How To Prevent Baby Fever This Holiday Season

Christmas card photos are officially complete, and that means I've spent my evening editing and comparing photos from past years. How do I have two HUGE boys already?! It's not fair. No way, Jose.

While getting them ready for bed tonight, I dressed Wes in Luke's Christmas pajamas from last year. I remember putting them in the closet a few months ago thinking, There is no way he will fit into these by Christmas! Sure enough, he fits them—and fills them out. Like a tank.

Needless to say, the baby fever is STRONG tonight. (<<< All caps and italics. That's how bad it is, people.) Looks like I better take my own advice in this article I wrote for What to Expect. You hoping the baby fever will skip you this year? You struggling to stay immune? I've got you covered, girl. Grab your how-to guide here.

Good luck! Let me know how it goes for you! ;)

How Do You Talk To Your Kids?

On Monday I took the boys to a new park as a reward for bravely enduring their annual flu shots. Such an ordeal deserves a prize as grandiose as a shiny new-to-us park, after all.

There we were. Or should I say there they were, zipping down the slides and flinging their army men off the edge of those death trap fire poles. (WHY do they put those in parks for toddlers and young children? Seriously. And would you consider yourself a "park mom"? I don't. I consider myself a "sit-on-the-benches-and-don't-bother-me-unless-you-are-bleeding-because-I-am-reading-a-great-book mom". It's called sanity, people.) I began hearing mom voices with their high-pitched vowels creeping up over the edge of the pages and weaseling their way into my ears.

"Sweetie, we have to wait our turn. No, no, noooo we don't push other people in line."

"Do you want to go on the swings with brother?!

"You turn around and go tell that little boy sorry. You gave him an owie."

"Would that make you happy if mommy played trucks with you?"

"YAAYYYY! Good job!"

"Ooopsy! It's okay. Ohhhh, it's okkaaaaayyy. Mommy's got youuuu."

Disclaimer: I am not making fun of moms. Okay, yes, I am making fun of moms. BUT! That includes myself. I guarantee I have uttered each of these statements approximately 3,462 times in my short career as a mother. Really, if anyone deserves a trophy in the world of mom voice, it's me! Gold medal, numero uno! Look at my kid in the picture above giving himself the face palm because of my mom voice!

Moving on.

I started silently laughing to myself, because a few weeks earlier I had just watched The BreakWomb video about what it would look like if moms talked to their friends the way they talk to their kids. It had never occurred to me how much we practically morph into another person when talking to kids. Specifically our own.

And it started me thinking. And observing.

Do I talk to my kids like that? Yes, we have already established that concept.

Do ALL moms talk to their kids like that? Are you THAT mom?

(Side story! I just was Googling why moms use baby talk and the science behind it, but look at which suggestions popped up based on popular search. Things like this give me both a sense of incredulity and faith in humanity. I'll tell you why moms hate Caillou. He's a whiner. Nobody likes a whiner of that magnitude. And he's too old to be doing the baby talk thing... wait a minute. I bet you Caillou's mom does the mom voice when nobody is looking! And moms kiss their babies because they smell like pink slices of cake from heaven. I would also like to point out that moms don't hate their sons, they just hate the decisions they are making. The rest of these make me sad and I don't want to talk about them. Moving on AGAIN...)

Alright, as you were, as you were. Apparently science tells us that the term I have so scholarly dubbed "mom voice" is more widely known as "motherese" or "parentese" and it is used for bonding and language development. Mothers naturally tend to do this so they can teach their kids how to connect on a more intimate level.

Now that we have learned it is a maternal instinct to "motherese" the cheeks right off our kids' faces, at what age do we stop? Do you find yourself speaking more directly to your kids and conversing with them in a normal, adult manner from an early age? Six months? One? Five? Personally, my own mom has never been one for the baby talk, and always spoke directly with us and still does with anyone age one and up—er, possibly even four months and up, but who's counting? I appreciate that and try to remind myself to tone it down with the, "Ohhhhh, my little bayyybeee!" Especially since Wes just turned two.

