I immediately started fawning over cribs, dressers, paint colors, and mobiles. I don’t know what it is, but the nursery is the first room I’ve ever planned out.  My husband jokes that the baby room will be our first complete room, sadly I have to agree.  I want a nursery  that will transition from infant to toddler; for the room not to be overly pink; and for the room to include personal touches.

A tip for planning your nursery is to first pick out what your fabrics are going to be and then pick out the paint color and furniture. My mother-in-law is an amazing seamstress and is making our nursery bedding and decor. If it wasn’t for my mother-in-law, I’d be purchasing one of Hayneedle’s baby bedding sets. They have so many great options to choose from.

I went to the local fabric store and found this amazing pattern:

I paired this fabric with green walls and black polka dots. So far I’m loving the color combination.

The next step was to pick out the furniture. We immediately went to Hayneedle’s Nursery section and browsed through all of the crib options.  If you’re planning to match all the furniture in the room, I highly recommend browsing through the Nursery Collections.

We were only in the market for a crib and a changer, so our searched landed us on the Graco Sarah 4 in 1 Convertible Crib Collection in Cherry:

We immediately put the crib together so we could see where we wanted it to live and so we could plan the rest of the nursery furniture around the crib.  We still need to pick out our glider, refinish the dresser and shelves, and make the wall art, but here is a view of our nursery in progress:

As we make more progress, we’ll be sure to share the updates, but I want to know what colors are you choosing for your nursery? Share your ideas and comments below!

-Angie

In the past I have written about buying the right baby furniture, decorating the nursery, and other various baby-related topics, but boy has my perspective changed. I have many nieces and nephews and coworkers who have started families, so I thought my research on the topic of preparing for baby was sound. I was confident that I would be the most prepared expectant mother when my husband and I decided to go down the path of starting a family.  Now that I’m experiencing the fun (and stress) of planning for a baby firsthand, I have a humbled perspective of what it takes to get “baby ready.”

As I go through my journey of being an expectant mother, I’ll bring you along for the ride, from deciding which stroller/travel system is best to deciding how to decorate the nursery.  Feel free to offer your opinions and parenting insight, or to ask questions. I look forward to going through this journey with you!

-Angie

Twitter : angiekub

Put the French Hens in the coop, it’s time to get to work on Day 3 of 12 Days of Giveaways! Today’s winner not only gets the giveaway item, but gets to call themselves “Head Elf” for the remainder of the holiday season. Families be warned. Go!

Today’s giveaway…

• Provides a place for both Barbies and Bakugan to rest
• Has storage, seating, and a safety lid
• Is exclusive to Hayneedle, but useful to everyone
• Sports a seasonally-appropriate pecan finish

*Hint*
Even if we didn’t already know the answer, we’d start looking in Gifts For Kids.

Remember, this is what you’re looking for:

Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!

Whether you’ve already embraced the trend or are just beginning to “go green”, check out these tips for becoming an Eco-Mom.

Being an Eco-Mom may sound scary at first, and making the transition may seem overwhelming. You may find yourself thinking, “Do I need solar panels, a hybrid car, what?” Well, fear not – I’m here to tell you to start slow and don’t worry about saving the world on the first day. There are a million easy ways to start going “green,” and every small change you make starts to make a big difference!

One of the easiest – switch to eco-friendly light bulbs. Don’t’ worry, there’s no need to go out and buy all of them at once, simply begin making the switch as your old ones burn out. It takes a while – maybe even a year – but eventually, all the lights in your home will be contributing to the cause. Added bonus – in the long run, these bulbs save you a lot of money. Eco-conscious light bulbs use 80% less electricity and can last up to 9 years.

For the gardening Mom looking to lower the water bill, a rain barrel is an ideal way to conserve. These awesome accessories collect and save hundreds of gallons of water, which you can use on your lawn or garden at absolutely zero cost. I have this rain barrel at my home, and simply wouldn’t live without it! You would be shocked how quickly a rain barrel actually fills up. Just a half-inch of rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof yields 300 gallons of water, and that’s just during one rainfall.  Of course, if a rain barrel seems too daunting, just remember to turn your water off when you’re brushing your teeth. Every small change, remember?  It’s easy!

Composting is huge right now. You may recall the large, smelly, backyard heaps of our parent’s time, but the equipment and strategies have changed. Check it out, and don’t be afraid to try something new. I’ve been running one, and I couldn’t tell you how much I love my compost tumbler.

We get asked a lot of questions about worm composting, compost bins, compost tumbler, and electric kitchen composters. There are all kinds of composting, but here is my best advice – be fair to your life. What material do you feel you waste the most? Is it food, yard waste, or something else? What kind of time do you have to commit to composting? Different types of composting accommodate every option and lifestyle, and finding the right one will help you be successful. If you have a lot of kitchen scraps, the Nature Mill Kitchen Composter might be ideal for you.

