Did I win? The Valentine's Day Contest...

I entered a "How Did You Meet Your Spouse" contest for Valentine's Day...

well, I didn't win, but I come away with a 200 word response to the question, so I'll print it for my 3 children and put it in their memory boxes.

I also made the "top 5" stories interesting enough to share.  :)  Click to read the contest finalists/winner.

2003

Valentine’s Day Contest:  

How I Met My Spouse in 100-200 words

by Emily C.

Following graduation, I lived for a year alone in NYC before finally being hired to perform in a sketch comedy group aboard a cruise ship.  Job manual in hand, little did I know my future husband was sprinkled on almost every page—in different costumes.  A soda jerk, an octopus on stilts, a football player, a clown—in endless explanations of comedy sketches.  I moved into my tiny cabin, #4111, which shared a wall with #4113—the cabin he’d vacated just months earlier.  After one month performing with my 3 other cast mates, the team captain, Ray, told me I “had to get onstage with Seth somehow”.  He said we were the male/female comedy version of each other.  One day while in port, Ray had me leave a message on his phone.  (We rapped it.)  That night, Seth called my cabin and we talked for five hours.  Seth flew to Miami a month later to meet me in person—just for the day.  Two months later, he replaced a cast member who got a pilot in L.A.  Six days into that fill-in, and three months after that first phone call, he pulled out a little black box and asked me to marry him.

Emily's Registry Picks (Must Haves and Must-Nots)

Having two of my closest friends from childhood both pregnant with baby #1 has inspired me to write all the "mommy stuff" I've learned down before it leaks out with my breast milk in 10 weeks.

Mimi and Rachel are my very first pre-Mommy friends to have babies, so it's been really fun chatting with them and remembering what it's like to be on that journey for the first time.  I wish so much that we lived closer (one is in L.A. and one in Philly) and could have lunch every week, but am grateful for how easy it is to call/Skype.  Mimi and I became kindred spirits instantly when she transferred high schools and joined Drama Club-- the bond deepened after dual breakups plus one of those days in the wilderness where you're put through several "trust" exercises which I took too seriously and Mimi laughed through.  Rachel and I declared our best friendship---as you do in 7th grade--- on March 17, 1993.  Twenty years later, we're both due with baby boys 7 weeks apart.

I'm going to post some of the stuff I've been sharing with them--  as usual, use what's helpful and toss the rest!

Emily's Must Haves:
- A Moby wrap for months 0-4

-A Two Mommas Half-Buckle Carrier for 4 mos- 4 yrs old (yes, I am serious-- and I have tried 11 carriers over 5 yrs-- I love wearing my babies) I also love that it's just 2 moms hand-making each one
http://www.twomommasdesigns.com/

-Best nursing bra of all time--hands down-- and I have spent over $1500 on bras since I got pregs in 2006 OMG... Elomi nursing bra--and best bra site ever:   http://www.breakoutbras.com/product/Elomi-Seamless-Underwire-Nursing-Bra/Nursing-Bras

-Best sleep bra:  La Leche League Sleep Bra http://www.breakoutbras.com/product/La-Leche-Pull-Over-Sleep-Bra-4150/Nursing-Sleep-Leisure-Bras 

-Aden & Anais Swaddle blankets  http://www.amazon.com/aden-anais-Swaddle-Blanket-Boys-N-Toys/dp/B002US8NEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1348702940&sr=1-1&keywords=aden+swaddle+blanket

-Fav diapers:  Target brand + target wipes in blue package (T had a very bad reaction to the chemicals in Pampers, her poor little vulva got burns!  So I tried EVERY type of diaper when she was 1 mo. old-- I mean EVERY kind-- and Target brand won out for me).  I have heard girls like Pampers and boys like Huggies--but I am OFF Pampers since they added that DryMax crap in 2010 (lots of girls got the burns).

