Help Support the Diaper Drive at HealthTap!

Friends, Family and Followers:

Nothing says Holiday Spirit quite like giving to those in need...Travis and I just made our donation to this amazing cause and we're hoping to help even just a few Mothers this holiday season.

Join Us, HealthTap, Stanford’s Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, and non-profit, “Help A Mother Out” to give diapers to families in need and get 2011 off to a healthier start.   

HealthTap’s goal is to collect 10,000 diapers by New Year’s Eve!  Let's help them achieve that goal!

It is for a GREAT cause.  Click {here} to donate easily, quickly, and cost effectively through their Diapers.com registry (less than $10 w/ no shipping).  If you want to learn more, visit the TapMommies blog. 

Help create healthier communities for 2011!

Some Facts:

• 1 in 3 American families struggle to provide diapers for their baby.
• Diapers are not covered under Food Stamps or WIC.
• Babies left in dirty diapers face greater risks for diaper rash, staph & UTIs.
• Diapers are required to attend free or subsidized childcare programs.

Please help me spread the word!

Pregnancy and Weight Gain - Part 2

As promised, I've completed Part 2 of my article over on TapMommies...

"Pregnancy and Weight Gain"

And don't forget - join the TapMommies community {HERE}!

Pregnancy and Weight Gain - Part 1

For those of you who are curious about how much weight gain is considered healthy during pregnancy (I know I was!), head on over to TapMommies to check out Part 1 of my latest article, 

"Pregnancy and Weight Gain"

Stay tuned for Part 2...

In the meantime, join the TapMommies community {HERE}!

Oh, and have a WONDERFUL weekend!

EXCLUSIVE Invitation to Join TapMommies!

Friends, Family, Followers and Fellow Moms (and Moms-to-Be!)...

Join me and the growing community over at TapMommies, a Health and Well-Being Community for Pregnant Women and New Moms. 

Here is the EXCLUSIVE Login Code: AJHT1123

Link: http://tapmommies.healthtap.com/invitation-only-beta/

I absolutely love being involved in this effort and I learn something new every single day from the articles and information posted on the blog.

Read more about the Community here: HealthTap Introduced TapMommies 

Don't hesitate to let me know if you have ANY questions!

10 Beneficial Low Impact Exercises for Pregnancy

This week over at TapMommies, I wrote about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy...if you know me at all, you know how much I love walking EVERYWHERE (and yes, 30 weeks into my pregnancy, I'm still walking 5 miles a day and hitting up the gym about 3-5 times a week...we'll see how long that lasts!).  

I don't know what has come over my body in the past two weeks, but I haven't felt this good since the very beginning of my Pregnancy and I firmly believe it's all the walking that has kept me feeling so strong...fingers crossed this feelings lasts a while longer. 

Go have a read at TapMommies and let me know what you think!  

Are there any totally awesome pregnancy-approved exercises that I missed???  Click the link below and let me know!

***10 Beneficial Low Impact Exercises for Pregnancy***

How to Look Good at Work While Pregnant

The wonderful team over at TapMommies allowed me to tackle How to Look Good at Work While Pregnant - here's a sneak peak...

Let me start this off by stating the following fact: I am by no means a fashionista or a trend-setter!!!

That being said, when I first found out I was pregnant I made the following promise to myself: I would not, as they say, “let myself go.” I say that because while I may not be a fashionista, I do take pride in my appearance.  So over the past few months as my body has continually transformed into a much more voluptuous shape, I, like millions of pregnant women around the world have had to learn how to dress for my new body type.

And while wearing yoga pants and a cute top may be appropriate for the weekends, dressing for work can be extra challenging!

Here are some suggestions I’ve learned along the way…

Click HERE to continue reading! 

Flu Shot...Check!

I had my monthly checkup this morning and I'm happy to report that Abby has a very strong heartbeat, she's growing like a weed, and she's extremely happy (I suppose you can't actually measure that last part, but she surely seems like a happy baby to me!).  

As a first time Mommy and self-proclaimed worrier, you may think that I'd be the type to walk in every month with a laundry list of questions to ask my doctor about everything new that I've felt or experienced.  But believe it or not, at 29 weeks, this was the first time I actually had any questions I really wanted answered (other than the ones at the very beginning: "Can I keep playing basketball?" "What is forbidden?" Etc.).

My questions?

1. When and where should I get my flu shot?

2. Do I get a whooping cough vaccine now?

3. Does my husband need these shots as well?

The answers?

1. Here and Now - I literally walked out of the doctor's office with my flu shot taken care of - brilliant!

2. No - not while pregnant - I will be getting this vaccine in the hospital once Abby has joined the world. 

3. Yes and Yes - this is his homework assignment - and it's extremely important!

All I know is that I'm happy I asked some questions and I'm even happier that my flu shot has been administered! 

Find out some more interesting information about the flu shot over at TapMommies - there's an eye-opening story that everyone should read: CDC Calls for Universal Flu Vaccines. How Come No One is Biting?

Top 10 Tips for Pregnancy & (Impending) Parenthood

Here's the latest and greatest over at TapMommies...

