My son the big boy! Plus C-Sections and what are receiving blankets good for? Plus$10 off citrus lane!

Thanks so much for all the views :)


My baby had his four month check up yesterday.  He's 14 lbs, 11 oz ; 24.75 inches. 3 shots, and like the champ he is, he was laughing before we left! His giant melon head is 17 inches!!!!

When I was making my baby shower lists, my mother told me to make sure I included receiving blankets. Having never had a child before, I didn't.  Several people gave me receiving blankets, but I didn't really know what to do with them. Now that I have a baby, I can't live without them.

Thought I would share:

1. Swaddling.  Like many things, by the time you get really good at this, your baby won't like it. Babies feel secure when swaddled because it reminds them of being in the womb. My son liked being swaddled for about a month. 

This is him.  He was so snug as a bug in a rug!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-to-swaddle-a-baby/MY01766

2.  Burp cloths.

3. Changing table covers. Changing table covers retail for about $15 each. You can buy 4 receiving blankets for about $10, less if you buy at Walmart, Target, Burlington, or consignment. TIP: Public changing tables are nastier than you could ever imagine. Use a receiving blanket. Your welcome.

4. Something to place baby on when changing out side. Trust me you will do this. Or in your car.  My son had a HUGE blowout on the Milford, MA bike trail, and Chili's, and just about everywhere else.

5. Nursing cover. You will have to breastfeed in public. You may not believe me, but you will.

6. Lap blanket.  When we go in the car, I don't always like pants because the temperature fluctuates.  So we use receiving blankets instead.

7.  Emergency toga. See number 4. My friend's son went through all the outfits she packed for him once.  So she had to use his receiving blanket to cover him up.

8.

This one was easier to show than explain.  He was a little slouchy in the car seat, so we used receiving blankets like so to prop him up.

9. Sun cover. Car seat sun shades only go so far, ditto for strollers.  TIP Pack three safety pins so you can pin the blanket to the top and sides of the sun shade on the stroller. BONUS TIP : If you are using a stroller that has a tray, put the bottom of the blanket on the tray, then put your cell phone on the blanket. It will not fly up.

10.  Use anytime you don't want to put your baby on a surface in public!

What do you use receiving blankets for?


Thought this was interesting. Its from NPR.



http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/08/30/216479305/money-may-be-motivating-doctors-to-do-more-c-sections


https://www.citruslane.com/invitedby/Alana.Rodriguez.1417702

Reusable baby wipes, homemade baby lotion, and Gypsy Moments and random thoughts.

Hi all :)

Thank you so much for all the view! This is so exciting :) I love writing and I'm glad you have enjoyed some of it.

My little guy has grown so much! He was four months old on the 19th and he is already wearing size 9M. He is almost exclusively breast feed. Since I work full time, I pump at work, nurse when we are both home, and he gets supplemented with formula at daycare.  They grow so fast its scary.  He still isn't rolling over fully. He can hold his head up which is great, but he can't really sit yet.  We don't have a Bumpo or any other product like it, mostly because in the 70's they weren't around and we learned how to sit, and its just one more thing to buy and then keep clean.  Do/did you use a Bumpo? Did it help?



Something that we go through like crazy is baby wipes. Because we have a budget I am trying to keep costs down.  I pretty much have to buy wipes for daycare, but at home we use reusable baby wipes.  I use Charlie Banana cloth diapers, which I will talk about another day, so I bought the Charlie Banana reusable wipes. They are small cotton squares and were 10 for $10.00. I must say I like them, and it really helps because on big blowouts you don't end up going through your whole box of wipes and then have to run to store for more. The Charlie Banana wipes are cost prohibitive so I started using just plain old baby washcloths as wipes.  They are super cheap. All we do is run warm water over them prior to a changing. I use one or two wet washcloths, and then finish with a dry one.  I do one to two loads of cloth diapers per week so we always have a good supply.  Not going to lie, cloth diapering and reusable wipes is kinda gross, but it saves a boatload of money.  Its also good for the environment. My son doesn't get diaper rash either.

Staying on the subject of DIY, I make my own baby lotion/oil/soap.  Its super easy to make, and cheap which is always good. Its a mix of equal parts grape seed oil/extra virgin olive oil/unprocessed coconut oil/aloe vera gel. Its very runny since its all oil and a little bit goes a long long way.

 To make a baby bath mix, mix equal parts grape seed oil/extra virgin olive oil/unprocessed coconut oil/aloe vera gel and a TINY amount of lavender extract. I just put a dab on my finger then stir the warm water.

All this can be bought at Whole Foods/Trader Joes. For the coconut oil I used Dr. Bronner's Magic Coconut oil.

You can use the lotion on yourself too, and you can cook w/all the oils. I don't mind when my son sticks his fist in his mouth after I lotion him up because its all edible.

Also use the oil EVERY time you change a diaper. I only use just the coconut oil by itself when it looks bad.

