Lee Ann Since I started this website, I’ve wanted to include other parents and their perspectives. Maybe get some advice from them and some fun insight! To start, I’ve created a questionnaire and have had a few moms fill it out to do a Guest Spotlight. I couldn’t be more excited to add this aspect to the blog! Hopefully we will be able to do some more guest posts from our Spotlight moms in the future!
Meet Stephanie and her beautiful family!
Name: Stephanie
Age: 28
Current Marital Status? About to be married – October 1st, 2016
Employment Status: WAHM, and I nanny 2 girls currently!
How many kids do you have? I have 2 boys, Noah (7years) and Caleb (13 months)
Did you breastfeed or formula feed? Noah was formula fed as I was young and didn’t even try and now I wish I did! Caleb is breastfed, 13 months going strong and I love the bond we have! And it’s so healthy and so easy to carry around the milk!
What advice would you give to moms about feeding? The first few weeks of breastfeeding is difficult and somewhat painful, but it is so worth it! Push past it and you will love it! It’s so much easier and so much cheaper then formula. I won’t knock formula as my oldest was formula fed, it was just much more difficult to transport the bottles, water, formula, etc. Plus, breastmilk spit up doesn’t stink like formula, gross! Oh, one last thing, poop. Breastmilk poop doesn’t smell, and if it does, it smells like buttered popcorn! Haha!
Best advice someone gave you about becoming a parent? You will find love for them that you never thought you had in you. Especially now that I have two boys, I love them both so much and in different ways, but never any less then the other! It’s amazing! 🙂
What is the worst advice you have ever been given? Telling me it’s okay to feed my baby solids before 6 months. People wanted to feed both my kids before 6 months and don’t understand why it’s not okay. Noah was fed cereal and solids before 6 months and even though he’s fine, I wish I would have waited.
What advice would you give to new moms in general? Don’t assume you need every single baby thing out there. Just use common sense and get the essentials at first. Anything else is luxury and usually not used.
What’s your favorite products for your kid’s age group? For Caleb (13 months), I use my Tula a ton, so much easier on my back, and a lot easier then a stroller. The 360 sippy cups are a must as well! The snack container where the kids can stick their hands in and carry around. For Noah, I don’t really have anything. His favorite thing is to ride his scooter and play with his Legos and Hot Wheels.
What’s your favorite book for your kids? Noah loves to read so he likes to read chapter books, and the books that have general knowledge and facts are a favorite! Caleb’s favorite are the touchy feely books right now. I read what ever is on the book shelf, but they both love the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
Best birthday gift for your kid and what age were they? Noah will be getting a bike for his 7th birthday this year, he will be so excited and happy. Otherwise, he’s into the Xbox, and Nintendo DS. For Caleb, he’s happy with anything, a light up ball, something to chew on, a box. Haha!
What have you struggled with as a mom? Trying to juggle the fact that I have two kids, and I can’t always give each one on one time like I’d like. I struggle with the fact that my oldest has ADHD and I have to constantly remind him to do things, and I lose my temper sometimes.
How has becoming a mom affected your relationship with your partner? I think it has helped, because we had issues with me being alone while he’s at work, and doing stuff for other people. Now, I have my boys that keep me quite busy. And I see the way that my fiancĂ© looks at the boys and loves them and it makes me love him even more. We just need to work on communication with each other.
What has been the biggest change in you or your lifestyle since becoming a parent? I’d like to say partying….however I was 21 when I gave birth to Noah, so there wasn’t any time to go to the bar. After a few years, I went out sometimes, but it just wasn’t my thing. I think I was always destined to be a mother. I can’t imagine not being one, it’s the best thing in the world!
What worried you about having more than 1 kid? Being able to juggle a baby and still getting time to spend with both equally. Breastfeeding and dealing with a curious boy.
What was your biggest surprise going from 1 kid to 2? My biggest surprise was the fact that it was much easier then I thought, because Noah was older and more self sufficient. He helped with so much and was very patient!
What is your favorite part about parenthood? My favorite part is watching them grow up and reach milestones. To see their happy smiling faces every day. Everything.
Funniest thing that has happened to you since becoming a parent? Where do I begin? I’ve been pooped on, puked on, head butted…life is not the same without the crazy kids running around! I can’t really pinpoint the funniest thing that happened to me since my life is full of laughs and funny incidents. Kids truly say the darnedest things!
How do you get your kids to eat? Noah is a terrible eater. He won’t eat much of anything, but once in awhile I get him to eat by telling him how many bites he needs to eat before he can be done. Caleb, on the other hand, is a much better eater and loves to try all sorts of foods. I usually have to share everything I eat with him, unless he’s teething.
Any fun recipes to share?
Juicy Smothered Chicken Chicken Breasts (4)
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 cup Greek Yogurt – Plain
1 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Spread mixture over chicken breasts, bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes and BAM! Tasty chicken fast and easy!
Anything else you would like to add: On top of raising 2 boys at home, along with being a nanny, I also try to sell Usborne books, and am photographer as well! Yes, life is never dull with us! I try to get outside all the time, and let my boys experience anything and everything Wisconsin has to offer!
