Now, only 8 weeks later, I can barely remember what it was like to not have Liam.  While I am of course still nervous about a lot of things, others come so naturally that I can’t believe I ever worried about them in the first place.  For one, I no longer worry I will break him every time I pick him up.  I’m also much more confident in my ability to soothe him.  I no longer frantically jump from one possible solution to another only to tear my hair out in the end when nothing works.  Yes, I can finally enjoy my baby and enjoy being a confident new mother!

Liam sure helps.  He is calming down a lot and getting so big already!  Here he is holding his big baby head up like a pro yesterday…

Go Liam!

His name is Liam Robert.  He was born May 6th, 2010 at 7:04am.  He weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 21 inches long.

He is now 6 weeks old, over 10 pounds, and looks like this:

For obvious reasons I haven’t had much time to keep up with my blog, but we are slowly adapting to our new life and gaining some time.  I may not be able to post every day for a while but I can sneak away during an afternoon nap here and there.  Liam is growing every day and I don’t want to miss a thing.  I intend to keep track of all progress on this blog.  It is going to be quite an adventure…

Aromatic Health is an Etsy shop specializing in “aromatherapy products for health, pre and postpartum healing and skin care.”  Be sure to check out the Aromatic Health website.
Mom and Baby Massage Oil is an infant massage oil  meant to promote bonding and relaxation between mother and baby.  Since I still have about 6 weeks to go before I have my little guy, I haven’t gotten to test in out on him yet.  I have, however, had the pleasure of being massaged with this oil by my wonderful husband and I really enjoyed it!  It has a very calming and soothing, yet very light, scent that relaxed me completely and helped me sleep.  The oil itself is very soft and is perfect for massage!  It stays quite greasy long enough for a great massage, but does absorb so you aren’t left an oily mess when the massage is done.    I like it so much that is will be hard for me to save any for baby, but I will do my best!  I really think it will be a great addition to our bedtime routine.

This oil contains no nut oils and all essential oils are at a safe dilution for baby.  All of Aromatic Health’s products are cruelty free and do not contain synthetic fragrances, parabens, photochemicals or artificial preservatives.

Giveaway coming up!

This review covers three great products from The Spoiled Mama Etsy shop.  I must say I was extremely happy with all of these products!  I really look forward to trying more from this fantastic shop!  After all, every mama needs some pampering now and then.  Here are the products I tried and what I thought of them:

Tummy Butter

The Spoiled Mama’s Tummy Butter is everything is should be!  The rich, thick butter is so smooth and glides on effortlessly.  It is not greasy and absorbs into the skin immediately, leaving your skin feeling soft and velvety.  It keeps the belly well moisturized and itch free all day.  I fell in love with this tummy butter instantly!  Oh, and it smells exactly like a chocolate orange, if you have ever had one of those as a child.  Definite plus!

Bump Gloss

If you’re more into oils than butters, The Spoiled Mama’s Bump Gloss is for you.  Scented with calming lavender, it is great to use before bed to help lull you to sleep.  It absorbs very quickly so you feel moisturized but never greasy, which is very important to me.  I absolutely hate greasy formulas!  It works great and contains many soothing ingredients.  It is also said to be great for perineal massage and infant massage, though I have not tested this.  One thing I will recommend is getting the larger bottle because it comes with a pump, or adding your own pump, because the smaller bottles have a sort of dropper top and it is kind of hard to get enough out.

Orange Chamomile Sugar Scrub

This is my absolute favorite product that I’ve tested and I highly recommend it!  I can’t explain the heavenly aroma this sugar scrub will bring to your shower experience!  There is just something about the orange and chamomile that will lift your spirits no matter how huge and uncomfortable you may be!  I cannot get enough of this amazing scrub!  The sugar is gentle yet highly exfoliating and the combination of oils will leave you moisturized even into the next day!  Your skin may feel slightly greasy immediately after use but do not worry.  The oils are quickly absorbed and you will be left with the most hydrated, sweet smelling skin you have ever had!

