Favorites : Ten - Twelve

I've been meaning to post this for quite some time.. but I've officially got the first year of baby favorites covered now. 

Ubbi Tweat Snack Container - How cute is this snack container? It has a flip top lid that is easy for Samson to open, but stays shut in the diaper bag. Inside it has a removable ring of soft flaps (similar to other snack cups) that keep snacks in and Cash's nose out.

Imaginarium Stacking Rings - We got this wooden stacking ring toy for Samson for Christmas and he plays with it every day. I've had a lot of fun finding wooden alternatives to plastic toys. The bright colored rings are the perfect size for little hands. Samson loves to carry them around and stack them up.

Plan Toys Walker - Another awesome wooden toy alternative that we have found. Samson's favorite thing about this Van walker is the space for storing all his toys (future shopping cart lover here.) You can adjust the tension of the wheels and the height of the handle to accommodate your kiddos abilities.  Plan Toys is an awesome company that practices world class sustainability that you can read about here.

Boon Creatures Bath Toys - Boon makes the best bath toys! These are colorful, fun to stack,  and have fun holes that pour out water. They dry out easily, which makes them a breeze to keep clean. 

That's Not My Panda - These touch-and-feel Useborn books are still some of Samson's favorites. Samson's Great-Grandma G supplies him with these books that he loves so much. 

Old Navy Flannel Shirt - Good grief, there is nothing more cute than seeing your baby dress up like a little man. Aaron wears flannel shirts all the time and it was due time that Samson got one of his own. We got this one for him a few months ago for our family pictures and it's on sale now!

Old Navy Trapper Hat - We got this hat for Samson back in October and we love it. I mean, it's adorable. He looks like a little lumbar jack when he wears it (and it happened to work perfectly for his Halloween costume). It's one of our favorite hats because the chin strap helps keep it firmly on his head on a cold, blustery day. Also on sale now!

Playtex Sippy Cups - These were one of the first hard spout sippy cups that we purchased for Samson. I know that professionals recommend you give your baby straw cups or regular cups since sippy cups require the same sucking action as nursing from a bottle. However, you can't beat the leak-proof quality and ease of cleaning that these sippy cups allow. We save straws and regular cups for meal times and pack these sippy cups in the diaper bag etc. These are SO easy to clean with just one silicone valve and a one piece lid. These are some of the more leak-proof sippy cups we have.

Favorites : Month 8 & 9

Non-Slip Socks - When the weather started getting cooler, socks became a more regular outfit staple for our typically barefoot boy. Non-slip socks can make the difference between tiny feet safely walking the perimeter of the room while holding walls/furniture or sliding and crashing down. Samson was in need of a sock upgrade and we made sure to get the slip resistant variety.

Plum Organics Pouches - While I typically make homemade purees and Samson eats a lot of finger food, sometimes nothing can top the convenience of ready made baby food. We always have a pouch in the diaper bag and several stashed in the pantry for any sudden outbursts of hangry. For beginning eaters, squirt food on to a spoon for meal time and the pouch can be resealed and kept in the fridge between meals. For more independent babies the pouch can be given directly to little hands. Simple ingredients, easy to read label. A win.

Nuby Sippy Cup - This was one of the first sippy cups we tried for Samson. While we are getting ready to transition to some hard topped sippy cups and cups with straws now, this was a great introduction sippy cup. We skipped over the first nipple like top and went straight to the spout. It has been dropped and chucked from the high chair and stroller with minimal leaks. I like that it has a cap, so it can be tossed in the diaper bag for on-the-go use. The handles make it easy to use for little hands. Definitely recommend it.

That's Not My Goat - Samson is obsessed with this book. Aaron's family came over several weekends ago and Aaron's grandma brought this for Samson. It was the first time he unwrapped a present, which he went crazy over, and the first time he really cared one bit about a touch-and-feel book. Now it's pretty much the only book he is interested in. His favorite page is a definite tie between the rough nose (velcro hooks) and the fluffy beard (faux fur) which he insists on trying to put in his mouth.

