Every time I see a kid not buckled into their seat properly I think back to a post from The Baby Guy making a joke saying something along the lines of "PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO POST PICTURES ON FACEBOOK OF THEIR KIDS IN CAR SEATS UNLESS THEY'RE BUCKLED CORRECTLY!" It wasn't funny - but it made me laugh. It was a light way to to start a convo about something super serious. He is a pro at that and if you're not already a fan, you should be.  So, today a friend shared this image from The Natural Parent Magazine... and it made me think of that moment, so I thought it absolutely belonged here. It is just a quick and easy reminder of how a 5 point harness should look when buckled correctly. 

Credit to The Natural Parent Magazine

It is such a quick and easy adjustment to make sure the straps are tightened and buckled correctly... The picture is a great reminder and I just try to keep the clip between nipples & collar bone... and I believe the rule of thumb is that you shouldn't be able to pinch the strap fabric between your fingers (someone correct be if I'm wrong - that is what I do for Rozzlyn) I adjust her straps nearly every time I put her in the seat to make sure they're correct. I couldn't live with myself if she flew out of the top in an accident because the buckle wasn't in the correct place. Hopefully this information helps, and sorry if it is repetitive... just trying to make sure all the babies of the world are safe in their seats! <3

Good Luck. <3

Today there was an older woman at breakfast - staring me down walking in with Rozz and Zaq. She was VISIBLY and dramatically shaking her head in disgust saying "oh my, oh my." Yes. I know. You think I'm a freak show and a horrible mother because I am tattooed. Right? Because clearly anyone that looks like I do has to be a bad mom.  I hope I can raise my kids to be a kinder human than she was acting and to not judge a book by its cover. As much as I HATE to care what people think, when I am with my kids - it is hard not to. Trust me, I have enough reasons that I feel like not-so-supermom on a regular basis... I don't need a random stranger rolling her eyes at me just because of the way I look. I should also add - I walked in wearing a maxi skirt to the floor... and a striped tank top. Nothing revealing, trashy, inappropriate... etc.

My daughter was perfectly well behaved the whole time, even stopped breakfast for a quick potty break. She is 2 and a half. We spent the time at the table playing games, practicing colors (yes she knows them all) and picking out letters in the word find on the coloring sheet. I caught the woman looking back at us 3-4 times while we were there. I can only hope that she was thinking "wow, polite kid" or something of the sort. Judge me all you want, I guess. But what I fear most is that someone would pity my kids because of their poor stereotype of me. My children are very fortunate *spoiled* kids... have everything the need and more... are fed very balanced and usually home cooked meals... spend summer days outside and at the library... are all wildly smart and polite... we're doing something right, damn it. Maybe not everything right, but something. And of all the things we're probably doing wrong - I hope one things sticks in the lessons that we teach. Do NOT judge a book by its cover. Its hurtful, its wrong, and its unfair.

So many people asked me, "why didn't you say something to her, I would have went off." Now, while that would probably be immediately cathartic - its short term. I refuse to do anything that would give people like her even the slightest truth to her stereotype. She is already assuming things about me because of my tattoos... That I am harsh maybe? Mean? Aggressive? Rude? I don't know. I didn't ask... but reacting to her in any way but the smile I gave as I walked by would only give her more things to assume... That get's me nowhere and just means next time she see's someone tattooed she will have the same look of disgust and assumptions. So tattooed friends... judged friends... Im asking you - lets do what we can to break our stereotypes. When someone is giving you a dirty look, or making a rude comment under their breath - kill them with kindness. Flash them a smile, say something kind, or just keep walking. I can't help but think one by one we can hopefully begin to change the minds of the people passing judgement. Worst case scenario, even if it doesn't work we have saved ourselves from some unnecessary and undeserved stress and drama of bickering with someone too closed minded to see the beauty and love in the art on our bodies. 

Baby Zrust #4 is on the way - that's no secret anymore... 

With that comes the instant need to BUY ALL THE THINGS! Its amazing how after 3 kids I still get excited about gear. But... with all the time I have spent behind the scenes with MommyCon... I get to see all the best stuff out there. Its fair to say this baby has great taste. I've been pinning all night and thought all my favorites belong right here. So here it goes!

#1: 4Moms - rockaRoo... "The rockaRoo™ flips the swing on its head. Literally. It rocks like a rocking horse, which maximizes the sensation of motion for your baby." 5 speeds, mp3 player, removable toys... Need. We had the MamaRoo with Rozz and ready to try out the newest one!

Photo credit from 4moms website. Click photo to go to the 4moms website.

Photo credit to Boon, Inc. Website. Click the photo to visit.

#2: Boon - Flair HighChair... "No cracks. No crevices. Therefore, no abyss full of crumbs. This one-piece seat is the sleekest, smoothest thing going and it makes cleanup unbelievably easy. Its dishwasher-safe tray cover actually fits in a dishwasher. And the continuous height positioning with pneumatic lift is just a fancy way of saying you can pick the exact height you want to fit your table." Our chair has finally bit the dust. Its 7 years old but its been scrubbed as many times as it can. This guy isn't coming clean... time for an upgrade! I will also take all the other things from Boon... like - all the things. I went nuts on the plates, utensils, etc. last time... this time I just want it all. Oh, and especially the Glo :) SO RAD!!!!!

#3: Joovy - Caboose: AHHHHHHHH GENIUS!! I am about to be a mom of 4 kids. FOUR!! I am a big baby wearer... but sometimes you just need a good stroller to help get you where you need to go and this is the one. One of the big kids can stand in the back... a little in the front. One in a ring sling - holy cow - makes me feel like super mom thinking of all the things I could get done when my kiddos don't want to walk. And my favorite new feature is the add on Caboose Too Seat... All you do is attach it to the back bench and it adds another full seat that reclines AND has a 5 point harness. SO SO SO awesome...

#4: Clek - Tokidoki Foonf: Does this seat really need an introduction? Those of you that have been around for awhile probably know my wild love affair with Tokidoki... so much so that I will eventually have a full right arm sleeve of it. (If I'm ever not pregnant long enough, lol) When I saw this seat it was no doubt that it would have to be mine... *ahem* I mean... the baby's seat. Yeah. Its basically the greatest seat - of all seats... ever. Clek's have more than earned their reputation for being super safe and allowing extended rear facing... I have the high back booster in Rebel... this guy will be next on the list.

#5: Medela - Freestyle Hands Free Double Electric Pump:  The cadillac of pumps... Always rated at the tippy top of the charts. My middle son wouldn't nurse and sadly I didn't have a pump. My first son was such a champ I didn't ever think of it being a possible issue. Dumb. By the time I got a good pump... After spending countless hours hand pumping myself into a bottle - my milk was dried up... I gave up and still feel like I failed him... :(

With Rozz I had a hand me down pump from my BFF and was overly prepared and didn't really need it. This time around I want to be ready just in case baby 4 doesn't want to nurse. (Though this time I am a lot more educated on ways to help him/her out with that). I work in the office SO MUCH and a good pump for when daddy wants to give a bottle would be amazing... and if I could sew while Im pumping... even better. 

So that's the list friends... I have tried a LOT of products over the years... and there are few that I will stand behind. But after lots and LOTS of research... these are my top 5 gear items for baby #4. If you have any to add PLEAES let me know below! Would love to hear your input.