Hey y’all!!  I may have given myself a little maternity leave from the blogosphere for the last three months.  I tell you what, these sleepness nights, crying babies and breastfeeding thirst spells do not improve as you get older!!

Yes, I took a break from blogging a bit but we are back and we are so excited to welcome our earnest boy 2.0 into our earnest little household. He is adorable and has thighs so chubby I just want to chew ‘em!!

So far, 2018 has brought RSV, pneumonia and an acute ear infection for our sweet little guy but that does not stop him from smiling all day, everyday.  It also has this mama on high alert for germs and nasties coming in contact with his little immune system.  Tune in next week to see what products I am using to help us fight these illnesses and keep others away.

Please join me this year as we go on this new adventure from a family of four to a party of five!!  Currently check out @earnestmomblog over on Instagram.  I am taking a #7daysofreal challenge where for seven days I will not be fancying up my pictures, just taking shots of my current real moments.  Join in?! I am ready to get real this year and would love to see your real moments too.

Talk to you all soon!

earnest mom.

As the earnest home is gearing up to welcome baby number 3, another way that this mom is getting ready is with breast-feeding supplies.  In my previous post about postpartum preparedness I mentioned a breastfeeding kit I put together.  I have done this because I plan on breastfeeding.  I have nursed my previous children, and have also supplemented with formula as that is what worked for us!

With our firstborn, my goal was to nurse until he was one.  By 6 months, I was back at work, pumping, supply dwindling and the stress of having enough milk to feed my nursling was not helping in the supply department.  His weight dropped and the doctor became concerned and recommended we supplement with formula.  So, earnest dad and I began researching organic/high quality formulas for out little man – this was tedious but we felt it necessary, 7.5 years ago the options were not as available as they are today.  I continued to nurse at night and when he woke up until 9 months.  I was happy to make 9 months with him but knew with future babies I would want to nurse longer.

With our second, our breastfeeding journey was MUCH different.  I was blessed to be a full-time mom and although I supplemented with formula here and there, we nursed until she was 2.

As I prepare for this new little one to join us, my hopes again are to nurse him, but I am not putting too much pressure on myself as I want to be prepared for anything.  With that being said, as the title of this article states; Fed is Best, I am a firm believer in that. Some moms can nurse, some cannot, some need supplementing and some do not.  WHATEVER works for every family is most important for that family.  I like that breast milk is free and as natural as it gets but, formula works too.

In trying to be prepared, I am keeping all options open and I have found and EXCELLENT resource for formula comparisons.  If breastfeeding does not pan out for me (or for you) this website has done a lot of the leg work I had to do so many years ago when making the switch.  In their research they have included their favorite budget friendly formula, lactose based formula, soy formula, organic formula and generic formula.  The formula that I used to supplement with our second made the list at one of the few to be without ARA and DHA but was the only certified organic on their favorites list.  Their research can be found here:  https://www.reviews.com/baby-formula/

I found these reviews incredibly informative and helpful, if I have to go the formula route, it has aided in my choice of which one to use.  The article is bit lengthy but breaks down ingredients and additives, why they are in some not in others, what sweeteners are used and why, non-GMO vs GMO, and much more.  They have definitely given a plethora of information that was really new to me!  I find this to be an excellent resource and hope you do too!!

Not expecting?  Still bookmark this link, it may prove to be very helpful in the future.  Hope this helps earnest followers!!

x.  earnest mom.

Autumn is a second Spring, where every leaf is a flower. – Albert Camus

Fall is hands down my favorite season.  With school starting back up, the weather getting cooler (at least here in PA) and pumpkin spice everything is flooding us – let’s get out in the gorgeous Fall weather and make the time to  connect with other moms.  Find some moms that you can make your mom tribe with.  I know that as a stay at home mom, my life becomes filled with conversations, arguments and humbling grocery store trips with toddlers; only to overwhelm my husband the minute he walks in the door because I am craving adult interaction.

Early on when we decided to keep me home to be with our children, I stayed home (or went to local kid things) and my focus was kids, kids, KIDS.  Finally, last year I realized I needed to connect with other moms, other women in my community.  I began to look for local moms groups and even tried to kick up my own little group.  I did not have much success at all, but I knew that I could not sit at home and wait for my tribe to come and find me – I had to put myself out there, again.

