She set up a baby pool on our website and we sent her a few questions to see if she’d share some of her secrets about pregnancy, motherhood, and maintaining her sanity as a busy working mom.

Jenn and Jayda

1. Who is the “Baby Makin Mama”?

I’m Jennifer, a fairly new mom figuring out my way in the world juggling a career, family, hobbies, and aspirations to be a domestic diva. Despite my name, I don’t make lots of babies, just two so far, but I chose that blog name years before getting pregnant the first time when I decided to write about my journey toward becoming a mother. It’s stuck through the years as I’ve switched my “machine” on and off.

2. You’re expecting your 2nd child on April 1, so you’ve been through all this before. For the rookies out there expecting their first, what is your #1 greatest tip?

Don’t sweat the small stuff. I know nothing seems small the first time around but this time, all those worries about what diapers and shampoo to use, to sleep train or not, home made vs store bought baby food… It wasn’t as big of a deal as I thought. Now my first baby is a little girl and all those things I worried about in the first 6 months or so seem so silly. This time around I’m just planning on not sleeping for a year or so, but enjoying all the fun little moments that go by too fast.

3. Gender reveal parties are all the rage now. Did you do anything special to announce the gender to the world?

I wish! The first time I used an app to make the ultrasound pic all girlie and texted it to family, then announced it on Facebook that way. This time the gender is a surprise so I’m trying to think of a fun way to tell family and friends who don’t come to the hospital. I’m thinking of doing a fun photoshoot when we get home, but who wants to wait that long to share? And chances are someone will spill the beans before I get around to it.

I did make two take-home outfits, one for a boy with suspenders, and a bow tie, and one for a girl with a ruffly bottom and bows. Maybe I’ll share a photo of baby in that outfit. It’s no cake but maybe it’ll be cute.

Handmade onesies by Jennifer

4. You have been through a few baby showers by now, so what is your best baby shower tip? What is your favorite event or game that anyone could add into their shower?

One game I like that’s fun for people who don’t even like games is making the gift opening a game of bingo. Have guests fill out blank bingo cards with what they think mama will get, and cross off their card as she opens gifts. When you get 5 in a row you get BINGO! Winner(s) get a little prize.

5. Most of these questions are geared towards mom, but we don’t want to leave dad out here. What is your husband’s #1 tip for new dads?

“Don’t expect to get any… Sleep.” <— He’s a man of few words.

6. My son is almost 3 and he is exactly what people call a “terrible two”. I hear that girls are a little easier at the toddler stage. Do you feel like that is true, and if your little one turns into a monster, how do you handle the situation?

I’ve always been a little scared of little boys. They seem so destructive and hyper. But when it comes to entertainment boys seem perfectly content playing with sticks. My little girl is definitely dramatic and emotional, at times it’s cute but other times I think she’s just the ultimate drama queen. I think they both have their moments. With her I just try to stay calm and communicate with her. Since she’s so emotional, she’s pretty in-tune with my feelings, so when I’m getting frustrated she usually asks me “mommy are you happy?” and it gives me a chance to tell her how I’m feeling and talk about what we can do so to make both of us feel better.

7. What is your favorite food and drink during pregnancy?

Lofthouse frosted sugar cookies, strawberry Poptarts (without icing), Sonic burgers, hot dogs and limeades. YUM!

8. Favorite book, tv show, and/or movie to enjoy while you are expecting? (If you even have time for these things!)

Last time I felt like I watched nothing but A Baby Story, I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant, and anything else baby related. This time I’ve watched none of that, but I’ve really been enjoying The Bachelor and Desperate Housewives.

9. A lot of people out there are starting blogs and some of them really want to turn it into a fulltime gig. What advice do you have for other bloggers out there?

When it comes to blogging for money, I’d try to be realistic with my expectations. Very few bloggers do very well. Take the time to build up a base and find your focus. I love blogging because it gives me a chance to write and share the things I love most, for fun. It’s also a great journal for myself, and for my children when they get older. It’s not all about them, but rather how I see things I’m going through. My future generations can look back and see what a goofball their great-great-great-great Grandma was. My advice would be to be true to yourself, set goals, and connect with people who are doing what you’d like to do. Reach out to them. A mentor is a great advocate to have. This goes for any aspiration.

