Milestones-We're On Our Way!

A lot of really exciting things have happened over the last few weeks. I guess you could say it has been a milestone kinda month for us in terms of preparing for the birth of ____________! 

Last weekend we had the opportunity to visit the Alternative Birth Center (ABC) at West Suburban Hospital to learn more about the ABC birth experience and tour the facility. West Suburban has 2 ABC rooms that are designed to feel more like a home setting than a hospital room.  Each of the ABC Rooms include a free-standing birthing tub, a queen-size bed, bathroom with shower, microwave, refrigerator, cd player, and wireless internet!  Everyone we met that day was really nice and Marko and I were very impressed with the facility. 

They also showed us one of these things....check out the handles! 

This nifty little thing is called a birthing seat or stool and I am sure I will be putting those handle to good use once labor really gets going. 

Another task crossed off the TO DO list was meeting and selecting the right doula.  After much thought and consideration we went with Victoria from Birthways Inc.

Victoria is a senior doula with over 80 births under her belt.  We both liked her calm and positive approach to natural childbirth and her extensive knowledge about the process.  

Next up, I told you we were busy! We met with the OB/GYN who will be on call for the birth in case of emergency. Hopefully we will never see her again! Our visit with Dr. Brotman was pretty uneventful but we did get an ultrasound and saw little _______ swimming inside the womb.  She was head down and a real kickypants that day. 

Today was an exciting day for me. It was off to an early appointment with my midwife for my glucose screening test, another ultrasound (baby was breech today) and my regular monthly appointment. 2 Ultrasounds in one week, what a treat! Not much to report other than the baby is progressing normally and I have gained about 20 pounds so far. Everything is right on track. Except my attitude toward the weight gain. I resemble an egg.

Part of the requirement to deliver in the ABC room at West Suburban is that all couples are required to take a birth class. We had the option between using the Bradley Method or Hypnobirthing. After talking with other mothers, fathers, doulas and midwives, it seemed like hypno was the way to go and we start on March 6th!

Well, that's it in a nutshell. I am hoping to get a 26 pregnancy picture up this weekend.

Vegan Parenting

Well, our baby isn't even born yet and the questions are already rolling in on what we will feed her after she is weened. I've been telling people that we will feed her everything except meat, dairy and eggs. Yes, we plan to raise our baby vegan. Here's a video that sheds some light on the topic.

 

I can assure you that this is very safe with planning and thought and that we have done our homework on the subject! We would never put our daughter's health at risk.  Also, there are tons of resources for us to reference and people out there just like us raising vegan children.

I am also not naive to the fact that this won't be the easiest path especially once our little (insert adorable girl name) starts interacting with her peers and enters the very non-vegan world (I can not recommend the link enough) outside her front door. As parents we will do our best to instill in her, the values WE live by, and why this lifestyle is so important to us and the planet. 

And people say girls from Jersey aren't pretty......

Just in case you are wondering about the picture that is a Jersey Calf :) 

Here is a link to a really great blog post that sums up what we are thinking amazingly.

http://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20110317/raising-a-child-according-to-your-values/

Hi-Ya!

The day I have been waiting for has finally arrived.  Last night I felt our baby kick for the very first time! I was sitting quietly and suddenly, without warning, POW! 

 

I called Marko over and he placed his hands on my belly. After a few minutes he felt it too. A kick!

The Pulsating Reality of Life

Softly, into the world she will one day come. 

What happens when you mix this with that? I can't wait to find out.

Our Baby Girl

Hell on Earth (a.k.a. Disney)

Just stumbled upon this AV Club article about Disney's new newborn strategy and it reminded me how much I loathe that mega-corporation. Let this serve as a gentle reminder to anyone reading this to avoid purchasing any Disney themed apparel or merchandise for our little girl.

Disney begins marketing to newborn babies

by Sean O'Neal February 7, 2011

Disney has launched a marketing campaign aimed at newborn babies, finally recognizing the millions in untapped capital it loses during those few precious hours before a child is old enough to begin being inundated by the corporation’s branding. As part of the company’s top-priority Disney Baby strategy, a Disney representative will visit new, exhausted mothers in their hospital beds and offer them a free Disney Cuddly Bodysuit—which is much like a traditional Onesie, but adorned with lovable Disney characters to which the newborn can begin forming immediate consumer attachment.

