Good Bras for Pregnancy

No matter how sexy your bras were BEFORE you were pregnant, your new concern should be comfort and support. If they haven't already, most woman's boobs go up AT LEAST one cup size while pregnant. The fun part is that you get to have a nice rack for a while. The bad news is that if you keep wearing your old bras until you are pouring out of them, you might ruin them for good.

When you notice that your bras are tight around the middle, buy a bigger one that feels better. If you stretch out your old bras you mostly likely will not be able to wear them when your ladies go back to their normal size. Even if the cup size stays relatively the same, the back gets tight. And more importantly-- uncomfortable. When you take that bad boy off and it leaves a red ring around your rosy, it's time for a bigger bra!

Here are a few tips about purchasing pregnancy bras.
1. Do not spend a million dollars. You won't wear them long enough to justify buying anything couture. Go for comfort and support, but get one for $10ish. Here's a link to some at Walmart that are $16 for 2

2. Try to find a bra with a little bit of stretch in the fabric. Your cup size might go up again, so if this one will grow with you a bit you will get more use out of it before you have to buy an even bigger size. Majamas has a whole line of great maternity and nursing garments. And they are stylish too.

3. Pay attention to the straps. When your boobs get big, they get heavy. And uncomfortable straps can be annoying. And painful. When you try them on, see how thick and comfortable the straps are. Spanx make a bra now that have AMAZING straps. They are not cheap, but if you are really having a hard time we hear they are worth every penny.

4. Towards the end of your pregnancy you might want to start wearing a nursing bra (if you are planning to breastfeed). They are made to stretch and support! When your milk first comes in you usually need a CRAZY huge size, but after a month your supply regulates and your boobs look less like basketballs. So even if this nursing bra you buy ahead of time doesn't fit immediately following delivery, it should be great once your ladies chill out a bit. The La Leche League has some excellent nursing related items, like bras :)

Babymoon Destinations for Georgia Moms

babymoon: (n) a trip that mommy and daddy take before baby comes; an opportunity to get some "together time" in before baby arrives; mama gets to do what she wants and get pampered however she pleases

There are a million (or at least a lot) of places you can go. Since the concept of the babymoon is to go towards the end of your pregnancy, these locations are within driving distance and are intended as a weekend getaway. We didn't even have room in this post for Charleston, Nashville and Birmingham!
Asheville, NC
1. The Grove Park Inn: pricey but worth it if you can swing the bucks. The hotel sits up on a hill so you get a cool view from the terrace. Which is a-ma-zing. And don't even get us started on the spa. Here are a few picks to get you going. Even if you don't stay here, pop in for a visit.

2. The Bohemian (Asheville): again, a bit pricey. But you are about to embark on a wild ride so splurge if you can. Or maybe a lovely family member wants to treat you. Asheville has a lot of cool, artsy restaurants, awesome outdoor hiking and what not, and of course there is the Biltmore. The Bohemian has a modern edge and is pretty swanky.

3. B & B's: Check out these links to some cool Bed and Breakfasts in Asheville.
http://www.blackwalnut.com/
http://www.lion-rose.com
http://www.biltmorevillageinn.com

Savannah, GA
1.   http://www.plantersinnsavannah.com 

This boutique hotel actually has a babymoon package. It is worth looking into. Or you might just want to build your own itenerary! Savannah has a lot of good food, great history, and bars (you can visit them AFTER baby). There are a lot of ghost tours and such that could be fun.
2.  http://www.aviahotels.com/hotels/savannah

 3. B& B's: Savannah is another great city for Bed and Breakfasts. And a lot of them are modern. Many places rent out there "carriage houses" which are nice because it is basically your own little apartment with kitchen and all. And they high end! Look over www.vrbo.com and see if any strike a cord.

Georgia Area
1. W Hotels: they have a babymoon package. They also have a delicious spa. And Atlanta has many fun restaurants, shows at the Fox, a Braves game, check find what is going on when you will be downtown. They have location at Perimeter mall area, Buckhead, and downtown.

2. The St. Regis
Wow! That's all we have to say. Walking distance (although you might not feel like walking) to Chops. Right in the middle of a million places to eat. Hey, you are pregnant and on vacay. Enjoy some good food!

