Mommy Tips: Inspiration!

Gwen Stefani has informed the world that her six pack abs are the result of nursing and jogging... well, i got one of those down... i guess i better start jogging and stop eating pasta!

Mommy Tips: Just sing... sing a song...

Any Mommy book you buy will tell you - sing to your baby. Singing to your baby is very important because it helps them develop language skills and it's a great way to soothe and calm a baby. When Junebug first came home the whole singing thing kinda stressed me out. First of all, I don't think I'm the greatest singer so I got worried that I sound like an idiot... you get over that real quick as the baby really doesn't mind when you don't hit the notes. But worst of all - what song do I sing?! You want to sing something pretty and soothing but most times in the moment, it's hard to think of a song that fits all of the above. So I just threw all those self imposed rules away and just started singing whatever came to mind. What's most important is to sing... sing anything! Here are the most sung tunes around the nursery:

1) "The Oompa Loompa song" - Don't ask me why... it's easy and it's rhythmic and one day it just started coming out of my mouth -

"OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DOO

I'VE GOT A PERFECT PUZZLE FOR YOU
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADAH DEE
IF YOU ARE WISE YOU'LL LISTEN ME...
OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DAH
IF YOU'RE NOT GREEDY YOU WILL GO FAR
YOU WILL LIVE IN HAPPINESS TOO
LIKE THE OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DO

DOOMPADEE DOO"

2) The Free Credit Report dot com jingle- You can file this one under Mommy watches too much TV!

"F-R-E-E that spells FREE... credit report dot com baby; blah blah blah blah blah blah; credit report dot com baby!"

3) The Pirates of the Caribbean Disneyland ride song - come on! you know how it goes - "yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me"... that's right... this one can be chocked up to Mommy is going delirious and having flashbacks to childhood.

4) Tito's Tacos jingle - I guess only someone who watches too much TV would sing this to their baby - "I love titos tacos, you love titos too, I love titos tacos, what else can you do -oo? you know we've got delicious burritos, tacos, enchiladas too... the only thing better than tito's tacos is TWO!"

5) "This Little Piggy Went to Market" - this is probably the sweetest, nicest song in my repertoire. I stole the arrangement from a CD called jazz lullabies. Most of it goes the same as the rhyme but when you get to the "this little piggy went weeeeeeee.... all the way home" it's changed to "this little piggy went wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee.... all the way home" - Junebug goes crazy - she loves it!

Hello Treasure!

Dear Junebug,

You come from a family who didn't always have a lot. Thanks to your Great Grandma Gay, she taught everyone to treasure hunt. Thrift shops, garage sales and street corners were always rich with great things at a very small cost. Your Grandma Helene picked up this A-mazing little sandwich maker at the thrift store the other day. It's brand new, makes sandwiches with little Hello Kitty faces on it and was only 5 bucks! We're going to have a lot of fun with this little machine... Thanks Grandma!

XO

Mommy

I'm a Working Mommy

Dear Junebug,

There's one topic that I've been conveniently avoiding. For the last three months I've been by your side 24/7 and this is all you know. But the reality is, I'm a working mommy. This time we've had together was only a small privilege and opportunity for us to get to know eachother and get organized for our new life. It's now time to go back to the schedule that existed before you came. I'll be spending 8 hours in the office everyday and there will probably be moments when I'm distracted by a little square contraption (it's called a blackberry). The good news is, your mommy is a great multi-tasker. When you were in my belly I worked very hard. As a matter of fact, I worked all the way until your birth. We even walked Katy down the Grammy red carpet at 7 1/2 months and went to Vegas to her Hard Rock Hotel display unveiling at 8 1/2 months (see pics above). When I went into pre-labor at the office, Jules-y and Nicole forced the car keys out of my clutch and drove us home.

A lot of people have asked me why I'm choosing to work. Why don't I just stay home with you? Well, I've always been a very independent girl and I want you to be the same. I've worked so hard to get this far in my career and somehow I feel like you would be proud of me for sticking it out. I will make you this promise - I will be the last person you see every night before you go to sleep and the first person you see every morning when you wake up. I also promise to make every moment we spend together quality time and be present for you whenever you need me.

Thanks for making these last three months the best three months of my life... I truly don't remember life before you.

XO

Mommy

Trend Alert! Jelly Shoes!

There's no better accessory than a pair of cute little glittery coral jelly shoes with hearts on the bottom for a fun day at the beach. Junebug loves these from Old Navy (5 bucks!)

www.oldnavy.com

Mommy Tips: Flying the Friendly Skies!

