I can remember growing up and going through school with only two sets of twins in my whole town. Back 30 years ago, twins were unique. Now with women having children at a later age, and with the assistance of IVF to become pregnant, twins and triplets are more commonplace.
But that doesn't make the job of taking care of them any easier. And to carry the babies during pregnancy, to go through the delivery of multiples, and to take care of their needs while trying to recover can be even more challenging.
So I wanted to talk to a mom who went through the experience and a labor and delivery nurse that is on the front lines of bringing these miracles into the world. My first guest is a good friend of mine, Trista DeFillipis who had her son a month after I had Zack, and then became pregnant within a year with twin girls. She shares her difficult pregnancy and delivery of twins after having such an easy time with her son -- showcasing how different each pregnancy can be.
Then later, Ilona DeSantis, RNC, a labor and delivery nurse for high risk births shares her experiences of working with women to deliver multiples on a daily basis. She talks about what difficulties they may face and provides information that women need to know as they gear up for delivery.
Also check out a hip breastfeeding cover designed and created by Ilona at www.3mooncouture.com -- proving again that women/moms can always see ways to improve on products out there for the baby market.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Tracey's Tip #2 -- Being a Balanced Mom
Don't get overwhelmed or overconcerned by all the information and hoopla out there about how to be the perfect parent. Instead take in all the information and use your own instinct to determine what resources may work for you and what path is best for your child and your family!
You are the caretaker of the home, trust what feels right to you!
You are the caretaker of the home, trust what feels right to you!
Baby Specialists (FM)
As a parent of an infant or toddler everything is new and different, and sometimes parents can feel unsure as to how to best handle a particular situation. Which is why hundreds of baby specialists have cropped up over the years.
The first expert that joins me on the show is Shari Green, known as The Thumb Lady (www.thumblady.com). She is a certified Orafacial Myologist and has worked as a Pediatrician Dental Hygenist for 19 years. And yes her specialty is helping kids to stop sucking their thumbs, fingers and quit biting their nails, among other oral habits!
In the past 11 1/2 years she has worked with close to 1000 children helping them to break these habits. If you can believe it, she is one of 250 Orafacial Myologists in the world. Her website has a wealth of information if your child is 4 or 5 and is still sucking his thumb, and she shares what the risks are if it becomes a prologed situation.
Then later in the show I catch up with Renee Applebaum who is co-founder and co-owner of Baby Proofers Plus, a child safety company based in the NJ/NY area. (www.babyproofersplus.com) Renee and her husband Howard became pioneers on the east coast in 1993 when they began offering comprehensive in-home safety evaluations and professional installation services of the highest quality, government tested certified safety products.
They are experts in providing education and awareness to new parents, and helping to reveal hidden dangers that may lurk in their home which could put their baby at risk. You can also find a Baby Proofer or Pool Fence installer in your area by going to the website www.babyproofingdirectory.com and enter your zip code.
The first expert that joins me on the show is Shari Green, known as The Thumb Lady (www.thumblady.com). She is a certified Orafacial Myologist and has worked as a Pediatrician Dental Hygenist for 19 years. And yes her specialty is helping kids to stop sucking their thumbs, fingers and quit biting their nails, among other oral habits!
In the past 11 1/2 years she has worked with close to 1000 children helping them to break these habits. If you can believe it, she is one of 250 Orafacial Myologists in the world. Her website has a wealth of information if your child is 4 or 5 and is still sucking his thumb, and she shares what the risks are if it becomes a prologed situation.
Then later in the show I catch up with Renee Applebaum who is co-founder and co-owner of Baby Proofers Plus, a child safety company based in the NJ/NY area. (www.babyproofersplus.com) Renee and her husband Howard became pioneers on the east coast in 1993 when they began offering comprehensive in-home safety evaluations and professional installation services of the highest quality, government tested certified safety products.
