Just a few of our favorite [MUST HAVE] BABY items!

So now that Colt is about 3 months old (SERRRRIOUSLY?) I have compiled a list of our MUST HAVES for the first three months of Colt's life. I wanted to make one of those super cool pictures with all the items together, but alas, I am just not that crafty (or blog savy!) But, without further ado, here are our favorite and must haves!

The first AND MOST IMPORTANT

Fisher Price Rock N Play

We have this one, the Fisher Price Snuggamonkey Delux Rock N Play. You can buy it at Target for $64

I can't even explain how big of a life saver this thing was [and still is] for us! This is where Colt currently sleeps and has slept here since his first night home. We love this because it not only vibrates, but it also keeps him up at an angle (which is great for him because he has HORRIBLE reflux!) I think I might just cry the day he grows out of this and we have to transition him to a big boy crib!

Wubbanub Pacifiers

You can get these at Diapers.com or Babies R Us for $12.99 for one

This is almost just as important as the Rock N Play for us. We have 5 of these because I think all hell would break lose in the Cavallaro household if, God forbid, we lost one of these precious pacifiers. I have one in nearly every room and two in my diaper bag (you always need back up!) I love these because 1. They are hard to lose and 2. Colt can somewhat "grasp" this to keep it in his mouth. Only complaint? They are a pain in the ass to wash (But you can throw them into the laundry, so that's nice. I wish the animal detached though...)

Aden + Anais Burp Bib

You can purchase these almost anywhere - we buy ours at Target for $9.99 per burp bib

We love these because not only are they a burp rag, but they also turn into a bib! Kill two birds with one stone! They also are super absorbent and with Colt's reflux, he spits up every time he eats, so these have been a lifesaver. Just not a big fan of the price!

Britax B-Agile Travel System

You can buy this anywhere. It retails for around $270, but I think we got ours on sale for around $230

Obsessed with this travel system! Colt and I have been taking walks daily and this stroller moves so smooth on our bumpy sidewalks. It is also super easy to fold down (just pull one little thing and voila, it's folded!) The car seat snaps in very easily as well. We have two bases, one for my car and one for V's car. I bought this based on recommendations from friends and other mommies and I am SO glad we bought it!

Canon Rebel T3i DSLR Camera

Clearly this is more for Mommy, but hubs bought this for me about a month before Colt's arrival. We bought it at Best Buy and it retails for around $600

Clearly this is for Mommy! Years ago, V promised to buy me a DSLR when I get pregnant and we bought this about a month before Colt's birth. I haven't exactly learned how to use it yet (right now I just use it on auto) but I am excited to learn more about it so I can take some really awesome pictures of Colton! We did so much research on cameras and couldn't be happier with this purchase!

Boon Grass Bottle Drying Rack with accessories

We bought ours at Target for $15 and accessories are around $5

I absolutely love this! I usually wash all bottles at the end of the day and this thing is perfect for bottles! It looks so cute sitting on our kitchen counter! Now that we have more bottles, I plan on buying the "lawn" which is bigger than the grass. I also have the "twig" accessory which holds nipples and other bottle parts.

Kate Spade Diaper Bag

I'm not sure the exact price these retail at because I purchased mine at an Outlet store, but from what I looked up online, they go for around $275

OBSESSED with my diaper bag! I bought mine at the Outlet so I didn't pay the high price tag for it (but I still spent more than I probably should have!) But I figured, I am not using a purse anymore and I carry this every day, so I will certainly get my money's worth! I also love how it has a changing pad with it so I can change Colt anywhere. It also has two huge pockets on the side [one of the pockets holds a package of wipes and the other pocket holds a bottle of water and a bottle to quickly feed Colton.] It is pretty big so it holds all the necessities. It also has two hooks on the side so I am easily able to fasten this to my stroller!

