We are having a heat wave here on the East Coast, and with poor sleep and dehydration, tempers are flaring at my house. This afternoon I seem to have hit on a solution as I suggested they squirt each other with the hose. It is wonderful and simple, just the sort of blessing that comes with not having too much. Later on in the day, we will treat ourselves to popsicles. The pictures above are from last summer when we... Read more

In response to B-Mama’s last two posts, I also want to apologize for jumping down your throat, and I wanted to share that leaving the graduate school environment was a very difficult transition for me and for my family, and I am not sure we are even finished getting over it yet. My husband and I went straight from university life at Princeton to grad student housing at Uva, and I have to admit I just loved the dorm like... Read more

I want to follow-up my previous posting about strollers with a simple apology.  I used my irritation with a brand of strollers to pass judgment on people, particularly a community here about which I know very little!   We are adjusting and I am attempting to find my niche in an unfamiliar area, which has definitely put me on the defensive (as it has in the past on certain visits).  That said, I am sorry I used this blog to... Read more

As the boys and I begin to get a feel for our new area, we’ve been venturing out and enjoying various hotspots in town.  A few of our earliest outings have been to the newer shi-shi outdoor mall a mere five minutes down the road.   I so love many aspects of this mall.  It is brimming with activity, including a children’s train that circulates around the interior walking space and toots its horn (my little boys are crazy for it…)  I... Read more

This morning, I am truly thankful for my husband, ET, and for all that he does for our family. He has been away since Friday for a weekend with “the guys,” an annual tradition, and I know that he will come back refreshed and renewed – they’re a great group of men! There’s nothing like a weekend on my own with the kiddos to remind me of how blessed we are to have a daddy who is so interested in... Read more

My friend, Alice Gunther, has written a book, Haystack Full of Needles, about homeschooling and socialization. Here is the a quote from the forward by Laura Berquist, as mentioned on A Family Centered Life: “It is a book about charity. It is a book about how to love your fellow homeschoolers, and how to demonstrate that love. It is a book about how to model the virtues of hospitality, kindness and patience for your children. It gives many excellent suggestions... Read more

“Women in your generation can do it all! Be wonderful wives and mothers and top-notch career women at the same time!” Is this line as familiar to you as it is to me? And what do you all think? I think it’s a little more complicated than that. Here’s our situation. I’m a lawyer, blessed with an ideal, flexible arrangement that allows me to work very part time and stay home full time. I work 10-15 hours each week, all... Read more

So, since we now have a new readership of hard core breast feeders, perhaps someone can advise on what I should do about my 5 month old biting me? He doesn’t have teeth yet, but he is teething, and he is quite enjoy a chomp and pull maneuver which makes me scream out loud. He tends to do this towards the end of a feeding, when he is getting bored and playful. Also, loyal reader K is having a problem... Read more

GREAT thanks to you ladies who recommended this product. My angel baby was fast becoming addicted to cosleeping, and her sleep was getting lighter and her mood fussier. I’ve never been able to make swaddling with a regular blanket work for me, perhaps because my larger babies can get their arms out easily, so the swaddle loses its snuggling effect. And then came SwaddleMe. I comfortably SwaddleMe’d Angelina last night with her soft arms tight against her chest, popped the... Read more

For an interesting post, touching upon many of the same themes we have been discussing here, check out this article from And Sometimes Tea. And no, it’s not my other blog, different Red. Read more