Celebrating Baby Number Two!

More and more second time moms are having baby showers to celebrate the newest addition to the family, but often times, they don't know if they should register or what they should register for. It's all in what you feel comfortable doing, and if there are items you need to make the transition from one to two children easier, I say go for it...register away!

But...since many of your guests may have given you a gift when you were pregnant with your first child, focus on the essentials when registering for your second baby. Some items to consider registering for are:

- Diapers

- Wipes

- Gift Cards

- Daddy Diaper bag

- Burp cloths

- Bibs

- Double Stroller (Perhaps family members will pool together to get you this big item.)

Consider registering for a few outfits, too. If your second baby is a different gender than your first child, gender specific clothes are always very fun, and very necessary! Even if the gender is the same, new clothes are always a great gift idea since baby clothes become worn out so easily.

If you still feel uncomfortable about having a good ol' fashion baby shower thrown for you for your second child, there are other ways to celebrate your pregnancy. You could suggest to your gracious hosts to hold a specific themed shower, such as a book shower (guests bring children's books to build your baby's library), a diaper shower, or a frozen meal shower. All of these shower ideas would mean less expensive gifts that your guests would have to give, but all are very useful. Or you could simply have a "Baby Bash" where your friends and family come to a party in your honor, but no gifts are given.

Expanding your family is an exciting time...enjoy celebrating your new baby!

Raising Your Toddler While Pregnant

With less than a month to go until our new arrival makes his debut into this world, I am having serious mommy guilt about the time spent with my almost three year old daughter. She senses something is different about mama (perhaps it’s that I am huge and exhausted and slow as a turtle right now!) I want to make sure she feels loved and cared for these last few weeks of my pregnancy.

The demands of a toddler can be physically and emotionally draining on you, especially when you are pregnant. There are times during your pregnancy when you just need to rest, and your curious toddler may not understand that! You may feel like you are carrying two babies…one in your belly and one on your hip!

On the flip side, I wonder if the past few months have been hard for my toddler, too, since I have not been able to do the same routine at the same pace with my sweet girl. I did some research on tips for raising a toddler while pregnant, and here are some helpful hints I want to share with you!

- Enlist help. Find a mother’s helper or a family member that can come and play with your toddler on those days where you just need to rest or are not feeling well.

- On the weekends, try to catch up on your rest. This means your spouse or partner will need to pitch in more. (My husband has rocked throughout this pregnancy!)

- Stay home! Sometimes it is easier to care for your toddler at home than wrestling with car seats, strollers, tantrums, and bathroom breaks out in public. Just get creative those last few weeks of your pregnancy and play around your house to help you save energy and get ready for the big delivery!

- Rest when your toddler rests! If you are fortunate enough that your toddler still takes naps, make sure you rest when they do! I know it seems like a great time to accomplish something on your to-do list, but if you don’t rest, you will pay for it later in the day.

- Once the baby is born, make sure to carve out time with your toddler for special one-on-one playdates with you. Your toddler needs to know you still love them very much and that it is not all about the baby!

Good luck with your pregnancy from Pure and Honest Kids!

Words of Advice to Nicole Ritchie: How Does a Second Pregnancy Differ from the First?

Are you expecting for the second time? Congratulations! Women like celebrity Nicole Ritchie, who is expecting her second child, are excited and anxiously awaiting the new arrival, but what should they expect will be different this time around?

Despite being a veteran of pregnancy, labor and delivery, there are some surprising differences to look out for. Here are some words of advice for Nicole and other moms that are in the midst of their second pregnancy.

Rest when your baby is resting.
You will find yourself more tired with this pregnancy because of the demands of your other children. You should try to rest when your children are napping. Also, don’t take on too much, especially during the first trimester. Enlist Dad, family and friends to help you with your older children and the household chores when possible.

Bond with Baby Number 2!
During your first pregnancy, you probably could not read enough about pregnancy, the labor process, and about newborn babies! This time around, since you know more what to expect, you may find yourself not as emotionally invested in this pregnancy. This is by no means an indication that you love this baby any less! You just have more on your plate this time around. Take some time to enjoy this pregnancy (even though you have other children to look after!) Take time each day to bond with your baby by doing deep breathing, visualizing the nursery, and reading about the growth and progress of baby number two.

Physically, this pregnancy could be tougher, so take care of yourself.
Because your uterus has already expanded once before, the pulling sensations and tugging will occur earlier than in your first pregnancy. Your abdominal muscles are also already stretched out, so you are likely to carry your second baby lower, therefore the urge to urinate often starts earlier. You may also experience increased pelvic discomfort from the additional pressure on your bladder during this pregnancy. Make sure to look after yourself and listen to your body. Take the time to eat right, exercise and rest, and it will hopefully subside the physical pain of second pregnancies!

Yes, that was your baby kicking!
You are likely to feel your baby much earlier this pregnancy, too, because you know what it feels like and because everything has already stretched out. With first time pregnancies, you usually feel your baby moving during the fifth month. With subsequent pregnancies, you can feel your baby move as early as four months!

Pull out the maternity clothes earlier this time.
Again, because your uterus has already stretched and expanded once, you are likely to “show” earlier than you did before. Expect to show about a month earlier than you did with your first pregnancy. Go ahead and pull out your maternity clothes and dress comfortably!

Do not worry about loving the new baby as much as your other children!
So many mothers worry that they could not possibly love this new baby as much as their first born. Let me assure you, as soon as your new bundle of joy arrives, that notion will fly out the window! Just remember this baby is different and special, and you have more than enough love for all your children!

Try not to relive the past.
If you had a troublesome pregnancy or labor and delivery last time, you may find yourself already worrying about past problems reoccurring. Try to remember that every pregnancy is different, as well as labor and delivery, so don’t borrow trouble! Be sure to ask questions and voice concerns to your doctor or midwife, and talk to your partner about any fears you may be having. Share with others your concerns so you don’t feel alone in this process. Your baby will be here soon enough, so take care of yourself in the meantime, and enjoy your pregnancy.

Remember, every pregnancy is different. You could feel better than ever this time around, but don’t be alarmed if you don’t since you have a toddler or preschooler you are chasing around. Enjoy this miracle of life and soon you’ll have a new baby to hold in your arms!

Congratulations on your pregnancy from Pure and Honest Kids! We hope you will check out our store at http://www.pureandhonestkids.com/ for all your baby needs for this precious bundle of joy! And check out our great selection of Big Sister/Big Brother gifts from Pure and Honest Kids here.