Houston Baby Magazine- Spring/Summer 2020

NURSERY TRENDS Birds & Babes

Spring/Summer 2020 | Vol. 19 | Issue 1

WELCOME TO MOTHERHOOD Local moms share tips & tricks PICTURE PERFECT Capturing the moments BABY STEPS Fitness routine to get back on track

80+ must have baby products

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NightLightPediatrics.com/Telemed Convenient locations across Houston — we're right in your neighborhood.

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Your night, made brighter. houston baby magazine

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#Connect2Care

table of contents 5 TOP 30 BABY NAMES OF 2020

Looking for the perfect name for your little one? Here are the names that are trending.

8 COMMON PREGNANCY MYTHS

Common pieces of advice you can feel free to disregard.

10 THE ABCS OF HOSPITAL DELIVERY

The hospital process begins long before labor pains begin. Here's what to expect.

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ON THE COVER

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12 AFTER THE BABY ARRIVES

Tips on adjusting to the "new normal" after the baby arrives.

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10 EASY STEPS TO BOOST YOUR CHILD'S LANGUAGE SKILLS

Whether it's mama, dada or uh-oh, everyone gets excited about baby's first word!

18 BABY SIGN LANGUAGE

Teaching your baby to communicate before they can speak.

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BABY STEPS TO GETTING THE MOM BOD YOU WANT

Fitness expert Marie Weaver discusses how to get a post baby bod you can be proud of.

22 MATERNITY MUST-HAVES

Stitch Fix gives their top tips on essentials for building the perfect maternity wardrobe.

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IS IT SAFE TO DRINK TEA DURING PREGNANCY?

MaterniTEA shares their tips on caffeine intake during pregnancy and the benefits of herbal tea.

PHOTO BY YVETTE MICHELLE PORTRAITS ymportraits.com

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PICTURE PERFECT: 8 TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING BABY

You don't have to be a professional photographer to capture those picture perfect moments with your little one.

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 PUBLISHER'S NOTE

24 WELCOME TO MOTHERHOOD

7 NURSERY TRENDS

36 DADDY DO'S & DONT'S

Welcome to motherhood, we're so happy to have you along for the journey.

Birds and babes are a fun and gender neutral way to decorate for your little one.

Local moms offer sage advice for those of you just joining the journey into parenthood.

42 PRODUCT GUIDE

We've selected the best in must-have products for you and baby.

Local dads share some of their truths and words of encouragement.

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P U B L I S H E R ’ S NOT E

publisher/editor

Kimberly Davis Guerra kim@houstonfamilymagazine.com

WELCOME TO MOTHERHOOD,

online editor Latesa Guerra

calendar editor

Chantal Lemieux calendar@houstonfamilymagazine.com

creative director

Casey Johnson casey@houstonfamilymagazine.com

event director

Mary Sue Kent marysue@houstonfamilymagazine.com

contributing authors Cindy Hide Christa Melnyk Hines Yvette Keener Jill Morgenstern KD O’Brein Joani Scaff Mimi Brian Vance Maria Weaver

contributing photographers

Jenna Duncan Photography Yvette Michelle Portraits

advertising sales Kristian Carroll Beverly Davis Amy Garrett Mary Sue Kent Tish Petty

business development Myra Johnson

production

Gayle Wheeler-LeSueur, Graphic Designer

printing

Midway Press, Ltd Dallas, TX

contact us:

1334 Brittmoore Rd, Ste 2602 Houston, TX 77043 (P) 713.266.1885 (F) 713.266.1915 www.HoustonFamilyMagazine.com Houston Baby Magazine is published quarterly by Houston Family Magazine, LLC. Houston Babyis distributed free of charge, one copy per reader. Only Houston Baby authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all submitted material. We cannot be responsible for the return of any submitted material. Houston Family is ©2020 by Houston Family Magazine,LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part without express permission is prohibited. houston baby magazine

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ABOVE// Kim annd her son Bodhi.

Throwback from 2017 FIND US ON FACEBOOK @houstonfamilymagazine FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @houstonfamilymagazine CONTACT US Let us know how we’re doing. kim@houstonfamilymagazine.com

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WE’RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ALONG FOR THE JOURNEY.

o be a mom these days is very complicated. Do I stay at home to be an ever present mom? Do I work from home and become the ultimate multi-tasker? Do I go back to work and hire a nanny or place my child in daycare? Does Dad have the ability to stay at home and be the primary caregiver? So many choices and no one answer is right for everyone.

That in a nutshell, is parenting. Many choices. Many outcomes.

Only you can choose what is right for you and your family.

Hence the purpose for Houston Baby Magazine. We are here to offer support by providing information on the choices you will be facing in the coming days, months and years. The reality is the information is endless and there are countless resources available.

However, as a sleep deprived, overwhelmed, sometimes postpartum parent you want to trust your information is coming from someone who knows what you are going through.

We provide you with advice from local experts, parents and staff who have lived what you are going through (some are even going through it with you!) By tapping into a local market, this enables us to provide a uniquely personal perspective that is very needed at this time in your family’s life. It is a beautiful, exhausting, confusing, maddening and precious time that literally flies by. We want you to enjoy every minute!

My son is turning 12 and my daughter, who is 31, is pregnant with her first. So, we are living this with you. Finding out the latest and greatest gear. Checking out the latest medical wonders and advice.

Considering all the choices that parents face when they are making mountains of decisions. We hope that the information provided here helps ease a little of those burdens!

Know this. Whatever path you choose, whatever decisions you make, understand that everything does not have to be perfect. At the end of the day, your child is going to grow and thrive because you love and care for them the best way you know how. Everything will be ok and you are AWESOME! Welcome to parenthood. Buckle up! It is going to be a wild ride!

Kimberly Davis Guerra

T he Top Baby Names of 2020

Baby Boys Arlo Edison Calvin Royce Miller Holden Mateo Ryder

Jones Huck Louie Luca Stanley Nico Zane

Baby Girls Magnolia Tallulah Callie Mae Piper Livi Simone Prue

Stella Beverly Lila Mabel Mica Cleo Zelda

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s d n Tre

by Joani Scaff, the Paisley House

Looking for some fresh nursery ideas for your bundle of joy?

More and more couples are choosing to wait to find out the sex of their baby, which makes designing the nursery a little trickier.

If this is the path you have chosen, we have some fresh ideas that are gender neutral and trending!!

BIRDS AND BABIES. An epic combination!

Whether you go soft or dark, either palette will pop in your newly designed nursery.

For other design ideas, pop by The Paisley House off Washington Ave., take a look around the store for inspiration! No matter what theme you have in mind, their creative team will assist you in bringing your vision to life! www.paisley-house.com

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It seems like the first thing that happens when a woman announces that she’s expecting a child, after the first wave of congratulations have all been said, is that suddenly everyone starts holding forth about what she absolutely should and should not do during her pregnancy. With the important caveat that the one person you should absolutely listen to during pregnancy is your doctor, and that everyone’s medical situation differs, here are a few of the more common pieces of advice you can feel free to disregard. written by KD O’Brein | illustrations from vecteezy (water and wine)

Pregnant women shouldn’t fly.

Pregnant women shouldn’t drink coffee.

Despite being thoroughly debunked (and despite the danger of coming between a pregnant woman and whatever is getting her through her aches, pains, and sleepless nights), this is still one of the more culturally prevalent myths surrounding pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is clear that consuming small amounts of caffeine (less than 200 milligrams per day, or the equivalent of one 12-ounce cup of coffee or two 12-ounce cups of caffeinated tea) is not associated with negative outcomes, especially after the first trimester is over.

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Only very mild cardiovascular exercise is safe during pregnancy.

More and more, doctors are realizing that the dangers associated with inactivity are often much greater than those associated with exercise. While the ACOG does not advise taking up any new strenuous activity during pregnancy (in other words, you should probably avoid joining that new Crossfit gym), the prevailing recommendation is that a pregnant woman will generally benefit from maintaining any form of exercise she is already accustomed to doing, so long as she modifies as necessary for her new energy levels and the demands pregnancy will put on her body as it progresses (so, for example, runners and yoga practitioners should be careful of the strain these activities place on their joints, as rising levels of relaxin in the body can cause strains and sprains to happen more easily during pregnancy, and athletes may need to increase their calorie intake if they begin losing weight or do not gain weight on schedule during pregnancy).

This recommendation is partly based on medical fact— namely, that pregnant women are more susceptible to blood clots, and that long flights (over four hours) can impact circulation, increasing the likelihood of clots developing.

However, ACOG and the CDC agree that most women without preexisting conditions should be able to fly safely up to the 36th week of their pregnancies, and recommend walking in the aisle or doing seated leg stretches to improve comfort and circulation. And that airport scanner? You’ll get more radiation from the atmosphere around you during the flight itself—a negligible amount, unless you’re a pilot, flight attendant, or other professional who spends most of your time on airplanes.

A piece of sushi is more dangerous than a fruit salad.

Everyone from wait staff to your mother to your nosy co-worker will have an opinion about what you definitely should and definitely should not eat while pregnant, and most of those people will be only too happy to tell you all about it—but, if pressed, will admit they don’t actually know why, exactly, certain foods are so dangerous, or what can be done to make them safer. Most of these risks come down to worries about listeria and salmonella, two types of bacteria associated with food poisoning. Unlike many infections, these bacteria can cross the placenta and can have dramatic effects on a developing fetus, up to and including meningitis, miscarriage, or stillbirth.

Additionally, sushi and other fish raise concerns because of their potentially high concentration of mercury. However, fish also contain valuable oils that have been shown to have a highly beneficial effect on the developing brain, and the CDC has linked recent listeria outbreaks to sources as innocent-seeming as mushrooms (produced by Sun Hong Foods, 2020) and salmonella to pre-cut fruit (produced by Taylor Cut Produce in 2019).

So what’s an anxious pregnant lady to do? In short, know your food sources as much as possible. Sushi restaurants flash-freeze their fish, meaning that they’re far less likely to be contaminated than your average grocery store or restaurant offering, and if you opt for varieties less likely to be high in mercury (think salmon rather than tuna), you’ll get the benefits of those tasty brain-beneficial oils without the risks of contamination. Salads you prepare at home, having carefully washed all the ingredients, are safest when it comes to food poisoning risks; many women also feel confident in eating at well-known, reputable restaurants where they have eaten for years without any incidents of food poisoning. When it comes to deli meat, heating it well before eating will kill bacteria—so if you’re craving a giant sandwich, maybe make it a well-done panini rather than cold-cuts.

boy or girl

Morning sickness only happens in the mornings, ends after the first trimester, and can be controlled by diet, sleep, and/ or willpower alone.

With high-profile cases (looking at you, Princess Kate) of severe morning sickness, also called hyperemesis gravidarum, bringing the ailment into the public eye, more and more people are becoming aware that women’s mileage may vary considerably with this particular side effect of pregnancy: some women never experience the least bit of nausea; some have very mild symptoms that are easily controlled and don’t outlast the end of the first trimester; some experience violent nausea and vomiting for the entirety of their pregnancy, requiring continuing medication or, in the most severe cases, hospitalization. Other than some links to family history (in other words, if your mom had severe morning sickness, you’re more likely to get it as well), there are few clear explanations of why some women suffer more from this particular ailment than others. It’s important to remember, then, that if you are suffering from persistent or severe morning sickness, it’s probably due to your genetics rather than anything you have or haven’t done, and that there are medications that can help which have been thoroughly studied to ensure their safety for you and your baby.

The shape of your belly, your complexion, or your cravings can tell you whether you’re having a girl or a boy.

While it’s fun to speculate about the sex of your baby, carrying high or low, getting pimples, or craving salty or sweet things all have more to do with your individual reaction to pregnancy hormones than anything else. Genetic testing and anatomy ultrasounds are much more accurate predictors (although it seems like everyone has a friend, cousin, or cousin’s friend who was “told over and over again” that they were having a girl and came home with a boy, or vice versa). Ultimately, this is one thing you’ll learn for sure only once your baby is actually born, but for those who prefer to plan as much as possible, opting for a variety of medical tests (such as genetic testing in addition to the usual anatomy scan around 20 weeks) may help.

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The ABC’s of Hospital Delivery The hospital delivery process begins long before labor pains begin. Here’s what to expect.

written by Christa Melnyk Hines houston baby magazine

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ADMISSIONS. At around 32 weeks gestation, schedule a pre-admission appointment to complete most of your paperwork before labor, like the birth certificate and other forms.

“At that time, we do all of the pre-admit work like consents you’ll sign when you come to have the baby,” says pre-admission coordinator Clara Davis, RN. BIRTH PLAN. Do you want an epidural or prefer natural childbirth? A birth plan communicates your desires for your labor and delivery experience. If you have plan, bring it with you to the preadmission appointment and delivery.

