Snapshot #479: Sewing Machine

January 31, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Look what arrived for me over the weekend.  Yeah for more projects!  (I had to promise Dave I would finish two 'in-progress' projects before starting another, lol.)

Snapshot #478: Baby Saucer

January 30, 2012.  San Jose, California.  A neighbor invited us over for lunch last Friday and Hazel got to play in her son's saucer.  Good times.

Snapshot #477: Shopping with Mom

January 28, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel is a good little shopper; she is SO inquisitive about everything around her (wicked smart, quoting our Home Teacher).  For the first time, she was perfectly capable of sitting in the cart.  Makes me kinda sad...I remember walking around stores with her in the moby wrap thinking it would be ages before she could actually sit in a cart.  Sigh.      

Snapshot #476: Morning Jog

January 27, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I had planned to share a photo of Hazel sitting snug in the jogging stroller--where she's become accustomed to taking her morning nap--but this close-up of her eyes is just too beautiful to pass up. 

Snapshot #475: Enchanted

January 26, 2012.  San Jose, California.  This picture is for my sister.  I keep telling her how captivated Hazel is by the mobile we made...here's some proof.

Snapshot #474: Gently Used

January 25, 2012.  San Jose, California.  A friend of mine is having a baby boy, and therefore de-cluttering her home of all baby girl clothing.  She thoughtfully invited Hazel and I over to stock up on hand-me-downs.  It was a clothing feast. (Thank You!)  Her daughter was SO cute with Hazel and insisted on feeding her too.   

Snapshot #473: Army Crawl

January 24, 2012.  San Jose, California.  These days, every week has a new first for Baby.  This week it's an army crawl.  AND I'm learning how to put music to video...how about that.

Snapshot #472: Origami Rocketship Mobile

January 23, 2012.  Sunnyvale, California.  I spent a good portion of the day at a friends in an attempt to create an origami rocketship mobile for her son's bedroom.  It needs some fine tuning and a few more items, like a UFO...but it's quite captivating when everything starts spinning round and round.  

Snapshot #471: The Gift of a Family

January 21, 2012.  San Jose, California.  The last couple days I have been overwhelmingly grateful for the gift of becoming a family through the miracle of sweet Hazel.  Dave and I have become a tag-team in providing for her needs; I don't know what I would do without either one of them.  

Snapshot #470: Baby Reflections

January 20, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel has recently become intensely fascinated by her own reflection in the mirror.  Watching her discover how things work is such a joy.

Snapshot #469: Baby Quilts

January 19, 2012.  San Jose, California.  One of my very best friends found out today that she is going to be having a baby boy.  I got crazy excited about assisting her in the decoration of her nursery.  Really charming baby boy articles are really hard to find...perhaps I have found a new creative outlet.  I pictured nurseries in the following themes:  #1: Baby Blue Argyle or #2 Dr. Seuss or #3 Camouflauge.  

Snapshot #468: Binky Thumb

January 18, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel and I met up with Dave at Cisco for lunch.  She has figured out a way to chew on her binky and her thumb at the same time...smart girl.

Snapshot #467: A Sitting Hazel

January 17, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel can sit up unaided.  In addition to sitting up, just today she started scooching herself across the floor on her tummy, reaching whatever she wants.

Snapshot #466: First Food

January 16, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Really, it was our third attempt at giving her rice cereal; but the other two attempts didn't seem to take.  As of late Hazel has expressed intense interest in food so we decided to get out the high chair and give it another try.  She may have actually swallowed something this time. (Can you believe how much older she's looking!)

Snapshot #465: First Teeth

January 14, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Look close, there are already two little teeth on the bottom gum.

Baby's Best: Top Ten Most Useful Baby Items, Ages 0-6 Months

I am interested in learning about other mom's and dad's favorite baby gadgets.  Mine are as follows.  What are yours?


Couple my love of good design with a financially wise husband and you get a list of the top ten most useful baby items, according to the Woods.  I like to have only the basic essentials around, rather than numerous fancy gizmos and gadgets that don't see a lot of use.  Are these products absolutely necessary?  No; babies don't 'need' a lot besides loving parents and food--but I do use these products on a daily basis.  Are these products the least expensive?  Most likely not; but they are a good value.

Baby's Best #1: Puj Tub

I highly recommend the Puj Tub to all my friends.  It takes up zero space for storage; I need only one hand to pick it up and put it away with zero clean up time; it functions in my tiny, counterless bathroom; I don't have to bend over and injure my back; and Baby loves it.  Price $40.  Made by Puj.

Baby's Best #2:  Moby Wrap

The Moby Wrap distributes weight on my shoulders and back better than any carrier I have tried.  It's easy to transport, easy to clean, keeps Baby close and comfortable, and has the option for either inward or outward facing baby.  I use my moby while doing chores around the house, shopping, traveling, for walks and hikes.  Price $45.  Made by Moby.

