Suddenly it feels so very real. The bright pink plus on the stick. The slightly sick feeling you get when you smell fried chicken. The heaps of advice from well-meaning friends and family. You realize suddenly that your body doesn’t just belong to you anymore, not for the next nine months anyway. Everything you do will affect someone else’s life and so will everything you eat.

The problem is that everyone has a different opinion when it comes to a healthy pregnancy diet. There are a few universals. No smoking. No drinking. No drugs without a green light from your doctor. But after that, well, the suggestions are endless. No caffeine. No artificial sweeteners. Only whole grains. Six tiny meals a day. All protein. No starch. More yellow veggies. Less fiber. Blah. Blah. Blah. So, what’s a girl to do?

The good news is, it’s much simpler then you might think. The key is moderation and reasonable precaution. If it seems like a bad or questionable idea, it probably is. So, what does that really mean? Well, here’s a quiz to test your pregnancy eating IQ.

1. Is a pot of coffee a day a good choice?

2. Should you ever eat an entire family size bag of M & M’s in one sitting?

3. Does using butter as liberally as ketchup make sense?

No. No. And no. Of course not. Healthy eating during pregnancy means making the smart choices that most of us know but the majority of us choose to ignore because it’s almost always tastier to ignore the rules. But during pregnancy, good sense should always rule. Here are a few simple guidelines:

1. If it’s raw, cook it thoroughly.
2. If it’s caffeinated, drink it sparingly.
3. If it’s fat laden, eat it cautiously.
4. If it’s a fresh veggie, dig in.
5. If it’s all sugar, opt out.
6. If it’s big, eat half.
7. If you’re hungry, eat protein.
8. If you have a craving, indulge gently.
9. If it’s fake, ask for real.
10. And even if you’re not thirsty, drink water.

It’s true. You are what you eat. And when you’re pregnant, it’s not just about you. It’s also about a tiny little someone else too. Smart choices make for healthy babies. You can have that hot fudge sundae with extra cookie dough soon enough…

I expected to complete the usual paperwork when registering my son for school. They needed our address, medical history and related personal information, but had I known I would be required to complete a 100-page manual for my son to attend school, I would have started an exercise conditioning class for my writing hand several months prior.  It would involve writing on a chalkboard 100 times, “I will not talk in class again, I will not talk in class again, I will not talk in class again,” like punishments given to students who are social butterflies and continually disrupt the teacher on television sitcoms.

In addition to registration, they had us completing forms for parental telephone contact, volunteer applications, prescription medications and health services, to computer use and local field trip permission slips and free and reduced lunch and group counseling policies.

What I didn’t find among the myriad forms was the school’s policy on fiscal and social responsibility by utilizing technology to save paper and time.

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Well, seems that baby showers are going around these days!  I’ve been brainstorming a bunch of ideas for activities and games to do at showers to keep them alive, energetic, and special.  It’s nice to have a variety of things to do from raucous to quieter depending on the energy levels and crowd. (more…)

The Celebrity of today has turned from the traditional names of Hannah, Sarah, James or John to names that portray spices, fruit, personality traits or objects.   Celebrities like Cher and Director Robert Rodrigues have names their children after personality traits such as Chastity (Cher) and Rogue (Rodrigues).  Other celebrities choose fruity names for their children, Apple for Gwyneth Paltrow, and Peaches for T.V personality Paula Yates. Celebrities have also “spiced” up their children’s names with Saffron for Musician Simon LeBron, and Thyme for Isaiah Washington. ActressRachel Griffiths choose a musical instrument for her son Banjo. Erykah Badu, musician, choose a sleek Puma for her daughter.

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So you’ve joined the ranks of weary parents who have spent one too many nights doing homework with their children, only to emerge with bleary eyes and a  frustrated kid (who still doesn’t get it).  And after much wavering, you’ve finally made a tough decision: it’s time to get a tutor.  Finding just the right person might feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.  You just need to do your homework!
A great shortcut to finding someone trustworthy is to ask your child’s teacher or school counselor for recommendations.  Schools often have a list of people who are qualified.  Once you locate a few names, you’ll probably start with the obvious question: “How much is it going to cost?”  Of course you want someone who isn’t going to tank your budget, but beyond that, you can narrow your search criteria to just three areas.
Here’s a checklist to help you keep your wits about you while you track down the perfect tutor: (more…)

Oh Baby! Shopping for your little one is a fun and exciting time, but it can get expensive fast. Not to worry, these simple bargain-shopping ideas will save you time and money.

