Easy Turkey Penne Pasta

I think I've said before that I have a love-hate relationship with cooking.  I'll go a couple weeks where I get really excited about trying new recipes and getting all the ingredients.  Then I'll go through a little phase where I absolutely dread dinner time and cooking is the last thing I want to do.  I'm in the latter phase now, hence my lack of recipe posts.  I suppose I could still post cooking blog entries even when we aren't eating anything particularly interesting.  I know there are people out there just like me, and when you don't feel like cooking, you still need an idea for dinner that night.  I find that when I look up recipes for dinner, I get really frustrated that things require so many ingredients.  When I'm in a cooking funk, I don't want something that requires fresh ginger, or lemon zest.  I want something that I can make in 20 minutes using the canned whatever that I have in my pantry.

So for all of you out there who don't feel like cooking dinner tonight, make this super easy Penne Pasta!  I didn't have time to take a lot of photos, but here's what you need:

• Ground turkey (or ground beef, or no meat at all if you prefer)
• A box of Penne pasta (I made the whole huge box so we would have leftovers)
• A jar or can of your favorite pasta sauce (I used Hunt's Traditional.  It's good and has the lowest calorie count per serving compared to Ragu and Prego)  
• Half a bag of frozen spinach (I always keep this on hand, but if you don't have it and don't want to go to the store, just leave it out.  No big deal!)
• Parmesan cheese (also optional)

1.  Boil your water and cook the pasta according to the directions.

2.  Cook the meat.

3.  Sautee the spinach in a little bit of oil.

4.  When the meat is done cooking, pour the sauce in the same pan and let it warm up a little bit.

5.  Drain the noodles and return to the pot.  

6.  Stir in the spinach.  

7.  Stir in the meat and sauce mixture.  

8.  Add some parmesan if you want.  I think freshly grated parmesan on top would probably be good, but I didn't have any.  I added the powdered kind, but I couldn't even really taste it.  It probably needed more.  

9.  Enjoy!  

We had so many leftovers, and this literally took me about 20 minutes to make.  Boiling the pasta is what took the longest.  I did this while Little H napped, and still had time to eat it before she woke up!  

Monthly Baby Photos

Taking monthly photos of your infant is a great way to document her growth throughout her first year.  It may seem like just one more thing to do, and sometimes it is a pain, but it is so worth it in the end.

I knew I wanted to take monthly photos, but I didn't have any ideas.  I just sat Little H down on the couch with a handwritten sign in front of her, and my Baby Monkey next to her for size reference.  This kind of photo is completely acceptable, and it was very quick and easy.  I wanted something more, though..something more eye-catching.  I saw lots of chalkboard ideas on Pinterest and decided that was the look I wanted.  For the chalkboard, I used an old piece of birch left over from when John made our bed.  Birch is pretty smooth, so it was perfect.  If you don't have anything lying around, I would suggest checking out the scrap wood at Lowe's or Home Depot.  It's back where they cut the wood for customers.  There are always pieces leftover from cuts.  They will sell the cut wood for a discounted price.  Also, check out ReStore if you have one in your area. I bet an old, smooth door would work great for this project, too.

I simply sprayed black chalkboard paint on the board.  It took about 3 layers of paint, and 1-2 days to completely dry.  The instructions on the can say to cover the whole board with chalk, then erase it to prep it.  I've noticed that is is kind of difficult to erase the chalk, but it's no big deal.  This is the end result:

There are many different ways to capture these fleeting moments.  You can get over the top creative, or go a simpler route.  You can purchase or make onesies with the month's number on them, and just snap the photo anywhere.  Here are some from Etsy. I like this idea of putting the baby in a laundry basket for each photo.  I also saw an idea where you put the baby in the same outfit every month.  The outfit obviously gets smaller and smaller to the point where it's barely even on the baby.  No matter what you decide to do, here are some tips:

1.  Make sure it's something easy enough to do every month.  If it's a pain, you won't get to it.
2.  Do it in the same spot every time, using something as a size reference.
3.  Have something in the photo that indicates which month it is.
4.  As always, use natural lighting if at all possible.  The flash on most cameras are not very flattering, even of cute little babies.

