Mom Approved Toys for Preschoolers and Kindergarten

When ever holidays or birthdays approach I am always looking for toy ideas for my kids that are both fun and educational. I like to provide this list to family members so that we try to avoid ending up with too many toys that don't get played with. As a homeschooling family I want something that is functional but also something that will keep my kids attention.  This post is a list of great toys for young children from infants thru 1st grade. A few of these my kids have and LOVE and the others are on our wish list.

Infants & Toddlers:

For gift ideas for young children, checkout this post by a great blog I follow, The Darling Bakers. The post shares great ideas for toys and activities for the first year and the toddler years. 

 

Toys and Activities for Children's Early Years- The Darling Bakers 

Preschool to Kindergarten:

Alphabet Bingo Games- Where to Buy
This is a great game for children ages 4-6. It teaches pre-kindergarten children up to 1st grade. It teaches them to recognize the alphabet.

Jax Ltd., Inc. Sequence Letters- Where to Buy
Intended for kids age 4-7. It's a great way to learn the alphabet and the sound each letter makes.


Learning Resources Sum Swamp Addition and Subtraction Game- Where to Buy 
This is a great game to sharpen math skills and the basic operations of addition and subtraction for younger children and as practice for older children.

Melissa and Doug Abacus- Where to Buy
This activity is great for kids 3 and up. It helps to teach math skills, patterning and color recognition. 

Melissa and Doug Pattern Block & Boards- Where to Buy
These colorful pattern boards are great for children 3+ and is a great way to learn about patterns and shapes. 


Melissa and Doug See & Spell- Where to Buy 
This activity is recommended for children ages 4-7. It contains 16 colorful pictures to learn spelling skills. 

Melissa and Doug Geometric Stacker- Where to Buy
This durable wooden toy for kids 2 and up. It helps to build shape, color and size differentiation skills. 

Plan Toys Preschool Sorting Board- Where To Buy 
Perfect for kids age 2-5. This toy teaches colors, shapes and math concepts. 


ThinkFun Zingo Sight Words- Where to Buy
For grades pre-kindergarten to 2nd grade. This game was developed by educators to teach sight recognition and of essential words. 

ThinkFun What's Gnu- Where to Buy
This game is designed for kids age 5-8. It teaches word recognition, vocabulary building and reading. 





Do you have any mom approved toys to add to the list? We would love for you to share!


Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Are Vaccines Making Your Kids Sick?

The choice of whether or not to vaccinate is a very important and complex decision in which parents must take the responsibility to try to find enough information to make an educated decision that can affect their children for the rest of their lives. As a parent, this decision can be overwhelming and many people trust their doctors to act in the parent’s best interest to provide guidance in such instances. Unfortunately, there is a major distortion of information out there and many people have the misconception that vaccines result in healthier children. However, research is showing that vaccinated children are more chronically ill than their non-vaccinated counterparts. According to the CDC, the number of vaccines that are given to children has increased more than three times in the last 29 years. In 1983, children were given 10 shots from birth to 6 years of age, compared to 36-38 for the same age group in 2012. 

Vaccine Dangers

Vaccines can carry with them very serious side effects, ranging from mild complications such as fever or rash, to major issues such as seizure and death. Children who are lucky enough to avoid any major difficulties, can carry with them a lifetime of health problems. According to a survey on VaccineInjury.info, vaccinated children have a much higher rate of autism, ear infections, ADHD, asthma and allergies – in some cases even 30 percent higher than children who are not vaccinated. The assessment continues to show that un-vaccinated children are less likely to suffer from hyperactivity, skin disorders, autoimmune disorders, depression, anxiety and many other diseases. In addition to the fact that vaccines are being shown to cause health problems, immunizations being given today have not been tested for long-term safety. Most of the studies only evaluate side effects that occur within 48-72 hours, while the truth is that many serious side effects show up long after that time span.

Vaccines are a combination of many different toxic additives, preservatives and cell types that are initiated during the manufacturing process. The problem is that the shots create a temporary vaccine-induced antibody production rather than letting the body build up its natural immune system, and have little evidence as to their effectiveness.

In fact, Whooping Cough outbreaks are higher in areas that have a higher percentage of children who have been vaccinated against it according to Reuters. In 2010 in San Rafael CA they saw the largest spike of cases the state has seen in 50 years after the CDC recommended that children get the vaccine booster.

Over-vaccinating weakens the immune system, making children more susceptible to infections with less ability to fight them off. The injections also promote viral adaption, which is responsible for creating vaccine resistant super bugs. In 2010, 77 percent of the over 1,000 people who were infected with Mumps had received the MMR vaccine- a statistic which was conveniently left unreported by the mainstream media. So while the number of outbreaks occurs the medical establishment can recommend more vaccines to try to reduce the numbers, causing a vicious cycle fueled by misinformation and deception.

