Tips for Summer Outings

With the summer heat here I thought it would be appropriate to list 13 things to help with a summer outing. Whether you are just going to the park for an hour or going to an amusement park for the day, these tips should help you survive your day.

1. Bring a sippy or bottle of water for each little one. If you have a newborn and you are going to be out in the sun/heat, it is okay to let them have a tiny bit of water if they are hot or sweating. Tiny meaning no more than an ounce.
2. Bring extra water if you are going to be out for a long period of time.
3. Snacks! It is important to make sure you have food for your munchkins if you are going to be gone around a normal eating period for them. Mini carrots, apple slices, grapes or raisins if your little one can handle them. If they are too small for those whole grain crackers, bananas, or cheese sticks are also good snack choices.
4. Sunscreen. I like Aveeno sunscreen. Remember to ask your doctor about sunscreen on newborns.
5. Hats or sunglasses. Protect their eyes from the sun and hats help shade the face.
6. Something to cover up the seat in the car. I use a neat sheet for the back bench of the mini van and receiving blankets on the 2 car seats in the middle row. If you don't cover the seats they will be too hot and can actually give your baby a burn.
7. If you are doing a lot of walking, don't forget a stroller. And if you like your baby carrier.
8. Diapers and baby wipes. I love baby wipes and use them for so many more things than just changing diapers.
9. A change of clothes is important in case of accidents.
10. Plastic bags to contain messes.
11. Appropriate shoes. If you are walking or playing at the park, tennis shoes are the best shoes. (It really bothers me when I see kids at the park in flip-flops. That is an accident waiting to happen.) If you are going to the creek, water shoes are a must.
12. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke so if your little one becomes over heated, you will know it. Learn what to do too. (I think I will post on this next.)
13. A squirt bottle with water in it. This is good if you know it is really hot and you need to cool down.
    

Thursday Thirteen In My Pantry

13 Essential Items in My Pantry/Freezer

A peak into my kitchen here. I believe that the freezer is just the coldest part of the pantry. I also believe that a well stocked pantry is essential to life. If your pantry is stocked you can save money because you always have soemthing to make. A well stocked pantry means you are always able to feed company and anyone who is hungry. If you find yourself in an emergency, then you know you won't go hungry.

1 - Canned Fruit (Baby Gia's favorite food right now)
2 - Rice - White, Brown and Wild
3 - Dry Pasta - You name the type and I probably have it or it is on my list to get more of.
4 - Dry beans - I have several types.
5 - Canned Tomatoes - Sauce, Paste, Puree, Diced
6 - Flour - Right now, I have unbleached white, stone ground whole wheat, and graham.
7 - Cream of Soups - I know not the most healthy but they are important.
8 - Canned Tuna - The only fish I eat, I really cannot eat fish but tuna I can handle.
9 - Spices & Baking Essentials - I have everything well stocked so that I can always be ready to cook or bake anything.
10 - Coffee - Whole Bean in 4 different flavors in the freezer with some in the pantry I am currently using. And, chocolate covered coffee beans. - Because Coffee is essential.
11 - Meat frozen in meal portions.
12 - Sugar - Right now I have brown sugar, regular white sugar, raw sugar, confectioner's (powdered) sugar and granulated fructose. - I have to be ready for any dessert I cook.
13 - Chocolate - Cocoa powder, baking chocolate bars unsweetened, white chocolate baking bar, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, hot cocoa mix, Nesquick, boxed chocolates, bag of individually wrapped chocolates. - Because Chocolate is Essential

I have more stuff in my pantry but as this is a Thirteen list I guess I should stop.

Nursing Mommy Essentials

I have been inspired to start participating in Thursday Thirteen. It is such a fun little huge meme. My very first edition on this blog is dedicated to every new and aspiring nursing mom. I have nursed everyone of my blessings in fact my 14 month old blessing is showing no desire to ween (however mommy really is ready.) So without further ado Mommyhood Essentials Thursday Thirteen 1st Edition


1. Lansinoh - Lanolin is a nursing mommy’s best friend found in a little purple tube.

2. Nursing pads - I cannot tell you how many times I have been very thankful for these. Leaking all over my shirt is not a good thing.

3. Comfortable Nursing Bras - you need two types. One type for the day and one type for night. I use sports bras at night; they are the most comfortable and are easy to nurse in for those midnight, 2am, 4am, and 6 am… feedings.

4. A Great Breast Pump - I love my Avent breast pump. It is inexpensive and works wonderfully. I have had the same one for all of my kids and it still works great. It is comfortable and was the first pump to have the let-down stimulating feature that many have now.

5. Nursing PJ’s - These are a must for easy nursing at night. I bring my little ones to bed with me and nurse while sleeping. If you cannot afford nursing tops, you can easily make them from oversized nightshirts. Just cut slit where needed, and then sew the top together at the neckline so it is like a giant pleat. Also if you nave button shirts, you can use those by unbuttoning the top buttons.

6. Milk Storage Bags - Lansinoh makes some really good bags. They are great to store in the freezer and have them at the ready whenever you will not be with baby during a feeding. Or if you want Daddy to have a turn.

7. A Pillow - I have used a boppy and I have used a regular pillow for my lap support at the beginning. I actually prefer a normal pillow. But I have to heal from an incision and I think that has a lot to do with it. Boppies have to go around the waist right where I do not want anything near.

8. A Nursing Blanket - I have a great blanket that is just a basic piece of flannel that has edging on it. I have made and used one that has the strap around the neck and found it was not all that much better. In fact, I really hated the strap. Flannel is great because it does not slide very easily and if you have a large 1-yard by 1-yard blanket, and then you have plenty of coverage. The only time flannel does not really work, is when it is over 90 degrees and it is just hot. Then even the lightweight blankets are not very comfortable.

9. Burp Clothes - They make great emergency cover-ups if you do not have your blanket. And of course, you can put them over your shoulder to burp. The key is to have good clothes. I have plan everyday cloth diapers that work great. I have made even better burp cloths that I love so much. They are a little bigger than a cloth diaper and the sides have curves to contour to the neck. They are flannel on top and terry on the bottom. They are also very cute.

10. Comfortable Daily Shirts - With nursing comes the inability to wear some shirts. Usually the cutest of your wardrobe, because of your new chest size. And also, the fact that something you just cannot nurse in. I had to have a bride’s maid top altered so that I could nurse in it once.

11. A Small Heating Pad - You need a small heating pad for those times at the beginning when you become engorged. It helps with let down. You can also use a warm washcloth if you are not that bad.

12. A Support Person - someone who knows about nursing. Weather it is a lactation consultant or a close friend who has nursed more than one kid. (The more experience the better)

13. Your little gift form God. - You cannot nurse without the other person involved in the wonderful journey.