Tips for Moving Your Child from a Crib to a Bed (Guest Post)

  Hey folks! Transitioning a child from a crib to a toddler bed is a bid deal! ...And can also be really frustrating at times, for the parent, child, or both. Arguably, I think transitioning a child to a "big girl/boy bed" can be as nerve-wracking as potty-training! If you're looking for some ways on making this transition as smooth as possible for your own child, check out these tips from today's guest blogger!

As a child sleep consultant, I'm asked quite often about when and how to move a child from a crib to a bed.  As parents, we experience many exciting firsts with our children: Their first tooth, first steps & first solid foods just to name a few.  The switch from co-sleeping or a crib to a bed is another sign your baby is growing up.  Some parents wonder when and how to make this switch?  What will it be like if their child can get out of bed by themselves?  Will he be roaming the house at night?  Will he ever settle down and go to sleep?

First of all, there is no rush.  Is your child happy in their crib? And not trying to jump out head first, then by all means, keep them in their crib.  If your child has become a crib jumper, then safety is an issue, and you must make the change.

Maybe you're ready to not co-sleep because you have another child on the way or are just ready to get your bed back.

I want you to know that this transition to a big bed is hard for the best of sleepers.  That said, you want to make sure your child is a great sleeper before you make this change.  A great place to start would be with my 7 Best Sleep Tips.  This is a totally free resource and the foundation of what I teach my clients.

Here are three helpful hints for making that change:

1.  In my experience the closer the child is to age 3, the more smooth this transition becomes.  Anything younger than two-and-a-half years is a little too early.  Very young children don’t have the cognitive ability to understand exactly WHY they have to stay put when getting out of bed suddenly became so easy.  It can be tough to be consistent when merely communicating isn't easy.

2. A few items that can help with this transition are a clock and a big bed.  The clock helps your child know when it's ok to get out of bed in the morning and start his day.  You may be wondering why a big bed?  Children do so much better with this change if they move into a twin or full-size bed.  Since we're transitioning our children out of their cribs because they're getting bigger, then it would make sense to put them into a bed that is in fact bigger.  New bed, new expectations.  You can encourage your child to help with choosing some fun new sheets or a new pillow.  You want to make this fun and a big deal, because it is.  

3.  There may be a "honeymoon" phase where most toddlers do well sleeping in their new bed until the fun wears off.  This usually happens around week 3, and a child will begin testing their boundaries.  I want you to prepare ahead of time, so you'll know exactly how to handle this situation.

Here's what to do if your child keeps getting out of their new bed:

Maybe the "honeymoon" has worn off or maybe your child just never liked the idea of their new bed from the start.

First, you have to be consistent.  If your child gets out of bed, even once, and comes to your room, take him back to bed right away.  Try not to have a lot of interaction with him and don't waiver on this.  He may be asking for something simple like another hug or a snack, but it's important to reinforce that its bedtime and he needs to stay put.  If he gets out of bed again, then there needs to be a consequence.  Without one, there may be no reason for your child to stop getting out of bed.

You can also offer rewards to kids if they stay in bed.  If your kiddo can stay put until morning when their clock says 7:00, then they get a treat.  Be sure these rewards are immediate for this age or else they won't be useful at all.

Like all things to do with parenting, this takes persistence and consistency on your part. Toddlers need praise and encouragement and will soon enough yours will become used to sleeping in their new bed.  They'll also learn to understand that just because no bars are holding them in, this doesn't mean they can wander about the house at bedtime or during the night.

Have questions about your little one’s sleep?  Connect with me on Facebook and post your questions.  I’d love to help.

Jo Anna Inks is a sleep consultant that helps tired; frustrated parents get their babies sleeping through the night and napping well so everyone in the family can get the rest they so desperately need.  Jo Anna is passionate about all things sleep!  When she’s not busy helping babies sleep well,  you can find her hanging out with her husband and two amazing boys (both of whom are excellent sleepers, of course!), cooking or hiking with her dog, Cooper.  joannainkssleepsolutions.com

How to Increase Your Energy Naturally (Guest Post)

Life is full of varying activities that never seem to stand still.  If you stop and think about your day-to-day life, it may become overwhelming to think of everything that you are responsible for.  

Most people are balancing their job, their family life, their social life and everything else that pops up on a daily basis, and this can cause a lot of stress.  This stress has a huge impact on our daily lives.  It can lower our motivation, our concentration, and our energy levels.  