In turn, I have found myself paying more attention to how mothers speak with their children as well. It's incredibly fascinating, don't you think? On a scale of 1-10, how guilty are you of the mom voice?

Healthy Road Trip Snacks For Kids

Road trips were something I looked forward to when I was little. We'd pack up what felt like 20 suitcases and cram our huge family into our gold Dodge Caravan. My dad would take the wheel, and my mom would sit in the front with her bag of licorice and coloring books. My dad had this beautiful cassette tape case loaded with all of the best hits from Neil Diamond.

"Far! We've been traveling far!... They're coming to America! Today!"

That will forever be my road trip anthem, and I am grateful for those little things which made wonderful memories of our days on the highway to visit my grandparents in Utah.

In a few weeks we will be packed up in our van, cruising north on the I-15 to the very same house, but this time I am the mom sitting in the passenger seat. Crazy how the tables turn so very quickly.

One of the joys of road tripping are the snacks. I've had one too many stomach aches from eating complete rubbish, and have since changed my eating habits. Sure, we bring the chocolate milk and stop for a burger, but we make sure to pack plenty of healthy snacks, too. It's always worth it in the end.

Some of Luke and Wesley's favorite healthy road trip snacks are:

• Strawberries
• Annie's Organic Cheddar Bunnies
• Grapes
• Carrots
• Annie's Organic Animal Cookies
• Annie's Organic Fruit Snacks

The Annie's Homegrown products are made with completely wholesome and non-synthetic ingredients, and their snack bags come in the perfect serving size bags for the boys. (And me! I cannot stop eating those fruit snacks! Sorry, little fellas.) I highly recommend them for your upcoming road trips. Also, you can join Team Annie's to get updates and become a part of their fun community.

Happy road tripping, my friends!

This post was sponsored by Team Annie's. Thanks for supporting the sponsors who help support our family. 

Cute And Colorful Summer Outfit Ideas For Little Boys

Three years ago when we found out we were having our first boy, some of the initial fears and concerns that played through my mind were, Boy clothes are ugly! What in the crap do I dress him in?! There are, like, only three things boys can wear. 

I am kind of rolling my eyes as I write this, but it was true. I am a girl, therefore I was only familiar with girl clothing and fashion. (Give me all the pink, ruffles and florals!) And I honestly think that is part of the million reasons it is fun being a mother to little ladies. Although, I can give you a billion reasons why being a mom to boys is even better ;)

Anyway, it turns out that boy clothes aren't just dinosaurs, trucks and cars. Imagine that! There are plenty of adorable places to shop for man child clothes. (See this hilarious meme—I'm sorry, but I started crying from laughing so hard when I saw it for the first time. I also just spent the last 10 minutes searching for it. You're welcome).

My favorite places to shop for Luke and Wesley's clothes are Gap, H&M, Old Navy, Target and Zara. They are actually the only places I shop and I hit the jackpot every time without breaking the bank.

These three cute and colorful summer outfits for a little boy above are all from Zara. They are high-quality and survive the beatings boy clothes go through—and they make great hand-me-downs, which we believe in. Now that I have two boys, I have realized the little fellas really don't need that many clothes either. Really. Boys are simple, and boys are messy, and it's easier to dress them if there aren't too many options to choose from.

Here are the basics of what you need for a little boy summer wardrobe:

• A few tee shirts. It's good to have some printed and graphic ones, as well as a couple of plain basics.
• A couple pairs of shorts. Again, one solid and one with a fun print, or overalls.
• Basic pair of pants or denim. Gray denim pants are my favorite. They go with everything.
• A light sweatshirt or jacket. I've found that picking a vibrant color can actually pair well with most things.
• A pair of sandals, a pair of sneakers (red is also a color that looks awesome with most things), and a pair of docksiders for dressier occasions.

And there you have it! Maybe get them a cute baseball cap or some shades to accessorize and you have a stylish little dude on your hands.

