trying it out, I think it has the potential to be the best feature yet.

I also really like that the numbers, measuring the ounces, on the bottle, are in dark blue.  Some of the other bottles have lighter numbers that are hard to see in the daylight, let alone under running water or at night.  These numbers are large and dark and super easy to see.

Ellison is quite picky about her bottles and LOVES her Nuk bottles.  I don't like that they have a shaped nipple, so it has to go in her mouth a specific way.  Kind of a pain in the middle of the night, and we have PLENTY of middle of the night feedings still.

But, medically, she is required to have cereal in her bottles, which makes it hard to flow through some nipples.    That was the case with this nipple, on our first attempt, she couldn't get anything out.  I merely took a kitchen knife and "adapted" the nipple hole size and we were in business.  She had no fussing about the different shape of the nipple (SCORE!) and she had no problems getting every last bit out.

So, all in all, my only issue with this bottle is that I wish I had the other part, and more of them :-) Overall, I think this bottle has the potential to become our new go-to bottle.

Important stuff: I was sent a Simply Smart bottle to try out.  They did not tell me what to tell you about this bottle and they even said I didn't have to write at all if I didn't want to.  And Nicole was fabulous to work with!

Sili Squeeze Review

I was given the opportunity to review the Sili Squeeze.  They are careful to say it is not a bottle, but a squeeze intended for pureed foods.  You know, like applesauce, pureed baby foods, yogurt, etc.  It has a special no spill valve.  They have two sizes, 4oz and 6oz.

The Sili Company sent me the product to revew and it arrived with gorgeous packaging.  It didn't come in a box itself, but when I opened the shipping box, I found the product and some information nested in tissue paper printed with the company name.  What a simple, but professional looking touch.  Unfortunately R threw out the packaging before I got my camera to it.

I was hesitant about washing it.  But it comes fully apart and was a breeze to clean.  But I have to say that if you left the food in there overnight and let it get dried and crusty it might be harder.  DUH! I just rinsed it out right away, and swirled some soap around in it with my bottle brush.  Rinse and voila!

I also like that the cap is attached with a string.  One less thing to lose.  Although I do think that over time the cord like string has the ability to get dirty.  

There is no way that Ellison could use this yet, she just would not get the hang of the bite valve concept.  Lillian though, loved the idea and it only took her 1-2 tries before she was happily sucking away at her yogurt.  I think this is a great option for things like applesauce, pudding and yogurt on the go or on roadtrips.  

I was also excited to see that they are going to soon be releasing a Sili Squeeze without the no spill valve.  I would love to try one of those out for Ellison's baby food (hint, hint Sili Company).  Ideally, I would like to have one of each kind of valve and one of each size squeeze, I think they would make a great addition to our "kid cupboard".  

You should go visit The Sili Company and check out what they are doing.  I think this company is one to watch in the future for more great products.  Would you use a Sili Squeeze?  What would you use it for? What do you think of their pricing?

Important stuff: I was provided a 4oz Sili Squeeze from the company and asked to provide my opinion in a review style blog post.  They didn't tell me what to say or what opinion to have :-)

Christmas Fun

We recently had the chance to have a friend's two little girls with us for the day.  I, of course, had to have a fun activity.

Pinterest to the rescue, and we have these super cute and SUPER EASY Christmas trees!

The girls loved making, and eating, these and they took almost no effort and I had almost all the supplies on hand.  Win, win!

LIFE CHANGING PROJECT

I have two reviews coming up but today I wanted to share with you one tip that has literally changed my life.  I'm serious.  No dramatics here.

I had a three drawer cart that we used in our bedroom when Ellison was in a pack and play in there.  We used it for Diapers/Wipes, blankets and PJs.  Well now, she is in her own room.  I'm still wondering on the wisdom of that decision as I go up and down the hallway 10 times each night, but she is in her own room.

So, it left me with one of my favorite dilemmas....what to do with that fantastic, empty storage container.  Hmm...The three drawer things are one of my favorites.  I use one for my craft stuff (sewing in one drawer, paper crafts in another and labels/photo paper/ribbons/misc in the third).  And I use one for Lillian's play kitchen extras.  I use one under my bathroom sink (new/extra products in one drawer, haircutting/styling tools in one and cleaning products in the third).  I use one in the girls' closet (too big clothes/shoes for Ellison in one drawer, the same for Lillian in the second and blankets in the other). I use one in my closet (handbags in one, regular shoes in one, special occasion shoes in the other).

Yes, I'm obsessed.  Oh, I also have a tiny one under my bathroom sink with makeup/occasional products in it (face makeup in one, specialty eyeshadows/lipsticks in the second and nail polishes in the third).  And another tiny one for meds for the girls (pain reliever in one, ointments in the second, and cough/allergy/specialty in the third).  And yes, they're mostly all labelled.  DUH.

