Category Archives: motherhood

A Mama’s Evolution

A MAMA’S EVOLUTION

In my youth, I loved to play in the dirt.
I wasn’t one to fuss with a dress or skirt.
I’d rather play pirates and climb big trees.
I beamed with pride when I skinned my knees.

I fell in love with the boy next door.
With my best friend, life is never a bore.
We settled down after a few years of fun.
Little did we know, the “fun” had just begun.

I traded my truck for a minivan
and our little family of four began.
We no longer watch football while sipping booze.
We now hush and smile as our babies snooze.

Today I wear the occasional dress
and sometimes cry when my house is a mess.
I’ve made new friends who giggle and play.
We squeel and sing the boogieman away.

We play in the dirt and climb big trees.
There’s often tears when we skin our knees.
My new friends sleep over every single night
and I’ll gladly trade rest for a pillow fight.

I’m still the same tomboy, I’ll never outgrow.
My minivan has all wheel drive, ya know!
I may have new gear and all new rules,
but this tomboy wears the most precious of jewels.

: My Diamond

: My Pearl

How has motherhood changed you?

What’s your Superpower?

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Every mom has a superpower.

You know that mom, the one that you are always in awe of? I bet you could name 3 or 4 of her superpowers, right? But, can you list your own?

The other day, I was talking with a “twingle” mom (a set of twins followed by a single…who knew?) and I was in awe of how she juggled it all. Conversely, she could not comprehend how I, as a differently-abled mom, kept up with 2 very able bodied kids. As we chatted, we realized that neither of us could imagine parenting in the other mama’s shoes.

The more I thought about our conversation, the more I realized, that we ALL possess unique mama superpowers.

My superpower is an accumulation of my experiences as a parent. My character, my family, and my kids shape my superpowers each and every day. No two mamas will ever have the same exact set of strengths. When I compare myself to the super organized mom of 4 who works full-time, cooks a three-course meal every night, and still finds time to scrapbook, I might as well be comparing apples to coconuts. They are each delicious in their own right, but it would be difficult for one to grow and thrive in the other’s environment.

So lets start with a list of some mama superpowers. Shall we?…

Some moms possess superhuman strength to champion through amazing birth stories that would make a grown man weep.
Other moms endure having their bodies cut open, turned inside out, removed, juggled around, squished back in, sewn back up just to safely welcome their precious baby into the world.
A few super mamas possess the power of repetition without insanity. Remember the saying, “The definition of insanity is repeating the same task over and over expecting a different result”? These moms possess the power to bathe, dress, feed, and teach child after child knowing they will be required to do the same thing day after day after day and (almost) never lose their minds.
Some mamas possess the amazing superpower to foresee a brighter future for their child with another family.
Other moms suffer loss, disappointment, heartache yet persevere with superhuman patience and resilience to someday somehow have a child of their own.
Another mom may never have children to call her own, but she may add extra love and/or fill holes in families that need her. With superhuman support, understanding, and willingness to be whatever a child needs, this mom can fill in the gaps.
Some moms possess the power to love from a distance. They may not get to hold or even touch their child for days or even weeks, yet their superhuman heart stretches to encompass their child no matter the distance.
Other moms possess the superpower to understand and sympathize with their child’s needs even though it’s a hardship they themselves have not experienced. They feel every pain, every fear, and every success alongside their child.
Some moms endure the loss of a child and survive to talk about it. I believe these moms are the most powerful of all. These supermoms not only face their greatest fear head on, but also find the power to continue living and often find the strength to fight so that other moms might not feel the same loss.
Then there are those moms with the superpower to fill multiple roles simultaneously. They are a mom. They are a dad. They are a best friend. They are awesome!
Other moms possess the power to juggle a career, a home, and their sanity all while maintaining supermom status. They sometimes sacrifice sleep for snuggles, but always (ok, usually) manage to find their focus the next day.
Some moms live in chaos while simultaneously wiping noses, playing monsters, and cooking dinner. These moms possess the power to create order from chaos…and moreover, the power to be ok with it when they don’t.
Another mom may have the superpower to keep up with endless cloth diaper laundry and name 50 different uses for vinegar just off the top of her head. These mamas often also possess the power to induce change.
Some moms possess a superhuman ability to maintain a tidy home, stay in shape, and keep her family happy and healthy. Often, these moms can also chase a toddler while wearing 6-inch heels.
Other moms possess the power to adapt to parenting through whatever circumstances life throws at them. These moms roll with the punches and often fight the world’s perceptions of them with superhuman strength and resolve.