They are experts in providing education and awareness to new parents, and helping to reveal hidden dangers that may lurk in their home which could put their baby at risk. You can also find a Baby Proofer or Pool Fence installer in your area by going to the website www.babyproofingdirectory.com and enter your zip code.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tracey's Tip #1 -- Being a Balanced Mom
Remember that you are not alone! Although it seems like each day is a struggle trying to juggle it all, and there is never enough rest for the weary...when you do find a moment that you can call your own, tap into some of the funny books on motherhood. There are several books that I discuss with other mom authors on my radio show. Find humor in how different your life has become with baby.
Laughter is a good way to ease away the stress and remain in balance!
I am always in search of fun and laughter, and luckily my son brings me alot! His laugh is contagious!
Where can you find laughter?
Laughter is a good way to ease away the stress and remain in balance!
I am always in search of fun and laughter, and luckily my son brings me alot! His laugh is contagious!
Where can you find laughter?
Making Light of the Changes in Your Life (FM)
While my radio show is all about the changes a couple's life goes through when bringing baby home, I am usually talking with guests that are resources for the journey. This week I wanted to talk to two mothers who have written funny books dishing about the reality of motherhood and how humorous the difficulties can be.
Stefanie Wilder Taylor seemed to have paved the way for more mothers to write books about how life really is! When she wrote the book "Sippy Cups are Not For Chardonnay" four years ago, when her daughter was born, there were no real funny books out there for new moms. Since then she has written a continuation that speaks straight to me -- "Nap Times are the New Happy Hour" as her little girl became a toddler and she welcomed twin girls to her family. Listen in as we laugh it up and enjoy a funny motherhood rapport.
Then Claudine Wolk author of "It Gets Easier and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers" talks about how moms are now coming out of the closet with more enlightening books, and creating a movement through Blogging to let their voices be heard!
We chat about the "lies" other mothers tell each other and what she discovered in her 12 year compilation of interviewing hundreds of moms coast to coast for the content of her book. Check out her website at www.help4newmoms.com.
Stefanie Wilder Taylor seemed to have paved the way for more mothers to write books about how life really is! When she wrote the book "Sippy Cups are Not For Chardonnay" four years ago, when her daughter was born, there were no real funny books out there for new moms. Since then she has written a continuation that speaks straight to me -- "Nap Times are the New Happy Hour" as her little girl became a toddler and she welcomed twin girls to her family. Listen in as we laugh it up and enjoy a funny motherhood rapport.
Then Claudine Wolk author of "It Gets Easier and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers" talks about how moms are now coming out of the closet with more enlightening books, and creating a movement through Blogging to let their voices be heard!
We chat about the "lies" other mothers tell each other and what she discovered in her 12 year compilation of interviewing hundreds of moms coast to coast for the content of her book. Check out her website at www.help4newmoms.com.
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Morning Demands
I can remember a time in the distant past where I would roll out of bed in the morning, go about my business, make some coffee, putter around and then meander over to the computer in my office and start planning out the day. But as I took a good look at my current morning routine I wonder where "my time" went?
I am called out of my sleep by Zack wanting to get out of his crib. I crawl out of bed to go get him and find him happy, excited and raring to go! Meanwhile, I am trying to open my eyes andget a handle on the day. I lift him out of the crib and am suddenly attacked by our two boxers who are now whining for their food.
I explain to Zack that we need to go downstairs to feed the dogs and he is either up for that (the going downstairs part) or he is now interested in changing his clothes into another pair of pajamas (why, I have no idea!!).
I finally make it downstairs, feed the dogs, get Zack some milk and I am assaulted by his sudden demands....maybe he wants his cookie monster slippers (which are back upstairs and ones he didn't want before we came downstairs), or gummy bears (which I picked up last night for him) or something in the pantry closet that is not of the breakfast variety.....and I need to explain that we have breakfast first before eating anything else....a couple of times.
