Nursery Blog

Tips to Beautiful Maternity Photos

 

• Get an Extra Hand

--If you don't want to spend money, ask a friend to take pictures of you or use a tripod.

--If you aren't happy with what you (or your friend) took, seek professional help from a photographer.

• Research Poses

--Search for pictures online or ask friends to send pictures of their favorite poses. Then try to recreate them.

--Be creative and if one pose doesn't look good, keep experimenting with others.

• Go Simple

--Keep the background clutter free and simple.

--Use a background that means something to you... like taking the photos in the nursery you spent hours working on.

--Wear a solid color shirt or dress that is tight fitting, the point is to show off the belly. You may need to go into your non-maternity wear for this one.

• Make Use of Lighting

--Turn off the flash and stand in front of a window.

--Use natural light outside, but avoid the bright light of mid-day. Instead, take pictures early in the morning or a couple hours before sunset.

--Picking a cloudy day will help avoid squinting.

• Take Lots of Pictures

--Don't delete any until you try editing them.

• Play with Photo Editing Software

--A free site like http://www.fotoflexer.com/ is easy to use and you can play with the photos you took to get a professional look.

--If you have a picture where the lighting is nice, but you're not a fan of your facial expression, crop the picture to just the belly.

--Try making it black and white and adding in pops of color from the background.

Tips for Common Mom-to-Be Frustrations

Deciding on registry items

With so many choices in every area of the baby store, it is very frustrating to decide what to register for. When we created our registry, we were so overwhelmed. I have now learned what is necessary and what is not. Read the Baby Shopping Checklist I prepared. What I found most helpful was talking to my friends that have young children. I also stopped being shy when talking to strangers. If I saw something that looked neat or if I saw a mom pushing her stroller with ease, I had to stop and ask what brand it was and how she liked it. Most moms are more than willing to share their experience with new moms.

Installing the Car Seat

I remember the first time my husband and I installed the infant car seat. We felt like complete idiots. We must have read the instruction manual 5 times in a row and with a confused look on both our faces attempted to properly install the seat. After lots of sweat, we decided to get help. I found a website called seatcheck.org where you can get information on installing car seats as well as finding a place to get inspected. Most hospitals will have a car seat check, as well as some police stations and fire departments. When we took our car (and car seat) to the inspection, we gained so much knowledge and were able to feel confident installing the car seat on our own after we left. Not only did they show us how to install the seat, but also how to position the belts and clips around the baby and how tight they should be. If the car seat is one of your frustrations, take it to a professional. I felt a million times better about the safety of my son once I knew how it all worked.

Breastfeeding

While breastfeeding is natural, it is not easy! I knew that I wanted to breastfeed, but no amount of reading or research prepared me for the actual experience. I asked for help my second day in the hospital, but the lactation consultant couldn't make it to my room before I was discharged. We managed for the first couple days, but my second day home my son had spit up with blood in it. I freaked out, we went to the ER and after they couldn't tell us what was wrong I followed up with the pediatrician. Without getting into grave detail, let's just say that I needed to use Lanolin. The next few weeks weren't any easier. Breastfeeding is very frustrating and lots of learning went on for the first few months. Many calls were made to friends who successfully breastfed and much more time was spent researching and "practicing". Experience was by far the best asset, and by the time my son was 3 months old, we finally had the hang of breastfeeding and it was smooth sailing for the next 9 months.

Figuring out Fact from Fiction

The hardest, and most frustrating, part of a new parent is deciding what is fact and fiction. So, when a family member told me to make a crib bumper really thick so the baby would be protected from hitting her head, I consulted with my pediatrician. When it comes to myths or changes in generational beliefs, your best resource is your pediatrician. There is no one more educated on keeping your baby safe than your pediatrician. Even if you don't agree with your pediatrician 100% of the time, they will tell you straight up what you should do. Then, the hard part, as a parent you have to decide for yourself what you believe.