Giraffe Tee | Overalls | Sandals

Sweatshirt | Shorts | Docksiders

Happy Boy Tee | Gray Denim | Sneakers

5 Important Sun Safety Tips For Little Ones

We live near the beach in Southern California, meaning we spend A LOT of time outside and at the beach. Meaning we use A LOT of sunscreen and take every precaution to keep our skin protected. Come to think of it, we've always lived in the sun since having babies. That's definitely over 10,000 hours of soaking up those vitamin-filled rays, which technically makes me a professional. ;)


But seriously, we have our set rules for sun safety and I want to share them with you! I remember freaking out and being completely overwhelmed about sun exposure when Luke was first born and these are my tips if you are clueless (or need a reminder) like I once was.

1. Always use a long sleeve swim shirt or full cover suit and hat on your infant until they are at least 12 months. I would even say do this until they are two years old, but that can get tricky. Wes refuses to keep a hat on, and he has figured out how to pull off the ones with the strap under the chin. If you are spending a full day at the pool or beach, I would even recommend keeping a full coverage swim shirt or suit on toddlers and little ones up to four years. Wes is one and a half and always wears one, and Luke is three and usually wears a rash guard at the beach, especially when we are there at peak hours between 11 am-2pm.



2. Apply sunscreen to your little ones every morning during the sunny months. (Or year round if you live in a warm climate like we do.) It is best to simply work it into your morning routine so it becomes a habit. I always apply an additional coat right before we leave for the pool or the beach so it has time to settle in, and we don't get sand and gunk all over the cap. (That is the worst!) I personally recommend using a heavy sunscreen cream for little ones. It should be SPF 50+ and reapplied every few hours. (I don't like the sprays—makes me feel like I am breathing in toxic air!) We have recently been using the sunscreen from Mustela, which you can get on Diapers.com. It is 100% mineral based, so it is made from natural ingredients and isn't full of synthetic garbage that can be harmful and harsh on sensitive skin. My pediatricians have always advised me to not use sunscreen until six months. I feel like that is the old general rule of thumb, but those recommendations are changing. My personal opinion? Use a safe, natural-based on an infant anytime you are in the sun. Which leads me to my next thing...



3. If you are going to be in a sunny place and you have a baby under the age of 12 months, bring an umbrella or find a shady place to sit. And that is in addition to all of the sun-protecting clothes. This may seem like common sense, but I see tiny babies out in the sun at the beach all the time without an umbrella or tent to shade them and it gives me a slight case of mom anxiety. Their skin is so sensitive and needs the utmost care and guard from the sun. Even with Wes being 18 months old, I still refuse to go to the beach without an umbrella. Yes, I will literally return and go home if I don't have it. He obviously walks around and plays now, but I only let him play for about 30-50 minutes at a time before having him take a break in the shade for a little while.

4. Make sure your kids are drinking plenty of water and fluids on the days they spend an adequate amount of time in the sun. The last thing anyone needs is for a case of heat stroke to strike. That is incredibly dangerous for a little child, and good hydration and regular breaks from the sun are key to preventing it. The recommended fluid intake for a toddler is about four cups per day.


5. Use a hydrating spray and body lotion after bathtime on the days you have spent in the sun. This helps keep the skin moisturized and smooth. Even after all of the above precautions are taken, certain areas of the skin were still exposed, which means skin damage occurred. That is what a tan is after all. It is inevitable, so it is best to put good sun safety tips for your little one into practice from the beginning.


To celebrate Mother’s Day, Mustela wants to hear from real moms like you! Head on over to their Facebook page to enter into their Mustela Moms Know Best contest to win a bundle of products (over a $100 value!). There are two winners every day, so be sure to enter into the contest daily with your tips, tricks and advice.

Hope the days ahead of you are full of sunshine!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Mustela through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated by POPSUGAR to write a post about Mustela, all opinions are my own. Also, I am not certified health professional or dermatologist. I compiled this list based on my own experiences, which have worked with my two babies, and with information given to me by our pediatrician. 

Cloth Diapering Your Second Baby

When we decided to first take the cloth diapering plunge, Luke was 18 months old. I was hesitant because I felt like Luke was too old to start, but I was extremely interested in the financial savings and the environmentally friendly aspects. (There is nothing as disgusting as a week's worth of stinky disposable diapers piling up, I tell you!)

