Blog Entries

Poll Results Archive

admin — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 01:00:00 +0100

Poll Results Archive

How much does/did dad help out during your pregnancy & delivery?

How concerned are you about the presence of BPA in baby bottles?

What are you doing to save money for baby?

How did your level of ex [...]

Work/Life Balance: What Decision Did You Make?

Sarah — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This September, my daughter enters preschool, my son goes into first grade and I turn 40! How fast we move through life! Today, I work full-time, but it wasn't too long ago when I was making the decision about being a stay at home mom, working part-time or trying to be super woman and do it all.

For some of my friends, it was an easy decision with really only one option that made sense for them and their families...stay home with baby. For me it was never that cut [...]

Stay at home or go to work?

emmareaghansmommy — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

For me, this was an easy choice. Ever since I was little I wanted to be a mommy...take care of the house and kids, cook dinner, and just make it a happy home. Maybe this is because my mom stayed home, and was an awesome role model of a "housewife." She made our childhood a happy and memorable one. She never sat on the couch eating bon bons and watching Oprah! She played imaginary games, built forts, drove us to and from school and sports, etc.&n [...]

Working from home has its perks . . . and pitfalls

nikkik — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Most women dream of being able to somehow juggle work and family, and with technology's help, the dream is becoming a reality for many. The internet has made it possible to work from home within a variety of fields, such as medical billing, retail (think eBay and other online storefronts), journalism, photography, and the list goes on. While working from home certainly makes it possible for women and men alike to avoid daycare, commuting, and other work-related costs, there are also [...]

Having troubles conceiving? Take a vacation!

YBYWadmin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

When my husband and I had trouble conceiving (admittedly, I got a late start at age 35), friends suggested that we take a vacation. I thought they were crazy, but I have to say that our son was born in early March, putting conception just about the time my husband and I took a week-long backpacking trip the previous summer. Maybe the vacation from stress was responsible, or just opportunity to spend time together away from it all.

Did you had a similar experience? Do you believe a vaca [...]

Adding organic foods to your family's diet (on a budget!)

YBYWadmin — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Local registered dietician April Mitsch, MS, RD, Registered Dietitian, Southwest Washington Medical Center, has some tips to help you add more organic food to your diet even if you don't have the budget, including information on local farmers' markets.

Healthy home for baby

YBYWadmin — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Oregon Environmental Council has a wealth of information to help ensure that your baby comes home to a healthy home, including a list of ways to reduce chemicals in your household, how to find Eco-Healthy Child Care and even an Eco-Healthy Lunch Kit. If you're concerned about what toys to avoid and what toys are safe for your child, be sure to visit the healthy toys pages of HealthyStuff.org.

BABIES Film

nikkik — Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The March For Babies event on April 24th in downtown Vancouver was a great experience for all! Now, with the fundraising walk over, a new March of Dimes event is coming our way:

The BABIES Are Coming!

In celebration of March for Babies, the March of Dimes is excited to announce a national partnership with the new Focus Features' movie BABIES!

BABIES open [...]

March For Babies Kickoff!

nikkik — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Vancouver Family Magazine is proud to be a media sponsor for March of Dimes. The March For Babies event is coming up, here's the kickoff video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3pNdoW-xV0

Question for Expectant and Experienced Moms

nikkik — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

What women hear about labor and childbirth before they experience it shapes their view of the experience, for better or for worse. As a woman, do you think it is more beneficial for expectant mothers to be verbally "prepared" by experienced mothers for the intensity of labor by hearing the raw reality (ex: "It is the most PAINFUL thing you'll EVER experience. EVER!), or by hearing it in softer ways (ex: it's difficult but . . . ). I'm fascinated by how the culture of c [...]

Daily Routines aren't Humdrum

familybirthcenter — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays families are usually ready for daily routines to normalize. If you don't have a daily routine for your baby you might want to consider the benefits. Creating a daily routine for your baby helps them to feel more at ease. Babies who are on a routine are usually less fussy and sleep better. But, experts agree that it is best to wait until baby is about three months of age before establishing a routine. The reason is [...]

