Motherhood Mondays: Surviving Those First Few Weeks with a Newborn

As a new mom I knew bringing home our little Man was going to be quite the challenge.  I heeded the advice of some great mommies in my life and put some of these time and sanity savers into effect.  Leaving us with more time to get to know our little one.  Here's a few tips and hints to get you through those first few weeks.

No 1. :  Have your baby announcement (text or email) ready to go,  after the marathon known as labor, you'll be deliriously exhausted and sharing the news of your little one's arrival will seem like a chore.  We even completed our list serve, so that all we had to do was add his name, his stats, attach a picture, and hit send.  Here's a look at our baby announcement email:

  

His first breath took ours away...

The Mister and I are elated to introduce our son, Nehvin.  He was born on Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 at  1:23AM.  Weighing in at 1lbs  and 2 ounces & measuring 3 inches tall. 

Both mom & baby are doing great.  We are excited for everyone to meet the new addition #(insert fun hash tag here)

~the proud parents

No 2. :  Change your voice mail   You're a new parent and your friends will forgive you if it takes you 2 weeks to return their phone calls.  We suggest something along the lines of "Hi you've reached the XYZ family.  We are thrilled at the arrival of our bundle of joy, (insert name here), and can't wait for everyone to meet him/her.  (Name) arrived on XYZ date, weighing 1lbs 2 ounces & measuring 3 inches tall.  Mom, dad, and baby, are doing fine and adjusting to our new life as a family of 3.  Between diaper changes and feedings we hope to return you phone call."

No 3. : "What can we do to help?", please take your friends and family up on their offer.  Have a list ready, maybe you don't want your husband's best friend folding your delicates but he can go pick up some milk and bread.  From laundry, to dishes, to groceries, to picking up take out, or holding the baby while you shower; having something for them to do makes them feel useful and you'll be thankful for the extra help.

No 4. : Along the same lines, no one cares if your house is a mess, you have a screaming mini human that demands your attention 24/7.  So don't stress about it, and feel free to send family and friends packing 35 minutes in their visit.  That being said, if you're a friend looking for a thoughtful way to help the new parents, paying for a cleaning lady to clean earns you big friendship points.

No 5. :  Stock up your freezer with ready to heat meals.  The last thing you want to be doing is thinking of what to cook for dinner.  Also please don't be the friend that comes over without food.  Seriously, even a tub of store bought cookie dough, is the equivalent of a gourmet meal.

No 6. : With shows like Orange is the New Black and House of Cards, now is the perfect time to get a Netflix subscription or stock up your DVR.  We went through all of House of Cards, Downton Abbey, and caught up with Breaking Bad on my maternity leave.  It's great for all those late night feedings.

No 7. : Breathe, you're doing a great job.  There really is no manual and all babies are so different.  So while your sister's kid might have been sleeping through the night at a month old, please don't feel bad or panicked if your child is not.  Your baby is developing on his or her own timeline.

No 8. :  Be prepared.  Stock up on Gripe Water, Baby Tylenol, the saline solution for their stuffed noses.  With a fussy or sick baby the last thing you want to be doing is running out to the store to pick up these essentials. 

No 9. :  You can not spoil a newborn.  I remember fussing over when to introduce the pacifier, because we didn't want him to get too attached to it.  It doesn't matter at that stage, he or she just needs your love and affection, so hold your child all day, rock them to sleep, and smother them in kisses if you like.  They are so tiny and new they need all your love, and you'll cherish the closeness.

The Wise Baby :: Favorite Products Share

Today I'm sharing my favorite new mom products over  at the Wise Baby.  I love the phenomenal job Lindsey's done with the Wise Baby, it's such a great resources for new parents.  On a side note, Lindsay is a fellow Chicagoan whose Mister is also a resident.  As part of our Baby Week series I posted all of the items we included in our registry guide.  I will say that we ended up returning almost fifty percent of the stuff we registered for because we just didn't use most of it, but as new parents we didn't know better.  So if you are dying to know which products made the 'can't live without list' check out our Real Mom's Favorite Products post. 

Motherhood Mondays: Meet Our Little Man

It's been six weeks since we welcomed home our little man, and I can't believe how much he's changed in such a short amount of time.  The Mister and I put together a little video for friends and family who have yet to meet him.  To view the  video, enter "littleman".  Happy Monday!

