Dads – BurritoBuzz

Minivan Mama

Published on January 13, 2017January 12, 2017 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

I officially gained my “soccer mom” status this summer when we traded in my little blue SUV for a MINIVAN. And let me tell you, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made!! It’s true love. I knew I always wanted a minivan someday, because I grew up with my parents always having one, and it always just seemed like the most practical with kiddos. What I didn’t know is how much I would not miss my old car and absolutely love this van!

My husband I had been talking about them for a while and finally buckled down and started researching them after we had our second child. We were tired of not having a lot of room in the car especially if we needed to take any extra people anywhere. Two car seats take up a lot of space. We looked at several minivans on the market, but narrowed it down to the Toyota and Honda. We did have a rental Chrysler that we were happy with as well. After test driving, we were actually surprised at how easy the decision was with the Honda Odyssey. The vans were priced roughly the same, but the Honda just felt like it was made better. We didn’t dislike the Toyota (my hubby drives a Toyota Tundra), but the Honda was just better.

We waited several weeks for the specific model and color to come in that we wanted, but once it arrived, it was love at first sight. I was so anxious and excited that Saturday morning we were able to go and pick it up with the kids. Our 3 year old was excited for the “new van!” too. It was bittersweet leaving our old SUV, but there are new reasons every day why I am so thankful to be a minivan mama now . . .

Here’s a few of them . . .

1. The automatic sliding side doors… need I say more?! I don’t have to worry about my kids or I banging any cars parked next to us with our doors. You know how loading and unloading our kiddos goes, these door make it a dream come true!! Because of the sliding doors, the opening is so much bigger than an average car door – WONDERFUL! The doors also open and close by the simple push of a button from either the key fob, by the driver’s seat, or on the inside of the sliding doors themselves.

2. Not only is there more room in the doorways, there’s more room EVERYWHERE in this car. I can honestly say I’ve been a passenger in every seat and never once did I feel like I had no space to move. And if you need more room . . . You can MAKE more room . . .

3. . . . You can make that extra space because of the movable seats. I know this is typical with most minivans and vehicles with a third row of seats, but the way the Honda was set up was another big selling point for me. Our Odyssey has the option to have an eighth seat. All of the seats are removable (except the front), but with the Odyssey you can have an eighth seat in the middle of the second row. You can easily remove that middle seat of the second row to have 2 captains chairs and an aisle way to the back row, or you can leave it in place to complete the row and have an extra seat. The seat also folds down as an arm rest if it’s left in place. The third row of seats EASILY folds down into the trunk of the van. When we drove to the beach this summer, we opted to fold the third row down so we had TONS of room for luggage and could still see out the back window.

4. Handles on the high way – We drove the minivan on the West Virginia turnpike on our way to Myrtle Beach this past summer, and it handled so much better than my husband’s truck the year before. We could set the cruise control and not have to waver and hit the brake on those winding highway turns.

5. Good on gas – I know the gas tank in the minivan is bigger than my tank was in my SUV, but I swear still that the van gets better gas mileage. According to Honda, the Odyssey gets 19 mpg on city streets and 27 mpg highway. Either way, its way better on gas than a huge SUV would be!

6. Does NOT ride like a bus – I traded in a small SUV for my minivan. I had driven it for 5 years. I will say that I was the most anxious that the minivan was going to feel like I was driving a bus after driving my little SUV. I was so wrong. The van does not feel any bigger to me. I would say it sits up off the road the same height as my old car. Even though the van is significantly longer, I really haven’t noticed other than making sure I pull in the garage far enough. The back-up camera has made this easier as well!

7. Bang for the Buck – I’m telling you, you cannot beat a minivan. Even if you have a small family like we do, it is worth considering. For some reason, they get a bad rap, but I can’t think of one negative thing to say about mine. Maybe I don’t look the “coolest” driving the minivan around, but that is the last thing I’m worried about. Most companies offer all the bells and whistles you can find in luxury cars and SUVs, so don’t think those options aren’t available in a van. It’s convenient, affordable, and I know my kids are safe – that’s what matters to me.

If you’re thinking about getting a new vehicle for your new family, growing family, or just want more seats/space, take a look at a minivan. Check out all the options. Take them for a test drive. I think you’ll love it! And if you take the plunge like we did and buy one, you won’t regret it!

-Megan

BottomZz Up Potty Training Kit {Review}

Published on November 11, 2016November 9, 2016 by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

When we got the opportunity to review this product, I was super happy! C is what I like to call half potty trained. He will use the potty all day long if he is running around the house naked and if we’re out to dinner at a restaurant, he will ask to go potty. But our problem arises while at home, at the park, or anywhere else where is he preoccupied and focused on playing and having fun while wearing anything, a diaper, pull up, or underwear.

We’ve tried candy.
We’ve tried stickers.
We’ve tried ice cream.
We’ve tried what seems like everything.

He’s just not catching on. Part of it is lack of consistency on my part I am sure. Part of it is the week on/week off custody and his dad allowing him to still use diapers because it’s more convenient than having to do laundry in his eyes.

That’s where BottomZz Up come in.

This system is amazing. Now don’t get me wrong, I had my issues with it and I will explain them in a second, but overall, fantastic! Is C 100% potty trained after a week with the system? No. Was there progress made? Yes.

Essentially what you’re looking at is the cloth diaper of the potty training world. The system offers cloth, washable, reusable training pants with an absorbent liner. The starter kit comes with a potty chart, stickers, a certificate, and a travel bag.

The Opening for the Liner. There is almost no wiggle room. I found that I was unable to get the liner in so it laid flat as I was unable to get my hand in to grab the other side and pull it through.

Sizing. C is an average sized toddler and I felt these were extremely small in the leg openings. This was part of the reason I couldn’t be consistent with him wearing them 24/7. They were far too tight on his thighs and he told me they were hurting him. When I took them off, he had pretty significant red lines where they were. There is no option (that I have found) with larger sizes when it comes to ordering.

Price. I think the pricing is a little steep. A box of 10 refill liners is almost $18 and a package of 3 underwear is nearly $50. If you want the whole starter kit, you would be looking at almost $100, but you only get 6 inserts. So automatically plan for another $18 purchase for more liners.

Reusable. I have a whole cloth diaper stash that I had for C and will use again for the next baby, whenever that may be. Not having to run to the store when you “run out” of diapers, pull up, etc., is super convenient.

Chemical free. 100% cotton undies and chemical free liners make it as safe and eco-friendly as it getsNow, C peed in them the first time and realized that it was wet as it held the moisture in the underwear. We started bribing him with the stickers and he began going potty on the toilet. He kept them on during nap time and woke up soaking wet as they had leaked on the inner thighs. He had another accident in which they leaked in the inner thigh area too. We made due while at home, but I didn’t want to risk out in public with him in them if they were leaking. They do have a caveat on their site stating they may leak when sitting down, however, neither of the leaks were due to him sitting. But again, accidents happen. I think it has to do with the small gap between the fabric and the liner.

I think an All-In-One system would be a great change for BottomZz Up. Instead of having a removable liner, especially since you have to wash the underwear anyways, sandwiching the liner permanently between the fabric would possibly help stop the leaks and there would be no more struggle in trying to get the liner in.

Overall, I have to say 3 out of 5 stars for BottomZz Up. Innovative, semi-successful for potty training, but high in price and could use some tweaking when it comes to the liner. I would love to see some other sizing options!

– Kirstyn

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Nootrobox GoCubes Chewable Coffee {Review}

Published on October 1, 2016September 30, 2016 by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

I’m not a home-brewed coffee drinker, I never have been and seeing as how I am 26, I probably never will be. I will, however, indulge in any type of cold coffee. I love the taste of coffee and I love the smell of it, so I’m not sure what the issue is with drinking it hot. So when I was offered to review Nootrobox’s GoCubes Chewable Coffee, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

GoCubes are chewable coffee cubes that offer the caffeine off a cup of coffee without the jitters. Nootrobox has added L-theanine, B6, and methylated B12 for an extra boost and to help alleviate those all well known coffee jitters.

More about the cubes: they come in a pack of 4 and there is a flavor assortment in each pack: Mocha, Pure Drip, and Latte.

The fact that they are concentrated caffeine, as well as a few other ingredients, makes the reaction completely different than drinking coffee. They worked rather quickly and lasted for quite some time. I didn’t experience the jitters or stomach issues I experience after drinking coffee.

Flavor wise, I don’t know where to start. You have to first explain to yourself these are not chocolates or candy, so do not expect them to be sweet or like anything that would be pleasurable to your pallet. The initial taste was okay, but the longer the cube was in my mouth, the weirder the taste became. It was a cross between black coffee and how a coffee filter smells after it’s wet (kind of sour). Each pack contains all three flavors, so if you don’t like one certain flavor, you’re pretty much out of luck as they all look and smell the same.

Convenience wise, they are fantastic! The small package is easily transported and can be easily carried and stored in your purse, gym bag, desk drawer, etc. Unfortuantely, the package is not resealable. So if you’re only needing 2 cubes, you have to wrap up and clip the plastic package to keep the other two cubes fresh.

Nutritionally, they’re not too terrible for you. A little bit high in sugar and carbs for people, like my husband, who choose low carbs options to accompany his gym regime. Given how a plain black cup of coffee is sugar and carb free, this could be a problem for some. What I don’t like is the first two ingredients being glucose (corn) syrup and sugar. I drink my coffee with sugar but real sugar, not highly processed syrups.

The price point is pretty high, but our BurritoBuzz readers can get 10% off your order by clicking here! They run about $39 for 20 4-packs. That is roughly 40 cups of coffee. Comparing it to the typical home brew, you can purchase a 33.9oz container of Folgers and brew roughly 270 cups of coffee for about $18. However, you will lose the convenience, (almost) immediate energy kick, and other brain focus ingredients.

I would have to give the GoCubes a 3 out of 5 stars. I think there is a little room for improvement and tweaking that could be done to packaging, price, and definitely taste, but overall, a very innovative product that tackles the quickness and convenience of needing caffeine that we all know too well and that exhausted parents need.

– Kirstyn

pureWash Pro {Review}

Published on July 16, 2016July 13, 2016 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

Over the course of the last several weeks, my family and I have been sampling the pureWash Pro distributed by GreenTech. I reached out to pureWash via Twitter because I was curious about their product and its benefits to my household. I, along with the other BurritoBuzz Moms, am always interested in new technology, especially products that can improve the efficiency of my home. Since I contacted pureWash, they have been nothing but easy to work with and it is true with their product as well. I was skeptical of it at first, but it has continued to surprise me!

