Meet Pure Barre Dallas Mommy, Kara Duvall and Baby Hayes!

In considering what to write for her blog post, Pure Barre Dallas Mommy, Kara Duvall, turned to an excerpt from one of her own favorite new mommy blogs: http://www.scarymommy.com 

Memory Pre-Motherhood: I could walk from one room to another and know exactly why I was there. I put things where they belonged and I made complete sentences. My brain cells worked as a team.

Memory Post-Motherhood: I walk into a room with a purpose and immediately forget what it is upon arrival. I put the milk in the pantry and the cereal in the refrigerator. I hang up my phone to look for…my phone. I say three words of a sentence and lose my train of thought. Did I also give birth to my brain cells?

Leaving the House Pre-Motherhood: I grabbed my purse and walked out the door.

Leaving the House Post-Motherhood: “Do you have your lunch box, backpack, show and tell, book report, math homework? Why are your shoes on the wrong feet? Did you brush your teeth? Your shirt is on backwards. We’ll try to remember to brush your hair tomorrow. I should probably clean the peanut butter off your forehead.”

Sleeping Pre-Motherhood: I decided when and where and for how long. Period.

Sleeping Post-Motherhood: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is on. If I sit upright on the couch, can I sneak a 15-minute nap? Is the latch on the cabinet with the cleaning products? Are the markers and crayons out of reach? Can kids really drown in the toilet? Oh, forget it.

Emotions Pre-Motherhood: Under control. Sometimes even stoic.

Emotions Post-Motherhood: Out of control. Unstable. I can go from laughing to crying in seconds for no obvious reason. And Lord help me if I can’t find the remote when that SPCA commercial with Sarah McClachlan comes on.  (You know the one I am talking about)

Evenings Pre-Motherhood: Take-out it is! Fall asleep on the couch watching a movie.

Evenings Post-Motherhood: Are all the food groups represented? Time for baths! Just ONE bedtime story. Okay, two. Yes, I’ll tuck you in. Again. Of course you can have another goodnight kiss. Go. To. Sleep.

Body Fluids Pre-Motherhood: Ewwww.

Body Fluids Post-Motherhood: I’ve been peed on, pooped on, vomited on, and worn snot as an accessory. I’m also quite learned on how to get all of the above out of the living room rug.

Date Night Pre-Motherhood: Let’s go.

Date Night Post-Motherhood:

Ask sitter #1.

Ask sitter #2.

Beg sitter #3.

Leave list with 25 line items of instructions.

Call or text every 20 minutes to see if everyone is ok.

Return by 10 p.m. so sitter can make curfew.

Pay sitter twice what dinner cost.

How I Viewed Motherhood Pre-Motherhood: I think I might like to do that someday.

How I View Motherhood Now: I had NO IDEA what I was missing and how much I would LOVE my new "job!" 

Meet Pure Barre Dallas Mommy, Claire Christensen!

The Art of Registering for Baby

Two months ago, I became a first-time mommy to a precious baby boy, Knox Mitchell Christensen. Knox is mommy’s “Pure Barre Baby”, as I took classes all throughout my pregnancy. Pure Barre was Knox’s naptime. The movement and loud music soothed him right to sleep and since being born, this has not changed one bit! There is no doubt; Pure Barre was one of the reasons that I had a wonderful pregnancy and easy delivery.  I was also able to return quickly to wearing my pre-pregnancy clothes and couldn’t wait to get back to the barre! 

I was incredibly excited when asked by Caroline to write an entry for the Pure Barre Dallas Baby Blog. I’m a fairly open and honest person and love to give advice from my good and not so good experiences. There are countless experiences that I could blog about on pregnancy and being a first-time mommy, but one thing that I found to be the most helpful from my mom friends was tips on registering. I vividly remember the first time I walked through the countless aisles of Buy Buy Baby thinking, “Do I really need ALL this stuff?! How do I actually know where to start?!”  Walking into a baby store can be overwhelming for anyone, much less a hormonal, first-time mother. This is where past mommy expertise sure came in handy! Below are a few tips that I hope will help you, as much as they helped me and allow you to enjoy your registering experience. 

