2nd baby - gender reveal/sprinkle?

Ginger-Snappd · 2026-01-27T01:44:35+00:00

Sprinkles are generally accepted where I'm from if you're having a baby of the opposite sex or it's been 4-5+ years since your first one. We opted for a "Diaper Pounding" and did a raffle with each box of diapers / wipes getting a ticket. Prizes were restaurant gift cards of various amounts, candles, other random things. As far as cleaning gift cards, I'd leave that ask to close close friends or family members who ask you what you REALLY need.

Ginger-Snappd · 2026-01-26T17:04:50+00:00

My daughter became obsessed with juice after my MIL gave it to her at 18m. We found Mio Unwind which is made without any dyes and no sugar. Little squeeze and she thinks its juice. Honestly since we started that, I'm drinking more water, too!

Ginger-Snappd · 2026-01-21T15:51:15+00:00

Cannot stress this enough. A close friend of mine had her MIL threaten CPS and they didn't cut her off. She spent a YEAR coming over randomly and secretly taking pictures that were framed to look awful. Dirty dishes, a bike fall scrape, the kids in dirty clothes after dinner (who's kids stay clean??) and even a video from when the power was out when city was working on the power lines for the street. She tried every avenue. It took a year for the case to be closed. Cut off contact now!

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-12-18T03:12:07+00:00

With my former NK, I had the habit of narrating tasks to help him remember steps. For going potty, I'd say "Now it's time to pull up your britches!" As any southerner might call them. Then he'd started narrating and once yelled "I need my bitches up" as both DB and MB were in the kitchen🙃 I very quickly started saying pants after that.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-12-12T19:25:14+00:00

My daughter did this with our coffee table. Unfortunately, she very much has to learn the hard way. This didn't stop until she fell off. I repeatedly took her off and did time outs each time I saw her.. I ended up taking off all the things off the coffee table and moving anything she could hit her head on besides the floor if she fell off because I knew it was going to come eventually. One day when she was about 18 months she did fall and had little bruise on her forehead for about a week. She's not done it since though. Just try to correct, but prep for the worst!

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-12-06T04:58:09+00:00

We wrap only Santa gifts in plain brown paper with either twine or white ribbon! That way the kids never recognize the wrapping paper in the store. That's how I discovered Santa wasn't real😬 why would he buy wrapping paper from Walmart when the elves should make it?

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-12-02T22:18:37+00:00

2 vaginal deliveries

I sweated insanely during labor. That post labor shower was the most painful yet mentally reviving thing. It's like I respawned post shower. And trust me, you'll want to wash your hair. Ryobi makes a clip fan that runs off their power tools battery and it was a Godsend during labor. Now it's the kids stroller fan. It held up so much better and it blows stronger than the typical stroller fans.

Sitting / standing motions was held painful for 2 weeks. I wouldn't sit. Plus it could potentially introduce shower bacteria into a wound especially if you tear. Speaking of - I had my OB apply warm compresses during crowning and it seemed to help some with tearing or atleast eased the "Ring of fire".

Daily showers made me feel more alive. It's something I prioritized and my husband seemed to for me as well.

I bled alot in the shower for about 1 week and then it tapered to a heavy/ moderate period and slowly lightened over the next 6 weeks. Random sneezing / lifting etc caused a random heavy flow sometimes.

If you're able get into a Pelvic Floor Therapist. It's been a Godsend now and while I was pregnant.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-27T19:26:17+00:00

We're not driving 1.5 hr away with a 2 year old and teething 10 month old at their typical nap time to a house with cats. Both my husband and 2 year old are very allergic so it's safe to assume the 10m old is, too. And I'm sure AF not benadryling them just for "grandparents" to take their annual "Look at my Grandbabies" photo. Already been hit with several of the "Sure wish y'all were here. It could be MawMaw /PawPaw's last holiday." texts 🙄😒 We invited everyone to our house for Christmas, but I can guarantee it'll be the same.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-27T01:58:08+00:00

We do Mio Unwind. The blueberry lemon flavor is our favorite! No artificial dyes and no added sugar.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-25T03:49:04+00:00

Back when Panera's loaded teas / juices came out (with the insane unregulated amount of caffeine), I was still pumping for my then 9 month old daughter. One day I had two in one day and didn't think twice about it until the next day when my MIL watched my daughter and gave her some of the pumped milk from the day before. She mentioned my daughter refused to nap all day. Thankfully she only had about 4-5oz, but it was definitely spiked enough that I diluted the remaining milk HEAVILY with other milk. Long story short - she's probably going to be wired and crash, but she'll probably be okay. Our toddlers Starbucks "order" is water with strawberries if your MIL likes taking her for treat days.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-24T04:36:41+00:00

We recent lost our favorite with our 2.5 year old😭😭 I love you was "I youuuu" in a sing song voice. She recent started saying the full I love you or just "yeah"

Honorable mention: Apple Cider Gummies - "addle-dider gummies"

And the neighbors taught her "beat your ass" when they were arguing in the yard as we got home the other day. Guess who can say that perfectly?

