Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Almost 20 weeks!

In ways, it feels like this pregnancy is going very quickly, and in others - it seems like December is still a very long way off! :) Now that I am in the second trimester, I am loving every second of being pregnant - well, almost every second anyways. I am almost halfway, and every day I grow more and more in awe of this gift.

We had our extended sonogram last week, and it was such a blast to see our little one move around, count all the fingers and toes, and make sure that everything is going well. I confirmed with the sonographer that there is no evidence of gastroschisis, omphalocele, neural tube defects or cardiac defects. She looked at me like I was kinda crazy until I told her that I'm just a paranoid NICU nurse :)

Doing a headstand! Sweet little face :)

I am feeling him or her move around on an almost hourly basis, which is SO fun!
I'm gonna try to have Danny take some belly pictures soon, I'll get them up as soon as I can.
Now...for you other mommies out there. I am getting ready to register, and wanted to enlist your help. What things did you have that you could not have lived without? What things did you think you would need, but never use? Let me know specific brands even :) And one specific product question - I'm trying to decide between the Graco Quattro Stroller, the Graco Metrolite, and the Chicco travel system - does anybody have experience with any of them? Or either brand in general? Thanks so much!

10 comments:

Bev said...

Hey Kjirstin~
Aren't there just a million baby things to choose from out there? Ha ha - but its so much fun planning on what to get, huh? Anyway, I've used Graco strollers for a while now and have always loved them. The Chicco looks nice too, though, so I would say that as long as it comes with the carseat that fits into it, the one with the color pattern that you like is the way to go!
As far as other stuff to register for...baby tubs are really a pain. The regular bath tub works great and is a whole lot less trouble. Having several spare cradle/crib sheets are great for those midnight soak-through-the-pjs. Sleepers will be great for winter, you can never have enough onesies, and I would swear by Johnson & Johnson! Hope this is helpful.

Anonymous said...

Kjirsten,
I loooove my Chicco travel system. We have the keyfit 30-fits up to 30 lbs and 30 inches. It's great! You actually have to buy the stroller & car seat separate for the keyfit 30. The bouncy chair we have & love is the Fisher Price Aquarium-keeps Annabelle's attention. Now that she's a little older, she loves her Bumbo chair. And I agree that you can never have enough onesies. I really liked Old Navy ones, they fit better than Gerber. I feel like she grew out of Gerber's so fast. Oh, try to get sleepers that zip, not button. It's so hard to button them in the middle of the night when you have to change them. And do yourself a favor and don't get a bathtub! We've always used a bath support http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2668132 and love it too.

And of course, congratulations! I got Danny's text a while ago saying he was going to be a dad! So exciting :) Take care of yourself and that sweet baby :)

Laura Lathroum

Libby said...

Well...in my expert opinion, it's all a big money making scam! ha. ;-) But I suppose we do what we must to make our little ones safe and secure (and stylin')!

Anonymous said...

We have the Graco Metrolite and really appreciate how much lighter it is than other travel stroller systems. You'll appreciate this even more when you have to pack other things in the car for a trip like a Pack and Play, diaper bag, toys, etc.
Without having looked at your registry list yet, some other thoughts on things to register/ask for: nursing cover (try hooterhider.com, I got mine at milkchic.com); Bebepod Plus for when your baby is older and can sit up; loved my wipes warmer too! Have fun registering!

Anonymous said...

Get the lightest baby seat that you can. Carrying them is a real pain in the neck (and side and arm) as baby gets bigger. I agree with Bev about baby tubs. By the time he's outgrown the sink, you can put him in a tubbie seat.

I'm so glad for you 20 week healthy baby. My sister's baby had a neural tube defect detected at that stage. It was so sad. The spine never fully closed on th3 28th day of gestation like it's supposed to. Just think, most moms don't even know they're pregant while all that mysterious and wonderful things are taking (or not taking) place. REjoicing with you in every bit of good news.

Anonymous said...