Then it is his show.....he gets in these obsessions where he had to watch Shrek every morning, or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or the Doodlebops and now (thank goodness) it is the Barnyardigans. (which are fun, filled with music and some imaginary adventure) But I have to hear that until I go over and turn on the show.
Of course, all of this happens before I make it to the bathroom or have a cup of coffee or tea in my hands. Then when I finally get that cup of Java and I sit down with Zack on the couch for a minute, the dogs are ready to go outside to do their business (although they already went out two hours ago with Jeff when he got up for work). Aspen will sit there in my face,being obnoxious and possibly whine until I get up and let them out!!
So off I go, hot coffee set on the table, Zack following behind, and we all go downstairs and let them out. Then it could be a fight with Zack to not get into dads memorabilia downstairs, or to leave things alone and go back upstairs.
We get upstairs, I look at my coffee, take a couple of sips and then realize I need to check out what Zack needs in his bag to take to the sitters, we discuss what he may want for breakfast and I try to make it and get him to eat it while running around playing with his plethera of toys. Then I go around the house making the beds, picking up some things, etc....and my day is off and running!!
I am called out of my sleep by Zack wanting to get out of his crib. I crawl out of bed to go get him and find him happy, excited and raring to go! Meanwhile, I am trying to open my eyes andget a handle on the day. I lift him out of the crib and am suddenly attacked by our two boxers who are now whining for their food.
I explain to Zack that we need to go downstairs to feed the dogs and he is either up for that (the going downstairs part) or he is now interested in changing his clothes into another pair of pajamas (why, I have no idea!!).
I finally make it downstairs, feed the dogs, get Zack some milk and I am assaulted by his sudden demands....maybe he wants his cookie monster slippers (which are back upstairs and ones he didn't want before we came downstairs), or gummy bears (which I picked up last night for him) or something in the pantry closet that is not of the breakfast variety.....and I need to explain that we have breakfast first before eating anything else....a couple of times.
Then it is his show.....he gets in these obsessions where he had to watch Shrek every morning, or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or the Doodlebops and now (thank goodness) it is the Barnyardigans. (which are fun, filled with music and some imaginary adventure) But I have to hear that until I go over and turn on the show.
Of course, all of this happens before I make it to the bathroom or have a cup of coffee or tea in my hands. Then when I finally get that cup of Java and I sit down with Zack on the couch for a minute, the dogs are ready to go outside to do their business (although they already went out two hours ago with Jeff when he got up for work). Aspen will sit there in my face,being obnoxious and possibly whine until I get up and let them out!!
So off I go, hot coffee set on the table, Zack following behind, and we all go downstairs and let them out. Then it could be a fight with Zack to not get into dads memorabilia downstairs, or to leave things alone and go back upstairs.
We get upstairs, I look at my coffee, take a couple of sips and then realize I need to check out what Zack needs in his bag to take to the sitters, we discuss what he may want for breakfast and I try to make it and get him to eat it while running around playing with his plethera of toys. Then I go around the house making the beds, picking up some things, etc....and my day is off and running!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Getting Particular about Clothes
For the last several months Zack has become very particular about his clothes. It started with him wanting to wear particular shirts (over the summer)and then only certain shoes and now he is becoming very demanding with what he will and will not wear. (And he is only 2 years old)!!
This last weekend hit a high point in this drama that I believe is setting a precident for things to come. On friday night I was at my office working with clients and came home to find my son ready for bed in a Miami Dolphins jersey and pants outfit that was better fitting for the summer or early fall, not for the winter time. But Jeff said he wanted to wear it, so off to bed he goes in his football outfit.
Then in the morning I finally get a chance to change him into something more appropriate, and warmer; only to discover that while I ran out to the grocery store to pick up a few things, he changed out of those clothes and back into the Dolphin uniform!
So why fight it!
