Free Bella Band!

Now through the end of July, spend $150 or more in the store and receive a free Bella Band! Great for all stages of pregnancy, including POST pregnancy!

Just a few little tips ….

My name is Shauna and I have a two children. Joaquin is a very active two and a half year old and Elena is a chubby four month old. Needless to say, life is busy and sometimes downright crazy. I knew it would be tough to have two kids but I never understood the extent of the difficulty. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret having two kids but there are days I would much rather work a 9 to 5. There are those precious moments that make it all worthwhile like when Joaquin looks me in the eyes and says “I love you mama” or when Elena smiles so big her deep dimples pop out. Actually, I think my favorite is when Joaquin leans over Elena and talks to her and she laughs and smiles. There’s something about that brother-sister connection that is special.

Anyway, as a mother of two, I have a few pieces of advice for all you expecting mothers…….

1. Get a Bella Band to lengthen the life of your pants that are getting to be too tight.

2. Buy at least one pair of jeans that make you feel like a million bucks while wearing them.

3. Exercise, it will help now and later (but don’t forget not to start anything new during your pregnancy so disregard this if you didn’t exercise before).

4. Go on dates with and make love to your significant other now because these two luxuries become exponentially more difficult once you have a kid (or kids in my case).

5. Buy an amazing nursing bra or two or three…..Let me tell you a quick story. After Joaquin was born my milk came in and my size medium, wireless, flimsy bra could no longer hold my bountiful bosoms. My mother and I rushed to Nordstroms to buy a more suitable bra. I went in the fitting room and was measured as a letter that I had never heard of before, an “E” or “DDD.” I was shocked and bought two fifty-dollar bras with underwire. I suffered through the uncomfortable, large bras until I shrank down enough to wear my size medium, wireless, flimsy bra again. After Elena was born I had my mom run to Expected to buy me a Bravado bra that I had heard good things about. I LOVE IT!!!! It is very supportive even without wire and has extra padding that can be removed. It is comfortable enough to sleep in, which, FYI you sleep with a bra on for a while after you have your baby. So, enough preaching, buy a good bra. Oh, one more thing, I would consider buying a few different sizes because you will go through a few different sizes as you breastfeed.

6. There is another “must have” for nursing mother, a nursing cover. Some brilliant mother that could sew came up with the idea to make a cover that is modest and useful. There is boning in the top so you can still have eye contact with your baby (I am finding this especially helpful now that Elena likes to chomp down every once in a while). There is also a little terry-cloth pocket on the bottom that is useful for breast pads and can also be used to wipe up spit-up (both my kids have had reflux so that is super handy for me). I even feel comfortable breastfeeding in front of my father-in-law now. J Even my sister-in-law who has breastfeed two other children loves to use the nursing cover with her third.

7. My other suggestion is don’t forget to think about buying maternity shirts not only for now but for the post-partum body transition. We would all love to pretend that out comes the baby and our bodies are back to normal. Buy shirts that are loser fitting around your belly, like the Lilac Avery top from Expected.

8. Good luck! Remember you are not alone, we are all in this crazy motherhood thing together!

What not to feed baby..

Honey: Risk botulism in infants

Cow’s Milk: Not digestible

Wheat(before 6 months) Possible allergen

Peanut Butter, Tree Nuts, Citrus, Shellfish, Egg Whites (before 1-3 years) Possible allergen

Popcorn, Raw Carrots, String Cheese, Whole Grapes, Lollipops, Raisins, Marshmallows: Choking Hazards

If you are on the go: Stash non perishables in your diaper bag: jars of baby food, snacks such as biter biscuits or crackers, and ready- to –pour formula.

If your baby is a fussy eater: Don’t worry if she goes gaga for cottage cheese day after day, but turns her nose at the other foods you offer. Nutritionists say you may have to introduce a new food as many as ten to twelve times before child will try it.

Skinny Mini

Hey all, Kristy here.  I’m so excited right now, I’m pretty much bouncing off the walls (ask my kids, they’re over it).  Anyway, I’m so so so grateful for this new product that I found after I had my baby that I have to tell you all about it.  Seriously, it is the answer to my dreams (and I was SO skinny in these dreams)...

So, it takes us all nine months to put on the joyous 30+ lbs of pregnancy weight.  But, that weight can just not come off fast enough!  Towards the end of my pregnancy (my 4th mind you), all I could think about was getting this beautiful baby on the outside.  The sleepless nights, crazy bladder urges, swollen ankles, and a bootie to match my belly were all worth it…but seriously - let's get this show on the road.

Well, my darling little Avery was born healthy and perfect!  It sure made all the weight gain and hormonal rages worth it.  But, as I left the hospital and my belly had gone down (barely) I felt that the rest of my body had ballooned up!  I was fat and bloated and kept thinking, "This is the last time I will ever be the size of a whale – EVER"!  At least I had an excuse 2 days earlier, not the case anymore now that baby was born.......so sad.