1. Take Another Mom With You

There are so many items to purchase for your new baby it’s hard to know what you really need versus what is being marketed to you. I’ve found that veteran mom’s are great at steering me towards items I will really use. Even if you’re having your second or third child, it always helps to have someone along to remind you of the necessities.

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1. Make sleep a priority.

More sleep = fewer meltdowns. Fewer toddler meltdowns, fewer mom meltdowns…We all function better with regular sleep; hence, regular naps & a regular bedtime are a priority in our house, even if it means we go out less often.

2. Hoard snacks.

Keep your purse or diaper bag stocked with snacks, such as Healthy Handfuls’ organic treats or boxes of organic raisins, as a prevention of low blood sugar meltdowns that both children and moms are subject to at the most inopportune times. A package of crackers can buy you precious time in a store or office. So don’t leave home without a good supply.

3. Make good use of the bathtub.

The bathtub can be a mom’s best friend. All of my children love to be put into a bath of warm water (sometimes with bubbles or coloring as a special treat) with a handful of toys. It gives me and my children precious time to unwind and have some space to ourselves. Oh, and the child gets clean too!

4. Get dressed.

Before I start my day with my children, I work hard to get a shower and get dressed for the day, even if it means they watch a cartoon or two while I do so. Getting out of my pj’s, showering, & putting on “real” clothes makes a huge difference in how I feel about myself and in how much I get done that day.

5. Have a routine.

Children of all stages and temperaments respond well to routine. Now - your routine doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s - you don’t have to start your day at 6 am with activities at 15-minute intervals. Just make a routine that works for you, your family, and your style.

6. Stash special toys.

A trick I learned from a friend of mine was to stash a special toy or two in my bag that I reserve only for occasions when I am out at the store or coffee shop. My children look forward to playing with the toys, occupying them for a space of time that I can use to sit down in a coffee shop, even converse with a friend. The miniature containers of Play-doh work really well for this - kids love a little Play-doh time, and usually, it can be cleaned up fairly easily.

7. Ask for help.

I know, this goes against most of our inner beings, and yes, we probably could do it by ourselves. But we can do it better with help. We’re happier when we let others help us, and others around us can enrich our mothering.

8. Look at your child / children.

In the midst of the most trying tantrum-filled, potty-training, no-nap days, looking at your children - really looking at them - can transform how you are feeling…those sweet dimpled hands you’ve held since they were almost too small to clutch one of your fingers, that rumpled head of hair with its multiple cowlicks and swirls, those impossibly long eyelashes with the reddish tint at the ends…

9. Laugh (or at least try to smile).

As hard as it may seem to imagine in the moment, someday you really will laugh as you recount how your toddler daughter climbed into her younger brother’s crib, removed his diaper, and decorated him & the crib with the diaper’s contents - all without getting even a tiny amount on herself.

10. Take all advice - even mine - with a grain of salt.

99% of the advice showered upon you from friends, families, and strangers is delivered with good intentions; so try hard not to take any of it personally. And filter all of it with the knowledge that you and your husband know your children better than anyone else.

When B and N were infants and we’d be out and about somewhere, we’d occasionally encounter parents out with their older twins.  We’d give each other the Knowing Smile and Nod of Acknowledgement, and small talk would ensue.  The conversations usually went like this:

Them: “How adorable!”  How old are your twins?”

Me: “Four months old.”

Them: “Ah, yes, I remember those days.  Hang in there.  Don’t worry, it gets easier!  Good luck!”

This intrigued me.  Easier?  In what way?  I wanted details (and a date when I could expect this magical “easiness” phase to start).  I’d long since given up the idea of a decent night’s sleep, my experience with breastfeeding was a nightmare, and I was struggling with constant feelings of inadequacy as a new mother.  Postpartum depression, anyone?

