From the featured blog, Mommyhood Exposed

My son Hunter was five months old when he was introduced to his first solid foods. I was beyond excited he was now at the age where he could experience fun new tastes and textures other than plain old milk. As a mom, it was a thrill to witness his reaction to each flavor. The tastes were so foreign and unfamiliar, yet stimulating to his sensitive little taste buds. I can still remember his face when he tried his first food-bananas. The look in his eye seemed to scream “more, more!”, while he smacked his tiny lips. In the following months, he would literally eat everything; from green bean casserole to the hearty vegetable stew medley, and everything in between. I can remember thinking to myself, “this is fantastic! He’s not a picky eater!”, and thanking my lucky stars above.

I neglected to knock on wood, however, because eleven months later, all of that changed.

I woke up one day and all of a sudden my baby turned into a toddler. A picky toddler at that. Oatmeal? No way. Green beans?

Forget about it. I began to dread mealtime. Everything I would place in front of him would end up on our carpet-yes, we have carpet in our dining room. But that’s a whole different story! Pasta, potatoes and hot dogs would all end up on the floor. I didn’t know what to think; he wouldn’t even try it. Just one look and he would wrinkle his little nose, look at me and start swiping it away on his high chair tray.

What was going on? I had to find out, and find out fast. Hunter was barely eating, and on top of that he was extremely picky, which eliminated healthy foods from his diet. He was actually losing weight.

So I made an appointment one cold December morning for the following Monday with Hunter’s pediatrician, Dr. Gardener. Once we were ushered in, I explained to him my worries. How in the past he would eat everything in sight, and now he never seemed interested-even in his former favorite, bananas! I went on to explain how I thought he was losing weight. I just wanted my little boy to be healthy. If there was a problem, I wanted to know how to fix it-and fast.

After I finished my tirade, he turned around and flashed a little grin. I thought to myself, “that’s a little strange. Why does it look like he’s smiling?”

Two seconds later, he enlightened me. Dr. Gardener patted my arm and told me what I was experiencing with Hunter was completely normal. Normal? How so, I wanted to know.

He gently explained to me that this is the phase where a toddler typically slows in terms of growth, as opposed to the quick growing and gaining state of an infant. He also elaborated how it was typical for a child to become picky around this age because they are becoming more aware of their surroundings-that even a specific food color may turn them off.

Well, that was music to my ears. Good news in that my son was ok, that he was still growing and developing, and that this wasn’t out of the ordinary. But now I knew I would have to start thinking outside the box in terms of mealtimes.

It was time for this mommy to get creative.

Hunter is 19 months now, and is just as picky as ever. He still won’t eat his carrots, and he turns his head at pasta. But he does eat, and he is thriving and developing just the way he should be. I’m no longer stressing over his appetite (or lack thereof).
Below are some tips and tricks I use with my son, which seem to be working out really well for him. Hopefully they might work for you, too.

Taking the sippy cup away one hour before meals-I have found this to work wonders for us. In the past, I would hand over a sippy whenever he asked. Now, however, I wait until he is finished eating. He comes to the table hungry (no belly full of milk or juice) and tends to eat more.

Organic catsup is our new best friend- Hunter would rarely eat vegetables if they were served by themselves. Now, we serve a side of organic catsup on the side for him to dip his veggies into. He loves, it, and I love knowing that it’s healthy. You can use pretty much anything as a dipper-yogurt, cottage cheese, guacamole or peanut butter. Giving them something to dip their food into is not only fun for them, but may also assist them into getting more into their mouth.

Pull the wool over their eyes-I often add chopped broccoli to mashed potatoes and spaghetti sauce, or grated zucchini and carrots into our weekly casseroles. Pretty much whenever I cook, I choose one vegetable to “sneak” into the dish. Hunter has no idea, and I can get my piece of mind that he’s getting at least some veggies.

Let them graze during the day- I firmly believe a child with a full belly (or at least a belly that isn’t growling with hunger)=a better behaved child. I let my son graze throughout the day, and set him up with an ice cube tray, and put little healthy snacks such as raisons, cheerios, apple slices, and cheese blocks in the little compartments for Hunter to grab when he wants. This has worked wonders because he isn’t constantly tugging on my legs asking me for “nacks”.

