Baby Must Haves

So I decided to put together a list of my favorite baby things since I had Avery. I wish I had a list like this when I was shopping so hopefully it will help someone out there who is expecting or buying a baby gift.

1. Fisher Price My Little Snugabunny Cradle and Swing: This was our second swing purchase. Avery only sleeps for long periods of time when there is motion so I highly suggest buying this model swing because it PLUGS IN! The comparable Fisher Price model swing (My Little Lamb) is about the same price at the baby store and runs on batteries. We were buying batteries every other day with this swing. Big waste of money!
Snugabunny Swing

2. Fisher Price Rock and Play Sleeper: Great for hanging out. Especially good for babies with reflux and the rocker rocks from front to back to mimic motion of Mom. It also folds up flat with the push of a button for easy travel! Awesome reviews on this.  Rock and Play Sleeper
3.Homedics Sound Spa Lullaby: This tiny sound machine has great volume! Love the rain and heartbeat sounds. It also has an awesome projection on it so when baby gets older they can watch projection movement on ceiling. They sell this at Bed Bath and Beyond too.




 Homedics Sound Machine

4. Lamaze Space Symphony Motion Gym: This was the only playmat I could find with motion. Awesome because it keeps little ones attention. The age says 0-6 months which is perfect for little babies. This is one of my favorite baby purchases. Lamaze toys are great. Also sold at BRU online.Lamaze Playmat
5.  Lamaze Octotunes: I don't know why, but Avery LOVES staring at this toy! It also plays songs, each arm (apparently octopus don't have tentacles?!) is a musical note. One of the first toys she has looked at with interest!

Lamaze Octopus

6. Aden and Anais 4 Pack Swaddle Blankets: MUST HAVE! I registered for these thinking they seemed nice (but expensive)..... but did not realize how much I would love them. We use them almost every night. They are light, stretchy and long enough for baby. Best Blankets ever!! I think this is one of my favorite baby things; there is really no other blanket like them. So many cute patterns too!

Best Swaddle Blankets

7. Dr. Brown's Bottles: Prevent spit up and help with colic. I researched bottles SO much when pregnant. I know people say you have to try a bunch to see what your baby likes but these worked from the first time we tried. There are more parts to clean then traditional bottles but worth it for a happy baby, I know so many who love these bottles and I am one of them. :) If you choose them, get them at the MCX (14.99 there!) or even Babies R Us had them for 18.99, cheaper than Amazon for once!

Dr. Brown's Bottles

 8. Nosefrida Nasal Aspirator: OK I know it seems weird but it works so much better then normal ones! It is also more gentle and as weird as it seems it is hygienic! Started being used in Sweden. Just look into it.

Nosefrida

9. I See Me! Personalized Name Book: My friend Ashley got this for Avery and I love it. It spells her first and last name associating each letter with an animal that starts with the same letter. Love this book and it will be great when she is learning to spell her name. Other great choices for personalized books too.

I see me name book

Dear Avery, 2 Months

Dear Avery,
Wow, another 4 weeks have gone by since you entered the world. Sometimes I can't believe how big you are getting already. When I watch all of our friends hold you, you seem to have grown so much from the little 7 pound baby we brought home from the hospital.
You are finally starting to sleep through the night. I am so happy to be able to say that after what a tough time you had at first. I am so glad you are feeling better!
These last four weeks I have seen so many changes in you. You are really holding your head up now. You are looking all around and are content hanging out for longer periods of time. We take you out to restaurants and you have loved just sitting on our laps watching us. I can't believe how strong your legs are and you love standing upright on my lap. You don't mind when other people hold you which is nice.  Everyone who holds you says how strong you are!
My favorite thing I have noticed about you this month is when you wake up in the morning you are so happy. You smile so big and it is absolutely adorable. I wish your Daddy could see your big smiles, he would love it!
You are an amazing little baby and everyone here in Rochester adores you so much!
Love you,
Mommy

