As you know, Joe and I also co-sleep with Cheech. We are currently in the market for a bigger place where she can have HER OWN ROOM, and as much as we love sleeping with her, I think the time to get her sleeping on her own is quickly approaching. Like Jamie, I've come across some challenges with co-sleeping*, but on a completely different level. While H, I'm sure, was sweetly sleeping cradled in one of his parents' arms the other night, I woke up to a fierce baby kick in the eye that I'm surprised didn't result into a massive bruise. So yeah, my little Cheech has proven that she feels the need to be active during ALL hours of the day. When she was smaller (I can't believe I'm even referring to her as "smaller", seeing as she's not even a year old), the constant rolling around was much easier to handle. However, sleeping with her has become increasingly difficult and I think Joe said it best when he proclaimed, "Cheech gets half the bed and you and I get the other half." Unfortunately, this could not be more true.

Considering we've attempted [and failed MISERABLY] to get her to sleep in her crib on two different occasions, I'm considering going straight for a "big girl" bed. The last time we tried to get her to make the big move to the crib, we spent two weeks of her waking up every hour until she was brought into our bed. I'll get more into it later*, but we had never had an issue with her waking so frequently, so I'm assuming that more than a desire to sleep with us, she just wants to sleep in a bed. And you know what? I get it. Crib mattresses are downright uncomfortable, and I would imagine most tremendously active sleepers would not be fond of sleeping in such a confined space.

Currently, we have our bed against a wall and during her sleeping hours that we're still awake, I barricade her in from the opposite side of the bed and up from the foot. This system works well for us and she sleeps on her own like that for approximately 5 hours a night, which gives me reason to believe that she could probably go the whole night. She also naps in our bed, and when she wakes up, she just makes sure to give a loud holler for someone to come get her. Getting her in a real bed would mean not having to deal with a toddler bed, and also having an extra place for guests to sleep when we have them (she would sleep with us for such an occasion). It's a big win, if you ask me. Lots of companies make lower beds these days, and with an added guardrail, I'd feel very safe having her sleep by herself.

So, what are your thoughts? I've told a few people this plan, and they've all seemed to look at me like I'm cray cray. Truthfully though, most people give me that look when I tell them we co-sleep anyway. I mentioned a while back that I also co-slept with my mom and was transferred to my own proper bed right around my second birthday. Realistically, we won't be moving until after Cheech's first birthday, so I don't feel I'll be upgrading her that early. Do you have older children who co-slept with you? When did you get them into their own bed?

*My personal experience with co-sleeping coming next week.

Photo, Milk Magazine via The Boo and The Boy

We have this chair*, and every so often we'll sit Cheech in it and tell her she's "such a BIG GIRL". She'll lean back and get the biggest shit-eating grin on her face; She's a little obsessed with being able to do all the things that "big kids" can do.

I'm not sure she's quite ready for a chair of her own just yet, but I've had my eye on this Petit Pan bamboo chair for when the occasion arises. I think with a little throw pillow to help cushion her back, it will be perfect. I'm hoping that with her own chair, then maybe she'll stop spending 2/3 of her time trying to climb every other piece of furniture in our place. Wishful thinking?

*Just to be clear, that picture was taken BEFORE we had a baby. The look we have going on NOW, is nothing short of disastrous.

It's starting to feel like a lifetime ago that Cheech was a newborn, and about two lifetimes ago that I was madly searching through baby sites and blogs to figure out exactly what she was going to need. I know that at some point on this blog I had made mention of writing regular posts about the absolute baby necessities, but I'm a new mom, and if I've learned anything in the past 9 months it's that new moms can't always do the things they intend to do. Now, however, a family member of mine is expecting a brand new baby, and since I told her I'd help her out with the must-haves and the must-have-nots, I figured I'd share the list here too.

As hard as I did try to keep my baby gear fairly streamlined, I still ended up with a bunch of stuff that was completely useless to us. I think this is somewhat unavoidable considering random gifts you'll be getting from friends and family members, and the fact that all babies are SO DIFFERENT that it's impossible to know the products that work best for them until they actually come along. So although this list does have specific brands, it consists of items that I have found to be highly successful amongst other moms I know. Here goes...

