GoGo Kidz Travelmate - Product Review

*A huge thanks to GoGo Babyz for providing me with a recycled Travelmate!

I remember the first time I saw a parent using a GoGo Kidz Travelmate.  Ellie was 18 months old and we were on our way to Hilton Head for Labor Day weekend.  It was that awkward stage where Ellie was too big to really sit on our laps but the thought of lugging a car seat through the entire airport on a holiday weekend was too much for me to process.

So we were at the airport when I look over and see a family that has it together.  You know the kind.  When your diaper bag is falling off your shoulder, you glance to the left and see a mom with perfect highlights wearing heels whose daughter doesn't rip out her bow and throw it back at you.  ;)

It's at that point I realized what was making their life easy - the Travelmate.  While we were dragging our car seat in its travel bag through the line while pushing a stroller and managing our lugging they have half of the stuff.

Well guess what?  On this trip I was the mom that had it together.  Well, at least to some I appeared to be the mom who had it together because I was asked three times while cruising through the airport what product I was using to turn our Britax Boulevard into a stroller.

My happy baby ready for take off!

This is a good shot of the long handle that makes pushing/pulling so easy.

Our Travelmate is the recycled version that is now available.  It retails for $20.00 less so it is a better bargain for the occassional traveling family.  It came in the original packaging with full instructions and I never would have known it wasn't brand new.

From http://www.gogobabyz.com/:

In an effort to reduce waste & preserve nature’s resources, we are implementing a product recycling program. Instead of discarding demos & returns, we are rebuilding “like-new” units for sale at a discount. Each unit we recycle has been thoroughly inspected and personally tested to meet the safety standards of our new products, so you can feel safe and secure. In addition, a six month limited warranty is also included with each recycled gogo Kidz Travelmate. Help us reduce waste and travel easier with your children at the same time! 

The Travelmate in action - from the gogobabyz.com

I will suggest practicing attacing and detaching the Travelmate before going to the airport because it is such a high pressure situation. I was a little clumsy getting it on fast at the curbside check in.  Our departing airport made me take off the Travelmate through security but on the return trip it wasn't neccesary which made our trip through the Family security line even more of a breeze.

My only Travelmate regret is that we didn't have it for Ellie! 
 
When I posted a little while back about this upcoming review, one comment said "This will change your life!" and I couldn't agree more.  It was easy.  Traveling with two adults and two children was easy.  I never thought I would see the day!
 
Want to see for yourself how easy it is?  Check out this video.
 
Thanks again, GoGo Kidz Travelmate! 
 
Available at Amazon.com, Target, Babies R Us and tons of other places....
GoGo Kidz Travelmate

Nursing in the summer - what am I supposed to wear?!

Hooray!  It's the unofficial start of summer!  It's also the time for one of my biggest worries with breastfeeding. What the heck was I going to wear this summer?

Usually in the summer I live in dresses.  There is nothing cooler or more simple than tossing on a sundress.  Well unless your nursing.  Because who wants to sit with a dress up over their head while they are feeding a baby?  Not me!

I have been doing my research and have come across a couple things I would like to share that might help out a fellow nursing mama.

There are really cute tanks with ties instead of straps this season like this one from the Gap:

The Gap also has this cute sundress with ties for straps:

I have yet to find a strapless nursing bra but I have tried this bandeau top from the junior section at Target {you have to be resourceful in desperate times!} and it seems to work pretty well so far.  But if you're more blessed than I am, it might not be the best solution for you.  And, hey, you can't beat 5 bucks!

For this bra, I have just been flipping one side down and it's been fine.

Another trick I have found that works is that my nursing pads fit right into the triangles of my halter tops and halter dresses.  Not too big of a pain when nursing but make sure you don't double knot the tie or you could have logistical issues like I did last weekend.  Not a mistake I will make again!

So what else can we add to the list?  Veteran summer nursing mamas help us out!  What tips do you have for us newbies? 

Madeline's Top 5 Teethers

Madeline has been teething F-O-R-E-V-E-R.  And here we are, getting close to 9 months old and still no teeth!  But since this phase has lasted so long, we now know all of the best teethers in the world.  That might be a slight exaggeration but her are Maddie's faves...

#1  Sophie

She never disappoints.  Madeline has been in love with Sophie since they first met when she was 3ish months old.  Maddie will make out with Sophie any time!

#2 Gerber Spoons
Sounds crazy but Madeline could chew these all day long.  They are the perfect size for her to manipulate them all around her mouth for the best chomping angle possible.

