So what do you do with all these photos?   I plan on doing some sort of collage and hanging it up for her first birthday party.  After the party, there's a perfect spot in her room to hang it.  You can also make a photo book, or simply put the photos in an album.

Have fun!

Everything you need to know about cloth diapers from someone who used to know nothing about cloth diapers

So you're thinking about cloth diapers, huh?  Whether your reasons are to save money, save the environment, or save your little one's skin,  cloth diapers are not as scary (or gross) as you might think.  All the different types, styles, and brands can be pretty overwhelming at first, so hopefully I can help answer some of your questions.

I bought my entire stash and other accessories for right around $200.  I figured out that my investment will pay for itself in about 4 months, (that's when compared to generic disposable diapers.)  Assuming Little H will be in diapers until she is at least 2 years old, and her future younger siblings will be in diapers for at least as long, I'd say the money you'll save is reason alone to look into this option.  One thing that may sound gross to some people, but really isn't that unusual, is you can resell your diapers when you're done with them to recoup some of your investment.  As long as they are in pretty good condition, you can sell them on Ebay, craigslist, or find a website like Cottonbabies that will buy them from you.

First I'll tell you what I know about all the different diapering options, then I'll get into my own stash and show you what I use.

First thing you need to decide is what type of diapers, or combination of diapers, you want to use.  Keep in mind you need at least 20-24 diapers to get you through about 2 days.

All-In-Ones (AIO's)
These are as close to disposables as you're going to get.  No inserts, no folding.  Just put the diaper on, and take it off when it's dirty.  You have to change the entire diaper every single time, so at $15-$25 a pop, this is the most expensive option.

Grovia All in One

Inside of the Grovia

 

Pocket Diapers
These are similar to AIO's, except there is a pocket that you stuff with a liner or insert.

BumGenuis Pocket Diapers

Stuffing the pocket with a Bum Genius Liner

You have to change the diaper cover and the liner every time, so this option can be a bit pricey, as well, depending on what brand you buy.  I wish I would have researched pocket diapers a bit more because there are some really economical choices out there.  Somebody just told me about Sunbaby diapers, and Kawaii diapers.  Each have great package deals.  You can get 30 Kawaii diapers with all the inserts you need for about $195!  This seems like such an easy option!  They even have package deals for twins and triplets.  A lot of people like pocket diapers because you can customize your absorbency level.  Stuff the pocket with two liners for overnight, or with a hemp liner for extra absorbency.  The way they are designed, the baby should not feel the wetness either.  Another great brand of pocket diapers is Fuzzibunz.

Covers with Prefolds, Flats, Fitteds, or inserts/liners
This is the cheapest option, and what I use 99% of the time.  Instead of buying 20-24 diapers, you buy 20-24 inserts, which are much cheaper.

• Prefolds - A prefold diaper is a big rectangle piece of fabric, usually made of either cotton, or bamboo.  A prefold diaper is pretty thick already, with the center of the rectangle being even thicker.  

Chinese Prefold Diaper

         You can purchase different sizes of prefolds, or buy one size and fold it to fit a smaller baby.         When looking for prefolds, you'll notice a description of 4x6x4 or 4x8x4.  This is the ply per each 1/3 of the fabric.  4 ply on the sides, then 6 or 8 ply in the middle.  There are many different ways to fold a prefold diaper.  Look up tutorials on Youtube to learn how.

Most ways of folding require a Snappi to secure the diaper. 

I am absolutely terrible at folding prefolds any way except the trifold, so that is what I primarily use.  