CIRCUMCISION. At hospitals, circumcisions are usually performed within 48 hours of delivery. Talk to your doctor about the procedure’s benefits and risks. Your pre-admission coordinator will have the paperwork you need to complete when you’re ready.

DELIVERING PHYSICIAN. Many doctors check in on their patients first thing in the morning and midday. “We page the delivering physician as soon as we think it’s time.

If a baby is having heart rate issues, we can always page them to come evaluate,” says labor and delivery nurse Jenna O’Connor, RN. EPIDURAL. An epidural is a pain-relieving local anesthetic administered by an anesthesiologist that numbs pain in the lower half of the body.

“Allow 45 minutes from the time you ask for your epidural to getting it,” O’Connor says.

“We like to give IV fluids prior to that at a faster rate to help prevent blood pressure from dropping from the anesthesia.”

FETAL HEART MONITOR. Healthcare practitioners will either periodically monitor your baby’s heartbeat during labor, or you will be hooked up to an electronic fetal heart monitor, especially if you are on medication to be induced.

GET READY. Pack your bag between 32 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Bring toiletries and comfortable clothes, including warm socks and slip-on shoes. You’ll also need a take-home outfit for your baby and a car seat.

HEPATITIS B. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all healthy newborns receive their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of delivery.

Hepatitis B is a potentially fatal viral infection that attacks the liver.

INDUCTION. Prior to an induction, your provider will exam your cervix and decide whether you should go into the hospital the day of the scheduled induction or the night before. If you go in the night before, you might receive a medication or a balloon catheter that thins or softens the cervix. When your cervix is ready, you’ll be given a medication called Pitocin to induce contractions.

JACUZZI TUBS. Many hospitals offer laboring moms full-size jacuzzi tubs for pain relief early in the delivery process. Check with your doctor to see if this an option for you.

VITAMIN K. All babies are born vitamin K deficient. Upon birth, your baby will receive a vitamin K shot, which is essential to aid the body in forming clots to prevent severe and potentially life threatening bleeding.

LACTATION CONSULTANT. Breastfeeding specialists visit new moms in the hospital to address any initial questions or concerns around breastfeeding.

MARKING THE MOMENT. During pre-admission, you’ll have the opportunity to decide if you want your newborn photographed. “But, you’re not obligated to buy anything,” Davis says.

NICU. Premature infants, multiples and sick or low birth-weight babies are usually

transferred to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which provides specialized care.

OVERNIGHT STAYS. The typical hospital stay for a vaginal delivery is 24 to 48 hours, while a c-section is between three and four days.

PEDIATRICIAN. The hospital will notify your baby’s physician when you’re admitted. He or she will provide a physical examination of your infant within 24 hours postpartum.

QUESTIONS. Throughout your pregnancy journey, you’ll likely have many questions come up about what to expect when you get to the hospital to deliver your baby, like where to park, which entrance to go in (especially if you go into labor after hours), and what you should pack. Your physician, nurses, doula and/or midwife, your hospital’s pre-admission coordinator and your instructors at hospital labor and delivery classes are all excellent sources of information.

RISKS? Because hospitals are prepared for complications that can arise during labor and delivery, they are among the safest places to deliver babies, especially for women considered high-risk. High-risk pregnancies include women who are expecting multiples, are under the age of 17 or over the age of 35, or have a health condition like diabetes, high blood pressure or depression.

SURGERY. A cesarean section requires an incision through the abdomen and uterus.

You’ll receive an epidural and will likely be awake for the procedure. Upon arrival for a planned c-section, you’ll be hooked up to a monitor and an IV, receive a physical assessment and bloodwork.

classes and amenities. Some expectant parents tour as early as six to 12 weeks gestation.

“By meeting them early, we can help them feel as comfortable as possible throughout the entire process,” says labor and delivery nurse Danae Young, RN, a hospital maternity navigator, who offers birthing center tours and guides expectant parents through pre-admission paperwork.

VISITORS. Decide who you want in the delivery room. “This can be doctor-directed a little bit.

For example, if the patient is having trouble with their blood pressure, we’re not going to want them to have a lot of visitors in their room at that time,” Davis says.

When your baby arrives, your loved ones can access the locked unit during visiting hours by providing your first and last name.

WIRELESS MONITORING. Some hospitals wirelessly monitor the baby’s heart rate and a laboring mom’s contractions.

The wireless monitor allows patients the freedom to move around, use the restroom, take a shower or sit on a birth ball.

X OR Y? Still unsure if your newborn is a Xenia or a Yasmin? Try settling on a name before you check out of the hospital. Otherwise you’ll get a call from the State Department of Health for not completing your birth certificate paperwork--and it can cost you extra.

TOURS REDUCE UNCERTAINTY.

ZEN. Giving birth is rarely considered a “zen-like” experience, but many hospitals prioritize comfortable accommodations for expectant parents, like private suites, in-room music options, rockerrecliners, and “quiet time for moms” to allow for family bonding.

Scheduling a firsthand look of a hospital’s birthing center early in your pregnancy can familiarize you and your partner ahead of time with the hospital layout, parking and available

Christa Melnyk Hines is a nationally published writer.

She and her husband are the parents of two sons who were both c-section deliveries.

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After the Baby Arrives Adjusting to the “new normal� once the baby is born will take time. Moms and dads will come home to very different roles and experiences, and each should be patient as they adapt to the changes. Below are a few tips to help each parent prepare for the transition to life with baby. from the Duquesne University 2019 Expectant Mothers Preparation Resource Guide photos by Yvette Michelle Portraits

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WHAT MOMS SHOULD EXPECT:

• Length of postpartum recovery varies. Some women may feel back to normal after six or eight weeks, while others may need more time.

• Hormones will be fluctuating. Chemical changes in the body will unbalance hormones, so new mothers will likely be more emotional.

• Abdominal pain is normal.

Pain in the abdomen is caused by the uterus shrinking to its normal size.

A heating pad or hot water bottle can help alleviate the discomfort.

• Feeling sad is nothing to be ashamed of.

Fluctuating hormones can leave mothers feeling sad and confused for the first week or so. However, severe feelings of sadness that last longer are symptoms of postpartum depression. Tell your healthcare provider if such strong feelings persist.

• Constipation is common.

Painkillers and fear are two common causes of postpartum constipation.

Drink plenty of water and eat foods high in fiber to help get your system back on track.

WHAT DADS SHOULD EXPECT:

• There is no “going back to normal.” You need to create a new routine and get used to new (and more) responsibilities, such as loads of laundry and grocery shopping.

• No escape from sleep deprivation. Getting help to take care of household chores may allow you to get some extra sleep, but don’t count on getting eight solid hours any time soon.

• Look out for postpartum depression. Feeling sad is normal, but if the mother seems to lack interest in

the child, is frequently irritable or crying, or is having sleeping problems, you need to take her to see the doctor.

• Be confident and patient.

It takes time to get used to the role of father. Both parents will make mistakes and learn from them. Don’t be hard on yourself, and remember to enjoy this amazing and surprisingly brief time with your baby.

PREPARING FOR VISITORS New parents have to readjust nearly every aspect of their lives. When relatives and friends want to visit, the list of responsibilities gets longer.

Household chores such as vacuuming, washing the dishes, doing laundry, taking out the trash, and dusting become urgent burdens—all because visitors are coming. Here are a few tips to help prepare for having relatives over: • Prioritize. Don’t try to clean the whole house.

Close the door to areas off-limits to visitors and don’t worry about cleaning them.

• Quick clean. Have a basket for random items that need to be picked up so you can easily hide it.

• Don’t apologize. Your visitors don’t—and shouldn’t—expect your house to be squeaky clean after childbirth, so don’t feel like you need to apologize for your messes.

New parents have to readjust nearly every aspect of their lives. recommended a serious reevaluation of postpartum visits to ensure healthy mothers and thriving babies.

The recommendations call for a new focus on what the ACOG refers to as the “fourth trimester.”

ESSENTIAL TERMS FOR NEW PARENTS Entering a new stage in life requires learning the jargon— the lexicon of new parents.

In a short time, you will become familiar with medical terms, parenting styles, and behavioral issues that will help you communicate clearly with healthcare providers and other specialists.

MEDICAL TERMS New and expecting parents will hear many unfamiliar medical terms, such as “baby blues,” “colic,” and

“colostrum.” The following list of common baby-related medical terms includes brief definitions and links to more information.

• “Baby blues” and postpartum depression: This mood disorder affects nearly 15 percent of women after childbirth.

It is caused in part by significant changes in levels of hormones. Unlike postpartum depression, “baby blues” usually last a week or two and are generally mild. Find out more at the National Institute of Mental Health’s Postpartum Depression Facts page.

• Fontanelles: These are the six spots on an infant’s skull that are covered with a tough, fibrous membrane.

The spots help the fetal head mold and pass through the birth canal.

• Colostrum: This yellow fluid is produced by the breasts immediately after childbirth. Learn more about the benefits of colostrum to infants via the American Pregnancy Association’s page entitled “Colostrum— The Superfood for Your Newborn.“ • Colic: If a baby cries for more than three hours a day, for at least three days a week, and for at least three weeks, then the baby has colic.

HEALTHCARE EXPECTATIONS AND MEDICAL VISITS Upon hospital discharge, you should have been provided with a calendar of postpartum medical appointments to give the doctor a chance to check up on your own recovery and make sure the baby is healthy and developing properly.

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• However, colic is not an illness and usually goes away. Find out what causes colic and how to treat it in an essay on the website KidsHealth.

POPULAR PARENTING TERMS While there is much advice available on ways to parent, some parenting styles currently getting a lot of media attention include free-range, helicopter, and lawnmower. Each has its drawbacks and unique goals.

It’s important for new parents to decide how they would like to parent and to develop their own perspective on the best parenting strategy for their family.

• Attachment: Also known as “attachment theory,” the term describes the type of attachment formed between the parent and child in the early formative years and how it impacts the child’s later social and emotional well-being.

Paediatrics & Child Health defines attachment as “one specific and circumscribed aspect of the relationship between a child and caregiver that is involved with making the child safe, secure, and protected.”

• Free-range: This style of parenting is characterized by giving a child freedom to engage in independent activities to help develop the child’s decision-making skills. Allowing an older child to walk a mile to the grocery store or take a trip around the city using public transit alone are two examples of freerange parenting. Learn more about the goals of this parenting approach in Healthline’s “What Is ‘FreeRange Parenting’ and How Does It Affect Kids?”

• Helicopter: This style of parenting is characterized by “hovering” around the child, even through college. Critics point out that helicopter parenting tends to stifle the child’s houston baby magazine

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independence.

• Lawnmower: This approach to parenting believes in removing all obstacles in the way of the child’s success or comfort. Scary Mommy compares this parenting style to helicoptering in “Lawnmower Parenting Is the New Helicopter Parenting and Teachers Aren’t Feeling It.”

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU CARE FOR YOUR NEW CHILD On the parenting site Message with a Bottle, Kate Meier writes that parenting “isn’t something you merely survive or put up with. It’s your life now, and it’s the best part of it…. It’s what makes your heartbeat a little stronger every day.” The love of parents will be tested as they grow with their child—learning more about his or her view of the world, desires, and dreams.

RESOURCE MATERIALS When a baby is born, an instruction manual is (unfortunately) not included.

It’s up to the parents to learn— through trial and error—how their child thinks, behaves, and responds. Fortunately, parents can benefit from insights gleaned by studies into child behavior and development.

PARENTING ADVICE

E. Kazdin, PhD, which he refers to as the Kazdin Method.

• Religious organizations: New parents who are members of a religious organization may have access to parenting materials and advice that aligns with their religious beliefs.

ACTIVITIES FOR NEWBORNS AND BABIES • Parents.com: The site describes 11 activities for babies from newborn to six months old, including dancing, singing, baby situps, and follow the leader.

Another activity is filling a basket with small paper items the baby can grab and move around.

• KidsHealth: Read about activities and strategies that encourage learning in your newborn.

• Pathways.org: Access a list of games and activities for children from birth to 12 months old, all supported by findings of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH • Baby Center: New parents will find information on a variety of early childhood health topics.

• Parents Forum: Parents can increase their emotional awareness by participating in a Parents Forum discussion group.

• Child Development Institute: This resource offers expert content on child development across all ages and stages.

• PBS Parents: Parents will find expert advice from a community dedicated to kids’ mental and emotional well-being.

• Let’s Move: This initiative was started by the former first lady Michelle Obama to combat childhood obesity. New parents can access healthy recipes and tips for keeping children physically active.

