Month One With A Newborn: What We've Actually Used/Needed

People often say babies don't need much the first few weeks and they're mostly right...depending on what your opinion of not much is, ha!

Here is a list, one month in, of everything we have actually used.  Make no mistake we have about 10x this amount of stuff laying around for the coming months and years too, enough to get him off to college I think.

Feeding
My Brest Friend (I have a boppy too, but my little guy was too small for the boppy, it was much harder to nurse with it as he kept falling in the gap, the MBF is AMAZING, order an extra cover)
Dr. Brown's Bottles (2oz Premie and 4 oz)
Enfamil Newborn Formula - powder and to-go liquid for emergencies
Medela Freestyle Pump
Extra Freestyle Pump parts (1 set is good)
Lanoush Pumping Bra - do NOT NOT purchase this.  If you think you might be pumping, get one.
Boon Lawn, twig and flower
Babyganics Dish Soap
Tommee Tippee Sterilizer - great for sterilizing toys, pacis, bottles and more
Liquid Vitamin D 
Honest Nipple Ointment (note, I learned late in the game the popular nipple cream ingredient, Lanolin, is made from SHEEP OIL.  I threw it out and never looked back, I'm not putting sheep oil juice on me, or in my baby.  Honest Co. does not use lanolin and is still very soothing)
Nursing Cover

Soothing
Swaddles - Carter's Flannel Blankets, Carter's Swaddle Blankets, SwaddleMe Pod
Avent Soothie Pacifiers & MAM pacifiers

Bathing
Mustela No Rinse Baby Wash - handy when you don't want to give a full bath
Soft Towels
Baby Washcloths
Angel Care Bath

Diapers
Changing Pad
Vasoline
Boudreaux's Butt Paste 
UBBI Diaper Can  - no special liners needed!  Uses a regular trash bag, haven't had any issues with a stinky nursery until baby started solid foods, then all poop diapers go in the outside trash.
Pampers Swaddlers - listen, their expensive because they're good.  We tried Huggies which have a weird butt ruching thing going on that make them hard to fold up when dirty and Honest Co. which are CUTE but not at all soft and don't have a wetness indicator.

Travel
Graco Snugride LX (Available at Target)
Solly Baby Wrap
City Select Stroller
Baby Jogger Bassinet 
Car Seat stroller attachments
Stroller cup holder/caddy
Diaper Bag and Changing Pad
Mace -  Yes, even in 'safe' suburbia...Ain't no one stealing my baby on a walk!
Car sunshade - you don't want that bright sun waking up your kid from a nap
Skip Hop Pronto Changing Station

Sleep
AUTO Rock N Play - upstairs
Pack N Play - downstairs
Sleep Sheep/Giraffe
Boppy Noggin Nest (prevents flat head! you can find a cheaper version on amazon too)

Clothes
SIDE SNAP TEES - these are our go to "PJs".  These are simpler to put on baby than a onesie and are just enough of a layer under his swaddle so he doesn't overheat, makes night time diaper changes a cinch since you're not fumbling with snaps on a onesie either.
Newborn onesies (Koala Baby seems to have shorter arms/legs than other brands, good for the little babes)
Mittens
Socks

Misc.
Cloth Diapers - we use these for everything, burp rags, changing table liner, emergency blanket (hey babe is tiny, it works)
Do not touch sign for car seat
Hand Sanitizer (5 bottles) - bottle for the car (in the driver door), diaper bag, changing area upstairs, downstairs and downstairs bathroom
Egg Nightlight - received this as a gift and LOVE it, LOVE it, LOVE it
Baby Gym
Thermometer 

UPDATE!

We're at 8 weeks now and have added and subtracted a few things from the list...

Added

Graco Swing (he LOVES this and this swing is MUCH smaller than traditional swings, great if you don't want a playground in your living room)
SwaddleMe Swaddles  (another post coming soon on Swaddles and which ones I liked and didn't)
Boppy Newborn Lounger (does double duty...he likes to lounge on it, it also is great propped up behind your back when you're nursing at night)
Baby Gym - any kind works

Carter Goes To Church

At two weeks old Carter went to church for the first time!

I think it's safe to say everyone was shocked to see us there so soon after having the baby, but we love our church and needed to get out of the house to boot!

The stars aligned - feedings, diapers, driving - and we arrived ON TIME no less.  Note, the following week we didn't make it at all and this week were 20 minutes late, but who's keeping track!

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he shall not depart from it. 

Proverbs 22:6

Carter's Birth Announcement

Seeing as Carter was born just a couple months shy of the holiday season, we decided to only send announcements to immediate family, most of whom live out of state.  Our friends have gotten the in person announcement and joy of actually meeting and holding our little love.  Then everyone gets a Christmas card soon enough!

Carter: Weeks 2 & 3

Carter Week 2

Carter Week 3

First Bath at home!

Snuggling with mommy (who is wearing MAKEUP and doesnt look comatose for once!)

Cutest sleeping face!

Meeting adorable new baby D!

Interested in his baby gym

Dad and the pacifier fail - fox is supposed to point DOWN daddy!

Meeting Uncle Brandon and Aunt Jamie

Week 3 What I've Learned So Far: On Becoming A Bad Mom

In the past 3 weeks I've felt like a great mom...I haven't dropped the baby, let him get eaten by our cranky old Jack Russell or forgotten him in the car.

Amidst those successes though, I've felt like a BAD MOM on more than one occasion...

He's already had bottles.

 AND FORMULA.

There's dog hair on him...ALWAYS.

Peanut hair...everywhere.

Yesterday, I gave him a PACIFIER and we ALL liked it!

Newborn Pics Sneak Peek

Week 1 & 2: What I've Learned So Far

• Point the wiener DOWN
• Circumcision is worse for mommy than for baby - he was fine in 48 hours
• It's not about me anymore
• The schedule is great, but he won't always sleep/wake on schedule perfectly
• It's fun to get out and go somewhere, even if it's just a quick cup of hot chocolate after the pediatrician

Baby's first trip to Sideboard!

• Invest in a pumping bra = FREEDOM!

Best $35 I've spent in a LONG time

• Stay off the phone while your nursing and just enjoy the moment with your little baby
• Pumping time = me time for phone, web, etc.
• Take a minute to rest, watch TV or veg as a family
  

  

  So Sweet.