Blueberry Squash

Elf on Shelf

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:13:00 +0000

I decided to start the Elf on Shelf tradition with my daughter, and thought it would be fun to share the photos on the blog during this holiday season. If you have an elf in your home I would love a link to your photos as well.

So ... meet Mitten. We like to call him Mitt.

Yum Tum

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:12:00 +0000

In my research on the topic of feeding my baby food I came across Yum Tum, and liked their site so much I decided to do a little interview to share with you.

Yum Tum is a delicious concept in feeding babies in toddlers ... how did you come up with the idea?

Heidi and I met at our birth class and later got reunited in a local grocery store when our babies were 4 months old. We instantly became best friends, our kiddos are only two days apart so we were going through the same things at the same times and we have many of the same ideals when it comes to raising our children and that is rare to find. When they were about 5 1/2 months old I remember freaking out because I had a very lovely daughter who cried unless she was in my arms, and my research time was limited and every time I did find something the next thing I read contradicted the article before.

Through many discussions with Heidi we split up the research, bounced ideas and recipes off each other and began our journey to creating healthy happy eaters. We also realized in this process that the only organic options in the market were pouched and jarred, so the nutrients have been cooked right out of them to ensure a long shelf life, up to two years even! They also contain up to 40% water. About five months later a career shift for Heidi came about and I said "Lets start a business!" I have always wanted a business of my own. I have had what I call pretend businesses and was ready for the real thing. When we sat down to think about it, we realized we had very complimentary skills. Heidi has a degree in Business and a Masters in Sustainability. She also worked with start-up businesses counseling them and helping then with their business plans. I have a degree in Art, lots of managerial experience in both retail and restaurants, as well as graphic design and some web design and building experience. The one thing we had in common was our passion for food, nutrition, and healthy babies, so it was obvious that baby food was what we are supposed to do. We started digging into research and after taste tests and really reaching out to parents we were confident there is a market for YumTum.

Everyone is looking to give their baby the very best when it comes to starting solid foods. How are your products different then "traditional" jarred baby food?

Organic, fresh, and locally made: YumTum is not only organic but it is FRESH! We use fresh local produce and freeze it to lock in all of those important nutrients that your little one needs. It's gourmet vegan food!

Gently steamed and pureed in small batches: YumTum steams the fruits and veggies, careful not to cook out any of the important nutrients from your baby’s food. We then puree it in small batches just like you would do at home.

In convenient grab + go bags: YumTum is now in convenient grab + go pouches! Small enough to take on the road or stick in your fridge and scoop out what you need when you need it!
More food in each bite: The only additive in YumTum is love! With only pure fresh ingredients and no added water, YumTum is thick so you get more food in each bite!

Eating YumTum will make your baby a better eater! Babies who start out eating whole foods acquire a taste for the good stuff and learn to prefer it over highly processed foods. Start your baby out right and set them up for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

In your freezer section: YumTum wants the best for babies everywhere. That is why we freeze our fresh food. No one wants to eat something that has been on the shelf for 2 years, like some jarred and pouch baby food. YumTum contains more nutrient value and tastes amazing!

Nutrient Rich: Other baby food is watery and over processed, we retain valuable nutrients in our cooking process, and then add ground flaxmeal, which is high in fiber and Omega 3’s, wheat germ which is high in protein, vitamin E, and potassium among others. There is even a little spice added to train your little ones pallet!

Our Tummy Grubs are completely unique and vegan. They all contain a complete protein either by combining brown rice and beans or through the use of tofu. Each contains flaxmeal, a little spice, and they are very delicious! They are good for 8 months up. Tummy Grubs are even great for toddlers or babies that have moved onto table food. For example our Black Bean Tummy Grub contains, black beans, brown rice, sweet potato, spinach, flaxmeal, and cumin. It is delicious stirred into a pasta for sauce or my personal favorite spread onto a tortilla, with tomatoes, and cheese or vegan cheese melted on top. Then you know they are getting the nutrients they need and still able to mix it up a bit.
Also as mom's we learned very quickly that good healthy snacks are hard to find. So we knew it was very important to perfect some yummy, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kind of snacks. Kids love bread so we created a recipe for a Breadstix that has wheat germ, wheat bran, and flaxmeal in it and it tastes great! They are great alone, for dippers, and if you keep them frozen they are perfect for teething babes.

The HoneyDoos contain quinoa and sunflower butter; the kiddos eat them right up. We also wanted to create a healthy on the go morning and afternoon snack, so we have Babycakes which are best described as a moist vegan carrot raisin muffin with a little wheat germ mixed in for protein and vitamin E.

What does a day of food look like in your life?

