small space living (with a baby!) // the roundup
Now that we’re approaching Avery’s first birthday (next week!) I thought it might be helpful to do a year-end roundup of baby stuff. Specifically, I wanted to focus on how we live small (and somewhat minimally) while also accommodating a baby. As we’ve remodeled our home over the last 7 years, we’ve carefully selected every product and material and I like to think we apply the same (somewhat OCD) approach to baby gear. Now, this is specific to our situation and everyone is different – I think the best piece advice I could offer would be to evaluate your own needs and don’t just go for what’s trendy. Our general approach has been to limit the amount of stuff while also realizing that some things are either essential or well worth the benefits they afford. Could you get through the first year with less? Probably, but this has been a good balance for us. A few other general notes before we begin:
+ When in doubt, don’t buy it until you really need it (this is what Amazon Prime is for, right?).
+ Better yet, create a well-crafted registry, buy used or take advantage of hand-me-downs. (Almost everything listed below was a gift, bought used or heavily discounted.)
+ Try to find products that do double-duty or that will last for several years.
+ Buy things in neutral colors (an impossible task sometimes!) so that they don’t become an unwanted focal point and so that they can be passed down to future kiddos.
+ Accept that some baby products are ugly but they will work and that (sometimes) that’s ALL THAT MATTERS.
+ You don’t need special baby versions of everything. Be wary of marketing ploys.
Finally, with a small house you can’t always have areas that are completely off limits to kids. Therefore, our goal is to make our house reasonably safe (we’ve had to do very little baby proofing) and accepting of small kiddos.
Everything is designed, but nothing is sacred.
Now, the specifics: [I did a lot of research but obviously didn’t test out every product out there. We also weren’t paid to endorse any of the products listed here.]
Baby gear is some of the most valuable yet bulkiest purchases you’ll make. Fortunately, I think we found a good balance of first year essentials.
Strollers: We own a regular stroller (a BabyJogger City Mini) and carseat stroller frame (Chicco Keyfit Caddy). There are times when I wish I had a more lightweight umbrella stroller, but I haven’t been able to justify the purchase yet (maybe when we retire the stroller frame and I’m not having to store three different strollers!). I chose the regular stroller because it was reasonably priced and well-reviewed. It has lots of bells and whistles but isn’t terribly fancy. I bought it shortly after Avery was born but really, I could have waited till she was 6 months old or so. The stroller frame is more essential during the first six months (though I still use it on a regular basis) and is great for quick trips to the grocery store or shopping. (You can take it on more “rugged” terrain but there’s no suspension system so expect lots of bumpiness.) I considered buying a carseat attachment for City Mini stroller but it didn’t get great reviews and the whole setup seems rather bulky.
Carriers: Initially, we had a Baby K’tan and a BabyBjorn “Comfort” carrier. I loved the K’tan (easier to put on than the Moby) and used it all the time for the first 6 months or so. Once Avery got a little bigger, we transitioned to the BabyBjorn. It was fine and I liked that she could face in our out, but it is a structured carrier and not that easy to pack. Plus, it wasn’t that comfortable. A few months ago I tried a friend’s Ergo and was smitten. Originally I resisted the Ergo because I thought they looked frumpy. Funny how things change after you have a kid. I found a used brown one in good condition (seriously, what’s up with some of the new crazy patterns?). We use it mostly for walking around the neighborhood (Bailey is still not great at walking with a stroller) and travel. During a rough week of teething and separation anxiety, it was the only way to get her to nap.
Carseat: We went with the much-loved Chicco Keyfit 30. No complaints. She still has another inch or so to go before we’ll need to transition to a convertible carseat, but haven’t decided on exactly which one to get yet. I am looking forward to not storing the carseat in her nursery.
Misc. Gear: Most of the other things we purchased were for the newborn stage and were covered in this post and this post. I’m happy to say that the bassinet, swing, bouncer, bumbo and play gym are all packed away now. They were well worth the space and questionable aesthetics, but it feels good to have our space back (except for, y’know…all the toys and books that are now everywhere). We also own a Graco Pack ‘N Play that we use mostly for travel and store in the top of her wardrobe. (Due to our small bedroom, we used the bassinet during the first couple of months.) On a regular basis I don’t use a diaper bag (for short trips I have an emergency diaper and wipes in my purse), but I did finally get this one when she was around 6 months old. It’s sturdy and does the job, but really any medium size tote bag (preferably with a few pockets) would work just as well.
