Toddler VS Mommy

The Day it All Changed…

I’m pretty sure “toddler age” starts at 12 months, you know when they start getting curious and exploring everything that you wish was locked up ahead of time or always kept high beyond their reach. For me it happened today, two days shy of 9 months old. Sure there were signs leading up to this, but this is day 1, the day I realized I was truly in for it and things would no longer be the same.

It started with a 6am wake-up. As we went to the changing table it turned into an all-out wrestling match. He grabbed anything he could to get away from me, twisting and turning. Luckily dad was still home to hold/distract him while I did the dirty work.

After my morning warm up (aka diaper change), I started breakfast as usual. He ate a lot more than normal. Maybe that wrestling match built up his appetite. Quickly though he realized he had eaten enough and began to turn into the hulk, attempting to bust out of his high chair by puffing his chest and grunting. I’ll admit I let him out for fear of the changes about to happen.

As I set him on the floor of our bedroom to get dressed, he managed to empty the contents of the vanity and at this point I only had put my socks on. I took advantage of Dad’s last moments with us and they cuddled while I got my shoes on for our morning walk. Our walk was the most calming part of the day. He was content taking in all the sites. I should have just kept walking because apparently this was just the calm before the storm. When he arrived home again, it would be game on!

At this point, I had to go to the bathroom so I set him down to do my business as I watched him right outside the door. He pulls my large hairbrush off the counter and then proceeded to pull out a drawer filled with hair ties and barrettes out within a matter of seconds (something I couldn't stop unless I wanted another mess to clean). After disposing of some barrettes that apparently I held onto from the age of 7, we move into the office. I set him among some more of his toys and sang him a song. When I think he is distracted, I sit down at my desk after to answer an email about his baptism.  I look to my left and see he managed to pull down and eat a corner of legal document he pulled off the desk. I attempt to get the paper out of his mouth and instead only make him spit up into my hand. I think to myself, “Lord save us both”.

While trying to find a snack to eat, he successfully gave his pooh bear a bath in the dog’s water bowl. This was not good, a ½ hour before his nap, I had to get that pooh bear cleaned if I had any hopes of him going down without a fight. So, I took him into the laundry room with me. As I was emptying the laundry out of the dryer (that took me 3 washes and 3 days to finish), he was throwing the clothes out of the basket onto the floor behind me. Cute I thought, CUTE.

I picked him up again, put the laundry back and carried him into his nursery. I went back to start the dryer and another load and when I came back to the nursery saw cornstarch all over the carpet and my child pulling off the table runner to get to a business card he could stick in his mouth…what is it about paper? So after I vacuum, I turn around to clean up the mess from the table contents on the floor, and turn around again to see him chewing on the vacuum brush! UGH disgusting!

I whisk him away and put the vacuum back into the laundry room but couldn't get out of there before he grabbed the dog leash and knocked over several items on the peg board. Sigh…I set him down among his toys in the living room and as I land on the bean bag to rest my back, he begins to scream. As I try to comfort him he twists and turns to get away from me and immediately heads for the fireplace. I redirect him about 10 times before sticking him in my office with his toys and within 15 minutes he has figured out 3 different ways to turn off my computer.

Moving on, I attempt to get some dishes out of the left side of the sink so I can at least wash my hands but not before he is standing on the dishwasher door pulling out all the silverware. Realizing we are both probably hungry I set him back into his high chair. I begin to prepare his lunch and end up breaking out into song and dance to entertain him. I think to myself, this performance should definitely earn me ‘Gleek of the week’ or at least 1,000 hits on YouTube had I recorded it. I look at the clock, 12:30. Only 5 more hours until Dad gets home.

The day continues to go on like this and when Dad gets home at 6:00 he says what’s for dinner? I silently say the serenity prayer and then tell him I hear McDonalds has an excellent $1 menu, “O and I need to talk to you about going back to work.”

Have you hugged a mom today?

Making the Most of Baby’s Nap Time

Nap Time! O that sweet moment you back out of the door and your baby closes their eyes and drifts away into dream land…YOU DID IT! Baby is resting and now you get to decide how to make the most of their nap. Are you going to clean, shower; call that friend you haven’t talked to in a month? As a first time mom I had been told by people that when your baby sleeps, you sleep! Hah! Yea right I thought. I’m not a “napping” kind of person. That was until my little melon arrived. I had no idea the amount of naps I would need to keep up with my new life as a mom.

In the beginning, I struggled to get restful naps. Sometimes I caught myself walking in circles for several minutes just deciding what to tackle first. Despite how tired I was at times, those dishes danced around in my head along with thoughts of what if he doesn’t sleep long? One of the hardest things is learning you can’t do it all, especially if you were like me, a busy body, always on the go. As soon as you accept that you can’t do it all or even half of it alone, the sooner you will feel better.

