For parents of little ones, a good night's sleep can be hard to come by. Without a doubt, you'll be up around the clock the first few weeks (or months), that is for sure, but after that it seems like the luck of the draw if you'll have a good sleeper on your hands or become a mombie for the next few years. But maybe it's not completely luck...

Die hard sleep training enthusiasts have many a theories that they swear by - it is such a hot topic in the parenting world!! Cry It Out vs. No Cry Sleep Solution vs. blah blah blah blah - OMG, seriously, what to do?? I've done plenty of research and attempted a few different methods myself (you can read about my experience with Babywise, Sleep Sense / CIO, and finally banishing baby to a partitioned off area of the living room!). My takeaway? Keep to a schedule, don't let baby get overtired, make a routine including cues so baby knows sleep time is coming, and eliminate sleep props that baby cannot initiate or recover himself (i.e. nursing to sleep or letting him fall asleep sucking on a pacifier that he cannot find in the middle of the night to plop back in his mouth is a no-no whereas a sound machine and a sleep sack would be OK).

Since we've had such a long drawn out drama with sleep in our house, when I came across the Bitta Kidda Sleeper at a baby expo recently I was really intrigued. What is Bitta Kidda, you ask?

Bitta Kidda is basically pajamas with a built in lovey. Putting a security blanket or lovey in the crib with a baby isn't completely safe (suffocation / SIDS), and you also run the risk of him chucking it out of the crib (as mine did) or not being able to find it in the middle of the night when he wakes up and needs to self sooth - cue screaming baby who needs your help to fall back asleep! The idea of the Bitta Kidda is that the lovey is always within reach so the baby can hold the piece of blanket for comfort and fall back asleep without your help. Sounds amazing right!?

The Bitta Kidda Sleeper is sold in two colors (yellow and green) in sizes 6 months through 3 years, but obviously the younger you can start the more effective it'll be as it becomes part of their sleep and soothing ritual. They recommend you have 2 (so you have a spare during laundry time) and that baby wears it every night and every nap time.

And guess what? They're actually going to be launching the Bitta Kidda Sleep Sack soon! Exciting stuff!!

In celebration of Mother's Day and all my fellow mamas out there, I bring you... 
THE MOTHER OF ALL GIVEAWAYS EVERRRRRR!!!!!
(ok, maybe not ever ever, but it's pretty darn awesome if I do say so myself)!!! Over $1500 in products, split between TWO WINNERS. From nursing gear to baby carriers to food pouches, we've gotcha covered with goodies for mama, baby, and toddler (even a little something for dad)!! Enter in the rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post - the giveaway will run until 11:59PM Monday, May 26 and you can earn extra entry points with daily tweets, etc, so don't forget to stop by every day for the best chance to win!!

This giveaway is organized by yours truly, Heather of US-Japan Fam, and supported by Nancy of The Mama Maven, Larisha of We're Parents, and Whitney of Rookie Moms - don't forget to check out the blogs of these fabulous mamas (now or later, or daily if you REALLY love us hehe):

And now, on to our prizes and most generous and amazing sponsors.

PRIZE PACKAGE A:   ($800+ Value)

$200 Credit at Karina's Strollers
Carrying some of Europe's most highly rated and luxurious strollers, TUTEK and BabyActive, Karina's Strollers is offering $200 towards any product on their site (in prize package A) and a $350 voucher for any of their Eco Leatherette stroller systems (in prize package B)! Your little one will be riding in extreme style and comfort, and your wallet will be happy, too!
**Check out Heather's company & product highlight here**

Nurse Purse (Breast Pump Bag) - Wildflower Design
A seriously stylish bag that will hold ALLLLLL of your stuff, including a breast pump, cooler, laptop, you name it! Not only is it gorgeous, but It will ease the burden of your regular trips to the pumping room at work, that is for sure.
**Check out Heather's company & product highlight here**

Ying Sleeveless Maternity & Nursing Dress by Larrivo
Who says you can't be stylish and sexy in your maternity and nursing wardrobe? Certainly not Larrivo!! Their Ying maternity & nursing dress is super cute and features pull-up nursing access from the empire waist, with a cut that allows plenty of room for your pregnancy and postpartum days.
**Check out Heather's review here**

Rainbow Light Family Vitamin Variety Pack
Rainbow Light is the #1 most trusted natural vitamin brand and our winner will get a variety pack including a 30 day supply of the following food based vitamins: 
For mom: Women's One Multivitamin OR Prenatal One Multivitamin
For dad: Men's One Multivitamin
For child: Kids One Chewable Multivitamin/Minerals AND Gummy Omegalicious Omega 3 Formula
**Check out Heather's review here**