10. Like most parents today you’re in super-overdrive: writing for your own blog (www.babymakingmachine.com), writing for BabyCenter, working the “real” job as a news anchor, and raising your daughter. How do you keep up with it all?

Yes, I work full-time as a reporter and anchor at a local news station, blog for fun, and as a freelancer, dabble in photography and videography, and chase around my sweet little girl–But of course she and my husband come first on the list in real life.

I keep up with it all by writing a lot of to-do lists, and tackling tasks as I feel like in the mood to complete them. I get a lot more done faster when I’m feeling inspired to do it, and I’m pretty good on a deadline. Sometimes I have to take a step back from my personal blog to get things done, or learn to say “no” when I really can’t take on an extra project. I’m not the best at balancing, but so far, I’ve been pretty good at juggling.

Thanks for sharing your story and great advice!

Now, on to the baby pool contest details:

Celebrating the arrival of Baby Borget #2 wouldn’t be complete without a baby guessing game. As part of their game, we want to toss in a prize to make it more fun for everyone. So we’re giving a $50 Visa Gift Card to whoever comes in #1 in the pool

The rules:

1. Guesses will be accepted until March 18, 2013, or until Jenn goes into labor – whichever happens first.
2. All are welcome to guess, but only residents of the continental United States are eligible for the prize.
3. Winners will be determined by the point system outlined here.
4. If the winner is someone who didn’t set up an account, they MUST have their email entered in the system so we can contact them via email. If we can’t reach the winner for this (or any other reason) we will go to the 2nd place winner and so on until we reach a winner. (So, sign up on the website and enter a valid email address to make sure we can reach you.)
5. Remember, guesses left in the comments on this page do NOT count towards the prize. You must sign up at whatsinmybelly.com and Join the official baby pool (click Join at the top right of the pool page.).

Click here to join in the Baby Makin’ Machine Baby Guessing Game!

Like free stuff?

After you enter Jenn’s baby pool, be sure to enter to win Burt’s Bees Belly Butter over here. (You have until Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 at 11PM EST on this one.)

Want to join other sweepstakes?

Check out sweepstakes advantage to join other online sweepstakes.

On top of running their blog, raising their son Will, and being a professional photographer, Katie is expecting baby #2 in early November. We thought this would be  the perfect opportunity to start our Expectant Parents Spotlight. At WhatsInMyBelly.com, we want to feature Expectant Parents who are taking advantage of every day and doing great things – all while growing their family. If you or someone you know would be a good Featured Expectant Parent, shoot me an email – info@whatsinmybelly.com.

As part of our first featured parents, we asked The Bowers a few questions about pregnancy, parenting and life in general. Here is what they said:

1. So, tell us about the Bowers. Who are you guys in a nutshell?

We are just average run-of-the-mill folks that are like everyone else out there – working hard and playing hard   We actually met on a blind date and it was the perfect unexpected beginning to a life full of surprises.  I think if you had to describe us to perfect strangers, I would say that Jeremy works in sales and I am a stay-at-home mom who plays photographer who also blogs…we both have amazing families and hope to teach our kids to love God, their country, their family and others.  And 80′s music

2. You already have one son, Will, so you have been through pregnancy and early parenthood. What is the #1 best tip you could give to parents who are expecting their first child?

“This too shall pass.”  It works both ways – the bad stuff (like the sleep deprivation, the morning sickness, the cholic) eventually it will pass.  But so will the good stuff – the sleepy baby bubbles, the slow crawling, the fat rolls on fat rolls…it all flies by so it’s just the perfect advise to cherish each moment.

