Monday, July 28, 2008

Bloggy Giveaway Time :)

THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING - THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. I WILL DRAW WINNERS TODAY AFTER I GET HOME FROM WORK - SO SOMETIME BEFORE 6PM :)


It's here again - my favorite week - the week where dishes, laundry, and cleaning get pushed to the back burner because I'm busing REGISTERING/READING/ENJOYING the giveaway :) How fun! Make sure to check out the main host page at Bloggy Giveaways to see all the great blogs that are participating!

For my Monday giveaway (there may be more - check back and see if this pregnant momma gets her act together...) I have 4 coupons for one FREE box of cocoa Puffs Combos cereal - this stuff looks amazing - chocolate & vanilla in one bite - mmmm. How could I resist?!

RULES
In order to register, please leave me a helpful first time momma comment - products you love, things you hate, favorite labor tips, funny stories... If you're not a momma, that's FINE - just give me something :) Make sure I have a way to connect with my winners - profile with a link to your email, your email, something.

Thanks and happy playing!

63 comments:

Anonymous said...

The best thing is to do is communication to only your husband, nurses, doctors, but even to your family. It's your time and if you need or feel that you want something or want people in the room or send them out. That you should not feel bad but you need to what is best for your little one and yourself. Also, talk with your husband before going into labor of what type of things he could try to do get you to relax. But both of you need to be reminded once in the middle of it all things are subject to change of wanting different things.

I hope that helps!

Evan
sacredmpp(at)gmail(dot)com

John said...

Ames, thanks for commenting for my giveaway!

Good luck with your little one! Our son will be two on November 6. The best advice I can give you is to remember to stop every once in a while to truly enjoy your child. They really do grow up quickly.

Anonymous said...

It's great to accept the generosity of others when the baby's born. Let people cook a meal for you or come over and do your laundry! We are expecting #2 this winter and I'll be hinting to friends that this means a lot more than buying another onesie for the kid.

Anonymous said...

I have 4 kids. Best advice: enjoy all of it, because it goes fast. Even the sleepless nights are something to be savored, as you spend quiet, night time with your baby.

Hope I win! Thanks for the GREAT giveaway!! cdziuba@aol.com

Mrs. Sprinkles said...

Hi-thanks for stopping by my blog. Congrats on your pregnancy!

Tammy said...

don't heat your formula or milk in the microwave - it can be very dangerous a lot of times it does not heat evenly -- when cereal comes make sure you stir it well if it's been in the microwave --
Blessings for your new little one

PS said...

Trust your gut. Thats the best advice I ever got and I always try to follow it!

Cheryl said...

Communication is key in everything!

bethany said...

don't invest in a baby bathtub--instead get one of those foam bears that you can buy at Babies R Us-so much cheaper and easier to use!!

HilLesha O'Nan said...

My best tip for a first time mother is to cherish every moment.

Unknown said...

A good sling or carrier is a must. I have two favorites...the Moby wrap and the Native Sling. Both are worth the money. The wrap is very versatile while the sling is quick to use if your making a quick run into the store.

michelle said...

Whoozits are the best toys. There are a number of different styles. It is one of my favourite baby gifts to give to new mothers.

michelle at northofthe49 dot com

Ronnica said...

I don't really have a first-time momma comment since, umm, I've never been a momma. Best wishes!

Unknown said...

Trust your instincts, they are usually right about your children! Take advice from friends and family with a grain of salt, anyone and everyone will have something to say about how you raise your child, just remember, it's YOUR child and you know what's best!

Lisa said...

Try to make and freez meals ahead of time, a months worth would be great.
Myclon drops always keep some on hand. Don't feel pressured to breast feed if it dosent work out for you.
Stormy5475@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Desitin works, but we really lvoe the Johnson's version. Especially at the start of a rash. But, once it's full-blown then you have to use the super concoction. Ask your nurse for it. it contains Milk of Magnesia, A&D ointment, neosporin, among other things. But it works like a charm!
kvicker at hotmail dot com

Also, try to laugh at all things. Much more relieving than yelling or even crying.

Anonymous said...

The best advice is to trust your instincts. First time moms are always full of doubt and often feel like they can't do anything right. But in the end, regardless of what anyone else says about how you choose to do things, you know your child better than anyone else, and you know what's best.

Anonymous said...

Exercise before your due date (unless your MD has advised against it due to special circumstances). Active women have easier labors!!

mariettaseller(at)yahoo(dot)com

Re said...

i loved having a boppy. came in handy when feeding. great giveaway! :) i hope i’m the lucky winner

I’m having so much fun blog hopping! I’m glad I found your blog :)

3boyzmom said...

OK, I have 3 kids, and one tip I have for you. I can't think of the name of the DR. that wrote this book, but he has a system called "The 5 S's" which is a way to soothe a new baby. You could probably google it I'm thinking. I don't care what anyone says, it works!!! Everytime for every baby!! Also, don't buy or get too many clothes that are newborn or even 0-3 months old, he or she will grow out of them in minutes!! There's nothing worse than a new mom with a wardrobe full of darling newborn clothes, with a 3 month old baby with nothing to wear!! Good Luck!!

