Monday, October 19, 2009

Congatulations are in order to Adrian and Alexandra!


With their first baby due early 2010, and as first time parents, we are sure they will need our experienced input and parenting tips. After all, most of us have been waiting a L-o-o-o-n-g time.(lol)

Real parents sharing real experiences. Things to look for, things not to do, things you do NOT need to buy and when it's time to just go hide in the closet and cry.

Here are some ideas on different topics you can post about..just in case you drew a blank. lol

Best Advice: what is the best advice you have learned over the years? Whether it be 1 child or 10...we all know those little tips that work. The ways to shush a baby, the ways to teach potty training, you know...the ones you used ...that worked!

Or how about some little funny Anecdotes? Did your little one get into trouble or say something that you found really funny?

There is always the "Expecting the Unexpected" stuff. Isn't it always when you have it all planned and some little thing goes wrong that you had not counted on?

Being a new parent is scary...so let's show Adrian and Alexa that we've all been through this...and survived! LOL

In case you are wondering why it's called: The BABIES Blog we came up with a great acronym. BABIES stands for "Before Adrian Buys It Expensive Stuff."

Feel free to send your good wishes and congratulations too! This is for ALL of Adrian's fans and friends, so come on and share your adventures in parenting.

Also, a lot of people have expressed a desire to send a gift. More info is coming on how to do that soon according to Carmel MacPherson, President Highlanderworldwide. It looks like there will be a couple Baby Registries set up so they don't get 4 of one thing and none of another. More info on that soon.

Meanwhile, you can always leave a gift by donating to PEACE. A link is at the bottom.

Peace...

~Riley~
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25 comments:

  1. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:30 PM

    CSaturday, 17 October 2009 - 1:42 PM MDT

    Name: "Amalya"
    Congatulations Adrian and Alexandra!

    Hope the new baby will give you nothing but joy and happiness!

    A baby is a very special gift with lots of love!

    Lots of Blessings!!

    Amalya swheitz

    ReplyDelete
  2. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:30 PM

    Wednesday, 7 October 2009 - 8:36 PM MDT

    Name: "Gail Kallen"




    Crib Notes:

    Cut a mattress sized piece of the carton the mattress comes in. Put it over the springs first so when the baby morphs into a jumping bean, he/she won't rip the mattress to shreds.

    Next tip-guarenteed the little one will overfill a diaper in the middle of the night. When you make up the crib, layer the sheets with waterproof sheets in between for 3 layers. That way you can peel one layer off, the baby will have dry linens, and you can go back to sleep.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:31 PM

    Wednesday, 7 October 2009 - 9:02 PM MDT

    Name: "Linda Arfsten"


    Just remember for little boys...cover him up before removing the diaper...or you might get an unexpected shower. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:31 PM

    Wednesday, 7 October 2009 - 9:39 PM MDT

    Name: "Elise "
    Home Page: http://www.freewebs.com/elisevancise


    Even if you go with mommy's natural milk sometimes the doctor will recomened supplementing with a formula. :)

    To make it easy for mixing bottles on the go just scoop out the correct amount of powder into a snack size baggy. The baggies don't take up much room in the diaper bag so you you can lessen the load with only one empty bottle to rinse and resuse :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:31 PM

    Thursday, 8 October 2009 - 1:55 PM MDT

    Name: "Fiona"

    The only thing a baby really needs is loving parents. The rest follows.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:32 PM

    Thursday, 8 October 2009 - 3:06 PM MDT

    Name: "Stephanie Beman"

    It really is ok to let the baby cry alittle. There are going to be times when they are going to cry just to hear themselves. So let them cry. No more than five minutes then pick them up and check their diapers, see if they are hungry, need to be burped, or just held. If they don't need changing, are not hungry, and doesn't need to be burped then it is ok to let them cry. Lay them back down and try again in five minutes.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:32 PM

    Friday, 9 October 2009 - 7:07 AM MDT

    Name: "Teresa D."


    The best baby item is a wrap-around sling for whomever is holding baby. You have a "hands-free" way to hold your precious bundle close to your chest/heart. That way you can still get things done and hold your little baby at the same time. Greatest thing ever invented!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:32 PM

    Friday, 9 October 2009 - 9:47 AM MDT

    Name: "Gail Kallen"


    The first real food babies are started on are the orangs/yellow fruits and veggies. Don't be surprised if the baby looks kind of orange. My daughter was glowing in the dark for a while!! It went away as green veggies were added to her diet.

