The mamaRoo by 4moms

It's been a while since I last post anything on the blog. I am so thrilled to announce the arrival of our son Ryland Cash!  He was born on Sunday June 23rd and has been such a light in our lives.  Parenthood is no joke but we can save that for another post. I want my first write up as a new mommy to be about a swing we received as a present. It's called the mamaRoo by 4moms and looks like a Kubrick 2001: Space Odyssey invention. Your baby can swing back and forth in synch the following rhythms - car ride, kangaroo, tree swing, rock a bye and ocean. Ryland loves it. The mamaRoo motions were designed in synch with the motions that moms and dads made when they were rocking their babies. Yup, they put sensors on parents to figure out how to soothe the baby properly. There is also a plug in for your iPod so that your baby can be rocked while rocking out. The swing is perfect for newborns up to 25 pounds. Again, we love the mamaRoo and I think you will too. 

The Little Prince by Matej Peljihan

The Little Prince is a set of photographs by Slovenian psychologist and photographer Matej Peljhan of 12-year-old Luka who suffers from muscular dystrophy.  Matej wanted to capture the boy participating in adventures that he is not able to do so because of his disease.  "The only thing he is physically capable of are tiny, yet extremely weak movements with his fingers," Matej said in an interview with Huffington Post.  You can check out more photos of Luka here.

The Waiting Game: Past Your Due Date

Peter C. Vey Cartoon Courtesy of Conde Nast

One of the biggest misconceptions I had before I was pregnant is that I would deliver by my due date. Well, I waved hello to my due date anticipating to give birth that day and then waved goodbye to it as it passed me by. In order to keep sane about the whole matter, I’ve written down a list of things I’m doing to keep me occupied until I go into labor. Enjoy!

1. Make a hospital mix. Music is such a big part of my life and I can’t imagine going through the whole labor process without it. I’ve created and refined my labor mix over and over again. I chose songs that will help me get through the pain and help soothe me at the same time. I’ll try to figure out how to post my mix on the blog for you to listen to.

2. Clean your house or apartment. They say that nesting is the first sign that you will go into labor but the way I see it is that I will be so boggled down once the baby arrives that I don’t know when I will get around to cleaning and organizing it again so I treat everyday like it’s the last one I have to clean.

3. Have a dance party! OK it will not be a major dance party like the wild ones you had in your early years but while you are making your mix, play some songs that make you want to grab your belly, shake your hips and move around the room! Remember, studies show that the little one can hear what goes on in your world so play him some tunes and bust a move!

4. Go for long walks. I’ve felt a sudden burst of energy in the past two weeks of my pregnancy and have used it to take my two dogs for walks around the neighborhood. It’s been a great way to reflect on how far I’ve come since I first found out I was pregnant, keeps me fit, improves circulation and it helps little one move down to the birth canal.

5. Organize email addresses to notify friends and family once the baby is born. I have friends all over the world that are anxious to hear news of the arrival of our little son! I’ve made an email list so I can send out a mass email to everyone with photos once our son arrives.

Supermodel Christy Turlington Burns of Every Mother Counts Collaborates with Ergobaby

I've previously written about the non-profit foundation Every Mother Counts founded by supermodel Christy Turlington Burns, which provides resources and education to end preventable deaths caused by pregnancy and childbirth around the globe. They have exclusively collaborated with the popular baby brand ErgoBaby and designed a set of accessories in which 10% of the profits is donated to Every Mother Counts and includes a diaper bag, baby carriers and shoulder bag. Almost every mother I know swears by their ErgoBaby carrier. All of these items comes in a beautiful unique African "Umba"print. What is better than buying baby necessities and having the money go to a good cause?  Find out about the collaboration here.

Top Five Things I Didn’t Know About Being Pregnant

1. Eventually, even your maternity shirts will no longer fit you. At the beginning of my pregnancy, I didn’t purchase a lot of maternity wear because I knew that I would be able to incorporate some of my oversized clothes I had pre-pregnancy into my pregnancy wardrobe. However, I did buy a couple of long sleeved maternity shirts and they have served as my trusty go-to staples.  What I didn’t realize when I bought them is that they would eventually be too small for my big belly.  I’m a couple weeks before my due date and I find the skin above my waist line exposed when I wear them. I’ve pretty much given up being modest about showing a bit of belly in public.

