Thankgiving

Ok, so this is not a recommendation -- just a simple wish that everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Let us remember and give thanks to God for all his bounty, family and friends.

Fuji Film J38 12.2mp 3x camera

I officially love my new camera!!! My old camera was taking good pictures . . . if everyone stood still for a looooooong time, there was obscene amounts of light and the flash was permanently on.

It was extremely frustrating because the shutter speed was so slow it would always catch my baby's face after she smiled, turned away etc. This was just not going to do -- especially with her going into her smiliest months and first holidays. However, we couldn't get an expensive camera. I was willing to pay around 100-150 for a new camera.

By doing some research (librarian remember?) I found out that the shutter speed recommended for photographing children was 1/1000 (or 0.1) or less. Believe you me when I tell you it is stinking hard to find such a fast shutter speed for under $200. Most point and shoot cameras have a .2 or .4. I also wanted something over 10 megapixals and if possible a 5x zoom. I know, I am crazy.

Based on everything I had seen, reading reviews etc. Fuji had the fastest cameras for the lowest prices. I ended up picking out the Fine Pix J38 model for $119 smackeroos at Walmart. Right on budget.

Let me say, the difference is staggering. I have gotten more smiling/cute pictures with this camera in one day that in the past six months of my daughters life! Plus it has a a baby mode for taking pictures specifically of babies and does not require a flash. Awesome!!!

If you have a baby, or are going to have a baby I would highly recommend this camera for parents on a budget who don't know/want to fiddle with all kinds of settings .

Picasa Online from Google

For a while I have been looking for a free web service/download that will allow me to have some decent photo editing skills until I can spring for Photoshop Elements (Photoshop is too expensive :)) I got spoiled after working for a photographer and having photographer friends so now I don't want to print crappy pictures and I also know just enough about making an ok shot into something interesting.


Most of the online/free photo editing services stink, to say it nicely, and so I was pretty discouraged. I needed something that I could crop, change contrast, fill light, remove color casts and convert to b&w or sepia quickly and effectively. Picasa did all of that and more -- allowing me to easily create custom photo collages and slide shows. Best of all I can sync all of my albums to the web so that any updates I make on my computer automatically update the pics in my web albums. Uploading to the web is a snap and it is extremely easy to star favorites. Any photos I download from my SD card copy into picasa as well as keeping the original in My pictures.

If I want to quick order prints all I do is upload them to the web album, click order prints and since I use snapfish I just have to log in and my order is complete for simple 4x6-8x10 prints.


I still have to figure a couple of things out. First, where the copies of my edited picasa pics save on the computer since so far they only save to the web and I can't upload to facebook from there. Second, if I want custom prints I need to figure out how I do that through picasa to Snapfish since I want the edited version of the picture.

All in all this is a great money saving and time saving tool for me. As a new mom, I take tons of pictures and I want people to see the best side of my adorable baby girl while creating wonderful memories. It takes just minutes for me to edit my pics, upload them and order.


Also, when I do get photoshop elements it works with Picasa so my work won't be in vain. How awesome is that!!


I highly recommend Picasa from Google.

Kid to Kid Children's Resale Shops

I knew going into motherhood that I would be using this store. My mom and I used to shop there for my little sister. The prices are awesome -- if you shop smart -- and the clothes are usually barely used and many times designer clothing. I love a good bargain and Kid to kid has definitly allowed my family to stretch our baby bucks. And for my mommy to be friends they have gently used maternity clothes -- and anyone who has shopped for maternity clothes knows they cost an arm and a leg.

Baby Trend's Flex Lock Car Seat -- Best value for Safest Car Seat

Before I go any further let me just emphasize that you should always buy the best car seat for your baby and situation. I happen to think this one is the best but please make sure you buy the newest and safest model for your baby.

One item I was determined to pay the big bucks for was for her car seat. I wanted the safest model. I also hoped it would be easy to use.

My husband and I both drive small cars. His is a subcompact and mine is almost as small. Like naive first parents we didn't give a single thought to the car seat not actually fitting in our car until my practical father in law installed it for us and told us that we were going to be riding clown style for the next year. So faced with the possibility of pulminary embolisms if we ever drove for more than a half hour I convinced my husband (didn't take much convincing after one car ride) that we needed a more compact car seat for our bundle of joy.

