Chudney Ross welcomed first daughter, Callaway Lane

Congratulations to Chudney Ross, youngest daughter of musical icon Diana Ross, and her husband Joshua Faulkner on the birth of their first child, a daughter on September 19.

The couple named the new addition Callaway Lane and shared the news via Chudney's Facebok page along with a super photo of baby girl.

“We are so excited to welcome Callaway Lane to the world!,” she writes. “She was born on September 19, 2012 at 6:40pm and weighs 7 lbs 8 oz.”

Chudney is a former model, educator and currently runs a bakery and children's bookstore in Los Angeles, California called Babies and Cookies.

This is Diana second grandchild.  Her eldest daughter Rhonda Ross Kendrick, welcomed son Raif-Henok in August 2009.

The baby was four days overdue when Chudney tweeted this photo from her maternity portrait. Cute!

Share |

10 tips for organizing the kids' clothes

It’s amazing how much space kids can manage to take up with all of their belongings, despite their small size. Closet space, especially, always seems to be at a premium in the bedrooms of children. Managing the never-ending cycle of new clothes versus the newly outgrown, and organizing them so that they’re easily accessible, can feel like a full-time job after a while. These 10 organizational tips for kids’ closets can help you turn that insurmountable project into one that’s completed over the weekend and easy to maintain.

1.     Discard Outgrown Clothing – Kids seem to outgrow clothing at a staggering pace, making it easy for them to acquire a lot of clothes in no time at all. Sentimental parents, or those who are considering more additions to the family, may be reluctant to donate those items, despite how much space they’re taking up. If you fall into one of those camps, it’s okay to hold on to kids’ outgrown clothes, but you may want to move them into storage in another part of the house, rather than letting them continue to take up space in their closets.
2.     Use Bins, Cubbies, and Drawers – One long rod across a closet will only hold so many items, making shelving with bins, cubbies, and drawers a perfect way to maximize on space. Thinking vertically will allow you to store more folded clothing, shoes, and accessories than sticking with the traditional, single rod.
3.     Rotate Seasonal Clothes – Your little one isn’t likely to need a heavy coat in June or a pair of capris in January. Rotating allows more space for seasonally-appropriate clothing, making it easier for you and your child to see what’s in the closet. Cramming everything into the space will only make it difficult to sort through and manage.
4.     Label Everything – Those cubbies, bins, baskets, and drawer systems that you installed should be labeled clearly so that both you and your child are able to identify the contents without rifling through them. Unlabeled bins are just asking to be hastily scrambled through and emptied. Kids will rarely replace the contents with the same care that they were originally organized, leaving them a cluttered mess in no time.
5.     Pair Matching Outfits on One Hanger – Putting matching outfits on a single hanger will allow your child to confidently choose her own clothes, and will reduce clutter within the closet. Reducing the number of hangers will maximize the available space, allowing you more to work with than if each item were hung individually.
6.     Days-of-the-Week Hanging Shelves – Hanging shelving units with at least seven shelves is a great way to organize kids’ outfits throughout the week. Label each shelf accordingly, and make a habit of choosing an entire week’s worth of clothing at a time. This will simplify your kids’ morning routine, and keep them from rifling through the closet in a frenzy and disturbing your organizational system.
7.     Opt for Specially-Designed Kids’ Hangers – Because kids’ clothing is so much smaller than that of their adult counterparts, smaller hangers designed especially for their clothes are a better choice. Their more compact shape and design allows you to comfortably hang more clothing than you could with larger, clunkier hangers meant for adults’ clothes.
8.     Consider Adjustable Systems – Installing adjustable shelving and a closet organizational system will allow your child’s closet to grow with her, potentially eliminating the need for an expensive overhaul when she gets older.
9.     Utilize Over-the-Door Storage – Closets with traditional doors offer a great opportunity for additional storage through the use of hooks, hanging shoe bags, or additional shelving. Taking advantage of every available inch of space is the most effective way of maximizing a closet’s storage potential.
10.     Remember That Organization is an Ongoing Project – Maintaining an organized and efficient kids’ closet is an ongoing project that requires periodic culling of outgrown clothes, integration of new items, and adjustments for changing sizes and styles. Making a habit of immediately pulling outgrown items will reduce the frequency with which you’ll have to maintain the project, but will not eliminate that need altogether.

continue reading

Share |

Bump Watch: Gisele Bundchen does Sunday bike stroll again

 

It seems like it is a Sunday tradition for Brazilian top-grossing model Gisele Bundchen to go biking with her son Benjamin and step son. She was back at it last Sunday, September 23. She's not giving too much credence to critics who point out that doctors generally suggest women beyond their first trimester avoid bicycles because of the fall risk.

