About car seats . . .

This post started out being about strollers. But the best way to pick a stroller is to pick out an infant car seat first! 

That's because many infant car seats can be taken out of the car and clicked immediately onto a stroller frame. What better way to let a sleeping baby sleep than to leave them be and not move them! Very convenient. 

I should first mention that there are three different types of car seats that you need to choose from... infant car seats (rear-facing seats with strap-in bases so you can click the seat in and click it out, for babies up to 22 pounds, to be used for about the first six months), convertible car seats (for both infants and toddlers up to 40/65 pounds, no strap in base, so you must remove the entire or leave it in the car) and booster seats (for use after your child grows out of the convertible seat but before they can wear just a seat belt).

Can't you just buy one seat for all functions? Actually, my Baby Bargains book says that even though that might save you money, the safest bet is to actually cycle through each seat as your child grows. Plus, that allows you to use the infant seat as a carrier and seat for the stroller frame. Remember, infants can't yet raise their heads so they need added support for their necks. 

So which infant seats are the best? 

Baby Bargains recommends the Graco SnugRide 32, First Years Via and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 30/30. All are highly rated by parents for ease of use and safety. Since Buy Buy Baby only carries the Graco and Peg Perego seats, we limited our search to those two:

Graco SnugRide 32:Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 30/30:

Graco is very popular and probably the top selling seat. But the Peg Perego is the only one using the new side impact protection. 

From our book: "About 25% of all vehicle accidents are side-impact collisions. Over the past few years, more and more seats have been adding side-impact protection. ... Yes, these seats tend to cost a little bit more, but we think it is a wise investment."

Another consideration: The Graco seat weighs less, only 9.5 pounds compared to 11 pounds for the Peg Perego seat. Of course, Papa Bean is a strong guy (as is Momma Bean), so we are pretty sure we could handle either! 

Finally, since infant seats can be taken on the airplane, you want to look at the base width to make sure it fits in the seat. The Graco seats have a 19-inch base whereas the Peg Perego seats have a 15.5-inch base, making them easier to take on planes. (In case se fly to Hawaii for the holidays!)

Our choice: The Peg Perego seat. 

Next, we'll look at strollers . . .

About Diapers . . .

This is a tough one. A big decision. Huge. Monumental. Do we go cloth or disposable?

The great diaper debate is a long and complicated one. Which is cheaper? Which is better for the environment? Which is better for the baby? Which one is -- dare we say -- more convenient?

According to my trusty Baby Bargains book, the average baby will go through 2,300 diaper changes in their first year of life. Let me repeat that: TWO THOUSAND AND THREE HUNDRED CHANGES! Good, you got it. And that's just for the first year. Diapers will be a part of our lives until Lima Bean is three or four years old.

Let's take a quick look at each before I make the big reveal of what our decision is.

Cloth Diapers

I wore cloth diapers when I was a baby. I don't know for sure, but I would venture a guess that Papa Bean did too. That's what was used back then. (No! Papa Bean's mom used disposable diapers! They had just come out a few years earlier and she says they were all the rage.) They were regular white pre-folds and typically secured with safety ins and then worn under a pair of plastic bubble pants.

Pros: Babies had less diaper rash and toilet trained faster. Plus, they are reusable and don't end up in landfills.

Cons: Some are not as absorbent. And, of course, do you wash them at home or hire a laundry service? Plus, not all day care centers accept them.

Flash forward to today's more modern diapers. Many are much more absorbent. They now have fancy (cute even) diaper covers instead of the plastic pants. And laundry service is still available.

Some popular options: bumGenius , Bumpkins , Kushies, Swaddlebees or FuzziBunz. Also popular: PinStripes and PolkaDots or Niki's Diapers.

For more on cloth diapers, check out Diaper Pin. Read a mother's rave review here.

Disposable Diapers

First introduced in 1961, these suckers now hold an impressive lead over cloth diapers. More than 95% of all households who have kids in diapers use them.

Pros: Today's disposable diapers have super-absorbent gels and, let's face it, they're cheaper and easier to use.