While it is important to recognize how certain emotions and feelings can interact with us and our daily schedule, there are ways to overcome those feelings of tension and increase your energy naturally.  

If you feel that you need a boost of energy, here are 9 tips from Parenting Pod that will give you that natural boost.  

1. Exercise more.  Yep, right out of the gate, it starts the list of ways to give yourself a natural boost of energy.  Exercise is great for the body and the brain.  Any form of exercise helps to increase your energy naturally.  Run, walk, hike, bike, you name it.  All forms of exercise release endorphins into your bloodstream and that gives your mind a positive reaction.  Even though you are burning energy, you are also creating more energy naturally for yourself at the same time.

2. Worry Less.  Worrying causes anxious feelings which in turn can cause you to feel mentally exhausted.  Let go of worry to build up some energy naturally.   

3. Get up and stretch.  Sitting at a desk in the same position for hours on end is a sure way to NOT feel energized.  Get up every so often and stretch your body and your legs.  Give your body a quick wake up call to start to feel more energized.

4. Stay hydrated. Keep your body running smoothly with some good old H20.  Our bodies need water to function, as do our brains.  Staying hydrated is important when you particularly need to feel energized.  Think of athletes as a prime example.  To perform their best, they stay hydrated for energy to be able to excel in their sport.
5. Eat healthy food.  Fatty fried foods can weigh you down and cause you to feel overly tired and full.  Eat lean meats and fresh fruits and veggies to give your body the proper fuel it needs to produce that energy for you.  

6. Take a mid-day walk.  Different from full-blown exercise or stretching, just taking a quick mid-day walk around the block can cause you to wake up and give you enough energy to tackle the rest of your day.

7. Work less.  If you can, scale back on the number of hours you are putting in at the office.  By being out and about and doing what you love, you can create an excited energy aura for yourself!

8. Get your rest.  If you are a night owl, you may need to think about changing up your sleep schedule.  Staying up late at night may be fun and appealing at the time, but it can cause a major energy deflation for the next day.  Next time you have the urge to stay out or up late, think of how it will affect you the next day.  If it’s worth it for you to feel laggy and tired, then that is your call; however, if you want to be rested with more energy, it's key to get to bed at an earlier point in time.

9. Pursue a passion.  Find something that you love to do and then do it.  Get your energy to increase naturally by just being excited in life about something.  If you love to read, join a book club. If you love cycling, find a group to go biking with.

There are so many different ways to increase your energy naturally.  Try a few of the suggestions above and see what works well for you and your life.  You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that with a few of the changes listed above, you will feel less stressed and more energized than you thought possible!

A Different Take on Cloth Diapering (Guest Post)

            Hey folks! I will be taking some time off from the ole blog while I wait for baby to get here. (Heck, I might already have the baby! I'm scheduling this two weeks before my due date! :D) So I hope you don't mind some guest posts for a bit. :)
            Today I'm starting off with a different take on cloth diapering from Margaret of Home in Wonderland. She does things quite differently than we do, but I loved reading about how she cloth diapers because everyone has a different system that works for them! So, for those of you considering cloth diapering, I hope this gives you some more insight into the different ways things can be done. :)

            Cloth diapering is not easier than using disposables. It is, in fact, more work. Just let that sink in for a moment. Or, if you're already a cloth-diapering parent you're like, "obviously, bro."
            So, why would anyone choose to cloth diaper? There are two main reasons: 1.) It is so. much. cheaper. 2.) Save the planet! Side benefits include: they are usually more gentle on baby bums, babies/toddlers will understand that peeing=wetness which helps immensely with potty training (so I've heard, haven't crossed that bridge yet), and of course, that priceless smugness that only comes from making unpleasant sacrifices for the good of the planet.
            Cloth diapering is really not a big deal for our family, and is just part of our routine. Here's is what we do and how:
            We have 18 cloth diapers and 3 wet bags for Warrior Girl. (You really only need 12-14). 11 of the diapers are All-In-One cloth diapers similar to these, and 7 are Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers. Here is a great article clarifying the differences in the various types of cloth diapers.
            Every other morning, I go to our drying rack with Warrior Girl and gather up her diapers. Inevitably, some of the All-In-Ones are still damp, so I leave those up for a few more hours while we use dry ones.
            Next, Warrior Girl loves to help me prep the diapers.

