Toddler Milestones — Two Years Old

Better late than never, right?!

I can't believe it! My babe, the little light of my life, has officially turned two years old. That's right folks—it's all tantrums, sentences, ABCs and 123s up in my house. One of my favorite parts of these terrific twos is that my daughter finally has the ability to communicate what she does and doesn't like.

For example, if I try to sneakily change Bubble Guppies to a show like Chopped, Charlotte is quick to tell me, "I don't like that show." Matter of fact, she repeats it over and over and over again until I change the show back to her beloved cartoons.

"I don't like it" is also something we hear quite often during dinner or when I'm trying to redirect her from doing something potentially dangerous. Oh, the joy of being able to communicate with a strong willed two-year-old. Here is some insight into what little Cha is up to these days.

Talking. Oh my words, this child says everything! She can literally repeat anything I say, which makes for quite an entertaining day-to-day. In addition to "I don't like that show," Charlotte loves singing songs like "Let it Go" from Frozen and "Hello" by Adele. She sings "Vanishing" from A Perfect Circle . . . "Disa-ppear, disa-ppear. Higher, higher, into the air. Slowly . . ." I'm constantly impressed by her ability to memorize so many songs, and she has great timing. She also sings loud and passionately with coordinating dance moves. You go girl!

Reading. Charlotte loves to read. Sometimes she wants a little personal space, and she'll sit far back in her closet where I can't see her. She'll sit there and read books to her baby dolls, and when I try to check on her, she tells me, "No mommy, stop it!" Her favorite books are anything by Eric Carle, like Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Polar Bear, Polar Bear.

Learning. Charlotte is constantly learning. In addition to signing her up for a parent and me class for two year olds, Charlotte takes it upon herself to learn just about everything. She can count to 11 very quickly and knows her alphabet through the letter P. She knows her colors, body parts, animals, and she is starting to learn shapes. If she doesn't know what something is, she points to it and asks, "This?" Then she'll repeat back what I said until it's stuck.

Playing. It's all dresses, dolls and princesses for Charlotte right now. She loves dress up, dancing and dolls. She's my girly girl, and I didn't even have to try.

Socializing. Charlotte loves making friends, and she introduces us to everyone she meets. "Hi, I'm Charlotte, this Mommy." It's probably the cutest thing she does, and it makes me tear up sometimes just thinking about her innocence.

Schedule.Charlotte's schedule is about the same as it's always been . . . since I can remember at least. She's up around 7a.m., down for a nap around 11a.m. and down for the night by 8p.m. She sleeps through the night much more soundly than she used to, although some nights she does like a little reassurance from mommy or daddy.

Being a mom has been such a fun journey so far, and I love every moment I get to spend with my girl. Happy belated birthday baby girl, mama loves you more than you'll ever know!

Baby Milestones - 18 Months Old

Boy, have things changed in the last six months. Charlotte is no longer breastfed, can get on and off the couch with ease, makes an impressive attempt at counting up to 10, and her new best friend is our seven-pound chihuahua named Mila, who Charlotte affectionately calls "Mimi." This kid couldn't get any sweeter.

Over the past few months, I have accumulated more freelance work in addition to taking some online college courses, which are the reasons I have not been making this blog a priority. However, today is a very important day to me—my sweet girl has turned 18 months old!


Talking. Oh my words! Charlotte likes to say the names of some of her favorite people. She often talks about "Dada, Ma (grandma), Papa (grandpa) and Nanny (Natalie), Coco (Cody)," even when they're not around. Some of Charlotte's favorite words are, "Mama, this, see, shoe, two, eat and yeah."

Reading. Although she is quite the independent and busy girl, recently Charlotte started to ask for me to read a book by bringing the book to me and asking, "This?" She will sit on my lap and turn the pages while I read the book to her at least 15 times in a row. Then, before I know it, she's off again getting into trouble or grabbing another book.

Climbing. Charlotte is not just climbing up anything and everything in her path, she is climbing onto and gets as high up as she can. She'll try to climb up her shelves, the outside of her crib, completely up the couch, onto the dining room chairs and then onto the table . . . as well as trying to climb people. Taking her to the park and letting her climb on the jungle gym is always a good time.

Learning. Toddlers can be quick learners! It only took me minutes to teach Charlotte where her nose, eyes, mouth and ears are. On top of that, I'm trying to teach her about colors, letters, numbers and counting. Everything is a learning experience with a toddler, and I notice how many of my mannerisms she has picked up.

Schedule. My silly little goose has had a pretty set schedule for a while now, and it hasn't deterred much from the schedule I shared in her One Year Milestones post, except now she's down to one nap a day, between 11a.m. and 1p.m. Also, she sleeps through the night often, but not every night.

Playing. Charlotte loves to play with her toys, she loves to play in the water (even the ocean waves), and she does a lot of imaginative play from cooking at her kitchen set to talking to Papa or Dada on the pretend phone.

Being a parent is such a unique experience, and I love Charlotte more and more every day. Happy 18 months busy girl!

Baby Milestones — One Year Old

Happy Birthday Sweet Charlotte!

It's official! As of 1:07p.m. today, Charlotte has successfully made her first complete journey around the sun all on her own. Way to go baby girl! She's grown so much since she was less than eight pounds and could barely move a muscle. Now she's a walking, talking, dancing baby with the personality that would go places in pageants . . . although we'll never know for sure. I'm eager to share what Charlotte is up to at one-year-old.

