As usual I digress.  So maybe in one of my less-than-supportive moments I was nursing the baby and calling out to David tips on how to encourage Graham to poop on the potty.  Sometimes the kid is challenging and I’ve learned a few tricks along the way but I think I was being a bit like the Poop General.  Then it got me thinking that not only am I the Poop General but I have to monitor pretty much all bodily functions around this house– including breast milk or Liquid Gold as my friend Angela calls it.

Mia is now four weeks old and has only had maybe two bottles which is the beautiful part about being lucky enough to have so much time off work.  When I went back to work with Graham he was almost seven months old and I had to pump three times a day just to make the two bottles he got while I was gone.  I had quite the chubster!  It was a pretty stressful time for me and boy did I have to regulate that breast milk.  The newest bottles went in the back, the oldest in the front.  Everything was carefully labeled with scotch tape.  If it were three days old and unused it had to immediately be labeled and moved to the freezer.  Talk about the Breast Milk General.  If you realize what you have to go through to get it though you understand where I’m coming from.

Well, I was at Target the other day and I discovered the most simple yet useful invention that is going to help me a ton in regulating the Liquid Gold: Medela Breastmilk Labeling Lids.  No more messing around with the scotch tape and sharpies to keep track of how old the milk is.  Just pop a labeling lid on there, select the day (and even morning, noon, or evening) and voila.  Your bottle is labeled.  When I googled this product to find a picture an article came up about them winning an innovation award.  Where were these suckers two years ago??  Ah well, they’re here now and I love them.

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/media-center/131/medelas-breastmilk-labeling-lids-win-jpma-innovation-award

P.S. pictures of Mia to come once I figure out how to work our new camera.   I’ve taken some pictures- just don’t know how to transfer them to my computer yet.  Yeah, well, at least I took some right?!

I just thought that I wanted to get Graham trained before summer which is when I’ll want to be on lots of outings.  I also thought: he doesn’t go outside more than half an hour a day right now, dependent on the weather, so why not potty train when he already spends the majority of the day inside by the potty?  Well, we’ve definitely made great progress over the last three days and we’re not going back to diapers but I really owe a huge thanks to our Baby Bjorn Potty Chair.

At first we tried putting Graham on the big potty with an insert in it like this:

I have nothing against the insert.  It held him really well.  He didn’t seem afraid to be on the big potty with the insert and the splash guard worked really well about 9 out of 10 times.  For some reason though we just didn’t feel like we had any major successes.  If your kid will go with the insert more power to both of you because then you don’t have to dump out the potty chair and it’s less work to transition later I’m guessing.

For whatever reason though this morning, after two and a half days with the insert, we decided to go with the little potty and…. BAM!  He peed in it without any pre-dribbles in his underwear.  We were all smiles; he got a treat.  15 minutes later we caught him mid-crouch, ran him to the little potty and BAM…  successful poop in the potty.  The first successful poop in three days of potty training.  We were so excited.  Graham got a bigger reward– bubbles, which he adores.  I was sitting on the ground in the kitchen blowing bubbles in the air.  Graham was laughing and trying to pop them.  Led Zepplin’s Kashmir was playing in the background (one of the few bands David and I both like) and we were all just cheering like crazy.  It was like the sun had just exploded into our house after days of gray.  I said to David, “Is this not the happiest you’ve been in three days??”  He totally agreed.

I still think we’re a long way from saying Graham is totally potty trained but we are cheering “No more diapers!” around this house.  Tonight was the first time he made it through dinner/ chugging milk with dinner that he did not pee in his high chair.  We seem to be heading down the right path.  I would definitely recommend the Baby Bjorn insert or Potty Chair but boy was I thanking God we had that little potty chair today.  I have tomorrow off work so hopefully between the nanny and myself we can manage an even better day 4.  Hopefully we will be blowing more bubbles and laughing and cheering in the kitchen.

http://www.amazon.com/BabyBj%C3%B6rn-055121US-BABYBJ%C3%96RN-Potty-Chair/dp/B0009OLSZ8/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1299460980&sr=1-1

Let me be clear: I am NOT a proponent of leggings.  I think that if you’re over a certain age (like 18) and plan to wear leggings you should have a top long enough to cover parts that are better off covered.  I was really skeptical about these at first but I think that’s what I love so much about these denim leggings; they have enough structure and they have real pockets so I think they look more like jeans than leggings.  They feel like wearing fitted pajamas however!!! Don’t worry, I still wear them with tops long enough to cover everything that needs to be covered. 

What more could you want when you’re pregnant and essentially have a bowling ball attached to your abdomen??  I’ve been wearing these leggings all the time.  If it’s Sunday, I’m wearing them.  If we’re going out to dinner, I’m wearing them with a cute top and booties.  If I’m running errands and it’s a snowy day in Chicago (um, every day lately) I’m wearing them with my winter boots pulled up.  Pretty much if they’re clean and I don’t have work, I’m wearing them.

