So many things people tell you about growing up are actually factual – you’d never believe it when they told you, only because you don’t have the capacity to know what it is they truly mean yet.  Then the day comes where it’s finally your reality – you can’t believe that you we’re warned or had an idea of what to expect… and it still feels completely different than you thought it would…

I guess that explains why no one can ever be mentally prepared for parenthood (or marriage, home-owning, or having a time-consuming career… essentially any huge, life-changing event or cause)- today I’m going to focus on parenthood, namely motherhood.

After getting married, we decided to skip preventing pregnancy and just roll with our life, letting babies come along as they would (get the feeling I’m kind of a hippie yet?) – hearing things like “wait a while before having kids…” or “your life is going to change SO MUCH when you have kids, put it off as long as you can…” – didn’t really make sense until I got pregnant – then of course all hell broke loose (but for sanity’s sake, we’ll just call it life happening the way it normally does, unexpected bumps in the road and all.)

The one thing I didn’t count on was completely getting so wrapped up in motherhood.  I honestly feel like I had no room to “be” anything else other than a mother for at least the first 18mos with each new baby.  All of the self-serving things that had once been a way of life seemed to fall on the wayside- things as simple as getting a haircut (it once took me 7 months to get a haircut… and I’m a HAIRSTYLIST!!  REALLY!!!)  I lost any fashion sense whatsoever; dear friends of mine don’t snicker at that – I know I’m not fashionable, but I try to rock my own style whenever I can. 

All of my focus seemed to automatically shift to being a mother – it took me graduating that time to look back with a better understanding.   I should point out that my situation as a stay-at-home mom was also a major factor in my singularly-definitive persona; sleepless nights, stressful days with crying babies, and pressure to keep the balance of all things “Heart & Home.”

Now when I browse through pictures showing off my tiny babies from years back, I don’t try and skip over the ones that should include disaster-area tape around my living room… or the ones where my eye sockets look like two dark, puffy marshmallows sitting on each side of my nose…  Instead I’ve decided to just embrace all the changes that happen with the addition of kids and new responsibilites — and all the results of those changes (like having no pictures of myself without a nursing tank or spit up on me in the first 4 months of pictures with the new baby.)

If someone had told me before I had babies that I’d lose myself for a couple years following their arrival, I would have never believed them.  I have always felt so independant, free to think or feel however I want.  But, I’ve come full circle to realize that there is no fault in dedicating your life solely to the new life you’re cultivating because guess what… kids grow up, you should enjoy the time when they are babies and as they get a little less dependent, it’s time for Moms to get a little more selfish.  It wasn’t that I just got sucked into be defined as a mother, I just didn’t have any time or energy to dedicate to being anything else…     

I guess the best thing someone could have told me before I had kids was that it’s going to change your life dramatically (which they always say) – but I’d add that it won’t always be so different.  You’ll get to come back to who you were once you have a little more freedom from the infant-stage dependacy.  And now… if you guys don’t mind, I’ve got to get my hair touched up… and do some shopping

What do you guys think?  Did you feel “like yourself” throughout the first years with a new baby around?  

::Michelle
The Mom Squad

Tags: being a mom, mom, mother, motherhood

You know, typically I’m great with words – I’ve learned the hardest things in life to explain are love and loss.  With that in mind, I searched around for “borrowed words” to explain some views on motherhood and all the blessings it encircles. 
Feel free to add your favorite quote at the end if you’d like!  Any comment on this post will automatically enter you in our BBwB Mother’s Day giveaway!  We’re giving away giftcards to Starbucks & Target (two Mom faves!) as well as some BBwB goodies!

We appreciate the hard work each and every mom puts in day to day, raising children is one of the hardest yet most rewarding purposes for our lives.  So on this Mother’s day, remember to own your awesomeness – no one said it would be easy but NO one (and I mean NO ONE) can raise your children better than you can.  Rock on, Mom!   

