New for Number Two

New for Number Two

Feb 18, 2020

After my first son was born, I shared my fifty baby favorites (part one and part two). Registering had been so overwhelming, but I wanted to talk about the things I'd ended up loving. As we were preparing for our second baby, I realized that there was almost nothing that I felt like I had to purchase. We still have most of those fifty items and will happily use them again: the monitor, baby tub, car seat, and so on. We still had lots of baby clothes, too.

But there were still some things I wanted to buy, just because. So, I decided to share the fifteen "new" things we bought for number two! I was going to turn this into a So Obsessed With post but decided not to since I haven't used most of these products yet. Instead, it's just a little shopping post. Hope you enjoy!

1. Freshly Picked Butterscotch Classic Diaper Bag ($175) 

When I was pregnant with my first, I saw so many posts recommending backpack-style diaper bags. I ended up being totally fine with the style I'd already chosen and didn't give it another thought... until now. I realized I'd want my hands completely free for both of my boys! I love the color and look of this bag and am so excited to use it.

2. Comotomo 8 oz. Baby Bottles in Green ($24)

Want to know where I've got lots of room for improvement with my second baby? Bottle feeding! I nursed my firstborn – and plan to do the same with my second – but I made the mistake of not introducing bottles soon enough. My son basically refused them all. I'm hoping for more success with this baby and bought these to try.

3. Mushie Cleo Pacifier Clip in Wood ($15)

My firstborn barely used a pacifier – he had a WubbaNub that he liked it for a little bit, but it was more about the animal attached than the actual pacifier. Since every baby is different, we have a few pacies to try (one mentioned later in this post) – and I couldn't resist this clip. I got sucked in by the cute babies with them on Instagram!

4. Lou Lou & Company Ultimate Newborn Bundle in Henry ($68)

I don't remember where I heard about this brand, but I made the mistake of joining a Facebook group for it. That was some insanity! I have no desire to build up a stash, but I did pick up one set (gown, hat, gloves, and swaddle) in their Black Friday. This boy has lots of hand-me-downs, but he needed a few special things of his own, too. 

5. Loulou Lollipop Bubble Silicone and Wood Teether ($25)

Sorry not sorry, but I'm a sucker for baby products that look pretty. We had a few wood teethers for our firstborn and loved them... but I'm pretty sure at least one was lost to our dog. Struggle. My mom gifted me this gorgeous London swaddle from the same brand, and then I ended up browsing their website. The rest is history.

6. Bunnies by the Bay Skipit the Pup ($20)

This might be my favorite thing on the list, solely for the story behind it. While on our beach vacation, my firstborn picked out matching stuffed animals for himself and his baby brother. He got a big one, which he's named BB (for Big Brother) and has legit become his favorite. And he can't wait to give the baby this matching mini one!

7. Mama's Must-Have Restaurant Bag ($25)

I saw this on Instagram and loved it. I'd never considered carrying a silicone place mat + pair of kitchen shears in our diaper bag for eating out, but it makes so much sense. My oldest still likes some of his food cut up, and it can be such a pain to do it. Scissors will make it a breeze! We should get lots of use out of this for both boys.

8. Childhood History Journal from Promptly Journals ($32)

This isn't the first time I've mentioned this journal, which goes from pregnancy until age 18. I bought a baby book for our first and never filled it out. It just didn't focus on the things I cared about most! When I found these journals, I was sold. I got one for this baby, fell in love, got one for my firstborn and am slowly (but surely) catching up in it.

9. Custom Quilt from Morgan Kelly Quilts

My mom had a custom Morgan Kelly quilt made for our firstborn, and I ended up using it as the background for monthly photos of my growing boy. When my mom found out I was pregnant again, she immediately mentioned having another quilt made. Here's a little peek at what we chose. It's perfect in his nursery, and I'm in love!

10. Solly Baby Wrap in Flax ($65)

The idea of baby wearing appeals to me, but I didn't do it very much with my firstborn. We loved our structured carrier (an Ergobaby) and plan to use it again. But I wasn't a fan of the wrap I tried! I started researching other options early in this pregnancy because I have a feeling I'll need to be handsfree more often with my second.

11. BIBS BPA-Free Natural Rubber Baby Pacifier 2-Pack ($15)

In addition to a new Wubbanub, I decided to get one more pacifier option for this baby before he arrived. If he wants nothing to do with them, that's totally fine with me. Less work down the road when I'd need to end the attachment! But I wanted to be prepared in case he's the opposite and heard great things about this brand.

12. 4moms mamaRoo 4 Classic Infant Seat in Grey ($220)

This was all my mom's doing! We went shopping for some baby clothes and a few other things, and I mentioned that the rocker/swing-type product we'd used with my first had been recalled. I planned to wait on buying a replacement until later, but she thought we should go ahead and get it. I bet I'll be thanking her for that foresight!

13. Joovy Caboose Graphite Stand-On Tandem Stroller ($120)

This is the only thing on my list that we haven't actually bought yet! We have a Chicco carseat and stroller, and our oldest hasn't used a stroller in ages. But that might change with the baby's arrival, and this gives him the option to stand or sit on the rear platform or bench seat + has an adapter that works with our car seat.

