Be A Fantastic Parent #7

#7 Trust your mommy gut. No one knows your child better than you. Follow your instincts when it comes to his health and well-being. If you think something's wrong, chances are you're right.

I know that I am not good at this one... and I think every mom has been there. You show up at the doctors office for a runny nose and turns out that your kiddo has had a double ear infection. Or maybe you keep telling yourself "it's nothing" only because you are paranoid about being that mom so you don't freak out.

But the truth of the matter is that you know your kids better than anyone else does. And there are going to be times that you just *know* something is wrong even if every test comes back normal and everyone says that you are crazy. That's ok! Ultimately it's not about what other people think, feel, or see... it's about you and your kids...

Along this same vein, but slightly off topic, don't feel like you need to justify your feelings to anyone else! Unless, of course, you clearly are crazy and need to tell people why they shouldn't write you off. I have been going through a rather emotional time lately, which I am sure I owe all to being way too pregnant. I feel like I have to explain to people why I am doing what I am doing... why I feel the way I do. It's even come down to me NOT telling others about my plans for a Bradley Birth, my reasons for avoiding a c-section (although my mom will tell me it's the easy way to do this), the love affair I have with my stroller, or even responding about things that normally I could talk about without getting heated. All of a sudden, things are very personal for me... and if people don't agree with me, I feel like I need to justify my thoughts or get them to agree with me... and that's more trouble than I think it's worth.

The bottom line is... whether it has to do with your personal convictions or your toddler's habits... it doesn't matter what other people think, do, or say. Ultimately, it's your life, your kids, and your happiness... trust yourself!

Be A Fantastic Parent #6, and more baby planning!

#6 Protect that smile. Encouraging your kid to brush twice a day with a dab of fluoride toothpaste will guard against cavities.

This one is super easy! A little bit of advice... I sing the ABC's to Ryan as we brush... once for top teeth and once for bottoms! And don't forget, no flouride until they are 2! :oP

Welp, we are down to 5 weeks... 35 lonely days... until this baby is due. We are still moving forward to get things prepared for Baby's arrival and it's getting exciting. Tonight I am going to be packing our bags for the hospital and maybe going through some baby clothes.

My nesting is also headed into overdrive. Dustin and I have reorganized the living room, taken the rug and dining table out of the dining room so that we could mop the tile that never even sees the light of day, and have been trying to figure out a schedule that will work for once baby gets here. Gear is getting put together, the pack and play is set up in our room, and the car seat is in the car. It won't be long now at all!

Here is a picture that my birthing instructor took of our belly progress so far!

Be a Fantastic Parent #6

6. Savor the Moments: Yes, parenthood is the most exhausting job on the planet. Yes, your house is a mess, the laundry's piled up, and the dog needs to be walked. But your kid just laughed. Enjoy it now -- it will be over far too fast.

I don't like to think that Ryan's days of laughing are numbered... but I do think that the days that he will come cuddle on my lap (while I am trying to fold the laundry) or want to play peekaboo (when I am trying to do the dishes) will all come to an end far sooner than I ever imagined.

I made a decision to be a mom that is more worried about how great Ryan's life can be than how clean my house is. I will gladly leave a cluttered counter for a day at the park with the kiddo that steals my heart anytime! I will serve take out, I will stay up late to pay bills, and I'll even skip a shower (shhhhh) just to get a few more minutes with him.

I can't tell you what we did last weekend, but I can tell you that every day, whether we have cheerios or pancakes for breakfast, Ryan and I do our best to jam as many giggles in as possible. Now, if only there was a way to pack those up in a box so I can keep them forever. :o)

Be a Fantastic Parent #5

5. Get Kids Moving. The latest research shows that brain development in young children may be linked to their activity level. Place your baby on her tummy several times a day, let your toddler walk instead of ride in her stroller, and create opportunities for your older child to get plenty of exercise.