What is pureWash Pro?

“pureWash is an environmentally friendly appliance designed to work with your residential washing machine, adding enhanced oxygen and Photo Catalytic Oxidizers to the cold water supply. Water treated by pureWash aids in cleaning laundry and killing bacteria without leaving residual detergent in the fabric.”

How is pureWash installed?

My husband installed our pureWash Pro with ease shortly after we received it. It simply hooks up to the cold water supply that normally runs to your washing machine. We have a traditional top loading washing machine, but pureWash can be installed to any model. pureWash needs to be attached to a secure surface at installation to ensure it remains stable and level for its usage. My husband attached ours to the shelving unit next to our washing machine, using the mounting bracket that was included.

Once pureWash is installed, it’s ready to use! Easy, right? Simply operate your washing machine like you normally would. The only difference with using the pureWash is that you can only use the cold water setting to experience the benefits of the pureWash. “If hot water is used, it dilutes and defeats the effectiveness of the oxidizers that the pureWash has introduced into the wash water.”

Some things we noticed immediately after using pureWash:

The first load of laundry we did with the pureWash was towels. We noticed right away that they felt softer and fluffier than normal. We did not use any detergent and the towels were soft, appeared clean and had a fresh scent. I was anxious to keep washing after that!

I mentioned the fresh, clean scent above. This is true for every single load that is washed, not just that first load of towels. This is the “ozone smell”. I love it. The laundry smells so clean once it’s washed. This is not a smell that can be found in any type of detergent or fabric softener.

The purpose of the pureWash is to use little or no detergent. This is where I was skeptical. Really, no detergent at all? How in the world would anything get clean with just water? But it does. Most often, we have not washed with any detergent using the pureWash. Unbelievably, our laundry is clean with only the cold, oxidized water. “Detergent build-up promotes mold growth and does not kill bacteria. Independent, scientific studies have proven pureWash Pro kills 99.9% of both with cold water.” (Sounds clean to me!) I do appreciate that I can add detergent if I want to. When I wash what I would consider a heavily soiled load of clothes (my nursing work scrubs, for example) I can still add detergent to the machine.

Stains on laundry still need to be pre-treated before washing them using the pureWash. Sure it has worked great, but it’s not a miracle worker. When my kids’ clothes are covered in food or dirt, it’s going to take more than cold water to get those stains out. Once they’re treated with the stain remover you would normally use, simply throw your clothes in and wash like normal.

There is a “Household Water Out” option on the bottom of the pureWash that allows you to use the water for other household cleaning needs. It can be used to clean, water plants, wash pets or rinse fruits and vegetables. I liked this option and plan on taking advantage of it.

With babies and toddlers in my home, we often separate the laundry and use different detergent for the them. This is not necessary with pureWash. It’s so much easier washing everyone’s laundry together and not worrying about my kids breaking out in a rash from soap and detergent. pureWash is “ideal for those who suffer from allergies triggered by bacteria and mold found living in our laundry.”

I think it’s important to note that we use city water and a water softener with our pureWash hook-up. According to pureWash, “it will work with all typical household water qualities, but the better the quality of the water, the better results you will have. If you have hard water, pureWash recommends a water softener and the removal of chlorine will improve the unit’s performance.” pureWash also recommends consulting a water filtration expert if you have any concerns about the quality of your water (high iron content for example) while using the pureWash.”

Overall, my family gives the pureWash 5 out of 5 stars. I have never seen a product quite like this, but it has surprised me with its ease of installation and use. It’s comforting to know I’m not using tons of chemicals and soap in my family’s laundry and it is still clean. And you know what else, I am saving money! I’m saving money by not using as much detergent and also eliminating the energy waste from washing with hot/warm water.

You can read more about the pureWash here or purchase it through Amazon using this link: pureWash PRO by GreenTech. If you are unhappy with your pureWash after 30 days, they offer a money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied with it. Trust me, it’s definitely worth trying and you won’t want to send it back!

Here’s a short video explaining how the pureWash works:

– Megan

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of product review. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

My Toddler Needs a Leash

Published on May 14, 2016May 14, 2016 by Casey Sehm2 Comments

This past Sunday, my two daughters, mother-in-law and I celebrated Mother’s Day at our local zoo. My husband works Sundays so it was just us four. It’s a small, quaint zoo which is perfect to walk through for a few hours on a beautiful sunny day. While walking up a hill to the black bear exhibit, I noticed a woman “walking” her toddler. Literally, she had her little girl on a leash which seemed appropriate as the little girl was trying to run away. As her mom yanked her back several times, I got to thinking about my own crazy toddler. Surely she could benefit from being restrained, right? I had witnessed some disturbing behavior from her while on our outing and since a straight jacket in public seems a bit rash, I may have to invest in a leash.

Playing chicken in the parking lot

When we pulled into the zoo parking lot, I got her out of the car while I got her sister’s stroller out of the trunk and packed our stuff into it. Maybe because I’m new at being a mom to two kids and this was our first real outing, but I sort of wasn’t paying attention and there was my daughter, playing in the middle of the parking lot. Luckily for us both the car that was coming toward her (and by coming toward her I mean at least 100 feet from her) was driving very slow. A leash would have been very helpful.

Keep her away from the penguin exhibit

The first exhibit we came upon was the penguins which is equally fun and scary because you can walk up a set of stairs and look down into their tank. Unbeknownst to me, she had the head of a little Sofia the First figure in her hand from the car. She walked up the stairs to get a better look at the penguins and tossed poor Sofia’s head right down into their tank. She then had the balls to throw a fit when I said she was gone forever. Leash, please.

She prefers eating lunch off of the ground

When it was time for lunch, all she wanted was popcorn. Which is probably the healthiest thing she at that day (popcorn = corn, corn = vegetable, vegetable = healthy). The small box, which was anything but small, of course made its way to the floor and there she sat, eating it off of the floor. At least she was eating, right? She’s a very picky eater, so I consider this a win.

Name Game

In my opinion, you should always like the name you pick for your child. But when they hit the toddler years, you better really love it. I probably yelled my daughter’s name 200 times while at the zoo (four hours total). Every two minutes I was asking her not to do this or that and to come here or stop walking ahead of us. By the end of the day I wanted to rename her Jerkface.

The hills have eyes

What’s fun about a hilly landscape is your toddler trying to roll down those hills. Unless they’re very steep and have pools of water and sharp rocks at the bottom of them. I had to stop her from tumbling down a handful of times and then listen to the tantrum that ensued because I wouldn’t let her throw herself down the hills to mangle her pretty little face.

My little kleptomaniac

The zoo is smart. To exit, you have to go through the gift shop. How genius is that? To leave you have to either buy useless shit for your kids or you have to drag them out kicking and screaming because you don’t need anymore useless crap in your house. Because I was tired, I didn’t want to fight her so I told her she could have a little pink octopus stuffed animal and a squishy little frog. That little klepto tried walking out with said toys because she’s impatient and didn’t want to wait in line. If I had a leash I could have yanked her back instead of chasing her thieving self down.

Mother’s Day at the zoo was a blast, don’t get me wrong. Toddlers are nuts so I expected her to be a little wild. But I’m guessing that mom with her little girl on the leash was laughing at me as she saw me chasing my daughter around. I mean she was the smart one, she just had to give a little tug on that leash to bring her daughter back. One should be running for only 3 reasons: someone’s trying to kill you, something is on fire or someone said free food. Not because your child is insane when in public.

– Casey

Payback is Coming, Little Girl

Published on May 10, 2016May 6, 2016 by Casey Sehm2 Comments

They say when you have children, they will be twice as rotten and bad as you were when you were a kid. Now I don’t know if there is scientific proof or if you can chalk it up to karma, but in my case, it’s absolutely true. My daughter is a complete basket case lately. It could be caused by her new baby sister and she’s rebelling or the fact that she’s three and a half and that’s what three and a half year olds do. She’s always been known to be able to push my buttons just right but recently she’s taken it to a whole new level. I’m guessing it’s payback for all the hell I caused my poor mom, God rest her soul. When I think I’m going to lose my shit, I take a second to daydream about all the ways I will wreak havoc on my wild child when she’s an adult and I’m a little old lady.

Change My Diaper

She may be 3 and a half and completely potty trained when it comes to peeing, but she STILL will only poop in a pull up. She can go on the toilet, she just chooses not to. It’s like I’m changing an adult’s diaper and it’s disgusting. But payback will come when I’m too old (or too lazy) to use the bathroom and require a diaper and she’s the lucky duck that gets to wipe my ass.

Take Me Shopping

When I get too old to drive, she will be the one to take me grocery shopping. And when I ask for a candy bar in the checkout line and she tells me I can’t because of my diabetes, I will throw the biggest, loudest, on-the-floor-kicking-and-screaming tantrum she’s ever witnessed. She’ll cave from embarrassment.

I’m Hangry

When it’s time for dinner, she’ll make something healthy, possibly organic, and I will refuse to eat. She’ll demand I at least try it and I will promptly throw it, along with my dentures, on the floor and flash a huge gummy smile. Nothing will enrage you more.

Grandma Time

When it comes to her children, my grandchild, she will probably be over protective (as most mothers are) and only want the best for them (as most mothers do). So does grandma. That’s why I will give them WHATEVER they want, when they want it. I will spoil the shit out of them and send them back home loaded up on candy and Mt. Dew. Payback, baby.

I love my strong-willed, slightly crazy little girl and I wouldn’t want to change her or dampen her wild child spirit because it’s what I love most about her. I will, however, pay her back tenfold when it’s her turn to take care of her aging mama.

– Casey

Pouchie Pals {Product Review}

Published on May 6, 2016May 6, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

I know that I am not the only one out there who has a LO who refuses to do anything, or go anywhere without a certain object! For BK#1 its usually her baby, and she wont sleep without a different one and the lovey. It certainly makes me insane some days, but they are important to her, they make her feel safe, and they calm her down. So, who am I to deny her a toy or blankie to sleep with, or a doll to take to the doctor’s office.

There is A LOT of research in the psychology of transition objects, and how they help our toddlers develop. Lovies, teddies, dollies etc. help with the stress of day to day activities that our children are learning to handle. We have to TEACH our children emotions and feelings, and I believe it is so important to do it as gently as possible. I could go on and on about this, but I will digress today, because I want to get back to reviewing this product! If you are planning on having kids, or have little ones, you should definitely read this post in Psychology today just to understand a little more about what I am talking about.

