Of Pastry and Pacifiers

Last year I finally gave in and decided we could buy a Playstation. We had done well with budgeting and ended up with some extra money so we called it an early Father's Day present (this was in M...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2015/03/on-destiny-and-fatebringer.html

A new post is long overdue. As I sit here writing, Mina and Ben are both upstairs asleep and it feels like I'v been transported back to a year ago when this was the normal day, when I craved thes...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2014/04/work-and-play.html

It's been awhile since I've written, probably not since the restaurant opening. I have been so busy and any waking moment not at work I have wanted to spend with Mina. But this morning finds both...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2014/01/big-shoes.html

Hi, I'm still here. I really do want to keep up the blog so everyone can know all the exciting things happening in our lives and watch Mina grow. I think as my work schedule becomes more regular,...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/11/remember-me.html

It's 9:00 on a Thursday, Mina is sleeping, the diapers are in the laundry and I am breathing... just barely. The past month has been an ocean of never-ending waves. So many amazing things have ha...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/10/just-keep-swimming.html

I have started writing this post a few times now but I'm having trouble because I have to make a confession; I am back at work and I love it. I love being in a kitchen again. I love having my own...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-little-bitter-but-mostly-sweet.html

Last week, Mina and I were in CA visiting family. Lack of internet and a dying computer meant a short break from blogging but now I'm back and have a lot to talk about. Life has been a little cra...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/09/embracing-chaos.html

I am frustrated. I should be going back to work within the month so we are looking for childcare options for Mina. Turns out, the first four years can be as expensive as sending your kid to colle...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-little-venting-but-real-problem.html

Mina was about three months old when I finally caved. I'd rewatched "How I Met Your Mother" countless times. I even tried the Netflix original "House of Cards"which turned out to be a good choice...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/08/bigger-on-inside-i-wish.html

I could write a meaningful, reflective piece about how sad it is to put away Mina's 3-6 month clothes or about balancing my career goals with being a mom as I search for a job OR I could write ab...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/08/i-could-write-meaningful-reflective.html

August is National Breastfeeding Month. Today, August 15, is supposed to be a public breastfeeding day. I may or may not breastfeed in public depending on whether or not we go out for a few hours...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/08/feeding-beast.html

I love watching Mina grow. The past few months her grasping motion has improved so much. It is fun to watch her intentionally grab her toys and move them closer to her, usually to her mouth. It i...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/08/never-let-go.html

Today is Mina's half birthday! I know I still have a long way to go as far as raising a daughter, but it seems like a big milestone. On February 9, six months seemed so far away. There were days ...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/08/wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey-stuff.html

With some trepidation, we decided to attempt cloth diapering away from home on our Florida vacation this week. I looked up everything I could about successfully using cloth diapers on vacation an...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-fluffy-vacation.html

Early Wednesday morning, the Schwanda family left for Florida to visit family and friends. I was a little nervous about travelling with a five-month old, so nervous that I actually packed early. ...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/07/mina-travels.html

I am trying to clean the house really well before we leave for Florida next week. We have friends visiting shortly after we get back and I would rather fruit flies didn't set up camp while we are...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/07/cleaning-day.html

Yesterday marked Mina's 5-month birthday, and what a month it has been. At the beginning of month five, Mina got round two of vaccinations (not fun) and then had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa ...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/07/another-month.html

For the most part, I love the little rowhouse we are renting. We have two bedrooms, a small office/closet and a basement. On the first floor we have a nice-size living and dining room. Then there...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/07/smaller-on-inside.html

It has been a week of big decisions here in DC but the most important one was made yesterday. About eight blocks North of the Supreme Court, in a parking lot, under a grocery store, one man decid...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/06/progress-in-washington-its-not-what-you.html

The car isn't working so we can't make it to church today. Instead, it is the usual morning routine for me. I get up, usually take a shower or have breakfast then get Mina up and feed her. Then M...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/06/good-morning.html

Today was the first day of summer and the last day of Grandma's visit to DC so it was a very exciting day in the life of little Wilhelmina. After an exhausting day of shopping yesterday, Mina sle...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-day-in-life.html

Most pediatricians and the AAP agree solid foods can be started between 4-6 months. Before Mina arrived, I read many articles on the nutritional benefits of breastmilk and how exclusively breastf...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/06/time-for-real-food.html

Yesterday, marked Mina's four month birthday. I have put together a series of collages from each month of Mina's life so we could see how much she has grown together. Month 1 Month 2 ...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/06/oh-how-she-grows.html

You may have noticed the blog has a new look... I was sick of the blocks. I want to update it and make it more personal to me and my family so it is going to get a new name too. I never liked "Be...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/06/ch-ch-cha-changes.html

Less than a month ago, I posted something about how I couldn't believe Mina was already three months old and how she was growing up so fast. Well, time played a cruel trick on me. She should have...

http://littleschwanda.blogspot.com/2013/06/when-world-stopped-turning.html