snowpocalypse survival kit

I have been enjoying my day at home with Emmy and Joe. We had a fun day, exploring the icy roads and playing in the snow. As we checked out all the damage, all we could say is "we are so lucky..." I have watched the news and read facebook updates about the terrible ordeal so many people have faced. My own family was separated, hosted in strangers and friend's homes. By the end of the day, everyone made it to their own homes and are safe. 

I thought about how ill-prepared we were (just like everyone else) and how I am going to start keeping my car prepared for the unexpected. And, yes, "snowpocalypse" is a very accurate term to describe the abandoned cars, walking miles in a completely shut-down city. This kind of storm probably won't happen again for a very long time but there are still ways to keep items in your car for emergencies. 

I dressed for work with thin black pants and wooden hills. I was miserable outside, sliding all over the place and the snow went straight through my clothes. I was cursing myself for not keeping a pair of tennis shoes (or better yet - rain boots!) with me at all times. I should have also had a gym bag full of extra clothes and contact solution, a toothbrush, snacks and water. I used to keep a little victorinox knife on my keychain. Then, the airports got all "you're gonna take someone's eye out!" and I stopped carrying it. I'm adding it back. Just in case, not much protection and not much help but it is a handy little tool.

We usually keep a blanket in the car for Emmy and another that is waterproof on one side for picnics. One day I decided they were cluttering my car. They will be back in the morning! I also left my scarf and hat at home. I'm not outside long enough for those to be necessary and most of the time the static makes me frustrated but if I had to walk home I would have really risked frost bite.

Finally, cell phones and chargers. I have a cell phone charger in my car, I only bought it a few months ago and I was so thankful to be able to talk, text and track my family without worrying about the battery life. This blue and white square thingy is called a Triple C universal charger. It can charge anything as long as you have the adapter. It would have been great for the people walking home or to help someone else with a low car battery. 

18 months

I've said it before, I know... but I'll say it again: I cannot believe how fast Emmy is growing. Emmy is one and a half!

She is walking, talking, and expressing her thoughts in many ways. Sometimes she is sweet, sharing her toys and giving us kisses and hugs. Other times she is frustrated, stomping her feet or running to a corner to cry. She is always an entertainer though. She is making silly faces, sounds and dancing all the time to get Joe and I to watch her and laugh. It is so much fun to be around her most of the time. 

Emmy's favorites are so personal that I decided to just take a picture of all of them to capture not only what she likes but the actual items. The current condition of those things are important since some may get "well loved" in the future years. 

She loves her white fluffy pottery barn chair. It is her spot to read her books, eat a little snack and draw on her magnadoodle. It was a little pricy for a child's toy but still totally worth it. Once she gets settled, she'll hold up her blanket for me to cover her legs only to kick it off moments later. She gets hot like all the Bascom women before her!

She still loves "Beary" but her bunnies have moved in to her heart. She isn't attached to any one particular animal but these three are her top picks.  

The little hard books are great. There aren't too many words and she is able to flip the pages without causing damage. Occasionally we will pull out a big book but getting her to sit for a full story is tough. 

Her biggest love, though, is her shoes. 

"Shoes" might as well have been her first word. She is never found without at least one on and we have to hide the ones that don't fit because she will have a complete meltdown if we can't squish her foot in a shoe. She tried to bring me one of my own shoes while I was in the shower. She stood there, my shoe pressed against the glass, and cried because I wouldn't put it on. 

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Another big milestone for her this week is that she moved up at daycare again. The adjustment has been a little rough. I really loved her teacher and Emmy did too. I don't know why they moved her up exactly, but they thought she was capable of handling the more mature classroom. Instead of free play all day, she is expected to sit for reading time and to sit around a table for learning. In her old classroom, those were options and she was not required to participate if she got bored. 

