Product Review: Baby Cache Uptown Crib and Case

It has been awhile since I have said anything about Lucas's nursery furniture; but, I just feel the need to tell you how much I still love it and how well it has held up through the move and Lucas teething. It did not get a scratch or dent in the move and still feels like the most solid pieces of furniture we own. Lucas has teethed on the one side but he did not damage the wood at all...just ate a little finish off.

We did a lot of research about furniture and what to look for when we were deciding what to go with pre-Lucas. We decided on the Uptown crib and dresser from Baby Cache for a few reasons and I can say that those reasons are still valid (http://www.babycache.com/site/products_uptown.html).

1. It is made of American hard maple. This is a more solid foundation for furniture than the typical pine found in most furniture available (http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/guide-to-furniture-woods-ga1.htm). Why is this important? I knew we had a move ahead of us when we purchased the crib and case and a move can be really hard on sizable furniture. I really did not want to risk the crib becoming rickety. I also am hopeful that this crib will last through multiple children and teething. Plus it is from America which means a smaller carbon footprint in shipping and support of our nation.


2. Baby Cache is the Babies R Us brand of the mother company Munire which has a historically good reputation. But it is slightly less expensive because it is not that name :)


3. The safety standards of the company are high. There are so many things to consider when purchasing a crib - I highly recommend using the Baby Bargains book to decipher things to look for like the mattress holder thingy, space between bars, finishing products, etc., etc.


4. The case drawers use the dovetail system which is supposed to make it last longer and have fewer ways for a child to be poked.


5. The drawers are deeper than typical baby furniture. This is something I never would have thought about - little baby clothes are small and so companies often have shallower drawers. But if you want the furniture to "grow with your child" because it is a convertable crib, then they will need deeper drawers when they are older and their clothes are bigger.

Weekend of Fire

Wow! I am behind on posts! A few weekends ago we went to the Jungle Jims weekend of fire and had the chance to taste all things HOT! We tried hot margaritas, salsa, guacamole, nuts, ice cream, chocolate, cheese ball dips, BBQ sauce, marinades, etc. Of course, Lucas could not partake in these things but he had a great time people watching and snacking on stuff from home.

I love Jungle Jims...It is truly a one of a kind international market perfect for a foodie like me (and I know and love the family who owns Jungle). Ross actually worked at the market when he was in HS and if you ever get a chance ask him about his first day and how he prevented a robbery - such a hero :)

Lucas loved riding the Monorail!

Big Boy Meals

About 2-3 months ago Lucas decided that he no longer wanted to eat from a spoon. So, I adapted and bought lots of frozen veggies, microwavable potatoes, fresh fruit and beans for him to eat. It actually was very easy to whip up a healthy meal in no time flat - pop a sweet potato in the micro on my way to get him after his nap (7 minutes), let him snack on beans from a can while it cooled down, and then cut up some grapes or other fruit while he chowed down on the sweet potato. There were always leftovers that could be thrown in small tupperwares that could easily be grabbed on my way out the door.

Well, now he has decided he is ready for more complex tastes because he rejects just about anything that is a single ingredient. Goodbye simple and easy, hello messy! I have basically been offering him whatever we are eating for dinner and he seems to really like pasta and crockpot meals. Crazy!

Playtime

Here are some cute videos of Lucas with his new toys...He got this truck that plays songs and then shakes and drives away that he sometimes loves and other times is afraid of. It is yet another example of a toy that can work for both a child and a dog because it always gets the attention of the dogs.

The second video is an example of how he usually looks right now...smiling and crawling with a ball in each hand. He got two toys for his birthday that had these balls slightly smaller than the typical busy balls. He can get a pretty good grip on them so he seems to always have them in his hands crawling around. Sometimes it reminds me of those scary wheeler dudes in Return to OZ- any 80's baby will get what I am saying as soon as they watch it...sorry if this incurrs nightmares!

Lucas Turns One!

Lucas has turned the big ONE! yay! I am sitting here with a loss for words because in some ways I still cannot believe I am a mom, let alone a mom of a toddler. Lucas has brought so many blessings to my life and I am just thankful for such a precious child.

Lucas had a great first birthday party where he was surrounded by family and friends who love him to pieces. I tried to time the party just after lunch when he is usually the most awake and active for the day and I am so glad he got a good nap in before the guests began arriving. He completely skipped his second nap because he did not want to miss anything (sounds a little like me...). I didn't take many pictures so here are a few from the party!

