My 2 Year old son, Fletcher, makes my heart happy. I see him learning more and more every single day.  He is becoming quite the talker too.  I wanted to list all of my favorite things about him because he has been on my mind a lot.

I love that he goes and grabs a cleaning cloth when he spills something on the floor or table.

I love how he runs to his brother every time he cries and tries to make him stop with kisses and hugs.

I love the toys he picks as his favorites.  Currently he is dragging around an old school phone and 3 James the Train Pez Dispensers (with no pez in them).  He even slept with all 3 for his nap.

I love that he falls asleep while I read him “The Tiny Seed” for his nap, every single day, by the third from last page.

I love that he comes up to me, his brother, and his Daddy and says “I Love You” for no good reason.

I love that he now shakes our hands and says “nice to meet you” which sounds like “dee doo.”

I love how he lines up all of his toys in a row and tells them to “go.”

I love (and hate) that he only counts by saying “boo, ba, boo, ba” even though I know darn well he knows the numbers.

I love that he knows so many colors and shapes and finds them everywhere in everyday life, like the triangle on the floor, the oval on a paper, or the rectangle of the door.

I love that he can find the smallest thing, far away, and point it out.  Like a penguin on a Xmas sweater in a store, and then say “wah wah” for what the penguin says.

I love his independent spirit even though it can be challenging.

I love the face he makes when he is mad, and how he sighs and shrugs his shoulders with it.

I love that he still wants to place his hand in my cleavage for comfort, only when he really needs it, as a remnant of our nursing days.

I love when he pats the bed or seat next to him when he wants us to sit with him.

I love how he can always find the moon in the sky no matter how small or dark it is.

I love his concerned nature.  He says “oh no!” when we read books or watch a show in which a person is in trouble.

I love that he enjoys putting on all of our shoes and walking around the house.

I love that he knows what Santa says.

I love how he still wants to snuggle with his face directly on my chest, and will pull my shirt aside to make sure that happens.

I love his smiles.

I love that he has learned the word “mine” but will still share his toys when we ask.

I love the way his hair looks after he wakes up from a nap.

I love how he can fall asleep with his Daddy in the strangest ways.

I love how every “scary” animal makes the same growl, tiger, lions, bears, alligators, and so on.

I love how he grabs my hand and says “walk” when he wants something or wants to play.

I love that his 3rd word was balloon, and how much joy he gets from them.

I love that he says “thank you” more often than not.

I love how he is already an iPhone expert.

I love how he says “home” when he realizes where we are on our drive.

I love the way he plays with his trains and that he knows who Thomas and Toby are.

I love that he knows who Mario is.

I love how he sees older men with mustaches and calls them “pawpaw.”

I love how he talking in a robot voice and says every word he knows in it.

I love that he is an awesome dancer and can pick up any move he sees on TV.

I love how much he loves his brother.

And I love the way he runs into his daddy’s arms when he comes home from work and how excitedly he says “Daddy, Daddy!”

2 Years is a challenging age.  We have plenty of daily struggles.  He throws his fair share of tantrums and he can get ugly.  But I remind myself that I am so lucky to have him.  He is so loving and sweet and bright.  Even though every single day is a battle with the 2 kids, and there is a lot of crying and screaming involved, I am still one lucky mama to the two most handsome boys on earth!

PS.  If you love my boys too, they have a whole YouTube Channel full of their antics.  I upload a lot for our family to see, but you are welcome to watch too!

While exploring the many swaddling options available to new parents I came across the Woombie the first time I was pregnant.  I never tried it, but knew this time around this was something I really wanted to use with my second baby.  There were just too many great reviews about it.  Anything that might help a newborn sleep better is something worth looking into (within reason of course!).

So what makes a Woombie so special?

