Photo Board Repurposed

My little niece turned one last week.  She is such a little cutie.  Her mom and dad planned an awesome super hero party for her. 

This was the dress they had made for her...so SUPER cute!!

https://www.facebook.com/memoriesby.sherry

When I asked my sister-in-law what she needed for the party she asked me if I could bring the photo board I used for my little man's party:

 

 

It just wasn't super hero enough...

 

 

The back was just bare plywood so I decided to make it look like a page out of a comic.

I bought white fabric with gray polka dots and two wide white photo mats that I later spray painted matte black.



I searched free fonts online and found a couple really cute ones.  The one I used for the words is called "Damn noisy kids".  It was perfect.  I used PowerPoint to make the words a big as possible and printed them on cardstock. 

I used some spray adhesive to attach the fabric to the plywood then stapled it around the edges. 

My favorite part was the speech bubbles (I had two speech bubbles and two thought bubbles).  Google image speech bubble, import into PowerPoint and enlarge so it fills the entire page.  Print and laminate.  After they are laminated, you can write on them with dry-erase marker so everyone can write their own message.  I might make more of these just for photo props because they are really funny...especially when you hold them over a baby's head :)

First Birthday CARNIVAL!!

Whew!! The last few months have been super busy!

In August my little man turned ONE!!  I have no idea where the past year has gone. 
We celebrated by having a carnival.  I started planning and building months in advance.  We had a popcorn bar with three different flavors of popcorn.  Party Popcorn- drizzled with white chocolate and little sprinkles. Butter Popcorn and Maple Bacon Popcorn...YUM!!!

We also did a hot dog bar for our main food.  It is super easy to just stand the hot dogs up in a crock pot and turn it on.  It keeps the hot dogs hot and no one is standing over a grill for the whole party.  For hot dog toppings we had: Cheese, caramelized onions, chili, onions in sauce, ketchup, mustard, relish...it was a big hit!

I made the little man's cake...vanilla with salted caramel buttercream.  I also made cupcakes with mini marshmallow "popcorn" on top.  It was a fantastic day with friends and family!

The biggest hit of the party was the COTTON CANDY!!  I thought the kids would be most excited for it but to be totally honest, it was the adults that were the most excited :)  We are all just big kids at heart anyway right?!

Here are some pictures from the day:

 And no First Birthday would be complete without a SMASH CAKE!!

 

Planning this birthday party was so much fun.  I definitely could have used another week to get everything ready but overall, everyone had a great time!

I tried it and...

Welcome to my first installment of "I tried it and..."

I am going to try to do one of these a month.  So many times I go into a store, see a product and wonder if it's really everything the company says it will be. 
I want to be that friend you can go to and say "Have you tried this?  What do you think of it?"
I promise you my answers will always be 110% truthful.

My little man loves the squeeze pouches of food.  He actually gets excited when he sees me take one out of the pantry.  The problem is that they can be really expensive, even on sale. 
Walking through WalMart one day I saw these:

They are called Squeez'Ems and are made by BooginHead.
Cool...a reusable squeeze pouch!
They come in a pack of two and were around $8.00.

RATING: 4/10
:(

I was excited to be able to fill them with yogurt for Little Man. Now that my blueberry bush has ripe blueberries I thought I could make a puree and mix that with the yogurt as well.

They sell a funnel separately that you can use for easier filling but I just mixed everything in a zip top bag, cut the corner off and squeezed it into the pouches.

Filling them was pretty easy as the larger mouth is pretty big.  The problem comes when you try to snap the top on.  I pushed down really hard and it seemed to be closed.
Handed it to the little man...turned around to fill the next one.  Looked back over at him and there was yogurt EVERYWHERE.  All over his highchair, his head, clothes and even some on the dog.

Out of the four I have, the top only stays on one of them. 

The screw on top also gets in the way a bit too.  I can appreciate that they wanted to attach it to the pouch so it doesn't get lost or become a choking hazard but it is usually just hitting the little man in the face when he is trying to eat.  He gets annoyed at it and starts hitting the whole thing against the tray on his highchair...the top pops open and food is everywhere.

As far as being dishwasher safe, I put it in the dishwasher and it did not get clean.  I would recommend washing by hand with a bottle brush.

I had really high hopes for this product but just wound up being disappointed.

There are three more products along this line that I am going to try:
Infantino Squeeze Station
Yummi Pouch
Squooshi

I will let you know how it goes and if I would actually recommend any of these products for you to buy.


