products the Ben & Jen Show love- #3

If you didn’t see the original post regarding the list, check it out to get the background on the amazing Top 11 products we have loved over the last 4 months!

In the entertainment category… (a.k.a. things that keep baby entertained while mommy can:  eat breakfast, eat lunch, use the restroom, brush her teeth, talk on the phone, update her blog…etc.)

#3. Books- a few of his faves:  Dr. Seuss’s ABC Book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Farm Tails, and First 100 Words— this one is probably his most fave right now.  He loves rhyming stories, bright, colorful images, & books that have things that he can pull and tug at.  He does this funny bam-bam thing when reaching out and touching the pictures; so cute, of course! :)   And when he’s really engaged in a story, he’ll do his little baby talk thing.  Again, so cute!  I must admit, I love reading to Ben; sharing old books that I grew up with and discovering new stories too!

We heart books! :)

products the Ben & Jen Show love- #4

If you didn’t see the original post regarding the list, check it out to get the background on the amazing Top 11 products we have loved over the last 4 months!

In the entertainment category… (a.k.a. things that keep baby entertained while mommy can:  eat breakfast, eat lunch, use the restroom, brush her teeth, talk on the phone, update her blog…etc.)

#4. Ziggles- This thing looks so weird, I’ve even heard some people say it looks like road guts.  Despite its looks, Ben loves this toy!  He’s really into trying to grab stuff right now and I rather him grab & tug at ziggles instead of grabbing my hair!  This is probably his second favorite toy right now; activity mat being #1.

Oh, and, Ben loves it when daddy plays the 3-2-1 Blast Off game with it.  I love to watch this– just the pure joy in Ben’s face when hubby is counting 3-2-1 Blast Off!!! Launching ziggles in the air!

Here’s a video that Raise the Barn did while holding ziggles. Now, you can’t see ziggles in the video but it’s what he is holding to get Ben to look up in the air.

products the Ben & Jen Show love- #5

If you didn’t see the original post regarding the list, check it out to get the background on the amazing Top 11 products we have loved over the last 4 months!

In the how can I help my baby get to sleep category… (and we all know how important this is!)

#5. Woombie- I wish we had one of these the day we brought Ben home from the hospital.  Awesome product!!!  After a couple of times of waking up & seeing that Ben had somehow busted out of his SleepSack & covered his face with it, I knew we needed something better to put him in.  Something that could really contain those wiggly arms!  The Woombie was the answer!  Really easy to get him in & out of, sleeps fantastic in it, and the fabric is very lightweight; no worries about baby overheating.

We have two of these- newborn & big baby.  I’ll say it again, I really wish I had the newborn one from the start.  I loved this thing, and when Ben grew out of that one, we bought the next size up.  A few weeks ago, we retired the Woombie for when we put him to sleep at night.  He officially graduated to big boy jammies :)  But I’ll admit (and I know that I’m probably breaking some sort of parenting rules), I still use the Woombie for naps during the day.  Yes, I know that he’s getting a little old for swaddling, but when your baby is really, really, spazzy and is fighting the whole nap idea, woombie-ing him up is the only answer!  I know the day is coming on when I’ll have to stop using the Woombie, but sometimes really good products are hard to let go.  I really can’t say enough about how much I love this thing!

For more about the Woombie… check out Raise the Barn’s review about it!

products the Ben & Jen Show love- #6

If you didn’t see the original post regarding the list, check it out to get the background on the amazing Top 11 products we have loved over the last 4 months!

In the very helpful items category… (and we all need a little help every now and then, right?)

#6.  Bottle Warmer- Also falling in the… do I really need one of these things? I thought I didn’t.  Picture this… your little bundle crying for food in the middle of night.  You go downstairs pulling a cold bottle out of the fridge, trying to quickly warm it up in the sink with hot water, meanwhile baby is starting to go into the I sound possessed cry. You are trying to move as fast as you can.  Finally, with what seems like an eternity, the bottle is warm and baby is fed.  Everyone goes back to sleep for a couple of hours and then we all go through this again.  And this happens multiple times during the night!

Doing this 2-3 times in the middle of the night can drive a mommy (and a daddy) crazy!  This scene played out in our house for a couple of weeks until we realized we really, really, really, needed a better solution.  Our prayers were answered when we discovered the amazing Night & Day Bottle Warmer System.  Perfect idea for feeding baby upstairs!  We could keep it in our bathroom, a few steps away from our bed, with two prepared bottles in the cooler section for those middle of the night feedings.  Yes, I said cooler section!  It’s pure genius.  It truly made things soooo much easier for those blurry-eyed, middle of the night feedings; everything just seemed so much more quick and efficient with this warmer.  We loved it sooo much that we bought this one for downstairs (and we still use it everyday).

Save yourself from hearing the crazy, baby possessed cry (ok, I really can’t promise that!) and get yourself one of these warmers.  Especially if you have a 2-story house like me.  You’ll be glad you did!

products the Ben & Jen Show love- #7

If you didn’t see the original post regarding the list, check it out to get the background on the amazing Top 11 products we have loved over the last 4 months!

In the very helpful items category… (and we all need a little help every now and then, right?)  This item also falls in the how can I help my baby get to sleep!

#7.  Glider & Ottoman- This is another one of those products I wasn’t really sure we needed.  I have to say, after using this glider everyday for last 4 months, I can’t believe I thought I didn’t need one.  When Ben is on the edge of fighting going to sleep, I hop in the glider and within minutes he’s counting those sheep.  We read books in the glider and do some of his feedings in it too.  It’s VERY comfortable to sit in, has arm pockets for things like mags, books, & burpies, and when I was in my last few weeks of being preggers, it was the only chair in the house my butt & my aching back could find comfort in.  I can’t imagine not having it!

products the Ben & Jen Show love- #8

If you didn’t see the original post regarding the list, check it out to get the background on the amazing Top 11 products we have loved over the last 4 months!

