Milan Maternity

Gift ideas

2012-01-31T05:04:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays, my children were spoiled with all sorts of gifts from family. My daughter especially made out well, since her first birthday was just a few days before Christmas. Everything they got was great, but here are some of my personal favorites that the kids got.

My mom got my 3 year old the Disney Me Reader. My son picked up on how to use it really

easily. The child just pushes the button of which book they want to read. Then each page has a shape at the top, so there will be a little *ding* to indicate it's time to turn the page, and push the button that matches the top of the next page. He loves that he can "read" the book on his own, and loves getting to push the matching buttons.

It totally reminds me of elementary school back in the day, and having those massive headphones and the tape player, and you'd listen along with the book and it would make that little *ding* when it was time to turn the page.

For my daughters first birthday, my sisters got her the "My Pal Violet" (They also have My Pal Scout for the fellas). She is still a little too young to appreciate it, but let me tell you, I appreciate

it!! It's seriously the coolest thing.

You hook up the "pal" to your computer, go to their website and program it specifically for your child. It says the child's name (and my child's name isn't at all common, and they still had it on their list). You also pick your child's favorite food, pet, songs, etc so that the "pal" talks about those things. It also plays up to 15 minutes of bedtime music. It's the cutest thing!

My son also got a VTech MobiGo Touch Learning System. I was very hesitant to get this for him because I am so paranoid about him getting addicted to this kind of stuff. (Seeing as how he knows how to use my husbands smart phone waaaay more efficiently than I do because of how much he plays with it) But it's been great. There aren't many games on the actual game system, but he had a lot of fun with them. We also got him the Cars game, which has helped him a lot with learning letters. You can also download games off of their website. He's really enjoyed having it, and we've really enjoyed having something to keep him busy during desperate times.

So if you are looking for gifts for some of the children in your lives, I highly recommend all of those!

Mimi the Sardine Giveaway Winner

2012-01-30T06:05:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Mimi the Sardine bib and spillmat giveaway is:

With the coordinating comment:

Congratulations! Please e-mail service@milanmaternity.com by February 1, 11:59pm PST to claim your prize, or another winner will be
chosen.

What I Wish I Had Known #4

2012-01-27T05:56:00.000-08:00

IT WILL ALL WORK OUT!!

No, really. I promise. It will.

With my first pregnancy, I was pretty much clueless. Sure, I was nervous and had tinges of fear every now and again, but I think I was mostly just numb.

My second time around, it seemed like I had so much to worry about.

The baby kept flipping and wouldn't stay head down. Whhhy wouldn't she stay in position?

I wasn't planning to have an epidural. Whhhhy did I think I could do this??

I already had a child that someone needed to take care of, but I had no family around, and the baby was due right before Christmas so people had plans/were busy doing holiday things/I was just having a hard time finding someone. Whhhhy couldn't I find someone???

I was going past my due date. Whhhhy wouldn't this baby just come already????

And the list of things that I was worried/stressed/absolutely freaking out about went on and on. There is a saying "Everything works out in the end. If it's not working out, it's not the end." But I wasn't buying into it.

I really wish I had known, and truly believed, that it would all work out. Because it did. Every single last detail worked out and in the end I had a beautiful baby girl in my arms. I had nothing at all to worry about. (Although, when it came down to the end, and my water broke, and I couldn't get a hold of my husband, or either of the babysitters, it was starting to kind of feel like it wouldn't.) But it did, it all worked out wonderfully, and it will for you, too.

In my dreams!

2012-01-24T04:43:00.000-08:00

Don't forget about the Mimi the Sardine Giveaway. Click here to enter!

I didn't have these 3 things when I was pregnant, but in my dream world, I would have!

1. This coat looks absolutely comfy and warm! And a coat for maternity and babywearing?! How awesome is that?!

2. I don't have a picture for this one, but in my dreams, I'd totally have a personal trainer through out my pregnancy. And not just any personal trainer. One that would come to my house daily, cook me healthy meals, and call me through out the day to give me encouragement. I have a feeling I'd do a lot better and feel better after the baby was born. That's not too much to ask, is it?

3. This maternity pillow looks like a dream! I'm one of those people that has about 17 million pillows surrounding me when I'm pregnant. But having one massive one would be a lot easier to keep up with. But I don't think my husband would be ok with being kicked out of the bed.

What would you have during pregnancy in your dream world?

What I Wish I Had Known #3

2012-01-20T06:28:00.001-08:00

Don't forget about the Mimi the Sardine Giveaway. Click here to enter!

I have two birth stories, and they are both completely different, in every way. I won't go into all the details, but with my firstborn, I had an epidural. There was never any doubt in my mind that that's what I was going to do. I remember so clearly being in the hospital room while I was in labor and hearing the woman in the room next door screaming like crazy. I felt embarrassed for her. I vowed that I would never, ever scream during childbirth.

My birth experience with the epidural turned out to not be a good one. The epidural didn't completely take on one side and I was in so much pain. So fast forward a couple years, when I'm pregnant with my second, and I decided I wasn't going to get an epidural. Why face my massive fear of needles all over again for something that won't even work right and leaves me in more pain?

But I was nervous. Could I actually handle the pain? And would I actually know what to do? Even though I'd given birth before, it's like I'd forgotten how it goes and didn't know if I'd remember how to push, etc.

I wish I had known that my body would take over and I had no need to worry about anything. I kid you not, my body knew what to do, and guided me through it. All the worry about wondering if I'd know what to do was pointless. And...I screamed. A lot. A very embarrassing amount. And guess what. I don't care, because like I said, my body took over, and apparently that's what I needed to do to work through the pain.

So if you are worried at all about the birth experience, don't worry, and know that your body will take control and you will get through it!

Life with a toddler

2012-01-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

Don't forget about the Mimi the Sardine Giveaway. Click here to enter!

My sister pinned this for me on Pinterest (or Pinster as my husband can't help but call it for some reason.) (And yes, my sister loves me so much she created a board just for me.)

These rules are so very true. And has been even more fun to deal with after my daughters first birthday and Christmas. My son applies all of these rules to her things to.

Mimi the Sardine Review and Giveaway

2012-01-13T05:43:00.000-08:00

Kids are messy, and moms are busy. Mimi the Sardine knows both are true, and has you covered! Mimi the Sardine makes earth and family-friendly, playful and cool eating accessories for children including bibs, spillmats, placemats, and aprons. They are made with organic cotton and have a water-based acrylic coating (not PVC), and meet the Oeko-Tex 100 Standard which certifies that the fabric does not contain harmful chemicals and components. They are permanently water, soil, and mess resistant yet remain soft and supple. They make cleaning up so easy! You can just wipe them clean, or they are also machine washable. We were sent a spill mat and apron to review. My son is in that food throwing stage, so the spillmat has been a lifesaver to my wood floors! It also is perfect to set on the carpet for having "picnics" in the family room. They can also be used to protect your table for playdough, fingerpaint, and other art projects.

The kids apron we absolutely loved. It's completely adjustable- just pull the side straps to move the apron up higher on the neck. My daughter loves to help with the baking, and she finally has an apron that fits her right and will grow with her. I love how food/liquid resistant it is, and you can just wipe it clean if it does happen to get dirty.

Mimi the Sardine is generously giving one lucky reader an ocean spillmat and matching bib!

Here's how to enter: (leave a comment for each entry completed)

1. Visit Mimi the Sardine and comment on what product you'd love to try.

Extra Entries:

2. Multiple Entries-Share this giveaway with one of the "share buttons" at the bottom of this post. It's super easy to share to Facebook, twitter, your blog, or e-mail! (Two entries for each way shared, and for each day shared)

3. "Like" Mimi the Sardine on Facebook

4. Follow this blog

5. "Like" Milan Maternity on Facebook

6. Post one of our buttons on your blog and leave the link (one entry for each)

7. Follow Mimi the Sardine or Milan Maternity on twitter (one entry for each)

Giveaway open until Wednesday, January 25th, 11:59pm PST. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

You're already doing it!

2012-01-12T11:44:00.000-08:00

Almost everything I see online these days has to do with exercising and getting in shape as we start this new year. But the truth of the matter is, as moms we don't always have time to do the things that are suggested. Or, if we are pregnant, we don't have a ton of energy or are limited in what we can do.

So if you are feeling bad that you aren't able to get to the gym to burn some calories, or if you want to feel better knowing that you are already doing "simple" things right at home that are burning calories, here's a list for you:

Vacuuming -- 25 minutes of vacuuming around your home will burn just about 100 calories.

Gardening -- Like to garden? It's the digging and raking that will reap the most fitness benefits. These are the bigger calorie burners when it comes to gardening. In fact, you can burn up to 100 in just 15 minutes with these movements.

Dancing -- 20 minutes of dancing at a moderate pace will burn 100 calories.

My son loves to have dance parties during the day. It's an easy, fun way to do it while playing and interacting with your kids. Even as a baby, he loved when I'd hold him and dance around the room with him.

Ironing clothes -- If you have to do it for the whole family you might as well know the calories you're burning. Just a bit more than 100 calories in 25 minutes. (Hopefully my husband doesn't read this or he'll try to use it as motivation to get me to iron his work shirts!)

Housework -- Vigorous housework for 20 minutes will burn a little more than 100 calories. You have to do it, so why not make it count?

Stand up! Don't sit when you can be on your feet-you'll burn about 40% more calories. So just take a stand-when you're on the phone, watching kids at the playground, making small talk at a party.

Pushing baby stroller -- Pushing a stroller burns approximately 60 calories in 20 minutes. No problem, two nice and easy 20-minute strolls per day will get the job done without even breaking a sweat.

And might I add, from my own experience, pushing a stroller with a flat tire--most definitely will help you burn more calories. I wouldn't suggest doing it if you just want a nice leisurely walk, but if it happens on accident, you have to look at the bright side, right?

Laugh: Watch something that's consistently funny and you could burn about 40 calories if you guffaw for 10 to 15 minutes straight.

Now, don't you feel better??

**list compiled from articles on ediets.com and shine.yahoo.com

When it comes to diaper bags...

2012-01-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

When I was visiting my family for the holidays, I had a 15 minute conversation with one of my sisters-in-law about diaper bags. (A sure that that you are a mom.) We concluded that we both wish we'd spent more money on one.

As we all probably know, when you are going to have a baby, you end up spending all sorts of money preparing for your new baby. So if you are anything like me, you figure there are some things that it will be fine to spend less on--like a diaper bag. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a less expensive diaper bag that has survived. I have been a mother for 3 years, and I'm one my 3rd or 4th diaper bag. With the money that I've spend on all of those ones, I could have bought one really nice one that would actually stand the test of time.

So I am here to tell you, if you can, spend the money on a better diaper bag!! I've already decided that I will be getting a high quality, nice one before I have another one. Here are some that I'm already drooling over:

Gladiola Diaper Bag by Amy Michelle (on sale for $99.95) I think this is one of my favorites, mainly because it doesn't at all look like a diaper bag. I also like the little pacifier clip on the inside...it's the simple things, really.

Baggino’s Combination Diaper Bag-N-Belt ($49) Honestly, I'm not sure of it's quality level and it's not all that expensive, but the bag and belt thing is very appealing to me. I can't tell you how many times I've had to change a diaper in public, and not only is it difficult having just two hands to do it, but putting the diaper bag down on the gross surfaces is, well---gross!

Safari Medallion Hobo Diaper Bag by OiOi ($140) I love the colors, the fabric, the design, and it appears to have all the pocket space I need.

Diddie change bag by Phil and Teds ($99.99) I love my Phil and Teds stroller, so I can't imagine having anything but love for their change bag.

Petunia Pickle Bottom Rambling Rose Sashay Satchel ($119) Another one I love because it isn't obviously a diaper bag. I also love that the pattern is something out of the ordinary. And the fact that it can also be used as a backpack is a plus.

Did you save or splurge on a diaper bag? Do you have any suggestions for good ones that last?

Every once in a while...

2012-01-06T06:46:00.000-08:00

In spite of the stress, tears, lack of sleep, and everything else, this is how I've been feeling lately. I have been overwhelmingly thankful for my children. We women are so lucky!

The Million Moms Challenge

2012-01-03T06:39:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone!! I'm having a hard time believing it's already 2012. Having kids speeds up time, and I'm not even joking.

So back in December there was an episode of 20/20 that absolutely moved me. You can watch the full episode by clicking here. It's 40 minutes, which I know can be hard to find, but definitely worth the time if you've got it. If you don't have the time---In short, it was about all of the difficulties women have in other countries when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth. It reminded me of how very lucky we are that we have to opportunities and advances in medicine that we do. It's easy for me to forget that a lot of other places don't have experienced doctors like we do, or medicines that we do, or even basic knowledge like we do.

Because of a previous episode that was aired, they were able to help others out, and of course the help can continue. At the end, they talked about The Million Moms Challenge. By simply going to the site, and signing up (just entering your name, zip code, and email address) you can help them reach their goal of having 100,000 people sign up, and Johnson and Johnson will donate $100,000 to help moms and babies throughout the world. And of course they have a lot of other opportunities on the site for you to show your support and help if you are able.

What a great way to start off the new year---by helping out moms and babies in need around the world!

Free shipping, $10 off, and Giveaway Winners!

2011-12-16T05:45:00.000-08:00

Through Monday, get free shipping on orders over $25! No code needed. Order this weekend for holiday delivery. Also, we're hoping you'll help us spread the word about Milan Maternity, so watch our facebook page today for details and simply "share" a post about MM to your profile for $10 off your order. Combine free shipping this weekend and your $10 off for some sweet savings!

Here are the winners of our giveaways this week!

The winner of the Briarmark giveaway is:

The winner of the Milan Maternity Giveaway is:

Congrats! Please e-mail service@milanmaternity.com by Monday, December 19th to claim your prize or another winner will be chosen.

Winter skin?

2011-12-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway for a Milan Maternity top of choice! Click here to enter!

For most places, winter is starting to set in. For our family, that means the fight against dry skin

begins. Luckily, our fight is a little easier, thanks to a pediatrician who told me about Vanicream. Both of my kids have eczema, and Vanicream is the only non-prescription thing I've found that works. And according to the website it's "Beneficial in skin problems such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, ichthyosis, and winter itch which may be aggravated by lack of moisture". And Vanicream is made without "dyes, fragrance/masking fragrance, parabens, lanolin, & formaldehyde."

I realize that I sound like one of those ridiculous infomercials or something, but seriously, it's some good stuff for you and your little ones. Definitely a must have for pregnant bellies. You can find it at pretty much any drug store, and of course tons of places online.

A trick of the trade---Holiday Edition

2011-12-12T06:04:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year where gift giving is at an all time high. If you are doing some gift giving yourself, and will be giving to the mini-humans in your life, I have a life saving tip for you!

Let me paint you a picture:

You know how fun it is to see the little ones open presents. Their face is full of anticipation. You are full of anticipation yourself, waiting to see how excited they will be about said present.

They open it. They are sooo excited!! It was just what they never knew they wanted. And then...

the box it's packaged in has to be opened, and it's taped shut with about 24 pieces of heavy duty tape. You see their excitement dwindle just a little by the time the box is finally removed. Then, after removing said present from the box, you find that it is fastened to cardboard with approximately 92 builders grade plastic fasteners. After finally finding some scissors and removing said 92 plastic fasteners, excitement levels are at an all time low. Then you realize said present needs batteries. And...do you have the right kind of batteries? And who replaced your excited, happy child with this frustrated, impatient one?

This happened a few too many times before we finally got a tip. One that made me think..."Uhhh....Duuuh." And now present opening is much less stressful and way more exciting.

Tip: Do all that stuff before you wrap it.

(Told you it would be a "duh" moment, but not all of us think of these simple things.)

Remove the tape from the box, cut the plastic holders, insert batteries, (do whatever else needs to be done to make it easily accessible and ready to use) replace present in box, THEN wrap the presents!

I promise you, your life will be much, much improved this holiday season!

And don't forget about our two giveaway! Enter to win a Milan Maternity top of choice here, and enter the Briarmark giveaway here.

Marianna review and Milan Maternity Giveaway

2011-12-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

I love a good maternity/transitional/nursing top. Really...what could be better than something that can last you through all the stages of pregnancy and after?

I recently got the Marianna top (in both white and teal blue, because I was taught that when you find a great top to buy it in all the colors that are available) and I'm glad I got both. It's one of my favorites. I am always in need of a good white top, and I love the color of the teal blue one, too. I love that it's a cute nursing top for now, and that it'll still work later when I'm pregnant again. I also love how soft this top is, and that I felt so comfy in it, while not looking frumpy.

We are giving away one of the new Milan Maternity tops of your choice to one lucky winner.

There are multiple ways to enter, and here's how:

1) Go to the Milan Maternity website and tell us which top you would like if you win.

2) Enter our Briarmark giveaway here (Briarmark giveaway is open until Thursday Dec 15, 11:59 pm PST) One entry for each time you enter the Briarmark giveaway. (Leave a separate comment for each entry you made)

3) Share this giveaway with one of the "share buttons" at the bottom of this post. It's super easy to share on Facebook, twitter, your blog, or e-mail! (One entry for each way shared, and for each day shared, leave a separate comment for each)

4)Follow Milan Maternity on Facebook , follow this blog, follow Milan Maternity on Twitter , post one of our buttons on your blog and leave the link (leave a separate comment for each)

Giveaway ends Wednesday, December 14, 11:59 PST.

