They Say Parenting

Top Christmas Gifts for Kids 5 and Under

(Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2018) 20 Comments

Here is a list of our favorite Christmas gift ideas babies and toddlers are sure to love. Whether you are putting together your Christmas list or have found yourself looking for a last minute gift idea, hopefully this list will help!

Gifts for Newborns

Teethers

Sophie the Giraffe is a favorite in our house.

Jewelry Teethers are great gifts for both mom and baby. Mom can wear them as jewelry and baby can chew them from her lap.

The Nuby Hanging Pendant Teething Necklace is another teether we know and love. This one is easy for baby to … read more

Times I Am Thankful for My Toddler

(Posted on Thursday, November 22, 2018) 18 Comments

In this season, we are reminded to think of all the things we are thankful for. Even though parenting can be a tough job, I know there are so many reasons to be thankful each and every day. Today, I am going to share with you the times when I am thankful for my toddlers… believe it or not, there are times!

Here goes! I am thankful for my toddler when:

We are literally walking out of the house and he reminds me he doesn’t have shoes on. Yes, this has happened… more than once.

When I’ve had a day when I’ve lost … read more

Top 10 Products for Toddlers on the Go

(Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2018) 26 Comments

Taking a toddler or baby out into the world is not always an easy task. You never know what could happen. Usually getting out of the house is a chore in and of itself. If you have tried putting shoes on a toddler, then you probably get it. And then, there is always a blow-out or an, “I have to go potty” right before heading out the door. This usually occurs once the said shoes are already on the feet.

Then, once we are out, one moment I could have perfect angels, and the next, one of the kids could be … read more

Fed Is Best

(Posted on Thursday, November 8, 2018) 10 Comments

As if we don’t already have enough to worry about while raising our children, we also have to deal with mom-shaming. I know you have heard the term and I am sure there has been a time when all of us have felt it—through words or eyes.

Formula feeding, breastfeeding in public, breastfeeding longer than the average parent, feeding packaged baby food… the list could go on and on. It is so hard to parent in a world which is so focused on what is “right” or what is “better.”

It is easy to judge when another parent is parenting differently than … read more

Author Interview: James Breakwell

(Posted on Thursday, November 1, 2018) 8 Comments

I had the true pleasure of interviewing James Breakwell, comedy writer, father, and author. His new book, Bare Minimum Parenting: The Ultimate Guide to Not Quite Ruining Your Child, is coming out next week! You may be one of his combined 1.5 million followers on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. If not, check out his pages. He’s totally relatable in this parenting world… and hilarious too! I am so excited to share this interview with you.

Tell us about your family.

I have four kids, ages eight and under, one wife, age don’t ask, … read more

Sometimes Strength Requires a Break

(Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2018) 50 Comments

“They” have a lot to say about moms being strong:

“A Real Mom:
Emotional, yet the rock.
Tired, but keeps going.
Worried, but full of hope.
Impatient, yet patient.
Overwhelmed, but never quits.
Amazing, even though doubted.
Wonderful, even in the chaos.
Life changer, every single day.”
-Rachel Martin

“Here’s to strong women.
May we know them
May we be them.
May we raise them.”
-Unknown

“Even when a Mother’s soul is tired, she finds strength for her family.”
-Life Quote Journal

“Being a mother means being strong, even though you know you’re weak. Giving them love, even when you want to be comforted. Most of all placing their needs before your wants.” – The Mom Life Uncensored

“Sometimes … read more

How Becoming a Mom of Three Has Changed Me

(Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2018) 4 Comments

I have become a daily coffee drinker. I know… I am sure you are wondering, What took you so long? But, it took having three kids. Now, I MUST have a cup of coffee to get through the day.

I have learned that being “stress paralyzed” is in fact a real thing. When you have three children with a need at the same time, but you don’t have three arms—I freeze and wonder, How will I get this done? It is impossible. But—this is key—I have also learned, it ALWAYS comes together in the end.

I hate the acne! I can’t believe how … read more

Baby Elizabeth’s Birth Story

(Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2018) 2 Comments

Everything is Going Wrong… or is everything going right?! It is all in the way you look at life.

In honor of nine months in and, as of today, Elizabeth’s nine months out, I thought I would share her birth story, or really the story of the first couple of months of her life. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t easy. And this wasn’t just because we now had three children to take care of at once. That was a challenge in and of itself, but on top of this transition, we seemed to face issue after issue. I will … read more

Or What?

(Posted on Thursday, October 4, 2018) 16 Comments

I’m putting the baby to sleep and she’s finally down. I go to put her in the crib and I awkwardly try to figure out how to lay her down—how to slide my arm out without waking her. I think, Maybe if I just slide it out ever so carefully, she will stay asleep and it will be okay? Have you guys been here before?

This maneuver makes me think of parenting in general. How often are we doing something ever so carefully to prevent something “big” or “bad” from happening?

Maybe if I just cajole her in this gentle way she won’t … read more

Moments

(Posted on Thursday, September 27, 2018) 16 Comments

“They say” live in the moment. Well… this can be hard when that moment is challenging… when that moment is difficult.

My day is made up of moments—a bunch of moments pieced together. Some moments are so happy that I may burst. In other moments, I have so much anger—even rage—that I don’t know how to hold it together… and sometimes I don’t.

There are times I find myself in a fit because my toddler woke up the sleeping infant. I was finally having somewhat of a break as the baby was peacefully sleeping, until my toddler poked her in the nose.

Then there … read more