What you need to have for your home birth kit in 20 items! Prepare for your home birth by collection this home birth kit.
How to Build a Home Birth Kit in 20 Items
I have been blessed to be able to have 2 home births now. You can read my two birth stories by clicking here: Annaleigh’s Birth and Aidalyn’s Birth.
Both experiences were amazing and there is very little I would change about either. I was fortunate to have 2 amazing midwives attend my births and felt very prepared for when the time came.
My first home birth was in 2010 (Aidalyn’s). I was able to have her in my master bathroom’s garden corner tub. It was easy clean up and a really a great experience. For Annaleigh’s birth we were in a rent house, so my midwife brought a large tub for me to use to birth in. It was even better because the water was able to be deeper. I wasn’t in the tub for more than 10 minutes though because she came so fast.read more
Angela of Grassfed Mama shares healthy tips for busy moms.
What is Pulsatilla anyways?
Pulsatilla, also known as pasqueflower or windflower, is a genus of flowering plants in the Ranunculaceae family. These plants are native to meadows and prairies in North America, Europe, and Asia. Pulsatilla species are perennial herbs with finely divided leaves and bell-shaped flowers that range in color from purple to white, depending on the species.
Pulsatilla has a long history of medicinal use, particularly in traditional herbal medicine. It has been used to treat various ailments, including respiratory conditions like coughs and bronchitis, menstrual disorders, and skin conditions. Additionally, pulsatilla has been used to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and digestive issues.read more
We have had a lot of fun on Grassfed Mama so far this year. I wanted to highlight some of our top post so far from March.
1) Best Brownie in a Mug
This is always a crowd pleaser. I created this recipe when I was pregnant and dealing with gestational diabetes. I was needing a snack that I could fix quickly during a nap and that I actually wanted to eat (crazy pregnancy taste buds). I would make this every day (and sometimes twice a day if I needed the extra energy).
When I was pregnant I would use almond butter instead of peanut flour. After I had my baby, I was introduced to peanut flour. I loved how I could make this brownie in a mug with the extra benefit of coconut oil. I get raving reviews from readers how they love it too. Hope you enjoy my Best Brownie in a Mug. (Sugar Free and Grain Free!)
Adapted from http://www.flickr.com/photos/kjgarbutt/5646262735/
The people have spoken, and they love meat! We love this Low Carb Philly Cheesesteak meal too, because it is so easy to throw together. I love to eat it on a salad with warmer days ahead. How do you like it? Casserole or Salad?
We are creatures of habit. We like to be able to predict what is coming next. Babies are no different. When they are learning about the world around them, it gives them security when they can predict and know that an action follows another action.
Routines are great for babies and kids alike. You will have less tantrums from your toddler and preschooler if you stick to a routine. The minute you change things up on them, expect some protest in the form of a tantrum.
Kids in general don’t like to be surprised. That’s why they like the same book or movie over and over. They are learning language and they are learning to be able to predict what is coming next. They find security in being able to know and predict.
Routines are very important at bedtime. This is a time that you are going to leave them alone and they need to know they are safe and secure. How would you feel if you were dropped off and had no idea when your ride was going to pick you up?
Letting your child fall asleep knowing that this is normal and that you will come and get them will help them fall asleep in a safe state.
Establishing a bedtime routine
When should you establish a bedtime routine? As soon as you are able to! Babies are learning from the moment they are born.
If you plan to do a bath time before bed, start it early on. Think about what steps you want to include in your routine. Is it able to be followed away from home? How long does it take to complete the routine?
Aidalyn had a solid bedtime routine in place by 6-8 weeks. We would swaddle her, give her a pacifier, her lovey (Charlie) and turn on her sound machine. She was sleeping through the night in her crib by 8 weeks. This child loves routine though. She never would adapt well when we weren’t at home.
Why My 3 Year old is Not Potty Trained, and Why I’m Okay with That
Potty training is a huge topic among moms of preschoolers. How did you potty train? How long did it take to potty train? Did you do it cold turkey? What did you do about nights?
