Have you ever used a baby teething necklace?

This is a sponsored guest post (ad) from a parent writer and loyal fan of Baltic amber. I have not tested the product myself, but it sounds interesting.

When I made the jump from one kid to two, I was anxiety ridden. I knew that at the end of it all, though, I would survive. After all, I had two hands and a husband. We could take this on and be okay. When I found out that I was pregnant with our third just seven months after having our youngest, I was not sure that we would survive. In fact, I laughed at the thought that I was anxiety ridden before. That was an understatement to what I was feeling about three.

My husband played it cool but I could tell with each passing day, his fear of what of going from two to three also increased. As with anything in our lives, when change is on the horizon it is best to prepare yourself for all possibilities. However, I was not prepared for my seven month old to start teething during the throws of my first trimester morning sickness. 

Spring cleaning tips for busy parents

Do you have the spring cleaning itch yet? Life is hectic here, especially in the spring. Soccer season starts up again and the kids want more time to play outdoors. Also, the sunlight consistently streams through my windows - illuminating dust, sticky kid fingerprints, and crummy floors. I would love to be able to keep up with a spotless home, but the reality of kids and activities just doesn't let that happen.

When I do have some time to clean up the place, I like to focus on one task at a time. Helpful cleaning tips are always welcome - anything to save me time.

Spring-cleaning tips for parents

Toys and art supplies
I get overwhelmed when I enter the kids' messy spaces. It is much easier to focus on one task at a time. One spring-cleaning day may include sorting through the books. Another may be tackling the creative explosion in their art area. By concentrating on a small, themed task, I am less likely to run screaming from the room. Of course, getting the kids to help can (sometimes) be beneficial as well. Just make sure they are prepared for a lot of donating and purging.

Sticky fridge
Mix salt and soda water for an awesome refrigerator cleaner. It's like a facial scrub, but for the inside of the fridge! While things are getting removed for de-gunking, take the opportunity to throw away those hidden items that are well past their expiration date. Re-stock the shelves and drawers in an organized manner.


Baseboards and crown moulding
Our white baseboards and moulding love to collect dust, and I hate to stretch and bend to clean it off. Try this hack: Wrap a lightly damp hand towel around the bristles of a standard broom. Secure it on the broom with a rubber band, then walk your way around the house to wipe the dust away.


Clutter containment
My husband cannot understand why I love to bring home new baskets, bins, and shelves. As our family clutter grows, it becomes more and more important to have a place for everything. Obviously, we do not put everything away neatly all the time; but when it is time to straighten up, knowing where to toss each item is a big time saver.

Vinegar can be your spring-cleaning (or all-year-round) friend. To discover my favorite cleaning uses for vinegar, click over here: vinegar for cleaning

The sun is coming back soon! If you need to clean, do it quickly and efficiently. Then get outside to play.

I did laundry and dishes on Mother's Day

Today is my 38th birthday. I am finishing up some of the kids' laundry, doing a bit of work... but later today, I will enjoy an upscale lunch with my dear husband and no kids! So my birthday will have a special highlight today. I will eat chef-prepared food and I won't have to tell anyone to sit down 19 times. I won't have to take anyone to the potty!

Yesterday was Mother's Day. In the Atlanta area, it was sunny and warm and a perfect example of springtime. My family stayed mostly at home. I did some laundry, I unloaded the dishwasher. Was I upset about that? No, I chose it. The best thing about my Mother's Day was that I did not have to do any of that. In fact, my husband reprimanded me a few times for refusing to sit my booty down and do nothing. I had my fair share of sitting and relaxing. I watched a movie with my daughter, played mindless games on my cell phone, and enjoyed a completely stress-free Mother's Day. I completed a few chores because I felt like it, not because I felt the to-do list looming over me. Sometimes I forget that I have a choice. The days are busy and hectic and I try to do it all for everyone. It was nice to be reminded on Mother's Day that I should simply stop once in a while. 

Moms, how was your Mother's Day? Did you relax? Play? Spend the day away from the kids altogether? There are no right or wrong answers here; your day is what you make of it.

I was loved, and I loved it.  

Happy Mother's Day (a day late)!