Chinese Prefold trifolded

• Flats - A flat diaper is a giant piece of fabric, all the same ply and thinner than a prefold.  Flats require a cool origami fold to be used properly.  Again, Youtube is great for learning how to do it.  I don't have any flats, so I've never tried it, but I've heard you can even use receiving blankets as a flat diaper.  Again, a Snappi is needed to secure the diaper after folding.  Some people prefer flats because they aren't as bulky as prefolds.  My grandmother has actually always used flats as dish towels because they are so absorbent.  
• Fitteds - Fitted diapers are shaped like a cover.  You wrap them around the baby and secure.  No folding required.
• Inserts/Liners - Some companies make inserts or liners that are just a long rectangle.  These can be used as inserts, or stuffed in a pocket diaper.  Most are made of microfiber or hemp.  No folding required.    

Flip microfiber StayDry insert

Trend Lab cover & Flip cover

After you have your stash of inserts, then you need to buy about 6 or 7 covers for them.  The reason you don't need very many covers is because you only change the insert!  If the cover doesn't get dirty, just use it again!  There are many different brands and types of covers.  Some covers are lined with microfiber, some are not.   The Trend Lab diaper on the left is lined with microfiber.  I can usually use this cover multiple times before changing, but sometimes it does get dirty right away.  Notice the Flip diaper is not lined with anything.  If this gets a little bit dirty, I just clean it with a wipe and use it again.  

If you decide to get a few pocket diapers, you can even use those as covers.  Just don't stuff the pocket, put whatever insert you're using on top of the pocket.

Placing a liner on top of the pocket instead of inside
means you can reuse the cover.

That way, you don't have to change the cover when the diaper gets soiled.  Some popular brands of covers are Bummis and Thirsties, but there are many others out there that work  great, too. 

Hook and Loop vs. Snaps
When it comes to covers, you'll have to decide if you want velcro or snaps.  Right now, I have no preference, so you'll have to weigh the pros and cons and decide what is best for you.  I hear velcro wears out and is easier for older toddlers to take off.  You also have to make sure to secure the velcro to the laundry tabs before washing.  Otherwise, other diapers will stick to the velcro in the wash.  The good thing about velcro is that you can easily customize your size.  It's like using a disposable diaper.  Just pull the tab around your baby's body until it's tight, and stick.  Snaps are good because you don't have to bother with laundry tabs, they don't wear out, and they're harder for toddlers to undo.  The downside to snaps is they can sometimes be difficult to fumble with (especially in the middle of the night,) and you only have so many sizing options.


Sizing
I chose to buy all one size fits all diapers.   I think this is a great way to save money.  The problem was that I had a fairly small baby.  The one-size diapers usually start at 8 pounds.  I noticed I couldn't realistically start using my cloth diapers until Little H was bout 9-10 pounds.  Because of this, we had to use disposables for the first 7-8 weeks or so.  If you want to cloth diaper from the very beginning, I suggest purchasing a handful of newborn sized diapers.  I've heard very good things about Bummis.  They even have premie size diapers!


Other Accessories

My wet bag

• A place to put the dirty diapers - No Diaper Genie needed for cloth diapers.  Purchase a cloth bag (also called a wet or dry bag) to throw your diapers.  Don't let the name fool you.  "Wet bag" does not mean the bag is wet, or you put water in it.  It simply means that is where you put the wet diapers.  When it's laundry time, wash the bag with your diapers!  There are also small wet bags available out there to put in your diaper bag for on the go.  
• Diaper Sprayer - Breastfed babies' poop is water soluble, so rinsing is not necessary.  Diapers from formula fed babies, and babies who are old enough to eat solid foods need to be rinsed off before putting in the washing machine.  You can do what your grandmother or mother did and just dunk the diaper in the toilet to rinse it off, (um...no thank you!)  Or you can purchase a diaper sprayer and hook it up to your toilet.  If you're handy, or if you have a handy husband like me, then send him to the hardware store to make one out of a kitchen sprayer.  I saw this idea on Pinterest and will be making John do this in the next couple of months.  
• Cloth wipes -  I admit I have not started using cloth wipes yet.  We bought a gigantic box of disposable wipes at Costco back in the newborn days (or daze..), so I'm still using those.  When I do start using the cloth wipes, I will be using the ones I made myself , in addition to plain ol' wash cloths from Target.  There are websites out there that sell special cloth wipes that I'll 

  

  My homemade wipes made out of
  receiving blankets

  probably end up splurging on one day just because :)  To use cloth wipes, you can keep a spray bottle of plain water or wipes solution next to your changing table.  Spray your baby's bottom then wipe with a dry wipe.  The other option is to put your wipes in a container with water or a wipes solution. One of those big plastic things that disposable wipes come in works great, or a wipe warmer works, too.  I bought this wipes solution,  but you can also make your own.  Here are some great recipes.  

