10 Surprisingly Lifesaving Baby Products

There are some things you buy and never expect to use them as much as you do. Other things are gifts and end up being surprising lifesavers. Because I feel this is such an important and surprising list, I have to share it.

Oh for the calm inducing bear pillow!

1. The bear pillow - My grandmother gave one to Kiddo and while cute, I wasn't sure how often it would get used. This thing is one of the ONLY places Kiddo will nap without someone holding him. He also LOVES IT. He likes playing with it. He likes crawling over it. He likes playing with its tags. Seems random and strange, but a really great buy/gift!
2. Prefolds - Okay. If you cloth diaper then you know you'll use these things for your baby's butt, but I didn't know how many other ways I would use them! I use them for burp cloths. I use them to play peek-a-boo. I use them to clean up messes. Kiddo likes to play with them. They truly are a multi-purpose cloth!
3. Spoons - Yes they are fantastic at getting food from point A to Kiddo's mouth, but did you know they're teethers too? And drumsticks? And magic waving wands? Yes. Yes they are.
4. Natursutten pacis - Because these are just rubber, babies can chew on any part of them (and do). They are a teether, and a toy, AND a paci. Amazing!
5. Sophie the Giraffe - I opened this toy and honestly thought I was looking at an expensive French dog toy. But seriously, babies are like dogs. Kiddo loves that thing. From a very young age through now, he's found different ways to manipulate it and has loved it the whole time. So worth the money.
6. Tethers - I didn't realize how easy it is to lose baby stuff. It's got to be tied down. I have 4 of these things and most often people use them for pacis, but they are so much more! I use them on rattles and teethers. The best one? Booginhead. Hands down.
7. Coconut oil - It's a moisturizer! It's butt lotion! It's cloth safe! It smells like COOKIES! We tried all kinds of lotions and creams on Kiddo's eczema and dry skin, but this stuff has worked the best. It's antibacterial and antifungal. If we wanted to, we could cook with it. It can even be used as nipple cream! Because of its many uses, it really can't be beat for the cost.
8. Ball - I know. It's simple. It's a no brainer - but the thing is, your kid NEEDS a ball! I figured Kiddo would play with one, but his squishy rattle ball has been one of his favorite toys since he was 2 months old. He bites it. He shakes it. He chases it around the floor. It won't be long before he'll roll, throw, and catch it. So cheap...but sooo awesome!
9. Rubber duckie - This seriously surprised me. I had no idea Kiddo would love his duckie so much but he does. It is no longer just a bath toy. It is a teether. It is an all the time toy. He will race across the room to get to this thing. Seriously. Rubber duckie is the one.
10. Toothbrush - Every baby needs a toothbrush, but I didn't think Kiddo would love brushing his teeth so much. He really does. And the fun handle doubles as a teether/drumstick (sensing any trends here?). Everyone buys one anyway, but the caterpillar shaped handle makes a difference.

What were your surprisingly lifesaving baby products? Share them below!

18 Tools to Survive Active Babies

A few of my favorite things...

To survive an active older baby, you need special tools as a mom. Nothing can have just one use or be purely ornamental. Everything has purpose. Here are my tools of the trade:

