Today We Made Great Strides!!

We did it! We completed the Cystic Fibrosis 10K walk! I am so proud of my little team... Team Kumquat! We reached our fundraising goal and had a great time walking for this important cause!

Me and the inspiration for Team Kumquat!!

My EveryWear Challenge!

Check out my video to see just how easy and quick it is to use the lillebaby EveryWear Carrier.

Scandinavian Child lillebaby EveryWear Carrier Challenge

Now that we have this fabulous carrier I have been encouraging my husband to try it out. Here is a little background on my dear hubby:
1. Prior to becoming a dad he never held a baby
2. Prior to becoming a dad he flat out refused to hold babies
3. He refused to use our previous carrier for unknown man reasons
4. He's an engineer

You may wonder why number 4 has anything to do with the others. Well, here's the scoop: dear hubby is a VERY hands on dad and jumps feet first into everything. He was even the first one to change our daughter's diaper... it wasn't by choice as I had a c-section, but he didn't protest.

He's been out and about with me while I've been using the new carrier so his interest has begun to grow due to my bragging about how fabulous it is. BUT, he's an engineer. He can't do anything without studying it first and figuring out how it works. So we needed a test dummy.....

This is Cookie Bear. He is our go-to bear.... he was also the bear we took to the hospital for that class where you swaddle and diaper stuffed animals. Poor guy... he may have a complex. But he was the loyal test dummy to make sure that daddy was confident in his abilities to get the baby safely secured. Did it work?

He did it! Yay!! Now you get to tell me which one (baby or bear) looks more comfy!

Scandinavian Child lillebaby EveryWear Carrier Challenge - Part 2

I've been writing, Facebook posting and talking about the EveryWear challenge for a few weeks now. As you may have remembered I received a lillebaby EveryWear Carrier from Scandinavian Child and I have been testing it out. I was really raving about this carrier int he beginning, so I guess people expected my enthusiasm to fade because they continue to ask me if I am still satisfied. Well the answer it yes! I am still in love with my carrier and am using it all the time!

In the past I wouldn't have thought twice about putting my baby in the stroller when running into stores or the coffee shop or even down the street to the neighbors house. This week I used my stroller once. The carrier is really just so much easier. It's very easy to put on, doesn't take up and room, doesn't require me to drag a stroller out of the trunk. I actually found myself saying the other day, "boy I wish we brought the carrier, it takes so much less time to run into the food store." I never felt that way with my old carrier because it wasn't easy to get on. I always needed an extra hand (I can get my EveryWear on and off without any help) and my shoulders started to hurt pretty quickly.

I'm not going to say that this is a pain free option because the fact is we are dealing with gravity. My daughter weighs 23 pounds, so after an hour or so of carrying her while standing the whole time I do start to feel it. But if I sit down for a bit and can get back on the move. It's not the carrier.... it's science.

Here are some pictures of getting out and about at Michael's.... shopping for scrapbook supplies!

Carrying my Baby EveryWear

So, as I mentioned in a previous post, I am the proud new owner of a lillebaby EveryWear Carrier! I was sent one free of charge and am now taking part in the iameverywear challenge! So where have been with my carrier?

Our first big outing was to a flower fair!

Our local nursery was displaying all kinds of beautiful flowers. We need to get some serious Spring gardening done at our house, so we headed out to see the great variety!

Hands free is the way to be!!

I love that there is nothing between me and my baby. She is always so happy to be carried, but she's getting heavy. So this carrier is a dream. We wandered for awhile and it was so comfy that we continued on to our favorite coffee shop.

It was such an awesome day and having this carrier made everything to much easier! We didn't have to maneuver our way through flower beds or the tiny coffee shop. And we were both comfy throughout the day. LOVE IT!!

Scandinavian Child lillebaby EveryWear Carrier Challenge

Earlier in April I entered a contest through Scandinavian Child to be chosen to try the EveryWear carrier. You had to submit an e-mail about why you feel you should be selected to try this carrier.

Well, as my faithful readers you may recall from previous blog posts and tweets for help.... I have been SEARCHING high and low for a carrier for my now 22 pound baby!

A little back story. When I was registering my husband felt we didn't need a carrier. That we wouldn't use a carrier. So we didn't register for one. BIG MISTAKE. Within the first month or so we had decided a carrier was a must. But lets be honest.... they are expensive. So my mom passed along hers.... from when I was a baby. SAFETY ALERT! I didn't know how I felt about putting my teeny tiny baby in something that was as old as I was... literally. But I had quit my job to be a stay at home mom... and the option seemed better than nothing. So we hesitantly and carefully tried out her carrier. I don't think I took my arms off of the baby the first few times I wore it. But... it worked. It did the job.

 So we were able to go out and about with our little bundle. Ok, fast forward through the dreads of winter where I didn't leave the house, thus did not use or need my carrier. Welcome Spring! I am not putting my 20 pound baby in this carrier. I have no instructions, so I don't know what the weight limit is. I asked my mom how long she carried us in it, "Oh... I don't know. Maybe a year or less. Maybe a little more." Ok, not good enough. Out with the old and in with the new!

My hunt for a carrier that would last for a while was on. Sadly, I wasn't having much luck. Most of the carriers people were recommending were for up to about 24 pounds. 24 pounds was right around the corner! I came across a couple that sounded like they might work, but the budget still wasn't there. And then.... Scandinavian Child came to the rescue!

I saw on Facebook that they were having this fabulous competition. The nervous mom in me immediately went to look at the facts about this product. How much could it carry (answer - up to 43 pounds!)? What position could it be worn in (answer - like every position! front, back, hip, sling)? Everything I read about the EveryWear carrier seemed to fit into what I was looking for. So I write my e-mail explaining why I should get one.

Then the day came... the wonderful, glorious day! I had been chosen! Whooohoo!! I didn't have to wait long before my carrier had arrived!

Today is the day we will take this baby out for a spin!! I am so excited to try it out and see how we do! Check back to see what I think of my new lillebaby EveryWear carrier!!!