Oh Baby is right!!!!!!

Baby number 2 is ON THE WAY!!!!! Yes you read that right...we are expecting baby number 2 and he/she is due to arrive on May 20, 2010. So if you can count that makes me about 4 months (16 weeks) preggers!!!!

Wonder why I have kept it under wraps for so long???? Well there are a few reasons...first one being that I was in denial!!!!! WHAT!!! Pregnant???? ME!!! How did that happen????I am not pregnant...I am just getting fat!!!!! lol. Yes, all of those thoughts went through my mind for the first 10-12 weeks or so. Second is because there was not an announcement to the family until Thanksgiving....soooooo no blog announcement until a verbal family announcement. (Well of course I told my parents and my BFF's in September, but I cant hold water when it comes to them!!!). I woke up one day and said out loud...I am pregnant. We got a pregnancy test that same day and it went positive within 30 seconds (just like it did when we were pregnant with Aiden).

NOW I AM EXCITED!!!! And I just cant hide it!!!!! lol. I am also scared out of my MIND at the same time...so it all balances out...kinda. I want to know what the gender of the baby is, but I am scared that it is a girl!!!! (funny I know) I mean I know what to do with a little boy...they are simple. But a GIRL!!! That is hair that I have to deal with...and emotions (like attitude)!!! Oh boy...just can't imagine another Aja in this world...you all are just not ready for that!!!! But in all honesty we will be happy with either sex...I am not one of those women that just HAS to have a little girl. I always said that all boys would be just fine with me!!!

This pregnancy so far is pretty different from my pregnancy with Aiden. I am WAY more tired!!!!!! I want sweet stuff...and with Aiden I wanted salty (and milk). My FACE IS BREAKING OUT!!!! WTFudge...not a good look. I started showing around 8 weeks. My stomach is a little higher than it was with Aiden...he was low for the majority of the pregnancy until I got so big that you just could not tell anymore!!! lol. And the nausea was different...I was nauseous when I needed to eat. With Aiden I COULD NOT eat due to the nausea. So we will see if this difference means that it is a different gender or if is just means that every pregnancy is suppose to be different.

So the next 6 months or so will be very interesting. Once we find out the sex we will create the blog for the baby!!! Now that is exciting!!! I will be posting mommy of two gear that I LOVE LOVE LOVE (yes I have already picked out a couple must haves!!!)!!! You will get to see all the changes of the pregnancy through the baby blog as well as the ups and downs of pregnancy the second time around!!! So this should be fun. We are excited to welcome the second (and LAST) edition to our family!!!! YAY!!!

Giving thanks this Thanksgiving....

Well this has been a whirlwind year for me...not all in a good way either. But I am thankful for so many things. First of all Aiden Joseph Douglass!!!!!!!! Aiden makes all things better. Then there is my health, my home, and my piece of mind!!!! Then there are my fabulous friends who always help me put things into perspective or just to make me laugh!!!!!! And last but not least my family...near and far...and those that have made me part of their family.

This holiday just like every other Thanksgiving for the past 4 years I will be at the Douglass' for dinner. This year will be more interesting than in the past...if that is really possible...but I will share more about that after the holiday. Then normally there is a birthday dinner the day after Thanksgiving for Paul's Step-mother.

Tomorrow I will be picking up my not so little, little brother from the airport. We will be spending the morning together doing what he likes to do best...going to the movies!!!! lmbo...then I will be taking him to my mothers house and rushing back home to anxiously await the arrival of Paul's mother...aka Lubby. She is coming in for the rest of the week and has not yet seen Aiden walk!!! Then on Wednesday my BFF (and Aiden's Godmother) Jewel will be getting in town for a couple days. We will hang out all day on Wednesday then she will hang with her Aunt on Thanksgiving. Aiden's Great Grandparents and TT will be here Wednesday as well...come to think of it...none of them have seen Aiden walk. This should be very interesting!!!!

So as you see we have a very big week ahead of us!!! What are you thankful for and how will you spend this holiday kick off????

Do YOU sleep alone!?????

Until the end of August my answer to that question would be NO!!!! From day one in the hospital Aiden has slept with me and I have pretty much enjoyed every minute. It began as a necessity, because I had a c-section and could not get in and out of my VERY high off the ground bed with ease, but turned into a preference. Of course there were people that said that he should not be sleeping with me, but of course that went in one ear and out the other. I wanted to have whatever experience with my baby that I wanted to have.