Appearances are EVERYTHING-we use cookie cutters for pretty much anything that a cookie cutter can go through-pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, pizza or hamburger. I bought a huge container of cookie cutters for $5, and I have to say its money well spent. Hunter is delighted by the different shapes, letters and numbers, and it gives him something different visually to look at during mealtime, as well an added element of learning.

And last but not least, RELAX! This can be a very stressful and trying time, especially if you are a new mom or dad. It obviously was for me. Just remember that your child will get all the nutrients he needs-and if he doesn’t eat very much for a few days, he will surely make up for it the next. By maintaining consistency and promoting healthy eating, you are setting your child up for a lifetime of healthy eating. And that, in my opinion, is the best gift of all.

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The March of Dimes and Consumer Reports have worked together to produce this helpful online guide. It includes shopping and safety tips for car seats, strollers, cribs, changing tables, play pens, clothing, bathtubs and more.

INFANT CAR SEATS:

NEXT: CRIBS

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From the featured blog, Lizzy Dear’s Life

It’s an age-old question: are in-laws a help or a hindrance? I know we’ve all heard plenty of negative feedback in regards to in-laws, and the role they play (or don’t play) with our children. But is the hype true, are all in-laws evil? I’m not one hundred percent driven to answer yes or no on that question. In my personal experience with in-laws, I believe that everything depends on the attitudes of all parties involved. Sure, we have flaws, and at times personalities and convictions don’t mesh, but I do believe there is a benefit to creating a positive relationship with in-laws.

My husband and I have been married for over 10 years, and I have experienced many highs and lows on my relationship journey with my in-laws. Throughout all the mountains and valleys that have been placed in our paths over the years, I have discovered that there are many benefits to bridging gaps in the in-law union. I am by no means an expert on in-laws or relationships even for that matter, but I have found a few things that can help create a more harmonious connection between myself, my children, and my in-laws.

• Communication is Key-
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it a thousand times, communication is golden! If you don’t say it, how will anyone know? A couple of years ago my children’s school had a special day to honor the students’ Grandparents, it ended up being a pretty big shindig, with refreshments and a program. I made the mistake of assuming that my Mother-in-Law couldn’t attend because she works at a school across town, and I truly figured she wouldn’t be able to leave work to come to the Grandparent’s Day Celebration at my kiddo’s school. When my Mother-in-Law found out about the special event, (from another Grandmother that attended) she was crushed, and understandably so. I hadn’t even made her aware of the event, I just made the decision for her by keeping the information from her. Keep those lines of communication open, even if it doesn’t seem that important at the time, always keep in-laws included on any upcoming events, news, etc that pertains to your family.

• Set Boundaries-
I believe this is a great way to keep things very clear, and balanced with in-laws. Before the birth of my last two children, I established my wishes in regards to interaction with the baby, as well as my comfort level pertaining to company in my home-in advance with my husband, who in turn helped convey those desires to my in-laws. As well, now that my children are older, my husband and I have both set forth our guidelines, and rules that we have in place for our children, and our in-laws happily comply.

• Respect-
Plain and simple, respect is necessary on both sides of an in-law relationship. I have great respect for my Mother-in-Law, she did raise my husband, and he is the guy I married, so she has to be pretty great by default. I have learned things from my Mother-in-law that I cherish, (for one-how to make cream gravy, and homemade biscuits) and I appreciate the fact that she has insight, and can draw off of life experiences, and readily share a wealth of knowledge with me. We’ve also established a respect for each other within the differences of our parenting views and ideals. It’s definitely important to agree to disagree at times.

• Don’t Abuse or Use-
I am guilty of expecting an instant babysitter, especially living in close proximity of my in-laws. It is extremely crucial to not assume that in-laws are available 24-7, at my your every beck and call. Even though in-laws are Grandparents, that doesn’t mean that they always want to babysit, and they really are “allowed” to have a life of their own, apart from grandkids. On more than one occasion I have found myself feeling irritated that my Mother-in-Law had plans, and couldn’t keep my kids overnight. Yes, I admit that I have a tendency to be a little selfish, don’t we all? So, I remind myself frequently that both my Mom, and Mother-in-Law are allowed to have alone time, and they can say no, without any guilt-trips from me.

• Treat with TLC-
No matter how old we are, it’s always nice to receive attention, and a little something special on occasion. Remember your in-laws on their birthdays, anniversaries, mother’s and father’s day, and any other special time that comes around. I am oftentimes busy, and overlook important dates, but it is imperative that we remember to recognize and pamper our in-laws. When my in-laws know that we care about them it can make the bond stronger, and show that we (children included) are willing to invest interest in their lives, as well as demonstrating our love.

