FAVORITE things.

fAvOriTe tHiNgS

Okay, I know, you have all been dying to ask this question, "What are the things you CAN'T live without??" I know. You really have been wondering, right? Well, there are a few things that we ABSOOOLUTELY AAAHDORRRE (anyone seen the Mary Kate & Ashley flick, It Takes Two ?? if so, you get why I wrote that. Holla.) And, seeing that many of our good friends are embarking in the whole new adventure of Parenthood, we thought we'd make our favorites known.

So, here is the list of our Parenthood Favorites. These aren't in any specific order, so don't freak out ok? good. Also, I might warn you, two of these items are definitely "investment" items, meaning they were more than I wanted to pay, but justified in the end b/c we're planning to have more kiddos down the line (and they are completely wonderful). So, with that said, here's a few fave's.

* VIDEO baby monitor *

okay, team, I was very skeptical about this purchase. I had registered for a simple regular audio only baby monitor that was about $20 and Aaron's mom graciously purchased it for us. End of story? nope.

Aaron heard from some guys at school that the Video Monitors are WHERE IT'S AT and that it was SUCH a great investment. (yeah, you're not kidding investment... most cost $100 +). Aaron thought it was a good idea and I finally said, "Okay, get the receipt from your mom, we'll go exchange it." Luckily, when Aaron was asking his mom for the receipt, she said that she had just seen an add in Costco for a video monitor for $99. I don't know if you realize this, but Costco is the bomb-diggity and perhaps our favorite store, so we didn't hesitate to buy it there (helllloooo awesome return policy!).

Moral of the story... BEST PURCHASE EVER! I can't tell you what peace of mind it gives me. And it is great b/c it has a battery backup, so even when the power goes out (which it has TWICE!) we still know that our darling little gal is doing fine.

I will warn you though, we stay up late just watching her and admiring her! So, it will cut into your sleep time, but we LOVE it and I love that I can see the detail of her little chest moving up and down to assure that she is still breathing (yes, I am a huge worrier!). So, team... SERIOUSLY we are in LOVE with our VIDEO BABY MONITOR! Totally worth the investment. Best money we spent.

* PILATES/exercise ball *

Remember how my mom bought it for me as a "birthing ball"--and it was the ONLY seat that was comfortable to me during those last few weeks of pregnancy? Yeah, well apparently it is Matilda's ONLY seat she will enjoy. Wonderful LA-Z-BOY recliner? Nope. She hates to rock. She loves to bounce. My friends, this $16 purchase can be yours if you visit your local Walmart. Seriously, it has SAVED our lives. We aren't having to dance around the entire house to make her happy. All we have to do is hop on the ball and bounce away. Truly, it is incredible. She stops crying within 30 seconds. My mother-in-law was also amazed and vowed to make this trick known to everyone who has a baby! (well, maybe she didn't vow, but she was super impressed, as were we!)

Buy one. Best $16 bucks you'll ever spend.

* Graco sweetpeace swing *
(that's how they write it on the box too.)

ok, team. This is the most recent purchase here at the Wood house. As in a few days ago. You see, we had a beautiful little Boppy swing. All was well. Until we went to Utah and tested out the "flight simulator" as I fondly called it. My mom went nuts and bought the coolest swing on the market. Yes, it is one of the ones that swing forward, backward, side to side and beyond. Well, let's just say it was a DREAM COME TRUE. Matilda, of course, loved it. She would sleep for hours at a time. So, what is a desperate parent in need of TWO arms to do? Yeah, fork over the extra cash to help the child sleep... for hours!

LOVE IT. I just finished setting it up. Guess who is already sleeping away in it, as I type (both hands on keyboard). Yes. That would be Tillie. So, yeah, it is expensive, but I figure the extra cash will be worth it once I start working again. If I can have her sleep multiple hours in the day without me having to hold her. Team, all's well here.

AND! wow, I am forgetting one of the best features, we can put her CAR SEAT in it too!!! So, for example, I finish feeding her, change her diaper and strap her in her car seat. Then I pop her into the swing's mantle and rock her to sleep. Then carry her car seat to the car -- bada bing bada boom, she's asleep and ready to rock!

Also, it is great for things like this morning when I went for a walk. She sleeps great in her stroller (which her car seat attaches to) and when I came in, again, I just popped her into the swing mantle without having to get her out of the car seat. People, she slept for another 2 and a half hours!! Am I in love? yes. Yes, people, I am in love.

Oh, and if you want to see this puppy in action, feel free to click on this link for the demo (oh, it if doesn't load right away, click on the "explore" tab and then click on "video product walk through". Be amazed). Awesome, I know.

* Swaddle technique *

Ok, this may sound funny, and I didn't purchase this, but I did learn this from "an old pro"-- we'll call this pro Denise. Yeah, she is something else. And, yes, that is her real name.

Okay, they taught us at the hospital the "sorta swaddle" (i renamed it). But, Denise taught us the "incredible swaddle". Be prepared to be amazed.

(oh, i found this video on how "expert-village" (whoever they are?) thinks you should swaddle your baby. yeah, this is not cool. and remember how the baby is having a cow in the video? obviously the "straight jacket approach" is not working.)

In effect, the method my mom taught is apparently called the "Aussie Method". It is a winner in our books. This is how my mom taught us and Matilda loves it, because her hands, though wrapped, can still be up by her face.
See image above to get the idea of the "tucking arms up in"--- but imagine the blanket in the diamond shape as shown on the above link.