Good luck!!

A little funny to start off your week

2011-12-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

Don't forget about the Briarmark giveaway. Click here to enter!

If you are planning to get more use out of your maternity clothes by sharing with others, please consider the following:

Briarmark Baking Supply Review and Giveaway

2011-12-02T05:58:00.000-08:00

If you don't already know, we're huge sports fans around here. Watching or playing, we're always up for a good game. And for you soccer moms, here's something that your kids will love you for! Not to mention your husband... We recently had the opportunity to review some fun baking supplies from Briarmark.com. Briarmark offers a variety of sports themed baking supplies such as cake pans, sucker molds, and cookie cutters: all to go along with your favorite sport or team, and at incredibly affordable prices. We had the chance to review the football cake pan and football sucker mold, as well as Briarmark's exclusive soccer ball cookie cutter. My favorite thing about all of these products was how crazy easy they were to use! Having done quite a bit of baking and even candy making with molds, I'm always hesitant to use something new, but everything turned out beautifully, and with very minimal effort. And being a busy mom, minimal effort is definitely what we're going for!

For the football sucker molds, you can use chocolate candy melts or just regular chocolate chips. I used semi sweet chocolate chips and little bit of vanilla almond bark (you can find this at most grocery stores) to make it smooth. I also added coconut flakes and walnuts to some of them and they came out just as great! I piped some melted vanilla almond bark into the mold where the football threads went and it turned out perfect. They were so easy! They probably only took me about 15 minutes to prepare.

I was so happy with how my football cake turned out!! It was so easy too- just pour a prepared cake mix into the football cake mold and bake! I made some homemade chocolate frosting and did the thread detail with melted white chocolate. Again, so easy!

A friend of ours tried out the Briarmark's soccer ball cookie cutter for their child's soccer team party and the cookies turned out so cute! Briarmark has the perfect royal icing recipe (along with other tips and ideas) posted on their website. The thinner royal icing is AWESOME for allowing you to frost the whole cookie, and then, using their food coloring markers, decorate and color your cookie as desired. The cookie cutter used along with the food coloring markers makes it easy for soccer moms to bake cute cookies for after the game without having to spend countless hours making different colored frostings and decorating. The markers also make it easier for kids to help! LOVE them.

Perfect for sport-themed birthday parties, game day or tailgate parties, or to show your team spirit, Briarmark.com has you covered!

Briarmark is giving one lucky reader their choice of either their exclusive soccer ball cookie cutter, or the football cake pan!

Here's how to enter: (leave a comment for each entry completed)

1. Visit Briarmark and comment on what product you'd love to try.

Extra Entries:

2. Multiple Entries-Share this giveaway with one of the "share buttons" at the bottom of this post. It's super easy to share to Facebook, twitter, your blog, or e-mail! (One entry for each way shared, and for each day shared)

3. Follow Briarmark on Facebook

4. Follow this blog

5. Follow Milan Maternity on Facebook

6. Post one of our buttons on your blog and leave the link (one entry for each)

7. Follow Briarmark or Milan Maternity on twitter (one entry for each)

8. Join Briarmark's mailing list (enter your email address on their home page to sign up)

Giveaway open until Thursday, December 15th, 11:59pm PST. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

What I Wish I Had Known #2

2011-12-01T06:11:00.001-08:00

I posted a few weeks ago about the number 1 thing I wish I'd known about pregnancy/birth. From here on out, there isn't much of a particular order, just things I wish I'd known in general.

The second thing I think of is wishing I'd known (sooner) that going to midwives was a viable option. The ob/gyn office I was going to was...less than stellar. They didn't explain much to me, and they didn't spend a whole lot of time with me. I even found out later that there was a pretty important issue with my pregnancies that they never even talked to me about.

I felt like pregnancy and childbirth was a HUGE important thing, and I should feel happy and comfortable with the person/people that would be helping me in the process, and I just didn't feel that way at the place I was going.

Luckily I talked to someone who talked to me about midwives. Turns out midwives can and do deliver at hospitals, they do all the same tests that are done with an ob/gyn, you can get an epidural, and midwives generally have an ob/gyn that they work with so if complications do arise they are there to help.

I know that midwives aren't for everyone. But I have to say, I was very happy with the change. I made the switch several months into my pregnancy. They took the time to talk to me, were all very friendly, and I didn't feel like I was being rushed through my appointments. The births were also a lot different than I've heard from other people in that the midwife was at the hospital the whole time I was in labor, checking on me regularly, and she was even there the whole time I was pushing.

So if you aren't happy where you are, know that you can switch, that you deserve to be happy with where you are going, and that midwives could be a possible option.

Milan Maternity Spotlight

2011-11-30T06:24:00.000-08:00

I admire any mother of multiples, and Trish is no exception! She is mom to a 4 year old daughter and 1 year old twin boys. Her first birth she didn't get an epidural (something I wasn't brave enough to try the first time around, so I admire her for that, too) and had to have a c-section with her twins. She spends her spare time sewing, and I've seen her work and have to say, she's super talented. She is a busy woman, but she made some time to answer some questions for our spotlight. Find out what Trish had to say...

The first time you were pregnant, was there anything that surprised you or caught you off guard about pregnancy?

*I was surprised at how easy it was for me. After hearing horror stories about morning sickness and feeling awful, I was so lucky to not have anything like that. The only time I felt bad was when I stopped drinking coffee cold turkey. I got headaches for a couple days because of the lack of caffiene.

Have you announced your pregnancies to your husband or family members in any fun and memorable ways?

*When I found out I was pregnant the second time I had my daughter tell my husband. Then I made her a "big sister" shirt to wear when we told our parents and waited to see when someone noticed. It was fun waiting to see who saw it first

What was your favorite part of your pregnancies?

*feeling the babies move. It was so exciting to me the first time I was pregnant to feel and eventually see my baby moving. Also, people can be really nice to you while you are pregnant!

With your first child, was there anything you wish you had known about labor that you weren't prepared for?

*There is no way to explain to someone the pain you will go through. People will try to explain and prepare you for that but I think it's impossible.

How did you come to the decision to have your daughter without any pain medication and was it easier than you thought it would be?

*There are a few reasons I decided not to have any pain medication. One, I didn't want my baby to have pain meds in her new little body as soon as she was born. I'd read that they can make the baby drowsy for the first few days too. Another reason was that we were paying for her birth out of pocket so I was going to try my best to not get an epidural. All those good intentions, then when I was actually in labor and dialated to 8 and begging for an epidural, they told me it was too late. I'm glad they didn't give it to me anyways because she was born a very short time after I asked for it.

What did you find helpful in coping with the pain of labor?

*Honestly, I think I just zoned out. My husband tells me things I did and said that I don't remember. For a while the nurses wouldn't let me move because they had a monitor on my daughter. Then the doctor came in and told them to get the monitor off her and I was able to change positions instead of just laying on my back. So, I think trying to move around a little through contractions might help.

When you found out you were having twins, what was your first thought?

*No way. It's not possible! I had no idea how this was going to happen. How would I be able to carry 2 babies for 9 months? What about after they were born? Would I be able to leave my house ever again? How is my daughter going to handle this? All those questions and more went through my head in about 2 seconds. I was in disbelief for a while. Then, once I realized it really was happening, I felt like the luckiest person in the world.

I think we all have those one or two things that have to get done around the house that we hate. What are those things for you and what do you do to make doing them more tolerable?

*All of it. I don't like cleaning. When I win Publishers Clearing House ( because I don't play the lottery) I will get a house keeper. But to narrow it down to one I'll say doing the dishes. I've never liked doing them even when I was a little girl. To get myself to do them I remind myself that it really doesn't take that long to do and when I'm done the kitchen will look so much better. And I tell myself to just do it!

What things do you do with your daughter when the two of you get to spend time together?

*I ask her what she wants to do. She likes to color and do puzzles so that's what we do a lot of times. We do crafts too

Is being a mom to twins harder or easier than you thought, and how so?

*I prepared myself while I was pregnant that this was going to be quite the journey. It is hard. For probably the first 6 months I hardly slept. They were not good sleepers til about 11 months. They are 13 months now and they are good babies but they are normal 13 month-olds x2. Twice the crabbiness while teething, twice the messes, twice the climbing...etc. One thing that I'm surprised about being easier for me to deal with than before is the crying. The times when both boys and my older daughter are all crying for whatever reason, thankfully that doesn't happen too often, I just laugh. I think, this is like a movie. All three of my children are crying at once, they all want me to hold them and for some reason I'm not sitting on the floor with them crying also.

As mothers we have some special moments with our children that we always remember and cherish. Do you mind sharing one or two of those experiences?
*I love that my daughter is in love with her baby brothers and they love her just as much. It's sweet how excited they get when they see each other when they've been away from each other. Something else I love is that my boys like to cuddle with me. My daughter is the biggest daddy's girl you've seen so it's nice to have my baby boys to cuddle with

Who has been a great example to you as a mother and what have you learned from that person?
*This may sound cliche, but my Mom and Mother-in-law are both wonderful women that I hope to be like some day. My Mom gives her time to people like no one I've seen. You know she will be there to help you no matter what. She's so caring of others. My Mother-in-law is a wonderful wife and awesome mother. My in-laws have 6 kids and my MIL cooked 3 hot meals, the house was always clean, she home-schooled them all, I could go on and on. They are both an inspiration to me.

When you are having a rough day, and counting down the hours until your husband gets home so you can get a break, what is it that you are looking forward to do as a stress reliever?
I like to sew. It's one of the few things I can do where you can actually tell I've gotten something done.

When we are pregnant or have kids, it seems like we get all sorts of advice, wanted or not, from all sorts of people. Some good some bad. What is one of the best pieces of advice you have gotten?
*Do what YOU feel is right for you and your baby. There is so much out there to make you feel like you aren't doing enough or you are doing too much. Just do your best!

What is your families favorite meal?
*Chicken enchiladas and sweet corn cake. We all love this meal. I've brought it to some other families and I've been asked for the recipe several times.
http://pgoodys.blogspot.com/2011/11/you-have-to-try-this.html
Kids obviously keep us super busy and it can be hard to spend time with our significant other. On the occasions that you and your husband are able to get out of the house together, how do you like to spend that time?
*Date night! I love when my husband get to spend some time together. We aren't the most exciting people when we go out. Mostly we go out to dinner. We go out to eat at places that we cant bring 3 active kids to!

What is the best thing about being a mother?

* Before I had my children, moms would tell me you can't imagine the love you will have for your kids. I knew I would love my babies but they were right! I LOVE my kids! I love that they love me too.

Have you seen these?!?!

2011-11-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

Don't forget! Milan Maternity is still offering 25% off your entire order through the end of today (Monday). Enter code "BLACKCYBER" at checkout. Also, all orders qualify for $6 flat rate shipping, no matter the order size. So read this post, and then go shopping!

I do believe we are officially in the holiday season, and Huggies has done it again. Remember when they came out with the jean diapers? I remember because this commercial for them was the funniest thing EVER.

Well, imagine my joy when I saw these at Target last week:

And while doing an internet search for them, I found out that Huggies now has slip on diapers...ya know, for our sweet little ones that just can't seem to lay down and stop squirming for a 5 second diaper change.

A trick of the trade

2011-11-23T06:42:00.000-08:00

As you probably noticed in my "Mother of 2"? post from last week, my son wears his pj's backwards. Allow me to explain...

You see, when you are an experienced mother (not like me) you know little tricks like turning pj's backwards. It was about this time last year that we started finding my son, then 2, in his crib. In his crib without his pj's on. In his crib without his diaper on, too. In his crib naked after doing...the deed.

I was beside myself. I found some footed pj's that had a zipper in the back, but they were way too expensive. I'd had people tell me to cut off the feet of his footed pj's and turn them backwards, but seeing as how my son would freak out about a little hole in the toe of his pj's, I didn't think that would fly too well. When I took my problem to facebook (because that's where all problems are solved) an experienced mother told me that I didn't have to cut off the feet of the footed pj's to turn them backwards. All you have to do is twist the bottom part of the legs so the feet face front when the zipper is in the back.

It was wonderful and welcome advice. I didn't need to spend an arm and a leg on the special backwards pj's and I didn't have to ruin all of his perfectly good pj's cutting the feet off. It takes a little bit of practice to get the feet just right, but after nearly a year of having to do this, we are definitely pro's.

Not to mention the comic factor of it all.

Happy Thanksgiving from our backwards super hero family to yours!

Party time

2011-11-21T06:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to lie, I love baby showers. In fact, I think I need to find some more friends that are going to be having their first baby soon, just to insure that I can go to their baby shower.

If you are hosting or having one soon, here's some cute ideas for baby shower invitations:

Make it yourself diaper invite

You can get this jpg file that is customized for your shower that you can than print off wherever you'd like at etsy.

Here's a couple of cute ones I found on pinterest that can easily be made (although the links to their origin weren't working)

And how cute are these sweet, hand painted invites on etsy?

Needless to say, I didn't even scratch the surface of all of the cute invites out there to buy or make.

Mother of 2?

2011-11-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

(Do me a favor. Either 1) Pretend that my house isn't so messy or 2) Be glad to know that you aren't the only one with a messy house.)

I've been thinking recently about the life as a mother of two. Just when you think you have the whole motherhood thing figured out, another child comes along and everything changes. Here's a list I came up with for what it's like with 2 children (although I'm sure this applies to any number of children beyond 1.)

You know you're a mother of two when:

-Silence isn't golden, it's scary. Any time both of your kids are being quiet, you wonder what trouble your kids are getting in to.

-You regret not following everyone's advice with the first one to nap when the baby naps, because now that you have 2 you can't find any time to nap.

-When you have to leave at 3 to go somewhere, you start the process (and I mean process!) of getting the kids shoes and coats on at 2:15.

-The sentence "Be nice to your brother/sister" comes out of your mouth approximately 1,573 times a day.

-It seems like you have to schedule in your own potty breaks because you are either too busy to go, or your kids seem to try to kill each other the second you try to walk into the bathroom.

-You find yourself running to grab a camera to capture the moment every time your kids are actually playing together (or beside each other, as the case may be) peacefully.

-You remember clearly giving your first child a bath on a regular basis, but now you can't remember the last time anyone in your house has bathed.

-Your number one goal in life is getting your two kids on the same nap schedule.

-Running errands with only one child feels like a vacation.

-Sleep.... What's that??

Oh, snap!

2011-11-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

Sometimes babies grow at an alarming rate. Which is great since our whole goal as parents is to keep our children healthy and growing. The downside: clothes fit for approximately 2 seconds. Which is especially hard when something is so cute and they only fit in it once. So I was so excited when I saw these two items.

First is Disney's Cuddly Bodysuit. They are so cute, come in styles for boys and girls, and have 2 rows of snaps so they can fit your growing baby a little bit longer. Why did it take me so long to find out about these?

Second is another item that I am kicking myself for not finding out about sooner. Onesie extenders!

My kids could have gotten so many more uses out of a lot of cute onesies if I'd had these!

Both of these items will make great baby shower gifts, and will make me feel a lot better about spending money on clothes that I know won't fit for very long otherwise.

You know you're a mom when you get excited about double snap onesies and onesie extenders.

$11 off--Today Only!!

2011-11-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

Today only, 11/11/11, take $11 off your order of $50 or more with code "ELEVEN11"!

It's the perfect opportunity to get a great deal on our new styles!

Happy Veteran's Day, everyone!

nesting instinct?

2011-11-10T06:25:00.000-08:00

I had to laugh when I saw this. When I was pregnant, everyone kept telling me that I would know the baby was coming soon when I started nesting. The nesting instinct never came, but like this woman, the desire to eat ice cream all day long did.

Saranoni Blanket Combo Winner!

2011-11-08T06:22:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Saranoni Lush Blanket Combo Giveaway is:

And the coordinating comment:

Congratulations! Please e-mail service@milanmaternity.com by November 10, 11:59pm PST to claim your prize, or another winner will be chosen.

It's that time!

2011-11-07T06:51:00.000-08:00

It's boots season. I LOVE boots. Like, LOVE love. (As a side note, that means my husband HATE hates boots)

Need the perfect pair of boots to go with your maternity outfits? Or need the perfect pair of boots to make you feel like a million bucks after having a baby? My favorite place to look is

Zappos and shoes.com.

Here are some of my favorites:

Happy Boot Season!

What I Wish I Had Known #1

2011-11-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

Although I didn't take child birth classes or anything, I felt like I educated myself pretty well on pregnancy and childbirth reading books and articles online. There were some things that I still wasn't informed of, though, that I wish I'd known.

If I was asked which thing I wish I had known the most, just so I could prepare myself mentally, it would be that they will push and massage your stomach after birth to make sure there are no blood clots and to help the uterus contract and go back to it's normal size.

From my perspective, it was the most painful part of the birthing process. I think I may have cried when they did it, but ya know...it's all a blur. But I do so clearly remember how painful it was.

From what I've read online, some people say it isn't necessary. All I know is that they did it after both of my babies were born. I've also read that some people didn't think it was that painful, so I guess it's a matter of perspective or your level of pain tolerance (Although I did birth a baby with out an epidural, so I'd say my pain tolerance is pretty high.)

So there you have it. Now you can prepare yourself mentally for this part, a benefit I didn't have first time around. You're welcome.

New Arrivals- Sneak Peeks!

2011-11-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a peek at our new styles coming next week!

