Top 5 Baby Items

Having a baby? Congratulations!
Overwhelmed at the amount of things a baby needs? Welcome to the club!
Every store you go to will show you a list of "must haves". Don't be fooled-- many of those items are not always needed. The store wants your business, right? The more items they put on the list, the more items you purchase.

So what does a baby need? That's today's Top 5!

(These are items I personally use every day with my two children. Tried and true by this mama! I am not being sponsored for this post, and all opinions are my own.)

1. Fisher Price Rock and Play

This is hands down the Number 1 item that should be on every mother's list. As a breastfeeding mother, waking up multiple times in the night and walking up and down a hallway did not seem appealing. With Booger, I knew I wanted something that could be next to my bed, easy to pick her up out of, and something that could soothe her at the same time. A typical bassinet did not call to me, and they were also mostly very expensive. At just barely $50 (different types have different pricing- check pricing before purchasing!), this Rock and Play fit all my requirements. It has a vibrating feature to soothe, rocks at a push of the hand (or leg as I do while still in bed), and is also easily portable.
I've heard from many other mothers that the small incline is great for babies with acid reflux as well.
It was the first item we pulled out of storage before Chunk came home. He's going to be staying in it until he sleeps through the night, just like Booger. After that, this handy item will be passed on to another deserving mama who wants a few extra minutes of sleep!
(This is the exact one I own- the puppy version)

2. Gerber Burp Cloths

Don't be fooled by the name Burp Cloth. Booger was not a burper, and these bad boys got the most use out of almost everything in our house. Because of their size, they became a makeshift diaper changing pad. They became a small blanket when she was tiny. Now we use them for Chunk's drool, nursing mishaps, and as "nose wipies" for Booger (appropriate?). There are still at least one in every room of the house. They come in so many different colors, and hold up amazingly well. They are thicker so they don't leak through.We have washed them probably a hundred times over the past 2.5 years, and they are still going strong!

3.  Play Gym

This is not the exact play gym that we have, but I linked it because of the musical Turtle in the middle. Ours is a cat, but the lights and sounds from it are what keep the kiddos laughing and cooing for quite some time! Both Booger and now Chunk love their play gym. If you buy some links separately, you can hook whatever your heart desires on the loops! At Chunks age, his hands spasm which hit the toys (you can add links to lower the toys towards the mat so they're closer to their hands), and he gets a massive thrill every time! He smiles and coos at the lights. All the toys are removable, so you can take them on the go (link to the car seat handle), re-position them, or anything you want. The arches also come off, so the mat is still usable as they get bigger.
(Here are the links I'm talking about-- they are also fantastic. Loop them around a toy and the high chair when going out to dinner so the throwing game is foiled. Loop around the car seat handle. Loop around the baby's wrist. Booger likes to pretend they are earrings now at her age. Endless possibilities!)




4. Boppy Pillow

Even if you're not a breastfeeding mama, the Boppy can come in handy in many other ways! Besides being amazing for nursing (holds the baby up higher so no back strain on mom), we use it as a pillow for the baby (resting under his neck/shoulders when on his back, or under his chest when on his tummy). Its fabulous for tummy time, as the baby isn't flat on their tummy which makes them slightly happier. I won't tell you how long it took me to realize it could be used for tummy time with Booger (ok, I will. It was about 2-3 months! Used Day 2 with Chunk....).
It also can be helpful when bottle feeding-- helps prop up moms arm/baby into a more comfortable position.
Lastly, not going to lie here-- Husband has used it as a real pillow on more than one occasion. Hey, if its the closest thing and you're exhausted... a pillow is a pillow!
(This is the cover we currently have for Chunk, and this is the one we used with Booger. Both machine washable and very durable. There are so many options to choose from, however!)

5. Aden + Anais Muslin Blankets 

I'll be honest-- I received these when Booger was born, and I barely used them. Sure, I threw them over her occasionally if I remembered when taking her outside. But having her born in the midst of the -30* weather, they weren't the first blanket I usually grabbed.
Chunk on the other hand, has been using them daily. Booger used a Halo sleep sack to sleep in every night (and had Chunk used it, it would have been my number 5 for sure!), but Chunk is a super sweater, and sleeps in a diaper with one of these muslin blankets as a "swaddle". He likes it rather loose and with his arms out, so its more like a wrap than a swaddle...
Also, since the weather has been so stinking hot lately, Chunk usually is toted around the house in just a onesie. So we keep another blanket downstairs for him if his legs get a bit chilly from the A/C. One also comes in the car for the A/C, and in the store sometimes for the A/C. Two different weather babies, two different stories!
Oh, and one of Booger's favorite activities is making sure Chunk is warm enough, and tucking his blanket in around him... so she makes sure we have one at all times as well!


