a day of love and carseats

I woke up this morning vowing that it was going to be a better day. (although this was hard after waking up at 5am to a crying baby- those darn teeth! that icky runny nose! argh! back to bed after 40minutes then blissful sleep until 8am!)
I decided today I would clean, do laundry, make cookies, give extra love to my girl and buy her a new carseat!
AND I managed all of it except the cleaning... but I think washing sheets and towels well makes up for it. yay me!

Even though it was blustery and snowing, Gen and I ventured out to Babies R Us for her new seat. I had finally decided on one after what seems like months of online research, reading blogs and reviews, and asking friends and store clerks which one they have...

I was so excited at the beginning of my search for her new seat since it would allow us to turn her forward-facing, resulting in more back-seat convenience and less bulk. But the more I looked, the more ALL the reviews said "leave rear-facing as long as the carseat allows". What the heck?! The infant seat we bought last year has a 30lb limit but she is getting too tall for it.
Apparently, last year the new Pediatrics Association guidelines recommend leaving a child rear-facing until at least 2 years old or 40 lbs; then in a front-facing booster until adulthood (lol).

These new seats are convertible seats that rear-face until 40 lbs then you turn them around, wrestle with the straps and hook-ups and use the same harness forward-facing until 50-60 lbs, then you have to buy another booster. Of course, none of the reviews say this out-right. I'm pretty sure it's a scheme by child seat manufacturers to confuse the hell out of new parents and make more money. Because the "best rated" car seats are $300 and above. I. don't. think. so.
I went to the store two different times and after another two weeks of research I finally decided... Genevieve's new seat would be the Evenflo Symphony 65 Liberty (gray)! (And on the bright side, I learned A LOT about correct installation and harness positioning.)

Coupon in hand, I searched for an employee to help me when I noticed another couple looking at the same one I was going to buy. I overheard the guy say "can you order it?"... Oh no, they're out of them... I felt my heart sink knowing I couldn't use my coupon to buy it online (which is how I've been doing all my shopping lately.) I tried to act casual but I'm sure I looked like I was lurking (well, I was...) and saw that they decided to get the same model only in a different color. After the wife agonized over the fact that she had to settle on the brown instead of the gray, they finally left the area to check out. (I was dead-set on the gray one.) I had already done about 10 laps of the store and swooped in to get the clerk before anyone else.

The clerk told me the warehouse was out of stock so she couldn't order it and had already looked up the other stores in the greater KC area with no such luck. Then she said she could check with the Toys R Us stores and TA DAH! There's ONE left at the store across the street! The clerk (dear Katy) looked over at the couple she was previously helping, still in the checkout line with their brown seat with that look.... "Don't tell them! They like the brown one!" I whispered. I think she felt guilty. She called the other store and they put it on hold for me and I felt this wave of relief... I had decided and I had the seat.

Once purchased and at home, G went down for a nap and gave me time to read the manual and install the seat (more like wrestle into the car). It is huge but great. I think G will be much more comfortable in this one.

wrong chest-clip location vs. correct chest-clip location (and bright flash)

My advice on the whole car-seat thing? Nearly all first-time parents buy the whole kit & kaboodle "travel system" with infant seat, base and pretty matching stroller. (we did not buy the travel system our first go around and very glad we didn't). But, go ahead and buy an infant seat so that you have a baby bucket for when they are little to cart around to restaurants, the store, etc. The handle is very handy. Then when the babe out-grows do your due-diligence, lose your hair and eye-sight from the confusing research & reviews and get a convertible seat.

ugh... I am so glad that is over! :)