Friday, November 16, 2012
Back in the Game
Being a working mom is hard and it took me until now to be settled enough and have the energy to return to blogging. The transition from being on maternity leave to working full time was not easy for me. There were feelings of resentment towards my husband for becoming the primary care giver to my children again. Anger with my students for not appreciating what I was "sacrificing" to ensure that they received a quality education. Exhaustion and disappointment on behalf of myself that I could not be "superwoman". My house is a mess, well beyond the standards that I deem acceptable and I've been too tired to even really care. The point to all this is that I know I am not alone in these feelings. Everyday working mothers struggle with being able to "do it all". So here is my attempt to bring back something I enjoy doing and have finally gotten it together enough to be able to feel confident in becoming a newer version of who I was and continue to strive to be...
Friday, August 24, 2012
Potty Training- my personal journey
There is a time in every mom's life where they dream of no diapers. A time when their children become self sufficient and use the potty. However, in this dream a mother tends to gloss over the potty training part of the story. Here is the reality. Potty training is a messy, labor intensive project that will alter the very fabric of your routines and lifestyle no matter who you are.
My doctor told me at JD's 2 year appointment that there is one thing that you cannot force a child to do or learn and that thing is using the potty. When he is ready it will happen "easily" and "naturally". Force it and you will have a very unsuccessful standoff where your toddler will win but be cognisant of the signs and show excitement and encouragement. So we looked for the signs; hiding to poop, asking for a diaper change, wanting to help wipe ect. and with this in mind, we purchased a toilet seat that has a toddler insert that stores in the lid and toddler potty seat, the bjorn because we heard from a variety of sources that this is "the best potty for training boys". We put it in the bathroom in the corner across from the big potty and suggested that JD use it on occasion, when he was about to take a bath or when he joined us in our own personal potty journeys. Then MJ came and suddenly JD wanted nothing to do with the potty.
Around the time MJ turned to months JD started to show interest in using the potty. Again, we would ask him if he wanted to use it when we changed his diaper or got ready to take a bath and sometimes he would say yes and sit, not producing even one drop, and sometimes he would say no. We put him in big boy underwear and handed out m&m's for trying and though he "seemed" ready, there were puddles on the floor and lots of wet laundry. So we decided to let it go. I was getting ready to go back to work and potty training a toddler while adjusting to being home alone with the boys was not top on my husband's to do list. We still asked when he was in the bathroom about to get into the bathtub, but didn't expect much.
Of course, this last Saturday, the weekend before I started back to work, when JD was asked if he wanted to use the potty before taking a bath he said his signature "alright" and peed in the potty. The next morning he asked to use the potty when he woke-up and again later that morning. Seeing this as a sign. We pulled out the big boy underwear and settled in for the ride. At anytime you may hear "I have to go potty!" and drop EVERYTHING and run to the potty where you undress your toddler from the waist down. Sometimes we don't make it and have to change everything from the waste down, shoes included and sometimes, somehow the shirt gets wet too so that goes, increasing your laundry tenfold. For us, the first few days we had some accidents. But by Wednesday we were down to using only one or two pairs a day. Now it is Friday and he has been using it successfully all week!
So words of advice and encouragement to all the mom's out there..... they will pee everywhere! JD insists on standing to use the potty so there is pee all around his potty and he also insists on dumping his pee into the big potty so you can imagine the mess there. To help with the mess I have been laying a towel on the floor, which I change daily and also clean the floor and potties nightly to keep it sanitary. Though it has been messy, JD is totally excited and I cannot be prouder than I am when he is successful and happy. Today, I asked my mother when it, the dirty bathroom mess, will get better, she laughed and said "Never, you have a house full of boys!" and I believe her since I have two brothers of my own.
So now in my house the magical time of no diapers is in the horizon followed by the time of endless bathroom cleaning, something I think is in no mother dreams. However, I can't help but celebrate the fact that we have reached another childhood milestone on the road to growing up and though I can't say I'm sad to see the diapers go, it is great to see JD growing up.
My doctor told me at JD's 2 year appointment that there is one thing that you cannot force a child to do or learn and that thing is using the potty. When he is ready it will happen "easily" and "naturally". Force it and you will have a very unsuccessful standoff where your toddler will win but be cognisant of the signs and show excitement and encouragement. So we looked for the signs; hiding to poop, asking for a diaper change, wanting to help wipe ect. and with this in mind, we purchased a toilet seat that has a toddler insert that stores in the lid and toddler potty seat, the bjorn because we heard from a variety of sources that this is "the best potty for training boys". We put it in the bathroom in the corner across from the big potty and suggested that JD use it on occasion, when he was about to take a bath or when he joined us in our own personal potty journeys. Then MJ came and suddenly JD wanted nothing to do with the potty.
Around the time MJ turned to months JD started to show interest in using the potty. Again, we would ask him if he wanted to use it when we changed his diaper or got ready to take a bath and sometimes he would say yes and sit, not producing even one drop, and sometimes he would say no. We put him in big boy underwear and handed out m&m's for trying and though he "seemed" ready, there were puddles on the floor and lots of wet laundry. So we decided to let it go. I was getting ready to go back to work and potty training a toddler while adjusting to being home alone with the boys was not top on my husband's to do list. We still asked when he was in the bathroom about to get into the bathtub, but didn't expect much.
Of course, this last Saturday, the weekend before I started back to work, when JD was asked if he wanted to use the potty before taking a bath he said his signature "alright" and peed in the potty. The next morning he asked to use the potty when he woke-up and again later that morning. Seeing this as a sign. We pulled out the big boy underwear and settled in for the ride. At anytime you may hear "I have to go potty!" and drop EVERYTHING and run to the potty where you undress your toddler from the waist down. Sometimes we don't make it and have to change everything from the waste down, shoes included and sometimes, somehow the shirt gets wet too so that goes, increasing your laundry tenfold. For us, the first few days we had some accidents. But by Wednesday we were down to using only one or two pairs a day. Now it is Friday and he has been using it successfully all week!
So words of advice and encouragement to all the mom's out there..... they will pee everywhere! JD insists on standing to use the potty so there is pee all around his potty and he also insists on dumping his pee into the big potty so you can imagine the mess there. To help with the mess I have been laying a towel on the floor, which I change daily and also clean the floor and potties nightly to keep it sanitary. Though it has been messy, JD is totally excited and I cannot be prouder than I am when he is successful and happy. Today, I asked my mother when it, the dirty bathroom mess, will get better, she laughed and said "Never, you have a house full of boys!" and I believe her since I have two brothers of my own.
So now in my house the magical time of no diapers is in the horizon followed by the time of endless bathroom cleaning, something I think is in no mother dreams. However, I can't help but celebrate the fact that we have reached another childhood milestone on the road to growing up and though I can't say I'm sad to see the diapers go, it is great to see JD growing up.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Fix it and forget it meals
The last thing on my mind when I get home from work is making a healthy balanced dinner for myself and my family but that is crucial to creating healthy eating habits for my children and lunches for myself and my husband so here is how I get around it.
I hardly ever make anything from "scratch" who has the time for that. Let someone else do the dirty work and spend your time making it yours. My crock pot is my best friend. It can cook whole chickens, pot roasts, & pork with all the trimming, soups, stews and even lasagna. Just prep in the evening and store in the fridge. In the morning put it on low and go. You can even prep ahead and freeze whole meals ready to put into your slow cooker. Meat for soups and stews can be pre-cooked and frozen ahead of time. Vegetables can be pre-cooked and frozen in small batches. A tomato sauce from a jar tastes OK. but throw in some fresh garlic and herbs to jazz it up and you have a great base. I put in jars of diced tomatoes and leftover vegetables to bump the nutritional value and make it more complex and freeze that too so it can be ready in a flash.
I use a ton of tastefully simple meal ideas for my prep ahead meals. For instance. Their perfectly potato soup makes a great pot pie filling. Just add leftover cooked chicken and a bag of frozen mixed vegetable. Dump that into a pie filling. It makes one large or make 7 small individual pot pies and freeze for individual use.
However, my go to is prepare and freeze ahead in bulk. Everyone has their staple go to meals. I tend to lean towards Italian dishes with lots of pasta and meat dishes with some type of sauce and with all the great garden produce coming in this year it is hard not to take advantage of my time and freezer space and prepare for the busy work nights to come. One night a week I put the boys to bed and cook/bake. This week is eggplant parm and eggplant lasagna. I oven fry the eggplant and then make trays of each until the eggplant is gone filling my freezer with healthy meals for the winter months to come. Zucchini becomes breads and muffins. Peppers for sausage and peppers. Tomatoes become fresh sauce. This creates a great taste of summer in fall and winter.
All these things I have mentioned and many, many more can be made in bulk and frozen to be used at a later date. Making those hectic weeks and days still ending at home around the table for a healthy meal instead of in the drive-thru.
I hardly ever make anything from "scratch" who has the time for that. Let someone else do the dirty work and spend your time making it yours. My crock pot is my best friend. It can cook whole chickens, pot roasts, & pork with all the trimming, soups, stews and even lasagna. Just prep in the evening and store in the fridge. In the morning put it on low and go. You can even prep ahead and freeze whole meals ready to put into your slow cooker. Meat for soups and stews can be pre-cooked and frozen ahead of time. Vegetables can be pre-cooked and frozen in small batches. A tomato sauce from a jar tastes OK. but throw in some fresh garlic and herbs to jazz it up and you have a great base. I put in jars of diced tomatoes and leftover vegetables to bump the nutritional value and make it more complex and freeze that too so it can be ready in a flash.
I use a ton of tastefully simple meal ideas for my prep ahead meals. For instance. Their perfectly potato soup makes a great pot pie filling. Just add leftover cooked chicken and a bag of frozen mixed vegetable. Dump that into a pie filling. It makes one large or make 7 small individual pot pies and freeze for individual use.
