Credit: Alyssa L. Miller

Ever since we started dating, my husband and I knew that we wanted kids. But it was always this far-off thing—like “Oh, yeah, we’ll name them Tobi and Sam, and they’ll have your eyes and my hair, and we’ll be this happy snuggly family that is perfect and happy and really freakin’ cute. Eventually.” Well, I’m 30 now, so that “far-off thing?” Much, much closer.

Cue panic attack.

We’d like to have more than one kid (I’m breathing in a paper bag now), so it’s time to get going or at least start to plan to get going. I’ve obviously already learned a lot from Erin’s pregnancy and birth experience, but I have a small family, and I didn’t grow up around babies. So while I want them and think they’re beyond adorable, I’m also a touch afraid of them, and I’m not really sure what the heck to do with them. Once they can start talking in mostly complete sentences, I’m golden. But before then? A lot of time with me being totally awkward and feeling incompetent.

And the really funny part is that it’s not even the having of the baby that freaks me out; it’s the pregnancy. TO HAVE SOMEONE GROWING INSIDE YOU? Both amazing and incredibly hard to comprehend. And I can barely grasp its insanity in other people—let alone myself. To know that you’ve created life, to have a human grow and move around inside you, to know that you are responsible for that little person for your entire life. Whoa. Maybe I’m not as 30-feeling as I thought.

Regardless, I know it’s time and I feel like the universe is pushing me in the direction to reproduce and bring another Fit Bottomed Girl or Dude into the world. As they say, the ol’ clock is ticking. So, I’m preparing to prepare now. I’m going off the pill, as my doctor said it was best to go off for a few months to get familiar with my cycle and get the drug out of my system. (Don’t worry, we’re using a backup method!) I’m popping prenatal vitamins (holy crap they’re the largest horse pills I’ve ever seen!), and we’re even finally renovating our guest bedroom to transform it into an eventual—deep breath—nursery.

It’s exciting and terrifying. Which I guess all major life changes are. You mamas and soon-to-be-mamas out there, did you freak before getting pregnant? Or after getting pregnant? Tell us about it—and please, any advice is welcome! —Jenn

I firmly believe that parents make the choices that work for their families (that is, in fact one of the main points of this site!). I won’t say I don’t get a little judge-y of others’ parenting choices now and then, as I am human, and I have judge-y days. And I’m well aware that not everyone parents exactly like I do. I think it’s fair to say that with any of the above decisions, there is no right or wrong…just differences. This hilarious video highlights some of those parenting differences. Especially funny is how Mom One is always one-upping Mom Two. And the robot voices. Enjoy!

Can’t see the video? Click here to watch the Mom-petition!

I’ve seriously watched this like five times; cracks me up. Have you ever met a Mom-petitor? —Erin

Are you a tough tiger mom? Credit: mamapajama97

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard the hullabaloo about Tiger Mom Amy Chua. And just in case you have been living under a rock, no, she’s not an octomom type who has given birth to tiger cubs. She’s a Chinese mother who wrote the best-selling memoir Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, which details her journey as a mother of two girls.

I haven’t read the book, but as it has caused an uproar the world over, I must say I’m quite interested in picking it up. In the book, Chua discusses her strict parenting style. She didn’t allow her daughters to watch TV or play video games, attend sleepovers or be in school plays, according to the Wall Street Journal article that kicked off the controversy. Her daughters also practiced their musical instruments for hours, and Chua found anything less than an A grade unacceptable.

While I haven’t read the book, I did see a video of her discussing the “intensity” of people’s reactions to her book. While Chua is herself pretty intense, I didn’t hate her like I expected to. In fact, she speaks sense a lot of the time.

Can’t see the video? Click here to see the Tiger Mom’s response to the controversy!

One statement she made that I particularly loved is “Don’t assume your child is weak.” She makes a great point that if you expect strength and excellence…well, isn’t strength and excellence more likely? I also love that she said that “People get to great places so many different ways,” which is right in line with our own philosophies here. Chua’s youngest daughter even rebelled against her mom, proving that no parenting style is perfect or right all of the time. So while Chua’s strictness may not be my (or a lot of people’s) cup of tea, she does what works for her and her family, and really, who are we to judge?

