Baby Wearing

My friend, Laura Beth, asked me a while ago to review my baby carriers and which I like best and why. I thought it would be fun, so here we go!

I wear Liam in a baby carrier almost every day. Sometimes for long periods of time. If he is really fussy he may be in it most of the day. Not as much that long any more but when he was really little he wanted to be held all the time. This was the easiest way to actually get something done. I have 4 different carriers and honestly I love them all for different purposes. Here they are with all my opinions.

Moby Wrap
This is probably the carrier we use most often for these reasons:
-it fits Adam and me because it's one size fits all- you just wrap it different ways and tightness
-we like that it's not structured so it's easiest to hold Liam sitting down like on the airplane- I just leave it tied on me and get him in and out as needed
-we always travel with this one because we can both wear it and sit easily and comfortably
-Liam is snug as a bug in it
-it can be worn a couple different ways but the baby cannot face forward
-can be used at birth- don't have to wait until the baby is bigger

Disadvantages:
-people complain that it's hard to tie but it's really simple once you watch a youtube video a couple times. I can get this thing on in 10 seconds
-it's kind hot because it has a lot of fabric in it
-baby can't face forward

Poor Colby was my unsuspecting guinea pig while I was pregnant

K'tan

I wear this one the second most. I use it when I run in places quickly or need to stuff it in a small place before I use it or need to be able to put it on really quick. If I wear Liam while running errands I use this. Or if it's going to be hot wherever I go. It's just 2 loops of fabric hooked together.

I like it because:

-it is not as much fabric as the moby so it's cooler and easier to throw in the diaper bag

-super is easy to put on quickly

-easier to put on if the moby confuses you but it's the same concept

-baby can face forward if they prefer

-baby can be any size like the moby

Disadvantages:

-it's sized so Adam can't wear it-mine's an extra small

-harder to adjust than the moby since it's sized

-i find that because it has less fabric than the moby it also has less support so I get tired of wearing it quicker than the moby or ergo

Ergo

I keep saying I wear this one a lot but the truth is I wear all of them a lot! This one has the most support so I wear it when I will have him in it for long periods of time. Or if I'm going for walk, this is the only one I would use. 

I like it because:

-support for wearing him a while 

-fairly easy to put on although there is buckle in the back that's hard for me to do by myself but it is possible

-most comfortable

-can be worn on your back

-fits both Adam and me with some adjustments

-I'll be able to wear this until Liam is biggest, I think like 2 years old. He would be way too heavy for the other carriers to be comfortable

-easy to wear while doing yard work or stuff around the house

Disadvantages:

-because it's structured it's not very comfortable for me or him to sit in

-bigger to carry around with me when it's not in use

-supposed to wait until they are a certain weight it wear it or use an infant insert but I just swaddled him when he was tiny and used it and it worked great

-can't face front

Lastly, I have a sling but I don't wear it very much. Mine is sized so it's not that comfortable. I think I would like a ring sling better but I prefer weight distribution to both my shoulders.

Overall, I think the moby is most versatile but it intimidates people since it's just one long string of fabric. I would get an ergo and moby if I wanted to keep it a little more simple but I'm not giving any of mine up any time soon! I love wearing Liam and he loves it too. He is perfectly happy just looking around and being close to me and can also fall asleep in all of them very easily if he's tired. Sometimes if he refuses to nap in his crib I stick him in one of these and he's out in no time. Hope this has been helpful to someone and encourages you to try it! I love talking about it and answering questions if anyone has any.

Liam's Nursery

I love Liam's nursery. I am so happy with how it turned out, so I thought I would give a tour. Since Liam was 7 weeks early, I didn't even have the room painted when he was born. I thought I had so much time left! So, we scrambled when he was in the NICU and had it painted and bought everything we didn't have yet. It was a mess of shower gifts and boxes. My mom did so much on it while we were at the hospital. 

Here's the view from the door walking in.

I used a dresser that Adam and I had already redone. It was a dumpster dive and we- read Adam- painted it and added new hardware from Anthropologie. I found the pictures hanging above the changing table online as free downloads. The rug is from Urban Outfitters. I had a nursery board on pinterest and realized many of the pins had this rug in it.