It would be impossible for me to list all the incredible and unique superpowers each mama possesses, but my hope is that this list has helped you identify at least one of your own strengths. And perhaps, you will encourage other mamas to seek their own unique superpowers too.

Remember, you may see another mama’s strengths and be in awe, but don’t forget that she is also watching you speechless over your exceptional mama powers. Stop comparing apples to coconuts!

What is YOUR mama superpower?

Accessible Cloth Diapering with Thirsties

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I have wanted to try cloth diapering since our 1^st child was born, but I always feared investing in a product that might turn out not accessible for my limited mobility.

As a southpaw, with no functional use of my right hand or arm, I’ll admit I use my teeth for a lot of things. However, I was NOT willing to use this improvisation with diapering. 😉

Rather, we tried to use organic and compostable diapers when available and decided that cloth diapering may just not be an option for me.

When my daughter reached the potty training stage, we tried Flip Training Pants with cotton inserts, but found that even with snaps, changing the dirty pad, which is velcroed into place at either end, was not easily accessible with one hand.

By the time our son came along, I’d given up on cloth diapering altogether.

However, when my son was about 6 months old, his blowout diapers started to decrease and I began revisiting my cloth options. A fellow crunchy mama advised me on a few options and brands that she’d used and that thought might offer the greatest accessibility. And so the research began…

My initial criteria for selection were Aplix closures, affordability, and availability of “How To” YouTube videos to check out accessibility.

I also didn’t want to have to keep buying diapers as my son grew…like a weed. So sizing options were also important.

I chose to start with a Thirsties Duo Diaper (a pocket diaper). This diaper was toted as a great starter fluffy for anyone new to cloth diapering because it works much like a disposable.

Thirsties sizing was also appealing.

Sizing

Size	Weight Range	Age Range
one	6-18 lbs (3-8 kg)	0-9 months
two	18-40 lbs (8-18 kg)	9-36 months

Thirsties Duo Diaper with Aplix (pocket)

Pros:

They are super easy to put on – much like a disposable. Just use and toss in the pail.
Thirsties offers Aplix or snaps on all of their diapers.
All Thirsties have a gusset system to help with leak prevention (with the exception of the Duo AIO which I did not try).
You can stuff extra inserts for added absorbency or easily bulk up near the front for boys or center for girls. As an added accessibility plus, Duo Diapers have a pocket opening in front and back to make stuffing MUCH easier.
Duo Diapers wash and dry fairly easily overall since all the pieces come apart. No added step of taking the icky dirty inserts out. These diapers are designed to agitate the insert out during the wash cycle.
Versatile: Most inserts are interchangeable between brands.
Duo Diapers are easy to hang dry. They air-dry just about as quickly as the dryer cycle itself (especially if you can find a little sun), prolonging their life.

Cons:

Added step of stuffing the diapers
One use = One wash.

So, how many will you need?

Thirsties recommends the following:

Newborn: 20-24 diapers
6-12 months: 14-18 diapers
12-24 months: 12-16 diapers
Potty Learning: 4-8 diapers

After surviving a few days with the Duo diapers, I thought, “Hey, I can do this! It’s easy!”. So I decided to branch out and experiment with a few other Thirsties combinations.

Next, I tried a Thirsties Duo Wrap with a Stay Dry Duo Insert and/or a Duo Hemp Prefold.

