Know someone who is expecting a baby? Try making this easy no-cal cake. Trust me. They'll love ya for it!

How do you make a diaper cake?

I wrote a diaper cake tutorial a while back. And by a while, I mean four years ago. You can check it out here:


Participating in Wordless Wednesday? Link up your post below.

Diaper cake using Pampers Swaddlers

• Pampers Swaddlers size 1
• Pampers Cruisers size 3
• Pampers Splashers size 3-4,
• Pampers Easy-ups size 3-4
• Pampers Natural Care Wipes
• HBC Canada onesie (size 0-3 mos or 3-6 mos)

I did it! Finally! It took me about 6 years but I am so happy to have finally saved up enough Pampers Gifts to Grow Points to redeem for a big ticket item that I know both my kids will enjoy. Want to know what it is? It's a Radio Flyer Inchworm!

To redeem this reward, you need 4,000 points. It took me a while to get there since I only buy Pampers when they're on sale. But I figured out that you can search the web for the latest promotional Gifts to Grow points. I often found myself referring to retailmenot.com for the latest codes that have been tested and are reliable. Other times, I just happened upon random posts. In the end, I managed to finally reach my goal. So now I have a wonderful Christmas present for the kids to look forward to. Let's just hope it ships in 8 weeks, and not 10!

How about you? Have you had any luck saving up points for the rewards on your wish list?

 

If you'd like to read up on these tips for parents by parents, visit the Pampers site and download a PDF copy today. (Mine is listed on page 2 of Balancing Baby and Life, just in case you're wondering.)

As any new mom can testify, starting a new life with a newborn can be both exhilarating and also frightening. While you may feel overwhelmed with joy and excitement, there is still quite often the fear of the unknown. You might find yourself asking what you should do when the baby wakes up crying in the middle of the night. Or you might often worry about the transition back to work after your maternity leave is over. Whatever the situation may be, there may be consolation in knowing that you are not alone, and that millions of women over several generations have experienced similar concerns and asked similar questions. So who do we turn to for the answers? More than likely, you turn to experienced moms, those who've been through it all and those who are going through it right now. Their tips and advice can ease your worry and maybe even allow you that extra hour of sleep or two. That is why Pampers is working with Mom Central on a project entitled "A Parent is Born."

The aim of this project is to compile a list of useful tips for new and expecting Canadian moms. This list will be published in the Pampers Online Tips Sheet and 25 randomly selected entrants will receive a $20 gift card and one grand prize winner will receive a cash prize of $500! (Just in time for the holidays!) To enter, visit MomCentral and share your tips for any of these two categories:

1. How to Cope with Going Back to Work: Ways mom can prepare for the big day and ways to soothe the unease.

2. Baby/Mommy Sleep Tips: Tips on helping both Baby and mom sleep through the night.

Here are some tips I would like to share.

Topic 1: If you intend to return to work after having a baby and need a daycare, start looking at all the available options and put your name on as many waiting lists as you feel are worthwhile. You can always narrow down your choices at a later date but I found you can be on a waiting list for at least a year before a spot opens up. So I'd say start looking while the baby is still in utero.

Topic 2: I'm sure every mom can tell you that routine is key. (Keep late night activity to a minimum to avoid over stimulation; watch for the baby's cues such as rubbing his/her eyes, or in my son's case, sucking his fingers; turn the lights down low; consider a warm bath with calming lavender bubble bath and/or a massage before settling down to read a book.) For moms who nurse, you might want to try nursing in bed while lying down. My friend told me about it and it really made it easier for me to handle late night feedings.

If you have some advice you'd like to share on these two topics, be sure to place your entry before December 10, 2009 at midnight in order for a chance to win. This contest is opened to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec).

(Disclosure: I am participating in a Mom Central blog campaign and I received an Amazon.com gift certificate as a thank-you.)