 

            For the pocket diapers, this involves stuffing the absorbent insert into the pocket. For the All-In-Ones, I snap detachable pads onto the main body of the diaper. This takes about 5-10 minutes. In reality, I will often prep a couple diapers to get us through grocery shopping or whatever we are doing, and just prep a new one each time I need it after that. Then I just leave the others in a pile on my floor. Because that's the kind of housekeeper I am.
            Throughout the day, we probably have to change Warrior Girl's diaper nearly ever 2-3 hours, or about every other time she pees. Each wet/dirty diaper goes into a wet bag. This is compared to disposables, which can be changed every...like never. Okay, you still have to change disposables, but they can wear them for hours if they don't poop
            Now.... let's cut to the chase. What about poop? Well, it's really not that big of a deal. When Warrior Girl was still exclusively breastfed, we didn't have to do anything about the poop. It all came off in the wash because breastfed baby poop is just...whatever it is. Very rinsable. Also just smells like milk. Is that weird?
            Once baby is eating some solids but still breastfeeding quite a bit, their poop goes through a....how to say....a difficult phase for cloth diapering. Ie. it becomes something akin to sweet potato casserole. You can no longer expect your washer to just handle it. The poop must be removed from the diaper one way or another before you wash it.
            Someone gave us a toilet-sprayer to use for this reason, but the maintenance crew at our apartment wouldn't allow us to use it. Thus, we resorted to something very simple: a plastic spackling tool.
            Here's how it works: baby poops. After you change their diaper, you take the dirty diaper to the toilet, lift the lid and the seat, and use your scraping device of choice to scrape the poop off the diaper and into the toilet. You could even use a spatula--just don't use it for food again! Obviously. We stored the spackling tool in an empty yogurt container on the back of the toilet because, classy.
            After diaper has been scraped, you place the diaper in the wet bag and wash your hands like you've never washed them. That's it. No need to rinse the diaper in the toilet or anything like they did in the old days. The entire process takes about 1-2 extra minutes.
            But! Good news, friends! After your baby is a big girl/boy and fully established on solids, they will reach a stage where the scraper is no longer necessary! That's right, their poop will become solid enough that you can just shake the diaper over the toilet and it will roll right off. How did you like that visual? You're welcome. Now dealing with a poopie diaper will only take you about 30 seconds longer than if you were using a disposable! Also, not so gross now that you're not scraping poop.
            We wash our cloth diapers every other day, and by we, I mean J does it while I'm putting Warrior Girl to bed. I would not advise going longer than every 3rd day to wash them.  
            Washing the diapers involves pulling the inserts out of the pocket diapers and dumping all the diapers and the wet bags straight into the washer. This takes about 1 minute, but the odors for that 1 minute are not pleasant.
            First, we run the diapers through a cold rinse cycle to get everything gross out of there. Next, we wash them with a powder detergent with 1/2 cup of Borax added to combat our super hard water on a hot, regular wash cycle. Then we hang them up on our drying rack.  
            Hanging them is the most time consuming part of the entire cloth-diapering process; it probably takes 10 minutes. You could always use a dryer instead, thus saving yourself 10 minutes, but we hang dry because: (1) Saving the planet or something; (2) Less wear on the diapers; and (3) We don't have a dryer. We hang dry all our clothes.
            That's it, folks. That is all that is involved in our cloth diapering system.
            Now, here is how we go 90% to make this whole thing workable for us: we keep a box of disposables on hand. We use disposables at night. (I'm sure we could use cloth at night, it just seems too risky to possibly have her wake up wet. We have literally never tried it). We also use disposables whenever we take Warrior Girl hiking or rock climbing because ain't nobody got time for cloth at that point. Ditto for travelling or camping. We do not use cloth wipes. Getting poop off the wipes before washing seems like a whole different ball game, one I have no desire to play.
            I have seen blogs for moms who literally only use cloth, even while on week-long backpacking trips, or when travelling cross-country. To them I say, congratulations. Also, whoa dude. Also, how?
             Bottom Line: If you have babies, you have to deal with poop. To anyone considering cloth diapering, I say go for it. To me, the benefits greatly outweigh the cons. The total extra time investment is probably 10 minutes on non-wash days and maybe 20 on wash days. And finally, find a system that works for you, whether that means all cloth, all the time, or something more in the middle.

 Everything you need to get started cloth diapering:

• 3 wet bags
• 12-20 cloth diapers - Consider buying 1 or 2 of the type you think you want so that you can try them out before committing to an entire stash. Seriously. I've had friends buy an entire stash only to find they didn't like them for one reason or another. What works for who depends on baby’s body type, and parent lifestyle, etc. I think we have about 18, but this is more than necessary.
• Good detergent - This site is an excellent resource on ensuring you are using a good detergent based on whether you have hard or soft water, and on the type of diapers you use.
• Cloth or disposable wipes
• Drying rack to save energy, electric bill, and the planet! Ours was a free, curbside score.