Breastfeeding article

nikkik — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Yet another reason to breastfeed:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-01-26-breastfeeding-neglect_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

The great thing about this article is that the author goes out of her way to make sure non-breastfeeding parents are not viewed as less than.

Flu, Flu shot, Pregnancy..what's a mom to do?!

drchang — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0100

How many of you have had the flu? Probably all of you at one point or another... Or you could be like me and have had the privilege of multiple encounters with my influenza virus friends - that is, until the last few years when I gave in and got....

The Flu Shot.

Three simple words that at the same time inspire feelings of joy (I don't have to feel like I've been beaten with a stick and dumped in freezing water at the same time.) and [...]

Foster Parents: Thank you

nikkik — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:00:00 +0100

I have few yet vivid memories of some of the foster teens my parents took in when I was a preschooler. One of them was a fun-loving African American girl who made us laugh by impersonating the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz. Another stole our car. Nevertheless, overall, even my parents agree that it was a good experience for our family. Later, I would marry a man raised in part by foster parents, so, needless to say, I have great respect and admiration for foster parents.

I have a [...]

How did I ever live without . . .

nikkik — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:00:00 +0100

. . . wet wipes? Before our babies were born, I never bought wet wipes. I rarely even used paper towels. Rags and towels, it seemed, were all we really needed to clean up the occassional mess. Then our first daughter was born, and along with the obvious necessity of changing diapers, wet wipes came in very handy for all the new messes that turned up. I'll save readers the gory descriptions of bodily fluids, but you mommies and daddies know exactly what types of messes I'm referring to. N [...]

Choosing a daycare

emmareaghansmommy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Going along with the stay at home or go to work topic, I thought I would share my thoughts on choosing a daycare:) I have worked in three daycare centers in about eight years. It was a couple of years ago that I worked in childcare, but I do have a couple of "insider" suggestions for parents who are picking out a daycare center. One really good idea is to just drop in...don't call and make an appointment! Walk in and really listen to what is going on.&n [...]

Birth Order

nikkik — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:00:00 +0100

I'm the oldest of seven children - all from the same set of parents who are still married! Over the years, it's been interesting to observe how each of my siblings' personalities have developed, and I've always wondered how much of their tendencies (and my won) are shaped by birth order. I certainly believe that my own position as first born has affected my outlook and habits. For example, without older siblings to look up to, I mostly look to my parents for "approval&quo [...]

The decision to work or stay at home?

milk4urbaby — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:00:00 +0100

So your pregnant, congratulations. Now how do you decide whether you will stay at home with baby or work for a income. I say work for an income because you will soon learn that motherhood is a job to itself.

The decision to stay home without income or juggle work and a baby is a big decision. Factor in the need for income, your personality, goals as a parent, the personality of your baby and the expectation of others.

Can I say it is ideal to stay at home, yes for so [...]

Free Range Kids

nikkik — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Just finished the book Free Range Kids, by Lenore Skenazy. You may remember Ms. Skenazy as the mom dubbed "America's Worst Mom" after allowing her 9-year-old son to ride the New York subway alone. Well, she's defended her choice by asserting that when we deprive children of all independence and exploration opportunities, we're stunting their development and growth as people. Remember, we're raising adults here, not children. Of course, there's a fine line b [...]

And John makes three:)

emmareaghansmommy — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Ok, I am not going to lie, life is crazy right now! Between everyone coming to see John, the lack of sleep, the mess..oh the house is a mess, engorgement, and worst of all the day we got home from the hospital Reaghan came down with a 103 degree fever! We have to try to keep her germs away from the baby and still encourage her to bond with him. Thankfully my awesome Grandma stocked our freezers with pre-made dinners that we just have to thaw and reheat...she made enough for a m [...]