Swaddle your baby Safely and Effectively with The Woombie … designed to ease your mind and comfort your baby so you may both achieve a better nights sleep. The Woombie is the safest & most NATURAL way to Swaddle your baby, encouraging baby to softly stretch extremities as needed, just like in the womb. The Woombie comforts, softly confines arms & gently compresses baby’s unique curves to hug baby… preventing Startling issues, face scratching, overheating and also preventing dangerous loose unraveled blankets from covering baby’s face.

The Woombie is a proud winner of the PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved), Moms Best and Creative Child Awards. We have been seen on television, in numerous popular baby magazines and are endorsed by Doctors, Doulas, Postpartom Baby Instructors, Nurses and countless moms and dads worldwide. In a nutshell, The Woombie is a great easy swaddle for babies with the Startle Reflex & who are in need of a cozy yet gentle confinement.

One of the things I appreciate most about the Woombie is that it comes in 4 different sizes.  With my first son we stopped swaddling for 2 reasons, 1 was that he was outgrowing the largest size of swaddling blanket we could find, and 2 was that he was rolling and making me nervous.  If I had a video monitor I would have continued swaddling.  Anytime I walked in to check on him he woke up.  Fail.

How it worked for us:

The sizing of the Woombie we received was perfect for a newborn.  It was snug and left no wiggle room so it was as tight as a swaddle.

My favorite feature was that the zipper could be undone from the bottom for middle of the night diaper changes.  My son hates being unclothed so this was such a great thing for us when he was brand new.

The zipper is covered with a soft minkee fabric to prevent any irritation to the baby’s skin under their chin.

When first born my son liked to be swaddled but after a couple of weeks he began fighting it so we couldn’t use the Woombie for as long as we had planned.  Still, most babies do enjoy being wrapped tightly for at least the first few months, so having one or two swaddling type blankets or Woombies is always a good idea.

The only possible negative that we came across with the Woombie was when we co-slept.  The baby’s arms end up being high on the chest and this interfered with nursing while laying next to him.  It took a little longer to get in a position to have the baby latch since there were arms near his chin.

They also make a “convertible” Woombie which allows the baby to have their arms in or out.  This would have been perfect for us since he no longer likes his arms in a swaddle!

Mandatory Entry:

(1 entry) Woombie doesn’t just make swaddlers!  Visit their website and come back to tell me what other product(s) they make that you would like to try. Leave it as a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

(1 entry) Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Enter to win a snug and secure Original Woombie from @KimRosas and @Woombiswaddler.  http://mfdxh.th8.us Ends Dec 3.”  Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet. 1 entry per day.

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Giveaway ends on Dec 3. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. *Open to US Only*

This review and giveaway is part of the New Baby Event Part 2.

The idea of using a hammock never crossed my mind until my first son was 8 months old or so.  A friend of mine had a baby the same age and she slept through the night and took naps all in her hammock. While I (nor anyone else) can say it was the hammock for sure that made for such great sleeping habits, I thought I would try it with this next baby.  My first son just started sleeping all night and he is almost two.  Even now he wakes up one time a night every so often.  It has been exhausting.

After my husband agreed a hammock was the way to go I set about researching.  There are a few choices on the market. (I have a hammock comparison list.) Luckily, when I was at a children’s expo over a year ago I discovered a brand called Hushamok. The hammock was beautiful.  The stand was stylish.  The hammock itself was organic.  There was even the option to buy a seat to use when the baby was awake.  I decided after looking over all of my options that this was my hammock.  I bought one while pregnant.

Why Hushamok?

From their website:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

While a complete medical cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains unknown, pediatricians agree that infants should sleep on their backs to prevent SIDS. Hushamok creates a restful and nurturing sleep environment for newborn sleep and beyond.

Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly)

Hushamok baby hammock is designed to conform to baby’s heads, which helps prevent flat head syndrome.

Positional plagiocephaly or ‘flathead syndrome’ can occur when a baby’s head develops a flat spot. This occurs when babies spend a considerable amount of time with their head resting in the same position. In the early ’90s, parents have been told to put their babies to sleep on their back to reduce the risk of SIDs. Since then experts have also noted a fivefold increase in the incidence of misshapen heads.

