The first six months of a baby's life are tricky. Typically during this time, your child sleeps a lot, cannot sit or crawl, and is mostly content being held or staring at the ceiling fan. However, as the weeks go by and your baby is awake for longer stretches and more alert and attentive to his or her surroundings, it's nice to have a few toys for your infant to engage with. The minimalist in me has a fear of baby gear taking over my house, so I like to keep toys and baby paraphernalia as simple as possible. However, I also want Z to be able to play with some toys as her brain develops so rapidly, to see different colors and shapes, to hear various sounds, and, of course, to have some plastic and rubber to cram in her mouth as she teethes. Here is my short list of toys your child will actually play with during the first six months of life... {Toys for Baby {0-6 months} by jenrussum on Polyvore} Sassy Wonder Wheel - This is the FIRST toy Zianne engaged with when she was 8 or 9 weeks old. Micah held it above her face and taught her how to reach out her tiny, uncoordinated hands to spin the wheel. Now this gem attaches to the tray on her outdoor swing and her Prince Lionheart seat, and she spins it all day long! Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes - This is the first toy that made Zianne smile. Around the same time we introduced her to the wheel, we started using this little music toy. It lights up as it plays music and Zianne's face lights up right along with it. Now she knows how to push the button and start a new song on her own. Sophie the Giraffe - This is one of the top ranked teething toys for a reason. It's soft and rubbery and every child loves it. At my ladies' book club last year, we use to watch all the kids, even toddlers who were too old for her, fight over Sophie. We would joke that there is something magic about this giraffe... except it's not a joke. She really is magic. Zoli Gummy Teething Sticks - When Zianne received these for Christmas, Micah thought they were going to be a total waste of money. He admits now that he was wrong. Zianne loves to gnaw on these things. We keep them in the freezer and pull one out for her when she gets fussy around dinnertime. Oball Rattle - I would always watch the older babies in our community group play with these balls and I knew Z would want one. It rattles and can be gripped easily by little baby hands. Rock-a-Stack Stacking Rings - Micah and I bought the classic Fisher Price stacking rings for Zianne as a Christmas gift. I can't say she full engages with them yet, since she still can't sit up, but she likes to kick the stack and watch it topple over and sometimes she even manages to get a ring wrapped around her wrist or ankle. Sometimes I sit with her and tell her the color of each ring. I know she'll get more use out of this in months to come, but I'm glad we got it for her when we did. Carseat toy - Zianne has this Taggies Lion attached to her car seat. She likes to cram it into her mouth as we drive around town. She also got to "borrow" her twin friends' Lamaze Firefly toy {aka... they left it at our house} and she really likes the way it crinkles. Hopefully I can convince her to give it back to them... Lovey travel blanket - Zianne has just started to enjoy her lovey blankets in the past few weeks. I keep a plush gray one in her crib now and an elephant lovey in her toy basket. She likes to stick the elephant's trunk in her mouth, of course. Jesus Storybook Bible - This is actually recommended for children ages 4-8, but it's never too early to start reading the Bible to your kids in my opinion, and this one is FAR better than most children's Bibles out there. Zianne has one board book Bible that skips the death and resurrection of Christ. What? This Bible is all about Jesus. I read it to her before nap time, and I'm just careful not to let her infant hands tear the big kid paper pages. And that's it... those are the toys our baby girl actually engaged with over the first six months of her life. Of course, we read lots of board books and she has an activity center and jumper to keep her occupied too, but when it comes to actual toys, we've kept is simple. The ones on this list have been perfect for us! ... Read more