But as you can see, I already use SEVERAL of these, and we are cram packed into this place, so the decision of where to put it now was a hard one.  I let it sit empty for about a week while I pondered it.  Then, it came to me, I wanted it in the kitchen. Ellison has started babyfood.  Which of course means about 60 jars a month of the stuff as well as cheerios, puffs, mum-mum's, etc.  I wanted it all in a drawer, rather than the shelf it was currently on.  I took my life (and my eyeballs) into my own hands everytime I tried to grab one, and only one, jar down from the shelf that was above my head. No more!

But..as I said, we are cram packed into this place, kitchen/pantry included.  However, I had the perfect use for these drawers so I was on a mission.  I was literally ready to put these drawers on top of our counter if need be.  But the man wasn't too thrilled with that idea.

But wait, the lowest shelf of our pantry looked like it was going to be perfect height to just slide the drawers under it.  Well, almost.  And by almost I mean, it was too tall, by about a quarter of an inch.  Yes, really. I was SO mad.  I tried at the ends of the shelf incase the middle was sagging down at all, nope, still 1/4inch too tall.  I finally lifted and pushed and squeezed those drawers under there, but then the pressure and weight on the drawers made them unable to open.

Well that doesn't work.  There was no place else.  We have tons of wasted space on top of our washer/dryer but we can't set anything on top of them, as it will ruin the calibration or something and create an annoying noise and necessitate a service call.  One day, in our own home, we will have a countertop above them.

Anywho, I decided to make it R's problem.  I told him what I wanted and told him to "make it work" anywhere in the kitchen/pantry/even dining room area.  He immediately became overcome by testosterone and started trying to tear apart my precious drawers.  I may have gone a little nuts but he assured me, so lovingly, "its fine, go away, I'll do it."

Hrumph.

Except, in five minutes, he said, "come here, I did it".  He had taken the top drawer off, (which I didn't know you could do without ruining the whole thing).  Now, it fit under the bottom shelf but left a random drawer.  Thankfully, I had just cleaned out and re-organized the pantry (shocker, huh?), so I had some shelf space up above.

So...without further ado, my life changing project.

Two drawers on the floor of the pantry, one for baby food stuff and one for Lillian.  All of her snacks go in there, either in their individually wrapped packages or in my self divided (earth killing) Ziplock bags, holding one portion of things like animal crackers, teddy grahams and goldfish.  I used the third drawer on the higher shelf for all of R's snacks...obviously completely lacking in nutritional value.

The life changing part....Lillian can get herself something.  When we're running out the door and she's "STARVING".  When I'm in the shower and she's "gonna die I so hungry".  When its 5am and "its light so I hunnry, Mommy."  She knows (and miraculously obeys) that she is not allowed to open the drawer unless I tell her it is okay.  She is allowed to pick any one thing from the drawer.  I do have things such as suckers and smartees in there, but for the most part she goes for graham crackers and cereal and granola bars.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how this has worked so well that I did the same thing in my fridge.  Lillian now has a drawer all to herself.  It has cheesesticks, apples, lunchables, baggies of grapes, ham cubes, etc.  She LOVES yogurt but so much that I refuse to buy individual sizes so the big bucket is up top in the fridge.

Now, when she asks to get something from "my drawer", she can go to the fridge OR the pantry, and pick any one thing.

I LOVE IT and it works for me!

Best Baby Carrier Ever...half off!

It is no secret that I love and adore my Beco Butterfly II baby carrier.  And Ellison is pretty in love with the thing too.  It is the best thing ever.

And it is priced like it is the best thing ever. It is normally $140-$150.  Now, I fully believe it is worth every stinking penny of that, BUT I am also not made of money.

Well, if you have been wanting one, and haven't because of the price, has FrogMama got the deal for you.

Tomorrow, Monday, December 19, she has four patterns of the Butterfly II for half off.  That's only $70 for a BRAND NEW, in box, with warranty and return policy Beco Butterfly II.

Isn't it pretty? And they have my favorite pattern included.

What are you still doing here? Click on this link and GO BUY IT.

Wishlist

Since it worked so well the other day...

Ellison has asked me 12 times a day for a Mesh Crib Bumper.  Well, of course, she hasn't ASKED me, but she does throw a dozen pacifiers down the back side of the crib each day and then scream like a maniac, so I know she would love one.

Great Products

I am SO excited.  Do you remember when I reviewed the Pop-A-Tot when it first came out?  We had the pre-production model, and I loved it.  I am so excited to use it again this holiday season while we are traveling.

Well, I have had the opportunity to do some more reviews.  I have turned down a couple offers from companies and/or products that I didn't think were top notch, but I have two reviews coming up that I am very excited about!!

Stay tuned in the next few weeks for a review of the Sili Squeeze and the new bottle that Similac has made expressly with formula feeding mommies in mind.  I am so excited about both of these products and can't wait to tell you guys all about them.

