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Aug 3

Why I Rock Today- Diaper Improv

Article by: Megan Stremick

Yesterday was my nieces 6th birthday and to celebrate the whole family decided to go bowling in the late afternoon. It was a last minute decision, the debate was bowling or the beach and somehow the air conditioning and food and drink service won out over the 95 degree heat, searching for parking at the crowded beach and lugging coolers and umbrellas over the hot sand.
Surprising.

Due to some poor planning on my part my son went without an nap and we pushed through to the party. He, of course, fell asleep in the car for ten minutes on the way there but luckily he was in fantastic spirits once he saw his eight cousins, eight aunts and uncles, and Grammie and Papa were all there as well.

The moment we walked into the bowling alley my husband looked at me with a sour face and said, wow, he has a serious poopy diaper. I took him in the bathroom and changed him with what was the last diaper in my bag. I couldn’t believe I had left the house without replenishing his diaper bag. But I breathed a sigh of relief that at least I had that one, he very rarely has more than one poop in the span of a few hours.
He got all cleaned up and we bowled our hearts out. We were all having a blast. All the ‘big boys’ were making side bets that eventually got thrown out because the little one’s were bowling during their turn and us moms were armed with sanitary wipes since the kids were going back and forth from bowling to shoveling chicken fingers in their mouth.

About an hour before we were leaving I smelled it, my son had another poopy diaper. Are you kidding me? Just my luck. Usually I would have extras in my car but I could see right where I put them in the garage when I cleaned my car out the day before and failed to put them back in. And wouldn’t that just beat all that every one of his cousins at the party was potty trained. I had tons of wipes and not a single diaper. I scanned the bowling alley for other moms with un-potty trained children. Nothing. My sisters looked in their cars for an ‘emergency’ diaper that might be lying around. Nothing.

I needed to do something fast since the time frame for cleaning the poop off his butt before it gave him a diaper rash was quickly closing in on me. The solution finally came down to borrowing a pair of Tinkerbell undies from my three year old niece (with my sister’s permission of course), leaving her underwear-less in her little stretch pants, and filling it with paper towels. We were quite a site to behold in the bathroom, my niece pulling off her little fairy underwear while I wiped my son down on the counter of the bathroom (who doesn’t install a diaper changing table in the women’s room of a bowling alley???). I was just waiting for the awkward moment when a stranger walked in as I was putting the purple and pink undies on my son and shoving it full of paper towels.

My son ran right back out to the bowling lanes without missing a step—what a little trooper. My three year old niece then wasted no time in telling everyone she saw that her cousin Charlie was wearing her favorite Tinkerbell underwear. Hey, sh…stuff happens☺

Do you have any diaper improvisation you would like to share? It’s times like these that us moms (and dads) really Rock!
Let us know about any Rock Star Parenting Moments on Facebook or on Twitter!

Family Megan Stremick

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Jul 29

Why I Rock Today- Beach Trip!

Article by: Megan Stremick

I feel like a whale or other large seam mammal of some kind as I waddle onto the beach in my bikini, my belly protruding triumphantly in all its massive glory. It’s summertime and while the idea of going to the beach and schlepping towels, umbrellas, coolers, and beach toys through the sand is not what I had in mind four weeks before baby number two is due, I have been having a blast.

Now, don’t get me wrong, my husband is truly the pack mule. I giggle as I watch him haul everything through the hot sand and around all the people—it reminds me of John Candy’s character in the movie Summer Rental.

It’s amazing how an already spunky two year old can arrive at the beach and suddenly have even more energy than you thought possible. Once his little toes touched the sand and he saw water up ahead he couldn’t be stopped. He chased after the birds, he ran into the surf with me and my husband, he yelled “there’s a biggy one” every time a wave crashed. And there I was by his side, not wanting to miss a single “yaaaaay” or amazed expression as he sat on his dads shoulders shivering in the cool water spotting dolphins only yards away. He was in awe of the beach and I was in awe of him.

Not even an enormous belly, nor questions from other beach goers such as “WOW, were you due like a week ago?” or “Geeze, how many do you have in there?” could keep me from enjoying the beach with my husband and son.

