• Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • Beauty
    • Education
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Lifestyle
    • Motherhood
    • Wellness
  • Services Offered
    • Editing & Writing Services
    • Organizing Services
  • Contact
  • The Legal Stuff
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Max Out Happy

The Pandemic Babies

July 6, 2021

by whitney

This post has been in my drafts for a long time, and I wanted to finally finish it out and give it a home on the internet. I saw a post early on in the pandemic about how insulting and disrespectful it was to call babies conceived or born during 2020 “pandemic babies,” but I have called Davis that on my own since the pandemic hit last spring. For me, it was a way to keep things light as I mourned the idea of what I thought my son’s first year of life would be like. I know that sounds dramatic, and we have been truly blessed in so many ways, but it has been very different raising our first child than I ever could have imagined. For instance, when your one-year-old’s idea of a good time is playing with the forehead digital thermometer and rolling around in the dog bed like a dog, you kind of ask yourself if these things are normal or if they’re a by-product of his circumstances! During my pregnancy, I imagined taking him places, showing him off, bringing him to school to meet everyone…but none of those things were possible. Even seeing family was hard to do, and we avoided it for a while because there was so much uncertainty. We had his first birthday party at home by ourselves on a Zoom call with our family. Like I said, I know it could be worse, but these were the things I struggled with on top of being a first time mom and adjusting to a whole new life.

Davis lived with just us and our 3 dogs for the first several months of his life. He was born in January, so thankfully he did get to meet all of his grandparents before everything shut down, but it happened quickly. I can’t even imagine being one of the women who had to give birth alone, or who couldn’t even have one visitor in the hospital as a brand new mother. Mentally I don’t know how I could have handled that, especially because Davis spent his first four days in the NICU. Once all the shut downs happened, we did eventually see close family, but when we did, it was with stress, fear, and guilt. Do we wear a mask? Do we ask what everyone’s exposure has been? What if we expose them? What if they expose us? Are we being irresponsible? Our child care plans changed, as well as work, life, family adjustment…all of these things are difficult with any new baby, but especially a first baby. Throw in having a newborn, the first baby, a global pandemic, and both spouses teaching online…I was at a loss. It was hard, but of course I knew it was hard for everyone. Our story is not unique or different from many other new parents’ stories, and many others had it much worse than we did and had huge losses of life, livelihood, or well-being. With all of our hardships, we have been blessed to be able to spend so much time with Davis, especially at the beginning of his life when I don’t think I would have been ready to go back to work full-time. For that, I’ll always be grateful!

Davis still has several family members he hasn’t met because of Covid. He hasn’t even been able to see his pediatrician’s face! He is so used to masks that he thinks it’s a game to try to pull them off your face. All of these things are different than I thought they’d be, but they’re our only experiences, our only memories. We don’t get another chance on Davis; this is it. There are a lot of things that can go wrong, and trust me, we have had our share along with the rest of the world – but there is so much to be grateful for. At the end of the day, if your baby is a “pandemic baby,” and if you feel offended, okay with, or indifferent to that, then you’re still normal. We have never done this before as a society in our time. We are all navigating new waters. It’s okay to be sad about what you may have lost, but there has been a lot we have gained, as well.

This one’s for all the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and loved ones of the pandemic babies. And if your child thinks he or she is a dog, too…join the club 🙂

Share this post:

  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Filed in: Lifestyle, Motherhood, Wellness • by maxouthappy •

Summer Bucket List

June 20, 2021

I mentioned in my summer must haves post that my friend Emily does a summer bucket list with her kids every year. I loved that idea and decided to do one for myself this summer! Davis is too young to tell me what he’d like to do, but I have a pretty good idea that he’d like to play, get in the water, and be outside. I can manage that list for him 🙂 and I’ve added some things for myself, as well!

I’ve mentioned a bunch of times that exercise really makes me feel better mentally as much as it does physically. I was so exhausted and burned out from this year of teaching that I was having a hard time motivating myself to move when school was in session. Now that it’s summer, I have the time to exercise, and one week in, I’m already feeling SO much better. It manages my stress and anxiety, and of course releases endorphins to help me have better days. On top of that, I know it’s keeping me strong so I can play with Davis and live a longer and healthier life. I put this as my number one because it makes such a difference for me!

