Musical Chairs

The day has come. My Blue Eyes is outgrowing his infant carrier.What a difference my two kids are from one another. Maybe it's just a boy vs girl thing. I am not sure how the laws work in other states, but in Colorado an infant has to be 20 lbs and one year of age to be forward facing in a car seat. Until that time, they have to remain in a rear facing capable seat - either an infant carrier or a convertible car seat.

Both of my kids started out in an infant carrier. Of course, I had to buy the whole travel system contraption where the infant carrier can easily snap into the stroller. Magically, it allows you transfer baby anywhere without ever having to wake him/her up. This is not a sales gimmick; it is a glorious reality. We went with superb safety ratings and both of my kids were able to capitalize on that travel system - money well invested.

Our Brown Eyed Girl was tall for her age. Even though by weight the infant carrier was still adequate for her, her poor little tootsies were hanging over the edge of the carrier. I researched convertible car seats and went for one of the top rated brands. It put a little dent in our pocket. However, if you depreciate it over 2-5 years, assuming both kids can use it, it's a drop in the bucket. And how can you put a price tag on safety?

That last part was a good sales pitch huh!

It worked on Handy Man. 

Take notes ladies.

Our Brown Eyed Girl was only 19 lbs at her one-year-old check-up. She had to stay rear facing for about another month until she weighed a little more and was safe to face forward in a convertible car seat. Luckily our expensive new convertible car seat was adaptable for both forward and rear facing positions. Gender neutral, this fancy new car seat would last our Brown Eyed Girl until she moved into a booster seat and then would hopefully correspond with baby #2's transition from infant carrier. I made sure to also point this out in my sales pitch. 

At his 9 month check-up, Mr Blue Eyes weighed as much as our Brown Eyed Girl did at her 12 month check-up. I have no doubt that at 11 months, he weighs more than 20 lbs. 

He is rapidly out growing his little infant carrier. 

This was from October.

He used to be so cute all snug in this little car seat. 

It was the perfect infant accessory. Perfect for napping babies.

Unfortunately there was a little hitch in my original sales pitch...

See my timing didn't quite work out the way I had planned. Mr Blue Eyes was a little early in the planning - not an oops but definitely an early surprise. He threw my whole timeline out the window. Funny how kids have a way of changing even the best made plans. 

Unfortunately, my little Brown Eyed Girl - who is really a big girl and don't you forget it - is still too little for a booster seat. I was not super excited about buying another convertible car seat for only a year's use or less. I was out of sales pitches. 

Thank goodness for grandmas!

My mom had bought her own car seat for our Brown Eyed Girl since she watches the kids every Thursday. Little did we know that it was so much easier to just switch cars every morning and afternoon eliminating the need to unbuckle and re-buckle kids, transfer diaper bags and Boji - yep, Boji goes to daycare at Grandma's house every Thursday and has a play date with Molly and Charlie. 

Best Grandma ever!

Well needles to say, Grandma's car seat has hardly been used. Since we change cars every week, it made more sense to just use hers.

Between adults - this was a no brain er.

However, our Brown Eyed Girl really likes her car seat.

 When I broke the news that she was getting a new car seat - she was cool with that. I mean I said the word "NEW"

When she found our Mr Blue Eyes was going to be getting her old one - she was not so cool with that. After all, it was "HERS"

I took out my salesman cap again. 

After a week of convincing her, she finally agreed to make the switch. 

What might you ask sealed the deal?

After exhausting every last idea I told her that her new car seat had arm rests like mommy's. She signed on the dotted line right then and there. 

I never want to switch out car seats again. 

I am pretty sure that is took me 45 minutes to complete the conversion. I am planning to sell my car with the car seats included. It was ridiculous.

The maiden voyage...

This is a sign of success. 

He is getting so big!

Oh how I long for those eye lashes!