covid baby Archives - Leaf and Steel

7 Things I Do Every Day as a Stay at Home Mom

August 16, 2021

I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 8 months now and I love it! I am so grateful that I’m able to be home with my daughter. There have been SO many sacrifices to make this work, but it’s been worth it.

It took me a while to figure out my rhythm and how to have a productive day. It took me even longer to see value in what I am doing. It really is a full time job. I am a nanny, a chef, a secretary, a personal shopper, a housecleaner, a milk factory, a teacher and countless other job titles.

There are people making a lot of money doing what I do.

I am also a wife, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a writer, and a member of the community.

I am so much more than a stay-at-home mom. That’s why it’s been important for me to take time every day to do the following 7 things!

Here are 7 things I do as a stay-at-home parent to stay sane!

1. “Work” Time

Being a stay-at-home parent means that I take on more work around the house, simple as that. I take time throughout the day to work on the annoying tasks that have to get done, like

scheduling
being put on hold for half the day by Verizon, Staples, etc.
forgetting to put 1 essential food item on my shopping list and then spending an hour going back to the store to get it
spending several days taking my 10-year-old printer apart instead of biting the bullet and buying a new one

2. Walk

Walking is the only type of “exercise” that works for me. I really do it to clear my mind and get some fresh air for me and the baby. We like to find little waterfronts to explore and we always play this checklist game.

LOOK for 1 dog
LOOK for 1 cat
LISTEN for 1 bird
SMELL 1 new smell (fresh cut grass, laundry)

And of course, say hi to anyone we pass, because becoming a mom has made me friendly. Or, maybe it’s just the lack of socialization in 2021 ha!

3. Relax

I relax for part of nap time. I have to. I “work” 24 hours a day. It took me a little while to see that it’s perfectly okay for me to take time to relax as a stay at home parent. I have no lunch break. I have no “decompression” time on my commute home. It’s on me to manage my mental wellness and realize when it’s time to be productive and when it’s time to put my feet up and scroll Instagram or watch TV.

4. Reach out

It can be mind numbing to talk to a baby all day. The narration, the “oohs” “aahs” and “yayayays” make me feel like a robot some days. That’s why I’ve made it a priority since my daughter was born to make a phone call every day. It’s one of the easiest ways to stay grounded in the insanity

5. Get out of the house

I hate this one, but I do it anyway! Maybe it was the events of 2020 that caused me to be comfortable with being a shut-in. Leaving the house can be hard. Leaving the house with a baby can be even harder. Every day, we try to get out of the house. Even if it’s just those waterfront walks or the grocery store, being in public and getting a change of scenery keeps me grounded.

Our new favorite place is the pet store, or what I like to call the “free zoo”. Baby M loves looking at the fish and kittens up for adoption. It’s a quick and easy way to keep her entertained out of the house. We’re always looking for fun, easy, free things to do together – if you have any suggestions, let me know below!

6. Work on my hobbies

This is the hardest one on the list. I struggle with finding the motivation to work on the things that fill up my cup. Writing, reading and working on my side projects sometimes get put on the back burner. However, I’ve found I’m a better mom and an all around better person when I’m carving out time to work on the things that bring me joy. After spending %90 of my day giving my energy to other things, this time is necessary.

7. Play!

The most important thing I do as a stay-at-home is PLAY with my baby! There’s nothing better than sitting down on the floor and reading my daughter a book or playing peekaboo. The sound of her little laugh when I pretend to eat her feet fills my heart with so much joy. I know that after food, a safe place to live, and clean clothes, my uninterrupted time is the most valuable thing I can provide for my child.

What do you think of this list? What do you do to stay sane as a stay at home parent?

Let me know below.

My End of Summer Bucket List for Baby!

August 14, 2021

Well, the dogs days are almost over! It’s August and although I’m so very excited to be done with this excruciatingly hot summer, there are still some fun activities I want to squeeze in!

Now that I’m a mom, I get this super fun thing called MOM GUILT. Ever heard of it?

As I was looking back at my photos from this summer, I know I did enough to feel like it was a “fun” summer. I say fun in quotes because my daughter is 8 months old and she thinks pulling the cat’s hair out and eating pasta is fun.

I still have a few things on my list that I want to do to make this summer feel complete. Due to the *state of the world* and heat wave after heat wave, it hasn’t been the summer I imagined. But, we’re making the best of it. As always. That’s part of being a parent, I guess.

It’s almost 100 degrees outside as I’m writing this. It’s just been too hot to really do anything. I’m looking forward to early September when things cool off a bit. For now, it’s been indoor picnics and early morning walks for us!

So, here are 10 things we’re doing this August/early September to conclude summer 2021!

1. Do a summer photoshoot

I saw these ideas on Pinterest and fell in love! How cute! I’m not sure if Baby M is going to be able to sit in a tub of milky fruit without eating it, but we shall see how it goes. I have one of these tin buckets and plan on using lemons and a big yellow bow like this one.

2. Visit a splash pad

We have a few of these on Long Island and they always look so refreshing. My baby loves water so I know she’ll love to romp in the huge sprinkler.

3. Bring my baby swimming in the ocean

This is a must on Long Island. We’ll see how she does with the salt! Pools have been a summer favorite, so I’m really looking forward to safely bringing her into the waves.

4. Attend an outdoor event

Food festival, car show, sidewalk sale, whatever it is – I’ll take it! I would always pass things like this and be excited to go to them as a family, just as a free thing to do. Lots of main streets here close down on weeknights for outdoor dining, live music, etc. This is what summer nights are for!