Anyway, those are our favorite things AS OF NOW. I am sure many more we'll discover along the way. Don't you fret, we'll post as we go. But, if any of you have other favorites that you think we should know about, feel free to let them be known in our comment section. We're always looking for new ways to make life awesome. :) Aren't we all?

Well, ta ta for now!

ok, ok. we're bA-aCk!

"hey!  I know you!"

So, I know, you have all been waiting anxiously for a new post, right?  yeah, I know.  It's been almost a month, my friends, and a month is a LONG time, especially for a new little baby.  I have been debating in my mind how to go about posting all the BILLIONS of photos we've taken over the last month.  The verdict? Okay, I'll tell.  

"We'll start from the very beginning.  A very good place to start.  When you read you being with A-B-C..."  Quick! Name that song! From what movie/play? Anyone? Anyone? 

Good.  We are kindred spirits if you know the answer to that one.  AND! we are even more kindred spirits if you know what "kindred spirits" is from.  Am I making sense any more? Probably not.  Whatev.

Ahh, I digress.  Wow, let's get started.  Onto the MAIN EVENT! 

Tillie Mae is her name, being WONDERFULLY ADORABLE is her game. And, let's face it, she wins EVERY STINKIN' TIME.  Enough caps.  Wow, that was getting a little annoying.

But, Matilda? Never annoying.  Always perfect.  Always a delight.  

Let's take a look at some darling photos that my sweet friend, Catherine Lopez, took right before we left to Utah.  Catherine is the "big time" now, doing REAL photo shoots in California with the pros.  Once she has her website up, I'll post her link and, if you are lucky, she can be your photographer too!  Thank heavens, she was gracious enough to snap a billion fantastic shots of sweet Tillie Mae. Seriously, Catherine has the patience of a saint.  We ended up doing TWO shoots and here are just a few of the magic she captured of our darling one month old (can you believe she is TWO months old now?!).  Enjoy. And, thanks again Catherine!!! Kudos to you, my friend.

looking toward her bright future. awe struck, of course.

"whaa? you want to plant me in your garden? i am so confused."

looking pretty in pink fluffy cloud. 

tiny little hand.

darling long feet. those are her daddy's feet, just in mini form.  large toe span and all.  

one day I will post some others for a better illustration of the comparison. 

i know you are thrilled at the prospect.

always curious.

"are you done yet? haven't we taken enough already??"

this is her ready to doze face.  give her two more seconds and she will be fast asleep.

almost ready to cry face.  it's not because I put a huge flower a top her head, is it?

oh, the vanity.

i love this face. this is the just content face. not happy, not sad, just feeling fine to be here.

well, we're really glad that she is here.

don't you agree?

Thanks again, sweet Catherine!  You are the BOMB.COM for taking such incredible pictures of our doll-face.  You have captured so many of the different sides of Matilda.  

ThAnK yOu A biLLiOn TiMeS oVeR!

reason for delay...

team...
just thought I'd give you a head's up--- the reason we haven't posted for so long is because we are in UTAH! good times abound, i'll tell you that much.

get excited for many pictures and fun. but, not yet! I'm debating whether or not to download pictures onto our family's computers and then burn them to a cd for me. Decisions, decisions.
So, until I come up with a game plan, I will hope you can be PATIENT. Because I know you are DYING to see new pictures of the wee one.

*** SHE IS SMILING NOW!!! **** again, good times abound.

She is a doll face and keeps getting cuter EVERY SINGLE DAY!
get excited to see her beautiful face soon. I assure you, it will be worth the wait.

ta ta for now, muchachos.
-melis

fun visit number 2

We've been meaning to post these pictures for a while! Sorry!
These are some fun pictures from when Grandma Wood, Kirstin (aaron's sis) and little Max (her 10 month old) came to visit after my mom left. It was great to not have to worry about meals and be able to take lots of naps while they were here! And, we got some great movie watching in too! It was wonderful to have some more fun help as we were adjusting to parenthood!

And crazy to see what to expect in a few months by watching Max! He's a speed racer and LOVES to play in cupboards! Who knew?! Note to self: baby proof the house. Ha! Luckily, we have a little bit of time before Matilda is rompin' around. I can't imagine her getting so old! It was crazy to see how big Max was in comparison---and he's not even a year old yet! Everyone says how quickly these kiddos grow up, so we are trying to remember and take it all in! We love this baby girl SOO much! We can't wait for her to grow up and play and smile and talk, but then we want her to stay mini mini forever too! What to do?! :)

Anyway, here are some random pictures from their stay. Enjoy!

don't you just love her face in this one? Max was being very gentle. It was pretty cute!

You've got to wonder what she is thinking right now! hA! love it.
She's probably wondering why she has to share the back seat! Too funny.

cute cute! can you tell who is related to them? Aaron or me? Love it!

Max made us promise that he could hold baby Tillie before he left. Okay, he didn't, but this was pretty funny.

what a fun three-some! oh, i should say, 5-some! Now do you know who is BLOOD related here?? :)


cute grandma/grandbaby shot. love it.


no trip is ever complete without the Alamo. (Luckily, the day they left was Aaron's last day of school!
So, he showed them the town while Matilda and I slept! (one of our favorite past-times).)


A fun shot of the Riverwalk to finish off the trip.

Thanks for coming! It was great to have you here!!