Now, for the truly Eco-conscious Mom, enter the world of Cloth Diapers.

Cloth diapers? Like my grandma? Not even close – cloth diapers are widely popular right now, way easier than you think, and come with a long list of benefits. Making the switch to cloth diapers will save you money, for sure, but guess what? They’re also better for your baby. Cloth diapers do not contain the chemicals found in disposable diapers and reduce the risks of diaper rash. Trust me – cloth diapers are back and easier than ever. No pins, no leaks, no worries!

Last, but not least, we come to the crib. Your baby spends a lot of time in there – is there possibly a way for a crib to go green? Is there an Eco Crib? Yes! Argington brand cribs are made entirely from sustainable forests. Oh yeah – they’re stylish, too!

Now that’s a lot of green!

1. Car seat

2. Stroller

3. Bedding

4. Diapers

5. Changing table

6. Bottles

7. Bouncing chair

8. Swing

9. High chair

10. Glider or rocker

Now like I said this is just a few items and not the whole list! I know what most are you are thinking isn’t this your second baby? Well yes you’re right, but first off I had a boy first and now I having a girl. There are certain items a girl cannot wear, or use that a boy did. Second we never thought we were getting pregnant so quickly that I gave most of my baby items to my sister in law for her boy! So yes I am like a first time parent again looking at all the reports on what I need to buy. My next big item we will have to get is a car seat, but maybe someone will take pity on us and get one for us at my baby shower. (Hint hint) No really this time around buying for the baby is not about what is the best, but more about what will last longer and of course a little girly. So if I could give any first time parents advice on this it would be make your list check it twice, and ask someone who has gone through this if you really need a wipe warmer, or if it is just some item you may use for a week, then forget about! Also everyone needs to go to the new Hayneedle.com nursery and see that you can get all your baby items in one place.

Painting can seem like an undesirable chore, but – if you go about it right – painting the baby’s room can actually be a fun step during the “expecting” process.  What’s even more exciting is that, these days,  it’s conventional to defy convention. Get creative, and move beyond light blue and pink to the bubble-gum cigars. People everywhere are starting to experiment with bolder colors and adding murals and creative artwork to nursery walls. I’ve written a short guide to help you select baby-safe paint, exciting colors, and fun wall decals.

The Paint:

Selecting paint can be a cumbersome job. When choosing paint, make sure it’s low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound).  Volatile Organic Compound is a key component of the composition of oil-based paint, and even shows up in some traditional latex-based paints. Exposing a baby to paint VOC’s can trigger asthma attacks, eye irritation and respiratory problems, nausea, and dizziness – among other symptoms. Prolonged exposure has been linked to kidney and liver disease and even cancer. Some great low-VOC paint options: Green Seal Standard GS-11 paint, non-toxic paints, natural paints, and ceramic wall paints.

Colors:

Contrary to evidence found at Grandma’s, baby pinks, blues, yellows, and greens are not the only options when it comes to decorating the baby’s room.  Don’t be afraid to go bold, bright, and patterned.  When selecting the color you wish to paint your baby’s room think about the mood you want to convey.

Warm colors portray intimacy, relaxation, and warmth. Reds and oranges also stimulate and excite people.  Affectionate people and those who love to read and relax are complemented by warm color schemes.

Light cool colors can have a calming effect. Cool colors can also make a small room seem more open and spacious.  Earth tones tend to ground the viewer and are a great choice for hyperactive children. Mixing and matching different color pallets can help balance the feeling of a room.

Themes:

Fifty percent of expecting couples choose to wait until the birth to find out the sex of the baby. If you don’t know, choosing a theme when decorating the baby’s room can be a challenge. Luckily for you, today’s nurseries are full of fun, funky, and often gender-neutral colors and accessories. Wall decals make it easy to add character and charm to any baby room. You can easily add trees and animal prints to a neutrally-painted room.  Earth tones allow you to choose more adventurous patterns and décor.  Add bright drapes to the room to help contrast the walls, or get inventive by using multi-colored frames and shadow boxes to encompass numbers, letters, and pictures.

Whatever color scheme you choose, if you put a little bit of yourself into the decoration it ‘ll be perfect for the little one you love. Don’t be afraid to let your inner decorator come out – it’ll be worth it in the end.

Check out these amazing resources to learn more about how to decorate, color meanings, and room décor inspirations.

Resources: About.com,  DecoratingKidsRooms.net, http://weedecor.com/,  http://www.thelaboroflove.com.