• Alan E. Kazdin, PhD: Take a free online course entitled Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing to learn evidence-based parenting strategies developed by former American Psychology Association President Alan

• Administration for Children & Families: The division under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers resources to parents on a variety of subjects.

• Pathways.org: Parents can access e-magazines, newsletters, and other resources regarding child health.

BEHAVIORAL ISSUES • Infoaboutkids.org: Developed by the Consortium for ScienceBased Information on Children, Youth and Families, the site provides information to help parents understand the difference between normal behavior and a potential behavioral issue.

• Effective Child Therapy: Parents can access information about behavioral issues, learn to spot the symptoms of a mental illness, and explore treatment options.

• Child Mind Institute: Experts on childhood behavior offer their insights into such matters as helping children calm down, assisting them through transitions, and teaching them how to regulate their behavior.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE Former president Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future.” The best way for new parents to prepare a child for the future is to prepare themselves for a lifetime of learning and growing right along with them.

Read the full resource guide “Resources for New Parents: What to Do When You’re Expecting, Tips & Articles” at https://onlinenursing.duq. edu/master-science-nursing/ resources-for-new-parentswhat-to-do-when-youreexpecting-tips-articles/

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10 Easy Steps to Boost Your Child’s Language Skills

Whether it’s mama, dada, or uh-oh, everyone gets excited about baby’s first word! But what about the words that come afterward?

written by Jill Morgenstern

B

uilding a child’s vocabulary is never quite as exciting as those very first words, but it is no less important. Children start by building their receptive language, the language they hear and understand. Their expressive language refers to the language they can produce. Both are important not only for the ability to communicate but for academic success as well. Having a great vocabulary is the first step in literacy and can give them

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many essential tools.

Perhaps most importantly for school success, a more developed expressive and particularly receptive language ability will increase children’s ability to comprehend the texts they read. According to speech pathologist Martha Meyers, “The formula for reading comprehension is receptive language times decoding skills. The greater the base of receptive language they have, the better their comprehension skills. And reading comprehension is

needed for all aspects of academic education.”

Below are steps you can easily take to increase your child’s expressive and receptive language:

ASK QUESTIONS AND GIVE YOUR CHILD TIME TO RESPOND Giving children ample time to respond to your questions allows them time to independently choose the proper vocabulary.

TREAT EVEN THE YOUNGEST CHILD AS A POTENTIAL CONVERSATIONALIST By giving children a turn to “talk”, even an infant begins to understand the conventions of conversation. Your child can begin to understand that people take turns during a conversation and that questions generate and answer even before he or she becomes an active participant.

MAKE ERRANDS A TIME TO LEARN Even as you do your daily errands it is easy to take the opportunity to develop oral language. Discuss purchases to your child as you place items in the basket. Statements and questions such as, “We’ll have this chicken breast for dinner tonight!” or “Did you notice how fresh the broccoli looks today?” introduce new vocabulary.

SING AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAY Children can learn a lot of language from music. Sing your way to the tub during bath time or make a song part of the bedtime routine. As an added bonus you will often be exposing your children to rhyming, a precursor to reading.

READ ALOUD New research suggests that reading to children can be even more effective than talking to them for building vocabulary. Sometimes parents will naturally explain the new words they encounter. Other times children will decipher the meaning from context.

Both routes lead children to increased vocabulary.

ASK OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS Rather than asking your child yes or no questions, give them the opportunity to expand their answers. So instead of asking, “Do you want a drink of orange juice?” you might try asking “What would you like to drink?” This encourages your child to come up with the word water or juice by his or herself.

MODEL RATHER THAN CORRECT When your child mispronounces or uses incorrect grammar, repeat the sentence back using the correct form. For example, if your child says, “I goed to the

store with Daddy” you would repeat “Oh! You went to the store?” This gives the child the needed information without making him or her feel bad about having made a mistake.

NARRATE AS YOU GO Talk aloud about what your child is doing. As your child plays, narrate as if you were at a sporting event. “You put four wheels on your Lego car!” This not only helps build your child’s receptive language but can help build self-esteem as your child hears that you find his or her activities interesting and meaningful.

ADD TO WHAT YOUR CHILD ALREADY SAYS Expand on what your child already knows by adding words to his or her sentences. If your child points and declares “kitty” you could add, “The kitty is soft and furry!”

TURN DOWN THE BACKGROUND NOISE A study from 2016 suggests that background noise may hinder children’s ability to learn new words. If the TV or radio is a constant in your household, it may be worth turning it down or off to help your child’s language development.

If you have concerns about your child’s speech, asking the teacher is always a great way to gain a fresh perspective.

But whether you’re concerned or just wanting to provide enrichment, encouraging your child’s language with just a little effort and commitment.

These easy steps can yield great results. Many of these ideas will become habit if used frequently and will help your child both communicate more effectively and increase school success with very little extra effort on your part.

Freelance writer Jill Morgenstern has four kids and 13 years teaching experience.

She has a Master’s Degree in Teaching Reading.

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Ouch!

All Done.

Eat

Baby Sign Language Seeing is Understanding written by Mimi Brian Vance “Baby Sign Language class?

Yes, I’ll go with you. See you soon!” Carol hung up the phone with her daughter-in-law. “Baby Sign Language? What in the world?” she wondered to herself as she finished her packing. The San Francisco houston baby magazine

18 Spring/Summer 2020

grandmother was in a hurry to get to the airport.

Baby sign language is the use of American Sign Language signs to represent words so that baby can “talk” before they learn to speak.

This phenomenal tool for

supporting early language has been around for over two decades, but it is still a mystery to some.

To start, parents learn signs for words that their little ones can use. “Milk” and “eat” are a good place to begin.

These are basic needs – things

children would tell you they want or ask for if they could speak. Mom and dad use the signs for those things when they speak to their baby. Baby eventually catches on and begins to sign independently.

“My grandson isn’t deaf.

Why are they going to baby sign language class?” Carol wondered as she inched her way through airport security.

Why baby sign language?

Humans are wired for language. We need connection. Language is a primary means of connection.

Baby sign language provides signs to stand in for words until the complicated vocal skills of human speech become possible for babies.

Signing with babies is not a replacement for language.

It’s an enhancement. Using baby sign language is part of creating a language-rich environment for your child.

Early childhood is a time of helping children grow toward lifetime skills they need.

Speech is a big one. The best way to get your children to talk is to talk to them. Sing to them, read, read, read to them.

And talk. About anything and everything. Let them hear as many spoken words as possible. And while you are talking a blue streak, throw in some baby sign language signs for key words. But don’t stop talking - always say the word for the sign you are making.

Receptive language – the ability to recognize and understand language, happens before expressive language – the ability to produce language. Your baby understands quite a lot of what you are telling them at an early age, and their skills grow at a very fast rate. The ability to express themselves comes much later if spoken language is the only means of expression. With baby signs, expression is available earlier.

How do you do it? Start with a few signs. A handful of first words are “milk,” “eat,” “more,” “all done,” and “ouch/ hurt.” Learn the signs and start using them during your day.

Frankly, this may be the hardest part - the getting started.

Learning the signs isn’t hard.

Remembering to use signs frequently and consistently takes some practice. The

good news is that the routine and repetition of the life of little babies will give you many opportunities. Sign in context as much as possible - when you feed, when you play, when you read. Keep working on it. Sign when you speak, speak when you sign.

Sitting at the gate waiting for her flight to Houston, the San Francisco grandmother amused herself by people watching.

It wasn’t long before she saw a father and son in the seats off to her right.

The child was probably about 15 months old, a few months older than her own grandson. The father was talking to the boy, and the boy was doing something with his hands. Then the father was doing something with his hands, too. Were they signing? She watched, for a while, and realized the boy was not deaf, nor was the father. But they were using signs.

So which signs do you need to learn and use? Try to put yourself in your baby’s (tiny, adorable) shoes. What are they likely to want to ask you or tell you? Basic needs (milk, eat) are very easy to demonstrate, and something your baby will want. Daily routine signs, like bath and sleep. Find signs for things that your baby likes and thinks are fun, such as a ball, a plush animal friend, or going outside, or to the park. Signs for common courtesy (please and thank you) are also quite useful. If you want your child to have the habit of saying please and thank you, you’ll get a head start if you start them with signs.

Carol eventually made her way over and gently inquired. “Yes,” said the father, “we’re using baby sign language.”

He explained how the signs helped his son communicate. The little boy was unhappy because his mother had left them to go get food. The boy heard him mention

“mother”, and held his open hand up to his face and touched his chin with his thumb. “Mama” the dad spoke, and made the same sign, has gone to get us some food!” He pinched his thumb and fingers together and touched the fingertips to his lips. The boy mimicked the same sign, “yes, food!” said the dad. The boy signed again what our grandmother now understood was the sign for mother. “Yes, Mama is coming back soon. We just need to wait for her.”

Together they held their hands palm up and wiggled their fingers - “wait,” confirmed the dad. The little boy then held his hands together, and then opened them up. “A book?” asked the dad. Sure! The boy climbed into his dad’s lap as the grandmother’s flight was called. She left them absorbed in a book, waiting for mom to return.

When to start signing? Six months old is a good starting age for babies, but parents should start whenever they can. Anytime before baby is fully talking is good. How long to keep signing? The transition from sign language to spoken language is a natural progression. As children learn to talk and expand their vocabularies, they will begin to drop signs in favor of speech, which is eventually the easier means of communication for hearing children. As children speak more, their parents tend to sign less – whether by active consideration, or just naturally.

Parents who want to continue using sign language with their children will have to keep up their signing.

Does it work? Research and, probably more importantly – parental experience have shown that these signs are extremely helpful. For some, the word “miraculous” is tossed around.

A few days later, our San Francisco grandmother

joined her grandson and his mom at baby sign language class. She was so excited to share her story, and to jump on board with learning the signs her grandson was learning.

She had seen it work in real life. Communication, understanding, calming.

This grandmother had joined the ranks of parents and grandparents who understand how even a few signs can be very helpful to a child who isn’t yet able to talk.

A handful of tips for baby sign language: • Focus on words your child is likely to want to say to you. Basic needs, daily routines, favorite animals or toys are helpful early signs.

• Always say the word as you sign it - reinforcing, not replacing language.

• Be patient. It takes a while for most babies to catch on to the correlation between signs and what they represent. Look for receptive language first.

• Repetition. The key to success with language spoken and signed - is repetition. Repetition. Did I mention repetition?

• Let the baby figure out how to sign. Letting them use their own hands - in whatever way they can - is also helpful to the fine and gross motor skills they are developing. You’ll have to train your eyes to recognize early signs from baby hands, but they will train you soon enough!

Mimi Brian Vance is the author of the Words by the Handful Series. These children’s board books teach baby sign language in a read-aloud format. Her Words by the Handful baby sign language classes in Houston have taught hundreds of families, and are now also available online. www.wordsbythehandful.com

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TO GETTING THE MOM BOD YOU WANT written by Marie Weaver, NASM Certified Personal Trainer photos by Jenna Duncan Photography

C

ongrats! You’re a mommy! … which means life is ridiculously hectic.

Somehow you’re managing to get things done, but working in exercise?! Ha! You’re lucky to even shower, right? Trust me, I get it. I’ve been there. Time is a constraint when trying to fit exercise into your day, but now is an opportunity to not only shed baby weight, but also begin new habits to carry throughout the rest of your life.

Here’s my top 10 list of things I wish I’d known before beginning my own workout journey that could have helped me achieve better and faster results after the birth of my children.

1. GET CLEARANCE FROM A DOCTOR BEFORE YOU BEGIN EXERCISING. This really isn’t a tip, it’s a must. Talk in detail about which exercises you plan to do.

All vigorous exercise must be entered into gradually. houston baby magazine

20 Spring/Summer 2020

2. SELF CARE IS ESSENTIAL. Finding time to exercise might seem selfish, but exercising is for (INSERT YOUR NAME HERE.) And yes, that’s in all caps and bold. Exercise is for YOU. Not you the mom, or you the wife, or you the friend, or….get my drift? Exercise is for the benefit of YOU and the benefits from it spill over to the other roles you play. Taking care of ourselves allows us to be better caretakers of others.

3. SPLIT YOUR WORKOUT! Split a 30 minute workout into 3, 10-minute segments.

4. HIIT (high-intensity interval training) burns up to 3 times as many calories at the end of the day than performing regular cardio for the same amount of time.

5. YOU CANNOT OUT TRAIN A BAD DIET. Eat right. Eat clean.

6. TRACK YOUR FOOD. To lose weight you must burn more

calories than you consume.

It’s that simple. It’s a numbers game. Use an app to track your food and soon you’ll be reaping the benefits.