-Bouncy seat--all my girls used this, love it: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-K2564-Rainforest-Bouncer/dp/B000I2WB6G/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1348703258&sr=1-1&keywords=rainforest+bouncy+seat

-Swing-- your baby will either love or hate it-- with both girls it always calmed them the first 6 mos or so.  We have had 5 swings, this is my fav.  Anything without a plug and you will use $30 of batteries a month.  http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Open-Top-Cradle-Swing/dp/B000I2WAY4/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1348703314&sr=1-1&keywords=rainforest+swing 

-Big exercise ball-- Daddy figured this one out-- both girls loved to be bounced to sleep by daddy on this and it allowed him to sit

-My fav lullaby CD: http://www.amazon.com/Its-Big-World-renee-jeremy/dp/B000QEJ0X8/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1348703439&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=renee+and+jeremy

-For later on-- Signing Time--it uses true ASL (some other brands are just silly made up "baby" signs) and it is an amazing organization http://www.signingtime.com/  (both my girls sign, and this is how they learned--by 1 yr old)

-Boppy pillow-- it's not the greatest nursing pillow ever, but with both girls, I laid them on it in bed and that is how I co-slept with them-- I know it's not "recommended" but I love it for that

-I would like to TRY this nursing pillow, but I cannot recommend for or against it yet: http://www.doubleblessings.com/sdbbbl.html

-Name & number of a lactation consultant who does house calls (it makes a big diff. to have them come to your home)

-An infant seat that rear faces to 30 lbs

-My double BOB stroller (but stroller is really personal, you have to figure out what'll work for you!) with swivel front wheel

-Mirror to put up on headrest so you can see baby in car

-Burp cloths (aka Gerber old style cloth diapers)

-baby tylenol

-Hyland's Teething Tablets (by 4 mos)

-Amber teething necklace (I swear by this) got mine here: http://www.amberartisans.com/amtene10.html 
the lighter the color better it works

-Crib:  do not get a drop side (it is no longer legal anyway).  You dont really need one for awhile anyway dep. what you decide.  I didnt use one till 6 mos with either baby

-Pack n Play- these are great to leave in the living room so you dont have to schlep--this is close to what we have: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4024389

-One of my fav things I did with both girls was make them personalized stationery at www.vistaprint.com so I could send thank you notes.  (They are really cheap there esp if you wait for a sale).  I got 100 at once and Z's lasted til she was 4!  :)

--Breast shells (not shields-- I wouldn't rec. shields, tho I know 2 moms who swear by them).  I dont know if you'll need these or not-- I used them with both girls for about 4 weeks.  My opinion is--- the MOST imp. thing for you to have prepared before baby comes is your boobs.  Nursing pillow, nursing bra, breast shells, coconut oil, etc--- because from 1 minute old you need that stuff-- the baby only cares about your boobs, not cribs or anything else.  The breast shells helped me because it gives them some space to absorb the coconut oil and not rub against fabric--- I found them priceless the first few weeks.  Anyway-- when you want these things, you do NOT want your husband leaving you even for an hour, or wait for amazon.com-- you want it in 1 second!  I think it's worth the $10 even if you don't use it, because at 3am you'll be glad if you end up wanting the stuff.  

-I also really liked the cloth nursing pads--- I stopped leaking at 10 weeks with both--but I like the cloth ones better, just my personal thing!  

-100% Virgin Coconut Oil—so important!  For use on nipples before and after each feeding--- natural antifungal + prevents thrush + makes it too slippery for baby to really hurt you.  Get a jar (shelf stable for 2 yrs) and buy a bottle —wash that bottle out, and keep coconut oil in it so you can use the dropper to apply it.

-My fav. Diaper bag is the Skip Hop bag because it comes with special clips to clip to a cart or stroller, and once I had 2 kids, I lost the “spot” for my bag, so it was great  http://www.skiphop.com/product/22000.html

-I got a pencil pouch and in it I put: band aids, Neosporin, nail clippers, baby spoons, straws, indiv. Clean Well wipes, hand sani, comb, etc—put it in my diaper bag.

