Gifts for Baby: Something She Wants (a.k.a. Toys)

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I told myself that this first Christmas with Lazy Baby, we didn't need to go over board with presents for her because: A) She doesn't care; and B) Our families will probably buy all the things this year. However, when I made this gift guide, I just couldn't help myself and Lazy Baby now has more presents waiting to be wrapped on their way than any one else we are getting gifts for this year. Sign. So it begins.

Baby Toys: 

1. Wooden UFO Playset - How cute is this playset? If you ask me, it is light years cooler than a dollhouse. (affiliate)
2. Toy Remote - Lazy Baby is always wanting the remotes in our house (T.V., XBox, etc.), so maybe if we get her one for her, our electronics will be safe...and we'll stop losing them because we have to hide them from her. (affiliate)
3. Classic Fisher-Price Toys - A ring stacker and shape blocks, because you can't beat the classics. (affiliate)
4. Fisher-Price Franky Beats Bat and Boogie - This is a sensory-developing toy that offers different activities to stimulate Lazy Baby's developing skills as she grows. (affiliate)
5. Toy Phone - In the same realm as our remotes, Lazy Baby also wants everyone's phone. She can have this one to chew on to her little heart's content. (affiliate)

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Gifts for Baby: Something to Read

This post contains affiliate links.

I read a post somewhere about giving your children four gifts for the holidays, something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. I love reading to Lazy Baby and here are some books that on the very long list of books I want to read to her.

Baby Books: 

1. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin (affiliate) - "From brave and bold to creative and clever, Emily Winfield Martin's rhythmic rhyme expresses all the loving things that parents think of when they look at their children. With beautiful, and sometimes humorous, illustrations, and a clever gatefold with kids in costumes, this is a book grown-ups will love reading over and over to kids—both young and old. A great gift for any occasion, but a special stand-out for baby showers, birthdays, and graduation. The Wonderful Things You Will Be has a loving and truthful message that will endure for lifetime."
2. Uni the Unicorn by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Brigette Barrager (affiliate) - "Uni is just like all the other unicorns . . . except for one thing: she believes that little girls are REAL. This magical story by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (author of I Wish You More) illuminates Uni’s not-so-fantastical dream and celebrates the sparkle of believing. This charming board book edition will allow the youngest readers to slide down glorious friendship rainbows alongside Uni and the little girl in whom she believes so very much. Be sure to look for the enchanting sequel, Uni the Unicorn and the Dream Come True, available as a hardcover picture book!"
3. This Is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe (affiliate) - "Follow the real lives of seven kids from Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia for a single day! In Japan Kei plays Freeze Tag, while in Uganda Daphine likes to jump rope. But while the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days—and this one world we all share—unites them. This genuine exchange provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as a mirror reflecting our common experiences. Inspired by his own travels, Matt Lamothe transports readers across the globe and back with this luminous and thoughtful picture book."
4. Little Feminist Board Book Set by Galison, Emily Klienman and illustrated by Lydia Ortiz (affiliate) - "Mudpuppy's Little Feminist Board Book Set is comprised of colorful illustrated portraits of real women who have made historical impact on the world. Illustrations by Lydia Ortiz and words by Emily Kleinman introduce children to these important people in history with images that are fun for youngsters and also realistic. The Board Book Set includes 4 mini board books (Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, and Activists.)"

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Lazy Baby: Scrubba-dub-dub

When my sweet Lazy Baby had her first bath, she seemed to genuinely enjoy the whole thing. She enjoyed her second bath, and her third, and etc. However, the last few bath times have been tragic.

Tears have been shed, screams have been screamed, days have been ruined – and all these go for me as well as Lazy Baby (and Mr. LL, too, sometimes). I don’t know what happened to make her switch off of baths like that! Ok, admittedly, Mr. LL and I should probably bath her more than once a week, but she doesn’t go anywhere and she never gets that dirty. We’ll give her a bath after a bad diaper blow-out, for sure, but we’re so busy that it’s hard to find time in the routine to give her one other than on the weekend. Especially since we are both too timid to solo this mission (though we both have during times of poop-emergencies).

I’m wondering if she is just too big for her little tub and so it’s cold and/or uncomfortable for her now. We have this tub, and up until about a week ago, she couldn’t sit up by herself for too long. Now she can go really long stretches sitting up, so maybe it’s time to graduate her out of the baby tub.

Last week, while I was taking a shower and enjoying my “me” time without having to worry about the baby’s needs, Mr. LL’s needs, or any of the pets’ needs – Mr. LL brings Lazy Baby into the bathroom and goes “maybe we should try to bath her with you in the shower?” I was a little put out by this because this is the time when I should be able to get a break from the demands of motherhood and be able to focus on self-care and also, do you know how terrifying it is to hold a wet baby? Add the fact that you are wet as well into that mix and it is down right traumatizing. But, I was a good sport, as all mom’s kind of have to be, and I took her in my arms and Mr. LL did all the soaping and rinsing while I just clung on to her with a death grip. She didn’t cry and we were able to have a clean baby without ruining everyone’s lives. However, I don’t want this to become a “thing” because I get about as many opportunities to take a “real” shower each week as we have to bath her, I need to have my 15 minutes to wash the funk off of me and to just recharge a bit. To feel human again and not like I’m constantly covered in the finest film of spit-up.

Any other moms out there have bathing tips?

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With all that said, here are some of my favorite baby bathing products:

1. This is a knee saver and after spending months without one, I am telling you know, YOU NEED THIS. (affiliate)
2. This towel is so cute and I love how big it is.  (affiliate)
3. We used a cup for a long time, but this pourer is super cute and is better at keeping the water out of her face.  (affiliate)
4. I love the Aveeno baby products. They are gentle and feel great.  (affiliate)
5. Lazy Baby is so cute in her shark robe (that's not her, pictured, FYI). She's just about outgrown it, so I need to find a new robe for her, any suggestions? (affiliate)