Talking & Reading. Lately Charlotte has been picking up her books, flipping through pages and reading out loud in sweet baby gibberish mixed with some recognizable words, which are more often than not, "up, dada, mama, happy, baba, papa, hi, hey and hello." She's been experimenting with new sounds lately, so she interchanges all her consonants and vowels, often surprising herself with what she comes up with. She also will choose to mimic certain phrases I say, which is adorable and kind of scary. 

Moving & Swaying. Dancing has taken on a whole new level recently, as Charlotte is bouncing at the knees, isolating her hips from the top half of her body, moving in all sorts of creative ways. She inherited my inner cheerleader and Josh's drummer rhythm. She's loved heavy metal since day one, and it makes me laugh all the time to see her little body shaking around to Black Dahlia Murder, especially when I used to turn my head sideways when Josh would play it for her in the hospital at one day old, and she would instantly stop crying.

No. Charlotte is really starting to understand concepts, one of which is "no." She shakes her head side to side, saying no when she is about to get into something like my purse. Other times I swear her shaking her head back and forth is really just another signature dance move, but either way it's pretty cute.

Climbing. Charlotte is a little rock-climbing baby. With or without assistance, I watch her climb up and onto baby gates, boxes, her toy box, toys, people and anything else that's in front of her. She loves climbing stairs, and she's actually really quick at it too. I have to be careful with which toys I put in her playpen, as she has already figured out stacking things together could make for a great escape.

Schedule. I work outside of the home no more than four hours a day, a handful of days a month. On most days that we spend every waking moment together, Charlotte is on a perfect schedule. She wakes up at 7a.m., naps before noon and again before 4p.m. Then she's down for the night by 8p.m. She will wake up once or twice in the night, which I'm not complaining!

Can I brag a little bit? I think Charlotte is the happiest baby in the world. During her one year photo shoot, we watched this little girl come alive on camera. She was just beside herself having the full attention of her mom, dad, aunt Natalie and new friend and photographer Katie (A Simple Story Photography). Katie admitted ours was the easiest one year photo shoot she's ever done, because Charlotte is a sweet babe.

Happy first birthday baby Charlie! You're a silly goose, and you bring so much joy to everyone around you!

Mom's One Year Milestones

There's nothing better than being Charlotte's mom!

With my baby's first birthday coming in just one week, I've thought a lot about my own "Mommy Milestones." This has been the most enlightening year of my life, and what I consider my milestones are really just some of the most significant moments and memories in my personal journey in becoming and being a mom so far. From the first day I met Charlotte until now, I didn't realize how much I would sacrifice, grow and change. I also didn't realize how quickly I would adjust to not being the most important person in my life anymore. My needs are always second, my few moments of time are always ticking away, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope you enjoy my important first time mommy moments that really changed my perspective and strengthened my gratitude.

A Moment of Relief. The moment Charlotte was freed from my body was obviously a HUGE physical relief. But when I looked down and she was purple in the face, I was still worried. She was finally brought to me, and I was instantly in love. Being super emotional and a big crier my whole life . . . I was certain I would ball my eyes out when I first saw Charlotte, but I didn't. I actually don't remember crying in the hospital at all for our three-day stay. Instead, it wasn't until we got in the car to head home with our bundle of joy that I started to cry. I remember telling Josh that the reality of what had just happened was slowly starting to set in, although I think it really took about six months to feel what I would say was "back to normal." We got home from the hospital, and I was sitting, holding Charlotte in a dining room chair in the middle of the living room in order to give us some space from the dogs. I looked at her and said, "I'm so happy you're okay," and started balling again. This time, I was crying because I finally felt that sense of relief from the worry that had been building up since the moment I got pregnant. I expected to feel relieved in the hospital, but it wasn't until I got home that I felt like everything might just work out okay. And so far it's been beyond what I could have ever hoped for.

Five Weeks. There is something about the five-week mark that is still the most significant change in my memory. I feel like things got a lot easier after five weeks. Breastfeeding was no longer so painful, Charlotte started gaining some decent weight and strength, my body was finally healing, and I felt like I was starting to wake up from a cloudy dream of love and sleep deprivation.

Mother's Day/Mom's First Outing. The first time I left Charlotte with her dad and left the house was on Mother's Day of last year. I woke up early with Charlotte and proceeded to get ready, so I could hand her over to her dad. He had set me up a spa manicure and pedicure appointment with a mimosa. To say I was excited was an understatement. I tried really hard not to worry the whole time, although I'm pretty sure I was something short of terrified. When I got home, there was a lot of evidence that Charlotte and her dad had a crazy time while mom was away! His explanation was even more comedic, which amounted to something like, "But you don't understand babe . . . There was shit everywhere!"

Introducing Food. As a breastfeeding mom, one of the best things so far has been introducing food to Charlotte. Not being her primary food source has definitely given me the ability to leave her for work here and there, and I think it's also a huge reason that she has started to sleep better and longer at night. I approached food with so much caution and control, and now it's nice that Charlotte has eight teeth and is eating most anything.

Crib Transition. Charlotte sleeping in her own room for a majority of the night has been a huge step. At first it was really emotional for me to let go, but now I see how we both benefit from it, sleeping much sounder than before. Her schedule has been pretty rock solid, and we still get our cuddle time when she wakes up in the middle of the night.

