Could it be baby

Drinking while pregnant???

2010-12-03T11:42:00.000-08:00

We've all heard about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant. Does that mean that as soon as you become pregnant you have to say goodbye to that typical glass of wine after dinner? New studies have discovered some interesting findings and could change the way you think about pregnancy and alcohol.

I found a great article on ParentDish.com that discusses the findings of a recent study on alcohol consumption in pregnant women. This site has always provided informative and helpful articles for parents and this article is a must read. Check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Their First Word...

2010-11-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

Its always a cute and exciting time when kids learn to speak. Many new parents hope their kids first word would be "Mama" or "Daddy," something simple and expected. Sometimes, it can be something we absolutely did not expect.

The Survival Guide for Rookie Moms is a great site the relates the experiences of new moms. I found a really great article about the shocking first words of a new mother; its a definite must read. Check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Say YES to yourself!

2010-11-05T12:40:00.000-07:00

As moms we're naturally busy people. Its a topic that frequently comes up and a fact of life. In the midst of the multiple tasks that fill our lives, its important that we take some time for ourselves.

Laurie Cesario-Overton wrote a great article on Singlemom.com highlighting the need to take care of ourselves once and a while. Check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Reading with your Child

2010-10-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

Reading is a very important part of life, especially during the earlier school years of a child's life. It can be hard for some kids to get into the habit of reading regularly; the trick is to get them hooked on it at an early age.

This article on RaiseSmartKid.com provides a few very helpful tips on helping your child develop a love of reading. I've found it really helpful and if you have young children it could help you too! Check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Add Relaxation to Your Busy Schedule

2010-10-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

Most of us live busy lives. We work outside of the home, we take care of the family, we work inside the home... its rewarding in many ways but sometimes it feels like the work will never end! Its never a good thing to push ourselves too hard. You need to take a break... it can actually be very good for your kids!

I came across this article on WorkingMother.com that discusses the Slow Parenting Movement, an effort to add some leisure time into the job of raising kids. Its already helped me and if you're finding that you're busy all the time it could help you too. Check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Is TV Rotting Your Child's Mind?

2010-10-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, my parents were pretty strict about the amount of time I spent watching TV. Mom would always say that watching too much TV would rot my brain, at the time I thought she was exaggerating. There wasn't any evidence to support her claims at the time so I fought against it. Even so I was limited to about an hour per day maximum, after I'd finished doing my homework of course. Today many parents are more permissive when it comes to television viewing, but is it possible that television really can rot developing minds? I came across this article on MSN, detailing a recent study of the impact of TV on young minds. It is definitely worth a read, check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Are Your Kids Struggling In School?

2010-10-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

Kids have been back at school for just over a month and by now you can probably get a sense of how your kids are doing with their school work. While we always hope they do well in school, sometimes they struggle and their struggles could stem from a lack of motivation. I found this great article for parents on Parenthood.com, providing tips on how to help motivate underachieving kids. It's been really helpful for me and it could be for you too. Check it out!

Allow Your Kids To Fail Sometimes...

2010-10-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

As our children get older it can be hard sometimes to watch them experience frustration and discouragement from the occasional failed endeavour. These feelings come hand in hand with natural development, our logical minds know this, but as parents our first impulse is to step in and save our kids from it. I came across this article on Families.com that talks about this very subject and even relates a great experience from a parent and her kids. Check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Don't Panic!

2010-09-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Dealing with family life and work life can often times be an incredibly stressful and difficult balancing act. Don't panic! Sometimes we just need to stop, smell the roses, and fully appreciate everything that we have and may have taken for granted. A great article was posted on Working Mother.com about this exact topic, its definitely worth a read. Check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

The Perks of Daycare

2010-09-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

To go along with the discussions of heading back to work or back to school, I thought I would share my own personal experience. I went back to work last February, was off for the summer and have been back to work now for a few weeks.

Some parents choose to stay home with their children and some decide to head back to work and therefore send their little ones to daycare. Everyone has their reasons for their decisions and no one should feel bad about it – whatever works for your family. I, personally, went back to work and was ok with it - actually I was a bit excited about it. Now, this might be because my little guy adjusted to his home daycare very easily and it was never an issue or it may be because I love my job and enjoy going to it every day or it could be due to the fact that I was getting a bit stir crazy and so was my son.