Atlanta Baby and Child Expo - April 2016

The 2016 Atlanta Baby and Child Expo is the annual "premier party for expectants and new parents in Atlanta." The expo has been referred to as “the best baby expo event we’ve attended” by TheBump.com’s area representatives.  Parents and grandparents can find “all things baby” for new moms and moms-to-be, as well as their friends & family.

I attended the expo last year and it was an enjoyable experience. The venue is on the small side, so it has a very intimate feel. Brand and product representatives are friendly and helpful, offering giveaways, coupons, and advice about the latest and greatest baby and small child gear. Alas, my kids are ageing out of the need for most of the products featured, but I absolutely recommend the expo to any expecting or brand-new moms (and grandmas!) in the Atlanta area. You will go home with great ideas, a baby registry wishlist, and a few goodies and surprises. Don't forget to enter to win all of the giveaways!  The list of partners, sponsors and vendors from 2015 can be found by clicking here.

If this is the can't-miss event for you, be sure to buy tickets for the 2016 Atlanta Baby and Child Expo, and visit their website for more information.Advance tickets do sell out and you can purchase them now!

Pre-Christmas family fun!

Christmas season is full of activities and family outings. With the record warm weather we have been having down here, we are enjoying more outdoor time and having fun as a family.

We have been busy for a few weeks! To name a few... our preview of the amazing Six Flags Over Georgia Holiday in the Park, elementary school art show, a preschool sing-a-long, and a fun family night at the Lights of Life. Class parties up next! Christmas is coming!

Even if it is 72 degrees outside.

I'm linking up with Really, Are You Serious today for Mommy and Me Monday! Get in front of the camera and join us!

Happy holidays! 

Photo bomb the baby playing with your phone

Andrew enjoys making faces at himself with the phone camera. I enjoy photo bombing his fun photos by copycatting his faces.

Mommy and Me Monday is silly this week!
Linking up with Krystyn at ReallyAreYouSerious.com. She's on her 301st Mommy and Me Monday!
 

Some great baby/newborn advice

Now that my little active guy is a running, jumping, opinionated, finicky - but fun - toddler, my baby advice days may be over. I am personally not a fan of the newborn stages; it can be really difficult!

If you are a new mom looking for some tips or expecting a second child and wondering how he or she will change your family, I have a few useful newborn advice posts to share from my friend Meghan over at JaMonkey.com.

Do's and Don't on how to boost your milk supply

Preparing for a Second Baby

Protect your infant/preemie from RSV

The Proper Way to Wear Your Baby

In addition to parenting stories, product reviews, and advice, Meghan often shares really fun craft ideas and simple video tutorials. So click on over to JaMonkey.com and see what she's sharing this week!

The at-home parent vs. isolation

Moms (and stay-at-home dads), what do you do when you just. cant. take. it. anymore?

After some very difficult weeks with a mucus-filled, poor-sleeping, daycare-transitioning, almost-two-year-old, I had to pose this question to my mom blogger group. I wanted to scream and run away from home, but instead I reached out (through my iPhone) to some of the most supportive mamas I know.

The responses flooded in almost immediately and it was glaringly obvious: the parenting challenge of isolation is very real and very hurtful.

Many mothers stay at home while juggling a seemingly never-ending list of to-dos which could include multiple kids, sports schedules, PTA, work, and more. We do not have frequent time away from home or kids. We do not have the luxury of "let me finish this thought" when drafting an important email and a child is tugging, crying, screaming on/at us. Let's face it, we rarely have the luxury of going to the bathroom alone. Thank goodness for what restraint we have left when the clueless question, "what do you do with yourself all day?".

Despite never being alone, the isolation is there. We are isolated from what we need as adults.

A moment for ourselves: time to slow down

Take a moment for yourself today. Hit the pause button on life for a few ticks of the clock. Think of a word, an adjective. Think of a descriptive, calm word.

For me, that word is deep.

I only have a moment to steal for myself, so this word is a good one. 

Deep breaths in and out.

Deep thoughts.

Deep... in cool cotton sheets of my bed. That's where I want to be. 

