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The day that stork finally delivers your baby, is quite exciting. It can also be rather overwhelming to suddenly have a newborn and find yourself stuck in the hospital and be in pain.  Here are a few tips to think about before the big day arrives. Keep in mind, this is based on my personal experience and every mom might not agree.

1. – Fill out hospital paperwork prior to due date. Most hospitals have a packet for expecting moms. Do yourself a favor and fill out all of this info weeks before you’re due. You do not want to be in labor and have to deal with it. They also ask for data you probably don’t know off the top of your head. Plan ahead!

2. – Pack your bag with care. Take the time to shop for maternity pajamas. You will be living in these for a while and if you’re nursing, it is so much easier with pjs made especially for nursing moms. You might not want to get pajamas with pants or shorts because the waistband might be uncomfy if you have a c-section. Pack shampoo, conditioner, magazines, glasses (if you wear contacts), toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth wash, hair dryer, etc. The hospital is not a Four Seasons.

3. – You will leave the hospital fat! You won’t be fitting in your skinny jeans two days after delivery so pack maternity clothes to wear home. The softer and more comfy, the better. You might also want to avoid the high heels for a while too, Mrs. Fashionista. Falling down after having a baby would be a bad thing. Pack flats!

4. Grab those diapers. Look, you paid for that lovely hospital stay and diapers are included. If there are extra ones in your room, you own them so take them home with you. If you have a boy, you want to grab some extra gauze pads for the circumcision. Oh, don’t forget to take home the ‘boy shorts’ they give you, mom. You will really like having extras for the first week or two after delivery.

5. Write down when you take your pain medicine. The biggest mistake you can make after having a baby is getting behind on your pain medication. It’s much easier to keep the pain under control if you take it every four hours. If you think you feel okay and wait 6 or 7 hours, it will most certainly catch up with you. And it will hurt! Don’t trust that the nurses will keep you on schedule. Write. It. Down. And buzz the nurse about 15-20 minutes prior to when you need to take the medicine because sometimes they don’t get to you right away.

6. Ditch the jewels. Don’t wear all of your expensive jewelry to the hospital. There is no need for it and they will usually make you take it off anyway. If you like it, keep it at home. Besides, your puffy fingers might appreciate a break from the tight wedding ring. And yes, they will go back to their normal size. So will your ankles.

7. Ask questions! If you don’t understand something your nurse tells you, ask her questions. And if you don’t like your nurse, ask for a different one. I’ve had some wonderful nurses and I’ve had some horrible ones. You will probably have a bunch of different ones during your hospital stay, so don’t get too attached to one. Nothing says “I Love You” like your husband telling off your nurse because she has an attitude problem.

8. Take notes. It may sound silly, but if your doctor or pediatrician tells you certain things and you want to remember exactly what was said, write it all down. Actually, tell your hubby or a family member to take notes. There is so much going on and mom is usually pretty groggy, so it doesn’t hurt to jot things down.

9. Use the nursery at night. It may be scary to give your brand new baby to strangers, but take advantage of the nursery. Your baby will be in great hands and you will get some rest. Keep the baby with your during the day and send him or her to the nursery at night. New moms need lots of rest and you will not get that rest once you leave the hospital.

10. It’s okay to be scared. As your hospital stay comes to an end and you’re putting your baby in the infant car seat for the trip home, you might freak out. The car ride suddenly becomes scary and the realization that you’re on your own is powerful. Don’t worry. Being a first-time parent is scary. Rely on your friends who have children or other family members for support. The good part is when the second or third baby arrives, you’re already an expert.

Happy deliveries!

Sweet, smoking-hot, burn-your-tongue, set-your-toaster-on-fire, gooey, sugary goodness. All bow down to the Pop Tart. The most delicious way to instantly add too many sizzling calories to your day!

Your little chef will love these frosted felt goodies. They are eco-friendly because the felt is made from recycled water bottles. The trio of chocolate, strawberry and vanilla comes in an adorable cello-bag, so they are perfect to give as a gift. Just keep in mind that the cute little sprinkles can be crunched off by a hungry toddler! Check out Etsy seller, LittleFluffStuff for even more handmade treats!

You may not have heard of Ms. Chatterly, but it’s a blog worth reading. It’s well-written, the topics are funny and there’s always a clever twist. I’m a huge fan of this blog and wish Senorita Chatterly would write more often. Check it out and have a laugh! Cheers to lots of stuff about stuff.