 

A younger Warrior Girl lookin' fly in cloth. And my boots.  

Have you considered cloth diapering? Does the thought make you want to vomit? How do you make it work for your family? Share in the comments below!

Margaret Sky is wife to one mountain man, mama to one wild toddler and

precious newborn, and counselor to many courageous and inspiring people.

She blogs about mom life, spirituality, and finding joy at

Home in Wonderland.

Follow her on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/Home-in-Wonderland-1608473682520698/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/margarets0930/
 

25 Pre-Baby "Kid Date" Ideas for Your Older Children

             Hey folks! Not that I don't normally take my kids to do fun things when I can, but I always have kind of a push to “do all the fun things” when there is a new baby coming soon. One, my kids love getting out of the house anyways. Two, it's nice to spend some extra time together doing something fun before I probably won't be able to spend nearly as much time with them with a new baby. And three, I don't plan on getting out of the house much unless necessary for awhile with a new baby!

             With that being said, I thought I would put together a list of “kid date” ideas if you are looking to do something similar before a new baby arrives. (These are just fun ideas any time of year for any reason, really!) There should be something for just about anyone interest-wise AND range from free to full-on vacations!

 

-Have a park play day (Possibly with a picnic!)

-Attend a library program (Some have recurring events each week and there are usually special events held occasionally as well. When we lived in Arkansas, there was a traveling aquarium that came to the library there!)

-Go for a hike (Bonus points again for a picnic!)

-Visit the local pool or make a special trip to a water park

-Visit a children's or science museum (Maybe even an art museum if your kids are older and are into that sort of thing.)

-Spend an afternoon at a play place, like a trampoline park or jumping place (Think lots of bouncy houses!)

-Play a round of mini golf. Bonus: These places are usually combined with arcades and/or go-kart tracks as well!

-Set up a playdate with friends

-Take a mini vacation (camping, stay all night at a hotel with a pool/indoor water park, etc.)

-Spend a day at a theme park

-Hold a scavenger hunt in your yard or at a local park (You could either have them find objects that are already readily available OR hide little prizes ahead of time.)

-Have a craft day, work on a project (like building a robot, doing a puzzle, building a birdhouse), etc.

-Go to a movie

-Visit the zoo or aquarium

-Have a spa day (manis/pedis, hair, etc.)

-Spend a day or weekend at the beach or lake

-Go fishing

-Have a butterfly or bug hunt

-Go horseback riding

-Volunteer (pick trash up at a park, help with an animal adoption event)

-State park programs (Depending on the popularity, many state parks hold special programs regularly that cover topics like snakes, birds, reptiles and amphibians, etc. Check local parks and rec department too!)

-Visit a farm

-Go apple or berry picking

-Take a kid class at Home Depot or Michael's

-Check out a story and craft time at a book store

 

Do you spend extra quality time with your older children before a new baby arrives? What activities do you guys enjoy doing?

Real Reasons Women Choose to VBAC

             Hey folks! With my third baby's due date quickly approaching (and hopefully 2^nd VBAC), I've been thinking a lot about my last birth. Will going into labor be similar? Will it go as fast? Will I be fortunate and not have any major complications?

             I enjoy reminiscing about my VBAC with my second baby because it was one of the best experiences of my life, as cliché and corny as that may sound. One thing that really bothered me, though, when I first told family and friends about how I wanted to have one was their lack of enthusiasm due to ignorance. This was a really big deal to me, after all! I suppose I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, though.

             So, what's a VBAC? VBAC stands for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. Yes, this is actually a “thing” now. Gone are the days of “once a c-section, always a c-section”! Speaking of which, let's talk about some other myths and facts surrounding VBACs and c-sections.

*Most women with a prior c-section are great candidates for a VBAC. In fact, according to ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), women who have a trial of labor after c-section (TOLAC) have a 60-80% success rate for vaginal birth.

*Although far too common in our society nowadays, the fact remains that cesareans are major abdominal surgery. With VBAC, women can “avoid major abdominal surgery and lowers their risk of hemorrhage, blood clots and infection. It also shortens the recovery period and reduces women’s risk of experiencing maternal morbidity or mortality during delivery in a future pregnancy due to repeated C-sections.” (ACOG)

*Naturally, there are factors that could impede VBAC success. ”There are certain conditions that can make VBAC less likely if TOLAC is attempted, including advanced maternal age, a high body mass index, a high birth weight and a previous C-section that resulted because the cervix failed to dilate.” (ACOG)

*The most talked about risk with VBACs is uterine rupture. This is a very valid concern as it can cause both fetal and maternal death, but, it is very rare at less than 1% occurrence in those going through TOLAC.

