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My younger son just turned 16 months and finally has more than 2 teeth! Just like any dutiful parent, we’ve been attempting to slowly wean him off the bottle and to a sippy cup since he turned 1. He’ll do it sometimes… I mean I have no problems getting him to drink his water out of a sippy cup or a straw cup…but when it comes to his leche (MILK) forget about it!!! I’m not sure if it’s a comfort thing like before he’s going to sleep or if he just has to have a bottle instead of a sippy cup with...

Mommy guilt. It’s tough. Ever since I started working full time again, it’s been an added weight on my shoulders, in my mind and on my spirit. I try to shake it, stay busy and tell myself that it’s for their benefit that I’m working and it’s setting a good example for them, to have a “working Mommy.” However, no matter how I try to spin it and remind myself that it’s OKAY to be away, do me and dedicate time to my career, the guilt has its way of creeping in…and turning into stress! I’ve...

The boys and I took a field trip over the weekend to visit a local farm that was celebrating fall with a “Harvest Festival” for the month of October. I was really looking forward to it, because I had taken them to the Hunt Club Farm once before and they loved interacting with all the animals, so I figured this would be another fun outing. Among the activities for the fall harvest were music and dancing, bounce houses and carnival rides…most of that works better for older children, but they both did brave a bounce house...

My younger son is 15 months…and he only has TWO teeth! Yep, just 2, his bottom 2 center teeth. Now, I guess it’s not that unusual, but compared to his older brother who pretty much had a full mouth of chompers by the time he turned 1…we’re kinda wondering when baby bro is going to get any more??!! And — maybe the bigger (scarier) question in Mommy and Daddy’s mind is…are they all going to come in at the SAME time!?!? That sounds painful just typing it. Isaiah had been “drooly” since...

Cord Blood banking seems to be big business these days. I have to admit, I didn’t know much about the subject prior to ever becoming pregnant, but from your first visit to the OB/GYN you start seeing all the ads, flyers and paraphernalia related to it. And — as any dutiful parent would do, I took the time to look into it a little bit (the first time around), and talked it over with my other half, to see if it was something we felt was necessary for our child. What is cord blood banking? Breaking it down into the simplest of...

I’ve had this post on my mind for a while… I never gave it much thought before we moved to our new neighborhood, but seriously, I WISH our new digs had better sidewalks for strollers! Here’s the deal, we moved to Hampton Roads, VA, a historical area of sorts…and we are surrounded by history and homes that have been there since the 1800’s. Yes, just take that in for a second…civil war era! Well, while we are in a building that can’t be more than 10 years old and have a parking garage, central...

It’s been nearly 15 months since I was last pregnant, and while I’ve basically gotten back to my pre-pregnancy weight, I am definitely not in my pre-prego shape! Okay, so I wasn’t in super tip top condition when I became pregnant the first time, but if my memory serves me correctly, there wasn’t as much “overhang” aka “muffin top” oozing out the top of the exact same pairs of jeans in my closet. Moms I know you hear me…it’s tough to adjust to the body changes during and after...

The subject of money, finances, budgeting and of course how and when to spend “it,” can be exhausting, and as a parent, it’s important to think about teaching your children smart money habits that will no doubt carry over into their adulthood. Teenagers may think they have their whole lifetime to learn how to deal with their finances, but learning smart money management early can mean avoiding costly mistakes later. And, just like we start adding some coin to the piggy bank when they are first born, it’s never...

When I had my first baby in July 2012, I was already of “age” to get genetic testing done (aka OLDer Mom)! I went through the screening process which was a Q&A session with me, my partner and the genetic expert who went through the motions to explain what they look for what the risks are and finally the ultrasound and blood tests. Luckily all went well and we were at low risk for any abnormalities and I had already decided I wasn’t going to opt for an amnio – although I recall my Mother doing that for my 2...

It’s August and summer is winding down. Parents are thinking about sending the kids back to school and planning for the year ahead. Well, sure in that preparation the subject, idea and chore of what to feed, pack and give to the kids food-wise is in that equation. And, with kids they can be picky eaters, so trying to be creative, yet healthy can be a bit of a challenge. My boys aren’t quite school age yet, but packing snacks and a lunch are a must every time we head out the door. I remember being a lunchbox toting child, and...