To Stay Home or Not to Stay Home!

This is a huge question new mommies and even mommies of more than one ask a lot! Should I be a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) or work or send my child to day care. There are several things you need to consider before making this decision.

 

1) First and foremost, is this something you want to do or feel pressured to do?

If you want to stay home, then you for sure should consider it! However, if you don't want to, it is totally okay. You are doing what makes you happy and that in turn will make your family happy. Don't ever be a SAHM because of pressure. You are no less of a mommy if you decide to work instead of stay home. Some women have to work and some enjoy working. Both are fine!

 

2) Second, you need to look at your finances.

Is staying at home something your family can financially do? You need to calculate your bills and expenses and then calculate how much money you will need. If you cannot financially meet your bills without an income from you, than you should not stay home. I personally cannot be a stay at home mom because of finances. I really want to stay home, but for our family, that is what is best. Is it better to put your family in a financial strain or to provide for the needs of your family? That is something that you have to decide.

 

3) Third, decide if you will be a full-time stay at home mom or not. Sometimes, it is good for the mom to get out and work a little or volunteer a little and to let the child have some time interacting with other kids at a pre-school or day care. It is healthy for both of you. Either way, you just need to make this decision.

 

4) Take it year by year.  

Don't feel pressure to make a plan for two years down the road right now. Take it year by year and month by month with your family to decide what is best. When a few years down the road comes, you can make decisions then. Enjoy your decision now and don't worry about the future.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

 

5) Talk to other SAHM's and other working mom's to see what life could be like both ways.

Sometimes it helps to see other's points of few on the situation who are actually in the situation. I recommend talking to several women in both categories. This will help you see a wide view on both options and which fits you better. Try to really understand what everyday life would be like in both situations. (Although all situations are different, this gives you a better understanding.) Make a pros and cons list. Be very honest!

 

6) Consider a job where you can work from home.

The option of a SAHM mom may not be available for your family, but you may possibly be able to work from home. Maybe this is an option with your job or you may be able to find a position where this is available. This is a good option for those who need the mother's income but it still allows her to be at home. It would be totally different than a SAHM mom that doesn't work, but at least you could be home and find a balance that way.

 

Hope this helps you! Pray about it and make the best decision for your family. Neither is right or wrong. Look out for the next two blogs: What not to say to a working mom and What not to say to a SAHM.

 

Until next time,



 

 

 



5 Ways to Help Your Child's Development

As Brody gets older, I really am watching his development to make sure he is on track. I also really want to help anyway I can to help improve his development and keep it on track. Here are some ideas I have seen and tried and Brody loves them and so do I! I have found that when I give Brody these activities, he ask to do them again. He enjoys the challenge and having to use his brain to think.

 

1) Read to them. You can actually start reading to your kids when they are just a few months old. In fact, doctors recommend this. This is helpful for development from a very young age. Brody is now old enough to where he loves books and enjoys reading them with us. It is lots of fun! We read at least one book a night before bedtime.

 

2) Create fine motor skills games. The game I love for fine motor skills is putting pipe cleaners into a colander. You give your child a pipe cleaner and they have to put it in a hole on the colander. Brody loves this game. Once they get good at putting them in, you can even have them make a loop and put both ends of the pipe cleaner in holes.

 

 

 

3. Play sorting games. Brody LOVES this game! I got a muffin tin of 6 and put small objects in each one. Each tin as the same object and at least 2 of that object. I show him how it should look. Then I take them all out and put 1different object in each tin and he has to match the same objects with the ones in the tin. He picked it up quick and loved it! For more challenging tasks, you can have your child sort colors or even numbers as pictured below.

 

 

 

4) Allow your child to help you put things away. This will help teach them organization and also help them learn where things should go. It will help them know that socks do not go in the refrigerator.

 

5) Use lots of vocabulary with your child. Make your child try to say what they want before giving it to them. For instance, if they want bubbles and just point and grunt, make them say "bubbles" before allowing them to have it. Also, point out things to them. When an airplane passes over, point to it and say, "Look, an airplane." Do this every time you see one and they will catch on. This will help boost their vocabulary and talking.