*********************************

Never in a million years did I think I would receive so much advice on Pregnancy and Parenthood in such a short amount of time.  It’s going to be hard to narrow down my favorites, but here goes nothing…

1. Buy a Belly Band

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).  As I close in on Week 27, I’m still able to squeeze into (some) pre-pregnancy jeans thanks to my Belly Band!

2.  Purchase Some Peace of Mind

Others may refer to this as Stretch Mark Cream, but since I believe stretch marks are hereditary, I can’t actually say I believe these creams reverse any physical effects of Pregnancy.  That being said, when I received my weekly email from The Bump at Week 21 that stated, “Gasp...is that a stretch mark?!! Take deep breaths and remember -- they'll fade after delivery,” I was a little freaked out.  After receiving tons of advice on various creams, I invested in Mother’s Special Blend, a firming oil found at Whole Foods.  Six weeks later, I’m still stretch-mark free and extremely happy I made the investment (whether or not it actually does anything!).

3. Join Golden Gate Mothers Group

Every Mom I know has highly recommend signing up for the GGMG. The group helps connect you with other Moms, they host events, offer Volunteering opportunities (which I’m interested in), and help facilitate Playgroups. I signed up yesterday!

4. Read/Watch Happiest Baby on the Block

The name alone has me sold…but more than that, we’ve heard that the advice given in these books and on the DVD are invaluable and might even increase the number of hours we’ll sleep. Ummm…yes please!

5. Don’t buy Baby Clothes

From the moment we told our friends and family we were Pregnant, we were given the following advice: “You do not need to buy baby clothes – that’s what everyone will gift you!”  And let me tell you – they couldn’t have been more accurate.  We’re still three months away from Abby entering the World and we have a dresser FULL of baby clothes, none of which we purchased (other than some frivolous San Francisco Giants outfits for next season!!!). 

6. Purchase a Swing

While we haven’t registered yet, we do know one item that will be at the top of our list – a Swing.  Literally every couple we’ve talked to so far has claimed that a swing can save your life…I’m ALL about saving lives, so sign me up!

7. Learn how to Wrap a Burrito (aka – Swaddle)

This one comes courtesy of my Dad who is a self-proclaimed “professional Swaddler”. His Swaddling experience goes back many years to when he’d wrap me up like a little burrito.  Not only did I love it, but HE loved it.   It’s a great way for Dads to get involved.  And knowing how much Travis loves Burritos, I imagine he’ll be an expert in no time! 

8. Discover the Brilliance of Soothies

Although pacifiers may not be for everyone, we’ve been told that the best of the best are called Soothies. We can literally say that every baby we know has been spotted with one in his/her mouth (though please keep in mind we know two babies…).

9. Invest in an AMAZING Breast Pump

Why skimp on something you’ll spend so much time on? Every Mommy I’ve spoken to has recommended that I purchase not just any breast pump, but a GREAT breast pump…and that’s precisely what I intend to do!

10. Go on a Babymoon

I saved the best for last.  Before baby arrives, go on a Vacation (or multiple Vacations) with your significant other!  Travis and I have had an amazing year of travel (Costa Rica, Hawaii, Atlanta, Seattle, etc.) and we’ve labeled each trip (other than our Honeymoon) a “Babymoon”…they’re truly invaluable and more than anything, they’re a BLAST!

This list could obviously go on and on but those are my favorite tips…thus far!  

7x7xMommy

Change Isn't Good...It's GREAT!

Well now that it's officially posted over at TapMommies, I can post it here as well...just in case you aren't aware of what's been going on over the past 6 months...

Change Isn't Good...It's GREAT!

Changing careers. Getting married. Starting a family. Moving.

What do each of these events have in common? They’re consistently categorized as some of life’s most significant (and oftentimes stressful) events.

Why does any of this matter to me? Because in the span of six months, I’ve been impacted by every single one of these events…in SIX MONTHS.

My story goes a little something like this…

In March of 2010, I made the tough decision to quit my job as a Financial Analyst at a Commercial Real Estate company where I absolutely loved the people I worked with but no longer found joy in my day-to-day tasks…

In that same month, I married my best friend and after celebrating with friends and family, we enjoyed the most amazing Honeymoon in Costa Rica…

After taking a month off to “re-evaluate my career path” and become a Master Chef in the kitchen (I had much more success with the latter), I began hunting for a new job in May (there’s only so much downtime a person can have before going stir crazy!)…

One whole week later, I landed a new gig as an Executive Assistant to a Partner at a C-Level Recruiting Firm in San Francisco…

The day after my 26^th birthday in June, my new journey as an EA began…

Right as I was getting settled into my new career (I was literally a week in), my Husband and I learned that our time in Costa Rica was even more magical than we’d originally thought…a Pregnancy test came back POSITIVE…helloooooooooooooooo Honeymoon Baby!

And just in case a new marriage, a new job and a newly forming fetus weren’t enough, we were also forced to face the reality that our one bedroom apartment in San Francisco was no longer going to cut it. Cue the two bedroom apartment hunt…

By the time August rolled around, we were officially settled into our new apartment and bedroom #2 was officially deemed Abby’s nursery.

