The Truth About Breastfeeding, Part 3: Separation Anxiety and Adding Solids

In case you missed them, read part one and part two of the series by guest-poster Laurie to catch up.

They say you can never spoil a baby. But what if baby gets so hooked on one person they don't want anyone else? I've created a Baby Beast, as we affectionately call H now. Because I didn't have a job to return to she got Mama all day every day. It seemed just so much easier to only nurse and skip the bottle. It meant one less thing to clean - especially since our dishwasher is me.

Until C started a new job recently he was working weird hours at work sometimes 8-4 other days 11-7, some days he didn't even have a clue when he would be home. So H got used to be home with Mama and J. It was Mama feeding, Mama changing the diapers, Mama providing amusement and consoling. C tried to help when he was home but the weird hours were getting to him and H wanted one person only.

Even visits to see family would lead to tears if I wasn't the one holding her. And if we tried to have the rare babysitter -- oh, it was horrible. Maximum amount of time for happiness was 90 minutes then her fury came. She hated the bottle, if you got her in the first 90 minutes she would take it only if H thought she was the one holding it.

At H's 4 month appointment her doctor said she'll grow out of it eventually and that she's seen worse cases. We were told to keep trying the bottle, surprise surprise it didn't work. On the upside though she was reaching or surpassing the expected milestones. We also got a new activity to try - solids.

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until 6 months to introduce solids. When it comes to introducing solids to your baby there are different options. Like us many parents choose to start with a baby cereal such as rice or oatmeal then later give purées. With purées you can either make your own or buy jars pre-made. There is also baby led weaning. With baby-led weaning (BLW) you introduce little finger foods that baby can to themselves. A lot of parents that choose BLW wait until a minimum of 6 months if not longer.

A popular first food for with this method is avocado. Other then being only 4 months she showed signs of being ready. She would watch us eat and mimic chewing motions. H also had very good neck control - a must for a solid eating baby. With H's doctor's approval we began introducing baby oatmeal mixed with breast milk. Our hope was the cereal in her belly would help ease her reflux. If it wasn't for that we would have waited a bit long to introduce.

We began with a tablespoon once per day and slowly increased over a month. H's reflux seemed to be improving with less spit up. We tried introducing the bottle and H didn't want anything to do with it. Only successful time she took a bottle no issue was one time I gave it to her. She threw a fit if C or anyone else tried.

Other then the bottle hating, feeding-wise everything was going well. H enjoyed her morning oatmeal and was still nursing like a champ. At 5 months old her doctor gave approval to introduce purées. Again, we began with a tablespoon or so once a day. It was in addition to her breakfast of oatmeal. We started with the stage one purées since they were smoother. The ones H wasn't fond of from being too runny we added a little oatmeal to thicken.

Now, H is 7 months old and doing great with her solids. Going by her pediatrician's recommendation we're doing three meals a day. Morning is a jar of fruit purée with oatmeal mixed in for breakfast or half a cup of baby yogurt with probiotics. The yogurt we only do twice a week. Lunch is half a jar of purée veggie mixed with half a jar of meat purée with a little bit of multigrain cereal to even out the texture. Dinner is the same as lunch. It's important to follow your baby's lead for when they're full. H rarely eats a full jar usually about 2/3 or 3/4.

We've given up on getting her to take a bottle. I had asked H's pediatrician about trying a sippy cup instead. So a couple weeks ago we purchased a Munchkin Latch sippy cup. The reviews I read on Amazon showed a lot of babies have success taking the sippy when they wouldn't take a bottle before. SUCCESS! She loves to use her sippy cup. I have just been putting about 2 ounces in it at a time so it's not too heavy for her to lift. H hasn't figured it out completely yet but she likes trying!

Thanks for following along on my journey! As H continues to grow I will share the next leg of the adventure.

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About the Author
Laurie is a stay-at-home mom to two little girls -- a baby and a 5-year-old -- and is stepmom to a 5-year-old daughter. Living in New England, she has a big Australian Sheepdog along with the kids and her husband. She enjoys music, decorating cakes and Doctor Who.

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The Six Mom Camps of the Breastfeeding vs. Formula Battle

Heads up, moms. I'm giving you fair warning now, while you can still prepare yourself and build a thick skin for what's coming. You're about to stumble into a hotbed of heated debates. There is no way to avoid it. You will get the side-eye, no matter what you choose, as someone won't be happy with your personal, none-of-their-damn-business choice. You will find your nearest and dearest, who you never thought capable of it, extolling the virtues of their choice as they try to make you one follow suit. Moms you've never met are about to pounce on you in the store and even online. No one is safe. You, my unwitting friend, are about to be blindsided with the new breastfeeding-or-formula-feeding throw down. There are six main camps of moms you're about to encounter.

