1. If you have to go back to work, here is a list of some things to break down to a caretaker.

2.Breakfast- what to eat, where it happens, what to drink, and meal time entertainment.

3.Snack- types of snacks and beverages.

4.The order of operations. For example, milk time, changing of the diaper, poop anticipation, and play time

5. Other things include, the important items that Scarlett can’t communicate. For example, Scarlett’s preferred television watching.  The times of day she prefers the mellow narrative of “Caillou” as opposed to more stimulating “Yo Gabba Gabba!” However, “Sesame Street” will occupy an hour of her time but “Blues Clues” will put her to sleep. Not to mention “Baby Signs” and “Your Baby Can Read.”

6.A baby sign flip chart is necessary to anyone who watches Scarlett.

While there are things I can’t predict, I can do everything I can to make a smooth transition until I get home by making sure the routine is the there even if I’m not.

If you liked this, check out my book: http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Skeptical-Woman-ebook/dp/B0055E6ZAU

The idea of staying at home with baby is great until the reality sets in that this baby is going to grow into a little kid. And then what? Once we approach school age, there is very little reason for me to stay home. I’m not one of those women who’s going to get her nails done, go to the gym, and spend my days wondering how to avoid my cleaning lady. On the other hand, I don’t want to spend 18 hours a day at work. I want a life with balance, where I can enjoy my profession and my family.

Full time or part time, The feeling of going back to work is like a churning in my gut and a flood questions. What if she feels abandoned? What if she gets scared?  Although, she will be staying at home with my mother while I am at work, I won’t be there with her. That’s the hardest part. I think it is definitely more my issue than anything else. This milestone puts us on the thresh hold of a new phase of our lives. She’s a toddler, she’s growing up.

Where did the time go?

As I ask myself that question, I do not regret my decision to stay home with her for this last year at all. Just a year ago, she was a baby in her Exersaucer. Now she’s talking and running. She’s ready to meet new people and see the world. I have to be too.

If you liked this, check out my book: http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Skeptical-Woman-ebook/dp/B0055E6ZAU

When you have a baby, your hands take a beating. Hand washing, sanitizer, bottles, pacifiers, bath time, and when winter comes it’s all over for moisturized skin. When hands get lose moisture they also lose elastin, which keeps hand skin firm and wrinkle free. Our hands are going to age no matter what but give them a fighting chance with these 3 tips:

1. Don’t use lotion use ointment. I prefer Aquafor or a store equivalent.

2. Avoid hand sanitizer if you can. If you can use soap and warm water for 30 seconds and dry your hands well after washing then you don’t need sanitizer too. Save it for absolute necessities.

3. If your hands are really bad, get a pair of cotton gloves, apply the Aquafor and wear the cotton gloves at night so the ointment soaks in.

If you’re curious whether or not your skin use some nourishment here’s a tip, hand can always use extra help. Hands age and hands show your age before your face does. Have you ever seen the granny hands on Sarah Jessica Parker? Her face looks great but her hands should be at Bingo.

If you liked this, check out my book: http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Skeptical-Woman-ebook/dp/B0055E6ZAU

The following is a list of my favorites thus far:

1. Do not put your piggies in the dog’s water bowl again!

2. Are you pooping?

3. The toothbrush went night night’s (I don’t know where I came up with the term night night, what’s wrong with using “sleep”?)

4. Okay, I’ll draw a fish for you.

5. Don’t squeeze the kitty’s tail.

6. You can’t feed crayons to the dog.

7. Please stop swooning. You’re going to get hurt.

8. What did you just throw in the potty?

9. Hold my ear.

10. You have to say “high five” otherwise it’s just hitting.

Come to think of it, this list comprises a typical day.

If you liked this, check out my book: http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Skeptical-Woman-ebook/dp/B0055E6ZAU

Alas, when the home made pizza bug comes to my house, I have to realize my fears of making dough “from scratch.” I am terrible at making dough. This is when New Jersey comes through again, as I can buy pizza dough “real” dough in any supermarket. If making dough or finding dough isn’t enough fun, try covering your entire kitchen in flour and rolling it out. (If you ordered pizza, it would have been here by now).

Pizza has three basic components:

Gravy (if you want to call it “sauce” you’re the one who has to live with yourself)

Cheese

Dough

Everything else is optional.

Items you will need.

1. A pizza peel

2. Pizza stone

* or- you can just use a large cookie sheet.

Let’s take each component.

1. Gravy- I make my own and freeze it (which is a post for another time). Although, if I forget to defrost it, I rely on a jar of Barilla Marinara Sauce. It has a clean, simple flavor.(1/4 cup per pie)

2. Cheese- I always use part-skim mozzarella, shredded (1/2 cup per pie)

3. Dough. If you want to roll out your own dough, God speed. you’ll follow the same process no matter what. If you are a dough wimp like me consider (and I can’t believe I’m going to say this) Pillsbury pizza dough. You can actually unroll it directly onto a cookie sheet.

Preheat the oven to according to the dough package.

If you have a pizza peel, dust the peel with a tablespoon of flour. Unravel the dough onto the peel. Spoon the 1/4 cup of gravy onto the dough, cover with 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. Transfer pizza from peel to stone and bake.

It should take about 10-15 minutes.

Remove from oven with peel and let it rest for 5 minutes.

*If you do not have a pizza peel or pizza stone. Spray a cookie sheet with non stick cooking spray, unravel dough onto sheet, cover with gravy, cheese, and bake the same way. Let it rest. cut.

If you want to go crazy with toppings that’s up to you but don’t overload or else you will end up with soggy pizza.