Aden + Anais Muslin Swaddle Me Blankets

You can get a 4 pack for $30-$35

As you can tell, I am a huge fan of Aden + Anais! I love these swaddle blankets. They are huge so I am easily able to swaddle Colton. They are also pretty light so I keep one in my diaper bag. These are good as light blankets. I also use it sometimes to wipe Colt's mouth after a feeding. In other words, I use these for everything! Plus they are pretty soft! 

Summer SwaddleMe Blankets

Retail for around $10 

Colton is a mini houdini so sometimes he breaks free from the Aden + Anais swaddle blankets. So, we have started to use these at night because he LOVES being swaddled. In the morning I have noticed that he is STILL being a houdini and his hands poke through, but he loves being swaddled in these!

Well, there you have it, our favorite and must have baby items. I'm sure as time goes on I will have some more favorites. 

What are your favorite baby items? Have you used any of the items I listed? If so, what do you think of them? Give me your opinion and your must haves!

[and of course it wouldn't be a post without a few pictures of my handsome little man!]

Welcome her home, Mom.

My mom welcomed my beautiful grandmother through the gates of heaven early this morning.

Please keep my family and I in your thoughts and prayers as we bury yet another very important woman in all of our lives. 

Say some extra prayers for my dad who not only lost his wife, but now his mother all within a month and a half of each other. 

Our hearts are breaking a second time and we are hoping for only good things to come the rest of the year. We can't take much more heartbreak as a family.

Welcome her home, Mom. 

Because I clearly rock... Duh...

Even though I was nominated for the Liebster award foooorever ago, I thought it would be fun to re-fill it out since it's been over a year! I was nominated by Sarah who blogs over at Life As Always. She is not only the prettiest pregnant lady I've ever seen [yeah, pretty jealous since I was a hot mess pregnant!] but she is also one of my new fav bloggers! If you don't follow her, you must check out her blog! You won't be disappointed!

The Rules

Thank the person who nominated you and link them in your post. 

Tell 11 random facts about yourself.

Answer the 11 questions provided by the person who nominated you.

Choose 11 blogs you like and link them in your post. 

Write 11 questions for these bloggers, so they can answer them. 

Go to their page and let them know that you nominated them.

   

11 Random [but awesome] Facts

1. I think I have the cutest baby in the world. Yeah, the WHOLE WORLD. If you disagree, we aren't friends anymore. I mean, come on, how cute is this picture I took tonight?

 

2. I have the WORST insomnia EVVA... Most of the time I usually don't go to bed until the sun comes up. And now that I have a new baby? It's even worse!

3. I DESPISE working out. I would rather be lazy and sit on my couch with baked lays potato chips. But, I really want to lose weight [baby weight, yeeah about that.] Those two just don't go together now do they? Something's clearly going to have to give... But I'm just not quite ready to give up my baked lays...

4. I have an unhealthy obsession with serial killers. I was going to list this as #1 but I figured I didn't want to scare TOO many of my readers off just yet! Want to know something about Jeffrey Dahmer? Ted Bundy? John Wayne Gacy? I'm your go-to girl! Remember that when you're on Jeopardy... And I promise it's not as creepy as it sounds... 

 

5. To piggy back off of #5 in case you think I'm crazy, let me justify just as to why I love serial killers. My dream job would be to either A. work with serial killers on death row or B. work as a psychologist in a mental health facility and work with people with severe mental illnesses. I am FASCINATED with mental health disorders [don't worry, I don't have any!] and minored in mental health and psychology in college. I mainly just want to figure out "why" people do the things they do. See, I told you it wasn't that creepy!

6. I am still obsessed with my sorority. Yes, I do still sport my sorority sweatshirts when I run out to Wal-Mart at 2am. Don't judge me. Oh yeah and my husband still wears his fraternity sweatshirts too. Okay, you can go ahead and judge us now...

6. I love online "shopping." I can spend hours putting items into my shopping cart... and then X'ing out of the window. I usually never purchase anything, but if I did I would not only be poor but I would have the best damn wardrobe in the world!