3. Barnsley Gardens

 
4. The Foundry Park Inn:

5. Brasstown Valley Resort:

6. The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens

7. The Ritz at Reynolds Plantation

Top 10 Stinkiest Thinks About ... (part 2)

6. Annoying Cramping: The plus side is that you haven't had a period for about 10 months, but the negative side is that your body was just storing up all those cramps for you. How kind. Really. As your sweet little uterus contracts, you will feel cramping just like during your period. Or worse. When breast feeding you will notice this out loud in living color. For some women it is intense. For others it is just unpleasant. Remember that Tylenol we talked about? Take it. Don't try to be a hero. After a month this too shall pass. On a positive note, it means your stomach is looking flatter and flatter.

7. Constant Hunger: You thought you were hungry while pregnant? Ha. Welcome to breast feeding. For those of you not nursing, skip this number. But for you Boobie Girls, you are burning through some calories. And you will be hungry with a capital H. So stock up on HEALTHY snacks. Apples, almonds, hummus and veggies. Whatever. Do not believe the LIE that you can eat whatever you want. You can...if you want to get fat. Or keep that baby weight around. If you want to LOSE it, feed your black hole of a stomach with the good stuff. And drink loads of water. It helps with your milk production and also keeps you feeling full.

8. Time Warp: Back in the day if you wanted to go to Target at 2:00 you just walked out the door at 1:58. Now that you have a baby that is a done deal. If you have a doctor's appointment at 2:00, start getting ready at 1:00.Get all of baby's stuff together and set it by the door. Give yourself an extra hour. What? Yep, an hour. You never know when baby is going to take a giant blow out dump in his diaper JUST as you were about to get in the car. Or he pukes all over your outfit and you have to run upstairs and change. The more you can do ahead of time and the more lead time you give yourself, the less stressed (and late) you will be when you have to go places.

9. Spit Up: This is your new scent. It is like a "welcome to the club" badge for new moms. Babies spit up. It's just the way it goes. So if you are going to a friend's house for lunch, don't put your cute top on until the last second before you leave the house. Or even put it on in her driveway! Stock up on washable tees because you are going to go through shirts like fireworks on the 4th of July. When you go out, pack an extra outfit for baby, but also pack one for you. Spit happens.

10. Tired Crank: You have heard that life with a newborn pretty much equals sleep deprivation. That is no lie. If you work it right your baby will sleep 12ish hours every night around 8-12 weeks. But getting to that point is no easy task. You are going to be tired. Bottom line. And when you are tired you are cranky. Don't be surprised if you snap at people for no real reason. OMG!!!! YOUR BREATHING IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!!! you might say to the person behind you in line at Kroger. Do not beat yourself up. Try to be as nice and understanding as you can with everyone. Even your mother or mother-in-law. And especially to your man. They also need to cut you some slack. You are not really mad at them, just a little on edge because, I don't know, you haven't slept for more than 4 hours in a row for 14 days now?????? If you notice that you are a little psycho, get out of the house. Even if you just take a short walk. Or grab coffee for 20 minutes with a friend. A small taste of "real life" and a new scene does wonders for your mental state. Have some ME time at least once a week. Make it happen.

Top 10 Stinkiest Things About Life Post Baby (Part 1)

Okay, so having a baby is fan.freakin.tastic. Their clothes are so little and cute. They smell so fresh and clean. Mostly. And they are fun little cuddle bugs. But let's be real. There are some aspects of newborn life that aren't so peachy. Thankfully they don't last. But it is good to know what to expect.

1. Nether Region: you know, down there. If you had a vaginal delivery you are going to have some swelling and soreness. TAKE the Tylenol or whatever the hospital offers you. Even if you don't think you need it right away because you are on "I just gave birth adrenaline high", when that wears off you'll be glad you popped that pill. Take them for a week (as long as you need them) once home from the hospital, too. You just pushed a watermelon through a typically "entry only" area. It does need some love. And use those spritz bottles from the hospital for a while, too. It helps heal you faster.