Adjusting to Changes

With all the changes of a new baby, it is easy to get overwhelmed quickly. So, what is a new mom to do? Well, this mom asked for help! This is very difficult for most new moms; they want to do everything on their own. However, not asking for or accepting help will wear you down so take it when you can. If you have a friend come over to see the baby, ask if she'll stay with him for a few minutes so you can get a refreshing shower. Sometimes you also need to let go of control. This was very difficult for me, my family wanted to help, but I am a slight control freak. The dishwasher must be filled the way that I do it. Well, I had to let some of the control go so I could get help and take care of myself and the baby. Adjusting to all the changes is very frustrating, take a deep breath, ask for and accept help.

Pregnancy Keepsakes

Capturing the Moment

For 40 weeks (give or take) you are carrying a precious life. It is amazing how the body works to create life, but what are some ways to capture that time? No matter how many children you have, each one is special. When you are done having children, or even after you child is born, you will love to have something to look back on and be in awe of the process that took place to give you this beautiful gift of life.

Belly Casting

There are kits you can buy, or you can even find directions online, and create a mold of your belly. If you choose to do this, think of where you will put the mold once it's done. If you want to incorporate it into your nursery design, consider painting the mold with the paint you used in the nursery and hang it on the wall. You could also paint it to match the theme of the room. One fun idea is to use it as a prop when you take baby pictures. Another way to use the belly cast is to decoupage the first year of baby photos onto it.

 

 

 

Maternity Photography

Probably one of the most common methods of documenting pregnancy is photography. There are a couple ways you can do this. I like to take pictures after every doctor's appointment. I write on a chalkboard how many weeks I am and take a picture. At the end, I will put all the pictures together of just my belly and create a timeline photo collage.

Another special way to use photography is to get maternity pictures done professionally. Or, if you have a friend with a good camera, ask them to take pictures too. Depending on your personal preference, you can get pictures done in a studio or opt for a more natural setting like a park or even your back yard.

 

Blogging

Blogging has become a "growing" trend with new moms. (Pun intended) It takes the days of writing in a diary or journal to today's technological standards. Blogging also allows you to share your experiences with others. When I had our son, we lived about 1000 miles away from our family. So, I started blogging as a way to keep everyone up to date. Even now that we live 30 minutes away from our family, I still keep a blog going to update everyone on the happenings in our life. Sometimes we get so busy that it is difficult to call everyone, including aunts and uncles, to share the newest development in our family. But, blogging has created a way to share with everyone at the same time. My cell phone bill has also become a fan of blogging.

 

Scrapbooking

If you love looking at photo albums, scrapbooking takes that to the next level. While you may not put as many pictures in a scrapbook, you get to add in details and your own memories that you can't in just a photo album. You can include information about how you found out you were pregnant and how you shared the news with friends and family. Add pictures and memories about the baby shower and gifts the baby was given. There are so many ways to decorate a scrapbook. If you don't think you are very creative, take the time while you still have it to attend a scrapbooking class.  

 

3D/4D Ultrasounds

In most pregnancies, you will have at least one medical ultrasound done. These are done in 2D. If you are lucky, you will get a lot of pictures from the sonographer. With my first, I only got one. With my second, I got at least 10. If you want to have more pictures of the baby, you can look for a place that does 3D/4D ultrasounds. It is an elective procedure, so most insurance companies won't cover it. But, you will get to see your baby's features before he's born. Most places will also give you a video of the ultrasound as well as pictures on CD, depending on the package you buy. You can then add the pictures to any of the other pregnancy documenting methods.

 

Video Diary

Creating a video diary is a perfect way to combine blogging, scrapbooking, and photography in one. You can talk to the baby and share what you are experiencing that week. If you get lucky, you may even be able to catch the baby moving on video tape. If you only document a few minutes each week, you will still end up with an hour long video to show your baby when he's older, so don't feel like you need to make each entry long.

No matter which method you choose, try to find a way to document the pregnancy that you enjoy. It is a very special time in your life and you will want to have something to look back on and remember. You will forget how large your belly got. You will forget all the amazing feelings of the baby kicking you... or having hiccups. Take the time to capture these moments... pregnancy doesn't last forever.

