LilSugar

Lil Find: Personalize Your Stationery

babysugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:37:16 -0800

One of the things that always stalls me in writing thank you notes is having the appropriate stationery. I used to keep a stash of monogrammed notes, but since baby came along, I find myself running out to buy kiddie notes.

Now I have a great solution for both of us. Papyrus sells stamps that you can customize with your initial so you can buy one for baby and another for yourself. I get plain note cards from Paper Source and then stamp them with the appropriate letter and write the note from there. That way I don't have to keep a separate pile of notes for each family member. And, to save yourself from having to write your return address each time, order an especially cute return stamp from them, too.

Just a Minute: Saying Thank You

LilSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:00:21 -0800

Today is International Thank You Day. While thank you notes are the most common way for people to formally communicate thanks, busy moms sometimes have a hard time accomplishing the task - especially when they are writing for their entire brood.

So opt for an acceptable alternative and call the person to whom you are grateful. Kind words can make a person's day. And it's that personal touch that makes all the difference. Plus, friends and relatives will delight in the chance to chat with your child.

Source

Getting to Know Your Body Post Pregnancy

babysugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:18:26 -0700

"Oh, my uterus!" may sound like a laughable exclamation, but coming from someone who has uttered it, I can say I meant it. Before my first pregnancy, I was fairly clueless about my internal organs. I knew they were intact, but not quite sure what was where and what exact functions they served. Not since sixth grade health/sex ed had I paid much attention to anything aside from the obvious, but pregnancy shed new light on my own anatomy. To see what I know now, read more.

I know what it feels like to have a ligament pain in the pelvic area. I am also familiar with the shape and action of my uterus. A uterus, thankfully, shrinks back to pre-pregnancy size by contracting during breastfeeding, causing abdominal pain similar to contractions or cramps. I am more familiar with my breasts than I ever imagined I would be; they grow, nurse, heal, and shrink with every baby. I watched my linea negra form and then disappear while the stretch marks have stayed around for a long-term reminder of my bumpalicous belly days. Thankful for the babes that I've been blessed with, I will always worship my body I now know so well. Did you experience a similar learning curve?

Don't forget to join in on the mommy discussion at our fun community group - Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me!
Source: Flickr User Vikingo

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Thank-You Notes

LilSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:00:41 -0800

People used to joke that when they gave me a present, the thank-you note arrived at their houses before they got home from the party. Family and friends have been ridiculously generous to my husband, children, and me, and I know it's important to not only recognize their generosity, but also teach my kids that it's appropriate to send thank-you notes.

Expressing gratitude for a gift is something that was ingrained in me as a child. Growing up, I truly believed that you couldn't use a toy or wear an outfit until a note of thanks had been tucked in an envelope.

I wrote my wedding notes on the flight to my honeymoon, scribbled card after card when we brought home our first baby, and was on top of things through her second birthday. Then my son arrived and the presents piled up and so did the packs of cards, rolls of stamps, and lists of who gave us what. I was just about up to date when his first birthday arrived, followed by Christmas. To finish the post, read more.

Now, my nightstand is a pile of blank, half-written, and some signed, sealed, and ready-to-deliver notes that sit waiting to be finished or dropped in a mailbox. It seems like right when I begin to sort through the stack, a diaper needs to be changed or the phone rings.

Being that today is International Thank You Day, my deadline is tonight. And then, I'll count the days until my children can put pen to paper themselves.