Tag: baby (Page 7 of 14)

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The Best Quick Guide to a Gorgeous Brelfie!

December 18, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

By now, I’m sure you’ve seen the stunning images which have gone viral: a mother breastfeeding her child. This new trend for the breastfeeding selfie, aka “brelfie“, is not only helping to normalize breastfeeding, but it’s a gorgeous keepsake for the mom. Breastfeeding can be so difficult, painful, and time consuming, that these photos are extra special! You could save these to your phone, upload to social media, or even have them printed!

The guides I’ve seen for making a brelfie weren’t easy to follow (and the process is quite simple, as well as free), so I’m jumping on the bandwagon to tell you how to make one! Essentially you’re editing a brelfie photo on your phone with a free app, adding the tree with roots and then some badass filters.

This process can take less than 5 minutes, but I warn you: it’s addicting!

Creative Gifts for Babies (and Their Parents!)

December 8, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Babies are so fantastic: they’re adorable, resilient, and don’t require much. But that leaves loved ones in a bit of a predicament: what exactly do you get for someone who has a baby? You could always go the Target gift card route, but if you’re old-school like me you like for the parents to have something to really “open.” Plus it’s so much more fun to shop for a baby! Here are my suggestions for the best creative gifts for babies: they’re original, they’re useful, and I can promise you that they will be appreciated! Continue reading

The Sweetest Sibling Gift

December 5, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

When we found out we were expecting a second child, I was ecstatic! But I also wanted a way to bond with my son, my one and only, before his little sister arrived. I’d read that it would help the oldest child adapt to the idea of having a sibling if they “gifted” something to the baby, and it sounded like a beautiful thing to do. We found the perfect thing: the sweetest sibling gift, made with love. Continue reading

The Best Children’s Books You May Not Have Heard Of

December 1, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Books can be great gifts for children! But there are so freaking many to choose from, how do you know that you’re getting a quality book? There are some books whose titles are household standards, and those are obvious choices for growing your child’s library. But some of my favorite picks for kids are actually hidden gems: not-so-well-known books which are fantastic in their own way. Here are my family’s choices for the best children’s books, though you may not have heard of some of them!

I’ve got categories for authors, babies and toddlers, preschoolers and elementary kids, classics, and even a section for young readers’ first books!

Here are all of my favorites, as a teacher and a mom. Happy reading!
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My Top Picks for Newborns

November 28, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

What should you really get for a newborn? While stores and media try to convince us that there are hundreds of things you just gotta have, the truth is that a baby’s needs are quite simple, and easily met.

Here’s an AP mom’s perspective on the only items you truly should have, either for your own baby or as a gift for new parents. Continue reading

The Double-Edged Sword of Mom Guilt

November 21, 2016 / The Mama / 2 Comments

Unwinding in a fragrant, steaming hot bubble bath. Eating a delicious hot meal slowly and deliberately, savoring every bite and enjoying meaningful conversation. Getting a spa pedicure. Peeing alone. Apparently as a mom, I’m not supposed to want those things. Because if I do it means that I don’t love my kids. Mom guilt is real, and it sucks.

I don’t have anyone to blame for this mentality more than myself. Sure society can be a bit of a jackass sometimes, and make me feel like I should always be overjoyed to be trapped in my home 24/7 with my offspring. I don’t earn an income per se (though let’s not get started on the outrageous daycare savings) and I don’t have a “real job.” I mean, all I do is sit around and watch TV in yoga pants, right?

Cue hysterical laugh. Continue reading

I Don’t Have a “Good Baby”… and I Don’t Care

November 17, 2016 / The Mama / 2 Comments

You shouldn’t ask me “is your daughter a good baby?”

I don’t have a “good baby.” She doesn’t sleep through the night, she sometimes bites while nursing, and she puts her feet in my face when she’s in my bed.

And you know what? I don’t care. Continue reading

Why I Love Baby Led Weaning!

November 14, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I’ve figured out that I’m a combination of a lot of different moms: I’m the super crunchy mom who wants organic everything; I’m the lazy mom who is perpetually wearing yoga pants and the mom bun; I’m the sweet mom who wants to make hand-decorated cookies every week; I’m the strict mom who thrives on consistency and efficiency. Baby led weaning fits beautifully into all of those personas. And my kids are thriving because of it. And I love baby led weaning! Here’s why. Continue reading

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Raising Children with Emotional Intelligence

November 10, 2016 / The Mama / 5 Comments

I want my children to grow up with a healthy emotional intelligence. Simply put, I want them to have a healthy range of emotions, know the vernacular so that they can express those feelings, and deal with unpleasant feelings in a safe way. That emotional education begins when they are still quite young and must happen regularly. Let me give you some insight into what’s working beautifully for our family! Continue reading

Milestones, Leaps, and the Wonder Weeks: A Real Simple Introduction to Your Baby’s Development

November 7, 2016 / The Mama / 1 Comment

Being aware of your baby’s milestones and leaps will save you a lot of worry and stress, as you are able to anticipate and meet their needs. Remember that a baby grows more (physically and neurologically) in their first year, than any other year of their life!

I didn’t even know what a milestone was with my first kid until he was close to a year old; no one told me about it, and it would have helped me so much with my first baby! And leaps? Forget about it! (Oh if I only knew then what I know now, right?).

This text is designed to help parents and caregivers navigate the rough waters of baby development. Awareness of leaps and milestones allows parents to guide their infant through all of the changes, regressions, and new skills which each leap presents. Continue reading