Cons: All that super absorbency means babies are in no rush to potty train. Plus, they could lead to higher trash costs. And, of course, you are taking up significant space in a landfill somewhere where your babies diapers will be decomposing until they graduate college, or later.

So which costs more?

It depends. Cloth diapers have a higher up-front cost (cloth diapers, diaper covers, different sizes as your baby grows) but then don't cost much if you continue using them. Disposable diapers, on the other hand, are far cheaper per diaper but remember, you'll need 2,300 of them in the first year. The bottom line comes down to whether you are willing to wash the cloth diapers yourself - or whether you hire a laundry service, which averages about $750/year.

According to my Baby Bargains book, cloth diapers for the first year, using a laundry service, would likely run $800-$1,200. Disposable diapers could run as high as $650-750 if you buy them at grocery stores or $400-500 if you buy them at discount stores.

Bottom Line, according to my book: "The cheapest way to go is cloth diapers laundered at home. The next best is disposables. Finally, cloth diapers from a diaper service are the most expensive."

Will we go cloth or disposable?

We're going to try a hybrid solution, called gDiapers! These diapers use a washable outer shell with a disposable inner lining that can be flushed down the toilet or composted in the back yard. To be fair, I have heard mixed reviews about these. Some moms love them and others say they leak and don't fit as well. Well, we love how eco-friendly they are and think the concept is a good one. So, we're willing to give them a try!

HINT: The gDiapers Shower Gift would be fabulous to receive! It includes a Starter Set, case of small refills and an extra gPant. Check out how cute these pants are! (Our favorites: Good Earth, Girly Girl Ruffle, Good Vibe Girl, Grasshopper Green, Gaga Pink and Got Chocolate Brown)

I have a feeling that the answer to the great diaper debate is not a one-size-fits-all solution. There may be some trial and error involved. So here's our plan: We'll give the gDiapers a go. I like the concept, so I am hoping they work! (Actress Julia Roberts uses them!)

We also plan to try some of the eco-friendly disposable diapers out there: Tushies, Seventh Generation or Nature Babycare.

HINT: For a $2 coupon off Seventh Generation, create an account on their Web site here.

Here is a great review of gDiapers as well as other eco-friendly disposable diapers, like Seventh Generation.

In fact, many moms suggest using gDiapers during the day and switching to disposables at night to protect from leaks.

Finally, if none of the above work to our satisfaction, you'll find us at our local COSTCO or grocery store buying Huggies or Pampers in bulk.

UPDATE: Huggies now offers a new Pure and Natural Line of diapers. You can order 3 free samples on their Web site! They are per household (or computer) so go on ya'all and order away. We can always use extra diapers... Remember we'll need 2,300 in the first year alone!

Baby stores galore!

We did it. We finally did it. We went to not one, but TWO baby stores on Saturday. 

I won't lie, they were a little intimidating. But we were focused and had a plan: Look at glider rocker chairs and look at cribs. Both need to be ordered soon so that they'll delivered in time. We also wanted to see what the stores were like and get an idea of where we wanted to register. 

Our first stop: Great Beginnings in Gaithersburg, Md.

Walking into this mega-store, located in a strip mall near a bunch of car dealerships, reminded me of walking into an IKEA. There was a maze of nurseries set up to showcase different crib brands and other furniture as well as baby bedding sets and other accessories. 

Toward the back was a long line of glider rocker chairs, the first thing on our list of things to look at and make a decision on! 

About half were all-upholstered and about half were part wood. We had decided earlier that we wanted an upholstered chair because they are more comfortable and also can be used later in another part of the house as a regular chair. 

We had not decided on whether to buy just the chair or a chair and a matching ottoman, which usually costs another $200-300, when a sales associate showed us a better option. We could buy a chair that has a "kick-out" on the bottom. You can lean back and pull a lever hidden next to the seat cushion and a foot rest pops out! Like a Lazy Boy. Now we're talking! 

With this new bit of information, we went immediately to the Little Castle chairs that I had planned to order. Several had kick-outs and they were comfy! 