Qtpies7 said...

Not waste money on new toys. Boxes are the best fun anyway, and yard sales are proof that kids grow bored of toys.

majellamom said...

Pack a hospital bag! Do it now!!!

Honestly, I am convinced that the best way to have your baby early is to not pack...but I'd rather have late than be in the hospital with nothing.

With our first, we had a scheduled c-section (she was breech...actually, #2 was breech with a scheduled c-section, too) and I started to leak some fluid. We called our doc in the middle of the night, and he told us to come down to the hospital (40 miles from home). Hubby tried to pack a bag at the last minute, but I screamed at him and told him that I didn't need a bag because they were just going to send me home! (If you start acting unreasonable...it's probably a good sign that you are going into labor...) Sure enough, they didn't send me home, and did the c-section first thing in the morning. My MIL had to stop by our house on her way down and pick up a basket of unfolded laundry to bring to us...she also bought us both toothbrushes....

So, there's my tip...hospital bag...go pack it NOW!

OtterKim said...

I have two kids - my favorite gadget is a little reflector mirror that you can clip on to your rear-view mirror in the car to see the back seat. It was wonderful to peek on the baby in their car seat without straining my neck all the time. They're super inexpensive - maybe $4.00, and worth gold!!!! Visit my blog and enter the contest for a free Idina Menzel CD and totebag set at www.OtterKim.blogspot.com. Enjoy motherhood - it's such a blessing for your lifetime!

sphinx63 said...

Stock up on pacifiers. If your baby likes them, they spit them out on the floor alot, and that way you just drop the dirty one in your bag and give them a clean one.

kamewh said...

Definitely enjoy every little moment when they are little- time flies by! Thank you for the giveaway!

Amber said...

Here's my best mommy advice:

Have lots of burp cloths on hand (I actually used extra receiving blankets)....spit up is inevitable!

If you're tired, try to nap when your baby does.

Convertible cribs are great! Saves you money since the crib can become a toddler bed.

I don't know if they still make these, but the Ocean Wonders Aquarium was a God send for us....it really helped our boys fall relax and fall asleep as babies. They also have the Ocean Wonders baby swing, which was cool too!

And most of all, just enjoy your baby! Time really does go by so very fast and they grow up quickly. My oldest is now 8 (!!! How the heck did that happen?) and the youngest will soon be 3.

Anonymous said...

My tip is to enjoy every second of being a Mother, they grow up so fast, my oldest is turning 18 in a few months and it seems like it was yesterday he was a baby.

Thank you.

actsm@hotmail.com

Nicol said...

One product that I received as a shower gift and TOTALLY loved is called a tiny diner. I have seen it at babies r us for about $10. When you go out to eat put down the tiny diner (it's a portable placemat) and then you can put babies food on it. I have never had to worry about my independent eater eating food off of the gross restaurant tables. I have had several people ask me about them!

nicolmontero at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

If you're going to breastfeed, definitely get some sort of Boppy pillow...There's all types now, but I don't know what I would've done without mine! Thanks for such a fun giveaway..I enjoyed reading the other advice!
sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com

Hélène said...

Labor tip: stay upright as much as possible. That includes pushing. Doctors like you to lie down but it is much easier to do it not lying down.

Suzie Williams said...

Travel systems definetely arn't a "need to have" item. I thought we'd use it all the time and I hate it. It takes up all the room in our trunk!

Anonymous said...

I'd like to try this cereal.
One product that I recommend is Totally Toddler Stain & Mattress Remover. It takes stains out of the messiest baby clothes.
-Terra
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Wehaf said...

Wipes warmers dry out baby wipes; don't bother getting one. :)

urchiken at gmail dot com

Ginny said...

I couldn't have survived without a bouncy seat and a swing!

Also, listen to your gut. You will come across doctors that are idiots, people with bad advice & much more. Trust your gut, every time I haven't, I have regretted it, even now with my 7 & soon to be 11 year old.

Oh & if your house isn't perfect, so what. Time flies, enjoy the young years.

Once your baby starts walking, just wait for disaster after disaster. Sometimes snapping a picture & even blogging it makes it funnier & not so mad that you want to scream at your little one.

Good luck :)

mommiof4 said...

When mine were babies I loved the Boppy. They are great for nursing and so much more! Thanks for the giveaway!

Elizabeth F. said...

Make a birth plan! Remember that you are paying the doctor for his services so the Dr. is working for you. Don't be afraid to decline some of the "routine" procedures if you feel they are unnecessary.

Gosh, I should stop there before I get carried away. LOL!

Enter me please.

Peculiar said...

If you opt for natural birth, try getting a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) to deliver your baby. I was never disappointed when I opted for this. I did it 2 out of the 3 pregnancies I had. Also, ask for a home-birthing room at the hospital you will deliver at. It's much comfier than the usual labor and delivery rooms.

Start chronicling your child's life before its born by scrapbooking and/or journaling your ultrasound pictures, your pregnant belly pictures, pictures with your spouse, stories about choosing the name, prayers for the baby, etc.

Thanks for this giveaway.