I, myself, have found many advantages “perks” to sending him to daycare and I thought I would share some of them with you!

Perk #1: Adult Conversation – I don’t know about many of you, but I was dying to have some real conversations that didn’t involve words like, “bottle, diaper, nap, mama, yeah, baby, etc.” Although we tried to meet once a week as a mommy group, I really wasn’t getting enough “real” conversation with people my own age. Being back at work meant that I could talk on a different level and about other topics that were not so baby centred.

Perk #2: Baby Learning- My little guy has learned so much since he has been going to daycare and I credit this to the children he plays with everyday. He has learned an abundance of things in the four short months that he has been going: dancing, crawling, walking, sharing, climbing a slide, playing instruments, social skills, etc. – the learning is amazing. Now, there are many things that I have taught him myself at home, but I find children pick things up so quickly when interacting with their peers. Will he also learn other bad habits from these children? Sure, but that’s a part of life isn’t it, learning again the difference between right and wrong or good and bad? This can, in turn, increase the learning that can take place at home.

Perk #3: Getting Your Identity Back – I was ready to be known again more as Erin, not Mama. I wanted my job as a teacher back and my sense of importance someplace other than home. (Being a mom is my most important job, but I wanted to remember that I was someone other than just a mom, that I could be many things – teacher, mother, friend, colleague, etc.) I was also excited to get out of my “mom clothes” and back into my professional “dress up” clothes – this also made me feel better about myself. I know that I could have worn these while off on my leave, but they weren’t made for playing on the floor, feeding a little one or for walking and pushing a stroller. I just wanted to be “me” again – both inside and out.

Perk #4: More Focused Quality Time with Your Little One – We now rush home to pick our little man up after work and spend the 3 – 4 hours totally focussed on him. It is almost like we are fighting for his attention and it is all about him. Weekends too are more precious – we look forward to them and plan fun outings and get-togethers to do as a family. All in all these are our special moments and we don’t waste a minute of them.

My husband and I are both teachers so we do have an ideal situation. We get two weeks off at Christmas, one at March Break, plus July and August off. Perhaps this is why we are ok with sending our little guy to daycare as we do have a great deal of time off with him. Every situation is different, but I thought I would just share a few of my reasons as to why I feel daycare is beneficial for us and our little guy.

Guest Blogger: Erin Ryan

Step-Parenthood

2010-09-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

Most of us have seen movies or TV shows where a child is at odds with their seemingly unreasonable step-parents. We all know the story of Cinderella and her wicked step-mother. But reality isn't always like that. One of the frequent contributors to our blog, Maureen Turner Rasmussen, wrote an amazing article about being a great step mother and her step-family on her new blog site My Functional Family. I urge you to check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Dealing With A Defiant Toddler

2010-09-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

Almost every mother will tell you that children are a joy. Watching them grow, seeing the things they accomplish, it can really warm the heart. But there are times, as almost every mother can tell you, that kids are tough... and by tough I mean difficult. They can be rebellious and unruly, and we know this sort of behaviour isn't restricted to teenagers. Toddlers can be unimaginably defiant and at times it can be incredibly difficult to get them to listen. This article that I came across on BabyCenter provides some really helpful tips that can help you deal with a rebellious toddler. Even if you aren't, its still worth a read; check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon.

End of Summer, Back to School Kids!

2010-08-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Summer's almost over and that means its back to school for the kids. For parents it means back to school shopping and possibly a bit more free time for those of us who are the stay at home type. For kids, its a whole other story... new classes, new friends, new clothes, and most importantly new things to learn. Some of those lessons will be things your kids like, things that they're naturally strong at, while others... maybe not.

I found this article on a great website, The Yummy Mummy Club, that discusses schooling and different learning streams. Its a must read for all parents with school aged children. Check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Moms, it's ok to go back to work!

2010-08-19T12:18:00.001-07:00

As the days leading up to the end of your maternity leave, you may begin to feel a slight feeling of dread crawling up your spine and into the pit of your stomach. You might think its just the thought of returning to office life (or the job in general), but once you return to work, that horrible feeling grows and lingers and you realize that it isn't simple dread. It's guilt for leaving your baby at a daycare center while you're away at work. Don't let that guilt eat away at you any more! I came across this article on Parent News that can help you feel better about the whole situation. You might still feel that twinge of sadness over it but you rest in the knowledge that your kids will be ok. Check it out!