The Breast is Best, Screw the Rest Mom
This mom is loud and proud about her breastfeeding. No covers or modesty for her. If baby is hungry she'll whip that boob right out while sitting in the middle of a crowded room and leave the other uncovered for good measure as well. She'll be the one glaring down everyone within 50 yards, daring them to make one comment about her tatas flapping in the wind. Should you dare to mention formula, you'll get an hour-long lecture about the evils of it and the horribleness of the moms who would dare to expose their children to such horrors. As far as she is concerned, if you don't breastfeed you don't care about your baby enough and are not a good mom. Every mom can do it, if she really wants to.

The Breast is Best, But Do What's Best For You Mom
She's a firm believer that breastfeeding is best for babies, but also understands that not all moms can breastfeed. She supports everyone's choice and recognizes that it's a very personal decision. When feeding her baby, she may whip out the boob or keep it covered up. It's her choice, please don't make a thing about it. As long as the babies are fed, she doesn't give a care how it's done. Why can't we all just get along?

The Do Whatever You Want, Leave Me Alone Mom
This mom may breastfeed or formula feed. She doesn't really talk about it and is usually discreet with her method of feeding no matter what it is. Quite frankly, she doesn't give a damn, my dear, how you feed your baby and doesn't think it's any of your business whether a boob or a bottle nipple is served up to her baby. If you try to start a debate with her over baby feeding, she'll probably ask you how the weather is. If you still don't get the hint, she'll mysteriously be hearing the baby cry to escape your soap boxing.

The Breast Feeding Didn't Work Mom
This mom tried breast feeding and gave it her absolute best shot. It simply, for whatever reason, didn't work. Maybe she didn't produce, the baby didn't latch, it drove her to the edge of her sanity, or her milk just didn't have the needed nutrients. There are many valid reasons why breastfeeding doesn't always work, and she knows it. She wanted to nurse her child and feels bad for using formula. Seeing "breastfeeding is best" on the formula cans, reading it all over the internet and having it shoved down her throat at every turn is more upsetting than she'll admit. Preaching at her about breastfeeding and giving her tips is just a slap in the face. She's heard it so often she's about to puke. Given the chance, she'll tell you to back the heck off and mind your own leaky tits, hers are dried up and the damn formula is just fine.  

The Formula is Great, Save Yourself a Hassle Mom
She has heard all about how breast feeding is best, but she also knows formula is just fine. Either she tried breast feeding and found it to be too much of a hassle or avoided it all together after hearing it's not always so easy. She also may or may not find the idea of another human sucking on her nipples to be gross. Happy with her choice, she stands behind it and encourages other moms to do what's best for them. Don't like her choice? Good for you, she doesn't care. So stop with the guilt trip.  

The Formula is Best, Forget the Breast Mom
These moms tend to be a rare breed. She doesn't go in for this breastfeeding thing. Formula was the go-to for years, why is everyone going on and on about boobs now? Give it a few years and everyone is going to be yammering on about formula again. She knows formula is best and doesn't care what anyone else says. Pass the formula can, please, her boobs are staying right where they are.

The Rest
Many other moms fall somewhere in between these camps. It's amazing how heated people get over the personal choice of how a mom feeds her a child. Wait until you're in the hot seat about your decision. I wish you luck.





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Family Fun at Mystic Aquarium

As part of our recent escape from daily life, we planned a trip to Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn., to get in some much-needed quality family time. M2 love animals of any kind so we knew she'd love it. It was her and Baby B's first time at an aquarium. My mom came along for the full multi-generational family experience.

We went on a Tuesday and were surprised how many people were there. Mystic Aquarium is a popular place to be with all the nifty activities available. The aquarium is set up pretty cool. You enter through an outdoor circular entrance area that branches off via different paths to the indoor building, 3D movie theater and sea lion theater and the outdoor exhibits. It's like a little village, complete with wooden walkways and a cute restaurant. The set up makes you feel like you're more a part of the aquarium and interacting with it.

The outdoor area is really neat with a walking path that takes you around lakes with frogs, the penguin section, the sea lions and the beluga wales. Unfortunately for us, the day we visited there was a pretty consistent downpour. We didn't get to enjoy the outside parts as much as we would have in nice weather. Even with the rain, it was fun to see all the arctic animals. None of us had ever seen beluga wales before. We spent a good amount of time watching them swim around and send off spouts of water into the air. The penguins were enjoying some fish when we stopped so M2 got to watch them being fed.