Training Wheels
Receive one week of online personal training from Training Wheels Stroller Fitness. The package will include a 30-minute consultation via Skype or Facetime, one week access to their online training fitness program with unlimited coaching, and a sample meal plan. What a fabulous way to kick start a new (or not so new!) mom's journey to losing the baby weight and feeling great!
**Check out Heather's company highlight here**

Bravado Jungle Berry Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra
This is an AWESOME nursing bra that you can wear throughout your pregnancy, breastfeeding days, and beyond. Check out my review to see why I'm such a huge fan (hint - it's SO COMFORTABLE!!!). Jungle Berry is their brand new color which is simply gorgeous!

WaterWipes Baby Wipes
Ever wonder what's in your baby's baby wipes? Yeah, you don't want to know (but... you should know... probably parabens, lanolin, alcohol, perfume, phthalates, benzoates, triclosan - lots of baddies)! That's why WaterWipes are so great! Their ingredients? 100% NATURAL! 99.9% water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract. THAT'S IT!!  Your baby's booty will thank you!
**Check out Heather's review here**

La Stella Della Mamma Double Chain Necklace
Made of 100% pure food grade silicone (same material that pacifiers and bottle nipples are made of), Stella Mamma's necklaces are safe for baby to chew on while being a fashionable accessory for mom!
**Check Heather's review here**

Bitta Kidda Sleeper
The Bitta Kidda sleeper is a pajama and security blanket (lovey) in one, helping babies and toddlers self-sooth and enjoy a blissfully long and uninterrupted night of sleep, saving the sanity of their parents! 
**Check out Heather's company/product highlight here**

Naked Nursing Tank
The Naked Nursing Tank is a hassle-free open busted camisole that you can wear with any nursing bra. It'll cover your tummy so you can lift up your shirt to nurse and not have to worry about baring your midriff to the world! It'll also safe you tons of money as you won't need to buy a nursing wardrobe, woohoo!!
**Check out Heather's review here**

Miny Moe "Big Booty" 6-Brand Diaper Sampler
It's tough to find the brand of diaper that works best for your baby. Everyone has an opinion, but what worked well for another baby may or may not for yours! That's why Miny Moe's variety packs are so awesome - you can try out all the top brands of diapers and nursing pads to find which one works best for YOUR baby (or mom). Eeny meeny miny moe, try them all and then you'll know!
**See Heather's review here**

Grow With Me Tee
A t-shirt that tracks your child's growth - how fun is that!? Choose from their baby's first year onesie (color in their age and take a photo each month for the first year), preschool years tee (color in their age and take a photo every 6 months for the first 5 years), or school years tee (photograph annually from preschool until high school graduation), and watch as your child slowly grows into the tee!
**Check out Heather's review here**

Mamascent
Mamascent is a simple attachment to your baby bottle that gives baby the comforting scent of mom when she can't be there, and can be extremely helpful in getting a baby to take a bottle when they previously refused. 
**Check out Heather's review here**

Baby Nip Washable Nursing Pads 
From Nursing Bra Express, these washable and reusable nursing pads are seamless, contoured, and helpful in preventing the mortifying leaks known so well to pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding moms!

**Check out Heather's review here**

Baby Butz Diaper Rash Cream
Diaper rash is a big bum-mer (LOL, pun intended). Smearing on all kinds of chemicals to prevent or treat it is equally yucky! 100% natural and hypoallergenic, Baby Butz Cream is the safest and most effective diaper rash cream available without a prescription. No chemicals, perfumes, alcohol, parabens, or gluten!
**Check out Heather's review here**

Dr. Carey's Baby Care Book
Basically a user's guide to your baby's first year, this extremely helpful pediatrician developed book is condensed to 80 pages so as not to overwhelm, includes 120 full color photos, and will provide essential baby care knowledge and a better understanding of when your baby needs to be seen by a professional.
**Check out Heather's review here**

PRIZE PACKAGE B:  ($750+ Value)  

$350 Credit at Karina's Strollers
Carrying some of Europe's most highly rated and luxurious strollers, TUTEK and BabyActive, Karina's Strollers is offering $200 towards any product on their site (in prize package A) and a $350 voucher for any of their Eco Leatherette stroller systems (in prize package B)! Your little one will be riding in extreme style and comfort, and your wallet will be happy, too!
**Check out Heather's company & product highlight here**

Cub Co-Z Convertible Carrier
Made by Lil Cub Hub, Cub Co-Z is a diaper bag that converts to a sling-style baby carrier in one easy zip. Everything that was in the diaper bag stays put and remains easily accessible from the carrier! Invented by a mom, made of 100% cotton, and offered in 18 stylish designs, you'll be the envy of your Mommy Group when wearing your Cub Co-Z!
**Check out Heather's review here**

