Monday, June 30, 2014

Did You Pre-Wash Your Baby Clothes?

I've been debating this for a little while so I decided to write about it for my Parenting.com Project Pregnancy Blog and apparently it's a hot topic!

Here's an excerpt:
"Go ahead; call me a crazy lady, gross, or a bad mom. Everyone differs in opinions on every little parenting choice and I know pre-washing is just one of many things I’ll encounter.

It’s not that I’m all out against the process, or that I think people who do it are strange; I just never really thought anything of it. But I want you to understand my point of view... This is coming from a girl who wasn’t even pre-rinsing her fruit until a few years ago.


I was at my mother-in-law’s house and I had pulled a bag of grapes from the fridge and started munching.
"Did you rinse those off honey?" She asked me. No... I thought.

I mean, I knew I was SUPPOSED to rinse them off but I just never thought much of it. I never got sick before, and they taste the same.
I mean really, am I suppose to run this bag of grapes under the running faucet for a few seconds and all of the oh so dangerous chemicals and pesticides would magically seep right out through every grape, drip down out of the bag, and disappear down the drain. I guess I just don’t get all of the hype.

I’ve never really considered washing my new clothes before I wear them. Do people do that? Ok, some do, I’ve heard. Other people can try on the clothes before me, or return them and who knows, there could be something like stranger sweat on it. My goodness. Or worse... The chemicals used to preserve the clothes and keep them looking nice on the rack.

I’m not trying to mock the situation here, I do understand for some people it’s comforting knowing your clothes are REALLY clean before wearing them, but I guess I kinda like the "brand new" look and smell of clothes before they lose their new clothes virginity in my washing machine.

When it comes to baby clothes, I guess the issue is some babies have allergic reactions or skin irritation from wearing new clothes. My theory is I won’t know until I try. If I put one of her adorable, still-creased Gerber onesies on her and she breaks out in a rash, ok, sure, I’ll wash the rest of them before the first wear. But if she does just fine, is it so bad for her to wear something brand new ONCE?"
That's not all... I go on, so you can read the rest of my pre-washing debate here. A penny for your thoughts!?

Oh, and a side note that I didn't write in the post but I notice in a lot of people tell me: They pre-wash the FIRST baby's clothes but then don't with the rest. What's up with that? ... And we wonder why kids suffer from "middle child syndrome."

Another someone mentioned a friend pre-washing EVERYTHING then her baby was a different sex than expected *dies*.

Maternity Photos!

I got my CD of maternity photos yesterday and I'm so happy with how they turned out. If you live in Texas and are looking for a Central Texas maternity and newborn photographer, be sure to check out Forever Bliss Photography. She's great and her fees are AMAZING! I'm talking less than $100 for the sitting AND the edited prints on CD which you can print out for yourself!

Originally I didn't want to do outside photos but I realized that it would be nice if my husband were in at least a few of the pictures. I ended up liking those way more than I thought!

I wrote on my Parenting.com blog today about my husband's moodiness towards posing for photos but he was a trooper for these... Even though he ran to sit in the car after his part.

Little does he know we'll be doing these shoots just about every season once Ladybug gets here, but I'm hoping by then he'll be less camera shy. We'll see.

I uploaded an album of most of my favorites on my Facebook Fan Page, so if you can,"Like" your favorite! I want to get some printed to put in the nursery, and in an album.

Here's a few of my favorites:

What do you think? I think with a daddy like that Spawnie's GOTTA be cute! :D

***Random.org Winners!***
$40 to The Design Girl Studio = #16, Jennie W.
$25 to Passion Spice Maternity = #12 Mrs. Lopez

Email me back at babymakingmachine(at)gmail.com and I'll get you in touch with your prize sponsors!

Aloha Little LadyBug We're 34 Weeks Pregnant!

My Dear Precious Little Ladybug,

Six weeks still seems like a long time until we meet, but when I was reading one of my update emails talking about "relaxing" as much as I can and saving up, eating up etc. for labor I realized you really are almost here.