Things we didn’t need: A super fancy stroller system or any of the “accessories” marketed for carseats and strollers. If we didn’t own a car and relied mostly on walking or public transportation, I would have likely put more emphasis on the stroller, but for our needs a middle of the road option has worked out well.
Ahh, sleep. The category you will blindly throw money at. Our essentials:
Crib: IKEA, $129. Done. One year in and I have zero complaints.
Blankets and related items: When Avery was a newborn we swaddled her in Aden and Anais blankets and then discovered the The Miracle Blanket. Once she started rolling over we switched to a Halo sleepsack. Now that she’s older, we use either our Aden and Anais blanket or one of the swaddle blankets (we received two 4-packs and that seems to be plenty).
Monitor: We use this AngelCare monitor that also monitors movement. It’s peace of mind and allowed us to sleep better when Avery was still a newborn.
Soothers: We own two white noise machines and their purpose is two-fold: the soothing sounds help Avery fall asleep and they also mask outside noise that is inevitable in a small house. We have watched movies and hosted dinner parties while Avery slept. We used the Sleep Sheep (we actually have the smaller travel version) more during the first 6 months, then when it went on the fritz we switched to our Munchkin sound machine (it also has a projector, which we seldom use). It has a decent selection of music and nature sounds, but if I were to do it all over again maybe I’d try to set up an ipod docking station (or something similar) so we could create custom playlists. The other major soother for Avery has been her Wubbanub pacifier. Yes, we are a one pacifier family. It’s a miracle that it has not been lost yet.
Things we didn’t need: Lots of sheets (we have two and it’s been fine), a fancy crib, a mobile. We also had way too many lightweight receiving blankets (we liked the Aden & Anais ones so much we rarely used the others).
Mmm, food. This is the category that has evolved the most from birth to 12 months.
Nursing: Since this was Avery’s exclusive food source for the first 6 months, I felt it important to include here. Fortunately, breastfeeding does not require a lot of extras – the most valuable products for me were: our Monte glider, a Boppy nursing pillow and my iPhone. I know gliders aren’t for everyone, but I use ours multiple times, every single day. (Some quick math tells me that in the past year I’ve sat down to nurse somewhere close to 2,000 times!) And that’s where the iPhone comes into play…I didn’t use any formal apps, but it was a great tool for keeping track of feeding times and catching up on my social media. We didn’t rely heavily on bottles, but I used a Dr. Brown one during the first few months and then a couple of Lifefactory bottles after that. (I never needed anything more than the 4 oz. version but I bought some of the sippy cup tops and will try those with Avery once she’s a bit older and doesn’t rely on cups with handles.)
Solids: At six months we introduced solids and acquired more kitchen stuff. Because our house is small and we didn’t really have space for a stand alone high chair, we opted for a space-saving Inglesina table chair (installed on the island) as well as the Stokke Tripp Trapp. We use both, although I prefer the table chair most days because I like having Avery there while I’m prepping food or doing dishes (and I like to think she feels more included). It also stores compactly and is great for travel. We also took it to restaurants before she was big enough for the standard restaurant highchairs. As for accessories, I carved out half of a drawer for cups and utensils. (We don’t really use plates or bowls yet.) I try to stick with gender-neutral colors (which apparently means green!) and am still experimenting with different products. The infant spoons and bottle brush are OXO, the cups are IKEA and Lollacup and the drying rack is from Boon. (I bought 4 other types of cups, but those two are my favorites.)
Things we didn’t need: A fancy highchair with tray, a dishwasher basket (for small items it was just easier to wash by hand), a bottle warmer, 9 oz. bottles.
I’m lumping bath and safety together because I’ve found you really need very little (yay!) to get the job done.
Bath: As a newborn, we used an inexpensive bath sponge in our kitchen sink. As she got bigger and could sit up, we transitioned to the regular tub, using a non-slip mat from IKEA. (I did receive a Puj tub that I was really excited about, but then realized that our bathroom sink is too small and our kitchen sink too big for it to work properly.) Avery didn’t require many bath toys and was happy with these Skip Hop ducks (which worked well for rinsing) and some simple stacking cups. We received three hooded towels (I like this Aden & Anais one best because it’s a bit larger) but really a regular towel would work fine too for the 10 seconds it takes to get from the tub to the changing table.
