So long infant carrier and hello car seat!

It's official...we have made the switch to a car seat, still rear facing though. And although Isabelle's head droops down a bit or to the side when she sleeps (we will have to get a neck beanbag thing for her), all in all she really likes it. She can see everything and when I look back from the front seat, she is usually staring out one of the windows.
Our friend Olivia gave us some advice when shopping for a car seat; #1) make sure the "side wings" do not obstruct your child's view of the outside world. It can make a car ride pretty miserable if your child has blinders on the whole trip. #2) Get a convertible car seat that can grow with your child. Since you usually drop a couple hundred dollars on one, make it last. The one we purchased is a Safety 1st one that is for three stages, rear facing until 20 lbs, front facing, then it turns into a booster that can hold a child up to 100 lbs. And #3) Get one that has a cup holder for your child and is easy to clean. We got one with a cup holder that obviously is not being used yet and as for ease of cleaning part, we will let you know how that turns out. We will find out on Thursday at her 9 month check up (a little late due to us being gone over the holidays when she turned 9 months) approximately when she can be frontward facing. For some reason, I don't think she will be hitting 20 lbs. anytime soon. Isabelle is a petite thing like her friend Elise so it may just happen around the time she turns one.

This pic is from Sunday after a long car ride and we woke her from her nap. The one snag about not having the infant carrier and being able to just put her down in the carrier somewhere when we get her out of the car, especially when she is sleeping. Now she will more than likely always wake up when we get her out of her car seat. What to do, right? I am sure we will all get used to it pretty fast.