Growing bellies have launched a growing trend–one that celebrates motherhood in all its phases. In the last month, The Talking Walnut has reported on more than a few companies making growth labels for expectant moms to affix to their clothing in proud proclamation of their soon-to-be new arrival. Whether you are three months along or in your third trimester, it’s a fun way to announce your pregnancy progress–and a clever means of putting a stop to all those unsolicited inquiries. If you’re more inclined to profess your thoughts on your belly itself, then we may have be just the venue to share your feelings. The Million Moms Challenge, along with ABC News, the United Nations Foundation, Disney Baby and Anne Geddes (phew!), is holding a [&hellip
The Pregnant Walnut Archive
The 7-year-old me would be so psyched at just how cool stickers have become. Forget about waiting until you’re a kid to start your collection; if you’ve got a super-hip mom, you can begin your love affair with stickers in utero. Earlier this summer, The Talking Walnut reported on Sticky Bellies, a line of adhesives that moms-to-be can affix to their growing bellies–a clever way of answering the never-ending “when are you due?” line of questioning from strangers everywhere. Now, we’ve just come across another company offering a similar product: Belly Banter from SlickSugar. In addition to a line of pregnancy decals featuring witty sayings like “running out of womb” and “I love pickles,” there’s an assortment designed for new babies’ onesies. Remember propping up [&hellip
The first time I was pregnant, you couldn’t catch me within 20 feet of a camera. I refused to be photographed and so have no visual record of my expanding belly. By the time I had my second daughter, I was either as little less vain or not as militant about having my picture taken. For those expectant moms who relish documenting their growing tummy, and for people like me who in retrospect should have taken things a bit less seriously, come the oh-so-adorable Sticky Bellies. This line of removable stickers is just the thing for chronicling an ever-changing pregnant body. They affix easily to clothing, so you can stick one on your shirt, grab your camera and snap away. The Oh Sew Ready assortment [&hellip
When it comes to gift-giving, I’m a stickler for presentation. I always notice a package smartly wrapped with a satin bow that looks like it belongs in a young girl’s hair, or a gift bag that’s fashionably stuffed with crinkle cut shredded paper (how very eco-friendly). So when you’re sitting ringside at a baby shower, as so many of us are at some point, you tend to zero in on the presents that stand out from the rest of the pack. What better way is there to select such a gift than one whose wrapping cleverly disguises its contents until further investigation? One present that really piques our interest is the Baby Bunch, a surefire companion to the ever-popular diaper cake. Nestled inside a floral [&hellip
When you’re 9 months’ pregnant and caring for an older child, trying to bathe your kid can be a truly agonizing experience. I remember not so long ago how much I dreaded bath night for fear that once I was down on m knees, scrubbing away, I wasn’t so certain I’d be able to get back up properly. Little did I know how that level of discomfort would intensify after I gave birth…via a surprise C-section. Suddenly, bathing one kid seemed like a walk in the park as compared to managing a squirmy, crying infant while keeping an eye on a soaped-up preschooler. The Baby Diego is an ideal solution for handling the baby bath side of that equation. A century-old trend in Spain and [&hellip
When I was pregnant with my firstborn, my co-worker ventured their guesses as to when I would go into labor. Much to my chagrin, one guy was banking on May 5th and went so far as to yell out “Cinco De Mayo Baby!” whenever I’d waddle down the hall. (My actual due date was May 19th.) Turns out it was more like Memorial Day Babe, as she was born at the start of the long holiday weekend. Trying to figure out when a pregnant buddy or family member will give birth is a great way to build the momentum of the Big Day, and to further up the ante, there’s a new online game that gives even more of an incentive to come up with [&hellip
When I was pregnant with my second daughter, my belly was bigger than I remember it being with my first. By the time I made it to my third trimester, I felt ready to pop nearly every day. I can only imagine how any woman pregnant with twins or triplets must feel on a daily basis; she deserves a medal and more. It’s difficult enough just getting around without having to feel uncomfortable in clothing that doesn’t fit properly. Buying maternity clothing a size or two up doesn’t quite do the trick; while tops can feel fine in the belly area, they tend to hang off the rest of your body in an unflattering light. Not fun at all. Kudos to the folks at For [&hellip
As one of my favorite PSA ads professes, it’s too bad babies don’t come with an instructional manual. Do you remember what it was like to leave the hospital with your bundle of joy, only to arrive home and realize you didn’t have the slightest clue what you were doing? (I’ve been a mom for nearly seven years, and some days, I still feel that way!) To make newborn care a little less daunting comes a new book that aims to take the guesswork out of much of the day-to-day crying/burping/feeding/sleeping that has become your routine. Written by occupational therapist Megan Faure, The Babysense Secret focuses on picking up on your baby’s cues by reading her body language. Does that cry mean she’s too warm [&hellip
Move over, pickles. There’s a new flavor of ice cream in town, just begging for pregnant women everywhere to indulge in a scoop. Would you believe that TV host/comedian Jimmy Fallon has inspired Ben & Jerry’s to introduce their latest ice cream that pays homage to the young king of Late Night? The perfect combination of salty and sweet (just like Jimmy himself!), “Late Night Snack” pairs the ubiquitous vanilla with caramel swirl and fudge-covered potato chip clusters. An acquired taste, this is the stuff that second-trimester cravings are made of! This unique blend of ingredients was reportedly prompted by an on-air skit during which Jimmy and The Roots performed an original song entitled “Ladysmith Snack Mambazo.” We predict many a late-night run to the [&hellip
Pregnancy can do cruel things to the female form: the stretch marks, extra “tummy padding”…and did we mention those hips? After my first daughter was born, I didn’t notice a tremendous change in my figure (hardly an hourglass one to begin with). But after the second girl, whatever beauty I had acquired during those nine months was gone for good. All I had left was a pair of hips that wouldn’t slide into my favorite jeans anymore. Perhaps if I’ve had the HipSlimmer after she was born, I wouldn’t have cursed myself on a daily basis. I recently checked out this post-pregnancy corset at a baby products convention and was admittedly a bit skeptical. Could this lingerie-inspired device truly get women’s hips back to their [&hellip