Nehvin from Praveen Patel on Vimeo.

Baby Week :: Nursery Reveal

Here it is, our little man's very own little space.  This room, once an office/storage space, needed to function as a nursery and a guestroom.  We started with this inspiration board.  Keeping with the grey/blue and yellow color scheme, we added giraffe accents, all white furniture, and several DIY projects to bring the room together.

Wall Paint: Benjamin Moore Bluegrass

Daybed: IKEA Brimnes

Crib: Land of Nod Straight Up Crib

Dresser: IKEA Malam

Nightstand: IKEA Odda

Bookcase: IKEA Billy

Paint on inside of bookcase: BEHR  Summer Harvest

Gallery Wall Frames: IKEA Ribba Frames

Giraffe: Melissa and Doug Giraffe

Circle Mirror: Hobby Lobby

Wire basket for blankets: Home Goods

Apothecary Jar: Home Goods

Circle Boxes: IKEA Kvarnvik

Baby Things Basket: Joann's

Bolster Pillow: IKEA Emmie Round Cushion

Grey & White pillows: Unison Home

Yellow & Grey pillows: TJ Maxx

Crib Sheet: Amazon

Crib skirt fabric: Joann's

Window Panel: Nate Berkus for Target

Rug: Rugs USA - Moroccan Trellis Spa Blue

Alphabet/I Love You poster: Etsy

DIY projects: Monogram Pillow, Closet Dividers, Crib Skirt, Anthropologie Inspired Letter, Animal Jars 

New Beginings

It's been over a week and I can't stop being completely amazed and feeling so blessed by the birth of our son.  We welcomed Nehvin into our lives on March 3rd, and it's been the best adventure the Mister and I could have ever imagined.  For someone so small, our little man has such a big personality and appetite.  As you could imagine our days are full of feedings, diaper changes, and naps, but I'll be blogging, though with less frequency as we adjust to life as a family of 3!

Baby Week :: Nursery DIY & Organization

Here's a few of the DIY and organization projects that we've completed  for the nursery, thus far.

1. Anthropologie inspired Zinc Letter:
I love these gorgeous Anthropologie zinc letters, but when I went to the store I realized it was too large for our bookshelf.  So I decided to try DIYing it myself.  This was actually the easiest and fastest nursery project to date.  All you need is a paper mache letter (try Michael's, Joann's, or Hobby Lobby), acrylic black paint, Folk Art Metallic Pearl White acrylic paint, a brush, and a paper towel. 

Directions:  Paint a layer of black acrylic paint, the messier/more uneven the brush strokes the better.  I waited a couple minutes to let it dry.  Then squirt the metallic pearl white acrylic paint onto the letter.  Using a crumpled up paper towel, swirl the paint to completely cover the letter.  Alternatively, you could also paint on the metallic pearl white, and then go over it with the crumpled up paper towel.  You will end up with uneven coverage and lines/streaks, which you want because it imitates the zinc letters perfectly.  Let it dry, and voila!

2. Birth-Day candle: So not technically a nursery DIY, but I wanted to celebrate his birth-day at the hospital.  Hopefully, we will have time on our way to the hospital to swing by Sprinkles and pick up a cupcake!  I used Modge Podge to cover the zero candle, that I picked up for a dollar at Party City, and coated it with blue glitter.  I can't wait to celebrate with our little man!

3. Diaper Caddy: In anticipation of B's arrival I put together a diaper caddy that we could move from room to room.  This way we aren't always running into his nursery/guest room every time we need to change a diaper, and it's perfect for his late night diaper changes.  I packed the caddy with: diapers, extra onesies and pants, burp cloths, wipes, diaper rash cream, and anti-bacterial gel.

4. Monogram pillow:  This pillow is probably my favorite nursery DIY project.  I used left over fabric to cover an IKEA pillow whose cover our dog decided to eat.  Using HeatBond, I was able to make a suitable cover, as I can't sew to save my life.  I Googled monogram fonts and found this template, which I then used to create his monogram by selecting his initials.  I then traced the monogram onto grey felt, cut around it, and attached the felt onto the pillow with HeatBond.  I think it's the secret southern girl in me, but I'm obsessed with monograms, and I love the way this pillow looks in his crib!