7. WATER. WATER. WATER. A dehydrated body cannot burn fat.

8. YOU CAN’T SPOT TRAIN BODY PARTS FOR INTENDED RESULTS. Weight gain in the tummy, hips, and thighs is typical of a postpartum body, but all over training is necessary to achieve desired results.

9. STAY OFF THE SCALE. Muscle is dense but takes up less space than the same weight of fat. Some women fear gaining muscle because they think they’ll look like a body builder, but truth is women don’t naturally produce enough testosterone for that to happen. Muscle requires more energy to remain on your body, so let your stored

body fat be it’s food source.

Adding muscle will ignite your metabolism to work harder and you will begin to lean out and wear smaller clothes as fat is burned for energy.

10. NO GUILT OR SHAME ALLOWED! If you’ve got punching gloves on, take them off!! Yes, you’ve got extra skin, fluid, and fat… you grew a person! It’s what happens! Focused hard work and determination will help you reach your goals. Be patient and remember you’re beautiful no matter what. You might desperately want your pre-baby body back, but you didn’t gain it overnight, so it’s not going to disappear overnight.

Marie is a personal trainer at Hank’s gym. You can reach her on social media at facebook.com/marieweaverpt Instagram.com/marieweaverpt

Here’s a sample 10-minute HIIT routine. Perform each exercise for 50 seconds and then rest for 10 seconds. Go in order so as to alternate

a cardio exercise with a strengthening exercise. If you’re not able to do one of the cardio moves, switch it out with something else that will get your heart rate up. It’s not the specific exercise, it’s getting your heart beating quickly and then backing off and letting it slow down while you perform a strengthening exercise. You’ve got this, mama. Baby steps.

squats

mountain climber

jumping jacks

heel dips 2. Mountain climbers 3. Bridge lifts - lie on back, knees bent, feet hip width apart. Raise hips and squeeze. Hold squeeze for 3 seconds and lower back down. Repeat.

4. Jumping jacks

high knees 1. Squats - feet apart, squat down, shoulders back, and knees never go past your toes.

bridge lifts

5. Heel dips - lie on your back, knees bent 90 degrees and hip width apart. Keep form tight, lower heels to the floor, tap, raise back up to starting position.

6. Burpees - Start in a squat position with your knees bent, back straight, and your feet about shoulderwidth apart. • Lower your hands to the floor in front of you so they’re just inside

your feet. • With your weight on your hands, kick your feet back so you’re on your hands and toes, and in a pushup position. • Keeping your body straight from head to heels, do one pushup. Remember not to let your back sag or to stick your butt in the air. • Do a frog kick by jumping your feet back to their starting position. • Stand and reach your arms over your head.• Jump quickly into the air so you land back where you started. • As soon as you land with knees bent, get into a squat position and do another repetition.

elbow plank 8. Football feet - stand with feet slightly wider than hip width apart. Quickly move feet up and down, staying in one place, while holding hands together.

9. Elbow plank (start with 3 sets of 15 seconds or 2 sets of 20 seconds 10. High knees - Stand with your feet hip-width apart.

Lift up your left knee to your chest. Switch to lift your right knee to your chest. Continue the movement, alternating legs and moving at a sprinting or running pace.

7. Sumo Squats - feet wide, toes pointed out, squat down and up. Knee/toe rule!

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21 houston baby magazine

Maternity Must-haves

Congratulations, you’re expecting! Between buying staples for the baby, to redecorating and everything in between, it might seem daunting to think about completely overhauling your closet too! But, we’ve got tips on the maternity wardrobe essentials that you actually need as your body grows and changes. Making sure you have the right essentials for your maternity wardrobe can seem daunting, but we’re here to help.

written by Stitch Fix

Shift Dress Dresses are the easiest way to look polished in a snap. If you’re in need of workwear, try a shift dress to boast that bump. Classic tailored dresses with ruching are a great option that can grow with you from conception to congrats. Add some on-trend statement jewelry to a basic LBD and you’re ready to slay all day.

Maxi Dress Maxi dresses are comfortable, flattering and functional. Marry a solid staple maxi dress to on-trend accessories for styling versatility. For date night or a special event, consider adding a printed kimono and statement earrings for flare.

Wrap Dress Wrap dress are a universal figure-flattering option that you can rock throughout your pregnancy, and make for great nursingfriendly options (if needed) after bae arrives.

If you can’t find a maternity specific wrap dress you love, consider simply sizing up a traditional wrap dress for extra baby room.

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22 Spring/Summer 2020

Which maternity essentials do you need to add to your closet before you reach full term?

Schedule a Fix and let your Stylist know!

Maternity Jeans If you only want to spring for one piece of clothing during your pregnancy, make it a pair of maternity jeans. Yes, they will probably come with a belly band, but trust us— you’ll be so much more comfortable. On-trend maternity denim is easily accessible, so stock up on a few trusted fits you already love that can rotate and repeat. As a general rule, a pair of skinnies, cuffed boyfriend jeans and cropped flares or capris are good to have in your with-child wardrobe. If the weather is warm, make sure you have at least one pair of maternity shorts to help keep you glowing without roasting.

Stretchy Tops

www.stitchfix.com

Tops that can stretch with your bump throughout your pregnancy are a must, so make sure you are adding tops with stretch.

A classic knit tee will stretch with you as your bump grows and is always a comfortable and easy option to reach for. As your bump starts to make its way into the last trimester, spring for a couple of tops with ruching on the side to accommodate your baby in tow.

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23 houston baby magazine

welcome to

Motherhood For some, it is an easy club to get in to. For others, it takes years of pain & suffering to finally get to the day someone calls you ‘Mama’. No matter what road you take to get here, once you are in, you are in for life!

Along the way to Motherhood, you will encounter many who want to share their opinions, tricks and trials. We recommend you take it all in, use what you need and impart the best wisdom they have to offer. You truly are not alone, as every mother will feel at times. You belong to the largest sisterhood on the planet and we are here for you!

We posed the same questions to a few local moms, with children of all ages to offer sage advice for those who are just joining the journey.

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24 Spring/Summer 2020

NAME:

Sonja Gee

ABOUT ME: E XECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES

What piece of advice did you hear all the time that turned out not to be true?

You have to have this or do that…eat this, not that. I think all parents are unique, just like our kids. What works for some parents doesn’t for others. There’s no absolute right answers, so we all have to discover the path that works for us and our families. I love to hear what different friends have learned about parenting, and then try to apply the things that align with my hopes and values.

Where did you deliver?

The Woman’s Hospital of Texas Any advice for those that want to know how to best support moms? featured: Sonja Gee & Family photo by Jenna Duncan Photography location: InterContinental Hotel- Houston What piece of advice would you give moms with kids ages 0-3?

Parenting is an art, not a science. It’s less about getting everything right, and more about the beautiful, creative, though often messy journey.

Be present, keep it simple, learn to ask for and accept help (which often means letting go of the details), don’t allow fear to drive your parenting, and choose to believe that children are a blessing, not a burden (even when you’re exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed!)

What were your top 3 favorite baby products?

• Silicone Baby Food Freezer Trays • Robeez Soft Sole Shoes • Willow Breast Pump What was the hardest part of your pregnancy?

Trying to stay healthy and manage gestational diabetes while also finding time and energy for the rest of my family and work.

The easiest?

Having two amazing, helpful older siblings (Alex and Natalia)

and my husband who were all extremely supportive and so excited about the new addition.

What was the hardest part about the 0-3 stage of motherhood?

Making time to be with the baby and with my other two children.

What did you crave the most while being pregnant?

Visits from friends and home cooked meals were such a blessing to our family during those first months. Now that I am back to work, having family and friends that I can call on for last minute kid pick-ups or other favors means more than they will ever know.

What local places are your faves to take care of yourself, spend family time or just enjoy time with the hubby?

Home and exploring new parks or restaurants.

A hammock. I lived in Mexico during my first two pregnancies and hammocks are the ideal place to sleep when your baby bump starts getting in the way!

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What piece of advice would you give moms with kids ages 0-3?

Keep baskets of books in every room of the house! Reading truly promotes exploration, nurtures language, empathy and emotion. I’ve promoted this for years in my career, and now I get to personally experience how fascinating the connection is between my own son, myself and books. And of course, keep babies and toddlers off screens for as long as possible ... even if it seems educational. Wait until the brain has passed through pivotal stages of development before introducing programs that do not promote curiosity and authentic imagination. I know it’s hard, but the long term benefit outweighs the convenience.

What were your top 3 favorite baby products?

• Toy Subscription to Lovevery • Dockatot • Wellements Organic Gripe Water What was the hardest part of your pregnancy? The easiest?

NAME:

Melissa Williams

ABOUT ME: F OUNDER & CEO IWRITE LITERACY ORGANIZATION

featured: Melissa Williams & family photo by Jenna Duncan Photography location: InterContinental Hotel- Houston

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26 Spring/Summer 2020

At 18 weeks, I started developing extremely itchy skin, mostly on my arms, legs and chest. I called my doctor and they had me come in for blood work the next day. My bile acid levels were at the beginning stage of Cholestasis of pregnancy. It is a condition only diagnosed during pregnancy that slows or stops the normal flow of bile in the gallbladder which causes severe itching. Not that many people have heard of it, so I felt alone and confused. The treatment required medication (which I’ve never been on medication in my life) to lower the level of bile in the blood and to be induced at 37 weeks to decrease risks of a stillbirth. Obviously, I had no choice but to follow treatment. Being a classic type A, the fear of not understanding, having to trust the doctor... it was my first taste of not being completely in control, which is basically motherhood in a nutshell.

Other than that, my pregnancy was fairly easy. I was going all the time and at times had to remind myself that I was pregnant.

What was the hardest part about the 0-3 stage of motherhood?

What’s not the hardest thing!? The hardest part for me is still wanting to be able to give 100% to everything I used to do and also 100% to being a

med

Where did you deliver?

KEEP BASKETS OF BOOKS IN EVERY ROOM OF THE HOUSE! READING TRULY PROMOTES EXPLORATION, NURTURES LANGUAGE, EMPATHY AND EMOTION.

mom. My work schedule has been tricky (running two businesses) and off balance, but I honestly wouldn’t consider changing it. I feel lucky to have a village between me, my husband, grandparents and an amazing babysitter.

What’s not hard is soaking in every moment with Jackson. His sweet little face, determined personality, his cuddles and even his grumpy times of the day all make me so happy.

What did you crave the most while being pregnant?

Lemons! Jackson has been eating lemons as if they were oranges since he was 6 months old.

What piece of advice did you hear all the time that turned out not to be true?

I was told by multiple people that the hardest part would be coming home from the hospital and figuring out how to take care of a baby. My husband and I both had so much more anxiety in the hospital - making certain medical decisions for our son. Because he was early, his blood sugar was low but still right on the line before needing to go to the NICU. We felt so much more comfortable when we were in the NICU; plus we learned so much about caring for a baby from the NICU nurses. The act of coming home meant he was healthy. Everything was easier after that moment.

Texas Children’s Women’s Pavilion Any advice for those that want to know how to best support moms?

We all catch people on bad days, but that isn’t a permanent state of being. Moms are juggling a lot of plates in the air at all times.

And every day is different. You have your rock star days where you can’t believe how awesome you are ... then the next day is THE WORST. Babysitter cancels on the day you have a really important meeting scheduled, and you now have an hour to get “creative” and figure it all out. If everyone kept this is mind we would all be a little less judgemental and forgiving.

What local places are your faves to take care of yourself, spend family time or just enjoy time with the hubby?

We all enjoy being outdoors, so we love going to Evelyn’s Park and Betsy’s for pizza, wine and music. Everyone brings their kids, so as a parent you are in great company.

Jackson loves getting to run around.

Your Trusted Health Care Team for Times Like These

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• Annual Wellness Exams • Newborn Young Adult Care • Vaccinations & Immunizations

• Sick Child Visits • Pediatric Walk-In Clinic • Convenient Locations Across Houston

• NEW! Telemedicine & Telehealth Care from the comfort of your home! Pediatric sick visits and counseling (anxiety, depression and behavioral problems) via smartphone or computer.

Appointments Available!

New Patients Welcome!

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We accept HMO/PPOs, Medicaid and CHIP, plus offer programs to reduce the cost of services.

To make an appointment visit LegacyCommunityHealth.org/PediTelemed Spring/Summer 2020

27 houston baby magazine

featured: Marianna Corcoran and family photo provided by Marianna

NAME:

Marianna Corcoran

ABOUT ME: A SSOCIATE PUBLISHER, HOUSTONIA MAGAZINE

What piece of advice would you give moms with kids ages 0-3?