I think my "mommy paranoia" is already starting to set in. I've heard some people experience extreme anxiety after they have babies, worried something bad is going to happen to them. I'm normally not that kind of person.. I mean, I'm not afraid if you get a little rash from a new dress. It's not cause I don't love you, it's because I don't think you'll have super sensitive skin and be allergic to new clothes. We'll see. But I AM already worried that if I'm not watching you when you're sleeping you may go to sleep an never wake up. I'm not morbid, just paranoid or something. I hope it goes away once you're born. But I have a feeling it may get a little worse before it gets better.
I had a dream two nights ago that something bad had happened to you and I woke up startled. Then I was waiting for you to move and felt a BIG JAM into my rib. Your foot. It hurt, but I smiled cause I knew you were ok.

People keep asking my if I'm ready to get you out. I am ready to meet you, I'm so excited for that. But I also feel like taking care of you now is easier than it's going to be, and I don't mind giving you all time time you need... Well, until June 30th, I REALLY want you to be a June baby. Oooh, I can call you June bug! I'll add that to your list of nicknames.

I've been thinking about our morning/night routine. I like to sing to you, as you've probably noticed, so I bought an album called "Twenty Five Beloved Primary Songs" and it has all of these songs I remember listening to when I was young. Primary is where you'll go when you're about four years old, it's at our church. You'll learn about Jesus and sing songs.

I didn't really get a chance to go to Primary but my uncle gave me a CD of some of the songs when I was young and I remembered some of them when I'd hear them at church.

I don't know all of the songs on the CD I made you but we'll learn them together. I'm going to put that CD in your player every night before bed and I'll read and sing to you. Sound like a deal?
Oh little girl, you are getting so big now! You should be about 4 3/4 pounds now, and around 18 inches long! I have a feeling you're longer though. I was a really long baby, and based on where I feel your head, and kicks, and the fact that I think you're hunched over, I think you're long too.

Your lungs and central nervous system are still developing and you're only three weeks to being term! If you were born now though you'd most likely be ok after a short stay in the NICU, but just keep cooking, we've still got lots to do before you get here!

You're developing fat layers now so you should be nice and round when you come out. That's the downside of long babies... I was so long there was nothing round about me... You daddy on the other hand, he was round for quite some time. Yes, he was very chubby. ... And had red hair, but we won't get into that. I'm hoping you have dark hair like your mommy! And lots of it!

Your daddy and I were talking about doing some practice runs to the hospital in the next couple of weeks. Just to make sure we know the routes to get where we're going, where to park and what not. We also talked more about your birth. We both have learned SO MUCH lately but we've decided not to go into it with our fists up ready to fight. We know you'll come into this world the way you're suppose to, and as long as you and I are ok, we are going to be so happy. We're not aiming for what some see as a "perfect experience" because to us, the perfect experience will be meeting you, and really, it doesn't matter the means. Besides, after comes the fun part!

We are so excited to meet you baby girl! Keep growing for us!

Love,

Mommy

****
To find out more about being 34 weeks pregnant visit Pregnancy Corner. - Words from a sponsor.

Welcome to Aloha Friday! For any of you who do not know what Aloha Friday is...In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that people take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, we take it easy on Friday blog posts by sticking to just one quick question that surfers-by can answer with just a quick response themselves. (I'm an overachiever and do this on top of my normal post).

This week I want to know:
What nicknames do you have for your family members?

My answer: I'm still coming up with nicknanes for Spawnie (besides Spawnie) but so far I have Ladybug, Baby Girl, Little J and now June Bug (if she's actually born in June).

My husband doesn't really have nicknames. I just call him "babe" and sometimes "hubby" or "hubs" on my blog.

Your turn!

Virtual Baby Shower: A Week of Giveaways

Baby Makin(g) Machine
I didn't want to do a BIG BIG baby shower event cause of the stress of organizing it all, plus with work and ya know... A baby on the way, I figured doing my Full Term of Giveaways, and hosting a giveaway once a week would be substantial. But there's a few other companies that I want to squeeze in before LadyBug is born and this next week just seemed like the perfect time to do it! Especially since the remainder of my giveaways before she's born are all AWESOME. I'm talking things from belly casts, to home cleaning services, to pre-packed hospital bags, and home decor.

I'm not a full blown mommy giveaway blog, but I think a little celebration from time to time isn't so bad. The last one we had for finding out Spawnie's gender was fun, and this one will be a little bit smaller but just as fun.

To celebrate LaduBug's impending arrival Monday-Friday next week I'll be taking a break from normal blog posts (except for my on my Project Pregnancy blog) and doing a couple of giveaways a day. One of the giveaways each day will be a BIG prize, worth anywhere from $50-$170. I'm not going crazy, this isn't going on for weeks and it's a smaller scale, but I think it'll be the perfect length and size for my style.