Babies are born with soft, pliable skulls, so when they rest in the same position on a regular basis, their head can develop a flat spot where it presses against a mattress as found in nursery furniture such as cribs and baby bassinets.

Infant Acid Reflux

To prevent acid reflux in infants, pediatricians recommend keeping baby’s head slightly elevated. Without the use of potentially harmful pillows or other objects Hushamok baby hammock designs provide an elevation that will reduce the symptoms of acid reflux.

Restless Sleepers

William Sears (M.D), Robert Sears (M.D.), James Sears (M.D.) and Martha Sears (R.N.) recommend the natural swinging, rocking and bouncing motion of a baby hammock to induce sleep2. Hushamok’s unique design also helps ease symptoms of colic, which often interrupts newborn sleep cycles. Unlike adults, babies are triggered to sleep by motion; as many mothers notice during pregnancy when baby is asleep during the day and awake at night.

What about safety?

One of the things I wanted to be sure of was that my choice was a safe sleeping environment for my baby.  I also co-sleep, which when done correctly is very safe.  I like having my baby close by the bed or in my arms.  At first glance, a hammock seems unsafe simply because it moves around.

First of all, the Hushamok has passed the safety tests of the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association).  The hammock should only be used until a baby begins rolling or sitting.  This coincides with a baby or 4-6 months.  Since the hammock easily rocks and sways this is pretty logical.  The way the stand and hammock are made makes for a very stable base.  Anyone who has heard of the Amby Hammock recall knows there were a couple of incidences of babies suffocating after they rolled in their hammocks.  It seems the hammock was set up incorrectly.

The Hushamok sets up very easy thanks to their easy (and fool proof) to put together stand.  I have the Aluminum stand.  There are 4 pieces which notch together.  There is no other way to put them together.  The wide base gives the hammock stability.

The hammock itself is on a leaf spring.  This is basically a long arc of a flexible but hard plastic.  A pin is in this spring, and the pin attaches to the stand in a way that makes it impossible for it to come out unless being taken off on purpose.  The hammock material is organic cotton.  There is a mattress that is poly filled.  I prefer this mattress because it has cushion, but not enough for the baby to be in danger or suffocating.  It is also breathable and “molds” so it would be harder for the baby to move left or right.

For more about the safety of the Hushamok you can visit their page.

Truly, the main reason I chose the Hushamok was for the beauty of it!  I could stare at it all day.  I swore before kids that the junky plastic toys and tacky swings with crazy accessories would never enter my house.  Guess what?  They did.  But this hammock makes me happy because it is a functional piece of art for my baby to sleep in.  If I had the money I would have upgraded to to Okoa stand.  Still, the aluminum stand is still beautiful, and in its own way since a brushed aluminum has a modern and sleek look to it.

Since the baby has arrived the Hushamok has been wonderful for naps time and early nights.  I do still co-sleep the majority of the night because secretly I love it, but practically, he wakes to nurse often and we both get more sleep this way.  During the day when it is time for a nap I take my sleeping baby and lay him in the hammock.  If he wakes early and I know he still needs/wants to sleep, I gently bounce the hammock (since it is on a spring this is very easy to do) and he falls back asleep.  This can also easily be done from the bed since the hammock is directly next to my bed.  If I have gone to bed while he was sleeping in the hammock and he wakes, I can lift him right from my bed to get him and nurse him.

One trick I have found is that if I lay a heating pad inside the hammock before I know I am putting him in for a nap or bed (and remove it of course) it makes it easier for him to lay down.  There are times I try laying him in and he wakes, and part of this is that the mattress is cold and he was used to laying on me.  Having the mattress warmed up keeps him happy.

The hammock also comes with a travel bag.  The stand can be disassembled and the whole things fits into the bag.  This is a nice feature for traveling families to keep a consistent sleep environment for their baby without taking up too much space.  The bag is around the same size of a pack and play folded up, maybe smaller.

