Teaching Littles to Respect the Police

It's a scary world out there. After you become a parent, the world actually gets even scarier.

You become acutely aware of how vulnerable you are: always holding a baby or carrier, holding hands to get through parking lots, bent over in the backseat buckling buckles or finding sippy cups, lugging a diaper bag with your one free hand, etc.

You become acutely aware of the crushing responsibility to keep your children safe from those who may do them harm.

I have things worth protecting in my life. I have a family, a home, a business, and personal property that my husband and I have worked hard for and made sacrifices to acquire. While the responsibility to protect those things falls squarely upon my (and my husband's) shoulders, the police do a great deal to help maintain that security.

I want my children to know that the police have a shitty job. Don't believe me? Here's how one cop explains the perpetual catch-22 that they find themselves in. They sacrifice and their families sacrifice. Sure, everyone has been pulled over by "that cop" who came off like a complete jackass. But I'm not naive enough to act like I've never had a day where I came off like a complete jackass.

The police do a job that is desperately needed and frighteningly under-appreciated. My job as a parent is to teach my children that police officers, like fire fighters and members of the military, deserve their utmost respect. This respect will serve them well in any future encounters with the police because, like in many aspects of life, the attitude that you portray to others tends to be the attitude that you get back.

This week, Niamh and I will talk about the police and the job they do for us and our community. We will go out and pick up some small gift cards to Starbucks and pass them out to the officers we see in the mornings at Chick-Fil-A. We are also going to make some arts and crafts that have to do with police officers to start a conversation about who they are and what they do for us. Check out this printable or this idea for police car crafts. Pinterest has plenty of craft ideas to get your little ones thinking and talking about the police. Many police precincts will even offer a tour for a group of littles. Be creative and begin laying that foundation of respect.

A Big Thank You

Nothing makes you appreciate your own parents like becoming a parent yourself.

If you haven't thanked your parents recently, take this opportunity to give them a call and tell them that you appreciate their hard work and sacrifices.

To my own parents:

Thank you for raising me. Thank you for all the headaches, sleepless nights, frustration and tears that came along with that task.

Thank you for letting me play outside and ride my bike with the neighbor kids in the street even though you knew I could get hurt. 

Thank you for cleaning my skinned knee when I decided that riding roller skates down the neighbor's steep driveway was a good idea.

Thank you for giving me space but always being there when I was a teenager, going through teenage things, and getting my heart broken.

Thank you for helping me pack my Care Bears suitcase when I threatened to run away. And for waving goodbye to me as I walked down the street.

Thank you for always making sure that my eduction came first and any teenage drama took a backseat.

Thank you for teaching me to love myself so that the bullying and teasing of adolescence wasn't a huge distraction.

Thank you for dancing with me in the basement to the songs on the jukebox. And thank you for encouraging me to dance by myself...so that you could watch through the basement windows with the neighbors while you drank wine and laughed.

Thank you for teaching me how to fold fitted sheets while watching Knots Landing.

Thank you for all the dental work.

Thank you for making sacrifices to send me to school, whether it was when I was two or twenty.

Thank you for still loving me even when I said I hated you.

Thank you for all the times you cleaned up poop...or puke...or both.

Thank you for teaching me algebra. And how to adjust the timing on a Chevy 350. And how to love my spouse and kids.

Thank you for saving my macaroni necklaces for four moves and thousands of miles.

Thanks for telling me to "wrap it up" when I was on the phone too late as a teenager.

Thank you for teaching me the value of a dollar and how to appreciate the things I was given. Thanks for all those nights we spent working on my first car: rebuilding a fuse box and jumping fuses to make headlights work, learning how to drive a stick, etc.

Thank you for being as enthusiastic about being grandparents as you were about being parents.

Thanks for pulling me out of a school for a "funeral" so we could spend the day together.

Thanks for letting me learn my own lessons even though it would've been easier if you would've just told me.

Thanks for always supporting me.

Thank you for teaching me who in this world deserves my upmost respect and admiration.

Thank you for making me go to church even when I pretended to be sick.

Thank you for almost always being a lot of fun.

Thank you for teaching me lessons about life even those times when it was the hardest; for sticking to your guns even when I pushed every button and boundary there was and all you wanted to do was give up and drink a glass of wine. Thank you for being great parents.

What Are You Reading This Fall?

There is nothing better than curling up with a good book during the fall/winter months. A nice warm blanket, some thick socks, maybe even a mug of coffee or hot tea. Mmmmmmm. Love it.

