Tag Archives: baby

Review Week: The Christian Mama’s Guide to Having a Baby

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Don’t you love to read at least one pregnancy book when you’re expecting, no matter how many times you’ve brought a baby into the world? I’ve only had two, but my craving for the sympathies of other gigantic bellies was no less with my second than with my first.

The difference for me was that the first time I read what I thought would be helpful: What to Expect When You’re Expecting (blech), Your Pregnancy Week by Week (EVEN WORSE), The Birth Book (eight thumbs up). And, OK, I also read The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy … which I kind of hated, despite everyone’s comments on its humor.

With my second pregnancy, I read The Birth Book again. I read Hypnobabies material. I read It Sucked and Then I Cried. I was really trying to prepare myself to have a natural birth … and for the reality I knew was coming.

The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby: Everything You Need to Know to Survive (and Love) Your PregnancyI wish The Christian Mama’s Guide to Having a Baby had been out when I was pregnant with David. It was the kind of lighthearted, light reading that I craved from someone who had been there but wasn’t a medical expert. The Girlfriend’s Guide without the cynicism and ranting opinions.

Author Erin MacPherson is “just” a stay-at-home mom of two in Texas who felt there was a gap in pregnancy literature: something specifically for Christian moms-to-be. Her guide is published by Guideposts.

Although the Christian Mama’s Guide is really geared toward first-time moms, I enjoyed reading it (a few months after David’s birth!). I guess all moms get some enjoyment or at least sadistic pleasure reading about other mamas’ pregnancies and childbirths. (It helps me to know that despite the fact I am a miserable pregnant woman, there could have been a lot of other issues.)

Erin covers everything from peeing on the stick to bringing the baby home. She writes conversationally and isn’t afraid to admit where she is not an expert. One of the more enjoyable sections for me was where she interviewed men on what they wanted women to tell them during the pregnancy and birth.

Sometimes the “Christian” add-ins seem trite, but we can always use a good reminder to pray, especially when it comes to our children, right? Another section that just made me laugh was on naming. The author pretty much says, “You should never name a child with this category of names … unless it’s this, this, or this, because I like those.” Refer to a naming book or site if you really want some help with that. (Or, God forbid, just go with something you like or has meaning to you.)

But all in all, I enjoyed the read and it’s the kind of thing you want to peruse during those long, hot baths to help your aching, pregnant back. (But not too hot. We wouldn’t want to boil the baby.)

What kind of pregnancy books do you like to read when you’re expecting?

This book was provided to me by the author.
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Top Ten Tuesday: My Baby Hates Sleep

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David is an angel baby. He is smiley, happy, cooey, albeit pretty drooly. He nurses happily, happily spits up, and giggles as he gets his clothes changed.

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But he hates to sleep.

At four months, the longest he has ever slept is 6 hours. And that is very rare. I am so tired I feel like I am sleepwalking a lot of the time. It is hard to have an infant and a toddler. HARD!

David is a tummy sleeper; he will only sleep about 15 minutes on his back and then wake up and cry about it. For the past three weeks, since he learned to turn from belly to back, he will roll over every 2-3 hours all night long, and then wake up and cry. He can’t roll from back to belly.

Again … it’s a good thing he’s usually happy and insanely cute.

My happy guy

Mostly in jest, here are 10 ways I have considered getting David to sleep longer.

1. Duct taping him laying on his tummy, as suggested on my Facebook Fan Page.

2. Swaddling. SwaddleMe? Nope. Miracle Blanket? Not a chance. He will wriggle until he is free or scream bloody murder until released from the restrictive cocoon. (If anyone would like to purchase an open but very much unused Miracle Blanket from me, shoot me an email. jessie at vanderbiltwife dot com.)

3. Co-sleeping. I like co-sleeping in theory. But in practice, I have a really hard time sleeping if there is a baby in the bed because I roll around a lot. I cannot get comfortable and therefore am getting even less sleep than I was before. We often end up co-sleeping some of the night if I fall asleep while nursing. The rest of the time he is still in a pack-and-play right by my side of the bed.

