Hello everyone! I know I have been MIA for a while and I wanted to share with you the newest addition to our family:

She came into this world on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 12:20pm weighing a good 6lbs and 4oz! We are doing great and I will be updating with a following blog post of my birthing story. I just wanted to share God’s little blessing with you ladies. Thank you to all of you that have been praying for our family and GOD BLESS you all.

For one reason or another many people don’t think that teaching toddlers manners is that important. However, if you want to raise a well-mannered child then you must start when they are little. This is because toddlers learn things so easily. In fact, many of the things toddlers learn will naturally become automatic as they get older, which is precisely what you want when teaching good manners!

Now that we know why teaching manners to toddlers is important, how do we go about doing it? The first thing you need to do is to show your toddler what good manners are. For example, when your toddler gives you something of his, always say “Thank You,” and when you give something to your toddler always ask, “What do you say?” and then answer your question if he doesn’t. Teaching toddlers manners is all about constant repetition. Eventually your little one will catch on and begin to say “please,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome” all on his own. Other types of manners that your toddler will pick up on by being shown are table manners. Make a point to sit down as a family and work on table etiquette with your toddler. Obviously, he can’t do everything perfectly, but he can learn to eat with utensils and not throw his food on the floor.

Another way to teach good manners is through play. For example, play dates are great for teaching toddlers how to respectfully interact with others. It’s probably no surprise to you, but many toddlers struggle with sharing. However, play dates will give you the perfect opportunity to teach your child how to share. You can also teach your toddler to say, “I’m sorry” when he does something wrong to another child. Again, it is important that you are consistent with your efforts and work on instilling manners at every play date you attend.

In conclusion, there really is not an exact “guide” for you to follow when teaching a toddler good manners. You will learn what works and what doesn’t through trial and error, but the most important thing is that you are consistent with what works. Your toddler will learn and begin to demonstrate good manners when he is constantly exposed to them. Therefore, the key to teaching good manners is to always be consistent with your efforts!

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Moms these days are so very busy, but we’re more stressed than ever before and in need of lifestyle choices that help us be happier. Pursuing a hobby may be just the ticket.

Here are a few reasons why a hobby is a great idea, even for a busy Mom.

Having a hobby relieves stress and tension

Spending time with a hobby replaces negative thoughts and replaces them with positive thoughts and feelings. Having a hobby or creative outlet can lift your spirits and help with depression.

Unlike passive activities like television viewing, a hobby provides intellectual stimulation while simultaneously relaxing you. Repetitive actions like those used in knitting are especially calming.

Hobbies help you parent better

We are so good at signing our children up for lessons and classes and encouraging them to have hobbies, even paying for these classes and driving them to and fro! But we forget that we also need to learn new things and grow as people. Hobbies also connect you with other people who share your interests.

A hobby can help you maintain your separate identity as a real person and not just as Mom. This models healthy habits and boundaries for our kids.

Hobbies provide a refreshing change from your daily routine

If you’re a stay at home Mom, you may be frustrated because at the end of the day you can hardly point to anything you’ve “done”. This is because of the repetitive nature of housework and childcare.

In generations past, women pursued hobbies like quilting, sewing, knitting, crochet and embroidery not only because they were enjoyable but because they provided tangible value to the family, either providing clothing for their backs or much needed income.

Some hobbies like tennis, gardening or dancing lessons can even provide great exercise with all of its accompanying benefits. The best exercise activity is one that combines mind and body and is enjoyable to pursue.

Why not carve out some time to pursue your hobby Mom? Don’t let a shortage of time stop you. Rearrange your schedule and put YOU back in it, and start carving out time for your favorite pastime. Cause if we do not take care of ourselves…who is going to take care of our family?

With the expectancy of my sixth baby, I thought I would talk about all the “advice” I have been getting since I have been pregnant this go round. Namely—OLD WIVES TALES…

It’s all great to hear advice during your pregnancy, especially unwelcome advice. I’m sure you’ve been told by one person or another how to live. Am I right? It only gets worse the further along in your pregnancy you are. Someone will want to tell you that you shouldn’t bend, raise your arms over your head, or walk a certain way, not to pick up a baby in case you hurt the one in your stomach or put yourself in labor. Oh yeah, and my favorite: “Don’t talk about anyone because your baby will come out looking just like that person!” LOL As the pregnancy gets closer to the due date you’ll be told many different home remedies of how to put yourself in labor (think castor oil…yuck!). Got a headache? Someone can tell you exactly what to drink to get rid of it without any medication, remember it is important to ask a doctor before trying to take something you’ve never tried before doing it. But the most fun I have during the course of the 9-10 months stretch is hearing all the wives tales, also known as myths.

I’m pretty sure you aren’t going to even care at this point what sex the baby is, all you want is for the morning sickness to stop and sometimes that doesn’t happen until the very end of delivery! (Go figure!). You may even be counting down the days until the first trimester is over. Chances are if you have morning sickness someone is bound to tell you what the sex of the baby is. One wives tale is if you are having severe morning sickness is a sign you are having a girl. Which in my case has been very true, my sons did not have me sick all day. I think it is the extra estrogen or “drama queen syndrome”.

Here’s a wives tale that is a lot of fun and you can test it on everyone in your household. Take a thin piece of string or your hair, slide your ring down it, hold it above your belly and let the ring dangle above it. If the rings spin in a circle it is a boy, but if it goes from one side to the other, it is a girl. Once you’ve tried it out on your tummy, get someone in your house and do it above their hand. Does the ring spin in a circle above your husband’s hand? Hmm, is it really and old wives tale or is there really something to it?

Many women claim to suffer from bouts of heartburn during the pregnancy, according to the old wives tell this would mean your baby will be born with a head full of hair.

Right before the end of your first trimester your doctor will listen to your baby’s heart rate, this is to make sure the baby is doing alright. The wives tale goes, if the heart rate is high it is a girl and a low one is a boy. Don’t you just love these?

Ever have someone tell you that you are carrying high or low and wonder what that really means? Basically if you are carrying your baby low it is closer to your abdomen, a high baby is closer to your chest. Look at yourself in the mirror. How is your baby sitting? The old tale says that if you are carrying high it is a girl, carrying low is a boy.

Wives tales can be a lot of fun but keep in mind these aren’t fact. Don’t go preparing your child’s room just because one of these told you, you were going to have a girl. What are some of the “Old Wives Tales” you have heard when you were expecting? Leave a comment below!

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