Most of the other items on this list are pretty self-explanatory, but number 3 is really exciting for me. I told Andrew I would love to build an office inside our closet in the playroom upstairs. It’s a room that we currently have a desk and filing cabinet in, but it also doubles as a playroom for Davis and a place where guests can stay on the pull-out couch. If we have another baby, we’ll lose our guest room, and then the playroom will become the only place for guests – so I’m thinking ahead and trying to maximize space usage! Of course I started pinning away; here is all of my cloffice inspiration. We have a double door closet in that room and I love a small space. I’ll probably need Andrew’s help on this project, but I’m really excited about it.

source

The Scoop at Willow Oak Farms is a cute new ice cream place really close to our house. It’s on a farm and it has a playground, picnic tables with umbrellas, baby goats, and great ice cream. We have been there a few times but I think it would be fun to take Davis during the day when he’s not at child care, or on the weekends for a play date! The Splash Pad is a great place to take kids in the summer and it’s free for children under 2 years old (and only $2 otherwise). It’s a huge water play area outdoors; I used to go there with the kids I babysat for, and we would have a blast. I know Davis would love it! We’re going to the beach this summer with my family, but I would also love to go for a weekend together with just Andrew and Davis, too! And with my girlfriends! Honestly, any chance I can get to go to the beach, I’m there! Davis has never been to the zoo, so I’d love for us to do a day trip for that, too. I should add the aquarium! Dang it.

davis back in his man bun days, the first time we went to the scoop for ice cream

For myself, I’d love to get a facial from my friend Lindsey who wrote this guest post about skincare. I love to be pampered but usually don’t book many appointments, because $$$. But I’m putting it on my summer bucket list so it has to happen! I also have been seriously considering starting a small business and I am looking into the details of applying for the LLC and all the logistics. I will share more if anything comes of it 🙂 Finally, I really want to go on a few dates with my mans. Andrew and I have never been huge “date night” people, but we always did everything together before having a baby, and now we hardly ever get away together by ourselves for even a meal. Our anniversary is July 22, so hopefully we can at least do something for that, right?! Haha! But I would love to plan a few easy things we can do and find someone to watch Davis for us.

truly the last time i think andrew and i had a date…to our friends’ wedding in NOVEMBER

Whether you’re working or not, I think a summer bucket list is such a great way to hold yourself to some fun and productive goals! I am already thinking of a bucket list for fall, because I am a nerd and I love fall weather and vibes more than anything. Picnics, hikes, taking Davis to the pumpkin patch……okay, okay, let’s get through this season first. What’s on your summer bucket list?

Share this post:

  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Filed in: Lifestyle, Motherhood, Wellness • by maxouthappy •

What do you mean, Baby Linguine?! Guest Post // Baby-Led Weaning

June 15, 2021

Maggie Perkins, Registered Dietitian and family feeding pro (with her 2 sweet babies Jimmy & Bertie!)

Today’s post is from another one of my dear friends whose opinion I trust more than anyone else’s. Maggie and I have been friends since the 4th grade when we both made our moms go to a Girl Scout interest meeting. They had gone to high school together years before, and that day they decided to start a troop for both of us and anyone else who wanted to join. The rest is history! It has been such a wild ride growing up together and then starting our families and letting our babies meet and play! Here’s a little bit about Maggie’s credentials: Maggie Perkins is a registered dietitian that specializes in intuitive eating for families. At her private practice, Tomata, she helps families with questions and concerns about starting a baby on solids, picky eating, weight-inclusive care, and general nutrition. She helps her clients enjoy eating and feel confident about nutrition. 

What I love about Maggie is her positive energy and her inclusivity about eating and Health At Every Size. I love to follow her and learn more from her posts. I have told all of my friends to follow her, too! If you are looking for someone to help you and your family navigate the sometimes difficult task of feeding yourselves, Maggie is the one to help you. Today’s post is about one of her specialties: Baby Led Weaning! The rest of this post is written by Maggie. Go follow her on Instagram – her username is @tomata_rd

Answers to the most common questions parents have about baby-led weaning

“What do you mean ‘baby linguine?’” Yep, that was my response when my mom’s friend introduced me to baby-led weaning (BLW). They do sound similar, but I was obviously a little confused – and this is coming from a dietitian, mom, and foodie. Fast forward to today, five years from my “baby linguine” mistake, and I’ve received a Master’s degree and opened a private practice specializing in family feeding, including baby-led weaning. I’ve experienced (both personally and professionally) the confusion and worry around starting a baby on solids. Unfortunately, like many nutrition related topics, there is a lot of misinformation around starting solids and baby-led weaning. So, I am here to offer you some clarity. I am going to answer some of the most common questions around baby-led weaning.

What is baby-led weaning?

Baby-led Weaning is a feeding method to start a baby on solids. It uses a self-feeding approach. Self-feeding means the baby is offered food and uses their own hands and utensils to bring the food to their mouth. This method teaches responsive feeding which guides parents to respond and respect baby’s appetite. Baby-led weaning also encourages family meals by showing parents how to offer baby appropriate foods from the foods offered to the rest of the family. There are many benefits with this feeding method, including helping develop fine motor skills, encouraging nutritious and adventurous eating, being convenient and saving money, and promoting a positive eating experience.

my daughter Bertie doing some BLW

Is it safe and nutritious?