I’ll admit after giving up coffee during my pregnancy, treating myself to the occasional cup turned me into super women. I wore a cape for a full 1-2 hours flying around the house cleaning, cooking, and finishing projects before I felt zapped again. Sprawled out on the couch in defeat, I suddenly realized I would not in fact be that mom in the commercials twirling around looking flawless wearing heals made for the red carpet while vacuuming. Instead I needed to accept that if I did manage to do any cleaning, I would be vacuuming wearing a $5 Wal-Mart tank filled with spit up and my child strapped to my chest with no pants (because I just don’t feel like pants that day), dirty feet, and hair that so desperately needed to be washed. Yep this was my new reality.

Maintaining a home can be a daunting task when caring for your melons. It’s ok that you can’t clean while looking hot. Seriously who does that?

If somebody offers their help, no matter how small or big, say yes! I wish I would have said yes to those offers more. If you are fortunate enough to live by family, take advantage! If you don’t feel comfortable asking them to wash your dishes, ask them to hold your baby while you do the cleaning or take a nap. I’m sure they would love to spend the time with your little melon.

Being a mother is beautiful in its self. Just take a deep breath and remind yourself that these sweet little fingers and toes won’t stay little for long and being able to hold them to your heart’s desire doesn’t last forever either. Looking the part is not nearly as rewarding as playing it.

Tips For Getting To School On Time

Getting my four melons out the door isn't always an easy task, so I came up with a schedule that seems to work well for us. It helps get us to school on time, each and every day.

The Night Before:

-Make the lunch(es) (I do this after dinner. If I don't have room for their lunchbox in my fridge, I put the non-perishable foods into their lunchbox and put only the sandwich into the fridge)

-Backpacks, Packed and Ready To Go (homework, permission slips, binder, etc.)

-Outfit and Shoes Laid Out

-Bath or Shower (except for my oldest that is 11, he takes his shower in the morning)


The Morning Of:

-Wake Them Up (no later than 45 minutes before we have to leave)

-Potty Time (I make sure they go right away, that way they don't have to go right as we're leaving)

-Get Dressed

-Eat Breakfast

-Brush Teeth

-5 to 10 Minutes Before Leaving, Put Lunch Into Backpack

I hope this helps you get your melon to school on time!

Camping With Your Little Melons

Camping with children doesn't have to be hectic or undoable. All of our children have been camping since they were infants and I'm talking about dispersed, in a tent, sleeping bag type of camping. We always try to pick a place that is near a stream or lake so that if we need extra water then it's available but mainly so our melons can splish, splash, and have a load of fun! I've come up with a list of needed items that I pack for our melons, each time we go on a camping adventure.

Camping Essentials:

-Water (lots of it, it's needed for drinking, cooking, and cleaning)

-Water Bottles (good to bring when hiking and exploring the woods)

-Snacks (for in-between meals and while going on a hike or exploring the woods)

-Baby Wipes (for quick clean ups of dirty faces, hands, and feet)

-Diapers (I would bring double of what you normally change in a day)

-Hand Sanitizer (for quick germ killing)

-Sunscreen (SPF 30+)

-DEET-free Bug Repellent (gotta help keep those bugs off of our melons)

-First Aid Kit (always have it on hand when at the campsite or when hiking)

-Camp Chair (for children old enough to sit in it)

-Sleeping Bag (one meant for camping in cooler weather)

-Extra Blankets (one for sitting on the ground for playtime and one for over their sleeping bag if it's cooler out)

-Tennis Shoes (keeps those feet safe and sound, don't want any splinters)

-Flip Flops/Sandals (great for putting on quickly for those night time potty outings)

-Warm Pajamas (plus an extra pair)

-Portable High Chair (this makes feeding an infant that is on solids much easier for you)

-Extra Outfits (2-3 extras, including undies and socks)

-Jacket and/or Hoodie (always good to have if it rains or when cooler at night)

-Hat and Gloves (depending on the time of year)

-Child Backpack Carrier (makes it easy to hike with an infant or young toddler)

-Backpack (makes it easy to carry water bottles, snacks, first aid kit, etc.)

-Whistles (For ages 2 and up. Our melons wear theirs so that they can blow it, if lost or in danger)

-Glow Sticks (Kids love them and I can see our melons at night when it's pitch black)

Now, get outdoors and go have a wonderful time camping with your cute melons!

