Thank you to all who entered our Moby Wrap Giveaway.  We have a winner!   The winner is #122 – Jennifer.  Congratulations Jennifer, I will be contacting you via email so that I can send your Moby Wrap out to you ASAP!

As a thank you to everyone else, we are offering one free pair of BabyLegs with the purchase of each Moby Wrap.  Just add the Moby Wrap to the cart and upon checkout leave a note indicating which pair of BabyLegs you would like included in your order.  You can get one free pair of BabyLegs for each Moby Wrap you purchase.  If the pair of BabyLegs you requested is not in stock, I will contact you to ask about your second choice.   BabyLegs are the perfect addition to your Moby Wrap to keep baby’s legs covered and warm!  Hurry offer expires 2/17/10.

You have made it to the home stretch of your pregnancy and you are almost ready to meet your baby.  Got the car seat?  Check.  Washed the baby’s new clothes?  Check.  Here is a list that I have put together of some great items that should make the trip with you to Labor and Delivery.  You won’t want to be without some of these.

1.  Lip Balm – All the huffing and puffing of labor can leave your lips feeling dry and chapped.  Be sure to pack yourself a good lip balm.  I personally love Kiehl’s Lip Balm No. 1 and I have also started using Mambino Organics Kissable Lips Lip Balm recently since I ordered some for Madre Gear.  I hate when lip balm feels waxy or makes your lips addicted or dependent but neither Kiehl’s nor Mambino have this effect, and instead leave you lips feeling hydrated and smooth.  Mambino Organics also takes it a step further by making all of its products, including this lip balm totally vegan and eco-friendly, even their packaging is environmentally friendly.  Mambino Lip Balm also has a great, light orange scent.  You’ll love it!

2.  Nursing Bra and Nursing Supplies- If you are going to nurse your baby then you will definitely need a nursing bra for easy access.  I think that in the early days you want a comfortable, non-restrictive nursing bra.  You might be leaking as your milk comes in and it is best to have a bra that will allow for a little expansion!  Don’t forget the nursing pads either.  I really love the Lansinoh nursing pads as they are comfortable and don’t leave huge “rings and circles” design through your shirt, indicating to everyone around that you have something in there.  A great choice is the Melinda G Soft Cup Nursing Bra, as it is comfortable and also has a little room to stretch.  The Melinda G Soft Cup Nursing Bra  retails for $36.00.You will also want to pack a soothing nipple balm to get you through those first few days of sore nipples.  I love Lansinoh Nursing Balm and Earth Mama Angel Baby and you might also want to try our Mambino Organics Calendula Nursing Balm.   All three of these nursing balms also go the distance for remedying scrapes and chapped skin later on.   See more nursing bras and accessories in the nursing section at Madre Gear.

3.  Maternity and Nursing Pajamas – While I don’t suggest wearing your own pajamas until after delivery, these are nice to have when visitors come to see you and the new baby.  Sometimes a girl just wants to feel a little pulled together, right?  These pajamas do double duty carrying you through maternity and then breastfeeding.  Madre Gear carries several style and even offers robes if you feel you need an additional cover up for yourself.  Check out Majamas  MJ Maternity and Nursing Pajamas, the Majamas Lace Sleep Set, and Belabumbum Lotus Maternity and Nursing Chemise.

4.  Outfit for Baby – You will also need an outfit for the baby to come home in.  Consider this cute baby onesie by Georgie Tee to bring baby home in.  It reads “Freshly Baked” and is perfect for that new little freshly baked bundle!

5. Outfit for the New Mom – Don’t forget to bring an outfit for you to come home in as well.  Remember, that you will not be back in your pre-pregnancy jeans just yet, so it is best to bring clothes that were suitable for you when you were about six months pregnant.  I know, I know… but, unless you are Heidi Klum, forget it and bring the pregnancy pants with you!   Anyway, some great choices for your postpartum needs include the Belly Bandit, an abdominal compression garment that binds your postpartum belly and helps shrink and flatten your tummy back down to pre-pregnancy size.  If you are nursing, a good choice is the 1 in the Oven Just Baked Nursing Clothes Kit for new moms.  This kit includes soft supima modal cotton pants that are perfect for postpartum, a perfect nursing top, and 2 burp clothes.  It comes packaged in a wicker bassinet and makes a great gift, so put it on your wish list so that someone can surprise you with this one!

