Now with a little over 3 months left of this pregnancy, I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t done a single thing to prepare for her upcoming arrival. I haven’t even told our pediatrician that our family will be expanding. I haven’t done any shopping, any planning. I don’t even have possible name choices.

Is this what they call the Third Baby Syndrome? Is this poor child headed for a lifetime of hand-me-downs and a lack of photos documenting her childhood? With the birth of my first daughter, second-hand didn’t even enter my mind. Everything had to be brand new.

I blame it on the lack of energy I’ve been feeling during this rough pregnancy and am hoping that things will kick into gear one she’s here. Until then, I’ll be cruising Craigslist for affordable used baby items. Hey, she won’t know the difference, right?

Did you prepare differently for the birth of each child?

Who doesn’t love adorable baby items? There’s just something about bibs and burp cloths that I can’t resist. So when I had the opportunity to review Wow Baby, I was thrilled!

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

At Wow Baby we care about quality, comfort, function, fashion and above all child safety. We combine a blend of natural and organic fibers to produce exquisitely crafted superior quality baby gear. Our products have a patent-pending and have won many rave reviews. As style-savvy parents ourselves, we believe that you and your baby deserve to have it all, whether your initial attraction was decorative or functional, you do not have to give one up to get the other.

MY REVIEW

We received their Sunrise Green Living bib and burp cloth to review. These items are a blend of natural cotton and organic bamboo fabrics for maximum absorbency making it gentle on babies skin. The best part is that it’s handcrafted in the USA.

The unique part about this bib and burp cloth is that it has a removable plastic lining on the back that can be easily removed by unsnapping. This lining ensures that your baby will be kept dry from all burps and spit ups. I really liked this idea because I remember having to not only change Baby Bug’s bib but also her clothes whenever she got wet.

So if you’re looking for a great baby shower gift or something for your own precious little one, stop by Wow Baby.

WIN IT!

I have a bib and burp cloth set in the Sunrise fabric for one lucky winner! To enter:

• Just stop by Wow Baby before midnight, July 12th and check out their other designs.
• Then come back and mention in comments which one is your favorite. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to my feed.
• Follow me on Twitter.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to Wow Baby.
• Place my button in your sidebar.

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian addresses. Good luck!

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My question is:

What’s one thing you’ve been putting off doing?

To help you stay safe during the summer heat, Mommy Docs, The Clorox Company, & Mom Central have joined up to provide you with these valuable safety tips:

Staying Safe at BBQs. According to a recent survey, 70 percent of Moms are cooking more at home and many are likely switching up their meal routine with an outdoor BBQ. Make sure your kids have a safe BBQ experience by keeping them away from the flames and any sharp knives. Also, don’t forget to check that your child’s hamburger is fully cooked. Always keep a thermometer on hand to be sure all food has reached the appropriate inside temperature.

Keep the Pool Cool and Clean. If your kids love to spend hot afternoons in kiddie pools, you know the importance of cleaning the pool area. Dump out water after each session, and keep the pool clean by disinfecting it with a solution of ¾ cup bleach* to one gallon of water. Don’t forget to rinse well and dry thoroughly after each cleaning (never leave any water in the pool). Be sure to always supervise children when they are in or around any water. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)

Staying Healthy and Hydrated. Spending time in the heat means kids will be more prone to becoming dehydrated. Remind kids to take frequent rest/drink breaks in the shade when playing outside and try to avoid activity during peak sun hours. Encourage fluids before, during, and after outside activities.

Having Peace of Mind at Playgrounds. Sometimes just getting out of the house is the best way to keep it clean, but before letting kids loose at the playground, ensure the safety of the equipment. Swing seats and slides can really heat up in the sun – test them out before your kids hop on to avoid burns. Be sure the playground surface is composed of a soft material to help prevent injury. All playground equipment should be routinely checked for any broken or loose parts. As always, adult supervision is a must at all times!

Saving on Spills. Spending extra time around the house, especially with kids, often means more spills to clean up. Synthetic sponges and kitchen cloths can start to smell and carry bacteria, but you don’t have to toss them out after a few uses. One option to reduce bacteria is to sanitize sponges and dishrags by soaking them in a bleach solution (¾ cup of bleach* to a gallon of water) for 5 minutes in the sink. Don’t forget to rinse and dry when done. A wet sponge can also be microwaved to get rid of bacteria. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)

Have a safe and fun summer!

I’m not sure if she just needs time to adjust or if it’s because she’s in the wrong age-group class, but we’ve had to deal with crying, tantrums, and imaginary friends all last week. She didn’t even want to go on her Chuck E Cheese field trip! Now what child doesn’t want to go to Chuck E Cheese?

Every morning, Baby Bug does fine until she notices that we’re driving in the direction of her school. That’s when the chanting starts, “No more school! No more school!” When we pull into the parking lot, the crying starts. And since I’ve always been the kind of person who avoids public displays at all costs, this really stresses me out. She’ll sit on the floor of the car and refuse to come out. I try being firm or distracting her with other things but eventually I’m literally dragging her out since I can’t carry her with me being 5 1/2 months pregnant.

During the day, her teacher says that sometimes she’s really good and other times she throws tantrums. This is so unusual since she rarely ever gets that upset. When I talk to Baby Bug she says she doesn’t like school because no one likes her. She’s even compensated by making up an imaginary friend name Kevin.

I don’t think the kids dislike her. I think they just can’t understand her. After all, these kids are a year older than she is and will be going to kindergarten in the fall. Baby Bug on the other hand still has difficulty verbally communicating and even I can’t understand her at times.

