momaroo's Momaroo

Hot Deal Fisher-Price Little People Builders Classic Shapes Blocks Only $13.19

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:25:00 GMT

Head over to Amazon.com to save over 47% off on Fisher-Price Little People Builders Classic Shapes Blocks! The set is currently only $13.19 (regularly $24.99) with FREE Shipping on orders of $25 or more. If your little one loves blocks, this is a great price to pick these up at!

Little People Classic Shape Blocks delivers a colorful new collection of blocks featuring unique classic shapes
Set contains 15 new classic shapes, 15 single rounds, 15 single squares and 4 doubles
Bright colors and interesting shapes intrigue baby
Enhances fine motor skills as baby grasps and stacks blocks
All 50 pieces fit in the durable take-along bag

A Two Mommy Family - Grateful For Someone They Have Never Met

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:05:00 GMT

Many times I am so grateful to a person I have never, and will never meet. I am so grateful for a life I never really knew I had waiting for me. As much as my wife Alicia and I knew we were going to have a family and that we both wanted to be Moms, I had yet to really experience what was on the other side of those hopes and prayers. And one day, the anonymous donor we chose became so important to our life changing.

Being a two Mommy family, Alicia and I chose to use a sperm bank and select a donor in hopes of conceiving a child. We chose a fertility doctor and did tons of research. I met many amazing people along the way on our TTC (trying to conceive) path. Single moms by choice, husbands and wives facing the use of a donor, other two-mom families, all had something to share or advice to offer. One thing no one could assist us with was the very personal decision of choosing a donor.
Every facility offered something. If you went with this bank, all their donors have a doctorate level in education. Another bank prides themselves on their celebrity look-a-likes or upon paying for the service, their ability to closely match donors to the looks of submitted photos. Everything had a price, and regardless of the bank, someone could truly learn just about anything in the profiles of the donors. Personality testing, even their astrological sign. Alicia and I started our broad search after selecting the particular facility. We sifted through profile after profile; we knew we were looking for a donor who would remain anonymous, as that is what we wished for our family. Reading and searching, we looked at education, their career, allergies, and medical history. Some profiles stood out enough that we eagerly listened to the recorded interview with the donor. Surprisingly, just listening to some of the donors, we knew they were a “no” right away (as superficial as it may sound)!
We weren’t kidding ourselves that these were individuals who were compensated for their time and donation, but it was still important for us to find someone who seemed to have an open mind and came from a positive place or outlook on life. More Here...

**IT Happens. Both Literally And Figuratively In This Case... And In A Starbucks No Less...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:10:00 GMT

We've all been there. Found ourselves in a diaper predicament, no changing table in the restrooms, what to do?

Well, the cliff note version of this couple's choice, was to say screw it and changed their baby on the public couch seating area at the local Starbucks. For all to see and potential germs to spread. Neither the establishment OR the parents handled the situation with grace or respect so shocker, the cops were called.

I have deep empathy for the parents dealing with a loaded diaper and little options for changing it. Changing a diaper in the car, in the cold is never ideal and they DID probably think they could do it quickly and discreetly and DID plan to wipe up afterwards, but then a nasty barista allegedly tossed a towel in their direction and giggled amongst their barista friends. More Here...

Breastfeeding VS. Bottle feeding. Stop the Mom Guilt!

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT

Let me begin by saying that I am PRO breastfeeding. I think, if you CAN it's the way to go. We all no the pro's. The nutrients, the anti-bodies, the colostrum, the bonding, the beauty, etc. But just because I'm pro breastfeeding, doesn't make me ANTI bottle feeding. There are breastfeeding advocates and then there are breastfeeding ADVOCATES. I won't even go there.

But it's time. It's time we give mother's a break. A guilt free OUT from breastfeeding if they so choose that way. The health benefits of nursing are enough to make a mother who either chooses not to breastfeed or just CAN'T, feel like a horrible mother, do we really need to nail her to the wall?

I nursed my first born, my son for 8 months. I tried to nurse my second born, my daughter for four days and neither of us was having it. I knew the tools to get through the tough part; the pain, the bleeding and scabbing. And with my son, I was able to walk around topless, with lanolin smeared all over them, airing them out and icing them after and wrapping them at night. But, when I had my daughter, I was not able to take as good care of myself as I was with my son. Going topless with my 2 1/2 year old running all over the place and my 6 year old step son in the house was not okay and quite frankly, I didn't have time for the pain.