 

These are only 5 things to help, but there are so many out there. If you just google activities to help fine motor skills, vocabulary, development, etc. you will find countless activities to do with your child. Just keep your child's brain actively thinking and moving daily.  Happy learning and having fun with you and your little one!

 

Until next time, 

 



Fun Family Fall Activities

Does your family ever get in the same routine of doing the same thing over and over again every day or every weekend? Now, this is not a bad thing, but over time it can get monotonous or boring. Here are some fun ideas to try with your family if you are in a rut.

 

1)With fall right around the corner, find a pumpkin patch to go to. Look at the pumpkins and pick one as a family or let everyone get their own. Take it home and have a pumpkin carving/decorating night as a family.

 

 

2) For older kids, create a treasure hunt to do with your kids. Even though you know the path and what is at each spot, your kids don't and they will love the adventure! You can do it just in your house, in your neighborhood, or even at a park area.

 

3) For younger kids, as a family create a masterpiece of art together! You can either get a large piece of paper and color with either paints or something like pudding or you can make a fall picture! One idea is to draw the trunk of a tree on paper. Then, have everyone have their own cork top and dip it in paint and use colors like red, yellow, brown, and orange to create a tree with fall colors. Here is a picture from the Picky Apple and how they did it.

 

 

4) Other crafts you can do is to find fall leaves, dry and press them, then decorate them with puff paint. Another fun one is shaving cream leaf painting. Check out Little Wonders blog to see how they did! It looks like fun!

 

5) Take a nature walk with your family. Find leaves, cool rocks, fun sticks, etc. Be adventurous and let your kids be adventurous and find new things in nature! Let them climb trees, skip rocks, and whatever else seems fun in nature (as long as it is safe of course!:)

 

 

6) Make fall treats together. Make pumpkin sugar cookies, caramel apples, party popcorn (popcorn drizzled with white chocolate and sprinkles), smores over a fire/grill, Halloween Rice Krispies, etc.

 

 

7) I found a fun pumpkin bowling game on this blog. It looks easy and like a lot of fun. It is at the bottom of the page.

 

8) Take a picnic on a pretty day! Pack your lunches and head to the park to eat and have some fun exercise together. Let the kids help pack the lunch too!

 

9) Make homemade ice cream together. If you dare, let the kids pick the flavor and "special" ingredients!

 

10) Make fall scented rice! This activity looks super fun! Kids love playing in rice. Plus, it will smell good! Check out this blog to see how to do it!

 

 

Bonus: You should make these divine looking cookies just because it is fall and just because they look delicious! I will be trying them soon and I will let you know how they are! To find the recipe, go to this blog!

 

 

Hope you have fun with some new activities! Enjoy the start of fall!

 

 Until next time, 

 

 

 

 

 

What to expect when you have a baby

One of the things that scared me a lot when I was pregnant was the hospital stay. I didn't know what to expect or what was going to happen really. So, since it is my son's second birthday today and I am reminiscing on his birth, I thought I would share some important things to expect when you have a baby!

 

1) If this is your first baby, expect a long labor and delivery. This may not happen for you, but it is better to be ready that it will likely happen and expect it than be surprised. My labor and delivery together was 14 hours long.

 

2) Expect lots of beeps and noises. You are hooked to several machines. Sometimes they beep loudly and make lots of noises. Don't be alarmed and automatically assume something is wrong with you or your baby. The nurses stay at a nurses station and constantly monitor you. If something is wrong they will know immediately and come to you.

 

3) Expect lots of pokes and "checking". If you are induced, then you will have to have pitocin and an IV for sure. They will check this and change this. If you have an epidural, you will have several more pokes. And by the way, I was petrified of the epidural and it was not bad at all. Just a little sting and it was over! However, make sure your anesthesiologist is available for a little while after you get it in case it doesn't work. They will also come and "check" you often to see your dilation, effacement, etc. This can very uncomfortable but isn't always.

 

4) Expect that if something goes wrong, to stay as calm as possible. You don't want to get too worked up for yourself and the baby. The nurses and doctors know what they are doing so trust them.

