The First 6 Months!

I can hardly believe that Owen will be six months old on Friday, September 9th!  He is growing up so fast.  We have loved watching him grow and learn new things.  For example it has been fun for us to watch him discover his hands and see him be fascinated with what they can do.

Here I am using my Ergo carrier while taking a walk on the beach!

Looking back over the last six months there were many things that we were so grateful to have as we made the transition into parenthood.  I wanted to write a list because I know that by the time we have our second child I will likely forget many things.  Also, they are things I can share with others as they enter into parenthood.  Here are a few things from our list.

• Worship music - Worship music helped to lift my spirits when I was running on little sleep.  The CD titled "God of Victory" was a favorite of mine the first month!
• Ergo baby carrier - I am a huge fan of the Ergo Carrier.  It is easy to put on and comfortable to wear.
• BOB stroller - Tommy and I enjoy many evening walks and Owen loves the ride!
• Vitamin C - It is never fun to be a sick mommy and have a baby under 6 months old.
• Vitamin box AM & PM - I am very forgetful when I am tired, so this was very helpful for me.
• Cradle swing
• Bouncy chair - Owen enjoyed this from 2 - 5 months. It is easy to carry from room to room which is helpful for getting things done around the house.
• Jumper - Owen loves jumping while I cook and clean in the kitchen (4-6 months).
• Prayer calendar - I found that nursing was a good time to pray and talk to my heavenly Father.  I found a great prayer calendar here for praying for your children daily.
• Nursing pillow - A friend of mine gave me a balboa baby nursing pillow which worked best for me.  
• Nursing Cover - An essential item for nursing in public.  I enjoyed making my own cover!
• Burp Cloth -  I found that the simple Indian Prefolds work the best.  They are really absorbent!
• Swaddling blankets - My mom made some great blankets that were larger than normal and therefore easier to swaddle.  Owen slept so much better when swaddled. 
• White noise - SLEEP... :)
• Night lights - So you don't stub your toe in the middle of the night.
• Slippers - Never fun to have cold feet.
• Hand sanitizer - For those many diaper changes in the first 6 months!
• Paper products (plates, cups, utensils) - This makes meal cleanup easy!
• Frozen meals