Don't get me wrong, I think that's great. I want her to learn, it's why I picked her daycare. They focus on teaching kids as early as possible and if they challenge Emmy, I know she will be better for it. The only problem is that she started biting every other kid in her class. I can just imagine her getting frustrated with her inability to communicate or her struggle to adjust and just literally biting a kid. 

I am so thankful that her teacher is understanding and hasn't asked me to do something about the biting. I have offered to help but I never see her or catch her in action so I'm not sure what to do. Today was the first day she didn't have an incident.

I braved Target with her again and she only had a few minor meltdowns. I was able to break them by telling her a joke about Rufus. The joke, in case you are curious, is to tell her that Rufus (Rooroo) says "meow". Gets her every time. 
 Joe said that she had a meltdown last night and just walked herself to a wall and cried. When she is acting out at school, they send her to a corner to calm down so she is carrying that over to home (yay!). 

The other day Joe told me that he could see why people only have one kid. Not because she is difficult but because she is awesome. Being part of her life is a treat that I don't intend to take for-granted so I'll treasure these moments and I'll find a way to laugh through the tantrums. 

emmy's faves (12-14 months)

Even though we just got back from the beach, I feel like I need a vacation! Traveling with a baby is both tremendous fun and exhausting. I'll be working on a post about our trip with lots of pictures... get excited!!

This trip also reminded me of how a "new" toddler is in a unique stage between infant and toddler. She doesn't sleep as much as she used to so the car ride is full of goldfish and silly faces and singing to keep her entertained. She doesn't care much about a movie and her toys only entertain her for a few minutes. 

I've also noticed that Emmy doesn't need a lot of toys. She has  a few favorites and the rest stay in a basket unnoticed. I'm sure she will eventually love them but for now, her all-time favorite toy is a plastic spoon and bowl. She pretends to feed herself for HOURS. She also loves her xylophone and beats it with anything she can find. My mom knew what she was doing when she bought one for Emmy. It's loud and annoying and send shivers up my spine but she is happy so I let her keep it. 

The Fisher Price laugh and learn dog is adorable. She kisses his nose and he sings or says something sweet to her. She uses it as a walker and loads up the middle part with anything that will fit. She has a little pink car that has groceries in it that she can steer better but this pup wins all her kisses. 

I am obsessed with TOMS shoes for babies. The cordones above are the easiest shoes to put on and they look adorable with everything. She has a blue and white pair and I'm going to be buying more in every size as she grows. Maybe one day I'll even splurge and by myself a pair!

Finally, those little food packs. We buy only organic and I try to get a good variety with yogurt, spinach or kale, quinoa, etc. I know these packs are probably not helping her aversion to fruit textures (she still refuses most fresh fruit) but at least until she gets a little older, I know she is getting the nutrients even if it isn't the preferred form. These are really convenient too. She can feed herself and most of the time she doesn't make any kind of mess! 

If all we had during most days were those items above, Emmy would be completely content. I am so absolutely in love with this little girl and the happiness she spreads. I can't wait to post about the beach trip (except I can because I know it's going to be a long one!)

9-11 month favorites

1. Britax Marathon (convertible carseat) - This is technically my favorite thing. We bought this with gift cards and extra money from Christmas. I was sad about taking out the infant seat for about 5 minutes. The straps are stiffer in a good way. I can get Emmy in and out quicker and she sits up a little straighter so she is paying attention to everything in the car more.

2. Baby Mum-Mums - I thought these were strange looking but Emmy LOVES them. Right now she prefers these over the puffs now and I do too because less ends up on the floor for the dog.

3. Cloud B Twilight Turtle - A good friend of mine bought this for Emmy. She only just got really interested in it and spends so much time staring at it and giggling.

4. Rectal Thermometer - We should have bought this already. After she started spiking fevers we bought one to get a better reading and it has been a lifesaver. I was nervous about doing this but it's actually very easy and I highly recommend it.