5. Breast feeding basket: Based upon recommendations from other mom's I put together a little basket to have at our bedside for all those late night feedings.

I stocked it with: a water bottle (to always stay hydrated), burp cloths, pacifiers (in case he's not hungry and just wants to suckle), nipple cream, cooling breast pads, a nail file (so as he's distracted I can tackle those long fingernails), and Baby Daze (to keep track of his feedings).

6. Animal Jars:  So I've seen these little guys everywhere and I knew I wanted some for the nursery.  I purchased these cute mason jars and plastic animals at Joann's.  First, I super glued the mason jar lid to the rim, and then super glued the plastic animals to the lid.  Finally, I coated the lids with 2 coats of Rust-oleum's Metallic High Shine Finish spray paint.  Once they were dry I filled them with cotton swabs and pads.

Screen Printed Bibs in an Apothecary Jar:  I saw this adorable old doctor's apothecary jar at HomeGoods and I knew it was coming home with me.  It was the perfect place to store the burp cloths I screen printed using my silk screen kit, click here for the tutorial.

7. Diaper Drawer Organization: This is what I call nesting to the max, is it sad that organizing diapers makes me happy?  Using this IKEA drawer organizer kit, that I picked up on one of our many IKEA runs, I made the first drawer of his dresser/changing table into my own personal happy place.  Now everything from diapers, to wipes, anti-bacterial gel, baby lotion, diaper creams, and Vaseline has its place. 

8. Gallery Wall:  We created a gallery wall to hang over the day bed in his nursery.  Once we decided on a layout, we used left over/crumpled up packing paper, to trace the outline of our frames.  After we nailed in our picture hooks, we ripped off the paper and voila, no messy scratches or multiple holes in the wall.  Seriously, this method is genius!  We completed the gallery wall with one of our maternity photos, his ultrasound picture, added some personal artwork (see our Etsy store), the shells/guestbook from our baby shower, and added a place holder for his baby footprints.

9. Closet Dividers:  Being a little OCD I wanted to make sure all of B's clothes were appropriately labeled.  I would hate to find a cute outfit only to realize he's too big to wear it.  I found these closet organizers at the Container Store, and designed these labels myself.  Then I just cut them to size and used double sided tape to adhere it, that way if I want to change the design or sizes later on as he grows, I can.

Baby Week: What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

With T-minus 2 weeks to go, we finally finished packing our hospital bags, yes bags, this weekend.  Here's a look at the essentials and then some that we're bringing to the hospital.

For the baby: I packed a couple outfit options, just because we aren't sure of his size.  There are 2 going home outfits (long footed onesies), a footed pant with a kimono top, hats, and a fleece footed onesie (it'll be the first week of march and I don't anticipate it being very warm).  For the purposes of grooming, we packed baby nail cutters and more importantly a nail file, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and Vaseline (I hear slathering this on helps with cleaning up the meconium aka first tar like poops).  I also packed extra diapers and a swaddle blanket, I know  the hospital provides plenty of their own, but just in case I waned to give it a go.  And I also added extra card stock for baby foot prints, since it was easier than hauling his baby book along, and a thick receiving blanket that we ordered from Ava-Elliot (which I love). 

For me:  I packed 2 pairs of PJs, one's a long sleeved button down for easy feeding and skin-to-skin contact, and a going home outfit: yoga pants with a fold over waist, and a long tunic top.  I went to target and picked up a few nursing tanks, so at least my middle will be covered, and some glorious granny panties.  I know the hospital provides you with mesh undies, but I'm not sure if I'll like those.  Grooming:  I plan on showering so I can feel human again, so that requires the usual toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and of course a hair dryer, flat iron, and hairspray.  Overnight essentials: face wipes, face wash, face lotion, deodorant, contacts, contact solution, glasses, and hair ties.  A make up bag with just the basics: BB cream, eyeliner, and concealer.  I also packed a pair of flip flops, and 2 pairs of comfy/warm socks.  And because I'm not that into ice chips, I packed some hard candy: Lemonheads and Jolly Ranchers, and granola bars.  Lastly, the postpartum care goodies: nipple cream, overnight pads aka thunder pads, Tucks medicated pads, Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Spray, a set of disposable breast pads (in case my milk comes in early), and Tylenol. 

