Dear Christian,

Happy 14 months old! Every day I look at your face and think to myself that you are swiftly turning into a little boy, and no longer look like a baby. My Mr. Cheeks seems to be Mr. Cheeks no more….How does that happen?

Look out world Christian is fully on the move! It’s amazing how quickly you became so good at walking! You started at Christmas by taking wobbly steps, and now you basically run. This month started with you looking like Frankenstein when you walked, and now you are a pro. Of course you still fall…ALOT….but you are building confidence. Sometimes you think you don’t have to pay attention to where you are going, but I hope you learn that no matter how good of a walker you become, you still have to watch where you are going!

You are hesitant to use your words. I have a feeling it’s because I anticipate your every need before you ask for it. Maybe I need to step back a bit? You call me Ma Ma, and Daddy Da Da. You say Yes, and Wow. Out of all the words I try to get you to say daily I am not sure why those stuck? We work on animal sounds and you do your version of a Lion, Pig, Horse and Bee. Again, I am not sure why those stuck in your head, but it makes me proud.

One thing you do excel at is sign language! You can sign Finished, More, Food/Eat, Milk, shoes, and Please (we are working on manners). I wish I could sign more to you, but I am learning as you do. You are picking it up quickly, and in no time you and your daddy will be able to talk about me with out me knowing what you are saying. I warn you now that I won’t be pleased!

Why won’t your teeth come in faster? I feel so bad that you are in pain every day. As of now you have 5 teeth (3 on top, 2 bon bottom), with 1 more that has been working it’s way in for the past 4 weeks. I wish they would just pop through! As much as it would be painful, I know it would quickly come to an end. I promise to try to make you as comfortable as possible.

The terrible two’s has already began. You certainly have a mind of your own and are not afraid to tell me when you need or want something. And if I don’t jump the moment you want it you scream. No good little man! Mommy quickly needs to show you who’s boss. Not only that you like to give everyone what we like to call “the stink eye”. You furrow your brow and frown. It’s not a nice face, and I find myself apologizing to everyone who is unlucky enough to get this horrible look.

Eating is our biggest challenge. The world is much more exciting than any food that I put on your plate. Fruit and yogurt always make it into your belly, but everything else is hit or miss. I even have to hide veggies in other foods to make sure you get your share. My new motto is “you will eat when you are hungry”. Let’s just hope enough nutritious food is making it into your belly.

You are now fully attached to your blue bunny blanket and your Nuk (pacifier). You have slept with your bunny since you were 6 months old, but now bunny comes with you everywhere that I will allow it. As for your Nuk, if I let you, you would have it in your mouth all the time. To stop that I try to keep it hidden in your crib, but you are much to smart for that. It makes it’s way out of there every day. Personally, I think it’s sweet that you have things that make you feel safe, so for now I am happy that you have them.

I am having the best time of my life with you my little man. I love your squeezy bear hugs, and I cherish every moment of our cuddle time. Every day is a new adventure, and I love sharing every day with you.

Love, Mommy

I was surfing around Pinterest the other day, and I kept seeing all these beautiful beaches and locations that I could only dream about visiting. Then I reminded myself that maybe someday I really could go a fantastic beach getaway. It would be MARVELOUS! Then I thought about it a little more….would I ever REALLY get to enjoy a “relaxing” vacation again? As a mom can I ever really “get away”? Will a vacation every feel like it used to ever again?

I am not ready to leave our son for a period of time longer than 1 night at this point. I’ve only done it one time, and I am not rushing to do it again right now. The Captain and I really need some “us” time, so I am mentally preparing myself for a two night trip I am planning in early summer. I have signed my parents up as babysitters, and I am booking it. We really need some time away. I am hoping by then I will feel ready to get away. Even if not, then I am sure once I get there all will be good. But I know that my son will always be on my mind. What is he doing? Is he fine with out me? Most of all I will miss him. Heck I even miss him after I put him to bed at night!

Then I begin to think about our future trips. The bigger ones. The ones that include a plane flight. If it’s just Captain Awesome and I lounging on the beach will I ever be able to fully relax? Will my mind ever truly be able to drift away into margaritaville like it used to? Even if I am dying to get away, I have a sinking feeling the answer is no. I never will be able to truly forget my life back home like I used to.