First Birthday. This one's obvious, because it's the reason I'm writing this post. Not only is this Charlotte's first celebration of her one year on earth, but it's a reminder that this time one year ago, I really had no idea how much this little girl was going to change my life forever. I was listening to a Tool song the other day, and the singer asks what he has done to be worthy of having an angel for a mother. I instantly felt emotional, realizing although I had always related to that sense of pure gratitude for my mother, that being a mother you can also feel unworthy of such a blessing that is a child. And that's how I feel about Charlotte. I feel beyond lucky and appreciative to have her energy and light in my life.

Thank you Charlotte Bae for bringing so much joy into my life and for turning me into a mother. There is no greater job, no honor more meaningful and no love deeper.

Transitioning into Toddlerhood

Big Girl!

I had no idea that transitioning Charlotte into being a big girl would be so emotional. I plan to quit breastfeeding soon (but we'll see what happens). Another big step is that we decided to move the baby's crib into her own room. Although she still ends up in our bed halfway through the night, it was still a step towards a little more independence for mom and dad.

Yesterday we broke down her beautiful crib, which has been a permanent fixture in our bedroom for over a year. We moved it to her bedroom, and soon following Charlotte took her afternoon nap. Once it was time for bedtime, she went down with ease. I was able to work and wrote for over three hours uninterrupted. Finally, it was past my bedtime, as usual, so I decided to go to bed. Josh was already asleep, so I decided to go and check on my baby for a minute before I turned in for the night. I stood in Charlotte's doorway for a couple minutes, listening to the sound of her breathing. It was difficult to pull myself away.

I went to my room, only to feel immediately heartbroken. Once I finally laid down, I started crying, as my separation anxiety and fears started to get the best of me. After Josh talked me out of my silly worries, I finally started to relax a little bit . . . And then Charlotte came through crying on the baby monitor. I quickly ran down the hall and grabbed her, putting her in bed next to me . . . I was so relieved! 

I'm realizing that in this transition, it's going to be about baby steps, and I think it might be harder for me to change than it is for Charlotte. I don't even want to start thinking about the challenges we're going to face when we quit breastfeeding . . . But I'll save that worry for another time!

Breastfeeding Challenges Continue

Charlotte will soon be one-year-old, and I'm proud to say that she's still breastfed. A couple months ago I was supplementing with formula sporadically for about a week while I was adjusting to Charlotte's increasing demand. However, that was short lived and inconsistent. She is now eating a lot more food, and therefore my milk production has been in line with her demand. Everything is back to normal . . . except that I'm ready to quit breastfeeding one year sooner than I expected to.

My mother breastfed my older sister until she was over two, and my sister Lindsey, who has two kids, breastfed the first daughter for 18 months and her second for 11 months. Needless to say, I had an expectation for myself to breastfeed my first child for at least 18 to 24 months. However, this goal has been shrinking in the last month or so, because Charlotte has become a boob-monster.

What is a boob-monster exactly? Well, a boob-monster is a child old enough to know about the milk, comfort, attention and more that comes with breastfeeding. A little boob-addict will walk over to you, pull your shirt down and proceed to breastfeed at any point in time. Recently, there's moments where Charlotte is looking for a little snack every 20 minutes. This makes getting anything done or even just playing with her on the floor near impossible at times.

I'm having a dilemma to say the least. While my head wants to quit breastfeeding, my heart is still in the game. Beyond that, I like the fact that we can co-sleep late at night and early morning to accommodate Charlotte's way-too-early a.m. feedings without disturbing my beauty sleep. Breastfeeding has posed more benefits and challenges in motherhood than I could have expected, but I wouldn't change a thing. I know that Charlotte is the happiest baby in the world because of the confidence, security, love, comfort and food that breastfeeding has provided her.

When did you/do you plan to quit breastfeeding your baby??

Baby Milestones — 11 Months Old

Our Little Dancing Queen

It's a little hard to believe that my bean is almost one-year-old. Time flies when you're having fun, and that's exactly what hanging out with Charlotte is now. She's growing up so fast, and I love watching her develop more and more every day. Here is what's new with our 11-month-old angel.

Walking. Or should I say running? Crawling is no longer needed for Charlotte, because she walks with ease. It's at the point that I'll let her walk around outside without worrying about her falling every 10 seconds. She is also climbing up onto objects, usually to aid her in a devious plan. We're in trouble with this one.

Talking. Charlotte has some new words that I think are adorable and impressive. For starters, one of her favorite words is "mama," which obviously makes me melt, even when she's crying it. What's even cooler is that she says absolutely perfectly, "up." Her grandpa tears up whenever she says "Papa," and I'm pretty sure she is on the verge of getting the word "doggy" down.

Signing. I haven't been consistent enough with Charlotte for her to really know baby signs, but there are a few that managed to stick. The first is "more." She's been doing this for a couple months, but now she really understands the reason for it. Another sign she does is from her favorite TV show, Signing Time. Today she was signing "table." How cute is that?

Dancing. With a mom who's a former cheerleader and a dad that's an amazing musician, Charlotte has music in her soul. When a song comes on or even if someone is just talking in a pleasant enough tone, Charlotte can't help but bang her head, swing her arms, and bounce and sway her little body around.

