Holiday tech shopping made easy

Holiday season is an awesome time to work buy some top notch electronics for the special people on your shopping list. But, how can you be sure you're buying a quality item? How do you know it's the best price? My husband is a bit of a techie, so I've got to bring my A-game when it comes to electronics purchases. Here are my top five ideas for purchasing new gadgets during the holiday season.
1. READ REVIEWS - I can't stress this point enough. Research the product you want to buy, then research it again, and then one more time. First, get ideas of what gadget you're looking for: Is it a new cell phone? Video game system? Narrow it down to what it is you want to get. Then read professional reviews. CNet.com is a great website for things like that, as is Consumer Reports. Finally, read reviews from actual users of the item. A professional review might say the product is affordable and works well, but Joe the Plumber might say that he had his new toy for a week before it broke. See what real life people who use the item every day are saying about it!
2. Bypass store shopping - Many places now offer free shipping after your order reaches a certain dollar figure, and, lets face it, most electronic purchases are going to be over that minimum for free shipping. So save yourself the hassle. You'd be surprised to find that many retailers offer the same, or better, deals on their websites. 
3. Don't give a monthly payment - New toys like tablet PC's, cell phones and some e-readers might seem like a great gift idea. However, you might inadvertently increase the spending of the person you're giving it to! Phones are a prime example. According to the blog Gizmodo, the iPhone 4 retails for about $199, but will cost the user about $1,999 over the course of a two-year service contract, and that's on the cheapest plan AT&T offers.  Some tablets and e-readers come with 3G access instead of just wi-fi. This then costs the user a monthly data charge. Wi-fi is free, but available in fewer locations. 
4. Don't buy a tech gift for a technophobe! - My parents are NOT what anyone would call tech savvy. At ALL. That's not to say my dad can't use his computer or his Blackberry, but it took my mother a long time to learn that she was not going to blow up the computer by turning it on. For just this reason, I would never spend the money on a technologically advanced gift for someone who can't use it or fully appreciate it. I wouldn't ever buy my parents a digital picture frame, because I know they wouldn't be able to figure out how to change the pictures on it. Know the person you're shopping for.
5. Watch out for bogus ads and classifieds - The FBI has pointed out that classified ads such as Craigslist can be a great place for scammers to locate new victims looking for hot tech gifts. The fraudsters use their own order forms to get payment details, then charge the victims credit card, but use a stolen credit cart to buy the actual item, which is then sent directly to the victim. In short, you'll still get the product, but you could be liable for receiving stolen goods. If you're making a purchase via a classified ad, see if the seller will take a legitimate payment service such as Paypal instead. 


So, that's it, those are my big five tips. I'm sure I could have gone on for a while with a few other suggestions, but these are the ones that I like to keep in mind while shopping. 


I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Rules for Halloween

So much time, so little to do....

...Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it. =)

I feel like I haven't done a family oriented post in a while! But, here I am again, and I've got LOADS of pictures to share of Hannah! =)

She and I have been keeping very busy lately. We joined another playgroup, and we get to that when we can. We'll be hosting a playgroup here in May, too, which will be exciting for us!






These are from when our playgroup met at Rochester Commons last week. Hannah thoroughly enjoyed taking advantage of the playgroup, and we hope to get back there again soon!

We had a nice Easter yesterday, though we didn't get to spend it all as a family as I would have liked. John had a gig in York, Maine, so he spent the day with his family. Hannah and I drove to Hancock to visit my family. We had a nice time! It would have been even better had the weather been warmer - it was bordering on downright cold! But our Easter dinner was delish (great job, Dad!) and Hannah got to try eating ham for the first time. She didn't really care for it though. She did a great job sitting through church on Sunday morning, considering the 1h40m drive it took us to get to Hancock BEFORE going to church! The rest of the day, she had a great time playing at Nana and Grandad's house.







I apologize for the "out of order-ness" of these pictures - it's just how they get uploaded. Anyway, I LOVED Hannah's Easter dress this year, and I'm looking for any excuse to have her wear it again, so if anyone has any ideas, let me know!

That's about it from here, though!

Lots of pictures to update!

I've been crazy busy lately, but I have a lot to update!

Hannah turned 10 months old yesterday! I can't believe how fast the time is going, and I don't want her to grow up any more!!! She needs to stop right now! She's so much fun at the age she's at that I'm always afraid of what it will be like as she gets older. She's a pro at crawling now, and loves going up the stairs! In fact, several times in moments of... forgetfulness, Hannah has managed to start climbing the stairs because we forgot to close the gate at the bottom! She wants to start standing up on her own, and will now start letting go of things for a few seconds and is getting better at maintaining her balance before falling down or grabbing on to something again. She'll be walking before we know it, and I'm DEFINITELY not ready for that!

I've been doing a lot of knitting lately, gearing up for Christmas and such. I'm trying to make some gifts this year, and more than just the two I managed to get out last year. So far I've already done one and a half gifts, so I'm well ahead of schedule for now. The rest of the winter I plan to knit from my stash, as well as work on a sweater that John bought the yarn for as a birthday present for me. I can't wait to get started on it! By the time it's done, it will be to warm to wear it!

So, here are some pictures, as promised!

All bundled up and ready to go out!