You can get an extra entry to each of the giveaways by posting a comment RSVPing on this post. They'll also be extra entries for leaving some advice for Ladybug or myself as we start our lives together. I'm going to print out the "advice cards" later.

Ok so, what do you think? Will you join me? Here are all of the giveaways!

By the way, my adorable animated giveaway button was made by Jessica from A Blog to Brag About!

Beautiful Diaper Cakes from Gift The Bambino

Welcome to the party!! Would you like some cake? What better way to kick off a baby shower? Even a virtual one.

Here, have a cupcake.
It's from Gift The Bambino, an online store that sells the most BEAUTIFUL diaper cakes I've ever seen.

I made a diaper cake once. And it sucked, then I made another diaper cake, and it was much better, but NOTHING compared to these. The cakes I made just used diapers and little flowers and other things. But these cakes... These cakes are much more practical.

They're made with receiving blankets, spoons, socks, bodysuits, washcloths, bibs, and other goodies that your baby needs... Oh, and of course DIAPERS!

Want to see Ladybug's? Gift the Bambino sent us one for our baby shower! It's sooo beautiful and it goes great in her room. So great that I don't dare take it apart. Who needs extra blankets and diapers when you can have this gorgeous decoration in your room?
Some people are different though. My friend I made the first diaper cake for kept hers together, my other friend used the entire thing! I guess I'm not very practical cause mine is sitting up on Ladybug's ledge.Now just check out this extravaganza...
Lauren is the woman behind these beautiful baby cakes and other goodies. She also sells lollipops, donuts, and like you saw, cupcakes. Do you know ANYONE who's actually FROM Delaware? Well, she is! She says she's an entrepreneur at heart and crafty by nature so those two aren't so much something she thought out, just the way she is.
"I started making diaper cakes nearly two years ago," she said. "I didn't use any tutorials or anything and had only seen one previously. The cakes are not extremely hard to make but the pops, cupcakes and other items are a little difficult. I always say 'Onesies weren't made to be cupcakes, ya know?'"

Lauren is 27, just a couple of weeks from her second wedding anniversary, and she and her husband have a pet rabbit named Dizzle.
You can check her out on Twitter. She's @Giftthebambino on twitter and you can "Like" her Gift The Bambino Page on facebook.
Now a fun thing I'm having all of my virtual baby shower sponsors give during their feature is some new mom advice! Everyone let's respect people's advice cause we all mother differently. I like to take it all in and filter what I get, and you'll get your chance to share yours too!
Lauren is still a Future Mama but since she spends about 50hrs a week with kids, and has worked with kids for years in daycare, party planning, and other things, she had some great tips for this mama-to-be!

{New Mama Advice}
1. When your baby is old enough, teach him or her fall asleep without you by their side. This will free up time for you to get other things done, veg out or spend time with your hubby.

2. Don't fool yourself into thinking your baby can't wriggle or roll his or her way off a high surface. In the first few months, it's easy to get used to them being basically immobile but once they learn to move about they progress FAST and they don't care if they're 3 feet off the ground or not.

3. Don't rush to turn the car seat forward-facing. Baby is a lot safer in the rear-facing position for a lot longer than is typically recommended.

{Get Some}
Be sure to check out this adorable store if you're planning a baby shower or looking for an extra nice somthin' somethin' for your nursery!

Now, would you like to win one of these beautiful diaper cakes? Actually, we'll let you choose. Gift The Bambino is generously donating a $50 gift certificate to one of our lovely party goers!

{To Enter to Win}
Check out Gift The Bambino and let me know your favorite cake in the comments section

{For Extra Entries: Leave an additional comment if you:}
-Leave Ladybug and I some New Mama advice! One per giveaway (and please don't use your same one over and over, I know your ladies like to dish it, so dish!)
-If you RSVPd to the shower
-Be(come) a GFC Follower of my blog
-Follow @Giftthebambino on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway with a link
-Email subscribe to my blog and confirm your email subscription
(1 each)

This giveaway ends May 31st at 11:59pm and Random.org will choose the winner.
Good Luck!

