Momma Blogga: Carter

The wonderful Mother Goose asked me many months ago to guest blog and write about some of my experiences being a new mom. As a proud member of the SOS, I was thrilled with the opportunity. My darling little girl (nicknamed Petunia Piglet) turned eight months old this Sunday and I decided it was high time to get my act together and come through on my promise to write a post.

And where better to start my introduction to the wonderful Stroller Patroller followers than with talking about my very favorite stroller? Although we have and have borrowed a number of strollers, my absolute favorite (and the one that is used the most) is the BOB Revolution jogging stroller. It is the be-all and end-all stroller for me.

My husband and I got it a couple months before the baby came and I was so infatuated and dying to use it that I *seriously* considered putting a small dog or stuffed animal in it to walk around the neighborhood! Alas, I came back to my senses and did not leave the house...

But once Petunia arrived, it only took about 3 days for us to load her into her car seat and take the BOB for a walk around the neighborhood using the car seat attachment. She was born in October so even through the winter, I would bundle her up in her car seat daily and attach it onto the stroller for walks and eventually, runs.

I found that one of the hard parts of becoming a new mom was feeling cut-off from my old life. The BOB let me easily get out of the house to not only see friends and do things, but just get some fresh air. It's amazing what a little bit of exercise and a shower can do for a sleep-deprived new mom (especially on the days when it feels insurmountable to even get out of bed). In the beginning, Petunia used to always fall asleep in the stroller which would get my the much-coveted shower as soon as we got back.

Eight months after first using the stroller, I still love it. Petunia is big enough to not be in an infant car seat anymore and loves looking around while I run with her. The large sun shade offers ample protection, the seat recline is easy to adjust, the stroller folds quite compactly for a jogging stroller(fits in the trunk of my sedan), and it is simple to adjust the front wheel to either be locked in place for rough terrain or swivel for pavement and in-town adventures. We also have the rain cover. It's a snap to put on--a great feature for drizzly mornings when I'm still desperate for a run but don't want to worry about Petunia getting wet.

Although there are so many strollers I still lust after for their great looks, the BOB really does do pretty much everything for me. And as my husband and I are both graduates of Virginia Tech, we love its bright orange color!

[Note from Mother Goose: for you tweeple out there, you can follow Carter @carterkidd!]

West Side Stroller Story

During lunch I was surprised to see a small pack of BOB strollers in the mall. Normally I only see packs of Bugaboos. But maybe I shouldn't be so surprised. My sister tells me that Portsmouth, NH is teeming with BOBs and I've noticed a bunch of them in my neighborhood as well.

So now I'm envisioning a whole West Side Story Sharks vs Jets showdown in the mall where all the Bugaboo moms and the BOB moms perform a choreographed dance with their strollers.
I mean, for all we know, Bugaboo is already rehearsing their moves considering that they made this gem that never fails to brighten my day.

Now just imagine that as some sort of epic stroller dance off.

Pretty awesome, right? Yeah, I thought so.

[Edit: Ummm maybe it would be more like this flashback of GAP awesomeness. Thank you, Internet. I always considered myself a khaki. You?]

Stroller Liners Keep Baby Warm and Cozy

Well, according to the calendar and the temperature, it's officially Fall and that means crisp, windy strolls with your baby. A Stroller Liner is a great way to keep baby snuggly no matter how chilly the day or evening.

Stroller Liners line the stroller seat to add extra warmth and cushioning. They don't offer as much coverage as a footmuff so they're perfect for Fall and Spring when a footmuff might be too heavy. They're also great for warmer climates where an entire footmuff just isn't necessary, even in Winter.

Another reason to consider a Stroller Liner is that it's great for squirmy babies that like to move around as much as possible. Your baby won't feel constrained as she might with a footmuff and she won't be able to kick it off like she would with a Stroller Blanket.

Finally, stroller liners tend to come with a much lower price tag than footmuffs, which one can't help but appreciate at the moment.

I like B.O.B.'s White Warm Stroller Fuzzy. It's easily inserted into any stroller's seat (single or double stroller) thanks to Velcro at the openings and it's made of thick fleece and padded quilting. The design covers the entire stroller seat like a blanket but without the hassle.

Or, if you're looking for a serious deal, try Dreamer Design's Shearling Insert (shown). Made of synthetic shearling, this stroller liner will keep your baby snuggled up for a mere $20!

What does your baby prefer on chilly strolls: a footmuff, stroller blanket, or stroller liner?

B.O.B. Strollers: Not Just for Jogging

I just got back from a great training session with Scot from B.O.B. Strollers and now I'm even more excited about B.O.B.!

It's true that I often wax poetic (or try to) about some of the fussier, fancier strollers out there, like the Balmoral Pram or Bugaboo Cameleon. Those are for the times when I'm imagining that I'm a glam, urban mom, navigating the city with a designer diaper bag and a child that never ever spills on her cashmere sweater.

But there are also times when I imagine I'm the kind of fit, peppy mom that takes her kid for jogs around town and hikes on the weekend--and looks really good doing it. What I learned today was that B.O.B. strollers aren't just for jogging--they're versatile, too.

In particular, I would say that the Revolution is the most versatile of B.O.B.'s strollers. This versatility is thanks to two big features: it's car seat adaptable and has a swiveling front wheel. Many popular car seat brands such as Graco and Peg Perego work with this stroller, which means you can use your B.O.B. from infancy. It also means you can easily move your child from car to stroller and be on the go without waking him or her up!

The swiveling front wheel is a really cool feature because it gives you great manueverability when you need it (sidewalks, grocery store, etc.), or you can lock the front wheel in place and jog, run, hike, or (insert fun outdoor activity here) with ease.

Be advised: this is not "just a jogging stroller"! Celebrities are already catching on! Angela at Celebrity Baby Blog reported that both Bridget Moynahan and Sheryl Crowe stroll around town with their Revolution strollers.

I was also really surprised by how well this stroller folds. It does take two hands, but it folds smoothly and quickly. Ditto for unfolding it. The main adjustable parts of the stroller (like the ones needed to fold or unfold it) are made in red, so they're easy to find. I've heard rave reviews of the optional HandleBar Console, too, which holds water and has a zippered pocket for essentials like keys, pacifiers, and an ipod!

Finally, I was really impressed with the attention to detail and safety that B.O.B. puts into their strollers. It's clear that this company is devoted to building safe strollers for active parents and kids, and isn't going to cut any corners doing it. They've also got a handy guide to help you figure out which B.O.B. stroller is right for you.