The majority of all of human DNA is identical—about 99.9 percent according to research by the Human Genome Project—so how is it that two children, with nearly identical DNA, raised by the same parents, can be so different? For our family, it comes down to the simple difference between an X and Y chromosome.  When I learned that our second baby would be a boy I was very excited. I knew raising a boy would be different than raising a girl, but could it really be more difficult, as I had heard so many times in the past?  I figured that if I did the exact same things I did with my daughter, that …

It is estimated that 80 percent of women in the United States will be infected with human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the county, at some point in their lives. Of the more than 40 strains of HPV, most lead to unsightly genital warts or benign warts found on the woman’s cervix. However, there are a handful of strains that can lead to cervical cancer.  According the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are an estimated 13,000 diagnosed cases of cervical cancer each year, with approximately 4,000 ending in death. With routine pap smears, cervical is one of …

It is estimated that 80 percent of women in the United State will be infected with Human Papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the county, at some point in their lives. Of the more than 40 strains of HPV, most lead to unsightly genital warts or benign warts found on the woman’s cervix. However, there are a handful of strains that can lead to cervical cancer.  According the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are an estimated 13,000 diagnosed cases of cervical cancer each year, with approximately 4,000 ending in death. With routine pap smears, cervical is one of the…

This past Tuesday was a big day for our family. While most of you were heading back to work after a long Labor Day weekend, we were starting a brand new routine in our home. Tuesday was the first day of preschool for our daughter.  We have been preparing for months, making sure that she was ready. I spent a lot of time focusing on doing tasks like using the bathroom and getting dressed independently. We practiced sounding out letters and learning to write her name.  In the days leading up to the big day, we introduced our new routine. I didn’t want routine to be the big shock of the day on …

My husband and I recently attended a parent orientation night in preparation for our daughter’s first day of preschool. The director of the preschool covered the basics, and we met a few of the specialists, but there was one thing that I really liked: the nutrition program the school is continuing for its second year. A grant from Johns Hopkins University funds a nutritionist, who teaches more than just the fundamentals of nutrition. “My Plate,” the most recent version of what many of us know as the food pyramid, is the backbone of the curriculum. Portion control, proper nutrition and healthy…

As I write this evening, I find myself in a very ironic situation. With no power in our home for more than 18 hours now, my laptop is lit only by the backlight from the screen and the flickering of candles behind me. I can only hope that there is enough battery life left to allow me to finish! Irene may not have been the storm Marylanders thought she might be just a few short days ago, but in the early hours of the morning, she certainly made her presence known. Around 2:30 a.m., our power failed, instantly waking our daughter, leaving her screaming for help in our pitchblack house. My son, …

As I write this evening, I find myself in a very ironic situation. With no power in our home for more than 18 hours now, my laptop is lit only by the backlight from the screen and the flickering of candles behind me. I can only hope that there is enough battery life left to allow me to finish! Irene may not have been the storm Marylanders thought she might be just a few short days ago, but in the early hours of the morning, she certainly made her presence known. Around 2:30 a.m., our power failed, instantly waking our daughter, leaving her screaming for help in our pitchblack house. My son, …

In just a few short weeks my little baby is going to be starting preschool. We finally received a packet of information in the mail the other day, and to say it was overwhelming is an understatement. Once I had finally completed all the forms and signed up for all of the new-age electronic classroom schedules, I started leafing through the handbook. One of the sections in the handbook outlines their birthday party policies. At first I didn’t read it because our daughter’s birthday is at the end of June, after the school year is over, but as I scanned further down the page, I saw something …

One of the most complex decisions new parents have to make is whether or not one parent will stay home or if they will send their child to daycare. While it has been common for many years for the mother to stay home, more and more Dads are choosing to take on the role of homemaker while their wives are the breadwinners. Sacrifices lie on both sides of the fence here. If you choose to have one parent stay home, you are sacrificing the benefits of a second income. But choosing to send your child to daycare means missing out on a lot of bonding with your little one. Every family is different and…

Even before giving birth to our daughter over four years ago, I was very gung-ho about nursing her; although my motivations were, at the time, very different. Plain and simple, nursing our daughter was going to save us hundreds of dollars a month; the decision to nurse, for me, was initially a very selfish endeavor. Making the choice to birth my children naturally lead me to take a class in the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth. One of the topics discussed in class was the importance of nursing. The benefits for both the child and the mother are beyond compare. Each mother produces milk …