However, my go to is prepare and freeze ahead in bulk. Everyone has their staple go to meals. I tend to lean towards Italian dishes with lots of pasta and meat dishes with some type of sauce and with all the great garden produce coming in this year it is hard not to take advantage of my time and freezer space and prepare for the busy work nights to come. One night a week I put the boys to bed and cook/bake. This week is eggplant parm and eggplant lasagna. I oven fry the eggplant and then make trays of each until the eggplant is gone filling my freezer with healthy meals for the winter months to come. Zucchini becomes breads and muffins. Peppers for sausage and peppers. Tomatoes become fresh sauce. This creates a great taste of summer in fall and winter.
All these things I have mentioned and many, many more can be made in bulk and frozen to be used at a later date. Making those hectic weeks and days still ending at home around the table for a healthy meal instead of in the drive-thru.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
What to wear after baby?
With the first day of school and my first day back to work looming over me I needed to take a serious look at my non-mommy wardrobe. Unfortunately, the gym wear that has been passing as my daily uniform will not suffice for being the teacher of 100 high school students and try as I might to squeeze into my size 10 work attire, it is a total failure. So what to do in this situation? I have found that sucking it up and buying a few pairs of pants in my current post baby size along with some of my early maternity wear will make up the bulk of my back to work wardrobe works. Couple that with a few new pairs of spanks high waisted underwear and some empire waisted dresses and tops that allow for easy pumping and I'm good to go. I don't love my body. But I know from experience I'll start to see it again in its new and better form in a year or two. Until then, learn to love the body you have and/or find ways to make it better.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Returning to Work
One of the hardest things I had to do when my maternity leave was over was leave JD and go back to work. I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom but it just made more sense with our jobs and schedules for my husband to. I was angry, scared, sad and resentful. I was the one up all night nursing him. I had to pump at work to provide him food. I was the one missing out on all his firsts. It was awful. I was so angry at everyone and everything when I returned that I made myself and everyone else miserable.
So how do you make the transition easier? For me what worked was frequent phone calls home to see and hear how everything was going. Paired with a pocket digital picture frame loaded with recent baby pictures and JD's sleeper. When I got home he'd smile and reach for me and we'd be inseparable until the morning.
For mom's who have to put their children in daycare say it helps to tour the facility and to drop in whenever they can. If they are close enough they come to nurse or give a bottle during their lunch. As the year progressed I was able to adjust with my separation from JD creating special time with the two of us in the late afternoon and evenings. A walk when I got home from work, bath time and we'd watch a baby Einstein movie together snuggling before bed. These quality moments made it much easier to leave in the morning. Now with the approaching deadline of my second maternity leave ending in two weeks I know that they are well cared for and loved when I am not at home and that it is not the amount of time you spend with your children, it is what you choose to do in the time you have with them.
So how do you make the transition easier? For me what worked was frequent phone calls home to see and hear how everything was going. Paired with a pocket digital picture frame loaded with recent baby pictures and JD's sleeper. When I got home he'd smile and reach for me and we'd be inseparable until the morning.
For mom's who have to put their children in daycare say it helps to tour the facility and to drop in whenever they can. If they are close enough they come to nurse or give a bottle during their lunch. As the year progressed I was able to adjust with my separation from JD creating special time with the two of us in the late afternoon and evenings. A walk when I got home from work, bath time and we'd watch a baby Einstein movie together snuggling before bed. These quality moments made it much easier to leave in the morning. Now with the approaching deadline of my second maternity leave ending in two weeks I know that they are well cared for and loved when I am not at home and that it is not the amount of time you spend with your children, it is what you choose to do in the time you have with them.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Weekly Meals made EASY
So how does the working mom prep and serve a week's worth of diverse healthy well balanced meals that are easy to whip up and not painful to her wallet? Its a very good question every mom, even the ones who work for hugs and kisses, ask every week. My answer....
1. Shop the meat sales for good chicken, beef, pork, and fish at a reasonable price and stock up!
2. Buy local and in season fruits and vegetables.
3. Purchase a small chest freezer to house any extra food that could not fit in your regular freezer which allows you to stock up and save for later.
4. Use a slow cooker/Crock pot
So do you make the most of your food. When I get home from the grocery store I prep as many meals as possible before I put everything away. This way I have an idea of what is available to me for the week to serve.
Vegetables and fruit- Fresh- clean, cut, and package in Tupperware or Ziploc into portions, individual for lunches and family for breakfasts and dinners for the week. Fruits that tend to brown can be soaked in an acid like orange juice or lemon juice to stall the process. Frozen- I find the steam fresh frozen vegetables taste the best and are the most crunchy and they only take 4 minutes in the microwave. Salads- if you tear rather than cut lettuce it will stay crunchy longer because it tears between cell membranes allowing it to better retain its water. Cut all veggies for salad ahead of time and keep them separate to keep it fresh longer. Mushy fruit that is not moldy- bake in the oven with skins and some water and cinnamon for a homemade fruit apple sauce or freeze for smoothies or baking.
Proteins
Chicken- I buy chicken thighs in bulk and pre-cook them in the oven with barbecue sauce then freeze dinner portions in Ziploc bags. This way I just defrost and throw on the grill for a quick reheat and char. I also get a bag of individually frozen tenderloins or breasts from the bulk food store. These allow you to take out exactly what you need and they defrost quickly. I cook up a bunch of them at a time plain and cut them up into strips and freeze them in family portions, these are great to add to a salad for protein, in fajitas, or chicken salad.
Whole Chicken-(can yield you 2-3 meals) I cook the chicken as a meal. Take the rest of the easy to get meat off for chicken salad or chicken fajitas as your second meal. The leftovers go in a stock pot with water to make chicken broth and to cook the rest of the meat off the bones. Drain the stock through a colander and pick out the bones and skin. What you have left is the backbone of many different chicken based soups. Depending on my fridge and pantry of vegetables I either make the soup then or freeze broth plus chicken for a later date soup.
Ground beef- precook in batches and season for specific meals. Taco seasoning for tacos, Italian seasoning to make a quick meat sauce with jar sauce, and plain for whatever then freeze in Ziploc bags. Now when you forgot dinner instead of having to thaw raw meat then cook it, you just thaw and reheat.
Pork loins are less expensive than chops and a loin can be cut into chops if you need a meal with less cook time. And an added bonus.. if you go to your small town grocer they will usually cut a loin into chops for no additional cost.
Carbs- those are easy. Pasta and rice take no time at all to prep. Potatoes and sweet potatoes can be easily cooked in the crock pot along with the rest of your meal or pre-cook them in the microwave before popping them in the oven for their final crisp
Easy healthy meal ideas. You can cook almost everything in a slow cooker or crock pot. I use either the Internet or the fix it and forget it cookbook series for ideas. crock pot chicken, beef, pork cooked with vegetables. Stew or soups. Even lasagna and deserts.
Not every meal is a great meal, nor does it have to be. It just has to be balanced and part of a healthy diet. We typically have 3 to 4 good meals a week, leftovers for lunches, and chicken tenders with sweet potato fries, pizza, cheese burgers and hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, or breakfast dinner the rest of the week.
1. Shop the meat sales for good chicken, beef, pork, and fish at a reasonable price and stock up!
2. Buy local and in season fruits and vegetables.
3. Purchase a small chest freezer to house any extra food that could not fit in your regular freezer which allows you to stock up and save for later.
4. Use a slow cooker/Crock pot
So do you make the most of your food. When I get home from the grocery store I prep as many meals as possible before I put everything away. This way I have an idea of what is available to me for the week to serve.
Vegetables and fruit- Fresh- clean, cut, and package in Tupperware or Ziploc into portions, individual for lunches and family for breakfasts and dinners for the week. Fruits that tend to brown can be soaked in an acid like orange juice or lemon juice to stall the process. Frozen- I find the steam fresh frozen vegetables taste the best and are the most crunchy and they only take 4 minutes in the microwave. Salads- if you tear rather than cut lettuce it will stay crunchy longer because it tears between cell membranes allowing it to better retain its water. Cut all veggies for salad ahead of time and keep them separate to keep it fresh longer. Mushy fruit that is not moldy- bake in the oven with skins and some water and cinnamon for a homemade fruit apple sauce or freeze for smoothies or baking.
Proteins
Chicken- I buy chicken thighs in bulk and pre-cook them in the oven with barbecue sauce then freeze dinner portions in Ziploc bags. This way I just defrost and throw on the grill for a quick reheat and char. I also get a bag of individually frozen tenderloins or breasts from the bulk food store. These allow you to take out exactly what you need and they defrost quickly. I cook up a bunch of them at a time plain and cut them up into strips and freeze them in family portions, these are great to add to a salad for protein, in fajitas, or chicken salad.
Whole Chicken-(can yield you 2-3 meals) I cook the chicken as a meal. Take the rest of the easy to get meat off for chicken salad or chicken fajitas as your second meal. The leftovers go in a stock pot with water to make chicken broth and to cook the rest of the meat off the bones. Drain the stock through a colander and pick out the bones and skin. What you have left is the backbone of many different chicken based soups. Depending on my fridge and pantry of vegetables I either make the soup then or freeze broth plus chicken for a later date soup.
Ground beef- precook in batches and season for specific meals. Taco seasoning for tacos, Italian seasoning to make a quick meat sauce with jar sauce, and plain for whatever then freeze in Ziploc bags. Now when you forgot dinner instead of having to thaw raw meat then cook it, you just thaw and reheat.
Pork loins are less expensive than chops and a loin can be cut into chops if you need a meal with less cook time. And an added bonus.. if you go to your small town grocer they will usually cut a loin into chops for no additional cost.
