Ergo Love

Have you seen Ergo baby carriers?  Every generation of kids seems to have different set of cool, must-have gear, and this era is no exception.  From Baby Legs to Pack'n'Play to Exersaucers and Bob strollers and even Nose Frieda, there are so many items, good and silly, to tempt parents.  The Ergo is one of those items that is really actually worth the hype.  The virtually all cloth baby carrier somehow manages to be hugely more comfortable for parental backs than anything else I've ever tried.  On a recent outing I forgot my Ergo, and had to use my old Bjorn for a 1.5 mile walk.  The difference in my neck and shoulders was instantly apparent.  I think the $80 price tag will be easily met (I like to pay $1 or less per use on baby gear) by the hundreds of uses we'll get our of ours.

Five Month Update

The baby has discovered her feet! And also her voice.  She's now five months old, and the progression of new skills is amazing.  All this new awake time (down to 3-4 naps per day) means she can grab her toes, play with toys, and yell, yell, yell.  She's full of zest and energy and chubby-cheeked smiles, so everybody wants to stop and chat.  She's a wonderful companion, and if she would just let me have a little bit more sleep at night, life would be good.

House Hunting Again

Now that the baby is getting a little older, we've decided to get back into the house hunting game.  We still want a new house for the same reasons as last year, mainly space, but  now it's especially important.  We are feeling the realities of having another person (and all her stuff) in the same area.  We know we could make do with the house we have.  I know that I was raised in a much smaller house than the one we have now.  We know that this is a first world problem.  Nevertheless, if we can afford something that suits us better than our current place, shouldn't we go for it?

Since we're open to a wide range of locations and house types, it seems like we shouldn't have too much trouble finding something.  However, the same problems that plagued us last year are now even worse!  Namely, the low inventory available in our price range, and our allergy to anything needing serious work.  The agent says the number of homes on the market today is 30% less than it was at this time last year.  It is certainly turning out to be a sellers market.  Low, low interest rates are the only thing keeping this a worthwhile prospect.

Therefore, we head out again and again, to see houses that never seem quite right.  We find lots in great locations, but the actual home is awful.  We find lovely homes located on ultra-busy streets (or directly behind the fire station!).  Shared driveways, impossible garages, sharp hills, no sidewalks, and eyesore neighbors all plague us on the outside.  Dark rooms, musty basements, ancient bathrooms, and cracker box kitchens seem to await us on the inside.  One day we hope to find one place, just one place, that doesn't have anything major wrong with it.  But I'm not bitter. Much.