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How We’re Prepping Our Daughter for Baby Brother’s Arrival
We are preparing to welcome a new addition to our family & since Mackenzie is currently an only child we are doing our best to get her ready for her baby brother’s arrival. This is definitely not my area of expertise, but I’m hoping some of the things we are doing now will help when he’s actually here (I’ll do another post once he’s here about what’s working & what didn’t work so great!) Books- we have a few books that we are reading with Mackenzie that will help her understand that a new baby is coming! The Baby is Here! (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) You’re a Big Sister (here’s the…
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Transitioning our Toddler from Nap Time to Rest Time
I’m going to share below how we’re transitioning our daughter from nap time to rest time (sometimes called quiet time). I’m definitely no expert, just trying different things out to see what works best for Mackenzie as we make this big change in her schedule. She’s just over 2.5 years old and I truly think she’s a little young to drop her nap, but nap time was becoming a stressful time for all involved. She would just lay in her crib shouting for me. I’m currently 30 weeks pregnant & I just couldn’t handle nap time the way it was going any longer. While I think she’s a little young…
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Mackenzie’s Favorite Toys To Play With at 12 Months Old
These are some of Mackenzie’s favorite toys at the moment! Any of them would also make great gifts if you’re looking for ideas. Lovevery Buddy Stroller- She got this as a gift for her first birthday and she absolutely loves pushing it around the house with or without her baby in it! Ball Drop from The Babbler Lovevery Play Kit- This is from the Babbler play kit that is designed for 13, 14, & 15 month olds. She loves to put the balls in the top and push them down. There are four different ways for her to get them out. I love seeing her mind at work! Radio Flyer…
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Back To School Tips for First Time Students
Here are just a few things I’m doing to prepare Mackenzie for her first school experience. + getting her used to some of the things she’ll be using/seeing when she’s at school like her lunch box, backpack, shoes & things like that + taking tour of her new school before it begins + asking the director of her school for a picture of her teacher so she can get familiar with her face before school begins + reading books that are age appropriate like Daniel Tiger Goes to School & A Kissing Hand for Chester Raccoon + preparing myself for the separation. I’ve only ever been on the other side…
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Toddler Bag To Keep In Your Car for Emergencies
When Mackenzie was a baby I took her diaper bag EVERYWHERE with me. I was so worried to be out somewhere & not have something I would maybe need. Now that she’s older I feel much more confident about running errands with her & not lugging my diaper bag everywhere. I’m mainly talking about short errands where I know I won’t be out of the house for very long. I keep a bag in my car for emergencies & it has come in handy when I’m out and need a diaper or change of clothes for Mackenzie. Below is everything I keep in my car for Mackenzie: changing pad a…
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Being a Mom Who Suffers From Migraines
A Little Background On My History With Migraines Every day is a struggle for me as someone who suffers from chronic migraines. I’ve been suffering from them ever since I was 15 years old and they only seem to be getting worse as I get older. Honestly, even sitting down to write this post was a struggle for me and I had to take my medicine just to great rid of a headache so I could get this done. I’ve seen so many neurologists since I started getting my headaches and I’ve tried almost all of the medications on the market that are used to treat migraines. What’s crazy to…
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Caring for a Sick Toddler During a Pandemic
Having your child get sick can be some of the scariest days you’ll experience as a parent. You feel helpless not knowing exactly what your child needs from you. Seeing them in pain makes your heart hurt. Being in a pandemic adds a whole other layer to worrying about your child when they’re sick. Right now the Omnicron varient of COVID is super contagious & spiking like crazy and testing is nearly impossible, so not knowing if it’s COVID or not can be so worrisome. Mackenzie has gotten sick only a couple of times in her 18 months of life. Each time it’s been either a little runny nose or…
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Tips for Traveling With Your Little One For the Holidays
Whether you’re traveling with your newborn or toddler for the holidays, I’ve got some helpful tips and check lists to make sure you don’t forget anything important! My favorite way to pack for myself or Mackenzie is to use packing cubes. It helps me feel organized since I feel like I have to travel with so much. For a car trip I like to pack her stuff in her LL Bean Tote, but for air travel we’ve used our medium sized Away suitcase. For her formula or now her snacks and other food related items, I like to use this cooler bag. I’ll start with newborns. It may feel like…
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How to Bake With a Toddler Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Greg and I love to bake so it’s only right we get Mackenzie comfortable in the kitchen at a young age! I’ve only just begun to include Mackenzie in what I’m baking, but I have a few tips for you so you don’t become overwhelmed in the kitchen with your toddler: + If your toddler helps you put the ingredients in the bowl, rather than measuring out each ingredient with them, get all your ingredients out and measured before you begin. I like to put all pre-measured ingredients in different bowls so Mackenzie can help me add them as needed. + If your child is older and you want them…
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My Scariest Moment As a Parent So Far, Parenting Fail Big Time
I don’t enjoy that I’m writing this post, but I wanted to share it because of how crappy this situation made me feel and how much blame I put on myself even though, in the end my daughter was fine. Also, I’m sharing this because I feel like there aren’t enough stories out there showing that we make mistakes as parents, we’re not perfect and it’s okay to make a mistake, but learn from your mistakes and grow. Last week, we went on a walk in Vermont and I didn’t think it was too cold for Mackenzie to join. Oh boy was I wrong! The temperature was in the 20’s…