Hannah and the kids at Moms Group

Hannah learns how to unload the dishwasher

Hannah thinks this Santa guy might be a little scary (he was a really nice guy though!)

Hannah gets a piano lesson from Daddy


Coronet hat, Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn, Dusty Purple, size 8 needles.

This hat is one of the few that are being made for Christmas gifts this year. I'm excited about getting some hats done, and I have been happy with the way this one and the one I'm working on have come out. Hopefully I can keep up the pace!

Hannah gets ready for a Halloween Party

Hannah decided that it was time to start gearing up for Halloween. So, Monday, we went out, because I needed a hat to go with my costume for the murder mystery party I'm attending on Sunday. Then we decided to play with the hat, and this is what we got!
John thinks she looks like a black mage in this hat (if you don't know what a black mage is, don't worry, it's nothing bad, just a video game character). I'm inclined to agree.

Here is Hannah after getting home from her Halloween party at Mom and Baby group today. All the kids looked adorable! We went around the birth care unit for a tour, so all the nurses and staff could see the kids. It was great! The kids had a lot of fun, and the staff on the unit loved it!

Things around the house

So much to update, so little time... It's amazing how fast the last few days and weeks have been going! Just when I think "Phew, my blog is all updated!" Something happens and BOOM! I need to update it again!

Things around here have been good but busy. Work has been crazy lately, with new families moving in and families moving out. But, it's been a good busy. I've felt efficient and useful the last few weeks, which is a really good thing.

Friday was John's 7th and 8th grade bands trip to the festival they play in every year. It was a long day, but we had fun. This was (we think) my 4th year chaperoning the event, so I've pretty much got it down as well as John and his co-teacher do. We left the house at 6am, got to the school around 7, and had the kids on the bus by 8:15. We were making great time, and got to the school the kids were performing at about 1/2 an hour prior to their warm up time. Unfortunately, the school had just come out of lockdown for a drug arrest (it was a high school), so all of the performances were pushed wayyyy back. John's school was slated to perform at 12:40, and didn't get to go on until about 1:20. The kids handled it really well though. His band got a gold, which was great. The chorus performed, and also got a gold, so things were good. The second part of the day was spent at Six Flags New England, and we couldn't have had a better day for it. We only got 3 hours at the park, which was a bummer, but the kids were awesome about it, and the weather was awesome, so the kids still had a really great time. Most of the rides were running, so none of the kids got disappointed by not getting to go on anything. John and I got Hannah a really cute Wonder Woman onsie, which is super fun. There are some pictures of her in it below.

John and I have pretty much spent the weekend recovering from the trip, and doing things around the house. This year, we planted a vegetable garden, so hopefully it will do well. We have leaf lettuce, sweet peas, cherry tomatos, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, cucumbers, zucchini and summer squash. I'm so excited! I hope my garden does well. I spent a lot of time outside planting and working on it yesterday, so I can't wait to see how it does!

Monday the 19th, Hannah had her 4 month check up. She did great! She had to get 4 shots, which really stunk, but she handled it like a pro - some screaming, and that was it for the day. She measured at 26 inches long and 14 lbs 11oz. I'm sure she's gained weight since then. She loves to eat her rice cereal, and I'm starting to wonder when to add more things to her repitoire of food.

Tomorrow, Hannah is going to see her first parade - we're meeting my parents and grandmother in Concord for the Memorial Day parade. I'm excited to take her. It's supposed to be sunny and 80 degrees - what a way to kick off the unofficial start to summer!

I guess that's about it from here. I posted some recent photos of Hannah. I still can't believe she's 4 months old now! Goodness! Where does the time go...

Mommy, I'm sleepy...

Huh?

Look! I'm playin' video games!

But what does this thing DO?

I'm a playin' baby, mom!

Hannah's secret identy, revealed!

On the road to 2008

Greetings on this first day of 2008! I'm glad to see that we all survived 2007, and hopefully 2008 will be filled with bigger and better things for everyone! 2007 was a pretty uneventful year for me, aside from getting pregnant (that was pretty eventful!), but I know 2008 has big things in store!

I suppose this is about the time that I should be dragging out "The Big List" again (and I will be, hold on!) and looking at what on it needs to be done still. Then I would call those my "resolutions." However, I'm going to simplify my "resolutions." They're just goals I would like to attain at some point, and now, with a baby on the way (any day now!!!) I have more incentive than ever to achieve them - especially the exercise ones. So, here is the big list:

My Big List
1. Take up yoga again
2. Meet my 10% goal, plus 6 pounds.
3. Join a gym or yoga studio and go!
4. Take ballroom/latin/swing dance lessons
5. Start writing in my prayer journal more
6. Finish Final Fantasy VIII, IX and X
7. Start nursing school
8. Walk more
9. Watch less TV
10. Read: The Cloister Trials, Quarter Life Crisis, The Color Purple, Random Passage, Knitting Under the Influence, Friday Night Knitting Club, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
11. Talk to Stephanie and Josh once a month.
12. Get some nice professional pictures of John, the baby and I.
13. Get to 2 more Mike Previti concerts!!!
14. Paint my living room, bedroom, stairway and computer room.
15. Purchase a 5 or 6 foot tall book case for the computer room.
16. Learn to read knitting patterns
17. Knit a blanket
18. Find a new job/return to school for a career I want to pursue
19. Do yoga 4 times a week, at least.
20. Finish the scrapbook for my dad.
21. Train for, and successfully complete a 5K road race