Safety: I reluctantly registered for one of those cheesy baby kits and it has mostly been a waste (the only thing I use are the nail clippers, but they seem cheap). My advice would be to get a quality pair of clippers (I don’t actually own these but maybe I should just go ahead and get them), a good rectal thermometer (which I have fortunately not had to use yet) and a nasal aspirator. Now, these are the items that you want on hand before you actually need them – but other items could be acquired as needed (like a comb or brush if, ahem, you baby happens to have hair).
Things we didn’t need: A baby bath tub, special towels and wash cloths (although we do have them and yeah, the hooded ducky towel is pretty darn cute), lots of bath toys. We also have the Skip Hop whale spout cover, but it doesn’t fit on our modern spout. Because we have a relatively deep tub, the spout has actually not been an issue (yet).
+Finally, a few thoughts on clothes, toys and books. I know these categories will affect us most in the coming year and we’re already making a few tweaks to her nursery (post to come!) to accommodate these changes.
Clothes:
I don’t feel like this category needs much explanation – we’ve received a lot of clothes as gifts and bought most everything else at consignment stores or babyGap (so far this has been my best source for quality, well-designed clothes that frequently go on sale). My advice would be to take advantage of used clothes in the first year – it’s easy to find great 0-12 months options but as babies start eating solids and becoming more active, used clothes in good shape are harder to come by. I’m actually finding now that Avery is in this weird in between phase where she’s “too old” for cutesy newborn style clothes but also not ready for jean skirts and t-shirts with bedazzled kitties on them. Any advice, parents?
Toys and Books:
Although it’s so tempting to buy cute baby toys, you don’t need much during the first year and babies are easily fascinated by common household items. Right now, all of Avery’s toys fit in one of the felt bins under the media bench or in her wardrobe. So far I’ve resisted buying anything large and obnoxious. I know it will happen, but not yet. Many of the things she has were gifts, but in general we try to buy things that are well made and will be enjoyed for several years. This is relatively new territory, so I’d appreciate any suggestions you guys might have on the subject, especially as it pertains to books. Part of me wants to buy her all of my favorite children’s books, but she’s still in the destruction-of-pages phase (pop-up books are the worst, which resulted in the recent beheading of several Big Birds in a friend’s Sesame Street book) so perhaps we should stick with board books from the library? At any rate, toys and books are going to inevitably impact how we live in our small house and we’ll continue to share our tips and tricks as we go along.
PHEW! Did you make it? I know this has been incredibly wordy, but I relied heavily on blogs and Amazon reviews when preparing for parenthood so I hope this at least helps a few more people out. I’d also love it if you guys chimed in with your own suggestions and recommendations. More questions? Ask away! It takes a village, right?
the garage dilemma
When we showed you the big backyard reveal a few weeks ago, there was one angle we didn’t show.
Yeaaaah. Surprise, the garage/carport is still there and in exactly the same condition as when we moved in 7 years ago (although I’m convinced the new landscaping makes it look even worse). The reason for its lack of improvement is two-fold. For starters, the structure has basically served as a shop and lumber storage since day one. Secondly, we’ve been unsure of what to do with it once we’re done remodeling. The gabled portion is the original garage from 1910. Sometime in the ’60s the carport was added and everything was clad in metal siding and teal trim (why? why???). The building is generous by Seattle standards (about 515 SF) and we know it’s valuable to have what is effectively a 2-car garage in the city. But it’s ugly and not that functional for our post-remodel needs. So, we’ve been brainstorming:
Ax the carport and fix up the original garage: This would certainly make our yard feel bigger and we don’t necessarily need the carport space. However, we’re happy with the size of our current yard and don’t think it would be a great trade-off in terms of home value. The building is also an existing non-conforming structure so if we were to tear it down we couldn’t rebuild in the same spot.
Add a second story: Seattle now allows Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs) in our part of the city, which means we could basically have a small house in our backyard (with a size limit of 800 SF). The idea of having rental income each month is appealing, but in reality we’re not sure we like the idea of someone living in our backyard. Adding a second story introduces new complications as well – the second story might have to step back on the north side to abide by zoning code setback rules, which would create a fussy structural situation. We’d also have to run plumbing to the structure which would not only mean tearing up our yard but also potentially increasing the size of our water main. Of course, having a small house just for guests would be amazing, but probably not financially viable.
