Our blog has now moved to http://www.ninemonthsofshower.com/blog/ We are now also open as an online 24 hour maternity gift store. We carry gifts by trimester and baby shower gifts. Please visit us on our new website soon! We will keep blogging from there and promise to be an ever-evolving support system for pregnant moms.
#Friendships During and After #Pregnancy (especially 1st pregnancy)
Happy Friendship Day to everyone!
If you are pregnant for the first time and not many friends of yours have had kids before , I know what kind of a feeling that is. You feel your friends are there for you but wonder if they really understand what you are going through. The vulnerable stage of wanting to share every detail of your life without making them uncomfortable. Frankly let me tell you right away, if you have friends or know people without kids during your pregnancy only very few , really close friends from this particular group that are not into kiddy mode themselves are going to stick with you for the rest of your life.
Others will make it very clear that you are now my dear a mom and not one of them. You will be easily dropped out of invitations, parties or might be asked to get a sitter when you show up next to their fun get-togethers.
And this is not to bash people without kids or anything. I think it is just a natural phase. You will not have much in common with them. You will not always have time or patience or energy or a sitter to party every Friday night. You will be full of baby stories (which you really intend not to speak about but blurt them out anyway!) or your Facebook page will be full of baby updates including poop that they didn’t need to know. So naturally that bond is going to get loose sooner or later.
Fear not mommy! This is not the end of fun friendships! In fact at this time, you will find another pregnant woman at your work, or on your street or at the hospital visit with whom you will click and that click might be the beginning of a very strong bond of a new kind of friendship. The Being a Mommy and Sharing Woes Kinda Bond! The only Moms will understand kind of bond! You will share your pregnancy cravings, details about sex during and after pregnancy, your baby woes, potty training and if you are really lucky you will stick with each other and share teenage woes together!
Remember, at every stage in life, friends change, the way friendships work change but true friends will stay with you forever no matter where you are, what you do , how far you live from each other, whether you have kids or not or they have kids or not they will be there for you. So don’t worry and enjoy this day like you never did before and cherish all the memories you have made with all your wonderful friends. And if you can remember, try and be a good friend yourself!
#News
Nine Months of Shower has a new eCommerce website coming up. I will be announcing more details soon on what it entails. To keep yourself updated with more news on this, please register at the DotCom website below :
Nine Months of Shower
I am very excited about this! Hope you will be too!
Mango Jam – satisfy your tangy pregnancy #cravings
Mango Jam!! Yummy!
I tried making this mango jam today and was wondering if it could make a perfect morning sickness remedy. I never happened to try it when I was pregnant but I am thinking adding a dash of ginger to this mango and citrus jam will do the trick. The recipe was also very easy to make. I will post it as soon as I get to uploading more pictures.
How to be pregnant and still enjoy #fireworks on #4th July?
Ahh! It is Independence week and so hot here in the USA! How to save yourself from the heat and still enjoy firework displays? How to be in a crowd but still be able to reach a bathroom quickly so you can pee? 4th of July is so much fun to celebrate but yet so hard on pregnant women who want to be a part of the celebration too.
A family gettogether and private firework celebration might be the best bet here. But what if you want to be a part of the crowd and see a parade or late night fireworks display. I say go for it! Just be there early so you find the best parking spot. If you are at a downtown parade, check if there is a restaurant you can be close by to so you can keep yourself hydrated with fluids as much as you want and still enjoy the hoopla! And being a customer to this restaurant will give you key to their restrooms! If you are going to a fireworks display on an open ground, make sure to carry water with you. Find the closest parking spot or maybe the farthest if they have a bus service so you can get out the soonest. Be sure to leave a little earlier before the whole show ends so you will be able to get away quickly. Always get to know the whole area so you know where the closest port a potty is… I would just say avoid the port a potty if at all possible and be at a place where there are real restrooms available but that is just my personal opinion. Avoid walking in too much crowd so you don’t get pushed or nudged or anything like that. Be safe and don’t wear heels. Bring a friend along to enjoy with and also to help you carry your food , water or a chair maybe…
And the most important thing is enjoy the show!Have fun with your family and friends and remember what you are celebrating for!
Be safe and enjoy 4th of July!
Should #Dads get a baby shower too?
Absolutely! Why not? I wish I had thought of this for my hubby when I was pregnant. Since life is changing for the mom and dad both, I think they both should get to enjoy their baby- free time with their friends for one last time before the new arrival.
Some of the theme ideas for #Daddy shower would be :
A Golf theme shower
Football Frenzy
Poker Night
Pizza and Wings and a Guyish movie
Geek Squad for a Geeky Dad
For the gifts ofcourse I had posted the link a couple of days ago.
Here it is again : https://ninemonthsofshower.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/a-baby-shower-gift-for-the-new-dad/
You could always add gag gifts to add more fun to the party!
a baby shower gift for the new #dad !