Dear Avery, Your First 4 Weeks at Home

Dear Avery,
Happy one month since you entered the world! This has been one crazy and eventful month. In the last four weeks you have already changed so much. After you were born, you got to spend a few weeks with your Daddy. He was here when we gave you your first bottle and first bath. He thinks you are so beautiful! He was a really big help with you those first few weeks. You loved snuggling with him on the couch. Then we had to say goodbye to him as he left for Africa for 6 and a half months. I was really sad but you helped make me feel better. He recorded us a really nice book and song so we can listen to his voice whenever we feel down.
You are a traveler! You have been to a few restaurants where you slept so nicely through meals that we had. We also traveled 14 hours in a car to NY to go stay with your grandparents while your Daddy is gone. And you did great. You slept most of the way!
You met your Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Kevin, Great Grandmother, Great Grandfather and Great Great Aunt Babe this month. They all think you are absolutely beautiful. 
You have been yawning a lot, and you do these really cute stretches that look like Superman flying. You went through some nights lately of being up screaming all night so I am hoping that was just a little phase. You are really strong and can hold your head up really well already. You also like to pull my hair when I am holding you. You even went on your playmat for the first time this month and enjoyed watching your toys, You are starting to fill out your newborn clothes really well. I also am beginning to see your first little smiles. So precious. I love you so much!
Love,
Mommy

 Great Grandma Clara

 Saying goodbye to Daddy.

 Great Great Aunt Babe!

Avery has arrived!

Avery was born on December 30, 2011. She was born only one day past her Dec. 29 due date. Here is the lowdown on her birthday experience :)

 December 29th, 2011
11:00 am: I went in to the doctors for my 40 week checkup and I had been feeling nothing up to that point. I had a scheduled induction for January 5th, and was sure I would end up going that route. At my appointment, I was about 3 cm dilated. I had my doctor do a simple little office procedure (that I will spare you the details about) to try to get things moving along.
1:00 pm: Sushi for lunch from the commissary. Cooked sushi that is. :o)
10:00 pm: Happily enjoying Heroes on Netflix. No clue of what is to come.
11:00 pm: I started having some pain, but tried to ignore it. All of a sudden I was not ready to be in labor. But that doesn't matter because I quickly realized I was. Also, Mak is still trying to watch Heroes. I think he was in a little denial too.
 December 30, 2011
12:00 am: Mak turns off Heroes and is frantically writing down contractions. The contractions started off about 10 minutes apart and quickly progressed to 5 minutes apart. 5 minutes apart is when the doctors told us we could go to the hospital.
1:30 am: I begged Mak to take me to the hospital.
1:40 am: I am thinking... EPIDURAL... here I come! I cannot wait.
1:45 am: We got to the naval hospital and they told me they would not admit me until I was 4 cm dilated, and I was still 3. They told me I could "walk around the hospital for two hours" and come back. REALLY? I was having five minute apart contractions and you want me to leisurely stroll around the hospital waving to all the visitors mid contraction? RIGHT.  Luckily the hospital is right down the street from our house so we went home to wait it out.
2:00 am: I started having really severe back labor. I couldn't really get any relief and after about 2 and a half more agonizing hours we headed back to the hospital.
4:30 am: They finally decided I could stay since I had progressed to 5 cm. 5 cm equals you are allowed to get an epidural at the naval hospital so I immediately asked for it.
5:00 am: I am officially admitted to the hospital. The babies heart rate was great and wasn't fluctuating with labor at all which was perfect.
7:00 am: Ok fast forward like 2 hours 489 questions about my health, including but not limited to my knee surgery in high school, one puff of an inhaler I took when I was pregnant and a million other random useless (to me) questions they FINALLY gave me the epidural. I was so excited....until it didn't work. Really? The guy just got done giving me a 15 minute speech on how only "5 percent of them don't work." I was devastated and not to mention the pain was so intense. The back labor was giving me no relief and the contractions were back to back.
7:30 am: Mak looks absolutely terrified because I am screaming bloody murder and he cannot help me.  And the meds weren't either.
8:00 am: Finally, another hour later I get another epidural that works. At this point I am 7 cm, so I would like to say I ALMOST gave birth with no pain relief, and not by choice. Anyone who does the whole labor without drugs you are my hero. Seriously.
8:30 am: So now the doctors tell me I can rest, which in reality is impossible because with all the epidural in me I feel like a 900 lb hippo from my stomach down. You could have cut my legs off and I would have had no idea. I felt like I was going to break the table my legs felt so heavy.
10:00 am: I started feeling a little nauseous and they told me I could start pushing. Pushing was easy, because I didn't feel a thing. I didn't even know if I was pushing or not!
10:57 am:  About 30 minutes later, my beautiful little girl was born. She was 7lbs, 11 oz, 19 inches long with a full head of dark hair. Not to mention she was the most perfect thing I had ever seen.
11:00 am-now: We are both so happy and proud. Happy Birthday Avery!

 

Going Home Outfit. We brought her home on January 1st, 2012 :) 

Avery now at 3 weeks.