The New York Baby Show

When I found out that the New York Baby Show was going to take place on the weekend of my birthday, I decided that buying a ticket to go would be my gift to myself. I let all my friends know that they could join me at the baby show, or at brunch afterwards. Now that I've gone once, I will go every year; I had so much fun.

When going to an event like this you need a plan of attack. First you need people to go with you so you can get the most samples possible. Second it's best if those friends have no interest or need for those products. I took my mom, aunt, and 2 close friends; I was the only one with babies...ha ha ha I kept everything... Third you need to have a lot of enthusiasm. Vendors love it when your excited about their product, and most of the time they will give you more stuff if you show how excited you are. My friend Annette always seems to charm vendors, and while people walk away with one sample I've seen her get boxes of samples; she is a genius..  Finally, you need a car.  I live in NYC so I took the train, thank goodness my father came and picked up the baby with the car. Going to brunch with 10 bags would not have been fun.

Sofia testing the merchandise

In addition to samples, I got a whole bunch of coupons. I went to the store and saved $7 with every container of formula I bought. When formula is $30 a pop I'll gladly take $7; it's a small amount but in the long run it makes a difference. That is just one example of savings, I got coupons for food, toys, diapers, wipes, and so many other great products. The next time you here about a Baby Show or any product show in your city I suggest you go.

An inventory of everything I got...
14 baby mum-mums
2 Ella's kitchen food packets
4 gerber graduate food packets
5 beech nut food packets
4 packets of happy tot food packets
3 jars of beech nut peaches and pineapple baby food
8 bottles of ready to use Enfamil formula
8 enfagrow milk drinks
3 babyganics mini laundry detergent.
3 ology babyb shampoo and body wash
3 avent bottles
2 toddler t-shirts from PCVSTliving.com
2 Goya onesies
4 beech nut baby spoons
1 syringe spoon, 1 honey Chapstick & 1 cooking spatula from Honey.com

 Would you take your kid hiking with this??

3 Northeast doulas lavender pouches
2 pencils from bity bean
1 pen from ergo baby
10 reusable shopping bags
Enough coupons to save hundreds of dollars.

Its a good thing they gave us bags, I needed a shopping cart.

Crocheting a Simple Baby Hat

Ever since I had my daughter I haven't had a chance to crochet.  Last night my son went to bed unusually early and Sofia happen to be sleeping too.  I took this opportunity to make a hat that would match the outfit Sofia was going to wear the next day. 

When making a simple hat I usually don't follow a pattern. I figured out the size by comparing it to a baby hat that already fit her. She is currently 2 months, so I would say this hat would fit a baby 0-3 months. While this is a simple pattern, I have never written a patten before so I think you might need to have some basic knowledge of crocheting to follow it.

Yarn used: Lion Brand Microfiber
Weight Category: 3 - DK Weight: Light Worsted Yarn
2.50 oz./70 g (168 yd/154 m)
100% Micro-Fiber Acrylic
Hook size 5mm

A Simple Baby Hat Pattern
1st Row: Chain 4, double crochet in first chain 11 times (the 3 chains count at a double crochet through out). Connect with slip stitch.

2nd Row: chain 3, double crochet in same space as chain 3. Double crochet twice in each stitch until you get to the end and connect with slip stitch.

3rd Row: chain 3, double crochet in same space as chain 3, double crochet in the next stitch. *2 double crochet in the next stitch, 1 double crochet in the next stitch. Repeat until you get to the end from *. Connect with slip stitch.

4th Row: chain 3, double crochet in same space as chain 3, 1 double crochet in the next 2 stitches. *2 double crochet in the next stitch, 1 double crochet in the next 2 stitches. Repeat until you get to the end from *. Connect with slip stitch

5th Row: chain 3, double crochet in same space as chain 3, 1 double crochet in the next 5 stitches. *2 double crochet in the next stitch, 1 double crochet in the next 5 stitches. Repeat until you get to the end from *. Connect with slip stitch

Rows 6-14: chain 3, double crochet in each stitch until you reach the end. Connect with slip stitch.

OPTIONS:
-You can create a ribbed edge by alternating front and back post stitches in rows 11-14.
-You can make the edge fancy by adding a shell stitch pattern on the 14th row.
-You can make the hat a couple of rows longer and create a slouchy look or you can fold it up. 
-Add a flower.  You can use the pattern given below.


Flower Pattern

Damn It! I Have to Buy a Double Stroller...