Graco Convertible Car Seat - I didn't like this seat at first. It was easy (for Aaron) to install but, no matter how I adjusted it I just didn't feel like Samson was secure. Now we have the infant inserts removed and the non-rethread harness at level 1 and I finally feel like he is safe when he's in his seat. The seat itself is a great design and Samson loves the built in cup-holder for stashing his stuff. It has a rapid remove cover which I'm sure will come in handy as some point. You're able to machine wash the cover without uninstalling the car seat. Perfect for a messy boy! I did a lot of research online prior to going car seat shopping, but when it came down to it, my top picks (Britax Marathon, Maxi Cosi Pria and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio) were just a little out of budget since we wanted to buy two seats. Maybe not my top pick, but a good contender if you're looking for a budget conscious seat.

Jersey Leggings - Old Navy is a super convenient store for us and we shop there often. They often have great sales and deals (Super Cash) which keeps us going back. These pants fit really well and are super soft and comfortable. I'm not a huge fan of baggy/loose pants on Samson, so these are a good substitute for casual pants for a little boy without crossing the too-tight threshold.  When cooler Indiana weather arrived, I needed an alternative to onesies and rompers for a comfy, no-fuss outfit. We may or may not have these in almost every color.

Summer Infant Silicone Bib - Skip all the other bibs (actually don't skip these if you have a newborn) which are impossible to get clean quickly. After a meal or snack I snap this off Samson, rinse it off in the sink and let it dry. I wash it thoroughly every night after dinner. No seams, no crevices, no stains, no left over mess.

Bright Starts Teething Rings - Although Samson still has NO teeth, he's been teasing us for months. Right now he doesn't seem to have a preference whether these are room temperature or fresh from the fridge. But, I'm sure when he really does start working on teeth he'll really love them. For now, he likes carrying them around and gnawing on the textured surface. Super cheap and cost effective.

Favorites : Month 6 & 7

Happy Baby Happy Puffs - With the exception of the occasional sliver of fresh fruit/veggies I give to Samson when I'm making his baby food, these are the first "solid" he has eaten. At first, he was not interested at all. We gave him a few weeks before we tried them again and it was amazing to see him chew them right up. I sometimes forget that he is always watching and always learning. He likes feeding himself like a big boy, I like that they are natural and organic, Cash likes that he chucks them off the high chair tray at every meal. Winner.

Munchkin Disposable Changing Pads - We were gifted a few boxes of these at various baby showers before Samson was born. Our diaper bag has a built-in changing pad, which until recently we used for all our out of the house diaper changes. I got a sweet new mom car and have a special spot in the back of the "trunk" that is dedicated to on-the-go diaper changes. I have these stashed with an back-up supply of diapers & wipes so that I am always prepared. These are so handy and help keep things nice & clean.

Infantino Cow Teether - We all know and love Sophie the Giraffe, but this cow is just as fun! It's soft and squeeky, just like the teether by Vulli. As far as I can tell, Samson is nowhere near getting any teeth, but he loves chewing on these teether toys. It's a bit less expensive than Sophie, and if you'd rather, there are other animals to choose from.

MAM Night Pacifiers - Glow in the dark pacifiers. Life savers. Almost all of of middle of the night wake up calls are due to a lost pacifier. We've learned to keep a few pacifiers in the nursery just in case, but when the lights are out, we need all the help we can get. Even if you have to get on your hands and knees and dig for it under the crib in the middle of the night to retrieve it. Most brands have them, but these are Samson's favorite pacifiers.

Old Navy Jammies - These are hands down our favorite pajamas right now. Samson is tall and slim and these manage to fit him really well. He's wearing the 6-9 month size right now and still has plenty of room to grow in them. The fabric is really soft and breathable, which helps our sweaty little guy from getting too hot. They stand up nicely to stains and stain remover (LOTS of experience here). They have built in mittens, which are awesome for newborns, but I'd imagine they would be nice for older babies too in cooler weather. The down side is all the snaps. Heavens, I'm getting good at snapping while Samson wiggles and rolls, but would a zipper wouldn't hurt.

The Honest Company Diapers - We use cloth diapers all day long, but we love having disposable diapers on hand too. We recently switched to Honest Co. diapers and we have been really happy with them. Samson wears a disposable diaper to bed every night, we keep a few in the diaper bag and always have an emergency stash in the car. They are super absorbent and they hold in as much odor as any other diaper. We love that they are made with safe/gentle products, which compliment our cloth diaper routine really well. They are reasonably priced when compared to other name brand diapers, they are super cute and they are delivered straight to our door ya'll. Love them.