So maybe it's November and 70 degrees in Houston. And maybe I have an insanely rambunctious toddler who is busing burning my house to the ground every minute of every day and a three month old baby who is only happy when she's being held. But, what the hell? Here's my fall reading list:

 

Jo Frost's Toddler Rules

I LOVE Supernanny. She is like the ultimate toddler whisperer. When Niamh turned two, it was like she instantly learned about the 'terrible two's' and thought to herself "oh hell yeah, I can do this!" After one of those afternoons that makes you seriously entertain selling your toddler to the gypsies, I came home to pour myself a glass of wine and browse for toddler discipline books on Amazon. Talk about #momproblems, y'all.

I just started this book last week and am digging it so far. If you ever watched Supernanny, you're probably already familiar with some of her techniques (i.e. the "Naughty Step" for one minute per year of age). The book basically goes into more detail and elaborates on the importance of proper sleep routine, established snack and mealtimes, physical activity, early learning activities, and clear expectations on family rules and expectations.

The first couple chapters helped me realize that some of Niamh's tantrums were a result of wishy-washy snacking and meal times. I've also added some good tools to my toolbox that have helped me communicate with Niamh and let her know what I expect from her and how she can be a "big girl" when we do things outside of the house. So far, so good!

 

The End of Absence

Here's a little something you might not know about me: I am a total throwback when it comes to technology. I don't do things like e-Readers, I have a love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with my iPhone, and I take notes and draft these blog posts on old school paper, not a computer.

When I stumbled across this book review in the Wall Street Journal, I knew I had to read the book. "Digital technology, the author suggests in 'The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We've Lost in a World of Constant Connection,' has filled the once sacrosanct silences in our heads that let us escape our fleeting daily concerns. Distracted by the constant buzzing of our devices, we lose the chance for novel insights and discoveries, 'the kinds of thoughts that present themselves in our emptiest moments—the moments when we stare out the train's windows or hover on a lawn to monitor the sky.'" Um, wow. Yes. Do you ever people watch anymore? For those of us who do, it's astounding to look around a restaurant and see how many people are hunched over their phones "interacting" via social networks rather than truly interacting with other human beings. Probably like many of us who grew up before the internet age, I miss the good old days. Sometimes I like to pretend like it's 1994.

Yeah, I know it's only two books. But let's be real here, if I read both of these before 2015 I'll be one happy camper! What's on your reading list?? I love some recommendations!

Veterans Day

To all who have served: thank you.

Your family, friends, and neighbors appreciate your service and sacrifices every day, not just today.

And a special thank you to my own veteran: I am beyond fortunate to have such a hard-working husband and fun-loving father to my girls. I am always proud of you and your never-ending desire to help others who have served. Thank you for continuing to be a true sheepdog.

RLTW

Advice to New Moms

New moms know that a great deal of advice comes their way, sometimes useful and sometimes ridiculous and, more often than not, unsolicited. However, occasionally you receive one great piece of advice and are able to look back and realize how beneficial it was. Today, I am passing on a great piece of advice that I received concerning breastfeeding.

When I was pregnant the first time around, I knew that I wanted to nurse my little one until the one year mark and then follow her lead when it came time to wean. I also knew that breastfeeding could be quite a challenge: I had heard many horror stories and I had met many moms who had given it up and switched to formula. I decided to be proactive and sunk my teeth into all things breastfeeding: I went to a class, I read the books, I even went to a La Leche League meeting. Eventually, I felt like I had all the pieces of the puzzle, but how would they come together when I actually tried to feed this squishy little baby for the first time? I realized that I had never seen a woman breastfeed a baby before. At all. Ever in my life. Since we live in a culture that is fairly modest when it comes to breastfeeding (especially breastfeeding in public), like many other first-time moms I wasn't sure what a good latch looked like. At this point, my midwife at the time recommended a simple YouTube search with the keywords: Jack Newman.

It literally never occurred to me to watch videos of complete strangers learning how to breastfeed! I watched and I listened to the cues that Dr. Newman would give his patients. When the big day came, I asked for some help from the nurses to get Niamh latched on for the first time. It was smooth sailing from then on. Ok, maybe not completely smooth sailing; if you're breastfeeding for the first time (or second...or third...) your nipples are going to HURT. Prepare yourself mentally and know that you and your baby are learning how to feed together and that pain will go away as you both learn the ropes. You will probably have a two week period where you might dread the thought of that little succubus latching on because it feels like her mouth has a thousand and one hidden daggers that pierce your skin and allow her to drink your soul straight out of your body along with her milk. But that will pass. Watching videos helped me learn that I needed to be forceful with a newborn to help her get as deep a latch as possible (and trust me, when you realize how much nipple they should have in their little tiny mouths, it is surprising).