#3 Laugh & Learn Phone
Or the next best thing to your home phone, cell phone or remote control.  Because that is really what she wants to be chewing on.  So instead I slip her this and she gnaws on it happily while it lights up and plays a tune.  Someday she might learn numbers or something from it, but right now it is the perfect dimension for chewing.


















#4 Nuk Pacifiers
Not only are they a great plug to get Madeline to stop fussing, but she also loves to flip them around and chew on the little flippy handle. 

#5 The Winkel
Not only is the Winkel super fun to bang but it is also great for teething.  I pull this sucker out at restaurants for it's quiet and subtle awesomeness.  It has a slight rattle but for the most part is is silent which therefore makes it perfect.  :)
















So there you have it.  Madeline's Top 5 Teethers.  I promise you they will not disappoint.  And they will stand the test of time.  The Winkel is hanging in from being Ellie's favorite toy.  Not that's durability!

I :heart: summer!

And really it's still spring!  Today we had the best playdate.  There was a blow up pool, water table and swing set.  We sunscreened the kids up and set them loose.  They played for hours with little to no arguing which is super impressive for a group of six 2-3 year olds.  The adults were under the umbrella on the deck with cool drinks.  Ahhhhhh.

When it was clear everyone had worked up an appetite, we changed them in clothes and brought them in for lunch.  Only because the mamas were burning up.  The kids would have lasted forever!  After lunch we played inside for a bit.  While they were playing, the girls lined up pillows against a wall, got a blanket and all laid down together for a rest.  Super cute but time to head home for naps.

Both kids passed out on the way home and I was able to transfer them both to their beds without any arguing.  I am now sitting in my air conditioning enjoying the quiet.

I :heart: summer!

Willpower

Having a three year old gives you willpower.  Right now there is a quarter of a devil's food and whipped cream cake in our refrigerator and if Ellie was not sitting next to me, I would totally eat if for breakfast.  Totally.  Well, maybe not the entire cake, but a good chunk.

But since I have a three year old, I can't eat cake for breakfast.  Because she would be eating cake for breakfast, too.  And mini microwave pancakes {Ellie's favorite breakfast item ever!} are bad enough already. 

So instead I'll sit here and drink my Starbucks Via instant coffee and dream about nap time.  When I will raid the fridge and get myself a BIG piece of chocolate cake.  Only five hours and counting!

YUM!!!!

Its bumper to bumper on the Rainbow Bridge

What is strange about these pictures?

Oh I know!  It's the wrong kids playing with the Laugh & Learn House.  See how she has to duck down to fit through the door?  That's because it's made for crawling babies, not girls who are just shy of 40" tall. 

But since we have brought it up for Madeline in the last few weeks Ellie has rekindled her obsession for it.  The way she can hear the traffic report on the radio - it's bumper to bumper on the Rainbow Bridge in case you didn't know, change the sky from daytime to night time, hear the creak of the door she loved as a baby and on and on and on. 

Apparently this is the best toy money can buy because it has kept Elizabeth Grace entertained from 9 months to 38 months.  There is not another toy we own that I can say the same about!

Wordless Wednesday {First Baby's First Trip to Arizona}

Since we are headed there soon, I thought this flashback would be fun. Ellie @ 6 months...

PS  It was hot, which is why most of the pictures are inside.  ;)

COVERGIRL Giveaway!

Who is ready for a new summer look?  I have Covergirl Shine Blast lipgloss, Smoky Shadow Blast and Covergirl coupons to giveaway!

Item #1 - smoky shadow blast 810 purple plume

Item #2 - Shineblast Lipgloss

5 -  $2.00 OFF Coupons for any Covergirl Cosmetics!

Ways to enter:

Mandatory entry - Comment that you are a follower of Ellie-Town.

Additional entries:

Become a Facebook Fan of Ellie-Town.

Subscribe to Ellie-Town's Feed.

Post this giveaway on your blog, Facebook page or twitter and comment with the link.

Click below to vote for Ellie-Town on the Top Mommy Blogs.  You can vote daily so make sure you comment after each vote.

Each entry needs to be written as a separate comment so all of your entries are counted!

This giveaway will end June 5th at 9:00pm CST.  Winners will be randomly chosen and announced the morning of June 6th.  You can win multiple times so comment comment comment!

This opportunity was provided by being a BzzAgent!

And the winner of the Picky Sticky Giveaway is......

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 23

Result: 12

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

CF Mama!  Congrats to you!

