Baby Food: Keep It Simple (and Healthy)

At about 6 months your baby might be ready for baby food. The first time Junior ever tries to eat from a spoon is pretty comical. And by that I also mean messy. They just aren't real sure what to do with it. Some babies gobble it up while others just push it right back out. Either way, expect an adorable mess when you are finished.

There are many options when it comes to what type of baby food to get. Of course there is the commercial kind at the grocery store. It is the cheapest (that you can buy) but depending on how healthy you are, it might not be the most wholesome. Believe it or not a lot of those brands have a lot of secret sugar in them. And the way they are made actually decreases their nutritional value. Read the labels before you buy.

Most stores are now carrying more and more organic brand baby food, too. These are slightly more expensive but are made from purer ingredients and are rich in vitamins and minerals. Read the label. Earth's Best is pretty good, in our humble opinion, but there are many options out there.

Another option is to make your own. At first this might seem a little overwhelming but from what I have heard it is not that big of a deal. In essence you just steam or boil your average veggie and puree your average fruit (both will need added water to soften them up a bit) into a consistency your baby is okay with. Ice cube trays are great for storing any extra, although containers are also on the market for homemade baby food.

My personal choice is a combo of the two: organic AND homemade. Jack's Harvest is an Atlanta based company (really two moms with major domestic gifts) that makes and sells frozen organic baby food. You can purchase it through Whole Foods and also through Amazon.com.  Why I like Jack's Harvest? No pesticides in the fruits and veggies. No crazy cooking process that robs my baby of what she really needs. Just two moms making delicious, healthy food. It is convenient and more importantly GOOD FOR MY BABY :)

Here's is what Jack's Harvest is all about: (from their website)

Jarred baby food is cooked at extremely high temperatures so it can sit for years. Over processing removes a lot of nutrients leaving food bland and tasteless. (Would you want to eat it?) Jack's Harvest not only tastes better, it has a higher nutrient content. Your baby has taste buds and knows what tastes good. They also know what looks good and smells good. Jack's Harvest feeds your baby's senses with beautiful colors (our peas are bright green) - wonderful smells (the smell of cinnamon boosts brain activity) - and delectable flavors (that we taste test ourselves!). Shape your baby's precious palate with food that is healthy and delicious and help them learn what fresh foods look, smell and taste like.

What's not to love? Give it a try. We'll have some AWESOME coupons at our upcoming Preggo Party if you want to see how yummy Jack's Harvest is for yourself. September 29th is right around the corner!!

Izzy Maternity Fashion Show, Free spa services, & a babymoon giveaway

Super September Sale

Just a quick FYI...
Old Navy is having a HUGE baby and maternity sale
up to 40% off everything!!

And if you happen to live near a GAP outlet, their sale on BABY is up to 50% off

We are excited just typing about it!!!

www.gap.com
www.oldnavy.com

Bathing your Baby

After that now-nasty soon-to-be-adorable belly button stump falls off, you can give baby her first bath. It really is a sweet experience, but here are a few lessons from the front lines.

1. Baby cannot sit up by herself until around 6 months so you need a tub that will allow baby to lay back or sit up with your assistance. And then you have to somehow use your other arm to wash baby while she slips all over the place. If possible have a helper (like Daddy) tag team the first bath in case you need some extra hands. Wanna make it easier? Try these items:

A Bath Sponge (just lay it in your sink to keep baby from bumping his or her head on the edge and giving her a soft place to sit. You can also add one to your standard baby bath tub. These are CHEAP, like $6ish, and are really all you need in the beginning. Every now and then baby might poo on it (VERY rare) but for a $6 replacement, not that big of a deal. Find it HERE

A Bath Bucket (since baby cannot hit up these are VERY helpful for the newborn stage, but not cheap at $45ish a pop. Baby will outgrow it eventually, but at least you have a bucket you can re-purpose for other things. Fine one HERE. The regular baby tubs are PERFECT. Fine one HERE for about $10. You can use either a bucket or tub until baby can sit up properly. Just beware that once baby starts moving around, she will splash splash splash in these little tubs. Solution? Take it off your counter and start laying it in the real tub. That makes it easy to fill up, store, and saves your bathroom from a super wet mess. We are not big fans of the expensive baby tubs. For something you will only use for maybe 6 months, not worth it. But to each his own...

A sit up seat (once baby hits around 5-6 months you can try one of these seats if you like. Find one HERE for about $38. They slide over the edge of your tub and allow baby to take a bath in your regular bathtub. The plus? Your back gets a little break and you have some free hands. These are helpful for that transition time when baby is too big for a baby tub but cannot sit up well enough yet to take a big bath without your help. This is not a must have item, but it is a helpful little fellow.

they come in pink too!

Spout Cover (when baby starts sitting up in the big tub these are a good idea. Babies LOVE splashing and wiggling around in the tub, so cover the spout to make sure they don't head butt it. These little covers also give baby something to play with when old enough, too. We like 2fers around here! Find one HERE for about $15 on average. There are animal ones like these and more modern, sleek designs, too.