So there you have it! My current Top 5 Baby items. What are your top items? Leave a comment and let me know!

Weekend Projects-- Bookshelf Part 1

Let me preface this by saying this was NOT a weekend project for me. However, if you are a normal human being without a tornado of a toddler and a newborn demanding attention, you can get this project done in a weekend easily. I am currently on day 6 as I have only been able to put about 30 minutes towards it each day during the week this week. 

This bookshelf was one of those "just throw stuff on it for now" areas. When we moved in (almost 3 years ago), I had a few boxes unpacked as I wanted to organize the bookshelf and make it look nice. Then reality set in, and with a baby due soon after the move, it became what you see below. 

This is reality, people. No magazine covers for me...

As you can see, it was chaos. A quick attempt at organizing with the bins at the bottom (to corral random toys). Some family pictures and mementos scattered here and there. Art supplies, dog toys, rice bins, coloring books spread over multiple shelves. And one mostly empty shelf that held a vacuum attachment. Ok, now I'm actually embarrassed with this photo...

Moving on-- we knew we had to update this built in. It's an amazing feature to have in our main living space, but it was doing no good hiding in the corner. Unfortunately, the layout of the room doesnt allow us to highlight the fireplace (more on that in another post), so in front of the bookshelf is Booger's rug and kid table. A lot of her items end up on this bookshelf due to proximity. 

We had not painted it since we moved in, but we did paint the walls almost exactly one shade darker than the bookshelf itself, which made the shelves cower in the background. In order for it to really shine, we had to go darker than the walls. At first I was worried it would darken up the room, but I love it!

I emptied and washed each shelf to prep. However, as I painted the first coat, we noticed a LOT of imperfections that came out with the darker paint that we didn't see with the lighter coat. So after the first coat, I went through and scraped/sanded them off, filled with putty and sanded again to get smooth. 

  Phase 2- sand, fill, sand

At this point, I was on day 4 of the "weekend project". The first coat of paint only took about 45 minutes. It dried pretty quick, so you could totally get through Phase 2 in one day. The second coat took even less time and could easily be done on Day 2. 

  Phase 3- ready for organization!

After finishing the second coat, all I need to do is a few touch ups on the trim and finish the organizing!

Tip: when using painters tape, make sure you peel it off while the paint is still wet. If allowed to dry, you could accidentally peel paint off with it, allowing it to chip.  

 Stay tuned for Part 2 of this Weekend Project! 

You are the World's Best Parent

Has anyone complimented you on your parenting skills lately? Well, let me be one to do so:

Who doesn't love inspirational quotes on a picture background?

 Let's face it. Parenting is HARD. You're constantly wondering if you're doing it "right". Worrying that your child will grow up to be the next Charles Manson if you spank them once. You live your life in fear that someone will kidnap your child if you turn to grab a loaf of bread off the grocery store shelf. Wondering if you're giving them the best life possible by signing them up for music class, martial arts, swimming, gymnastics, Mandarin lessons, story time and networking opportunities (previously known as play dates). Or worrying that you're over scheduling them by signing them up for all the above.

But guess what? No matter what you're doing, you're doing FANTASTIC. Do you worry about your child? Good- it shows how much you love them. Are you trying to give every opportunity you can to your child? Good- it shows you want them to succeed...and love them. Do you let your child be a free spirit and draw on the walls and walk around without pants? Fabulous- it shows you want them to grow...and that you love them. 

See a pattern here? No matter what choice you make, you are most likely doing it because you LOVE your child. The second your child was born, you became a parent, the one person responsible for raising this real human being to be an amazing adult. No pressure, right?

So why are other parents hating on parents? Why is social media being used to berate and knock other parents down? Why do parents think its ok to give their two cents about how you are raising your children (isn't that the job of the grandparents?). 

It's not. It's not ok. Breastfeeding vs bottle feeding-- guess what? A child is being FED. Co-sleep vs crib sleep-- guess what? A child has a place to sleep. There are experts in every facet of parenting these days and it's not the mom of three from the Facebook Moms group.  Everyone has an opinion these days, but it doesn't make their opinion right for YOU and your family. Do you want to know if supplementing formula will help your exclusively breastfed baby wean? Great- ask your pediatrician, look at articles from American Academy of Pediatrics. Go with your gut. Get advice from people you actually trust.

YOU are responsible for raising your family. Only YOU can determine what is right for them. Let's get rid of the "parent shaming" and start the "parent complimenting". 

YOU are doing an amazing job raising your children. 
YOU are the World's Best Parent. 
YOU got this. You can do this. You are fabulous. 
Go get 'em, parents. 
Create. Play. Imagine. Discipline. Listen. Laugh. Worry. Live. Fly. Love.  

Kiddo Krafts

So far, this summer has been gorgeous! It's been rather hot lately, but cool enough in the mornings to venture outside.
So yesterday, Booger and I had a special project in mind-- painting rocks!

