The biggest scare of my life

Yes, I broke my elbow, sprained my ankle, dislocated my knee, and got into near death, car accidents. However, the scariest day of my life was when my daughter got a second degree burn on her chest. She was 2 months shy of being 2 years old. That particular day, I had made my hot green tea and left it on top of the counter, far away from where she could reach it. When I returned, she climbed up a chair and grabbed the cup. The second I said, "Nooooo," she immediately dropped all the hot water onto her chest. She was in shock, and I was in mortified shock. Being a new mother, I didn't know what to do. I just panicked and looked around for help. Of course, no one was around, and I had to figure things out. I started calling everyone, but no one answered. So then I went online to look for help, but everything was a big blur. My daughter was in a state of shock, so I tried to calm her down. I got a cold wet towel to put over the area. At first, her chest was red, then it progressed to a purple, and then her skin started to peel. I could see raw skin underneath. I immediately called my husband and he rushed over.

We took her to the ER and waited nearly 3 hours before they saw us. By the time it was our turn, the peeling of the skin got worse. When the doctor came over, she literally put an ointment on the chest and stuck a bandaid on top of it. She didn't even take the time to clean off the wounded area. She suggested that we stay away from touching the area and as it starts healing, to put sunscreen on it. I stared at her in awe, and was pretty pis*ed. I couldn't believe how they took care of the situation, like it was nothing. I just felt like we could have done a better job, by staying home.

After that happened, I told myself that I would have ointments, or healing creams readily available in my first aid kit. Just in case it happens again. Although, I pray it doesn't. But as parents, we always have to be prepared. I try to buy everything holistic, homeopathic, or natural when it comes to skin, medication, etc. I went through a couple products that were effective, but I wasn't sure if they were good enough for the "ER" moments. I did some research and came across Thera Wise, a company that makes Natural Bio Active Therapeutic Ointments. Having gone through the scare with my daughter, I was immediately drawn to their Bio Active Skin Healing Ointment, "SHO." It aids in wound healing, reduces skin irritation and inflammation, and has antibacterial properties. It's the natural alternative to corticosteroids, anti-itch and antibacterial ointment. If you look at their ingredient list, it's all very natural. For me, that is very important.

Since a year had passed with my daughter's accident, I didn't try the ointment on her. However, my husband is a chef, and he always comes home with burns, skin irritations, and cuts, so I knew I could test it on my husband. The other day, he came home with a huge cut, so I thought it was perfect timing. I was excited to put the SHO ointment to the test. My husband couldn't understand why I was so excited about his painful cut. I immediately took the ointment, out of the box, and put it on his cut. It went on smoothly and did not have any strong odor. I put it on again, once before he went to bed, and once when he woke up. When he came home that evening, the cut, was enclosed and healing. The ointment works! It will definitely go into my first aid kit. But I see the highly likelihood that my husband will be carrying it, in his back pocket.

Thera Wise carries three other ointments: HmR (Hemorrhoidal Ointment), VpR (Vaporizing Decongestant Rub), and Ac+ (Acne Ointment). For more information on their products, please go to: www.therawise.com.

Labor & Delivery Tours

For my first pregnancy, I never took a hospital tour nor did I take a labor class. When people would ask me questions about the Labor & Delivery tours and birthing classes, I felt like a foreigner. I felt like I wasn't doing enough and I was missing out on a whole array of things. When I did go to Labor & Delivery to deliver my daughter, I just did everything that was asked of me. I was breathing when I needed to, push when I had to, and filled out paperwork galore.

With this second pregnancy, I made sure I made my reservations for the tour ahead of time. My husband and I attended the informational tour yesterday. The OB nurse who was giving the tour went through everything that you would need to know from the time you go into labor to the time you get discharged from the hospital. She went into great details about when to come to the hospital, what to bring, visiting hours, etc...I found it to be very informative, but nothing I couldn't learn on my own. My husband was falling asleep, which highly irritated me, but I completely understood why. We already had gone through the process before and it wasn't anything new, except a couple things because it was a different hospital. There were a lot of new parents and very few second time around parents.

One thing I learned from the tour, was when to go into the hospital, to be admitted for delivery:

For first time mothers: Strong 90 second contractions every 5 minutes for 2 hours. (You time from the end of the first, to the start of the next).

Second time mothers: Strong 90 second contractions every 5 minutes for 1 hour. (You need to be about 4cm dilated to be admitted or they will send you home)

If your water breaks, come in immediately, you will be admitted.

Personally, I feel that the Labor & Delivery tours are great for new parents-to-be. For me, it was just interesting to see where I would be delivering and where I would be recovering. I liked reviewing information that I already knew and also hearing questions asked by other mothers and fathers. It was also great to see the staff at hand and how personable they were. If you have any questions about labor and delivery, I would highly suggest going on the tour.

Post-natal DVDs, yay or nay?

Let me start off by saying that I am not a fan of exercise DVDs, CDs, videos, etc. I am a really hands on person and I would rather be in a studio with an equipment, or someone in front of me, directing my every move. When I was expecting my daughter, I received a lot of prenatal DVDs and post-natal DVDs, to try out. Of course, since they were gifts, I felt obligated to at least, turn them on and watch them for a brief exercise. I didn't want to be asked, "How did you like it?",and then have to lie to them, that the exercises were great. It's not in myself, to lie like that. None of the workout DVDs caught my attention, and they just seemed too long and dragged out. I felt like I could do a better job inventing my own day to day routines.

When I received, chicks-n-chickens Lullaby Exercises, I immediately thought, another exercise DVD that is going to attempt in trying to make exercising fun. The packaging was very cute and printed on recycled paper. I loved the name chicks-n-chickens (groove,sleep, enjoy). But will this be enough for me to really enjoy this DVD. I left the DVD on my laptop table, and then went and took a nice relaxing bath. I thought about it, and said, let's give this one a shot. I haven't heard about lullaby exercises, and the pictures on the cover show moms exercising with their babies, in a sling. Now, that's a new concept.

