Today we’re excited to share an interview with soon-to-be mommy and friend of Graco, Jessica. You can definitely feel the genuine excitement in all of her answers, though I might be hard-pressed to find a new mom that wasn’t thrilled. Here is Jessica’s story:

Jessica at 26 and 30 Weeks

How far along are you and what are you having?
In my 28th week and having a baby boy!

What is the most exciting part about being pregnant?
Everything!

Did you take a babymoon? If so, was it all that you expected?
We were lucky enough to extend a work trip to Hawaii and stay in Maui for a few nights as our babymoon.  It was AMAZING and everything we wanted it to be and more!  We concentrated on relaxing and enjoying the time together.

What is the most surprising thing about being pregnant?
The effect of the baby weight on my everyday activities.  I knew things would change, but I legitimately feel like I’m carrying around a few dumbells every day. I know its only going to get heavier and I’ll probably be more exhausted at the end of each day

How is your husband handling the pregnancy?
Wonderfully!  He has been amazing through the whole thing and very supportive.  I tend to stress out about everything – so he is focusing on keeping me calm and taking care of as much as he can for me.

What is the craziest advice you’ve received so far?
I was pretty sick for the first 20 weeks and heard all kinds of advice around what to eat to make me feel better…everything from crackers to raw ginger!

Has anyone approached you and touched your belly that you don’t know?
Nope, not yet!

Other than you and your husband, who is most exciting about the arrival of your little one?
Our parents are ecstatic!  This is my parents first grandchild, so they are over the moon and keep calling him “our baby”…as in the whole family’s expecting!

Thanks Jess for sharing your story!

Now it’s your turn. What was the most surprising part of your pregnancy?

Lots to choose from!

Here at Graco, I am on the fashion design team and as such, my mind is often full of  creative and unique ideas for our nursery.   We don’t have a theme, but we definitely want a colorful, fun space that feels both graphic and vintage at the same time.   Andrew and I decided not to find out the gender, so we are also sticking to a somewhat neutral color palette (which is fine because green is both of our favorite color!)  We are not planning on painting the room, we will bring in color through furniture and fabrics  (hoping it all works together in the end!) Using furniture and accessories we already own has helped to create a look that works with the overall look of our home. This doesn’t mean we didn’t bring in some newness, we had to (we didn’t already own a crib).

Along with furniture and decor, there is the problem of  where to put baby.  We are turning the room that used to be my art space / guest room into our special nursery, but we still need to be able to store and access all my art supplies, etc.   While the room is fairly large, finding a way to hide floor-to-ceiling shelving in order to make the room baby friendly was a challenge. Being creative and working through the challenges has been a lot of fun for Andrew and me.  The amount of time and love that has gone into this room is a gift not only for our new baby, but for each other.

Isn't it cozy?

Our little one is due in 4 weeks (eek!) and our nursery is not quite ready yet.  This weekend we hung curtains and shelving for books, but the furniture still needs tweaking and we have yet to buy bedding.  Here is a sneak peek of one corner of the room, but we are still deciding what to do with that little table – paint it, cover it or use something else?  And of course accessories have to be added (oh the decisions to be made).  Stay tuned in the next few weeks for the big reveal!

Do any of you have any advice for must haves in the nursery?  Things we should leave out?  How about your favorite Graco products to include in the space?  We would love any ideas you have on ways to finish our look!

When one of my sitters, Wendy, walks into our apartment, Fia instantly lights up, reaches out her arms and dives into Wendy. I say goodbye and exit. No problem.

Another sitter, Jen, does the same thing. No fuss, just smiles and giggles. Both have been with Fia a few hours a week since almost the beginning. But now they have full time jobs, so I began a nanny share with my neighbor’s woman, who I’ll call G.

I’ve known G for 4 years. I’ve seen her with my neighbor’s son. There is no one better. She is a lovely woman with a lively spirit, full of warmth, and a huge love of babies. So what’s the problem?