Sleeping. She's starting to drop her second nap of the day, however this comes with a benefit—she's sleeping much more soundly at night. Last night, for example, she slept from 9p.m. to 4a.m. without interruptions. Josh and I felt like we were on vacation!


Beyond that, I'm starting to work more, leaving Charlotte for longer periods of time. She is still breastfed, so for her to go up to six hours without fussing for her mom (aka the boob) is quite an accomplishment. I'm starting to feel less depended on, because she really enjoys spending time with her dad, grandma or aunties when I'm away. In less than a month my little will be one-year-old, and I couldn't be more excited. I love watching her grow!

Our Good Family Dogs — Establishing a Balanced Pack

 

It's all snuggles, kisses and playtime between my almost 11-month-old baby and our two small dogs, Chuck and Mila. Chuck is a five-year-old jack russell mix, while Mila is our seven pound chihuahua who will be three next month. We rescued Chuck from the pound when he was a little over one year old, and we've had Mila since she was eight-weeks-old and two pounds. As I watch our family dogs come up passively to kiss my baby on the cheek, quickly scurrying away as soon as her hands start grabbing at their faces, I am overwhelmed with love and pride. This has been such a relief considering Chuck's past.

Believe it or not, there was a time when I was terrified by the thought of my baby grabbing a toy straight out of Chuck's mouth. My fiance and I had decided to take our dogs to training while I was pregnant in order to have well-behaved animals. Going through formal dog training classes taught Josh and I how to change our habits at home, on walks and in public, which has in turn led to our success with Chuck and Mila.

Although we've always considered Chuck to be a well-behaved and smart dog, he doesn't have the smoothest track record. The first incident involving Chuck happened while Josh and I were in Vegas. Leaving Chuck at my parents' house, he bit my young niece while he was eating. 

Receiving the call, my heart was broken. Going forward we were forced to avoid situations in which Chuck may be provoked, especially when around children. A few years later, I found myself pregnant, and sadly one of the first things that came into my head was that Chuck could be a potential danger to the baby.

We took Chuck and Mila to a dog training course we found in our city's calendar. Train With Love was a 10-week course at a local park. After completing each class, both our dogs knew basic commands. They also became much more calm and submissive, even when leashed by other unfamiliar dogs.

My biggest piece of advice with dog training is to do your homework! Remember that TVshows with super dog trainers like Cesar Milan have great editing techniques that make dog training look effortless. In reality, when you're trying to break your and your dog's bad habits, it takes lots of time, patience and consistency.

Good luck everyone! Please share your stories below!!

Baby Milestones — 10 Months Old

Look at that smile! Happy 10 months to my little best friend!

I've been so busy chasing my 10-month-old baby around, I'm a couple days late on this post. My baby has hit her tenth month, and her dad and I couldn't be more proud or entertained. Charlotte loves hanging out with her dogs, dancing, talking, the swings, other kids and playing. All in all, this last month has brought a lot of fun and a lot of exciting firsts.

Our monthly picture got a little out of hand this time around!

First Steps. Charlotte took her first steps shortly after turning 9 months old, and she began walking a couple weeks later. 

Walking. Now Charlotte walks pretty well. Her record is around 12 steps or so. On top of that, her crawling has gained so much speed it makes me laugh sometimes, especially when she's on a mission.

Pointing. Just a few days ago, Charlotte started pointing at the food I was holding. Today, she started pointing at the camera when I was playing paparazzi. Who knew pointing would be so fun? She's also figured out how to "high five." She loves it so much, she squeals in excitement almost every time. 

Appetite. Up until a couple weeks ago, Charlotte had never had anything to drink other than breast milk. Recently, I've started giving her one formula bottle at night, because she is a giant, and I cannot physically produce enough milk to keep her satisfied anytime between 4p.m. and 9p.m. She is a hungry baby, and I can't eat enough to keep up with her demand, although I do enjoy trying to!
 

I know I'm forgetting something! What milestones did your 10 month old reach? Please share in the comments below!

Our Favorite Things — 3-in-1 Bounce, Stride & Ride Elephant

Like anyone who has spent time with a nine-month-old knows, babies are extremely busy during this stage. By this time, many infants have already began to crawl, and some are even in the early stages of walking. This can only mean that new and creative forms of entertainment are a constant need around my house.

Charlotte's kitchen set was a real hit for at least one or two months. She would pull herself up to stand at her little kitchen, instantly gratified by the alarms and songs she set off as she played with its many built-in activities. Unfortunately, the last couple weeks Charlotte has grown bored with her kitchen set . . . and everything else in her room full of toys. Luckily, we were chosen to be the lucky recipients of a brand-new toy from Fisher Price that grows with us, the 3-in-1 Bounce, Stride & Ride Elephant.

One of the Fisher Price Insiders gave us the choice between three awesome Fisher Price Smart Stages Toys! As a lover of elephants, I knew the Bounce, Stride & Ride Elephant was the toy for us. Today, the large package came in the mail, and we couldn't have been more excited. After taking a couple photos of the box, we quickly opened the packaging. While some assembly was required, it took about five minutes and was really easy overall. Charlotte even joined in on the construction process!