1. A good hair tie or clip - because otherwise my hair will get pulled.
2. Stud earrings - because dangly earrings will get pulled.
3. A large purse - to carry my make-up, phone, wallet, sunglasses, tissues, pens, compact mirror, and extra toys in. Just add the kitchen sink.
4. Dental picks- ones with floss are good to use anywhere. Who knows how easily I'll be able to floss my teeth and these are a twofer!
5. A nice bodywash - I just got one that feels like I'm spreading silk across my skin. I might get short showers, but damn they feel luxurious!
6. Spray lotion- this new fangled product means I get lotion on my skin twice as often as I would otherwise (I.e. I avoid Kiddo meltdowns).
7. Spray sunblock - because otherwise I would never be able to protect my skin (I.e. helps avoid Kiddo meltdowns)!
8. Iced tea - cold, refreshing, and caffienated. You do the math.
9. Robe - having this to run around the house in is great when waking up and going to bed. The pockets alone are lifesavers!
10. Exercise band - I can workout anywhere with these puppies and I can't live without working out. Such a good stress-buster!
11. Nutella - It's dessert! It's breakfast! It's phenomenal! On whole grain toast I get a chocolate and nut butter fix in one at any time of day without the guilt. This is my new favorite food!
12. A large throw pillow - sounds simple and random, but this allows me to hang out with Kiddo, minimizes his fussing, and write (or play games on my phone) all while being comfy. Otherwise my lumbar region would need to be realigned.
13. Highlighter (or bronzer) - I've said it before, but I'll say it again; this junk is MAGICAL! When I feel old, frumpy, sleepy, or any of the 7 dwarves, I just put some of this on my face and viola! I look rested, and glowing! Every mom MUST HAVE this! Such a mood enhancer (oh, and you know, your face too!).
14. Wedge flip-flops - really any dressier yet comfy sandal could satisfy this one. But chasing around Kiddo takes energy. I need comfy shoes that look cute. Sometimes that's a tall order. Heh.
15. 4 in 1 Nail file/buffer - I don't have time or money for mani/pedis. I don't have the energy to deal with polishing my nails myself. There's so much effort in maintaining them and inevitably they'll get chipped 5 minutes later. But buffing my nails I can handle! A few minutes of work before going to sleep and I have shiny pretty nails for a couple weeks. No worries about chipping or chemicals and just one low price! Perfection!
16. Scarves - I love scarves. I've been a fan for a long time. They can add flare to a drab outfit or make an old shirt look new. They don't break when Kiddo pulls on them and they can double as a nursing cover in a pinch. Plus when I wear one, I feel fabulous!
17. A notepad - I might seem like a ludite, but I need this! I forget things if I don't write them down. Something small I can fit in my purse or something large so I can plan hostile takeovers (or just what to take on a trip) - I use them all!
18. Prenatal vitamin - Since I'm breastfeeding, I need this to feel normal. Yes, I eat pretty well balanced meals etc, but when I don't take my vitamin, I notice a big difference in my energy and abilities. This is a must.

What are your must-have tools for surviving an active baby or toddler? Leave a comment below! I'd love suggestions to improve and make my life easier too!

Nail Art: Staying Girly as a Boy Mom

I'm fancy!

Anyone who knows me knows I'm an active sort of person. This means I'm not very good at keeping my nails in good shape. I wasn't good before I had Kiddo and I'm not good now.

Instead of getting acrylic nails, I got acrylic paint under my nails. Instead of trimming my cuticles, I would rip them. Sometimes I'd just tear part of the nail off if it bothered me. To make matters worse, I'd nervously pick at any uneven portion. I've even been known to bite at ragged ends.

Yes, my poor nails were a hot mess.

They were.

I've been informed that as a mother of a male child, it's important to assert my femininity. Seeing as I'm getting ready for a big family event, I wanted to look cute. Two birds with one stone...or well three if you consider the makeover I basically got.

My soon to be sister-in-law did me a huge favor. She did NAIL ART! For those of you not in the know, that's art on your fingers! Whaaaaat?!?!?!

I've never had art on my fingers (I use my fingers to make art, not display it.). I'm notoriously bad at keeping nail polish in one piece. My longest chip-free stint was probably 3 days...maybe 2.5 if I get down to it. Because of my chip habit, I tend to avoid paying for any kind of anything on my fingers.

Well, I never would have gotten my nails ANYWHERE close to as nice as they are right now except my soon to be SIL is really good at this stuff. Really.

I'm hoping she goes into business for herself I was so impressed. She helped me tie together the color of my dress and the hair clip I'm planning on wearing. So...if you live in SB county, I know a really good nail artist! ;-)

In the mean time, I hope I don't mess them up!

Bi-coastal Baby Travel

Well I have like 5 post lying in wait (thank phone blogging and teething babies!). Now I finally have an hour or so to get some stuff out there and this one is sort of important, because I may or may not have access to internet for the next week or so.

You see, I'm going on a plane.

With Kiddo.

To Pennsylvania.

This week.

This guy in a small metal tube flying through the air... oh boy!

Jelly? Yeah. I thought so.

I am so excited to get out of California and visit family that I made a check list WEEKS AGO of all the things I'll need to have packed in order for me to survive traveling with an almost 9 month old. Weeks ago. And then I read it off to my mother and husband on separate occasions to make sure I didn't miss anything.

I tried Kiddo on Cheerios so we could have baby plane food.

I'm not leaving until Monday, but yesterday I packed as much as I could to make sure I had enough space... and well, just to pack.

