TMI?

There are days when questions regarding my pregnancy are met with annoyance and a curt response, especially when those questions come from strangers. There are other days, however, when I can’t stop burbling. Makes me wonder, how much information is too much? What do people actually want to know and what am I forcing upon them when I’m in my “receptive” mood?
Today has been a day of burbles. I’m in a familiar environment with a familiar group of clients and I seem to be talking an awful lot about myself. And my bump. I think the type of information I give is relatively innocuous and certainly not TMI in the sense that I’m not talking bowel movements or discharge. But really, is the type of information I’m disseminating interesting? Due date, gender, agreement that my feet are a bit swollen and I’ve broken out my jandals on non-working days, minor complaints about the physical aspect of my job, the fact that my maternity leave starts on Friday… Blah, blah, blah.
I was looking at yesterday’s newspaper today while eating lunch and I saw in the “Sideswipe” column, a reader submitted blurb about parents over-indulging their desires to talk about their offspring. Apparently this man had been stuck on a long international flight beside a new mother and heard all sorts of interesting tid-bits about whether baby slept the night, how many diapers they went through in a day, how much the bub was eating, when the first smile was, etc, etc. I thought to myself, “Poor man, nowhere to escape on an airplane” and then began wondering if I’ve started to morph into the woman sitting next to him.
If you end up sharing space with me before or after I give birth and I can’t find a more interesting topic than the impending arrival of my child or what it’s been like since she’s arrived, go ahead and tell me if you’re bored with it. I won’t be offended…I promise. Well, I’ll try not to be offended. It would be good if you managed to let me know how interesting other things I may have to talk about are though…

Food, Glorious Food

Hello, my name is Angelle, I'm 6 months pregnant, and I'm addicted to food.

I suppose being obsessed by food is normal for a woman when she is six months pregnant but I am starting to wonder about myself. I've always loved food but am not sure I've ever been so food-centric. I get asked if I have cravings and I answer honestly, "no, no particular cravings." I just crave food, in all it's forms. I spend my time tweeting about what I'm eating, looking up photos of beautiful foods, and researching recipes.

Recently Raspberries featured quite heavily in a dream...


Savory and sweet ethnic foods including Mexican, Indian and Asian have been on the radar.


We went to a craft fair recently, and my favorite purchase was a cupcake...and a cross stitch pattern featuring a CUPCAKE.


Even foods like this cous cous salad get me salivating and thinking about the perfect accompaniments.

My favorite websites at the moment are:
Smitten Kitchen
AllRecipes.com
Jamie Oliver's Official Website
Martha Stewart's Food Section

Products for Preggies that bring on the LoLs

Ages ago (okay a few months ago), I was complaining about belly bands and my pants falling down. No one came to me and told me there were garter belts that would keep my pants up. When I saw them today, I burst out giggling. Would I actually attach suspenders to my bra to help keep my pants up? They seem really funny but at the same time, useful. Hmm... If you're interested, you can find Belly Ups here.


So I suppose I'm at the stage when people are going to start touching my bump. I'm not sure how I feel about that. When I teach classes now, to avoid being bombarded with questions about the bump during breaks, I've begun to add small details about the bump in my introduction (it's a girl, due Oct). The bump is certainly quite big now and there are times when you can't just feel the movement but see this little monster kicking me. These temporary tattoos are a good novelty item if you're into exposing your belly. These tell people where they can touch, what the sex is, or on a bad day tell them to get lost. If you want them, you can get them at Perpetual Kid.

