I have made it. I have crossed the threshold into toddler-hood, and I am still alive. I worked really hard this first year to stay present. To pay attention. To take an 30 extra seconds to grab the video camera and send his first steps to his grandparents. Of course there are many things you should do during the first year -- but here is my list of 7 things that are a bit more abstract -- the types of things you don't realize you should have done until it's too late to go back and do them! - By Emily Malone

MORE ON BABBLE

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7 things you should NEVER say to the mom of a newborn

© Cook County Clerk's Office

By: Caitlin Ultimo
Galicia Malone, 21-year-old mom-to-be, surely knows how to rock the vote. According to Illinois' Cook County Clerk David Orr, Malone's contractions were just five minutes apart when she arrived to the polls at 8:30 this morning.

The clerk's office told NBC Chicago that her water had already broken by the time she made it to her voting location at-get this-the New Life Celebration Church.

Plus: How Parents are Voting Today

"My hat goes off to Galicia for not letting anything get in the way of voting," said Orr. "What a terrific example she is showing for the next generation, especially to her new son or daughter."

Our hats certainly go off to her and we wish the best to both new mom and baby. (And we say: share this story with anyone who claims they are too busy to vote!)

More from Parenting.com:
Kids Weigh in on the 2012 Election
How to Talk to Kids about the Election

(Photo courtesy of Sarah Powling/Lowell Sun)Watch out Bruce Willis. At three months old, Joey Powling Jr. has already out-smirked the actor, and proven braver than any run-of-the-mill action hero.

The photo of the newborn, taken by his mom shortly after open-heart surgery, has become an Internet sensation.

After his uncle posted the picture to the community board, Reddit, baby Joey was crowned "ridiculously good-looking surgery baby" and his adorable mug became a popular meme viewed by over 1 million people.

"What a legend," writes one fan of the photo. Other awesomely accurate feedback from commenters include: "A baby Bruce Willis" and "That baby is manlier than me."

But for Joey's family, the photo is more than an Internet ogling break. In an essay published in the Lowell Sun on Monday, Joey's great-uncle, Dan Phelps, explains the serious side to the smirking baby photo.

"Joey Powling Jr. was born in July with a condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot, or TOF, which is, basically, a hole in the heart (although

Wreck-It RalphBy Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media reviewer

If "great family movies" are at the top of your wish list this holiday season, you're in luck -- this fall, the multiplex will be packed with kid-friendly characters, from video game strongmen (Wreck-It Ralph) and hobbits (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) to James Bond (Skyfall) and even a Twilight vampire or two for teens. We'll provide detailed ratings and reviews on everything from violence to sexual content, plus conversation starters so you can talk to your kids about what you see. For now, find out what all the buzz is about so you can start making a list of which movies will be -- and won't! -- be on your family's movie agenda this season.

Now Playing and Coming Soon

Wreck-It Ralph (Nov. 2)
Target Age: Young Kids
What's the Buzz?: Leave it to Disney to come up with such an inventive idea: Wreck-It Ralph, a video game villain (voiced by John C. Reilly), is tired of always being the bad guy, so he

By Carissa Rogers for GalTime.com

What's a 'freemium' app? What does 'Freemium' mean when we're talking about mobile apps?

Hint: It DOESN'T mean FREE! That's what.

Free + Premium = Freemium
According to Wikipedia: "a business model by which a product or service is provided free of charge, but a premium is charged for advanced features, functionality, or virtual goods."

In mom-speak: it's an UPGRADE system. You download the free app, game, service or book without all the bells and whistles. But you must pay for additional levels, information or services either 'In-App' or by downloading the 'Full' software after the free download.

Often, you can test the free app and determine if it's worth the upgrade to the premium version. For example, you can read the first book in the series, play the first couple levels or learn more about what the full app can do. But expect ads and incomplete games; sometimes even a time-out period of use (see #3 below).

I've found several apps worth upgrading

By GalTime Ambassador Jenny Tiegs

Kids and the Election election 2012: books and activities to give kids a voice

In the eyes of a child, this election could look a bit odd with donkeys, elephants, and adults pointing their fingers at each other until they're red in the face and gray in the hair.

If you have a little politician in your home who is asking questions and is interested in the election, books and activities are fantastic way to start a conversation and share information about the issues, the process and history of our county.

They are also a great way to add some humor during what is a very intense time of the year. Here are the books and activities we are choosing for our little ones this election season.

Woodrow for President

Woodrow for President, A Tail of Voting, Campaigns, and Elections by Peter W. Barnes and Cheryl Shaw Barnes.

Full of funny rhymes and "mouse-isms," Woodrow for President explains the complexities of what it takes to run for president. Woodrow is a political mouse

By Jeana Lee Tahnk
It's Election Day! Regardless of which side of the political platform you stand on, involve your kids in this historical day, take them to vote with you and help them understand what democracy means.

Plus: Top iPhone Apps for Kids

There are a handful of great online resources that can provide kids with everything they would want to know about this election, the candidates, the Electoral College process and much more:

Time for Kids - Election 2012

For elementary school-age kids, this mini site provides an in-depth overview of everything from the candidates to a chronology of major events leading up to today's election.

Plus: How Parents are Voting this Election

Kids Pick the President

Nickelodeon provides kids with background on Obama and Romney, their platforms and even lets them figure out what their best-suited government job through a fun quiz.

PBS KIDS' Democracy Project

Aimed for kids in grades 3-6,