Rookie Moms

Continue to try on all the new outfits you got as gifts, no matter how silly you think they are, and photograph him in the clothes before he outgrows them.

Remember to take pictures when outfit is fresh (it took me 3 tries on this outfit and I finally dressed him in the living room out by the chair!) — if your baby is a puker like mine, this is especially important.

Whitney calls this activity “playing baby doll.” After all, why did we have children if not to pretend they are our favorite toys?

If your baby is fully-baked and you want to help nature take its course, there are some home remedies for kicking labor into gear that folks are talking about.*

I’m not telling you which of these I tried with Holden-to-be, but I will say that last year we were gunning awfully hard for a 05/05/05 birthdate:

• Sex - what got ‘em in will get ‘em out
• Nipple stimulation - trust me, whatever you do is nothing compared to nursing a real baby
• Spicy food - Ruen Pair’s medium spicy makes my head sweat!
• Ride on a tractor - my grandma said it worked for her
• Jumping jacks - as recommended by my own doctor
• Pizza - eating a fully loaded Prego Pizza at Skipolini’s in Walnut Creek or a big meaty Zachary’s
• Castor oil omelette - blech
• Long walks - up hills or on the beach is even better
• Chocolate - I believe my mom recommended a full pound in one sitting
• Aggressive pedicure where they hit all the acupressure hotspots

Kendra from ShoppingForTwo.com has shared what she calls her “Jump Start Your Labor Cookies” recipe.

I will also say that once labor really started and we got our precious baby home, I wondered why I was in such a hurry… does anyone else have any unusual labor-inducing ideas?

* you KNOW we’re not doctors, call your doc about your own situation if any of these ideas thrill and concern you.

I forced myself to make a list of five activities, pursuits, or interests that are important for me to remember in the year following childbirth. I try to look at it now and then to remind myself of the personal interests I want to maintain along with motherhood.

My list:

1. Get crafty – do fun art projects
2. Swim – the whole triathlon may have to wait
3. Read – something other than baby books
4. See friends – brunch and idle chatter are delicious together
5. Play games – I always used to beat my husband at Scrabble before pregnancy, now it’s sort of even

The book Mommy Guilt has subsequently challenged me to come up with 50 things I love to do… so, I now have a list of 117 things (because making lists is on my extended list!). More on that here.

Some babies really hate tummy time. If yours is one, I suggest the following method for sneaking it in:

1. hold your baby upright
2. hug her close
3. lean back on the couch

If I described it correctly, you should be reclined with the baby resting on you. This cheater version of tummy time is called “mummy” time and it also allows for basic cuddling and a new twist on getting spit up on.