Mason Dixon KAL

I have two questions with the baby kimono. 1) After I cast on 40 sts and working in garter stitch for 4 inches ending with WS row, do I knit the WS and then the first CO3 are done on the right side or do I start with the first CO3 on the WS. I am having a knitting brain freeze and question 2) how do I CO using the thumb or backward loop method. I have never heard of this before. Is there somewhere online I can look this up or is it easy for something to post it for me. Thank a bunch. The kimono is for my best friend's sister who is due in January so I need to have it done by then which I am sure I will. I will post a picture before I give it to her. Thanks again.

Laura