38 Weeks

Sorry no picture this week, I have been so sick! I have bronchitis and the flu. I kept postponing this post thinking I would get better with no luck. This was supposed to get posted Saturday so a little late now only 9 days till baby but oh well. Maybe I'll do a better update this weekend.

Crazy to think last time I did a pregnancy post I was looking at a month away. Now I am literally less then 2 weeks away from holding my baby girl in my arms! My Dad already has his flights booked to come meet the baby and help out for a couple of days. Insane it is finally arriving, car seat is in the car, bags are packed, were just waiting for baby to come we know exactly what day and time which is a little un-real. But that's what happens when your little girl wants to do things her way. She is just as stubborn as her mother already, what have I done!?

12 Days till Baby Phillips Birthday 

Such a wonderful belated Christmas gift. Can't wait to spend a week all alone with my husband for the break and our last hooray as just the two of us. We have been eating lots of junk food and going on lots of dates!

How far along are you? 38 weeks

Maternity Clothes? Can't go without them!

Ring: Is Off!! It fits but my hands change size through out the day and I find it very uncomfortable.

Sleep: I have a very hard time sleeping at night, and cannot fall asleep to nap anymore either.

Best moments: Feeling the baby moving around in there, reminds me that she loves me already and her active moments are more rare these days.

Missing anything? My Body!! Restful Sleep!! My Clothes!!

Movement? She is a little stealthier lately which is odd, but she does move every once in a while still.

Food Cravings: Still eating cereal everyday, always want carbs and chocolate. 

Queasy or Sick? Drinking water makes me feel sick, and I seam to be nauseas a lot more these last two weeks.

Gender: Having a girl!!

Symptoms: Lots of Braxton hicks, stabbing pains, and false labor moments. I am so swollen, my arms and legs don't fit into a lot of my clothes anymore I am rotating through the same couple of outfits everyday now. My Robe usually being the only thing I want to wear. Tons of stretch marks, if you saw me in a bikini you would think I was a bear attack survivor. 

Belly Button in or Out? Half Out!! So funny just the top portion has popped out, my belly is being pulled too tight to let the rest free!

Happy or Moody? Happy, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Looking Forward to: Meeting my baby girl!!

36 Weeks

Oh this little baby girl of mine she is like her mother already! Stubborn and feisty, it's adorable and terrifying. She kicks at all the doctors when they try to feel where she is and move her. She does not want to be bothered while hanging out with Mom she gives me little head nudges in my ribs and I always interpret them as, "Mom I just want to stay up here close to you!" Can't blame her I guess, I wouldn't want to be upside down either. 

Between seeing my Midwife, and now getting transferred to an OB, and seeing a webster chiropractor 2 times a week I swear I am always being poked and prodded at. Counting down the days till I can meet my sweet girl, recover and start our new world together.

29 Days till Due Date

So crazy to think next month I will have my baby here!

Hardest part of my day, definitely putting my shoes on! I don't even want to leave the house anymore because that means bending over to get ready.

Favourite part of the day is the little head nudges from my baby girl.

Latest symptom is Hiatal Hernia - pretty much my stomach is herniated above my diaphragm making keeping any liquids down really hard. I am constantly dehydrated these days!

Breech Baby

There is so much information about breech babies and what to try to do to turn them. We did lots of crazy things to encourage our little girl to flip. I found the whole process a bit much and we finally decided to stick with two methods instead of doing all of them but we did try almost everything at least once. Even whale noises!

At the end of the day it is a very personal choice on how you want to approach a breech baby. I feel that our baby will choose how she needs to come to us whether that be by natural birth or c-section. I will try to encourage her to flip but in the end whatever is best for our baby will be a beautiful birth. Many people will say, "Well didn't you try..." or "Oh don't worry she will flip..." get to you. You have the right to prepare yourself for plan B, and no matter what you did or didn't try to do everything happens for a reason!

