Happy birthday!!
on Bumbo seats: We borrowed a friend's when Willa was trying to sit up all the time, a little before she turned 3 mos. She likes it, but not for long stretches. She'll get really happy and seem like she's having fun for a minute or two, and then arch her back and strain to get out of it. We don't use it too often. And Robbins, she actually has the opposite problem of your DS. She's so chubby, with such truly massive thighs, that it's gotten really hard to fit her into it, and even harder to get her out! I try to pull her out, and the bumbo seat comes with her. It sounds like it really varies with the kid, though - I've had a few friends whose LO's adored the seat and loved being seated and watching everything going on around them. A couple others tried it, and their kids were never interested.
The item we've borrowed from a different friend that seems a true hit for her, and that is guaranteed to make Willa laugh and smile, is the jumperoo. What do you all think of them? I know they can be somewhat controversial because of the way they have babies sit, and im not convinced it's the greatest thing for her developing spine. But on the other hand, she loves jumping so much, and has SO much fun in it. I've decided I'm ok with it as long as we dont' use it too often or leave her in it for too long. Has anyone else tried this (or the similar johnny jumpup)?
on an unrelated note - can i tell you how happy i am with this whole borrow-large-plastic-items-from-friends thing? There are SO many - far too many, IMO - baby items out there, all of which someone will tell you is "indispensable." They can be pricey, are usually only useful for a few months, clog up your home, contribute to rampant consumerism of poorly made plastic objects, etc, etc - all sorts of reasons why i didn't want to buy any. On the other hand, some are actually useful - and it's hard to know ahead of time which ones your baby will actually love. I was lucky that a bunch of friends had babies the year before i did - I was counting the items i've borrowed the other day: infant car seat (definitely use, for obvious reasons, though we don't drive much), snap n go stroller (useful the few times I've used a stroller instead of babywearing, and in the airport), swing (hardly used it), bouncy seat (not at first, but now she loves it), bumbo seat (hardly use it), jumperoo (it's great), excersaucer (eh, still in the basement, haven't even tried it and probably never will), two sizes of baby bathtubs (used the small one once then decided we like taking baths with her ourselves in the full-size tub better), moses basket (great for the first few months, already returned it), play-gym mat (definitely useful, she loves the dangling toys), baby bjorn (used it for a month or two, then realized i far prefered other methods of babywearing - ergo and wrap - and bought my own).
Anyhow, just funny to see how useful and, in some cases, useless, the items have been, but with all of them I'm glad i was able to try them, use or not use them, and - the best part - can return them when i'm done with them instead of trying to store them myself! If i hadn't had friends with the items, i suppose craigs list or a baby-item exchange would have accomplished the same purpose, but i'm all for recycling baby gear. So much of it seems like it gets so little use, and is then discarded, which is really sad.
: When did that happen? 
It is going slowly, and everything is topsy-turvy in the meantime. Oh sigh.
: Happy Birthday Willow!! Do something you want today, try to relax and have fun!
happy birthday willo!
: but i'll try to be better this time...
- fever and general crankiness for 2 days. it's really making me think about not doing any more vaxes or at the very least, spacing them waaay out from now on. it's such a tough call.
: Before the shot he was pooping every other day. Aiden did have a stomach bug so I wonder if Evan caught that? Who knows. He's still pretty crabby so I think something is bothering him.
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