*This scrub will leave your tub a little slick so please be careful when exiting and entering the shower.

****~ (4/5)

Looking for an all natural cure all for those pregnancy aches and pains?  Teddy Started It! has created the Expectant Muddah Buddah just for you!  The sweet lady at Teddy Started It! was a pleasure to work with.  She told me all about the muddah buddah and was super sweet and fun to talk to.

This stuff does it all…minimizes stretch marks, reduces the appearance of scars, soothes the aches and pains associated with pregnancy, relieves itching, and has a calming and relaxing scent.  I really enjoyed testing this product!

As far as stretch marks and scars go, it’s hard to say whether it helps after only a week or so of testing, especially since I’ve been testing so many things throughout pregnancy, but I am 8 months pregnant with no stretch marks to speak of so I think that is a good sign!

The only thing I had trouble with was getting the Muddah Buddah out of the container.  This isn’t a big deal at all, but I want to be as honest as possible with these reviews.  With the weather still cool, the formula is quite solid when first opened.  It took a long time of running my finger over it to soften it up enough to get any out of the jar.  That was slightly frustrating but once I got some out, it melted on my skin very easily.

While I have used the Muddah Buddah on my belly and it does moisturize and relieve itching quite nicely, what I use it for most are the little aches and pains we pregnant women know so well.  When my lower back gets crampy, I just have my husband massage some Muddah Buddah into the area and I feel better immediately!  It has a very subtle cooling effect that feels great on those achy areas.

I’m also in love with its soothing scent!  A cocktail of lavender, patchouli, vetiver, and bitter orange comes together to provide a very unique and intriguing aroma.  I love using this stuff right before bed because the scent lulls me to sleep.

The Muddah Buddah comes in two sizes.  The  4 oz container can be purchased for $25 and is a better deals.  However, if you are just curious about the product you can purchase a 1/2 oz container for $5.  A little bit goes a long way so it is hard not to buy some at that price!

Please keep checking back as I am almost finished with all the testing and when all belly products are reviewed, there will be a giveaway extravaganza for you guys!  I can’t wait to share these great products with you!

If you haven’t yet, please check out my etsy shop: Crochet My Baby!

Our wishes for Childbirth

Due Date: 05/08/10

Labor
I expect that doctors and hospital staff will discuss all procedures with me before they are performed.
Please do not permit observers such as interns, students or unnecessary staff into the room without my permission.

Labor Augmentation/Induction
I would like to avoid induction unless it is medically necessary.

Anesthesia/Pain Medication
If possible, I would like to have a light dose (walking) epidural instead of a classic epidural

Cesarean Section Delivery
I feel very strongly that I would like to avoid a cesarean delivery
If a cesarean is necessary, I expect to be fully informed of all procedures and actively participate in decision-making.
I would like my husband to be present during the surgery.

Perineal Care
I prefer not to have an episiotomy unless it is medically indicated.
I would rather tear than have an episiotomy.

Immediately after the birth
I would like to breastfeed our baby immediately.
my husband would like the option to cut the cord.
Please allow the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before it is cut.
I have made arrangements for donation of the umbilical cord blood.

Breastfeeding
I plan to breastfeed and want to nurse immediately following the birth.
Please do not give our baby supplements (including formula, glucose, or plain water) without my consent, unless there is an urgent medical necessity.
Please do not give our baby a pacifier.
I would like to meet with the staff lactation consultant.

Additional notes
I am planning for our baby to be circumcised before we check out of the hospital. (Note: Do not waive Vitamin K shot in this event)

This birth plan was created with Pregnancy and Baby’s Birth Plan Creator.

A breakthrough in mobiles has occurred!  Thanks to Fandangling, you can now hang adorable little plushies from your ceiling fan for your little one to watch and love.  I was lucky enough to get to try the Puparazzi set, featuring incredibly soft and equally cute puppies.

Here is how it works:

You simply stick the self adhesive velcro patches to the top of your ceiling blades, attach the velcro on your plushies to the fan, turn your fan on low, and watch as your cute little puppies (or your choice of 12 other themes) fly around and entertain you and your baby.  Simple!