Marianna Maternity/Nursing top in White or Teal Blue

Mia Maternity/Nursing top in Crimson or Midnight Gray

Julianna Maternity/Nursing wrap dress in black

Lauretta Maternity/Nursing top in Dark Walnut

Elena transitional cardigan in Black

Elisabetta Maternity/Transitional top in Black

P.S. Did you post a Halloween pic on our Facebook page yet? Post a Halloween photo of how you celebrated,(costumes, jack-o-lanterns, decorations, or your traditional Halloween recipe) by noon today and we'll chose a winner at random to get a $50 cash card! PLUS...the photo with the most likes gets their choice of one these new pieces! So post your Halloween photo and tell friends and family to "like" it! Hope everyone had a fabulous night last night!

Some better options

2011-10-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

I LOVE sweets. Chocolate, and ice cream, and cookies, and cake, and more ice cream, and more chocolate, and more cookies. Truely my biggest weakness. And when I am pregnant/nursing, it's even harder for me to resist the cravings. And I am a firm believer that giving in to cravings a little bit is better than denying yourself the treat and then bingeing when you do finally give in.

Luckily there are options that are slightly better than others. Here are a few things you can try.

--According to Dr. Oz one option of a healthier alternative is double churned (or slow churned) ice cream. It has more air in it, but is still creamy. It is also made with real cream, which means its less likely to have artificial sweetners. Half a cup is around 100 calories, which is better than most frozen yogurts.

--Another healthier alternative that Dr. Oz suggests is dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. It has flavonoids, which are an important antioxidant that helps lower blood pressure. You want dark chocolate with a cocoa conent higher than 70%. Another good option is to have dark chocolate with almonds since they provide healthy fat.

--Now that the weather is cooling down a bit, a good option when you are craving chocolate is hot chocolate instead of a candy bar or cookies. Swiss Miss has a breakfast blends hot cocoa that has only 60 calories. Or you can go for the marshmellow hot cocoa for 110 calories.

--If you are baking treats yourself, use applesauce or canola oil in your cakes and cookies instead of butter. Just make sure to use the natural applesauce, not the kind that has loads of sugar to sweeten it up.

Milan Maternity Vittoria Winner!

2011-10-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Milan Maternity Vittoria Dress Giveaway as chosen by random.org is:

And the coordinating comment:

Congratulations! Please e-mail service@milanmaternity.com by October 28, 11:59pm PST to claim your prize, or another winner will be chosen.

From one to two

2011-10-25T06:41:00.000-07:00

Going from one child to two was a very hard transition for me. In fact, my daughter just turned 10 months, and I'm still adjusting. I needed to see this when I read my weekly update from baby center today!

Saranoni Lush Blanket Review and Giveaway!

2011-10-21T06:08:00.000-07:00

I have a four year old that likes to wear shorts around the house everyday, no matter the temperature, so she pretty much has a blanket in every room. They're all very loved and used, so it was getting to be about time to buy her a new blanket. When Saranoni contacted us recently and asked if we'd be willing to do a review of their one of their luxurious blankets, I jumped at the chance! Saranoni carries blankets, clothing and shoes, and other designer baby gifts (check out their CUTE matching bracelets for mommy and baby).

Saranoni carries three sizes of blankets:

Mini blankets, which are 15x20 inches and perfect for travel or when your child needs a "little lovey".

Regular blankets- 30x40 inches and great for babies and toddlers.

Extra Large blankets- 60X80- Great for adults and family snuggle time! Over 5 pounds of warmth! I was thinking I might need to snag one of these for myself after being envious of the blanket Saranoni sent my daughter, but this size is currently sold out due to high demand, and will be restocked at the end of November! Looks like it'll be just in time to be a Christmas present to myself!

We were sent the 30x40 Pink Swirl/Chocolate Lush blanket, and my daughter absolutely LOVES it! It's incredibly soft, with a luxuriously smooth and soft chocolate lush side, and slightly textured pink swirls on the other, with a minky boarder. One thing that I was extrememely happy and surprised by, was how thick it is. It's really thick and REALLY warm.

Perfect for my shorts wearing daughter. Despite her summer wardrobe choices, she's all cozy and warm thanks to Saranoni. Saranoni blankets are also machine washable and wash really well compared to others we've had. Hands down, Saranoni blankets are a favorite in our house!

Saranoni is generously giving one of our readers a bundle prize of both a 30X40 lush blanket AND a 15X20 lush mini blanket! Lucky!

Here's how to enter: (leave a comment for each entry completed)

1. Visit Saranoni and comment on your favorite blanket design.

Extra Entries:

2. Multiple Entries-Share this giveaway with one of the "share buttons" at the bottom of this post. It's super easy to share to Facebook, twitter, your blog, or e-mail! (One entry for each way shared, and for each day shared)

3. Follow Saranoni on Facebook

4. Follow this blog

5. Follow Milan Maternity on Facebook

6. Post one of our buttons on your blog and leave the link (one entry for each)

7. Enter our Vittoria dress giveaway

Giveaway open until Thursday, November 3rd 11:59pm PST. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

Halloween Costume Ideas

2011-10-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already, be sure to enter the Milan Maternity Vittoria Dress Giveaway!

Halloween will be here in just a few weeks! And for those of us that celebrate being pregnant during Halloween can be even more fun, or it can be yet another thing to worry about. If you are looking for the perfect thing for you and your baby bump to wear this Halloween, here are a few ideas.

If you're not into dressing up, this t-shirt from Cafe Press might be a good option for you.
Or if you want to bring a little more sarcasm into it, there is also this one from Cafe Press.If you would like to go with a more predictable costume, you could always eccentuate your bun in the oven with this costume.Or perhaps, you'd really like to put it out there, litterally, for all the world to see. In which case the belly painting kit would be perfect.The possibilites with this are endless. A pumpkin, fish tank, basketball or softball, globe, watermelon....the list goes on and on. What costume ideas do you have or have used in the past to dress your bump?

Vittoria Dress Giveaway!

2011-10-17T06:36:00.000-07:00

I am a nursing mother. I am also a mother that dresses up at least once a week. And I am a mother that likes to wear dresses. Dresses and nursing aren't always a good mix, which is why I love the Vittoria dress.

It's a super cute dress made specifically for pregnancy AND nursing. I always get compliments when I wear it, and people are none the wiser that it's a maternity/nursing dress. And lucky for me, the dress transitions perfectly from summer (matched with flip flops or sandals) to cooler weather, matched with....

This cute little cropped jean jacket from Old Navy.

And these comfy, cute ballet flats from Dr. Scholl's. (Because we all know that if we are pregnant, we want comfy shoes. And if we have a new little baby, we want comfy shoes because we always end up spending most of our time standing with said baby)

Or perhaps you want to spice it up a bit but still stay comfy and go with these cute ballet flats from Rebel.

Or perhaps you are more of a boot girl, and want to pair the Vittoria dress with these awesome boots by Libby Edelman

As you see, the transition possibilities to fall/winter with the Vittoria dress are endless!

We would like to give away a Vittoria dress to one lucky winner, so you can transition it into fall for yourself!

To enter (post a separate comment for each entry):

-Leave a comment telling us what you would do to transition the Vittoria dress from summer to fall/winter.

-Share this giveaway with one of the "share buttons" at the bottom of this post. It's super easy to share on Facebook, twitter, your blog, or e-mail! (One entry for each way shared, and for each day shared)

-Follow Milan Maternity on Facebook -Follow this blog -Follow Milan Maternity on Twitter -Post one of our buttons on your blog and leave the link (one entry for each)

Giveaway open until Monday October 23, 11:59

Making baby food

2011-10-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

I have had my eye on the Baby Bullet ever since I saw the infomercial for it months ago. I never thought I would want to make my own baby food but the Baby Bullet made me feel like I should. The only problem was the price. Since my attempts to feed my daugher baby food have all failed, I couldn't decide if it would be worth it.

But then while out shopping a few weeks ago, I saw that Munchkin brand has a baby food grinder. The one I saw was $10, and I figured it was worth a shot. It worked great, and my daugther actually eats the food that we grind up for her. I have to say it was money well spent. You can buy one here for $7.99, or probably find it at any of your department stores.

Milan Maternity Spotlight

2011-10-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

Meet Megan. Also known as MNMspecial. She is a wife to an Air Force husband, which means she has moved her family A LOT in the past 10 years. She is mom to 4 kids, the youngest of which is a sweet little baby born in July.

Here's what Megan had to say.

The first time you were pregnant, was there anything about it that completely surprised you or that you wish you had know about being pregnant?
Honestly, I was shocked to be pregnant because I was told for years it wouldn't happen so I had no clue about anything.

Have you announced your pregnancies to your husband or family members in any fun and memorable ways? Our fourth baby was given the same due date as our first. We arranged to tell our family at Christmas just as we had nine years earlier. We had our two year old change her Little Sister shirt to a Big Sister shirt in the same color and waited for anyone that notice. It was a fun time.

Have you found any tricks that work really well for you with morning sickness?
I had morning sickness a lot. I ate a lot of cold cereal and drank ginger ale all day long. I even sucked on sour candies when I was running around town.

What have you found to entertain and keep your kids busy when you've been too drained?
I turned on movies in my bedroom with a child lock on the door so they couldn't escape while they watched and I drifted in and out. The one time I didn't I had waterproof mascara all over my brand new cream colored couch!

With your first child, was there anything you wish you had known about labor that you weren't prepared for?
That you have the right to be the boss.

What things help your older children adjust to having a new baby in the home?We have a five year span between the older two and the third child. They thought that the baby would come home and play video games and run outside with them. They weren't ready for the crying and the lack of movement. We bought books at the hospital about being older siblings. The toddler also got a book and a baby doll to practice with.

With all of the moving around your family has to do, how do you help your children adjust with each move?
We pack a tote bag for the car with their favorite stuffed animal, favorite blanket, and pictures of family members. We talk a lot about the new town and new house before we leave. I also let them pick out new paint colors or decorations for their bedrooms.

What are some of your children's favorite activities to do during the day?My oldest two are in school now, but they have started dance classes and an archery class to meet friends. My toddler is a busy little girl that believes she is a princess. During the day we have tea parties, watch princess movies, and play dress up.

As mothers we have some special moments with our children that we always remember and cherish. Do you mind sharing one or two of those experiences?
My older kids were asked to sing in church in front of a lot of people in a program. The song was difficult and they only had a few days to practice. They sang beautifully and there was not a dry eye in the audience.

Who has been a great example for you as a mother and what have you learned from that person?Of course I am going to say my mom, but I have taken a lot from my grandmother because she raised the woman I wish I was like, although I'm not.

When you are having a rough day, and counting down the hours until your husband gets home so you can get a break, what is it that you are looking forward to do as a stress reliever?
Sitting down and having some adult conversation.

When we are pregnant or have kids, it seems like we get all sorts of advice, wanted or not, from all sorts of people. What is one of the best pieces of advice you have gotten?Hire a babysitter. I do all the time. If I need to get out and my husband is working or I just want to spend time with him, we leave for an hour or so.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you felt like you just couldn't handle it, and what got you through that?
I have those moments all the time with four kids and one of them with special needs. Sometimes there is screaming all day and brotherly/sisterly fighting. My grandmother's voice rings clearly in my head, "This to shall pass". She tells me this quite often.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a mother?
The thank you they give you after you wipe their bottoms, pour them a glass of milk, kiss their booboos, read a story and hug them tight.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-10-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

As we all know, October is Breast Cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the US.

Visit the Center for Disease Control here and Susan G. Komen for the Cure here to read more about facts and statistics, risk factors, and early detection and screening, or to donate to research. The more informed we are, the better.

Our hearts go out to all of those who have suffered, or have a family member or loved one who has.

Baby talk

2011-10-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing us women know how to do (generally speaking) it's talk...a lot. Which turns out to be a good thing when it comes to our babies.

Research shows that even before babies know how to speak, language plays an important role in their lives. Before they can speak, they begin to learn the general meaning of words and begin to understand tone. Talking to your baby helps them out later in life. It improves their reading, writing, and interpersonal skills. Our babies are little sponges that absorb everything around them.

So make sure you talk to your baby from day one. It seems kind of silly at first. I remember being at home with my newborn son, just the two of us, and I would talk to him because that's what I knew I was supposed to do and I felt kind of ridiculous. But then when he got older, I remember clearly the day that I told him we were going to put his shoes on, before he could really even talk, and he went and got his shoes. I remember clearly the feeling that I had that taking to him really does make a difference,

-Tell your baby what you are doing as you go through out the day. Say things like "We are going to ride in the car", "Let's change your diaper", and "We're going into the kitchen."

-Repeat common words like "Momma" and "bottle" so your baby can start to associate those words with their meanings.

-When your baby is babbling, let them babble and respond to them. Having this back and forth "conversation" with them teaches them the give-and-take of adult conversations.

-Do your best to respond, smile, and gesture to your baby when they are babbling.

-Use short simple words like "cup" and "ball" and show those objects to your child.

-Don't limit it to just talking to them. Make sure to read your baby plenty of books and sing them songs.

Having your child know what you mean when you tell them what you are going to do, or hearing your baby say their first words is so exciting and rewarding as a parent. No doubt talking to your baby through out the day helps them achieve this milestone.

Milan Maternity Spotlight

2011-10-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

Say hello to this weeks spotlight, Erin. She is a stay at home mom to sweet little Stella, who is almost 6 months old. Here's what Erin had to say when I asked her the questions we all wanted answered.

Was there anything about pregnancy that completely surprised you or that you wish you had know about being pregnant?

I was surprised that I couldn't remember anything!! My memory was shock almost my entire pregnancy. haha!

Did you announce your pregnancy in any fun and memorable ways?

My parents were the first people we told. We invited them over for dinner and when we told them my mom started clapping and bouncing in her seat like a kid. It was too cute.

Did you find any tricks that work really well for you with morning sickness?

Most of my m.s. was actually in the evening. I drank a lot of ginger ale and ate a lot of saltine crackers. B6 is what someone suggested but that was after my sickness had started to subside. I'll try it next time though.

What is your go-to dinner when you don't know what else to make and you need something quick and tasty?

My husband and I eat this Skillet Chicken about once a week. It is so easy and so delicious. Make sure you use a skillet that can go in the oven. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Brown chicken in a little olive oil and add parsnips and potatoes. Pour in enough chicken broth to fill about and inch of bottom. Add garlic according to your liking ( I use about 2 teaspoons of minced garlic). Add a 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Top with more salt and pepper and fresh thyme. Place skillet in oven and cook for 40 minutes. I usually try to baste the chicken once during cooking and then after it's done.

You can't go wrong with one pan to clean up!

What is one of your favorite moments with your baby so far that you will always remember?

One of my faves is when we took her to her first baseball game. We were visiting my father and went to an Orioles game. She was 6 weeks old. She was so alert the entire time. She loved watching all of the people sitting behind us. It was such a great evening.

What do you like to do when you get the opportunity to have some "me" time?

My me time usually consists of getting my butt kicked by my trainer. I like to get massages about once every couple months too.

Do you have any beauty secrets of what you do when you only have a few minutes to get ready?

Dry shampoo has been a great new staple in my bathroom! The stuff is amazing!

When we are pregnant or have kids, it seems like we get all sorts of advice, wanted or not, from all sorts of people. What is one of the best pieces of advice you have gotten?

Crying is not going to hurt her. I was obsessed with picking Stella up everytime she made a peep. I was losing my mind because I fekt like I couldn't even get a glass of water. The first time I didn't run to pick her up, she settled down within minutes.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you felt like you just couldn't handle it, and what got you through that?

Yes, definitely. Remembering how many woman have done this worked everytime.

Who has been an example of motherhood to you, and what have you learned from that person? My mother. Patience.

When you and your husband are able to get out of the house on your own, what do you like to go out and do?

We, luckily, get out once a week and have kinda started a tradition. We now o to the same place for sushi and then to a movie. It's funny because we're home by 9:30 everytime. lol

What is the best thing about motherhood?

Stella looks at me like I'm the most important person in her world. When she raises her little hand and touches my cheeks or lips, my heart melts. Sometimes I can't stop kissing her. Knowing that I need her just as much as she needs me is like nothing I ever imagined.

It's a date!

2011-10-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

One of the most important things I learned from my parents was the importance of dating even after having children. Actually, I didn't really learn how important it was until I started having children myself. My parents went on a date every week when they had kids at home. Actually, they still go on dates every week. I remember my mom telling me how important it is to keep dating, and I remember her telling me that even if you are broke and all of your money goes to the babysitter, still go out even if it means having dinner at McDonald's. (Or Old McDonald's as my son calls it.)

When I started having children, I soon realized how they take up all of our time. And even though children are absolutely wonderful, it is still so important to get some one on one time with our significant other so you can still stay connected. Once my son got to the age where he could be with a babysitter, my husband and I tried to go out on a date once a week, and it really helped to strengthen our relationship. We haven't gotten to that point yet now that we've had our second, but I look forward to being able to do our weekly dates again.

Hiring a babysitter and going on a date is expensive, but there are lots of fun date ideas that don't cost a lot. Here's some fun things to do:

-Go on a picnic.

-Tour historical sites, which often times are free or inexpensive.

-Walk around the mall (which was very often what my husband and I did)

-Go to a playground and...play! Swing on the swings and go down the slides.

-Go grocery shopping. (Another thing we often did, which I know sounds silly, but we had to buy groceries anyways, so why not do it just the two of us, just like we did before we had children)

-Play board games in a park.

