Post-Partum Crotch Care 101

I came across this wonderful post on Son of Max. For those of you blog followers that are expecting or hope to be in the near future - bookmark this page. It will be more useful to you than you could ever imagine and your vageen will thank you.

For those of you that are family & friends, I apologize.

Start taking notes ... now:

For those of you with babies in you that will soon need to come out, I heartily recommend purchasing the following items prior to the Big Event:

Crotch Care Kit
• Ice pack
• Frozen peas (very moldable and afterwards; a nutritious snack! Just kidding about the snack part.)
• Heating pad
• Aloe vera gel with Lidocaine (Best stuff ever)
• Cotton squares to apply above-mentioned magic gel (not balls, squares! They hold their form better. Unlike your crotch.)
• Dermoplast Pain Relieving spray (Also good. So squirty! So instantaneous!)
• Peri-bottle (the hospital will give you this as a parting gift)
• Witch hazel (um, what is witch hazel, anyway? Weird. Cool name, though)
• Waterproof donut-shaped pillow (for the bath; they have them at drugstores. Now you know: congratulations!)
• Medicated pre-moistened wipes (you can guess what these are for)
• Boppy (for your bum when sitting, not for the babe)
• The most gigantic maxi pads you can find. Maaaaxxxiiii Padzzzz
• Your pain meds.

There you have it, one more crotch-related post for the people.

Im off to build my own PostPartum kit ...

PSA: Moms: Find a Moms Group

This one tops the 'Must Haves' list. In fact, Its crucial - detrimental even - to your success as a mom.

Long before the internet; pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting advice was passed down from generation to generation, woman to woman. Sure, Babycenter.com & thebump have great checklists & charts but they'll never compare to the benefits of finding a great group of moms.

I was lucky enough to find a group of women that not only has amazing pregnancy & baby tips - they have also served as a place to vent my frustrations, get fashion advice, have been the source of many laughs and, when able, they're always there with a nice glass of wine when you need it.

They will understand (and still support you) when you complain about your spouse or your whiney children - because they understand, more than anyone, how the little loves of your life can also be the biggest pains in your rear (literally).

They will remind you to come play sometimes (hellllooooo Girls Nite Out!) and to SCHEDULE that date night already!!

They will give you much needed perspective or tips when you're too tired to come up with another solution for getting your teething toddler to sleep.

They will comfort you in times of loss in ways that others cant.

They will goes on walks with you, cheer you on & visit you when you cant seem to pull it together enough to leave the house. They arent phased by tears (yours or the kids), messy homes, smoke alarms going off, a few curse words here & there - and the good ones dont care whether or not you epi'd, breastfed, allow tv, do or dont co-sleep.

Some of them will even let you be wayyyy TMI and ask that question that you wouldnt dare ask anyone else. :P

... and the best part is that you get to repay it by doing the same for them. Motherhood is full of so many joys and challenges and who knows that better than other moms?

My 90 year old Grandma recently lost her friend of 60+ years - and guess where she met her? Thats right. Through her local moms group. 60 years! amazing.

Got a New Ride~!

Super excited about our new stroller & am hoping it will make my life with 2 under 2 more bearable. With this thing, I'll definitely be able to get out of the house ... maybe.

I got the stroller on Craigslist with a friends help - just need to buy the doubles kit. Check it out:

With the Doubles Kit it will look like this:

(and hopefully I will look half as stylish and my kids half that happy.)

Diaper Bag Talk: Newborn Stage

Wondering what to pack in that super cute new diaper bag you got?? Heres my go to list for mommy's with a newborn filling their bag for the first time. The contents of your diaper bag will change but this is a good place to start:

• diapers and wipes - take one per hour you will be gone - this is overkill but better safe than sorry
  
• burp cloth - I pack one because the bib & extra blanket are backups when this is soiled.
  
• changing pad - if your Diaper Bag is as awesome as you think it is, it probably came with one of these.
  
• pacifier - even if youre against them: pack one. One (fussy) day it may look like a good idea to you.
  
• A&D - this is my balm of choice after trying every cream, ointment, balm under the sun
  
• little toy - rattle, teether, etc. 
  
• hand sanitizer - feel free to squirt this on every stranger that attempts to put their ever grubbing hands on your child.
  