We get up way before the sun rises on the weekends and start cooking in the kitchen about 6am. We start out by thoroughly cleaning the kitchen and then prepping our fruits and vegetables. We have a variety of ingredients steaming or cooking like the beans and rice, but only make one menu item at a time. We also plan our production so we make all the fruit and veg purees one weekend then ones that contain gluten on another weekend, to minimize any risk of cross contamination. It's just the two of us and we enjoy it! It is nice to have the dad's at home with the toddlers for some bonding and it is nice for us to have adult conversations while we do something we enjoy doing...cooking! Plus we taste each batch to make sure it is scrumptious. We always get so excited because it tastes so good and we feel like we are doing our part to change the world. Once it is pureed we spoon it into silicon cube trays, cover them and transfer them to the freezer. Then on Monday we return to work, pop the molds and package the food.

When it comes to your baby what is the favorite dish on the menu?

We have toddlers so they are the perfect age for our hearty snacks. As our first taste testers, both kids are fans of most anything on the menu. When handed some Appy Kale or Pearrot as a side dish, Heidi’s son will say, “ooh this baby food? Yummy to the tummy!”

Where can people find Yum Tum?

www.yumtumdelivers.com

www.yumtumdelivers.com/store/

www.facebook.com/yumtumdelivers

www.blog.yumtumdelivers.com

* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Breast Milk Keepsake Lockets

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 14:10:00 +0000

When I was pregnant I knew I wanted to breastfeed my child. The health benefits are so great that it seemed like the obvious choice to me. No further research needed. What I didn't realize was how much nursing this baby would rock my world.

The bonding experience of breastfeeding is unexplainable. I am so in love with the expressions baby makes while eating and the way she holds onto a scrap of shirt. Lap naps after a meal are now one of my simple pleasures in life. Not because she won't nap in the crib because she will , but because I enjoy watching her sleep and a little time of pure relaxation.

I wanted to preserve this moment forever, but I know that even with baby lead weaning someday my milk will be gone.

I looked into breast milk preservation and came up with my own technique to keep a little piece of this time for the future. I decided on a locket to keep my preserved milk safe.

And Milk Mom Baby was born. I now offer this preservation service in a variety of locket styles. I also listened to the little DIY voice in my head and created a kit for those creatives who love the idea, but would rather make it themselves.

Visit the website to view more samples of my work, read the blog, take advantage of the list of resources, and purchase your own keepsake of this special time in your life.

Holistic Baby Sleep System Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:35:00 +0000

We all have set backs in our journey to teach our children how to sleep. Sometimes due to teething, travel or some other unknown force our babies don't sleep as well as they used to. That's when I turn to the Holistic Baby Sleep System.

In a nutshell the Holistic Baby Sleep System is a program where you learn to apply acupressure points to your baby in order to gain balance and help baby sleep better. It is based on Chinese Medicine to balance the circadian rhythm of your child. There is a general protocol to start with, and then alternative protocols to refine baby's sleep.

When I received the DVD for the Holistic Baby Sleep System in the mail I was really excited to get started. I am a big fan of no-cry sleep training so this seemed like the perfect way to help my baby sleep better. I started with the general protocol, and was instantly hooked. Not only did I see immediate improvement in my baby's sleep, but it was also a really enjoyable process. My baby began to sleep better at night, and so did I!

I had to work harder for improvement on those cat naps, and went on to work with the alternate protocols which are quick and easy. I love knowing that my baby will have a good nights sleep when I preform them, and they are a fantastic tool for those set backs I mentioned at the start of this post. Her sleep continues to improve, and I continue to go back again and again to the alternate protocols to help her along the way.

There is also another part of the DVD that I have not utilized with a list of ailments such as teething, or cough and protocols to help when these issues arise.

When I started practicing acupressure through the Holistic Baby Sleep System I though it would be something I would do and then be done with, but the opposite happened. It is a system that I revisit again and again to reset my baby's inner clock and help her sleep better. I love having the DVD to reference, and it is a tool that has been easy for my husband to learn as well.

Would you like to try this quick, easy way to help your baby sleep better? Well your in luck because I have a copy of the DVD to giveaway to one lucky winner. Enter to win below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I was furnished with a copy of the Holistic Baby Sleep System DVD to review, and one to giveaway at no charge to myself. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Best Baby Gear 0-3 Months

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:49:00 +0000

The research I did before having my baby was all well worth it, but now that I have the experience of being a parent I have some new insight into the best baby gear for the first three months. I've been meaning to post this list of favorites for awhile now so enjoy -- and let me know your favorites in the comments!

Best Crib
Fisher Price Rock & Play Sleeper

No crib needed in this house for the first 3 months! I didn't purchase a bassinet either. For the first 3 weeks my baby slept in a Snuggle Nest, and then she moved into the Rock & Play Sleeper beside the bed. I was able to scoop her up and feed her as needed during the night, and gently rock her back to sleep when she stirred all from the comfort of my own bed.

I didn't end up using it for naps as I had planned, but I got more then my moneys worth for night time use! More sleep for everyone is a good thing! As an added bonus this sleeper is angled to help babies with reflux as well.

