mommy & daddy's 30th christmas

dave & i are so blessed to have ian, and that we celebrated our 30th christmas with ian's 1st christmas.  if you were my 11 y/o niece, you'd be asking me how it's possible that we are celebrating our 30th christmas, being that we're both only 29, and then you still wouldn't get it after i had explained it 20 times...

i love buying gifts for husband- i love the thought that goes into them, i love the secret, and i love seeing his surprised face when he opens gifts!  i think i did pretty well for christmas given the fact that we set a smaller budget due to having ian to buy for!  of course, i also love getting gifts (who doesn't?)

1.  hockey gift card.  gift cards are boring to give (awesome to receive), but there was no way i was being held responsible for picking out hockey gear for him.

2.  The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by malcom gladwell.  dave is really into books about economics and how social stuff effects economics.

3.  Sigh No More by mumford & sons.  dave has been carrying on about them ever since he came to me one night and said "who the hell is mumford & sons and why won't everyone stop talking about them on facebook."  i gave him a listen, and he knew why.

4.  Capcatcher.  dave's cousin has one of these, and dave always talks about how cool he thinks it is- so i remembered to look at it last time we went to visit them.  plus, i always think a personalized gift is something you can't go wrong with!

he likes!

as far as stocking stuffers, i did a lot of the usual- small amount of candy (mike & ike's b\c i won't eat them!), chapstick, and a unique bottle of beer.  my favorite thing was soap made with beer from the beer soap company (which i read about here)...  pretty cool- and it smells really good!  dave loves trying new beers, and brewing his own beer, so i thought this was a neat twist!

the beer is called 'sex panther.'  i chose that b\c dave & i love anchorman!

dave also got some other books and a few movies including Despicable Me (which is hilarious, see it now!), clothes, a gift certificate for beer brewing and for more hockey supplies.  he did pretty well!  

dave is not as good at finding "unique gifts" (his words), but he always manages to get me things that i really enjoy, and that's what counts!  

i got- a gift card for the loft (which was only $25, but i took that, a bit of christmas cash, and a few coupons and managed to get over $200 worth of clothes), grey suede booties that i'm afraid to wear anywhere for fear the snow and rain will ruin them, and a couple of books (plus 2 more from mom & dad and one from brother):

i got tons of books...

i'm going to be busy

i also got another season of himym, another movie, a really cool uga bag.  i got some pretty cool stuff at our other christmas as well- i'm going to be spending a lot (more) time in the kitchen!!

i'd call christmas a rousing success!

best baby buys

man, i love registering for gifts.  there should really be more events that require a registry because i love picking things out that i want and then receiving them!  i need to get an ongoing life registry together.  remember on sex and the city where carrie gets her manolo's stolen, so she decides to get married to herself and register for just the shoes...  ahh

back to baby buys.  here are my favorite baby items.  just some things to keep in mind whether you are giving or receiving. along with some registry tips.

my top 10 12 faves.

1.  baby bjorn.  i love the crap out of this thing.  i know it's not the typical sling carrier, but it's sturdy, it's great for walks, and i feel oh-so-swedish when i'm out and about carrying the baby!

2.  fisher-price whale of a tub.  it's a baby tub that's shaped like a whale.  do you really need more?  favorite accessory to use with the tub?  the aquatopia deluxe bath thermometer because men have no concept of temperature.

3.  diaper genie ii.  this thing is b.a.  we started out using disposables and we still use this thing from time to time for trash.  this is not like a regular diaper genie.  i have yet to smell anything foul coming from this thing, and thank goodness, because i have a gag reflex.  if you're going disposable- you need this.

4.  soothie's pacifiers.  this is the pacifier that most hospital's give.  these are adorable, and ian won't take anything else.  plus they look like a smiley face!

5.  swaddleme pod, or the "swad pod" as it was referred to in our house.  try and get out of this thing, baby.  i dare you. baby will fall asleep and stay asleep in this warm cozy pod!  plus they look like a little bean while inside of it!

6.   grobag egg.  did you know the ideal temperature for baby's room is between 61-67?  you probably didn't- i didn't.  so stop putting your baby in a sweater in the middle of summer.  seriously.  overheating baby can cause sids.  the egg is a digital thermometer which displays the temp in the room with a :) for ideal and a :( when it's too hot or cold.  it also has coordinating colors for the temperature range.  you dress baby according to the temperature.  the egg doesn't like summer in our house.  he's always angry.  ian doesn't wear pj's often now!  we love our wise all-knowing egg.

7.  books.  i love to read, therefore i force my baby to love to read.  i probably read to ian 5x a day.  he hasn't complained yet.

8.  medela pump in style-  if you're going to breastfeed, you need a pump.  don't let the price tag scare you- this baby is worth every penny.  save your gift cards and any registry completion certificates- trust me.

9.  bumbo.  because it's funny to see baby sitting in a little chair!  plus, this really does help with their sitting skills.

10.  so easy baby food kit.  this is a really good kit to get started with.