• bib - 'nough said.
  
• extra change of clothes or 2 for baby - sleep n' plays are my fave for space effectiveness. 
  
• pair of socks - because you never know when one will mysteriously go missing.
  
• extra blanket - for warmth, breastfeeding privacy, spit ups, leaky breasts, blow out diapers. 
  
• tylenol, mylicon drops, teething tablets 
  
• sunblock & hat for baby during summer 
  
• a shirt for myself - again: spit ups, leaky breasts, blow out diapers make this necessary
  
• lipgloss for me :) ... just in case i realize that I left the house looking a COMPLETE mess.
  

and on top of all this - in my trunk, I would keep a bag wtih 2 diapers, an extra outfit for baby, wipes, extra blanket & a shirt for me. Somedays, this was a lifesaver when I was out & about and would have hated to either wear puke or go home. **You just have to remember to swap them out as they grow.

As they get older you'll drop the burp rag, the mylicon, and add on lots of random other things - right now with a 1 year old our load is much lighter. Every once in a while, the girls & I like to test fate and head to target sans the diaper bag. What can I say - we're rebels. 

Girlly Obsessions: Diaper Bags :0?

I have a Diaper Bag - a bag that I really like and still is in great shape, as a matter of fact. But I cant shake the feeling that I *need* a new one. New baby = New Diaper Bag, right?? Whats so crazy about that? One pair of shoes would surely do us good too - but what woman in her right mind only has one pair?

At this stage in my life I don't need nice, cute handbags - my hands are full as it is. I suppose Ive carried my girlly obsession with handbags over to my diaper bags. I want another (you saw the gorgeous Cake one?!) ... but unfortunately my practical, though very loving husband does not see this as necessary.

I continued looking for one that was cute, stylish yet more affordable th

an the Petunia Pickle Bottom and I think I found it! Its durable, large, stylish in my opinion and AFFORDABLE. See - those are words my husband will appreciate.

What do you think??:

My 2 Under 2 wish list - help?!

Moms who have done 2 under 2 - PLEASE chime in & tell me whats missing or a total waste.

• City Mini Double or Valco Ion or Valco Latitude Twin ... or Phil&Ted? (Suggestions??)
• A super yard - for either 'protecting' the newborn or containing the toddler or BOTH.
• Either a stand for the moses basket or a bassinet. DONE!
• New Cover for the carseat! (so unnecessary, im sure)
• New Baby Bathtub ( I hear the eurotub rocks?)
• Miracle Wrap
• Another Monitor (Angel Care? video? regular?)
• Another Highchair?  Booster for Brooklyn, Highchair for Baby
• ANOTHER Crib. 
• a GI-freaking-NORMOUS Diaper Bag
• More bottles, nipples, burp rags, towels(?)
• a couple gender neutral (yellow, white, cream) newborn outfits
• crib sheets & breathable bumper
• new & super easy carrier - have a moby already (any ideas? maybe a sling?)
  
• another white noise machine to keep newborn sleeping thru tantrums.
  

• A new car with a 3rd row?!?! ;) (I said it was a WISH list people!!)

Looking Back: My List of 1st Year 'Must-Haves'

The first few months are all about doing whatever you can to get through without losing your mind while being mroe sleep-deprived than you ever thought was possible ... These are a few things that helped up all get a little extra peace & quiet with a newborn in the house:

• Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets: These were awesome for swaddling, for summer time blankets and for draping over the stroller during naps. The pack of 4 was all I needed.

• Baby Swing. We had the Graco Sweet Peace which was nice to have the first few months - especially because it comes equipped with a White Noise setup.

• The Boppy. We LOVED our Boppy. Moms seem to have mixed reviews and many prefer the Breast Friend but the boppy is a classic in our house.

• Happiest Baby on the Block DVD. David, Kalina and I practiced these techniques before Brooklyns arrival! The shushing proved very helpful some nights.

• Wrap/Sling. We used this Moby style carrier and it was a true lifesaver. I was able to get stuff done while Brooklyn slept. It was also great for traveling. Ive heard great things about the ring sling, ergo and the beco wrap.

• White Noise Machine or a fan in the room. We used a fan and it works wonders getting her to sleep longer stretches plus research shows it helps prevent SIDS.

