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Be Inspired, Family, Mothers, My Top, Parenting, Parenting Advice, Pregnancy

My Top 4 Pregnancy Tips

Although pregnancy may be a bit of a distant memory for me now, I thought I would share My Top 4 Pregnancy Tips with you!

Read, read, read – be informed, as ‘they’ say knowledge is power. So read all the books you can get your hands on, find out all you need to know to make the correct pregnancy and birth choices, for you. {You can have an information overload at times and it may scare you initially but it is worth it in the long run, to know what to expect!}

Ask questions, especially of moms that have been through it all already, most will be more than happy to share their experiences; you may just need to sift through some drama to get to the reality sometimes! Join an antenatal class, it’s a great place to meet other parents and discuss any of your fears or concerns.
Look after yourself – you are as important as your baby! Take time out for yourself, take your prenatal vitamins, rest, try to eat a healthy well-balanced diet {although sometimes the cravings will get the better of you!}, listen to your doctor he{or she} is usually right!

Remember to enjoy every minute of your experience as a mom-to-be, talk to your unborn baby, play music for him/her, take time out to plan the nursery, enjoy shopping for those first precious little outfits – in other words remember to have some fun!

Recommended resources, books and magazines on pregnancy and parenting:

Your Parenting Website & magazine publications – they deal with all aspects of pregnancy and parenting.

Baby Sense Website & books – I read the original book and found it very helpful.

Living and Loving Website and magazine – I used to read the mag from cover to cover!

Parent Hub Website – lots of great, useful information for parents.

“Birth Your Way” & “The New Pregnancy and Childbirth” books by Sheila Kitzinger.

Images: ©FAR Photography

Children, Family, FAR Photography, Mothers

For me mothers day is both a happy and sad occasion, as I lost my own mom over 20 years ago but I am very fortunate to have a “surrogate” mom in the form of my mom in-law! So I thought I would post a Mothers Day Tribute, to celebrate mothers everywhere and thank them for all that they have done and continue to do for us!

This is one of my favourite poems and I dedicate it to my beautiful mom in heaven and my amazing mom here on earth! You have both touched and shaped my life in so many ways and I would not be the mom I am today if you were not for both of you!

A Mother’s Love

Helen Steiner Rice

A Mother’s love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender guiding hand.

I have made a video tribute to all the mothers and mother figures out there that sacrifice a great deal daily for their families. I am so grateful and proud to be a mom! This song “Footprints in the Sand”, by Leona Lewis, has always reminded me of my own mom, knowing that she may not be here with me but is always watching over me.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/kclPlYt2Upk[/youtube]

Children, Family, Parenting

Top 5 New Baby Essentials

Having a baby is a truly life-changing experience. It’s a brilliant time, full of expectancy and excitement. But it can also be a time of nerves and anxiety. Luckily, there are plenty of places you can go to get advice. Ask your family, your doctor or a health visitor, and speak to other mums – you’ll soon realise that everything is going to be fine.

Before the baby arrives, it’s a good idea to make sure that everything is in order and that you have everything you need. You’re not going to have much free time once your baby is born, so get prepared now. There are five essential items that every baby will need to thrive in the first few important months of life.

Top 5 New Baby Essentials:

1. Car seat
There’s no avoiding it – if you’ve got a car, you need a seat to keep your precious baby safe. They’re readily available, but always buy new. It’s just safer that way.

2. Baby bottles
Even if you’re going to breastfeed, you still need bottles to deliver expressed milk. You’re going to need a range of sizes because before long, your little one will be drinking more than a small bottle can hold. As well as bottles, you’re also going to need baby grows and plenty of nappies. These are the main necessities for any new-born baby, so think about stocking up now.

3. Stroller
After a few months your baby is going to start to want to move and explore. A stroller is basically a mobile support frame that allows your baby to get around before they can do so completely unsupported. You can pick up strollers – also known as baby walkers – without spending a fortune.

4. Baby bouncer
Before they get mobile, you’re going to need somewhere stimulating to put the baby when you aren’t holding him or her. Baby bouncers are safe and fun ways for babies to take in their environment, while allowing you to get on with the many things you need to be doing. You’re going to be busy, so this is a valuable item to have.

5. Crib/cot
Although it might not seem like your baby is ever going to sleep, you need a comfortable and warm cot for them to rest in. This is a really important place for a baby, and if it’s somewhere that they feel comfortable, you may even be able to get a couple of hours sleep yourself! Always buy a respectable brand name.

Images: Pinterest & ©FAR Photography

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post

Be Inspired, Family, Life, Lifestyle, Mothers, Proudly South African

Thank You Mom Campaign – Procter & Gamble

With just over 90 Days until the 2012 Olympic Games, Super Mom Blog would like to announce their support of the Procter & Gamble “Thank You Mom” Campaign! The campaign recognizes and celebrates the moms behind the athletes, by thanking moms for all they do! The campaign is also a part of P&G’s worldwide partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

P&G is not only a worldwide sponsor of the Olympic Games and a proud partner of Team South Africa, but they are also the Proud Sponsor of Moms.

“There is no way I, or any other athlete I know, would be where we are today without the support of our moms. I can never thank my mom enough for everything she did for me and that’s why I’m proud to be a part of this campaign that thanks moms everywhere.” ~ Khotso Mokoena, Long Jump silver medallist,

P&G has committed to raise $5 million to support local youth sports programs in many countries, through a portion of sales and donations from the company’s leadership brands including Pampers®, Always®, Head & Shoulders®, Gillette® WELLA®, Vicks®, and Pantene®,

In South Africa, motherhood extends beyond one’s biological child to the extended family, children within the community and to those in need. Here it’s about Mama – that special female someone who shaped who you are today, regardless of how or when you stretched your arms out to her.

The aim of the campaign, is to salute, not just the Mamas of Olympians, but all Mamas who have given so much. The Mamas who have raised great athletes and those who have raised great kids, these are the women who dedicate their lives to supporting and serving everyone else! So now is the time to support and serve them.

Someone needs to say, “Thank you, Mama” so along with P&G, Super Mom Blog would like everyone in South Africa to do the same. We hope that you can play a key role in inspiring South Africa to say “Thank You, Mama!”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ruHOaHrGnQ[/youtube]

P&G has also launched the “Thank You Mama app” that allows people to thank their own moms by uploading personalized content in the form of a video, still image with caption or text-based message. Users will then be able to encourage friends and family to do the same, spreading the word to thank and celebrate moms.

Be Inspired, Children, Family, Life, Quotes

Super Mom or NOT?

I guess I know deep down in my heart, that although I would love to be the perfect mom, I am not. I sometimes raise my voice(the poor neighbours!), bribe my kids, forget stuff, allow them to eat junk, let them stay up too late – but ultimately I know that I love my children unconditionally and they give that same love in return!

So this is for all those mom’s out there that although they are not “perfect” or “Super Mom” in the worlds eyes, they are perfect in their children’s eye’s!

Image source: Pinterest