-Just go to a park. Stroll through the park hand in hand, feed ducks, sit on a bench...all those things you don't get to do when the kids are around.

-Rent a movie at the library, or rent a Redbox movie, and use a portable dvd player to watch in your car. It's like a drive-in...on a much smaller scale.

-Go to a bookstore and peruse books together.

-Go for a drive through the country, exploring back roads. And now that fall has begun, it's a beautiful time to do that.

-Bowling! There are usually times when they have special deals. And you'll feel like kids again.

-Go on a hike.

-Go on a lunch date or go see a matinee, which is cheaper than dinner and a movie at night.

Braxton Hick contractions and dehydration

2011-09-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant for the first time and started having Braxton Hicks contractions, I didn't know what in the world was happening. But thanks to the power of the internet, I was able to do a little research and find out that I was experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. Braxton Hicks are sporatic uterine contractions that start at about 6 weeks, although you probably won't notice them until about halfway into your pregnancy. Basically it feels like your stomach is as hard as a rock, they aren't really painful but can be uncomfortable, and they come and go at random intervals.

My experience with Braxton Hicks contractions was a little different though. They would come at regular intervals, usually 5 or 7 minutes apart. I remember clearly calling the midwife on call thinking that I was going into labor at 15-20 weeks. Turns out my problem was dehydration.

We all know that drinking lots of water is important in every day life, but it's even more important in pregnancy. I was having Braxton Hicks contractions a lot, but after finding out that I wasn't drinking enough water, I made sure to drink plenty every day and the contractions decreased significantly. And when I would have contractions, I'd down a couple of glasses, and they would go away. So with my second pregnancy I knew better. I started off my day with a glass of water, and made sure I drank water regularly throughout the day. I didn't have nearly as many Braxton Hicks contractions the second time around. And once again, when I did have them, almost always drinking a couple glasses of water would make them go away.

Of course talk to you doctor about any concerns you have with contractions, but if you are experiencing a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions yourself, perhaps dehydration could be the culprit and the fix is as easy as making sure you drink more water throughout the day.

Milan Maternity Spotlight

2011-09-29T06:03:00.000-07:00

Everyone, I'd like you to meet Rebekah, who I am pretty sure is Super Woman with having 2 kids a year apart. She is the mother to 1 year old Katherine and 2 month old Daniel. She stays home with her two kids while her husband is a full time seminarian.

Here's what Rebekah had to say when I picked her brain.

The first time you were pregnant, was there anything about it that completely surprised you or that you wish you had known about being pregnant?

I wish I would have known that I could relax more and not try to be perfect. I gave myself a lot of stress the first time because I was always afraid of doing something "wrong." Though I strongly believe one should make healthy decisions, it is not worth it to stress over the trivial things.

Have you announced your pregnancies to your husband or family members in any fun and memorable ways?

Actually, the way I told my husband for all of my pregnancies was at the most inconvenient times possible. Just before bed (he was already in it and had to wake up super early) and just before leaving for class. It was memorable because it was the worst timing possible.

Have you found any tricks that work really well for you with morning sickness?

Mint candies. Lots of them. I was one of the lucky ones and felt good when I did eat. So I ate all of the time! When I felt sick but couldn't eat a meal, I would just have some mints.

What have you found to entertain and keep your kids busy when you've been too drained?

I got pregnant when my daughter, Katherine, was only three months old. She took a lot of naps throughout my pregnancy, so that was very helpful. There was not a lot that I could do to distract her as she was so young.

Did you always plan to use cloth diapers with your children? How did you decide to go that route?

I had been planning on using cloth diapers for a while. I know there is a debate on if they are actually better for the environment, BUT there is one thing for sure- they are better on my wallet! When I bring a freshly washed load into the nursery I feel like someone just stuffed ten bucks in my hand. It is a glorious feeling. I did a lot of reading about what diapers to choose. I initially bought a few pre-folds with various covers to try. In the end I bought about thirty microfiber stuffed diapers. They were the cheapest I could find on the internet. It has saved us so much money.

What is your go-to dinner when you don't know what else to make and you need something quick and tasty?

Goulash. My mother made it all of the time while I was growing up- so did my grandmother. It is my comfort food and is also super easy to make. I am sure there are a lot of fancy versions, but my simple stand by is easy: ground hamburger (boiled- no browning ahead of time!), chopped onion, canned diced tomatoes, a few cloves of garlic and elbows or some similar pasta. It couldn't be easier and it is delicious. I let it simmer for a long time to make it very flavorful.

I think every stay at home mom has one or two chores that they absolutely hate doing. What are those for you and have you found a way to do them that makes them a little more tolerable?

Vacuuming. I never liked it before but now Katherine is terrified of it. Once I tried helping her to see it as a fun thing and not something to be terrified of. I probably scarred her for life by showing her how it sucked things up the tube. So far my method has been to do it when she is in her room or when my husband is home to help keep her happy.

What are one or two of your favorite moments with your children that you will always remember?

There are so many it is hard to narrow down! Everyday has moments that I want to cling to forever. Recently it has been watching Daniel smile. He started doing it a couple of weeks ago. It is so amazing to see his face completely light up.

What do you like to do when you get the opportunity to have some "me" time?

I love to go thrifting! There are some awesome stores around us that can have amazing vintage clothing from time to time. I also spend a good amount of time blogging about recent projects. I also love reading fashion blogs. They have some great ideas.

Do you have any beauty secrets of what you do when you only have a few minutes to get ready?

I try to keep a lot of outfits mentally prepared. I remix items a lot, so it is pretty easy to throw something together on the fly if my usual combination is covered with baby spit or something. A belt can make make a plain outfit dressy- that is another super quick thing that I like to do.

When we are pregnant or have kids, it seems like we get all sorts of advice, wanted or not, from all sorts of people. What is one of the best pieces of advice you have gotten?

To trust myself. I am a doubter and worrier. Trusting myself is often hard to do. A lot of parenting is common sense or even instinctual. Being able to trust myself has been very helpful.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you felt like you just couldn't handle it, and what got you through that?

Oh yes, I have more of those moments than I would like to recollect. There are two things that I do. The first is to pray. I was raised in a Christian home where prayer was always highly valued. I try to maintain that in my own home- especially when things are falling apart- it really helps to hold me together. I also try to follow the advice of my spiritual father, the abbot of an Orthodox monastery, that is to just take a break (when possible). Just leave the situation and have a cup of tea or something. When you come back, you are much more able to handle it. I drink a lot of tea that way.

What are some of the things that you do as a family when you all spend time together?

Since the babies are so little it usually involves some sort of playing with toys. I can't wait until they are older and would appreciate long walks, camping trips and just being outside.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a mother?

To see my children blissfully happy. Sadly, I know that it won't last forever- the troubles of the world will get to them one day. But for now they are happy and innocent. When I see them get so joyful- just because I am holding them- is remarkable. It is so fulfilling to be unconditionally loved.

Take time for yourself

2011-09-26T06:16:00.000-07:00

After having my son 3 years ago, I was doing well until a few months in. When I finally opened up to others about thinking I had post partum depression, I got some great advice from my mom.

Take time for yourself. She told me to get out of the house at least once a week alone. Grocery shop, aimlessly walk the aisles of Target, go to the gym...SOMETHING.

Being a mother is great, but it's a 24/7 job, and we all need to have a little break. Those little breaks are what can help rejuvenate us so that we can handle everything that motherhood throws at us. I have learned that those breaks are a necessity for me and there is no reason to feel guilty about it.

Last week we sold a house, bought a house, moved, and then the very next day my husband left for 3 days. I was looking forward to him getting back so I could just get out and have my weekly break. Unfortunately with all we have going on with getting our new house together, it never happened. So I am going to make sure I get my break this week (maybe two breaks to make up for the one I didn't get last week).

So here is your reminder to make sure you take a little time for yourself this week and every week to follow. Don't fight me on this one, just do it!!

Psssssst...I've got a secret

2011-09-22T05:56:00.000-07:00

Before getting pregnant and having children, I almost religiously washed my hair every other day. I won't say how long I sometimes go now, but let's just say that sometimes there are a sequence of days where there just isn't enough time to do all the things I need to do AND take care of the children. Or if I'm being completely honest, sometimes I prefer to take the time it would take to wash and style my hair to watch a tv show while the kids nap.

Either way, the point is, I don't always have time to wash my hair, which is why discovering dry shampoo was a miracle more than anything else. Now when I need to just go one extra day with out a hair wash, I can use dry shampoo and no one knows the difference.

I had a hard time finding dry shampoo but finally found "Psssssst" at a drug store. CVS if I remember correctly. I'm sure of all the dry shampoo's out there, it's one of the cheapest, but it does the job just fine. Spray it in at the roots, brush it out, and I'm good to go.

And an added bonus, now when I wake up and am having an awesome hair day but need to wash it, all I need to do is use the dry shampoo. Then my good hair day isn't wasted.

I'm pretty sure dry shampoo is something that every mother needs.

Milan Maternity Spotlight

2011-09-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

Say hello to Brittney! She's a stay at home mother of 4 kids who are 6, 5, 2.5, and 6 months. And since that doesn't keep her busy enough, she is also a full time college student, taking classes online. She is only 8 classes away from getting her bachelors degree and already has her associates in psychology.

I had the opportunity to ask Brittney the questions everyone wants to know, and here's what she had to say.

The first time you were pregnant, was there anything about it that completely surprised you or that you wish you had know about being pregnant?

I think everything about it surprised me. I wish someone had told me about the blood work at 16 weeks that tell you what your odds are of having a baby with down-syndrome. My tests came out that I had 1 in 15 chances. It made my pregnancy much more stressful than it should have been. I couldn't really enjoy the pregnancy. I never had that test done again!

Have you announced your pregnancies to your husband or family members in any fun and memorable ways?

No. I really hated announcing that I was pregnant. I told my mom and my husband told his mom and we just let the gossip take it from there. LOL

Have you found any tricks that work really well for you with morning sickness?

I would suck on peppermint candies and keep gingersnaps and ginger ale always on hand! Also when that wouldn't work...I would take vitamin b6 and b12 every day. At night I would take b6 and a half a pill of Unisom. Worked fairly well. I would get it really bad for 7 months! and with the last pregnancy my doc suggested the vitamins and Unisom. I really wish I had known about that with the other 3 pregnancies!

What have you found to entertain and keep your kids busy when you've been too drained?

Disney movies. Thank heavens for Disney!!!

Is there anything you wish you had known about labor that you weren't prepared for?

The pain! Holy cow! No one really gets the point across how bad it is going to hurt! lol

I think every stay at home mom has one or two chores that they absolutely hate doing. What are those for you and have you found a way to do them that makes them a little more tolerable? My bedroom and the bathroom. I haven't found any way to do them that makes them a little more tolerable. I even tried to re-decorate them to see if that helped.....nope. So any ideas would be great! :)

What are some things you do with your older children to show them special attention now that there is a new little one in the house?

I have one on one time with them. I will take one and have them help cook dinner and the other one will help make cookies or a cake for desert.

With all of the responsibilities you have between family and school, what do you do to help balance it all out?

I take a two week break in between classes. I use those two weeks to really catch up on housework and some R&R.( My classes are 5 weeks long)

What are some of your children's favorite activities to do during the day?

My 2 oldest LOVE school. While they are at school I use that time to clean and play with my 2 year old and 6 month old. I have really enjoyed having some one on one time with them. When the older two come home we do home work and then we do chores until it is dinner time. After dinner we will then walk to the library and check out some books and then we will walk to the park and play for about an hour. My kids love being out doors.

As mothers we have some special moments with our children that we always remember and cherish. Do you mind sharing one or two of those experiences?

My kids are constantly making me laugh. One of my favorite memories is.... One day I had to go to the doc for one of my monthly pregnancy checkups. I had no one to watch the kids while I went, so I had to take my kids with me. While we were waiting in the waiting room my kids were playing in the kids corner and all of the sudden my 4 year old son started screaming. He came running over to me holding his pant leg. I thought he hurt his leg until he started screaming that a bug ran up his pants. I tug on his pant leg and he grabbed his pants higher and started screaming more. I took him into the bathroom and had his take off his pants. Sure enough a cockroach came out. I stepped on it and he put his pants on. I asked his older sister how the bug got in his pants. She said he tried to step on the bug and missed and it ran up his leg. My son was crying and he stopped and said "If I would have had my cowboy boots on that bug would have been dead!" He doesn't go any where without his good o'l cowboy boots now. I still giggle about that to this day! And my thought about that now is "there was a cockroach in the doctors office!? Yuck!"

When you are having a rough day, and counting down the hours until your husband gets home so you can get a break, what is it that you are looking forward to do as a stress reliever?

Sitting down with a good book. I love to read, read, and read. I sometimes like to sit down and play the piano. My kids do not let me do that at all and I love playing so much!

When we are pregnant or have kids, it seems like we get all sorts of advice, wanted or not, from all sorts of people. What is one of the best pieces of advice you have gotten?

Well....my aunt, that is freaking adorable, said that it took her 15 years to learn to take a chill pill. She told me to learn to take one while my kids are still young so I can enjoy them a lot more. She regrets not relaxing more when her kids were younger.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you felt like you just couldn't handle it, and what got you through that?

Oh yes, very often! Well to quote the movie chicken little..."today is a new day". I tell myself that all of the time. I constantly remind myself to take it one day at a time. And...I usually call my mom. lol She gets me through a lot of those moments too. She raised 7 kids so she is a pro!

When you are rushing to get yourself and your family out of the door to go somewhere and you only have a few minutes to actually get yourself ready, what do you do to pull your look together quickly?

Lip gloss and run my fingers through my hair. I don't go anywhere without my lip gloss. If you want good cheap lip gloss or makeup in general check out eyeslipsface.com!

What is the most rewarding thing about being a mother?

My 4 year old just gave me a hug and told me I'm the best mom in the whole world. It's moments like those that make being a mother the best thing in the world. I love my kids and seeing them happy and even more happy when they learn something new they can do, like ride a bike, or how to write their name...that's what makes it rewarding. My life would be so dull without my kids!

Pregnancy sleep

2011-09-16T04:56:00.000-07:00

It gets to a certain point in pregnancy where sleep can sometimes seem impossible. It can be very frustrating, but know that there are some things to help.

The problem: All of a sudden you're a snorer due to more estrogen, which contributes to swelling of the mucous membranes that line the nose.

The solution: Sleep on your side, preferably your left side (more on that later) and elevate your head as much as possible.

The problem: Heartburn and indigestion.

The solution: Avoid foods that trigger heartburn. (Which can be hard to do if you just can't resist some of those pregnancy cravings.) If you have to give in, make sure it's a few hours before you go to sleep to give your body time to digest the food. A glass of milk can help ease the pain. And try sleeping as propped up as possible.

The problem: Leg cramps.

The solution: Straighten your leg, heel first, and flex your toes back toward your shin. If that doesn't work, get up and walk around for a couple of minutes.

The problem: You just can't get comfortable.

The solution: Pillows, and lots of them. (Or one big body pillow). My husband gets about two inches of bed space when I'm pregnant because I have a pillow behind me to support my back, a pillow between my legs, and a pillow under my belly for support. You may think I'm crazy, but being uncomfortable hasn't been a sleeping problem for me when pregnant thanks to my bed of pillows.

The problem: So...very....hot...

The solution: Only wear what's necessary, keep it as cool as possible, and get an extra fan if needed. I'm generally a cold natured person, but pregnancy makes me feel like I'm living in the Sahara. If your signifcant other is freezing thanks to your desire for artic weather, remind him that he can get an extra blanket, and that he should be thankful he isn't the one pregnant.

The problem: Needing to go to the bathroom much too frequently.

The solution: Sleeping on your left side can help keep pressure off of your bladder as your uterus begins to expand. And try not to drink anything a few hours before bed so that you aren't going to sleep with a full bladder.

New carseat recommendation

2011-09-13T05:15:00.000-07:00

Some of you are probably thinking that I'm a little late finding this out, but there's nothing new about that. I just found out last week that the American Academy of Pediatrics released information in March advising parents to leave their children in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2. It also advised that most children should ride in a belt positioning booster until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.

The last update came in 2002 when parents were advised to leave their children rear facing up to the limits of the car seat, but it also gave age 12 months and 20 pounds as a minimum.

Even though deaths in motor vehicle crashes in children under age 16 has decreased by 45% between 1997 and 2009, mother vehicle crashes are still the leading cause of death for children 4 and older. A study conducted in 2007 found that children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing.

The new suggestion of the age 2 transition isn't a deadline, but a guideline to help parents know when the best time to transition is.

To read the full release from the AAP website, click here. You can also find a car seat guide here

Unconvetional forms of entertainment

2011-09-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

My son's third birthday is this Friday. That means I've been busy trying to figure out what toys to buy him that he will really enjoy and will keep him busy through this process of moving to a new house. I went to Toys R Us and saw about a billion things that I thought he would love. And then I remembered what people say about "kids have more fun playing with the box then the toy that came in it." It's funny, but so very true! It got me thinking about all of the unconventional toys that he enjoys playing with so much.

Here are some of the unconventional toys that have kept him busy recently:

A real piggy bank with real money. My husband would come home and dump his spare change on the kitchen counter and one day I finally just took it all and put it in a piggy bank for my son. (Actually, it's an elephant, so...an elephant bank). I had to make sure I bought one that was pretty sturdy and not break so easy. My son LOVED putting the money in, then taking it out, then putting it in, then taking it out. I kid you not, the first time he played with it, he did that for 30 minutes. And since my son has the attention span of a gnat, that was impressive. It also turned in to a good way to teach him the names of all the coins and to try to help with his counting.