Natural Alternatives to Boost the Immune System
 
Healthier options to inoculations include eating organic food, increasing vitamin D intake and avoiding GMO foods, additives and preservatives. Diet is a very important factor in making sure that our bodies are able to work effectively. Foods high in refined sugars and other additives require our body to use stored vitamins and minerals in order to metabolize, increasing the production of hormones, which suppresses our immune system. Eating fresh whole foods and making sure to get an ample amount of vitamin D is vital in helping to strengthen the body’s defense system. In addition, allowing the body to fight off infection and only using antibiotics when absolutely necessary, will develop natural resistance.

Photo Credit: Header-Moketni

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. 

Sleep Like a Baby?

Whoever invented the term sleep like a baby obviously never had one! Usually babies are pretty good sleepers the first several weeks after birth, they will sleep anywhere, anytime no matter what is going on. But as the babies begin to get older they tend to be very particular about where or how they sleep which can be very trying for parents. Usually they will do whatever they can to get the baby to fall asleep, including driving around in the car until the child finally passes out or co sleeping into the school years.

Many crunchy mamas are very much into co-sleeping. I feel to each his own, but for me and my husband we preferred to put the kids in there own bed once they were around 6 months old. We wanted to train them to sleep in their own room allowing us our private time and reserving sleeping in our bed for rare occasions (sick babies or if they are really scared). This post is to share some of the sleep training tricks that have worked for us and have helped us to have some alone time once the kids go to bed.

The most important thing to do is to try to establish a routine. Kids love routine, it just might not seem like it at first. Over the years I have observed that when we stay pretty close to schedule the kids are in better behaved, not as whiney and fussy. But when we are on vacation or just off schedule it's Crazytown! Our schedule has been the same for about the past 3 1/2 years. We have dinner, then a little playtime/story time, then it's time for the bath with my secret sleepy potion, brush our teeth, and then we end with some songs and then down for bed. The sleepy time potion I use is an essential oils combination of Chamomile and Lavender. I put a few drops in the tub and when they were babies I had some in a spray bottle that I would spray on the sheets at bedtime to help calm and soothe my little ones.  (You can buy a blend from my online store HERE)

Sleep training is not easy and many parents despise letting the baby cry it out. It was hard for me at first because I felt so sad, as if I was abandoning my child. Or at least that they would think I was abandoning them. The first day or so I would would take awhile with A LOT of crying. I would go in every 20 minutes or so to comfort them, let them know that Mama was there, sing a song and then put them back down. They need to get used to being by themselves and that is a big adjustment. After all, they started in your womb and then paired with the few months of co-sleeping, they are used to being near the mom and dad. It takes time and patience but I promise you it gets better each day. After about a week or so they should be comfortable settling into their routine and it will all be downhill from there.

From my experience with two children I have noticed that anytime I have to try something new, whether it be sleep training, potty training or weening from bottle/pacifier it usually takes about a week or so for the hard part to be over. With patience and time it gets so much easier and the unbearable part is over before you know it. Just remain consistent and understand why you are doing what you are doing. Just because your child is crying and unhappy for a short period does not mean that you are neglecting or causing your child psychological damage. I personally think that it teaches many important life lessons and preparation for how to deal with changes in the future that are important to ones growth and development.

I would love to hear any stories, information or helpful tips about sleep training or handling any other milestone changes with children!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

5 best multi-purpose products

These are my top 5 Go-To products that are essential in my house. These items are cheap, chemical-free and best of all multi-purpose! Thanks to these 5 items I am on my way to saving money on homemade products that are a healthier alternative for me and my family, and surprisingly easy to make!

1. Baking Soda- I swear I use baking soda a million times a day! Okay, maybe not quite a million, but Wow is it awesome. I pick up boxes of it at the dollar store and if you regularly follow my blog you know that I use it to make cleaning products, beauty products, and even for healthcare.

2. Vinegar- Of course you should always have raw, organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar on hand for its multitude of health benefits. But in this particular post I am referring to just plain, white vinegar. I also get bottles of this at the Dollar Tree because it is a must have for homemade cleaning products and works wonderfully.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide- Another dollar store gem. This is great to use in a homemade toothpaste recipe or to whiten teeth yourself. It can also be used in cleaning products as a safe alternative to bleach.

4. Epsom Salts- Okay, last dollar store item on the list! Epsom salts are great for making a scrub, or making bath salts (not the kind that make you want to eat another's face!) It's also great for a detox bath and helps to replenish the body of magnesium.

