Though pregnancy is an exciting and happy time in a woman's life, it still has its own fair share of ups and downs. From swollen feet to an ever expanding belly (and likely the rest of your body, too), getting comfortable may be one of the most difficult parts of your pregnancy.

Thankfully, clothing designers have realized that maternity clothing can be stylish, fashionable and improve your comfort level during pregnancy. By filling your wardrobe with a few maternity clothing basics, you'll help make your entire pregnancy a bit easier. By starting with your undergarments, you can assure that you get the support and comfort that you need where it counts the most -- close to your skin.

Start with the basics when selecting your pregnancy wardrobe. Purchase maternity underpants and bras, like the Nummies and Belabumbum lines. Nummies bras are also designed to serve as nursing bras, so it won't go to waste after delivery. If you need to purchase larger bras and underpants early in your pregnancy, consider leaving a bit of room to grow. You'll appreciate it when your third trimester is in full swing. Belabumbum also makes maternity swimwear -- a must if you'll be out in the sun during your pregnancy.

Add a belly wrap to your maternity wardrobe, too. Not only are these fashionable, but belly wraps, like those designed by bao bei, also offer increased belly support. For moms-to-be toward the end of their pregnancy or for women suffering from back pain during pregnancy, belly wraps can prove to be an invaluable addition to your wardrobe. Plus, they prevent unwanted belly exposure when your shirt shifts out of place.

Once you've got the basics of a maternity wardrobe in your closet, you'll be ready to make the move and expand your collection to pants, shirts, dresses and comfortable shoes suited for pregnancy. Dressing right can help make pregnancy comfortable and easy from the start.

The decision to cut out or cut back on television and video games for young children might not be an easy one for your family to make. When screen time plays a big role in your family time, eliminating it can leave both children and their parents wondering what to do to fill the void. Making TV time and video game time family fun time, however, benefits your children and your family in more ways than you may realize.

Family fun time doesn't have to be a chore. Instead, make family fun time the time for your family to engage in something you enjoy. Select a game or a puzzle that everyone can enjoy. Play the family favorite Monopoly with a twist; Zappos Monopoly includes favorite Zappos brands that teenagers will recognize and adults will appreciate. Or if you have a house filled with little ones, consider purchasing a Melissa and Doug alphabet puzzle. Not only will you be spending time interacting with your children, but there's an educational component as well. Family fun time with puzzles and games is a great alternative to screen time.

If a family fun afternoon or evening with games and puzzles isn't your style, consider getting everyone in your house motivated and going outdoors. Enjoy the fresh air, go for a walk, take the little kids to the playground or consider a bike ride or a low-impact hike. Be sure to purchase comfortable and well fitting shoes for your children before you head out; consider New Balance Kids as one option to get you started with the youngest of children.

Whatever you do, you won't regret turning off the box and doing something with your children. Whether you decide to get outside and go for a walk or grab a board game and see who's got what it takes, spending time interacting with your children without television and video games can benefit everyone.

Today many families rely on electronics to keep them entertained. While electronic gadgets from video games to computers are fine forms of entertainment, it is sometimes good to do something together as a family that doesn't involve popping in a video or game disc. One of the best ways to improve your connection as a family is to learn to do something together as a family. This is especially true when you have multiples as everyone can participate in the learning experience.

Woodworking Projects
Woodworking projects are great for families with multiples. Woodworking projects are great because there are many different levels of skills that are involved in completing a project. This means that simpler tasks, like sanding and gluing can be done by younger kids, while the more complicated tasks can be handled by the parents. What is great about woodworking projects, like building an activity table, is that you have to work together as a family to complete the project and when you are done you have something special to show for your efforts.

Learning a New Language as a Family
Learning a new language as a family is another fun activity that works well for families with multiples. You can learn a new language by taping language cards to various items in your home so you all can learn new vocabulary words, you can go to local cultural events and you can also go to ethnic restaurants where you can practice ordering food in your new language. You can also watch your kids' favorite movie in the language that you are learning. To do this you will need to go to the settings in the movie disc and change the language setting.

