Coco Chanel “invented” the little back dress back in 1926. Ever since it has been a staple in any woman’s wardrobe. If you have a baby growing in your belly, that is no excuse. When i was pregnant with my first, i had an event that required me to hit the streets looking for a little black dress. i found one that i loved and looked amazing on me. It was even marked down quite a bit…score!! This dress has seen me through all three pregnancies with ease. Talk about a serious staple!

The dress is from Kiki’s Fashions.  It has a low V shaped back.  The detail on the front is rhinestones.  it is 95% Cotton 5% Polyester which makes it comfortable to wear and more versatile from night to day.  i think maternity clothes should always be versatile because they aren’t worn for too long of a time so you want all the bang for your buck.

On the right side is more the evening look.  A low kitten heel is perfect for the pregnant mama that doesn’t want to give up her heels but still in the safe range.  Your center of gravity shifts and we don’t want you in the ER because you HAD to wear heels and feel over.  Aren’t the bracelets great?  i saw them and want them!!  The ones with faces are from Nina Valkhoff (most of the site is another language although there is a small English portion).  The red one (which i want also!) is from My Prestigium.  Top off the outfit with some nice chandelier earrings.  A little classy and a little attitude.  Just some advice, you might want to pull on your favorite black shawl.  One of the first rules to dressing a pregnant body, layers, layers layers.

For day time, pair it with some fun ballet slippers, a cute pair of earrings (these are from Claire’s), and a cardigan.  Whahlaa!  Day to evening and evening to day.

When we are pregnant, we think about the birth, breastfeeding, and sleepless nights.  We don’t really think about infant CPR or choking.  i know, i know, it’s another thing to be worried about especially with an infant and all the checking we do when they are sleeping to make sure they are breathing.  If your older child gave the baby a small toy and it landed in the baby’s mouth, would you know what to do (i mean after you start to panic)?

For me, choking is personal.  When my oldest was a little guy, my brother was feeding him some food and he began to choke.  Talk about a scary situation!  my sister-in-law had to leave the kitchen because she was freaking out.  Thankfully i had training and was able to take charge.  i grabbed Chandlur out of my brother’s arms, put him over my arm and started hitting his back with the heel of my hand.  At first, there was nothing, that is when panic began to set in.  i hear my sister-in-law asking if we need to call 911.  i just kept on whacking him focused fully on his little body, praying God would intervene.  Finally the food shot out of his mouth and into the sink.  It was one of those sobering moments when you realize in an instant you could loose your child.  If i did not know what to do, i would have freaked out from the start, and the situation would have been much worse.

These are some great videos from The Pregnancy Show on infant CPR and choking.

Our family was home all day Saturday and we had the Olympics on.  Running seemed to be the theme for awhile.  It is the only sport my athletic loving 5 year old watched completely enthralled.  It makes this running lover mama super proud!  Anyways, my hubby and i were watching the Olympic Marathon that evening.  He kept asking, “How long is it again?”.  Tomescu from Romania, was spectacular!  The last leg was once around the track inside the Bird’s Nest.  The crowd was screaming and cheering.  While being astonished by how fast she was, i began to get the chills and a little teary eyed.  All i could say over and over again, “WOW!”.  Can you imagine that feeling?  You have been training and training for the pinnacle of your sport.  Your training pays off, you get the gold, and you get the cheering of thousands and thousands of people to get you through that last little bit.  WHEW!  How amazing!!

Many doctors equate giving birth to a marathon.  After 2 natural births (my third was a C-section because of a rare condition neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia), i get that.  In my opinion, giving birth is the pinnacle of womanhood.  Woman have been given the special gift of bearing children.  i know it’s a little old fashion and perhaps controversial.  Isn’t it organic though?  It’s what our bodies were created to do.  Don’t get me wrong, i do believe very much in birth control.  Without that, i would have a mass of children, a gynormous food bill, and have to dye my gray hair every month.  If this is going to be such an intense experience, wouldn’t we want a little training?  Instead of struggling at the end like Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain who wasn’t able to finish the 2004 Olympics, with training, you can be at the front of the race and have a more enjoyable experience.  Imagine as your partner is asking “How much longer?”, the nurses and doctors are cheering you on to get you through that last little bit.  i know how busy life can be (oh do i know).  Birthing Classes may be put on the hold until all of a sudden you find yourself in the hospital in labor.  Go to Birthright and sign up for the virtual childbirth classes.  Now you can be prepared to enjoy those whoops and hollers when you are on the home stretch and your baby is about to make his/her appearance.

Birthright offers four different options depending on your personality.  You can choose the 12 week, 7 week, or self-paced course.  If you prefer a paperback version, that is also available.  You will have unlimited access to Study Womb which has numerous tools to help you.  Also, there is a private forum to be able to ask your questions to a childbirth educator.  The creators of Birthright believe so much in their course, they provide a 100% money back gauruntee within 8 weeks.  You have no reason not to try this innovative new approach to childbirth classes.

Please send me your stories and experiences with these childbirth classes.  i want to feature them in a later post.

Here’s to a safe, smooth birth for you and baby!

