Photo: LAURA MARDON, Flickr

For many couples, conceiving a first child is a “normal” experience, involving the cessation of birth control measures and resulting in the birth of a baby. After that, however, couples may face difficulty conceiving a second or third child for whatever reason, and this is called “secondary infertility.” When this happens to you, it’s confusing and disheartening and may leave you asking questions. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Photo: woodleywonderworks, Flickr

Spring is here and opportunities are abundant to start teaching your children about growing food, organic gardening or the growing cycles of plants. It’s never too early to start your child down the path of learning where food comes from and how difficult it can be to raise a “crop.” These days many families are trying to be more connected to their food and no matter where you live, there are ways to incorporate gardening and growing food into your life.

Use planter boxes for growing food

Even if you live in a small space, there are ways to make gardening a part of your child’s life. One sunny window is all it takes to grow herbs, and if you have a small space on a patio or fire escape, you can plant a container garden of carrots, peas, sprouts or herbs. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Photo: EYECCD, Flickr

Most people already know that consuming ample amounts of vitamin D has lasting benefits, including bone health. But it turns out it could also increase your chances getting pregnant.

The European Journal of Endocrinology published a study which was aimed to consolidate the results of other studies regarding vitamin D and fertility. Looking at several years of research by other institutions and scientists led them to draw positive links between the two, along with other fertility-boosting vitamins. This body of research is rather remarkable and may give couples looking to boost their chances to conceive naturally reason to read on. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Photo by bart_ via Flickr

Whether you’re a caregiver or parent, making the most of the time spent with a toddler or other young child is usually a priority. Between work, school and extra curricular activities, most people look for ways to make play time also educational time. But it still has to be fun! The good news is that brain games with toddlers and young children can also boost an aging brain’s potential, so take a few notes and make a date to play with your child. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Whether you are bringing home your first child or your third or fourth, documenting your baby’s first years can be difficult, time consuming and sometimes boring. If you aren’t that jazzed about filling in page after page of the typical firsts, and want something with a little more personality and zest, here are a few unique ideas to try. From documenting pregnancy stages till your little one is off to college, there are never ending ways to commemorate that path.

Pictures of baby

Most likely, you’ll find that you have more pictures than albums, or wall space, or friends wanting pictures of your precious bundle! When you have snapshots you love but don’t want to bury them away in an album on a shelf, try collages. You don’t have to just lump baby pictures in the same old way; with online photo companies like Snapfish and Shutterfly, you can create calendars with your pictures, including those from your pregnancy stages. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Photo: geocatching.com

For much of the country, winter came and went with very little drama, however many families are still excited for the return of springtime. Spring means getting back into family fun and outdoor activities together, and geocaching is a great way to start. It’s portable, fun for all ages, and combines learning with a scavenger hunt. It’s one of the most fun things I do with my own family.

A worldwide scavenger hunt

Geocaching is “a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game” where families, individuals or “players” locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices. You can use your smartphone or you can print off directions and use a compass. After receiving the general global coordinates, you head out to the start point of the geocache. Sometimes, the “cache” is at the end of several steps, or sometimes it’s found through an educational process learning about the location and the people of its history. Geocaching is more than just finding a hidden box. It’s learning and cooperating and following directions. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Photo: woodleywonderworks via Flickr

Music can be a powerful influencer in a child’s development. Being exposed to different kinds can affect our emotions and it’s important to capitalize on the love that most children have from the start. Beyond simply listening to the tunes, music promotes cognitive development; therefore, it’s important to find ways to incorporate it into your child’s life wherever possible. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Photo: billnwmsu, Flickr

Choosing a dog breed can be as weighty a decision as getting a dog in the first place. When making the choice, it’s important to consider temperaments and dispositions of different dogs. Your family can be enriched by choosing the right dog breed and your new addition will become a part of the family.

Choosing the dog breed

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has many helpful suggestions when deciding which dog breeds will match your family. These include: temperament, size, grooming needs, gender, health concerns, and even whether or not get a puppy or adult dog

Many different dog breeds mean many factors to consider. If you are a family who frequently travels, or has long hours away from home, you may not want a high energy dog breed. Similarly, if you’d like your dog to be a running companion, you’ll want to consider an athletic breed over a more sedentary/companion dog breed. And when it comes to your expectations of grooming, remember that, while most breeds shed, some types tend towards being more hypoallergenic than others. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Photo: _Dinkel_, Flickr

Would it surprise you to know that almost every child born is a potential victim of identity theft? A Chicago Tribune article in January reported “there are 140,000 identity frauds committed against children per year in the United States.” While it’s not something for parents to obsess about, there are steps you can take to prevent identity theft from happening to your child. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Photo: Sean Dreilinger, Flickr

From the time we’re born, we know how to communicate. An infant’s cries are designed to be a noise a parent is unable to ignore, and emerging language development in toddlers takes the place of crying later on. Active listening to the cues your child gives you doesn’t equal spoiling; it teaches empathy and understanding. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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