Talk to you soon,

Shannon

Secondhand Smoke Hurts More Than You Know!

2010-08-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

Nothing is more important than the health of our kids. We've all heard about the negative effects that secondhand smoke has on children, but did you know that it can have an impact on your kids' grades? As parents, we all want to be informed about things that could potentially adversely affect their lives.
Check out this article I came across on EmpowHER.com; it provides much needed insight into the seriousness of this issue.

Talk to you soon!

Shannon D

Protect Your Skin!

2010-08-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

Many of us enjoy summer a lot more than frigid winters. The hot weather, days at the beach, ice cream... really, who could blame you for being in love with summer? But, as with most things, there's always at least one down side to the lovely months we refer to as summer. With the bright sunlight comes the need to protect ourselves, specifically our skin and the skin of our kids. Natural as Possible Mom is a great site full of useful information to help mothers live and provide a socially conscious and environmentally safe lifestyle for themselves and family. This article especially provides some great insight into the precautions that need to be taken when going out to enjoy the summer sun. Check it out!

Talk to you soon!

Shannon

Hands-On Dads

2010-08-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

Fathers today are much different than our fathers were when we were kids. Now I am not speaking from everyone’s experiences, but for me and many of my friends this is true. The women stayed home and took care of the kids while the men went to work each day to provide for their families. But times have changed - take a look next time you are at the park, the pool, the shopping mall – many of the people there are men with their children.

My dad worked out of town a lot, so my mom was alone with my younger brother and I for large chunks of time. (My brother and I are only 17 months apart and I cannot imagine being home alone for a week with two children under 2). When I talk to my parents about what it was like, they both admit that my dad wasn’t super involved in the regular day-to-day caring activities - he for sure didn’t do too many diapers.

My dad did other things with us like take us for walks, play with us and anything else to give my mom a break, but she was our primary care giver. Ask many of your friends how much of an active part their fathers took in their childhood years? I am sure many would have similar stories.

I look now at how hands-on my husband is. We share the responsibility of caring for our son equally. He never hesitates to change a diaper, make a bottle or a meal and feels totally confident in his abilities. He takes our son out every day to play, go for a walk or shop just to give me a small break. I have left my boys alone numerous times for an evening out with the girls and even the odd overnighter and I never worry about how they are doing. The bond they share is amazing and I feel it is because my husband plays such an important role in caring for him.

Dads today want to play a more active role in their child’s upbringing and many fathers even do the paternity leave – which was never even a real option back when we were little. Times have changed and I feel for the better.

The question is though – why are dads today more involved? Is it because more moms are working? Is it because there has been some shift in roles? Or is it just because they want to? Whatever the reason is, I know that I am a much happier mommy because of all of the help I receive at home and we all know that a happy wife makes a happy life!

Guest Blogger: Erin Ryan

Baby's First Shots

2010-08-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

One month ago, I had to take my baby girl to get her first shots; not a pleasant day for anyone. I was dreading it, even the nurse felt bad for having to administer the needles. The only one smiling was baby... because she had no idea what was about to happen.

With my first daughter, she cried a little and then slept a lot, I was hoping for a similar reaction this time around. No such luck.

That afternoon, my baby's temperature rose and she started screaming inconsolably. If you have ever tried to comfort a screaming baby without any success, you know the kind of stress it can create.

Thankfully, my mom was over, and she ran to the pharmacy to get some baby Tylenol. Every muscle in my back was tense as I paced the hall with my hysterical baby waiting for my mother’s return.

When she handed me the Tylenol, I read the instruction for a dosage, and this is what it said for children 0-6 months: Consult a physician.

So, there I was, baby screaming while I phoned my doctor’s office. Do you know what the receptionist said? “I’ll have to ask the doctor and call you back”.

More pacing.

More screaming.

Finally, the phone rang, and I was able to ease my baby’s pain. After a short time, she calmed down, and then she went to sleep.

I am not a physician, so I can’t advise you on the dosage, but I will tell you not to forget to ask your doctor about Tylenol before leaving your appointments for your baby.

Guest Blogger: Maureen Turner Rasmussen

What Schedule?

2010-07-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

It seems as parents, we spend a great deal of time working on schedules.
With a newborn, there really isn’t any schedule, you are up when your baby is up, you feed them when they want it, you change them when they need it – basically they are running the show. We spend a lot of time during this stage wishing we could get our little ones on a schedule and questioning if it ever will happen?

