My Boy. My THREE Month Old Boy.

Baby Dean/Pumpkin Butt/Silly Boy,

Today you are three months old. 

Three. Months. Old.

Time is moving way too fast for me. I just want it to stop or slow down at least a little, but I know that's asking too much. 

You are such an active little boy. When you're not moody because you're sleepy or hungry, you are the happiest, most curious baby I've ever seen.

Forget sitting anywhere for too long. You always want to be on the go and checking things out. 

Your activity gym I just bought you? You're SO over that. You'll still try to make me happy by laying in it and checking things out, but just like clockwork, 5 minutes in and you're over it. 

Dad and I just recently bought you a Bumbo too. I'm pretty sure you love it. When we sit you in it, and keep our hands off, you have the biggest grin. Almost like you're telling us, "SEE?? I AM a big boy!" and it's totally adorable.

At your doctor appointment last week, you measured in at 10 pounds, half an ounce and 22.5" long. Dr. Joe informed us that you have a mild case of Eczema, and an "intermediate" case of acid reflux. Basically, we just have to use special shampoo, body wash, and lotion on you, and keep you on more of an incline until the acid reflux grows out of you, I guess is the best way to put it.

You were also given three vaccines. Two shots and one by mouth. 

The first shot, you seriously didn't even flinch. The second one? The one that "burns" as the nurse put it? You SCREAMED. And you screamed good. 

And it broke both your Mommy's & your Daddy's heart.

But by the time we left the office, you were totally fine. Like nothing had even happened.
You're gonna be one kid I definitely won't have to soothe too much when you skin your knee.

So let's see...

Your current likes are:

The Olympics (especially swimming events)

Your exersaucer

Laying on your changing table and smiling and talking up a storm... sometimes when you're just SO fussy for no reason, we go up and hang out on your changing table. It's weird, but you love it so I love it.

The bathtub. Still. You're like a fish. It's ridiculous.
Your fingers. We can't keep them out of your mouth. But that's alright. Drool and all we still love you.

Your current dislikes are:

Staying in one place for too long.

Sleeping anywhere besides my arms.

Me eating. (I swear you side eye me and give me evil looks every time I try and have a meal. Finger foods have become my best friend thanks to you.)

Tummy time. You learned to roll over from tummy to back and now it's like you find no reason to be placed on your tummy. You FREAK every time I try to initiate tummy time. You won't roll, you won't do anything but freak out until I pick you back up.

I think we are going to take you for your first trip to Ocean City next weekend. It's going to be so fun to get your toes in the sand and start a family tradition of going every summer. 

Both your Daddy and I grew up going to Ocean City, and I want you to experience that as well.

Overall little boy, you grow and change every day and I love it. It's an amazing feeling I have watching you grow. When you were first born, I honestly didn't know how I could love anyone more than how much I loved you in that minute. But everyday I love you more and more. 

Everyday you amaze me more and more.

I couldn't be more proud.

Love,

Your Mama.

PS- Here are some pictures your Maw Maw took of you, you big three month old.

And a quick look at how much you've grown since being born. 

Five Minutes old

One Week Old

Two Weeks Old

Two Months Old

Three Months Old

Annddddd all the rest of the "3 Month" pictures I took of you this morning.

 I love you Baby Boy.

Stuff I like.

If you're reading this post, it's because you're interested in the stuff I like. 

ORRRR because you're interested in good things to have with a baby.

The latter? 

Yeah...  I thought so.

You'll notice everything on the list is gender neutral. Why?
Because I'm not about to spend hundreds of dollars on stuff that I may only be able to use with one baby (and I'm certainly not putting a little boy in something pink or a little girl in something blue and manly). Sure it'd be fun to buy blue or pink, but hey, that's what clothes are for! (And those I get at consignment shops!!)

Everything on this list can and should be purchased at Wal-Mart. Keep my hubby employed. K?

Shark Steam Mop

This bad boy is AMAZING.

You see, when people come over my house, I invasion them taking a look at my hard wood floors and picture me on my hands and knees scrubbing and polishing to keep them clean.

Well. I don't do hard labor. 

It's sold with three microfiber pockets that are machine washable.

You fill it with tap water, plug it in, wait about a minute, and start steaming. It cleans and sanitizes your floors at the same time.

AND

It's perfect to have around children because you're not putting nasty chemicals on the floor that they're crawling and throwing themselves on.

It's a higher priced item, but you spend the money on that, and never have to buy another mop or bucket or chemicals ever again.
It works on tile, sealed hardwood, linoleum and vinyl!