A Kid's UV Outfit from Coolibar
From UPF full body romper swim suits to sunglasses, hats and clothing, Coolibar has tons of great products to protect you and your family from the harsh rays of the summer sun! The winner can select their choice from the children's line.
**Check out Heather's review here**

$50 Credit at JetSetBabies 
JetSetBabies helps families enjoy hassle-free vacations. Order from their website and they'll deliver the exact baby supplies you need, and have them waiting for you at your destination! How awesome is that!?
**Check out Nancy's review here**

Tivoli Couture Canopy Cover
With 12 designs in luscious ruffle, 3D chiffon rose or lace, your baby's carrier, car seat, or stroller will be decked out in a decadent design with one of these original canopy covers by Tivoli Couture! What's more? They actually tie on, so they won't blow away - how practical!!
**Check out Heather's review here**

Paxley Baby or Toddler 100% UV Protection Sunglasses
Of course you know you need to protect your little ones' eyes from the harsh rays of the sun, but won't he just tear off sunglasses and break them in half? Not Paxley's sunglasses - they're so flexible they're virtually break proof, plus they have ergo-designed rubber bridge pads for developing noses. Not to mention they are SUPER CUTE!
**Check out Heather's review here**

Metrotots StrollAway
Does your stroller take up half of your entry way and have enticingly tasty wheels that your little one loves to chew on?? With Metrotots' StrollAway, you'll be able to get the stroller out of the way by hanging it on any door in your house! Can I get a HELL YEAH!??
**Check out Heather's review here**

The Busybee Toddler Harness
The Busybee is a stylish and practical way to keep your toddler safely within arms reach while out and about. This harness, developed by mom Connie, comes in 6 playful designer patterns, all of which are reversible with a denim back side.
**Check Heather's review here**

KIDZ BOP Party Pop CD
You don't have to limit the musical exposure of your littles to the likes of Mozart and Beethoven! You can rock out with them to kid-friendly hits like "What Does The Fox Say", "Gangnam Style", and 10 other great tracks, thanks to KIDZ BOP! 
**Check out Heather's review here**

Press Pouch Reusable Food Pouches 
With a "choke-proof" cap, a simple yet stylish design, and clear window so you can see what's inside, these reusable food pouches are great for little ones and parents alike! Forget the once-and-done pouches and go green with the environmentally friendly Press Pouch!
**Check out Heather's review here**

I’ve always been a very independent kinda gal. (Except when it comes to putting together Ikea furniture, that is.) I just didn’t realize how more independent I would have to become when having a child and becoming a “work widow”. My husband works long hours - he’s out the door around 7:30am and not home again until 8pm or later most nights, and often on the weekends. He also travels a lot. I was thrown right into it – left all by myself for a week with a brand new two week old baby. But you know what? We survived!! And I was so proud that I did it all by myself and have continued to do so. Do I NEED my husband to be home and helping out? No, I guess I don’t. Do I WANT him to be? Yes, of course!! But we’re making do just fine and here’s how:

Communication is Key

You may have days (or weeks, or longer) where you don’t see each other because of his hours or travel. Make sure you still keep lines of communication open – have a quick daily chat on the phone or Skype (this is especially great for getting the kids involved). Text a photo or video of your little one doing something silly. Make sure to tell each other that you’re thinking of them and love them.

Quality Time Together

Sure, you’ve found your groove taking care of the house and the kids all by yourself – congratulations! But, when your partner is actually home, don’t let him annoy you by “getting in your way”. Don’t let him sit around like a house guest, either! Involve him in the daily grind such as changing diapers, story time, and fun at the park. And don’t forget some much needed adult private time to keep the spark alive.

Have Support

I feel this is true for anyone, work widow or not. You need a good support system – friends, family, you name it! People who are understanding and sympathetic. Some good shoulders to cry on, to vent to, and to make you laugh! It can be tough to make mommy friends, but they are so so so important (see my tips for making mommy friends)!

Don’t Be Negative

Being a workaholic doesn’t mean he loves you any less. It doesn’t mean he prioritizes work over family. (I mean maybe yours does, haha, I don’t know him, but anyway it’s not a given!). Try to see the positive – he’s working hard to provide for his family, and he takes great pride in his work! Do make sure he knows how you feel about his work schedule (I’ll reference above – communication is key), but don’t complain about it all the time – this is not productive and will likely lead to fights and stress.