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Picky Sticky's are perfect for newborn pictures and make a great new baby gift.  :)

CF Mama, please email me at kristin@ellie-town.com with your contact info. so your Picky Sticky's can arrive ASAP.



Now, who needs a new look?  Maybe some fresh makeup for summer?  Then check back soon because Ellie-Town has something for the Mamas, Aunties and Grandmas this week!

Baby or Jungle Cat?

Madeline needed some replacement paci's and we were in a hurry so I grabbed the first pack of Nuks I saw in her size. We get home and have this:

I made the mistake of assuming it was a little floral pattern when it instead made my baby into a wild animal.  Or as Ellie said, "Check it out, Mama!  We turned our baby into a lion!"  Just what I always wanted.

I guess Halloween arrived a little early this year.  It does make me laugh every time I look at her but I can't decide if it's because it's cute or just cruel.  I would happily exchange them for a pair of "My Mom Rocks!" pacifiers but unfortunately Madeline is a paci snob and will only suck a Nuk.  Darn.  Guess I'll have to keep my jungle cat.

Look what arrived today!

To say I am excited to try this out next week on our trip to Arizona would be the understatement of the year.  This is going to make flying so much easier.  Not only will I be able to check out stroller and wheel Madeline in this but I also won't have to lug Ellie's car seat through the airport.  Flying made easy!

A big thanks to gogo Kidz for sending me the Travelmate to try out.  They have launched a line of recycled models that sell for $20 less than the brand new versions.  A recycled Travelmate is perfect for us.  We fly a handful of times a year - enough to need an easy solution but not want to spend a ton of money because it won't be used that often.

When we get back from AZ I will post a full review with pictures.  WE CAN'T WAIT!

Code Red!

Want to know what can send two grown adults into a tizzy and make them scurry like ants? 

The sound of the Fisher Price Rainforest Soother starting to play s.l.o.w.l.y.  Run!  Code red!  Start digging through the drawers and find the C batteries STAT!

You see, we somehow found the magic sleep formula for both of our children pretty easily.  Rain Forest Soother + Angel Dear Lovie + Nuk Pacifier = Sleep Success!  The only problem is when one part of the equation is missing it all goes to "Hell in a Hand Basket" so to speak.

Back up Lovies are always on hand as well as enough Nuks to pacify a daycare facility but for some reason we never remember to stock up on the C batteries. 

So now here I am, putting Madeline down for a nap and I hear the dreaded sound of a sad soother starting to draw out it's tune.  My fingers and toes are crossed that it can hang on through the morning nap so I can get the girls dressed, grab a shower and go out into the world without looking like a total scrub. 

Thankfully the wonderful people of Fisher Price gave the soother different settings so I can switch to the music, lights, no motion setting and buy myself some time.  And I'm definitely heading to Costco so I will have a stash of C batteries until Madeline is out of her crib!

Elizabeth...I mean Cinderella

Cinderella is Ellie's favorite.  I think it's because there really is nothing overly scary in the story - she's too small to grasp how horrifying an evil stepmother could actually be!  But she's been begging for a Cinderella dress and "big Cinderella" aka a Barbie size doll for weeks. 

Thanks to Liz @ a Belle, a Bean & a Chicago Dog, I had a $25 Target gift card burning a hole in my pocket.  Ellie, it's your lucky day.

Now that she has her dress, she is in full princess gear all the time.  The purple you see under the dress is a princess nightgown.  One of four in constant rotation.

So here she is.  My Elizabeth, or should I say my Cinderella!

Such a girly girl and couldn't be happier!  By the way, when she walks, she makes sure her pig tails sway back and forth.  ;)

AND Happy Birthday to Auntie!  We hope you love the chocolate chip cookies and your gift!

Monthsie 8 {Wordless Wednesday}

Picky Sticky Giveaway!

Hooray for a Picky Sticky Giveaway!

I'm sure this is going to be a very popular giveaway after reading all of the comments from when Madeline was wearing her Monthsie!

Here is a little about Picky Sticky:

Picky Sticky started when our daughter was born. Each week I wrote her age on a piece of paper and then took her picture sitting next to it. As time passed I got a little more creative and dressed it up a bit with designs, using all the power Microsoft Word could muster. As she was getting older it was getting harder for her to sit still. That is when I saw some cute onesies with iron-on transfers that were pretty expensive. I didn’t know what size she was going to be at each stage and at that point the idea of using a sticker popped into my head. Thus, Picky Sticky was born.

To sum it up, you stick the month sticker on a plain onesie that you already own and take your pics.  Super easy and no guessing of sizes.