Inside, there are so many hands-on exhibits to engage the kids (and adults). Three touch tanks with rays, sharks, shelled critters drew my attention. I am much too chicken to actually touch them (I'd jump and scare the poor things!) and M2 has a bad habit of splashing water all over so we watched others enjoying the tanks.An area to dig up "bones" in a "sandpit" was an area M2 loved. There was even a Jeep, polar bear and dog sled to pose with for pictures. There was a lot more, too, I can't even remember it all! The aquarium really draws in and helps the kids to learn, engaging them rather than just showing. We had to check out the cute sea lion show which lets you see the cute critters in action.

My favorites were the jellyfish -- some even lit up!! -- and the angel fish. Angel fish have always been my favorite since I was a little kid. Another highlight for me was the Titanic exhibit. I've been obsessed with the Titanic since my first trip to the library when I was seven (long before the movie). It was so neat to see the displays. One showing shoes was especially touching as it explained that there are no bodies at the site of the wreck. The bodies would have disappeared within 5 years due to the ocean environment, leaving nothing behind but the shoes the people wore as they fell. M2 loved the ray and shark tanks. A came right up to the glass to greet her. She was thrilled to make a new sea friend. Even Baby B stared at all the tanks, enthralled.

We all had a great time exploring the aquarium and could even have spent more time there than we did, especially if it'd been a nice day. If we have the chance to, I would totally go again! If you're up in Connecticut, be sure to stop by Mystic Aquarium to check it out for yourself.



This post is sponsored by Mystic Aquarium.

Wherein Life Throws Many Punches

The past few weeks life has changed around here. A lot. It's been one big change after another for our family. A new diagnosis for M2, a job change for A, opportunities that fell through for me and a new fence (about the only fun one on this list).

To start with, M2 got the diagnosis of mild-moderate autism. We'd been told by her current therapists that we should have her tested. At baby B's checkup, we mentioned to the doctor, who is also M2's doc, that we wanted to get her checked out per the therapists' recommendation. I was amazed when he said there was an appointment the next morning. We'd thought there would be a 6+ month wait.

I took her in for the evaluation since I'm with her most. Having A and B go along would have been more distracting as we'd have to chase B around, too. The developmental pediatrician spent over two hours evaluating her. He picked up things I'd never even realized were related to autism. Anything I said to try to convince him that maybe it's not autism just proved his point more. By the end of the appointment, he was confident in his diagnosis. While it's nice to know exactly what's going on, and that I'm not making it all up in my head, it's also difficult to be told your child is autistic. It's not something she'll just grow out of, we don't know what caused it and it's not something we can just fix. Right now, we're still looking into options for therapy and other avenues to pursue to get her help. The hope is that since she's mild-moderate, over time she'll learn to adapt and it'll seem more like quirks than big issues. Right now, the big tip off that something's going on is her speech. She just has not improved and the usual therapies haven't helped. We know now that it's because it's related to her autism, not one of the usual causes for delays. You can read more about the diagnosis and what that day was like here.

Just after this happened, we found out that A's job is giving him a large pay cut. When things are already pretty tight that's a huge blow to receive. We're still figuring out how to deal with it and what we're going to do. One route was me finding a work-from-home job that's more stable and pays more than my current blogging and freelance. I had a job pop up that I spent all of last week prepping my resume, writing samples and practicing interview techniques for. The company was moving fast so I thought it was a great sign. There were a few "huh?" moments when my contact there said things that made me wonder if she'd even read my resume, but I pushed it off. 

At the interview, I found out I was right. They'd had no intention of hiring me, they were most likely trying to reach a quota so they could hire someone they'd already selected. The interviewer was nothing short of hostile from the start. Seriously, who asks you, "What would the person who hates you MOST in the world say about you?" Umm, that I suck? Nothing good, that's for sure. After all, they hate me. The interviewer was not impressed when I tried to turn it around to be something positive. I've never had an interview like it before. I was seriously in shock the whole time with what was going on.

Ten minutes after the interview had been scheduled to end, after the office had closed, I got a form email telling me they weren't hiring me. My guess is that it was already scheduled to go out after the interview ended. It was another blow, especially since I'd worked so hard and thought I had a good shot. Now, we're back to figuring out where to go from here. There are no real answers and much of it is being based on chance and luck. That's not something I deal well with, I like to be able to work toward a goal and have backup plan. And a back up plan for the backup plan. I work hard to not end up floundering. This time, there isn't much of a choice and any route isn't going to be fun or easy. Right now, I'm going to be upping my freelance work as much as possible. (If you know of someone who needs a writer, editor or proofreader, send them my way!)

On the weight-loss front, I've been back sliding. As you can imagine, there's been a ton of stress, uncertainty and changes. Logically, I know that things could be much worse. Emotionally, it's not a great time for me. I'm an emotional eater and have been eating more than I should while all this has been going on. Not really junk food, but still more than I should and not as healthy as I should. Last week rather than losing, I gained a pound. I'm working on getting back into the portion control and healthy choices. Exercise is happening more often at least. I'm determined to get back on track and keep losing.

