8/24/09
I have to admit the desire to knit has caught on. I attribute it to both motherly instinct and the fact that I’ve found so many cute things out there to make. From booties to onesies, to sweaters and blankets—why buy them when you can make such adorable ones yourself?
You can even save money by forgoing the purchase of a pattern book, and finding a free one on the internet (or from a book at your local library). There are plenty of free patterns waiting to be found thanks to many generous knitters. These two sources are just the tip of the iceberg:Knitting Pattern Central and The Daily Knitter. Also, most yarn companies offer free patterns on their Web site, including Patrons, Lion Brand, andBernat.
My current project is a blanket for the car, the pattern is compliments of my mom, and will be available when it is finished, so I, too, can share the knitting love.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
What's That Smell
8/21/09
We all know that pregnancy brings on many changes, and one of the lesser talked about ones is a hyperactive sense of smell. It can be so pronounced that some women source it as their first indication of pregnancy; for example, when the scent of coffee or wine suddenly goes from wonderful to a gag inducer.
Luckily, in that I haven’t become as sensitive to smells as others, but certain scents do push my nausea button, and repetitive ones tend to gradually wear on me to a point where I need to faze them out. This has happened with several of my bath and beauty products, which is why I was glad to stumble upon a new natural skin care line called Mä Mi.
Mä Mi has a full range of cruelty free skin care products created especially for new moms. They’re light, easy-to-use, and best of all have no scent. I’ve tried three products so far: the Revitalize Face Cleanser with seaweed and rosehip seed; the Get Radical Antioxidant Serum made from Rooibus; and the Satiated Moisturizer with jojoba oil, and plant sourced squalane, and none have disappointed—my nose or my skin.
Two Thumbs Up
8/17/09
Being 24 weeks along, I have a while to go until my first birthing class, but I can’t help wondering what it’s all going to be like right now, which is why I put the DVD Laugh and Learn About Childbirth on my Netflix queue. (If you don’t have Netflix, you can buy the DVDs at Laugh & Learn.)
The course is led by Sheri Bayles, an RN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and certified Lamaze instructor, and spans two discs. I’ve watched the first so far, and so far so good. In that two and a half hours, I learned the three steps of labor, medical terminology that the staff will be using (which otherwise would be gibberish to me), and the disadvantages of getting an epidural.
The class also includes an anatomy overview, which is helpful in understanding late pregnancy symptoms, as well as the signs of early labor to help you know when to get ready.
Bayles continually recommends using gravity to help in childbirth—which means avoiding lying down for as long as possible. To help you do that, she suggests using an exercise ball, which opens up your pelvic bones and allows you to bounce away your tension in between contractions. Bayles also talks about the benefits of a tub. It can greatly help relax your tense and tired muscles. So, don’t hesitate to ask your hospital if they are equipped with these helpful tools.
Being 24 weeks along, I have a while to go until my first birthing class, but I can’t help wondering what it’s all going to be like right now, which is why I put the DVD Laugh and Learn About Childbirth on my Netflix queue. (If you don’t have Netflix, you can buy the DVDs at Laugh & Learn.)
The course is led by Sheri Bayles, an RN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and certified Lamaze instructor, and spans two discs. I’ve watched the first so far, and so far so good. In that two and a half hours, I learned the three steps of labor, medical terminology that the staff will be using (which otherwise would be gibberish to me), and the disadvantages of getting an epidural.
The class also includes an anatomy overview, which is helpful in understanding late pregnancy symptoms, as well as the signs of early labor to help you know when to get ready.
Bayles continually recommends using gravity to help in childbirth—which means avoiding lying down for as long as possible. To help you do that, she suggests using an exercise ball, which opens up your pelvic bones and allows you to bounce away your tension in between contractions. Bayles also talks about the benefits of a tub. It can greatly help relax your tense and tired muscles. So, don’t hesitate to ask your hospital if they are equipped with these helpful tools.
Double Your Bubble
8/14/09
I decided to read up on what’s happening inside of me these days using my fave online pregnancy calendar, and discovered a fact that made me shrink in awe. Well actually, the first fact had me amazed, and the second bowled me over.
First, I learned that the bun in my oven is up to one pound now, which seems pretty amazing by itself, but then came the kicker: that in four weeks it will be two. Just to break that down (and make it even less fathomable)—it took 23 weeks for my bun to reach one pound, and now in a mere four, it’s going to double that.
All I can say is “Wow!” And, no wonder the second trimester is the key time for ensuring our babies reach a healthy birth weight. Which means, both you and I should make sure we’re eating when we’re hungry, and continuing to take our vitamins, because our babies need it now more than ever.
I decided to read up on what’s happening inside of me these days using my fave online pregnancy calendar, and discovered a fact that made me shrink in awe. Well actually, the first fact had me amazed, and the second bowled me over.
First, I learned that the bun in my oven is up to one pound now, which seems pretty amazing by itself, but then came the kicker: that in four weeks it will be two. Just to break that down (and make it even less fathomable)—it took 23 weeks for my bun to reach one pound, and now in a mere four, it’s going to double that.
All I can say is “Wow!” And, no wonder the second trimester is the key time for ensuring our babies reach a healthy birth weight. Which means, both you and I should make sure we’re eating when we’re hungry, and continuing to take our vitamins, because our babies need it now more than ever.
Carpe Diem
8/7/09
I’ve read that I’ll never feel this energetic again (during my pregnancy, that is), which means it’s time to act. There’s much to do before the baby arrives, and it only makes sense to do it when I’m feeling ambitious.