You see, this is a big trip. It's 5 hours just flying time, not to mention the check-ins, security lines, and gate wait. Add to that the drive down to LA and the drive from the Pittsburgh airport to my aunt's on the other end and it gets gnarly. To mitigate the waits and keep Kiddo comfy, we're going to stay in a hotel in LA and then start our journey across the continent the following day.

Like I said, exciting, but also... well. Kiddo is almost 9 months old. He's an active little guy. He's messy. He's excitable. He's talkative. When he's at all hungry or tired, he can be a real bear. This is not the kind of thing most people like on a plane. I'm hoping he'll be in a good mood, smiling and laughing the whole way.

Oh, and I also hope he poops on Monday - not Tuesday our flying day. Yeah. Pray for "No Poo Tues." Seriously. Pray.

The Joys of an 8.5 Month Old

It's been a while since I gave a specifically Kiddo milestone update and a LOT has been happening. While some of it is a little nervous making, most of it spreads smiles and laughter throughout our house. So here's an overview of everything going on with Kiddo:

1. 2 bottom teeth are through and the rest are all in various stages of poking through the gums - even his MOLARS!
2. Kiddo says: mommy, mom, okay, yea, hi, hello, dada, kitty, cat, dog, I get and I want my mommy plus tries to say a whole lot more (working on grandma and granddad currently).
3. Has stopped crying as much and instead uses words (calls for me instead of crying unless the world is ending).
4. Shakes his head when someone says no or oops or when he means no/answers a question.
5. Tries to nod, but looks more like he's going berserk with head shaking instead. Should have this down, what? Next week I guess. :-)
6. Pulls himself up...everywhere.
   
7. Plays hiding and chasing games.
8. Follows basic instructions (i.e. come here or no or stop or pet nicely).
9. Tries to read his books (babbles aloud while looking at them).
10. Sings himself to sleep sometimes.
11. Has begun cruising - so far he moves between 2 objects or 3 feet (whichever comes first), but he's working hard at extending that.
    
12. Wants to stand without support (but can't)
13. Walks with assistance from adults
14. Tries to fit toys together (things that look like they go together, as well as ones that don't!)
15. Tries to brush his own teeth (not too bad at it either!)
16. Tries to crawl in the tub (much to everyone's chagrin).
17. Feeds himself (with a spoon it's questionable...with just food it's only slightly less so).
18. Wants to explore everything - especially unusual textures and cord/strap like objects. 
19. Likes to snuggle up to Daddy while sleeping (about a third to half the time).
20. Absolutely hates shirts over his head now.
21. Has specific favorite stories he wants read over, and over, and over again.
22. Attempts to have conversations and fluctuates voice as though asking questions or making statements.
23. Gives Mommy/Daddy/grandparents kisses.
24. Blows raspberries on Mommy/Daddy to make her/him laugh.
25. Gives Mommy/Daddy/grandparents hugs.

In short, he's just getting even more adorable. It's kind of ridiculous. He still loves watching people. He's still good buddies with Java the Cat. He's still cranky when he doesn't get a good nap and his hair always has a party while he sleeps. Oh, and most importantly, he still smiles when he sees me upon waking or from across the room.

Still, he's growing so fast. I don't want to miss anything! I feel like if I blink he'll be 25 and getting married....

It's important to remember to be in this time, enjoying the present. Even when Kiddo's sobbing or wailing or frustrated because he doesn't know how to do something yet, I know this only happens once. Every moment is a treasure. Every moment is a joy.

The New Fluff: Updates to Our Cloth

Well I got a few packages in the mail. WOOHOO!

From Amazon I got:
1 gallon Bac-out (not pictured)
3 Charcoal bamboo inserts
4 Thirsties hemp inserts
1 Planetwise medium size wetbag
1 Blueberry coverall diaper cover
1 Bummis whisper wrap (not pictured)
1 Bummis pull over wrap (not pictured)
1 Thirsties duo cover (not pictured)

From Nicki's Diapers I have:
2 Nicki's bamboo AIO
1 Nicki's pocket
1 Nicki's fitted cotton
1 Nicki's fitted bamboo
2 Imagine cotton flats
3 pairs baby legwarmers

Now let me explain my purchase choices. Bac-out is a magical stink and stain remover. I've used it on Christian's motorcycle clothes, Java's puke stains, and Kiddo's diapers. It's hard to find so it's cheaper to order a huge thing and just have it on hand.