Have you had any Rockstar Mom Moments lately? Let us know on Twitter or post on our wall on Facebook.

Family Megan Stremick

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Jul 12

Pregnancy Update…six weeks and counting

Article by: Megan Stremick

Don’t forget about the importance of Iron

Feeling a little tired around the late afternoon and wanting to take a little cat nap is one thing but feeling exhausted all day long, trying to keep your eyes open and your wits about you as you run around after your two year old with a big pregnant belly and swollen ankles is quite another.

When the doctor asked at my routine pregnancy check-up how I have been feeling I told him things seem a lot harder this time around. I explained that I didn’t think my son could make me this tired everyday while being pregnant but, hey, I’m a trooper and I will push through it. He looked at me, then down at my file and kindly explained that while being pregnant with a toddler is quite tiring, my extreme fatigue was due to extremely low iron, I am anemic.

Well thank god! That makes so much sense! It’s such a common thing to happen during pregnancy but I never put two and two together. I had no issues with my first pregnancy, no swollen ankles, no varicose veins or stretch marks, and my second and third trimesters I had an abundance of energy. And while this time around I was hit with the swollen ankles and the varicose veins which I can’t do anything about, I was also hit with anemia, which I can do something about.

Not only am I taking iron supplements but I’m also eating foods that are rich in iron, lots of leafy greens, beans and sprouts, and even my 8th Continent Soymilk has 6% of my daily value—every bit helps.

What struggles did you go through during your pregnancy? What helped? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

Family Megan Stremick

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Jun 27

Why I Rock Today: “Oh, we still have a dog?”

Article by: Megan Stremick

Before we were married my now husband, then boyfriend, and I got a dog together. Mikey, an adorable beagle, was our special little guy. We gave him all the attention we had, took him with us wherever we went, and spoiled him with toys and expensive dog food and treats. It was like this for the next four years through our wedding and moving into our first home. Then came the baby and life as we all knew it changed dramatically. Not long after Charlie was born it seemed that Mikey soon became the dog who ‘needs’ to be taken for a walk, and the one whose shedding  drives me crazy, whose poop needs to be picked up before the baby steps in it (or god forbid picks it up and plays with it) and the one who just seems to get left behind every time we left the house.

Now our son is two years old and I am pregnant with our second child and things are only going to get busier around our house. So today while Charlie was napping and I had a long list of To-Do’s awaiting me,  I looked at Mikey as he lay in his dog bed staring at me with solemn eyes and I put everything else on hold and gave him a little TLC. I waddled out into the yard and played fetch with him, then raked his coat, gave him a bath, dried him, gave him his favorite treat (a can of tuna) in his dog food, and when Charlie got up from a nap we took Mikey for a long walk through the neighborhood.  He was in 7th heaven and I was happy to give him some much needed attention.

I tried to imagine I was him and what my days would be like with my family walking around busy all the time and not paying much attention to me, it made me so sad. I have to remind myself that Mikey was truly the first addition to our family and that he needs to be treated as an important member of our now expanding family.  But the shedding still annoys me like nothing else!

What have you done recently that made you realize you were a Rock Star Mom? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter and also make sure to enter our Nice Job Mom: We Rock contest for a chance to see Sara Bareilles in a live VIP concert experience!

Family Megan Stremick

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May 3

Pregnancy Update- Four Months to Go!

Article by: Megan Stremick

It’s month five and I’m growing in all directions. Despite my ever expanding belly and backside I feel great, which is in huge part due to keeping a healthy diet and yoga. Dairy has been making me pretty gassy lately so my 8th Continent pal, Sara Lopez, has been keeping me busy in the kitchen trying new recipe’s to incorporate healthy protein and calcium in my diet with our 8th Continent Soymilk.  And every once in a while, ok, really every Sunday I enjoy my soymilk with a bakery doughnut! This would be the ritual that is helping the growth of my dairy air to keep up with the growth of my belly.

The un-named baby boy (I’m taking boy name suggestions by the way) is moving all over the place and it’s always a fun game to play “guess the body part that just visibly rolled across my belly”.  I know some women don’t enjoy this part but I love it. To me, it’s a reminder that I’m creating a little human being in my very own belly. The miracle astounds me every day and it makes it that much more real when I can feel him kick or have the hiccups. Those things also remind me that it’s still worth it even when I notice a few more varicose veins pop up on my legs or when I am so forgetful that I finally find my cup of coffee (yes, decaf) two days later in the guest room closet.

