The Adventures of a Freelance Writer and Editor

A Great Sleep Guide for Parents

May 6, 2013

Written by April Wilson

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I recently told you how wonderful The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep: Simple Solutions for Kids from Birth to 5 Years is, and I still believe that book helped me get my daughter sleeping through the night (9-4) by 3 months. However, I recently had a few sleep disruptions (an allergic reaction, ear infection, cold, and possible teething) as well as a new habit of crying when the pacifier falls out that had me searching for more tips on how to get my baby to sleep better. After some searching online, I discovered The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley. The term “no-cry” caught my attention.

I could tell you that I love the book because it offers excellent tips that improved my daughter’s sleep (and it did), but I actually loved the book for other reasons. Here is why:

1) Pantley taught me it is okay to occasionally give up on the plan. There will be some days and nights when you are so tired you give in and do whatever is necessary to get some sleep. Let the baby fall asleep nursing. Rock her until she is sound asleep. Go for a car ride just so she will take a nap or let her sleep in the swing. I can start of the mission of teaching her to self sooth and sleep without nursing, rocking, etc. tomorrow. Right now, I just need sleep.

2) I’m not crazy for hating the sound of crying. My mother instincts kick in every time I hear my daughter cry, and it is impossible to sit back and listen to her cry without trying to sooth her. I’m glad to know I am not the only mom who doesn’t want to let my baby “cry it out” and that I’m not preventing my child from ever sleeping through the night by not doing so.

3) Co-sleeping isn’t a dirty word. I know co-sleeping is controversial,  but it is great to know that other moms let their babies sleep with them and enjoy every minute of it.

4) It is only a sleep problem if it is bothering you. Pantley points out how society often makes us think that our babies need to sleep through the night at an early age, but it is okay to enjoy this stage of their lives without trying to sleep train them. One day, they will sleep through the night and we will miss waking up to feed and cuddle them in the middle of the night. One day, they will sleep in their own beds, and we will miss snuggling up next to our precious babies and sharing the bond only a mother and child can understand. While I would love a few extra hours of sleep, I am in no rush to have my baby grow up. Time already passes fast enough. I’m going to enjoy these moments, even if it means I need an afternoon nap and extra cup of coffee.

I’d love to know, has The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night worked for you?

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book review, motherhood, parenting

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Where I’ve Been and What I’ve Been Reading

April 27, 2013

Written by April Wilson

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Even though I blog for a living (I ghostwrite posts for other websites, in addition to other writing and editing projects), I am horrible at maintaining my own blog. I’ve been too busy working, enjoying my 3 month old daughter, and trying to squeeze in other tasks like exercising, cooking, and occasionally, cleaning. I’ve also been reading some great books about babies. Here are some recommendations.

The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep: Simple Solutions for Kids from Birth to 5 Years

In an earlier post, I raved about The Happiest Baby On The Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. Once the adrenaline of being a new mom wore off and I realized how exhausted I was, I decided to purchase Karp’s other book:The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep: Simple Solutions for Kids from Birth to 5 Years. Using the same soothing techniques described in the other book, as well as some new ideas, this sleep guide helps parents teach their children good sleep habits. I loved that it was divided into sections based on your child’s age: 0-3 months, 3-12 months, and 1-5 years. I truly believe it helped my daughter sleep through the night by the time she was 3 months old.

 

 

The Wonder Weeks: How to stimulate your baby’s mental development and help him turn his 10 predictable, great, fussy phases into magical leaps forward

I’ve noticed it is always the days I am running on multiple cups of coffee that my daughter amazes me the most. It’s as if after a few days of dealing with extra fussiness and less sleep, I am rewarded by witnessing my daughter do something new and exciting, such as rolling over or laughing for the first time. After a little research on the internet, I discovered a book called The Wonder Weeks. It suggests that all babies go through 10 developmental leaps, and that each one is preceded by a period of fussiness as well as other possible symptoms such as sleep disruptions, decreased appetite, and clinginess. After reading the book, I was amazed to discover that the author accurately predicted when my daughter’s next fussy period would begin, and after each one ends I am amazed by how much by daughter has changed. If you are trying to figure out why on earth your baby is suddenly acting like a newborn again, I strongly recommend this book.