Set yourself up for success and never be afraid to ask for help. If you didn't grow up with an older sister, mother, aunt, etc. who openly breastfed her children, how are you honestly expected to know what this part of life looks like? Your baby sure as shit doesn't know what she's doing on day one, so it's up to you to prep and set both of you up for as much success as possible.

Happy breastfeeding, Mommas!

Do you have one piece of advice that really helped you as a first-time Mom? What's one thing that you wished someone had told you when you were pregnant? We'd love to hear!

What's In The Bag?

Once upon a time, I came across a post on the interwebs that suggested using Petunia Pickle Bottom's Powder Room Cases for diaper bag organization. It seemed like a genius idea since I can remember more than one stressful parenting situation made even more stressful by a black hole of a diaper bag. So when I bought my PPB Sashay Satchel, I grabbed a few PRC's and figured I'd see where my OCD would take me.

This is what my set-up looks like for a two year old and a two month old (both in cloth diapers):

PRC #1: Health and Beauty Items (Boogie Wipes, tissues, cough drops, sunscreen, lotion, etc.)

PRC #2: Toddler Entertainment (stickers, coloring book, Play-doh, fake camera and phone, etc.)

PRC #3: Snacks (fruit strips, raisins, Larabars, KIND bars, etc.)

Here's how the whole thing comes together:

In the very bottom of my diaper bag, I put the things that I (God willing) don't need very often. I have two disposable diapers for each kiddo, a sleep n play for Rowan, a change of pants for Niamh.
On top of that bottom layer, I put the three PRC's in vertically so I can easily identify and grab the one I need. This leaves just enough space for a fourth PRC (you could have a diaper PRC if you use disposables), but I use that space for a wet bag and a couple cloth diapers. I know that conventional wisdom says to pack a diaper for every hour that you'll be out, plus a few extras just in case. But let's be real here, if either one of my kids is pooping at that rate, I don't want to be out in public. Plus, I always keep a stocked changing station in my car, so I don't feel the need to pack everything I own in a diaper bag *just in case*.

The Sashay Satchel has a magazine pocket in the front that I use as my "mommy pocket" with wallet, cell phone, etc. The back magazine pocket holds the straps that convert the bag to a backpack along with my nursing cover and a burp cloth. Inside, there are two pockets that hold a changing pad and wipes as well as a zippered pocket that holds some random things that I might want to access easily/quickly like a pack of Wet Ones and some Honest Co. spray hand sanitizer. I'm generally not big on hand sanitizer but no Ebola here, thanks.

That's it, folks. I don't carry much because we usually aren't away from home for more than a few hours since Niamh is still napping everyday. In the future, if we do all-day trips, I will transition to my old Ju Ju Be Be Prepared diaper bag with the same PRC's and just add a small cooler, more diapers, or whatever else we need for the day.

Do you have any diaper bag tips and tricks?? Comment below to share!

Mama Must-Have: Three Random Things I'm Obsessed With

I am literally obsessed with three beauty products at the moment.

This is my favorite lotion of. all. time. Yeah, that's a big statement but I stand by it. This stuff is available at Sephora and it is amazing: smells wonderful, makes my skin super soft, and doesn't feel greasy. I cannot imagine life without this stuff.

I'll admit that I'm kinda lazy when it comes to hair and makeup. I have always neglected my eyebrows when I wear makeup because they're already thick and dark so I just never understood why I would use anything else on them. Enter Benefit's Gimme Brow. This stuff is like a little mini-mascara for your eyebrows and helps them look full, defined, and polished. Even if I'm not wearing a full face of makeup, a little bit of this makes a world of difference. And I've now learned that it is a MUST for a full face of makeup.

Let me get something off my chest: I hate lipstick. I'm like the Goldilocks of lipstick: it's too sticky, it's too creamy, it's too shiny, it's too bright, it's too neutral. You get the picture. I discovered this little drugstore gem a few months ago and loved the subtle purple color (Oh La Lilac) with a nice summer tan. It's a gel pigment so it feels more like a lip balm than a lipstick. I now have six tubes strategically placed in my car, makeup bag, diaper bag, etc.

Round Two and I'm Digging Some Babywearing

Howdy folks and Happy International Babywearing Week! I bet you didn't know that was a thing, did you? Yeah, me either.

In spite of my recent ignorance about an entire week dedicated to wearing one's offspring, I decided to write a post this week on that very subject!