I stumble across a bunch of odd things in my line of work. And no, I won’t define what that might be exactly. Anyway, I saw this old post from DaddyTypes.com and thought it was awesome. If you’re a MommyQ reader, you know that knit things are among my fave to blog about.

Over at DaddyTypes in July 2007, as the iPhone was being hyped, a smart daddy recognized the need for something fun that could withstand some drool. Oh – I’m assuming you know how much babies like to chew on cell phones. To save the $800 device from baby lovin’ (and not the good kind), mommy knitted an iPhone.

The best part of this post is the pic below the knitted iPhone – the knitted Pop Tart cell phone cozy. This rocks! I want one! I’m such a huge fan of Pop Tarts (S’mores are the BEST!), so this strikes a place near & dear to my heart. You can read the full post here. Thanks for sharing the yarny goodness, DaddyTypes!

When I was a kid, the pink and green color combo was king. The preppier, the better. Well, preppy is back and more fun than ever. Take a look at this ‘Tickled Pink and Green’ wall art from Kelly B. Rightsell.

Bright colors and cool characters (even an alligator!) reign supreme in this canvas print. It measures 24 x 30 and the edges are finished in a complimentary color pulled from the art for an extraordinary look.  Perfect for your baby’s nursery, child’s room or playroom. Isn’t it time to bring back the prep. You bet! This print retails for $138.

There are lots of great things about summertime and going to the pool is one of the best. If you have small children, you already know how important it is to keep your eyes on them at all times. Well, yesterday something scary happened at our pool and I wanted to take a minute to remind all parents about summer safety.

I was in the kiddy pool with my son and so was another dad with his daughters. A family was swimming with their two small children in the big pool. Their youngest climbed out of the big pool and ran towards the kiddy pool. The mom jumped out as fast as she could and ran to catch her little escape artist. He ran to the kiddy pool, stopped, and then stepped in. Well, he missed the step and fell into the water. And he sunk! I was actively watching and so was the other dad, but by the time the “danger” signal went off in our heads, this child had already been under water for many seconds.

I jumped up just as the little boy’s mom grabbed him and pulled him out. He was a bit choked up, but fine.  They sat next to the pool for a while and we all thought, “thank goodness!”

My point is this – I was watching, she was watching, the other dad was watching and two lifeguards were perched poolside. Accidents happen. Just because other people are nearby doesn’t mean your child is safe. While the pool is a place to chat with friends and relax, there are real dangers that can happen in the blink of an eye. Be alert and ready to act! Don’t take your eye off of your kiddos (especially toddlers & preschoolers) for a second.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve been a mom for about five years and just discovered Preschoolians. With so many terrific baby products out there, once in a while I miss something. Well, Preschoolians will now be revealed to MommyQ readers.

Just like you can build your own Cadillac or Teutonia stroller, you can build your own baby, toddler and preschooler his or her perfect shoe.  These shoes are all about what’s healthy and safe for your baby’s precious tootsies.  Barefoot may be best, but in the real world there are too many dangers luking around to let your kids roam sans shoes.

Preschoolians are designed with your child’s foot in mind. They ensure that all sensitive areas of the foot are touched by very soft materials. They also take into account a child’s perspiration rate and where their feet flex. I think the Accu Fit feature is great because they realize that a child under the age of 5 probably won’t say whether shoes are too tight or too lose. You can read more about the Accu Fit Measuring Device here.

The fun part is building the shoes online. You pick the style, type of sole and color scheme. It’s a one-of-a-kind shoe for your one-of-a-kind kid. Perfect!

Between the vibrating cell phone calls, the urgent email messages on your Blackberry, the constant bills, the ignored, yet loved DVR, the non-stop solicitations via phone and mail…life not only gets complicated, but also very overwhelming. We’re pushed and pulled in a million directions on a daily basis.

Life handed me a “mom moment” the other day and I actually stopped long enough to appreciate it. I was playing outside with my energetic young children, when I noticed my little toddler was dancing. Well, we don’t have speakers outside, so there wasn’t any music. My older child wasn’t singing and luckily for the neighbors, neither was I! As I watched my toddler, he continued to clap and sway and wave.

Then I noticed he was involved in a conversation – he was talking to his shadow! He danced with it for a while and smiled as it danced back. He tried to grab it a few times and seemed frustrated when he would only succeed in grabbing a handful of dirt. The routine lasted for about 10-15 minutes and ended with a happy wave saying, “bye bye baby!” Of course, the baby waved back at him. What a polite shadow.

It was a really cute moment and one that reminded me how innocent life can be for a child. And maybe we would all benefit by dancing with our shadows once in a while. It certainly looked like fun.