Summer as a Pregnant Woman

This will be my second time being pregnant during the summer. The only major difference is where I live. With my son I lived in Maine and then Connecticut (Yep, moved while 6 months pregnant). The summer in Maine was wonderful for a pregnant lady... not to mention we lived on the water so there was always a cool breeze coming my way. Connecticut was a bit warmer and we didn't have air conditioning; so I had to figure out ways to stay comfy while growing a human. Now I am in Kentucky, where it is warm and humid and I have a toddler that just wants to be outside playing. So, how have I learned to beat the heat?

Location, location, location

If you live in a cooler climate, consider yourself lucky. Pregnant and hot is not a fun combo. For everyone else, stay in the shade. While the actual air temperature may not differ, staying out of the sun will keep a lot of heat off your body. Even if you love being active and outside, remember to take breaks and sit down to rest for a bit. If you don't have air conditioning, you can always go for a trip to the mall on an especially hot day and "people watch" so you don't spend any money. I have a membership to a local science museum that has a water play area and is air conditioned. So, on the crazy hot and humid days, we will probably make a trip there to stay out of the heat and keep my son entertained!

If you have a little space, also consider a baby pool. I have one for my son and I'll sit under the umbrella with my feet in the water and feel so much cooler without getting all in. I also will be making a few trips to my dad's pool this summer for some cooling off time.  There is no doubt that there are also some water-gun fights in my future! Just remember, if you're outside... slather on the sunscreen! I will also try to go to the splash park at my local Zoo with my husband and son to cool off.

Clothing

Since I just mentioned the great outdoors, let's talk about what to wear. (#1 Sunscreen, I can't say that enough... maybe one day my mom and sister will listen to me.) Shopping for swimsuits is not normally a fun experience for most women. At least, it has never been for me. However, when shopping for a maternity swimsuit, I felt a lot more confident because I knew the reason for my shape was a baby on the way. A few summers ago, I bought two swimsuits that were in the Juniors Dept and I felt great in them. Yes, they were bikinis so I was showing off my big pregnant belly, but I loved it. I was, and still am, very proud of my baby belly and was not afraid to show it off. I did buy a maternity swimsuit too (it was on clearance due to buying late in the season). This one covered my baby belly, but I didn't feel like I was hiding it due to the cut and cling factor. The key to finding a swimsuit is a mindset change. No matter what, your body is beautiful because you are carrying a life inside! You still need to find one you are comfortable in, but don't be afraid to show off that baby belly. Other than swimsuits, find what you're comfortable in during the summer. For me, it's tank tops and Soffe shorts. If you haven't ever worn a pair, they're just cotton shorts (meant for athletes or exercising) and are oh so comfy. Now, before I end up on an episode of What Not To Wear I must add, the Soffes don't leave my tiny, country subdivision. When it's time to venture into the real world, I'll slip on a light summer dress. It's lightweight and will help keep me cool while running around.

 

Treats

There are a few frozen treats that will help you feel cool without the guilt of eating a bowl of ice cream. For the right portion size (and portability) try frozen Go-Gurt (or other brand of yogurt in a tube). Just pop the yogurt out of the freezer and enjoy! My son is also a huge fan of this treat. You can also just freeze juice into molds for a healthy treat. Then, you have wonderful Fla-Vor-Ice popsicles. They come in a few flavors (and there are other brands you can try as well, but I love Fla-Vor-Ice specifically) and are 25 calories or less. The light variety is only 5 calories per pop. They're a yummy, very cooling treat. Since it is summer, there are also lots of fresh and juicy watermelons. There's nothing like sinking into a slice of watermelon to cool you off and keep you hydrated!

