Unnecessary baby items that you don't need!

Before having Morgan I thought I needed every baby item listed on Babies R Us. When making my baby registry I was overwhelmed with the amount of things the website "recommended" for parents. My house is not that big so I had no idea where we were going to put everything but that didn't matter I had to have it all. Poor Matt had no clue what half of the stuff was for but he dare not argue with me about it :) After having Morgan I have come to the conclusion that there are certain items you do not need and will never use. Don't get me wrong we are using a lot of the stuff we have and it is insane how much room all that stuff does take up but there are some items you can live without. 

1) Baby bath tub: Some parents may use it all the time but I found it to be a huge pain. The kitchen sink will work just fine until baby is strong enough to hold their head up, then they can just take a shower with mom or dad. It is much easier and you don't have to constantly fill up the bath tub and clean it. I found it difficult to hold onto a slippery baby in the baby bath tub and I think the shower works much better. 

Source: http://sunvalleymag.com/Sun-Valley-360/Summer-2014/What-Do-I-Need-for-A-Newborn-Baby/

2) Diaper wipe warmer: The wipe warmer is a nice luxury for the baby, however most of the time we change Morgan downstairs and use cold wipes. Also sometimes the wipe warmer can dry out the wipes and it constantly needs to be plugged in. Nice to have but not a necessity. 

Source: http://www.toysrus.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3242098

3) Crib bedding set: You aren't suppose to put anything in cribs anymore and now they have these "breathable" bumpers for babies so bedding sets are kind of pointless. We can't have anything but a fitted sheet in Morgan's crib because she will somehow get any blankets that are in her crib over her head. 

Source: http://ulxy.com/crib-bedding-sets-boys-girls-ideas.html/cool-grey-baby-boy-crib-bedding-sets-monkey-with-white-nursery-funrniture-sets-with-reading-lamp

4) A bottle rack for the dishwasher: Half the time I clean the bottles by hand with a bottle brush. I try to remember to put the bottles in the dishwasher when I start it but I usually forget. We go through bottles so much I can wait for the dishwasher to get full to get them clean. 

Source: http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Tot-Dishwasher-Basket-Orange/dp/B0038JE61O

5) Lastly, a ton of clothes. Yes I know this is crazy because babes go through a lot of clothes but I didn't have time to get Morgan in everything before she grew out of it! The really cute clothes are the hardest to because they are usually two pieces and its hard to keep Morgan warm when her dress keeps coming up. I prefer onesies but that is just me :) 

Source: http://www.ikuzobaby.com/page/15/

Morgan 2 Months

Weight & Height: She weights 11 pounds and is 22 inches long!

Eating: Morgan's appetite has started to change because some days she can't get enough but other days she will go longer periods between bottles and I can't believe she isn't hungry yet. She keeps me on my toes!

Nursing/Bottles:

She likes to nurse in the morning but that is about the only period in the day I can get her to nurse; the rest of the time it's me and the pump! I think in order to get more sleep when I go back to work I am going to start reducing my pumping so I can stop altogether hopefully in the next couple of weeks. I have enough frozen breast milk for almost another month but then its on to all formula. She takes formula at night so I know she will be fine, but it has taken a lot for me to decide to stop breast feeding 3 months short of my goal. But I couldn't have predicted she would not want to breastfeed and so I am doing what is best for us now. 

Sleeping (naps): She usually has a morning nap around 9am and then will nap on and off throughout the day. 

Sleeping (at night): Morgan's bedtime is 8pm and she usually goes down really well now and will sleep anywhere from 6-7 hours straight. We usually wake up around 2:30/3am to feed her and then try and get her back asleep in her crib. She will always wake up at 5:30/6am and want to come into bed with us and at that point we are both too tired to arguer with her :)

Clothing: She is officially out of her newborn clothes and into her 0-3 month clothes. 