It then begins to snow and my husband gets called out for work, and my son decides, out of the blue that he now wants to wear Spiderman Pajamas. But he doesn't have any spiderman pajamas that currently fit him.....he wants the pajamas that he wore a few months ago that were part of his early fall clothes and he outgrew them. Which meant that they got moved to a bucket of outgrown clothes currently located in his closet.
I explain to him that they will be too small for him, but he is set on finding and wearing those pajamas, so I pull out the bucket and dig to find them. A few minutes later they are discoverd and Zack is happy as can be.....he wants to put them on. This obsession with the Spiderman Pajamas last throughout the weekend where he wants to wear them continuously, and even after spilling pasta sauce on them saturday night and pushing me to wash them the next day, does he grab them right out of the dryer and put them on again.
Then on monday morning....still wearing those pajamas, I had to convince him that he couldn't go to his sitters house, outside in the cold, in those pajamas. But if he wants, when I pick him up later in the day and bring him home, he can change back into those pajamas. I share this story with the sitter in the morning, and no mention of it again by Zack the whole day....until I go to pick him up at Mary's and a couple minutes into me being there does he say "he wants to go home and change into his Spider man Pajamas."
Which we do!
And tomorrow is another day of negotiation over clothes, wearing a coat, putting on boots, wearing layers, or not, and pursuading him not to run around the house for very long "naked" -- which is really his preference!!
This last weekend hit a high point in this drama that I believe is setting a precident for things to come. On friday night I was at my office working with clients and came home to find my son ready for bed in a Miami Dolphins jersey and pants outfit that was better fitting for the summer or early fall, not for the winter time. But Jeff said he wanted to wear it, so off to bed he goes in his football outfit.
Then in the morning I finally get a chance to change him into something more appropriate, and warmer; only to discover that while I ran out to the grocery store to pick up a few things, he changed out of those clothes and back into the Dolphin uniform!
So why fight it!
It then begins to snow and my husband gets called out for work, and my son decides, out of the blue that he now wants to wear Spiderman Pajamas. But he doesn't have any spiderman pajamas that currently fit him.....he wants the pajamas that he wore a few months ago that were part of his early fall clothes and he outgrew them. Which meant that they got moved to a bucket of outgrown clothes currently located in his closet.
I explain to him that they will be too small for him, but he is set on finding and wearing those pajamas, so I pull out the bucket and dig to find them. A few minutes later they are discoverd and Zack is happy as can be.....he wants to put them on. This obsession with the Spiderman Pajamas last throughout the weekend where he wants to wear them continuously, and even after spilling pasta sauce on them saturday night and pushing me to wash them the next day, does he grab them right out of the dryer and put them on again.
Then on monday morning....still wearing those pajamas, I had to convince him that he couldn't go to his sitters house, outside in the cold, in those pajamas. But if he wants, when I pick him up later in the day and bring him home, he can change back into those pajamas. I share this story with the sitter in the morning, and no mention of it again by Zack the whole day....until I go to pick him up at Mary's and a couple minutes into me being there does he say "he wants to go home and change into his Spider man Pajamas."
Which we do!
And tomorrow is another day of negotiation over clothes, wearing a coat, putting on boots, wearing layers, or not, and pursuading him not to run around the house for very long "naked" -- which is really his preference!!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Gearing Up For the New Year (FM)
As we welcomed the New Year, I felt it was appropriate to bring back Dr. J.J. Levenstein, MD. As my Pediatrician expert, she openly discusses ways to beat winter illness and covers several illnesses that new parents need to be aware of such as the Flu and influenza. But there was so much to cover that we ran out of time. She will be back on in a month or so to further discuss illnesses such as RSV (wheezing virus) and Rotavirus (vomiting virus).
Then Alexis Martin Neely, founder of the boutique Estate Planning Law Firm of Martin Neely and Associates is back on my show. This time she is delving into what parents need to do to set up their estate properly to protect their children long term.
