Mommy Tip

Here is a mommy tip that really works for us!

I can not recall where I first found this tip, but it saves me so much time and effort! I pass the credit on to whichever brilliant mother thought of this first!

When your little one is going to a babysitter or the church nursery just slip a wide rubber band around the cup or bottle. Use a permanent marker to write their name or initials on the rubber band. You can use this rubber band over and over again, and you won't have to spend your time peeling tape and stickers off your cups and bottles!

I'm telling you, it is so worth the effort of finding a rubber band and sharpie! You'll be so pleased with it and so will the sitters and nursery workers!

Free Prenatal Vitamins

*We are replaying this post to participate in Biblical Womanhood's Frugal Friday!

I just wanted to let all you Moms out there know that Meijer has a free prenatal vitamin program. There are several different vitamins to pick from as well!

What I did was take the list of available vitamins to my doctor and ask if she approved of any of the options. She did approve, and wrote me a prescription for the vitamin of her choice. From there it was as simple as dropping it off and picking it up for free!

Nutrition and Pregnancy

If you are pregnant or a nursing mom you might be interested to know that the USDA has a section of their website devoted just for moms covering pregnancy and breastfeeding.

There is even a handy chart where you type in your weight, height, due date, etc. and it gives you a chart of how much and of what you should be eating for each trimester!

Currently Reading

I remembered hearing about A Life That Says Welcome, Simple Ways to Open Your Heart & Home to Others from Monica at The Homespun Heart and was excited to find it in my church's library. I'm about three quarters of the way through and am enjoying it so far!

It is definitely encouraging me to work on opening up my home and heart more towards others!

When Queens Ride By - 1926

I really enjoyed reading this story today. What an encouragement to make the most of your current situation and to make your house a home!

Thanks to LivingOnADime.com for the story!

Multi-task or single-task?

The Simple Mom ponders which is better, to mutli-task or single-task.

Even though I’d love to single-task most of my day jobs, it just isn’t going to happen. What mom doesn’t multi-task all day long? You’ve got to change the diaper and answer the phone. You oftentimes need to read to your older one while you nurse your younger.

Motherhood does force a person into multi-tasking doesn't it? I like her attitude of accepting the multi-tasking instead of fighting against it to try to get that one job done. Let's see what I can multi-task today!

Tips for Flying with a Toddler

If we had flown instead of driving, I'd have been following these suggestions for flying with a toddler!

You'll definitely want to check them out if you have any flights booked for the near future.

Do you have any suggestions to add?

Doctor's Visit List

Here's a quick checklist of things to grab before you head out the door with a toddler for a doctor's appointment! It's better to be prepared in case of a longer than expected wait!

• Drink and a snack
• Necessary medical records
• Favorite blanket
• Pacifiers
• Insurance Card and Wallet
• Baby Tylenol
• Quiet toys or books for waiting time
• A list of questions for the doctor

I bet you can guess where we are going this afternoon!

Our Top 3 Baby Wipes Solutions

1. Washcloths squirted with plain old water does the trick almost all of the time for the right price! We bought some regular old baby washcloths at Target and keep them on hand next to the changing table. We keep a squirt bottle filled with water there too for convenience. Since we use super cute cloth diapers the dirty wipes just get tossed in the pail with the diapers and washed with them too! No extra work and lots of savings!

2. Free Wipes purchased with overage at CVS! I like to throw in the small travel sized wipes ($.99 ) if I have any overage from using coupons at CVS. If you don't know what I'm talking about visit Money Saving Mom's primer on learning to shop for great deals at CVS!

3. Homemade Baby Wipes come in awfully handy for those really messy diapers or just when you don't feel like going to the store! You can find plenty of recipes online but here is our favorite shared with me by my cousin Kelly.

Baby Wipes:
Boil 1 2/3 cups water,
Add about 1 TBS baby oil and 1 TBS baby shampoo (feel free to adjust to desired consistency)

Cut paper towels in half and fold. Stack as desired in an old wipes container. Pour solution over the paper towels until all towels are wet but not soaking! If they are too wet, leave the lid
up to allow them to dry out some.

It works for us! I honestly can't think of the last time I had to run to the store to buy wipes!