Know Your Breaking Point

Do you feel completely overwhelmed taking care of everything at home yourself? Maybe he can help out more or you can get some outside help such as an occasional babysitter, housekeeper, etc. Do you feel like you two are drifting apart or having major issues? It might be time to consider marriage counseling, but sometimes it’s as simple as getting away from it all and reconnecting on a vacation!

Are you a work widow? Share your tips for surviving below!

Living in New York City certainly has its perks. Besides having everything at your fingertips or a short taxi or subway ride away, there are events and expos going on at every moment for just about anything you can imagine, including all things pregnancy and baby! I’m happy to share with you my list of very cool must-do Baby Expos coming up this season!

Mommy to Bee Expo
Location: Bronx (Villa Barone Manor @ 737 Throggs Neck Expressway).
Date: March 23 (Sunday) @ 11AM – 3PM.
Tickets: $8.50 for 1 or $15 for 2, register here.
Other Info: This event is for moms-to-be and new moms in the Tri-State area, featuring over 60 top companies in the baby industry, a one-stop-shop for growing families. Parents, friends and family will enjoy mingling and shopping with other expectant moms while learning how to prepare for their growing families. This is the biggest Baby Shower event in the Bronx. You’ll receive a gift bag valued over 2x your ticket price and enjoy free onsite childcare!

Brooklyn Baby & Family Expo
Location: Brooklyn Heights (St. Francis College @ 180 Remsen Street).
Date: April 6 (Sunday) @ 11AM – 3PM.
Tickets: From $15 to $120 per person, register here.
Other Info: Presented by A Child Grows, this is a family-friendly event for expectant, new and seasoned parents (of children up to age 8) and will be a day of fun and education, where participants can interact with other parents, exhibitors and experts. Exhibitors will showcase products and services covering all phases of life as a parent of young children! Hands on activities, raffle prizes, gift bags, & live kids’ entertainment!

Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower
Location: Manhattan (Metropolitan Pavillion @ 125 W 18th St).
Date: April 29 (Tuesday) @ 6:30PM – 9:30PM.
Tickets: From $65 to $200 per person, or $175 to $250 per couple, register here.
Other Info: Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower is held several times a year in several cities (the next one in NYC is November 13). With over 100 of the best companies in the baby industry, it's a one stop shop to test out, touch, feel and get educated on everything you can possibly need for your growing family. Enjoy mingling with other expectant and new parents while you enjoy sweet treats, mocktails and more in an elegant setting.

The Mamas Expo
Location: Queens (NY Hall of Science @ 47-01 111th St).
Date: May 4 (Sunday) @ 10AM – 4PM.
Tickets: $15 (General Admission) and $45 (VIP), register here.
Other Info: The Mamas Expo is open to all parents, expectant moms, and children, from pregnancy to age 6. Part baby expo, part county fair, and part something entirely different, the Mamas Expo is a one day family friendly gathering that celebrates parenting culture in New York City and beyond. It brings together local resources, businesses, brands, educators, caretakers, parents, grandparents, performers, artists, and of course kids to receive an exclusive look at all of the new resources available and of course, have fun!

NY Baby Show
Location: Manhattan (Pier 92 @ 711 12th Avenue).
Date: May 17 & 18 (Saturday & Sunday) @ 10AM – 4PM.
Tickets: Single $20, Family $30, register here.
Other Info: Presented by New York Family, the New York Baby Show is a family-friendly event for new and expectant parents from the Tri-State area and beyond. Explore a mix of top products and services for maternity, baby and toddler (over 100 brands!), along with an inspiring menu of speakers and demonstrations from highly regarded and beloved figures in the world of parenting and pregnancy. You’ll also find mom and dad lounges, play area, classes, and a stroller test track!

1. You can’t stand in place without rocking, even if you’re not holding your baby.

2. You’re constantly getting a whiff of either B.O. (thank you postpartum hormones!), spit-up, or poo.

3. Your old standards have become lusted after luxuries – i.e. sleeping more than 4 hours in a stretch, taking a long shower, and going to the bathroom alone.

4. You haven’t bought anything for yourself since you were pregnant.

5. You lied to your husband after being OK’d for sex by your OB. A few more weeks won’t kill him.

6. You still have pregnancy brain but now you can’t blame it on pregnancy, just exhaustion (#Mombie)!

7. You have no idea what’s going on in the news and it turns out ignorance really is bliss.

8. You speak in the 3rd person (“Mama is going to change your stinky diaper”) and only call your husband by his new name, Daddy (or worse… DADA!).

9. You feel absolutely naked when you leave the house without a stroller, diaper bag, and baby.

10. You struggle to carry on an intelligent adult conversation, not that the opportunity ever presents itself (unless you’re a working mom).

