… the Baby Spring Float with Canopy (although I love everything in the One Step Ahead catalogue!). Can you believe summer’s almost upon us? I vaguely remember the season last year (I’m a June baby), but from what my sister tells me, splashing around in the pool (especially when there’s protection from the sun) is very cool.

… an Interlock Cosi bag from Kalencom. Since I was a swaddle baby (up ’til seven months, when the pediatrician finally told mom I was a bit too big to be wrapped up), I sleep better all cozy and snug. Plus, this is pretty, too, just like me!

… a Joovy Kooper stroller — way cool in its functionality and form – it’s lightweight, cozy, and ultra modern – and who doesn’t look rad in a very-red ride?! I’ll never step foot in a regular umbrella stroller again!

… Dream Baby’s Stay-Put Cutlery & Bowl in every color they make. As much as I love throwing my bowls with food on the floor, it’s nice to keep Mom happy every now and again! And — true confessions — this really does remind me of a to (you can’t beat that!).

… a Sweet Anita dress — it’s screams “spring,” doesn’t it? I’m fascinated by the colors, plus its delicate feminine style is oh-so-me, don’t you think?

Read more:

• Find more cool baby care stuff now
• Baby gear, nursery items, and more

• First silly picture with my cousins
• First crawl (belly crawlers rule!)
• First orange
• First crib pull up (Look at me! My nursery is now an adventure zone!)
• First display of generosity (Mommy taught me how to “give”)
• First wave bye-bye (LOVE the wrist action)
• First teeter-totter “Yes, I’m standing” stunt (a two-second stunt, but a stunt nonetheless!)
• First ice pop (sugar free and oh-so-wonderful for the gums)
• First made-up baby game (trying to grab Daddy’s food, then giggling)
• First book “reading” (”read/babbling” to myself and flipping pages counts, right?!)
• First french fry (I want everything my big sister has, these especially)
• First macaroni meal (Mom gave me some Tubetti pasta from her chicken soup — yum!)

{Now I’m getting hungry, but I digress…}

Anyway, it seems like these “firsts” come in bunches. A few months back, it was my first roll-over, first word (much to Mom’s chagrin, it was da-da, but ma-ma shortly followed), my first baby kiss, my first Cheerio. Wonder what fun firsts will come next? I’ll keep you posted.

babyworld sound-off: What’s your favorite of all your baby’s firsts?

As I get older, our nursing moments are getting less and less, yet still I reward her with a gentle touch of my hand, and a delicate positioning of my feet nestled under her shoulder, close to her.

But really, Mom’s rewarding me. We’ve all heard the benefits of breastfeeding, among them that breast milk is more digestible; I never have to wait for it to heat up; and it lowers my risk of asthma, protects against diarrheal infections and decreases my chances of contracting Hodgkin’s disease, osteoporosis and other words I’m not quite sure about but that sound scary. (See more reasons – 101 of ‘em – documented here.)

And, just a few weeks back, Mom read how researchers in Australia discovered that breastfeeding not only gives babies like me everything we need to meet our unique nutritional needs, but may also contain stem cells that could serve as key markers to guide our development into adulthood.

How cool is it that the benefits of Mommy’s milk may one day transcend beyond even these cherished nursing moments?!

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*For moms and dads:

• Breastfed babies cope better with stress
• Breastfeeding and weaning
  
• Breastfeeding benefits both mother and child

But alas I awoke this morning rejuvenated and refreshed. Gone were the crankies. My mouth and gums had de-pressurized. Behold, I was no longer a “pod baby.” (Dad kept referencing some movie, “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” pondering aloud, “Who stole my happy J!?”)

I’ve realized that I am just like one of the trees I always admire when looking out the window (one of my favorite things to do). I started out peaceful and still, yet as I grow, I begin to catch more breezes. I move and bend with each passing wind — sometimes fiercely waving, other times slowly rocking. But always graceful.

Mom says that even when I cry, whine, fuss, and fret, I am forever beautiful and precious and delicate. Is that what love is?

Every time Mom stuck that thermometer-thingie under my arm last week, I’d sense her despair. She would just stare at it while I whimpered, and then sigh while exclaiming “It’s still 100.2!” We took a trip to the pediatrician, and thankfully – no major sickness was ailing me. “She’s just fighting something,” Doc Z. said. Fight? I’m a baby — I don’t have it in me to really fight.

