iTunes Alternative for iOS 5 and iPhone 4S

CopyTrans Manager - the free iTunes replacement has been updated lately and is now fully compatible with iOS 5 and iPhone 4S. The download is available on the following page:

• iTunes replacement

Most important functions at a glance:

• Copy videos, ringtones, music and more from PC to iPhone, iPod or iPad
• Create iPhone playlists
• Remove and delete tracks from playlists and your iPhone library
• Change ID3 tags using the Tag Editor
• Automatically search for missing artwork
• Enjoy your iPhone music using the integrated music player

Just because.

I suddenly know the difference between Pampers, Luvs and Huggies and the pros and cons of each. Because I'm a diaper-conscious mommy. At 3 am, I can easily locate a pacifier, clean diaper, receiving blanket and Destin cream by just the light of the TV. Because I'm a sleep-deprived, but learning to function on 4ish hours of sleep mommy. I believe my little girl is the most beautiful and perfect baby I've ever seen. Because I'm a biased mommy. I used to be the type that had to have complete silence and darkness before I could go to sleep, but have now learned to sleep with the TV on and a sound machine loudly playing the sounds of ocean waves. Because I'm a mommy that would listen to a police siren if it would help my baby sleep. I come close to crying tears of happiness when my baby girl is crying and I pick her up and she immediately stops and sighs like being in my arms is her favorite place. Because I'm Avery's mommy. I lay awake at night and watch my baby sleeping, wondering what she's dreaming and watching her little chest rise and fall to make sure she's breathing right. Because I'm a mommy that worries. With every little cough and unexpected rash, I worry that she's getting sick and wonder what I can do to make sure she's always safe and healthy. Because I'm an overprotective mommy. I love hearing about other people's journeys through motherhood and welcome advice on how to keep my baby healthy and happy. Because I'm a new mommy. I walk through stores and am immediately drawn to the adorable baby clothes, even though I know she has a closet full of them at home. Because I'm a fashionable mommy. Even though I love having her here, I miss being able to feel her kicking my belly and always knowing where she is and that she's safe. Because I'm a formerly pregnant mommy. I will probably bore you to death with stories about my baby from now until the time she's 10. Because I'm a ridiculously proud mommy. I hate to argue with any of you that think your job is the best, but you're wrong. Mine is. Because I'm a mommy.

My crazy new life

Life. Is. Crazy. I'd heard it, but kind of blew off any advice that a newborn changes your life completely. Yes, I knew that it was going to happen, but when people would tell me that things were going to change, I just kind of had the nonchalant attitude of "Duh, I know." But trust me, until you're actually living it, until you go through hours of labor and have this little person given to you that you're completely and totally responsible for, you have absolutely NO idea. You have no idea what it's like to sit up at night and worry "Did she eat enough?" "Can she breathe?" "Is she too hot/cold/bundled up/not bundled enough??" Life has completely changed. My living room used to be (for the most part) organized and somewhat clean--focused on decorations and function. Now my living room has been taken over by a 2 week old baby. A bouncy seat, pack n play, swing, bassinet, various baby items are strewn throughout the room. Forget decoration or function. My main goal is now keeping her happy and keeping her things within reach. My entire adult life, I have been on a mission to keep my nails grown out and healthy. The day I went into labor, my nails were perfectly shaped, manicured and all a uniform length. They were perfect. Then Avery arrives with her delicate skin that can be easily scratched by my beautiful nails. Needless to say, the nails were quickly cut down to a very short, very ugly, but very safe for baby length. My days used to be filled with projects, paintings, cleaning and other humdrum activites. Now, my days are filled with diapers, feedings and quick cat naps in between feedings. Nothing else matters except my baby girl and keeping her happy, fed and clean. My thoughts are filled with the last time Avery ate, when I should be taking my medicine, how many diapers we have left in stock and where I placed the Destin cream the last time I used it. If it doesn't relate to my baby, the thought has completely been pushed out of my brain. I no longer worry about what I'm wearing for the day. I throw on a pair of maternity pants and a top that's easy to nurse in and turn my thoughts to which cute outfit baby Avery will be wearing. My alarm clock has been replaced with a baby cry. My cell phone homepage was once filled with games and social media apps. Those have quickly been replaced with a notepad featuring baby's feeding schedule and apps that create white noise to help her sleep. So, to all you soon to be mommies out there....your life is going to change. You'll hear it a hundred times between now and the time that your baby arrives, but I promise, it's all for the better.

How to manage iPhone without iTunes?

You may already know, that you don't have to use iTunes to manage iPod, iPhone or iPad. When searching for iTunes Alternatives it's very likely that you'll find a dozen of apps promising to manage your iPhone independently from iTunes. The software that I use is called CopyTrans Manager and you can find it here:

Free iTunes replacement to manage iPhone without iTunes


So far, so good. Did you also know that iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad require drivers to be recognized by your PC? These drivers are installed with a fresh copy of iTunes, meaning you need to install iTunes, QuickTime etc. to use your iPhone with your PC. As many people consider iTunes to be bloatware, you may wish to use your iPhone without having to install iTunes. That's why you can use the CopyTrans Drivers Installer.

This little free app installs all drivers and you'll finally be able to use your iPhone entirely without iTunes.

Gliders and rockers and chairs, oh my!