• A Co-sleeper, Bassinet or moses basket. We used a moses basket because a friend passed it down to me and with our small house it was perfect. It was nice having her close for those 2am feedings and she slept well in it for the first couple months until transitioning to the crib.

• An awesome Diaper Bag.

• Mirror for the backseat. I got this as a gift and had no idea how awesome it would be.

• Tons of spit up rags - we bought these.

• The snap-n-go stroller was really nice to have - its small and convenient to use with the baby carrier. However, many of the nicer strollers have adapters so that you can hook the carseat onto them (I wish I had known this ---> Bugaboo has an adapter, the BOB has one, so does the city mini which we waited to buy until she was bigger)
• 
  
• Twin bed in the nursery - this was so nice to have some nights and helped us ALL get a little extra rest with a newborn in the house.
• 
  
• Gumdrop Paci - It was the only paci Brooklyn would take to and helped soothe her.

*** My silly disclaimer: These are just the items I used daily and wouldnt have wanted to do without - however this list doesnt include the basics necessities such as a CAR SEAT and bathtub (duh).

Best Thing I Did Postpartum

... was set up a bed in the nursery.

I'm exclusively breastfeeding, want my baby to sleep in her crib and need my husband to get good sleep. So - a twin bed in the baby's room, no matter how squished, was the perfect solution. My sister suggested it a long time ago but I thought it was a luxury that I really didnt have room for. Turns out that if I scoot things around it does fit - might not look 'pretty' but it fits!

I highly recommend it to all new moms. 

got a gumdrop

sent off a soothie to get a gumdrop ...

I found this on one of the great blogs that i frequent;

"If your baby likes the Soothie – Give the Gumdrop a try!
They will even send you a free one if you send them your Soothie - Trade in Your Soothie."

mine wasnt used yet but I sent one in anyways ... :D

Back from A Baby Spending Spree ...

The final fun purchases of this weekend were the following:

A Moby Style Wrap from Etsy Seller Loveyduds;

and A 'Hooter-Hider' Style Cover from Etsy Seller Tinkiwink1;

(This is the fabric I chose)

Our Weekend ...

K & I put together our Graco Sweetpeace - and are very excited about putting Baby Brooklyn in it! It does all sorts of crazy stuff - Rocks, Swings, Vibrates, Sings, Hooks up to the Ipod and has lots of different sound setting including water, heartbeats & white noise sounds.

While we were inside - D was outside working on his own project - the body is now on the FRAME! Not sure exactly what hes doing but looked like he had fun doing it ... :P

Look What I Got!!!

My coworker who had a baby last year gave me some AWESOME handmedowns today ...

Unexpected Gift

My sweet coworker brought in a completely unexpected gift for me this morning! She said she won a Wendy Bellisimo Moses Basket from parents.com a while back and said it was mine if I wanted it! wooohooo! Its GORGEOUS! and wont take up too much space either - since space is quickly becoming an issue with all this new baby equipment we've began acquiring.

Its brand new! and she also brought in a few other goodies that are gently used - such as a bath thermometer. Im overwhelmed by how kind people have been to me and this baby! Combined with good ole pregnancy hormones it makes me feel overly emotional and SO BLESSED!

and to top it all off this morning - I got SLEEP last nite!!!! GOOD sleep. **sigh** life is good.

Seriously? no way ... this is insane.

Found this list online of stuff baby "needs" ....

DRUGSTORE STUFF:

Dreft or detergent that is “free” (laundry detergent that is hypoallergenic for babies - have to wash all sheets + clothes with it)
Cotton Balls or rolls of sterilized cotton
Q-Tips
Cotton Ball & Q-tip holder
Alcohol
Balmax (travel tube and tub for home)
Triple paste (at drugstore for serious diaper rash)
Diapers (Pampers Swaddlers)
Nail scissors and file
Nasal Aspirator (hospital gives you one and some drs. don’t recommend them)
Brush & Comb
Aveeno Baby Bath & Baby shampoo (really gentle)
Aveeno Baby Lotion or Vedababy creams
(Vedababy.com - pure/no preservatives)
Eucerin or aquaphor
Thermometer (ear / rectal)
Infant Tylenol
Wipes (Pampers Sensitive or Natural) best ones are LANSINOH– they don’t have a lot of the chemicals that some babies are really sensitive to, and they are nice and thick.
Diaper Squares for changing table (disposable blue things)
Nursing Pads & Bras (Maternity Store)
Lanolin (for Breasts)
Medela Breast Pump (electric or manual)
Formula (ask pediatrician what kind - Enfamil
Lipil with Iron) - Formula really should be an emergency-only item; here’s why: http://www.kellymom.com/newman/risks_of_formula_08-02.html.
The formula market is HUGE, but the risks are surprising. 40% higher rate of childhood cancers in formula-fed babies, etc.
Add to drugstore list: lots of maxi pads. (??)