Quotes about Mothers:

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.  ~Tenneva Jordan

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  She never existed before.  The woman existed, but the mother, never.  A mother is something absolutely new.  ~Rajneesh

All women become like their mothers.  That is their tragedy.  No man does.  That’s his.  ~Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895

Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother’s secret hope outlives them all.  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.  ~Abraham Lincoln

God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.  ~Jewish Proverb

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.  ~Oprah Winfrey

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.  ~Irish Proverb

All comments count as one entry for our giveaway!  We’ll choose a winner on Mother’s day, Sunday May 8^th.::Michelle
The Mom Squad

***************** Congrats Amanda!*********************

Tags: holidays, mom, moms, mother, mother's day, mothers day quotes, parenting, quotes

So we know you guys have been patiently waiting for our iPhone app release… well behind the scenes we’ve been working on huge collaboration with the CitiStroller and we’re ready to dish the scoop (that’s right – it’s TIME for our big announcement!)
We saw an opportunity for growth and expansion that would help us meet the needs of the thousands of parents/grandparents and caregivers who have depended on our services to help them find what they need when they’re out.  This partnership will not only  
 build our extensive database of helpful locations – it will also make utilizing the information much easier by adding the convienence of finding it from a handheld device!

The CitiStroller app debuted in the Apple iTunes store in the fall of last year, showcasing many of the same categories as Bye Bye with Baby (and even a few we hadn’t thought of yet!)  The CitiStroller app offers national baby & kids gear retailer listings; diaper change locations with an ability to indicate whether the changing table is in the women’s, men’s or family restrooms; multi-city stroller friendly public transportation; great nursing spots; and stroller repair listings for those times when parents are caught with a flat or a wobbly wheel! In addition, CitiStroller offers listings for parks, playgrounds, indoor play spaces & activities, and stroller-friendly restaurants & café’s.

We’ve added thousands of Bye Bye with Baby listings to their database in the categories we both shared, additonally we are working to add the other categories we’ve found to be imperative for the kid-toting parent (urgent care locations, gas stations, airports, and grocery stores!)  These categories will be launched later this Spring and of course, the locations multiply with user suggestions daily!

We could not be more excited about launching this partnership – there is nothing we want more than to make YOUR travels easier with the kids! 

To download the app, check out CitiStroller in the iTunes Store (it’s only $.99 through the end of May!!)

::Michelle
The Mom Squad

Tags: baby, favorite iphone app, favorite kid iphone app, iphone, iphone app, parent iphone app, parenting favorites, travel app

Growing up at my house, Easter was always a time when the kids would sit around my grandma’s huge table (then later, my mother’s) and decorate the annual Easter bunny cake.   Over the years, we added egg-shaped cupcakes, cookie-pops shaped as flowers that we stuck in flower pots, and tons more tasty crafts that made for some great memories and enjoyable time with my cousins.

 I’ll admit, the first year after my daughter was born, we opted to spend Easter with my husband’s family and I was in tears over the idea of not carrying on the traditional bunny cake – that year Cammie and I made our first one (though she really only ate jellybeans while I picked up the slack..)
My mom was always really amazing about keeping us involved in hands-on activities (and I LOVE activities where I can eat the “mistakes” – gingerbread houses, cupcakes & cookie decorating, they are my *favorite* kinds of crafts!)

Since I know cupcakes are all the rage lately, (and no doubt easier than some of the more complicated cakes and pastries) I wanted to pull some ideas I’ve found online and share them all with you – some of these are intricate, others are simple enough to do with your toddler! 

We’re challenging you to try one of these ideas (or if you have an annual tradition – let us know about it!) – Post pictures on our facebook wall of your creations, we’d love to see your kid’s handywork!!

SO many cute ideas!

Can’t wait to see some pictures!!  Let’s get crafty!

