I’ve been a mom of two for three and a half weeks now. And I’ve been having …. dare I say it? …. fun. No really! I’ve been having a lot of fun! Abby is such a great baby and Aric has been amazing. Really the only problem we’ve been having with Aric is the fact that we’ve been cooped up inside for so long and he’s getting bored. And I don’t blame him.

But honestly, as much as I hate putting this out into the universe, I’ve been having a great time! I love all the snuggles I get from a yummy smelling baby. I’m actually ENJOYING breastfeeding and I only hate overnight feedings in the first minutes I’m awake.

I have a couple items that I use daily that have been helping me get through these early weeks of infant care, so I thought I’d write about them for those who are in the same place as we are, or those who will be soon (hi Jill!!).

1. My smart phone.

This has been amazing. In the first weeks I used it to track Abby’s diapers and feedings. I downloaded a library app and have been renting and reading e-books during marathon feeding sessions. I keep up with facebook, blogs, and twitter. I’ve spent more time talking with friends and family members with my boobs hanging out than I’m sure they’d care to know about. I didn’t have one when Aric was a baby, so I spent a lot of time alone with my thoughts. Not the best plan!

2. Our nighttime routine

This includes a nice warm bath in her warm room (using an infant tub, obviously), a tight swaddle (using these), and the myBaby Soundspa Lullaby Sound Machine. I don’t know how well it actually works for Abby’s sleeping. I mean, she’s never gone a night without it and she’s a decent sleeper, so I can’t say for certain this is why, but still. I even find the ocean noise from the sound spa soothing and I don’t mind listening to it at 3am while lounging in the rocker with a nursing babe.

3. Freezer meals

Remember all those meals I made in the beginning of December? They have been amazing. I have not had to actually cook a dinner since we got home from the hospital. All I have to do it remember to take something out of the freezer the night before, then throw it in the over the night of. If there is ANY advice I’d give to a first time mom, it would be to stock up on freezer meals. Even for breakfasts and lunches, if you can. It’s so amazing to not have to think about what to make when you’re running on little sleep.

4. Swing

We have the same swing we used when Aric was a baby. It’s a great way to keep Abby moving when she just needs to have some sort of stimulation. Plus she naps like a boss in it.

5. Bouncy seat

We don’t have a fancy bouncy seat (even though I really want one for no reason other than I want one) and that’s been OK. Ours is just a seat that vibrates. No hanging things, no fancy bouncing or swaying. I actually bought it used from a daycare center that was closing. Again, Abby naps like a boss in that thing, and she sits in it when we have dinner so she can join us.

6. Soothies

Abby LOVES these pacis, She doesn’t use them frequently, but she sucks on one for a few minutes to calm down, spits it out, and falls asleep. I call that a win. And actually, I just bought her a WubbaNub, which is a soothie attached to a bean bag animal. They are just too cute to NOT get

7. Social Media

How do I make my boobs stop hurting? What breast pump is best? Is an Ergo carrier worth the money? All of these questions and then some have been posted on Twitter and have been answered by moms of all different kinds who have all different experiences. I find those reviews FAR more helpful than Amazon reviews or my patented “whichever brand is cheapest at Target this week” (which is how I bought my breast pump for Aric and discovered this time around that that pump just won’t cut it, at which point I turned to twitter and got a recommendation for a pump that’s in the mail as we speak!). Social media is like a nurse line, but with much quicker service. OBVIOUSLY it doesn’t substitute for a REAL nurse line/doctor advice, but it’s great to get instant answers from friends/moms I trust.

8. Coffee

‘Nuf said.

I’m sure there are more things, but these are the most important items that I use on a daily basis to keep me and Abby feeling our best in these early weeks. Next up – Toddler must-haves.

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