Slowly, but surely, somewhat of a routine starts to appear (partially on your part and partially because your baby is ready for it). I remember that period of time and I was so thankful when naps started to happen more regularly as well as feedings, but it sure was a lot of work to get there. Now, every family has their own way of doing things, a close friend of mine always had their little one play, eat and then nap, where we had our little guy eat, play and then nap. There is no right or wrong way – it is just whatever works for you. Getting the napping on track was extremely difficult for me but one book that I read on sleeping habits had some great advice – get that first nap down pat and then worry about the others. I found this so helpful as I stressed about getting H’s naps all worked out right away and therefore neither of them was going very well. After following this advice, his schedule started to appear.

Once your baby is on a consistent schedule all that horrible stuff from the beginning seems to fade from your memory – life is good. You enjoy those long naps and feel good that you know when your baby is hungry and understand what they need. Schedules are like a breath of fresh air, you now feel like this baby thing is easy and that you’ve got it down pat.

After we spend so much time in that first year setting up and sticking to a schedule we begin to kind of obsess about it and when something comes up that may interrupt it, we let it pass by as it could upset our so-called equilibrium. I found myself guilty of this, declining playdates because they interrupted with the nap and I thought that this was not only bad for the baby, but I was then losing out on my 2 hour break as well (kind of selfish – but hey we have to think about ourselves once in awhile).

It wasn’t until I was just away visiting my family for two weeks that I realized I was being a bit silly, that diverting from the schedule might actually be somewhat good for my little guy. Now, I am not saying that you should do this every day, but once in awhile, for important events, it might be ok to let him nap in the car on your way, or nap early, or even not nap at all. As long as they are getting some sleep and are happy – what else matters? In reality, children need to learn how to adapt to changes and be flexible and perhaps those of us who are so stuck on schedules may actually be hurting our children in the end? Who knows? I just know that I am going to try to not be so rigid in our scheduling and try to go with the flow a little more often.

Guest Blogger: Erin Ryan

The Fashion of Mom

2010-07-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

Like it or not, with motherhood comes changes. Lifestyle changes (obviously), physical changes, and (shudder) fashion changes. I shudder, yes. Think back to the last time you heard someone say, "You dress like my mom!" I bet it wasn't used in the most complimentary of tones. Divine Caroline is a fantastic site full of tips and useful information for moms, and it was only a matter of time before they addressed the fashion issue that haunts all new mothers... the introduction of Mom Jeans. Check out this article I found on that site; it helped me grasp the concept that even the Mom Jeans can be a welcome change.

Talk to you soon!

Shannon

Is There A Perfect Time To Start A Family?

2010-07-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

In this day and age is there such a thing as the perfect time to start a family?

I came across this article on Fit Pregnancy.com, addressing this very topic from a point of view we haven't seen much of on this site yet... a father's perspective. Check it out!

Talk to you soon,
Shannon

The Mommy Worries

2010-07-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

I have always been a worrier – when I was young my parents had to hide the medical book as I was always trying to self-diagnose myself. But never did I think I would be such a worrier when I became a parent.

It started from the minute I found out I was pregnant. Now, we had a difficult time getting pregnant and I was really worried about something going wrong, so I spent the first three months of my pregnancy on the couch. I even had a case of “couch elbow” where the one elbow that I leaned on while sitting on the couch became very dry and cracked (my husband diagnosed this issue).

At about four months into my pregnancy I was going a bit crazy worrying about the baby – so I ordered, from an online company, a fetal heartbeat Doppler. This was the best thing that I could have done for my sanity. My husband was a bit unsure of the monthly rental fee, but I told him it was either this or weekly trips to the walk-in clinic – he opted for the rental.

Once the little guy was born I found myself constantly analyzing everything he did and many days in those first few months my husband came home to me in tears worried that there was something wrong with him. After many assurances that he was fine, I would be good for a few weeks until I found something else to stress about.

As he got older I then found myself comparing him to the babies of my other friends (there were four of us off on mat leave together). H was the oldest, but seemed to be the last one to crawl (12 mths) and walk (still not doing it all on his own at 16 mths). Every mom tries to tell herself not to compare their child to others, but it is so difficult, and I found myself repeatedly questioning why H was not doing what the others were. When I asked my doctor I was shocked to hear that crawling isn’t even a “milestone” and that many babies don’t even crawl, as for the walking she didn’t seem too concerned about it either.