Learn Traditional Skills
While modern conveniences like sewing machines and electric tools make completing many tasks a lot easier, it is sometimes good to show your kids how things were done before these inventions were created. For example, you can all learn to sew clothing by hand or to saw pieces of wood by hand for a special project. This not only provides your multiples with new skills, but it helps them appreciate the modern conveniences that are in their world.

Playing in the snow is one of my favorite winter family recreation activities. Unfortunately, in the depths of winter, it isn't always easy to get outside; sometimes it's just too cold! So on days like this, it is a good idea to think of some indoor family activities that you can play.

Educational Activities and Games
Especially on a snow day, family recreation can benefit the kids when it is educational. Some of the educational and brain building things that you can do together include:

• Visualization
• Matching
• Word games (for the older children)
• Drawing games (such as Pictionary)
• Reading aloud
• Creating stories

Playing educational games can help children enjoy learning, as well as keep them sharp. My husband and I like playing Cranium games with my son on cold days, because they have active portions, as well as different activities that require different creative skills.

Getting Exercise on a Cold Day
If it is too cold to go outside and exercise, it can be done in the house. There are workout videos for children, and it can be fun to put on workout clothes and do some exercising together. You can learn to enjoy cardio, yoga and stretching together as a family. This is also beneficial, since it provides a chance to talk about health habits. You can prepare healthy snacks together afterward.

Other indoor family recreation activities that can be enjoyable, depending on your family's talents and tastes, include holding an indoor picnic in the family room, creating and performing a play, making music together and playing board and card games. All of these activities promote family togetherness and can give you a good chance to build fond memories.

There are plenty of options for indoor family recreation. There is no reason to let inclement weather keep you from having good family fun.

Salmon is a great source of heart healthy fat. While you may enjoy salmon sautéed in olive oil with a side of steamed vegetables, your children may turn their noses up at this healthy meal. Thankfully, there are ways to make salmon more appealing to children. The key is use salmon to prepare foods and recipes they already love.

Salmon Sticks
Serves 4
1 pound of thick salmon filets
1 cup of flour
4 egg whites, beaten
2 cups of bread crumbs
2 tablespoons of ranch dressing mix
Cooking spray

1. Cut the salmon into sticks about 2 inches long and half an inch wide.
2. Place the flour and egg whites in separate shallow dishes.
3. In a third shallow dish, combine the bread crumbs with the ranch dressing mix.
4. Dip the salmon sticks in the flour, then the egg whites and the seasoned bread crumbs.
5. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and place the sticks in a single layer. Spray with additional cooking spray and bake at 400 degrees until cooked through, about 20 to 30 minutes.
6. Turn the sticks halfway through the cooking process.
7. Serve with a salad or baked French fries.

Salmon Tacos
Serves 4
1 pound of salmon, deboned and trimmed of skin
½ teaspoon of cumin
½ teaspoon of chili powder
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon of sea salt
Olive oil
Whole wheat tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Salsa

1. In a small bowl, mix the spices together and sprinkle them onto the salmon.
2. Coat the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil and sauté salmon until cooked through and browned on both sides.
3. Use two forks to break apart the salmon and then top each tortilla with a ¼ of the salmon.
4. Top with lettuce, tomatoes and salsa.
5. Serve with baked tortilla chips.

These recipes are only a starting point for introducing your children to salmon. Play around with this wonderful ingredient and discover more recipes your children will love. As they get older, they'll be more apt to eat salmon on salads and even by itself.

During the winter months it is difficult to keep the kids busy, especially when the weather makes it impossible for them to go outside to play. On these particularly wintery days you need to have a few standby activities that will keep your multiples entertained. These activities include things like games, science projects and even learning how to do things around the house.