2. Stool Softener: Your first, umm, BM (okay fine, poop) after giving birth is quite a dramatic production. Your body kindly slows down the digestive process for you while all this birthing business is going on, so once that is finished you have some stuff more than ready to exit. But since it has been taxiing the runway, so to speak, it gets a little hard. And your bottom is sore from, I don't know, HAVING A BABY. So when they offer you a stool softener in the hospital TAKE IT. If they don't offer, ask for it!! And keep taking it for a few days. Otherwise you might break into a sweat and feel like Bigfoot is climbing out of your butt sideways. Gross, we know, but all glamour is gone at this point.

3. Leaky Boobs: So if you are planning to breastfeed/nurse, when your milk first comes in it doesn't mess around. Seriously, you look down and all of a sudden Pamela Anderson looks like a 10 year old boy. As your body adjusts over the next several weeks to when baby feeds and how much milk is REALLY needed, all that extra just kind of leaks out. Especially when you bend over in the shower to wash your legs or towel off. You'll see what we mean. And if you are out and your milk comes in, you might look like a college student in a wet t-shirt contest. So buy some breast pads. Use them and change them often throughout the day and night. After that first month you will need them less and less. Eventually you won't need them at all. Have 2 boxes in your cabinet when you come home from the hospital. You'll go through them fast at first.

4. Maxi Pads: One of the great things about being pregnant, aside from great knockers, is that you don't have to deal with "girl time". What woman gets excited about her period on a regular basis? Well, once you give birth it is payback time. As your uterus contracts, you bleed. In the hospital they give you these really sexy gauze panties and HUGE paper towel sized pads. Wear them. Steal some for when you get home. And buy a big box of maxi pads for now and a box of pantyliners for later. Your bleeding is decent for about a month, especially as you are breastfeeding and right after because breastfeeding helps to contract your uterus. After a month you can switch to a pantyliner and then soon after it will all be over with. On the same note, wear your yucky "period panties" during this time because who wants to ruin a fancy pair? You don't want your man touching you yet anyway, so busting out your most un-sexy panties is another deterrent for anything sexual.

5. Itchy Nipples: As we mentioned earlier, when your milk comes in...it comes in. Your boobs will stretch like no body's business. And at first that stretching can cause your boobs and nipples to itch. There is not a lot you can do for that, but know that after a few weeks as your body regulates your milk flow they will drop down a few sizes and won't itch anymore. As far as your nipples go, there are a few tricks. Breast feeding is h-e-l-l- on your nipples those first 6 weeks because you have to feed so often. And they can get cracked and itchy. Before you feed, take some of that leaky milk and rub it around your nipple. Nasty, but definitely helpful. And steal a tube of lanolin from the hospital. After each feeding spread some around your nipples. It doesn't hurt the baby and it sure as heck helps you! One little tube of that will last you FOREVER.

see Part 2 for the next 5...

Finger Swelling

Towards the end of your pregnancy you might notice a little swelling in your fingers. Not every woman experiences this, but your average gal has trouble those last weeks (maybe months) getting her rings to fit comfortably.

If you have a favorite ring and you notice your digits are getting a little puffy, you might want to put it in a safe. Where ever you put it,it's not a bad idea to tell someone that knows you well. Why? Because it might take your fingers a few months post-baby to get back down to their normal size. If you have excess weight gain or just a lot of water retention your fingers might not pop down to size overnight. Some women "hide" their rings so well they forget where they put them. So put it somewhere obvious or tell a trusted friend its location.

For all you married ladies, your wedding rings might not make it all the way to your delivery. Before you get them stuck on your hand, store them away for a bit. In the meantime, have some fun! Go to Kohl's or Target or any store you like, and buy the biggest fake ring that still looks decent. Why not. Other people give you those looks like "why are you preggo without being married." Either take that in stride or sport a fake-ero. It can be fun. 

Organizing Meals for Post Baby

Cooking. Some women love it, some women not so much. Regardless of your culinary level, cooking when you have a brand new baby is a little tricky. What's a girl to do? Set up a meal calendar and let friends, family, neighbors, whomever to bring you some dinners here and there. You can thank us later.

