Pssst! Got a cute baby? (sp)

I just have to tell you this. After buying a Claire Aristides gift for a very good friend recently, I've become a bit obsessed with her jewellery. Claire's. Not my friend's. Although her jewellery is very beautiful too. 

However I got chatting to Claire, which in turn led to the Yo Mama! interview. And me being all crazy in love with her.

If you have a cute baby (man, I wish I did!), you simply must enter your wee one in the Claire Aristides Baby Face competition. 

It closes on Monday, so get your snaps in pronto and enter - all you have to do is share a pic on Facebook or Instagram, and hashtag #ClaireAristidesBabyFace #CABabyFace and tag @clairearistidesjewelry.

For more details, head here where you can find the very impressive list of prizes. 

Pimping Your Ride Missoni Stylie

I could probably almost just have a new baby so I could pimp it out in the new Bugaboo and Missoni collab. I mean this thing is so hot I'd like to ride in it. Could there be a sweeter ride? I seriously doubt it peeps. And as if they needed to further seal the deal, this beautiful Bugaboo comes with a matching Missoni blanket. Got to start 'em young peeps.

Functional. Fashionable. Fo' realz. This is no optical illusion, I'm not playing tricks - this is a match made in fashion heaven.

And available in Australia from July 2011 in selected stores.

I never had a Bugaboo. Boo hoo. Are you a Bugaboo mum?

Baby I'm Bored

Once upon a time I had this discussion on MumSpace (which, BTW, I no longer run). I mentioned how I just don't understand cars with 'Baby On Board' signs.

I see those signs and wonder - "Is someone about to have an accident, and then swerve to miss those cars because they realise there's a baby on board?"

Then someone responded and said that if there is an accident, then the rescue team can see the sign and look for the baby. But this just doesn't make sense to me. Wouldn't the rescue team naturally just search the car - and a car seat would be more of an indication that a flimsy little yellow sign?

So I've come up with some other signs - only to discover that someone has already stolen this idea straight out of my brain. I'm calling the copyright cops for a citizen's arrest.

But anyway, here are my ideas. All two of them:

* Baby I'm bored (because sitting in traffic is never fun)

* You are passing another foxy lady (instead of you are passing another Fox - get it, get it???)

Yo! Yo! Yo! It's Time To Glow To Sew!

What the heck have I been up to?

I'll tell you what. Despite having the appearance of having everything together - I don't!

Juggling work and family life is a circus act I tell you, and right now I'm riding on a unicycle across a wobbly tightrope over the top of very hungry lions. I know you dig it.

And it is for this very reason that this is the sum total of my sewing for my friend's baby who was born two weeks ago. Man I better put the pedal to the metal and get a-sewing, because this baby is going to grow grow grow before we know and all she'll have to show from me is this wonky little square-ish thing.

Stigma:: Number 3 - Miscarriage

It's been a long time between stigmas, but today, I've decided to tackle another.

Miscarriage.

If you've ever had a miscarriage, I believe, it's a strange and sometimes lonely road to navigate.

No one knows what to say. No one really knows what to do. Everyone seems to keep their distance in some sort of limbo. It's awkward for everyone. Trust me. I know. Even my husband seemed to feel differently about it to me.

When I had a miscarriage a few years ago, it was a weird, strange, sad, disappointing period.

One of my friends stated confidently that it was probably a good thing so I could 'go back to work'.

A relative told me that I should consider myself lucky that I was fertile. That I could fall pregnant. And in my mind I thought, great, I'm fertile, but I just lost a baby.

I was nine weeks pregnant and had known pretty well from day dot that I was pregnant.

I was excited. I was dreaming. I was really happy.

I also had no morning sickness (from which I'd suffered a great deal of when I was pregnant with the Doctor).

I remember the Saturday morning I woke up with cramps and spotting. I called the midwife. She told me to wait a while and then if it continued to head to the ER.

The ER was fantastic, however, a little vague. But nothing was concrete, everything looked to be fine. I was asked to come back for an ultrasound the next day.

We did. The three of us, Matt, the Doctor and I bundled into the darkened room, I was filled with hope to see my wee babe's little heart bumpity-bumping. There was no flicker. And the sonographer turned sadly to us. She was sad. I had tears rolling down my cheeks, and I remember Matt held my hand tighter while the Doctor played on oblivious to what was happening.

My gyno and I agreed not to have a D&C, for which I was grateful to begin with. But after days and days of waiting, and the constant reminder that I had lost my baby, I wanted it to be over. I wanted to get on with the grieving.

I had a quiet moment in the bathroom and felt a whoosh. I held that wee babe, probably no bigger than a golf ball and about the same shape, in my very own hand.

I've written and re-written this post so many times, months ago, weeks ago.

Maybe you've had a miscarriage, or someone you know. Everyone deals with it in their own quiet way and no one really wants to talk about it.

I wish the awkwardness was not there though, it would do away with some dark days.

My babe would have been born in September. But it was not to be. I still sometimes think of that baby. Boy or girl. And it always makes me think of blossoms. Spring blossoms. Spring blossoms and petals scattered on the breeze.

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Have you ever had a miscarriage? Or do you know someone who has?

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Read about other Stigmas here. There's another one I just can't find it.. Anyone remember what it was about?

Heart Palpitations

You know it's time to have another baby when you discover this.

And these.

And this..

Oh and this.

via one of my all time favourite blogs - Fine Little Day

Find more here. In fact, buy the whole store out before I get a chance to even so much as breathe in another newborn. You'd be doing me a favour, ok?