Once we finished the quick assembly, Charlotte's elephant didn't waste any time singing songs, playing tunes and encouraging her participation in all the light-up, musical fun! Serving as three different toys depending upon a baby's ability, Charlotte immediately had fun bouncing on the seat, only to then start using the toy as a walker! While she hasn't quite mastered walking yet on her own, getting around the house was a breeze with this toy. It has a wide base and a low center of gravity, which makes it the perfect companion for an early walker. It's also neat, because once Charlotte is a little bit older, her elephant will be perfect for cruising around the house as her first set of wheels.

We are grateful to our friends at Fisher Price for helping us find our newest favorite thing! Do you have any favorite toys that encourage a child's development throughout their different stages of growth? If so, please share them with us below!

40 Weeks In — 40 Weeks Out

Best 80 weeks of my life!

I feel quite different than I did 40 weeks ago . . . I'm definitely more comfortable, confident, and although I'm still sleep-deprived, it is largely by-choice. Although pregnancy was a magical time in my life, there is no comparison to spending every day face-to-face with my sweet daughter. Motherhood is so meaningful, and compared to pregnancy, it has been much more enjoyable in my experience.

First on the list is that I love having my body back. Although I'm still breastfeeding and constantly attached to sweet Charlotte, I'm well below my pre-pregnancy weight, and I appreciate being able to lift, move and work like I did before I got pregnant. Another great advantage of not being pregnant anymore is the fear of the unknown has subsided. I'm no longer waking up constantly throughout the night counting movements or obsessing over every small detail of labor, delivery and the health of my baby. 

Overall, the 40 weeks it took to grow Charlotte inside seemed to last three times longer than the time that has passed since Charlotte has been born, and I can only imagine that this will be the theme of my life from here on out. Charlotte was just a sparkle in her daddy's eye 80 weeks ago, and now she is here filling everyone's lives with laughter, slobbery kisses, pure joy and truckloads of unconditional love.

Baby Milestones — Nine Months Old

The exhaustion of having a nine-month-old is taxing in a completely different way than that from being a full-time mom to newborn. Pre-toddlers like Charlotte are so busy they end up fighting off naps right and left, and I find myself remembering the days when naps could last three hours. While every stage in a mini-human's development has its own unique set of challenges, I love watching my daughter grow. Happy nine months angel baby! These are some of the milestones Charlotte is hitting at nine-months-old:

Multi-tasking. Charlotte doesn't only stand unaided for up to one minute, she at the same time claps, dances and celebrates the overall happiness of life. Oh, and she took her first step yesterday! No big deal!

Speech. Charlotte has been saying words like "dada" and "hi" for more than half her life, however now also says with intent, "Baba" and "Papa." Whenever she is prompted to say "mama," instead she answers with a scary growl-like sound. I think it means she's trying!

Food & Diet. This little lady is still starving despite being in the top 90th percentile for height and weght. Aside from as many healthy servings of breast milk as Charlotte wants each day, she also enjoys three meals and plenty of snacks.

Playtime. Char has reached a milestone within the last couple weeks, and it might be one of the best milestones yet. She is able to safely entertain and play by herself for a decent amount of time. By decent amount of time, I'm referring to enough time to shower in the morning. She loves toys, and when she is happy in the morning, it is easy to distract her for up to 20 minutes in her play pen aka baby jail.

I love how grown-up Charlotte is becoming. She is on the verge of walking, and I have to constantly remind myself to slow down and appreciate every sweet moment with my little girl.

What milestone has your baby hit recently? Please share below!

Surviving Breastfeeding — One Bite at a Time

My parenting priorities are shifting, and I'm learning to become more creative every day . . . which is exactly what having a nine-month-old will do to you! What used to work just doesn't have the same appeal to my baby anymore. Her new tendencies are forcing me to reconsider my approach to many aspects of our relationship, with breastfeeding at the front and center of the issue.

Between the biting, scratching and pinching, breastfeeding has been full of all new challenges. Anyone who thinks that a mother continues breastfeeding for her own personal enjoyment has clearly never had to deal with the trials and tribulations that come with breastfeeding a newborn who can't latch, an infant who wants boob 24/7 or a pre-toddler with a full mouth of teeth.

I have said from the beginning that breastfeeding has been my go-to mom trick. Whether Charlotte is fussy, hungry, sleepy or even hurt, a little boob makes everything so much better. However, I've had to completely shift this way of thinking lately, because little miss seven teeth has another agenda, and it is usually painful for mom. I only offer Charlotte the boob when she is genuinely hungry, or else I'm guaranteed to get bit hard enough to leave a scab. Although she is less likely to bite me at first when she's hungry, if I leave her on to the point that she gets bored or curious, I'm in for a bite. 

Oh, and then there's the pinching and scratching that comes along with all this. And while the painful peak is during breastfeeding, the abuse comes throughout the day.

The only advice I have for other moms is to take your baby off the breast when they start biting. Other than that, I'm curious if there are other ways to help end the pain. I'm surviving breastfeeding one bite at a time, but I would love to hear advice from other moms below!

Taking Care of Yourself, A Helpful Guide for Moms

Eating, drinking, sleeping . . . it seems like my most basic necessities are the ones that most often get neglected. Although Charlotte is huge, full and well-rested, I can't say the same for myself.

I eat as often as I can, but I don't think my diet always meets the 2000 calories that is recommended for a breastfeeding mother. A challenge I have is that I prefer to eat at home, and recently I've really been focusing on eating organic. This poses a problem when I'm trying to eat a full meal in a short amount of time. 