Thirsties Duo Wrap with insert

Pros:

You don’t have to touch the ick with these either. Just remove the diaper and dump the pad in the pail.
The covers are reusable 3-5x. Once you flip out the dirty insert, just allow the cover to dry out until the next change, then pair it with a fresh pad. This is the least expensive option since you need fewer diapers and can wash them less often, prolonging the life of their lifespan.
The wraps air-dry in no time at all (especially if you can find a little sun), prolonging their life. The pads and prefolds can be tossed in the dryer or hung in the sun.
No pairing or stuffing.

Cons:

Because there’s nothing holding the two pieces together, unfortunate shifts may happen while wrangling it onto a wiggly baby.
It’s important to check around the legs and at the back to make sure all the absorbent parts are tucked in or you will have major leakage.
I also had trouble getting the Duo Hemp Prefold “just right” for my OCD self. The Stay Dry Duo Insert was the easiest option for me in this combination. Save the prefolds to use as extra stuffing when needed.

So, how many will you need?

Thirsties recommends the following:

A single Thirsties Duo Wrap or Thirsties Diaper Cover can be wiped clean and reused several times before requiring a full washing.
Newborn-9 months: 1 wrap for every 3 diapers
9 months-18 months: 1 wrap for every 4 diapers
18 months to potty: 1 wrap for 5 every diapers

Then…

Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted (snap) paired with a Duo Wrap

*Note, I tried this one in a snap because I liked the idea of being to pull it on him rather then putting it on him the old fashioned way.

Pros:

Very easy to put on properly.
Soft and stretchy; seems very comfortable. I was actually able to put this on my wiggly son like a pull-up
Extremely absorbent – will probably be my nighttime fluff if I ever get that brave.
Cover can be reused, prolonging its life as in the category above.
Easy to add extra layers for absorbency.
Can use covers interchangeably between brands.
Covers dry quickly as mentioned above.

Cons:

Two pieces to put on.
Must be careful to tuck all absorbent parts into the cover or wicking/leaks can be a problem. I found this step very accessible and not an issue.
Ick factor. There is no way to avoid touching the wet diaper, as the entire thing (snaps/aplix included) gets soaked. So be prepared to add the extra step of hand washing every time with this one…sanitizer ain’t gonna cut it
These generally take a long time to dry…the tradeoff for their supper absorbency.

So, how many will you need?

Thirsties recommends the following:

Newborn: 20-24 diapers
6-12 months: 14-18 diapers
12-24 months: 12-16 diapers
Potty Learning: 4-8 diapers For the first few months, 1 cover for every 3 diapers changes is the minimum recommendation. Once your baby is 18 months old, you will likely get away with only 1 cover for every 6 diapers in rotation.

Tips

Use a flushable liner to dispose of solid waste for even less ick factor. My favorite brand so far is Eco-Bottom Liners.

Another option is to purchase a diaper sprayer that attaches to the back of the toilet to rinse off solid waste. However, this was not an accessible option for me so I did not try it.

Just like disposable diapers every baby butt is different and what works on my baby may not fit your baby.

My Picks

My #1 pick would have to be pocket diapers for ease of use, accessibility, low ick factor, and very few leaks (may be in part to Thirsties awesome gusset system). Be sure to choose one that offers an opening in front and back for easier stuffing. Also, look for a feature allowing insert to agitate out in the wash so YOU won’t have to touch the ick.

The fitted diaper is a close second for me for cozy factor, less laundry, and increased absorbency all for about the same investment as using pocket diapers. Increased ick factor and dry time make this option my #2 pick…pun only slightly intended. 😉

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised how easy it all was, but it does take commitment.

The cute factor of a fluffy bum almost cancel out the ick factor…almost.

I will continue to use my Thirsties and experiment with new combinations…with all parts being interchangeable, this should keep me entertained until my son potty trains. 🙂

Do you cloth diaper? What are your top picks?

No Fuss, No Muss Homemade Baby Food

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With our 1st child I spent hours in the kitchen each week preparing, cooking, and pureeing baby food, then freezing it in ice cube trays or small plastic containers. It was exhausting, messy, and required a lot of cleanup.