Real tools. (Are you noticing a theme with these things needing to be real?) Perhaps letting your children play with a chain saw or drill wouldn't be wise. But my son found one of my husbands small wrenches and loves to go around fixing things. He'll find all the bolts he can and make sure they are in working order.

A small, retractable tape measure. My husband got it for him from Home Depot for about 99 cents. He loves pretending to measure things. And he loves to lay down on the couch and have me measure him to see if he's growing. We measure his legs, arms, hands, feet, back, etc. And he has me do it over and over.

Anything with a cap. My emptied spice bottles, drink bottles, or cleaned out vitamin bottles are one of his favorite. He loves putting the lids off and on, and putting things inside of them to carry around. When other people come over to play and find the empty bottles with his toys, they probably think we don't know how to throw things away.

Our old, still chargeable cell phones. As much as I hate, and I mean HATE, that my son is so in to electronics and that he knows how to use a smart phone better than I can, there is just no getting around it. We have a couple of our old cell phones that he loves to play with to listen to the ring tones, and to send texts to his sister. (His words, not mine) The real ones, even if they aren't in service, are way better than the toy ones, and kids totally know the difference!

Pots, pans, bowls, spoons. I think we all know how much kids love to play with everything in the kitchen. For months it looked like my kitchen threw up because I couldn't keep anything put away. There is just something about those things that kids love...Oh yeah, it's all the noise they make!

Milan Maternity Spotlight

2011-09-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

Meet Jennifer! She is a stay at home mom to two kids. Her son is 3 and her daughter is 1 1/2. She is also expecting baby #3, due next March. And on top of that she is a wife to a medical student!

I sat down with Jennifer to ask her some questions (and by that I mean I sat down at my computer and typed up the questions and she sat at her computer and typed up her answers)

The first time you were pregnant, was there anything about it that completely surprised you or that you wish you had know about being pregnant?

I wish I'd known how exhausting it was going to be. When I was pregnant with my first child, I was a full time elementary school teacher, and boy was it tough being on my feet most of the day!

Have you announced your pregnancies to your husband or family members in any fun and memorable ways?

The first two times, I just told my husband and called our families on the phone…I know, kind of lame. But this time, I made cinnamon rolls early one morning before my husband woke up. When he came down to the kitchen, there was a note on them that said "there's a bun in the oven". He was so happy about another baby, and the cinnamon rolls. :) And we haven't told our families yet, so if any of you read this before we do….SURPRISE!!!

Have you found any tricks that work really well for you with morning sickness?

I don't really get traditionally "morning sickness" like most women (knock on wood!). I just get tired and nauseous, but no vomiting. I just eat frequent small meals and snack throughout the day. I also don't try to schedule too many things in the early morning, when I feel the worst.

I think every stay at home mom has one or two chores that they absolutely hate doing. What are those for you and have you found a way to do them that makes them a little more tolerable?

I hate mopping and cleaning the bathtubs. To make them more tolerable- honestly, my sweet husband often does it for me. He rocks!

As an expectant mother with 2 other children, what are some things you are doing to prepare them for the new arrival?

They are very young, 3 and 1 1/2 so we haven't even told them yet. I still look the same to them, it's months away before he/she will arrive, so for now, I'm just trying to keep things as normal as possible. When we do tell them about the new baby, we'll try and make it exciting, let them help pick out a few new things for the baby, and tell them how they'll be a big brother and big sister.

What are some of your children's favorite activities to do during the day?

My kids love to color, play outside, and watch Elmo. They love going to library and of course the park.

As mothers we have some special moments with our children that we always remember and cherish. Do you mind sharing one or two of those experiences?

I just remember getting up in the middle of the night with my infant son, feeding him, and holding him until he went asleep. There's just something about 2 a.m. that is so quiet and peaceful when you have a beautiful little baby to share it with. Babies just have such sweet, innocent spirits.

When you are having a rough day, and counting down the hours until your husband gets home so you can get a break, what is it that you are looking forward to do as a stress reliever?

I love to read blogs of my friends and families. I read a handful of blogs of people I find inspiring. I also enjoy a good book now and then, too.

When we are pregnant or have kids, it seems like we get all sorts of advice, wanted or not, from all sorts of people. What is one of the best pieces of advice you have gotten?

Follow your own instincts. That's just it- you'll get advice from everyone and anyone about everything when you are expecting or a new mom, and you just need to filter it all out and do what YOU think is best for your family.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you felt like you just couldn't handle it, and what got you through that?

I usually call my sister who has 3 young kids, and she can totally relate to my mothering dilemmas. And another thing that gets me through is something my mom told me growing up and tells me know that I'm a mom; "It's a good thing their cute!". That is so very true with kids, even when they aren't behaving very well.

With your husband being in medical school, and all the time that takes, what do you two do with your children for fun when you do have that special time together?

We really just keep it simple most the time. We go to lots of local parks and playgrounds, go for drives, get ice cream, and dance to kids' music. We just spend as much time together as a family we can.

What is the best thing about being a mother?

Just seeing their cute, happy faces every morning helps me start each day fresh and know that I CAN do this; I not going to be perfect, but I am their mother and I love them. And that's enough.

In the midst of the craziness

2011-09-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

Our family is in the middle of selling our home and buying a new home. So dealing with all of the paper work, the packing, the back and forth with our agent about what we need to do, and having a nearly 3 year old and an 8 month old has been...what's the word...just slightly overwhelming. I feel like I am being pulled in a million different directions.

Luckily, my son provides me with brief moments of joy to help me forget about the craziness. Although having a boy his age can often times be frustrating, I still have those moments of overwhelming love for him. And every time I have those moments, I grab him, hug him tight, give him a kiss, and tell him I love him. Now I'm being rewarded by having him do the same to me. Nothing helps me deal with all of this stress more than when he wraps his arms around me and squeezes me as tight as he can and tells me that he loves me. Then, he not only plants a kiss on my lips, but then he turns my head and gives me an extra one on my cheek.

It has reminded me of how important it is to let our children know how much we care for them and love them. Especially when it seems like most of the words coming out of our mouth to them are "No!", and "Don't do that." and we have a million other things going on. And having them return the love is even better!

"LABOR" Day Weekend Deals

2011-09-01T05:49:00.000-07:00

MILAN MATERNITY "LABOR" DAY WEEKEND 25% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER

Save 25% off all purchases, (regular AND sale items) with coupon code "LABORDAY25" through Monday, and have a GREAT weekend!

Rosella Top in Aqua
List Price: $34
Sale Price with code: $18.75

Annalisa Maternity/Nursing Top in Dark Heather
List Price: $36
Sale Price with code: $27

Elisa Top in Olive
List Price: $34
Sale Price with code: $17.25

Sofia Maternity/Nursing Top in Honeysuckle Pink
List Price: $38
Sale Price with code: $28.50

Gisella Top in Emerald
List Price: $33
Sale Price with code: $18.75

Black and White Circle Dot Diaper Bag
List Price: $28
Sale Price with code: $18

Old wives tales

2011-08-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

Boy or girl? With each of my two pregnancies that was what I just couldn't wait to find out. Having to wait for that 20 week ultrasound is so hard for an impatient person like me. My first was a boy but I had a feeling it was all along. With my second pregnancy, I turned to the internet to find out all of the different old wives tales and other signs that might tell me if I was having a boy or girl.

I have to admit, everything I read was saying that I was having a girl, and then when I got the ultrasound, it was confirmed that it was. So maybe there is some truth to these old wives tales after all.

Symptoms and old wives tales that indicate gender:

If you are craving sweet treats, it is a girl.

Salty or sour cravings, a boy.

(I was definitely craving sweets, but then again, I have some kind of treat every day, so that wasn't anything new)

If you break out with severe acne, a girl.

Mild or no acne, a boy.

With morning sickness, if you are severely sick, it's a boy.

If you are mildly sick, it's a girl.

AND

If you are sick in the morning, a boy.

Sick in the evening, a girl.

(My morning sickness was worse in the morning with my son. With my daughter it wasn't as bad, but a lot worse in the evening)

If you are growing extra body hair, a boy.

No extra body hair, it's a girl.

If you are carrying the baby low, it's a boy.

If you are carrying the baby high, a girl.

This one makes me laugh!

If your husband gains weight, it's a girl!

If your husband doesn't gain any weight, then it's a boy.

Put a wedding ring or needle on a string and have someone hold it over your belly while you lay down...

If it moves in a circle it's a girl.

If it moves side to side, a boy.

(I did this with my second pregnancy, and it did in fact move in a circle indicating it was a girl)

If you prefer sleeping on your left side, it's a boy.

If you prefer the right side, a girl.

(I found this one interesting since with my second pregnancy I all of a sudden always wanted to sleep on my right side, which wasn't typical for me)

What other ones are there that you think are true?

A must read!!

2011-08-26T06:27:00.000-07:00

Once you have children, you quickly learn that everything in your house can be dangerous. Some people go the minimalist route with childproofing, while others don't want to take any chances and they child proof everything humanly possible.

No matter where you fall when it comes to childproofing, the bathroom is one place we all need to pay special attention to. Because of all of the sad stories I have heard of accidents with children in bathrooms, I feel like it's one of the most important things we should learn about and remember, and pay special attention to.

Here are some important things to remember to keep your child safe.

--The most important of all: Never, never, never, ever leave your child alone in the bathtub! It is unsafe to leave a child under the age of 6 alone in the bathtub. Children can drown in a matter of seconds, and even those that are accustom to spending time in water. So if you are giving your child a bath and the phone rings, someone comes to the door, or your other child starts doing something they shouldn't, don't let that pull you away. Those things can wait and the safety of your child is most important. If you're the only one at home when you give your child a bath, make sure you get everything you need before getting them in the bathtub.

And remember, kids are top heavy. So make sure you are in the bathroom even when you are filling to tub. If your child leans into the bathtub as you are filling it, they can fall in head first.

I honestly can't stress the importance of this enough!

--Keep bathrooms locked at all times when you aren't in there with your child. I know this sounds inconvenient, but we all know what sneaky little critters our children can be, and they can get themselves into some trouble (but most importantly into some danger) if they sneak in there alone.

--Make sure you set your hot-water thermostat between 100-125 degrees Fahrenheit. If you put your hand under the hot water and it's uncomfortable, it's too hot. It doesn't take long for water that's too hot to burn your child.

--Don't let your child get in the bathtub until your are done filling the bath. The temperature of the water can change for different reasons and you don't want it to get too hot while they are in there.

--Don't allow your child to touch the taps. If you start with this rule now, it can make it easier later on when they are strong enough to turn the water off and on themselves.

--Install nonslip mats or decals to help prevent falls. It's also a good idea to make a no standing rule when it comes to bath time. And make sure there is a mat outside of the bathtub to avoid falls when they are getting out with slippery feet.

--Install a faucet cover over the bathtub taps. These are inexpensive and can be found at most department or children's stores. If there are any falls in the bathtub it can help prevent them hitting the faucet.

--Find a safe place to keep cleaning supplies, razors, mouthwash, electrical appliances, and beauty products. Make sure they are locked away. And remember if you put them up somewhere high, our kids can be good at finding a chair or something else to climb onto to get something they want.

Take a look, it's in a book

2011-08-24T06:07:00.000-07:00

Don't forget! Today is your last day to get FREE SHIPPING on orders of $25 or more. AND place an order of $50 or more, and get 10% off your entire purchase with code "SUMMER10"

Reading to our children is one of the most important things we can do for our kids. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), twenty-six percent of children who were read to three or four times in the last week by a family member recognized all letters of the alphabet. This is compared to 14 percent of children who were read to less frequently. They also report that children who are read to frequently are more likely to:

--count to 20, or higher than those who were not

-- write their own names

--read or pretend to read

Plus,

The more types of reading materials there are in the home, the higher students are in reading proficiency, according to the Educational Testing Service.
The Educational Testing Services reported that students who do more reading at home are better readers and have higher math scores.

If that doesn't make you want to read to your child, I don't know what will. But I will be honest, reading to my son wasn't easy. He was busy, and wasn't all that interested in sitting still long enough for me to read a book. Even short ones. But we made sure all sorts of children's books were available for him to play with and look at, and he finally came around...with one book in particular.

He would have me read "Moo, Baa, La La La" by Sandra Boynton over, and over, and over....and over. For months upon months it was his favorite book. I continued to buy books by Sandra Boynton, and they have continued to be his favorite.

After "Moo, Baa, La La La" he was all about "Blue Hat, Green Hat", and then he moved on to "But Not the Hippopotamus". After that he was all about "What's Wrong, Little Pookie?" and his current favorite is "Fifteen Animals."

The books are fun, help him learn, and keep me entertained as well. So if you are in the market for some new books for your new addition, definitely give these a try. They have also made perfect gifts for friends and family having babies

What are some books that your child just can't live without?

Free Shipping and 10% off

2011-08-22T04:46:00.000-07:00

Have your eye on something but don't want to pay those darn shipping costs? Get FREE SHIPPING on any order over $25 from Monday, August 22 through Wednesday, August 24. On top of that, place an order of $50 or more, and get 10% off your entire purchase with code "SUMMER10". Combine the two for some awesome savings! Be sure to check out our sale items!

*SALE* Gisella $25- Emerald

Also, "LIKE" us on Facebook and comment on your labor relaxation method for a chance to win an iPod shuffle! The winner will be chosen at random tonight and posted tomorrow morning on our FB page.

We want you!

2011-08-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

As a mother, I often forget that there are millions of other women out there that are having the same experiences as me. There are so many of you out there having the same struggles, the same joys, enjoying the same things, and just trying to be the best mom you can possibly be. When I spend most of my days at home with my little ones, I sometimes forget that I am not alone in this journey. Which is one of the greatest things about blogging. It's a whole new way for us to share the struggles, joys, and every day life that wasn't available not all that long ago. Every time I get to read the experiences of other moms, I am reminded that I am not alone, and that we are all more connected than we think.

Which is why we want to spotlight you! What better way to get to know the other moms out there than to spotlight each of you. Plus we just love you and want to hear from you! We all want to know what you like, what helps you through pregnancies, what you do with your kids for entertainment and survival, what moments you adore, and what gets you through the tough times.

Whether you are a soon to be mother, a mother of a few years, or a veteran mother, we want to hear from you, so send an email to service@milanmaternity.com letting us know that you'd be willing to be spotlighted. Plus we'll send you a sweet suprise in the mail for letting us get to know you better.

ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny Giveaway Winner

2011-08-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

The winner of the ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny Giveaway as chosen by random.org is:

And the coordinating comment:

Congrats! E-mail service@milanmaternity.com by Wednesday, August 17th, 11:59pm to claim it, or another winner will be chosen.

What's for lunch??

2011-08-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

Whether you are pregnant, just had a baby, working, have a working husband, have kids at home, or have kids at school there is something you need every single day. Lunch! (And if you aren't eating lunch, shame on you!!) Eating a good, healthy lunch is so important for you and your family.

One of the toughest things, I've found, with this thing called lunch is figuring out what to eat everyday. Alternating between pb&j and chicken sandwiches through out the week can be dreadful. Not to mention it can often be difficult to figure out good, healthy things to have for lunch.

So if you are looking for some new, delicious, healthy (and sometimes unhealthy for the times you need to indulge)

ideas for you, your husband, and/or your children you need to check out The Lunch Box Lowdown blog. She has so

many great recipes and ideas so that you won't have to keep eating the same boring things every day. Some of her recipes include the wild west sandwich wrap, green pasta salad, and honey and chicken salad.

AND since the school year is getting started (it's hard to believe in some states kids are already back in school!) she is having a fun giveaway. I know you're probably wishing that she's offering to make you these lunches for the rest of the year. Unfortunately she's not, but it is something just as fun!

Head over to her blog to enter to win a new lunchbox filled with goodies!

My experience

2011-08-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

Today is your last day to enter the Itzbeen Pocket Nanny Giveaway! Click here to enter!

The following is a post I wrote back in April 2009 on my personal blog about coming to accept and be open about having postpartum depression. Now...if you are reading this and thinking that you don't need to read about PPD because there is no way you will deal with that, please keep reading! I mention in the post that I never read about it because I never thought I would have it. I'd always wanted to be a mother and just knew I'd be the happiest ever, so I ignored the fact that it could exist in my life. Perhaps things would have gone a little differently if I'd accepted that it could happen before hand.

I've been blogging on here for about 2 months now, and you may have noticed that I'm a fan of sarcasm and humor, but I still feel like this is a good thing to share, in spite of it's lack of...fun. I just feel so strongly that it should be something we should be open about!

