Well, 

I’ve been away from you, my friends, because it’s happened. Exactly a month after conception I became nauseous, and started vomiting. What are you gonna do? That’s the way the cookie crumbles. 

So, I’ve been suffering, and the symptoms may have been a tiny bit easier this time around, but the fact that I now have a toddler to take care of and a full time job, made it seem so much harder than the last. Last time I could lie around and play “dead”, tread my path to the bathroom and back, and wallow in my misery. So I looked around if I could find anything to soothe my symptoms. I found something on the internet (they didn’t have it in any of my local pharmacies) called Morning Sickness Magic, by Mommy’s Bliss. It is an over-the-counter supplement which contains Ginger, Vitamin B complex, Folic Acid, and Red Raspberry Leaf. All of these ingredients are supposed to ease the symptoms. The toughie of it was that you’re supposed to take it up to 4 times per day, and the relief of symptoms may take up to five days. What do you know, it took exactly five days (and not a moment sooner) for me to feel better. And as soon as that happened I got a cold. 

In the midst of all this I had called my doctor and begged them to prescribe something. My doctor prescribed Zofran, but to be honest with you, I still haven’t picked it up from the pharmacy since I got sick. 

So I’m getting over a cold, and toughing out the “All-Day” Sickness, and my son is throwing nightly tantrums. Seth has finally had it with Elija’s nightly “sing-me-bye-bye” at 3 a.m. So last night, I was “Ferberizing” Elija. I did it once before, and it was great, it was much easier last time, because he wasn’t speaking yet and didn’t comment everything I said. Last night it was plain torture. 

My husband grabbed his pillow and went to sleep on the couch, while I battles with my 22-month-old son. After an hour of my refusing to sing to him, cover him with a blankie, find his pacifier, or just generally listen to his hysterical sobs, I laid down in my bed (his crib is in our bedroom, since we have a one bedroom apartment), and he stopped crying and went to sleep. I’m reluctant to say that it worked, and I am dreading tonight will bring another battle. But It has to be done. 

The last time Elijah was able to fall asleep on his own. It was magic. But Seth and I went away on a Weekend Getaway and my son panicked. He would let go of us for a long time. I’ve tried to get him to sleep the “nice way”, staying with him till he falls asleep. But he’s crossed all borders, and he’s old enough to do it all by himself. 

Well, that’s the way it’s been since my last note. Please drop any suggestions possible regarding easing Morning Sickness or teaching kids to fall asleep on their own. All suggestions are welcome. 

Regards, 

Amy

So, 

I am all in anticipation of the queasy, nauseous self I remember being when I was pregnant with Elijah. My morning sickness began exactly one month after conception last time, and it lasted for almost five months. It was severe to the extent that my best friend The Toilet would get more hugs from me than my husband. All I wanted to do was give up my dinner (the little food that my stomach would allow me) and sleep. It was plain ridiculous when my husband showed up for our second month anniversary with a new toilet bowl brush wrapped as a bouquet of flowers, and I was ecstatic! 

Although we are reaching the one month mark, I am beyond the “due time” when it comes to sleeping. I doubt, however, that it’s the pregnancy, and I am very sure that it is the sleepless nights I am spending with Elijah. He wakes up several times at night and occasionally I (or sometimes my husband) must stay by his bedside for 30-40 minutes until he falls back to sleep. But that is a whole another discussion, one that is begging for advice. 

I am extremely hungry. As typical of me for sweets and dough (cake, bread, cookies, you name it, I want it). And I’ve been wanting butter. This is crazy, I haven’t had any cravings during my first pregnancy, just major aversions to food in general (although I never gave up the sweets). 

No one in the family (either mine or Seth’s) knows anything yet. His family will start jumping for joy, as his mother has been nagging me ever since Elijah was born to have another one, and they are all wanting a girl, since there almost all boys in Seth’s family. And Seth and I are almost sure that it will be a girl this time. We haven’t told my family, because they have all been dying for me to get back to work, and this means that I will be home for at least another year. The will surely be glad to have another baby in the family, but my mom is real big on The Profession, and according to her (and my two older sisters) I have a great one (and I agree), and I may lose my qualifications the longer I stay home (I don’t agree). 

Regardless, my first Ob/Gyn appointment is at the end of September and we won’t be telling anyone until at least then. 

Well, I’ve babbled long enough. I hope you guys have something to say about this. All comments and suggestions are welcome. 