For most parents, getting the home ready for baby is an overwhelming experience. Here’s what I’ve gathered that will help you stress less about what to do in the coming months:

First Trimester:

• You are pregnant! Enjoy the excitement and work on stocking healthy foods in the house.
• Start planning a budget for adding the baby to the household. Try calculating the costs with this handy resource: http://www.babycenter.com/babyCostCalculator.htm

Second Trimester:

• Evaluate your space. Where will the baby room be located? Where will you store the baby items? You will want to have this mapped out before your first baby shower.
• Start buying diapers as they go on sale in different sizes. You should plan to go through about 70 diapers per week.
• Assemble crib towards end of the second trimester or beginning of third trimester.  Babies are unpredictable, and the last thing you want is to come home from the hospital with an unassembled crib. When choosing a crib select one with slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Make sure the crib isn’t painted with lead or varnish. Cribs made after 1989 meet these safety rules.
• Take stock of your medical equipment, and be sure to get what don’t have. You’ll want to be prepared for anything that comes up after your baby arrives.  You’ll need a rectal digital thermometer (not a mercury thermometer) and lubricant (petroleum jelly). Thought it sounds unpleasant, a rectal digital thermometer gives the best temperature reading for newborns. You’ll need non-aspirin liquid pain reliever for infants (such as acetaminophen), rubbing alcohol to help clean the umbilical cord stump, cotton swabs, saline drops to help relieve a stuffed nose, infant nail clippers, and a suction bulb for a little nose.

Third Trimester:

• Make your home extra clean.  You’ll want to make sure you bring Baby home to a sterile environment. Since Mom to be will be tired, Dad to be should be willing to help around the house more. If cleaning isn’t his forte, think about hiring a service to help you get the down-and-dirty cleaning complete.
• Have meals prepared in the freezer.  This will be great for when you get home from the hospital.  Odds are neither of you will feel like cooking much; having casseroles, pastas, stews on deck will make both your lives easier.
• Stock up on household necessities.  The new baby will throw off your routine and your minds might be a little scattered (thus not realizing you are out of toilet paper until you need it).
• Practice using the car seat- You can even have a certified instructor put your car seat base in your vehicle for you. Hospitals will not allow you to leave with your wee one if you don’t have the car seat properly installed.
• Make sure your stroller fits in your car.  Some strollers are bulkier than others, and may not suit your needs like the photo makes you think it will. Ensure the stroller is functional for your lifestyle.
• Schedule someone to watch your house, pets, and/or children when the moment comes.  Have this lined up before the baby comes, so if your bundle of joy decides to come early you already have a game plan.
• Wash baby clothes in a light detergent (Dreft or Ivory Snow)  a few weeks before the baby comes.  Between your own shopping and friends/family/shower guests, you’ll probably end up with oodles of outfits for your baby. Wash only necessities (baby onesies, burp cloths, socks, hats, blankets, few outfits). The trick is only take tags off a few items at a time – your baby will grow quickly and may outgrow outfits before even one use. If you save the receipts and leave on the tag, you’ll be able to exchange for a larger size when Baby becomes BIG Baby.   When it comes to baby clothes, you should have: 6-8 T-shirts or onesies, 6-8 sleepers, 4-6 pairs of booties or socks, 4-6 receiving blankets, and a few washcloths and towels. Disinfect bottles in hot water.
• Make sure to disinfect any baby equipment such as bottles and pacifiers in hot boiling water.

I hope this list helps you as you ready your home for baby. Parents, I’d love to hear your feedback – anything missing from this list? Is there something you swear by that you’d be willing to share? Your experience is invaluable, please leave your comments below!

Resources:

http://www.babycenter.com/babyCostCalculator.htm

http://www.pregnancyetc.com/bringing-baby-home.htm

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/298_26822.asp

When it comes time to welcome a baby home, there are usually valid concerns around how a pet will react to the new smallest member of the family. Here are a few things you can do before and after Baby arrives to help make the transition a safe, happy, and smooth one for every family member.

Before Baby Arrives…

Sights, Smells, Sounds
Begin getting your pet used to the sounds and smells that come with having a baby around. Play a tape recording of a baby crying. Put baby lotion on your hands before interacting with your pet. If possible, have a friend or family member with a baby or small child come over for short visits to see how your pet reacts. Make sure your pet is also used to having its paws, tail, and ears touched regularly.

Routine
Even though your time will likely be monopolized with caring for Baby it is still important to fit in time during your day to interact with your pet. Start getting your pet used to variations in their routine before the baby arrives. Try walking your pet at different times of the day. Change up play and training times and get your pet used to shorter, but perhaps more frequent, petting sessions. Change up feeding times slightly. This will help your pet begin to adapt to daily changes, since it’s doubtful that Baby will be adhering to anyone’s schedule for quite a while!

