My Must-Have Baby Registry Items

When I was approximately 6 weeks pregnant I began researching baby products. (I LOVE research, and the internet, and product reviews, etc. etc. etc.) I quickly found that it was pretty overwhelming and confusing trying to make a registry. I kept thinking, what do I really need? Now, I am someone that will find a use for almost everything. So while this list may seem too long to some, I seriously, 100%, truthfully feel that every item I am listing is most definitely worth purchasing. I registered at Target, Babies R Us, and BuyBuy Baby. But looking back, I wish I would have just used Target and Amazon.

NURSERY:

Crib- My son is 2 months old so we haven't actually used this yet, but you can't have a nursery without a crib! We got the Delta Children Bentley 4-in-1 in white.

Crib Mattress- We got the DaVinci Luna Hypoallergenic waterproof universal fit mattress. Like I said, we haven't used the crib yet. But it feels fine, and I like that its hypoallergenic and waterproof.

Crib Mattress Cover-Any will do. Waterproof was my main concern

Crib Bedding- My mom and I picked this up from Babies R Us. Depends on your theme

Dresser/ Changing Table- We didn't buy a changing table at first. And immediately regretted it after bringing the baby home. So, I made Mitch move our white IKEA dresser into the nursery and turned it into a changing table. The fact that I have 6 drawers to store things is a bonus! You'll obviously need a changing pad and cover to throw on top, and bam: changing table DIY master mom.

Changing Pad and Cover- Loving our Circo Wipeable Cover

Diaper Genie/ other similar item- Walking diapers to the kitchen trash every time you change the baby is a pain. Or am I just lazy…
We actually got a cheap plastic bathroom trashcan instead of a diaper pail, and it's working alright for us so far 

Wipe Warmer- *Que all the moms rolling their eyes at this one* Because a cold wet wipe to the behind at 3 A.M. is just rude

Lamp with soft light- For the late night changes when you're trying to get the baby to stay sleepy and go back to bed…haha yeah right…this is for you, so you don't intensify your headache with a bright overhead light. We have one that goes with our nursery theme. 

Glider/Rocking Chair- We ended up putting this in our bedroom since Ollie sleeps in there for now. Nice to have for nursing since it keeps you upright.

Cute Hamper- Dirty clothes, toys, blankets, clean clothes, endless possibilities.
We have this one from Target. 

GEAR:

Travel System- Don't just put a car seat on your registry! Do your research and find a good travel system you like. This means it comes with a infant car seat and stroller that can easily be attached. We got the Chicco Bravo and love it. The car seat is a little heavy, but you develop mommy arms quickly. The stroller maneuvers smoothly and folds easily. The only "negative" is it doesn't come with a snack tray. However, my SIL said they have them on Amazon.

Rock and Play- AKA Life Saver. If your baby has reflux issues (many do) this is great because it is inclined. Fisher Price Newborn Rock and Play Sleeper 

Swing- Another life saver. Get one that can plug into the wall and take batteries. We have the My Little SnugaMonkey. The reviews say that it is loud, and yes, it does make a sound while it swings. But your baby will sleep better every time you are desperately trying to sneak around the house during nap time trying to avoid waking him if they are used to noise while they sleep. I personally love this swing.

Pack and Play-Only if you don't want your baby to escape when they start crawling. Get one that fits your personal needs. We have one by Graco that came with a vibrating bouncer and changing area.

Bouncer- So you have somewhere to lay him in the bathroom while you shower or use the toilet #momlife

Bassinet- You'll need somewhere for baby to sleep in your room for the first couple months. We have the Simmons Elite Gliding Bassinet. There are mixed reviews on this thing, it is a little difficult to follow the directions on how to put it together. Other than that, it is like the most tricked out bassinet available. Plus, how freakin cute is it!? It vibrates, has a mobile, music, flashing lights, a night light, wheels so it can roll through our entire house, and a storage area underneath. The only thing I don't like about it is that the vibrations/ music only last for about 10 minutes and then it goes off. And you have to quickly press the button again before the baby wakes up. But, the pros outweigh the cons in my book.

and/or

Co-Sleeper- We don't personally use one (I know, bad mom *eyeroll*) We didn't bed-share until Oliver was 1 month old and a little bigger than his tiny little newborn self. However, if you are a deep sleeper, a co-sleeper might be a good choice for you.