-Nursing bracelet (you can use any bracelet you have and just switch wrsts, or order one of these

Emily's "Why did I waste my money on this stupid thing?":
- A Maya wrap (esp for bigger boob mamas, sucky)
-Any other swaddle blanket people say they like  ;)
-Bumbo
-Any nursing cover-- I tucked an Aden & Anais blanket into my bra strap and it was way easier and just the most amazing material
-Cloth diapers-- okay I have never used them, BUT I have watched four friends' kids that wore them and had to change them and I couldn't handle it--even just pee... and I am VERY eco-friendly!  But, I don't regret using disposable.
-Any swing that had no plug-- we went thru 4 that all pooped out
-wipe warmer, bottle warmer
-umbrella stroller

-bassinet
-Moses basket 

A great new registry site where you can put ALL the stores on one site: 

www.myregistry.com

Nursing Baskets

A nursing basket is a nice idea for a second (or third!) time mom IF you know they are going to be nursing.  I like this for a Baby Sprinkle gift.

Breastfeeding can be a challenge for a number of reasons--- but one of them that is EASILY solved is that you inevitably settle in and forget something... you get it, settle in, and have forgotten something else.  In a fragile postpartum state, this can be enough to send you into tears.

For other breastfeeding challenges-- bookmark this site: www.kellymom.com

Please know that SO many of us have been there and it doesn't always come "naturally" like we think it should, but it is so worth it.  For me, especially with my first, those first 6 weeks were filled with SO many tears, but then things got much better!

But... ON TO THE BASKETS!

Two of my oldest friends who are pregnant with #1 liked the idea when I was mentioning it, so this post is for them so they can set up their own (since they, sadly, live 2,440 and 892 miles away from where I live).  Shout out to Mimi and Rachel due just weeks apart from me, yippee!

Cost of project:
Depending on how much you want to deck out your basket, you can make a pretty simple one for $10-15 including the basket.  The trick for me was starting 2 months ahead so you can stock up on sales.  (Luna bars, lotions, chapsticks, etc.)

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves--and this is the note I laminate and tuck inside:

In your nursing basket…

This nursing basket can be kept in any place you regularly nurse, it’s nice to have one by the couch and one by your bed.  I am one of those moms whose babies have looooooooooong nursing sessions and I’m always forgetting—or wishing I had—one of these things over the 45 minute session, so I love having a portable “nursing station”. I hope you find this basket useful! Happy nursing!  -Emily

1.  Coconut oil*

2.  Disposable nursing pads (in case all your cloth ones are all drip-drying!)

3.  Burp cloth for wiping spills

4.  Water

5.  Lotion & chapstick

6.  Hair ties

7.  Snacks

8.  Bracelet (for remembering which side you last nursed on)

9.  Pen & paper

add on your own:

1.  Book/magazine

2.  TV remote

4.  Phone

5.  Swaddle blanket (doubles as a cover)

6.  Laptop/iPad

Tips:  Let your older “baby” help you keep this stocked. Keep this checklist tucked at the bottom.

My favorite lactation consultant in town:  Kristin Gartner: 904.568.0581

*Coconut oil is safe for baby to eat and is a natural anti-fungal, so it prevents thrush.  It’s slippery, so helps prevent cracking or sore nipples.  It must be 100% virgin coconut oil.  Coconut oil is also great for infant massage, and take a tablespoon to increase your milk supply.  You can read more about coconut oil by Googling “coconut oil & breastfeeding”.

All the items listed for 2 nursing baskets

Small cup to hold the tiny stuff:  Pen, Lactation Consultant business card, Coconut  Oil, Chapstick

Also-- for the bracelet, if you want to splurge, I do like these.  
(I just had my 5 year old make the ones pictured below.)

Completed nursing basket!