5. B. Parum Pum Drum - I bought this drumset at the recommendation of a fellow target shopper. Emmy is mostly into the drumsticks. She bangs them on everything and smacks the lid to the drum with her hands. She will grow into the rest of the instruments but in the meanwhile Joe and I shake them around to go with her banging. 

6. Vtech Learning Laptop - Emmy got this from Joe's aunt and she just loves it! We put it in her highchair while we fix her food and she almost looks like she's really working on a laptop. Until she snaps it shut to stare at the sparkly sticker on the top. It's still the small things for her. 

And then, there's this guy... the love of my life:

The Chicco Polly Magic High Chair. It is magic, you know. I didn't want to get a high chair. I fought it for months, feeding Emmy in her boppy and in a little booster seat. My mom bought this for herself for when the grandkids come over. I saw it and knew I had to have it. See all those wheels? They make rolling her around our kitchen, living room and dining room a breeze. We have what some may call an "open floor plan" or what we call a tiny room with everything in it. I was afraid it would take up too much space but it doesn't. 

The height is adjustable so we lower her when we eat in the living room and raise it back up to eat at the table or to give her snacks while I cook in the kitchen. The real kicker though? It reclines! We giver her 3 out of 4 bottles in it now and it is so easy to recline back we can do it really fast, even if she is upset about how long we are taking to prepare the bottle. 

My advice to new moms would be to spend money on things that make your life easier. Babies are easily entertained so there's no need to spend hundreds of dollars on toys. Emmy's most favorite things are remote controls and pens. Not such great toy recommendations but that's the reality so don't feel guilty buying things for yourself or your home, if it's easier for you it's bound to make your kid happy too! 

hospital survival kit

I've been in the hospital with a sick child for 5 days, 4 nights and here's a list of things I think all moms should pack if their child gets admitted for the hospital:

For the baby:
1. Lots of onesies. The best ones are these at Gap. You can't do footies in case they hook up a monitor or IV. These are great because the buttons will let the whole outfit come off without going over the head or feet. You need at least 6 even 
2. Wash cloths - for the in-bed sponge bath. Hospital towels are scratchy.
3. Plastic toys - Sitting in a crib can get dull so we alternate the toys so she thinks it's something new. We only brought plastic so we could easily sanitize them. 

The hospital provides for their patient, the baby. So formula, juice, diapers and wipes are free and you should take full advantage.

For the parents:

My new motto: "make yourself at home"

1. Firm pillows and sleeping bags and/or comforter - The furniture is hard and the pillows here  are a joke. You will need a firm pillow to protect your head from the hard spots on the bed or wall. The comforter can be doubled-up if you are sleeping on a hard bed so you have more cushion. It may seem like a bulky addition (because it is) but you can stash it away during the day and it will be worth it to avoid aches and pains at night
2. Water bottles - You can refill them from the tap, just make sure to drink lots of water. The lack of sleep will make your face puffy enough. You need water to make yourself feel better.
3. Gum - For your breathe, you will need it.
4. Toiletries - This is obvious of course but make sure you don't miss anything. Bring shampoo, conditioner, face wash tooth brush - all of it. I assume all hospitals have showers.
5. A towel - back to the point about scratchy towels. 
6. Technology - keeping up with the rest of the world is the only way you will feel like the rest of the world is still happening. Being cooped up in a hospital makes time stand still. 

Unlike preparing for the hospital stay before you give birth, the ER is unexpected. You probably won't pack much when you first drop in because you don't know if your child will even be admitted unless it's truly serious and in that case you don't even have time to think about packing a bag. 

I guess most of this is applicable to anyone's hospital stay. It's important to appreciate the service and care you are getting  and although it's nothing like a hotel stay there's no reason not to make yourself feel better about being there. 

I'd also suggest avoiding fast food and cafeteria food. If someone offers to bring you something, let them. My mom brought my favorite home-cooked dinner one night. My sister brought us warm cookies and milk (Joe's favorite) another night. These things made us feel normal. We felt more human eating things that weren't wrapped in plastic. 