Pouchie Pals heard that my DH is in Law Enforcement and understands how hard that can be on my LO’s some days. There are many times that my babies don’t see there dad for a few days, and they dont know when that is going to happen. Even harder, they see him for 20 min a day some days. His schedule is crazy! That’s the life though, and we love it most days. But there are days that BK#1 is wandering around the house looking for daddy, or questioning why daddy isn’t reading her a bedtime story. BK#2 is pretty much constantly chanting “Da da da”, and flips out when dad leaves. Bangs on the door and yells. It’s anything but fun.

When BK#1 was around 1 year old she found a picture of her dad and her as a baby. (She was dumping drawers, per usual toddler antics) The picture is adorable all by itself, but the fact that she decided to carry it around the house with her just made it that much better. She would put it in purses, take it in the car, carry it around the house for hours, and on and on. Well, let me tell you this picture is a mess now! Crinkled and bent almost beyond recognition but, she knows its “Me baby and Daddy! The simple picture gives her comfort and JOY that I obviously can’t supplement. No one can fill the daddy void, but that 4×6 photo helps just a little. This is where Pouchie Pals enters our lives.

The company has multiple different types of pouches. They sent me the “Memory Keeper” in pink swiss dot. (They have 9 different fabric patterns you can chose from)

Its a simple back-pack design cloth pocket to attach to a stuffed animal, that includes a phalate – free vinyl envelope for a photo. You insert a 3.5×5 (I trimmed a 4×6) into the envelope, put the envelope in the pocket, and then put it on your LO’s favorite toy.

Pros: All of their products are non-toxic, machine washable (with the removal of insert, obviously), and all of the packaging is “green”.

Made in the USA! <-Big one for me lately! I actively seek out products for my family that are made here at home, and local if I can swing it!

We put in a new picture of her and daddy, and off she went without a care in the world. She has been carrying a favorite teddy around the house, and not letting it go for anything! Oh! And flipping out when BK#2 touches it! I would definitely say it is kid approved!

I really loved that we wouldn’t be searching for the little picture everytime she forgot where she left if for safe-keeping last!

Cons: The ONLY thing I am not happy about is the elastic backpack strap. I wish it was some sort of velcro to ensure it wouldn’t come off, and so you could put it on whatever! BK#1’s favorite stuffed animal is a Monkey by Jelly cat that she sleeps with for every nap, and every night at bedtime. They are designed for babies to be able to hold easily with one hand. (They all have a small upper body) She has multiple Jelly Cat’s and they are all her faves. Unfortunately the elastic doesn’t really stay on the stuffed animals shoulders, because it’s too narrow. I would have loved to make the product even more special to her by adding it to something she is already super attached to! She didn’t know any better and loved the product! So, really not a big complaint.

If you are a military family, LEO, your child is having a hard time with separation anxiety at day care, or you even need a way to get rid of another transition item like a binky the Pouchie Pal is exactly what you need!

~Amanda

Deuter Hiking Pack {Review}

Published on April 21, 2016 by Katie KuceyeskiLeave a comment

My husband and I did a fair amount of hiking before having our son. Nothing too crazy, but usually just enough terrain to necessitate a hiking pack for taking our toddler out now. At 14 months old now, we hope to really get him out in nature this summer, so we needed a good hiking pack.

We decided to get a Deuter Pack, specifically the Kid Comfort Air. There are only a few brands that have name credibility as far as hiking packs for children go, but Deuter is top of the list and has amazing ratings across the board.

Why did I select this pack? Primarily, comfort for myself and my son. This pack is adjustable in every aspect, offers lumbar support for the adult, mesh lining so both you and your little one stay cool, great padded straps and padded straps and seat for your little one. I particularly loved the chin/head rest for the baby/toddler that’s riding along. The seat offers a five-point harness to keep your little one safe and snug, and is wonderfully adjustable to keep them comfortable.

The pack has some great extras: good storage, offering multiple pockets and storage spaces, loops to hook items on to, a kickstand to assist with setting your child down while in the pack, and my personal favorite, foot straps for your child to rest their feet in (my guy loves to try to stand in the pack, or re-center his gravity by just flexing his legs.)

The side-entry option makes it incredibly simple to get your child into the pack. Within a matter of seconds I had my son in the pack, strapped in, and adjusted properly. He had no interest in getting out of it, and in fact, I cooked dinner one night with him in the pack because he loved it so much.

The pack is recommended for children that can sit up unassisted and hold their head up. The weigh limit should not exceed 45lbs. The pack itself is incredibly light, at only 6lbs. It easily folds up for storage and transport. The two handles make it easy to both carry, and assist with lifting to pull the pack on to your back (though, I’ve found that sitting on a bench or seat makes this infinitely easier to put on when alone.)

The pack is shockingly sturdy. The material is easy to clean, anti-chaf, durable, and comes in good, gender-neutral colors. The frame is also incredibly sturdy.

There are several accessories that can be purchased for this pack, too. A sun shade and weather shade are both options, which we will likely purchase in the future.

Depending on where you’re purchasing, this pack will run you around $240. A fairly standard price for a good pack, and in my opinion worth every penny.

Overall, this pack is five stars in my book. A great, worthwhile purchase that will get us out into nature and hiking comfortably!

Thanks to Deuter for a wonderful product!

Want to purchase your own?:
Deuter Kid Comfort Air – Granite/Emerald

-Katie

Pacidose {Product Review}

Published on April 4, 2016April 3, 2016 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

I find it super frustrating as a parent and as a nurse when I have to give little ones medications. Usually, kiddos are already fussy, snotty, and cranky, and then we come along and try to force some nasty medication in them. We cross our fingers and hope they get the proper dose and dread the next time we have to medicate them. This has not been the case with my little experience with the Pacidose. The Pacidose is a product designed to medicate our kiddos using a typical syringe and a pacifier. GENIUS, especially if you have a binky baby. My kids have both been binky babies, so I think that aided in the success with using this product with them. I think it would work for non-pacifier babies as well.

The Pacidose is easy to use by just drawing up the desired amount of medication through the syringe like you would normally (it also works with syringes other than the one it comes with!). Once the med is drawn up, the syringe just attaches to the binky portion of the product. There is a narrow tube going down the middle of the pacifier that then delivers the liquid med. According to the Pacidose, this tube “prevents wasted medicine. Medicine is delivered to the back of the tongue, decreasing the chance of rejection.” I found this to be accurate with my 8 month old. He fortunately has not had a lot of experience with taking medications, but he received the whole dose I drew up using the Pacidose. Once he started sucking on the binky, I started to slowly push the plunger of the syringe until he had swallowed all of the medication.

Here were some other benefits I found with the Pacidose:

– Available in 3 different sizes (0-6 month, 6-18 month, and 18+ month) Although I only sampled the 6-18 month, if I have any more new babies, I will be investing in the smallest size!

– The pacifier end actually feels like a pacifier! I thought this was important because then it didn’t seem as foreign to my little guy. The package recommended putting the pacifier into another type of liquid (formula, breastmilk) and then giving it to your kiddo so they can get used to the pacifier before you use it with medication. I think this would be good if your child doesn’t do well with pacifiers.

– The syringe is easy to read to ensure you are giving the right amount of medication. I haven’t noticed the markings wearing off at all, but I also have not used the product very much. Hopefully they hold up!

– As a nurse, I would LOVE to have something like this to dispense medication to our little ones that come in for surgery. where I work. So often the kids are upset, and they almost always have to take oral medication before and after their procedure. They DO NOT want to take it from me, a total stranger!! This would be great to have in the hospital/doctor’s office setting.

The only downfall I can think of with this product would be that it is not dishwasher safe. Some reviews I have read talked about the pacifier portion falling apart after only minimal usage. I have not experienced this. I think if the product is taken care of properly (not put through the dishwasher); there won’t be any trouble with this. It seems to be of good quality and very well made.

You can purchase the Pacidose for $12.99 right from their site or from Amazon Prime for $14.99. This might seem like a steep price, but I think it is worth it. This product would also make a fabulous baby gift for new moms and moms-to-be! In my mind, you can’t put a price on making sure your kiddos are healthy and happy and this product does both!

-Megan

I want to keep my kiddos in their bubble forever!!

Published on March 18, 2016March 16, 2016 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

Lately, I have been quickly reminded that as parents, we are not always going to be able to protect our little ones. For some reason, I thought that as my babies got older, things would get easier. Boy was I ever wrong!! It is only going to get more and more difficult to protect them. What was I thinking?! I should have known better!! I just hope I can get better at “letting go” and “dealing with” the fact that I can’t control everything. I can’t keep my kiddos in a little safe bubble forever and ever (even though I wish I could).

Just recently, my oldest (she’s almost 3) slipped and fell in the shower. This was not her first time in the shower with her dad or I, and it wasn’t even the first time she has slipped. Kids slip, kids fall, kids can even get hurt, but this time was different. She developed a goose egg above her eye immediately that I noticed as soon as I scooped her up off the floor. I had a pit in my stomach and the “I want to vomit” feeling instantly, but did my best to remain calm and get my husband. She never lost consciousness and eventually stopped crying, but her eye kept swelling, to the point where she could barely see out of it. We put ice on it and got some advice from a family member who is a physician (it was a Saturday night of course). She ended up going to bed that night, but I couldn’t help but worry about her and if it was going to be okay. My husband ended up taking her to the ER the next day (here’s a helpful site on when to take your kiddos to the hospital). Everything turned out to be fine, but it’s over 3 weeks later and the little thing still has a bruise and a bump. If I could just protect her from everything, this never would have happened! I couldn’t help but blame myself.

As parents, we’re going to beat ourselves up about every little thing that happens to our kids. We can’t help it; it’s how we’re programmed. It doesn’t mean that we are bad parents when our little ones get hurt or injured. It just means that we love them when we sit and think about not wanting anything to ever happen to them! We have to lighten up on ourselves though! I took total responsibility when my little girl got her first black eye/goose egg. I was worried sick about her. I felt like the worst parent in the world, but it happens. It wasn’t my fault. I’m not the worst mother on the planet. She’s probably going to have more goose eggs. It took me a long time to come to terms with this, and I am still working on it.

We experience this feeling of guilt for a multitude of reasons and on a daily basis. My “mom guilt” occurred instantly when my little girl slipped and fell. Sharing what happened with others and hearing them respond with stories of their kiddos having similar accidents, made me feel like I wasn’t alone. People reminded me that things like this are going to happen, no matter how much I try to prevent them. It’s how my kids are going to learn and grow, but we have to let them. They can’t aren’t going to stay babies forever.