             Clearly, there are advantages, disadvantages, and risks to consider whether you decide to try for a VBAC or opt for a repeat c-section. More and more women, though, are opting for VBAC, myself included. Now that you understand more about the medical aspect of choosing between the two ways to birth, I want to share some of my own personal reasons as well as some fellow mom bloggers who also chose to VBAC!

             As for me, I always wanted to experience vaginal birth. Don't ask me why, because I couldn't tell you, but it's just one of those things I always wanted to do. I also really wanted to have a drug-free birth, but that flew out the window once I hit about 7/8 cm dilated. Those Pitocin contractions (I opted to get induced) are no joke! (Seriously. So much different than going into labor on your own!) Still, I cried when I gave in to getting the epidural.

             Long story short, labor went pretty fast, but after 3 hours of pushing, we decided to do a c-section. I never got the official records, but from what I understood, my daughter hadn't really descended right and her head and shoulders got stuck funky, which is why I wasn't making any progress pushing. She actually had a red spot on her head at first from where she was hitting my pubic bone!

             Anyways, I was bound and determined to have a VBAC with my next baby. I didn't see any reason not to. It's not like I had to have an emergency c-section. I did lots of research. It just felt right. I felt like it was my second chance, literally and figuratively, to have the birth experience I was hoping for.

             We moved back to Indiana after our first daughter and I found a very VBAC-friendly doctors office. Despite my diet-controlled gestational diabetes, I was able and fortunate to have a perfectly smooth, drug-free VBAC at 40+3 weeks going into labor on my own! Again, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I am so glad I was able to experience it and am hoping for another smooth VBAC delivery again any day now!

              If interested, you can read both Myka's c-section birth story and Ripley's VBAC birth story.

Jessi from The Coffee Mom

My first baby was frank breech, and that resulted in a scheduled C-section at 39 weeks. It wasn't an awful experience, but not the best by any means. Recovery was harder and being a new mom I felt like there wasn't much after support for C-section moms as far as what I was and was not allowed to do.

A few years later, when I was pregnant with my son, I decided to have a VBAC. Since nowhere in my town would do them, I had to go to a larger city about 20 minutes away. The care was amazing and I was able to have my VBAC at 41 weeks. I was told if I didn't go into labor on my own by 42 weeks, I would have another C-section since they can not induce. The whole experience was wonderful and recovery was much easier.

You can read her VBAC story in full on her blog.

Melinda from Unfrazzled Mama

For my first baby I had hoped to go for the natural/no pain meds birth and, unfortunately, had to have a C-section at the last minute. My water broke on it's own and I was all set in my hospital room to deliver vaginally, but the doctor decided to check to make double sure the baby was head down. He felt something off, and decided to do an ultrasound right there and it turned out that she was breech. All the other doctors had missed it. So then I had to go for an "emergency" C-section that night. I never had any contractions even though my water broke. So with my second, I definitely wanted to try to successfully experience a natural birth, not to mention avoid all the risks that come along with multiple C-sections.

Abigail

When I was pregnant with my first son, at my 38 week visit, the midwife had a hard time finding the heart beat of the baby...there was nothing. I was sent for an ultrasound and from then on everything was fine. They monitored me for a whole day and nothing seemed wrong.

The next day they came to my room and said they would send me home but another doctor came in and said I was having a c-section that day. I freaked out. The more I said no the more they bullied me and told me I was putting my son's life in danger. So we did it.

The spinal shot was the scariest thing I've ever done. It took long to heal and I felt like I wasn't what a real mom should be. I spoke to other moms and they discussed things like contractions...I didn't know what that was. The moment they give you the baby after birth...mine was taken away....so yeah.

With my second I was in another country, and I pushed hard for a VBAC, I wanted to know what it felt like to give birth the way God intended. Thankfully, the doctors there were more open to this option. I had a completely natural birth with no painkillers, no bullying...My labour was 4 hours long and went very smoothly. Now I'm pregnant with my third and unfortunately I'm in my country of origin, Malta, where I had my first...and I am very concerned. There are no birthing clinics, no doulas for a homebirth....