Of course, we have just touched on only a few things that you will need for Labor and Delivery.  Some other really important items to bring to the hospital are:

• - Insurance Cards and ID
• - Your Birth Plan
• - A journal to document labor and delivery / Baby’s Book
• - Lip Balm
• - Socks for Labor
• - Massage Oil
• - Items for labor, focal items
• - Music and MP3 player
• - Books and magazines
• - Hair bands to keep hair out of your way
• - Slippers
• - Cameras
• - Sanitary Pads
• - Toiletries including toothbrush and toothpaste
• - Make Up
• - Nursing Bras
• - Nursing Pads
• - Nursing Pillow
• - Clothes for going home (for Mom)
• - Clothes for going home (for Baby)
• - Car Seat
• - Diaper Bag
• - Blanket
• - Hat for Baby
• For Your Husband or Partner:
• - Change of clothes
• - Reading Material
• - Toothbrush
• - Snacks and drinks

In this down economy we have really have to watch our dollars.  I have been watching my dollars and cents very closely.  I have also been carrying the same diaper bag since last year.  I just have not been swapping out my bag over and over whenever the mood strikes like I used to.  Nest makes great quality diaper bags that will take you from season to season.  Do you remember when Heidi Klum made the Nest Whipstitch Diaper Bag famous?  She carried a  Nest Diaper Bag and moms everywhere ran to order their “Heidi” bag.  If Nest Diaper Bags are good enough for Heidi (supermodel and fashionista extraordinaire), then they are good enough for me AND I can use a bag like the ones described below season after season.  Score, right?  Madre Gear has two Nest Diaper Bag styles in stock and ready to ship.

Nest Canvas Diaper Bag

First up is the Nest Canvas Diaper bag.  This is the perfect baby bag for the stylish Mom to carry during the summer.  It is perfect for hanging in the city or weekends at the beach.  The crisp canvas design will take you well into Fall too.  This Nest Baby Bag is made of tan canvas and features black patent leather trim.  This bag has a lot of compartments to hold all of your baby gear.  Here are some of the Nest Canvas Diaper Bag’s features:

• A magnetic snap closure
• Key chain holder
• 2 exterior and 1 interior zippered pocket
• 2 interior bottle holders and 2 divided pockets to store toys, books, or extra clothing

Inside the Nest Canvas Diaper Bag

Nest Diaper Bag attaches to your stroller

Metal feet protect the bottom of the Nest Canvas Diaper Bag

This bag is extra roomy so you will have lots of room to tote your gear.  You can toss the kitchen sink in this bag and go!

On a slightly smaller scale is the Quilted Baby Bag by Nest.

Nest Quilted Diaper Bag

The Nest Quilted Diaper Bag is for the sophisticated and chic Mom who refuses to give up her style.  This bag can also carry you through any season.  It is made of black faux leather, so that it is easy on the budget and leaves you with some room to buy that baby gear.  This bag is also pretty roomy, but slightly smaller than the Nest Canvas Diaper Bag.  Here are some of the features on the Nest Quilted Diaper Bag:

• A zippered closure
• 2 exterior pockets for cell phone or PDA
• Key chain holder
• 2 large exterior and 1 interior zippered pocket
• 2 interior bottle holders and 2 divided pockets to store toys, books, or extra clothing.

Inside of the Nest Quilted Diaper Bag

Side view of the Nest Quilted Baby Bag

Metal feet protect the bottom of the Nest Quilted Diaper Bag

Roomy, trendy and stylish diaper bags, what more could a Mom ask for?  These bags are so stylish no one will notice the spit up stain on your shirt!

To learn more about these Nest Diaper Bags or to grab yours before they are gone, visit www.MadreGear.com, where we have a nice selection of diaper bags.