As I said earlier, I’m not “the in-law authority” by any stretch of the imagination. I am still learning how to interact, and communicate with my in-laws on a daily basis. I do realize that there are some situations where in-laws aren’t involved, around, or even alive for that matter. But, for the situations in which we do have in-laws, let’s put our best foot forward, and attempt to create a lasting connection. So, what do you think: Are your in-laws a help or hindrance?

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From the featured blog, 2 Wired 2 Tired

“Wow!” “Congrats!” “We are so happy for you!” These are statements my husband and I heard over and over again when we told people we were pregnant with our daughter. Later, when announcing our pregnancy with our son, the reaction couldn’t have been more different. Most people thought we were joking. Some said, “Really?” and “No way.” Others even said, “You know how that happens right?” and “Was it an accident?”

Our friends and relatives responded so differently because our daughter was our first, and the pregnancy with our son was confirmed when she was only 6 months old. Friends and relatives were even more shocked to find out we planned it that way.

We wanted to have children close in age for a number of reasons. We thought it would be wonderful to have siblings that grew up enjoying the same things and sharing a bond. We felt the years spent changing diapers and staying home would be far fewer, than if the children were spaced further apart. Also, we waited until almost our 30’s to have kids. We’d been responsible and held off as everyone had instructed us to do, but then I started reading more and more about the difficulties of getting pregnant after 30. I was getting nervous and felt we were racing the clock. So, my husband and I were thrilled when the second pregnancy test read positive right around our daughter’s 6-month birthday.

Then it all set-in. There were many things I hadn’t counted on struggling with two pregnancies close together.

• The difficulty of carrying around one baby while pregnant with another.

• Changing diapers while dealing with morning sickness.

• Not getting near enough sleep during the second pregnancy because I was up at night with my oldest.

• I battled pre-term contractions daily for two months simply because my body wasn’t ready to have one baby right after the next.

• I was so exhausted from being pregnant and so busy with my daughter that I didn’t get the chance to enjoy the second pregnancy as much as the first. I had to remind myself to stop and feel my son’s movements and kicks.

I made it through that pregnancy, and my son was born at 38 weeks making our children barely 14 months apart. Now that he had arrived, we thought we did it! We have our girl and our boy, they’re close in age, they’ll be good friends, and we won’t be tied up with baby things for too long. Little did we know how extremely difficult that first couple of years is with 2 children under the age of 2.

The first few months of getting up multiple times a night with a newborn while trying to care for both babies during the day was exhausting. As a newborn, my son naturally had no schedule and napped multiple times a day. My daughter at this time was taking two naps a day. As a stay-at-home mom I was basically trapped at home all day, every day. I could never get out because someone was always sleeping. Someone was always eating or needed a diaper change and I was so tired I had a hard time keeping on top of it all. Getting into and out of the car was much tougher than I’d anticipated. Heading to the grocery store was difficult because my cart was filled with kids. I couldn’t do a big shopping trip with the two of them and had to reserve that for days when my husband was home.

As time went by and each child hit new milestones, life got a little easier. Once my son seemed to notice my daughter, she loved the attention. She was great motivation for him. He crawled and walked extremely early, all because he wanted to keep up with her. By the time he was a year old life started to settle into a routine. Both kids were sleeping through the night. We were working on potty training my daughter and we were able to get out of the house much more frequently which was wonderful for all of us.

After describing above how difficult it was in the beginning, I have to express the positives. My children are now 3- and 4-years-old and are best friends. And I often find myself thinking, that having them close together was one of the best things we could have done. I’m always catching the two of them holding hands, hugging, and telling one other “I love you.” I have pictures of them together that would make your heart melt.

Also, one of the most wonderful aspects of having the kids so close in age is that they play together for ages. All that time that I didn’t have to myself those first two years are being made up for now. They both have incredible imaginations and create the most elaborate stories. They love all the same things: the same books, tv shows, toys etc. They learned how to share at an early age and have found it’s more fun to do so and play together, than fight. If they do argue, within one minute they’ve made up and are playing together again.

It was so difficult those first two years, but it is so worth it now. If you are expecting 2 under 2, or currently have closely spaced siblings, and are stressed or worried please believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it will get better. It will be amazing and worth every minute of exhaustion when you see your two little ones laughing, hugging, and playing together.