Okay, so you might feel a little awkward sending out a request yourself. If that is the case just get a close friend to do it. The best way is to send her the email addresses for everyone you want to hit up. If a few people on your "I know you love me enough to cook for me" list do not have email, your friend can call them and add those entries in herself. These calendars are VERY user friendly. Here's how they work:

Your friend logs onto the site and sets up a page for you. She enters all the emails and types up a little message that goes out to all your people. It will say something along the lines of "let's help Sarah welcome her new baby by stocking up the fridge" blah blah blah. It might explain that you want meals on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but you can set it up however you want. If you have any food allergies or food preferences she can add that to the message as well.

Then your friends get the email and logo onto the site and select a day they want to bring you dinner. We suggest spreading out the love into the second month. You can also freeze meals, too, if you get a bit of a refrigerator traffic jam. What is cool about these calendars is that it shows who is providing the meal and what they are planning to make. That way the person bringing you dinner two nights later doesn't repeat something you just had. And you have a heads up, too.

People are always asking what they can to do help. Be happy about their willingness to hook you up and get them in on your meal calendar. It will make life so much easier. Even if you don't have 90,000 freinds, here are a few days it is nice to have something planned for:

• The night you come home from the hospital
• The first night your mom or mother-in-law go home and you are on your own
• The first night daddy has to go back to work
• The first night (week!) you have to go back to work

And that last week of pregnancy is a tough one too. Don't feel bad if you start your calendar a little early. It is difficult to cook when you can't even reach the stove! Visit www.carecalendar.org. This site has a lot of options and is very popular for all sorts of needs. There is also a site called Stork Food, www.storkfood.com  that was developed just for new moms. What is cool about this one is that it can connect to your Facebook account. So they can send a Facebook message to all of your friends (or the ones you select) to get your calendar going. Might save typing up a lot of emails? Both are fabulous little time savers.

Just what is "scheduling"?

As you are preparing for your baby, you might start picking up on the two main camps of parenting styles: Scheduled Babies VS. On Demand Babies. We are going to give you our honest opinion. No sugar coating.

Pretty much every human functions on some sort of schedule. Babies THRIVE on routine. They like to know the basic time they are going to eat, play and sleep. So do adults. Project Mom is an advocate for having some structure for your baby.

What does scheduling look like?
Your baby wakes up at pretty much the same time every morning. And he eats at about the same time everyday. And he plays for the same amount of time between feeding and naps everyday. Oh, and he naps at the same general time everyday. And SHOCKER. He goes to bed the same time range every night.  You don't walk around with a stopwatch, but you do pay attention to what time it is.

Read On Becoming Baby Wise by Ezzo for an explanation as to why this is good for your baby and how to get it done. Personally, we do not do every last little think they suggest, but it is a good guide for setting up a schedule. They are a little more intense then we like, but their logic and methodology is spot on.  The No Cry Sleep books are also great reference points.
 
Why is scheduling helpful?
For Mom: you know what is going on with your baby and what to expect. When it is 9:00 AM and you know baby ate at 7:00AM and then had a diaper change and played for an hour or so, it is not tough to figure out when he gets a little fussy at 9:00 that he is tired and ready for a nap. You can PLAN to go the grocery store after a feeding because you know baby is cool for an hour and a half or so before he will get tired. If baby is more than two months old and has been sleeping 12 hours every night for three weeks now and RANDOMLY wakes up at 3:00 AM you KNOW something is up because it is NOT the NORM. Oh, he pooped in his sleep. Diaper change and back to bed for everybody. Yippee.

For Baby: he knows what to expect out of each day. Babies are smart little suckers and they fall into a schedule pretty easily if you LET them. Without a general game plan for baby, it is like living in constant jet lag. That is not fun for anyone. Again, Baby Wise does a great job explaining what happens to baby without a schedule. It is not pretty. Although people who don't schedule CLAIM that scheduling is mean, THEY are the ones who tend to have babies that CRY and are FUSSY a lot because their poor little child doesn't know which end is up. Like we said, no sugar coating. A scheduled baby gets a full nights sleep. Get a full belly at every meal. Get ample play time and development. Is rested during the day. Goes to sleep easily because his body clock knows when he is sleepy. Baby is happy!