My little niece Autumn is 4 years old and she absolutely loved watching the puppies fly!  She also loved playing with them when I took them down from the fan.

I was slightly worried at first that they wouldn’t stay up and I’d have 5 puppies flying at my face when I turned the fan on but they were very stable (not that they would hurt at all if one did fall off anyway).  I do recommend keeping the fan on low just in case.

Here is how Fandangling inventor, Anne, came up with the idea:

I invented Fandangling quite by accident. It all started with our daughter Lia. When she was born we were seeking ways to keep her happy and interested in her room. When I put the first Fandangling on the fan in her room, her eyes lit up and the rest, as they say, is history.

I was very happy with my Fandangling set and I hope to see even more themes in the future.  Kids love to stare at ceiling fans, and I think it is such a great idea to have something there to engage them!  There is a set for everyone, so please head over to Fandangling and find the one for you!

****~ (4/5)

This one is for all of you green mamas out there!  The great people at ReLive have created a belly bar formula that is completely organic and vegan friendly.  The best part…it works quite well!

The first thing I want to mention about this product is how great the container is.  It may sound odd that I am so fond of packaging but please let me explain.  Every night before I go to bed, I slather some kind of butter or oil all over my tummy.  This leaves me with greasy hands so I then have waddle my way into the bathroom to wash my hands before I get into bed.  I’ve been thinking about how nice it would be to have some kind of applicator on the bars so that I don’t have to make this extra step in my sleepy preggo state.  Well Relive has done it!  The belly butter bar comes in a recyclable plastic tube that twists from the bottom.  You don’t need to touch the butter at all to apply.  I absolutely love it!

This bar is in solid form but melts with the help of body heat.  I found it slightly difficult to melt at first since it sits in my cold room all day, but after a moment of rubbing, it gets much easier to apply.  This bar keeps me well moisturized all night through until I shower in the morning.  It relieves itch and has a non greasy feel.  It is made up of only 5 ingredients, all of which are recognizable… Apricot Kernel Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Candelilla Wax, and Vitamin E Oil.

The Mama Belly Butter bar contains no essential oils.  I personally believe that while some essential oils are dangerous during pregnancy, others are harmless and some even beneficial.  However, I know a lot of you choose to avoid all essential oils while pregnant, making this a great product for you.  However, I do have to state my one complaint about this bar.  While it is supposed to be unscented, I detect a bit of an odd waxy scent from it.  I assume it is the candelilla wax.  This may just be my crazy pregnant super smelling ability though, as my husband has no idea what I’m talking about.  Still, I like to be completely honest about the products I test and I feel obligated to include that observation.

All in all, I am very happy with the Mama Belly Butter Bar and I definitely recommend it, especially to all of you green minded ladies.  All of ReLive’s products are organic and eco friendly so please be sure to stop by the shop for other great products too!

And please remember to

Since opening Crochet My Baby!, my new Etsy shop, I’ve become completely obsessed with Etsy!  It’s almost embarrassing to admit the hours a day I could spend just browsing its many fun and unique shops.  So, in keeping with my new found love for Etsy, I’ve decided to dedicate a Top Ten Tuesday to the Etsy shops I have come to love.  Some of these shops are for baby, some are for mom, and you may even find some things for dad too!  So take some time and check out these great shops.  I bet you’ll see why I have fallen in love with this glorious handmade world!

This list is for my current favorite ten Etsy shops, but I have a feeling I will be finding many more to adore in the near future.  This list is in no particular order.