Baby's Best #3:  Diaper Caddy

I was introduced to this diaper caddy by my cousins.  It's great because it keeps diapers, wipes, ointments, and changing pad all in one compact location.  It also transports super easy.  Love it.  Price $30.  Made by JJ Cole Collections.

Baby's Best #4:  Microfleece Sleep Bag

A sleep bag keeps Baby's toes warm and also eliminates the snapping guess work out of a middle-of-the-night diaper change.  I like microfleece because it's soft and cuddly.  Price $8.  Made by Carter's.

Baby's Best #5:  Binky Clip

A binky clip is indispensable if you want an easily accessible, clean binky.  Price Varies.  This one is homemade by my sister.

Baby's Best #6:  Emery Boards

I found baby nail clippers to be intimidating, always worrying about whether or not I would also clip Baby's skin.  These little emery boards do the job without injuring Baby.  Price $2.  Made by Safety 1st.

Baby's Best #7:  Finger Toothbrush

The finger toothbrush gives me the control I want without worrying about choking the baby.  I first used it to remove milk from Baby's tongue and now use it to clean Baby's teeth.  Price $2.  Made by Summer.

Baby's Best #8:  Crib Mobile

I didn't get a crib mobile until Baby was over three months old.  I wish I had had it since birth.  It makes naptime easier for both Mommy and Baby, giving Baby self-soothing amusement before putting herself to sleep.  Price varies.  Mine is homemade by my sister and I.

Baby's Best #9:  Lightweight Waffle Weave Swaddling Blankets

These lightweight waffle-weave swaddling blankets are nice to have.  The lightweight natural cotton muslin is breathable--prime for use year round; the waffle weave is flexible, enabling a tight swaddle around Baby; and the blanket dimensions are generous enough to accommodate a rapidly growing baby.  Price (4 pack) $35.  Made by Aden + Anais.

Baby's Best #10:  Baby Bee Shampoo + Wash 

I'm a fan of the all-in-one shampoo + body wash for Baby.  I value the natural ingredients and who doesn't want a baby that smells like honey and coconut...yummm.  Price $9.  Made by Burt's Bees.

That's my list.  Now it's your turn!

Snapshot #464: Faceplant Sleeping

January 12, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hazel is so active now that swaddling her for sleep is no longer an option.  I always put her down on her back but she rolls and rolls around her crib until finally settling into sleep; which these days looks more like this.

Snapshot #463: The Glass Castle

January 11, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I hosted book club at my place today.  I was so busy hosting that I forgot to take photographs of my packed living room.  We reviewed the book "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls.  It looked interesting enough to add to my reading list (I do book club a little backward than most...waiting until after the review--and the high demand from the library--to read the book.)

Snapshot #462: Books for Hazel

January 10, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I'm excited...Hazel's Christmas books arrived today. (Hazel and I thank you Lindsey!)  Her bedtime routine will now get more interesting because we won't be reading the same book every night any more.   My next task?  Order some books in spanish.

Snapshot #460: Eat, Play, Sleep

January 9, 2012.  San Jose, California.  After five months of sleepless nights a friend of mine loaned me the book, "On Becoming Baby Wise" which I finished reading today.  In my opinion, the book has several outlandish general statements--nevertheless, the tools for mastering continuous nighttime sleep are encouraging.  I have been gradually working Hazel into the routine Eat, Play, Sleep on an approximate 3-hour cycle for five days now.  Magically, Hazel has started to predictably wake only once during the night to feed; rather than three times nightly.  Her daytime naps are also stretching to 1-1/2 hours rather than her typical 20-40 minutes.  According to this book, my biggest mistake was to be on a schedule of Play, Eat, Sleep rather than Eat, Play, Sleep.  Who knew?!   I am looking forward to less fatigue.    

Snapshot #459: Our Sweet Hazel

January 7, 2012.  San Jose, California.  More sweet Hazel photos; age five months. 

Snapshot #458: Growing Pains

January 6, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Our sweet baby is teething.  This morning I discovered two little white ridges breaking through the bottom gum.  This means she is very drooly, slightly more irritable, and chews on anything from blankets to stuffed animals to teether rings.

Snapshot #457: Barrel Rolling

January 5, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Not only can Hazel roll from her tummy to her back, she just figured out how to roll from her back to her tummy.  Today she pretty much barrel-rolled halfway across the room.  Uh-oh...here we go!

Snapshot #456: Hazel's 5 Month Photo Shoot

January 4, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Today especially when I looked at Hazel I could see her angel mother in her adorable features.  I will be forever grateful for the gift of adoption.

Snapshot #455: Beautiful Hazel

January 3, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Tomorrow she turns five months.  I love her so much.

Snapshot #454: Consistency

January 2, 2012.  San Jose, California.  My resolution for this year is consistency.  Despite the ebbs and flows around me, I want to consistently pursue my ideals.