For Tom

Every night as we eat supper together as a family, we go around the table and each person tells one of the highlights from their day. Just the simple things, usually. And invariably, every day, Isaac says that the highlight of his day is, "Daddy coming home today."

Now, I won't worry too much about what this says about the kids being stuck home with mommy all day. But it's true that Tom brings the fun and joy, the laughter and playfulness, to our family.

Tom is surely one of my highlights every day. He is my support and encouragement, truly my best friend. He enthusiastically goes along with all my crazy ideas - everything from homebirth to co-sleeping to cloth diapering to extended nursing. He embraces fatherhood and loves to nurture and encourage our children. I'm especially thankful that Tom recognizes and embraces this current chapter of our lives, with all its sacrifices and challenges, and that we can laugh together at the end of each day.

Happy birthday Tom! I'm glad to be sharing this crazy, fun, exhausting, wonderful adventure with you!

Inspired by Finn Review

I am loving Naomi's teething necklace that I mentioned back in this post. The brand is Inspired by Finn, and I wanted to provide a more in-depth review here.

How does it work?
The beads are made of Baltic Amber, which contains succinic acid. As the necklace is worn against the skin and warmed by body heat, the beads release trace amounts of succinic acid. Succinic acid helps boost the immune system and provides pain relief, among other health benefits. (This means the necklace needs to be worn against the skin, and not on top of clothing.)

Does it really work?
I, personally, find that it's hard to give a definitive answer. Every baby is different, and some seem to tolerate teething without much discomfort, while others are just plain miserable through the process. So I would imagine that Baltic Amber could be more effective for some individuals than for others. I can, however, tell you that we have had a positive experience. Naomi has been wearing her necklace all day every day for nearly a month, and during that time her first two teeth have erupted and she hasn't shown any discomfort. No excess drooling, no fever, no excess fussiness.

I love the natural look, and the length (12 inches) is just right for my 8-month-old. I think it's an excellent, safe way to alleviate teething pain, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a natural alternative to teething gels.

I purchased Naomi's necklace on the Mama Bargains site, so I paid 50% off the regular retail price. I also just saw that Inspired by Finn ran a sale through their Facebook page. So keep an eye out and you could probably get one of the necklaces at a discount.

Disclosure: I was given a discount by Inspired by Finn in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

In the Stroller

It was such a gorgeous weekend here. Finally some warm weather, so we spent most of Saturday and Sunday outside. And this Naomi is getting downright heavy. I carry her in the Ergo a LOT, but after a while I get a little tired, and I think she does too. So yesterday she got to try out a ride in the stroller for the first time. Millie pushed her around our block, and both girls loved it. I loved getting a picture of all four kids. Seems like it happens so rarely that we get all four of them happily looking at the camera.

Six Word Fridays: Again

(this is Isaac's favorite book - today)

We read his favorite book again,

And again and again and again...

More Six Word Fridays fun at Making Things Up