Gifts...I like. Thank you notes? Not so much. It took me FOR-E-VER to write my thank yous from my wedding, but I was much much better with my baby shower. Never-the-less, writing thank you notes is a long process and I never know what to say without sounding impersonal. If you are like me and always struggle with just the right thing to say, feel free to check out the templates I provided to make your life easier.
For baby gifts after the shower:
Clothing
"It was great to see you again at the shower. Thank you for the adorable outfit. I can't wait to dress [baby's name] in it! I will also be sure to take lots of pictures. Thanks again, [love/from/regards/all my best] [your name]"
Necessities and furniture (diapers, bottles, stroller, bouncy seat, etc)
"It was great to see you again at the shower. Thank you for the [gift]. I can't believe how much a little baby needs, but I can't wait to use it all! Thanks again, [love/from/regards/all my best] [your name]"
For baby gifts after baby is born:
"Thank you for the [gift]. It was such a nice surprise and very generous. [Baby name] is doing well and keeping me/us very busy. It's so much fun watching him/her grow! Thanks again, [love/from/regards/all my best] [your name]"
For gifts after a wedding shower/wedding:
Household items/registry items
"It was great to see you again at the shower. Thank you for the [gift]. I am sure [fiance] and I will get plenty of use out of it/them. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you again at our wedding. [Love/from/regards/all my best] [your name]"
Money
"It was great to see you at the shower. Thank you for your generous gift. It will be helpful as [fiance] and I start our lives together. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you again at our wedding. [Love/from/regards/all my best] [your name]"
Money (after the wedding)
"[Husband] and I were so happy to have you at our wedding. We're glad you could share this special time with us. Thank you for your generous gift. It will be helpful as [husband] and I start our lives together. Thanks again, [love/from/regards/all my best] [your name]"
Baby and Bridal Shower Thank You Note Templates
Shout Out: Atlantic City Hotels
If you frequent Atlantic City and want to scope out some deals while you're there, check out Atlantic City Hotels. This site provides a one-stop, go-to place to book a hotel, buy tickets to a show or scope out promos from your destination of choice. If you're not sure where to stay, the site has a convenient room finder based on your date of arrival. I know plenty of people who could benefit from this site and so will you!
Pets and Kids: Reaction to baby
There is no doubt that our cat Bridie has been displaced by Maddy's arrival. Not only has there been someone new taking all of our attention, but when Maddy was in the hospital, so were we and that meant alone time for Bridie.
The past few days, I've noticed how similar Bridie is acting to how an older sibling might when the new baby is down for a nap. Miss Bridie, who usually takes cat naps in the corner of the living room has been cuddling up next to me on the couch when Maddy is not in sight. It is like clockwork: as soon as Maddy is put down, Bridie jumps up for attention. It's as if she is saying, "yes, now I get Mommy's attention." I have to admit that I have to remind myself to give her scratches and attention. She went from being my "baby" to being my cat and her behavior change is very easy to read.
So just as older siblings need some private "Mommy and Me" time with the arrival of a new baby, so do pets. Give your dog or cat an extra scratch today.
Listen to: The Strange Familiar
Think Berlin, Sarah McLachlan, Platinum Weird and a little of Mila Jovovich.
I first heard their song "Courage Is" on the promo for "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and I have just downloaded "Raise Your Glass" and "Never Be." Click here for their MySpace page.
Old School bottles rock!
While I did baby bottle research for my baby registry, I learned that Dr. Brown's bottles were one of the best brands for reducing gas, colic and irritability in babies. And even though I agree that they are great at reducing gas, Maddy does not drink from them very easily. She actually drank much easier from the disposable Similac nipples that you get in the hospital. So I started experimenting with other bottles and found one that is an oldie but definitely a goodie.
The factors that played into my bottle choice were:
- Are they BPA free? I discovered a lot of research about the dangers of the toxic chemical BPA and decided to get either glass or BPA-free bottles.
- Do they help to reduce gas? Maddy has reflux and needs bottles that won't aggravate it more than plain old feeding already does.