Only downer: cost.  I had an unused Sak’s gift card though and bought the leggings the weekend of Sak’s Friends & Family weekend (extra 20% off) so with those two things considered I only paid $33 for these jeans.  I have the Olympia color and love it.  Have I suitably said enough about how much I love these??  OK, I’ll stop now.  Just get a pair if you can.

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446252175

Here is a pic of my BFF Kristen and me tailgating this fall.  We’re due two days apart– so exciting.  You can’t see the jeans very clearly but I’m wearing them and loving them.

You know how your mommy friends tell you too much stuff when you’re pregnant with your first child and it freaks you out?  I am one of those people now.  Sorry friends.  This happened to me once a few weeks before Graham was born when one of my childhood friends sent me a message on Facebook saying that motherhood brought with it cracked and bleeding nipples but also a lot of joy.  Um, too much information childhood friend.  Sheesh.  I do have to thank her, I suppose, because that made me determined not to suffer such excruciating pain (I’m wincing right now even thinking of that.)  I immediately put the handy dandy internet to use and found this Mambino cream.

http://www.satarababy.com/product/mambino-calendula-nursing-balm-2oz

I don’t know if it’s because I started using it before nursing but I seriously have never suffered a cracked or dry nipple many nursing moms complain of.  This is just good stuff.  Organic is good because you don’t have to wipe it off prior to nursing.  The jar says put it on after every feeding but who has time for that??

My husband was dubious about a post devoted to nipple cream but this stuff really helps.  Breastfeeding did not come easy to me at first and I called several friends in tears those first few days.  Every mother has a choice but when I chose to breastfeed it was so nice to have the support of people who knew exactly what I was going through.  So if this nipple cream helps a nursing mom out there then in some small way I have offered support in an area where I once needed it.  I have to say that as proud as I am I nursed Graham 11 months… I don’t miss it one bit.  It’s a hell of a lot easier to give him an organic cereal bar when he’s cranky now.    Also have to give a special shout out to my friend Alison on her new baby girl!  Glad you liked the Elemis Oil and are stretch-mark free.

Warning: your husband, partner, whatever, will drool over the cover.  Tracy Anderson is HOT.  David said to me, “Why do you think she has to look so sexy on a DVD that’s being sold to women?”  Duh: I want to look like that.  If I look HALF that good post-pregnancy the DVD was well-worth the money.

Getting back to the point: It’s a great workout.  If you think you’re going to hate her for being so pretty and tiny, she admits right away that she gained 60 pounds with her son and then you can relate to her again.  She swears that her methods are designed to bring the skin back to the abdominal muscles.  I started doing the DVD four weeks after Graham’s birth and I noticed a difference after just two work-outs.  Seriously.  My stomach looked better and I felt less like my uterus was going to fall out when I was running.  [sorry for you non-mommies who just vomited a little in your mouths]

The down-side: it’s kind of long (45 minutes) but she spends about the first 30 on abs and the last 15 on the gluteus and arms so you can skip those if you want.  The other down-side: she doesn’t cue very much.  You have to pay close attention at first but once you’ve done it a few times you know what’s coming next.  Still, it’s totally a MUST HAVE.  Some of the moves are ones I’ve never seen and I’ve been a fitness enthusiast my whole life.  So I’m sure these exercises are “magical” in bringing the skin back to the abs… just like Tracy promises!

The Tracy Anderson Method Presents Post Pregnancy Workout DVD

P.S. I tried the Dance Cardio DVD for all of 5 minutes and promptly posted on Facebook that it was up for sale!  She tries to teach you dance routines and then does them at lightening speed without saying a word.  I guess I was supposed to have it memorized by then.  Uh… since becoming a mommy I can’t even remember how to speak English properly let alone remember dance routines.  I’d skip it unless you have a dance background.

The other day a similar situation arose.  I’m trying to clean the house for a visit from the in-laws and Graham, who recently got his first two teeth, just didn’t want to be anywhere but right with mommy.  Bjorn to the rescue!  I strapped the kid on and finished vacuuming without a hitch.  My mom pointed out that I probably burned some extra calories that way.  And, David pointed out that if you significantly tighten the straps it’s easier on your back and the girls.    I would highly recommend this as a registry item and must-have for infants!

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267522

The first time I had to pump I was a freaking train wreck.  I had just given birth three days prior, we had a large entourage of excited visitors, my poor little baby had lost weight, and I was running on ZERO sleep.  At first I looked at all the parts of the pump and had a melt-down.

Thankfully my handy husband figured out how to put it together (not that hard once you do it one time) and I pumped away until the milk started flowing.  Little guy hadn’t been sucking enough to get it in all the way.  Medela took care of it.