We actually did start potty training Aidalyn around 26 months old. I was pregnant with our second and was motivated to not have two in diapers at the same time. Potty training while being pregnant was not fun. We did the 3 day potty training boot camp. She was excited about big girl panties. She was excited about getting stickers and chocolate.
Aidalyn did great during the day. She was showing really great progress for about 3 months. We still had accidents during the night (never once was dry in the morning and rarely was dry after a nap). We were never “completely” potty trained. We could leave the house and stay dry, though. We thought we were on the right track.
Then the rains came down (literately).
Our house flooded from an upstairs toilet over-flowing… I was 35 weeks pregnant. (You can read the story here) We had to move out of our house for about 3 months. During this time, I gave birth to my second daughter (read her home birth story here).
This whole series of events was too much for a 2.5 year old. We spent one month in a hotel room, one month in a rental house, and 3 weeks in Louisiana with my parents while our house was being worked on.
The Regression
Aidalyn started acting out in the hotel room. She was drawing on the walls and sheets with crayons ( she had never shown any sort of rebellion like this before). She also started crying about having to use the potty. She basically refused to use her potty or the hotel’s potty. She also had to start sleeping with the light on at night.
Using the potty got a little better once we moved into the rental house. We were back in big girl panties and using her little potty with lots of encouragement and rewards.
Then Annaleigh was born and that was another huge life change for a 2.5 year old.
Aidalyn’s personality is that of being a perfectionist, type A and in control. Her little world as she knew it was spinning out of control and the only thing she could control was #1 using the potty or not and #2 eating or not. We saw both of these issues expressed to the max.
We tried rewards, we tried charts… they worked for a short time. Then they stopped working.
Now she cries at the mention of using the potty. She will tell us at random times “I don’t want to use the potty.” She also says that the potty is scary.
I’m not saying that I don’t believe your 3 year old should be potty trained. I am saying I’m okay with my 3 year old not being potty trained.
Adam and I are both over achievers and like to put success on reaching goals.
When it comes to our children and their development…
It isn’t a race.
It isn’t something to brag about.
These are little people who need to be respected and given their own time to progress and grow.
Every child is different, despite the charts and graphs you always see.
Our job as parents is to help build the scaffolding to ease them into the next phase of growth.
I think that we would have been potty trained already if all the other crisis didn’t happen during the time of that developing skill. Who knows.
Right now, I’m focusing on changing Aidalyn’s inner voice. I keep reminding her that “The potty isn’t scary.” “Big girls use the potty.” “When you are ready, you let mommy know and we will use the potty together.”
I am going to be ready for her to show me that she is ready. I will help her as she gets over her fear of using the potty. Once that happens, I will be there to support and encourage her. But for now, I am waiting.
So to the mom who’s 3 year old isn’t potty trained, the mom who’s 6 month won’t sleep through the night, the five year old who isn’t reading novels:read more
Apple Night Night Magnesium Gummies – a delightful and effective way to introduce the calming benefits of magnesium into your child's bedtime routine. These tasty gummies not only make bedtime a treat but also support the natural relaxation process, helping your children drift into a restful sleep.
I hope you have been enjoying 2014 as much as we have. In Richmond, we have had two snows already! This Louisiana girl can’t contain her excitement. We started off the new year with a challenge for 2014 to be the best year for your health in our New You New Years Series. In the series I covered several health topics each week for baby steps for slowing moving toward a healthier lifestyle.
Hey there, creative moms looking to add a little extra fun to playtime! If you’re on the hunt for new ways to spark your child’s imagination and creativity, you’re in for a treat. Today, we’re diving into the wonderful world of pipettes—a simple yet versatile tool that can unlock endless possibilities for play and exploration. From art projects to sensory play and beyond, pipettes are a fantastic addition to your parenting toolkit. So grab your little ones and let’s discover 10 exciting ways to use pipettes for play that will ignite their curiosity and inspire hours of joyful experimentation! read more
Technology is amazing. You can check your mail, take a picture, call a friend and get all your Christmas shopping done in the palm of your hand. 
