Not Your Typical Mommy

Happy Birthday Roo

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:02:00 +0000

Today is a super emotional day for me.

Today my oldest turns three... and that turns me into a bumbling, watery eyed Mama who wants to weep.

From the moment she was placed in my arms, I was hooked on her. And in the past three years she has grown and become this little girl that has hooked everyone around her. She is vibrant. She is crazy. She is an angel. She is a devil... and she looks just like her Daddy.

She is my heart.

Happy Birthday to my baby.

All Dryed Out

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:46:00 +0000

Another fun after-effect of having a baby is the night sweats.

Night after night I wake up soaked in my own sweat.

Gross, I know.

But sweating it out is how your body gets rid of all the water you retained during pregnancy. Plus with nursing I'm told you sweat even more. Meaning I shall be sweating at night for some time to come.

Lovely, huh?

Another problem I'm having (I'm full of them today) is that because of the sweating, my skin is feeling all dried out.

The skin around the tips of my fingers are peeling, my feet are unusually dry and my lips are so chapped it's disturbing.

I feel like a good soak in a vat of lotion would help, though I imagine very messy.

Any suggestions, ladies?

FYI: this entire post was typed one handed while cuddly a sleeping baby in the other. I truly am a multi-taskin' mama!

Rare Moments

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:10:00 +0000

No matter how much a Mommy loves her children, sometimes she needs time away.

And I love, love, love my girls, but even I need a moment to breathe by myself.

In my case, it's my beloved shower.

My husband watches both the girls and I get five minutes of hot, steamy goodiness all to myself.

Some of the time.

Some of the time I get to stand in the shower and shave my legs in peace. I can wash and condition my hair and if I'm lucky, I can stand there and do absolutely nothing.

Of course the other half of the time I am bombarded with requests to wash toy dinosaurs, hold hands through the shower curtain or hounded about when I will get out so I can feed the crying baby.

And my beloved, blissful moment doesn't exist.

Of course, I love my family and most of the time, happily grant all their requests but when I get those rare moments where no one enters the bathroom while I'm in there, it's a small piece of heaven. I moment where I can close my eyes and ignore everyone.

But when that does happen I get bored after five minutes of steamy yumminess and I usually rush through my shower and get out just so I can spend as much time with them as possible.

Because like I said, I love them.

The life of a Mom, ain't it grand?

She's A Funny One.

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:36:00 +0000

When you've been spoiled with a toddler for so long, you tend to forget how much effort it takes to get out of the house with a newborn.

With Roo, I check her diaper, brush her hair and teeth and make sure she doesn't have any stains on her clothes and we're out the door.

There's no fuss, no muss.

With Turtle, it's an hour long (sometimes a hour plus) adventure that normally ends with me forgetting something important, like more diapers or wipes.

This morning we had a play date at the park to celebrate Roo's upcoming birthday (yay cupcakes!). So I got Turtle up :45 before we had to leave so I could dress her, feed her and all that glory.

The first comedic act came when she didn't want to nurse. She preferred to stare at the ceiling fan and coo over it for some time. Then after she finally decided to latch on, she was lazy about it and every time I went to take her off, she decided she wanted more.

Then came the diaper fiasco. I would change her and two seconds later, she would dirty it up. We went through four diapers before she was finished (our record is five with Roo). You'd think a Mom would know to wait, but like I've said before I'm super impatient.

Oh, wait. There's more! As soon as I put her clean onesie on, she spit up all over it.

And you know what, it's a good thing I have a sense of humor... all this drama going on before 9:00am would crack a sane person, but not me.

I had no choice but to laugh at her... and show up late to our play date.

It's a good thing my friends understand.

:)

Zombies

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:07:00 +0000

No matter how good your baby is (or how cute she is), there will always be one night where you will not get any sleep.

There's always one night in the bunch of good ones that can only be deemed as bad, bad, bad.

It'll be a perfectly normal night and then for no reason, all hell breaks loose and you question your ability as a mother.

Last night was mine.

All was well and going as normal. Spongebath, lotion, book, cuddle... then came the cries, which quickly turned into full-on red faced baby screams.