On occasion, we splurged and purchased baby food pouches. These things were a godsend! No jars or bowls to scrape or wash. Just squeeze straight into the spoon…or baby. No fuss, no muss, but at $1.50 a pop they were a luxury.

By the time baby #2 was ready to try solids, the pouch craze had peaked and was becoming more accessible. I decided to try the Infantino Squeeze Station. This system enables me to make my own baby food and stuff it into pouches myself. Very little muss, but still a bit of fuss.

A few months ago I started researching juicing…for myself. We ended up purchasing a Nutri Bullet as a starter juicer and it just so happens that it is also a great tool for making baby food!

The Nutri Bullet allows me to feed my baby whole raw fruits and veggies…peel and all. If the recipe gets too thin, I just mix in a little steamed rice, quinoa, or organic rice cereal. It’s also great for pureeing steamed or cooked foods.

Teaming the Nutri Bullet with Infantino Squeeze Station makes baby food prep, storage and feeding NO muss, NO fuss! And, if you’re brave, you can even let baby feed himself from the pouch.

Of course, some foods don’t require any special preparation at all and can be served straight from your plate. Once baby can tolerate a bit of texture, rice, quinoa, banana, avocado, potato, and applesauce are great on-the-fly foods for when you’ve not had time to plan ahead. No fuss, but maybe a little muss.

I also use a few strategies from the book Baby-Led Weaning by Tracey Murkett. A cleaned carrot and frozen peas can offer an entire mealtime of enjoyment for a teething baby. Following this method can also be no fuss, mo muss. Baby eats what you eat.

Now for the adaptive part…

The Infantino Squeeze Station is a great piece of adaptive equipment. The entire system is usable for those with limited mobility. However, the plunger makes a very tight seal when pressing the puree into the pouch and is hence a bit difficult to remove one handed. I have a Swedish Cutting Board with a gripping vise that I use to adapt tasks such as this. Cleaning is a bit tedious because there are 6 pieces, but all are dishwasher safe.

The Nutri Bullet is another effort saver. This is one of those rare times when healthier is easier. Most veggies just need to be washed, cut, and tossed in. Fruits may require pitting and peeling, but some can be left intact. If you’re new to whole raw diets, be sure to do your research before diving in. Cleaning is also simple, just 3 pieces to rinse and put in the dishwasher.

Here’s the bottom line…

The Infantino Squeeze Station and Nutri Bullet will cost you a one time total investment of $143

Empty single use pouches are $17 for 50 pouches (reusable pouches are also a great option, but not compatible with the Squeeze Station) vs. about $75 for 50 commercial baby food pouches.

Knowing everything that goes into your baby for a control freak like me…PRICELESS!

What’s your favorite way to feed your baby solids?

Milestones

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Today marks the day my son has been in the outside world longer than he was in my belly. Yes, mommies can have separation anxiety too.

Chase turned 39 weeks/9 months old at 7:19 this morning.

During the 1st 9 months, a baby is 100% dependent on mom for everything and mom is able to protect every fiber of their being to the best of her ability. A nurturing bond forms. It’s a bond that cannot be broken…hence the separation anxiety.

The 2nd 9 months is SO much more fun. Each day is better than the last.

So why is this 9 month milestone such a big deal for me?

My baby is growing up and I must adapt. It’s just that simple.

Today marks the day Chase and I have been separated longer than we were intertwined. He no longer depends on me for everything. He is gaining independence through enjoying new foods, crawling, communicating…He still needs me, and always will, but each day he depends on me a little less.

I adore the little boy he is becoming. I am thankful for each new act of independence he exhibits…no matter how much it frightens me or causes me to gasp for air. It’s a big scary world out there and, as a mom, I am driven to protect him.

Our next major milestone will be weaning. I will again have to adapt to a new level of his independence. I will lose the ability to comfort and protect him through nursing. Thankfully, I have months and hopefully even years before he self weans, but I know a time will come when he joins his sister in the land of “I’m not a baby, I’m a big kid!”.