2. You will not be one of those model/actress types that barely looks pregnant. Before I was pregnant I thought I would look like Giselle or Claire Danes who were perfectly toned with exception of their baby bump. However, I learned that everyone’s body reacts to pregnancy differently. I’m small boned and was a runner before my pregnancy and now my body has grown in ways that I didn’t expect. One of the positive aspects of my pregnancy is the visit from the boob fairy.  Hello, new boobs!  If you freak out about being too big during your pregnancy, just reassure yourself that the baby weight is important for a healthy baby and you will be able to work out and eat healthier once the little one is born.

3.  Everything will make you cry. I can’t watch anything now without tearing up a bit especially if it has to do with childbirth, animals or babies.  I find myself starting to watch shows and immediately turning them off because it becomes like an emotional rollercoaster.  For example, I tried watching Call The Midwife on PBS which is about childbirth in East London during the 50’s and although it was beautifully shot and really interesting, I just couldn’t get through an episode without crying hysterically. Forget looking any YouTube clips about baby’s first bath, dog rescues or doing something mundane like folding my baby’s clothes, it all leads to Niagara Falls.

4. Sciatica sucks. This has been the bane of my pregnancy. The sciatic nerve extends from the lower back down the back of each leg. When you’re pregnant, this nerve becomes irritated from pressure from the uterus or baby and the pain is almost debilitating. My husband has been my hero throughout this process in more ways than one. I am forever grateful for him helping me walk at times and massaging my lower back and hips because it has been so painful. I find that doing stretches like pigeon or butterfly after you workout and before you go to bed helps relieve some of the tension.

5. Strangers will want to talk to you about being pregnant. Being from New York, I am still getting used to the idea of talking to strangers here in California when they greet me with a “hello” or “how are you?” I have to resist the urge to give them hesitant side eye scowls and instead try to be more welcoming. Now that I am pregnant people want to know the details asking questions like, “How far along?”, “boy or girl?” or simply say “congratulations!” or my favorite “blessings!” I think these remarks are really endearing and it’s nice to share your excitement about your baby!

The Ultimate Simple Smoothie Recipe For Summer

I am a smoothie advocate and with summer right around the corner, what better way to celebrate warm weather with a delicious thick fruity smoothie? They are super cheap to make (once you have the ingredients) and have all the nutrients you need for a nutritious snack.  I probably make around four smoothies a week.  Below is my easy to follow recipe for a simple smoothie that will leave you refreshed and feeling healthy.

1/2 cup of fresh strawberries
1 banana
1 teaspoon of flax seeds
1 handful of fresh blueberries
1/2 cup of orange juice
1/2 cup of plain or vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup of ice

Blend strawberries, banana, flax seeds, blueberries, orange juice,  yogurt and ice together until smooth. Pout into a glass and if you are feeling sassy, add a strawberry for a garnish.

QT's Designer Baby Package

Photo Courtesy of the QT Sydney

My husband and I are currently trying to plan a vacation that is both baby and parent friendly.  My friend Mandana from the Nancy Girl blog, recently suggested the BabyQ Package at the QT Hotel located in Sydney, Australia. The 3 day/ 2 night stay includes breakfast (with freshly made baby food), a bottle of Champagne and spa treatments for mommy and daddy. The hotel room has everything you need for you and your pampered baby including a Leander crib, a self-heating iiamo go bottle and a changing mat. Located blocks away from Sydney's beaches, gardens and art galleries, The QT Hotel is the perfect retreat. What more could you want out of a vacation?

How Not To Feel Overwhelmed By Baby Gear

Photograph by Terry Richardson for French Vogue

The first week after our baby shower it felt like Babies"R"Us threw up all over our apartment. It was so overwhelming. I told my husband it felt like a phantom roommate moved in when we were gone and then took off to South America. Living in a one bedroom apartment, we have limited space so we just shoved all the boxes and bags of clothes in the corner of the living room and it sat there for a couple weeks. I figured out an organization plan that worked for us and brought the stress level down to a minimum. Here are some tips.

1. Buy a dresser/ changing station for the baby. There are so many affordable options out there for baby furniture these days. We found our dream changing table/ dresser at Pottery Barn Kids.  It is affordable and made of solid wood, which is important for us. We placed all the blankets, clothing and plush toys in the drawers so that they would have a home until the baby arrived.

