Mom's Tip #5 - Remember to Breathe

Life can get super busy if not completely insane. I know as I always seem to be running in many different directions and usually always have a to-do list a mile long. All of this can be very overwhelming and hard on your emotional well being.

A good friend of mine shared with me something she lives by thanks to a tip she heard from the one and only Chalean Johnson. My friend has 3 or 4 "categories" or "priorities" and everything she does must align with one of those priorities.  She also keeps this list in her phone so she always has it with her in case she needs to be reminded.  She tells me this really helps her stay focused and true to herself without feeling guilty, etc. 

Yesterday I took time to write down everything going on in our lives and tried to ensure I got the complete list.  My next step is to review with Dave and begin to categorize everything into headers such as family, church, personal well being, etc.  By doing this exercise, I am hoping to understand where our time is going, what is truly necessary, and what things we can let go.  It certainly isn't going to be easy or perfect but my ultimate goal is to get some sanity back into our lives.

I have also talked to some other mother's out there who seemed to be as overwhelmed and busy as I am.  Parenting is hard work and is a never ending job.  Yes, it is one of the best jobs out there but it is hard and demanding.  This past week I have been working really hard on taking a moment to remember to breathe.  I think it is important to take a deep breath, relax, and to reset.  This past Sunday afternoon was glorious as I made the decision to give myself a break.  While the kids napped, I sat down and watched TV and snoozed a little.  It was glorious and very needed.  So remember to breathe without the guilt!

Mom's Tip #4 - Less is Better!

Ridiculous and embarrassing. How does one accumulate so many clothes? I know. It is because one particular mom who should remain nameless bought them all.
Seriously who has this many clothes?

To my defense, this way too large of a pile is two different sizes. And...the 3T size is summer and winter clothing as Maya didn't grow quite as fast during that time of her life. I finally had the chance to sort through all the clothes in her too small container in her closet. It has been on my to-do list for a long time now and I finally tackled it. Plus with Makenna growing like a weed, I thought I'd better get Maya's old clothes sorted so I know exactly what I have and have them sorted by size and season.

These past 3 years taught me a lot.  One lesson I learned is less is better.  Maya always seems to have her favorite outfits and she will wear them over and over again.  I can buy a cute sweater or a cute dress but if Maya doesn't like it, she won't wear it.  My approach these days is to wait until the season hits, figure out what Maya is going to want to wear (skirts, pants, skinny jeans, etc.) and then only purchase a little at a time.  If I find she likes something a lot like her skinny jeans this season, then I may purchase a few more pieces.  I have also learned Maya tends to have a growth spurt in the middle of winter.  It happened two years in a row so I then try to hit up the clearance racks to get the next size up so Maya has clothes that fit all through winter.  Good lessons to learn!

So now I ask, how many clothes are in your kid's closet?  Any tips to keep the buying to a minimum without sacrificing style and the desire to shop?

Mom's Tip #3 - Guest Blogger Amanda's 5 Little Wonders

Today’s Mom Tips guest blogger is Amanda at Our Wee Family. When she’s not chasing her streaking toddler through the house, reading “Fancy Nancy” for the zillionth time to her preschooler or cleaning out all of the crushed bunny crackers from the backseat of the van, Amanda enjoys writing articles for magazines, taking photos and attempting to knit.

Five Little Wonders

When my husband and I watched the “Babies” documentary last spring, we turned to each other in utter astonishment as the Mongolian nurse used strips of cloth to tie up the swaddled newborn. No, we weren’t horrified at the restraint. We were kicking ourselves that we never thought of it!

You know what it’s like. You hear about an idea or product from a friend, test it out and thank your lucky stars for the discovery. Unfortunately, I didn’t learn of the Mongolian swaddling technique in time for both of my kids, but here are the five wonders that made our job a heck of a lot easier.

INFANTS

SwaddleMe

The inventor of this product should simply be kissed. It’s one of the best swaddlers on the market – so simple to use with very secure Velcro. Thanks to the bottom pocket, you can change your baby while still keeping his arms wrapped. The small slit opening in the bottom also makes it easy to buckle baby into a swing or even a car seat. And, bonus, in our culture the SwaddleMe  is a bit more acceptable than tying up your kid.

"The Nursing Mother's Companion" 

I was lucky to have an amazing lactation specialist to coach me through questions with both of my kids, but I still used this book as my nursing bible. It describes EVERYTHING you could possibly want to know about nursing, as detailed as to what to expect the first few days to how to maintain a nursing relationship when returning to work. It’s perfect for reading before baby – either to help you make the decision to nurse or not, or to get you started.

Baby Signs

Baby sign language may be trendy, but its benefits go far deeper than what you’ll get from the latest fashion diaper bag. Simplified American Sign Language signs make it surprisingly easy to communicate with your baby long before he can talk. There are several programs out there, but I’ve had a wonderful time using Baby Signs. Sign up for a local class or just buy the starter kit online. Your baby will thank you (in sign).

TODDLERS

SleepSack
As soon as we stopped swaddling, our kids moved into SleepSacks, genius zip-up suits that replace blankets in the crib. The sacks come in several sizes, though we typically just ordered a couple in a size or two bigger and used them for months. This particular brand washes and wears beautifully and even comes in toddler sizes with little foot holes at the bottom for walking. Bonus feature: with babe’s little legs all tucked in a sleep sack, she’s less likely to successfully swing a leg over the crib rail. Sweet!