Beyond that, sleeping is always second priority to work, and there is always so much more work to be done between Charlotte, my dogs, housework and my paying jobs. (As I write this, it's 1a.m., and I'm sure I will be up before 7a.m. to hang out with sweet Charlotte.) If you're a mom who struggles like me to make the time to take care of her basic necessities, here is a guide to aid you in taking care of yourself for a change. These simple cheats will aid you in successfully feeding, resting and hydrating yourself . . . one day at a time.


Eating!

Meal Prep. Don't miss an opportunity to plan ahead for a meal. If you make tacos one night for dinner and have leftover meat, beans, cheese and other ingredients, don't let them go to waste. Prep some healthy burritos for the next day. I'm guilty of eating burritos for a noon breakfast as a last resort, but it is always a great burst of protein.

Easy, Healthy, Organic Meals. Pre-made meals don't have to look like cheap, soggy microwave entrees. Instead, opt for a healthier and fresher food like organic, vegan soups. My personal favorites are the Amy's Organics Tomato Bisque and No Chicken Noodle Soup, however they have a great assortment for you to enjoy. Pre-made soups take only a couple minutes when heated on the stove-top or in the microwave. Throw a couple crackers or chips in the mix, and you have a hearty meal to keep you going.


Sleeping!

Take a Nap. So maybe you have four emails to answer, and the dogs could always use a walk, but you're exhausted. Give in to the baby's second nap of the day, and just relax. If it turns into a nap, that's even better. Nothing can beat good old fashioned sleep.

Early Night. This is my least favorite. I'm a night owl. I like to stay up. I enjoy the quiet time, and I feel like my best work gets done when I'm (almost) uninterrupted. However, every once in a while it's good to throw the towel in a couple minutes early. A full night's sleep is rejuvenating, and it might make you feel even better than a little alone time would have anyways.


Drinking Water!

Make it Convienent. If you're a filtered water person, it's best to keep a couple reusable water bottles filled and ready to go at all times. If you're a disposable water bottle person, you're already working with a convenient source of water, assuming that you keep it well stocked.

Take it Everywhere. It doesn't matter if you're going somewhere that will have water, be sure to stock up so you can anticipate your thirst before it creeps up on you. Especially for breastfeeding moms—thirst is at a whole new level.

Stash it Everywhere Too! I keep water next to the rocking chair, in my diaper bag and next to my bed. It might look untidy, but it helps me keep hydrated, even when it's not always on my list of priorities.



I hope this little guide to taking care of your basic needs gave you some ideas on how to better plan for it. Any moms out there willing to share their tips and tricks on how to take better care of themselves? I would love to hear your suggestions below!

Baby Milestones — Introducing Finger Foods

Charlotte is a pro at feeding herself . . . well almost!

I can't speak for all eight or nine-month-old babies, but my daughter loves organic finger foods! Little pieces of soft fruits like bananas and pears, as well as baby puffs, munchies and more keep her happy and entertained in her high chair. Whether we're doing dishes in the kitchen or enjoying dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, snacking keeps little Cha Cha happy while mom gets a moment of freedom. Like with anything that comes with being a first time mom, introducing finger foods wasn't the simplest of tasks. However, starting off slow and paying attention went really far in the long run.

First Finger Food Favorites! The first type of finger food I decided to introduce to Charlotte was organic sweet potato puffs. They were easy to pick up, and I figured she would have the most success with these quickly dissolving little treats. It took trial and error for me to discover the best size for her to mash up with her seven teeth and then swallow without gagging was one-quarter of the little snack. Now, just weeks later, she is able to eat full sized puffs with ease.

Another favorite finger food of my daughter's is bananas. I still find myself having to smash the small banana pieces slightly to help Charlotte eat them with ease. Other finger foods she likes are cooked peas (smashed or with skins removed), cottage cheese, chunks of soft sweet potato and more. I wish my baby could enjoy avocado, but it doesn't agree with her tummy.

Charlotte insists on feeding herself, even when I'm trying to do it efficiently. For this reason and more, I just let my daughter feed herself with the spoon sometimes, while I sit there ensuring she doesn't hurt herself. I usually have a back up spoon to make sure she actually eats. Other times, I will give in to her busy hands grabbing at the bowl of messy pureed food, and I let her feed herself hands-on. This typically happens in the morning before bath time. Thank goodness for high chairs and dogs! Without them, I would be stuck with a more ridiculous mess.

 Remember to always constantly supervise your baby while they are eating! It's your job to keep your baby safe!

I'm always looking for more healthy finger food options for my almost nine-month-old baby. Please share your suggestions below!

Tips and Tricks from a Work at Home Mom (WAHM)

 

I recently read a blog post by a work-at-home-mom who listed off everything she did throughout the day and the time it took for each task. I found myself laughing with relief as I read her post, discovering that I'm not the only person who has to utilize even the quickest moment of opportunity throughout her day-to-day, just to get a little bit of work done—Two minutes towards an email, 30 seconds of brainstorming, ten minutes to put the final touches on an article the morning of its deadline. Although it can sometimes be a dizzying balance act, there are definitely ways to make the work-at-home-mom gig a little bit more fluid. My tips are listed below (and they may be useful for all moms looking to accomplish as much as possible in a busy day).