For Helpers: A scheduled baby is much easier for a babysitter, nanny, daycare, church nursery worker, etc because they don't have to try every trick in the book to figure out why baby is cranky. And they don't have to stress about "reading" baby for possible signs of hunger and tiredness (is that a word?). In fact, nannies daycare workers, teachers, etc PUT kids on schedules under their care because they know it makes life easier and more enjoyable for them AND baby.

So those are a few of the pros to scheduling your baby. In fairness, we should also share some of the cons. You have to be committed. Not in the mental institution way. In the I am going to stick to this basic routine kind of committed. For example, if your baby takes a nap everyday at 10:00, you need to make sure that happens. Either skip the 10:00 shopping trip to IKEA or let baby sleep wherever you are. There is flexibility in scheduling, but you have to make the effort to keep your schedule to the best of your ability each day. It's not a big deal. You just plan around it. You do have to make some concessions here and there in the spirit of what is best for baby (and mommy too).

Those who DON'T believe in scheduling will think (and sometimes say to your face):
- It is mean to let your baby cry (they think that you let your baby cry for hours on end) This is a scheduling MYTH. The TRUTH is that after a little coaching your baby RARELY cries because they know what to expect and so do you)
-Your baby won't know you love them (another MYTH. Just because you can lay your baby down and he pretty much goes right to sleep doesn't mean you don't love him. It means he was TIRED and READY for bed. There is plenty of time for rocking and cuddling for long periods of time when baby is AWAKE and wants to play and interact. Unless you want to rub your baby's back EVERY night for the next SIX years, try scheduling)
-Your baby will never develop a sense of independence (WRONG. A baby is not developmentally able to tell you when they are hungry and tired all the time. If that were true, babies would come out as 30-year-olds. They have parents for a reason. Because they NEED someone to take care of them. No offense to any demand feeders, but we would rather our child know that Mommy is in charge and is making decisions with baby's best interest in mind than having a child that thinks THEY are in charge and can tell Mommy what to do and when to do it. Have fun with that when baby is 2 and 3!! )

Check out our next post on what On Demand parenting looks like and why people choose that. Most don't CHOOSE it. They just do not know about scheduling and how FABULOUS it is for all involved.

Summa Summa Summa-time

That was supposed to be to the tune of that Will Smith song about summertime. How did we do? One of the best things about summer is how much more relaxed life seems. No school. No getting caught behind a school bus on your way to work. A week at the beach. Fireworks at the lake for the 4th. Ahhhhhhh

Another fabulous element to summer? The clothes! A maxi dress with the perfect sandals. A white cotton dress shirt with a cute little pair of shorts. Whatever your summer style, (for some of us it is MATERNITY right now or maybe even I JUST HAD A BABY AND WILL NOT BE WEARING SHORTS YET THANK YOU VERY MUCH) accessories are always a hit.

No matter what size you are currently, or what stage of motherhood you are in right now, you can always add a little glam with some fun jewelry. Check out these adorable pieces from Stella and Dot. They are too cute for words. And if you happen to be attending our upcoming Preggo Party in Roswell, stylist Lauren Lefevre (check her out here ) will show you how to pair them up with the perfect pieces from your wardrobe.

Clockwise from top:
Gold Leaf earrings
Garden Party chandelier earrings (one of our giveaways!!!)
Silk charm necklace and bracelet wrap (very versatile and you can add a charm for your little one)
Signature Clover necklace (perfect for layering or adorable by itself!)
Silver brooch (great for adding style AND covering up a last minute wardrobe accident)
Cortez Cuff

Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

Some moms look model perfect EVERYDAY. Honestly, we don't know how they do it. Maybe they have that permanent makeup and they just keep it a little secret. Who knows.

For the rest of us, there are some great time saving tricks for those mornings when your kid pees on the floor and you have to take the time to clean it up and change his clothes time just slips away from you.

Have some "multi use makeup" in your beauty arsenal. These products come in all prices points and colors. Here are a few we like

MAC has a line called "cream colour" that can be applied to eyes, lips, and cheeks. Not having to dig three different items out of your drawers can shave a few minutes off your clock!

