5 Reasons I Love My IUD

Two weeks ago I got my IUD put in. And to say I was scared to death would have totally been an understatement, but I went through with it because I know it was something I needed to do.

We are not in a position to afford anymore kids, and I think my sanity would go flying right out the window. But that is totally besides the point.

I went on a Wednesday my husband had off from work, which just so happened to be the day before Thanksgiving as well, and of course I was able to join my family the next day for our annual feast with minimal pain.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

Elefun Busy Ball Popper Giveaway!

‘Tis the season for all of the best gifts on the market for your kids, including your baby. There are so many things to choose from this holiday season who ever knows where to even start?

Well I want to help you, and of course give you one of the hottest gifts this season, and the giveaway will not only end before Christmas, but it will also ship to the winner in time for Christmas!

Come Enter to WIN at Baby's First Year!

Check Up Turns Into a Trip to a Specialist

My little girl had her check up at the pediatrician yesterday. She is seven months old, 16 pounds, and grew almost three full inches since her last trip.

Her development is all on point, and everything was going fantastic till the pediatrician looked at the back of her head and asked me if I would take her to a crania-facialspecialist because the back of her head is too flat and she may actually need a helmet.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

7 Ways To Boost Your Breast Milk Supply

In the past with my older boys, I have had supply issues when it comes to breastfeeding. In fact with my oldest supply issues ended my breastfeeding relationship earlier than I would have liked!

My middle son was just a nightmare to nurse and that is just a different story altogether.

With Addison thankfully we only had a couple minor bumps in the road. But I wanted to write something up about boosting your supply if it is something you need to do.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

Two Great Lamaze Toys You Can Win!

I love everything Lamaze, and I think most of you know that considering I am currently in the last phases of my Lamaze childbirth educator certification praying to finally sit for my exam in April, but today I am talking about Lamaze toys!

I was sent the awesome Lamaze Totem Stackers, and the Pink Pony and Princess Sophie set. I can do nothing but rave about both, and how much Addison loves them.

ENTER TO WIN at Baby's First Year!

I Am Thankful for Addison

Thanksgiving is when we give thanks for all in our life we are thankful for right?

Well 2011 has been a roller coaster of a year for our family. We welcomed the first little girl since I was born in 1985, we lost my big sister tragically, and somehow I have found the strength to make it through the holidays… at least I think I have.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

20 Baby's First Christmas Ornaments on Etsy

I know! I know! Who wants to start thinking about Christmas ornaments already?

Well if you want them handmade or personalized in time for Christmas… now is the time to start placing your orders or researching the one you like best for your baby if you want them in time for Christmas

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

Tommee Tippee Video Monitor Giveaway

Ever feel like you needed a video baby monitor as well as a sensor pad for under your crib mattress just to ease your mind, and of course alert you if there is no movement including breathing by your baby?

Well now you don’t need a half dozen different devices becauseTommee Tippee has come out with a video baby monitor with a sensor pad connected… all in one!

ENTER TO WIN at Baby's First Year!

Shame on Milwaukee Co-Sleeping Ads

A newborn sleeping on their stomach, in a heavily blanketed bed, next to a butcher knife.  Sounds like a pretty accurate depiction of co-sleeping right?  Wrong! And anyone who has ever co-slept with their child can attest to that!

Heck, as a co-sleeper myself who co-slept with all three of my children, safely at that… These new ads that the department of health in Milwaukee have come out with have my blood absolutely boiling.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year!

Houston! We Have a Tooth!

Remember how I did a post on teething remedies like… ages ago?  Because my precious little girl was teething. Yeah, well she decided to teeth for virtually a decade in mom years, and finallygot her first tooth this Tuesday.

But out of all three of my children, she is having by far the hardest time.  My first you never even knew he was getting a tooth. It would magically just appear in his mouth one day.  I thought parents with horrible teething kids were just trying to scare me.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year!

10 Reasons I Switched to Cloth Diapers

As if the money saving aspect doesn’t drive enough families to switch over to cloth diapers these days… there are tons of other reasons to really give them a true shot.

I tried to switch a couple years ago when my oldest was a baby, but after buying a hand full of diapers I had no idea how to use thinking that simple cloth diapers really couldn’t be that confusing… I surrendered almost overnight and gave up.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

The Elephant in the Room: Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression seems to still be such a taboo subject. And as someone who has suffered from postpartum depression for two out of three of my children I think it is something we all should be talking about more instead of sweeping under the rug.