Drinks

I remember lying on a hammock while pregnant with my son drinking a smoothie. It's been a few years, so I have perfected my hammock lounging/smoothie drinking capabilities. (The hammock is optional, but I highly recommend it.) The smoothie concoction I've come up with over the years only uses a few ingredients. A few scoops of sherbet, a cup of frozen fruit, and juice. I vary the flavors of everything depending on what I am in the mood for. My favorite is a Raspberry Limeade smoothie. I use raspberry (or lime if you can't find raspberry) sherbet, frozen raspberries, and Simply Limeade juice. The result is a sweet and tangy smoothie that is oh-so-refreshing! You can also blend a lot of juices with ice for a quick frozen drink (Try V-8 V-Fusion, nutritious and yummy). The most important part of being pregnant during the summer is staying hydrated! Always have a glass full of ice-water nearby and you will feel a million times cooler with every sip. Don't forget the straws! I drink so much more water by using a straw.

The best part about the summer is the Fresh air, so go out and enjoy it! But, remember to relax, drink fluids, and stay cool!!

Men Only: 8 Tips to Living with a Pregnant Woman

From one "crazy pregnant lady" to the people who care for one... here are some tips to keep the pregnant woman in your house happy:

1. Amp up your Chivalry: That's right, I know you have it in you, try to get creative with the nice things you offer to do for her. Cook dinner every once and a while. If your budget allows, surprise her by picking up dinner on your way home. Once she reaches her third trimester, reward her with a pedicure gift certificate or offer to paint her nails yourself, she will be forever thankful! Pick up some of the housework without being asked. When asked, she will say that she can handle it all. While this may be true, it's nice to see you doing the dishes without prior knowledge.
2. Become a Masseuse (or at least try): Once she starts complaining of backaches, either learn how to give a massage, or make her a surprise appointment for a prenatal massage.
3. Watch You Words, Pregnant Women are Sensitive: Pick your battles. Pregnancy makes her moody and easily angered. Before disagreeing on something, decide if it is really worth it. When she complains of a pregnancy symptom, don't say it's "psychosomatic". Or that she only thinks there is a problem because she looks everything up in books and online. Don't tell her what she can/cannot do. There are so many things that women are told not to do during pregnancy, constant reminders are not nice. Never tell her she looks fat. Even if you are joking, pregnant women have no sense of humor about the subject, instead give POSITIVE comments at random times.
4. Food Discussion is Off Limits: Do not take food from the pregnant lady. This includes eating the last of something. Never comment on how much or what she is eating. Any craving a pregnant woman wants should be deeply respected; see #3.
5. Nighttime Tips: When she wakes up screaming in pain and grabbing her leg, don't go back to sleep. She seriously is in pain with a leg cramp, try to help her! If you wake up before her... do not hit the snooze alarm more than once unless you have a death wish. After getting up every few hours to pee and just being uncomfortable, she will not care about your need for a few extra minutes of shut eye.
6. Be Conscious of Smells: Her sense of smell is on overload. If she complains about your breath, go brush your teeth. If she can't stand the smell of gasoline, fill up her car without telling her.
7. Get Involved and Learn. If you can, try to go to an appointment every now and then. This is most appreciated when she's going to the doctor every week. It's nice to have someone to talk to while waiting and this is an experience that she wants to share with you.
8. Take Interest in her Baby-Related Conversations. Or, at least fake it. Mothers-to-be will want to talk about nursery furniture, names, and every cute little outfit she sees. While it may get old, humor her.

Feel free to post this on your refrigerator or in the bathroom. Or, just hand a copy to your loved one with a smile.

Pre-baby Bucket List

My Pregnancy Buck List... Top 10 things to do before the baby arrives!

At the halfway mark in my pregnancy I am starting to think of all the things, big and small, that need to get done before the baby comes. Some things should get done sooner rather than later, others could possibly wait until after the arrival. But, it all makes my head spin once I start to think about it.