Being pregnant for the second time, I thought about what sort of exercises I would want to do, after I had the baby. I just think it's healthy to do some form of physical activity, after having your baby, even if it's super low impact. However, I remembered back to when I had my daughter, and I had no time for anything, sleep became a luxury. So where would I find the time to go to a studio and work out? And who is going to take care of the baby, if I do? Hmm, those are definite legitimate questions, you ask yourself as a mother.

When I started the chicks-n-chickens DVD, it started with founder Darcy Novo Albrecht, giving us a little insight about the DVD, and just a true genuine warm welcome. Immediately, I was drawn in. You could tell she was passionate about this exercise program she developed, and what it would do for other mothers. Every exercise starts off with a title, and a message underneath, such as "patience." The DVD is divided up into two sections, one is "groove", and the other is "sleep." She started off with a warm-up exercise, and it was so great to see mothers and babies grooving to the music. Of course, half the babies were sleeping, but you could tell they were at peace. The exercises were pretty simple and easy to do, which is great news for people who are not really coordinated. I know of people who gave up on mainstream exercise DVDs, for the mere fact that they were just too hard to follow. Each exercise progresses, and you can tell the mothers are getting a workout. You actually see them breathing and getting into it. Remember they are mothers, not hand chosen fitness buffs to perform workout routines.

I loved that all the exercises were standing up. Darcy, introduces us to a standing pushup, as well as a standing sit up. Now, that is awesome. I don't know about you, but we sit as we breastfeed, we sit as we cradle our baby, and we sit doing a lot of things, when our child is very little. So it was great to see that the exercises were standing up. And the tempo picked up with every exercise. The next section, is "sleep." I really enjoyed this section, and it literally put me in the zone, the zone to fall asleep. It was beautiful to see the moms, swaying with their babies, looking into their eyes, and really bonding with them. You even see Darcy, in one segment, with tears in her eyes. I love that because, how many times do we look at our child, and we have tears of joy. It's so special.

The chicks-n-chickens DVD, is a must have for new moms. I would even put this on my baby registry. You can do these exercises in the privacy of your home and at the same time, bond with your little one. This is the first exercise DVD that I have come across, that means more than just exercising for your waistline. It's about the connection and bond you build with your baby, as you reconnect with your own body. Please visit Darcy and chicks-n-chickens at: http://www.chicks-n-chickens.com/.

A very long Week--------end

Hope everyone had a delightful Memorial Day Weekend! Mine was not even close to being delightful. My whole family was sick. Remember my post from last week about going to the ER for my daughter? Well on top of her UTI, she caught a virus when she went into the ER. Needless to say, she has been a miserable camper. I was super excited that my husband was coming back from overseas because I missed him, but I thought he could help out around the house, especially with my daughter. Negative. He came back home with bad jet-lag, but he also caught the flu on the plane. Of course, I had to look up at the ceiling and say, "why me?"

Of course the mini-vacation I had planned over the weekend, never happened, and I was stuck home all last week and during the weekend, taking care of my daughter, my husband, and the household. At this time, any sort of help, sounds really appealing. I feel like I'm out in the mountains, all by myself. After having to carry my daughter around, and catering to my husband's needs all week and weekend long, guess what happened? I woke up with dry throat, a cold, sniffles, and bad lower back pain. Being pregnant, I can't really take anything, so now on top of taking care of everyone and everything, I have to deal with myself. Sometimes, I wonder how we do it all. Then, I think to myself, mothers are powerhouses.

We do it all, regardless of the situation, environment, etc. We make things happen and we don't go down without a fight. I had very honest moments with myself all last week, dealing with the current situation that I am in. At times I felt so helpless, weak, defeated, sad, onset of depression happening, physically exhausted, emotionally drained, and other times, I felt empowered, strong-willed, a true warrior. All in all, I feel like an overworked She-Rah with a purpose. I will be happy once the whole family gets back to normal, as well as myself. Hopefully, no one had to go through what I had to go through, but then again, we all encounter daily challenges, in one way or another.

Convenience is a necessity when it comes to being a mother

When I bought my first stroller, there were only a few things that I was set on. It had to be lightweight because there was no way, I would lug a 40 pounder, in and out of a car, up 25 flights of stairs, and back down. I wasn't going to kill myself, end up with a herniated disc, and simply put myself through hell. Another thing I also looked at was how easy it would fold. I've seen parents, more times than less, detaching, attaching, reattaching, different components of their strollers. It just looked tedious, tiring, and frustrating. I wasn't going to have the patience to go through that. The last and most important factor would be safety. I didn't want to be going down the block, only to see parts coming off, or our child rolling down a hill. It would be every parents' nightmare, and I've heard some really bad horror stories. If the stroller met those three criterias, it would be sold.

I was lucky enough to find a stroller, that met all those criterias. It was lightweight, super easy to fold, and really safe. You would think I would be the happiest stroller consumer on the market. However, as I used it more and more, it lacked in a lot of features that would make my daily to daily events, a lot easier. First, it did not have a cup holder. I never thought a cup holder, or any holder of that matter, would be of importance. I wasn't a coffee drinker, nor did I feel the necessity to have one. As time passed, I noticed that it became a hassle to bend down, open up my bag, pull out my daughter's sippy cup and then give her a drink. Wait a couple minutes, then retrieve the sippy cup back from her, put it back in the bag, and then bend back down to insert it, in the bin underneath. It was time consuming and just tiring. I cringe thinking about it.

Another feature, that it missed, was a good storage area. Of course, the stroller being light, I don't see how a storage area would make sense, especially since it would contribute to the weight of it. However, my diaper bag would just hang, draped over the stroller, in an unsecured manner. I've had problems where the entire stroller flipped backwards from the weight of the diaper bag. I began to do some research, and found that a lot of the diaper bag companies were offering stroller attachements, to their diaper bags. Of course, this sounded great, and I loved that new concepts and ideas were coming out to improve the lives of mothers, fathers, and caregivers. However, when I saw the attachments, they did not look sturdy or durable. Of course, they looked chic and cute on a stroller, but I wanted something that looked strong. It comes down to preference.

