Baby Items- Diaper Bag edition.

Hello! Here are my thoughts about diaper bags. You can read my thoughts on other items here.

We first had the Skip Hop Duo Signature diaper bag in Chevron for Norah. (I loved it and would recommend it, but ended up giving it away after awhile, just because I found ones I liked better.) It's comfortable to carry and has lots of pockets to organize things. I also like the size; you can fit a lot into it but it's not too bulky to carry. I looked at a lot of diaper bags, and I immediately liked this one, and loved the chevron pattern. We did not know the gender before, so I loved the chevron for either! It also comes with a changing pad. Also, Kley said he likes it too, and it's not too crazy that he doesn't want to carry it. 

Verdict: Yes.

Update: I have had several other diaper bags now, just because I am a purse girl. The website doesn't have my exact one anymore, but it's very similar to the Make A Change Baby diaper bag from Vera Bradley. The only thing I don't like about it is the straps are too short to fit over the stroller handlebar, which was a fairly big annoyance. Also, it wan't as durable to me as the skip hop bags. I also have the Skip Hop Versa Diaper Bag in Black, which I am currently using, and I really love it. It's the perfect size and has lots of pockets. I would highly recommend that one too!

I also have the Petunia Pickle Bottom Altogether Tote in Quartz and the Lily Jade Rosie Bag in Grey and I love both!

Skip Hop Grab & Go Wet/Dry Bag- I have not actually used this yet, but it's nice to have. It would be really nice to put wet things, like if your baby has a big blow out or spit up. I think this works well for older children, especially if you have an accident during potty training. When I taught, kids at school also used these for water days and put their swim suit in it when finished, and then it doesn't get the rest of the dry things in the bag wet. 

Verdict: Take it or leave it, but works better for a bit older kids than babies. 

Update: Still haven't actually used this, so it's definitely not a necessity.

Skip Hop Pacifier Pocket- Norah doesn't like pacifiers much, but this is still nice to have for the rare time she will. It's nice to have your pacifiers in a specific spot, so then they don't get lost in the bag and it keeps them separate from other germs. It also provides easy, quick access to them, as you can attach it to the strap of the diaper bag. 

Verdict: Yes.

Update: Norah never liked pacis, so we took it off after a bit, but will keep it for our next baby!

Skip Hop Outdoor Cooler Bag and Blanket- We just got this for Christmas after Norah was born, and I love it. It's super nice for park days, picnics, parades, ball games, etc. It unfolds into a waterproof blanket, and zips up into a small square with a strap. It's easy to throw into the wash, and things don't stick to it like a regular blanket.

Verdict: Yes.

Update: I love this and it's so nice for outdoors. I would highly recommend. It's so nice that it zips up and it's wipeable/doesn't really get dirty. We used it often when it's nice outside!

Here are a few other things I would say you need in the diaper bag:

-Change of clothes

-2 extra onsies

-Hand sanitizer

-Wipes 

-Diapers (I always have at least 4.)

-A couple toys/rattles (More for older babies, not newborns.)

-Blanket, hat, gloves, if cold.

-Sunscreen, hat/sunglasses, if hot.

-Cooler pack/bottle, depending on how long we will be gone (I just use a Similac cooler pack I got in the mail from a free sample, and so far she has only tried the Medela bottle that came with the pump, and the Avent bottle she got as a free sample, since she rarely has a bottle.)

Here are a few things that are nice to have in the diaper bag:

-Disposable diaper bags- These are really nice for when you are at someone else's house and don't want to smell up their garbage.

-Books

-Snacks (For you, or baby once they get older.)

-Munchkin pacifier/toy wipes 

-Johnson's face/hand wipes or Boogie Wipes- I thought Boogie Wipes were insane until Norah had her first cold and then I loved them.

-Nipple cream, if you are nursing. This natural nipple butter is my favorite.

-If you are a new new mom, extra pads and Tucks medicated cooling pads.

-Nursing blanket, if nursing. The Aden and Anias classic swaddle blankets are my favorite because they are big enough to cover you, and thin enough so baby won't get hot. If I nurse with a thick blanket, Norah gets so hot underneath. 

-Disposable nursing pads, if nursing and you leak a lot.

