A friend posted an article on her facebook page, that supports my own personal views on parenting babies. I’ve never been a “cry it out” kind of Mom. I just couldn’t do it. I never felt it was the right way to go with my children. Although, I have friends who swear by the Baby Wise method, it just wasn’t for me. With my first child, every little whimper she made I ran to her side. I held her constantly, and nursed her around the clock as an infant. She co-slept with us for the first 4 months of her … Continue reading →

If you think a baby will solve your unhappiness, you might be right. But, not for about 18 years. I was watching Oprah earlier this week, and she had an entire show about happiness. The thing that caught my attention was when they talked about whether or not having children will make you happy. The majority of the audience said yes. However, studies have shown that parents are the happiest when their children turn 18. Why does anyone want to have kids then? While this can seem like a depressing thought, it shouldn’t discourage us from having children. Motherhood is … Continue reading →

I’m holed up in my room with a laptop, a 32 ounce bottle of orange Gatorade, and a body full of aches. It’s flu season and I have not escaped its wrath. Unfortunately, having the flu also means I’m quarantined from my toddler, which has been harder for me than battling this nasty bug. For the past two days, my husband has become our son’s primary care giver, giving me the chance to recuperate. I find myself torn between appreciation for the rest I’m getting and missing my little guy. Last night, my husband brought him into our bedroom to … Continue reading →

There comes that inevitable day for every mother when the burden of daily self-sacrifice, lack of sleep and the constant barrage of needs and offenses finally takes its toll. A wave of guilt follows a perfectly normal and expected response to the hectic lifestyle of motherhood: I don’t feel like being a mom today. I’m sure there are days when an astronaut looks out of his spaceship and wishes he were back on earth. I’m sure the president sometimes wakes up in his White House bedroom and wishes he were back in Chicago. Every job, every privilege and every dream … Continue reading →

I’m going on a date with my husband tonight! We don’t get too many of those anymore, so I am really looking forward to it. After talking with a lot of my friends, I have come to the conclusion that for most couples, date night doesn’t just get put on the back burner after a new baby arrives, sometimes it gets taken off the stove altogether. I can count on one hand the number of dates we have gone on in the last year and a half. If you discount all the weddings and group things we have gone to, … Continue reading →

When the weather gets frigid, the babies and toddlers get antsy! It’s hard to play outside and get those wiggles out when the cold air stings your nose and numbs your toes. After being holed up in the house for a few days, everyone starts to get cabin fever! One of my favorite things to do when it gets cold outside is pack up the little man and drive to the mall. The mall is the perfect hang out spot for multiple reasons: 1. It’s a break for me. I can strap my son into the stroller and window shop. … Continue reading →

Have you heard of the baby food diet? I was reading about it this afternoon and one writer’s experience with testing it out for one week. He lost 6 pounds eating just baby food and one adult-size meal per day. I think you’d have to be pretty desperate to lose weight to try this diet. I have had my fair share of baby food and I can’t imagine eating so blandly for a week. I always made a point to taste test everything before giving it to my son when he was eating purees. I didn’t want to give him … Continue reading →

We’re moving tomorrow, and I’m a bit apprehensive about it. I can’t wait to be in a new place, and I’m definitely excited to be in a bigger house. What I’m worried about is how my daughter will handle the move. In past experiences, I’ve seen how much she loves being at home. When we’re away, visiting family or friends, she handles it well. However, naps and bedtime are always a bit more difficult at a strange house. When we finally arrive back home, I can almost see her body relax. If she could purposely sigh, I think she would. … Continue reading →

I left my daughter with a sitter for nearly 8 hours last week. In a row. For some of you, that’s a piece of cake. For those who know me well, it may as well have been a miracle. My husband and I were getting together with friends, and we decided our 10-month-old probably would much rather be at home playing with toys. We called up Grandma and Grandpa, who were more than willing to help us out in our time of need. When it was time to go, I kissed my baby goodbye without feeling any stress. I had … Continue reading →