Charlie does not quite understand the concept just yet that he is going to have a little brother soon, but he does gently pat and give kisses to my belly which I find so adorable. The other adjustment will be moving him to a different room—his room becomes the baby’s room and mommy’s office will soon be Charlie’s room. What happens to mommy’s office you ask? Oh, I get to set up shop on the kitchen counter with a bar stool. My husband has promised to retrofit a new space for me downstairs.

I was serious about taking name suggestions—please feel free to send me some, I’m getting desperate.  You can post suggestions on our Facebook Fan Page or even Tweet them at us!

Family

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Mar 24

Finding Out the Sex of Your Unborn Baby.

Article By: Megan Stremick

I am a planner, a one foot in front of the other knowing what the ground is like with each step before I take it kind of gal. When I was pregnant the first time there was no question we were going to find out the sex of the baby. First, I wanted to decorate the room and have everything ready before the delivery and second I hated the idea of having a yellow baby shower. I waited until my 20 week appointment at my second trimester screening ultra sound to find out. We had the ultrasound tech write it on a card and seal it in an envelope and my husband and I opened it together while at dinner at our favorite restaurant. It was a special and wonderful surprise for the two of us to enjoy. We picked the name and got his surfer boy themed room all ready for him.

Our son Charlie is almost two now and I am pregnant with our second child. Knowing that we only wanted two children I was really hoping for a girl. We had a girl name all picked out before we knew we were having a boy the first time so I was sticking with that name and crossing my fingers we would get to use it. This time I was even more anxious than the first time to find out the sex of the baby so I made an appointment at an ultra sound clinic that will give gender results as early as 13 weeks instead of waiting for my 20 week appointment. I know, I know, what’s a few weeks right? Well, it was feeling like an eternity so at 15 weeks pregnant we made an appointment and went in.

Ultra Sound Tech: “Can you cough a few times and see if we can get the baby to move.”

I watch the big screen tv with images of the amazing life that is growing inside me.

Me: Cough, cough.

Ultra Sound Tech: “Do you see the leg moving over to the side?”

Me: “Yes”

Ultra Sound Tech: “Do you see the little protrusion sticking out there between the legs?”

I saw it before she even said anything

Ultra Sound Tech: “It’s a boy!”

I smile as my eyes well up.

Husband: “I’m sorry babe, I know how much you really wanted a girl.”

Me: “We’re healthy, that’s all that matters.”

I look over at my son who has climbed up on a chair and is flipping the light switch on and off and on and off.

Me: “You’re going to have a little brother buddy.”

No response. The lights keep going on and off and on and off.

I was quiet the whole way home but as the news settled in I smiled with visions of Charlie and his little brother playing together and having bunk beds and being buddies. Then I giggled as I thought of peeing contests and black eyes, and skinned knees.

I know some people want to be surprised the day they have the baby but for me, I love knowing now.  Did you find out the sex of your baby before you gave birth or did you wait until the big D day? What was your reasoning?

Join in on the conversation on our Twitter and our Facebook page!

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Feb 8

Parental Fumble- Pun Intended

Article by: Megan Stremick

It’s Super Bowl and we’re having a big gathering at our house with friends. It ended up that none of our friends that have kids could make it, so unfortunately for our two year old son, Charlie, he did not have any little ones to play with him. It was like any other get-together when there’s some big sporting event on, the girls are chatting around the kitchen and the boys are all in the family room huddled around the TV.

I watched Charlie grab my pink Nalgene water bottle out of the cupboard and take it in the back yard. He was working hard on the process of taking the cap off and putting the cap back on, taking it off and putting it back on. I could see him clearly out the kitchen window. As my non-mom friends were asking me about how my pregnancy was going so far I could hear the hooting and hollering of the guys in the other room yelling at the TV and at each other about a bad call the ref made on a play.

