Your Pregnancy™ for the Father-to-Be, 2nd Edition by Glade B. Curtis, M.D., M.P.H. and Judith Schuler, M.S.

Pregnancy can be a thrilling adventure for a couple. Although the mom-to-be gets most of the attention, the nine months of pregnancy can also be exciting, moving and stressful for the expectant father.

Written with your needs and concerns in mind, this guide includes a comprehensive glossary of terms, up-to-date medical information and tips for supporting your partner during pregnancy and the birth of your new baby. It will also help you be the best expectant dad you can be by covering such topics as:

• The latest tests and procedures your partner may undergo
• How pregnancy may affect your couple relationship and ways to handle it
• Ways to evaluate the financial impact of having a baby
• Guidance on how to be a great labor coach

Also featured in this new edition are handy tips for taking care of baby; new information on multiples; and an entire chapter devoted to preparing for the next pregnancy!

For more information, visit: www.yourpregnancybook.com

Did you miss the Tip Jar? I did! I love reading what each of you has to offer on Tuesday!

So my tip for the day will help you save a few pennies and also help your waistline. It is simple and straight to the point - don’t shop when you’re hungry. Shopping while hungry leads to buying many unnecessary items and it also leads to unnecessary snacking while at the store and snacking when you get home with all the junk food you bought on a whim. Next time you are about head out have a few carrots or a piece of string cheese before you jump in the car. Also, take a long a bottle of water to help fill your stomach. Shop happy, without hunger pains, and with the confidence that you will stick to your budget and still fit into your favorite jeans.

Now it’s your turn - drop a tip in the jar!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had great a great Christmas and New Year’s with friends and family. Our Christmas was wonderful. The kids had a blast, time with family was enjoyable, and the Hubby had two four-day weekends, it was awesome! And now here we are on the first Monday of the New Year and the Hubs has headed off to work again and I am already missing him and his help. Sometimes I wish he could work from home…other times I want to send him to work, know what I mean? LOL!

Anyways, with the New Year sparks many conversations about resolutions and goals. Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? If so, what have you resolved to do this year?

I’ve never been big on making resolutions. I can’t remember the last time I made an official one, but I am constantly setting goals for myself. My goal this year is getting healthy - mind, body, and spirit. I plan to take a little more “me time” for reading and relaxing (oh how I love reading!). I plan to keep up with the workouts I already do and maybe expand them a bit. And I plan to continue on with my daily Bible reading and really spend more time in prayer. All of these things are things I already do, but my goal is to take more time and do them more. And really that is the thing with goals and resolutions - they need to be things that you actually will do. Taking what you already do and expanding on it is logical, but if you set some wild goal that you’ve never come close to before, well, that leaves you open to discouragement.

So this year while you are planning those resolutions and goals make sure to think about what you actually do already and what you will have the drive and determination to accomplish. Don’t expect to do everything and don’t expect to suddenly become super woman in the process of it all. Remember that our bodies can only handle so much and start the year off small. You can build upon your goals as you go. Make resolutions that you can count on. Instead of saying “I resolve to lose 50 pounds” why not try “it will be my goal to walk 20 minutes a day” - one is full of pressure and the other is a 20 minute walk that gives you a little breathing time.

And in it all, no matter what you resolve to do, remember to smile. If you aren’t happy then the rest is just a wasted effort.

I’m changing things up a bit this year and rather than having the blogger write out a bio on themselves for posting I am just announcing the Blog of the Month and telling you why I love them. I still encourage you to nominate your fellow blogging moms for this honor as well.

This month I want to share with you the blog He & Me + 3. I just love this blog - the pictures, the witty way Mimi writes, I love it all. In our directory Mimi describe her blog this way: “My blog is a daily dose of drama from my crazy but blessed life as a wife & mother of 3 energetic kids…you may find Something Simple, Sassy, Sweet, Spiritual, Sappy, Silly, Studious, or Sarcastic, but always Something!”

I agree, there is always something and it is always worth reading - go on over and give Mimi a visit. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Stay safe and have fun!

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

I’ll be on vacation for a few days - see you back here on January 5, 2009!

Luke 2:1-20
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.