STUFF:

Bottles 4oz and 8oz (Avent or Playtex & some people like Dr. Brown’s - difficult to clean - supposedly helps with gas - ALSO - new brand called Born Free - no plastic preservatives) _ Adiri bottle is good for breastfed babies

Nipples
Pacifiers
Bottle & Nipple Brush
Bottle Sterilizer (or you can just boil in a big pot to sterilize) - Medela makes microwave steam sterilizer bags–LOVE these
Bottle Bag - Bag with ice-pack (you will receive this at the hospital)
Bottle drying rack
Nipple Basket - for dishwasher
Portable Wipes Holder
Sunscreen (not until 6 months)

FURNITURE & EQUIPMENT:

Bassinette (plus fitted sheets, mattress pads, rubber pads, waterproof pad)
Rocking Chair or Glider (and foot stool/ottoman)
Changing Table, Pad, Pad Covers - a contoured changing pad and cover are great because you can use them on any surface
Mirror - Changing Table
Black & White Toys (developmental toys)
Crib
For Crib:
crib mattress, crib bib, rubber pad, mattress cover
Mobile for over the crib
Bedding - sheets, bumpers, blanket, crib skirt
Wedgie - keeps baby on its back in the crib (so it doesn’t roll)
Baby Monitor (Safety First Video monitor is awesome)
Infant Bath & sponge pad in bath for support
Breast feeding pillow/Boppi (suggested, but not necessary)

LAYETTE:

Bibs, Burp Cloths, thick towels with head, receiving blanket, miracle blanket, insert, washcloths, a few short undershirts (before umbilical cord falls off), hats, onsies (lots of them), pajamas, stretchies, socks (Hanna Andersson first socks are best).

GEAR:

Stroller(s)
1st one - Graco Car seat with Kolcraft Universal Snap and Go - can use up until 6 months and great for city - easy to get in & out of cars and cabs. The only concern is that keeping a baby in a carseat for extended stretches is not a good idea– bad for their developing spines. I’d use a different stroller when possible rather than always defaulting to this

2nd - Maclaren Techno - easy to fold and back goes all the way down for napping - Bugaboo is cool looking (design wise) but VERY difficult in the city if you don’t walk everywhere - hard to fold and takes up a lot of room in your apartment

For Stroller (netting, rain cover, mesh bag, cup holder, SPF sun cover, bundle me)

The challenge with the maclaren is that they are angled in such a way that they are very uncomfortable if your baby has any sort of acid reflux– will give them very painful tummy aches if they are in it more than a few minutes– we had to get rid of ours and trade it for a P3. The stokke has gotten good reviews from
urban moms, as has the inglesina line.

Infant car seat (GRACO) & head rest with Kolcraft Universal snap-n-go
Electric Swing (Fisher Price take along swing folds up)
Baby Bouncer (Fisher Price super soft one or the Kick and Play)
Activity play mat / gym (for 3 months & up)

Sling - Bjorn suspends a baby by the crotch– not good for crotch or spine. There are similar carriers that support the baby under the tush rather than by the crotch that are safer. Ergo, Beco are the best. Ergo is also great and is dad-preferred.)
Fisher Price Aquarium for inside crib - plays music and lights up
Graco Porta crib (pack-n-play) & mattress & mattress & mattress cover
Diaper Bag (Skip Hop - straps on stroller/tons of colors and not so Diaper bag-ish) -
Diaper Genie & refill
Blankets
Purell or handiwipes for diaper bag

Note To Self - BUY THIS DVD!