Airplane Diaper Bag

1. Changing Pad/ 2. Ziploc Bag/ 3. Dirty Diaper Bag/ 4. Snack Cup/ 5. Sippy Cup/ 6. Snacks/ 7. Board Book/ 8. Small Toy/ 9. Teddy Bear/ 10. Outfit/ 11. Blanket/ 12. Muslin Blankets and Skip Hop Bag.

We just got back from vacation and it was the first time I flew solo with my daughter.  In the past, I had my husband to help me out.  So on this trip I needed to make sure that I had as little as possible so that I could easily get on and off the plane with my very active new walker.

These were our must-have items.   

Oh the Humanity (Humans of New York)

Do you follow Humans of New York on Facebook or Tumblr?  If you don't, you should check it out.

For those of you that don't know about it, Humans of New York is a photoblog of street portraits featuring everyday New Yorkers.  It StoryCorps in photos.

I love the posts because they remind me that everyone has a story and that you never know what the person standing next to you is going through.  Some of the posts make me laugh and others get me teary eyed.

Did I mention this project was so successful the photographer, Brandon Stanton, turned it into a book?

Here are some of my favorites:

How to Hire and Pay your Child's Caregiver

If you live in the Washington Metro area, I don't need to tell you how difficult it is to find child care for children under 3. I also don't need to tell you how expensive it is.

In our case, I called three different day care centers the morning I found out I was pregnant. The waitlist for each location would extend far beyond my maternity leave.  This mean that I knew that I would have to seek out alternatives to a group child care setting (nanny share, home day care, in-home nanny).  After taking into account our different needs, my husband and I decided to hire a nanny. 

We soon learned that finding and securing in-home childcare is a bit more difficult than going the day care route.  You are responsible for making sure your child is in the care of a trustworthy and dependable person.  You also have to take on the responsibilities that other employers have which means that you need to set up your own systems so that you can properly manage this employee. 

Here is a guide that I put together based on my experiences of hiring and employing our nanny.   

The Pumping Project (My Pumping Story)

Pumping in front of the Eiffel Tower with a hospital grade pump (NBD).  Photo via Rookie Moms

Rookie Mom's is trying to make pumping an accepted daily activity through its Mom's Pumping Project. They also want the world to see the craziness many Moms endure by encouraging us to upload our pumping photos with the hashtags #rookiemoms #pumpingproject.

The Pumping Project came about two months too late for me to post my own photos. And, I would've had some awesome photos to share with you all. 

The Drama Free Friendship Manifesto



Cartoon by Gemma Correll

Have you seen THIS blog post from Renegade Mothering.  I must say it is quite a complicated manifesto for the simple message it is trying to convey:  cut your friends some slack because we all flake out.

So here's my friendship mantra:

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. We all have our own struggles and I trust that we all do the best with what we have.  Sometimes life gets in the way. Don't worry about it, because I know we will both be there for each other when it really counts. I'm committed to cutting you some slack.  Hopefully you can do the same for me. 

Do you have words that you live by?  How have your friendships changed in recent years?

Picnic Essentials

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This weekend we had impromptu cocktails on the grass with our neighbors and their ten-month old. We brought an old blanket, a bottle of wine, roasted garbanzo beans, and toys for the kiddos. 

We had so much fun!

After our picnic, my husband made a list of what we needed so that we would be better prepared for the next time.  He is quite practical, so the list consisted entirely of things we already own.  I however decided to do some online browsing. 

Rachel Riley Clothing (The Prince's Choice)

Rachel Riley has been well known for her children's clothing for years.  But, Prince George has brought the designer to a whole knew level of name recognition.

Morning Entertainment (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's Music Box Theater)

Photo via Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Saturday mornings post-baby sure are a lot different.  If you are lucky, the morning starts at about 6:30.  You could spend the morning in your home biding time until the nap, but let's face it, staying inside can be torture for everyone.  Life's a little trickier now, but that doesn't mean there aren't things for you to do with your little one before noon.    

This weekend baby girl and I had a morning date to see Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's (BMO) Moo Baa Neigh at the Strathmore. The performance was part of BMO's Music Box Series for children between 6 months and 3 years of age. It featured a clarinet quintet and story teller Maria Broom. 

You might remember Maria Broom as Marla from HBO's the Wire. But this Saturday she was Miss Maria, the expressive and sweet storyteller, who led kiddos through 30 minutes of dancing and singing to Mozart as well as some classic barnyard tunes like Old MacDonald.

Miss Maria gets the crowd going on Saturday.

I would recommend this event to other parents for a few key reasons.

Mother's Day Tablescapes

There's something nice about hosting your mom to lunch or brunch in the comfort of your own home, away from the crowds and the chaos that is Mother's Day Brunch.  Here are some nice Mother's Day inspired tablescapes from around the web. Just be sure to do all the clean-up afterwards.

Oh and, you might also like: My Mother's Day Gift Guide, How to Throw a Mother's Day Picnic, and Real Images of Mothers.



Blue gingham tablecloth with a hydrangea centerpiece for the preppy Mom via Shop Sweet Things

Our Changing District (The Urban Institute's Microtrend Series)

Have you checked out the Urban Institutes's series on Washington DC called Our Changing City? It's super interesting for the on again off again data nerd that I am.

Handle with Karo's Mother's Day Gift Guide 2014

 

 

 

 

Mother's Day is two weeks from yesterday.   HwK's suggestions.

Take Our Children to Work Day (Oh the Cuteness)

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Baby girl is too young to come with me to work today, but I can't wait for the day I can bring her to the office. 

In the meantime, I really enjoyed seeing all the kiddos at work today.   My heart melted when I saw this clip on the Today Show this morning. Here are some other fun photos from around the country. 

