Pregnancy

As I've journeyed through my second pregnancy, I've tried to consciously savor my time with my little girl while it's still "only us." Drink up every moment I can of her at this age -- her wonder of the world, her precious laugh, her fiercely independent spirit -- and at this moment in time where she is my only child, my baby. But changes are coming - wonderful, exciting changes - but changes just the same. The idea of "only us" meaning my daughter and me may seem a little strange since I am married to a wonderful man. But, as so often it goes, things happen in life that you never imagine or expect. My dear husband was diagnosed with a chronic,...

We are expecting our second child in November and couldn't be more thrilled!! And a little terrified, let's be honest. I am blessed, honored and grateful to have this little life inside of me. But bringing another person into the fold will be a major adjustment for us all, perhaps for my 2-year-old more than anyone else. In addition to speaking to her about all things Baby, we've also been reading her story books about becoming an older sister and I think it's been truly beneficial. I've probably read about 40 of these types of books for children over the past 7 months, which is a significant amount...BUT there are probably at least 100 on the topic, so I can't say I've read them...

When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them. This month recognizes the loss so many parents experience across the United States and around the world. ~Ronald Reagan, 1988 This month marks awareness for Pregnancy and Infant Loss, with October 15th being the official day of remembrance. There are so many families that have the devastating experience of losing a child during pregnancy or after birth. Often times, the suffering is done in silence, but we want you to know that those precious lives {and you} are never forgotten. However short their time here on...

The other day my husband and I were at lunch with my son, who happened to be sleeping, so we had a chance to actually speak uninterrupted. We chatted for a few minutes about everyday things, and then he looked at me and asked, “What do you want to do differently with this baby?” We are expecting our second child in December. Our kids will be 23 months apart, and our experiences with our son as a newborn are still fairly fresh in our minds. This time, when we bring our newborn home, we won’t be first-time parents, and we will at least be more confident that we know what we’re doing. We have learned many lessons from our son,...

In the wide world of parenting topics I don't consider myself to be an "expert" (using the term very loosely) at much, but breastfeeding/pumping/working, well I've pretty much mastered! Having nursed my daughter for a little over a year, mostly while working almost full-time, and now doing the same with my son, I've developed my own list of essential items that every pumping momma needs when away from baby. A great, electric double breast pump. Yea, they are costly but at a price tag cheaper than formula it's worth every penny. Great news, many health insurance plans are now covering the cost of breast pumps! Your pump will be your best friend for many months, and when you are finally...