Tomorrow Junebug is taking her first plane ride... oh the stress! I posted my feelings on my facebook page and to my surprise many of my friends had things to say. There were a lot of helpful tips and advice so I thought I better share. I'm sure I'll have more to say on the topic after it's over. As my friend Jodi posted, "you only have to go through this once"... so true... that's the beauty of "first times", isn't it?

1. Dress baby for the occasion with a sassy tee (see pic above) - purchase at www.milkbomb.com

2. During take off and landing make sure you either breast feed or give baby a pacifier to prevent that whole ear popping thing. Remember babies can't chew gum like you.

3. Bring a few Starbucks cards to gift to helpful and/or patient travelers around you. (good karma!)

4. Bring earplugs to hand out to people in the event your baby is a screaming maniac (Nicole's idea although she says I won't need it but will feel better if I have them).

5. Rit said - she has her own seat, correct? the FAA recommends that children have their own seat (and appropriate car seat) but the NTSB wont allow them to make it mandatory since it will force more families to drive...which is statistically more dangerous. Ah...what you pickup hanging around pilots. - Good one!

Vintage Batman!

Dear Junebug,

I couldn't resist sharing this photo of your 2nd cousin, Danny because it is so cute! I wonder what superhero you are going to be someday. Mommy always thought she was Wonder Woman. Danny is now getting ready to go to college and he's going to be a doctor... we are so proud. All my little cousins are my superheroes and they all love you very much...

XO

Mommy

Before + After = Ultimate Nirvana!

Dear Junebug,

We took on a little drawer makeover in your nursery and I must say I'm pretty ecstatic on the results. Nothing makes Mommy happier than a little "before and after"! We showed our work to your Daddy and he called me an "obsessive, compulsive psycho"... hmmm... I like to think of myself as a person with a deep appreciation for organization (thank you very much). We achieved this little slice of drawer heaven with two eco-stripe 3-section drawer organizer and one 2-section from The Container Store. The 3-section was $12.99 and the 2-section was $7.99. Small price to pay for this kind of perfection! What else can we organize?!

XO

Mommy

Welcome back, Back on the Beach!

Dear Junebug,

Our favorite breakfast place, Back on the Beach, is back open for business. Boy did we miss them while they were gone. Maybe next time we go you'll wake up and enjoy the sights and smells of the ocean. The waitress was nice enough to bring you a "kids menu"... does she really think you are ready for a veggie dog or some chicken fingers? hmmm. I didn't have the heart to tell her that the only item on your menu is a boob sandwich!

XO

Mommy

Mommy Tips: The Hospital Bag list.

As the boy scout motto says... Be Prepared. It's a good thing that I had my hospital bag ready a good three weeks before Junebug's due date because little did I know that I would be rushed to the hospital with 103 fever and a kidney infection 2 weeks before my due date, induced 3 days later, etc., etc. The first rule of your "birth plan" is... be ready to throw your "birth plan" out the window! I had to. It wasn't easy to accept but I had no choice. Knowing that my suitcase was all ready to go was a HUGE weight off my mind the day my doctor said, "meet me at UCLA Medical Center in 30 minutes".

Here's THE list:

1. Insurance card
2. cell phone with charger
3. camera with charger
4. video camera (flip for "the flip" it's only about $100 and amazing)
5. 2 pairs of white sport socks
6. lip balm or lip stick
7. music - always check with hospital if they have cd players or ipod docks
8. toothbrush and toothpaste
9. hair brush and hair ties
10. perineum kit (very important): 2 bottles of vitamin E oil, 2 bottles of witch hazel, 1 can of dermoplast spray (the red top which is hospital strength) and a 12-24 size 3 diapers (that's right-these are for YOU not the baby... you are going to bleed ALOT and the pads they give you at the hospital don't do the trick) AND request a sitz bath and peri bottle from the hospital that you can use while there and take home.
11. 6 bottles of smart water or gatorade
12. 4 protein bars

For Postpartum stay:

1. Toiletry bag
2. Nursing pillow
3. Robe and slippers
4. 2 nursing bras
5. Nipple cream
6. Disposable nursing pads
7. 2 piece outfit to go home in as you may need to stop the car to nurse (maybe)
8. don't worry about undies as the hospital provides you with special hospital undies

Items for Baby:

1. If you have a dog bring two inexpensive cotton beanies and two receiving blankets and two ziplock bags (see my post about how to introduce dog to baby)
2. Baby care log (provided by doula or doctor)
3. Small bottle of safflower oil
4. Purell
5. Alcohol and q-tips for umbilical cord care
6. A tube of Aquaphor
7. Going home outfit
8. Outside blanket and beanie
9. Nail file

By the way - big thanks to our friend Shana from Burton for sending me this amazing suitcase - it's called the Gravis and it's the best!