This trip to the hospital isn't about us. It's about Emmy 

you NEED this.

Seriously... I bought this on a whim, per this blog's recommendations on making your own baby food:

Boon Squirt via Amazon

In one feeding, Emmy's meals went from water torture (for me) to a regular toddler feeding. I added another variable this time that I can't ignore: I allowed her to eat leaning back on her boppy rather than sitting up in her chair. This was definitely important but the boon spoon is genius!

I loaded it up with 75% of a gerber carrots tub. I squeezed it in and she swallowed it. It went into her mouth and she ate it. I can't explain the joy of something so simple. Then, a miracle occurred: she placed her hand on mine and repeatedly brought the spoon to her mouth, opened her mouth (I squeeze), she swallowed a bit, then pushed my hand back so she could smack/swallow. Repeat x 100. 

I was so excited, hysterically laughing and cheering her on. I just felt compelled to let other people know of this little guy, a red-hot sexy feeding machine known intimately as the "squirtster".

0-3 month favorites

Favorite Baby Things: 3 Months with Emmy

1. Nap Nanny - Emmy doesn't even sleep in this thing much but it sits on our coffee table in the living room and serves as her lounge chair. She loves it, it's designed to help her keep her milk down and best of all, to keep her content so I can get some things done. 

2. Burp Cloths - These were originally made for diapering but they make perfect burp cloths. They are durable, inexpensive and get the job done. Don't waste money on fancy burp cloths. Babies spit up on them, that's it. 

3. Dr. Brown's Bottles -  I can't say how these compare to other bottles but I don't need to know because these are great. Emmy rarely gets bad gas and even though these are a pain to wash with all the parts, they really do help to keep the air out and they rarely leak! (They are made in a wide-mouth option which I actually prefer but they are harder to find).

4. Sound Machine - I picked this up after Emmy was a few weeks old. It wasn't just for her, it was for my sanity as well. I found myself staying awake, listening for every breath as she slept in her crib next to my bed. If I was able to fall asleep, I would wake up every time she made a sound. We bought this to help us and it turns out it helps her too. She goes to bed before us and wakes up after us, with our banging around and the dog and cat chasing each other down the hall... it's good to know she is in her own little happy world with this guy on. Sad part was that Joe and I missed it in our room after she moved to her nursery. Solution? Keep video monitor on all night, we get the sound machine too.

5. Video Monitor - Joe's dad picked this up at Sams I think. It's perfect. The night vision is great, the B&W screen is large enough to capture the whole crib but still keep enough detail to see if her eyes are open. We keep it charged and running all night, it allows us to watch movies and eat dinner with music playing without straining to hear her and we can always peek at her to see if she's really waking up or just wiggling. I can't wait till she gets a little older and we can spy on her playing when she's supposed to be sleeping!

6. Carseat Toys - These are easy to find at target, amazon and walmart and are great to keep her entertained while shopping. It was also really fun to see her face the first time she realized it was there, it had been hanging above her for weeks and suddenly she saw it and lit up, just staring wide-eyed at her new friend.

7. MAM pacifier - We almost ended up going with the gumdrop/soothie but received this one as a gift and liked the shape better and luckily Emmy took it. They have been great for helping her fall asleep at night or to hold her off when we are trying to get her next bottle ready. 

8. Booginhead pacifier clip - The BEST and only clip you need. It fits all pacifiers (and I mean all - I haven't found one this thing can't fit) and is well made. The price is excellent so I can't emphasize this enough: buy it.


These might seem like really obvious, really basic needs. They are. Babies are so basic. The most entertaining things for her right now are her hands, our faces and the tv. She is happy if we talk to her and let her entertain herself. I will do another Top 5 post for my favorite travel items. I move around with lil' bit a lot and have figured out what I really need and what I can dump because my back is killing me, my hands are always full, and I can't carry one more damn thing.