Baby Carrier- We have the Boba wrap. Currently eyeing the Ergo for when Ollie gets older.

Fisher Price Sit Me Up Floor Seat- Have yet to use this, but the reviews are great.

and/or

Bumbo- I know some people deem this a safety hazard but I have had 4 baby cousins that all loved it (under supervision of course)

Highchair- We actually don't have one yet, so let me know if you have one you love

TRAVEL GEAR:

Diaper Bag- I have the Skip Hop French Stripe and love love loveeeee it. If you like monograms, Pottery Barn Kids has super cute bags 

Car Mirror- So you can not only hear your baby wailing, but also have a visual (sigh)

Car Window Shades- To protect those precious little eyes

Changing Mat- A travel one, if your diaper bag doesn't come with one

Travel Diaper Bag Dispenser- Comes in handy when you just nursed your baby in Target's fitting room and he then has a huge blowout and you need something to put the diaper in before sweetly asking an employee to toss it…Hypothetical situation, of course ;)

Car Seat Covers- One for warm weather and one for cold weather.  It's -3 as I type this so we are currently using and absolutely loooooving our Eddie Bauer Cover.
Great for the cold, wind, rain,and snow.

Backseat and Stroller Organizer- We have this one

BATH:

Baby Bath Tub- We have the Fisher Price 4-in-1 Sling n' Seat. Through trial and error I have finally found that using this in the kitchen sink, with the chair part in to keep him above water, and the sling to add comfort, will allow me to bathe my child without him screaming the entire time. Also, crank the heat up 30 minutes before the bath and turn on the oven. Seriously. I'm smacking my forehead for not thinking of all this before. 

Baby Bath Products- Brand new baby skin is extra sensitive so pick up something that is specially formulated for him/her. We love Burts Bees Baby and Aveeno Baby wash/ lotions. 

Baby Towels/ Washcloths- The towels with hoods! I suppose any washcloth will do, but aren't the baby ones just so cute? 

HEALTH CARE:

Ear Thermomater- Yeah, yeah, I know, you're supposed to take the temperature rectally at this age... but I just can't and the ear is perfectly fine if you add a degree. 

Tiny Nail Scissors- Like the kind you use for manicures? I think mine are by Sally Hansen and from Meijer or something. I HATE clippers. I clipped Ollie's skin right off the first time I tried to cut his nails with those stupid things. 

Mylicon Gas Drops- OMG life saver. Babies get really bad gas that hurts their little tummies and this stuff is wonderful. 

Vaseline- Magic stuff. If you have a boy, get a tube of this for after his circumcision. Also, great for putting on the bottom every couple diaper changes to prevent a rash.  

Humidifier- We use the Crane Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist. It works fine, but I honestly chose it because it looks cool…Definitely getting some use out of it now that winter is upon us here in Ohio. 

Snot Sucker- (I believe the proper name for this is "bulb syringe")The ones from the hospital work the best, so try to snag 2. I tried to use one we got from Target and it didn't work. People also rave about the Nosefrida, but I haven't tried it myself yet

Dreft Detergent/ Stain Remover- I know some people say this isn't a necessity, but I love washing Oliver's clothes in it. It's gentle and safe and smells SO good. And blowouts call for loads of stain remover.

DIAPERS/ WIPES:

I like Pampers the best. They are more expensive, but the Newborn-Size 2 has the wetness indicator which is pretty cool.

I really, really, really wanted to like Honest Co. diapers (do they not have the cutest designs!?) 

But they didn't work for us. The wipes were just okay. Kind of dry though.

Pacifier Wipes- Because babies love to spit their pacifiers out in public

Cloth Diapers (But not for diapering necessarily!)- Wonderful for burp cloths and as a changing mat when yours is dirty. We use these constantly! I think we have about 20 because we use them so often.

FEEDING/ NURSING:

I breastfeed, so this is just what I use personally.
 You might need different things if you formula feed

Boppy Pillow- Makes nursing a teeny tiny human so much easier. And more comfortable for them.