Here are a few things you can do to help make life a little easier if you are expecting or already have 2 under 2:

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Name: Pierra
Age: 20 months
Hometown: Massapequa, NJ
Mom Says: “Pierra loves to pose and ham it up whenever Daddy pulls out the camera. Daddy has been taking pictures almost daily since she was born so she loves the camera!”

To show your support for Pierra, be sure to leave your vote below. To vote, just scroll over the number of stars you want to give. The more votes she gets, the better her chance of winning the Baby of the Year title later this year! You can only vote once.

About the New Parent Baby of the Year Contest:
Every week, a winning baby will be featured on our site. If they get enough votes, they’ll move onto our Semi-Finals round later this year to compete for the Baby of the Year title. The Baby of the Year will be featured on the cover of our magazine, along with other great prizes!

Enter your baby into this year’s contest!

Browse through photos of all our winning babies in 2009.

VOTE FOR THIS WEEK’S WINNING BABY BELOW BY SCROLLING OVER THE NUMBER OF STARS YOU WANT TO GIVE BELOW!

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By M. J. Horowitz

While nothing could be more relaxing and endearing than cuddling and cooing with your new baby, there are certain tasks that bring fear into the hearts of new parents. Both diapering and bathing are among them.

“Being a first-time parent, you are afraid you might injure or harm your baby due to your lack of experience. We have all walked in your shoes, and our children have all survived, despite us,” says Ari Brown, M.D., coauthor of Baby 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year (Windsor Peak Press, 2004) and a pediatrician in private practice in Austin, Texas. Relax.
With a bit of education and forethought, both bathing and diapering will be easy and fun bonding times with your baby.

Diapering 101

The rule of thumb is to change a baby’s diaper every few hours, or when it’s wet. So that’s about eight diapers or more a day, 56 a week…you get the picture. By the time your baby is a week old, you’ll be a pro. Here’s how to start:

Be organized.
Have everything—a diaper, wipes or washcloths, warm water, ointment, and a change of clothes—within reach. “Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free wipes are extremely gentle and okay for newborns,” says Anthony J. Mancini, M.D., associate professor of pediatric dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago. “But if your baby is prone to recurrent diaper rash, then water and a gentle cloth are better.”

Hold on.
Place the baby on the changing table or the floor, put your hand on her firmly, and don’t let go until you’re done. Talk to her in a calming voice.

Out with the old.
Lift the baby’s legs, take away the soiled diaper, and wipe front to back if she has had a bowel movement. “There is no need to wipe after a urine-only diaper,” says Mancini. (It’s a good idea to keep a boy’s penis covered with a washcloth as you remove the diaper and put on a fresh one.) Slide in a new diaper. Watch out for the umbilical cord—either use a newborn diaper with a cut-out notch for the cord area, or fold the diaper down—until the cord falls off at about two to four weeks.

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From the featured blog, Between Laundry and Naps

When my daughter was born three years ago, my husband and I did not know how much rest and relaxation we would be giving up as a couple. All during my pregnancy, we had heard those famous words, “Enjoy your free time now, because once the baby gets here, you will not have any.” People tried to warn us. They tried to get through to us. But it never, truly sank in……until we had our precious daughter in 2006. To us, free time meant spending whatever time we had away from our daughter, either together or separately, doing things we enjoyed and loved. This, in turn, was enough to spark the romance and keep the magic alive in our relationship. Before our child rearing days, we were always a care free couple, pursuing our individual hobbies as well as spending time with one another. But once our little Ava arrived, things in our relationship started changing. What made things even more realistic is that we started realizing how over protective we were becoming as parents. It was like a job interview every time someone offered to babysit for us. All of a sudden, planning an evening of romance and dinner turned into the Spanish Inquisition for babysitters.

By the time my daughter turned one, we were blessed to find another couple who we trusted to watch her. They, like us, had a son who was a couple of months older then our child. So we bartered our way into their hearts, offering to watch their child should they even want a night out and vice versa. The plan worked, until they dropped a bombshell on us with the news that they were moving back to their home state. This was a tough pill to swallow for my husband and I. We were, once again, left without a babysitter. I was determined to figure out a way to still “keep the magic alive” in our relationship, despite our shortcomings when it came to child care. I think my husband was equally on bored with this idea because before we knew it, we were using our creativity as a set of jumper cables to rev up our marriage.