Babyrazzi is a fun blog i subscribe to.  It’s all about celebrities and their babies.  They just posted an article i find somewhat disturbing (as seen by my comment on it).  i am just like the next guy (or gal) who wants my children to be unique.  Finding that place begins with the name our parents choose for us.   We have gotten away from the traditional names and now anything goes (check out 2007 popular names).  Actress Busy Philipps with husband Marc Silverstein just had a baby girl and named her Birdie.  Recently General Hospital Star, Ingo Rademacher had a baby boy and named him Peanut.  Really?  Don’t they realize these kids will have this name until they die (or at least go down to the courthouse and have it changed)?  Chris Martin (Gwyneth Paltrow’s hubby) said, ““There’s nothing weird about calling your baby Chewbacca if that’s what you want to call your baby,…”   This just seems a little selfish to me.  Isn’t parenthood about giving your child the best you are able to and being unselfish?  Would you want to walk around in life with the name Peanut?

What is the one thing we as moms always dread wasting our money on (or is it just me?)?  DIAPERS!  i like giving diapers at baby showers and watching the sigh of relief as the mommy opens it.  She knows that is one less trip to the store just for diapers…again.  The only problem with giving diapers is that while practical, it is not very personable or unique (you can admit it, we always want our gift to stand out).  In comes Lil Baby Cakes and their adorable baby shower gifts to the rescue.  The diaper cakes would also be great if you are the one hosting.  How amazing would one of these look as the center piece?  It can double as your gift so you are actually multitasking.  What woman doesn’t like a little multitasking?

Each diaper cake is made with Pamper Swaddlers diapers.  If the mommy-to-be is choosing cloth diapers, all designs are available with cloth diapers upon special request.  They range from a mini 2 tiered cake, all the way up to a magnificent, show stopping 6 tiered cake.  Every diaper cake also comes with baby supplies and/or a snugly, stuffed Gund animal.  The best part, ALL diapers are usable!  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, let Candy and her team create the perfect diaper cake for you to get all the ooh and aahs.

So you heard someone else is bringing the diaper cake, and now you have no idea what to do (after a few tears and unsuccessful convincing she bring perhaps some adorable clothes).  Go back to Lil Baby Cakes and take a look at the other baby gifts they offer.  Does the daddy-to-be have hopes of a golf prodigy?  They have the sweetest My First Golf Bag.  Maybe daddy has dreams of fishing trips (all the fun stuff isn’t just for mommy.  daddy needs to feel a part of it all too, right?), how about My First Tackle Box.  These are too cute!  How can you resist saying no?  We all know how important a good relationship with daddy is.  It starts from the beginning and what a better way help daddy along in his sometimes awkward journey of parenthood.  These would be perfect especially if the gender is unknown.  Every little girl likes to be involved in whatever daddy is.  i’m a girl and i like fishing:)

Lil Baby Cakes has been in business since 1998 and has a “Word of Honor” guarantee.  Here is what they say “Our top priority is for you to be thrilled with your purchase. But if for any reason you aren’t (though we can’t imagine why you wouldn’t be!) we’ll cheerfully refund your money or replace your diaper cake.You have our word on it.”  Now you have no excuse not showing up with a sumptuous gift.

Until recently pregnancy has been some what of a mystery.  Sure we have had the fuzzy black and white ultrasound machine since the 50’s.  The first 3D ultrasound machine was developed by Olaf von Ramm and Stephen Smith at Duke University in 1987.  Relatively not too long ago.  i think sometimes when we have these amazing technologies we forget how new they really are (considering how long woman have been giving birth.  thanks Eve for the pain!).  Because of this amazing technology of the ultrasound machine and medicine in general, we have been able to capture crystal clear images of a fetus.  Whenever i see these pictures i am just in awe of the technology and the miracle of pregnancy.  i have found a really neat video pregnancy calendar called PregnanSee.  It’s a must see! haha

This has been one of those crazy weeks that leave you doubting your sanity and ability to juggle all the balls at the same time.  I had some extra kids, trying new parenting techniques from Love and Logic, and just the usual busy we have going on with 3 young ones (the oldest is getting ready for kindergarten!), a business, and a household (which reminds me, i really need to get my kitchen floor clean!  tomorrow??).  There have not been many moments to sit and breath.  Running with no headphones provides me those small moments of peace i am desperate for.  i went for my run yesterday morning as usual.  As i was chugging along (the joy of choosing a hilly route!)  All of a sudden i saw an older woman i would guess mid fifties running toward me.  She had short, just below the ears curly blond/gray hair.  She had on black spandex shorts with a turquoise tank and listening to some headphones (and in great shape i might add).  i can see her so clearly!  She looked at me with a big grin and enthusiastically said “You go girl!!”  This was no usual passing.  Usually i can see someone coming because i keep my eyes up looking at the landmarks.  i like to play mind games with myself so i don’t stop when it gets hard.  Usually i get a wave, a smile, or many times a quick hi.  After this woman passed my whole back began to tingle.  It started at the base of my spine and went all the way to the top of my head (all through my chakras if you believe in them).  In all of my experiences with the spiritual world, i have never before had this intense of a physical response.  i think i was just encouraged by an angel!

Ok, it’s honesty time ladies. We all know how much of a uuhhmm we can be with our hormones raging during pregnancy and the wonderful post partum time. Sometimes (at least for me) our men are left bewildered (and trying to find where you put the milk THIS time) not sure what to say or how to respond less they cause us to go into a volcanic eruption. i have found the greatest support for them that is also HILARIOUS. On the right sidebar, check out the Youtube video, and feel free to charm your man when you both come home tonight.