Old wives tales

Boy or girl? With each of my two pregnancies that was what I just couldn't wait to find out. Having to wait for that 20 week ultrasound is so hard for an impatient person like me. My first was a boy but I had a feeling it was all along. With my second pregnancy, I turned to the internet to find out all of the different old wives tales and other signs that might tell me if I was having a boy or girl.

I have to admit, everything I read was saying that I was having a girl, and then when I got the ultrasound, it was confirmed that it was. So maybe there is some truth to these old wives tales after all.

Symptoms and old wives tales that indicate gender:

If you are craving sweet treats, it is a girl.

Salty or sour cravings, a boy.

(I was definitely craving sweets, but then again, I have some kind of treat every day, so that wasn't anything new)

If you break out with severe acne, a girl.

Mild or no acne, a boy.

With morning sickness, if you are severely sick, it's a boy.

If you are mildly sick, it's a girl.

AND

If you are sick in the morning, a boy.

Sick in the evening, a girl.

(My morning sickness was worse in the morning with my son. With my daughter it wasn't as bad, but a lot worse in the evening)

If you are growing extra body hair, a boy.

No extra body hair, it's a girl.

If you are carrying the baby low, it's a boy.

If you are carrying the baby high, a girl.

This one makes me laugh!

If your husband gains weight, it's a girl!

If your husband doesn't gain any weight, then it's a boy.

Put a wedding ring or needle on a string and have someone hold it over your belly while you lay down...

If it moves in a circle it's a girl.

If it moves side to side, a boy.

(I did this with my second pregnancy, and it did in fact move in a circle indicating it was a girl)

If you prefer sleeping on your left side, it's a boy.

If you prefer the right side, a girl.

(I found this one interesting since with my second pregnancy I all of a sudden always wanted to sleep on my right side, which wasn't typical for me)

What other ones are there that you think are true?

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A must read!!

Once you have children, you quickly learn that everything in your house can be dangerous. Some people go the minimalist route with childproofing, while others don't want to take any chances and they child proof everything humanly possible.

No matter where you fall when it comes to childproofing, the bathroom is one place we all need to pay special attention to. Because of all of the sad stories I have heard of accidents with children in bathrooms, I feel like it's one of the most important things we should learn about and remember, and pay special attention to.

Here are some important things to remember to keep your child safe.

--The most important of all: Never, never, never, ever leave your child alone in the bathtub! It is unsafe to leave a child under the age of 6 alone in the bathtub. Children can drown in a matter of seconds, and even those that are accustom to spending time in water. So if you are giving your child a bath and the phone rings, someone comes to the door, or your other child starts doing something they shouldn't, don't let that pull you away. Those things can wait and the safety of your child is most important. If you're the only one at home when you give your child a bath, make sure you get everything you need before getting them in the bathtub.

And remember, kids are top heavy. So make sure you are in the bathroom even when you are filling to tub. If your child leans into the bathtub as you are filling it, they can fall in head first.

I honestly can't stress the importance of this enough!

--Keep bathrooms locked at all times when you aren't in there with your child. I know this sounds inconvenient, but we all know what sneaky little critters our children can be, and they can get themselves into some trouble (but most importantly into some danger) if they sneak in there alone.

--Make sure you set your hot-water thermostat between 100-125 degrees Fahrenheit. If you put your hand under the hot water and it's uncomfortable, it's too hot. It doesn't take long for water that's too hot to burn your child.

--Don't let your child get in the bathtub until your are done filling the bath. The temperature of the water can change for different reasons and you don't want it to get too hot while they are in there.

--Don't allow your child to touch the taps. If you start with this rule now, it can make it easier later on when they are strong enough to turn the water off and on themselves.

--Install nonslip mats or decals to help prevent falls. It's also a good idea to make a no standing rule when it comes to bath time. And make sure there is a mat outside of the bathtub to avoid falls when they are getting out with slippery feet.

--Install a faucet cover over the bathtub taps. These are inexpensive and can be found at most department or children's stores. If there are any falls in the bathtub it can help prevent them hitting the faucet.

