Favorite Things - 9 Month Edition

So I decided to post a bunch of our favorite things we've used to survive these first 9 months with Ben. If you're not interested, just skip this article since it's going to be lengthy, but if you have a little one, need a present for someone with one or are just plain interested continue on.

I have to play some catch up since I'm just starting this so I'm breaking it down into 3 month segments based on what I remember. It's amazing how quickly you can forget some of this though!

(All of these are in no particular order)

0-3 Months

1. Papasan Swing - this was a necessity and the best feature was that the chair part laid down flat or sat up while it swung. This type worked a lot better for us than the other types of swings out there.

2. Bouncy chair - the only way I was able to shower. I could put him in this all swaddled and he would listen to the shower and be content. He never really liked the vibrate feature, but I know lots of other kids that did.

3. Boppy - This was great for nursing and then it transitioned into a support for when he learned to sit. We got a lot of use out of it!

4. Swaddlers - These we used every night until he learned how to get his arms out. He was houdini in those things! We outgrew them before a lot of other kids I know.

5. Other mentionables: Video monitor (moved him to his room around 8 weeks and it was extremely nice to see what was going on without him in our room), co-sleeper for our room the first few weeks, pacifier from the hospital, nursing cover & freezer storage bags, baby bath, oversized mirror for car, play mirror for him to look at himself with (seriously I thought he was vain, but it came in handy at keeping him entertained for a while), burp clothes, grandparents.

3-6 Months

1. Gym - we started using around 1-2 months and he enjoyed it, but really started batting at things and playing with it more so around 3-4 months. (This isn't the one we have, but it's similar - minus the kid)

2. Johnny Jumper - one of our all time favorites. Maybe because it's hilarious to watch him, but also because he loves it and still uses it currently. We have the one with the tray on it so we can put toys on there for him to play with plus a few attach to the strings on the sides. See his videos for live action of this wonderful toy.

3. Exercauser - mainly I used this a little at first to help him be upright (since he had GERD), but he's grown into it with the different height levels and still loves using it.

4. PJ's - once he was houdini we had to transition him to a sleeping sack which was awesome - we used one like below which works so much easier for middle of the night diaper changes and I HIGHLY recommend them instead of the sleeveless ones cause then you have to undo the long sleeve onsie you put them in also. We probably started using this around 2 months until about 4 months. Then we had to graduate to footy pj's once he rolled over and started sleeping on his tummy.

5. Bumbo - we probably didn't get as much use out of this as most other people, but it defintely came in handy to keep him upright and in one place. Also was handy as a portable high chair on a few occasions.

6. Other mentionables: Humidifier, pacifiers, lotion, children's tylenol (he was sick constantly once in daycare), lots of bottles so you can go at least a day without washing all of them for daycare, highchair, bibs, play phone with lights and sounds, busy bee toy (has rubber wings for teething), and Baby Cubes for homemade baby food - easy to pull out of the freezer at night and into his bag for daycare in the morning.

6-9 Months

(we had a photo shoot this weekend for the pics and he's very active so there's a lot on this list)

1. Learn & Groove Table - take the legs of for sitting playtime and then once they can stand put them on. He loves this mainly for the standing part and all the lights and sounds. This is one of his current favorites as you can probably tell from the huge grin on his face.

2. Learning Hoops - not sure if Ben or Brian like this one better, but it seems to be used on a more than regular basis. (Thanks Lara!) Also, he's figured out you don't need the balls to make the sounds and lights, but rather just push the button in the hoop.

3. Music Station - This was a hand me down also (Thanks Traina's yet again) and he loves the dancing monkey and music. It converts also for sitting and standing.

4. Activity Walker - This converts also for sitting and then walking. He loves walking behind it and is starting to get a better hang of it, but he tends to fall once he reaches to play with all the moving parts on front. (Yet another fantastic hand me down)

5. Books, Books and More Books - He can't get enough of books and loves being read to. He will lay on the ground and try to flip pages on his own, but loves the 'touch and feel' and 'peek a boo' ones best.

6. Old Skool TV - This was a Xmas present and it was one he gravitated to a lot. Thanks Bensons! Who knew a blast from the past on such a simple toy could be so much fun!

7. Pull Up Ball Blast - The best part is seeing him learn with this. He loves to push the ball in the top and see which one of the four holes it comes out of on the bottom.

8. Laugh & Learn Puppy - Another Xmas present that he has a lot of fun with and has fun songs that sound like Amy Adams in Enchanted. Yes, you read that right and that movie is one of my favorites. How can you not like a movie that pokes fun at fairy tales and has Patrick Dempsey in it?!

9. Other Mentionables: Sippy Cups, lots of spoons, Teething Tablets, Baby Motrin, Pacifiers, bath toys, pet dog (his favorite thing in the house that he now chases), Puffs, Cheerios, noise machine for sleeping at other places, and all baby proofing things.