It is just until recently, that I have been able to relax a bit and go with the understanding that each child is different and they will develop on his or her own schedule. Our little H is a happy and healthy baby – what more could we ask for? I know that there will be many other things to worry about as he grows up (i.e. sports injuries, car accidents, broken hearts), but I am going to try to not waste any more time or energy worrying about what could happen and just focus on the now. (Yeah right!)

I guess I just need to get used to the fact that worrying and parenting go hand in hand!

Guest Blogger: Erin Ryan

Let’s talk diapers!

2010-07-08T07:42:00.001-07:00

In the “olden days” parents didn’t have much choice when it came to diapers. Most used cloth diapers that could be washed and reused. Today, the modern mom has lots of options when it comes to pampering your baby’s behind.

Disposable Diapers: These usually have either a cellulose center or an absorbent gelling material in the core that pulls moisture away from the skin. Some babies may not be able to wear these because their sensitive skin may react to the plastic, perfumes or chemicals. Most babies are okay with using these, providing they are changed when needed.

Organic Biodegradable Disposable Diapers: These are usually made with unbleached wood pulp and can be composted. Considering that the average disposable diaper takes about 500 years to decompose, these are a great option for the eco-friendly parent.
Cloth Diapers: These are also eco-friendly and chemical free. Some are made with cotton, while others are now made with fleece. The modern cloth diaper has Velcro, so you don’t need to worry about using diaper pins anymore. Also, the diaper fairies have made these more absorbent and breathable.

No matter which type of diaper you decide to use, the most important thing is your baby’s health. Keep a close eye on your baby’s bottom and always be aware of what is in the products that you are using. Catching an allergic reaction early on will save you many sleepless, worried nights!

Guest Blogger: Sarah Lue

Fitness for Moms!

2010-07-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

ASK A FITNESS SPECIALIST

I’m at that age where a lot my friends are having kids. As the resident fitness specialist in my circle of friends, my phone has been ringing off the hook with questions like: “Why am I losing my hair?” or “Why am I breaking out like a teenager in heat?”

While I myself have no experience with raising a family, I do know a fair bit when it comes to the human body. Here are some helpful tips on what to expect, and how to deal with some of the glorious changes that your body goes through after having a child.

Hair Loss: This happens because your body is readjusting after being jacked up on hormones for the last nine months. This usually starts a few weeks after delivery and may last for a few months before your hair growth cycle returns to normal. Hang in there!

Skin Discoloration: Your new mommy glow may start turning to acne or dry skin. Most women get this around their mouths or chins. The crazy thing is that for some women who suffered from severe acne during pregnancy – this may instead clear up right after giving birth. My best tip for this is to make sure you stay hydrated.

Back Pain: There are many different reasons why you may have back pain. Try and locate the root of the problem so that you can be pain free. Many women suffer from back pain because you overcompensate for your abdomen muscles (which are stretched and sore from giving birth). Another reason may be – bad posture. Ask your doctor to recommend some stretches that will suit your needs.

Tummy Bulge: I hate having to tell expectant mothers this – but they need to know! After giving birth, your body does NOT magically go back to the way it was before you became pregnant. Chances are you will have some stretch marks and even some extra poundage on your tummy. To help try using creams with Vitamin E, drinking lots of water and do some easy stomach stretches (like sit-ups).

Incontinence & Constipation: It ain’t pretty – but someone needs to warn you! The plus side is that you won’t have to pee as often as you did while you were pregnant. To help keep you regular, make sure you have a lot of water, milk and fiber. Certain juices can also help, but check with your doctor.

Swollen Legs and Arms: Drink lots of water. Walking or stretching your arms will help.

Energy: You may find that you have less energy after giving birth (big surprise, right?!). Make sure that you eat healthy and follow the recommendations that your doctor has given you. Make sure that you always give your body the rest it needs. Slowly, start introducing more and more activity into your life again. Listen to your body.