Now, lets look at what needs to be revamped:
1. Meet my 10% plus 6 pounds. I had started Weight Watchers around this time last year. After getting some medical stuff straightened out, I had finally lost my first 10 pounds... just before I got pregnant. So I am going to revamp this goal, a lot with a few others that are similar to it. So now, we group together this, the dance lessons, and the walking more and we get: Return to the same dress size I was in when I graduated high school. This may involve some combination of the things above, it may not. I'm not sure yet.
2. Watch less TV. I'm pretty sure we can team this one up with the books I want to read. So why don't we call it "Less screen time, more reading."
3. Train for and successfully complete a 5K road race. Some of you may wonder why I'm separating this one from the losing weight one. Well, quite honestly, it's a different matter, in my mind. I would like to have the accomplishment of doing something no one else in my family has done, nor would try to do. Also, I look at it as a way to get myself into shape. I don't consider being in shape and losing weight to be the same thing. I have seen plenty of people that are skinny that are not in great physical shape. I would like to be able to model a healthy lifestyle for our child(ren?) and this is the first step to being able to do that.
The rest of these can pretty much stand on their own, but I'm not necessarily in a rush to do some of them. So, lets look at my newly revamped list:

1. Return to the same dress size I was in when I graduated high school.
2. Less screen time, more reading.
3. Train for, and successfully complete a 5k road race.
4. Do yoga 3 times a week. This goes with the being fit thing.
   
5. Nice professional pictures of John, the baby and I (like THAT will be hard) :-)
6. 2 more Mike Previti concerts.
7. Home improvements: Paint the stairway, our bedroom, and stain the deck. When we have time, of course.
8. Knit a blanket. By myself this time.

That looks much more manageable for the new year. I guess I can start with the yoga thing tomorrow. I do have a prenatal DVD. I spent the money on it. I should be using it. The blanket thing won't be hard either. Now that I'll have a baby to knit for, plus a friend that is pregnant, I'll be a baby items knittin' fool!

I guess that's about it for now. I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2008!

Christmas 2007 and baby updates

As Christmas Day 2007 becomes another day in the record books, I wanted to take a minute to pause, thank everyone for my great gifts, share with everyone the cool stuff I got, and to reflect on the past year.

So first, thank you to everyone who gave me something. :-) Plainly said, but it gets the point across. I got some really great gifts this year, and I would like to thank everyone for them.

Which brings me to the sharing part: Thank you to Mom and Dad C. for the clementines, the coffee, the Starbucks gift card, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD.

Thank you to Jen for the Olive Garden gift card! I know you gave us some other things, but I can't remember them now... sorry!

Thank you to Mike and Kim for the Ugly Betty Season 1 DVD set and the Kohl's gift card! I used the gift card to get some new sneakers!

Thank you to Aunt Donna for the coupon book and the statue of the snowman and the puppy!

Thank you to Mom and Dad S. for the clothes, the socks, the slippers, the necklace, and the earrings. Especially - thank you for the AAA membership! That's awesome! I'm so excited about that!

Thank you to Katie and Bobby for the bath gift set and anything else that I can't think of right now!

Thank you Grammy for the gift card that we don't know where it's to yet :-)

Thank you Bonnie and Mark for the Smitty's gift card - we haven't been to the movies in ages!

Thank you Aunt Pat for the gift card we can use anywhere!

Thank you Henry for the Best Buy gift card!

Thank you Jason for the baby monitor and the noise projector thing! That's really cool!

And especially thank you to my awesome husband, for all of the really cool gift cards - La Festa, Flatbreads, Olive Garden and Starbucks! I can't wait to be able to continue our date nights after the baby comes!

I'm going to feel horrible if I've forgotten anyone. I feel pretty terrible that I can't even remember everything that I got, but I'm going to blame that on "pregnancy brain."

This past year has been a very interesting one. I know some of you have been following my year since I found out I am pregnant in May. I've had, as in any year, some ups and downs, but fortunately, this year has been mostly full of ups. I had some great experiences substitute teaching, teaching summer school and learning the ins and outs of working at a non-profit. Finding out that my body was housing a new little human was an amazing discovery, since we didn't really think that it would happen without a lot more effort. In fact, I think even my doctor was surprised! I had an appointment set up for the very next week to start trying the next course of action after what we had done... turns out we didn't need it! And not to mention just getting another year with my wonderful husband has been very special. We have a fantastic relationship, and I am really looking forward to being able to learn to be a parents with him. His word to describe the impending birth of our baby is that he is "emotionless" about it. I don't think it's a bad thing - at least not right now. It means that he's not nervous, he's not worked up about it, or anything, and I think that's a good thing. He is excited about being a dad, don't get me wrong, I think he's just nervous about the energy it's going to require to be a parent. I think he'll be fine :-)

Now, speaking of the baby - Let look at this weeks baby info!

