Dumbbell Split Squat Pregnancy Exercise

Keep your legs looking gorgeous with this lunging exercise. Your partner will appreciate how toned your thighs are, even if you can't see them anymore!

	You
	Comfy clothing
	Sneakers
	Dumbbells or a body bar: 8-12 lbs weights

	Place working leg in front, leaning slightly forward.
	Hold dumbbells at sides.
	Bend front knee until thigh is parallel to the ground.
	Pause.
	Stand up by pushing with the front foot.
	Do 2-3 sets of 15 repetitions, resting for 30-45 seconds between sets.

Don't round your back. Don't bounce at the bottom. Try this with a body bar across upper back instead of dumbbells or no weight at all. 

Provided by Beverley Caen

Author of Sane Fitness Preggers

 

           Space Saver Swing

 

 

Developmental Guidelines: Use from birth until child is able to sit up unassisted.

 

Better for Mom
• Great value—two products in one!
• Saves space in your home.
• Convenient parent handles make it easy to carry from room to room.

Tunnel Crawl

Crawling is an adventure for your developing baby, a skill that opens a new world for him as he explores his environment on all fours. Make him a simple tunnel filled with obstacles to challenge him as he enjoys this new experience.
Materials

•     3 cardboard boxes, large enough for your baby to crawl through easily
•     Scissors
•     Duct tape
•     Stuffed animals or a blanket

Instructions

•     Cut the flaps off all three boxes, cut some squares in their sides for ventilation and tape the boxes together to form a tunnel.
•     Set the tunnel in the middle of the room.
•     Use stuffed animals or a blanket to create obstacles in the tunnel (a blanket will make the floor surface a bit slippery).
•     Place your baby at one end of the tunnel, and walk around to the other end.
•     Peer into the tunnel and call your baby, encouraging him to crawl to you. Entice him with a toy if he's reluctant to enter the tunnel.
•     Cheer him on as he crawls through the tunnel to the other end.
•     Repeat, letting him explore and enjoy the tunnel.

Safety

If your baby is afraid to enter the tunnel, don't force him. Leave the tunnel in the room for a while and let him get used to the idea. Then try again. If your baby gets upset when you cover the ends with blankets, remove them.

Learning Skills

    * Exploration
    * Gross motor development
    * Problem solving


Crawl-Along Musical Ball

Baby’s on the move, crawling right to you!

Encourage developing skills with this silly monkey friend who balances on top of the ball. It’s not only fun, it helps promote physical activity with playful rewards like fun tunes and silly sounds.

A fun way to get baby moving and develop an “I can do it” attitude!

5 Apps for Parents With Mommy (or Daddy) Brain

It happens to the best of us. You have a kid and oops, there goes your brain! These apps help you remember what you need to do and when you need to do it.

• Remember the Milk
  This free app sends reminders to every possible place (your IM, email, SMS), maps out where you need to be when and even reminds other people of what you asked them to do. An app that nags your husband for you? Priceless!
  
• reQall
  Need a personal assistant? Just verbally tell this app what you need to do and it will transcribe your agenda and remind you when it's time! If only your kids listened this well!
  
• iProcrastinate Mobile
  Developed by a student, this free app is a super simple way to keep track of your life. It groups tasks by due date and color codes things so it's easy, easy, easy.
  
• EverNote
  Use it to make voice memos, jot notes, grab screenshots, clip webpages, take photos to remind you of something and more! It then takes whatever you enter and organizes it so it's easily searchable from your phone, computer or the web!
  
• HouseKeeper
  Can't remember when you last changed the smoke detectors? No prob! This app will poke you when it's time to do household tasks like change your AC filter or clean the gutters.

Here's a way to relax as you daughter pours you the sweetest tasting air !
Magical Tea for two 

Teatime is much more magical when you get ready to pour, and watch the tea “disappear”! Set it back down and the tea fills back up! It’s a lovely service for two, complete with cookies and a tray for serving.

The set also includes service for two: two cups, two saucers, two spoons, two cookies and a decorative tray to display it all! Girls will love playing tea party over & over again with this magical feature!

Best Ways to Fake a Good Night's Sleep

Anyone who utters the words "You look tired!" to a hardworking mom deserves a very special gift ... like a night spent rocking a teething baby. Or a 2 AM laundry room session with freshly vomited-on sheets. Or a nice warm glass of shut-the-heck-up. But since it's nearly impossible to quiet the clueless, how about heading them off at the pass? These sleep-faking tips will help you look as if you actually logged a full eight hours!