The last few weeks have created an intense pressure inside of my brain. Rarely do I have a single  moment of peace. Days are seemingly endless chains of child care, toddler tantrums, snack prep, meal service, and mess clean-up, intermingled with fast email responses via my phone or sneaky segments of time at the computer while the little one watches "Melmo" (Elmo). Work has demands and family members have demands and my phone dings with messages all day; it's not very often than I acknowledge my own demands. Sometimes I feel deeply abused. 

Even nights are interrupted by a toddler who, in the midst of his own stressful transition to daycare, often cries out in his sleep from utter exhaustion. I am Mom, therefore I snap awake to his sounds. More often than not, he settles himself within seconds. Sometimes he needs a simple pat-on-the-back of reassurance that Mommy is still at home. The house is quickly silent again but, alas, my brain was switched on by his cry and cannot resettle. I am always deeply tired. 

I can picture myself deep in the comfort of my bed. Deep in the darkness of the night. Hopefully, deep within a colorful - yet restful - dream. Maybe one where I am deeply happy and deeply pampered. 

Work beckons and so do the kids, but I will remember this simple task. Taking a moment, even if it is simply 60 seconds, to just... stop. And breathe. And think. It can really help to surpass hurdles or break out of a rut. It can give me a little boost to keep on going. 

Sometimes life tries to run away with us. I have to get better at telling it no. 

Even if it's just for a minute.

What's your word today? 

The terrible 18 months

Our little guy is a few days shy of 18 months old. We are right smack in the middle of "the terribles". He is becoming more vocal each day, making different sounds and perfecting his pointing, grunts, and a few words and signs. Unfortunately, it still isn't enough for us to understand what he desires. He gets extremely frustrated!

 Apparently, "the terribles" do not have to begin at age two. 18 months is just about right.

Reasons to meltdown include...

• Mommy gave me a fork instead of a spoon (with my chicken nuggets)
• Mommy won't give me her iPhone
• Mommy is trying to wash the dishes
• Mommy is trying to cook dinner
• Mommy walked three feet away from me
• Mommy won't turn on the TV
• Mommy won't give me a sip of her coffee
• Mommy is trying to work
• Mommy is sitting on the couch (instead of the floor)

Yep... it's basically all MY fault!

Whew, all of that crying can be exhausting! Sometimes the TV is a life saver. No apologies here.

Linking up to Mommy and Me Monday with Really, Are You Serious - who happens to be enduring some 18 month "terribles" herself! Baby B and A just might be conspiring against us.

 

Snips and snails and sugar and spice? #kids

Do you remember "sugar and spice and everything nice" and "snips and snails and puppy dog tails"? Cute rhyme, but my sweet girl and baby boy are so much more.

My boy is made of grins and squeals and lots of meals. He loves to laugh and make others laugh. He has about twenty face/body movements that will crack the grumpiest of grumps. He runs everywhere with pounding little feet and squeals with joy all day long. He also eats a lot. Meals and snacks and more meals and snacks for that guy!

My girl is made of stories and flips and clever quips. She is a writer and teller of magical tales. She spends a lot of time moving, flipping and bouncing in her own hilarious ways. And she has a quick wit that gives us the giggles out of nowhere.

Kids are the best little creatures on earth, aren't they? They simultaneously make me happy and exhausted, and I cannot imagine what I ever did without them!

What's it like in your house? What would your poetry be for your child?
 

Mommy and Me: Selfie Silliness

When Andrew is finished eating at a restaurant, he gets very antsy. I usually scarf down my food quickly or (yep, I'll admit it) hand him my child-locked iPhone. The other night, both kiddos and I went out to the waiting area. Andrew giggled at the rain and passersby through the window and we took a few silly selfies.

Forgive the terrible lighting and fuzzy pictures. Spur-of-the-moment selfie photography, you know. Apparently, it is impossible to get a decent photo with my funny kids! Fun family moments.

 

Wishing you all a happy Monday! We are looking forward to a long weekend with the observed July 4th holiday coming up on Friday.  

I'm linking up this post with Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious for another Mommy and Me Monday. Click on over and join us!

The best parenting advice never expires

There are pros and cons to having children several years apart. Pro: the older one is helpful and can listen to reason. Con: completely different schedules; often the little one is sleeping when it is time to pick up the older one from school or camp.