My Baby
Your baby's hanging out, enjoying his last few weeks of snuggly comfort in your womb. His brain -- in charge of complicated jobs like regulating breathing, digestion, and circulation -- is functioning better every day. But as your baby relaxes in there, you're probably doing anything but! Many moms-to-be may find themselves in full-on nesting mode right now. Cleaning and straightening is a great way to stay busy during the end-of-pregnancy waiting game, but make sure you don't overdo it -- hello, you're nine months pregnant! (More on that in My Life.)

My Body
C-sections account for nearly 30 percent of all births these days, but most of these are not preplanned. Your doctor may schedule one in advance if you're expecting multiples, if your baby is positioned poorly (breech) for vaginal delivery, if you have placenta previa (where your placenta is lying low in your uterus and may block the baby's way out), or if you have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure, that increases the risk of complications during labor. But many women who don't think they'll need a c-section end up requiring one because their labor stalls (this accounts for a third of all c-sections, according to the Mayo Clinic) or the baby shows signs of distress.
When you think about what labor and delivery might be like, odds are you're not exactly fantasizing about having a c-section. (It is major surgery, after all.) So you may feel upset or disappointed if your doctor recommends one -- or seriously freaked if you're suddenly whisked into the operating room after hours of labor. While it's completely normal and valid to have these feelings, remember that what matters most isn't how you deliver your baby, but that he arrives healthy. But it might help to discuss all those burning what-ifs with your doctor now, so you're at least a little prepared and know at what point or under what circumstances she'd consider performing one. The more informed you are, the easier your mind will rest.

My Life
Are you a cleaning machine these days? Nesting instinct is a real, scientifically proven drive that many other animals (like dogs) engage in too. Go with those feelings, but be smart about 'em. Avoid carrying really heavy things and, naturally, steer clear of harsh cleansers and paint. And don't stay up until all hours (pregnant women have been known to get up to tackle the garage at 3 a.m.) or exhaust yourself making sure the house is neat, cozy, spotless, and top-to-bottom disinfected. Your baby won't be able to see more than about 6 inches in front of him for several weeks after he's born -- he's not going to know or care if there are a couple of dirty dishes in the sink or whether you've taken a toothbrush to the grout in the bathroom. Save up some of that energy -- you're gonna need it for labor!

Ravelry, Work and other misc. things.

Wahoo! I'm finally on Ravelry, which is a website for knitters and crocheters! It's a really cool website that will let me track all of my projects, my yarns, etc., as well as find new patterns and whatnot. I'm so excited! I've started posting projects on there, but it's going to take me a while to sort it all out. I'm having some issues with the photos thing, so hopefully I can get someone to help me with that soon.

I am working today because of the snow day yesterday. My office at the shelter was closed due to the weather, which is a good thing because I heard the roads were kind of bad. I'm looking forward to being off of work completely until next Thursday. I am officially done subbing now, except for maybe occationally going in for the librarian at Johns school. But I'm looking forward to the down time until the baby comes.

I'm really excited about Christmas this year - I think it will be fun, and I'm excited to have everyone over for the day that day. It will be a good time!

"Congratulations! You're at the point where we just sit around and wait for you to go into labor!"

My Baby
Woohoo! It's time to break out the bubbly! (The sparkling cider variety, of course.) By the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term -- which means she could really arrive any day now. Exciting, sure. Terrifying? Yeah, that too. But no matter how freaked you might be, you're way better off knowing as much as you can about D-day. So here's the deal. No one knows exactly what sets off the big event, but somehow your body knows when your baby's fully cooked and starts releasing chemicals (called prostaglandins) that thin, soften, and dilate your cervix. When produced in large amounts, these prostaglandins will trigger your uterus to start contracting, or making involuntary muscle movements to push your baby down and out. (At some point, your water will break, too, but this is more like a side effect of labor than an actual trigger.)
But contractions alone don't necessarily mean your baby's on the move just yet. They'll get stronger, longer, and more regular before you're actually ready to start delivering. And this early-stage labor can last hours or even days. So sit tight, be patient, and keep a watch handy. Once contractions start occurring about five minutes apart for at least an hour, it's probably time to grab your hospital bag and head out -- you're officially in active labor! (More on that in My Body.)

My Body
Labor has three stages -- when you get to the hospital you'll likely be in active labor, the second phase of the first stage, where your cervix dilates from 3 or 4 centimeters to 7. Now, contractions will come fast and furious -- lasting up to a minute each or even a bit longer -- and yes, they huuuurt. You'll feel this intense pain radiating through your stomach, lower back, and upper thighs. This is like nothing you've ever felt before -- and each woman copes with it differently. Now's the time when pain-relieving epidurals are usually administered, so don't be afraid to ask for one. Many women who hope or plan to go the drug-free route change their mind midstream, so if you have a change of heart, go for it! It's totally normal to experience a huge range of emotions (intense focus, restlessness, irritability, to name a few) and physical symptoms (like nausea or exhaustion) during this labor stage, but it won't last forever -- most likely a few hours.
Eventually you'll progress to the transition phase, the end of the first stage. Here, your cervix finishes dilating to 10 centimeters, and contractions will strike much, much more frequently -- they'll probably feel nonstop. This is the toughest phase, especially without meds. (They're not usually given this late in the game, but some types may still be available.) Soon you'll be ready for those big final pushes -- the official start of stage two. Your baby's head will appear (crown) near the opening of your vagina, though it might still take as long as a half-hour to 40 minutes to finish delivering her. Once the head's out, your doctor will tell you to take a pause from pushing so she can make sure your baby's breathing okay and check the position of the umbilical cord. Before long, your baby will be out of your womb and ready to say hello!
You may think you're completely done at this point, but a few more things need to happen first. As soon as your baby comes out, the umbilical cord will be cut -- severing your baby from the placenta. You may ask to cradle her right away, then she'll be weighed and examined by a doctor or nurse. While all this is going on, you'll be wrapping up that third and final labor stage -- delivering the placenta. And once it's out, you're all done. Congrats, and welcome to mommyhood! Talk about a day you'll never, ever, ever forget.

