Mom's the word.

The Original Moby Wrap Baby Carrier

2009-01-01T17:23:00.002-05:00

The amount of cloth can be disconcerting but once you've mastered the "art" of wrapping, this contraption can be a snug and comforting space for your baby, giving them the security of being as close to you as possible while freeing your arms to do other things.

This product can be used with babies ranging from preemies to 35 pounds. I bought this product in blue and (you have to pay attention on how to properly wrap this material to get the best result) used it to take my baby for an afternoon walk in the Spring. Cotton baby carriers like the Moby Wrap is ideal for when the weather is colder and can be a drag to use during the summer months.

The carrier can also be cumbersome if you are looking to get it on and off you in a jiffy. But overall, for quick walks around the neighborhood or while you're doing household chores, this is great. I even had my baby fall asleep in it while we were walking.

Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier

2008-05-24T20:34:00.000-05:00

This airy baby carrier is perfect for the summer months ahead. It is made of light mesh, designed to keep you and the baby cool during the summer and moderately warm weather. Though not recommended for extended use [The Baby Bjorn Active Carrier is suited for that], this thing will definitely help you keep a baby satisfied, lulled to sleep and content.

Carry your baby with ease, safety and comfort with this product while also looking hip and trendy.

A Still Moment

2007-08-08T17:23:00.000-05:00

I've been asking Robert to download me some baby music but I guess he's mroe concerned about his club gigs.

Thankfully, some friends have been sending me baby music. Recently, I discovered a piece by John Hinson - "A Still Moment" and though I think this can qualify for easy listening not just for babies, it is very soothing and would be perfect for when it's nappy time.

John Hinson is a trained classical pianist, father of three and husband for twelve years. He has published 3 CDs so far and al lthe pieces I've listened to -- "Circles", "Hand in Hand", "Coming Home", "Unspoken Joy", "Good Morning", "Two Roads", "Believe" and "A Still Moment" -- have all been wonderful and I think would be a favorite nursery music. I can imagine myself listening to them while breastfeeding ... my special alone time with baby Tyler.

John is also set to promote his newest album in Massachusetts and Rhode Island's classical radio. Most specially, he's coming to Cape Cod to promote his latest all original solo piano pieces. Must be the air and the seafood ...

Anyway, if you are looking for calming music to play during that special time with your baby, or just to relax and unwind after a long day, then I suggest buying one of John Hinson's CDs. Not just because this is a "Sponsored Post" but because I actually listened to them [you can too, at his web site] and I am sold. It has that smooth, non-intrusive melody that lets you be in a mellow mood without trying to vie for your attention.

-- This is a Sponsored Post

Braxton Hicks Contractions

2007-06-07T13:08:00.000-05:00

Otherwise referred to as "practice" contractions normally starting sometime after the 20th week of pregnancy and is characterized by "bnuching up" and "stiffening" of the uterus.

The uterus is actually trying to "practice" for the big day, flexing its muscles and getting ready for the baby's big push ahead.

These contractions are painless earlier in pregnancy and may start with the tightening of the uterus from the top moving downwards before relaxing. It can last from fifteen to 30 seconds but may last as long as two minutes or more.

As pregnancy progresses these contractions may become frequent and even painful but should not be mistaken for actual labor.

Well, starting this week, I've been having more frequent and more painful contractions and I swear they almost feel strong enough for me to call 911 and hightail it to the maternity ward. But my doctor did reassure me that as long as these contractions are no more than four times an hour and is not progressing in the degree of painfulness it's not yet the real thing.

And you always thought only the actual labor and delivery would be painful. Ugh.

Counting Calories

2007-06-02T17:01:00.000-05:00

So okay, I have a VERY good excuse for not dieting ... for now. But I only have just over two months and glory [indulgence] days will be over.

So what to do after giving birth and you still have fat that just won't convert to milk? Why, diet of course. While I do not adhere to diet plans, I do know that the important thing is counting your calories, good and bad and eating the good calories better than the bad calories.