A couple of documents that Alexis feels parents need to have in place for their kids are a:
* Kids Protection Plan (www.KidsProtectionPlan.com)
* A Will
* Living Trust
* Living Will for Health Care Decisions
* Durable Power of Attorney
Also, tap into important tax information that could save your heirs 50% of their inheritance if your estate is set up correctly. And if you are interested in finding a Personal Family Attorney to get your affairs in order for your family, long onto www.PersonalFamilyLawyer.com to find one in your area.
** And if your plug in the certificate code FM2009 Alexis will waive the $750.00 first session fee with an attorney in her database.
A great way to start the year!!
Then Alexis Martin Neely, founder of the boutique Estate Planning Law Firm of Martin Neely and Associates is back on my show. This time she is delving into what parents need to do to set up their estate properly to protect their children long term.
A couple of documents that Alexis feels parents need to have in place for their kids are a:
* Kids Protection Plan (www.KidsProtectionPlan.com)
* A Will
* Living Trust
* Living Will for Health Care Decisions
* Durable Power of Attorney
Also, tap into important tax information that could save your heirs 50% of their inheritance if your estate is set up correctly. And if you are interested in finding a Personal Family Attorney to get your affairs in order for your family, long onto www.PersonalFamilyLawyer.com to find one in your area.
** And if your plug in the certificate code FM2009 Alexis will waive the $750.00 first session fee with an attorney in her database.
A great way to start the year!!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Spending the Holidays (FM)
Although this was a show focused on traveling to see relatives, the guests that I had on my show are valuable resources that I feel should be mentioned in my blog.
Patty Opoin is President of the company Jet Set Babies (www.JetSetBabies.com) which provides a wonderful service for parents traveling domestically or abroad and don't want to pack up and cart essentials for babies or toddlers such as bulky diapers, extra wipes, jars of baby food, or containers of formula. Instead you can go right onto their website and order these products to be shipped to your destination. And because of Patty's commitment to customer service, her company makes a point of following up to be sure that these products arrive on time to be ready for your immediate use.
I loved hearing about her company and I plan on using them myself when traveling with my son in the future!
Then Kira Ryan and Conner Herman from Dream Team Baby (www.DreamTeamBaby.com) provided some great advice for easing the difficult transition that can occur with baby when traveling to see relatives. Their main focus is creating a world of great sleepers one baby at a time, and their tips to keep baby sleeping while away on vacation are helpful for any new parent.
Patty Opoin is President of the company Jet Set Babies (www.JetSetBabies.com) which provides a wonderful service for parents traveling domestically or abroad and don't want to pack up and cart essentials for babies or toddlers such as bulky diapers, extra wipes, jars of baby food, or containers of formula. Instead you can go right onto their website and order these products to be shipped to your destination. And because of Patty's commitment to customer service, her company makes a point of following up to be sure that these products arrive on time to be ready for your immediate use.
I loved hearing about her company and I plan on using them myself when traveling with my son in the future!
Then Kira Ryan and Conner Herman from Dream Team Baby (www.DreamTeamBaby.com) provided some great advice for easing the difficult transition that can occur with baby when traveling to see relatives. Their main focus is creating a world of great sleepers one baby at a time, and their tips to keep baby sleeping while away on vacation are helpful for any new parent.
Having a Nanny (FM)
Hiring the right person to come into your house full time to be the caretaker of your child can be an anxiety ridden experience. And then leaving your child in their care with a feeling of insecuity can cause thoughts to flash through a mothers mind...is my child being taken care of properly, what is the nanny doing all day in my house, and how do I handlteany possible conflicts with this person?
On this show I am talking with two women who have developed ways to provide an extra peace of mind to parents when bringing a nanny on board.
Dr. Lindsay Heller, a specialist known as The Nanny Doctor (www.TheNannyDoctor.com), is a licensed clinical psychologist and former nanny of 10 years. She consults with families on all issues related to the nanny -- family relationship. She also helps expectant parents identify their childcare needs, aids new moms in the process of returning back to work, helps families through the interview process, facilitates the transition of a new nanny into the home, helps families with conflicts with their nanny, and also helps with endings. She pretty much handles all things nanny!