O Ball Rattle & Roll Car - A gift from his cousin Annalyn, this car is one of Samson's toys. It's easy for him to pick up and play with. It makes lots of fun noises, the best sounds of course come when it's thrown from his high chair or accidentally smacks it against mommy or daddy's face. Wild child.

Little Blue Truck - I love reading this book to Samson. Plenty of rhyming and animal noises keep him slightly more interested in listening to me read than gumming on the pages. However, it's a board book and it can definitely stand up to his drooling and toothless-chewing. Plus, it teaches valuable life lessons like how you shouldn't be a jerk. Hopefully, he listens. We're trying to raise a Godly little boy here guys.

Favorites : Month 4 & 5

Fox – Stuffed animals are definitely Samson’s favorite toys at the moment. I honestly think it’s because they mimic Cash’s fur but are less likely to move away when he starts chewing on them. This fox was a gift from my friend Holli, and Samson has loved it for months. The black and white face provide ample amounts of contrast, while it’s life sized shape have proven to be the perfect cuddle size. It’s so sweet looking and is a nice compliment to his nursery full of moose.

Fresh Baby Trays – So far, I’ve made all of the fruits and veggies that Samson has eaten. I assure you it isn’t as daunting as it may seem. I just put the prepared food in my regular blender (not a baby bullet, not a Ninja, not a Vitamix… just a plain old Oster brand blender) and then pour it in these trays, cover and put them in the freezer. Once the food is frozen, I put it in a labeled Ziploc bag and put it back in the freezer. I can’t take credit for discovering these, I just happened to be visiting my brother & sister-in-law at their new home a few months ago when she sent these home with me. However, I really enjoy using them. There is no need for measuring or precision pouring, I just dump the food in the middle & use a rubber spatula (or scraper if that’s what you call them) to spread the food into all of the cubes. So easy!

Sunglasses – Protecting little eyes from UV radiation, assisting stroller naps and looking cool at the same time. Fantastic. Get them in every color. ;)

Hello Ninja– I love reading to Samson and so far all he loves is gnawing on the books, but this was a fun book to add to our (still measly) collection. We often referred to Samson-in-utero as a little ninja because of the quick kicks and jabs he would deliver and also because of our growing fascination with the TV show American Ninja Warrior, so now it’s fun to help him become accustomed to the ninja ways of life. This book moonlights as a bedtime story, so it’s almost always on our reading list.

Oball Teether – I’m really drawn to this brand. I love the bright colors that they use and the little beads that they use make the coolest (least annoying) noise. While these keys don’t have the brands token beads, the do have bright colors and cool textures for Samson to gnaw on and the key ring seems to be the right size and shape for his little hands. So far there are no signs of teeth, but everything goes in his mouth anyways. Samson gives them bonus points for making a cool sound when he drops them from the highchair tray twenty times at dinner.

Jumperoo – Hands down one of the most used baby items we own. We have a smaller doorway jumper that is easy to move around, but for day-to-day use this one is definitely our favorite. Besides being great for jumping, it has lots for Samson to look at and play with. We usually don’t turn the sound on, because he seems to like it just fine without it and the days of quiet play are truly numbered when you have a boy. Downsides : big size makes it more difficult to move from room to room and it takes up a great-deal of floor space.

B. One Two Squeeze Blocks – Samson was really starting to take an interest in the wooden blocks that my friend Rachel had made for him, however, since he’s still a little guy, I cringed every time he accidentally dropped one on his face or poked himself in the eye with sharp corner. These soft blocks were the perfect solution. They are the perfect size for little fingers and all 6 sides of each block have a raised image for exploring. They make a small squeak for interest, but not enough to be confused as a dog toy, which is an important quality in our house.

Boon Highchair – I know there are a hundred different highchairs out there to choose from, and honestly, I’m not sure you can go wrong with any of them. I do love our highchair though. It is SO easy to clean (zero crevices or hard to reach places). It’s easy to adjust the height (it has a pneumatic lift, like a hair dressers chair, but easier). It’s on easy-to-glide wheels and it has a one-step brake. Plus, it looks like it belongs to the Jetson’s. Win.

