I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t had much opportunity to write about Silje. Well, my sweet little girl will be 1 years old next month! Yes, it’s hard to believe time has went by so fast. She’s been reaching so many milestones lately! At the end of 9 months she started walking. At 10 months she practiced a lot & just tried to stay upward while in motion, and now at 11 months she’s got it down & she’s working on her speed.. and boy is she fast.

She’s also a real wiggleworm when it comes time to change her diaper. So when we had the opportunity for another milestone courtesy of Huggies of course we said yes. What milestone is that? Well, her first fitting with Huggies Slip-On Diapers. It was so cute because she wants so bad to do everything her brothers do that she is already trying to learn how to get dressed, put on shoes, brush her hair. All that stuff. So when I brought out the Slip-Ons & told her to hold out her leg for me it took a minute to catch on but she finally figured it out. It was so much easier than dealing with her legs kicking me in the face while she laughs at me.

Taking the Huggies Slip-Ons off was just as easy. They have super stretchy sides which are easy to open & the grip tabs allow you to fold the diaper up & close them with the tab like you would normally do.

Huggies Slip-Ons are definitely going to be my go-to diaper for when we’re at the park, or, out for a long walk, or even like today when we were out and had to try to change a diaper without a changing table! So much easier to just pull off & pull on. Plus I’m hoping to get her potty trained a lot earlier than my boys & hoping just the action of pulling on the diapers like underwear will help her to learn faster.

I can’t wait to see what milestone she passes next, though I have to admit I’m pretty sad my last baby is growing up so fast.

For coupons and to learn more about your baby’s first fitting, visit the Huggies Fitting Room

 www.huggies.com

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Huggies. The opinions and text are all mine.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in the Senate, and Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Susan Davis (D-CA) and Marcia Fudge (D-OH) in the House, joined by the leaders of women’s advocacy organizations, unions, and business groups from across the nation, introduced critical legislation – the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act – to ensure that pregnant women are not forced out of jobs unnecessarily or denied reasonable job modifications that would allow them to continue working. Currently, pregnant working women around the country are being denied simple adjustments – permission to use a stool while working a cash register, or to carry a bottle of water to stay hydrated, or temporary reassignment to lighter duty tasks – that would keep them working and supporting their families while maintaining healthy pregnancies. The legislation will close legal loopholes and ensure that pregnant women are treated fairly on the job.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will accomplish this by requiring employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and preventing employers from forcing women out on leave when another reasonable accommodation would allow them to continue working. The bill also bars employers from denying employment opportunities to women based on their need for reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

In recent and startling examples, Amy Crosby, a hospital cleaner in Tallahassee, Florida, was forced into unpaid leave from her job when the hospital refused to accommodate her doctor’s request that she not lift more than 20 pounds because of her pregnancy; Heather Wiseman, a retail worker in Salina, Kansas, was fired because she needed to carry a water bottle to stay hydrated and prevent bladder infections; and Victoria Serednyj, an activity director at a nursing home in Valparaiso, Indiana, was terminated because she required help with some physically strenuous aspects of her job to prevent having another miscarriage. For the well-being of pregnant workers, and for the sake of the economic stability of American families, our laws must be updated and clarified.

Some states have passed laws like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to ensure that pregnant workers have on-the-job protections. In those states – Alaska, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Hawaii, Illinois, Texas, and soon Maryland – pregnant workers already have the peace of mind they deserve.

The federal legislation has the support of a broad coalition of civil rights and women’s advocacy organizations, unions, and business associations, including: A Better Balance; the AFL-CIO; the American Association of University Women; the American Civil Liberties Union; the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; California Women’s Law Center; Equal Rights Advocates; Hadassah; the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center; Legal Momentum; the Main Street Alliance; the National Partnership for Women & Families; the National Organization for Women Foundation; the National Women’s Law Center; and many others.