My Life
If you've haven't already packed your bag for the hospital, now's the time. Just don't be tempted to bring the entire nest with you. After all, you're going to a hospital, not a hotel! Unless you'll be delivering an hour away, your partner or a family member can always swing by and grab anything you've forgotten. You might want to do an initial pack, then sift through your stuff a few hours later to edit out any nonessentials. Another option: Pack one bag with everything you'll need during and just after labor, and another with less-pressing items, like the baby's going-home outfit, diapers, and your check-out wardrobe (plan on the maternity clothes you were wearing at five or six months along). Leave it by the front door and have it picked up later.

Oh boy... We've hit the "Any Day Now" stage! I'm SOOOOOO excited, and I cannot wait to have this baby! Although, I think partly it's that I can't wait to not be pregnant anymore :-) Hey, it's true! Any of you who have been pregnant know that feeling, I'm sure. And look - I DON'T want to hear any more negative stories of labor, or going two weeks past due date, etc. I just don't want to! Everyone's pregnancies are different, and mine is just going to happen the way it happens. So please, please, PLEASE don't think I want to hear about your daughter who was in labor for 45 hours (seriously, someone told me their daughter was in labor for 45 hours). It's not that I don't care, it's just that I don't want to be stressed out about it. I am really not very nervous about giving birth, because I know that I have no control over how it goes, and there's not much I can do about it anyway.

Okay, on a lighter note, last night was the Memorial Middle School concert (where John teaches). John and his co-teacher, Amanda, got RAVE reviews from the parents and the principal was incredibly impressed. I have to say, it was probably one of their best concerts in a long time, which made me very proud of John. I'm proud of him a lot, but it's especially on nights like that. I'm hoping to get a little video up online of it, but I think the video is too long, so I may not be able to.

I may not be able to post again until sometime after Christmas, so I hope everyone has a great one! I had a snow day from work today, so I'll be going in tomorrow instead. Saturday will be spent getting ready for the day, Saturday night we're going to a family event, Sunday we're having the RK people over for a party, and then BOOM! Christmas Eve! Wishing everyone all the best!

Miscellaneous Update

Yes, it's not time for my weekly update on where I'm at in my pregnancy, though I can tell you I had a doctors appointment this morning, and his words of wisdom were: "Well, you're pretty much at the point where we see you every week, and we sit around and wait for you to go into labor." The only thing that would change that is if there was a sudden spike in my blood pressure or something else that was concerning. So I guess that's a good thing. I am hoping labor comes sooner rather than later, for lots of reasons:

1. I'm totally ready to meet this little baby!
2. I am really looking forward to sharing this major life event with my amazing husband.
3. I'm equally as ready to not be pregnant!
4. I'm anxious to be able to work out again.

I took Kane to get his picture taken with Santa on Saturday, which was cool. He was really nervous about it though! Here's the photo of him:

I wish his eyes didn't come out so yellow. I tried to fix them in my photo editing software, but it didn't work. Oh well. He was a good boy :-)

We're really looking forward to Christmas this year! We're hosting both sides of the family on Christmas Day for dinner. It worked out wonderfully last year, despite the crowded house. It was great not having to travel, and I really enjoy entertaining, so it will be fun. I have a few last gifts to wrap, and John still has a few to pick up, but he'll be doing that tomorrow, since he is taking the day off. I will be finishing up cleaing today, and I have some last little things to bake for other people, but over all, we're pretty much ready! Now I just have to make sure the house doesn't become messy between now and then, since we both have a tendency to leave stuff laying around everywhere.

Into week 36 we go...

My Baby
The layer of fat your baby has rapidly been putting on has now rounded out his face. His sucking muscles, which are quite powerful, have also finished developing now, and are ready for their first real feeding -- your baby's going to be hungry soon after he arrives. Speaking of eating, nearly all experts agree that breast milk is the best possible food for babies -- even the companies that make infant formula don't argue this fact. Easily digestible, breast milk provides the perfect balance of protein, sugar, fat, and vitamins that babies need to grow healthy and strong. And plenty of research points to its immune-system -- and even IQ-boosting -- benefits. But having said all that, it's equally important to remember that plenty of healthy, brilliant people (presidents, Nobel Prize winners, Fortune 500 CEOs) have been raised on formula by plenty of loving, caring moms. Don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to breastfeed -- or if you simply choose not to. If you plan to try breastfeeding, it's a good idea to get the number of a recommended lactation consultant now, in case you have problems getting the hang of it initially.

