Birthday Bash!

As we prepare for our child's first birthday in December, several ideas to celebrate include...

• baking a "Smash Cake"
• donning birthday hats
• inflating balloons
• curling bows or making ribbons
• personalizing onesie or shirt with iron-on transfer
• hosting party with family and friends
• creating an ornament or gingerbread home
• blowing bubbles
• arranging craft table for make-your-own favors
• decorating high chair with banners
• shaping cupcakes and cookies with playdough

What other ideas do you have? Any advice for celebrating a child's first birthday?

Healthy Turkeys

In preparation for Thanksgiving, our family is considering to do some of these healthy plans.

• Register in a local Turkey Trot. 
• Make crafts
• Begin decorating traditions
• Create a placemat at the library
• Donate non-perishable items to shelters, food banks, etc.
• Invite friends to join us for the holiday
• Use our sense of humor
• Bake home-grown pumpkin for pie from scratch without wasting anything... puree, seeds, etc.
• Plan to use healthier ingredients

Autumn Scene in PA

How are you preparing to celebrate the holiday?

Boo Pittsburgh!

We visited the zoo over the weekend with an easy excuse to wear costumes! There will be two more days to enjoy KDKA ZooBoo.

Spooky Decorations Galor!

Check out the local times for trick-or-treating around your home. There are also online sites that list family friendly Halloween Activities in Pittsburgh. Other activities include...

• bobbing for apples
• carving pumpkins
• surviving hay rides
• frolicking in a leaf pile
• viewing foliage on a trip or walk
• baking pumpkin seeds
• making seasonal crafts and decorations
• drinking apple cider

What other festivities do you enjoy during Autumn?

RAD Days & ZOO BOO

Our family took advantage of complimentary admission to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, thanks to the Allegheny Regional Asset District.  We avoided most of the traffic by arriving early in the day & the weather was beautiful! 

Rhino Spotting!

  

Check out the Asset Calendar to see what else is happening in Pittsburgh.

We are looking forward to another seasonal event...  KDKA Zoo Boo!

What other activites are you enjoying this Autumn?

Welcome Fall!

Happy Autumn! 

We've already begun decorating for the new season. Thankfully our garden yielded SEVEN pumpkins. Six are used for decorating (and soon to be carved as a jack-o-lantern) and the seventh was baked for pumpkin puree. The puree was used as baby food and delicious additions to baked goods... cookies & breakfast (pancakes, French Toast).

Garden Decor

In what ways are you welcoming Autumn?

Celebrate... REGISTERING & RECEIVING A Baby Shower or Sprinkle

We were blessed to have several showers thrown for us while we were expecting our first child. 

Selecting a registry is an exciting process and here are some details that I learned during my experiences that might help you...

1. Compare which store provides biggest percentage off for "completing your registry." This will save a lot of money if you do not receive all of your registered gifts, and you will purchase the remaining items with your money/giftcards.
2. Some stores provide incentives or gift bags. For example, Target gave us a tote bag with generous coupons, samples, etc. 
3. Review the easiness of the registry system's technology in the store and at home. In our case, Burlington Coat Factory's Baby Depot offered stellar prices overall, yet had broken/archaically slow computers in their store so it was difficult to update registry in person.

Remember to think proactively when registering and requesting gifts such as...

1. Night light
2. Poddy chair
3. Step stool
4. Baby gate
5. Outlet covers/safety kit
6. Teething toys
7. Sippy cups
8. Utensils & plate wear
9. Infant to toddler car seat
10. Strollers
11. Baby baths
12. Tub faucet covers
13. Pacifiers
14. Toiletries (q-tips, bath soap, lotion, Orajel, etc.)
15. Storage trays for food or breast milk
16. Baby gates
17. Teething Feeder 
18. High chair
19. Slings
20. Nursing wear, accessories
21. Teething necklace
22. Reflective mirror (used within automobiles)
23. Bicycle trailer
24. Jogging stroller

Share your favorite shower gifts, registry tips, and more...

Celebrate... HOSTING & ATTENDING Baby Sprinkle/Shower

In hosting or organizing a celebration, remember to:

1. Include the registry stores on the printed invitation or E-vite
2. Document gifts while being opened at the party, then give organized list to expecting mother (to help with thank you notes)

Think of these SHOWER ALTERNATIVES...

1. Someone I know attended a shower where instead of giving a greeting card with gift, the mother-to-be requested a children's book! This is a great way to begin or expand the children's library.
2. If the expecting mother/couple already has children then host a sprinkle, instead! One Baby Sprinkle I attended had a theme of diapers/wipes. Even if the family will use green diapers, some brands can be pricey to purchase the starter set or diaper service... consider this!

Fun ideas for DECORATIONS include:

1. Baby's Breath Flowers
2. Balloons
3. Stuffed Animals (which turn become more gifts for the baby... make sure they are machine washable)
4. Toys (thinking again of baby gifts after the party!)

Ideas for FAVORS..

1. Candy
2. Candles
3. Cookies
4. Cookie Cutter shapes
5. Toiletries
6. Bottle of bubbles
7. Copies of CDs with personalized lullabies or children's songs
8. Baked goods... cinnamon buns, miniature loaves (idea of a "bun in the oven")

Here is a list of ideas for GAMES:

Paper diapers made from Construction Paper

1. Pinning The Diaper 



Yummy!

