I can’t even tell you how excited I am about this. Yes, anytime there is change it takes a little getting used to but this is a welcome change in my book. Why? It’s going to wipe all the posers off the face of the “facebook” earth!

As you may have heard, March 30th Facebook will force the new timelines onto business pages. This new change includes things like cover photos, removing the “like-gate”, and admin messaging capability (just to name a few). Facebook is strongly emphasizing the power of content rather than likes. It doesn’t matter if you have 5,000 fans if you don’t interact with them and that is what this change is saying. What does this mean for marketers..oh right, what we are PAID to do. Gone are the days of “I have more fans that you..” (well, maybe not right away). Now people should be asking “how many people are ‘talking about this’”. While contests will still be important..they are just another way to interact but are not the end all be all.

Facebook pages of the past might have lived up to the “if you build it, they will come” mentality but not any longer. The old “content is king” is back and bigger than ever. Need help converting your page and actually building your brand rather than just your number of likes, contact me.

I’m trying to focus my efforts here and since I’m sure all my social media readers don’t want to hear about Austin Jr every 5 seconds, I’ve created a new blog - abostonmom.com. On this blog, you can find product reviews, events information, baby updates, and more. This blog is going to go back to it’s original purpose of social media and other life related events. That’s not to say there won’t be an occasional post about the little guy – just not all the time.

We made it to one month! Read all about it at abostonmom.com

Baby Austin is 2 weeks and 4 days old. We are starting to get into the swing of things, still sleep deprived but Austin and I have been able to maintain our photo booth business, I’ve been doing work for Aigner and we still find time to watch American Idol and Amazing Race! Note: I did fall asleep watching Amazing Race twice before we made it through the whole thing . Baby Austin pretty much eats, sleeps and poops (lots of peeing too..thank god for pee pee teepee’s). This morning however, we hit a bit of a fussy patch. He will only sleep in mommy or daddy’s arms but he is just so darn cute. We’ve figured out a way to work around this though –

He is finally here. I was pregnant for 40 weeks and 2 days and toward the end – just about had enough. I made it through 14 hours of labor and gave birth to the most precious beautiful baby boy I’ve ever seen. He is one week old tomorrow at 9:51am. Where has a week gone? He was born weighing 8lbs, 3oz and 20.5 inches long.

I can’t lie – it hasn’t been the easiest week. I’m sleep deprived and MORE emotional than I ever could have imagined. I look at him and cry because he is so perfect. I’m excited, scared, nervous, and happy all at once. Is that possible?

I say to Austin all the time – I don’t know how single parents do this. Austin and I have been more of a team over the last week than ever before. He is my rock and my foundation. He makes everything better. The first night home, I think I slept 30 minutes and was a legit crazy person. Austin looked at me and said, “Go to bed.” I asked him what he was going to do and he just looked at me and said, “I’ll figure it out but you need to sleep.” Off to bed I went for 3 hours. He is the best diaper changer, swaddler and “support person” (as they call them at the hospital). I would be lost without him. We’ve also had our share of hilarious diaper changing moments – we’ve both laughed so hard we cried tears of joy.

What are we calling him? That is the question we’ve been asked countless times over the last week. He is a junior and AJ seems to be an easy fit but something about it is not sticking with me. I don’t know – why don’t we just call him by his name – Austin until he gets a little older and we can figure out what nickname is best. I’ve personally been calling him BaBa (baby Austin twice). I realize others probably won’t want to call him this though . It just seems like a lot of unnecessary pressure – almost like when I was pregnant and everyone was asking how I could possibly not find out what the sex was. Let’s talk about that for a second – when he was born, the doctor said “Dad, tell us what it is!” Austin said so calmly, “a boy, it’s a boy.” I couldn’t have been more excited. It was so worth the wait. Nothing was as amazing as that very moment.

So I sit here trying my hardest to keep my eyes open and write this blog post. Austin is sitting in his Mamaroo sleeping and daddy is sitting next to me with American Idol on the TV. What a life. I never thought life could be as different as it is right now and it is the most amazing feeling ever. When I was pregnant it was hard to imagine what life would be like with a baby – now I can’t imagine anything different.

I can’t tell you how many people have said to me, “you’ll know when you are in labor.” I also can’t tell you how much this annoys me. Maybe after I have this baby I’ll understand but seeing as how I’ve been to the hospital twice now thinking I was in labor and wasn’t actually – I clearly don’t “know” just yet. I’m embarrassed.

At 40 weeks pregnant, I’m getting pains I’ve never felt before -strange things are happening. When I feel the same pain for one hour and it hurts bad, I think it’s only fair to think I’m in labor, right? Wrong, apparently. Why? Because, “I’ll just know.” I’ve been having contractions for over a week. 10-20 minutes a part. I’m 3 cm dilated. I wish my water would break or there would be some clear, obvious sign. But there isn’t. My doctor said she would be shocked if I made it through the weekend and here I am, Monday morning – still pregnant.