Must Haves

Aiden + Anais Swaddles

Don't even bother with other swaddling/receiving blankets, because these blankets reign supreme. We have a set of the Classic and the Bamboo, and they were both such lifesavers. First off, they are the only swaddles I'd come across that were actually big enough to properly swaddle a baby. Cheech got over conventional swaddling pretty quick, but we used these to modify swaddle her (arms out) for a few months. They're light and breathable, but still manage to keep baby warm. They're also great for diaper changes when you forget your changing mat, and perfect for blocking the sun out of strollers without creating a pitch black cave.

Baby Soy Kimonos

Those first few months, Cheech didn't want ANYTHING pulled over her head. I found myself favoring all her kimono-style onesies and tops to avoid a baby-panic attack every time we dressed her. My favorite ones, BY FAR, were by Baby Soy. Super soft cotton in solid colors that are actually very lovely... how can you go wrong? I was obsessed with her Baby Soy Kimono Top; She only had one, but I kid you not, she wore it until it was a crop top on her.

Boppy Newborn Lounger

This thing SAVED us (I wrote all about it here). In fact, we had a regular Boppy, and I can count the number of times we used it on one hand. I had developed pretty severe carpel tunnel due to pregnancy that tok months to clear up. My doctor suggested that I prop Cheech on a pillow and lay next to her during feedings instead of holding her, because my condition was so bad. Had it not been for the newborn lounger, that wouldn't have exactly been the easiest thing to do.

Dr. Brown's Bottles

Since Cheech became a bottle-fed baby by the time she was a month old, bottles were serious business for us. Before she was born, I was concerned with making sure we used glass bottles, but not much else. I quickly learned that a "cool-looking" bottle does not necessarily a good bottle make. I had two issues when it came to bottle-feeding with Cheech. Once was that she was extremely gassy, and the second was that she liked to take her sweet ass time polishing off her bottles. I found that the flow on most of the nipples I tried resulted in 30- 45 minute feedings... and that was when she was only taking about 2 1/2 ounces at a time. The Dr. Brown's bottles were the solution to both my problems, and I've never looked back. The day we started using them, I noticed she was getting much less tummy aches, and feedings were starting to move along a little more efficiently. She still eats like a bird (rarely takes more than 3-4 ounces at a time), but at least she's getting them down in about 15 minutes. HUGE improvement. Oh, and look, they come in glass.

Ergo

OK, so it took four months before Cheech warmed up to the idea of being toted around in a carrier. But after about twenty crying fits in her Ergo, I am happy to say that she FINALLY reformed. Baby wearing is AWESOME; I love it, Cheech loves it, and it's safe to say that it has made our life so much easier. It's great (and about a million times easier than a stroller) for running just about every errand, going for walks, and lending a helping hand when Cheech is dealing with some serious separation anxiety (pretty common as of late). I plan on wearing her for years to come, and of all the carriers I've tried, the Ergo is hands down my favorite.

Gerry

"Gerry" is actually just the name we gave this sweet little guy. There's a sheep version too, if that's more your style. Bottom line: It doesn't have to be Gerry or the sheep, but do yourself a favor and get a sound machine. Your baby will sleep SO MUCH more soundly. I'm pretty sure it was one of the first things I suggested to Jamie, and they ended up using an industrial fan. Whatever works, works. We also have an app on our phones and our iPad... that's how strongly I believe in the power of white noise when it comes to babies. We still use Gerry for traveling, but we're currently using this machine at home.

HALO Organic Sleep Sack

To be perfectly honest, we're all about breaking the baby rules in this house, and Cheech has been sleeping under a blanket with a pillow since she was about 5 months old. At that point she was fully rolling back and forth in her sleep, and fighting me for *my* pillow every night, so I figured she was probably ready to sleep like a big girl. Before that, however, I heavily relied on sleep sacks to keep her warm at night. She only lasted in them for a couple months before she learned how to sleep on her side, and therefore no longer wanted a sleep sack or to be swaddled, but I'd use them anyway on extra cold nights. I'd also like to add that many babies will, in fact, still use sleep sacks well into their toddler years, so they're still a great investment.

PRIMO EuroBath

If you remember, Cheech HATED baths in the beginning. Now, she starts crawling toward the bathroom right around five o'clock every night to remind me that she needs a bath before bedtime. She has become obsessed. Those first few months, we ended up just giving her sponge baths, but right around her third month is when I transferred her to her EuroBath. Ok, so I know it just looks like some giant tub, but it is so much more. One side securely holds younger babies who are still not able to sit up on their own. And by "securely", I mean your baby ain't going anywhere (this is obviously not suggesting you leave the room while your baby is in the tub... you know that, right?). I can't tell you how nice it is to plop your baby in a tub and have TWO HANDS totally free to wash and rinse all those little fat folds. I've never had to worry about Cheech slipping and sliding all over the place in this tub. In fact, even though she's been sitting up for months now, she still enjoys the reclining position because she loves kicking her little heart out in the splashy water. I'm certain I'll be using it until we transfer her to showers.