7. If I had my way, I would go to work in my pj's every. single. day. I hate getting dressed up, doing my hair and putting on makeup to go to work. Yet, I do it each and every day. I remember one of my kids telling me two years ago that I looked "sick" when I came to work one day without mascara. No little fella, I am not sick. I was just lazy and wanted those extra 10 minutes of ZzZzZ's...

8. I am obsessed with my dogs. I treat them as if they were my children. Although, now that I have a child, I think I'm EQUALLY as obsessed with him. Yes, EQUALLY obsessed. 

Yes, she is an overweight 30 pound weiner dog...

9. My husband asked me to marry him after dating me for only a month. We were 20 years old. Oh yeah and a week of that month he had broken up with me because he "wasn't in love with me." And instead of asking me to get back together with him as "boyfriend and girlfriend," he asked me to be his wife. He bought me a diamond necklace for Christmas and we exchanged it for a wedding ring and I would just take my ring off before I walked into my house. I didn't want my parents to know and I didn't tell them until months later when I was living in London, England. They were surprisingly okay with it. 

10. My camera is usually attached to my hip. At. All. Times. It usually annoys people but I capture some of the best moments. The people it annoys the most? My brothers. And let me tell you, I surely did capture some of the best pictures at my brothers wedding in December... Here's proof...

***And that's just the tip of the iceberg, my friends. And you wanna know how cool my brother is? Instead of a crappy candy bar at his wedding, he had a cigar bar! Yeah, we were taught how to roll our own cigars. Pretty badass, right?

***Dad learning how to roll his own cigar. Bad to the bonnnnne

11. I had no rules as a child and my parents were VERY lenient. They pretty much let me do whatever I want. They always told my brothers and I that they wanted us to make our own mistakes and to learn from them. I remember asking my dad once if he would ground me [I'm sure I did something bad to ask for that consequence] but he never did. I used to tell them that the lack of rules as a child could have had the opposite effect on us, but all three of us children have good jobs and have stayed out of trouble. :) 

[After hearing all the crazy stories about her growing up from her friends at her funeral, I now know why she was so lenient. Talk about a wild child...]

11 Questions for ME

1. If you were a super hero what powers would you have?

To be invisible. That way if I didn't want to be seen, I could disappear. But, I could still eavesdrop on people without them knowing ;) 

2. If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature what new animal would you create?

I'd merge a moose with a penguin because I'm obsessed with moose [how come there's no real 'plural' of moose?] and it's my favorite animal and I just think it would be funny to merge it with a penguin.

3. What historical figure would you love to see in 21st century life?

4. What phrase do you say the most?
Last year my kiddos used to tell me that I overly used the phrase "get your life together." Now I'm gonna go ahead and say the phrase I say the most is "Tell me how cute my baby is." Juuuust kidding. But, really, you should tell me how cute my baby is...

5. If you could steal one thing without consequence what would it be?
My student loan bill from Sallie Mae. I would steal it and destroy it so that it would go bye bye. Wishful thinking... If onlllllyyyy... 

6. What is your favorite thing about yourself (physical or otherwise?)
My blue eyes. Thank goodness my baby got blue eyes [for now. pllllease don't channnnnge!]

7. If you could live anywhere, where would that be?
I am content where I'm at now. I am obsessed with Texas! 

8. If you were crowned ruler of the world, what's the first law you would make?
Umm this goes back to #5... I would make college free. Oh yeah and I would jump on Canada and UK's bandwagon and pay woman for maternity leave and allow them a year off. I should have gotten knocked up in Canada. So close yet so far away...

9. What's the most unusual conversation you've ever had?
Oh gosh... I may have to get back to you on this one... This is a hard one!

10. What is the best present you've ever received?
This is gonna sound corny, but I'm gonna have to go ahead and say my son! Mainly because he's cute, remember?