My Body
Here, yet another reason to be in awe of that extremely hardworking bod of yours: You've actually been capable of producing milk since about your sixth month of pregnancy. You may have even noticed droplets of a cloudy fluid, called colostrum, on your nipples. Also known as early milk, this fluid contains antibodies that help fight infection and build resistance to many common illness during your baby's first days on the outside. So even if you don't plan on breastfeeding for the long haul, you might want to consider nursing just for a couple of days so your baby can take advantage of this nutritional head start.
The production of true breast milk is triggered by the release of the hormone prolactin right after birth -- and it usually takes three to five days to arrive. When it does, many women will find that their breasts suddenly become huge (and we mean huge!), rock-hard, and really sore -- a condition called engorgement. It might last for several days, but nursing or pumping, massaging the girls in a hot shower, or applying ice packs can help. And as your baby continues to nurse, your body will adjust milk production according to how much he's actually eating, which should also provide some relief.

My Life
You might be wondering...if breastfeeding is sooooo beneficial, why doesn't every mom do it? Well, for starters, it's harder than it looks -- and it can be pretty awkward, too. Breastfeeding is unlike anything you've ever done before, and there's no way of knowing how easily you and your baby will get the hang of it. It can feel weird to have milk coming out of your breasts, and especially in the beginning, nursing is a true balancing act (figuring out how to hold baby, use the Boppy, unhook your nursing bra, etc.) Some women have a hard time producing enough milk, and some infants (especially preemies) have trouble latching on properly, for example. And it's also a big time commitment: Newborns generally need to eat every two to three hours 'round the clock, and it can be extremely exhausting to have your boobs at the ready on that kind of schedule. Then there's the whole breastfeeding in public issue -- if you're nursing exclusively, you've gotta be comfortable with it. (No wonder more than 70 percent of new moms start out breastfeeding their newborns, but only about half nurse their 3-month-old babies, according to recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) So if you're able to breastfeed, that's great! Health benefits aside, it's a very sweet way to relate to your new baby, and it's different from any kind of relationship you've ever had. But if you can't or choose not to, remember that love -- not free-flowing breast milk -- is what makes you your baby's best possible mom.

And here we go, into month number 9! We're in the homestretch, and I can hardly wait to see our new little family member! It's so exciting!

There really isn't much else to report from here... John is wrapping up his holiday concert season this coming week, which is good. The last thing he's got is his school's concert on the 19th, and that will be a good show anyway. I'm looking forward to getting up there to see it!

We will be hosting Christmas at our house this year, which is also exciting, and I am looking forward to that as well. It's nice to not have to travel, and to have people come to us. John will be singing at the Christmas Eve mass the night before, but that is at 4 in the afternoon, so we'll still be home nice and early. The 23rd we're hosting a Christmas party for some friends, which will also be fun, but it will make for a busy weekend, with the 22nd being a party for one of my uncles in Hanover. So, party the 22nd, party the 23rd, Christmas Eve the 24th, Christmas the 25th. And people wonder why I'm taking the week before my due date off? I just need to recover from the holidays!!!

Week 34!!! Oh yeah, and some other stuff...

My Baby
Your baby's preparing for his arrival in just a few short weeks! This week, the protective vernix (that white, waxy coating that's keeping his skin safe) begins to thicken, ensuring his birthday suit stays smooth and well-moisturized during D-day. Your baby will likely arrive covered in the stuff, especially in the folds under his arms, behind his ears, and in the groin area. But it'll all be washed off very shortly after birth -- during his first-ever bath. (So adorable!) By now, your baby weighs around 5 pounds and may be as long as 20 inches, head to toe.

My Body
You may feel like you've been seeing your doctor more than you see your best friend these days. You're likely visiting twice a month now, and starting in the next two weeks, she'll probably want to see you weekly until your baby's born. At these visits, your doc will keep tabs on the baby's growth and vitals. She'll monitor your cervix to see how much you've dilated -- a sign that labor's approaching.
And speaking of labor, does your belly feel a bit lighter these days? Called dropping, lightening, or engagement, it's common around this time, as your baby settles lower into your pelvis to get ready for her big move outta there. Another labor signal to watch for is extra-thick vaginal discharge that's pink or even a bit blood-tinged. It's the start of -- excuse the yuck factor here -- your mucus plug dropping. The mucus plug is a ball of tissue that's been blocking your cervix during pregnancy to keep your uterus safe from germs. Losing your plug doesn't mean that labor's starting ASAP, though. Many women lose their plugs up to two weeks before labor officially begins.

My Life
Been pondering how you'd like your baby to enter the world? Granted, you can't totally control what will happen during labor, but you're bound to have preferences about some things, like relieving pain, who'll keep you company, and what'll make labor easier on you (a designated coach or having your iPod handy, for example). This is why birth plans were invented: So that you, your partner, and your doctor will all be on the same page when it comes to how you'd like things to go -- in a very ideal world, of course. Some women are comfortable enough with a thorough talk with their doctors and partners; others might feel more at ease by putting it all down on paper. If you do draft a birth plan, be sure to keep it short and to-the-point -- one page or less. Doctors and nurses might glaze over if they're handed your version of War and Peace.