Favorites : Month 3

I might be caught saying this several more times in the future, but this is my favorite baby stage yet! I have loved every single moment with Samson, but it keeps getting better and better. It was a lot more fun to compile this months favorites list because these things are not only things that I think are cute, they are things he really loves! Samson is the ultimate product tester!

Security Blanket - Samson doesn't have this exact blanket, his is a fuzzy little lamb we received as a gift from his Great-Grandma West at one of my baby showers, but he loves having a soft toy to cuddle with. He's a snuggler and loves to hold his lamb and pet it. It instantly soothes him when we put him in his car seat and he's even fallen asleep holding on to it during nap time (don't worry I keep an eye on him).
Oball Rattle - This is a great toy for tiny hands. Samson can easily grab a hold of it. The bright color and beads make it fun for him to play with. Bonus points because Cash loves to watch this roll across the floor.
mamaRoo - We've happily used the mamaRoo since the day we came from the hospital, but this month it rose to the top of our favorite products because our finicky napper started to use this to nap outside of my arms. Woohoo! Samson loves the motion and the colorful mobile. Momma loves the modern style and being able to plug my iPhone to the music port.
Mortimer the Moose - I've collected moose things for a looooong time. My mom bought this years ago for my future child (I don't even think I was married to Aaron yet) and held on to it for me. It's cute and Samson loves all the different textures and noises it makes.
Sandra Boynton Books - I was introduced to this author when I babysat for a sweet little girl when I was in high school and college. The rhymes and illustrations are so creative (some of the books feature a moose). We read these almost every day.
Mam Pacifiers - No more Soothies for us! Samson started spitting out the Soothies and all the other pacifiers with similar shapes. Thankfully we had a few of these at home, but we've started collecting more. I swear pacifiers disappear like bobbi pins! Where do they all go?
Bumbo - Samson has started to love sitting up. He looks SO old when we sits in his Bumbo, which makes me so proud and a little teary-eyed. I plop him down in front of the mirror when I get ready in the morning (just kidding, it's usually like noon). He splits his time between staring at the cute baby in the mirror and trying to figure out why there are TWO mommas! Easy to move around the house and easy to keep baby entertained, we love it.

Favorites : Month 2

The right baby products can definitely make your life easier. While Samson is starting develop opinions on what he likes/dislikes (nobody wants to be woken up in the middle of the night when the swaddle isn't right, believe me), I want to make sure we have quality items that appeal to our tastes and don't break the bank. Thankfully, at two months old, life with Samson is still pretty easy and these products make life even easier.

Boppy - While breastfeeding wasn't something that worked out for me this time, we use the Boppy as a place for Samson to hang out in bed with us, or on the couch, when we have movie marathons. It actually looks like a pretty comfortable place to hang out... I wish I had one.
Aveeno Body Wash/Lotion - I'd love to try out more natural/organic baby skincare, this is what we're using now. It smells heavenly and doesn't irritate Samson's sensitive skin. We didn't use the lotion until he was about 6 weeks, but when we started using it, it made his skin ultra soft and kissble.
Blooming Bath - Samson initially hated bath time, because we did sponge baths on the counter for a few weeks after his umbilical stump fell off. However, when we started bath time in this, he LOVED it. It's antimicrobial and easy to take care of. Besides being cute, it's incredibly soft and fits perfectly in the kitchen sink.
Charlie Banana One Size Cloth Diapers - We waited until Samson was about 8 weeks old to start our cloth diapers, but we were very happy with our decision when we got started. Easy to use, easy to clean. Great color and design selection and a great mid-range price option for pocket diapers. A full post on these diapers is coming soon.
SwaddleMe - Once our baby ninja started busting out of the baby-burrito blanket swaddles, we started using these. Sure, our little Houdini still manages to pull his fingers up to his mouth to suck on them after he loses his paci, but he stays secure enough to SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT.
Infantino Play Mat - This makes tummy-time so much fun! I think the butterfly mobile was the motivation for Samson starting to roll over at 5 weeks. It's easy to wipe-clean when spit-up accidents happen and doesn't scream "BABY" when left out in your living room.
Carter's Bodysuits - These are our favorite onesies. They hold their shape, stand up to messes and washes, stay super soft, are true to size and come in SO many cute designs.
Infantino Toy - We started hooking these to the mobile on Samson's mamaRoo so he'd have something a little closer to his face. He loves grabbing on to these and pulling these towards his face/mouth. They also keep him occupied in the carseat. I love the cute shapes and prints and that they are easy to find at Target!