Nipple Piercings and Breast Feeding

A good number of years ago, I got both nipples pierced on a bit of a whim. A friend of mine had one of hers done and was going back for the second and I went along as a support person. By the time we left the shop, we both had bilateral nipple piercings.
Another friend of mine, who has a single nipple pierced , asked me a little while ago what I was going to do about breastfeeding. I replied that as far as I know, my nipples work fine and I will go ahead and breastfeed normally if it all works out. She was surprised at this as the piercer who did her nipple had told her there was a high chance of breastfeeding problems related to scar tissue with pierced nipples.
Today I was reading this article about a woman who chose, for medical reasons, to formula feed her baby and the feelings of guilt she had associated with that decision...there are just so many people who will judge you based on your parenting decisions without knowing your whole story. That article got me back to thinking about my own options with breastfeeding.
I visited the La Leche League NZ website for more information. Through a bit of clicking, I came to an article entitled Nipple Piercing: Is It Compatible with Breastfeeding? According to this, there is no evidence that nipple piercing should compromise a woman's ability to breastfeed. There are many reasons not to get pierced anywhere while you are pregnant and the article does mention those quite a lot but I am not in that situation as my piercings are pre-existing. Of course, it also mentions that when you are breastfeeding, piercing jewelry should be removed due to the danger of infant choking and damage to the gums, tongue and soft palate of your baby. Mothers who do not remove jewelry while breastfeeding may experience poor latch, babies frequently coming on and off the breast, slurping, gagging and milk leaking from the baby's mouth but once the nipple jewelry is removed the problems stop.
So, this settles it for me. Onwards and upwards with my original plan to try breastfeeding normally and hope everything works out for the best. I will remove the jewelry while feeding, replacing it at intervals so the holes don't close over, and replace the rings for good once I'm finished with breastfeeding.

23 Weeks

At 23 weeks, I have dull hair, carpal tunnel syndrome along with swelling in my hands and feet, occasional bleeding noses, and the attention span of a fruit fly. Overall, I feel fine and can't complain too much; I did sign up for this after all.
The other day, I was reading a synopsis of what is happening when you're 23 weeks here. Yes, I am starting to feel better about my body - looking pregnant is preferable to looking fat. No, I'm not having back pain or sciatica. Good news! Apparently, baby is about a foot long (30cm) and weighs about 1 lb (just 440g) which gets me wondering how I've gained so much but that's another train of thought all together. Over the next few weeks, baby is working on developing her lungs, practicing breathing (sucking in amniotic fluid), and gaining fat. The article recommends cherishing your sleep ins - I'm so there - and looking for options for baby's sleeping arrangements (done and dusted).
So here I am continuing to plod along. I've managed to pick up some more day to day clothing and find some things in my wardrobe I'd forgotten about. I even purchased a new wool jacket for the winter - a wonderful fit in the shoulders and arms and plenty of room to grow in it (it's a swing style jacket from the label Bahaus which is sold in Jet stores in New Zealand). I might start using some sort of shine enhancing product in my hair and go see the physio for wrist braces to wear at night to help with the carpal tunnel. Next midwife appointment at the end of the month to ensure things are going as well as they seem and hopefully a couple dates with hubby over the next few weeks also.

A Sling, A Marvelous Thing...

Along with some other much appreciated baby gear, my husband and I were given a baby backpack. You know, the type that looks very much like a rucksack with a frame. Looking at it, I think it would be a good idea but just not something I'd ever wear. The plan is for Hubby to use it from time to time and see how he likes it.
It got me interested though, in what alternatives there are to baby backpacks out there. As I surfed around the internet, I came across many types of contraptions - from elegant to ugly- that people use to "wear" their babies.
I was unaware there was a whole community and heaps of research on the idea of "baby wearing" so I did a Google search and found TheBabyWearer.com. This website has heaps of information about baby wearing and I am certainly interested in learning more and trying it out. According to research, wearing your baby is good for baby's physical, mental and emotional development, and will help them cry less. Sounds good to me! Now to find a baby carrier that suits my style...there are some even worthy of celebs out there so I know they exist - if I can't justify the price the one I like I may even try making one myself.


TheBabyWearer.com has a whole page of links to help you sew your own baby carrier. There are ring slings and pouches, mei-tais and man-tais. Everything down to doll slings for older children to use with their toys and no sew versions. My favorite link from the links is to KarmaBaby where they sell pouch-style carriers in fabulous fabrics and even give you instructions to make your own in case you're like me and would rather make something than buy it.
So, once I'm finished the quilt I've started for our older girl, I'll go ahead and try one of the KarmaBaby pouches - wish me luck!

What would you do if...YOUR BABY CHOKES??