I also have a possible opportunity coming up.  Its still a secret, but if it happens, it will be HUGE.

Ellison had an excellent GI appointment today. Her weight is low, but gain is steady. Her intake is normal. Her output is extremely high (duh) and still comes out her nose but is no longer making her turn blue. She is down to 1 prescription, bringing our monthly output down from $75 to just $5! AND, the dr. agrees completely that her sleep is ridiculous, so Operation Get Your Butt To Sleep and Keep It That Way shall commence immediately, hard core.

Wow! That worked really well.  Someone already said they will get Lil the Tangled soundtrack.


So....onto bigger and better things.

I want a live in nanny.


Ready, set, go!!

Wishlist updated

Lillian would love the Tangled Soundtrack, or an itunes card to purchase it. She tells me about 12 times a day.

Random Ramblings: Kid Gear

When getting an umbrella stroller, pay a little more and get one that reclines.  SO worth it.  Even Lil will not sleep in a stroller that is up, but lay it down and she'll sleep anywhere.  We have the Chicco Trevi and I LOOOOOVE it.  It has a basket, a kid tray (a must have for us), it reclines fully, it has a huge sunshade, it folds up small (not as small as some umbrellas though), and it has a parent pouch and cupholder.  Cons: It could fold up smaller, I would LOVE a removable seat liner and the parent cupholder falls off sometimes (not during use, during folding up and down).

Best big carseat ever....Graco Nautilus 3 in 1.  It think it doesn't start until 22 pounds, but from then on, its the only carseat you'll ever need.  Its one of the longest 5pt harness carseats and then goes to a high back booster, then you can take the back off for a regular booster.  Watch for sales when she is getting close.  go to www.babycheapskate.com and watch for deals.  she posts deals on gear, toys, diapers, wipes, etc.  Each week she will tell you where wipes and diapers and formula are cheapest and if its just a sale or if its a "stockuportunity"

Get a jumperoo or a walker.  You don't need both. If you have mostly carpet, its pointless to get a walker.

We have a single Graco Quattro Tour stroller and a Graco infant seat.  By far my favorite travel system, I had one for Lillian, sold it on craigslist, tried a Peg Perego, Chicco and some random one before going back to Graco Quattro Tour for Ellison.  Best full size single stroler ever in my opinion.

We also have the Graco Quattro Tour double stroller.  Now, I will be the first to say that unless you spend many hundreds of dollars on a double stroller (like a BOB), its going to be huge and bulky.  That said, for the cheaper end of strollers, I love this one.  I didn't want a side by side because we do lots of shopping and its hard enough to fit through aisles with a single wide.  I like that the infant carseat can go in the front or the back (or both, if you have twins).  I like that there are two cupholders for the adults and a pouch for stuff, as well as Graco's notorious large basket.  There is also a snack tray and/or cupholder for both seats as well as a "treasure pouch".  I don't like...that its heavy.  Really heavy.  But other than putting it into and getting it out of the van, I love it.

Random Ramblings: Misc Kids Stuff

If you can talk people into NOT buying her gifts the first two years when she doesn't know anyways, bonds are an awesome substitution.

I highly recommend starting an email address for her. YOu can email her funny things she says/does, recaps of vacations, attach super special photos or videos that you want to make sure she gets a story with, and you can ask family to write to her once a year.  I email each of the girls after their birthday and christmas and list who got what for them.  What a great gift when she graduates.  I don't even plan on telling my girls about it until they are 18.  

MAKE sure if you don't already, that you start backing up photos/videos regularly.  More regularly than you think you should.  Because anything that happens and the tiniest thing you lose will now become so important.

Get a set of washcloths that are not any color that you currently use for your house.  The brighter and more obnoxious the better.  If red is a color, even better (more on that in a minute).  Get about 20.  Don't get them from the dollar store, but don't get them at Macy's.  I think ours are two Target sets of 10.  Use these as "kid cloths".  We use them for anything from wiping faces to cleaning spitup to wiping down the highchair.  AND if you have red ones, they're great to use when the kid is bleeding.  They won't see how much blood there is and freak out more.

Random Ramblings: Toys

Buy wooden, classic toys.  SERIOUSLY.  If it has batteries, your kids will outgrow it faster.  People told me this and I didn't agree.  Well its true.  Lillian loves wooden blocks, legos, dress up, craft stuff, playdough and instruments.  The same things our parents loved and we loved.  TOTALLY worth only buying "classic" toys.  Her other favorite is Little People.  Not the houses or buildings or vehicles, just the people.  

That said, she NEEDS the Leap Frog Music Table for when she's 8ish months old.  Best thing ever.  We had one for Lil and she still plays with it, and is mad we're "giving" it to Ellison for Christmas.

