{Month 1 & 2} Must-Haves

I really appreciate when experienced mom's give me advice and feedback on things that have worked for them. True, every baby is different and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. However, I have learned about many great things from other people's recommendations. Lauren does a monthly recap post sharing things she loves, and I think it's a great idea, so I'm going to do the same. Yes, Emanuel is now 2 months - I'm a little late getting the show on the road. :) So this will cover months 1 & 2, but I plan to do it monthly after this.

• Pack 'n Play with Newborn Napper

He has slept in the newborn napper ever since coming home from the hospital, and he absolutely loves it. It has a sound box attached to it, and the bubbling brook sound is his favorite. It also has a vibrate feature which he really likes. The changing table is handy, though we have to prop a pillow underneath it to make it level or else he rolls off to one side. Overall still love this though!

• Wubbanub

I have shared my love of Wubbanubs before, so it should be no surprise that this makes the list. It is great because the pacifier is sewn into the monkey's mouth so you can't lose it. I also love it because it keeps the pacifier near his face if it falls out, and once E was about a month old, he could find it on his own since it was still near his mouth. These come in a variety of animals and are so cute! Some boutiques carry them but I ordered mine off eBay.

• SwaddleMe blanket

Manny has always like to be swaddled, and we found this brand to work the best. They are super easy to use because they just velcro shut.

• Johnson & Johnson Bedtime lotion

We use this lotion for him all the time, not just bedtime. :) I LOVE the way it smells.

• MobileRSS Google Reader app

Let's face it - my face time with the computer has dwindled drastically since Manny's arrival on the scene. Fortunately I have an iPhone, so I'm able to do the majority of my blog reading using this app while I'm nursing. I apologize that I've fallen off on commenting on blogs. I do still enjoy reading so much, and maybe (hopefully) one day I'll be back to commenting regularly. :)

• Lansinoh Lanolin

If you are nursing, this is an absolute must-have!! I knew breastfeeding was going to be no walk in the park, but I had no clue what hard work it really would be. I'm not gonna lie; there were definitely times I wanted to quit, but it did get easier and I'm glad I stuck with it. Not sure I would've survived without this stuff though. :)

• Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads

These are by far the best nursing pads I've used. I received several samples so tried each of them out, and these stood far above the rest. I like them because they actually stay put and don't crumple up...the Medela brand are the worst at that!

• Bestform Nursing Tank

I got these at Wal-Mart and they are my favorite! Very comfortable and the price is right too...I think around $11 or $12.

• Infantino Twist & Fold Activity Gym

He wasn't a huge fan of this month 1, though he would hang out on it occasionally for a couple of minutes at a time. Month 2 it's been a big hit though! He loves all of the little animals and it's so cute to watch him bat at them and kick them with his feet. It's very easy to fold up and take places with you, too.

• Take Along Swing

We were so disappointed when he didn't like this the first month, but we kept trying and as of month 2 he LOVES it! I love this travel model we went with because it's so easy to grab and take with you, or just move from room to room. It folds up easily yet still feels sturdy when you set it up.

Okay, I think that's the highlights for the first 2 months. I'll be back soon with month 3 must-haves! :)