BabyLegs

Not surprisingly invented by a mom, these baby leg warmers are even more functional than they are adorable. Easier to pull on and off than tights, they make the perfect accessory to skirts and dresses. But they’re also amazing for potty training. Simply dress baby – boy or girl – in undies, shirt and baby legs for easy potty use. We’ve also used them on both kids during diaper rashes, when their bottoms needed some fresh air. We dressed them in a shirt and baby legs to let them play or take a short nap in the crib. BabyLegs are available in adorable girl and boy designs.

Now that you know my little parenting product secrets, what are yours?

Read more of Amanda’s adventures in motherhood at Our Wee Family.

Mom's Tip #2 - Save Money!

Anyone with kids knows they come with a price tag. Little ones require diapers, wipes, formula and bottles, food, and don't forget about new clothes every few weeks considering how fast those little peanuts grow.

Thankfully there are ways to save money on all the necessities with minimal effort. Here are some ways I have found to save money.

Diapers - If you use Pampers or Huggies, you can sign up on their websites to track points found on the individual diaper and baby wipe packages. These points are redeemable for merchandise or retail gift cards. I personally have turned my Pamper points into Shutterfly merchandise. Another benefit of signing up, you may also receive random coupons in the mail.

Pampers - http://www.pampers.com/
Huggies - https://enjoytheriderewards.com/

Formula - Depending on if you use formula and which kind you choose, each brand has its own website. Once you sign up, you will receive emails, coupons in the mail, and maybe even some free samples. My girl's daycare uses Parent Choice from Walmart who also has free samples which you can find here.

Baby Food - I am a Gerber mom. In order for me to save, I simply signed up on the Gerber website. By doing so, I received many coupons in the mail and email newsletters.

Gerber - http://www.gerber.com/

Clothing - Kids seem to grow at record pace and it seems like I am constantly buying new clothes. Yes, I love to shop but it can get old buying new outfits all the time thanks to growth spurts.

What I have found is I tend to shop at the same stores over and over again. These stores are local and online. How can you save money? First off, you can sign up for the retailers reward program at the retailers website or at the store itself. Again, by doing so you will get coupons via email and in the mail. Another way is to tuck away the coupons you are given at the checkout counter. I am a Children's Place fan and I usually always get a coupon each time I shop.

Other money saving tips:

• Swap coupons with co-workers and friends
• Start a coupon box in your work lunchroom - great way to swap coupons
• Shop at my favorite store Target where they will track what you buy and coupons will print along with your receipt
• Follow sites such as Freebies 4 Moms which has many great saving opportunities such as free samples, coupons, and free diaper codes
• Stay organized by purchasing a coupon container that you can toss into your diaper bag or purse to ensure you have it at all times. I bought mine in the dollar area at Target.
• Receive 1 free book per month by signing up for the Imagination Library from United Way. Each kid receives 1 free book per month up to age 5! (I only signed up Maya as I hate to get duplicates of the same books)

My sister laughed at me yesterday when we were out shopping as I did tap into my retail coupons. In my opinion if you are going to spend the money regardless, why not save a little while doing so.

Do you have any money saving tips? If so, please leave a comment and share it. And if you like this post and know others who may benefit from it, please share it with others.

Mom's Tip #1 - Bring Extra Clothes

Wow did we have to learn this lesson the hard way.  Yesterday we were enjoying yet another fall favorite, NDSU homecoming.  The day started out at my sorority house for brunch and chit chat with old friends.  Maya and Makenna really enjoyed themselves and loved watching the parade.  I think Maya's favorite part of the morning was filling up her pink bag full of candy and other odds and ends.  So far so good.

After the parade and after all the good-byes, we headed towards the pep rally for some good old fashion BBQs and brats.  We filled our plates, got everyone seated, and started to chow.  And then...I dropped the brat full of ketchup and mustard on my lap and then it rolled onto the floor.  Awesome.  I cleaned myself up and we continued to eat our lunch.

And then it happened.

Dave took Makenna into the bathroom for a diaper change.  He came back out and handed me a half naked child in her diaper, socks, and her top shirt (she had a onesie on underneath).  Dave turned and walked back into the bathroom to clean up. 

What happened?  Makenna had a massive blow out.  Her first one. 

Great.  We had no change of clothes and the game was about to begin.  I told Dave to take Maya to the game, I'll take Makenna home, and they could snag a ride home with our friend Evan who was with us.  Once we reached our car, Dave sparked an idea.  He decided to run into the stadium and purchase a cheerleading outfit for Makenna.  Not exactly what I wanted to spend my money on but I did want to attend the game.  Dave left and came back with a 2T.  It was huge!  We changed Makenna's clothes and headed to the game.

Lesson learned - bring an extra pair of clothes with you at all times as you never know if a blow out will happen.

Before pictures - how cute is she?
 
After pictures -
still cute but you can see she'll be wearing this outfit for years.
 

Hair Blogs

For those who have read my blog for awhile know that I love to blog about hair. I am always looking for new styles and ideas. It is fun to learn how to style Maya's hair and to complete a new "do". Due to my love of learning about Maya's hair, I have found two fun blogs that I must share with you.

The first one is Happy Girl Hair. This blog is a mom of 5 year old twins from Ethiopia. She has great hair ideas, question and answer posts, and features hair related products such as styling products and sleep caps. Check it out!

The second blog is Beads, Braids, and Beyond. This blog has tons of styles to use as inspiration as well as the ability for you to share your hair pictures of your child(ren). I even saw she had a give away to win some Curly Q product. How cool is that?

I hope these two blogs give you all some added inspiration. I know it has given me some to try something new and to keep learning. Enjoy!