I finally got that cyst taken care of yesterday. I'm sure no one wants the gory details, but lets just say that I feel MUCH better after being seen by the doctor. I ache slightly from the actual proceedure, but nothing that some Tylenol can't make better. I haven't had to dip into the Percocet I was given from the ER doctor, which makes me happy. I've had to take more Tylenol than I'd like, but at least I know that's safe for me and the baby.

I'm SO excited about the shower this weekend! It should be so much fun, and I am so excited to see the people who come! I've been slowly finding out who will be there, but I don't know everyone that's coming (my mom has been trying to keep it as much of a surprise as possible). John and I are going to be kicked out of the house for a few hours on Sunday morning (we're staying over Saturday night), so we're trying to figure out what to do that morning. We'll probably go to church, if we can, because it's the first day of Advent. We're also going to get our Christmas tree that day, so we've got a few things planned. That's about as far as we've gotten though!

I'm going to go shopping at Babies 'R' Us tomorrow because they'll be having a sale, and we still have all those gift cards to use up! There are some things from our registry that we won't get (I figure by now, if people haven't bought something off the registry, they probably won't), and there are some things that I didn't even think of (like, crib sheets and Pack 'n' Play sheets) that we'll need. I'm thinking about going to the Christmas Tree Shop tomorrow too, since John and I need to start gearing up for the RK Christmas Party on the 23rd.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

First off, I am just going to share that John and I had a great Thanksgiving at his parents house! It was nice to see his brother, sister and his brothers girlfriends, and spend some time with all of them, so it was fun. We haven't seen them in a long time.

Black Friday was an adventure. I ended up getting up to go shopping at 4am at Kohls. I did pretty well, just about finishing up my Christmas shopping yesterday. That was nice. And surprisingly, despite the crown, I had a good time going out by myself - I think I would have been stressed had I gone shopping with anyone.

After braving Kohls, I went to Starbucks for a pick-me-up of a peppermint white chocolate mocha and a breakfast sandwich. Then I headded to Target, which opened at 6am. That was definitely a mad house! Apparently, they were selling Guitar Hero 3 with 2 guitars for $85, so the electronics section was PACKED. I wasn't even trying to get TO electronics, I was just trying to get by it and I couldn't! I finally was able to find what I was looking for, got two more Christmas gifts, as well as some stuff for decorating the house. We wanted some icicle lights to hang on the front of the house this year. Though, I realized after I got home that we don't have an extension cord for those, so I am going to have to pick one up today before we go. I am banking on getting some snow before Christmas to cover the extension cords running through my front yard right now to the rest of the Christmas lights :-)

After I got home, I discovered that I was having some really bad back pain, which was not fun. It was so bad, it pretty much had me in tears. The only doctor that was available was my OB, so in I went - hooked up to the monitor again, only to find out (as I thought) that the baby is fine and I wasn't in labor. So he is going to send me to physical therapy on Tuesday to see how that goes. He's diagnosed it as sacro-iliac pain. But, I've also discovered what I suspect to be a sebaceous cyst on my tailbone, which I'm sure isn't helping the back pain at all, because the pressure causes a lot of pain too. So I'm going to have to wait until Monday to call my primary care doctor (since my OB doesn't seem to have the time to answer questions), and see what can be done about that. I hope that will help with some of the pain, because now, it's even painful when I sleep, and the last thing I need is to be getting a poor nights sleep on top of the poor sleep I get as it is now! John was so great yesterday helping me out - he was just wonderful. He was concerned about me and kept would come up to check on me, bring me water, he drove me to the doctors, got the phone for me... I have the best husband in the world!

Thanksgiving Update, as well as baby stuff!

My Baby
Got a night owl in there? Your baby continues to develop regular sleep-wake cycles now. So you might notice, for example, that she's very calm during your commute to work but kicks up a storm as you tune in to Jon Stewart each night. When your baby slumbers, she'll close her eyes (they're pretty sensitive to light these days) and she may even start to dream in a few weeks' time! But when your baby's up and at 'em, be prepared for some powerful kicks. You might be feeling them in a new place now -- your ribcage (just below your breasts). And wow, can they be sharp sometimes! But on the bright side, these movements are probably a sign that your baby's head-down, perfectly poised for her big birthday entrance. If she's not facing south just yet, don't worry -- your baby still has a few weeks to turn around. (If she doesn't, and remains in what's called a breech position, your doc can try to steer her the right way or else you might need a c-section to make sure she's delivered safe and sound.)
My Body
Sure, you'll have plenty of sleepless nights after the baby's born, but how are you slumbering now? Many moms-to-be have trouble snagging adequate snooze time, especially in the last trimester. (It's no wonder, considering that your burgeoning belly is triggering a host of sleep-squelching side effects, including heartburn, leg cramps, and frequent bathroom breaks.) But believe it or not, it's possible to get a decent night's rest. Earlier in the day, pencil in a standing neighborhood stroll, since research shows that regular exercise can help you sleep more soundly. Big belly the problem? Buy a body pillow to snuggle up to for extra support when you're side-sleeping. If heartburn's your big sleep stealer, try eating dinner an hour earlier. And it sounds obvious, but you'll cut down on those six-times-a-night bathroom runs if you nix the water guzzling for at least an hour or two before you hit the hay.

