Bye Bye, Blogger!

Borrowing a few famous words from Mr. LeBron James himself, I wanted you all to know that I will be "taking my talents" to WordPress...

Blogger has disappointed me time and time again.  

From going down regularly enough for it to be annoying, to losing a few of my posts, to making it difficult for my friends, family and followers to comment...I've officially had it!

As I make the transition, please be patient with me...I'm not totally sure how long it will take (especially considering the fact that I have about 2 hours in an entire day of 'Mommy Time'), but I'm hoping the transition will be completed before Abigail can crawl...

How's that for a deadline? Wish me luck!

Teething and Breastfeeding (OUCH!)

Abigail's new nickname?

Sharkie.

And guess what?  Sharkie just BIT me!  

This is her laughing at Mommy after taking her first bite...what a sweetheart...

You see, Abby cut her first tooth at the EXTREMELY young age of 3.5 months.  And while I thought it was pretty cool at first ("She's SO advanced!!!"), now I'm not so sure.  After experiencing Sharkie's first CHOMP I think it's safe to say that I'm officially frightened...

These are not teeth.  These are mini serrated knives.  

Doesn't she know she's supposed to save the teething for Sophie?   Oh, right...she's a baby and doesn't know the difference.

And while a few nibbles won't stop me from breastfeeding (as my goal is to continue for 6 months to a year), a few more severe chomps from Sharkie might have me covered in band-aids and tears...

But I can do it...if I could survive the first few weeks of breastfeeding which were by far the most difficult, I can most definitely survive Sharkie.  

Let's just hope the next teeth take a little longer to cut through...

MAQs: Where Did You Buy Maternity Clothes?

Last week, I tackled a soon-to-be/new-Mommy question {Read HERE}.

This week I'm going to tackle a question frequently asked by pregnant friends.  It's a question I think all newly pregnant women ask their  previously pregnant friends, so I'm hoping my answer will be at least somewhat helpful!  

MAQ

Where did you buy maternity clothes?

7x7xMommy

Ohhhh, maternity clothes...I feel like women are either super excited about shopping for them or they're absolutely dreading the experience.  For me personally, I was excited (I wouldn't say super, but I was definitely not dreading it)...I just saw it as an opportunity to expand my relatively pathetic wardrobe.  

Let me put it this way...to this day, Travis still tells me my maternity wardrobe was better than my "normal" wardrobe (think: black yoga pants and a black North Face 90% of the time).  

That being said, I must have done something right when I purchased my maternity clothes.  

Here are my thoughts on the experience:

1. WAIT

Yes, even those of you who fall into the category of "super excited."  I highly recommend waiting to go shopping for maternity clothes until you're at least 5 months along...either that, or wait until you're showing (which for some could be before or after the 5 month mark).  You won't really know how your body will change until it actually changes...avoid the return line by being patient...and while you're working on your patience, invest in some Belly Bands...which brings me to my next tip...

2. Buy a Belly Band

What's a Belly Band?  Well, it's a life (and a money) saver. 

Back when I was about 27 weeks along, I wrote my Top 10 Tips for Pregnancy & (Impending) Parenthood and #1 on my list was a Belly Band.  I said it before and I'll say it again, You’ll never know how amazing an elastic tube around your belly feels until you’ve purchased a Belly Band.  I’d buy one or two of these right away because you never know when that magical day will arrive…that magical day being the one where you can no longer button your pants (or zip your zipper for that matter).

I found my Belly Band at Target, but I've seen them pretty much anywhere you can purchase Maternity clothes.

3. Plan Ahead

When the magical day I mentioned above actually arrives, I think it's about time to find some maternity clothes.  And before you head out, I recommend taking some time to evaluate your day-to-day life.  What will you really need?  What's your dress code at work?  What can you "make work" in your current wardrobe?  

The reason I think this step is so crucial is because you're only pregnant for 40 weeks (give or take a few)...in the grand scheme of things, that's not a long time.  You don't want to go spending a ton of money on items you're not going to use regularly (unless you have an unlimited budget, of course...but something tells me the majority of new moms don't have unlimited budgets!).