And walking. I've lost 30 pounds just by walking. And I mean, walking everywhere, I walked three flights of stairs end to end, I walked from 34th to 51st on 5th Ave. [NYC], I walked to the beach, I walked to the store, I walked.

But not everyone has the time or the space to walk. The next best thing to keeping yourself trim together with moderate aerobic activity [aerobic activity can mean gardening, doing the laundry, washing the dishes, cleaning your closet, shopping .. pick one you enjoy and it won't be a chore] is calorie counting.

Yeah, sure, but how are you going to keep track of your calorie intake if all you have is an extensive and exhaustive calorie counter book with about a million entries? Turn to the internet of course. MyFitnessPal.com is offering a free calorie counter that is easy to use and fun to track.

MyFitnessPal calorie counter works with virtually any diet plan you are using and they have a 24/7 access to boards where you can find support from other dieters and health conscious afficionados. The best part? It's 100% free.

Kids with Character

2007-05-24T19:34:00.000-05:00

Babies develop characters even while they are in the womb. Their temperament, responses to outside environment [at 26 weeks, babies' eyes can open and ears can hear loud sounds] begin even before they are born.

Naturally, as they grow up, this character manifests itself in their preferences for things around them -- toys, clothes and cartoon characters.

Remember having a preconceived notion of how your baby will look and act before it's born, having a name picked out, only to take one look at the infant and say, "no, Henry does not quite cut it for this kid. He's more like a Tyler [all fashionable and adventurous. Yes at 0 months!] ..."

One company keeping up with your kid's character expression is withcharacter.com. You'll find
diaper bags and baby bedding, but more importantly, you'll find products that suit your discriminating tyke's taste, specially kids who have favorite characters from TV.

One of the site's best sellers is the Backyardigans lamp, perfect for a nightstand. Pair it with a backyardigan blanket and/or cuddle pillow and you'll have a gratefully singing backyardigan tot humming "...we have the whole wide world in our yard to explore ... we find things we have never seen before .. that's why we come back for more .. with your friends the backyadigans ..."

You can shop by age, top brands and category. This is one shopping exercise you'll most likely enjoy with your child at hand.

-- This post is sponsored by withcharacter.com

Tooth ... String ... Doorknob

2007-05-22T18:06:00.000-05:00

Ouch. This blog post actually shows a video clip of a child, with her parents blessings, bravely deciding to become an amateur dentist by having her tooth tied to the doorknob and having it pulled.

When the kid realized that she actually had to have the door slammed by somebody else she didn't looked too confident .. but still cute! Oh boy, that is one brave girl. The daddy was ingenius too, making sure the process doesn't hurt that bad.

One rule of thumb though if you're planning to use this method, make sure the tooth is LOOSE. Like, it's going to fall off any minute or else, it's going to hurt like nothing ever hurted before!

Life really is going to change when you have kids around. They think of the craziest things. But it's also good to let them decide and be adventurous, as in this case, as long as mom and/or dad are around and that it is safe and harmless.

Not that I would actually hope my son will have this ingenius idea, saving us a trip to the dentist, but I'm sure he'll have some out of this world idea at some point.

Sigh. Motherhood. Life as you know it ends when that happens.

This post is sponsored by: ArchitecturalClassics.com

The Cutest Baby Photo Contest

2007-05-15T13:24:00.000-05:00

Rob and I always get a kick out of checking out baby pictures and wondering how our first born will look like. You see, Robert is eurpean and I'm asian so the baby will surely have some very interesting features.

Babies are cute, they're fun to watch, specially when they babble incoherently, and they just say the darnest things and make the most laughable faces imaginable, all clueless and innocent.

No wonder then a lot of baby and parenthood magazines have a baby contest of some sort. One of the most popular and well-respected Baby Photo Contest and parenting network on the internet today is TheCuteKid.com.

Joining the site is free and entering the online photo contest is easy, you just need to join, upload your baby's photos ad enter the photo contest. There are monthly and yearly contests for which, this year's grand prize is a $25,000 college fund giveaway.

Judges for the baby photo contest comes from the entertainment industry -- talent scouts and casting agents and points are awarded based on a baby's appearance, charisma, expression, image concept/setting and that certain "it" factor that often comes with "star" caliber babies.