Marcie from Marcie in Mommyland

With my oldest, I had placenta previa and was on hospital bed rest for the last 2 months of my pregnancy. Because of the previa, we knew I'd need a c-section. We ended up having an emergency c-section at 35 weeks. After being on bed rest, recovering from the c-section was so difficult and I dreaded just thinking about how to recover from surgery while tending to a toddler if we had another baby.

I always thought I'd need to have another c-section for my 2nd baby. So, when my doctor told me I'd be a great candidate for a VBAC, I did a ton of Googling. Since my first pregnancy/delivery was so intense, I wanted a completely different experience with my second. I ended up hiring a doula, which was the smartest decision for our family! Since I'd never been in labor before, I relied on her a lot to help me with the last 5 weeks of pregnancy (which I hadn't experienced before), labor, and vaginal delivery. I love that my kids came into this world in very unique and distinct ways.

              As you can see from just the few examples here, there are many different circumstances that lead up to each of these c-sections. But, for the most part, the reasons for wanting a VBAC are similar. A lot of women simply want to experience vaginal birth and I, and more and more mothers, doctors, doulas, etc., feel we shouldn't be denied that experience unless truly, medically necessary.

             With that being said, I would like to close with this: This post is not intended to offend anyone. I am not trying to put down anyone who elects to have a repeat c-section. I do not know your situation. It may be what's right for your body and your family. I'm simply hoping to 1) Enlighten more mothers of their options who may not have even known VBAC was a possibility and 2) Answer those questions that people had who didn't understand why a woman wouldn't just opt for another c-section. (Which, by the way, is NOT the “easy way out”, like some like to ignorantly say! Cesareans are abdominal surgery and as such require several weeks to months of healing time!)

*Sources

-https://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/News-Room/News-Releases/2017/ACOG-Releases-New-Guidance-Aimed-at-Making-VBAC-Available-to-More-Women

-https://vbacfacts.com/2012/01/16/myth-risk-of-uterine-rupture-doesnt-change-much-after-a-cesarean/

-https://www.vbac.com/what-is-a-uterine-rupture-and-how-often-does-it-occur/

Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" Giveaway

Welcome to the Disney's Lady and the Tramp Signature Collection DVD Giveaway!

1 winner

This giveaway is part of our Spring and Easter Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

This contest is hosted by the Social Media Gurus Network!

Host that put together this giveaway is Michigan Saving and More

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A Rain Of Thought, Bargnhtress, Confessions Of A Overworked Waitress, Deliciously Savvy, Easter Babe’s Theory, Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains, Here We GO Again Ready, Java John Z’s, Living Simply, Lisa-Queen of Random, Michigan Saving and More, Missy’s Views and Savings Clues, My Silly Little Gang, Tales From A Southern Mom, thestyleride, Views and More, Welcome To My Kitchen

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Disney's Lady and the Tramp Signature Collection

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THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site.You are not eligible if you have won a prize from the sponsor in the last 12 month. This Giveaway is valid in the United States Only and Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 3/12/18. The winners will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

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Teach My Preschooler Giveaway

Welcome to the Teach My Preschooler Giveaway!

1 winner

This giveaway is part of our Spring and Easter Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

This contest is hosted by the Social Media Gurus Network!

Host that put together this giveaway is Michigan Saving and More

My co-hosts for this giveaway are Deliciously Savvy, Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains, and Tales From A Southern Mom

Below is a list of all the bloggers involved in the gift guide giveaways.

A Rain Of Thought, Bargnhtress, Confessions Of A Overworked Waitress, Deliciously Savvy, Easter Babe’s Theory, Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains, Here We GO Again Ready, Java John Z’s, Living Simply, Lisa-Queen of Random, Michigan Saving and More, Missy’s Views and Savings Clues, My Silly Little Gang, Tales From A Southern Mom, thestyleride, Views and More, Welcome To My Kitchen

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Now let’s get to the sponsor!

TEACH ME

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Teach My Preschooler

$29.99 RV each

Also available on Amazon.

See reviews HERE.

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THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site.You are not eligible if you have won a prize from the sponsor in the last 12 month. This Giveaway is valid in the United States Only and Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 3/26/18. The winners will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook! If you like our blogs on social media it helps us bring you only the best giveaways and more of them!

Enter below and Good Luck!