Every time she walks into our apartment—or I drop her off at the neighbor’s, Fia instantly begins to cry. Then wails.  And this has happened several times a week for over a month now. I feel awful for all of us. I don’t want G to think Fia doesn’t like her. I don’t want Fia to be sad. And I don’t want to do away with a sitter entirely. Then I’d never write this blog again.  Or be sane. Or grocery shop. Or clean my house. (Remember, I have a no-nap baby unless she’s in the car seat. And I don’t have a car!). Sigh.

I’m writing to you moms and experts asking for help.

Here’s my theory—G began sitting for Fia just as she was getting separation anxiety. So I think she now associates G with mommy leaving. I have tried playing with both of them, then exiting. I have tried having G come over in the middle of Fi’s nap, so she’s there when she wakes up and not me (so that there is no “passing of torch,” err baby). So far, nothing has worked.

G insists it doesn’t bother her, and promises that as soon as I Ieave, Fi is fine. But the leaving is gut wrenching. And it leaves me full of self-doubt and worry (dear lord, wait until she’s a teenager. Can you imagine the wreck I’ll be??).

Moms who have been through this before – do you have any tricks up your sleeve? I’m looking for any advice on how to break the association between G and me leaving. Please help!

When the My First Baby community was first established, one of the aims was to bring women together to share their experiences of pregnancy, so that united, we could tackle these trials and tribulations and make the overall experience something that didn’t feel quite so terrifying. Over the weeks new moms, experienced moms and experts have shared videos and discussed a range of topics, from packing the hospital bag to creating a registry, but one of the topics that particularly struck a cord with members was, “Style Me, I’m Pregnant“.

Women experience such a dramatic change in body shape – in the space of 9 months we go through several different sizes and then suddenly, literally overnight, we’re back to down to a different size again! So how do you adjust your wardrobe, stay frugal, trendy and warm over the next few months, all at the same time? We thought that was a very good question!

To help answer it, Maternity Wear Designer Liz Lange, in conjunction with My First Baby and Graco, will be hosting a Twitter party. Expectant moms are invited to jump online and tweet their questions on Wednesday, November 10, while using the #LizLangeStyle and #MyFirstBaby hash tags, and Liz will respond with tips and advice.

To join in the fun, here are the full event details:

Date: Wednesday November 10, 2010

Time: 8:00 – 9:00PM ET

Hash Tag: #LizLangeStyle and #MyFirstBaby

Expert: @LizLange

Moderator: @GracoBaby

We will also be giving away for exciting prizes during the evening – so make sure you join the conversation to win! And if you’re not a Twitter user or new to the concept of “Twitter Parties”, you can check out more information here, or leave us your questions in the comments below and we’ll ask Liz Lange during our party.

And on that note – tell us expectant moms, what is the biggest fashion crisis you’re facing at the moment as your belly becomes a bump?

We’d love to hear you questions and look forward to answering them on November 10!

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Okay, so the trip wasn’t quite that exotic – more like where the deer and the antelope play. Talking about South Dakota. Fia, Phil and I just got back from visiting my relatives there amid the tumbleweed and prairie grass. It’s a place near and dear to my heart, with a vast landscape and open space as far as the eye can see. And althoughFi is already a seasoned traveler, I keep reminding myself that each trip is a learning experience. For both of us.

Fi snorted at cattle, cats, horses and dogs. She ate South Dakota beef. She visited Wall Drug and Reptile Gardens.  She was a social butterfly, meeting about 12 of her first and second cousins and 8 of her aunts and uncles—just a fraction of my extended family, but it’s a start. She also started clapping her hands. Hooray, another milestone!

The trip started off a little rough. I didn’t realize when I booked my flight that I mistakenly added in a 4-hour layover in the Denver airport. And Phil wasn’t with me (he joined later).  I nearly had a panic attack.  How am I going to entertain her in the airport for all this time? Well, first, I bee lined for the bar. (Kidding, though I did have a glass of wine with lunch).