Then Jill Starishevsky, a New York City prosecutor of child abuse and sex crimes, and mother of two children, created a website www.HowsMyNanny.com to give parents who employ nannies an extra peace of mind. Parents can become a member of this site and receive a license plate to display on their strollers to provide a way to be contacted if someone sees any negative or positive behaviors being demonstated by their nanny while taking care of their child or children.
This site and the license plate concept has gained tremendous attention within the nanny community because it allows parents to receive anonymous reports about their nanny and helps to weed out the bad nannies. It also allows for positive feedback which have led to good nannies being awarded bonuses by their employers for the excellent care they provide for their children.
Jill is currently working on creating a bumper magnet for suburban nannies who operate out of mini vans and SUV's, rather than strollers.
On this show I am talking with two women who have developed ways to provide an extra peace of mind to parents when bringing a nanny on board.
Dr. Lindsay Heller, a specialist known as The Nanny Doctor (www.TheNannyDoctor.com), is a licensed clinical psychologist and former nanny of 10 years. She consults with families on all issues related to the nanny -- family relationship. She also helps expectant parents identify their childcare needs, aids new moms in the process of returning back to work, helps families through the interview process, facilitates the transition of a new nanny into the home, helps families with conflicts with their nanny, and also helps with endings. She pretty much handles all things nanny!
Then Jill Starishevsky, a New York City prosecutor of child abuse and sex crimes, and mother of two children, created a website www.HowsMyNanny.com to give parents who employ nannies an extra peace of mind. Parents can become a member of this site and receive a license plate to display on their strollers to provide a way to be contacted if someone sees any negative or positive behaviors being demonstated by their nanny while taking care of their child or children.
This site and the license plate concept has gained tremendous attention within the nanny community because it allows parents to receive anonymous reports about their nanny and helps to weed out the bad nannies. It also allows for positive feedback which have led to good nannies being awarded bonuses by their employers for the excellent care they provide for their children.
Jill is currently working on creating a bumper magnet for suburban nannies who operate out of mini vans and SUV's, rather than strollers.
New Face of Fatherhood (FM)
While my radio show may at times seem directed towards new moms, dads today are playing a full time role as caretaker to their child and I hope they are regularly tapping in for desired information.
With that thought in mind, this show was created because more and more dads have become active participants in child rearing. Some are the primary caretakers as their wives go back to work, most are tapping into paternity leave and flex time at work to spend more time with their kids, and there is a movement afoot as dads are carrying masculine diaper bags as a badge of honor.
Joining me on the show is Chris Pegula, known as the Diaper Dude (www.diaperdude.com)the creator of masculine diaper bags that are seen frequently by some of the hottest male celebrity dads in Hollywood. A father of 3 children, he created the first diaper bag for himself when his first child was born because there was nothing out there developed for fathers.
Then Armin Brott of www.MrDad.com has been building better fathers for more than a decade through his six best selling books on fatherhood. He admits to me that the face of fatherhood has changed and it is a very positive movement!
My husband is a perfect example, he is a very hands on dad. He juggles his work schedule to pick up our son from the sitters when I'm working, he takes days off from work to be home with Zack if I have to travel, and he spends dedicated time each day to play and interact with him.
Being an involved father is a main priority for him.
With that thought in mind, this show was created because more and more dads have become active participants in child rearing. Some are the primary caretakers as their wives go back to work, most are tapping into paternity leave and flex time at work to spend more time with their kids, and there is a movement afoot as dads are carrying masculine diaper bags as a badge of honor.
Joining me on the show is Chris Pegula, known as the Diaper Dude (www.diaperdude.com)the creator of masculine diaper bags that are seen frequently by some of the hottest male celebrity dads in Hollywood. A father of 3 children, he created the first diaper bag for himself when his first child was born because there was nothing out there developed for fathers.
