May we raise a generation of children who yearn to live among nature because their hearts crave to be submerged within it, rooted in appreciation and curiosity. May they marvel in the biggest wonders and the smallest mundane aspects alike. Fairly often, I see hasty comments offended ON BEHALF OF nature on the claim that…
We ditched fluoride for our family a few years ago and here’s why: • Fluoride is a known neurotoxin. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fluoride has been listed among about 100 chemicals for which there is “substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity.” Children with higher exposure of fluoride statistically show they have a lower IQ. •…
We are sitting here at 26.5 weeks for our third baby. Less than fourteen weeks and I'll be holding a brand new baby in my arms. This pregnancy has been different but the same as the others in so many ways. The first trimester was better than the others and this pregnancy is racing by…
This post was developed in partnership with Similac. All opinions are my own.Having well balanced meals at our home is important to our family. We have a rule that our little ones have to try something each time it’s served. If they try it and they don’t love it, they don’t have to eat it…
If surprises were a love language they would be hers. It doesn’t matter if it’s things or experiences, when you surprise A her face lights up like it’s Christmas morning. “A surprise for me? I’m just so excited!” Sometimes that means pulling an old afghan to have a surprise picnic in the yard while her…
He started to walk this week. I’m having a hard time getting past the fact that we’re edging closely to the one year mark as it is but here we are with a thriving little boy who turns eleven months next week that eagerly started walking…really walking on Monday. He’s been toodling around with his…
We were completely overjoyed with the fact we were having another baby, we joyfully anticipated B’s arrival. Two children was a dream of ours that we thought was out of reach after we tried so hard the first time around. We had gotten used to the idea of just being a family of three, then…
Four years ago today we learned we were going to be parents. I walked out of the bathroom with that pregnancy test after getting ready to head to work on that Saturday morning. The day we had literally been waiting years for had come. I remember her first sonogram, her first kick and the day…
Today is World Book Day and yesterday was Dr. Seuss’ birthday so I thought sharing our favorite books around here right now would be the perfect thing to do. A is such a little reader and so we have a very large book collection and make trips to the library regularly and come back out…
Happy Wednesday, friends. A couple of weeks ago I shared this on Instagram: “Occasionally I let A get a Lunchable at the store…… And every time she gets the it out of the fridge the next day, she opens it and takes out the cookies and puts them on the counter until she’s eaten the…
Good morning, friends! I hope your weekend was what you hoped it would be. It was a low-key weekend around here just spending time with Ryan after he got into town after a week away for business. I was so glad he got on the flight that he did from Philadelphia because they cancelled all…
I’ve always loved creating. I’m not sure if my mom just always encouraged it with projects or if it was a natural thing but it’s just something that’s always excited my spirit. I love painting, sketching and coloring. I took all kinds of art classes in school because it was a good change of pace…
Making friends as an adult is harder than it ever was growing up, I’m not sure why exactly but I think it’s because adults are more set in their ways, more opinionated and in general come with more mental baggage. When you toss in the different phases of life it gets even tougher. A few…
“It’s nap time,” I said as I encouraged A onto the bed. A replied with a silly, “Let’s play hide and seek!” “It’s nap time. Play hide and seek with your eyeballs…ready…close them.” I replied quickly and playfully. Laughter rapidly commenced. Being her mama is so much fun, most of the time- she…
I remember the stories and the warnings while I was pregnant about how much things would change after B arrived. Cautious warnings that my bond with A would change, we would get to do less together and the dynamic of the house would change. My heart had already been cautious during my pregnancy because my…
I remember sitting on our bed crying, overwhelmed with contradicting “advice” from different nurses, different forum moms, etc. when I was a brand new mom to A. When to breastfeed, how often at night, to wake her or not wake her to feed. I finally found the answer that would help lead me through that…
Dear B, It feels like it was just weeks ago that I came out of the bathroom and told your daddy that another babe would be coming and he stood there elated with tear filled eyes. Now tomorrow we will rise before the sun, load into the car while your big sister sleeps, and drive…
Ryan and I have talked many times about wanting to make the transition for A to be a smooth one when B arrives at the end of next week. The last thing we want is the major shock factor to happen or for her to have any negative associations with the new baby. I have…
I’ve always been more of a free-spirit that lives life by a rhythm than a structure. I keep my schedule with minimal appointments and “have to” agendas. When I became a mother, that didn’t change. Other moms were swearing by structured naps and feed times, and I kept to my rhythms and taking in what…
I notice it in the quiet of the night and the dead of the afternoon, the moments pull me in and I take a deep breath. This is what life is all about. It’s the rocking my sweet toddler and the giggles and the kisses. It’s the sound of her little voice throughout the…