I have to say that I don’t use the “hands free” option that often because you have to strap it down to your bra in like four different places.  Being that I’m staying at home right now I am fortunate enough not to have to multi-task to the point where I always need my hands while pumping.  I could imagine though that it’s really handy for pumping at work.  You could totally type while pumping, use the phone, drink some coffee (or water for those who are caffeine free!)  etc.

pump and all the gadgets that come with. you can totally find a cuter tote to carry it in. don't worry... no need to sacrifice all fashion.

It’s expensive but it gets the job done well and fast.  What more could you ask for in a breast pump??

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3214492

Like I’ve said before, I give credit where credit is due.  My friend Emily introduced me to this website when I first told her I needed HELP trying to figure out childcare.  We live in a huge city and don’t know a ton of parents so I just felt at a total loss of where to begin when I knew I had to return to work and find something  for Graham.  Emily to the rescue!  You pay a $40 annual fee to be part of this network [NPN = Neighborhood Parents Network] and then there are so many resources available for Chicagoland parents.  Sorry people, it’s only Chicagoland.  But maybe you have one for your city and don’t even know it!

I found a family to nannyshare with through this website.   I joined a group for parents of the “Near West/ Near South Side” and have gone to some events for parents and kids in my neighborhood.  I also joined a group called Working Moms.  When you “join” these groups that only means that you get email updates of activities… no pressure to go.  So when I got my first email from the working moms group I found out that one of my wonderful friends from high school and college, Katie Romero, was the co-chairperson of that group!  Everyone seemed to know about NPN but me.  Thank God Emily told me!  Now I’m using the site to find and interview nannies.

It also helps with more than just childcare.  You can set up or find playgroups, sell stuff, or just join in on some discussions about being a mommy or daddy in the city.  It’s been more than a personal fave the last few months… it is helping me find a caregiver for my first born child!!!  That’s big.  If you live in the Chicagoland area you have to check it out.

Anyway, back to my personal fave.  My mother-in-law Mary is one of the most generous people I know and boy was she excited to have a second grandchild.  She brought about four shopping bags filled to the brim with stuff for Graham when he was born!  The woman is a shopper, a girl after my own heart.  Anyway… she stopped in Galena, IL on the way to meet Graham and on a whim bought some Thymes baby wash.  It immediately became a personal fave.

I don’t think I can even begin to describe how good this stuff smells.  The website calls it “pure and mild… made with organic lavendar, chamomile, and aloe vera.”  The result is AMAZING.  Graham gets a bath every night and loves it.  He also has so much hair, in the front anyway , that we shampoo him every day and the Thymes Baby Wash is great for that too.  It builds up a nice lather and did I mention it SMELLS AMAZING?   It’s not inexpensive but when I ran out of the first bottle Nana (my mother-in-law) got for us I just had to get another.  I had tried something else in the interim and for me, the smell didn’t compare.  I know all babies smell wonderful anyway but seriously, this helps.  I have only tried the wash/ shampoo but they have a whole line of products.  Let me know if you love some of the other things and maybe I’ll have to purchase those too!  Happy Bath time.

http://www.thymes.com/thymes/collection.aspx?nodeid=45523

p.s. couldn’t resist putting in a pic of Little G after bath time!

I couldn't get him to take the thumb out of the mouth for the picture.

Let me tell you: not all girdles are created equal.  I read that you were supposed to wear one all day and all night for 40 days (like Jesus suffering in the desert I suppose.)  Before I found the Belly Bandit, I had an imposter and after a day or two it started viciously poking me with the velcro closure.  OUCH!  I couldn’t take it.  The first one I got was the Tauts brand.  For some reason the side with the velcro is much longer than the side to which you attach it.  That uneven construction left a large amount of the velcro hanging off and, like I said, viciously poked me.  Now I am definitely a “no pain no gain” type of girl but this was getting ridiculous.

By some miracle Ellen Degeneres did a segment on pregnancy beauty products and that is where I found the most comfortable girdle out there (total oxymoron.)  The Belly Bandit.

You can see in the photo it’s even all the way around so the velcro doesn’t poke you!  This wrap sucks you in, helps you get around more comfortably after labor, trims inches off your waist, helps introduce your abs to each other again, and shrinks up the totally weird skin that is left after giving birth.  I loved it as much as you can love anything you have to wear all day and all night for 6-8 weeks.  It is a MUST HAVE.  Get two so you can wear the second while the first is getting a hand wash and air-dry.  Seriously.  It is the quickest and easiest way to begin to resemble your former self.

www.bellybandit.com

P.S. The material is a bit on the chunky side so it does sometimes show through clothing.  I don’t know about you but I wasn’t wearing anything skin tight after giving birth anyway!  If you want to and can, you probably don’t need a girdle.