Have you had your own or attended baby showers where the new dad was given gifts? What do you think would be good gifts for a new or expecting dad?
I tried to put up a list of some good items to give to an expecting dad. Please feel free to comment with your thoughts and ideas.
Here are some gift ideas for the new and expecting dads :
1. Pregnancy Book for Dads (so they know what the heck they have gotten themselves and their partners into!!) 🙂
2. Starbucks Gift Cards (they need more caffeine to stay awake and change all those diapers at night, no?!!)
3. Headphones (to use when they are busy with work and baby is crying!!)
4. Restaurant Gift Cards (for the non chef dads to bring meals home when mommy is too busy attending baby!!)
5. A dude diaper bag
6. Photo frames (for the office)
7. Phone Numbers of Nannies or Babysitting Vouchers (so he can plan some dates with his wife/partner!!)
What else would you add to this list?
Father’s Day Special!
Since this is the month of June and we are all waiting eagerly to celebrate Father’s Day, I will try to include more Daddy-related articles this month.
The feeling of baby is so real to a pregnant woman. Being pregnant, we feel the weight of the baby, her movements, his butterfly kicks, heartburns, etc. But for the Dads it is very difficult to develop a bond with the baby until they see it for real. (Dads if you are reading this blog and feel this is untrue please feel free to share your experience). Some might infact find it intimidating to love the baby in mother’s belly because they see what changes it is doing to the human being they love the most. It is a natural instinct and to help them through this process I feel Dads should be involved in the whole pregnancy process from the get go. If they have the time from their busy work schedule, they should be encouraged to attend Doctor appointments so they get to hear the heartbeat of the baby or see the baby move in the ultrasound appointments.They should be encouraged to touch your belly and talk/sing/read to the baby in the belly as it will help them set a routine of spending time with you and baby and eventually a very special bond between the Daddy and baby will be developed.
Hope this small piece of advice helps new moms and dads develop a special bond with their baby that will remain strong forever in the future!
Essential Shopping List For Baby (Registry must haves)
I am posting a list of things I used as a checklist of essentials that I wanted to buy or add to registry in order to prepare for the arrival of the baby. Some things I was gifted at the baby shower before the baby was born but most other things my husband got after the baby was born. It was good to have a list ready for him so all he had to do was take the list and find the item in the store. I am not adding brands yet. I am just adding the different types of items needed. Hope this helps you make your list.
Nursery
- Crib
- Crib Mattress
- Changing Station/Dresser
- Changing Pad
- Changing Pad Covers
- Crib Mobile
- Baby Monitor
- Diaper Genie
- Laundry Basket
- Crib Bedding Set
- Crib Mobile
- Nursery Decor
- Extra Fitted Crib Sheets
- Car Seat
- Stroller
- Mirror
- Portable Changing Pads
- Diaper Bag
- Window Shades
- Bath Tub
- Baby Soap
- Baby Shampoo
- Baby Moisturizer
- Diaper Cream
- Hooded Towels
- Mug
- Pail
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Onesies
- Pajama Sets
- Sleep N Plays
- Outfits
- Hats
- Mittens
- Socks
- Booties
- Sweaters
- Sleep Sacks
- Receiving Blankets
- Burp Cloths
- Bibs
- Milk Bottles
- Extra Nipples
- Bottle Warmer
- Bottle Sanitizer
- Bottle Drying Rack
- Electric Breast Pump
- Milk Storage Bags
- Formula (just in case)
- Pacifier (we never ended up using)
- Bottle Brush
- Nipple Brush
- Boppy Pillow
- Nipple Butter/Cream
- Nursing Cover
- Nursing Pads
- Nursing Tops
- Front Button Tops
- Nursing Bras
- Baby Bouncer Seat
- Baby Swing
- Baby Jumperoo
- Baby Floor Mat/Gym
- Baby Floor Mirror
- Baby Teethers
- Baby Soft Books
- Baby Carrier
(Our baby slept in the crib till 3 months of age and since then we co-sleep)
(I used the top of the dresser as changing station)
(love this to keep the smell away even from the garage)
Car/Travel Safety
Bathing Essentials
Baby Clothing
Feeding Essentials
( I did not end up using one)
( I used this extensively and was an awesome gift from a friend)
Mommy Essentials
Other Nice to Haves for Baby
Expecting Mommy Tip of the Day #6 Drink Lots of Water!
Drink Lots of Water! Or at least 8 cups of water per day at the minimum. Water helps relieve muscle cramping. It also helps with reducing chances of urine infection which is common during pregnancy. Many pregnant women also have found that drinking water helps with constipation, the dreaded hemorrhoids, gases, etc. I never had swelling on my ankles or legs or any part of my body during pregnancy and I feel it is because I really kept track of how much water I drank during pregnancy. The more water you drink, the less your body will tend to retain.
Even after delivery, it is best to keep drinking enough water , especially if you are breastfeeding as it helps in milk production and prevents you from getting dehydrated.
Nine Months of Shower 