I know I like hemp inserts, so I wanted to get a few of those to replace the bulky stuffing I have in my pockets (they still need another layer for them to work as they are just hemp). I wanted to try the bamboo because they are well loved. These bamboo inserts also have a layer of microfiber, so I shouldn't have to stuff them with anything additional unless I want to (for night for example).
The wetbag goes perfectly with our diaper bag (like...seriously matches...despite difference in brands) and will be used exclusively with the diaper bag.

As Kiddo is a big kid, I wanted a few covers that would work with his chunky legs. Blueberry coveralls have a reputation for working with bigger kids. I've had him wearing them the last couple days on the middle rise and there's plenty of room to add padding if need be. I may buy another in the future. The other covers, the Bummis and Thirsties I had in smaller sizes and used when Kiddo was little. They fit really well with Kiddo's unusual shape. I'm really excited to use them this time around.

As to the Nicki's purchases, I wanted to try their pocket diaper. I may be retiring some of my current pockets and so I will need replacements (because of leg hole size issues). I also wanted a few nighttime options. I can get Kiddo through a nap with his Kawaii pockets stuffed with hefty cotton prefolds, but night? I decided to try the AIOs for this purpose (wish me luck cuz Kiddo is wearing one RIGHT NOW AS HE SLEEPS!).

Because I finally will have covers that fit Kiddo, I felt comfortable ordering things that require them like fitteds. I personally lurve fitted diapers. They're my favorites, and I wanted to try a cheaper option than some of the others in my stash. If it works out, I'll probably get some more. They could be used for day or night, with added inserts etc.

Since I'm into variety and have covers to use, I really went far afield. I've been curious about using flats, so I thought I'd just get a couple to try out. I've heard they're very trim and they have the added benefit of being dirt cheap as well as fitting any size baby. Looking at them for the first time, they seem REALLY thin. I'm not sure how that will work with the Kiddo fountain, but we'll see. I have to practice a few fold configurations once they're fully prepped. If worse comes to worst, I'll use them as back-ups or pad-folded doublers.

I could have gotten another diaper... I could have, but I just hate pants when cloth diapering. Actually, I lied. I just hate pants. Baby legwarmers are kind of amazing. As I can't find my sewing machine in storage and have had some problems with getting the hand-sewn leggings through the wash intact (user error I think), I decided to get a couple pairs. Plus I got another pair free. Sweet.

Next cloth-diapering post I'll let you know about my prepping as well as the good, bad, and ugly of my new fluff.

Got any new fluff? Share some pics below! I lurve them!
 

Fluffing an Alien

If you read my last post, you know I have a problem. I need more cloth diapers. I want to be confident and cloth diaper in public. I want to confidently cloth diaper at night. Badly.

There are a few problems with this:

1. Kiddo has sensitive skin. He gets rashes whenever he stews in his own juices.
2. I have really bulky cloth diapers.
3. I only have a day and a half worth of cloth diapers that fit Kiddo.
4. I probably need a fourth wet bag.

I have some ideas about solutions to these problems!

1. Fleece and wool covers
2. Hemp/bamboo inserts/doublers
3. Flat diapers
4. Bigger covers

Of course, when you solve one problem, you create more (see: US federal legislation on...well...anything). These are not cheap (especially the covers!). The flats, while cheap in the world of cloth diapering, are not daddy friendly. There is a learning curve involving folds.

Aside: I don't know what it is about men and cloth diapering, but for some reason hook and loop pre-stuffed pockets and all-in-ones are the only things dads feel comfortable using.

So what's a girl to do? Well, I talked with Christian and finally decided on a path to correcting our cloth diaper situation. The result was two larger orders of a variety items from different retailers. Unfortunately there is no local retailer of cloth diapers (How poopy is that?! Don't. Say. Anything.). This means I had the luxury of shopping online. My first order was from Amazon, because they have retailers from all over selling there. Usually I can get the best price, and even if they don't have exactly what I'm looking for (specialty items generally aren't available on Amazon) they have *most* things.

I didn't want to pay for shipping from a thousand different places, so I took my time deciding what other retailer I wanted to patronize. In the end, I decided on Nicki's Diapers because their brand is very well respected and much more economical for the materials involved (plus they have some hard to find items and daily sale awesomeness!).

Rather than going home, I went big on these orders. I researched and I read reviews and I compared my own experience with cloth. When I get my fluff in the mail I'll take some pics and explain the reasoning behind my purchases because I think others will find it helpful (and they're coming on different days...so it'll be like Christmas for a week!).

What do you like to use for cloth diapering? What have been your concerns with your stash? Stay tuned for more adventures in fluffing an alien!