“Pregnant workers face discrimination in the workplace every day, which is an inexcusable detriment to women and working families in Pennsylvania and across the country,” said Senator Casey. “This bill will finally extend fairness to pregnant women so that they can continue to contribute to a productive economy while progressing through pregnancy in good health.”

“It is unconscionable that pregnant women are not fully protected on the job,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler. “When American families are struggling to make ends meet, we must do everything we can to keep people in their jobs and prevent families from falling through the cracks. Ensuring that a pregnant woman can receive minor and reasonable job accommodations to maintain a healthy pregnancy should be a no-brainer. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is an essential clarification of our laws that underscores our society’s support for pregnant women and their families.”

“With the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, women will get the reasonable protections they deserve while being able to continue working with a healthy pregnancy,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen said. “Women are a critical part of our workforce and we should do everything we can to support the expecting mothers who are working to provide for their families and contributing to the economy.”

“Working mothers-to-be must be treated fairly and without prejudice by employers,” Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney said. “With Mothers Day fresh in our minds, true family-friendly policies should be easy to accomplish – but sadly that is not true. ‘Maternal Profiling’ should be against the law, and under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act it will be.”

“Women are not disposable workers who can be cast off if, and when, they are pregnant,” said Congresswoman Jackie Speier. “Welcoming women in the workforce also means women who are pregnant. They deserve the same treatment as any other employee who is in need of a temporary accommodation. I served in the California State Assembly during both of my pregnancies and understand the challenges that working women are confronted with during those nine months. In addition to the regular stresses that come with carrying a child, working women should not also fear losing their paycheck.”

“With more and more women working while pregnant, we need to make sure that their employers provide them the reasonable and necessary accommodations they need (such as access to water) to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy,” said Congresswoman Susan Davis. “It is unfortunate that Congress needs to even address this issue since any sensible person would consider it inconceivable to fire a pregnant woman for trying to care for the health of herself and her baby.”

“Women make up nearly half of the American workforce and their salaries are critical to their families’ economic security,” said Congresswoman Marcia Fudge. “Reasonable accommodations enable pregnant women to remain productive workers. I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation because workplace fairness is good for families, good for the economy, and good for our nation.”

“In a country that values family and fairness, having a baby should not mean losing a job and jeopardizing family financial stability,” said Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is balanced, reasonable and badly needed legislation that would combat this blatant discrimination, which costs women and their families terribly. We thank Senators Casey and Shaheen and Representatives Nadler, Maloney, Speier, Davis and Fudge for championing this bill, and call on all members of Congress to prioritize equality for pregnant workers.”

“The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is consistent with the Main Street Alliance’s commitment to fairness in the workplace, job security and economic growth,” said Kelly Conklin, co-owner of Foley Waite Associates, an architectural woodworking company based in Bloomfield, NJ, and a Main Street Alliance executive committee member. “Weak customer demand is a top concern for small businesses. If pregnant mothers have to worry constantly about keeping their jobs, they’re not going to be renovating that nursery room to get ready for baby. The more we do to protect job security, the sooner we’ll see better economic growth.”

“As a longtime advocate of workers and a new grandmother, I take it personally that any woman would face discrimination on the job or lack of accommodations while she is pregnant,” said AFL-CIO executive vice president Arlene Holt Baker. “We have to stop treating working mothers as a burden and realize the contributions they make both on the job and in the home. Congressman Nadler’s Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will go a long way to supporting working moms and their new families and the AFL-CIO is proud to stand behind it.”

“The PWFA simply would require employers to extend the accommodations they already provide workers with disabilities to their pregnant employees,” said Emily Martin, vice president at the National Women’s Law Center. “By making these reasonable adjustments, pregnant workers could work longer under safe conditions and provide for their families. And employers would retain their trained workforce and avoid the costs of high turnover. This is a win-win proposition that Congress should support.”

“Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is common-sense legislation that would help prevent blatant discrimination against pregnant workers and enable millions of women, particularly those in low-wage and physically demanding jobs, to keep working and supporting their families. No pregnant woman in this country should have to choose between her job and a healthy pregnancy,” said Dina Bakst, president of A Better Balance.

“Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center is pleased to endorse the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Seventy-five percent of women in the workforce will become pregnant while employed. Yet far too many women are forced out of their jobs when they need them most – when they are expecting a new child. California enacted reasonable accommodations for pregnant women in 1999, and the law has been used countless times to enable women to keep their jobs and support their families while maintaining healthy pregnancies. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a common-sense public policy. No woman should have to choose between her health and her job,” said Sharon Terman, senior staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center.

“Legal Momentum strongly supports the PWFA,” said Elizabeth Grayer, president of Legal Momentum. “This bill provides long overdue safeguards that are particularly important for women working low-wage jobs with few benefits or flexibility, and for women working in non-traditional occupations. No woman should have to choose between a healthy pregnancy and supporting herself and her family. Reasonable, necessary accommodations for pregnant workers benefit employees, their families, and ultimately workplaces overall.”

“Working families need and want to keep working,” said Noreen Farrell, executive director of Equal Rights Advocates. “ERA strongly supports the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act because similar protections under California law make the case for federal change. Pregnant women are working with accommodations. Businesses are benefitting from happy and productive long-term employees. It is a win-win.”

“The economic health of most American families is dependent on working mothers. Seventy million women work outside the home, and three-quarters of them will have children during their lifetime. These women will work through their pregnancies, in fact they must to make ends meet. The last thing an expecting mom should have to worry about is job security, but far too many women face discrimination directly because of their pregnancies. That’s why we need the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. We need updated tools to ensure equal opportunity for all working women, which in turn will improve the bottom line for American families,” said Lisa Maatz, director of public policy and government relations at the American Association of University Women.

Disclosure: Above information provided by office of Senator Bob Casey.

Calling all egg-sperts! Eggland’s Best is searching far and wide to find the first-ever Eggland’s Best Chief Egg Officer!  Do you have what it takes? They’re looking for “CEO” candidates who demonstrate:

• An egg-streme passion for EB eggs
• A sunny-side up disposition
• An eagerness to get cracking as an EB ambassador

The grand prize winner will be awarded $5,000 and the honorary title of Eggland’s Best Chief Egg Officer. The grand prize winner will also receive a one-year supply of Eggland’s Best eggs, to ensure they are only eating thE Best. Two runners-up will receive a six-month supply of Eggland’s Best eggs and $500.

Eggland’s Best eggs are America’s #1 Egg! Compared to ordinary eggs, Eggland’s Best eggs contain:

• 10 times more Vitamin E
• 2 times more Vitamin D
• More than double the Omega-3
• 25% less saturated fat
• 3 times more Vitamin B12
• 38% more lutein
• And so much more!

Ready to get whisked away in this egg-citing contest? Visit the Eggland’s Best website and tell them why you would make the best “CEO.” Entries will be accepted from May 13, 2013 through July 31, 2013. Don’t scramble at the last minute – enter today!

Other key contest dates:

• Semi-Finalist Consumer Online Voting: September 9, 2013 – September 30, 2013
• Finalist Consumer Online Voting: October 28, 2013 – November 17, 2013
• Winner Announcement: December 2013

Connect With Eggland’s Best Online:

Eggland’s Best Website : www.egglandsbest.com

Eggland’s Best Chief Egg Officer Contest:  www.egglandsbest.com/chiefeggofficer

Eggland’s Best on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/egglandsbesteggs

Eggland’s Best on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/egglandsbest

Disclosure: The Eggland’s Best Chief Egg Officer information was provided by Eggland’s Best.

Voots^® Veggie-Fruit Tarts, which are a kids supplement are having an awesome sweepstakes on their Facebook page.  Unfortunately with everything going on around here I am just now letting you know about the sweeps but that’s ok because there’s still time to enter to win!