I am also learning things about parenting all over again. This could be both pro and con. It seems I have forgotten a lot of the stages and phases and challenges from Amelia. In my memory, she was an easy, sweet, and happy child. But when I look back deep into this blog... my hazy memory sharpens a bit. She wasn't always an angel, after all!

The best parenting advice can span generations. There is no expiration date. As I perused past posts from years ago, I fell in love with this one all over again. It was a guest post from a blogger and PhD who may not be blogging anymore - but the advice still holds true.

-----------------------------------------

Give 'Em An Inch...

...and they’ll take a mile, right?

When Julie asked me to guest post, I was 1.Thrilled and 2.Speechless. No, really, I had no idea what I was going to write about. I write a parenting blog. I should have plenty to say! And I do, but I kept thinking, ‘What do people want to read?’ Luckily, Julie gave me an idea- strong-willed kiddos. Sound familiar?!

Why I didn't write a sappy Mother's Day post

There are a few hours remaining in my Mother's Day tonight. Two children are in bed, one sprawled out in his crib with his face to the ceiling and the other still "too awake to sleep", even though it is a school night. I have glanced at headlines and Facebook shares of numerous Mother's Day posts this weekend, and it never occurred to me (until now) that I did not have one of my own.

Sorry, no sappy Mother's Day post here.

I was too busy living in the moments.

I was distracted from computers and thoughts of writing, instead happily fulfilling my roles as the birthday girl (May 9), the wife on date night (hooray for a meal with no baby!), and at-home Mom today. I had a lot more down time than I usually do and it has been nice. I did not cook a meal for two days and that has been awesome. We had no set plans other than our date night dinner, and that was probably the best treat of them all. Our weekends are usually scheduled and very busy. We played at home, broke in the inflatable kiddie pool in the yard, and had the TV on more than we "should". No rules, just us being a family.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the moms out there. I send my hugs and good thoughts to those who are missing their mother, and I send extra special heartfelt prayers to those who long to be called "Mommy" but it just isn't meant to be - yet.

I am grateful for all of the people who have shaped my life into what it is today, and I hope I am properly guiding my two amazing babies towards their own happy futures.

Is 37 still "mid" thirties?

I have another birthday coming up this weekend. Hooray for my annual weekend of birthday and Mother's Day love. My only requirement for the double holiday of ME is absolutely no cooking. Planning meals, grocery shopping, and cooking are some of my least favorite activities. So I look forward to a weekend of excessive calories from restaurant food and dessert. I cannot decide whether my birthday request will be a cookie cake or peanut butter pie. Maybe I can negotiate both (it will be my very special double-holiday weekend, you know).

I am having total writer's block this week, so forgive my ramblings. Perhaps it's my age.

Is 37 still "mid" thirties?

I fear that I have to use the dreaded "late" word... late thirties. My husband turns thirty-nine in about two weeks, so at least I can still pick on him for being older than me. Two years (minus 17 days) older than me, in fact. I win.

Happy early Mother's Day to all the moms out there. And happy birthday to anyone sharing a birthday week with me, whatever your number may be.

These moms are braver than I am: Listen To Your Mother show, April 25th #Atlanta

What are you doing next Saturday night?

No plans? Then I have a suggestion!

Come out to Marietta to support amazing, inspiring, funny, story-telling mamas at the Listen To Your Mother Atlanta show, taking place one night only (April 25, 2015) at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre. Listen To Your Mother features real-life writers and mothers who come together to share "the beauty, the beast, and the barely-rested" of motherhood. I still hold a love of acting somewhere inside of me, and I would have loved to be part of this show. But alas, Listen To Your Mother is real, not acting, and I chickened out of the auditions. I am so excited to see a few fellow local blogging friends in the cast, though!

Listen To Your Mother  began with one show in 2010 and has grown quickly; the 2015 Listen To Your Mother shows are scheduled in over 30 cities this year! The Atlanta show is April 25th and tickets are on sale now! It is going to be a wonderful evening of inspiration, laughter, and probably a few tears.