She recently talked about staying fit while pregnant and bouncing back quickly after delivering her son in 2009.

 “I think it’s muscle memory,” Gisele said. “I did kung fu up until two weeks before Benjamin was born, and yoga three days a week. I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals. I was mindful about what I ate, and I gained only 30 pounds.”

This will be Gisele’s second child with husband Tom Brady. The football star is also dad to 4-year-old son Jack with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan. 

Share |

Review: Won't Back Down (VIDEO)

Last weekend, Bellyitch contributor Posh from Posh the Socialite, had the opportunity to preview the premiere of "Won't Back Down". it features a very recent Bellyitch Bumpwatch subject, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and another blog favorite, new mom Viola Davis.

Here is her review from the film:


 he film is a powerful story inspired by true events of parenthood, friendship, hope and courage, Gyllenhaal and Davis portray determined mothers, who will stop at nothing to transform their children’s failing inner city school. Facing a powerful and entrenched bureaucracy and a system mired in traditional thinking, they risk everything to make a difference in the education and future of their children.

The character "Jamie" played by Maggie Gyllenhaal reminded me so much of myself: the determination of a young mother fighting for her child to receive the best education. I was in tears watching because it brought back memories of myself running around, making phone calls and driving to the Board of Education just so my daughter can stay in her current elementary school where she is achieving.

"Won't back down" is a great movie. I laughed and cried almost throughout the entire film. It was very inspirational  and the lesson I took from the movie is that if you want change or anything in life, ho matter how many times someone tells you "no" is to not give up. Fight for what you want and don't back down.

Nona played by Viola Davis interacting with her students after a wonderful instructional day in class.

Nona speaking with her son in the movie.

Please go and check out the movie and comment below. The movie opens this weekend in a theater near you.

Check out the trailer:

 

Share |

Bump Watch: Amber Rose & Wiz Khalifa cover XXL

Bump and proud! TV hostess and former video vixen Amber Rose radiates inside and on the cover of the new XXL with her fiance rapper Wiz Khalifa! The engaged couple is expecting their first child together. Lovely! 

The author and aspiring singer has updated her Twitter profile to feature the beautiful photo!

Share |

30 Best blogs for the Working Mom

Balancing the demands of a career and a growing family is no small feat, but it’s one that the modern American mother juggles every day. Managing the daily responsibilities of getting children to and from their various activities, providing them with the attention and affection that they need, nurturing your marriage, and still contributing to the family’s finances by holding down a job requires a large measure of patience and a solid support system. For more and more women, the backbone of that support system is made up of the global village created by the Internet. Blogs that cater to working mothers make up quite a large corner of the blogosphere, and these 30 entries exemplify the advice and help that they offer.

Management

If there’s one thing that working moms never seem to have enough of, it’s time. These five blog entries offer helpful hints for managing and making the most out of the limited amount of time you’re allotted each day.

• 7 Time Management Tips for the Working Woman
• It’s All About “Time Management”
• 8 Time Management Tips for Work-at-Home Moms
• Working Mom Time Management Tips
• Work-at-Home Moms: Best Time Management Tips

Quick Weeknight Meals

After a long day at work, the last thing that most working mothers want to do is tackle an elaborate, gourmet dinner. These blog entries showcase the best in quick, simple, kid-friendly cuisine for those nights when homework help and overtime at the office collide.

• Weeknight Meals and More
• 16 Ideas for Quick Weeknight Dinners
• Blog Bites: Four Ideas for Easy Weeknight Meals
• Recipes From the Nest
• Ridiculously Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Making the Most of Family Time

Between school, your spouse’s career, and your own work, finding time to spend together as a family isn’t always easy. Ensuring that you make the most of the time you do have available to spend together is a priority for many working parents, and is where these five blog posts shine.