Best Sleep Aid

Halo Swaddle Sack

In those first weeks and months almost all I thought about was sleep. You can spend a lot of money on sleep and still not get much with all the sleep aids out there, but there was one that I could not live without. Swaddling was essential in getting my baby to sleep longer, and after trying many a swaddle blanket I finally settled on the one that worked best for us. The Halo Swaddle Sack has the hook and loop closure to prevent escaping arms, along with a zipper that zips from bottom to top making night time diaper changes easier. My favorite feature about this swaddle is that you can sleep baby with arms in or arms out. Although we have not yet weaned baby from the swaddle, by the morning she sometimes sleeps better with her arms out after a long night of being bundled up. That extra hour I can get with the arms out trick is a treat when it works. I wanted organic cotton for sleep, but this design won me over so I ended up using this swaddle for the long run. I also have a soft spot for the pink cupcake design.

Best Toy
Freddie the Firefly

I didn't end up buying any toys in advance for my baby which was a good call since newborns aren't too into toys in the first few weeks. I won Freddie the Firefly in a contest, and I am so glad I did because he is still a favorite for my baby. This toy is one that you can get a lot of mileage out of.

In the first weeks my baby loved the black and white patterns on the back of his wings. As she grew she began to enjoy reaching for Freddie if he was hung from her car seat. Then she progressed to smiling at herself in the mirror, and touching the textures on his body. Now at 4.5 months he is still a favorite, but mostly for crunching and munching on his wings!

Best Stroller
Quinny Zapp Xtra

I just adore my stroller choice, and for entirely different reasons then I bought it for! I went with the Quinny Zapp Xtra for a stroller choice because it was the only stroller I could find that would fit in the trunk of my beloved Mini Cooper without having to put the seats down. A stroller that fits in your car is an important factor to consider when making a purchase, but my second criteria was I wanted a stroller that would last so I wouldn't be buying more then one for the life of my child. This stroller is lightweight, and has 5 positions to grow with baby. When my baby was born she wasn't a fan of her car seat, but she loved the flat bassinet setting on this stroller so it was a lifesaver for some early outings. When she got to about 3 months old I started to use the partially reclined setting where baby faces me which is ideal for my child since she likes to keep Mom in sight. All this in an adorable shade of brown. Storage space is limited on this stroller, but I can hang my diaper bag over the handles so that is enough space for me!

Best Baby Carrier
Boba 3G

I planned on wearing my baby from the start, but I didn't realize how tricky it would be to wear a small baby. She was born at just under 6lbs so I started in a sling, but soon realized that she and I were much more comfortable in a Boba 3G Carrier. Lucky for us this carrier features a snap up newborn setting so I was able to wear baby from the beginning with her legs in a comfy froggy position. Some days this was the only place I could get my sweet little one to nap and I wore her around the house doing my day to day tasks in the process. On the weekends it goes on my husband for hikes, or trips to the grocery store. I own 4 other carriers, and this one is by far my absolute favorite. I cannot wait for the coming months when baby is old enough to try a back carry!

* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Images courtesy of Amazon.

Bunzi Balance Bike Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:08:00 +0000

Welcome to the Bunzi Balance Trainer Giveaway!

I have teamed up with Kate n' Kaboodle to share with you the hottest new toy to hit the U.S., the Bunzi from Chillafish!

The Bunzi gradual balance trainer bike from Chillafish is a unique 2-in-1 balance bike that can be switched between 3-wheel mode and 2-wheel mode in just a few seconds! I absolutely can't wait for my baby to be big enough to play with one of these bikes - they look like so much fun!

The Bunzi gradual balance trainer takes it step-by-step to learn balance. Smaller children can start off on 3 wheels until they get comfortable and then switch to two wheels when they are older. If your child isn't quite ready, it's easy to switch back for a while to 3 wheels to gain some more confidence. Bunzi has two seat positions, a seat position in 3-wheel mode that is low to the ground for comfort and a seat position in 2-wheel mode that is higher for making more speed. It features a cute bunny design and even a little storage container in the seat.

Bunzi is the perfect balance bike to allow your child to learn balance at their own pace and comfort level!

Connect

ChillaFish Online

ChillaFish Facebook

ChillaFish Twitter

Buy It

Bunzi is available at select Toys R' Us store for $49-59.

Win It

Bunzi Gradual Balance Trainer in choice of color!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mega Gift Card Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:40:00 +0000

Welcome to the Mega Gift Card Giveaway! Blueberry Squash has teamed up with For Him and My Family, Always Searching for Savings, Freebie Spot, Shopaholic Mommy, The Frugal Free Gal and other awesome blogs to give all our readers the chance to win some gift cards!

THREE LUCKY WINNERS will receive a $100 gift card of their choice! You can enter daily for the entire month of October, so be sure to bookmark this page and come back every day to claim all your entries!