 

 

 

My Pregnancy Bucket List:

 

 

1) Refinish a piece of furniture for the nursery: I have picked out and purchased my crib and dresser (future blog post to come), see a sneak peak of what I choose below. I'm very excited about the furniture, however I wanted to add a personal and unique touch to the nursery by getting an older antique piece and refurbishing it to add a bit of uniqueness to the room. I hope to find a vanity/desk that I am going to use at first as a changing table and later my little daughter will have somewhere to sit and do her makeup. Since we're not in yard sale season yet, I'm going to rummage around the local Peddlers Mall.

2) Make Crib Bedding: Another crafty thing I want to do is make the crib bedding myself. I have found the perfect fabrics, but need to determine how many yards are needed. Before the end of February, I plan on getting together with my mom to plan out how much I need and go buy it! I am buying sheets however, so I also have to find some of those too.

3) Make Window Coverings: #2 needs to be done first, but I'm going to use the same fabric to make, window drapes, a bed skirt, and a blanket, which I hope to get done in the next few months.

4) Paint the Nursery: A trip to Lowe's is in order by April! We need to pick out the paint colors and get the room painted a few months before my due date. Even with low or no-VOC paint, I want to give the room some time to air out before bringing the baby home in July!

5) Learn how to make homemade Baby Food: I want to learn how to make and store baby food. Since having my first, we're eating healthier and I'm cooking more than ever before. So, I would love to learn how to turn food from our meals that I'm already cooking into food I can give the baby. I plan on my food processor being my best friend.

6) Create a Safe Play Room: Probably the biggest item on my list is to organize the basement into a safer play area. It's slightly set up as one now... but a lot of childproofing and rearranging is in order to optimize the L-shaped space.

7) Make Space: While I'm thinking about re-arranging, I really want to move the computer desk out of the living room! The computer will probably migrate to a smaller/unused corner of the living room and the desk will go into storage. The space that my pretty, but large, desk is taking up needs to be devoted to some baby gear for a while. The swing or exersaucer will require a nook so the dogs don't run the baby over on their way through the living room.

8) Pick a name! Thankfully, I have quite a few more weeks to come to a final decision on this one. My husband and I can't figure out what middle name to use... we have narrowed it down to six options.

9)  Start exercising! OK, I laugh a little even while writing this. I can't walk on the treadmill inside with my toddler running around me. So, give me Spring, and we'll walk down the street again. I just have no motivation during winter.

10) Make a growth chart: I bought one with my first, but I have since found directions online to make one myself.

Now, so I don't feel so unaccomplished, here's what I have done so far:

• Purchased the nursery furniture! Should arrive any time now!

Cocoon 4000 Series convertible crib and 6-drawer dresser. 

• Picked the general color scheme for the nursery.
• Purchased a mini blender to aid in my homemade baby food quest.
• Cleaned all the toys out of the nursery... it used to be my toddler's playroom.
• Pulled out all the gender neutral clothing from my first and have them organized by size in the closet.
• Divided up all the boy clothes into boxes by age so I can sell them or give them away once this baby arrives.
• Bought and started filling in the Baby Memory Book.
• Narrowed down the first name to two choices!

What is the biggest thing on your Pregnancy bucket list? Do you have a plan on how you will accomplish everything, or at least try to? Please share.

Advice and Resources for Baby Names

After I found out I was pregnant with my first, my husband and I bought a Baby Names book. Probably one of the worst decisions we could have made. You see, this book had 50,001+ names. Half of which we couldn't even pronounce. However, we still spent many nights staying up way too late reading through the book. I wish I could say it helped us pick a name, but it didn't. I did like that I could look up the meaning of names I thought of quickly. With baby number two, I have found a better way. The internet!!

If you are concerned about your child being one of ten "Jennifer's" in her class, check out the Social Security's website: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/. You can track how popular the name you like has been over the years. See how many babies were named that in your state. Or, get ideas of names that are common... but, not too common by looking below the top 50 names.

