RookieMoms Blog

Hiya pal,
When I was pregnant with baby #2, I managed to get through the first six months in denial that anything was really going to change in my life. I figure it’s sort of (Mother) Nature’s way. Sometime during that icky third trimester, I began to realize that someone new and helpless was going to live in our small house. And I had better get prepared.

As a self-aware control freak, I made a list of all my big and little concerns, assigned them rough priority and due dates, then taped it to the wall above the family computer where I was sure Alec would see it.

Being a laid-back guy, he still required my nagging to help with most of these tasks. Since other third trimester side effects include insomnia and baby-brain, it really helped me write these things down to keep them from floating around my brain at night.

First and foremost, I had a lot of anxiety about the stroller. The notion of strapping both kids down at the same time made me feel safe. I fretted about finding the perfect stroller, having it in my house before the baby was born, and using it ASAP to give me a sense of control over the whole situation.

That (understandable yet) irrational notion aside, the rest of my list of prepping for baby #2 holds up pretty well.

Since a second baby can come anytime — and I had some good friends whose bundles arrived four weeks early — these dates reflect a possible early arrival.

Critical

To keep it manageable, try to limit yourself to five absolutely must-do’s. Obviously, I fudged it for myself.

• Car seat: cleaned and installed (Due Date - 4 weeks); it was nice to get Holden accustomed to his new spot in the car.
• Childcare plan: Who was on call before my mom arrived broken down by time of day (DD - 4 weeks); I sent around notes regarding Holden’s care and contact info to all the team members.
• Bags packed: (DD - 4 weeks) I wanted this done a month in advance so I could be ready at a moment’s notice. But I didn’t finish this until the day before Milo arrived. Oh well. See our sweet packing list.
• Breast pump: parts and bottles cleaned, pump assembled, tubing replaced (DD - 4 weeks); I’m pretty sure we missed this deadline
• Baby clothes: cleaned and installed (DD - 4 weeks); I liked knowing that all the mini clothes (hand-me-down and new) were in their proper size designations so I could see if there were any gaps in coverage. Remember that the newborn phase goes extremely quickly.
• Newborn diapers: (DD - 3 weeks); they will give you some in the hospital, I have extras for you, and I will happily buy some on command; but this was something else that I felt like I really needed in order to be prepared.

Is that more than five? Oops, I lost count.

Can’t believe I thought it was Critical

Stroller for two: purchased and on hand (DD - 2 weeks); I would now hold out as long as is humanly possible. A pregnant woman cannot possibly evaluate a stroller properly, largely because she can’t fold and lift it well. But also because she doesn’t yet know what her children will prefer/tolerate.

Nice to have

• Moby-like wrap (DD - 2 wks)
• Nursing pads (DD - 2 wks)
• Zinc, baby tylenol, gripe water (DD - 2 wks)
• Pacifiers and Avent nipples (DD + 2 wks)
• Another amazing miracle swaddling blanket (DD + 2 wks) — never happened, we just wash our one all the darn time.
• A better diaper bag solution (DD + 2 wks) — never happened, we’re still winging it.
• Soft and fluffy towel (DD + 2 wks) — never happened, good thing we barely bathe our new baby.
• Hooter hider (DD + 2 wks) — I managed to borrow one and I’m grateful for it.

I’d also advise you to see what your shower brings, although I’m sure you’re already doing that.

Our wishlist and registry still holds up as a great checklist.

Lots of love,
your older friend Heather

The Chittypulga site is very difficult to navigate, so let me just link you there.
Via CoolMomPicks.com.

I’m struggling with this myself. Is it possible to earn a little money from home while I’m being mom at the same time?

Holden has childcare in our home weekdays until 2pm. Milo has me for childcare 24/7. And that childcare costs $$ so I’m looking around for little extra sompn-sompn (something something, is that better?).

This fantastic list of 94 Ways to work from home with little ones compiled by Wendy from emomsathome.com is a good reference for now and the future.

Suggestions include productivity tips for working smarter and activities to keep kids busy with minimal intervention. Unfortunately, my guys are a little small to expect to get much of anything done. Luckily, Milo has me up a few times each night, so I can work Asian business hours.

Local families, Nest is hosting a shopping event for baby gear at Studio Grow.