But “apparel is only a beachhead,” in the not-at-all-unsettlingly-aggressive words of Disney’s Andy Mooney, who sees the Cuddly Bodysuit as just the first taste of what will hopefully become a burgeoning addiction to future Disney Baby products like bath toys, strollers, and even baby food, which will introduce that special magic of Disney to your child’s internal organs, and forge an implicit association between Disney and survival. Going one step further, Mooney is also planning a “loyalty program” that will provide pregnant women with free theme-park tickets—to be used later, presumably—in exchange for signing up for e-mail updates, saying, “To get that mom thinking about her family’s first park experience before her baby is even born is a home run” while stroking a snarling Disney-brand Dalmatian. It’s the boldest move Disney has made yet toward instilling a lifetime of faithfulness to its company, at least until it figures out how to make a pill that transforms the uterus into a “screening womb” where fetuses can watch The Lion King.

via

-Marko

8 Must Have Baby Products

We've encountered all sorts of tips and advice on getting the rights things to help with our upcoming lifestyle transition. We've had family and friends offer advice and we've also done our fair share of reading books, magazines, and web articles. I stumbled upon this short list of must have items that seemed to make a lot sense. What do you all think?

1. A Great Sling. My staff and I all wear slings throughout the day. When one of our babies is fussy, we pop them into our sling and continue our tasks, because slings are instant baby soothers. We don’t just carry plain slings; we have satins, Chinese dragons, ultra soft fleece, and beautiful prints. Trust me, getting the stroller in and out of the trunk, then carrying the infant seat, diaper bag, and baby is a lot of work. Wearing a sling in the grocery store, mall, or even in the kitchen while washing dishes is much easier. They will save you time, spare your back from the pain of lifting and holding, and are proven to make your baby happier.
   
   
2. Body Wash for You and Your Baby. Your baby will be teething on you and near you, and babies have very sensitive skin. To avoid skin allergies and save time, you should wash with the same body wash as your baby.
   
   
3. Quality Cotton Pajamas. We only carry 200 thread count or higher for layette items because a baby's skin is so fragile. Rather than having fifty cheap nightgowns that you wash once a week, it makes more sense to have five great nightgowns and do laundry every three days. Better quality cotton also won't stain as easily as cheap cotton.
   
   
4. A Stylish, Functional Diaper Bag. I cringe when I hear the words “unisex diaper bag.” To be honest, you, the new mother, will be carrying the diaper bag most of the time, so you should get a great bag for yourself. Get a bag that matches your sense of style, not the sex of the baby. If you think dad will want to lug baby’s gear around, get two different diaper bags.
   
   
5. Quality Crib Bedding. There should be three things you look for in bedding: quality, universality, and neutral décor. I recommend more than 200 thread count sheets, and try to steer away from polyester. Quality is so important because the sheets need to hold up through repeated loads of laundry. You will be washing the sheets and blankets two to three times a week. There are sets available that can be used for a boy or a girl and are reversible. You want the set to last for two to four years while the child grows into the toddler bed.
   
   
6. Cloth Wipes and Cloth Diapers. You can use cloth diapers after bath time and before bed to give your baby a chance to "air out". Cloth wipes that are washable and reusable are not only economical, but also great for the environment. At the boutique, we buy from home-based businesses that specialize in flannel wipes that are incredible soft, stain resistant, and easy to launder.
   
   
7. Splurge on Nursing Bras and Support Garments. Your body will need the support postpartum. I always advise women to have great cotton spandex blend underpants and tank tops for the first couple of weeks after birth for it does make a difference as your postpartum body readjusts.
   
   
8. Time with Your New Family. What often works best for new families is designating time every day for visitors. You need time alone with your new family to get accustomed to having your baby at home, develop a schedule, and just plain rest! Don't worry about offending your relatives and friends; your baby is the most important person at this moment. Spend your time holding your baby, and loving him or her. Eighteen years from now, you will not regret that private time.

- Marko