Picky Sticky has boy, girl and gender neutral designs as well as months of the year and even stickers for your belly pictures!

You will win your choice of a set of Picky Sticky's.  If you are not expecting yourself, the belly stickers would be a great maternity gift and the Picky Sticky's would make the perfect new baby gift!

Here's how to enter...

Mandatory Entries

• 
  
  Comment that you are a Follower on Google Friend Connect (must be an Ellie-Town Follower to win!) - 1 entry
• 
  
  Become a Facebook Fan of Picky Sticky HERE and then comment that you have done so - 1 entry

Additional Entries - be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!

• 
  
  Visit http://www.pickysticky.com/ and comment on which set you will pick - 1 entry
• 
  
  Become a Facebook Fan of Ellie-Town - 1 entry
• 
  
  Link this giveaway to your blog, Facebook or Twitter - 1 entry for each link
• 
  
  Subscribe to Ellie-Town's RSS Feed (on the right side of the page) - 2 entries (comment twice)

Good luck!  The giveaway will end Sunday at 9pm and a winner will be announce Monday morning!

*all images from www.pickysticky.com

Madeline's Bribe

We are trying to get Madeline to crawl.  So we resort to bribes. 
This morning I was running around the house picking up and getting things ready for breakfast.  I put Madeline down on her tummy and asked Ellie to grab a couple of toys and put them out of Madeline's reach so she would try to move toward them.

When I stepped back in the room, this is what I found.

Now if putting out practically every baby toy we have isn't motivation, I don't know what is.  Madeline tried to do her snake move where her bottom goes up in the air and then she flattens herself out again but they didn't get her anywhere. 

So she tried just kicking her leg {as you can see by the blurry foot below} but that didn't work either.

Madeline ended up just getting frustrated.  Ellie said tomorrow she'll arrange the toys in a different way.  Maybe Madeline would like a circle or a square better than just a straight line. 

Sean/Henry

Last night I had a dream.  It was one of those dreams that seemed totally real.  The kind where you might even wake up and still think it's real.

In my dream I was pregnant and expecting a girl.  But all of the sudden I gave birth to a boy.  I was shocked, my mind was racing.  I'm thinking "well, at least we painted the nursery a gender neutral color so that won't be too hard to change" and "but we already have monogrammed towels!"

Ryan and I decide to name the baby Sean because, as Ryan said, "Sean is a name we have always loved."  Um, rewind.  Hold up.  No offense to anyone who named their baby Sean, but that name was never even on my radar and definitely not one I have "always loved."  Not to mention the fact that is sounds awful with our last name.  After I say Sean Lastname out loud, Ryan reluctantly agrees that maybe it's not the best choice so we decide on Henry.  A name I really have always loved.  But as a consolation to Ryan I have to agree to let him call my new baby boy "Hank the Hammer" which is apparently some sort of baseball reference.  Whatever, his name is no longer Sean so I'm happy.

But now this is the part that gets fuzzy.  At first I only have Ellie in my dream.  So I think we were expecting Madeline but ended up with Sean/Henry instead.  But then I see Madeline in my dream and think that Sean/Henry is actually a THIRD baby that I am yet to be expecting.

So my {bizarre} dream shined a little light on a few things... 
1) The name Sean really sounds awful with our last name, just in case it ever did become a name I love in the future, we can't use it.  Nor should anyone of Ryan's brothers.  It does sound that bad.
2)  Stick with a gender neutral paint color for the nursery.
3)   I think I really do want a Sean/Henry.  Or another girl.  I'm not picky.  I love our family of four but I am definitely not ready to rule out the possibility having a family of five.  Besides, have you seen this video?  That on its own is enough to make me want to have another!
4)  I do love the name Henry even if both sets of grandparents hate it.  ;)

Well, everyone survived!

My day of volunteering and giving an interpretation of a dining room in a 1909 prairie style house went great and so did Ryan's day with the girls.

Madeline still doesn't take a bottle - she only drank about an ounce of the breast milk I left - and Ellie refused to take a nap until Auntie and Mamma came home {which wasn't until 7:30, so I guess you would call that bedtime, not nap time ;) } but other than than the day was a success.

Daddy and the girls played at the park, flew a kite and were all three happily blowing bubbles and popping them when we got home.  This morning Madeline even wanted Ryan to hold her instead of me.  And that made my heart feel super happy.  They watched Kai Lan, too.