14. Design Dua Nap & Pack Bassinet and Stand ($180 / $70)

This was at the very top of my "I want this but know we don't need it" list. We have two travel cribs (a bassinet style and a pack-and-play one), so I couldn't justify splurging on this beauty. And then! I found all of it (bassinet, stand, sheet, mattress) barely used on Craigslist for 75% off retail price. Major happy dance would be an understatement.

15. Hakaa 4 oz. Silicone Breast Pump ($14)

As I mentioned, I struggled with bottles with my first. Since I didn't go back to work after my maternity leave, I didn't give much thought to pumping. And when I finally tried it, I gave up after a few failed attempts. I'm determined to try again with this one and have heard such great things about this manual pump. I'm hopeful!

Any other baby product recommendations? 

I'd love to hear about them!

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So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #7

So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #7

Jan 30, 2020

When I was looking back at old posts for inspiration, I realized how long it had been since I'd done an edition of So Obsessed With focused on baby favorites. My son was about to turn two the last time I posted one – and now he's three and a half! He's technically aged out of the "baby" stage, but I decided to stick with that post name for consistency. Today, I figured it was time for an update on our favorite book since we read all the time! I shared favorite children's books in 2017 and 2018, but here are 32 books we've been loving lately:

As you can probably tell from a quick glance at these books, my son loves animals. I can't tell you how many animal figures we have scattered around our house and how much he knows about animals I'd never heard of before. Right now, he says that he wants to be a veterinarian or a paleontologist when he grows up. It's adorable!

1. Encyclopedia of Animals by Jules Howard – He just got this book for Christmas, and it's already proved to be a favorite. We both love the illustrations. He loves flipping through and describing what he sees (and where they live).

2. What If You Had Animal ______? by Sandra Markle – My mother-in-law introduced my son to this series, and he's obsessed. We read at least one a day! He loves learning about how characteristics are unique to different animals.

3. The Photo Ark by Joel Sartore – My brother and his wife gave my son this book for his birthday last year, and it's been such a hit! It's a photography-focused book, which is a nice contrast to all the illustrated books we own.

4. National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia by National Geographic Kids – Another gift from my mother-in-law. If he wants to learn something about a specific animal, chances are I'll be able find a fact in here to tell him!

5. The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library by Tish Rabe and Bonnie Worth – He checks these books out from the library again and again! If I had to pick his favorite from this list of 32 books, it would absolutely be this series.

6. How Animals Build by Lonely Planet Kids – This was a recent library find that we've enjoyed. There are lots of flaps to lift and animal homes to explore. We like that it focuses on the clever construction of animal architects!

7. Wild Animals of the South and Wild Animals of the North by Dieter Braun – There isn't a lot of text in these two books, but my son doesn't mind at all. The illustration style is very cool, and they're fun to sit and flip through.

8. Creaturepedia by Adrienne Barman – Another recent library find that we'll probably end up buying. Quirky organization and illustrations, but my son carries it around everywhere. So, there's the real testimonial!

9. An Anthology of Intriguing Animals by Ben Hoare – This has it all: beautiful illustrations paired with photographs and just enough text to teach us something new without being too overwhelming or detailed.

There are three books we've enjoyed lately that didn't really fit into fiction or non-fiction. I call them activity books because they prompt us to sit down and play with the content on the pages. From I Spy to Search-and-Find, these have led to countless hours. For example, I love taking this type of book with us to a doctor's appointment!

10. My Big Wimmelbook: Animals Around the World by Stefan Lohr – I bought this for my son in the hospital gift shop after his appendectomy. We like to play "I Spy..." or "Can you find the..." together with it.

11. Search-and-Find Alphabet of Alphabets by A. J. Wood – My son has memorized the ABCs but is still working on identifying them. This is a fun way to practice! There are 26 alphabets with so many things to find in each.

12. Today by Julie Morstad – In our house, we call this "the picking book" because it's all about choosing what to do today. The pages encourage the reader to pick what to eat/wear/do/etc. It's our favorite of the books in this section!

There are a lot of book in this section, and we don't necessarily love them all equally. A few are ones that I personally love to read aloud, but most are ones my son loves best. Many are beloved for the stories inside, but some have become favorites more for their illustrations. 

13. The Bear Series by Karma Wilson – My son and I both love these books! They're fun to read aloud because of the rhyming and repetition, and we love to follow the adventures of these forest animals.

14. Hooray for Books by Brian Won – As a book lover, it's impossible to resist falling in love with this book based solely on the title! A very cute story about the joy of sharing your favorite stories with your friends.

15. They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki – We found this at a nearby children's bookstore and were immediately charmed. Poetic text, dreamy illustrations, and a nice way to talk about colors and seasons. 

16. Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd – A short little story about all the places wild is hiding, even in a city environment. I like this one because I feel like it encourages being outdoors and exploring nature!

17. If I Had a Little Dream by Nina Laden – This is my mom's favorite on the list! She loves both the illustrations and the words, and it's so cute to listen to her reading it to my son. It's particularly great to read before bed. 

18. The New Adventures of Curious George by Margaret and H.A. Rey – My son has only recently discovered Curious George, and we love both this one and this treasury, too. Lots of laughs over this little monkey!

19. The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater – I picked this up because it's illustrated by the Fan brothers, but the story itself has since won us over. A fun book about going on adventures and finding friends along the way.

20. Counting with Barefoot Critters and Adventures with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White – I bought these because White is one of my favorite illustrators, and it was lovely to learn she's a talented writer, too. 

21. Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro – I like this one more than my son does – and yes, I initially picked it up because Teagan White is the illustrator. I laugh at the cheesy puns and love reading this one in the winter, in particular. 

22. Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow by Michelle Cuevas – The illustrations are better than the story, in my opinion, but my son loves both. I think it's because he likes imagining that his shadow has its own hopes and dreams.

23. Time for Bed by Mem Fox – For a long time, we read this book every night before bed. The text is soothing as the animals prepare for bed, and I love the soft and cozy feeling of the illustrations. A classic for a reason!

24. All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan – This book makes me feel so nostalgic, even though I didn't grow up on a farm. I love the illustrations, seeing the different family generations, and the overall theme.

25. The Lines on Nana's Face by Simona Ciraolo – I've been surprised by just how much my son loves this book, since I thought it would be more of a "me" book. We adore the grandma's stories explaining her wrinkles!

26. Roly Poly Pangolin by Anna Dewdney – My animal lover is fascinated with pangolins, so I was thrilled to find this at the library. Adorable illustrations, easy-to-read rhyming text, and a cute message about trying new things.

27. Life by Cynthia Rylant – This celebration of life – in its wonder and wilderness – is a favorite because it is populated by animals. It seems like one adults would enjoy more than kids, but my son is the one who prefers it. 

28. A Dog Named Doug by Karma Wilson – My son used to make my dad pretend to be a dog that he called Doug. So, we were excited to find this book! I prefer Wilson's Bear series, but this one has great memories associated.

29. Bunny's Book Club by Annie Silvestro – Who wouldn't love a story about animals sneaking into a library to steal books and then starting a book club?! This is one my son and I love equally, and I'm alway so happy to read it.

30. Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall – My parents brought this back as a souvenir from their trip to Maine, and I adore the gorgeous illustrations. The story itself is lovely, too, as it looks at life inside a lighthouse.

31. Loving Hands by Tony Johnston – Is this extremely sentimental? Yep. But I'm here for it! I love the illustrations and have such a soft spot for this book since it's about a mother and son. Sometimes I like being a little emotional...

32. Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue – Another bedtime favorite in our house, especially because of the animal aspect. We love reading it and then talking about the different places and ways that animals sleep.

Do you have any recommendations for us to read together?
Or spy any personal favorites on our list?

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So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #6

So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #6

Apr 30, 2018

My son turns two in a few days, and I just shared some of our recent baby favorites last week. But I didn't talk about books – because I knew they deserved a post of their own. If you're curious, I've chatted before about some of our favorite picture books. Since it's been a while, I figured it time for an update. Our reading routine hasn't changed much, and my son is still very opinionated on what he wants. We don't always agree on our favorites, but the books below all have his seal of approval. Here are 25 picture books we've been loving lately:

1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – I guess this is a classic for a reason! It's not my favorite, but he loves it. And I can see how it's a nice, quiet story that's ideal for winding down before falling asleep.

2. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans – This is one of the books that I once said I'd save if my house was on fire, so I've been pushing this one! But my son does love when Madeline says pooh-pooh to the tiger in the zoo.

3. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion – This is a really cute classic! My son enjoys seeing Harry get all messy, especially since he loves pretending he's a puppy. So, there's lots of barking when we read this one. Haha!

4. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. – Y'all, sometimes I hide this book so my son forgets it exists. I get why he loves it (he's animal obsessed), but he always wants it. I just need some variety!

5. You Are My I Love You by Maryann Cusimano Love – This is such a sweet tribute to the love between a parent and a child. The rhyming text is complemented by lovely illustrations, and it's a delight to read aloud.

6. Corduroy by Don Freeman – This classic has only recently been added to our rotation, but it's quickly become a favorite. It's on the longer side, but my son loves this bear's adventures in the department store. And I love the ending!

7. Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio – This book (and the sequel, Antoinette) with my whole family. We love the poodle and bulldog families! The illustrations are so charming (my fave part of the book!), and the story is pretty cute, too.

8. The Hound from the Pound by Jessica Swaim – I saw this long before I had a baby, but it was always on my "must buy" list. I had to track down a copy on eBay because it's now out of print, but it was worth it. So adorable! 

9. Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers – Laura gifted me with a copy of this book when I was pregnant, and I'm so grateful! I don't know if I would have discovered it on my own. The illustrations and the story are lovely!

10. Lola Dutch by Kenneth & Sarah Jane Wright – This reminds me a bit of Eloise, except the heroine isn't a brat. Haha! I'm obsessed with these illustrations, and Lola who is "a little bit much." My son adores her animal sidekicks!