Giveaway is open worldwide and ends October 31st at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bunzi Balance Bike Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:24:00 +0000

Attention bloggers! Sign up's are now open for the Kate n' Kaboodle Bunzi Giveaway. This is a free event to join!
Prize: Bunzi Balance Trainer
Dates: October 8-22
Sign up here.

$100 Minted.com GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 13:06:00 +0000

Blueberry Squash has teamed up with Oh My Gosh Beck! and other awesome blogs to bring you this fabulous giveaway sponsored by Minted.com. The winner will receive a $100 Minted gift code plus good towards anything on Minted.com including any of the fabulous Minted Holiday Cards in ther 2012 holiday collection!

I used Minted for my baby announcements, and plan on using them again for holiday greetings. The quality is top notch, and I love all the customizations you can do down to the envelopes and return address labels.

Send your friends and family unique holiday photo cards from Minted.com with style this year! These luxurious photo cards were created exclusively for Minted by their talented community of independent designers. Each of the modern holiday photo cards is fully customizable with your favorite family photo and personalized greeting.

Giveaway starts Sunday 9/23 at 3:00 PM EST and ends Friday 9/28 at 11:59 PM EST and is open to US.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Nap Extensions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 13:07:00 +0000

With a 4 month old baby in my arms sleep is a topic that is constantly on my mind. I read about it and celebrate it when it happens. I track sleep and I think about ways to get more of it.

My latest sleep obsession is nap extensions. Once I finally got my baby napping in the crib I found that she was still taking short cat naps throughout the day so instead of 2 long naps per day she was taking 4 short naps and never waking up fully rested.

I was happy that she was napping but I wanted more. My goal is to have her take 2 long naps and a catnap each day until she is ready for just 2 naps. So I downloaded a copy of Pantley's No Cry Nap Solution and got reading.

First I tried to extend naps in the crib since I was so proud of myself for getting baby to sleep there. I tried stalking her on the monitor an then patting her back to sleep. No luck. I tried waiting by the crib and picking her up to bounce her back to sleep. No luck. I tried jiggling the mattress to get her back to sleep. No luck. I experimented with timing, an technique but wasn't getting results.

Then I decided to try my luck napping baby in the Rock and Play Sleeper that she currently sleeps in at night next to my bed. I don't have a monitor set up in my bedroom so I swaddled and bounced the baby to sleep on an exercise ball and set up in bed beside her and waited.

A quick not on swaddling - I know that soon my baby will outgrow this magical tight wrapping, but it has been a lifesaver for us as far as sleep goes. I experimented with several swaddle blankets and found that she sleeps best in a Halo Swaddle Sack where her arms are tightly velcroed in to prevent escape, but her feet are loose so she can still kick out those night time farts. I have also noticed that she sleeps much better in the fleece sack as opposed to the cotton version.

I also put baby down with white noise, and Starry. "Starry" is a Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Soothe and Grow Seahorse. We named it Starry despite the fact that this stuffed lovey is a seahorse not a starfish. This sweet little animal is useful in two ways. First we use it as a sleep cue by playing the music while putting baby down for each nap and bedtime. I am hoping that by starting now Starry can eventually take the place of a swaddle when we are ready to wean. The other important thing about Starry is that she plays exactly 5 minutes of music. When you are soothing a baby back to sleep 5 minutes can seem like a lifetime so it is nice to have an idea of how long you have been at it. I am always telling my husband that if he hasn't gone at least 2 Starry's then he hasn't tried hard enough to get baby down.

Now back to the nap extensions ...

The first time I tried to extend a nap in the Rock and Play Sleeper went well! After 30 minutes without stirring her eyes popped open for a few seconds and closed again. I began to rock her back to sleep and she started to doze off. She woke up and had to be rocked back to sleep multiple times over the next 20 minutes, and then at the 50 minute mark went down and woke up for good at 90 minutes. The afternoon nap I didn't do as well, but was able to extend a 30 minute nap to 60 minutes.

Pantley suggests that after a week of extending naps baby should begin to take longer naps on her own. I have been at it just a few days with some success, and some failures. It is more work having to sit beside baby while she naps, but I am willing to give it a go for the rewards at the end of this tunnel.

Three Common Myths About Feeding Solids to Infants

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:24:00 +0000

Feeding your baby can seem very complicated because so many conflicting arguments are presented to mothers of infants. Everyone, from your grandmother to total strangers, has advice and instructions on the best way to feed your baby. It was bad enough when your feeding options were limited to breast or bottle-feeding. However, once the baby approaches four months of age and you can choose to feed solid foods to him, more well-meaning suggestions will come your way.

Being able to distinguish the truth from common misconceptions is the hallmark of a good parent. Additionally, you must be able to figure out what will work for your family. Each mother and child is unique and you must find feeding solutions that are best for your baby. Here are three common myths about the feeding of solids to young infants.

