Janssen Bradshaw

Janssen lives in Austin, TX with her husband and their two little girls. A former librarian, she is an obsessive reader, especially of picture books, young adult novels, and adult non-fiction. She also loves food in any form, whether it’s trying a new restaurant in Austin or making dinner at home with her little sidekick. On her blog, Everyday Reading, she recommends books for all ages and shares her favorite recipes.

Second-Time Mom Truths

Tomorrow, my second child turns six months old, which means I’ve now spent half a year as a parent of two little children.

Here are some truths I’ve learned:

You WILL love your second baby just as much as your first

10 Reasons Summer Is Different

Both of my girls are very young, so we don’t really adhere to a school year calendar. And yet, summer definitely feels different.

Here are ten reasons I can tell summer is here even without a final school bell to tell me so:

Baby, It's HOT Outside

Hat Off! Summer Hats for Babies

I’ve always been careful about sun exposure because I burn so easily, and now that I’m a mom I’m even more serious about keeping my babies covered in the hot Texas sun.

Hats are one of my favorite ways to make sure their little heads, ears, and necks stay covered and every year there are more and more darling hats to choose from. I’m especially fond of any hat with straps that fasten under the chin so it doesn’t blow away in the wind.

Here are some darling ones from Disney Baby this summer:

Bambi Hat

The Summer of Popsicles

Because my children are very small, they don’t really participate in summer activities that much. Our day-to-day life will look very much like it looks the rest of the year – naps, diapers, playdates, and general small-child living.

To make it a little more exciting, I’ve decided to dub each summer with some easy theme to help give me and my girlies a little (tiny bit of) structure.

Popsicle Toddler

Hush Little Baby: Disney Mobiles for the Nursery

I love the look of a mobile in a baby’s room because it adds some nice vertical interest.

Plus, it gives your baby something to look at as they drift off to sleep.

Disney Baby has a whole collection of darling little mobiles that fit any nursery. Don’t be surprised if this is the part of the room your baby ends up loving most!

Minnie Mouse Mobile
Rocket Fuel