• Work Time, Family Time, You Time: How to Make All Your Times Work
• Time Out: Strategies for Working Moms to Carve Out Quality Family Time
• Hey, Working Mom! We’ve Got Wonderful Ways to Help You Balance Work and Family
• Working Moms: Are Family Dinners Even Possible?
• How to Balance Motherhood and Career (if You’re Not Marissa Mayer) 

Dealing with Nanny Envy

Working parents struggle, sometimes for weeks, to find the ideal nanny for their family. When nannies prove to be a less-than-perfect fit, it’s a disappointment. When she’s so wonderful that everyone in the family adores her, it can feel like less of a triumph and more of a cause for private jealousy. Fears that your children will love their nanny more than they love you and feelings of envy towards the nanny who’s paid to stay home with your beloved little ones all day are perfectly natural, albeit painful, parts of being a working mother. These five blog posts tackle nanny envy, and offer working mothers some support.

• 5 Steps to Preventing Nanny Jealousy
• Dealing With Nanny Envy
• Nanny Envy
• Nanny Envy
• She Fired the Perfect Nanny

Guilt and the Working Mother

Despite the fact that you’re working to provide for your children and help them have the best possible quality of life, guilt over leaving them in the care of strangers can begin to creep in and haunt even the strongest moms. These bloggers understand that guilt, and discuss it candidly in their blog entries.

• Mom Guilt
• Working Mother’s Guilt
• The Ballad of a Working Mom: Guilt, Anxiety, Exhaustion and Guilt
• An End to Working Mom Guilt
• Why Don’t Dads Feel Guilty, Too?

Breastfeeding after Returning to Work

Under section 4207 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, employers must provide breastfeeding mothers with a reasonable amount of break time and a private place, other than a restroom, to pump or express breast milk for a full year after the birth of their child. Because breast milk is the best possible source of nutrition for infants, it’s important that working mothers have the support they need to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. These five blog posts help the breastfeeding, working mom learn the best ways to manage nursing after her maternity leave ends.

• The No-Nonsense Guide to Breastfeeding for Working Mothers
• Ali Landry’s Blog: Some Honest Thoughts on Nursing from a Working Mom
• Breastfeeding and Working
• Tips for Working Mothers Who Want to Keep Breastfeeding: Connecting Moms and Nursing Bras
• Top 5 Tips for Working and Breastfeeding

Continue reading

• 
  

Share |

Kristin Cavallari's son rocks in celeb favorite baby swing

Kristin Cavallari tweeted a photo of her infant son Camden Jack earlier this week snuggled in a 4moms mamaRoo high end baby swing. She also shared another photo of Camden after his dad, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler won his NFL game with the caption,

"He's so excited about this win he can't contain himself." 

Funny. 

The mamaroo is one of those new high-tech swings that have 5 motions like car right, kangaroo and it also lets parents hook up an mp3 player or iPod into it so baby can sway and rock to soothing sounds or the latest hip hop song, whatever the pleasure.  Cavallari's plush and posh version goes for a cool $239.99 at stores nationwide and www.4moms.com.

 Other mamaRoo fans include Hilary Duff, Tori Spelling, Elton John, Rachel Zoe, Tia Mowry, Victoria Beckham, Kelly Preston, Celine Dion, Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen, Jewel, Denise Richards, Mel B., Kim Zolciak, Melissa Rycroft, Ali Larter, and Nina Garcia.

The new mom is not slowing down and is already up and running promoting her new shoe line with Chinese Laundry. She rocked it out at a couple photo shoots this week and looked hardly like she just spit out a kid! 

wow!

Share |

Survey: Half of pregnant women don't get flu shots

Half of pregnant women don't get flu shots, putting themselves and their child at risk of severe flu.

The finding comes from a CDC survey showing that during last year's flu season, 53% of pregnant women did not get the seasonal flu vaccine. That's about the same percentage seen in the two previous flu seasons.

They're taking big risks, Laura E. Riley, MD, director of obstetrics and gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital, said at a news teleconference held by major U.S. medical groups.

"We know pregnant women have a five times higher risk of getting very ill if they get the flu during pregnancy or immediately after they deliver," Riley says. "Unfortunately, we have seen women lose babies when in that condition."