I am back for part two of my breastfeeding series {read Part I here}. These are the items I've used over the past six months to help my nursing journey go smoothly. Every lady is different, of course. I would recommenced keeping the receipts for anything you buy related to nursing, because you might find that a product or a method that was highly recommended just doesn't work for you or your baby when the times comes. Nonetheless, here is what worked for me. I hope this list is helpful to you! Milkies Milk Savers - This little cup is a genius way to catch all the overflow milk you produce for the first few weeks of nursing. You slide the cup in your bra on the side where the baby is not nursing, and it catches your letdown. I honestly saved bottles of milk with this contraption. Nursing Cover - Honestly, Z hates to be covered when nursing. At first, I didn't like using a cover because we were still working on our latch and positioning and I wanted to keep my eye on what was going on. I think she got so used to be uncovered that once I tried to use one later on, she would bat it away instantly. However, I still use my cover for when I pump. If you are full-time working mama who pumps a lot throughout the day, I would recommend having two covers {if your baby uses one} - one in the diaper bag, one in your pumping bag. Pump - I have the Ameda Purely Yours pump and it works great for me. You can most likely get a free pump from your insurance, so call them before you purchase anything on your own. Bottles - I heard that Tommy Tippee bottles were great for breastfed babies, so that's what I registered for, and I really like them. We introduced Z to bottles right at two weeks and she's always been fine with them. I'm home with her most of the time, but I would say she now takes 4-6 bottles throughout the week when Micah or my mom watch her. Lawn drying rack - This is where all the baby bottles and pump parts dry on the counter. Lanolin cream - I barely had to use any cream because nursing went so smoothly for us, but I would recommend having at least a tube of this on hand for cracked or sore nipples. It also works on your baby's neck rolls, if his or her chins are chafing. True story! Lansinoh storage bags - These are awesome bags for storing pumped milk. Lansinoh nursing pads - These are the disposable nursing pads I still use. I have a set of Bamboobies as well, but I prefer the disposable type.  Elle McPherson bra - This is my favorite nursing bra. It's supportive, comfortable, and not atrociously ugly or bulky. I've heard it recommended by women of various sizes, so I think it's very versatile for almost any body shape. Panache "Sophie" bra - This is the other nursing bra I love, but they only make it for bigger sizes. It's supportive and the only nursing bra that comes close to the "sexy" category. Cheap Target nursing bras {like this one} - Don't even bother buying a real nursing bra or tank for the first two months, because your size will go up and down as your milk supply stabilizes. I used two inexpensive bras from Target during this time. They aren't super supportive, but they work for those first crazy weeks when you are around the house most of the time anyway. Nursing sleep cami - These are the best things to sleep in during the first few months of nursing, especially when you are still waking up for night feedings. You feel like you are covered when you go to bed, but you can easily slide the top to the side to nurse, and the stretchy cotton gives you room as your milk supply builds up during {hopefully} longer stretches of sleep at night. Hands free pumping bra - This thing is amazing. Ignore the awkward cartoon photos of a pumping woman on the packaging. I don't know how to pump anymore without this bra. Aden and Anais swaddle blankets - Keep one of these blankets in your diaper bag at all times. It can be used as a cover if needed. It can wipe spit up when you can't find a burp cloth. It can even be used as a pillow to prop the baby's head into the right position when feeding on the go. Boppy pillow or Brestfriend - You will want some kind of pillow to make breastfeeding comfortable. I have both of these pillows. Lactation consultants will usually recommend the Brestfriend, and I found it the most helpful for the first few weeks, especially when figuring out how to feed at home without the help of an adjustable bed and 18 million pillows at the hospital. Around week eight, we transitioned to using the Boppy, which we now use all the time. I would not buy both pillows, but if you can get one as a gift and then borrow the other from a friend, that might be the perfect combo. Boppy cover - I splurged on a Pottery Barn Kids Boppy cover, and I'm so glad I did. It's so soft and such high quality. The Boppy gets covered in all types of questionable fluids, and this cover washes perfectly clean every time. It's also fairly easy to put on and take off, which I appreciate. So there is my list of breastfeeding must-haves. Yes, the things on this list will cost you a bit of money, but they will make your journey so much more enjoyable and most of them can be used for multiple children. And remember... the milk is free! *Some affiliate links used throughout. ... Read more