Entry-Form

Pregnancy Journal #12: Stick a Fork in Me

             Hey folks! So...37 weeks. I think the title of this post says it all. I know a lot of women get to the “I'm done with this nonsense” stage sooner than this point, but 37 weeks always seems to be my personal point in my pregnancies where I'm just over it. I'm sure it has everything to do with the fact that I realize at this point that baby would, in all likelihood, be perfectly healthy and not need any special care or extended hospital stay. The realization flips my antsy switch every time.

             I'm trying really hard not to get too antsy yet since I feel like that will just jinx things and cause me to stress unnecessarily. Considering this is my third, I know baby will get here when it is darn well ready, not me. And, to be honest, I'm not really feeling that terrible overall yet. Most days I feel surprisingly good, actually. I haven't slept well this whole pregnancy, so the sleep deprivation isn't really an issue yet. I will admit that I am starting to fluctuate more and more between feeling great one day and being sore and tired the next, though. It comes with the territory, right?

              My doctor's appointment went surprisingly well this week. The ultrasound showed that baby is officially head down! Yay! Took long enough. ;) I'm completely convinced it was the impromptu two mile hike we went on one Sunday that did it! I can't remember if I mentioned it in my last update, but I was pretty sure he/she had turned head down finally about a week before we confirmed it because I felt its hiccups in a much different spot. Funny, huh?

             Although I hadn't intended on getting “checked”, the doctor was already down there to do the group B strep test, so yah. I wasn't all that surprised to learn that I am already 2-3 cm dilated! Ever since baby got in the right position, I have had more and more pressure down there, especially when I stand up. I even had what felt like some real contractions for about an hour one night before bed! Although it's exciting to know that I'm already making progress, I kind of wish I hadn't known if I were dilated at all or not. Like I told my husband before I even had my appointment, women can walk around at 3cm dilated for weeks before anything exciting happens!

             I've probably mentioned this before too, but my mom, husband, and I all think this baby will be a little early. I have absolutely no reason to think this because neither of my other kids were early, but who knows. Since we all have the feeling, maybe it will actually happen and it's not just wishful thinking?

             I actually got to thinking more about that this morning. In all likelihood, baby could be “early” because I kind of forgot about the fact that I slightly fudged the date of my last period when they asked at the beginning of my pregnancy. I'm sure that probably sounds really messed up, but I have good reasons. I have long cycles AND I could tell you the exact date that * ahem * things happened. I didn't think the doctors would believe me if I told them I knew the exact date I got knocked up plus it probably wouldn't matter anyways since they calculate it by the first day of your last period.

             So, yah. I lied a little. Baby has been measuring around the date that I “made up”, though, so it's all good. Even though I had a successful VBAC last time, I'm still considered a VBAC patient, so I didn't want the doctors finding a reason to speed things up. That was my main reason for changing the date. So it was more accurate to how big the baby was and not some arbitrary date that I just happened to have my last period on. Anyways, I'm rambling. Moral of my story: I wouldn't be upset if I happened to have baby closer to February 18^th instead of February 28^th! (Plus the 18^th is my step-dad's birthday!)

             I am too scatter-brained for my own good today, so I'll leave it here. Until next time...(This is where you think happy thoughts that I go into labor soon! ;) )

What I'm Missing Out On In 2018

             Hey folks! Sometimes we have an incredible knack for getting pregnant and expecting babies at not-such-great times, don't we? As I've mentioned before, with baby #3, we were kind of taking the “let's see what happens” approach...And lo and behold, we got pregnant a lot sooner than we expected! As my due date approaches, though, it's been sinking in more and more what a terrible time of year for us this baby is coming at. Lol So today I am sharing a few things that we'll be missing out on completely or will be much more difficult due to baby's timing.

            Brown County State Park

*Much less camping trips

I know, I know. Camping with a baby is totally doable, but a newborn? AND two other young kids? No thanks! Baby will only be 3 or 4 months around the time we would normally go camping. I'm pretty sure I'm nowhere near capable of or willing to deal with that many diapers and feedings while in the great outdoors. (Especially if Ripley is still not potty trained by then. Oy!) So it's kind of a bummer that we won't be able to do much camping this year...Not that we did much last year, but I was hoping to change that this year. Oh well.

I am still keeping my fingers crossed we can swing a longer trip to at least one place at the end of summer/early fall. After all, we have another state park pass to use this year that came with a campground gift card! And I fully intend to use it, gosh darn it!

                Aboard the Southern Belle in Chattanooga, TN

*No Tennessee Trip

Are you seeing a theme here yet? I enjoyed utilizing our state park pass so much last year and the few camping trips we did take, I was really hoping to do some more traveling this year.