Updating Fluff

Oh for the days of smaller butts!

Everyone always has questions about cloth diapers. So to contribute to general knowledge and all that, I'll share what I know.

Firstly, here is my current stash:
7 Kawaii pockets
1 Bumgenius pocket
2 Babykicks pockets (each w/hemp/microfiber insert)
3 Thirsties all-in-ones
2 Motherease all-in-ones
4 Prowraps (note: These don't really fit Kiddo's thighs any more so I question including them at all in this list.).
1 Kushies fitted diaper
1 Kissaluvs contour
1 Kissaluvs fitted diaper
2 Babykicks hemp prefolds
1 Babykick premium hemp insert
18 cotton prefolds (too small to wear except padfolded/used as pocket stuffing)
10 Bummis fleece liners
A bagillion microfiber inserts (I don't use bc Kiddo is so active they ALWAYS result in compression leaks even when used with prefolds)
3 Snappis
2 Kanga medium wetbags
1 Planetwise large wetbag

Let's go over the pros in my stash: The usable diapers I have can be used by anyone. Grandparents can easily put Kiddo in the pockets and AIOs. Daddy is confident in putting these on Kiddo. Family members like them so much, they even become choosey about which colors they put on (have to match Kiddo's outfit!). And these things are good...however...

If you know anything about cloth, you know I have some problems with my stash. I have 5 diapers I can't really use (even though they are my current FAVORITES) because I don't have covers to go over them. I also don't really have a night/nap solution. AND I don't have enough diapers.

Cloth diapers, with the exception of flats and one-size (sort of), must be sized. I had a great stash for the first 3 months of Kiddo's life and then I started seeing it whittle away as he grew. Some great covers suddenly were too small. My prefolds barely fit around his waist and thighs much too quickly.

I've learned a few things about cloth and I would have changed some purchases knowing what I do now, lessons which I will graciously share.

I love hemp. Hemp is where it's at for heavy wetting. Mixing hemp with a prefold or microfiber is winning. Spending a bit more on a diaper or cover that will get used longer is okay. Fitted diapers are a great compromise between prefolds and pockets. I really love Motherease - it's an unsung hero in cloth, but there you go. I like to try things out. It's addicting. Hook and loop closures work best for us because of Kiddo's kind of an odd size. Cloth is easier for older babies because they poop less, but when they do, a sprayer or scraping implement better be close by. Cloth diapering is addicting.

I have to confess, thinking about cloth diapering makes me want to have another kid...just so I can do cloth from the beginning and revamp my stash. That's totally a normal response...right?

In my next CDing post I'll share what changes/improvements I would/will/have make/made to my older baby stash as well as my wish list. Stay tuned!

What's in your stash? What are some lessons you've learned about cloth diapering? What are some changes you'd make? Leave a comment below!

Happy Mother's Day!

My second week on the job.

First and foremost, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Secondly, I just published two new books for new moms, so be sure to check them out here or click on their cover images to your left.

Thirdly, it's my first Mother's Day, and so I thought it would be worth reflecting on the lessons I've learned over the past year.

Being a parent is actually the hardest job in the world. You spend a ridiculous amount of time, energy, and resources into someone without knowing if you'll get any return on your investment. There is little thanks, no guarantee they'll turn out "okay," and it's impossible to get a full night's sleep ever again. It's a 24/7, 110% effort required kind of gig. If this job was pitched to you, you'd turn it down. Really.

Being a mother is weird. If you're a good one, you can't help but think about your baby. Even if you're consciously trying to think about other stuff, baby is always in the back of your mind. Always.

Becoming a mother completely changes your perspective on the world. Suddenly everything is weighed on this scale: helpful or hurtful to baby. You're more responsible. Things are more urgent. People screwing up their lives make you want to nag them (maybe they need more mothering!). Also, you empathize with good TV and movie moms - always.

When you're away from baby (even for an hour), and return, you feel guilty for ever having left. Maybe you missed something important! Baby needs you!

Whatever you do impacts your child. Even your food choices, exercise regime, clothing, passion, aspirations, and hobbies affect them. How you choose to talk to them impacts what baggage they'll have as adults. Your relationships shape how theirs will be (Codependent? Abusive flaming mess? Pleasantville functional? You kind of decide.).

Children grow up fast. In a heartbeat they're making their own decisions. Even if you do everything right, they're their own people. They will decide to mess up some times, and other times they'll decide to be even more amazing than you ever imagined.