 For the Mister: A blanket (as his bed is by the window), PJs and comfy clothes, button down shirt for skin-to-skin care, and toiletries.

Tech bag (which is also packed in the Mister's bag): iPad, Kindle Fire, laptop (to send out the birth email to immediate friends and family), cameras (DSLR and the point and shoot), phones, and chargers for all electronics. 

Other important stuff: ID & insurance cards, copy of my medical record file, cord blood paperwork/kit, and our pediatrician's contact information.

Not sure where to get started with your hospital bag?  Here's a quick checklist I put together:

Baby Week: Bump Club & Beyond Chicago

My friend convinced me to attend the Bump Club & Beyond Chicago Expectant Mom's Dinner last month, and I was so glad I did.  Bump Club & Beyond Chicago's founder, Lindsay does a fabulous job with these events.  It's a great outlet to connect with other mom's or mommies-to-be.  And they have great events from their Expectant Mom's Dinner series, to free workout classes at LuLuLemon, to their new mom brunch at Bubbles Academy, and so much more.  If you're pregnant and or recently had a baby and are looking to connect with other mom's I was absolutely recommend checking out the Bump Club Chicago.

Here are my reviews of the two Expectant Mom's Dinners (January - What's Up Doc: Pediatrician Panel, & February -  Breastfeeding) I've attended.
January -  What's Up Doc: Pediatrician Panel:  They had a panel of Pediatricians present to discuss topics from how to choose a pediatrician, what to expect from a pediatrician at the hospital, a timeline of immunizations and doctor’s visits, and newborn care.   There was an informative Q&A session following the presentations by the pediatricians.

February - Breastfeeding: They had the Lactation Partners on hand to discuss breastfeeding.  Everything from how to get started, what to expect from your baby at the hospital, what to expect when you go home, troubleshooting, common issues, and general guidelines.  They also followed up their presentation with a Q&A session. 

Gift Bags aka the Good Stuff:  I love the goodies that the ladies behind the BCBC hand select for us!

January Gift Bag:  Baby Daze planner, Noodle & Boo Sample products (ultimate ointment, body wash, & lotion), baby blanket, Similac bottle, Fit Pregnancy magazine, MAM Anti Colic bottle, MAM pacifier, Weleda Baby Calendula Weather Protection cream, NapiNol Topical Ointment, and Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

February Gift Bag (see below): Dr. Brown's Anti Colic bottle, Dr. Brown's milk storage bags, Dr. Brown's Hydro Gel soothing pads, MAM Anti Colic bottle, MAM pacifier, KIND healthy grains granola, MilkMakers lactation cookie, MotherLove nipple cream, Bella B Tummy Honey Butter stretch mark cream, Lansinoh baby wipes, I Love Boppy water bottle, Simple Wishes milk storage bags, CleanWell sanitizing & disinfecting wipes, Dr. Nate's natural lip balm, & Howbility Caring for Newborn DVD.

GiveAways: Hello goodies!  If the Baby Swag bags weren't enough, they raffle off some amazing prizes.  Last night, my friend won the Orbit Baby Travel System G2 stroller that retails for well above $800.

From the January Expectant Mom’s Dinner here are some of the featured give aways (see photos below): UPPABaby messa infant car seat, Born Free sterilizing system & bottle warmer, Skip Hop Complete sheet set & versa diaper bag, Journey Bee Travel Crib, Britax Carrier, BOB Revolution Stroller, & Orbit Baby Travel System G2.

How to Join:  Become a VIP member: which allows you to attend one event free, gives you access to great discounts, a $25 gift card to Land of Nod and so much more.  BCBC is almost at 20K Facebook likes, and when they reach it next week, they will be offering a discount code on their VIP membership so watch out for that.  They also have great giveaways that you could win via FB, so if you haven't already done so you can like them here.  You can also just pay to attend events, and they often have free events and webinars.