    I started her on the jars of baby food. Save the jars if you do that. Some of the pureed fruits contain rice-the baby does not need rice-just adds calories. My husband and I made our own baby food. At first i was just pureed veggies. We stored them in ice cube trays in the freezer. Each compartment was 1 ounce of food.

    As the diet was advanced my husband boiled a chicken and veggies and pureed everything together every week. We stored that in the baby food jars and kept them in the freezer. When we went out, we just grabbed a jar to take with us. An important tip-make sure the lid in on the blender. On a few occasions my husband forgot to check which left him scraping spinach off the ceiling!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:33 PM

    Friday, 9 October 2009 - 3:40 PM MDT

    Name: "elaine"


    I may be saying just the opposite of what others have said--but---

    First--breast feed your baby if at all possible! Breast feeding truly IS the best for babies (and moms) in every way. Take this from a mom of 3 who has done both breast and bottle feeding! (I often feel that my first two got 'cheated' by not being breast-feed babies.) Nursing moms and babies travel with ease. Always keep an extra diaper or two in your purse, car, etc. Grab your baby and you are ready to go! No worries about bringing enough formula, water, finding a way to warm it, etc. I felt so liberated with the 3rd baby when breast-feeding. (Breast-feeding is much easier on an airplane too with all the restrictions for carry-ons) And not to worry that 'Daddy' won't be able to feed the baby---believe me--there are tons of other things 'Daddy' can do! If you have the time consider reading the following book---I kept it near me at all times with Dara. :) The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Sixth Revised Edition (Paperback) by Gwen Gotsch (author), Judy Torgus (author)

    Don't fall into that trap when people tell you not to hold your baby alot, and don't pick them up when they cry, you will spoil them! NONSENSE!! Babies need to be held and nurtured! You absolutely can NOT spoil a baby by holding them---look up the definition of 'spoiled' in the dictionary. I have no idea who came up with that saying when holding babies! When hubby and I were accused of 'spoiling' our 3rd, Dara, I politely told them to look up that word up in the dictionary and she was not spoiled (one definition is 'left un-attended to rot) she was LOVED!! As someone else mentioned a 'sling' is great for both mom and dad---and anyone else that wants to keep baby snuggled near. Life goes way too fast so hang on to every moment you can with babies!

    I feel it really isn't necessary to let baby cry. Fussing and fretting a little won't hurt them for a couple of minutes--but crying for even 5 minutes--to me is totally un-called for. When you attend to a crying baby--they will soon learn that their needs are being met--by mom and dad. If baby has a full tummy, dry diaper and everything seems to be ok and they are still crying--swaddle them and rock or just sit and hold them. As adults if we feel bad--- a hug, sympathic words or for someone to just hold us can make us feel better--why should we not do the same for our precious babies? (I have read many articles about crying babies and meeting their needs and when they are grown being independent--but right now the authors, etc. escapes me---it may be worth doing some researh on.) Not sure if I am putting this to words so you can understand--it is much easier to speak one-to-one than put here! :)

    Don't be concerned if your baby does not sleep all night! I often feel that a baby sleeping all night is like a badge earned or task completed for mom and dad! I never expected my babies to sleep through the night---I don't!! Most adults don't either--you wake up, roll over, get up for a drink, go to the bathroom,--- so why in the world would we think this little baby would snooze all night? They wake up and can't do any of the above--so--they cry--and you take care of them! Easy,huh?!

    Ok--I will stop for now---parenting gets me on a roll--the most important thing you can do for your baby is LOVE THEM !! And I am sure you are both going to do that. Just listen to your heart and you will know what to do!


    ~~~~~blessings, elaine

    ReplyDelete
  10. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:33 PM

    Saturday, 17 October 2009 - 7:22 PM MDT

    Name: "Tammie Harris"


    First of all, congratulations to both of you!

    When my first child was born I felt overwhelmed by all of the advice that I received. But the best, most profound advice I received was as follows...

    During the next few years, you are going to be recognizing all of the important "firsts". The fist tooth, first day of school, first boyfriend etc. In addition to the "firsts", pay attention to her "lasts". The last time she snuggles in your lap for story time before she's too big, the last time she holds your hand in public before it becomes "uncool". The last time she needs mommy and daddy to "fix it" or "make it better" because she wants to excercise her independence. The last time your family is just as you are today, before additions and changes that might come along later in life.