The one upside lately has been that our new fence for M2 has finally gone in. Since she's a runner, we haven't been able to let her play outside much. It's simply not safe without the fence. Now, she can run all over the yard and play while I'm outside with her. I'm really looking forward to spending time with her and baby B outside enjoying the warm weather.

On the blog side of life, I have some great posts planned for the coming months. There is going to be the rest of my The "Fat Kid" Tells All series to start with. I'll also be sharing more of our journey with M2 as it progresses.

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Wherein Life Throws Many Punches

The past few weeks life has changed around here. A lot. It's been one big change after another for our family. A new diagnosis for M2, a job change for A, opportunities that fell through for me and a new fence (about the only fun one on this list).

To start with, M2 got the diagnosis of mild-moderate autism. We'd been told by her current therapists that we should have her tested. At baby B's checkup, we mentioned to the doctor, who is also M2's doc, that we wanted to get her checked out per the therapists' recommendation. I was amazed when he said there was an appointment the next morning. We'd thought there would be a 6+ month wait.

I took her in for the evaluation since I'm with her most. Having A and B go along would have been more distracting as we'd have to chase B around, too. The developmental pediatrician spent over two hours evaluating her. He picked up things I'd never even realized were related to autism. Anything I said to try to convince him that maybe it's not autism just proved his point more. By the end of the appointment, he was confident in his diagnosis. While it's nice to know exactly what's going on, and that I'm not making it all up in my head, it's also difficult to be told your child is autistic. It's not something she'll just grow out of, we don't know what caused it and it's not something we can just fix. Right now, we're still looking into options for therapy and other avenues to pursue to get her help. The hope is that since she's mild-moderate, over time she'll learn to adapt and it'll seem more like quirks than big issues. Right now, the big tip off that something's going on is her speech. She just has not improved and the usual therapies haven't helped. We know now that it's because it's related to her autism, not one of the usual causes for delays. You can read more about the diagnosis and what that day was like here.

Just after this happened, we found out that A's job is giving him a large pay cut. When things are already pretty tight that's a huge blow to receive. We're still figuring out how to deal with it and what we're going to do. One route was me finding a work-from-home job that's more stable and pays more than my current blogging and freelance. I had a job pop up that I spent all of last week prepping my resume, writing samples and practicing interview techniques for. The company was moving fast so I thought it was a great sign. There were a few "huh?" moments when my contact there said things that made me wonder if she'd even read my resume, but I pushed it off. 

At the interview, I found out I was right. They'd had no intention of hiring me, they were most likely trying to reach a quota so they could hire someone they'd already selected. The interviewer was nothing short of hostile from the start. Seriously, who asks you, "What would the person who hates you MOST in the world say about you?" Umm, that I suck? Nothing good, that's for sure. After all, they hate me. The interviewer was not impressed when I tried to turn it around to be something positive. I've never had an interview like it before. I was seriously in shock the whole time with what was going on.

Ten minutes after the interview had been scheduled to end, after the office had closed, I got a form email telling me they weren't hiring me. My guess is that it was already scheduled to go out after the interview ended. It was another blow, especially since I'd worked so hard and thought I had a good shot. Now, we're back to figuring out where to go from here. There are no real answers and much of it is being based on chance and luck. That's not something I deal well with, I like to be able to work toward a goal and have backup plan. And a back up plan for the backup plan. I work hard to not end up floundering. This time, there isn't much of a choice and any route isn't going to be fun or easy. Right now, I'm going to be upping my freelance work as much as possible. (If you know of someone who needs a writer, editor or proofreader, send them my way!)

On the weight-loss front, I've been back sliding. As you can imagine, there's been a ton of stress, uncertainty and changes. Logically, I know that things could be much worse. Emotionally, it's not a great time for me. I'm an emotional eater and have been eating more than I should while all this has been going on. Not really junk food, but still more than I should and not as healthy as I should. Last week rather than losing, I gained a pound. I'm working on getting back into the portion control and healthy choices. Exercise is happening more often at least. I'm determined to get back on track and keep losing.

The one upside lately has been that our new fence for M2 has finally gone in. Since she's a runner, we haven't been able to let her play outside much. It's simply not safe without the fence. Now, she can run all over the yard and play while I'm outside with her. I'm really looking forward to spending time with her and baby B outside enjoying the warm weather.

On the blog side of life, I have some great posts planned for the coming months. There is going to be the rest of my The "Fat Kid" Tells All series to start with. I'll also be sharing more of our journey with M2 as it progresses.

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Top 15 Items for New Parents

Having two kids in two years, a boy and a girl, I've learned what items are
important to have during the first year. These are items that I use, LOVE, and simply couldn't do without as a mom.