So it was decided that after Aiden's 1st birthday the main focus would be to get him to sleep in his nursery, a very nice nursery if I do say so myself!!!! And of course I was the weak one when it came to actually enforcing this!!! It took a few weeks but Aiden has been sleeping in his crib since the beginning of September. (imagine me doing a happy dance)

He has only slept fully through the night a few times (but always sleeps through the night at Granns's house)....but he goes to bed around 8pm (after dinner, bath, book and sippy cup), wakes up around 5am for something to drink then back up at 7:30am. Sometimes he will wake through the night but will put himself back to sleep. When he wakes up in the morning I can tell instantly if he has gotten enough sleep. If he wakes up crying then he hasn't, but if when I go in there to get him he is talking an playing in his crib then he is well rested!!!

What does it take you ask to get your baby OUT OF YOUR BED and into their own....one word Consistency!!!!!!

We would rock Aiden until he was 99% sleep then put him in the crib...of course he would wake up and start crying. So he would get about 30 seconds of us patting him on the back shhhhing and telling him it was okay. Then we would leave the room. Of course he would still be crying but that is okay. Go back in first at 5 min, then extend to 10, then to 20, and if they are still awake 30min. And when you are in there don't stay very long. Just lay them back down, tell them it is time for night night, and pat them on the back. Every time your baby wakes up at night follow the same steps. You will be a zombie the ENTIRE time that you are working this plan...because you will be getting less sleep due to you getting in and out of bed.

They WILL wake up in the middle of the night...especially if they are use to eating in the middle of the night. Instead of milk give them water...that way they will be less inclined to wake up for just water...lol. Soon they will begin to sleep longer at night and then one day you will realize that you are sleeping sans your child and getting more rest than before.

Aiden even comes in to tell me night night now before he walks into his bedroom like a big boy...oh how I love it. I do have to admit that when he wakes up between 7-7:30am I go in, get him and put him back in bed with me with the hopes that he will sleep for another hour (and because I love it when he lays next to me and wraps his arm around my neck as he falls back asleep)...and most times he does. But it has never effected him sleeping him his crib. Nor has him sleeping with me a couple nights recently as his molars came in effected him wanting to sleep in his crib.

All children (babies) are different. Some will take to it easier and some may take a little longer. I can tell you that if you don't like to hear your baby cry (like me) then this is going to be VERY hard for you. You might want to get your husband/boyfriend to be the bad guy in this situation...lol.

Tis the season...Already!!!!

Most of the country is feeling a little pinch on their pocket book this Christmas season...shoot and last Christmas season too for that matter!!!! So I have compiled some shopping tips for this holiday season!!!!

1. MAKE YOUR LIST EARLY!!!!! That will help you in a couple ways. First you can buy things gradually so you are not shopping all at once. And second you can watch the prices and buy when there are specials or when you have a coupon
2. Which brings me to my second tip...USE COUPONS!!!! There are a billion websites out there with both printable and on-line coupons!!! Use them people!!!!
3. One GREAT thing that I discovered while pregnant is Wal-Mart's ship to store feature. It combines the convenience of shopping online and ALWAYS having free shipping!!!! You order online and choose the Wal-Mart closest to you for pick up. They let you know when it arrives and voila!!!! LOVE IT!!!! IT especially comes in handy with those large items that use to cost $50 plus to ship!!!
4. Use something that has come back in style....LAY-A-WAY!!!! Some of you may cringe at the idea of lay-a-way (and I have not yet tried it myself) but it really makes sense in these tough times. You can choose what you want and pay on it over time. Almost all the stores have started offering this option.
5. If your child is under 2 more than likely he/she will not know what the heck is going on and is going to more interested in the paper than the gifts...so no need to go all out. A couple toys and some clothes will work. Besides you know the Grandparents are going to want to know what to get them...push the toy gifts off on them. That way you only need to get 1 toy and the clothes you know they need!!!
6. Pay cash for everything!!!! Try your best not to use credit...unless you have an interest free card and are VERY disciplined with paying it off!!! Otherwise you are just making the situation worse for yourself!!!!
   

I am no shopping specialist...well I guess that depends on who you ask, but I don't believe on buying anything for Aiden full price. Especially when it comes to clothes!!!! This season companies are going to be SLASHING prices in order to try and boost the economy...so take advantage of it as much as you are able to. Don't over do it!!!!

MacLaren Stroller recall!!!

So I did a post not too long ago about my new toy...MacLaren Triumph stroller!!!! Well today there was recall information released. Listed below is the information that I got from The Christan Science Monitor:

If you own a Maclaren umbrella stroller, stop using it immediately. That’s the advice of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) after it announced a voluntary recall Monday of an estimated 1 million strollers made by Maclaren, a British company. The reason: When parents unfold the strollers, children have been reported putting their fingers in a side hinge, causing 12 fingertip amputations, according to the CPSC. Parents can contact Maclaren in the US to get a free hinge cover, which is easy to install and deals with the hinge issue effectively, says CPSC spokeswoman Patty Davis.