4. Just swaddling on the bottom half so he can’t roll over. We tried this. It worked for two nights, and then he figured it out. Dang it!

5. Putting him in his crib in another room because maybe he would sleep better if he couldn’t hear us Mr. V snoring or our moving around. Wrong. I have tried this a few nights but I just get frustrated walking the entire length of our ranch house back and forth a million times. If he’s going to sleep the same in the pack and play or in his crib, I’d rather have him where I don’t have to get out of bed.

6. Permanently attaching him to my chest. At least he’s quiet then.

7. Duct taping the pacifier to his mouth. See: #1, also: child abuse. David knows the paci puts him to sleep, so he rips it out of his mouth constantly.

8. Blanket sleepers. It is already 85 during the day here. I don’t want him to sweat and be miserable, not to mention I probably don’t need another SIDS risk.

9. Nursing every hour during the day in the hopes he wouldn’t get hungry at night. I would honestly do this if I thought it would help. But he’s not going to eat if he’s not hungry, so the chances he would do it are slim to none.

10. Trying to enjoy babyhood and remembering this too shall pass.

Do you have any super tips for me? Cause I have to go … he’s awake. AGAIN. (No, he doesn’t like to nap either.)

Please don’t leave chastising comments about all the reasons I shouldn’t co-sleep, have him tummy sleep, etc. I have a pediatrician to tell me those things and I know the risks.

Added to Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda.

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39 Weeks, 4 Days

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With Libbie, I had no signs of labor, ever, until I actually starting having contractions. I mean, I had your normal Braxton-Hicks stuff, but seriously, nothing else. I didn’t lose my mucus plug. I didn’t bleed. I didn’t have a backache. I wasn’t dilated. It just started.

And then it lasted forever. But you know that story.

Since Thursday, I have had every labor sign you can think of, including contractions that are steady. But then they taper off.

At my appointment on Thursday, my midwife threatened to just go ahead and admit me (and likely induce) if I were contracting at all on Monday.

That’s tomorrow. I thought for sure she wouldn’t need to do that; I was positive this baby was coming out this weekend.

He’s still in there.

I’m not sure which version of labor is more frustrating! That said, it’s not even my due date yet. I don’t want to be induced. I want to be patient. I am trying to ignore that there’s this thing called Christmas on Saturday it would be nice to be home for.

I know many women who would kill to take my place: bearing a child, a 100% healthy baby boy, with no complications, to full-term. I am trying to praise God for this baby instead of begging Him to PLEASE LET ME GO INTO LABOR ALREADY, DANG IT!

I’ve baked a lot of cookies and taken a lot of naps. I’ve played Crazy Cakes on Pogo relentlessly. I have sat on my birth ball.

I will wait. Whether I like it or not.

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10 Things That Help Me Survive Pregnancy

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Well, friends, I am getting down to the wire (I HOPE!). On Wednesday I will be 39 weeks. Most of the time I feel like death. It is not a pretty picture.

But on a happier and hopefully helpful note, here are ten things that help me survive pregnancy. Whether you’re a happy preggo (and thus I hate you) or more on my side of “my body hates being pregnant,” these essentials can help you make it all 40 weeks!

1. Snoogle

Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow 

I have intended to write a poem/haiku/ode to my Snoogle, but as that hasn’t happened I will just say this is the ONLY way I generally sleep during pregnancy. The piece that goes between your legs helps align your back, and it gives me something to cuddle with. I don’t know why it’s magical, but it is!

2. Once-a-month/batch/freezer cooking

Although doing a complete once-a-month menu is nearly impossible for me when I am pregnant, I have done several mini sessions that help me keep the freezer somewhat stocked. It’s totally worth a few hours’ work to have meals for a week or two!

3. Decent maternity clothes

I literally have six of this shirt at this point (all different colors). So even if I can’t find any maternity pants, I have tops. For me, these particular shirts are comfy, not revealing, and actually cover my belly, even when I am full-term. And … let’s just say the length seems to balance out “the girls” when I am nursing as well.