5. Lemons- Hopefully you are lucky enough to have some growing in your own backyard, or at least know someone. Otherwise these are cheap and accessible at any grocery store. I love drinking lemon water to start my day and it offers many health benefits. Lemons can be used as a natural bleach alternative for skin, is great at removing blackheads and can be used to make homemade cleaning products.

A few of my past posts have been written using these products and are linked throughout this post. Be on the look out for future posts as I am making new things each and every week!
 
I would love to hear about your top 5 essentials or any ways that you use the above list!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Meal Plan Monday

I love the New Year! For me it symbolizes a new beginning. A time to reflect on the year past and decide what changes can be made in order to thrive. Like most people, I like to focus on improving the health of myself and my family. My goals for the new year are to make an even greater effort to eat healthy and establish a daily exercise and meditation routine. I have noticed myself beginning to slack towards the end of the year and getting caught up in the overindulgences of the holidays. Im very excited to experiment with homesteading, specifically fermenting and sharing my experiences with others.

After returning from a two week vacation I look forward to getting back to my normal routine of cooking and have decided to share my two week menu plan I have created for the beginning of this year to help spread some inspiration! I don't necessarily assign specific meals to certain days, I simply right down some ideas that sound good to me and then decide usually the day before or morning of what we will be eating for dinner. It has dramatically cut down on the stress of cooking as well as my spending because I only by what I need to complete the meals, and limit having to run out for missing ingredients.

The meals I have chosen for the next two weeks are:

Whole Chicken
Turkey Tacos
Stir Fry
Chili
Enchiladas with homemade tomatillo sauce
Lettuce Wraps
Lasagna
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Pizza
Baked Potatoes
Kale and White Bean Soup
Garlic Lime Shrimp and Quinoa

My menu ideas are main dish only, I buy whatever fruits and vegetables are in season and on special and make the sides accordingly.

Do you meal plan? I would love for you to share some ideas!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Frugal Friday- Mommytime!!

Being a mommy is a very giving, selfless job. I can hardly remember the last time I got a mani-pedi. Or a massage. Those days are long gone! Not that I'm complaining. I'm a pretty low maintenance girl when it comes to beauty stuff. Being at home with the kids all day working and homeschooling, most days I don't  even wear makeup. Or put it on right before I'm expecting my husband just so I don't feel like I've been a mess all day (Which usually I am, between dirty grimy kiddie hands and trying to clean, etc.!)

Thanks to our beloved Pinterest, I have found so many great ideas of how to stay looking good without having to spend time and money. This post will share with you some healthy, home beauty products that have amazing results!

Bentonite clay mask- I have a love affair with bentonite clay. It is a definite must have for the house as it has so many uses. It's a powerful poultice and makes a great facial mask. Rumored to have been used regularly by Cleopatra, as well as ancient Aztec warriors it has age reducing benefits and works well to restore youth and beauty. You can find this at most health food stores (not at Trader Joe's) or online. Most jars have the instructions on the package. You mix some powdered clay with vinegar or water (I prefer vinegar) and put it on as a mask. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes. The mask will get really hard and may even itch a bit. When you wash your face it will be bright red and pulsating for a bit. Don't worry! This is normal. The clay and vinegar mixture works to remove deep impurities. This mask works best when done once a week.

Microdermabrasion- The recipe is simple. One part water, one part baking soda. mix it together and scrub all over your face. Rub in circular motions paying particular attention to areas where you have blackheads or clogged pores. Wash it off and dry. Viola! Your face is bright and beautiful! Just like the mask, I try to incorporate this scrub into my weekly facial routine.

Teeth Whitener- Mix a small amount of water and a small amount of hydrogen peroxide into a glass. I like to use this as a mouthwash before I brush. I just swish and swirl it around for a few minutes and then brush my teeth. The hydrogen peroxide helps to brighten and whiten your teeth and is a common ingredient in most whitening products.

Detox bath- This can be a nice, relaxing little escape. That is if you don't have interruptions by crying children over someone not sharing, not wanting to go to bed, etc. For me it seems like even if they are asleep, the second I get into the bath some major disaster occurs! HA! Anyways, this bath can be done two ways, you can use either epsom salts or some of the powdered bentonite clay. Either one has beneficial affects for the body. The epsom helps to draw out toxins while also replenishing magnesium (a common deficiency in most people) while the clay works well to remove toxins and heavy metals. Detox baths help to stimulate the lymphatic system and cleansing our largest organ, our skin. Drawing out these impurities often is a great way to keep your body fresh and functioning well.