Carbs- those are easy. Pasta and rice take no time at all to prep. Potatoes and sweet potatoes can be easily cooked in the crock pot along with the rest of your meal or pre-cook them in the microwave before popping them in the oven for their final crisp
Easy healthy meal ideas. You can cook almost everything in a slow cooker or crock pot. I use either the Internet or the fix it and forget it cookbook series for ideas. crock pot chicken, beef, pork cooked with vegetables. Stew or soups. Even lasagna and deserts.
Not every meal is a great meal, nor does it have to be. It just has to be balanced and part of a healthy diet. We typically have 3 to 4 good meals a week, leftovers for lunches, and chicken tenders with sweet potato fries, pizza, cheese burgers and hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, or breakfast dinner the rest of the week.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Coming to Terms with "The Mommy Body"
As I look at myself in the mirror I have to keep telling myself that I just had a baby 8 weeks ago. The 37 pounds I gained took 9 months to put on. It is going to take at least that amount of time to get it back off. And I know that when I got pregnant with my second child 15 months after my first I still had 10 pounds of baby # 1 still with me. But that is my brain talking. I want results yesterday, I want to look like the woman my 2 year old doesn't recognize as his Mommy in my wedding photos, and I'm sure every other new mom thinks the same. With breastfeeding, the only weight loss option available to me is 2200 calories of sensible eating. But my depressed brain wants carbs and chocolate so what do you do?
Well my doctor says eat less and move more, so I started walking again. I used to take JD for a 2 mile walk every day when I got home from school and I tried to exercise when pregnant but with a full time job, a husband with an opposite schedule of mine and a toddler I was exhausted just existing. So I'm back to hitting the pavement and have found that it is amazing the terrible shape your body is in when you are done with the life altering process of creating a life. So now 8 weeks after my c-section I am walking again, not as far or as fast as I was before, but walking none the less.
But I'm still looking for better faster results and eat less is not a very firm guideline. In talking to my doctor I have discovered that there are very few diets available to nursing moms. After JD, when I gained over 45 pounds, I joined Weight Watchers and used their nursing mom's plan for weight loss. I've used Weight Watchers before and have found it to be successful but now ,I find it too time consuming, counting points and measuring everything. During this pregnancy to help me have healthier weight gain, my doctor suggested I follow the American Diabetic Association guidelines for healthy living to help me make better food choices. As you read earlier it worked keeping my down to only 37 pounds gained, however I still had those 10 pre-baby # 1 pounds to loose so the end result is still the same.
The problem I'm dealing with is my rational brain and my emotional brain are not seeing eye to eye. I find myself looking at other women going I'm definitely skinnier than that! and come to find out I'm not. My brain cannot comprehend this body it is carrying around and the shock I get looking in the mirror only confirms this fact. So how do we get it back? My older-skinny friends tell me "not to worry" and "I gained way more than that in each of my pregnancies and look at me now", give me hope for a better me f not soon then not too far into their childhood, mind you I didn't say toddler hood. So I have made the resolution to plan my meals better, walk everyday, and to try to not worry about my Mommy Body. Someday I'll see my old self again and hopefully my clothes will still be in style, if not I'll have to go shopping and my new best friend until then I've made a new friend to help me feel better about myself and deal with my new harsh reality... spanx!
Well my doctor says eat less and move more, so I started walking again. I used to take JD for a 2 mile walk every day when I got home from school and I tried to exercise when pregnant but with a full time job, a husband with an opposite schedule of mine and a toddler I was exhausted just existing. So I'm back to hitting the pavement and have found that it is amazing the terrible shape your body is in when you are done with the life altering process of creating a life. So now 8 weeks after my c-section I am walking again, not as far or as fast as I was before, but walking none the less.
But I'm still looking for better faster results and eat less is not a very firm guideline. In talking to my doctor I have discovered that there are very few diets available to nursing moms. After JD, when I gained over 45 pounds, I joined Weight Watchers and used their nursing mom's plan for weight loss. I've used Weight Watchers before and have found it to be successful but now ,I find it too time consuming, counting points and measuring everything. During this pregnancy to help me have healthier weight gain, my doctor suggested I follow the American Diabetic Association guidelines for healthy living to help me make better food choices. As you read earlier it worked keeping my down to only 37 pounds gained, however I still had those 10 pre-baby # 1 pounds to loose so the end result is still the same.
The problem I'm dealing with is my rational brain and my emotional brain are not seeing eye to eye. I find myself looking at other women going I'm definitely skinnier than that! and come to find out I'm not. My brain cannot comprehend this body it is carrying around and the shock I get looking in the mirror only confirms this fact. So how do we get it back? My older-skinny friends tell me "not to worry" and "I gained way more than that in each of my pregnancies and look at me now", give me hope for a better me f not soon then not too far into their childhood, mind you I didn't say toddler hood. So I have made the resolution to plan my meals better, walk everyday, and to try to not worry about my Mommy Body. Someday I'll see my old self again and hopefully my clothes will still be in style, if not I'll have to go shopping and my new best friend until then I've made a new friend to help me feel better about myself and deal with my new harsh reality... spanx!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
1 Week worth of clothing set in a snap!
Being a working mom makes everything harder. One thing especially is getting everyone dressed in the morning and out the door. How I do it to make it easier on everyone, especially myself, is set out a weeks worth of clothing on Sunday so it is all set for the week. This includes underwear, socks and shoes.
For myself, I choose 6 to 7 outfits to choose from and place them on the bottom rack of my closet right when I open the door. This way if the weather changes I'm not stuck wearing a dress or skirt on a rainy day.
For my boys, I pick 5 outfits and leave them on their dressers for myself or my husband to dress them since they are too young to do it themselves. My suggestion for parents with older children is to have the child help you choose the outfits for the week. There is also a great organizer sold by many stores (I got my from Avon to use when JD and MJ get older) which hang in the closet and label the days of the week where you can organize the clothes by week day. Some even have a side pocket for shoes. This makes picking out clothes more efficient. If you have a child who will only wear a particular item of clothing, save yourself the fight by purchasing multiples of that item, maybe in a variety of colors, this way your child gets the outfit they want without you having to do laundry in the middle of the week. For children who go to daycare, try creating looks that blend together for example have multiple shirts and pants that go together. This way if there is a mess or accident, your child will always match. Along the same vein, if leaving extras at the child care center, leave neutrals that will go with any outfit, greys, blacks, or denim.
My Husband, he fends for himself. I make sure I hang his clothes up in the closet, but that is as far as I go.
To save yourself from ironing. Try to hang up clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer. If you forget or something gets wrinkled anyway I use downy wrinkle release. Just spray and stretch and wrinkles disappear. (I haven't used my iron in over a year with the exception of for dress shirts). A hand steamer is also handy and faster than ironing. And if all else fails there is the old damp washcloth in the dryer with your wrinkled clothes trick.
When doing laundry, save yourself hours of folding by having a basket for each person in your family and linens. Fold items as they come out of the dryer and place them in the person's basket, this takes away hours of sorting later. When the laundry is done, bring each basket to the respective person's room to be put away.
When organizing your closet, put like items together, pants, dress shirts, polo shirts etc. and group by like colors. This will take away time spent searching for your favorite pair of grey slacks.
Keep regularly worn work shoes in shoe holders in your coat closet. This makes them easy to find and eliminates you tracking dirty shoes through your home.
Also with young children there are a lot of spills, messes and blowouts that can create stains. Fill a bucket with oxiclean and water. Leave it in a closet or laundry room. Put clothing items in it throughout the week to soak. At the end of the week dump the bucket with the clothes and oxiclean in the washing machine and wash. Most potential stains will disappear.
For myself, I choose 6 to 7 outfits to choose from and place them on the bottom rack of my closet right when I open the door. This way if the weather changes I'm not stuck wearing a dress or skirt on a rainy day.
For my boys, I pick 5 outfits and leave them on their dressers for myself or my husband to dress them since they are too young to do it themselves. My suggestion for parents with older children is to have the child help you choose the outfits for the week. There is also a great organizer sold by many stores (I got my from Avon to use when JD and MJ get older) which hang in the closet and label the days of the week where you can organize the clothes by week day. Some even have a side pocket for shoes. This makes picking out clothes more efficient. If you have a child who will only wear a particular item of clothing, save yourself the fight by purchasing multiples of that item, maybe in a variety of colors, this way your child gets the outfit they want without you having to do laundry in the middle of the week. For children who go to daycare, try creating looks that blend together for example have multiple shirts and pants that go together. This way if there is a mess or accident, your child will always match. Along the same vein, if leaving extras at the child care center, leave neutrals that will go with any outfit, greys, blacks, or denim.
My Husband, he fends for himself. I make sure I hang his clothes up in the closet, but that is as far as I go.
To save yourself from ironing. Try to hang up clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer. If you forget or something gets wrinkled anyway I use downy wrinkle release. Just spray and stretch and wrinkles disappear. (I haven't used my iron in over a year with the exception of for dress shirts). A hand steamer is also handy and faster than ironing. And if all else fails there is the old damp washcloth in the dryer with your wrinkled clothes trick.
When doing laundry, save yourself hours of folding by having a basket for each person in your family and linens. Fold items as they come out of the dryer and place them in the person's basket, this takes away hours of sorting later. When the laundry is done, bring each basket to the respective person's room to be put away.
When organizing your closet, put like items together, pants, dress shirts, polo shirts etc. and group by like colors. This will take away time spent searching for your favorite pair of grey slacks.
Keep regularly worn work shoes in shoe holders in your coat closet. This makes them easy to find and eliminates you tracking dirty shoes through your home.
Also with young children there are a lot of spills, messes and blowouts that can create stains. Fill a bucket with oxiclean and water. Leave it in a closet or laundry room. Put clothing items in it throughout the week to soak. At the end of the week dump the bucket with the clothes and oxiclean in the washing machine and wash. Most potential stains will disappear.