Baby Week: Dressing the Bump

It's week 2 of BabyWeek, and we're kicking if off with maternity style!  When I first started shopping around for maternity clothes, I realized a couple things.  First off, maternity clothes are expensive, secondly most of them are ugly, and lastly, if you're going to get pregnant aim for your second and third trimester to be in the summer, that way you can wear all the cute maxi dresses etc and still look chic.  As part of my "I'm not wasting money on clothes I'll only wear for 5 months" mantra, to date I've only purchased a pair of skinny maternity jeans, 3 tops, 2 dresses, and 2 bellybands.  Here are some of my favorite pieces to show off your bump in each trimester.

First Trimester: Is great because most of your your regular wardrobe still fits.  Unless it's your second, third, etc pregnancy and you might start showing sooner.
Key pieces: Bellyband as your work pants and skinny jeans will start to feel snugger.

Second Trimester: Congrats you've progressed from: "Is that a food baby?" to "Look at your cute bump!"  It's officially time to showcase the belly, wearing huge tops will only make you look frumpy, work the bump!
Key pieces: Bellyband, Maternity Skinny Jeans, Leggings, long side ruched tops, long tank tops, and button down shirts (chambray).

Third Trimester: It's all about comfort at this stage.
Key Pieces: Dresses are great at this stage, maxi dresses & skirts, loose tops & tunics, and long cardigans.

Favorite maternity stores: Asos Maternity, H&M, GAP/Old Navy, & TopShop.

Other suggestions: Accessorize:  Nothing distracts from a huge baby bump like a statement necklace, stacked bracelets, scarfs, and belts.  And while they can't always hide the bump, they will make the mommy-to-be look more glamorous.
Layering: Try cardigans and blazers over a fitted top.  It'll accentuate your smallest part and add some depth to your outfit.

Need more maternity outfit inspiration, here are some cute Maternity style blogs: MyChicBump; The Daybook; Tres Chic Mama; The Simple Swan

{All of these outfits were items I already had in my closet and not maternity specific: Pink Dress - Mango, Black Belt - Old Navy, Tights- H&M; Stripped shirt - H&M, Skinny Jeans - Express; Stripped Dress - H&M, Blazer - H&M, Necklace - JCrew, Boots - Steve Madden; White Shirt - F21, Belt - Old Navy, Necklace - BaubleBar, Tank Dress - H&M, Tights - H&M}

{Tulip Maternity Dress - Asos, Belt -Asos, Necklace - BaubleBar, Jacket - F21; Tank Dress - H&M, Tights - H&M, Sheer Black Dress - TopShop; Black Blazer - H&M, Layered Top - Limited, Maternity Skinny Jeans - GAP, Bracelet - BaubleBar, Necklace - Zara}

Baby Week: Helpful Links

As you can imagine there are plenty of sites out there from the best way to breastfeed to the best baby deals.  And while I certainly have not perused them all, here's a list of my favorite baby related sites, articles, and resources.  Grab that cup of decaf coffee, there's a lot information listed below.  Happy Friday! 