- Are the nipples easy to latch onto? The Dr. Brown's nipples were narrow and seemed uncomfortable for her to feed from.
- Playtex VentAire Advanced
- Pro: easy to latch on, bottle shape is helpful to reducing gas
- Con: not BPA-free
- Phillips AVENT
- Pro: very easy to latch on
- Con: it leaked, not BPA-free
- Playtex Drop-Ins
- Pro: Easy to assemble, no gas problems, easy to latch, liners are BPA-free
- Con: hard to tell how much has been consumed
I thought my name was Madeline?
When babies are learning how to say words like "Grandpa" or even their own name, they tend to make up words like "Di da"(Grandpa). Made up words or names are not restricted to babies however. Moms and dads are prone to calling their babies by names other than their given one.
Case-in-point: Madeline is now know as either "Bunny" or "Honey Bear". I think I only call her by her name when she is falling asleep during her feeding time. The "Honey Bear" was also the nickname my sister gave her without knowing I was doing the same.
Some other names we have called her in theses first 5 weeks of life are: "Fidgey-Widgey", "Wiggle Worm", "Bunny Bear" and "Sweepie".
What are your favorite nicknames for baby?
Cranky baby? TootSweet to the rescue
If you're baby is fussy or rooting, pop in a pacifier. What if that alone is not enough? Soothe your baby with TootSweet!
TootSweet is a Sucrose solution I have been using regularly with Maddy while we've been at the hospital. Since she's been on the drip tube for feeding, she is missing the sucking of the bottle. The TootSweet calms her down even more than a pacifier alone would.
If, for some reason, you have to take your baby to the hospital, ask about the TootSweet if the nurses have not brought you some. Here at RWJ, the NICU keeps it in stock and so the nurses have to go there to get it, but it is a commonly used solution to help babies stay calm. Maybe ask to take a few cups home.
TootSweet is available at the Hawaii Medical online store. A package of 40 one ounce cups is available for $22 and a package of 6 one ounce cups is available for $3.30. For larger quantities, call them at 800.596.1555.
OMG Car Seat Covers
Who would have thought the day would come when I would drool over another woman's car seat cover! Well, it's happened!
When I was last at the pediatrics, I saw another newborn come in with a black toile car seat cover. I didn't ask where the mother got it, but I did some searching and found a site that sells custom car seat covers in all sorts of girly fabrics that are sooooo me!
Small Sprouts sells custom baby blankets, car seat covers and (coming soon)shopping cart covers.
The car seats come in fabrics like green and pink rose, green plaid, brown and pink paisley, and zebra print. But my favorite is the black toile cover that has a pink ruffle trim(shown above)! The covers are universal for most car seats and cost $89. You can get a matching blanket for an additional $40.
Accessorize your baby wherever you can!
James is back!
I have been a fan of the UK group James since their single "Laid" hit the charts during my freshman year of high school. And I remained a fan even when I put their album on repeat the entire day when I wrote my history term paper!
In 2001 lead singer Tim Booth departed for a solo career and the band went on hiatus...but not for long!
James is back with "Hey Ma" which is set to be released in the US on September 12th, but you can listen to the album at iTunes (set your currency to UK). The album sounds great-classic James. I can't wait to get it!
To get acquainted with this multi-talented group, sample some of my favorite songs (in no particular order):
Do newborns remember pain?
Maddy is back in the Children's Hospital for some GI tests to see what kind of reflux we're dealing with her. Unfortunately, with her admittance to the hospital, she had to go through another blood test. The blood was taken from her heel, which has been the spot most pricked since her birth because it is also the spot where the bilirubin blood tests are taken from.
We were told that newborns don't remember the pain they go through, but I can tell Maddy knows what is coming when the lab technicians grab her heel. A Canadian test on newborns confirms my observation that they do in fact remember.
And as far as newborn memory goes, Parenting magazine said that babies between 0-1 year of age remember frequent images, sounds, people, etc. Thus, the frequent heel blood tests that Maddy has had have been imprinted in her little precious memory.
Hopefully when we know what is going on with her, we can eliminate the need for blood tests for a long long long time!