And you know what, nothing would make it better. From 9:00pm to 11:00 we paced the floor, went outside for fresh air, bounced in place and nursed. We tried every trick in the book. I shoosed in her ear, I tried talking sense to her, we danced.

The only thing that made her happy for a small period of time was Daddy's arms and her swing.

Notice I said small period of time.

I think she must have over-stimulated herself somehow and that peaceful sleep that she and I love so much was shattered.

Roo's sleep was disturbed and she didn't even make it to bed until 11:00pm as well.

Poor thing.

I predict today we all will walk around like zombies craving sugar and caffeine to make it through the day... and we will pray that tonight will be back to normal, if not... we're in trouble.

Like I've said before, it's a good thing she's cute.

Blocked

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:17:00 +0000

Blame it on the sleeplessness.

Blame it on laziness.

Blame it on whatever you want, but I can't think of a single thing to blog about today.

Not one single thing comes to mind.

So no post today, I'm sure I'll be back on my game tomorrow.

If not I'll just post more cute pictures of my daughter.

Either way you win.

Mommy Doesn't Always Know Best

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:18:00 +0000

One of my biggest issues is worrying too much about things I really have no control over.

It drives my husband bananas that I worry some damn much about the stupidest things.

I thought I was justified in worrying about getting Turtle on to a schedule, but apparently I was just being my normal self and worrying about nothing.

I mean, in my defense Roo didn't have a schedule and slept like crap. I wanted to make it so Turtle didn't follow that path.

Who really wants to be sleep deprived when you can put her on a schedule?

So for the past week I've been monitoring when she naps and when she's awake. I've been struggling to get her to be awake during certain times of the day hoping I could starve off any late night partying she wanted to do in the middle of the night.

Once again, my husband thought I was crazy. He said I should just let her be, after all she's not even two weeks old. He told me that she's going to do whatever she wants and I can't do a thing about it.

So yesterday, I did just that. I let her be. If she wanted to sleep, she slept. If she woke up, we all played with her.

And you know what, he was right.

She slept great last night. She only got up 3x to feed and went back to sleep afterwards.

It was perfection.

I felt so great when I woke up this morning.

So while I'm fighting my natural instinct to worry about it today, I'm letting her be.

Wish me luck.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:10:00 +0000

Review: Curious George 2

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:54:00 +0000

As many of you know, the first few weeks with a brand new baby can be crazy.

Add a toddler into the mix and you can quickly lose your mind.

Thankfully I was sent a new DVD to review that saved my life this past week and also saved Roo's sanity: Curious George 2: Follow that Monkey.

Curious George, also known as Monkey George in our house, is up to his usual tricks in his second full length feature.

From the press release: The world’s most beloved and inquisitive monkey is back in Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, the fun-filled sequel to the hit animated movie. Join Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat as they set out on a madcap cross-country adventure to reunite Kayla, a homesick elephant, with her family. This unlikely trio faces all types of comic calamities and colorful characters and in the end, learn that with family, friends and determination, you can achieve anything."

This movie has been on repeat all week long and I don't mind because the soundtrack of the movie is catchy (yes, it will get stuck in your head) and it helps keep my toddler happily occupied for 1 hour and 21 minutes.

Curious George 2: Follow that Monkey hits shelves today.

Mmmm, peanut butter

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:57:00 +0000

The one thing I don’t miss about being pregnant is the heartburn.

Oh, the heartburn.

It was horrible.

And of course, I’m one of those fools that hates to take medicine so I had to deal with the heartburn with nothing but cold milk. Sure, it helped but I drank so much milk that I was buying a gallon a day!

Everything I ate would give me the burn, especially peanut butter.

And if you know me, you know I LOVE peanut butter.

I could eat peanut butter all day… and now that I’m not pregnant and not experiencing the pain of heartburn I am.

Everyday since Turtle was born I’ve had peanut butter and banana sammiches for lunch.

Oh, and those peanut butter patty Girl Scout cookies my hubby bought me, they were no match for me.

But I’m getting off track (peanut butter does that to me), the heartburn sucked and I don’t miss it one bit.

I also don’t miss the waddling, the inability to sleep on my back, the uncontrollable cravings and the acne.

But I sure do love the end result.