11. Too Many Carrots by Katy Hudson – I love the illustrations in this one, but I'm not as crazy about the story. It's not a favorite for me, but my son disagrees and frequently adds it to our to be read pile on his nightstand.

12. Go Go Gorillas by Patrick Wensink – My son enjoys this tale of gorillas who get up to a bunch of shenanigans after their bedtime. It feels a little long to me, and I hope he ignores the idea of partying instead of sleeping. Haha! 

13. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – I was never a huge fan of this book, but my son has won me over! Seeing him interact with the book (repeating words, acting things out, and such) has added so much to it for me.

14. Little People, Big Dreams by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara – We still have so many of these to read, but I couldn't resist the Audrey Hepburn one. I'm so impressed by these short biographies of outstanding women.

15. One Day on Our Blue Planet by Ella Bailey – We've checked these out from the library more than once! Anything with animals is a hit in our house, and I like that this feels like an early introduction to non-fiction.

16. BabyLit Storybooks by Various Authors – I've talked about the BabyLit Primers before, but today I had to mention the Storybooks! This line is for older children, but we already love our copy of Pride and Prejudice. No surprise, right?!

17. Atlas of Animal Adventures by Lucy Letherland – This is a recent addition to our house, but it's already become a favorite. It's meant for elementary age kids, but my son loves identifying all the animals and when I read select facts.

18. Peek-a-Flap by Jaye Garnett – This book, unlike the other two, is actually geared toward's my son's age. And he's obsessed! I appreciate the thick flaps (so they don't get bent) and the notable facts about the various animals.

19. The Big Book of Beasts by Yuval Zommer – We spend a lot of time looking at this book! It's also meant for older kids, but that doesn't stop my son from dragging it all over the house. I can't wait to get him the ocean one soon.

20. Wow! The Good News in Four Words by Dandi Daley Mackall – This is a nice, simple way to present to Gospel to little kids. The rhyming text is very engaging, as are the illustrations. I like the format, too!

The next five books are from a series called Tales that Tell the Truth, but I had to feature them all separately. We love them that much! I've struggled to find books about faith that aren't cheesy, inaccurate, or pointless. So many feel like they're either written for adults or way too simplified. This entire series is a breath of fresh air, and I'm so thankful I found them! They're presented in such an engaging way that my son is always captivated. The illustrations are amazing and perfectly complement the Bible-centered stories. I highly recommend them!

21. The One O'Clock Miracle by Alison Mitchell – This is a retelling of the story of Jesus healing the official's son from John 4. I love the focus on faith and trusting Jesus' words, and the illustrations are so perfect for the story.

22. God's Very Good Idea by Trillia J. Newbell – I love this discussion of faith and diversity. It talks about how people are created in God's image and how "we are all different, but we are also all the same." Such an important book!

23. The Storm That Stopped by Alison Mitchell – This is a retelling of the story of Jesus calming the storm from Mark 4. I love that retells the story but goes one step further and explains what the story tells us about who Jesus is.

24. The Christmas Promise by Alison Mitchell – If you want a book that clearly explains how the birth of Christ fulfilled God's promises to His people, look no further. I love that this is a "Christmas" book that we'll read all year long.

25. The Garden, The Curtain, and The Cross by Carl Laferton – This presents the Gospel (and the big picture of the entire Bible) in such a clear, meaningful way. This was our first book from the series, and it's our favorite. 

What picture books should we read next?

We're always looking for recommendations!

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So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #5

So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #5

Apr 27, 2018

I've done a few of these baby favorites posts (#1, #2, #3 and #4) and realized that I was long overdue for a new one! It's been about nine months since my last one, and my son is now about to turn two. Today's post has a little bit of everything today – except books because those are coming separately. So, here's the baby stuff we've been loving lately:

1. Oxo Tot Perch Booster Seat ($40) – We do still love the high chair I mentioned in a previous post, but this booster seat is my son's new favorite! He thinks he's such a big boy in it, and I love that zero fabric means it's easier to clean.

2. DBPOWER 9.5-Inch Portable DVD Player ($60) – This is definitely not an everyday item, but it's nice to have for long drives in the car. We'll be headed to the beach this summer, and this will come in handy for the road trip.

3. AmazonBasics Bluetooth Wireless Speaker ($13) + Spotify –  I know there are lots of speakers with better sound quality, but this is great for the price. We love it for family dance parties! And, of course, Spotify provides the tunes.

4. OXO Tot Training Utensils ($7) – We've haven't tested out any other spoons/forks, so I can't speak to whether or not these are way better. But my son seems to have found them easy to use, so that's the only proof I need.

5. FridaBaby SmileFrida Toothbrush ($10) – We love this toothbrush but eventually had to toss ours because my son loves gnawing on his toothbrush. We've moved to cheaper ones for now since he destroys them, but I like this one best.

6. Crane Elephant Ultrasonic Humidifier ($50) – I honestly have no idea if humidifiers really work, but our pediatrician has recommended we use one whenever our son has a cold. So, I figured I'd included the one we've got!