My son does have nasty cradle cap.  To fix that, I take the basic mixture and add the tinest bit of peppermint oil.  I rub down his whole scalp and then wait about 15-20 minutes.  The oil will loosen up the cradle cap, and peppermint is soothing and cooling. After about 15-20 minutes I use a cradle cap comb which is a fine tooth comb and can be bought anywhere.  Then I use a super soft baby brush.  It is extremely important to then rinse the oil off. Leaving the oil on the baby's head can actually encourage more cradle cap.  I then dry his scalp and then lightly brush his head again.  TIP: I tried this without the peppermint oil, and he screamed in agony every time. After using the peppermint oil, he stopped crying. Also since peppmermint oil is cooling if you add a VERY SMALL amount to a wet washcloth and let the baby chew/suck on it, it will elevate pain associated with teething.

The mix is antiseptic, so don't stick your fingers in it after you make it or it will get contaminated.

So, now for some fun stuff. Fellow blogger and mom, Megan, is extremely creative. She has three lovely daughters.  She lives in a simply gorgeous part of the country.  You can follow her here : http://gypsymoment.blogspot.com/  She blogs about everything. Need a recipe? Here is the place to get it. Want to spruce up your wardrobe? She has some crafty ideas.  Lots of good stuff here and its updated fairly regularly.

Anyone see the new Wolverine movie? Is it any good?  I can't wait to see the next X-Men movie. Hey, Scarlet Witch is going to be in Avengers. I was so dissapointed she wasn't in the first one. I heard a rumor Quicksilver is also going to be in it, can't wait.

Anyone have fun plans for the three day weekend?

See you tomorrow :)
 

Baby books and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (movie)

How's it going?

To start with, thank you so much for all the views yesterday :) *GIANT HUG* Views from US, Russia, and France? Thanks guys!!! I hope I can entertain  you for another day :)

I really like to write so this is super fun for me. Hope you like what I have to say :)

Today's post is kinda longish but its one of my favorite subjects.  I did warn that I am a bibliophile.  I do not know if all posts will be this long.

Today I thought I'd share some of my son's favorite books.  He is only four months old, but he's already got a sense of what he likes.  We read every day.  I was read to as a child and have a lifelong love of the printed word so I am hoping my baby grows up loving books as well.

Reading books is beneficial from day one.( http://www.babycenter.com/0_reading-to-your-baby_368.bc)

Baby books are crazy expensive. I love thrift stores and yard sales. I highly suggest that you look for baby books in these places. I picked up four lift the flap Winnie the Pooh books that retail for 6.99 for .60 each at a thrift shop.  I also shop at Wal*Mart (don't hate).  The bargain books section of Barnes and Noble is hit or miss so its not my favorite.  Libraries are free and are great. Children's librarians are amazing people because they not only love books, but love children and have endless amounts of patience.

Babies like to look at faces.  They will study your face. They also will study their own face. Faces are so fascinating to a baby.

Two books that we read on a fairly regular basis are

Baby Panda and I can't remember the name of the Fisher Price book. We call it the Monkey Book.

Baby Panda is the scariest book ever written. It is about baby panda ans his nightmarish high contrast color world, but it has a gigantic mirror in it.

The way we now read Baby Panda is to flip directly to the fourth and last page which is where the mirror is. We have spent hours staring into the mirror studying my son's face. He loves watching himself smile and giggle. He also likes to blow spit bubbles at the baby/panda hybrid.

The Monkey Book is a perennial favorite in our house. Having no words, its a different book every time it is read. Imagination is a terrific thing and you and your little one will never be bored if you have it. The mirror isn't as big as in Baby Panda but it is still fun to look in. We love asking the baby how the same baby from the panda book showed up in the jungle.

The Monkey Book is also a favorite because it has a chew toy which taught baby that books are delicious. This was the very first toy/book he ever grabbed. It is also the first toy he shoved in his mouth!

The Monkey Book is a big hit because it has another thing babies love. Babies love to explore their world. One of the things babies learn at a few months is object permanence. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_permanence)

Peek a boo is a fun way to encourage learning object performance. Babies also love looking behind, and under things. Lift the flap books are also good for this. 

We also really like 

Where's my Puppy? Very vibrant colors and the flaps are huge.  There is so much to see here. Babies like bright vivid colors.  He giggles when this is read.

  I normally don't like Elmo, but we have these as well.Not a big hit yet, but some baby books get old fast,and you won't read to the baby if the book bores you. What makes these books fun is you add sound effects.  Babies like hearing your full vocal range, so these are great.

Speaking of vibrant color, this book has it in spades. Bonus, it was only two dollars at walmart which is a huge 

bargain for a baby book.

Babies also like textures.  I found this amazing book at a store called Five Below. They are a chain, but I don't
know where other than Rhode Island they are located.