Card Games for Wintery Days
Some of the easiest winter day activities to put together are card games. Card games are great because they are inexpensive, appropriate for all age levels and teach various skills. Young kids can play card games like go fish and memory, while older kids will enjoy learning more mature games like Hearts, Solitaire, Blackjack and even Poker. All of these games teach you special skills such as matching, strategizing, counting and calculating odds.

Playing Dress Up
Another quick activity that you can pull together for a winter game is dress up. Dress up is fun, and all you need is a basket, a pile of old clothes and accessories and a little imagination. For this game you can let your multiples rummage through the basket and put together an outfit.

Cooking and Baking
If your multiples are really bored, let them help you make a treat in the kitchen. Young kids can help you with the measuring and mixing of the goodies, while older kids can move on to helping with the chopping and cooking. This activity not only teaches your kids how to cook, but it also rewards their efforts with a tasty snack.

Science Experiments
Another indoor activity that can be a lot of fun is a science experiment. There are a lot of science experiments that you can conduct with every day household products. For example, you can create a chemical reaction by mixing vinegar and baking soda, or you can even grow your own salt or borax crystals. Instructions for these simple projects can be found online, or you can pick up science experiment kits at your local science or toy store.

If it's baby's first winter and the family's heading outside for a winter adventure, a pair of insulated boots will protect those teeny tiny feet from inclement weather. Layering up those sensitive feet with thick cotton socks will ward off frost bite when you head outdoors and insulated boots will get them in tip-top shape to make snow angels, build a snowman or even go sledding!

If your infant isn't ready to take his or her first steps in the snow, get them into the winter spirit with some stylish boots and warm socks; from tundra boots to insulated booties, here are some of the must-haves for the season:

Babybotte boots are the perfect winter weather warm up with their leather cover and insulated lining. The boots are covered with a patented Sympatex material to keep ice and moisture at bay, and the double hook closer gives your little one the ultimate secure fit. Get them ready for snow season in these versatile, lightweight boots, and they'll be well-trained for a future snowstorm.

Tundra boots will get them winter-ready for any Arctic winter wonderland and are a stylish pair for the snow bunny to-be. These boots are covered with a cute flower design and imitation fur trim for a fashionable and comfortable fit; they're a great match for toddlers ready to kick things up a notch this year and play in the snow banks.

If your little boy is anxious to get outdoors and play with the crew, dress him up in the Kamik Kids Tickle boots made with a thick layer of insulation and removable Zylex liner. The boots are waterproof with their windbreaker covering and made with a flexible outsole for extra traction. They're available in a bold black and red design, an eye-catching and stylish addition to any winter ensemble.

Whether your tiny tot is hitting the slopes for their first sledding lesson or benching it this season in a cozy cot, prepare them for the winter tundra with a pair of comfy boots that will weather the storm!

The world that we live in is multicultural, and the school and work environment that your multiples will need to function in will be multicultural. Appreciation for diversity is one of the gifts that you can give to your kids to help them develop. This appreciation will need to include a curiosity about others' cultures, a tolerance of differences and a desire to learn about different cultures and traditions.

Tip No. 1 - Culturally Diverse Storybooks, Games and Videos
The first way you can introduce the concept of other cultures to your multiples is to include culturally diverse storybooks, games and videos into your media collection. You can get these items from your local public library, book stores and education stores. The Internet is also a treasure trove of downloadable educational materials about the cultures of the world. However, before you let your multiples use these materials, read through them or watch them to make sure the messages being transmitted are positive and accurate.

Tip No. 2 - Learn a New Language
Another fun and valuable activity that you can do with your multiples is to learn a new language together. You can pick up language courses for kids at bookstores and your public library. You can also download learning materials from the Internet. Talk with your multiples to see if there is a language that they would like to learn, or suggest that you all learn a language that was used by your ancestors. For example, if you are from Korean descendants, you could learn basic Korean.