2. Wash all of the infant clothes now! It's important to throw all the blankets and clothing in the wash before the baby comes in contact with them. I am the type of person who likes to prepare for everything so there is no better time than now to do this than now. Your newborn will have sensitive skin, so you need to prepare for that. According to studies some baby clothes, "Are sprayed with formaldehyde before being shipped so that they get that fresh look" and also who knows what was crawling around the warehouse where the clothing was stored. We use Seventh Generation Unscented Laundry detergent, which is biodegradable, free of dyes and synthetic fragrances. After washing everything, you can store them in your dresser for your baby. To read more about it, click here.

3. If borrowing baby gear, wait until two weeks before your due date to pick it up. We have friends and family members that are loaning us various things for our baby. Stuff like a car seat is just going to sit in the corner of our apartment so why not leave it at their place until we really need it?

4. Take inventory and make lists of things you still need. I am a total list person. I make lists everyday of things I need to do.  I realized after everything we received from the shower, I still needed various nursing stuff so I went out and purchased them and stored them in our adult dresser until needed.

5. If the item in the box is larger when put together than the box, leave it in the box. We received a swing and a pac and play crib and both items are a lot larger when put together than the storage box and travel case that they arrived in. There's no point in having a swing or crib set up in our apartment when there's no baby to put them in.

6. Have the will power to tell people "no thank you." One of the best part about being pregnant is realizing how much love and support you have around you. People want to give you things they have or buy you things they think you need. We've had so many generous people say, "Here, take this baby blah blah blah." At first, thought we needed it but then I realized it would just take up space in our apartment and then it would make me feel overwhelmed. I really can't pin point what our baby will need other than clothing, breast milk, a crib and other odds and ends but that doesn't mean I am going to load up on everything that people offer. Instead of flat out rejecting things from friends and family, I've told them that I would wait until the baby arrives and if I still needed it, I would take them up on their offer.

On a side note, I've been listening to 10,000 Maniac's 'Eat For Two.' I think my sister had this album and Our Time in Eden. If you are pregnant, have a baby or want to revisit late 80's nostalgia click the video below.

How To Live With Zero Waste

My husband and I have tried to stay conscious of how much crap we bring into our apartment because there is just not enough room and we end up feeling guilty about how much crap we have.  He sent me an inspiring article this weekend on how one Mill Valley family in San Francisco is practically living waste free.  They only have a quart of trash a year!

The mother, Bea Johnson, has her own blog called Zero Waste Home and has recently released a book by the same name which you can order here.  She writes about how her "goal is to shatter pre-conceptions associated with the Zero Waste lifestyle and share what we discovered about its incredible health, financial and time saving benefits."  Her moto is refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot.  There are so many tips on her website like how to make your own toothpaste, all natural cleaning recipes, gardening techniques,  how to mend socks; just to name a few.  She has also released a smartphone app that assists you in finding places to buy in bulk.

I don't know realistically if my family will ever be 100% zero waste but it's great to have a guidebook and blog on hand to assist us with how to live a resourceful lifestyle.

How To Prepare Your Pets For The Baby

Shasta and Gizmo 

My husband and I have two wonderful dogs that are so much a part of what makes us a family. I am scared that their needs will fall by the wayside once the baby arrives.  I have been researching ways of how to help them adjust to a new baby preventing any depression, shock or resentment post-pregnancy.  Here are some of the ways I am preparing to keep their spirits up and behave like well-adjusted doggy siblings.

1. Write down dates of medication intake and future veterinarian appointments.  Both of our dogs take Frontline Flea Prevention and Heartguard once a month.  I usually have the date of dosage set in my head but since things will be chaotic post-pregnancy, I wrote down all the dates in which we will need to administer these medications.  I also went through their folder of when they will need their shots and annual check ups for the next year or so.

2. Include the dogs in your post-pregnancy workout routine.  Before I was pregnant one of my favorite things to do was take our Beagle mix, Shasta, on long runs.  It was a time for the two of us to be alone since our Chihuahua, Gizmo, is too small for such an endeavor.  The best part about running with a dog is that it tires them out and in turn they feel more relaxed and less anxious while hanging out at home.  I’m looking forward to getting back into my running routine and plan on taking Shasta with me at least twice a week. Click here to read more.

3. Bones and treats.  When there are bones around the dogs could care less about my anything else but the bones and they are in bliss.  We also have a Kong, which is a hollow rubber dog toy that you place wet food or treats inside.  The dogs spend their time trying to get the treats out and it is time consuming.  I believe they deserve to be spoiled for going through sleepless nights with us and sharing their household with a new baby. Click here to read more.