4. My mom

My moms flies from Philadelphia to wherever I am several times when I am pregnant, and she’s coming WEDNESDAY!!! to help me not kill take care of Libbie and get my house in order. She’s also mentioned stocking my freezer with meals from my Whole Foods in a Hurry menu. I don’t know what I would have done without her when I had Libbie, and I hope she will be right there in the room when David is born, too!

5. My sisterchicks

These girls have put up with a lot from me over the last several months, and they haven’t yet blocked me from our Skype room. One of them is always there to give advice or just a listening ear to my latest complaint. I love you, girls!

6. Good bath products – I am a bath junkie, even during my “regular” life. But during these last few weeks of pregnancy I could basically live in my bathtub. It is a big jacuzzi tub, although I don’t use the jets. But I fit in it, so that’s nice. And nice bath oils go a long way to making a girl feel good and less like a hippo. My best friend got me this pregnancy bath set from Uncommon Goods for an early Christmas present, and I love the milk bath and oils!

7. PBS

I do not love the amount of TV that Libbie is now accustomed to watching. But there are days–especially lately–where I just cannot get off the couch. (And at the beginning when I was super sick, it was the same.) I have an appreciation for PBS now! Libbie likes Sesame Street, Curious George, and Sid the Science Kid. We watch Play with Me Sesame almost every day (from PBS Sprout) and an occasional Chloe’s Closet as well.

8. Sonic

I hate to even admit this, but nothing tastes better than an icy-cold Sonic drink during happy hour when you’re pregnant. Especially when there is nothing in the whole wide world you want to eat. Cranberry limeade is my drug of choice.

9. A really good child.

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Libbie does drive me crazy some days, but seriously? She is SUCH a good kid. She plays independently. She doesn’t throw temper tantrums, usually. She helps me get things and throw things away and puts away her toys … if asked. For being just 2, she is actually helpful, caring, and sweet.


10. What helps you survive pregnancy? I’d love to know for next time oh please help I can’t even think about a next time.

Added to Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda.

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Thursday Recap

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Sleeping on the couch because you gave up your spot for your daughter: only slightly annoying.

Listening to her scream relentlessly for an hour and a half: not my favorite.

Trip to Mr. V’s school infirmary just to find out the pediatrician was not there: aggravating.

Trip to pediatrician to find out your daughter has infections in both ears: $20 copay.

Amoxicillin: $5.50.

Doing all of this while 38 weeks pregnant: more than a little painful.

Knowing this will all be over in the next three weeks: Priceless. Definitely a finer thing.

Just wanted to make sure y’all knew I was still alive and hadn’t gone into labor yet!

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State of the Home Address

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Dearest Family,

I have officially reached “that” point in my pregnancy. The point where I may have just grouched at one of you for chomping popcorn in my ear.

Now that I am thisclose to finishing all of my pre-baby freelance responsibilities, I fully intend to spend the rest of this pregnancy sitting on my birth ball watching DVRed shows and generally ignoring any responsibility. That, and sleeping, when and if possible.

I regret to inform you that there is no menu plan. Feel lucky if I manage to warm up something from the freezer section of the grocery store. We have some items in the freezer, but I would prefer to eat them sparingly until the baby arrives (and preferably after my mother leaves, when true insanity begins).

To my husband, I only ask that you clean up after yourself, do all the laundry, and keep our child out of my hair after you work all day. I think that’s a fair exchange considering I am carrying your son.

To my daughter, please realize that just because Mommy can’t run after you it is NOT a good time to decide to be defiant over matters such as whether you will wear your coat. Mommy will always win. Get over it. Defiance may result in no television, movies, and possible dismissal of all of your toys. Mommy is in no mood to put up with crap.

I do solemnly swear that it will only be a few weeks before I am back to my kind-hearted, warm self. Until then, I ask that you deal with it. It is a lot of work to carry your son/brother, who is apparently hungry 36 hours a day and whose greatest joy is to kick the heck out of my ribcage.

Your loving wife and mother.

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Things I Hate Thursday: Maternity Pants

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I think maternity pants must be made by men.