You are not alone!! Being a mom, especially a new mom, is the most rewarding, challenging and overwhelming journey I’ve embarked on. The more I shared with other moms, which included friends, but also strangers I met at the grocery store or on walks in the park, the more I realized that advice and support is all around me.

It brought me comfort to learn that so many other women have had similar experiences or feelings or questions that I had. I’m part of a mom’s group now that keeps growing in numbers. We get together for dinner bi-monthly and it’s houston baby magazine

28 Spring/Summer 2020

so fun to talk about our kids, our personal and professional lives, and our challenges and successes. I highly recommend forming your own network of moms if you can, and getting together without the babies. It’s a wonderful escape!

What were your top 3 favorite baby products?

To name just 3 is a challenge!

• The Magic Merlin Sleepsuit • A baby walker • A bathtub seat What was the hardest part of your pregnancy? The easiest?

I honestly didn’t have a very difficult pregnancy, and our baby was born 6 weeks

prematurely, so I never got into the super-uncomfortable-backaching-get-this-thing-out-of-me phase. Pregnancy to me was more like a state of being... it just was. I’m not the person that “loves” being pregnant, but I didn’t hate it either! I will say, it was fun to indulge a little more than I normally allow myself when it comes to eating.

I absolutely love Nutella and I never bought it to keep at home until I was a pregnant lady!

What was the hardest part about the 0-3 stage of motherhood?

As a first-time-mother, you literally have no idea what you’re doing. You can read all the books (I was reading the classic, What

to Expect When You’re Expecting along the way), but nothing truly prepares you for the real thing.

I had a lot of trouble getting comfortable with nursing. I had a lactation consultant come to me once at the hospital, and then another one come to my house.

I had to use nipple shields for the first month or two because my son had a weak latch, but those ended up really helping.

One day he just stopped caring for them and the problem solved itself. My son also had a dairy intolerance (which is apparently common in newborns, since it’s a protein that’s harder to digest) that we didn’t diagnose until 3 months. He was fussy all the time. My husband kept saying “he’s just a baby,” but something

USE THE TIME YOU’RE AT THE HOSPITAL [AFTER DELIVERY] TO SLEEP!

didn’t feel right. When we made a special appointment with the pediatrician to discuss the issue, she suggested I cut dairy out of my diet and give it a few days to see if his behavior improves.

It was like night and day! His stomach was obviously really bothering him and I had no idea!

What did you crave the most while being pregnant?

See question 3 above…Nutella!

Sweets in general, but I crave those non-pregnant. I’m bad!

What piece of advice did you hear all the time that turned out not to be true?

“Use the time you’re at the hospital [after delivery] to sleep!” There was someone in and out of my room all hours of the day, and night! Checking on me, checking vitals, asking for my lunch order…always something! Once you have a baby, just come to terms with the fact that you’ve joined Team No-Sleep.

Where did you deliver?

The Women’s Hospital of Texas.

They were fantastic, especially the NICU nurses!

Any advice for those that want to know how to best support moms?

important for everyone, mom, or not, male or female, to show understanding to mothers.

None of us are perfect and there is no “right” way. Do not judge how other people to choose to parent, and be kind. As moms, we are tired humans and we’re all doing our best. Let us feel love, gratitude, understanding and acceptance.

And be patient because mom brain is a real thing!

What local places are your faves to take care of yourself, spend family time or just enjoy time with the hubby?

We are zoo members as of recently! We’re excited to spend more family time going to the Houston Zoo together and watching our son grow into that environment. Right now, he might still be too young to pay much attention to the animals, or really recognize them, but with our first trip he actually spent time watching the seals and looking at the jellyfish. We also love going to the farmers’ markets around town. They recently started one at Heights Mercantile the last Sunday of every month, which is very close to our house!

346.293.6261 (text ok)

Offer to babysit! Only half kidding. I think it’s very Spring/Summer 2020

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featured: Jentry Kelley and family photo provided by Jentry

NAME:

Jentry Kelley

ABOUT ME: O WNER OF JENTRY KELLEY COSMETICS

What piece of advice would you give moms with kids ages 0-3?

Be in the moment with your baby and family. I find myself getting lost in work and missing out on some of the things I will never get back. Work can wait, it will be there tomorrow. Easier said than done, and I have my own work to do on this. Even I need improvement.

What were your top 3 favorite baby products?

• I’m obsessed with my BLOOM highchair. We have a contemporary house, as I don’t feel like I have a piece of crappy plastic that looks like it doesn’t belong. It’s customizable and matches our other furniture in kitchen. I have the fresco/ lunar silver color combo.

• His favorite toy was a gift from my friend and it’s a pretend remote. It’s always the first toy he grabs for and it talks to him like he’s watching the weather channel or the animal planet.

• My favorite product for him, and the best part about bath time, is this Shea butter moisturizer with argan oil.

What was the hardest part of your pregnancy? The easiest?

Ha! The hardest part of my pregnancy? All of it! The whole freaking thing was terrible which is why I’m never gonna have another one! Surrogacy is the way to go! Now I know what Kim K was thinking. From severe acid reflex, to gestational diabetes, to placenta previa, and preeclampsia, I was miserable houston baby magazine

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every single day. Not one good thing about it for me.

What was the hardest part about the 0-3 stage of motherhood?

Breast-feeding. When people say it’s hard, I had no clue what they meant. Nobody explain in detail what that meant. I had three friends in from Louisiana helping me after my C-section, and it still wasn’t enough help! How can it take five grown adults to take care of one baby? I still don’t know. Lol. Even though I had help and we were taking shifts I still couldn’t get any sleep because I was having to wake up every 3 to 4 hours to breast-feed/pump. I’m not one to miss my sleep. That was hard.

What did you crave the most while being pregnant?

No cravings! I was nauseous every single day that I was pregnant.

What piece of advice did you hear all the time that turned out not to be true?

I was told by so many people on social media that my severe acid reflex was caused by a hormone that was producing hair on my baby boy. And do you know he came out with like one tiny little hair on his head! Barely peach fuzz! That old wives tale is false!

Where did you deliver?

The Women’s Hospital of Texas What local places are your faves to take care of yourself, spend family time or just enjoy time with the hubby?

To be honest, I don’t take enough time to do things just for me. But Sean and I love to

go out to eat! We actually went to brasserie the other day and took the baby and it was so pretty we sat outside and he was so well behaved! I think taking him out to restaurants at such a young age is conditioning him for good behavior in public around other people.

BE IN THE MOMENT WITH YOUR BABY AND FAMILY

NAME:

Nancy Almodovar

ABOUT ME: C EO NAN AND COMPANY PROPERTIES / CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONSL REAL ESTATE

featured: Nancy Almodovar and family | photo provided by Nancy What piece of advice would you give moms with kids ages 0-3?

What was the hardest part about the 0-3 stage of motherhood?

Avoid anything that is a potential choking hazard! I’ve had one of my kids choke on something before and it was the scariest thing ever.

The hardest part about the 0-3 stage would be just getting used to motherhood and adapting to everything that it came with.

What were your top 3 favorite baby products?

• NoseFrida • Swaddle blankets • Baby Bjorn What is your favorite quote?

What are your favorite LOCAL places for family time?

Dolce Vita is our favorite place to go to dinner as a family. On the weekends you’ll always catch us at iPic! We love it there.

Just breathe.

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What piece of advice would you give moms with kids ages 0-3?

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Try and stay in the moment with your children. Create a loving, caring environment and have fun—you will be an awesome mom. Your baby loves seeing a smiling, laughing, and nurturing face and will grow so strong and confident through your love and example. Don’t forget to laugh and to always be positive. READ, READ, READ and listen to music with your babies….And finally, get sleep… nap time is not just for babies (who knew)!

What were your favorite baby products?

• Aquaphor Healing Ointment (was the best for both of our sons’ skin, rashes, etc.)

• Miracle Blanket Swaddle and Aden + Anais Classic Swaddles (our babies were great sleepers and these swaddles were a big reason why) • Cloud B Sleep Sheep (put the little boys to sleep fast) • City Mini Stroller (fantastic stroller…light, flexible, tough) What is your favorite inspirational quote?

Photo by Jenna Duncan Photography | Location: InterContinental Hotel- Houston Left: Laura Spanjian, Right: Susan Christian

NAME:

Laura Spanjian

ABOUT ME: SENIOR PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR- AIRBNB

NAME:

Susan Christian

ABOUT ME: D IRECTOR, HOUSTON MAYOR’S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS

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• “The only true failure can come if you quit.” (from Rosie Revere which we’ve been reading a lot lately!)

• There is a solution for every problem. (really helps with all the daily frustrations) What was the hardest part about the 0-3 stage of motherhood?

• Not getting enough sleep while trying to manage work, babies, etc. at 110% • Being hard on ourselves and thinking we were not doing a good enough job.

• Having to work diligently and consistently at breast-feeding and ensuring enough milk for all the feedings. It was tough!

THE ONLY TRUE FAILURE CAN COME IF YOU QUIT.

What are your favorite LOCAL places for family time?

There are SO many great places for family time in Houston. Our priority has been on creating an oasis at our home and backyard for fun family experiences (think lots of fort building and crazy LEGO creations!). At the same time we love our neighborhood parks where the boys have had many adventures, including: • Mandell Park (love the vegetable garden and the Saturday morning toddler time) • Ervan Chew Park (love the playground and splash pad and now Neartown Little League games on the baseball field) • Fleming Park – we’ve spent hours on the playground, sports field and basketball court • Levy Park – everything!

Other great places where we have spent TONS of time: • Hermann Park Zoo and Train (we’ve probably ridden the train 100 times, Eli and Ethan loved it when they were 1- 3) • HMNS (the boys call it the dinosaur museum and we’ve attended so often that they could be tour guides) • The Children’s Museum – OBVIOUS • Centennial Gardens (boys love running up and down the “mountain”) • Any trampoline park!

We are also foodies and have spent amazing outings at local restaurants, making food experiences the norm for our family. And if you want to

JENNA DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY Houston Family Photographer

enjoy a great beer, the pinball machines are lots of fun for the kids at Hay Merchant. We also love good restaurants that have green spaces for the kids to run and play. Our two favorites right now: • Candente • Punk’s Simple Southern Food And of course Houston Events are a staple for family outings: • Freedom Over Texas for fireworks on July 4th • HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade • Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo • Houston Children’s Festival • Astros, Rockets and Dynamo/Dash games What shocked you about motherhood?

That it is all-consuming; you are on 24 hours a day. More importantly, that you could ever imagine such love.

How do you manage it all?

Lots of laughter (scheduling) love (scheduling) and respect, did we mention schedules are important to us!?! We also support each other and share the same path for our sons. Education and quality experiences are our priorities for them as well as involvement in a variety of programs and activities that support the heart, mind and body.

We also try to give each other small breaks when possible. For example, one of us will take the kids for a few hours on a weekend morning. And we really try to have date nights!

We are lucky we have some great sitters who the boys love.

To book contact: WWW.JENNADUNCAN.PHOTOGRAPHY JENNADUNCANPHOTOGRAPHY@GMAIL.COM

Featured in:

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33 houston baby magazine

NAME:

Desrye Morgan

ABOUT ME: M ANAGING DIRECTOR, WELLS FARGO SECURITIES-PUBLIC FINANCE

featured: Desrye Morgan photo by Pop of Color Photography Looking back over your motherhood journey - What piece of advice would you give moms with kids ages 0-3?

Be present, be human and be vulnerable!!!The moments go quickly, cherish them. Each development will bring different experiences. Motherhood and parenting does not end at 18, it’s forever. Don’t get bogged down in stuff and miss the joy.

What piece of advice did you hear all the time about motherhood that turned out not to be true?

The appropriate family dynamics. That a Single African American women cannot raise a successful, well-balanced son. I was told a man had to be in the house. Yes, it is a challenge, but the negativity did not apply to my home. Take away, don’t let third party advice guide your parenting. It’s ok to consider, but use your best judgement.

My son is thriving. He was raised in a structured, creative middle class single mother home. He quickly learned who he is and who’s he is.

What is the best thing about being a mom and what is the hardest?

Being a good mother, from delivery through every stage of development and beyond is a challenging yet most rewarding undertaking. Even at 31, hugs from my son is soul-stirring. One of the hardest was educating. As a houston baby magazine

34 Spring/Summer 2020

mother you are better at some skills than others. My weakness was educating. I would help Josh with his homework and he would get the assignment wrong or helping him, because of my lack of patience would be a battle. Determining what school was the best fit. Truly the hardest thing about being the mother of an African American male was the teaching fear of “DWB”(Driving while back) and how to deal with racial injustices towards him.

Any advice for those that want to know how to best support moms?

Having “me time” is a luxury for a mother. Arrange a few hours, day or weekend for a bit of “me time”. Support, listen and be present for them. It could be as simple as an encouraging text message.

