Tips for New and Soon to Be Mommy Friends

1. Breastfeeding is the most amazing gift you will ever give your child. It is a unique bonding experience, it's convenient, and it's free! The first few days maybe rough but hang in there it is SOOOOO worth it!
2. Pacifiers are not the devil. They do not cause nipple confusion (or so new research says), they may help prevent SIDS, they fill babies innate need to suck, and they will provide you with quiet car rides!
3. Do not feel like a failure when your child gets their first goose egg or black eye. Man it sucks to see your baby hurt and man does it suck when you "almost caught her" but falls, bruises, cuts, swollen lips, and scrapes happen. I think it hurts us mommies more than them!
4. Buy or register for the Fischer Price Seahorse. It has a soft glowing belly and plays ocean melodies. In the first few months this thing was Ava's best friend.
5. Take the hospital tour and visit the cesarean room. Even if you are ABSOLUTELY not going to need a cesarean. I didn't because I fell in the above listed category, but I wish I would have. It sure was scary when they wheeled me in that big white room full of funky lights after 22 hours of unsuccessful labor.
6. Take 1300 pictures and 700 videos of the first year because they grow and change too fast! And splurge on a good camera if you can....they catch the first sweet smiles and first tottering stands way better then any little point and shoot could ever hope to!
7. Make your baby and your family your priority but don't forget to take care of yourself. An occasional trip to the spa, a lunch date with your girlfriends, or a rockin new pair of heels will make you feel good, which only makes you a BETTER momma. After all, if Mom isn't happy nobodies happy!