I stumbled onto a site that is about babies. The site in called IntoBaby.com. There were a number of recommendations for toys that they thought worked well for babies.  Even some recommendations for “high maintenance” As this site call them.

I read this post: Tips for a High-Maintenance Baby

Some babies seem born content and the able to entertain themselves.  Others seem they constantly need to be held, walked, played with, and entertained every moment of the day or else they put up a fuss.  Does your baby sound like the latter of the two?  You just may have a high-maintenance baby.

I read the first paragraph and though she had my son. I even contacted the site owner to see if they stole my baby of had a twin.  Anyways, the sugestion about the moby wrap was awesome! I had never heard of such a versatile baby accessory. I have seen the ones that only cradle the baby next to you but it sounds like the moby wrap is pretty configurable and versitile. I may need to pick one up for my wife(oh, and me as long as I have the blinds shut).

I suggest you check the site out if you need ideas. There are some really good product reviews as well. I sure am into my baby so the title of the site is fitting.

1. Have multiple computers in the house.  It is so much easier for when you both need to work on school stuff or keep with the latest new story or blog post.  Set aside some time for computer related activities each night or on some sort of schedule.  My wife uses our laptop and I use my desktop downstairs.  It works out great.  We seem happier than if we are each nagging on each other for the computer.
2. Take pictures of memorable events with a digital camera. I posted earlier about taking cool, untraditional wedding pictures.  These tips can be applied to your everyday life as well.  Take pictures of fun events or funny events.  Photos last a long time in their digital form.  Make sure you back them up because it can be devastating if you have a hard drive fail on your computer.
3. The electric crock pot. Seriously, this thing rocks in our house.  Throw some meat in it with some potatoes and carrots and you will have a meal with little to no work.  Stress free cooking for the both of us.  Plus your house can smell great if you let it slow cook over night.
4. New dishwashers rock.  We still have the first one we ever bought but it still is sweet.  We will be buying another one someday.  This takes away the stress of doing the dishes by hand.  I do not think I could ever go with out one again.

There are plenty more ideas for how technology makes the world and marriages go around.  I am sure I will follow up with other posts on the subject.  Feel free to leave comments on how you see technology applying to marriage.

Here are a few ideas:

• Take the wedding party to a playground and climb all over the jungle gym.
• Have everybody jump on the count of three and have the picture snapped while everyone is either in the air or making funny faces.
• Have candid photos taken while your wedding party is just hanging out or walking around.
• Keep an eye on the flower girl and ring bearer for quote pictures.
• Have the bride “dip” the husband.
• Drive around a town and look for cool photo opts like old buildings, police station, or parks.
• Pictures by the water are great as well. standing on the dock looking to the water.

These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Remember to have fun.  Please feel free to add more tips in the comments.  We are already married but we sure love to take fun pictures.

It is hard for me to think of gifts for my wife when I am on my own. I have a few tips that may help the man out there who is pulling his hair trying to buy his a wife, girlfriend, or significant other a gift/gifts.

Layout the ground rules

Talk about what the plan is for Christmas. When are you celebrating? When can you get away and buys the gifts? Some couples have to have Christmas at multiple residences on different days. Know when those dates are so you can plan your own Christmas accordingly. Knowing when you can get away is important. My wife and I tried to go Christmas shopping for each other together. It was both exciting and dumb at the same time. We had to plan out routes and call each other when we were running to the car to put something in it. It helps to know when you can have some time alone and take your time to look for those perfect gifts or gift. Men, send your wife to get a massage or pedicure so you can go shopping. Women, tell your husband to plan a night with the guys.

It is also important to know when the house will be empty so you can wrap your gifts. Laying the ground rules for Christmas shopping is an important step.

Set spending limits

This is especially true for a married couple or dating couples. This limit will “keep the playing field level.” There is nothing worse than buying the gift you think would be perfect for your wife and she buys you something REALLY nice that is worth way more that what you got her. This works both ways as well. The value of the gift shouldn’t matter, but it does make the person who bought the lesser valued gift feel badly sometimes. At least it makes me feel bad and that I failed.
The limit will make buying the gifts exciting and fun. Some people take this limit setting route and then go buy one gift for the value of the limit. This can be a perfect choice! I like to take it the other way and get awesome gifts that fill the area under the tree. It was like a game for me. I had my list, which we will get to next, and I went out looking for the most items for the spending limit. It was like a contest the closer I got without going over was the winner. “The Price is Right” style…right?

We even set limits on our stockings as well. Give setting spending limits a try for this Christmas or the next. It makes life easier for both the man and the woman.

Give each other ideas and a list.

I don’t think I would do as well if B and I did not make lists for each other. The list is like a guide that will help jar your memory and get the creative juices flowing. Make you list have all kinds if choice on it with all kinds of dollar values. It is also good to put high valued items on there that are above and beyond the spending limit. This gives you ideas to buy accessories or things within that area of the high priced item. For example, B put a shotgun on her list. A shotgun costs way more than our limits is. It may have given me ideas that she may want to start hunting again or shooting clay pigeons. It may get ideas to buy her shooting glasses, a blaze orange pheasant vest, …etc.
The real benefit to adding all sorts of items to the list is that it gives your husband or wife ideas for other occasions. Anniversaries, milestone gifts like graduations…etc.

The main take away is that this list will help your loved one decide on ideas and gifts for you. You may not get anything off your list. Make gift buying easy on your significant other.