Just to give you an idea of what we’ve been doing……

• In the mornings before he leaves for work, my husband will write little love notes on the dry erase board on our refrigerator. When I receive them, I write a reply to his note on the same board.
• I have been known to leave little love notes where he can find them (on the computer screen, in the current book he is reading, etc…).
• I will send cute little e-mails during the day to his work e-mail address.
• I make daily phone calls to him at work to see how his day is going.
• On the week nights when our kids go to bed early (around 8ish), we stop what we are doing and just sit in the living room and talk.
• We make sure to put our kids down for bed early on the weekends so we can have “movie” night and we take turns picking out the movies.
• He has been known to buy me little things when he is out and about. And I have done the same.
• We take turns getting up with the kids at night if they wake up so that the other person can get their sleep.

These are just a few of the things we do for each other during the week. Who knows? We may decide to not have a babysitter after all and continue with this plan. Our marriage is living proof that it’s the little things that seem to count. And I wouldn’t want to change it for the world. ☺

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By Bekah Wright

Childhood memories of family trips to the beach often involve long stretches of pristine, white sand where hours of sandcastle building took place and breaking for a cold drink meant merely running a few steps away to beachfront accommodations. Such idyllic daydreams still exist. One place they’re found in Southern California is the historic Hotel del Coronado (The Del).

It’s easy to imagine families from years past making return visits every year to the 122-year-old, red-roofed, Victorian hotel. The Del’s home – beautiful Coronado Island, California, just across the Coronado Bay Bridge from San Diego. Stepping things up for family convenience was a $150-million renovation in January 2008 that included the unveiling of the property’s new cottages and villas located within the private Beach Village.

Ideal for families, Beach Village accommodations graduate up from a guestroom to three-bedroom cottage and villas right on Coronado Beach. All have either terraces or balconies, many with a private day tub or fire pit. Inside larger units are gourmet kitchens decked out with a Wolf® cooktop and oven, Subzero® drawer-style refrigerator/freezer, Fisher-Paykel® dishwasher and cookware, dinnerware and silverware with which to load it.

A fireplace keeps things cozy in the great room while watching an after-dinner movie on the 42” flatscreen television. Once the tykes are tucked in bed, or cribs available from the resort, parents can slip into the decadent soaking tub for some twosome time. Afterwards, cuddling can be done in the master suite by the flicker of the bedroom fireplace. Of course, a 42” flatscreen television is here, too, for fans of late night talk shows.

The best way to start the day is with the complimentary buffet breakfast at the Windsor Club Cottage, an amenity available only to Beach Village visitors. Here’s it possible to sip fresh orange juice and observe surf conditions from the patio, warmed by a fire pit.

Afterwards, little ones, ages four to 12, can check into Hotel Del’s Kidtopia. Older siblings, ages 13 to 17, can sign up for the Vibz Teen Lounge. The year-round programs offer three-hour camps that cost $50 per child and $45 for each additional child, including meals.

On tap at Kidtopia are theme days like “Knights of the Round Table,” that include creating crowns and shields before embarking on a scavenger hunt or “Explore the Map,” during which kids tap into other cultures by painting boomerangs, making Chinese fans and playing with Native American rain sticks.

At Vibz, teens can play games like billiards, foosball and darts or show off their performance skills with karaoke or Dance Dance Revolution. The drop-by lounge is free to resort guests.

A camp that’s ubiquitous with So Cal’s beach scene is Hotel Del’s Summer Surf Camp. Open to ages eight through 16, the program offers surf instruction Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes lunch and a t-shirt. Aside from the camp, 90-minute, group lessons are available for $90 per person; 90-minute private lessons are $120 for the first person and $95 for each additional participant.

Spurring further creativity are the one-hour craft projects ($20 per child) where memory boxes are constructed, tie-dye t-shirts designed and sun catchers decorated. Grownups can get in on the action, too, during “Deck Rec” at the main pool with necklace-making, henna tattoos and Bingo.

As for date nights, kids have their own through “Kid’s Night Out” ($70 per child) with dinner coupled with “Holiday Mix-Up” and “Hawaiian Luau” parties. Summer evenings bring with them family fun through “Dive-In Movies” viewed via inner tubes in the main resort pool or s’more-making on the beach (also available nightly for guests who have their own fire pit).