If I had those two things, it would make my life a lot easier, and strain free. I looked for cupholders and diaper bag holders, both online and at stores. I came across the plastic cup holders, that looked nice, but looked like they would crack or break, only in a matter of time. And the diaper bag holders, came in different shapes, sizes, and materials, but all looked either too weak or too bulky. I wanted something sturdy, multifunctional, and easy to manuever. I came across, Think King. The name was very clever in itself. I had to see what it had to offer, and if it would indeed, make my life a lot easier.

They offer the soft buggy cup and the mighty buggy hook. When a company offers two items, as their line of products, it says a lot. To me, it tells me that they really thought about the necessity of these two products, from usability to functionality. They probably are parents themselves or know of people who went through the same frustrations as myself, and came up with a product, that would take away those frustrations.

The soft buggy cup, acts as a cup holder and an "everything pocket," that fits most strollers. So it's pretty much an all in one holder, that can hold everything from your drink, to your diaper wipes. Not only that, it works on scooters, bicycles, wheelchairs, and beds. Wow! You can attach and detach with a simple velcro strap, so no more twisting and turning of a plastic cup holder. It's super sturdy, keeps contents in place with a drawstring closure, and the soft material flattens when the stroller folds. It's a no nonsense cup holder, that has all the bells and whistles, without the added bulk and the complicated instructionals. I love that it is multi-functional, easy to use, and is very sturdy. Everything I was looking for and more.

The mighty hook is the answer to my diaper bag hanging issues. I no longer have to loosely drape my bag over the stroller, knowing that it could fall without a moment's notice. It is made of a sturdy lightweight aluminum hook that will not break. Also, it can be used to hook on everything and anything you want to hang from a stroller. I hooked on my purse, my keys, and my daughter's lunch bag. They have a deep U shape which accomodates extra wide purse/bag handles, and the short hook, holds the bags close to the stroller (definitely a plus, if you live in a major city). Plus, the rubbery straps keep it from sliding around. Similar to the buggy cup, the hook is easy to attach with a velcro strap. I love that it's functional, durable, and easy to use.

Both products were used with the parent/caregiver in mind. Definitely, it's a great addition to my line of products I have at home, and will definitely make my life a lot easier and manageable. I loved that just the other day, I was able to attach the soft buggy holder onto my daughter's bicycle. We were able to put her SIGG water bottle and crackers in there. As she was riding her bike, she was able to pull out her water, when she needed a sip, and ate her crackers when she wanted to. There was no more of, riding around, then coming back to me, drink some water, and then riding back. She was able to be independent of me, and I was able to watch her without having to constantly open and close my bag. It definitely saved a lot of time and energy for both of us. If you are a no nonsense parent, who wants a no nonsense product, please visit Think King at http://www.think-king.com/.

Does your child hate brushing their teeth?

Are you pulling teeth with them everyday? Well, that's me. My daughter hates brushing her teeth and she would rather sleep for months, without ever brushing. Most of the time, I have to take her to the bathroom and convince her that brushing is for princesses. Sometimes that works, while other times, she will run the other way. There are some days, I admit, she will not brush her teeth at all. I could be bribing her with chocolate cake, candy, and ice cream, and she'll turn the other way, and shake her head no.

Every time she misses brushing her teeth, I feel like I'm a bad parent. I dread the day I have to go to her dental appointment, only to find out that her entire mouth is filled with cavities. I start to think of scenarios and drive myself crazy. This is all because she doesnt want to brush her teeth.

One day, we were back in the bathroom, and I had to put on my sales talk with her. I told her all the benefits of brushing her teeth, including a reward of a Spongebob toy. She hesitently looked up at me because she could never say no to Spongebob. She opened her mouth and I proceeded to brush her teeth, with some minty toothpaste. She said, "yuck!" She immediately grabbed my hand and pulled the brush out of her mouth. Of course, I was super-frusterated. I looked at her and asked her why she hated brushing her teeth. Her reply was simple, "it taste yucky." And then, I had an "A-HA" moment. I realized she didn't like the toothpaste on the toothbrush. It tasted pasty, artificial, and something she would never eat in a million years. Like anything else, I then went on a mission to find a kid-friendly toothpaste. Something that my daughter would love and be safe.

While on the hunt for the perfect toothpaste, I discovered Tanner's Tasty Paste. A toothpaste that was developed by a doctor, for children. After working with children on a daily basis, the doctor learned what flavors responded best to children, when it came to toothpastes. With that in mind, came about the Tanner's Tasty Paste. A paste that was developed for children and babies. The toothpaste does not contain saccharin, artificial colors, flavors, and most importantly, sodium lauryl sulfate (suspected in causing sores). Making the paste, a very safe one, as well. It comes in Banilla Bling, Cha Cha Chocolate, Blingside, and Baby Bling. All my daughter's favorite ice cream flavors.

I was so excited to start using it, that I literally ripped opened the box, when I got it. I told my daughter that she would get to brush her teeth with chocolate. She gave me a weird look at first, because I had never offered chocolate and toothpaste together, in one sentence. Instead of sticking a toothbrush in her mouth immediately, I squirted a little paste onto my finger and had her taste it. She looked at me and said, "more." I was ecstatic. Ever since that day, we have not looked back. I am proud to say, she is back on track, and well on her way to great dental hygiene. The only problem now is that she wants to brush her teeth, all the time. For more information, go to http://www.tannerstastypaste.com/, to make your child's brushing experience, one that is enjoyable, tasty, and safe.

Update: My sleepless last 3 days

These last couple of days have been so never-ending and tiring. I believe that I may have gotten in 3 hours of sleep total within the last 72 hours. I look like a walking zombie and my daughter wakes up every ten minutes crying for air. The antibiotics that she is taking is very strong, so she is dealing with that and everything else.

