In this post, you will learn 5 ideas for how to deal with the terrible twos that actually work! We’ve gone through the two year old stage with all 4 of our kiddos, and I’ve interacted with tons of other toddlers as well. After going around the block a couple times, age 2 has become …
5 Practical Strategies for Dealing With the Terrible Twos (That Work!) Read More »
In this post I will give you my 12 best tips for surviving with 2 under 2. Our first 2 kids are 17 months apart, and the first few months with our second baby were SO hard. I basically felt like, “WHAT DO YOU TINY PEOPLE NEED FROM ME AND WHY DO YOU NEED IT …
12 Practical Tips for Surviving Life with 2 under 2 [Plus a Big Hug] Read More »
Today I’m going to outline a very effective plan for consistent 1 year old discipline for you to use with your toddler. From our experience of having 4 kids in 5 years, it’s never too early to start setting expectations and training your little ones. 1 year olds understand WAY more than we realize. It might …
How to Teach a 1 Year Old “No” – Complete Guide to 1 Year Old Discipline Read More »
I thought I deserved me time. Everyone told me I did. “You should get your nails done.” “Just buy yourself a cup of coffee.” “Just do a little shopping.” “You’ll feel better if you can have a night to yourself.” And all those things are nice and were said by well-meaning people. Sometimes even by …
It all started when I had a 10 month old. We had just moved across the country and my husband was in a crazy intense masters program. I was staying home in our tiny 3rd floor apartment, with no family nearby, no friends, and no car. AND we’d just found out we were pregnant with our second …
You guys. I have read a LOT of parenting books. And there are a lot of good ones out there. But this one is the best parenting book. If you have a kid or think you ever want to have a kid, this is a must-read book for you. It easily soared into my top 5 best …
Several months after our first baby was born, I found myself thinking that she was in my way. I had lists and agendas and time tables, and if her nap schedule was off, or she was teething or sick, the change was an inconvenience to me and my plan. Because I had plans, gosh darn …
I’ve been working on Emma’s baby book and thinking about what a newborn really needs. Looking through pictures from her first year brought me back in time… I was remembering the craziness surrounding the month she was born. It was a couple of our hardest months. There was a cross country move when I was …
My 3 year old started crying at 6:00 am. Hard. Sudden, piercing, loud screaming tears. Nightmare, maybe? I had just opened my computer to get in my hour of blog work before the kids were “supposed to” wake up. It feels like no matter how hard I try to thrive, I’m just barely surviving mommyhood with littles. …
More Than Just Surviving Mommyhood (Even When It’s Exhausting) Read More »
Sometimes, (okay, often)… I get these grand ideas. An idea of something we’re going to do, and how it will be so lovely and make everyone feel all warm and fuzzy. Take my make-shift toddler montessori shelf, for example. It worked great. For a couple months. Until the younger one could reach up and pull …
A Failed Attempt at a Meaningful Advent with Toddlers Read More »
In September, I wrote about choosing contentment in our home. Several people said it really resonated with them. And I totally understand why. We are inundated with information and ads and messages from every direction at every minute of every day. You need this. You need it now. Buy it. Read this. Go here. Go …
This is the cake I made for my one year old daughter’s birthday. It was from a box. I frosted it and put sprinkles from valentines day on it. Go ahead, I’ll wait for you to pin it. You can call your pin “epic boxed cake with canned frosting, valentine’s sprinkles, and candle.” I could use the …
A stay at home mom day can be very exciting. Between the laughter, tears, and poop, you never know what might happen. When Ben gets home and asks what we did, I often just stare blankly: huh? I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about all that intentional mothering stuff. Raising my kids up to love …
I am torn between a million thoughts and speechlessness. Between not wanting to talk about it and wanting people to know. I feel both simultaneously. It’s weird. Clearly I’m opting for the latter… For better or worse, I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve, and it’d be hard for me to carry on blogging …
So, Addie (our 2 1/2 year old) has become more and more conversational. We can really have basically regular conversations with her at the dinner. Though her information isn’t always accurate. Dad: What’d you do today, Addie? Addie: ummmmm I went to Home Depot and the zoo and played puzzles. Me: nope, we had a …
[Side note: I wrote this post on a more-whining-than-usual-day and now the last couple days have been great. Ben was out of town for a few days, and I think the girls feel it when he’s gone. I know I do! He’s the cheese to our macaroni, the cream in our coffee, the bacon to …
I recently wrote about engaging my kids throughout the day as a parenting goal for 2015. In that post, I alluded to some mysterious practical ways I engage my kids. Obviously, I do these perfectly every day. HA! Not. They’re goals. Things that I feel like the Lord consistently puts on my heart as simple ways to really …
ways I (try to) engage, converse, and connect with my kids Read More »
…the highlight of your day is a successful trip to Walmart with your kiddos. Addie got to walk for a little bit (before she lost the privilege by forging ahead into forbidden territory). But overall, her walking or running beside the cart was a success. Emma was happy the whole time. No one cried or …
I stumbled upon this article one day, talking about Pink (the singer). It wasn’t super interesting or anything, but one thing struck me. She was interviewed about her 2 year old and the phrase “the terrible twos” inevitably made it’s way into the discussion. The article reads: The Grammy-winner admits that her toddler can be …
Don’t Call My 2 Year Old Terrible: One Key to Thriving During the “Terrible Twos” Read More »