The post:

i've come to accept that life is just one huge adventure.

what i had to learn is that sometimes the adventures are fun. sometimes the adventures are hard. and sometimes the adventures just feel like you are stuck in the mud with no one or nothing around to help get you out. you do have a cell phone in your pocket though. but for some reason you are too ashamed of being stuck in the mud to call someone for help.

i have been trying to think of the best way to share the adventure i was stuck in for the past several months. i think it's important to, because if it helps just one other person out, it would make it all worth it. so after thinking about it, i figured the only option really, is to just come out and say it.

postpartum depression, for me, wasn't an immediate thing. i did feel somewhat disconnected in the beginning. but it wasn't until a little later that i really started feeling that something was really wrong. i would say it was a result of hormonal imbalance plus a major lack of sleep that began to occur.

i was sad all the time. i cried a ton. i felt like i wasn't meant to be a mother. i got frustrated so easily. i did what i could to get away. and i thought things that i wouldn't want to admit.

but on the outside, to other people, i tried to be as normal as humanly possible. because i was so ashamed of myself and the way i was feeling. and because i knew all these other women who had recently had babies too and they seemed so happy. i didn't understand why they were so happy and i wasn't. and i couldn't possibly talk to them about how i was feeling because they'd think i was crazy. so i just acted like every other new mom did. in my mind i kept thinking "do i have postpartum depression?" but there was no way i could bring myself to say it out loud or talk to anyone about it because i felt like something was wrong with me.

so few times in my life have i heard others talk openly about it. which now i think is such a shame. if people were more open about it, i think that it would be easier for those who are struggling to get help, and would probably prevent a lot of unfortunate things that happen.

i think back now to all of the times i was reading my pregnancy books and articles online. every time i got to a section about postpartum depression, i'd skip right over. i'd always wanted to have children, i was so excited to meet the baby, why would i have postpartum depression?

i finally mentioned to a friend how i'd been feeling, and she asked if i thought i had postpartum depression. after hearing someone else ask me out loud i was finally able to admit it to myself and to the people around me that needed to know. i was able to talk to a good friend who also happens to be a professional when it comes to all things mental health. things started looking up.

i finally had the strength and courage to put little j.t. in his crib and let him "cry it out" and we have all been able to get the much needed rest that has evaded us for months and months.

i hate that for so many months i kept everything bottled up inside. it makes me sad that i didn't put confidence in the people around me. the people that ended up being so helpful and caring when i did finally tell them what was going on. they didn't judge me or think i was a bad person like i thought they would.

and now...now things are looking up. i'm actually happy. i actually feel like i will survive and that i can handle everything. and i hope that i can continue to be open about my experience so that others won't have to suffer alone like i did.

and that, my friends, is the reality. i used my cell phone, called for some help, and a whole rescue crew showed up and helped me out of the mud. i still have a bit of mud stuck to my pants, but i'll probably wear them around for a while to let people know that i'm not ashamed that i got stuck.

World Breastfeeding Week---and a 20% discount!!

2011-08-04T05:27:00.000-07:00

Once again, don't forget about the ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny Giveaway. Click here to enter!

Did you know that this week is World Breastfeeding Week?? And to celebrate Milan Maternity is offering 20% off nursing styles Thursday through Saturday. Use code "NURSING" to get 20% anything in the Nursing section.

Speaking of breastfeeding, I thought I would compile a list of "nursing must-haves". But before I get to that, if you have decided that you will be a nursing mother, I feel like I should tell you this: I was warned that nursing would be hard. I just didn't realize how frustrating it would be!! I wanted to give up so many times, and the only reason I kept trying was because my husband was so supportive (although I'm pretty sure the only reason he was so supportive was because he didn't want to have to buy formula because he's ummm...cheap?) At any rate, the first 2 weeks were tough. I cried, I was in pain, and I didn't know if I could do it. But then after all that practice, we were experts, and I will never regret dealing with the frustrating and painful 2 weeks so that I could continue to nurse my baby. I know nursing isn't for everyone, but if it's what you want to do, be prepared to be determined.

Now on to my list!

You might notice from these first items that I'm a huge fan of Lansinoh products.

The first is their HPA Lanolin. It soothes, heals and protects sore cracked nipples. I used this religiously after I had my babies! It's 100% natural and is safe for both mom and baby.

Next up is Lansinohs Ultra Soft Disposable Nursing Pads. These were the most comfortable I found. And I like that it has 2 adhesive strips to really keep it in place. When I was pregnant with my first baby, I had no idea that nursing pads was something I would need. Don't make the same mistake I did! And I'll just leave it at that.

The third Lansinoh product I'd recommend is something that I haven't actually used, but plan to try out next time around. It's their Reusable Nursing Pads. I realized this time around how much money I spent on disposable pads, and realized it probably would have been better to buy reusable ones. And from what I've read, these are great.

Your doctor/nurse/or other health care provider might not recommend this, but if you are going to nurse, whether you plan to store milk or not, I'd suggest a breast pump. Before I left the hospital the last time I was already mighty uncomfortable because my milk came in. The nurse told me I shouldn't pump to relieve the pain because it would increase milk production, but I had to! For that reason alone, I'd suggest it. And if you do plan to store breast milk, it's obviously easier to have a pump. I would recommend an electric pump. I found manual pumps are less than helpful and not easy to use. I got the Evenflo Dual Electric pump (which was on the cheaper end), but found out after that I would have been fine with the single. But it's worked great for me.

When it comes to nursing bras, it's all a matter of preference. I found that nursing bras with an underwire are super uncomfortable. But it seems to all be a matter of trial and error when it comes to this. I would definitely recommend a nighttime nursing bra. They are much more comfortable and easier to deal with when you are at home. Motherhood Maternity has one (that I can't seem to find online) that has worked great for me.

And last, but certainly not least, you must have some super cute nursing apparel! One of the things that I miss while nursing is being able to wear cute dresses. But of course, Milan Maternity has you covered when it comes to that. I recently got the Vittoria dress and absolutely love it! So great for nursing, but people were none the wiser that it was a nursing dress. And I got several compliments on how cute it was.

Motherhood

2011-08-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Don't forget about the the ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny Giveaway. Click here to enter!

It's been one of those weekends. One of those ones where I'm already dreading the week ahead and wondering if I will survive it. And then I figure I've survived every week for nearly 3 years as a mother, so I will probably get through this week, too. And then I remind myself that I'm not the only one who is starting my week this way (I often forget that fact.)

And then I do my best to find the humor in it all.

And lastly, I remind myself that this stage of motherhood in my life is passing all too quickly. And that it won't be long before my little ones are all grown up, and I will miss the days when they were this age and I will want it all back. So I just need to breathe, accept, and enjoy.

Swaddling 101

2011-07-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

Don't forget about the the ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny Giveaway. Click here to enter!

I remember so clearly my mom teaching me how to swaddle my baby dolls when I was little. Turns out swaddling real babies isn't always as easy, but, all that practice when I was little definitely paid off!!

Swaddling has turned out to be extra useful with my newest little one. She is just over 7 months old and I still swaddle her. She was the move-iest baby in the womb (Remember how she was still going from breach position to head down position up until a week before her birth?) And now she is the move-iest baby out of the womb. Her legs move around like they have a mind of their own, and unless I swaddle her, she has a hard time with feedings and with relaxing to go to sleep.

Why swaddle:

-Research shows that babies that are swaddled sleep for longer stretches of time.
-Research also shows that babies that are swaddled correctly are less likely to be affected by SIDS.
-When our babies were in the womb, they were feeling warm, tight, and secure. When they are born, they still crave that feeling, and swaddling is a great way for them to achieve that feeling.
-Swaddled babies have been shown to better soothe themselves back to sleep.
-Swaddling is a great way to try to soothe a fussy baby. It can help keep them in a state of calm.

How to swaddle:

This is a wonderful video on how to swaddle your newborn.

Because my little one likes to sleep with her arms stretched above her head, I've just adjusted this method by leaving her arms out.

What to swaddle with:

I have two favorite swaddling blankets.

The first is the hospital blanket. They aren't pretty or cute, but they are perfect for swaddling. I immensely regret not stocking up on more of them when the nurse told us to take all the blankets they had in our hospital room. Next time around I will definitely be picking out all of the big ones they have.

My second favorite is something I recently heard about (I'm probably behind on this one) but I LOVE the aden + anais swaddling blankets. Unlike the hospital blankets, these are super cute and come in lots of different designs. They are big (perfect for swaddling an 18 lb seven month old like mine) and lightweight (perfect for swaddling a seven month old like mine in the hot, hot heat of summer).

You can visit the aden + anais site here and if you look around online, you can find some good deals on them.

Itzbeen Pocket Nanny Review/Giveaway

2011-07-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

You've just had your baby. You're in the middle of recovery, trying to figure out how breastfeeding is supposed to be "natural", you haven't slept for more than 45 minute increments here and there, and get emotional over everything. Not to mention post-partum blues and anxiety have left you feeling a little "out-of-it". If you're like me, you're not in the greatest condition to start needing to remember when you fed baby last, was it the left side or the right side? How long has he been awake- is it nap time yet? Oh, and when was he changed last? Not to mention if you're giving baby medicine, or YOU medicine....when was the last dose? Way too many things for my fried brain to remember. That's where the ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny comes in. I so wish I had known about this with my first two! ITZBEEN™ Pocket Nanny was developed by a new mom and dad who found themselves sleep-deprived and needing help to remember baby care details, such as when their baby last ate or napped. So, they created the ITZBEEN™: a multi-purpose nursery tool that helps new parents remember the basic details of baby care.
It has four timers that help you keep track of diaper changes, feedings, sleep or wake time, and anything else you may need to keep track of-all with the touch of a button. You can set any or all of the four timers on an alarm, which is one of my favorite parts! So for example, if you have a newborn and plan to feed him every 2-3 hours, you can set the feeding timer to go off after 2.5 hours. It also has a soft glow night light and a backlight display, which helps out during all of those late nights. One of my other favorite features is the nursing reminder to help you remember which side you nursed from last. The ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny is also great for sharing responsibilities with Daddy, baby-sitters, or Grandma. It quickly gives them a run-down of what happened when, and you can customize alarms to let them know when things need to be done. I absolutely love the Pocket Nanny; it makes life as a new mom so much easier! It would be a perfect baby shower gift as well! You can purchase it at http://www.shop.itzbeen.com/ for $24.99. It is also available in most major stores.

One lucky reader will win an ITZBEEN Baby Care Timer!

To Enter:

1. Visit ITZBEEN and comment on one of your favorite features of the ITZBEEN Pocket Nanny.

Extra Entries:

2. Multiple Entries-Share this giveaway with one of the "share buttons" at the bottom of this post. It's super easy to share to Facebook, twitter, your blog, or e-mail! (One entry for each way shared, and for each day shared)

3. Follow Milan Maternity on Facebook

4. Follow this blog

5. Follow Milan Maternity on Twitter

6. Post one of our buttons on your blog and leave the link (one entry for each)

7. Follow ITZBEEN on Facebook

8. Follow ITZBEEN on Twitter

Giveaway open until Monday, August 8, 11:59 pm PST. The winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

MM Birthday Giveaway Winner!

2011-07-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone that participated in our birthday giveaway! It's so fun to see everyone modeling their MM clothes, whether pregnant, nursing, or somewhere in between!

We numbered all of the entries and a winner was chosen by random.org- The winner of $100 cash and $50 to MM is Aj Ceniceros! Congrats!

Also, congrats to Stephanie Aders Hansen for having the most "likes" on her pic! You have won $50 to MM!

Everyone that posted a pic gets a $10 e-gift code to Milan Maternity!

E-mail us at service@milanmaternity to claim your prizes!

The when, what, and how of feeding your baby

2011-07-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

Don't forget! Today is your last day to enter the Milan Maternity birthday party giveaway. Click here for details!

As a new mother, one of the things I was unsure about was what to feed my baby. When, what, and how much was completely unknown to me. Of course I could ask at doctors visits, but I wasn't sure what to do in the mean time. Plus I'd usually forget half of the stuff the doctor said before I even walked out of the doctors office. Taking notes during those visits probably would have been helpful, but my brain no longer functions at full capacity, so the thought didn't cross my mind.

Then I found an age-by-age feeding guide on babycenter.com

It is my go-to food guide when it comes to feeding my babies during their first year. It gives you signs of readiness for each phase, what to feed them, how much per day, and feeding tips. Even though I didn't follow their guide precisely, it was a huge help. I was so glad I found it and immediately bookmarked it so I could refer to it often.

So if you are like me, and need some help in that area, click here for baby center's age-by-age guide to feeding your baby.

MM Birthday Party Giveaway Contest!!

2011-07-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to us! We're having a party and we want everyone to come! Put on your favorite MM piece and take a photo, (we had SO much fun back in November when we did this, we just had to do it again!) and you could win our big birthday present...a $100 CASH CARD and a $50 MILAN MATERNITY e-gift card! And just for entering, we'll send you a $10 e-gift card code to use on your next order!

Here's how to enter the MM Birthday Giveaway:

Take out your favorite MM piece and take a photo! (Whether you're pregnant, nursing, done having babies, or somewhere in between, we want to see photos of all stages!)

Post it on our Facebook page by Monday July 25. Include your first name and what piece you're wearing. If you'd rather us post it, or if you don't have a Facebook account, e-mail your entry to service@milanmaternity.com

You may submit up to TWO photos (different styles)

All of the entries will be numbered and a winner will be chosen by random.org on Tuesday, July 26, and everyone else that entered will be sent a $10 e-gift code!

EXTRA ENTRIES and EXTRA PRESENTS- For EVERY 10 people that "like" your photo in our album, you'll receive an extra entry, with no limit! Also, the photo with the MOST likes, will win a $50 MM e-gift card!

I know what you're thinking...if you're like me, you never take photos of yourself, pregnant or not. It's time to change all that! So whether you're pregnant, nursing, in that transitional stage, or completely done with pregnancy and still loving your MM looks, send us a picture with you in your favorite piece. It doesn't have to be a full body shot. You don't even have to show your face if you don't want to! It can be whatever you want, as long as we can tell what your favorite piece is. So for those of you that already own some Milan Maternity pieces, it's time to dust off the old camera. For those of you that don't, now is the time to treat yourself! Through Friday, get 15% off your order with code "BIRTHDAY". Order your favorite piece and get your photo in by Monday!

Remember, there's no limit on how many extra entries you can get! Post your photo on our Facebook page, then SHOUT IT OUT to family and friends and get them to "like" your pic to earn those extra entries! Can't wait to see what you're wearing to our party!

My favorite pregnancy book

2011-07-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

Although I have mentioned that I wish I hadn't watched so many shows and read so much about the gory details of childbirth, there was one book that I absolutely loved! It's called "Great Expectations: Your All-in-One Resource for Pregnancy & Childbirth".

My favorite part of this book was the week by week guide for the changes that both you and your baby are making during the nine months of pregnancy. I would pick a day of the week to read about what my baby would be doing that week, and it was amazing to read about the amazing growth these little babies make in such a short period of time. And even though I read it through my first pregnancy, I enjoyed it just as much reading about the babies progress with my second baby as well.

It also talks about all the different medical tests you do during pregnancy, birthing options as far as birthing at home, birthing center, hospital, and all of your options for pain management during birth. It gives you information about what foods and medicines are safe and unsafe for pregnancy and explains all of the stages of labor. And it doesn't stop after that. It also has a guide for the first 6 months of your babies life, as well as a baby buying guide, which helps you figure out what you need for your baby and what is safest.

And the best part about this book is that it is positive and reassuring, and it didn't scare me like other things I read. If there was only one book that I could recommend to any expecting mother, this would be it. You can buy it here.

Learn from my mistakes

2011-07-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

I say that if you can learn from others mistakes and not make the same ones yourself, then do it!! So just for you, I have compiled a list of things I wish I hadn't done when I was pregnant, so that you can make sure to avoid the same mistakes.

Things I wish I hadn't done when I was pregnant

-I wish I hadn't gotten a haircut. A trim, yes, that's fine. But I went in asking for several inches cut off. The man decided to disregard everything I asked him to do and he gave me a horrible cut. I cried. (I have never cried over a haircut, but when you already feel self-conscious about your changing body, a bad haircut is horrible!) I ended up going somewhere else and getting a really short cut that I still regret having had to do...3 years later! I don't think that pregnancy is a good time to make a major cut. Or at least not the time for spur of the moment decisions for haircuts.

-If I could go back to my first pregnant self, the one that gained over 50 lbs, I'd say "Hey, you!! You're pregnant and you're beautiful!" I shouldn't have been so hard on myself for my huge feet, cankles and hands. It's not like I had any control over that, so why give myself a hard time about it.

-Guess what. I so did not have to have the baby's room completely done by the time he was born. Let's be honest, he didn't even sleep in his own room until he was 7 months old. Sure it gave me something to do, but I definitely did not need to stress out about it.

-I shouldn't have read so much and watched so much about birth. Yes, it's wise to educate yourself about the birthing experience, but the real deal isn't as scary as the gory details they give in some books and on some tv shows. All I did was completely freak myself out.

-I really, really, REALLY wish I had said an emphatic "NO!" to my nephew when he wanted to walk from the capitol building in DC all the way to the Washington Monument. July, hotter than ever, 7 months pregnant. I knew that walk was longer than it looked, but I did it anyways. My feet were the size of watermelons by the time we were done. Definitely won't make that mistake again! Late pregnancy is not the time to make what feels like cross country treks!

And last, but most important:

-I shouldn't have told my husband I was pregnant. (Or anyone else for that matter.) Sure, people might figure it out eventually, but I'd be willing to take my chances. Nothing like being 38 weeks pregnant, feeling as huge as a house and being SO ready to have the baby, and having your husband asking you daily if the baby is coming yet. It's hard enough to deal with when other people do it. But when your significant other, who should be the one "safe" person keeps asking too, it makes you want to cause them bodily harm.

Milan Maternity Vittoria Winner and Dress Discount for You!