Then I found an empty gate that looked pretty clean and just let her roam around.  I had to let my bedbug paranoia go. (I already have given up on the germ factor). Finally, it was boarding time, and at 4 pm, we arrived in Rapid City and took off for the ranch. Exhale. We did it!

The Cordes ranch has been around since the 1900’s, when my grandfather first homesteaded there. My aunt and uncle still ranch over 9,000 acres of land. (Look for my flip video, coming soon!) And even though Fi won’t remember this trip, I think it’s all part of a baby’s collective memory and makeup as they grow. Plus, we’ll be visiting as often as we can.

She really took to some of my uncles, especially the burly ones wearing cowboy hats like Uncle Marvin.  Maybe that’s what I need to get Phil for his birthday. And she mauled Stripey, the cat, who may even have more patience than Wayne.

She also had stranger anxiety early on. This was a first, but a big one for me on the learning curve. Any time I left the room, she would start to cry. At first I found it endearing. After two days though, I was losing my mind. It ended around the time Phil arrived (figures). After that she was passed around and around and smiled and laughed the whole time. Good to know she can adjust pretty easily. And good for me to know that I need to exercise patience instead of pulling my hair out.

Same with the sleep thing. The first two nights she woke up a few times in the Pack N Play. But after that, she slept through the night. I am sure the prairie air didn’t hurt.

After a week, it was time to say goodbye. We loaded up and boarded our flight, where, I kid you not, she slept the ENTIRE trip. As did Phil. I was so annoyed that he got the easy flight, I couldn’t even catnap.  I mean, this girl only gives me 30 minute naps and is a ball of energy on the many plane trips with me, but she sleeps like a baby when he’s on board?  Oh well. The two of them are still my favorite travel companions. Especially when they’re together!  I just hope next time I can nap, too!

What was your experience introducing your little one to the family for the first time?

New and Improved:
- Join the My First Baby community where you can experience the joy and excitement of parenthood with other first time parents from across the nation. It has never been easier to find other parents to connect with, videos and the advice you need.

Join the Conversation:
- Use your Facebook account to comment on videos, ask questions, and “Like” your favorite videos. Be sure to check out the New to My First Baby section on the homepage as you explore the site.

Enter to Win:
- Upload your own video and you could win a $5,000 baby essentials shopping spree at Babies “R” Us for your little one.

Get the Gear:
- Love what you have seen on myfirstbaby.com? Visit the new “Get the Gear” section to purchase the Graco products featured on myfirstbaby.com.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this series and growing community for first time parents. Happy viewing! www.myfirstbaby.com.

Try NOT to laugh!

Have a cute video of your little one? Share it with us on www.MyFirstBaby.com – you could be featured in on of our nationally televised webisodes and have the chance to win prizes from Graco and more!

1. Expect that everything will take longer than you expect. It’s going to take you a few extra minutes to get through airport security with the baby, your stroller, car seat, and carry on items – but don’t worry, most airports have special security lanes for travelers with infants.

Also, when road tripping, your may find that you have to take more frequent rest stops or that each break takes a bit longer. Planning with this in mind will keep you from getting too caught up in how much longer everything is taking, because you’ve budgeted the time for it.

2. Gather your gear and know what you’ll really need. Taking your infant car seat is a must for most trips, and your stroller is almost as important. But think carefully about packing  toys, clothes, high chairs, and activity centers.

Think about what you’ll have available to you when you get to your destination, and about what it’s going to take to transport it. The gear limit imposed by your travel method will play into this – car trips are only limited by your trunk space, but air travel poses certain limits, especially with the new fees for checked luggage.

3. Document the experience. Baby’s first trip only happens once, so break out the flip cam or your smart phone and get video. Watch baby’s eyes widen at take off, snap a few pics of her waving bye bye as you hit the road, catch his first train ride on video. Share it on Facebook, real time, so that your friends and family can experience baby’s first voyage right along with you!

Check out “Have Baby, Will Travel” at myfirstbaby.com for more great advice from moms, and add your own great advice for travel for a chance to win a $5,000 shopping spree.