Who knew that the hardest part of putting together a baby nursery would be finding the "right" glider to match the decor?? I thought, in my naive little world, that picking out the crib and coordinating furniture would be the most difficult decision I would make. Turns out, that was the easiest. I immediately fell in love with our nursery furniture. Black, classic, gender neutral=perfect. Next step was to find a rocking chair or glider for those late night feedings, bedtime story readings and lullaby singing that Avery and I will be doing in the very near future. I searched online websites, again having a "vision" in my head of exactly what I wanted. And darn it if I didn't find it. Very quickly, I might add.

It's completely gorgeous. I love this chair. No, really. I LOVE this chair. "So buy it!" I hear you say...."what's the problem?" The problem is the price of this little chair. The chair of my dreams is a whopping $449. And that's just the chair. The ottoman (because, of course, I want to kick my feet up and relax after a long day at work) is sold separately, tacking on another $125 to the already steep price tag. I literally have arguments with myself over this chair. I constantly go back and forth over whether or not I should spend that kind of money on a daggone chair. The war in my head goes a little something like this:

"I love this chair."
"I do not love the price."
"It's sooooooooo pretty. It's definitely a chair that I would use after Avery's outgrown the rock-me-to-sleep stage."
"The price isn't that pretty."
"This chair is so unique...have you seen it in anyone else's nursery or home??"
"Of course not. No one else is crazy enough to spend that kind of money!"
*pouty face* "But I waaaaant it."
"Sorry, you need to spend that money on more practical things like bottles and diapers."
*sigh*

This conversation takes place probably once a week. I go to Target's website, look at the chair, decide I want it, click on it to add it to my cart and then feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. Yes, we got Target gift cards for our baby showers and could apply that money towards the chair. But then I think of all the things that we could buy with the gift cards instead....a set of organizational bins for her closet, more bottles, more diapers (because Lord knows you can never have enough). As always, my more practical side always wins out and I click out of Target and do (yet another) extensive google search on gliders. I search and I search. I click on less attractive, but soooooooo much cheaper gliders and wonder if they have the ability to re-upholstered. Then you're looking at the cost of fabric. And trying to find someone that can accomplish the task of re-upholstering glider cushions. And the time spent to wait for the glider to be shipped to me and the cushions to be done (and, as of today, we're talking 35 short days away from my due date). And then I get overwhelmed, click out of the websites completely and continue my nursery chair-less day. I'm beginning to think that labor will be easier than picking out this stupid chair......

"To do" list......you mean a " to never get done" list?

As the time for my due date draws near (6 more weeks!) and the pounds continue to add on (I'm going on a strict diet whenever she gets here), I notice that I have absolutely zero energy to tackle my every day tasks that once seemed easy and mundane. What once was a trip to the laundry room, carrying three baskets at once, starting a load of laundry and pulling clean clothes out of the dryer would have taken me maybe 10 minutes. I would have finished the task and moved onto some other household duty that needed attending to. Now, the idea of carrying three baskets is absurd. I carry one basket into the laundry, start a new load whenever the wash happens to be empty (very rare these days) and then, feeling accomplished, I huff and puff my way back to the couch to sit and rest. When did laundry seem like such a daunting task? I think wistfully back to the days that I could get my entire house spotless in a matter of hours...this included mopping floors, bending over to clean anything out from underneath kitchen cabinets and behind the toliet. Now, I can't pick things up off the floor without first bracing myself against the nearest, most solid piece of furniture. I miss the days when I could make myself a to-do list and, within a day or two, it was a to-done list. Now, I make to-do lists that I stare at longingly in my planner, with a task or two crossed off in a matter of a week. I had grand plans for this past weekend. My aunt and mom were coming to my house to help me on Monday to go through the nursery, organize, wash clothes and decide what still needed to be done. But this didn't happen....Sunday night I pulled a muscle in my leg and could barely walk. Monday was spent on the couch giving directions as needed to my mom, husband and sister, who lovingly went through baby things for several hours. However, realizing that I do have 6 very short weeks left (give or take a few) until little Avery arrives and I get nothing done except feedings, diaper changes and reading "Goodnight Moon." Therefore, I'm making my to-do list and nothing will get in my way to getting these things accomplished....no after-work naps, backaches or pulled muscles will stand in my way!
Devan's to do list (that be a WILL GET DONE LIST!!!!)
1. Organize and complete the nursery. This HAS to be done. No excuses.
2. Organize my desk at work...putting notes on everything in case I were to go into labor at any day.
3. Clean my home office that has become a junk/catch-all room in the process of setting up the nursery.
4. Finish painting orders (I'm almost all the way caught up!!)
5. Make more infant/toddler headbands and hair accessories (this is a new project of mine....pictures to be coming soon).
6. Start the book club I've been planning for a few months. There hasn't been much outside interest, but I'm determined to not be a "shut away at home" mommy that never has any outside contact with other adults.
7. Finish laundry. This one might require help from my husband, but I could definitely fold the clothes after he washes and dries them. :)
8. Be happier and less stressed. This is the greatest time of my life....why spend it stressed out and annoyed at everyone I meet?

I hope to update in a week or so and let you know that my to-do list is completely marked off and in the trash. :)

iTunes replacement update for iPod Shuffle 3G and 4G

A few days ago CopyTrans Manager, the free iTunes replacement, has been updated. Thanks to this update you're now able to manage iPod Shuffle 3G and 4G without iTunes.

More information about supported iPod, iPhone and iPad models, as well as further functionalities of the free iTunes Alternative, can be found on the product page:

CopyTrans Manager: Manage iPod and iPhone without iTunes