Our Favorite Things: Pool

Our neighborhood pool is the place to be in the summer. I was super worried it wouldn’t open because of the “big bad sickness”. THANKFULLY (with several restrictions) it was able to open and we are so thankful.

I spend a lot of time down at the pool with both girls by myself. Having two babies around water can feel a little overwhelming, but so far we have been able to manage. I’ve made a list of things we are using this summer with the girls!

Number One - Foldable Wagon

I didn’t know how much I needed this at the pool, until I brought it to the pool and it changed everything. Disclaimer: this wagon is not intended for people to ride in. But Lampley spends a lot of time hanging out there. I typically load up the wagon with our pool bag, Jane Taylor’s puddle jumper, and a chair (our pool doesn’t have the chairs available currently), load it in the back of my car and take it to the pool. It is just the right size that it fits completely opened up in the back of my SUV. But it is super easy to fold and unfold at the same time.

Lampley is in that sweet spot where she can sit up but isn’t pulling up so the wagon is a great place for her to hang as we are getting settled. It’s big enough that she can roll around in it too. I honestly got the idea of putting her in it because my friend with twins has this wagon- which is a huge step up from our foldable one.

Number Two - Pool Bag

Scout bags are the way to go when it comes to bags, but especially a bag for the pool. The one we use is huge. We can put all our towels in it, a lunchbox, sunscreen, and any pool toys we might be bringing with us. Everything just gets tossed in and I love it!

Number Three - Foldable High Chair

We have had this chair for years and taken it everywhere. To tailgate, the beach, and now the pool. Jane Taylor loved it when she was little and now Lampley eats in it all the time. When we eat lunch at the pool I can put Lampley in this chair while Jane Taylor and I eat on a towel.

Number Four - Pool Toys

On the off chance that one of our neighbors isn’t at the pool with us we have a couple of pool toy favorites that keep her entertained. We love this Frozen set and these little boats. Lampley is super happy sitting on my lap on the steps of the pool as long as she has something to hold. This teether is her favorite.

Number Five - LunchBox

Every morning I make Jane Taylor’s lunch in case we decide to head to the pool. I wrote a little about our favorite lunchboxes here. I pack her lunchbox in this adorable lunch bag, add an ice pack and we are good to go! For Lampley’s lunch I usually pack her’s in these little containers which can also fit in the lunch bag.

Number Six - Cover Up

A very wise friend taught me last summer about the beauty of a towel cover up. When we are done swimming and its time to come home I simply get Jane Taylors wet bathing suit off and put this towel wrap on. No need to worry about her dragging a towel out with her. It has been the best thing and made leaving the pool so easy. We also love wearing these slides to the pool because it doesn’t matter if they get wet but they don’t weigh you down like water shoes would.

Number Seven - Potty Seat

I know. I know. Bringing a potty to the pool is so very weird. But listen… it is better than Jane Taylor having to run into the bathroom, disinfect everything.. you get the picture. So we bring this potty seat. It can stay in the car, or come with us to the pool (we are not the only people doing this). It has made life a lot easier. It is small, easy to clean, and great for our newly potty trained child.

Number Eight - Stroller Fan

We clip this fan onto the wagon to turn on whenever Lampley is in there. It is great because if she grabs hold of it, which she does often, the fan won’t hurt her. The days can get hot so it is nice to have!

Number Nine - Puddle Jumper

There is no way I could take both girls to the pool by myself if Jane Taylor wasn’t so good at swimming in her puddle jumper. I know there are a lot of opinions around puddle jumpers and swim safety. This is what works for us.

Number Ten - The Basics

Sunscreen, water bottle, favorite swimsuits for the girls, favorite swimsuits for me.

Our Favorite Things: 3months-6months

When I started “Our Favorite Things” series I had every intention of doing more than just Lampley’s favorite things. To be honest, her’s are just easier to track and they change the most frequently. So before she gets any older I wanted to share the things we are loving from the 3 month to 6 month stage. It’s been such a fun couple of months with our littlest. Her personality is coming out, along with her voice and she is not afraid to use it. She has started to sit a little more each day on her own. And we have added in solids for 3 meals a day! We are loving growing with our Lampley girl!

Number One - Teething Toys

With Jane Taylor, teething wasn’t the end of the world. Honestly we didn’t really even notice when she got teeth until they were there. Lampley doesn’t have any teeth yet, but she has had several days were she is biting on a toy so hard that I am sure she is getting one. Lampley puts all the things in her mouth! Totally normal, but so different from Jane Taylor who never did! Sophie la Giraffe is her top pick. I also like this version of Sophie because it is much easier to clean.

Number Two - Angelcare Bath Tub

When we lived at the farm the sink (a literal farm sink) was big enough to put the Angelcare Bath Tub in and Lampley loved it. Angelcare is a nice, not super expensive option before she starts sitting up in the bath herself. Just last week I got brave enough to put both girls in the bath together and the Angelcare was just the right size to fit them both in the tub. We also love using this soap for Lampley and this bath set for Jane Taylor.

Number Three - Activity Walker

To help Lampley work on strengthening her muscles in sitting up, I have been propping her in front of this activity walker. It is engaging enough that she can sit there for a good amount of time. The wheels do not have any brakes on them so I prop up the walker in front of a chair or the couch so it doesn’t roll away from her when she is using it. Eventually she will be able to use it to help her learn to walk. I love that it can grow with her.

Number Four - Activity Jumper

We didn’t start using this gym with Lampley until she was closer to 6 months old. I might have tried to use it a little earlier but we didn’t have it with us when we were staying at the farm. But once we put her in there she loved it! I picked this jumper because it had enough engaging aspects without being over stimulating.

Number Five - Sit-Me Up Floor Seat

Lampley used this starting around 4months. It was great to give her a safe place to sit and learn a new view on her little world.She could sit up to look around instead of laying on a mat or being held. I will say of all her toys she used this one for the least amount of time. Probably only from 4 months to 5.

Number Six - 4moms HighChair

Another item that was handed down from her big sister. It’s easy to clean, easy to use. It can adjust to different heights - so we can lower it to meet the dining room table but raise it to use at our kitchen counter.

Number Seven - Sleeping Suits

Lampley started rolling over a lot earlier than I expected. So we took her out of the swaddle and moved her to a sleep sack but she was not ready for that much freedom with her arms. Our doctor suggest the Merlin Sleep Suit, which at first I was against because it was awful for Jane Taylor, but for Lampley it worked great. When she was ready we moved her to the Nested Bean suit. We use that along with the Burts Bee’s sleep suit and they seem to work great.

Number Eight - Pacifier

I know there is lots of opinions around using a pacifier. We use them. With Lampley because she was so little when she was born the Tommee Tippee Pacifier was the smallest we could find for her. Now she loves it and we will watch her search for it in the middle of the night. I also love this pacifier clip for the car & stroller

Number Nine - Uppa Baby Vista Stroller

Whenever people ask me what stroller to get I always say the Uppa Baby Vista. It has literally grown with our family. We got it when Jane Taylor was born and use it all the time. I would put Lampley in the bassinet when she was younger and Jane Taylor could sit in the rumble seat. Now Lampley sits in the rumble seat and Jane Taylor rides on the piggy back. It is so easy to use and we love it.

Number Ten - Nail Trimmer

This is one tool that I can’t say enough about. I love using it for Lampley’s little finger nails and I don’t have to worry about hurting her whenever it is time to trim her nails.

Items we are still using from the Our Favorite Things: Newborn to 3month post:

Play Mat; Baby Bjorn carrier. The Rohm, Bottles & Bottle Warmer, Baby Bouncer, Portable Diaper Caddy

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