Sisters

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:01:00 +0000

I sat at this computer for fifteen minutes and attempted to write a million and one blog posts. Each time I started writing my mind would drift away and I'd find myself staring at the adorable swoop of Roo's nose or the sweet skin of Turtle's neck and I would feel my heart swell 10x its size.

I started thinking about how much I love the two of them and how I want nothing but the best for them.

And of course, I would start to cry because I am a hormonal wreck.

But these tears are tears of absolute happiness.

Because I am so blessed and lucky to have two beautiful, healthy daughters.

Go on, admit it, you're jealous.

:)

Review: Wow Wow Wubbzy Go For Gold

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:44:00 +0000

Wow Wow Wubbzy is a big deal in our house.

Whenever he and the gang from Wuzzleburg come on television, we must stop what we’re doing and watch.

Roo insists on it.

So when I was asked if I wanted to review the newest Wubbzy DVD Go For Gold, I literally jumped at the request.

I knew that I would earn major cool Mommy points if that DVD showed up on my doorstep.

And it did… and I did.

Roo insists on watching the DVD at least twice a day.

From the press release: “Wubbzy, the cute and quirky bendy-tailed star of the Emmy® Award-winning Nick Jr. TV series Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, is pumped up and ready to go for gold in the newest installment of the best-selling DVD series from Anchor Bay Entertainment! Starring Michelle Kwan as Michelle Kwanzleberry and Tiki Barber as Touchdown Tiki, “Go for Gold” shoots for the stars with a high-energy, fun-filled collection of athletic-themed episodes that will get kids and families laughing, singing, and moving along”

As an added bonus the new 82-minute DVD features special coloring and activity pages and music videos to get kids moving.

You can find Wow Wow Wubbzy Go For Gold on store shelves now.

How Easily We Forget

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:20:00 +0000

Yesterday I was feeling almost back to normal so I got the idea in my head that I would bundle everyone up and we would go with Daddy when he went to the pharmacy.

I had a bit of cabin fever and knew a car ride would help me feel better.

So I got the toddler ready and turned to the newborn to get her ready... and then I remembered I needed to nurse her, and change her. Then I needed to find a blanket to wrap her up. Oh, and a hat, she needed a hat.

Then it was wait, I need to find that head thing for the car seat and then, crap, the straps on the car seat are too tight, how do I fix that?

Then the tears came.

Hers, not mine.

She wanted to nurse again then another diaper change and some spit up was thrown in to keep me on my toes.

My husband and Roo had given up on the car ride and started checking email and watching cartoons.

Finally, after an hour of all of this I had managed to get the baby in the car seat without tears (mine, not hers) and proceeded to rush everyone out of the house.

I felt triumphant and exhausted at the same time.

How easily we forget that it takes 10x longer to get anything done with a newborn.

Review: Fisher Price Rock & Play Sleeper

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:25:00 +0000

When you first become a Mom, the first few days tend to leave you a walking mess.

If you're anything like me, you are in a haze due to lack of sleep, your body is going crazy and all you can think about is feeding the baby, changing the baby and getting the baby to sleep longer than two minutes at a time.

And one of the great things about becoming a Mom are the great products that are out on the market that strive to do nothing more than help you accomplish.

Enter the wonderful people at Fisher Price and their new product the Rock and Play Sleeper.

Also, while you're at it, meet a Mommy that has found heaven on earth.

To start with when we got the Rock and Play Sleeper we easily put it together. It was super simple and we had it together in less than ten minutes. Of course, I was a bit skeptical at first because you only clip the top part of the fabric cradle over these plastic pieces and I was concerned that they wouldn't hold.

But they do.

It's fashionable and it folds up for easy storage, a blessing if you live in cramped areas. Plus, the Rock and Play Sleeper is "the only infant seat that meets industry safety standards for bassinets."

Last night Miss Turtle decided she didn't want to sleep in her crib and could only find comfort in my arms. Very nice and all, but I was exhausted and starting to see double from being so tired that I was scared I'd drop her and she'd roll off the bed never to be found again.

I'd first used the Rock and Play Sleeper in the afternoon during nap time and she loved it so much that she snoozed all afternoon in it so I asked my husband to humor me and bring it over to the bed.

As soon as I laid the nugget down in it, she was out.

