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Breast pump help!
So im a second time mom. My first time around breastfeeding was awful. I had no idea what i was do...
June 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Ouch; the month of June hurt in our household. Why? On top of all the "regular bills," it’s the month the house and car insurance comes due. Added to that "fun," this June we were pummeled by a couple of unexpected auto-repair bills and my "bit too ambitious" tackling of the spring projects list. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I consider myself a pretty affectionate person. PDA (Public Displays of Affection) such as holding hands, hugs, and even a nice, dry kiss rank pretty high on my priority list. I am prone to plopping down on my husband’s lap at will, loving the closeness of just being next to him. When it comes to my children, there is nothing I love m...
Tuesday's Top 10 - Ways My Job is Different from My Husbands
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Are you a stay-at-home mom (or dad)? I am, and I can say first-hand that when my husband comes home from work he doesn’t always understand the glazed over look in my eyes that screams, “Calgon, take me away!” (Please, anywhere but HERE). I imagine that there are days he takes one look around the house and wonders if I did a...
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Life without television. Can you do it? Our family is. Well, almost. For the last month, we have been a family without cable. We do have a DVD player and free rentals from our local library. Why? I've written a few blogs about the impact of television on infant and toddler development: www.planningfamily.com/blog/th...
Vagina, Penis, and Other "Bad Words"
Monday, June 27, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
When I was growing up, my family referred to our female private-parts as "our cookie." What? Seriously, what type of sexual education did I receive?! It was the good, old-fashioned, "she'll learn when she is ready" kind of education. The truth is that Mrs. Larson, my sixth-grade teacher, taught me much of what I now know...
Friday, June 24, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I have lots of kids; four to be exact. If you were to see me at the grocery store traipsing around with them you might think I was the nanny, aunt, or anything but related to them. Why? Because my beautiful girls look so much like their daddy. (Although luckily for them they act like me!) Here’s the problem; when my first children were bor...
Thursday, June 23, 2011 by Stef Daniel
According to a Durex sexual wellbeing survey, only 44-percent of married folks are satisfied with their sex lives. Add a baby or two into the mix and the satisfaction levels dwindle down to around 30-percent. Of the complaints among couples with children, men seem to be most disappointed with frequency while women are let down by the quality of sex...
Thursday, June 23, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Although I swore it would not happen; the moment I found out I was expecting everything changed. I went from a career-driven woman to a woman who now daydreamed of holding and singing to her little one. I stopped worrying so much about my work agenda and started worrying about balancing the roles of mama, wife, and professional. She was #1. I&rsq...
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Did you wear a bikini when you were pregnant? I sure didn’t, but then again I also stayed away from swimming pools or any other situations that would have required me to bear more than most people wanted to see; I figured the bi-weekly OB visits were risqué enough. That said, I have to say that I recently saw a slideshow of pregnant ce...
Tuesday's Top 10 - List of Books for Mom
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Do you love to read? I absolutely do and find that it is an awesome way to unwind after a busy day. When I was younger I could curl up with a good book and feel like I was truly in another world where nothing existed except for the book and I. Now, with four children, I find that I am lucky to get through a simple magazine article without being dis...
Monday, June 20, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Do you have an infant? If so, don't blink; development is amazing. I was driving in my car; alone, again. Yes, I was listening to National Public Radio (NPR); brilliant. On this specific drive I heard the story of new research that was recently published in Neuron. Did you miss it? That's what I am here for! This study involved 32-infants and...
Why Vacations Are Good For Child Development
Thursday, June 16, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Our little girl was six weeks old when we took our first road trip. It wasn't far, just a couple of hours, but going to a state park lodge made me feel a million miles away and assured me that I could still travel; even as a new mama. I love to travel. There is something about new sights, sounds, and not having to cook, clean, and make my own bed ...
Thursday, June 16, 2011 by Stef Daniel
From the mouths of babes oftentimes comes wisdom. When a friend’s daughter asked her mother if they could turn this year’s “Father’s Day” into “Other Mother’s Day,” so she could honor her “other Mom,” she was brimming with childlike excitement. This little girl is lucky enough to have two...
Tuesday's Top 10 - List of Reasons You Might Want to Find Another Pediatrician
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Let me start by saying this; when my twins were born I looked to the doctors as if they were some kind of God, sent from Heaven in their white coats in lieu of wings, which could and would save my children from any germ that came their way. I would sit through appointments while busting at the seams with questions, yet silenced out of ‘profes...