If you have aspirations to being a stage mom or your kid adores the camera then this is for you.

ThecuteKid.com also has an accompanying site, MyCuteKid, where you can showcase your own kids' photos and milestones and share them with families and friends. This is a nice way of setting up a web site to capture memories of your kids while growing up.

-- This post is sponsored by TheCuteKid.com

Free Stuff for the Baby and Mum!

2007-05-02T09:23:00.000-05:00

The medical bills of a pregnant woman is expensive enough, not to count the many extras that you just have to have for the little tyke.

Luckily, thatfreebeesite.com provides Free Stuff moms will love. There's no required "refer 5 friends and you'll get a pen" kind of deal .. or "view our ads and sign up before we tell you the good stuff" either. It's free, it's clean, and is a good resource for finding coupons from different merchants.

Yes, the coupons and freebies don't come from them. You didn't think they'd be a charity organization, right?! But the web site is still a very clean, organized and easy to use reference for all things free, coupons and deals from different merchants.

Unlike other coupon sites where you need to sign up, keep track of your purchases and then you get a discount or get to refund coupons, this site just give you links to other merchants and it's your choice whether you'd like the merchant enough to sign up and get their coupons or not.

So let's see, what do I browse ... the baby section has a free bag tag from nurserywater, huggieshappybaby and free aquaphor ointment [savior for the delicate skin!] from walmart. Not a bad deal.

For the mommies, you can score deals on beauty and makeup, magazines, personal care items, arts and crafts, the list goes on and on. Just check them out the Free Stuff at thatfreebeesite.com.

I'm going back to browsing through the list.

- This post is brought to you by thatfreebiesite.com

Blogger's block

2007-02-17T17:33:00.000-05:00

Actually, it's more like lack of interest and focus .. most likely resulting from rampaging hormones which causes me to feel idle and uninterested in what I otherwise would be doing 24/7 -- sit in front of my laptop that is.

Anyway, I've been in sweats and hoodies for so many weeks I felt like it's time to look like a woman again. I woke up today resolute to at least make myself pretty enough for the hubby when he wakes up. So I showered and started pulling regular clothes from the closet.

Unfortunately, every pair of pants I tried, every blouse I put on, even my lacy underwears don't fit! Nothing fits. Pregnant women are supposed to start showing at 16 weeks. I'm 12 weeks and I've grown into a blimp. Waaaah. 6 more months to go ... ah joy.

Fashionably preggy

2007-01-30T10:31:00.000-05:00

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Who says mom-to-be's can't be sexy? Not those living in the here and now definitely ... unfortunately, I'm more the fashionably blimp, so instead of craving for this pair of BLACK CRYSTAL JEAN

I would instead be settling for these good ol' Perfect Everyday Drawstring Pant, a pregnant woman's best friend. hah!

Breast therapy

2007-01-27T09:43:00.000-05:00

Gerber Soothing Gel Patches

New and improved soothing gel patches are designed to provide comfort and relieve sore, cracked nipples. If your nipples are chapped or tender, try placing a Breast Therapy Soothing Gel Patch inside your bra to prevent friction. The patches are cool on contact.

The Pregnancy Must Have Book

2007-01-05T09:57:00.000-05:00

What to Expect When You're Expecting, Third Edition

Almost two decades and a few updated revisions, this book continues to be a bestseller and nearly on every mother-to-be's reading list. A very concise and expansive source of information not only on the changes your body will undergo but also what to look for when you're worried about your and your baby's health. Though this book covers practically everything under the pregnancy sun, it does not follow that every pregnant woman should follow it to the letter because as often mentioned in the book, a woman's symptoms, needs and situation is different. That said, this book is very helpful.

Going Organics

2007-01-05T09:23:00.000-05:00

Organic Cotton Hooded Towel Set - Periwinkle Satin
This set is made from thick, unbleached organic cotton terry cloth. Very absorbent and fluffy for that luxurious, cuddly feel without the fear of chemicals in the things you use for your baby.