Here are a few other websites I have found very useful in creating a name list.

http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/ allows me to search by syllables, so if I come up with a first name and think only a one syllable name sounds good with it; I can find all the names that might work. I can also save the names I like to a list, which is much easier than thumbing through a book over and over again.

http://www.babynamewizard.com/ has great search options. I can enter my son's name and get ideas of sibling names. I can enter any name and find its popularity in my state. I can run a search by popularity, style (traditional/contemporary), syllables. This is a site that is really helpful when you want a somewhat popular, traditional name, which starts with "M".

Just a few tips in deciding a name:

• Be aware of your child's initials

Genevieve Abigail Smith will not want an LLBean backpack (or anything else monogrammed) with her initials "GAS"

• Consider the names meaning

While your child probably won't be teased for the meaning, when Damian looks up the meaning and discovers it means "Demon", he might not be too pleased with your choice.

• Nicknames

Not necessary, but it is nice to look at possible nicknames. Not only for childhood teasing (Richard=Dick) but to give your child options. If you like a popular name, choose one with a couple nicknames so your child can go by something else in case there are a few other "Isabella's" in her class.

• Say the name out loud... a lot.

Does it flow? Do you have a hard time even getting it out? Try not only the first and last name, but all three together. The middle name isn't used often, but will be used on special occasions: like when your child graduates from a school. Will a stranger be able to pronounce the whole name?

To Share, or Not to Share? 

Once you have found the name, the next question is: "To share, or not to share?" With my first son, I shared his name with our family. The more that people used the name, the less I liked it. I think this had something to do with the fact that there wasn't a face to put with the name yet. Also, I don't call my bump by the name we decide on until the baby is born. We use a nickname, like peanut, until the baby arrives. Now, not everyone is like me. There are many people who have no problem sharing the name, using the name, etc. But, before you share the name, think about which person you are. It might save you from changing the name two weeks before your child is born, like I did.

How long does it take? 

Thankfully, most parents have at least six months to search for a name. For some, it comes down to the wire; others knew the name they wanted when they were 16. Good luck finding a name; it's a daunting and overwhelming task. If you really get stuck, I'm sure your family and friends won't mind offering their ideas.

The Top 10 Baby Names in America for 2008:

 

	Boy	Girl
1	Jacob	Emma
2	Michael	Isabella
3	Ethan	Emily
4	Joshua	Madison
5	Daniel	Ava
6	Alexander	Olivia
7	Anthony	Sophia
8	William	Abigail
9	Christopher	Elizabeth
10	Matthew	Chloe

List of Pregnancy Planning Resources

We understand the overwhelming feeling of needing to learn so much about your new baby and your pregnancy all within a short 9 months.  These are a few resources that will help get you on the right track.    

The following books have been very helpful to me during my pregnancies and in raising my son.

Great Expectations by Jones and Jones

This was the pregnancy book I used with my first. It seemed there wasn't anything that I encountered that I could not find in that book.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Baby's First Year Week By Week by Curtis and Schuler

A friend found this book very helpful and gave it to me after she was done having babies. I also used this book with my first, and then passed it on to my sister-in-law.

 

 

 

 

 

Caring For Your Baby and Young Child by Shelov and Hannemann

A different friend gave me this book after her daughter turned 6 and it has been very helpful in raising my son. There is a wealth of knowledge in this book. I would recommend getting a newer edition for the updated safety guidelines on furniture and baby equipment.

 

 

 

 

 

Online Resources

• http://www.consumerreports.org/ This is a very helpful website. However, you need a subscription. It's $5.95 per month, or $26 for a year. If you only plan to research baby items for a month or two, go with the per month plan. However, you will find that you will look up everything you are about to purchase on this website and a couple months might not be enough.
• http://www.about.com/ Almost every major baby product I have thought about buying has a review or article on this website. Also, a great resource when you have a question about... well, anything.
• http://www.parents.com/ From advice, to baby names, to recalls; you could spend hours browsing through this website.
• http://www.babycenter.com/ I used this site a lot when I had questions during pregnancy. It's better than most user comment websites because they actually have "expert answers" as well.

Let us know of any great resources you have found for pregnancy and baby planning in the comments.  Thanks!