    Before you know it, that sweet little angel will grow up and head into the great big world to find her wings. Always remember to do the best job you know how to do. If you don't know how, then ask. The world is full of moms and dads who are willing to share their advice if given a chance! The key to knowing that what you are doing is right? She will know right from wrong, compassion, kindness, respect and integrity.

    Continued blessings,

    ~Tammie

    ReplyDelete
  11. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:33 PM

    Thursday, 8 October 2009 - 2:56 PM MDT

    Name: "Stephanie"

    I think that the best advice that I can give...is to get plenty of rest. When the baby sleeps you sleep. You are going to have plenty of nights where there is little sleep. Don't worry though it doesn't last long. Eat when you can...you are going to need your strength. And don't sweat the small stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:34 PM

    Wednesday, 14 October 2009 - 3:25 PM MDT

    Name: "Diane L."

    First I would like to say Congrats. The one piece of advice I can give is for Alexandria. After the baby is born don't let that pesty mate talk you into sex before the birth control is working. Speaking from experience it's difficullt to enjoy a first baby when your pregnant with a second. Enjoy this time to the fullest even when your waddling around. It truly is a magnificent time.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The BABIES BlogOctober 19, 2009 at 12:35 PM

    Saturday, 10 October 2009 - 12:09 AM MDT

    Name: "Riley"


    When my son Corey was about 5 yrs old he was at that age when he thought it was cool to sit in the car and listen to the radio. (Yeah, plain ol' radio..no CDs, no tapes, no 8-tracks...just radio.lol)

    My friend Christy was visiting, it was the 4th of July weekend and she and I were playing badminton in the backyard. Corey sat in the car jamming to the radio, feet up on the dash. Oh he was cool!

    Several times an hour, Christy would go to the car, get in the glovebox and pull out a firecracker and light it. Boom! At one point during our game, I saw my son disembark her car, secretively, and with his hands clutched to his chest he sneaked off around the side of the garage.

    My Mother's instinct kicked in and my own chest clutched with fear. OMG..he's got one of her firecrackers and is going to go light it and burn himself. Oh no!! I motioned to Christy and we quietly followed him. I closed in to about 6' behind him and watched as he futiley struck match after match, holding it to the fuse, but the fuse just would not catch and burn.

    In my loudest mother's voice I hollered, "Corey Lee, what are you doing?!!" His shoulders jerked and he snapped his head around, his 5yr old eyes wide in fright as he saw that both Christy and I were right behind him in the narrow little area next to the garage. He knew MAD when he saw it.

    When I saw what he had in his hand, I knew I had to teach him..and Christy.. a lesson. Grabbing the "firecracker" from him, I turned and angrily tossed it towards Christy yelling, "My son could have killed himself with this!!"

    Corey's face was white with fear at my wrath and Christy's face was frozen in shock as she looked down upon the offending "firecracker" as it fell harmlessly to the grass.

    It was all I could do to keep from falling to the ground and hysterically laughing..both in relief and from the look on her face as it dawned on her what it really was.

    It was a Tampon, with the string. No wonder the fuse never lit. lol (Corey never did figure out why the firecracker would not go Boom!")

    A reminder that children watch, children see, children speak and children "do" what their parents live.

    Peace...

    ~Riley~

    ReplyDelete
  14. full time momOctober 19, 2009 at 6:58 PM

    With two grown kids and three grandkids, all I can say is, first relax. The morning, afternoon and night sickness will go away soon, if they haven't already. Second, eat healthy foods, don't buy any fruit out of season. Go with canned fruit, but keep away from those heavy in sugar and don't skip any meals.
    Keep with the normal routine you had before you got pregnant. Baby is very protected and your body is use to certain activity, so don't change it. Get plenty of sleep now because after the baby arrives, you won't get much sleep for the first month or two. My mother once told me, a happy baby sleeps all night. I worried because all my daughter did was sleep and I felt like a total failure when she wouldn't wake up for her feedings. So, if the baby sleeps past feeding time, don't wake her. I swear that is why my daughter hated it when I would wake her for school when she got older, lol.
    My last advice, just enjoy her. You might become a bit of a paranoid parent as my daughter did when she had her first two but by the time the third one came around, she finally loosened up a little. I was also overly protective of my kids and I am a little protective of my grandkids, but I have learned to enjoy them. Now, take a deep breath, let it out slowly and enjoy feeling the kicks against the belly. Shower Alexa with love and complements. Women tend to feel like an ungraceful elephant in a glass shop as the tummy get's bigger and we tend to be very sensitive about it. Hormones will be raging like a run away freight train.
    Congratulations on your up coming arrival.

