v 4 issue 9: Baby On Board

Do you have a baby on board? Along with the changes in your body, you will have many needs to take you through the nine months and beyond. We are sharing some of our favorites from clothing to keepsakes. Ever wonder what expectant Dad's are thinking? Read our interview with Troy Jones and find out.


Cover by Alexi Killmer






1 Have no fear Moms, you no longer need to expose your big belly to the world. Cover up, wear your maternity clothes longer, and hide the swollen belly after birth too. Looks just like you're layering your clothes. Great! Head to Mom4Life for this must have.

2 Join host Kara Korhonen, registered dietitian and Mom, as she helps you dive into the mysteries of prenatal nutrition. Definitely answers all the questions you might have. Certainly throws in extra tidbits-at no extra charge! Surely leaves you educated, but not hungry for more. bitesizevideo.com

3 A bundle of savvy styles for expecting Moms in one great shop! Younique to You selects only top quality designers, so this is the place to go when you need fashion and function. The chocolate maternity pants shown here are just one great example of the many staple wardrobe items to choose from.

4 A delightfully adorable keepsake journal to jot down all the memories of little ones before and after pregnancy. Comes covered in a soft suede-like fabric with 105 pages. Some pages have prompted fill-ins and some have scrapbook cut-outs to embellish as you'd like. Word to the wise: don't wait to fill it in! Baby Oliver Boutique
Enter code: Tot10 for 10% off your total order!

5 A gorgeous gift idea for the Mom-to-be. A circular pendant, the size of a penny, is stamped with the month of baby's due date. Crystals reflecting the birthstone are added for a special touch. And, it all comes on a 16 or 18 inch sterling silver fine ball chain.vAvailable at circleofsentiments.com
Enter code: TTW10 for 10% off your total order!

6 Laugh and Learn with Sheri Bayles, certified Lamaze Instructor and Lactation Consultant. From the comfort of your own home, learn all the basics (and some great extras!) of childbirth through Sheri's truly humorous presentation. You can also get filled in on the basics of newborn care and breastfeeding without leaving the house too!

7 Sweater wraps and cozy covers from Moody Mamas let the breeze in, but keep the chill out. We love the easy on & off style of these wraps and cover ups which adjust to the moods of Moms when the hot flashes come to town.

8 In about 30 minutes, you could have yourself one of the coolest pregnancy keepsakes around. The Original Belly Works kit includes all you'll need to make a casting of baby's pre-world home. Super project to decorate with big brothers and sisters to be...check out the site for ideas!


This weeks Mom tips:
This weeks Mom tips are dedicated to our expectant Mom's

Tips to prepare your child for their new baby sibling:

If you plan to move your child to a new bed and/or bedroom, do so well before the baby arrives, so your older child doesn’t feel displaced by the baby. This also goes for any other major changes, like weaning, toilet training, and starting preschool or child care.

Check with your hospital about sibling preparation classes and hospital tours. Bring your child to prenatal visits so they can meet your birth attendant.

Give them a realistic idea of what to expect when the baby first arrives. You will be tired, and the baby will take lots of your time. The baby will not be able to do much at first, except eat, sleep, poop, pee and cry. The baby will not be a playmate for a while.

Read books about pregnancy, birth, newborns, and baby siblings with your child (see below for some suggestions). Give them a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and vent feelings inspired by the books.

Tell them about their birth and what they were like as a baby. Tell them how excited you were when they were born, and how everyone wanted to see them and hold them.

Have your child practice holding a doll and supporting the head. Teach them how to touch and hold a baby very gently.

Let them participate in preparations in any way possible. Give them choices, such as choosing the baby’s coming home outfit from two acceptable options.

Source: University of Michigan Health System

Our interview with Troy Jones (Being Dad)

We recently interviewed Troy Jones, one of the film creators of the Filmography "Being Dad".

Being Dad is the film that answers the question what should men expect when they're expecting? It supplies inspiration and information for Dad's to be.

What inspired you to make this documentary?
Necessity! There are a lot of books out there for women during pregnancy, and a couple of books for guys. I think the big problem for me (and the VAST majority of guys) is that I was in denial about the pregnancy actually ever ending and me really becoming a dad. I was barely able to look after myself... How could I look after someone else?? Denial was the easy answer. So reading a book about pregnancy and birth seemed like a lot of hard work. I had a mountain of books (mysteriously) stacking up on my bed side table – and eventually got myself accidentally caught up in a conversation with a few buddies about what they had been through supporting their wives through labor. To everyone’s surprise, it was an amazing bonding experience, hilarious, brutally honest and great fun. It appeared to us all that we’d never had a chance to talk about the stuff before. I own a film company – I joined the dots, and away we went.

What did it take to get this film up and running?
The hardest part is getting diverse dads to come along to the shoots. Aside from the free beer and dinner, it’s not necessarily the most appealing idea – come along to a film shoot with 6 other guys that you don’t know and talk openly about your feelings and how you coped with one of the biggest experiences of your life, becoming a dad. Once they arrive (across 7 cities around the nation) the hard part was over. Once these 40 or so regular Joe’s got started, the mono-syllabic grunts made way for hilarious stories, brilliant advice, and heart wrenching tales of fear, love, loss, adversity and triumph.

Did you have a clear plan for the film? Was it scripted or did it take on a life of its own once started?
Its totally unscripted... I would say even unguided. The film follows me and my wife and our journey to the birth, has about 40 dads in groups of 6 around the country, 4 experts jumping in with thoughts and advice – and we just let the cameras roll. What ensued was honest, moving and surprised even us – especially the secrets these guys imparted, and how much detail these guys recall. Its something I do for fun these days – if you meet a dad, ask him if he can remember the day his first baby was born. Watch him light up as he tells you the story.
The main thing we wanted was to show that no 2 births are the same. That was our major problem with the books. It was almost always form someone’s personal experience. That’s the idea behind the variety of guys. The other thing was there were no women involved in the shoots at all. It really allowed the guys to tell their side of the story. That was a great move.

What was your fondest memory of Stacie's pregnancy?
Stacey’s was a tough pregnancy, full of some pretty tough morning sickness. Seeing the look of (exhausted) achievement and overwhelming happiness on her face when Matilda lay on her chest was prize enough for me. That and hearing Matilda cry out for the first time. The amazing feeling of relief was too much. I slinked out the room a few minutes later and cried my eyes out – I think from sheer relief.

What is your best advice for expecting Dad's?
Buy her a dress that is one size too small with cup size one (or two) sizes too big. Worked for me. That and also make sure you try to project your mind past the birth. As a worrying kind of guy, I was relieved when my baby was born – seemingly healthy, breathing, all ten fingers and toes, but it dawned on me, how do I know if there was something less obvious wrong with her? I asked the OBGYN, and he said Troy, this isn’t the end of worrying. This is the START of the worrying. This is someone you will worry about for the rest of your life.

The Being Dad DVD is formatted in a documentary style with an entertaining often humorous and emotional slant. The concept was developed by three first-time dads: Sam Holt, Troy Jones and Tom Hastwell. They saw a gap in the market for parenting products in a digital medium, specifically for men.

Reserve your copy of Being Dad at Amazon.com. Available October 7, 2008