Hey Sweetie!
I'm so excited for you guys and I'm glad to hear that everything is going great for you, the hubby, and the baby.
I definitely loved having a bassinet (most people said not to waste the money on one) because I didn't want to have Alexander too far away from me. It was nice not having to reach way down into a pack-n-play to pick him up.
Also, I bought a baby bjorn and it was a total waste. I use an Ergo Carrier now (Jennie Paige from DRCC sells them... www.simplyslings.com) and I LOVE it.
The boppy pillow also came in great use for nursing purposes and then later on when he was learning to sit up, I could put it around him.
What else...he really loves his Baby Einstein Play Mat and a swing is always something good to register for.
Oh, and I love using a glider/ottoman for rocking him/nursing him. It's so comfortable and it was only like $150.00 at Wal-Mart (I think).
The Bumbo chair helped him in the beginning for sitting up (but don't totally rely on it).
I've gotten a lot of use out of my Medela Breast Pump (they're kind of expensive, but definitely worth it).
...Oh, and the diaper genie. I had people give me mixed reviews on it. It comes in handy, but it's not the greatest at keeping the poopy diapers from stinking up the room. I would suggest something that has more of an air filtration system, or something like that.
That's all that I can think of for now...I hope that info helps. :) Good Luck!
Love,
-Bekah :)

Anonymous said...

So I know I don't have kids but since I have helped lots of other people raise their own children I thought I would say this...you must get this swing, its amazing and every baby I have ever taken care of loves it. Its the Fisher-Price Papasan Craddle Swing, it might be a little bit more but its sweet and you can always try to get it second hand.
http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?e=product&pid=30548&st=2002

Anonymous said...

Do you have the book "Baby Bargains"? It's awesome! Run and get it right away; they compare brands and rate them. Great resource.

I know lots of people rave about the Ergo Carrier, but for me our babies didn't fit in it properly when they were first born, so we went with the baby bjorn and were happy with that. I have one if you'd like to borrow and try out. I bought the Ergo Carrier but sent it back and got a refund. I'd say you've just got to try that kind of stuff to see how it fits on you.

I swear by the Swaddle Me wraps (you can get them at Babies R Us for 9.99). They velcro and I never used hardly any of my receiving blankets, but the Swaddle Me instead. Awesome! They come in cotton and fleece. A lot of people swear their babies sleep better in them.

I got a Graco carseat carrier because they were the lightest on the market at the time, and considering I often was carrying two, needed the lightest out there! However now they've graduated to a Britax convertible and I (and they) love it! The one thing I HATED about the Graco was how to adjust the straps. They adjusted in the back and were SUCH a pain!

Also, ditch the traditional high chair and get one you can strap onto the dining room chair. Cheaper and takes up less space. Fisher Price sells various ones. Right now we love the Healthy Booster one because it's easy to transport to restaurants, grandparents' houses, and used them this weekend at a wedding. They're awesome!

Hope that helps!

AJoy said...

wow what great wisdom surrounding you : ) And all I have to say is... well... I guess I do not have baby wisdom. But know I am praying for you, because God has the knowledge for ya.

love you.
amanda

Anonymous said...

Ok, I know I'm totally late in posting and you may have already registered... but here is my two cents anyway. :)

We're Graco fans here. Everything is interchangeable with other Graco strollers, car seats, etc.

Ethan loves his baby tub, so I'll have to disagree with the comments above. :) He's about to outgrow it now, but it was quite helpful when he couldn't sit up by himself because it has a built-in sorta thing.

Hmm, definitely a fan of extra everything... washcloths, sheets, outfits, etc. I'd rather have extra on the staples rather than be forced to do laundry all the time to find a clean outfit or towel.

I love the exersaucer with a semi-unhealthy passion! :) The playmat is a winner, too. Both are transportable to the grandparents' house and quite entertaining for my boys.

You pretty much know all the stuff we have, so anything that we don't have I probably got rid of because it was useless. Otherwise, I recommend a Sam's Club membership because the diapers and formula are super cheap and come in quantity so I don't have to go too often. Or you could just hit me up to buy you stuff when I'm there. :)

Can't wait to meet the little one!

Julia