#15 Shhhh... It's a secret!

One of the things I loved about being pregnant was maternity clothes. To be honest I didn't have to buy many. I borrowed some and just made do with what clothes I already had but the few that I did buy and wear, I thought it seemed to be a very well kept secret that they are the most comfortable clothes you will ever wear.

The roomy tops, stretchy dresses and the pants... Drooooool! 

Maternity pants are the best! The reason is because they have this wonderful waist band sewn into them. To anyone else, you are wearing normal jeans but what people don't know is that the stretchy waistband goes from your hip to almost your neck, in some cases, and it makes them soooooooooo comfortable! No more unsightly underpants showing in the gap between the pants and top. No no no no!! Not a chance! And, No more T bar! Fashion faux pas averted and comfort achieved :)

All this said, and to keep it real today, I'd like to proudly announce that even having given birth 1 year ago, I still wear my maternity jeans. I love them and I'm not giving them up for anyone or anything. Don't be afraid to follow suit! Comfort rules! And no one would be able to tell anyway. 

Oh and btw... That was me yesterday in K-mart looking around the maternity wear section... And, no,  I'm not pregnant again. Just keeping it real! 

#9 Things to look for when buying a... Pram

Warning: The following piece is an attempt at satire and sarcasm. Please don't take it too seriously!

Things to look for when buying a...

Pram

These days there are so many Prams on the market that it can be hard deciding which one to buy. Here is a fool proof list of things you need in a good pram.

1. Wheels- always good to have wheels. They keep the pram moving.

2. A seat - it's nice to have somewhere for your child to sit in a pram. Comfort first!

3. Handles- these make pushing a breeze!

4. Big basket under the seat- Holds more stuff... Like shopping bags!

5. Brakes- help to prevent rolling accidents on hills and train platforms and keep the pram steady on a bus.

6. Sun hood- stops nosey onlookers from taking a sneaky-peek at your baby at the shops... Oh and UV Rays... It keeps those pesky strong Aussie UV Rays from hitting the silky soft skin of your bub... Hence aiding the prevention of skin cancer.

7. Straps- nothing like strapping a child down... No...but seriously... They're a good safety feature... Especially on hills and train platforms :) 

And remember to take this helpful list with you when you go to the Baby Warehouse to buy your pram! You can't go wrong! 

K.I.R!!!!

#4 Stuff it!

Im not sure what it is about humans, but it seems that we all looove gathering stuff. I wonder if this trait is a primal instinct or something we are conditioned into by those around us? Looking around the room right now, I see a whole lot of stuff, most of which I don't need or use very often. Books, ornaments, toys, the list goes on. Even my daughter doesn't seem to be playing with a lot of the toys as much as she should be...

So this brings me to a question to ponder today. 

Do we need heaps of stuff to raise a baby? 

The TV will tell you that you do, so will the shops... and the Baby Expo you went to last month thinks you need all kinds of paraphernalia. But stop... Take a deep breath and think... Before I have this baby what do I need? NEED? 

Here are some things I remember needing during the first 3 months with my baby.

Nappies ( more than I expected I think I exceeded 250+ newborn nappies)

Baby wipes ( heaps) 

Muslin wraps and bunny rugs ( have a few) 

Onesies ( prob enough for 3 a day) 

A bassinet ( basic) 

A bouncer/ rocker ( basic)

Cloths for Wiping reflux

Milk ( breast or bottle) 

That's not much hey? They pretty much eat, sleep, cry and Poo. 

Try not to get sucked in! Just try to keep it real Peeps! 

#2 Go with your gut

    Before my daughter was born I had no idea what the hell I was doing. There was advice coming thick and fast from anyone and everyone and I appreciated that. I hope that I listened politely to everyone and was genuinely interested. But after 9 months of potentially conflicting advice, I came to the conclusion that despite everyone's good intentions, I am the only one who knows my body and the child kicking and moving within it. So I decided to "go with my gut" literally! Ha ha...What is my body telling me today? What will it be telling me during labour? I didn't worry about whether I would breast feed or bottle feed. My body would tell me. I wasn't concerned about how much pain relief I would need during the potentially many hours of labour. My gut would let me know! It somehow liberated me! And it meant that armed with everyone's advice I may or may not use it. Phew.
    Now, if I was to offer you any advice it would be just that. We are all different and I can't comment for anyone else but for me, this really worked. GO WITH YOUR GUTS GUYS!!
You're welcome! Just keepin' it real :)