My Baby Must Haves

Recently I was asked to make a list of the things I couldn't live without as a new mom and the things I could have done without as a new mom. I figured I might as well make this a blog post, who knows this list might help someone or it might make someone giggle!

Things I couldn't live without:

1) My family - goes without saying I know! But honestly, I am surrounded by the most amazing support system and I think it is the most important thing as a new mom!

2) A really good bed - no not for the baby but for mom. You don't get a lot of sleep so when you do get a some you want it to count and a nice bed is essential to that. Nick and I got our $5,500 bed from Macy's for only $300.  Sometimes, they clearance out mattresses and its a great way to get a good bed for a great price! Doesn't hurt to ask!

3) A great hairdresser - seriously a great haircut can do wonders for your soul, your self esteem, and your spirit. For me, a great haircut helped me feel more like me again and that's what i desperately needed after having my daughter. To look in the mirror and sort-of see me again was priceless.  I don't normally do shout-outs but I HIGHLY recommend Laura at Honey Saloon! 

4) Oxiclean - I love this stuff. A baby gets everything they wear dirty and this stuff takes everything out! I stock up on it. It is truly a mommy must have!

5) A swing - this ones for the baby! We got ours as a hand-me-down (thanks Heidi and Peter) and I couldn't live without it. I can put her in to nap if she refuses to sleep in her crib, she well sit in it happily if I need to accomplish something or if I just need to take a break.  I love our swing!

6) Gardener - this is a personal one. Despite how tiny our yard is, its maintenance was a great stress for my husband and I.  Lets just say we don't have green thumbs.  Having a gardener freed us from that stress and gave us the time to focus on more important things, such as spending time with our family.  In fact, I just recently told my mother-in-law I would rather go without my cable TV then the gardener. Ask yourself, what totally stresses you out? Whats your stresser?  Doing your bills? Cleaning you house? And see if you can make it work to hire someone to help you out.  Its worth every penny.

8) A good thrift store and/or a local Just Between Friends sale - having a new baby brings with it the fun of buying baby clothes. But that can be expensive especially since they grow out of the clothes so fast or ruin them. Hence, buying second hand allows the thrill to be guilt free. An insider tip - find out if your second hand store does 50% off days! Also, consign the clothes they grew out of at a JBF sale and make back what you spent.  Consigning at a JBF sale takes some work so be prepared but it is worth it when you get your check in the mail a few weeks later. 

9) Infant Tylenol - my daughter was born with a tooth, yes a tooth, and she started teething at 6 weeks old so infant Tylenol has been a must have in our house. Another teething trick a great friend taught me and I well pass on -mini frozen waffles.  They are great on their sensitive gums and dissolve in their mouth.

10) Jillian Micheal's - her 20 minute works outs are incredible! I have blogged about this before so I won't go in depth but check them out. 

11) baby Einstein exersaucer - awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Like the swing this gives you somewhere to put your little one for a little while so you can do other things and take a deep breath!

12) A diaper caddy - the whole family loved this baby shower present, also from Heidi and Peter! Thanks guys! This was a slum dunk.  When I first got this I had no idea how amazing this little box would be but it turned out to be wonderful.  You just grab it and you can change your little ones diaper anywhere in the house. 

13) A diaper bag plus a travel bag - I know most of you are going huh? Isn't that the same thing?  No its not.  We quickly discovered if you carry everything you need in your diaper bag for the whole day the bag is going to be crazy heavy and way too full.  So we designed what we call the travel bag.  Its just a plain canvas bag we had in the house and we pack it with all the extras you need but don't need in your diaper bag.  The contents of the travel bag are constantly changing because what the baby needs changes as they grow.  This bag is also nice because you don't have to take it out of the car every time you get home and clean it out but can leave it in the car and always have a surplus of goods in the car ready to go whenever you are!

Okay... I think I may have covered all of our favorites.  This list is in no way comprehensive and there is no way it could be because babies needs are constantly changing, plus what works for me is not always going to for you! I well try to follow up this posting with a blog about what I got and/or purchased that I could have lived without.

Losing Sleep

It is 2:11 a.m.  Everyone in my house is sound asleep except me.  It might be because I am sore from doing P90x the Ab Ripper.  I truly despise the "host" but Ill save my rant on him for another day.  He does Arnold Swarchenegger impressions in the middle of the work out...need I say more?  Sorry...got lost in my disdain for him.  I am also up because my dreams and my thoughts are consumed with photography.  Literally consumed. 

It is amazing how challenging and rewarding it can be when you pick up your camera and you shoot a picture "purposefully."  Okay let me explain.  Before we really delved into this whole photography business I would take pictures and if some turned out good that was awesome.  Now when I photograph a shot, I have a goal in mind.  I am out to capture an emotion or feeling.  And in order to do that you have to think about the shot before you take it.  It cant just be a knee jerk reaction.  It really is an art form. 

Yes, yes some shots are knee jerk because a moment is suddenly happening and you want to capture that moment.  I think this is the kind-of photography my husband is more into. Hence, his love of the website Moment Junkie. I like staged shots because it allows you to create the atmosphere you need to capture a specific feeling or mood. Oo la la. Crap...as I say that my mind is immediately taken to the movie The Little Mermaid and the scene where Sebastian is encouraging Ariel and Eric to kiss.  Come on... you know the scene where they sing "Kiss the Girl" and Sebastian is setting the atmosphere.  Classic!

Crap my hips hurt from that damn work out. Okay.. I have been up way to long and I must get some sleep otherwise I will be a nasty person tomorrow.  June is not good without sleep. I'm speaking in third person now...that cant be a good sign.

(I was planning on uploading pictures with this post but stupid blogger is distorting every image I put up and I am not in the mood to fight with it at 3:00 in the morning.  Maybe Ill try again tomorrow.)

Play Time

I got my hands on Nick's camera yesterday and I snapped some photos of Claudia and Claudia Mia. We just sat and played in the front yard. It was such a nice way to spend the afternoon.

I spent most of the time learning how to adjust the shutter speed. Lol... I actually thought I was adjusting the ISO but Nick corrected me this morning and told me I was actually adjusting the shutter speed. My bad!

Despite my confusion, I learned a lot about what adjustments to make according to what kind of light I am shooting in. An important lesson when shooting in manual mode. Hehehe.. I actually sound like I know what I am talking about.

This last shot, I took when we were goofing off and I was pretending to be that stereotypical fashion photographer. You know the one that doesn't look through the lens but just snaps shots and says "perfect, yes, love it!" I think it turned out cute and funny at the same time.