Pump- I think most insurance companies cover this now. I have a Medela. Some people say to get extra parts but I've been alright. Take the pieces they supply you with in the hospital. Oh and if you take the tubes from the hospital pump and just cut off the big yellow things on the ends, they will also work with your pump  

Bottles (and different stages of bottles)- At least 2 different brands because you never know what your baby will like. I've only tried pumped breast milk with Dr. Browns and Munchkin Latch and he has liked both. They were just the brands I got from my showers that were stage 1's. I have some medelas and avents for the next stages.

Nursing Cover- Because you're going to have to feed the baby every 2-3 hours and eventually you'll be out and about and need one of these. Or you'll be a badass and not care to use one.

Breast Milk Storage Bags- I'm currently using the Lansinoh ones, but I hear NUK is also good

Nursing Pads- I like the Medela brand because they have a sticky side for your bra

Pacifiers-  Ollie started out liking the soothies. Now he takes MAMs

Boon Lawn Drying Rack- Not only does this make my kitchen counter look cute, it's super convenient for all the bottles and pump parts. Go with the lawn, the grass is super tiny 

Bottle Brush- I also have the Boon bottle brush. It was kind of weird using a silicone brush at first, but I like it now

Bibs- You will get tons of these at your shower regardless, but my favorites are the Tommee Tippee Milk Feeding ones. They keep the milk from gathering under the baby's neck.

Baby Food Maker- Obviously you won't use this for the first 4-6 months, but this was one of my favorite shower gifts. Magic Bullet Baby

Sterilizer/ Steamer- To sanitize pacifiers, bottles, etc. and steam veggies for the baby blender. Baby Bullet Food Steamer

TOYS/BOOKS:

Activity Gym-We have two: Infantino Go Ga Ga and Fisher-Price Kick and Play

Tummy Time Mat-I suppose it isn't a must have, but I love having it.

  Infantino Go Ga Ga Tummy Time Mat 

Music/Sound Machine- Honestly it doesn't keep him distracted for long
YET, but having background noise is a must for keeping a baby asleep. Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother

Glow Worm- We have the original glow worm and a sea horse. Ollie LOVES these things!

Jaques The Peacock- The back of it has various black and white patterns, which is great for little babes. They love the contrast!

Teethers- There's the cult favorite, Sophie, but we also have the Sophie Teething Ring and various other plastic ones that you can freeze

Books- I could list a hundred, but I'll just name a few. If I Could Keep You Little, You are My Heart, The Giving Tree, Frog and Toad, I Love You Forever, Love Monster, On The Night You Were Born, Where the Wild Things Are..okay I'll stop there for the sake of trying to keep this post from being 464364 miles long. My MIL and SILs had me a storybook themed baby shower and I got tons of books! So Ollie has his own library now

BLANKETS/CLOTHES:

Aden and Anais Swaddling Blankets- I can't stress enough how much I love these blankets. They are freaking amazing for swaddling, lightweight and breathable, (since you will be obsessively checking your baby to make sure he's still breathing) and the designs are adorable. I also use these in Ollie's car seat when I know he doesn't need a thick blanket. He gets hot and mad fast lol 

Variation of other Blankets- I got tons of blankets form our baby showers. I remember thinking "Wow I'll never use all of these!" So wrong. We go through blankets like crazy. 

Halo SleepSack- Keeps em comfy and cozy at night 

Plain Onesies- We have some by Carters and some by Gerber

I didn't put any clothes on my registry because people will get you looottttssss of outfits. However, sleepers that zip are the bomb.com. Tons of buttons suck, day or night.


Alright that sums up my registry must haves! Obviously you can raise a baby with half of this list, but hey why not have all the cool goodies!? ;)

Oliver's Birth Story

Oliver is 2 months old and I am just getting around to writing about his birth story… (oops) Turns out this mom thing is like a 24/7 commitment...

It all started on Sunday November 8, 2015. I was up ALL night with what I thought were braxton hicks contractions. My stomach hurt, I couldn't get comfortable, and was overall just miserable. I think this was actually pre-labor. Fast forward to Monday night around 6 P.M…

I arrived to my parents house and began feeling contractions that were a little more intense than I had felt before. My parents and brother began helping me time them as I scarfed down dinner and a bowl of Reeses Puffs, walked around the house, and repeatedly said "I'm not in labor mom, calm down!" 

