Mama Mondays FEATURES YOU!!!

So a couple of weeks ago I fiddled around with the idea of featuring some mama bloggers and asked you guys to provide me with some questions/ list of topics that you would like to read about. Here is the list I have compiled from the comments left and emails sent.

I plan to ask each Mama every week the same questions. These below

Name: 

Age: 

Number of kiddos:

Names (and meaning): 

Age of kiddos: 

Number of desired kiddos: 

Natural {epidural?} or C-Section: 

Breast,Formula,or both: 

Cloth or Regular: 

SAHM or Work {doing what}: 
Something that many people don't know about you: 

Then have them pick one distinct question to answer (based off of those that were sent to me). OR MORE THAN ONE. OR A STORY/TOPIC related to being a MAMA!


Here is the list thus far:
**** . YOU CAN ANSWER MORE THAN ONE OF THE LIST OF QUESTIONS... OR TALK ABOUT A TOPIC YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT (RELATED TO MOMMYHOOD) OR TELL US A FUNNY STORY! WHATEVER HELPS US LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOU!

1. How do I get my baby to nap?

2. How do I deal with the over-protective mother or mother-in-law?

3. How do I get my husband/significant other to help out?

4. How do you find time for yourself?

5. How do you keep my house in order?

6. How do you find mom friends?

7. What is the secret to getting my baby to sleep through the night?

8. What is the best remedy for a diaper rash?

9. How did you lose the baby weight?

10. What is your opinion on TV?

11. What resources are there for baby food making?

12. Do you believe in the cry it out method?

13. What are the benefits of co-sleeping?

14. How did you get your baby to take a bottle?

15. What do you think about breastfeeding in public?

16. What is the best way to deal with teething?

17. What is the key to increasing your supply?

18. What are your favorite cloth diapers?

19. How did you get through a natural birth?

20. How do you wean a baby from the pacifier?

21. How much do you think is okay to spend on a first birthday? How did you save money?

22. How did you tell your family you were pregnant?

23. How do you deal with the terrible two's?

24. How do you deal with a colicky baby?

25. How did you shop for your transitional car seat? What are the best sites?

26. How was the first time you left your baby overnight?

27. How do you find the right daycare or babysitter? What questions to ask?

28. How did you prepare your child for a baby to come?

29. Should I invest in a good quality camera?

30. How do you discipline your child without being too harsh?

31. Is teaching my baby sign language worth my time?

32. How do I get my baby on a schedule?

33. How do you get rid of cradle cap?

34. How do you keep your husband and your relationship strong while being so busy with babies?

35. How do you balance your home life with work?

36. How do you deal with unsolicited advice?

37. How and when did you start potty training?

38. What is the best piece of advice you've received?

39. If you had a natural birth, would you do it again, if so why?

40. What has been the hardest part of parenting?

41. What do you wish someone would have told you before having a baby?

42. What is your biggest fear as a mother?

43. How do you try to save money now that you have a baby?

44. What are some things that you do when things get stressful?

45. What are some of your favorite resources (books, websites, etc) for mothers?

46. What does your schedule look like on a typical day?

47. How did you survive the first two months?
48. What are some things every mom must have?

49. how do you set rules with family members that watch your kids?
50. how do you find the right daycare?
51. what is the best remedy for a cold?
52. what was the scariest part of giving birth?
53. what was something you remember the most about labor/delivery?
54. did you have a birth plan? did you stick to it?
55. if you could do anything differently, what would it be?
56. how do you get through fertility issues? what was your biggest support system?
57. how does one go about traveling with a child/children? what are the tricks of the trade? help!

As an example, I will go through it like I am the feature. {of course my witty comments added in}

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Name: Becky

Age: 25 (ON MONDAY PEEPS) going on 50. {BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A BAR IN LIKE 2O MILLION YEARS}

Number of kiddos: 1 {FOR NOW}

Names (and meaning): Elliana {The Lord has responded}

Age of kiddos: 8 months {holy shit}

Number of desired kiddos: I say 4, hubby says 3. We shall see.

Natural {epidural?} or C-Section: I totally wanted to put vaginal instead of natural... but I don't want to freak all you people out. So yeah, my answer is natural (but I totally had an epidural).

Breast,Formula,or both: Breast. But baby has had formula at like 6 months, just cuz. But yeah, we are still breastfeeding, and I pump.

Cloth or Regular: Regular.

SAHM or Work {doing what}: Both. I am home with baby during the day, and 3 days a week I am an ICU RN at night (12 hour shifts). So yeah, I get the best of both worlds.
Something that many people don't know about you: I was born in Russia (not due to military family) and speak fluently in Russian.

Question Answered:

2. How do I deal with the over-protective mother or mother-in-law?

So I chose to answer this question, however I have neither. But hear me out. Both my mom and my MIL have never stepped on my toes when it comes to how to raise my child. Sure my mom has made those random comments here and there like "oh maybe it's too cold in here for baby" or "are you sure she won't choke on that strawberry." And although that may sound annoying {as it is}, all I have to do is give her... the stink eye. The look. Like the look your mother used to give you when you were pushing the limits... you know what I am talking about. Well now, I give her that look. And it works like magic, she just zips her mouth and moves on. Partly due to the fact that you really don't want to battle with me. You will end up losing. Why? I am stubborn as hell.

When it comes to my MIL, she has honestly never made comments like that to me at all. Which is actually amazing, and I think she should win some sort of aware for that. I mean we're like almost 9 months into this thing and I have yet to hear any kind of parenting advice. But this doesn't mean that we don't disagree on certain things... i.e. the baby being away from her mama. She would love for me to leave the baby with her overnight and such, but me? Not so much. Why? Because I don't like to be away from my baby. Plain and simple as that.

But at the end of the day guys, the best advice I can give you when dealing with either your mother, MIL, sister, aunt, grandma, etc.... is stand your ground. Don't be afraid. You are this child's mother. Remember that. Remember what you went through to have this baby, and remember that these individuals have had their chance at parenting and there is no reason to parent yours. Of course, try to keep relationships close, hear them out, take advice when you feel necessary, but don't be afraid to speak up when needed as well.

You know what's best. 

You are the Mama.

And no one can take that away from you.

Show me your 9 month Prego picture (or your last prego pic before birth):

Show me the nursery:

Show me your kiddos:

had to throw in a silly picture... her eating carson's cage. silly bean.

Lastly, show me a quote {or picture} of something you believe in, or something that makes you smile: 

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So I know I posted this later than anticipated... but I'd like to start Monday. If you guys would just leave a comment if you would like to be featured, or email me (and I have a list of girls that originally said they want to be featured as well) and if someone would volunteer to be the FIRST this MONDAY the 25th (MY BIRTHDAY GUYS) that would totally be awesome!!  
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