With all the things that moms have to do, it’s no wonder that you feel tired or have a headache. But did you know that frequent headaches and fatigue are among the most common signs of dehydration? There are many studies that indicate a majority (from 50-75 percent of Americans) are dehydrated. Many of us don’t even realize that we suffer from dehydration because a lot of the common symptoms (headache, fatigue, dizziness, muscle weakness) could be attributed to other causes.

Water makes up about 60 percent of our total body weight and is crucial to every body system. Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry on normal functions. Even mild dehydration can sap your energy and make you tired. read more

There is a very special time in a woman’s pregnancy in which she is allowed to indulge her fantasies to the fullest, basking in the glory of expectation, surrounded by love and admiration. It’s called a baby shower. Much like a bridal shower, but focused on the needs of the baby instead of the house, the baby shower gives a mother-to-be a fantastic excuse to go shopping. You might think that this is a time of great joy. For me, it was panic.

Before my shower loomed in the near future, I had never really paid attention to the baby section at Target or to stores like Babies R Us. Sure, I had shopped for gifts for other people’s babies, but those were tactical missions to go in, get a gift, and go. It’s easy to find something cute that is pink or blue (or yellow, for the not-yet-gender-specific baby and slap down your credit card. I found out the hard way that it’s not so easy to choose when the things are crucial items that would help me care for my baby.

One fine Saturday during my seventh month of pregnancy I dragged my husband to our local Babies R Us, having prepped him far in advance of the trip. He is not a fan of shopping and detests crowds in general, so I was sure he’d spin on his heel and run out of the store in a blind panic. But I needed him to help me choose a car seat, which seemed like Thing #1 on our list — after all, you can’t take the baby out of the hospital without one (assuming we would pass the New Parent test and they let us take him home. So I prepped Stewart far in advance, reminding him gently every few days that our shopping trip was coming up, and that we weren’t going to stay long, we were only going for one item, and it would be okay.

Once we got to the store, however, it was clear that the person we should have been worrying about was me. I took one look at the enormous Wall of Car Seats and started to shake in my pregnancy clogs. There were so many choices! It reminded me of the last scene in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” when the ark was being filed away in a government warehouse amid endless rows of other anonymous crates. Not only did we have to choose the seat that was best for our car, but we also had to pick the right style. This was much more important to me than to Stewart, who basically pointed to one and said “Okay, let’s go” after about thirty seconds. Needless to say, that approach didn’t work.

Upon the advice of friends, I had read “Baby Bargains” and “Consumer Reports” and one very detail-oriented friend even emailed me the comparison spreadsheet she had created when she was pregnant. I had my opinions of a few models of carseats but had never actually looked at them. Having them all lined up in front of me in all of their variation and travel system compatibility made me swoon with indecision. What if I chose one that was unsafe? Did I want to make it more affordable and get the travel system? Would anybody purchase these things off my registry? Is it okay to get a girly-looking pattern if you’re having a boy?

In the end, if you must know, we chose the Windsor pattern of the Graco Snugride: the detachable infant carrier with a base and the matching stroller. I was pretty proud of myself for making a decision. I left the rest of the registry for another trip to the store, during which I enlisted the help of a friend who was pregnant with her second baby. She did a good job of guiding me through the aisles, pointing out things I would definitely need (Boppy pillow and things I shouldn’t worry about (bathtub and helped me navigate the murky sea of nipples and pacifiers. Even with this invaluable guidance I was struck with register’s remorse, second guessing myself daily and visiting the website every 10 minutes to make sure I had pointed out everything I thought I needed.

We installed the infant carrier in my car a few weeks before Kyle’s birth, and I proudly drove around with it looking at me in the rearview mirror, smiling as if to say “I’m ready! Put a baby in me!” When he was born, I happily toted him around town in it, and I loved to attach the seat to the pretty matching stroller and hear that satisfying click when the lock engaged. I loved the cup holders and the temperature sensor (because you need that and the storage basket and the way the wheels glided as I walked. I smugly tooled around with Kyle and the stroller like I was driving a new car.