Kissaluvs Diaper Lotion Potion

• Detergent - I bought the Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash for $32.  The containers don't look big, but I only use 1/2 ounce for each load.  I've been using the same bottles for nearly 3 months and still have a lot left.   Some people say cloth diapers need to be washed in special detergent, otherwise they are left with a stink, or they lose their absorbency; although, I've heard that some people just use plain Tide.  Experiment a little, and see what works for you.  If you're using regular detergent, keep in mind that you only need 1/4 of the recommended amount.  Too much detergent can leave a residue on the diapers, and cause irritation on your baby's skin.  

Thirsties pre-wash and super wash

• Diaper Pail Freshener - Honestly, when I zip up my wet bag, I don't notice any odor coming from my diapers.  I did buy this deodorizer though.  I got the Green Tea scent and it smells so good!  

Rockin' Green Diaper Pail Deodorizer

Washing
I wash my diapers about every other day, or every 2 days.  How often you wash depends on how many diapers you have. Like I said above, breast milk poop does not need to be rinsed.  Just throw all your wet and dirty diapers in your diaper pail, bag, or whatever you are using.  Once your baby starts eating solids, just rinse or spray the poop off into the toilet before putting in the diaper bag.  Some people might think, "Ew!  Won't your hand touch some of the poop?  And then you just put that stinky diaper in that bag in the room?  Doesn't it make the room stink?"  What I would say to that is this:  What disposable diaper using mom hasn't had her hand in some poop?  And have you ever smelled a nursery lately that uses a Diaper Genie?  It's not that great.  If you're really worried about the smell though, buy some diaper pail deodorizer like the one I mentioned above, and you're good to go.

On laundry day, put all your diapers and your wet bag in the washing machine.  Most diapers will come with instructions on how to wash.  What I've noticed is most recommendations are the same:  Prewash on cold, wash on hot, extra rinse.  I am not an expert on laundry, and pretty much ignored most of the buttons on my washing machine until now.  When I read these instructions, I thought "Prewash?  How do I even do that?? Extra rinse? What??"  Then I looked at my washing machine, and there are buttons for this, so it's very easy.   As I stated above, you can use a special cloth diaper detergent, or experiment with regular detergent. Never use fabric softener or bleach though because this will definitely mess with the absorbency.  Drying is easy, too.  Some covers need to be line dried, but your liners, prefolds, and all-in-ones can be thrown in the dryer.  When it starts getting warmer out, I will probably line dry everything to save electricity.  For the three months that I've been doing this routine though, none of my utility bills have gone up.

Another thing to note about washing is that your diapers will need to be "prepped" before using.  This mean they must be washed and dried about 5 times before you use them for the first time.  This allows for maximum absorbency.  I cheated a little and washed them a few times, dried, washed a couple more times, then dried.  In other words, I didn't dry after every wash.


Okay, now onto my stash!  Once you start buying your cloth diapers, you'll soon realize that you really truly love them and it becomes an addiction.

Bins for covers, liners, prefolds and wipes, dirty clothes,
and disposable diapers.

This is what I have:

I have lots of prefold diapers because I thought I was going to use these exclusively.  I have some Gerber brand prefolds:
                                   

And some Chinese prefolds:
                                     


 As you can see, the Chinese prefolds are much puffier, which makes them more absorbent.  The more you wash them, the puffier they get.  Like I said before, you can fold these diapers many different ways, but I exclusively use the trifold:

  

  

Chinese Prefold trifolded

I have 3 velcro Flip covers and 6 Flip inserts:

The Flip diaper system is so easy to use.  They are one size fits all thanks to the snaps on the front.