The good thing is that my husband is back from his trip and he will be home until next week, so hopefully, I will get some rest. The hardest thing is that my daughter does not go to anyone but me. So if anyone wants to help, she will not have it. I feel like she has become a permanent attachment to my leg. So not only do I have a heavy growing stomach, I now have a 35lb attachment to my leg.

Hopefully this week will go by quickly and my daughter is able to get back to normal. I'll tell you, being a mother is definitely rewarding, but it comes with lots and lots of hard work.

Are you Dappled yet?

When my daughter was an infant, my mother and I, had so many difficulties in trying to clean out her bottles. Time and time again, we were left with soap residue, milk odor, and not a complete sense of cleanliness. When you are a parent, you have sanitary concerns, especially when it comes to your newborn because they look so delicate and fragile. You want to make sure that you are doing everything in your power, to protect your child from any harm. Trying to be a conscious parent, I bought all natural laundry detergents for babies, as well as natural dish liquid. I liked the fact that my dish liquid was natural, green, and did not have any harmful chemicals in it. However, it was not doing it's job in cleaning my bottles to a sanitary standard. I couldn't find anything else, so we just went with it. If we couldn't get rid of the residue, we just boiled the heck out of the bottles. Most people don't have the time nor energy, to be standing in front of the stove, making sure that the bottles are being boiled, and not over-boiled. We managed to make it through that period, but it came with a lot of hard work.

After my daughter started to play with her toys and shared her toys, cleanliness became a major concern. Especially, when I saw her putting toys in her mouth, as well as other children, putting toys in their mouth. With germs here and there, it was hard to monitor and wash each individual toy, every time I saw a toy go into her mouth, or another child's mouth. Of course, I had my mother, who was on a mission, to clean each and every toy. But had it been me, I wouldn't have had the time or the energy to do that.

Being pregnant again, and having a toddler on my hands, I wanted to find something that could do the job, be safe, and green at the same time. I knew someone out there would understand my frustrations with cleaning products, and would have developed a product by now. To my excitement, I was able to find Dapple Baby, which was started by mothers who had similar experiences, as well as frustrations that I had encountered with my daughter. They devoted their entire line of products to babies, which in turn, makes it safe for adults as well. I tried out there Dapple Toy Cleanser Wipes and their Dapple Dish Liquid. Both those products had a list of simple ingredients, that are very natural, and free of phtalate, paraben, SLES, and dye. A definite "A-plus" in my book. They are frangranced with pure lavender essential oil, and are biodegradable. They do not test on animals and are certified to contain no detectable levels of dioxane. So pretty much, they covered their grounds, from A to Z, to ensure the safety of you and your baby.

We had some bottles of the past, stacked in our kitchen. Most of them still had the residues left from 2 years ago, and the odor still existed. We took the dish liquid, with warm to hot water, and washed it. My mom was skeptical at first. Her first experience with natural dish liquid, was not a pleasant one, when it came to cleaning. To our surprise, the residue came off, and this was from 2 years back. Immediately, we wanted to try out the toy wipes. We took some of her older toys and cleaned them off with the wipes, and it was as easy as 1-2-3. Knowing the convenience, safety, and reliability, I would get from using Dapple Baby Products, made me feel really confident, for the next baby to come.

Please visit Dapple Baby at http://www.dapplebaby.com/

The toughest night of my life!

Wow! Where do I start? My daughter woke up yesterday morning telling me that her body was hot. I thought she was going to be fine, and just let her stay home from preschool. As the day progressed, her fever got worse and worse. Usually, she fights off everything, but this time, she did not look the same. As night hit, she progressively got worse, to the point that in the middle of the night, she got to the point of 105 degrees. Of course, I rushed her to the ER.

My own mother, took a cab, to my house to take my daughter to the ER. Since I am pregnant, and my husband is on a trip overseas, I needed major help. When we got there, they were very concerned with her high fever. They asked me multiple questions and ruled out the possibility of a cold or flu and a virus. The doctor spoke to me and asked me that she wanted to take a urine sample of her. When girls her age get high fevers like this one, usually it's because they may have a urinary tract infection that is trying to spread in the body. She also ordered a chest x-ray, as well as a blood test.

I felt like I was going through a bad dream. I had so many people come up to me, asking me the same questions. After awhile, I wish they had left us alone because it was non-stop chaos. Needless to say, the urine sample, where they stuck a tube up her urinary opening, was not very pleasant. My daughter was screaming for her life, and I just wish it would be over with. That was followed by blood tests and chest x-ray, and to top it off, an IV for her.

The doctor came back with the results confirming that she had a urinary infection. I am glad we went to the ER and was able to find out the issue. Unlike our last visit, which is another story in itself. However, what I don't like about hospitals is that, too many people come and ask the same questions. It's almost like non-stop interrogation. Anyhow, we were discharged, which I am glad, because there is no better place than home. My daughter was given antibiotics and she feels a whole lot better.

I am glad that this is over with! It felt like a really bad nightmare.

My daughter wants to be clean, and I need to find something now!

I like to see my daughter tidy, neat, and clean looking. But as we know, kids will be kids, and mess is something that is unavoidable. Growing up with clean freak parents, I vowed that my kids would live a free form life. For them to have fun, be themselves, and not have to care too much about the mess. Of course, I want to see them presentable, and not look, as if they have been neglected. But at the same time, I want them to enjoy being a kid.

Fortunately, my neat freak mom, has been with us, helping out with my daughter. In turn, my daughter has inherited some neat freak tendencies. For example, if there is a tiny drop of water, paint, food, or anything of that matter, she will rip off her clothes within seconds. On good days, she will have two changes, but on her bad days, we will go through 6 or 7 changes. Just a week ago, we went to a restaurant, and she dropped some water, on her top and bottom. She literally stood up on her chair, and proceeded to take off all her clothes. My husband and I, very embarrassed, had to tell her that she was stuck wearing her clothes. Let me tell you, she was not happy, and on the verge of a major tantrum.