Until then, I will soak up every moment, adapt, and collect as many marbles as I can.

Happy 3/4 birthday Baby Boy!

What are the milestones that hit you the hardest? What are your favorite milestones?

Don’t Lose Your Marbles!

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I keep a copy of “Song for a Fifth Child” saved to my phone for times when I feel overwhelmed by parenthood.

Song for a Fifth Child

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby, loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.)

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep.

-by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

There’s just something so pardoning about those lines. After all, babies are only babies for a short time and it’s ok if the house gets a little dusty or if I have to resort to paper plates from time to time.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”– Ferris Bueller

Birthday parties, dance classes, running errands, family vacations, school events… When do we have time to enjoy the memories we work so desperately to create?

My husband likes to refer to the special moments as “marbles”. Every marble is uniquely different, sometimes they can be difficult to hold onto, and eventually as we age, many of us will lose our marbles (pun intended).

So… How do we hold onto our “marbles”?

In my work as a speech pathologist, I spent a lot of time helping patients retrieve the important “marbles” in their lives. Often a very simple and basic scrapbook would enable a patient to retrieve a long lost story. For some, a simple song sung in younger years would bring back a flood of memories. And still, for others, the smell and or taste of a comfort food would retrieve one of those long lost marbles.

We just need to choose the right marbles. Remember that it’s the simple things that matter. The lullabies, the midnight feedings, and the lazy Saturday mornings; these are the moments that we will miss most. If we spend all our time focusing on the big events, many of the smaller marbles might fall and roll under the table to be lost forever.

A Few of My Marbles

: Sunny Days

: Rainy Days

: Lazy Mornings

As a mom, it’s always a daunting task to balance tea parties, breastfeeding, diapers, cooking, housekeeping, and laundry, all while maintaining my sanity.

As an adaptive mom, those everyday tasks can take twice as long, with my endurance sometimes giving out long before the job is complete. Sometimes a chore may be just outside of my ability and I have to ask for help.

I continually adapt my priorities to allow myself to just enjoy the moment…even if that moment is filled with clutter, covered in poop, and hasn’t showered in a week. These are the moments I will cherish.

What moments do you cherish most?

Happy Mother’s Day…and don’t lose your marbles!

Fisher-Price Rock ‘N Play Sleeper

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The Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper was a lifesaver when my babies were small and tops my list of newborn must-haves.

Soothe, nap or play!

The Rock ‘n Play is perfect for newborns because it’s extra deep with a structured insert that surrounds baby in comfort and makes them feel secure.

The rocker is manual, but if you have hardwood or tile floors the rocker will stay in motion for a bit requiring less mommy effort. The only thing I would add to this product would be a vibration option, but both of our babies were able to survive without that feature and the trade off having such an otherwise all in one tool was well worth the sacrifice.

The Rock ‘n Play is very lightweight and fold-able, so it’s easy to move around the house. I easily moved it from bedroom, to bathroom, to kitchen as we went through our morning routine. Thanks to our rocker, I am proud to report that I rarely missed a shower or a meal because baby transferred from room to room with me without much fuss. 😉

Helpful Hint: I fastened a belt to ours for easy pulling from one room to another so even our 3 year old daughter was able to help Mommy by pulling the (empty) rocker between rooms.

The Rock ‘n Play is elevated so it does not require the back wrenching leaning over to pick up baby like most baby seats. As an adaptive mom, with use of only one arm, our rocker was essential for me safely lifting baby into my lap to breastfeed. I was able to get situated in my glider with my Boppy (another must-have, blog to follow) before picking baby up from the elevated Rock ‘n Play.

The seat is inclined, which is perfect for babies with reflux. We used our Rock ‘n Play as a co sleeper. Both of our babies suffered from reflux as infants and were fussy when laid flat.

The Rock ‘n Play includes a three-point restraint to keep baby safe and secure and a washable insert for clean comfort and support.

Fisher-Price Rock ‘N Play Sleeper is an all in one tool…rocker/swing, baby seat, sleeping wedge, etc. I LOVE this product and my babies did too!