*I was given a cake to celebrate Ladybug, I was not compensated in any way for writing this review. Opinions are all mine. Thanks Lauren for Sponsoring the giveaway!

***Winners****
Chrissy won the Ambiessence DVD
Holli from the Adamsons won the Prenatal Yoga DVD congrats on your baby!
Please email babymakingmachine(at)gmail.com so we can get them to you!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Step Right Up for the KT Steppers LIVE Giveaway

ATTENTION! Be sure to read the rules at the bottom of this post, this giveaway is a LIVE giveaway, and different than the others!

I love love LOVE personalized things for baby. I've tried really hard not to go overboard, knowing I will most likely have another child some day, and the poor thing will deserve custom things too. Ladybug has a personalized chair cover, a hooded towel, toybox, bracelet and diaper bag. We also have a monogrammed hospital bag with our initials.

Growing up I loved having things that I knew were MINE cause it had my name written all over it.

Maybe you're not as obsessed with personalized things as I am... Perhaps it doesn't promote sharing, either way, I'm sure you'll still find these adorable step stools totally adorable, and think of some other creative way to make it your own!Katie is the owner of KT Steppers and she always thought she would be a ‘Working Mother’ but never imagined it would be for her own company. She struggled with the desire to stay home and raise her family as well as longed to work outside the home to help with the finances.

"So, I thought to myself, what can I do/make and sell that would be a great gift and practical for the baby/toddler down the road," she said. "I was always creative and liked to draw, so knew I would go that route."

The first “stepper” was conceived when one of her family members was looking for something unique and personal for her best friend’s son, so she offered up a Kt Stepper.
"After further research, talking with other moms and friends, it confirmed for me that there was a great need for that 'special something' to give as a gift for just about every occasion in a young child’s life. “Our ‘Steppers’ are a special, custom and a personal way to say 'You’re one of a kind!'"

So what are steppers?* Ultra trendy, hip, sophisticated step stools with the attention to detail being the upmost importance. Each stepper is designed per order and can be matched to any theme, bedding, or décor desired.

* HUGE hit with baby showers, 1st birthdays, christenings, and so much more.

*‘Steppers’ are a great way to introduce independence and encourage brushing teeth, washing hands, reaching a toy, and even helping out mom & dad in the kitchen. They feel proud and like a real ’big kid’ for doing it all on their own!

* The cricket stepper is budget friendly, useful, and practical but they are also eco-friendly, made from parawood and only water-based paints ever used.

*For early childhood development of motor skills, our steppers can be a great help to coordinate gross motor skills and balance as well.

You can find out more by following @KTsteppers on Twitter or "Liking" KT Steppers on Facebook.

This mom has been through a lot too, she had a brain tumor when she was 22 and it could have effected her fertility but luckily it was benign and didn't. She now has been married for nearly nine years and has two boys! One is 5 and the other is 3.

She had some great advice for me!

{New Mama Advice}
You will get A LOT of advice on what to do, how to do it, etc… so the best advice I can give is to do what is comfortable and works for you, baby and husband. There are a lot of resources out there for new moms, but still nothing is an exact science on ‘how to be a mom’ it will come natural!
Katie has offered to donate a custom Cricket Stepper to one of you party-goers, worth $49, but LISTEN UP cause we're doing this differently, it's a LIVE giveaway!

To win you must be commenter #239 (cause Spawnie is due in 39 days... I just added the 2 in front to make it fun).

{Rules:}
Your first comment must be letting me know your favorite stepper on KT Stepper's site. Then you can leave up to 2 (TWO) comments in a row before letting someone else comment before you comment again.

After someone else comments you can comment two more times, and continue in that pattern. The only rule after the first comment is that you must leave a complete sentence (no one-word comments).
{To comment MORE than 2 times in a row}
If you leave a piece of "new mama advice" you can comment 4 times in a row.
If you leave advice and are a blog follower comment 5 times in a row.
And so on with these additional comment credits:
-Follow @FutureMama on Twitter
-If you RSVPd to the shower
-Follow @ktsteppers on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway with a link!
-Email subscribe to my blog and confirm your email subscription
-Vote for me on Top Baby Blogs
(+1 additional comment for each thing you fulfill!)

So let's say you "earn" 8 comments... Once you comment 8 times, wait for someone to comment after you (at least once) and you can comment again up to 8 times in a row about ANYTHING (in a complete sentence!)