Being the mom that I am, I had to find something that would protect my daughter's clothing, be super functional, and super stylish. I wanted something that was a mix of a bib, apron, and coverall. If I couldn't find something like that, I was going to resort to purchasing fabric at Joanne Fabrics, and having my mom, make my concoction, on her sewing machine.

I literally went from store after store. I saw some aprons, some bibs, and some really ugly garbage bag looking things. After running around, and not finding anything close to my idea, I came back home and went online. Even my internet search, was not an easy one. I probably went to around a hundred sites, before I came across my find. My find being, Dilly Dally Chic. I literally went to their site, holding my breath, hoping and praying this would be my answer.

When their page finally opened, and I saw the first photos of their bibbies, I said, "yes, this is it!" This is exactly what I have been looking for. It was a bibbie that was super functional, super wearable, and super stylish. I was pretty excited about the selections they had. The bibbies had very vintage/modern looking prints (that are reversible) and came in four different sizes. It could be worn to do artwork, to eat, to do crafts, to cook, and the list is endless. My daughter actually slept in hers. Of course, she passed out after trying to bake a cake with me, but it was comfortable enough for her to lay down and sleep in it, without any hesitation.

What I love most about Dilly Dally Chic is that it's not just a regular old bibbie. It's a bibbie with a history and family tradition. I am one to love family heirlooms, and this has been passed down for three generations, starting with their Great Grandma Donna. It's so special to know that my daughter gets to be a part of someone else's family tradition. Wearing a piece of history, a bibbie with a story, is something truely special. Of course, with each generation, they updated their bibbies to fit the times.

I am so happy to introduce to you, Dilly Dally Chic bibbies. If you're a mom like me, who doesn't want the mess or the fuss, while having the combined functionality, and maintaining your child's stylish looks, these bibbies are your answer. They have a double sided quilted fabric, to make them extra absorbent. Plus, there are 11 pattern choices, all being very cute, for either your little boy or girl. My daughter has the Sweat Pea pattern, and it is absolutely adorable and darling on her. Her bibbie being a size large, it has an added two pockets to the front, where she stores her markers, and some of her special toys in. She absolutely loves it and for the first time, she doesn't mind if water drops on her. Mission Accomplished! Price: $35 ($4 extra for Large)

When you get a Dilly Dally Chic bibbie, you are not just getting a super bibbie. You get a piece of history, and a slice of the Dilly Dally Chic family tradition. Please visit Dilly Dally Chic at http://www.dillydallychic.com/

For my readers: 20% off for the entire week. Enter code: MOMMAS20

Music for you and your baby's ears

How many times, do you read a pregnancy magazine or go online, and you see an advertisement for a product that you would like to try out, but you are not sure if its worth the money to spend. I am one of those people. Times are hard, and you really have to think about the worth of your purchases. Having probably the most stressful pregnancy, this time around, with sciatica, nausea, and hormonal changes galore, I have been looking for products that would de-stress me. When I came across Bellysonic, the pictures and the messages on the ad, seemed like my most immediate cure for de-stressification.

I wanted to bond with my child, and music seemed to be the most perfect way. Music is so soothing, comforting, and freeing. I felt that the music I would hear through my ears, and the music my baby would hear, through my belly, would be another step in our bonding experience. In other words, it's our time, for me to de-stress, and my child to reap the benefits of that.

When I was getting more information about the Bellysonic, I was introduced to their other line, Sleepsonic. It's based upon the same principles, but it's a speaker pillow. I have problems with sleeping at night because my days are filled, and I constantly think about all the millions of things, I need to take care of the next day. So in turn, I always have trouble sleeping at night. The Sleepsonic would be another way for me to de-stress, listen to music, and also get a good night's rest.

Of course, once I got my Bellysonic and Sleepsonic, I was super-excited. I was super-excited to try it out and super excited to write about it. If it's something that helps me, and I could help others in the same boat, I would be so happy to spread the word.

First, the Bellysonic, is super soft,lightweight, and made of Organic Sherpa cotton fabric. It has a built in (mini) low out-put headphone type stereo speakers, a headphone splitter, and an MP3 player storage area in the speaker pouch. You can also use the Bellysonic with a CD player. Plus, it is Made in the USA (nothing better than supporting our own economy).

The Bellysonic delivers stereo sounds to the womb. It allows both the mommy and the baby to enjoy the process of prenatal learning. There has been endless research, proving the benefits that music gives to the baby in the womb. I was always told by mom and other mothers, to turn on music and let the baby enjoy, while you relax. And after trying it, I was able to relax, and it was such a great feeling that my baby was listening to the same music. I felt like we were sharing a "secret" experience that was only between us. I felt like I was bonding with my baby, and with every movement and every kick, it just made my experience even more satisfying.

The Sleepsonic stereo speaker pillows came with a built in pair of custom-made digital stero headphones. The pillow was very compact in design and very comfortable. It is also compatible with any digital, stereo CD/tape, MP3, PC, portable or home stereo system. So you don't have to be high tech to use this pillow. My pillowcase was made of Organic Sherpa Cotton, which was very soft and delicate. Another great option was that you can customize your own pillow to fit your own sleeping needs. My pillow was a wedged pillow, made on an incline, which offered me more neck support and more thickness along the neck line.

When it was time to sleep, the music in the pillow was so soothing and relaxing. It felt good that I did not have bulky headphones around my ear, which would be a hassle to wear while I was sleeping. My husband who had major insomnia issues on a nightly basis, was able to sleep within an hour, after just soaking up the music from the pillow. After I saw that, I truely could recommend this to anyone who has sleep issues, or in my case, stress and sleep issues.

Both the Bellysonic and Sleepsonic are gems. For people who are in my shoes, as well as people looking for a great product for themselves, can reap the benefits of these two systems. Whether its pregnancy or stress, in my case, or sleep issues, in my husband's case, both these systems can do so much for you, and you'll wake up a happier person. For more information please visit them at: http://www.bellysonic.com/ and http://www.sleepsonic.com/.