I cried for two days about what a failure I was as a woman. About how she's going to resent me later knowing that I took that time with my son. And I imagined massive ear infections and colds on a monthly basis due to the lack of nutrients and anti-bodies she would get. But she took to that bottle like she had been starving and I cuddled her close every second I could.

AND she ended up being the healthiest out of all of my kids. My step-son, whom was nursed by his birth mother had chronic ear infections leading to tubes being placed in there and later his adenoids removed. My birth son was luckier, but still suffered from the usual ear infections and colds AND had asthma and still suffers from allergies at 8. My daughter on the other hand, my bottle fed, sleeping through the night by 3 months daughter, has had three infections in her now, 6 years. She has NO allergies, no asthma and is as smart as whip. More Here...

Easy Cannoli Dip

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Want a little something all to yourself for when the kids are in bed and it's time for a treat? This cannoli dip is easy, sweet, and a perfect companion to a broken waffle cone, graham crackers, or by the spoonful.

Recipe Here...

The New Latchkey Kids. Bringing Independence or Sadness?

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

"Busy schedules of parents are increasingly deprieving their children of their company and hence, they are growing up cocooned in their own world." A study by Assocham Ladies League (ALL) shows that over 65 percent of youngsters between the age of eight and 24 get to spend less than one hour with their parents.

"This leads to a situation where youngsters become aloof, introverted, impatient and intolerant", says the study.

Parents are reaching home much later in the evening and leaving home much earlier in the morning and the consequences of this are that with the growing number of nuclear families, there is no one to look after the children in their absence, adds the study.

But do these families have any other options?

When I became a single mother, my kids were 1 and 3 and when I started to look for work, I found that Child Care is absurdly expensive. Even Part time. And having been out of the "work force" for so long and never really qualified to make much more than a teacher type salary to begin with, I was stuck. I didn't have any family near by and sure, my friends could help out with the kids here and there, but full time?

I realized that I would be spinning my wheels. I would be working to pay for child care. This didn't make any sense to me. The way I saw it, I would be working to make ends meet so that my kids could be raised by someone else for 8 hours of every day. I didn't want this and it seemed to me that I would almost do BETTER financially, NOT working. It was so backwards. I wanted to be with my kids. So, I found a way. I took on every odd job I could find. I catered when my friends could watch my kids, I stuffed envelopes for a marketing company, I worked for an Errand service and ran errands with my kids napping in the back seat, I was a secret shopper, I tired out new products online and gave feedback and I started a toddler Soccer class three times a week at the local Recreation Center so my kids could play as well. We lived in a one bedroom apartment that was rent controlled and had a pool. I slept on the couch and gave my kids the bedroom so they felt like they had a normal home like their friends. I made ends meet. I made rent and provided food. We played a lot of board games. More Here...

Angelina Jolie Reveals Her Brave Decision To Have A Double Mastectomy

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:40:00 GMT

In a very unexpected but inspiring revelation, Angelina Jolie writes about her recent decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy in a New York Times essay. After discovering she is a carrier of the BRCA-1 gene mutation, and had an 87% risk of breast cancer and 50% risk of ovarian cancer, Jolie made the brave choice to remove all of her breast tissue.

After losing her 56-year-old mother to ovarian cancer in 2007, Jolie wanted to ensure her own children won’t have to watch her suffer from the debilitating disease. “We often speak of ‘Mommy’s mommy’, and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me,” Jolie explains. “I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a ‘faulty’ gene.” More Here...

Baby Boom Bada Bing! Why You Are The Most Attractive When You Are Pregnant.

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

I was just having an early dinner with my friend who is 8 months pregnant with her first baby. We spent the majority of the two hours talking about how bloated she is and swollen and itchy and tired. She showed me her cankles about 7 times in under an hour and ate more than I have ever seen someone eat. When I told her that I had never seen her look more beautiful, she slapped my hand, leaned in and said, "Don't fuck with me." I laughed. I know how she was feeling and she hated me at that moment.

As we were getting up to leave, she bent down to pick up her purse, passed gas and almost started crying when she caught a look at her legs that haven't been shaved in over a month. I assured her no one was looking at her legs and helped her out of her chair. The grunt she made as she hoisted her body upright shook the table and as we waited at the front for her husband's To-Go lunch, she rested her back against the wall, spent.