Choosing the Right OB/GYN for Your Pregnancy

10 important Factors to consider when looking for an Obstetrician /Gynecologist

1. Get personal references. You can read reviews until you are blue in the face but a personal reference from someone you trust is the best.
2.  Does your insurance provide coverage for all the doctors in the practice? Before you make that appointment call your insurance provider to verify all the doctors are covered in case you end up seeing a different doctor in the practice.
3. Do their office hours work for you? If you are working, an office with evening and weekend hours can make all the difference. These can be sometimes hard to find, but worth the look.
4. Is the location right for you? Maybe you would prefer to have your doctor close to work or other family members rather than your home.
5. What hospitals are the doctors willing to travel to? Finding the right hospital for your birth is important so check to see which hospitals your OB/GYN travels to.
6. Are you comfortable with a Male and or Female doctor? You may see a female doctor but if you are going to an office with several doctors you may end up with a different doctor at the time of your birth depending who is on-call.
7. Meet the other doctors in the practice. Like I mentioned above, you may occasionally see a different doctor. Once you are comfortable with your primary OB/GYN try out other doctors in the practice as well so it won’t be your first time meeting them at the birth.
8.  Do they have labs inside the office or do you have to go elsewhere? This was a big time saver for me having the lab work and ultrasounds done in the office rather than having to go to an outside lab. Maybe this is not important to you, but something to consider.
9. Are they readily available 24/7 to answer questions? Is there an on-call nurse or doctor you can call at any time? Are appointments easy to get or are they a long wait? These factors can make all the difference in having a positive experience with your care during pregnancy.
10. Finally, THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR...Is your OB/GYN supportive of your birth wishes? Do they take the time to explain things to you? Make a birth plan or a list of questions that are important to you i.e.) what is the doctors cesarean rates? Are they supportive of natural birth? Ask these questions right away or as they come up. Don’t be timid; they are there for you, not the other way around. You want to feel and be supported as much as possible. If you have doubts, explore other options, you can change doctors anytime during your pregnancy but you want to ask your questions sooner than later so you are getting the care you deserve from the beginning. 

Tips for Traveling on a Plane with your Baby

So you have decided you are ready to take that trip on a plane ride with your baby. What if your baby screams the whole way? What if someone gives you a hard time about breastfeeding next to them? What if your melon’s ears pop? What if they get sick? What if you can’t keep your melon in your lap? These are the concerns that ran through my mind as soon as booking our tickets. Castle was 7 ½ months when we took him on his first plane ride. Here are some tips I learned.

Tip #1 Be prepared! Pack a favorite toy or a new toy your baby has not played with before. I made the mistake of packing several toys for fear my son would get bored, and I would need to rotate them constantly. Instead I ended up with a heavy carry on and he ended up being more amused by his Grandpa’s watch, the magazines, and barf bags they leave in the seats. Hah! But if your melon is like mine at this age, paper will disintegrate in 2 seconds flat and before you know it you are doing anything you can to get that wad of paper out of his mouth safely. So, once I removed the paper items I put a couple of his toys in there so he could explore and it worked out great.

Have your bags ready to go before getting to the airport. Check your airline’s website to see what you will need for security. Have your ID and boarding pass ready, don’t wear a belt or jewelry you’ll have to take off, and have the things you’ll need to place in separate bins ready to grab so you aren’t digging through your bag at the last minute. Also, think about what you’ll need on the plane out of that diaper bag and place it on top. It can be a juggling act getting under that seat in front of you, especially when your little melon is in your lap.

Tip #2 Feed your baby! Do this during incline and descent. It will help with those ears popping. Here is a tip. Instead of attempting to nurse or feed your melon as soon as they announce it is ready for takeoff, wait until you actually start lifting up into the air. I made the mistake of feeding him immediately and then it took another 10 minutes to get to the runway and by then my melon was done. If you are unable to feed your melon, try a paci, lovey, teething ring, or toy that will get them to suck and swallow. If you have discussed it with your pediatrician and are comfortable giving medications then this may be an option for you as well. I packed it in case for the trip but I personally try to avoid the use of medication unless it’s a last attempt and absolutely needed, which again should be discussed with your child’s pediatrician. 

Tip #3 Calm Down!  If you are stressed, your baby will react to that stress and only make it more challenging. Take a deep breath. As long as you make an effort to comfort your baby, it is unlikely people are going to glare at you. The only times I heard complaints from others is when the parents were not making an effort to soothe their child in anyway. People are more understanding and willing to help than you may think.

Tip #4 Bring a Helper! If this is not an option, consider taking advantage of checking your luggage at the curb to avoid lugging it into the airport. Also, baby wearing is great but with all the bags I had to carry, I felt like I was completing a marathon. Next time I am bringing the stroller! And they check it right before getting on the plane so you can use it right up to the door of the plane. Another tip is that families traveling with children can go through a faster line right up to security so you don’t have to wait in that long line.