Another Side Note: The lady behind these two great products, Julia Paris, is such a wonderful woman, who genuinly cares about mothers. She is a wealth of knowledge and is very passionate about what she does. So if you have any specific questions or comments, I am sure she would love to hear from all you mommas here. Just go to the website and email her. She is also constantly developing new products and she also has a Baby Sleepsonic line.

Are you expecting or a new mom?

If you are in the Los Angeles area, I have an event for you. I recently came across the Breakfast Club Mommies. The club was started by Mommy & Baby Lifestyle Expert, Jayneoni Moore. The site says that it is a, "posh social club for moms and moms-to-be." If you are looking to be in some sort of mommy social circle, this one seems to be a fun one to be a part of. I have never been to any of their events, so it's hard for me to really go into depth about what the events are like.

The club is hosting "From the Bump to the Tot Mommy Dinner" at Giggles N Hugs, on May 27th, 2009 (7:30-9:00pm). If you are a new mom or a mom-to-be, you may want to RSVP to this event. The tickets are $60 (includes an overfilled gift bag). For more information, please go to: http://www.breakfastclubmommies.com/.

Link to the invite: http://breakfastclubmommies.com/Invite.html

Cleaning the right way

As parents, we are constantly cleaning up after our children. Sometimes, they are simple spills, and other times it's the marked up, kiddie drawings, all over the wall. Sure, I love murals and artworks, but sometimes, it just doesnt work in certain places. Having a child, I have been more and more conscious about the products I use. I try to stay away from mainstream conventional cleaners because they are just so toxic and hazardous to our health, while being hard on the environment and our Earth.

I have used many products that are natural and safe, however, sometimes, I just feel it does not clean the way I want it to. Granted it is very natural, so you must compare and outweigh your options. But I felt that something had to be on the market that was safe, natural, and did the cleaning. And you know what? I was right. Simply Neutral is what I discovered. I tried out the Value Pack which included, the all-purpose cleaner, the no-VOC glass cleaner, and the non-abrasive cleanser. Immediately, I liked how they packaged it and shipped to my house. In order to reduce their global footprint, they shipped their cleaners, "waterless." The concentrate was in the bottle, and all I needed to do, was add water. They also reuse and recycle, their boxes, as well as their packing supplies. I thought this was very neat, and very eco-conscious.

My mother is a master cleaner, and she really knows how to work it. In the past, she has complained about, some of my more natural and safer products. I handed the products over to her and she was quite pleased with them. She said that it actually cleaned, rather than her trying to clean it. None of the cleaners contain petroleum-based compounds, phosphates, volatile organic compounds, dyes, or synthetic frangrances. Save your house and Save the Earth. For more information, go to http://www.simplyneutral.com/.

Mod Mum Sling Giveaway!

For one of my lucky readers, Mod Mum is giving away a sling of your choice from their site. Please comment below telling us what you like about the sling, as well as your favorite print, by going to: http://www.modmum.com/. This is mandatory for the main entry.

Please use one account to enter. If found to be using other blogger accounts, as well as anonymous comments to gain extra entries, you will be disqualified from this giveaway, as well as future giveaways. Let's keep it fair!

For additional entries:Please leave a comment for each additional entry you complete. (current followers and subscribers count as well)

• Follow my blog
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The giveaway will end on Sunday May 24th, 2009 at 11:59pm(PST).

Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. If there is no email address provided, to contact the winner, another person will be chosen. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification with their complete mailing address. If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open for US mailing addresses only.

I want to love slings

I really do? Just to explain a little something, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I had so many slings given to me for my baby shower. Of course, I put slings on my registry list, hearing all the special benefits, it would give me and my baby. However, once I got them, I had such difficulties in putting them on. It seemed way too complicated. After going through the online tutorials, manuals, as well as cds, I pretty much gave up on slings.

As I watched other mothers sport their, really fashionable slings, I just didn't get why I couldn't figure out how to wear a sling. I truely felt like I was a little slow. Consistently, I would give it a try, only to give up again, and just feel helpless. I really wanted to reap the benefits of babywearing, for my child and I.

When I got pregnant this time around, the thought of getting a sling crossed my mind again. So I started to read endless magazines, blogs, online parenting sites, and decided that I would try babywearing again. This time around, I wanted to give it a go, without giving up. If the girl next door can easily put her baby in the sling, then I could do the same. With that mindset, I went on a search to find a sling that would be easy to wear, as well as being stylish. Then I came across Mod Mum, "baby slings for stylish modern mums."

Let me tell you, after struggling, one sling after another, it was so great to put this sling on. I did not struggle, I did not have to figure things out, it was so easy. It came with simple instructions and explained everything, step by step. Also, I learned the importance of correct sizing. If you have the wrong size, you won't be comfortable, and safety issues with the baby may arise. You can use the Mod Mum sling in three different positions: Cradle Carry (0-9months), Front Carry (2-8 months), and Hip Carry (6 months+). The sling that I got was in the Olivia print (pictured above). It is very stylish and modern, and represents the vibrant person that I am. It also has a super sleek leg padding, to add comfort to your baby, when you hip carry.

I am so glad I found Mod Mum slings. I tried it out with my daughter's life size baby doll, and had no problems. I am very happy and hopeful, that this time around, my baby and I will experience the true gift and benefits of babywearing. Please visit them at http://www.modmum.com/. Price: $38-$64

Happy Mother's Day, from me to you!

Being a mother, has so many special qualities. Every time, I see my daughter sleep next to me in her tutu and ballet slippers, or when she comes up to me and asks me a very intelligent question, I get this warm fuzzy feeling that is indescribable. First off, I can't even fathom how she came out of me. Now she is a blossoming little flower that is growing everyday and gets more beautiful, everytime I see her. Being pregnant again, I share these moments with my unborn baby as well. Every time she nudges at me, or kicks me in my ribcage, I get overjoyed, knowing that this little being is growing inside me, and learning about the world through what she hears and feels inside the womb.