1. Solid food will help the baby sleep better at night.

By the time a baby is a few months old, most mothers are understandably tired of being awakened in the night by a hungry baby. They can’t wait for the day when they will wake in the morning completely rested after an uninterrupted night’s sleep. Some mothers mistakenly believe that the sooner the baby is eating “real food,” the sooner they will get six or eight hours of rest.

However, studies have found no difference in the nighttime waking of babies that were introduced to solids and those who were only fed milk. In fact, babies who are younger than six months old may sleep worse upon the introduction of solids. The reason for this is that the digestive system may not be ready for food other than breast milk or formula. Infants fed solids too early may wake more frequently due to stomachaches. Therefore, even if your doctor says you can try solids with your infant at the age of four months, you may be better off to wait a few weeks.

2. Babies that are too big/small need solid food.

Ironically, the same people who tell you that your infant needs more nourishment than milk will provide will also claim that a tiny baby needs more than just formula or breast milk. Weight and measurements are only tools to determine whether or not your infant is average. If your child is growing normally and seems happy, there is no rush to start solids regardless of his size.

Ounce for ounce, breast milk and formula provide more calories than baby food. If your infant needs more to eat, starting solids early may not be the answer. Feeding solids will actually decrease the stomach capacity for nourishing milk. All that a baby needs to eat for at least six months is formula or breast milk. In fact, some cultures that breastfeed babies through the toddler years seldom introduce adult food until babies are well over a year old.

3. Breastfed babies need baby food because they will not get enough iron.

It is true that human breast milk has lower iron levels than infant formulas. However, the iron that breast milk does contain is in a form that babies can absorb more easily than the iron that is in formula. Nature provides the perfect food for babies, and it is breast milk. However, after the age of six months, some babies may need additional iron as their bodies deplete the iron stores that they had at birth. Fortified baby food can help with this.

Mothers should research the reasons for everything that they do before and after baby arrives—researching the best health options before birth, like deciding whether to breast or bottle-feed, whether to invest in umbilical cord blood banking, or which additional immunizations to have your baby receive, to infancy decisions like when to introduce solid foods to By knowing common myths about feeding babies, mothers can make the wisest decisions for their children.

“This is a guest post written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the Mom-o-sphere of the blogging world. Just after becoming a Mom herself, Katie took to blogging to share her knowledge and passion for motherhood, pregnancy, children, fitness and overall health. She enjoys spending time with her family, writing and researching, and connecting with others! If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog “Moore From Katie,” or her twitter @moorekm26."

Images copyright Brooke Photo Studio 2012.

Fluffy Wonderful Organic Cotton Hats!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 20:34:00 +0000

There is nothing better then soft organic cotton on a sweet baby. With so many options to chose from I lean towards the realm of the handmade, and the talented Heather Meagher of Feathermar is one of my absolute favorite craftspeople with a knack for knitting.

Simple, soft and utterly delightful I slip one of the two of her hats in Molly's wardrobe over her adorable head frequently. Unlike the commercially made hats we have tried, the softness of Feathermar's hats ensures a tear free hat wearing experience which means a lot to me as a new mother.

Another feature that I adore about these hats is the sizing. With so many baby products I feel like I barely get a chance to use them before Molly has grown into the next size. The hats are made for a 0-3 month old baby, but at 3.5 months they still look cute on Molly and have some stretch so I am going to keep them in my rotation as long as I can.

Moving my mind away from the cute to the practical aspects of this hat I must mention that it is made with organic cotton. Cotton is one of those fabrics that is so much a part of an American wardrobe experience, but is also grown using many harsh pesticides. For sweet, pure baby skin I prefer to buy organic cotton when I can to limit Molly's exposure to all those chemicals.

Being a photographer I can't help but look at these sweet hats as a prop option for newborn photography. Their simplicity allows them to be perfect for a variety of photo shoot ideas, a perfect prop to be used again and again.

On top of all this goodness, Feathermar is amazingly affordable at just $10 for one hat or $18 for two! You can buy them directly from their shop, or for a limited time enter to win a pair of hats in your choice of colors below. You can also get 10% off with code ORGANICBABY for the month of September in the shop so pop on over and take a look!

Find Feathermar on Etsy, Facebook & their Blog.

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Sleep? The First Two Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:51:00 +0000

I can report that I don't have one of those magical babies who seems to sleep soundly all by themselves. Sleep for these first 3 months has been a journey to say the least, and the more I talk to other parents the more I see that I am not alone in my quest to make sure my sweet baby catches enough zzzzz's.

The first two weeks are those magical sleepy weeks where newborns snooze randomly throughout the day. However, as with most newborns, mine had her days and nights mixed up. The first two nights were full of trial and error. I expected my baby would sleep soundly in her Rock and Play Sleeper next to the bed, but she was just too small to get comfortable in it at just under 6lbs. We tried bringing her portable swing into the room on vibrate for night #2 and then by the third night knew we needed another sleeping solution.