My son has officially entered toddlerhood.  He does all the cute things toddlers do, like waddle in a way that resembles ET, explore his environments with great vigor, and yes, even the oh-so-adorable tantrums. We’re finally reaching a stage with our daughter where, when she’s well rested, she is a generally easy going, mostly tantrum-free kid.  But our youngest has entered the tantrum phase swinging, literally. I have tried to be a “yes” Mom.  Instead of constantly saying “no” when he gets into something he shouldn’t be getting into, I try to redirect as much as I can.  That worked for a …

Yesterday I did something I rarely do these days—I left the house without any makeup. Not only was I going au naturel, but my hair was a frizzy and disheveled mess because of the record-breaking heat and humidity. I have to admit, I was incredibly self-conscious, and felt that people were staring at me with glares that said, “How could she leave the house looking like that?” With girls maturing faster than ever, it's important to me that my daughter learn that beauty isn’t tied to how you look, but who you are. OK. I know it sounds incredibly cliché, but the age-old saying that beauty is only…

Yesterday I did something I rarely do these days—I left the house without any makeup. Not only was I going au naturel, but my hair was a frizzy and disheveled mess because of the record-breaking heat and humidity. I have to admit, I was incredibly self-conscious, and felt that people were staring at me with glares that said, “How could she leave the house looking like that?” With girls maturing faster than ever, it's important to me that my daughter learn that beauty isn’t tied to how you look, but who you are. OK. I know it sounds incredibly cliche, but the age-old saying that beauty is only…

It's official. On Sunday morning, the infamous “Tot Mom” Casey Anthony walked free from an Orlando jail. Whether or not you agree with the decision recently handed down by the jury, I think we can all agree that we will never truly be able to understand what was going through her mind during those 31 days her daughter went missing.  How is it that a mother, whether she embraces her new role or not, can show no sign of emotion over her missing daughter?  How can a mother be so selfish that she worries only about herself when it is announced that her daughter’s remains have been found?  Over …

Like my husband and me, our daughter is the oldest grandchild on both sides. I thought since we had both had been spoiled because of that, we might not allow our own children to get so spoiled by their grandparents. I’ve been learning that some things are just out of our control – our parents have made it very clear that the spoiling is here to stay, and I guess I’m okay with that. While both of my kids are getting pretty thoroughly spoiled, my eldest is the ultimate ‘gimme’ girl. Even though her birthday has just passed, she is already asking for more stuff. I would like for her to start …

Like my husband and me, our daughter is the oldest grandchild on both sides. I thought since we had both had been spoiled because of that, we might not allow our own children to get so spoiled by their grandparents. I’ve been learning that some things are just out of our control – our parents have made it very clear that the spoiling is here to stay, and I guess I’m okay with that. While both of my kids are getting pretty thoroughly spoiled, my eldest is the ultimate ‘gimme’ girl. Even though her birthday has just passed, she is already asking for more stuff. I would like for her to start …

“Why, why, why?” This has become the most popular phrase with my daughter these days. While it can drive me to the point of near insanity some days, I feel like I can tolerate it because the questions remain private. What I wasn’t prepared for was for my daughter’s complete lack of a filter to come at the expense of others. We recently had the pleasure of visiting with my husband’s grandmother. Because she lives in Florida, we only see her once or twice a year, so we always try to make the most of her visits. On past occasions, my daughter has only warmed up to her on the last day or so of …

  “Why, why, why?” This has become the most popular phrase with my daughter these days. While it can drive me to the point of near insanity some days, I feel like I can tolerate it because the questions remain private. What I wasn’t prepared for was for my daughter’s complete lack of a filter to come at the expense of others. We recently had the pleasure of visiting with my husband’s grandmother. Because she lives in Florida, we only see her once or twice a year, so we always try to make the most of her visits. On past occasions, my daughter has only warmed up to her on the last day or so of …

Ah, summer—the season of swimming pools, trips to the beach and long days of playing until the sun goes down. The summer solstice happens to be a very special day in our house for another reason: Our daughter was born on the summer solstice four years ago. Saturday, our home was filled with family and friends to celebrate the occasion. When I was younger I didn’t realize how much work really went into pulling off one of these “get-togethers,” as my family calls them. And when I plan one of these, I, without fail, take on way more than I can manage. Not only do I undertake the impossible, but …

Ah, summer—the season of swimming pools, trips to the beach and long days of playing until the sun goes down. The summer solstice happens to be a very special day in our house for another reason: Our daughter was born on the summer solstice four years ago. Saturday, our home was filled with family and friends to celebrate the occasion. When I was younger I didn’t realize how much work really went into pulling off one of these “get-togethers,” as my family calls them. And when I plan one of these, I, without fail, take on way more than I can manage. Not only do I undertake the impossible, but …