3. Did you do anything special or creative to announce pregnancy 1 and 2?

I told Jeremy about our first with a slideshow. We surprised Jeremy’s dad & stepmom with a couple Gramps & Grammy t-shirts.  I videotaped our #2 announcement just so I could remember his face.  We tried for a longer time with our second so it was definitely more exciting. [Katie announced her pregnancy on her blog in a this heart-felt video. And more about their pregnancy announcements here.]

4. You have been through a few baby showers by now, so what is your best baby shower tip? What is your favorite event or game that anyone could add into their shower?

Best baby shower tip?  Probably to not register for a single toy.  Toys will inevitably become part of your house…and they are cheap.  Diapers on the other hand…notsomuch.

As for my favorite baby shower event – I love the idea of birthday cards.  Each person gets a blank notecard and draws a number between 1-18.  They then write a note for the baby to open on that birthday.  It’s such a special thing to see what family & friends were wishing you before you were even born.

5. Most of these questions seem to be geared more towards Katie, so we have to get Dad involved here. Jeremy, becoming a father is an exciting (and stressful) time. What is the #1 tip you would give to guys out there who are going to become a father for the first time?

Be willing to help without being asked.  Do things you wouldn’t normally do, just to help out around the house.  If you have an older child, be aware that you might need to spend a lot more time at first caring for them when the newborn arrives.  Arrange for help for your wife if she normally does cleaning, cooking and laundry.  And frequently remind her that she is beautiful and that she is doing a great job.

6. My son is 2 1/2 and like everyone says about 2 year-olds, he has his “Terrible 2″ moments. So, I have to ask all parents this: What is your favorite way to get your toddler to burn off some energy? And, when he does act out, how do you handle it?

We love cousin time, play dates and swimming at Nana’s house to burn off energy!  And Will lives up to his name – he is very willful.  So when he acts out, internally we question everything we know about discipline and want to curl up in the fetal position and quit….but we know that he responds best to consistency and firm boundaries.  That means that time outs happen in the Lowe’s plumbing aisle, Lightening McQueen is a very very special treat and Jer and I have daily talks about what we did right, did wrong and how we can improve.

7. What is your favorite food and drink during pregnancy? (Jeremy, you can chime in here too.)

Katie

First pregnancy: soft jumbo pretzels & hot vanilla chamomile tea.  This pregnancy: cold green grapes, donuts & chocolate milk.

Jeremy

Pizza & Dr. Pepper

8. Favorite book, tv show, and/or movie to enjoy while you are expecting? (If you even have time for these things!)

We watched everything with our first pregnancy…we had time.  Now?  Does Jungle Book 2 count?

9. Ok, last question. One look at the Bower Power Blog, and you guys seem like Super Parents. (Seriously, are there really only 2 of you?) You are running your blog, taking photographs, working on your house, raising one child while expecting another, and I am guessing there is even more going on. How do you do it???

We don’t.  A lot of stuff gets pushed to the back burner.  We prioritize family time and project time above personal activity time, date nights and cleaning the house.  And sleep doesn’t happen a whole lot either.  Our parents are extremely hardworking and they set amazing examples of how to put in sweat equity and invest in family.  From the outside, it may look like we are Super Parents but in reality, we are only super at two things - keeping our head barely above water and loving our boy

Great answers and great advice! I don’t know about you, but I find the Bowers very inspirational.

Now, on to the baby pool contest details:

Celebrating the arrival of Baby Bower #2 wouldn’t be complete without a baby pool. As part of this pool, we’re tossing in some prize money! This pool is open to anyone, so go make your prediction!  (Sorry, prizes will only be sent to those in the continental United States):

• 1st place (highest total points): $100 Visa Gift Card
• 2nd place: $50 Visa Gift Card
• 3rd place: $25 Visa Gift Card
• Last place (lowest total points): Surprise Gift Bag

The rules:

1. Guesses will be accepted through October 29, 2012 October 31, 2012 or until Katie goes into labor – whichever happens first.
2. All are welcome to take a guess, but only residents of the continental United States are eligible for prizes.
3. Winners will be determined by the point system outlined here.

Click here to join in the Bower Power Baby #2 Pool!