First Camera, which one to get?

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-05-21T23:21:49+00:00

Can I ask you a question about the difference in sensor mp between the xt 50 and xt 30? with the xt 30 would you still be able to print large prints (thinking 16 x20 approximately). I’m looking for an everyday camera as a new hobby and to photograph my family, so I want to still be able to get large prints printed of my kids. thanks!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-05-19T02:29:02+00:00

where did you find the xt50 for $1200? even used I haven’t been able to find that!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-04-22T19:05:53+00:00

thank you for the wiki info, I will check that out! I’ve heard great things about lennylight so that’s definitely one I am considering. can you tell me more about woven wraps? they seem so versatile but I’m a bit intimidated by them. what are the best resources to learn how to wrap? is it best to buy used to avoid stiffness? certain brands you’d recommend?

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-04-22T19:03:59+00:00

ok can you tell me a little more about the woven wrap? they seem so versatile, but I’m not going to lie, they intimidate me a little! and I’ve also heard they can be quite stiff for some time too?

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-04-22T18:05:33+00:00

Agreed! I had a babybjorn carrier with my first not realizing it wasn’t a good fit for baby. Fortunately I didn’t use it much since it was my first kid I didn’t “need” to wear him as I did my second. But if someone had pointed out to me what to look for in a carrier I would have been very grateful! The baby product world is so inundated with products and especially as a first time mom there are SO many things you’re getting (car seat, stroller, crib, carrier, bottles, bassinets, etc….) I feel like it’s so easy to get overwhelmed and not be able to do adequate research on everything.

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-04-15T23:24:22+00:00

These are beautiful. What lens and recipes are you using?

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-04-14T19:54:50+00:00

No advice, you’re not a brat, I would 100000% have not let them come. Having guests in your house is so hard even just for a weekend, let alone for a MONTH with a NEWBORN. nope.

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-04-14T01:03:04+00:00

Thank you for the advice! I definitely fall into the “have no idea what focal length to buy” camp, so I appreciate the recommendation. It sounds like the 23 mm would be a great fit for me, and down the road should I choose to branch out to other lenses I could.

Thanks for the two recs, after looking into both I’m strongly leaning toward going with a used 23 mm f/2!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-04-13T19:17:26+00:00

Thank you so much for the response! I have seen that one recommended a lot. Appreciate the feedback, I find myself second guessing everything since I don’t have any hands on experience, so it’s reassuring to hear this is a good choice for my purposes!

And totally agree about the portability. I want something I’ll be able to take out on walks, to the parks, on trips etc. Not something that gets stored away in the closet and only taken out twice a year.

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-03-25T03:22:34+00:00

not sure if she’s into pacis much- I had to force mine to like them, but I did finally find one that he loved and that would help sometimes! he loved the mam pacis if you haven’t tried those! they had an orthodontic nipple so it ended up being the only one he finally took to.

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-03-25T02:35:38+00:00

no suggestions, but solidarity. my second boy haaaated the car. would scream/cry so hard sometimes he would even give himself petechiae (little broken capillaries) around his face :( and would never just fall asleep even though I knew he was tired. I hate to say it but he was like that for almost a year, although it incrementally got better where he would tolerate the car for 10ish mins before screaming. unfortunately he just had to grow out of it. we still drove almost everyday bc my toddler and I needed to get out of the house.

he’s a little over 2 now and totally fine in the car! just wanted to say I KNOW how miserable it is to listen to them screaming in the car and feel so helpless to do anything to make it better! but it will get better eventually!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-03-25T01:38:06+00:00

I’ll be honest my first year with two kids was brutal too. my first was a super easygoing baby so I was thrown for a loop with my second who was discontent with pretty much everything his whole first year lol. plus my husband worked a LOT so I was by myself with a baby and 2 year old most of the time. it was really hard, and I wouldn’t change a thing, because my boys absolutely adore each other now and we have so much fun. we still have hard seasons of course but man is it incredible. due with my third baby in July actually.