So, for all you parents out there who might have experienced something similar with your little ones or are just worried that someday you will . . . IT IS OKAY!!! You’re still a fantastic parent and your kiddo is going to turn out fine! If you still worry all the time, that’s okay too, but cut yourself a break sometimes. You’re not alone. We are never going to stop worrying about our kids. We are always going to want what is best for them and to protect them. It just means we care!

Check out the Parents website for more helpful links related to infant emergency situations. They have links to common infant health scares and first aid tips.

-Megan

The Registry Items BurritoBuzz Moms Can’t Live Without!

Published on February 14, 2016February 14, 2016 by Amanda1 Comment

I don’t know about you, but I loved doing my baby registry! I was so excited to plan and prepare for my baby! Well, as months passed after BK#1 arrived, I realized I had forgotten a few items! Even worse, seeing a friend have one item that does what 10 of yours does!

The BurritoBuzz moms got together and compiled a list of “must have” items that we just couldn’t live without!

NURSERY

Rock N Play – A sleeper that is inclined to help with reflux, rocks to soothe back to sleep, portable to move from room to room, vibrates, and the cover is machine washable! All of our moms have used this and would purchase it again! MUST for those first few months.

Pack n play with a bassinet – Like a Graco Play yard. It’s great alternative instead of a typical bassinet in your room. You have changing table, storage, and bed all right there.

Aden and Anais Swaddles – Get them from a Boutique near you so you get the high quality. {Boutiques get the ones that are bigger and thicker than the ones in a chain store.}

BATH & DAIPERING

A&D Diaper cream– It works for everything! Prevents and soothes diaper rash!

Boppy changing pad liners– These are AMAZING! It’s a waterproof liner to put on top of your pretty pad cover! Pee or poo mess? Just toss it in the wash! So much nicer than having to buy multiple covers.

Diapers – Buy more than you think you need, and put every size on your registry!

GEAR

Diaper Bag– We all have our favorites, but be sure to get one with a lot of space and pockets. Back pack style is a life saver if you have more than one child!

Swing – The Fisher Price Swing is great! Its mobile, small, entertaining, and keeps a fussy baby happy! By far my favorite swing on the market, and it’s much cheaper than most!

Infant to Toddler Chair– One like this is a must. Your baby will love sitting in anything that is not theirs, and having something that is safe for them is important! The swings and newborn items are essential, but aren’t safe after 20 or so pounds.

Good Monitor – This is not an item you want to cheap out on. The cheap ones are just that- CHEAP! They don’t last, and you will be kicking yourself when it dies in 6 months. I have tired multiple simple radio monitors, video “baby” monitors, and we have finally found our favorite! It’s the GE wireless Monitor. We have cameras in two rooms, it’s still a radio frequency (no creeps hacking in this house), and its works great!

Infant Carrier Car Seat -30 + lbs.! When you have a 3 month old that is 20 lbs. chances are you don’t feel comfortable putting them in a convertible car seat, and if the weather if cold and gross you don’t want them exposed to the elements. Finding a higher end seat that will last, is well worth your money.

Car mirror – These have been a life saver! Neither of my kids like the car! If they start getting fussy I can click the garage door-like button and start some music and lights to distract them! We bought one two years ago, and another when BK#2 was born and I seriously can’t live without!

Stroller – You will want one that is sturdy and that has varying levels of height for your baby! A click and connect stroller is nice, because it lasts from birth to 50 lbs!

Soft structured Carrier. – Baby wearing has saved our lives! Skin to skin soothes any baby! it helps with reflux, lets you get things done….The list goes on for days. Tula is one of our favorites!

Baby Care & Play

Gas drops – alcohol free gas drops! Little remedies works wonders!

Natural body wash and lotion –The more you read the more you will hate buying the popular lines of things for your child! I promise! Check out this post to find out more!

Teethers – Teething is a nightmare. Put a dozen different types on your registry, and literally have dozens, because you will want them everywhere, and you will want to wash them daily!

Taggy – Taggy’s soothe my babies so easily! They are cute, easy to pop in the wash, and make the baby happy! Taggies Pal and Taggies lovey are our favorites!

FEEDING

Lanolin – Lansinoh brand is the best you can get! If you are planning on nursing be sure to stock up. You can read more why here.

Nursing Pillow– Even if you are not nursing, a “nursing” pillow is great for feeding, propping and play!

Bottles –MAM seem to be the unanimous favorite! They are a little bit pricey, but start there to alleviate/ prevent any type of reflux.

Pacifier – Soothie or MAM (These MAM ones glow in the dark! If your baby will take them try them first!) are the favorites around here! I said I never wanted my babies to have them….I quickly changed my mind at 3 am day 4 of my first baby. I promise they wont go to college with them, and with some tough love in a year you can break them of it!

Burp cloths– Gerber diapers! If you have a baby that spits up at all the “burp clothes” are more like wash cloths, and don’t do ANYTHING! Save yourself time and money, and just buy the diapers. They are white, so if you need to you can bleach them, and they are super absorbent!

Breast Pumps – Manual single (for on the go) and Double electric –Medela. The BurritoBuzz mommas have tried multiple brands and we will just save you time and money and tell you ITS NOT WORTH IT buying the cheaper ones! And 99.9% of the time your insurance will cover one!

Medela hands free pump bra – If you are a working mother this is crucial! You tend to only get a 15 minute break to pump in, and that tends not to be enough! This is a time saver! You can hook up, eat, check your email, or even just sit at your desk and pump if you have your own office! (When I worked when BK#1 was little, I made a sign like this to hang on my office door, so I didn’t even have to think about someone walking in!)

CLOTHING

Halo sleep sack – IF your baby is like mine, he hated being swaddled, but also hated being cold! This is a life saver!

Zip up nighties – I am not sure why they even make button ones. Don’t buy them, and ask people NOT to buy them. GET THE ZIP UP ones! In the middle of the night you wont want to fumble with the buttons, and when you see that you missed one you wont care, but then you will go fix your sleeping baby in fear they will get a draft and be cold. These for example!

Socks– There are simply never enough! They get lost so much easier than adult socks.

Onsies – I put them under most outfits to keep the baby warm and cozy!

Mitts– I hated the way these looked, but the first time your baby scratches themselves in the face you will never go without a baby mitt!

*More clothes than you think you will need* <<< And take a look at sizing before you start buying clothes. Its super frustrating, and if you know before hand it will make it a little easier to shop for your LO.

I can almost guarantee we forgot something, but we went over this list multiple times and between the 5 of us you should be covered!!

Be sure to use a good checklist when making your first registry, so you don’t forget the basics that we might not have mentioned!

What was your favorite baby item? What did you have to go buy that you didn’t get?

~Amanda and the BurritoBuzz Momma’s

Valentine’s Day, EVERYDAY!

Published on February 10, 2016February 9, 2016 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

For those of you who don’t know, Valentine’s Day is coming up this weekend. I think the Moms here with BurritoBuzz can all agree that it’s just another “Hallmark holiday” to us. Sure it’s great to celebrate it if that’s what you want, but to us, it’s the other 364 days of the year that matter most. We shouldn’t save our romance, thoughtfulness, and gifts for one night out of the year. Now I know finding time for you and your spouse sometimes is far and few between if you have little ones running around, but you have to make it work and find the time.

After talking with some of the Moms with BurritoBuzz, here are some of our recommendations to maintaining a happy, healthy relationship – not JUST on Valentine’s Day!

Deliberate and scheduled date nights – It doesn’t matter if they are once a week, once a month, an overnighter, or just a couple hours away, make these happen. It is normal to feel guilty while you’re away, but you won’t regret it. You and your significant other need those moments together. It will get easier to be away from your kiddos. Try not to be on your phone texting, talking to your sitter ABOUT the kiddos while you’re gone either! There’s actually a really unique company called Datebox. It’s a subscription service where couples receive, “everything you need for a fun and creative date delivered to your door step every month!” One of the Moms with BurritoBuzz is going to be trying a box out here soon!!

Scheduled family meetings (just the two of you) – Take this time to go over that months budget, schedule, events, etc. (It’s virtually impossible to fight about money and not keeping each other in the loop if you have a meeting specifically about it). Use a calendar, phone apps, etc. to keep a sort of family command post. This way everyone knows when things are occurring, who is babysitting, when bills are due, etc.

“It’s the little things” – Just taking the little bit of time to let the other person know you are thinking about them is worth more than any bouquet of flowers or box of chocolates in my book. Put something by the bathroom sink before you got work, put a note in the others lunch, leave their favorite treat in their car cup holder, etc. Even if it’s as simple as sending a text saying, “I hope you’re having a good day.” It just lets the other person know that they’re on your mind. Who wouldn’t love this!?!?

YOUR time – Every couple’s schedules are different, but I believe it’s extremely important to be able to devote some portion of your day to each other. It might only be a few minutes of peace in quiet in the mornings before the kiddos are awake or right after the kiddos fall asleep for the night. Maybe it’s a Saturday afternoon and both kids are actually asleep at the same time. Either way, its quiet time, and those moments are important. I look forward to the evenings after we get both kids to bed. It might only be a half hour some nights, but it is still time that my husband and I can talk about our days, catch up on our DVR, and just be together. We try to limit using our cell phones, tablets, etc. at this time. It’s not quality time unless your both present, and I don’t think you’re really present if you’re glued to your phone.

“Divide and Conquer” – This applies to everything in your household. I think if you and your significant other can work together, not only will you get to spend time together in the end, you won’t feel like you’re doing all the work all the time. Usually I’m the one who makes dinner, which I actually enjoy doing most of the time. In return, my husband is the one who cleans up afterwards. Bath time is another thing we split up as well. Sometimes we each do one of the kids and sometimes one of us has to do them both, but I don’t consider it my job or his job; we share it. We help each other get the kids ready to go in the morning before we go to work when we can. There are other chores we do not split evenly. For instance, my husband takes out the trash, mows the lawn, and shovels the driveway, while I’m usually the one who packs lunches. Bottom line – we work together and it works for us.

Talk – If something is bothering you, your significant other should be there for you to talk to. They should be one of the only people who you can be completely open and honest with about anything and everything. The issue may or may not pertain to them, but either way, you should be able to talk to them about it. Sometimes just talking about something that has been on your mind and getting it off your chest will make you feel 1000 times better afterwards!

Listen – It’s so important to be honest and open with your partner about everything, but along with that is also being a good listener. Sometimes your better half just needs to vent, cry, or talk, and you need to be that person for them. Even if they had the day off work and were home all day with the kids, that doesn’t mean it was just “a walk in the park” kind of day. They might just need a few minutes to talk to an adult about their day filled with baby talk and Paw Patrol.

