MommyCon Mini Phoenix Ticket Giveaway!

I'm so excited to share this latest giveaway with you! MommyCon is coming to Phoenix! There is a MommyCon Mini conference coming to the Mesa Convention Center on April 14, 2013. They've partnered with Krazy for Kloth to offer a FREE ticket to one lucky reader! 

Photo courtesy of MommyCon

Here's what you can expect at the conference:

"MommyCon brings the best in parenting tips, tricks and resources directly to the parent. A full day of mingling, learning and shopping is planned within the convention center. Attendees will not only have the chance to meet other forward thinking parents, but attend seminars and workshops from industry leaders, test out top notch baby and childhood gear and enjoy time with other moms, mothers-to-be and yes, even fathers.

Photo courtesy of MommyCon

MommyCon will feature over a dozen seminars and presentations including; birthing options with midwives and doctors, learn proper baby wearing with instructor Alyssa Ruben, cloth diapering for the modern family, certified lactation consultants will be on hand, as well as panel discussions with birthing professionals, pediatricians and other health care experts. A hands on workshop area will allow babies and moms to engage in infant massage alongside Amber Puzzi, LMT.

The schedule includes:

Yoga – Mom and Baby

Infant Massage Workshop

Introduction to Babywearing & Wrapping

Birth Panel Discussion

Car Seat Safety & The Best Seat for Your Family

Mothering Through Breastfeeding

Cloth Diapering 2.0

And much much more!

Kids of all ages are welcome to attend, and topics will predominately focus on the first three years."

So now that the giveaway is over, if you still need to purchase your tickets, you can purchase your ticket here, and use the code "krazy4mc". This will give you $5 off your ticket price! :) Just make sure to enter the above code in the promo code area.

I look forwards to seeing you at the show! And don't worry, after the show I will do a full write-up of my experience so all you non-local readers can know what to expect when MommyCon comes to your city! :)

Photo courtesy of MommyCon

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A Modern Mommy Indeed!

One of Phoenix's little gems is Modern Mommy Boutique, a mommy boutique in the East Valley. This cute store is unlike anywhere else in the valley--in my opinion. Started by a mother, this store caters to moms, and I'm not talking like the Motherhood section in Macy's. This store has everything from baby clothes and accessories, to diaper bags, to the most beautiful selection of nursing bras around. Yes, I did just use "beautiful" and "nursing bras" in the same sentence. There is so much to talk about, I'm going to warn you if my thoughts seem scattered! :) 

First, and foremost, I found out about this store when I was about 6 months pregnant. I had decided I was going to give breastfeeding a try and didn't want to commit to purchasing a pump. I called around to a couple hospitals and other baby stores, and Modern Mommy was always recommended for renting hospital-grade pumps. They carry Ameda and Medela pumps, including my personal favorite, the Medela Symphony. Not only do they offer daily rates, but weekly and monthly rentals! Perfect for any situation! This store is so breastfeeding friendly they offer a weekly breastfeeding support group (led by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant {IBCLC}) and monthly nursing classes! I've read that one of the biggest reasons women stop nursing is lack of support. How fantastic to have access to a resource like this after being discharged from the hospital! 

My next "brush" with Modern Mommy was in a mom's group I attend weekly. A woman was asking about comfortable nursing bras. After having worked at Victoria's Secret in college, I knew how many people wear the wrong size bra--nursing or not. Pregnancy does all sorts of crazy things to one's body and trying to keep track of your size is a nightmare! Not to mention some bras come in S, M, L, and XL. I personally am not a fan of this sizing for anything above the waist that's not pajamas. Let's face it, things just fit differently up there! She was referred to Modern Mommy with the phrase "Just go. You'll see what I mean" When you go to Modern Mommy, not only will you find a fantastic selection of nursing apparel, but you'll find nursing lingerie. YES! LINGERIE! Colors, and lace, and patterns in sizes from 32A-48K! Just because you're pregnant or nursing doesn't succumb you to a life of white, black, or nude. There's nothing wrong with a little lingerie here and there to give you some extra sass when your body goes up and down and your hormones are out of whack. While you're looking at the fantastic selection, a certified bra fitter (on staff) will help you find the best fit and style for you. I know it doesn't sound like much, but to a new mom, feeling like someone actually "gets" what you want and how you're feeling is the greatest gift!

As a new mom, there is so much information about what's best for you and for your baby. It can be so overwhelming trying to narrow it all done. Big box stores can add to this confusion by offering anything and everything under the sun. Going to a boutique gives you a more personal touch. Talisha, the fabulous owner, hand-picks the products she carries and truly stands behind them. She has a few cloth diapers, an array of baby carriers and will teach you how to wear them and work with you to find what works best for you. There are infant toys, not just your everyday run of the mill plastic blocks, but developmental toys! She chooses to carry products that are not only "must-haves" but organic, renewable, and sustainable whenever possible. There's something to be said about a small business owner that not only cares about her customers, but about the environment as well. One conversation with Talisha will let you know she's not environmentally conscious because it's "trendy" but because she truly believes in the preservation of valuable resources and providing her customers with the same products she would provide her own family.

While this store does have a baby/child component, it's truly a store for moms. A place where moms can be heard, understood, valued, and treated like friends. A place where you're not a number on a receipt, your child is not "a future consumer" but someone who deserves the best at the best price. Not to mention the confidence boost that inevitably comes after buying "a little something" that makes you feel sassy after just having a baby. If as a new mom you do nothing else for yourself, do this, go to Modern Mommy, check it out, see what they have to offer, and indulge a little (not in the price; in the experience! )

Sorry to non-local mommy's on this one. There is not a "shop online" component...yet. A little birdie told me one is in the plans, so keep your fingers crossed for an online shop by the end of the year!