Now don't get me wrong, these in no way substitute a kid free, husband free, dog free spa pampering session! But I think most mommies would approve at how easy, cheap and accessible it is to do these at home on a regular basis. Besides, what about the fact that just one of these treatments at a high-end place would be probably double of what you can get all the ingredients combined to DIY? You can get hydrogen peroxide, epsom salts and baking soda all at the Dollar Tree. That right there saves you a ton!

Do you use any homemade beauty products? If so, please share!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Maniac Monday

It's Monday! Instead of waking up feeling inspired to start my week I felt tired and worn out! This past week of traveling back and forth to celebrate two thanksgivings with both sides of the family has me longing for nap time (Please oh please let my kids nap at the same time today! Mama needs it!) My house is a disaster, I haven't even begun anything in the form of Christmas presents and I'm really starting to feel the financial pressures of the holidays along with the fact that I'm making a lot less money now that I'm able to stay home with the kids as opposed to working full time.

As my morning started out rough I began to panic about how things such as how fast the year has gone by, how much more I would like to start contributing financially to the family, what to get this person and that person for Christmas and finally had to take a step back. Why all the stress? It's completely unnecessary and does no service! BREATHE! Everything is gonna be alright!

I took the kids and the dog for a walk outside and it was so refreshing. The air was cool and crisp, and the birds were chirping. We stopped at our favorite little spot for the kids to run around for a bit. As I just stood and watched the kids play I remembered something I had read over the weekend about Earthing.  Earthing is the belief that modern lifestyle has us disconnected with the Earth and it's beautiful energy, which causes us to be stressed out and vulnerable to illness.  Simply walking barefoot on the earth for a few minutes a day can absorb the energy helping to feel more grounded and connected. So I took off my Uggs and walked around barefoot on the cool damp grass for about 15 minutes. Will I sound like too much of a hippie when I tell you how amazing it felt. I could literally feel the energy being drawn up through the soles of my feet. I began to feel energized and motivated. I used this time to meditate with the universe and ask it to guide me and reveal what I am supposed to be doing. At the end of the short session I felt so much better about where I am in my life. It helped to answer some of my questions as to what I can be doing differently while also showing me that patience is key.

Being a mommy I don't get as much quiet alone time to be with just myself, my thoughts and the universe. Today was a great reminder of finding solace in a very simple way, just by walking barefoot on the dewy grass while watching my kids enjoy life. It helped me realize how I need to open my eyes and take advantage of moments like this when I can rather than being over consumed with the pressures and duties of everyday life. Instead of waiting till I get some peace and quiet without coming up with one of the million of excuses of other things I should be doing rather than meditating, I need to create more time to connect with myself and nature. I look forward to including earthing in my daily rituals and feeling more grounded and stable.

Have you tried Earthing? We would love to hear all about it!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Don't Fear the Fever!!!

No one likes to see their little babies sick and in pain. This post is written as to share some information on how to naturally deal with poor, sick little munchkins, specifically to handle one of the most commonly feared symptoms, a fever. It will describe how this indicator should not be feared, but is rather a sign that the body is doing what it is supposed to in order to fight off a sickness.

We recently had a hard week! My son got his first real sickness. It came just after our first trip to Disneyland and I think just being exposed to a large amount of people and germs just took a toll on his immune system. About 2 days after our fun, family adventure he was very fussy and felt VERY hot. I took his temperature and the thermometer read 102!

No Mama likes to see their little baby in pain and a fever as high as that can be pretty scary! Being that my son is my second baby, I feel like I've been around the block and no longer panic when my kids are sick as I did as a first time mom. From previous research, and a quick read through of my homeopathic pediatric books I researched some ways to help make life a little more comfortable for my little man. His symptoms were a high fever, a slight runny nose with clear discharge and he was very very weepy and clingy (but then again aren't most men when they are sick!) My poor boy wasn't his usual happy, smiley self. He wouldn't walk, wouldn't play and had absolutely no interest in laughing at even the funniest behavior. All he wanted to do was lay on me, or lay in bed and sleep. I put him to bed in a onesie, gave him a few Belladonna tablets and put him down with a bottle of almond milk with some Vitamin D drops. I knew the most important thing to do was to monitor the fever (you should contact your doctor if the fever gets to be 104, continues to climb or is at 102 for longer than 3 days) and to make sure that he was getting enough fluids.