This post may not be an actual recipe as much as it is a guide for creating a pretty damn good semi-homemade pizza. This pizza a cost effective, easy to make, and can be served in 30 minutes or less.

If you liked this, check out my book: http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Skeptical-Woman-ebook/dp/B0055E6ZAU

For example, Scarlett can have a tantrum because of a particularly frustrating toy that she can’t operate. Or she can throw a fit because she was prevented from taking a kitchen knife out of the dishwasher. Frustration comes from wanting to do something or a desire for something that a child can’t get. This can come at toddler age or older.

In my house, a tantrum is accompanied by a lot of swooning. Scarlett, a known swooner, will throw herself forward and backward crossing her arm over her forehead in a very dramatic manner. She’ll cry and yell. Unfortunately, frustration is a part of life and the only way I can teach her and help her in this stage of development is to let her express her frustration and get it out. It will pass. A baby can’t stay frustrated forever.

I can honestly say, we don’t hit.  Hitting, spanking whatever you want to call it  does not work. After parenting two  very well-behaved stepchildren,  who have had their terrible, horrible days, Joe and I can definitely say that there is never a reason to strike a child, ever. It teaches them nothing except how to hit and it shows them that you have a breaking point, which they will try to bring you to again and again.

Once a child does understand the word no, it’s time to implement a time out corner. This is the best possible discipline option because it gives the child a chance to cool down and start again. My best advice is don’t make their bedroom the time out area. You don’t to associate sleep or playing in their room with discipline. Find a corner of your living room and start there. One minute of time out for ever year of life.

The bottom line is if you wouldn’t yell and hit out in public (well, at least I hope not). Don’t do it at home.

If your toddler is throwing a tantrum don’t try to yell to get through to them. It only adds to the noise. At the same time, don’t try to coddle and distract them. Just let the kid get it out. I say to Scarlett “let me know when you are finished,” I make sure she’s safe and I walk away.

Obviously, this is not a good method when out in public. At those moments, be aware of your child’s limits and don’t over do it. Take preventative measures to avoid a breakdown. Don’t over-schedule, make sure they are fed, rested, and comfortable. Organize outings around their everyday routine. If your child does not have a daily routine, that’s part of your problem.

Toddler tantrums are particularly difficult because toddlers do not understand “no.”  At 17 months old (and thereabouts) a parent should have introduced the concept of no. Children should hear this word. When she tries to hit, take something that doesn’t belong to her, or do something she shouldn’t, Scarlett needs to hear the word “no.” However, she doesn’t know what it means yet. She is figuring out that the word is connected to some kind of “stop” in the action but that’s it.

There are days when I am sure Scarlett thinks her name is “no.”

If you liked this, check out my book: http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Skeptical-Woman-ebook/dp/B0055E6ZAU

Contrary to what many parents may think, bubbles do not have to be just an outside item. Blow bubbles while the baby is in the bath tub. Go crazy and play with them in the house.

While Dollar tree offers a three pack of bubbles for $1 and during the summer bubbles are in every supermarket, the best bubbles are made by Gymboree.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=gymboree+bubbles&hl=en&prmd=imvns&resnum=3&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&ion=1&biw=1280&bih=711&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=11726647694897559428&sa=X&ei=QjYHT8DNKOLl0QHxp7WGAg&ved=0CG8Q8gIwAQ

For somewhere between 6.00 and 17.00 (depending on sales and availability) Gymboree bubbles come with a blower and a vessel for the bubbles.  However, that’s not the amazing part. These bubbles do not pop immediately. In fact, if they are left alone they will maintain their shape for hours. It’s clear, after they do pop that there is a bit of residue left behind from the stabilizer but it’s totally worth it for the look of amazement that they will give a child and a grownup. I’m totally obsessed.

If you liked this, check out my book: http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Skeptical-Woman-ebook/dp/B0055E6ZAU

As her second Christmas approached I vowed that I was not going to let the same misery happen to her again. This year she’s walking and eating regular food. I had to make sure she was going to have a good time. With her red silk plaid Christmas dress hanging in her closet, I dreamed of her being a holiday vision mingling at Christmas eve dinner.

Of course, one week before Christmas she came down with a cold so off to the doctor we went. The day of Christmas eve I was relieved that she slept late that morning but relief soon turned to concern when it occured to me that she may not nap. Into to car we went for a drive and a snooze.

Our final hurdle happened when Scarlett dispapproved of the puffy dress she was going to wear. She rallied when I taught her to play peek-a-boo with the hem and I gave her new shoes to wear.

By 7:00 we arrived at our family’s house where she spent the next 6 hours partying with the big kids. She ate a bowl of Zuppa di pesce, played with her cousins, admired her grandparents Christmas tree, and chased her uncles French bull terrier around the house. She even hung on for Struffoli and M&M’s for dessert.

This year was the total opposite of her first Christmas and I learned a few things from the experience.

1. If my child has a big night or an event that’s going to take her off her routine then I have to prepare for it a few days in advance. Keeping Scarlett up a little later for a  night or two before Christmas eve and letting her sleep later that morning made a huge difference.

2. I kept everything else in her routine the same. She ate her normal foods all day and had her regular activities. I didn’t add anything else for fear of overstimulating her.

3. The nap. A child has to nap. If a ride in the car guarantees a nap then get them in the car!

Most importantly, I had to remind myself a baby doesn’t know what a holiday is. Scarlett did not understand what all the fuss was about. The best thing I could do was make it work. Understand the balance of new and routine and make the two harmonious if only for one night.

If you liked this, check out my book: http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Skeptical-Woman-ebook/dp/B0055E6ZAU