Boppies, Bottles, and Bibs, OH MY!

This is for all my mom friends out there...

It's time to register and shop for baby items, and I have to admit that I'm a bit overwhelmed.  Where to start?!  Every product that I need gives me a gazillion choices.  And they all come with good and bad reviews.  I've spent a lot of time on Consumer Reports, researching the best and safest products for our baby girl.  There are worries of BPA, carcinogens, suffocation risks, etc...I thought this would be easier with more obvious choices in products!  For years, I've been tucking away thoughts while having conversations with all of you about your babies, so I feel somewhat prepared when it comes to caring for and raising children.  However, I could use some help in the baby products area.  So, I turn to you...all of my mom friends who have tested products.  What do you recommend?  Are there any products you found that you couldn't live without?  Or any products that you thought you needed but never used?  You're the pros, so I know you'll steer me in the right direction!  :)

It's a...

...GIRL!!!

Our ultrasound today revealed that we are going to have a precious baby girl!  To say that we are excited is an understatement.  I woke up this morning between 5 and 6 a.m...it felt like Christmas morning and I just couldn't sleep any more!  I was excited, emotional, and nervous all day long...in hindsight, I would have made our appointment earlier in the day rather than waiting until the end.  ;)  But, instead, I spent all day feeling queasy with an accelerated heart rate.  The wait was worth it, though, when SHE came into view.

After checking in, we were called back immediately and a wave of emotions hit me again.  We were about to find out if we would be parents to a son or a daughter!  What a huge deal!!  The ultrasound tech wasted no time and found Baby Baker right away...she's grown a lot and her heart was beating strong.  The technician had to poke and prod my belly a bit to get her to "reveal" herself, and she complied!  I've looked at enough ultrasound pictures online to know what a girl looks like versus what a boy looks like at 16 weeks (yes, I've been a bit obsessed with the subject).  I knew what she was as soon as that area came into view, and about that same time the technician said, "It's definitely a girl!"  She took several shots and each one looked just like the other pictures I had researched.  Blaine and I were ecstatic!  I cried (I was crying before we even made it to the appointment ;)) and laughed...to think of God blessing us with a little girl of our very own!  This is so surreal, I feel like I'm dreaming!  We left our appointment with pictures and a video in hand...and I'm sure everyone in that office knew what we were there for by the way I was carrying on while walking out.  :)

 So, a sweet little girl...we can call Baby Baker by her name now, Samantha Elle Baker.  Baby Sam, for short.  ;)  We are in love with her and this baby already has Blaine wrapped around her little finger.

Sweet little face with her hands up by her cheeks.  Is it just me, or does it look like she's trying to scare someone...perhaps preparing for Halloween?  ;)

Laying face down...she moved around a bit after the technician poked at her.  Look how she's grown since her last picture!

It's a girl!

16 weeks (tomorrow)...my belly is starting to feel really round and hard.  I actually look pregnant now!  And, yes, there's only one in there.

I'm so glad we decided to find out what we're having...I feel like I have a better sense of who this baby is and I already find myself dreaming about what she'll be like.  We can't wait to meet you, Baby Sam!!