The 'Bare Necessities"

I am no expert at motherhood or parenting... however, I know more than I used to. The first year has really taught us what we need for sure, missed out on, and some things that we didn't need at all.

The must haves:
* the big furniture (crib, changing table, dresser, rocking chair of glider, play pen / pack n' play (perfect for traveling), infant car seat (and eventually a toddler and up car seat), and high chair)
*bottles and lots of extra nipples
*heat sensitive baby spoons (and other dishware)
*a infant bath that can grow with your baby
*towels and washcloths
*pee pads for crib, changing table, etc
*baby clothes RANGING in MANY sizes from newborn, 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 (yes, hopefully you get all these sizes before the baby ever gets here... once your precious little one starts to grow, they don't stop, and if you have all the clothes ready, you will feel more sane.
** Baby laundry detergent -- Dreft -- best brand
*Baby first aid kit -- thermometer, nose bulb, nail scissors, nail file, etc
*Stroller (research this first!! make sure it has the correct wheels for the surfaces you will be traveling on)
*Monitors! !
*Gates for when they are moving (check them first... can little fingers get caught in the hinges or the sliding mechanisms?? The cloth ones are good... and they can go from 5 feet to 15 feet across ... for those large openings)
*Onesies (Long and short sleeves!!) --- need lots (drooling, spit ups, food, drooling again (you'll be changing them 3-8 times a day)
*Sleepers with feet AND Sleeper sacks!!! These are heaven sent, especially if your baby liked being swaddled as a baby, the sleeper sack acts like one.
*Socks -- all sizes... for both feet and hands (yes hands... baby hands have nails and babies have no control -- they will scratch their face / eyes, socks protect them... gloves fall off)
**Diapers and Wipes of course (this may sound silly, but have them either on the registary or as a game for the baby shower (win a door prize if you bring some, type of thing) ... but ask for them in many sizes -- like clothes they will out grow these fast too



The nice to haves:
*baby swing (they outgrow this fast but it is nice when they are sick- calms baby down enough to sleep)
*bacsinet (perfect next to your bed for night time feedings)
*crib bedding / set (however you are going to buy more later that isn't going to match perfectly -- get lots of extra sheets for when they 'pee through')
*bibs (protects clothes from drooling at first... later protects from food)
*Tummy time mat (technically a blanket on the floor with toys in front works just the same)
*toys and books (black and white toys and pictures are perfect... it really gets baby's attention)
*toys (balls) that jingle / rattle / animal sounds (balls work well since they work the 'grip' and hand /eye coordination)
*Diaper bag (with many little compartments)
*Traveling dishes / formula sectional
*Baby Carriers (front ones - ok ... your back starts to hurt but it is so sweet to carry baby this way... just watch the neck position)
*Baby Back pack - wish we had one...!!!!! It is on our wish list for Isabelle's first birthday -- perfect for hiking or going to an outdoor shindig
*Vaporizer -- nice for when baby is sick, they are quiet and the liquid vicks keeps their nose from getting stuffy
*Crib Mobile (yes, you can match it to the 'theme' but it is better to make it BRIGHTLY colored ... baby will focus on it more (jungle 'peek-a-boo theme is cute and it plays for 18 minutes... 3 times longer then most)
*Aquarium for the crib
*Bouncy chair (ones they can grow into -- bouncer to a actual chair... way more economical)
*Baby shows --- get the video collection started and figure out if you are a teletubbie / Barney watcher NOW... don't wait (you want to have the collection ready... Trust me)



No Way:
*breast pump (the ones worth buying are too expensive...you take 6-8 months to break even and you may only use it for a month; the cheap ones break and you have to replace them) ---The best way to go here is to rent one from the hospital... even if you use it for 6 months it is still way cheaper then buying one
*Bouncers and Walkers (waste of money and space -- they outgrow it so fast)
*Infant positioners (use a recieving blanket or two and when in the crib use a towel under the matress)
*Warmers and Sterilizers --- Seriously?? Are you brining up a wuss and a dishwasher works just fine.
*Gloves for infant hands -- pointless (see above)
*Swaddlers -- waste of money, especially if you can swaddle a baby in a receiving blanket. The swaddlers don't stay tucked in if you have a wiggley baby and they are not 'one size fits all', blankets are.


In the end ... it is all what suits you and baby. But save everything if you can, including the clothes, you are more then likely going to have more then one kid.

The Baby Proofing edition will come soon... Isabelle keeps finding new ways of getting things... will the 'proofing' ever end?????