AudreyO said...

Take tons of pictures so you can remember every moment.

1993wel said...

You don't need half the baby products that you thought you did before your baby was born. Wipes warmer? 10 blankets? 20 outfits? Your baby will grow so quickly in the first few months that you really don't need very many newborn and 0-3 month clothes at all.

Unknown said...

A bouncy seat will save your sanity! Our son lived in his bouncy seat for almost 7 months. When he would start to get fussy we would strap him in and gently bounce him up and down, up and down, up and down, etc.

Also, take a ton of pictures and tape everything! The first year is such a blur. I swear with out the dvd's we made of our son's first year I don't think I would remember much, I was so sleep deprived.

Finally, be ready to love someone so much you feel like your heart is going to burst. Being a mom rules!

Anonymous said...

It's so funny, because all the ppl giving away these cocoa puff coupons all have just about the same number of entrants - right around 40 (as of 7am on wed). We love cocoa puffs :)

As for a helpful hint - go with your own instincts. I wish I'd learned that the first time around.


I hope you'll also stop by my blog - I've got several giveaways for you to enter, too!
Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You

Kimberly said...

ONESIES!!!!!!!!!!!! I lived for Onesies. They are the greatest invention! LOL! They can be worn anytime, anywhere. My kids would sleep in them at night on a warm night. Toss on a onesie and shorts and you have an outfit. Or a onesie and pants and you have another outfit. Ones go great under clothes or by themselves. I had onesies in every color - sometimes mulitples of colors. LOL!

Those pacifer clips were a God send too! I can't tell you how many pacifiers we lost without those.

Thanks for the great giveaway.

HunnyV "at" Optonline "dot" net

Jon and Sarah said...

Love the book "Baby Wise". Definitely a must have.

mom2boys said...

Take lots of photos. They grow so fast it's sometimes hard to remember things. Thanks for the great giveaway!

Unknown said...

proud mother of 2 here,my best advice is take other peoples advice with a grain of salt
ahdrad2932(at)msn(dot)com

Cherie J said...

As a mom of 2, a 21 month old girl and 5 year old girl I recommend Pampers Swaddlers diapers and Desitin baby rash cream as the best. I received tons of samples with my first child and these were the ones i found worked best. Thanks for the contest!

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kathleen said...

After assuring everyone that I didn't need one, I found that having a dedicated changing table was pretty much the best thing ever. It allows you to really move around and get to those tiny little creases after those amazing eruptions, and there's no fear of accidental floor or bed 'decoration'

Thank you for the wonderful giveaway, good lcuk & congrats on the baby!

Oh, and make sure you SLEEP WHENEVER YOU CAN. Seriously.

Josie said...

Hmm. I'm not a mom but I have heard you won't sleep for 18 years after baby is born. lol. Yikes!

Karen said...

Make sure you have Mylicon in the house at all times. Seriously, that stuff is liquid gold!

kpuleski at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Sleep when the baby sleeps and bring a change of clothes for yourself as well as the baby whenever you leave your house!

Teri said...

I'm not a mama, so I will give you my best teacher tip - read to that baby ALL the time and start now! :)

Anonymous said...

Remember the best laid plans.....when it involves a birth those go right out the window. Allow yourself to be flexible, just enjoy the process.

Neen said...

Don't wake the baby up to feed him/her in the middle of the nihght. If the baby is hurgry it will wake up on its own.

Julie Donahue said...

Have a labor team. WIth my first, I had (in addition to DH, of course) my Mom, 2 sisters and a friend. It was great to have a team!

Molly C. said...

Invest in a boppy pillow-that is the one baby item that I use all the time!

Unknown said...

They came out in 1958 and so did I!

Nice to see them back!

Thanks for including me in this Giveaway and for being so generous!

KJ
kjmt42 [at] sbcglobal [dot] net

Storm, The Psychotic Housewife said...

Have your birthing plan made up just the way you want it, but have a back up plan just in case you have to change around things at the last minute.

Jessica said...

Congrats! I have 4 and it's awesome. Practical tip: when the baby gets up to eat in the middle of the night, FIRST go to the bathroom! Otherwise you will be nursing a baby and have to go really bad! :-)

Dani' said...

Visualize a scene or place you can transport yourself to in case things start getting too hectic. I had my youngest w/no meds but was induced due to some issues w/no water,placenta breaking down, etc. and used this technique.

paryjeja said...

always remember that no matter how bad today was tomorrow is a chance for a better day

Anonymous said...

My best tip is follow your own heart, your own instint. No one knows your baby like you....AND...you can't hold a baby too much.

Thank you for hosting this giveaway
tiffanyannrosson at yahoo dot com

Tamara B. said...

You should take in every moment good or bad because before you know it they grown up and out on their own. Time goes by so fast sometimes it brings tears to eyes when I look at my children all grown up. you are going to be a really great mother trust your instincts and have patience. Thank-you for the contest.

Michelle Olsen Sasak said...

Always trust your instincts. You know what is best for your baby, no matter what advice magazines/books/well-meaning strangers might give you, take it with a grain of salt and trust your judgment and you'll be just fine :)