Nursery rhymes are the best. It is also super hard to remember what they are at 2 am.  Anthologies are also great
because instead of having a million little books, you can have everything in one big book. The Ladybird
book of Rhymes is a gift to me from Great Aunt in Wales, so I don't know if they are still available, but
I have always loved the illustrations. The Big Little Book For Mom's has a bookmark, and super cute illustrations.

Last, but not least, everyone has nicknames for their children. I have no idea how it came about,
but we started calling the baby Monkey Boy.  We were in downtown Providence and decided to go the Brown 
University Bookstore.

It was like it was meant for us! I love the colors and since my son is used to being called monkey boy he 
giggled the whole time I read it :). It was a perfect bonding experience. 

What books do you read to your children? What children's book do you like? Do you read to your children? If not why? 
What wacky nicknames do you have for  your kids that they will more than likely hate?

So that was the mom part, now for some nerdy stuff.
 My friend is also a nerd. He likes comics and cartoons and what blends that together more perfectly then the heroes in a half shell. He was not thrilled at all when he heard Michael Bay is changing the canon of the turtles and started a facebook page. My friend is a smart funny guy. He doesn't know I am sharing this so its not for any other reason other than he is enjoyable I am sharing this with you :)

https://www.facebook.com/TheNinjaTurtlesAreNotAliens

If you get the chance, check it out :)
What do you think about Michael Bay or TMNT? Are you going to see the movie?

As for us, we are dead broke new parents and rely on Netflix now for entertainment, but I did pick this up at Wal*Mart ($4)

 Talk to you tomorrow :)

Welcome :)

Hey there.

I'm new a new mother. My sweet baby is a little over four months old. This is an incredible experience. I am in my mid-thirties and I can't believe what a change this is for me. I work full time and have been married for ten years.

I am also a bibliophile and a nerd.  I love all things sci-fi and most things fantasy.

I though I would start a blog for new moms where I would talk about babies, and I can answer questions. I will also review Dr. Who episodes, baby toys, and books.  There will also be some fun randomness. I hope this is enjoyable to all who read and follow the blog.

So to start with I wanted to discuss what I wish I had been told about having a baby, and some related to having a boy.

1.  "What's that coming out of him?"

Boys lactate. That's a huge surprise.  I had no idea that was even possible. When I took my little cutie home from the hospital, I kept seeing clear to pale liquid on his chest. I did some research and do to the hormones that the baby takes from mom during pregnancy, they lactate. Fun Fact: This is called Witches Milk.

2.  "Why is breast feeding to hard?"

I always assumed that breast feeding would be intuitive. I mean I can see where he would attach, and how. I did no research at all on breast feeding prior to going to the hospital to have him. It turns out I have flat nipples, which until I could not get him to "latch" I had no idea.  I would advise moms to be to do some research so that you can learn the terms associated with breast feeding. There are various "holds" that can make it easier. Also, it pays to vary the holds.  Something I did not know is that you need to switch which breast the baby feeds from each time you feed. If you start with the right side for the first feeding, you need to start with the left breast for the second feeding. Also, hospitals may not tell you about "cluster feeding". My son generally would go three hours between feedings, but sometimes he needed to eat every 45 minutes. Even if you plan on breastfeeding, it may be helpful to have some formula on hand as it can take up to an hour for your supply to refresh.

My insurance covers breast pumps when needed for medical necessity. Due to my flat nipples, my son couldn't latch properly and this resulted in him pulling all the skin of both nipples. It hurt beyond what I can say.  Check into your insurance coverage to make sure pumps are covered as they are expensive. If your insurance won't cover them, if you have a health savings account, they are reimbursable equipment and EvenFlo makes a nice portable electric breast pump that retails for about $50.00. It was a lifesaver while waiting for the  double electric pump my insurance paid for.

Also, buy pads to absorb leaky milk. You will drip. And its gross.

3.  "Ummmmmmmm is it supposed to do that?"

Baby boys get erections. There is no way to sugar coat that.  This is also due to hormones.

Fun Fact: Your newborn son will pee after you see said erection. My husband and I have got peed on our faces.  If you are changing your son and you see this, cover him up because there is about to be pee everywhere.

4. "Why are they so big?"

Hormones again. Baby boys have extremely swollen looking testicles. It disturbed me and my mom said that she was shocked when she had my brothers. Don't worry, they do go shrink after a few weeks.

5.  "I'm shedding!!!!!!!!!!!!"

During pregnancy hormones prevent the hair that you would normally lose from falling out. After you lose the hormones, you lose your hair. In clumps. Everywhere. It does even out eventually though.

Did you have any surprises after your child was born?  Share them below.

I am setting up a facebook page. I will add the link as soon as its up.


EDIT: Facebook page is up.  https://www.facebook.com/marita1979
Be sure to check the facebook page for spoiler alerts, and randomness. I will put promo codes/coupons/funny stuff/trivia ect up on facebook. Doesn't look like much now, but I promise it will be better.