To insert the Stay Dry insert, simply fold it down to the desired length, and stick it in.

 

A little trick that is helpful:  Put the thick, folded part in the front for boys, and in the back for girls.    Since I don't have many of these inserts,

I use my prefolds in these covers a lot.  I simply trifold the diaper, and stick it in the cover.  I can fold down the front of the prefold to make it the correct length, but then it is really thick, and I don't like that.

 Instead, I fold it this way:

And it's the perfect length!

I have 6 Trend Lab covers, and 12 Trend Lab inserts.

These are also one size fits all.  I bought the starter pack, which came with a messenger bag style diaper bag.  The diaper bag came with a travel changing pad, and a small wet bag.  This is a great deal for only $90! I really like these diapers.  They are the first ones I grab when doing a diaper change.  They work like this:

When I bought all my Flip diapers and prefolds from Cottonbabies, they threw in a free Econobum cover. (I will adda photo later.  Baby is napping and the diaper is in her room!)  These covers look and feel kind of cheap (and they are very inexpensive at about $9 each), but they work great!  I've noticed absolutely no difference in functionality between this cover and the Flip covers.  The Econobum does not have the handy dandy flaps like the Flips, but who cares.  I've heard and read from reviewers that the prefolds that come in Econobum starter packs are not that absorbent.  I would stick to just buying the covers instead of the combo packs that come with prefolds.  

I got 3 Bum Genius pocket diapers as gifts.  This cute little pink one (size small):

                           

Stuff the pocket with an insert

And these 2 (one size fits all):

BumGenuis Pocket Diapers

The green and yellow ones came with two inserts each, so that gave me 4 more inserts to use with any of my covers!  Here are these diapers work:  

Stuffing the pocket with a Bum Genius Liner

You can stuff the pocket with anything: A prefold or different
brands of inserts, for example.

Also as gifts, I got these two super cute Grovia All-in-ones:

I usually use the Trend Lab diapers first.  When I run out of those, I start using my Flip diapers with their inserts.  When I run out inserts, I start using my prefolds as inserts.  When all my Flip covers are dirty, I move on to the pocket diapers and All-in-ones.  By then, it is definitely time to do laundry!  What I like about my stash is I have a variety of inserts and covers that I can use interchangeably.  I can use my microfibers inserts and prefolds in any of my covers, including my pocket diapers.  This gives me lots of options.

Keep in mind that these diapers are just my preference.  It is really good to have a variety of covers and see what you like best.  I took a chance and purchased all of these, and I ended up liking what I got.  I'm sure there are other brands that I would like just as much, (and I'm really tempted to buy more because they're so cute!) but I really don't need anymore diapers.

 If you're still unsure, some websites even offer diaper trials.  You put down a deposit, and they send you a bunch of different brands of diapers.  Once you've tried out all the different brands and styles, you can keep it all, or you can send back what you don't want!

You can dive as deep as you want into cloth diapering.  I know some people who only do it on the weekends because their baby is in daycare.  Some people only do it at home, and use disposables when out and about.  Some people, like us, only do it during the day and use disposables at night.   Others use them 100% of the time, make their own covers, and have a huge stash.


I hope this was helpful.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment.  If you are currently cloth diapering, what is your preferred brand and style?

One Line a Day Journaling

I love journaling, but I am so bad at keeping up with it.  Every entry in my journal always starts out with, "Wow!  I haven't written in a while!"  I really wanted to find a solution to this, and of course, Pinterest came to my rescue.  This is the site where I got my idea, and it is working out for me so far!


This is a simple calendar where I write down one line for each day.  I write anything that happened that day, no matter how mundane.  I will keep using the same cards year after year, until  I run out of room.  I love this because I can look at one card for each day, and see what I was doing on that particular day year after year.