Trumpette Socks

I'm pretty sure this is the only brand of baby socks that actually STAY ON. Very handy when you're trying to keep extra tiny feet warm.

Must Have Nots

Stroller

Remember my stroller woes? Oh man, had I known what I know now, I would have totally held off on the stroller. Chances are, you'll be able to roll your new baby around in their infant carrier/car seat for those first few weeks, or even months, so no need to rush into purchasing a stroller. My MIL had gifted us a B.O.B stroller before Cheech was born, and we love it now, but it's really not suitable for tiny, little infants. I would say that we didn't actually start religiously using it until she was around 5 months old. Trust me, your baby doesn't need a stroller right away. I'm not saying not to buy a stroller, but I am saying it is something you can wait on until after he/she is born.

Crib

Like Jamie and Ben, Joe and I also co-sleep with our baby. Now, I'm perfectly aware that co-sleeping is not for everyone, but if there is even the tiniest bit of you considering it, skip the crib. We had discussed co-sleeping but honestly, I really didn't think we were going to go with it. But when Cheech was born, EVERYTHING changed. She kind of didn't give us a choice. I don't want to get to into it in this post (I'll save it for another), but Cheech sleeps better when she sleeps with us. So, co-sleeping it is. Don't get me wrong... the crib is great when I need somewhere to put her while I draw her a bath, or need to use the bathroom, but we could have just gone with a Pack n' Play. Remember, your baby will most likely be in a bassinet those first couple months anyway; The crib can wait.

Toys

Yeah, don't even bother... or, at least, keep them to a minimum. Remember, they can't actually play with toys until they're at least 4-5 months old. For those first few months, they're so preoccupied with getting to know their new world, that something as simple as a ceiling fan is about all the entertainment they can handle. Cheech has a teddy bear/rattle that she's had and loved since the beginning, but it was quite a while before she took the time to notice any of her other toys. Books, however, she's always been big on. Babies LOVE to hear their parents voices, so reading to them is a win win in my opinion.

Photo, Anna Hedges

Speaking of not being able to resist, I just picked up this print for Henry's room. Abby (mama to Asa) is closing up her print shop, to focus on Asa (raise your hand if you can relate!) and make time for new future projects. You can scoop up any print in her shop at a deep discount by entering "shopclosing40" at check out. Sweet! Best of luck Abby!

Remember back in the day, when I was looking for the perfect mobile? I got the one I wanted and Cheech LOVES it. A friend bought us another felted elephant mobile that I hung over our bed because it works as a nice distraction every night while I'm changing her into her pajamas... for some reason, this is a ritual she is not fond of. Well, now I'm in the market for a third mobile. Cheech has this horrible habit of trying to roll onto her belly while I'm changing her diaper, and no matter how many times I tell her, she can't seem to remember how incredibly counterproductive that is. I'm hoping hanging a mobile above her changing table will give her a reason to want to stay on her back, even if it's just for a minute. I think this one's calling my name.

You wanna... see the baby's room? Head on over to desert fete!

Exactly how jealous am I of Jamie's grey wall? VERY JEALOUS. When we moved into this apartment, we never intended on staying long term. Joe had been offered an awesome position up here and we had exactly 24 hours to find an apartment. Don't get me wrong, I love our place, but it is a 1-bedroom and we knew that if we eventually wanted to have a child, we would need something bigger. The baby ended up coming a little sooner than anticipated, but we're going to stick it out here for about another year. Still, *really* decking everything out the way I'd like seems like a waste seeing as we'll only be here for about two years total.

That being said, I can't wait for the day that we have an actual room for the baby. Painting would be my first option, but there's some pretty killer wallpapers out there these days. Perhaps an accent wall would be nice? I found these by Paper Boy via Studio Sweet Studio and I'm a BIG fan. The hand shadows? Get outta here with all that cuteness!

Well this would sure be cute in his little westerney room. Not that we need any more things in there...