Don’t forget YOU – Try not to forget about yourself. If Mommy isn’t happy and loving herself, it will show in her household! You have to find time for YOU. Whether it’s a night out with girlfriends, getting groceries alone, painting your nails; sometimes a little time away can have a big affect on your mood and emotional well-being. I know I can get caught up in day-to-day Mommy tasks – work, eat, sleep, take care of the kids, repeat. I have to remember to take a little bit of time for myself from time to time. IT IS OKAY! It’s important for my whole family!! Keep this in my mind when it comes to your spouse/significant other too. Make sure you allow some time for him to get away too – playing video games, going to a football game, etc.

Be away from work – Technology is great, but sometimes that means that you are available to your job 24/7. When you are at home make sure you are actually at home and not still finishing up things from work. Sometimes you can’t avoid it, but if you are doing it every day, it is time to make a change. You’re family needs you to be present when you’re home. Leave work at work.

I think I could go on and on with this list. I think it’s so important to not forget about your relationship with your better half. It’s not all over after kiddos, it can just get better, but not without a little thought and care! You don’t have to go on a big elaborate date and spend tons of money to let the other person know you still love them. Keep it simple and do it every day of the year!

-Megan

Honey Huggers {Product review}

Published on February 9, 2016February 9, 2016 by Amanda1 Comment

The moms here at BurritoBuzz recently connected with Honey Huggers, and two of us tried out their padded leg warmers. You can find them on social media or their website. They have man different styles, and a few different products to choose from.

Pros: These padded leg warmers are ADORABLE! All of the patterns you can choose from are pretty stinkin’ cute, and I would have been happy with any of them! They are very soft and stretchy, and don’t need worn in to be comfortable for your baby.

Most of the patterns offered are gender neutral, so they’re perfect for hand-me-downs.

Made in the USA!

Fit is great for slender babies.

They wash and dry very nicely. They kept their shape and didn’t fade.

One of the little babes who tried out this product isn’t quite crawling, but the little padded knees on the Honey Huggers are providing him enough traction to be up on his knees longer before he collapses. He should be crawling before we know it with their help!

Cons: When we were talking with Honey Huggers they were talking about adding another size, and we believe that is a must! Even though they stretch and you can make them fit, it’s not a comfortable fit. They slide down to the baby’s knees the second they start crawling, if you have a larger baby. We kind of wish the padded knees could just be added to a pair of pants for our chunky babies!

Several of us mommies have recently tackled potty training with our little ones or are doing it presently. If Honey Huggers does add another bigger size of leg warmer, it’d be perfect for our toddlers too! Not having worry about getting pants down with undies to go potty would be really nice! Right now, its just too cold to let them go in their birthday suit.

Overall, we give this product 3 out of 5 stars. We think it’s a great idea for new baby crawlers out there, but has room for improvement with the sizing. One thing is for sure: they’re super cute!

The Honey Huggers website also offers leg warmers without the pads, bibdanas, and bundles with both. Right now the unpadded leg warmers are only $6!

-Amanda & Megan

Tears On My Stearing Wheel

Published on February 9, 2016February 10, 2016 by Amanda4 Comments

I’m 100% sure I met some angels today.
They had gray hair, kind eyes, slumped shoulders, they were holding hands, and bundled up ready to leave Target.
I didn’t know it, but they had been around the store with me, going through the same isles, seeing my morning unfold, hearing my toddler’s screams, and I’m sure feeling the tension that was in the air, as I was trying to keep my calm.
I don’t even know what set BK#1 off.
She was being good and then all of a sudden she was screaming, shouting and pointing at something. I have no idea what, but she for sure was not getting it now. She never acts like this in public! I was trying to reason with her, trying to figure out what she wanted so we could talk about it, distracting her with talk of lunch and then seeing her Aunt later. NOTHING worked!
By the time I got to the check out {Normally if she acts out and it can’t be corrected we leave. I refuse to be embarrassed, reward her with an audience, and people trying to calm her, but I needed toilet paper and laundry detergent} she was full on loosing it. She took her shoe off and threw it at me. I caught it, placed it in the cart, leaned in close to her and said “If you do not stop right this second you are going to stand in the corner, in this store, in front of everyone”. She calmed to a small whimper, but still acting out. THEN the cashier asked HER if she she wanted a sticker! Ughhh mmm thanks for trying to help lady, but in our home stickers are rewards, and she is most definitely not getting one right now!
I replied kindly, because she really was just trying to help, “I really appreciate it, but no thank you. She has been yelling and not acting nice and made mommy very sad, so no sticker.”
BK#1 lost it!
“Mommy sad??” There was no more screaming and yelling, and inaudible sentences, but weeping. Big, sad, ugly, heartbreaking tears.
I quickly paid and hurried towards the door.
Back to the angels.
I was getting her coat on her, covering up BK#2’s head (he was sleeping on my chest in the Tula), and Mrs. Angel touched my arm and said “You are doing the right thing, and you are an amazing mother, may we help you?”
I was hesitant, but I told them “Thank you, and absolutely you can help!”
Mrs. Angel grabbed BK#1’s hat and put it on her and grabbed the TP. Mr. Angel grabbed the laundry detergent and the bags, and told me “pick up your baby and tell us where your car is.
My mind is programmed to be scared of someone following me to my car, but in this instance there was no fear, I was greatful beyond words.
We made it out to the car, I opened the back and they placed my items in, Mr smiled and grabbed Mrs’ hand, and she looked at me with the kindest eyes I have seen in a very long time and said “Keep doing what you are doing, you wont regret it, thank you for letting us help you. Have a good day!”

And off they went.

I wont ever see them again.

I got in my car and drove away, crying, (if you haven’t figured out from my other posts, but I am an emotional person, obviously) and listening to the soft cries behind me.

Raising a tiny human is really hard!

But, in these days being a good person is too! I am in shock and awe of the kindness that I was shown today. I was raised to serve people. I was raised to do nice things for people who don’t deserve it. I was raised to do the good thing, even when no one else is!

We are surrounded by horrible bad things. We are programmed not to let anyone near us, not to let anyone help us. Its the world that we live in. We are just trying to get by and keep our LO’s safe.

I know all of that. I am well to aware of the bad things going on in our small towns. I know that those strangers could have very well stolen my groceries at least, followed me home, taken my child, etc. ….the horrifying list of things that happens in our world all could have happened.

I choose not to live in fear.

I choose to serve, and let others serve me.

How am I supposed to raise wonderful, kind- hearted children if I never look for the good?

I encourage you to stay strong while you are disciplining your children.

I hope you find the calm and peaceful words that diffuse a situation.

Most of all, I encourage you to look for the Angels in your life.

Is it an old couple missing their grandkids? Is it in laws trying to be better grandparents? Is it parents LEARNING to be grandparents and letting you be the parent? Is it your husband bringing you coffee in the morning? Is it your wife folding all your laundry and putting it away so you don’t have to?

Look for the Angels, and importantly – actively and purposefully be an angel to someone else!

~Amanda

Today, I Nursed You To Sleep

Published on February 7, 2016February 7, 2016 by Amanda4 Comments

My sweet little boy,

Right now I am staring at you sleeping in my arms.

I nursed you to sleep.

Again.

But before that, I fed you, rocked you and then I laid you in your crib with your mobile going ‘round, hoping you would drift off to sleep like I know you can.

You do it all the time.

But right now you just want your mommy. You want to snuggle, feel my warmth, smell my smell and know you are safe.

I have tried a binky and you won’t take it.

You don’t care for your lovey.

Daddy can put you to sleep on rare occasions.

Sometimes, you have worn yourself out and mommy’s parenting book-tactics work.

Not today.

You cried and cried and mommy just couldn’t take it, little mister.

I scooped you up, snuggled you close, you latched, drank a little and passed out. I closed my shirt and just sat there and cried.

“Why were you crying mommy?” You might want to know.

Because my sweet angel, I know this is temporary. Your sister didn’t want to be snuggled to sleep when she was your age. She wanted her binky, her bed and to be left alone. These days, she has to be convinced for a hug or kiss.

I know that there will be a time when you are just too busy playing with your sister.

A time when you’re chasing the dog around the house.

A time when building a big block tower will be all you can think about

A time when you and sissy will play prince and princess in your table fort all day.

A time when you walk into a classroom and don’t look back.

A time when you talk about growing up and being “just like daddy”, wanting to wear that shiny uniform and mommy will encourage your dreams, but will be scared to death.

A time when after school all I get is a hug and asked for a snack before you are running out to the back yard where you dad is waiting to pitch you the baseball.

A time when you have your first crush and its not me. 5cd5246dc7dd5d844b585c1ef60425d9

A time when you spend your days pranking your sister and I.

A time when we have to talk about the birds and the bees.

A time that we your rent a tux for prom.

A time when we tour colleges.

A time you bring “the one” home and mommy just knows.

A time when you bring home your own baby.

A time when you call me in the middle of the night, because like you, your child won’t sleep.

A time you get to hold and take care of me.

And when most of these days pass, your mommy will be the very last thing on your mind. There will be a day that I can hardly remember this moment.

So I’m throwing out the parenting books. Forget the sleep training. I don’t care how tired I am. I don’t care if I look clingy. I will nurse you, snuggle you, rock you, whatever you want for as long as you want.

These moments only last for a short time and I will keep you little for as long as I can.

I love you my little mister.

Forever my baby you will stay. BurritoBuzz.forever my baby you will stay.png

~ Love, Mommy

-Amanda

Album Review – Sonshine and Broccoli’s “It’s A Beautiful Day”

Published on February 6, 2016February 6, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

When Sonshine and Broccoli offered to send BurritoBuzz their album “It’s a Beautiful Day” I was interested in hearing the album because my daughter LOVES music, and its a large part of our lives!

Music is such an important part of a child’s development!

” Recent studies have shown that music affects the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of babies and children and strengthens cognitive and sensory development.“

As my babies get older, I turn everything into music! Eating breakfast, time for nap, going potty, clean up….literally everything! It helps them remember how to do things, educates them, and gets them engaged. {I will go into more detail in a future post!!}

“Sonshine and Broccoli” are Lisa Sonshine and Brock Burford from Toronto. They have been entertaining children at parties and live concerts in their area for a decade now. The duo have two other successful albums, and this is their third.

You can purchase their music on iTunes .