**This review is of my own personal opinion and experience. I have not been compensated in any way for this review**

Baby's first vacation!

Thank you all for your patience the last week or so. We took our first "official" family vacation, complete with a plane ride this past week. We flew across country to visit B's Grandma KD, Grandpa Nando and Auntie Jamie. As a typical first time mom, I was terrified to take a baby on the plane. I had flashbacks of my own "pre-baby" judgmental comments, (internally, of course) and looks (externally, I'm afraid) to those other parents traveling with infants who were less than pleased to be cooped up on a plane. **We used an Ergo carrier through the airport which made traveling a breeze! Another point for babywearing! I also brought our Scootababy for around the house and a Solarveil Ring sling for the beach. It was great to have plenty of options and we even got Grandma KD and Auntie Jamie to babywear!** Polish Prince flew out with myself and B on the way there, and on the way home it was just baby and me. Overall, the plane was a success. He was a bit more vocal on the way home than I would have preferred, but it just gave me an excuse to get up and stretch my legs pacing the aisle and hanging out in the back galley! :) 

His first vacation included a fun trip to the beach and LOTS of swimming! He's been in swim lessons here since he was about 3 months old, but the beach was a whole new experience! He liked the dry sand...so much he wanted to eat it! Wet sand and waves however were a whole different story! It was so much fun getting to see his expressions as he explored his new environment. 

Since we were staying with family the whole time we decided to travel with our cloth diapers. I went back and forth a while on this one, but when Grandma so graciously offered up her washing machine I went for it! B needed a whole suitcase (carry-on size) just for his fluff!! We did sposies for the plane because I didn't want to travel with dirty dipes and cloth the rest of the time. I was surprised at how easy it was to travel with! When we went out and about in Florida I carried his wet bag, I didn't need to haul a huge diaper bag everywhere and it was fantastic! I also got the opportunity to visit a local cloth diaper shop in Tampa to pick up some detergent. They have a website and a storefront. You can check them out here. Super cute shop and super friendly staff! I was on the complete other side of the country, yet when I walked in this store, it felt so familiar and comfortable. I love the fluff family!!

We had such a fun time and already can't wait for the next trip!

Babywearing

Let me start this by saying, I LOVE wearing little B! Even when he was a fussy, cranky, sleepless newborn, I would wrap him up and walk, and bounce, and rock, and do anything else I could think of that would soothe him. My into to babywearing was simple. My friend Casey and I played with all the ones we could find at BuyBuyBaby. I had NO idea there was a whole community of babywearers and different types of carriers. After much research,(And YouTube video watching) I decided I wanted something soft, somewhat stretchy, fabric based,and breathable. Afterall, this kid was being born in September in the desert. It was going to be hot! We settled on a Baby K'Tan. It's basically a fabric wrap for beginners. PERFECT! It was less intimidating than the Moby (which people adore) and seemed to be a good one to grow with little B. Once I practiced with the instructions, I felt pretty confident in wearing him around. It was hard to believe how secure he felt all wrapped up in there! I wore him around the house, around the mall, around outdoor events. EVERYWHERE!

The Baby K'Tan just a few days old

 After he got a few months older and gained some head control, my sweet B did not want to be stuck inside his little cocoon. He was fascinated with the world around him and wanted to see everything! Thankfully I was introduced to a babywearing meeting with a representative of Babywearers International of Phoenix. I got to try on different carriers, and learn about the proper way to wear a baby. Turns out there are options beyond the Bjorn! I learned that it's best for baby to be in a seated position with their knees at or above their hips, this is the most ergonomic for little ones. After the meeting, I decided that wraps were still too intimidating for me, and I decided on a soft-structured carrier (SSC). One of the most popular one is an Ergo. It can be worn on the front or back and is easily adjustable between partners. I however went with a Scootababy. These are a little more obscure, as they are hard to find in local retailers. The great thing about the Scootababy is that it can be worn on the hip. Perfect for my wide-eyed infant and great for toddlers. Think about it. When you hold your baby in your arms where are they usually at? Straddling your hip. So, naturally I HAD to have one. I can't say how much I love my decision. Once I got it, I found it can also be worn on the front and back. When B needs a nap, I put him in on the front and after a little bouncing he goes right to sleep! I even got Polish Prince to give it a try! He wears him around the house when he's cranky and is struggling to sleep. B that is, not Polish Prince! :)

Family photo

 The more I wear B, the more I realize the stroller is just for carrying things. We went to a spring training game yesterday, lawn seats require blankets, and babies require pretty much everything else. So, to make it all in one trip, we brought the stroller. It hauled everything while B was riding along in the Scootababy, happy as can be! when he needed a nap round the 5th inning, back in the carrier he went for a solid 45 minutes, at a noisy, warm, outdoor baseball game! 

Baseball Game! (he is clothed, I promise!)

 I highly encourage any of you to check out facebook, or even google, to find your local Babywearing chapter and learn about the different carriers out there. It can be expensive buying a bunch of different ones and not knowing which ones are most comfortable for you. Some local boutiques may also carry brands that big box baby stores don't. It's a great opportunity to try them on and get familiar! Stay tuned for part 2 of this post. I'm taking a ring sling with me on a vacation. It's made of UV protective material and is great in the water. I'll keep you posted (no pun intended) on how it does! 

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