In The Know:: Nappy Goo

Tiny gets the worst nappy rash I have ever seen. No matter the frequency of the nappy changes, if she's not well, then she'll get nappy rash. And it's so bad she arcs her back, clamps her legs together and cries 'no, no stop it' when you're trying to wipe her little bot bot, even if it's just water and cotton pads.

Luckily my sister's friend, Lindy, is in the know. She's come to the rescue with Nappy-Goo. Developed and formulated by the Pharmacy Department at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, it's a thick, soothing cream to help prevent, manage and treat nappy rash.

Nappy-Goo contains Zinc oxide, Hamamelis water (witch hazel water), and Melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) to provide a soothing cream with mildly astringent and antiseptic properties that can help to prevent, manage and treat nappy rash. It smells pretty damn good too.

Here's a list of Nappy-Goo stockists around Australia.

I think it would make a swell inclusion in a new baby gift too. Well.. Not just the cream, but as part of a wee hamper.

Where I Am At

I promised I'd talk about WW. So here it is. During my pregnancy with the Doctor I gained 20 kilos. Because I'm tall, most people wouldn't believe it, but trust me, after that initial weight loss post-birth, I was still towing around that extra weight (20 kilos is 80 sticks of butter - that's how I always think of it) and I knew all about it. So I went to WW and lost that weight and felt inherently better about the world, and myself. I even became a lifetime member (and have since had to use that card - which details my goal weight - as ID - how humiliating!).
Happy Mama, happy baby.

After Tiny, I had managed the same weight gain, and took a little longer to will myself to that place where I was ready to tackle the weight loss. I am not a huge exercise fan, and always struggle to get myself into a routine that includes exercising. Pre-babies I used to walk. And walk. And walk. I walked everywhere. We lived in the city, so it was perfect to just meander through all the back streets, most weekends I'd probably clock up about 3-4 hours of pure walking.

So pre-Christmas I went back to Weight Watchers. I have a real sweet tooth, in fact a whole mouth of sweet teeth, which is my downfall. I also comfort eat. Boredom. Loneliness. These are my triggers. This past month I have been eating and justifying it with 'but it's Christmas' (because as we all know food eaten on Christmas day is points free). Ahem. Given that Christmas is well and truly over, so is my sweet binge. I am back into walking and will resume my salad days with a vengeance.

For me it's about setting up those healthy habits for myself and our family, even if I need some reminders. I am setting an example for the way my children eat. And I always think about my poor body having to carry around weight that is the result of my sweet teeth. There. Now I've said it.

And of course, there's nothing like a piece of dust for lunch... Is there?

Summer Style Tips:: Tiny de Bouvier

It's been a while since style tips from Tiny. But never fear because she's even fiercer than ever and today's tip is really going to knock you for six. Over to Tiny:

Fashion can be a fickle beast. Weather can be a fickle beast.Who knows when you're going to have to madly dash out of the house and into a torrential downpour? Who really knows? No one, that's who. Not even those darn weathermen can get it right. Not even Ron Burgundy? So play it safe. Nail two fickle beasts with one stylish solution.

Gum boots are mandatory. They're hot in NYC. They're hot inside in Sydney. No need to take them off at the door. In fact, wear them to bed. Wear them on the wrong feet. Tiny de Bouvier does. She swears by it. And if you take them off her, she'll probably give you baby evils.

And plastic animals? If you've got 'em, flaunt 'em.

The Inadvertent Weaner

Tiny has weaned herself. Just three nights ago, at bed time, I asked her if she wanted milk to which she replied, 'No!' and then happily went to sleep. I felt a bit miffed, but was sure she'd be back the next night. The next night I asked her if she wanted milk, and she responded by walking to the kitchen cupboard, getting a cup and then chanting 'Nulk! Nulk! Nulk!' So she was poured a cup of milk. She didn't drink it and then went to bed. Tonight is the third night and she's not even said one thing about 'nulk'.

I didn't feel so bad the other two nights because it didn't strike me as anything but a fickle almost-two-year-old. I thought she'd be back. Not that I was thinking we'd contine on with 'nulk' for much longer. The Doctor weaned at 20 months, and I remember a sadness that crept in at that time. But this time around, the boobie-mad Tiny has gone cold turkey and I can't help but feel a little wistful. I'm know it will pass, but my little Tiny, turning two in a few weeks. So I'll just appease myself by looking at old photos that really aren't that old. Sigh.

If you're in for some light comic relief, you can take a different walk down mammary lane and read my post about breastfeeding when Tiny was just 8 months old.

You Got A Sooki Baby? GIVEAWAY!

I am banging my head against the keyboard trying to get work done while the Doctor keeps asking me questions and telling me he wishes he could have yet another choc chip cookie. Anyone that thinks working from home is a holiday (but you have the fridge right there!, you're at home - awesome, it must be blissful being at home all day, but you get to work in your pyjamas!*) seriously, you can come over here and come and headbutt the keyboard with me. I need a lifeline.

But today, the lifeline is yours. A pretty giveaway. SOOKI BABY are giving three PMM readers the chance to win a babywear piece each.

All you have to do is comment on this post and tell me what size (between 0-2) you'd like to win.

Dijana Dotur (designer of SOOKI BABY) started the quirky label at home. With two small kids. I wonder if she headbutted her keyboard some days too?

* I don't work in my pyjamas. Nor swimsuit. Ever.