Commenter #239 Wins!! Good luck!

*I didn't receive any compensation for this post. Thanks KTsteppers for donating the giveaway prize!

Packing for the Hospital: Pre-Packed Labor and Delivery Bag!

Just 38 days until Ladybug's due date! Time to pack my hospital bag! So continuing my Virtual Baby Shower, meet Babytime Bags!

Without a doubt, packing for the hospital has been one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy for me. It's up there with decorating the nursery. To me it's like packing for a big vacation. We will leave our home as parents-to-be and return with a new little munchkin. SO EXCITING!
It took everything in me to keep from packing my bags at the start of my second trimester. When I'm planning a vacation I love to shop and get my bags organized weeks in advance. Of course the daily hygienic things I keep out until the day before, but sometimes I go as far as to buy new travel-sized things just for the trip. I keep adding to the bag as I go and it's just a fun thing I like to do to build up the excitement of my impending trip!

It's the same way with getting ready for my trip to bringing Ladybug home, but trying to remember everything for this trip can be a little stressful, especially since there are so many things to remember: Birth wishes letter, my adorable hospital gowns, Ladybug's special hats... Plus all of the regular stuff people bring like shampoo and toothpaste.
Problem solved with one of the most glorious things I've seen in all of my pregnancy, the pre-packed labor hospital bags from BabyTime Bags.

The woman behind them is Nia. When she was pregnant with her first son she was under an enormous amount of pressure trying to find a house to buy and she ended up on bedrest for the month prior to his birth due to her high blood pressure.

She wanted to pack her hospital bag herself and just couldn't leave it to her hubby to do (which can't we totally understand?) Being the web-addicted person she is, I tried searching for pre-packed hospital bags. Figuring out what to put in the bag was a bit overwhelming too, so she was hoping this would help.

"I searched high and low with all manner of search terms and only came up with one company {which is still in business and shall remain nameless}," she said. "I wasn't that enthused with the bag and was even less so when I received it. But it served it's purpose and I added a ton of stuff to it."
"I'm a crazy multi-tasker and had been trying to come up with a business to start, but was still looking for that business idea that filled a void. Voila! I realized, 'Hey, there have to be other mommies-to-be out there like me, and there's only this one company and they aren't that great. And I know I can do it MUCH better.' And from there Babytime Bags was created!"
She wanted to start her own business(es) because she knows how hard it is to juggle a family and a career where someone else calls the shots. "As so many other mompreneurs have discovered, while you may work harder when you work for yourself, it's more rewarding and can be done easier when your time and location is flexible," she added!

So check out her marvelous invention! They sent me a bbLux bag, stuffed with all sorts of goodies! In fact, so much awesomeness I decided to vlog about it! So watch to see the goodies!


I love love love it so much! There's also a letter inside that has a reminder of other things to pack that aren't included. Knowing that I'd need to fit my birthing ball and my hospital gowns in too, (plus bows, blankets and hats for Ladybug... Oh, and my husband's stuff) I did get an additional bag to go with it to pack the extra things they suggest (and more). I got this adorable coordinating duffle from The Groovy Mommy Etsy shop! She was so sweet too, and the bag and monogram was only $25! So... if you need more space, check her out. They could match any Babytime Bag you get (my little discovery!)
Nia has been married for 4 years to her law school sweetheart and they have one son and another on the way (our due dates are close!!).

She loves to travel, especially to Barbados, and doesn't have pets cause she says her 3 boys are enough, but she has some great new mama advice for me!

{New Mama Advice}
"I think the best piece of advice is not to be afraid to let stuff go. Don't try to do everything you did before AND get adjusted to a little one all at the same time. That is hard to do when you are a multi-faceted, hard-working, multi-tasking person and you're used to doing everything {and doing it well}! But until you get the hang of it {and that could take a year or 2} it's okay to focus on baby/family and get to the other stuff when you can. Delegate {especially to hubby}. Make sure you get rest. And enjoy every second of your little one."

Great advice from a great mama! So, would you like one of these awesome bags?

{Get One}
The cost of a Babytime Bag is nearly HALF of what you would pay if you purchased everything individually that is included in this must-have carryall (not to say how much time you will save!). Also, as you will soon find out, this bag will come in handy with your new little one because you can never have enough bags.