Coordinating Naptime. There have been a couple times when Charlotte falls asleep for a nap literally one to three minutes before I have a business phone call scheduled. A large majority of the times that I have a phone meeting or interview, I am able to secure a babysitter in advance. However, there have been a couple occasions that have forced me to get creative. One way I've made this work is by scheduling my call close to her sleepy time. I then give myself at least 20 minutes before the call to breastfeed Charlotte to sleep. Each time I've quietly crept out of the room, leaving my baby to get her needed rest, I've felt like I totally accomplished super mom status.

Be Present. I chose to be a work-at-home-mom while my baby is young, so I can give her all the attention and love I know she needs throughout the day. I don't work at home so she can feel neglected and ignored while I hide behind my computer. Therefore, I try to decipher the different times between Charlotte time and work time, that way she is getting 100 percent of my attention, and she is not having to compete with my iPhone. 

Claim Your Space. It's true what people say about children taking over houses. Don't let this happen to you. We all need a little space to do our best thinking and work. So, claim a space in your house that is dedicated to your work and any other passions you have. If you have a spare room or corner in your bedroom, set it up as a home office or studio, and make it a place of your very own.

Schedule It. If your job doesn't require it already, set office hours for yourself. These are the times when you go to your space and get work done uninterrupted. Okay, so maybe I really need to take my advice on this one, because it is so valuable, and it is much easier said than done. 

Click HERE to read about adjusting to at-home life

Dress the Part. One piece of advice that I received that really sticks out to me was a tip on how to avoid post partum depression. Every day I make a point to get up, shower and get ready for the day. Not only does it make me feel better, it also really motivates me to get various tasks handled. Because I am able to work from home, I typically don't dress anything beyond casual, unless I have a business meeting. However, doing my makeup, brushing my teeth and throwing on a clean tank top can really do a lot for a girl's confidence, and I recommend it!

Recruit Help. You can't do it alone! And even if you can, you really shouldn't have to. Reach out to family, friends or trusted individuals within the community. Children are full time jobs and then some! Working on top of this can run you ragged really quick if you don't have moments of relief. 

Give Yourself a Night Off of Work. There never seems to be enough hours in a day, but it's best to accept it, and move on. The best way you can do this, and avoid the possibility of getting burnt out from doing too much, is by allowing yourself time off at least once a week. It's of course easier said than done, but for someone who works constantly throughout the day and night, a couple hours of turning off the email, cuddling up and enjoying Netflix is about all you need to rejuvenate yourself for the next week.

These are my personal tips and tricks for a work-at-home mom. Are there any other moms out there that can attest to some mom-life-balancing strategies? If so, please share them below!

Modern Mamas — Our First Outing

Charlotte Enjoyed the Swings at the Park for the First Time Today

Today marked the first official meeting for the mom social club I have created. After posting the event in our group, I was pleasantly surprised to see that a large majority of the group members were planning to attend the first mom outing. So, I had to get prepared by buying some chips and salsa, as well as getting together some simple, hands-free ice-breaker games for the moms to get to know one another.

The group today ended up being about half the size I had initially anticipated, so ice breaker games weren't necessary. With only four moms and their littles, the small intimate group made it easy for us girls (and our little ones) to get to know each other. I still have the ice breaker games ready for the next meeting when a larger group can attend.

New Best Friends Today at Our First Outing - Photo Courtesy of Karen Fiel

The ice breaker games I decided on were simple activities the moms could do to get to know one another. When choosing games and activities for a moms group, if the kids are not involved, it's best to keep it hands-free. It is also valuable to keep an activity that allows moms the option of opting in and out of, as their responsibilities can change momentously (diaper changes, feedings, owies, tantrums . . . the possibilities are endless). Here are a few of the games that I think we will get to enjoy at the next meeting, although they may be a little cheesy at first.


Yarn Game. Take a large spool of yarn, and cut it into various lengths. Each person selects a piece of yarn. They are instructed to introduce their self to the group for as long as it takes to wrap the yarn around their finger. Make sure a few of the strings are extra long, so you really get to know about your new friends.

Two Truths & One Lie. As straight-forward as it sounds, this is another get-to-know you type activity. Each person in the group takes a turn sharing two truths and one lie about their self. Then the other participants try to determine which fact was untrue.

Story Telling Activity. This game requires a little preparation, but you are then able to gear it towards moms specifically. On either notecards or post it notes, write out various sentence starters to pass out to each mom. Some of the story starting sentences I used were:

"The time my baby was the messiest was when . . . "
"The best part of my day is . . . "
"The best advice I have received so far has been . . ."
"If I had three wishes for my family, they would be . . ."
"The part about being a mom that surprised me the most was . . . "
"My funniest mom moment has had to be . . . "
"My ideal family vacation would be . . . "


We had a great time getting to know each other at our first outing, even though we didn't get a chance to do these activities. If you're trying to start a mom group, be sure to get feedback from the other moms on what they would like out of the group. Find out what accommodates their schedules best, what types of activities they would like to do, places they'd like to meet, as well as anything else that will help you make the group better for everyone involved. I also encouraged group members to create their own events when they see an activity they'd like to do or a class they might want to attend.

Feel free to share any other tips for starting a mom's group below!