I liked the idea of co-sleeping, but was just too afraid with my tiny newborn to bring her directly into the bed so we settled on a Snuggle Nest Surround after some quick research and I sent my husband to the store to grab one. The Snuggle Nest was a lifesaver! We placed it in the center of our queen size bed and both scooted down just below the nest. Our heads were close to the baby to check on her breathing, and we were still close enough to hold hands during those precious few moments of sleep. Not only was having her close ideal, but the Snuggle Nest also has white noise that helped calm her down and a night light which aided me in nursing her in the dark.

So now that she had somewhere to sleep, the question became how to get her to sleep? We quickly learned that we were changing her diaper too frequently during the night, and that all that action and light was not helping us out. So we started changing less frequently instead of every time that she woke and things began to get easier. She was waking every 2 hours to eat around the clock during these first two weeks, and it was taking about 45 minutes to settle her back to sleep during the night for these first two weeks, but things would get start to get easier in the coming weeks.

Besides the Snuggle Nest there were two other products I was glad we had on hand to get through these early days. The first is a swaddle blanket. My baby seems to sleep best in the warm fuzzy variety, the tighter the better. For the first two weeks I liked Summer Infant fleece swaddle blankets. Although I had some aden and anais muslin blankets that I loved, they were just too tricky to fold around the baby tightly enough during the early days so having the Summer Infant blankets on hand was fantastic. I had 1 in my stash and quickly went out to get 3 more so I would always have a clean one for bed time.

It is scary to venture out, but if you are lucky your baby might sleep through the entire trip. My baby did not like the car so getting anywhere during this time period was heartbreaking for my husband and I, and we kept it to a minimum. Forget about the stroller with this baby! She just fussed. I had a few baby carriers in my stash, but she didn't fit in any because of her small size so I ended up getting a Maya Sling which was fantastic for a small baby. I was able to take a few walks during week #2 with the sling and use it to nap the baby around the house which I was really grateful for. I was all about taking it easy to heal, but a little bit of sunshine does a body good! The sling was also an easy way to calm her down when she was feeling a little bit fussy.

So in a nutshell that was what sleep was like for the first two weeks. As soon as I find some time I will write the next post in this series about sleep for weeks 2-6.

Call Me Momma!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:19:00 +0000

You might have noticed that I haven't posted recently, and assumed that my baby arrived. If so you would be right! Baby Molly arrived at 11:22 AM on May 13th, 2012 via waterbirth at a tiny 5lbs, 14oz. She made an early appearance at 37 weeks and 2 days so I didn't get everything checked off my before baby arrives checklist, but in the end everything worked out perfectly.

As I write this sweet Molly is nearing her 3 month birthday, and I have so many things that I want to share. I thought I would be one of those bloggers back writing the day after she was born, but I couldn't have been more wrong. The adventure of motherhood has consumed my life, and each minute of free time I get has been devoted to my sweet little one. Now that I am working towards fewer, longer naps and have caught up on my nesting around the house I plan on blogging more and sharing my journey along the way.

First on my list will include Molly's birth story, and the multitude of insight I now have into things I am so happy I got, and things I could have lived without. I have also been reading up so there will be plenty of book reviews on the way as well. This happy Momma has a lot to share!

New Baby Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

During my pregnancy I have looked at countless new baby checklists. Each list seems to have its own opinion about what exactly one needs to have on hand before the baby comes home.

I decided to use the New Baby Checklist over at Amazon as the base for my research, and as a tool to build my registry for several practical reasons. I researched everything -- even the list to base my research on!

Comprehensive list with links to products and buyers guides.
Multiple reviews on each product help me make final decisions. In my experience the reviews on Amazon have been honest, and comprehensive. I like that people take the time to write bad, and good reviews where on other sites it seems like only people with negative experiences take the time to voice an opinion.
While I am researching I keep the New Baby Checklist open in one window, and research in another window. When I make a decision for each category I add products directly to my Amazon Baby Registry. Set up your registry first so when you find a product you like you can simply use the Add to Registry button on each product page.
For items I want to think about or do more research I created a Wish List on Amazon and set it to private so only I can see it. Remember not to put products you are unsure of on your list because you never know when someone will buy you a gift!
Returns & customer service with Amazon are AMAZING. I have returned multiple items, and always got quick service. They provide free return shipping with an easy to print label. I even had one item they told me just to keep since I was such a good customer and gave me a return anyway!
If a product you love isn't on Amazon (I had very few of these) you can still add them to your registry for people to purchase so it is really an all in one website for baby! People can also buy you gifts locally, and mark them as purchased on your registry which makes things flexible.
Reasonable quantities are suggested for products like blankets, diapers, and clothing.
Advise is also given for cloth vs. disposable diapers and breastfeeding vs. formula feeding gear.

