Looking for a path to take baby and stroller on you inaugural outing? Here is a list of paved path locations you may enjoy in the Corridor. These are also perfect options for wearing baby without having to worry about the terrain underfoot or little walkers who do best on an even surface.

Lower City Park, Iowa City
Enjoy the ducks and geese on this flat paved path near the Iowa River.

Waterworks Prairie, Iowa City
This quiet park features prairie and wetlands - perfect for spotting butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.

Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, Iowa City
​Enjoy a 2-mile stroll around Sand Lake. The recreation area also features water rentals and a playground constructed of a natural materials.

Northridge Park, Coralville
​This figure-eight paved path features a pond with fountains. Take the trail under the interstate for access to the Coral Ridge Mall or follow it out of the park for a stroll on the Northridge Trail into North Liberty. This trail does feature some elevation changes as it winds through the Coralville neighborhood, so keep that in mind as you plan your outing.

Clear Creek Trail, Tiffin
For a quiet walk punctuated by the occasional train, take the Clear Creek Trail starting at the Half Moon entrance.

Cedar Lake, Cedar Rapids
​For an urban stroll, check out the 1.5 mile loop around Cedar Lake. While a portion winds through some trees, the majority edges along railroad tracks, which may delight any kiddos who are train fans. For more mileage take the Cedar River Trail north or south.

Hoover Trail, Ely
​For another launching point on the American Discovery Trail, hop on the Hoover Trail section at Ely Pond. To make your walk a bit sweeter, stop in at Dan and Debbie's Creamery and grab some delicious ice cream.

South Troy Park Trail, Robbins
​The short and sweet South Troy Park Trail connects to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail - another stretch of the American Discovery Trail! Enjoy the a short stroll in the park or connect to the trail heading north or south for more distance.

Lindale Trail, Marion
​To access the paved Lindale Trail via a short stretch of crushed stone trail, park at Thomas Park and head north or park at the quieter Donnelly Park and head south. 
For a longer adventure on crushed stone, take the Boyson Trail in either direction.

Do you have another favorite paved path in the Corridor? Share it in the comments below! Looking for more family adventures in the Corridor? See all posts on that topic here.

The transition into life with a new baby stretches everything - your patience, your partnership, your identity, and so much more. 

The transition into toddlerhood is something else, though. The baby who previously needed to be transported everywhere can suddenly get places under her own power. The baby who only needed milk and snuggles suddenly voices a whole host of other needs and desires, adamantly and at increasing volume levels.

Just like having a baby stretches us as parents and asks us to grow in new and surprising ways, the transition into parenting a toddler asks perhaps even more.

As Dr. Shefali Tsabary writes in The Conscious Parent: "The transition to parenthood is complex, requiring us to surrender to an irrevocable loss of our identity as we have thus far known it.  To create the internal space required to embrace the tending of a new spirit, the pillars of our old lifestyle have to crumble.  Who we were before becoming a parent doesn't and cannot exist with the same ferocity.  Once children enter our life, their impact is indelible and we are required to reinvent ourselves in response" (96).

If you are anticipating the next stage of baby's development into a toddler or find yourself already in the sticky middle-of-toddler-years days, check out these fabulous resources for setting loving limits and holding them with love and respect.

Peaceful Parents, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham
To get a sense of Markham's approach, check out the AhaParenting website, which has an awesomely helpful index by age and stage. This is one of my first stops when a new kiddo stages throws me for a loop.

It's Okay Not to Share and Other Renegade Rules for Raising Compassionate Kids by Heather Shumaker
​One of the most anxious points of toddler parenting for me was learning how to navigate my kids social interactions - when to stand back, when to hop in, and how to be helpful. Shumaker gives so many helpful examples for how to handle situations in a positive and productive manner.
​
Playful Parenting: An Exciting New Approach to Raising Children That Will Help You Nurture Close Connections, Solve Behavior Problems, and Encourage Confidence by Lawrence J. Cohen
​In rough stages, sometimes you just need a fresh tool or outlook to come at problems from a positive and collaborative place. If you find yourself in that place, this is a great read.

Siblings without Rivalry: How to Help your Children Live Together so You Can Live Too by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
​Toddler parenting takes on a whole new dynamic when you've got sibling squabbles in the mix. Faber and Mazlish made this a super quick read that's easy to distill and implement. And, it helps me remember that sibling conflicts are normal and the perfect opportunity to build skills of conflict negotiation and compassion.

​The Gentle Sleep Book by Sarah Ockwell-Smith
While we'd like to pretend that only tiny babies wake at night, the reality is that waking for reassurance during the night is developmentally normal for toddlers, too.  Ockwell-Smith offers gentle suggestions that can help the whole family get more rest while still meeting your toddler's needs in a developmentally appropriate manner. (If you find you need more support making gentle sleep transitions, head on over to Nested Mama's Sleep services.)

Mothering your Nursing Toddler by Norma J. Bumgarner
​Wondering what's normal as you nurse your baby into toddlerhood? This book from La Leche League International provides awesome perspective. (And if you find yourself nursing into a pregnancy, Adventures in Tandem Nursing by Hilary Flower is the essential read on the topic.)

As a doula and sleep educator, I work with a lot of parents when they are at their most tapped out.

As a parent myself, I have plenty of moments that seem more like surviving than thriving. 

I coach my clients to uncover areas where they can find balance and meaning, and self-care is often a pivot point that can tip survival mode into flourishing for the whole family.

When I take a fair assessment of my own life, I find that my moments of frustration with my children or my partner often emerge from my own lack of balance. As the saying goes, you can't give from an empty cup. And, no one knows that truth more deeply than a parent of young children.

As important as self-care is to overall wellness, there is another piece that I suggest can be just as significant - finding joy WITH your children. Here, I'm not talking about delighting in every moment - some are challenging and some are just plain hard - no one needs the pressure of loving every second. 

Instead, try to find mutual points of joy in your life. Maybe you all enjoy a particular series of stories or chapter book read alouds. Maybe you all love your routine of getting a donut on Saturday morning. Maybe each of you can relish the feeling of sand between your toes at the beach. Maybe you geek out together over the same comic book.

​Whatever that source of joy is for all of you, seek it out. Be intentional. Make time for it, and soak it in.

For me, I am my happiest when I'm outside, and I discovered early on with my first child that she loved to be outside, too. Now that I've got a busy trio, I plan to be outside every day, if possible, and make a couple significant excursions to local trails and parks every week.

​On the best of days, I can carry that feeling with me through the tricky pre-dinner time and all the way until my kiddos are at rest. And, my ease sets the tone for everyone. Most importantly, we all find joy together.

How do you find joy with your little ones?

Are you in need of relief for back, hip, or pelvic pain in your pregnancy? Want to keep your pelvis aligned for optimal fetal positioning? Check out this list of highly recommended chiropractors who offer prenatal chiropractic care in the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area.

Fall is my favorite. I'm pretty jazzed to share this guest post over on the Doulas of Iowa City blog.  In it your find the perfect pint-sized fall bucket list to keep you in rhythm with the season for baby's first fall.

What's your favorite local fall event? Share it in the comments below!