Baby Massage

Thanks to Grandma Wareham, I was able to learn how to massage our soon to be born baby. The class was only an hour and offered for free at our local YMCA. The trainer, Patricia, had us practice on dolls although some moms brought their babies with them to give first hand practice. She has her own practice if you want to check out her site.

It was a great experience and the hand out we received will remind me of which steps to follow. Patricia said massaging a baby in a regular (daily) way will establish a positive routine and hopefully a less colicky baby. A friend of mine says she give her daughter a massage after bath time every night and it helps her to fall asleep faster. I can't wait to try it out.

I found this video on About.com if you want to learn a few techniques. In my class we learned to massage the tummy and do leg bend and leg pulls, this video also suggest back and neck rubs. If you want to use a massage oil, our teacher suggested natural oils like Grapeseed or Olive oil.

All this talk makes me want a massage too.

Milestone: 37 Weeks

Why is 37 weeks a milestone for pregnancy, because you've actually come full term at this stage. The baby could live on its own outside the womb with its healthy lungs breathing in air. Technically, a baby could decide its ready to come out so we (the moms) are on alert for labor signs. It is a weird feeling to plan out a day, get in your car, drive errands, have lunch with a friend and all the while in the back of your mind know that you could be having a baby any minute.

The result of this "on alert" feeling is a mixed bag of emotion. Part of me says stay home, watch tv, chill out. The other side of me wants to run around wild trying to get every last minute of prep done and see every friend before my life becomes home (and baby) bound for a while. I think the conclusion I've come to is to try to use the morning for some busy work and reserve afternoons for being lazy.

Babycenter also sent me a list of things to do while I wait it out...ideas like lunch with friends (done, 3 times this week already), read a book or learn something new (need to do, maybe knitting?), streamline your space (just bought org boxes for my closet!), get a massage (bingo! need to call)....

Other busy activities I did this week...organized baby's room, washed all baby clothes, prepared for car seat use with extra pads and stuff, shopped for a few last items, made sure Tommy and I are stocked up on household items and frozen food, and took daily walks.

Keep you posted on what else I do for the remainng 3 weeks (or less!)

Boy or Girl?

We seemed to join a minority group when Tommy and I decided to not find out the gender of our baby. It's the first thing people ask after they find out your pregnant. I'm not sure why it's so important to know this. We can't change it once gender has been determined, so why not enjoy the little secret and just relish the idea that you're having a baby?

I will say that part of the fun in not knowing is getting tons of opinions of what you will have. Just yesterday a mother with her 3 year old came up to me to ask if this was my first pregnancy and if i knew what I was having...I said, yes I'm having a baby and it's my first. She promptly told me I was having a boy. Her proof? She claimed to be 'always right' at these things.

Funny, the Chinese are pretty sure I'm having a girl. This is a fun and historical calendar that claims to know what your having based on your age (Chinese age that is)....

So grocery lady says boy
Mom in law says boy
Newphew (Matthew) says boy
Chinese says girl
I had a dream that I had a boy
Until our delivery date comes, I guess we'll just keep on guessing!

What to Buy, Borrow, and Avoid

Pregnancy is full of surprises and one of the many unexpected surprises was to find out how gracious my friends have been to loan me so many great baby items. From clothes to a co-sleeper, friends have emailed and called to ask what I need. I remember a friend telling me about a book that provides some guidance about what to buy or borrow, I'll admit I never did read it and instead just went with my gut on what felt right to me. Either way, read the book or follow your instincts...here is a small list of what I've done:


Bought
-new crib & dresser/changing table (on sale, save money when you can but make sure it's still top quality)
-new rocker/recliner chair (A MUST! it was the big splurge, see photo)
-new stroller
-used (but in excellent condition) car seat and base
-blankets
-bottles and equipment
-first aid kit
-bath time set
-diaper bag
-swaddlers
-baby monitor

Borrowed
-baby clothes
-baby towels
-co-sleeper
-breast pump
-bumbo seat (helps baby's learn to sit up)
-toys
-maternity clothes
-baby/preg books
-dvds (Baby Einstein and others)

Avoid
-buying things that are too short term to use very long, maybe that can apply to all baby stuff!

What's on your list?