Another good question to ask yourself is: Are we planning on having more than one baby?  I know not everyone knows the answer to this question, but for me personally, knowing that we plan on  having more than one baby means my maternity clothes will resurface someday (they're currently in a bag in my closet waiting patiently for bump #2).  Knowing that, I was able to justify purchasing a few "nicer" items for special occasions.

Planning ahead allowed me to go shopping without feeling overwhelmed and without making ridiculous purchases.

4. Save on Staples

Two stores where I found some essential wardrobe staples were Motherhood Maternity and Gap (mainly online for the latter).  Motherhood Maternity was the first place I went shopping and it's where I purchased the majority of my layering tops, my skinny jeans (Heidi Klum's brand), my black leggings (comfiest things EVER when you're pregnant), and a few other staples.  Their prices were right, their clothes fit me well, and they lasted throughout my entire pregnancy (oh, and I still wear them from time to time even though I no longer have a bump).  

One of my Motherhood Maternity Outfits

In my opinion, if you're looking to buy a variety of items without spending a lot, these are two great places to check out!

5. Spend on Special Occasions

Every once in a while, it's nice to treat yourself to something special.

Toward the end of my pregnancy, I got a little antsy...I was ready for Abigail to arrive, I was sick of wearing the same outfits over and over again, and I knew we had a Maternity Photo Shoot coming up.  I HAD to find something new...

When I finally reached my breaking point (which you know isn't hard to do when you're pregnant), Travis basically forced me to go to Mom's The Word in San Francisco and I'm SO glad he did.  We had the best experience...the sales associates were super nice and helpful, the clothes were comfy and fashionable, and we walked out of there with a few new outfits and an amazing dress for our photo shoot.  The result?

And while the clothes at Mom's the Word were definitely more expensive than at the other stores, they were worth every single penny.  They're high quality, they're classics, and they'll be ready to come out and play next time!

Bottom Line

When it's time to go shopping for maternity clothes, try to make it an enjoyable and memorable experience...it's definitely not your average shopping trip.  

Find items that make you feel sexy, comfortable, and confident because that's how pregnant women should feel.  Take your best friend, your Mom, your Husband, or just your bump...but be sure to take your patience because clothes will be fitting you in a way that they never have before.  :)  Happy shopping!!!

What Else?!?

Friends, Family & Followers...where did you find your favorite maternity clothes?  Any tips or tricks you'd like to add or share?

7x7xMommy

Read more MAQs {HERE}

MAQs: How did the Snap N Go Work as a Travel Stroller?

Thanks to Megan B.B. over at The Memoirs of Megan, we officially have our first MAQ (or I should say soon-to-be-MAQ because Megan is currently pregnant with her first little one!).  So here goes nothing...

MAQ

How Did the Snap N Go Work as a Travel Stroller? 

7x7xMommy

As many of you know, I was a little nervous about traveling with a 3 month old.  It wasn't because I didn't think we could do it, it was simply because I'd never done it before and I didn't know what to expect (I call this "new Mommy fear of the unknown syndrome").  

In planning for the trip, I took into account all the activities we had in store and I knew we'd be walking...a LOT.  That basically meant one thing: we needed to bring a stroller.  And as much as I LOVE my BOB for our daily hour and a half long walks around San Francisco, I knew it would be a pain in the rear end to navigate (not to mention carry and fold up) such a massive stroller around the airport and in new cities.

Enter: a lightweight stroller...

After chatting with some experienced parents and observing smaller strollers in some frequently visited Mommy destinations (I know this is a stereotype, but think the grocery store and coffee shop), I decided to take my 20% off coupon to Babies'R'Us and purchase the Baby Trend Snap N Go stroller.

It was the best $60 I spent in a LONG time.  Well, I'm lying...I'm typically not the type to purchase warranties, but I spent $8.99 on a warranty for the Snap N Go.  It covers the stroller for 18 months and even protects against airport wear and tear (since many people mentioned how their strollers were DESTROYED by airport employees).  So I guess you could say it was the best $70 I spent in a LONG time.  

While the ride isn't nearly as smooth as the BOB, the Snap N Go is a fantastic lightweight travel stroller for the following reasons:

1. It weighs nothing...well, it's 12 pounds but compared to my BOB (and compared to Abigail), it's light as a feather.

2. It folds up easily...I was able to hold Abigail in one arm and fold the stroller up with the other.  It's that easy.  

3. It's small...so not only is it light, but it's easy to navigate in crowded places (think the airport where it's very easily to feel stressed and overwhelmed with a baby, a stroller, and everything else you're carrying).