When your kiddo was younger - what was your favorite way of spending time together?

Wow, that was a long time ago. Social media and all the technology we have now, did not exist when my son Joshua was growing up. It does not have to be fancy. Just uninterrupted presence. Josh and I enjoyed retro games like pick up sticks, Chinese checkers and jacks. We spent lots of time in exploring museums and the joy of art, dancing to Michael Jackson and because I did not have a choice; lots of basketball.

How has motherhood changed you?

Motherhood made me a better person. I learned as much as I taught. The depths of Motherhood awakened me, colors became brighter, sounds

are crisp and you truly see the simple things God has created and we take for granted like the sky, blades of grass the curiosity in my son’s eyes. I learned gratitude and surrender, which for a A-type control attorney, learning to surrender were interesting lessons.

What is one thing you wish you would have done differently when you were a young mother?

My son’s father and I divorced when he was 6 years old, I wish I could erase that pain it caused him and that the situation would have went differently.

As a single mother balancing a demanding career, I wish I could have been more present, not just physically, but truly emotionally and mentally present without distractions.

featured: Lisa Helfman and family photo by Jenna Duncan Photography location: InterContinental Hotel- Houston

NAME:

Lisa Helfman

ABOUT ME: D IRECTOR, HEB PUBLIC AFFAIRSHOUSTON

What piece of advice would you give moms with kids ages 0-3?

Make time to take care of yourself. Don’t sacrifice that now that you have children. It’s a hectic time for sure but it will be much calmer and happier if you prioritize self-care first! If you are calm, your young one will be too! Anything from healthy foods, yoga, meditation, exercise or sleep! It all matters and it all helps!

What were your top 3 favorite baby products?

• The swaddle! I wanted sleep and that got us through the night early on during the newborn days.

• The bouncy seat – my children slept in it while it vibrated the first few weeks of life. And don’t worry, it didn’t scar them. They both

have wonderful sleeping habits now!

• Burt’s Bees baby wash. So gentle and fresh. We loved bath time!

What was the hardest part of your pregnancy? The easiest?

With my first son I was on “house arrest” for 5 weeks at the end of my pregnancy.

That wasn’t fun at all. The easiest with both boys was my deliveries – quick and easy!

What was the hardest part about the 0-3 stage of motherhood?

The hardest part for me was not knowing what to do! I literally thought I might break my first child! For someone who masters most things, it was very humbling to be a first time mommy!

What did you crave the most while being pregnant?

I don’t know that I craved all that much but I do remember enjoying a big chocolate éclair the size of my arm from Kenny and Ziggy’s. Delicious!!

What piece of advice did you hear all the time that turned out not to be true?

Lots of people said don’t hold the baby too much or they won’t know how to sleep on their own in their crib. Not true!! I don’t think you can ever love a baby too much!! Shower them with as much love as possible and everyone wins!!

Where did you deliver?

I delivered at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.

Any advice for those that want to know how to best support moms?

Be kind and offer a helping hand. Moms – especially new ones – don’t always know how to ask for help. So just offer to do something simple. It might just mean the world to her!

What local places are your faves to take care of yourself or just to spend time with your family?

I love doing yoga at Yoga Better Studio. Yoga is my self-care secret weapon. Our favorite place to go for special occasions is Uchi and every other day of the week, we have the most joy just hanging out at home and cooking, playing cards, or just doing anything to spend time together! I have found that it’s not the location that matters, it’s the time.

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Do’s & Don’ts Becoming a dad is probably the hardest thing you will ever do. It’s easy to have the baby, but becoming a true ‘daddy’ takes work! Since I am not one, I leave it up to some local experts in the department to shed some light, share some truths and words of encouragement as you embark on this epic, ultimate adventure with your little bundle(s) of joy!

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FEATURED: LYNDEN B. ROSE, ESQUIRE ROSE LAW | ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS

PHOTO BY: JENNA DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY

LOCATION: INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL- HOUSTON

“ THIS IS THE ONLY JOB YOU WILL EVER HAVE WHERE YOUR BOSS IS A TODDLER.” WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE?

LYNDEN

B. Rose, Esquire

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE DADS WITH KIDS UNDER THREE?

HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING THE DAD OF A YOUNG CHILD?

This is the only job you will ever have where your boss is a Toddler.

Finding balance between work, family and finding time for yourself.

HOW DID YOU FIND BALANCE AND PEACE DURING THE 0-3 PHASE?

WHAT WERE YOUR TOP 3 FAVORITE BABY PRODUCTS?

The balance is this, when work day is over turn off your cell phone and computer and dedicate time to your children.

To find peace during naps or when you lock yourself in the restroom for quiet time.

WHAT IS THE

Pacifier, baby stroller and anything that can bounce.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR A DAD TO BOND WITH HIS LITTLE ONE? Reading, playing games and feeding time.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT SOMEONE WITH A YOUNG CHILD DURING THESE ROUGH TIMES? Provide guidance based on personal experience, offer to babysit or assist in any way you can so they are able to recharge their battery.

WHAT WERE YOUR LOCAL PLACES FOR FAMILY TIME, DATE NIGHT OR TO GET AWAY WHEN YOUR KIDDOS WERE YOUNG? Chuck E. Cheese, Zoo or Park Spring/Summer 2020

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“ SUPPORT YOUR WIFE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE SHE’S MORE EXHAUSTED AND UNCOMFORTABLE THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE. ”

FEATURED: TRAVIS RODRIGUEZ

AND FAMILY | KHOU PRODUCER FOR GREAT DAY HOUSTON

PHOTO BY: JENNA DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY

LOCATION: INTERCONTINENTAL

TRAVIS

Rodriguez

HOTEL- HOUSTON

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38 Spring/Summer 2020

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE DADS WITH KIDS AGES 0-3?

Learn to take naps when you can get them (but don’t expect much rest the first 4 months!)

When Keaton was a baby, we would designate particular nights that one of us would get up to take care of him each time he woke up so the other could sleep. It worked better than alternating during the same night.

Support your wife as much as possible, because she’s more exhausted and uncomfortable than you could imagine.

Take a lot of good-quality photos, especially during that first year…they get big so quickly and there are constantly milestones that can get lost in the shuffle.

Lastly, when the moments are good, they’re amazing, so savor them. When they’re unbelievably difficult, remember that one day you’ll miss it.

HOW DID YOU FIND BALANCE AND PEACE DURING THE 0-3 PHASE? Still trying to accomplish this! I’m a big proponent of “Me Time” for both parents,

so carve out a couple of hours where you or your partner can get out of the house and relax while the other takes care of the baby. And don’t forget about the things you enjoy, just rework how and when they fit into your life…for me it’s reading, hitting the gym or playing the drums.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING THE DAD OF A YOUNG CHILD? Their inability to communicate with you. I know he’s upset, but I don’t know why! And I know he’s frustrated because he

can’t tell me any better than he’s trying to.

WHAT WERE YOUR TOP 3 FAVORITE BABY PRODUCTS? • When Keaton was an infant, we had a diaper monitor which would alarm any time it couldn’t detect him breathing. This really helped us to sleep instead of staring at him to make sure his stomach was moving!

• Baby night-vision camera with iPhone app • Novelty onesies so I could dress him up as cool (nerdy?) as possible

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR A DAD TO BOND WITH HIS LITTLE ONE? It’s tough to break through the bond of a Mother and child, but when they’re young, look into their eyes as you feed them to create that closeness. For me, I love reading to Keaton and always sang songs to calm him down…skipped all the lullaby stuff and went right to Bon Jovi, George Strait and The Three Amigos soundtrack.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE? “Life moves pretty fast…if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT SOMEONE WITH A YOUNG CHILD DURING THESE ROUGH TIMES? When we first brought Keaton home, our church set up a food train and we had lunch or dinner brought over to us 4-5 days a week for about a month.

That was a life-saver! No matter what, though, they’re probably feeling overwhelmed, so even simply asking how they are or if they need to talk could work wonders.

WHAT WERE YOUR LOCAL PLACES FOR FAMILY TIME, DATE NIGHT OR TO GET AWAY WHEN YOUR KIDDOS WERE YOUNG? We love walking around our neighborhood which has a big lake, going out to Sugar Land Town Square for some beer at The Flying Saucer or wine at Vino & Vinyl, or hitting a farmer’s market for some fresh produce. I love concerts at House of Blues, movies at the Alamo Drafthouse or finding a hidden gem restaurant or dessert place, and my wife loves Woodhouse Day Spa and the Museum District.

Childcare you can trust like family For more information: 1-800-333-6056 culturalcare.com Spring/Summer 2020

39 houston baby magazine

FEATURED: GREGG S. HARRISON ATTORNEY AT LAW P.L.L.C.

PHOTO BY: JENNA DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY

LOCATION: INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELHOUSTON

GREGG

S. Harrison

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE DADS WITH KIDS AGES 0-3?

Hang in there! It gets easier! It’s a little overwhelming bringing a baby home (to say the least) but it gets more and more fun as they get older.

HOW DID YOU FIND BALANCE AND PEACE DURING THE 0-3 PHASE? I hate to say it - but there is not much peace during the first few years.... but there is nap-time!

That was my favorite time of the day to get some work done --or to have some peace and quiet!

WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING THE DAD OF A YOUNG CHILD? The hardest part of being a dad is wondering if you are houston baby magazine

40 Spring/Summer 2020

doing it ‘right’! The last thing a loving parent wants is to make a mistake as you are shaping a little baby human. There aren’t any instruction manuals - so it’s basically ‘do the right thing’ be loving, present, patient and remember to have fun.

WHAT WERE YOUR TOP 3 FAVORITE BABY PRODUCTS? • The battery operated baby swing was a must for us - he wouldn’t fall asleep without it!

• The binky (pacifier)! There were times we couldn’t find the binky -- and we had to do an emergency Target run!

• The heart-beating bear for the crib.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR A DAD TO BOND WITH HIS LITTLE ONE? I think the best way to bond with a little baby is to just get involved with all the daily

care-taking as much as you can --- other than the breast-feeding of course!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE? “Any man can father a child but it takes a lot of work and love to become a dad”

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT SOMEONE WITH A YOUNG CHILD DURING THESE ROUGH TIMES? It does take a village. Offer to have group play dates or babysitting one night a week so a mom or dad can have a night

off. That little support can mean so much to someone who is overwhelmed and may not have family living close by to rely on.

WHAT WERE YOUR LOCAL PLACES FOR FAMILY TIME, DATE NIGHT OR TO GET AWAY WHEN YOUR KIDDOS WERE YOUNG? Just getting out to a nice quiet dinner or a movie without kids was a treat! Check your local listings! LOL

Seeing the World Through the Eyes of Your Child Tips During Difficult Legal Proceedings written by Cindy Hide

L

ove’s expressions and the rest of the world are introduced to your baby the first time your eyes meet and continue through every experience after it. Your smile and warm embrace signals their security from which to grow and thrive.

And like the conductor of a train, you’re in control of your little one’s journey, thoughtfully, lovingly maneuvering every turn.

It was only last year when it was discovered that being stressed just after birth can affect our sleep all the way to adulthood. Epigenetics demonstrates that environment is everything with respect to how our brains develop and how cells express themselves in health or disease from birth throughout life. Lots of love and positive energy, manifested through all its forms and various ways of doing family, is the key to a healthy, balanced child and happy maturity. Conversely, negativity and volatile surroundings are equally influential. As a family lawyer, and divorced mom, I appreciate the impact of the lifestyles that children both witness and experience as a result of their parent’s choices, both positive and negative. But even if families become fragmented

as a result of divorce or single parenting, a child can grow beautifully when parents make thoughtful decisions about their care.

With this new found knowledge about how drastically environment influences our children’s development, the “best interest” standard routinely used across the country when considering children’s needs in court suddenly takes on new meaning for parents and caretakers. For divorcing parents who have young children under the age of three, we realize that standard periods of visitation and access for the non-custodial parent may not be workable under certain circumstances.

So, a court may order phased periods of visitation as a way to protect stability and monitor influences for a period of time up until age five. That said, if you’re the one with the majority of parenting time with your child, you get to make the most of your smile and your child’s development.

Here are a few tips for doing just that…

• How can you best support and encourage your baby’s next best impression of the

world? Can you include a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that create colorful experiences to see, touch and smell?

• What more can you do to make your lifestyle safe, predictable and satisfying?

Even the slightest change in your mood is felt by your child. Are you taking care of yourself, too, and doing things that create joy and make you feel happy and rested?

• Is your home and day care full of benevolent caretakers? How will you know?

• Even if you’re in a stressful child related legal proceeding, it’s especially important that you consider how you and your spouse or partner are showing up through the eyes of your child.