Pros: Super upbeat and happy music! My 2 year old and her 2 1/2 year old bestie danced and loved “Wave Hello”. It would be a great party album to get the kids moving and all playing as a group. Most of the songs have some sort of actions. For example, the song “High Five” has a lot of movement: “stretch your hands”, “spread your fingers in the air”, “give me a high five”.

Cons: My kids didn’t care for it. BK#1 liked it when I made her dance with me and her little friend. Usually when music comes on there is dancing and singing, they danced a little and went on to playing. I let the whole album play, and tried to get them engaged, but it was a struggle, even after a few days of listening to it. Nursery rhymes are much easier to remember for younger children. Older Children might enjoy it.

The music wasn’t educational. I am a huge advocate for music in children’s lives! So anything is better than nothing! But I try my hardest to pick very purposeful songs for my children. I choose songs with ABCs, colors, nursery rhymes to promote successful reading and language, shapes, daily activity, etc. Sure they hear things on the radio, around the house, and at church, but I don’t purchase un-educational albums for them, or seek out music that wouldn’t teach them something.

Besides the fact that my toddler didn’t really like it, parents be warned: If your kids like it, it will make you CRAZY! Most music made for children drives parents crazy though!

I am looking forward to hearing more purposeful and educational songs from Sonshine and Broccoli.

~Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a postive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

http://www.tinylove.com/en/articles/the-importance-of-music

PLEASE parents, do this ONE thing!

Published on January 27, 2016January 26, 2016 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

As parents, we have tons of responsibilities. There’s work, household chores, bath time, grocery shopping, making dinner . . . I could go on and on and on. Our jobs never end and there are no days off. We always have to be on top of our game and ready to take on anything our lives or kiddos throw at us (sometimes what they literally throw at us).

I feel one of the MOST important things on this list of responsibilities needs to be taking care of ourselves. I don’t just mean trying to eat as healthily as we can or trying to fit in some form of exercise a few times a week. I’m talking about seeing a primary care physician (PCP) regularly. This doesn’t mean you have to go to the doctor every week or every other month, but just go once a year for a full head-to-toe history and physical (H&P).

How many of you actually have a PCP?

I was totally guilty of not having a PCP before I had my kiddos. I went to STAT care if I thought I really needed to be seen or just went to the campus nurse when I was a student in college. I thought going to see my GYN for my yearly appointment was sufficient. It wasn’t until I graduated, got married, got my own job, and my own health insurance that I really made an effort to find my own PCP and go for a yearly exam. Luckily, my husband agrees and never put up a fight about also going.

For most insurances, an annual H&P with blood work is covered. It’s considered “preventive” care and encouraged – so take advantage of it!! So many insurances also cover the yearly GYN visit and dentist appointments (these are so important too!!). Even if your insurance doesn’t cover it 100%, I’m sure a good chunk will be covered – you won’t regret looking into it.

It’s so comforting to be familiar with your doctors and to know that if there ever is an illness/problem/question (of course we hope there never is) you will know exactly who to call. Sometimes it’s tough finding a doctor in the beginning. Some won’t accept new patients, there’s new patient paperwork to be completed, and not all doctors are covered under every insurance company. Imagine having to go through all that when you really do have a problem and need to be seen. Find a doctor you like now while you’re healthy! Then, make it a point to see that doctor every year. What have you got to lose?

If you’re still not convinced, think about those little kiddos or grand kiddos. Think about your nieces and nephews. Think about your loved ones who really care about you and your family. Do it for those people. Those people need you, love you, and don’t want anything to happen to you. You owe it to them to be responsible about your health – see a doctor!

If you already are known to a doctor – great for you! Does everyone in your family go too – your spouse, your parents, and your siblings? You love and care about them too, right? Encourage them to do the same. It took a lot of convincing, but my husband and I had this discussion with our parents. We told them it was very important to us, especially since we were starting our own family. We want them to be around to love and care about our kids the way they did for us. Now, all 4 of them see a primary care physician regularly!! It’s a peace of mind for everybody, and didn’t cause any pain or suffering. It starts with a simple phone call.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine refers to MedlinePlus and here they list several things to consider when choosing a PCP:

“Is the office staff friendly and helpful? Is the office good about returning calls?
Are the office hours convenient to your schedule?
How easy is it to reach the provider? Does the provider use email?
Do you prefer a provider whose communication style is friendly and warm, or more formal?
Do you prefer a provider focused on disease treatment, or wellness and prevention?
Does the provider have a conservative or aggressive approach to treatment?
Does the provider order a lot of tests?
Does the provider refer to other specialists frequently or infrequently?
What do colleagues and patients say about the provider?
Does the provider invite you to be involved in your care? Does the provider view your patient-doctor relationship as a true partnership?”

I know I’m probably adding to your already lengthy to-do list, but I promise this is one of the most important things you can do for your own well-being and your family. You won’t regret it and they will be proud of you for doing it!

-Megan

Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center {Product Review}

Published on January 25, 2016January 25, 2016 by Amanda1 Comment

If I had a quarter for every time someone asked “How do you do it?” I would be swimming in money! Two under two is NOT for the faint of heart- that is for sure! It is accomplished with a lot of patience, love, coffee, a lot of planning ahead, and purposeful play.

This little wonder is AHHHMAAAZZIINNGGG!

A friend got it for us for BK#1’s baby shower, and it has been in constant use since!

Pros: This toy keeps a baby’s attention for a large amount of time! I stick it on high chairs, walkers, the floor, and restaurant tables. The base attaches to pretty much anything that is flat and clean! It twists around the base, the wheel itself spins, and the little pieces inside with beads spin and rotate also. There are beads inside the wheel itself, so it makes an entertaining noise for them.

Very Durable!

We have had it for almost two years now, and it still looks new even though it has taken a beating! The wheel has been tossed from tables, thrown across the room, beaten on a drum, and I could go on and on with a list of things BK#1 uses toys for. The pieces are not loose, and it has not cracked anywhere!

It’s even been through the dishwasher a few times! ***Nowhere does Sassy say that this is okay, but I felt it needed sanitized more than I could with some Clorox wipes. ***

The wheel is advertised for 6 months plus, but BK#1 is approaching two next month and still adores it, and still distracts her when we are out to dinner!

I found it cheapest on Amazon for $7.23. It regularly is around $9 everywhere else.

Cons: The ONLY complaint that I have, is that it’s a little big. So, you have to have a larger bag to be able to tote it around. I have a pretty large diaper bag, and it’s not an issue. Not everyone does though.

I was really surprised that our babies would love such a simple toy, but it has become the item that goes everywhere with us, and we probably should purchase a second in case of emergencies.

Absolutely a 5 star and a MUST for any parent!

~Amanda

Things that Change when you Become a Parent

Published on January 16, 2016January 27, 2016 by Katie KuceyeskiLeave a comment

You’ll have to eventually learn to enjoy food again. The first three months of your newborn’s life will be spent in survival mode, meaning that you will infrequently get a meal (or a shower.) Once you finally remember to eat again, you’ll eat either quickly, or your food will be cold. You forget what it’s like to just sit and enjoy a warm meal. So at some point, you have to stop eating like a savage and return to normal life… even though this really might not happen until your child(ren) are several years old.
You’ll resort to things like drinking coffee in the shower. Because showers are now quick instead of the relaxing 30 minute shower you used to take… you’ll multi-task as much as possible. If you’re looking for a cup that does great in the shower, check out this Contigo cup. It’s the most bad-ass coffee chalice out there.
My coffee cup in my shower. I have no shame.
You’ll talk about poop, at least 10 times a day. “Did the baby poop?” “How much?” “Consistency?” “How many times?” And when you finally realize how much you talk about poop, you’ll realize that life has certainly changed…
7:00 AM is sleeping in. You’re lucky if you get a few hours of consecutive sleep when your baby is little, but even after that point… sleep regressions attack when you least expect them. And when 6AM rolls around, your little exhausting human is ready for another day.
You’ll constantly wonder where people’s hands have been. Most of us thought about this a lot before, but when you have a baby, you’ll constantly be asking people to wash/sanitize their hands. Let’s be honest: we don’t want gross germs getting our babies sick. Babies and toddlers are difficult enough without being sick, and sickness turns life into an almost unbearable mess. You’ll likely have 4-5 dispensers of hand sanitizer littered throughout your house, and a few more in your cars.
You’ll worry about things like war, apocalypses (zombie apocalypses included), tornadoes, floods, 10x more than you ever used to. You might even have an emergency bag ready and have scenarios planned out in your head. MREs can be purchased here, apocalypse preppers.
You’ll have weird numbers programmed in to your phone. Emergency babysitters, hospitals, doctors, poison control. And your phone will have a long search history on Google of things like “carseat safety” “is this amount of spit up normal?” and “how long until my baby’s crossed eyes go away?”
Going somewhere must be a planned activity. Leaving the house as a family now means at least 30 minutes of prep. Diaper change, feeding, packing, making sure you have a stroller… and taking at least 5 minutes to put on those tiny, tight shoes of theirs. Impromptu Chipotle run with friends? #YeahRight
One of our favorites.

You’ll probably cry, even if you’re not a crier. I quite literally cannot finish the books “Love you Forever” and “Wish” without getting choked up. You might cry when your child hits milestones, or when certain things are no longer happening anymore (breastfeeding, bottle feeding, crawling, babbling, snuggling, etc.) You’ll be sentimental about toys, clothes, a random piece of paper that your child played with for 5 minutes… Even if you’re a total minimalist, getting rid of baby things is heartbreaking sometimes.
You’ll finally understand what you’re parents have been telling you all those years, that “someday we’ll understand.” We get it now. I’m sorry for rolling my eyes at you, scoffing, and/or stomping away and slamming my door. Your love for your child compares to no other kind of love, and as parents, we just want our little ones to be safe, happy, healthy, and loved.

-Katie

VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker {Product Review}

Published on January 14, 2016January 14, 2016 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

I forgot how amazing this toy was until I got it back out for baby #2. It costs $29.88 on Amazon and it is absolutely worth every penny.

I love the versatility of this thing. My little guy is sitting up on his own now, so I can remove the front panel and he can sit and play with it. Once he does start to pull himself up to stand he can use it and then he will be off and running (hopefully walking first!) Amazon advertises the item to be “meant for babies and toddlers 9 months to 3 years old.” I guess my kiddos will be starting to fight over this one!

Here are some other cool features:

Wheels – I think it’s super important to note that this walker will move well on hard and carpeted flooring. We have both in our home, and I remember thinking how awesome this was with my daughter when she would walk with it. There are also adjustments on the rear wheels to add more tension so the walker will move slower. I noticed this helped especially when my daughter was a rookie walker.