Last year's flu season was one of the mildest on record. Yet Riley said one of the flu patients she saw was a healthy woman with an uncomplicated pregnancy. When she came into the emergency room, she was 26 weeks pregnant and not feeling well.

Even though the patient was a doctor, she had not had a flu shot. And she refused an offer of Tamiflu, saying she hadn't read the medical literature showing that the flu medication was safe to take during pregnancy.

"In about six hours she started to look toxic and got admitted to intensive care," Riley recalls. "She got sicker and sicker and spent five days on a ventilator. The baby did not survive."

Pregnant women who get flu shots protect their children even after birth, notes William Schaffner, MD, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Continue reading

Share |

Bump Watch: Adele dog-walking in London

Crooner Adele was spotted out and about walking her dog with her fiance Simon Konecki this week in London.  The couple is expecting their first child together any day now. Konecki already has a 5-year odl daughter with his ex wife, stylist Clary Fisher.  

Share |

7 new videos for the Baby Making Song List

So I was in a funk earlier this week and it went away and was quickly replaced with a saucy mood. Go figure! And interestingly enough sexy songs kept coming on the radio while I drove or did work during the day.  Because I am a social media butterfly, I couldn't keep the good vibes to myself and I would promptly share them via the Soundhound App  to my social media network. I have the app on my iPhone which permits you to instantly share what you are listening to with your Facebook and Twitter friends with the tap of a couple keys. I often share while driving in the car and my favorite song comes on the radio.

Anyway, I thought some of these would make a perfect addition to my Baby Making Videos Post which can be found HERE!

---

---

---

---

---

---

Share |

Study: Babies born "naturally" have higher IQs

Photo: Nathan Livins Flckr

Okay. I call BS but Daily Mail reports:


Babies born naturally may have higher IQs than those delivered by caesarean section, new research claims.

According to scientists, when women give birth naturally there are higher levels of a special protein in babies’ brains that helps boost intelligence levels as they develop.

Scientists at Yale University in the US say the increased levels of the protein, called UCP2, in babies born naturally could help foster their short and long term memories – key components of the human IQ – as they grow up.

They made the discovery after studying the hippocampal region in the brains of mice born naturally and by caesarean.

Mice born by C-section were found to have lower levels of UCP2 and, as a result, suffered 'impaired adult behaviours'.

UCP2 has already been credited with helping to improve the chances of newborns breastfeeding.

The findings come at a time when a deal of controversy surrounds C-sections.

Read the REST here and share your thoughts!

Share |

Bump Watch: Tamera Mowry-Housley tweets new maternity protrait

Tamera Mowry-Housley shared another one of her favorite photos from recent maternity portrait photo session she and hubby Adam Housley had. This one features the couple on the beach and Tamera wearing a light and airy feminine maternity top. They look great! Wonderful scenery.  Love it!

Share |

Win a $999 Young America Crib for Baby Safety Month

Even though the Consumer Protection Safety Commission has strict regulations banning the sales of drop-side cribs and over 10 million have been recalled, many cost-conscious parents remain unaware of the dangers of second-hand cribs. 

Sadly, each year, about 50 suffocate or strangle to death when some element of an outdated crib design fails, as when babies become trapped between broken crib parts or when babies are laid to rest in older cribs with unsafe design. 

September is Baby Safety Month and several companies and groups have been organizing awareness campaigns nationwide all month to help educate new and veteran parents of the dangers out there and about how to keep their babies safe. 

As for the purchase of second-hand cribs, cost often times is a concern and issue.

To help at least one family alleviate that concern and in honor of this month of awareness Bellyitch and United States-based crib manufacturer Young America will give away one of Young America’s exquisitely designed and durable cribs, the "Built to Grow Bravo Crib" valued at $999.00!

The brand surpasses all of the US safety standards and has even achieved some 3rd party health and safety certifications from organizations like the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute and Intertek. In fact, Young America recently invested $8 million into its North Carolina manufacturing plant making it one of the most technologically advanced woodworking facilities in North America! Sweet!

To enter the contest, all you have to do is enter below.  Simple!