Learn more, read cast bios, and BUY TICKETS via the website:
http://listentoyourmothershow.com/atlanta/

2014 LTYM Atlanta cast - photo via ListenToYourMother.com/Atlanta

When God made you.... #happybirthday

When God made you, daughter, He smiled.

When He made your eyes,
God said, "a little more blue",
and they sparkled like the sea.  

When He made your hair,
God said, "a little more shine",
and the golden glinted in the sun.

When He made your mind,
God said, "a little more imagination",
and the stories swirled inside you.

When He made your legs,
God said, "just a bit faster",
and now you can run like the wind.

When He made your heart,
I think God added some sugar,
because your sweetness exceeds all the rest.

Stay kind, my dear. Use that mind, strengthen those legs, and be humble despite your beauty. Know that you are special and always, deeply, loved.

Happy 7th birthday to my favorite girl!
  

 

Shhh... Mommy is hiding

I am hiding in my bedroom right now. I dare not make a peep, for you are finally settling down in your own room nearby. You tested me well today, little one.

I am hiding now. Shhhh, don't tell. Close your eyes and drift to sleep. 

I am hiding from the sticky dishes that await in the sink downstairs

...from the scattered crumbs under the table

...from an unfinished project sitting in limbo on my hibernating PC

...from my cell phone that sits downstairs

I am also hiding, in a way, from your Daddy and sister outside. I could go out and play, but I just want to hide. Savoring silence. I am hanging on to the only free moment I have managed to grasp today.

It is quiet in here now that you have assumed your sleeping position: face to the side, little rear end up in the air, one arm clutching a favorite blanket, your body smooshed into the corner of the crib. Yesterday was a big day of playtime and today was a first attempt at consolidating to one nap. You worked me hard today, baby boy, but Mommy understands. You are tired. I am too.

Any moment now, the door will open downstairs and sister and Daddy will enter. I will move from my quiet spot in my room to help them with whatever they may need. I will swiftly switch on the Mommy mode. I will sweep up the grass they trail in from the yard and clank tonight's dishes into the dishwasher. I will select Amelia's green clothes for St. Patrick's day and urge her along as she completes her usual bedtime routine with inevitable stalling. We will prepare for another busy day to arrive when the sun rises again.

I have a few fleeting moments left to hide from whatever, whomever it is that calls for me. So I pause. And I breathe. I watch your little bottom on the video monitor. I feel stillness and listen to silence.

It is good that a mother can recharge quickly, because it's time to assume the role again. The other pieces of my heart have come back indoors. I have mere seconds until I hear, "Mom! Where are you?"

three...
two....
one....

So of course, I reply. "Yes, I'm coming!"

 

Jeff Foxworthy writes poetry? (And we played outside)

Jeff Foxworthy is a famous Georgia native who clearly loves his home state. He uses fond memories of childhood, old neighbors, and everyday happenings to make people laugh. Most of you are likely familiar with his "You Might Be A Redneck If..." wise cracks, but did you know he has also published many books, including some adorable books of children's poetry?

I was going to tackle this Mommy and Me Monday post much like I did last week.... the lazy way, with a cute poem and some photos. I discovered Jeff Foxworthy's Dirt on My Shirt as I searched for the words I wanted to honor adjacent to my fun family playtime pics.

 

Surely, Jeff reminisced about the turning of Spring in Georgia as he wrote about outdoor play. He knows first-hand how our area is transformed from cold, gray, and wet to a sudden burst of light and flowers. Playgrounds and parks are instantaneously filled with people as soon as the springtime "light switch" is flipped.

Mommy and Me: Days of sun and childhood

They are only young for what seems like a moment. One day toddling across a playground with a chubby hand in yours, the next swinging like Tarzan across monkey bars with ease. If I blink, one will be off to college while the other prepares for high school. 

Sometimes I manage to stop the chaos in my head and just... watch. 

"There are no happy endings. 

Endings are the saddest part, 

So just give me a happy middle,

And a very happy start"

-Shel Silverstein, Every Thing On It

"How do you like to go up in a swing,  
Up in the air so blue? 
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing  
Ever a child can do!"  
-Robert Louis Stevenson, A Child's Garden of Verses

 

If you got out from behind your camera this weekend, link up with us at Really, Are You Serious.