Today while driving in Hamilton, I saw some advertising outside of the Red Cross for their first aid courses. The first line said "What would you do if..." and the second line said in all capital letters "your baby chokes??" Now, it's true that if your baby chokes, you should have an idea of what to do however I disagree with this type of advertising. This type of advertising is basically fear-mongering. Playing on people's emotions to try and get them to sign up for a first aid class is the wrong thing to do. Sure, they will learn techniques that can help them in situations such as if their baby were to choke, but unfortunately there will still be times when even a first aid trained individual, and indeed ambulance drivers, nurses and doctors will not be able to save someone.
As a provider of first aid education, I do know how important and effective the manouvers for basic life support you learn on first aid courses can be. Unfortunately, not everyone has the means or inclination to attend an 8-16 hour course. Lucky for all of us with an internet connection, YOUTUBE is full of valuable resources such as this video which shows basic techniques you can use to help an infant under 1 year old who is choking.

Baby Booty

I must be nesting. I spend my time online looking for next little thing we might need for the baby. At 17 weeks, these issues are hardly pressing but I'm a woman obsessed. Lucky for me, my husband's family have been very forthcoming with gently used items for the baby. Our sister in law has furnished us with a giant bag of soft toys and rattles, a wooden changing table, a brand new baby backpack thing (for hubs), and a gorgeous simple bassinet.
Today I'm trawling trademe for baby bargains on shoes and "nature baby" branded items.
Looks like I've scored these sweet checkerboard baby slippers for just $1 plus shipping:
I'm also on the look out for maternity wear. I've got a belly on me already and it's making dressing, especially for work, hard. I ordered a pair of maternity jeans on 19 April but they've not yet arrived. The lady I ordered them from said she would track them late last week but I've not heard back from her yet.
Ordering clothing has never been something I've been very comfortable or happy with but the styles offered online seem much preferable to those offered in the selection of stores I've been to. Out of desperation, I bought a pair of straight leg Pumpkin Patch pants with a stretchy band attached that goes up behind the waistband and although they are comfortable and don't look too bad, the waistband that is meant to make the pants look "normal" is a bit too big and folds down at times...yes, I should wear a belt but I don't have any that fit me at the moment that will go through the beltloops. I generally love shopping and trying clothes on in stores but have quickly got over that lately with the dissatisfaction I've felt with the maternity things I've tried on lately. I could use some advice on where to shop and even an extra set of eyes to help me spot things that will look good and last me through to October.

I'm not one to pass up a party

Any reason for a party seems like a good one to me. 3 year old's birthday, I'm there; celebrating a promotion, there too; baby shower - bring it on! Not that I'm hoping to host my own baby shower or anything, but I've been checking out ideas on the web for putting one together. There are tons of websites with squillions of ideas to use at baby showers.
The very best themed shower I've seen online was blogged about by Kendra at MyInsanity. Her sister was acutally the hostess of the party, but Kendra helped think up the theme and design some of the decorations and invitations. The theme was "She's about to POP!" and included things like POPcorn, sodaPOP, POPart, etc. Take a look here at "the coolest baby shower ever".
If my friends and family don't go to such an extreme and amazing effort, I hope they at least take a look for some creative ideas online. Good places to start:
Coolest Baby Shower Ideas
NZ Girl's Guide to the Perfect Baby Shower
Martha's Alphabet Baby Shower
Martha's Noah's Ark Baby Shower
Martha's Spa Shower for Baby

Pro Photo Ponderance

So, I was walking through a shopping mall the other day and noticed a portable photo studio set up and a mother having a photo shoot done of her toddler and infant together. I remember the days of getting dolled up and heading out to the local department store photographer for photos with my younger brother. My mother was proud of her two beautiful children and wanted to have a record of us looking our best. I'm sure this is the sort of thing going through the mind of this mother in the shopping mall also.
I, however, have some misgivings about the quality of image provided by these type of photographers. I think to get good quality images, you're much better off going to a photographer who doesn't need the gimmick of being in a mall to drum up busines. A photographer can create cookie cutter "good" images such as this one of my brother and me in 1987 (this pose or a variation with my brother on the other side was repeated in a 1992 version).

Although this is a photo I look at and enjoy, it's nothing extraordinary. My brother's arm is cut off and there is no special feature to the background. We are what is good about the photo. I think this is the type of photo we could have set up and executed ourselves in our home without any trouble.

When you choose to use a photographer who is more about quality than quantity, you will come up with photos that you will be glad to display as works of art. The following images have been supplied by a Canadian photographer, and friend, Shayna Kerrie of Shayna Kerrie Photography.
These photos have a mood to them. Although the backgrounds are plain, it's unlikely you'd get this quality of light in a mall studio or in your own home unless you're a seasoned photographer. Each of the images is well composed and even though the child in them is not mine, I really do love them. To me, the style is much more sophisticated than that of, say, Anne Geddes, but no less marketable.