Play Dates
The secret to a good play date is to keep it simple. Invite over friends or acquaintances with children of similar sex, age or interests to your children who you also enjoy spending time with. It's that simple. Start with people that you are most comfortable with and then branch out from there. A person you became friendly with at swim class or an acquaintance from work that has children are all good places to start. You know you already have similar things in common and maybe even know their kids.
Don't over plan the date. Just have juice and simple snacks on hand. Allow the kids to come together naturally. Put them in the playroom, head outside or even meet at a playground. Kids will gravitate to each other. If they are younger around 1-2 you might see a lot of parallel play, where they do their own thing together. This is natural and eventually as their social skills develop they will learn to play together. Expect some toy jealousy and be there to provide other options and to encourage sharing. And if it doesn't work out don't get frustrated. You don't like everyone you meet so don't expect the same of your children.
Don't over plan the date. Just have juice and simple snacks on hand. Allow the kids to come together naturally. Put them in the playroom, head outside or even meet at a playground. Kids will gravitate to each other. If they are younger around 1-2 you might see a lot of parallel play, where they do their own thing together. This is natural and eventually as their social skills develop they will learn to play together. Expect some toy jealousy and be there to provide other options and to encourage sharing. And if it doesn't work out don't get frustrated. You don't like everyone you meet so don't expect the same of your children.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Internet Shopping made Easy
Having a new baby makes even the quickest trip out of the house a production add a toddler to the mix and it is almost impossible to accomplish in record time. Luckily there are some options available that allow you to stay at home and still get the job done.
PeaPod by stop and shop allows you shop for the necessities and brings it right to your door. This is great when the baby is too young to leave the house or you are too tired but starving with only crackers in your cabinets. The downside is it has limited variety and can be pricier than going to the store.
Diapers.com is part of a group of companies including (casa, yoyo, soap, wag and beautybar.com) which allows you to get just about anything you need with free next day shipping if you spend $40 and lets just face it we all spend about that much anyway. I purchase diapers, baby clothes, nursing bras, toys, bottles, pacifiers, a lawn mower, car seats from this company and have never been disappointed. They offer coupons regularly and have a points program which you can use for credit towards future purchases and their customer service is great!
Amazon.com is another great site to purchase many items from DVDs to clothing and baby care items. It's only downfall is shipping can take a week or more so if you are in a crunch to get something it is not the way to go, however I heard that they are working on that issue and will be able to provide faster shipping in the near future.
PeaPod by stop and shop allows you shop for the necessities and brings it right to your door. This is great when the baby is too young to leave the house or you are too tired but starving with only crackers in your cabinets. The downside is it has limited variety and can be pricier than going to the store.
Diapers.com is part of a group of companies including (casa, yoyo, soap, wag and beautybar.com) which allows you to get just about anything you need with free next day shipping if you spend $40 and lets just face it we all spend about that much anyway. I purchase diapers, baby clothes, nursing bras, toys, bottles, pacifiers, a lawn mower, car seats from this company and have never been disappointed. They offer coupons regularly and have a points program which you can use for credit towards future purchases and their customer service is great!
Amazon.com is another great site to purchase many items from DVDs to clothing and baby care items. It's only downfall is shipping can take a week or more so if you are in a crunch to get something it is not the way to go, however I heard that they are working on that issue and will be able to provide faster shipping in the near future.
Back to School... Almost
It is coming to my attention that I return to work in exactly a month. My maternity leave and the summer break from school is almost over. In the coming weeks I will begin to include my tips and tricks on how I manage my growing family while working full time as an inner-city high school biology teacher. I will also try to provide to all the parents out there the teacher's perspective on school climate, homework, and how to help your child succeed when not in your line of sight.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Lowering the cost of Baby
In these difficult times people are doing everything they can to eliminate unnecessary spending and babies are one place where money seems to disappear into a black hole of spending. Here are some tips and tricks that my friends and I use.
Diaper Rash- Instead of expensive diaper rash creams put Vaseline on babies bottom. It works great to clear up and prevent diaper rash and it makes cleaning up messy diapers a snap! Thanks DD for the tip
Heat Rash or Mild Diaper Redness- Corn starch. Keeps area dry without added fragrance or talc.
Using Cloth Diapers- Keep a pail with vinegar water in it next to changing table. Helps soak off mess and deodorizes. (check with your cloth diaper company before you do this for compatibility)
Want to Make your Own Wipes- roll of paper towels (the 1/2 sheet size), boiled water, and a squirt of your brand baby shampoo. I tore the paper towels apart and laid them flat in a rectangle plastic container mixed the water and soap solution and poured it over the towels until soaked through. This is great in a pinch if you are out of wipes or if it is what you want to use everyday.
Teething Pain- Use the food mesh bags for babies (usually for early eaters to fill with things such as bananas). Fill with ice for safe sucking. Or freeze fresh fruit for a healthy cool teething treat. Don't have mesh bags? Wet one corner of a wash cloth and place it in the fridge or freezer to cool.
Home Made Baby Food/Snacks- You don't need a baby food mill, a mini food processor electric or hand crank will work fine. Cook veggies until soft and process until smooth using boiled water to thin it out if too thick. Extra portions? Freeze in ice cube trays for perfect portions. There is no need to purchase a book with recipes because there are tons of recipes available for free on the Internet.
Frozen Yogurt Drops- take favorite yogurt (we like Chobani Greek Yogurt because it is thicker, whole milk and higher in protein and lower in sugar than other traditional yogurt). Mix well to combine, place in plastic bag, cut tip and squeeze drops onto a cookie sheet then freeze. Thanks pinterest for this great idea!
Eating table foods already- cut into toddler bite size pieces with a pair of dedicated kitchen sheers. It's much easier and safer than a knife at the dinner table and allows you to be more precise with your size cuts.
Popsicles- make from your child's favorite juice. Either purchase Popsicle maker or use bathroom cups and Popsicle sticks. Just don't water it down or it will just be ice.
Need burp cloths- Use scraps of flannel. Cut to size and stitch the edges so they don't fray. Thanks Aunt D.
Share everything- If you have friends with children too. Swap/share clothing and toys to keep things fresh without spending lots.
Look for sales and bargains- I love stores like Marshalls where I can get name brand baby clothes, toys, accessories and more for a steal. I never spend more than $5 for any baby clothing item, they grow out of too quickly.
Looking for more ideas? I turn to pinterest. People post all their great ideas, recipes, and Internet finds everyday.
What ideas or tips do you have to share with the masses?
Diaper Rash- Instead of expensive diaper rash creams put Vaseline on babies bottom. It works great to clear up and prevent diaper rash and it makes cleaning up messy diapers a snap! Thanks DD for the tip
Heat Rash or Mild Diaper Redness- Corn starch. Keeps area dry without added fragrance or talc.
Using Cloth Diapers- Keep a pail with vinegar water in it next to changing table. Helps soak off mess and deodorizes. (check with your cloth diaper company before you do this for compatibility)
Want to Make your Own Wipes- roll of paper towels (the 1/2 sheet size), boiled water, and a squirt of your brand baby shampoo. I tore the paper towels apart and laid them flat in a rectangle plastic container mixed the water and soap solution and poured it over the towels until soaked through. This is great in a pinch if you are out of wipes or if it is what you want to use everyday.
Teething Pain- Use the food mesh bags for babies (usually for early eaters to fill with things such as bananas). Fill with ice for safe sucking. Or freeze fresh fruit for a healthy cool teething treat. Don't have mesh bags? Wet one corner of a wash cloth and place it in the fridge or freezer to cool.
Home Made Baby Food/Snacks- You don't need a baby food mill, a mini food processor electric or hand crank will work fine. Cook veggies until soft and process until smooth using boiled water to thin it out if too thick. Extra portions? Freeze in ice cube trays for perfect portions. There is no need to purchase a book with recipes because there are tons of recipes available for free on the Internet.
Frozen Yogurt Drops- take favorite yogurt (we like Chobani Greek Yogurt because it is thicker, whole milk and higher in protein and lower in sugar than other traditional yogurt). Mix well to combine, place in plastic bag, cut tip and squeeze drops onto a cookie sheet then freeze. Thanks pinterest for this great idea!
Eating table foods already- cut into toddler bite size pieces with a pair of dedicated kitchen sheers. It's much easier and safer than a knife at the dinner table and allows you to be more precise with your size cuts.
Popsicles- make from your child's favorite juice. Either purchase Popsicle maker or use bathroom cups and Popsicle sticks. Just don't water it down or it will just be ice.
Need burp cloths- Use scraps of flannel. Cut to size and stitch the edges so they don't fray. Thanks Aunt D.
Share everything- If you have friends with children too. Swap/share clothing and toys to keep things fresh without spending lots.
Look for sales and bargains- I love stores like Marshalls where I can get name brand baby clothes, toys, accessories and more for a steal. I never spend more than $5 for any baby clothing item, they grow out of too quickly.
Looking for more ideas? I turn to pinterest. People post all their great ideas, recipes, and Internet finds everyday.
What ideas or tips do you have to share with the masses?
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Food Wars
I know I've already talked about picking your battles when it comes to your toddler, however food happens to be in a category of its own in my opinion.
Every family has its own rules about food. For my family if my toddler gets in two good meals a day out of the three, breakfast, lunch or dinner, we will let the third slide. Take for instance today. JD ate the equivalent of two scrambled eggs for breakfast and a bowl of mac & cheese for lunch. For dinner all he wanted to eat off of his plate of pot roast, peas, corn on the cob and potatoes was the corn on the cob. So that's what he ate. Knowing that he had a good breakfast and lunch along with snacks of goldfish and blueberries today we did not press the issue of dinner.
