Child Care

The Co-Sleeping Conundrum

With less than two weeks to go before Baby #3 is due to arrive, we are busy getting everything ready.  I can’t believe a little baby will be sleeping in our home so soon!  When we brought Evie and Mack home from the hospital, they both slept next to me in the bassinet attachment of […]


Getting Ready for Baby

Today has been a very emotional day for me.  I woke up at 3:45 am, and for three hours I thought I was in labor.  The false contractions subsided shortly after sunrise, leaving me feeling extremely tired and totally overwhelmed for the rest of the day.  During those dark restless hours I went through my […]


“Winter” in Chicago

Today was another beautiful summer-like day in Chicago.  With temperatures in the 80’s (!!) and no clouds in the sky, it was hard to believe that the official season is still winter.  Like most Chicagoans, we took full advantage of the perfect weather and spent a good part of the day outdoors.  I packed a […]


Ladies Who Brunch

Some of the ladies in my family gathered this morning for an informal brunch at my Aunt Margie’s house.  It was a celebration for many reasons: the end of winter, St. Patrick’s Day, the return of my mom and grandma who had been out of town for a few months, the two new babies my […]


OGMama Relaxing Lavender Belly Butter

I can’t believe how quickly the last few weeks of my pregnancy are going.  While its been a long 37 weeks, I know from experience that little bundle will be here before I know it.  And my life will never be the same (again). Throughout all my pregnancies I relied on a daily slather of […]


A Good Day

I am never a fan of Daylight Savings.  I am a big believer in keeping kids on a routine, so when the clock shifts an hour in either direction there’s always the potential for overtired kids.  Evie and Mack wake up every morning around 7:15, so I expected them to wake up at 8:15 this […]


“By Meself!”

Mack has always been so tenacious.  He was climbing the stairs at 7 months, walking at 9 months and running (fast!) by his first birthday.  Although I find his efforts to be charming and sweet in a rambunctious little boy way, in truth his energy and ambition overwhelm me at times.  I am always so […]


Less Really is More. Really.

As I’ve written about many times before, my little family and I strive to live a pretty simple life.  Our home is a two-bedroom apartment in the middle of downtown Chicago, so space demands that we don’t go overboard with stuff.  And, because our budget is rather rigid, reality dictates that we can’t afford to […]


A Warm Place for All Children

I had a hard time falling asleep last night. Just before going to bed I read a horrifying story about a 3 year old girl who died from exposure after being locked in her frigid bedroom.  Her mother and her mother’s boyfriend opened the windows to air out the room after the girl and her […]


We Can’t Wait to Hold You!

Today was slushy and snowy and rainy.  After a busy week, I decided that today we’d stay inside.  I plan fun events every morning – children’s museum, swimming lessons, playdates, etc – so sometimes its nice to stay warm and snug at home. The only issue with staying home is finding things to keep the […]