More new babies

And the babies just keep on coming! I was way behind in updating the Bustin' Out Babies list. There are four delicious new babies, though -- feel free to check them out!

There are only two moms left on the list who haven't given birth yet -- me, and then Chelle. So if you're expecting and want to be on the list, please let me know. Or if you know someone who's about to have or adopt a baby, please send them my way.

New babies

Just wanted to point out there have been a lot of babies being born around the blogosphere in the past few weeks. I just updated the Bustin' Out Babies list.

Are you expecting, or do you know someone who is expecting? Add your pregnancy or adoption by e-mailing me at growingalife at gmail dot com.

Three bloggers and a baby

Here's my last Say It Forward post. Every Friday, 5 Minutes for Mom asks for a list of up to three bloggers who loyally comment. I've played along for a month now and think I'll stop because -- even though you are all wonderfully loyal commenters -- I don't want anyone's eyes to glaze over when/if they happen by here on Fridays and stop paying attention to the bloggers I link to.

Here are more cool chiquitas.

Nicole of Naptime Optional and The Nicole Show. She seems to have so much fun on her blogs, whether it's her weekly movie quote guessing game or talking about her daughter's fairy wings.

Mozi Esme. Esme is a toddler who writes her own blog! With her mama's help, of course. She is American but lives in Mozambique, helping the people and learning about the culture there.

Melissa at Banana Migraine. Here is one crafty mama! Get this -- she spins her own yarn! Then she knits it into beautiful creations. There are always cute pics of her son and daughter on her blog.

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It may be Friday the 13th, but it was a lucky day for Tatiana at It Was a Very Good Year, who had her baby girl, Maia, today. There are more expectant mamas on the Bustin' Out Babies list.

Bringing baby home, and giveaway winner

OK, no, I didn't forget I was supposed to announce winners of the Bustin' Out Babies giveaway yesterday. Real life got in the way. Real life has been getting in the way of a lot of things for the past several days. A toddler being very two. A spare room to clean out to make way for the baby. Family commitments. Realizing you've closed a neighbor's open door when they weren't home only a hour before cops blocked off your street to look for a burglar and now your fingerprints are there so you're worried they'll come looking for you if anything turns up missing at their house.

Paranoid much?

I need a vacation.

Anyway, Rachel at A Little Bit of Crazy wins the baby care DVDs and the novel for her sister, who's expecting for the first time. Congrats!

I've been thinking about what it will be like with Fly and a newborn. First things first, I'm wondering what to do with Fly when I am at the hospital having the baby and the next couple of days before we come home. I was talking with a friend who has a daughter close to Fly's age and a five-month-old, and she recommended having grandparents stay at my home to take care of Fly, and JP come home at night. That way, Fly will still be on his comfortable home turf and have the reassurance that at least one parent is there with him at night.

JP wants to stay at the hospital with the baby and me the whole time, but I'm concerned Fly will go into shock without seeing either of us for a couple days. I know he can probably come visit at the hospital, but at the end of the visit, he won't understand why he's going home and we're not going with him.

My friend also recommended a class offered at the hospital that prepares small children for staring bug-eyed ignoring welcoming a baby into the home.

So, does anyone have any other suggestions for how to help Fly adjust to having a baby around? Or what to do with him while I'm at the hospital?

Bustin' Out Babies giveaway

To celebrate the new year and try to breathe some life into this dusty blog, I thought a giveaway was in order.

That, and I am doing a bit of organizing now that Christmas decorations have been put away and it's time to start fresh. Ahem.

I found the following DVDs that I enjoyed watching but which I no longer need to keep, so I am giving them away. Yes, they are pre-owned. But still very watchable.

The Happiest Baby on the Block

This DVD will show you some tricks for helping babies to calm down or stop crying during that "fourth trimester."

Bringing Baby Home

If you are a new parent and terrified you will break your baby within the hour of getting him or her home, this goes over the basics of baby care. Nothing more, nothing less.

Toolbox for New Dads

A fatherhood expert talks man to man about baby stuff and makes it seem less mystifying. You can see my review about this DVD here.

I also have a novel, which is brand new and direct from the press:

The Book of Mom

This is the story of a stay-at-home mom who is trying to figure out where her life went and how to find "inward and outward balance."

I'd like to give all of these items as a package to a new parent! It could be yourself, a relative or friend. Just leave a comment and mention who you would give these goodies to. I'll let random.org pick a winner next Monday.

And if you or a blogger you know is expecting or adopting a baby, please check out my Bustin' Out Babies list of bloggers anticipating a joy bundle.

Good luck!

Bustin' Out Babies

New Baby News!

I had my baby boy Junebug on June 30. Thank you so much, everyone, for your good wishes!

Chelle at Creative Thoughts and her family welcomed Cordelia on Aug. 1. The "primal war cry screaming" was worth it!

Existere gave birth to boy and girl twins (!) Mano and Torre on Aug. 11. Welcome, precious pair.

Danielle at New Mommy Rant had her baby boy Jude on Aug. 18. Way to go!

Who's Due

September
Nunc Scio quit sit amor. Kris is happy to be expecting her third baby girl!

Look at Who's Here!

August 18
Danielle at New Mommy Rant had her baby boy Jude on Aug. 18. Way to go!

August 11
Existere gave birth to boy and girl twins (!) Mano and Torre on Aug. 11. Welcome, precious pair.

August 1
Chelle at Creative Thoughts and her family welcomed Cordelia on Aug. 1. The "primal war cry screaming" was worth it!

June 30
I had my baby boy Junebug on June 30. Thank you so much, everyone, for your good wishes!

May 1
Adventures of an Awesome Mom. Awesome welcomed her third boy, Daniel Michael. All right!

April 26
Humps and Baby Bump. Humps announced her first baby, Baby. So beautiful!

April 20
The Sweetest Work on Earth. It's another boy, Noah Andrew, for Ashley. Congratulations on some truly sweet work!

March 30
Mommylog. Lane added Emiliana to her family, already including toddler son Matias.

March 13
Metropolitan Mama. Stephanie had another sweet baby girl, Little Sister to Stephanie's adorable daughter Big Sister. (Another lucky Friday the 13th baby!)

March 10
Growing A Pair. Dawn wants to show everyone who she made: Squeak, little brother to Noise and Funk.

March 2
Mommy Instincts. Jen and her family welcome a springtime Lily to the world, joining big brother Jonah.

March 1
Graceful Parenting. Carol and her family welcomed baby Alana -- sweet and "not any trouble at all." Ahhh....

February 13
It Was a Very Good Year. Tatiana was very lucky on Friday the 13th to give birth to her sweet Maia.

January 5, 2009
Lifenut. Gretchen's little Archie spent some time in the NICU but is now home and doing great!

November 11, 2008
Seagulls in the Parking Lot. Kiki and her family have welcomed Levi into their family.

October 15
Interrupted Wanderlust. Kristi had twins, Nicholas and Luciana, the lovely Isabella's younger siblings.

May 22
Cool Zebras gave birth to Ms. D, her third child and her second daughter.

January 11
Much More Than A Mom gave birth to a girl, Bella (a sister for son Primo, who was 20 months old at the time).