Now for some families it is clear your plate. In our house, with the exception of dinner, we give JD options for his breakfast and lunch. Now the options are always things that we a) are willing to make and b) part of a healthy and balanced diet. For example breakfast choices may be scrambled cheesy eggs, Greek yogurt or cereal. Lunch may be a tuna fish sandwich, mac and cheese, Greek yogurt or grilled cheese. Snacks choices usually include cheese sticks, fruit, veggies, animal crackers, apple sauce. This ensures that even if JD does not 3 solid meals that between his two main meals and snacking he gets a balanced diet without an aversion to eating, which I believe is the most important aspect. It is more important that he eats something then to get him to eat what I have prepared. It is this mentality that I think gets JD to eat things like tuna fish, salmon, cheese burgers, lasagna, beef , radishes,beets etc than just the toddler staples. It also gives him a healthy view of food as a tool for nourishment and variety.
My husband has the idea that you should eat your colors and if you eat your colors then you've covered all your nutritional basics. For JD that means he should eat at least one of each color throughout the day. This way if he refuses to eat a meal we do not press the issue and if we are willing, we offer a back-up option. This ensures that he is eating healthy and does not have any aversions to any food, though he does have his favorites.
What are your family food rules?
Every family has its own rules about food. For my family if my toddler gets in two good meals a day out of the three, breakfast, lunch or dinner, we will let the third slide. Take for instance today. JD ate the equivalent of two scrambled eggs for breakfast and a bowl of mac & cheese for lunch. For dinner all he wanted to eat off of his plate of pot roast, peas, corn on the cob and potatoes was the corn on the cob. So that's what he ate. Knowing that he had a good breakfast and lunch along with snacks of goldfish and blueberries today we did not press the issue of dinner.
Now for some families it is clear your plate. In our house, with the exception of dinner, we give JD options for his breakfast and lunch. Now the options are always things that we a) are willing to make and b) part of a healthy and balanced diet. For example breakfast choices may be scrambled cheesy eggs, Greek yogurt or cereal. Lunch may be a tuna fish sandwich, mac and cheese, Greek yogurt or grilled cheese. Snacks choices usually include cheese sticks, fruit, veggies, animal crackers, apple sauce. This ensures that even if JD does not 3 solid meals that between his two main meals and snacking he gets a balanced diet without an aversion to eating, which I believe is the most important aspect. It is more important that he eats something then to get him to eat what I have prepared. It is this mentality that I think gets JD to eat things like tuna fish, salmon, cheese burgers, lasagna, beef , radishes,beets etc than just the toddler staples. It also gives him a healthy view of food as a tool for nourishment and variety.
My husband has the idea that you should eat your colors and if you eat your colors then you've covered all your nutritional basics. For JD that means he should eat at least one of each color throughout the day. This way if he refuses to eat a meal we do not press the issue and if we are willing, we offer a back-up option. This ensures that he is eating healthy and does not have any aversions to any food, though he does have his favorites.
What are your family food rules?
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Making memories available
In the era of digital cameras it is rare to find photographs in print. Sure, many people share photos through email or social websites but when was the last time someone handed you a photograph to frame from a family event or social gathering?
When JD was born I went crazy taking photos of him doing everything and nothing, but when people asked to see how he'd grown I could not show them unless I had my camera or computer available. As he was reaching his first birthday I wanted to have something to show him to document how he had changed in his first year of life so I turned to Shutterfly.com and created him a photo book. This is our generations answer to photo albums and the busy mom's or less creative mom's scrap booking alternative. Sure I'd love to get out my stamps, stickers and cutters from my creative memories and stampin' up days but lets face it I barely have time to clean my house between work, family and my kids. This option let me create a photo book complete with stats, memory stories and quotes that JD can have and cherish for his whole life and it was a lot easier than a baby book and you can have as many copies as you want of each book.
After his first birthday I vowed to continue the tradition and so far it has stuck. Each time I load my pictures from my camera to my computer I then log-on to the Shutterfly website and load the pictures of each month or event I want to document into their online photo albums this makes creating those pages of memories building my book throughout the year in increments easy and fun. Everyone has a few minutes a week or month to do this. Shutterfly also has a great app for my iPhone that allows me to upload my iPhone pics so they are also ready in my Shutterfly albums to incorporate into my photo books.
This year I am working on two books simultaneously. One for JD and one for MJ. Some of the pictures are the same as the boys are usually photographed together but many of them are documenting their individual achievements as they are happening.
My advice to anyone out there is to not just capture the moment but to also share those moments in a way that will last a lifetime.
When JD was born I went crazy taking photos of him doing everything and nothing, but when people asked to see how he'd grown I could not show them unless I had my camera or computer available. As he was reaching his first birthday I wanted to have something to show him to document how he had changed in his first year of life so I turned to Shutterfly.com and created him a photo book. This is our generations answer to photo albums and the busy mom's or less creative mom's scrap booking alternative. Sure I'd love to get out my stamps, stickers and cutters from my creative memories and stampin' up days but lets face it I barely have time to clean my house between work, family and my kids. This option let me create a photo book complete with stats, memory stories and quotes that JD can have and cherish for his whole life and it was a lot easier than a baby book and you can have as many copies as you want of each book.
After his first birthday I vowed to continue the tradition and so far it has stuck. Each time I load my pictures from my camera to my computer I then log-on to the Shutterfly website and load the pictures of each month or event I want to document into their online photo albums this makes creating those pages of memories building my book throughout the year in increments easy and fun. Everyone has a few minutes a week or month to do this. Shutterfly also has a great app for my iPhone that allows me to upload my iPhone pics so they are also ready in my Shutterfly albums to incorporate into my photo books.
This year I am working on two books simultaneously. One for JD and one for MJ. Some of the pictures are the same as the boys are usually photographed together but many of them are documenting their individual achievements as they are happening.
My advice to anyone out there is to not just capture the moment but to also share those moments in a way that will last a lifetime.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Making time for mommy
Yesterday I went my first real outing sans children since MJ was born six weeks ago. I met a friend at a restaurant for an early dinner followed by some shopping. I was gone for a total of two hours but it made a world of difference.
As mom's we rarely take time out for ourselves, putting everyone else before ourselves. This can lead to mommy burn out with feelings of resentment towards our loved ones. So make sure you take time for yourself even if it is just a cup of coffee in the morning before everyone wakes up, a quiet shower where you get to shave both legs without someone asking for something or trying to climb in with you or a quick jaunt to the grocery store by yourself. It is important that you have that time to be you and not mommy. Remembering who you are will make you a better significant other and mother.
As mom's we rarely take time out for ourselves, putting everyone else before ourselves. This can lead to mommy burn out with feelings of resentment towards our loved ones. So make sure you take time for yourself even if it is just a cup of coffee in the morning before everyone wakes up, a quiet shower where you get to shave both legs without someone asking for something or trying to climb in with you or a quick jaunt to the grocery store by yourself. It is important that you have that time to be you and not mommy. Remembering who you are will make you a better significant other and mother.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Picking Your Battles
As a parent of a toddler every action can be a cause for a fight. You say Yes, they say NO, You say eat more, they say all done. That is why it is important to decide which things you are going to take a stand on and which things you are going to "let slide".
JD is 2 and has a very strong personality. We have, luckily, not yet experienced the terrible two's but he does now very clearly state his opinions and preferences. My husband and I have discussed, as all parents should, which things we will make an issue of and which things we will "let slide". These are personal decisions and ones that not everyone in your family and/or social group will agree with so be sure that you and your significant other are on the same page for your sanity and the sake of not confusing your children. And be sure to strongly state these decisions to any caregiver or family member who might challenge these decisions. It is up to you if you want to explain the reasoning behind the choices you have made and probably in your best interest if you want them to understand, even if they don't agree, why you made that choice. For instance.
JD is very attached to his mema (pacifier) he still loves to have it. He doesn't have a lovey or a stuffed animal that he carries around but instead relies on his mema to make him feel calm and content. My husband and I have decided that if he asks for it then he feels he needs it.We do, however take it away if we see him just playing with it and if he doesn't put up a fuss, the mema disappears until he asks for it again. Sometimes we tell him no and he is OK with that and sometimes he chants mema mema and he gets it back. He is not allowed to have it when playing outside and if we forget he comes to us with his mema stating "no memas outside" a phrase that we say every time we take it from him on our way out to play. If he is outside and asks for it he is given the choice to stay outside without his mema or go inside to have it. Depending on his level of need, then JD makes the choice. Someday he will not need or want his mema. We know he won't go to preschool with it but until then, taking away the mema is not a battle we want to fight.
Everyday there are these challenges or battles of will with your child. Making the choice not to battle every challenge you are faced with will either make or break your day so choose what matters most; whether its finishing a plate of food, bedtime routines, TV/play time, those choices are up to you and your significant other as to what is best for your family unit so talk it out and stick to your guns when challenged and you will have a happier home for it.
JD is 2 and has a very strong personality. We have, luckily, not yet experienced the terrible two's but he does now very clearly state his opinions and preferences. My husband and I have discussed, as all parents should, which things we will make an issue of and which things we will "let slide". These are personal decisions and ones that not everyone in your family and/or social group will agree with so be sure that you and your significant other are on the same page for your sanity and the sake of not confusing your children. And be sure to strongly state these decisions to any caregiver or family member who might challenge these decisions. It is up to you if you want to explain the reasoning behind the choices you have made and probably in your best interest if you want them to understand, even if they don't agree, why you made that choice. For instance.
JD is very attached to his mema (pacifier) he still loves to have it. He doesn't have a lovey or a stuffed animal that he carries around but instead relies on his mema to make him feel calm and content. My husband and I have decided that if he asks for it then he feels he needs it.We do, however take it away if we see him just playing with it and if he doesn't put up a fuss, the mema disappears until he asks for it again. Sometimes we tell him no and he is OK with that and sometimes he chants mema mema and he gets it back. He is not allowed to have it when playing outside and if we forget he comes to us with his mema stating "no memas outside" a phrase that we say every time we take it from him on our way out to play. If he is outside and asks for it he is given the choice to stay outside without his mema or go inside to have it. Depending on his level of need, then JD makes the choice. Someday he will not need or want his mema. We know he won't go to preschool with it but until then, taking away the mema is not a battle we want to fight.