Extra Bonus Tip: Just like changing a diaper, the difference in air temperature can cause baby to pee (or more!). So unless you want to end up like my husband--- t-shirt soaked in baby urine--- yum!!!!, do not take off baby's diaper until you are ready to put her in the tub. If you realized that you left the baby wash in the closet, do not get baby naked and have daddy hold her until you get back unless you want a good laugh. On daddy. Literally. Keep the diaper on until the last possible moment...just in case.

If you are nervous, or just curious, how to give a newborn a bath, check out this YouTube video. Okay, it is a little cheesy. But it IS helpful. If nothing else it at least gives you an idea of how to give baby that first bath. And take pictures of the first bath if possible or video it. There is nothing cuter than a sweet little baby, all clean and fresh, wrapped up in a towel after a bath. Love it!

Diaper Bag Secrets

There are about a gazillion different styles of diaper bags. And the one that is right for you depends on how you plan to use it. More on that later. For now we wanted to let you in on a little secret. Buy two diaper bags. A big one for when you will be out for a while. And a mini one for when you are just running into a store or going on a quick errand and do not need to rip your shoulder out of socket.

Get a diaper bag you are going to WANT to carry around. Don't feel the need to get Winnie the Pooh unless YOU like Winnie the Pooh. Your kid won't know the difference and you can get him or her a bag for themselves later. If Daddy is going to be taking daddy out a lot too, consider getting a gender neutral bag. Totally up to you.

You can purchase a set of matching bags like these from The Bumble Collection:

Paige Purse fits inside larger bags or can be carried on its own

Chloe Convertible

There are also sets that come together like these 5 piece options both from WalMart

You can get a stylish diaper bag at any price point. Make sure they are durable because after lugging all of your stuff around, they get beaten up. Strong straps, easily cleanable inside AND out. Pockets and storage are a must. Kristi G (featured below) has a EZ Wipe collection that is genius. Wipes are accessible from the outside. More on her later... but here is a sneak peak.

Skip Hop

Diaper Clutch (perfect for just a quick trip)

JJ Cole diaper purse found on Diapers.com

What to Put Above the Crib

Decorating a nursery is like an addiction. It is so fun. After all, this is where your baby is going to spend a lot of his time, so it needs to be cute. And there are a million places to visit for ideas. There are so many choices! What bedding? Window treatments? A dresser? Do we want a rocking chair or glider or nothing at all?

In most nurseries, one of the first things you see when you walk in is the crib. It is usually a pretty prominent figure in a baby's room. Genius of us to point out, right. But what to put above the crib? It has to be something worthy of its location. Right there. Above baby. But it also has to be something that baby can't pull down when he gets bigger. Or something that could fall on baby.

So what are some cool options for above the crib? We're so glad you asked. Here are a few ideas we heart.
1. Initials and Names
Everyone used to do wooden letters, which are still cute. But a new trend is the vinyl decal or painted "mural" of baby's name or initials

2. If it is secured WELL, a mirror is also a cool option. It bounces light around the room, reflects the rest of the cute room, and gives baby something to look at.

courtesy of Young House Love

3. Removable decals are huge. HUGE. HUGE. You can move them later if baby is into something different or you just feel like changing things up a bit. You might get one for an entire accent wall or just add a vignette for visual fun.

4. A Picture: again, make sure it is SECURE. But a print or two (or three) above the crib can be just the thing. We like how this room uses the mobile concept and the canvas behind the crib as part of the room's theme.

5. Fun Stuff: and there are just some creative parents (or designers) out there who thought of interesting things to fill the space above the crib. We think baby would approve.

decals and 3D butterflies

empty frames artfully arranged

puffs in fun colors. an easy DIY project

If you have any photos of what YOU put above the crib, we would love to see them. We are addicted, too.

2D, 3D and 4D Imaging ... who does baby look like?

3D and 4D imaging are so cool. When it first came out YEARS ago, the pictures were a little funny, although you could still get a great shot of baby's features. So precious! With today's technology it is AH-MAY-ZING what all you can see. How much hair does baby have? Mom's nose or dad's? Look at how she rests her hand on her forehead. All that kind of stuff. Sappy yes, but this is your baby we are talking about.

You can get so much more detail than just the sonogram shot. So if you are itching to see your little sweety before the big day, have a 3D/4D imaging session. Your heart will melt. We like Stork Vision. They have been around for a while and know what they are doing!

Shannan DeLima  (owner of Stork Vision Buckhead)              

RT(r),RDMS,BS (with her adorable family)

550 Pharr Road, Suite 203
Atlanta, GA 30305
(p) 404-816-9004
(f) 404-816-9092

imaging room with plenty of room for family!

When Should I Schedule Mine?
2D Baby Ultrasounds can be done as early as 18 weeks gestation.
3D Baby Ultrasounds and 4D Baby Ultrasounds can be done at any time after 18 weeks gestation however the optimal time to have a sonogram is between 27 – 30 weeks.