I must admit – as I’m describing this journey I can hardly believe I managed to maintain any sanity whatsoever over these months. Thank goodness I have my husband, Travis, as my rock – he’s unbelievably talented at keeping me grounded when I’m convinced the whole world’s about to implode. He’s also great at reminding me that while each of these changes have been significant, they’ve all been incredibly POSITIVE! Sure, at times they’ve been a bit overwhelming, but here’s the bottom line: I have an unbelievably supportive husband, a steady yet flexible job, and a family that’s about to grow exponentially with love.

Plus, I feel like these changes are simply rounding out the past few years which have been quite amazing all on their own. I met my Husband in 2008. We were engaged in 2009. We got married in 2010. And we’re expecting baby Abby to arrive in 2011. That’s not a bad run…

Enter 7x7xMommy…

With so many changes and stories to share (paired with my passion for writing), I decided to embark on my blogging adventure with 7x7xMommy on August 18^th of 2010. While I’ve only been at it a few months, it’s quickly become a passion, an obsession, and a way of life.

And as life continues to evolve in the coming days, weeks, months and years, I look forward to sharing these stories with you. I’m both flattered and humbled to be joining the TapMommies team at HealthTap and I hope my contributions will be insightful, informative, and most of all, irresistibly entertaining!

7x7xMommy

TapMommies has Officially LAUNCHED!

I am in the middle of one of the craziest weeks at work, but that WILL NOT stop me from posting this EXTREMELY exciting news...

Robin (the Social Media Director and CFO *Chief Fun Officer* at HealthTap) just informed me that the newly designed TapMommies Blog has officially launched...and after taking a peek at it myself, I couldn't be more excited!  

The design is AMAZING (props to Robin!) and the content is pretty darn amazing as well (check it out and you'll see why I'm so keen on it...)!

PLUS...could the logo be ANY CUTER?   I think not.

Please go poke around the site, read my Featured Article Change Isn't Good...It's GREAT!, and stay tuned for updates...

This is TOO fun...TOOOOOO FUN, I tell you!!!

7x7xMommy

Spotted...HealthTap in the San Jose Mercury News!

OK, OK, so I may not have Spotted today's post on my walk to work this morning...and I can't even take credit for spotting it (thank you, Travis)...but it is most definitely Spot worthy!

Last Wednesday I announced that I will be joining the TapMommies crew over at HealthTap (yay!), a blog that "helps pregnant women and new moms make better decisions about their health and well-being."   And yesterday morning while we were enjoying a delicious breakfast at my parent's house in Redwood City, Travis was flipping through the Sunday Business section of the San Jose Mercury News and all of a sudden looks up and says, "Hey, HealthTap is mentioned in this article..."

The article?  Get ready for the decade of Gamification by Chris O'Brien.  It's a great piece that examines how "Gamification" (which "developers believe...will make the dreariest of tasks more fun and engaging") will not only become more and more commonplace, but it will soon become expected in the consumer online experience.  

HealthTap, therefore, is on the cutting edge of the internet trend - people want to have engaging experiences online...and not just engaging experiences, but fun experiences.  If HealthTap can channel this desire and create a positive, educational, and health-promoting experience all at the same time, then I feel like they're truly tapping into (pun intended - I crack myself up...) something special.

As stated in the article, "Ron Gutman, founder of HealthTap, a valley startup that's in early development, said his team is trying to figure out how to use gamelike tools to motivate people to share their health concerns, find treatments or providers that can help them, and then take better care of themselves. 'If you can get hundreds of millions of people playing a game like 'FarmVille,' what can you learn from this kind of engagement?' he said. 'And can we deploy it in a place that it will do good? Like helping people lead healthier lives?'"

I must say, not only was it fun to read about HealthTap in the paper (and to understand more about the significance of Gamification), but I'm proud to be a small part of such a positive initiative. 

The New Adventures of 7x7xMommy...

Friends, Family & Followers,

I have some very exciting news to share with you! 

I'm about to embark on a new adventure in the world of Blogging. 

I'm not sure if you remember my very first post back on August 18th, 2010, but I made the following statement:

" I, of course, happen to be the type of idealistic crazy person who actually believes that this blog might bring me new friends, increased wisdom, and overwhelming fame - the last one might be a bit of a stretch, but not a big one..."   - 7x7xMommy-To-Be :: 8.18.2010

An idealistic crazy person...yep, that's me!  And so far, it's the crazy in me that has successfully propelled me through so many of life's challenges, adventures and triumphs.  And today, I feel like I can celebrate a small (yet extremely meaningful and noteworthy) triumph.

I'm extremely happy and humbled to report that I've been asked to become a regular contributor over at HealthTap, a blog that "helps pregnant women and new moms make better decisions about their health and well-being."  Based out of beautiful Palo Alto, this Start-Up is "committed to creating a healthier, happier world – one decision at a time."  HealthTap will be launching a dedicated Mom section on their site and I'll be one of the Voices in their effort to continue building a community.

Please stay tuned for more information on both HealthTap and on my Posts over on their Blog...

Overwhelming Fame?  No. We're not quite there yet...

Overwhelming Excitement?  Absolutely!