1. KinderGlo portable nightlight
These are awesome. You can get different animals and shapes (elephant, dragon, bear, moon, owl, hippo, T-rex, brontosaurus, and angel) that change colors. It's not too bright or too dim, either. The light-up part comes off the charger base so you can move it around the room at night when changing diapers or doing checks. Or, your child can sleep with it closer to the bed when needed. 

2. American Baby mattress cover
The best mattress cover I've found, and I've tried a bunch. It's plush and soft without being too thick, keeps the bed a bit warmer in winter without being hot in summer, is organic, and holds up well. It actually fits over the mattress to cover the whole thing without having that annoying edge where it's the sides rather than the top covering. I recommend line drying, if you can.

3. Davinci Kalani crib
We've had one of these for each kid, plus my sister has one for her two. It's sturdy, look nice, and don't break the bank. Even better, it converts to a toddler bed, day bed, then full-size bed. M2 has jumped up and down on hers endlessly and it still stands without issue.

4. Emily mattress by Davinci
The mattress works perfectly with the Davinci cribs. Without being too pricey, it's good quality with an infant and toddler side.

5. Graco changing table
I know some people say to skip the changing table, but I love it. It's so much easier than bending over a bed or crib, plus it offers extra storage. When B is older, we're going to turn his into a bookcase. The Graco ones are stylish, sturdy, and affordable.

6. Playtex ventaire bottles-- 6 oz. and 9 oz.
I'm not a fan of the glass bottles that are heavy, hard to transport, expensive, and could break. We've used these for both kids, as have a number of family members. The new design has made them even better. Just be sure to hand wash (as you should with all baby items anyway). B has reflux and these bottles work great for him. You can even get a starter gift set.

7. Graco swing and bouncer
The three-in-one swings are AMAZING. Since it plugs in, you don't have to worry about going through tons of batteries. It can be used as a swing, swing and vibrating seat, vibrating/bouncy seat, or just bouncy seat. Really, a four-in-one. M2 and B both have loved it. We've had the same one for both.

8. Graco travel system
I love, love, love our travel system. We got it for M2 and are now using it for B. For me, it's easiest to be able to take the car seat in and out, rather than baby when they're so little. Being able to snap it right into the stroller comes in handy, too. You can also get just the car seat or just a stroller. Graco strollers I found to be the sturdiest, easiest to put up and collapse, easiest to maneuver, and best bang for your buck. Even at 8 months pregnant, I could still easily fold and pick it up. We're using M2's for B now and it still looks brand new.

9. Britax Boulevard convertible car seat
This seat is consistently rated as one of the safest out there. It fits easily in our sedans. M2 finds it really comfy. You can use it for infant all the way up to front facing. If you don't want to have to get an infant seat then convertible, you can just get this one from the start.

10. ERGO baby carrier
I love, love, love our ERGO. It's easy to put on, doesn't hurt by back or shoulders at all, feels supported, and supports baby ergonomically.

11. Medela Lanolin
Lanolin is a must for breast feeding. It's also great for diaper rashes since it's gentle and natural. The Medela brand is my favorite as it's not overly thick and hard to use like many other kinds. It's nice and smooth, ready to use.

12. Huggies Little Snugglers, Pampers Swaddlers, Pampers Baby Dry or Luvs diapers
These are the best diapers for babies. I like the Huggies and Pampers ones equally for wee babies and go by which is cheaper. When baby is crawling, I go for Luvs or Pampers Baby Dry over the others. The Baby Dry ones can take you from newborn to walking. They're equally soft, absorbent, and even have cute characters on them. The wetness indicator lines come in handy with small babies. Start out with some size newborn and some size 1. Amazon subscribe and save combined with Amazon Mom saves you even more on these brands. Check for coupons on the listings as well, there's often the option to clip and save. I have yet to find cheaper in store, even with coupons.

13. Huggies Wipes
So many wipes rip, aren't big enough, wet enough, or thick enough. Huggies are great and you can get them for even cheaper than some store brands when you use Amazon Mom.

14. Baby Oil
Baby oil is perfect for getting the icky cradle cap off of baby. Put some on during bath time, comb over it repeatedly and gently until it comes off, then wash baby's hair twice to get the oil out.

15. Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
We have two of these, one for each kid. Whenever the kids get a cold or cough, the humidifier gets pulled out and put to use. The Crane ones are adorable and fun. They hold enough to run all night, even on high, doesn't leak, has a good out put, isn't huge, and is easy to clean. There are lots of cute ones to pick from -- elephant, tiger, penguin, owl, frog, cow, pig, monkey, duck, panda, Hello Kitty, dragon, hippo, and dog.