Favorites : Month 1

I had this series in mind for quite some time, but as you can imagine it can be difficult to pull myself away from our cute little boy. I have a three months to catch up on, but hopefully I'll be able to keep up with our favorites as time goes on. These are a few of the things that made life with a newborn a little bit easier, albeit, none of them are ground breaking products, but babies don't require too much in the beginning. 

Starbucks Gift Card - If you gave us a gift card for coffee, God bless you! We acquired quite a stash from some of the people who know us best. We love a good Starbucks date and it was so nice to have a little something special to do outside of the house when we were sleep deprived and couldn't bring ourselves to do too much. Know a new mom? Buy her coffee.
Happy Baby Wrap - There are so many baby carriers to choose from, but the soft, silky, breathable organic bamboo blend fabric makes the Happy Baby Wrap my favorite wrap. Samson is super snuggly and I often got trapped on the couch with him laying on my chest. Once our wrap arrived in the mail, I regained some freedom while being able to keep him warm, content and close.
Avent Soothie Pacifier - Samson had one of these in the hospital when he had his circumcision performed and he preferred it to all the other brands when we got home. Even though they appeared similar, he could always tell the difference. Giving him a pacifier as soon as we got home made all the difference in the world for us. He had no problems telling us when he was actually hungry. Every baby is different, so you might have to try a few until you find the right one, but it is totally worth it!
Pampers Swaddlers - Every parent has their preferences for diapers, these are ours. However, Samson was and is long and lean, so I can't speak for those babies with rolls for days. Our wonderful nurse stuffed my bag with several packages of newborn and size 1's for me before we left the hospital and thankfully we had a few boxes on hand. We tried other brands and they just didn't compare with the softness or absorbency (aka leak protection) for our brand new baby. Save the other brands (or your cloth diapers) for when your baby is a bit bigger.
Sleep & Play Outfits - Samson lived in these day & night during the first month. Outfits with multiple pieces are kind of overrated until your baby is a little more "sturdy." Just ask my husband. I recommend you have like twenty in each size. I'm only sort of joking. The cotton, terry and fleece are all equally soft and cozy. Bonus points if they have cute feet and butts! know a lot of people prefer the zippered ones to prevent some annoying late night snap fiascos, however, I almost always had better luck with Samson staying warm and sleepy when I left the top snapped through midnight diaper changes and only opened his jammies where the action was.
Fisher-Price Rock & Play - Buy this, right now. Of our three infant hangouts (Rock & Play, Bouncer & mamaRoo) this is the most used. It's light-weight and easy to move around the main living spaces of our home. We'd pull it into the kitchen so Samson could watch us while we cook & eat dinner, it's the perfect height to keep an eye on baby while you lay on the couch, and it fits easily through the bathroom doorway, ahem. We use it every day.
Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets - Super soft and super stretchy, we used these to swaddle Samson at night until he turned into a baby Houdini and required more serious muscle to keep him tucked in. They are lightweight enough to use when your baby is layered in his fleece jammies, but cozy enough to keep your baby warm in his car seat. They also work as a nice extra large burp cloth if your baby can make Old Faithful look like a tiny little water spiget. We almost always have one tucked in the diaper bag.
BabyGanics Hand Sanitizer - Stock up on this stuff! We have both the unscented variety and the Mandarin orange scent. It's not drying like other hand sanitizer (I'm looking at you GermX) and is gentle on the skin. We have them upstairs and downstairs with Samson's diaper changing stations and in the diaper bag. I was a little nuts about germs in the beginning (still am!) and even used it to sanitize Samson's hands after a weird stranger insisted upon touching his fingers.

I know these are pretty basic items, but it really helps to be prepared with the proper goodies. Hope this list helps you if you are a momma-to-be planning a registry or if you know a momma-to-be and you need some gift ideas.