   Reduce Puffiness
The numero uno revealer that you're operating on too little beauty sleep is a puffy face and eyes swollen into slits. (Why can't our BOOBS inflate like that when we're tired?) The old-school beauty trick of applying cucumber slices or cold, used tea bags to swollen eyes actually works well to bring down the swelling. We're also fans of new-school remedies like eyeSlices reusable eye compresses or applying eye cream that's been stored in the fridge, like Skinn EnergEyes.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Tired moms are often dehydrated moms, and a parched bod will equal a parched, tired-looking face. Slather on a cream or serum that will deliver the dewy look of a good night's sleep to your skin. For oily and combination complexions, we love how Olay Regenerist Serum hydrates and smoothes skin without clogging pores. And Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm is moisturizing magic for sensitive, dry and normal skin.

Skip Powder and Heavy Foundation

After awakening your sleepy skin with fresh moisture, don't cover it with a coat of dulling paint! Piling on the makeup base and powder will only make you look more washed-out and tired, so don't be afraid to let your skin's natural texture shine through! Nervous about going naked? A tinted moisturizer like Smashbox Sheer Focus will provide coverage and preserve your fresh, not-too-matte look.

Don't Skip Concealer

If there's one beauty product you can't skip when you skimp on sleep, it's concealer. To successfully cover up dark circles, the trick is to pick a shade that's just a teensy bit lighter than the skin at the tops of your cheeks. Then lightly dot it on and don't over-blend (otherwise you're just smearing it away from the target area). Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage and Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer for Eyes are both fab circle covers.

Whiten Eyes

Bloodshot eyeballs just scream "My kids were up all night!" but you can keep 'em quiet with the right eye drops or makeup. If you don't wear contact lenses, beauty pros swear by pricey drops like Collyre Bleu Eyelights, as well as good ol' $1.99-a-bottle Visine. Applying pure white eye shadow or an eye pencil like Benefit Eye Bright to the inner corner of your eye will also help de-zombie your eyes' appearance. 

 Brighten With Eyeliner Even the most gorgeous actresses show up on-set with "lack of sleep" written all over their famous faces, says Hollywood makeup artist Vicki Fischer. She says a great trick-of-the-trade is to apply taupe eyeliner to the upper and lower lash lines. The neutral hue will erase the pink hue around the eyes that makes you look exhausted. Vicki recommends Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Underground. 

 Rub On Lip and Cheek Stain 

When you're operating on little sleep, forget fussy bronzers and lip liner kits that can make you look overly made-up ... and even more tired in daylight. Instead, choose a subtle, natural shade to color both your cheekbones and lips. Products like Stila Cherry Crush Lip and Cheek Stain will mimic the natural flush of exercise and energize your look. 

Use Dry Shampoo in a Rush

So you're going to skip a shampoo (okay, the whole dang shower ...) because you've spent every single second possible cuddled in the comforter. That doesn't mean you have to walk around with limp, oily roots all day. Dry shampoo is the perfect rescue. TRESemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo works in a pinch to remove oils and give it some bounce and pep. (Warning: This only works on hair, so don't be tempted to spray it in your coffee.) 

Pull Hair Into a Ponytail

You know how your mom was always telling you to pull your hair off your face? Well, she's right again ... at least when you're exhausted and don't want to look it. A sleek ponytail will help you look polished and put together, sure, but it's also the freshest and most youthful of hairstyles. A high ponytail with a minimum of wisps left hanging off the sides will also de-puff a tired face.

 Choose Bright Colors 

We don't care if your favorite clothes' colors are black and, well, more black: When you're pooped, you've got to ditch the funeral duds. Wardrobe stylist Joyce Neave of That Mom, Inc. recommends finding a bright color that complements your skin and wearing it near your face. Neave also advises skipping pastel tops and scarves—they wash the color from the face, making you look even more exhausted. 

Hey Bright eyes! If you have any awesome tips or products do share and help someone out after all we know that we need only one thing in common to make a new friend! 

Here's something for baby to do while you get ready to dazzle

Counting Friends Phone

The Laugh & Learn Counting Friends phone dials up the fun for baby!
 This pull-along phone offers three modes of play: learning, music and imagination.Flip the pages to see different animals and press the buttons to hear the realistic sounds and more.In the music mode, baby can build a song by pressing the number keys.Imagination mode offers realistic phone sound effects. Baby can play with the hand-held receiver attached to the phone for early role play.