As a first-time mother with little experience with children other than my own, I only had a hazy idea of what parenting would be like beyond the infant stage.  So, these random snippets of encouragement and hope from total strangers provided some comfort to me when, say, I was driving my son around the neighborhood at two a.m. praying that he would fall asleep before I did.  It gets easier!  Those other parents said so!

Well.  Fast forward to toddlerhood, and I still don’t get the “easier” part.  I suppose it does get physically easier on the parents.  My children sleep through the night; they can walk and don’t have to be carried everywhere; and they can play together and keep themselves entertained.  But I contend that it doesn’t actually get easier; it just gets different.  Take going to the grocery store.  When I had two infants, it was all about the logistics.  I had to first circle the lot until I found a parking space next to a cart return that had a cart in it.  Then load two infant carriers in the grocery cart and squeeze groceries into the remaining space.  I’d think to myself, “If only B and N could walk… this would be so much easier.”  And soon enough, they could walk, but going to the grocery store is no easier now than before.  With toddlers, it’s about maintaining control, and you’d better be on your toes and ready for anything.  You cannot relax for one second.  (On one shopping trip recently, in addition to the constant stream of “Hold onto the cart” and “Put that back,” I had to tell my daughter to STOP LICKING THE FLOOR.)

Easier? No.  Different?  Very.  Better?  I say yes.  Every day my twins find a new way to delight and amaze me.  Maybe that’s what those parents meant to say.  “Don’t worry.  It gets better!

Live next door to an annoying Martha Stewart mommy type that creates to die for quiches, 7 layer cookies, or pots du creme?  Who also has an ultra-clean house with no visible toys or sign of kid-life?  Who is dressed in long jeans, high heeled boots, cashmere sweater, and a face perfectly made up at morning school drop off?  I don’t have a next door neighbor like this but am literally surrounded by these Stepford mommies in my neighborhood.   How do these women do it?  Ahhh…the nanny and housecleaner, perhaps?  Then there’s me sans makeup, in track pants and a baseball cap, rushing my kindergartner to class, thinking about takeout for dinner.  You tell yourself (maybe during your afternoon shower if you had time), that you could do better.  That you could get it together this year.  Get organized.  And then your reverie is shattered when your kindergartner, the one who has to do everyth ing for herself says: “Let me pour the milk, Mommy,” and yes, it ends up all over the kitchen floor but luckily you have a corgi cleanup crew to help you out. Impossible, you think, my world can never be this as organized and praiseworthy as that lady’s.  Not that I’d want to be perfect, right?

What’s a girl to do?  Baking is the answer!  You may not be able to produce a 6 course gourmet dinner between diaper changes, the grocery store, and walking the dogs as your little one screams the entire time.  You can’t be “perfect” but you can bake…Okay, baking is not the answer but it’s not hard as you think and has almost instant results.  You can feel like you accomplished something for once in your hectic day.  I’m lucky, my husband loves my baking (this might be due in part to the fact, my mother-in-law’s idea of cooking includes potato bud-tuna casserole, microwave chicken dishes, and Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches. Here are a few baking tips to make your family cheer:

1. Quick breads are quick, yes, and easy, so stock up on canned pumpkin, zucchini, bananas, and nuts.  These can be whipped up while the baby is sleeping and if you have a light sleeper most can usually be mixed with a spoon rather than a mixer.

2.  Experiment.  When a recipe calls for cinnamon, might it taste better if you added cloves, nutmeg, and ginger as well?  Or instead of just oregano, throw some basil in etc.

3.  Don’t always be in rush.  Let the kids help.  This makes you instantly feel like Mommy of the Year.  Who cares if it adds to the already big mess?  From toddlers to high schoolers, kids love to bake and sample the dough.  If you are really a Mommy of the Year, you can use this golden opportunity to teach the kids about measuring and fractions.

4. Don’t make cookies at 5 pm.  Kids always ask when your defenses are down, when the day has crept up on you.  But no one will touch their dinner, believe me, I know.

5.  Pies.  Okay, I hate pie crusts!  I’ve never been able to perfect them.  Always have a store bought one just in case your crust goes haywire.  Just tell yourself it’s the interior of the pie that counts.

