Upcycled Green Silk and Brown Linen Top in shop...

This beautiful top made of 100% Silk and 100% Linen was once a dress and has been re-created into a top for a mom-to-be. Inspired by the changing seasons in the mid-west, I wanted to create something that was colorful and soft and contrast it with something more crisp and tailored.

Draped to accommodate for the belly bump, this top can be worn during or after your pregnancy. Coordinate with earth-tone trouser pants or dress down with a pair of jeans. This top makes for a cute outfit for any occasion... baby showers, weddings, the office, and other special occasions. Check it out in my store.

What to expect when you're expecting - Week 7

Image from: http://realchoice.blogspot.com/2008/10/six-week-embryo-and-abortion-graphic.html

• Week 7: The arms and legs are continuing to develop, as are the brain, eyes, intestines and other organs. The intestines will initially bulge into the umbilical cord during this week.

For more information please visit: http://www.pregnancy-period.com/guide-to-pregnancy.html

What to expect when you're expecting - week 6

Image found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jusgre/2569646578/

• Week 6: Your baby's heart begins to beat, while most other organs are starting to be formed. Arm and leg buds form, and the umbilical cord develops. You can also see where the baby's eyes and ears will be. If you haven't had morning sickness before, this is usually when it hits.

For more information please visit: http://www.pregnancy-period.com/guide-to-pregnancy.html

Vinyl bibs in the store...

Here are some vinyl bibs from my fall line that I posted to my etsy store. From my own experience, vinyl bibs have proven to make clean up so much easier and affordable! Toddlers can be messy, but you don't have to waste money cleaning up after them. Since these bibs have a non-stick surface you can just wipe clean with a damp sponge or for larger messes, hand wash in mild detergent and let air dry. Since you aren't laundering 3+ bibs a day, you will be saving time and money, and it's better for the environment!

This is an every day bib which is a particularly nice accessory for rib night, spaghetti, soups, stews, chili and thanksgiving day feast. Perfect for on-the-go eating, camping and picnics, just stuff it in your diaper bag and use when needed.

Large in size for maximum coverage. Fits toddlers from 2 years old - adult (one size fits all). Perfect for your messy toddler or for your messy spouse! Kids will love them because of the messes they can make in them, and moms will love them because of the messes that won't be on their kid's clothes.

2009 Fall collection is now online...

My etsy store is open for business! In this year's fall line there is a variety of organic, non-organic and children's items. Please feel free to check them out. If you like what you see, but I don't have something in your size, please "convo" me on etsy and I would be happy to make something custom for you. I will be posting more items hopefully soon, so please stay tuned... Thanks for looking!

What to expect when you're expecting - week 5

Image found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/euthman/3944578509/

• Week 5: The fertilized egg is now an embryo and the major systems are starting to develop. The first systems to develop are the heart and circulatory system.

For more information please visit: http://www.pregnancy-period.com/guide-to-pregnancy.html

Child birth quote...

My husband's old youth pastor Tony Reinke recently posted this quote that I thought I would share with you from Charles Murray, the author of Human Accomplishment: The Pursuit of Excellence in the Arts and Sciences, 800 B.C. to 1950.

I thought it was an interesting point made regarding a woman's experience in child birth versus a man's experience of becoming a father...

“Exceptions exist, but, as a rule, the experience of pregnancy and birth appears to be a more profoundly life-altering experience for women than becoming a father is for men. So closely is giving birth linked to the fundamental human goal of giving meaning to one’s life that is had been argued that, ultimately, it is not so much that motherhood keeps women from doing great things outside the home as it is men’s inability to give birth that forces them to look for substitutes.”

—Charles Murray, Human Accomplishment: The Pursuit of Excellence in the Arts and Sciences, 800 B.C. to 1950 (HarperCollins, 2003) p. 287.

What to expect when you're expecting - Weeks 3-4

Image found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorelei-ranveig/2294096613/

• Weeks 3-4: Conception takes place as the egg is fertilized – usually in the fallopian tubes – and travels to the uterus, where it implants into the uterine lining. You may experience some implantation bleeding or some mild cramping during this time, although your early pregnancy symptoms will be hard to distinguish from premenstrual symptoms, such as fatigue, mood swings and breast tenderness.

For more information please visit: http://www.pregnancy-period.com/guide-to-pregnancy.html

Reducing pregnancy foot problems...

I've heard that many woman experience flat feet and swelling in the feet during their pregnancy because of the weight gain. This can lead to foot pain, leg cramping or varicose veins.

After a little digging around online I found some helpful solutions commonly used for treating swollen feet:

• Elevate your feet as often as possible
  
• Wear proper fitting footwear. Footwear that is too narrow or short will constrict circulation.
• Have your feet measured several times throughout your pregnancy. They will probably change sizes.
• Wear seamless socks that do not constrict circulation.
• If you are driving for a long period of time, take regular breaks to stretch your legs to promote circulation.
• Exercise regularly to promote overall health; walking is the best exercise.
• Drink plenty of water to keep the body hydrated. This helps the body retain less fluid.
• Eat a well-balanced diet and avoid foods high in salt which can cause water retention.

(These and other helpful foot related tips can be found at: www.foot.com)

My husband and I recently watched an episode of The Daily Show where the guest was Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. He talked about his experiences with a tribe in Mexico that had experienced many health benefits from going barefoot. They found that they could run faster without constrictive shoes and would rather wear open toed sandals to run marathons "painlessly, and joyfully, forever."

After watching this episode of The Daily Show, my husband told me about shoes called Vibram Five Fingers. They are essentially foot protection that allows you to experience the benefits of going barefoot while still protecting your feet. According to the website, they are designed to "stimulate the muscles in your feet and lower legs to build strength and improve range of motion." These are typically shoes used for athletes as they give athletes an "increased sense of balance, greater agility, and visibly improved posture." (It turns out that Christopher McDougall was wearing a pair of these when he was on The Daily Show!)

I began wondering... if they could stimulate the muscles in your feet, would they be able to help improve the circulation in womens feet who were suffering from swollen or flat feet during their pregnancy? So my question to you, the readers, is... has anyone tried wearing these shoes during their pregnancy? If you've had any experience with Vibram Five Finger Shoes and whether or not they reduce swelling of the feet, please post a comment, I'd like to know!

(Image from flickr.com/photos/ktknndy/2739985796/)

How to dress for pregnancy... when you don't know what to expect

Here are a few video's on ehow.com that I found to be really helpful for the first time moms-to-be...