I will admit that he doesn’t always want to sleep in the hammock, but he also doesn’t always want to sleep on me, or his Mamaroo.  It is just a baby thing!  I am still thrilled with the long naps he has taken in it so far and how pretty it is to look at!  I know I would want to sleep in it if I could.

There will be another Hushamok review in a few months of the MySeat, which is a harness seat that can be used as a gentle place to put your younger baby, all the way to a super cozy place for your young child to read a book.

Hushamok has offered to give one lucky DDL Reader a Hushamok Hammock.

*** please note this giveaway is for the hammock itself, it does not include the stand.  The hammock can be hung from the ceiling.

Mandatory Entry:

(1 entry) Visit Hushamok.com and let me know another fact you learned from their webpage. Leave it as a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

(1 entry) Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Your baby can have sweet dreams in the @hushamok baby hammock.  Enter to win from @KimRosas. http://b6net.th8.us Ends Nov 30.” Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet. 1 entry per day.

(1 Entry)  Follow @hushamok on Twitter. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

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The hammock was purchased by me for review.  No compensation was received for my review and all opinions are 100% my own and genuine.  Giveaway ends on November 30. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. *Open to US and Canada*

This pregnancy I decided to take more belly pictures since I took virtually none the first time around.  I managed to remember almost every single week unless we were out of town. The first photo I took I had my hair towel in, and was in underwear.  That sort of became the trend to keep it consistent.  The quality of the photos in’t that great since I used my iPhone.  This was probably my last pregnancy so I am glad I will have a special way to remember it.

Immediately after delivery.

Snuggling mommy after our first nursing session

First diaper ever at 4 hours old, cloth of course

Happy Birthday to Everett!  Born at home at 6:45 am after 4 hours and 45 minutes of labor.  41 weeks and 3 days pregnant.  He weighed 8 lbs. 8 oz and was 20.5 inches long.  Worth every minute!  I tweeted my birth, you can read my stream on twitter.com/kimrosas.  Can’t wait to tell you more!

I am patiently (mostly) waiting to go into labor.  As of now I am 5 days “overdue” if my due date is to be trusted.  The thing is, my baby takes directions pretty well.  Here is why:

First, my in-laws, who are going to drive here from North Carolina (12 hours), couldn’t come until after the 8th.  I waited until the 8th and felt relief when that date passed.  It will be nice to have them here to play with Fletcher.

Then, my main midwife was going to be out of town the 8th through the 11th.  I have been seeing 2 midwives but she is the CNM.  The evening of the 11th arrived and the baby was still baking.  Midwife called and said she was back in town, all systems go.  Sweet.

Around this time my husband had a nasty cold and was acting like the biggest baby on the planet.  Here I am waddling around, with a giant thing inside me, and he is being pitiful and absolutely NO HELP around the house.  Also, bringing a newborn into cold infested air sucks.  Now he is over it.

My husband has also been super busy at work with a big project.  He goes in early, he comes home late, and he works in the evening from home.  Seems like this is going to be done after this week so he can be off of work without working from home as much and stressing about this.  That is good news.

The biggest worry has been that my toddler has regressed in his sleeping habits.  For the past 3 weeks he has been waking at night.  He screams and won’t go back to his bed, when normally I can just give him a cuddle and he will go back to sleep in his bed.  So he started sleeping with us at least half of the night again.  2 nights ago I decided it had to end before the baby arrived.  He woke twice that night and I managed to get him back to sleep in his bed both times.  Last night he slept all night in his bed again!  Please say he is over this!  What a wonderful thing that would be!  The great thing is that I actually just talked to him and told him he was a big boy and needed to sleep in his bed.  He nodded and said “yeah” and let me put him in bed that night.  Amazing!  He is growing up so fast!

The last thing on my list I wanted to do was see Jackass 3D.  I am going to try and see it today.  My hope is I will laugh until my water breaks!

Do you think my little tummy baby is really listening for the perfect time to come out? I do, because anytime before today would have been less than perfect.  He is welcome to come any day now!