Here is a list of things I did to try:

I put peppermint Essential Oils on my belly right where her head was - they say babies don't like the cold tingly effect and will go away from where the oil is since they can sense the coolness

Ice pack where the head is and heat near your pubic bone - to encourage her to go towards the warmth and away from the cold

Spinning Babies Inversion - this helps loosen them with gravity and encourages them to flip.

Spinning Babies Breech Tilt - I used an ironing board for this, I would have husband help you!

Yoga - I went to a prenatal class

Make whale noises at the bottom of your belly!

Deep Relaxation and imagery

Swimming - we did some swimming along with underwater hand stands and flips why not try right!?

Webster Certified Chiropractor - this link will help you find one in your area. This is a certified technique that is supposed to help flip breech babies.

EVC External Cephalic Version - Or Manually Turning
My experience with this was some what traumatizing. Mostly emotionally because I was not prepared for the procedure, I did not take any type of pain killers which I would still choose again but I wasn't mentally prepared for the fact that it was going to hurt and be an emotional experience for myself. My advice, take your husband or a good friend for support! I'v heard women say this process was worse then labor!

34 Weeks

Man third trimester is getting hard! Here are some bullet point updates:

- super nauseas, I do not enjoy eating anymore

- I keep our house super cold anywhere from 65-69'F Taylor doesn't like it!

- Getting my shoes on is hard, sometime results in pushing my last meal out TMI sorry

- As you can see from the photo our baby is breach, feet down and butt to the side which is harder to move then a normal frank breech baby (yes we have tried everything from cold packs and whale noises!)

- I think I finally am figuring out how to get some rest at night, this has been a huge emotional relief

- Speaking of Emotional... I'm a grumpy ball baby but trying hard not to be

- Getting VERY excited to meet our little girl

- My favourite thing is she is finally getting hiccups I just love watching and feeling her twitch

- Taylor has finally persuaded me not to work up until my due date, which I had previously planned for. Training clients is just getting too hard on my body and the midwives and my chiropractor feel the baby will have a better chance flipping if I am more relaxed

- We started buying kleenex from Costco!

- Taylor has been an amazing patient loving man during all of my out burst, I am very blessed!

Jersey Baby Headband

I was more then happy with how wonderful these turned out! They looked exactly like the ones off Pinterest which is a score. I made little circled pattern so that I could recreate the flower the same over and over again, and because I'm awful at free handing circles with a pair of scissors.

Go HERE for full Tutorial

My Tip - Make pattern consisting of the following sizes of circles:

3 inch

2.75 inch

2.5 inch

2. 25 inch

2 inch

1.75 inch

1.5 inch

1 inch

* I just used my quilters ruler to measure out squares in those sizes and then rounded the edges making perfect circles! *

Dating My Man

This Man has been so amazing to me during this pregnancy. He rubs my feet, rubs my back, helps me get my socks off at the end of the day when it seams to be much to far away. He helps me clean and cook and has truly just been a champ! He has even done surprise spa nights, were talking full on spa in our living room it was glorious. 

But getting to the point which is "Dating My Man!"

As my pregnancy comes to a close I am realizing these last two months are the last months we have alone for probably the next 30 years. Kind of insane to think of so I made up this little jar of date night ideas. Our goal is to go on a date each week. I had originally seen this idea on Pinterest and wasn't satisfied with the list of date idea they had so here mine goes:

I'v included dates mostly for winter, some at home, some christmas, and some for after baby.

Christmas:

Gallivan Plaze

Read Favorite Christmas Book w/ Hot Chocolate (in a bookstore)

Temple Square Christmas Lights

Make Christmas Ornaments

Gingerbread House

Home Dates:

Three favorite falling in love moments (each couple has to pick three moments and find an item or picture that goes along with it, take turns sharing)

"That reminds me..." (activity in link)

Kinect Night

Bedtime Stories and Smores on the stove

Homemade Pizza

Puzzle Night

Love Test w/ Chocolate Strawberries

Race Car Marathon (xbox)

Dance Off (xbox dance central)

Get out of the house:

Planetarium

Italian Ice

ABC Game - In grocery store everyone has to collect one item for each letter in the alphabet, can be done against spouses or as a double date. Who ever finished first wins

Hot Chocolate (in a coffee shop)

Mini Golf

IKEA Dream Home (go to ikea and design your dream home, dream kitchen!)