Everyday there are these challenges or battles of will with your child. Making the choice not to battle every challenge you are faced with will either make or break your day so choose what matters most; whether its finishing a plate of food, bedtime routines, TV/play time, those choices are up to you and your significant other as to what is best for your family unit so talk it out and stick to your guns when challenged and you will have a happier home for it.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Nature Knows Best
A friend who is expecting recently asked me what medicines I give my children and my answer to her was nothing if I can avoid it. Its not that I want my boys to hurt, its just that I follow the less is more method of parenting.
JD was breastfed until 13 months and I plan to do the same with MJ. Why 13 months you ask? Well, as a full time high school teacher, I'm at work 5 days a week. JD needed that together time when I got home from work to reconnect and so did I. When school was out for summer vacation and I was home full time he didn't need that form of comfort and connection time from me so weaning was easy and since MJ is 2 years and 5 days younger I am hopeful that he will follow the same path. Why tell you this? Because breast milk was the answer to most of their ailments.
Stuffy nose, gunky eye, small cut- shot of breast milk clears it up. Sore throat, sick tummy, the same. If JD came to me after a fall or small hurt he would nurse for a few minutes, calming himself down with warm milk and a good cuddle from Mommy, and be on his way. At the Doctors, I would nurse him after he got his shots and usually he wanted to nurse more if he was feeling under the weather. There are many benefits to breast milk that you can read about in every pregnancy and breast feeding book.
Teeth pain- frozen wash cloth, teething rings, mesh food bags with frozen fruit.
To this vain I did not find the need to use anything other than the occasional infant/children acetaminophen for fevers, excessive teething pain, or after immunizations. I never allowed my children to suffer in pain and have found that comfort of loving arms are usually what a child needs the most.
JD was breastfed until 13 months and I plan to do the same with MJ. Why 13 months you ask? Well, as a full time high school teacher, I'm at work 5 days a week. JD needed that together time when I got home from work to reconnect and so did I. When school was out for summer vacation and I was home full time he didn't need that form of comfort and connection time from me so weaning was easy and since MJ is 2 years and 5 days younger I am hopeful that he will follow the same path. Why tell you this? Because breast milk was the answer to most of their ailments.
Stuffy nose, gunky eye, small cut- shot of breast milk clears it up. Sore throat, sick tummy, the same. If JD came to me after a fall or small hurt he would nurse for a few minutes, calming himself down with warm milk and a good cuddle from Mommy, and be on his way. At the Doctors, I would nurse him after he got his shots and usually he wanted to nurse more if he was feeling under the weather. There are many benefits to breast milk that you can read about in every pregnancy and breast feeding book.
Teeth pain- frozen wash cloth, teething rings, mesh food bags with frozen fruit.
To this vain I did not find the need to use anything other than the occasional infant/children acetaminophen for fevers, excessive teething pain, or after immunizations. I never allowed my children to suffer in pain and have found that comfort of loving arms are usually what a child needs the most.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Breast Feeding Toolkit
If you are planning to breastfeed then there are some things that are essential to being successful.
There are three things you absolutely need if you are planning to breast feed.
One- nursing bras (sleep & day)
Two- lanolin
Three- a positive can do attitude that no-one can derail you from.
There are also many accessories that make nursing easier but are not essential, which I will go into detail about later in this post.
My Story: I am the first person in my friend circle to have children but my sister-in-law was a stay at home exclusive nursing mom to her two children. In talking to her during my pregnancy, reading multiple books on breastfeeding including the La Leche League book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Dr. Sears The Breastfeeding Book and taking a breastfeeding class with my husband; I decided that even though I'd be going back to work when JD was 3 months old that breastfeeding was the way to go for me. Once JD got here it was not that easy.
I had a planned C-section due to placental previa so I knew right away that nursing immediately after birth was not an option. My husband held him until I was in recovery and able to hold JD. I placed him to my breast and he latched on right away. I thought this was easy. Not the case two days later when my milk came in and JD (my instant gratification child) could not get "milk" to come out the second he latched on. Upon the suggestion of my nurses, I met multiple times with the lactation consultant on staff at the hospital (A MUST for all mothers intending on breastfeeding). She had great tips and suggestions that I had not come across in all of my reading. JD would not latch at all after the first two days. I used the hospital pump to express milk and then fed him with a syringe to start each feeding so that he was not "starving" then worked on getting him to latch using all the positions. Once home it was still no better. My husband would help me by hand expressing milk into JD's mouth at my breast to get him to latch. My sister-in-law was also helpful for verbal support and pointers for my positioning and latch. She was essential to my success. By the time JD was two weeks old we had it down pat and both of us were nursing like pros. JD successfully nursed for thirteen months.
JD would rather nurse than take a bottle (we tried about 10 kinds before we found one he would take), and would only eat the minimum amount of expressed milk for my husband when I was at work. To make up for that he nursed all night long, with his last feeding right before I left for work at six am, he would then nurse the second I came home from work through the evening. We did this successfully until July the following year. He naturally weaned himself from bottles and nursing as he got older and became more independent.
MJ was also a planned section and from the beginning was the easiest nurser. He latched and nursed like a champ. He is now six weeks old and still no problems.
Each experience like each child is different. Sometimes you just have to work through the hard times to get to the good. Anything worthwhile takes time, effort and perseverance. The key is to be comfortable with yourself and your decision, ask for help and to surround yourself with people who also nurse and/or are cheerleaders supporting your decision. If you doubt yourself you will find it hard to succeed.
Nursing Accessories:
Breast Pump- Every nursing mom needs some form of a breast pump either single or double, manual or electric. You cannot be with your baby 24-7-365. This accessory allows you some freedom weather you are a stay at home or a go to work mom. I personally prefer Medela brand pumps
Nursing Bras- Night and Day. They make getting the job done easier. I personally prefer Medela night nursing bras and La Leche League day nursing bras.
Nursing cover- These covers are a lot easier than covering with a receiving blanket. They allow you to see your baby while they nurse and come in many sizes, shapes, and styles to accommodate all people.
Nursing Pads- Come in both reusable and disposable and stop you from leaking through your clothes.
Nursing Shirts/Tanks- Come in all styles. These allow you to discreetly nurse in public even if you do not use a cover.
There are three things you absolutely need if you are planning to breast feed.
One- nursing bras (sleep & day)
Two- lanolin
Three- a positive can do attitude that no-one can derail you from.
There are also many accessories that make nursing easier but are not essential, which I will go into detail about later in this post.
My Story: I am the first person in my friend circle to have children but my sister-in-law was a stay at home exclusive nursing mom to her two children. In talking to her during my pregnancy, reading multiple books on breastfeeding including the La Leche League book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Dr. Sears The Breastfeeding Book and taking a breastfeeding class with my husband; I decided that even though I'd be going back to work when JD was 3 months old that breastfeeding was the way to go for me. Once JD got here it was not that easy.
I had a planned C-section due to placental previa so I knew right away that nursing immediately after birth was not an option. My husband held him until I was in recovery and able to hold JD. I placed him to my breast and he latched on right away. I thought this was easy. Not the case two days later when my milk came in and JD (my instant gratification child) could not get "milk" to come out the second he latched on. Upon the suggestion of my nurses, I met multiple times with the lactation consultant on staff at the hospital (A MUST for all mothers intending on breastfeeding). She had great tips and suggestions that I had not come across in all of my reading. JD would not latch at all after the first two days. I used the hospital pump to express milk and then fed him with a syringe to start each feeding so that he was not "starving" then worked on getting him to latch using all the positions. Once home it was still no better. My husband would help me by hand expressing milk into JD's mouth at my breast to get him to latch. My sister-in-law was also helpful for verbal support and pointers for my positioning and latch. She was essential to my success. By the time JD was two weeks old we had it down pat and both of us were nursing like pros. JD successfully nursed for thirteen months.
JD would rather nurse than take a bottle (we tried about 10 kinds before we found one he would take), and would only eat the minimum amount of expressed milk for my husband when I was at work. To make up for that he nursed all night long, with his last feeding right before I left for work at six am, he would then nurse the second I came home from work through the evening. We did this successfully until July the following year. He naturally weaned himself from bottles and nursing as he got older and became more independent.
MJ was also a planned section and from the beginning was the easiest nurser. He latched and nursed like a champ. He is now six weeks old and still no problems.
Each experience like each child is different. Sometimes you just have to work through the hard times to get to the good. Anything worthwhile takes time, effort and perseverance. The key is to be comfortable with yourself and your decision, ask for help and to surround yourself with people who also nurse and/or are cheerleaders supporting your decision. If you doubt yourself you will find it hard to succeed.
Nursing Accessories:
Breast Pump- Every nursing mom needs some form of a breast pump either single or double, manual or electric. You cannot be with your baby 24-7-365. This accessory allows you some freedom weather you are a stay at home or a go to work mom. I personally prefer Medela brand pumps
Nursing Bras- Night and Day. They make getting the job done easier. I personally prefer Medela night nursing bras and La Leche League day nursing bras.
Nursing cover- These covers are a lot easier than covering with a receiving blanket. They allow you to see your baby while they nurse and come in many sizes, shapes, and styles to accommodate all people.
Nursing Pads- Come in both reusable and disposable and stop you from leaking through your clothes.
Nursing Shirts/Tanks- Come in all styles. These allow you to discreetly nurse in public even if you do not use a cover.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
How to ask & knowing when to say NO
Adding another person into your family is a HUGE change. Your entire life as you knew it is over and you need to mold yourself into this new person. Your relationship with your spouse, pets and other children will all change; for the better, but change non the less.