::Michelle
The Mom Squad

Click for more information on these images (recipes, instructions, and etc.):
(top to bottom)
Easter cupcakes (with yellow peep!) Image 
Easter Basket cupcakes image 
Blue & Pink bunny cupcakes image
Pink & White bunny cupcakes image
Butterfly cupcakes image
Peeking easter bunny cupcakes image
Little Lamb cupcakes image

Tags: crafts with kids, cupcakes, easter basket, easter bunny, easter craft ideas, easter crafts, easter cupcake ideas, easter cupcakes, family crafts

I’ve been chatting up a friend who is thinking about having a baby (or babies..) – she’s in the stage of life you know, where you decide if you’re missing something and ultimately if that something is a baby… I thought back to try and remember my thought process.

When my fiancé (at the time) and I sat through a marriage preparation class, the topic came up about how many children we wanted.  I think that was the first time we discussed and immediately settled on seven.  (*YES* You read that right, seven (7)- SEVEN CHILDREN!)

We were also young (early 20’s) – so we decided if we had any trouble getting pregnant, we’d skip fertility treatments and just enjoy life with the two of us.  Now, two children later I can’t say that we would have stuck with a lifestyle of never becoming parents if it didn’t happen naturally for us… who knows how things would have worked out in those circumstances.

Of course my quest for seven children came to an end after two (terrible pregnancies are a hardship I just couldn’t put my family through again…) and we’re so busy loving our life that I hardly think we missed out on our “plans.”

How could we have 7 all this adorable?!

I’m always happy with how life works itself out – but I’m curious, did you have a discussion about plans with your significant other?  And how have those plans worked out for you guys? What advice do you give your friends who are thinking about expanding their family??

::Michelle
The Mom Squad

Tags: babies, baby, parenting, parents, pregnancy

I remember REALLY freaking out just before my first baby shower – very few (if any) of my close friends had children and I had created my registry with NO idea of what I actually “needed.”  We’re talking a registry full of clothes, diapers from six different brands, the COSTCO sized tubs of diaper cream… all things I’d later learn I actually did NOT need to register for.  In fact, Cammie will be four years old in June and we still have yet to use all that diaper cream…

Today we’re introducing a product that I’m SO excited to share with you guys  — mostly because it’s something you’ll REALLY get use out of and if you were anything like me, you wouldn’t know about these things unless someone close to you told you how great they are!

You know how annoying it is to carry your newborn around with one or two blankets over them, flapping in the wind or blowing off completely (…chasing it down the street in your grandmother’s neighborhood – or maybe that was just me?)  How about when baby is in the stroller, snug with their blanket and you abruptly stop because you’re RUNNING OVER and pulling off that cute little blankie (that’s now stained with tire-marks; this ALSO happened to me… at the ZOO so who KNOWS what else was on that blanket!!)

www.anayapapaya.com

Welcome to my favorite solution: the Snug Around!  The Snug around is a versatile, hands-free blanket that can be used TONS of ways including around an infant carrier, a carseat, a stroller, and much more!  Made from lightweight, wind AND waterproof material, it’s an excellent solution for keeping baby dry on the way in and out of the grocery store (yeah, remember trying to stuff your baby into your OWN jacket??  NOW you don’t have to!!) 

It’s so simple while spearheading so many annoyances – I mean a weather-resistant blanket that DOESN’T MOVE?!  That’s pretty amazing!  Here’s a video on how simple it is to use over the stroller!

Pretty easy, right?  Well, lucky for you guys we have a Snug Around to give away!  Simply comment this blog with the ways you’d like to use the Snug Around and you’ll be entered for a chance to win. 
For additional entries:
Follow Anaya Papaya on Facebook HERE.
Follow Anaya Papaya on Twitter HERE.

They are also offering a sale through April 3^rd- customers can buy the Snug Around for $39.95 (makes a GREAT shower gift- take it from the girl who registered for tons of things she didn’t need – this one is on the must have list!!)

We will draw the winner on Sunday, March 27^th so get those entries in!   And if you haven’t already, check out the other giveaway we’re doing HERE!