Monday’s action marks the second-largest recall of strollers since 2000, according to a review of CPSC data. Only the 2005 recall of almost 1.15 million strollers by Graco Children’s Products was larger.

Here are details on the current recall and how to get a replacement:

What: All nine models of Maclaren’s double and single umbrella strollers, including Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno, and Easy Traveller purchased between 1999 and November 2009.

Where: Sold at Babies”R”Us, Target, and other retailers nationwide for between $100 and $360.

Solution: A free hinge cover from the company.

Who to contact: If you have one of the above strollers, call Maclaren USA toll-free at (877) 688-2326 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. You can also visit the company’s website here.

So in short...you don't have to give up your stroller, but most definitely get your free hinge cover so your baby will be protected!!!!

From the life of Joscelyne M. Brazile....

‘Tis the season! Amid potty training and party planning for my little girl’s second birthday party, I caught a glimpse of myself and gasped in amazement. Whether you’re a twenty-something mom or a seasoned professional, we all are guilty of putting the needs of our families ahead of our own in one way or another. Here are my tips from a toddler mom on getting through the Winter Holidays unscathed!

Skin Savvy. If you’re like me, you grew comfortable running a cloth over your face in the shower and calling it a skin regimen. Then one day, you looked up and realized in the same instant that the person you were gawking at with that What’s up with her?!? Look was you! Unless you’re a sixteen year old mom, you absolutely need a skincare regimen that includes cleansing, toning, moisturizing, masking, exfoliating and steaming. Follow the cleansing ritual daily (twice, preferably) and opt for a day each week to exfoliate or mask. Try and stay away from products that use lots of ingredients that you can’t pronounce. My personal favorites are Origins and Carol’s Daughter! Since I’m not a huge fan of patchouli ( a woodsy, earthy scent), I use Origins.

Simplify your Routine. A part of the reason I abandoned my makeup routine was because it wasn’t simple. After realizing I looked like somebody punched me in the face EVERYDAY!, a trip to the makeup counter uncovered the source of my problem. After trying on bronzers, mineralizers and sparkling shadows, I looked a shiny tired mess! Then the artist used concealer to clean up the shadow job and EUREKA! I bought a tube (and nothing else) and never looked back. For day to day, I opt for a simple routine of tinted moisturizer, concealer and gloss. I may add in a little bronzer and mascara, but your daily face shouldn’t take you more than five minutes.

Multi-Tasking Maven. Most mornings for me are filled with sitting silently waiting to hear a tinkle in the toilet from my little potty-training Princess! Most recently, I’ve taken to using this time to do other things related to getting ready in the mornings like brushing my teeth or brushing my hair. Whether you have a short commute alone to the babysitters or you wake up before anyone else in the house, use your time wisely! Goody Stash. Keep some cards and simple gifts tucked away for those surprise visitors, or those teachers that let you know their birthday is tomorrow. Trust me, it cuts down on the unexpected errands and makes life easier.

Child Chat. Connect with other Moms! One of my favorite parts about talking to Moms who seem to have everything under control is that if you talk long enough, they spill the beans! I had the hardest time getting my kid to eat veggies until one day, her friend’s mom told me to pick up some frozen “chik’n bites” that were really veggies stuffed in a little nugget! She loved them! If you aren’t comfortable making friends in the grocery store or the airport (like I am), log on to a few forums where you can ease in to the social scene gradually. Build your Brigade! My girlfriend at work has a similar job as mine that requires us to travel. She had the genius idea to alternate late work nights so that we can be each other’s babysitters. We’re not in this alone, and no one gets to the top without a little help. Lean on those you trust to help out with the baby, especially when you need a break!

Joscelyne is a twenty-something toddler mom who juggles marriage to a law student, work in non-profit philanthropy and an amateur yet fabulous cook!

A few new things...

I am going to be trying something new for the next few weeks. I am going to have some guest bloggers on here!!!! How exciting. One will be from a working mother and wife whose daughter Kennedy just turned 2, from a new Mommy of a baby girl (and newly engaged as well) and from Aiden's father giving a males perspective to parenting...since we ALL know that men are from MARS!!! I am also thinking about having a grandfather and grandmother post...but we will see about that. My Daddy can be a little wordy...lmbo.

So the first guest post is from my Sorority sister and very good friend Joscelyne M. Brazile...wife to Kyle Brazile and Mommy to Kennedy Eva Brazile. She is funny and witty with her writing so OF COURSE I had to go to her for the first guest spot!!!! She wrote about being fab for the winter holidays...as a Mommy who ALWAYS puts others first!!!!! Enjoy everyone!!!


Aja Mann