Blog Posts by Disney Baby

Daddy's girlMy oldest daughter, Adair, is a daddy's girl. I used to think it was just a phase because when her baby sister was born, she spent lots of extra time with her daddy. But now, her sister is a toddler, and it's clearly not a phase. Addie is a daddy's girl to her core. Some days, this makes me a bit sad. I wish I was the one she wanted to comfort her when she was scared or hurt. I wish I was the one she preferred to read her books. Instead, it's her daddy. Always. Some days though, it's pretty cool to see their bond. The way they love each other, the way they "get" each other - it's pretty rare.

Here's why I'm OK with my daughter being a daddy's girl:

1. Adventure
Phil has a big heart for adventure. He spends nearly all of his free time exploring the woods, working in the garden, and dreaming about backpacking trips for the whole family. From a young age, he started taking Addie to explore the wilderness and now, it's her favorite place to be!

2. Play
Phil has always

The key to better sleepWhen we meet new people, whether it be on public transportation or just randomly when we are out and about, there are three questions they ask about Elvie. First, they want to know how old she is. Once they know, they ask if she is walking. When that is answered in the negative, the next question is nearly always regarding if she is sleeping through the night. When I say no to that one, there are often heads shaken in dismay.

Frankly, sometimes I shake my own head in dismay when Elvie wakes yet again in the middle of the night, but I've finally figured out what needs to happen before she will sleep through the night, and I am accepting it and looking forward to the day when it becomes reality. It's silly, really, that it took me this long to figure out what she needs to do, but at least now I know.

Related: 8 ways to deal with baby-induced sleep deprivation

When we first took custody of Elvie in Ethiopia, she was waking every one to two hours to eat. Once she was home with us and

How will you tell your story?Writing your birth story can seem like a daunting task, especially if you're not someone who likes to write. As a mom of two, I can say that the birth stories of my girls, both carefully and thoughtfully written out, are two of my most cherished keepsakes. Whether you are the next Steinbeck or someone who cringes at the thought of writing, you can create a birth story that will be meaningful to you (and your child) for years to come.

1. Don't wait too long
Yes, it might not be possible to write your birth story the day or day after you give birth, but don't wait too long. You want your experience to be fresh in your mind. (I think I wrote both of mine roughly a week after.)

2. Take notes
With my first baby, I remembered every single thing about my birth experience. With my second, it was all a blur. Thankfully I took some notes during the process. My little bullet points, like "water broke at 8:30″ or "she had the cutest, tiniest sneeze right after she was born" came in handy when my

12 reasons why having a big family is awesome!Ever wonder why some people have so many kids? I have four (ages 8, 5, 3, and 1) and in my experience, after announcing the 4th pregnancy, you start to get third degree from friends and strangers alike.

Did you want all these kids? (Um, of course.) Do you know how to prevent that? (Sure do.) You must have your hands full (Yup, and it's the way I like it.) Are you crazy? (Possibly!)

But honestly, raising a large family has always been a dream of mine. And while it does come with its own set of challenges, being a mom to these four little ones has been the best thing that's ever happened to me.

A few reasons I absolutely adore being a mom to many:

1. Baby gear is an investment.
One way to make sure you get your money's worth out of all that baby gear is to use it OVER AND OVER AGAIN!

2. Because cuddling is the best.
Being a mom to many means that at any moment of the day, someone needs a snuggle and some extra love. Who could argue with that?

Related: 20 absolute hardest things

Brooke and EvieIn honor of Food Allergy & Asthma Awareness Week, I've invited Brooke to share her thoughts as a parent of a little daughter with severe food allergies. Feeding Beck is hard enough - I can't imagine also having to consider allergies. Thank you to Brooke for sharing her story so I'm more aware.

Ever since Matt Damon played that hard-to-catch ex-assassin Jason Bourne, I have wished for such specialized skills. It's awesome that he no sooner enters a room than he has observed every detail pertinent to his survival. Then he whoops up on everybody who's out to get him!

Unfortunately, since my daughter was diagnosed with three severe food allergies a year ago, I have had to hone those same skills.

Related: No baking! No mixing! Make baby's 1st birthday cake delicious & allergen-free

The mind of a Food Allergy Mom can be a hectic place. When she enters a room, she tries to maintain a look of ease and comfort for her child, be a good listener while greeting her friends, all

8 baby name brainstorming tips!Choosing a baby name can sometimes seem like a daunting task with so many factors swirling about. Will it stand the test of time? Is it too trendy? Too dated? Do the initials spell something embarrassing? The good news, of course, is that if you choose a meaningful name that embraces sentiment, purpose and character, the rest kind of all falls into place. Here's how!

1. Consult your family tree.
Do some digging into your family's heritage and you might uncover some surprisingly great names. (Hint: The 20's generation spawned a particularly adorable set of girl names like Hazel, Ida and Pearl!) Even better? You might uncover some family history gems or interesting facts about your ancestors - all the better to share with your baby someday!

2. Reminisce about your childhood.
What are some of you or your spouse's favorite childhood memories? A vacation to Europe? An afternoon spent with your favorite childhood book? Conjure up a few sentimental memories and brainstorm words that might

Every moment with baby is worth a thousand words, so it's important to capture every beautiful, funny, sweet moment you can! May is National Photography Month - so what better time to capture your baby's magical moments on camera?

MORE ON DISNEY BABY

12 mom-tested tips for baby's first photo shoot

4 pro secrets for getting adorable photos of your baby

16 beautiful ways to document your pregnancy in photos

Beauty boosts for busy moms

We are all busy mamas, whether we have a newborn, toddler, preschooler, one of each - it doesn't matter. The fact is we are always "on the go" and time is certainly of the essence. However, it's important to take a few (or more!) minutes for ourselves. Not only will we look better, but we will feel more confident and happy to take on the day with our little ones. Not always easy, I know, but certainly doable!

I know when I feel blah, the kids feel blah. So I try to incorporate a little beauty boost each morning to inject a some oomph to my day. Here are ten steps and makeup products that are quick and easy to use and leave you looking and feeling good!

Top 10 Beauty Boosts For Busy Moms

1. Body Cream:
No one has much time to moisturize, but having an all over lotion like the TEN Hydration Body Cream makes it easier to get into the habit. The gentle smell is baby friendly and kind on your skin which can still be sensitive after giving birth - or you can make your own