Nobody enjoys being the “new” mom, or the one that no one knows, I know that being the newbie in the group is definitely my least favorite of places.  As a mom though, I was craving connection, mom conversation and a group that I had life in common with.  This is when I found my local MOPS group.  I was so nervous, what if I do not fit in (like other groups I had tried), what if I did not feel welcome, what if the other moms did not like me, what if, what if, what if?!  I had a whole list of ‘what ifs’ that could of just kept me home, kept me comfortable and kept me in my own little SAHM isolated bubble.  I knew I needed more, I needed mom connections, I had to get free from my staying home routine.

So I did it, I stepped out on my own, walked into a giant church building filled with beautiful new and intimidating (only to me I am sure) faces and got out there.  The first meeting I sat with a group of moms that were welcoming, chatty and kind.  They were interested in me, my kids and why I wanted to join MOPS.  I felt so welcomed that the quiet voice in my head that kept reminding me that I was a stranger among a bunch of new strangers slowly quieted and I kept going back.  I found an awesome group of moms that I have connected with.   I enjoy MOPS so much, I joined the leadership group and have the humbling privilege of planning, creating and making welcoming meetings for other moms new to the group of regular attendees.  MOPS has changed my mom life, it has given me a comforting place to go twice and sometimes three times a month where I am getting more familiar with faces and names, and making deeper connections each time.  Our MOPS group kicks off our first meeting of the season this coming week and I am so ready to get back to meeting with moms and growing my tribe.

So, if last Spring or the Spring before that you felt like maybe you were the leaf among the flowers of moms out there ( I know that I have felt that); let this Fall be your second Spring.  Let this Fall be the season where you find your group of moms that have been saving that seat just for you.  Sometimes, it is scary to just put ourselves out there but if we stay home and never get out there looking we may never find that perfect mom tribe that is out there looking for someone just like you or me!  As women and as moms, together we are always better, we need that emotional, social and loving support that can only be found in fellow moms.  Let this season be yours mamas!

x. earnest mom.

Interested in finding a MOPS group near you?  Search your zip here MOPS.org

Here is a great article from Earnest Squad Member, Kahentiiosta.  Enjoy, e.m.

With summer in full swing, it can be easy for the kids to get bored quickly, and run out of ideas for keeping their minds optimal and ready for September.  Even though summer should be a carefree time, we need to keep in mind, that children are continuing to learn and finding creative ways to prevent the dreaded brain drain, will ensure that.

Here are some ideas and activities that can help with avoiding brain drain over the summer.

No electronics day instead of spending hours aimlessly looking at electronics, try putting them away and play some board games outside. I keep a few board games in reach for my girls to choose from and rotate every few days, so that they don’t feel as if they’re always playing the same games. One of our favorite games right now is Frozen Candyland.

Heading to the local library in your area is another free option. Most libraries have books, movies and CDs. There may even be some activities that day for the children to participate in.

We recently purchased some 2 x 4 pieces of wood and have used it to make our own life size Jenga set. Adding a number on the board and then having a sheet of math questions or simple words they need to spell out with a missing word.

Making a game of seek and find out of the weekly grocery store flyers is another way to find. Having a sheet of words that you would find in the flyer and they can cut out the picture and glue it to the paper, then write the words. For older children giving them a set budget they can try and find the prices and add up the prices for a shopping list.  Giving them a budget of $25 and see how many items they can purchase with that amount.

Make a letter a sensory bin of or a plastic bin, rice and foam letters. Place double the number of letters in the bin and they can spell out simple words and for the older children they can try and spell out the longest word with the letters they find.

Stick art kit out of pre-made pictures of stick art and tooth picks, keep in a small tote, and change pictures as needed. Templates can be found online under Stick Art Kit.

Lastly, making a summer bucket list of various activities the children want to do at home or within the surrounding neighborhood. Check the local town hall for various activities being offered.

Engaging the children in the planning with keeping them interesting in what they like to do, and finding fun ways to spend their summer holiday.

I hope everyone is having a great summer so far!