My Favorite Things

Before Ben was born, I asked all our friends what baby items they thought were absolutely necessary to have. While I bought everything they reccomended, I haven't had a chance to use all of them yet - for example, the baby monitor - I can't even bare to put him in his crib upstairs alone :)

Here are the things that I think have made a huge difference in our first month with Ben: (Sarah, I'm thinking of you as I write this)

Sheet savers and waterproof pads - you need these everywhere - they will save you from having to wash the changing pad cover and your and baby's sheets often.

Soothie Pacis - the kind they give you in the hospital - thank God you can also buy them at Target. Ben won't take any other kind. Though, I warn you that they're nice when you have a baby that likes to suck, they can be a pain when he wakes up every time it falls out of his mouth.

Baby Papasan chair - this seems to feel most like being held.

Pack and Play with a changing part and bassinet - we use this more than his changing table upstairs! It's basically a downstairs nursery.

Medela microwavable sanitizing bags - you can quickly clean pacis that fall on the floor and anything else that needs to be sanitized without having to run a whole dishwasher.

Baby Gap or Old Navy one piece layette pj's - they have feet and fold-over mittens, great for cold weather and no need to worry about socks or cold hands.

Lots of little wash clothes if you have a boy - for diaper changes, even though they don't prevent a mess completely they make clean up a lot easier!

Ben is Almost Four Weeks Old

Wow, Ben is almost four weeks old! In some ways it seems like he's been here for much longer than that and in other ways it feels like we just brought him home. He is honestly the most wonderful baby. He is always so pleasant. The only time we've ever heard him cry is when we take too long to change his diaper. He only fusses when he's hungry or when he wants his pacifier. He sleeps at night and loves to be cuddled during the day. Last night he only woke up once to eat and he went right back to sleep. Ben can hold his head up for short periods and loves to look at Mommy and Daddy and at lights and windows. At his doctor's visit this week, he weighed 7 pounds and 3 ounces and is finally starting to fit in his 0-3 month clothes. He is so tiny and yet so strong. Ben is more amazing and wonderful than we ever imagined he would be and we continue to be amazed with how God has blessed us.

Ben's 3rd Week

Bath Time

A Good Dream

Grandma Orla

Ben's 2nd Week

Peace.

Halloween hat

"See no evil"

With Nana

My 2 boys