Back on ebay

So, we're trying to clean up and make more space for our growing family. As a result, we are trying to sort through and unload some excess "baggage". I've posted a bunch of books and jewelry on ebay at what I think are pretty reasonable prices. Please take a look!

Coupon Codes/Online Discounts

Everyone (I think) likes to take advantage of all of the coupon codes and promotions that online merchants offer. There are tons of web-sites devoted to collecting and displaying codes. In my own way, I am going to add a list of links to shopping discounts that I get in my e-mail box. I hope to keep them up to date so they are actually useful.

Does it take a village to name a child?

Now expecting baby #2, we have learned from the first experience that no one is shy when it comes to commenting on baby name choices. In turn, we have decided not to discuss baby names...not even with our closest confidants. Mom and Dad are doing this on our own!

So now that people don't have the actual names to comment on, they are forced to criticize our choice to not discuss. Such as, "Everyone I know tells at least one boy name and one girl name if they don't know the sex." Well, either those people are thicker skinned and don't care about your feedback or they just want attention. If I really wanted your opinion, I would ask for it! Instead, you can go to the Baby Name Genie web-site and get some rather interesting random folks to anonymously comment on your name choices.

Slightly Obsessive Sale Shopping

So, we're trying to watch our dollars and cents here so I do a pretty good job at avoiding paying full price for some pretty nice things. However, when I see a good sale, it takes everything I've got to avoid going overboard.

Everyone knows the $1 section of Target Stores...well, this week they are having 50% off (making everything 50 cents). I found some adorable Sesame Street mini-backpacks, pencil holders and books. I had to get them ALL. I came home with 19 backpacks, 10 pencil holders and 15 books. Mind you, some of them are identical. I figure that I will use them mostly for birthday party favors. How long to kids like Sesame Street? Maybe if I wait for Baby #2 to get old enough these things will have appreciated in value and be really cool party favors!

I am also a huge sucker for the free shipping and discounted offers that come in through e-mail. I am a sitting duck...literally here at my desk all day. Fortunately, I showed some restraint this week, but I'm not always that lucky. It's easy to rationalize that you are getting more for less money, but it's still money for someone else.

The difference between nursing pads

I wouldn't really characterize myself as a lactivist and I've never been to a La Leche League meeting, but I was very serious about breast-feeding my own son and did so exclusively. We introduced oatmeal at 6 months and didn't start milk until 12 months. We actually found a little bit of lactose intolerance so we even switched to soy milk. We mutually decided to end the nursing at 19 months.

All of that being said, we had a rough start. I was fortunate to have the support of my mother and mother-in-law who both breastfed their children as well as my "virtual La Leche League Leader" friend over the phone. We never needed to call in a lactation consultant, but I did lie to my pediatrician about giving my son an ounce of formula when I only gave him an extra ounce of expressed breast milk when he was 5-days-old.

Onto the lessons learned...lanolin. Lanolin is amazing. My suggestion is to begin applying lanolin to your nipples (gently) during your 3rd trimester. I was quite surprised how odd it felt to handle my breasts quite so much. It also helped to add extra moisture. I did it at night before bed. It kind of stains, so wear something you don't really care about.

Also, not all nursing pads are created equal. During one of my drugstore.com buying sprees while I was home before the baby, I ordered a box of Lansinoh individually wrapped nursing pads. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Although there were 2 different kinds - one touted as softer than the other - overall, the wrapping was kind of a pain to deal with at home. Surely these are much better to have for travel. Also, the softer kind were so much nicer, especially in the beginning. My favorites turned out to be the Johnson & Johnsons ones that were also easy to get in the supermarket. They were nice and soft and had an indent for your nipple. Once leaking became less of an issue and I felt pretty "broken in", I opted for the really thin Gerber pads, also widely available. Friends recommended the Lily Padz, but I don't think they work well for large breasted mothers. If anyone can advise to the contrary, I'd be happy to hear.

Feeling Motivated

After a short hiatus, I am back to posting on this blog. I kind of gave up for a while, but a co-worker motivated me to continue to share my information with other expectant and new moms. She actually suggested I draft and lead a course on "New Mommy 411". But I told her that I had no "credentials". She responded in her ever-optimistic way, that it couldn't be so hard to get some. After some looking it seems like the closest thing would be to become a Postpartum Educator. However, working full-time and having a 2-year-old, doesn't leave a lot of spare time or energy. But it was a good thought. Maybe someday.

For now, I will add to this blog with the discussions we've had and some of the products we like.

What is Xomba?

A 12-year-old introduced me to Xomba...it's an interesting place. I'm not sure whether it's all it's cracked up to be, but it's something to do. A place to share information. I can only wonder how all those people make money on it. There are some interesting posts. Check it out if you have a chance.