We also knew it had to be safe or there was just no way we were going to risk it -- embolisms or not. So I researched, and researched and researched. Come to find out, the tests on all infant carrier carseats were flawed that year due to somthing about way they set up the speed of the test (I think). Just my luck huh? However, one carseat stood above all the rest as preforming well even in a flawed test. My logic is that if something preforms above average for a test that went badly, then it should preform even better when the test went right. Bottom line my gut feeling was that this was the safest car seat for her.

Baby trend's Flex Lock car seat has several features that made it a best buy for us. First, it fit in both of our cars!!! Second, it was easy to install in the car with better latches than our previous one. Third, adjusting the seat straps was as easy as pressing a button. The headrest even adjusted to go higher the taller she grew, thereby keeping her precious head protected. I especially liked the trianglular shaped handle that allowed us to carry her in multiple ways or in tandem. When we weren't using the handle the V shape worked perfectly to hang some chiming toys just within her reach.

On the downside, it is a little heavy. Also, the canopy comes undone fairly often. Neither of these things are deal breakers to us though.

Recommended? Definite best buy.

The Joys of Fall

We went to the pumpkin patch last week with my brother and sister in law to enjoy the day and take adorable pictures. My family did alot of field trips growing up but we never visited a pumpkin patch so this was all new to me. I had so much fun that I told my dear husband that I wanted to do it every year. I know our baby is obviously too little to appreciate what was going on but having family time and all the wonderful memories that go with that is more than enough motivation to do this again.

I may not be "old" but I have not done little kid stuff for a long time and frankly up until Adaline was born was pretty uninterested in baby toys, children's books and the like. Throughout my teen years I had prided myself on growing up and not needing my stuffed animals anymore etc. Now I am re-discovering the fun that comes with seeing a child discover something for the first time and enjoy next experiences.

Pumpkin Patch Recommended? Yes!!!

Target Diapers

I tried Target brand diapers and came away with mixed results. Of all the diapers I have tried on my baby's bum these fit the snuggest, which after the debacle of the Sam's club diapers I appreciate. I thought they wicked moisture away fairly well and were a definitly priced well.

However, I do think these diapers might work better for a little boy than a little girl due to the fact that they almost always held the most liquid in the front. We did have some leakage issues but nothing horrendous. I think they are just thinner and less have less absorbant material than others so this problem might be fixed with fequenter changes. Also, they are less paper feeling and stiff than the other bargain brand diapers that we had tried so far.

Recommended? I think these rank #2 in my bargain diapers ratings so not bad.

Childproofing

Tonight I will begin my saga of childproofing our apartment. Sigh. I have a feeling lots of cleaning is in my future. Our little love bug discovered reaching and grabbing this week so I know I need to get things safe for her. I already have a ton of outlet covers and need to make my way through the apartment with them. Next will be getting all of the floors cleaned/vaccumed and shampooed to remove any small objects in her path. After that I am re-arranging the furniture again. That part I like to do, alot, (ask anyone) so that will be fun. I have already removed the breakable items like crystal from the lower places but I need to move picture frames, video game stuff, books, shoes, electrical cords and mini-blind cords. All the chemicals need to come out of the bottom cabinets.

Last but not least I have to put those pesky drawer latches, bumper guards, finger guards, tv anchors and such in place so she doesn't explore too far. And I can't buy the screw in latches because we are renting.

By pricing what I needed at Babies R Us it would cost me about $200 for all the supplies -- not including shelving, bins, carpet cleaning etc. I knew this day would come and I have been looking at our local walmart for deals on babyproofing supplies but it seems that they do not have what we need so Babies R Us it is. I will post pics of our progress later.

Bumbo Seats -- Are they worth it?

I debated for a long time about getting a bumbo seat. Rationally I know it is not something she needs, however, propping her up all day wasn't that easy either. Then I told myself that she had a jumper, a bouncer and a high chair. What else could a baby want?

Well, after realizing that moving her high chair around the house was not practical as well as seeing that the jumper was great until she got tired my husband and I decided to make the plunge and get one.

Being the savvy shoppers that we are we did not pay retail. I refused to pay $40 for something she would use for a couple of months. So I turned to my favorite online classified site -- craigslist.org. and got one for $10. I highly recommend this route since the seat can easily be disinfected and used safely.

Now that we have one I really like it. Baby girl is learning to sit up better and I know she is safe and pretty comfortable. Also, I can see how the seat would make a great high chair substitute for small spaces.

