Squarespace Blog / "skull and crossbones"

MommyCon is coming to Minneapolis!

Hey local friends! You know we're lovers of MommyCon... and I am SO happy to announce that they will be heading to Minneapolis on April 18th. There is a huge schedule of events... great gift bags... VIP options... and in my experience they fill up fast, so hurry!

Want to go? Get your tickets here

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Mommy Wars Rant

This week I have seen two articles circulating the web that have done nothing but stir up drama in the mom circles... They seem to either be written by men trying to put women down or by another woman being sarcastic and defensive trying to make herself feel better for her own choices. One example is the article going around claiming that c-sections should be considered natural birth. The comments were FLOODED with so many opinions... some saying yes it should- either way the baby gets out... some saying no way... those of us that had unmedicated natural births vs. those choosing an elective c-section can't possibly be compared... and others shooting down women that have natural births saying you're just doing it for the attention of saying you were in pain, there's no hero cookie, etc. Just spewing word vomit and hate behind the confidence of a computer screen. One by one I have left SO many mom groups on facebook and communities on the web in an attempt to avoid this kind of drama. Its unfortunate as these are supposed to be welcoming places where we help each other through difficult transitions during pregnancy, after birth and into parenthood. But, instead they almost immediately with every controversial post from birth choices, breastfeeding/bottle feeding, babywearing, circumcision, etc. etc. become a war zone of women belittling each other... making themselves feel better by putting down the other. My friend Cheri put it best, "so many women viewing others as the enemy, when we are all the same. Equal, and breathing life into a little soul whether its pushing or pulling them across the threshold of two worlds."

My births have changed SO MUCH since my first experience... With Izzaq I did whatever they told me including early induction and epidural... it was slow going but easy and pretty much pain free... With Zavery - I was a little more apprehensive, but still went along when they suggested a later induction & then an epidural that didn't work... it all totally backfired and I should have stood up for myself. With Rozz (after the hell labor that was Zavery's) I stuck to my guns but had to be induced. This time having a natural unmedicated birth with the max dose of pitocin causing my contractions to come so fast and hard I couldn't even take a breath in between. I went from 4cm to holding her in 45 minutes... With this one - I will not be induced unless absolutely proven to be medically necessary/at risk... I DO NOT want pitocin and will not have an epidural. None of those has anything to do with a hero cookie - or bragging about taking the pain. It has to do with taking control of something that my body has been built to do... that hospitals keep getting in the way of. I have educated myself in so many ways regarding birth and decided that my PERSONAL CHOICE is to avoid as many interventions as possible... be it side effects to me or to baby... PERSONALLY, I think avoiding those is worth the pain... and when women bashing each other turn that personal choice of mine into some sort of contest for bragging rights it is seriously offensive. I wish that the women making comments like this would come out from behind their screens and think about it they have the guts to talk like that to our faces.

These mommy wars need to stop. Its sickening... if we would spend more time supporting and defending each other the world would be a MUCH better place. My personal choices don't have to be yours... your personal choices don't have to be mine. That is OK. I don't understand when it became this constant challenge and contest to be the only right one with the correct opinion. What works for one person may not work for the other and as moms we need to come together and support one another - NO MATTER THE SCENARIO. What ever happened to the days of saying "it takes a village to raise a child?" At the rate things are going the current mommy village is one filled with hate and competition and through that we will be raising our kids that we're fighting so hard to protect to be the same way. Teach love, teach support, teach understanding... and lets try to come together rather then push each other away. 

Rozzlyn's Birth - 10/30/2011

Rozzlyn's Birth - 10/30/2011


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Nuby Review Gum Eez, Teething Gel and Wipes

Nuby is no doubt always my go to brand for all my teething needs. They're affordable, washable, and lovable by both baby and mom. The newest one I had the opportunity to try out was the GumEez Teething toy and Gel. You'll also see I am mentioning the wipes again... but I'll explain why here in a bit. 

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The GumEez teether is so awesome. It looks and feels like a pacifier... but instead of a standard nipple for sucking, it has what looks like a mouth guard. Its meant to shape to babies mouth and be perfect for chomping down hard with those incoming teeth. 

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The teething gel that goes along with it is "a Fast Acting Pain Relief formula that is for both Day and Night. It is Benzocaine Free and contains All Natural Non-Toxic ingredients. Comes in All natural Tutti Fruitti Flavor!" Without naming names... the popular competition brand contains benzocaine... The FDA says using benzocaine products to stop mouth and gum pain can cause a rare and sometimes fatal condition called methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder where the oxygen that's carried through the blood to the tissue drops to dangerously low levels. In severe cases it can cause death."  On that note - stick to the Nuby natural teething gel... 

I personally believe there is no real age restriction on this set. It may be geared for babies but Rozzlyn is almost 3 now and loves chomping on it with her back teeth when they're bothering her. Then, combining it with the gel helps ease the pain... Now, my last but not least important mention is the wipes. I know we have talked about these before but I just have to bring them up again. Like the teething gel (and our new favorite toddler tooth paste) - its all natural and safe... these things are AWESOME. I keep them in my diaper bag and pull them out for dropped pacifiers, sippy cups, toys, etc. Since they're non-toxic they can drop, you can wipe, and then go right back in their mouth. For anything going into their mouths - these are a must have... With that, I finish up my teethig trio necessity list! 

Get social with Nuby!

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STOCKINGS ARE BACK!

Ask and you shall receive! Custom stockings are back and ready to purchase :)

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Each stocking is available in your custom print choice... along with a fuzzy minky cuff... and the option with or without the monogrammed name :) Get them while you can before I close them up for Xmas. 

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Friday, what's that?

Friday means...... snuggling on the couch watching movies until I fall asleep... husband wakes me up and tells me to go to bed... and the kids still wake up early demanding breakfast. lol *cheers to parenting*

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