The Mom Squad     

Tags: baby blanket, baby carrier blanket, car seat cover, stroller cover

It’s no secret we are HUGE fans of anything that makes traveling easier!  When we learned about Earth Monkeys products, it was like falling in love with the Mr.Right of children and toddler accessories.  Tall, dark, and handsome… or, you know – functional, cute, and ECO FRIENDLY – so very in character of those we fall head-over-heels in love with!

With no further adieu, let us introduce: Earth Monkeys (and the clever mom duo that teamed up to create something amazing!)

visit the earth monkeys website by clicking the image!

While it isn’t always convenient to be environmentally conscious, Lindsay & Gena (the Earth Monkey Moms) came up with an ideal solution for parents!  They created a line of eco-friendly, 100% RECYCLED items that are not only useful but adorable as well.  We’re going to break down each of the items available (AND give you guys the chance to snag a set of all three!!)
 
The Porta-Pad:

click to view the porta-pad in the online store!

Environmental breakdown: The porta-pad is made from the equivalent of 6- 20oz. plastic bottles.
Size & Use: Water resistant, this super lightweight portable changing pad folds out to 18” x 24.”
Additional information: folds up into a tiny pouch that can be clipped to your diaper bag, keychain, etc.  Machine washable (wash on cold, tumble dry..)

Click to view bibs in their online store!

Environmental breakdown: Each bib is made from the equivalent of 2 ½ – 20oz. plastic bottles.
Size & Use: The bib unfolds from its little bag (about 4.25” x 2.5”) and becomes a toddler-sized clothing protector!  It has a Velcro closure (thank GOODESS, not a sticker like disposies!) and even has the well-loved catch-all pocket across the bottom!
Additional information:  the pouch has a carabiner so it can be attached to almost anything, and of course is machine washable as well.

Earth Monkeys Paci Pack:

to view the paci packs in their online store, click the image!

Environmental breakdown: The paci-pack is made from about 1 ½ – 20oz. plastic bottles.
Size & Use: A lightweight, water resistant place to store your child’s paci!  It’s about 3.25”x 3.5” and has a snapping ribbon to keep the binkie inside!
Additional information: I learned from the video that you could squeeze binkies in there if you need to (and I would need to, don’t judge me! I know my almost-4 year old isn’t going to take it to kindergarten!)

The gals were kind enough to let us give away a set of all three items – if you’d like a chance to win, we’re going to give you several!  You do not have to do more than just the first one of these, but should you want to increase your chances of winning, please leave a separate comment letting us know for EACH ONE. 

Entry methods:
1. *mandatory* Check out all the patterns on the Earth Monkeys website (click HERE) and leave a comment on this blog letting us know which is your favorite!
2.  Become a fan of Earth Monkeys on Facebook by clicking HERE.
3.  Follow Earth Monkeys on Twitter by clicking HERE.
4.  Subscribe to Earth Monkeys videos on You Tube by clicking HERE.
5.  Subscribe to the wonderfully charismatic Earth Monkey Moms blog: http://www.earthmonkeymoms.com/
6.  Share this giveaway/blog with your friends on facebook, twitter, or on your own blog!

We’ll be drawing the winner on FRIDAY, March 26th so get those entries in!!  

::Michelle
The Mom Squad

Tags: baby accessories, baby gifts, changing pad, cute baby accessories, cute bibs, cute paci holder, eco friendly toddler, eco-friendly baby items, must have baby items, pacifier holder, reusable bib, shower gifts

Coordinating our lives once we add a little one can really become quite a task, with all those doctor appointments, work schedules, day care or play dates… then trying to work in some scheduled dates for taking professional photos of the entire family OR just the little guy… well it just gets picked up into the tornado that is parenthood!

My biggest mistake was probably setting such high expectations – I wanted these perfectly-spaced timeline photos and then I realized that six months coincided with Christmas, nine months was around Easter.  And if you’re anything like me – you’re lucky to get holidays handled with kids in tow, much less have the foresight to take professional pictures that you can hand out to family (or send in holiday cards.)  Since I’m no expert (see below for an example of one of the MANY photo shoots gone awry) I sought professional advice.