4. It has a cup console...this may seem ridiculous, but having two cup holders is the best - even if it's Sophie who's getting a ride in one of them.

5. It's compatible with many car seat brands...it worked perfectly for Abby's Graco car seat, but it's compatible with a wide variety of brands (Baby Trend, Graco, Evenflo, Britax, Peg Perego, Chicco, Combi).

6. The price is right...as I mentioned before, it was one the best baby purchases we've made...it was worth every penny and it can be reused for baby #2 whenever Abigail grows out of her car seat. 

Bottom Line

If  you're in search of a lightweight stroller and/or if you're in search of a travel stroller, I would highly recommend the Snap N Go.  It truly made our back to back cross country trips a Snap...read more about our adventure {HERE}.

What Else?!?

Friends, Family & Followers...are there other travel strollers you'd recommend? Lightweight strollers you love?  We'd love to hear about them! 

7x7xMommy

Read more MAQs {HERE}

Meet Sophie: Teether, Toy, Miracle Worker

Let me begin with a little conversation I had with a friend when Abigail joined the world.

Friend:  Does Abby have Sophie yet?

Me:  Who's Sophie?

Friend:  Oh, you'll see...

Now let me fast forward to last week when Abigail's first tooth joined the world.

Me to Abigail: I think it's about time we find you a teething toy...let's walk down to Giggle and see if they have anything interesting (yes, I have full on conversations with my three and a half month old).

Abigail: Drool...(and yes, I consider this a response worthy of a quote)

So that very day, we strolled down to Chestnut Street, walked into Giggle, and there she was in all her glory...Sophie The Giraffe (or more accurately, Sophie la Girafe - the box said she was "Born in Paris" - read Sophie's story HERE).

It was almost as if she had a light shining down on her and some magnetic force drawing me toward her...

I finally "met" the infamous Sophie...and her marketing team.  Check out everything Sophie is capable of...

SIGHT

At the age of 3 months, a baby’s eyesight is still limited and he can only make out high contrasts. The Dark and contrasting attention-catching spots all over Sophie the Giraffe’s body provide visual stimulation and she soon becomes a familiar and reassuring object for baby.

HEARING
Sophie the Giraffe's squeaker keeps baby amused and stimulates his hearing. To begin with, the funny sound Sophie makes when she is squeezed helps to stimulate baby’s hearing, and then later, helps him to understand the link between cause and effect.

TASTE

A Sophie the Giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint, and is completely safe to chew, just like a feeding bottle teat. Her soft texture and numerous chewable parts (ears, horns, legs), make her perfect for soothing baby’s sore gums during teething.

TOUCH

Touch is the first means a baby has of communicating with the outside world. Sophie the Giraffe’s soft feel, like baby’s mother’s skin, stimulates physiological and emotional response that soothe baby and promote healthy growth and well-being..

SMELL

The singular scent of natural rubber from the Hevea tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all his other toys.

EASY TO GRIP

Sophie the Giraffe’s shape and 18 cm (7 inches) size are perfect for baby’s small hands. She is very light, and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip, even from his earliest days.

I'm still a little disappointed Sophie doesn't change diapers...

After reading all about her, I justified her seemingly ridiculous price tag and practically ran home to unwrap her and introduce her to Abigail (I suppose you could say I was more excited to meet her than Abby was, but that's beside the point).

The two seemed to have an instant connection...

I think this could be the beginning of a long friendship...I'll keep you posted on their bond and on whether or not Sophie actually helps with Abigail's time of teething. 

Fingers crossed Sophie turns out to be the Miracle Worker both her marketing team and my friends claim she is (not to mention strangers at the airport - I swear everyone knows Sophie)...we have some high expectations!

But since she's still brand new to the family, we're being as warm and welcoming as possible...after all, she could very well be Abigail's new best friend (after me, of course).

Anyone else have any Sophie stories?  I'd love to hear them! 

A Very Special Mother's Day

Not only was it my first Mother's Day, but I was able to spend it with my wonderful little Momma, my brother and sister-in-law and their puppy, my little pumpkin pie, my uber-thoughtful hubby, and my Dad.