I am all for being organized and doing anything that makes my life easier.  As a busy mom with four kids, it is sometimes a huge challenge for me to keep life orderly and under control.  Take my diaper bag, for instance.  I am the type of Mom who lets her bag get so out of control with all kinds of garbage, junk and odds and ends.   I love to have it clean and organized so periodically I throw away all of the gum wrappers, sticky pennies, old smashed up crackers in ziploc bags, dried out baby wipes and other goodies that are turning “vintage” in my bag.  After the big clean out, I always vow to never let this happen again.  I will carry my to-do list, change wallet, pen and notepad, diapers, wipes, neatly packed snacks, and everything else an organized mom would need tote around.  I also have one sacred section in my bag that I devote to gift cards.  These gift card live in the zippered compartment of my bag and never touch the other junk that is housed in my diaper bag!  This is exactly where I now keep my VistaPrint Mommy Cards.

I was happy when I had the chance to review VistaPrint products.  I have used their products for my business in the past and I have never been anything other than happy with VistaPrint products.  Their products are good quality, especially for the price, making it a great value.  VistaPrint does not only cater to businesses but also to individuals, families and now specifically – moms.  I had fun browsing their site and making myself some Mommy Cards.  What Mom couldn’t use these?  We all have the best intentions on having that clean bag complete with a pen and cute paper, but have you ever run into another Mom, your child’s teacher or coach, or an acquaintance who happens to ask you to exchange information for that play date, meeting or fundraiser, and then you realize that you have no paper or pen?  If you are like me you probably rumage around your bag and then end up asking said person to recite his or her information promising you will remember it with your fantastic memory.  Imagine how great if would feel to reach into your bag and pull out a nice, clean mommy card complete with all of your contact information.  Instant organized mom points for you!

The VistaPrint site makes it really easy for you to choose designs for your cards.  They offer lots of great designs.  I found my design in the “Calling Card” section which is under the “Stationary and Home Office” menu.  The whole customizing process is really easy.  You can change text and add text on your chosen design and it will be shown to you in a preview as you create your card.  You can even omit text and lines that you don’t want on your card.  The price is right, too.  You can choose 25 cards for $5.99, 50 cards for $7.99, 100 cards for $9.99, 250 cards for $19.99 or 500 cards for $29.99.   I chose these really cute light blue and brown cards, but there are many to choose from.

Here is what I choose:

Here is a sampling of some of the other great designs VistaPrint offers:

Aren’t these so cute?  In the card above, I was even able to choose pink hair for my daughter since she just got some pink highlights in her hair!

Besides all of the great designs, the other thing I love about VistaPrint products is the extras and add ons you can opt for.  For your cards, you can choose the option of heavier paper and you can also choose matte finish (which is included) or add glossy finish for a few more dollars.    You also have the option of leaving the backside of your card blank or choosing to add text or a calendar among other options.  I really liked the idea of the calendar because I thought that it was the perfect compliment to a mommy card.

After you finish choosing options for your cards, you can choose to have that same design printed on other items.  You can choose from pens, magnets, stamps, notepads, sticky notes, address labels, cards and much more.

Since I have been passing out my mommy cards, I have gotten so many compliments.  Everyone thinks they are so cute and such a great idea for moms on the go – and they are.  The products are good quality and I don’t think you can go wrong for the price.  Best of all, you never have to find paper and a pen in order to exchange information!

VistaPrint has graciously provided me with a link to share with you so that you can order your very own Mommy Cards at a discount.  Please use the following link to get 25% off your purchase! www.vistaprint.com/madregear

We have a winner for the Ritzy Sitzy High Chair and Shopping Cart Cover!  Thank you so much to those of you who stopped by and entered my giveaway, I really appreciate your comments.  Our winner is #89 – Andreah from Moody Mama Says!  Congratulations Andreah, I hope you will enjoy your new Ritzy Sitzy.  I will be emailing Andreah shortly to confirm her style choice.  Thanks again for your entries and be sure to stop by here soon as I will be posting a new giveaway shortly!

We have a winner for out Mama Necklace giveaway!  We chose our winner by way of Random.org.  The winner is # 22, Lo!  Congratulations, Lo!  Thank you all so much for entering, I really appreciate all of your comments and entries.  Lo, I will contact you by email to get your prize out to you.  Please stay tuned as I will try my hardest to post our next giveaway by tonight.  If I don’t get it up tonight, it will definitely be up tomorrow.  Thanks again, everyone!

