A good friend of mine is waiting for her baby. She is just waiting to be chosen by a family. As you read this please say a prayer they are chosen quickly.

Anyways, she asked me to share some of my favorite "Baby Must Haves". Are you kidding???? Researching baby gear has been one of my favorite hobbies for the past few years. I still can't believe my babies are growing up and as I write Evalyn is pushing her stroller around and talking to herself.

Well, if you are going to a baby shower anytime soon or just waiting on a precious little edition to your own family here are my favorites. Hope they help!

MUST HAVE BABY GEAR ACCORDING TO HEATHER:
1. Moby Wrap- Beckham lived in this for the first few months of his life. It gave me the opportunity to be hands free and to still feel him snuggled up so close to me. Newborns can fit right into the Moby and may snooze for hours! I would wrap up in the Moby at home(this part is kind of a pain at first) and then when we got to the grocery store I would slide Beckham in. My friends have also sworn that it protects from mosquito bites as well. It does take a little while to learn how to wrap it and and can be sweaty in the summer, but SO WORTH IT!

2. Ergo Carrier- If you have a friend/sister who gave you a Bjorn go for it. If you don't, get an Ergo Carrier. This is like the Bjorn but it has an awesome back support and padded shoulders. It can go on your front, hip or back and is manly enough for Daddy to also wear. Evalyn is 14 months and I still put her in it (OK, she is a peanut) but it saves us from meltdowns and she stays safe while Mommy is running after Beckham at the park. There is an infant insert so it can be used for a newborn but I never had one.

3. Tall baby swing- if you have dogs get a full sized swing so they aren't tempted. If we are talking about my dogs tempted would mean licking the baby and possible trying to curl up in their blanket.

4. Bouncy seat- If you have a 2 story house get 2! My mom got one from a garage sale for $5 that we always kept in the upstairs playroom or our bathroom. It made taking a shower so much easier! The other one we would carry all around the main level. I promise you, when you are lugging that bouncy seat up and down the stairs all day you are going to be wishing you had another one! We had great luck with Fisher Price Rainforest ( it is really ugly!) but it was so comfortable and they loved the attachment.

5. Tiny Love Mobile- We have the Tiny Love Symphony in Motion Farm and it plays 3 classical songs, has black and while for brain stimulation and many moving parts. The kids LOVED it! I loved that the music lasted for about 20 minutes and that you can take the mobile part off when the kids get older. I would know Evalyn was awake at night because she would turn the music on and off. We got ours new but there are usually some great deals for used ones.

6. Germ Guardian NS-2000 Nursery Sanitizer- This did everything for me. I used it for bottles, breast pump parts, pacifiers, toys that fell on the ground, and pretty much everything else. I still have it upstairs in the bathroom to clean out our toothbrushes when we get a cold. I love a few things about this. First of all it doesn't use water so you can put plush items in it. It doesn't have to go in the microwave and you don't have to buy refill parts. All of my bottles fit in there (I have 5 kinds) and my pump parts did as well.

7. Bottles- buy a few different kinds and see what works for you and baby. Once you figure out what works for baby send Dad out to get more of that brand.

8. Pack n Play- get one with a changing table on it. You can use this for trips to Grandma's house or a hotel stay if needed. We kept one on the main level so that we could lay down the baby if someone came to the door, we had to use the bathroom or if by some chance they fell asleep. It was so nice to have the changing table there so we didn't have to go upstairs to change a dirty diaper. You don't need a fancy one but the changing table is so worth it!

9. Bassinet or Co-sleeper- My babies lived in this for the first few months! Evalyn was in hers for 6 months! If you have a big bedroom and didn't have a c-section a regular pack n play would work here too. It is so nice to be able to feed baby in bed and then just lay them next to you. Again, this is a great thing to borrow from someone!

10. Video Monitor- Spend the money and get one you love! We still use ours in Beckham's bedroom now that he has the big boy bed. I think we will move it to the playroom when the kids get older. It will save you getting out of bed so many times and gives you a special glimpse into their little private world. The brand of ours is Summer but there are a ton of good ones out there. Wait for the 20% off Babies R Us coupon.

Nursing Moms: If you are going to breastfeed here are a few things that I used all the time.