They are fun and stylish for one, two, or even three trips to the hospital. Later, your Babytime Bag can be used as a stylish diaper bag or an additional bag for overnight trips. Learn more about Babytime Bags by following @BabyTimeBags on twitter or "liking" Babytime Bags on Facebook.

You can buy one of these on sale from Babytime Bags. She's giving my readers a 10% discount UNTIL the end of the YEAR! Woohoo! Use the code: "FUTUREMAMA10" at checkout!

{WIN One} GIVEAWAY CLOSED!
Or take your chances here first at winning a bbBasic Bag for free! What's in it?

A gorgeous and versatile quilted luggage piece by Quilted Keepers® in one of three vibrant patterns, embroidered with thebbPram logo and personalized for the mother-to-be.

Te bbBasic comes with many practical and indulgent items, such as*:

Evian® face spritz

Preggie Pops®

Altoids® mints

fluffy socks

headband and scrunchie

organic lip balm

hand mirror

clock

"who to call" list template

a Milkband®

Lansinoh® cream

Lansinoh® breast pads

pen and journal

all-natural toothbrush & toothpaste

all-natural mouthwash

little twig organic body wash

little twig organic body lotion

plush slippers

flip-flops

luxurious sleep mask and ear plugs

laundry bag

bbReference Guide For New Mothers



And that's just SOME of what's in it, not to mention the adorable diaper bag you get to keep! So.... Want to win one of these bags valued at $125!?

{To Enter to Win}
Check out Babytime Bags and let me know your favorite bag and color in the comments section.
{For Extra Entries: Leave an additional comment if you:}
-Leave a piece of New Mama advice (I'm gonna print them on cards later!)
-If you
RSVPd to the shower
-Leave a comment on my Youtube video or subscribe to my Youtube page
-Follow @babytimebags on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with a link!
-"Like" Babytime Bags on Facebook and write a wall comment telling her you saw her on my blog!
-Email subscribe to my blog and confirm your email subscription
-Subscribe to my blog using this feedburner
-Vote for my bog on Top Baby Blogs (it's way easy) 1X pr day
-Add my blog or giveaway button to your blog (1 each)
-Comment on one of my posts on my Project Pregnancy Blog
-Post about this giveaway on your blog
-Unlimited comments for commenting on any non-giveaway post during the giveaway duration

Contest closes June 8th at 11:59pm. Random.org will choose the winner!
Good Luck!
*Thanks Babytime Bags for sending me a product to review and for sponsoring the giveaway. No monetary compensation was accepted. Opinions expressed are mine alone.*

Beautiul Hair Bows and Pins: Kelly Joy Boutique LIVE Giveaway

Be aware of the rules for this LIVE giveaway! Commenter #222 Wins!

Continuing on with my virtual baby shower... You can't celebrate a baby girl without bows, no that's just wrong. I'm in love with these original baby bows from Kelly Joy Boutique.
Kelly has been making hairbows for a couple years but she says she really got into it when she found out she was expecting a little girl (she was born 01.01.10).
"As I looked around shops and online I couldn't believe how expensive hairbows are! I knew I wanted Lily to wear lots of bows, but I wasn't willing to pay the price for bows. I opened my Etsy shop last month and I'm so excited to offer cute bows for a great price! I also started making pins as well. So even if you don't have a little girl, there is something in my shop for you!" She said.

She and her husband have been very happily married for almost 2 years. He is a professional violinist/teacher and she is a work from home Mama to Lily. "I am so thankful for the privilege to stay at home with her."
{New Mama Advice}
Don't stress out if your house isn't clean or dishes are piled in the sink. Spend all the time you can snuggling with your little one because she will grow up before you know it!

Thanks for the tip! I'll let my husband know that's my excuse ;)
{Check out her shop}
Where her adorable bows and headbands start from $2-4! Also, be sure to follow @kellyjoydesigns on twitter and "like" Kelly Joy Boutique on Facebook to learn more!
{win}

She's offering one of you party-goers a $10 gift certificate to her shop and free shipping! So get some pins for yourself, or even bows for yourself or your little one or a friend!

To win you must be commenter #222

{Rules:}
Your first comment must be letting me know your favorite item in Kelly Joy Boutique's Shop. Then you can leave up to 2 (TWO) comments in a row before letting someone else comment before you comment again.

