As a new mom sometimes the amount of baby products and brands can be daunting. I remember being so excited to register when we found out about our son only to get there and be so completely overwhelmed that the process was miserable and I was totally disappointed! Now that I feel I have some experience, I have compiled my Top 10 baby musts in hopes to save you time and money. In no particular order my Top 10 Product Picks for Baby are…

PICTURED

1.  Soothie bottles: the first years by Learning Curve.

They advertise as the nipple closest to the breast which is also the same nipple as the Soothie pacifiers used in most hospitals. A bonus to the bottle is the small container that comes attached. These are great for pre-measured formula or small snacks!

2.  Boudreaux's Butt Paste

We originally opted for this rash ointment because my husband liked the name, but it is amazing!!! It's a little more expensive than other brands but we are still on
our original 2oz tube after more than 9 months! That means, it lasts longer because it works!

3.  Gentle Naturals Homeopathic Teething Drop

I like these because they are all natural as opposed to other teething solutions. BONUS: Gentle Naturals also makes other products that I have used and loved!

4. Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair.

This is a great alternative for a separate, bulky, large high chair as this sits right on top of your own dinning chairs. It is also cost effective at around $50.

5.  'Super Baby Food' by Ruth Yaron.

I make my baby's food and this book is essential! It tells you when and what types of food your baby can eat as well as how to prepare it as well as so much more! You can find this book online or at Borders for around $20. It is a great value as I pick it up on a daily basis.

6.   Coppertone Spray Lotion and Stick

Living in Florida you need a great sunscreen for your baby and this is it! The spray is no fuss and the stick is great for face.

7.   Nuby No-Spill Cups

This is the cheapest brand of no-spill cup you can buy!

BONUS: DADDY'S TOP PICK

Johnson's Bedtime Bath Collection

Our son smells amazing after bathing with this product.

NOT PICTURED

8.   Eddie Bauer Travel System

I did a lot of research before deciding which car seat and stroller to register for and this car seat was the lightest I found at only 8lbs and the stroller is super roomy and comfy for my little guy. BONUS: The Eddie Bauer Convertible Car Seat is also great and actually cheaper than similar brands.

9.   Garanimals clothing line at Walmart

These items are a great cost to quality value!

10.      Target Brand Diapers and Wipes

I've used most brands but when looking for a better value the Target brand was recommended to me. The wipes are great and very comparable to Pampers. And with a cost of less than $14 for a box of 104 diapers they are good quality and have been a great money saver for us.

When you're a new mom it's often hard to tell when your child is sick enough to warrant a doctor's visit. Sometimes it's hard to discern whether they're even sick at all. My little boy has only had a significant fever once and he never showed any other signs of being ill. He has a very chill temperament and not much seems to bother him making it even harder to determine if he's not feeling well. You hear of some new moms getting made fun of for taking their kids to the doctor for every runny nose or random cough or sneeze just to make sure nothing is wrong. Then there are moms on the opposite extreme who never take their kids to see the doctor for various reasons ranging from lack of money to the idea that every illness just makes them stronger. I think it's important to find a balance between the two but how do you do that? I don't have any answers other than to say you have to listen to your gut and follow your instincts. Here is a recent/current situation where I found my instincts kicking in so strong it was painful.

