A New Sibling

Simple Ideas: how will I prepare my son (or daughter) for life with a new sibling?

• When the new baby is settled or sleeping, let the oldest overhear you tell the baby that she needs to be patient and wait while you play with or help big brother with something. Obviously the baby won't have a clue, but the big boy will be pleased that you are putting him first for a change.

• Browse through photos of when big brother was a baby. Point out how much care he needed too (feeding, diaper changing, playing, sleeping, etc.). This way, he realizes that his younger sibling needs some extra attention because of age and nothing else such as "mom must love her more!"

• Get new books from the library about siblings. Reading about other family experiences just might resonate with your own!

• Before baby is born, practice basic care with a doll. The big brother will be an expert when it comes to taking care of his little sister and may show no jealousy at all. Find ways all day long to allow your child to assist so he feels important and responsible.

• Alert family and friends to help ease your oldest child's transition by focusing their attention on "big brother" first, during the first few minutes of a visit before going goo-goo over the new baby.

• Give your child a special present when baby comes home but sign it from "baby sister". See the new baby comes bearing gifts ... can't be all that bad!

• Listen to Sibling Rivalry with Amy McCready. It's never too early to be prepared!

Nine Manageable Months

There are trade-offs. Heartburn and swollen feet for precious belly kicks. A lack of lung and bladder space in exchange for listening to that amazing heartbeat each month. And morning sickness for the pure excitement of welcoming a new baby into your family.

There are many more and the trade-offs vary from person to person and from month to month. Some people embrace it all, while others struggle to enjoy the vast changes in your body that occur; but, no matter what, here are some simple tips that might help make your nine pregnancy months more manageable.

• Treat yourself to a footstool - or two. They can make you more comfortable at work, at home and even come in handy when you are breastfeeding.

• Take small snooze sessions. Purchase a travel alarm clock or figure out how to use the one on your cell phone. Take a 15-minuter during your lunch break if needed. You'll be amazed at how refreshed you'll feel.

• I don't spend money on myself. But if ever there was a time, now is the time to pamper yourself with a manicure or pedicure. Sweeten the pot by inviting a friend to join you. It'll be worth every penny, especially when you can't quite reach your toes any more!

• If you're like me, the last thing you want to think about is exercise. However, a daily stroll (no matter how long) can boost your energy and help you to unwind at the end of the day.

• Take photos! Capture your growing belly, gifts you receive, the nursery, the crazy food you crave, and the fun you have with family and friends. What a great way to document your pregnancy and cherish it later with your kids!

• Make a "mama-to-be toolbox". Stock it with things you use often - lip balm, tissues, phone, book, eye glasses, pen and paper, etc. It might help eliminate extra trips up and down the stairs. Don't forget the snacks!

• You've heard it time and time again ... drink water. Keep a bottle of H2O by you at all times for less contractions, leg cramps, nausea and more.

• Carry a journal. Write down questions for your doctor as you think of them; keep track of weight gain; jot down ideas for names; etc. What a great reference this will be for your next pregnancy or to simple remember your special experience.

I Love Journals!

I had a journal of "firsts" for Aidan and I'll keep one for this baby girl too. I just discovered this adorable book My Baby Book, written from the point of view of baby. Funny prompts like "I'd have to say the cutest thing I've done so far is ____." will guide you through your journaling, as well as questions about mom and dad's pre-baby life too!

Amy Krouse Rosenthal also wrote Your Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal and The Belly Book: A Nine-Month Journal for You and Your Growing Belly. The whole collection would make for a unique gift for the parents-to-be!

Make Lemonade

Shhh… don't tell your kids, but making lemonade is one of those "you're learning a bunch of stuff and you don't know it" opportunities!

• Squeezing lemons is a fine motor experience. It works the same muscles used for writing.

• Measuring the ingredients requires math skills like counting and following steps in order.

• For a bonus lesson, line up the ingredients from left to right so it encourages left-right visual progression as your child works their way through the steps (an important pre-reading skill).

• Pouring is great for hand-eye coordination.