These are the two biggest concerns parents have when learning about baby-led weaning. The answer to both is yes, especially under expert guidance. No matter what feeding method you choose to use with baby, there is some important information for parents to learn regarding nutrition and choking prevention.

Let’s talk about nutrition. Even though breast and/or formula milk is the main source of nutrition for children under one year old, solid foods are still important. Solid foods ensure baby receives some key nutrients that are low in breast/and or formula milk and expose baby to tastes and textures so they can develop preferences for a wide variety of foods. One very important mineral to note is Iron. Iron is critical for development and is a common deficiency. Iron is finicky and absorbs better when offered with vitamin-c rich foods. Iron-rich foods and vitamin C-rich foods need to be the first foods parents introduce to baby. Here are a few examples of iron-rich foods that a baby led-weaning baby could enjoy (we will talk texture and shape in a bit): Egg omelet, tender chicken, tender steak, tofu, bean cake. Vitamin-C rich foods include many different types of fruits and vegetables. This could look like a strawberry, steamed broccoli, or roasted strips of zucchini.

Now, let’s discuss the choking concerns with baby-led weaning. Great news; the largest study on BLW showed that there is not an increased risk of choking when comparing baby-led weaning babies to traditionally spoon-fed babies (1). No matter the feeding method a parent chooses for their little one, choking is serious and just the thought of choking can give parents quite a bit of anxiety when starting solids. I recommend that all parents take an infant first aid/CPR course before you start feeding baby to increase confidence with feeding and understand the appropriate action if needed.  

burgers
BLW-infant
avocado-1-1
orange-and-shrimp-iron-2

Where did baby-led weaning come from?

There is not a lot of historical documentation on feeding babies because most of this information has been passed down verbally from mother to daughter (2). I’d argue that a self-feeding approach is instinctive, therefore has been around for a very long time. The term baby-led weaning came from British infant feeding and child development specialist, Gill Raply, who coined the term and wrote a book to explain the approach. There have been many offshoots of this information on the internet, and I want to throw in a word of caution here. Information from sources that are uncredentialed can be downright wrong, unsafe, cause confusion, and increase anxiety. And, unfortunately, many pediatricians have never received any training on baby-led weaning. Baby-led weaning works best under the guidance of an expert in the field; I’ve compiled a few trust-worthy resources at the end of this post.

How do you do it?

There are three main considerations when deciding what to serve baby: Texture, shape, and temperature. For texture, you want it to be soft and easy to mash. I encourage parents to do a “mash test” by putting the food between their tongue and the roof of their mouth to see if they can mash it into smaller pieces to swallow. For shape, the easiest shapes for baby to grab are strips of food about the size of an adult’s pinky or a large chunk of food that fits in their palm. For temperature, you want to make sure that hot food has cooled before offering it to baby. Remember that baby-led weaning is about family feeding, so try to serve from the same foods as the family at the same time as the family. Also, listen and trust baby when they are showing signs that they want more food or are done eating. See below for an example of a first meal.

  • Parent’s Meal: BBQ pork, rice with pickled onions, salad, and coleslaw
  • Baby’s Meal: Strip of tender BBQ pork, steamed carrot, and rice ball

When is baby ready to start?

The recommendations from the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics say that baby should start solids around 6 months of age. But more important than age is that baby shows the signs of readiness. The signs of readiness for starting solids are: Sitting up with minimal assistance, using the palmer grasp to grab toys and bring them to their mouth, loss of the tongue thrust reflex, and interest in food. If you’d like more information on this topic, check out my blog post on this.

Do I have to do BLW for my child to be healthy?

No! It’s important for parents to do what works best for them and their family. If you’ve learned about BLW from a trustworthy source and it still makes you nervous and causes you to stress, then don’t do BLW. Being able to enjoy feeding your little one is more important than the method you choose to start solids.

Where can I learn more?

To answer parents’ specific questions about baby-led weaning, I provide education and counseling at my private practice, Tomata. I specialize in BLW and have access to the newest research and trends to help my clients implement positive and effective feeding strategies. If you have any questions about BLW, starting solids, or child feeding, please reach out to me. Here is my website.

If you prefer to learn by reading, I would recommend the Born to Eat book by Leslie Schilling and Wendy Jo Peterson. It is my favorite introduction to solids book and also teaches best practices with family feeding. Gill Rapley’s Baby-led Weaning is also a good resource.