New this month: 

• She is starting to smile, especially in the mornings she is the happiest. 
• She is also able to try and communicate with us with her cooing and babbling. 
• She can see her mobile and her toys hanging from her pack in play and loves looking at them. She also loves the american flag on the wall and will stare at it for hours. 
• She is drooling so much and gets every outfit soaking wet. She also loves sucking on her hand. 

Nicknames: Peanut, Morganator...our new one is beast because at night we say "don't wake the beast" :) oh and her uncle Dylan started calling her Morggie. 

Morgan likes:

• Chilling in her big puffy chair
• Being held
• Sucking on her hand
• Being talked to and smiled at
• Her pacifier
• Her activity mat
• Stretching
• Blowing bubbles

Morgan dislikes:

• Still hates being swaddled
• Most of the time she is a very happy baby :)

Morgan 1 Month

Weight & Height: She was 7.5 lbs at her two week appointment but she is growing like a weed so I know she weighs more now. Not sure about height, I will measure her for the next update.

Eating: Morgan loves to eat! Sometimes she will cluster feed and eat a lot at once, or like yesterday she didn't eat for 5 hours and slept the entire time! (It also depends on how much formula and how much breast milk we are putting in her bottles.)

Nursing/Bottles:

I am still just pumping breast milk mostly into bottles but we are getting better with latching and trying to add a few nursing sessions in throughout the day. She still falls asleep after about five minutes of nursing and its impossible to wake her up!

Sleeping (naps): Naping randomly throughout the day. 

Sleeping (at night): Morgan is doing great with night sleeping lately! the routine is normally going to bed around 10 but takes about 30-45 minutes to get her down then she sleeps till about 2:30 when /i have to wake up and pump and feed her and takes about 30 minutes to get back down till about 6:30am. In the morning is grandmas shift :) so grandma takes her into her room until about 8am so I can get some  sleep. 

Clothing: Still hits in her newborn clothes but they are starting to get small on her. She can fit into some 0-3 months clothes and we are about out of the newborn diapers.

New this month:

• She is very aware of her surroundings and loves looking at her mobile in her crib and little toys hanging from her swing. 
• She is also able to sit up in her gumbo seat and can almost keep her head up for awhile!
• Morgan loves sleeping on her side and when we put her on her blanket to do "tummy time" she is able to roll herself onto her side.
• Starrting to smile...may still just be from gas though :)

Nicknames: Peanut, Morganator

Morgan likes:

• Country music
• Her swing
• Blowing bubbles with her mouth
• Sleeping with her hands by her face
• Morgan loves being talked to

Morgan dislikes:

• Being swaddled
• Getting the hiccups, which happens often!

Morgan has arrived!

Morgan Duggan-Childs was born on Tuesday June 24, 2014 at 11:34am at 6lbs 12 oz and was 20 inches long. My labor started on Sunday evening, I started have stronger braxton hicks contractions and I woke up at 5am on Monday morning and could not go back to sleep because I was so uncomfortable! Matt was suppose to go into work at 8am but my contractions started getting stronger so he called into work to stay home with me. Around 10am we went to labor and delivery where they told us that I would probably going into labor tonight but that I was not ready to be admitted and I should go eat some lunch and take a walk.

I was kind of disappointed I wanted to be able to get the show on the road but instead we went home and took a 2 mile walk to try and get my labor started. I waited about 5 hours before going back to the hospital. The contractions were continuing to get stronger and closer together and I was sure I would get admitted this time. Nope! they sent me home again and said to continue to labor at home because I wasn't dilated enough yet. Long story short we went back two more times before we finally got admitted and  I got the magical epidural! The next couple hours we slept waiting for things to progress and then around 2am the doctor broke my water and it was more waiting around and sleeping till it was time to push. I pushed for about 3 hours, Morgan did not want to come out easy! But she finally made her appearance into the world 1 week and 1 day early :) Matt and I were instantly in love. We spent the next couple days in the hospital and my mom arrived the day were were discharged.

