I found some fun stuff!

Since we're coming so darn close to the mid-point on this whole pregnancy thing, Kelly and I have started thinking about things like painting the baby's room and picking out names and acquiring things we'll most likely need when the little one arrives.

We're hesitant to buy too much at this point because we aren't ready space-wise; we're moving our home office to another room in the house and using the room it's currently in for LBH, a transition that's taking a while. Plus, we're not excited about spending a billion dollars on a new crib that will only be used for a fraction of the kid's life and clothes that will only be worn for a few months, so we're trying to be smart about how we acquire things and what we choose to acquire. We know we'll receive gifts from loving friends and family members who are excited for us and we're looking at getting what we can used, like from friends who don't need things for their own babies any more or from FreeCycle.com.

That said, we also know there are some things we will probably need to purchase brand new. One thing that I've been looking at a lot in the last twelve weeks or so are baby carriers - the ones that allow you to "wear" your baby. I've decided that I think I like the Moby Wrap the best.



And I think I like it best in this color, the chocolate brown. Black would also be good (both gender-neutral colors which will come in handy if we have either a boy or girl and also will look good on either me or Kelly) and they have a special version of the wrap that is made from a neutral color of organic cotton, which would also be wonderful. I like this wrap so much because it's so versatile; you can wear your baby in 20 different positions and carry your baby from preemie size through 45 pounds (although their website says most people are only comfortable carrying their baby up to 35 pounds). The wrap comes with instructions and the instructions are also on their website. One of my favorite holds that it shows you is the kangaroo hold, which encourages skin-on-skin contact with the baby with either mom or dad, which (I've also read a lot about on a few different sites and in some books and magazines) helps with growth and development of the baby. This wrap also just looks more comfortable than the slings or backpack-looking contraptions that I see people in around town with metal parts and hinges and locks. Plus, when you're not using the wrap as a wrap, you can use it as a blanket or pillow and when it gets dirty you just throw it in the washer.

Another plan we have is that this baby will be breastfed. I have seen moms out and about recently using these fun Hooter Hiders. The website has a lot of fun baby items, but what I really like are the nursing covers. I can't decide if I like the solid, organic colors better...





or something more fun like this brown one with flowers.



I think it's like going to a good restaurant where you can just tell the server to bring you anything off the menu because you know that anything set down in front of you will be delicious. I may just need to order one with a note asking them to send me anything (except one of the overwhelmingly puke-pink ones) because I'll love whatever I get.

And finally, there are the Shrunks. I just thought these guys were fun. And, hey, if you're going to have stuffed animals around, they'd better be cool ones, right? I mean, who needs eight million teddy bears, bunnies, ducks and sheep?





This site also features some fun things to keep in mind for when the kiddo is old enough to actually fear things, like a Fear Bust'r Kit and other anti-monster devices.