Being super pregnant, this one gets tough for me! Buggy loves to run... L.O.V.E.S. And I think that may even be an understatement. So going places and allowing him to walk really means that I will be ditching my cart/stroller/friends to chase him. Because he thinks he's a big kid and doesn't need to hold hands or ask permission to go to the petstore.

But, what I do think is ultimately the important thing is that he gets that energy out in a very productive manner... and right now, as the weather heats up, that means lots of Splash Pads, Play Zones, and Park Playdates! The first two keep his attention so he doesn't go running off... but is able to be active and not stimulated by technology... and the last one helps to build his coordination, and normally is open enough that even my waddling self doesn't feel like I need to run after him before a mall patrol man on a Segway runs him over.

I know it's getting a little toasty here already (April, and we already are in the 90s and 100s every day) but finding places that are shady, wet, and free are always on my list of Things To Do! Hopefully, I'll see you out there with your kiddos, too!

Being a Fantastic Parent #3

The AZLehman's are down for the count with all kinds of germy goodness... but I spaced this last week, so I wanted to get in here to tell you what makes you a great parent!

#3: Kiss and Hug Your Spouse In Front of the Kids. Your marriage is the only example your child has of what an intimate relationship looks, feels, and sounds like. So it's your job to set a great standard.

This one isn't that hard... but I think there is another side to this one called "Don't argue in front of the kids, too." Dustin and I make sure that Ryan sees us being in love, and we try to keep our disagreements from the dinner table. I don't mean making out on the couch during playtime... but we hold hands when we go out, we kiss hello and goodbye no matter what... and our favorite thing to do is Family Hugs... aka "The Ryan Sammich". Ryan loves these big group hugs and he will purposely pull both of our heads in for a big hug if one of us is holding him.

I really hope that one day Ryan meets a great girl and knows exactly how to treat her and how to be a great husband because of the examples that we show him now!

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I also wanted to let you know... I only saved 60% at Fry's last night... but I had to buy things like toilet paper... booo... :oP

Be a Fantastic Parent #2

If you missed the first week... you can find it here!

#2: Teach your baby to sign. Just because a child can't talk doesn't mean there isn't lots that she'd like to say. Simple signs can help you know what she needs and even how she feels well before she has the words to tell you-- a great way to reduce frustration.

This has been a good one for us! When Ryan was really little, I would sign "more" to him all the time... and he just looked at me like I had 3 heads. But one day, he figured it out... and he would say "more" to everything! He became a little sponge for these signs, and now he uses "more", "please", "thank you", and "love" daily. I know that there are kids out there with more signs, but these few words have made our daily lives much easier, and he loves being able to use them! He will point at something he wants and say "Please". He can ask for more and hand me his cup. It really does reduce frustration!

Did you use signing? What are some things that your child loved to sign? Any suggestions for other parents? Share!!

Be A Fantastic Parent!

So yesterday I got an email from http://www.parents.com/ that was 50 Easy Ways to Be a Fantastic Parent... one a week for practically a year. I started reading them and thought that this would be a great thing to talk about one day a week... so I am gonna put one of these in each Tuesday... mkay??

1. Take charge. Children crave limits, which help them understand and manage an often confusing world. Show your love by setting boundaries so your kids can explore and discover their passions safely.

Ok... this one did make me giggle... I am going to be a fantastic parent by setting boundaries... riiiiight. But, then I thought about it more and realized that the point on this isn't the boundaries... but the safe exploration of your child's passion.

Buggy loves animals, coloring, and making music. He also loves to explore. I could very well just give him run of the house, but that's not safe. He'd no doubt find something secretly dangerous (like a tube of diaper cream) and we'd be in trouble. By the way... diaper cream is a laxative... and poison control doesn't laugh at you when you call saying your kid ate a whole tube of the stuff.

Since Bug gets a certain cabinet for exploring, and has full reign of 1 room in the house, he can take off and be a boy. He is so happy knowing that he can conquer bean bag chairs, climb on the dogs, and scribble on his magnadoodle to his hearts content and he won't hear a "NO!" This helps him feel like a big boy and yet keeps me sane. ;o)

Now, if only this worked with his father.