Lately, it seems like everyone I know is having babies! Last month, at least 4 of my friends and family members had a child. However, I do still know many who are expecting and due this Winter! Having a baby (and being pregnant in) summer can be challenging, but winter presents its own set of things that need to be considered. If you or a loved one are due this winter, now is the time to prepare. Check out these tips by Simone Mcnamara at Mums Grape Vine:
-Dress your baby in layers to protect them from the cold
-Think ahead- make sure you have larger sized, season appropriate clothes for your baby to grow into.
-Create a cozy bedtime- make sure to have a thermometer in the nursery to ensure your baby isn’t too cold or hot.
-Regularly wash your hands to make sure you don’t transmit any winter colds to your baby.
My nephew is at the age where he now loves reading. He’ll sit on my lap, and we’ll read the same book three or four times. He loves the library and HAS to have a story before going to sleep. Every time I go to our local used book store, I always try to get him something new. Sometimes it’s books that I read when I was little, other times it’s newer things, or just covers that grab my eye. If your toddler loves to read, check out this ultimate list of 50 great books for toddlers by 
I’m back in college, and currently taking a class on Children’s Literature. We recently discussed the novel Coraline, by Neil Gaiman. A lot of younger people in the class criticized the parents in the novel, since they mainly focus on their work and are unavailable to play with her all the time. However, since I helped raise a child for two years, I found myself defending the parents. Life happens. They were in the middle of moving to a new house and both worked full time from home. And it’s easy to forget that your child requires as much time with you as your job does.
Now is the ideal time of the year to get out and enjoy some quality date time with your partner; especially if you’re looking for cheap ideas. It’s the end of summer, so it’s not too hot, but only the beginning of fall, so it’s still not too cold. The key to a successful relationship or marriage is to continue dating and communicating with your partner/spouse long after the honeymoon phase wears off. Plus, it’s always important to model healthy relationship behavior for your kids. Without further ado, check out this list of free date ideas 