--Find a safe place to keep cleaning supplies, razors, mouthwash, electrical appliances, and beauty products. Make sure they are locked away. And remember if you put them up somewhere high, our kids can be good at finding a chair or something else to climb onto to get something they want.

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Take a look, it's in a book

Don't forget! Today is your last day to get FREE SHIPPING on orders of $25 or more. AND place an order of $50 or more, and get 10% off your entire purchase with code "SUMMER10"

Reading to our children is one of the most important things we can do for our kids. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), twenty-six percent of children who were read to three or four times in the last week by a family member recognized all letters of the alphabet. This is compared to 14 percent of children who were read to less frequently. They also report that children who are read to frequently are more likely to:

--count to 20, or higher than those who were not

-- write their own names

--read or pretend to read

Plus,

• The more types of reading materials there are in the home, the higher students are in reading proficiency, according to the Educational Testing Service.
  
  
• The Educational Testing Services reported that students who do more reading at home are better readers and have higher math scores.

If that doesn't make you want to read to your child, I don't know what will. But I will be honest, reading to my son wasn't easy. He was busy, and wasn't all that interested in sitting still long enough for me to read a book. Even short ones. But we made sure all sorts of children's books were available for him to play with and look at, and he finally came around...with one book in particular.

He would have me read "Moo, Baa, La La La" by Sandra Boynton over, and over, and over....and over. For months upon months it was his favorite book. I continued to buy books by Sandra Boynton, and they have continued to be his favorite.

After "Moo, Baa, La La La" he was all about "Blue Hat, Green Hat", and then he moved on to "But Not the Hippopotamus". After that he was all about "What's Wrong, Little Pookie?" and his current favorite is "Fifteen Animals."

The books are fun, help him learn, and keep me entertained as well. So if you are in the market for some new books for your new addition, definitely give these a try. They have also made perfect gifts for friends and family having babies

What are some books that your child just can't live without?

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Free Shipping and 10% off

Have your eye on something but don't want to pay those darn shipping costs? Get FREE SHIPPING on any order over $25 from Monday, August 22 through Wednesday, August 24. On top of that, place an order of $50 or more, and get 10% off your entire purchase with code "SUMMER10". Combine the two for some awesome savings! Be sure to check out our sale items!

*SALE* Gisella $25- Emerald

Also, "LIKE" us on Facebook and comment on your labor relaxation method for a chance to win an iPod shuffle! The winner will be chosen at random tonight and posted tomorrow morning on our FB page.

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We want you!

As a mother, I often forget that there are millions of other women out there that are having the same experiences as me. There are so many of you out there having the same struggles, the same joys, enjoying the same things, and just trying to be the best mom you can possibly be. When I spend most of my days at home with my little ones, I sometimes forget that I am not alone in this journey. Which is one of the greatest things about blogging. It's a whole new way for us to share the struggles, joys, and every day life that wasn't available not all that long ago. Every time I get to read the experiences of other moms, I am reminded that I am not alone, and that we are all more connected than we think.

Which is why we want to spotlight you! What better way to get to know the other moms out there than to spotlight each of you. Plus we just love you and want to hear from you! We all want to know what you like, what helps you through pregnancies, what you do with your kids for entertainment and survival, what moments you adore, and what gets you through the tough times.

Whether you are a soon to be mother, a mother of a few years, or a veteran mother, we want to hear from you, so send an email to service@milanmaternity.com letting us know that you'd be willing to be spotlighted. Plus we'll send you a sweet suprise in the mail for letting us get to know you better.

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ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny Giveaway Winner

The winner of the ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny Giveaway as chosen by random.org is:

And the coordinating comment:

Congrats! E-mail service@milanmaternity.com by Wednesday, August 17th, 11:59pm to claim it, or another winner will be chosen.

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What's for lunch??

Whether you are pregnant, just had a baby, working, have a working husband, have kids at home, or have kids at school there is something you need every single day. Lunch! (And if you aren't eating lunch, shame on you!!) Eating a good, healthy lunch is so important for you and your family.

One of the toughest things, I've found, with this thing called lunch is figuring out what to eat everyday. Alternating between pb&j and chicken sandwiches through out the week can be dreadful. Not to mention it can often be difficult to figure out good, healthy things to have for lunch.