We also checked out the Dutailier chairs, which had kick outs and reclined nearly horizontal, but they were priced at $1,000+ so we quickly stopped looking at them. 

The third brand of upholstered chairs available at the store was new to me - Best Chairs. Thankfully, I had brought my Baby Bargains book with me, so I shamelessly whipped it out in the middle of the store and thumbed to the chapter on glider rocker chairs to read up on the brand. The chair had been given an "A" for quality, so this was a brand worth considering!

The Best Chairs had one model that was both comfy and had the kick-out but was priced at about $200-300 LESS than the Little Castle chairs. 

We were wondering (out loud) why there was such a big price difference when a store manager wandered over. He said the Little Castle chairs are shipped by freight from California while the Best Chairs come from Indiana. He said the difference in shipping costs to the East Coast was about $200. Wow. A $200 price difference JUST due to shipping?! 

We were already leaning toward the Best Chair model, due to its comfort, and that made the decision that much easier. Done. We looked at the color options and chose a pretty "chocolate" micro-fleece fabric. On to the next store! 

Our second stop: Buy Buy Baby in Rockville, Md.

This store is owned by the Bed, Bath & Beyond chain and it resembled the BBB stores: A dizzying array of merchandise stacked from floor to ceiling. We wandered around looking at cribs, baby bedding, cradles and other stuff. But we were pretty tired by then, so we signed up to get coupons in the mail and decided to come again on another day. 

We saw several cribs at both stores that we liked. I know I said previously that I liked the Graco Lauren crib, but we were told at Buy Buy Baby that they are no longer carrying that model because they consider its drop-down rails to be unsafe. Most of the current offering of cribs (like Munire's Urban crib) are all solid wood with static rails. They feel more solid and seem safer, so I think we'll opt for one of those. 

I'm off on Monday and think I'll head out for a second try at baby supply shopping! The stores should be less crowded. Hopefully, I'll nail down a crib that we want and figure out where to register and get that started! 

So about the Spelling Bee ...

I'm not sure if you all watched the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee this week? I did. Because I had to cover it. So I watched A LOT of it, very closely. And it made me think ...

What would we do if Lima Bean were to somehow win a Spelling Bee and want to go to nationals?

First, I would wonder whose daughter she really is because the only "C" I have ever received in my life was in the 5th grade when Mr. Haynes gave me poor marks for my spelling. Granted, I didn't study because I felt spelling should come naturally. But still. I live by my spellchecker.

I might even second guess who her father is because Papa Bean isn't exactly known for his spelling prowess either. When I asked him a couple nights ago what he would think if Lima Bean made it to the National Spelling Bee, he responded: "Not cool."

So that brings me to the big question here: Do we support our child, no matter what they are interested in, or do we discourage certain activities and encourage others? I mean, what if she does really well at chess (like her Great Uncle Mike) or excels on the debate team but can't hit a baseball? Or vice versa?

As parents, we have preconceived notions of what we want our children to be good at. And we can help them learn things (teach them to swim, make art, write things), practice things with them (like throwing and hitting baseballs), or send them to classes to learn other things (piano, guitar, violin).

But when that smile of excitement covers their face after a victory, spelling bee or otherwise, what do you do?

I would do what one mom told me she did... Run to Barnes & Noble to pick up a spelling bee book and figure it out!

But the rule she and her son apply to their spelling bee studying could be applied to any activity: If you aren't having fun, you aren't going to do well.

And that goes for spellers and athletes alike!

Let's talk details!

How far along: 26 weeks/1 day

Total weight gain: 16 pounds

Maternity clothes: Oh yes, daily. My pre-pregnancy pants absolutely do NOT fit. Sad! But the day I went to the White House last week, I wore the maternity black top with a tan pre-pregnancy pencil skirt and a bella band. Slowly, however, even my maternity pants are starting to get tight... I fear I might have to buy another round of maternity clothing. Uggg.

Main symptoms: Huge belly. Absentmindedness. Gassy. Lots of bathroom trips.

Exercise: Walking. Have been taking it easy, on doctor's orders. Just walking tires me out now!