Tune in tomorrow for a hilarious video about parenting differences, and weigh in below and tell us if you’re a tiger mama or a big ol’ house cat! —Erin

One of my top must-haves. My rear has parked it for hours in this glider!

When I was pregnant and trying to prepare for the arrival of my little one, any little thing could send me into an emotional meltdown. A trip to Babies R Us guaranteed a tear-fest. Every time I went, my husband was in a hurry to leave, I was overwhelmed by the bazillion choices and “must-haves,” and I would leave in tears. Every. Time.

Looking at the registry lists at mega-stores can have any mom-to-be overwhelmed. I mean, some of these lists name four or five different types of strollers you “should” have. My thinking would go something like this: I need four strollers? Really? Oh my gosh, I’m not fit to be a mother! SOB.

My daughter then arrived a whopping five weeks early, and I learned quickly: You don’t actually need much. I didn’t even have a kitchen floor or working stove, let alone have the nursery done. Or four strollers. And we survived. First and foremost, babies need food, diapers, a few clothes and love. If you’ve got those, you’re well on your way.

There are, however, some items that do make life a lot easier. These are the items that now, almost six months in, I wouldn’t want to do without (with links to specific items on Amazon)!

My 15 Mega-Must-Have Baby Items

1. Glider and ottoman. I wouldn’t go without some sort of rocking-chair device. It’s a great place to feed, snuggle, read, and rock a crying baby to sleep. I’ve already gotten my money’s worth. 

2. Infant car seat/stroller. I drove myself crazy wondering if I needed an infant car seat or whether I should just go with a convertible from the get-go. I must say, even though the infant car seat is getting heavy and can be tough to get in and out of the car, I’m still so glad I went with it. It keeps the baby contained when we go to a restaurant or store, and until she’s sitting up on her own, I wouldn’t have her in anything else.

3. Changing table. Whether it’s a low dresser you can put a changing pad on or an actual changing table, this one was a must for me. It saves my back from bending over on the floor constantly, and gives me storage for books, diaper supplies and other baby necessities.

4. Changing table covers/waterproof mattress pads/lap pads. Maybe I’m an incompetent diaper changer, but the little girl pees as soon as her diaper comes off. This led to me washing our changing table pad covers constantly. So I started “barriers of defense” and started layering waterproof sheet savers over waterproof lap pads. That way, when she inevitably pees during a change, I can whisk away the dirtied pad or sheet saver and not have to launder and change the entire pad cover.

One of several bibs for the day, and BabyLegs to keep the arms warm!

5. Burp cloths/cloth diapers. Anything to have handy in all rooms of the house to sop up messes!

6. Bibs. For the nonstop drool. We can easily go through several a day, so buy a 10-pack!

7. Play mat. I adore our play mat. You can never have enough safe places to put a baby or enough play “stations” to rotate to fill your days. Our jungle play mat is a favorite and would keep Avery entertained if I had to step out of the room for a minute or two. Now that she’s interacting with it, it’s all the more fun. And now that she’s getting more mobile, I won’t be able to rely on it for a few minutes away, but it was lovely while it lasted!

8. Bouncer/Swing. Again, safe places to put the baby. Our bouncer was a godsend when the baby wanted nonstop vibration, movement or those rare occasions when she didn’t want to be held. She’s now trying to escape it, and I’m sad because it was such a great spot to put her and so easy to move room to room. I’m using the swing more now when I have to make dinner, but it’s not as easy to maneuver around the house.

9. Baby carrier. The Ergo came in very handy when the baby refused to be put down and dinner needed a-cookin’.

10. Monitor. I went with a basic baby monitor, and it’s heaven sent! Babies can go from zero to 60 in just a few minutes, so it’s nice to hear moans and groans before they become an all out cry-fest. I can step outside with the monitor or head to the basement to do laundry and know that she’s still snoozing happily. Plus it has the added bonus of being a one-way communication device for parents, handy if I need to tell my husband to bring me something from downstairs.

11. Baby Legs. I knew about these suckers years ago and only just recently purchased a few pairs. They can be used as leg or arm warmers and make diaper changes so much easier because you’re not pulling pants on and off. Plus, they’re adorable and make your baby look like she could be in Flashdance AND will help you get use out of onesies in the cold winter months.