Yeah. This did not go so well...

I asked for some input from an amazing photographer named Ryan in Kansas City (let me pull a few photos from his blog just to show… y’all know I see things a little differently and I just love the way he captures things! –

Click picture to see more!

Ryan let me in on a litte secret that quickly became one of my favorite finds so far: the photography MINI SESSION!!   His business (R Patrick Images) is kicking off spring with a round of mini-sessions (as most photogs are with the combo of great weather and spring blooming.)  The idea of mini-sessions appealed to the mother in me for SO many reasons, but first and foremost they are a flat fee for a 30 minute photo session.  That’s right, a FLAT FEE.  No sitting fees, and in this particular case – no limit on the number of people in the session (up to 5 people!)

So my past experience of showing up, having one kid running amuck and the other playing in the dirt would have been no big deal.  We could have just photographed the baby without the hassle of rearranging prices…. how thoughtful!

Mini-sessions are less expensive than a regular shoot, it’s a short time frame so when my sweet prince and princess turn into the ogres they really are (and if we’re “playing” outside this is easily around the 30-minute mark…) it’s just enough time to grab great shots without exhausting everyone completely!

Click the photo for more information!

Here’s the pricing for mini sessions (if you happen to live anywhere other than KC, I’m sorry to make you wish you could jump on this opportunity – but good news, TONS of photographers do mini sessions!  Just look in your area!  And if you ARE in KC — get on it these sessions will fill up fast!)  It’s the most reasonable way to get great photos from a professional photographer — hands down my favorite idea yet!

Best deal for your money if you can FIND THE TIME to get professional pictures taken!  We asked on our Facebook wall yesterday and MANY of you were plagued with the same momneisa I had, good intentions but not always getting everything age you want photographed.  So I guess I should say, MAKE THE TIME to get professional pictures taken! 

Take it from me, it will be SO WORTH it to have high quality, beautiful photos when you look back on the first few years of your growing family!

::Michelle
The Mom Squad

When I found out I was pregnant, I was overwhelmed with creative energy – I wanted to do all of the crafty things I’d seen… Like take a profile photo of my growing belly every day then make some amazing, beautiful slideshow I could share.  A majestic record I could keep forever and proudly title The Art and Wonder of Incubation…

Then reality came back to me and my creative energy was sucked dry, I had severe and unrelenting hyperemesis gravidarum and didn’t get out of bed, save trips to my bff: the toilet, for MONTHS.  I have maybe five pictures from my entire pregnancy up until I started feeling better again (around 7 months along?)

Since that creative production was halted by no real fault of my own, I decided I’d ABSOLUTELY take photos of the baby from birth-12 months.  This time maybe not set my standards so high though… maybe not every day… okay, maybe every month.  I decided to PLAN for a really good photo every three months – even if meant I had to take the baby somewhere professional! 

Maybe it’s because I’ve accepted and embraced the ways of procrastination, but I only ended up with three of the five “timeline photos” I wanted (0, 3, 6, 9, & 12 months.)  And you know, it was worse when Babe was born – I guess because he and Cammie are only 18 months apart, I was more distracted than with just one.  Photos of JUST him were few and far between.

Gina (our fab Mom Squad member) happened upon the most AMAZING photo accessory that would put an end to ALL of my photo troubles!  Let me introduce to Babycakes Design Co.
 
Favorite seller: Babycakes Design Co.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/babycakesdesignco
Esty feedback rating: 766, 100% positive
What she sells: monthly onesie stickers

What a GREAT way to organize and keep up with growing baby photos!   When Gina found this adorable etsy store, we jumped on the chance to showcase them in our blog – the idea is so genius!  A cute, personalized sticker for each month – you simply put the sticker on the onesie, snap a few photos, and you’ll have created an illustrated timeline of your baby’s first year!

Having photos of either of my kiddos with these sweet stickers would have been a huge help last week when I was trying to decide just how old they were at my cousin’s wedding… it’s an actual LABELED photo that I could use as a reference!!  I can’t get over how simple but useful this idea is!

