*all classes and lactation services will be offered only at our Madison Valley location (2610 East Madison)

If you are among the many parents that struggle with whether to have a second child and/or when to have a second child then read on for some helpful things to think about.

"When my youngest was about 2 we started trying for our second child. But I wasn't very happy about it. I wanted more time with my first. I was scared to have a second. I had barely just figured out motherhood and wasn't very confident that I could do it all over again. I struggled with depression during pregnancy and after 2 yrs was still processing my childbirth experience. But if we were going to have two children, I had this feeling that I didn't want them to be any further spaced than 3yrs. So if we were going to do it…we kind of had to do it then. That was what drove my decision at the time. And the rest is history. I leaped and fortunately it all worked out!"

This is a sentiment echoed by many moms I have talked with over the years. Though your situation may be slightly different--the bottom line is that there is a bit of a leap required.

Here is what I hear most commonly from moms I talk to in the shop each week:

The case for having a second:

• We had a boy and we want a girl too. (or visa versa)
• I want my child to have a lifelong playmate.
• I want to have multiple children so they can share the responsibility of caring for me and/or my spouse when we are older and to be there for each other when we are gone.
• I love the baby stage and want to experience it again.
• I enjoyed being pregnant and want to do it again.

The case for when to have the second:

• I want to get my childbearing years over with in one shot (1-2yrs apart so that I can return to the workforce sooner etc. or to skip to the later years without dwelling in the baby years)
• I want them spaced close together (2-3yrs)so they will have a close relationship.
• I want them spaced further apart (4-6yrs) so I have more time in between and don't burn out with 2 children under the age of five.

All of these arguments make sense for some people. But not all of them for everyone. Some sound too technical and not emotional enough. Some sound like they are based too much in emotion and not enough in reality….

Perhaps there is one that makes more sense to you and your family.

For more on the details of adding a second child to the mix---I highly recommend the book "Your Second Child a Guide for Parents" by Joan Solomon Weiss.

*For best results read it before you are pregnant with your second. However even if you are already pregnant with your second it is a good read--though somewhat more emotional--you know, with hormones and stuff

The myths that I found were dispelled after baby no. 2 arrived:

Myth #1 I was afraid that I would not be as close to my first child after the second one came:

This turned out to be not true--in fact, it actually brought us closer together and I am amazed every day at the person he is becoming. He isn't just a son. He is a "brother". It is truly a dynamic I just can't put into words. You will experience and see for yourself if you decide to have a second.

Myth #2 I was afraid that I would burn out with two under the age of 5:

Hmm..well this is sometimes true depending on the day you ask me But, all jokes aside, basically they play together quite often now and I am not the sole form of entertainment. This is priceless to me!

Wool sometimes gets a bad rap as scratchy and irritating because of the processing that some wool products go through (in the process the lanolin is usually stripped out which is what can make it scratchy). Sensitivities to wool can also be due to the particular kind of wool you have been exposed to, thicker fiber is usually rougher.

Fortunately the wool used in mom and baby products is generally made from the smallest diameter Merino Fibers, which are one-third to one-tenth the thickness of a human hair! This means it can be worn against the skin without any discomfort.

The benefits of wool are amazing!

It is super absorbent, yet remains dry to the touch. This makes it a perfect candidate for both diaper covers and nursing pads. Even in the dank crevices of baby's diaper or inside your nursing bra, wool encourages an environment that is dry and comfortable as well as free from bacteria and fungus.

Since it is naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial it doesn't have to be washed as often as other reusable pads and diaper covers. It is naturally repellant against dirt, dust and lint and dries in a flash. So this means you don't need to have as many on hand. The investment may seem large when looking at the price tag on a wool product, but the overall costs are actually quite low when you factor in a decrease in laundering time and energy.

Wool is a preferred fabric, particularly for nursing pads, by many moms because of its ability to warm the body. In doing this, it increases circulation of both blood and milk flow. This is especially important for women who are prone to mastitis or plugged ducts. Plus wool has lanolin in it, so it also soothes sore nipples much like topical lanolin in the tube.

Wool does not create a wet or clammy environment like other pads do. Which means your nipples and breasts stay dry and free of yeast infections (otherwise known as thrush). In fact it is so absorbent and breathable that you can wear them for extended periods of time without worrying about odor and they don't stick to your breasts like disposable pads do!

Wool is preferred as a diaper cover for many moms because of its antimicrobial nature and breathability which prevents diaper rash from occurring. Plus leaks are practically non-existent with wool.

Check out the 2 newest Wool products in our store today! They are sure to keep you and baby warm and dry.

OK, so I never thought I would be giving a thumbs up to cheesy reproductions of popular music by children's cover bands. But….I am.

Some of you may not have babies old enough to really pay attention to the music you play in the background at home or in the car. You may still be lucky enough to skate by playing your old music around them with no noticeable impact.

But once they reach a certain age, not only do you become concerned about the content of the music you yourself listen to, but also they suddenly begin to express a certain distaste for your music as well.

The good thing is that now children's cover bands (like Kidz Bop or Hit Crew, just to name a couple) are branching out and singing more than just top 40.

You can find kid's cover band versions of just abut anything these days. I was listening to one compilation of all 80's music the other day--which by the way made me feel like a kid again!

Anyway, they blank out the swear words and often change a line or to if it isn't appropriate for a child, but generally the songs are pretty much the same.

And the added feature….they sing slow enough and clear enough that you can actually understand the lyrics. It is a great way to learn the lyrics to one of your favorite songs that you may have found yourself mumbling along too in the car! I can't tell you how many times I have made the realization "OH….that is what they are saying there…."

Now I know what you are thinking, if you listen to music that has relatively clean lyrics and subject matter anyway wouldn't you just listen to the regular version with your kids?

Well, this is an experiment I have tried….

Turns our that when I turn on the cheesy cover band version of my favorite songs my kids will dance and sing along….but put on the original (arguable the "better" version) and they whine and complain and sit on there rumps doing nothing! And I am seriously not exaggerating.

I actually think there is something to be said for the voice of a child signing. It is like their ears are more open to it. I don't know…I guess it is just a phenomena I don't fully understand, but reluctantly accept.

For now I am relegated to the world of kid's cover versions of Nelly Furtado, Gwen Stefani, Jet and more….but hey-- I find it a little more tolerable than the Wiggles or SpongeBob.