The Good Stuff Mother’s Day Sweepstakes – a Facebook campaign that celebrates all the “good stuff” that moms cherish with their families (dinner at home, glowing marks on report cards, tucking your kids into bed at night, weekend soccer games, etc.) invites moms to look back on the last year of good stuff with their own families!

Sweepstakes participants are entered to win the prize of the day (such as a beautiful bouquet of flowers or a $100 AMEX gift card!) as well as the grand prize trip for four to Disneyland in Southern California that covers airfare, accommodations and park tickets! 

Sweepstakes ends Mother’s Day 5/12/13 at 11:59 PM Pacific time ( 2:59 AM EST).  You must “like” the page to enter!

Fans can enter here:

https://apps.facebook.com/vootsgoodstuff 

Send an e-card While You’re There

Send an e-card through your own timeline or on your friends’ timelines for Mother’s Day courtesy of Voots. You can insert your own photo, type a message & even change the frames. It’s cute, super easy & tasteful. Be sure to check out the card as it’s a great way to share some good stuff with all the moms in your life this Mother’s Day!

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Click infographic to view a larger version on the cashnetusa.com website.

This Mother’s Day wet n wild Beauty has collaborated with the Noreen Fraser Foundation (NFF) to support women’s cancer research. Together, they have created the Extraordinary #MOMents campaign, encouraging individuals to enter why their mom is extraordinary.

How to Enter

Entering the campaign is simple:

• Post a photo of your mom on wet n wild’s Facebook page with a special memory of what makes her amazing.

• For each #MOMent shared, wet n wild will give a dollar to the Noreen Fraser Foundation to support women’s cancer research.

Winners Will Receive:

• The winner and their mom will each receive a year supply of wet n wild makeup and $100 Walgreens gift cards.

• Two runners-up will receive wet n wild gift packages worth $100 and $25 Walgreens gift cards.

 http://www.facebook.com/wetnwildcosmetics

Send Mom a Hilarious e-card For a Good Cause!

Noreen Fraser Foundation believes in the power of humor to heal and has collaborated with many celebrities including Seth MacFarlane, Jack Black, Zach Galifianakis, Kim Kardashian, Will Farrell and Neil Patrick Harris, to name a few. Each celebrity has created a quick and hilarious e-card for the foundation this Mother’s Day. They are helping get the word out about the importance of early detection via celebrity Mother’s Day cards, which we hope will go viral this Mother’s Day. Watch all the videos & send a card here: www.noreenfraserfoundation.org/ecards/sendcard/

More About Noreen Fraser & Noreen Fraser Foundation

Noreen Fraser is, actually, in her 13th year of battling stage IV breast cancer. She was first diagnosed in 2001 and underwent radiation / lumpectomy, only to have the cancer return as metastatic / incurable two years later. She decided to advocate because of her family — her love for husband Woody, son Mac, and daughter Madeleine motivated her to take action and stand up against this war on cancer.

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This is a #sponsored review

There are very few things in this world that beat sitting in a nice recliner, cuddling your brand new baby and keeping your toes warm and in fashion. When it’s chilly, like it often is here in Michigan and you’ve got nothing between your feet and the cold kitchen floor, a lovely pair of furry, brushed-flannel insole booties can make you feel like you’re gliding on the ground.

They’re the perfect gift, especially for new moms who may have to get up several times during the night with baby.  The insides feel irresistible; they’re lined with silk and faux fur, the kind of stuff that makes your feet feel like they’re in slipper heaven.

They’re the easiest to take care of as well. Simply throw them in the washing machine, and let them air dry to perfect poofiness! You can even use them to keep your feet moisturized during the day. Instead of wearing your foot pads to bed after applying lotion, simply apply your normal lotion during the day and wear your booties!

Dearfoams womens booties come in a variety of colors and designs. There’s cheetah booties with decorative buttons and plush moccasin slippers to keep your feet warm. And their booties can be worn up over the ankle or folded down to show their soft, different-colored insides. Best of all, they’re affordable!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Your experience may vary.

