Smile and Say Cheese

I was looking back at my tattered Baby Book. It is browned and worn. It looks much older than I am. I also have come to realize people did not use to take very many pictures. There are maybe 30 pictures total. There is no video of me, no 3-D ultra-sound. Now we are in the digital age and there is no excuse to not capture your child's memories. I printed up 700 pictures of Audrey at Costco her first 6 weeks of life. This girl is well documented. We bought a DVD camcorder 5 days before Audrey was born and have taken liberal video footage of Audrey's accomplishments. Here are a few details on capturing the memories:

1. Invest in a digital camera and purchase a large memory card (remember to make sure your memory card fits your camera and your computer, they aren't always compatible).
2. Get a video camera that works with your lifestyle. I know from past experience that is better for me to have something I don't have to edit or download to a computer, so we got a DVD camcorder with a memory stick. I simply take the DVD out and put in my DVD player. Audrey likes to watch herself on the telly. (We like Sony, the only one with true night vision)
   
3. We get professional pictures at Target once a month. We get a coupon for a free 8x10 and $3.99 sheets after that (you get the coupon in each portrait package). The cheapest option for profresh pics. I have them framed with a chipboard number to represent what month she is. (I am only doing the once a month pics this first year, every 6 months after that)
4. Keep your pics organized on your computer AND BACK THEM UP. Our hard drive crashed while I was prego and we lost ALL our digital pictures (two years worth). It is heartbreaking.
5. Keep a secure baby blog. I use totspot because it is super secure and you have to personally invite people to join. It is much safer than facebook or myspace. It is also cool to record her milestones and upload video clips. Check it out. It is way cool.
   

So there you are. Go start making those memories.

Love,

Today's Mom

Closet Co-Sleeper

Before I had Audrey there was no way in the world I thought I would let my baby sleep with me in my bed. I am not a cuddler. I like my space. I read up and found out that the baby should sleep near you for the first couple of weeks, so we got a co-sleeper instead of a bassinet. It actually attaches to your bed. I thought it was the perfect solution to the baby in bed drama. And yes, there's a lot of debate over whether your baby should co-sleep with you. Well I came to find out that it wasn't enough for Audrey to be in arm's reach, oh no, she had to actually sleep in my arms. After the first couple of days of sneaking her into the co-sleeper after she fell asleep I gave up and just brought her in bed with us. I love sleeping with Audrey because...

• I get more sleep because I do not have to get out of bed to feed her (she was sleeping through the night by week 2)
• I can just touch her and know she is okay
• I can cuddle her to sleep (not easy to do in a crib)
• She feels safer knowing Mommy and Daddy are right there

I talk to my friends who have to get up so early with their babies and I don't dare tell them I get 10-12 hours of sleep a night because I don't want to brag or seem preachy, but this is my blog, so if you aren't getting enough sleep with your baby try co-sleeping out. If you need an article to show your spouse the benefit if co sleeping, have them read this. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1083020.ece Tip: Have some extra areas in the house where you can have fun with the spouse!!!

Today's Mom

Pros and Cons of Breastfeeding

Even Angelina breastfeeds!

I used to work at Disneyland and see mothers whip their breast out for all to see and I'd think to myself how inappropriate it was. I now wish I could be so bold. I have accidentally been so bold because my daughter does NOT like herself covered when she is eating. My mother in-law put it to me this way: "How would you like it if someone threw a blanket over your head and said, 'EAT?!'" I put together a little top 10 list of the pros and cons of breastfeeding.

CONS (always look at the negative first)

1. Sense of modesty is thrown out the window
2. Nursing pads (Could be a pro if you're small chested)
   
3. Can't wear a dress (think about it)
4. Pumping at work
5. Leaking
6. Feeling like you have udders
7. It really hurts to start if your baby sucks like a barracuda
8. Trying to cover yourself when you're in public
9. Can't be away from your baby for too long (This may be more of a pro for me)
   
10. Trying to eat when your baby wants to eat at the same time (breastfeeding makes you hungry all the time)

PROS (there are too many to list, but here are the top ten)

1. Free milk, formula costs A LOT
2. Easy to transport (no messy bottles or formula, breast milk is instantly at the perfect temperature for baby)
3. Fun to find how many positions you can feed your baby in (9 so far)
4. You lose weight (I am already below my pre-prego weight without even trying)
5. Bonding with your baby (Nothing like being the only way to soothe your crying baby)
6. Sense of pride (I have sustained a whole person's life for the past 6 months on just MY breast milk)
7. Multi-tasking (I am typing this blog while Audrey nurses)
8. I get extra breaks at work to pump
9. Bigger breasts
10. BREAST MILK is BEST!!!!! (Don't let those stupid Enfamil charts make you believe breast milk is only slightly better. Breast milk is a trillion times better for your baby. Do your research outside of the Enfamil pamphlets they give you in your free diaper bag from the hospital.)

Have a breastfeeding question? Ask me. My mother in-law is a lactation specialist and an amazing one at that, and I am a breast milk advocate. I became one after breastfeeding for 6 months. Actually, I became one after I did not have to bite down on a wash cloth to keep from screaming out in pain each time she latched. That was only the first 8 weeks.

Love,

Today's Mom

New Mommy, but I am good if I do say so myself!!!

This time last year I was pretty nervous about becoming Audrey's Mommy. It's not that I was scared I couldn't do it, but honestly I thought it would be harder. The second Audrey Diana entered this world I knew I was a natural. She is so COOL!!! I also have to admit that my SUPER HUSBAND makes my job easy as well. He is so supportive and involved in everything. I don't know what I did to deserve these 2 awesome people.

So, I have learned a lot in these past 6 months about being a Mommy and I want to share my expertise on the subject, including the baby items I could NOT live without, the baby items I did not need, breastfeeding advice, baby memory ideas, etc. So, if you are a new mom or mom to be and you want to know some stuff from a super cool mom, read on.

Love,

Today's Mom