Tip No. 3 - Live a New Culture
While reading about other cultures is interesting, it really doesn't allow your kids to experience that culture. There are several learning activities that you can do with your multiples that will help them better understand other cultures. For example, you can visit a neighborhood that is an ethnic center for a specific culture, or you can have a culture day in your house where you dress up in traditional clothing of the culture and prepare traditional dishes. You can also listen to music and attend cultural festivals to learn more about a specific culture.

Tip No. 4 - Travel
Immersion in a different culture is one of the best ways to learn about and understand another culture. If possible, plan a vacation to a country that has a culture that is different than your own. See how the people live, what they eat, what makes them happy, what challenges they face and what strengths they have. Allow your multiples to explore their museums, tourist attractions and natural wonders.

There has been a great deal of snow falling all over the country, and this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some family recreation time outside in the snow. Building a snowman can be a great family activity that involves all members.

Tips for Building a Snowman
The first thing you need to do is make sure that what is on the ground around your house (or in the park) is "packing snow." This is snow that holds together but is not that wet. You should test to see if the snow clumps when you gather it together. Form basic balls from the snow and add to them until they are too big to hold. You can use three balls or two.

Start with the base -- the bottom -- of the snowman. Roll your first ball around and around until it is rather large. You can take turns rolling the ball, so that everyone helps. Next, roll each successive ball so that it is smaller. (If you have older children -- teenagers -- you can have a race to see who can build a snowman the fastest or who can build the tallest snowman.) You can pack and smooth the snow so that it has the proper appearance. As you are setting one ball on top of the other make sure that you pack in some snow to hold the balls steady where the sections connect.

You can use any number of objects to decorate the snowman, including sticks, hats, carrots and rocks. The idea is to make the snowman your own with personality. Make sure you have your own warm clothing to wear outdoors, including coats, gloves, hats, boots and snow pants. Do not stay out too long, especially if it is very cold.

And of course, when you get back in the house, nothing is as delicious as a warm cup of cocoa.

Changing diapers, housework, carpools, going to work, paying bills, fixing dinner, reading storybooks, giving baths and generally running around like a madman or madwomen comes with the territory of being the parents of multiples. However, sometimes the endless list of things to do can lead to an overload. When you get frustrated, everything that happens seems to be exaggerated in your mind. When something goes wrong ,it seems like the end of the world, and when the kids act out even a little, it seems like they are tearing the house apart. Frustration is a natural feeling to have as a parent, and fortunately there are ways to manage this frustration so that it doesn't manage you.

Deal With One Thing at a Time
Frustration is often a byproduct of having a million things to do and only 24 hours in a day to do them. When you get overwhelmed with all of the things that you have to do, don't try to multitask. Instead, prioritize your to-do list and deal with one thing at a time. For example, you can put a load of clothes in the washing machine, make dinner, and then switch the clothes to the dryer, etc., until your list is complete. This will actually help you complete your list faster, and you will do a better job at each task.

Give Yourself a Time Out
Another cause of frustration is simply being overworked and overtired. If you feel that your frustration is taking over your mood, give yourself a time out. Have your partner watch the kids for 15 minutes while you walk around the block, go for a quick drive or just sit in a quiet room relaxing. This time will help you regain control of your emotions and will recharge you for the rest of the day.

Get Rest When You Need It
When you haven't had enough sleep, everything seems worse than it actually is. It is because of this that you are cranky and snippy when you don't get the sleep that you need. Having multiples means you don't get a lot of sleep, especially during the first couple of years. However, if you are feeling run down, you need to make arrangements so you can sleep in once in a while or catch up on the sleep that your body needs. This may mean switching with your parenting partner every other weekend so you each can sleep in at least twice a month. It may not seem like much, but getting a couple of extra hours of sleep can make a big difference in your energy level and outlook on life.

There's no denying the fact that nuts are filled with heart-healthy fats. Unfortunately, it can be hard to eat a handful of nuts day after day. No matter how much you love almonds or walnuts, they can get boring after a while. Thankfully, nuts make a great addition to thousands of recipes. The following recipes will give you a starting point that hopefully encourages you to add nuts to more of your favorite dishes.

