Top 10 Tips for Momtrpeneurs and Small Business Owners

Salt and Nectar, a nationally renowned blog recently featured in USA today, asked me to write a guest blog post about tips for Momtrepreneurs and small business owners. My post is also sponsored by Google Chrome.

I welcome your feedback! What other tips would you include on this list? Anything you disagree with? Do you find any to be particularly helpful?

The blog post is

http://saltandnectar.squarespace.com/theblog/2011/12/29/sponsored-post-10-tips-for-momtrepreneurs-to-succeed.html

Happy reading!

Noah at 8 months - happily playing and laughing!

I'm a little bit behind but I wanted to update the blog about Noah's 8th month.  He is a very happy boy who loves to laugh, play and explore.  He is waving goodbye to everyone and loves to clap his hands during music class and the many songs that we sing at home.  Noah enjoys tapping objects together and talking up a storm.  He identifies me as mama and says it with meaning only me.  He is experimenting with many sounds - baba, dada, nana, yaya, oooh, eeeh, etc.

We love spending time outside when the weather permits.  Noah is not fully crawling yet, but scooting and can move across the room to get a toy that he wants. 

He is able to move from sitting to crawling position and then back into sitting position quite proficiently!

He loved the trains at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens at Thanksgiving time with Mimi & Pa

Sam & Noah watching the huge train sets! 

Sam & Noah love taking turns "flying" in the air

Sweet snuggle time on the blanket outside

More flying

Sam pulled Noah in the wagon that I played with when I was their age (many moons ago) 

Noah happily plays with whatever toys big brother Sam brings him - they both thought it was hilarious to play with the laundry basket that Sam put in the crib. 

We are starting to introduce more table food to Noah, he is VERY interested in what he is eating.  Here Noah is trying to grab the cake Brad is eating at a birthday party for one of Sam's friends. 

Playing vs. eating the tambourine during music class.  He mouths everything and has 4 teeth pushing through, 2 on top and 2 on the bottom.  

Sam & Noah playing hide and seek under the chairs at a synagogue event. 

He scooted backwards to the 1 step between our kitchen and family room and very proudly perched there halfway between the two levels.  He was very pleased with his accomplishment. 

Learning to stack the rings!

We try to go outside every day, even when it is cold!  Beautiful sweater and hat that Great Aunt Carol Wyatt made when Sam was a baby.  

Exploring more table food - Mimi introduces an apple to Noah,  he LOVED it! 

Noah continues to be a wonderful sleeper, usually sleeping about 11-12 hours/night and taking a 2-3 hour nap in the early afternoon - usually when Sam naps too which is a very nice break for mommy!  The big challenge this month was Noah's first major illness.  On November 13, Noah began to show signs of respiratory distress from a virus.  Because it was a Sunday, our doctor's office was closed but thankfully our wonderful neighbor (and my best friend from high school BBYO!) is a pediatrician and agreed to listen to him.  She confirmed my suspicion that he was indeed having some breathing challenges and needed to go to the ER.  It was pretty upsetting to take a 8 month old baby to the ER, especially given our previous respiratory issues with Sam (who has been hospitalized twice for respiratory viruses).  

Fairfax inova hospital is a wonderful children's hospital and we received terrific care.  Noah was diagnosed with RSV and we were sent home with breathing treatments and medication.  He got much better and then got another virus and had double ear infections!  Poor little guy has had a rough few weeks, but his personality remains happy and smiley! The ER doctor told me that he should be a baby model because he was so cheerful and sweet despite the illness!  

He has recovered and continues to explore everything around him.  He loves to coo and talk to people, laugh at pretty much everything, and adores Sam.  Most recently he found cutting his fingernails to be hilarious and cracked up laughing when I tried to pull a sweater over his head - apparently this was very very funny.  He makes us laugh constantly and is such a sweet, easygoing baby.  

Thank you for all of your support during his health challenges and the hospital visit in November.  It was a scary experience, but the outpour of love and support from our friends and family made such a difference.  We really appreciate it!  

New Year, New Career, New Business

I am delighted to share that I have officially launched a new career and a new business!  Silverbrook Solutions LLC is a consulting company focused on small business development.  We are a one stop shop for all of your business needs. 

Please visit our website at www.silverbrooksolutions.com or follow our blog at silverbrooksolutions.wordpress.com.  Other social media platforms will be rolled out over the coming months. 

Silverbrook Solutions provides high quality and personal service for successful businesses, organizations, and associations. We specialize in everything you need to succeed. Your success is our business.

Whether you are starting a new business, bringing-in expertise to outsource a project, or looking to grow your organization in new directions, Silverbrook Solutions will answer your greatest business challenges.  We offer a free consultation to all new clients.  Please contact us at Rebecca@silverbrooksolutions.com to schedule your free consultation!