As soon as she was out, so was I.

Originally, I was only going to use the Rock and Play Sleeper for naps because I owned a crib that I thought would be more than enough for nighttime sleeping.

But I was wrong.

Roo never used her crib for the first few months, opting to use a Fisher Price glider to snooze in so why should her sister be any different?

Who needs a crib when you have a Fisher Price Rock and Play Sleeper?

Not my Turtle!

I received the Fisher-Price Rock and Play Sleeper product free of charge as part of a product review program with MomSelect. All opinions in this review are my own. Please see my full disclosure policy for more information.

A Turtle is Hatched

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:49:00 +0000

As you can imagine, I'm exhausted... but oh, so blessed.

Rainbow Brite is Back!

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:12:00 +0000

When I was a little girl I loved Rainbow Brite.

Adored her.

I had this cute little Rainbow Brite carrying case for all my dolls and when you unzipped it, it became a play area for them, complete with rainbow.

I carried that darn thing with me everywhere... I can still remember how dirty it became after dragging it everywhere I went.

She was so cool.

And guess, what: She still is!

And she's back just in time to share her with my daughter.

I recently received a Rainbow Brite Adventure Pack cd packed with animated shorts, games, the Rainbow Brite theme song and more. It was a prelude to introduce the brand spankin' new Rainbow Brite interactive website.

At the Rainbow Brite interactive website, you and your daughter can access all the great features that are on the adventure pack cd. Rainbow Brite is a great toy for girls because she thrills them with her "empowering and imaginative adventures as she spreads her positive messages of courage, kindness, and hope."

Not only is the Rainbow Brite interactive website live (and by the way totally free), you can now purchase the dolls you love at Target (they will also soon be available at Toys R Us).

Thank you to MomSelect for giving me this review opportunity. I received the Rainbow Brite Adventure Pack for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Please see my full disclosure policy for more information.

Oh, the Exhaustion!

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:11:00 +0000

As we round the final turn of this pregnancy, I have to say (and I'm sure you knew it was coming) but I am exhausted.

Not that, I'm exhausted of being pregnant and get this baby out of me right now, exhausted.

Just tired.

The kind of tired where you want to lay down in bed and not get up unless the house is on fire... or you have to pee.

While this all is possible, it doesn't come without massive guilt.

Guilt because I have a 35 month old tot that loves to be outside and run and play. Guilt because this Mama can't run after her.

I'm racking my brain to come up with indoor activities (and outdoor ones) that don't involve much participation on my part. So far I've got cartoons, Disney movies, Play-Doh, coloring books and nap time.

The hubby said that one week of her life spent doing nothing will not hurt her.

While I agree, I still feel guilty.

Baby Shower: A BIG Thank You & Winners

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:40:00 +0000

Wow.

It's been a crazy week, huh?

I did tons of posts with tons of info, plus we had three giveaways!

I want to thank everyone who donated a prize or provided a product for review.

Now, to the winners!

The Baby Magic Gift Set Winner is: Miss Anne!
The Braelyn Bounty Bug Prego Planner Winner is: MsKharma!
The Medela Breast Care Gift Set Winner is: Jennifer!

All winners will be notified by email so check your email for further details.

Again, thank you for everyone who participated!

( If MsKharma and Jennifer could email me so I can get you two the next step in claiming your prizes, I would love it. NYTMBlog@gmail.com )

Baby Shower Review: Eternal Maternal

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:15:00 +0000

I document a lot of things.

I take photos everyday, I write everyday, I do my best to joy everything of importance down so that when I’m old I will remember it.

And of course, when you’re pregnant and are cursed with preggo brain, I try to do it all so that when I pop this baby out, I can remember that at 16 weeks I felt her first kicks or that at 20 weeks I had to have emergency surgery on my appendix.

Another thing I want to remember is just how big I am.

And pictures don’t always do justice to a blooming belly.

Say Hello (!) to the Eternal Maternal Belly Cast!

The perfect way to remember your preggo belly!

From their website: “A belly cast is one of the most accurate and realistic representations of pregnancy because it’s 3-dimensional…unlike photographs or videos. It preserves the miracle of changes Mom’s body has undergone to bring a new person into the world. Belly casting is a true representation of that miracle.”