    ReplyDelete
  15. sewwhatsportsOctober 20, 2009 at 5:54 AM

    I have been a maternity nurse for over 30 years and have dealt with new parents all my life. I tell my new paretns the same thing every time. Here it is:

    It is okay to be a little scared of this new baby and the responsibility. But right now (shortly after birth) all the baby needs is 4 things: to be fed, to be kept clean and dry, to sleep and to be loved. And as a new parent you can do all of these things. As the baby grows and needs more, your confidence as a parent grows. By the time your baby is 6 months of age you will be amazed how far you have come and at the first birthday you will be just Mom and Dad.

    As for debate about breast versus bottle. Breast is the better choice but there is not a problem if you choose to bottle feed. The key here is to feed your baby. Your little one will get appropriate nutrition no matter what method you choose. I recommend a combination of the breast and bottle most of the time. Daddy feeds a bottle late at night (before his bedtime) of either formula or expressed breast milk, while Mom gets a few extra hours of sleep, having gone to bed early in the night.

    On the subject of sleep, all new parents get sleep deprived. Your little one will have her days and nights mixed up for a week or so. It is important for you as parents to rest when the baby is resting so you can feel semi human.

    Lastly, be selfish as new parents. You will only experience the birth of your first baby once. Limit the people coming to visit to those that are most important to you and keep the other time for yourselves as a family. Cherish this precious time as you will only experience it once.

    I have had thousands of parents ask me to come home with them in the first weeks as a security blanket. I would be happy to assist you with your new little lady in any way possible.

    Many blessings and happiness as she comes into your life.

    Rena in Delaware

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousOctober 20, 2009 at 2:08 PM

    Many congratulations to you both! I feel your great joy and anticipation!!

    Our "adopted" daughter (a friend who adopted us when she was in her 20s *g*) just gave birth last Saturday October 17. His name is Duncan, and yes, Mommy and Daddy are huge Higlander fans, although I'm not sure that was an influence in the name selection of our "grandson!"

    I don't have children of my own, so this is more a story I'd like to share. It reads like something out of Adrian's Baby Book.

    We were traveling home one evening from a long trip and made a stop at a favorite restaurant. It's a great place to people watch. Not long after our arrival, a family walked in--the mom was dark complected, perhaps Spanish or Italian, and the father was decidedly English---I heard him speak first. The dark-headed little boy, wearing his England rugby shirt and little sandals, was adorable. (you might be seeing where this is going) They sat down and ate and finished about the same time we did. The little guy was out of patience by that point and began to run around the restaurant. In the center of the place was a display of jams and pies folks could take home. They rested on a stepped platform and the young one headed straight for it and started to climb. The mother finally turned around and saw what was about to happen.....

    "ADRIAN.......NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

    Fortunately she made it before little Adrian got to the top of the display.

    I talked to her later and she just shrugged her shoulders and said in a tired voice "He's quite a handful!"

    Everytime we stop to eat there I think of little Adrian :))

    Sarita Oertling

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousOctober 20, 2009 at 9:46 PM

    Name: "Selena"

    Congratulations, Adrian and Alex!! I am so thrilled for you both!!

    I am a mom of 3 boys and could go on and on about an adventure it is having boys. But, Adrian, I am sure that you know what that is like growing up with brothers.

    The best advice I can give is, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!! Especially if you have more than one. My youngest is 6 and it is amazing how much you forget the little things they do or get them mixed up with your other babies.

    Enjoy every moment because it goes by quickly. My boys love to look back at all the notes and pictures I documented. They drag the books out quite a bit and sit together and laugh at all the fun things they did when they were babies.

    So, again, we are excited for your new life coming, and enjoy every minute!!

    Selena Barker, Proud Mom Of 3 Boys

    ReplyDelete
  18. Laurene WeatherstoneOctober 21, 2009 at 1:19 AM

    No cute little antedotes from me but all the best wishes for you both. Congratulations to you both and I am sooooooooo happy for you both

    ReplyDelete
  19. CrystalOctober 25, 2009 at 10:13 PM

    Congrats! Being a new parent is nerve racking. This last year I have been going green in order to help save our planet for our children. There are things that I wish I had done 10 years ago when my first was born. But the things I have learned I will pass to you guys. Go with cloth diapers with plastic liners it will save over 2000 disposable diapers a year going into the land field. Also organic products for your babies skin will be your best option to cut down on allergies. Again congrats and good luck guys!