Baby’s Room
Have Baby’s room set up well before Baby’s arrival so your pet can get used to and explore the area. If there are items or areas that you don’t want your pet to have access to, this is a good time to start setting and enforcing those boundaries and limitations. Installing a screen door or pressure gate on the room is a handy way to keep your pet out while still offering them the ability to observe what is happening in the room.

Training
For dog owners, the time before baby arrives might be a perfect time to brush up on obedience classes to ensure consistency of basic commands like Sit, Stay, and Lay Down.

Toxoplasmosis
For cat owners, Toxoplasmosis might be a concern. Toxoplasmosis is a rare parasitic disease that can cause birth defects. While pregnant, women should avoid contact with cat feces. This does not mean you need to give up your cat, but it does mean that cleaning the litter box should be added to your husband’s “Honey Do” list. Learn more about Toxoplasmosis here.

Bringing Baby Home…

Ask a friend or family member to bring a blanket or item of clothing with Baby’s scent on it so your pet can get used to how Baby smells before your arrival home.

When Mom arrives home, have someone take Baby into another room so Mom can have a few quiet, calm moments to greet the pet before they meet the baby.

When your pet is around Baby have treats handy to reward good behavior. Be sure to speak in positive tones around the baby so your pet can begin associating positive feelings with being around Baby.

Be sure to spend some quality time with your pet when Baby is napping so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.

Enjoy the time with your growing family!

Lisa E

I welcome your feedback. Just click into this post to leave comments, questions or suggestions.
Follow me on Twitter! @hayneedlepets

Cat and Cate are also mom bloggers and they thought it would be great to ask some moms out there “What do you wish you would have known about having a baby?”

The following is a collection of wisdom from several of our favorite mom-bloggers on pregnancy and childbirth. We would love to have you join the conversation, too. Share your own parenting wisdom with our readers by adding your thoughts in the comment section!

“What I wish I would have known about pregnancy…”

1. That you are just along for the ride! – Liz, from “a belle, a bean, & a chicago dog”
2. Not all women have a lovely glow during pregnancy. You will get a giant rear and maybe acne and barf for months…or not. There are no guarantees in this crap shoot, people. – Kathryn, from “The Coastal Chick”
3. That it would save a lot of time, anger and frustration to just buy the shirt from cafepress.com that says “No, it’s not twins. Yes, they are sure. No, I’m not over due. Yes, they are sure” and “You can touch my belly if I can punch your face.” – Megan, from “Newly Wed Newly Bred”
4. I wish I had known that people will make horrifically inappropriate comments to me. Constantly. I would have carried a knife with me at all times. – Veronica, from “Crunchy VT Mommy”
5. You shouldn’t be held accountable for any and all irrational breakdowns. – Wanda Mae, Twitter id: @piggytailmommie
6. Is that it would be the one time in my life I did everything right. Eating, drinking the right stuff (water, no caffeine, etc). – Alana Morales, from “Domestically Challenged”
7. Gynocological math was calculated by a MAN! How else can 9 months = 40 weeks? And, heaven forbid if you are in week 42, which according to my doctor, “is well within the accepted time frame” for the little sucker to remain in utero. This is a LONG time to go without a margarita! – Cindi

“What I wish I would have known about Labor & Delivery…”

1. The thing is, you have every right to beg mercilessly for pain medication, because they will try to steer you away from it, but in the end if you are persistent, your life will be a lot easier. Especially if you are getting no sleep just to have a baby arrive and then you REALLY never see the bed again. – Roxane, from “Roxane’s Days”
2. Drugs are not bad…drugs are amazing and if I could have gotten my spinal in the parking lot I would have. Kathryn, from “The Coastal Chick”
3. That everyone and their Mom will see your who-ha and be up in your business! And that it’s much easier to just roll with it, and have no shame! And that you’ll pretty much be wearing a diaper for the next 3-4 weeks, following that little bundle of joys arrival! – Megan, from “Newly Wed Newly Bred”
4. I wish I had known that things can progress very quickly. I was incredibly unprepared to handle contractions that came one right after the other with no time for recovery. – Veronica, from “Crunchy VT Mommy”
5. The ultimate goal is getting the baby out. Even if they come out of the curtain instead of down the chute. – Alana Morales, from “Domestically Challenged”
6. That the “delivery” movie doesn’t really prepare you for labor pains. If someone would have said that labor pains are menstrual cramps times one million, then I would have known exactly what I was feeling at 3 in the morning. – Cindi

So, there’s a little perspective from some of our favorite mommies on pregnancy, D-Day, and some of the little things that often go unsaid. I’m sure we missed a few things, so give us your two cents below in the comments section. Don’t forget to stay tuned for future installments of “I Wish I Would Have Known”. Next, we’ll tackle what really happens when you bring that bundle home and have to feed it…all by yourself.