Shop the latest baby and childrens collections from over 20 local designers while your little ones romp through the play rooms at Studio Grow.

I’m a fan of Studio Grow on a good day already, so if I just had some extra money for cute stuff, this event would be perfect.

“True Blue, baby I love you”.

Well, Madonna, I know your kids are a little older than mine, but you seem like a health nut, so I’m guessing not.

We give Julian green Odwalla juice to compensate for his lack of interest in broccoli, and if he’s sick, he gets unlimited juice boxes so that we can feel like he’s drinking enough. No guarantee this practice works.

So, I’m no juice expert, but when I was invited to sample True Blue juice, I thought, “Great.” Julian has sort of lost interest in fresh blueberries, plus they cost more than a bottle of wine. Blueberry juice seemed like a great idea, until I received the sample and realized that this is different than freshly pureed blueberries that I put in his smoothies at home. However, I’m still confused about the relationship between antioxidants in fresh blueberries and the nutritional value of the True Blue juice. If you are into knowing this stuff, check out the True Blue website. It says that there is a full serving of blueberries in each 16 oz glass, but I also know that the AAP recommends no more than 4-6 oz of fruit juice per day for preschoolers. By my calculations, your child would be then getting 1/4 of a serving a blueberries if you stuck to this recommendation and served him True Blue juice.

Also, help me out nutrition experts: the label reads “25% Juice”. I don’t exactly know what that means, but I grew up drinking apple juice that always said 100% juice on the label. Perhaps pure juice would be too strong and the rest is water? Is it sugared water?

I took a bottle to Julian’s preschool and offered it up for the teacher to give them at snack time. She and I ultimately agreed that the stain factor of this juice is so intense that it’s not a good treat for preschoolers. I certainly don’t want it in an open container inside my house. I think it’s for picnics only. And maybe only nude picnics.

So, I am enjoying drinking the juice as a cocktail mixed with sparkling water with dinner. That’s as good as it gets for a pregnant woman in the U.S.

Perhaps I’ll freeze some into popsicles to be consumed in the backyard. During one of my naked festivals.

As a consumer, I’m frequently dissatisfied. I want to find The Ultimate Product and then be done. Sadly, there seem to be pros and cons to many baby gear decisions (see my stroller review). And so it is with bibs.

The old standby, Bumkins Superbib.
It has so much going for it: this bib can be wiped clean or machine washed and it comes in fun patterns. But the con is a biggie: the darn thing collects mildew if not dried completely before storing (and am I the only one that leaves a restaurant with a damp bib crammed in a bag somewhere?).

I have four of these bibs and they are all embarrassingly speckle-spotted with mildew that will not go away (despite repeated washings and bleach). Customer service assures me that this is not normal.

The new kid on the block, Poiwear Hi-chair bib.
This clever design protects the pants and legs as well as the chest of your messy little eater, but the unconventional shape is actually a little embarrassing to pull out of the diaper bag. It also cannot be wiped clean but needs to be machine washed; this may be a good thing considering my propensity to collect nasty black spots of mildew.

If you like the loud colors and patterns and have $20 to spend on a new bib, give it a try and support an auntie-preneur in the process.

> Check out the Hi-chair bib from Poiwear.

Whirlpool has announced a “Mother of Invention Grant” of $20,000 (plus appliances and a trip to “business bootcamp”) for the winner of their little contest.

To recognize this motherly ingenuity, the 2007 Whirlpool Brand Mother of Invention Grant will provide moms with the necessary business resources, such as seed money and expert advice, helping to make business dreams a reality.

If you are (1) a mom with (2) a great idea, then you can (3) fill out the questionnaire at whirlpool.com/moms. Contest ends June 30, 2007

Well, we are entangled in gender differences this week, aren’t we? While I’m rhapsodizing about how or if I will foster my sons’ danger gene, the new book Learning Like a Girl: Educating Our Daughters in Schools of Their Own is set to hit the shelves.

I feel decidedly unqualified to review this book because, as a girl, I never received a single-sex or private school education.

And now, as a mother, I only have sons and will not have to decide whether my young daughter will better blossom into her intellectual potential in a segregated environment.

If you’re a parent of a girl or just want to learn more, enter to win this new book. To enter, simply comment on this post before Wednesday, May 23rd.

> Order Learning Like a Girl from Amazon.com
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