11. Would you rather go back in time and meet your ancestors, or travel into the future and meet your great grandchildren?
I would go back and meet my ancestors. I may still be alive to meet my great grandchildren, but I am also  kinda scared to see what people are like & what the world's like 50 years from now... EEK!

11 [of my favs] nominees

Jamie @ You Gotta Have Hart

Emily @ Lifes A Beach

Katie @ The Little Things in Life

Nilda @ Entirely My Own

Angela @ Living Pretty

Emily @ Paging Dr. Grace

Tiffany @ Austin Family Diary

Lauren @ Life. Love. Lauren

Jen @ JVKom Chronicles

Sara @ Confessions of a Redheaded Mama

Kristin @ Live, Laugh, Love

Rachel @ The Random Writings of Rachel

11 Questions for YOU

1. What is your dream job and why? Are you in that occupation now?

2. What's your biggest achievement so far in life? Biggest disappointment?

3. Where is the best place you have travelled? What makes it the best?

4. What is your favorite book?

5. What is your biggest pet peeve?

6. Outside of blogging, what are your hobbies?

7. Have you met any of the faces behind the blogs you read? Were their personalities anything like their blog?

8. What is your favorite go-to outfit? What article of clothing makes you feel the best? Why?

9. If you had an unlimited amount of money what is the first thing you would purchase? What else would you do with the money?

10. What makes you happiest? Saddest?

11. If you were president, what is the first thing you would do?

Already getting so big... Time. Please. Slow. Down!

I realize that I never updated Colton's birth story. And here we are and my handsome little baby is almost 2 months old!!!!!!! I promise I will get around to writing about his birth...

Bloggy, I want to introduce you to my handsome little prince, Colton John!!! He was born November 6, 2013 at 5:57 pm. He was 8 lbs 10 oz and 21 in long! Mommy and Daddy are OBSESSED!

MONTH ONE (WEEKS 1-4)

Right after he was born!

A few days old

Colt and Daddy

First picture with Daddy

First picture with Mommy

First family picture... Although we're looking pretty rough, we were SO happy!

One of his newborn pictures... These were taken at 8 days old!

GOING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL!

Love this little boy!!!!

Clearly didn't like his picture being taken...

MONTH TWO (WEEKS 4-8)

Took this tonight!

Took this one tonight too... He's getting so big!

Helping to heal our broken hearts.

Colton took his first trip 2 1/2 weeks after he was born. Although his Grandma was never able to meet him, it meant a lot to have him back home in Indiana with us while we said goodbye. It was very emotional introducing Colton to my dad and brother (one of my brothers came for his birth - he lives in Austin a few hours away.)

Colton meeting his Grandpa and Uncle Mathew for the first time

Grandpa meeting his grandson for the first time

Our new family photo. This was taken in the hospital just hours before my mom passed away

My dad would just rock him and stare at him. It melted my heart.

Meeting Uncle Mathew for the first time!

This picture makes me so emotional. Even after such a devastating loss, Colton's presence helped mend and heal our broken hearts, if even for just a few minutes.

My second favorite picture. He was able to bring such happiness to us all during such a dark time.

I am so grateful and blessed to be your mommy. Thank you for helping to heal all of our broken hearts. I know that your Grandmother would be SO in love with you. And I promise to tell you so many stories about what a wonderful woman she was. Unfortunately, your grandpa was so right... One life begins just as one life ends.

I am still struggling - immensely with the loss of my sweet mother. A month has felt like an eternity without her. So much has happened in the month that she has been gone - We celebrated Michael's wedding in Mexico just about a week after your death (it was a beautiful day, I know you were shining down on us.) and we just got back from burying you, this past weekend, in Minnesota. You died right after Thanksgiving and you were buried right after Christmas. It just doesn't seem real. Life just doesn't seem real right now. I just pray it gets easier. And I can't put into words how wonderful my son is - colic and all. I am so excited to see him grow up and change and raise him the way you raised me. Such conflicting emotions - grief over losing you, but happiness at the same time after the birth of my son.