It's A.....

Awesome, beautiful, shiny van!!

I'm in love.

It's a 2003 Mazda MPV.

It have LATCH, which I am so freaking excited about.

(Which reminds me I have to get out the car seat manuals and double check the LATCH limits.)

I think the kids were a little more excited than I was, especially Kayelynn.

I'm going to be getting Aaralyn a HeadWise 70. I don't know when I want her to start using it though. Her infant seat just seems so much more convenient with it getting cold out. But, it doesn't really matter I guess since we end up holding her whenever we go out anyway.

*Yea, Seth is in a pink booster. Lol. We got it for Paige a while back. She can't sit in it though because she's a peanut and doesn't weigh enough. Seth's was in Brian's car though so I just grabbed this one. 

The only thing that stinks is that the rear seat is so narrow. I was hoping there would be enough room for 3 across with the booster seat, but there really isn't. I might be able to squeeze Aaralyn's infant seat back there if I had to. Lol. I think I need to get Paige a more narrow harnessed booster seat. Even though she wont fit into a booster until college. 

Oh yea. Baby Trend actually came out and said that the car seat handle can be in any LOCKED position now while driving, which is awesome. Brian sits with his seat way back and it was impossible to lay the handle down without moving the seat up first. Now I can just snap the car seat into the base and go.

Also, her little hanging toy passes the "ouch" test. You aren't supposed to use any toys the connect (any toys really) to/in a car seat. Even ones the strap to the handle can come off. So, The Car Seat Lady says to hit yourself in the head with it. If you say "ouch" then don't use it. Aaralyn's toy is a plush turtle and doesn't hurt. :) 

Also, just a little friendly reminder since the weather is getting cooler. DO NOT USE COATS OR BULKY JACKETS IN THE CAR. This goes for everyone, but especially children in car seats. In the event of a crash, the material will compress and the harness will no longer be tight/safe and it could cause the child to be hurt or even ejected from the car seat!!

There is a test you can do. Put your child in their seat WITH THEIR COAT ON. Tighten the straps and make sure they are tight and pass the pinch test. Take your child from their seat and put take off their coat. WITHOUT TOUCHING THE HARNESS AT ALL. DO NOT TIGHTEN. Put them back in the seat. If they are in the seat with a coat, that is all the extra room they will have when their coat compresses in a crash. Even adults shouldn't wear coats in the car!!