It looks like I’m going to have to pull her out of pre-school if they can’t accommodate her in the appropriate age-group class. I just don’t think that we should be punished for a mistake they made. I did request the 3 year old class when I signed her up even though Baby Bug turns 4 this year. I really think they should somehow honor that. And what are the chances of finding another pre-school that can take her at such a late date?

For now, it  looks like I”m going to have to look into homeschooling her for a while. Me and homeschool? Ugh! I know I don’t have the patience for it. Here’s hoping for a better week!

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Aden + Anais was formed by Australian mothers who moved to the United States and found that the swaddling cloths made of the muslin fabric they wanted were too small for their babies, Aden and Anais. Further, every swaddling blanket that was large enough was made with fabric other than the muslin cloth that is so readily available for swaddling a baby in Australia. So they began making their own, adding baby hooded towel designs and baby washcloths to their soft muslin creations.

And if you hurry, you can take advantage of their great sale going on right now. All Winter Warmth Swaddles are on sale for $29.95 and Dream Blankets for $39.95. Visit adenandanais.com and enter promo code “wintersale” to receive this generous discount.

WIN IT!

aden + anais has generously donated a beautiful Muslin Sleeping Blanket in your choice of designs for one lucky winner! To enter:

• Just stop by aden + anais before midnight, July 5th and view their Muslin Sleeping Bag designs.
• Then come back in mention in comments which one you’d like to win. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to my feed.
• Follow me on Twitter.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to aden + anais.
• Place my button in your sidebar.

This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My question is:

Do you have any eating habits that people think are strange?

Thankfully, the editors of PCMag.com have made my life a little easier by cutting through the clutter and named the 10 iPhone apps for Parents and how they can be adapted to make motherhood (or fatherhood) a less-complicated experience.

• Shazam: This app is able to identify whatever song is playing in the background wherever you are; use it to snag a sound bite from that new Top 40 hit your child loves, and get the details on whether it is in line with your family’s listening standards.
• White Noise: Babies scream, toddlers pout, and parents can often lose their minds, White Noise is perfect for taking things down a notch.
• Kindle: One of the most exciting apps for the iPhone, Kindle lets you easily bring along most any book or magazine for you and your kids to enjoy on the go. Create your own family book club or read while stuck in a doctor’s office, a book of your choice or read to your child.
• GoodFoodNearYou: When you’re on the road with the kids, avoid the fast-food joint and replace it with the convenience of this app to help you find health-conscious dining choices. Input your location and it will return scads of sides, sandwiches, and suppers from every dining destination in the vicinity.
• AllRecipes.com Dinner Spinner: If the question is “What are we having for dinner?” this free AllRecipes.com-powered app will let you choose recipes based on main ingredients, what you have on hand, and how much time you can spare for food prep. Or let it randomly selected meal plan for you.
• Sit Or Squat: When a parent hears “I really gotta go!” finding the nearest bathroom has to happen fast. Using your current location it gives you the nearest options, stats on cleanliness, changing tables and handicap-accessible facilities—mark your favorite toilets for quick returns.
• AirMe: You no longer need to wait until you get home to start sharing photos from birthdays, sporting events or school plays. Use AirMe to upload instantly to Photobucket, TinyPic, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, or Picasa without the hassle of file transfer or e-mail, and without the cost of an external gadget.
• myLite Flashlight: Never lose a pacifier in a dark movie theater again with this app that uses the screen to emit white light. This free app has a straightforward series of settings to control light color and brightness.
• Remember The Milk: This popular and effective list-making and task-management Web site, has a complementary mobile app free to the site’s paying members to help keep things sorted when you’re shuttling between work, home, and your family’s numerous appointments and activities.
• iTalk Recorder: This limited free download allows you to record and store numerous sound files for later use. Files upload easily to your PC via wireless transfer, enabling you to customize your own ringtone, preserve a special memory, or just remind yourself why you go to work each day.

Are there any apps that you find especially useful? Share!

Girlie Girl is a big fan of Hannah Montana. So when I found out that she was coming out with a brand new line of personal care products, I knew she would be totally into it.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

P&G is introducing a Hannah Montana collection of products such as lip glosses and shampoos perfect for tweens who love Hannah Montana and may be starting to establish their own personal care routine. These products offer the “best of both worlds” since not only do girls love them, but parents approve as well since they are trusted brands that Mom may even use herself!

MY REVIEW

We received a few different shades of Hannah Montana’s new lip gloss colors and loved them. What I really liked is that these colors weren’t bright or gaudy. It was just a tint of color and shine. Perfect for special occasions. Girlie Girl also really liked it because it made her feel pretty and feminine. And it didn’t hurt that Hannah Montana herself was on the packaging!

So if you have a Hannah Montana fan in your family, check out her new line of products. Your daughter will love them!

WIN IT!

Thanks to P&G, I have a gift bag of the entire Hannah Montana line to give away to one lucky winner. This gift bag includes:

• Herbal Essences “Drama Clean” Berry Tea and Orange Flower Shampoo/Conditioner
• Olay Foaming Face Wash
• Olay “Rockin’ Blossom” Body Wash
• Oral-B/Crest Toothbrush and Toothpaste Combo Pack
• Secret “Bella Bloom” Scent Expressions Deodorant
• Covergirl Wetslicks Lipgloss in four shades - Crush, Tutu, Patently Pink, and Shimmershell
• Covergirl Nailpolish in four colors: Pink Taffy, Pink Twinkle, Fuschia Girl, and Disco Dazzle

To enter:

• Just mention in comments before midnight, June 27th who you’d like to win this for. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified via email soon thereafter.
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to my feed.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.
• Follow me on Twitter.
• Place my button in your sidebar.

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian addresses. Good luck!

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My question is:

Are you a Mac or PC?