2011-07-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

CONGRATS!

The winner of the Milan Maternity Vittoria maternity/nursing dress giveaway is:

And the coordinating comment:

E-mail service@milanmaternity.com by Friday, July 15 11:59pm to claim it, or another winner will be chosen.

Didn't win this time? Get 20% off the Vittoria or one of our other dresses with code "DRESS20" through Saturday.

When stains are as stubborn as a 3 year old

2011-07-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day to enter the Milan Maternity Vittoria Dress Giveaway!! Enter here!

My husband and I have this running joke that if one of us is in the room with our kids when one of them decides to...do the deed, when the other person comes back in the room we say "They have a present for you." Clearly, that is not something I'd want wrapped up in pretty paper and a bow on my birthday. My husband, on the other hand, just can't say no to presents, so it works out well for me.

The worst, though, is the blow outs. Nothing was more terrifying to me as a new mother than when I put my son in a cute, new outfit, and he'd have a blow out. I was worried that either it would stain and the outfit would be ruined, or that it would be super hard to get it out. And for a while, it was quite the process to get the clothes clean and stain free.

But it turns out Billy Mays was right when he said that OxiClean is "the stain specialist!" What's easier than filling a soaking tub with some water and OxiClean and putting the soiled clothes in there? Very rarely has it not worked the first time, and if it doesn't I just wash it, then let it soak in some OxiClean again. (and it's typically my fault because I didn't have time to get the clothes soaking before the stain set in) I also put a scoop of it into every load of my kids clothes for good measure, and it helps get out those spit up stains that can show up later as yellow spots if you don't really get the clothes clean. My family members that own and operate dry cleaners even use it there, so it must be good. Not to mention that OxiClean is great for cleaning a million other things, which as a mother, we know that there are lots of spills and such to clean up after.

So if you are a new mom, or an old mom, and haven't figured out the best way to deal with all those stains yet, definitely give it a try.

Accesorize

2011-07-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

Don't forget, the Milan Maternity Vittoria dress giveaway is still going until July 11. Enter HERE!

Sometimes maternity fashion can be a little tricky because not being able to wear all the things we want can get a bit frustrating, but that doesn't mean we still can't look good. Which is why it can sometimes be all about accessories, accessories, accessories.

One of the trends in accessories that is still in is scarves. I know what you are thinking. It's a million degrees outside, why would I risk heat stroke by wearing a scarf just to accessorize? Because there are some great, lightweight summer scarves out there, and scarves aren't just for bundling up a cold neck. Remember, these scarves are perfect not only for draping during the summer, but also as headbands and pony tail holders for those days when it's just to much effort to get your hair done. Or in my case, when it's just way too humid to let my frizzy hair go free.

Here are 5 of my favorite finds:

My favorite is this red rose scarf...in the UK. But don't worry. If you love it as much as I do, they do deliver to the US.

I also love this striped white and pink striped scarf at Ruche. It's so pretty, and light.

And the polka dot lover in me loves this ruched scarf from...Ruche.

And guess who loves paisley. This girl! And this one is so girly and pretty, I can't help but love it even more.

Last, but not least...nothing says summer like the color yellow. Which is why this scarf is so fabulous.

So go get yourself a scarf and liven up your summer maternity outfits. And even your nonmaternity ones, too.

Prenatal Chiropractic Care

2011-07-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Don't forget about the Milan Maternity Vittoria dress giveaway. Enter HERE!

When I was pregnant with my son, about 5 months into my pregnancy I started having the most excruciating back pain IN THE WORLD! The only way I could get the pain to subside was to lay down. And seeing as how laying down 24/7 is impossible, I was in pain a lot. The midwives office I went to referred me to a couple of chiropractors and even though I was hesitant to go being pregnant, the pain was too unbearable to not give it a try.

Miracle of miracles, after a couple of weeks of going to the chiropractor, the pain was gone. I continued going to the chiropractor for the remainder of my pregnancy. It is said that going to a chiropractor during pregnancy decreases the length of delivery. HELLO!! Sign me up for that one!

Fast forward to my second pregnancy, where everything about it was different. Including the fact that I didn't have the excruciating back pain again. I was thankful, but kept wondering if I should go to the chiropractor anyways.

Then my pregnancy got to the point where the baby should be staying in the head down position, but she wasn't. And it wasn't just that she wasn't head down at most of my visits to the midwives office, but she would flip back and forth daily. I found myself a couple of weeks away from my due date with a baby that was doing somersaults in my belly!

This time I was recommended to a specific kind of chiropractor. One that was specifically certified in something called the Webster technique. According to americanpregnancy.org, it is an "adjustment which enables chiropractors to establish balance in the pregnant woman's pelvis and reduce undue stress to her uterus and supporting ligaments. This balanced state in the pelvis has been clinically shown to allow for optimal fetal positioning."

So I went in, and he worked his chiropractic magic (on his funky little pregnancy table that adjusted for my rather round midsection). My daughter did one more flip for good measure (which he told me she would do), then stayed head down the remainder of my pregnancy. It didn't take long after she was born for her to start flipping again, though.

I know going to a chiropractor isn't for everyone, but if you are experiencing back pain due to pregnancy, or find yourself in a situation similar to my flipping baby, you should look into it more. If you are wondering if it is safe, americanpregancy.org says "There are no known contraindications to chiropractic care throughout pregnancy. All chiropractors are trained to work with women who are pregnant. Investing in the fertility and pregnancy wellness of women who are pregnant or trying to conceive is a routine care for most chiropractors."

americanpregnancy.org also says that some of the potential benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include: maintaining a healthier pregnancy, controlling symptoms of nausea, reducing the time of labor and delivery, and relieving back, neck, and joint pain.

If you are interested in finding a chiropractor that is Webster technique certified you can search here for one in your area.

Milan Maternity Vittoria Dress Giveaway!

2011-07-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's GIVEAWAY time! Today we're giving away our newest dress, the Vittoria in Mocha.

This smocked maternity/nursing dress makes looking fabulous and feeling comfortable absolutely effortless. Easily dress it up or down. It works for all seasons; pair it with some cute pumps for summer and then boots for fall.

Nurse baby discreetly and modestly by simply moving over the outer layer and lift the inner nursing sheath.

Win it! Here's how to enter: (Leave a comment for each entry completed)

1. Share with us why you would love to win the Vittoria dress for this summer!

2. Multiple Entries-Share this giveaway with one of the "share buttons" at the bottom of this post. It's super easy to share to Facebook, twitter, your blog, or e-mail! (One entry for each way shared, and for each day shared)

3. Follow Milan Maternity on Facebook

4. Follow this blog

5. Follow Milan Maternity on Twitter

6. Post one of our buttons on your blog and leave the link (one entry for each)

Giveaway open until Monday, July 11, 11:59 pm PST. The winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

You might have a toddler

2011-06-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

I swear like it feels like this past September that my son was born. So I'm not sure how it is possible that he's turning THREE this September!! Really, where did the time go? I had a newborn and all of a sudden I have a full on toddler. And a super loud toddler that constantly wants my attention at that. But even if he was a super quiet toddler that didn't constantly want my attention, there are still so many signs that there is a toddler living in my home.

If you aren't sure if there is a toddler in your home, here are some ways you might know:

--While making dinner, you need the can opener and you know exactly where it is...the fridge, inside the veggie drawer.
--Your husband goes on an overnight business trip and he uses a spare wipes box to pack his toiletries in.
--When you throw things away in the trash can, you have to sometimes bury certain things a little deeper.
--Even when you are in the car by yourself, you find yourself constantly looking in the rear view mirror.
--You are desperate for an unhealthy snack and find yourself eating Scooby Doo snacks dipped in Nutella.
--Your friends come to visit, and while using the bathroom, they have to go on a scavenger hunt to find the toilet paper and hand soap.
--When you have spare time and get lost in your thoughts, you find yourself thinking things like "Where in the world are Max and Ruby's parents?" and "How come Mickey is a mouse but he can talk? But has a dog for a pet, Pluto, but he can't talk? But then Goofy is his friend, who is also a dog, and he can talk?"
--When throwing away things in the trash can, you find yourself giving it a once over to make sure nothing valuable has been thrown away.
--In general conversation you spell out words like "park", "cookies", and "outside."
--You know you are going to have to wake up early, or possibly be up several times during the night, but you stay up as late as possible just for some peace and quiet.
--Your grocery list always consists of such items as "fishies" and "Scooby snacks".

If you still aren't sure if there is a toddler in your house or not, just look on the floor. If it's clean, you probably don't.

**The items listed may or may not be from actual experiences in our house. Let's just say that I'm not creative enough to come up with these things out of thin air.

The latest trend

2011-06-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, I remember watching an episode of NBC'S morning show and the Duggar's from the show 18 Kids and Counting were on. The Duggar's oldest son and his wife were expecting their first baby, and they didn't yet know if it was a boy or a girl and they were going to find out on the show. And how did they find out? They had a cake, made especially for them, and the inside was either pink or blue, depending on the babies gender. They cut into it and it was pink!

I had never heard of such a thing.

But then, this past Friday morning I was watching ABC's morning show, and they had this story about gender reveal parties. Apparently it's the newest trend. People who want to know the gender of their baby, but don't want to find out from someone they don't know or barely know in a doctor-like, not so intimate setting have come up with a great idea.

They have the person performing the ultrasound write down the gender of the baby and put it in an envelope. They then give this envelope to a baker who will make a cake with pink inside for a girl, or blue for a boy. Then the couple has a party with family and friends, and at the party cut into the cake so they can all find out the gender together.

I absolutely love this idea! I don't know if I will have a big party but I definitely think that next time around it would be a fun way for our little family to find out who will be joining us. And if I do that, I should probably go ahead and make a King cake with the little plastic baby inside when I announce my next pregnancy. I'll take any and every excuse to eat cake.

It's summertime!

2011-06-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

During my first pregnancy I was in the huge, uncomfortable stage of pregnancy right in the heat (and humidity cause I'm on the east coast) of summer! It wasn't fun. And I vowed to myself that I will never be in the third trimester of pregnancy in the horrible heat of summer again!!! (But from my last post, you know that saying stuff like that never works out for me!)

(Speaking of summer, today is your last day to get 20% off your ENTIRE order with coupon code "SUMMERBABY')

If you are finding yourself in the same situation now that summer is here, here are some things to remember :

--Make sure to drink lots and lots of water. Dehydration and pregnancy are not a good mix. (for me it caused contractions). You should have at least 6 to 8 glasses a day. For me, if I have a glass soon after waking up it makes it easier for me to keep drinking throughout the day. And yes, you already have to run to the bathroom a million times a day, but it's better than the alternative. If you aren't a fan of water and find it hard to get in the 6 to 8 glasses, make sure to get some watery fruits and veggies, too, like honeydew melon, cantaloupe, watermelon, and cucumber

--Frequent the pool. It's a great way to cool off, relieve back pain, and get in some exercise. During my first pregnancy I was able to go to the pool often and it really was the best. And I'd hang out along the side of the pool doing leg lifts and other water aerobics. I may have gotten a few weird looks, but it felt so good, and I'm used to people looking at me like I'm crazy.

--Flip flops are pretty much the worst choice. It's so hard for me to say that since all my watermelon sized feet could fit into were flip flops, but most of them don't have the arch support that we really need while pregnant. Because of all of the extra weight and the stretching of ligaments, flip flops just aren't the best and wearing them daily could cause permanent damage. But if you have to wear them (I do believe I HAVE to) make sure to get some with good arch support.

--Prop up your feet. I'm not even kidding about how bad my hands, feet and ankles swelled because of the hot summer. (I'm tempted to show you a picture for you skeptics, but I will refrain) Keeping your feet up helps, and so does a nice foot massage! And going back to the first tip, drinking water helps with the swelling, too, along with taking in less salt.

--Stay indoors when you can on those super hot days. Yes, it can be boring, which is when you hit up the mall or go to a movie. And it can seem almost impossible if you have another child who needs to get out and get some energy. But do what you can to stay cool inside. Just take advantage of the cooler weather at sundown.

--Load up on sunscreen. I'm one of those people that will say this is a must anytime, pregnant or not. But did you know that higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy cause melasma and wearing sunscreen is the best way to prevent it? Make sure to wear SPF 50, even if it's cloudy. I've gotten my worst sunburns on overcast days.

Summer Lovin' Discount- 20% off Milan Maternity

2011-06-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Summer is officially here and we're definitely feeling it here in Southern California! Heck, it ALWAYS feels like summer...it's just summer, and then hotter summer.

We want to kick off the season with some sweet savings, so today and tomorrow only, snag 20% off your ENTIRE order with coupon code "SUMMERBABY'. Be sure to check out some of our newest styles!

Never say never.

2011-06-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

I'm one of those people that loves to say "I will never..."

And there's nothing like pregnancy, having babies, and raising children to make you eat those words! I'm pretty sure that every single "I will never..." that I've ever spoken has been taken back since the first day I got pregnant.

I will never have a baby without an epidural!!
And then I had my first baby, and had an epidural, and it was just not a good experience. All of a sudden I found myself pregnant with my second and saying that I would be going without an epidural. And guess what. I actually did it! That was the most surprising part of all! Of course, that is every ones personal choice, but I definitely ate my words on that one.

I will never hire someone to clean my home!!
No, I haven't hired anyone to clean my home. But if my husband gave me the go ahead, I totally would. Cleaning a house with 2 little ones seems nearly impossible. Although I have come up with a little plan that has helped me out a bit, which I will share later. But if I had someone to help me out with that, I don't think I'd be able to contain my excitement.

I will never let my baby sleep in our bed!
Said the girl who hadn't had a baby, and then came home with the cutest little baby boy in the whole wide world...who would only sleep when he was being held. I went back on that one the very first night we were home. And there he stayed almost every night for the first 7 months of his life.

I will never drive a minivan!
And here I am, with two kids, begging (and I mean BEGGING) my husband to get me a minivan. For some reason minivans screamed "stereotypical mom" to me, and I wanted to avoid that (Why? I don't know.) And now as I lift my two kids in and out of our trailblazer and as I feel so cramped every time we go on any kind of road trip, I can't help but think "Please, oh please, OH PLEASE, let us get a minivan soon!"

I will never join a gym!
"Why would I pay to workout somewhere when I can workout at home for free?" was my perspective. And then I had a baby. And then a few months later I had postpartum depression. And then I needed to get out of the house and have something just for me. It was the best thing I could have done. And of course, there are a lot more options for exercising at a gym then there are at my house....at least until I will the lottery and have a massive gym in my house! (I have a feeling I will be waiting for that for a looong time, since I never buy lottery tickets.)

I will never deliver a baby at home!
My mother actually birthed me at home. And when I told people that and they asked if I would have my babies at home I'd say "No way!" The hospital seemed like the safe place to deliver a baby. I was soooo scared about birthing a baby, I just knew I needed all sorts of help from every possible trained professional! And now that I had my second with out an epidural I think...what is the point of doing it at the hospital when I can just do it at home? The jury is still out on this one (mostly my husbands jury) but I am pretty convinced, which just amazes me!

l will never dress my son in camo and my daughter won't be in pink all the time!
But then, I had a cute little boy, and a sweet little girl. And I quickly realized that they look super cute in EVERYTHING! Even camo and pink. So who am I to deny them any kind of cuteness?

I find it funny that all it took was becoming a mother to go back on my "I will never..." statements. (Please, tell me I'm not the only one!) It has taught me that there is nothing like experience to make you realize what you will and won't do. And most importantly, it has taught me that everyone makes their own decisions based on their own preferences/experiences. No one is right, and no one is wrong. I judged so easily before (I am human, after all), and I've definitely learned to not be so quick judge to now.

I can't wait until my kids are older and I get to take back the rest of my "I will never's..."

Prenatal exercise: If I can do it, anyone can!

2011-06-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

One thing you will probably never hear me say is "I LOVE exercising!" Not because I don't exercise, but because I just don't have a love for it. For me, exercise is a way to fulfill my desire to try to be healthy. And since having children, it has become a bit of an escape.

When I was pregnant I would exercise because I'm convinced that the professionals are right, that it will help me have endurance and strength for labor.

I am now the proud owner of 3 prenatal exercise DVDs. And if I can actually get myself together to do some kind of physical activity during pregnancy, you can, too! And if you have just one workout routine and are getting bored and losing the desire to do it, try getting a couple more so you can mix things up.

The first one is Prenatal Yoga With Shiva Rea. I know there are some people who don't really consider yoga a good work out, but it is!!! This one isn't as intense as others, but this was the only exercise I did with my first pregnancy and I know it helped during labor. There are 3 different levels for each trimester, and you will need a yoga block and yoga strap for the second and third trimester. (Unless you are super yoga woman, which I am not. And perhaps if you don't gain over 50 lbs like I did, you won't need them either. In which case, GO YOU!)
You can buy Prenatal Yoga With Shiva Rea here for only $5.69.

The second two DVDs I got at the end of my second trimester with my second pregnancy (I get bored doing the same thing, so I needed some more to mix things up) and I really wish I had them sooner.

Denise Austin: Fit & Firm Pregnancy was better than I expected. (Confession: the way Denise Austin talks drives me up the wall. But the workouts were worth it.) It has different segments which are Breathing and Core Awareness, Cardio Workout, 1st - 2nd Trimester Toning, 3rd Trimester Toning, and a bonus Post Bounce-Back Workout. This DVD left me feeling like I was really getting a good workout. You can get it here for $8.86.

