Thanksgiving While Pregnant

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to get together with loved ones, have a lovely meal, and be thankful for that little one growing inside you!! It can also get a little stressful if you're hosting the dinner or driving/flying to see relatives. Here are a few tips to make your Thanksgiving enjoyable while pregnant!

• Take every opportunity you can to put your feet up and relax! Let others do the work and you get some rest! After all, you have a good excuse :)
• If the smell of Thanksgiving food makes you queazy, opt to eat out instead, or go out for a walk while the food is being prepared.
• Don't feel guilty if you over indulge a bit, just don't overdo it! Enjoy this stage of your life and the savory holiday treats!
• Be prepared to hear lots of "advice" from friends and relatives! It can get a little annoying, but be open minded about it and take them with a smile :)
• Don't feel insulted by comments about your body image. You may hear things like: "you're so big," or "you're about to pop soon!" Every woman carries their baby and weight differently. I know it may be hard, but try to ignore it.
• If you are traveling, make sure you get the ok from your dr.
• Keep a positive attitude!! Your little one will thank you!!

Have a happy Thanksgiving ladies!!

New Baby Tip #3: Swaddling your baby

After coming out of mommy's belly, newborns need to feel warm and snuggly! They've been cramped in your belly for 9 months, so that's all they know up to now! This video gives a quick demonstration on how to swaddle your baby.

You can watch the video here.

For more information on how to care for your newborn, you can contact Bethany Winder from BabyBee Basics and schedule a class with her. She will walk you through everything you'll need to care for your baby and will provide you with very useful information. You can also contact her at (512) 626.4165 if you have any questions.

November Giveaway: Baby Blanket

This month's giveaway is sponsored by The Nursing Room.

Mommy2B is giving away this adorable handmade knit blanket. Keep your sweet baby cozy warm during the holidays.

To enter is easy! Just tell us about your unusual cravings or food aversions you've had during your pregnancy, and post your comment here.

A random winner will be chosen on Dec.1st.

New baby tip #2: Clothes Stains

To remove stains on your baby's outfits, soak the clothes in hot water with half a cup of vinegar and detergent (Dreft is the most famous brand for baby detergent). Wash as usual.
If you want to prevent stains from setting, sprinkle some baking soda on those areas before you put the clothes on the washing machine.

Fit Mommy2B Tip #3: Kegels

Kegels are a great exercise to help strengthen our pelvic floor muscles. Doing it consistently may help prevent tears during labor, and even may make pushing a bit easier. The best part is that you can do it anywhere and at anytime!
Kegels are not restricted to just pregnant women. You can do it at anytime and it's also known to help in other areas, such as incontinence and sex.
To learn more about Kegels and how to do them, click here.

New Baby Tip #1: Cradle cap

Mild cradle cap or crust on the baby's scalp can be treated by scrubbing the area with a soft toothbrush and baby oil. The oil helps soften the scales. Then, shampoo as usual to remove the flakes. Don't shampoo the baby everyday, as this can dry the scalp and worsen cradle cap.

If the case is severe, always talk to your pediatrician when in doubt.

October Giveaway goes to...

Congratulations to Karen Wallace for winning this month's giveaway!
Please send me an email at mommy2baustin@yahoo.com to claim your prize.

Stay tuned for more fun giveaways!

Eliana

10 things you don't usually hear about parenthood

I saw this article on msn and I definitely wanted to share it with you. If you are already a mommy, you’ll agree on how true these statements are. When people try to give you some advice, you’ll come across the usual “you’ll have to change a million diapers,” “be prepared for sleepless nights,” “you’ll always be late” stories. These are a few details some people tend to leave out…

1. You will treasure every second you get to yourself
I never thought this would be so true. If he naps for 8 more minutes, I might get a quick shower, or watching the Mickey Mouse club for an extra 30 sec. gives me enough time to run to the bathroom…

2. Going to the bathroom by yourself becomes a privilege
If you are a stay-at-home mom and have no one else with you, you may know exactly how this feels. Your bladder is about to burst and your precious baby just wants to be held…what do you do? Take a little trip together to the bathroom! I have gotten pretty good at doing things with one hand!

3. At times, you’ll feel like a failure
When you become a parent, your expectations skyrocket. That’s because you want to make sure you are making the right decisions for your baby’s wellbeing. When it doesn’t happen, you’ll feel miserable…I spent a lot of sleepless nights just wondering what I had done wrong when my boy couldn’t sleep through the night. Even though I had tried all the options we thought possible, I still felt like a failure at times. As parents, you’ll have these moments.

4. You see the world differently
Your priorities now that you are parent will take a 180º turn. You will try to relate everything to your own family or kids. Things like watching a movie or the news may take on a different meaning. You now project yourself with your children. I get so emotional now when I read about children suffering or even auto insurance ads. I wouldn’t want any of my children to suffer.

5. Daddies will turn a little soft
All of the sudden, daddy’s favorite artists changed from “Flo-Rida” to “Imagination movers” and “patty cakes” becomes the number 1 hit in the house! Daddies will soften up even more if they have a little girl.

6. You will worry over anything!
No matter what your kids do, or don’t do, you will always worry. Your mind will always wonder “is he breathing in his crib?” “is the car seat attached correctly?” “am I holding him right?” “do we have enough to help him through college?” All of these new worries are common in new parents. I lost count of the number of times we took my son to the doctor for every little thing, just because we always worried!

7. They will get sick!
Kids get sick very often, and if you think about it, how wouldn’t they when they put EVERYTHING in their mouths!! It’s amazing how another kid’s sippy cup can be so tasty!

8. You’ll be embarrassed…a lot!
Even if you have a little angel, you’ll find an occasion where you just want to hide! Temper tantrums at Walmart? Being there! Chasing the kid all over isle 4? Done that! As babies try to figure out the world around them, they just want to explore and oh my...they get so upset when you stop them from that.

9. The gift of unconditional love
From their first smile, to when they call you mommy, your kids will melt your heart. Your love for them will be like anything you’ve experienced.

10. You won’t be the parent you had imagined
We always envision being a certain type of parent and always trying to do better than our own, but the story changes once you actually have them! Never say “never” when it comes to how you’ll be raising your kids. You never know!!

Regardless of what people tell you or don’t tell you, you are always going to try as hard as you can to be the best parent you can be. For a child, the love and support of their parents is their main nourishment.

Happy parenting!

Eliana