Best moment: Seeing Lima Bean on the ultrasound last week! She is as cute as ever!

Movement: All the time. She kicks, rolls over, everything. The movement is different now, more jerky than before. My doctor said it's because she's running out of space to jump around in there.

Food cravings: Banana smoothies! PB&J sandwiches. Chocolate.

Gender: Expecting a little lady!

Labor signs: None.

Belly button in or out? Still in. Praying it stays in...

What I miss: I got a brief reprive this past weekend in Vegas! My doctor told me that being as far along as I am, it would be OK to have a glass of wine and a couple pieces of sushi! Yum! I'm not making this a habit, but it sure was nice to enjoy one night. :-)

What I am looking forward to: Buying a car! We are going to test drive some models we like this weekend. We are also planning to stop by a couple baby stores so we can get ready to decorate the nursery!

Weekly wisdom: For the airplane this past weekend, I picked up copies of Fit Pregnancy and Parents magazines... Great articles with lots of great tips!

Milestones: We're now in double digits - only 97 days to go! Also, our baby is now viable, meaning that she could survive if born premature.

26 weeks down, only 14 to go!

In case you haven't noticed, take a look at my ticker at the top of this page. Yup, that's right, we are now in DOUBLE DIGITS. Only 98 days to go!

My due date suddenly doesn't seem so far away, which is both exciting and terrifying.

Meanwhile, development in my womb is happening fast. Lima Bean will be TWO POUNDS by the end of the week! In the sixth month (Weeks 25-28), the fruit closest to her size is an eggplant:

Another significant milestone that we are passing this week is VIABILITY. That means that if Lima Bean were to be born right now, it would be possible for her to survive. She still needs to "cook" for a few more months to be considered full term, but she is now considered viable.

Also this week: Lima Bean's eyes, which have been sealed shut, will open. Blame Vegas. But check this out, her eyes are BLUE! Her eyes won't acquire their final color until months after birth.

Finally, if Papa Bean puts his ear to my belly, he might be able to hear her heartbeat without a stethoscope!

Lima Bean's first "Girls Trip"

Just back from a fabulous girls weekend in Las Vegas! You all know the rule... What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! But I must say, it was a blast.

We stayed at the super fabulous Wynn Encore (props to Marcie-K for hooking us up with amazing rates in this hot hot hot hotel!), spent our days lounging at the European Pool (adults only, exception for Lima Bean, of course!), eating amazing dinners and even saw the Cirque du Soleil show "Love," featuring songs form The Beatles.

Now, I know what you all are wondering: Did I or didn't I?

And the answer is yes and no.

Did I bear my belly or did I don a maternity swim suit? Duh.

On the first day, my shy self wore a new maternity top and skirt bottom, both from Target. But since we were at the European pool, where many ladies were wearing the bare minimum, I quickly felt overdressed. Actually, I felt like I was wearing a TENT!

So... Here is a picture of me in the tent on Friday (Week 25, Day 2):

I wore a bikini the next two days, baring my belly for all to gawk at. LOL. Don't worry, moms, I slathered myself with 30 SPF sunscreen, which I re-applied several times all day, in between my dozen or so bathroom trips due to the immense amount of water I was consuming.

It was great. Lima Bean got a healthy dose of Vitamin D. She kicked me several times at the pool, so I think she liked the sunbathing. By this point, she can feel hot and cold so she must have been very confused as I went back and forth from sunbathing to the cold pool. Also, according to my books, she can "see" the sun through my belly, like a reddish glow. Pretty cool.

Oh, and don't worry that the maternity bathing costumes will go to waste. I'll be able to use these "tents" for sunbathing at my friend's pool this summer and also at Ocean City, as I obviously will be too shy to bare my belly in the midst of non-Vegas folks!

Finally, here is another picture of us girls all glammed up and headed out to dinner. Obviously we are in a limo. Because, you know, that's how we roll.

And the fine print: A photo *does* exist of my ginormous belly in a bikini. But it's BRO (by request only). Not fit for online publication. Beg and I might let you see it. ;-P

Happy Birthday Aunt Kelly Bean!