The final DVD is Summer Sanders' Prenatal Workout. And let me tell you, it is a workout!!! At least that is my opinion. I was exercising regularly before I started doing this video and still found it quite challenging. There are workouts for each trimester, and you can choose to do the full length workout or an express workout. You will also need resistance bands for this one. If you only get one of these that I have mentioned, I hate to pass up yoga, but this would be the one. You can get it here for $11.96.

Of course, you should always talk to your doctor before doing any of these workouts to make sure it's safe for your pregnancy. And whatever exercise you choose to do is good. If you have any suggestions of ones you've tried and like, we'd love to hear about them! I know next time around I could use even more variety.

Milan Maternity Sofia Winner

2011-06-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Milan Maternity Sofia maternity/nursing top as chosen by random.org is:

And the coordinating comment:

Congrats! E-mail service@milanmaternity.com by Friday, June 17 11:59pm to claim it, or another winner will be chosen.

Write it all down

2011-06-13T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Milan Maternity Sofia Giveaway is still on! Enter HERE!

I was really good about keeping a journal starting at a very young age. Scrap booking, not so much. But for some reason, right about the time that my husband and I met and started dating, my journal writing dropped to about once or twice a year. Not the most opportune time to start slacking. Since we've been married and started having kids, the number of entries each year hasn't increased very much. I think I might do three times a year now.

It's so bad that my journal entry, documenting the birth of my daughter, (who was born in DECEMBER) is still only a quarter of the way done.

Since I haven't been good at keeping up with a journal, and I don't scrapbook, I needed to have an easy way to keep track of things once I started having kids. I got some cute little journals that I keep track of everything in (I got mine at the dollar section in Michael's). My two kids have their own dedicated to them and I started by writing when and where they were born along with their weight and height and continue with each doctors visit. I also keep track of when they start doing things like smiling, laughing, rolling over, sitting up, when they get teeth, saying words. I keep it right in my living room where we spend our days so that I can write important things down when they happen so I won't forget to do it.

When my son started talking more, I started a separate journal of "quotes" and stories of my kids. I also keep it in the living room where we are during the day because I would definitely forget to write those things down otherwise. I just started this one in February, and reading it just now I already forgot some of the things I wrote down and I'm glad that I have a way to remember them. I quickly realized when I became a mother that there are so many moments that I want burned into my memory, and my book of quotes and stories is the best way to make that happen.

So if you are struggling in the journal writing department like I am, and don't scrapbook either, this is a good way to keep up with our little ones. And let's be honest, even if you are good at keeping up with those things, having these books for them is still a good thing to have.

Good food for the litte ones

2011-06-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

Don't forget about the Milan Maternity Sofia Giveaway, enter HERE!

When I was pregnant with my son and I imagined having a child, I pictured a perfect little child who wore what I wanted him to wear, slept when I wanted him to sleep, and ate what I wanted him to eat. So far, he does none of those things. So it looks like my mom was the only person to have the perfect child when she had me.

When it comes to him eating what I want him to eat, he is the pickiest eater! He eats toast, crackers, Cocoa Pebbles, chips, fries, apple sauce, yogurt, and a couple of other things. Not the best diet for a 2 and a half year old. Which means I have to cram the good stuff in when I can.

I have two "go-to" foods that he has everyday. It is my only way of making sure he gets at least a little bit of the good stuff.

The first is YoBaby and YoToddler yogurt. With "meal" combinations of apple & sweet potato, pear & green beans, and peach & squash I finally have a way to get some vegetables in to him. My son loves them, which is great since they are organic, have live active cultures, and have vitamins and important nutrients. And seriously, with as picky as an eater as he, it was such a relief when I found these and he liked them so much.

The second is something that I recently discovered and am probably a little behind on. My son requests the GoGo SqueeZ apple sauce every-single-day for lunch! They are made from 100% fruit, and have yummy combinations like apple-banana and apple-strawberry. Plus their pouch makes it perfect for a snack when you are out and about, and my son loves having something to eat in a fun way.

There are so many things that we have to worry about as parents, so it's nice to have to worry a little less about getting in some healthy food. If you have anything that you've found, do share!

Milan Maternity Sofia Giveaway!

2011-06-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

Our new summer styles are finally here and we want to celebrate by giving away one of our FAVORITES!

The Sofia top is perfect for any stage of pregnancy and great for nursing afterwards. Its looser fit makes it great for hiding a less-than-flat belly post-partum.

The Sofia has a subtle portrait neckline and pleated bodice with a hidden zipper for quick and modest nursing access while still providing full coverage. We LOVE this piece! It is available in Honeysuckle Pink or Nautical Blue. You can see it HERE, along with the rest of our new styles.

We're giving away the Sofia top in either color to one lucky reader! Here's how to enter: (Leave a comment for each entry completed)

1. Follow Milan Maternity on Facebook

2. Follow this blog

3. Multiple Entries-Share this giveaway with one of the "share buttons" at the bottom of this post. It's super easy to share to Facebook, twitter, your blog, or e-mail! (One entry for each way shared, and for each day shared)

4. Follow Milan Maternity on Twitter

5. Post one of our buttons on your blog and leave the link (one entry for each)

6. Subscribe to our newsletter on the bottom of our home page

Giveaway open until Tuesday, June 14 11:59 PST. The winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

My Blue Bumbershoot Winner

2011-06-07T04:40:00.000-07:00

The WINNER of the My Blue Bumbershoot Giveaway as chosen by random.org is:

And the coordinating comment:

Congratulations! Please e-mail service@milanmaternity.com by June 9, 11:59pm PST to claim your prize!

Documenting the baby bump

2011-06-06T04:58:00.000-07:00

Being pregnant is one of the few times in life when it is not only good to gain weight, but it's expected. And although it can be somewhat frightening to watch your ever expanding belly, it is so fun and important to document it! With both of my pregnancies I tried to take a "belly picture" at least once a month, and I'm so glad I did.

Here are some tips and ideas for documenting:

1. Even though we as women know that our belly is going to possibly grow to a gargantuan size, the reality of it can sometimes be hard to deal with. DO NOT let that stop you from taking pictures!! I gained over 50 lbs with my first pregnancy, and I was miserable!! But I am so glad that I took pictures anyways. I love looking back at them!

2. Pick one outfit and use it for all of your shots. (So picking something that expands is key!) I used some yoga pants and a stretchable shirt. Using the same outfit is great visually.

3. If no one is around to take the pictures for you, take them yourself. I do believe every camera has a timer on them now, so just set it up and go! If I had waited for a convenient time for my husband to be around to be able to do it, I might have gotten 2 shots through out my pregnancies.

4. Take pictures both with your belly exposed and covered. It's fun for ME to see my belly, but I felt too uncomfortable showing those pictures to other people that wanted to see pictures.

5. Pick a spot in your house to take the pictures each time. This is also fun visually. My friend had a HUGE wall calender and would point to the date each month for her pregnancy pictures. While I went with something a little less exciting...a spot in my house that I could easily set the timer to take the pictures myself, but I love this series of hers.

pregnancy2 - how to create a free slideshow

6. Start taking the pictures as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the better the comparison for when you really start growing.

7. Take one last picture in the hospital (or at home as the case may be). I know what you are thinking. You are about to have a baby, you are as huge as a house, you are in labor and feel like you getting ran over by a truck over and over and over again, and you would die if anyone saw you like this. But just trust me on this one! My husband took a picture of me sitting in the hospital bed, and although I didn't want him to, I'm now glad he did.

8. This is basically #1 again. But DON'T let your size keep you from taking pictures! I know a lot of people can feel insecure about their size when they are pregnant. Don't let pregnancy pictures of Natalie Portman and other celebrities fool you. Just remember two things. 1. You probably don't have a personal trainer to keep you super fit while pregnant and 2. Everyone has different pregnancies. Like I said, I gained over 50 lbs with my first, and with my second I gained just over 30! No matter what your size, pregnant bellies are BEAUTIFUL!! Just ask your significant other if you don't trust me.

Here is a peek at the photos I took with my last pregnancy. As you can see, I wasn't able to do the same spot every time, but this is one of those cases where it's better to do it how you can, even if imperfectly, than not at all!

pregnancy - slideshow maker

Diapers Delivered

2011-06-03T06:26:00.000-07:00

CLOTH OR DISPOSABLE? It's a hot debate, but no matter what you choose, one thing remains: a tushie needs diapering. Diapers.com is a website I ran across about 4 years or so ago now. It offers all types of diapers, wipes, baby wash, baby feeding needs and so much more now. MUCH more than when I found the site. Diapers.com now also incorporates Soap.com, so you can also add in your laundering detergent, body care, tooth paste and hair care products to your order all at once! Who doesn't love simple?! And after just getting home from the hospital with a newborn, running to the store is the LAST think you want to have to do with a brand new baby. What's the best part about these websites? FREE TWO DAY SHIPPING on orders over $49, which can be done SO easily with just diapers and wipes. Anytime I can get free shipping, I feel a huge victory. You can buy all sized boxes of diapers. Right now there's a coupon for 20% off diapers for THREE months for new customers! No joke! Each customer also ends up with a special code that other people you know [people you refer] can use for a discount and you get rewarded with points too. I used to post them in forums and really rack up for discounts on diapers!

Another website that I totally use to my complete money saving advantage is Amazon.com. There are two programs that I love. First off is Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime is where tons of products are available to you for FREE expedited shipping. It's free two day shipping or $3.99 for one day shipping. I can't tell you how often it saved the day [birthday presents, diapers, wipes and more times than I can recall] It cost me $79 for an annual membership. I made all that back and WAY more just on last Christmas alone. I live in a small town and it's my best access to the stuff I can't get here...or I could drive hours away in holiday traffic..PASS. If you are looking for a FREE program and want to trial the amazon prime benefits [all free], sign up for Amazon Mom. Amazon Mom gives you 30% off discounts on select diapers, wipes and 15% off nearly everything else. All Amazon Mom members qualify for three months of FREE Two-Day shipping with Amazon Prime. You can extend this benefit: for every $25 you spend in the Baby Store, you earn an extra month of amazon prime shipping benefits for up to a year! Now that's a sweet deal!

Kids clothes for less

2011-06-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

I have a slight addiction to shopping. And by "slight addiction" I mean I'd shop every day if I could. And if you take that slight addiction to shopping and add a toddler and a baby to the mix, I have the opportunity to spend a whole lot of money very easily.

Luckily, (or unluckily, depending on the point of view) when I was pregnant with my son, one of my sisters gave me loads upon loads of clothes that her son had grown out of. I'm pretty sure my husband feels like he owes my sister a kidney because of all the money that saved us. I could very easily have clothed my son with out buying him much of anything for the first 2 years of his life.

When we found out that I was pregnant with baby #2 my husband was scared.

He was scared we'd have a girl, for 2 reasons.
1. He knows me and my love of shopping and how much I love little girl clothes and 2. There was no one around to give us loads and loads of girls clothes to keep my shopping at a minimum.

Up until the day we found out it was a girl, he was hoping with ever fiber of his being that we would have another boy so that I couldn't go shopping for girl clothes. Poor guy wasn't sure what to do when the ultrasound tech said that she was almost certain it was a girl.

So thank goodness for all of us that a friend told me about an amazing consignment store close by. Having a baby is expensive enough with all the things that babies need and how quickly they grow out of clothes. The first time I went to this consignment store to buy clothes for our daughter I spent about $40 on about 25 outfits!!! And because this place is so picky about the clothes they accept (no tears, stains, fading) everything I got looked new/practically new. I get compliments all the time about how cute my kids clothes are, which makes me feel great knowing that I can spend so little outfitting them and they still look so great. Not to mention the added bonus of consigning and getting a percentage of the sell price so that I can buy even more clothes!

Want to check out a thrift or consignment store near you but don't know where they are?? Here is an amazing website you can use to look up resale, second-hand, thrift, or consignment shops.

http://www.resaleshopping.com/

2011-05-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! -- Maya Angelou

*Photo taken at Arlington National Cemetery July 2009

Newest Celebrity Baby Names on the Block

2011-05-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

M.I.A w/son Ickhyd

When it comes to giving babies "original" names, the celebrities never fail us. In the past there have been winners like Pilot Inspektor, Coco, Kal-El, Ickhyd, Audio Science, Daisy Boo, Poppy Honey, Fifi-Trixibelle, Peaches, Little Trixie, and Honeyblossom among a sea of others.
There had also been a trend of "normal" or less wacky names. I was almost disappointed. Colin Hanks' daughter was named Olivia Jane, Craig Ferguson's son Liam James, and Cynthia Nixon's son Max are all lovely! And the name Suri has really grown on me...But as they say, they're baaaaack!
Celebrity babies born so far in 2011:

Adorable little Pilot Inspektor

Alicia Silverstone named her son Bear Blu. No lie. I wish I was kidding. Her involvement with helping the environment I love. Her baby name choice...not so much. Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon [still an odd couple to me] had me at Monroe but lost me with Morroccan for their boy/girl twins. Nick Cannon joked that his kids are "Roc 'N' Roe" [insert eye roll]. Bryan Adams is a first time father this year to daughter Mirabella Bunny. BUNNY?! [sigh]. Antonio Saboto Jr is the proud papa to Antonio Kamakanaalohamaikalani Harvey Sabato III. Say THAT five times fast. And comedian actor Kevin James now has a son named Kannon Valentine.

What are some of the wackiest celeb baby names you've ever heard? Do you like any of the new-hotness celebrity baby names? What are your favorite celeb baby names that you would use yourself or did?

Celebrity Bump Watch

2011-05-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

CELEBRITY BUMP WATCH

Over the past several years, I believe something positive happened with celebrities and their baby bumps...they stopped HIDING them! It used to be all about hiding your pregnancy. Now it's moved towards a more positive "Rock Your Bump" motion and the fashion is now built around their bumps, showcasing them!

Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham:

Looking stunning at the Royal Wedding last month. She's finally getting her girl on the fourth try! Her baby shower was reportedly completely decked out in pink and as much girly stuff as possible! Fellow former Spice Girl, Emma "Baby Spice" gave birth a few weeks ago to a baby boy named Tate.

Amanda Peet:

Pregnant with her second baby.

Claudia Schiffer:

Preggo with her third at 39 and looking FAB! Check out her totally chic style...

Jennifer Connelly:

Lots of celebrities wearing shades of gray...How are you feeling Jennifer's red carpet dress choice?

Natalie Portman:

I love her in one of my favorite movies, Where the Heart Is. And I'm loving the pink on her!

Selma Blair:

Pregnant with her first!

Jewel Kilcher:

Spent two years trying to conceive and is so excited!

Kate Hudson:

Preggo with her second bundle of joy

Tia Mowry:

I always loved watching Sister, Sister growing up! Can't wait to see what she has! She's due July 3rd & I think she looks incredible and glowing!

Jessica Alba:

Her 2.5 year old daughter Honor is going to be a big sister. I think Jessica looks incredibly fashionable & stunning! I'm loving her choice of colors.

Alyssa Milano:

Tina Fey:

Funny lady we all laughed with watching Baby Mama is expecting!

Now we just have to wait and see what they name them....

L'ovedBaby Giveaway Winner

2011-05-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

Winner Chosen at Random by Random.org:

Coordinating Comment:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Please Email ASAP to service@milanmaternity.com with your preferred size and color of one pair of signature pants AND one sleeveless bodysuit!

My Blue Bumbershoot Review/Giveaway

2011-05-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

I love the rain. Call me odd, but I really like having a good variety in the weather, and being outside to enjoy it! With all the rain lately, I had the opportunity to check out My Blue Bumbershoot in action. My Blue Bumbershoot is a brilliant hands-free umbrella for mommy. You've got your baby covered, but what about you? Before My Blue Bumbershoot, if I was out on a stroll and got caught in the rain, I either needed to pull out my attactive poncho or try to maneuver the stroller with one hand and hold a flyaway umbrella in the other.

I loved how easy My Blue Bumbershoot was to use! You simply clamp it to your stroller, and you can easily adjust both the height of the umbrella, and the direction of the umbrella to block the rain from whatever direction it is coming at you. When the rain stops, just rotate the umbrella downward to store it on the side of the stroller. The clear umbrella gives you a 360 degree clear view of everything going on, and you stay dry and protected. You can see exactly how My Blue Bumbershoot works here.

"No longer must you suffer soggy strolls in the city. No longer must you sacrifice your hair, flair or footwear. Simply secure My Blue Bumbershoot to your stroller and you're protected.

My Blue Bumbershoot gives you the freedom to embrace the rain™!"

One lucky reader will win a new My Blue Bumbershoot!

Here's how to enter: (Leave a comment for each entry completed)

1. Visit My Blue Bumbershoot and tell us feature you like most about the My Blue Bumbershoot

2. Follow this blog (on the right side under "followers")

3. Share this blog post with one of the share buttons at the bottom of this post (you can easily post to Facebook, tweet, blog, or e-mail this post)- Get an entry for each way shared

4. Follow My Blue Bumbershoot on Facebook

5. Follow Milan Maternity on Facebook

6. Follow My Blue Bumbershoot on Twitter

7. Follow Milan Maternity on Twitter

Giveaway open until Tuesday May 31 11:59 pm PST to US residents only. Winner will be chosen by random.org

*Disclosure Policy- I was provided the featured item(s) at no cost by the manufacturer to review and share my opinions. My opinions were not influenced in any way by monetary means.