Each Belly Caster Kit comes with the following:

• 4 rolls of 4 inches x 5 yards plaster gauze

• 1 plastic drop cloth

• 2 oz. Eternal Maternal Bellylube™

• 3 feet picture wire, hook and nail

• Instructions

It has everything you need to do-it-yourself… but I would recommend to not do it all by yourself. I did and ended up making a huge mess. My poor bathroom will never be the same but it was fun.

The best thing about the Belly Caster is that when done, you can decorate it anyway you want. Want to paint it up like a corset? It can be done! Or maybe you want to let your kid attack it with markers and put their mark on their brother or sister, go for it!

And while I am artistic, to an extent, my end result did not end up as gorgeous as these:

(Mirror Ball Belly Cast Image Provided by: www.bellyoflove.com Thx, Allison!)

The possibilities for your cast are endless.

I will warn you against this, make liberal use of the belly lube that comes in the kit, it really helps because taking plaster off of dry skin is not an entirely pleasant experience.

Also, there is a slight smell to the plaster so if you have a super sensitive nose, like me, make sure you open the bathroom window or do it in a well-ventilated area.

The Eternal Maternal Belly Caster Kit can be purchased directly from their website by clicking this link.

ppsssssttt! You can also become Facebook Fans and follow Eternal Maternal on Twitter!

Thank you to Eternal Maternal who provided me a free Belly Caster Kit in return for my honest opinion of their product. Please see my full disclosure policy for more information.

Baby Shower: Great Baby Shower Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:05:00 +0000

Every baby shower I get invited to leaves me thinking about the perfect baby gift for days, sometimes weeks.

Who really wants to show up at a baby shower with diapers, right?

I scour the shops, both big and small, for the perfectly unique gift that will touch the Mama’s heart and also provide a practical purpose.

Here’s a list of great places to find that amazing gift that will score you a heartfelt Thank You note that really is genuine.

Lollipop & Lizards
Ready Go Baby
Cool Mom Picks

More great gifts include
The fun to do Eternal Maternal Belly Cast, the Mommy Measure (check out my review here) or a kick ass Mommy Planner.

Want an eco-friendly gift that rocks? Check out Rock a Thigh Baby ( you can read my review here).

For my local Central Floridians, here’s a list of great boutiques that guarantee the most astonishing gifts.

The Tug Boat and the Bird 433 West New England AvenueWinter Park, FL 32789-4285(407) 647-5437

Sweet Cheeks 4932 W State Road 46Sanford, FL 32771-9242(407) 324-7915

LuLu Belle Kids 7988 Via Dellagio WayOrlando, FL 32819-5425(407) 704-7985

Ladybug Loft 2808 Edgewater DriveOrlando, FL 32804-4412(407) 650-4200

Baby Shower: The Registry

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:01:00 +0000

I have to admit it; one of my favorite things about pregnancy is all the great baby products on the market. They literally have a product for anything and everything pregnancy related.

And another great thing about being pregnant is getting to register for all these great items you had no clue you needed!

The Bump is the place to go to get started with registries. Want multiple registries (we’ve all done it!), you can manage them all from their website .

Need a checklist to go with, they’ve got it with their Registry 101.

Other great places to register are Target and Babies R Us.

The Pampers Website has a great list of dos and don’ts when it comes to registering:

"Do feel free to tell the host of your shower where you are registered so she can spread the word.

It’s totally acceptable to have registry websites listed on your invitation.

Don’t feel pressured to divulge details you’d planned to keep secret, like the baby’s name, just because people insist on monogramming a blanket. Tell them that it’s important to you to keep things a surprise.

Do register for the basics, from newborn diapers to pacifiers to an infant bathtub. You’ll need these essentials and will wind up buying them anyway.

Don’t get sucked into registering for cute toys or outfits that your baby won’t be able to use until he or she is a year old. You have plenty of time to drop hints to friends and family at holiday and birthday time.

Do register at more than one store, especially if you have family members buying you gifts from all over the country.

Don’t expect everyone to buy your gifts online. While it’s convenient for you, Aunt Suzy may still not feel comfortable on the computer. Make sure one of the places you register has an actual store with your registry on file.