After someone else comments you can comment two more times, and continue in that pattern. The only rule after the first comment is that you must leave a complete sentence (no one-word comments).
{To comment MORE than 2 times in a row}
If you leave a piece of "new mama advice" you can comment 3 times in a row.
If you leave advice and are a blog follower comment 4 times in a row.
And so on with these additional comment credits:
-If you RSVPd to the shower
-Follow @kellyjoydesigns on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway with a link!
-Email subscribe to my blog and confirm your email subscription
-Vote for me on Top Baby Blogs
(+1 additional comment for each thing you fulfill!)

So let's say you "earn" 8 comments... Once you comment 8 times, wait for someone to comment after you (at least once) and you can comment again up to 8 times in a row about ANYTHING (in a complete sentence!)

Commenter #222 Wins!! Good luck!
*I was not given anything for this feature/giveaway. Thanks Kelly for sponsoring the prize!*

Lillebaby EveryWear Carrier Giveaway!

Baby carriers anyone? If you missed my MomTV show last week shame on you. I showed off this awesome carrier which I cannot wait to tote Ladybug around in.

We have a sling, a couple of wraps a mei tai, and an Organic Lillebaby EveryWear Baby Carrier. Out of all of them I must say this one feel the most secure, sturdy, and hard core. Granted, I don't have MY baby to try in all of them, I have tested them out on some other little ones, and I've been practicing getting them all on and off.

Note: My penguin has no legs, it's not the same proportion as a baby, and I'm 8 months preggo so you're not getting the FULL effect here, but you can see it none the less.
One thing I love about this carrier is that there's four different ways you can wear it, so you don't need a different carrier for each position, it's all in one!

Here's the four positions:
1) Front inward facing: This position can be used with a baby 7 to 25 lbs but you must use the infant cradle and harness that is sold separately for babies 7-15 lbs.

2) Front outward facing: Once your baby is able to support their head to about 25 lbs, you can have your child face outward.

3) Hip Carrier: As your baby grows (15-43 lbs), you can give your child a ride on your hip with this carrier position. Note: Although we love the high weight limit, our 40 lb child is walking – not riding on our hip!

4) Back Carrier: When your child is able to sit independently (6+ months) to 43 lbs, you can give him a ride and support him on your back with this position.

Red Haute Mama – red with cream lining
Essential Black – black with black lining
Cocoa Couture – chocolate with cream lining
Whole Latte Love – latte with cream lining

I'm personally glad they don't have pink cause I'd be sure to have gotten that one and my husband would refuse to wear it. They were smart in deciding these gender-neutral colors!
Other Lillebaby EveryWear™ Features:

Ergonomic Design:
• Allows the child's legs to be at a 90% angle to support an optimal sitting position for hip, pelvis and spine growth.
• Disperses the child's weight between their hips and thighs to minimize spine compression.
• Gentle Motion Suspension System™ absorbs child's weight and movement
• Balances the baby's weight to parent's hips and shoulders
• Alleviates physical stress for the parent

Comfortable for Both Parent and Child:
• Dual-density foam-padded waist belt is pre-curved to hug the hips and provide greater comfort and load-carrying control.
• Padding continues under buckle to shield hips from the impact of the buckle.
• Shoulder pads inspired by High Performance back packs for maximum comfort and air flow.
• Removable and adjustable shoulder pads to fit a wide range of body types.
• High back supports baby's head.

Convenient
• Adjustable Chest strap with Double Response Suspension System makes the EveryWear easy to get on and off.
• Two front pockets for keys or cell phone.
• Zippered pocket fits most diapers and wipe holders.
• 100% Jersey cotton hood to cover baby's head.
• Soft lining and 100% lightweight microfiber exterior is wind and water repellent.
• Enforced edges for strength and durability.
• Available accessories: Infant Cradle & Harness, Sling Converter, Waist Extension Strap and Storage Bag.
I've stuffed the little pocket and it can fit a diaper too! My husband also likes the carrier and I can totally picture him carrying Spawnie around like "mini me" as he says. Ours, the organic kind is made with bamboo and organic cotton and it also has some nice extra padding on the shoulder straps. I'm pretty sure I'll be making Spawnie walk her own little butt around when she weighs 40lbs but it's nice to know that if we're going on a hike or something together and she gets tired we'll be able to pop her in here for a long time.

