Aidan says, "5 Glasses a Day"

Aidan left me this note today. I miss my coffee. I miss my iced tea. But it feels good. The reports on exactly how much we should be drinking have been wishy-washy. I found a recent article from the Mayo Clinic, and the findings still are. But nonetheless, here are some good guidelines: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/nu00283 we should all abide by, pregnant or not.

Upset Tummy

This pregnancy sure seems to be "by the books". And that's a good thing! At exactly 12 weeks, I found a bit of relief to the nausea I had day in and day out for 3 l-o-n-g months. I'm at the beginning of 15 weeks now, so the past 3 weeks have been more fun ... more energetic and less cranky for me. Food has never taste so good! (Helloooo turtle sundaes!)

I tried everything under the sun to ease the tummy troubles during my first trimester, all recommendations from family and friends. The bottom line is ... there is no right answer. Different things work for different moms-to-be. I did find some of them quite humorous though.

• saltine crackers

• ginger ale

• peanuts

• peanut butter

• hamburger for breakfast (anything protein)

• ginger cookies

• peppermint

• pregnancy tea

• lemon drops

• graham crackers

• dry toast

and my personal favorite, from Janice of The Mealmakeover Moms nonetheless:

• potato chips and lemonade!

What worked for me the most? I'd have to say my tummy always felt a little more settled after drinking Vernors: The Original Ginger Soda!

Parent Podcast Tip!

Podcast of the day ... Mommy Calls.

Dr. Tanya Altmann answers some of parents' most frequently asked questions about babies and toddlers. Her practical, no-nonsense advice guides us through those stressful parenting moments when we want to know "Should I call my doctor?" We chat about tantrums, tummy aches, fevers, head bonks, poop, breast feeding and other snotty (and serious) stuff!

How Cute is This

How cute is this? Let the "siblings-to-be" use fabric markers to decorate baby's Onesie! Could be a fun shower activity too - the guests can design a special t-shirt or Onesie during the party.

A Body Well Loved

"I believe a body is meant to be used. I believe our spirits, our minds, our beauty is meant to be used. And like the Velveteen Rabbit, when we use our bodies, when we offer our wombs as a vessel for new life, when we offer our breasts to our babies, when we run and play and jump and dance, when we love our bodies by using them, they get worn out. They get shabby and wrinkled and dirty. Gravity takes its toll, as do the hours basking in the sun. This is all well and good. This makes for a full life. This is a life well lived. This is a body well lived; a body well loved." - Karly Randolph Pitman, FirstOurselves.com and our interview, Simple Self Love.