Welcome, sit back and get comfortable. 

The idea for this book was born shortly after my son, almost four years ago.  Now with two preschoolers and one on the way it seems like a distant dream to pull together the ideas, inspiration and humor that would make a priceless reference guide for new moms.  As my kids pull on my fingers and push my rolling office chair I type this introduction hoping that together we can compile something that will be worthwhile for many. 

One idea for the title of this book is Welcome to Our World: The Mommy World.  That being the case I want it to be from us, LDS moms who are trying to keep our families together, to follow the prophet and to bless our children at the same time stay sane and making ends meet. The purpose of the Wiki is for us to collaborate.  This is a place for each mommy who can spare a moment to share some words of wisdom or a funny story so that your priceless experiences might be of benefit to another.

My vision for this book is that it will inspire moms, bless families, provide ideas, and make the transition into motherhood joyful.  It is my hope that you will help me add more humor.  (I am just not that funny, but I have compiled some good ideas.)  I have tried to keep the tone positive and provide solutions at the same time as providing sympathy.  If you have experience with exceptional situations I especially encourage your input.

The chapters that follow are drafts.  I have put off posting them on a Wiki because I wanted to spend some time creating flow, adding humor and completing thoughts, but that is where you come into play.  Please read and enjoy the ideas, but if you can make time also add ideas, stories, and testimony of your own that would be great.  Correct my misspelled words and don’t hesitate to delete a confusing sentence or rewrite it.  This book may or may not be published someday, but it is my desire that the information I have compiled thus far be shared and used to inspire. Please invite your friends or family to join the network and collaborate with us. 

In order to have access to editing please send an email request to carrie@joshkirk.com, and I will be more than happy to grant you access.

Chapter 1: Change

Chapter 2: Being Mommy

Chapter 3: Stay Home

Chapter 4: Fitting Budget

Chapter 5: Parents Partners

Chapter 6: Baby Care

Chapter 7: Creating Balance

Recommended Books and Appendix

The following will help you to follow my drafts a little more easily:

• Sections that are italicized are me “thinking out loud” they are not intended to be part of the text they are mostly "to do" items.  Feel free to add more italicized portions or to “fix” mine.
• Bolded phrases are part of the outline. 
• Much of what is compiled is quotes from questionnaires.  The quotation marks can be taken out of some of them as they are general knowledge, but I have left them in until there is better flow.

Please do not add copy written material to this wiki.  New quotes would be wonderful.  When adding a quote please include who is being quoted as well as the reference.  By contributing to this wiki you are releasing your writing to possible future publishing and as well as to editing.