Cate Adcock shares stories of her funny, messy, frustrating and delicious life at Real Life With Kids. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RealLifeWKids

Cat Koehler writes about everything mommy, even the things we don’t want to talk about every Monday at Momaha.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Netlady29

If the uncertainties of impending motherhood have you hankering for a highball or Harvey Wallbanger, Alyssa Gusenoff’s got your, er, belly.

Her forthcoming book, Margarita Mama Mocktails for Moms-to-Be (Quirk Books, $13) offers more than 60 creative and often wildly-named alcohol-free cocktails for women drinking for two.

Recipes include a grape juice-laden sangria; a coffee, raspberry, grape, and chocolate mixer called the Bulging Belly Button; and the grenadine-spiked Materni-Tini.

And while Gusenoff obviously has fun playing with the maternity theme, these drinks would work nicely for anyone avoiding alcohol.

Give the book a test run and mix up a Raging Hormone:

• 6 to 7 fresh mint leaves
• 1 ounce lemonade
• 2 ounces cherry juice
• 4 ounces ginger ale

In the bottom of a tall glass, muddle the mint leaves with the lemonade and cherry juice.

Add ice, then pour in the ginger ale.

Makes 1 serving.

Preggatinis: Alcohol-Free Cocktails for Moms-to-be

Mixologist Natalie Bovis, also known as the “Liquid Muse” shows how to make preggatinis – the perfect drinks to make for a baby shower!

Mamarita
From Preggatinis by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen

Ingredients

1 ounce agave nectar
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce orange juice
3 ounces organic limeade
1 lime wheel
rimming salt

Directions
Rim a margarita glass and set aside. Stir agave nectar and lemon juice in the bottom of a mixing glass until nectar dissolves. Add orange juice, limeade, and ice, then shake vigorously. Strain into the margarita glass, and serve with a lime wheel on the rim.

Miami Mommy Mojito

1 heaping tablespoon diced strawberries
1 tablespoon torn basil
1 lime, cut into small chunks with peel on
4 oz. Fre White Zinfandel alcohol-removed wine
Splash of lemon-lime soda

Muddle strawberries, basil and lime in the bottom of a tall glass. Add ice. Fill with alcohol-removed White Zinfandel and finish with a splash of lemon-lime soda.

2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1 sugar cube
Dash blood orange bitters
1 1/2 ounces pomegranate juice
3 ounces Fre Brut alcohol-removed sparkling wine
1 teaspoon pomegranate seeds

Rim a champagne flute with sugar. Place the sugar cube into the bottom of the flute and soak it with the bitters. Add pomegranate juice and alcohol-removed sparkling wine. Drop in pomegranate seeds.

1 orange, cut into slices with peel on
1 lemon, cut into slices with peel on
1 lime, cut into slices with peel on
1/2 cup tangerine juice
1/2 cup pear cider
2 tablespoons sugar
2 bottles Fre Merlot alcohol-removed wine

Place cut fruit in a punch bowl and stir in tangerine juice, pear cider and sugar. Slowly add alcohol-removed wine. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Ladle it into wine goblets or punch cups when ready to serve.

1 heaping tablespoon diced cucumber (peeled and seeded)
1 ounce rose infused simple syrup
3 ounces Fre Premium White alcohol-free wine
Splash of soda water
1 rose petal

Gently muddle cucumber and rose-infused syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add ice and wine, then shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with white rose petal.

To see more recipes visit our Facebook page to get in on the discussion!

Congratulations, again, and “Cheers” to you and baby!

I have been asked by a couple of people now why we decided to have a baby, and what my reaction was. I have been putting it off, thinking that no one really wants to know. When Hayneedle asked me if I would be a guest baby blogger and tell my story, I thought “Hmmm, I guess it is time to let everyone know how it happened”.

After having a hard time getting pregnant with Logan and then all the complications I went through to get him here, my husband and I thought no more babies for at least three years. Well, as we all can say sometimes, there are other plans for us!

I went in for a yearly woman’s examination, where you are asked all kinds of questions. Normally, I’d just laugh at everyone – until they asked if there was any way I could be pregnant. I looked at the nurse and said plainly, “No, I am on the pill”. She said it’s not 100%, you know, and if I thought there was even the slightest chance, to please just take a test. I honestly took the test to please her. I gave her the test and waited patiently for her to come into the room. Imagine my shock when she tells me I am pregnant. I honestly thought it was some type of joke, and said “Come on, that’s not funny!” She assured me it was no joke and to come with her to try to see when I was due. The walk to the office seemed eight miles long.