Regards, 

Amy

Years ago education began in kindergarten. Now, most children are enrolled in some sort of preschool prior to kindergarten in order to adequately prepare them for the current level of expected academics. There are many kinds of preschool programs, but preparing your child for any of them has more to do with life skills than learning shapes or colors.

To prepare your child adequately for preschool, enjoy teaching them the alphabet or counting, but don’t forget other important skills. The social and developmental skills are much more critical to preschool success than anything else.

Potty Training

The most fundamental thing many preschools require is that your child be out of diapers. Some children are ready for underpants around age two but many others aren’t ready until closer to three or four. If your desired preschool requires fully potty trained students, you might have a bit of work to do – if your child is willing to learn.

Following Instructions

Preschools are more about learning basic methods of behavior such as following a schedule and minding instructions. To prepare your child for this, be sure you have guidelines at home. Children with few or no limits at home have a very hard time adjusting to a more structured setting.

Patience

Young children are not born with patience. Waiting for attention is a learned skill that many toddlers don’t possess, but it is especially important in a school setting where a single teacher might be dealing with eight or more children. Teach patience at home to help ease the transition.

Playing Nice

Basic social skills and manners must also be taught. Sharing does not come naturally to children or to many adults. Children used to having their own way or with limited social skills may struggle when they are suddenly expected to share with five other children. Play dates and Mommy and Me classes as well as lessons in manners and politeness help establish these foundations.

Preparing to Learn

Finally, a preschool is a setting where children learn how to learn. They may “graduate” reading simple sentences or counting to twenty, but more importantly they will know how to sit at a table, listen to a story and will have basic alphanumeric concepts. To give them an even better head start, encourage quiet time and structured activities at home in addition to basic and fun playtime.

Parents are busy people. They are constantly pulled in many directions trying to meet the needs of their children, their home and their jobs. Too often they fail to meet their own needs or those of their marriage. Maybe it’s time for you to take a time-out, too.

Relax

Taking time away from the family and pressures of the home allows parents to relax and work off stress. Taking care of children is innately stressful with so many constant worries and demands. It is also a job that you can’t drive away from at the end of the work day. Parenting combined with the stress of the office means that parents rarely have a chance to kick back and relax.

Taking a break from the family, even for one afternoon or evening if not a full vacation can have a tremendous impact on your stress level and outlook. Exercise or being completely away from distractions like the computer or phone can help you reach a state of well-being much faster.

Reconnect

The two partners in a relationship often spend the days and nights passing each other heading in opposite directions. There is little time to sit down together for a long conversation or a bit of romance. Marriages become more functional than romantic and this can lead to a loss of communication and affection.

Heading out on a date every few weeks, or even scheduling a date night at home after the kids are in bed can make a world of difference. Parents should be a team, but it can be challenging to present a unified parenting front and enjoy your family as a whole if your marriage is suffering or you don’t have time or energy to demonstrate affection for the person who helped create those wonderful children.

Appreciation

It’s hard to appreciate something that you are constantly working on. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” is an apt clique for parenting. Taking a walk or heading out for an evening makes you miss your children a bit and that absence may help you focus on the great qualities your child processes and, at least temporarily, forget about the tantrums and colic you deal with throughout the rest of the day.

Hello Everyone, 

It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to start writing about my parenting experiences and gather advice and parental knowledge from anyone who is willing to share. My name is Amy. My husband Seth and I have been married for almost three years. I am a 26-year-old stay-at-home mom to our one-year-and-nine-month-old son Elijah. We both love him to death and treasure every moment we get to spend with him. 

My husband is a workaholic entrepreneur, who wants to conquer the business world before he gets too old and runs out of energy. I am a licensed Physical Therapist. However, since Elijah was born, I’ve been staying at home. To make sure that I do not become bored to death, my husband suggested that we open some sort of a business that I can do from home. So he put my Photoshop and designer skills to use, and I work from home as a Graphics Designer. My passion and Full time job remains being a mother to my wonderful little boy. 

What had prompted me to begin writing was the fact that last week Seth and I found out that we are expecting our second child. It wasn’t a surprise, since we’ve been planning to conceive, but it was pleasant news, nonetheless. So this time around, I figured I’ll share with the “world” my experiences, in hope to gather some advice from other parents who’ve “been there, done that.” It seems to me that with my son approaching “the terrible two’s” I will be in need of all advice I can get. 

Thank you all and I will speak to you soon. 

Regards, 

Amy