Guest Blogger: Sarah Lue

Reading to Your Child

2010-07-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

When my son was just a few weeks old I started to read to him. Some of my friends thought I was crazy, but I felt that it was important. Not because I am a teacher or that I love to read, but because a baby is never too young to start learning (and hey what else are you supposed to do with a newborn?) I wanted to have a hand in my child’s learning, instead of just popping him in front of a TV with one of those DVDs that claims they can teach your child to read. (I am not one of those moms who are anti-TV, but I felt the later he became addicted to the tube the better it was for me, my 25 TV shows and my PVR! )

I started with a lot of black and white picture books (as they say newborns can only see black and white) and he would just lie in my arms and look at the book as I turned the pages and talked about each picture

We then moved on to some rhyming more colourful books – which he didn’t seem to mind either. He looked at the pictures and seemed somewhat engaged in what we were doing (or so I told myself). I now also put him on the floor and turned the book towards him so he could look directly at it.

By about six months, when he could sit up by himself, we moved on to “touch and feel” books where I could take his hand to feel the textures on the page while we talked about them. He really started to enjoy this and it wasn’t long until he was doing the touching all by himself.

The next type of books that we tried was the “Lift the Flap” style books and these just amazed him. He could spend hours looking at the same book and lifting the flap to discover the hidden pictures. We were still not really reading the books, but more so looking at the pictures and discussing what we saw. I tended to choose books that either had pictures of babies or animals as these seemed to catch his interest the most.

At about 12 months, his love for books really started to show. He was now crawling over to the basket of books, pulling them out and looking at them on his own. Here I saw just how much he had learned from those reading sessions with us. He knew how to hold the book properly (not upside down), that a book is read from left to right and how to turn the pages all on his own! Take that my sceptical friends!

Now at 16 months, all I have to do is just sit on the floor and he will go and grab a book from the basket and bring it back to me and climb into my lap so we can share it together (repeatedly). He has his favourites that we read over and over, and some of them we don’t even read – just look and talk about what we see. He can point to different things in the books and say their names or find them if you ask him where they are.

These moments to me are priceless and I enjoy our daily reading time and am excited about how much he has learned already. Do I want him to be one of those kids who spends all day in his room reading instead of playing outside? No - but I do want him to understand the importance of reading and perhaps once in awhile pick up a book just because he WANTS to read it.

Guest Blogger: Erin Ryan

A writer is a writer

2010-06-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

What do you do in your spare time?

I mean, besides being an awesome mum, cleaning the house, preparing dinner, and getting all of your OWN work done. I found this interesting article you may enjoy.
AdhocMom.com has always kept my interest and this week discussed freelance writing. It's always been a passion of mine.

Let me know how much you like this article

Talk to you soon,
Shannon

You can sleep too

2010-06-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

“Sleep when the baby sleeps” that's what everyone says. None of us ever do it. When the baby goes down, we are relieved to have a moment to ourselves.

The instant that baby falls asleep, we have a list of things that we have been wanting to do. Things like... going to the bathroom, having a bite to eat, showering perhaps? Sometimes we do things other than fulfill our basic needs, glamorous things like... the dishes, vacuuming or laundry.

We don’t sleep.

We should sleep, we should take that advice, then we might not snap at the other members of our family when they leave their bedroom light on or forget a toy in the hall (where you inevitably trip over it).

If we weren’t so sleep deprived, we might be nicer to telemarketers, we might remember where our keys are, and we might not foam at the mouth when older kids are a little too loud returning home from school. In extreme cases we may even have the desire to tolerate our loving husbands.

We still don’t sleep.

We can’t. We have put so much pressure on ourselves to have a clean home, to look a certain way and to cook fabulous meals. We always think “I’ll just do this one thing, and then I will lie down.” Then we get distracted either by the household things we need to get done or by the social networks on the computer... sometimes we even have actual people over to our houses... ahhh human contact; it’s lovely. That is something we will always choose over sleep.

You know what I did today? I slept... when the baby slept! I actually did it! I left the laundry unfolded, the dish washer full and the floors covered in dog hair. You know what? It felt great! AND I fed my family left over chicken with Kraft dinner.... they all survived. As a matter of fact, the kids were thrilled.

I slept when the baby slept and the world didn’t end. You can do it too.

Guest blogger Maureen Turner

Making the Right Choices for You

2010-06-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

From the moment you get pregnant, people have preconceived notions of what you should and shouldn’t be doing. Scratch that, from the moment you start trying to get pregnant, people have preconceived notions of what you should be doing.