This one is kind of funny. Home alone trying to use the timer, I shot a little off center. But I kind of like it. And, a sneak peak into baby's room! (Thanks to Kyli for finding my lamp on clearance! It looks amazing lit up.)

Gotta keep this short. I might be running late to my own baby shower. Oops!

xoxo

*yikes! the first time i posted this i cropped myself/belly out of it all together on accident!

Holy guacamole, I am obsessed with these tiny felt wall mounted animal heads. They'd be perfect in any nursery. Planet Fur will even do custom orders. I'm considering contacting them about possibly making a giraffe for the giraffe theme I've got going on, but I'm kind of partial to that rhino in a party hat. I don't know... they're so affordable, that maybe even a collection would be nice.

P.S. Amanda, this one's for you.

elizabeth sullivan design via oh dee doh

inside out magazine via marvelouskiddo

Next up on the big nursery to do list is to hang some front facing book shelves. I think you get so much bang for your buck here; easy and inexpensive plus a great way to graphically fill up a wall, and such a cool system for little ones to be able to pick out their own books more easily.

Some of the comments on this post expressed that it would never work for them, having climbers in their families. But... Aren't all bookshelves a climbing danger? Not to mention half of the furniture in the house? I am optimistic that we can, through teaching, avoid any tragedies. Thoughts?

32 weeks!

And a medium grey wall!

I love it.

Unsurprisingly, one of the first things I daydreamed about when we found out I was pregnant was sprucing up the baby's room. Who knew it would take me this long! We are finally painting it this weekend. Early on, we were going to do one accent wall in a fun bright lime green. I was imagining a nice modern space accented with lots of pretty pale birch wood and white. But as plans for the room developed, and I realized how many repurposed items we would use, I started thinking something a little more neutral would be good. Also I think a nice dark grey wall could be quite soothing- I have been tempted to do it in our room for ages.

Here are the samples I came home with the other day. After some second guessing, I am pretty sure we will go with grey. Ben likes the medium one. I am stuck between the medium and the very dark.

Decisions, decisions. Here are a variety of grey in other kids' and babies spaces. What do you think?

Speaking of slightly vintage westerney themes, look at the splash page on three potato four! (okay, VERY vintage western...) Too cute! Too bad the item I am most keen on (the poster in the background) isn't listed for sale. But those old wire baskets could be good for... toys?

Speaking of pining over beautiful things we want on behalf of our babies.

This is the lamp I want for the little guys' room.

A little about that room... We haven't actually started putting it together yet (maybe I should get on it already?) but we have started pulling the elements together. Mostly he is getting a lot of hand me downs from mom & pop; stuff we have outgrown but held on to, or things that we think would be pretty rad in his room. The result? A kind of mid-century/western/industrial/vintage/mod mash up.

One thing I have not collected much of is lamps, and I think this one is perfect. The Buckminster inspired geometric form is so cool for childhood, and the warm glow of the hardened felt really speaks to the vintage western-ey theme without being literal.

They carry it in one of my favorite local shops, and every time I pass by I sigh.

I am holding out. Honestly? I probably won't buy it. The rad rocking chair was kind of my we don't really need this but I want it cause it is so pretty splurge.

But, we'll see.

I am currently going through a bit of a mobile crisis. I've been searching for the perfect one for months now and it seems that they are either beautiful but just not the right fit for the look I'm going for, or they're downright horrid. Seriously people, there's some ugly baby crap out there. Obviously, most of us have seen these Frazier & Wing mobiles floating around blogland... they're fantastic (especially the yellow one)! So, why not buy one? Well, with all the other expenses we have right now (birthing classes, MEDICAL BILLS) plus the fact that I'll be taking about three months off of work, I'm just not sure it makes sense for us to spend $75 on a mobile. Not that I don't think they're worth it, because I DO. And then, I'm not sure I feel comfortable putting a $75 mobile on our registry. Although I did manage to add this $48 GIRAFFE so my logic must be totally out of whack. Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is, is it absolutely ludicrous to spend $75 on a mobile when I'm not a guh-zillionaire? It's not like we're racking up credit card debt for this baby, but still? And I have spent that amount (and more) on an article of clothing and not thought twice about it. Am I over thinking this, like I do with pretty much everything in my life? Should I just stop being such a baby and make my own mobile... even though the thought of taking on a mobile project makes my pregnancy hormones soar through the roof, and even though I know in my heart it would never be as beautiful as the yellow one I really want?? What would you do?