When JD was born my husband and I had been married for little over a year. We both worked tons of hours and spent most free nights and weekends out with friends and family. We had an old dog and two house cats and lived in a tiny old cape with many small rooms that we rented. JD was the first grandson for my family and the first grandchild that lived in the state for my husband's family so everyone was super excited and wanted to see him. At the hospital we saw over 45 visitors, more than 20 the first day, and they continued to come over once we came home and stayed for hours. We were exhausted, hungry, and overwhelmed with the changes happening to our family unit.
My husband and I learned from our mistakes in having JD. When MJ was born we laid down some ground rules. 1. Only immediate family the first day, grand parents and our siblings only. 2. The second day call me at the hospital first if you want to come to find out if it is a good time to visit. 3. Family time for the first week home and then same rules as number 2 applied for once we got home. 4. If you are coming to visit, you must bring food :).
People forget what it is like to have a newborn in the house. I think it is a protective instinct so that humans continue to procreate because if you remembered the lack of a newborns schedule sleeping only 2 hours a clip, eating for 45 minutes, poop repeat, we would never have another. You eat what is available, hence the importance of people bringing pre-made meals, because if not you'd eat just bread out of the bag because you are tired, dirty and only have 1 available hand.
So the moral of the story is that you need to be able to tell people no when appropriate and if people ask or even if they don't ask let them know what you need. If they are close enough to you to come see you at your worst to congratulate you on your newborn then they are close enough for you to feel comfortable asking for things that you need. If they are not then tell them NO.
When JD was born my husband and I had been married for little over a year. We both worked tons of hours and spent most free nights and weekends out with friends and family. We had an old dog and two house cats and lived in a tiny old cape with many small rooms that we rented. JD was the first grandson for my family and the first grandchild that lived in the state for my husband's family so everyone was super excited and wanted to see him. At the hospital we saw over 45 visitors, more than 20 the first day, and they continued to come over once we came home and stayed for hours. We were exhausted, hungry, and overwhelmed with the changes happening to our family unit.
My husband and I learned from our mistakes in having JD. When MJ was born we laid down some ground rules. 1. Only immediate family the first day, grand parents and our siblings only. 2. The second day call me at the hospital first if you want to come to find out if it is a good time to visit. 3. Family time for the first week home and then same rules as number 2 applied for once we got home. 4. If you are coming to visit, you must bring food :).
People forget what it is like to have a newborn in the house. I think it is a protective instinct so that humans continue to procreate because if you remembered the lack of a newborns schedule sleeping only 2 hours a clip, eating for 45 minutes, poop repeat, we would never have another. You eat what is available, hence the importance of people bringing pre-made meals, because if not you'd eat just bread out of the bag because you are tired, dirty and only have 1 available hand.
So the moral of the story is that you need to be able to tell people no when appropriate and if people ask or even if they don't ask let them know what you need. If they are close enough to you to come see you at your worst to congratulate you on your newborn then they are close enough for you to feel comfortable asking for things that you need. If they are not then tell them NO.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Toddlers & TV
Everything I have read says no TV for children under the age of 2, however, how does a working mom get anything done if there is nothing else to distract their toddler when things need to get done? Now, I'm not saying that TV is a baby sitter for my child. I'm saying that sometimes you need a distraction to, I don't know, make dinner go to the bathroom, or even just a moment to breathe and decompress by yourself before you tackle the rest of the day.
My husband and I don't let JD watch just anything; actually, we don't even have cable! We are very selective on the shows that we let him watch, even avoiding our own shows until after he is asleep. We have google TV which allows for Netflix, YouTube, Hulu+, and Amazon Instant Video. No commercials and no TV schedule so shows and TV happens when you want it to happen, not when the TV guide says it is on.
We started with Baby Einstein Videos. (Purchased all of them off of eBay for the price of one DVD) The early ones Beethoven, Bach, etc are just classical music put to toys and motion. Giving him stimulating classical music with distracting interest of ever changing and moving colorful objects. We then moved to the more educational ones, animals, colors, shapes and more. These gave JD interest in learning through fun repetition. He often asks for specific videos depending on his mood or interest of the day.
As his attention span increased we moved to Disney Jr on YouTube. Mickey Mouse, Special Agent OSO, Handy Many to name a few. These shows all teach to the standard moral and common courtesy codes that my husband and I subscribe to. And a bonus... no commercials to corrupt his mind because it is not regular TV.
Disney movies, including the classics are also a great way to introduce family TV time. I often play a movie as part of our wind down routine. JD and I will sit on my bed with his sippy cup of milk and watch a movie. When JD is getting sleepy we say good night to the movie and go to sleep.
Now some say that TV rots your brain, however I say if not abused or used as a tool to avoid interacting with your child, let them watch. It has saved my sanity on many days and it could save yours.
My husband and I don't let JD watch just anything; actually, we don't even have cable! We are very selective on the shows that we let him watch, even avoiding our own shows until after he is asleep. We have google TV which allows for Netflix, YouTube, Hulu+, and Amazon Instant Video. No commercials and no TV schedule so shows and TV happens when you want it to happen, not when the TV guide says it is on.
We started with Baby Einstein Videos. (Purchased all of them off of eBay for the price of one DVD) The early ones Beethoven, Bach, etc are just classical music put to toys and motion. Giving him stimulating classical music with distracting interest of ever changing and moving colorful objects. We then moved to the more educational ones, animals, colors, shapes and more. These gave JD interest in learning through fun repetition. He often asks for specific videos depending on his mood or interest of the day.
As his attention span increased we moved to Disney Jr on YouTube. Mickey Mouse, Special Agent OSO, Handy Many to name a few. These shows all teach to the standard moral and common courtesy codes that my husband and I subscribe to. And a bonus... no commercials to corrupt his mind because it is not regular TV.
Disney movies, including the classics are also a great way to introduce family TV time. I often play a movie as part of our wind down routine. JD and I will sit on my bed with his sippy cup of milk and watch a movie. When JD is getting sleepy we say good night to the movie and go to sleep.
Now some say that TV rots your brain, however I say if not abused or used as a tool to avoid interacting with your child, let them watch. It has saved my sanity on many days and it could save yours.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Enough or Too Much?
As a parent you want your child to have everything you had, couldn't have or would have wanted. You want to give your child the best childhood you can. Toys, Clothes, whatever you value. For me, I want my child to have all the things around him to ensure that he always has a good time at home and not have to go somewhere else to find it. So I set up to have all the toys that would fill his days with fun things to do.
It didn't start that way. We have very generous family and friends who love to bring gifts for my boys to the point where I didn't need to buy clothes for JD until he was a year old and I didn't give him any Christmas presents for his first Christmas. He just didn't need anything else. But once he started becoming his own person, I wanted to fill his world with all the things that I loved playing with and some of the new great things that I never got a chance to play with. It became especially bad when it started getting nice out and JD turned 2.
For example. We have a great back yard and I've tried to outfit it with all the outside toys that would make him love being outside and not need to go to the playground to have fun. Swing set, play house, water table, baby pool, sand box to name a few things. However; I am always scouting tag sales and Craig's list for items to make it better.
JD loves to be outside and frequently asks to go play with one of the items that we have out there for him but ironically he is just as happy playing with the simple things; bubbles, chalk or the empty jumbo box of diapers as he is with all the toys we have bought him.
So where do you draw the line between enough and too much?
It didn't start that way. We have very generous family and friends who love to bring gifts for my boys to the point where I didn't need to buy clothes for JD until he was a year old and I didn't give him any Christmas presents for his first Christmas. He just didn't need anything else. But once he started becoming his own person, I wanted to fill his world with all the things that I loved playing with and some of the new great things that I never got a chance to play with. It became especially bad when it started getting nice out and JD turned 2.
For example. We have a great back yard and I've tried to outfit it with all the outside toys that would make him love being outside and not need to go to the playground to have fun. Swing set, play house, water table, baby pool, sand box to name a few things. However; I am always scouting tag sales and Craig's list for items to make it better.
JD loves to be outside and frequently asks to go play with one of the items that we have out there for him but ironically he is just as happy playing with the simple things; bubbles, chalk or the empty jumbo box of diapers as he is with all the toys we have bought him.
So where do you draw the line between enough and too much?
Friday, July 6, 2012
Parenting @ Night
I like most expectant parents bought all the things baby would need to get a good night's rest. A crib, Cradle, Pack-n-Play, co-sleeper, vibrating seat, swing, ect... Imagine my surprise when my first son JD would only sleep when laying on my or my husband's chest. JD hated all things designed for baby to sleep alone. I think he used his cradle a total of 5 times, though my mom had a special order mattress for it since the cradle used to be mine and they don't make one that size anymore, and he did not sleep at all in his crib, not for one night, sorry in-laws who so lovingly purchased it.
I think part of the problem was we were new parents, totally in love with our new bundle of joy. We "spoiled him" holding him at all times because why not? what else did we have to do. He was also exclusively breastfed and once I went to work staying up to nurse was exhausting. So we did exactly what the doctor said not to do... we co-slept. We purchased the toddler bed rails for our bed and JD slept with us through the night until he was about 6 months old. Once he stopped nursing multiple times a night we would place him in his crib after his evening feeding and he would stay there until his middle of the night feeding when I brought him into bed and he nursed as I slept. In the morning I would slip out of bed and get ready for work while he snuggled his daddy. To this day, JD is 2, he falls asleep in our bed and gets transferred to his "big boy bed", the only bed he ever slept in and started sleeping in after his first birthday, where he sleeps until 5am when he joins mommy & daddy in their bed.