12. Teethers/Rattles/Books. In the early days, toy-type items are more for you than for the baby. I passed many hours reading to Avery or trying to stick rattles in her hand. It’s fun to watch as your baby learns to put rattles in her mouth and then moves along to reaching for toys herself or playing with book pages. Another good “station” to help pass the time!

13. Mobile. I wasn’t sold on the mobile in the early months when the baby was so not impressed. But as she gets older she grows increasingly fascinated with the animals dancing around. The couple of minutes the mobile plays music buys me time to shower or throw in a load of laundry.

14. Desitin or another diaper rash cream. We’ve had almost no problems with diaper rash, but some babies have sensitive bums and may develop it more easily. Start using a cream at the first sign of rash to head it off. And now that the baby is sleeping longer at night, I slather her up before bed to prevent the booty rash.

15. Boppy/Breastfeeding pillow. Even babies that are 6 pounds get heavy! The Boppy is great because it will support your arm, whether you’re breastfeeding or just holding the baby while he or she sleeps. I even got a second one so I could have one in the baby’s room. I still use it for feedings, but you can also use it for tummy time or to assist your baby in sitting (supervised, of course).

Wait to Buy…

Pump. Even if you’re planning to breastfeed or pump breast milk, wait to purchase a pump. In the early days you can rent one from the hospital at a weekly rate, and your insurance may even cover it. I know too many moms who have doled out big dough for a fancy pump, only to give up on breastfeeding a few weeks in. Wait to make this big purchase, unless you’re like me and knew you would breastfeed come hell or high water.

Baby gates/outlet covers. There’s no rush on baby-proofing. Newborns are far from mobile, and you’ll know when your baby is thinking about moving, so don’t stress about the house being baby-proofed right out of the hospital.

Play yard/pack and play. This wasn’t a necessity right away because for awhile, babies aren’t going anywhere. I’m glad I waited to get this until we could retire a few other baby items to the basement. If you travel a lot or want the bassinet/changing table features, it would be worth purchasing sooner.

High chair. Your baby won’t be sitting on her own or eating solids for 4 to 6 months, so you can skip the additional kitchen clutter for awhile!

Granted, I went from not needing much to having—and loving—a lot of baby products! Babies have a way of making your house explode though—chaos, laundry, poop, STUFF. What were some of your can’t-live-without-it baby products? What did you buy and never use? Inquiring moms want to know! —Erin

Credit: jonny.hunter

I didn’t touch a bike during my pregnancy. Mostly because a) I don’t own a bike but also b) I was the clumsiest human on earth while pregnant and had I owned a bike, I wouldn’t have come near it lest I crash and injure myself and my unborn.

So my own personal non-biking experience had me doing a Joey-style “Whoa!” to this woman who biked to the hospital while in labor. The 41-year-old woman made it a goal to bike to all of her prenatal appointments— as well as to the hospital when it came time to deliver. The hospital was just a mile away from her home, and she said that while she was reluctant to get on the bike, she enjoyed the ride, and it helped distract her from contractions.

Because I went from my water breaking to feeling like I had to push so fast it made my head spin, I had a hard time getting in the car to head to the hospital because my body was telling me that even sitting wasn’t going to feel very good. But biking? I probably would have rather given birth in my driveway. But every woman is different. And every labor is different. And every woman copes with pain differently. Does it personally sound like a fun time? No. But had I been just a mile from my hospital? I would have walked.

Would you bike a mile to deliver your baby? —Erin

I kept my pregnancy workouts pretty simple, sticking to prenatal workout DVDs or BabyFit.com for my daily fitness fix. But I recently discovered another website I’ll throw into the rotation for the next pregnancy! The cutely named Tight Bod with a Pod has a ton of exercises broken down by trimester, as well as options for postnatal workouts and active moms. Narrow down your options by trimester, body part and specific exercise, and you’ll get a high-quality video walking you through that particular move. Tips for beginner and advanced exercisers will make sure you’re working at the pace that’s right for you, and the choose-a-move format makes it easy to mix and match.

Can’t see the video? Click here for prenatal workouts from Tight Bod with a Pod!