Bowling

Utah Hogle Zoo

Bakery Sweets

Matinee

Aquarium

Volunteer Somewhere

Go-Karts

Classic Car International (vintage car museum near us)

Thanksgiving point (new events held every weekend)

Go to the movies

Driving Range

Desert Star Theater (a dinner theater near us)

Breakfast and Morning Walk

Rock Climbing

Arcade Night

Natural History Museum

Ice Skating

Homeless Kits (make care kitsand hand out to homeless)

Above you can see some have blue tape and red tape. The Blue is for home dates, Red is for christmas dates and then some are christmas dates to do at home.

Maternity Photos

Taylor sweet friend Pax took some photos for us to document this fun time. You can contact her here if you are interested in photos.

You can see how low I am carrying in this picture. She really is just hanging out at the button yet somehow my ribs still hurt and I have a hard time keeping food down now that I'm this big. Crazy how the body can handle growing a little person. We love her like crazy and can't wait for her to come!!

32 Weeks

How far along are you? 32 weeks

Maternity Clothes? Can't go without them!

Ring: Is Off!! It fits but my hands change size through out the day and I find it very uncomfortable.

Sleep: I am usually sore and stir around a lot. Naps are my life saver if I can manage them in between jobs.

Best moments: Foot rubs from the husband! 

Missing anything? My Body!! Restful Sleep!!

Movement? She is a little stealthier lately which is odd, but she does move every once in a while still.

Food Cravings: Cereal (I eat it everyday)!! I have been craving Inn-N-Out and Jamba Juice really bad this week. But have been good and not indulged.

Queasy or Sick? When I drink water I usually feel sick which has been a problem.

Gender: Having a girl!!

Symptoms: Hard to drink and eat enough as my body wants without me almost throwing up since my stomach is being smashed so I am very thirsty most the time. Also I seam to be dropping everything lately, it's almost like my hands stop listening to my brain and just let go of stuff!

Belly Button in or Out? Half Out!! So funny just the top portion has popped out were awaiting the rest.

Happy or Moody? I'v cried A LOT this week!

Looking Forward to: Decorating for Christmas and lots of date nights before the baby comes.

Canadian Thanksgiving

First Canadian thanksgiving since I was 16 years old, wow thats been a long time. It is always so hard to go since we don't get any school or work off for Canadian Holidays but now that we have big kid jobs it's easier to just request time off and leave.

It was so amazing to be with them again, I love Canada and I love my family. We laughed so much together!

We got a little crazy at night but boy did we have fun. My Dad, two pregnant sisters and two other sister all in the same photo booth - now that was a tight fit haha

Love this Handsome Man! Couldn't do any of this without him.

My Dad roasted a whole entire pig, apple in its mouth and all! Go big or go home right?

I can't even express how big of a blessing my sister Ashley is in my life. We did a joint wedding reception and now we are also sharing being pregnant together. Exactly 4 weeks apart! So crazy but it has been so wonderful to have my best friend literally going through the same things as me almost week by week. She is such a good listener and support to me. Pregnancy is HARD but she helps make it a littler easier :D

29 Weeks

Feeling like I don't want to even post pictures of myself anymore... Yikes! I have taken on so much weight and swelling in the past month!!

How far along are you? 29 weeks

Maternity Clothes? Can't go without them!

Sleep: I am usually sore and stir around a lot. Naps are my life saver if I can manage them in between jobs.

Best moments: Our latest trick is feeling around my tummy and finding her. The other day I found a little limb and she quickly pulled away from me and then proceeded to toss and turn. Not sure she loved that but it sure was fun for me!