2. Guessing candy with similar names as pregnancy events/milestones (such as "to conceive a child" = SKOR Candy Bar
3. Guessing Waist Measurements with Cut Ribbon
4. Tasting then Guessing Baby Foods (cover flavor labels)
5. Gathering guesses in a Baby Pool (date, weight, name, eye color, etc.)
6. Sniffing out Baby Stool in diapers using smeared chocolates like : )

Giving GIFTS like these, can always be used...

1. Unscented Laundry detergent
2. Diapers
3. Wipes
4. Kleenex
5. Burp cloths
6. Bibs
7. Bubbles
8. Coupons for diapers, wipes, baby toiletries, etc.
9. Hand sanitizer

What other alternatives, decorations, favors and/or games do you recommend; did you enjoy receiving? 

Pet Adoption

We adopted a dog through the Western PA Humane Society. After viewing the available pets online and visiting a few times for individual interviews we made our selection. Our chosen dog scored well on all of the various tests that were administered.


If you are considering having a pet, we decided to adopt a dog while we were pregnant. The staff at the shelter were very cognizant of our baby's planned arrival & were helpful in truthfully recommending and  leading us to a safe & friendly canine.


In order to prepare our dog for our child's arrival to our home, we attempted to familiarize it with the scents of our baby's lotion and toys. For example one of our family members introduced our dog to a baby's hat that was worn in the hospital before we were discharged to return home. From the beginning we allowed our dog to be curious and always supervised the two of them together. After all, our dog is an animal so our child's squeal or movements could startle! We gave our dog toys that would not closely resemble our child's toys or stuffed animals. Obedience classes helped us to learn how to better handle our dog, too.


What have been your experiences with pets... did you add a pet to your family during pregnancy or shortly after?

Nixing Netflix

Beware that Netflix is increasing monthly rates. We enjoyed our monthly subscription of one DVD in the mail at a time with unlimited streaming. Yet, the new rates of approximately $15.00 a month is not better priced than the few movies we could rent at a local Red Box.


Below are movies that people always share "you have to watch it!"

• Steel Magnolias
• The Shawshank Redemption
• 8 Mile
• Stand By Me

Plus we should support the recent movies filmed in Pittsburgh...

• The Next Three Days
• Love & Other Drugs 
  
• Unstoppable
• Batman is currently being filmed in town!

Any hot movies you would recommend from this summer? 

What flicks are on your Bucket List  ? 

Birth Plan Preparations

From what nurses shared with us the more succinct the plan, the better likelihood for hospital staff to actually glance at it. We excluded some items that were irrelevant to major decisions, such as my personal preferences for ice chips, battery operated music player, breathing techniques, etc.


Remember to print several copies in order to give to appropriate staff, include within your hospital chart, etc.


What will/did your birth plan include? How early do you share your birth plan with your doctor, midwife, doula, etc.?
**Post a comment and I will send you my one-page birth plan as a PDF attachment!**

August Special Events...

 World Breastfeeding Week is August 1 - 7, 2011. 
Check out the WBW 2011 Flash Mob song & lyrics!
 

Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week by attending the The Big Latch-On Event on August 6th. Registration begins at 10:00am with dozens

of prizes for mommy & child!

Babies R Us in Monroeville has three classes scheduled...  Call ahead to confirm classes 412.856.9891! Breastfeeding 101 - August 9 at 6:30pm Diaper Promotion: Changing a Squirmy Baby - August 13 from 12 - 3pm. Baby Gear - August 30 What other classes or events are coming up in the Pittsburgh Area?

Considering Doulas

Have you heard of caring professionals such as doulas who provide care during pregnancy, the birthing process and postpartum?


If you you have time and the funds to consider hiring a doula, then check out these sites for more details. 

• Doulas - DONA
• Local options...
• Blessed Arrivals
• Birth Doulas of Pittsburgh
• Heart & Hands Doula
• Fourth Trimester Doula
• Doula Directory
  
• Doulas in Greater Pgh Area
  

Unfortunately I learned about doulas too late for my first child. Hopefully these sites will help you learn more and select a supportive professional to help you and your baby.

Other sites that you would recommend? How were your experiences with a doula... before/during/after your child[ren]'s birth[s]? 

Summertime... Fresh Produce

Interested in supporting local growers and feasting upon delicious produce? Check out the markets listed below...

I spy... growing melon!

So Dill-i-cious : )

• Farmers at Phipps sell local & organic products on Wednesdays from June until October. This is the 3rd Annual market at Phipps Conservatory. 
• Citiparks Farmer's Markets occur through out the city on different weekdays, from May until November.
• The East End Food Coop has locally supplied produce and is open daily from 8am - 9pm.
• Though produce is not grown locally, this business in the Strip District promises that they put they are the "freshness profesionals that put the PRO in produce!" Consumer's Produce at the Strip District.
• I wish we could contribute to a local produce stand to sell our extra, 

  

  organic bounty

• 
  
• 
  ! 

Check out the interactive map for more markets!

  

Where are our garden's stepping stones?!

What farmers' markets do you suggest?

Summertime... Gardening with Family at Phipps Conservatory

Did you know that Phipps Conservatory sponsors a free class for families? Garden Explorers are invited to visit the Children's Discovery Garden on the 2nd Saturday of Summer Months (June - September). Check online to RSVP and learn more details! 

Have you checked out the Discovery Garden, yet? How does your family enjoy gardening together?