Recommended for newborn to toddlers.

Stylish Nursing Top

2007-01-02T17:41:00.000-05:00

Hug-a-Boo Sash Nursing Top
This cute top, with its flattering square neckline and three-quarter sleeves, keeps its nursing access under wraps. The sash across the front lifts to reveal two stretchy openings so you can nurse discreetly. Tie the ends of the sash in back, in front, or on the side for different looks each time. Best of all, the soft, stretchy fabric is crafted from farmed bamboo, a highly sustainable and renewable resource that doesn't require fertilizers or pesticides.

Mummy Support

2007-01-02T17:40:00.000-05:00

Medela Maternity Support

For that little extra support as your tummy grwos bigger during pregnancy. It helps relieve back ache, reducing pressure on your back and bladder by gently lifting and supporting your tummy. This model is smooth and thin enough to be virtually invisible under clothing, giving you relief while staying in style.

Wigo 1875 Watt Anti-Static ION Ceramic Dryer

2007-01-02T17:27:00.000-05:00

Liberate yourself from hair dryers that limit your ability to choose between cool, medium and high heat. Wigo's trendy ion and ceramic heating system provides one of the fastest non-frizzy drying for your hair not to mention infinite speed and heat combinations though its digital touchpad control.

Wigo 1875 Watt Anti-Static ION Ceramic Dryer

Even better, it remembers the setting for your next diva hair session.

Grocery Delivered Right to Your Door

2006-12-29T21:54:00.001-05:00

If you live in the East Coast, you most likely have heard of Stop and Shop and Giant supermarket chains. I personally shop at Stop and Shop and ever since they introduced me to Peapod online shopping, I've managed to save tons of money, not to mention transportation.

A Stop and Shop card also gives you the advantage of getting good deals reserved for members. Using direct checking shaves an additional dollar off your grocery bill.

But one of the nice things you'll really appreciate is the ability to spend hours and hours trying to compare which products you want to buy, make up an online list, calculate, discard items, recalculate, save and be able to go back even a day after without losing your carted items and do the process all over until you're satisfied with your list and complete your shopping. All done in the relative ease of your computer screen and nobody needs to feel embarrassed if you suddenly realize you're short in funds and need to return some things.

Grocery shop today at Peapod and get $10 in FREE groceries

Dining on a Budget

2006-12-29T15:26:00.000-05:00

Planning to celebrate New Year's Eve at Times Square? Living a scant 5 hours away [3 on the Acela Express], I've always planned on going but ended up not because, seriously, I've lived in New York for a whole year, and Times Square was a little too chaotic for my taste, the thought of a New Year's crush brings me the chills. Well, that and the thought that I could be mugged soon after [lol, that's where I saw a mugging anyway].

But, if you're planning to go to NYC to be part of history and you live close enough to either drive or ride the train, hooray to you! Not only can you just hop on the train, be in New York for the whole day and the dropping of the ball event, you can be on your way home when everyone else is scrambling to get a room somewhere or preparing to bunk at the Amtrak station.

Before any NYC outing, whether you've been there once or a gazillion times, make it a point to plan your trip and get all your tickets and whatever else you need online before hitting the streets of Manhattan to cut down on time and cost.

That's where my next recommended web site comes in. I used one to grab a bite with my friend at John's Pizzeria [lol, of all the nice places, I went back to the good ol' standby, Pizza.].

Supposedly, Restaurant.com offers a national database of more than 6,000 restaurants where customers may search by state, city, neighborhood, zip code and cuisine type to find their restaurant of choice. Then, you can purchase dining certificates at half or more than half the face value. Menu please!

Baby Pillow

2006-12-29T15:19:00.000-05:00

Boppy(r) Soothing Pillow - Space

For comfortable feedings or for your baby while lying, playing and learning to sit, the Boppy® pillow features a Space Soothing slipcover that is covered in the softest, most luxurious fleece fabric. With the newly-engineered Miracle Middle™ stretch panel to fit all size waists, the pillow can also be easily removed from the slipcover for easy washing.

This pillow is recommended for babies 0 months and up.