Don't forget
Amazon offers a baby registry where you can add items from any store online. It helps keep everything together on one list rather than having to have so many different ones to keep track of (and your gift givers to get confused by). Amazon even offers a completion discount of 10 percent, 15 percent if you have Prime.

Sign up for Amazon Mom for lots of monthly savings on diapers and wipes. Get a free 30 day trial.



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You'll Never Know

Standing at the counter, giving my daughter the last of the milk, poured out of my own glass because that's all that's left in the house and she MUST have some, I realized something. There are so many little things, like this simple milk sacrifice, that she'll never really know about. So many things I gave up or did, just for her. Just because I love her.

No child knows, or ever fully understands, all their mom does or went through for them. Though, we moms really wish they would. Maybe they'll get it when they're older. Maybe. It's all stuff moms hold inside, memories an feelings that make us the moms we are.

You'll never know how much I wanted you and how afraid I was that you'd never come. How much I struggled monthly when, again, no matter how hard we tried, there was no positive pregnancy test.

You'll never know how stunned I was when the pregnancy test FINALLY was positive. Or how shocked I was with your brother because we weren't even trying, yet there it was, even though I'd been sick as hell the last time I ovulated. The doctor was amazed, too. Your brother seriously wanted to be born. You'll never know that despite being shocked and stunned, I also had already known I was pregnant the moment it happened. I just couldn't believe that in 9 months, there would be you.

You'll never know how scared I was when, at 28 weeks pregnant, the doctor said
you probably had hydrops. Or how relieved I was when the specialist told me, "WTF was the radiologist looking at?! That's skin! You're supposed to have skin! Were they looking at the chubby cheeks? Gee, it can't be normal at all for babies to have chubby cheeks, can it? The radiologists your doctor works with are always messing shit up, freaking people out, then sending them to me for no good reason!"

You'll never know how certain I was about having a girl first then a boy. Long before you even existed, mind you. Call me nuts, but I was right, down to the month you'd both be born.

You'll never know how much that 41 hour induced labor hurt. Seriously, at 37 hours in I was begging the doctor to make it stop after the failed epidural that made it worse. Every single time I pushed, I asked her how many more until it was over. You took your sweet time and wanted it your way, that's for sure. That hasn't changed.

You'll never know how special your name truly is. Or how wonderful the women you were named after were as they died long before you were even born. I'll tell you the stories someday, when you're older, but it won't do them justice. They were amazing, just like you.

You'll never know how much your father and I argued about what name to give you. Your father seriously came up with some "creative" names. I still hope to this day that he wasn't really serious about some of the ones he suggested. He had to have been screwing with me.

You'll never know how much our lives truly changed completely after you were born. From job, less money, and where we lived, to giving up time out alone (what's date night?!), having "special adult time" often, and parting with lazy days in bed, nothing is the same. I changed every aspect of my life for you. And I'd do it again.

You'll never know how I worry about every. little. thing. because I want you to be happy, healthy, and live a long life filled with love.

You'll never know how much your father and I fight because we both want what's best for you. We just sometimes can't agree on how to do that.

You'll never know how absolutely insane you make me sometimes. Seriously, some days I just want to take a month-long vacation. Alone. Far away. Before I rip out all my hair, scream so loud the neighbors think I'm going totally freaking insane, or start speaking parseltounge like Harry Potter. Only, I wouldn't be speaking snake, I'd be spouting gibberish because of the insanity spell you so rudely cast upon me.

You'll never know how I gave you the last slice of cake just because you asked so cutely. I really wanted that cake, too. That cake took me 3 hours to bake from scratch and I love cake. I wouldn't have given it up for anyone else.

You'll never know how much I worry about being a good enough mom or how often I wonder if maybe I really am not all you deserve.

You'll never know how crappy I felt every night we have a bad day. Yes, you were being a total terror, breaking everything, absolutely out of control, but I still feel bad for having yelled.

You'll never know how much I sometimes just don't want to be touched, hung on, climbed on, jabbed, poked, prodded and just want to be alone. Yet, I miss you when you're not around and having you to hug and cuddle is absolutely amazing.

You'll never know how guilty I feel getting new clothes, even when I really need them because my old ones are falling apart or don't fit (yay, weight loss). Why the guilt? Because I feel like I'm taking something away from you by spending on me.​

You'll never know how much I long to hear you say, "I love you."

You'll never know how you make life worth living. The years before you were really just time spent waiting for you. Without you, life would feel empty.​

You'll never know how much you are worth all of this. And more. You'll always be my baby.

Chew-Choos Sweet Pea Silicone Teething Necklace

M2 and B always seem to be chewing on everything. B chews because he's teething. M2 chews just because she likes to. I usually avoid wearing necklaces because both end up grabbing it and trying to chew it. I then end up getting choked or worrying the necklace will break. I don't want my jewelry broken or for them to choke on it, so I just don't wear necklaces. That's a major bummer as I love necklaces and some outfits need their finishing touch.

