Parenting

Posted by Jane Highley on March 11, 2012

Top 10: Things To Do in the 3rd Trimester

Currently, I’m 27 weeks with my third child, a boy.  His two sisters are quite excited, although I’m not entirely sure that my soon-to-be middle child understands what’s going on, other than noticing that there is less “lap space” to sit on Mommy for bedtime stories.  I feel huge.  Really huge.  Already.  And based on my past two healthy deliveries, I’m more likely to deliver right around 39 weeks, but of course, this baby could throw me for a loop by arriving much sooner or making me wait way past my due date (which is late May).  So while I still have the energy, clarity, and motivation, I have decided to create and tackle a “must-do” list of tasks for this final (and most challenging) trimester.  Though I only list ten below, don’t ever think even for a nano-second that my list could be so simple and easy.  This is a blog post, not a manuscript for the latest parenting how-to book.  I could easily list more, but I’ll let all of you helpful readers crowd-source more “to-do”s that I probably haven’t considered!  But I’ll be grateful nonetheless for your input.

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Posted by Meagan Church on March 9, 2012

Mom’s Alone Time

I have always appreciated alone time, but yesterday was one of those days when that time couldn’t come quickly enough. It just came in the form of a trip my pre-kid self never would’ve counted as a getaway.

My middle child decided that right before naptime would be the appropriate time to throw a massive tantrum. What was the cause? She wanted to pick out the Captain America book to read before going to sleep. Why couldn’t she pick it out? Because her brother already had. But here’s the kicker: we were all going to read the book together. It wasn’t like she would be missing out on the wonderful literature that the book is. That didn’t matter to her 3-year-old mind. She just cared that she wasn’t the one who got to get it off the bookshelf and hold it. I started off by trying to understand and reason with her. That got us nowhere. So then she was given a choice: choose a different book or go to bed immediately. She finally calmed down enough for us to read together, but as soon as reading time was over, she lost it again. (more…)

Posted by Zoe Quinton on February 29, 2012

Grief and Motherhood

The beginning of this month marked the third anniversary of my father’s death. In a lot of ways, it was the hardest one yet, simply because I spent the entire day (and week preceding it) very much aware that my dad will never see his grandson. But in other ways, it was also the easiest one yet, since my mothering duties kept me from wallowing and feeling sorry for myself.

Before having a baby, difficult emotional times would find me curled up in bed with a book, escaping the world for a day or two at a time. Now, my highly active and curious eight month old won’t allow me that luxury. No matter what’s going on with me, I have to get up in the morning and take care of his needs, just the same as any other day.

Inevitably, he chose that same week to finally pop his first tooth. I tried to make space for myself to sit with my emotions whenever I could, and I tried not to get too frustrated with my boy when I couldn’t. Mostly I just got through it. I’m not one for bottling up my emotions, but sometimes that’s just what you gotta do.

Thankfully, on the day itself, my husband came home from work early and took the boy out to give me a little bit of alone time. Great, I thought. I can finally have a good cry if I need it, and a little bit of space to sort through my emotions and thoughts.

Instead I fell asleep on the couch. Go figure. (more…)

Posted by Amanda McFadden on February 27, 2012

Bye Bye Babyhood

For the last 15 months, I have been attempting to savor every minute with Caleb, my youngest baby.  I hold him a little tighter and a little longer than I held my other two.  We’ve co-slept and breastfed more frequently and longer, too.  He’s basically lived in the Ergo carrier, and he’s even earned the nickname “Titty Baby Supreme” because, well, because he is.  For most of his life, he’s been happiest when he has been held, carried, or worn by his mommy, and I have liked it that way!

I have wanted him near me or attached to me constantly because I know that he’s our last baby.  I know how fast a baby’s first couple of years fly by, and I know how much I will miss it.  It pains me to think about him not being a baby anymore (If you are now thinking that I should just go ahead and have another baby, please read my earlier blog post Baby Fever), and the thought of weaning him from breastfeeding practically sends me into a panic attack.  Try as I might, I cannot stop the clock.  He’s becoming his own little person, and I have to let him grow and explore the world, as much as I want him to stay close forever. (more…)

Posted by Meagan Church on February 24, 2012

Au Revoir, Newborn Fears

I’ll be honest; I’m not much of a newborn fan. At least generally speaking. I prefer the stage when they get a bit older, more interactive and independent. Or at least that’s how it has been in the past. When Jonas was born, I was overwhelmed and afraid. I didn’t know what to do with this little, helpless, crying kid. I feared the day when Matt’s paternity leave would end and I’d be left alone with this little creature. Of course that day eventually came and I somehow figured things out, though I was a bit tentative and uneasy at first.