What is being seen and experienced? Are you careful to keep animosity and disagreements out of their field of influence?

Of course we cannot monitor every second of experiences for our children, but the hours we do have together can best be counted through belly laughs, giggles and wiggles.

And if your baby could speak, I’d bet you’d hear: “Your smile matters the most.”

Cindy Hide is a family law attorney, writer, producer, podcaster, seminar leader, and entrepreneur on a mission to support you in creating a happy relationship that will last a lifetime. She lives in Houston, Texas where she focuses her practice on prenuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, uncontested divorce and unique LGBTQ parenting issues. She is also founder of Love, Money & the Law, an educational initiative that supports conscious dialogue about everything relationships, marriage and divorce. Now divorced from litigation, she also enjoys legal coaching and support to those who are anticipating marriage, divorce, or, deciding whether to stay or leave their relationship. Visit www.

HoustonPrenupAttorney.com and www.LoveMoneyLaw.com.

Article cited: Thorp, JR (2020). How Does Stress Affect Your Body? The Latest Research Shows It Can Vary, referencing Stress & sleep: A relationship lasting a lifetime. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. doi:10.1016/j. neubiorev.2019.08.024

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41 houston baby magazine

must haves 01 | Mom, You Make Me Bloom Necklace by Isabelle Grace Jewelry A Mother’s love is the seed that makes her child “bloom” just like water is to a flower.

This inspired piece is a beautiful way to celebrate motherhood and makes for a special gift for the new or expectant mom. $89.00 • isabellegracejewelry.com

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02 | KeaBabies Explorer Diaper Backpack Chic & stylish design for everyday use.

Includes double zippers for all main compartments, 17 Storage pockets, 6 zipper compartments and 2 stroller hooks. $39.96 • keababies.com

03 | Angelcare AC337 Baby Breathing Monitor with Video 03

A dependable, trusted and beautifully designed baby care essential. $189.99 • angelcarebaby.com

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03 | PSI Anti Nausea Bands Accupressure wrist bands provide relief from nausea due to travel, motion sickness, morning sickness due to pregnancy, anesthesia or chemotherapy. $12.99 • psibands.com

04 | Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib

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A versatile travel crib that grows with your child. Smart design features include a carryon sized travel bag for easy transportation, super lightweight design, versatile side zipper access, and floor-resting mattress for smoother sleeping and extended use capacity.

avoid nausea

$199.95 • guavafamily.com

05 | EZEE Diaper Mat Made to be slim, lightweight and compact, it’s the perfect essential for modern parents.

Comes with detachable strap, so you can choose to hang it on your arm or stroller. $29.96 • keababies.com

06 | Made Of Organic Diapers, Butt Cream, Wash Made of organic and natural ingredients that parents trust, these everyday products for baby are simple and ultimately transparent. Available at Target. $11.00+ • madeof.com

create beautiful memories that last a lifetime 06

07 | Baby Book - The Story of You 08

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A one-of-a-kind, interactive photo journal filled with thoughtful prompts to help document baby’s first year.

Celebrated for its timeless design and premium materials, each baby book includes a unique code for a free set of Everyday Prints. $99.00+ artifactuprising.com

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soothers

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fashionable teething jewelry

01 | Mercer Street Silicone and Stainless Steel Teething Necklace 01

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Stainless steel meets a single silicone diamond bead in this chic, one-of-a-kind style. Now Mom can wear a shiny metal necklace again. Hooray! $36.99 • anjieandash.com

02 | Hevea Pacifiers HEVEA’s new colorful natural rubber pacifiers are completely plant based and oh so cute! $9.99 • heveaplanet.com

03 | Bibs Pacifiers 04

The Danish-made BIBS natural rubber baby pacifier allows your child to self-soothe by exercising their instinctive sucking instinct in the most natural way possible, by mimicking both the shape and softness of a mother’s breast. $7.99 • mushie.com

04 | Mushie Pacifier Clips Handmade by moms in the USA, mushie pacifier clips come in chic, vintage-inspired designs that evoke peaceful simplicity with natural wood and soft colors. All parts are carefully selected to be nontoxic and longlasting, creating a product that’s as beautiful and durable as it is useful. $14.99 • mushie.com

05 | Innobaby Teethin’ SMART Birthstone Ring Teether 05

Celebrate your baby’s birthday with Innobaby’s Birthstone Ring Teethers!

Teething can be a difficult milestone in a baby’s life and when baby is in pain, so are you. Soothe your infant’s aching gums with our 100% silicone and BPA free Birthstone Teething Ring. $9.99 • jolimoli.com

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sweet dreams 01

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portable for nap time 09

soothe baby to sleep

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01 | Omni Swaddle Sack with Wrap The Omni Swaddle Sack® with Adjustable Wrap features uniquely shaped 1/2 length sleeves with foldover mitten cuffs that may be worn open or closed. It offers the most flexibility for baby’s best sleep. $24.00 • swaddledesigns.com

02 | Muslin Swaddle Blankets Wrap your baby in pure softness. Our boutique quality 100% cotton muslin with cheerful designs gets softer with every wash. The open weave increases breathability and reduces the risk of overheating. 4 blanket set $45.00 • swaddledesigns.com

03 | Marquisette Swaddle Blanket - Watercolor Ice Cream Cones Breathable, lightweight and whisper soft cotton marquisette blanket. The generous size and square shape makes it easy to swaddle. Multiple uses include sunshield on the stroller, playmat for tummy time and privacy throw for breastfeeding. $15.00 • swaddledesigns.com

04 | Kaffle Swaddle Blanket This luxuriously silky and soft blanket will soon be both you and your baby’s favorite nursery must-have. The perfect swaddle to make baby feel secure and comfortable, this durable, lightweight, multi-purpose wrap will remain gorgeous and useful wash after wash. Swaddle 3 Pack. $56.00 • tinytwinkle.com

05 | Project Nursery Soothing Projector Nightlight + Timer Relaxes babies with lullabies, a variety of white noises, and three different sets of ceiling projections that can be switched out as your baby grows to accommodate their developing eyesight and cognitive abilities. $29.99 • projectnursery.com

06 | Dono & Dono Muslin Cuddle Blanket The ideal size for swaddling, snuggling, covering, and carrying for security and it continues to soften with every wash. The black and white designs were inspired for baby’s developing eyesight. $28.00 • jolimoli.com

07 | Wicker-Look Woven Baby Moses Basket with Bedding Badger Basket’s elegant Wicker-Look Woven Baby Moses Basket checks all the boxes for a cozy, comfortable, and stylish bed for your newborn baby’s first few months. Keep your infant close by, safely in their own space, in your bedroom at night, as you work around the house during the day, or when visiting grandparents and friends. $79.99 • badgerbasket.com

Family Lifestyle Photography

families · babies · Children · couples · love www.rorphoto.com // RELICS.OF.RAINBOWS

08 | WavHello LoveBub WavHello’s LoveBub is the ultimate multi-tasker – not only is it a super soft lovey, but it’s also a nightlight, plays lullabies and white noise. $39.99 • amazon.com

09 | Copper Pearl Knit Swaddle Blanket & Top Knot Hat Wrap your baby up in these super soft, lightweight, and breathable swaddles. Pair it with their matching newborn top knot hat. $24.95 swaddle • $12.50 hat • copperpearl.com

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feeding time

01

01 | Grabease Allover Bib

This bib catches all the mess and will save parents time at every meal cleaning the chair and high chair tray. It’s a game changer! $25.00 • grabease.com

comes in multiple colors

02 | Din Din Smart Silicone Chicken Steamer and Plate Make mealtime fun in these brightly colored chicken steamers and plates! Available in multiple colors. Quickly and easily steam vegetables or eggs in the microwave, create fun shaped jello treats, or even use it in the oven to bake mini cupcakes. By Innobaby $9.99 (steamer) • jolimoli.com $19.00 (plate) • jolimoli.com

03 | KeaBabies Silicone Bibs

02 03

The perfect accessory to help keep your little one as clean and dry as possible.

Enjoy the bonding process while feeding your child or watching them eat on their own, giggle over the smallest things, and create wonderful moments together! $21.96 • keababies.com

04 | Micuna Ovo High Chair Composed from four beech wooden legs and a rounded seat, this beautiful and modern highchair can also be converted into a toddler chair. You’ll love everything about it! $499.99 • micunausa.com

05 | Mushie Silicone Bibs Designed in Sweden, mushie bibs are timeless and elegant, with vibrant colors and whimsical patterns. Made from foodgrade silicone, these bibs are BPA and phthalate free.

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$12.99 • mushie.com

06 | Gosili Silicone Cups Oh! 360 Sippy Cup, like magic, it can be sipped from any side and no spills.

Toddler Straw Cup, includes an embedded stainless steel ring. It won’t collapse when gripped. $13.00 • gosili.com

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made with real wood houston baby magazine

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te!

Cu Super

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great gift idea!

07 | KeaBabies Bandana Drool Bibs Designed to be extra absorbent, easy to put on and comfortable to wear for your baby.

Our Drool Bib can last you 1 WHOLE day without any change of clothes. Your baby will feel clean and dry all day long. $26.96 • keababies.com

08 | Comotomo Baby Bottles These naturally shaped, soft silicone bottles are designed to mimic breastfeeding for easy transition between breast and bottle feeding, and back.

12 | Lil Mixins

$12.99+ • comotomo.com

stop nut allergies before they start!

09 | Oribel Cocoon 3-Stage High Chair

These whole food powders (egg, peanut, and tree nut) mix easily into baby food to help reduce baby’s risk of developing food allergies.

Organic, no salt, sugar, or preservatives. Yum! OR Lil Mixins takes pure egg, peanuts and tree nuts and grinds them (separately) into a powder form. Parents only need to use two teaspoons to mix with any baby food..

Each of the powders tastes great, and are safe to use on babies four months and up. $24.99+ • lilmixins.com

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This multi-functional high chair features 6 height adjustments and 3 reclining positions for feeding, sleeping and eating allowing it to grow with your child. $215.00 • amazon.com

10 | MAM Grow With Easy Start Anti-Colic Bottle Gift Set Set Includes: 2 5-oz Bottles, 9 oz bottle sleeve, 1 Handle, 4 Sealer/Storage Discs, (1) pacifier, 2 9-oz Bottles. Switching from breastfeeding and bottle feeding is simple and easy because of the SkinSoft™ nipple. $41.49 • target.com

11 | Baby Bandana Bibs by Copper Pearl Stylish drool bibs keep baby completely dry even with the drooliest of babies. Great for teething babies! Available in sets of 4 $19.95 • copperpearl.com Spring/Summer 2020

47 houston baby magazine

breast feeding 02

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01 | Motif Medical Luna Breast Pump Moms swear this lightweight but powerful new pump gives them more milk in less time. $259.00 • motifmedical.com

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02 | Simple Wishes Signature Hands Free Pumping Bra Free up your hands for other tasks or to simply relax while using your breast pump.

Bra is adjustable in size, using high quality Velcro, to sustain a perfect fit over time as a nursing mother’s size changes. $24.99 • simplewishes.com

03 | Nourisher Lactation Bars-New Mom Starter Kit Our New Mom Kit of 12 Pre & Postnatal Bars and 12 Milkful Nursing Bars can turn any hospital bag into a flavor buffet. Not to mention, you’ll be able to satisfy your appetite and your body’s needs from the last days of nesting through the first days of nursing. $66.30 • comotomo.com

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04 | Skin to Skin Top Hold your little one close in our innovative skin to skin top and feel the instant calming effects and benefits of kangaroo care for both you and your baby. $59.00 • seraphine.com

05 | Willow Wearable Breast Pump

a better pumping experience houston baby magazine

48 Spring/Summer 2020

Meet the all-in-one breast pump that fits in your bra and goes where you go. Our patented, no-spill technology lets you pump smarter and fully hands-free. $499.99 • willowpump.com

maternity wear

03 02

01

01 | Bamboo Over-Bump Maternity Leggings Designed to adapt to your changing shape, these black maternity leggings pull up over your bump and stay securely in place for a perfect fit. The innovative bamboo viscose is the absolute softest on the market, allowing your skin to breathe and wicking away moisture for all-day comfort. $45.00 • seraphine.com

02 | Sedona Maxi Kaftan Dress by Paxphilomena A perfect piece for dressing up or down, the Sedona Maxi Dress is one that you will be sure to love! $135 • paxphilomena.com

03 | Double Layer Maternity & Nursing Dress Designed to grow with you, our Double Layer Maternity & Nursing Dress offers a flattering fit through every stage and easy nursing access afterwards. $79.00 • seraphine.com

staff favorites

01

03

03 | Dyper Subscription

01 | Cuddle + Kind Dolls Handmade, heirloom quality dolls that give back. Each doll purchased helps provide 10 meals to children in need. $52+ • cuddleandkind.com

02 | Mindful Kids Cards

by Little Renegades Guided meditations and peaceful prompts to ease little ones into dreamland. Perfect for ages 3-7 and can be used at home and at school before naptime. $19.99 • littlerenegades.com

02

DYPER™ is the first subscriptionbased delivery service that provides modern families with a reliable and convenient way to receive their diapers. Available via their website or mobile app, DYPER uses artificial Intelligence to estimate the amount of diapers needed using the child's weight as the guiding factor.