Be sure to check out Scandinavian Child's Facebook Page for more information about their other cool products as well as this carrier! You can also follow @Scanchild and @lillebabyusa on Twitter!

There's also a really fun contest going on this summer where you show off you and your little ones in the carrier to win some more prizes in their "Scandinavian Child I Am Everwear Challenge"
{Get One}
You can buy an Organic Lillebaby EveryWear Carrier for $120. Or for $109 right now on Amazon.

{Win One! To Enter:}
Check out Scandinavian Child and let me know in the comments another product you like!

{For Extra Entries: Leave an additional comment if you:}
-Check out this lillebaby carrier product demo and tell me something you learned (2 entries)
-
Leave a piece of New Mama advice (I'm gonna print them on cards later!)
-If you
RSVPd to the shower
-Follow @lillebabyusa and/or @Scanchild on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with a link!
-"Like" Scandinavian Child on Facebook and write a wall comment telling her you saw her on my blog!
-Email subscribe to my blog and confirm your email subscription
-Subscribe to my blog using this feedburner
-Vote for my bog on Top Baby Blogs (it's way easy) 1X pr day
-Add my blog or giveaway button to your blog (1 each)
-Comment on one of my posts on my Project Pregnancy Blog
-Post about this giveaway on your blog


Contest closes June 9th at 11:59pm. Random.org will choose the winner!
Good Luck!
*Thanks Scandinavian child for sending me a product to review and for sponsoring the giveaway. No monetary compensation was accepted. Opinions expressed are mine alone.*

My Non-Obsession With Baby Toys... Except a Few

I refuse to buy baby toys... Ok not really. I'm already guilty of buying a few that Spawnie won't be able to use for MONTHS. I think my shopping fascination will go in phases. From pregnancy to umm... Ok, maybe forever, I'll be in the clothing phase. Then once she's born I think I'll be way into books. I love books and I love reading to her already, and I think she's going to like my voice. She seems to already (I talk a lot).

Then, when she starts to smile and giggle and actually appear to have a real interest in me or things, I'll get toy obsessed. We did get a goodie box of toys from the family of the boy we babysit which I was so excited about, cause what am I to do with her adorable toybox I made (yes, I refinished this toybox 8 months preggo... This is a picture of it before I added her name!) when there's no toys inside? That's pretty lame! The one toy I've bought for her so far is one of those ring stackers. I would show you but I ordered it, and it hasn't arrived so I don't have a photo yet.

Spawnie's second toy I get her I think will be a rattle. But not just any rattle, a cute giraffe rattle from Bundled.I've been eyeballing these things since before I was pregnant! There's two things Ladybug already has too much of 1. Personalized things (did you noticed I slipped a showed a picture of her name in my last virtual baby shower post? A reader pointed it out to me and is sworn to secrecy) and 2. Pink things. So I'm trying to decide on a different colored rattle to get for her. I'm liking this bluish-green one. They're only $12, and I think if I get it now, it'll make a great decoration on her bookshelf until she arrives.

The woman who makes them, Heather, has twins boys and he decided to take her "I can make that myself" attitude and put it to use in making modern, stylish boy things.

Although her experience is different because she has TWINS she still gave me some new mama advice for my virtual baby shower (which by the way I'm loving all of your tips, and I'm hoping to print them all out and put them in a little book so thank you for offering!)
{New Mama Advice}
"I think, that being sure to have plenty of help the first few weeks is vital no matter how many babies you may be bringing home."

Heather grew up in a small town in Alabama in an active family with a super fun, crafty momma who taught her how to enjoy the crafting process and not take it too seriously. She met her husband in college and they've been together for 14 years, married for 8. "We have two wild and crazy 5 yr old boys who keep us laughing and busy at all times and one super adorable yet slightly grumpy french bulldog who loves when the boys are at preschool and he can rest peacefully in the warm Florida sun."

To learn more about Heather and her shop be sure to check out her Bundled Shop, and Twitter page @Bundled.
She's also offered to giveaway this adorable Chocolate Chip Giraffe Rattle to one of my mini virtual baby shower participants! I'll make it easy for you... Just comment with your favorite item in her shop. You get an extra entry if you tell me another baby toy you love (I need to start getting bookmarks) and/or leaving a piece of new mom advice.

I'll use Random.org to choose a winner June 2nd, so you have until June 1st at 11:59pm to enter. Good luck!