Fall Flavors Trail Mix
Serves 8
This trail mix is the perfect afternoon snack. Package in zip-top bags, and it's ready to go where you go. Best of all, your kids will love finding this snack in their lunchbox.

1 cup of pecan halves, coarsely chopped
1 cup of pumpkin seeds
1 cup of dried cranberries
1 cup of dried apple wedges, chopped
½ cup of mini dark chocolate chips

1. Toast the pecans and pumpkin seeds in a skillet over medium heat until they smell nutty, about 5 minutes.
2. After the nuts have cooled, toss with the cranberries, apples and mini chocolate chips.
3. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Brown Rice with Cherries and Almonds
Serves 4
This rice makes a wonderful side dish, and the leftovers also taste great cold as a quick lunch.

1 cup of dry brown rice
1 ½ cups of low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup of dried cherries
4 ounces of slivered almonds

1. Cook the rice according to package direction using the chicken broth in place of water.
2. In the meantime, toast almonds in a skillet over medium heat until they smell nutty.
3. Halfway through the cooking process, add the dried cherries to the rice.
4. Serve with grilled chicken.

Nuts don't have to be eaten by themselves to be heart-healthy. You can actually combine them with other healthy ingredients to create recipes your family will love. Be creative and add nuts to some of your favorite recipes. You could end up with a new family favorite.

Traveling with multiples is a challenge in itself, especially when you have multiples that are still toddlers or babies. The key to reducing stress when you travel with your multiples is to plan ahead and have everything at hand when you need it. Fortunately, it is easy to plan ahead for the extra things that you will need to keep your multiples happy on your next vacation.

Tip No. 1: Special Accommodations
The first thing that you will want to do when planning a family vacation is contact the theme parks, hotels and other attractions that you are going to visit. You will want to ask them if they have things like multiple-child strollers, babysitting services and other special services for people with kids or special services for people with multiples.

Tip No. 2: Have Entertainment Ready
One of the problems of traveling with kids of any age is that they act up when they get bored. The best way to keep your multiples happy on a long trip is to have various activities on hand to dole out when they start to get bored such as coloring books, story books, plush toys and videos. Having snacks and beverages on hand is also a good idea, as meltdowns can occur in response hunger.

Tip No. 3: Packing Strategies
When packing for your vacation, you need to conserve as much space as possible. If you are planning an extra long vacation, consider shipping bulkier items to your hotel or vacation house ahead of time so you don't have to haul them with you. To make sure you have a change of clothes for each multiple with you at all times, you will want to pack one outfit in your child's carryon. In your main luggage, you will pack the items your kids will need on their vacation such as shirts, shoes, socks and underwear. Since many airlines are now charging fees for each piece of checked luggage, divide a single suitcase into sections and place each multiple's clothing in their labeled section.

One of the fun parts of pregnancy is picking out baby names, but it can also be stressful, especially if you and your partner don't agree or too many outsiders offer too much input. Add normal aggravation to pregnancy hormones, and you're left with a situation like I had with my first daughter, where I spent months picking out the PERFECT name for my baby (Miranda Alison), only to go into complete hysterics when my sister-in-law named her daughter Allyson. (I eventually got over it and they're best friends today.) Here are a few tips to make the process easier:

1.If there's a conflict, the person who goes through labor gets the final say. Non-negotiable.

2. If you have bossy or opinionated friends and family, the best way to get them off your back is to pick out really horrendous decoy names. Your future daughter is going to be named Whiski, and if it's a boy, he'll be Gaylord—isn't that cute? When you produce the real name upon birth, they'll be so relieved you won't hear a word of disrespect.

3. Even if you have a very accurate ultrasound picture and find out the gender beforehand, pick out an opposite sex name just in case. Nancy Drew and country music aside, it's cruel to name your daughter George or your son Sue.