Missing anything? Feeling good, feeling skinny, bending over and not grunting or almost losing my food!!

Movement? It has slowed down a little bit since she changed position she is now head down and it is harder for me to feel her now.

Food Cravings: Zupas!! I would eat out for every single meal if I could.

Queasy or Sick? I am feeling a lot of nauseas again lately, makes me hate the kitchen again. Boooo!

Gender: Having a girl!!

Symptoms: The normal! But lately I have been swelling a lot which makes it very painful for me to stand and move around much, which is bad since I work both jobs on my feet. I have to sit down to reach my feet and bending is very difficult now.

Belly Button in or Out? It is very close to coming out, if I move a certain way it will pop out the top for a second. I think another month it will pop out.

Happy or Moody? Emotional, I'm a ticking time bomb for crying.

Looking Forward to: Baby Shower in Utah! Gotta have something to short term to reach for right!?

Free Nursing Cover (Almost)

Figured I would share this code with all you Moms, or anyone who is looking to stock up on really great baby shower gifts. It cost $12 after your done paying for shipping. I was originally going to make my own but after fabric, D rings, and time it was much cheaper to order this one. I have not used mine yet (obviously) but it looked/felt like great quality.

26 Weeks

Iv never felt so impatient in my life and I still have 3 more months to go. Which I think will fly by... and I want to enjoy ever second I have with my husband before our lives change forever. But I can't stop dreaming about holding my perfect little newborn and then waking up and realizing she's still needs to grow for a couple more months! The nursery is finished, I have been sewing to keep my mind off of it, and I have two jobs which keeps me busier then my husband would approve of!

Feeling exhausted and impatient already. This worries me since I feel the hard part is still ahead of me.

But I sure love this baby girl she has me totally smitten and worry 24/7 about her already. Guess I should get used to that!

Lace Baby Dress

I really do love this pattern it is so simple and so cute, you can find it here. Can't go wrong with free especially when things turn out this cute! I just added a bow to the pattern and put it on a pin so I can take it on or off depending on the occasion. This took me about 3-4 hours to make, I would highly recommend it :)

I can't wait to take her to church in her dress made with love!

24 Weeks

I know I don't look that big but it is hard for me to imagine this baby growing even more. It pains me to think about how big I will probably get when my belly is taking a toll on me already! But non the less I am totally in love with this little one and I am very nervous, and excited for her to come flip my whole world upside down. I am getting nesty and questioning my ability of being a good mother but I know I will do my best.

How far along are you? 24 weeks

Maternity Clothes? Can't go without them!

Sleep: Not going to well, napping has also been unsuccessful when I get the chance.

Best moments: Feeling her kick a couple times in a row I love it.

Missing anything? Mostly sleep and Jimmy John's! I could eat one everyday if I was allowed.

Movement? Yes! Mostly when I am laying on my back before bed late at night, or early in the morning.

Food Cravings: Nothing specific.

Queasy or Sick? Only when I get too hungry, or I smell something gross.

Gender: Having a girl!!

Symptoms: Hungry all the time, exhausted in an unexplainable way. My hips and back ache and I have lots of pain in my abdomen from all my insides being squished. It's hard to believe this baby is going to get bigger.

Maybe not a true symptom but: I am also baby obsessed I can't think of anything else and I am always sewing something for her lately. 

Belly Button in or Out? In, but getting shallow!

Happy or Moody? Emotional, I'm a ticking time bomb for crying.

Looking Forward to: Going home to Canada for the first time in a year next month! It will be fun to see my family and friends again.

Chambray Peasant Dress

The pattern I used was from Sew-much-ado, I'v used her site for a couple of things and they have been great. I love a good tutorial with patterns how can you go wrong with free? I also wanted a dress a little bigger then 0-3 months so I just magnified the pattern before printing. I held it against a 6 month dress and it looked about right.