But above all of this, you now love something more than you ever thought possible, which makes it all worth it!! *tear* Did I miss some other signs of a new mom? Leave yours below!!

Some moms stay in shape throughout their pregnancy, never missing a beat, going full on with prenatal and postpartum pilates, yoga, swimming, you name it! Some take even better care of themselves than before being pregnant! And then there are moms like me who let it all go, LOL. Between the extreme nausea of the first trimester to the exhaustion of the third and fourth (and fifth and sixth...) trimesters, I found myself not eating well and not working out. I gained 27 pounds, ok, that's in the "healthy range", and thankfully the baby weight flew off, (yay for breastfeeding!!). And I do a LOT of walking, but I wouldn't call myself in shape. My butt has disappeared, for one. I've started daily lunges, but we are far from the perky bum I used to take for granted. Pity party for 1, please!

Long story short, because I know I'm not alone in my postparum unfit state, I'm so incredibly pleased to promote an awesome new service getting moms in shape and feeling great across NYC and beyond! Kiera, a new mom herself, hosts weekly classes through her company, Training Wheels Stroller Fitness. She has moms working their butts off, literally! The best part is that they bring their little ones to the classes, who watch from their strollers, or if they're older even take part in the exercises! And this is no half-ass aerobics class, ya'll. We're talking running suicides, throwing medicine balls, and working so hard it hurts to sneeze for a week!!

Training Wheels Stroller Fitness also holds online fitness and clean eating challenges. Kiera posts daily workout videos for moms to do from home, gives meal plans (regular, vegan, and paleo versions), and hosts a private FB group where moms can support each other, hold each other accountable for sticking to the plan, and gain points for posting photos of their meals for the day, doing their workouts, etc! Check out her video showing you how the challenges work:

The testimonials say it all: "I found my love for cooking again", "I haven't had energy like this in a long time!", "I fit into my pre-baby jeans!", "I found confidence in ME again!"...

Kiera is offering one week of complimentary online personal training to one of the 2 winners of my $1500 value Mother of All Giveaways! The package will include a 30-minute consultation via Skype or Facetime, one week access to her online training fitness program with unlimited coaching, and a sample meal plan. What a fabulous way to kick start a new (or not so new) mom's journey to losing the baby weight and feeling great! (If you don't win, you can still sign up for the online training here), and of course don't forget to try out an online challenge or her classes!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!!

It's not easy being a new mom. Sure you have a beautiful itty bitty baby to fawn over, but you also have multiple lovely postpartum issues to deal with while being completely exhausted and overwhelmed with your new life. Still, it's an amazing time to be cherished, yada yada yada *wink* Because we know how hard it can be (if you haven't read my "It Gets Better, New Mom Edition" yet, now is the time to do so!), we are so so so excited to be throwing this MASSIVE giveaway with a $600 value jackpot of 15 of the most awesome products for new moms (with an additional fabulous prize going to one runner-up). Nothing in here is for baby - it's ALL FOR YOU, MAMA!!

PARTICIPATING BLOGGERS:
Before we get to listing the prizes, I'd like to take a moment to give a shout out to our co-hosting and co-promoting bloggers, without whom this giveaway would not be possible! A big thank you goes out to: Heather at US-Japan Fam, Elizabeth at Mommie De, Libby at Willy B Mum, Allison at Project Motherhood, Christine at Brunch with my Baby, Stephanie at Football Food & Motherhood, Abby at The Badass Breastfeeder, Larisha at We're Parents!?, Krista at Savory Savings, and Amanda at Coupons and Lesson Plans.

And now, on to what the giveaway is really about... THE PRIZES!!!
We'll be reviewing products daily and listing the link below as each goes live, so keep checking back or follow me on twitter or facebook to be kept in the loop!

Our grand prize winner will receive two great big tubs of Willy B Mum's food-based homemade organic and vegan whipped body butter. This all-natural product is brand new to the market and I couldn't be more excited to be featuring it in our giveaway! Obviously it's an awesome skin care product for anyone, but it is especially great for pregnant or breastfeeding moms looking to be extra careful - you know it's not just about what you eat - your skin absorbs everything you put on it!
~See Libby's personal review here!~~

NüRoo has very generously included two items in our giveaway: one NüRoo Pocket for our grand prize winner and one NüRoo Nursing Scarf for a runner-up winner! The Pocket is an incredibly unique, useful, and comfortable babywearing shirt, while the Nursing Scarf is a total fashion-meets-function kind of accessory for any breastfeeding mom!
~~See my personal review here!~~

