Baby Losavio: 32 Weeks

Wow, 32 weeks.  This week Baby Losavio weighs about 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long.  Since last week, that's a gain of almost half of a pound and more than six inches!  More than six inches in a week!  I think that's incredible.  The baby will gain a third to half of her birth weight over the next seven weeks.  My belly is about to get a lot bigger!

And now for the baby name hint of the week:  Baby Losavio shares her name with a 19th century queen.

November 27, 2008

This is Joey two years ago today.

It was her first Thanksgiving.

She was nine months old.

Look at those teeth!

I ate WAY too much today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lauren's Pregnancy and Baby Picks: Where to Find a Deal

After 1 3/4 pregnancies, I somehow became the resident expert on pregnancy among my friends.  Not really, but my newly pregnant friends have lots of questions about maternity clothing, pregnancy, essential baby items, etc.  So I figured I would share my knowledge in a blog post.  Five, actually.

This is post five of five.

Where to Find a Deal: 
I do not like to pay full retail.  I don't negotiate for a better price in Target, for instance, but it's important to me to comparison shop and to use coupons when available.  I (heart) Amazon, and often find that I can get great deals there, but K-mart surprisingly has lower prices for many toys.  And the sale/clearance prices at babyGap are almost always lower in store than online, so support your local Gap.  My point is, be an educated consumer.

These daily deal sites offer one baby or maternity product each day until it sells out:
Baby Half Off
Baby Steals

These flash sale sites have limited time boutiques:
Gilt Groupe.  Gilt has children's clothing, toys, and books for limited-time sales at up to 70% off retail.  Keep your eyes open for free shipping promotions, such as for inviting 10 friends to join.  When a friend that you refer makes their first purchase, you get a $25 credit.
Zulily.  This flash sale site is geared exclusively toward moms and kids.  Find clothing, shoes, toys, etc. for a fraction of retail value.  Refer your friends and get a $10 credit when they make their first purchase.

Coupons:
Ebates.  Sign up for Ebates.  Before you visit a website to shop or make a purchase, access the site via Ebates.  You will earn back a percentage of your purchase.  Ebates is also a reliable source for online coupons.
RetailMeNot  Before you make a purchase online, check RetailMeNot for coupon codes.  I also check this site whenever I order pizza.  Because I do order pizza online.  The Domino's Pizza Tracker makes me happy.

I like to enter giveaways.  I've even won a few things.  Here are my favorite bloggers who like to give things away on a regular basis:
Feisty Frugal and Fabulous
Freebies for Mom
Melissa & Doug
Mompetition

These bloggers find deals and share them:
Baby Cheapskate keeps track of hot deals for baby necessities, toys, etc. 
Birmingham Bargain Mom
The Budget Mommy
Hip2Save

What are your secrets for scoring great deals?

Also see:
Maternity Clothing
Stuff for Mom
Stuff for Baby
What to Bring to the Hospital

Sticker Face

Lauren's Pregnancy and Baby Picks: What to Bring to the Hospital

After 1 3/4 pregnancies, I somehow became the resident expert on pregnancy among my friends.  Not really, but my newly pregnant friends have lots of questions about maternity clothing, pregnancy, essential baby items, etc.  So I figured I would share my knowledge in a blog post.  Five, actually.

This is post four of five. 

What to Bring to the Hospital:
It's recommended to have your bag packed at 8 months, since you really could go into labor at any time after that point.

For you:
Nightgown or pajamas.  The hospital provides gowns, which are conveniently open in the back and great for flashing your visitors.  If you plan to nurse, nursing tops or pajamas are especially nice to have.  I brought a robe when Joey was born and wore it for most of my stay.

Undergarments.  You'll need nursing bras if you plan to nurse.  And your doctor will probably tell you not to bring thong underwear.  That's good advice.

Socks/slippers.

Toiletries, makeup, and a hairdryer.  Your picture will be taken and you'll want to look good.  Samples from the cosmetics companies are great for the hospital bag.  Don't forget your glasses, contacts, and contact solution.

Going home clothes for you.  When you have limited maternity clothes, it's hard to pack away an outfit for possibly a month.  You can expect to look six months pregnant when you leave the hospital.  If you just can't spare an outfit for the hospital bag and you live near the hospital, send someone to bring you a change of clothing.  Or just go home in the clothes you came in.  Who will care?

For the baby:
The hospital will provide everything that you "need" for your new baby.  Don't bother to bring diapers and wipes from home; in fact, bring home everything that's not nailed down.

Mittens.  Some hospitals won't trim baby's fingernails and Joey's were quite jagged.  She scratched the heck out of her face until we put socks on her hands.  You might even want to bring the baby's nail clippers or an emery board to do it yourself.

Clothes for the baby.  Pack several outfit changes just because it's fun to dress the baby up.  Most hospitals will only provide a paper shirt for the baby to wear.  Kimono-style tops are especially nice for the early weeks because you don't need to pull clothing over the baby's head.  Be sure to pack socks if the outfits you bring don't cover the baby's feet.

Boppy.  We got a lot of use out of ours when Joey was born.  If you're not sure that you'll want/need it, at least pack it and leave it in the car.

Miscellaneous:
We enjoyed having a little entertainment during my labor with Joey.  The laptop was essential, and we were pleased that our hospital had free wi-fi.  We got a lot of use out of our baby name book because we were undecided on Josephine's name.  Many expectant parents bring iPod and speakers, and some make special baby mixes.  I brought magazines, but they weren't even touched.

Camera.  For obvious reasons.  If you don't want to keep your digital camera packed in your hospital bag, consider packing a disposable camera as a backup.

Chargers/batteries for electronics.

Change for the vending machines and for parking.

Snacks.  The hospital will feed you, but my experience was that hospital food was disgusting.  Non-perishable snacks can be packed in the hospital bag, but you should also be able to bring in other snacks, such as fruit.

We'll pack a gift for Joey from her baby sister.  Joey will give a gift to her baby sister in return. 

Also see:
Maternity Clothing
Stuff for Mom
Stuff for Baby

Coming soon:
Where to Find a Deal