It leaves a beautiful shine on my hardwood floors, easily cleans my kitchen floor, and sanitizes the bathroom floor perfectly. I seriously LOVE it.

Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym

Another higher priced item, BUT totally worth it.

All of the items that you hang on it are removable and therefore able to put in other locations. 

LIKE hanging from the car seat handle or next to a changing table. 

It comes with this awesome 3 in 1 electronic crib toy that lights up and plays sounds. We have ours wedged next to the changing table and turn it on when it's diaper change time and Dean LOVES it. Like he's actually getting use to the music and recognizes it. He gives a "UH MOM?! Where are my tunes?!" look if I forget to turn it on. 

The cross bars are removable for when baby no longer wants to lay on their back, and links are attachable around floor mat for tummy time and to encourage crawling. 

They don't call it Baby Einstein for nothing.

Best part?

It's Gender Neutral!! We can use it with every child we have!

Oh, and it has turtles on it... *side eye to Big Dean* ...yay.

Boppy

I feel like everyone knows what this is, but just in case not.

It's a Boppy or "Man's gift to nursing women"

It's in the "U" shape so Mom's can slide it around them, lay baby on it and nurse very easily.
It also works well with baby learning to sit up and keeping them inclined when necessary. Like so:

We just found out our boy has a little case of acid reflux, so this is nice to lay him in after he finished nursing and is asleep so gravity can do it's work to that nasty acid and keep it down.

The link I gave takes you to a "naked boppy" which is the one we own. We bought a gender neutral cover (as seen above) so I can take it off and wash it and continue to use it with all our children.

The boppy also serves as a great pillow for Mom or Dad (mainly Mom... sorry Dad).

It never gets flat and can be twisted and shaped into whatever you need to make you comfortable.

Bumbo

We've only had this guy for about a week now, but I can tell you it's worth the money. 

It helps Baby to learn to sit up on their own, and teaches good posture. The Tray pictured is usually sold separately, (so obviously it's removable) and works well with putting toys in front of baby to play with or feeding the little one rice cereal that isn't quite big enough to sit in the high chair. 

They also sell covers for them now, but the seat it's self is like a vinyl, plastic, rubber kind of material that wipes off easily.

Also sold in gender neutral colors like lime green, or teal, so we can continue to use with all future children!!

**UPDATE: Since writing this, the Bumbo pictured has been recalled. But for a seriously stupid reason. People, parent your children. Don't leave them alone in something they can fall out of and fracture their skull. One would think this is obvious, but, in today's society, it needs to be spelled out.**

Fisher Price Snugabunny Swing

Ok. So first, this is just freakin' adorable.
Second. Gender neutral! (Can you tell I'm all about the gender neutral stuff?!)
Third, it PLUGS IN!
Do you know how many swings plug in? Not many. Most require batteries, so what are you constantly doing? Buying batteries.
This positions three ways. The way shown above, turn to the left and turn to the right.
A beautiful mobile with a mirror in the middle, harness straps (because babies fall out of this kind of stuff), 6 speeds, and 4 different musical selections (Music, Music and Nature, Nature, Water). If you're feeling REALLY rebellious, get the matching bouncer.

Fisher Price Snugabunny Bouncer

Totes Worth it.

On both apparatuses, the seats are like fur soft and removable so they can be washed... because leaks happen.

The bouncer only uses batteries, but I have yet to change them since putting them in, and we use it at least once a day... for three months.

Diaper Genie

As I wrote when I was pregnant, we chose to use disposable diapers. For a while there, I was thinking about starting cloth, but, that left my mind quickly.

We purchased this because "everyone needs a diaper genie!"

But really...

EVERYONE NEEDS A DIAPER GENIE.

This one has a foot pedal for easy one hand disposal.

Keeps all smells trapped in nice and tight, and surprisingly holds a good amount of diapers. I think I take them out maybe once a week? I'm sure as the diapers get bigger, that'll change, but so far it's really worth it. 

I've only had to buy two refills so far, because I empty it correctly. Not many know that you need to push the diapers together and push all the air out before cutting and tying the bags. I'm pretty proud that I can get about 50 diapers compacted down to a space about a foot big. Can't tie the bag you just took out? Who cares! It's going out in the big trash bin for the nice garbage men to take away on Monday morning!!!

And finally...

Chick-fil-A

I just couldn't resist.


So that's my list for now. I'm sure I'll have more lists as Baby Dean gets older.


What are your favorite items that make your life easier with baby?