So, fast forward a full week, and since I no longer have Infant Tylenol stains on my onesies, we’ve figured out that those low-grade fevers were foreshadowing teething fun (not!). Now I’m being attacked by the crankies to beat all crankies.

Mom’s worried I’m going to just stay this way, transform from a happy baby to a writhing wailer. I can see why she thinks that. Nothing makes me happy – not Mommy, not Daddy, not Sister, not the dog, not nursing (well, maybe once in awhile), not my baby cookies, not the TV, not my toys, not my books … only — the bathtub.

There’s nothin’ like a little splish-splashing (with a wet washcloth in your mouth, of course) to wash away the blues. For now, at least.

Apparently, this weird sensation I’ve been feeling is the onset of teething, so everything and anything in my mouth helps. Check these out:

The First Years Massaging Action Teether - The grown-up who knew that the vibrating, massage action would score some big-time baby points was pretty smart!

Haba Pixie’s World Teething Ring - How cute is this teether, made from high-quality wood? The bell and mirror had me sold!

Organic Cotton Bumble Bee Teething Run - When Mom read how there are no chemicals or artificial colors in products made from organic cotton, this piqued her interest. Me? I just like that’s it’s a bright color.

Oh sure, teething is no fun, but at least with some of these toys, it’s bearable (during the day, at least). The nighttime? Well, that’s another story…..
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* For moms and dads:
Eight signs that your baby might be teething
How to help soothe teething pain
Pregnancy & Baby Blog: teething

Didya’ know I am “multicryingual?” All babies are, actually. Of course, there’s the easy-to-recognize cries of “Got milk?” and “Poop happens.. and just did!” But only those really skilled Multicryingual Specialists (i.e., Moms) are able to decipher our many whaa-whaa’s. Among some of mine:

• I’m really tired, but not tired enough for you to lay me down and leave me alone here in this crib.
• What’s for breakfast?
• Bellyache alert…
• I know my sister loves me, but does she have to hug me so much?
• This car seat is boring; get me out!
• Why can’t I eat your necklace?!
• Helloooo — I’m awake now.
• I’ve got poopy problems.
• Hurry up and dress me already!
• I’ve had enough of these toys, thank you.
• These freakin’ teeth…
• Anyone up for some middle-of-the-night munchies?
• Strait jackets — er, snowsuits and I… we don’t get along.
• A little help here: I’ve fallen and I can’t get back up into a sitting position.

babyworld sound-off || What cries comprise your baby’s Multicryingual Dictionary?

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* For moms and dads:

• How to calm your crying baby
• Soothe your crying babe
• Crying: “It’s good for their lungs?”
• Cry baby

I’ve pretty much mastered the art of dozing off on my own. In fact, I have a baby body clock that tells me when it’s 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. My eyes slowly start to close in recognition of “naptime” (Mom’s favorite word). Sometimes, I can’t even wait for her to bring me to my crib.

I suppose my tiredness is a result of all of my activity. These days, there’s so much to do, I don’t know where to begin! Everything intrigues me…

• The ceiling fan in my Mom and Dad’s bedroom
• My big sister doing just about anything (she’s so cool!)
• The carousel at Chuck E. Cheese
• The baby powder at the edge of my changing table (off limits to me and my exploratory mouth, says Mom)
• Turning the pages of a book
• Watching the waitress at Applebee’s go back and forth, back and forth…
• My Mom’s calculator (it’s in the shape of a lil’ man)
• The pictures on our digital picture frame. (Mom is a regular “Mama-razzi.” There are about 765 pictures of me and Big Sister — and that’s just on one slideshow!)

From what my sister tells me, it only gets better and better. Wow!

babyworld sound-off || What intrigues your baby?!

I invite you to join me as I chronicle my journey through infancy and beyond with its ups (”Look up there at Dad’s handsome smile”), downs (”Playing on the floor is way fun, no wonder my dog loves it”), and in betweens (”Wasn’t too sure about green peas before, but believe it or not, they grow on you!”).

I’m not shy — I’ll be using “babyworld” to cyber-chat about my milestones, funny tales, and plenty of fun baby stuff I hope you’ll enjoy.

But alas, it’s nap time now; back in a bit. (I’m like clockwork, so expect me to be wide awake again in about an hour!)

Ta-ta,
Baby JG