The other modification I made to this dress was adding the ruffles which was super simple. I just made one big long ruffle cut it into three pieces and sewed them on before making my elastic casing.

Really Enjoying the idea of my little girl wearing an outfit made 100% by her Mom.

Busy Bee + Baby Obsessed

I find myself anxious already about this baby coming. So much to do, yet I want her here in my arms right now all at the same time. So what am I doing to keep myself busy and preparing?

I have two part time jobs and a small business of my own. I work 8 hours a week retail for fun and discounts, and I am a personal trainer growing my client base very quickly these days. I work Monday through Saturday, so this keeps me busy!

I am also going through a women's speciality course through the national academy of sports medicine. Soon I'll be a specialized women's trainer with an emphasis in pre and post natal very soon!

Sewing sewing sewing. Baby shoes, baby moccasins, burp rags, baby dresses, little things for the nursery, and of course hair bows. I can't seam to pull myself away from the millions of things I want to sew for this little baby girl of mine.

These are some infant baby moccasins I made, I also made some for her she is older as well. Along with some little flats! Baby shoes are hard to make perfect to match but I did my best and I'll admit I'm proud of them.

Burp Rags! I embellished some cloth diapers as burp rags, and they are in this cute wire basket next to the rocker awaiting for those late night feeds. Along with some others for the diaper bag and stroller.

This is a handy dandy little quick project to help the door shut quietly when sneaking up on the baby which I know I will be doing!

I also enjoy just rocking in my nursery gazing at where my daughter will soon be. It is completely finished which makes me ecstatic but I am keeping it to myself for the time being but don't worry I will post pictures eventually.

22 Weeks

When I was 17-20 weeks I was feeling amazing! These past two weeks have not been so good to me which was a little disappointing. I have had so much stomach pain from indigestion to the point I will get a low grade fever. It hasn't been very comfortable and I think this added to me being emotional. Emotional to a totally irrational level of crying about everything! Hoping this ends soon and that I can finish enjoying my second trimester.

I have loved rocking the growing belly though, and I can feel her a lot more now. Rolling around, bouncing around but my favourite is when she gives me a good kick! Taylor loves getting the chance to feel her kick, rare but sometimes she will kick hard enough that he can feel them. Such a fun moment to share with him, melts my heart.

This was the best shot we got of Baby Phillips from my 20 wk ultra sound

She did a little dance for us, and the ultra sound tech said she was a very active baby! I have an anterior placenta which means its harder for me to feel the baby move but when I do I enjoy ever second of it.

Our New Glider

I always hear or see pictures on people buying ugly stuff for cheap and making them amazing. I never thought I would be capable of doing it myself. But I found this old glider on ksl for only $29 and I couldn't help but buy it and take on the challenge.

This is the before of the Glider

What we did:

- Took the pads to the bathtub and gave me a really good wash

- Took the whole glider apart, primed, sanded, then painted each section

- Put back the rocker

- We got a big roll of foam from Hobby Lobby and I used the old cushions and traced a pattern onto the foam and cut pieces of foam in the same shape

- My Mom made grey linen slip covers and we put both the old cushions and the foam pieces into the slip covers

- I made a new cover for the springs and threw the old white one you see in the photo above, I replaced it with a quilted piece of mustard canvas and batting

Taa Daaaa!!!

Sorry I just can't help but be so happy about this chair. It is literally exactly what I wanted (which was impossible to find) and it only cost us around $60 when most wooden gliders were starting at $150 - $500.

Don't mind us testing paint right behind the rocker!

H A L F W A Y!!!

I can hardly believe it is only half way, I feel like that makes the baby sound so far away! But non the less it is an accomplishment we have a long way's till baby will arrive but I am sure most of it will fly by. I am just so happy being pregnant right now, so many fun things to do and I am finally in the "feeling amazing" stage. Trying to enjoy this stage as much as possible before I get huge, hot and exhausted.

We are totally in love with this little girl! If only I could pick a name...