The whole time I am crying not knowing what to do. I would never get rid of this baby, but man – was this wrong timing! As I sat in the office listening to everything they were saying, the tears kept coming. At this point the nurse said to me, well, I am sure we can give you the pill to make it all go away if that’s what you want. It was at that very moment that I knew, no matter what, this baby would be loved and cared for. That this baby will know that even if it was not the right moment for her parents, it didn’t matter. I looked at the nurse and said, “This baby will be a joy in our lives”. I thanked the nurse and went home.

On the drive home, I said a prayer out loud asking for help to tell my husband. I pulled into the drive and was happy to see that our son was asleep. I walked in with tears in my eyes and found my husband. I just said “Honey there is something I need to tell you”. He looked at me and knew – “You’re pregnant, right?” I was shock – how did he know? When I told him it was true, he said that it explains why I’ve been tired and crying all the time. He then went on to say that it would all be OK, that we will get through this somehow.

I could not believe that he was so OK with it. I mean, didn’t we make a plan? Our son would only be 28 months old when this baby is born. How can this be so easy for him? As I sat there still in shock, my little boy woke up and hopped on my lap and said “I love you”. It was there, at that moment, that I knew why my husband was so calm. Look at how lucky we are – already with a healthy boy. So yes, we were unprepared, and yes, there are so many things we will have to do before this baby, but in the end we knew it would all be for the best.

Many thoughts go through your head when you find out you are pregnant, but the one thought that never goes away is, “How am I to care for this little one?”  But somehow, we are able. Think of all the other children in the world who are born to parents who do not want them. Knowing that my two kids will never have to go through that makes all the morning (all-day) sickness worth it. All the food cravings, the constant need to”go” – all worth it!

We all know what we are getting into when we have a baby, and this time was no different for me. I will say it is a lot less scary – but I am staying healthy and making better choices to keep this baby in me longer. I am so excited to share my journey to motherhood with you guys. Watch for more posts over the next three weeks!

-Amanda

*Ding, Ding*  We’re clinking our glasses and are proud to announce that we have a new baby – The Nursery, brought to you by Hayneedle!  This little baby has everything that an expecting family needs! From diapers and cribs to high chairs and monitors, this is your one stop shopping destination for all things baby. Over the next few weeks we will not only be offering AMAZING pricing on our nursery items, but we’ll also be offering up some fun content from an expecting mom, an expecting dad, advice from a couple of pros, and much more!

Not only are we bringing you unbeatable deals to help bring your baby on board, we want to give you a chance to win the nursery of your dreams!  We ‘re teaming up with iVillage.com to give away a $5,000 nursery! Then, get ready for September 23 – at 8:00 PM ET we’re due to host a Baby Shower Twitter Party with TwitterMoms.com! We will be giving away seven great items that will help you prepare for your new arrival.  Stay tuned for more details.

Over the next couple of weeks, this baby’s really gonna grow. Follow Hayneedle on Twitter and Facebook for your opportunity to win amazing prizes from The Nursery!

List of supplies:

• Metal containers
• Stickers
• Spray sealant
• Loose rock, crushed aluminum cans, or packing peanuts
• Good potting soil (I use Miracle-Gro Moisture Control)
• Plants

Tools needed:

• Hammer
• Philips head screwdriver
• Block of wood

To start out with – I popped over to our neighborhood home improvement store and picked up a few metal containers from the paint section.  You can repurpose containers you already have or check out the Goodwill store or other stores.

This time I picked a long metal bin, a metal paint can, and a small metal bucket just like another I had at home and would use for this project.   I also dropped by the local nursery to pick up some unique plants – one is called “Dracula” – that I thought the kids would like.

I picked out some stickers from my sticker stash that we could use on the planters.  A variety of them is good – including alphabets, characters, animals, etc.  Then I sat the kids down to start designing.

I laid out some rules for where the stickers could go – some folks might not need any rules for this and that is completely fine.  Unfortunately my OCD will not allow the random placement of stickers – even on a project for the kids.  We compromised and I asked for symmetry on the fronts of the buckets and told them they could do whatever they wanted on the backs.  And yes – I have started a “counseling” fund for each of them.

Once the stickers were situated and resituated so that my eye wouldn’t twitch, my husband kindly pounded water drainage holes in the bottoms of the buckets using a wooden block inside and a hammer and screwdriver on the outside.  He would prefer I didn’t mention that he couldn’t find his cordless drill battery.  So let’s pretend I didn’t mention it.

After the holes were poked in the bottoms of the containers – I followed the directions on the can of spray sealant (you can find at your local craft store) to seal the outsides of the containers and the stickers.  Sometimes these will need to set over a 24 hour period before you finish them by adding your plants.