7. Halo SleepSack Wearable Blanket ($22) – We bought these sleep sacks to try to prevent our son from climbing out of his crib, but we also really like how they keep him warm on cooler nights. If only he hadn't figured out how to unzip them...

8. Baby Bjorn Travel Crib ($200) – We bought a pack and play after our son was first born, but barely ended up using it. We realized we needed a portable crib that was light (13lbs!) and compact, and this has exceeded our expectations.

Okay, this section is a little different than the others because I'm not linking to specific items (aside from shoes). I mostly just wanted to mention a few places I love to shop and what I tend to get from each one.

9. Baby GAP: Pants, Shorts and Pajama Sets – This is one of my favorite places for things a) he doesn't outgrow as quickly and b) I expect to stay a little nicer (church clothes). Plus, I only shop here when they're having a sale. 

10. Carter's: Footie Pajamas – I don't love their boy's clothes (whyyyyy is the girl section so much better?!) but always stock up on footie pajamas. Our son loves taking off socks + kicking off his blanket at night, so these are a winner.

11. Salt Water Sandal by Hoyt Shoes - Surfer ($38) – I knew I wanted to buy these shoes before I ever had a baby. Haha! This is our third or fourth pair because we just buy new ones as soon as he outgrows them. LOVE.

12. Honey Bee Tees: Timeless Tees – Y'all, I wish I could afford to buy all the Honey Bee Tees! I love the simple, classic hand-drawn designs. I struggle to choose just a few favorites each season because they're all so cute.

13. Hanna Andersson: Swimwear – I love so many things here. It's too pricey for me in general, but I always keep an eye out for swimwear sales. Their pajamas are a fave, too, because they have the cutest prints.

14. Saucony Jazz Lite Sneakers ($35) – A lot of toddler sneakers are super colorful or have characters on them, and I prefer more simple/basic. I searched around and found these, and we love the velcro closure!

15. Cat & Jack at Target: Basic Shirts & Socks – I'm sure it's no surprise that I love the Cat & Jack line at Target. This is my favorite place to get basics, especially ones that are likely to get dirty and/or worn a lot. 

16. Native Shoes 'Jefferson' Slip On ($35) – I saw a lot of parents raving about these shoes, and we've become fans ourselves. I mostly bought them for the pool and playing outside, but my son frequently picks them out for everyday wear.

17. Mud Pie: Appliqué Shirts – They have a smaller selection and can definitely be pricy, but I love so many of their shirts. For example, this is one of our favorites. The quality + extra details make these extra special.

18. Melissa & Doug Horse Carrier ($17) – As you're about to see, my son is obsessed with all things animals. And I'm obsessed with Melissa & Doug toys. My son loves stuffing various animals into this trailer!

19. Melissa & Doug Latches Barn ($30) – This was one of my son's favorite Christmas presents! He loves undoing all the different latches (yay fine motor skills!), and the animals inside are just an extra bonus for him.

20. Blue Horse Hopper ($22) – We have a slightly different horse, but it's basically exactly the same. My son does bounce around on this ugly thing, but he mostly likes to drag it around the house behind him. Haha!

21. Melissa & Doug Wooden Puzzles (~$10) – My son goes through phases with puzzles. Some days he'll do them with me for hours... and then other days he pretends they don't exist. But they're still an overall favorite!

22. Melissa & Doug Coffee Maker Set ($17) – I taught my son how to make my coffee (with my assistance and supervision, of course), and it's so cute to see him repeating the process with this set. He's got it down!

23. Safari Ltd Plastic Animals ($3+) – If you could only see the GIGANTIC basket in our living room that's filled with these plastic animals... This brand is our fave, but we also grab similar ones at Target and Hobby Lobby. 

24. Melissa & Doug Geometric Stacker ($15) – My son hasn't gotten the hang of this stacker yet, but he still enjoys it. He'll make them into a tower or put them in whatever order he wants, and that's good enough for me. 

25. Melissa & Doug Safari Sidekicks ($18) – We have four of these fuzzy animals sets (horses, dogs, farm animals in addition to this one), but the safari one is our son's favorite. But we have to watch out because our dog loves them too...

26. Melissa & Doug Take-Along Horse Stable ($25) – As I said at the beginning of this section, we're all about animals in this household. My son loves pouring out all these horses and then putting them back in their stalls.

And there's some of our recent toddler favorites!

If you've got any recommendations, I'd love to hear about them.

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So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #4

So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #4

Sep 27, 2017

I've shared three posts of favorite baby products in the past year (So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #1, #2, and #3), but I hadn't talked about books yet. I've had this post on my mind for months, and I finally made the time to sort through our ever-growing library of picture books to pick out our favorites. We spend a lot of time reading in our household, and it didn't take me long to identify our most-read books!

For a long time, we read the same 1-2 books on repeat. When my son was a newborn, we'd just read one short book before naps and nighttime sleep. It was boring, but it helped us establish a routine. I still read to him before both naps and bedtime, but now it's usually for about 10 minutes before naps and 15-20 minutes before bed (unless we're too tired to read that long). And, of course, we read throughout the day!