Thank you all so much for entering the Mama Necklace giveaway.  We had 159 entries!  I just wanted to update you all to let you know that I will choose the winner tomorrow via Random.org and I will announce the winner in a new post tomorrow night.  I will also choose another product for another giveaway, so stay tuned.  I will contact the winner via email to let them know of their good fortune.  Thank you again for your entries!

Here’s my daughter trying on my sister’s pink stilettos and somehow snapping these pictures (especially the first shoe picture) while wearing them.  Stay young, Mama…don’t grow up too fast!

When I had my oldest child – almost sixteen years ago, I could have never imagined what my postpartum body would have looked like.  I was just eighteen years old and I could not be bothered with thoughts of stretch marks and a less than perfect tummy.  I spent my whole pregnancy envisioning what my new baby would look like and how he would react to life outside the womb.  I though of baby names and pulled out all of my new baby gear over and over again to imagine my new baby using it.

When labor came on, I just focused on getting through it.  I thought my baby would never make his entrance!  Needless to say, labor was much more difficult than I could wrap my young head around.  When my son was finally delivered I was so relieved – now I could focus on my baby.

It wasn’t until a full day or two later that I got a good glimpse in the mirror.  I noticed all the tiny red blood vessels all over my face like new freckles from the strain of labor.  I went to take a shower and that is when the full horror of the situation hit me.  My perfect, pre-pregnancy stomach was not back where it was supposed to be!  This has got to be a mistake!  Did they do some sort of miracle stomach swapping procedure while I was totally occupied with labor and delivery?  I was heartbroken, but at least I fit back in my jeans no problem.  When my aunt talked to me about postpartum care later she told me one of the most important nuggets of information I will ever get my hands on.  She said, Make sure that you bind your belly with somthing, okay?  It will help your stomach go back into shape. Trust me.  Your belly carried that baby for nine months and it needs some support afterward. Of course, I ignored her and put her information on my mind’s “unimportant” shelf along with her advice on how to spot a bad boyfriend and the importance of wearing support hosiery.

Well, Aunt Linda if you are reading this I want to let you know that you were right!  When I had babies number 3 and 4, I finally used a binder to help things go back into place.  It really made a difference and totally makes you feel supported and great.  I still wear binders to support my abs and back and my youngest is an old man of 18 months!  I just think about how belly binding “trained” the midsections of women in the Victorian era.  They had to bind and tie to give themselves that hourglass shape and over time their midsections were trained to that particular shape.

The Belly Bandit is a hot product that is flying off the shelves at Madre Gear.  It comes in three basic styles – Original, Couture and Bamboo.  The Original Belly Bandit retails for $39.95 and comes in black, white and nude.  The Couture Belly Bandit retails for $49.95 and comes in black, white and nude but is just a little softer to wear and features a soft lining in various patterns.  The Bamboo Belly Bandit retails for $59.95 and comes in black or natural.  The Bamboo Belly Bandit is also made from bamboo which is one of the softest, natural materials around.  It wicks moisture away from the body and is also anti-microbial.  All you have to do to wear the Belly Bandit is wrap it around your waist and secure with the adjustable velcro.  It comes in several different sizes to ensure proper fit.  It is very comfortable to wear and no one can see it under your clothing.  It is also washable, so just hand wash it and let it air dry.

Before and after using the Belly Bandit

The Original Belly Bandit

The Couture Belly Bandit

The Bamboo Belly Bandit

The Belly Bandit was also recently featured on the Rachel Ray Show and The Ellen show.

Click here to view video of the Belly Bandit on the Rachel Ray Show.

Click here to view video of the Belly Bandit on the Ellen Show.

Look for the Belly Bandit and MadreGear.com

I must say that if there was one product I would recommend to any and all new moms- it would be the Belly Bandit!

YAY!! We have been graced with three blog awards.  Thank you so much to April over at Doin’ The Working Mom Thing.  Not only did she stop by, she has graced me with my first blog awards ever.  Make sure you go over to April’s blog, browse and show some blog love.  She’s got an awesome blog complete with reviews and giveaways.  Thanks again, April!!

Checkout the sidebar for the awards April gave me.