After the recommended waiting period – it was time to lay down some filler on the bottom of each one.  I used river rock because the wind can get pretty strong at our place (no sassy remarks here, please) and I get very annoyed when my containers tip over.  You can also use crushed aluminum cans (depending on your container size) or the non-dissolving packing peanuts.  This gives a layer at the bottom of your planter for water to drain through and out the holes without taking all of your soil with it.  It also takes up some space so you aren’t using an entire bag of potting soil on one planter.

Next, you’ll want to check the depth of the plants you’ve selected in their designated planters.  Is there enough space?  You want to have the top of the root ball covered by your potting soil.  Ideally you will also have some room between the top of the soil and the top edge of the container.

Break up the root balls of each plant with your fingertips.  Place the plant within the container and add filler potting soil around it until it reaches the top of the plant root ball.  Press soil down gently but firmly to make sure the plant is supported in its new home!

Water your plants – keeping an eye on whether or not the water drops the soil level in your container.  If it drops it significantly, you’ll want to add more soil.  Water the plant until water begins to drain out of the holes you made in the bottom.

You’re all done!

Alternatives to this activity:

Decoupage:  You can use paper cut out shapes, preferably from a thinner paper – not cardstock – and decoupage (I use Mod Podge) them onto the containers.  I used multi-colored 2.5” polka dots I had punched out of scrapbook paper and decoupaged them around the top half of an oblong metal bucket.  After the decoupage dried I followed the directions above starting with the spray sealant.  This was my favorite planter until my husband ran over it with his car.  And yes – I will bring this up until we are old and gray.

Painting:  You can use acrylic craft paints to paint a design on the containers – stripes, dots, or whatever the kids would like (unless you have issues like me – then perhaps a stencil is in order.)  Once again – you want to do that, let it dry, then begin at the “apply sealant” stage above and continue through the rest of the directions.  When I did my painted container I placed it up close to the house – where it remains in its original shape today – unmolested by heavy vehicles.

My summer pledge: I pledge to stop making so many “Contingency Comments!”  A contingency comment is saying “As soon as….’blank’ happens, I will ‘blank’”.  For instance, “As soon as I have a vegetable garden planted, I will plant pumpkins.”  Seriously?  I’m pledging to you right now, People, that I AM GOING TO PLANT PUMPKINS THIS YEAR – even if it is in my landscaping!

How about this one, “As soon as we have enough saved, we’ll go on vacation.”  Over spring break DW and I took the week off to hang with the kids.  As there wasn’t enough saved to go on a big vacation, we decided to make spring break into a “Staycation” instead.  We let each of the kids have a day where they picked an activity (we gave them a list – go to the zoo, go bowling, go to a movie, go to the museum…) and a place to go out to eat.  We had a blast!  We had wanted to go to some of the places featured on Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food – because DW and the kids are BIG fans – but decided to make our own “BIG FOOD” at home.  You’ll be able to read more about this soon – when I post “Boy vs. Food” on my blog.

Sometimes our contingency comments are smaller… like, “As soon as I finish checking my email, updating my facebook, tweeting my tweeps – I will get down on the floor and play cars with you.”  “Honey, if I finish this laundry I will sit next to you and hold your hand.”  “Wait until I’m done brushing my teeth – then I’ll give you a hug.”  So what if you get toothpaste on them by hugging while still brushing?  How many times have you headed out the door with toothpaste or Cheetos or peanut butter smeared somewhere on your person?  Was it catastrophic?  Was the hug worth it? ABSOLUTELY!

How do I plan to wage this battle against “Contingency Comments”?  I’m going to start (you probably saw this one coming) by buying the pumpkin plants I have drooled over for years and planting them in my flower garden.  I love pumpkins in the fall and spend a stupid amount of money every year because I have rarely met a pumpkin I didn’t think was adorable and Must. Have. On. My. Porch.  NOW.  Imagine how much money I’ll save and even better the warm, fuzzy, happy, strawberry cupcake feeling I’ll have inside watching my own pumpkins growing.  (Let’s all assume for now that I won’t kill them.)

Next I’m going to make a schedule of time I’ll spend on the computer.  And that schedule is going to take into account that when my family is awake and around – they generally want and need and enjoy my attention.  (not when I’m on a cleaning rampage – then they wish I’d try to figure out WordPress.org for 8 hours again).   And here’s a concept – I’m going to try to stick with that schedule.  I believe it was Stephen Covey who said in his book, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, “Making and keeping promises to ourselves precedes making and keeping promises to others.”  That is HUGE.

Finally, I am going to make a determined effort to engage with my kids.  There are so many distractions out there – for kids and adults – that we can easily go days or even weeks without really engaging with each other in ways that don’t involve duty instructions or editorials on wardrobe.  DW and I were talking the other night about how easy it is to give all of yourself to folks at work and folks you are connected with on the computer and friends and to forget to give all of yourself to your spouse and kids.  (and dogs – sorry, Cooper and Catie!)