This week’s video on My First Baby is all about building the nest. And now that I’ve just jumped over another hurdle—one involving a nasty diaper rash (hers, not mine)–I need to add a crucial item to have on hand: Cornstarch.

But don’t follow my example on how to use it. Here’s why:

In the past two weeks I feared arrest. Twice. Not because I was a bad mom. In fact, just the opposite. I felt so bad for the little munchkin and her red bum. I carefully applied the creams, but the diaper rash wasn’t going away as quickly as I hoped, so I added cornstarch into the mix. Apparently you sprinkle it in the diaper and it absorbs moisture. But “sprinkle” clearly isn’t in my vocabulary.

I should pause here and say I have a tendency to overdo certain things.  Like if someone tells me a wrinkle cream will get rid of crows feet, I compulsively apply half the bottle at once, hoping for a miracle.

On our way into the city to refinance our apartment, I dumped probably a quarter of a box of cornstarch in her diaper (my rationale is the diaper is white, so I can’t see how much goes in). Three subway trains and a 4-block walk later, I knew she desperately needed to be changed.

Already late to the appointment on the 23^rd floor of a posh bank building, I dashed into the bathroom (no changing table. Damn, hate it when that happens!), quickly put a mat on the floor and ripped off the diaper. Cornstarch went flying. I mean everywhere. It turned me, Fi, diaper bag and surrounding area into a blanket of white.  I prayed no one would walk in.

I began picturing the FBI, my arrest and subsequent headline: Mom Spreads Anthrax While Baby Battles Diaper Rash. I tried scooping the massive excess off the floor with a paper towel, but it didn’t make a dent. The bathroom looked like a blizzard had hit—one that didn’t melt.  I conceded defeat and walked into the conference room, covered in a film of white. I looked like I had jumped into a giant silo of flour. My appearance demanded an explanation. I apologized profusely to the woman who was kind enough to promise she wouldn’t call the authorities.

A few days later I’m at LaGuardia with Fi, about to fly to Wisconsin, where my father in law (an Episcopalian Priest, nicknamed “Rev”) will baptize the babe. I dumped a bunch of cornstarch in her diaper (clearly I’m a slow learner), got through security, and had to change her. The bathroom was tiny so I went to an empty gate. Out came the plume. Seriously?? How bad is my short-term memory? This time I envisioned the TSA coming after me. They would lock me up. We’d miss her baptism. I’d be condemned by all who know me.

Panicked, I tried to rub it into the carpet as best I could. No luck. I needed an industrial vacuum. Or an escape plan.  I grabbed Fi and fled the scene.  We boarded the plane, and at 30,000 feet breathed a big sigh of relief (actually she slept).  And, the next day, the diaper rash was clear.  Maybe there’s something to compulsively using cornstarch??

So my tip to you moms who battle diaper rash: Cornstarch. Put it in the nest. Just don’t follow my lead

Now it’s your turn. What works for you? What else do we need to stock up on? Tell me everything!

Are you ready to say “I’m Pregnant?” If so, we’d first like to say, Congratulations!

The Graco team has created a Facebook community just for you– I Love My Baby Bump! It’s a destination for expectant parents who want to share their pregnancy stories and photos and to connect with other parents-to-be.

Whether you’re a first time mom-to-be or you are growing your family, I Love My Baby Bump is here to celebrate your “baby bump” and all of the excitement that comes along with it.

We will be using the page to share pregnancy stories and resources, answer your questions about getting ready for baby, and to give expectants a place on Facebook to share their progress & show love for their bump.

To welcome you to the I Love My Baby Bump community on Facebook, The Graco Team wants to send you a super cute maternity shirt– and it’s easy! All you have to do is “like” I Love My Baby Bump on Facebook! Send me my shirt!

And if you’re pregnant for the first time (or just had your first), check out the new My First Baby community and share your videos – you could win great prizes, like a $5,000 shopping spree from Babies “R” Us and the chance to have your video featured on national television!

We can’t wait to hear your stories!