I continued to monitor him every hour or so, and gave him Belladonna tablets whenever he seemed really miserable. I have always read that you should let fevers run there course. They are due to the body fighting off a virus and the heat from the fever kills the virus. Breaking the fever before the virus has been killed can actually prolong the sickness. This is why its important to let the fever do it's natural thing and just try to make your itty bitty patient as comfortable as possible. I also gave him a bath with a few drops of essential oils added, Rosemary, Lavender and Tea Tree. These particular oils help the body to stabilize the fever naturally. I offered fluids to him often, most times persisting to make sure that he didn't get dehydrated and made sure to include his vitamins (Multi and D). I could tell he didn't feel good, but he wasn't miserable and suffering and I could tell it was coming to an end.

On the afternoon on the 3rd day of the fever, it was much lower that day and by evening my son was beginning to return to his happy, fun little self. Because he had slept so much those couple of days when it was bed time he wanted to play instead. I let him stay up for a few minutes more to play and put him down confident that the worst was over. When I went to pick him up the next morning and saw a red, bumpy rash all over his face, neck and torso I immediately got nervous and sent a text to my husband. Right after I texted him I remembered back to when my daughter experienced these same symptoms around the same age. I referred back to my books and the internet and knew that he was suffering from Roseola. A very common viral infection that typically occurs in babies 9 month to 2 years of age. The symptoms are actually a lot scarier than the actual illness itself, you just need to keep an eye on your little one and notify your health care provider if you child appears to be dehydrated or the fever is over 104 or persists for too long.

Even with having an entire rash my sweet boy seemed happy and not too uncomfortable. I did give him some chamomilla twice, once before nap and once before bedtime just to make sure he was comfortable and had a good nights sleep to help his body heal. By the next morning his rash was almost completely gone and if it weren't for the slight pink, bumpy spots you would have never known he was sick as he was back to full energy and had his appetite back. Illnesses like this are actually very healthy for children and help them to build up their immune system to develop into healthy adults.

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Mommy Love!

Very few people would argue that there is a more important job than being a mother. It's rewarding in the sense that you get paid with kisses and hugs but its also thankless in the sense that you are literally on call 24/7 and personally responsible for another human life. Mom's come equipped with super powers beyond belief from being able to heal boo-boos with a magic kiss to being able to see through walls and know what their kids are up to.

Lately I've experienced and heard of other's experiencing a kind of war between working moms vs. stay at home moms.  From working moms thinking that being at home with the kids isn't a real job to stay at home moms thinking that working moms get it easy because they don't have to deal with their kids all day. Really? Why the drama?

Women need to empower each other, be there for each other, share stories, offer advice and sometimes just lend an ear. In the past 3 years I have had the opportunity to be a working mom, a stay at home mom, and most recently a work from home mom. I can tell you that regardless of the situation, it's damn hard! Stay at home moms hardly get a break and sometimes very little adult interaction, while working moms often feel guilty missing milestones and being away from their children for the majority of the day. The bottom line is that no body lives the same life and everyone needs to do what is best for their situation. Their should be no judgement! Just because you see a mom at the grocery store with her kids wearing workout clothes and running shoes doesn't mean you should start filling your head with thoughts about how she spent her morning at yoga and/or Starbucks while a nanny watched the kids, but more likely because when running after little monkeys all day, that is the most comfortable attire.  Most stay at home moms make a lot of sacrifices to be able to be with their kids all day and usually aren't perusing around town while "real" people work. Just as a mother running by the store with her kids after work while wearing her work apparel isn't choosing a career over raising her children, but rather making a sacrifice to be away from them for the good of the family to ensure that they have a roof over their head and food in their bellies.

The bottom line is being a mother isn't easy, but every mother I've ever met wouldn't trade it for the world! So ladies, love one another, send positivity and be there for each other! Work to build a mommy community and help each other out whether it be watching each others kids for a bit, getting together for play dates or even just lending an ear when someone needs to vent. Mamas are so special and need to be feel the love from each other!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Summertime!

With Summer upon us and being a work from home mom when I have to be home with the kids all day I love to plan to go to the park, pool or museum. It's not the easiest getting out of the house with two kids. As most moms know, even the shortest trips require some pre-planning. You need to grab diapers, sippy cups, snacks, hats, sunscreens, blanket, toys, etc. just to go outdoors for an hour or so. Although it can take a bit of work to load up the kids, to me the outcome is so worth it!

Getting outside in the sunshine and getting fresh air feels so good. I love it, the kids love it it's a win win. I get to unplug and take a break from email, writing, marketing, etc. I try not to be one of those moms on the phone while my kids and I are out and about. I like to reserve this time for us, after all, my kids will be grown up before I know it and they won't want to spend as much time with their mom so I try to soak up as much as I can.  Probably the best thing about getting out and going somewhere is the nap time that we get afterwards. The kids get pooped out and usually will sleep for 2-3 hours which allows me time to get done what I need to do, and maybe even take a quick catnap myself!