After about an hour of this, and my mom complaining that she didn't want to deliver her grandson at home, I finally gave in and decided to go to the hospital around 9 to get checked just to appease her. Mitchell was in a class, so I didn't want to worry him until I knew for sure I was in labor.

Which I was so so sure I wasn't…(eye roll)

When we got to the hospital I was 3 cm dilated (I had only been 1 cm that previous Friday and had set my induction date for November 20th!) The doctor said she would be back to check on me in an hour and to go ahead and call Mitch.  My contractions were getting pretty painful at this point. I made my mom walk around the hallways for an hour straight while we waited. I truly think this not only helped with pain management, but also to speed up the process. 

Mitch and my Dad arrived and I continued walking around my room, doing squats, and whimpering with each contraction, which at this point were getting extremely painful. My parents waited outside while Mitch sat with me as they got my IV started. I then began whining for an epidural to the nurses in the hallway. Hahaha…and I started this pregnancy with the thought that I would have a natural birth…lololol that epidural was amazing.

So, my parents, Mitch, his mom, and his sister, all waited for Ollie to arrive.

And we didn't wait long! I woke up from drifting off to sleep feeling cramping in my stomach and kind of freaked out (" I feel stuff!!!" lol) So the anesthesiologist came back in, (yassssss) I threw up,
(apparently normal), and then it was time to push! I didn't expect things to progress that quickly so I was pretty nervous. He was definitely ready to be here! Labor was honestly less painful than contractions. (For those who have asked what I did to have a relatively easy labor and delivery…not sure. I think I got lucky. But I did drink raspberry leaf tea a few times in the previous week, and I ate an entire pineapple the day before. lol) 

And then they put this screaming little human on my chest.

 I remember thinking "I can't believe he's here... I can't believe he's mine!" The immediate love I felt for him was overwhelming. Love at first sight absolutely exists, and it is what a mother experiences when she sees her child for the first time. I don't really remember anything that happened after they put him on my chest because I couldn't stop staring at him. Oh, and he peed on me.

I was utterly exhausted after being up for basically 3 days. I  have no idea how I even made it through labor with how tired I was. I tried to rest so many times, but it is true that you will get 0 hours of sleep in the hospital. People are coming in and out constantly! I finally couldn't take it anymore and got the okay from my doctor to go home early. And then I continued to get 0 hours of sleep because I had a newborn to care for. Having a strong support system is the key to getting through all of this. My parents brought us groceries and came over to clean, Mitch's mom did all of our laundry while we were at the hospital, and family members were so understanding with waiting to visit.

  Special thanks to my momma who made sure I survived those insane first weeks. I'll be depending on you from here on out (just as I have been for my entire life)

Now for the best part

Welcome to the world, Oliver Michael

Capturing the Last Weeks of Pregnancy

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'LL BE HERE NEXT MONTH!!!!

Where has the time gone?! I feel as if my pregnancy has absolutely flown by. In 4 short weeks we will be welcoming our little baby boy into the world. We'll be parents. Us, in charge of a tiny human! (WEIRD) 

Mitchell is ready for him to be here now, but as the due date draws nearer, I am getting more anxious/nervous about delivery.Things got real when my doctor started asking me who my two support coaches were, if I had a birth plan, were the hospital bags packed, etc… Ahhh wow, this is all coming up quickly! 

So, I decided it was also time to get some maternity pictures

 done before his arrival.

Thankfully, my mother is a very gifted photographer (not only for her talent, but her patience with me ;). I prefer relaxed, candid photography. And I love that she got random pictures of us laughing and joking with each other. I'm happy with the turn out, which is quite an accomplishment because at this point in my pregnancy, I seem to hate all pictures of myself. Also, if you are viewing these on a phone, they look really blurry! The quality is heaps better on a computer.

Here are just a few:

Huge thanks to my momma! I'll treasure these forever! 

31 Weeks!

How far along: 31 weeks (only 9 more to go!) 