Do ask the stores you’re registering with if they offer a one-time discount for closing out your registry (basically buying everything you didn’t get at your shower).

Don’t get upset if guests don’t buy from your registry. Yes, that pink velour baby tracksuit is heinous (especially because you’re having a boy), but suck it up and smile."

Hopefully these tips and websites will help make registering easier for you, because believe it or not, it can get hectic picking out strollers and baby bottles.

Baby Shower: Review of Rock-a-Thigh Baby

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:47:00 +0000

When Roo was little and it was cold outside (well, as cold as it can get in Florida) I always dressed her in layers to keep her tushy warm. Of course, this is great and all but the thing that wasn’t fun was taking all of those layers off just to change a diaper.

I have to admit, it was really annoying.

If only I had had Rock-a-Thigh Baby at the time.

Rock-a-Thigh Baby are the “kiddie socks that rock and stay on top.”

They’re basically thigh highs for babies that are designed to stay up and keep the entire leg warm. And since they are thigh highs there’s no need to fight those ridiculous layer when you need to change a diaper.

I simple shall refer to Rock-a-Thigh Baby socks are a miracle from here on out.

So not only does my miracle sock help me out on diaper changes, they have no slip grips on the feet, which are a blessing even for the most seasoned walker because we all know that toddler are still tipsy and can trip on a perfectly flat kitchen floor. For babies the miracle socks protect the knees while learning to crawl.

Also, get this, they are eco-friendly!

The dyes used on my miracle socks are Oeko-Tek 100 standard, made from 100% pre-consumer recycled yarn and, best of all, MADE IN THE USA!

Besides all these fabulous things about my lovely miracle sock, they truly do rock because they come in great styles. I received the pirate sock for Roo (plus I got a matching pair for Turtle!) and she rocked them like nobodies business

I can’t wait to get both of my girls dressed up in their Rock-a-Thigh Baby socks (aka my miracle socks) and take tons of pictures of them looking like Rock Stars.

Sizes range from 0-6 months to 4 years of age and can be purchased directly from the Rock-a-Thigh Baby website.

Thank you to the amazing people at Rock-a-Thigh Baby who provided me two free pairs of Rock-a-Thigh Baby socks to review. The opinions stated in this review are my own. Please see my full disclosure policy for more information.

Baby Shower: Baby Magic

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

I think I’ve mentioned it before but I’ll say it again. My poor child inherited my sensitive skin. When she was a baby it was so bad that certain lotions would make her skin peel! In the course of her life we’ve tried tons of lotions. The cheap store brands to the organic brands that broke the bank.

I’m always on the look out for new stuff to try out and save a few pennies on.

Enter Baby Magic.

I received Baby Magic’s Baby Blossom Gentle Hair and Body Wash along with the Baby Blossom Baby Lotion to test out on my little one. Roo was super excited when we received the delivery because I told her it was for her and she immediately wanted to take a shower to test them out.

In the tub we went.

The smell of Baby Magic’s Baby Blossom’s line is soft scented and not harsh at all. Since it’s not a baby bubble bath, my daughter was a tad bit disappointed about the amount of bubbles the Baby Blossom created, but it got the job done. She was squeaky clean at the end of that shower and I saw no signs of irritation on her skin.

The lotion just a fabulous job and once again, the scents were not harsh.

I liked the smell of the lotion so much that I often use them on my expanding belly.

To celebrate the online baby shower, the super nice folks at Baby Magic want to share some of their products with a NYTM reader. You have a chance to win a Baby Magic gift set.

All you need to do to enter is leave me a comment on what kind of lotions you’ve tried on your baby’s skin… or your own!

Extra entries can be earned by
Become a fan of the Baby Magic facebook page
Follow Baby Magic on Twitter

Giveaway ends at 12:00pm EST on February 13, 2010.
Good Luck!

I received Baby Magic body washes and lotions in return for my honest opinion of the products. All opinions are my own. For my full disclosure policy, please click this link.

Baby Shower: The Baby Planners

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:15:00 +0000

We’ve all been to fancy hotels that boast concierge services with enough options to make you drool.

Ever thought you’d see a concierge service that caters to having a baby?

