Surviving the First Year

Our little munchkin is about to turn one! 1! Yes, I will say it again. ONE YEAR OLD!

I just can't believe it. It seems like ages ago that I gave birth to that beautiful child, but at the same time it seems just like yesterday.

As the big day approaches, and as I plan the big Happy-Birthday-Mia-We-Made-It-And-We-Are-Still-Alive party, I have been reflecting on the last year and thinking about the things that made our lives easier and kept us from losing our minds. The first year is certainly a huge learning experience.

So, I thought I would share a list of the things we couldn't have made it without:

SwaddleMe blankets - These things were awesome. Mia always broke out of her regular blanket swaddles through the night and these things stayed in place. We never had to worry about loose blankets and suffocation. Plus, they kept her nice and cozy and secure.

( sorry for the model baby. For some reason, I don't have a picture of Mia in her swaddle)

Itz-Been - This little gadget makes an awesome gift especially for the breastfeeding mother. Even though I couldn't breast feed like I planned, this sucker was a sanity saver in those early days when you are so sleep deprived you couldn't remember your own name, let alone the last time the baby was fed. This thing give you the time between feedings, diaper changes, naps, and meds. Plus, if you are breast feeding, it has a switch that lets you know which side you used last feeding.

This Book - Hands down, this little book was the best thing we used all year. I kid you not, during those awful colic months, the strategies in this book were the cure. As soon as we applied them, it was like a switch was flipped. After a couple of weeks of poor Mia's wails and our stress increasing by the day, we couldn't get this book fast enough. As soon as it came in the mail, we ripped it open and, while Mia wailed, Gabe quickly skimmed though the book and read all the important stuff. We followed each step and within minutes we found instant relief. GET THIS BOOK for anyone having a baby. Trust me. They will love you forever.

Baby Bjorn - Probably the second biggest help to us was this thing. Actually, it was more of a help for Gabe than me. For months, he would put Mia in it every night during her fussiest time (right before bed). He would pace the basement for an hour every night and Mia was happy as a clam. It allowed all of us to relax a bit after a long day. To this day, Gabe will pull it out in an emergency despite the fact that she is so heavy I think it is going to bust at the seams.
Bumbo - Many, many days, the Bumbo allowed me to get things done around the house while keeping Mia happy. It really helped her gain strength to be able to sit on her own too. We definitely got a lot of use out of this puppy. Again, a great gift.

Mesh bags - Oh boy, don't leave home without them! It's all about pacifying the kiddo, and these things do the job. Before they are able to eat solid foods, you can stick different kinds of food in these little mesh bags (apples, bananas, pears...etc) and they can mash it up with their gums and suck out the pulp through the mesh. These are a big help when you want to go out to eat or have long drives in the car. It keeps them busy and feels good on their teething gums. Now that she is older, she doesn't have much interest in them anymore, but they were great while they lasted.

Binkies - These need no explanation. Love 'em. Some people are against these suckers (no pun intended), but they are life savers to us.
Pooh Blankies - Oh how Mia loves her Pooh blankies. We got one as a gift and she loved it so much we went and bought three more. She can't go to sleep without snuggling with it. It is definitely her "woobie". Now, one has a permanent home at her daycare. In fact, just today, her sitter told me that she cannot live without it. And don't even think of trying to a look-alike. She knows her woobies. I know we will have the "woobie" talk someday (a little throw back to an 80's flick - can you remember?).

Halo SleepSacks - once Mia outgrew her swaddle blankets around 3 months, I still didn't feel comfortable using loose blankets on her. These are the perfect solution. They provide the warmth of the blanket, without the worry of suffocation. I never have to worry about it coming loose and inadvertently getting around her face. The fleece one is plenty warm enough on a cold night and the organic cotton ones are nice and cool for the hot days. We still use these today and probably will for a while. They are a little pricey, but definitely worth the money for the peace of mind.

Binkie + Sleepsack + Pooh Blankie = Trifecta

(she looks kinda weird here. She just woke up from her nap and wasn't happy about a camera in her face.)

And finally,

My Husband - I thank God everyday for this man. He is my best friend, my soul mate, and my savior over the last 12 months. He stepped up and took the reins the first six weeks while I was so sick from the terrible rash I got from my epidural. He stayed up through the night with Mia so I could get some sleep and heal. He suffered through the majority of Mia's colic episodes while I was a blubbering, hormonal mess. He takes over every week night so I can get dinner ready and take a break, and makes sure I can sleep in on the weekends and refuel for the next week. I couldn't have asked for a better husband/father. I certainly have a new respect for single mom's. I don't know how they do it and keep their sanity.

And there you have it! Our must-have list for baby's first year. Whew.