Baby Einstein and other "baby" movies...a total waste.  THey don't need to be watching TV at this point, and if they're interested in the TV and you don't care that they watch, they will watch anything, not just baby movies.

When she is about 12 months she will "pick" a favorite blanket.  Feel free to foster this by picking one yourself and giving it to her over and over and over.  When she has a favorite, run, don't walk, to the store you bought it from (while its still in stock) and buy two more.  Keep one in her bed, one in the car and one put away as an extra when one of the other two is being washed.  BEST thing I ever did.  (the blankets that I find hold up the best...4 years later...are a knit blanket. Think sweater type.  Lil's have all been washed at least 100 times and look fabulous.)

If you are going to need blankets in the summer time, get Aden+Anias muslin blankets.  They're expensive.  And totally worth it.  They are available at Target too or you can stalk them online and watch for a sale.  BEST thin, HUGE summer blankets.  Great for a cuddle, laying on the grass or covering the parts of the stroller that the sunshade misses.

Random Rambings: Diapers

Don't buy too far ahead, you will end up with lots of smaller ones you're trying to cram on her and then she'll leak through and it will just be frustrating.

We liked pampers brand best overall, always.  But, target has the best off brand and after 6m I switch to them.  Sometimes, when I'm having issues, I use Target during the day and Pampers at night. 

Pampers wipes suck.  Huggies are best.  Cheapest on AMazon Mom or at Sam's.  Sam's recently changed their distributors of off brand wipes and they now ROCK.  Better than Huggies.  My new favorite.

When you are ready to get pull ups, don't get off brand.  And get pull ups (huggies) not whatever pampers' are called.  And use them sparingly, they're expensive. 

Start potty training as early as you want to, but give it a few days and if its not working, put everything away for a month or two and try again.  Their timing on this one or it will kill you.

Random Ramblings: Kid Food

If you don't already, ask your doctor for formula samples every time you go in.  EVERY time.  And if you see any specialists for any reason, ask them too.  They all have formula to give, might as well be to you.  

And if you're not on the formula company's mailing list for coupons, go to their website and sign up.  And then sign your mom up. And his dad.  And your neighbors.  If she's doing okay on formula, and type doesn't seem to matter, switch to offbrand ASAP.  Target was awesome for Lil and so was Sam's.  

Toddler formula is a joke and not necessary at all. 

Start a sippy cup with a straw when you start foods.  Its easier for them to learn to use a straw the earlier they do it, and it will save you later when you're at restaurants and such.  At the beginning, just put the cup on their high chair tray and let them play with it, they will figure it out in their own time.

WAIT to feed her.  Wait til 6-7 months for sure.  You have the rest of your life that you're going to have to feed her, and babyfood is a pain in the REAR.  For real.  The older they are when you start, the less you have to fight with it.  And as soon as you start babyfood, start offering bigger chunks of food, for them to play with, at first.  It will help them learn to eat "real" foods easier and faster, which is the ultimate goal.  Cook a potato, and slice it into thick fry type slices and just hand her one when she's 6-8months old.  She might gnaw on it, once she learns how to get it to her mouth, but what she gets off, she will be able to eat.  She will just play with it at the beginning.

When you get a high chair, which will be sooner than you think, get one that sits on a regular chair.  You will LOVE it later, and its perfectly fine for babies.  And get one that has the fewest cushions/pads, etc.  You will be cleaning runny, chunky food out of this thing 3 times a day, the fewer cushions, crevices the better.

Take away the pacifier and the bottle as soon as you can, the sooner, the easier it will be.  Last bottle by 12m for sure. The sippy cups come with super soft silicone no spill spouts now, so its just like a bottle, but easier to transfer to other cups.  Also get her to drink sips out of a regular cup as soon as possible.  Like before a year.  We didn't with Lil and she literally couldn't drink out of a cup without a lid until she was almost three.  

Mum Mums.  Best teething biscuit ever.  DO NOT buy any "teething biscuits", ever, they are grossness.  Soak a graham cracker in milk for a minute then take it in your fingers and squeeze then smear it on every available surface, including in your hair and ears and you'll understand :-)  Mum Mums still make a little mess if they gum it and then take it out, but its much less a mess, and much lighter in color.  

Puffs.  I say buy one container of them.  Any more and its a waste of money.  Buy one when she's just staring "food" and break them into pieces and give them to her.  Through that one container, make her pieces bigger and bigger until they are whole pieces, then give her cheerios.  MUCH cheaper.  

Yogurt puffs by gerber....NASTY.

Toddler Gerber Graduates meals....HORRIBLE HORRIBLE nutrition.  I'm SO not into being a nutrition police, but these things are horrible. Give her a lunchable instead.  Seriously, its better.

Let me know if you're interested in making your own babyfood.

Bumpy Names Labels by Orbit...great for the bottles for nursery.