Let me know if there is a product you have been wondering about.  I will let you know if I have tried it!

Baby Toys

As far as baby toys go, you can't really go wrong.  There are tons of super cute toys out there and they all do a million different things.
In my experience these are a few favorites:

It is really easy for babies and toddlers to grip, this one has a rattle, and they can throw it (fling it) surprisingly far.

Another must-have is Sophie the Giraffe:

 



There is just something about Sophie that kids LOVE.  She is made of natural rubber and super squeaky.  She is easy for babies to grip and they love to chew on her legs.  I totally have a soft spot for Sophie.

Play mats are excellent for tummy time.  I recommend the Kick and Play Piano by Fisher Price.
My Little Man loved to kick at the piano and it kept him busy for quite a while.  Another nice feature is that once he was able to sit up, we could tilt the piano so he could sit at it. 

Bouncer/Exersaucer-
We registered for a combo bouncer/exersaucer so Little Man could have the best of both worlds. Just remember that they take up a pretty good amount of room.  They never look quite as big when they are on a shelf at the store.

WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING:
This next toy is the bane of my existence.
It is so annoying even Mother Theresa would have taken the batteries out of it.
Don't be fooled by it's cute face and happy smile.
It is pure evil

Ugh...I get chills just looking at the picture of it.
First of all it has that little string in front that is not long enough for a toddler to actually pull it along the floor (I know, I know, it has to be shorter than 9 inches so it is not a strangulation hazard) so it is usually being dragged upside down all over the house.  This is a real joy to listen to if you have wood or tile floors :)
See those 26 cute little alphabet legs?  They each play a different song (or say a different letter).  So as your little one is dragging it around and it is crashing into everything, it starts one song then another, and another, and another, and another and JUST FINISH ONE DAMN SONG YOU STUPID CATERPILLAR!!!!!
Okay, I feel better now. 
I am not sure how much product testing Leap Frog did before they put this product out but it would have been nice if it would lock out the other legs from playing songs so the first one could finish.
Needless to say Caterpillar Pal spent a lot of time with his switch in the OFF position.
And when the kids could figure out how to turn it on...Oh no...batteries are "dead".



Have fun registering for baby toys.  They should be the least stressful part of your registry and you really can't go wrong.  Unless you register for Caterpillar Pal...if you do that you are on your own...don't say I didn't warn you!

Baby Bedding

I would like to start with my number one bedding tip:
www.cloudsandstars.com
There is nothing more frustrating than changing crib bedding. You practically have to remove the entire mattress every time you want to change that fitted sheet. And if your baby spits up frequently, you could be changing that bedding almost every day. Clouds and Stars have a line of sheets that are called QuickZip, they actually zip on. A sheet goes under the mattress and comes up the sides. The top sheet simply zips around the edges. This is probably one of the best inventions ever. Trust me, you will not regret buying these.


My absolute favorite part of getting ready for my little man was designing the nursery.
We knew we were having a boy but we are also planning on having more children in the future so I wanted to do the nursery gender neutral.
I am a huge Beatrix Potter fan and love her beautiful soft illustrations.  After searching the internet and Pinterest I found exactly what I was looking for and discovered it was from Pottery Barn Kids.  There was just one problem.  The photos I found were for a bedroom set that was no longer available.  I searched eBay, Amazon and anywhere else I could think of and couldn't find what I was looking for anywhere.  Here is one of my inspiration photos: I love the walls!!

So I took matters into my own hands.
I went to Michael's (a very dangerous place for me) and bought plastic for making stencils (the Martha Stewart line sells it in rolls) and the heat tool used to cut/melt the stencil material.
I looked at my inspiration pictures and drew my version.  I added deer into mine and a few extra critters.
After taping the picture to the underside of a piece of glass (I just took it out of a picture frame) I taped the stencil material to the top and started to trace it with the point of the heat tool.  Go slow!

My husband painted the top half of the wall a neutral beige and the bottom half green.  I used the rest of the green to paint in the stencil (using a sponge stencil tamper thinger).
Over the course of a week I did a little at a time.  I am absolutely in LOVE with how it came out.  The bedding in the rest of the room is from Pottery Barn's new Peter Rabbit line.

It is a good idea to remember to think outside the box when you are designing your baby's nursery.  I was not very happy with the nightlight that was a part of the Pottery Barn Kids line.  The reviews were not great either. 
I found the perfect nightlight on Etsy.  It is absolutely gorgeous and I even went back and bought another for a friend.  The quality is incredible and I couldn't be happier with it.
You can check it out here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SwansonGlassDesign?ref=shop_sugg

 

Diapers Baby!

