Merry Christmas

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas filled to the brim with love and family.

The Molloy Family,

Aaron, Jessi & Toby

Bing & Manny

Homer & Shredda

Dear Santa,

Toby has been a really good boy this year. He sleeps through the night (11+ hours), he NEVER cries, he eats like a champ and he laughs and smiles like it's his job.

More than all those details, he has made a family of people incredibly happy. He is the best gift we have ever received and he proves that love can continue to grow every day. Our son never ceases to amaze us or make us smile. Our life has grown richer, our marriage stronger and our life is bursting at the seams with happiness.

In early December, he met with Santa and I think the jolly old Elf fell right in love with Toby.

 

Santa told him to write him a letter and, with Mama's help, he did! Can you believe that Santa published his letter in the newspaper? I think that means Toby was a really good little boy and he'll probably get what he wants for Christmas, don't you think?

 

Merry Christmas Eve... Santa comes tonight!

Wednesday, Oui? Shedding another fig leaf

Before I got pregnant there were many things I said I wouldn't do once I was a Mom.

For instance:
1. I wouldn't be a mother who hung out in a ponytail wearing yoga pants 24/7.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

2. I would continue take immaculate care of myself after Baby arrived (massages, pedicures, and hair appts.)

Now, my opinion of self-care is a really really long shower where I can actually shave my armpits AND my legs without having to shut off the water three thousand times to check the baby monitor because I think I hear Toby crying.

3. Remember when I said I wouldn't post about Toby all the time?

We all know how that went.

4. I swore, up and down, that I would never ever take a picture of my kid's cute itty bitty perfect pinchable tiny baby bumby.

 

But, last night during "ditch the diaper" time (he loves being diaper free and we let him do it) he was just so happy. And, well, his little butt was just the cutest thing ever... and so, I couldn't help myself!

 

Those buns are beyond adorable!

Oui!

 

 

Naughty or Nice

 

 

"Toby, you're on Santa's naughty list."

 

 

"WHAATTTTTTTT? NOOOOOOOO!"

"No, Mama is just kidding; You've been a VERY good boy this year."

 

"Whew! Yeah, I was gonna say... except for that time I pooped on Daddy, I thought I had done pretty well"

 

"Oh! I FORGOT to tell Santa about the time you pooped on Daddy!"

 

 

"Seriously?"

"I'm just kidding, Baby! Santa will be REALLY good to you this year!"

 

"He better be... or this sleeping through the night business will cease and desist, Ma"

The Play Pen

Volume 1         Issue 1            December 2012

 

The Play Pen is a website for babies seeking babies. To become a member, sign up @ www.thisisamakebelievewebsite.com. All entries must be tasteful. Members using foul language will be put in time out. Must be 6 months of age or older. There are no fees associated with membership.

 

Baby Seeking Playmate:

2' 3", 16lbs., Brwn/Brwn.

 

Hi Babies,

 

I'm a fun loving baby who enjoys dogs, long walks in my stroller, bubbles, and some good pureed avocado. I'm looking for a companion who has similar interests, doesn't spit-up, and can stay up until 7:30 PM.

 

A great play date would be us laughing together, looking at my dogs, and playing with zippers on my Mom's sweatshirts. We can nap together, eat all sorts of fruits and vegetables, and read books.

 

Please respond with interests. Bi-lingual a plus, (I only speak babble right now, but am hoping to speak English soon.) I appreciate a baby with a vast array of musical taste and I'm looking for a committed relationship. Monogamous play only.

Attached is a recent picture.

Let us explore together,

Toby

 



Toby Tested: Mama Approved

Hey you guys, remember when I said I would only occasionally throw in a post about all things baby? Yeah, I'm a liar. Pants on fire!

Now that I've been a Mama for 6 months, I feel compelled to submit reviews on my favorite baby items. Now, these are my favorites. I, in no way, claim them to be superior to all other baby products*. What I can say is that I've had great experiences with these items, have read positive reviews about them, or have read compelling literature on these items. That said, I am also a firm believer in confirmation bias which means if a person believes a fact they will find evidence to support that fact. If you don't use these items, I'm not judging how badly you manhandle your wee-one. Just kidding. Kind of. Not really.**

*yes, I do.
** I am kidding

So, without further ado, here are my picks for my favorite Top Toby Tested Jessi Approved items:

1. Ergo Baby Carrier: I have to admit, at first I didn't want to buy into the hype of an expensive baby carrier. BUT, my sister is so anti "crotch dangler" and constantly hounded reminded me about the effect crotch danglers can have on hip and spine development. So, I had to bite and do a bit of research. Much of what I read coincided with her mongering suggestions. I still held out, though, because one of the things I hung on to was the fact that Toby would get to face "outward" in many of the crotch danglers (such as the Bjorn, Snuggli, etc.). I argued that I wanted him to be able to see and experience things from his carrier. Then I read the piece of information that made a lot of sense to me***. When a baby is facing outward, there is no escape from over-stimulation and gone is the ability to make eye contact with their caregiver for reassurance.

***As a person who gets easily over stimulated by loud noises, loud talking, and bright lights, I COMPLETELY understood this little fact. Then, I stumbled across the picture below and I was sold. I bought an Ergo and I can say I love baby wearing with my Ergo (and Toby does too!)

 

2. Boppy: I have NO idea where I would be without the bobby. We use it for feeding, propping, tummy time (and Aaron uses it for a nice little afternoon nap.) We love the boppy (so does Manny!)

 

 

 

 

3.Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces: I love this. Yes, it may sound like hocus pocus or placebo, but for our little man it seems to work so, we're fans! The only suggestion I have is to take it off at night. It is recommended to stay on 24/7. I find that a safety issue. Do as you choose, however.

 

 

4. Burts Bee (anything): We use Burts lotions, washes and creams. I love the way they smell, I love that they are 99.9% natural and I love that my baby's skin is so soft! (If you remember, I used Burt's creams all through my pregnancy and I didn't get ONE stretch mark!)

 

5. Sophie! I don't even know where to begin where "Soph" is concerned. Sophie goes EVERYWHERE with us. E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E! Toby has loved her since he was about 2 months old and he has given her so many lovies that her spots are rubbing off. Seriously. She is one loved (and gnawed on) little giraffe!

 

 

 

6. Super Baby Foods (Book): If you plan on feeding your baby anything other than something that comes in a bottle, buy it. Read it. Swear by it.

 

7. First Year Calendar: For my shower my girlfriend got me a "first year" calendar. It's exactly what it sounds like; a little calendar to insanely record every single thing document milestones. I keep the calendar with his food/diaper journal and it's easy for me to jot down adorable little things he does. At the end of every month I transfer the information into his baby book/scrapbooks.

 

8. Mirrors: This is novel and completely free. Every house has a few reflective surfaces. Babies loooovvve to gawk! Lug the child into the bathroom and talk to them in the mirror. They will love you for it.

 

9. Books: You've seen Toby's stash. I won't reiterate; it just embarrasses me how many books that little rugrat has. Read to your kid.

 

10. Music: Pandora Kids, Christmas, Jewel's Children's CD, School House Rock Rocks! Me, singing made up songs about what we're doing, "We're wiping your poopy bummmmm-beyyyyy." (Sung to the tune of "On top of old Smoooookkkkeeeeyyyy.")

 

11. Pictures: It's a great way for Toby to learn recognition. We go through his little photo album at least a bazillion-freaking-times twice per day.

 

There you have it folks. These things work for us. There are probably more but they aren't coming to mind (read: I'm getting too tired and lazy to drum up more material.)

 

So, quid pro quo. Help a Mama out; what item(s) do you LOVE?