Combine that with DYPER’s exclusive SOS service that will deliver a week's worth of extra diapers within 4-24 hours when needed in a pinch, customers are guaranteed to never run out! $68 • dyper.com

Spring/Summer 2020

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bath time fun

01

01 | Blooming Baby Bath Lotus The most luxurious and premium bath ever! Surround your little one in the cuddly softness of an adorable plush flower they will love. $39.99 • bloomingbath.com

02 | Innobaby Silicone Duck Antimicrobial Bath Scrub

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Say goodbye to the germ ridden rubber ducky and hello to this gentle, quick drying scrub. Soft enough for even the smallest babies. No more stinky washcloths!

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$9.99 • jolimoli.com

03 | Green Toys™ Stacking Cups Six graduated cups, dozens of possibilities for bath and play time. Scoop and pour water, build towers by turning upside down, or just sort sizes to nest. $12.99 • greentoys.com

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04 | Cushy Nest Cloud Premium Infant Bather The plush, Ultra-Soft cushioned pad provides the ultimate in comfort for your baby. The Cushy Nest Cloud folds up compactly for storage or travel. Plus, the cushioned seat pad easily removes to hang dry. It is also machine washable. $29.99 • babydelight.com

05 | Green Toys™ Tide Pool Set Bring the fun and learning of tide pool and water table play to the bathtub! The 6-piece Green Toys™ Tide Pool Bath Set includes a starfish, scallop, abalone, snail, squid, and jellyfish. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs. $19.99 • greentoys.com houston baby magazine

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on the go

02

01

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01 | Moskka Expandable 13 Pockets Urban Diaper Tote

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A superior quality designer diaper bag, durable to outlast your baby’s infancy! The COTTON CANVAS exterior is super easy to clean within seconds while the interior is wipeable polyester. The classic design makes it the perfect nappy bag for baby boys & girls! $119.00 • moskka.com

02 | Boxy Backpack in Botanical 05

The new Boxy Backpack in Botanical leatherette is their classic design with a beautiful floral design that will put a spring in your step year round! $189.00 • petunia.com

03 | The Basic Baby Diaper Bag This slim diaper bag was designed to hold on-the-go baby essentials plus make it easy to find them. With 4 pockets one for diapers, one for wipes, one for a bottle, and the fourth for snacks or a cell phone, you’ll never have to go digging again. $19.99 • evolvedparentco.com 06

04 | Moby Wrap Flex A featherlight wrap made for high performance with a unique, breathable mesh fabric that keeps you cool as you move around. $54.99 • mobywrap.com

06 | Clarmiel One Touch Magnetic Smart Carrier Features our innovative and secure one-touch magnetic buckling system, allowing you to quickly and easily carry your child on-the-go. $220.00 • jolimoli.com

05 | Beluga Baby Wrap Carry your little one close to your heart, hands-free! This super soft baby wrap, made from sustainable bamboo, soothes gas and colic, comforts your baby, promotes bonding, and reduces crying by over 40% in the newborn days to one year (science!). $64.95 • belugababy.com Spring/Summer 2020

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playtime

01

01 | Lovevery’s Play Gym

Designed to grow with your baby, this play gym includes 5 developmental zones on the play mat and includes a guide for ageappropriate activities that promote brain and motor skill development. $140.00 • lovevery.com

02 | Float-Along-Tiny Tugboats Three colorful floating tugboat toys accompany this soft 6-page bath book. $9.99 • melissaanddoug.com

03 | Poke-A-Dot: 10 Little Monkeys Monkeys can’t stop jumping and kids can’t stop popping! Poke the irresistible click-tocount buttons to hear satisfying “clicks” and “pops’ as you count all the little monkeys! $12.99 • melissaanddoug.com

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04 | First Play Jungle Activity Table This hands-on multi-activity table keeps kids 12 months and older engaged and entertained, while encouraging important developmental skills. $39.99 • melissaanddoug.com

05 | First Play Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy Get playtime rolling with three friendly alligators who take turns chomping with every step toddlers take. $49.99 • melissaanddoug.com

06 | Tub Stickables – Alphabet Turn baby’s bathtime and playtime into an alphabet adventure! Alphabet Tub Stickables include 27 easy-to-grasp soft foam letter shapes that float in water, stick to the sides of a tub or sink, or stand up for lots of play options.

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$11.99 • melissaanddoug.com

07 | Natural Play Book & Puzzle: Deep Blue Sea Discover what’s swimming in the deep blue sea in this adorable board book and cardboard jigsaw puzzle boxed set. $9.99 • melissaanddoug.com

06

08| Cushmat This multi-functional, durable, and stylish mat is a safe, soft play mat for your child, a cushioned workout mat for moms and dads, and a sustainable-yet-stylish aesthetic touch to your home décor. $179.90 • cushmat.com

09| Deluxe Child Bike Trailer & Stroller The Allen Sports Child bicycle trailer and stroller offers the perfect outdoor solution for active parents. The item quickly sets up as a bike trailer right out of the box, and can be quickly converted to a swivel wheel stroller. $129.00 • allensportsusa.com houston baby magazine

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10| Rock and Trot Plush Rocking Horse 12

Whoa! Here is a sturdy, lovable rocking horse featuring ultra-soft fur and a realistic saddle and bridle. Ready to ride, it makes galloping sounds when its ear is pressed! $119.99 • melissaanddoug.com

11| Go With Me Alpine Deluxe Portable Bouncer

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shop local!

Houston based online store

Sit. Play. Relax. And baby can do it all in style. The Go With Me Alpine Deluxe Portable Bouncer offers 3 positions of recline, a removable toy bar for entertainment, and a 3 point harness to keep baby safe. Plus it’s portable and can be folded flat and toted in the included carry bag. $89.99 • babydelight.com

12 | Go With Me™ Eclipse Portable Playard with Canopy Whether it be fun in the sun, or a secluded indoor area, the Go With Me™ Eclipse Portable Playard with Canopy is the perfect place for your little one to play. The mesh side walls allow air to flow through and also make it easy for your baby to peek outside their play area. $99.99 • babydelight.com

13 | Stacking Cups Toy This colorful round tower is fun and engaging for your baby to look at, while stacking the pieces helps them develop their organization and motor skills. $14.99 • mushie.com Spring/Summer 2020

53 houston baby magazine

baby & toddler clothing 01 02

01 | Velour Bunny Romper Hippity hop, hippity hop! This adorable baby stretchie is a vintage-inspired piece, made with hand embroidered bunny bullions that are oh-so-cute! $49.95 • feltmanbrothers.com 04

02 | Pajama Sets from ErgoPouch TOG-rated pajamas made from breathable natural fibers. Wear under any of our swaddles, sleeping bags, sleep suit bags or sleep onesies for extra warmth. $24.99+ • ergopouch.com

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03 | Pookie Poncho When it’s freezing out, keeping your little one warm from the car seat to the stroller to the baby carrier is tricky. Enter the Pookie Poncho. It does triple duty, with an extra soft micro-fleece lining and features designed especially for all three situations. $75.00 • 7amenfant.com

04 | Pals Mismatched Sock Sets You don’t have to match perfectily with these perfect matches. Sizes from infant to adult $9.99+ • palssocks.com

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05 | Ty Hematite by Plae Part of PLAE’s new rock star collection, these durable shoes are breathable for the super active kid. $55.00 • plaekids.co

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06 | Mimo Hyper Blue by Plae The mighty mariner. These amphibious kicks keep it light and cool from street to stream. $39.00 • plaekids.co

07 | See-Thru Rain Boots by Western Chief Compliment your Pals mismatched socks with these western chief see-thru boots!

Keep them stylish and splashing on every rainy day. $25.00 • palssocks.com

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travel gear 01

02

01 | MyFit LE Harness + Booster Car Seat - Venture Keep your little ones safe. Complete with harness mode, booster mode, 9 position headrest and 4 position recline. $250 • chiccousa.com

02 | Grow With You ClickTight With a quick adjust harness and multiple recline positions, this harness-2-booster seat grows with your child from toddler to big kid. $290 • us.britax.com

03 | Doona Dusk Limited Car Seat The Doona infant car seat was a complete game changer in the world of car seat travel systems when it first came out. The revolutionary car seat features integrated wheels and can easily flip from car seat to stroller system! $599.00 • pishposhbaby.com

04 | Bugaboo Lynx Lightwight Stroller Weighing only 20.7 lbs, the Bugaboo Lynx was designed for everyday adventures from trips to the city to playground outing $899 • bugaboo.com

03

05 | Zelia Maxi Cosi 5 In 1 Modular Travel System Built for comfort as well as safety, This travel system includes a car seat able to accommodate children from five to 30 pounds, while the stroller supports kids up to 50 pounds. $399.99 • maxicosi.com amazon.com

a stylish staff favorite!

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Is it safe to

Drink T ea during pregnancy? written by MaterniTEA

T

his, along with “How much tea?” and “What kind of tea?” are questions we receive from many expecting mothers.

The answer?... Yes and No. Let me explain. If it’s organic tea and your doctor gives you the thumbs-up, then here are the top 3 benefits of drinking tea during pregnancy as well as a few things to watch out for during your first trimester.

• Keeping caffeine intake low during pregnancy is advised since a fetus is unable to process caffeine like an adult. Tea has only 40mg of caffeine per cup where coffee has over 80mg per cup. White, green, oolong, black and puerh teas all have about the same amount of caffeine per cup so you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to taste. Limiting yourself to 2 or 3 teacups per day is considered “generally safe” by most physicians.

• Almost all herbal teas are caffeine-free and provide an excellent source of antioxidants however, herbal tea marked for weight loss or detoxing should be avoided. Many doctors recommend avoiding herbs such as chamomile, peppermint and red raspberry leaf during the first trimester as they could cause

uterine contractions. My recommendation, drink ginger tea to calm your tummy and help with digestion at any stage of pregnancy as a safe and healthy choice. In addition, make sure all herbs are commercially sourced. In other words, don’t pick flowers and steep them in your teacup.

That may be organic, but it’s definitely not safe.

• It’s been scientifically proven that all tea and herbal tea is rich in antioxidants, reduces stress and is a healthy beverage when consumed in moderation, especially during pregnancy. It’s an excellent choice to keep you hydrated and contains polyphenols and other nutrients that can help you and your baby remain healthy throughout your pregnancy.

Final note, always consult your doctor about what amount and kind of tea or herbal infusion is safe for you. This will help in making an educated decision on what is best for you and your baby.

True Leaf Tea has a MaterniTEA blend for those expecting and new moms. It’s a affordable and safe beverage to keep your taste buds happy and your body healthy!

Spring/Summer 2020

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Picture Perfect 8 TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING BABY written by Yvette Keener of Yvette Michelle Portraits www.ymportraits.com

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to capture those picture perfect moments with your little one. It only takes time, patience and practice to get that frame worthy image.

H

ouston based child portrait photographer, Yvette of Yvette Michelle Portraits shares her top 8 tips for taking those keepsake images of your little one:

on the skin of your subject and make the skin tones funky.

❷●● Set up a chair or bucket that will serve as an “anchor” for baby, even if it’s just for seconds

❶●●

❸●●

Choose a room with a south facing window. Light from a south facing window is the most consistent and least likely to be harsh. Bonus points if the walls and ceilings are a neutral color!

Whatever color is on the walls and ceilings will cast that color

During a nap time, set up the chair and set you would like to use to photograph baby and practice with a stuffed animal. Place the animal on the chair or in the bucket at a 90 degree angle to the window (window should be parallel to a shoulder)

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❹●●

❻●●

Write down the settings that worked best

Don’t be afraid to act crazy to get baby’s attention or enlist the help of another family member to help!

❺●● As nap time comes to an end, have everything ready for the photoshoot. Make sure baby is fed, well rested and dressed.

Place baby on the chair or in the bucket and use the same settings as in the test shoot.

Check to verify the settings are still right after the first photo and adjust as needed.

❼●● Don’t expect too much on the first try. Even if you only get ONE shot that you love, that’s a start!

❽●● Practice, Practice, Practice!

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