For the next four months we cloth diapered regularly. It wasn't until I had Wesley that I switched back to disposables. The idea of cloth diapering both of them sounded nothing short of heroic, and I attempted it for a few days. I about lost my marbles. I couldn't even think about handling an additional load of laundry or constantly scraping out the sticky newborn poop. Adjusting to wrangling two tiny human beings was enough, and we neatly stowed away the cloth diapers for a future time.

Well, that future time arrived a little over a year later. We potty trained Luke and I finally created a smooth laundry system for the first time in my adult life. (You can't win them all.) The idea of cloth diapering Wes sounded like a good idea once again and I have actually enjoyed it. (Is that weird?) Sure, it would have made the most financial sense to cloth diaper while they were BOTH in disposable diapers, but that would have just been too logical now wouldn't it? ;) 

We now do what I like to call hybrid diapering. I use cloth diapers while we are at home. If we go out for an extensive amount of time during the day or on a trip, I will put Wes in disposables. It cuts back about one large box of diapers per month, which saves about $30, not to mention less waste.

If you are wondering or hesitant about cloth diapering your second baby, or third or fourth, my advice is to do what works with your schedule and system. I wish it would have been something that worked for us to do with Wes from the get go, but it just wasn't. There is no shame or guilt in recognizing your limits as a parent, even though that took me some time to work through. And that goes for EVERY aspect of parenting.

If you are curious about how to cloth diaper, this post is all about our cloth diapering routine and the cost breakdown and comparison. Although I would like to mention we exclusively use the snap pocket diapers now. (The ones Wes is wearing above.) They are as easy and efficient to change as a disposable diaper, which is a big deal if you have other kids. This post talks about how we store and wash our cloth diapers in detail, and this post has a ton of cute pictures of Luke as a baby from when I was debating whether or not to go the cloth diapering route. I am happy I did!

Happy diapering!

What Naptime Looks Like When Kids Share A Bedroom

"Wes will go down easily in his crib, and Luke will lay quietly in his bed until I shut the door. Then all hell breaks lose. Toys are flying through the air, crashing like bombs in a war zone; cars and blocks are scattered so violently you'd think the toy box contracted a nasty case of food poisoning."

A few months ago I wrote a post for What to Expect about the battle called naptime when kids share a room. It seems as if the sleeping gods are against you and are purposely trying to drive you to the looney bin—I know, I hear ya!

Naturally, I wrote an ode of sorts about the very real struggle of this nappy situation, so come on over and read the entire post here!

Also, stay tuned for a little bedroom tour coming soon!

Bright And Colorful Bedroom Ideas For Kids

Childhood is lively and colorful, so I think kid bedrooms should reflect that. Since I am always feverishly pinning any bright and colorful bedroom for kids, I thought I should share my favorite ones with you should you be looking for some inspiration and color for your own little ones!

If I ever have a girl, you better believe those walls are going to be plastered with pink! In fact, I wouldn't mind MY bedroom looking like this. I love everything about these colors and patterns! (image source)

I think black and white walls are such a great place to start for a boys room, and then it's fun to throw in all the pops of colors with pillows, wall art and toys. Makes me want to paint another chalkboard wall in Luke and Wesley's room like we did in our last place. Also, I am very seriously considering that we build house bedframes for their beds... except for the fact that we don't own any power tools... And don't know how to use power tools. Looks like this is the year of becoming a handywoman! (image source)

How fun would it be to build in a swing or a set of gymnastic rings into a bedroom? I can see Wesley's future as an Olympic gymnast already! ;) And again, those pops of color and natural light are perfect. (image source)

This yellow half wall with the pinks and mints make such a sweet color combination. And would you get a load of those nesting dolls? Too good! (image source)

Now it looks like I am going to need two baby girls so one can have this room, and the other one can have the room above! I really like the creative way this wall was painted, which could work for a boy or girl bedroom. (image source)

Alright, guys. Now the bright and colorful cuteness overload is getting out of control. In fact, I think this might be the mecca for bright and colorful bedrooms for kids. Right?! (image source)

And last, but not least, behold this amazing collection of colorful accessories. That shelf! Those pillows! Color explosion! I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up. (image source)

How To Manage Naptime With Two Toddlers

I nicknamed naptime at our house the Battle of Naptietam. When you have two small kids under the age of three who share a room, managing naptime schedules truly turns into a mom versus baby warzone.