I do wish there were longer videos to avoid having to return to the computer to queue up the next move, but TBWAP is still worthy of a visit and will keep you challenged.

How are you keeping your prenatal workouts exciting? —Erin

Another bonus? Photos of yourself are snapped while playing!

Over Thanksgiving, my hubby somehow conned his mother into giving him an early Christmas present. He reeeaaally wanted a Kinect for our Xbox 360. At the time, I didn’t even know what a Kinect was. I think I had seen a commercial for it, maybe. But I chalked it up to yet another technology purchase that didn’t really involve me.

Then, we set it up, got playing, and I realized the magic of the Kinect. And the magic fitness potential of the Kinect.

We already had a Nintendo Wii (I told you, yet another technology purchase…), which was revolutionary in that you could control the game by actually moving the controller. The Kinect? It’s even more fantastically revolutionary-er. You have to move your body to play the games. Any of the games. Often your entire body. And although the Nintendo Wii makes you move, you can cheat a little bit. A quick flip of the wrist is sometimes all you need to do a necessary function. Not with the Kinect. This piece of genius senses your entire body, and if you’re not using your whole body, you’re going to lose. Or get smacked in the face with a virtual volleyball.

The Kinect came with the Kinect Adventures game, an intro into all that is Kinect fun. In Rallyball, you hit balls that come at you. With River Rush, you raft down a river, jumping and moving side to side to control your raft and gain points. Reflex Ridge has you gliding along a train track, jumping, ducking and side-stepping obstacles. In this one, jumping will get you going faster and will seriously ramp up your cardio. Space Pop has you trying to pop bubbles, flapping your arms to fly up, and stepping left and right to control your avatar. The game 20,000 Leaks is a stand-up version of Twister—in an aquarium. You try to plug leaks with your hands and feet as fish and sharks try to bust through the glass.

We also got Kinect Sports, which has soccer, bowling, boxing, beach volleyball, table tennis, and track and field games. If you don’t want to play an entire game, you can try the mini games, which were some of the most fun and most addictive games to play. We got super addicted to Body Ball, in which you follow the commands to use your head, hand or foot to hit volleyballs that are coming at you. We got in a battle to get the high score, and it was brutal and exhausting. (I lost every time.)

I’m seriously impressed with the Kinect, both as a video game and as a piece of fitness equipment. The sensor is amazingly and almost creepily accurate. While none of these games are billed as a workout, they will get you moving. And sweating. And breathless. And needing a break. Table tennis had my arm about to fall off, and river rafting had my thighs burning from all of the side stepping and jumping I was doing. It makes you move your body and makes it truly fun to burn calories.

I’ll let you know what I think about the actual fitness games when I review Zumba for the Kinect! Have you tried the Kinect? What games should I add to our collection? —Erin

Diet Drama is a straight-talking, feel-good guide to healthy living, specifically written for the teenage girl. While it speaks in a lighthearted tone for teens, any woman looking to live a healthier lifestyle would benefit from this read. Nancy Redd, who also authored Body Drama (a frank guide to how real women’s bodies look and behave), is a former Miss Virginia who has dealt with her own body-image struggles. She’s super-relatable and proves that even someone who won the swimsuit competition at a Miss America pageant isn’t perfect, as she details her struggles with body image and finding a sustainable healthy way of living in many personal anecdotes throughout the book.

The book starts with a discussion of body image and body acceptance. With a discussion of why BMI may not be the be-all, end-all number to live by to a recommendation to accept your shape and work with what you have, this section is a refreshing reminder that nobody—and no body—is perfect.

Eating well and exercising are also big components of the book. The exercise info in the book—from how to find the right sports bra to common dramas and how to combat them, like not having time to work out—actually solves the problems that may present barriers to living a healthier lifestyle. The eating section of the book focuses on how to properly feed your body (instead of going on a diet) and even discusses how to deal with those who aren’t supportive.

While the book is packed full of anecdotes, useful tidbits and facts, the pictures speak volumes. Girls of all shapes and sizes are featured throughout, and illustrated portion guides can help the health newbie to find what a proper portion really looks like. The pictures of stretching and exercises are also great for beginners.