I don't think I could have asked for anything more.

Thanks to everyone for making it so special, from my card in the morning to my flowers at the airport, it was the perfect day.

Happy Mother's Day (belated) to all the Mothers and Soon-to-be-Mothers I know and love! 

Here are a few pictures from our very special weekend. 

It's a Snap! (N Go)

Alright everyone...we're doing it!  

Abby and I are hard at work preparing for the first of three cross-country trips in the next six weeks.  Yesterday we kicked off our travel prep by making a purchase that we're both very excited about...

We decided the BOB was too heavy and awkward for travel (and we wouldn't want it to get destroyed by the airlines) so we took our 20% off coupon to Babies'r'Us and bought the Snap'N'Go.  I still can't believe how lightweight it is!  

Mommy just assembled it in the kitchen...

While Abby slept in the living room...she's obviously extremely proud of Mommy.

We're officially one step closer to feeling prepared...wish us luck!!!

Thank you ALL for your advice over at Seeking Advice: Flying with a 3 Month Old - I look forward to having some pointers of my own upon our return.

Decoding the Cry of the Baby: The "Burp-Me" Cry

The Burp-Me Cry

This one can be confused easily with the That-Hurt cry because of its shrilling nature.

You can, however, decipher between the two because typically, the Burp-Me cry happens relatively soon after a feeding.   That being said, some stubborn bubbles lurk in the depths of her body and rise with a vengeance hours later...that can be a little confusing for me, a little frustrating for others (why won't that baby stop crying!?!), and very uncomfortable for Abigail. 

Luckily, once the gas bubble has left her body, all is right with the world again and Abigail's back to her smiling ways. 

Read more about Decoding the Cry of the Baby:

The Overview

The That-Hurt Cry

The Burp-Me Cry

Decoding the Cry of the Baby: The "That-Hurt" Cry

The That-Hurt Cry

I hate this cry because it typically means that either I've hurt her or she's hurt herself...and it always seems to involve her crazy fingernails that grow like weeds.

I'm not ashamed to admit I've trimmed her finger instead of her fingernail (what!?! Her nails are as thin as paper and feel the same as skin...not to mention they're tiny).  This little accident (which I am a little ashamed to admit has happened more than once but less than five times) results in the that-hurt cry. 

Believe it or not, it's a cry that has ZERO buildup.  It starts at the loudest possible point (or so you think) and then progressively gets MUCH louder, MUCH more dramatic, and it's even accompanied by tears. 

This is the saddest cry of all...but like some of the others, it's a quick fix.  The that-hurt cry just needs LOVE. Quickly. Oh, and lots of it. It passes just as quickly as it began, but it has been known to break hearts (and make Moms and Dads everywhere feel like they're the worst parents on earth).

I just hope Abigail doesn't hold the finger incident(s) against me, though something tells me her Dad will never let her...or me...forget.

Here's a look at the that-hurt cry...

Read more about Decoding the Cry of the Baby:

The Overview

The That-Hurt Cry
The Burp-Me Cry

Decoding the Cry of the Baby: The Overview

Is she hungry or does she just have a huge load in her diaper?  

Did I just trim her finger instead of her fingernail (again...damn it) or does she have a gas bubble?

Does she want to be picked up or is she just too tired to fall asleep?

Those are just a few of the stimulating questions I've pondered since becoming a Mommy.  And while it may not sound like rocket science, it surely feels like it when you have a baby with a completely devastated look on her face (not to mention a shrieking sound coming from the depths of her soul).

If only this photo had a sound bite...Abigail...8 Days Old

I must admit that in the first few weeks I couldn't tell a difference...a cry was a cry and there wasn't much more to it.  In new-sleep-deprived-Mommy-mode, all you can really do is start with the necessities of life..feed her, burp her, love her, check her diaper, swaddle her, sing to her, and then pray for her to stop (trust me, I considered that a necessity of life on some days). 

But after nearly 3 months of 24-7 mommy/daughter time, I feel like I finally have a good understanding of all her cries...I think I've finally decoded the cry of the baby...here's a quick breakdown of all the cries I've decoded and over the next week or so, I'll go into a little more depth with each one (otherwise, this would be the longest single post I've ever written). 

