Baby Favorites

So I am no Oprah but since my baby shower the other night and after a fun visit with Ryan's cousin Tami this morning (who is pregnant with her first baby and was going to register for baby "stuff") I have been thinking about all our favorite baby "must haves" and what I would recommend to others. Here are a few of OUR favorites... both new and old!

The Baby Trend Sit and Stand Stroller

I just bought this double stroller a couple of weeks ago and am loving it! This stroller has several different options which really works for our family. It is a "Sit and Stand" however has the option to have a full seat in the back too if needed. I love this because I can either have the baby in front with Phearson in the back "seat" while Porter walks... or I can have Phearson in the front seat, Porter in the Sit and Stand seat and carry the baby in the Bjorn or sling. Very versatile which is absolutely perfect for us depending on the activity. It also has cup holders, a good size basket underneath, is pretty easy to push and fold up. (for a double stroller) Would definitely recommend it to anyone who needs a double stroller with "options"!!

The Bumbo Seat

Ok so most of you probably have one of these already or have seen it before but it is a new addition to our home. Although baby Tav isn't quite ready for this fun little seat yet his big brothers wasted no time trying it out, and as you can see, it was an instant hit! Two thumbs up! Should I invest in two more?

The Pee-pee Teepee

For the sprinkling wee-wee... because not every baby "shower" is a fun one! So you would think with having two little boys that this would be and item we would already have... Nope! Another new find (thanks to a fun baby gift!) Great invention!!

Mylicon Infant Gas drops Gas relief for you little one! Enough said!

Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Cradle Swing

This is another baby item that we have had since the beginning, an oldie but goody! We actually had to purchase (thanks mom and dad) another one this time around because we used our first swing so much with the other two boys that it finally died on us. I'm not sure what it is about this particular swing, if it is the nest like seat (as the add states) or the front to back or side to side swing. Whatever it is it has been a lifesaver for our family =mom and dad on many occasion.

Any sort of Booster Seat

For anyone who doesn't have a whole lot of room in their home for all the many baby items required I highly recommend getting a booster seat that you can attach to your regular dining room chairs. You can use the attachable tray or just push the little one up to the table to eat with the rest of the family. Just makes for one less thing to try and find a place for. Less is sometimes better!

On the Go Booster Seat

This booster seat is perfect for traveling, whether it be to relatives, to a restaurant or just from inside to outside at home. It is supper light, folds up easily and small and is super easy to clean. For all of you that are on the go.. this is one is for you!

Formula Dispenser Container For all you formula feeders out there this is a must have! Again this is perfect for those on the go, just fill each spot with the correct amount of formula, toss into diaper bag and when needed, wallah!.. couldn't be easier! Also works well for rice cereal, oatmeal etc. when child will be with a baby sitter. (No measuring needed for others to figure out) Diaper and Wipes Bag

These cute bags are designed to hold a travel pack of wipes and two to four diapers. You can say goodbye to wadded, scrunched up diapers- you know the ones you have to dig out of your diaper bag! You can use this bag with your diaper bag and over sized handbag or if it's just the necessities you need you can just grab the diaper and wipes bag and go! An A+ baby item in my opinion!

And last but not least one of my favorites is is a good old

Pacifier Clip

A clip from pacifier to baby/child. Pretty basic but can be a lifesaver for those little ones who frequently spit out the pacifier "on accident". No more dirty or lost pacifiers, poor mom scrambling to find another one or somewhere to clean it off while baby begins screaming, others begin staring and your toddler is running off.(Or is that just my life!).. just prevent it, clip it!!

The best thing about all these things is that the are all pretty inexpensive and available at you local Target! What is you favorite "baby item"?

One Last Hoo-ra!

This last week I was given a...

To celebrate this little guy...

By these wonderful girls... Which included the funnest of friends...

And the best of gifts...

Including lots of diapers and wipes

Gift Cards!