With the beautiful Natalie - I just love his fire engine shirt I ordered from Etsy... it had his name and a #1 on it

Checking out Cameron - Lucas is the first baby in our group of friends and most of our family with kids live far away (we typically only get to see them for holidays and big get-togethers and I have yet to establish us in play groups here in Ohio) so, other little ones are a novelty for him. Little does he know that this is his betrothed :)

Check out the spoils! He is such a lucky little guy!

Eating a big lunch of beans and fruit - I tried to have things I knew he would love to eat because the distractions would be hard to overcome!

Meeting his great-granny for the first time

Of course turning one is not all fun and games. Lucas had to go the Doctor to make sure he is doing ok and to get some vaccines. I am always nervous about what the doctor is going to say about his weight and this is his first well-baby appointment in Ohio so we had to cover his entire health history (which continues to make me tear up; man, I am such a weany). Other than a little eczema on his feet the Doctor said he was doing great (pending his next appointment at Childrens).

Here are his stats:

Weight - 19 lb. 12 oz.

Length - 30 in.

Head - 18.25 in.

Physical Development: Lucas can... cruise, wave, clap his hands, pick up tiny objects, stand alone momentarily, "play ball", put things inside other things and then take them back out

Social and Emotional Development: Lucas will... smile and squeal with delight when he sees someone he knows, carefully study new people and then usually smile at them, play independently, play with grownups (child led and adult led), notice other little ones (he actually carefully reached out and held Finn's hand at the party), hug, and kiss

Cognitive Development: Lucas is... always trying to figure out how things work by manipulating toys, putting things inside others and taking them out again, talking in his own little jibberish language to himself and others, responds to "no" and other conversations

Speech: Lucas says... Mom, Dad, Hi, Yes and is working on doggie

Party Prep...

I can't believe how fast this year has gone...Lucas is now a one year old and the baby days are behind us and the toddler years in full swing! As you can imagine I had to throw a party for my little man and so it has been a busy 1-2 weeks of preparation (type A preparation means I am one exhausted mommy)! I will post more later about my one-year-old...for now about the party :) The picture above was used for his invitations...below are some pictures of the other prep we did...

I really wanted a professional photo shoot of the cake smash session - it is a new trend and every picture I have seen is super adorable. Unfortunately, I am new to the area and do not have an established relationship with a photographer or any moms that could recommend one for that matter. I did get one recommendation for a local photographer who turned out to have a beutiful protfolio but I was too late to book her before the party. So, Ross and I tried to create our own cake smash session. Ha! It was fun and pretty much unsuccessful in the photo department but hey - he knew what to do with cake at his party!

First the icing threw him off...he kept shaking his hand and flinging icing all over the room

Ross tried cutting a piece so he could get past the icing

Lucas then tried to move the cake stand with his foot

I tried showing him how yummy it was...no luck!

The theme for the party was Firetrucks and the crowning glory was this awesome firetruck made out of a moving box. Ross is such an amazing Daddy - I asked if he thought it could be done for the party and he went above and beyond by putting in lots of hours. Lucas loved it!

Side of truck - notice the sweet ladder and wheels

Lucas inside the firetruck smiling at everyone around him!

He was bouncing and squealing with joy!

Of course it isn't a party without a party hat! I found this great blog with a template and tutorial for how to make a party hat out of fabric. (http://imakestuff.typepad.com/i-make-stuff/2009/11/birthday-hat-tutorial.html ). First I brainstormed with my mother in law about whether or not we could pull it off. Then I went to my local craft store and got the supplies. I think the finished hat turned out great!

Lucas's first birthday hat

Checking it out

Look at my hat!

And of course, what is a party without decorations?!?!?! I wanted the feeling of the decorations and the party to be more crafty and home made than from the store so I tried to designate certain things to be purchased and other to be made. I bought plates, cups, napkins, plastic silverware, #1 candle, and a table cloth. Then my friend Tricia made the birthday banner and we made tissue balls as a substitute for balloons - which was perfect because I am secretly afraid of popping balloons and do not like to have them around a crowd of people. You just never know when one will accidentally pop and with the way my bladder is these days...it might not have been pretty. (http://diy.wed-central.com/?p=62)

Firetruck themed birthday banner... AWESOME!!!

Pom Poms!

Finally, I channeled my inner Martha and made a firetruck cake and dalmation cake with the help of my mom and my bestie Tricia :)

You can find directions for the firetruck cake on youtube

(http://bit.ly/betty_crocker_firetruck)

The dalmation inspiration came from a book my Grandmother had given my mother when she had my older sister. It is the Baker's Coconut Animal Cut-Up Cakes (copyright 1959)

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