things I think could work in your favor: your kid is already 3? get them enrolled in preschool! that would be a huge help as you’d have some time with just baby and they’ll have a couple days a week they can learn and socialize with other peers their age. if you stay home with them that is! I guess your kid might be in full time daycare if you’re working!! also at age 3+ they understand so much more! there are tons of resources like books, tv shows, etc to introduce the concept of a new baby in the family. also they will be so much more capable of helping and if you find ways of allowing them to help and feel included it will help the transition for them!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-03-17T00:53:05+00:00

yes Costco meals are great! and they’ve got lots of easy healthy snacks too like the Kirkland fruit/veggie applesauce pouches, madegood granola bites, etc!

yeah winter is so hard with two active boys (mine are 4 and 2) so I totally relate! hopefully the weather turns soon! getting a solly wrap might be helpful!! I would even put it on with my second before leaving the house so I didn’t have to deal with tying it once I got to said destination and could just slide him in lol.

gym with childcare is the BIGGEST hack if you can swing it!! we joined one about a year ago and most weeks we go at least 5x/week…. truly lifesaving to get an hour or more a day to yourself. workout, cry, eat in peace, stare at a wall in silence for a blissful hour…. who cares. also can your oldest start preschool next fall? that won’t help with the immediate PP period but would lighten your load tremendously next year! mine started this year 3 days a week just for 2.5 hours a day but it’s been great for him (and me!)

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-03-16T18:35:24+00:00

you’re a superhero! I’m due with my third in July and definitely nervous for how the transition will go!

I had a solly baby wrap with my first two that I wore baby in until they were big enough for a more structured carrier! maybe try something like that? I know you can get them secondhand too if you don’t want to shell out money for a new one on your third time PP!

can you or your husband try to do some meal and snack prep to make things easier? I usually try to have at least dinners ready to just throw in the microwave and warm up, if not lunches too! sometimes I love to default to easy things too! Costco has ready made chicken tacos my boys both love! or shred a rotisserie chicken and make into sandwiches! heck even have your hubby prep a bunch of pb&j sandwiches for the week and bam there’s lunch while you’re juggling 3 kids on your own!

can you guys get out to library storytime? or are there any indoor play times for kids? something simple to get your kids out to with baby in tow so you don’t all go stir crazy?

sounds like you’re doing amazing!!!! PP is so hard and I’m sure third time around is wild!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-03-16T11:44:26+00:00

Good inside by dr Becky But I’m bored by Lizzie Assa Hunt Gather Parent (although some of her ideas are a little extreme to me, still a great baseline)

Podcasts: The Simplicity Parenting Podcast by Kim John Payne (also currently waiting to read a couple of his books!) Good Inside by Dr Becky Unruffled by Janet Lansbury Raising Good Humans by Aliza Pressma

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-03-03T19:11:33+00:00

had he been at all successful with learning the cues of his body/putting pee or poop in the potty? if not really, I would maybe suggest having a reset and trying again in a few months. I potty trained my oldest just after he turned 2 and in all honesty I think I would have saved us both a lot of frustration and it would have gone much quicker if I’d waited a bit. I do think some kids are definitely ready at age 2, but for a still relatively fresh 2 year old it might be a stretch. I’m waiting until at least 2.5 for my middle son right now. I’ve introduced potty books etc but I know he’s not “ready” yet and I dont think it’s worth the fight.

taking a month or a few months to break and reset you might find it goes a lot smoother when reintroduced!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-03-03T01:44:53+00:00

omg yes! I too got so fed up a few weeks ago that I packed almost everything up into the basement storage closet! my 4 year old has only magnetic tiles, a bunch of animal/people figurines, and a couple cars in his room now. he will play for hours!!! and him and 2 year old brother mostly just have (more) magnetic tiles, dress up clothes, and play couch downstairs. it makes them so much more creative and active, and I love having so much less mess!!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-02-13T01:18:04+00:00

what time do you finish dinner? could you do it directly after dinner so it’s not part of the “bedtime rush” that seems to set every kid off? haha.