I am looking forward to taking vacations with my son also, but again I am fully aware that it will never actually be a vacation. Even if it is at the beach I can’t get lost in a book, or sip cocktails till I fall asleep. Not any more. My son will need my full attention. Sure, maybe The Captain and I will get a nice dinner out if we are lucky enough to travel with the Grandparents, but it will never be the same.

I am so thankful that I got to travel so much pre having kids. The Captain and I went away many times and enjoyed every second of it. It’s just weird to think how different it will all be from now on.

Do you agree? Will my vacations forever be changed?

How  to identify colic

According to Dr. Bob, colic is a digestive disorder that leaves babies gassy and uncomfortable. This leaves them cranky. When babies are uncomfortable the only way for them to tell you is to cry. My son was not colicky, and for this I was thankful. I can only imagine how hard it is, that no matter what you try you are unable to make your baby comfortable.

Some causes and treatments of colic

Based on this interview, it seems that Dr. Bob puts a connection between colic and the inability for baby to digest either the milk proteins in breastmilk or cows milk based formula. Now, a new study shows that it could also be caused by a temporary lactose intolerance. This new find has brought on a new product called Colief, which is a lactaid drop that is given before each feeding for breastfeeding moms, and into the formula for formula fed babies. This Colief has been over in Europe for a while, and now is just coming into the US. I can only imagine the relief it can give some parents who have felt lost with no help in site.

Keep in mind that this Colief can only help those babies who’s colic is caused by a temporary lactose intolerance. Not when it’s caused by an intolerance for milk protein.

If you are looking to get more information about this new find you can go to www.relievecolic.com , and you can also follow Dr. Bob’s tweets @colief to get the most up to date information!

I am having a bit of a struggle. It’s one that I find myself dealing with almost every day and it’s one that causes me a lot of stress. I am not a good eater. It’s by no means my parents fault, and it’s not something I am proud of. My favorite restaurant is Friendly’s, and I prefer anything fried over anything healthy (I know I am not the only one). The thing is that I really wanted it to be different for my son. I wanted him to eat better than me. I wanted to provide him with healthy options, and it seems that my desire to have this happen isn’t enough. I guess he truly is my son, because he will spit out broccoli and eat pizza. Who could blame him right? We seem to have meal time struggles every day.

One day breakfast will be a success, then the next nada. One day a turkey sandwich at lunch gets gobbled down, and the next day not one piece will touch his lips. Dinner? Forget about it. That seems to be a struggle almost every day. I do my best to provide a healthy dinner. I make special things for him only to have him turn his nose up at it. How frustrating is that!?

Dinner has become a bit of a court jester act by Captain Awesome and I. Here’s how it goes…I start dinner before The Captain gets home. He gets his veggies and main course…doesn’t eat a bite. I get frustrated, and when The Captain gets home he takes over. With a lot of coaxing dinner normally gets eaten. That is with a little help of “The Fresh Beat Band” playing on the laptop on the kitchen table. Ideal? No way! But some sustenance gets into his belly.

I have been stressing myself out alot about it, but to my relief I found myself reading “What To Expect The Second Year” and found that it is totally common in toddlers. The book said that we think toddlers need a lot more food than they actually do, and if we paid attention we’d see that over the course of a week they actually do get all the food they need. Think serving size in spoonfuls vs. bowlfuls. That made me feel much better about our situation.

New plan? Offer food through out the day and don’t stress. If he’s hungry he will eat. Offer him good choices and all will work out. No more laptop at dinner, and no more tricks to make him eat. I really don’t want to start that bad habit. Let’s hope my new plan works. Let’s hope my son doesn’t waste away to nothing and starve!

Did/Do you have toddler eating woes?

My little fuzz head is a fuzz head no more! Captain Awesome and I finally took the leap and took our little man for his first hair cut. Ok, if I am being honest it was me that was holding us back. I just didn’t feel like he I was ready. But after many a nap where he woke up with his hair standing all which way, with nothing I could do, I figured it was time that he got his first big boy hair cut.

