Some Items

A friend of mine asked me yesterday if there were any baby items that I (we) really like. I love to give advice, and since someone asked for it, I thought I'd give a top of the head list of valuable baby things.
However I am currently unable to upload any pictures so Erghh.
Okay, now, here we go. Click on the picture to link to a product site...Hows that for tech savvy!?!

1) The Bundleme by JJ Cole is a fuzzy sack that fits under and over the baby (therefore it is a sack). It zips on the side and allows easy intro and exit for your infant. As a result of this product Leila has gone through one of the ten coldest winters in Iowa without wearing a jacket or bunting. We simply put a hat on her, strap her in and when we are walking place the folded flap up over her head. On the really cold mornings we throw a blanket in with her and she seems toasty and warm. I have seen and used other car seat covers and this one is by far the best.




2) We do not actually own the "LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table." but borrowed one from our friends Tricia and John. Nyssa loved to pull herself up on the semi-sturdy table and play all kinds of relatively entertaining sounds. The table has a jazzy repitiore, including a scatty 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10. And a nice dueling banjo's feature. At 40 bucks it is a little pricey for 2 months play, and I am debating whether or not to get one for Leila, but that doesn't mean I don't reconmend it for all you Ritch New Yorkers.





3) We did not have this item, a Yoga Ball, when we had Nyssa, but how we wish we did! With Nyssa we'd spend hours on our feet rocking and bouncing and shushing her trying to get her to settle down. Now, in relative comfort, we sit on the ball and bounce gently (and occasionally not so gently) up and down. It is amazing how well this settles Leila down. At worst, using the Yoga ball in combination with item #4 does the trick.


4) If all else fails and Leila is inconsolable (and now, even if she is just fussy for a couple of
minutes) we throw on the vacum and she raqpidly transforms into a docil drueling idiot. Not quite, but the transformation is stark and a litle spooky. It is as if she is unable to resist the vacum's soothing pull. These are not our vacums, but like the picture we own two vacums, figuring why burn the engine out on our new vacum, when we already had an old clunker that could be usede as a giant passifier.
The vacum has an added benefit of antagonizing both of the dogs and limiting conversation between Katy and I.
Now for the reason most of you are really here: a picture of the kids.

Apparently Nyssa wants to emulate as many movie/pop stars as possible:
















6) The Munchkin Rubber Duck is the perfect middle step between an infant tub and the real thing. If you have had a baby in the past two years (and we had our shit together enough to get you a present) there is a good chance this is what we sent you. As the text bubble says, "Squeeze my bill and hear me quack."








7)Elizabeth Mitchell, You Are My Little Bird, this is a wonderful CD that we've been playing for Nyssa just about since she was born. Unlike most kids music, Elizabeth Mitchell has crafted 3 thoughtful, creative and beautiful records. They are sweet without being saccharin. While You Are My Little Bird is by far the best of the CD's that by no means diminishes the other two. By the way, one thing I'd like to do here is to place a song or two, i've tried but can't seem to figure out how, any ideas?