The other type of Pro Photos I've been thinking about lately are "belly shots". Shayna has also provided a couple of these for the blog today. I do really enjoy them, but I'm not to that stage in the pregnancy yet. I still feel more like a fat chick than someone who is special and glowing. Perhaps as I progress in my pregnancy and continue to look back on these "belly shots" and others, I will decide to get some done. Or maybe DIY. Hubs has a good camera and is a sometimes aerial photographer so I could let him have a go...
Might be a bit more difficult getting a great couples pose like that second one though! And to mention it, the lighting could be an issue as well. Guess I should start researching some good New Zealand photographers or saving to bring Shayna over for a special shoot ;)

To see more of Shayna's work, including more pregnancy and baby photos, visit her blog or photography website.

Tips for Traveling with a Toddler

My husband and I co-parent his almost 3 year old daughter. We have her about 2.5 days per week, usually over the weekend. Sometimes, we'd like to go out of town when we've got her but it's difficult. While lurking around, today I found these fabulous tips for traveling with a toddler here.

1. Take a mini break every 2-3 hours. Let everyone stretch their legs and get the yayas out. When planning your trip try to coordinate the rest stops at a park or at the very least some where safe away from the roadside for children to run and play. A rest room in the vicinity is a must. Draw a map for your child to follow, add basic markings that they will understand and ask them to point them out along the way. For example: You can add a red car, a big truck, animals which you know you will pass. Use a special mark to indicate your stops and talk the breaks up "when we stop you can run around and play".
2. Surprise packages – this works wonders as little ones get bored pretty quickly. Have a bunch of pre-made packages made up with little surprises in each. I use a zip lock bag for each individual treat. Put in one or two little items that your toddler can play with and bring them out every 30 minutes or so. Items can be a small toy wrapped in tin foil – the unwrapping is fun. Noise makers are better than whining kids although I recommend bringing these out before your nerves are shattered and take them away again when the next item is given – this for your own sanity. Pipe cleaners – they can make all sorts of creations. Magnets in a cookie tin – they can stick the magnets to the lid and put them in the tin for safe keeping later. Chalk and black paper for drawing. Mini magna doodle. The list is endless.
3. Blow bubbles. You can do this from the front passenger seat – send them back for toddler to try and catch. This is great to pull out when you are nearing a rest stop and toddler is getting unsettled.
4. Music – yours or there’s it doesn’t matter as long as you can all sing a long. If you have a particular CD that you play when your toddler naps during the day, take it on the trip with you and put it one when you want him to sleep.
5. Make up a story about the surroundings as you travel. My kids always remember the story of the fairies that live in the forest along the stretch of road heading towards our lake house. This always gets us through the last twenty minutes of the trip when everyone is tired and grumpy. It takes a bit of imagination but the effort is worth it.
6. Snacks, snacks and more snacks! Make sure you pack plenty to eat and drink. Toddlers will not wait for the next comfort stop if they are hungry “NOW”. Schedule a picnic stop – much nicer on a fine day than a road side eatery. Avoid high sugar food which tends to offer instant gratification which does not last past the last bite.
7. Pack a porta potty – again when you got to go you got to go! Make sure you have plenty of wipes too.
8. When all else fails resort to a portable DVD player – these have been a sanity saver in our car!
9. Safety: If you’ve ever had one of your little darlings undo their seatbelt while you’re driving, you’ll think these seatbelt “ANGEL GUARDS” are a fantastic idea. They securely cover the red release button on the seatbelt and deter small fingers from undoing their belt, yet only take seconds for an adult to remove.
10. Travel in our family has been revolutionized by the award winning Snack and Play Travel Tray. Crash tested by a federally recognized laboratory in the USA. Snack & Play Travel Tray is made of soft, durable, 100% Nylon. It buckles either around the child, car seat, stroller, or chair and has side pockets and a 2 inch wall to stop toys and food from falling off the tray.

I think the best of these tips is #7 - Pack a port a potty. I'm always looking for public restrooms when we've got the wee one!
Travel potty by Cool Gear - review here