So there it is, my all in one place where I did the research that turned into my registry, and this blog. I hope you find this information helpful, and wish you a fun journey shopping for your little one.

Nurture Shock : New Thinking About Children

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I picked up Nurture Shock : New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman on my way to the airport after my baby shower. I read the bulk of it on the plane ride, and finished it up when I returned home.

When I was peeking through the parenting section I decided on Nurture Shock because it is a scientific book about new ways to think about childhood that spans from baby into teenage years. I was ready for a break from pregnancy and baby specific books, and this was the perfect choice. The book is a New York Times Bestseller which I found in the Psychology section that is not like any other parenting book I have read thus far.

The book takes on topics like sleep, race, and lies with new insight backed up by scientific studies. It is less of a parenting book, and more of a thought provoking resource. When I read the chapter on why children lie I was intrigued by the theories, but in the end wasn't sure exactly how I would parent my child on the issue. I enjoy a book that opens up my mind to new ideas, and this book certainly fits the bill.

This book exposes some of the flaws in modern parenting, and offers scientific information to back up its theories. It is thoughtful, and well researched. A good read for parents in all stages of the journey.

Find out what other books I have been reading lately at this link.

The Car Seat Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:41:00 +0000

As a new parent I have scoured the web for information on car seats to make sure I was making the right choice for my child. I wanted to share with you one of the resources that I found : The Car Seat Lady. This website is a simple comprehensive resource for new and experienced parents alike to learn about car seat safety, and keep up to date as the laws evolve.

I especially enjoyed the section on rear facing car seats, and was pleased with the vast amount of information. This website is full of useful articles, and I think eventually I will read just about all of them. Each article is useful and to the point. The website includes information not only about car seats in your car, but also in airplanes, buses, and taxis which is great for travelers.

Another useful section has articles on the LATCH system which is found in most newer vehicles on the market in the USA. It answered some questions that were floating in my mind as well as teaching me a few new things along the way.

This website is on my bookmark list, and should prove useful during the time I have my child in a car seat. If you have any other car seat safety resources you'd like to share please feel free to leave the links in the comments.

* I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Image copyright Brooke Photo Studio, LLC.

35 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Week 35 has been a week of rest, hydration and preparing for baby to arrive. All the bags are packed, the birth plan is on file so now as we approach a full term pregnancy at 37 weeks the excitement is building! I am looking forward to week 36 which will begin with my wedding anniversary and finding out what that cake that has been in the freezer for the past year actually tastes like!

* Images copyright Brooke Photo Studio, LLC.

Maternity Panities

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:30:00 +0000

During this pregnancy I have been trying so hard not to buy anything frivolous for my wardrobe. I wanted to keep things simple and save all that cash for the baby. As my panties grew tighter I bought a new size at a local discount store, and put off the though of maternity underwear. It seemed silly to me, and many people said they were unnecessary. Then one day I woke up fed up with the uncomfortable fit of my undergarments and decided to spend the cash and give maternity panties a try.

I went with the Motherhood Maternity brand because I already knew that their clothing fit me well, and was true to size. The store associate suggested I buy one size up from my pre-maternity size which sounded like a plan so I picked up a 3 pack of hipster style panties and was off.

These panties aren't anything extra sexy, but the cut isn't frumpy either. They are a soft stretchy cotton that fits my pregnancy curves just right! I was blown away by the new level of comfort in my pants, and now instead of thinking maternity panties are silly, I think I was silly for not trying them sooner! I have since grabbed another pack online and actually enjoy putting on my new little panties each day.

Baby Barbells: The Dad's Guide to Fitness and Fathering

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:59:00 +0000

I came across this adorable book and wanted to do a review for those of you out there looking for a great gift for a new dad or dad-to-be. It is called Baby Barbells : The Dad's Guide to Fitness and Fathering, and simply stole my heart when I browsed through it. There are tons of women orientated baby workouts, but this one is just for dad. The book is filled with charming retro style illustration with dad advise, and workout moves to tone up with baby including baby push ups. This charming workout routine is the perfect gift for fathers on your list ... a great way to knock out fathers day early this year!

Top 10 Supplies for Cloth Diapering a Newborn

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:09:00 +0000

Cloth diapering is good for baby, environment, and your wallet. Depending on the size of your baby you may need to purchase newborn size diapers first before moving on to the popular all-in-one styles that grow with your baby. Here are some of my favorite cloth diapering supplies & kits specific to newborns. I am personally starting with the gDiapers newborn bundle & then moving to Bumgenius 4.0, but there are many options out there for you to choose from! If you already cloth diaper what do you use?

Top 10 Supplies for Cloth Diapering a Newborn

Let the Baby Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:49:00 +0000

I really enjoy stories from mothers about how events unfolded when baby was brought home, and what choices they made in the arena of how to raise their child. The more and more research I do I am discovering that motherhood is really a lifestyle choice. It is about the choices you make for yourself, and the choices that you make for your children. There are many ways to raise a child, and I enjoy reading about them all.