-Disposable changing pads- For when you are in a public restroom and don't want to lay your nice changing pad down. Also, nice for when you know it's a really full, poopy diaper and it will likely be messy.

Update: Norah never really took to a bottle, which is fine since I am home nursing, but I still use the Similac cooler pack for her baby food when we are out and about. Obviously, you can also swap out seasonal things like hats/mittens for sunscreen/sun hat/sunglasses depending on the weather.

House and Norah update.

Hello! Even though I have still been blogging, it feels like forever since I've written anything! I worked hard to write a lot of posts in advance before we moved, because I knew I would be unpacking and not having time to blog (and also because we didn't have internet set up yet for a few days). So, I have been posting, but really it's been a few weeks since I've sat down to write!

Unfortunately, I don't have anything huge to say. I don't even have pictures of the house yet, because I want to wait until it's more finished to blog about it. We are definitely feeling more settled and all of the big stuff is done. It's just little odds and ends projects now, and finalizing decorations. We are still shopping for a couple new things and waiting for a few items to come, but it's coming together nicely! We are super excited to be in our own house. We were in a smaller one bedroom apartment before, so this feels so big and spacious! Kley and I have been laughing because it's so big that we can be far enough apart to call out for each other, and we are so far apart that we literally can't hear the other person. 

Norah has handled the transitions so smoothly. With Christmas traveling and adjusting to the new house, she has been such a trooper! She is a really good baby, and we are so thankful. She has occasional fussy times, but she is usually pretty happy and content. She has also been sleeping through the night for a bit now, and we are definitely loving that. She slept in her crib for the first time last night, and despite my worries she did great! She really loves taking a bath, so here are a few pictures of her in the tub last night. 

Norah's activity mat.

One of the things Norah got for Christmas was an activity mat, and I'm so glad she did! I wanted her to get one because I think she is the perfect age for it. She gets bored just laying on the floor after a bit, but she's not old enough to grab onto things yet, so this is the perfect solution. It has toys to look at up in the air, and also textured things on the mat for tummy time.

(She has the Skip Hop Alphabet Zoo Activity Gym.)

We've both loved it!

Two great mommy articles.

Here are two encouraging articles I've read recently filled with encouragement for moms:

Somebody Needs You

To the Mom with a Toddler and a Baby

Baby Items- Stroller edition.

Welcome to my baby items list- stroller edition! You can find my other baby item posts here. I thought it would be easier to break the list down by topics, since most baby items lists get rather long. Also, then you can see parts of the list sooner, because it takes time to get all the pictures and links, so I'd rather publish it bit by bit than wait a long time for the whole thing. Hopefully you find this helpful! I know there are tons of lists out there, but my favorite lists were from new moms who are in the midst of actually using and trying the products. So, here is what I think about strollers. (Also, I am only reviewing products that we have actually used/owned, because how can I review something I never tried?)

Baby Jogger City Mini GT Single Stroller in sand/stone. This is the stroller we have, and we love it! Stroller research is hard, because there are so many opinions out there, and how do you ever decide? All the strollers lined up in the stores can be overwhelming. We got this stroller after talking to a couple while visiting my good friend, Stephanie, in DC while on the White House Garden Tour. They had this stroller, and I loved it, so we asked them about it. Their referral sold us. 

There are many things I like about it. It glides extremely well and is easy to push. You can adjust the handle bar, which is nice because everyone in my family is tall.  You can lock the wheels if you want. It's very easy to assemble up and down- there is one clip to unlatch on the side to set it up, and you just pull up on the handle on the seat to put it back down. It's super easy (after the initial time of figuring out exactly where those two things are!). You can adjust the seat all the way down to completely flat if you want, which is nice for putting newborns in it, who can't sit up yet, or for older babies who want to sleep. The straps are easy to buckle. I like the storage compartment underneath for storing my purse. I love using it because I can store all my things (plus Norah!), in it and I don't have to carry anything. It's also easy and doable to use by yourself. 

Verdict: Definite yes!

Update: Norah is 8 months and I still absolutely love this stroller. Sometimes I still attach the car seat and sometimes I just buckle her in, depending on what we are doing. (Usually I use the car seat if I think she may fall asleep and I know I will have to do a transfer from stroller to car.) The sun shade is also really nice, since it's summer now. Also, it's so nice that the wheels are actual tires- glides so easily! The only thing I would change about it is I would love for the storage compartment underneath to be bigger/have a wider opening. I would still definitely recommend!