Living in San Diego there are plenty of family friendly activities that are free! There are a plethora of parks, our beautiful beaches, and Balboa Park has free museums on Tuesdays. Take advantage of what our beautiful city has to offer and explore the outdoors with your kids.

I have included some pictures of our recent outings!

The Typical Aftermath!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

My Baby Girl

I cannot believe how fast the past few years have gone by. How in the world is my baby girl already 3? She is so amazing, so full of life and very VERY strong willed. She is sassy and sweet, smart and so funny. She is very social and loves being around people, she loves being silly and making jokes and is just so smart. I feel so blessed everyday for my beautiful children. I didn't start blogging till a little over a year ago and have never written down her birth story, although the events of that day are still so vivid in my mind. In honor of her birthday I wanted to share my first birth story with my readers.

It was a HOT summer, our house had no air conditioning and I felt so big and uncomfortable. The scariest thing about labor for was the fear of the unknown. I had known for years before I ever got pregnant that I wanted to have a natural, drug free labor, but during my pregnancy encountered many nay sayers who told me I was crazy and that it was basically impossible. I knew that I could do it, because I am very stubborn and had my heart set on it. Usually when I deeply set an intention I try to do anything in my power to make it happen. I was still nervous about what to expect, how it would happen and most importantly when it would happen. Would my water break out in public? Would I wake up in the middle of the night? When was it going to happen? Being a control freak I really had to relinquish control and just know that when it happened all would be good!

We had just moved into our new house on July 3rd and I was due on July 24th. During the moving process I was so anxious to get everything done before baby girl came that I would stay up late unpacking and putting things away, setting up the nursery and sometimes just lay in bed with the anticipation of how much our lives would change. I didn't know what labor felt like and was having bad braxton hicks for weeks and swore I was going into labor about 8 times in that period. On July 18th I started getting sensations that felt like period cramps and just knew deep down that I would be meeting my daughter soon. That entire day I spent in bed, the cramps were irregular, they would come and go. There was no real rhyme or reason to them and by 7pm that night they had disappeared. I woke up around 2am with the same cramps, but they were more frequent. I watched the clock and realized that they were about every 5-7 minutes. My husband was sleeping and I got up and went into the nursery and sat on the birthing ball, doing hip circles and just breathing. I tried to walk around to see if they cramping would stop like they did the day before when I was experiencing them. They stayed frequent and lasted for about a minute. Once I realized this was most likely the real deal I decided to try to get some rest to save up my energy for when things started to progress and to listen to my relaxation prompts. I went back into bed and slept on and off until about 5am. I woke up and the cramping had gotten stronger so I thought it was a good idea to call the midwife. I was so happy when the midwife on call happened to be my favorite one that I had met with over the 9 months of my pregnancy. We talked through a couple of my contractions and she told me I sounded like it was still early and to call her in an hour or so to check in. I woke up my husband around 6:30 and let him know that it was time and that I was going to go in and get checked out shortly. I called the midwife back around 7 and she told me to come in to see how far along I was. We drove to the birthing center and she opened the door. She looked at me and right away said "Honey, I can tell you have a ways to go because most women who come in here are pretty uncomfortable and hardly able to talk, and you still have a big smile on your face!" She checked me out and I was dilated to 2.5 centimeters. The birthing center wants you to be dilated to at least 4 before they check you in. They usually encourage moms to be walk around Balboa Park for awhile and come back to get checked, but it was Gay Pride Parade in Hillcrest and the last thing I wanted to do was walk around a crowded park while in labor. I told her I felt like I was going to progress really quickly and she just smiled and said that "All women hope they progress quickly, but that labor can last a long time!" She sent me home and said I could be dilated at 2 for hours or days and to call her if my water broke or if things got significantly stronger.

Home we went, I laid in bed and listened to my birth affirmation and relaxation prompts some more. My lower back was really hurting so I hopped into the shower and just put my hands up against the wall and let the hot water hit my lower back. It felt so good. It really helped to ease the discomfort. I stated to do some of the visualization and meditation techniques I learned and had two VERY strong surges in the shower, to the point I got dizzy and lightheaded. I decided at that poing to get out of the shower. At this point the contractions were intense. I felt like I had to either throw up or poo, or both! I told my husband to call the midwife and tell her I needed to come in immediately. It had only been an hour or so since we left. He thought I was crazy and told me that she said it could take hours or days. I begged him to call her. He did and she said that she doesn't think that I would be that far along since I just left, but to come in and she would ease my mind and check me again. We headed back down to the center. This time she looked at me and said, "Well, you still have a smile, but you look a bit more uncomfortable, lets check you out!" All I kept thinking was 'Dear God, Please let me be dilated till at least 7 or I don't know if I can do this!" She did and she was shocked "Oh My Gosh! You are at 10 centimeters fully effaced! If your water broke you could have had this baby on the way over here!" When I heard that I knew the worst part was over! I knew I could do this! I had always heard that the dilating part is the hardest, once you get past that the worst has passed.