I found the book Let the Baby Drive by Lu Hanessian when browsing through baby books on Amazon. I often browse titles online just like in a bookstore and look for something that catches my eye. I ended up with a used copy at a great deal that turned out to be an old library copy when it arrived. At first I thought maybe I should have sprung for the new copy, but the worn pages grew on me as I read the book and I wondered about all the other people who read the same words on the same pages that I was.

The book is Hanessian's story of moving from high powered career woman into motherhood. She speaks with an honest candor about bringing her first child home, and then later in the book her second. She receives advise from many sources as most mothers do, and in the end decides to push the bulk of it aside and "Let the baby drive." The book is all about where her intuition took her on the adventure that is motherhood.

The book is humorous, thoughtful and an overall enjoyable read. It is a comforting and eye opening thought to trust your intuition for new parents who are buried in books and advise. It is not your average parenting book, and would make a thoughtful addition to your reading list for new and old parents alike.

Find out what other books I have been reading lately at this link.

$1000 in Prizes!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:30:00 +0000

It's Kate n' Kaboodle's blog birthday and to celebrate, we have teamed up to bring you a mega giveaway with prizes worth over $1000!! This giveaway will have MULTIPLE WINNERS! Check out the prizes below!

NuMe, Curling Wand ($225 value)

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EasyLunchBoxes, container set and lunch box($22 value)

My Wonderful Walls, item of choice (up to $157 value)

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Kidco, GoPod ($50 value)

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The Devyn Bag ($130 value)

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Chicobag, (5) Solstice Collection ($13 value each)

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Headline Shirts, shirt of choice ($24 value)

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Heirloom Wooden Toys, gift certificate ($40 value)

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Zoobies, pet of choice ($35 value)

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Creative Toy Shop, gift certificate ($25 value)

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Dali Decals, gift certificate ($100 value)

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PlaSmart, Plasma Car ($70 value)

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MobSwad of choice by Woombie ($38 value)

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BabyLegs, prize pack in choice of gender ($50 value)

Phew, that's a lot of loot! Enter on the Rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* I teamed up with a variety of bloggers to bring you this giveaway. All questions, concerns, and legalities should be directed to the sponsor : Kate n Kaboodles.

Diapers.com

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:22:00 +0000

I heard a lot about Diapers.com, but didn't check it out until I got a coupon code in the mail. They have a wide variety of products, and carry the Bumgenius cloth diapers that I am collecting for the arrival of my baby so I decided to give the site a look.

Well ... I REALLY decided to take a look when I saw they were offering 20% cash back on your first order with the purchase of diapers. I was still collecting my cloth diaper stash at the time, and being that it is an item that rarely goes on sale 20% I decided to place an order. I grabbed up about $100 worth of Bumgenius, and was quite pleased with the color selection and ease of ordering. I spent enough to get free shipping which is common on many websites, however the difference on Diapers.com was that I got FAST free shipping. My diapers arrived the very next day which was quicker than they promised, but something I would never complain about. Another sometimes overlooked bonus was that the box was thick and well packaged so when it arrived my diapers were in perfect condition.

Since my first order I have to admit that I have been back. Use the $20 Cash back on your first order with the purchase of diapers on your first purchase, and then there is another way to grab some sweet discounts. Go to Diapers.com, and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. You will see a blue section called Services & Support. Under that section click on Coupons to see the latest deals that are being offered on the website. I used one of these codes to do some last minute baby shower shopping for a friend, and got a great deal.

Besides diapers, wipes and the day to day essentials Diapers.com also offers baby gear, and green products among other items. The selection is fantastic, the prices are great, you can get free 2 day shipping with a $49 purchase -- Diapers.com is defnitally one of my go-to baby shopping websites!

34 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I am excited beyond words at the pending arrival of my baby. My husband has been the sweetest most supportive man during this entire process. If you had asked me if he could get any sweeter at the beginning of this journey I would have told you he was already at maximum sweetness, but somehow he has found even more love to share with me and the baby.

I never anticipated how powerful of a journey pregnancy would be. The two birthing classes we have attended were life changing for us both. Not only were we able to grow in our relationship, and see just how lucky we are to not face some of the challenges we saw other couples face, but we have grown both our spiritual and practical knowledge of parenting beyond words. These classes were nothing like what you see on TV, but rather spiritual workshops that have proved to be one of my favorite parts of the pregnancy process.

I chose a birthing center as the place to have our baby because they believe a baby should be born into the world in the same way we do, but I didn't anticipate how powerful the guidance I would gain from the midwives would be. Each visit I gain more and more knowledge. I have even compared the experience to friends as a college course. I feel educated and ready for my journey.

So week 34 has been a week of reflection, a week of thankfulness, and a week of anticipation.