For starters, I have never found one pair of maternity jeans that will stay up. In my pregnancy with Libbie, I suffered through this for 7 months. I had three pairs, at least, and not one would stay up. I swore that the next time I was pregnant, I would buy a decent–even expensive–pair of jeans.

And I did! I bought the much-recommended Secret Fit Belly jeans from Motherhood. BRAND NEW. (OK–with a gift card from my mom. ‘Cause we all know it might kill me to pay $35 for one item of clothing.)

From their first wear, I found them awful. Somehow the inside of the jeans was bumpy and itchy. And they would not stay up.

Now, despite my size, I do not have a lot of junk in the trunk, so to speak. And maybe I bought them too big? Who knows. But it seems the same with all maternity pants. There are three key issues:

1. They won’t stay up, forcing the wearer to constantly readjust.
2. They don’t have pockets. Because apparently pregnant women don’t need those.
3. They are WAY too short.

If you can wear these when you’re pregnant, I don’t want to know.

I have khakis, yoga pants, green cargo pants. They are all insanely short, especially considering that I am only 5’3″ and usually that is not an issue at all. And yes, they are pants, not capris. Is this only my issue or can we all complain together: BEING PREGNANT DOES NOT MIRACULOUSLY MAKE YOU SHORTER!!? In fact, a little extra length might make up for the spreading hips and the-baby-made-me-eat-that thighs.

I pretty much live in pajama pants or the two pair of Old Navy maternity yoga pants I have totally not worn for the last three years, pregnant or not. (Sadly, it appears they don’t make these anymore. Sacrilege!)

Is there an answer? Is it possible to create a pair of maternity pants that might actually stay up despite a burgeoning, whale-like belly? And be long enough? And, for the love of Pete, have pockets, too?

If you’ve found those miracle pants, I’d like to know. I’ll put them on my list of things to buy the next time I am pregnant. (Oh dear. I don’t even want to think about that right now.)

Because Jill told me I could, I am linking this to Things I Love Thursday. ‘Cause I would LOVE to find a pair of pants that magically fit. 

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Ten Indicators You Are 36 Weeks Pregnant

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29 Weeks outside (4)
(not me)

1. Constant ache in hips and back causes you to take three hot baths a day and ask your partner to rub some strange joints and muscles. Wonder about cost of hiring live-in masseuse.

2. Pretty sure putting on socks did not used to be so difficult. Determine to only get pregnant again at a time when you will not have to wear socks at the end of pregnancy. Then remember how miserable it is to be pregnant when it’s 100 outside.

3. Fear you will all have to move into the backyard because you are completely incapable of keeping house even a smidgen clean.

4. Regret buying front-loading washer, because you nearly go into labor every time you have to unload it into the dryer.

5. Fear long pre-labor due to dehydration again. Fear drinking too much water because how many more times COULD you possibly go to the bathroom today?

6. Constant repositioning from couch, to floor, to birth ball, to bed, to bath, to laying down. Pretty sure you are frightening your toddler.

7. Fear spousal unit will leave you before the baby comes out, because you no longer are able to keep house/attend to children/cook/be intimate/all of the above.

8. Have memorized all the words to the theme songs of “Sid the Science Kid,” “Play with Me Sesame,” and “Curious George.”

9. Are thankful that if you make peanut butter and jelly with natural PB and organic jelly, it must be good for you and your kids.

10. Time is split as following: 10% examining stretch marks and rubbing cream on them; 20% trying to remember what body looked like before baby was inside; 20% lying on couch moaning; 25% eating; 20% trying to get comfortable enough to go to sleep; 5% actually sleeping. And intermittently going to the bathroom throughout all activities.


Added to Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda. Picture used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.

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Belly Pictures

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33 weeks with Libbie
34 weeks with David
I keep thinking I am enormous this time … but I may even be smaller than I was with Libbie. (I have gained a LOT less weight this time.) Poor David has the second-child plague already … this is the first intentional belly picture I’ve taken the whole time!

Linked to Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom. 

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