Here are some details from the Fisher-Price website:

Developmental Guidelines: Use only with a child unable to sit up unassisted or grasp side of seat and pull upward.

Maximum weight: 25 lbs. (11,3 kg)

A perfect solution for …

Sleep & play
• Toy rattle

Portability & storage
• Easy-push button fold

Easy-care
• Removable, machine-washable insert

Convenience
• Storage pocket for little extras

There was a recall in January 2013, but it was an easy fix and should only be of concern if you purchase a used model. The Rock ‘n Plays were recalled because it was found that mold could develop between the removable seat cushion and the hard plastic frame of the sleeper when it remains wet/moist or is infrequently cleaned.

Boob Camp

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Last week was a whirlwind.

I attended the Healthy Children’s: Center for Breastfeeding Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) training. Eight hours per day for 5 days culminating in a 100 question exam and 2 video practicums.

The first two days were spent unlearning many of the things I thought I already knew about breastfeeding. The rest of the week was a blur of discussions about skin-to-skin, inviting babies to the “breastaurant”, latch, latch, and more latch, pumps, formula (yes, formula…the good, the bad, and the ugly), hormones, anatomy (more than meets the eye), sore nipples, ethics, and a multitude of other equally important, mind boggling facts and issues. My brain has not felt so overloaded since grad school (which was…um…several years ago).

The thing that impressed me the most about the CLC training, was that the entire curriculum is built on evidenced based research. So much of what women learn about breastfeeding, myself included (hence all of the unlearning I had to do), comes from well intended advice from friends/family and Google searches. Myths about a mom’s breast size, milk supply, stress level, nutrition, and exhaustion discourage or deter women from breastfeeding because they may fear failure. The truth of the matter is that breastfeeding can be the most empowering experience in a woman’s life and if more women understood the facts, we could adapt our culture into one where breastfeeding is the norm. Hospitals should be encouraging moms to seek out professional lactation support and evidence based resources like OurMilkyWay.org, KellyMom.com, and BreastfeedingUSA.org rather than passing out formula samples (I’ll save that rant for another post).

Another unique aspect of the CLC approach is that it’s a “hands off” approach. Many women report being turned off by lactation support that consisted of grabbing and touching mom and baby. The reality is that healthy term babies can locate their mom’s breast and latch correctly if only given the opportunity. Lactation support may require little more than educating and encouraging mother and baby. Sure, there are special cases that require more assistance and problem solving, but many of the “problems” moms encounter are created by too much interference and not enough faith in mom’s ability to meet her baby’s needs.

For me, this “hands off” approach means that I am not limited by my physical abilities. The CLC program is one that would be easily adaptable and accessible to anyone able to complete the training. The only requirement is possessing a determination to help others.

In the end, I learned a ton about lactation, breastfeeding, and counseling. I highly recommend the course to anyone interested in helping moms and babies.

Now, I sit and wait while they grade our assessments for the next 6-8 weeks. Oh the torture!

Eczema…it’s so much more than a rash.

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My son, Chase, has a wicked dairy allergy resulting in horrible eczema.
He was about 4 months old when the eczema manifested itself. He had always suffered from digestive issues, which I later discovered were linked to the daily whey protein shakes that I was drinking (talk about feeling guilty!), but no abnormal skin issues to speak of.

At Chase’s 4 month check up His peditrician refered us to a dermatologist. The dermatologist diagnosed Chase with eczema, impetigo, and infantile seborrheic dermatitis or cradle cap. He sent us home with a prescription for an antibiotic for the impetigo and several recommendations for over-the-counter creams as well as two prescription lotions. Nothing really seem to help.
In February, I was introduced to Essante Organics. Essante not only offeres an organic protein shake that is soy, dairy, and gluten free, but they also have a 100% organic baby line. Desperate to help our son, we ordered their baby wash and baby lotion immediately. With the use of these products Chase’s eczema cleared up in three days. I still have to avoid dairy and know every ingredient in the food I eat and introduce to him, but the hardest part of the battle was over…or so I thought…

*Update*
We have now added Essante Sanitizing Spray to our eczema regime. This spray is powerful enough to sanitize my diaper covers, yet safe and gentle enough to spray on raw scratched spots.