Austin says we have to have a home birth now because we are both too embarrassed to go back to the hospital a third time and not really be in labor (sarcasm). I told him we are not going unless I am screaming in pain. My luck I’ll have the baby in the damn car now I’m going to wait so long. It is what it is. I’m a first timer. I don’t just “know”. Here’s hoping in the next few days I’ll “find out!”

Well, here I am 39 weeks pregnant and more ready than ever for this baby to come. Austin is feverishly working on the house to get the basement and new kitchen pantry finished and I’m spending most of my time googling “natural ways of inducing labor”. I know, I know. When the baby is ready it will come – but I’m ready now.

So give’em to me – what are you tips for inducing labor??

This is not something I do well…nothing. On Tuesday, I’ll be 37 weeks pregnant – relax, sit on the couch, these are the things people tell me I should do. It’s just SO hard for me.

As I sit on the couch watching the Patriots kill Denver (yay!) I can’t help but think that Austin is working a photo booth and I should be doing something here – I have taxes to reconcile, freezer crockpot meals to make, things can always be cleaned but unfortunately, the baby has dropped and virtually onto my sciatica making it nearly impossible to walk. So sitting on the heating pad on the couch is about the most I can do and it’s killing me!

I know people say that once the baby comes none of this will matter because all I’ll want to do is sleep when I have “free” time because I’ll be so exhausted. We’ll see about that.

I can’t believe I’ve been pregnant for 33 weeks! Roughly 7 more weeks to go but I’m convinced this little bambino is coming early. Although I hope not, because we still have a lot to accomplish! I thought I would inform any other ladies out there who are thinking of getting pregnant or maybe are in the early stages – of a few helpful hints for first time moms. Promise — no gross details and no, I’m not a medical professional so check with your doctor before doing any of these things.

• WATER – drink LOTS of it. At least 100 oz per day. No, that isn’t a typo. Go get a nalgene bottle and drink from it. It’s the easiest way to keep track of how much water you have had. Drinking water will not only keep you hydrated but it will keep the weight off too. I wish someone had told me this before I had my 10lb month. Since I’ve been drinking the water I’ve been keeping it to 1-2lbs.
• RICE SOCK – best invention ever. Get a tube sock and pour rice in it, tie the end. Have back pain, neck pain, any kind of pain – warm that baby up for 1 minute 45 seconds and boom! instant relief..which goes into my next tip…
• MIGRAINES? – I don’t know about anyone else but since the third trimester started I have terrible migraines. I can’t see, I can’t focus on anything and my brain feels like it is going to spew out of my ears. Warm up your rice sock and put it at the base of your neck. Poof..migraine gone.
• CHILD BIRTH CLASS – get off your lazy butt and go. Most insurances cover at least part of it and it’s fun. I’m not learning anything earth shattering but I have learned things I didn’t know before and it’s just helpful to have an idea of what to expect. It’s also fun to meet other couples and know you aren’t the only one with stupid questions and aches and pains.

I’m sure I’m going to have many product reviews and posts coming soon..my kitchen is overflowing with baby items already. I’ll be sharing more soon.

What do you reach for when you need a quick snack? I have something I’d like you to try — Oikos Drinkable Greek Yogurt by Stonyfield. I was contacted by Stonyfield to see if I would be interested in trying this new product. I jumped at the chance because being 30 weeks pregnant, I need quick, on-the-go snacks that are healthy and filling. They currently have two flavors, “Honey Vanilla” and “Pomegranate Berry”. They are both delightful.

But want to know the best part? They have 9g of protein per serving! (Each container is one serving). The calories are fairly low at 160 with 15 calories from fat. I have to be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for this being filling enough, but after I finished the first bottle, I really was full! The other pleasant surprise was sometimes greek yogurt can have a not-so-great taste. These products taste great.

If you want to get a daily yogurt that has a lot of protein and taste great — an oh by the way – super easy to grab & go, then I would encourage you to give Oikos Drinkable Yogurt by Stonyfield a chance!

Full Disclosure: I was given 4-packs of both the Honey Vanilla and Pomegranate Berry to sample for this review.

Have a great idea but no funding? Tapped all your friends/family/favors already? You should check out kickstarter.com.

From kickstarter.com:

Kickstarter is the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. Every week, tens of thousands of amazing people pledge millions of dollars to projects from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative fields.

A new form of commerce and patronage. This is not about investment or lending. Project creators keep 100% ownership and control over their work. Instead, they offer products and experiences that are unique to each project.

All or nothing funding. On Kickstarter, a project must reach its funding goal before time runs out or no money changes hands. Why? It protects everyone involved. Creators aren’t expected to develop their project without necessary funds, and it allows anyone to test concepts without risk.

Each and every project is the independent creation of someone like you. Projects are big and small, serious and whimsical, traditional and experimental. They’re inspiring, entertaining and unbelievably diverse. 

Now that you know about what Kickstarter.com does..here is a project I think you should fund.

After you watch the video check out their page on Kickstarter.

Soul Catcher is a psychological drama about a young woman who falls for a very unusual schoolteacher. They need our support!