Everyone has advice about parenting to share. It's actually good to hear them out (especially friends and family). They have experience. It's worth listening to them. Sometimes their advice will be really helpful and other times just smile nod and do what you need to do. Still, listen to them. It's worth hearing how their parenting stories played out. It will help yours.

No one is perfect. Moms make mistakes. The thing is, we're biologically programmed to focus on our babies. Even when we make mistakes, we'll make up for them when we're good moms. Everything we do is for our babies. Really. Even drinking the occasional glass of wine or watching a shoot em up movie (a girl needs to escape every now and then!) is for our babies.

So, if you are a mom, let someone else take care of you today. If you're the partner of one, or have one - do something special for her today. She totally deserves it.

P.S. Because there are surprises in store for people today, I won't be blogging about them until AFTER the fact (myself included! Woot woot!). I'll give you a head's up on those tomorrow...or whenever Kiddo let's me blog again.

Baby-Led Weaning: Aliens with Solid Foods

You may have gathered Kiddo is eating solids these days...well, we've introduced solids. He was lunging for my food, so I figured he was ready to try them.

He doesn't really eat them. Well, sometimes he does. Sometimes he plays with his food and then licks it off his fingers. Sometimes he just plays.

You see I want Kiddo to regulate his eating himself. I don't want to be one of those food pushing moms that inadvertently makes my child fat because I taught poor eating habits (like eating past full). That's why I decided to try baby-led weaning.
This is where you give baby table foods (healthy whole foods) of a consistency and size baby can handle (mushy for example). You let baby feed himself and only intervene if there is an emergency.

It's messy. Really. And Kiddo is more curious about how foods feel between his fingers than eating. His tasting face always looks like he hates it (The texture? The taste? Not sure). We're pretty sure it's his "thinking face" which makes the whole thing pretty entertaining, even if he decides to throw his food on the floor or squirrel it away in his chair.

So far we've tried the following:

• Rice cereal (before BLW, but Kiddo wanted to feed himself which was...ahem...interesting...see above pic).
• Banana - more fun for fingers.
• Squash - finger fun, moderate tasting action
• Carrot - LOVES to gnaw on large hard carrots. So far the fav.
• Strawberry (frozen in mesh teether) - moderate tasting
• Broccoli - loves. This resulted in the most eating, particularly of the stem from a larger stalk.

Things we plan on introducing soon:

• Zucchini
• Salmon (can't wait!)
• Green beans
• Avocado
• Possibly peas
• Possibly sweet potato
• Possibly apple (in some iteration)
• Pasta is on the radar...as are eggs (though I think I have to wait until he's a year old for those).

I wish he had a few more teeth so I could feel good about Cheerios, but I'm not sure about that at this point.

And you know what? He still prefers to nurse. Actively. He seeks it out. I know there will come a day when he no longer wants to. The thought pains me because I just love cradling him as he eats, staring into his big blue eyes. It's a precious moment and I will mourn it's passing into early childhood.

SAHMs Need Adult Time

This week has been rough. I had the poop spectacular, horrible teething, clinginess, soaked sheets (another lovely thing!), and a whole lot of sleep deprivation. I think I also have a bit of a cold...or allergies? Whatever. It involves post-nasal drip and it's annoying as hell. Did I mention it's also HOT? Yeah. Loving that Cali heat right now.

I am convinced single parents are tetched ... or plum crazy.

Needless to say I'm in some serious need of adult time. Adult time is any time when kids are absent or you are doing adult things. Adult things range from getting your freak on (obviously) to watching a movie that has explosions, fighting, gore, swearing, or sexual situations. Even working out could be adult time if the kids aren't around vying for attention. Adult time also includes taking a leisurely shower or bath without any pressure to finish quickly.

I've gotten...a little adult time. I think I can count one shower and one movie (sort of - both were a little rushed). But today I'm sitting in Ellen's Pancake House waiting for a friend and guess what? No Kiddo. He's with his grandparents. My friend is running a little late. It's actually wonderful because I have time to write this without having to worry about Kiddo needing something. I even texted some friends I haven't talked to in ages.

I do however feel pressure from the waitstaff and other patrons....one waitress or another has come over to ask after me like five time. I want to tell them, "Don't you know I'm a stay at home mom and I had a crap week this week?! Give a girl a break!"

They probably don't care. It's fine. I'm good. I'm getting adult time.