11.  baby einstein gym.  this is ian's favorite thing hands down.  he could play on this all day if i let him.  it was the first thing i started using with him (when he was a few weeks old) and for the longest time he would just lay there and do nothing, but soon he started to play, and now he loves it!

12.  our hippo chair.  great for pictures, and i know ian is going to love sitting in it one day!!

things you probably don't need to register for because you're going to get them regardless (unless there's something you really want) - (these are all things you need):  hooded towels, washcloths, clothes, onesies, receiving blankets, burp cloths, bath sets, blankets, grooming kit, bibs, toys, diaper cream

things you should register for that will really come in handy:  baby hangers, changing pad cover, window shades, humidifier, car bottle warmer, nursing cover (any nursing accessories if you go this route: cream, milk bags, nursing pads), bowls/spoons, car seat cover (super handy in the midwest- or anywhere else where winter is a real b), formula dispenser (i use it for cereal), boppy. sleep sack, swaddler, shopping cart cover, baby monitor

things you need that you can/should be specific about:  car seat, high chair, stroller, pack n play, crib/bedding, convertible car seat, bottles, pacifiers, diapers, wipes, swing, bouncy seat.

things you should get yourself or have your family get you:  diaper bag, crib (any furniture), crib bedding, rocker, car seat, high chair, pack n play, swing, room decor.  

places to register:  target.  everyone should register here because it's convenient, and most people are probably going to just ignore your registry and get you whatever the heck they want to get you anyway- but chances are, they're going to target to get it. (yes, their return policy can stink, and most people forget or refuse to give gift receipts, but there are ways around this- and that's why i say target), babies r us and/or buy buy baby (both don't have a lot of convenient locations for most- here in illinois there are 9 local bru's and only 3 bbb's statewide, in atlanta there are only 5 convenient bru's and only 1 bbb in the entire state).  i love bbb- it's bed, bath and beyond, but with baby stuff.  insanity.  local boutique, or an online boutique.  this is great because small boutiques can have cutesy things that the big box stores don't have, plus online shops allow people to know something is in stock w\o making a trip.  plus, if you do cloth diapering, it's a great place to register!   another great place- pottery barn kids (outrageous prices where i'm concerned, but their stuff is adorable).

did i forget anything, wheeew.  

best of buying!

i wish for

my birthday is coming up very soon!  i love birthday's.  mine and others.  i love giving gifts, and i love getting gifts.  who doesn't?  some people always have a hard time knowing what they want for their birthday- i am not one of those people.  i always have some kind of running list going of books and other things i want.  here are my top wishes for this year...

clothes from ann taylor loft.  so yes, i shouldn't buy all my clothes from one place, but i can afford them.  they fit.  they're cute.  i love this place.  i love it!

the get outta town shoe from seychelles.  i saw these shoes about a week ago, and i am absolutely in love.  i know there are lots of knock offs around- payless has a pair, and someone at my next door neighbors house on saturday had a pair sitting outside their our door.  it took all my willpower not to steal them- but then i remembered poor carrie at the baby shower on satc. 

gone with the wind 70th anniversary edition.  i love this movie.  i could watch it a million times.  i already own a copy, but not this copy. 

i am in love with this vintage style cake tin.  it gives me the inspiration to bake a thousand cakes, just so i can show up with them in this tin!!

chance chanel by chanel.  i am in love with the way this smells.

this mixer will be on my wishlist until the end of time i get it.  sorry husband.  unfortunately, this color has been discontinued and people think it's cool to sell it for $700.  supply and demand, baby.

 

i would love another pair of havaianas. 

hopefully i will get lucky!!  have a happy tuesday!!

coach gifts

a little while back i posted about push gifts, but you really shouldn't forget that special person in your life who brought you to the state of agonizing pain you're about to enter into- your coach.  my husband was the best coach ever.  i have to admit, i wasn't sure how he'd do, but he rose to the challenge and if it weren't for him and my l & d nurse, i probably couldn't have done it!  he was amazing.  we took a childbirth class 10 days before ian was born, and although husband was doubting its usefulness, i think in the end it really came in handy.  we learned a little bit of lamaze breathing, and once i was induced, i forgot all about it.  however, he didn't.  he remembered every step, from finding a focal point in the room to when to do the specific types of breathing (there were short, quick breaths, and slow, deep breaths).  he was also nice enough to put up with my sudden need to watch the food network once the biggest loser ended and kept it on the tv until push time (4 am).  he also helped me drag my iv stand and everything else i was attached to into the bathroom the 10 times i had to go, and when i thought my water broke, he called the nurse.  i'm embarrassed to say my water hadn't broken....  most importantly  he held my hand as i squeezed all the blood out of his while i pushed and growled and everything else, and even though he didn't want to actually see baby come out, when my nurse got so excited that she called him to "come look, you can see the top of his little head!!" he obliged. 

so of course, he needed a little love too, and so does your coach.  wondering what to get him, here are a few excellent ideas.