Tip #5 Plan your Arrival! Make sure you discuss the car seat situation ahead of time. If you are brining your own, great! If you are getting a rental make sure you ask for the car seat ahead of time so it is available. If you are visiting friends and family, coordinate with them to make sure they have a car seat you can use. Have them check to see that it is not expired and fits your melon’s weight and height requirements. Talk with your family or friends to make sure it is properly installed in the car. I failed to mention it needed to be rear-facing to my mom and was struggling to properly place it, feeling rushed with the line of cars behind us in the arrival area. If your friends or family are unsure how to properly install, offer to pay for parking and take your time to properly install the seat before leaving the airport.

So there you have it, all the tips I learned on my first plane ride that you can now hopefully use to your benefit! Happy Travels!!

Planning the Birth of Your Little Melon

When my husband and I began to really think about the birthing process, we decided a class was in our best interest. I knew very little about birth, and I wanted to be prepared, but mostly I wanted support from others with similar expectations for their birthing process. I never did well in hospitals and they always made me anxious. So I researched home births and natural births and decided on taking a Bradley Method class. The Bradley Method of natural childbirth teaches you prenatal nutrition and exercise, relaxation, birth plans, and so much more about the birthing process in a twelve week course. I highly recommend researching classes you think will benefit you during your pregnancy. Taking a class can really open your eyes to many topics and issues you may not have considered and can help you develop a birth plan. My husband and I ended up deciding on a hospital birth, as natural as possible (i.e. un-medicated vaginal birth).

Write the details of your “ideal birth” on your birth plan but be sure to have realistic expectations. Birth plans should be used as a guide, and it’s important to include what you would do in alternative situations should the need arise (i.e. we included what we would want if I were to need a cesarean, even though I wanted to avoid at all costs). Discuss your birth plan with your care provider. It gives you both an opportunity to address any concerns and helps them understand your expectations. We found it helpful to include the pediatrician’s information on our birth plan. It came in handy more than once. Below is our birth plan outlining our wishes. I hope it helps you when creating yours!

Family Birth Plan

Mother-to-be: Noel

Husband: Zac                    

Due Date: 12/20/2012   

Patient of Dr. [enter your doctors name]

Dear [enter hospital name] Staff,

I understand that labor and birth are unpredictable and ultimately want the health and safety of both the baby and I to take precedence. When possible, I request that procedures be explained thoroughly (benefits and risks) and also, when possible, we would like to be included in the decision-making process.

Labor:
It would be helpful if we could have the following…

• Dim Lights
• I would like the option of laboring in the water (Shower or Tub) when possible
• Maintain mobility (Walking, rocking, up to bathroom, etc.)
• Positioning as desired
• Heparin lock is okay
• I would like to drink clear fluids and to only use IV fluids if I become dehydrated

Monitoring:

• Please note I am allergic to latex [include any allergies you may have]
• Would prefer to keep vaginal exams to a minimum
• Intermittent electronic fetal Monitoring (Prefer monitoring with a Fetoscope or Doppler)
• No internal electronic fetal monitoring

Labor Augmentation/Induction:

• I would prefer to change positions, walk, or try other natural methods to speed labor, prior to any artificial augmentation

Anesthesia/Pain Medication:

• Please do not offer me pain medications, I will ask for them if I want them
• I do not want medications for the delivery of the placenta
• I would like the option of Local Anesthesia (for repair) if needed after the delivery of baby

Episiotomy:

• I would prefer to tear than have an episiotomy (unless absolutely required for baby’s safety), but please use compresses, massage and positioning

Cesarean Birth:

• Unless absolutely medically necessary, I would like to avoid a cesarean
• I would like the option to have a vaginal breech birth, if necessary
• Partner present 
• Pictures allowed to be taken
• Free one hand to touch the baby
• Partner to cut the cord
• Breast feeding in recovery room
• Please use double-layer sutures when repairing my uterus
• If the baby is not in distress, I would like Zac to be with baby at all times

Delivery:

• I would like to choose the position in which I give birth
• Even if I am fully dilated, and assuming the baby is not in distress, I would like to try to wait until I feel the urge to push before beginning the pushing stage
• I would like the baby placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery
• I would like to hold my baby while I deliver the placenta
• Delay the cord cutting until it stops pulsating 
• Prefer husband to cut the cord

Baby Care:

• I would like to meet with a lactation consultant
• No pacifiers or glucose water
• No eye medication given to the baby
• No vaccinations are to be given at this time (will discuss with pediatrician at first visit)
• If possible, no separation of Mother & Baby
• I plan to breastfeed the baby and would like to begin nursing as soon as the baby seems ready

Sick Baby:

• Breast feeding as soon as possible
• Unlimited visitation for parents

Circumcision:

• We would like our baby circumcised before discharging from the hospital by our pediatrician

Pediatrician: [Enter Name of Pediatrician Office and Doctor]

[Enter Address and Office Phone Number]