Gratitude - Day 2

Today I am thankful for the grocery shopping app on my iPhone. Grocery shopping with a newborn can be tricky but with this app, and Ben's hard work to make it correlate with my grocery store of choice, grocery shopping has become a breeze.

Gratitude - Day 1

Each day in November until Thanksgiving I am going to post the many things I am thankful for. Some will be silly. Some very meaningful.


1o years ago I had the opportunity to study abroad in Jerusalem. Last night I showed Ben a slide show of the people I was there with. Some I didn't even recognize and some I vaguely remembered. Although I don't remember every face or name, I remember the feelings I had while I was there. I remember walking where Jesus walked. Today I looked through some of my pictures from Jerusalem. I am so thankful I had that opportunity. I hope someday to go back.

Pumpkin reasons to love fall...

My favorite pumpkin...

Baby Eliza is here!

We couldn't love her more.
Look at our family blog for details.
Benandkristy.blogspot.com

Motherhood

To all the mom's out there...

Ok ladies. I am making a list of must haves, would like to haves, and should I gets for our baby. I have NO idea on so many things. I found a bunch of lists online but still am not sure. So if you have a second and want to help me out, take a look at this list, think about what you love, regret buying, wish you had etc. and please let me know! Either comment on this post or email me at kbhodgkinson@gmail.com Any input would be appreciated! THANK YOU!!!

Buy for Baby

Layette

[ ] 4-8 bodysuits or onesies (wide head openings and loose legs)

[ ] 4-8 undershirts or vests (snaps at neck or wide head openings, snaps under crotch)*

[ ] 4-8 one-piece pajamas*

[ ] 2 blanket sleepers for winter baby

[ ] 1-3 sweaters or jackets (front buttoned)

[ ] 1-3 rompers or other dress-up outfits*

[ ] 4-7 socks or booties (shoes are unnecessary until baby walks)*

[ ] 1-3 hats (broad-brimmed for summer baby, soft cap that covers ears for winter baby)*

[ ] 1 baby bunting (a hooded sleeping bag made of napped fabric)

[ ] 6–8 outfits

[ ] 6 bibs

[ ] 2-3 blankets

[ ] No-scratch mittens

[ ] Gentle laundry detergent

swaddling blanket

Nursery

[ ] Crib, cradle

[ ] Firm, flat mattress fit snugly in crib (less than two fingers should fit between mattress and crib)*

• Slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart • Corner posts no more than 1/16 of an inch above frame • No cutouts in headboard or footboard • Top rails at least 26 inches above mattress

Bassinet

[ ] Crib Bedding

[ ] Waterproof mattress pad (with cloth)

[ ] 1-3 washable crib mattress pads

[ ] Bumper pads covering inside perimeter

(secured by at least six ties or snaps, with all extra length removed -- we suggest breathable bumpers)

[ ] 2-4 fitted crib sheets*

[ ] 4-6 soft, light receiving blankets*

[ ] 1-2 heavier blankets (for colder climates)

[ ] Rocking or arm chair

[ ] Music box, sound machine or CD player

[ ] Crib mobile with black and white images (remove when baby can support self on hands and knees)

[ ] Baby monitor

crib/mattress monitor

[ ] Nightlight

[ ] Dresser

[ ] Toy basket

[ ] Swing

[ ] bouncy chair

[ ] Infant toys

[ ] Play yard or playpen

[ ] Play mat or play gym

Changing

[ ] Changing table or cushioned changing pad for low dresser or bureau, with safety strap or railing*

[ ] Changing table pad*

[ ] Changing table pad cover

[ ] Diaper pail

[ ] Diaper pail liners

[ ] Diaper cream*

[ ] Unscented baby wipes (causes less irritation)*

[ ] Soft washcloths*

[ ] Tissues (for you)

[ ] 2-3 large boxes of disposable newborn-size diapers*

Bath

[ ] Baby bathtub

[ ] Soft washcloths (use a different color or pattern than your diaper washcloths!)