Alright, round two of the baby registry posts...DIAPERS

Diaper Bag-
If you are a girly girl and want that beautiful floral diaper bag, you may want to let your man take over the registry gun for a moment and let him pick out his own diaper bag.  Trust me, he is going to be much more willing to go out on his own with baby if he doesn't have to carry around a huge floral bag with him.  There are some really nice ones out there that even look like backpacks. Just remember if this is not your primary diaper bag, you should check it often to make sure the wipes are not dried out and the diapers are actually the size your baby is currently wearing (speaking from experience here).

Wipes Wipes Wipes-
You will be using these for just about everything for at least the next two years.  Don't be afraid to add like 10 of these to your registry. We buy Costco size boxes of them and use them for everything from diapering to a quick face wash on the go for the little man.

A warning about wipes warmers (I have used the Prince Lionheart wipes warmer) warmth + moisture can definitely grow bacteria.  I know most of the brands have a antimicrobial pad that goes in the bottom to keep this from happening but please read the instructions.  The pad doesn't last forever and must be replaced every so many months.  Also, if you use the last wipe and forget to refill it, the pad in the bottom will start to cook, turn brown and get hard.

Diapers-
Remember to register for a variety of sizes and remember baby won't be in the newborn size for very long.  My little man is 10 months old and wears size 3.  I feel like they are in this size for a good amount of time so if you are going to stock up on a size, 3-4 are good ones to get a large volume of.
*Dudes and Diapers- Many times, the soon-to-be Dad will hang out with his buddies while the baby shower is going on.  If he is planning on doing something like this it is fun to have each of the guys bring a box of diapers to give to the Dad. 

Diaper Rash Cream-
Putting 4-5 tubes of this on your registry would not be too much.  I have had good luck with the Desitin Creamy.

Diaper Pail-
I am a HUGE fan of the Diaper Genie.  I love that if you only have 3-4 diapers in it and one of them is a doozy, you can tie off that section and not waste an entire garbage bag.  Also...I just found out that Target makes their own brand of Diaper Genie Refill that I am testing out right now (as we speak) and so far I have been very happy with it.

Changing table stuff. 
2-3 changing pad covers are a good idea.  Lets face it, there are going to be days where poop gets all over the place.
They also make a pad that goes on top of the cover (so you can just toss that in the hamper rather than the entire cover) I have the Babies-R-Us brand and I hate them.  They refuse to lay flat on the changing table.  The edges roll up and most of the time it is bunched up under the little man's head.
USELESS.  If you can find the kind that lay flat they are awesome. 

Missing: Sock Buddies

A few years after I graduated college I started to nanny for a family with two little girls.  They loved to help me with anything and everything.  I am pretty particular about how I like to fold laundry so I wanted to find something they could do to help while I did the folding. 
I made up a game called Sock Buddies.  It is basically Go Fish with Socks.  They each had a pile and had to work together to make all of the matches.  They had fun playing and I got some work done!

One of my big pet peeves is when I can't find my sock buddies.  Baby socks are the worst.
I do the laundry and those little baby socks get stuck everywhere!  They sneak inside of Little Man's pants, they are so light they get plastered to the top of my washer during the spin cycle and are forgotton up there until the next load of laundry goes in.  Lately they have also been getting sucked into the rubber drain area at the in the front of my washing machine (I have a front loader).  The laundry is done and I have these soaking wet little baby socks blocking the water from draining out of my machine.

SOLUTION:  Mesh lingerie bags.  I clip one to the side of his laundry hamper and put all of his little socks in it.  When I am ready to do laundry, I zip it up and toss it in the wash.  After that it gets tossed into the dryer and I am a happy momma.  No missing socks and I don't have to frisk the entire basket of laundry to make sure there aren't any sock buddies hiding somewhere.
The best part...you can usually find mesh lingerie bags at the dollar store :)

Baby Registry...Don't Hyperventilate Over the Crazy Long List!!

Picture this:
You are expecting your first child and you and the hubby are walking into the baby store to start your registry.  The nice lady behind the desk smiles at you and hands you a print-out the size of the Bible with list after list of all the things you "need" to have your baby.
DON'T HYPERVENTILATE
They lied, you don't really need all that crap!!
It is their job to sell you as much as humanly possible.  Where would a normal person living in a normal house put all of those things? A swing and a bouncer and a bouncy seat and an exersaucer and a walker and a tummy time mat and a play yard...seriously?  I don't know about you but my house can't fit all of that stuff.