When Kenna came along, I was still worn out from Jonas. I wasn’t really sure I was up for another baby, but we wanted them to be two years apart. Jonas was such a bad sleeper that I was still exhausted from him. Nevertheless, Kenna joined us and then we decided to put our house on the market when she was only a few months old. That meant I was especially exhausted and much of her babyhood is a bit of a blur to me.

I didn’t know if I was ready for a third child, but away we went. Would I remember what to do with a newborn? Would I be able to survive on less-than-ideal sleep? Then Adelyn was born. From day one, I felt at ease. Sure some of it was knowing how to change a diaper, initiate nursing and care for the umbilical cord. I’d been there and done that. I have enjoyed her first three weeks more that I did with the other two babies combined. Gone are the hesitations and even the exhaustion I felt with the first two. Don’t get me wrong; I’m still tired, but it’s different. (more…)

Posted by Sessilee Lu on February 20, 2012

Am I Hurting My Baby?

I’m now four months postpartum. Little D was born in late September. Together, we had a great fall and holiday season at home enjoying each other’s company. It was lovely, warm, and sweet!  We got to know each other, learned each others’ tics and schedules (I yell, she cluster feeds) and it was bliss. Promptly, with the new year, I was back at work (13 weeks maternity leave) and Little D was ensconced in full-time daycare.

The hurting in the title of this post does not refer to my daughter being at daycare.  I love daycare!  My 5 year old, still in daycare as  Pre-Ker, has been dropped “in school” since he was three-months old and we are the better for it. As Little D grows, I know I will neither have the patience nor creativity to give her what she needs in entertainment, activities, and learning experiences (a day home from work to me means tv time and vegging out – just saying). And frankly, selfishly, I want to go out, make money, interact with adults, enrich myself professionally, and further my career (more about that in another post). Daycare is a win-win in our family.  So, why am I questioning whether I am hurting my baby?  Well, the poor little one has had a constant stuffy nose for as long as I can remember. Having entered daycare, Little D’s cold and runny nose have just gotten worse.  With a runny nose, comes encrusted boogers.  Yes, I said it and yes, I’m blogging about it. Boogers. It’s a universal annoyance to parents. Like poops, boogers are talked about in our set (they even sell wipes branded  as “Boogie Wipes”).

Little D’s cold has resulted in boogers that range from wet and bubbly to hard and mask-like.  Her poor little nose! (more…)

Posted by Jane Highley on February 14, 2012

Top 10: Newborn Must-Haves

I love lists, especially if it’s not a terribly long one.  And 10 is manageable.  Inspired by a certain late-night show’s regular segment, I decided to launch a short TOP TEN series (emphasis on “short”) on anything relevant to getting ready for a new baby.

Before reading any further, however, here are a few qualifications about this list (and others forthcoming).

Qualification #1:  I am expecting my third child (a boy), so I am compiling this list with some experience behind me, not as a first-time mommy.  I’ve had hits and misses with lots of baby products, so my past experiences with babies 1 and 2 (both girls) will largely inform my picks listed below.

Qualification #2:  I plan to breastfeed and pump, but I don’t plan on using any bottles until at least 2-3 weeks after the delivery.

Qualification #3:  I deliberately omitted the obvious items (e.g., diapers/wipes, crib, stroller, car seat) because I didn’t want to insult your intelligence.

Qualification #4:  This is a list specifically for the care of newborns, not necessarily for Mom (or parents), which is why you won’t find a baby carrier or nursing pads listed below.  I hope to address that in a separate list.

Qualification #5:  This list is a means to an end – I’m sharing mine with hopes that you will share yours.  If you have a “must-have” product that I didn’t mention, please comment below!  There is nothing like the honesty of other mommies who’ve put products to the real, raw test of newborn-care. (more…)

Posted by Sunny Gault on February 13, 2012

Birthdays: A Whole New Perspective When Pregnant

Today is my birthday. I’m now 34 years old, which is strange because I don’t feel a day over 33.

Seriously though, everyone keeps asking me what I’m going to do on my special day, and to tell you the truth, I really haven’t thought about it much. I guess that’s what happens as you get older, you start thinking more of other people and less of yourself. In fact, I’ve already accomplished the most important task on my plate today, which is calling my mother.

For as long as I can remember, I would call my mother at my exact birth time, 11:02am. Even at an early age, I thought it was more important to focus on the woman who gave birth to me. After all, she did all the work, right? My mom was in labor for four hours with me, without any medication. Today she reminded me of how (to this day) it is still considered the most painful experience of her life. She’s then quick to assure me it was all worth it and how appreciative both my parents are of the woman I have become. It’s actually very sweet and usually results in a few tears. It’s a great way to start your birthday. And it really is the beginning of the day, considering I was born on east coast time, but live on the west coast. So, I’m actually calling my mother at 8:02am. Yes, we are THAT hard core.

I call my mother every year, and that will never change. Yet, today feels different.

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