Let me paint the scene for you...




It's 2:00 pm and there are tears springing from the cheeks of your exhausted children. You quietly lay one down in their crib, and it seems all is well as they crash into a deep sleep once their head hits the mattress. You say to yourself, Ha! That was easy. Better go grab the next one. (It's never that easy, though. And it's a cruel trick I've played on myself one too many times.)

You have every intention of the next one going down just as peacefully, but they can a) talk and b) end up voicing their opinions for the world to hear, let alone your supposed-to-be napping baby in the crib, which is three feet away.

Then all hell breaks loose and the bombs of emotion start exploding. The toddler is wailing because they are so tired they can't settle down to sleep. The baby is wailing because they keep getting disturbed AND they are teething. And then mom starts wailing because, well, because parenting has its crappy moments and sometimes the only thing that fixes a moment of temporary insanity is a good cry. Right?


Now, you are probably thinking, Abbey, why don't you just put them in different rooms? But that would just make too much sense! And I have a knack for making my life far more complicated than it needs to be. Well, luckily for the happiness of all parties involved at the Rodriguez Casa, I let go of my pride and finally started putting the boys in separate rooms during naptime. And let me tell you, life is a lot more calm now.


Here are my tips on learning how to manage naptime with two toddlers (or babies):

1. As obviously stated above, separate their naptime spaces. I didn't want to do this at first because I didn't want to deal with having a portable crib in our room, but I quickly realized I valued my sweet, sweet quiet time in the afternoons more than the extra four feet of space in our bedroom. I recently received the 4moms Breeze playard and I love it. It snaps open and shut with one push of a button, and it is sleek looking so it isn't an eyesore being in the corner of our room. Yes, it is a teeny tiny bit larger and heavier than our old Graco one we used before, but the ease of use and maneuvering the 4moms playard has me completely sold. That is now wear Wes sleeps during naptime and he actually goes to sleep more quickly and soundly in there than in his crib! 4moms has a lot of other amazing baby gear you can check out here.

2. Stick to the same naptime every day. This can be tricky if you have older kids or errands to tackle, but it makes things incredibly more manageable. My boys are creatures of habit (I really think all children are, actually) and they are in their best spirits when life is predictable and consistent. Naptime in particular. I try my best to get all the errands done in the morning so they can go down for a long, peaceful nap around 2:00 pm. The days this happens, they sleep for longer stretches and wake up in time for dinner. It gives me my sacred alone time, and then allows us to clean up and get ready for dinner without busy hands around us.

3. Find a fun routine when tucking them in to sleep. Luke climbs into his bed and we tuck him in with all 500 bajillion of his stuffed animals, and then we go through a very specific set of high fives and kisses. Every time we do this, he rolls over and is asleep within two minutes, but if I am rushed or in a frenzy and forget to do it, the naptime sailing isn't as smooth. He will eventually go down, but it can take up to 30 minutes for him to settle. With Wes, we sing a little song and he gets his "mimi" and some milk and he is out like a light. Again, if I miss this, it is nothing but ginormous tears, which are the most heartbreaking thing in the world. (Seriously, if you ever see Wes cry, you will know what I am talking about. The kid has an Oscar in his future.)

4. Get them used to sleeping with noise. We are still working on this one. Luke is pretty good at sleeping with all the racket going on in the background, but Wes is a fairly light sleeper still. We put fans on for white noise when they sleep, which is helpful. By the way, how do you feel about white noise? I feel like there is a controversy about it. Some experts say it is bad for their brains and doesn't let them fully relax and rest, but then there is the whole thing about how white noise when they are infants actually helps them relax because it reminds them of the womb. So what is it? I think I just answered my own question in reaffirming that you should always parent by what feels right for you and your kids.