 

5) Make sure you rest while you can. Lots of people will be checking in and wanting to know if your baby is here! Try and relax during all labor if you can and then let people know when the baby comes. Labor and delivery is hard work and you need your rest!

 

6) Expect to have your baby about 45 minutes to 1 hour after they are born and then for them to go to the nursery for a while. They have to clean them, test them, etc. During this time you will likely be moved to another room if delivery and post-partum rooms are separated.

 

Hope this helps to know what to expect a little more! Good luck!

 

Until next time, 

Milestones: Month 5

Your baby is almost 1/2 a year old! Time sure goes by fast, doesn't it?!? There are some things you should be looking for that your baby is doing and some new things to try with them this month!

 

1) Recognizing Sounds: Your baby should be able to recognize sounds, their own name, and when you are talking to them. They should be able to turn their head in the direction the sound is coming. It is very important to talk to them at this age. They learn words and language best from you!

 

2) Emotions: Your baby's emotions should start having a wider range by now. They can let you know more when they are hungry, tired, wet, happy, etc. They are also more likely to laugh at funny faces, silly noises, etc. They may even reach for you to pick them up and give you hugs and kisses.

 

3) Feeding Themselves: Your baby should be able to start holding their own bottle soon. However, do not leave your baby unattended while they feed themselves at this age. They could choke on the milk or get overheated.

 

 

4) Sitting alone: Your baby may start to sit alone this month. Try letting them balance it out on their own, but be near by in case they take a tumble!

 

 

5) Stranger Danger: Your baby might start to be afraid of people they do not know. They may get anxious and cling to you. Know this is totally normal and don't be embarrassed. Try to soothe your baby and introduce them to new people slowly. Also, tell others of their anxiety and have them approach your baby slowly.

 

6) Tracking Toys: Your baby should be getting good at tracking toys by now. They may also go for toys they see and like. Place toys near them and let them try to get it on their own. Also, read color books to them. They are starting to see more pastels now than just the bold colors.

 

7) Distractions: Your baby is easily distracted. If they get upset about something, try singing a song to them or getting out their favorite toy or book. Enjoy this while it last because it won't last forever!

 

8) Bringing Objects Closer: Your baby should be able to rake objects closer to themselves by the end of the 5th month. Place an object near them to let them practice this skill.

 

9) Babble: Your baby should be babbling lots now. Many common babble sounds you will likely hear are "ma", "ba", "ga", etc. Encourage this and talk back!

 

To do this month: Start introducing solids! Towards the end of the month, give your baby some rice cereal. If you are nursing, mix it with breast milk. Otherwise, mix it with formula.  They may not like the flavor at first but they likely will soon. They may also not get much down because they are used to sucking liquids down every meal. Be patient and realize it may take many tries for both of you to get it!

 

  At six months, you can start giving your baby solid foods. This is fun to see what they like and don't like. Get ready for some awesome faces!

 

 

Happy 5 months of life to your sweet little one!

 

**Remember, every child is different. These are general milestones and babies may hit milestones at different times. Concerns to look for:
- Your baby is not reaching for objects
-Your baby is not tracking objects
-Your baby does not babble at all
-Your baby does not turn towards sounds
 If you are concerned about your child and their milestones, make an appointment to see their physician so they can assess your child. **

Until next time, 



Pacifiers: If you should use them & which ones are the best!

Should you or shouldn't you use pacifiers with your baby? If you should, which kinds are best? I've got those answers for you!

The common misconception with pacifiers is that they cause crooked teeth and/or interfer with breast-feeding. According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), pacifiers do no interfer with breast-feeding or cause crooked teeth. However, they do suggest you wait until your newborn is 1 month old before giving them a pacifier to make sure that breast-feeding is firmly established.

The AAP actually recommends pacifiers at bedtime and naptime for the first year of your child's life. According to studies done, pacifiers actually reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). (Note: It is suggested to stop all pacifier use after the age of 2.)

We used a pacifier for Brody at naptime and bedtime and during the day to soothe him until he was a year old. When Brody turned one, we cut the pacifier time to only when he was sleeping. Whenever he would wake up, we told him that paci had to go "night, night" and we had to leave it in the bed. Surprisingly, he was just fine with that and transitioned well.