How far along are you? 20 weeks

Maternity Clothes? Can't go without them! Although I can still fit lots of my non-maternity tops on they aren't very flatter and full in all the wrong places. 

Sleep: Having a hard time sleeping, between mid night snack, peeing, and the aching pain in my sides I mostly toss and turn all night.

Best moments: Feeling the baby move, and best of all kick! She rarely kicks, but Taylor has been lucky to feel her kick. He felt 3 big kicks this morning! So amazing to share together.

Missing anything? Mostly sleep right now.

Movement? Yes! Mostly when I am laying on my back before bed late at night, or early in the morning.

Food Cravings: I am eating a ton of food right now, I am usually hungry all day every day so I'll take anything! Craving donuts, but haven't had a single one.

Queasy or Sick? Only when I get too hungry, or I smell something gross.

Gender: Having a girl!!

Symptoms: Hungry all the time, and my hips have had better days! One day last week I couldn't even walk normal. My sides get all achy, like someone has punched me while I am sleeping.

Belly Button in or Out? In, but getting shallow!

Happy or Moody? Very Happy!!

Looking Forward to: Seeing the baby during my 20 week ultra sound in two days.

Also putting together the nursery next week with my Mom

Skinny Taco Soup

We made this soup tonight. I would say it was more of a chilli but non the less is was very yummy, and so amazingly simple it was crazy how easy it was. Those are the kind of meals I am loving these days. Hope you guys enjoy trying it out.

Ingredients:

1 pound ground lean turkey meat

2 cans or 1 big can of diced tomatoes (I used the fire roasted)

1 package low sodium taco seasoning (I used 2)

1 can tomato soup 

1 can dark kidney beans

3 small cans diced olives

1 can corn

Directions:

1. Brown the ground turkey meat.

2. Add all of the cans into the pot.

3. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low.  Let simmer for about 20 minutes.

3. That’s it!  So easy!  Enjoy

Serves 8.5

Recipe was taken from The Recipe Critic

Let the fun begin!

We are going totally baby crazy over here. Almost half way through the pregnancy and I am going full gear baby I don't want to be shopping or trying to work on stuff when I am huge so we are getting things started.

Crib is all set up

Glider is purchased for only $29 sanding starts tonight!

We got a stash of used baby clothes which we have been organizing, washing, and folding

Newborn clothes are almost so tiny you can't fold them!

Needles to say we are both overly excited over here with all the baby stuff. I am finally organizing and unpacking into our condo, took me long enough right!? So I apologize for the long wait but hopefully in the next couple weeks this place will actually be put together and I'll finally post pictures of our new home. It amazes me how much stuff the two of us have collected over the past 3 years.

Taylor and I will both be starting our big kid jobs with our degrees this monday. This feels kind of huge for us! I am officially a trainer at Gold's Gym, and Taylor is working for a local company that has been featured in Forbes magazine this year! Ahh it all seams so crazy to us to actually be settling down, this is our 10th place is less then 3 years of marriage so it's about time.

17 Weeks

Week 16 +17 have felt about the same for me. We found out our baby is a girl, which has totally made my heart melt and I am going a little baby crazy right now with all the adorable little girl clothes that seam to be everywhere!

As far as symptoms my belly is starting to get itchy and I can feel it stretching. Hello Oil and Lotion, I might as well try even though they say it doesn't help I sure hope I can avoid stretch marks. I am surprised by how much my belly has grown in the past two weeks. Also I am very hungry, needing to eat a lot more frequent small meals at least every 2-3 hours or I feel I will just wither away. Also I have had a head ache for the past week and need to pee way more! 

The greatest new symptom of all which I am trying to not get too excited about is for the past three days in a row I have felt a little nudge from inside me. Feels like a tiny little "hey you" nudge from under my bellow button area. Not positive it is baby, but doesn't feel like anything else either!