A lot of times, we may take parenthood for granted, and see it as a "right." For me, I feel that if we are given the chance at being a parent, whether its through our own biological child, or through adoption, it's a true privilege. There are no replicas of our children and they are very special, to each and every one of us.

For the last two mother's day, my daughter did not know what Mother's Day was. I am assuming that she saw it as another day we would go to the hotel, to have brunch with her grandmother and her mom, while her dad was working hard to make sure that everyone was being accomodated. This year, she made me a special art project, at her preschool. It was a picture of her on a magnet, with the words, "Happy Mother's Day." It was the best gift ever. Everytime I see it on our refrigerator, it reminds me of how special I am, and how lucky I am to be a mother.

For all the mothers out there, I wish you a very Happy Mother's Day! Always know that, regardless of our rough days and or heartaches, at the end of the day, we are left with being that one special mother to our kids.

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." -Unknown

I want to be a spoiled mama!

I will say, I am one of those lucky few that did not get stretch marks, the first time around, and I see no apparent stretch marks currently, with my second pregnancy. However, it's not all about stretch marks, it's about treating yourself and your skin to some guilty pleasures. I call it skincare desserts. After going through many pregnancy related skincare products, I've had some hits and some misses, but nothing really made me feel like a princess. Until I came across, The Spoiled Mama. Like the name, you definitely feel spoiled from the time you open the packaging, to the time you slather on some good ole tummy butter.

I love the fact that you can buy a sampler, before you actually buy the full size product. Although, the prices are very competitive and reasonable for the luxury you are getting. I tried out the Best of Bump Sampler, which included 1/2 oz of Tummy Butter, 1 oz of Bump Gloss, 1 oz Extreme Mama Creme, all for a mere $15. I put everything on, after my bath, and they quickly absorbed into my skin, and had such a light consistency. At first, I was hesitent to put on the Bump Gloss because I've had issues in the past, putting on tummy oil, only to be left with oily stains on my nice shirts. Well, I have to say, there were no stains, and my skin soaked it all right in.

For all the mommas, who are very conscious about the safety of their unborn, like myself, all the products are free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harsh sufactants, artificial colors, and petroleum derivatives. They only use the finest natural and organic ingredients (Vegan Approved/Cruelty Free). If you want to be spoiled and "spoil the baby in you," please visit: http://www.thespoiledmama.com/.

Today is "National Mom's Nite Out!"

Okay ladies, it's your night tonight! Pack your little purses and leave the house, to go to one of many events planned all around the US, for a night out on the town. If that's not option, go to a secret area in your own home and join one of many events going online. There are some great events with a lot of cool giveaways going on, and as a mother, you all deserve this night. I am surely taking this opportunity, to meet fellow mothers, engage in good conversation, and just have some good ole time. If you want to know more about an event near your area, please go to : http://www.momsniteout.com/.

"Part of growing up is falling down."

This is the first thing you will read when you enter the me4kidz website. I was on the hunt to look for First Aid Kits, after my daughter's preschool required her to have one, in her earthquake kit. We live in California, where earthquakes happen everyday, so the schools require this. I went around to different stores, only to find kits that did not look child-friendly. I wanted a kit that would appeal to my daughter, since we were getting it for her. I was really disappointed in my choices, until I came across me4kidz, which stands for, medical emergencies for kids.

The Medibag 4 Kids was a kid friendly first aid kit that comes in a red doctor's bag. My daughter loved this because she felt like she could play doctor with it. When opening the bag, it had a huge assortment of everything and anything you need, when you encounter an emergency. My daughter and I went through each individual item and talked about its use. It even included kid-friendly stickers. The kit definitely had the kid in mind.

me4kidz is a family-owned & operated business, which I love, and they give back to the community by having their products assembled, by the disabled. They also donate 10% of each purchase, back to the disabled community. Another great tidbit about the company is that, all their products are made in the US, which means they keeps jobs inside the US.

My daughter and I both gave two thumbs up to the Medibag. It's a functional, modern looking bag, that carries all your child's emergency needs. I would recommend this to any parents, who are frustrated with trying to find a nice child-friendly emergency kit. Plus, when you make a purchase, you are supporting our nation's economy. For more information, regarding the products they have, as well as store locations, please go to: www.me4kidz.com .

Do I look like an alien?

Okay, so I wanted to share with you my little interesting story this morning. First, a little background. With my first child, I did not show until probably my last month, and it was barely a bloated tummy. When I went into deliver my full term baby, everyone was shocked, and asked me if I was going into pre-term labor. With my second pregnancy, I am currently 7 months along, but most people either don't see it, or they say I look about 3 months. I try to wear form fitting clothes because it feels nice to look pregnant for once. It's nice to using the expecting moms parking spot at the mall, without getting a dirty look, and it's nice to walk across a street without someone trying to run me over. There are so many perks and benefits to being pregnant.

Well, today I had a craving for some bagels. So I went into my favorite bagel shop to get my 1/2 dozen bagels to take home. As I finished ordering my bagels, I noticed this gentleman starting at me. I just ignored him, but I could tell from my peripheral vision that he was still looking at me. I'm one of those girls, if I get annoyed with something, I make it a point to address the person. So I looked at him dead in his eyes, but his eyes was looking somewhere else. It was my tummy. I'm going to be honest, a middle-aged man looking at my tummy, I immediately gave him the title of, "perverted male with a bump fetish." I mean, I didn't know what else to think. So I stood and waited for my bagels. From the corner of my eye, I could still tell that he was staring at me. By this time, I was severely annoyed.