Remodel the existing structure: We always thought this option might be a good compromise but couldn’t decide what to do with the wacky gable-shed roof form. The roofing material needs replacement and there’s not a functional reason to keep the existing roof structure. We tried a single gabled roof over the whole thing but it looked way too out of scale. Then, a few weeks ago Kyle came up with the idea to just eliminate the gable and extend the slightly sloped carport roof structure, taking it from this:
To something like this:
Functionally, we discussed how we’d use the space and decided that the best solution is to maintain the two zones. The existing garage would stay a shop and the carport would become a multipurpose work space with plenty of storage in both. There is already a concrete curb and framed wall between the two so this division makes sense. The layout would be flexible so that we or future owners could use it for a number of different things. (We’d also like to include a few kid-friendly features.)
In addition to changing the roof structure, we’d fill in the carport and add a swing door. We’d replace the metal siding with dark-stained cedar siding (applied as a rainscreen) with a durable finish and add a few small windows to the south side. Aesthetically, our approach would be to create a building that compliments the house but does not necessarily match it. This would also be an opportunity to do something more modern than what the exterior of the main house allowed.
On the south side, we have the idea to collect roof run-off in a cistern that would then feed a raised vegetable garden (with maybe a hog wire trellis attached to the building with standoffs). The roof itself would need to be metal for such a low-slope. The fascia and trim would be cedar and the soffit probably a exterior-rated plywood.
Aside from creating a functional and well-designed space, we also want this project to be one that is done on a modest budget. We don’t plan on starting work this year (still need to finish the basement!), but it’s exciting to go through the design process and come up with a direction that we feel good about. We’re not 100% settled on the form or the material palette either. I’m sure we’ll make a few modifications and revisions as we go, but this is what we’ve got for now. Teal trim, your days are numbered.
the backyard reveal!
We had a few scheduling delays, but guys – the backyard is DONE. While Avery was down for a nap yesterday Kyle and I grabbed the baby monitor and quickly scurried to sweep the deck, round up the hoses, and shoot a few photos. Twenty minutes after we finished it started pouring and our deck was once again covered in itty bitty little fir cones (aka bane of my existence) from our neighbor’s tree.
Anyway. Let’s take a gander, shall we? [And if you need a sobering reminder of what our yard has been through and what the proposed design was, refresh here.]
Spiraea in front of the planter box, Brass Buttons and Speedwell as the ground cover.
Ahh, real grass (freshly striated from its inaugural mow)! As you can imagine, Bailey is ecstatic. The crew removed all the old grass/weeds with a sod cutter, laid down new compost, leveled it all and then rolled out this beautiful-ness. Having a big grassy area has never been a priority for us, but it is nice to have a little patch for Bailey and Avery.
In the great chair debate, we went with the ones from CB2. So far, so good. (By the way, that’s Creeping Jenny and Hebe in the south planter box.)
Instead of running the grass to the fence line, we decided to soften the edge with some low shrubs and plants (Bishop’s Hat, Evergreen Huckleberry, Lavender, Lenten Roses and a Red Flowering Currant). We kept the older Italian plum tree and transplanted the Katsura.
The evening light made it tricky to photograph the north side yard, but you get the idea – Kyle actually saw cut the existing sidewalk to create a pattern that would compose with the new pavers at the deck steps. (We still need to add a guardrail at the basement stair. Always something, y’know.) We kept the Winter Daphne (the only plant to survive 6+ years at chezerbey) and around it are more Huckleberries, Hydrangeas, a Vine Maple and Inside-Out Flowers as ground cover.
We decided to relocate the edibles to the strip in the middle of the driveway. This gives us 360 degree access and the plants aren’t as permanent in the event that we need to drive a car back there. (I’m so late to the tomato game, but hopefully buying starts that had actual tomatoes on them will work out.) A row of Little Gem Magnolia trees line the new north fence and will eventually create a bit more privacy. Orange Hummingbird Mint and Pt. Reyes Ceanothus help fill in the bottom.
Oh yeah – new fence, did we mention that? We knew at some point we wanted to replace the boards on the existing fence (it was done more recently, so not in too bad of shape but definitely some rotting boards) and figured we should do it now before access became an issue. The hope was to reuse the existing fence posts and footings but a few of the posts were rotting so a new fence it was. Fortunately, we split the project with our neighbors which saved on costs and labor. (Side story: they have chickens and during the construction process Bailey got into their yard while the chickens were out. There’s nothing quite like seeing a goofy and somewhat uncoordinated golden retriever attempt to catch a fleeing bird.)
We’re also happy with the new table from Crate&Barrel. The ipe deck has grayed out quite a bit since we installed it two years ago, but we’re planning on doing a fresh coat of Penofin next month. (Remember when we did the first coat?)
After letting the steel hang out (err…develop a patina) in our driveway for the last two years, Kyle finally got around to welding up the remaining planter boxes.
