–Pregnancy–
– Ask a Real Mom – What Should I Pack in My Hospital Bag?
November 7, 2024
Once you hit that third trimester, the days and weeks can feel paradoxically long and short: on the one hand, it feels like you’ve been waiting to meet your little one forever, but on the other hand, it feels like you suddenly have a lot to do before he or she arrives! One of the […]
Oh Baby! Our Complete Baby Registry Guide
June 18, 2024
Registering for your precious new arrival (whether it’s your first or third) can be overwhelming! With so many options for where to register and what to buy, it’s a challenge to figure out where to start or what to select. When I was expecting my first baby, I wanted to make sure that I included […]
– Ask a Real Mom – How to Prepare Yourself for a New Baby
February 22, 2024
As I was preparing for the birth of our first child, I relished the advice of seasoned mothers and grandmothers. From “sleep when the baby sleeps” to “prioritize date nights,” I filed each piece of advice into an ongoing mental list. It wasn’t long until their advice, my to-do list, and my belly were growing […]
10 Cute Ideas for Announcing Your Pregnancy on Social Media
December 14, 2023
One of the toughest parts about finding out you’re expecting is keeping the news “hush-hush.” At least, that was a challenge for me! I wanted to shout it from the rooftops as soon as I knew a little one was on the way! Our modern version of “shouting it from the rooftops” is hitting “post” […]
– Ask a Real Mom – What You Need for Every Stage of Your Baby’s First Year
September 28, 2023
When you’re preparing and registering for your new baby, it’s easy to focus on newborn diapers, clothes and accessories. It’s hard to imagine, but that little one will grow way faster than you expect! After my first baby shower, I wanted to exchange the only 12-month outfit I received for a smaller size. Luckily my […]
5 Reasons to Wait on Finding Out Your Baby’s Gender
August 11, 2022
Five reasons why you may want to wait until delivery day to find out your baby’s gender! For most of human history, waiting to hear “it’s a girl!” or “it’s a boy,” in the delivery room was a common experience—only recently have pregnant women been privy to high-tech ultrasounds and testing that could reveal their […]
– Ask a Real Mom – What’s on Your Third Trimester Checklist?
July 28, 2022
What you should NOT do in your third trimester: pack up your first home, move into another place temporarily and then unpack and move into your new home. What I DID in my third trimester with our first baby: exactly what I just said you shouldn’t do. Needless to say, my third trimester was a […]
– Ask a Real Mom – What’s Worth the Splurge in Baby’s Nursery
June 30, 2022
Let’s be honest: from the moment you get that positive pregnancy test, you start dreaming up your baby’s nursery. At least, that was the case for me. I couldn’t wait to paint, decorate and spend time creating a special room for our new little one. But, as it tends to go in the world of […]
16 Awesome Gender Reveal Ideas
January 27, 2022
Gender reveals were virtually unheard of fifteen years ago, but today, they’re everywhere! It all seems to have started with the gender reveal cake, which is what we decided to do with our firstborn. At our ultrasound, we told the doctor we did not want to find out what we were having but asked him […]
– Ask a Real Mom – Top 5 Baby Gear Items Worth Every Penny
December 30, 2021
A stroll through your favorite local baby retailer as a newly pregnant mom can leave you with a bit of sticker shock. Two years ago, when I created a registry for our first baby, I joked with my friends that nothing a baby needs was less than $30. Thankfully, the perk of baby gear is […]
Thriving in the Fourth Trimester Thanks to Hatch!
October 13, 2020
When I was pregnant for the first time last year, I spent the majority of those nine months doing a lot of research. I read the books, I talked to all my mom friends/cousins/sisters-in-law, I went to birthing class. I knew that having a baby was something none of those things could truly prepare me […]
– Ask a Real Mom – What Do You Wish You Knew Before Your First Baby?
June 11, 2020
I cried when I had to leave the hospital after having our first son. I couldn’t believe they were letting us load his car seat in the car without their direct supervision. I couldn’t believe we’d have to make the 45-minute trek from our downtown hospital to our suburban neighborhood with a 4-day old baby […]
Virtual Gender Reveal
May 12, 2020
So, you’re pregnant in the middle of a global pandemic and it’s probably not what you had planned. Going to the grocery with a face mask, working from home, thinking through an alternate birth plan, postponing your baby shower. This pregnancy and the celebrations surrounding it may have to look a little bit different than […]
– Ask Cheryl – Is a First Baby Shower Mandatory?
February 11, 2020
You’re pregnant with your first baby! Congratulations! This is a special time for you and, hopefully, a time of joy and celebration. Your friends and family will also want to celebrate the upcoming arrival. But is a baby shower necessary? Maybe you feel like a baby shower is just another social obligation. Perhaps you would […]
Hot Baby Trends of 2014
February 28, 2014
There are quite a few baby trends picking up steam for 2014. We did some research and came up with a few things that are very hot in the world of babies this year. What’s in a name … Baby name trends continue to evolve. This year, more and more girls will have traditional boy […]