Recommended? Yes if you get a deal on one.

Got a stuffy baby? Try a nose strip

My ingenious husband came up with this one when our baby couldn't breath too well. He used one of his nose strips to open her nasal passages. Worked like a charm. Although, we might should get her a smaller size if we used them again.

Recommended? Yes! but buy the small strips.

Huggies Snug and Dry

Love these diapers! Best I have found so far outside of Pamper's Swaddlers. The waist fits my sweetie just right and has just the right amount of coverage. No leaks or enlongated crotches! Soft and flexible.


Recommended? Highly!!

Parent's Choice Diapers

We got some of these at a shower and I have to say that while they were kind of papery they did the job and fit the best of the bargin brands that I have tried so far. If I had to really save money I think I would pick these.

Recommended? Yes -- for bargin shoppers

Sam's Club Member's Choice Diapers

We thought we would be smart and save money by buying these. Let me tell you I was never so happy to finish a set of diapers than I was these. The crotch of the diaper was way too long -- my daughter looked like she had three legs. The waist band never fit her well and the width was strangely too big in the front and too small in the rear. And the paper feel was just too much for me. I couldn't get her onesies on over the enormous crotch.

About the only things going for these diapers is the fact that they didn't leak and were cheap.

Recommended? No -- spend the couple bucks more.

Pampers Baby Dry Diapers

The next type of diapers we used were the Pampers Dry Diapers. I did not find that these diapers kept her drier than any others. In fact she seemed more damp to me. Plus they seemed more uncomfortable for her. And the cost was just too much.

Recommended? Not really.

Pampers Swaddlers

By the time you take your bundle of joy home I am sure you will have heard everyone's opinion on which diaper is the best. Or even that disposables are evil. Personally, I prefer not to touch poo and am willing to pay for the privledge. Plus day care hasn't "seen the light" when it comes to the green goodness that is cloth. Something about diseases or some such nonsense.


We started with what everyone said were the best -- Pampers Swaddlers. I have to say that these were nice and soft on my little girl's tushy. She didn't have a bunch of leaky messes and her poo did not go up her back. Pampers are expensive though and once we ran out of the bountiful gifts of Pamper's swaddlers we decided to try some other brands.


Recommended? Yes if you have the money.

Bright Starts Toys -- Great toys for a great price.

I would have thought toy buying would be the easiest part of being a mom. I mean these things are supposed to be fun and I know I loved playing with them when I was little. I even have my own grown up toys now. So when did it get so hard to pick out a teething ring?

I approached toy buying with the same research passion that I did to her formula, diapers and car seat, etc. So like most mom's I learned that toys were not just for fun anymore -- they also need to be stimulating. How on earth was I going to find something stimulating enough for a three month old? All I knew is that she liked looking at things hanging over her head. I knew from my research that bright colors and patterns were better and different textures were great.

As I stood in the toy isle I looked at all the rattles, chiming toys, hanging toys and stuffed toys. Some were expensive -- like the Baby Einstein toys. However, contrary to popular opinion, librarians are not rolling in dough. So I knew I couldn't afford to deck her out in those just yet.

My eyes kept landing on the Bright Starts toys. They were colorful, had different textures and I loved how they had a good selection of soft toys. I hated the thought of my little one banging herself in the head with something just because she couldn't control her little fist yet. Best of all these little toys delighted and stimulated my little girl.

She loves the teething dolls and teething stuffed animals and can chew on them for hours (ok maybe lots of minutes). Her face lights up when she sees her toys and I don't have one bit of worry that she is understimulated or going to bruise her little head. Plus we didn't break the bank.

In fact, our next toy purchase will hopefully be the Away We Go play station for her. I have read rave reviews of it and I know she would love it. 

Anyone else found a toy brand that their baby just loved?

Welcome!!!

I am so pleased you decided to read my little blog. As a new mom I am always on the look out for great products for my little baby girl. As a librarian I usually don't buy something without quite a bit of research. I know all mom's want the best for their children but most don't have the time or possibly the skills to research everything they need. My goal for this blog is to hopefully marry research with actual "field tested" products and provide a one stop shop for mom's.

The products or techniques I talk about are ones that I have personally used and found helpful. Now I know some of these won't work for you just like some baby's hate peas and others adore them, so just use what works best for you.

Feel free to comment with suggestions of stuff that works. After all, sometimes two heads are better than one!