Well, they exist.

They being the Baby Planners.

The Baby Planner are Melissa and Ellie, Moms who combined have over 25 years of service experience and know just how to make your pregnancy and labor special.

Some of the concierge services they offer include: Product Research & Demonstration • Referrals to Classes, Doulas and Doctors • Nursery Design • Shower Planning • Postpartum Support • Pregnancy Photography • Greening Your Nursery • Birth Announcements • Infant CPR • Baby Proofing • Personal Chef • Birth Video • Car seat Installation • Pre-natal Massage • Baby Nurse • Nanny Search • Muralist • In Home Spa Services • Pre-school Placement • Parenting Consultant • Sleep Experts • Diaper Services • Dog Walkers •

Consulting services offered include (from their website):

"Baby Registry Plan – Let’s go shopping! The Baby Planners will create your baby registry either in person or online at one of our preferred vendors. This plan can also include registry updates, changes, and product returns and exchanges.

Nursery Necessities Plan –From the best baby skin care products to diapers and onesies, we stock, organize, and beautify your nursery.

Sensational Services Plan – Every service provider we recommend has to earn the toughest seal of approval – ours!

Hostess Gift Plan – Planning the baby shower but not sure what to give the parents-to-be? Why not give them a The Baby Planners™ gift certificate? We’ll answer all of their questions or concerns and thoroughly assess their registry, nursery, and gear to make sure they’re more than prepared for baby’s arrival.

Corporate Gift/Post-Delivery Plan – The Baby Planners will create a one-of-a-kind gift that can include everything from personal chef services to the latest baby baubles to gifts geared for Dad. This is one "wow" gift your associates will not soon forget!

Adoption Plan – The Baby Planners understand your unique set of needs. We’ll take care of the essentials - from car seat to crib – all within a moments notice.

Grandparents Plan – No one’s more excited than the Grandma & Grandpa to be! Pick a plan and receive 10% off! "

Prices start at $500 and can be customized. While the Baby Planners are based out of L.A., have no fear if you live elsewhere, they travel!

Baby Shower: New Baby Must Haves

noreply@blogger.com (SuZ) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:10:00 +0000

Having a baby means buying lots of gear... I never knew just how much stuff a baby needs until I had one. And now that I am getting ready for baby #2 (eight days left!), I'm rediscovering just how much you need (and how much room it takes up!).

Here's a handy list of what I'm lugging out of storage.

Crib, bassinet, co-sleeper, basket for baby to sleep in.

Sleep Sack/Swaddler
Swaddling saved my life. It got me an extra 1-2 hours when I strapped her into her swaddler. A sleep sack helps keep them warm in cool weather and eliminates the need for blankets that might creep up over their faces.

Baby Lotions/Washes/Soaps
Essential! Newborns have dry, dry skin and these will help any discomfort.

Baby First Aid/Grooming Kit
Thermometers and nail clippers are a must in your household. Newborn nails grow super fast and the thermometer will help keep your sanity if you feel your child is sick.

Swing/Bouncer
These items will give you a few, precious free moments baby-less to cook, clean, shower, read, whatever.

Changing Pads

Feeding Pillow i.e. Boppy Pillow, Utterly Yours, My Breast Friend

Sling/Carrier
Another great option to getting things done with free hands.

Diaper Bag
Go ahead and get the stylish one, you’re going to be carrying this bag with you everywhere. It might as well look hip.

Diaper Champ
A necessity because who really has time to run a stinky diaper out to the trash every two hours?
Burp Cloths
Simply because, wow, babies spit up.. a lot!

Wash Cloths/Towels

New and Old Mommy Must Haves

Comfortable Nursing Bras/Tanks
If you’re breastfeeding, these are a MUST.

Boob Pads
Even if you’re not breastfeeding, there’s a good chance you’ll leak.

Lanolin Oil/Lotion
This help with sore boobs.

Stylish and Comfy PJs
Because who really wants to take the effort to get dressed those first few days? If you have comfy PJs, you’ll at least feel better.

Water Bottle to keep close by
Especially if you’re nursing because breastfeeding makes you super thirsty.

Take Out Menus
Who really wants to cook at a time like this?

Support via partner, family and friends