A simpler version of the basket I made as my upstairs basket

Coconut Oil... make your own dispenser

***Please talk to your lactation consultant before following my advice.  (Although, question it if they say something that conflicts with  the below info!)

I learned about coconut oil in 2010 after having my second baby.
 I HATED using lanolin on my nipples for breastfeeding with my first baby and WISH I'd known about coconut oil!  My lactation consultant for baby #2 told me about it when baby was just 48 hours old, and it's my mission to pass the info along to as many nursing moms as I can!

First--- let me post just a little about the uses and benefits.  But-- just a LITTLE-- because this post is more about how to make your own dropper bottle full of coconut oil.

Click here to read WAY more about coconut oil.

• Safe for baby and easy to digest
• Helps make nipples more slippery which makes it hard for baby to damage your nipple (this is my #1 reason I use it, no more cracked, bleeding nipples!)
• Coconut oil is anti-bacterial--prevents thrush
• 3.5 tbsp per day increases milk supply!
• Great for baby massage
• Great to prevent diaper rash

Coconut oil is (obviously) very oily and pretty much only comes in a jar.  I decided to use an empty infant Tylenol bottle (well-rinsed) back in 2010 to drop it directly onto my nipples to avoid it all over my hands--it was also quicker, more discreet, and I could even just pull my bra cup out a little any time and drop it on there.  TIP-- Only use with nursing pads, or you may oil stain your shirt or bra.

A smaller bottle also makes it easier to quickly warm up.  (Sometimes I'd go to dip my finger in the jar and it would be solid-- coconut oil solidifies at 75 degrees!)  Because I have huge boobs, esp when nursing-- I actually warm it UNDER my breast in a bout 30 seconds.  But you could warm it between your legs.  :)

I am pregnant with #3 and wanted to make a few more dropper bottles... and it seems infant Tylenol now no longer has a dropper, but a syringe.  BLERG!

But-- turned out to be a good thing, because I found these awesome glass droppers on Amazon.

Needs/ cost for project:
$12.71/ 12 glass bottles, 1oz each
$9/ jar of virgin unrefined coconut oil (must be unrefined) usually sold in 14 oz bottle
Labels, funnel,  & contact paper I had around the house

So-- these bottles are great because they are only about $1 a bottle, they are glass, so you don't have any "leachy" plastic, they are brown so the oil stays less damaged by light.

 1 oz bottles

 Just to give you a scale--AA battery next to the bottle for size

Shipping labels, 2" x 4", cut about 1/2 centimeter off the top before sticking them on the bottles 

 I tried ModPodge first, but contact paper seemed like the better choice.  You can't quite see it here, but it ModPodge made it pucker a bit and didn't seem as water-tight.  It might get oily no matter what you do, but contact paper should cut down on a gross outer bottle.

 Finished bottles!

Showing you north/east/west/south of the bottles.  :)

GOOD LUCK!

Shared sibling bedroom: 2 older girls + baby boy

Well, it's the third trimester... and if I learned anything from the first two pregnancies, it's that if the urge strikes to knock an item off your to-do list, DO IT.  The urge will likely not strike again.

So- the toddler bed has been converted, Rainforest mobile dusted off, hand-me-downs (such sweet ones, too!) from older cousins sorted and put away...

and I'll allow myself to feel gloriously on top of everything for the 5 minutes it all stays organized.

Here are the pictures:

We live in a  2 bedroom, so these three sibs will share a room (though we co-sleep, so perhaps not for awhile--and by that point we hope to be moved to a bigger place anyway--but that's an entirely different post!)...

This little crib/highchair set was a Hanukkah present for my 2 yr old and she LOVES it.  Hoping it comes in handy when she wants to "do" everything I'm doing.  $20!  (And made in the USA, which floored me.)

The changing table is in the hallway (not pictured) --it just seemed more practical.  It's right at the top of the steps, so just as easy to access from  downstairs and upstairs.