1. For the best baby deals I usually checkout Baby Cheapskate and Baby Savers.  I've found some really great amazon diaper deals via Baby Savers. 
2. Cord Blood, to donate or not to donate.  Although this is a personal decision, we are going the route of donating our baby's cord blood.  Once we made that decision it was a matter of donating to the public bank or storing our baby's cord blood privately.  After plenty of reading and talking to our pediatrician, we've decided to donate it to a public bank.  For a number of reasons: private banking is expensive (although if you or your significant other is a healthcare professional most registries offer a significant discount); the number of diseases that can currently be treated by using cord blood is limited; if you do not have a family member that could currently benefit from your baby's cord blood, it isn't recommended, and currently  it isn't recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  If you decide to go the public registry route, you'll need to see if your hospital participates, and if so through which bank.  Additionally, you'll need to request a kit no later than 6 weeks prior to your due date so that you can receive your kit/paperwork on time. 
3. Documents your baby will need.  Insurance, most insurance companies allow you a 30 day window to add your new bundle of joy to your plan.  You will also need to get your baby a Social Security number, you can find the instructions on how to do so here.
4. Sign up for Amazon Mom.  You will receive 20% off diapers & wipes as well as other exclusive deals, and your first 3 months you'll also receive free shipping. 
5. Breastfeeding.  As I haven't embarked upon this potentially tumultuous journey I can't speak from experience.  However I did find a couple mommy blogs who's breastfeeding schedules and guides I thought were helpful: TheLeakyBoob, TheAlphaParent, & AskDr.Sears.   Then there's that pesky problem of drinking and breastfeeding, should you pump & dump, and do you really have to waste that precious breast milk.  I found this article by the La Leche League to be very helpful.  They also have lactation consultants who you can call and email for advice, seriously these women might just save your sanity.  
6. Cloth or disposable diapers.  I was a huge proponent for cloth diapers, and not the kind your parents had when they were kids.  Today's cloth diapers are much more versatile  easier to clean, and cuter.  Not to mention that they're safer for your baby and the environment.  Did you know that a disposable diaper is not biodegradable, because of all the chemicals it contains, now think about those chemicals on your precious baby's bum.  I however lost this battle with the mister, who thought that for the same price but extra clean up, it wasn't worth it.  If you are interested in cloth diapering here are some great resources: StyleBaby, Babble, & GDiapers.
7. HealthyChildren and not Google should be your go to resource for when you have questions about your baby.  It's backed by the AAP, and let's face it Google can be a scary place. 
8. Start doing your kegels now, because peeing when you laugh, cough, workout etc is not cute.  Why are kegels are so important, because they help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles which in turn help keep your bladder in check.  Wondering how to do kegels, or if you're doing them right, check out these references: MayoClinic, Women's Health, & LiveStrong.    On a side note, if you need a little support post delivery these leak proof undies are pretty adorable. 
9. A great article, written by a physical therapist on proper spinal alignment, and why babies shouldn't spend too much time in car seats/swings.
10. And if you're looking for a preview of what your nighttime routine with a newborn could potentially look like, I found these two sites to be insightful: StyleBaby & Delightful Mom Stuff. 

Baby Week :: Preggo & New Parent's Gift Basket Ideas

I was on the receiving end of some incredibly sweet and thoughtful 'congrats your eggo is preggo' gifts this year.  So I couldn't wait to return the favor for our friends that happen to get pregnant this year as well.  Here are some of the pregnancy gift baskets I pulled together for the preggos in my life.

For the first time mom who has had her share of morning sickness:

~ Saltines & Sprite to help keep the nausea at bay

~ Preggo Magazine for some light reading

~ Tums because heartburn is every pregnant woman's friend

~ Palmer's Cocoa Butter for those dreaded stretch marks

 For the second time mom:
~ Something sweet & salty for those cravings
~ Flip flops for her swollen feet
~ Nail polish, at least her toes will look cute even if she can't see them
~ Earth Mama Angel Baby Happy Momma Body Wash & loofah, great for nausea and a boost of energy
~ Earth Mama Angel Baby Tea Sampler from nausea to heartburn and third trimester wellness

 For the mom that just gave birth:
~ Something cute for their new bundle of joy
~ Grooming: Face wipes & Hair ties because taking care of herself takes a backseat to the new arrival
~ For her lady parts: Witch Hazel medicated pads & Tucks cooling pads, for the party in the front and the back.
~ Keep Calm and Mother On sign now available on our Etsy store: rivernorthLove

For your neighbor & new parent:
~ Baby Shampoo & Lotion
~ Diaper Rash Cream
~ Baby Wipes
~ Saline Drops & Nasal Aspirator
~ Pacifier (not pictured)

Something cute for the mom and dad-to-be:

Other great ideas you could include:

~ Pregnancy Journal

~ Stretch Mark Oils: Bio-Oil, Noodle & Boo Elasticity Oil, Earth Mama Angel Baby Stretch Oil

~ Lotions: Mama Bee Belly Butter

~ Maternity clothing such as tanks (try Old Navy, Target, H&M, & Asos)

~ Pampering gifts: A prenatal massage, a mani & pedi, LUSH bath bombs, the Snoogle Body Pillow

~ Funny pregnancy books: Belly Laughs, Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay.  We annotated a copy of Belly Laughs for our newest mommy-to-be, it'll be something we can pass around and write notes to one another as the rest of us become mommies.  And it's nice to know someone else out there went through the same thing.

~ Pregnancy workout dvds: Tracy Anderson's The Pregnancy Project

~ And of course anything the momma-to-be is craving