Stacey's Latest Posts

New Year's Is Not a Good Time to Get Pregnant

posted by Stacey Rivera December 31, 2011 at 8:11 AM in Pregnancy

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Do you know the real reason so many moms are staying home for a quiet New Year’s Eve? It’s not because they are “too tired” or “don’t have babysitters." It's because they're at home, gettin’ some. Research shows it's true: 9 percent of conception in the United States takes place in December, specifically between Christmas and New Years.

It makes sense -- there's drinking, holiday joy, and hopefulness. And because it's cold and flu and sinus season, more people are taking antibiotics, which can render birth control useless. Of course we all get pregnant in December.

But, take it from me, December is not the month you want to conceive.

Amber Portwood's Daughter Leah Is Better Off in the TV Spotlight

posted by Stacey Rivera December 30, 2011 at 4:38 PM in Entertainment

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More disturbing news about Amber Portwood ... The Teen Mom star is rumored to be on suicide watch while in jail, and according to sources, she is trying to quit Teen Mom so she can live a "normal life" when she gets out. Portwood, 21, is reportedly trying to get out of her contract with MTV because she feels exploited, and her mother, Tonya, is allegedly negotiating with MTV to release the troubled reality star. While this may be good for Portwood, this may very well be a terrible idea for her daughter, Leah.

Don’t get me wrong, I do not think growing up with cameras in your face 24/7 is a good idea. Hell, I hesitate to write about my son and I never use his name for fear of protecting his privacy. However, in this family's case, the more in the public eye Leah is, the safer she may be.

A Mom’s Guide to Not Passing on Bad Eating Habits to Your Toddler

posted by Stacey Rivera December 27, 2011 at 8:41 PM in Toddler

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I’ve had to defend a lot of my parenting choices to my family, including, but not limited to, refusing to baptizing my child, not marrying (but living with) his father and living in another state. The one I find myself defending the most, inexplicably, is that I make all his food (except prunes -- how do you make prunes?).

This isn’t because I am a natural food freak and feed him only organic (although we do try). The truth is, I have a deep rooted fear that I will pass all my bad eating habits on to my son and that this “fat gene” people talk about isn’t a gene at all, but just a series of bad food choices passed on through generations.

In particular I fear salt and convenience.

Getting a Toddler to Sleep Through the Night: Let's Not Talk About It

posted by Stacey Rivera December 27, 2011 at 10:53 AM in Toddler

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I hesitate to write this. A sense of fear is seizing me and every cell in my brain is yelling "shut the hell up." Every time I talk about it, it backfires. Just last week, when I broke down and dared utter those unspeakable words to my best friend, I was punished good. But this constant avoidance of the topic that literally rules my universe is too hard. I just have to tell someone:

My baby has been sleeping through the night!

Uh-oh. I just broke the first rule of Fight Sleep Club -- never talk about Sleep Club. Because as soon as you do, the wailing begins.

'What to Expect When You're Expecting' Trailer Is Exactly What You'd Expect (VIDEO)

posted by Stacey Rivera December 9, 2011 at 7:39 PM in Entertainment

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It's been a little unclear how exactly they are turning What to Expect When You're Expecting, the "bible of American pregnancy," into a movie. However, when the A-list cast -- including Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, and Elizabeth Banks -- was announced, it was obvious they weren't making a movie version of the book's frightening -- yet enlightening -- depiction of how the pregnant female body's internal organs get squished to nothing while an upside-down child grows into that painful position. In fact, with actresses who can deliver the humor like Banks and Diaz can, I've been hoping for a good comedy. Pregnancy is so humiliating, and our humiliation can be quite hilarious when it's done in a smart, real, authentic way, and when the story is delivered by awesome actresses.

The What to Expect When You're Expecting trailer was released today, so let's take a look and discuss whether or not we think this movie is going to deliver (no pun intended).