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousOctober 26, 2009 at 10:07 PM

    From Dorcas Ferrer,

    I have 2 beautiful daughters one is 16 the other is 8. My advice is two go with your instinct and don't be afraid to ask the doctor questions. Babies need to feel secure and loved especially in the first year.As the baby grows his or her needs will change and the time will come when you both as parents may need to put your parental foot down.But the most important thing is giving the baby love and security and they will gro up into a wonderful human being that mirros their parents.

    ReplyDelete
  21. GirlknightOctober 31, 2009 at 8:17 AM

    Congrats! We are all so happy for you both! Being a parent is sometimes the hardest job in the world, and somedays it's the best job. In the beginning, when you have a rough day, you feel like it's going to last forever. As time goes on, you feel like time moves too fast! You look back and say, "if I could do this one more time..."
    Just remember that you can do this. You're getting lots of great advice from everyone. Just lump it all together and use what you need. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Take time for yourselves, too.
    I learned that if I didn't recharge my batteries, I couldn't be there for my 2 (16 mos. apart!).

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousNovember 5, 2009 at 11:44 AM

    ~Karen (from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada)

    Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your precious little girl! As for advice, I know that the two of you will make wonderful parents, and will trust your best instincts when it comes to handling all the little crises that will occur over the next couple of decades! :o) Support each other, love unconditionally, have miles and miles of patience, and present a united front. Never make decisions in haste, enjoy each stage, each accomplishment, each first. Never be in a hurry for your little one to grow up. Before you know it she'll have young men asking her out for a date! I wish you both the best, and I pray for an easy delivery, and for a healthy baby and Mom!

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousNovember 9, 2009 at 8:01 AM

    Now that you have a baby in the house, it is not fair to blame the animals for the strange smells in the room. A strange smell in the room is now an indication to check the baby’s diaper.
    Babies that sleep through the night are only trying to prepare you for sleepless nights when they become teenagers.
    There is no such thing as baby proofing a home. It is a myth! They have small hands but they also have arms that appear to be made from stretch material and they really do find ways to get into the things you tried to keep from them.
    Invest in chalkboard paint unless of course you don’t mind encouraging their creativity with bare white walls and permanent markers.
    If you get a baby gift, such as a funny looking outfit you wouldn’t wear to a costume party, make sure you save that for special occasions so that when the baby spits up on it you have an excuse to not make them wear again. Do not put nice outfits on babies until you have arrived at your destination because you only have approximately five minutes to show the outfit off before the baby spits up on it. This is a proven fact as any mother will tell you.
    Babies don’t care about getting their photos taken. Do not pay an exorbitant amount of money for photos of your child with a professional photographer. Invariably your son or daughter will either cry through the entire session or sleep through the entire session. Wal-Mart has a perfectly acceptable photography studio that costs much less. If the family is insisting on photos, timing is everything in getting one with a smile. Babies smile a great deal when they have gas.

    On the serious side, remember that although it is our jobs as parents to teach them right from wrong, peace not violence, love not hate, the one thing that is the hardest to teach them is how to be them. It is the one thing that they ultimately have to figure out on their own. Just remember to love them unconditionally, that is truly the most important thing you can give them.

    Oh and I don't know what the trends will be when your daughter is older, but individuality is important to a teenager. It's not easy letting them express theirs without going near insane because it goes against everything you believe in, but try. They will respect you for it in the end. Or just do what I do. I make it my goal to shock my child before she can do it to me. It's worked pretty well so far.

    May you have a healthy baby, an easy delivery, and more joy than you have ever experienced.

    Jen O

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousNovember 21, 2009 at 3:44 AM

    Roxy.

    Every baby is different and what suits for one doesn't often suit for another. You'll very quicky learn what cries mean what. As others have said, rest as much as you can, as your life as you know it is going to change in all sorts of ways very qiuckly. I have 2 grown girls and they could not be more different except for looks. My older one was so quiet you wouldn't have known there was a baby in the house, but my younger one came into the world yelling and has been yelling ever since lol. My congratulations to you and i wish you all the joy and happines for in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2010 at 1:20 AM

    Possible baby girl names for Adrian And Alexandra
    s little one:

    Aubrey
    Monica
    Trinity

    ReplyDelete

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