10

10 month Birthday photos

I see GOATS!!!

Picture Perfect

Valentine's Day

Another first... of course... the day of love and a balloon.

Growing up so Fast

It has been 10 months since Isabelle was born. I can not believe how fast it has gone. Seriously... were has the time gone? She is eatting whole food now (not just puree), she is standing, trying to 'cruise' around furnature.. soon she''ll be walking, talking, going off to school... now I know that is in the somewhat far future, but still. Enjoy!

My first shoes...

New shoes

I can play guitar like my daddy.

Standing... and cruising

So close...

"Microsoft" Baby

The face says it all.

Teeth...

Teeth are coming in so fast... She used to 'gum' my arm or fingers but now it hurts.. with all her new teeth she is biting. She has, as of this morning, 8 teeth (another one popped up over night). Just waiting for the molars to come through.. then we can start giving her pizza bites and meat and other chewy foods.

2 teeth

3 teeth

An attempt to show off all 7

Gymnastics

These last few months have been crazy. Even though I have been a half time teacher, working everyother day ... raising a beautiful little girl (as you all can see)... those things were and are easy compared to being a HEAD coach (yes, head coach) of a high school girls gymnastics team.

Tahoma hired me as their head coach back in November. This district has had gymnastics as a girls sport for 6 years, and it has never been bigger then 11 girls. This year, we started at 22, and at the end of the season we had 16. On top of that, practices were every morning at 5:30 - 7 am at Summit Gymnastics (a club that let us lease space since we don't have any of our own equipment other thean a spring board). Out team is even more amazing... in the 6 years, this team has never had a coach for two or more years in a row (next year will be their first year... since I am coming back along with my assisstant coach Venise)... they have always come in 13th or 14th in our league which is made up of 14 teams... and this year we came in 9th!!! Our overall GPA was an average of 3.68 (amazing since these girls get up early for practice, then go to school, then after school to either work or clup gym or they do another sport) and each girl takes at least one AP class.

Yes, I like to brag about these girls!!

We had meets every Wednesday night, which lasted till 10 pm (then practice the following morning) and some Thursday nights we had meets too. We also had to stay and help put all the equip[ment away before we could leave. Toward the end of the season, our girls had to begin qualifying to go on to meets... first was Sub-Districts (new this year) -- then districts -- if you made it here you qualified to go on to State Championships -- if you made it there then to State Finals... then you are done. We had 3 make it districts and one of those girls went to State (at the Tacoma Dome), however she didn't make it to finals. We are so proud of her to get this far...as a freshman... just imagine her next couple of years! Each of these last four meets were full day Saturdays, usually ending between 10 and 11 pm.

I would not have made it as well as I did, if it hadn't been for my assisstant coach Venise. She was/is wonderful and we worked amazingly well together. She and I picked up where we were weak and kept our girls focused with the message that this is FUN, this is high school gymastics.

Happy New Year ... 2008

Having a baby deffinately changes the way you look at New Years eve... make it an early night.

This year we spent New Years Eve and Day at my parents with Isabelle's Great Grammy... since was here visiting from So. Cali. We had a nice dinner, banged on the piano some more, wore fun hats and took lots more pictures.

The following morning we got up, watched the Rose Parade, remembered old funny stories, ate and went home to relax... We had been going for almost a week straight without sleeping in our own bed but one night. We were happy to be home... ready to start a great 2008.

New Years Morning watching the parade with Grandpa.

Wishing you a very HAPPY 2008!!!

A wonderful year for new beginnings and new memories!

Brewster

Between Christmas and New Years we headed up to a friends house out in Brewster. This is one of the best places in all of Washington... At least the people there are. This year the Morceau's (Eric, Isabelle and I) and the Roberts all headed to the Hoopers in Brewster. The drive over the passes wasn't bad at all, of course about a week after we got back, the passes were closed off and on for about a month.

Anyways, we had a blast... we went snowmobiling, sledding (with Isabelle), played tons of games, got licked by their adoarable little collie puppy, had great food and many laughs.

Even though there were many great times on this trip, the most memorable was.... that Isabelle started crawling!! Dec. 30, 2007 A perfect ending to a wonderful year.

Here is all us girls... from the bottom up... Pam, Me in the middle and Bruka.

Wow... the snow is hanging on to her head making her look like she is going grey...

Month Birthdays

8th Month birthday shot as well as a possible christmas dress shot.

9th month birthday shot

This says it all.... She is EveryWhere NOW!!