So if you are looking for some new, delicious, healthy (and sometimes unhealthy for the times you need to indulge)

ideas for you, your husband, and/or your children you need to check out The Lunch Box Lowdown blog. She has so

many great recipes and ideas so that you won't have to keep eating the same boring things every day. Some of her recipes include the wild west sandwich wrap, green pasta salad, and honey and chicken salad.

AND since the school year is getting started (it's hard to believe in some states kids are already back in school!) she is having a fun giveaway. I know you're probably wishing that she's offering to make you these lunches for the rest of the year. Unfortunately she's not, but it is something just as fun!

Head over to her blog to enter to win a new lunchbox filled with goodies!

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My experience

Today is your last day to enter the Itzbeen Pocket Nanny Giveaway! Click here to enter!

The following is a post I wrote back in April 2009 on my personal blog about coming to accept and be open about having postpartum depression. Now...if you are reading this and thinking that you don't need to read about PPD because there is no way you will deal with that, please keep reading! I mention in the post that I never read about it because I never thought I would have it. I'd always wanted to be a mother and just knew I'd be the happiest ever, so I ignored the fact that it could exist in my life. Perhaps things would have gone a little differently if I'd accepted that it could happen before hand.

I've been blogging on here for about 2 months now, and you may have noticed that I'm a fan of sarcasm and humor, but I still feel like this is a good thing to share, in spite of it's lack of...fun. I just feel so strongly that it should be something we should be open about!

The post:

i've come to accept that life is just one huge adventure.

what i had to learn is that sometimes the adventures are fun. sometimes the adventures are hard. and sometimes the adventures just feel like you are stuck in the mud with no one or nothing around to help get you out. you do have a cell phone in your pocket though. but for some reason you are too ashamed of being stuck in the mud to call someone for help.

i have been trying to think of the best way to share the adventure i was stuck in for the past several months. i think it's important to, because if it helps just one other person out, it would make it all worth it. so after thinking about it, i figured the only option really, is to just come out and say it.

postpartum depression, for me, wasn't an immediate thing. i did feel somewhat disconnected in the beginning. but it wasn't until a little later that i really started feeling that something was really wrong. i would say it was a result of hormonal imbalance plus a major lack of sleep that began to occur.

i was sad all the time. i cried a ton. i felt like i wasn't meant to be a mother. i got frustrated so easily. i did what i could to get away. and i thought things that i wouldn't want to admit.

but on the outside, to other people, i tried to be as normal as humanly possible. because i was so ashamed of myself and the way i was feeling. and because i knew all these other women who had recently had babies too and they seemed so happy. i didn't understand why they were so happy and i wasn't. and i couldn't possibly talk to them about how i was feeling because they'd think i was crazy. so i just acted like every other new mom did. in my mind i kept thinking "do i have postpartum depression?" but there was no way i could bring myself to say it out loud or talk to anyone about it because i felt like something was wrong with me.

so few times in my life have i heard others talk openly about it. which now i think is such a shame. if people were more open about it, i think that it would be easier for those who are struggling to get help, and would probably prevent a lot of unfortunate things that happen.

i think back now to all of the times i was reading my pregnancy books and articles online. every time i got to a section about postpartum depression, i'd skip right over. i'd always wanted to have children, i was so excited to meet the baby, why would i have postpartum depression?

i finally mentioned to a friend how i'd been feeling, and she asked if i thought i had postpartum depression. after hearing someone else ask me out loud i was finally able to admit it to myself and to the people around me that needed to know. i was able to talk to a good friend who also happens to be a professional when it comes to all things mental health. things started looking up.

i finally had the strength and courage to put little j.t. in his crib and let him "cry it out" and we have all been able to get the much needed rest that has evaded us for months and months.

i hate that for so many months i kept everything bottled up inside. it makes me sad that i didn't put confidence in the people around me. the people that ended up being so helpful and caring when i did finally tell them what was going on. they didn't judge me or think i was a bad person like i thought they would.

and now...now things are looking up. i'm actually happy. i actually feel like i will survive and that i can handle everything. and i hope that i can continue to be open about my experience so that others won't have to suffer alone like i did.

and that, my friends, is the reality. i used my cell phone, called for some help, and a whole rescue crew showed up and helped me out of the mud. i still have a bit of mud stuck to my pants, but i'll probably wear them around for a while to let people know that i'm not ashamed that i got stuck.