Click to visit Baby Cakes Design Co. on etsy!

AND even better, they have TONS of patterns for girls, boys (OMG they have little ties, SO CUTE!), even gender neutral – what a GREAT shower gift!  They are extremely affordable, ranging in price from $9-$13 (sure beats buying individual, personalized outfits for each month!!)  

 Maria from Babycakes Design Co. has extended Bye Bye with Baby readers a discount in her etsy shop!! 
To get 10% off any purchase, use the code BYEBABY!  Become a FAN ON FACEBOOK to learn about new designs and other updates!

::Michelle
The Mom Squad

Tags: baby handmade, baby photos, baby shower gift, etsy, handmade, newborn photos, onesie sitckers, personalized baby gifts, photo

As moms – we all ooh and ahh over our own precious bundles as we embark on our new lives with them.  And NOW, with the greatness that is social networking, we get to share each moment captured on film with all our friends and family… (and all those “frienemies”we keep in our Facebook friend list for reasons neither we nor our husbands will ever understand…)

We’ve gathered some great ideas for you guys on how to get great photos yourself, when it’s a good idea to call in the professionals, AND how to keep your photos unique!  To keep from overwhelming you, we’ll break these up into a few blogs… (so much to share, so few opportunities to read when you have a toddler) 

I’m no amazing photographer.  Knowing this, when Cammie was born I had every intention of getting professional pictures of her taken at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.  Her newborn “professional” (for lack of better term) photos taken at the hospital were a complete bust – of the 4 identical poses of a squish-faced newborn in hospital garb, there was only one decent picture and I left my husband in charge of ordering it for birth announcements.  Yeah, he accidentally ordered the wrong one.

Let's pretend my husband was overwhelmed with excitement and temporarily went completely blind.

So there we were… three days into trying to capture this sweet new being and already noticing that it’s not easy to snag something beautiful in still-life.  After we got home, I set up a little “photoshoot” of my own with my 2000-edition digital camera (2000 doesn’t sound old, I swear I was really excited about the 5 megapixels at the time!) 

Helpful hints on photographing your newborn:

1. Pick a well-lit area of your house (near a WINDOW – natural light is the best help you could ever have!!)  Draw the curtains and open the blinds – set up everything you’ll need (big blankets, laundry basket, an old suitcase – for the non-creative, just search flickr.com for newborn photos!)

2.  Feed that baby to the BRIM with a nice cuddle session afterward, make sure that sweet guy is crashed and cozy before the picture taking begins. (sidenote: if you have a helper, maybe have them take a picture or two of you with the new guy, I have maybe one or two photos feeding my babies and I always wish I had taken more!)

3.  Since you’re bound to have a digital camera this day-in-age, just point and click your little heart out.  You could take 3,000 photos in ten minutes and weed through them during that 3 AM feeding to find the ones you like, delete the rest!  I suggest trying different settings, avoiding the flash, and changing up the background/outfits a few times (hats, booties, all those sweet baby things people knitted you as shower gifts and you weren’t sure what you’d ever do with them!)

Here’s one I caught of a couple-day-old Cammie….

BEST smirk ever, right?!

The best time to capture those curled up, fresh out of the oven pictures in within the first two weeks.  I know, you’re thinking “I was a complete zombie the first two weeks after my kid was born”… but even zombies need a nice photo to send out the still-human grandparents calling… every single day… asking where the pictures are.

:::Michelle
The Mom Squad

P.S. We know our blogs have been a little spaced out lately, we have some big things happening AND one of our powerhouse bloggers, Gina, has been getting back into a routine now that she’s added a sweet boy to her brood.  We’ll be sharing discounts and deals so stay tuned (not to mention BIG news just around the corner!!  CAN’T WAIT!)

Tags: baby photos, baby pictures, cute baby photos, newborn photo, newborn photo ideas, newborn photography, newborn photos, newborn pictures help, photo ideas, photographs, photography, pictures