From the category archives:

Month 1

Practicing what I preach. Mostly.

January 17, 2012

Is it already time to flashback to Sawyer as a baby? Well, he is just over nineteen weeks now so we can at least review the first quarter of his babydom. According to my own bossyness, we should have completed all thirteen of the rookie moms weekly challenges within his fourth trimester, right? So, let’s [...]

Makin’ it: no-sew Moby wrap baby carrier

January 9, 2012

When my second son was born, I flirted with sewing to create this Moby-style baby wrap (AKA the “fauxby”) to keep little Milo super close. It is the snugliest baby carrier that I’ve ever had. My mom helped me to hem the edges. Once I saw how legitimately simple it was, I made another two [...]

Formula and breastfeeding – Help!

September 21, 2011

Please help our anonymous guest poster with your compassion and suggestions! Nursing mom picture via flickr christyscherrer I can only talk about this if I’m wearing two breast pads on each side. My three-week old baby has nursed for more than a cumulative seventy-five hours so far and still has NOT regained his way back [...]

Activity #9: Visit the fabric store

January 24, 2011

This is our fourth weekly challenge for rookie moms. Take a walk through a fabric store with your baby in a front carrier. If you’re game, pick up something for a fun craft project. If your baby’s gender was not known and you have stack of pale green and yellow clothes you don’t love, buy [...]

Activity #3: Join a Mom’s Group

January 17, 2011

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of hanging out with other women who are doing what you’re doing. Swaddling, nursing, trying out bottles, using front carriers, swings – these are some of the things you’ll discuss. But there are also the sensitive issues of body image, careers, and relationships. It’s quite likely that you and [...]

Go on a reconnaissance mission

January 10, 2011

Our second in this 52-week series of weekly rookie mom challenges gets you out of the house once again. When your baby is in a good mood (or better, sleeping!), scope out the “safe places” at your local shopping destinations where you can feed and change your baby. This will allow you to get out [...]

Guest post: Choosy moms choose wipe warmers

December 27, 2010

In response to a pregnant friend asking for baby product tips and must-haves, my friend Anna sent along this advice about the considerable merits of her wipe warmer: When my daughter Emma was born, she cried constantly for days…she would not eat. We were so stressed…and we noticed that she was particularly upset when we [...]

Activity #31: Cut up your bra

November 10, 2010

Tip for brand-new breastfeeders: It may sound weird, but I did it and so did my friend Maureen. Take an old tank top or soft cup bra and cut holes where your nipples go. Seriously. Wear this whenever your nipples need to be untouched. Preferably not when your father in law is around.

The Mystery of the Rookie Mom

October 18, 2010

Yesterday my husband woke up at the crack of dawn and headed out for a run. Scratch that. Dawn was not cracking; it was simply dark out. Having committed myself to 30 consecutive days of the 30-Day Shred, I decided that I too would get out of bed before the kids awoke. I went downstairs [...]

Put your own oxygen mask on first

July 26, 2010

Hopefully, this is only a metaphor for survival, but also a friendly reminder… you’re not doing your baby any favors by overlooking your own needs. Seize the opportunities to drink water, eat food, lubricate contact lenses, and pee when you need to. In the middle of the night, when Holden cries for food or comfort, [...]

A baby book for the BlackBerry set

June 29, 2010

It would indeed be wonderful to have a completed baby book at the end of one’s first year of parenting, but remembering to fill it in as the months go by doesn’t come easily to many of us. This life is fast-paced. If a reminder to do something is not on my precious smart phone, [...]

Write a “did do” list

April 6, 2010

If you’re getting sick of your “to do” list getting longer and not shorter and wondering where the heck is all your time going, try writing a “did do” list. Share it with your baby-daddy at the end of the day and encourage him to be very impressed. The truth is that your time is [...]

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