After you have learned the basics of BLW, the solid starts website is a useful resource for specific food shape, texture, nutrition, etc.

References:

  1. Fangupo, L ,et al. A baby-led approach to eating solids and risk of choking. Retrieved from: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/138/4/e20160772.full.pdf
  2. Rapley, G. Baby Led Weaning: Helping your baby to love good food.

Share this post:

  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Filed in: Education, Lifestyle, Motherhood, Wellness • by maxouthappy •

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome to Max Out Happy! I am a high school teacher, wife, and mom trying to spread a little happy around wherever I can. I'm glad you're here!
About me

Search the Blog!

Contact Me!

Follow me!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Snapchat
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Max Out Happy!

Enter your email address to receive an email notification when there's a new post!

Recent Posts

Summer Vibes

Affordable Amazon Home Finds

Pinterest

Recently on Instagram!

juliamcclannon

“That preacher, he told me that love’s not eas “That preacher, he told me that love’s not easy
I told him I don’t want it to be
Darling, I need you like ships need the sea
And I’m gonna love you 
I’m gonna love you for all of our days“
Our wedding song. Still true. I still do! Happy 4 years @amcclann34 - best “yes” of my life. ❤️
San Diego treated us well! Finished out with 2 gir San Diego treated us well! Finished out with 2 girls placing 3rd in the nation. All of them did amazing and have a lot to be proud of. Tired but happy! 🎉
Enjoying sunny San Diego with my boo and this grea Enjoying sunny San Diego with my boo and this great group of girls competing for Nationals with FCCLA!
We are so lucky. Davis is obsessed with his daddy We are so lucky. Davis is obsessed with his daddy & it’s no surprise why. Happy Father’s Day to our favorite guy! ❤️ @amcclann34
Took the boys to the @museumoflifeandscience with Took the boys to the @museumoflifeandscience with @thewellrooted_np! So hot outside, but we saw lots of animals, explored, and ran around and around for hours! Love these buddies 💕
Got to hang with @whitneygremaud for fruity teas a Got to hang with @whitneygremaud for fruity teas and pedicures followed by an ice cream date with Davis at @thescoop_willowoakfarms 😍 summer break is just a few days away!
Hamilton date night with my boo @amcclann34 and @k Hamilton date night with my boo @amcclann34 and @kellyanne927 @tstrongpga
Another Bengal playoff win! Cheering on “the boy Another Bengal playoff win! Cheering on “the boys” with my main man. Next game is Tuesday! 🐾
Today our club FCCLA sponsored a drunk & distracte Today our club FCCLA sponsored a drunk & distracted driving event with our Fuquay-Varina Police Department, MADD, & Talk It Out NC. There were displays, simulations, games, and tons of good info. I also have my future teachers planning the rest of our semester in a unit plan and they ran with it 🤓 it was a good day!
A fun morning picking “straw babies” with @the A fun morning picking “straw babies” with @thewellrooted_np & Jackson 🍓
😎 😎
Finished out spring break with an Easter egg hunt Finished out spring break with an Easter egg hunt at school, a baseball tournament, and sidewalk-chalk covered plaid shorts 🐰🌷🐣 back to school tomorrow. Come on, summer!
Happy birthday to my guy ❤️ Davis & I are so l Happy birthday to my guy ❤️ Davis & I are so lucky to have you!
I always have lots of words, but I haven’t been I always have lots of words, but I haven’t been able to find the words for this. Mostly because I don’t want it to be real. We said goodbye to Bruno this weekend. He was the life of the party and if you knew him, you know how much he loved and how much we loved him. He was Davis’ best friend. Our hearts are broken and we will never be the same. We love you, sweet buddy ❤️
⚾️ #rollbengals ⚾️ #rollbengals
First game of the season down! Had to go watch Dad First game of the season down! Had to go watch Dada coach & stay up past bedtime to see that first W #rollbengals
January/February photo dump: Snow, Nana’s 90th January/February photo dump:  Snow, Nana’s 90th bday, hanging around, and Dinos & Dragons!
2 years of Davis! 🎉 for those of you invested i 2 years of Davis! 🎉 for those of you invested in the Davis/Monkey friendship, swipe to see their first meet up and how much Davis has grown! Happy birthday to our crazy little guy 🤩 @amcclann34 couldn’t have done it without you.
We all got Davis’ stomach bug for Christmas 🥴 We all got Davis’ stomach bug for Christmas 🥴 it was definitely not what we planned, but here are some photos from the in betweens 😂
Santa came through our neighborhood tonight! 🎄 Santa came through our neighborhood tonight! 🎄
Load More Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Theme by Blog Pixie

 

Loading Comments...