Merle Norman (so much cooler than when our moms/grandmas used it) had a nice little ditty called Creme Eyelites. Delish colors for eyes and cheeks, too.

And NARS carries a product called The Multiple which is also a multi-tasking stick. We moms look so much more put together when we have a little make up on. Added bonus: our eyes, lips, and cheeks would co-ordinate. We must admit that some mornings we have tried to use blue crayon as eyeliner. Didn't work so well! lol

17. Peeing...in public

You are starting to feel like you have this baby thing down a bit and feel like getting out of the house. Maybe you head to Target for some baby items and buy some super cute dresses, purses and plates for your party just to look at all the cute stuff.

Things are going pretty well. You even grab a latte at the Starbucks inside the store. Right about the time you get to the shoe section, you realize something. You have to pee! No big deal. But then it sets in...

Hey I have to pee...but I have a baby???? What do I do???? It is a brief (and comical) moment of panic we all have. That first "potty in public" incident can freak you out for a second. Then your brain returns and you figure it out.

Just push the stroller into the handicap stall. Don't feel guilty either. Taking a newborn to the bathroom with you qualifies as a "handicap." Trust us. If you just brought the car seat, set it on the floor with you. Then wipe it down after if you are a germ person.

Stylish Shoes for Swollen Feet

13. What NOT to Wear...when nursing

If you plan to nurse, a few key bits of information can save you from a "wardrobe malfunction." Investing in a quality nursing bra is the first step, but it doesn't end there. Unless you want to strip down (or up for that matter) avoid wearing dresses, long tunic tops, or complicated shirts to events where you might have to sneak away to nurse. When baby is hungry, time is of the essence!

What to wear instead? These items are good to have tucked away in your arsenal.


1. belly bands: there are several brands but the first (and our fave) is BELLA BANDS; great for pregnancy and BONUS. also great for keeping your belly covered while nursing. MUST HAVE
2. nursing tanks: unsnap much like a nursing bra for easy access without flashing your entire upper half to the whole free world
3. button down tops: stock up on some in your favorite colors; buttons, snaps, zippers...anything that makes getting to your ta ta's easier
5. hooter hiders: nursing covers come in all shapes and sizes. thankfully those old school capes are OUT and stylish fabrics are now available; www.etsy.com has some handmade ones. Bebe au lait www.bebeaulait.com/bebe-au-lait.php?gclid=CMTy5fumj6ICFQO_sgodTi42dA has some fabulous ones, too!
6. blankets: remember those Aden+Anais blankets for swaddling? they also make great nursing covers. lightweight fabric keeps baby (ummm...and YOU) from getting too hot. they are large enough to do your business without feeling the need to charge for a peepshow
7. nursing bras: have several. maybe one in white, nude, and black. buy good ones with thicker cups (just in case you leak a little). make sure the straps are good too. check out this link for a great article from Consumer Reports, of all places, on nursing bras and all their glory http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/baby-toddler/care-and-dressing/nursing-bras/nursing-bras-4-07/overview/0704_nursing-bras_ov.htm

7. Taking a Shower

Squeezing in the time to take a shower (or bath) when you have a brand spankin' new baby isn't as easy as you think it is. Some moms find that bathing gets put way down on the priority list until things settle down a bit. When there is down time, you just want to sleep! or read a magazine or watch a show... showering isn't all that exciting these days.

Here are a few tricks for beating the bathing monster:

1. let someone else watch baby (like daddy or grandma) while you take a shower (duh,right?)
2. use 2-in-1 or even 3-in-1 products. Philosophy makes a body wash/shampoo that is great when you need to get in and get out quickly. And they smell great, too!
3. put baby in a bouncy seat right outside your shower so you can still see/hear him. Papasan like seats are best for newborns (weeks 1-6) and a more movable seat, with a toy bar even, is great when baby is more alert and interactive (weeks 7 or more). If your baby gets fussy, it's okay. A 5 minute shower never hurt anybody. Time your shower when you know baby is usually pretty content and do your best to be quick.
4. if you just can't wash your hair today even though it desperately needs it, grab some baby powder or dry shampoo. Add a little to your roots and rub it around. It absorbs any grease (yuck, I know) and leaves your hair smelling fabulous!
5. unless you just WANT to, don't worry about shaving your legs. Daddy isn't allowed to come near you for a while anyway, so ward him off with hairy legs (lol).