Thank You For My 26th Birthday

True Love — 2010

Josh and I met about a month before he turned 29. On the morning of his birthday, one of the first things he did was call his mom. I remember thinking it was bizarre, so I questioned this ritual. Josh explained that it was in fact his mother who did all the work to bring him into the world, and on his birthday he felt it was more appropriate for him to call her and express his gratitude than it was to wait for her to call. I thought this way of thinking was unique, as many things are in the mind of my fiance, but that was all I thought about it at the time.

Today, I am spending my 26th birthday in a similar way that I spend all of my days, which is alongside my sweet Charlotte. As I reflect on this story from almost five years ago, I have a completely new appreciation for the people who gave me the gift of life.

I especially want to express my appreciation for my mother. Throughout my life, my mom has been by my side wiping my tears, supporting my decisions, loving me unconditionally and more. I never understood the dedication and commitment being a mom requires until I had a little one of my own. From the onset of pregnancy, into the transformative experience of childbirth, and through the newness and eventual way of life that is parenthood, becoming a parent is one of the most selfless choices one makes, and it takes a true warrior like my mom to always come from a place of care and understanding.

So on my birthday, I want to say thank you to my mom and dad! My parents have sacrificed everything to give me (and my three sisters) more love, guidance, friendship and fun than we could have ever hoped for. I wouldn't be here without them (literally), and I hope that one day Charlotte loves and appreciates Josh and me in a similar way that we do our parents.

Baby Milestones — Eight Months Old

My sweet eight-month-old baby is hitting milestones left and right

I am now over eight months into motherhood, and I fall more in love with Charlotte every day. It doesn't matter if I play a song off iTunes that reminds me of pregnancy, or if I'm just watching her sleep at the end of my long night . . . Either way, every part of my days makes me fall more head-over-heels in love with this little girl.

Not only have I been blessed with an extremely happy and easy-going baby, Charlotte is also very strong and confident. I am so beyond grateful to be Charlotte's mama, and I find myself wondering what exactly I did in a past life to deserve the gift of her presence in my day-to-day. My girl has always been ahead of the curve in her growth and development, so it is no surprise that she has continued with mastering milestones.

What milestones are we enjoying at eight-months-old?

Crawling. Charlotte is an all-star crawler. She has finally mastered clearing the landing between her room and the hall. She is always up to her own agenda, deciding to crawl away when her mom and auntie are playing in her room with her.

Pulling Up to Stand. While a box, couch, chair, knee or dog are all great options, my eight-month-old baby's favorite object to pull herself up to stand on is her kitchen set. A hand-me-down from my parents, this kitchen set is interactive and full of music and learning activities. Charlotte tears it up dancing, leaning and playing on her kitchen set for up to two hours.

Standing. Using just about anything, short or tall, to pull herself up, Charlotte then stands and balances free of any help for up to 30 seconds. I was almost certain she would take her first step today, but the stars haven't quite aligned yet. We'll get her until nine months to commit to walking.

Clapping. If you're happy and you know it . . . Charlotte caught onto clapping quite quickly. After her dad taught her how to clap one night, and she remembered it the next morning, her understanding of this action has only grown. When Charlotte and I found ourselves at House of Ruth's Rally Out Against Domestic Violence last week, she was clapping along with the crowd and celebrating between speeches and performances.

Snacking. Charlotte enjoys snacking on small pieces of bananas and organic, gluten-free puffs . . . as well as anything else mom approves. Her hand-eye coordination is spot on, while her ability to navigate food between her pointer finger and thumb and into her mouth is only successful about half the time.

Communication. Conversations between Charlotte and her chosen person (stranger or family member) are a lot more deliberate than they used to be. She has two different waves, and she is quick to mimic all her favorite people. Her favorite words and expressions (besides growling constantly) are dada, hi, baba and yay.

Another note that I'd like to make, even if only for myself in the future, is how Charlotte makes friends with everyone in her path everywhere we go. I cannot leave my house or go into public without multiple comments on Charlotte's giant smile, friendly growls and sweet demeanor. It's adorable now, but I'll definitely have to teach her to not talk to strangers someday! ;)

A New Endeavor — Starting a Local Mom's Group

I've started a mom's group, and I can't say that it was my idea. About two weeks ago, my little sister mentioned to me that I should organize a community for local mothers to meet up with their kids to share advice, stories and friendship. I entertained the idea for a couple days, but among my other responsibilities of work and home, I dismissed the concept by telling myself that I just didn't have the time.

Fast forward to last Sunday . . . 

Here I am at a baby shower for one of my girls of whom I have no mutual friends. I was quickly introduced to another mom who has a baby boy only weeks younger than my sweet Charlotte. We began chatting back and forth, and we immediately found out that we had so much in common. Just minutes into our conversation, she looked at me and asked with a smile, "Are you in a mom's group?" Instantly, I had a realization that this conversation was happening for a purpose . . . I needed to start a meet-up for local moms with little ones. 

Today, I decided to make good on the commitment I made with myself, and I've started my mom's group, "Modern Mamas Social Club." I was sure to invite some of my favorite local moms, and they invited their friends. While I've done a ton of research on mom's groups . . . I'm still a newbie to this whole thing. I'm so excited to meet up with other moms and their minis, and I am also happy to learn more about what will make this group valuable to all its members. 

Feel free to share your advice below for running or being a part of a mom's group!