Noise – this has everything from songs, short phrases, sounds, and music. This walker has a wide variety. On Amazon, it is advertised at having “over 70” different sound effects and songs. I never kept track, but I will say it is not one of the loud annoying toys I wish I could throw out!

Modes – The walker features 2 separate modes. One being a musical mode and the other a learning mode. I didn’t think I would really care that much about this feature, but I will say as my oldest grew, I found that we would use the music mode less and learning mode more because she could listen and understand.

Phone – My oldest loved the phone on the walker. It’s removable and makes sound effects to play along. It was the first thing she went for when I got it back out for my youngest and she is going to be 3 soon!

Activities – Along with the phone, there are several other activities on this walker that are in a farm theme. Rollers, gear spinners, removable shape sorters, light-up buttons, and piano keys are amongst the different items on the walker encouraging hours of play time and learning. Your little ones will be learning shapes, animals, colors, and songs as they play along. As your kiddos start to walk with the walker, it is actually motion-activated, so the panel will still be playing sounds and music as they are on the go.

Assembly – If I remember correctly, it was super easy to put together and batteries were included. It also is available in a pink version for the same price on Amazon. Can’t beat that! Everything is in bright colors and assembled well. We haven’t had any issues with stickers coming off or anything breaking on the walker.

I can honestly say that I can’t think of anything I don’t like about this toy. Some of the reviews I read before choosing this one talked about it being too light and tipping; my kids have not had this problem. I can’t say that my daughter never fell when she pushed it, but it was usually just because she was new to walking and it was never anything serious.

I think it’s a great buy for the cost and I’m excited to use it again for my second kiddo. If your little one has a first birthday coming up, I highly recommend this item!! Good job, VTech!

-Megan

Ode to the Good Dads

Published on January 11, 2016January 11, 2016 by Katie KuceyeskiLeave a comment

Question: “How did having an absent parent of your own change your own parenting/expectations of your significant other?”

Kirstyn: “It changed me as a parent because I was so scared I would have to do it all alone like my mom did so I made sure I could do it. I often refused help…”

Brianne: “I made the decision that I would never leave my kids to feel abandoned like I did growing up. Even though I had both of my parents my father was gone a lot. There were always missed birthdays and plans. So if anything I never wanted my kids to feel that disappointment.”

Elizabeth: “As I matured my standards and expectations evolved. At first I thought it was just important to have a dad around but then I realized they need a damn good dad and a damn good dad who is good to their mother, a role model.”

10978624_10203633185052030_6255435340663121777_n — Photo of my husband holding our newborn son Lucas’ hand the day he was born.

My husband is an amazing husband. I admire him even more as a husband, now that he’s a father. A good father. He loves teaching our son to drum on things, zoom him around the room in his walker, loves caring for him (even on the rough days,) and gets so excited to go pick him up after work. I admire my husband as a father even more-so, because I don’t have that. I did at one point, but those days are fleeting and difficult to remember now. My father has been off the grid of my life for most of a decade now, making brief visits back yearly, where it feels more like inviting a stranger into my house than my own bloodline. It makes me long for the moments that I pictured growing up. Watching movies like Father of the Bride makes me terribly sad. My husband didn’t need to ask for my father’s permission to marry me. Where are my moments of playing basketball with my dad in the driveway? Where is he when we need taught how to do house projects? When we put our nursery together? When I graduated college?

Now I live happily by these simple facts: I’m an adult. I have my own family.

Simple enough, right?

Not quite.

I have a great family. My husband, son, mom and amazing step-father that treats me as his own, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brother and his own family. So why is it, that the simple concept of not having a biological father around as a permanent fixture bothers me so much sometimes?

I’ll tell ya: In the last year my fascination has grown tenfold. Now that I have my own child, I cannot IMAGINE a moment without him, much less days, weeks, or years. The very structure of my being would crumble. I know this is true for my husband, too. And while I understand that as our tiny human gets older, he’ll gain more independence from us… but I LOVE him, I NEED him, and I absolutely will not let him live a life without the love of his parents on a consistent basis. So how is it possible for some biological parents to live without their children? What’s different?

I definitely don’t have the answer. Whether my son is 2, 18, 25, 40, or 60… I want him in my life. He is not a passing phase. He is not a “portion” of my life. He is not only my responsibility until he’s 18. He’s not just an obligation. He is certainly not, and will never be, unwanted.

He is beautiful. Smart. Wonderfully curious. He loves us, more than anyone on this planet. We are his safe haven. His entire world, and he ours. He is wanted. He is us.

So as raw as this article is, and as undoubtedly and unfortunately relatable as it is for many, I want to thank the parents out there that commit to their children fully, and for a lifetime.

A billion things could change, and I know with no hesitation that my husband will always love and care for our son. Whether he is 2, 18, 25, 40, or 60… he will want him in his life, all his life.

My husband. He is one amazing person. He is everything that a dad should be. In the fullest sense of the word, he is “Dad”.

I sincerely hope that I’m hitting home with a Dad out there that’s reading this, and realizes he needs to step up to the plate. You are the only biological father your child will ever have. Waiting means missing memories and milestones. Be there. All the time. Even if your child is 40 with a family of their own and you have royally screwed up, be there. Go mend that relationship. It certainly won’t happen over night, but try.

-Katie

ABCs of Parenthood

Published on January 8, 2016January 7, 2016 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

Alcohol – Now that you’ve experienced your near 10 months of sobriety and been your hubby’s DD, it’s your turn! If you’re breastfeeding, it’s okay to take advantage as well, to an extent. Beer can even help boost your milk supply. After those long days and nights the first few weeks, you’re going to want to indulge a little, believe me! Even if alcohol isn’t your thing, I’m sure there is something that can help you unwind – exercise, ice cream, a good book, etc.

Breastfeeding – If you are able and want to breastfeed, this is going to be a big part of your life now that your baby is here. At the end of the day, do what is best for you and your new baby. Seek out support from friends, support groups, blogs, or a lactation consultant if you have questions or concerns. YOU can do it! The first few weeks can be the roughest, but don’t let that stop you. You’ll be glad you did it in the end. Plus, it’s totally convenient, saves money, and is super healthy for you and your baby.

Coffee – If you’re like me, you will find that there will NEVER be enough coffee some days. Drink up! If you avoided caffeine while you were pregnant, good for you. Now it’s time to welcome it back! I look forward to my morning cup of coffee, whether I’m drinking hurriedly on my way to work or sipping on it cold after several hours of chasing my kiddos around the house, it still tastes good. Enjoy!

Diapers – Whether cloth or disposable, these will be a part of your life for quite some time, especially if you have multiple little ones. You’ll change a bazillion (thats an understatement) of them and get quite good at it! Sometimes I think of it as a game – how fast can I get the dirty one off and the new one on – especially with my newest little guy. I have to get him changed before he decides he’s going to pee all over us both.

Eating – Make sure you’re not only feeding your baby and your family, but you’re not forgetting to feed yourself. Mommy needs food for fuel. You might think you’ve eaten enough by eating your toddlers’ leftovers or grabbing a quick bite on your way out the door in the morning, but more than likely it’s not enough. Try to eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day if it’s too hard to sit down for 3 meals. Your kids keep you busy, but you need to make sure your eating so you have the energy to keep up!

Fights – Pick your battles with your kiddos. Don’t argue over things that at the end of the day are unimportant. I know I haven’t even reached the peak of this because my kiddos are still little, but even with my almost 3 year old it has started. I’ve learned to not argue over the shirt she picked out or whether she has her shoes on the right feet but instead about brushing her teeth or holding my hand in a busy parking lot.

Giggles – There is nothing better than hearing our little babies giggle. Even though my oldest is going on 3, I still can’t get enough of her little belly laughs and the way her face lights up when she is happy and giggly. My youngest is 6 months old and in the phase where we can make him laugh now. I love hearing him and trying new ways to make him giggle at me.

Hero – I hope that someday my kids can say that I am their hero (or one of them). It’s actually something that I think about a lot and something that I strive to be for them. As their Mommy, I try to always keep in mind their best interest and to do things I would want them to be proud of me for. I want them to be able to look up to me as their role model. I need to be a positive influence and make good decisions in my life for them.

Inseparable – I didn’t leave my almost 3 year old overnight until right before her 2^nd birthday. Am I crazy? Maybe just a little. I never had a reason to spend a night away from her so I just never did it. I’m inseparable from my kids, but at the same time I know and need to remember that someday I will have to let them go. I have to let my kids become their own individuals but that doesn’t mean I never, ever want to leave them!

Juggling – A great blog written by one of my fellow mommies here with Burrito Buzz. As mommies, we do all kinds of juggling! It’s an adjustment being a parent, but it’s the greatest adjustment we will ever adapt to. We aren’t perfect and being a Mommy is a lot of work, but we sure do know how to juggle it all in the end. You’re all pretty amazing!

Kitchen – You might be spending more time in here now that you have bottles and other baby items to wash which means your mobile little ones might be too. Make sure this area is safe. Make sure you have the cupboards and drawers kid-locked, especially those with sharp objects and harmful chemicals. We tried to keep at least one drawer and one cupboard accessible to our little ones so they could play in them with more kid friendly kitchen items. They love that!

Laundry – It is never ending, literally. The minute I feel like I’m all caught up, another load comes down the laundry chute. I’m so lucky that my husband and I share this chore, because it is time consuming. I wish I was better at doing like a load or two everyday instead of waiting and doing load after load all in one day. Maybe that way it wouldn’t seem like so much!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse –Will this show ever go away!? I’m sure as my daughter who will be 3 in April grows out of Mickey Mouse, my 6 month old son will just be starting to like it. And the cycle will just continue – I’m stuck with it forever! We always have episodes saved in our DVR and it’s by far my daughter’s favorite cartoon. I guess there are worse things than hearing the Hot Dog song 5-6 times a day.

Naked – Our little ones have super sensitive skin and much of the time they are dressed, so take advantage of the naked times and make sure their skin is still precious as ever! Check for any new skin rashes, bumps, bruises, etc.

Outside – Get out when you can and when the weather allows it. I always want my kids to want to be outside playing. I never want them to be the kids that are inside glued to the TV sitting on the couch. The activities outdoors are endless. Some of our favorites at home include the swing set, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and going for walks.

Pack – I’ve become quite the packer. Nights before I work the next day, I always get everything packed up for me, my husband, and the kiddos. It makes it a thousand times easier getting out the door in the morning. I also always have a fully stocked and ready to go diaper bag. I try to have a small bag left in each of our cars too with the basic essentials so my husband and I both always have whatever we might need when we are out.