THE STANDARD CRIES

The That-Hurt Cry

The Feed-Me Cry 

The Burp-Me Cry 

The Tired-But-Don't-Know-How-to-Fall-Asleep Cry

The Where-Did-You-Go? Cry

THE "EXTRA" CRIES

The Newborn Cry

The Stop-Dressing-Me-Up-Like-I'm-a-Doll Cry

The Pay-Attention-to-Me Cry

The Hand-Me-Back-to-Mom Cry

The Pick-Me-Up Cry 

THE IMPENDING CRIES

The I'm-Sick Cry

I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences with decoding baby cries...and what other cries will we have to "look forward to?"

 

Read more about Decoding the Cry of the Baby:

The Overview

The That-Hurt Cry
The Burp-Me Cry

"WombTube" - Pregnancy & Social Media

As a Mommy blogger who documented her pregnancy, I found this discussion on the Today Show very interesting...

The YouTube Pregnancy: Taking TMI to a New Level

While I've experienced overwhelming support from most of my friends and family (and blogger friends I've made along the way), I've also heard (in more indirect ways) that some people feel I share too much. 

I could get into how I really feel about all this, but for now I'll just say that a picture is worth a thousand words...

Plus, if you have a problem with Mommy bloggers and women sharing too much, you're probably in the wrong place right now...

Happy Friday, everyone!

Mommy Challenge #5: Being a (Super)Woman

Yesterday morning I was watching my favorite guilty pleasure, the fourth hour of the Today show with Kathie Lee and Hoda, and a very interesting topic came up...Mommy Guilt.  According to a poll on Baby Center, "94 percent of moms say they feel guilty."

Let me repeat that...94% of Moms say they feel guilty.  The causes of that guilt?  Anything from not breastfeeding for 6 months to a year (or at all) to going back to work (or not).

So out of curiosity, how are we as women supposed to...

::Breastfeed for 6 months to a year

::While going back to work (hoping your milk won't dry up)

::Or not going back to work (and all the guilt that could be associated with that)

::While making sure your household is maintained

::The grocery shopping is done

::Your marriage/relationship is still fresh and exciting

::You're keeping up with Thank You's, Baby Announcements and other friend's life events

::Your social life doesn't die (completely)

::And oh ya...that baby weight?  That's supposed to melt away too...

As the article states, "Guilt is the great equalizer among all moms, regardless of how diverse our backgrounds or circumstances are."  True statement.

So how do we, as women and as Moms, help each other out?  Set realistic expectations? Realize that balance in life means something different to each and every person?  That we can't do everything? And that that's okay...

I'm not afraid to admit that I've been experiencing some of these guilty feelings and I'm still on Maternity leave!!! 

Abigail is only 10 weeks old and I find myself thinking far too much about working vs. not working...wanting to breastfeed as long as possible but being afraid that going back to work will be the end of it...wanting to be around as much as possible to help Abigail develop and still have something that's "my own"...

All these conflicting feelings and thoughts have been making me feel like a crazy woman lately.  Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to be superwomen?  To be perfect? To do everything?  

I think what we (ok, what I) need to work on is figuring out what works best for us...as individuals...being confident in our decisions...being realistic that we can't do everything...being okay with plans changing...and quite simply, being the best Moms we can be.  I think I can handle that much...

So what do you think?  Have you experienced similar feelings/dilemmas? 

Mommy Challenge #4: Rainy Days

When I was a little kid, I loved rainy days.

And it wasn't because I wanted to stay inside all day, watch movies and eat ice cream (I saved those activities for my "sick Ali" days).  

I loved rainy days for other reasons...

:: They were the perfect opportunity to play basketball in the driveway (making me appear like an extremely hard core, dedicated female basketball player when all I really wanted was attention)

:: They were the perfect excuse to get as muddy and disgusting as I wanted knowing that warm towels, dry clothes and a heater vent were waiting for me inside

:: They were the perfect forum for my brother and I to bond through mud pie contests, who-could-find-the-largest-puddles-to-splash-in contests, and basically any other wet weather contests we could think of (we were hardly competitive...)

Getting dirty was my specialty

Rounding up mud pie materials

Unfortunately, however, rainy days aren't quite as glamorous as they once were...

Cute, I know...

But I gotta say - there's something about being an adult that turned the exciting feeling of being soaking wet into a feeling of being damp and disgusting.  