20 months ago I had my first baby, and it was so exciting.  I did endless amounts of research on high chairs, reusable diapers, development, and of course strollers.  After living on the Upper West Side for 2 years I had seen some really nice strollers.  The Stokke, Bugaboo, Uppababy, iCandy, Snap and Go, City Mini..etc...  After much consideration I really wanted the Bugaboo. You could attach a car seat, it had a bassinet and a toddler seat that went up to 3 year.  You could face the baby towards you or outward.  The most impressive part were all the wheel settings, it had a city setting, off road setting and beach setting (I got to use the beach setting twice).  For all these fabulous features it cost only $1200, but that's because when I sent my husband to buy it he decided that the special edition denim version was sexy.  I love my Bugaboo, but it is a big ass stroller...

My big ass stroller

Over time we have accumulated 2 more strollers, a Chicco which is only 17lbs and easier to take places.  We also have a Babies r Us umbrella stroller which is about 3lbs and can be taken anywhere because it is so small, but it doesn't
recline and isn't a good stroller to be out in all day.  Now I live in NYC and while my apartment is a good size, I don't have the room for 3 strollers; so when we found out that we were going to have a 2nd baby we cringed and the thought of a double stroller.  We live on the Upper West Side which is saturated with double strollers and those things are huge.  The last thing we wanted to do is spend more money on another stroller that is twice the size of the expensive stroller we already have.

Fast Forward to the present....I have been home on maternity for 2 months and it has been very hard going out on my own.  At first it wasn't a big deal because it was still winter and I had no desire to leave the house, but now that its spring time I want to go out with my munchkins.  I was thinking that I could get the little board that attaches to the Bugaboo for Francisco to stand on, but he is still small and he gets tired.  If we go out for a long period of time we put Francisco in the Chicco and I put Sofia in the carrier.  This works out great because if Francisco needs to nap he can; the stroller is small and if we go to a restaurant he sits in a highchair and I can put Sofia down in the reclined stroller.  It sounds like I have it all figured out doesn't it??  Well I don't, this only works if I'm not alone.  I found out very quickly that I am confined to the apartment if I'm alone; unless I'm walking over to meet someone who can then help.  This REALLY SUCKS!!!

So....A couple of days ago when it was really nice out, I caught my son looking out the window.  I felt bad that I couldn't take him out.  Even if I put Sofia in the carrier and we go for a walk I don't have the ability to pick him up or run around with him.  This is when it hit me, I would have to give in and buy a double stroller....Damn it!

25 vs 35

My life has changed drastically in the last 3 years.  I got married, got pregnant with my son, and then I went and got pregnant again and had a little girl...  I've been busy..

This Sunday I will be turning 36, and I have to say, I loved being 35 and I'm looking forward to my journey to 40.  This past week I was thinking about what I was doing 10 years ago, and all I have to say is...... 25 was much different then 35, so I decided to list some of the differences, here we go...

25: Loved going clubbing with my friends.  Went out most weekends and sometimes during the week and wouldn't get home until at least 1am.

35: I went to a club a couple of weeks ago for the first time in who knows how long to celebrate a friends birthday (now I only go out for special and mostly preplanned occasions).  I only went because the club was down the block from my house.  I stayed for 2 hours had 2 watered down drinks, and it took my 2 days to recover.

25: Lived in a 1 bedroom apartment in Flushing, Queens in the same building as my parents.

35: I now live in 2 bedroom apartment in a huge Upper West Side building complex with my husband and 2 children.

25: I was a proud member of the social site Migente.com under the name Firelily where I got to keep up with my friends sexy pictures, and meet guys who were obviously interested in intelligence..

35: I am a proud member of the social sites Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Blogger, Pintrest, Etsy, & Google+ under my married name and/or my blogger name Big Apple Mami.  I keep up with family and friends from high school and college.  We basically post the latest pictures of our children, and share how tired we are.  Occasionally we get to post pics of the fabulous food we eat when we go out with our partner..but mostly we post pics of the food we make at home...

25: After running a teen program for 2 years, I had been told once again from my boss that the organization I worked for lost most of the money for the program I ran, and that I should start looking for another job.  This is when my father basically yelled at me to apply for the teaching fellows..

35: After being accepted into the Teaching Fellows program I taught 5 grade & middle school in the the Bronx and Brooklyn.  Today I am in my 8th year of teaching and after 7 years of teaching teens I am loving being a 2nd grade ICT Teacher in Brooklyn Heights.  I never thought I would love the little ones...

25: If I'm correct I was living with a guy that my friends and family all hated, but I think we broke up after my first year teaching when I was 26.  I try to forget the stupid boyfriends...

35: Married to my childhood friend and love of my life, I don't know what took me so long to admit how much I loved him.  Thank goodness he never stopped trying to get in touch with me, and I am so glad I picked up the phone 8 years ago even though I didn't recognize the number.

So there you go, some major differences in my life.  I was very happy back then and I'm even happier now....I hope to look back in another 10 years with a whole new list of happy differences...