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World Breastfeeding Week---and a 20% discount!!

Once again, don't forget about the ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny Giveaway. Click here to enter!

Did you know that this week is World Breastfeeding Week?? And to celebrate Milan Maternity is offering 20% off nursing styles Thursday through Saturday. Use code "NURSING" to get 20% anything in the Nursing section.

Speaking of breastfeeding, I thought I would compile a list of "nursing must-haves". But before I get to that, if you have decided that you will be a nursing mother, I feel like I should tell you this: I was warned that nursing would be hard. I just didn't realize how frustrating it would be!! I wanted to give up so many times, and the only reason I kept trying was because my husband was so supportive (although I'm pretty sure the only reason he was so supportive was because he didn't want to have to buy formula because he's ummm...cheap?) At any rate, the first 2 weeks were tough. I cried, I was in pain, and I didn't know if I could do it. But then after all that practice, we were experts, and I will never regret dealing with the frustrating and painful 2 weeks so that I could continue to nurse my baby. I know nursing isn't for everyone, but if it's what you want to do, be prepared to be determined.

Now on to my list!

You might notice from these first items that I'm a huge fan of Lansinoh products.

The first is their HPA Lanolin. It soothes, heals and protects sore cracked nipples. I used this religiously after I had my babies! It's 100% natural and is safe for both mom and baby.

Next up is Lansinohs Ultra Soft Disposable Nursing Pads. These were the most comfortable I found. And I like that it has 2 adhesive strips to really keep it in place. When I was pregnant with my first baby, I had no idea that nursing pads was something I would need. Don't make the same mistake I did! And I'll just leave it at that.

The third Lansinoh product I'd recommend is something that I haven't actually used, but plan to try out next time around. It's their Reusable Nursing Pads. I realized this time around how much money I spent on disposable pads, and realized it probably would have been better to buy reusable ones. And from what I've read, these are great.

Your doctor/nurse/or other health care provider might not recommend this, but if you are going to nurse, whether you plan to store milk or not, I'd suggest a breast pump. Before I left the hospital the last time I was already mighty uncomfortable because my milk came in. The nurse told me I shouldn't pump to relieve the pain because it would increase milk production, but I had to! For that reason alone, I'd suggest it. And if you do plan to store breast milk, it's obviously easier to have a pump. I would recommend an electric pump. I found manual pumps are less than helpful and not easy to use. I got the Evenflo Dual Electric pump (which was on the cheaper end), but found out after that I would have been fine with the single. But it's worked great for me.

When it comes to nursing bras, it's all a matter of preference. I found that nursing bras with an underwire are super uncomfortable. But it seems to all be a matter of trial and error when it comes to this. I would definitely recommend a nighttime nursing bra. They are much more comfortable and easier to deal with when you are at home. Motherhood Maternity has one (that I can't seem to find online) that has worked great for me.

And last, but certainly not least, you must have some super cute nursing apparel! One of the things that I miss while nursing is being able to wear cute dresses. But of course, Milan Maternity has you covered when it comes to that. I recently got the Vittoria dress and absolutely love it! So great for nursing, but people were none the wiser that it was a nursing dress. And I got several compliments on how cute it was.

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Motherhood

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It's been one of those weekends. One of those ones where I'm already dreading the week ahead and wondering if I will survive it. And then I figure I've survived every week for nearly 3 years as a mother, so I will probably get through this week, too. And then I remind myself that I'm not the only one who is starting my week this way (I often forget that fact.)

And then I do my best to find the humor in it all.

And lastly, I remind myself that this stage of motherhood in my life is passing all too quickly. And that it won't be long before my little ones are all grown up, and I will miss the days when they were this age and I will want it all back. So I just need to breathe, accept, and enjoy.

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