While in the San Diego, there’s much to do that will appeal to all family members (see all the activities on the next page). On site at The Del are a plethora of outdoor activities to engage in as well. The boardwalk along the beach that stretches into a two-mile bike course into downtown Coronado is the place for cycling with a rental of a bike, surrey or deuce coup from PeDel’s Bike Rentals.

A course popular with golfers is the 18-hole, par 72 Coronado Municipal Golf Course. The perfect post-golf game wind-down can be had through the Fitness Center at The Del with a yoga or Pilates class.

Hitting the “high seas” can be done via vessels that range from paddleboats and kayaks to jet skis and wakeboards rented from the resort’s boathouse. This is also the spot to book a sunset sail aboard a 22’ or 36’ sailboat navigated by a seasoned captain. For beach action, equipment, like boogie boards and volleyballs can be obtained through the main pool or, during summer months, Cabana and Boardwalk Beach Rentals.

Speaking of swimming pools, Beach Village has it’s own private pool surrounded by cabanas from which adults can watch kids frolic with provided kickboards and water toys. The main pool is open as well to Beach Village guests looking for a cool spot to relax.

The ultimate in relaxation awaits in Spa at The Del with treatments like the signature Shell Coronado Massage using a heated tiger clamshell to release knotted muscles. The spa isn’t restricted to adults-only. Ages 13 and up can partake in treatments created with them in mind like the Teen Spa Sampler and Teen Salon Sampler. Those looking to get a makeover should book time at Yamaguchi Salon for a famed Feng Shui consultation with celebrity hair stylist Billy Yamaguchi.

Glammed up for the evening, there are myriad on site dining venues that call for celebrating. Just right for families is Sheerwater restaurant with its California cuisine (kids 12 and under eat free) or Southland Coastal Cuisine in the elegant 1500 OCEAN. Over dinner is a good time to plan the days ahead with time allotted for visiting the The Del’s shops, strolling through downtown Coronado and indulging in Sunday brunch in the resort’s Crown Room.

Of course, topping the list of “must dos” while visiting The Hotel Del is hitting the 28 acres of seashore and completing the most important of tasks — building sandcastles on the beach.”

NEXT: Things to do in San Diego:

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From the featured blog, Bright Autumn Sun

It seemed that in the days leading up to having my baby, and especially after he arrived, that there was always something for another mom to criticize or say that she did differently or better, because new moms believe that what they are doing for their baby is by far the best and most amazing thing ever.

I realized that being a young, new mom and having other mom friends was a little like being in high school again. The comparisons start early: Natural birth vs. medication; Formula vs. breastfeeding; Organic fabrics vs. regular; Making your own baby food vs. buying jarred…the list can just go on and on. Once the baby is born, it’s milestones this, milestones that! I never knew I could be so obsessed with when someone would decide it was time to roll over!

My mother warned me about this competitiveness between new mothers, and I promised I wouldn’t let it affect me, but I think it’s tough NOT to,
especially in this day and age. With computers, blogs, forums, and Facebook, everyone is always posting about what their little person did that day or bragging about an achievement. Having a blog made the bragging part easy, and I recall the first time I really felt competitive was when my son said his first word, Mama, at six months old.

Little Zachary received praise from my blog post and Facebook and even the pediatrician was impressed! Being proud of your kid is a pretty powerful feeling! But at the same time, having access to all of this information (blogs, Facebook, forums, etc) and seeing what people post about their kids can have the reverse effect, too, when you realize everything that someone else’s kid is doing that yours isn’t yet. It makes you feel frustrated and wonder when your child will do that, too.

As the babies I knew got a little older and developed so many new skills so quickly, I was amazed at the differences and advances in development between so many different babies of different ages, which brought me to a realization. Even though my son had first spoken so young, he also very quickly began to crawl, then stand, and at only 11 months, he took his first steps and pretty much took off running! I knew other children his age who were talking up a storm, but couldn’t yet walk.

Babies were funny like that, weren’t they? Just little people with different strengths and weaknesses, constantly in development. I wondered why I hadn’t realized these things before, and I wished that I had. Mostly, I wished I had paid more attention to my mom’s advice, so that I wouldn’t feel badly every time I read about a milestone my child hadn’t hit yet.

It dawned on me, then, that we all complete our journeys at some point. What doesn’t matter is how long it takes or in what order – what matters is that we arrive.

All in good time for my son. All in good time. I don’t worry too much about milestones anymore. I have a happy and healthy boy and I enjoy every day with him and every little thing that he does!

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Price: $18.00-24.00 {Each}
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