Who doesn't love flowers!? Teleflora will be treating our giveaway's grandprize winner (and frankly, her entire family) with their beautiful "How Sweet It Is" bouquet featuring a gorgeous array of roses, matsumoto asters, and carnations. Based in California, Teleflora has a network of over 16,000 florists in the US and Canada, ensuring your flowers arrive fast and fresh!
~~See my personal review here!~~

Our grand prize winner will receive one week of online personal training from Training Wheels Stroller Fitness. The package will include a 30-minute consultation via Skype or Facetime, one week access to their online training fitness program with unlimited coaching, and a sample meal plan. What a fabulous way to kick start a new mom's journey to losing the baby weight and feeling great!
~~See my personal review here!~~

Bravado Designs will send their Essential Embrace Nursing Bra to our lucky grand prize winner (you choose the size and color). This supportive, seamless, stretchy, breathable, wireless bra is so amazingly comfortable, we bet you won't retire it after weaning your little one!! An extender kit is also included so that you can wear this bra throughout your pregnancy as well. Awesome!
~~See my personal review here!~~

Bebe au Lait is providing our grand prize winner with one of their brand spanking new Muslin Nursing Covers! Made of premium, 100% open-weave cotton muslin, these incredibly soft, stylish, and breathable nursing covers have a rigid neckline, allowing mama (and no one else) to keep an eye on baby while breastfeeding.
~~See my personal review here!~~

Miny Moe has included their Mega Mama Nursing Pad Sampler in our jackpot. This sampler is a breastfeeding mama's dream, including 6 brands of nursing pads for her to try out before stocking up on her favorite. You'll get one pair each from 3 washable brands (Bamboobies, Itzy Ritzy, & Philips Avent) as well as 3 disposable brands (Lansinoh, Johnson's, & Nuk). FYI: Miny Moe also carries disposable diaper samplers, equally awesome for new and expecting parents!
~~See my personal review here!~~

Mrs. Patel's will be sending a $34 gift voucher for our grand prize winner to select her choices of their milk supply boosting and postpartum supporting Fenugreek Bars, Milk Water Tea, and Munch Crunch, all made from Ayuverdic recipes passed down by nursing mothers for generations in India.
~~See my personal review here!~~

CredibleCravings is offering our grand prize winner a 12-pack of their organic whole food snack bars that support the unique nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Packed full of essential vitamins, minerals, and natural probiotics, these bars are healthy, taste amazing, and include no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, or chemicals.
~~See Elizabeth's personal review here!~~

Undercover Mama will send our grand prize winner a $30 gift certificate with which to shop from their great selection of nursing shirts and accessories. Undercover Mama nursing shirts are incredibly unique, offering mama a discreet way to breastfeed her baby without having to buy a whole new wardrobe. These nursing shirts are worn under your regular shirt like a tank top, but instead of having normal straps, they attach to your nursing bra for easy access to the breast, then you can pull your regular shirt up to nurse without exposing your tummy. Awesome, right!?!?
                                                                   ~~See my personal review here!~~

Smart Mom LLC will be contributing one piece of Teething Bling to our lucky grand prize winner. They have an amazing selection of designs to choose from. Their Teething Bling is made from medical-grade food safe silicon and the easy breakaway clasp is perfectly suited for babies who love to yank at your jewelry. It's the perfect distraction while nursing, and fun to (gently) chew on while being held in your arms. Annnnnnd it's super fashionable for mama!!
~~See my personal review here!~~

Our grand prize winner will also receive a nail polish, lip gloss, and perfume trio from Tina at Avon! New moms don't have a whole lot of time to get dolled up, but a little bit can go a long way in making you look and feel fabulous! Included in this pack is a roll-on purse sized perfume, Rare Diamonds Diamond Duo lip gloss, and Speed Dry 30 second nail enamel in On the Go Pink.
~~See my personal review here!~~

Nursing Bra Express will be sending one Pull Over Sleep Nursing Bra by La Leche League Intimates™ (you choose size and color) to our grand prize winner. Soft and totally comfy, this bra is perfect throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding, and beyond! Just pull it on, and then pull it over for nursing - no clasps or hooks to deal with.
~~See my personal review here!~~

Eepples MilkCharms are a cute and useful way for moms to keep track of their bottles, and a three-pack set will be going to our grand prize winner. Just spin the dial to set the day and time your breastmilk was pumped (or formula was prepared), and you're good to go! These MilkCharms are BPA and phthalate free, and dishwasher safe.
~~See my personal review here!~~

Vitabath knows that a new mom needs to relax and be pampered, even if it's just a quick shower with a wonderful fragrance to lift you up. So, they've included two bodywashes for our grand prize winner (you choose scents)! With scents like Asian Orchid & Coconut, Citron Leaves with Lemongrass, and Cupcake Couture Dream Pink Frosting, we think these body washes might help you get in more than a shower a week! What's more? They are free of sulfates, parabens, propylene glycol, DEA, TEA, triclosan, silicone, and mineral oils!!
~~See my personal review here!~~

So what are you waiting for?? Enter to win today!!!
(US residents ages 18 and over only please! Winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before new winners are selected.)