Then I heard about silicone teething necklaces. They promised to be the answer to all my non-necklace-wearing, kid-teething-and-chewing mama woes. I got to try the Chew-Choos sweet pea silicone one by Baby Pinch in exchange for this review. Baby Pinch is a stay-at-home mom business, which is an added plus in my book. I love supporting fellow moms in their endeavors.
to my chewing-and-teething-kids, no-necklace-wearing mommy woes. 

I was worried the necklace would look like cheap plastic, not breakaway as promised, be too heavy to be comfortable, or that the kids would hate it. I shouldn't have -- none of those are a problem at all. It's great!

The necklace looks really stylish and the color is beautiful. It's like a regular bead necklace, only chewable and with a break-away clasp in case one of the kids yanks too hard. (Mama doesn't want to choke!) It doesn't come off too easily either. Perfect! The beads have a diamond-like cut to them, making them look nifty and not at all like pieces of silicone. That also gives it an extra texture, making it even better for teething and chewing kids.

Each purple, black, turquoise, or blue necklace is 28 inches long on a silk cord. If you want it shorter, you can trim it easily to shorten it. To wash it, stick it in the dishwasher or just hand wash (both are safe, according to Baby Pinch).

Baby Pinch says the necklaces are organic food-grade silicone and free from BPA, PVC, phthalates, cadmium, lead, latex, or any harmful toxins. The FDA-approved silicone is also hygienic, hypoallergenic, and resistant to bacteria.


*Baby Pinch is responsible for providing the coupon code to the winner. I will notify them who the winner is, they take it from there. I have no control over fulfilment of the prize to the winner. If you do not have Amazon Prime, you may need to pay shipping charges. ARV of the necklace is $14.99.

Affiliate links are included in this post. You can find the disclosure and policy here. I received this product at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Your experiences may differ. 

Giveaway: Chew-Choos Sweet Pea Silicone Teething Necklace

M2 and B always seem to be chewing on everything. B chews because he's teething. M2 chews just because she likes to. I usually avoid wearing necklaces because both end up grabbing it and trying to chew it. I then end up getting choked or worrying the necklace will break. I don't want my jewelry broken or for them to choke on it, so I just don't wear necklaces. That's a major bummer as I love necklaces and some outfits need their finishing touch.

Then I heard about silicone teething necklaces. They promised to be the answer to all my non-necklace-wearing, kid-teething-and-chewing mama woes. I got to try the Chew-Choos sweet pea silicone one by Baby Pinch in exchange for this review. Baby Pinch is a stay-at-home mom business, which is an added plus in my book. I love supporting fellow moms in their endeavors.
to my chewing-and-teething-kids, no-necklace-wearing mommy woes. 

I was worried the necklace would look like cheap plastic, not breakaway as promised, be too heavy to be comfortable, or that the kids would hate it. I shouldn't have -- none of those are a problem at all. It's great!

The necklace looks really stylish and the color is beautiful. It's like a regular bead necklace, only chewable and with a break-away clasp in case one of the kids yanks too hard. (Mama doesn't want to choke!) It doesn't come off too easily either. Perfect! The beads have a diamond-like cut to them, making them look nifty and not at all like pieces of silicone. That also gives it an extra texture, making it even better for teething and chewing kids.

Each purple, black, turquoise, or blue necklace is 28 inches long on a silk cord. If you want it shorter, you can trim it easily to shorten it. To wash it, stick it in the dishwasher or just hand wash (both are safe, according to Baby Pinch).

Baby Pinch says the necklaces are organic food-grade silicone and free from BPA, PVC, phthalates, cadmium, lead, latex, or any harmful toxins. The FDA-approved silicone is also hygienic, hypoallergenic, and resistant to bacteria.



I love this necklace so much that I'm doing a giveaway with Baby Pinch so you can win your very own! You'll get a special coupon code to get your choice of sweet pea necklace for free.* You can also find them on Amazon for $14.99 each, which is a good price, I think. Entry period closes at 12 a.m. May 5.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 


*Baby Pinch is responsible for providing the coupon code to the winner. I will notify them who the winner is, they take it from there. I have no control over fulfilment of the prize to the winner. If you do not have Amazon Prime, you may need to pay shipping charges. ARV of the necklace is $14.99.

Affiliate links are included in this post. You can find the disclosure and policy here. I received this product at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Your experiences may differ. 