In the entertainment category… (a.k.a. things that keep baby entertained while mommy can:  eat breakfast, eat lunch, use the restroom, brush her teeth, talk on the phone, update her blog…etc.)

#8.  Bouncer- This was one of those items I wasn’t sure we really needed.  But once I realized we needed a place to put Ben while we were doing chores & hanging out upstairs, the bouncer was purchased.  It is the perfect solution for having a place for Ben to be entertained.  It has 3 levels of vibrate mode and plays music.  I don’t really turn on the music; please check out my review about the Activity Mat for reasons why… :) I can say that Ben really loves how the seat vibrates.  Makes me wish I had a vibrating chair too :)  One of the best things about the bouncer is that I can easily carry it around from room to room so Ben can be part of all of the exciting action going on upstairs.  I hope he’s soaking in all of the how-to’s on how to wash & fold laundry; hoping he’ll be able to help me soon! :)

products the Ben & Jen Show love- #9

If you didn’t see the original post regarding the list, check it out to get the background on the amazing Top 11 products we have loved over the last 4 months!

In the very helpful items category… (and we all need a little help every now and then, right?)

#9.  Gerber Cloth Diapers- No… we’re not doing the whole cloth diaper thing, we use them as burpie rags.  That’s right, they are the best burpie rags EVER!   Ben has his one fancy burp rag that I knitted for him (and a few that auntie & g-ma made as well).  The rest are cloth diapers.  My sis-in-law gave me this tip about buying cloth diapers and using them as burp rags.  Some of the best advice I have received!

The reality is that you need a ton of burp cloths.  And because you need a ton of these, buy the Gerber Cloth Diapers. They’re cheap, super absorbent, and much, much BIGGER than rags marketed specifically as burp cloths.  I don’t know about your baby, but my baby needs a super sized rag to spit up on.

And, when you’re done using them as burpie rags, you can use them as dust cloths to clean with.  Oh, and, I’ve bought my arsenal at Target, but I’m pretty sure they are widely available at just about any store that sells baby things.

Your welcome (for this amazing advice of course!)

products the Ben & Jen Show love- #10

If you didn’t see the post from yesterday, check it out to get the background about the list.

In the how can I help my baby get to sleep category… (and we all know how important this is!)

#10. Muslin Swaddle Blankets- Yes, they are a little spendy.  But well worth every penny.  We used them to swaddle him on a daily basis for the first couple of months.  Now we use them as tummy time blankets, we cover him when he’s in his carseat, we cover him when he’s in his stroller, and I’ve been known to wrap these swaddles around myself like a fancy mommy shawl, go outside and get the mail with it on.  Didn’t you get the memo?  All of the fashion critics are raving about them too! :)  I love how BIG these swaddles are and I love, love, love, that they are very lightweight.  No need to worry if you’re overheating baby.  And, most importantly, they are freakin’ cute!!!

products the Ben & Jen Show love- #11

Ben is 4 months old!  To celebrate this occasion, I was thinking about the happenings around here and thought it would be fun to sum them up with a little list of things that both Ben and I love that make things a little easier, fun, and definitely more entertaining during the everyday happenings over the last 4 months.

So, for the next 11 days, look forward to the Top 11 (because it’s one louder than 10!) products the Ben & Jen Show have really loved for the first 4 months of his life.  Also to note, this list is in no particular order; true to the blog title, it’s very meandering! :)

In the entertainment category… (a.k.a. things that keep baby entertained while mommy can:  eat breakfast, eat lunch, use the restroom, brush her teeth, talk on the phone, update her blog…etc.)

#11. Activity Mat– Ben loves this thing!  Definitely one of his favorite toys right now.  He could probably play on this it all day long if I let him!  Loves to stare at himself in the mirror; I’m convinced he thinks he is laughing, talking, and giggling with another baby.  Loves to swat & tug at the stuffed animals hanging from it.  Loves to put his feet up in the air and grab his toes (so cute!!!)  And loves tummy time.  Oh, and breaking news… today he rolled over from tummy to back on it!!!  Proud mama alert!

It’s really funny because he’s started doing this very slow break-dance turn move thing when he’s on his tummy.  I think it looks like he’s doing the inch worm and a very slow 360.  He’ll stick his little booty up in the air and begins to turn very slowly.  Very slowly. The only bummer (I guess) is that the music pad doesn’t work anymore.  I think of this as more of a blessing in disguise. I much rather put on some of my own tunes and let Ben rock out to them rather than some so-called, baby stimulating, brainy nursery rhymes.  Ugh.  A few times to listening to that is a few times too many!  I’m glad it broke!!!  No offense, but I much rather have Ben listen to music like Ray Charles, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, U2, Coldplay, Dave, Stevie, The Who, (the list goes on and on and on)… wayyyy more entertaining! :)

For more about the mat and more Ben pics… Check out Raise the Barn’s post about it.

Tune in tomorrow for product #10!

A word about this list… no, I’m not getting any compensation from any of the companies that make these wonderful products.  (Although, that would be nice!)  I’m just a new mommy that wants to spread the word about what has worked for my baby and me during these early months.  If you are preggers and reading this, think of this list as what I think are essentials you need in your house.

birthday wishes for grandpa!!!

Happy Birthday dad!!!  Here’s a little video that team meandering mind put together for you.  Ben is soooo excited it’s YOUR DAY TODAY!!!  We love you!