There's a bookcase in the nursery, and the side table next to the chair has a shelf for current favorites. We've got a basket of books in the living room, too, where we spend a lot of our time. My boy is surrounded by books! I think those two things - making reading part of our daily routine and having books readily available in the areas where we spend our time - have been the biggest ways I've helped my son develop a love of books. 

He loves having us read to him and flipping through books on his own. He's got very strong opinions on what he does and does not like, so the following list contains only books that have his seal of approval. I don't love all of his favorites, which I'll mention in my comments on each book, but many of the books are winners for both of us. And there are plenty of picture books that I love that he wants nothing to do with... haha! 

And now, here are my son's thirty favorite picture books:

1. All of Baby Nose to Toes by Victoria Adler - I found this for a few dollars at a used bookstore and couldn't resist it. We love the illustrations, the way it goes through all of the baby's adorable features (eyes, nose, tummy, etc.) and the repetition of the question "Who loves baby's _____?" with "Me! I do." as the answer.

2. Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann - For a few weeks, it seemed like this was the only thing my son wanted to read! He loves pointing to all the different animals. There are no words in this book - sometimes it's fun to embellish the story as I go... and sometimes I just wish I could read out loud without having to think.

3. Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers - I love this book, and so does my son! He can be pretty opinionated on what he does and does not want to read, but this ones always gets a "YES!" It celebrates all the things babies learn to do and way they are cared for "everyday, everywhere." It's wonderful, as are the diverse illustrations. 

4. We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury - This is a book that I want to like more because my son loves it. The repetition gets so old to me when I'm reading it out loud, though I'm sure that's a big part of why he loves it + all the noises are fun to act out. But shhh! - sometimes I skip over parts of it.

5. Alphaprints: ABC (and 123) by Roger Priddy - These are a big hit in our house! I think my son loves all the bright colors, the fun text, the embossed fingerprints that are fun to touch and random objects that are used to illustrate the animals. I have a feeling he'll like these for a long time! And I love that they'll help him learn.

6. Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr - This is probably in our top five favorites from this whole list. I adore Teagan White's illustrations (the reason I bought the book in the first place). And I love every single thing about the text inside! This will be a go-to baby shower gift for me, without a doubt, because it's just so sweet.

7. Most of Sandra Boynton (The Going to Bed Book) - Boynton is definitely popular with my son, though we don't own all of her work. I don't particularly like these books, but my son doesn't really care about my opinion. Haha! We read The Going to Bed Book frequently when he was younger because it's short and simple.

8. I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak - Aww, I will always associate this book with my son as a newborn. For months, we read this book before every single nap + bedtime. It's not that I love it that much - it's just what seemed to work for him. He cried through so many books early on, but not this one.

9. The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney - This wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's fables is absolutely gorgeous! I try to avoid "reading" this one when I'm too tired, but my son loves it even when my storytelling is a bit lackluster. He loves roaring for the lion, pointing to the mouse and staring at the detailed illustrations.

10. That's Me Loving You by Amy Krouse Rosenthal - This book was on my radar because I love the work of illustrator Teagan White. Thankfully, the story was just as lovely! The parent is reminding the child wherever they go, the parents love will be there too. It's super sentimental, but I love it all the same.

11. Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman - My son loves this silly book about a family of bunnies that adopts a wolf. And I think it's such a sweet way to talk about an older sibling coming to love a new addition to the family! It's a fun book to read aloud, and the illustrations are very eye catching. We read this one a lot!

12. Little Excavator by Anna Dewdney - My son usually prefer books about animals or kids, but this is the rare exception. He likes looking at all the different construction vehicles, especially because the text includes lots of noises. The rhyming makes it very sing-songy to read aloud, and the message is a good one.

13. A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers - I got this book because I loved it, and initially my son wanted nothing to do with it. It didn't surprise me because I think this will be most appreciated by adult book lovers, but recently my son has changed his tune. I'm happy because it's a lovely tribute to imagination and the power of stories.

14. Little Blue Truck (and Little Blue Truck Leads the Way) by Alice Schertle - This is a top five favorite for both of us! It's one of the first "longer" baby books that my son would sit through. We love everything about it: the illustrations, the rhyming text, the message about being friendly, and all the sound effects. 

15. The Quiet Book (and The Loud Book) by Deborah Underwood - We love reading The Quiet Book at bedtime - the perfect read aloud to wind down before sleep. I never would have thought of all the "different kinds of quiet," so I'm a fan of the concept of this one. The illustration are soft and muted, which is just right for the story.

16. Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev - Oh man, I love the message of this story: when a boy and his elephant are banned from a pet club, they create their own where all are welcome. I appreciate the diversity in the illustrations (which are also so lovely) and the themes of inclusiveness. A surprise treasure!

17. Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson - This was a random find at the library, and it's gone on our "to buy" list because my son loves it so much. It's cute to see the little boy and the bear exploring the wild - and then teaming up to have adventures together! The story is simple but sweet, and I'm a fan of the illustrations.

18. Dream Animals (and Day Dreaming) by Emily Winfield Martin - I bought these for my son this past Christmas (mostly because I love the artwork), and they were a little too long for him at the time. Now he really enjoys these books, and I like that they celebrate dreams and imagination. They're lovely books!