1. Lucie’s List – Baby Registry Basics Section - www.lucieslist.com  Before registering this is a MUST READ. It might be a tad lengthy, but goes into great detail of basics to what you should register for, including what brands were ideal.  Don’t forget to take note of the 6 Months+ section and register for those items too.
2. Planning on having more than one child? Think gender neutral!  Instead of registering for all pink or blue items, register for gender neutral colors. Also, you may want to consider a double-stroller, depending on how close you want to have your kids, in age.
3. Don’t be afraid to return/exchange - You will find that a lot of people will NOT buy off of your registry (you’ll have a new appreciation for this, when buying for other people from now on). After your showers are complete, you may find yourself with 10 car seat toys, 20 blankets, and no car seat! I became an expert at the ‘return and exchange’… and all of the related ins and outs. Did you know, they even have an iPhone app to scan the barcode and find out where it came from?  EXCITING!  Because I was smart about the items I kept and returned, I was able to collect enough gift cards, along the way, to complete my registry with the items I really needed and had $$ left over!
4. Clothing sizes…don’t trust them - Depending on the brand of clothing, all sizes are different. For instance, a 3 month old in Carter’s might be the same size as a Newborn at Old Navy. I ended up organizing Knox’s clothes by how they looked rather than the tag read. After doing this you might find that you have many long sleeved clothes that won’t fit your child, until it is summer…obviously that won’t work in Texas.  Long story short:  keep the tags on each piece of clothing, just in case you need to exchange for a different size and don’t wash all their clothes before they’re born. Who knows, you may have a bigger baby that will never be small enough to wear a newborn size!
5. Last, but not least, have a “mommy friend” review your registry once it’s completed. They are your best resources! 

Good luck and happy registering!

21 weeks, more than halfway there!

Highlights of Week 20...

Celebrating a Pure Barre Dallas wedding, party bus style! Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell! Molly & Austin, you make a beautiful couple and we couldn’t be happier for you. Thank you for your sharing your wedding day festivities with us. 

What better way to celebrate your first Mother’s Day as a Mommy-To-Be than with a little nursery furniture & maternity clothes shopping? Crib, armoire, and wall art letters are ordered, thanks to Bellini NYC. While the furniture won’t arrive until July, things are starting to feel a little more real. Nursery theme for Baby Boy Jennings? Puppies and baseball. Latest maternity clothes finds? Splendid maternity foldover leggings, Michael Stars cardigans, summer dresses, and white denim shorts. I’ll even admit to indulging in a maternity bathing suit or two. And while revealing my budding belly may take some getting used to, the tankini certainly makes swimsuit season a little more stylish and comfortable. 

Baby gifts in the way of adorable onesies, handprint keepsakes, personalized burp cloths, hooded towels, the bumper and crib skirt from our bedding collection, a stuffed dog chair, and navy blue overalls, size 3-6 months. Thank you, Melissa, Rebecca, Katie, Daniela, & Adriane for showering our baby boy with love! 

Babymoon in Antigua, one week from tomorrow! Let the countdown begin! 

20 Weeks and Counting! Halfway there!

I am officially 20 weeks pregnant and am delighted to announce that Luke and I are expecting a Baby Boy!

I am thankful to have had a fairly positive pregnancy so far. Aside from fatigue (6 weeks into my second trimester I can finally make it through the day without a nap), low blood pressure, and an insatiable appetite, our little one has made this a relatively easy pregnancy. Then again, I’m only halfway there! 

Low Blood Pressure: 

A fairly common pregnancy symptom, particularly in the second trimester, best cured by frequent snacks, Gatorade, and electrolyte enhanced water. Smartwater is a favorite, although Whole Foods makes a generic version that is just as good. 

Maternity Clothes: 

Must-have staples? Indulge in a pair of maternity jeans, leggings, and a supportive nursing bra. Paige, J Brand, Joe’s Jeans, AG, 7 For All Mankind, and Citizen of Humanity all make great maternity jeans. I was hesitant to purchase a pair with the panel insert, but as another new mommy described them, they fit every time! As for leggings, David Lerner maternity leggings from ShopBop are well-worth the splurge. 

Where to shop? A Pea in the Pod is my favorite. Pickles and Ice Cream, ShopBop, and Target also have great selections. 

BellyBands? I could give or take this often recommended purchase. While it does work nicely, it felt somewhat restricting, and once I finally gave into maternity clothes (at 18 weeks), I quickly realized that they are so much more comfortable. Lesson to remember when Baby #2 comes along? Break out the maternity wear much earlier! Besides being stylish and comfortable, who doesn’t love an excuse to do a little shopping. 

More TidBits: 

Other new mommies continue to be my biggest resource. 

Exercise continues to be my saving grace. I am so thankful that I’ve been able to continue teaching and taking Pure Barre. It has helped with fatigue, kept the weight gain at a slow, but steady pace, and eased prenatal anxieties and worries. 

The Preggle Body Pillow seems to get more and more comfortable as sleeping gets trickier and trickier. 

Where to Register: Babies ‘R Us, Pottery Barn Kids, and Restoration Hardware Baby & Child all have excellent selections, user friendly websites, and conveniently located stores. BabyBliss in Snyder Plaza, Target, and Buy Buy Baby are also great options. 

Up Next on my Reading List: The Happiest Baby on the Block & The Sleep Lady’s: Goodnight, Sleep Tight 

It's a Baby...

BOY!!

Congratulations to Carolyn Garby, winner of a Pure Barre class, 

and Allison Talbot, winner of a pair of Pure Barre socks! 

Please stop by the front desk to claim your prize.