6.  Invest in a good mixer.  Not for the status but for the results of course.  I splurged on a KitchenAid mixer a few years ago and haven’t regretted it.  Okay, the lady next door will have the Viking oven and the top of the line mixer from Italy but who cares, right?

7.  Don’t be afraid to try a yeast bread.  You can’t beat homemade bread! The trick is in proofing the yeast.  You add the yeast package to some warm water and sugar and if it foams, your good to go.  Also, bread making is great fun for the wee ones.  They can knead it and shape some into their very own loaf.  Think Mommy of the Year again!

8.  Non-stick cooking spray.  Great as an alternative to getting the hand all greased up and it never completely washes off method.

9.  Homemade buttercream frosting.  Stop!  Do not buy the artificial crap from the grocery store.  Cake mixes are good, but prepared frostings are not!  You can have homemade frosting made in five minutes, it’s worth it.  All you need is powdered sugar, milk, butter and vanilla.  Easy!

10.  Baking sheets.  Have dark brown baking sheets and cookies just as brown?  Have at least one cookie sheet just for cookies.  No tater tots!  Your cookies and kids will thank you.

Bake, be a real woman, right?  Nah, but it sure tastes good trying to be one!

Time is measured in a whole new way when you welcome your little bundle into the world, it is not gauged by the changing seasons and calendar days but rather by the little milestones your baby is making and before you know it their first birthday is upon you. It is time to celebrate all that you and your growing family have accomplished together. I say for all of you to celebrate because lets be honest, those first few birthday party’s are for us parents to pat ourselves on the back and high five ourselves for surviving, oh, and to make sure that, that scrapbook finishes with some cake smeared grins of course! Your little baby really couldn’t careless about what theme you choose or who attends, to them it is just another day to discover and grow.

The past three years have been a whirlwind of 1st and 2nd birthday parties for me and the themes are always as diverse as the babies themselves but those that stand out to me are not the ones that are dominated by TV characters but more the ones that are simple and soothing for baby and adult friendly seeing there are always more adults than babies.

We recently went to a 2 year olds party where her mom chose her little girls favorite color as the theme. Pink. Something so simple yet it was beautiful and girly but adult friendly too. It is easy to do; you can buy Polka Dot Wall Stickers ($12.50 per 5pk Amazon Marketplace) in your color of choice and put them on a featured wall. Everything is in that color from napkins to flower arrangements and goodie bags. The cake, again, was very simple but effective, white with pink polka dots.

Another place to draw inspiration for a theme is from the season or holiday your child’s birthday falls near. We once went to a birthday party that was close to Easter and the theme was bunnies. The Mom said it was easy to accomplish seeing all the stores were caring Easter product at the time and her little girl was thrilled. And this past fall we were invited to a pumpkin party for a 3 year old, now what child is not thrilled with pumpkin patches?

I know my little girl has her favorite stuffed animal “Stinky”, a rather beaten up giraffe that she absolutely adores. Every time we see a giraffe she squeals “Stinky, Stinky”. You can take that love and attachment your child may have for a stuffed animal into a theme for their party, it is sure to thrill them and make for a happy baby.

Even though the first couple of your child’s birthday parties are more for your satisfaction the guest of honor must not be forgotten, you don’t want them to be overwhelmed and screaming from exhaustion, so it is best to keep in mind a few things that will make for a happier day for all.

The time of day is very important; you should do it after either their morning or afternoon nap so they are well rested. Don’t let the party be too long, all that cooing and petting from Great Aunt Betty can get too much for anyone to take never mind a baby. Keep it simple, don’t over do the decorations or food, that will only stress you out and we all know a happy mom is a happy baby. Limit the guests; you don’t have to invite every person that has met your child, just those that are closest to your family. You can always send out a photo card announcing they just turned 1 or 2 so those people can get a look at how cute they are. If it is in your budget, hire a photographer so you can enjoy and take in the moment, you have worked hard to get to this point so you don’t want to be stuck behind a camera recording it for the future, enjoy it today! And most important, relax, don’t stress, just marvel in the wonder of your little baby.