We filled up the tub and that was amazing. The warm water does so much for the labor sensations. I pushed when I felt the urge, I was able to eat almonds, raspberry and sip on orange juice to keep up my energy. So different from what I heard about hospital births and I loved it. The environment was so warm and homey, the midwife and nurses were so friendly and encouraging! I pushed for two hours and not much was happening. I started to get tired and frustrated. We all knew I had to get her out and soon. During the pushing process my husband had one foot on his shoulder, my mom had the other, the nurses had a sheet with two knots, one on each end, they held one end while I held the other and pulled on it while I tried to push her out. It was crazy, it felt so archaic, like something that my ancestors had done and I loved it!

After about 20 minutes of intense pushing I was exhausted.  Everyone went to talk in the other room while I was in the tub and they all came back with solemn looks on their faces. I knew something was wrong. My husband looked at me and said that I basically had 5 minutes to deliver the baby or I was going to be taken in an ambulance to get a C-section because they thought I was too tired to be able to continue pushing and wasnt progressing much. Don't get me wrong, if I needed a Cesarean I was prepared and willing to have one, but at this point I felt that I could get her out on my own. I yelled "Alright, lets do this!" The nurses and midwife looked at me and asked if I was sure. HECK YES! LETS GO! We moved me out of the tub and to the bed. I did a couple more pushes and her head was right there. I reached down and felt her hair, they gave me a mirror to show me how close I was and I got so much energy. After two more pushes I felt a pop and her head was out. One more push and I felt her body slide out and the next thing I knew she was on my chest. I was looking at this beautiful little girl that we made! I couldn't believe it. What an amazing experience. Such a Rite of Passage into womanhood. I felt so full of life, experiencing a true love cocktail that I had read about in the natural birth books. No one's description can prepare you for how it feels to see your child for the first time. It is a day that will always be one of my favorites, and it was a very special way for my husband and I to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary! Yep, you heard right, she came 4 days early meaning that this day will always belong to two people in this world who are nearest and dearest to my heart. So while my husband and I will never get a day dedicated solely to ourselves, this day will always be cause for much celebration!

                                      

Happy Birthday my beautiful Mia! You bring us so much happiness and it is such a joy to watch you bloom into this sweet little girl. We love you more and more each day. Love~ Mommy & Daddy!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

One year ago today.......

I can't believe my baby boy is 1 year old today! It seems like just yesterday we were rushing (Literally!) to the birth center to welcome him into the world.  I loved sharing my birthing story on my blog and catch myself reading it often even though the details of the day are still so vivid in my memory. That will always be one of the most favorite days of my life! Both of my births will, and I feel so blessed to have had such amazing experiences. I always get a sense of nostalgia around my kids birthdays. This beautiful rite of passage shaped me into the woman I am today and for that I am eternally grateful.

The day I found out I was going to have a son was life changing for me. I never knew I wanted a boy. The thought of it scared me!  I grew up with two sisters and the male species has always been confusing to me. For weeks I questioned whether or not I could be fit to raise a son? When I first laid eyes on him it all made sense. I knew why God had given me this beautiful baby boy. He was perfect and every day has continued to steal my heart more and more. Watching him and his sister grow this past year has been amazing and I cannot believe how fast it flew by! Mason, my baby boy, being your mom has been such a joy. I look forward to watching you grow up into a little man and sharing laughs, hugs, kisses and no doubt a few bumps & bruises. Mommy, Daddy & Mia love you more than the sun, the moon and all the stars. Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Welcome Baby Mason!

Well less than 24 hours after my last post we welcomed our son Mason! It couldn't have been a better day. The experience was amazing, which I think is always the case when you bring new life into the world. The delivery itself was a fast, easy birth just like I had been planning since the day I found out I was pregnant.  I literally prepared almost every day, in one way or another for the big event.