[ ] Baby lotion

[ ] Baby soap*

[ ] Baby shampoo

[ ] 2-4 soft towels or hooded baby towels

[ ] Baby hairbrush

johnssons bathtime set

Feeding

[ ] 10-16 bottles and nipples, both four and eight ounce

(if fed strictly by the bottle, baby will go through about ten in the four ounce size per day)*

[ ] Liners, for disposable bottles

[ ] Bottle warmer (cuts down on nighttime trips to and from the kitchen)

[ ] Bottle sterilizer (if your dishwasher doesn’t have one)

[ ] Bottle drying rack

[ ] Bottle brush

[ ] Dishwasher basket for small items

[ ] 4-8 bibs

[ ] Burp cloths (or cloth diapers)*

[ ] High chair

[ ] 2-4 pacifiers

pacifier clips

[ ] Formula (if not nursing)*

formula dispenser

snack dispensers

For nursing moms:

[ ] 1-3 nursing bras

(Breasts swell following birth, so start with one size larger than your maternity bra. Wait until size settles down -- about two weeks after birth -- to purchase additional bras.)

[ ] Nursing pads

[ ] Nipple cream, lanolin cream

[ ] Nursing pillow

[ ] Electric Pump (even if you plan only to nurse, a pump will allow you to leave milk for baby if you want or need to separate)*

Hand Pump

[ ] Milk storage bags*

Medicine Cabinet

[ ] Baby nail clippers or blunt scissors*

[ ] Cotton balls (don’t use swabs to clean baby’s nose or ears)

[ ] Baby thermometer*, digital rectal

[ ] Bulb syringe/nasal aspirator

[ ] Medicine dropper or spoon with measurements

[ ] Petroleum jelly and sterile gauze (for circumcision care)*

[ ] Infant acetaminophen (Tylenol)

[ ] Antibiotic cream

[ ] Saline nasal drops

[ ] Baby gas drops

[ ] Disinfecting hand soap (for you)

[ ] Infant acetaminophen drops

[ ] Infant-safe sunscreen

[ ] Infant gas relief drops

Travel

[ ] Infant or convertible car seat*

[ ] Stroller (reclining to almost flat for infants)

travel stroller

jogging stroller

[ ] Diaper bag

[ ] Changing pad

grocery cart cover

[ ] Baby carrier/sling, baby bjorn

[ ] Portable play yard

For Mom

[ ] Ice packs (in case of tearing during birth or swelling after)

[ ] 2-3 week supply of ultra absorbent sanitary pads

[ ] Panty liners

[ ] Hemorrhoid wipes and cream (can become necessary after labor, even if pregnancy was free of problems…sorry)

if we ever have a boy...

We might have to get one of these pee-pee teepee's if we ever have a boy! Oh the things I am learning.

Happy Mother's Day

A Parable For Mothers

by Temple Bailey

The young mother set her foot on the path of Life. "Is the way long?" she asked. And her Guide said: "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the streams, and the sun shone on them, and life was good, and the young mother cried: "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this".

Then night came, and storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle and the children said: "Oh, Mother, we are not afraid for you are near, and no harm can come." And the mother said: "This is better than the brightest of days, for I have taught my children courage."

And the morning came and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary, but at all times she said to the children: "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top, they said: "We could not have done it without you, Mother." And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked up at the stars and said: "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of difficulty. Yesterday I gave them courage, Today I have given them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth - clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up! Lift your eyes to the light." And the children looked and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said: "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

And the days went on, and the months and the years, and the mother grew old, and she was small and bent. But her children were strong and tall and walked with courage. And when the way was hard, they helped their mother; and when the way was rough they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And the mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them."

And the children said: "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."

Happy Birthday Mom

4 and a half years without you here.

But 4 and a half years of you in my heart, always.

Heelarious

Ok I love shoes. I really, really do. But is this going to far? I have yet to see them in person so I will decide then. The more I look, the more confused I get. Baby high heels. Unreal.