Sippy Cup Madness

ok as promised, here is my review of several sippy cups. We recently made the full transition (at 11 months) to sippy cups and have packed up the bottles. This is both exciting and sad – but my little boy is growing up.

These are all available on Amazon, however I also found them at walmart/target (depending on the brand). Munchkin is a Target brand; Nuby is a WalMart brand…Playtex can be found at both.

The first sippy cup I got was the short Nuby, Munchkin makes an almost identical cup. I have 2 of each and must say they both work well, though the Nuby pieces seem to fit together better than the Munchkin one.
Rating: A

Pros: This Nuby has handles and a soft spout. The reason this worked well, in my opinion, was that he was still learning that you could suck on stuff that wasn’t a bottle nipple. This activates with touch, so when he bites it, plays with it with his tongue or sucks it releases. This was the only sippy he would use from 8+ months, especially when he was first learning.
Cons: The spout is sensitive and by no means completely spill proof. I should say it is spill proof, it is not bang proof… so if he hits it on the spout, upside down it will drip.

Nuby Super Gripper
Rating: C

Pros: I like the design, easy to grab.
Cons: I cannot get the lid on without it leaking, the spout seems to not fit well and all together this has just ended up at the back of the cupboard. Wont’ buy another one of these, eventhough they were only $2 at WalMart.

Nuby with Super Straw
Rating: Undetermined

This is my nemisis, I want him to use a straw sooooo bad.. and yet he refuses.. I keep hoping that one day he will get it, I will further review this when he finally figures out how to suck on a straw.

Munchkin Insulated Sipster
Rating: A

Pros: This keeps stuff cool, easy to get liquid out of, and DOES NOT LEAK!!!! yay! He has no issues with this sippy.
Cons: At this time I have no complaints about this sippy.

Playtex Sipster
Rating: A

I have absolutely no complaints with this sippy. It doesn’t leak, he holds it fine and it is easy to get liquid out of. The Munchkin and the Playtex Sipsters are very similar. The valve on both removes and cleans easily.
Cons: No complaints so far.

Nuby Sipper
Rating: B+

Pros: This is a great graduation from the spout to a rim. He likes this because he can still feel the difference, can still bite on it to activate if he is struggling but it doesn’t have a spout.
Cons: A little bit harder to clean if you leave milk in it.. moral of the story – do your dishes, lol

NUK Gerber Graduate
Rating: C

Pros: This cup has potential to be a great rim sippy that doesn’t spill
Cons: He could not suck out anything, so I tried and I barely could.. This would be for a 3-4 year old but before then, I am not sure a younger toddler could use this as the suction is very difficult. The rim is totally hard with just a little opening (kind of like a travel coffee mug).

So as you can see, we have tried our lot of sippys. I will say that I think I have found what I like and highly recommend them. Enjoy transitioning, hope it goes as easily for you as it did for me (once I found the right cup)!

Hot fudge sauce (or fondue)

So I have been surfing around pinterest like a fool as of late.  I printed off like 25 recipes within the last two days and have been hard at work finishing up Christmas.  Drey has been done for quite some time but I need to do something little for my office peeps and daycare etc… so homemade hot fudge, in all its gooey greatness.  I would post a pic but both the camera and cell are dead, so just imagine. 

The best part…ITS SUPER EASY!

Hot Fudge Sauce by Our Best Bites

Ingredients: 3oz semi-sweet chocolate* (3 squares of baking chocolate, or about 1/2 C chocolate chips

1/4 C butter (that’s a half of a stick folks. Admit it, at least one of you didn’t know that)

1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

*I wouldn’t use milk chocolate for this, it’s way too sweet, however both dark and bittersweet are awesome Instructions:

1. If you’re using baking squares, chop them up into small pieces so they melt easier. I chop the butter up into small chunks too.

2. Okay, it’s not rocket science. Put it in a pan on medium heat and melt it all together till it’s smooth, creamy, and just looking at it gives you happy thoughts.

3. Fill jars, tie on ribbon and store in fridge… I also put on cute little labels.

 

I love this so much, it is so yummy and so easy.. I did it with my 10 month awake and crawling all over..  Yay for easy!  Hope you enjoy and please visit http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/06/hot-fudge-sauce-and-fondue/

Hot Fudge Sauce by Our Best Bites

Hot Fudge Sauce by Our Best Bites

Does your childs pants fall down? Well, have I got a solution for you!

Review: Dapper Snapper

So, most of my friends have babies now so I find it most helpful when they pass on tidbits and found this opportunity to do the same. Drey is long and lean…therefore he needs a 9 month waist and at least 12 month length in any pants, but especially ones that buckle, snap, zip. With sweatpants, this is less of an issue but with nice looking dress pants or jeans, oh lord…his pants are either falling down as he jumps around or he looks like he is prepared for the next great flood. After much research I was faced with a few options: 1) baby belt – which seemed like a great idea until you start thinking about changing diapers etc 2) the amazing dapper snapper. Now the dapper snapper is a simply made piece of elastic with a snap on each side and a few settings for you to tighten the pants. It goes through the back through pant loops, but not the front and is super easy to get on and off. It cinched up those pants so they fit without falling down, it is my personal clothing miracle for my child. They come in all colors and even with designs and run between $10-$13, which is probably overpriced but with no motivation to sew, lack of skills and the desperate need of a solution…this is an amazing one! If you can sew, or have some talent… by all means make them yourself and then let me know so I can buy some from my friends (at a discount, of course)
Check it out: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0039C7JO6