Making a list of what I think I will need to do or buy seems like a good start. Luckily, there are plenty of resources out there to help me figure this out. Experienced mothers are a great resource. And talking to at least one newish one will be helpful for the latest, greatest inventions.
I’d already gotten advice on a few must-haves, including a nursing pillow to help carry the weight, a baby monitor to keep an ear on my cherub, and a rocking chair to help ease the baby back to sleep when I can barely stand myself.
I’m still taking notes, so please share any must-have items that have made your mothering experience easier.
I’ve read that I’ll never feel this energetic again (during my pregnancy, that is), which means it’s time to act. There’s much to do before the baby arrives, and it only makes sense to do it when I’m feeling ambitious.
Making a list of what I think I will need to do or buy seems like a good start. Luckily, there are plenty of resources out there to help me figure this out. Experienced mothers are a great resource. And talking to at least one newish one will be helpful for the latest, greatest inventions.
I’d already gotten advice on a few must-haves, including a nursing pillow to help carry the weight, a baby monitor to keep an ear on my cherub, and a rocking chair to help ease the baby back to sleep when I can barely stand myself.
I’m still taking notes, so please share any must-have items that have made your mothering experience easier.
The Furry, Howling Child
8/4/09
It’s true that I’m going through my first pregnancy, but my first “child” was a beagle-mix I got from a dog rescue. Rusty is 5-years old now and very well tempered, but I still want to make sure the small gurgling addition to the family doesn’t incite any unexpected behavior. That’s why I took some time to talk with Neil Sattin, a professional dog trainer schooled in the practice of Natural Dog Training.
Neil had many helpful suggestions, including avoiding any big introductions, and instead being low-key about the baby’s arrival. He also suggested that if we had an opportunity before the baby comes home to bring a baby blanket for Rusty to sniff to help familiarize him with the new scent.
Dogs love structure, and nothing can disrupt this more than a new baby. Which is why Neil recommended thinking about what kind of structure we could stick to, to make the transition a little less difficult for Rusty. I promised to continue my daily morning walks to keep his tail wagging.
Another good tip I got is for when the baby creates stress for Rusty. Neil said to take the dog outside and play tug-of-war for about 15 minutes, making sure to let him win. This should release any energy that has built up from the stressful indoor atmosphere.
To find out more about Natural Dog Training, check out Neil’s Web site, which has a good basic introduction to the philosophy and practice.
It’s true that I’m going through my first pregnancy, but my first “child” was a beagle-mix I got from a dog rescue. Rusty is 5-years old now and very well tempered, but I still want to make sure the small gurgling addition to the family doesn’t incite any unexpected behavior. That’s why I took some time to talk with Neil Sattin, a professional dog trainer schooled in the practice of Natural Dog Training.
Neil had many helpful suggestions, including avoiding any big introductions, and instead being low-key about the baby’s arrival. He also suggested that if we had an opportunity before the baby comes home to bring a baby blanket for Rusty to sniff to help familiarize him with the new scent.
Dogs love structure, and nothing can disrupt this more than a new baby. Which is why Neil recommended thinking about what kind of structure we could stick to, to make the transition a little less difficult for Rusty. I promised to continue my daily morning walks to keep his tail wagging.
Another good tip I got is for when the baby creates stress for Rusty. Neil said to take the dog outside and play tug-of-war for about 15 minutes, making sure to let him win. This should release any energy that has built up from the stressful indoor atmosphere.
To find out more about Natural Dog Training, check out Neil’s Web site, which has a good basic introduction to the philosophy and practice.
Milking the Cat, Cow, and Camel
7/31/09
You might think I’m starting an animal sanctuary with such a title, and although I’d love to, that’s pretty far from the case. These are actually names of a few poses in this DVD I found: Yoga for Your Pregnancy. I thought it would be a good idea to be armed with some proven yoga poses for my health and birthing, in addition to whatever birthing class I take.
Kristen Eykel is the instructor of the DVD, and is a proven veteran, having used the techniques in her own delivery, as well as teaching them in prenatal yoga classes. The running time is close to 105 minutes and includes two workouts, one geared toward strengthening and the other toward relaxing. There are also bonus chapters that offer tools for meditating, poses for the birthing room, and postnatal yoga practice.
Overall, it’s an informative source that is extremely accessible since you can just pop it into your computer or DVD player anytime. I don’t know about you, but I plan to start doing my cat, cow, camel and more, beforethe cow comes home, because being over-prepared is better than the alternative.
You might think I’m starting an animal sanctuary with such a title, and although I’d love to, that’s pretty far from the case. These are actually names of a few poses in this DVD I found: Yoga for Your Pregnancy. I thought it would be a good idea to be armed with some proven yoga poses for my health and birthing, in addition to whatever birthing class I take.
Kristen Eykel is the instructor of the DVD, and is a proven veteran, having used the techniques in her own delivery, as well as teaching them in prenatal yoga classes. The running time is close to 105 minutes and includes two workouts, one geared toward strengthening and the other toward relaxing. There are also bonus chapters that offer tools for meditating, poses for the birthing room, and postnatal yoga practice.
Overall, it’s an informative source that is extremely accessible since you can just pop it into your computer or DVD player anytime. I don’t know about you, but I plan to start doing my cat, cow, camel and more, beforethe cow comes home, because being over-prepared is better than the alternative.
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