I don't know...maybe it's the mascara running down my face that I never had to worry about in my youth...or maybe it's because it seems to take much longer to defrost than it used to...or maybe...juuuuuuust maybe, it's the fact that I have a newborn.  

And while it was quite "thrilling" to get caught in a rain storm last week, it's not something I plan on us doing on a regular basis.  Abigail was a great sport, but I'm pretty sure she wasn't a huge fan of the rain pelting her car seat, the wind whipping us from side to side, or the fact I had her completely enclosed in what probably felt like a coffin caught in a monsoon.

All I can say is that I look forward to the day when rainy days are fun again...when Abigail and her someday siblings ask me if they can frolic around and make mud pies in our someday backyard or play hoops in our someday front yard...and I, being the loving and caring Mom that I am, will tell them to have fun, get as muddy as they'd like, and that I'll have warm, dry towels straight out of our someday dryer waiting for them at the front door.  

That will be a great (rainy) day!

For now, however, I'm open to rainy day suggestions...if you have any indoor activities that are fun on rainy days (with a newborn in mind), I'm all ears!

Our First Family Road Trip: a Recap

We did it!!!

We officially survived our first family road trip.  And I shouldn't say we survived because what we actually did was DOMINATE our first family road trip.  I'd love to take credit for the domination, but all we can really do is thank our precious daughter for being a little angel.

We departed early Thursday morning after packing (far too) thoroughly for a four day getaway.  We packed loads of diapers, too many baby clothes, excessive blankets, and we even managed to squeeze this little nugget into our suitcase... 

Totally joking of course, but she was definitely a good sport when Daddy tried to pack her up!  What a goof.  After this little stunt, Abigail put on her finest traveling outfit (and the first dress she's ever sported).  What can I say, she wanted to look her best on her first big family outing!

The first stop on our family road trip was San Luis Obispo where we visited with Abigail's great-grandparents, ate an amazing feast, enjoyed some glorious weather and took some fun photos...shockingly enough, Abigail slept the entire way from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo, making the first part of our trip even better! 

Pop-Pop & Shereen, thanks for a WONDERFUL time!  We love you guys!

After SLO, we continued on our adventure and headed down to Thousand Oaks where we spent more time with family (we love family!)...we stayed the night at "Hotel Sandman" with Aunt Lynn, Uncle Paul and Alix where we enjoyed a couple long walks (my fav!), more delicious food, totally sinful sticky buns and great conversation.  Oh, and yes...Abby slept the entire way from SLO to Thousand Oaks...once again, thank you Abigail!

And thank you Aunt Lynn, Uncle Paul and Alix (woohoo for you being home at the same time as our visit!) for an amazing time!

After a leisurely morning at Hotel Sandman (well, leisurely for some of us...Travis was working the entire morning), we loaded up the car and headed off to Santa Barbara for a weekend at Bacara {Check out our stay two years ago HERE}. 

Abigail wanted to be the first to test out the bed...

Then Mommy and Daddy joined her!

And although the weather only held up on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, we managed to venture back out to the beach where we took this picture two years ago...

Here's our updated version from this weekend...

And here are a few more pictures from Abby's first trip to the beach.

The rest of the weekend was wonderful.  Abigail continued to sleep well, eat well, and only cry a little bit.  She's becoming more aware of her surroundings all the time.  She even manged to be a little angel for the babysitter (yes, we had a babysitter...two nights in a row so we could attend the events of the weekend!). 

Here are a few shots from Mommy and Daddy's big night out!

And while Mommy and Daddy had a great time attending the Carnival themed event the second night, we were both more than ready to head back to our room and hang out with Abigail...as I said last week, it's amazing how much can change in two years.

We're so incredibly blessed and love our life more and more every day...Abigail has introduced a whole new dimension and neither of us could imagine our lives without her.  I mean seriously...look at this face!

After our amazing time in Santa Barbara, we made it home safely on Sunday afternoon and hung out with Abby...I think she had a great weekend too because she gave us this bigggg grin that could have made the grumpiest person on earth crack a smile.

Stay tuned for our next big travel adventure which will include a FLIGHT to DC! 

If you have any tips and tricks for flying with a 3 month old, we'd love to hear them!!!