According to a recent article in the journal of Pediatrics, reading to your kids can improve behavior and attention. The article is entitled on “Reading Aloud, Play and Social-Emotional Development”. The researchers showed that parents reading aloud and playing with their young children could have a long-term, positive impact on their children’s behavior. In other words, […]
January 15, 2013
Diaper Bag that Looks Like a Handbag
A diaper bag that looks like a handbag or a purse seems allusive. As a second-time Mom, I know how fleeting diaper bags can be. You really need them the first year and after the first year, the need dissipates. You don’t need as much stuff and that huge bag doesn’t fit the new toddler lifestyle […]
January 14, 2013
Abdominal Separation, Diastasis Recti & Surgery
Going to the grand opening of New Fantasyland brought a new outlook on life, but not in the way you might think. It helped me make a decision on what to do with my two umbilical hernias and abdominal separation. I’m having surgery to fix them all. I debated for awhile on whether I should […]
November 4, 2012
In-Between and Post Pregnancy Clothes
Finding and shopping for clothes, well, sucks. Especially after you have had a child and are thinking about having more. You are then in, what I call, the Preggo-Zone. The dreaded need to find post pregnancy clothes. This is the zone where you can’t fit into your old pre-kid clothes because your hips, butt, boobs, […]
October 31, 2012
Facing Death
I don’t want to die. Then again, who wants to? This past spring, I watched my friend Nancy face death. I have lost count on how many times she has done that. I have had other people in my life experience the same things. Yet, how does one deal with death voluntarily? I am facing […]
October 31, 2012
Should I Have Diastasis Recti Surgery?
There are two situations that I wasn’t expecting as a result of a Diastasis Recti, Umbilical and Ventral surgery: stopping breastfeeding before I was expecting to, and not having more children. I shared my medical situation and here is the emotional side. Diastasis Recti Surgery For those of you who read the birth story of […]
October 31, 2012
Why Do I Still Look Pregnant?
{This is a rather long post. Yet, as most of my pregnancy posts this past year, it’s worth reading since it’s like watching a train wreck.} Imagine walking down the street and everyone constantly stops you to congratulate you on your pregnancy. Others smile at you in the elevator and ask when you are due. I […]
September 21, 2012
Lifeables Review
I have a lot of pictures of my kids. But usually they are stuck on my phone. Languishing in photo hell (or photo heaven if you want to be more positive about it.) If I manage to get the pictures off my phone, they get stored on my computer…and there they remain in photo purgatory. […]
August 17, 2012
The Other Baby Book Review
I read a lot of books during my first pregnancy. Primarily because I had the time, and I was at a loss as to what was about to happen. When I became pregnant with our second child, time was not in abundance with a toddler in the house. And I pretty much had figured out […]
June 22, 2012
My Day on Fox 25 Morning News
About a month ago, I had the fantastic opportunity to appear on television to talk about pregnancy in anticipation of the movie “What to Expect When You are Expecting“. Let’s just say it is hard to appear on camera when you are pregnant. The “camera puts on 10 pounds” is hard to swallow when you […]
June 21, 2012
To My Little Boy As He Becomes a Big Brother
In these early hours of June 19, 2012, I know that time is short before our family goes from three to four; that the minutes fly by when I am a mom only to one – you; my precious little boy. You have had my sole attention these past 32 months. Where I would go, […]
June 18, 2012
Bye Bye Pregnancy
In these final moments (days? hours?) of my pregnancy, I figured I better jot down some thoughts. I could be mushy, but decided that would be another post. So I think the best way to recap this pregnancy is think about what I won’t miss about being pregnant and what I am most looking forward […]
June 11, 2012
Sharing Details of Your Pregnancy or Birth Story Online
This has been a very interesting pregnancy in that my experience of it has been more public. When I was pregnant with my first child, I had a share site that I only used for family. While it was also a personal pregnancy journal, one could only access it by a password. At the time, […]
May 30, 2012
New Meaning of Pregnancy “Support”
Seriously, the indignities of pregnancy are too numerous to name. But I experienced a new one this time around that even I didn’t see coming. I had to buy a maternity support belt. {Seriously.} The product description doesn’t help the sexy factor, which is woeful at this point of pregnancy anyway, but it’s an embarrassing […]
May 14, 2012
Online Childbirth Education Classes
Personally, I hate the idea of traditional childbirth education classes. While I want information about childbirth options, risks, and techniques, the idea of getting the details in front of strangers is a little…weird to me. It works for others. Don’t get me wrong. Obviously, because thousands of people take such classes every year in the […]
April 30, 2012
Fashion Forward Pregnancy at Mom 2.0
The recent chatter about the Mom 2.0 fashion scene really doesn’t apply to me this conference go-around. Why? Because I’m 32 weeks pregnant. At this point, my main goal is not fashion. For anyone who’s been pregnant, you know wardrobe options are limited even on a good day at home. Add a beach-front White Party and […]
February 14, 2012
Hint Water Review
As a runner, I know the importance of water when I train and run races. As a human being, I know water is essential everyday. Being pregnant, I need it even more. Regardless of the day or the stage in my life, I need to drink water. But I hate it. Water is boring and […]
February 13, 2012
Pregnancy Cravings
Anyone who has ever been pregnant, has at one point craved something, somewhere at sometime. Whether something as simple as ice cream, as specific as mint chocolate chip ice cream or as strange as ice cream with relish toppings. With my first pregnancy, I didn’t have any bizarre cravings but I did have two consistent […]
January 23, 2012
Pregnancy Symptoms
Dealing with pregnancy myths is one thing, dealing with pregnancy symptoms is another. You know those times when you wake up and wonder where the heck you are? Why you are wearing one sock, a hat and nothing else? For those of you that have experienced that, you must have had some great college years. […]
January 16, 2012
Pregnancy Myths
When you’re pregnant, there are a lot of pregnancy symptoms, but it amazes me the misinformation people wish to impart on you. Case in point, my Mom has ‘baby-brain’ these days, as my sister-in-law and I are both expecting. My Mom has two best friends who have daughter-in-laws that are expecting as well. Turns out […]
December 13, 2011
Big News
Yes, I am pregnant. There I said it. Why come out of the closet now? Well, I cannot hide it anymore with it being my second pregnancy and all. I look like I have already swallowed a basketball. <Sigh> I’m sure you want some of the details right? Well, this whole pregnancy thing was a […]
October 13, 2011
MBTA’s Nice Ad Campaign
Boston was named the least friendly city a couple months ago. Apparently, it is a wicked valid title now the MBTA (“Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority” for you non-Dunkie drinkin’ locals) has signs on the “T” asking “Bahstin” people to be nice. Here are some of the sayings: “Man gives up seat for pregnant woman! — Red Line […]
October 13, 2011
Exercising While Pregnant
So there have been a lot of articles about the woman who ran the Chicago Marathon at 39 weeks pregnant and gave birth just hours later. Her doctors had given her the go ahead and the race officials did not ban her from running. So she did. I love this story for many reasons, but mainly […]
October 12, 2011
Mine for Nine
Who says pregnant women can’t dress for the occasion, save money for that super luxurious baby stroller, and look fabulous at the same time. (Yes, dammit, we can have it all.) The holiday season is upon us and soon we will start getting the invites to the company holiday party, the neighborhood cocktail party, the […]
Hi! I'm Charlene! I'm a Toy Expert, Creator, Media Personality, and a Mom. I love helping fellow families learn how to play, find the best educational games, or discover the best toys. My first job was in a toy store and I've been happily playing professionally in the toy industry for the past 10 years. So let's play together!