Niamh's 1st Notre Dame Game

I received an Ergo carrier from a very dear friend when I was pregnant with Niamh and used it on a pretty regular basis with her. It was just so handy to tuck her in her carrier next to my body while I was out and about grocery shopping, cooking dinner, or even walking the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5k. She seemed so comfy and cozy and almost always fell asleep when I was wearing her.


Now that we're doing Round Two with Baby Ro, I am digging the hell out of wearing that little nugget! While I do some stereotypically "hippie mom" things like cloth diaper and make my own baby food, I certainly don't consider myself to be a full-blown crunchy granola organic natural mama. Babywearing tends to be one of those things that those hippie moms do, as it is one of the principles included in attachment parenting. For me, babywearing is just SO practical and handy that it makes having a baby so much more enjoyable.

Hiking with Baby Ro

 Let's face it, for all the joys a little on brings there are certainly plenty of inconveniences, especially if your nugget is breastfed...frequently. I only nursed Niamh in her carrier a few times and, since I'm fairly discreet about breastfeeding, I often felt like I was missing out on fun things that were going on because I would need to find a quiet corner to sit down and feed her.

This time around, I have worn Rowan everywhere. And, let me tell you, throwing a nursing cover around my neck and dropping that carrier down has allowed me to nurse on the go and not miss a thing. Just this week I have nursed that kid while cooking, shopping at lululemon, picking out a rug, buying groceries, hiking at George Bush Park, and drinking a glass of wine during National Night Out with my neighbors (don't judge). It has been such a liberating feeling this time around to not worry about waking the baby up to feed her before I go out to run errands - I'll just nurse her while I run errands. Let's face it, any time I can multi-task and save a little time I'm a happy camper.

Aside from the selfish reasons that I would encourage any mom to try out babywearing, some studies have indicated that babies who are worn for three hours a day cried 43% less (54% less in the evening hours) than babies who were not worn.

Have any questions about babywearing? Want to share your favorite carrier or babywearing practice? Leave a comment below! Happy Babywearing!

Mama Must-Have: Curling Wand

Ok, so I can't be the only mom out there who has trouble finding the time in between feedings, diapers, dishes, and laundry to squeeze in a quick shower. I'll admit it, I've been sitting at the play ground mid-afternoon and realized that I haven't even brushed my teeth yet.

As a new mom all over again, I'm looking for easy ways to make my mornings simple and fast so I can get myself put together and ready to leave the house. I have developed a new appreciation for my old curling wand because it creates some curl/wave that sticks around for daaaaaaaaaaayyyyyys without having to spend time styling my hair every morning. This thing puts old school curling irons to shame! If you haven't tried a curling wand yet, OMG, do it.

Waves on day 3!

New Gear for 2015

Those of you who follow me on Facebook, Instagram (@betterbabyyourbaby), and Twitter (@betterbabybaby) have already seen a sneak peek of some of these products that were just revealed at the 2014 ABC Kids Expo. Check out the brand-new gear below that created a buzz at the trade show and keep your eyes peeled for some awesome new products to hit the market in late 2014 or the first half of 2015

Baby Jogger City Mini Zip

Lightweight and Travel-Friendly Strollers

Baby Jogger City Mini Zip - Like its big brother, the ever popular City Mini, the Zip offers some full-size features on a lightweight stroller. The fold on the Zip is the new feature and comes in 50% smaller than a standard umbrella stroller. It weighs in at only 16 pounds and will retail for $249.99.  

Mountain Buggy Nano -  This stroller might take the cake for frequent fliers. It weighs 13 pounds and folds compactly enough to fit into most overhead carry-on compartments! It is also equipped with a car seat adapter that fits several leading brands and turns this lightweight umbrella stroller into a full travel system! This thing is a great value at only $199.99.

BabyZen YoYo - Another stroller with an amazing micro-mini fold, the YoYo is the first stroller to be fully compliant with IATA guidelines for cabin baggage dimensions. Easily slips into an overhead compartment, under a train seat, etc. 

 Double Strollers

UPPABaby Vista - Big changes are happening for the 2015 Vista! What used to be known as the Vista has been renamed the Legacy and the new Vista is joining the ranks of grow-with-your-family strollers that easily convert from a single to a double and back again, much like the Britax B-Ready or Baby Jogger City Select (review here). In 2015, the Vista will be able to accommodate two toddler seats, bassinets, or infant carriers, making it ideal for parents of twins! The Vista frame and single seat will retail for around $800, with additional seats and accessories being sold separately. This stroller also won the 2014 JPMA Stoller Award and The Bump Editor's Pick!