The floor shelf is from ikea and turned on it's side. The cards are the alphabet- again an online free download that I had printed and strung from twine and hung with clothes pins. I made the seat cushion and the baskets in the shelf are from Land of Nod.

The bookshelf is repurposed from another room.

I also made Liam's curtains and bedskirt. He may have been 7 months when I finally finished making them but at least I finished!

We spend a lot of time in that glider feeding Liam, reading, or just looking out the window

I had canvases made of our newborn pics by Paige Knudsen. Don't mind our precious baby playing in the crib and dog napping by the door.

I really love it and am happy with it every time I walk in.

Easter

Holidays are sure a lot more fun with a little one...even if he doesn't even know it exists. He got an Easter basket from the 3 Easter bunnies- 2 grandmas and me. We went to church then to brunch at a fun restaurant.

Liam- 9 months

Since we are quickly approaching 10 months, here's our 9 month info.

Stats:
Length: 28.5 in (48%)
Weight: 18 lb 12 oz (30%)
Head circumference: 18 in  (67%)

Firsts:

-Atlanta visit from Grandpa Eelkema

-sitting on his own

-many new foods

-Braves game of the season

-riding in the big boy seat in the stroller

-rolling both ways

-adding many squeals and noises to his speech

-Easter

-time in the church nursery

-2 top teeth

Biggest Achievement: Sitting. For the most part, Adam and I do a good job of knowing Liam will be behind since he was a preemie. I was really anxious for the sitting though since I thought he was quite a bit behind in that area. When we went for his appointment his pediatrician was not at all concerned and said he is right on track whether he was a preemie or not, so that eased this momma's concerns.

Sizes: This totally varies by brand. For the most part he wears 9 month or 6-12 month sizes

Feeding: Liam eats twice a day- usually millet or oatmeal with avocado, sweet potatoes, something green, and flax for his first meal and yogurt with fruit for his second meal- I'm still making all his food and I really enjoy it. He has about 6 bottles a day eating about 8 oz in the morning and at bedtime and 4 oz for all the others.

Schedule: Unfortunately we did a little back slide in the sleeping department this month. He must have had a growth spurt because he went back to waking up in the middle of the night. Adam has been doing most of the night duty because I have been working a lot. Have I mentioned Adam isn't working right now? He quit his job in January and has been staying home with Liam. He starts a new job in August. It has been so good for him to be with Liam all day. I think it will impact his parenting forever. Most days, he loves it. Anyway, so sleeping has not been as good this month. Liam takes 2-3 naps a day. The first one is about 1.5 hours after he wakes up then again about 1pm. Then he gets tired again at 5 so we usually go for a walk around then and he snoozes on the way to the park or is at least happy in the stroller. When he wakes up between 7 and 8am I get up with him and make my coffee and feed him a bottle. Then we usually play and watch morning talk shows (Kelly and Michael then the Today Show) then Liam will go down for a nap. We do solids after the nap then play more but I start to be productive on whatever for the day. :) Then nap again, then food, then play. He gets a bath at 6:30 and is asleep by 7:30-8.

Like Mommy: Liam likes to wake up in the mornings slowly and cuddle a little.

 Watering was apparently way too tiring for this baby

 My college roommate Kimberly Chalk adopted a precious baby from Ethiopia, so Jessica Golden, Liam and I helped welcome them home at the airport

Like Daddy: Liam loves it when Adam throws him in the air or takes risks I don't like. :) He gets a gigantic smile.

Biggest Challenge: Definitely nights. I know Adam is tired and so am I.

Mommy's Favorite: I love it when he really gets giggling. I hope I remember that noise for the rest of my life. I also love his fat little feet and hands.

Daddy's Favorite: When you pick Liam up, he grabs around your neck and sticks his face in it. Like, "thank you for getting me up, I'm holding on!"

Liam is so happy and an absolute joy. Every month I think is my favorite age. He is just precious and our hearts are full.