Quiet time – You will learn to value the quiet moments. Being a Mommy can be chaotic, overwhelming, and just plain busy. I feel like I’m in a constant rush, rush, rush mode; especially through the work week. That quiet time, whether it’s in the mornings when I’m pumping before everyone else in the house is up or at night when I get to get a shower by myself, uninterrupted, is precious time. Enjoy it, soak it up.

Responsibility – There is no greater responsibility than being a parent. Not only are you responsible for making sure the essential daily needs of your children are met, but you are responsible for being a positive role model and support system. It’s the best responsibility but also the most crucial.

Spouse – I am a firm believer in spouses working together as a team when it comes to family and their household. You have to stick together on everything – discipline, chores, good times, bad times – your kids will sense when you don’t see eye to eye. If you do have fights (because let’s face it, you will) do it behind closed doors and don’t take it out on your kiddos. But at the end of the day, stick together and love one another.

Toddler – Although a super fun stage of our kiddos lives, it also brings its challenges. My oldest is a toddler. It’s so rewarding to watch her constantly learn, grow, and develop into a little girl who isn’t a baby any longer. I can see her own personality more and more. With that brings opinions, arguments, and tantrums, but it’s part of who she is becoming. Even in the most trying of moments, I know some day I will look back and miss these times! Enjoy them.

Unconditional love – There is not a better term to describe the relationship between parents and their kiddos. No matter how angry they make you or how disgusting they can be, we still love them. There will be days when they make you want to pull all of your hair out and nights where they won’t let you sleep, but we love them no matter what.

Versatile – “able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities” – This is very important as a parent with little ones running around. I have quickly learned since becoming a mother that I have to be versatile. My plans may not always go the way I envisioned and I may never be on time again, but I can’t let that get me down. What matters is that me, my husband, and my little ones are happy.

Water – It is the best beverage for you and yours kiddos. If you struggle with drinking just plain water, add some lemon or lime. My kiddos only drink juice on rare occasions because I think it’s important for them to actually like water. I didn’t grow up that way and it took me until I was pregnant with my first to really start to like water and drink it all the time. I hope my kids can be the same because water is so important!!

XOXO – As a parent, there is NEVER enough of these!! I especially love the before bed hugs and kisses and when my toddler kisses my 6 month old. It just makes my heart smile! I also love the hugs and kisses from my husband. I think our kids need to see that lovable connection between their parents.

Yelling – It is so difficult as a parent sometimes to keep your composure and not go off the handle on your kiddos, especially when it is over something minuscule. Maybe you’re just having a bad day. No matter what, try to think about it first before you yell at your little ones. I think there are moments when you need to raise your voice to get your point across, but if all you’re doing is yelling; your kids aren’t going to listen.

ZZZZZZ – Have you been missing this lately?! I’ve learned to greatly appreciate every little bit of “ZZZZZs” that I can get since becoming a Mommy, even more so the second time around. With my first kiddo, I could rest and nap when she did, but that is so not the case with baby #2. One of them usually always needs me. I find myself doing things around the house or watching my DVR on the off chance they are both napping because there is always something to catch up on!

-Megan

Fight the FLU

Published on December 6, 2015December 3, 2015 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.com3 Comments

*BurritoBuzz is a group of moms that gives advice, and any medical content should be regarded as non-professional advice. Please consult your physician with any medical concerns you may have.*

_____________________________________________________

I will start off by saying that I am not a physician. I’m only listing my recommendations from the perspectives of both a mother and a nurse. I cannot guarantee that you won’t get sick if you listen to me (wouldn’t that be a money maker!). My hope is that these simple tips will keep you and your loved ones healthy and happy this flu season. These tips come from experience (I have two kiddos and I work in healthcare) and I believe have helped keep myself and my family in good health in the past.

Get a flu shot

You can read more about vaccinations in this blog by one of our guest bloggers about a month ago. No one enjoys getting stabbed with medication or watching their children get stabbed and crying hysterically thereafter. Let’s face it, it sucks getting shots. It also sucks being sick with the flu – fever, body aches, chills, fatigue – symptoms that last far longer than the quick little poke of a vaccine. These symptoms are also easily spread to others. Please get the vaccine to keep yourself and others at a decreased risk of getting the flu. It is so easy to get at most doctor’s offices and pharmacies. Most often it’s free. Your arm will be sore and your kiddos will probably cry but it is totally worth it!!!

Drink water!

If you’re not sure if you’re drinking enough water, you probably need to drink more. According to the Institute of Medicine sited on Mayo Clinic, it’s recommended that women drink 9 cups of beverages a day and men to drink 13 cups of beverages. I know I personally struggle getting in this amount, but I really do try to have my own bottle/cup when I’m at work that I’m always refilling. I try to do the same thing at home. The bottle in the photo is similar to the one I received from my hospital after having a baby and I LOVE this thing. My 2.5 year old does too. It’s perfect because it large, insulated, and clear. I know I’m always getting plenty of water and it’s measured so I know how much!

SLEEP

I know, I know. It is easier said than done, especially with little ones at home. Try to make an effort to get as much rest as you can. Even if it’s not always “sleeping,” resting/relaxing and just letting your body recharge and catch up is a good way to stay healthy. If you have kiddos at home, make sure they’re getting the rest they need too. Let them sleep in when they can and try not to skip nap time. We all need our rest!

Wash your hands

This is a simple task. It’s so simple that sometimes it’s easily overlooked. We all should be washing our hands quite frequently especially when germs are more prevalent this time of year. Wash your hands after going to the bathroom, before preparing and eating food, after being in public places, after coughing/sneezing into them, the list goes on. If you’re not sure, just do it. You can use sanitizer too. Keep sanitizer always on hand – leave some in your diaper bag, purse, in your car, and around the house. Sometimes I just have my little one sanitize after using the bathroom or being outside, but other times a good hand washing is the best. Along with keeping your hands clean, try to keep other commonly used surfaces throughout your home clean too (this will keep those germs off of your hands in the long run!). I love my CLOROX wipes any time of year!

Cover your cough

Use a tissue or cough into your elbow to avoid spreading those germs when you cough. If you do end up coughing into your hands, avoid touching anything and wash them ASAP. Pass these good habits on to your little ones. The sooner they learn to cover their cough appropriately, the better off everyone will be!!

Stay away from others who are sick

This goes both ways. Try to avoid others that you know are ill and being in public places where you could come in close contact with potentially sick people. The same goes for you and your kiddos. If any of you are sick, stay home. Avoid spreading that sickness any further than beyond your own home.

ENCOURAGE

We need to hold each other accountable. I mentioned before about teaching our kids early on about covering their cough and good hand hygiene. We should do the same with adults. Encourage visitors at your home to wash their hands before they hold your babies or coworkers to sanitize after blowing their nose. We have a strict policy at the hospital I work in to wash/sanitize our hands before and after entering a patient’s room. It doesn’t matter whether or not I touch anything while I’m in that room. Germs spread like wild fire, and we need to look out for ourselves and each other.

Along with what I consider “The Top 7,” it’s important to maintain a nutritious diet, regular exercise regimen, and manage your stress to stay healthy and avoid the flu. Even though flu season is upon us now, all of these tips should be utilized year-round as best we can. With just a few easy adjustments to our daily living, we can avoid feeling miserable and downright bad with crippling flu symptoms down the road.

Check out the CDC’s website for even more helpful links and tips to keep your family happy and healthy!!

– Megan

Honeybee Baby Boutique: Chewbeads Product Review

Published on November 21, 2015November 21, 2015 by The Essential Life 3651 Comment

You’ve heard us say before at Burrito Buzz that we love local and small businesses, especially those with heart.

Honeybee Baby Boutique, an incredible shop for mamas and LOs based out of Colorado, reached out and shared with us the amazing program they have to support their community, especially the military families in their neighborhood. Not only is their boutique a one stop shop for parents, with a phenomenal online store for long distance customers, but it has also become a place of comfort for local military families.

As many of us know, the military life can be unstable, stressful and exhausting. Moving to a new location is hard for anyone and HoneyBee Baby makes it their personal mission to help ease the stress of transitioning to a new location for military mamas. For every new military family that comes to their area, they offer them Chewbeads Military Tags free of charge.

These unique chew necklaces are styled to mimic the ID tags that all military personnel receive. They are made of 100% silicone with no metal, BPA, phthalates, lead or cadmium.

One factor that make these tags unique is that they are designed for active children over the age of 3. Many children at that age can begin to develop chewing habits, especially during a major move or life change. These chewing tendencies can materialize as a way to:

Help the child focus (think when you sit with your legs crossed as an adult and bounce your leg absent-mindedly)
Relieve tension or aggression
Relieve pent-up energy
Reduce any oral pain (teething)

The habit of chewing is also very common in children with Autism or ADHD that struggle with Sensory Processing Disorder. They may be compelled to chew as a way to relieve themselves from being over or under stimulated. (Sources: here and here)

When I gave the tags to my LO (she’s 16 months now), she absolutely loved them! She’s had them wrapped up in her hands and in her mouth since I gave them to her. The grooved details and overall size of the tags are perfect for her to get in her mouth easily and help relieve some of the pain of getting her molars already (yea, it’s about as fun as it sounds).

They have a breakaway clasp that is typical on most teething necklaces. My only complaint is that the string was not long enough for her to easily take on and off of her neck. Which may be for the best because I could see her getting frustrated trying to yank it off of her neck and hurt herself.

I’ve never seen a teething necklace like this that is specifically marketed toward slightly older children, and I must say I’m impressed. My LO loves it to soothe teething pains, but as the back of the packaging says, they are designed as an “alternative to chewing on clothing, hair or nails. Safe for children 3+ as a sensory tool.”

So not only do they sell a great product (one of MANY available in store and online), but Honeybee Baby Boutique is a company with heart. They generally care and give back, specifically to the military families in their area.

They have generously offered Burrito Buzz readers an incredible promotion to help jumpstart your holiday shopping. Use the Promo Code: BUZZ15 to receive a FREE ITEM with any purchase! They ask that in the “notes for this order” that you specify if you would like the gift to be for a boy or a girl. Umm amazing!!

Thank you so much Honeybee Baby Boutique for sharing your mission with us! I definitely recommend their unique products and I always love knowing that my business is going to a company with compassion and love for their community.

Stay tuned to our social media accounts for your chance to win a FREE set of Chewbeads Military Tags for the LO on your list this holiday season!

-Chelsea