I looked at the lady next to me, and she was staring at my tummy. I was like, wow, my tummy is sure making an impact today. So of course, I looked down at my tummy. I started to laugh. My baby was moving around, kicking, rotating, and you can see all that through my fitted shirt. I am pretty tiny, so visually, you can see the baby move and kick. They were all looking at my tummy in fascination. Sometimes I do feel like an alien because it looks like a hand might come out of my tummy, at any second. I walked out of the shop, just laughing because what was odd and fascinating to them, was ever-so normal to me.

Mommy wants to protect my eyes from the sun

Yes I do! After not wearing sunglasses for the longest time, myself, I had to learn about the consequences, the hard way. Of course, I was lucky enough, not to get any sort of cataracts disease, or eye related issues. However, not wearing sunglasses, I noticed my eyes squinting a lot, and sometimes, having issues of seeing things clearly. Once I invested in a good sunglass, my squinting went away, and all those days of seeing blur, were problems of the past.

After going through those problems myself, I vowed that my children would grow up wearing sunglasses. Especially living in sunny California, the sun is so strong, a sunglass is a necessity. Unless of course, you want major problems in the future. I purchased tons of sunglasses, well approximately 7, and they all, either broke, or my daughter threw out the window. She didn't like how the sides of the sunglasses were pressing onto the sides of her head.

After going through endless purchases and nothing really working, as a parent, those concerns made me want to find a sunglass that would be functional, durable, and comfortable. That's when I came across Baby Banz. A company that came up with sunglasses, with the child in mind. They were designed in Austrailia for one of the world's toughest UV environments. They have a UV400 rating (100% UVA/UVB protection). They are shatter resistant and have a durable polycarbonate construction. The strap is made of neoprene elastic, which allows for flexibility, breathability, and comfort. Plus, the side adjustable velcro allows your kids to wear it, as they grow. An "A" in my book. It also floats in water and comes in 12 cool colors. You can choose from Baby Banz (0-2 years) or Kidz Banz (2-5 years). For my fashionistas, they have "Retro Banz," which have bigger lenses, giving it a trendy twist to the original (My daughter loves this one).

My daughter wore her Kidz Banz when she went bike riding, over the weekend. At first, she thought they were regular sunglasses, and ran in circles, trying to avoid wearing them. I promised her that she would get some ice cream, if she tried it on. After I put on the sunglasses, suprisingly, she jumped on her bike and went the other way. When she came back to me, I told her I wanted to take off her sunglasses. She shook her head and said, "NO!" I said, "It's a winner!"

They have a whole bunch of other stuff, ranging from Junior Banz to Sunscreen. Please visit them online at: www.Babybanz.com

Pregnancy Awareness Month

I went to the PAM (Pregnancy Awareness Month) event yesterday. The events' focus was education, exercise, nutrition, wellness and nurture. It was a free lifestyle event for expectant mothers, as well as new parents. The event was hosted by PAM founder Anna Getty, Kelly Rutherford, and Josie Maran. On the newsletter, it said that Ricky Lake was also hosting it, however, I did not see her around.

It was a very informational event, and I was glad that I attended it. You always learn new things, be inspired, and be introduced to new ideas that help us as parents. There was a panel of experts in their own field, offering tips from healthy living, to lifestyle choices made as parents.

For the children, there was an activity area that was hosted by the Hot Moms Club. My daughter came along and she was able to draw a picture on a mock t-shirt paper, plant some sunflowers in her pot, color a backpack, and make her own bracelet. She absolutely loved it. I can actually say that, this would be the first event I attended, where they actually had great activities for children. Everyone was being taken care of, which should be central when it comes to having a healthy family.

The event also had a great amount of noteworthy vendors. Everyone from Seventh Generation, who also sponsored the event, to Dr. Greene, author of Raising Baby Green. Next to the vendors, there was a lounge set aside for Mothers to be pampered with a mini spa experience. I didn't get to try it out because I was running around doing so many other things, but what a great way for mothers to unwind a little.

For lunch, we were treated to a fresh and lite menu, provided by Celebrity Chef Domenic Catelli, author of mom-a-licious. My daughter has been developing a picky tastebud lately, and she doesn't eat anything that isn't plain. For example, she eats plain bread or plain noodles. At the event, we were served with egg salad sandwich, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and thai peanut noodles. She ate everything without ever asking me to wash the sauce out. So of course, I got the mom-a-licious book signed.

If that wasn't enough, on our way out, we were given gift bags filled with books, bottles, caps, babyfood, etc... My daughter actually sat on the ground and cried for a minute because she was not ready to leave. Usually, she's the first to drag us out of events. It was a very successul gathering. I would encourage and recommend this to any parents for next year.

For more information: http://www.pregnancyawarenessmonth.com

OOTS! I did it again!

If you read my post about OOTS! lunchboxes, you'll know why I wanted to try out their other two products, bbib (pronounced buh-bib) and 2 Dishes and a cup. There is no question that OOTS! products are fully funtional and stylish.

The 2 Dishes and a cup, is a dish set that consists of a plate, bowl, cup, spoon and fork. My daughter loved the shape and the picture of the melon. She dropped her cup multiple times, which is quite usual for her, and there was absolutely no damage to the cup. The bowl had a nice gradual incline, which made it very child-friendly, and easier to eat out of. For my daughter, she had no problems eating her cereal from her bowl. They are made of 100% melamine (a high quality, durable, hard plastic), and are dishwasher safe, but should not be used in a microwave. It comes in 4 different design choices, all being very stylish. Price: $29.95

The bib, is more than just a bib. It's a "bbib" because it has sleeves. I love this idea because I've used hundreds of bibs on my daughter, only to be left with food stains all over her sleeves, as well as her belly. She has a bad tendency of wanting to wipe her mouth with her sleeves, so this is definitely ideal for us. We don't have to worry about her sleeves being ruined anymore. They are made of terrycloth, which pretty much absorbs everything. It fits perfectly around the neck with the reinforced straps that are adjustable. They come in four different designs, and 2 different kinds of color choices for each design. Price:$18.95

For more information, go to www.madebyoots.com. Your kid will be stylin without the mess!