I want to say to anyone who is a new mom or new dad that your are doing a great job. Most new parents have a really tough time adjusting to the newest member of the family. Becoming a new parent is the hard part. Our culture, our families, our friends seem to not want to share this information with expecting parents. No one describes the magnitude of how difficult being a new parent is. My doctor and nurses never mentioned or discussed the difficulty of the days after ba

This idea for birthdays is my new favorite. Let me back up a little and explain. Kids have brought an enormous amount of stuff into our home. This all started with baby showers before they were born, and then continued with every Christmas, birthday, and holiday in between. My oldest soon turns four, and with this knowledge comes the dread of the onslaught of gifts we will receive. Then, I read about a fiver party. This idea is the perfect solution to the overwhelming pr

Another app that I found helpful while pregnant was The Bump. This app tracks baby’s development as he or she grows while pregnant. It has a 3D model of what baby looks like at each week of development, and describes how baby is growing and changing. The Bump app also has helpful articles related to pregnancy and preparing for baby's arrival. If you are looking for a great resource covering all things baby and pregnancy, I recommend this one. #thebump #thebumpapp #bumpapp

This Radio Flyer Wagon is the perfect size for little ones learning to take their first steps. It's solid and stable giving little ones a secure walking toy to hang on to. I have also had plastic walkers and found that my little guy would loose his balance and the walker would easily teeter over. This wagon remains upright and does not tumble over like other walkers do. The wooden sides in the bed of the wagon slide out and are removable which we have found out can also be

So, this is a warning for expecting Mommas who haven't had their first baby yet. Once you announce to loved ones, colleagues, and friends that you are pregnant, brace yourself, your body will now become an object to those around you that can be discussed openly, and as if you are not there, and can be touched without invitation. Let me explain. Once you are pregnant, all bets are off, as far as personal space, boundaries, and discussing how big you are or aren't. Now that

The bath support by Angel Care is my go to for infants. The perforated seat is a soft, flexible material that is comfortable for little bodies and allows water and soap to wash through. The perimeter of the seat is hard plastic. The design reclines babies at an angle, so, it is easy to wash, rinse their heads, and not get soap in their eyes. The raised shape of the seat between baby's legs prevents them from sliding down which Woody demonstrates. If you are looking for a

Huggies OverNites prevents leaks overnight when little ones' regular diapers are not doing the job. These are more absorbent and save me from having a crying kid in the middle of the night, and from changing sheets in the middle of the night. So, if you are in the same spot with nightly leaks, give these a try and let me know what you think. You got this Momma! #overnites #huggies #huggiesovernites #overnight #night #nightdiaper #leakydiaper #momhelp #momadvice #help #advi

Naming a human is hard, but it should be. This is a name that our little ones will have for life, so, it is okay for it to be a challenge. This is what worked for us when we tried to figure out what to name our little guys. So, let me back up, we were a little different than most new parents. We decided not to share our little guys’ names until they were born. Here are some reasons why: First, usually when a name was shared with friends, family, or coworkers, they would off

There are a few apps that I have found to be helpful while in the midst of taking care a new baby. Baby Feed Timer is one of those apps. It's a one time price of $4.99 in the app store. I have used it for both of my kiddos. This helps the first few weeks or months when I wanted to keep track of which breast I last fed on, and how long has it been since their last feeding. This app also has the ability to keep track of how long they sleep, how many wet and dirty diapers th

Eli Eli’s labor was hard (see post Expect the Unexpected).  My experience with Eli at the hospital was very different from my experience with Max due to several things, but I want to share the main ones in the hopes that it will help future expecting parents. After I had Eli, I got to see him briefly, and then he was accessed by a NICU team due to the presence of meconium, fancy word for baby poop, when my water was broken. Everything looked good, and then I got to do skin t

No matter how many books, articles, or blogs you read, you can not know how your labor/delivery is going to go. Your body and your baby are operating on their own, and you are along for the ride. I don't know every possible scenario, but I can share my experience with you, to help maybe take away some of the mystery. I'll walk you through my two labor stories, first with Eli and then with Max. Eli So, my first labor/delivery was no bueno. I was due the week of spring brea

Things you will need for potty training: 1.) Patience, there are three things you can not force your kiddo to do: eat, sleep, or poop. I have to take a step back sometimes, and realize my little guy wants to please me most of the time, and understands I'm not happy if things aren't going so well with potty training. This transition will not last for ever. 2.) Long weekend with no bottoms, no diaper, no underwear. This helped get a jump start on progress. Keep in mind, the

This is one of my must haves in the nursery. It's great to be able to shine a light on my little one, so I can easily see where I need to, and get him cleaned up quick, and in a fresh diaper. Most likely the changing station is going to be against a wall. When I'm standing in front of the changing area where my baby is resting, I am blocking the light from the overhead light, making it harder to see what I am doing. This is especially true in the wee hours of the morning,

All the things. You will accumulate a large amount of stuff for your little one. This is a comprehensive list of what you will need for your munchkin from birth through the toddler years. There are a few things I did not cover. For instance, toys, everybody has different preferences for what types of toys to introduce to little ones, and inevitably kiddos will be bombarded with toys for every birthday and Christmas. Have fun selecting toys to share with your new family m

Alright, something I did not expect when I had my first little one at the hospital was the number of people who were allowed to enter our hospital room that were not doctors or nurses, and did not work for the hospital. I want to give a heads up to any first time mommas, so hopefully, you can be on your guard, and communicate to the nurses, who you want coming into your room, when you are most vulnerable after having a baby. With our first son, we were naive (read more about

The diaper bag can become an unruly, heavy thing with a mess of supplies that are confusing, hard to find, and the wrong sizes, gah! Here's my list of things that you need for both a baby and an older toddler. For Baby 1. Diapers. Ten diapers should be in your bag at all times for your little one. If you go on an overnight trip or a longer vacation, plan on bringing 10 diapers/day, or if you need to pack light, plan on picking up diapers when you get to your destination to

Expecting your first little one? This is what I would bring to the hospital, and what I would have told myself if I had to do it all over again. I hope it helps. You got this Momma! What I would bring to the hospital: 1. Change of clothes to go home in (maternity clothes) something comfy and easy to put on including a nursing bra that’s comfy and stretchy (your boobs will get enormous (engorged) and be painful a few days after birth and then settle down to “normal size” i