2015 UPPABaby Vista

Baby Jogger Vue Double - Baby Jogger got great feedback with the introduction of the Vue: an umbrella stroller with a seat that easily converts to forward-facing or rear-facing. In 2015, Baby Jogger is introducing a double version! The seats will be independent and allow a younger child to be parent-facing while big brother or sister faces forward. It should retail for $399.

UPPABaby G-Link - The G-Link is the double version of UPPABaby's already popular G-Luxe umbrella stroller. (You can find my review of the G-Luxe here.) This stroller will weigh in at only 20 pounds and feature a nearly-flat recline for the smallest babies.In my opinion, a flat recline is an AMAZING feature on a stroller!

Luxury Joggers

Orbit Baby O2 - In Summer 2015, Orbit Baby will enter the world of jogging strollers with the introduction of the O2. The frame will feature a low seating position for jogging or a higher seating position for city strolling and will accommodate your Orbit Baby seat. Like other joggers, the O2's front wheel will lock for jogging or swivel for everyday use.
Bugaboo Runner - The Runner frame will easily accept any Bugaboo seat for jogging in parent-facing or rear-facing mode. Featuring air-filled tires for a smooth ride, the Runner will have a fixed front wheel. It should arrive in stores by spring 2015 and will retail around $425 for the frame and $650 for frame and seat.

Car Seats

Britax ClickTight - The new ClickTight system makes correct installation a breeze! It's never been easier to install a car seat using a vehicle safety belt in cars without LATCH anchors or when you exceed the LATCH weight limits. ClickTight will be available in the Britax convertible models that we all know and love (Boulevard, Marathon, and Advocate) as well as the Frontier and Pinnacle Harness-2-Booster models.

Cybex Cloud Q - Most doctors advise against leaving infants in their car seats for extended periods of time due to their developing spines. The Cybex Cloud Q is the first infant carrier that will recline when clipped onto its frame, thus turning into a bassinet and letting sleeping babies lie! This car seat is going to come in gorgeous colors and should retail for $399.

Doona Infant Carrier

Doona - Wow. This thing is a game changer! This infant carrier weighs 15.5 pounds and has integrated wheels and handlebar to transform into a snap-n-go type stroller in an instant. All those times that you just need to run into a store to grab something or pick an older sibling up from school just got a little easier! This seat will retail for $350.

Phil & Teds - This duo has a new uber-lightweight infant seat hitting the market that weighs well under 10 pounds! No more fiddler crab arm from hauling a heavy car seat around!

Whew, that's a TON of stuff to keep your eyes peeled for over the next year! There are also plenty of miscellaneous items hitting markets as well: EZPZFun No Mess Happy Mats (integrated silicone plates and mats with some serious suction), Silikids silicone toppers that can turn any cup into a sippy cup, and beautiful new play mat prints from Skip Hop that give playrooms a chic makeover!

Stay Tuned!

Hang In There.

I just came across a quote that, after the day we've had, couldn't have been more perfect:

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.

--Unknown

Nobody wants to have THAT kid in the restaurant.

Have you ever sat down for a nice meal with your toddler at a restaurant and quickly realized that you would rather be literally anywhere else on the face of the earth than sitting at the same table with this crazy demon child?!

At our house, Niamh is just on the verge of turning two and she must be getting a head start on the "terrible two's." For some strange reason, she can be the sweetest little helper all day long and as soon as we go out in public (especially to a restaurant), she flips a switch and does the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde thing. They must derive some great joy from embarrassing us in the most public of places.

Enter momma's big bag of restaurant tricks. I now carry a secret pouch in my diaper bag loaded with small toys and things to help keep Niamh happy (read: distracted) long enough to get in a quick dinner. Some of my favorite items are random things in the bins as soon as you walk into Target. Everything ranges from $1-$3 and features the stuff of magic to a toddler: crayons and mini coloring books, princess stickers, small containers of squishy stuff like play-doh, things that light up, etc. Another favorite are the Melissa & Doug Reusable Stickers Pads. I stick a scene in the diaper bag along with some of the stickers and, voila, we've bought ourselves a solid 15 minutes. Plus, they work like window clings and keep her occupied at home too!

Mama Must-Have: Initial Jewelry

MomentusNY on Etsy

Every Mama nowadays knows that you just HAVE to have a beautiful piece of jewelry with your little one's name or initials. You can find popular items at Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, Pottery Barn Kids, or various Etsy shops. I am in love with my double charm necklace from MomentusNY's shop on Etsy! If you're looking for chic, simple designs, definitely check out this shop!