My biggest criteria that he got to sit in some sort of kid chair. Whether it be a car, or airplane, I knew I didn’t just want him to sit in a regular seat. My next criteria was that I didn’t pay a fortune for a kids cut. You’d be surprised at how expensive it can be! I just couldn’t pay $30 for his hair cut when mine costs $37. I just wasn’t going to do it! So we ended up going to Rafeal Barber Shop in Plainview.

One Saturday morning The Captain and I packed up our little man and went to the barber. We chose the Lightning Mcqueen “cars” themed chair and were ready to go. I made it CLEAR that I didn’t want much cut off. The guy was great at working with Christian’s “mood”. He kept swinging his head around like “who is this guy and why is he touching my head?”. They put on a movie, although that wasn’t much of a distraction.

The Captain and I danced around trying to distract him by whatever means necessary to make it through the cut without complications. In the end we succeeded! Pictures were taken and we were on our way.

We got home, and I called my friend to talk about the experience. She said “so did you keep the hair for the baby book?”. Then my heart fell people. I DID NOT KEEP THE HAIR! I burst into tears immediately and she had to talk me down from calling myself the most horrible mom in the world. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it! How horrible am I?

The Captain tried to console me as much as possible. I was in complete tears by now. He was like “we can fix it”, and I was like “no we can’t”. In the end we cut a small piece off ourselves for the book. It’s not the same….It’s just not. I am still so mad at myself!

Can you keep a secret? I’m going to take hair from his 2nd hair cut and put it in the book. Either I’ll forget that it was from the 2nd, or it will be something I’ll laugh about later. For now I still feel horrible.

Other than that we made it through with flying colors…my little man has officially been to the barber!

I have been working from home since 2003, and have been thankful for it every day. I loved never having to go to an office, and I have always loved the freedom of my job. When I found out I was going to be a mom I felt lucky that I would be able to stay at home with our son as well as provide some income for our family. But if you ask me what I do for a living I would tell you I am a mom. Yes, I work…but my main job is taking care of my son. Therefore, I officially consider myself a Stay at home mom (SAHM), and I am proud. But I have to be honest and say it’s not easy. Even though I have always been home, somehow this new job makes it different. I am now trying to find my place as a SAHM.

People think I sit home and eat Bon Bon’s all day. In their minds I have it so much easier then they do. But I will tell you that’s not true. I’m not saying mom’s who go to work have it easy…by no means…I’m just saying that it’s not easy to be home either. As a matter of fact sometimes it’s rather lonely.

I feel like I am a new kid in a new school. I don’t have many SAHM friends, and I know that I want to meet them. So I decided to put myself out there, but it’s not always easy to make new friends. I feel like it’s important for me to find women that I am happy to meet up with and Christian is happy to play with their child. Sometimes it’s nice to know that I have social interaction during the day. One main problem is finding someone that you actually want to be friends with…now that’s the tough part!

My days are filled with toys, gymboree, errands and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I love it, but I certainly am still finding my place. I have felt like I had a place for a very long time, so this feeling of being a bit lost is odd for me.

Don’t worry too much about this girl because I know I will find my place soon. Maybe when we find a new house I will get involved in my new town and really find a place. For now, I may wander a bit, but no matter what I know I have my little man and Captain Awesome by my side (along with amazing friends and family!). The SAHM life is a new adventure that I am excited to take…hold on tight…I have a feeling it’s going to be a wild ride!

Photo courtesy Maija’s Mommy Moments

At 13 1/2 months my son how decided that he’s a big boy. He thinks he can spoon feed himself (he can’t), and now thinks he deserves plates and bowls. None of that would be a problem if he could, in fact, use those items. It’s no big surprise what happens when a plate or bowl goes on the tray. It gets thrown to the floor of course! We LOVE the game “watch mommy pick up the things I throw!”. It’s a household favorite. But now I was lucky enough to find a product to end all of that. The Baby Diner Dish Holder allows my little man to have the big boy act of having a plate, but also makes sure that plate stays put on the tray!