Last year I did this volunteer day (a house walk of historic homes) almost six months pregnant.  This year I have an 8 month old and a 3 year old.  Next year I'll have a toddler and a preschooler!  I'll say it again.  It's all going by too fast!

Good luck, Daddy!

Wish Ryan luck.  Send him some vibes.  Whatever you got.  Tomorrow I am volunteering all day - leaving at around 6 am and coming home after the kids are in bed - and he is going at it alone.

He should be fine.  He knows what he's doing.  It's going to be a nice day so they'll probably go hang out at the park for a few hours. 

Really the only problem is that Madeline doesn't really take a bottle.  She'll chew on the top of a sippy cup but I'm not sure if that counts.  She is eating three meals a day now so I'm not worried about her being hungry, Ryan can always add in a snack and make extra watery oatmeal.  I'm going to buy some faster flow bottle nipples today to see if that might help.

The only time we have tried a bottle lately has been when I am still around.  I think that if she realizes it's the bottle or nothing, she'll take the bottle.  She's a smart cookie.  Or the neighbors will just invest in earplugs.  It could go either way.

Tomorrow will be the longest I have been away from Madeline in her eight months.  I'm excited and nervous.  Well, only nervous for Ryan.  I'll be fine.  My pump will be coming with me and I'll be sure to cover up with my Udder Cover so I don't have any more unfortunate situations.

I love my baby more than anything but it's been eight months and tomorrow I get to talk to adults all day.  Yippeeeeeeeee!

Oh, and good luck, Ryan.

But if this picture is any indication, I don't think you'll need it.

Awards!

Thank you to Real Mommy 365 for the Sunshine Award!  Be sure to check her out -she is a green homeschooling mom of eight!

  Thanks again!  :)

Now to pass it on...

If you receive this award you must:

-Put the award on your blog or within your post.

-Pass this on to other awesome bloggers & link the nominees on your post

-Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

-Share the love and link back to the person from whom you received this award.

 

Here's my list of recommended reading:

 

Songs About Beets

 

Life Without Pink

 

Lollygag Blog

 

Also a big thanks to Los Angles Mamma Blog for the Happy 101 Award!

 

This LA Mamma is in the midst of planning her daughter's first birthday party and I can't wait to see how it all turns out!

Thanks again!!!!

Sophie Saver: Review & Giveaway!

We love Sophie.  Of course we would do anything to protect her and keep her off germ ridden floors, streets, park mulch, etc etc.  When I discovered the Sophie Saver on Etsy I knew immediately it was a must have.  And It's a good thing I ordered ASAP.  On our first outing with Sophie secured, she was saved 7 times!  That saved me a lot of wipes!

Our Sophie Saver is in the Pink Martini print.  It has snaps on both ends to make sure it stays attached.  Also, the Sophie Saver doesn't just save Sophies.  It can save pacifiers, snack traps, lovies and other special toys.

This picture of Madeline is actually an optical illusion.  Sophie is not attached but her paci is!

On our recent trip to Tennessee, we attached Sophie to a stroller, convertible car seat, infant car seat, excersaucer and high chair.  We were even able to attach Madeline's Nuk to the car seat and I could reach back and flip it up to her which meant I didn't have to keep unbuckling my seat belt and turning around on the drive down.  It kept me safe and from getting car sick!

Sophiebelle also makes dresses, aprons, accessories as well as super cute t-shirts and onesies.  She has a great eye for prints and patterns and everything is very well made.  I'm confident that Madeline's Sophie Saver will outlast Sophie herself!

Sophie has been my go to new baby gift and now I will be sure to include a Sophie Saver in an adorable print to complete the gift!

If you need a Sophie of your own, click below.

Now for the giveaway!

Sophiebelle is giving away one Sophie Saver to a lucky Ellie-Town follower.  (You must be a follower of Ellie-Town to win.)

The mandatory entry is to visit Sophiebelle's Etsy Shop and comment on which Sophie Saver you would pick if you are the winner.

Additional entries:

1.  Become a Facebook Fan of Ellie-Town and comment that you have done so.

2, 3, 4.  Post a link to this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter or your blog and comment with the link.  (up to 3 separate entries)

5 +.  Write a comment about a time you wish you would have had a Sophie Saver!  (you can do this as many times as you would like)

This giveaway will close at 9pm on Sunday.  A winner will be chosen randomly.  Good luck!

{Wordless Wednesday}

Last weekend in Tennessee...

Elizabeth the Photog

Ellie, armed with her Discovery Kids Digital Camera, took pictures of our LONG drive home from Tennessee.  Here are a few of our favorites: