Moms spend way too much time thinking about diapers. Not because it’s super exciting, but because we have to. If we don’t, we end up with leaks on our clothes, half our money gone, doctor’s visits for the latest rash, and oops!-out of diapers! So My OH! Momma is here to help! We know on-line shopping is a great way to save money, so we’re throwing two diaper-selling giants in the ring to find out which one can save you the most. Battling today…

DIAPERS.COM vs. AMAZON

Let’s get right to it.

ROUND ONE: PRICE**
 
Huggies, Snug and Dry Size 1-2: Amazon.com has 192 count available for $35.00, free 2-day shipping.  Sign up for a subscription and you get them for 30% off for a total of $24.50 and automatic delivery so you never run out!  Diapers.com has same brand & size for 29.99 after taking off 2 coupons (including $5 off first time buyer- so won’t always be available) and does NOT include free shipping.

Pampers Swadlers Sensitive Size 1: Diapers.com has them for 40.00 after e-coupon, does not qualify for free shipping.  Amazon has costs $40 with free 2-day shipping, plus the option of 30% off if you subscribe and save (do it!)

BumGenius 3.0 Cloth Diaper:  Diapers.com is a couple pennies cheaper if you’re under $49; if you go over you qualify for free shipping and diapers.com is cheaper.

Amazon offers free shipping on most items if you’re over $25; for Diapers.com you must be over $49.  Amazon seems to be cheapest if you’re going disposable, which most people are… and if you’re not, it’s not a reoccurring expense anyway!

Amazon: 1 Point

Diapers.com: 0 Points

ROUND TWO: CONVENIENCE
Amazon has “subscribe and save,” where you sign up to get them automatically delivered to your door every 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, or 6 months.  Not only is that free, it is CHEAPER- you typically get between 15%-30% off the order.  Also, you can consolidate e-trips if you shop at Amazon because you can buy many other items there as well, such as paper towels, toilet paper, etc.  Odds are you’ve already bought from Amazon, so you don’t have to do the whole signing-up rigamarole that takes forever because the kids keep interrupting you! And there are no extra steps with Amazon- click one button and you’re done, no coupons to code in, no discount codes to remember.

Amazon: 1 point

Diapers.com: 0 points

ROUND THREE: SELECTION
Diapers.com has an amazing selection of baby-oriented items.  However, every item I saw on diapers.com, I could also find on Amazon.  But diapers.com is much more fun to browse around.  It is an appealing web design with a great layout- much better for comparing cloth vs. disposal, etc.  And what good is a great selection if you can’t see it all at once?

Amazon: 0 points

Diapers.com: 1 point

AND THE WINNER IS…. 

AMAZON.COM

(AMAZON.COM: 2 POINTS; DIAPERS.COM: 1 POINT)

You can’t beat cheap, people. And Amazon’s diapers are way cheaper than anything else online or in our local stores.  And automatic free delivery?? Not having to run out the door because you forgot to buy diapers AGAIN is priceless.

Hope we helped with your buying decision! 

**Please note, if you are having trouble affording diapers, Birthright in New Philadelphia can help.

Filed under: OH! Says, ShOH!down by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

It doesn’t matter how old your kids are or how big your budget is, you can just add water to make an ordinary summer day feel like summer vacation. And water play can be super-educational or just downright fun! Cool off with these ten wet activities.

1. Play Dribble, Dribble, Drench! Give the old game of Duck, Duck, Goose! a wet twist by giving the child who is “It” a wet sponge or cup of water to dribble over the “ducks” and squeeze or pour over the “goose.”
2. Make a water magnifier. Place a small piece of glass or plastic over a page with small print – a newspaper is ideal. Use a crayon to draw a small circle around an area on the glass or plastic and take note of what’s inside the circle. Place a drop of water inside the circle using an eye dropper or medicine dropper. (Your local pharmacy will usually provide you with a medicine dropper free of charge.) Look at the print inside the circle again. It’s larger! The water bends the rays of light to magnify the print.
3. Go fishing for colors. Fill an ice cube tray with water, add some drops of food coloring and freeze. Once the colored cubes are frozen, dump them in your paddling pool, arm your kids with cups, shovels, or spoons send them fishing for colors.
4. Paint! Hand your kids some clean paint brushes, even sponges, and a bucket of water and let them paint the porch, the house, the car, the driveway – anything that can get wet. Hey, it may even get clean!
5. Demonstrate the power of surface tension. Fill a glass to the very top with water. Use an eye dropper or medicine dropper to add water one drop at a time. You’ll begin to see the water level rise above the rim of the glass without spilling! Water molecules are attracted to each other, so they’ll stick together without falling over the edge of the glass for as long as they can. This is called “surface tension.” How many drops can you add before the tension breaks?
6. Sponge Tag. Whoever gets hit with the wet sponge is “it”!
7. Ice Castles. Take a few trays of ice cubes and some salt outside. If you put a little salt between two cubes they will stick. Build a castle fast before it melts!
8. Puddle Exploration. After a big rain, go outside and circle all the puddles with a chalk. Watch over the next few hours/days and circle again as it gets smaller and smaller. Where did the water go? Try this book to explain:
   
   
9. Water Limbo. See who can go under the hose without getting wet. Loser gets soaked!
10. Cold Potato. Play “hot potato” but pass a water balloon with a hole in it. Everyone gets sprayed while it passes, and the “loser” gets doused with water balloon.

What’s your child’s favorite water activity?

Filed under: OH! Says, OH!s Top Ten by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

These days it seems like parents are pressured to spend big bucks so that their children can be quicker, smarter, better, etc.   Summer tutors, expensive extracurricular activities, “educational” electronics… the list could go on and on. While we at myOH!momma believe there can be some benefit to many of the courses and gadgets out there, we also believe that much of what you’re paying for can be taught at home… for free.

If your goal is to give your children a brighter future, try some of these ideas at home:

• Give your child as much freedom within the home as possible.  Have low toy shelves, low hooks for clothing, a basket of books in every room, sturdy stools for reaching sinks and light switches.  If you are cooking, give your child an item to “cook”:  young children can practice pouring rice from a pitcher to the glass, shaking spices in the meal, scrubbing potatoes, stirring just about anything.  Older children can practice cutting with a safety knife and washing dishes in the sink. Don’t worry about the mess, kids aren’t perfect.   For more ideas, check out Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years: The Pre-School Years.

 
• Talk to your child.  Explain what you are doing while you are doing it:  now I’m sorting the laundry (let kids help and learn their colors that way!), help me count out 3 plates for dinner, put one arm in your yellow shirt now two arms in your yellow shirt, etc.   For older children, explain the signs you see while driving, count eyes by twos and toes by tens, discuss evaporation when jumping in puddles, etc.

 


• Visit the library.  If your child asks you a question you don’t know, go to the library.  If your child seems interested in bumblebees, go get a book about it.  Branch out and get some science experiment books or art books.  Use tusclibrary.org to order books from other libraries, or even from our library so that you don’t have to look around with kids- it will be waiting for you at checkout.

There are so many free and easy things you can do to help educate your child and give her a head start in life.  What kind of things do you do?

Filed under: OH! Dont Ya Know, OH! Says by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

My six year-old is a cotton candy fanatic. It’s her favorite thing in the whole world. Getting cotton candy is such a special event that she’s begun collecting her cotton candy containers, which are often little plastic buckets. She displays them like trophies…or mementos of my poorer parenting decisions. And so, I’ve been on a mission to use them up! Get them out! That’s how we came to create our own cotton candy bucket stilts. Also, ice cream bucket stilts. I know. I know. Cotton candy and ice cream! At least using the stilts will help them burn off all that sugar, right?

You can make stilts, too. Here’s what you’ll need.

Supplies:

• 2 containers (approximately 64 oz. cans or plastic buckets)
• Nail
• Hammer
• Scissors
• Rope
• Craft Supplies (optional)

Directions:

1. Using the hammer and nail, punch a hole in either side of each container.

2. If you’re feeling fancy, you can use some craft supplies to decorate the containers. Make them look like elephant feet! We had some gold spray paint left over from another project, so we used that and added some stickers.

3. Cut two pieces of rope, one for each container. Make sure the rope is long enough to thread through the holes in your container and reach your child’s hands.

4. Thread the rope through the holes in the containers and tie the ends. You will have a loop of rope going through each container that your child can use as a handle.


5. Let your kiddo jump on and take them for a spin!

A few tips:

• Be sure to test the strength of the container you use. The larger ice cream buckets we used actually held less weight than the smaller cotton candy buckets.
• Using the stilts really does take some coordination. Be prepared for some stumbles. I recommend trying them on the grass as it’s a little softer if someone tumbles.

Filed under: OH! Kids Grow, OH! Says by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

Granola is the perfect thing to make with kids, it’s just a bunch of dumping and stirring- the best parts of cooking. 

It’s also impossible to mess up because proportions totally don’t matter, and you can sub out whatever ingredients you have on hand and it will still taste like granola. 

The recipe below is just a guideline.  So let your kids take control of this recipe and you sit back and relax (until it’s time to clean it all up).

Ingredients:

2 cups oats

½  cup coconut

1 ½  cups seeds or nuts

 ½  cup healthy stuff: flax seed, chia seed, wheat germ, rolled barley, wheat bran, or just more oats

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

½ tsp ginger

½ cup brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1 stick of butter

2 tablespoons of honey, maple syrup, whatever

1 cup dried fruit

Mix first 9 ingredients in a bowl.  Melt 1 stick of butter and 2 tablespoons of honey together (an adult should do this part!)  Pour into dry mix.  Put everything on one or two greased pans with rims.  Bake at 325 for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown, stirring ever 10-15 minutes.  After it’s baked, stir in 1 cup dried fruit.

Careful you don’t burn it- you can see here I put mine in two trays, one was deeper than the other.  I baked them for the same amount of time, and the shallower one burnt.  See the difference in color?  That dark one doesn’t taste so great, so I got to eat that.

That’s it! Eat up!  It’s good with milk, on yogurt or ice cream, put on top of muffins before you bake, on top of an open-faced peanut butter sandwich, with a cream cheese rollup, on a baked apple or on top of fruit crumbs and strudels, or just eat it plain!

Filed under: OH! Says, OH! Yum by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

According to one Newsweek cover story, “No Sex, Please, We’re Married: Are Stress, Kids and Work Killing Romance?” psychologists estimate that 15 to 20 percent of couples have sex no more than 10 times a year.

We know. After kids, everything changes. Your sleep habits. The way you spend money. Your body.

OH! Wants to Know:

Have more to say? That’s what the comments are for!

Filed under: OH! Says, OH! Wants To Know by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

I’ve been having one of those weeks. My two year old is getting molars. My six year old has discovered the infuriating power of the eye roll. And I’ve been teetering on the edge of sanity. I thought I could benefit from a little pick me up, so I grabbed this book – Humor for a Mom’s Heart: Stories, Quips, and Quotes to Lift the Heart – from the library. There are plenty of amusing anecdotes in this volume, but this excerpt made me laugh out loud. I thought you might like it, too.

Summer Commandments
by Joey Earl Horstman

You may freely climb of the climbing tree of the lawn; but of the other trees you may not climb. You may not climb of the apple tree or of the maple tree or of the cottonwood tree or of the willow tree, or of any of the bushes of the lawn, for in the day that you climb of them, they will die. Of all but the climbing tree you are forbidden. Lo, you will be tempted to climb of the other trees, but climb them not, nor hang from their limbs, nor strip the bark from their trunks. For my eyes will be open, and I will call unto you and you will be sorely afraid.

Bonk not your brother with the tennis racket, lest you be bonked. Again I say, bonk not. Though your brother’s head doth appear as a tennis ball, and his taunting has made you angry yea, even to the nth degree, bonk not his head with the racket, nor roll him down the hill when he does not want to roll, nor use him as second base, nor tie him to the fence post with your jump rope. He is your brother. Afflict him not.

Your friends will say unto you, “Leave your toys on the driveway and play in the lawn with us”; but I say to you leave not your toys in the driveway. Pick up in the garage that I may drive the minivan into it. Your roller skates and baseball bats, your Hotwheels cars and bicycles, yes, even your wagon, pick them up, I say, for do they not also have a selected place to be?

Keepest thou not the refrigerator door open, for that is an abomination to me. Decide what you want before the opening of it, be it juice of a pear or a carrot. If you cannot decide, and are sorely confused, open it not. Do not open the refrigerator door and then stare inside, for it is as if you stare inside for hours. Verily, I say unto you, “Am I made of money?”

Throw not the baseball at the picture window, nor the soccer ball, nor the basketball, nor the football, nor any ball of the air or rock of the ground. For the glass it doth break and shatter from it’s holding and causeth thy mother great suffering. Throw not and you shall not be thrown into time-out.

Tattle not on thy brother. Again I say, tattle not, for it is as if you tattle all the time. If your brother calls you out when you are safe, scream not for your father who art mowing, for he cannot hear you and has turned his face from you. If your brother squirts you with water when you do not wish to be squirted, ask of him that it shall not be done again, but leave your father in the peace that passeth your understanding.

Mumble not under your breath when you walk away from me. Neither whine, nor slam your bedroom door, nor throw your shoes across the living room even if you cannot have a cookie or cannot stay up past the appointed time of your bed. Why do you mumble so? Am I not your father, and can I not hear?

Eat not of the grass of the yard, nor of the dandelions, nor of any weeds we cannot identify and which will not depart from us. For doth not your parents feed you well and provide you with every good fruit and vegetable of the grocery store and garden? Ask and they will be given to you. But eat not of the grass, lest you be sick and being sick make thy brother sick as well.

Touch not the poison oak, nor the poison ivy, nor rub your face with it’s leaves, for it will afflict you for seven days and seven nights. Red will be the color of you skin and in Aveeno will you bathe.

Of the number of showers you must take in a week, the number shall be four, for I am a clean father. Do not shower three times and claim that it was four, nor shower twice and claim that it was four. Do not say that you have showered yesterday and need not shower today, for that is a lie and you are not yet good at it. Shower four times, and soak thy head with soap and clean thy body, yes, even under the arms, for thy skin perspires and drives me from you.

Wear not those pants with that shirt. For the colors they do clash. And the stripes do not conform to the plaid. It pleases me not and hurts mine eyes to look upon you. Wear your underwear clean, and do not change it several times a day so that you have no underwear at the end of the week. Seven times shall you change and the time of the changing will be morning.

Giggle not when you are supposed to be sleeping, no, not even if your brother tells a joke, for he is four and his jokes do not make sense anyway. Nor hidest thou Milk Duds under thy pillow to be eaten later, for the Duds they do melt and soil the sheet and the pillow case, yes, even thy hair. Sleep when it is time to sleep, and jump not on the bed, for it is as if you have ants in your pants. Your bed is bunked, and the ceiling is low, so jump not.

There is a time for everything, as you will know when you are wise: A time for playing on the playground and a time for feeding the dog; a time to be in the pool and a time to be on the land; a time to run and a time to sit still. Celebrate this time, for though the summer is long, it lasts not forever.

Filed under: OH! Says, OHHHmmm! by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

It’s one of the first decisions you ever make for your child. In fact, most hospitals won’t release you after giving birth until you’ve specified who your child’s doctor will be. So who will you choose? You can depend on us to help you figure it out with today’s bitter fight to the finish:

THE PEDIATRICIAN VS. THE FAMILY DOCTOR

When choosing a doctor, your choice will be specific. Every doctor is unique and what’s most important is finding someone you like and trust, regardless of their title. But we’re super-analytical and ultra-competitive, so we like to break things down and declare a winner! It’s more fun that way. So, let the battle begin!

ROUND ONE: EDUCATION

Pediatricians go through 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency in pediatrics, and must pass a boards exam from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Family practice physicians go through 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency in the care of all people, and must pass the boards exam from the American Academy Of Family Physicians.

Since a pediatrician’s training is specific to children, their expertise is greater. Choosing a pediatrician means your child will be treated by an expert in children’s health.

PEDIATRICIAN: 1 points

FAMILY DOCTOR: 0 point

ROUND TWO: CONVENIENCE

One of the greatest things about a family doctor is the convenience of having one provider for the whole family. This means, you can choose to book appointments for the everyone in one big trip. It’s a great situation when you’re short on time (and who isn’t these days?) or when you’ve all caught the same cold. Or poison ivy. Or chicken pox. And it’s easier for a kid to muster bravery for that flu shot after watching mom and dad get theirs first.

Additionally, your family doctor has the added bonus of knowing your family history. There’s a little less explaining to do at each visit when your doctor is already familiar with who and where your child is coming from. And your child can continue to see your family doctor into adulthood while, at some point, you have to give up the pediatrician and choose a new doctor when your child reaches a given age.

PEDIATRICIAN: 0 points

FAMILY DOCTOR: 1 point

ROUND THREE: BEDSIDE MANNER

One would hope that anyone who chooses to be a pediatrician does it because they like kids and have an ability to relate well to them. A pediatrician has the advantage of dealing with kids every day. Inevitably, they’re going to be in tune with the latest trends and what kids are into simply from the day to day interaction with them. They also have experience with parents because every kid comes in there with some. And some of us can be a real handful when it comes to our offspring. A pediatrician is more likely to have dealt with an insane mom before. (Aren’t we all just a little crazy about our kids?) You won’t be the first.

PEDIATRICIAN: 1 point

FAMILY DOCTOR: 0 point

ROUND FOUR: OFFICE ENVIRONMENT

A family doctor is trained to treat people of all ages and the practice surroundings will likely reflect that. You can expect a pediatrician’s office to be a little more kid-friendly with a waiting room stocked with books and toys, welcoming examination rooms and plenty of “tricks of the trade,” like a doll to hold during shots or to put bandages on while getting patched up.

PEDIATRICIAN: 1 point

FAMILY DOCTOR: 0 point

ROUND FIVE: AVAILABILITY

I used the American Medical Association DoctorFinder to search for every licensed physician in Tuscarawas County. I found 8 Pediatricians and 25 Family Doctors. I think it’s fair to say Family Doctors are a little easier to find around here. And they’re a little more widespread. Tuscarawas County is a big area. Making the drive to the doctor when your child is well may not seem like a big deal, but what about when they’re sick? Thirty minutes is a long time in the car with a puker.

PEDIATRICIAN: 0 points

FAMILY DOCTOR: 1 point

AND THE WINNER IS…

THE PEDIATRICIAN!

(PEDIATRICIAN: 3 POINTS; FAMILY DOCTOR: 2 POINTS)

Congratulations to the pediatricians of Tuscarawas County! You’ve won the ShOH!down! Although, I feel I must admit, it’s a family doctor I’ve chosen to take my children to visit. Oh, my head tells me one thing, but my heart says another! It just goes to show, your personal preference accounts for a lot. Who wins in your book?

Filed under: OH! Says, ShOH!down by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

Ohio has so much to offer!

Make the most of what’s left of the summer by jaunting off to one of these fabulous places right in your own back yard.

1. Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Waterpark: This is an overnighter, not because it’s far but because you need to book a room to get into the waterpark. Themed rooms make it a great vacation that’s easy on the travel time for those with young ones. Also try Kalahari Indoor Waterpark Resort, for the largest indoor waterpark in the U.S.
2. COSI Museum: Did you know it was voted #1 in the nation? Did you know you could win a year family membership from My OH! Momma? It’s less than 2 hours from Tuscarawas County.
3. Longaberger Museum and Factory Tour: They actually have an outdoor playground and special indoor kid’s shopping area, as well as a “Lookout Treehouse.” And what kid isn’t amazed by a giant basket building? Bonus: It’s FREE!
4. Put-In-Bay: An island in Ohio? Yep. A pretty fun one. If you’re going with kids, go early and check out Perry’s Cave, Crystal Cave, the Butterfly House, and Marblehead Lighthouse. Check out the website for more information.
5. Cedar Point: It has more rides than any other park in the world! It’s near Put-In-Bay, so make a weekend of it!
6. The Wilds: Experience a real safari. It can get a little pricey, depending on what options you choose, but it’s worth it. Check out their summer programming, too.
7. Harry London Chocolate Factory Tour: Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about chocolate. Call ahead for tour information.
8. Santa Maria: Columbus has the world’s most authentic representation of Christopher Columbus’ ship. Climb aboard and enjoy costumed guides. Sleeping quarters available for campouts- how cool is that?
9. Biblewalk: The only life-size wax museum in Ohio. There are four museums: choose a tour that’s right for you.
10. Lake Farmpark: Visit a park about farming so kids can milk a cow and make ice cream, use special brushes to clean a sheep’s wool, visit the Great Tomato Works play area, and more!

Filed under: OH! Says, OH!s Top Ten by My OH! Momma
No Comments »

The little buggers appear like magic every time you fall asleep too exhausted to clean the kitchen.  The next morning when you wake up and turn on the faucet “POOF!” a little cloud of bugs is swarming around your head taunting you: look how slow we fly, and you still can’t catch us!!!  Then they never go away, but linger until winter to remind you of your poor housekeeping skills, as if you didn’t already have a mother-in-law/crazy-old-neighbor/Martha-Stewart-magazine for that.

Well, it’s time to reclaim your nasty kitchen.  After you’ve wiped your toddler’s juice off the kitchen walls for the fifth time this morning, put together this clever little trap to catch those fruit flies. 

Take a bottle of water out of your recycle bin and cut off the top, about two or three inches from the top.

Pour inside some fruit fly delicacies- like rotting fruit and apple cider vinegar. 

Invert the top you cut off and stuff it down the inside. 

The flies will fly into the cup and be too stupid to find their way back out.  One or two might escape, where no doubt they will be the parents of a master race of fruit flies smart enough to fly out of a hole a thousand times larger than they are, but until that time comes you can depend on this trap.

Filed under: OH! Dont Ya Know, OH! Says by My OH! Momma
No Comments »