Monday, June 13, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Pink or blue; or does it even matter? Have you seen this? Would you or could you keep your kiddo's gender under wraps? Not just during pregnancy, but also into infancy and even childhood. Do you think it makes a difference in whom or what they will develop into? I couldn't wait until that ultrasound at 20 weeks of pregnancy. I wanted to know if ...
Sunday, June 12, 2011 by Stef Daniel
You become a mother with the silent hopes of finally being able to join in on all of those coveted and “secret” conversations about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and child-rearing only to find that you have entered an extremely judgmental and biased group of women. Moms! It starts early in pregnancy with other moms telling you how much (or...
Friday, June 10, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Just the other day, while playing "kitchen" with my four year old, she was fixing me some delicious, plastic peas when she dropped the pan off her pretend stove. What happened next didn’t really shock me. It made me laugh at first, but then started that roller coaster of worries that often accompanies the process of raising children...
Friday, June 10, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
What's in a name? I've always had one of those names I've really disliked. Come on. How did they come up with Barbara Jean (sorry if you are a fan, or you or a family member share the name)? They never even used the Barbara part. It's always been "Jeannie." When people call upon "Barbara," I often don't answer and when I do, I p...
Thursday, June 09, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
I giggled when I read Stef’s blog the other day about not sending her four year old to preschool. Why? My munchkin has been in an early-childhood setting since she turned 18-months-old. One reason for this is my desire to continue to work professionally outside of the home. The other reason is that I simply believe in the value of preschool...
Thursday, June 09, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Before you had children you may have drank wine with dinner or spent a Saturday afternoon sipping beers with friends. Now you are a parent. Is it still appropriate, socially correct, and morally responsible to be drinking in front of the kids? Obviously, if you have a small baby they could care less what is in your glass. However, as your child ge...
Tuesday's Top 10 - Dumb Things People Say To Pregnant Women
Tuesday, June 07, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Momspirational Tuesdays - Top 10 Everyone has a Top 10; David Lettermen, ESPN, every magazine known to humanity (or at least women) has a Top 10! And now so does MOMSPIRATIONAL! Each Tuesday you will get a zany, useful, sometimes funny, other times serious, oftentimes compulsive Top 10 list of things that every (well at least lots) of moms (and d...
Monday, June 06, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
For every action, there is a reaction. Isn’t that a scientific principle? Although I’ve been away from science class for quite some time, I find new meaning in this saying each time I discipline my munchkin. Actually, I hate the word “discipline;” I find it kind of old school. I like the words "behavior management"...
Monday, June 06, 2011 by Stef Daniel
If you are a new mom, or your child is under the age of 18 months, chances are this blog post will not apply to you yet; but, one day these words of wisdom will come back to haunt you (despite the fact that right now you believe your child is a perfect, little angel). Child experts stress the importance of expecting the best from your child at all...
Friday, June 03, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
The first time I came across a Po Bronson book, I was on vacation at the beach. The book, "What Should I Do With My Life," was a nice read of stories about various people from across the country and what paths they went down. Fast forward 5 years and I am no longer wondering, "What Should I Do With My Life?" ...
Momspirational Money Saving Tips - 2
Thursday, June 02, 2011 by Stef Daniel
In the beginning of this blog, I promised to pass along any money savings tips I have uncovered, directly to you. And today, my very unconventional, somewhat irresponsible, but completely revealing tip is sure to work on many levels of your familial existence! I know it did for me. As you can probably relate, raising a family takes...
Thursday, June 02, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
We all work to keep our kids safe and healthy. Those first summer days with a little one out at the park and pool can be so fun. I remember dressing my little one up in an adorable little swimsuit (why is everything that is smaller, cuter?!). Next up, SPF 120+ sunscreen (kidding!), but whatever I used, I slathered her up good. I am sure I...
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 by Stef Daniel
So yesterday, we talked about girly girls. And most people agreed that girls can, and should, be enabled to experience the duality that comes with enjoying both girly things and not so girly things. I have found in my mothering of daughters career, that that is one of the most amazing things about raising daughters. They really ...
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
For those of you who are checking your calendar, yes, I am a little late. I've been a little late since the kiddo came along. In fact, I think the last time I ran on time was the day I checked in the hospital to be induced. Ah yes, the life of a mama. Recently, as I was pondering blogs and blog entries, I realized I totally neglected Mother's Day....