It is also important to note that not all babies will use a pacifier. Some love them and some want nothing to do with them. It all depends on your child and their preferences. However, if you can get them to take a pacifier over thumb-sucking it is recommended. Thumb-sucking causes your child's top jaw to go forward and bottom jaw to go backwards. This can cause jaw malformation over time. Their thumb can also contain harmful germs.

So, since pacifiers are recommended, which ones are the best? There are so many out there. We have a WubbaNub and Brody loves it! It is a pacifier attached to an animal of some sort. There are all kinds of animals you can get with them. It is great because he is old enough to find it in his bed while he is sleeping if it falls out and put it back in his mouth. It saves us a trip to his room! Being from Texas, naturally we have a Longhorn WubbaNub!

 

 

When we were at the hospital, we got a Soothie pacifier. Brody loved this brand and used it for a long time.

 

 

Brody also really liked Gumdrop pacifiers. He always used either the Soothie or the Gumdrop. He did not like "traditional" pacifiers at all.

 

I think these pacifiers are the best. I like the shape that represents a nipple (it helps them stick with breast-feeding easier) and the holes on the sides for breathing. I do recommend getting a few different types of pacifiers and see which one works best for your baby. They may have a few they like or they may have only one brand they like. Each baby is different. I do recommend using one for at least the first year of life. My main motivation for this is to help prevent SIDS.

Good luck paci searching!

Until next time, 

Choosing a Preschool

First, I am glad to be back blogging for you! I took a little time off this summer to spend some time with my son! I highly recommend you take time with your kids when you can. Just worry about spending time with them and nothing else! It is glorious!

With school starting back, many parents are contemplating sending their children to preschool. Sending your little one to preschool can be scary. They are so young and won't be with you! Since both my husband and I have jobs, we had to find one for my son when we moved to Arkansas. Here are some things to look for when choosing a preschool for your little one.

1. Ask around about different preschools. Sometimes the best information is from people who have experienced the preschool themselves. Get a feel for different preschools and the pros and cons of each. A good reputation shows you a lot about a school!

2. Find out the teacher to student ratio. You want this to be low. You don't want to have a teacher who has to keep track of 12 two year olds by themselves. It isn't good for the teacher or the children. My son has 10 children in his class with three teachers. It is wonderful. The children are able to connect with a teacher and the class is able to stay in control.

3. Look into the cost of the preschool. Preschools vary in price from low to extremely high. Make sure that the cost of the preschool fits into your budget and doesn't cause you financial instability.

 4. Distance from your home. This is important because you will have to take your child to school in the morning before work or while others are going to work if you do not work yourself. Traffic can be heavy in the mornings and after work so look at the routes you would take and factor in how long it will take you. This will affect your morning routine, what time you have to get up, leave the house, etc. This is important!

 

5. Find out if the school is accredited. You want a school that is driven to meet educational standards and actually meets them! You also want to make sure they have a valid and current license to run a preschool.

 

6. Find out the schools philosophy on discipline, rules, and philosophy on education. These are all very important since your child will be affected by these. Make sure the schools has a positive and inviting atmosphere to learning and exploring. This includes their philosophy on playing and activities as well! Kids need to learn but also have fun at school!

 

7. Take a visit to the school and meet the teachers and principal/coordinator of the school. Make sure you are comfortable with them and the location at which your child will be. Make sure the facility is clean and well kept. Then take your child to the school and see how they react in the environment. It is good for them to get comfortable with the school before the first time you leave them there. Especially if they have never been to preschool before. It can be scary for little ones!

 

 

8. Ask about the policies of the school. Things you may ask about are illness policies, absence policies, when money is due each month, how does the school deal with social and emotional issues, etc.

 

9. Ask and see what the parent involvement is. If you are wanting to be very involved in your child's preschool experience, this is an important question!

 

10. Pray about it and really talk to those your trust most about it. Really put thought into it before you choose one. Do not be afraid to ask questions at the school and questions to those who are already experiencing preschool with their children. Your child's happiness is your number one priority and seeking to find the perfect preschool is totally acceptable.

 

Good luck! I hope you find the perfect preschool for you and your child!

Until next time,