I’m not even talking about what you believe; I’m talking about what other people believe is right for you. I’m here to tell you, all you need is a filter, something to allow you to pick out the advice that you want to follow.

It’s hard. Everyone has an opinion and suddenly, when you are pregnant, everyone feels the need to share their opinion with you. FILTER.

Here is what I can tell you; the choices you make are yours and yours alone to make. If you choose to drink tea during pregnancy and someone 'tsk tsks' you, you tell them to step off. If you choose to have a 3D ultrasound and someone thinks that is creepy and weird, you tell them they don’t have to see the results... they’ll want to, no doubt.

I can also share this with you.

I have had two VERY different pregnancies, births, and babies. Like people will undoubtedly tell you, every pregnancy is different.

With my first daughter, I was nauseous in the morning and sometimes in the evening if I didn’t have enough food. With my 2nd daughter, I had zero nausea. I also had food aversions (iced tea and lettuce) with my first, and none with my second. I had lots of cravings with both.

My labour with my first was more than 12 hours long, and I chose to get the epidural. My 2nd baby came so quick (1 hr, 45 min.) that I couldn’t have the epidural despite the fact that I was begging for it!

This next bit is not advice; it’s information to share with you about the differences I experienced during those two labours and deliveries. I hope it gives you some insight into a place that is a different experience for everyone who visits... the delivery room.

Labour #1: My contractions started at 11 pm... I didn’t know they were contractions. I thought I had to go to washroom. Many women have told me, they too thought their early contractions were gas pain. At 7 am I went straight to the hospital. My labour started getting intense and hard at about 2:30 and I had the epidural at 3 pm. Baby was born at 6:07 that evening. I felt no pain.

Labour #2: 11 pm, on my way to bed, and I thought I peed my pants... just a little. I knew my water hadn’t broken, but feared I might be leaking, so I went to the hospital. They didn’t think I was in labour either, but after a stress test decided I was having minor contractions, so they would keep me for the night. They said “go to sleep, and we will check on things in the morning”. There was no sleep. Contractions started fast and furious at 1 am and baby was born at 2:46.

Difference #1: The length of labour. The early contractions of my 1st pregnancy were tolerable and fairly light compared with the strength of my 2nd. My 2nd labour came fast a furious and had me thinking I would never be able to make it through hours of labour. Thankfully I didn’t have to.

Difference #2: The biggest difference was the epidural. Because my 2nd labour was so quick, there was no time for an epidural. After baby #1 was born, I was frozen from the waist down. I couldn’t get out of bed to change her or even to go to the washroom. Without the epidural, I found I recovered way more quickly and was able to get up and do things for myself... including shower. Given half a chance, I would have had that epidural, but I am kind of glad things happened so quickly because now I know the difference.
I don’t know that I could do 12 hours of labour without any assistance, but the quick labour was manageable. I will also say this; you don't feel any pain with the epidural... until the freezing wears off, then you feel a little beat up.

I don’t care to tell you what to do, nor do I know what is “the right way”, I just wanted to share with you my experience and let you draw from that what you will.

Remember, you have to make the choices that are right for you.

Guest blogger Maureen Turner

It can be baby - First Post!

2010-06-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

Mums get it. It’s a job nobody else can do. At least, not as well. And sometimes we could all use a helping hand (or article) to point us in the right direction. I’m trying to share helpful tips that could be useful in the day to day. Or interesting stories that may affect us and our kids. It could be a healthy recipe, a news story or even 1,001 new uses for left over lemon slices. I am going to peruse the web looking for all the best articles so that we mothers can be ahead of the bunch. Thanks for everyone who reads this – and hopefully you enjoy!

Happy parenting.
Shannon D.

Guests

2010-06-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Maureen Turner is taking a break from the working world to take care of her new baby. Life is no less hectic at home; quite the opposite, with four young children, a husband, a dog and a cat under one roof, things can get a little busy. She is a mom and a step mom who has a passion for writing about the circus that is her life. Check out her other work.

Erin Ryan is the mother of a little boy who is just over a year old. Besides being a somewhat new mom (who is going through the ups and downs of “mommy hood” for the first time) she is a wife and a teacher. She loves to spend her days hanging out with her family by the pool or when she has some free time she enjoys reading a book or surfing the internet for new and exciting things. Check out her other writing at www.mommiesfavourites.blogspot.com.