First, we had to find the rocks. We strapped Chunk into the stroller, got our shoes and off on a walk we went.
What I didn't plan on was the shortage of rocks in my neighborhood...Who knew it would be so hard to find a decent sized rock? Luckily, after about 30 minutes of combing the streets, we found enough to satisfy both me and Booger-- though we may have stolen one or two from our own yard...

Once home, it was time for the Rock Wash. All it took was a small tub about 1/4- 1/2 full of water and a very excited toddler ready to get her hands wet! She washed, I dried, and we laid them out into the sun to finish drying completely.

After nap time, lunch and walking the dog, it was time to return to our (now super HOT) rocks. Mama had to hold them while she painted for a bit, until they cooled down enough for her tiny fingers. We used the same washable paint we use for painting pictures inside, so cleanup was easy. However, that does mean that the paint will probably come off in the rain, so keeping them outside will prove to be a problem. Our goal is to put them in a small flower pot in her play house and hope for the best...

Painting took about 30 minutes-- I would hand her the rock, she would paint however much she wanted on it, then it was set aside to dry. We came back to each rock once or twice to cover the whole thing. I put some special touches on some bigger ones, like a butterfly, heart, family initials, dog's name, etc. She was SO excited to show daddy when he came home from work. He barely got in the door before she was dragging him back to the deck!

 Little artist hard at work

All done!

It was a fantastic activity that helped span almost the whole day and included some physical exercise, mental exercise (choosing colors) and hand/eye coordination (painting). I call that a WIN in my book!

15 Minute Project- Curtain Tie Backs

My son, the Chunk, was born 8 weeks ago.

His room has a crib and a dresser/changing table.
The end.

Second kid syndrome, right? When the parents are too busy taking care of the first kid to put much effort into the second kids bedroom. With Booger, her room was painted not only one wall color, but has an awesome accent on one wall with her name spelled out. We had a crib (that I put together myself, thank you very much!), clothes washed and hung in her new (and also painted) closet, a rug, stuffed animals, blankets, curtains, the whole nine yards.

With Chunk... we were lucky we got the room painted and a changing table in there before he came. It was a close call.
That being said, these just went up about four days ago.

And there they sat, all dark and gloomy for 4 days. They are a bit squished on the rod, so pushing them open wasn't much of an option-- I needed something to hold them back. They are room darkening curtains, so the room was, well, dark.

So off to the craft store we went! Chunk sound asleep in his carrier, Booger in the cart desperately trying to grab anything she could off the shelf (did you know a 2 year old neeeeeeeeeeeds a floral wreath? And scrapbooking supplies? And vase filler rocks?)

I searched the aisles numerous times, hoping a spark of inspiration would come. Then I found it-- white, braided rope. I knew I could easily make a tie back with the rope, held onto the wall by some 3M hooks.

A day later, I was able whip out some new curtain tie backs! Chunk's room is now coming along, slowly but surely.

Step 1: Measure approximately how long you wish your rope to be to hold back the curtain
Step 2: Cut rope
Step 3: Using a hot glue gun, fold over the frayed end(s) that are cut, and glue onto rope, creating a small loop.
Step 4: Attach one loop to the hook, gather rope around curtain, attach second loop on hook.
Step 5: Admire your handiwork.

Silver 3M hook; white braided rope

It's not perfect (the loops are pretty shabby), but it gets the job done! And it hides behind the curtain a bit, so no one will notice anyway, right?

At least we can get some nice sunlight in this room now! Chunk will appreciate my work when he's older...

And that's today's 15 Minute Project!

Welcome!

Hi! Welcome to Be Happy, Be Bright, Be You! I'm so glad you're here.

What/Who is Be Happy, Be Bright, Be You? Well, that would be me, Dannie. I'm a wife to my husband Shane, a mama to my two kiddos, Booger (2.5 years old), Chunk (2 months old), and Cozmo the Corgi, a reader, a writer, a crafter, a DIY-er, a swimmer, a splasher, a puddle jumper, an average person just like you!

What is this blog about? Be Happy, Be Bright, Be You is a blog about lifestyle. My lifestyle, your lifestyle, the every day bump and grind. It'll follow my life as a wife by discussing marriage tips and tricks, date night ideas, and fun ways to keep your marriage alive. It'll discuss my life as a mommy to both human and dogs with parent hacks, chronicling the kiddo's as they grow, life with a disabled doggy (who manipulates the whole situation to his favor!), kiddo krafts. We'll be working with house projects, ones that can be done in 15 minutes, a weekend, or a full remodel.

Basically, anything that goes on in my life will be here for you. For you to relate, you to gain info, you to help me and more.

So come join me-- I promise, it'll be tons of fun :-D