Naptime Blog

I had every intention on writing a strong review about the Hyland’s Teething Tablets. I read so much about them online myself and had a great number of friends and family to share their success stores with me.

Jayce is cutting those back molars and BOY in he cranky! He does not care much for the taste of Orajel so that is a fight to get in his mouth. So I was glad to hear of a table that dissolves and has a little flavor.

Unfortunately, as soon as I slipped the table in his mouth, he through a fit. He did not care for the taste and immediately started fishing it out of his mouth. It was chalky and messy after it was wet with his saliva. I also was a little uneasy about the directions. You can give 3 or 4 up to 4 times per day, that really seems like a lot to me. Because he wouldn’t keep them in his mouth not sure if it works.

Has anyone had any luck with the teething tables on the market?

http://www.amazon.com/Hylands-Teething-Tablets-tablets-Pack/dp/B000FYT4N0

~Shanta

I am quickly learning that family can grow out of some of the most unexpected places. After losing my mother 5 years ago to cancer, I realized that my remaining family unit was not as strong as I once thought. In many was I think my mother was the glue, and when se passed there went our glue.

Trying to raise small children without a maternal or paternal grandmother is a tough and heartbreaking task at times. Our community and church family have proven time & time again that they are our family without the blood connection.

Friends step up to show support like they are aunties and uncles, and the church family I like a room full of grand mommies & granddaddies. I couldn’t ask for a better extended family <3

~Shanta

Is it just  I or does it seem like every time you build up that nest/savings account an emergency pops up and knocks you off your feet? We had finally gotten our finances in a comfortable place. Bills were being paid on time, we were enjoying our weekend etc. Then our AC in our truck dies out with a few other things! It would have been impossible to ride around with 2 kids and no AC in this heat.

The bad news is that vehicle repairs can wipe out your savings pretty quickly. I hope to start planning for an emergency fund, a nest egg and just that little extra on the side.

Below are two good articles that may help someone thru to the tough times.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/managing-the-stress-of-financial-uncertainty-262219/

http://www.credit.com/products/loans/Emergency-Preparation.jsp

~Shanta

Jayce is almost 18 months. Because I am in my mid 30’s now, I feel like my clock is ticking LOUD! My husband & I both want to add to our family and were trying to figure out the best time. Our oldest son is 10 and we both want to try again. I have had my fair share of high-risk pregnancies and I don’t want my age  to be another factor in my high-risk situation.  Many parents say that there is never a perfect time, I just want a smooth transition.

I also wish for a happy & healthy baby, and a little girl wouldn’t hurt

http://www.pregnancy-period.com/best_time_to_get_pregnant.html

~Shanta

This is the 1st year that my baby (Bog boy) was old enough to go away for camp. We decided to go with 4-H because of their good history and reputation. The camp is about 4 hours away from our home AND we can have no contact with him. They will only contact us in the case of emergency, so I really don’t want to hear from them with bad news. I thought that I would be the cry baby when he pulled off, instead it was my husband who was a little teary eyed. I think he was more proud of our accomplishments as a young family, being able to send our son off for camp.
Our youngest son Jayce has just started to notice that his big brother is not around this week. He walks around the house calling his name, it’s really adorable.

At this point, mid-way through the week, we ALL miss him pretty bad.

~Shanta

DECISIONS, Decisions, decisions,

Our sweet little baby Jayce is growing right on up! He is currently going to a home daycare. While I know the family LOVES him to death, I wonder if it is time for him to be around his peers. He is 16 months and I don’t want him to miss out on that social component that he will get from being around his peers.

This is such a tough decision for me. I know he is well taking care of and watched closely now, but I am afraid when he is in a room full of small toddlers he will get lost in the crowd.

I am praying that the pros out weight the cons. He is grow in right on up…

~Shanta

I wanted to take this time to share with you just a few things about my awesome husband.

He is a great dad to our children as well as other neighborhood and church children that he comes in contact with. He goes above and beyond! While I know there are 1000’s of great dads out there, he is definitely our hometown hero!!

Our local parenting newsletter is holding a Hottest Dad contest at www.tidewaterparent.com . I couldn’t wait to enter him and brag on his awesome corn pancakes :) I rarely enter contest/sweepstakes but felt that I couldn’t let this opportunity pass by. If he makes the final cuts it will be based on votes, so WE will need your support!

More info to come.

Please tell me all about the amazing fathers in your life.

~Shanta

This should be an interesting summer. Our oldest son is turning 10 soon, and we are looking into local and sleep away camps (OMG). There is a huge gap between my boys in age so I want him to still feel as if there are certain things out there just for him and it’s not all about the baby.

He is pretty athletic “All” around. He likes everything, not just 1 sport but all of them. He has played a little AYSO (soccer), Babe Ruth League (baseball) & our local Parks & Rec basketball league. My husband who is a HUGE basketball fan is insisting on a basketball camp. I really don’t want to sway him in any direction. But WE all know how fathers can be when it comes to their boys and sports…

Well, I will keep researching the safest and affordable camp for our family.

~Shanta

I can’t believe that it’s this time of year again! Our son Jeromy who is a 4^th grade has made through another testing season. Forth grade has brought on a lot of new challenges; girls, sports competiveness & the dreaded EOG’s.

Overall, I would say he has had a pretty good year. As a parent and an educator I must admit the end of grade testing systems the schools districts use for accountability really frustrate me. Your child could have busted their butt all year and not be a great test taker and possibly fail for the year because of one test! On the flip side, your child could have been really lazy and not done any work all year but test well and automatically advance.

I hope one day a more efficient system to highlight a child’s individual strengths and address their weakness comes to light!

Proud mother & educator,

Shanta

Our oldest son who is in the 4th grade recently experienced his 1st broken heart. He had this little “girlfriend” who he was just crazy about. He bought her a little Valentine and everything. It bothered me a little bit, but I tried to convince myself that it was normal puppy love and a phase that would quickly pass (so I hoped). I knew it was part of growing up so I didn’t make a big deal over it when he would talk about his little friend “girlfriend”.

Well a few weeks ago he came in the house with his head hung down. His little friend “girlfriend” had moved on. She did not like him anymore. He was CRUSHED, I was smiling on the inside (glad it was finally over) but a little sad on the outside because my baby had his heart broken, and I knew that this was just the 1st of many to come in his little life. I can’t protect him from everything, but I will surely try to be there to dust him off.

-Shanta