Gender: Our precious baby boy 

Size: Over 3 pounds

Names: Oliver Michael 

Nicknames: Ollie

Have you started to show yet? Most definitely

Symptoms: MAJOR rib pain, back pain after being up for a bit, braxton hicks, sore hips from side sleeping, heartburn, and being out of breath from the simplest tasks (putting on socks, pants, shoes, etc…l o l) Oh and my feet are swollen most days, so shoes hurt. (shoes hurt..yeah I'm at that point)

Maternity clothes:Loving maternity tops and leggings, Charlotte Russe boyfriend jeans with help from the hair tie trick

Stretch marks: Not yet

Sleep: Is it a sick joke that other moms tell you "sleep now while you can!" ?? THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH A BOWLING BAL IN MY STOMACH THAT KEEPS ROLLING INTO MY RIBS AND BLADDER AND LIKES TO THROW PARTIES FROM APPROXIMATELY 1-6 A.M.(I need a nap...)

Best moment this week: Mitchell's birthday is in October, BUT I had the opportunity to grant him his dream of playing with baby tiger cubs this past Sunday, so he got part of his gift early! It was AMAZING! (pic below)

Miss anything: Now that Fall is upon us, it breaks my heart that I am missing out on pumpkin spice lattes. Also, being able to bend down to pick things up comfortably…Mitch had to tie my shoe at the grocery store the other day hahaha!

Movement: We refer to Ollie as our wild one now. Plenty of rolls, kicks, and jabs. His very favorite place since I first started to be able to feel him has been my right side. And man, do I feel it in the ribs! 

Cravings: milk, donuts, muffins, pancakes, waffles, pastry goods in general, sea salt caramel ice-cream, citrus fruits, salad, smoothies

Queasy or sick: I'll randomly feel a little nauseous, no idea why!

Belly button in or out?: In limbo

Looking forward to: Celebrating Ollie with my family this weekend! :)
Also, the nursery is ALMOST completely finished. I just want it to be perfect before I show it off! Thanks to Nana and Papa we got the curtains and bookshelves set up last week :)

A Sunday spent cuddling tiger cubs is a Sunday well-spent! 

24 WEEKS! And My First Q&A!

How far along: 24 WEEKS! 
Apparently this is a huge milestone in pregnancy. 
We are so thankful that I have been blessed with such great health so far! 

Gender: Baby boy

Size: 1 and 1/3 pounds, and almost a foot long!

Names: Oliver Michael 

Nicknames: Ollie

Have you started to show yet? Oh yeah 
Symptoms: Major back pain!   

Maternity clothes: Maternity shorts. Going to have to give in and pick up some actual maternity tops and leggings here soon...

Stretch marks:Not yet

Sleep: Adjusting to side-sleeping

Best moment this week: Ollie's future BFF Kinslee being born! 
She is so perfect and precious. 

Worst moment this week: Nothing sticks out

Miss anything: COFFEE

Movement: All the time! He feels so strong now. Mitch had his head on my stomach and Ollie kicked him in the side of the face 

Cravings: For the first time I am craving some healthy food! I constantly want salmon, crab legs, salad, avocado, mushrooms (weird?) and fruit

Queasy or sick: Not a bit

Belly button in or out?: Struggling to stay an innie

Looking forward to: Celebrating Ollie at our baby shower with Mitch's family next month!



FAQ's

How many aunts and uncles does Ollie have?
(I keep referring to my 3 best friends as his aunts so I understand why this is confusing haha) but he has 2 aunts and 3 uncles. 

Why did you choose his name?
I have a separate post on this coming soon ;)

Where are you registered?
Target, Babies R Us, and BuyBuy Baby. You get a free gift basket for registering at each of these places AND a completion discount a few weeks before your due date!

Are you going to post pictures of the nursery?
YES! We just have to get the changing table, one more shelf, hang the art work and it will be finished! But we also have a lot of other things going on (Kitchen remodel, office remodel, binge watching Netflix and enjoying some pizza hut…) As soon as it is finished I will be sharing it. :)

Are you going to post pictures of your labor/delivery/the baby?
Not sure about labor/delivery haha but there will definitely be some of Oliver

What diaper bag did you get?
The Skip Hop Limited Edition French Stripe. But apparently you should have more than one so I'm considering the Skip Hop Black Stripe Grand Central Take All bag, but I'm not 100% sure yet. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Why do you only have specific brands on your registry?
I think everyone has brands they favor ;) I just researched A LOT and went from there 



Thanks for the questions! 