Then Armin Brott of www.MrDad.com has been building better fathers for more than a decade through his six best selling books on fatherhood. He admits to me that the face of fatherhood has changed and it is a very positive movement!
My husband is a perfect example, he is a very hands on dad. He juggles his work schedule to pick up our son from the sitters when I'm working, he takes days off from work to be home with Zack if I have to travel, and he spends dedicated time each day to play and interact with him.
Being an involved father is a main priority for him.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Where Did the Holidays Go?
I can't believe that we are already into January and everyone is busy getting back into the swing of things for the new year! Personally, I don't know where the holidays went -- the last I remember I was getting a family picture taken for holiday cards, trying to figure out presents for friends and family, and BOOM suddenly it was Christmas morning, New Years day and now January!!
Normally I like to relax during the holidays, sit in front of my tree, and take in the peace that the tiny white lights and beautiful bright ornaments bring me, while watching inspirational holiday movies. And while I did get to do a little bit of that, it just seems like a blur.
However, the highlight of my holiday was watching my 2 year old son really experience his first Christmas -- that was the most fun. Although he was around for Christmas the last two years, the first year he was only a month old and didn't know anything, and last year while he liked opening presents he was more interested in the wrapping paper and boxes than in the presents themselves.
This year my husband and I really had fun going out shopping for him and thinking about how excited he would get when he walked downstairs and saw all these great presents under the tree. We even made a date out of shopping for Zack. I met my husband at the Garden State Plaza mall for lunch (it was so nice having a relaxing meal in the middle of the day without baby in tow) and then we shopped the mall and the surrounding stores on Rt. 4 and 17 before heading to the babysitter to pick up our little man.
The best part of the holiday has to be experiencing the excitement and wonderment through a child's eyes. He was so cute, walking down the stairs in his Santa flannel pajamas, watching his eyes and hearing his squeal when he saw what Santa had brought for him. And while I know as he gets older he will want to tear through the presents and rip through the wrapping paper, this year was precious. He opened each gift and then handed it to daddy to unlock all the twists and ties that come with toys today, so he could play with that one gift. He wasn't even aware of all the other presents he still needed to unwrap, he was focused on each present, and savoring each gift!
That was a good day!
But it too has passed and we are now back into the grind and I wonder, where was the REST that I wanted to get?
Normally I like to relax during the holidays, sit in front of my tree, and take in the peace that the tiny white lights and beautiful bright ornaments bring me, while watching inspirational holiday movies. And while I did get to do a little bit of that, it just seems like a blur.
However, the highlight of my holiday was watching my 2 year old son really experience his first Christmas -- that was the most fun. Although he was around for Christmas the last two years, the first year he was only a month old and didn't know anything, and last year while he liked opening presents he was more interested in the wrapping paper and boxes than in the presents themselves.
This year my husband and I really had fun going out shopping for him and thinking about how excited he would get when he walked downstairs and saw all these great presents under the tree. We even made a date out of shopping for Zack. I met my husband at the Garden State Plaza mall for lunch (it was so nice having a relaxing meal in the middle of the day without baby in tow) and then we shopped the mall and the surrounding stores on Rt. 4 and 17 before heading to the babysitter to pick up our little man.
The best part of the holiday has to be experiencing the excitement and wonderment through a child's eyes. He was so cute, walking down the stairs in his Santa flannel pajamas, watching his eyes and hearing his squeal when he saw what Santa had brought for him. And while I know as he gets older he will want to tear through the presents and rip through the wrapping paper, this year was precious. He opened each gift and then handed it to daddy to unlock all the twists and ties that come with toys today, so he could play with that one gift. He wasn't even aware of all the other presents he still needed to unwrap, he was focused on each present, and savoring each gift!
That was a good day!
But it too has passed and we are now back into the grind and I wonder, where was the REST that I wanted to get?
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