Aside from local trips, I got the idea in my head that we needed to visit Chattanooga, Tennessee. John and I used to take trips to Tennessee all the time before we had kids and we keep talking about how it would be nice to go. We have only been to Chattanooga once together, but we only spent an afternoon there, so didn't really get to see or do much. Other than that, I haven't been there since I was in middle or high school!

Anyways, why Chattanooga? There are SO many things to do both in and around the city, especially kid-friendly things! With camping, waterfalls, caves, and other nature attractions nearby AND such places as the Tennessee Aquarium, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and Southern Belle riverboat rides, it seems like the perfect family-friendly vacation for us...Without anyone getting bored! Again, oh well. One day. Until then, I can wistfully daydream... :)

*Spring Project and Garden Planning

This year should be very interesting. Pretty much as soon as it starts getting warmer out and there are less and less days below freezing, we get the itch to start working on things outside, add more animals, start seeds indoors, etc. We tend to get too ambitious with this year as no exception, what with wanting to start a Christmas tree farm area, build several chicken tractors, etc. I have a feeling we'll be lucky to get the normal stuff done, but one can dream, right?!

             With all that being said, I wouldn't change it for the world, of course! I am happy we will be completing our family and can't wait to find out if we're having a boy or girl! But, it's fun to reflect plus, I'm hoping by confessing all of my “would have beens”, it makes some of you moms out there not feel so bad if the same thing has happened to you and you felt guilty about it!

Why Off Brand Formula is Just as Good as Name Brand

            Hey folks! It can be very overwhelming as a new parent, especially a first time mom. Everyone has their own opinions on things and are NOT afraid to give them! Whether you gave birth, adopted, or are still expecting your little one, I'm sure we all have our fair share of stories where someone (even strangers!) have given us unsolicited advice on parenting.

             With that being said, and in spite of potentially sounding like a hypocrite, I have my own piece of advice I'd like to share with you new moms out there today. (It's not unsolicited if you're here reading it on your own volition, right? ;) )

             Let's talk about formula. The whole breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding debate can be touchy for some people, to say the least. Do I think “breast is best”? Yes, I do. Even formula companies now say so. Do I think you're a terrible person if you won't, don't, or can't breastfeed? Absolutely not. Admittedly, I don't understand the people who won't at least give it a try, but that is not my decision and not my baby. It's as simple as that. I've had my fair share of issues with nursing, so formula feeding “is what it is” for us. That's my two cents on the issue. Moving on...

             One of my biggest beefs with formula is how insanely expensive it is! We quickly learned with our first daughter, however, that “name brand” didn't necessarily mean “better”.

You may (or may not) know how it is with your first child: You want the best of everything, right? Naturally, we started out buying the name brand formula. Well, it turned out Myka had some minor reflux issues, so we tried several different formulas and different formulations within the same brand, such as one to help with gas and fussiness. Oddly enough, her reflux got even WORSE the time we used the gas and fussiness formula!

             Eventually, we ended up trying the off brand Sam's Club formula since that was where we bought our formula at the time anyway. (I thought they used to have their own brand separate from the Walmart off brand, Paren'ts Choice, but I might be crazy because I can't find it now.) As I'm sure you can guess, this one ended up working the best for us. Between this formula and having her bed propped up slightly, her reflux issues went way down. We even took her off the medicine she was taking for it. Hooray for a child with cheap taste! Ha ha

             Moral of the story: Name brand does not always mean better and off brand does not always mean cheaper quality. Given, this is just our story and what worked for us and some babies may very well be different. (Otherwise there wouldn't be different types of formula, right?) There are some things in life that “you get what you pay for”. I don't think that is true in the case of formula, though.

Not much for anecdotes and want some numbers/actual proof? Check this out!

             First of all, you'll notice that they contain the exact same ingredients/vitamins, minerals, etc. Second, there are only two items that have different quantities listed from each other: water and linoleic acid. Admittedly, the linoleic acid content is somewhat significantly different, but I don't consider the water content to be. If anything, I'd say that the slightly lesser water content in the Parent's Choice formula means it doesn't have as much “filler”. Now, let's look at some more numbers!

(Per Walmart.com):

Parent's Choice Supplementation Infant Formula-23.2oz container-$13.98

Similac for Supplementation-23.2 oz container-$27.97

             Yes, the name brand formula quite literally costs twice as much as the off brand for THE SAME THING. So, save yourself some money AND sanity and try out the off brands. It won't make you a bad mom to “buy the cheap stuff”. ;)