New Baby: How to Survive the First Week

Whether it is your fourth or your first, having a new baby can be overwhelming. The first week can be especially tough. I have officially survived 4 "first weeks", so I'll pass on a bit of what I have learned.

1. Enjoy the hospital. I know this sounds insane, but really-just enjoy it.
Enjoy having a bed that goes up and down.
Enjoy someone bringing you your medicine.
Take advantage of the nurses and ask them to watch the baby while you shower. Who knows the next time you'll get one?
If possible, order cheesecake with every meal at the hospital. I did. Remember: Calories don't count until you get home. :)

2. Let others help, and ask for help if no one offers.
I know this is a hard one for most of us. There is something bred into us that says asking for help is weakness. I know I felt like a lazy bum just sitting on the couch while my mom and husband did everything, but being lazy was exactly what I needed.

3. Don't feel guilty about paying attention to your new baby. I was given the guilt trip on more than one occasion for paying too much attention to the new baby and not enough to my other kids. If you are in the first week after giving birth ignore people like this. Feel free to throw a pillow at them if you'd like. I'm not saying to pretend that the older children don't exist, but if there are people around to help you, let them amuse the older kids while you figure out nursing and get some newborn snuggles.

4. Drink a ton of water. I know from personal experience that dehydration will make you feel like absolute crap after having a baby. Drink, drink, drink.

5. Don't overdue it! You may be surprised to find that you feel great that first week. You may want to go shopping, entertain friends, and return to your regularly scheduled life, but don't. Just don't. On day 8 you are going to feel it, and odds are good that the help you had that first week may be gone. Take it from me. I made that mistake after this baby. I felt like Super Mom that first week, and ended up miserable, sick, and taking care of 4 kids on my own the second week.

Good luck, Mamas. You can do this!

Doctor Who T-Shirt Transfers

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Hello Sweeties! Tomorrow is the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special and my inner (and outer) geek is jumping up and down like a little girl. I can't wait to see 10 and 11 together in the TARDIS. I may faint. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about just smile and nod.

For those of you Whovians out there I have designed some simple t-shirt or onesie transfers to help you celebrate in style. Just print the download images onto transfer paper and iron them on.

Click HERE to download

Click HERE to download

Click HERE to download

Click HERE to download

The pictures shown on the blog are just samples. The actual transfer files are backwards and do not have my watermark. They are ready to print. When you're done grab your TARDIS mug, some Jammie Dodgers, and your Fez and enjoy the show.

Happy 50th, Doctor Who!

Calvin Midnight Moon

Greetings, Crafty Confessors. I'm sorry I haven't been posting much lately.  I was on bed rest for two LONG months, and pregnancy brain made it too hard to post. Can you guess what happened on my first day off bed rest? Yep! I went into labor!

After 14 hours we welcomed a beautiful baby boy named Calvin Midnight. We was 18.75 inches and weighed 6 pounds. He was over three weeks early, but he was healthy and absolutely perfect.

He is 11 days old now and it feels like he has always been in the family. His daddy and I can't stop kissing him and his three older sibling absolutely adore him.

Now that our beautiful family is complete I look forward to sharing our adventures and lots of fun crafts with you all again soon.

Puffs Fresh Faces Review

A little while ago I was asked to try Puff Fresh Faces wipes.  The instant I tried them I was hooked. I figured they would be great during cold and allergy season, but it turned out that they are for so much more than your nose!

I use them to clean the kids' faces after a messy meal, to sooth our noses during cold and flu season, and I love using the lavender scented wipes after a workout to refresh and relax.

To try them for yourself check out the Puffs Fresh Faces website for a sample and coupon, or just head to the tissue aisle at Walmart.

Hello. I love you.

Hello. I love you. These are the first four words each of my children have heard as they are placed in my arms for the first time. These are the four words that I will be saying to my son in a matter of days. After nine months of pregnancy and two months of bed rest I cannot wait to say those words. While I'm waiting for our newest miracle to arrive I try to remember my other miracles and give them the same love and acknowledgement every day.

Hello. I love you. These are such simple words but they are absolutely necessary for a growing soul. Have you said them to your child today? Have you shown them? All it takes is a smile and a hug. In this world of gadgets and toys it is easy to get lost in the things we want to give our children, but in the end it isn't a new Barbie or iPad that is going to validate them and keep them going. It is four beautiful, uncomplicated words: Hello. I love you.

I'll keep this post short and sweet because not much else needs to be said. Now I'm going to practice what I preach and let my children know just how important they are.