Position Opening: Stay-at-Home Mom

All stay-at-home moms have been there. The dreaded, "What do you do all day?!" and, "My, being a SAHM has got to be easy, you can just nap, drink coffee, and watch TV all day!" comments. Anyone who has been a SAHM knows there's plenty to do all day and very little time to watch TV and drink coffee (especially if you want it hot) let alone nap.

I then got to thinking. What would a job description for a SAHM look like? I imagine it'd go something like this:

Position: Full Time Stay-at-Home Mom of Toddler and Newborn
Hours/Days: 24/7, 365
Pay: No monetary compensation; hugs, cuddles and kisses are given as payment
Vacation days: None
Sick days: None
Travel: None
Medical/dental/vision benefits: None
401k: No
Location: Live in

Note: This position is not for the faint of heart or someone who cannot be fully committed. It is not a position for everyone. Every mom must decide what is best for her and for her family. All positions, in or out of the home, are equal in difficulty and all moms' choices should be respected.

Job description
We're looking for an energetic, self-starter who can take a house and make it a home on a tight budget while caring for, educating, entertaining, and being the sole person responsible for two spirited children during work hours.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Responsibility for all the children's needs, education, health, and entertainment around the clock. Children must be supervised at all times
• Develop fun activities, outings, and crafts that are age appropriate

• Read to children daily, sometimes the same book over and over
• TV is to be limited and no other forms of advanced electronics (iPads, tablets, phones, etc.) are permitted
• Drive children to/from activities, doctor's appointments, and where ever they need to go
• Keep track of and schedule needed doctor's appointments
• Maintain schedule for entire family, balancing and scheduling social calendar, appointments, errands, cleaning, etc.
• Plan and prepare all meals. Must be nutritious, balanced, yet meet the requirements of the children whose tastes vary daily. Eating out is very limited
• Clean and maintain home, including monitoring maintenance needs and arranging for and supervising repairs
• Do laundry, estimated at 2-5 loads or more a week
• Maintain children's wardrobes, including ability to save money on clothing, plan ahead, buy appropriate sizes, sort and organize clothes to grow into and already outgrown
• Track all household supplies and food to be able to replenish as needed, while saving money
• Run errands, at times with children who may or may not be tantruming
• Perform all household tasks while caring for the children
• Determine, set, and follow a budget, along with paying all bills on time and in full while maintaining and building savings
• Breaks and times for meals may or may not be permitted--when permitted, food may be cold and must be eaten quickly
• Showers may or may not be daily
• Must stay up all night and not sleep when required by children
• Obtain and determine correct courses of therapy for special needs child
• Handle any and all emergencies 
• Change lots. of. diapers.

 Experience and skills

• Must have experience as a maid, butler, personal driver, secretary, personal assistant, activities planner, chef, accountant, nutritionist, personal shopper, life coach, teacher, and household manager
• Ability to handle screaming, crying, and whining children without going cuckoo
• Fluent in toddler and baby
• Able to miss breakfast and often lunch, along with all snacks and drinks when required
• Must use bathroom and shower in record time, often with supervision and/or children screaming
• Ability to hold off going to the bathroom for long periods
• Able to go a day or more sans shower
• Must be able to work quickly and multi-task without issue 
• Ability to handle stress 
• Must be able to handle a tight budget with less disposable income

Benefits

• Many hugs, kisses, and cuddles from children
• Watching children grow, change, and learn knowing you had a direct hand in it and didn't miss a thing
• Fun times playing, doing crafts, baking, at the park, outside, and doing other activities
• Seeing your child smile and learn something new
• More time as a family
• Able to blog on the side and freelance
• The best commute. Ever.
• And so, so much more that you really can't describe or explain

Ever wonder what the correct thing to say to a SAHM, WAHM or work-outside-the-home mom is? Find out here.

This article is featured in The Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Mom Survival Guide: When You Need to Laugh.

Product Review: iCustomLabel Baby Month Stickers

I got to try the iCustomLabel baby month water color stickers for free. These stickers have great colors. I love how pretty they look and how they're not gender specific (we try to not have everything be strictly "boy" or "girl" in our house).

Three sheets come in the order, with four stickers per sheet for a total of 12 monthly stickers. I'd like them even better if the stickers were each on a separate sheet, in case you want to prop it up next to baby if they're not cooperating with you putting the sticker on him/her. Each sticker is a good size at 4 inches. Not too large for baby, but not so small that you can't see it. Rather than plain paper, the stickers are more like a very thin, filmy plastic with a nice sheen. I'm glad that they don't seem to tear too easily, as many stickers tend to do.

iCustomLabel has many other designs you can choose from, too. The selection is great, I've honestly never seen so many in one place. At $10 a set, the price is around what other baby month stickers cost.

We're looking forward to using all these for B over the next year! Here he is posing for his three month photo shoot. He loved having his picture taken.

I received this product at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Your experiences may vary.