This is what you need:

4x6 index cards
Date stamp and ink
A container
Scissors or a paper cutter

Directions:
Cut the 4x6 index cards in half
Stamp the corner of each index card with the date (without the year)
Put in a container

The original creator of this used a cardboard produce basket as the container, and cut post cards to use as dividers for each month.  I could not, for the life of me, find a cardboard container, so I used this styrofoam one that once housed mushrooms.  And with a 4 month old, I couldn't be bothered to go finding cool postcards, so I went without those.  If I were to give these as gifts, I would definitely go that extra mile to make it look snazzier.  For my own use, I think this works just fine.  

Don't think you have to come up with something fascinating to write.
Here is my entry for February 3, "Went to mom and dad's for dinner because John got home late."

Of course, being me, I forgot to write stuff for the first week of January.  I've been consistent ever since though because I keep it on my nightstand and jot something down before bed. 

10 Most Used Baby Items (0-3 Months)

Babies R Us is a very overwhelming place.  You have your registry gun in hand when you suddenly realize that you know nothing about baby items or raising a baby for that matter.  Your crazy pregnant hormones slowly take over.  You start to well up thinking about everything you don't know and you leave the store empty handed.  Then you do what I did and call your mom.  What I've learned in the last 3 months is what everyone was trying to tell me:  Babies do not need much to be happy and healthy.  It's true.  That being said, there are a lot of cool gadgets out there that make moms' lives easier, too.

I regularly converse with a close-knit group of women with babies Little H's age.  I asked them about the items they used the most (and the least) in order to help out the overwhelmed mom-to-be.   There were varying answers because every baby has different preferences and habits, but there were many similarities in our lists.  After looking it all over, here are the top 10 most used baby items for the first 3 months, (in no particular order.)

1. Nursing Pillow


          Whether it's the Boppy, Breastfriend, or any other brand, a good nursing pillow is essential for at  least the first month.  Breastfeeding is hard work for moms and babies.  A good nursing pillow makes it a little more comfortable for everyone.  My baby often fell asleep right after nursing, laying on the Boppy perfectly content.  I wish I would have bought an extra cover for it.  It got dirty often, and I would have to go without a cover while washing it.





2. Breast Pads

           Whether you are breastfeeding or not, you will still make milk and you will leak...a lot.  So unless you want to be washing your own clothes and sheets multiple times a day, invest in a big box of breast pads.


3. Lanolin

            Hopefully, you won't need to use it for longer than a few weeks, but your nipples will thank you for it.


4.  Burp cloths

            Little H is a big spitter.  She spits up constantly.  We have burp cloths in every corner of the house, so we can grab one quickly when the moment strikes.  I use Chinese prefold diapers as my burp cloths.  They are extremely absorbent.







5. Fisher Price Rock n' Play Sleeper

            I know more than a few moms who have used this item, so I think it deserves to be on the list.  This is the only place Little H will sleep.  She hated her bassinet and despises the crib.  The Rock n' Play is cozy and just perfect for that picky sleeper.  If you don't use it for  sleeping, it's a great place to lay a baby while you cook or shower.  The surface the baby lays on is fairly hard, so I folded up a fleece blanket and put it under the liner.  This makes it even cozier.  I also love how portable it is.  I always take it to Gramma and Grampa's house, just in case Little H needs a nap while we're out.
        The only downside to the Rock n' Play is we are now facing a very difficult transition to the crib.  Try the bassinet or crib first, but if you're desperate and need sleep, this item is a must-have.


6.  White Noise

           To mimic the sounds from the womb, using a white noise machine is great for helping babies sleep.  There are many different machines you can buy.  There are also white noise apps for your phone.  One mom suggests the Sleep Sheep.  It plays music, as well as white noise and is super cute!



7.  Swaddlers

          Another item that helps mimic the womb, swaddling is essential.  Your baby may scream and act like she hates it at first, but once she is nicely wrapped up into a little burrito, she will thank you.  We are, like most parents, swaddling-challenged.  I don't know what special school the nurses in the hospital go to in order to learn how to swaddle, but nobody can do it like them.  It's impossible.  John and I took a baby basics class and practiced on little dolls.  "We got this,"  we thought.  In the hospital one night, we had to call a nurse in to help us.  We asked her to teach us how.  After our little mini lesson on swaddling, we thought, "Ok, we got this."  The nurse left, and we did not in fact get it at all.  If you end up being like us, I recommend purchasing the Summer Infant Swaddleme blankets, a Halo Sleep Sack, or the Woombie.  They have velcro and/or zippers, so no special swaddling school required.  I think Little H practically lived in these swaddlers for her first month of life.

