must haves

Last week kellyskornerblog.com did baby must haves.
I don't usually participate in this type of thing, but these things made my life so much easier that I have to share them with you.

Miracle Blanket - www.miracleblanket.com
This thing is AMAZING! I didn't have it with Molly, was too cheap with Avery and got one as a gift for Presley. I can't say enough good about this thing. Presley has been sleeping all night since she was 6 weeks old, and by all night I mean, goes to bed at 10 and doesn't wake up until 7. I give all credit to the miracle blanket. We wrap her up SUPER tight in it. At first she would grunt and groan but after a couple of nights in it she loved it. Don't waste your money on anything besides the miracle blanket. It truely is a miracle.
Itzbeen - www.itzbeen.com. You don't "need" one of these but it's great. It is a small timer that you use to keep track of when you fed your baby last, it also records diaper changes, naps which side you fed on last and one extra button that I used for my pain medication after having my girls. When you're in the hospital you're a little groggy and when you come home you're tired and busy so the Itzbeen helps to keep track of everything for you.
Nursing cover up - If you plan on breastfeeding and want to leave your house then a nursing cover up is a must have. Some don't feel comfortable breastfeeding in public even with a cover up, but I'm WAY over that.
Bouncy chair - We have a fisher price one with a little bird that spins around when the baby pulls on the hanging toys. All 3 of my girls LOVED this chair. They would stare at that bird and smile. I'm pretty sure that he was their best friend during the first few months of life.A Mini van - If you have 3 kids in car seats there's just no other option. Even with 2 kids it's a great vehicle. Doors that open with the touch of a button, EWWWW. Rear entertainment, AHHH. Lot's of storage space, EWWW. Easy access to the back from the front, AHHH! Can you tell, I love my van. Yes, I know, it's super dorky and I swore I'd never drive one... Just swallow your pride and get one. They're awesome. :-) I recommend the Honda Odyssey. oh, and spend the money to get leather!Bumbo Seat - This thing was a lifesaver with Molly. I would put her in it while I got ready in the mornings before work. She would just sit there and watch me for an hour! I could do the same thing when I would cook dinner. Avery wasn't a "sit and watch" kind of baby so we didn't use it as much with her, but I still think everyone needs one. It works great for baby hair cuts!

and the #1 thing you will need...
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A GREAT DADDY!
Seriously guys... I know it sounds cheesy, but you can't have kids and survive with out one of these. By "great daddy" I mean - one who willingly helps with everything!! One who doesn't have to be told to put kids in the bath or get a diaper bag ready... One that will sing and read to your babies... one that will clean the kitchen after dinner... I could go on for days about this one. Gone are the days of the woman doing all of the housework and taking care of the kids (at my house those days are LONG gone... and we wouldn't have it any other way!) If you don't have kids yet... start training your husbands to be great dad's now! Or if you do have kids and you take care of everything cause "it's just easier for you to do it". Relax, let him do it a little bit less than perfect every once in a while. I promise that everyone involved will benefit
*Joey, reading The Little Mermaid to Molly and Avery before bed.