Next to me was a 30 something, handsome suit guy. It was hard to not notice how often he looked at her, then looking away shyly when we would catch him. Her first reaction was to put her hands in her hair and make sure that her loose pony tail was in place. Then he looked again, more obvious and they held eye contact for a minute. I knew immediately what was happening, but she looked to me and mouthed "What the fuck is his problem?". Then he spoke to her, as if I didn't exist. "When are you due?" She seemed stunned for a minute and answered him, "July 1st". He seemed to light up. "That's why" He said. My friend stood straight, almost ready to attack, "That's why, what??" He picked up on her defensive stance and chuckled a little, back tracking, "No.. no. That's why you're glowing". I raised an eyebrow and smirked a bit and stepped back to let them have their moment. Her face flushed even more, her eyes sparkled, her hand fiddled with the charm on her necklace, "Glowing? It's called hot flashes." He nodded, as though he's hear it before. We watched him sign his bill, fold it up and put it in his wallet, grab his to-go bag and then he turned to her, "Well. Clearly you're taken and maybe I'm out of place, but I've never seen a woman more beautiful." And then he walked away.

I wanted to yell after him, hello? I'm here. I love you. Hello? But we both stood there stunned. Quieted. Then laughed like a couple of ridiculous school girls flirting with a college boy. "I told you." I said. She was beaming ear to ear as we started to walk out the door. I said again, "I'm telling you. You feel awful, but you look hot!" She stopped in her tracks. I stopped with her, almost expecting her water to break, I waited; "I have to poop." and off she went to the back of the restaurant.

It got me thinking back to when I was pregnant. I just felt absurd. Almost like a circus side show. But everyone, I mean everyone kept telling me that I looked beautiful. And that I had an air and an energy and a light about me that was just gorgeous. I always thought they were just being nice, over indulging the pregnant lady eating the gallon of mint chip ice cream or have it thrown at their face. But, I get it now. I see it in my friend. She is stunning.

When we are pregnant, we look in the mirror and see a round, puffy, blotchy body with big feet and coaster sized nipples. But what everyone else sees, is a full, voluptuous, shapely strong woman with a sweet rack. I asked around a bit to male friends and co-workers and did some research online to find out.

Why do we find pregnant women beautiful?More Here...

Today Is Apraxia Awareness Day

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:00:00 GMT

My oldest child has speech apraxia. I don't remember exactly when he was diagnosed, but we've been in therapy for almost 7 years. We've worked along side his speech therapist to help him form new sounds and then to practice that new sound over and over and over. Repetition is key for him. Repetition to the point that the words and sounds don't even sound real words and sounds. He's gotten better at pronouncing the harder sounds. So much so that the need for me to translate to others has diminished. It's bitter sweet.

More Here...

How Do You Protect Your Kids Without Scaring Them?

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:30:00 GMT

My kids are 6 and 8. They don’t know anything about Ohio and they don’t know anything about Sandy Hook. But, should they? And to what degree?

This past week they went to Hawaii with their dad and all of his side of the family for his wedding. I knew they would have an amazing time and be surrounded by so much family and loved and spoiled rotten. But I also knew, that it being a wedding they were also going to be meeting new people as well. A lot of new people. I had the usual talk with them before they left. Reminding them of strangers and what to do if they got separated from the group and how to handle that. But, how do I warn them about the NON strangers? How do I gently remind them that "Uncle Steve" is not allowed to take them back to their room or to the bathroom? How do I warn them, though I’m sure with great intentions, their dad’s best friend from college, "Bob", is not allowed to drive them anywhere without their dad. At all. Under no condition. What do I say, when they innocently ask, “How come?”

What I did tell them was, only that they were in a different state and there was enough family that I knew available to them that they shouldn’t NEED to be escorted by anyone else other than the people we already know to trust. And that, no matter how well their dad knows them or I know them, they are still strangers to THEM.

How do I explain to them without creating disturbing mistrust to everyone in their lives that we just can’t trust… well, everyone in their lives? The term “stranger” means just that. A stranger. Someone we don't know. But, technically, we "know" these people. It hasn’t occurred to them that someone they know or someone they trust could be the worst kind for them?More Here...