You can receive two extra entries for following Bellyitch on Twitter, two entries for following Young America on Twitter and three entries for following Bellyitch on Facebook and another two entries for following Young America on Facebook. These extra steps increase your odds of getting selected as a semi-finalist.

Ten semi-finalists will be selected randomly (via Random.org) from all entries and asked to pick the Built to Grow crib in the color they prefer (http://www.youngamerica.com/built-to-grow-bravo-crib.html and explain why they think they’d deserve the crib. 

For one week, Bellyitch readers and blog followers will get to pick the Grand prize winner! The top 10 can rally their family and friends to vote for them!

PRIZE STIPULATIONS

• Young America will cover the costs associated with the crib delivery but will not be responsible for crib set up.

• Winner must be at least 18 years of age.

• Winner must live in the 48 contiguous United States or Canada.

• Winner should expect crib delivery to take approximately 4-8 weeks, pending color availability.

ENTER TODAY!! GOOD LUCK!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share |

Jay-Z on Beyonce pregnancy rumors: "Absolutely Not!"

Wednesday, September 26, while promoting the release of his latest album, hip hop star Jay-Z confirmed at his 40/40 club in New York City that the recent rumors that the above photo of his wife Beyonce is a sign of a growing pregnancy are false.

"Not tonight," the rapper and business mogul said. "Not in nine months-absolutely not."'

Okay! I guess that settles it!

This incident may need to be added to this POST about that pesky bump watch speculation.

Share |

4 Hilarious Pregnancy Music video spoofs

Ready for some raunchy pregnancy video spoofs? Have a sense of humor? Then sit back and be prepared to crack up at these hilarious music videos which have fun parodying all the Joys of pregnancies. Funny stuff!

---

---

---

Share |

Reese Witherspoon gave birth to a son!

Flynet

What a week for celebrity birth announcements!

Next up! Reese Witherspoon and her husband Jim Toth! They welcomed their son Tennessee James today, her rep told  US Weekly. 

The new addition, who it looks like is named after playwright Thomas "Tennessee" Williams perhaps, will join big sister Ava, 13, and big brother Deacon, 8, whose dad is Witherspoon's ex Ryan Phillippe.

Share |

Study: More women using midwives, PAs & Nurse practitioners for maternity care

More women are opting to use midwives, nurse practitioners and physician assistants for their maternity care, a new study from the American College of Nurses Midwives revealed.

During a webinar last week, some mothers shared how their birthing experience was made even more smooth by the presence of one of these medical professionals in the room who provided support and education about the labor and delivery process even more so than her doctor. 

Many times women succumb to medical intervention because they are not fully aware of all the options and that some decisions are made that are not based on medical reasoning but perhaps convenience and expediency.

The study, published in the September 2012 issue of the Journal of Midwivery & Women's Health  showed that the percentage of pregnant women getting midwife, NP and PA care increased by 48% over the past ten years.  The research also indicated that there has been a 30% increase in women getting both care from an obstetrician and a midwife, NP or PA.

For years, there had been some stigma attached to getting maternity care from midwives, but this study reveals that attitudes and practices are changing. 

“These findings are especially positive as we continue our work with the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, encouraging collaborative maternity care models that integrate services by different types of clinicians,” said Avery, coauthor and immediate past president of ACNM. “Collaborative practices in existence today are experiencing better outcomes for mothers and infants and increased work satisfaction for OB-GYNs and midwives.”

Experts state that in the United States, the implementation of the new Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) will require more PA, midwives and Nurse Practitioners to be trained to accommodate a growing demand from the public. More people will have insurance and be required to obtain insurance under the law implemented in 2010 and recently upheld by the US Supreme Court. 

Share |

Coco from Ice Loves Coco to replace pregnant Holly Madison in Peepshow

Holly Madison, former The Girls Next Door reality TV star and ex girlfriend to Playboy  publisher Hugh Heffner, will put her role in a Vegas Burlesque show on hold while pregnant. 

Associated Press reports that the producers of the show "Peepshow" will replace Madison with another reality TV star.  Nicole 'Coco' Austin from Ice Loves Coco will assume Madison's lead role as "Bo Peep" on the show after Madison leaves her role on October 21. Coco is married to rapper Ice T. 

Austin will start on December 3 at the show which is performed at Planet Hollywood. 

Share |