  

ABOUT US

Silverbrook Solutions is a team of highly trained professionals committed to helping your business succeed and thrive.  I oversee a cadre of skilled specialists who offer quality services such as accounting, website and logo design, public relations, communications, social media strategy and monitoring, legal assistance, business development, Quickbooks training, online advertising, marketing, and lead generation.

Please let us know if we can be of any assistance to your business.  Or do you know someone who has a small business? Referrals are greatly appreciated! 

Sam's first time ice skating

Brave daddy took Sam ice skating for the first time today! Sam was so excited and did really well (especially considering the fact that he is only 2.5!)

He held Brad's hand and they glided along together beautifully! What a fun adventure and i am so proud of Sam!

Noah at 7 months - ready to explore!

It is hard to believe that baby Noah is already 7 months old!  I love this baby stage - his personality is truly developing and he has very real likes and dislike - but he is not yet fully mobile (which I like!).  

 He rarely sits still - this was the closest I could get to a "still" shot.

 He loves crinkling and destroying paper, magazines, wrapping paper, plastic, etc

He attempts to find every possible opportunity to have his head hanging upside down.  He loves hanging upside down and enjoys rough play - especially with Sam. He squeals in laughter when we toss him in the air, swing him around, and bounce him up and down.  He gets upset when he drops a toy and can no longer reach it and thinks that peek-a-boo is the greatest game ever.  He understands object permanence and thinks it is a terrific game.

Sam and Noah are very close and truly enjoy spending time together -
such as this family outing to the Burke Pumpkin playground. 

Cuddly Noah with mommy at pumpkin patch

This is one of my new favorite pictures -the boys and I enjoyed a glorious fall afternoon hanging out on the hammock, looking up at the beautiful leaves changing colors, watching birds overhead, and singing songs. 

Noah & Sam love to read books together, especially with their Mimi!

Yes, he is that stinkin cute.  :)  

We have started to introduce some finger foods and he LOVES it.  He goes crazy when we give him Mum Mum crackers, teething biscuits (he's teething like crazy!), puffs, yogurt melts, or small pieces of banana.

He reaches for table food and loves eating all kinds of baby food. Right now his favorite mashed up baby foods include beets, salmon, lentils, mango, squash, sweet potato, pears, passion fruit, pumpkin, and applesauce.  Yes, I think he eats better than we do!   He hates green beans and peas, but will tolerate them if masked by squash. 

He likes playing with his ring stacker and toys in his crib - but sometimes a certain "helpful" 2 year old likes to bring LOTS of toys and put them into Noah's crib.  He's very "helpful". 

He loves rolling around and scooting backwards.  

Steering his car is one of Noah's favorite activities

Poor Lucy dog, Noah is in love with her too and likes to harass her.  

We call this his "old man" sweater.  It reminds me of my grandfather (Papi) who wore a sweater just like this pretty much every day, even if it was 90 degrees outside.  The day of this photo was the anniversary of his passing (he died in 2007).  Every year on this day, we eat chocolate ice cream - his favorite food - to remember my grandfather.  Noah is too young for chocolate ice cream, but he enjoyed munching on a spoon!

We introduced Pa to the Burke Pumpkin Playground for a spooky fun evening.  Pa had a blast with the boys! 

Noah is starting to enjoy riding around on my back in the Ergo - one my favorite baby carriers!

Noah isn't so sure about Sam pushing him, Sam isn't exactly "gentle."  Yes, Sam is wearing rain boots even though it is perfectly dry outside.  He is obsessed with his boots and we have learned to pick our battles. 

It wouldn't be the fall without a picture of one of our kids with a political candidate!  Our wonderful neighbor Bill ran for Fairfax County sheriff (and unfortunately lost).  Noah loves Bill, here they are together at the neighborhood Halloween parade and party!

Noah's first halloween! Sam had a lot to teach him!

The skeleton hand in this candy bowl moves when you put your hand in - Noah thought it was terrific but didn't understand why Sam got to eat candy but he didn't!

Our first Halloween as a family of four!

He loves playing in the water and splashing the water EVERYWHERE.  He thinks it is hilarious when we pile soap bubbles on his head.  Sam thinks Noah's hat is pretty funny too. 

Sam is trying to teach Noah about the alphabet - by putting the bathtime foam letters on his head.  What a good big brother. 

The boys are very musical, Sam likes to teach Noah how to play the cat piano.  Now that Noah stands while holding onto things rather proficiently, the boys play together much more!

Noah has discovered his voice and loves to shriek to get our attention, carries on when he drops a toy and can't reach it, and has started saying more words like "Mama, Hi, Naaa naaa."  Sam started saying dada LOOONG before he ever uttered the word "mama" so it is quite nice to have a child who says mama first! :)



He also has developed a singing voice and likes to sing along when we sing or have music on!  Even in the car, he likes to sing to the radio or music.  When Sam was this age, he had a "reading" voice that he would use when we read him books.


We love watching his world view develop and his laughter abound!