Now we have baby number 2, MJ. MJ is a more easy going baby. He likes the cradle and pack-n-play, we have not tried the crib yet, and will sleep in the vibrating seat. However, he is also finding a way to be sleeping, at least part of the night, in our bed. I find that for me it is easier. MJ has reflux and after he eats he needs to be upright for at least half an hour even with his mattresses inclined. Another factor is that he loves to night nurse and now with a toddler and an infant I do not get any extra sleep. This makes it hard to stay awake and nurse. MJ also seems, like his brother before him, to settle more easily when snuggled up with me in bed.
I've read all the books on nighttime parenting, tried the cry it out method with JD and hated it, and though the Doctors say NO the more I talk to parents the more I find people are sleeping with their babies. Especially if the mothers are working full time and nursing.
What are your thoughts and views?
I think part of the problem was we were new parents, totally in love with our new bundle of joy. We "spoiled him" holding him at all times because why not? what else did we have to do. He was also exclusively breastfed and once I went to work staying up to nurse was exhausting. So we did exactly what the doctor said not to do... we co-slept. We purchased the toddler bed rails for our bed and JD slept with us through the night until he was about 6 months old. Once he stopped nursing multiple times a night we would place him in his crib after his evening feeding and he would stay there until his middle of the night feeding when I brought him into bed and he nursed as I slept. In the morning I would slip out of bed and get ready for work while he snuggled his daddy. To this day, JD is 2, he falls asleep in our bed and gets transferred to his "big boy bed", the only bed he ever slept in and started sleeping in after his first birthday, where he sleeps until 5am when he joins mommy & daddy in their bed.
Now we have baby number 2, MJ. MJ is a more easy going baby. He likes the cradle and pack-n-play, we have not tried the crib yet, and will sleep in the vibrating seat. However, he is also finding a way to be sleeping, at least part of the night, in our bed. I find that for me it is easier. MJ has reflux and after he eats he needs to be upright for at least half an hour even with his mattresses inclined. Another factor is that he loves to night nurse and now with a toddler and an infant I do not get any extra sleep. This makes it hard to stay awake and nurse. MJ also seems, like his brother before him, to settle more easily when snuggled up with me in bed.
I've read all the books on nighttime parenting, tried the cry it out method with JD and hated it, and though the Doctors say NO the more I talk to parents the more I find people are sleeping with their babies. Especially if the mothers are working full time and nursing.
What are your thoughts and views?
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Schedules & Routines
It becomes apparent that routines are vital to babies and toddlers when you've been on a schedule and for whatever reason that schedule is disrupted. In our house we have a semi-flexible schedule. Our toddler gets up in the morning between 5 and 7, takes his nap between 10 and 12 and goes down for the night somewhere around 7pm. With the coming of summer, meaning both parents home all the time, and the introduction of a new brother, that flexible schedule went out the window as did our easily agreeable, predictable toddler.These factors have made getting back on that schedule a painstakingly time consuming task. It is working but it is not as easy as I had hoped. We are finding that the old standby night time routines are no longer working. Bath, a twilight walk, books or a movie in mommy-daddy bed. He seems to need either my husband or me to do even the most simple of tasks. My husband and I are turning down invitations for fun activities that JD can do because it would interrupt our work getting him on a schedule.
I don't personally know about families who do not operate on a schedule but I do know that it wouldn't work for my family.
I don't personally know about families who do not operate on a schedule but I do know that it wouldn't work for my family.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Picking things out for baby
Picking out items for the newest addition to your family is worse than buying a new car or picking out your wedding dress. So many decisions and you want what's best. My first suggestion is to start with consumer reports. It will tell you what is the safest and best item for each category and each price point. From there talk to friends and family that have just had babies and see what they like and what works for them.
Books: Loved all books by Dr. Sears on attachment parenting (The Baby Book, The Baby Sleep Book, The Breastfeeding Book) . La Leche League The Art of Breastfeeding. Your Pregnancy Week by Week
Sleeping Arrangements: Whatever works for your family. There are many options and what works for one child may not work for another. We had a cradle, pack-n-play and crib set up around our house in different places to provide different sleep areas for different situations.
Breast Feeding: I recommend Medula brand breast pumps-double electric. I have the freestyle and love it. But whichever one you go with if you are pumping @ work I also suggest getting the la leche league pump and nurse bra. It makes hands free pumping a cinch. You can order them from diapers.com
Car Seats: Infant- Chicco Keyfit 30 and an extra base for your significant others car.
Toddler- Britax Boulevard 70 (2 of them) you won't need them right away but this way if people get it for you its one last thing you have to buy later.
Stroller- we purchased the set that came with the infant car seat and an umbrella stroller. For the umbrella stroller, you get what you pay for. The higher priced umbrella strollers are better balanced, the wheels are of better quality, and have higher height handles.
Baby Carriers- Slings/wraps/ structured carriers/frame carriers. We have them all. My babies liked the wrap the best. We used the baby k'tan wrap. I tried the moby wrap but could never get it right. The baby k'tan wrap it like the moby but so much easier to use. When JD got bigger he loved the frame carrier and still asks to be in it.
Glider- There are tons out there including gliding arm chairs. Sit in them all and see what feels comfortable for you. That's how I picked mine.
Swing- pick one that goes front to back as well as side to side. Some babies are picky.
Vibrating seat- can be included in the bouncy seat or swing. it is very helpful if the baby is colicky, has gas or constipated
Baby food- we started with gerber because it had the least amount of additives. I tried making my own baby food but JD was not into the texture and it is not as easy to do as people make it seem exp since we are working moms. When JD was ready for more advanced flavors (stages 2 & 3) we branched out to different brands to give him a more complex food experience.
Bottles & pacifiers- Don't register for them or ask someone close to you for a "sampler basket" babies are very particular so you may register for one and they hate it and now you have a ton you can't use. Bottle brands that seem to work the best. medula, nuk, dr brown, playtex drop ins. Pacifiers that seem to work best, advent, nuk, gumdrop.
Diapers are in the same category as bottles and pacifiers. Get a pack of pampers, huggies and luvs (we use luvs bc JD has fat thighs) see what he fits best into. If you are into cloth diapers. We loved g-diapers. They are sized and came with inserts. You could chose from cloth or biodegradable disposable.
High Chair- Whatever kind works for your space and is safe. We have a freestanding one for home and one that attaches to a chair for when we were visiting others.
Other toys- Exercise/tummy-time mat, extersaucer, and either freestanding or door frame johnny-jump-ups are all favorites of my boys and give them independent play time. We also love baby einstein videos. Both boys love them and they are really giving JD a jump on his preschool skills.
Hope this helps. If I missed anything, have suggestions of your own, or you have more questions don't hesitate to post.
Books: Loved all books by Dr. Sears on attachment parenting (The Baby Book, The Baby Sleep Book, The Breastfeeding Book) . La Leche League The Art of Breastfeeding. Your Pregnancy Week by Week
Sleeping Arrangements: Whatever works for your family. There are many options and what works for one child may not work for another. We had a cradle, pack-n-play and crib set up around our house in different places to provide different sleep areas for different situations.
Breast Feeding: I recommend Medula brand breast pumps-double electric. I have the freestyle and love it. But whichever one you go with if you are pumping @ work I also suggest getting the la leche league pump and nurse bra. It makes hands free pumping a cinch. You can order them from diapers.com
Car Seats: Infant- Chicco Keyfit 30 and an extra base for your significant others car.
Toddler- Britax Boulevard 70 (2 of them) you won't need them right away but this way if people get it for you its one last thing you have to buy later.
Stroller- we purchased the set that came with the infant car seat and an umbrella stroller. For the umbrella stroller, you get what you pay for. The higher priced umbrella strollers are better balanced, the wheels are of better quality, and have higher height handles.
Baby Carriers- Slings/wraps/ structured carriers/frame carriers. We have them all. My babies liked the wrap the best. We used the baby k'tan wrap. I tried the moby wrap but could never get it right. The baby k'tan wrap it like the moby but so much easier to use. When JD got bigger he loved the frame carrier and still asks to be in it.
Glider- There are tons out there including gliding arm chairs. Sit in them all and see what feels comfortable for you. That's how I picked mine.
Swing- pick one that goes front to back as well as side to side. Some babies are picky.
Vibrating seat- can be included in the bouncy seat or swing. it is very helpful if the baby is colicky, has gas or constipated
Baby food- we started with gerber because it had the least amount of additives. I tried making my own baby food but JD was not into the texture and it is not as easy to do as people make it seem exp since we are working moms. When JD was ready for more advanced flavors (stages 2 & 3) we branched out to different brands to give him a more complex food experience.
Bottles & pacifiers- Don't register for them or ask someone close to you for a "sampler basket" babies are very particular so you may register for one and they hate it and now you have a ton you can't use. Bottle brands that seem to work the best. medula, nuk, dr brown, playtex drop ins. Pacifiers that seem to work best, advent, nuk, gumdrop.
Diapers are in the same category as bottles and pacifiers. Get a pack of pampers, huggies and luvs (we use luvs bc JD has fat thighs) see what he fits best into. If you are into cloth diapers. We loved g-diapers. They are sized and came with inserts. You could chose from cloth or biodegradable disposable.
High Chair- Whatever kind works for your space and is safe. We have a freestanding one for home and one that attaches to a chair for when we were visiting others.
Other toys- Exercise/tummy-time mat, extersaucer, and either freestanding or door frame johnny-jump-ups are all favorites of my boys and give them independent play time. We also love baby einstein videos. Both boys love them and they are really giving JD a jump on his preschool skills.
Hope this helps. If I missed anything, have suggestions of your own, or you have more questions don't hesitate to post.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Old mommy & New mommy
Becoming a mom for the first time was wonderful. Becoming a mom a second time is twice as wonderful and twice as difficult. Not only do you have to be the mom you have always been to your older child but you also have to give your new child everything you gave the first. Learning how to multiply your time and energy instead of dividing it is a challenge that I welcome every day.
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