Mod New Mom Tips

Mod New Mom Tips 

Baby's got my back!

I am not obviously organized. I have too many things, and they are often out of place. I know what time it is, usually within 10 minutes of accuracy, yet I am often 15 minutes late. However, I think that I have an organized mind and an affinity for certain things. I cook and bake without measurements; I know the contents of my vast closet and friends' closets; I can tell you retail prices of most foods and clothes broken out by store. I can look at most people and guess their clothes and shoe size and figure out what gifts they would like. A gatherer's mind.

Analysis also comes easily to me.  So, with the arrival of our second child, I wondered what I could do beyond some of the obvious tasks to make things more manageable and enjoyable. If I don't do these, I risk not showering, eating unhealthy food or eating too infrequently, not exercising and panicking because I am missing ingredients for recipes that I want to make. Otherwise known as most of what happened with baby #1!

Before a baby/big event:

Get hair brows, hair style and other grooming maintained or done right before you deliver if you have a scheduled date. If you have others in your household, get them groomed too!

Stock your pantry with nuts, dried fruit, tomato products, grains, granola bars, mixes, spices and condiments. Also, have friends/family bring grocery items for you, especially heavy or bulk items. Have a list ready to text and modify as needed. Repeat as needed after baby is born.

Buy and stash soft drinks in anticipation of people coming by to visit, especially if you are West African!

Take a nice, comfortable outfit for you and baby, good for pictures and after the hospital.

After the big event...

Keeping up appearances: Brush your teeth--in the shower! Taking two quick showers allows me to brush my teeth and do one other type of maintenance--all-in-one shampoo or washing with conditioner AM and mouthwash/teeth brushing plus a quick shave or face scrub PM. You'll still be out fast and will maintain an even level of cleanliness as the hours and days zoom by. If baby starts crying or another task (blissful sleep) happens instead, you will be ahead of the curve. Also, keep fancy beauty products or wonderful samples you've been meaning to try nearby to pamper yourself during a stressful time.

Costco does announcements online. Often ready in warehouse next day. We bought the copyrighted photos from the photo company that takes pictures in the hospital. Then I created announcements on the computer at Costco.com--100 for under $30. We made out ahead and can keep using the proofs.

Compile list of nearby takeout places for the question: "Can I bring you anything?"

Get cash or cash back often so you can pay people back for grocery/takeout runs, lunch money, etc.

Sling out sister: get some Vitamin D and exercise in with a walk when baby can't sleep! The rocking motion will really help baby. The exercise will help you sleep better, too.

I love the time at home and often get the inspiration to bake. With fewer trips to the store, I keep evaporated milk and egg replacer powder in the pantry so I can bake in a pinch.

It doesn't work for me to make food ahead and freeze. Either the food gets eaten by an unintended person at an unintended time, or I find the taste or texture is compromised. I prefer using the whole foods from the pantry with fresh and frozen ingredients.

Likewise, I make use of the slow cooker, pressure cooker and slow roasting in the oven. Wings, boneless chicken and most boneless meats can go into a 200-250-degree oven for an hour or two with dry seasoning, then pat dry and get finished on stovetop or broiled. I often make steak by seasoning (no salt) and baking it at 200·F for up to an hour. Then I can do laundry, feed the baby, then add salt and sear the steaks stovetop. Wings I season and salt, then put in a nonstick roaster at 250·F for 2-2 1/2 hours, then crank the heat up to 400·F for the last 10-20 minutes.

Rice pudding, caramel sauce, and soup have gone in the electric pressure cooker. When it's on simmer, it's like a slow cooker on high. I can have something in there that would burn stovetop or prep and cook soup in ten minutes.

Please share any suggestions you may have.