Keeping THE Secret (and Some Things About Registries)

    Twenty-one weeks, two days.
    Tad and I have officially confirmed what this little person is.
    A person, obviously. More specifically than that.
    Now we just have to wait another nineteen weeks before we can tell anyone! As a forewarning I'll tell you not to get worked up if I say "he", "him", or any other gender-specific pronoun. I've been calling this baby a "he" for the last month or two, so I've decided I'm just gonna stick with that since I'm comfortable with it and don't feel like juggling the task of using only neutral terms. This baby is not necessarily a "he" (or is she??), I just don't like using "it". If this kid is big enough to cause trouble for the ultrasound tech because he can't sit still, he's most certainly gets a title better than just "it".
    So besides that big reveal, I've been attempting to create the most perfect baby registry that has ever existed (ha). The neutrals haven't really created an obstacle, especially since I think the most adorable stuff is all the yellow and green duckies and frogs, and Tad and I both agree that grey is the most wonderful color to ever exist. I think the hardest part is simply knowing what brands to pick from. I can easily pick a color for my carseat, but out of the 30+ brands on two different websites, which one do I go with? This has been the most trouble I've encountered so far. Thankfully, I have a few big things I don't have to put down (a beautiful wooden crib was given to me by a friend, and my insurance covers a breastpump - Medela Pump In Style, here I come!), but there is still plenty to fill in that I'm being reminded of.
    With that all being said, I'm going to share a few of my "big" picks for gear and such, as well as include why I've chosen to go with said brand, style, and maybe color ;) Please note that I've not only taken in various online reviews, but I've also received a lot of advice from my mom and a few other young moms.

Infant Car Seat with Travel System:

Graco Modes Click Connect Travel System Stroller - Trinidad

    I actually decided on this just a few minutes before writing this post - does that make me a bad mom? I hope not. Actually, I've been set on a Graco Snugride 35 infant seat for a while, I just needed to decide on the stroller and color. Going to the store and checking out the car seats solidified this choice for me. I was also interested in how the Chicco seats were in comparison. I stuck with the Graco based on the price, and also how much lighter they were compared to the Chicco's. Even Tad liked the Graco better, as it seems a bit easier to transport. I wanted the one that went up to 35 pounds instead of the 30 so it would last me a bit longer (or in case we end up with a ferociously huge baby that hits 30 lbs by 4 months... just a concern of mine). I didn't go all the way up to the 40 lb Gracos, mostly because of the price, but also because I have a hard time imagining a 40 pound child in an infant carrier. I'll definitely want to upgrade by then (which is also why I have a second convertible car seat on my registry, in case someone feels extra generous. And to ensure the generosity of that person, I made it a Britax. Go big or go home, right?).

    Graco's Click Connect line has several different types of strollers you can choose to go with your car seat, and I had originally added a three-wheel that looked nice. Upon further advice and research from my mom, she suggested to get a standard four-wheel to go with the seat, since the three-wheel can tend to be less sturdy. Also, after looking at the Graco Modes and finding out that they convert to ten different positions, I was sold. I can easily snap my car seat into the stroller; there's an option for infants to make it more like a baby carriage that they can lay down in while facing you; and the convertibility to toddler age is a very nice plus. A few other things I like are the larger underneath basket and the easy fold-up/lightweight design. It may be a little bit bulkier than some moms may like, but both my husband and I have large trunk vehicles that give us plenty of ease toting this sucker around.
    As far as the color, I just picked that out as well. I had previously decided on an all gray, but now knowing the baby's sex, I feel more confident in which way I wanna swing things without having to worry about it not being what I want for one sex or the other. Plus, the green and gray is super cute!

Splurge Jogger:

BOB Revolution SE Single Jogger Stroller - $368.99

    Okay, so, I'm prepared to not get this, BUT, let me share why I put it on my baby registry anyway.

    1: Why not? I can put whatever I want on there, no matter how ridiculous, Granted, I'd rather put some practical things on, but why not put on the uber cool stuff too?

    2 (the main reason): Tad and I are pretty active people. Not active as in we got for 7-mile runs together every day, But active as in outdoorsy. We love being outdoors, hiking and adventuring, whenever we can (heck, our whole honeymoon was an outdoor recreational adventure - whitewater rafting? You bet!). We don't plan on that changing after this baby comes - in fact, we hope to encourage this child to love the outdoors as much as we do! So I want to invest in a high quality, highly rated jogging stroller that take us from a picnic in the park to some of our favorite hiking trails! This BOB Revolution jogger was what I kept seeing come up in my search for the best stroller. It goes from infant-sized baby (although I won't be using it that early on, for obvious reasons) all the way up to a 70-pound child. The five-point harness is a plus, and something I really wanted in a jogger. It also has a few add-on's for child, like a snack tray. It has a nice little basket underneath, and it's super lightweight and easy to collapse. Even Tad loved the ease of use. Also, it was super fun to drive around Target - so smooth. It's the one thing I'm secretly really dying to get - but I also won't be heartbroken if it doesn't happen.

    And the color? Well, I let Tad pick. The guy who owns a bright orange Jeep is of course going to choose the even more orange baby stroller :P

Bassinet/Co-Sleeper:

Arm's Reach Mini Arc CO-SLEEPER Bassinet - Java Dot

    This one was actually a random find while looking through different bassinet options. I plan on keeping the baby in our bedroom for close to the first year, but I didn't want a big crib in there when the baby was small. I also wanted something close to the bed, though not in-bed, as Tad and I aren't really comfortable with that option. I was looking for some sort of bassinet that would snuggle close up to my bedside for easy late night feedings/changings/holdings, etc., and this is what I came across. I've found several very nice in-depth reviews of it, and it comes highly recommended, especially as one of the only companies that makes true "co-sleepers" in America. It's easily portable to move throughout the house, comes in some cute neutral prints and colors, and it attaches to your bedside! I may just keep it next to the bed with the side up, but however I use it, I think it will a good option for the first few months, before we have to set up the big crib *cringe*.

    This is where I'm at right now! If anyone has any other suggestions or information on these or any other products, I welcome the advice!