I'll skip to the chase - sleep training in a one bedroom apartment is impossible, or nearly so, at least for me! I searched the web high and low for sleep training guides focused on families in small apartments forced to share a bedroom with their little one. And you know what, I couldn't find a single one. Sure, I found the occasional question on a sleep training forum, with a few suggestions such as "put up a barrier so baby can't see you", etc. But I'll tell you, it's not easy and for us it just wasn't happening.

Baby wakes up for whatever reason: transitioning between sleep cycles, a loud truck rolled by, the neighbors dog was barking, you name it. Baby wakes up just enough to start crying and stand up in his crib. Then he sees you, or if you have the barrier up or are hiding under the covers, he still knows you are there. Thus begins the process of getting himself so worked up that eventually he's dinosaur screaming (you know, where it's all guttural high pitched screaming from the throat, that sounds like he's in excrutiating pain). Maybe you are deteremined to let him cry it out. Commence torturous moments or even hours, if you have the will and heart of coal. Maybe baby gives up and lies down, but is up and at it again in 5 to 30 minutes. You finally cave, thinking something must be terribly wrong with your baby - he's hungry, teething, has a poopy diaper, is gassy, had a night terror, sees dead people, who knows!?!?! it's the middle of the night and you're exhausted and you're scared your child is crying for a real reason and you've been ignoring him! Worst mother ever!!! So you pick up your screaming child and the SECOND you pick him up out of the crib he is the most quiet and peaceful thing you have ever seen. Your mind suddenly switches from terrified to angry - YOU BIG FAKER!!!! But he's angelic and sweet and so you cuddle or nurse him and he's back to sleep in no time. Finally you put him back down in the crib, maybe he protests with a few cries, maybe not. But he's back to sleep and you know the cycle will just repeat in another hour or two.

Welcome to the #ZombieMom Zone.

I've been here for about 7 months, since my perfect little sleeper turned 5.5 months and decided he would no longer sleep 11 hours through the night, would no longer find comfort in sucking his thumb, and would begin torturing his parents on a nightly basis. #ZombieMom Zone is not just uncomfortable, it's dangerous. Your ability to reason and to have patience of ANY sort whatsoever are out the window. It's not healthy for you or your family or the world. The longer you remain in #ZombieMom Zone, the deeper you go until you don't even remember what it's like to function like a normal thought processing human being. Every cry of your child in the night sends you to the edge, making you remember the words of your discharging nurse after birth warning you about shaken baby syndrome: "no baby every died from crying - do not even go near that crib if your thoughts are anything other than warm nurturing ones".

I used to bring him into bed with us, but I broke that habit with our last attempt at CIO sleep training a few months ago (that attempt did help - he's now a great napper and goes down at night usually without crying at all, it just didn't help with not waking up every couple of hours!), and don't wan to start the habit again or confuse him with sometimes allowing it and sometimes not. I love co-sleeping actually, but my biggest fear is baby will fall out of bed in the middle of the night. He's really restless and does acrobatics all over the place. Co-sleeping is not conducive to me getting a good night's rest, unfortunately, so it's out of the question.

Yesterday I analyzed our living room and realized there is a spot by the window that I can fashion a makeshift room for Kenzo. If I put the sound machine in there, and we are super quiet when are going about the rest of the apartment, he should be able to sleep in there...

So, our plan was not to go to Kenzo unless he was crying for at least 20 minutes. How did it go??

AMAZING NIGHT OF SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!

I put him down at 8pm. While we were still awake and working in the kitchen, Kenzo woke up and cried for a minute or two at 9:45 and again at 11pm. There were a few more times during the night were I heard him cry very quietly for a minute, but it was the kind of cry you could tell he wasn't really awake, and thankfully he just laid himself down and went back to deep sleep. He didn't really wake up until 6:45am. Hooooo-freaking-rah!!!!!!!!!

I'll still put him down in the bedroom in his crib for naps, so I can get stuff down around the house without tip-toing around, and then we'll continue the nighttime sleep in the living room. I really hope last night wasn't a fluke and this is the solution until we move to the new home in 2 months and he gets his own for real room! Also hope this cold-turkey night weaning doesn't land me with another bout of mastitis! Eeeek!

