Gender Reveal Parties Can Be Dangerous

There was a time when a gender reveal party involved nothing more than a cake. Parents would learn the gender of their baby and bake a cake that had a secret color on the inside. Or, they could have a bakery make one for them. The big reveal was when the parents cut open the cake so everyone could see what color was inside. Blue meant boy; pink meant girl. Unfortunately, some parents want to take things to extremes, and this often results in property damage and injured people. One example was reported by Parents. A couple decided to announce … Continue reading

The Truth About Your Diet During Pregnancy

One of the assumptions I made about pregnancy prior to becoming pregnant is I’d have a diet-related Get out of Jail Free card.  I knew that there are certain foods it’s best to avoid, but I thought at least I’d have a free pass to eat, well, not quite as much as I wanted, but to feel a bit more guilt-free about evening ice cream binges. That turned out not to be the case at all.  First off, the whole “eating for two” thing isn’t true.  At most, you should eat for one and a quarter.  In addition to that, … Continue reading

Five Weird Pregnancy Symptoms

There are a number of weird, though perfectly normal, side effects to pregnancy that no one tells you about.  You might get all or none of these, and it could vary from one of your pregnancies to another. 1. Bloody Gums.  Early in the second trimester I began noticing a bit more blood than normal when I flossed.  I went to my routine dentist appointment, and the hygienist confirmed that yup, that’s just something that can happen when you’re pregnant.  Chalk this one down to hormones; they’re making your gums (and other parts) more inflamed than usual.  Pregnant women are … Continue reading

Dressing for Success

And by success I mean making it through the morning without losing your breakfast on the ride to work. When you are pregnant it’s important to celebrate even the smallest victories. If you are battling raging morning sickness, you may not give a hoot if your boots match your sweater or if your jeans make you look like a bag lady.  However, once you enter the latter part of your pregnancy, you will be more apt to embrace your changing body and want to look cute while waiting for Junior to arrive. Maternity clothes have come a long way since … Continue reading

Tips for Designing Your Nursery

Many parents – to – be get a great deal of enjoyment out of preparing their homes for their new babies. Designing a special nursery for a new arrival can be a lot of fun, even if you are working with a tight space and/or a tight budget. Here are a few tips and ideas to get you started – with a little of your own creativity, your nursery will be a one of a kind sanctuary where you and your baby can relax. Save on furniture costs by mixing and matching store bought pieces with basic shelves and bookcases that … Continue reading

3 Fun Ways to Take Weekly Baby Bump Photos

Pregnancy photos are all the rage, or so it seems. Many of my friends who are expecting are taking pictures of their pregnancy progress, week by week. If the idea of having a weekly baby belly photo seems appealing to you, there are many cute and fun ways to do it. If the ideas below inspire you, grab a friend or your partner, a camera, some simple props, and pose away. Chalkboards are a fun, easy, and reusable way to make note of which week each picture was taken. If you buy a simple, wood framed chalk board you can … Continue reading

Will You Have a Blessingway?

If you are pregnant, you are probably very well acquainted with the ins and outs of a baby shower. There may even be a baby shower planned for you. Baby showers are a wonderful way to connect with friends and family before your baby arrives. They are also a great way for your friends and family to help you to prepare yourself and your home for life with a new baby. Whether you are having a baby shower or not, you may want to talk to your friends and family about having another type of celebration, too. A blessingway is … Continue reading

What Will You Name Your Baby?

One of the most difficult things that you may do while you are pregnant is to decide on a name for your baby. Of course, the decision does not usually happen during one short conversation. Naming your baby may take weeks if not months of thinking, negotiating, and pondering. Sometimes, a name might just come out during a conversation and either one or both of you will say, “That’s it! That’s the one.” That is what happened when my husband and I were naming our first son. I knew that I really wanted my father’s name (James) as the baby’s … Continue reading

Stay Merry This Christmas

 The holiday season is upon us, and if you are pregnant the mere thought of all of the shopping, cooking, cleaning, and everything else that you usually do for the holidays might leave you feeling exhausted. Fortunately, as with many things, the expectations that other people would place on you during the holiday season are likely to be far lower than those that you might set out for yourself. Here are a few tips for making the holiday season a little bit merrier and a little less stressful. First of all, make sure that your holiday schedule is realistic. Do … Continue reading

Dress Your Baby Bump For Halloween

  There were a couple of things that I forgot to do during both of my pregnancies that I later wished that I had done. One of them is taking maternity photos, and the other is dressing up for Halloween. Pregnant bellies lend themselves to all kinds of interesting costumes from gorgeous to gory. Since there’s only about a month left before Halloween, it’s time to get started on your costume. Need a little inspiration? If you want something comfortable, you can go for an athletic look with a tank top (or sports bra) and basketball shorts and paint your … Continue reading