Diet Drama is a no-drama diet book we can live with! —Erin

Interested in getting rid of the drama in your life? Comment to win a copy of Diet Drama! Winners will be randomly chosen and emailed in about a week. U.S. residents only, please!

Credit: merfam

Yesterday, I talked about how I’m slowly but surely baby-stepping my way back to fitness. I’ve been active in the months since my daughter was born, but exercise has in no way been my priority. Sleep, rest and enjoying time with the little one have taken precedence. After all, babies change so fast I didn’t want to blink and miss anything! Now that I’m working out more consistently at five months postpartum, I’m curious when other mamas out there began to sweat!

Can’t see the poll? Weigh in on when you started working out after your baby arrived!

And remember, it’s never too late to get back into shape, even if your baby is having babies! —Erin

Babies add awesome resistance! Credit: makelessnoise

I was in the best shape of my life in the months leading up to my pregnancy . I had been working with a personal trainer and was almost a little addicted to workouts. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for me to do two classes back to back or to do a killer strength workout and still have energy left over for cardio. It was like the more I exercised, the more energy I had. It was awesome. And I had so much time. Oh, so much time. (By the way, this kind of commitment is in no way necessary in order to get in shape. I was just hooked, and obviously it was unsustainable for the long haul!)

Now that I’ve been through pregnancy, sleepless nights with a newborn, and the constantly busy and interrupted schedule an infant requires, I don’t have as much time to work out. And I definitely don’t have the luxury of spending an hour or two a day exercising. After a break, I’ll admit that it’s been hard for me to get back into the workout mentality. I’ve looked, but I’ve struggled to find a hint of that workout addict! But I am slowly getting back to it, one mini workout at a time. If you’re struggling to get back on the workout horse, here are a few of my tips I’ve learned along the way trying to get back into shape!

10 Tips for Finding Postpartum Fitness

1. Chunk it up. It used to be that I had to have a good hour to work out. Now I’m lucky if I get 10 minutes while the baby girl is napping. I’ve had to readjust my thinking to be okay with breaking my exercise up into bite-size chunks. And even if I only fit in 10 minutes? It’s better than nothing!

2. Set reachable goals. Use our formula for setting goals. It may not sound overly ambitious, but I’m aiming to fit in three 30-minute workouts a week. It is manageable for me at this point in time, and hopefully once I do that for a couple of months. I’ll be ready to bump it up.

3. Make it fun. The thought of going running in the cold weather makes me want to get under the covers, snuggle with my baby and never work out again. Instead I’m breaking back into cardio by doing dance workouts (Zumba for Kinect! Watch for a review soon!) and throwing in some strength work on my own.

4. Exercise with baby. You can incorporate your baby into a lot of exercises! Lifting your baby overhead works arms and shoulders in a major way. My daughter loves when I do deep squats with her in my arms. I’ll do push-ups over her, kissing her forehead on my way down. I’ll get on my stomach during tummy time and do butt lifts. It all adds up!

5. Stay at home. Getting out of the house to work out got exponentially harder with an infant. But there are still a million and one ways to work out at home. Jump rope, do push-ups, use dumbbells and do workout DVDs until you have the desire to get to the gym.

6. Get out of the house. I know it contradicts No. 4, but get out of the house! Basically, with Nos.5 and 6, do what you need to do for your mental health and sanity! Many health clubs have child care services for members, so take advantage of them if you make it to the gym.

7. Be easy on yourself. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. Sometimes sleep is more important than a workout. Just jump back in the next day!

8. Do something for yourself. As a mom, it can be so easy to give, give, give. Make sure you do some taking, too! Take that 30 minutes for yourself to work out. Go buy yourself something nice. Take a nice, long shower. Read a book, even if it’s two or three pages at a time.

9. Ease in. Don’t expect do be your strong old self overnight. While my baby-carrying biceps might be stronger than ever, other muscles have not kept pace with my new mommy muscles. Give yourself time to build back up to what you did previously.

10. Stink. So you may fit in a workout, but now you don’t have time to shower. You may just have to stink all day until your hubby gets home and you can pass off the crying baby!

How were your first postpartum workouts? Did you have a hard time getting back into the groove? —Erin