by Whitney
In Draper, UT, Stephanie’s moms group enjoyed touring the Sweet Candy Factory with their kids and babies. Look at all those future candy eaters! Steph’s daughter, Brynn, is the one in the yellow jacket.
A factory tour is something I’ve thought would be fun, but I’m not really sure how many of them are baby friendly. Due to noise, chemicals, and other safety issues, some factory tours don’t want kids. Stephanie has rekindled my interest, especially if I can wear a hairnet like she did.
At the Jelly Belly Factory, where I toured on my 26th birthday while playing hooky from work, we wore paper hats. A similarly exciting effect. (Check it out if you are in the greater Bay Area.)
For big kids, you might want to do something kid-related like a teddy bear factory or the Crayola factory. With infants, follow the Rookie Moms mantra and do what YOU want to do. Wine? Chocolate? Beer? TV-Based Shopping Networks? With the baby in a front carrier, she won’t even mind that you are interrogating the tour giver with questions about production efficiencies. (Oh, that would be Heather.)
Visit FactoryToursUSA.com to get some ideas.
by Whitney
It’s a noun; it’s a verb; it’s lube. And you need it.
My dear friends with tiny babies, a fact of life that your mom probably did not discuss with you (and here’s why the Internet is so valuable!) is that when you have intercourse after childbirth, it can, uh, hurt. There are a few medical reasons for this, but you can go look them up yourself. My purpose here is to focus on a solution, and that solution is a lubricant intended for vaginal sex.
You can ask your friends for product recommendations (ask your gay male friends, too) or assign your partner the task of buying a few to try out. Every drugstore sells this stuff.
Outing suggestion for the bold among you: pack up your baby and march right in to your local sex shop and demand some focused customer service. Take a picture and call it “Baby’s First Sex Shoppe”.
Be aware that this condition may last weeks, months, or as long as you breastfeed; our private parts all operate a little differently. So stock up.
Sara Holliday, a relationship expert and certified marriage counselor has just come out with some eye-opening tips to get mom’s “mojo” back. Among her tips is, “Use lube! After having a baby your hormones change and you may experience more dryness which can cause slight discomfort. Try using water based lubricants, and communicate with your partner. There are a lot of great products on the market that also help stimulate a woman’s sensitive skin. Take your time and take in the sensations, the feel of his skin, and his scent.”
>Link to Good Vibrations Lube Sampler (pictured above)
by Whitney
Seven months old and bored already? The nerve of some people.
If it seems that everyone else’s toys are more fun, find another mom to trade with. Agree to a trade period like 2 weeks and then trade back. If you hang with a bigger posse, call it a toy swap. Everyone brings something that her child is bored with at the next playdate and goes home with something different.
My friend Laurie suggested we do this right before the holidays so that we could bust out a new toy on the plane and keep the kid busy for two extra minutes.
I love creating something silly and commemorative just because. Since my birthday this year was super lame — oh yeah, I told people that celebrating with a two-week-old meant 3am cupcakes and more birthday to enjoy, but come on — I’m on the lookout for a do-over. Our friend, 