Hip Dysplasia affects thousands of babies a year. Left undetected, it can cause hip arthritis and is the cause of over 10% of hip replacements in the U.S.

Pediatric Orthopedist Dr. Charles Price has been asked about hip dysplasia by many new parents and offers this information on the condition.  Dr. Price is head of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute which was founded by Larry the Cable Guy and his wife Cara after his son was successfully treated for the condition.  

Ask Dr. Price

Dr. Charles Price is a Pediatric Orthopedist at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

Q: What is hip dysplasia and when does it occur?

A: Hip Dysplasia occurs when children are born with the hip out of the socket or when the bones of the hip joint are not aligned correctly.  This prevents the hip joint from functioning properly, thus causing the joint to wear out much faster.  When babies are checked for the condition at birth about 2-3 babies per 1000 will require treatment, making it the most common newborn condition.  Recently orthopedists have also discovered cases of hip dysplasia developing after birth as a result of tight swaddling.

Q: Can hip dysplasia be corrected?

A: The earlier hip dysplasia is detected, the easier it is to correct without surgery.  

Q: How can post natal hip dysplasia be avoided?

Although swaddling an infant has many positive effects, often parents are taught to swaddle the baby’s entire body tightly to create a cocoon.  The restriction of movement in the lower half of the body can lead to post-natal hip dysplasia. To help avoid post natal hip dysplasia, swaddle just the top half of baby’s body and allow legs freedom of movement. Parents can learn more about safe swaddling here: http://www.hipdysplasia.org/developmental-dysplasia-of-the-hip/hip-healthy-swaddling/

Q: Is hip dysplasia painful?

A: Hip Dysplasia can be a “silent” condition meaning that pain is not normally felt until much later in life.  Undetected or “hidden” hip dysplasia is the most common cause of hip arthritis in young women under the age of 50.  It also accounts for about 10% of all total hip replacements in the U.S. each year, or approximately 35,000 from hip dysplasia.

Q5: How can we learn more?

A: For additional information on hip dysplasia, including safe swaddle tips and how to recognize it in your child, visit www.hipdysplasia.org

“While motherhood is filled with joyful moments, it comes with its fair share of hustle and bustle – especially in the morning when many moms are taking care of the kids, the husband, the dog – all while trying to get dressed and out the door.   It’s no wonder that for many of these women, their beauty regimen is the first to go!  While many women have lotion in their homes, the number one barrier to using it daily is time!  In fact, 80 Million women in the U.S. have body lotion in their homes, but don’t use it daily* because it takes too long to apply and absorb.

 

This Mother’s Day, Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer is giving moms back a little time in the morning! This quick, convenient spray lotion moisturizes deeply and absorbs in seconds so moms can get dressed right away and get on with their day.

 

Leaving skin instantly soft – not sticky or greasy – this breakthrough lotion is available in three variants, each containing a multi-layer moisture complex and working to infuse moisture across all layers of skin**”

 

* An estimated 80-95 million women in the U.S. keep body lotion in their homes, but don’t use it daily. [SOURCES: Kantar World Panel % weighted users – women 13+ using HBL on the body in the average week (recorded behavior) & in given year (claimed behavior)in US ; 2011 US Census Bureau; 2005 Hand and body lotion category Habits & Attitudes study in US]

**Stratum corneum (multi-layer surface skin)

• Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture®: contains pure oat extract and leaves skin feeling healthy & moisturized.

• Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Aloe Fresh: contains pure aloe and leaves skin feeling healthy and fresh.

• Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Cocoa Radiant™: contains pure cocoa butter and leaves skin feeling healthy and glowing.

