My favorite things!

I have recently seen a few bloggers do "favorite things" posts so I thought I would join in... this post started at "Ode to my Ergo" but then I started thinking of more things that I LOVE for my kiddos.  Some of these relate specifically to adoption, but some are just general kid favorites.  For the most part my kids rock out hand me downs and dine on the Aldi special.  The items listed below are things I am passionate about.  I am not saying they are for everyone so if I come across a little strong... and I will :) It is just because I like them so much.  I tried to find photos of me (and the kiddos) using the products I love.  A few of them are void of photos, but still worthy of being shared!  I have spent way too much time on this post, but it has been pretty fun to do.  Even if you don't have little kids, these items would make great gift ideas! 
*Note, while this is geared more towards parenting, I think you all know from my Ch*na blogging that we LOVED our rolling duffels that we used in China.  I wrote about them all over the place so I will just say, Eagle Creek No Matter What rolling duffel bags ROCK!

Shelly's Favorite Things

Ergo

I am sure this one is no surprise to you!  Our kids are in the Ergo all the time!  When T was really hitting herself the Ergo was the only way we could get her to sleep.  When we do adoption trips our Ergo is in our carry on... that is how precious it is to us!  I really like the Ergo because it is designed to take the weight of the child off your back and distributes it to the hips and legs. Through my years as a baby sitter and nanny I have had the opportunity to try a lot of different carriers.  I am totally sold on the Ergo.  You can wear the child on the front, back, and side.  It is great for grocery shopping or even longer hikes.  The sun shade is brilliant too.  Having my babies next to my chest is so incredibly special to both of us as we are making up for lost time.  An added bonus of the Ergo is that the child is close enough that strangers and friends don't try to hold the baby.  I also love having my hands free to do almost anything.  When T is on my back I can cook, clean, dance and play with M... you name it. OK, can you see why this is one of my favorite things?  I won't be as pushy with most of the others!

In ET with M and his big buddy Z

Our first walking date (in the hallways of our church) with Charissa and L.

Same Ergo new baby.  T's favorite place to nap in Ch*na.

Two Ergo's in this one... seriously folks, they are incredible.

 

Cetaphil

The Cetaphil tub is the best lotion I have  found for "Every Stage and Every Age" as they say.  M came to me in the winter with soft skin and it was my mission to keep his skin soft even through the dry winter.  T came to me with VERY dry skin and those first weeks I wondered it it would ever feel like M's. My kiddos have super soft skin.  The added bonus it that it doesn't have poison control info on it so I am going with the hope this means it is OK to be ingested :)  Hopefully this photo isn't took revealing.  All private parts are covered...look at my chubby baby! 

Is this strange? M loves him some Cetahphil!

Cloth Diapers

You all know I love them.  I was so skeptical at first.  Then the first day in cloth I was nervous that they wouldn't work.  Now I can't imagine not using them.  Some people think dealing with them is gross.  I personally think dealing with poo on a diaper is much easier than dealing with poo on the inside of pants and onesies.  Since wearing cloth neither of my kids have had a big blowout.  That alone is impressive.  Cloth diapering saves money and helps us to steward the earth God entrusted to us by not polluting it. I have diapers from two companies and I like them both, but one company has much better customer service than the other.  Hopefully I can post great news soon about the other one.  Our very favorite diaper is still the one that was made for us by my friend Laura.  It is the first one M wants to use for T after they are washed! 

This is the best they have ever looked!  This was the diapers after the pre-wash.  I have added many to the collection, and I am still so very thankful for cloth!

 

Playtex drop-ins (now called Nursers)

I know plastic central... but seriously, for traveling internationally and LONG plane flights... These are awesome!!!!  The center part comes out and you toss (recycle) it and only the nipple is dirty.  Easy to wipe out on the airplane. I can't imagine trying to wash bottles in hotel rooms with dirty water.  I am passionate about making sure Intl adoptive families know about these great bottles.  If you want to give a gift to an adoptive family these are inexpensive and the Target brand of drop ins works just as well as the name brand.

First time in a car seat on the way home from the airport.

First bottle with her mommy!  What a peanut!  Wow has she grown.

Bumpkins bibs

Seriously, we should have invested in Bumpkins.  They are awesome.  They wash so well.  They last forever.  They withstand everything.  They don't stain.  They stay on.  We have dealt with so many bibs that only partially cover the body.  We have had bibs that can be yanked off way to easily.  We have had bibs that stain at the first battle with red sauce.  We have had bibs that are cloth and have to be washing machine washed all the time.  I can give these bibs a full sink bath after every meal if I want to and they are dry by the next meal.  The short (and long) sleeves help them to stay on no matter what.  Another great gift idea for anyone!!!!

I guess the funny faces have been around a while... and so has the bib!

Messy every day for years!

A long sleeved variety for my messy little dear.

Robeez

Socks falling off and needing to be put on again 50 times an hour is stressful.  T yanks hers off the second she has a chance.  There are a lot of slippers and shoes out there, but my kiddos are smarter than them.  My kids live in Robeez.  They wear/wore them all the time.  The socks stay on, the feet stay warm, and they are super cute!  Seriously, I have found no substitute for them as far as durability.  I wash and dry them all the time and they are just as good as day one... and they were hand me downs to me. 

Little man in Robeez!

Little girl in Robeez!

Puffed Rice

This Indian Market food is one of my favorites.  We have used it for years, but T LOVES it and eats puffed rice with every meal.  I like that it has no other ingredients so no added salt or sugar or anything.  That is right.  The only thing in them is "puffed rice."  To me the choice is obvious because the other puffs around have LOTS of ingredients and if they get wet and fall on my floor, the sugar in them causes sticky grossness.  Also, I am allergic to the other kinds so every time I touch them I have to wash.  Finding out T likes this was a home run for my sanity.  She also eats a lot of Chex for snacks, but the puffs are the best.

Loving her puffed rice... and her Bumkins Bib. 

Fireworks Popcorn/Lemon La Croix/Liquid Stevia

This is my recipe for amazingness.  That's right... the other things above were kid focused, and this is mommy focused.  Being a mom isn't the easiest job in the world friends.  After the kiddos are asleep.  I pop a big batch on the stove and put some tasty popcorn salt on it (and yes it makes a difference) and add some Sevia to my La Croix so it tastes like Sprite.  I fall on the couch next to hubby for a relaxing episode of the Waltons. I am a popcorn snob and I believe that Fireworks is the BEST around.  You can order it on line around the world or find it at many stores in the midwest.  I freely admit that I have an addiction of sorts.  It is so good.  I have spread the addiction to several friends and they are spreading the word too. La Croix is (to me) the tastiest of the the seltzer water options.  Lemon is my favorite variety because it tastes most like Sprite.  Liquid Stevia is so much easier to work with than the powder.  One squirt and you are in business. 

Honorable Mentions

 These two items are wonderful too, they just don't have any fun photos attached to them.  

Aquaphor

When my kiddos are breathing through their nose Aquaphor is the only thing strong enough to help their chapped lips.  It is great stuff.  We use it year around as chapstick and also put it on little cuts and scrapes.  Warning: It will stain... Mikias' bedding will forever look wet... oops.  It was worth it.  

Hyland's teething gel/tablets/cold tablets

Most mammas know... Hyland rocks!  I am experiencing the amaziness of them now more than ever because T can have lactose which is in the tablets.  The cold ones are so impressive!