And a BUMBO seat (Just to name a few)!

Thank You to everyone for spoiling us one last time!

Happy One Month birthday to Tav?!

So Tav turned one month this week and to celebrate his big day he received a two day, one night, all inclusive stay at CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County) and a date with a surgeon!

As a lot of you already know it has been another eventful week for us. Tav went for his one month Dr.s appointment on Monday and checked out great measuring in at 8lbs and 7ounces and 22 inches long. Then late Monday night into early Tuesday morning the poor little guy started "spitting" up all of his feedings. As the day passed the spitting became projectile vomiting. This continued all day Tuesday and Wednesday. Finally Wednesday night I called the Dr. and got instructions to cut back on his feedings that night, sit him upright after eating etc. We were told that if he still threw up the next feeding to try Pedialyte times 2 feedings and if he continued to throw up the Pedialyte to take him to CHOC emergency room for further testing. So as the story goes... we ended up at CHOC ER the next morning (exactly one month, to the date from the day he was born). An ultrasound was done to confirm that Tav had developed Pyloric Stenosis. Pyloric Stenosis is when the lower part of the stomach (the pylorus) is too narrow for milk to pass through into the small intestine. Normally, the muscle at the end of the stomach keeps food in the stomach when it contracts and lets food out of the stomach when it relaxes. In pyloric stenosis, the muscle is too big and doesn't relax well. This can happen to babies between 2 weeks and 2 months of age. The treatment for Pyloric Stenosis is surgery.

The following are actual pictures taken taken during Tav's surgery

The large/swollen pylorus

The surgeon making an incision in the muscle

Incision made allowing the mucosa underneath more room to allow food through

Notice how thick the muscle was (marked by the surgeon on picture) therefore constricting the pylorus. All Fixed!

To make a long story short we ended up spending ALL day in the ER and "short stay" waiting to find out when they could do surgery. Finally around 10:00pm we met with the surgeon and anastheologist. Then only minutes later our little baby Tav was wheeled off to surgery by the nurse, all alone, in that big hospital crib. (still brings tears to our eyes) Luckily surgery was very short (about 20min total) and all went great! We were so happy to see Tav sleeping so peacefully in recovery. ( He had been crying and so unhappy before he finally went to surgery because he hadn't eaten in over 15 hours and was STARVING!) Tav was started back on feedings 6 hours after surgery, gradually increasing the feeding amounts each time. He did great eating with hardly any spitting up at all and we were able to come home late Friday evening.

What an experience this has been. I will never forget the feeling of helplessness and fear that overcame me when we were told that our new baby needed surgery or the picture of my child being wheeled away by a stranger without the guarantee that all would be ok. I am reminded once again how so very lucky we are to have our sweet boys and how much I love each one of them and our little family!

Tav in his hospital crib Porter and Phearson so happy to see little brother TavTav with his pacifier soaked in "sugar water" - Loved It! (Sugar water used to help sooth babies in pain/discomfort) The battle wounds Three small laparoscopic incision sites Welcome Home Baby Tav! We Love You!

Giddy Up!

This cowboy + This cowgirl

Equals something a whole lot cuter!

This little buckaroo!

Gotta love "Pony Day" at preschool!

Another "Phearson" moment

*Words Of Advice*

NEVER place a CHILD in a running car...

alone...

at any time....

for even just a second...

Or you could end up with this!!!

Oh yes he did... he pushed the lock button before daddy could get around to the other side of the car!

And after about 45 minutes of attempting to UNLOCK the car yourself or get your 1 1/2 year old to unlock it for you... or roll the window down (which was on child-proof lock!) without success...

You will have to call the

To finally open the car for you to get your now panic stricken child out!

(Thank goodness the air condition was on!- Too bad both sets of keys were in the car!)

Hope your Saturday evening was as exciting as ours!!

Ryan loves his sports!

Is it really any surprise that this little boy would someday become the

Stake Athletics Director?!