Mama Knows Best
The Good ‘Ole days
While going to garage sales with my mom we found a toy Annabelle just couldn't let go of. It was a Fisher Price telephone that is a remake of a 50s toy. Although I too am too young to have known the original toy, I wasn't sure Annabelle even knew what a phone was. Although she will be a year... »
Capturing those precious moments
I've always loved pictures. Taking them, being in them, looking at them, editing them — I love it all. The passion still burns in me today, but now it's slightly more extreme. My husband always tells me we need a book shelf for my obsession. I have five wedding albums, a family album and an album specifically for Annabelle just on... »
Are you kidding?
My news editor, Clint Wolf, came across this brief and immediately brought it to my attention. I was appalled to say the least. Isn't anyone checking this information? Ugh .... Audit raises concerns over sex offenders MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A new audit finds that addresses of four registered sex offenders in Wisconsin are the same as those of licensed child care... »
Dealing with Postpartum Depression
I loved playing dolls when I was little. I had many Cabbage Patch and Mattel Magic Nursery dolls that I treated better than my cat, Misty. I had a handmade wooden cradle and a blanket to hold my "babies" just right. I loved those "babies" more than anything. I remember the first time my cousin's mother saw me with my daughter.... »
Losing a parent
This job can be tough when stories hit close to home. On today's front page, a motorcycle accident story has pulled at my heart all morning. Machesney Park resident Eric McClenthen was a friend of mine. We went to high school together, his sister had dated my brother for quite some time and there was one summer that a day... »
Embarrassed in public
I can't stand a bad acting child, especially in public. I've always cringed at the child screaming for a candy bar while waiting in line to pay for my items. I've also always wondered how the mother could simply ignore the loud shrieks that surely could shatter glass. Now that I am a mother, I finally know what it is like to... »
Dying for 8 hours
It's official. I am NOT supermom. For the past few weeks Annabelle has decided she no longer needs to sleep past 4 a.m. Happy giggles and babbling come loudly over the monitor each morning around 4:02 a.m., which apparently is a cue for the cat to start meowing and pawing at the door. Personally, I haven't seen 4 a.m. since Annabelle... »
Starting solids
For the past few weeks Annabelle sits in her bouncy chair staring at my dinner as I eat. It's almost as if she is fascinated by adult food. This was the first time I thought she was ready to try solids. She was just over 5 months old. When to start solids seems to be a big debate these days. Annabelle's... »
Swine flu and children
When my daughter spiked a 101 temperature on Tuesday my first thought was swine flu. Even though she has never been anywhere near Mexico in her lifetime, I couldn’t help but think about it. Although the pediatrician said she probably just has a little bug and to keep up with the Pedialyte, it’s still a scary thing. I recently stumbled upon... »
‘Baby Shaker’ game is appalling
I have noticed recently that I tend to be offended a lot easier now that I am a parent. Returning to my car on Saturday from a garage sale I overheard a man yelling at his two little girls to get in the car. It wasn’t the words that offended me, but his tone of voice. It was very domineering... »