With my second son my depression was the worst. I had a 26 hour long labor trying desperately to avoid a c-section a second time, and after a failedVBAC try I felt exactly how most do… like a failure.   I was a failure as a woman, I couldn’t give birth to my son.  Yes… it was about me. Which there is nothing wrong with, although so many people make women feel like their feelings should be discounted, which is a huge problem.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

Disney Onesie Giveaway

Disney started coming out with onesies last year, but in the past couple months they have come out with the most adorable new line, at least for little girls. I am completely obsessed with them now…

I love them for so many reasons, they are incredibly soft, but the best part is they  have more than one set of buttons to help them actually fit your little one longer than your typical onesie does!

Instead of just lasting for a month, the lifetime of the onesie is longer. We are going on over three months with some of the onesies we have made by Disney. And now you can enter to win a three pack of onesies yourself!

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

Reflecting Over Six Months in Photos

I seriously still can’t believe Addie is six months old already. I think it is really hitting me so hard because six months is really a milestone.Of course I have celebrated every month milestone since she has been born, but six months is a half of a year. She is half way to no longer being my little baby.

And her being our last child is making it slightly harder to accept.

I sat down and started going through all the pictures from since she was a baby, and I had a nice cry fest. How has she gotten this big in such a small period of time?

READ MORE at Baby's First Year!

Poisoning You're Baby Softly With Your Soap

The internet is buzzing about a topic I covered here back in July. I wrote a post about the skin-deep cosmetics databaseand the levels of sometime-toxic chemicals going into products we are frequently using on our babies.  For example, soaps, shampoos, and lotions.

For years, I have been dying to see some of the more popular brands pulled, and the brands that are actually safe for our children plastered in full page ads inside every pregnancy and baby magazine known to man, but of course we know how publishing and advertising works, right?

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

Addie is Six Months Old!

Six months old already… where has the first half year of Addie’s life gone? It seems like yesterday I was in the hospital cradling this petite and fragile 5 pound 12 ounce little girl, and now I am struggling to lug around this chunky little Princess with more rolls than a bakery!

She has personality!  That is for sure. If she wants something…you will know it.  But overall she is an awesome baby.  We are still going strong breastfeeding which for me is a giant accomplishment.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

My Childless Friends Dumped Me

Before I had kids I can certainly say I was the life of the party. I had tons of friends, went out nightly, and had a ton of girlfriends.

Then I had kids.

It almost seemed like everyone was on board, and the moment baby shower invites went out, and it became real, they all jumped ship.  It was the titanic of friendships… and they were all sinking.

READ MORE at Baby's First year!

Hold On to Your Cloth Diapers

I am kind of a cloth diaper junkie. And even more so since we are now cloth diapering two kids in our house 100% of the time.  I have been back in the saddle for about two weeks now, and every day it just gets easier and easier.

The best part? Not having to buy diapers anymore or worrying about running out in the middle of the night.  Although my hatred for laundry is as strong as ever.

Anyway! I have been expanding my collection over the past couple months since Addison was born. I originally started out with two full stashes of AppleCheeks which I still use daily.  I also expanded toFuzziBunz and absolutely love them as well. I swear all the diapers I have tried out since I started, I have loved something about.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

AAP Says Skip the Bumpers... AGAIN!

A while ago I wrote a post about why I chose to use Wonder Bumpers in our crib. We started with my middle son, and continued to use them with our daughter.  Why?

Because after my oldest son, and using traditional wrap around crib bumpers with him, I learned how deadly they are.  Apparently now the American Academy of Pediatrics is jumping on board as well.

Yesterday CNN reported that the AAP is telling parents to get traditional crib bumpers the hell out of their cribs because basically… they are deadly.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year

Most Annoying Baby Toys

Baby toys … one of those necessary evils in parenting. Can’t live with them, and you can’t live without them.  There are toys that just drive you to drink, and of course, they are always your kids favorite toys.

You know the ones I’m talking about, too. They were all bought by an aunt, or uncle … just to annoy you daily. Something you would have never bought yourself.

Since Addison is starting to get back into the swing of all these fun toys it started to make me think about those toys I completely loathe.

READ MORE at Baby's First Year