The Lil’ Diner Plate Saver was invented by a father who was frustrated with the restaurant experience since becoming a parent. Although parents loved the convenience of the The Plate Saver, they wanted a tool to use at home on the high chair also.  That’s when the Baby Diner  ($14.99) was created. The Baby Diner utilizes the same top suction cup feature for securing dishes as The Plate Saver, but instead has two super strong suction cups to attach to all types of smooth table tops or high chair trays.

I love that my son still “feels” like a big boy, but mommy knows that it is a controlled situation. I’m not promising that food won’t go on the floor. Of course he still loves to drop food. But I can say that these suction cups hold strong, and keep the plates and bowls firmly on the table.

I love products out there that are created by parents, because that’s who knows what is needed. Who better to create a dish holder than a man who was tired of their kid throwing their plates and bowls on the floor? The answer is NO ONE! The Baby Diner Dish Holder is a great idea. Definitely one that many of you will think…”hey I wish I thought of that!”But you didn’t….so 3 cheers for the people who did!

I was provided with a Baby Diner Dish Holder for the purposes of this review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Women can talk, and talk and talk about anything and everything, but sometimes I wonder if we are being honest with each other when it comes to motherhood. If you check your facebook you see all the WONDERFUL things, but what about the hard times? When you are a new mom you are sent into battle with out much of a plan. There is no play book for being a new mom, and even if you already have a child and THINK you have made a playbook, I have a feeling child number 2 will come and you will have to scrap everything you THOUGHT you knew. So I was thinking I’d start a series of posts telling you like it is….for me at least. I wanted to share some of the things that I wish other people told me, as well as the things people did give me a heads up about. I thought I’d start from the beginning and talk about what I found helpful in the hospital. The first edition of new mom tips? Packing for the hospital!

One of the best pieces of advice I got when it came to packing my hospital bag was to pack TWO bags. Yup, you read that right…TWO! It may seem like overkill, but just hear me out. One smaller bag was pack for labor and delivery, and second bag was for when you get moved to your hospital room. That second bag can be left in the car till you move, so when you are rushing into the L&D you aren’t lugging around a huge bag…just the necessities!

So what would be considered an L&D necessity? The answer is…not much! I packed a whole bunch of things I thought I’d use, but lets be honest. You aren’t thinking about much other than the pain.

Packing For Labor and Delivery

• pregnancy binder/paperwork: In here I had all my forms and paperwork that I needed for the hospital. I recommend not forgetting this.
• Camera: Have your camera ready! I am bummed I didn’t get a picture of us BEFORE baby was born, so think ahead about pics you want to take. If you are up for a video camera be sure to have that too!
• Cell phone and charger: I am sure you go nowhere without your charger these days, but it’s something to add to the list!
•  My cord blood kit: was included because I had to give that to the doctors. I was terrified I’d forget this, so I packed it early.
• My own Pillow: I thought I would be more comfortable with my own pillow.
• Sucking Candy: You will thank me for this one. I didn’t pack this, but The Captain ran out to buy me some because my mouth was soooo dry and ice chips weren’t cutting it. Lifesavers will now always remind me of labor!
• Slippers: They give you horrible ones, and it’s nice to have your own.
• Maternity/Nursing Pajamas: These can probably be put in the other bag, but I liked having them just in case. I stayed in my hospital gown till after I showered. Either way I recommend bringing your own. I also recommend a bathrobe.
• A soothing visual: I laugh at this one because I packed a flameless candle to relax me. I never used it, but I still think it is a good idea.
• Soothing Music: If you have an Ipod or MP3 I think it would be fun to pack it. I didn’t pack this, and I remember Captain Awesome putting on a soothing music station on the TV in the room. He put this on when I was pushing. It definitely wasn’t at the forefront of my mind, but I definitely liked it.
• Page from baby book/Men’s white T shirt: I was so happy to get this tip from our Lamaze coach. Bring the page from the baby book so that you can get foot prints put on! The T shirt for the same thing! My husband now has a white shirt with his sons feet on it, and we will bring the same one for our next child!