Celebrating Ollie with the Girls! (First Baby Shower)

This past Sunday my sweet friends all got together to celebrate the little one at my first shower! Ollie's fairy godmother (Aunt Kait) planned the most AMAZING baby shower in existence. It truly could not have been any more perfect. Ollie's Aunt Hannah had the party at her new (HGTV worthy) house,and Aunt Kayla also helped with the party planning. These three ladies are such blessings in my life, and I can't begin to explain how thankful I am that they exist. It was a travel-themed shower, of course. (I can't wait to go back to Europe with Ollie next time!) And as they say, a picture's worth a thousand words so without further adieu…

Check out those hot air balloons! 

"Notes to Oliver" How sweet!?

Wooooahhhhh bump!

Aunt Layla, Aunt Kait, and Aunt Hannah :)

Kait, thank you, thank you, thank you for planning the shower of my dreams. I love you to the moon! You are already the most amazing fairy godmother to Ollie. Hannah, thank you for allowing us to party in your absolutely perfect new house and making the shower possible. Kayla, thank you for also helping plan the shower and providing the yummiest mastaccioli ever made! Marissa, Stace, Hannah (#2), Brittanee, Erin, Britta, Mary, and Asya, thank you so very much for spending your Sunday celebrating Ollie. And Kelsea, we missed you at the shower but Ollie absolutely loves his new bottles, pacifiers, Jacques the Peacock, and Babyganics bath stuff! 

From the absolutely hilarious games, to the time we spent just chatting, I had the best baby shower EVER. I love and appreciate you all so so sooooo much. Oliver is lucky to already have so many beautiful (inside and out) ladies that love him!

Thank you for the perfect Sunday :)

21 Weeks and Nursery Plans!

How far along: 21 weeks! 

Gender: BOY :)

Size: About 10 1/2 inches long and almost a pound

Names: Oliver Michael 

Nicknames: Ollie

Have you started to show yet? Yep, though it looks a heck of a lot bigger in this picture for some reason! 
Symptoms: Back pain, cravings, mood swings 

Maternity clothes: Maternity shorts, comfy dresses, leggings.
 Holding onto my pre-pregnancy clothes for as long as possible haha

Stretch marks: Not yet. But hey there linea nigra… -__-

Sleep: Still not sleeping so well

Best moment this week: Getting his NEW nursery together! 

Worst moment this week: Same annoying back pain 

Miss anything: COFFEE

Movement: Definitely. When Mitch comes home and we start talking, Ollie moves like crazy! 
He is also very still when we are reading his FAVORITE book (Harry Potter) to him ;) 
but as soon as we stop, he starts kicking. So proud that he has excellent literary taste.

Cravings: Lemon flavored anything, donuts, PB Cap'n Crunch

Queasy or sick: Nada

Belly button in or out?: Still in…but looking like it might just pop in the next couple weeks.

Looking forward to: OLLIE'S FIRST CHRISTMAS!!!!! I am such a holiday fanatic. Like on the level of playing Mariah Carey's holiday music station on pandora, while drinking hot chocolate and browsing pinterest for everything Christmas related…in July.

Nursery Plans!

The room has dark floors, a thick white trim, and white walls. Mitchell's mom gifted us the crib and dresser (thanks Nana!) and his sister surprised us with the rocking chair (thanks Aunt Jill!) Since we have a pretty blank canvas to work with, we can really get creative with the décor and accents. Face out bookshelves are in the works, which will add color to the room.

Daddy working on the new nursery! 

Delta Children Bentley 4-in-1 Crib- Target

Storkcraft Kenton Dresser-Target

Status Roma Glider and Nursing Ottoman-Target

Crane Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier- BuyBuy Baby/ Target

Colorful rug- RosenBerryRooms.com

Burt's Bees ABC's Organic Cotton Sheet- Target

Infantino Turtle Toy and Stacking Rings- Target