Baby, its cold outside! And we have just the thing to keep our baby warm:

Mia in her winter "coat"

First, we ordered the 3-month size because we thought she would need room to grow into it.  But that was ridiculously large.  So we returned that and tried the 0-month (yes, zero) size.  As you can see, this will provide ample room for Mia to grow.  Thanks to the clever design, it will keep her warm and cozy even though it is still…shall we say…a bit roomy.

We’ve been out walking in the cold weather with this outfit almost every day, and Mia loves it.  She seems to like it ever since we first tried it on her:

"Yeah for warm winter gear!"

So it is not always that cold here.  It definitely approaches freezing at night, but when that lovely NM sunshine is in full effect, we enjoy temps in the 50s and 60s for a good part of winter.  Mia and I would go out walking in the middle of the day when it is nice and warm out, but it is so bright that Mia doesn’t get to look around and, lately, she loves to look at all the trees and other things she can see.  Instead we’ve been going out in the late afternoon, when the sun is low and it is a bit chilly.  We’re all happy to have this little item to keep her warm.

I can’t resist adding a plug for Patagonia (especially because someone else who saw this photo already commented on the brand):  Yes, it may be a bit “pricey”.  But there are many reasons we purchase Patagonia products.  They have the “iron-clad guarantee” for all their products, meaning it is all well made and will last a very, very long time.  The first Patagonia item I bought was also the first coat that I bought for myself (as opposed to my parents buying it for me).  It was 1993 or 1994, when I was an undergrad and working.  It was an expensive item: almost $200, which was a good chunk of my little paycheck.  Now, about 17 years later (for an annual cost of $11/year), I still have and wear that coat on a regular basis.  It is in fabulous shape.

Not only do all Patagonia products last a long time, they are a company we believe in.  They use recycled, organic, and otherwise low-impact and earth friendly materials whenever possible (that coat I purchased back in the early 1990’s was made of rubber from recycled tires!).  They encourage recycling and resale of used gear, including clothes.  They donate a portion of their profits to the environment (http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=1960).  And, something that is very much on my mind these days: they were one of the first US companies to allow and advocate for maternity leave (it was a crazy idea back in the day) and to offer childcare at the workplace.  They are still on the forefront of offering flexible schedules for their employees.  Patagonia is a progressive and socially conscious company that we believe, making quality products.

Clearly, Mia will not fit into this winter coat for 17 years, but we know it came from a company that supports things we believe in.  We know it will perform well while she needs it.  And we know it will be a great hand-me-down to a series of other babies (not ours, we intend to gift it to a friend or sell it on e-bay!).

Hope you and yours are staying warm this winter!