     If you're unlike us and a pro at swaddling, invest in some Aden + Anais muslin blankets.  Even if you don't use them for swaddling, they are very versatile blankets.  Little H always has one with her in her car seat to chew on.  They are thin, so I keep one in the diaper bag to use as a nursing cover.  

8. A safe and entertaining place to put the baby while you shower, cook, or use the bathroom

         I lumped all these items together because you honestly will not know what your baby will prefer.

Some babies like swings, others like bouncy seats or  play mats.  The truth is, you won't know until your baby gets here.   Little H loves her Fisher Price Rainforest bouncy seat and her Skip Hop play mat. She hates her swing. Another mom I asked loves her Eddie Bauer bouncer with a mesh zip up cover (for cat proofing.) The good thing about bouncy seats is they are usually small enough to fit in the bathroom.




9.  Clothes

           Most of my fellow moms agreed that a good stash of baby clothes is essential, (and fun!)  It may not seem like babies would get that dirty, but between spit-up and explosive diapers, you'll go through more than you think.  I would say to have about 6 or 7 onesies, a few pairs of pants, socks, and footie pj's.  Most of my fellow moms agreed that the zipper pj's are much easier than snaps, especially for middle of the night diaper changes.  Make sure to have a variety of sizes , too.  Little H was only 6 pounds when she was born, so all of the 0-3 month clothes were huge on her.  I only had a few newborn size clothes that fit her.  Other babies may skip the newborn size altogether, and your 3 month old may wear 6 month clothes.  You never know what you'll need, so just have a little bit of everything.
           If you're on a budget, I recommend buying secondhand.  The only new clothes Little H has are ones people gave us as gifts.  The rest of her wardrobe is either from Savers, older cousins, or secondhand children's stores.  These stores usually sell clothes from 50 cents - $1.  You can't beat that, and your baby won't know the difference.  


10.  Baby Bath Tub

         My baby despised baths until recently.  The only way we got her to enjoy them was for me to get in our big tub with her.  I'm realizing that she is not the norm.  Most of the moms I talked to love their baby bath tub, and so do their babies.  One mom recommends the Summer Infant Soothing Baby Spa, another recommends the Puj.


Honorable Mention:


Travel changing pads - For on the go, or for using in lieu of a changing table.  Just throw a changing pad on the floor or couch.

Baby carrier - A Moby wrap, or one similar, is my favorite. In her early days, Little H would sleep for hours in it while I cleaned the house. Now I sit her in it facing out because she's an inquisitive little baby.  If you're finding that it's difficult to put on, find some Youtube tutorials.  The included written instructions are useless.

Bassinet or Arm's Reach Co-sleeper - Most moms like to have their baby sleeping next to their beds. A bassinet or co-sleeper is perfect for this, (unless, of course, you have a finicky sleeper like me and are using the Rock n' Play instead.)

Bottle Warmer - A formula feeding mom friend of mine said she cannot live without this.  She didn't think she would use it, but it has become essential in her house.  She says, "When our baby was waking up so often, it was soooo nice to have her cold bottle already in our room and then just heat it up right there, in a minute or less!


The Least Used Items
You'll be surprised to learn that the least used items included pacifiers, bottles, and the crib.  Obviously, if you're using formula or returning to work soon, you'll be using bottles more often.  What I didn't realize is it would be very difficult to get my baby to even take a bottle.  She's now 4 months old and still refuses to drink from a bottle or suck on a pacifier!  And the crib...well, it's just collecting dust at this point.  This doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't purchase these things, just be aware you probably won't get much use out of them for a long while!


What about you?  Is there anything you would add to the list?