6. Emotions of first Few Weeks

My ideal reader is a preggo. However, I don't want to scare you with what I am about to share. I will preempt it with this: having a baby is totally worth the craziness that comes with it. The sleep deprivation doesn't last (well, it doesn't have to if you play your cards right). And knowing that to expect is a huge help.

The first two weeks of Mommydom are insane. You are overjoyed at having this baby (and NOT BEING PREGNANT ANYMORE). Yes, you are pumped about being a mom and you love your little bundle oogles. However, you also have no idea what you are really doing (or at least I didn't!). And even after you have more kids, it is still insane what those first few weeks are like.

You are tired.
Baby eats about every 2-3 hours and the process of feeding him takes 30 minutes to an hour itself. So you have very little downtime in between feedings.
My advice(and the advice of others, too)? Sleep whenever you can. Even if that means you sack out on the couch while Daddy watches a movie. Protect your sleep! You will feel so much better if you take every opportunity possible to snag some zzz's. You'll have plenty of time to catch up on your shows when baby is sleeping through the night. That's what TIVO is for :)

You are edgy.
Even if normally you are the sweetest, most patient person on the planet, chances are that during this first couple of weeks your fuse might be a little short. (and Daddy's, too). Again, it is from exhaustion. If you snap at your spouse or your mother, don't beat yourself up. Give them a quick "sorry, I am really tired and didn't mean that" and move on.

You are overwhelmed.
Your whole life just changed (for the better:). That is a lot to process. And baby has to get used to this new life, too. Feeding, diapering, cuddling, cooking, cleaning, SHOWERING, and a whole lot more still has to be done to some degree. If you feel like you can barely keep your head above water...congratulations. YOU ARE NORMAL. Anyone who has a baby 1-2 weeks old and doesn't admit to being a little frazzled is LYING. They are probably just embarrassed to admit it. Don't be. This is a positive change, but a change nonetheless. We all go through this and feel the same level of anxiousness (especially with your first baby). Relax, enjoy your baby, and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel :)

You are HAPPY.
OMG!!!!! You have the cutest little baby in the world. Who doesn't just want to kiss those cheeks and stare at those little fingers all day long? You are tired, and grouchy, and stressed BUT YOU HAVE A BABY. Doesn't that make this temporary phase a little better? Just a little? Celebrate the fact that you are now a card carrying parent. Soon enough you'll be showing pictures to your girlfriend's while you are out having dinner. You'll get there!

So okay the first couple weeks kind of suck a little when it comes to getting sleep and figuring this whole baby thing out. But by week 4 things will settle down a lot (especially if you follow the Project Mom tips). If you feel like your head is going to explode, just vent. We've all been there. Trust me.

1. Having a Baby: I'm, so glad that's over!

Whether you have a C-section or a V-delivery, you are pretty pumped when the process is all said and done and the nurse hands over your baby. In fact you are so dazed and hyped up on adrenaline that it may even take you a minute to remember that thing wrapped up in the blanket is actually YOUR baby. Mentally you have to keep telling yourself, "this is mine." Surreal, I know.

If you are like me (and MANY other moms I know),you read a whole lot about being pregnant and not a whole lot about what to do with your real, live baby. Once baby is here and not just some kicking elbowing hiccup monster, you may find yourself a little weirded out about what is going on with your baby and what is going on with your body!

This blog was created to be a quick reference to help you know THE REAL business of having a baby. Some sources are a little too positive about it: this is the greatest experience of your life. Other places are a little too negative about it: you'll never sleep the same again. I find the truth to be a little more in the middle. Most of it is absolutely fabulous (like great shoes!!). A few parts aren't all that fun (like dropping your cell phone in the sink), but they pass quickly.

I hope you enjoy this blog as a place for information-- and some laughs. Having a baby is a wild ride. Sure, that loopy loop scares you stupid for a bit, but you still have Perma-grin and get back in line!

Seriously, who doesn't want one of these: (see top)