File under: The more you wiggle, the longer this takes Bonjour! Happy New Year from Joyful Living! To round out my celebration of the holiday season through the Twelve Days of Katiemas, I'm sharing one last post detailing my activities. I meant to share before Christmas Day, but, alas, we were making rather merry and… Continue reading On the Twelfth Day of Katiemas, I Tried to Take a Family Photo
Bonjour! As we slide into autumn, I’m always ready to refresh and reorganize the house, from the closets to the pantry to my wardrobe. I can't wait to get out fall decorations after months of waiting out the holiday lull after St. Patrick’s Day and spring. Today’s post shares my new approach to fall decorating… Continue reading Toddler-Proof Decorations for Fall
Bonjour! Being pregnant was weird and amazing. Mostly, I was in awe of the magic + science taking place inside my body that creates another actual tiny human person. But I also was - am am still - amazed whenever I read any of the current Big Maternity propaganda online about what pregnant people should… Continue reading My Pregnancy Portrait
Just a sampling of the baby toys and gear for our two-day road trip to Wisconsin! Bonjour! As I wrote recently, L'Husband and I finally took our first family trip with Le Bébé. We rented a house and spent two whole nights in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Find my tips and gentle suggestions for traveling with… Continue reading Road Trip with Baby – Packing List
Bonjour! Well, dear reader, it finally happened! After three years of pandemic-era lockdown, L'Husband and I took our first trip. We rented a house and spent two whole nights in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, just a pleasant three-and-a-half hour trip north by car from our home in central Illinois. This post shares some tips for traveling… Continue reading Road Trip with Baby – Tips for Sanity
Think for yourself, or others will think for you without thinking of you.” – Henry David Thoreau Bonjour! Let me preface this post by saying that when I entered the wet and wild world of parenting, I knew nothing about children and child-rearing. Scratch that: I knew less than nothing. The learning curve was steep,… Continue reading Why Do We Make Parenting So Complicated?
Bonjour! October is Depression Awareness Month. While I typically focus on food, fun, and family on Joyful Living, I also like to write about self-care and wellness. As I’ve learned over the years dealing with my own anxiety, and especially after pregnancy and giving birth, caring for mental health is just as important and diet… Continue reading Postpartum Depression and My Cry for Help
Bonjour! October is Depression Awareness Month, so amid posts on recipes for Halloween candy bark and Halloween decorations, I would like to share my experience with the baby blues and postpartum anxiety. As I’ve learned over the years trying to deal with my own anxiety issues, and especially after pregnancy and giving birth, caring for… Continue reading Baby Blues: I’m Not Sad, I’m Tired
Bonjour! There are lots of fun things about motherhood and parenting that I expected, like newborn snuggles and tiny clothes and feeling like a whole new person while at the same time feeling exactly the same. And right now, at twelve weeks old, I love watching Le Bébé discover the joy of playing with his… Continue reading Adventures in Babywearing
Bonjour! The hound is exhausted. He’s knackered. He’s spent. Why, you ask? Dear reader, Le Chien has a new baby. And bébés are a lot of work. There’s the feeding (and inspecting used bottles for remnants of formula). There’s the diaper change (and wondering why the tiny human is so wiggly and stinky). There’s bath… Continue reading Having a New Baby Is Exhausting… for the Dog
Joyful Living with Katie Kritikos 