Lisa P's comments

Weight Loss After Pregnancy

21 Jun 2006 05:33 AM

I gained 70 lbs with my pregnancy (my doctor advised me to eat more starchy carbs and I blew up like a balloon). My husband was away and we traveled much of my son's first year, so a routine was difficult to keep and he rarely, if ever, slept through the night. I lost no weight. His second year started with us moving and then a couple months of assorted houseguests. Again, a routine was hard to find and sleeping through the night & weight loss were not happening yet. My son is nearly two years old now and he's finally sleeping through the night. I swear - during my first full night of sleep I lost about 3 pounds!

Having a baby changes your body and your life. If you want to lose the pregnancy weight, do everything else right, but don't forget to get those 8 hours of sleep. MOMMY NEEDS SLEEP!

Considering a Second Pregnancy?

17 Jun 2006 06:02 AM

Great advice! I have a friend whose daughter was 3 when she became pregnant with her second child. She always answered her daughters questions and was very open and honest. When that baby boy came along, the then 4-year-old girl was thrilled. She was included in everything and became a wonderful and responsible little helper. The two children have a wonderful loving bond and adore each other now.

I was 4 when my baby brother came along. I was never included or informed. I wasn't allowed in the room when a diaper was being changed and touching the baby was a HUGE no-no. My brother and I grew up in the same house but we never bonded.

How you include (or not include) your second child will have a major effect on your children's relationships with each other for the rest of their lives. Don't forget it.

Smart Spin Storage System

15 Jun 2006 05:57 AM

I absolutely love this product! It was given to us as a gift, but I'm sold on it forever! I have used it quite a bit in the freezer. The only problem I've ever had was when I've dropped frozen containers - they break very easily - but it was my fault anyway. The super thing is that you can buy the replacement sets (-the carousel) ultra cheap. (The website sells the containers only for $9.99 but I bought mine for $5.)

Triathlon!

13 Jun 2006 04:11 AM

OUTSTANDING! Congratulations, Laura!

Your 2 Year Old and Your Workout

10 Jun 2006 05:35 AM

Great article! Working out at home had become impossible with my 20-month-old. He is so active that the only way I can make it through the day is to nap when he takes his nap and by the time I put him down at night, I'm exhausted, so working out while he sleeps is not really an option. I just joined the local Bally Total Fitness because they have a childcare center, security measures for the children and allow me 2 hours childcare per day. That means I can exercise up to 2 hours per day and still see how my little guy is doing by watching the cctv monitors placed throughout the gym.

Maybe I can finally lose that baby weight after all!

Dangerous Foods For Dogs

08 Jun 2006 11:14 AM

Super information for dog lovers! Thanks!

Hurricanes: Planning for Evacuation

06 Jun 2006 08:19 PM

Libby, getting your animals out can be a lot easier than you might think. They make great travel carriers for cats & small dogs. 4 cats and a puppy would take up about as much space as a GI duffelbag. After working out an evac plan for an 80lb German Shepherd and an 86lb Rhodesian Ridgeback, 4 cats and a puppy sound like a cakewalk to me!

Pet Evacuation Bill in Congress

03 Jun 2006 05:24 AM

I'm not one who depends on the government to take care of me or my family. We have two dogs now and I know my son would be devastated if we lost one, much less both. How could I possibly expect my son to endure the trials of disaster and displacement if his heart were breaking for his dearest friends who Mommy & Daddy left behind for certain death. We wouldn't do that to our son and we certainly wouldn't dream of doing it to our dogs. We have an evacuation plan and supplies/cash laid in for just such an occasion. No, if disaster is projected, we won't be foolish enough to think we can "ride it out" or "let the government make our decisions for us". We'll leave and we'll take our WHOLE family with us.

How Soon Is Too Soon?

03 Jun 2006 05:15 AM

The loss of a beloved pet can be devastating. When our Thor died, we just couldn't go into the bedroom for days (Thor was always the first on the bed and his breathing at the foot of the bed was always a comfort to us.) We lost him over a year and a half ago but he was such a big part of our lives and had such a huge personality that we will always miss him.

Childhood Remembered: Captain Kangaroo

01 Jun 2006 12:23 PM

I adored Captain Kangaroo! Before Bob Keeshan died, he wrote a great book that I recommend to any parent, called:

Growing Up Happy : Captain Kangaroo Tells Yesterday's Children How to Nuture Their Own

It is a wonderful book written by a wonderful man who genuinely cared for children.