Motherly

Doctor’s orders: Date your spouse!

Both my marriage and I deserve a little alone time.

My daughter’s preemie power will help her conquer the world

…on her own timeline, in her own special way.

15 ways to connect with your child in 5 minutes or less

My love —16-month-old

Do all things with love. Bacon is our love language. Slobbery kisses make us feel adored. John Legend gives us the feels. Motherhood lets you experience a depth of love like no other. How lucky are we to have this love. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. The Forest Feast, Love + Lemons + the Weelicious cookbooks give us all the food inspiration we need to cook fresh family meals we all love. Baby this week: Your little one loves to imitate your behaviors. Try this: A standing stool lets your little helper "cook" or wipe down the counters next to you in the kitchen. Also: get your camera ready, because it's the cutest.

Some days you win —16-month-old

The only person you should be better than is the person you were yesterday. 

Yes or no ⁉️—15-month-old

My hairstyle is called, “I have kids." Yes! You showered! No: Your toddler threw up on you immediately after. Yes! Sexy time. No: Someone just woke up and is screaming "mama!" Yes! Momlife is hard. No: We wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. Yes! Living proof dry shampoo is just what the hairstylist ordered. Baby this week: Your tot might starting using one-word commands like, "NO!" Try this: Trying saying "no" less yourself—instead guiding your child away from dangerous or bad choices. "The oven is hot, please stay away" and "Keep your cup on your high chair." Less "no!" from you, less "no!" from your tot.

Life in color —15-month-old

Broken crayons still color. Ahh, the joys of toddler life. Messes everywhere. Gleeful grins in the bathtub (so. much. splashing.) And lots of slobbery, snuggly kisses for mama. It's not perfect, but it's perfectly beautiful. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. Adult coloring books + a glass of wine + Carla Bruni on Spotify = our happy place. Baby this week: Your little one can scribble and might start reaching for your pen! Try this: Indulge that little artist with toddler crayons—made for chubby little hands.

Make my day —15-month-old

Go ahead, make my day. Parenthood can stress a relationship. In fact, most couples report decreased marriage satisfaction in the years after baby is born. Take note: IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. With a little bit of work (and some expert guidance), parenthood can bring you even closer. And we hope it also brings you more help around the house, because mama needs some clean laundry.XO, TeamMotherlyP.S. Baby this week: Your toddler loves going on stroller rides and looking at the world around. Try this: Can you commit to one 20-30 minute walk each day this week? Easy exercise for you, lots to explore for your tot.

Keep up, mama ☕️—14-month-old

Maybe she's born with it—maybe it's caffeine. Open. Closed. Up. Down. Over. Under. Your little one is fascinated by how the world around her works, which is adorable—and exhausting. Make sure you are fueled for the journey: get enough sleep, stay hydrated (does coffee count?), and shower every (other?) day. Your little one needs her mama to keep up! XO, TeamMotherly P.S. We love this water bottle + tracker to help you stay hydrated throughout the day. Drink up! Baby this week: At this age, children fascinated with switches, knobs and buttons. Try this: Busy boards are sure to provide hours of switch-flicking entertainment. (Make sure to supervise!)

All my people —14-month-old

Find your village. Love them hard. For many women, motherhood is profoundly lonely. Getting out of the house is just plain hard. Your work schedule keeps you from socializing. And your new roommate goes to bed at 7 pm which makes it difficult for you to escape at night. Know this, mama: It takes a village, and you deserve one. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. "Be my friend?" Meetup lists thousands of moms groups around the country (and the world.) Find one near you. Baby this week: Your child knows the names of his caretakers and close family and friends—even if he can't say all of them. Try this: Play 'the name game' with your little one. Gather a few loved ones around your toddler and point to each. Ask, "What's her name?" Grandma!

Right where you are ‍♀️—14-month-old

Coffee. Yoga pants. World domination. When you have a child, you've got the whole world in your hands. The future? Well it lives in your house. But there's a long and windy road from teaching your child how to put on her own pants—to launching an independent young adult out into the world. So rest up for the journey, mama. It's going to be a beautiful ride. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. Our favorite yoga pants. Ever. Baby this week: Climbing suddenly becomes very appealing. Try this: Put those new moves to good use at a mommy + me class (we love My Gym), and be sure to babyproof your own house.

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Adapt your Pilates workouts to keep it safe for pregnancy.

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Who can help me find my phone? We need Daniel Tiger STAT.

Pick me up —14-month-old

Who run the world? Girls. How could we do it without our mom friends? Grandma? Favorite aunt? Generous mother-in-laws? What did we do before help was just a Facebook question or Google away? The Internet is sometimes blamed for pushing us apart, but this week, we're celebrating all the ways it is bringing us as moms together. Thanks for being a part of our team.XO, TeamMotherly P.S. Mommy Nearest is an awesome app that helps you find local events and activities nearby—and you just might find your new best mom friend. Baby this week: At 14 months, your little one's gross motor development picks up—meaning he can move sideways and even up stairs (while you stand safely next to him!). Try this: Encourage coordination (and cleaning) by having your newly mobile tot pick up toys and place them into a basket. What a good helper!

In this moment —13-month-old

Just take it one diaper change at a time. "The days are long but the years are short." It's something we heard before our babies were born, but motherhood reveals just how true it is. Raising a child is so hard, so demanding, and so wonderful. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. These compact strollers make it easier for YOU to get out while spending time with your tot. (And many are even small enough to fly with you ✈️.) Whether you use it to run errands—or run to Starbucks—is your choice alone. We're not judging. Baby this week: Your little one loves being the center of attention. Try this: It's not really possible to spoil a child by heaping love on her, so keep up the emotional support. But also begin encouraging independent acts (putting toys back with your help, feeding herself, waving bye bye!)—it's good for both of you!

I work out —13-month-old

Let's guess: You suddenly understand the baby leash people. Now we're not saying that you're about to take little Greyson or Ella for a walk in the doggie park, but your on-the-go child has you second guessing your anti-leash stance. Life is getting busy, mama. And it's getting oh so good.XO, TeamMotherlyP.S. We've found that our bellies need a little more support (read: a higher rise) from workout pants after we had our babies. Our favorite leggings for chasing after your little one. Baby this week: At 13 months, your baby is more steady on his feet and might even start to run! Try this: Now that your toddler has total control of his movement, it's time to make sure your house is completely babyproofed, including locks on cabinets and gates near any stairs. Our list here.