 

Your Baby’s First Year Week by Week

When I was pregnant I read Your Pregnancy Week by Week, so of course I had to read the baby version once my daughter arrived. I love that each week the book gives you ideas of fun games to play with your child based on the skills and interests he/she will probably  have at that time, and I am always interested to read what new skills I can expect from my daughter in the coming weeks.

 

I’d love to know, what are your favorite baby books?

Category:

blogging, book review, motherhood, parenting, Uncategorized, work at home mom (WAHM)

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Month One as a WAHM

March 14, 2013

Written by April Wilson

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Tomorrow my baby girl will be two months old, which means I’ve been a WAHM for one month already. There have been several days when I’ve thought that maybe working from home wasn’t the best idea. When you go to an office job every day, the babysitter handles all the baby care while you focus on your work. When you return home, you get to focus on the baby. But when you work from home, there is no such thing as separation of work and home life. I may say I’m going to work now, but if the baby cries, I have to tend to her. Essentially, I have to play both roles at the same time.

I’ve also realized that returning to work one month postpartum wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had. Since I’m self-employed and don’t get “maternity leave,” I didn’t want to be out of the office too long. No one warned me that a 6 week old is possibly even more exhausting than a 1 week old baby. Luckily, I see more sleep and less crying in my near future.

During my first month as a work at home mom, this is what I’ve learned.

1. I can’t do it alone. I will occasionally need someone to watch the baby so I can catch up on the work I didn’t get done when she wanted to be rocked for her entire nap or I got distracted by her adorable new skill of smiling.

2. There is a reason for all this baby gear. When we did the registry, my husband didn’t quite understand why the baby needed so many places to “sit.” I know realize that every piece of gear has its own unique purpose. The swing is great for naps when I can no longer hold or rock the baby. The bouncer is the perfect feeding chair when I am pumping, and the baby carrier is my all time best friend.

3. It gets easier. There were a few weeks when I thought I’d never get work done. Brooke had her first cold and we had some feeding issues and tummy problems, aka I had a crying baby who wanted to be attached to her mother. I was barely able to brush my teeth during the day unless my husband was home. This week is a completely different story. We got her diet issues straightened out. She is happy and sleeping well, and she is learning all kinds of fun new skills. When I’m not admiring her new coos and facial expressions, I’m actually able to do a few hours of work every day.

4. Being a mom is the most amazing experience. Brooke is a long-awaited blessing, but watching her grow and spending my days will her is even more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined. She is truly a gift from heaven, and I’ve never been so in love.

I’d love to know, how do other work at home moms handle the fussy days?

She is working hard in the office :)

 

Category:

motherhood, parenting, work at home mom (WAHM), working from home

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My First Weeks as a WAHM

March 1, 2013

Written by April Wilson

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This was my second week as a work at home mom (WAHM), and it has been quite an experience. One of the reasons I decided to work from home is so I could have a flexible schedule that allows me to care for my daughter. Over the past two weeks, I have been extremely grateful for that flexible schedule (as well as for smartphones, hands-free pumping bras, and my wonderful husband).

The first week I was back to work the cold my daughter had the week before decided to get worse. I spent my first day back to work taking her to the doctor and working from my phone. Even sick, she is a great baby, but it is hard to accomplish much when you are going to multiple doctor appointments, waking up even more often during the night, and worrying about your infant eating enough. Luckily, my office is portable, and I did a lot of my work when my husband was home.

This week was worst than the first. We had more doctor appointments and a very unhappy baby. Thanks to a change in her diet, the end of the week consisted mostly of soothing a crying a baby, aka walking around the house. I’ll admit I didn’t accomplish most of my to-do list this week.

So far today, Brooke’s belly is feeling a little better, and I’ve been able to catch up on work. Hopefully, when we go back to the doctor next week and decide on a new diet we won’t have the same reaction. Regardless of the unexpected issues, I am loving being a mom, and I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to work from home so I can be here with my daughter.

On an unrelated note, I received Brooke’s newborn pictures this week. I am so pleased with them that I just have to share. Thank you Walter and Ruth of Walter E. Homan Photography.

Click here to view her photos on the photographer’s blog.

P.S. – A huge thank you to Angela for pointing out my spelling WAHM as MAHM, more than once. Lesson learned today: I wouldn’t write blogs for a client while holding a crying baby so I shouldn’t do it when I work on my own blog.

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blogging, freelance, motherhood, parenting, Uncategorized, working from home, Writing

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Book Review: The Happiest Baby on the Block

February 17, 2013

Written by April Wilson

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When I first started my blog, I published a weekly book review. I usually wrote about business books or the latest novel I was reading. As a new mom, it seems appropriate to share my all-time favorite book on newborns. (Trust me, I’ve read a lot of books while I was pregnant.)

I first heard of The Happiest Baby on the Block   by Dr. Harvey Karp when I was doing a home study hypnobirthing class. It was listed at the back of the workbook as a recommended reading, so I added the title to my “Books I Want to Read Board” on Pinterest. (It is now on my “Books I Recommend” board. One of my friends saw the pin and bought me the book for my birthday.

I read The Happiest Baby on the Block while pregnant, and I made a mental note to try out some of the tips once the baby was born. I liked how the doctor relied on techniques that have been around for centuries rather than modern gimmicks, but I wasn’t convinced that the book held all the answers to handling fussy babies (as it promised).

After delivering our beautiful baby girl, the hospital made us watch The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD before sending us home. Since I’d already read the book, I was familiar with the techniques discussed, but it was helpful to see them demonstrated in the video.

Once home, we found ourselves trying to figure out how to respond to our little lady’s cries. (It is worth noting that she isn’t an extremely fussy baby. She occasionally cries when she is hungry or tired, and sometimes she wants to play instead of sleep at 3 am. Still, we wanted to be able to calm her cries before they turned into a full blown sobfest. ) Out of curiosity, we decided to try out Dr. Karp’s suggestions, and I was amazed by how well she responds to them. Here are just a few of our personal results.

  •   One day I put her in her swing and discovered it played a heartbeat sound. I was amazed by how quickly my little girl quieted down and fell asleep. Later that day, I downloaded The Happiest Baby on the Block New “Super Soothing” Calming Sounds CD (now … with 6 great sounds!), and I use the sounds whenever she is extremely fussy. I also play them to help her fall asleep.
  • Tired of waking up every two hours, I decided to try swaddling her at night. At four weeks old, she now sleeps an average of three to three and a half hours at night. (We also use the white noise to help her sleep.)
  • During the day when she starts fussing, all I have to do is pick her up, move her around (she likes to sway or bounce up and down), and softly whisper in her ear or make the shhh sounds. It seriously works every time.

I was amazed by how well these simple solutions work, and I highly recommend this book for all parents. It is the best baby book I’ve read.

Now, I’m working on reading The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep: Simple Solutions for Kids from Birth to 5 Years. I haven’t finished it yet, but I’ll let you know how we make out once I try out the techniques.

 

 

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book review

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Baby Wilson is Here

Written by April Wilson

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In case you haven’t already heard the news, Baby Wilson is here! And it’s a girl! Meet Brooke Michelle Wilson, born January 18.

It is hard to believe that my baby girl is already going to be a month old tomorrow, which means that I’m heading back to work. Since I’m my own boss and don’t get paid maternity leave, I decided to only take off four weeks after the baby was born. However, I’m not returning to full-time work just yet. As of tomorrow, I will be back in my office part-time. I will spend the next month or so figuring out what type of schedule works for me, and I will eventually begin adding more hours once I am comfortable working with a baby in the house.

If you have any projects you need me to work on, feel free to contact me. Also, if you have any advice on working from home with an infant, feel free to comment.

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freelance, motherhood, working from home

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My New Year’s Resolutions

December 26, 2012

Written by April Wilson

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Usually, I am a huge fan of New Year’s Resolutions. I am one of those overly optimistic people who create long lists of goals for the new year; then, I look at it a few times throughout the year and update it depending on how successful I’ve been. Usually, my list is something like this:

1. Double my writing income.

2. Work out 6 days a week.

3. Take a new class.

4. Spend more time with family and friends.

5. Blog every day.

6. Make homemade meals every day.

7. Be superwoman.

This year, I’m making a slightly different New Year’s Resolution. I was recently watching The Ellen Show, and one of her guests (sorry, I can’t remember who it was. I blame baby brain.) said that instead of resolutions she sets the goal of doing something for herself everyday. This could be a walk in the park, a bubble bath, or whatever else she feels she needs that day. Since I’m expecting a baby in January, I thought this would be the perfect substitute to my normal list of resolutions. Just because I’m going to be a mom doesn’t mean I can’t still improve my career or body or cooking skills, but I do want to be realistic with what I’m capable of achieving as I adjust to life with a newborn. Instead of jumping into 2013 with a long list of ambitions, I’m going to set the simple goal of doing something for myself everyday. Whether it is making time for my beloved yoga or ordering a pizza because I’m too exhausted to cook, I’m going to make sure that I take care of my needs so all the other goals (like losing the baby weight, being a good mom and wife, becoming a successful working mom) will fall into place. I’d love to know, what are your New Year’s Resolutions?

Only 4 and 1/2 more weeks!

 

Category:

freelance, Lifestyle, motherhood, parenting, working from home, Writing

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Merry Christmas

December 25, 2012

Written by April Wilson

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Well, I’ve neglected my blog for months; I apologize. Ironically, part of my income comes from blogging for others, but I can’t manage to keep up with my own blog. I have good reasons though. In case you’ve missed the news, I am expecting my first baby in a few weeks, and I’ve been busy working on a variety of writing and editing projects. In the new year, I hope to be better at updating my blog. In the meantime, I’d like to wish  everyone a Merry Christmas. I’m looking forward to spending time with my family and friends. See you in the new year!

 

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How NanoWriMo Inspired Me to Start Writing Again

October 7, 2012

Written by April Wilson

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I’ve recently been working on a ghost writing project that has required me to do a lot of research on National Novel Writing Month (NanoWriMo). For those who don’t know, NanoWriMo is a program that challenges writers to complete a 50,000 word novel in one month. The program begins on November 1st and ends November 30th.

As I was researching the program, I debated signing up myself. For those who don’t know, I hope to one day publish young adult novels and children’s books. However, I’ve spent the past two years focusing on my freelance career rather than my creative writing career.

Researching NanoWriMo reminded me that many of the writing obstacles we face are simply illusions. If people can sit down and write a manuscript in a month, then why can’t the rest of us finish in a year? Or two years?

After much debate, I decided writing a novel in a month is not a realistic goal for me at the moment. I am expecting my first child in January, so I need to spend the next few months preparing for the baby. However, NanoWriMo made me realize that my mom-to-be status doesn’t mean I don’t have time to write; it just means I have less time to write.

Rather than challenging myself to complete a new novel in 30 days, I’ve created a different goal for myself. I recently dusted off an old manuscript I never finished, and I am striving to get the manuscript in publishing shape before the baby arrives. (I have about three months to complete this task.)

Whether you choose to adhere to the guidelines of NanoWriMo or you decide to set your own writing goals, remember this: There is always time to write. You just have to dedicate yourself to the craft and believe in your ability.

If you’re participating in NanoWriMo, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Although I don’t plan to officially participate, I will be following the program to stay motivated to complete my own writing goals.

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Who Should Hire a Ghostwriter

September 4, 2012

Written by April Wilson

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Do you have a great book idea but no time to write? Do you lack the skills needed to write quality documents? Is your to-do list too long to complete all the writing tasks you need to finish? If so, you could use a ghostwriter.

There are many people who hire ghostwriters to help with projects. This includes professionals such as doctors and lawyers, corporations, book publishers, and aspiring authors. Ghostwriters aren’t just for big name celebrities who want to publish books. The average company or individual could benefit from hiring a professional ghostwriter. To find if you are one of those people, ask yourself these questions.

 

  • Do you or your company require professionally written documents such as press releases, articles, blog posts, or social media updates?
  • Have you always dreamed of publishing a book?
  • Are you a skilled writer who lacks the time to complete all of your projects?
  • Are you full of ideas but struggle to get words on paper?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could use my help. I help authors and companies complete a variety of writing projects. My work includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Blogs
  • White papers
  • Training Manuals
  • Books
  • Social Media Updates
  • Grants
  • Letters
  • Press Releases

If you’d like to discuss a potential project, email me at april@aprilswords.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Category:

blogging, copy editing, copywriting, creative writing, developmental editing, Education, financial, freelance, ghostwriting, marketing, Nonprofits, self publishing, social media, working from home, Writing, young adult books

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