Super Mammy Diaries

My son is 6 months old on the 11th, and I cannot begin to count all the things I have learned from diapering and burping to a host of new age lullabies and nursery rhymes. However, I've also come to learn that those are the smaller parts in this parenting journey. There are much bigger, more meaningful takeaways that are really life lessons new parents get to learn. From Baby to Mommy.. 20 Life lessons learned during the first 6 months of parenting:   1. Losing all sense of embarrassment .  I started my labor and delivery experience by holding my gown together everytime I went to the bathroom, and ended it with not caring who walked in on me spread eagled and trying to push a baby out. This was a quick introduction into parenthood before my child was even born. I no longer have any shame about getting spat up on in stores, pooped on in the street, having to change a dirty diaper on a bench in Central Park (or the Southamption Dash store), nursing in restaurants and changi...

Before there was an us, or a we, there was just Coco and me. I fell in love with my puppy before I knew my husband existed, or that I would have a beautiful baby boy just after Coco turns 5 years old. He has been the center of half a decade and has brought immeasurable amounts of unconditional love into my life. I am a better person for it and he will always be my first child. Coco, me and NYC. Summer 2009. I know I am not the only one has loved and raised a pet with as much love as their own child. I definitely met people who told me that I wouldn't love my "dog" as much when I had a baby (or who almost got slapped by me for telling me I should give him away before the baby comes), but I knew that would never be the case and it isn't. I am even more protective of him now to make sure that he's well integrated and does not feel left out. Below are the steps I took to make sure that Coco remained comfortable, did not feel any sibling rivalry and did not feel left o...

Dear Expecting and/ or New Moms, I know there are a million things you have wanted to tell the father of your child while expecting and as a new mom. It can be frustrating that your male counterpart does not understand exactly what you are feeling. But how can he? He is not in your place; he did not feel those kicks and hiccups in the middle of the night. Nor did he have nightmares about a giant head coming out of him. However, we don't always take the time and step back to explain. So here is a post for all the new and expecting fathers. Since you make up most of my viewership feel free to share with your men if you think this will be of benefit to them (and you). (Note: I use the terms wife, husband and marriage loosely, as these points are applicable to all new parents regardless of the type of relationship you are in.) Dear Expecting and/or New Dads, I know fatherhood doesn't really begin for you until you hold your baby. Your wife however has been a mother for approximatel...

As new parents, we all hear about how kids love or hate their food, sleep better with cereal, make a huge mess while eating, and so on. To me, a lot of this was fact and some turned out to be fiction. I must admit though, I was really excited to start solids. Not that nursing isn't easy and relatively mess-free at this point (5 months in, that is), but I wanted to see how much of mine and my husband's foodie gene is genetic. I was looking forward to yet another new experience with my baby. There is a lot I knew about solids before starting and a number of decisions I made based on the information I had. However, the experience teaches you more than anything I read could have. For those who already know the basics, feel free to skip on to downward to look for pearls of wisdom through my experience. What I knew before I started solids: The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends starting solids (mushy solids of course) around 6 months of age because children should be ex...