1. Juuna – Okay, so I may be a little biased with this one considering the owner of this shop is one of my best friends.  However, she really is great at what she does!  She makes really adorable roomy purses and diaper bags that are hard not to love.  I think my favorite things of hers, though, are her sewn bobby pins and brooches.  They are too cute for words!
2. Romp Shop – Beautiful, whimsical children’s clothing, made of luxurious and eco-friendly materials.  They are a bit on the expensive side but absolutely gorgeous!
3. Baron Byron – Beautiful chainmaille jewelry.  Each piece is handcrafted using various chainmaille techniques.  There are a lot of very feminine and delicate pieces here as well as masculine pieces so anyone should be able to find something they love!  My husband doesn’t wear jewelry but he really wants one of Baron Byron’s bracelets.  He also writes a blog that you can check out here.
4. Gracious May – Precious hand sewn baby booties!
5. Kokosh Knitting – Absolutely stunning hand knitted hats and scarves at very reasonable prices.  Her work is quite inspiring!
6. Kellie Noelle Designs – Darling baby sweaters and toys.
7. Sewn Natural – Beautiful baby bedding, nap mats, toys, dresses, and much more.
8. Jane Joss – Really fun and unique flower arrangements made with hand sewn fabric leaves.  They would look great in a modern nursery!
9. Love Rosie! – You will love her precious animal hats for babies and hand sewn dolls and puppets!
10. Sara Carr – Modern hand knit toys and accessories.  I love the robot scarf!

I really could go on and on but since this is Top Ten Tuesday, I should probably stop here.  I hope you found something you love and will help support hand made goods!

****~ (4/5)

This is #2 in my series, My Quest Fot the Best Belly Moisturizer on Etsy.

The second belly protecting moisturizer I was lucky enough to test for my studies was sent to me by Etsy user RawElement.  Her mission is to provide the best products possible using only natural and organic ingredients.  The product I tested is her Bun in the Oven Belly Bar.

The packaging is very cute and environmentally friendly (of course), which was a great first impression!  The bar comes in a little tin wrapped in the shop’s label on recycled paper.  I find that the way an Etsy shop packages its products often says a lot about the shop and the product itself (something I need to start working on in my own shop).  The tin is simple, pretty, and “green,” and that is just what I found inside as well.

The bar itself is adorable.  It is heart shaped and has a very natural and pretty color to it.  Upon opening the tin, I was overwhelmed with the intoxicating aroma of fresh, unsweetened cocoa.  For a chocolate lover like me, this was like heaven!  It took my all not to try to take a bite out of it!  The best part of it is that scent is all natural, coming from the ultra-concentrated cocoa butter that makes up the majority of the bar.  This means no harsh, manufactured scents.

I love that the bar consists of natural ingredients that I’ve heard of and can pronounce.  Here is what RawElement says about the belly bar’s ingredients:

The bar is highly concentrated with organic unrefined cocoa butter (the aroma is intoxicating!!)which has been used for decades to help ease the skin as it begins to stretch and keep your skin smooth. Also contains organic apricot kernal oil which is an emollient that aids in softer, smoother skin. Lastly, the bar contains organic cold-pressed hemp oil which, similar to the apricot oil, is a rich emollient to aid in soothing the skin as well as irritated, cracked, and sore skin.

It’s quite refreshing to know just what you are putting on your skin, especially when that skin is housing your most precious cargo!

The only thing that I found disappointing about the Bun in the Oven Belly Bar was its size.  This $10 bar is only three ounces, which almost looks like it can barely pass over a third trimester belly once.  However, the bar redeemed itself when I used it for the first time.  A little bit really does go a long way.  In fact, I’ve used it quite a few times already and I still have over half a bar.  I would now say that the size is deceptive and the bar is in fact worth the $10!

The belly bar come in solid form, but it melts on your skin almost instantly due to body heat.  It is pretty cool.  The formula is slightly greasy at first but absorbs well and leaves the skin feeling itch free and incredibly smooth.  You really only need a little bit to cover those stretching parts and the bar will leave you well moisturized all day.

All in all, I would say this is a very good product and very affordable.  I would definitely buy it again.  The adorable heart shape and great chocolaty scent would make this a really cute and unique baby shower gift.  It would be especially great paired with the  Butter My Baby Bum Balm, a natural diaper rash cream, containing soothing lavendar and chamomile.  So, please head over to Raw Element and check out the extensive line of natural pampering necessities!

Also, be sure to keep checking in as the Bun in the Oven Belly Bar is one of many giveaways to come!