A few minutes passed and out of the corner of my eye I noticed the pink water bottle sitting on the floor in the hallway just off the kitchen. I didn’t even see him come inside then  I thought about the fact that I didn’t  hear the front door close when the last person walked inside.

“Um, honey, is Charlie in there with you?”

“What?”

That was my first indication that he was not paying attention to anything else besides the football game.

I ran into the other room now yelling, “where’s Charlie?!”

Just as he stood up and we both ran to the open front door a young mom pushing her child in a stroller was walking up to our door.

“Um, is this someone’s son out her in the driveway?” the woman asks with a look of concern.

We ran past her and saw our two year old standing there putting his little hands all over the filthy bumper of my husbands’ Jeep. I swooped in like a hawk retrieving her prey. I picked him up and hugged him so tight it would have taken the jaws-of-life to pry him off of me.

“Oh my god,” I gasped. “How did he get by both of us?”

My husband was thanking the woman as she was walking away down the street, probably debating if she should call social services right then and there.

We went back into the house, shut the door and locked it, and explained to everyone what happened, not that it wasn’t easy enough to figure out. I finally released my son to safe ground a few minutes later and listened to my girlfriends saying they were so sorry, they didn’t even see him.

“Don’t be sorry, I’M THE MOM! Not to mention there are no other children here. He’s the only one I need to watch!”

After the initial shock and what-if scenarios died down it was now free reign for the guys to start making jokes.  Going through responses they wish they had come up with when the young mom asked who’s son was unattended out in the driveway.

“Finally! We sent him out on a beer run like an hour ago,” or “yah, he wanted to take the dog for a walk,” or “thanks, does it look like he’s done washing the car yet?”

All totally inappropriate jokes but I admit I laughed in spite of my devastation at our momentous parenting fumble (pun intended).

We kissed and hugged him more than usual before he went to bed that night and we both gave a sigh of relief before turning out the light to go to bed.

This morning I went online and looked up front door screens that automatically close.

Please make me feel better with a parental fumble of your own.

Post it on our Facebook Page or Tweet it at us.

Other Posts by Megan Stremick:

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Feb 2

A New Addition to the 8th Continent Soymilk Family!

Megan Stremick and her son Charlie

Article by: Megan Stremick

With our son Charlie only a few months shy of his second birthday, we thought it would be a great time to add to our family. We made the announcement of our pregnancy to our immediate families at Christmas dinner which made for an exciting holiday despite my nausea. This will make 10 grandchildren for my parents! Add 10 adults and you have yourself one hell of a party anytime we all get together.

After word got around the office my lovely friend and co-worker Sara Lopez thought it would be a great idea if I shared the news with a blog and started tracking my progress. So please don’t take me sharing this news like I think I’m Kourtney Kardashian and you’ve all been following me on E! and really give a hoot that I’m prego. Personally, I think you should be watching the Housewives over the Kardashians anyway. We just thought it would be a great chance to get moms and expecting moms to share their stories, advice and even ask questions relating to the stages of pregnancy and being pregnant with a toddler (those last few words just exhausted me).

I’m just nearing the end of my first trimester, which has been a gas let me tell you—literally, a gas! I think the moment my body and my brain were on the same wavelength that I was pregnant by belly swelled with gas and my senses went on overload, deciding that the smell of roasted turkey or the mere thought of a leafy green vegetable would fill me with the desire to wretch.  The familiar feeling of nausea came back to me, I remember that distinctly when I was pregnant with my son, but the need for a nap at all hours of the day and the sleepless nights seems new. But, then again, I did not have a toddler running around the first time. I think I may be turning a corner. I am going on my third morning waking up without saltine cracker crumbs all over me and the sheets from my middle of the night snacking to appease an uneasy belly. Could the land of more energy and a fresh salad that doesn’t make me gag be waiting just around the corner? My vastly expanding butt would appreciate some exercise soon, that’s for sure.

Are you newly pregnant? Share your first trimester feelings? Been there, done that and have some great advice for me, I’d love to hear it. You can connect with us on Twitter and also on Facebook.