19. Llama Llama (gotta start with the original, Llama Llama Red Pajama) by Anna Dewdney - Y'all, we love all the Llama Llama books in our household! The illustrations are cute, the situations are relatable (like llama's first overnight trip in Llama Llama Gram & Grandpa) and the sing-songy text is perfect for reading aloud.

20. Little Critter (I Just Forgot is our favorite!) by Mercer Mayer - My mom wouldn't stop talking about how much she loved the Little Critter books when we were kids and how she regretted getting rid of them. Thankfully, my boy got quite the collection for his birthday and he loves them! These are probably our most-read books.

21. If You Give... (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a winner) by Laura Joffe Numeroff - I found a cute little box set of five of these books at Costco earlier this year and gave them to my son for his first birthday. At the time, he didn't really care for them. But lately, he's obsessed! He likes the silly antics of the animals.

22. BabyLit Primers (Pride & Prejudice is my son's favorite, and YES I'M SO HAPPY!) by Jennifer Adams - Years ago, I told my mom I wanted these for my future baby. After I found out I was pregnant, she got my baby's library started. We like some of these primers more than others, but the illustrations are so cute in all of them.

23. Sharing the Bread by Pat Zietlow Miller - I saw Betty talking about this book back when she blogged and bought it based on her rec. I'm so glad I did! We've been reading this one on repeat lately. I love the message, the illustrations and the way each member of the household contributes to the Thanksgiving meal.

24. A Night of Great Joy by Mary Engelbreit - This is one of the few Christmas books I've found that I like too because it explains the Nativity in an engaging way. It isn't too short or simplified, but it isn't super long either. I like that the illustrations depict kids performing the story at a Christmas pageant. It's unexpected and cute!

25. Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck - This is a more simplified Nativity story, but it was perfect last year because my son was so young. Each illustration shows a different animal or person involved in the story with a simple rhyme about their role (ex: I am the donkey, / soft and gray, / I carried his mother / from far away.)

26. The Story of Easter by Fiona Boon - This was in my son's Easter basket, and he loves it way more than I expected! This book tells the story of Easter with rhyming text and cutesy illustrations. I like that it's simple enough for my son to listen to it, but it still accurately tells the story and presents the Gospel.

27. Bright Baby: Animals by Roger Priddy - This book is basically just a bunch of photos of animals labeled with their names, but my son loves it. He likes to point to the photos, tell me the noise they make (for the ones he knows) and have me say the name. But the "Lift-the-Tab" on the cover made me think it had flaps (it doesn't).

28. Where's Spot? by Eric Hill - This, on the other hand, is a lift-the-flap book and makes a frequent appearance around here. The story is kinda dumb, but the point of this is obviously the hide-and-seek aspect. Boring but a definite favorite for my son and it's cute when he seems surprised to find Spot in the end.

29. Busy Farm by Scholastic - This is a lift-the-flap book that teaches colors, numbers, shapes, animals and animal noises. I'll often bring this one in the car because it entertains my son for a little while. I like the learning element and that it uses real photos rather than illustrations (so it's easier to teach him to identify things).

30. Let's Find Momo by Andrew Knapp - This is definitely my favorite of the four "activity" style books! The left page in each spread has four objects to find (one is always the dog, Momo) and the right page has a photo in a different setting (a bookstore, a carnival, etc.). The dog is adorable, and my son likes finding the objects!

What picture books should we read next?
I'd love recommendations!

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So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #3

So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #3

Jul 20, 2017

Last year, I talked about how overwhelmed I was the first time I walked into a baby store. I'd imagined it being fun, but I spent way too much time researching everything. After my baby was born, I decided to make my own list of favorite baby products. The result was So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #1 and So Obsessed With: The Baby Edition #2, and now I'm back with the third installment of my favorite baby products!

My first two lists were more generic and geared towards expectant mamas who were creating a registry. I featured fifty favorite items and tried to highlight "need" vs "nice to have" in my description for each. Today's list is a little different because you won't need/want these items right away, so they're all optional in a way. But here are a few things I've found useful and the stuff my boy is so obsessed with lately.

I didn't include any books because that post is coming up soon. I'm so excited about it!

1. Neat Solutions Neat-Ware Table Topper ($10) - I took my boy to Chick-Fil-A one day, and the high chair had a little plastic thing folded in the seat. It took me a minute to figure out it was a disposable place mat. It was a gamechanger! I ordered a big pack on Amazon, and now we always keep some in the diaper bag.

2. NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils ($10) - I read about these on a blog and randomly added them to my registry. Now, I'm so glad I did! These little spoons are great to teach self-feeding because babies don't have to hold them a certain way. You read more about them on their website, but our boy loves holding them himself.

3. Re-Play Bowls ($5) - I have no idea how I found the Re-Play brand, but I love their stuff! Their products are made out of recycled milk jugs, so the plastic is nice and sturdy. We've mostly used the bowls and divided plates so far, but we have the flats plates and utensils, too. They sell individual colors and cute mixed sets.

