April 19th, 2012
by: Kimberly Bowman
The difference between learning to share a life and how to be parents is stark. Getting married and starting out is a little like playing house. It will be like college but drinking from those nice glasses you registered for instead of plastic cups. Certainly making a marriage work is far more complicated than that and parenthood is much the same. It is not at all like college or playing house. When you become parents it is easy to let the taking-each-other-for-granted stage take over. This is a detriment to your future as a family.
While learning to be parents requires plenty of sharing, it is not the same as quality time as a couple. As parents, you will find yourselves on the business end of life – have you done this, did you get that, where is the baby, do we have any more toilet paper, can you get milk on your way home, God help you if you delete anything off the DVR list. This works and is necessary but if you let it go on too long, you will find yourselves struggling in the long run.
When you carve out time for yourselves as a couple you are recharging each other and the marriage much the same way the weekend works to enable you to return to work on Monday. Everyone needs a break, a light at the end of tunnel, some sort of reprieve. This loading up of the marital battery need not be hours out with a paid babysitter. Planning a grown-up dinner after bedtime, complete with conversation, will do the trick if done before the nightly TV zone-out. First time parents may be afraid of leaving their breastfed baby but she will likely make it at least two hours with grandma or a neighbor before desperately seeking mom and that is plenty of time for a coffee and a chat. It is surprising how little it takes to gear up for the next shift. This becomes increasingly important as your children learn to speak which will then be ceaseless forevermore. If simply going to the mailbox, let alone into the bathroom with the door actually closed, by yourself is enough to buy some sanity, imagine what a latte and a small café table with your husband will get you?
Remembering how this all got started is important. Take the small amount of time it requires to keep it smoldering. Some day it will just be the two of you again and as the chill of a quiet house surrounds you, it will be time to throw on a few logs.
Tags: babies, children, couple, family, infant, newborn, the Motherhood Center, transition
Posted in Family Support | No Comments »
April 12th, 2012
by: Meredith Stedham, RN, LPC
In January, I introduced you to my fictional daughter, Baby Hope, who was born on 01/01/2012. She is now just over 14 weeks old and it is amazing to see how quickly she is growing and changing! She has a smile that lights up the room, and she is beginning to practice vocalizing and making various baby sounds that can be very cute and entertaining. It is obvious that her vision is improving and she is now tracking objects and loves to lie on her play gym and watch the toys suspended above her. She has also started to learn how to grasp her hands or sometimes toys that we give her, and she loves to wave her arms and kick her legs when she is excited. While she loves to play while laying on her back or sitting up with some support, tummy time is still occasionally a challenge. Some days she tolerates being on her tummy and pushing herself up so that she can look around, other days she prefers not to have to work that hard and gets fussy if left on her tummy for too long. Baby Hope seems to be thinking about maybe learning to roll from her tummy over to her back, so we will be sure to keep the video camera ready for when she masters that milestone.
Like many other families with young babies, our sleep schedules vary greatly depending on the day or week. There have been periods of a few nights in a row when she seemed to be sleeping great and starting to get a good sleep “routine,” but then suddenly she will have a night when she awakens several times and wants to eat more frequently. In general, I have learned to take the extra sleep and naps when I can get them, and the pediatrician continues to assure me that over time she will eventually learn to sleep through the night. And speaking of her pediatrician, at the last appointment we spent several minutes talking about the major increase in her drooling. The doctor says that she is not teething yet; however, it is very common for babies to have a significant increase in the amount of saliva/drool they produce around 3-6 months. The saliva helps to mature the lining of their intestines, lubricate the esophagus, moisten their gums & lips, and it contains enzymes that will help to digest foods. We were relieved that her massive drooling is not something to be concerned about, and I tend to make sure to have extra bibs in the diaper bag just in case.
During the daytime Baby Hope and I have both enjoyed using the Baby K’tan infant carrier that I purchased from The Motherhood Center. We both love the snuggle time, and I appreciate being able to have my hands free to do a couple of chores while she safely gets to observe the world around her. It also has been great to use for our recent walks in the neighborhood so that we can appreciate the gorgeous spring weather before the hot summer days of Houston arrive. We are so thankful for our precious baby girl and are excited to see all of the new milestones she will reach over the next several weeks!
Previous posts:
Introducing Baby Hope
Baby Hope: Week 6
Tags: baby, baby hope, infant, infant development, Meredith Stedham, milestones, the Motherhood Center, Tummy Time
Posted in New Parents | No Comments »
April 10th, 2012
by: Mary Bratcher, Retail Manager
Here in Houston we all know that the heat comes early! Be ready for the transition with top of the line Summer-centric items here at The Motherhood Center.
We’ve got you covered!
We offer Doctor T’s Supergoop! It has our vote for #1 Sunscreen. Safely formulated for babies up to adults, Supergoop offers superior protection from harmful rays and has been recognized by
healthychild.org
for it’s excellence. We have 5 different sun shielding options; sun sticks, city serum, traditional pump, face and body, and the #1 Motherhood Center best seller- Sunscreen Swipes. Swipes are fantastic because they are in a wipe form offering optimal coverage, and portability that cannot be beat! Everyone here uses Supergoop exclusively!
In addition to sunscreens, cover that little head with bucket hats! Available in 3 adorable colors as well as infant and toddler sizes, they are a great pick for easy sun safety and we can personalize it by monogramming the hat with your child’s name or initials.
Get Out!
Enjoy the weather and get out for some fun! With our selection of snack bags and containers, going out is a cool summer breeze!
From the fun new company Boon we have adorable caterpillar stackers that allow for storage of 3 different snacks in one roomy container. It just goes in your bag or clips on a backpack and away you go! Also, we are now carrying the Itzy Ritzy snack bags and mini snack bags. Whether you are toting sandwiches or snacks, we have a size and adorable print just for you!
While out if there are “accidents” or fun watery surprises Itzy Ritzy also offers a large wet bag in super cute prints. Pick one up so that you have an adorable way to keep your other belongings dry.
Have Fun!
Summer fun is some of the best fun! Make it memorable with a Radio Flyer Wagon or Trike. They are great for learning to walk, helping in the garden, and enjoying the outdoors. Your fun will need a soundtrack, so pick up some Putumayo World music Kids Jams and some little instruments! Having fun and making music can be done outdoors and can even come in on the hottest of days.
Don’t forget to visit us here at the center!
Tags: Retail, summer, sunscreen, Supergoop, the Motherhood Center
Posted in Retail | No Comments »