NUK USA Bottle And Pacifier Giveaway

Our boys are definitely what you would call "binky" babies. Luke would probably have taken a pacifier until his sophomore year in high school if we would have let him. The day he stopped using it was a very tearful and sorrowful one (mostly on my end), but Luke trusted all eight of them were in good hands as we waved goodbye to them in the moving truck. (Which was already almost a year ago! Sheesh! That went by quickly.)

Nowadays, it is Wes who takes a binky or a "dinky" (as we call them), and Luke is ever-so-diligent at making sure Wes has his when it falls from the crib. Wes just kind of sucks and chews on his for a minute, and doesn't depend on it nearly as much. But the bottle! Oh, the bottle is a different story.



NUK USA reached out to us about reviewing their orthodontic bottle and pacifiers, and we were thrilled since it has always been the choice of paci in our house. I was really excited to try out the bottle since milk is an incredibly precious commodity to Wes.

We've been using both the bottle and the pacifiers for over a month now. We already knew we loved the pacifiers, but I truly do like this bottle. It is easy to hold and the nipple was an easy transition from breastfeeding. Wes didn't even particularly like the Medela bottles and was always finicky with them, but he took immediately to the NUK Orthodontic Bottle.  It also has an anti-colic system which lets in less air and helps prevent excess air and gas, resulting in a happier baby! Hooray!

Does your baby love their pacifier or do you need a good bottle? Then it is your lucky day! I teamed up with NUK USA to give away one NUK Orthodontic Bottle, two Design Shield Pacifiers, and two of the regular pacifiers (pictured above). They are all BPA free and are designed to fit with the natural palate of a baby's mouth for proper growth and development. The set will come in either a boy or girl design, depending on the sex of your baby. It would make for the perfect gift for a new baby in your life this holiday season, whether it's your own baby or a new niece, nephew, or friend's baby.

Simply enter in the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

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Baby Favorites Giveaway!

Wesley Rodriguez turns one tomorrow! ONE!! I cannot believe it has already been a whole 12 months since we met our incredible little guy.

In honor of his big day, I've put together a "Baby Favorites" giveaway of my ultimate, tried and true baby items that I love. Seriously, every mama and baby needs these goodies. I've teamed up with some awesome entrepreneur moms and fellow mommy bloggers so one of YOU awesome moms (or dads, or aunts, or anyone with a baby in their life) can have your own!

Before we get to that, remember the bump style series I did when I was pregnant with Wes? Well, Emily, Lynzy and I are back to show you a little then and now! Trips down memory lane are always a good thing, especially when it involves babies.

Emily easily makes one of the cutest pregnant mamas, but that Lydia on her hip is even sweeter! She is taking after her mama with that amazing red hair. (I am sure you know Emily by her insanely gorgeous mermaid hair!) Such an adorable family!


Here is one of Lynzy looking radiant and glowing in her maternity shoot back when she was pregnant with Olivia, and one from their recent family photos. Little Olivia is absolutely adorable and just turned one a few weeks ago! You have to check out the vintage first birthday party they threw for Livie! It was whimsical and lovely, and now I am trying to figure out how to get a little lady of my own because she is giving me some serious baby girl fever.


And last, but not least, we have Wesley! Isn't he the most handsome little fella? I am one of those weirdos who loves being pregnant (for the most part), and my pregnancy with Wes was wonderful. Since it was my second time around, I felt much more calm and aware. Although, I like him better on the outside. ;)

Now for the goodies! We are giving away $200 worth of must-have baby favorites! Here is a list of the package one of you lucky people will win:

• A Solly Baby wrap. This wrap is essential for the newborn days, especially having two kids. The colors are beautiful, and it has the right amount of stretch and hold. I have tried four different wraps and carriers now, and this is hands down my favorite. Also, Elle, the owner of Solly Baby, is one of the nicest people in the world. She and her darling family just got back from a five week trip around the world, and you have to check out all of their photos! Such an inspiration!
• A bottle of Tubby Todd baby soap. K, this stuff is what baby body product dreams are made of. I am sure you are like me in wanting only to put natural products on your baby's body, and they have created a 100% natural baby wash that smells like heaven AND actually lathers and gets clean! Truly, I will never buy another baby soap as long as I live.
• A Swankaroo backpack. These packs are mini-sized and perfect for stuffing all of the extra baby loot in. You can then have your older kids haul it around or put it on your little one once they are old enough to toddle around. The prints and colors are bright and hip, and I am still waiting for them to come out with backpacks in my size! (Although they recently just launch mommy tote bags!)
• A pair of Freshly Picked moccasins. These baby shoes are everywhere in the blog world, and it is because they are so cute! Wes rotates between these and his Converse, but almost every time he has his moccs on we receive a compliment. The leather is soft and they are one of the few things that will actually stay on baby feet!
• An art print from Wee Little Monsters. These watercolor prints are simple and sweet for a baby nursery. We have the bear print, and are going to be adding a few monsters and a surf wagon one soon! Also, Paige, the artist behind Wee Little Monsters, just started a blog that you will want to add to your list. She is gorgeous, has amazing taste and style, and their family is adorable!

Is your heart beating a million miles an hour after reading over this list? I know you at least have real life emoji heart eyes right now! I do too. I love quality products and ones that come from mommy entrepreneurs at that! Now all you need to do is enter in the Rafflecopter widget below. Remember, the more entries you complete, the more likely you are to win!

Here's to Wesley's birthday week, babies, and love! Cheers and good luck!

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That One Time Our Toddler Locked Our Baby In Our Bedroom

"Mommy, I need my mimis," Luke said as he walked into our office where I was answering emails and paying bills. (Mimis are blankets in our house, FYI.)

"Luke, you are supposed to be in your bed sleeping. What did you do with them?" I replied.

"Dey in mommy's room. I need hewlp."

My sister and her family are in town, so we moved Luke and Wes into our room for the few days they are staying with us. Naturally, I was annoyed that Luke was refusing to take his nap, which also meant Wes was probably still awake as well.

I impatiently walked over to our bedroom door, only to find a doorknob that wouldn't budge. I wriggled it a few times just to be sure it wasn't stuck. Then it dawned on me...

"Dammit! WES IS LOCKED IN!"

Visions of Wes screaming in peril and me unable to get to him flashed through my brain, as well as the mental image of one of us climbing up a huge ladder to our window and shattering it to get in. If you don't already know, I have a tiny flare for the dramatic — juuust a little. ;)

The next logical step was to yell to Matt for help, because he is always more logical and sound in situations like these. I sprinted down the stairs and frantically told him what happened.

"Matt, Luke locked Wes in our bedroom!! How are we going to get him out?!" I was sure it was the end of the world.

Matt simply and calmly replied without taking his eyes off the football game, "Where's the screwdriver?"

Yes! Of course! The screw driver! Hope was not lost; thanks to a handy appliance, we would be able to rescue our baby from the throes of isolation!

I quickly grabbed it from our tool cabinet and raced back to the door. (Time was of the essence — I had a baby to save!) I've never examined the structure of a doorknob, and I was so happy to see those two screws on the side to easily remove it.

Five minutes later, and both of us having a battle of wits with the lock, we came out victorious and were able to break in.

We found Wes like this...

He lives for the thrill! And I was relieved to find he hadn't been traumatized by the experience. (I guess that was only me.)

Never a dull moment around here, I tell you.

Also, here are my suggestions if you have toddlers with curious fingers and twist locks on your doors:

• Set up rules and boundaries to not play with the locks
• Teach them how to correctly lock and unlock it, should they be rebellious and lock themselves in anyway
• Keep a screwdriver handy
• Flip around the locks so they are on the outside

In fact, you should probably do the last one first just to save yourself the headache of having to deal with it, because it can, and most likely will, happen.

Oh, the joys of parenting! May the force be with you.