Favourite maternity finds of the week: Ross, I found the shirt below for $9.99 and another shirt for only $2.49 cant really go wrong at those prices. Even though once again they are all blue, all the clearance maternity is all blue weird but oh well!!

I have had so many friends get pregnant these past couple of months and some have had miscarriages. It completely breaks my heart, as many of you know I have gone through this experience and it is completely world shattering. I just want to say how extremely blessed I feel to be carrying this sweet child of god. It truly is a miracle and I cannot even convey in words how happy I am in this time of my life. I love and feel for all of those who are trying to get pregnant or have lost a pregnancy. From personal experience I know how hard it is but how sweet the outcome is and worth the heart ache and waiting. I love all of you even if I don't know you, I hope you can find support and hope in my own experience. (Feel free to read a little bit about our journey in this link)

Sweet Baby Girl

It was so special to get to meet our sweet baby girl on a 3D ultra sound. She was being all cute and framing her face with her hands for us. I wish we had a photo but we did get a photo of her on the 2D ultra sound. I cried when we found out it was a girl, I feel so much more connected to this little life inside me now. Getting impatient to meet her already (uh oh!) I will be busy doing the nursery to distract myself for the time being.

Couldn't help but buy these adorable outfits when Carter's when 40% off.

Guide to Picking a Crib Mattress

I just purchase this same cool grey crib by baby mod. I am completely ecstatic about it, only $200 which for a grey crib is an amazing price and had such great reviews. Easiest nursery choice by far! What I wanted to touch on today was a harder choice, the mattress...

Most mothers know about SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) obviously a very serious subject that all expectant parents should know about. This is one reason why choosing a mattress can be so important, to help decrease this risk. I did some extensive research and thought I would sum up my findings.

Things to keep in mind when looking for a crib mattress:

Is it firm?

If you feels like a good amount of firmness for you then it is too soft, babies need a much firmer mattress then adults. You do not want the mattress to conform to the baby so that they can move if needed, for example if they roll into their face a firm mattress will give them something to push off of.

Types: Foam or Spring

As long as they are firm, both are great. Foam is a little lighter then spring mattress but I think this comes down to personal preference. In the USA spring is much more common.

Price Point

For Foam you want to stick at a higher price point above $90, most of the mattresses that are lower in price will be too soft. They can go up to $400 the reason for increases in price is usually due to organic or natural foam not necessarily because they are better.

For Spring mattress once again anywhere from $90-$200 is going to serve the babies needs. Remember that you do want a quality mattress especially if you are planning on using it for multiple children. I personally would recommend the covering being triple layered vinyl or cotton. Many of the think vinyl will dry, crack and tear.

How Heavy is it? How many layers does it have?

When choosing foam, the denser the better. Which means the heavier the better, this will keep a firmer surface for the baby.

When choosing spring the general rule is: the more layers, the better quality of those layers, the better the mattress. Also the quality will increase as the weight of the mattress increases. Always make sure they have border rods in the mattress so it won't sag.

Coil Count?

Dennis Schuets of Clgate Juvenile Products states, "About 135-150 is a good midrange."

Also consider a steel gauge of 15.5 or below.

Also make sure there is a good quality insular pad between the coil and the top of the mattress to avoid from the coil being felt through the mattress.

Top Cover?

You have two choices between vinyl or fabric. Fabric won't be waterproof which can be solved with a waterproof cover, which I will purchase no mater what. The fabric mattress's will breath better. 

If you choose vinyl like I said earlier make sure it is at least triple laminated layered, less will usually dry up and possible crack and tear. Also with vinyl if you want a mattress that is breathable you can choose one with ventilation holes.

Planning on using the mattress when they become a toddler?

Although this is not necessary because toddlers can sleep on the same firm infant mattress daul sided mattress are available with a softer side for when they are a toddler.

I apologize if that seams like so much information but I personally wanted to make sure I was making a very well educated choice when I go out to pick out our mattress. Hopefully this helped many of you do the same and happy baby shopping :)