My Life
This weekend, it's time to pimp your ride, transforming it into the Infant-mobile. Most hospitals won't let you bring baby home without a car seat properly installed. And take it from us: It can be surprisingly easy to mess up. So do it now, while you still have plenty of uninterrupted time to read the instruction manual. And don't be afraid to ask for help; most newbies could use it. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, up to 80 percent of car seats are not placed correctly. Some hospitals offer training; other great resources include your local police or fire station. Install your base and then have an expert double-check to make sure your chariot passes muster.

Yesterday I had a check up, and things seems to be going well. The baby's heart rate is around 152 right now, which is good. I have an ultrasound in 2 weeks now. I guess Dr. Mirabello is concerned that the baby is getting too big now! At my last ultrasound it said the baby was small for it's gestational age, but now he's afraid the baby is too big, so they want to do an ultrasound to see just how big the baby is, since you can't get much of an accurate measurement without one.

I can't believe that the holiday season is upon us! Today is Thanksgiving, which is very exciting. John and I are going to his parents house this year, which will be nice. I've been DYING for stuffing for the last few weeks, so I can't wait to finally get to have some! The other day at church, we were asked that if we could change our lives so that things were different in one year, what would you change? I thought about it for a minute, and the only thing I could really think of was that I wanted to have my baby instead of being pregnant. And then I realized that if that was the only thing I would change, then I must be doing pretty darn well. So I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, especially my husband, my house, my pets, my friends and family and the healthy little baby that is going to be making an appearance for the first time sometime within the next 8-ish weeks!

So, wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!

Week 26... only 14 weeks to go!

My Baby
What a gorgeous baby you have! This week, some of his most notable developments are cosmetic: His eyebrows and eyelashes are thick and lush now, and the hair on his head has grown longer and denser. By this time, all the parts of your baby's eyes are in place, and he's getting ready to open them in just a couple of weeks! Your baby's lungs continue to grow stronger, readying him for life outside the womb -- although it's about 10 more weeks until they'll be fully mature. To support his growing body, your baby's spine is becoming stronger and more flexible. It's about the same length as the palm of your hand, but it contains a whopping 150 joints and some 1,000 ligaments.

My Life
By now, you've probably gained around 15 pounds -- and possibly even more, depending on your pre-pregnancy weight. And we know what you're thinking: So what's the deal? Will I really ever get my old body back after the baby's born? And the answer is, well, sort of. First of all, a bunch of your weight comes off soon after delivery -- the weight of the baby, obviously, but also a lot of water weight/swelling, boosted blood volume, your placenta, etc. In fact, according to one recent study from the University of Texas at Austin, new moms hold on to just seven to 15 pounds of their total preggo weight gain at six weeks postpartum (which means that if you continued to shed a half-pound to a pound a week or so, you'd be back to your pre-pregnancy weight in about six months).
But even if you manage to drop every last pound, some parts of your body may still look a little different. Your breasts may be a bit less perky, for instance -- but hey, a sexy new push-up bra can take care of that. Or your stomach probably won't quite return to its pre-pregnancy pancake -- okay, short-stack -- flat state. But honestly, as sensitive to these possible differences as you may be now, take heart -- you're liable to care a lot less about any minor imperfections once your baby arrives. As one Parents.com reader put it, "After watching my body gestate, deliver, and nurse a baby, I felt like it deserved an Academy Award! I may not look exactly the same as I did before, but I finally love what I see in the mirror." And if it makes you feel any better, just know that every other new mom out there is experiencing the same exact changes. Even though Us Weekly-cover-worthy Hollywood moms may lose their baby weight in a crazy short amount of time, we're betting many still have to contend with stretch marks and such.

I can't believe it's already week 26! I'm so excited! Thus far, I've really enjoyed being pregnant, for the most part. I could do without the back aches and the leg cramps, but overall, it's really kind of a neat experience, especially when I can feel the baby moving around inside. Of course, I'm not to the point of being "really pregnant" and the baby doesn't hurt me when he or she does gymnastics before bed.

Anyway, that's all for now... Still looking for suggestions for my Halloween costume!

Maternity Halloween Costumes

Oh my goodness. Who would have thought having to come up with a Halloween costume when you're pregnant would be so difficult? Originally I didn't think I was going to dress up, but now I think I may. I have a few ideas, most of which have come from various websites, but I don't know if I'm going to do any of them yet. So, I am currently taking suggestions for Halloween costumes. Send me an e-mail or post a comment so that I can get some ideas!

Fireworks!

Last night, John, Kane and I trekked over to the Rochester Fairgrounds to see the firworks. Rather than pay to get in, we just pulled up a little chunk of grass next to some really nice people. Lots of people came and sat there, so it must have been alright. The show started about 1/2 an hour late, which was frustrating, because I was tired, but fortunately, it turned out to be a great display. Kane was enjoying spending some time with the young girls (probably in 4th or 5th grade) that were next to us. He liked them because they kept throwing him popcorn. Next year, we'll have to remember to bring some snacks. Kane did very well during the fireworks, he just hung out while they shot them off. We were far enough away that they weren't deafening, so I think that helped him.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some photos of the fireworks!