We ended up having to go back to the hospital and spend one more night there for Morgan's jaundice and low birth weight. She was not latching properly when trying to breastfeed and she lost a lot of weight in the 24 hours we were at home. I started pumping and we also started supplementing formula to help get her weight back up. The breastfeeding has been a whole different struggle and I am not sure we will completely get there all the way but I have made it to one month so far so we will take it day by day :)

Baby Morgan Week 38

WEEK 38 

Estimated Due Date: July 2, 2014

Gender: GIRL!!! Morgan Duggan-Childs

Weight Gain: 27 pounds

Eats and Treats: feeling kind of nauseous in the mornings again so not really craving anything. Watermelon is still a favorite. 

How I Am Feeling: heartburn, indigestion, leg cramps, nose bleeds, back ache and pure uncomfortableness! I think there is a reason pregnancy makes you feel this way towards the end because you cannot wait to meet your baby and not feel this way anymore :)

Clothing: I cannot wait to be able to wear my normal clothes again and feel comfortable in them!

Exercise: I did two pregnancy weight work outs this week and went on a walk, I am so exhausted today I doubt I will work out anymore this week.

Most Looking Forward To: Going into labor! Although I am going back and forth between just wanting to her to come as soon as she can or wanting her to wait till my mom gets here next Thursday!, I know I have no say because its all up to her :)

Thankful For: I get to see my mom in a week!!! I haven't seen her since January and I miss her so much and wish she was here right now to get me through these last couple of weeks!

Baby Morgan Week 37!!

WEEK 37 (3 weeks to go!!)

Estimated Due Date: July 2, 2014

Gender: GIRL!!! Morgan Duggan-Childs

Weight Gain: 25 pounds

Eats and Treats: cereal, popsicles, bagels, watermelon, ice coffee all have been tasting so good lately!

How I Am Feeling: Wow braxton hicks contractions have gotten very intense! I can tell my body is getting ready for labor because everything hurts! I am definitely going to be ready to have Morgan soon! Please don't make me wait till 41 weeks baby girl :)  

Clothing: Is it possible to feel like your maternity clothes don't fit anymore? Because that is how I feel!

Exercise: taking walks with Matt (because he is finally back home!!!) 

Most Looking Forward To: Meeting our baby girl!

Thankful For: The weekend! enjoying this time as a family of two while we still can. 

Adorable bear my aunt Sue got for Morgan, I think this will be her favorite stuffed animal :)

Morgan's Nursery and Week 36

WEEK 36

Estimated Due Date: July 2, 2014

Gender: GIRL!!! Morgan Duggan-Childs

Weight Gain: 25 pounds

Eats and Treats: trying to eat more vegetables this week so I made salads for lunch this week, and surprisingly they did not make me gag :) Hubby is gone for work so dinner has been a lot of cereal and fruit haha. I did make myself cook up steak tacos last night so I have some nutrients and protein. I also have been eating yummy mango and raspberry sorbet with chocolate chips for dessert so good!

How I Am Feeling: so uncomfortable!!! My belly is so big and those Braxton hicks contractions are not comfortable. Heartburn has been bad, it got better for a day or two but then got bad again last night :(

Clothing: whatever fits! I am all about being comfortable. My mom bought me the most awesome nursing tank tops and I am wearing them everyday after work even though I'm not nursing yet haha they are so comfortable!

Exercise: getting kind of rough working out lately. My body is just not up for doing much. I still managed to get in a couple workout videos and walks on the treadmill once, I might stop this whole workout thing soon though! at least till after the pregnancy :)

Most Looking Forward To: Getting to week 37 and being full term! :)

Thankful For: My husband and all he does for Morgan and I, I cannot wait for him to get home so we can welcome Morgan into the world!

Sorry this is an awful picture, but sometimes you just don't want to take another one haha 

Pictures from Morgan's nursery and her bathroom :)

Morgan's cute clothes hanging next to Daddy's uniforms :)