Micah had a runny nose on Friday and was a little more tired than usual. I understood he didn't feel well so I was flexible with our schedule and we ended up staying home all day so he could rest. Saturday we woke up and he seemed to feel better so we went swimming and had a great day. Yesterday, Sunday, I noticed he was a bit 'horse' and by that evening he was starting to have a deep chest cough. He definitely slept more than usual but when he was awake he was still his smiling, lovely self; although a tad more docile. He woke up last night and I could tell he was having some difficulty breathing. It was then I decided I would call the doctor this morning. My instincts kicked in the form of this realization: it's amazing how when you have a sick child your whole household ends up sick right a long with them. And I'm not talking about becoming physically sick either. I'm talking about being heartsick! This morning Micah didn't eat very well (and if any of you have seen him, you know this is unusual.) He also sounded absolutely horrible and my heart immediately started hurting for him. We went to the doctor and he is indeed quite sick. We got a prescription and he should feel better within the week. However, it seems my heart just keeps getting sicker with every labored cough and wheeze I hear through the monitor as my poor, sweet boy is trying to sleep. Just a few minutes ago he had a large cough and started crying so I went in and swooped him up. I saw him, face red, body hot and sweaty, and tears filled my eyes. My heart is most definitely as sick as my little boy and there's nothing that I can do for either. As much as I hate being physically ill, I would take his suffering and more if it meant he would feel better. So I sat down with him and rocked him. He eventually settled down and fell asleep on my chest. I think for at least a brief moment we both felt better. I suppose those are the moments I'll live for until the 'well' Micah and Mommy meet again.

image by bethography used by permission via the creative commons license.

Love is a word used far too flippantly these days. Webster's has many definitions for the word Love but of those, I think the most accurate based on the original intention of this word is: 'unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of others' and 'strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.' So when someone says, "I love that movie!" or "I love chocolate," to me it cheapens the deep meaning of the word. Another source for a deeper meaning of the word Love is the Bible. 1 Corinthians 13 is a passage popularly used in weddings and in The Message is stated as:

I thought I "knew" what love meant. Of course I love my husband, but is my love for him really the unconditional love spoken about in 1 Corinthians that 'Puts up with anything?' I don't think I can say that it is. This love has boundaries that if crossed I'm not sure would remain.

I truly didn't know real, unconditional love until my Micah. Even now as I ponder this, my eyes well up with tears because of the joy and utter elation his life brings to mine. I love him so much that sometimes it physically hurts. I hug him and my chest gets tight and a lump catches in my throat and I can't breathe for a second. Yes there are times when I'm frustrated and I know there will be times when I'll get angry and be disappointed in him, but this love, I know it will never change. Because for all of the anger and the disappointments, there will be joy and pride that shines a thousands times brighter. I thank God everyday for the wonderful gift of my son. I know I am so undeserving of the privilege to have care over his precious life and never again will I take "Love" for granted.

I love you Micah, more than you could understand right now, more than I even understand sometimes. And no matter what the future has for us, mommy's arms and heart will always be spread open to accept you, hold you, and love you.

images courtesy of geishaboy500 & Gustty via the creative commons license.

Change: that's a word that most people dread. The reason being? It's plain uncomfortable. I've been thinking a lot about change lately because my son Micah has been teething pretty hardcore the past couple of weeks. He is going through a very uncomfortable change right now. And like Micah, sometimes we fight change because it so removes us from our comfort zone that we might not think the change is worth it.

As moms, change is something that we better just get used to. It seems as soon as I figure out a good schedule for my baby, it doesn't fit his needs anymore. As soon as he fits into that adorable outfit that was too big, it barely snaps anymore. That car seat that used to be huge is too tight and you have to spend an arm and a leg to upgrade. There is now constant change in my life and like it or not, I have to learn to be flexible and go with the flow.

Now I know those are just silly minor changes. Sometimes, though we are confronted with completely life altering decisions: the struggle of deciding to go back to work after baby, a job transfer that requires a move away from important friends and family, a serious medical decision that could change your family's future. These are changes that are agonizing and stressful. Micah getting three new teeth at the same time is probably the most difficult change his little body has gone through thus far. It is definitely agonizing and uncomfortable and is putting stress on him. Fortunately I can give him some Tylenol and it gives him some relief however brief. Unfortunately, we can't just take some magic potion to help get us through our major life changes. It's a long, slow, laborious road, but think about the possibilities that change brings; the experiences that may otherwise not present themselves if we don't make that change. Just like my son and his teeth, I think that looking back on sometimes difficult changes in our lives; we'll see that those changes were indeed worth it. Micah loves to eat, and how much more will he love it when he can eat a greater variety because he now has enough teeth to properly chew!

Images provided by apesara via the community commons license.