1.  handheld video camera.  this is what i got for husband, and it came with very simple instructions:  DO NOT FILM ME IN LABOR!  anything else is fine.  and we've used it to capture many wonderful moments, although i wish we remembered to use it more!!

this is the Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (Black).  it was a little out of my price range, but so cute!

i ended up going with this option instead:  

 this is the Aiptek HD-1 720P High Definition Camcorder with Built-in 1GB Storage (Silver).  definitely more in the desired price range.  it's made wonderful videos and even takes still photos.

2.  portable dvd player.  you may be sitting in the hospital for a while, and the channel selection isn't that good.  we had basic channels, 20 radio channels, food network, 20 spanish channels and 3 "how to care for your newborn" channels.  not a lot of selection.  and depending on whether you have a c or go natural, you could be there 72 hours +.  

this is the Coby TFDVD7008 7-Inch Portable DVD/CD/MP3 Player, Black 

3.  a nintendo ds or psp.  if i had things my way, i probably would've gotten this for dave.  how fun would this be?!  in the end though, the camcorder was more practical.  

Nintendo DS Lite Crimson / Black

PSP 3000 Core Pack - Black

4.  beer of the month membership.  or a beer making kit.  i know my husband would love this, and he already has a beer making kit, so he'd probably love to try new monthly brews!

you can get started here

basic brewing kit.  love this place.  great customer service!

so those are just a few ideas that your coach might love.  another great idea i just thought of was game tickets- depending on if his favorite sport is in season.  anything else you think might be a good idea, or is something you purchased yourself?  i'd love to know!!

push gifts

what is a push gift, you might ask?  a push gift or push present is a gift a husband gives their wife upon the birth of their child.  yes, it is another excuse to receive a gift, and what woman doesn't want that?  yes, the birth of your child is definitely gift enough, but there's got to be some thanks for the baby weight you may never lose, having to give up margaritas for 9+ months and the fact that your lady parts may never be the same again.  i was lucky enough to receive a push gift (i did drop a few hints) and i must say husband did a really good job.  it doesn't have to be expensive (although they can be, depending on the husband (or wife)), and it does help to have some sentiment to it.  here's how husband did...

husband got me this sweet little necklace from under her charm.  it has my name and baby's name on it.  i wish it had husband's name too.  but that will come later!  what i love about it is that it has ian's name on it, and that it's close to my heart... just like ian.  ;)  plus, it's not overdone, it's just simple, and it goes with pretty much everything!!

other really cute ideas in the jewelry department:

cute items from the vintage pearl

the famous "mama necklace" by tali gillette

there are lots of cute mama-esque items out there.  here are some other awesome ideas, these are more me-specific, but you get the idea...

call me crazy, but what woman wouldn't want a pair of diamond hoops?

my heavens, i'm in LOVE with this mixer.  of course, it appears to be discontinued at the moment, but mixer, you will be mine one day!

so besides my necklace, husband also got me the most hilarious book ever:  The Diaper Diaries: The Real Poop on a New Mom's First Year.  we read parts of it after they had started the induction and were in tears over some of the ridiculous things in there.  the nurses probably thought we were crazy.  i read the rest of the book (when i could stay awake) during middle of the night feedings, and on more than one occasion i scared ian by laughing like the crazed, sleep-deprived woman i was. i'd definitely recommend it to all new mom's, and i plan on reading again when ian is a year old to see how true it really is.

so, is jewelry not your thing?  how about a family push gift?  here are some awesome ideas.

your first family vacation (visualize baby here- slathered with spf 1,000 and under an umbrella, of course).

a flat-screen hd television!  (i realize most people have one of these already, but if you're losers like us, you still have a 20-inch regular tv.  you sit on your couch and squint just to see what's going on with your shows).

there's an appropriate push gift for every budget.  and although a gift is nice, the best gift you can give your wife isn't a thing.  it's your love and support during labor and delivery and the crazy weeks (months, years) afterwards!  helping out around the house with things she can't do, and taking part in late night feedings (or taking a turn- if she isn't breastfeeding, of course).  

husband's shouldn't be left out though.  i got my husband what i like to call a "coach gift" (i don't think that's a credited term).  that's for another day though...

Baby Shower #1

Sunday, November 15th I had my first baby shower at Zion Baptist Church- my "home" church. It was thrown by my dear friend Amanda and Mrs. Pam Hart- who was my Sunday School teacher for several years. I mostly invited family members, and then it was open to anyone at the church who wanted to attend. The turnout was really good, and we got a lot of really nice things for baby. Can't wait to bring them back when we are home next weekend! Here are some photos:
Dave & Me together- this might be the first picture of both of us together since I have been pregnant!

My cousin Christi and me. She's due any day now, and also having a boy, Landon!

A couple photos of me opening gifts with Amanda and her mom by my side!

Amanda & me!

I had so much fun!! I can't wait for my next shower, next weekend!!! Yay!