Along the south fence line is a row of bamboo that will provide privacy and a nice vegetative screen in a year or so.
This. Yes. If you saw my Pinterest spree of summer cocktail recipes a few weeks ago this is why. (We bought outdoor pillows for the Adirondacks from C&B.)
Kyle installed pressure-treated 4x’s at the base of the fence to compensate for the grade change between our yard and our neighbor’s. To hide the ugly PT wood, Kyle installed 1/4″ steel plates with countersunk flush brown-tip stainless steel trim head screws. (If you had any doubt that Kyle was a perfectionist, well…countersunk.flush.brown-tip.stainless steel.trim head.screws.)
Kyle also installed 1/4″x6″ steel edging between the grass and planted areas, welding the seams and corners.
Funny story – the one plant that we were a little unsure of were these somewhat tropical looking guys in the north planter box. Turns out, a minor typo was made to the latin name on the planting list and they were supposed to be California Fuchsias (which look quite different). We’ll probably transplant the existing plants to pots and pick up a few actual Fuchsias.
There are also pavers that connect the deck to the driveway and our trash/recycling/compost station on the north side of the house. We were a little concerned about all the sharp edges with the steel, so Kyle went back and rounded all the corners to make it slightly more kid-friendly (as much as raw steel can be I suppose).
Instead of extending the horizontal cedar boards to the front yard, we collaborated with our neighbors on the design and installation of hog wire panels that are attached to the 4×4 posts and covered in cedar trim boards. The idea is that the hog wire will become the structure for a future double espalier with our neighbors (there are panels on both sides). We’re not sure what we’ll plant just yet, but have been thinking of some type of edible. (Kyle’s vote is for hops.)
Finally, who’s got two teeth and is super excited about the backyard?
This girl.
Once again, a big thank you to Mark Garff at The Watershed Company for an incredible design and to the folks at JP Landscape Services for another quality installation. We love it now but also can’t wait to see what it looks like in a year when everything has had a chance to grow and fill in.
This weekend calls for sun and temps in the 80’s. I know where we’ll be.
eleven months!
Avery is 11 months-old today!
This past month (and especially the last week or so) has been filled with spurts of physical and cognitive developments.
Avery now has two teeth (with a third barely popping through) and is a girl on the move (no walking yet, but keen on every other mode of transportation). Just yesterday I went to plug my phone in in the bedroom and when I came out she was on all fours on top of the side table (I’m assuming she climbed on top of a pillow to the couch and then to the table)! I quickly came to her rescue, but I was also really proud!
She’s much more attentive these days too, noticing birds and the neighborhood cats that like to hang out in our side yard.
We also think she has a word for Bailey but aren’t quite sure what it is yet.
Sleep has been MUCH better this month (phew!) and she’s trying all sorts of new foods. In fact, last night we went to Ballard Pizza Co. and I have never seen an infant devour arugula and prosciutto with such enthusiasm!
“Eating the Alphabet? That sounds like a challenge I’d like to accept…”
One month left till she’s officially a toddler? It doesn’t seem possible. Happy 11 months, baby girl. We love you.
P.S. – Guys, the back yard is 99% done and it looks gooooood – can’t wait to take photos and share!
video / home diaries
Earlier this year, Kyle and I were contacted by a production company (teamed up with HGTV Networks) about filming chezerbey for a new webisode series called Home Diaries – a show about different homes and the stories behind them.
We liked the concept and signed on…then promptly scrambled to finish up some projects around the house! A month later a production crew from Knoxville flew out and spent a full day filming our home and interviewing us (it’s amazing how much work goes into something like this…and is everyone from TN just super nice and cool?). Bailey went nuts not only because there were a dozen new people to meet, but also because all the camera gear had tennis balls attached to the legs (to protect the floors). It was a fun and crazy day and we also owe a big thank you to our friend Robynn for hanging out in our basement and watching Avery.
The webisodes are part of a new website called ulive and were just released last week. Since then, Kyle and I have watched it a few times…ok, enough times to over analyze ourselves (yes, this was our first remodel as homeowners but not as architects!)(…and even though we opted out of grad school we still have a combined 10 years of architecture school under our belts!). Ok, just had to get that out there.
To see our segment, click on the image link below… [Update: if you’re outside the U.S., reader JC uploaded the video here!]
Eek, it’s so crazy to see yourself on video (is that how I really sound?) but we love the way it turned out and the “feel good” aspect of all the homes featured in the series.