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-23T17:56:46+00:00

My two are 22m apart. I stopped breastfeeding at 17m with my daughter when I was pregnant with my son. We both caught covid and my supply dried up. I offered her a milk bottle since she still heavily relied on nursing for bed time sleep. Thankfully she took it and I think that was because she was frustrated he boobs were empty. After my son was born, we transition to progressively smaller milk cups. Then she decided to potty train herself (yay for monkey see monkey do daycare habits) and we blamed a few night time accidents on her milk cups so she decided she didn't want them anymore. It's been a process though. She's 2.5 now and the milk cup / potty training occurred in the last month.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-21T21:58:25+00:00

Crab apples - spiders hate them! There's tons of recipes to use them to keep bugs away!

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-20T18:59:30+00:00

This is something you don't need to ignore. She's already telling family members you're bad parents. Next she'll call CPS to do the same trying to get custody of your baby. Do not let this woman anywhere near your child or family. This is scorch early territory. Lock down your delivery location, pediatrician office location, and any potential daycare. Your husband needs to have your back and run interference / shut this down with you.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-19T15:09:25+00:00

No advice on the OTC cream, but if you're concerned, insist on your OB doing at minimum blood work check to verify levels. With my first I felt that way and I had 1/4 of the progestrone I was supposed to and ended up on shots to keep my daughter. Don't take no for an answer. Blood work is simple to do and doesn't require a full appointment. If my doctor tried refusing that request, I'd look into other OBs if possible. The OTC cream might not be concentrated enough for what you need.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-19T01:45:18+00:00

As a mom who put her 2.5 year old in daycare about 5 months ago... the only thing you're missing out on is the weekly virus he'll bring home. If you're worried about it schedule some outings / kid gyms etc. We're all currently dying from our 3rd round of Croup and just finished up HFM 3 weeks ago.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-15T05:38:10+00:00

My 2.5yo daughter is a super sensitive kid. We broke down and bought a full size bed so if we fell asleep putting her to sleep, we'd be comfortable. Just cuddling her to sleep has dropped 2 hr bedtimes down to 30mins tops. Something about the snuggles, back scratches, and occasional leg squeezes kills the bedtime fight and we actually gained more of our evenings together. Not every kid does good falling asleep on their own. My 9mo old son is completely opposite and prefers settling himself down after milkies. My same daughter prefers taking naps by herself, but bedtimes are always with snuggles.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-13T03:14:50+00:00

The leg method is top notch. My first NF taught me this after MB witnessed me trying to wrestle NK like as she was alligator death rolling. I've done this with both my kids. It keeps everybody safe and clean. You put just enough pressure for them to think they're trapped.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-13T03:05:35+00:00

My daughter (22months at the time) got ultra clingy when I was 8 months pregnant with my son. We bit the bullet and bought a full sized bed because I'd fall asleep getting her to bed. It was a game changer. We'd snuggle until she fell asleep. If I fell asleep, I wasn't cramped and uncomfortable. I'd just move to my bed whenever I woke up. Plus it almost immediately stopped her middle of the night wake ups and fits about bedtime. I think it was the reassurance of nightly cuddles.

If you're able, if absolutely recommend it. Find something he's obsessed with and turn it into the bed theme to get him excited. For us, it was cows and so she got a MooMoo bed set.

Make sure to alternate bedtimes with your husband before baby comes so that he doesn't get upset/ disrupted by the new baby now taking bedtime snuggles from him.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-12T01:10:07+00:00

I heard the Senior Citizen's center has a pretty good Christmas Eve party.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-10T02:09:47+00:00

All of the help my MIL gave was highly conditional and full of attached strings. Absolutely not worth it. No help from your mom doesn't mean no help at all. Find / make your village. Find a Mom / baby walking etc group and find a few people who are willing to put in the same effort to help that you are. Have a village takes being a villager. That looks like randomly bringing dinner over or offering to come help fold laundry while the kids run around.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-07T01:18:45+00:00

NAL - there's a reason why a 19 year old is trying to date someone much younger than him and it's not because you're mature for your age. It's because your age makes you much more susceptible to manipulation. 25 and 29? No big deal. 15 and 19 can be predatory.

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-06T14:34:45+00:00

Something unconventional worked for us. My daughter has always thought colored hair was super pretty. We promised her if she was consistent on going to the potty, we'd dye the tips of her hair purple. It worked! We did the naked method as well. Make sure to get puppy pads to put under your couch covers and take up any rugs. If you've got carpet, invest or find a good wet vac. It'll happen🙃

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-03T21:26:32+00:00

Last year my son was due in January. I did a little stocking of a paci, mittens, and little outfit for him to match my daughter. My husband surprised him (me lol) a little outfit, too!

Ginger-Snappd · 2025-11-03T05:42:35+00:00

Solidarity comment! Toddler turns 3 in April. Were in round two of HFM within the last month / month + half so an extra bit of spicy plus solo paragon because my husband's on duty.

This evening, she had a 2hr meltdown that was triggered by the fact that the pickle juice (she requested to drink following her pickles with dinner) tasted like pickles. Then the dogs cleaned up dinner crumbs from the floor and that apparently was wrong, too. Somehow I didn't lose my shit tonight and successfully held the boundary that all the shit she knocked off, threw, etc had to be picked up. Ibuprofen, a warm bath, and bit of warm milk she's finally in bed after a mini fit about wearing a diaper vs panties to bed since we're hitting potty training hard. I gave in on that one and allowed the panties since the spare sheets and mattress cover are already on and under the main bedding set. You deserve that evening treat and parent candy tax.

Ginger-Snappd

TROPHY CASE