The labor itself was short and FAST. I woke up at 2am with contractions that weren't totally regular, but were about 5 minutes apart.  Some were close to a minute, some 15 seconds some 30. So I got up and walked around for a bit and sat on the birthing ball and tried to see if they would go away. They didn't disappear, but they were pretty mild so I went back to sleep for a little bit. I slept on and off listening to my hypnobirthing prompts and meditating with my mala beads and woke up around 5am still with contractions so I got up again to monitor them. They were a little more regular but still not that strong so I decided I would call the midwife around 7:30 because I didn't want to wake her up when I still felt so early on. Around 6:15 they started to get a little bit stronger and I thought it was a good idea to at least give the midwives a heads up and let the know I was most likely coming in today.  I spoke to her while I was having a contraction and told her I still felt I had some time to go and she agreed by my demeanor and sound of my voice. She advised me to get something to eat to give energy to the baby and I.

So I went into the room and my husband was shuffling around in bed and I told him I was in labor and probably going to have the baby sometime today. He was shocked and not at the same time if that makes any sense. So he ran out to grab a Starbucks while I went to get some food in my belly. So I had decided that I was going to make Apple Cranberry Walnut bread and sit in the tub while it baked and then when Mia woke up she could eat some, and I can have some before we head to the center. As I was making the bread (not anything fancy, TJ's boxed mix and adding chopped walnuts and cranberries) I had a couple pretty bad contractions.  To the point where I was literally on my hands and knees on the kitchen floor breathing through a contraction and then would stand up after to hurry and get the bread in the oven so I can soak to the tub that I had started.  I had mixed some essential oils that were supposed to dull labor pains and speed up contractions and had been excited to use them for weeks!

As I was walking to the tub I got this HUGE urge to drop the kids off at the pool, if you catch my drift! Tremendous pressure down under that most women who has gone through childbirth knows what I mean. So I called my husband and told him to get home ASAP and called my mom and told her to come get Mia immediately. At this point it is shortly after 7 am. The midwife told me to check in with the next midwife on call around 8 the last time I spoke with her. I called her up and told her it felt really quick and I was having an extreme urge to push. She told me she was worried that I wouldn't make it to the center. "I think you should get in the tub, and call the paramedics and have that baby there because I don't want you to have him in the car on the way here." OMG! EXCUSE ME LADY? WHAT?! ARE YOU NUTS!?! I almost died. "I definitely don't like that option. How quickly can you get there? We can make it!" She told me she could make it there by 7:45.

My mom and husband walked in the house at almost the same time. Marcus started loading the car with our suitcase that was by the front door and my mom started packing up for Mia and I headed to the car. We had just bought our new car exactly 2 weeks before and I did not want my water breaking in the car so we put a giant old comforter on the chair as some sort of protection.  We hauled butt to the center. The hubby was driving almost 100 on the way there. I was definitely feeling closer to having him but we were so close to the center. We pulled up and the midwife pulled up right behind us. She unlocked the door and I ran to the toilet. I sat there having a contraction and as my husband walked in with the suitcase and the midwife was grabbing my chart there was a loud sound that sounded like someone threw a giant water balloon off a balcony. My water broke. My husband couldn't believe how loud it was. I got on the bed for the midwife to check me and the baby's heartbeat. Mine was good, but the baby's was very faint. I heard her tell a nurse to call the paramedics in case they need to resuscitate the baby when he was born. At first I panicked. Then I realized that I was hardly breathing on the way over so scared that I was going to have him in the car. The poor little guy didn't have much air. I started focusing on my breathing and taking deep breaths and they gave me some oxygen. Within seconds his heartbeat was strong. When the paramedics arrived they midwives sent them away since there was no longer a need. There on the bed I had about 6 pushes and he was out.  We arrived at 7:45 and he joined us on the outside at 8:19am weighing 6 lbs and measuring 19 1/4 inches.

It was the rockstar birth that him and I had been planning for weeks. We talked about it often about how I would dilate quickly, my water wouldn't break till I was at the birthing center either fully dilated or pretty close and that he would be out with a minimum amount of pushing. The only thing that didn't go according to my plan was laboring and delivering in the water. I never even stepped a toe in a tub either at home or at the center. When I had gotten the tub ready with my special oils, I already felt so close that I was scared to get into the water and strengthen the contractions and speed it up anymore! I attribute my wonderful labor to all of the yoga, walking, meditation, and visualization I had done since the beginning of my pregnancy. Obviously, there was some drama involved, but I felt that I was prepared to deal with anything unexpected that came up and everything worked out wonderfully.

It was such an incredible experience and one that I will remember for the rest of my life, just as the day Mia arrived.  I am so blessed with two very healthy, beautiful children and will forever cherish the birthing stories that we share. I hope that the information that I have learned from my birth experiences can help other women in their future deliveries and empower them to have a positive experience that they are happy to share with others.

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.