I am a planner, a researcher, a super organized kinda gal. I have to say that since having a baby things have gotten crazier but I do my best to stay on top of my game. I planned my destination wedding all by myself. I planned a 10-country world tour for hubby and I all by myself. Easy peasy. But you know what is throwing me for a loop?? My baby's damn first birthday party!! HA!

One problem is Pinterest, and Facebook. They put so much freaking pressure on us to make the cutest most adorable and memorable party ever. You know what? It's just not freaking possible to live up to those kinda standards! Well, not for 99% of us anyway. Yeah, there is a new "1%" and they are the people who are pinned time and time again with their amazing decorations and kids storage ideas and photo ops. Ugh. Hate them. Down with the 1%!!!

I'll get off my soap box and instead talk about how the party prepping is going. First of all, I'm not in it alone, thank god!! We're doing a triple birthday party with 2 baby friends of ours - they all had their bdays between Christmas and New Year, so our theme, OF COURSE, is "Winter ONEderland". On the one hand, planning it with two other moms is cheaper and easier, it's also harder in some ways because you have to have decisions discussed and voted on, and divvying up tasks is a task all on its own! LOL! But, getting together to work on the crafts and stuff is a blast, once we get over the stress of planning and being surrounded by squealing or tantruming toddlers!!

This week we worked on a few big items: the snowflake pom poms, the birthday banner, and our photo doilie display!

I got the snowflake pom poms from a great Etsy shop called The Shower Planner (like them on Facebook, check out their blog, and follow them on Pinterest!). Everyone knows those cute pom poms, you see them at baby showers and stuff like that. Sure, they're a pain in the butt to make, but they are great cheap decorations. Well, PHC sells those and they come with these awesome snowflakes that hang down from them!! They were not too tough to put together and came out really cute!

Next we worked on the birthday banner, which we got from Paper Heart Company (like them on Facebook!). They have digital designs which they can personalize, and then you print then, cut them out, hole punch them, and string them together... a bit of work on your end, but they come out great!

We also worked on a project for highlighting each month of our babies' first year. We thought doilies worked with our theme, so decided to throw photos on doilies and string them together...

The big day is this Sunday, so will definitely do a post afterwards with photos of how everything looked set-up (we have FIFTEEN minutes to set up the room... WHAT THE EF GYMBOREE!?!?!?! Grrrrr that is probably where 95% of our stress lies...). Wish us luck! Hopefully we can do what we can do and then just have FUN at the party!!

Whoopsie - guess I took an unplanned 2 week hiatus from the blog, sorry about that but as they say, Life Happens!!

The biggest thing that happened was that my baby turned ONE YEAR OLD!!! Wahhhhhhh!! Actually, no tears were involved surprisingly! Nostalgia, yes, looking through newborn photos and videos - GAH! But he's growing up and it's very exciting - he's 21 pounds, loves playing hide and seek, is eating table food with his 8 teeth, is running around and playing soccer (he even has itty bitty calf muscles LOL), and is also getting quite the attitude (advice on handling tantrums is MUCHO appreciated!!).

I also went home to North Carolina from December 13 - 24, so I was on vacation mode and lazy as hell. Who can blame me?? I've wearing a ton of different hats now working for Miny Moe and Mommy Nearest and Romio and Kidz Central Station, not to mention running after my little toddler, planning his first birthday party, managing several Facebook pages and of course this blog. Phew!! I'm exhausted just thinking about it!! There are just not enough hours in the day, and not enough dollars in my pay checks HA!

We're also on the fence about going into contract on a co-op (if you're not from NYC, a co-op is basically a condo but instead of owning the unit, you own shares to the building instead, and your monthly maintenance includes your portion of the entire building's property tax and mortgage - really strange, definitely a NYC thing!). We bid and counter-bidded 3 times before they finally accepted our offer. But when the contract came in there were a few things that made us balk including a 10% increase on the monthly maintenance and financial reports that look like there is a pretty constant assessment being charged. It's such a huge decision, we just don't know what to do!! It's definitely on the high end of what we can afford, and we don't want to stress about making ends meet. I think we're going to have to sit down and finally make a decision today >_< Home buying in NYC is a freaking joke, a cruel and punishing joke!

OK, so that's what's been going on here! Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things with more regular posts here! Also planning an awesome group giveaway for to-be and new moms coming up! If you have a suggestion for a great company I should reach out to for this, please let me know! Or if you're a blogger who'd like to help out on this one doing reviews and promoting on social media accounts, please get in touch!