The day I found out we were expecting, I started planning ideas for both a boy’s and a girl’s nursery. A few months later, when we found out it was a girl, I had to think of ways to break it to our family that I was going to buy a black crib. I wanted the furniture we bought for the nursery to easily transition throughout our daughter’s life. I chose this dresser with a changing pad holder as opposed to a changing table that she would eventually outgrow. Her dresser has so many deep drawers, I am actually a little jealous it is not in our room. I also chose this crib because it will transition into a toddler bed as well. The crib skirt will only last as long as she is using the crib/toddler bed, but Biscuit makes bedding that will coordinate with the monogrammed pillow, roll pillows, and scalloped blanket for a future “big girl room”. I have included links to everything else in the nursery below! xoxo
When setting up our baby registry, I honestly had no idea where to start. There are so many products and opinions! These are the newborn essentials we have found most helpful as first-time parents. xoxo
Car Seat and Stroller: We love the Doona Infant Car Seat because it is so convenient to transition from a car seat to a stroller and back again mid-nap without any fuss. The largest complaints we heard were how heavy it is to lift into the car and that it is a little short for taller guys. While it is slightly heavy, it is comparable to a carrier and nothing I cannot handle on my own. Alex has mentioned that the arm is slightly short for him but it is not annoying enough to really bother him. We also love the UPPAbaby VISTA V2 Stroller for our neighborhood walks. The bassinet rides smoothly enough for a nap and it will be nice to swap for the forward-facing seat without having to buy a new stroller. As the weather starts to heat up, we have used the AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan on almost every walk and even in the car on some extra hot days.
Sleep: The Eufy Life S340 Smart Sock and Monitor is so easy to use at home or when traveling. The camera connects via WiFi and we are able to stream the feed on our phones wherever we go and on an iPad at home. The smart sock is my favorite feature for nighttime sleep because it gives me peace of mind and is integrated into the camera app instead of being separate. We have been living by Moms on Call Basic Baby Care 0-6 Months for sleep training and while we have made a few adjustments, it has worked really well! The HALO 100% Cotton Sleepsack Swaddle and Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen Portable Dream Machine are must-haves for a great night’s sleep. We use a lighter and looser swaddle blanket for daytime naps but always have the Hatch on for sleep.
Diaper: The Munchkin Step Diaper Pail has worked really well in containing odor and keeping our dog uninterested. I think most diaper pails are about the same, but we have not had any issues with this one or the refillable bags. I quickly learned that baby wipes dry out quickly and are usually difficult to get out of the package, the OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser has been a great solution to both of those problems. I miss having it when we travel and I spend a good deal of time struggling to get wipes out of packaging. Dottie came home from the NICU with an awful diaper rash and we tried every product there was. The nurses and doctors all told us to use diaper cream with zinc oxide in it, which most have, but none of those products worked for us. My mom swore by A+D Original Diaper Rash Ointment so we gave it a try and it did the trick.
Feeding: If you use formula at all, the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced is completely worth it. Dottie knows when it is time for bottles and I could never move as fast as the Baby Brezza. As far as bottles go, we have loved Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Newborn Bottles because they are so easy to pack, clean, and have interchangeable nipple sizes to fit your needs. Babies are way messier than I ever imagined and I am constantly doing laundry, especially trying to get formula out of things. We have plenty of cute and good quality burp cloths that I love, but these Muslin Burp Cloths Large are great for the middle of the night or extra messy feeds.
Travel: We are fans of the Graco Pack ‘n-Play Dome LX-Playard because of the bassinet and changing table attachments. When traveling with a newborn it is nice to have designated safe places for sleep and changing. The Hatch Rest has a portable option, but we have used the Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine when traveling because it is already in the diaper bag.
Dorothy June joined us on April 13th, and we are over the moon. She is the most precious gift and so much more. As mentioned in my previous post, “Dottie” was born with Spina Bifida (myelomeningocele) and had a bit of an unusual first few weeks. Following our scheduled c-section, she was taken to Dallas Children’s Medical Center, where her myelomeningocele opening was repaired. She then spent 12 days in the NICU where she recovered and was discharged once she could lie on her back. Dottie was an absolute rockstar, handled surgery very well, and won over the hearts of everyone in the NICU. On a personal note, nothing makes you jump out of bed and forget you had surgery faster than knowing your baby is across town having her own surgery.
Hydrocephalus was a top concern post her myelomeningocele repair because at birth her ventricles were borderline normal to enlarged. When the opening is repaired, it causes pressure on the spinal cord and increases the amount of spinal fluid in the ventricles. Her neurosurgeon diligently monitored this with frequent MRIs to ensure that she did not develop any symptoms of hydrocephalus. At five weeks he determined that a shunt would be necessary and at seven weeks she went into surgery. She had a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placed, which will route excess spinal fluid from the ventricles to her abdomen, where it can be reabsorbed into her bloodstream. Once again, she handled surgery like a rockstar, did not require any ICU care, and only spent one night at the hospital under supervision. We will continue to monitor her shunt throughout her life, and based on her neurosurgeon’s track record, we are hopeful to avoid replacing or repairing it in the future. The shunt will not limit or hinder her in any way, and she will be able to participate in all aspects of life at the same level as anyone without a shunt.
Our life has been like anyone else’s with a newborn, just with a few extra doctor’s appointments and insurance claims. If you did not know she had Spina Bifida, you would never be able to tell. She eats, sleeps, cries, dirties diapers, and moves like any other baby. Her personality shines through her post-breakfast “chats”, learning to stick her tongue out at dad, playing at bath time, and discovering new things each day. We will continue to work with an amazing team of doctors at Scottish Rite and Dallas Children’s Medical Center to monitor and address potential concerns as she grows. We are thankful for the means and access to an incredible team of doctors, which we realize is a privilege many do not have. We are also incredibly grateful to be surrounded by the best friends and family who have provided endless love, support, and prayers. xoxo
