Gerber Graduates puff crackers

These are awesome! A little pricy but when I find them on sale I stock up. I love that they are the right size for her mouth, she doesn't choke on them and the flavors are not overly sweet or salty. Also, there is less mess than a cracker or teething biscuit. Definitly a win in my book!

Teething Tablets -- A go or a no?

After several desperate attempts to calm my little girl down with Tylenol and oragel we tried the tablets. And they worked! It was like a miracle! She was finally able to calm down and rest. Poor little baby. So I would say these work wonders. You can find them on the baby isle. Keep these on hand!

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.