• Think about Science - from the sense of taste (sour & sweet) for little ones, to the concepts of osmosis and molecular structure that cause sugar to dissolve in water for the bigger kids.

• Turn it into a lemonade stand and encourage social skills as well as money math skills.

Fresh Lemonade Recipe

To make an ice-cold glass of old-fashioned, fresh-squeezed lemonade, all you need is:

6-8 lemons

1 cup of sugar

6 cups of water

Directions: Squeeze the juice from the lemons until you have one cup of juice, then mix everything together in a pitcher, until the sugar dissolves.

Note to Self

Take more family photos.

Sentimental Baby Gift

Remember when we gave away a precious VoiceQuilt™ Keepsake Box on VickyandJen.com? I never considered one as a sentimental baby shower gift until now, being pregnant and all. How beautiful would that be to welcome a little one into the world with sweet messages record by parents, siblings and other family members?

Using VoiceQuilt™, family and friends can easily capture their voice-based memories by calling in to a designated toll-free number and record a special message, song, story, tribute or dream for baby's future. Priceless! VoiceQuilt™ handcrafted keepsake boxes, CD's and other details can be seen at www.voicequilt.com.

Babymoon

Have you heard of a Babymoon? I sure hadn't ... until today.

A babymoon is a period of time that parents spend bonding with a recently-born baby. BUT ... more recently the term is used to describe a vacation taken by the couple that is expecting, to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn baby. Babymoons usually take place at a resort that offers spa-like services like prenatal massage.

I think it's a great idea! In a sense, we just took a "familymoon". It was our last big vacation, just Doug, Aidan and I, to California before the baby girl arrives. Since I will most like have a c-section, a scheduled birth date, I think we'll do a "home babymoon" the week before the big day clearing our calendar and enjoying some down time at home just the three of us. Even Aidan can call the shots, choosing his favorite activities, meals and movies that week. Maybe he can miss a day of school or so ...

Icky Mold!

It's no surprise that bathtub toys are prone to super amounts of icky mold that is harmful to children if digested. Here's an excellent way to clean tub toys, in a safe and environmentally-friendly way.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups apple cider vinegar (can substitute white vinegar if needed)
• .5L warm water (filtered is best)
• 2 foaming denture cleansing tablets

1

Mix vinegar and water in a plastic bucket.

2

Add toys. If they are not covered, add more vinegar and warm water.

3

Weight down floating toys if possible.

4

Soak toys overnight.

5

After toys have soaked, scrub with a bristle cleaning brush.

6

Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

7

If the vinegar soak does not remove all the mold, use another step.

8

Put the toys in another bucket, and cover with warm water.

9

Add denture tablets. Allow to soak overnight.

Source: wikihow.com

First Year Baby Food

I don't remember the timeline for introducing baby to food her first year. Thank goodness for a brochure I received at my last doctor visit!

Birth to 6 mos: breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula

6-7 mos: breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula, rice cereal, applesauce, strained and pureed bananas and pears

7-9 mos: breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula, teething biscuits, mashed potatoes and avocados, strained and pureed peaches, carrots and squash

9-12 mos: breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula, rice cakes, bite-size cheese cubes, soft tortillas, egg yolks, oatmeal, yogurt, tofu, noodles, peas, strained and pureed chicken

Ahhhh, it's all coming back to me!

Safe Sleep for Baby

One thing hasn't changed from my "baby days" eight years ago ... the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). It never hurts to be reminded ...

1. Always place baby on his back to sleep, for naps and at night.

2. Place baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet.

3. Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby's sleep area. This includes: pillows, blankets, quilts, pillow-like crib bumpers and sheepskins.

4. Do not allow smoking around your baby.

5. Keep your baby's sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep.

6. Think about using a clean, dry, pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep, but don't force baby to take it.

7. Do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress him in light clothing and keep the room at a comfortable temperature.

8. Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.

9. Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS.

10. Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby's head by providing a lot of "tummy time" when baby is awake and someone is supervising. Also avoid too much time in car seats, carriers and bouncers.