Baby Lima Bean is so excited to meet you! Looking forward to your trip this summer... and seeing you when baby Bean is on the "other side"!

More White House photos!

As promised, here are a few more pics of me and Lima Bean at the White House on Thursday (Week 25, Day 1)!

Directly behind me in this first photo (above) is the East Wing, where the first family's private residence is located. On the right, the lower-level building is the Press Office, which is where the press conferences are held.

This second shot (above) is taken from the back lawn of the White House facing the South Portico of the East Wing. This is where the president greeted the Steelers football team and stuffed care packages.

This last photo (above) is of me standing in front of the Rose Garden and West Wing. On the right side of the photo, you can see the white columned walkway that goes from the East Wing to the West Wing. On the left, the windows that you see are part of the Cabinet Room. To the left of the Cabinet Room (not pictured) is the Oval Office.

Lima Bean's 6th trip to the White House

What a lucky American. Not even born yet, and Lima Bean has already been to the White House SIX times! Today was our latest trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, where President Obama welcomed Super Bowl champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers!

Here are a few shots from my Blackberry of Obama stuffing care packages for U.S. troops with the football players. In these shots are Obama, wide receiver Hines Ward, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and coach Mike Tomlin.

More photos to come of yours truly at the White House. Stay tuned!

Lima Bean takes a close-up!

Our little Lima Bean is getting to be quite a pro at taking photos! We were in our doctor's office today four our fourth ultrasound (I know, FOUR!) and our little princess just loves to ham it up.

Here is a photo of her profile, and you can see that she still loves playing with her hands! It looks very similar to the photos she took 5 weeks ago. Except she's a little bigger now. 

This second shot is a close-up looking down at her face and belly with her hands reaching up like she wants to be held! So, as you can see, she is just as cute as can be. Well, you might have to squint a little to make out her features. We are excited to meet her in person! 

In case you are wondering, everything at the ultrasound checked out wonderfully. The technician measured her head, her leg and her belly. She also listened to her strong heartbeat and measured the amount of amniotic fluid. Everything is looking great!

The purpose of the ultrasound was to measure my fibroids. They appear to be about the same size, so my doctor is just trying to keep an eye on them. I also met with our doctor, who measured my uterus, which is now above my belly button. 

And, for the record, I am now up 16 pounds since my first appointment, a weight gain that my doctor says is "perfect."

Happy Birthday Grandma Enid Bean!

Lima Bean will be here to wish you a fabulous birthday in person next year! In the meantime, here is the picture of your house that Lima Bean is imagining. :-)

Lima Bean's first concert!

Baby Lima Bean isn't even born yet, and she's already the coolest kid on the block.

That's because when asked what her first concert was, Lima won't have to whisper (like her mother) the name of a teen band like Color Me Badd.

Lima can hold her head high as she proclaims her coolness by announcing that her first concert was Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band on May 18, 2009.

No matter that Lima wasn't born yet. At nearly 25 weeks, her ears were fully formed and she was fully capable of listening to the music, which was certainly loud enough for her to hear!

She even kicked along to the first few songs, as Bruce started the two-and-a-half-hour show with "Badlands" and "No Surrender."

There were plenty of kids at the show, such as a little girl who the Boss sat up on the stage to preform "Out in the Street" with him. And she knew the words! The song came after a sign requesting it proclaimed: "Jonas Brothers, Shalomas Brothers. Smart 9-year-olds are 'Out in the Street' with Bruce Springsteen!"

We only hope that Springsteen, 59, is still preforming live once Lima is old enough to attend a show outside the womb.

Lima Bean's first trip to the Shore!

After weekends of open houses, we had a relaxing weekend in Ocean City, N.J.

It was not beach weather, but we still enjoyed the Boardwalk and getting away.

Plus, it was great to see Grandpa Bean and Wanda Bean!

We can't wait to take Lima Bean to the Shore when she is old enough to enjoy the beach, mini golf, water park, kayaking or any of the other fun things there are for kids to do in Ocean City!