Macy’s Mom

OK…it’s not really a bra..it’s a nursing cami/tank. One hand quick release. Your stomach stays covered. You don’t need special nursing attire…just a button-down shirt. Comfortable to sleep in. Comes in white, gray, & black. Toss it in the washing machine and the dryer. Worth mentioning again..THE STOMACH STAYS COVERED! $16.99 at Target. (no, you have to actually go to the store..it’s not on the website!) They were out of what I thought was my size (medium)..so I bought a large. That was a mistake..not the large..the only buying one part. I could hardly wait for it to come out of the wash…I have since made several trips..bought a few more..love them!

If you are the type of mom that likes to carry your baby in a sling..check out the Walking Rock Farms Baby sling. The cost is higher than the more traditional slings..but well worth it! I bought mine over 4 years ago..and they still sell for the same price. $69…. for a snuggly soft fleece sling that looks like a pea pod. It streches with the baby..and you can transfer the baby..sling and all to dad when it’s his turn to hold the little darling! new born to 22 lbs.

I bought the Tiny Love Symphony in Motion Mobile 4 1/2 years ago for baby Macy. My husband Craig’s reaction..”$40 bucks for a MOBILE??!!” I was less concerned about the price, and more concerned about it not really matching her room decor…It turns out, Macy was a baby that liked to be held almost constantly! The only time I had to take a quick shower or a moment to brush my teeth was when I put her under the mobile! She was mesmerized..hypnotised…a baby addict that couldn’t look away! Now, Craig tells people..”the best $40 bucks we ever spent!”

I’m a flight attendant and I am always looking for ways to make traveling with my kids easier. When Macy outgrew her infant carrier at 4 months..I thought the Sit-n-Stroll was the answer to my dreams! It’s a car seat..it’s a stroller! It rolls like a dream! Macy was strapped in and wheeled through the airport..down the jetbridge..onto the plane. This is where my happy dream ended. Yes, it fits down the aisle of an aircraft. Just not the one we were on. It turns out that it didn’t fit on any of the narrow body aircrafts we travelled on! (It would fit down wide body aisles..but unless you are travelling internationally..the majority of aircraft flown domestically are narrow body planes!) Bummer! We still travelled with it..but I soon realized that it was kind of hassel when we got to our destination too. We’d spend about a week at our destination..there is no way to secure the sit-n-stroll into the car for a week. Each time we got into the car..Macy went into the 5 pt harness system. (this was fine) Then I had to secure the sit-n-stroll to the car. Anybody who has installed a car seat knows that this involves a lot of tugging and strength as you put your whole weight into the carseat to get it in snug. Imagine making 2 trips a day over a five day period. I was exhausted! The next time I travelled..I decided I would rather haul her Britax Roundabout car seat through the airport and push her in her stroller..than deal with the sit-n-stroll at our destination. As I was lugging the car seat..pushing the stroller full of kid stuff..and keeping an eye on Macy walking…I saw a woman go cruising by with her kid riding in their car seat on what looked like luggage wheels. WHOA! STOP! What is that..and where can I get one??? Go Go Kidz car seat wheels! Needless to say..when I got home..I looked them up! The cost seems a little expensive approx. $90..but well worth it! (I sold my sit-n-stroll on Craigslist..and used the money to by my wheels) FABULOUS!!! I love my wheels!!! Macy gets to cruise through the airport in her car seat..down the jet bridge..and down the aisle of some narrow body aircraft (not all)..and better yet..mom only has to install the car seat one time when we get to Mimi’s house.

I was reading the October issue of Pregnancy magazine..when an ad in the back caught my eye. Slim Lines freezer trays for breast milk..made from PETG plastic/medical grade & FDA approved. The trays freeze the milk into one-ounce servings..and they fit into any bottle opening. I had to order it! $15.95 for two trays with lids. (plus shipping and tax..about $22) I love them! I have a freezer bag full of breast milk popsicles! Pop about 2 or 3 at a time into a bottle..put in fridge to melt..you’re ready to go! It’s quick..clean..and no wasted milk! Gold star!

I first heard about the Bumbo seat from my sister-in-law Erin. A relative sent her one when her son Cole was born. Bumbo seats weren’t around when I had Macy over 4 years ago..or maybe I just hadn’t heard of it. She told me how great it was..she just took it with her when she went visiting..it’s somewhere to put a baby without leaving him in a car seat the whole time…also a great place to feed Cole. As my son approached 3 months..I looked into the seat. It’s for babies approx. 3 or so months in age..and you can use it until the baby tries to get out! (Depends on the baby) The price runs about $40 dollars. I went to the baby and kids section of Craigslist to see what was available. Quite a few people were looking for specific colors, and the ones listed for sale were all priced about $25 or so. During my search, I came across a great mom business…Crybaby Comforts. Lisa (owner) sells Bumbo seats..but she also rents them and a wide varitety of other useful baby items! I rented a teal Bumbo for 3 months..$4.25 per month. (if Gavin is anything like his sister..he’ll be bust’n out of the Bumbo before I’m ready..) So far..we love it! I had Gavin sitting in it while we were making dinner..eating..and in front of his toys. After using it..I can now see the appeal! Gavin isn’t quite ready for an exersaucer or doorway jumper..he’s alway reclining (bouncy seat..swing..crib). The Bumbo lets him sit up with support and he feels like he’s right in the middle of everything..because he is!

I heard about the Headsprout.com reading program from my girlfriend Michelle. She runs her own web design company, and is very computer savvy. She signed up her daughter last month..and Callia is reading simple words. Macy and Callia are 4 1/2 years old. The cost is $100 for 40 lessons. I was hesitant about the price, so I signed up for the 3 free lessons. Macy knows her letters (most of the time) but, according to the website..you don’t need too. She loves her “ALIEN GAME” as she calls it. The games are well done..and just when Macy is losing interest..it’s over. After the 3rd lesson, she asked to play 4…so I ordered it. They have a 30 day money back guarantee and the option to pay once or $20 a month for 5 months. I’m going to have Macy repeat the first few lessons to make sure she gets it. I told her she could only do one per day..and she has to finish the lesson once she starts one. “ok mommy”………..we’ll see how this goes…