The Pioneer Woman

As I was doing my many chores this morning, I found myself thanking the Lord of heaven and earth for all the wonderful appliances that make my day just a bit easier. How did women survive before such contraptions??? I would like to see Ree (self proclaimed Pioneer Woman) live without a washing machine, microwave, dish washer, making her children's clothes stitch by stitch, and growing her own food, with no car, just for one day. Haha. This would make a great TV show, someone should pitch the idea to TLC. I know I would not last a day! But seriously, though things have changed a lot since those days, modern mothers just have a different frontier. Whether that frontier is becoming the women we want to be, getting all the impossible laundry done, shepherding our children's heart, or just getting through the day without pulling our hair out,  there is a pioneer woman in all of us and we can do this!

"MUST HAVES" birth to 6 months

Hey everyone! Since I have a lot of friends that are pregnant or have younger babies, and you are always asking me what my favorite baby products are, I decided to show you in a post.  Here are my top five:

                                  Number one: THE BUGABOO FROG STROLLER
 Jude loved it when he was 4 days old, and he still loves it.  It has a detachable bassinet which was really great when he was teeny. This stroller is all terrain, the wheels work at the beach and on hiking trails. It's called the frog because it has shock absorbers and it hops as you go which babies love. It's also super easy to handle and very stylish. Though it comes with a big price tag, we bought ours used on craigslist.

Number two: THE BEABA BABYCOOK

This product is AMAZING! All you do is wash any veggie of your choice and cut it and this little machine will steam, blend and reheat it to perfection in 15 minutes!!! I make all of Jude's food organic so this is so cool because I get to know exactly what I am feeding him and it's soooo easy! Oh, and you only have to wash one dish. This is also another pricey Item available at William's Sonoma BUT truly it pays for itself considering each little pouch of organic baby food at the store is a dollar, and you can get 4 servings out of one sweet potato if you make it yourself, with the added benefit of no preservatives.

Number three: BURT'S BEES BABY PRODUCTS

We have used these since the first week Jude was born and they smell sooooo good! Normally, you can't use scents on babies with sensitive skin, but because this is an all natural product, it is very gentle. It costs a little more than Johnson's but lasts a lot longer also because a little bit of this goes a long way.

Number four: THE PHIL AND TED'S TRAVEL CRIB

This crib is Nathan's new obsession as a lover of travel and the outdoors. It rolls up into a burrito the size of a yoga mat, the matress is self inflated and it only weighs 6 pounds. It is also UV protective,can fit easily in a backpack or luggage, and your child can use it until he is 3. This travel crib goes for $229 at babies r us and everywhere else, but is on special right now at costco.com for $74, that is cheaper than any pack and play, and so much better!

Number five: DR.BROWN'S BOTTLES

I would not recommend any other bottle! These were great and super helpful with the burping, and we all know how important that is. Also, the logo on mine started peeling (which is food grade anyway) and when I emailed them about it, they replaced ALL my bottles with new ones and they were sooo pleasant about it, so I love this company. Off course it is all BPA free.

So there you go, there are my top five. Other favorites and must haves include the Boppy pillow, Jump and go for the doorway, the Dr. Brown's microwave sterilizer was awesome, oh and baby swings are really great too so register for one of those. And also remember, when it comes to baby stuff, you really get what you pay for, look for the BEST ITEMS and then get them used or look for them on sale. When I was pregnant I read a book called rich dad/poor dad, and it said you shouldn't say "we can't afford this" because that makes your mind stop working, instead you should ask yourself "how can I afford this?" For us, it was looking on craigslist and for the best prices, and I am glad we did.  I hope this is helpful.

Oh lord, I have become one of "them"!

I never could have guessed a little over a year ago that I'd be the girl that I am today...I am sure neither could any of my four former roommates in the little hippie commune that my husband and I lived in. Nathan and I always knew that we wanted children, in fact, we wanted fourteen. As unconventional human beings, we decided we'd be great parents "I can't stand these parents whose life stops when they have kids!" I would say, "I am going to live in a hippie commune even after we have a baby. The baby will adapt to my lifestyle, not the other way around!" - and so, after 5 years of being married, we finally decided to start trying for our first child... fast forward 15 months and I am in a completely different city, living in a little suburbia house right outside downtown KC, with a six month old baby boy, going on play dates, and being friends with other "mommies" ( a word I once hated.) How naive I was to think that nothing would change, that I wouldn't change. He has turned our world upside down, and though I didn't want to admit it at first, for fear of criticism from my old friends, I LIKE THIS! Children change EVERYTHING. I have discovered a "secret club" that you become a part of when you are a mother, one that you only belong to as soon as you announce " I'm pregnant!" a sisterhood of non-judgmental women. All of us become equals once we become mothers. Whether you are a hipster,hippie, or a conservative mother, you will find that motherhood brings women together. Because, it changes you...and surprisingly, you don't mind. I am LOVING my new life as a mother, I don't really care if you think I am a sell out because life is fabulous,and I invite you in, to share in the adventures and misadventures of me, baby Jude and my sweet husband Nathan. so let's raise up our martini glasses and toast to MOTHERHOOD!