After recovering from the delivery and taking it easy for a few weeks, I was ready to get this squishy body back into shape!  I lined up my workout plan, renewed gym membership and was READY to go!  I woke up early and dragged my tired, sleep- deprived body to the gym.  I worked out like crazy trying to get my body back in shape as quickly as possible.  The weight.........was not coming off.  After chatting with a trainer about my frustration of my slow weight loss, he told me "Kristy, just EAT LESS and EAT HEALTHY".  He then told me that I could run 10 miles a day, but if I'm eating like a pig, the weight won't come off.  He totally figured me out.  I ate like a PIG.

Well, (and here’s where it gets good) our sister Heather had been losing weight with some new weight loss product.  I have never really bought into the whole world of weight loss scams, but this one seemed different.  I noticed her at family meals.... EATING LESS.  She didn't talk about it, she didn't complain about what she couldn't eat - she just wasn't eating as much.  This is out sister Heather Hansen who was one of the finalists on NBC's "Biggest Loser", so this girl normally really likes to eat.  It was then that I wanted to know more about the product she was taking (she is also the spokesperson for this company so I figured she’d give me the REAL scoop).  Well, after she explained to me what it was and how it worked I was on board.   It seriously is brilliant! 

Click here to watch the video and see how it works.

Within 10 days, I lost seven pounds.  I didn't feel like I was depriving myself, I was just eating less.  Eating smaller portions, but still eating what I wanted to.  I was just full - all the time!  Anyway, the concept is so smart: put something into your stomach to make it feel full, and VOILA  you eat less.  It is even safe while nursing, which was very important to me.  The gist of it is that you take a pill 30 minutes before eating, it expands, takes up space in your stomach and solidifies, and then after 4 hours or so it liquefies and passes out of your body.  It doesn't absorb or digest, so absolutely no side effects.  I lied, one side effect..... WEIGHT LOSS.  Yeah!  Pretty dang crazy, but like I said earlier – I really am grateful that I found this product.

If you want to read up and get more information CLICK HERE.

Signing off,

Kristy

Little Angels Photography

Here are some pictures that Kristy just had done with little Avery Grace and the rest of her kiddos…

Right now for those that spend over $250 at Expected we will PAY YOUR SITTING FEES at Little Angels Photography!

Whenever the girls in our family have babies we always go get  newborn pictures done.  Babies are tiny for such a short period of time that it's just too precious to not capture those moments...not just for our sake, but for our kid's too. 

Here's one reason why…

For my birthday a few years ago my mom took me to lunch and told me all about her pregnancy with me...how she was on a jump roping team until she was 9 months pregnant and then had to stop because her teammates wouldn't "turn" for her anymore (that would explain my never being able to sit still), how I was a cholicy baby and she would lay me in the sun and move me as the rays moved across the carpet throughout the day (I still prefer to take naps in the sun on the floor), how I was the easiest baby and most pleasant out of all my siblings (suckas!), she told me about funny things I said as a toddler and other sweet things that only a mother would know.  Then she gave me a photo album with pictures of all those stages she told me about.  The first picture was done professionally and took my breath away.  Was I really that tiny?  Was I REALLY that bald?  It was honestly one of the sweetest birthday presents I have ever been given. 

So my sisters found a really great photographer that captures those tiny moments just perfectly.  And of course, as a mother to a newborn you HAVE to have proof of how darling your baby is!  Bragging rights ladies!  The photographs are timeless and classic.  Anytime anyone asks me where to go for infant pictures I always send them to Tanya at Little Angels Photography.  Her and her digital artist, Brooke, literally make magic.

You can visit the website at www.littleangelsphoto.com or click here to visit their their blog.

The Belly Bandits - WIN ONE!

Cultures all over the world have a history (and a long one) of belly binding after women give birth - and for good reason...Every woman wants to get her post-baby body back to it's pre-pregnancy hotness as quickly as possible.  It's actually unbelievable to me that this product just barely made it on the market here in the USA - it's one of those "duh" things (like the Bella Band) that should've been around forever.  Well luckily for us, NOW IT IS!  Hurray for The Belly Bandits!

For centuries, Japanese mothers have used their “Sarashi”, while Hispanic mommies can't live without their “faja”. No matter what she calls it, women in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Latin America, Mexico, Spain, England, and the Philippines have benefited from using an abdominal compression wrap after childbirth. No wonder so many US celebrities have gotten on board!  And PS, have you noticed how many of these cultures are known for their teeny tiny women?  It's all making sense to me now.

So here is why belly binding has stood the test of time (they do WAY more than I thought, I was just going for the vanity reasons myself!).

1. Speeds up weight loss, for real
2. Toning of the abdominal muscles & skin
3. Gets organs back in place after the baby
4. Brings pliable hips back together to post pregnancy width (I've even heard people say they get SMALLER after using compression wraps...SOLD.)
5. Closes the birth canal
6. Speeds up getting rid of waste blood
7. Promotes great posture
8. Protects back, core and legs - think of weight lifters on this one

And I thought Spanx were best thing ever!  Well, they are too - let's be honest.

If you're finding that you just can't live without one of these click here to get your own.

TO ENTER CONTEST: Leave a comment!

• Click on "Comments" link at the bottom of the post
• Be sure to fill out your email address.  It won't be displayed and will not be used except to notify the winner.