the hippest kid

OV-Watch

When Mike and I decided to have a baby, we actually got out our day planners to figure out when would be the best time. I know, I know, I'm sure that last sentence is the punchline to some yuppy joke somewhere.

But in reality, I wanted Jude to be at home with either mom or dad for at least a full year and I was gonna make it happen, damn it. So finding the window where my maternity leave left off and my husband wasn't doing a graduate school internship became really important to me.

Once the date was picked, we knew we had to get the timing right. We were putting all my eggs (literally) in one basket.

I started taking my temperature twice a day to learn my body's rhythm. All these years, I naively thought the rhythm method of birth control had something to do with a man's ability to keep a beat. It really has to do with a women's ability to take good notes.

In addition to my charting, I bought those ovulation predictor sticks at the drugstore for good measure. After 3 months of peeing on sticks, I swore I could feel my eggs move into my fallopian tubes. I was ready when primetime came.

I'm not normally a person that sets myself up for such a big fall if things don't go according to plan, so I was apprehensive about how I would react if nature didn't line up behind me. As we all know, the best laid plans of eggs and women often go awry. Fortunately for me, the universe and I were on the same page and I got knocked up right on schedule.

It might have been handy to have the nifty OV-Watch when we were planning. It detects chloride ions on your skin that surge when you ovulate. Gives new meaning to having a cycle you could set your watch by.

Available at OV-Watch. (link via Medgadget)

Purple Hooded Towel Monster

I would save myself a lot of time every week if I just blogged the inventory of Mahar Dry Goods. Robert Mahar has exquisite taste and a really intuitive sense of what is cool and fun for a kid.

One of Jude's favorite things about bath time is at the end when I wrap him in a towel and sing a song to him about being a "baby burrito". Since he's really not a baby any more, I've been meaning to update the lyrics to something toddler-witty but I always come up dry in the moment.

Now, however, I have been inspired. I can only imagine Jude's reaction when I pull this puppy out, wrap him tight and croon about "monster burritos". I just hope he doesn't explode from joy just like his mom often does.

Available at Mahar Dry Goods.

Bacon Strips Bandages

Lately, soul searching has taken the place of online hunting and gathering. Hence the sporatic nature of my posts of late.

I've decided to shift gears with my blog. I'm getting bored. While I plan to continue sharing cool things I encounter in the course of my days, I've decided the shopping guide format is just too rigid to be fun. And in my life, it's all about fun.

Yesterday, however, was not so fun. I woke up to a little boy who couldn't use his right arm. AT ALL.

We rushed off to the emergency room. My overactive imagination played out every negative scenario in vivid color. Nerve damage, stroke, spider bite, gangrene... you name it. Shark attack was the only cause I ruled out. I live in the landlocked desert called Kansas, remember?

Turns out, he had nursemaid's elbow. A little bit of Motrin, some manipulation by the doctor and POP! Everything was right as rain.

The pieces of the puzzle fell into place. We'd been shopping at an outdoor mall the previous evening. Upon exiting a bathroom, we were greeted by a large German shepherd. Momma instincts caused me to yank him out of the way while simultaneously putting my body in between him and the pooch. Nadia Comaneci would have been proud of my moves.

He got very grumpy after that, but it since it was nearing his bedtime, I gave it no thought. He fell asleep in the car on the way home. I put him to bed without waking him, so I totally missed the "uh mom, I can't move my arm" cue until morning.

So, you've just witnessed a real, honest to goodness mommy blog post from me. I completely understand if you run away screaming now.

But here's something for you before you go: bacon strip bandages. Now THOSE are fun.

Available at Archie McFee.

Pirate Bandages at Archie McPhee

I think the reason that pirates went "Arghhhh" and made people walk the plank is that they didn't have mommies that kissed their boo-boos and dried their tears.

Would there have been fewer pirates on the high seas if these adorable pirate bandages had been around in the days of yore? Hard to say, but they may have dramatically reduced the number of peg legs.

Available at Archie McPhee.