Up, Switch, Down, Rub – It’s That Quick

Check out the video to see just how quick Vaseline Spray & Go really is!

http://bit.ly/XjJDk2

Where to Purchase

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer is available in food, drug and mass retailers for $7.99 (SRP) for a NET WT 6.5 OZ. can. Or you can find it on Amazon.com for only $5.94 (plus free shipping on orders over $25).

Mother’s Day Giveaway!

Prize: Want to try out Vaseline Spray & Go for yourself? Well you’re in luck. Vaseline is going to give 1 First-Time-Mommy reader a bottle of their own to try out AND a $100 gift card to Gap Inc.

How to Enter:

  2 Step process for entering. 

#1 Scroll down to the comment section directly on this blog and leave a comment telling us which Vaseline Spray & Go lotion you want to try the most.

#2 Fill out the Rafflecopter form (it’s a form & will pop up after a minute under this text).

Any questions just leave a comment or ask on Facebook.

Good Luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is not a review of said product.  Information & giveaway provided by Vaseline or Vaseline PR. This post contains an affiliate link. Any revenue produced from affiliate links go directly back into the running of this site & the First-Time-Mommy Facebook page. Thank you for understanding.

Baby: Avery  

Babies Sex:  Female

Due Date: 12/20/12 or 12/26/12 (see below)

Birth Date: 12/29/12

# of Weeks Pregnant: 40-41

Birth: Vaginal with epidural with induction

Babies Stats: 8lb 1oz and 20 inches long

Mom: Jessica I.

I had a fairly “normal” pregnancy all along. I didn’t have any major problems except the usual tiredness and sickness. I couldn’t wait to meet our little girl. My due date had been a subject of confusion from the beginning. According to my last menstrual cycle, my due date of 12/20/12 but according to my ultrasounds my due date was 12/26/12. Either way, my little bundle of joy was late.

At a doctor’s appointment on December 28th, our doctor asked if we would like to start the induction process. When we asked when we would start, her response was, “I would send you over right now.” Needless to say, my husband and I were surprised. We were sent over to our OB department and I was started on Cervidil at 5pm that night. They insert the pill to try to “ripen” and soften your cervix. At this point, I was not dilated and hadn’t had any contractions. The pill can be inserted every 4 hours. I was hooked up to monitors for both the baby and I and we settled in for the night. I received another pill at 9pm but still had not progressed or softened at all. Around 2:30am the nurse came in and said that the doctor decided to start me on Pitocin instead of doing another pill. The Cervidil was not helping and the doctor didn’t think there was any reason to try another pill. There is nothing like being woken up at 2:30 in the morning to be told your contractions will be starting soon. The Pitocin was started but I was still progressing very slowly. The doctor came in at 6am on the morning of the 29th and broke my water. With my husband and mother by my side, our journey was really about to start now.

With the breaking of my water, I finally started progressing and started to get very strong contractions. By 10am I was dilated to 4cm and the contractions were more than I could handle. The contractions were 2-3 minutes apart, giving me no break to rest in between. This is when I received the epidural. The process of getting the epidural was much easier than I anticipated. Within 10 minutes of getting the epidural, I was able to relax and felt great. I was even able to squeeze in a nap.

I woke up and got checked again around 2:30. Much to my surprise, I was dilated to 9cm! I began to push around 3:30pm. The head was already crowning and the doctor was brought in. Pushing was much harder and strenuous than the rest of the labor. I hadn’t eaten since lunch the previous day and hadn’t slept the night before so I was pushing on pure adrenaline. At 4:50pm, my little baby girl was born. She was immediately put on my chest and reached out and put her hand on my face. It was the most touching moment I would have imagined.

A big thank-you to Jessica for sharing her birth story with us!

If you would like to share yours, please email your story and 3-4 pictures to detroit.mommy (at) gmail (dot) com with the subject line: BIRTH STORY or Message me directly on Facebook with the subject line: BIRTH STORY. Please include all the stats above with your story.

Read More Birth Stories at the Following Link:

http://first-time-mommy.com/blog/category/birth-stories/

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