Baby Lessons Learned

I have some opinions.

I don't know if you know, but I just had a brand new little baby.

His name is Jack Ryan Pond

 I prepared, researched, and shopped my little keester off in anticipation of his arrival.

Having a baby at the age of 30,  rather than 20, when I was preparing for Tatum,

 offers a few more "opinions" 

LESSON #1

I really felt like my diaper bag was a big decision.  It was personal to me.  I searched and searched.

I fell in love with a diaper bag.  It wasn't cheap, but it was certainly no petunia pickle bottom.  

Which I secretly really wanted, but knew that  big daddy wasn't going to let that happen.

I just didn't want to have to carry around that free backpack that they send home with you from the hospital.  

I wanted it to be a special diaper bag that would fulfill me, and my new sweet newborn.

Also, having a husb that is having his first baby in his mid thirties offers a wide range of scare tactics.

Which was awesome.

"Ry, if we don't get this diaper bag, I am going to end up stranded in the middle of Costco with a baby that has poo poo up to his neck without a leg to stand on!

I need a diaper bag big enough to carry lots of diapers, wipes, and extra clothes.  Its going to need a matching changing pad, AND a little water proof bag thingy that I can put said poopy clothes in.. 

Plus, if the baby's bottles get cold while we are out, he's gonna get mad, and were going to have to go home.

 See?  I neeedd this diaper bag!  Don't you think?"

The painted picture was enough for him.  He let me get the diaper bag.

Below is my exact first diaper bag.

See the matching dirty clothes holder?  Good selling point eh?

 After about 4 months of  proudly toting my cutesy new diaper bag, I got irritated. 

It wasn't big enough.  It didn't have any exterior pockets, or interior for that matter.

 I started needing more space, and organization for toys, food, bibs, snacks, bottles, spoons, lotions, hats, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, wallet, lip gloss (it made its way back into my life around month 4), 

not to mention wipes, diapers, and extra clothes.

I found this little fossil beaut on clearance at Dillard's, and had a gift card from last Christmas.

Awesome.  It was all I had dreamed a diaper bag should be.

I gave my first diaper bag to my expecting cousin, and wished her well.

My new bag is where its at.

It weighed a little more than one would wish for.

But, it was perfect.

The pockets.. Oh the pockets. All of the organizational beauty of the pockets.

The stuff dreams are made of for a busy mom with nothing to do.

Such as myself.

 Well

Jokes on me 

This humongous bag is just more than I am needing these days.

One diaper, with a snack zip lock of wipes tossed in is perfect for an outing.

So guess what I have been using?

The free backpack from the hospital.

I mean, just read about all of the great features.  

Why didn't the ladies at the hospital tell me everything this little guy had to offer?

I could have gotten me some nice perfume with that gift card.

hmph.

LESSON #2

My stroller.

My stroller really is so great.

It's a jogger stroller, with a swiveling front wheel.

Only, I don't jog.

But besides that, it really is a very nice stroller.

A good friend of mine insisted that BOB makes the best stroller.

She jogs.  About 11 miles a day actually.

So it would make sense that she really loves it.

And she was right.  It is a very well made stroller.

Its like butter. Really.

It has shocks, it's comfortable, it corners like its on rails.

I can push it through doors easily & turn it 360 degrees with one hand.

And good thing too.

Because Jack is usually in my other hand.

He doesn't seem to care about the front swiveling wheel, or the shocks.

I don't get it.

 So, we usually just sport the $20.00 umbrella stroller that Ryan purchased off amazon.

For whatever reason, JackJack likes that one.
I called Ryan foolish when he bought it.

LESSON #3

Bottles.

Now again, remember these are just my opinions, but I hate these bottles.

Everyone told me that they were the best around. And maybe they are..

But cleaning the innards of these stupid bottles makes me crazy.  

When I find one that has been under the seat of my car for a few days, I just want to toss it.
 When I start thinking of the intricate pipe cleaning, scrubbing, gagging, and boiling that is going to have to take place in order to make this stupid bottle usable again, my eye twitches.

And I would do it.
I would throw them away and buy the Playtex bottles that have throw away insides
 But these stupid things were like 5 bucks a piece.
That's a lot.
And I would say that I have more than a few.

*Scare tactic*

"Ryan, we HAVE to have these bottles.  All of the reviews say that these are the best bottles.
They reduce air flow to your baby. 

 If our baby gets air in his belly, he is going to have a bellyache, and cry his head off.
Which might make your head fall off too.  

We have to have these bottles that are twice as much as the rest.
Otherwise our baby will have a bellyache."

So, we got the bottles.

And I am no scientist.  I don't know if the roundy thing, and tubey thing really reduce air flow, and creates magic, but I do know that my baby burps like a dirty trucker.   

Again, not rocket science but I know for sure that there is air getting in to that belly of his.

So, now for all of you guys out there thinking what a lucky snob I am that I was able to afford these nice products, and that I should shut up!
 Believe me.  

I know. 

 I thank Heavenly Father every single night that I have a smart, hard working husband that makes it his priority to make sure that our needs (remember, he thought all of the above were "needs") are fulfilled.  He is very frugal in several areas of our lives, and gives very freely to others as well.

And if that doesn't put you at ease a little..

Just know, that when Tatum was a baby, 

I pushed her around in a double stroller.

I only had one baby.

 It was a handy down from my aunt that had twins 3 years earlier.
I was as proud as a peacock to push that huge thing around.

95 percent of our baby stuff with Tatum were handy downs.

 Is that what they are called? handy downs?

Anyways.

Please don't think I'm a snob.

I'm a nice girl.

These are just my opinions.

Here are some things that I think are great baby products.

Aiden and Anais bamboo blankets - 

JackJack loves loves these blankeys.  My favorite baby shower gift.

Swaddle Me baby wraps 

 Who doesn't want a straight jacket for their new baby?  I kid, I kid.. 

Really.  

Babies love these little things.  Just don't get overzealous, and go out to buy a few more.  

Because as soon as you do, your baby will decide the very next day that hes over them.  

2 will do just fine.

A boppy.  

This was a family favorite.  For nursing, holding, and propping your baby.  

JackJack still uses it to watch his morning cartoons.  

What?  

He's to small for cartoons?  

Tell him that.

So, there ya go.  

Do you really want my actually opinion?

Every baby is different.  And what one likes, another will hate.

So, this post is really quite meaningless.

I was just pissed that I have a free diaper bag on my shoulder, and a

baby on my hip, pushing a pricey stroller with nothing in it.

I needed someone to talk to.

And believe me when I say

Ryan sure doesn't want to hear about it.