Family

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Jan 19

How I Shed the Baby Weight (and how you can too)

Article By: Megan Stremick

I can vividly remember being in the hospital shortly after giving birth to my son, gently shuffling to the bathroom and looking in the mirror with the slightest bit of disappointment.  It’s as if I thought by some miracle I would suddenly have my old stomach back within hours after giving birth, there wasn’t a baby in there anymore right? Did they somehow miss one and leave another little bundle inside that was still filling out my belly? Those feelings quickly faded with all of the enjoyment, excitement, and hard work with my newborn, the drama of breastfeeding alone trumped any worry about regaining my pre-pregnant body.

But after a few months went by and I was able to gain some sense of a routine in my life again I knew it was time to really focus on getting back into shape with what little time I had. I didn’t rush to the gym and go crazy with cardio and weight machines, I allowed my body a chance to remember what exercise was like. In the beginning I would do squats while holding my baby (not only did this help to get my legs stronger but my son loved the bouncing motion and it would sooth him to sleep). I took long walks and did gentle yoga, then a month or so later I started adding in weight bands (stretch bands used as resistance weight), upped the intensity of my yoga and began jogging and walking hills. And if I needed a nap and time allowed, by god I let the laundry go unfolded and I took my well deserved nap—getting enough rest is key to keeping your body balanced and healthy. I found that this was the best way not to burn myself out with exercise, it was slow and steady but comfortable and effective.  It also helped that because we did not have a house cleaner I spent time vacuuming and mopping—this definitely burns calories.

Of course my diet played a large part as well. I upped my protein by drinking my soymilk instead of just using it on my cereal, drank at least 2 liters of water a day and I never skipped a meal. This meant that I was never so hungry at any point in the day that I would just shove any kind of food in my mouth.  My meals consisted of fruit and cereal or oatmeal in the morning, salad and a half of sandwich for lunch, and a protein and veggie combo for dinner. I also ate fruit, nuts or protein bars as snacks to keep my energy up and I couldn’t resist a piece of dark chocolate or two for dessert.

It’s about finding time for you to make good decisions for yourself. I gained 40lbs when I was pregnant and by the time my son was 9 months old I lost 45lbs. I didn’t stress about it, I didn’t stand on the scale and cry. I just reminded myself before I ate anything or debated on exercising that I had the power to choose. I always have the power to make good choices.

Every body is different and reacts differently to different diet and exercise routines. If this helps you and works for you, great, if not, I encourage you to keep trying and find what does.

Do you have some tips of your own that you can share? Let us know on our Facebook or on our Twitter!

Fitness Megan Stremick

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Nov 18

How to Make this a Thankful Thanksgiving

Article by: Megan Stremick

For my family, right before Thanksgiving dinner the family gathers around the table and takes a moment before the first bite of Turkey is eaten or the first forkful of yams is put to their lips and they share what they are thankful for.  It may seem cliché, and while this tradition would be a wonderful habit to get into every night, Thanksgiving is the time that brings out the “thankfulness” in everyone.

Reflecting on your past “I am thankful for…” moments you may be thinking to yourself, “gee, I feel like I say the same thing every year, how can I make my thanksgiving moment more meaningful this year”?  It’s to be expected that year after year the ever present “I’m thankful for my family and friends” speech is, at some point, going to wear thin and you are going to want to share something a little more sentimental and heartfelt. The only way to do that is to really take the time to reflect on the question of “what are you thankful for” (preferably not 10 minutes before Thanksgiving dinner).

A good way to do this is to make a list. Sit yourself down for five minutes to make a list with the thought: What makes me truly happy? When you start to reflect on not only the people but the specific times, places, smells, and sights and even the feelings you experience in your everyday life that really make you happy, you might just surprise yourself with what you come up with.

Right now I am thankful for the mornings when the air is cool, the neighbors are burning a fire giving off that winter smell, I have a delicious cup of coffee in my hand and Charlie is eating every bite of his breakfast without me having to shove it in his mouth for him. I am thankful for the moments when Russ and Charlie and I are snuggling in bed together and giggling. I am thankful for my yoga practice and what it does for my body and for my sanity.  I am thankful that when I think I’m having a bad day I have wonderful people in my life that remind me of all the things I should be thankful for.

What are you thankful for? Let us know on Twitter or on Facebook.

Family Megan Stremick

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