Packing For Your Post Labor Hospital Room

• Clothes to go home in: Comfort is key, so I recommend sweatpants, but keep in mind you WILL NOT go back to your pre pregnancy body right away. I was told you will still look 7 months pregnant post baby, so be sure to bring maternity ware.
• Clothes for baby to go home in: I was so excited to pick this outfit out. Keep in mind it may be rough because you don’t know how big your baby will be. I always thought I needed newborn, but if your child is born over I think 9 lbs, newborn will be too small!
• Pajamas: I put this above, but wanted to also put it under this category. You will be happy to have something comfortable. Make sure it’s appropriate for visitors to see you in!
• Throw Away Underwear: I was so happy to get this tip. I went to Target and bought HUGE granny panties that I knew I would throw away. I PROMISE you are going to be so gross post baby that you will be happy you brought this. They provide you with throw away undies, but they suck. Bottom line.
• Overnight Pads: Buy the biggest and longest pads you can buy. They give you them, but they suck. I was so happy I brought my own.
• Toiletries: Pack all the basics. You know what they are. I also included the little waterless toothbrushes to keep myself fresh for visitors.
• Nursing Bras: If you plan on nursing be sure to have these. Bring the pads for them too!
• Entertainment: Whatever it may be…books, music, Ipad, magazines. You get the idea. The night will be LONG! I don’t remember what I did during that time, but best to have it.
• Snacks: Food isn’t always readily available, and hospital food may not be all that great. Having a snack to munch on is always good.

I am sure I will think of more, but I think this list covers it pretty well. At least in my opinion. Don’t be afraid to bring what keeps you comfortable. It’s all a very overwhelming experience, so anything that can put you at ease is worth packing.

Remember to leave the hospital with more than you came with! Take all you can home…blankets, diapers, wipes, ice packs you name it, I took it! Hey…I paid to stay there right!?

Did you bring something to the hospital that you felt was helpful? What is your MUST bring item?

He Said: Why is Fresh Beat Band so stupid and unrealistic?

She Said: It’s more real than Family Guy

He Said: There is no way! Family Guy is much more realistic! Who is supervising these kids?

She Said: Why is there a talking dog who goes on dates?

He said: Why do they break out in song?

She said: I love to break out randomly in song! (I totally do!) Why does Peter fight with a big chicken and why does Stewie talk and go on dates?

My Mom: You are both losers for having this conversation….

Well played mom….well played….the truth hurts.

I have always loved to be the hostess. Whether its for a quiet night in, game night or a nice dinner party I prefer to have people over to my house. It’s not that my house is set up great to entertain (it’s not), but I just truly enjoy having people over. Am I good at it? Not necessarily, but it’s fun. That all changed when I was pregnant and especially when I had my son. For some reason I lost the desire to host things at my house. It was the dinner party that really got pushed aside. When my son was born I couldn’t even make dinner for myself let alone others. The good news is that after over a year I finally have that desire to host again. How great is that!? I’m back to being the hostess!

It kind of came out of no where. The Captain and I decided to have people over for New Years Eve. Even though we ordered in food, I brought out my china and crystal and we had a nice dinner. I lit candles and cleaned the house and it was fun! Then the next week I suggested we invite 2 couples from my Captain Awesome’s work over for dinner. This time I cooked! We did appetizers, entre (Rachel Ray’s Lazy Baked Greek Chicken)  and dessert and I loved it! The little guy was put to bed and I was able to start my night. I loved the feeling that I COULD do this.

Later that weekend I cooked dinner for the inlaws (meatballs and sauce), and again, I proved to myself that I can take care of my son, but still make things for others. I am sure for some it’s easy, but for me it all sounded so overwhelming for a while.

In the past I hosted wine tasting parties in the back yard, 80’s themed parties and murder mystery parties. It was so fun! I want to get back to doing that. Who doesn’t love a good theme party!?

My house will never be the cleanest,I will never be the best cook, and maybe someday I will have the perfect home to entertain, but I think what makes a great hostess is someone who looks forward to having the job. Most of all I like people to be comfortable. Sit back, relax and enjoy. This hostess is back….now what should I do for my next dinner party?