oh the places we go the people we see

I have seen a lot of places, experienced many Countries and cultures throughout the world but you always remember where you come from, or so I thought. People ask me all the time “how coming from where you do, did you turn out so tolerant and open-minded?” The answer I guess would have to be my mother, she taught me to love and that I was not better than any other person. But, ultimately I guess there are a lot of people raised with those same supposed principles and yet are some of the most judgemental people in the world. I guess I do not have an answer except that I see no benefit to being judgemental, self-righteous, or hateful. I will never understand intolerant and hateful people, I will never understand how some use their religion as a way of justifying their behavior. I will never understand not believing that equality is important, that poor people can be hard-workers or that the color of skin determines who you are. I will never understand how one religion can proclaim to be better than another, or one language elite. I will never understand why only certain people can go to the doctor. I will never understand why people think it is their own personal job to determine who is appropriate to love, and what will send them to eternal fire and damnation. I see a lot of people, I live in the 3rd largest city in the United States…I do not see your color, I do not see your hair, I do not see your clothing, I so not see your religion, I do not see your lifestyles, I see humanity. I respect and love people. I think that everyone deserves a chance (and maybe a second)! I look back over the last ten years and am proud of who I have become. My mother would be proud of who I have become, she may not agree completely on certain topics but in light of love and the fact that she taught me to be Christlike, and Christ LOVED… It speaks volumes of what and who she was nurturing long before she knew her fate, or mine!

highchairs rock

can I just say that I love my high chair.. now that might seem a bit extreme to some of y’all but when you have a 7.5 month old that is EVERYWHERE, all you want to do is clean or hell…sit down. Well, Drey has decided in the last week that he LOVES his high chair, and when I say love… I mean ADORES! He sat in it for 2 hours.. when is the last time he did anything for 20 min or longer (other than sleep)… He ate Cheerios and animal crackers.. then smashed them with his toys.. but I got the whole kitchen clean. say what?? I GOT THE WHOLE KITCHEN CLEAN. The other thing I like about his high chair is that it has wheels.. oh let me just wheel you over here so I can sweep, or lets wheel you in here so I can fold clothes. Oh, it was like a dream. I am sure he will hate it next week, but for this week – we ADORE our fisher price aquarium high chair!

Holy vs. Unholy

People are such an interesting species. They have feelings and thoughts, they do stuff purposefully and not, they enjoy life or not…each is different. I have had a long-standing issue with those we call the “holy rollers”, “Holier than thou”, “God’s right hand man”…etc. I live this fine line, this balance of having a relationship with God and living a non-judgemental life in which I choose not to judge others for their Status, Race, Religion, Creed, Orientation, Sex, Monetary value or level of education. I do not believe that God commands “Christians” to be the judge of who is holy enough for him…a matter a fact, I do not believe that is at all how God views us. By no means do I think that you should go around “sinning” but why do “Christians” enlist themselves of God’s personal sidekick and judge? This will baffle me to the ends of time. I guess this falls me into the Unholy category in many’s eyes, but I would rather be considered unholy and show love to everyone (even the judgemental crazies of the world, though they make it hard for me to love them). I choose LOVE! Feel free to choose whatever path you want, but you will not wane me from my path, you will not destroy my perspective of the goodness most people possess. I refuse to be jaded! I choose love!

meddling with motherhood

Being a mommy is amazing….and exhausting…..and simply disgusting. The past few weeks we have had our bout of crap.. I mean, lower resp. infection, then the flu, then puking from allergies, gross diapers and the works. Teething does not help, the drool machine has been left on. This week, remember it is only Thursday, I have had to change the sheets 4 times. Last week 7 times… GROSS! A – that is a lot of laundry B- he is constantly puking, pooping or peeing on them. Drey has a terrible diaper rash right now, so I try to let his butt air out – but it is hard to want to do this when he is constantly create grossness for me to clean up, lol. Last week, he crawled to me in the middle of the night.. I was like aww how sweet – next thing I know, he pukes all over my face. Yesterday morning I took off his diaper and within seconds he pooped… not nice little pile poop, no this was shooting across the entire king size bed poop. Now my mattress has a nice brown streak that runs from one side to the other.. today, left him for 2 seconds and he peed all over..OMG, can I please get a morning without bodily fluids. Anyways…did I tell you that being a mom is great. I love being a mom, it is by far the most important job I have ever had.

PS after looking through my pics of my son I realized that he never has clothes on…lol.. easier to clean off skin.

What were you doing one year ago, today?

It is hard to think of what I was doing one year ago… I was a few months pregnant, and two weeks from finding out if I was having a boy or girl. Funny thing is… I still look 17 weeks pregnant, lol. But wow, how life has changed. I now have a crawling, chattering little boy with two teeth. He is my light of my day and love and comfort at night. I cannot express how blessed I feel to have him in my life. Being a mom is pretty amazing stuff!

Smiles for the one I love the most!!!! My Mama!

Heavenly dreams in cloth

yummmmy my turtle tastes good, and I can look at my handsome self too!

practicing to model underwear, lol

playing before we head to school

my big boy

Drey is getting so big, he is trying to crawl, he sits up regularly and talks a mile a minute in baby jabber… It is so fun to see and yet how does time pass by so quickly.

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This month David put together Drey’s crib..so pretty. It is one of those ones that turns into a toddler bed and then a full size bed. And I started Christmas shopping…OMG his first Christmas is going to be so much fun I can hardly contain myself.