Baby Jogger Car Seat Adaptor for Britax B-Safe- For whatever stroller you have and whatever car seat you have, you need to buy the adaptor piece for the car seat to hook into the stroller. The Britax ones for Baby Jogger are easy (once you figure it out initially). The adaptors just snap in to the sides, and the car seat just clicks in. There is a lever on both sides of the car seat to lift up to detach. Very easy.

Verdict: Definite yes!

The Mommy Hook Double Stroller Hook- This is not necessary, but definitely helpful. The mommy hook is great for attaching to the stroller handle, and then you can hook bags onto it when shopping. I personally haven't ever found a use for the baby hook, as it's too small to attach to the handle, but have used the mommy one numerous times. They sell packs of just the mommy hook, and I would get that instead. 

Verdict: Yes, but get just the mommy hook.

Update: Still have and use often. It's great for attaching smaller bags/purses. 

Baby Jogger City Series Child Tray- We have this, but have not used it yet, as it doesn't really seem useful until Norah can sit up by herself in the stroller, so we are saving it! It looks like it will be good, though!

Verdict: Don't know yet, but thinking yes.

Update: Norah is 14 months, and we still have not used it. We didn't put it on last summer/fall because she would have thrown everything off of it to the ground. We will use it next spring for sure though!

Britax Stroller Organizer- This is super nice to have- I would go as far to say that you need to have it. It just velcros onto the stroller handles, and is really nice for storing drinks in the cup holders (obviously), and I like that it has two holders, so I can store my drink and a sippy cup in the future! There is a middle unit and front pockets as well for storing other things like your phone, ipod, keys, chapstick, etc. I like that the middle storage pocket has a magnetic flap to cover it, so your phone doesn't get wet in case it rains. 

Verdict: Yes! You should definitely get this.

Update: Still love it and would highly recommend.

Merry Christmas 2014 part two.

Here are the rest of our 2014 Christmas pictures! (You can read part one here.) We were blessed to celebrate Christmas several times, and see tons of family! We are so glad we could see both of our families a few times over the holidays.

Christmas day we went to my grandparents house in Sioux Center, IA. We had officially moved to our first home in Orange City on the 21st, so we were in the area! My family was up there from Des Moines as well. It was a great day filled with lots of good food and games!

Here is my grandpa holding Norah. So special!

My sister, Karlie.

My sister, Kayla. (My brother, Keaton, was in Florida with his girlfriend, where he proposed to her! We will have two weddings this summer- my brother and Kley's sister- yay!)

This picture was snapped by Kley, and I thought it was so funny. We always take pictures sitting on the couch, but this is of my grandparents trying to take the pictures. My grandpa is known for cutting heads off in his shots.

Uncle Eric, Aunt Donna, cousin Alyssa, and her husband, Arthur.

Daisy had to be captured also.

Our first Christmas as three!

My family.

Sister kisses!

Norah's grandparents are definitely smitten.

Here we are opening presents with Kley's family.

So fun to open presents for Norah!

Her other grandparents are quite smitten also!

Elizabeth (Kley's sister) and fiance, Brett.

Norah got a super cute tiny backpack.

Now we are back in Des Moines for New Year's celebrating Christmas with my family!

Christmas dinner.

Pre-present excitement.

Merry Christmas! Hope you enjoyed time with family celebrating the best gift of all- His Son!

Merry Christmas 2014 part one.

Merry Christmas! I love this time of year. One of our big Christmas gatherings this year was with the whole Ver Steeg clan. My mother-in-law, Jana, is one of 8, so her side is quite large! It's so fun to get together with everyone. There's lots of food, lots of adults, and tons of kids. The women do a basket exchange (which is quite fabulous), and the men to a gift card exchange. It was a great night!

Merry Christmas from our little family!

Norah and I with Elizabeth, my sister-in-law (who also just got engaged!).

Norah and I with Maggie, one of Kley's cousins who is my age and is a great friend! She also had a baby this year in July, George. 

Meeting each other's babies for the first time.

Some of the aunts who all had grandkids this year.

This was a really neat picture we took- from December 2012 to December 2014, there are 10 kids under 2!