Spit-up On My Shoulder

Next Wedneday, August 15th, I will be the guest host for a chat sponsored by Mothering Magazine. The chat time will be: 10 a.m. Pacific, 11 a.m. Mountain, 12 p.m. Central, and 1 p.m. Eastern.
We will be chatting about motherhood and, in particular, the postpartum year. Go here to find out [...]

Do you sometimes feel self-conscious about parenting or your role as a new mom? Martha Beck, one of my favorite writers, wrote in the July issue of O, The Oprah Magazine about tackling those low-confidence moments. She encourages us to say So? when we’re worried about how we’ll look.
Afraid to share [...]

If you’re pregnant or considering conceiving soon, are you worried about handling the pain of labor? I know I was, but I think my fear made me experience the pain at a higher level than I had to. I recently read some new information that neuroscientists have found about the way your brain [...]

Thank you to Julia Fessler, Labor and Birth Doula (and my buddy), for sharing the following affirmations for new moms. They are excerpted from Julia’s upcoming book, Birth Wisdom and Everyday Mothering.
Print up some copies and post them around your house for whenever you need some inspiration. You can modify the [...]

It’s my birthday, so hubby and I are going on a date tonight. Yea! Date nights are so important to a relationship, but I sure remember how hard it was to fit them in when we had a baby in the house.
Here is some information about a recent survey on new moms and [...]

It can be hard to accept the cosmetic changes in our bodies after delivering a baby. Stretch marks, c-section scars, poochy tummies, and droopy breasts happen. I’ve never had a c-section, but I definitely have the other three!
Previously I’ve written posts on how we can learn to love our unique, imperfect bodies. [...]

It’s Independence Day, but do you feel free to be the parent you dreamed of? There is so much judgment of parents in this country (particularly brand new ones.) Why is that?
I remember being shocked after Danielle was born about how quickly people were ready to criticize or question what I [...]

Hello dear blog readers,
I’m beyond happy today. Here’s why:
1) Although we applied in March, we finally received both of my daughters’ passports today for a trip they are leaving on in only 4 days with my mother-in-law. Getting the passports in time involved countless hours of phone calls and stress.
If you need a [...]

Just got back from Target and a marathon shopping spree with my daughters to get ready for an upcoming vacation. There was a pregnant mom there and I’m pretty sure that she was a first-time mom because 1: she didn’t have older kids with her, and 2: I just have an instinct about this [...]

Thank you to Melissa Patrice Anderson for allowing me to post her beautiful essay of self-love. It originally appeared on Mother’s Day in the Sacramento Bee.
SHE LOVES HER POSTPARTUM BODY

by Melissa Patrice Anderson
The story of Anya’s pregnancy is written here. My belly button, new and different, remembers her relentless growth. The flesh [...]