I wanted to put together a list of some of my favorites and also some of the products that I can't and couldn't live without. I also have a few things you may want to think about when purchasing your baby items...things I really wish I had thought about before I bought mine.

This will be the first installment...I don't want to overwhelm you (or bore you) with too much information all at once.

Books:
What to Expect When you are Expecting
Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth-Jenny McCarthy
-This book cracks me up! If you take yourself too seriously, this book probably isn't for you.

iPad iPhone apps:
Total Baby- You can use this app to record feedings, naps, diapers etc... I think it is a great tool to help discover your baby's natural schedule. Plus, you will never remember the last time you fed your baby. You really really think you will but trust me, you won't. 10 months in and I am still using it.
Sprout Pregnancy and Sprout Journal- I really liked the graphics in both of these and the journal helps you write down and remember things about your pregnancy you might not have thought to record. Although it is expensive to have them turn the virtual journal into an actual journal, you can always use the information to create your own.

Feeding:

Nursing-
Disposable Nursing Pads (I tried the reusable, washable, organic cotton and soaked right through them.  Of course I was out of the house and had to do the walk of shame out of the store with a big wet spot over my boob.  After things started to regulate I could use them but not in the beginning).
Lansinoh Lanolin Cream
Nursing Bra and Sleep Bra-Target actually has pretty nursing bras that don't look like you ripped them off someones granny.
Nursing Cover
BOPPY PILLOW-  I am a big fan of the Boppy.  It is not only great for nursing but also tummy time and to prop up baby when they have enough neck muscle to practice sitting up.  I wasn't a fan of the "My Breast Friend" (although the name is pretty great).  You strap this pillow around your waist and here is my problem with that.  Babies, especially newborns, have stuff leaking out of every orifice of their body and sometimes you need/want to move FAST.  So when baby spits up (or poops) all over between you and the nursing pillow, the last thing you want to be doing is juggling your baby with one hand while trying to unhook your nursing pillow and saying eww eww eww all at the same time.  These are just my two cents...please don't feel the need to attack me if that nursing pillow is the best thing you ever brought into your house (except your baby of course).  You are entitled to your opinion...as am I.
Side note: Etsy has TONS of cute nursing covers and nursing pillow covers that can also be personalized.
Breast Pump-even if you are planning on nursing exclusively, it is not a bad idea to have a pump.  It doesn't have to be a deluxe double pump capable of pumping enough for quintuplets but it is good to at least have a basic pump.  It is a good idea to have some milk stored in the freezer in case you need to go out for a long period of time, or as a backup in case you've had a couple too many glasses of wine...j/k...okay maybe not...don't judge me!
Bottle Feeding-
I honestly don't have a ton of expertise in this area.  I have always used the Born Free bottles.  They are easy to assemble and have worked really well for all my little man and the last two babies I cared for. 
I also know a lot of people who swear by Dr Browns.  Just a warning though...they have a million parts which is something to think about when you are trying to put it together at 3 am and the baby is screaming or you are trying to wash them (they do have a dishwasher basket specifically for the parts) or your in-laws are watching the baby and can't figure out how to get the pieces together.
Bottle Brush-I prefer the ones with the spongy end...milk and formula have a pretty high fat content and although those fluffy ones look like they would do a better job, they have a tendency to leave a film on the inside of the bottle.
Drying Rack- I have the "grass" one from Buy Buy Baby and love it.  Any one will do.
Dishwasher Basket-Good for bottles, baby utensils, sippy cups and their millions of little parts and even small toys...think Duplo people or Playschool Peoples.

I think this is it for my first installment.
I would love to hear your thoughts and comments on products you have tried and loved (or hated)!

Greetings and Salutations

Hi!  My name is Andrea (sometimes known as Nonnie).  I was a full time nanny for a multiple different families for over 10 years.  I had my own little man last August and am now a work from home mom.
I am so grateful for all of the experience I have gained from my jobs as a nanny.  I would like to think I am a bit more laid back as a first time mom (I think the little man is my 8th baby at this point).  I have played with the toys, tested out the products, and discovered which I love and which I can live without.
I have dealt with the fevers, rashes, drooling, and the grumpiness of the first teeth.  I have also had the privlage of hearing the first words and seeing the first steps.  Although being a nanny was my job, I loved each and every one of those children and I still do.