4. By all means, use this as an opportunity for personal expression, but do it within the bounds of taste. Try not to pick a name that's too popular. Your kid doesn't want to go through grade school saddled with a nickname like "Fat Jake," because there are fifteen other Jakes in his class. Standard spellings are almost always preferable to "creative" ones. Avoid names that can be seen as a joke—there really ARE people out there whose names are Justin Case - that's just cruel. And if you're doing something unusual, provide the kid with an opt-out. One of my best friends was known as Kari all her life, but the name on her birth certificate was Karen because her parents were worried people wouldn't get it. As it turned out, she loved it, but if she hadn't, she had an alternative.

If you are expecting multiples right now, you probably have a lot of concerns and thoughts on your mind. While you may be thinking about how you will be able to handle feeding, bathing and diapering multiple babies at the same time, it is a good idea to stop for a moment and catch your breath. To make dealing with the prospects of becoming the parents of multiples more manageable and less stressful, take things one step at a time. To start with, think about the basic items you will need to handle the first month of your multiples' lives.

Furniture
Many parents of multiples find that putting twins in the same crib works well. They keep each other company, and this can actually help to reduce the babies' initial anxiety about sleeping outside the womb. When selecting a crib or cribs, you will want to look for a crib that is sturdy, that has a locking rail system and that has slats that are not too widely spaced. If you are looking to save money in the long run, also look for a crib that can be converted into a toddler bed.

Baby Supplies
One of the biggest surprises of being the parents of multiples is the sheer volume of stuff that you need. You will need a healthy supply of bottles, pacifiers, bottle cleaners, washrags, towels, baby shampoo, baby wipes, diapers, diaper pales, diaper rash ointment or cream, toys and grooming equipment. As you can see, the more babies you are expecting, the more of these items you will need to stock up on before the little ones arrive.

Baby Clothes
The first month of your multiples' lives is going to be difficult. Many multiples are born premature so they may spend several weeks in the hospital before you are allowed to take them home. However, when you do get to bring them home, they most likely will still be very small. To get through the first few weeks at home you will need extra-small baby clothes and diapers, such as preemie onesies, socks, baby shoes and jumpers.

When your little one will be spending most of their days snoozing and napping through winter season, they'll need some comfortable sleepwear and cozy accessories to make the most of their hibernation. 'Tis the season to wrap your kids up in snuggle-worthy clothing and onesies made with fleece, keeping them warm and toasty when temperatures drop and enjoy their daily snooze sessions in peace. Onesies and PJs designed especially for newborns are the versatile necessity for the season. Here are a few sleepwear must-haves for those chilly days ahead:

Your little lady is sure to enjoy life in la-la land in the Hurley Kids Footsie; this zip-down onesie comes in a hot pink design and is covered with an all-over screen print. It's made of 100-percent cotton and will easily trap in any extra heat both day and night. It's a 'Footsie,' because it's an all-in-one suit that keeps those toes well-protected against the elements; you can add a pair of booties or socks on top of the suit for extra protection on any brisker days ahead.

Your little prince will be pampered like royalty in an uber-comfortable velour onesie - an outfit that might also get him some extra attention during his snooze fest. The Petit Bateau Velour Footie is a super-soft pajama made with an 80/20 cotton and polyester blend. This one features a curious bunny and kangaroo pocket on the front and is a snap to put on and take off with the simple closure design.

If it's the classic PJs you're after, make sure you pick up a set of Sara's Print Kids Pajamas, a loose fitting cotton pajama with a rib trim for extra comfort. You can pick from fun designs including red fire trucks, royal dinos and space travel or even tap into his sporty side with a pair of PJs with basketball hoops or a hockey theme. These extra-soft pajama sets can be accessorized with a pair of fleece booties and a fun beanie to trap in even more heat on any chilly evening.

When you're looking for winter weather basics for your little girl or boy, you'll need to stock up on a few sets of flannel, cotton and polyester pajamas for those casual days at home. Machine-washable sets are the most versatile choice for your hectic schedule, and buying a flame-resistant set will keep your little one safe and warm for nap time.