5. Make popsicles

I have these DIY popsicle trays that I’m dying to use! I’ve been researching recipes that are safe for babies so that Baby M can partake in the fun. I’m thinking blueberry, watermelon, or peach mixed with water or breast milk!

6. Make art outside

Baby M was given this paint set and we use it all the time. I usually tape down a piece of paper to her high chair and then let her scoop the paint off of a plate and smack it down onto the paper. I’ve learned that I can only successfully do this if she has a pacifier in her mouth – otherwise she ends up with a mouth full of paint!

7. Take a sunset stroll

This one is super easy and speaks for itself! My UppaBaby stroller is racking up miles from our morning walks….but I’ve been meaning to squeeze in an evening stroll during one of the beautiful sunsets!

8. Have an picnic in the park

There’s nothing like throwing down a huge blanket and eating dinner in the park! Now that Baby M is sitting up it’s super simple to bring her out for things like this. All we need is a blanket, a good meal (even takeout), and a cute basket like this one.

9. Go on a road trip

Since we won’t be getting on a plane any time soon, a road trip is in the works. We made it to our favorite place, Cooperstown (see my travel guide here), in May. So, we’ll take a short weekend trip to Lancaster to round off the summer. I have my packing list for a road trip with baby here.

10. Get an ice cream cone

It sounds simple, but we rarely go out for ice cream anymore! Baby M tried her first few bites of ice cream last month and fell in love.

What’s on your August bucket list? Is there anything you’re trying to squeeze in before the leaves start to change?

Let me know below.

Daytime Activities for 5 Month Olds

May 7, 2021

Ah, gone are the days of plopping baby down in their lounger and scrolling through Instagram. My baby is 5 months old and she is BUSY. With so many changes going on in her little brain, it’s important for me to facilitate activities to help her practice all her new skills!

I spent the first two months of my daughter’s life on the living room couch. I stuck her in her Snuggle Me Organic (highly recommend), put on Bravo and would only move every two hours when she needed a feed or a change.

I never understood why people would say that they love the newborn phase. As a first time mom, I found it overwhelming, exhausting, and it was nearly impossible to get anything else done.

Now, looking back I wish I enjoyed it while it lasted! The older my daughter gets, the more creative I have to be with our time.

With a background in early education and support group of fellow moms willing to offer endless suggestions, I have an understanding of the needs of growing babes.

I wrote a post on 4 month old activities explaining how crucial it is to hit all areas of development. The purpose of this list is to assist in creating a type of daily routine with your 5 month old. It’s especially helpful on those days when no amount of coffee will get you going and you can’t think of a single thing to do. Or, when you’ve read Where’s Spot 500 times and you’re sick of acting surprised at the snake in the clock (iykyk).

In that post I break development down into 5 categories:

Click here to download my 5 Month Old Activity Checklist PDF Download

Fine Motor (small body movements)
Gross Motor (big body movements)
Sensory
Language
Music

Many of the listed activities overlap, which is a good thing. We’ve been reading a book while doing tummy time or we’ll sing while we’re in the bath.

We want to work all areas of the body and brain. They can all be adjusted based on your babies needs and where they’re at developmentally.

For example, my daughter has not yet rolled from belly to back, so that’s something we’re really working on.

I have found that when I’m engaged in true play with my baby, I’m talking no distractions and nothing else pulling me away, I feel like a better mom.

I feel like I’m meeting her needs beyond food and bathing and changing and a place to sleep. We’re strengthening the bond between us and learning along the way.

Shop Back to School at Calendars.com Now!

I encourage you to turn the TV off, put the phone down, and engage with your baby. They’ll never be smaller than they are today, and the time sure does fly by.

What did you do or are doing now to keep your 5 month old busy?

Let me know below. I’m always looking for new things to do with my little one.

Click here to download my 5 Month Old Activity Checklist PDF Download

Earth Mama Organics - Organic Nipple Butter

Daytime Activities for 4 Month Olds

March 31, 2021

Looking for activities for your 4 month old? As a stay at home mom, my brain sometimes turns to mush after the monotony of life with a baby. The feeding, the changing, the rocking, the reading…it gets a little mind numbing after awhile.

Don’t get me wrong – I love my daughter more than anything. Being a stay-at-home-mom at this point in my life has been an absolute blessing. It was the best decision for me and my family.

When I had a newborn I was parked on my couch for two months. All I did was nurse, eat, and watch Bravo, and all my daughter did was eat and sleep.

My Baby is Growing Up

February 15, 2021

My baby is no longer a newborn. She’s a cooing, grasping, giggling baby. At 12 weeks old she is growing seemingly overnight. Every week I put more and more outfits in the “too small” bin for storing. Today, after putting away her tiny little onesies and tiny little pants it hit me that she will never be this small again.

I’ve put away my crop tops and size 2 pants “for another time”, or skirts and dresses for next summer, but she will literally never fit into these clothes again. The only time I’ll see them again is if I have another baby or give them away. She hits milestone after milestone these days. I had no idea it’d be this bittersweet.

I think becoming a mom has made me a complete mush. And that’s okay. I’m going to keep soaking up the coos and teensy feet.

I am so grateful for my time with her.

10 Things I Wish I Did While Pregnant

January 4, 2021

My husband and I always knew we wanted kids. I’m not sure if it’s something we ever discussed, it’s always been a given. We could always be found helping out with friends’ babies or strolling down the baby aisle in Target.

I knew that having a baby would be the most important thing I would ever do. I had my doubts about whether I’d be a good mom and how I’d handle the sleepless nights.