Hooters Hider Nursing Cover- can be used for pumping or nursing.

Hands Free Pumping Bra- IF YOU ARE EVER GOING TO PUMP GET ONE OF THESE!!! You can pump in the car (yes, I did just say that), read a book or check email while pumping. They are around $30 and are totally worth it! Mine was Easy Expressions and I loved that it had this velcro panel on the back so it always fit me well. I will spare you the picture of this one.

Don't spend a lot of money on these:

A play mat/gym- something basic will work and your baby only wants on lay on his/her back for a short time.

An exersaucer/jumper - we have a combo one that worked great. Buy a used one of these or borrow if you can. They can be completely washed and your baby will be crawling and walking all over before you know it! We also have a door jumper (gasp- how unsafe!) that we keep in the bathroom so I could still shower after they were done with the bouncy seat.

A baby bath- we had one and our kids hated it!
The sink or bathtub with a towel in it worked much better and you have less bulky gear to store.

Bumbo Seat- Borrow or buy used (totally washable) and get the tray as well! B loved his and ate a ton of first meals in it. E hated it!!! I don't think she ever sat in it for more than a few moments. Most used ones are in perfect condition and you can save a little money while you figure out if your baby is a lover or hater of it.

This is what happens when Dad is in charge :)

Stroller- OK, I am a bit of a stroller snob I admit. I LOVE strollers and we do have a few lined up in the garage right now. If I had to do it again I wouldn't buy the expensive travel system new. I would still get the carseat and bases but not the stroller. You can find them on craigslist all over for pretty cheap or a Snap n Go would work well in the beginning as well. This buys you a little time (at least 6 months) to figure out how you will use your stroller. Will you be an active mom and need a jogging stroller? Will you have another baby in the next 2 years and need a double stroller? Will you have another baby in the next 4 years and want a sit n stand?

Do invest in a good stroller that you LOVE and fits the specific needs of your family! We got a Baby Jogger City Select when Evalyn was born and we love it. It can go from a single (facing both ways) to a double and also has the option for an infant adapter. The storage basket is large and it will be perfect for our 2 kids. When Beckham is older we can just take off his seat and it will be a single stroller again for Evalyn. I just think it's hard to know when you first have your baby what you will want/need in the future. Invest in the stroller you will use for the longest. Also remember that a more expensive stroller sells on craigslist so your investment in the long run is about the same.

On a side note if you are looking for a great umbrella stroller consider the Inglesina Swift. It is much less than the Maclaren, same quality and won't tip over with a bag on the back. Ours has been awesome!

OK, this is getting really long. I will let you know my thoughts on baby books and my favorite toddler products soon. What are your favorite baby products? I can't wait to hear!

Bottom Line- your baby doesn't need any of this stuff. Yes, it can make life so much easier but remember all your baby needs is you. Your love, your time, your patience. Take them in, smell their little heads, feel their puffs of breaths and let them wrap you around their tiny fingers. They are the most precious gifts and the greatest responsibility God has given us.

Congratulations Moms, you are going to be GREAT!

Last weekend we were in Atlanta so I could fill up so many more than 10 blessings. I didn't bring my camera (gasp!) so there won't be any photos for this one.

181. Evalyn walking and talking up a storm
182. For her falling asleep on my shoulder tonight and her breath on my arm
183. For snuggle time with Beckham during naptime and our book marathon today.
184. For Dirk- completed conversations, dreaming, sleeping in and time
185. That we are still their whole world
186. For the way Holy Spirit taking up residence with me last weekend.
187. For the moment during my morning on the lake
188. For our Atlanta Friends
189. For our Atlanta Neighbors
190. For the Johnsons, Gramma Ghlee and Papa Bob so we could get away.

Atlanta is the place where my heart was broken. It was the place where Dirk and I started out our adult life. We made "our" friends there, fell in love with the beauty and weather and found our church home. It will always hold a special place in our life and tug at our heartstrings when we visit. The weekend was more than I could have expected.

God was in Atlanta waiting for me. I don't blame Him for hanging out there, it is pretty amazing!

Back to the daily grind and wishing I had a few more days with the babies and to clean up my house before work.

How was your weekend?