4. Bring home a hospital blanket and baby hat from the hospital pre-arrival.  A dog’s sense of smell helps them understand the world around them and they rely on it the same way humans rely on their sight.  As the dog sniffs the items from the hospital they become familiar with the idea of having the new little one in the house. Cesar Milan recommends at first have the dogs sniff the items from afar.  According to him, “you are communicating to your dog that the item is yours and then giving permission for the dog to sniff. This helps the process of creating respect for the baby.” Click here to read more.

5. Train the dogs that the baby’s toys are not their toys.  Gizmo is pretty low key with stuffed animals.  He loves fetch so if there is a stuffed animal on the floor he is quick to retrieve it. Shasta, however, loves to play tug and destroy all toys in her path.  It’s pretty damn cute until we brought all the baby stuff home.  The first thing she went for is our diaper cake from our baby shower!  She wanted to tear those little diapers to shreds. My husband and I put a diaper on the floor and spent time with her to make sure she wouldn’t tear them to bits.  We are still working with her on the other items that she’s curious about - the teething rings, large stuffed animals and the Sleep Sheep on the crib. Click here to read more.

Just because your household dynamics are going to change does not mean that it has to be a stressful environment for your pets.  If you take control of the situation before the baby’s arrival and anticipate factors that lead to your dog’s uneasiness and confusion, you can make them more well adjusted and which will lead to a happier abode.

Christy Turlington Burns for Every Mother Counts

Want a cute t-shirt and promote a great cause while wearing it? Model and activist Christy Turlington and her husband Ed Burns have found an organization called Every Mother Counts. It's goal is to make pregnancy and childbirth safe throughout the world. Statistics show that 90% of mothers who die during the labor process in third world nations are preventable. That is a scary percentile.  Every Mother Counts recently collaborated with the brand Oiselle and designed a t-shirt (seen above) in which 40% of the proceeds go to the foundation.  Also, check out her directorial debut of the movie that inspired the website titled No Woman No Cry which takes the viewer around the globe to show at-risk pregnancy stories.  

Stretch Mark Prevention

I find myself looking at my belly lately for any trace of stretch marks. I can't help but wonder if my days of frolicing in a bikini with a stretch mark free stomach is behind me. However, no matter if I get them or not I am at peace with it because of the miracle that is taking place inside my body. I mean don't get me wrong, I would rather not have them but if they do appear, there's no point in worry or stress. Stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched so tightly that the elastic fibers of the skin break. I have been taking precautionary measures to assure that my belly and chest area are oiled up daily. I'm pretty much on the all natural route for my pregnancy and I have been using Home Health's Almond Glow Rose Skin Lotion. It's more of an oil than lotion. I try to put it on once a day, especially after I get out of the shower. I find the results are working so far but of course, I cannot predict the future. The best thing about Almond Glow is that it has no parabens or preservatives.

  Model/ blogger Molly Sims has a great all natural recipe that I have yet to try that can be found here. She recommends nourishing your skin even before you are pregnant.

Model Heidi Klum recommends Basq, which is not too pricey at all. The website is a little overwhelming because there are several products that claim to fight stretch marks.. You can find those products here.

Fashion Designer/ former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham used Elemis Japanese Camellia Oil Blend, which costs $45 and can be found here.

TED Talks - What We Learn Before We're Born

I just hit my 24 week mark so I am starting to think what my baby will be like. I love TED Talks. It is like a rabbit hole and I can fall down it for hours and just watch several lectures in a row. The following is by writer Annie Murphy Paul . She discusses what babies learn before they are born. It's amazing how much the mother-to-be affects the baby with what they eat, how they feel, etc. Enjoy!

It's A Beautiful Morning

I wake up hungry. In fact, I sometimes lay in bed in the morning thinking about what I want to eat. I basically eat the same thing every morning and treat myself on the weekends for some home made brunch. Being pregnant, I think about every little thing I eat - nutrients, how it will affect the baby, how it will make me feel, etc. My favorite cereal that provides all vitamins and nutrients I need is called Ezekiel Sprouted Whole Grain Golden Flax Cereal. I discovered it when I was on a raw food diet years ago in Brooklyn. The cereal is high in fiber, vegan and made with sprouted grains. It does taste rather plain and some people call it rabbit food, but I find it best served on top of another cereal. Currently, I mix it with Barbara's Shredded Spoonfuls Multigrain Cereal and add blueberries on top for some antioxidants. Ezekiel is a pricey cereal. In both New York and California, a box costs as much as $6 but for me, the wellness and I am a believer that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.