4. Ubbi Tweat Snack Container ($10) - We like to keep some food in the diaper bag, and I randomly found this snack container while browsing at the baby store one day. I love the little handles, the flip top and the spill guard. It's nice that Cheerios don't go stale even if they've been in there a few days. Plus, it's cute!

5. Fisher-Price SpaceSaver High Chair ($50) - We ended up getting this SpaceSaver when our boy was six months old because he was too small for the more traditional high chair that we had. I was excited to find a high chair with a fabric pattern that I actually liked, and this chair has been exactly what we needed.

6. Playtex Sipsters Straw Cups ($8) - I exclusively breastfed for the first six months and hated pumping, so our boy never ended up using bottles. We started introducing sippy cups around six months, and it took a few tries before we found some he loved. He definitely prefers drinking out of a straw, so we stocked up on these cups! 

7. Munchkin Soft-Tip Infant Spoons ($3) - When we introduced solids, we used these spoons a ton! Our boy has moved on to finger foods now, but they're still great for a bowl of oatmeal and such. (Also, I made my own baby food initially and The Amazing Make-Ahead Baby Food Book was a great reference.)

8. Bella Tunno Wonder Bib ($14) - I found these Bella Tunno bibs in a children's boutique while shopping with my mom one day and fell in love. They're so cutre, waterproof, dishwater safe, have an adjustable neck and a nice pocket to catch dropped food. We've got one for home and one for the diaper bag!

9. VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker ($35) - I can't remember how old our boy was when we bought this walker. Maybe nine months? It could have been earlier because I know he used to just sit and play with the front. Regardless, this was a great toy to help him practice walking! And now he doesn't need it... *tears*

10. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Around the Town Learning Table ($40) - This is another toy that he doesn't use anymore but loved for a long time. When we first got it, we left the legs off and he'd sit and play with it. Once he started pulling up, we put the legs on and he'd have fun pressing the buttons, flipping the switch, etc.

11. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Crawl-Around Learning Center ($50) - My parents got this for our boy for Christmas, and he ended up loving it. The shape sorter thing on the side was a big favorite, as was the little window that you could slide up and down. My only complaint? It takes up too much room. Haha!

12. Round Kiddie Pool 20 Gallon ($10) - We had our backyard fenced in last summer, and I figured the only benefit was not taking the dog out on a leash anymore. Well, I was wrong! This year I discovered an additional benefit: reading outside in my swimsuit in private. And, of course, setting up the baby pool for my boy. 

13. Bubble-N-Go Toy Mower ($22) - Although our boy is a great walker, he still finds it a little difficult to push this with enough momentum to create bubbles. However, he LOVES when we help him and the bubbles come out in a steady stream. It's so cute to see his fascination and delight with something so small!

14. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Puzzle ($10) - I love wooden puzzles, but it can be hard to find ones for our boy's age range. Thankfully, Melissa & Doug have a few cute ones! I love the big wooden handle. He likes taking the puzzle pieces out more than putting them in, but it's still an entertaining activity!

15. Green Tones Llama Shaker ($10) - At a boutique, I discovered a few really cute wooden teethers and shakers. They're a different brand than this one, but I can't find the ones we have. But this one is pretty close and equally adorable! He liked the wooden teether better than any of the other ones we bought.

16. Chewbeads Baby Gramercy Stroller Toy Attachment ($15) - Although he liked the wooden teether a little more, I still had to include this one! I loved that it could attach to his stroller or car seat so he wouldn't drop it, and the bright colors definitely caught his eye. The silicone is soft and flexible and perfect for chewing.

17. Fisher-Price Baby's First Blocks ($11) - This seemed like a dumb toy to me, but he loves it. Just goes to show that some things are simple and classic for a reason! At first, he just liked dumping the shapes out. Then, he moved on to filling up the bucket. And now, he's starting to figure out the shape sorting aspect.

18. Mega Bloks Big Building Bag ($14) - He got these blocks for his birthday, and it's fun to watch him dump out the bag and start to put one or two blocks together. It's so cool to watch him figure things out! These are like the baby version of Legos, and I know my husband can't wait for the day he's old enough for those.

19. Little People 'Lil Movers School Bus ($15) - We love anything and everything from Fisher-Price's Little People line! This school bus is one of his favorites, but we have almost everything - the camper, farm, tractor, Noah's Ark, nativity, fire truck, etc. He loves the songs they play and all the different characters!

20. Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll 'N Trike ($110) - A Radio Flyer trike was one of our boy's birthday gifts, and he loves it! We got a slightly different one with a place on the back for a second child to stand, but it's the same in every other respect. He always wants to go for a walk in it and tries to steer himself!

21. Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat ($350) - We had a Chicco infant seat and can technically still use it because he's under the weight limit. But we could tell he wanted to sit up more! We decided on the Britax for a variety of reasons, but the biggest was ease of installation with the ClickTight technology.

22. Maclaren Triumph Stroller ($225) - This was a random thing we splurged on that is definitely not a necessity, though I love it. Rather than get a cheap umbrella stroller, I really wanted something that would last longer, could recline, had a huge umbrella and was still super light/portable. And this was what I decided on!

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