You are going to see evidence of the fruits of My Summer Pledge on my blog – where I will be working with the kids on their own posts and photographing the things we do together.  I challenge you to make your own “Summer Pledge”!  I’d love to hear about it!

A team member at Hayneedle and contributor to the Hayneedle Blog, Cate is the author of the Real Life with Kids blog – www.reallifewithkids.com – and would love to have you stop by for a visit!

I thought it would be fun to take a look over my most recent year of motherhood and grade some of the highlights.  One thing a year in the life of a mom never lacks is variety…

First Day of School: A+

Cons: I didn’t take pictures of them on the first day with their new teachers or old friends.  I didn’t send them with sack lunches with “I love you” written on a napkin.

Pros: I got all three of the kids to their 2 schools before the bell rang and as a bonus – all were completely dressed and had their teeth brushed.  Also – while doing a “pat down” prior to leaving home – I did stop Scratchy from bringing the full size, completely filled water balloon to school as a “gift” for his new teacher.  Probably I should get some extra credit for that one.

Halloween Class Party: B-

Cons: I was late because I was in a meeting that went over.  The kids at my table used frosting extravagantly on the pumpkin sugar cookies I helped them decorate.  They also made a really big mess with glitter.  One of the moms said, “Who’s the amateur who brought glitter?”

Pros: I didn’t use profanity or sprinkle any glitter on the “too smart for glitter” mom (you know I brought the glitter, right?)  I have always been a firm believer that glitter in your underclothes at the end of the day is a sure sign of a day well spent.  I encouraged the extravagant use of frosting.  My son and his friends had an awesome time – as evidenced by the orange and black frosting all over their hands and faces with sparkly glitter stuck in it.

Christmas Teacher Gifts: B+

Cons: The last day of school before Christmas break snuck up on me and I had no gifts for the teachers.

Pros: I got my fabu hubby to stop and get donuts for all the teachers on the first day back after break – because seriously – that is when teachers really need some love.

Band Practice: D

Cons: I lacked any motivation to encourage my son to practice his trumpet regularly.  I thought he should take up the dog whistle but I was informed that this was not an option in elementary school.  (does that mean it might be an option in middle school?).  With varying practice days at school each week we probably got Scratchy and his trumpet to school on the same day as practice about 62.5% of the time.

Pros: I got Scratchy and his trumpet to school on the same day as practice about 62.5% of the time.  Not one of those times did I bring the trumpet and forget Trouble or Itchy.  Sometimes I amaze myself.

Talent Show: A+

Cons: Scratchy wanted to participate in the talent show with two of his friends playing drums, trumpet, and I can’t remember the third instrument.

Pros: Scratchy wanted the $5 I offered him more than he wanted to participate in the talent show.

The beautiful thing about being a mom is that kids are funny, forgiving, and fortunately forgetful.  I asked Trouble yesterday, “Do you know you’re my Sweetie?”  He came up and gave me a sloppy kiss and a big hug and said, “Yes, Momma, I know I’m your Sweetie.”  At the end of the day I think that averages out to a 4.0.

Happy Mother’s Day to moms everywhere!

For several years running, January has been the month to find remarkable deals on nursery furniture and baby gear. While retailers and savvy shoppers take the annual sale season for granted, this curious blogger can’t help but ask: why January?

A non-scientific analysis might look to the birds and bees of spring. Wouldn’t, as the just-made-up saying goes, “April flings bring January dumplings”? While this theory holds true in Europe, the stork doesn’t seem to abide by this flight pattern in the U.S.

Over the past two decades, September (National Baby Safety Month, not coincidentally) has most often taken the birthday cake for the most new arrivals, usually followed by August and July. This suggests a heightened amorousness around the holidays in America. Silly us, we figured everyone was shopping.

So why celebrate babies in January with reduced prices on nursery furniture and baby gear? Well, besides being National Hobby Month and National Oatmeal Month, January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. But those don’t exactly lead one to conclude that it’s time for a huge sale.

Perhaps, with the arrival of the New Year, it’s a natural time to turn our thoughts toward new beginnings and fresh starts. Or maybe September’s new parents finally have a handle on what baby stuff all those 4-month-olds really need.

Whatever the reason, the savings are real. And you’ll find the greatest variety of baby essentials like cribs, baby swings, play pens, high chairs, strollers, diaper bags, and more at Hayneedle.com. Even if you don’t have a baby or grandbaby of your own to raise or spoil, we’re willing to bet you know someone who does. So spread the word about the savings and variety at Hayneedle. After all, it takes a village.