7th Generation Diapers at 1800 Diapers

I have a huge pet peeve. I don't like brands or labels on the products I buy. I think companies like Nike and Dolce & Gabbana should pay people to advertise for them. They are getting a total free ride on everyone's shoes, shirts, hats, etc. Scoundrels, all of them!

Given that point of reference, you can imagine how I feel about diapers with Elmo, Nemo, Dora and their ilk. I also simply cannot stand how you can see the characters show through their bloomers, shorts and onesies.

It's just ugly.

What? You were expecting me to rave on about how I don't want my precious little one to be a part of Corporate America's multi-channel co-branded advertising plot to take over the world? Well, I do suppose that bugs me too.

Our solution to curing baby butt ugliness has been to dig deep into our wallet every couple months and spring for the plain brown wrapper of the diaper world: Seventh Generation

What I love about them:

• No freeloading characters.
• No latex. I break out in hives on contact and suspect Jude inherited my sensitive skin. I'd rather not risk it on the ol' privates.
• No fragrance. Come on, let's face it, NO amount of baby powder perfume will mask the aroma of baby poop, so what is the point?
• Chlorine free. My extra-green hubby loves that we are not contributing to dioxin pollution.

What I don't love:

• They are not cheap.
• You cannot pull a "Raising Arizona" caper and steal them from the convenience store like Huggies.

To get around the price issue, 1800DIAPERS is a great source of discount diapers. We buy them online in bulk. The prices are fantastic and you can get them shipped for free.

Shameless self-interest plug: If you decide to buy from their site, please use my referral code, MEMX7065. You'll get a $2.00 discount off your order and I'll get a kickback toward more diapers.

Available at 1800DIAPERS.

Lavera Colored Sunspray

As I posted yesterday, I've been like a rabid squirrel combing the 'net for sunburn prevention acorns.

I was thrilled to dig up this totally cool SPF 25 sunscreen by Lavera that is not only certified organic (bonus!) but is tinted green with chlorophyll. This allows you to see where you've applied the lotion and it fades after a couple minutes.

I was so impressed by this product that I took a minute to learn more about Lavera. In an era of corporate corruption, it was such a treat to find a company with a conviction to truth. Protecting baby butts everywhere and restoring my faith in mankind!

Rock on Lavera!

Available at Saffron Rouge.

Bath Crayons by Crayola

--QUICK PICK--

Can't say enough about how great these are. Only $5.99!!

Available at CrayolaStore.

Suds from Saturn at Mommyshop

Jude turns two on May 11. Last year, I had the brilliant idea to decorate a cake shaped like a caterpillar. This is further evidence that I temporarily lost IQ points after giving birth and hadn't gotten them back at the one-year milestone. I had never used a pastry bag to decorate a cake before, but by 4 AM and 10,000 #16 star-tip dots later, I was a bleary-eyed expert.

Expert at knowing I would never, ever do this again...

So this year, I'm ordering the cake and trolling the internet for low-fi ideas. Found these cute robot bubble bath favors for the daycare friends. No peanuts, parts to choke on or added sugar. Wow, this year I can sleep easy and enjoy his special day.

Available at Mommyshop.

Sweet Pea Collection by Caldrea

We use Caldrea cleaning and personal care products in both the kitchen, the bath and in the laundry. I love them because their fragrances are sublime. I wonder if I was a "nose" in a former life, given my eccentricity about smell.

Caldrea has a special collection just for wee ones. The Sweet Pea fragrance is a blend of geranium, orange, jasmine, coriander, rose and bergamot. Wow, sounds like that combination could overpower just about any odor your kid can through at.

Well, almost...

Available at Giggle.

 

Soapsicles by Soapy Love

Just learned firsthand about these adorable popsicle-inspired soaps from Soapylove's founder, Debbie. Thanks girl!!

During cold and flu season when our family morphs into a bunch compulsive hand-washers, these lovely little gems will brighten up the task mightily.

Currently available at Soapy Love.