– 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 […]

– Ask a Real Mom – What Should I Pack in My Hospital Bag?

August 25, 2022

Because I had listened to every mom I knew, telling me that my first baby was not coming before 40 weeks, I had put off all the last minute items like washing baby’s clothes, making freezer meals and packing my hospital bag. So I walked into my 39-week prenatal appointment expecting a routine check of […]

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 […]

Oh Baby! Our Complete Baby Registry Guide

February 3, 2022

Registering for your precious new arrival (whether first or third) can be overwhelming! Retailers that offer baby registry services are there to help guide you on your way but offer so many options that it may be challenging to figure out where to start or what to select. When I was expecting my first child, […]

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 […]

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