Book Blurb

Baby Gear Guide #1

2nd Trimester, Book Blurb, review, Swag 7 Comments , , , ,

Oh boy.. where to begin. This is exactly how I felt about buying baby gear. Sure, everyone picks up little outfits here and there, but its not really until your 2nd trimester that you feel comfortable to really consider the whole scope of all the baby shit you need. I was at the book store, browsing the baby section, and saw this book…

I knew right away that this was what I needed to (A) get my random shopping wants under control, and (B) inform me of whats important and how to decide. I have been reading this book over the past month and it has been a God send! There would have been so many mistakes I could see I was already going to make just because I didn’t know. Right away, The Girlfriends express that they are not here to be medical and safety experts, nor are they here to please every mom-to-be out there. They simply want to share what they have learned along the way of raising each of their own children.

Some of what they say about registering… do it just once at a large baby store outlet like Babies R Us. They have stores all over, and easy online shopping. Don’t worry about online only registries like Amazon. Savvy people are going to try and find some items from your registry on Amazon to try and save money anyway. Others like going to the store and tangibly touching the items they want to buy you… living vicariously through you. And most importantly, you should know EXACTLY what you want when you go to register. Do your research ahead of time!

So. I’m nearly 5 months pregnant, and the time to register is fast approaching. I suspect the baby showers will be in June, so I need to be registered by mid May. I have decided to research one important item at a time, based on the book. I will place my trust in The Girlfriends. I will still be researching and reading reviews, but all with their guidance. So… what do they say is the MOST important purchase for baby? THE CAR SEAT!

Immediately I think to myself “oh, well, don’t I just buy one of those all in one stroller/car seat combo things and call it a day?”. Hahaha! If only it was that easy! Girlfriends say, its important to get the best car seat first and foremost. If the best one is part of a travel system (stroller/car seat combo), and that’s the stroller you want, then score. BUT, that is not the focus of this particular purchase. Strollers are examined later… but for me… they go hand in hand. So I will be buying both around the same time and, therefore, need to research them both.

The Car Seat: There are 2 types of car seats for newborns. The first is infant-only seats. This is the kind we see all the time. They kind that snap into strollers and bases that are strapped in the car. Its rear facing only. They can accommodate up to 22 lbs and 27″ in length. The other type are convertible seat. This is a bigger, bulkier seat that is intended to stay put in the car. It can rear face for infants and young toddlers, and then front face when the baby is an older toddler. Girlfriends recommend using the infant only seat, and then moving on to a convertible. They say the infant only just fits young babies better. The brand they praise… Graco! Did you think anything else? They are the best at being up to date with safety requirements, are easy to install, and you can buy extra bases for extra cars! These, obviously, can come with travel systems and that was my intention… until I really realized the size of those strollers, and got to the stroller section of the book.

The Stroller: Now in this category, there are many more options. The, a fore mentioned Travel System, old fashioned prams, lightweight (umbrella), car seat frames, and jogging strollers! My goodness! I had no idea! They even listed 1 or 2 more that I’ve never seen or heard of before! So, originally I was thinking the travel system. The girlfriends say, when a stroller can do everything, its not good at anything. They wear out quickly and are bulk and heavy for new parents. They actually recommend the car east stroller frames! Its simple and light, easy to manage, and less expensive. They tote that you should get the frame, and spend the money on a good lightweight umbrella stroller that can hold infant and toddlers! Not the cheapy, going to Disneyland, umbrella stroller… but a good one. One that is still lightweight, maneuverable, but can hold younger than usual. The brand they recommend for the car seat frame is Baby Trend’s Snap-N-Go. As for the umbrella stroller, Maclaren is the best in their opinion.

Doesn’t that lady look happy to be pushing something so manageable? Now I feel knowledgeable and decisive about what I want.. though I think I may have passed on some anxiety to other moms-to-be reading this. Don’t stress! Get The Girlfriend’s Guide to Baby Gear! So, What did I choose?…

Graco Infant Seat, Graco Snugrider car seat frame, and Lightweight stroller like Maclaren! The lightweight stroller we wont need right away, though.

Lastly, I thought it was only fair to expose what I haven’t been able to resist so far! A few things were bought for me, and I didn’t include some things I’ve made. My shopping has slowed a little cause we are only 2 weeks from knowing the sex… and I think I wiped out the gender neutral department.

~Piece

Book Blurb~ An Epiphany

Book Blurb, Prenatal No Comments , ,

The book blurb of the week comes from “Mother Shock: Loving Every (Other) Minute of it” by Andrea Buchanan. So far its sort of a telling of her experiences but also embodies her interpretations of how she imagines motherhood should be and her wake-up call.

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So far, throughout all my research and pondering, it has led only to more questions, and my wanting to know more answers. Until now. I know that sounds dramatic… what can I say, I’m the youngest :P . But in all seriousness, one paragraph in this book has helped me understand more than anything else so far. The author begins with this “… I had so many questions about what mothering would be like: What does it mean to love as a mother? Is it all selfless sacrifice, giving until you have nothing left? Or is it enough just to love and have a little of yourself left over? Is it food on the table every night, doing something special for your child’s birthday, leaving little notes in her lunchbox? Or is just being there enough, giving your baby a roof over her head and clean sheets beneath her as she sleeps? Would I fall in love with my baby at first sight the way I’d heard I should? What if I didn’t? What if I couldn’t? What if I loved her but she couldn’t love me?” Right away I can relate to this rant… most women can. They are common queries; things I’m trying to discover on my journey. If only I could get even a few of the answers I’m looking for…

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She goes on..  “The most troubling part of all those questions was that until my own child was born, I could answer them only as a daughter. The deeper Question of how I would be as a mother could not fully be answered until I already was one… living through those questions.” Immediately I felt as if I was told the secret to it all. She calls it the “troubling part”, however I found what she said incredibly comforting. I realized, whether I got the answers I’m looking for or not, it doesn’t matter. I can only digest them as a daughter to a mother. There is no way I can ever fully understand the complexities of motherhood and parenthood without first becoming one. Even when anyone tries to describe it all, each of our opinions and experiences will vary because we have all been shaped differently due to our unique experiences being daughters. It boils right down to psychology. Each person’s choices, when they become a parent, is directly influenced by their own experiences, either good or bad. Of course! It’s so simple and obvious! And now I feel this sense of freedom… a million pounds lighter.. accepting that its ok and I dont have to have a Master’s degree in “Piece as a mom” before it happens. The simple fact is that its impossible.

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Since this epiphany I have begun to really enjoy the discoveries of my readings, instead of frantically skimming books looking only for the topics I wanted.. like a clock was ticking away. As some of you know, I can be a little obsessive at times, and this was like a warm cup of green tea, settling my appetite.

~Piece