Parenting | The Playdate Crashers

Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures (Review AND Giveaway!)

It's hard to put your finger on exactly why Amber Dusick's Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures blog and book are so incredibly hilarious. The illustrations aren't complex or anything, they're just...perfect. The drawings, originally drawn … Continue Reading

The Kid Dictionary

If you've ever experienced something ridiculous, infuriating, or downright unbelievable with your kids and thought "Why isn't there a word for that??", you have to pick up Eric Ruhalter's The Kid Dictionary. Published by Source Books, this hilarious … Continue Reading

Are you a Clueless Chick?

The early days of pregnancy and motherhood are crazy times, y'all. You feel nothing like yourself, you're overjoyed but constantly on the verge of tears or vomit (or both!), and there are so many questions. Sure, there are a lot of resources "out … Continue Reading

An Argument with my Former Self

Before having kids, I had a lot of ideas about how I would parent. I pictured rocking my cuddly babies to sleep every night, humming lullabies for hours without tiring of it, and being constantly delighted by their playful messes. Somehow, my … Continue Reading

Curious Little Boys

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Someone asked me recently if I feel like I parent Spencer any differently than I parented Miles during the first 19 months of his life before he became a big brother. My answer was that I absolutely do and my approach is much more hands-off and "Oh … Continue Reading

Crayons and Compromise

Jamie is en route to her new home in Pennsylvania and will be popping in here and there for awhile, but we will be a little off-schedule for awhile until she and her family settle in. If you are interested in writing a guest post for us, please let … Continue Reading

A Fatherhood First

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The Playdate Crashers are home from the ABC Kids Expo and have a ton of information (and prizes!) to share with you in the coming days and weeks, but it's going to take some time to sort through and digest. Enjoy a new post from Krista in the … Continue Reading

Both Sides: Led By Baby

Jamie and Krista agree on many things, but sometimes they have different opinions on parenting. This is the second post in a two-part series on routine vs. on demand. Be sure to read Jamie's post, "Both Sides: Parent Guided Routines". The … Continue Reading

Both Sides: Parent Guided Routines

Jamie and Krista agree on many things, but sometimes they have different opinions on parenting. This is the first post in a two-part series on routine vs on demand. Be sure to check out Krista’s side, "Led By Baby". Before I had my first child, I … Continue Reading

A Rear View

If you took a peek inside my car, you might assume that I have two very young children - babies, infants. Two identical, large, rear-facing car seats take up the back, leaving very little room between them in the middle of the bench seat. But you … Continue Reading

Rows For Remembrance

I remember the feelings of shock, awe, excitement and fear that flowed through my brain when I looked down at that pregnancy test and saw two lines instead of one. Carl and I had been married a mere 3 months, and weren't trying to get pregnant. I was … Continue Reading

Remember The Puddle!

Remember that story about my 2.5 year old peeing his pants in Wal-Mart a few weeks ago? Yesterday, I took him back to the store to get a few things. He's really fun to take to the store (when he's not making puddles all over the dairy section) … Continue Reading

Breastfeeding In The News – #17

Parenting Chit Chat - Dairy issues, walking toddlers, developmental fears, sleeping, and weaning from the pacifier Congratulations to the new parents and newly expecting parents in the playdate crashers family! We discuss breastfeeding in the … Continue Reading

One Day They’ll Grow Up

PLAYING WITH MAKE-UP © Dreamstime Agency | Dreamstime.com

One day, not so long from now, my kids will be teenagers. That is the thought I had yesterday as my husband and I drove seven high schoolers on a trip for greasy burgers and hiking (great combo, no?). My husband is a youth minister and while I do … Continue Reading

Waiting and Wondering

PASSING TIME © Ben Goode | Dreamstime.com

I haven't said much about what's going on with my oldest son and I still don't want to share everything that's happening, but I'm ready to open up a little more. So here goes... For about a year, we have been struck by how quickly and naturally … Continue Reading

Oh My.

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A few weeks ago, I was at a used bookstore with Miles (2.5, above) and was looking at books in the Parenting section. He was looking around and telling me all the letters, trying to read words. I heard him say … Continue Reading

Home Again

Ahhhh, what a weekend. My husband and I had a fabulous weekend away from our kids with our friends JR and Rachel. Friday afternoon, about an hour after returning home from a trip to Ohio (Tuesday through Friday), we greeted my mom, who had … Continue Reading

Away We Go!

We are driving home from a quick trip to Ohio right now and I'm posting this from my husband's iPhone. My apologies if there are embarrassing errors! We are racing against the clock on our drive home. If all goes well, we will arrive at the same … Continue Reading

Winding Down

I can feel that the end is coming. As my little one grows and becomes more engaged with the world around him, I sense that soon he will no longer need to have the comfort of nursing from his mama. He turned one almost a month ago. By this … Continue Reading

The Other Side Of Grumpy

"Oh, hello happy child! I've missed you!" My baby turned one last week. He also had his one year well child appointment on Tuesday and with that appointment of course came his vaccinations. He got three, including the chickenpox and Hepatitis A … Continue Reading