Unfortunately, since Chase spent most of his early months scratching, it had become a habit. He had learned that scratching would get my attention and often lead to nursing for comfort (smart kid, right?). Any gains we made were often lost due to scratching and irritating his fragile skin.

We were unable to find long sleeve onesies with fold over sleeves in the larger sizes that my son needed. We tried mittens with velcro and even homemade ones with secured draw strings, but as a seven-month old Chase became very skilled at taking them off. Not to mention, mittens can be very difficult to put on a protesting active baby and even more so, wrestling him down with one hand in the dark at 2am.

Then we found Scratch Me Not.

ScratchMeNots are a uni sleeve or cardigan type contraption with fold over mittens that can be worn year round. Each ScratchMeNot is made in the USA from a Bamboo/Cotton blend. The mittens also have a silk outer layer that provides reduced friction against the skin..

ScratchMeNots come in sizes up to 3T. However, should you need a size that is not listed, they will create one especially for you!

I love this company and I have been very pleased with their customer service, as well as, the products.

Thanks to ScratchMeNot, my son is sleeping better and I am not waking up to pulled hair and fresh scratches (on Chase and myself) each morning.

And lest we forget the adaptive part…this alternative to traditional mittens is a lifesaver when it comes to putting them on a squirmy baby. No more fastening and tightening or wrestling to put them back on. I simple put his ScratchMeNot on like a jacket and fold over the mitten cuffs. Easy peasy! Chase has yet to figure out how to get out of his ScratchMeNot and I don’t foresee that becoming a problem as long as I keep him in the right size.

****Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. I am an executive with Essante Organics and only receive compensation through their outlined system (sales, bonuses, commissions, etc).

The magic of a tea party

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If you are blessed to have a daughter, never take for granted the magic of a tea party.

While I was pregnant with our second child, the pregnancy took such a toll on my body that I chose to resign from my job and become a full-time stay at home mom to our then 2 year old daughter. My husband and I had already planned to become a single income family once our son arrived, but my tough pregnancy sped things up a bit.

I’d hoped that this was going to be the perfect opportunity for me to enjoy the last months of our daughter’s “only child-hood”. I was preparing her to become a big sister, an experience as unfamiliar to me, an only child, as it was to her. I dreamed of tea parties, baking together, trips to the park and pool, dancing in the living room, and lots of arts and crafts. Instead, I uncomfortably settled into my glider and propped my huge puffy feet on my footstool for 3 months. The best I was able to offer for mommy daughter time was climbing into bed with her for naps. Unfortunately, these “naps” often consisted of me dozing off while she jumped and climbed all over me until she either got bored and fell asleep OR left the room and found trouble in another part of the house….but that’s another post all together.

My inability to interact with my daughter on her level, really took a toll on our relationship. She had always been a Daddy’s girl, but during that last trimester I felt lucky if she acknowledged my existence when my husband, a much preferred option, was available.

After our son was born…and I recovered…and I got a bit of rest…and we established a breastfeeding routine…and all the other challenges one must face with a new baby…my daughter and I were still having difficulty finding our bond again.

I had researched dozens of ways to best utilize spare moments with a new older sibling to help her feel connected and appreciated. As many of you know, even the best laid plans often fail with an active and independent preschooler…so I had to adapt.

One day it finally happened, I stopped planning (a difficult task for this type A mom) and started letting her lead. It was as simple as attending a tea party…literally. As we sat and sipped on our delicious invisible tea and crunched on our plastic tea cakes, all wrongs were slowly righted.

My son is now 7 months old and my daughter and I are closer than ever. In fact, she is snuggling with me on the couch as I write this. Maybe we’ll move from tea parties to blogging together someday. 😉

The Adaptive Mom

To LIve, to Learn, to Love…To Adapt

Category Archives: motherhood

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The magic of a tea party