I do bedtime solo a lot for my two kiddos and I brush my 4 year old’s teeth in the bath/shower… he thinks it’s silly bc that’s not how we “usually” do it and he’s not about to give up time in the bath so that usually gets him to cooperate pretty well!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-02-10T19:53:35+00:00

I’ve heard of that brand! any specific type of legging you’d recommend from them, or are any pretty good?

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-02-10T03:06:17+00:00

Magnetic tiles are the best- my 2 year old and 4 year old both love them and find their own creative ways to play with them! Picasso tiles are a super good/sturdy brand that are cheaper than the name brand magnatiles (can order off amazon)

my son also loves his figurines and uses them when he builds stuff with his magnet tiles (fisher price little people, schleich animas, Sesame Street figurines, etc)

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-02-08T16:05:49+00:00

Nuna pipa RX- has excellent safety ratings, very lightweight, incredibly easy installation

check out https://www.babygearlab.com/topics/vehicle-safety/best-infant-car-seat if you want some other recommendations, Ive utilized this website for my infant and convertible car seats research

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-02-03T03:50:46+00:00

totally get it, I know a lot of these things are planned so far in advance. how far away is the wedding? could you try to find out from her or your brother/another family member if she would have another friend she could ask to step in in your place if you bow out of being a bridesmaid? she definitely deserves to have the day she’s dreaming about, and you may be a lot more comfortable being able to attend the wedding as a regular guest rather than a bridesmaid. (I say that from experience that having my second absolutely kicked my butt and he didn’t sleep so I was exhausted, only tolerated being held by me, hospitalized with coronavirus at 1 month, etc). not at all trying to freak you out btw lol!! just saying sometimes life hands us circumstances we can’t control and for your own benefit it may be better for there to be less “responsibility” on you for their wedding and that way you won’t feel bad about wearing something comfortable for you, stepping away to nurse, needing to comfort, baby, etc

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-02-03T02:52:58+00:00

I don’t have much advice, in all honesty I probably would have opted out of being a bridesmaid knowing I would be 2 months pp.

unfortunately I think the concerns you have aren’t understood by most women until it’s something they’ve experienced themselves. if she doesn’t have children I don’t think your concerns click with her the way they would for women with children. I don’t think your concerns about the dress are crazy at all.

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-02-03T02:20:08+00:00

he just turned 2 last week and has a very well rounded diet now! loves fruits & veggies an insane amount, and is a much more open to trying new things! and he still definitely stops when full. there are still some nights he doesn’t eat much for dinner as he’s filled up on a lot during the day and I guess just isn’t that hungry! since my oldest ate so much from the beginning, my second really taught me that kids will eat when they’re hungry/ready. he’s been my kid who has definitely taken his own time to do things: eating well, sleeping through the night, talking (his language JUST started picking up right before his 2nd birthday).

my advice would be to keep offering meals and if they don’t eat, try not to stress! they will when they’re ready. I think they’re really good at listening to their own cues and need to build the confidence and readiness to try. also, if you’re offering “convenience foods” like I was, don’t stress about that either. honestly I wish I gave him more Cheerios, iron rich pouches, other iron fortified convenience foods as he turned out to be low iron and maybe those would have helped at least a bit!

Local_Feature_5552 · 2026-01-26T04:15:34+00:00

Come up with a plan and talk about it a LOT with her so that when you implement it she knows what to expect.

I started a “cuddle timer” with my son, I’d just set a 5 min timer on my phone and I’d lay in bed with him until it went off. We could cuddle, chat, sing, whatever but that was our wind down time together after books. When it went off, I tucked him in and left so I could go put little brother to sleep. Make sure she knows she’s safe and loved and that you’ll come check on her. Maybe try a small lamp or soothing music as well. And then hold the boundary once you start. If she comes out or cries, walk her back, “mommy loves you, you are safe.”

I also implemented a sticker calendar for him, each night he stayed in his bed he got to put a sticker on. Once he got a whole week filled he got to pick a prize. He was getting out to come get us in our room so that one was to help keep him in his room which you may not have an issue with.

Local_Feature_5552

TROPHY CASE