Classic Chocolate Whoopie

Time : 45 min

Serves : 24

Ingredients

• 1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 4 tbsp vegetable shortening
• 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk
• 1 recipe Classic Marshamallow Filling(scroll down)
• Sprinkles (optional)

Directions

	Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
	Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt onto a sheet of waxed paper. In the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter, shortening, and brown sugar on low speed until just combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat for another 2 minutes.
	Add half of the flour mixture and half of the milk to the batter and beat on low until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the remaining flour mixture and ½ cup milk and beat until completely combined.
	Using a spoon, drop about 1 tablespoon of batter onto one of the prepared baking sheets and repeat, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Bake one sheet at a time for about 10 minutes each, or until the pies spring back when pressed gently. Remove from the oven and let the cakes cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool completely.
	While the cakes are cooling, make the marshmallow filling. To assemble the pies, spread the filling on the flat side of one cake and top it, flat-side-down, with another cake.
	Roll the edges in sprinkles, if desired. DORA Folding Kitchen        Classic Marshmallow Filling   Ingredients 1½ cups Marshmallow Fluff (or other prepared marshmallow cream, which will do in a pinch) 1¼ cups vegetable shortening 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1 tbsp vanilla extract Directions In the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the Marshmallow Fluff and the vegetable shortening, starting on low and increasing to medium speed until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, about 3 minute. Reduce mixer speed to low, add the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla, and beat until incorporated. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes more.  Happy Holidays!!

Choosing Your Baby's Name

What's in a name? Plenty, if you're the poor unfortunate tyke whose clueless parents saddle him with a dorky name—or if you're one of eight little girls named Britney who end up in the same kindergarten class!

Yes, choosing a name for your child is an awesome responsibility—one that will probably have you flipping through your share of baby name books. You'll find plenty of books to choose from.
If you're lucky, you might already have a few names in mind—names that have caught your fancy over the years and somehow stuck in your head. However, not all prospective parents are fortunate enough to have picked out their baby's name long before the pregnancy test came back positive. Many couples find that there's considerably more work involved in zeroing in on the perfect name.
Also, don't be surprised if you and your partner don't initially agree about names. Most couples find that there's a bit of give and take involved in coming up with a name that both parents can live with. Here are some practical tips if you happen to find yourself in the undecided camp:
Be clear about what you're looking for in a name. Do you want a name that's long or short? Traditional or modern? Plain or flowery? Easy to spell or something a bit fancier? The clearer you are about your criteria from the beginning, the easier it will be for you to make your final decision.
Avoid names that are too pretentious.
Consider naming your child after someone who is special to you—but only if you feel confident that the person in question will remain near and dear to you in years to come and keep his or her nose clean. After all, you don't want your precious baby to end up being named after an ex-friend of the family who goes on to become a career criminal!
Look for a name that will grow with your child. What's cute for a baby may not be so cute when the baby is 35.
Stick to names that will work well with your last name. Keep in mind how the first name and the last name sound together, as well as any short-forms of the first name. Also, look at the initials and make sure they don't spell anything you don't like.
Keep the spelling simple.

Be prepared to go back to the drawing board if it becomes obvious that the name you picked out is becoming too common.

Provided by Ann Douglas

Author of The Mother of all Baby Books: The Ultimate Guide to Your Baby's First Year

© Ann Douglas 2002

Precious Planet Bouncer

The Precious Planet Happy Giraffe Bouncer has a fun character friend for baby to sit with plus lots of great finger play in the toybar.

It comes 3 fun colorful Precious Planet character toys (a hippo, a lion and a monkey!) tethered to a soft overhead toy bar - with a jingle bell, rattle beads, and 2 songs & 2 sounds!

A little lion pur or a cub roar entertain baby. The seat brings the giraffe character to life with a felt mane and cute ears, plus it cradles baby on a proven platform that moms love. Soothing vibration completes the experience and keeps baby extra happy! It features a machine washable pad with a 3 point restraint and non-skid feet.

Developmental Guidelines: Use from birth until child is able to sit up unassisted.

Weight Limit: 25 lbs (11,3 kg)

Better for Baby

Promotes Comfort and Security
• Calming vibrations and cushiony seat soothe baby.

Stimulates the Senses
• Bright graphics, friendly faces, music and sounds stimulate visual and auditory skills.

Encourages Developing Motor Skills
• Invites baby to reach, grasp, bat and tug, enhancing eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills.

Better for Mom

• Removable toy bar for easy access to baby.
• Machine washable seat pad.
• Easy to move around the house.

Age Group	0 to 12
Battery Info	D / LR20 / R20 - Battery cell
No. of Batteries	1 - 3
Height (in cm)	8.89
Length (in cm)	43.18
Width (in cm)	46.99
Weight	4.5360