Until I went to Beverly Hills. read more

After the long months of winter, who can help but smile at the sight of newly-bloomed flowers creeping up from the earth? Perhaps this is why Spring is such a cheerful time. Touched by a bit of Spring Fever, our editors have compiled this list of favorite springtime items (all priced under $40) that will help you wave bye-bye to winter in style.

	Multiflower Pillow Cover. This bright flower print captures the essence of spring and will add instant cheer to your living room. Made from a pure silk twill that is machine washable, these covers can slip easily over your existing pillows for a fresh, springtime look. $24 at westelm.com.
	Seagrass Dinnerware. Simple, Modern and Stunning — some of the best words we can think of to describe these elegant, square dishes that had us swooning from the moment we placed eyes on them. We are in complete awe of how such an unprentious design could just scream, “Spring!” $4-12 at cb2.com.
	Garden-in-a-Bag. Spring is a great time to exercise your green thumb. We love these fun and easy plants that grow right in their leak-proof brown bag, and literally all you have to do is add water and a bit of sunshine. Get one for yourself or brighten someone else’s day — these make adorable gifts. $8-10 at wishingfish.com.
	Striped Kitchen Towels. Freshen up your kitchen chores with these crisp dish towels made of sturdy Turkish cotton. Decorated with sweet stripes in classic, springtime colors, these towels will add a splash of cheer to your kitchen. $16 at williamsonoma.com.
	How Glam Sandals. Pretty sandals are a springtime must! We picked these beaded thongs because they’ll go perfectly with anything — from summer dresses to jeans — and the contoured, rubber footbed will carry your feet through summertime in style and comfort. $39 at nordstrom.com

P.S. Get your sandals
right now at Nordstrom.com and get Free Shipping (offer expires April 3, 2006).

– Bettijo B. Hirschi

As mothers, one sound that we hear a lot is babies crying: crying because they’re hungry, because they need a diaper change or because they’re just plain uncomfortable.
When it comes to baby’s hearing, dealing with ear infections is a familiar — and unpleasant — reality for many children.

An ear infection results when fluid becomes trapped in the middle ear, and can cause anywhere from minor discomfort to sharp pain. As adults an ear infection is often just an annoying pain that eventually goes away, but for baby it can be a serious ailment that should be watched closely to prevent hearing loss. read more

It is very exciting when your child says their first few words, but as they learn to put those sentences together there are those moments when we wish they’d never learned to talk at all:

No Excuses. My two-year old was at the library pushing her way by some people. I said, “Roxie, say excuse me.” And she replied,
“Excuse me, Mommy tooted.” – Royal Oak, MI

Singing Hymns. While attending a new church my youngest daughter was reading a book during the sacrament hymn. We were sitting just two benches away from the pulpit, right in direct view of our congregation’s leadership. I whispered to my daughter suggesting that she should sing along since she had a beautiful voice. She looked up from her book and in a very “matter of fact” way told me “I know Mom, I just don’t like singing from the hyman book.” Needless to say I couldn’t hold back and within a matter of seconds our entire family, with the exclusion of my husband, started laughing uncontrollably. I’m sure the church leaders wondered what we were finding so funny during such a reverent time. – West Jordan, UT

Say Truck. My two year old is still learning the proper way to say words. He likes to point out different things he sees, and one day I was walking with him up to the newspaper stand, and he pointed at a truck and said his favorite word: “Cock.” He now knows how to say “Truck,” but we still think the former is rather cute. – Martinsburg, WV

Good Housekeeping. I had someone come over to fix my desktop computer in our home. While the guy was working on the computer, my 3-year-old daughter asks me in front of him: “Why did we have to clean up the mess before someone came to our house?” – Guangzhou Guangdong, China

There is a certain kind of embarrassment that only a Mom can truly understand. Our MomMoments column is filled with these war stories of motherhood. We’d love to hear your stories so please share with us!