Happy (belated) Earth Day (Renew and Reuse)

Happy (belated) Earth Day People! 

I planned on doing this post yesterday for Earth Day, but I've been tending to a sick child and husband. But, Earth Day is everyday.

One of the best ways to help the environment is by consuming less.  Children's stuff becomes obsolete to your little one in no time, so buying second-hand items for your kids is really a no-brainer. 

When I was preparing for the arrival of my little one I acquired a lot of her items second-hand.  For Earth Day I wanted to post a list of places where I had luck finding second hand baby items.

Where have you found second-hand items for your little one?  

Urban Family Dwelling

Did you see this article in the New York Times about increasing family sizes in New York City?  The trend is mostly related to dual income families in the upper tax brackets.  Families that a few years ago might have gone to the suburbs after the second child was born. 

There is a lot to this article.  The idea that a third child is viewed as a status symbol.  The fact that people with the means are choosing the convenience of living in the city over having more space and perhaps better schools in the suburbs. 

I don't live in Manhattan but I do live in the fairly urban city of Washington.  My husband and I have decided that we want to live in an urban area that is walking distance to the metro.  We like walking around our neighborhood and we like the freedom of being able to get to other places relatively quickly. 

One of the mothers interviewed in the article mentioned that staying in Manhattan allowed her to maintain her career.  This is something that I also thought about when we were deciding where to live after I learned I was pregnant.  I really felt that if we moved too far away from Washington, the commute would make working and mothering all the more complicated. 

I  feel fortunate we could make this decision because I like living close to work.  I can make a quick trip home in the middle of the day if my daughter is sick or if I want to go with her to story-time during my lunch hour.  The trade-off is that we live in a smaller space, pay higher taxes, and schooling is a little bit up in the air.  But for us these trade-offs are worth it. One wonders about those who can't afford to stay in the city and have to commute hours to and from work in addition to caring for their families. 

What factors did you consider when you were deciding where to live after you had children?

The Prince and His Shortalls

How adorable was Prince George at his first televised play date.  Stealing toys from babies, getting excited about receiving a huge teddy bear, snuggling with his Duchess mother, and those smocked shortalls. . .

The Prince's shortalls were designed by British designer Rachel Riley.  If you snag a pair, please do let me know, because I imagine they are beyond sold out by now. 

I scoured the internet for outfits similar to the Prince's.  It was pretty near impossible to find similar items in navy, but I did find some cute alternatives.

March Challenge (Drop Everything and Read)

March Challenge AKA HandlewithKaro's bookclub.

So my breakfast challenge last month was a success. Sure, I had one week that was a total fail, but it got me on the right track and now I'm eating breakfast at home out of habit.

This month, my goal is to read one book a week.  I've barely cracked a book since baby girl came to town, and I no longer want to use having a baby as an excuse for letting my brain turn to mush. I'm planning to read memoirs and other easy breezy books, because I'm not quite ready to read Tolstoy or Joyce just yet.

Last week I read Susana Sonnenberg's, memoir about friendships, She Matters. The short synopsis is: this book is like High Fidelity only it's about friendships between women, it is darker and it doesn't really have coherent start to finish.   Susan Chira wrote a wonderful review of the book in the New York Times (LINK). The longer synopsis is after the jump.

Stocking In (The Image Search for the Pregnant Job-Seeker)

A relatable stock image from Getty Images

So I totally missed THIS story when it came out.  Thank you Cup of Jo for bringing it to my attention.

Sheryl Sandberg and Getty Images teamed up to create a collection of of thousands of stock images that portray women and girls in a more current and empowering light. We all know what stock images are even if we don't use that term to describe them. They are the images you use in your PowerPoint presentation or your low-budget website when you want to show things like coworkers sitting at a table or a confident business woman. Let's face it, most of these images are sterile and convey no sense of reality.

This collaboration is much more than a victory for all of us who have to sit through PowerPoint presentations.   It is a radical step because it is going to change the images we all use and view, images that show us how to be and how to live. 


Winter Whites

Ergo Baby/ Baby CZ Flower Hat/ Baby CZ Cardigan/ Pippa and Julie Sweater Dress/ Gerber Organic Onesie/ Gymboree boots (Sold Out but similar can be found HERE)/ Cozy Chic Mini Blanket (also available in a larger size)/ Kissy Kissy Take Me Home Footie/ Petit Bateau Bunting Bag/ JellyCat Bashful Lamb

I'm trying not to let the snow and cold get me down.  Especially since it means a certain seven-month old goes out far less than she wants to these days.  But, the snow has me thinking that white looks awfully good on babies.

Babies, look wonderful in white. They look great in everything of course, but white just makes them look all the more sweet and beautiful.  What is more precious than a baby scooting about in a little white onesie?  Not a whole lot.

Now I understand some of you think dressing up your baby in white is a dangerous proposition.  Yes, they spit up, poo, and get into all sorts of things.  But light pinks, blues, and yellows also show stains.  So, buy some Oxyclean do a double wash and let your baby wear white!

Starting Solids

The little one is just starting on solids. As I've learned with almost everything related to parenthood each new phase presents its own challenges and presents you with new things you need. We were lucky to get most of her "solid supplies" as either gifts or hand me downs, but did purchase a new high chair for her.

Post Partum Rings

 

 

1. Aurélie Bidermann Rose Gold Lace Ring 2. Roberto Coin Pois Moi Ring 3. David Yurman Crossover Ring

4. Cartier Trinity Ring

I haven't fit into my engagement ring or my wedding band since late into my pregnancy. I want to get a ring I can wear until I get past this post partum weight hump and then either resize or repurpose it. The Aurelie Biderman Ringis by far my favorite but I'm not sure if I would like the way a thick ring feels on me all day, everyday.
Oh and it's about two more weeks until Valentine's Day (hint hint).