Confessions of a Super Mommy

Poetry

2012-02-10T12:40:00.003-06:00

We stood in the kitchen, my husband and I. A rare treat to have him home for lunch on a weekday, even when he has a night flight. Him, rinsing dishes and loading the dishwasher. (Lucky girl, I am.) Me, wiping the counters, waiting for the boys to hurry and finish their sandwiches so I could wipe their hands and faces and rest time could begin.

I looked out the window and up through the trees. "It's really overcast out there," I commented. "There were even some raindrops on the way home from school."

E piped up from his spot at the table.

"That wasn't rain, Mom. Those drops were falling from my eyes."

You know, the drama, I expected. He's been Four for a few months now, and before that he was Three. And the fact that we had spent the entire ride home happily spotting airplanes in the sky was irrelevant, as revisionist history is his current specialty.

But the poetry! The poetry! caught me completely off guard.

The Poop on Potty Training

2012-02-02T10:08:00.001-06:00

Two weeks after turning two, W starting peeing in the potty.

It wasn't particularly magical. We started putting him on the potty when he turned one. He never did anything, but he was always happy to sit for a little while. Once he got close to his second birthday, I put him in undies. If I saw him peeing, I would run him to the potty. If I didn't see him, he'd come tell me. It wasn't any different for me laundry-wise, and that child could hold it, so he didn't have accidents often. Then, one day, he told me he needed to go, and he went, right there in the potty.

Since that day, he's had approximately two accidents. Total.

Maybe it was magical.

And yet. Here we are. Seven months later. And he is still pooping in his pull-up every day.

It either happens first thing in the morning before we go upstairs to get him, or during rest time, but sometimes he'll mix it up and poop both times. (What can I say? My boy is regular!) We have tried putting him on the potty at his "special" times. Nothing. We have read books, sang songs, and played with cars on the potty. Nothing. We have let him watch while we use the potty. Nothing. We have offered bribes. Nothing. We have kept him in his undies. There, we got something. In the undies. We have gotten mad, gotten sad, and had no reaction at all. Nothing has worked. Nothing.

I know that both moving and the addition of a new baby to the family have been major life events for W, so we have waited, mostly patiently, hoping he would naturally make the switch. I also know he's not going to go to ~~Kindergarten~~ college sleeping in a pull-up. But at this point, I am so very tired of changing poopy pull-ups for a child that knows where he's supposed to go and flat out tells me he's not going to do it, that I may be admitted to the Asylum for Mothers of Children Who Refuse to Potty Train. I'm hoping for one of their beach-front locations.

*****************************

Okay, I wrote that Friday morning, and as I was writing, I was struck with inspiration. (Again.) I just had to wait a couple hours to try it out.

At rest time, I took him to the bathroom, where he peed, then I showed him his new "bedroom potty." It's a tiny little training potty I had in the closet; one the boys have never used because I hated the idea of cleaning it every time they used it. Gag. (I know that makes no sense, coming from someone who happily cloth diapers her babies, but still, gag.)

"When you feel like you need to poop, you can sit down and poop in this potty." He giggled. I stayed positive. "Where do you want me to put it?" I asked.

"I like to hide."

Hmmm...That was new. Even though I imagined that was the case, he'd never come out and said it before.

"Would you like it behind the chair or maybe behind the door?" two places I guessed he might be pooping already.

"Behind the door."

I spread out a bath towel and placed the potty right in the center, then asked him to show me how he would sit on it when the time was right.

"Okay," I said, "when you poop in the potty, open the door so I know to come help you get cleaned up."

I closed the door and left my child, who has yet to poop in the potty, alone, with a bare bottom, and a small potty he's never used. I popped my head back in for a final reminder, "And don't touch the poop, okay? No touch poop," before closing the door again.

Yep. Pretty sure I'm certifiable.

I checked on him a couple different times over the course of rest time. He didn't poop in the potty, but he didn't poop anywhere else either. I considered that a win.

An hour after he fell asleep that night, I stood in the kitchen pondering how clean diaper laundry in the dryer could smell so terrible. Or had I put a dirty pull-up in the trash and didn't remember? Then I realized what had happened, and I went upstairs to wake my sweet boy and help him get cleaned up and changed into a new pull-up. So, maybe not a win after all.

Saturday, determined not to give up too early, I repeated the new routine. Again, he didn't poop at rest time, but this time he didn't poop at night either.

Although we hadn't had any real success, we hadn't had any real failures either, so we continued the plan on Sunday...and HE DID IT!!! He pooped in his little potty during rest time!!! And then, perhaps equally as important, he came to tell me!!!

We danced! We cheered! We took pictures and called Grandma! It was a happy day in this house, I can tell you.

Three days later, and he is still pooping in his little potty at rest time and still coming to tell me. Right now I am thrilled with that. Seriously - just thinking about it makes me positively giddy! But because I'm me, I'm also thinking ahead. How long until I can move his little potty to the bathroom? Will he poop on the big potty soon after that? When can I trust him in undies for rest time? And how long is rest time going to be interrupted with potty trips? I guess we'll figure it all out along the way, and I'll keep you posted.

Oh, and W, if you ever read this, I promise I'll never show the picture of your first potty poop to your prom date. We'll save it for your wife. Love you!

Things I've Said This Week

2012-01-27T12:58:00.001-06:00

I really like to poop in the potty.

Good burp!

When you burp, you need to say, "Excuse me."

Now is a good time to be loud.

Don't you think C's dirty diaper smells like buttered popcorn?

More chili? Really? How about a cookie?

You're aiming too high!
(Followed by a sigh, and, "Get some toilet paper and clean it up.")

Don't pinch your brother's butt while he's peeing.

Don't jump while you're peeing.

Can you show your cars how to sleep?

Isn't it great to be a mom?

Daddy's Boy

2012-01-24T13:48:00.000-06:00

Four days after Christmas, my (awesome) sister and I took the boys outlet shopping. The goal was for each of us to find something to wear to C's baptism, and despite our low popularity among the other shoppers (I'm not sure what annoyed them more: E and W running circles around the clothes racks or E and W sitting in time out in the middle of the aisles for running circles around the clothes racks), we all succeeded. I can tell you, though, no one was prouder of their new outfit than E. While I was checking out the coordinating argyle sweaters in Children's Place, E found exactly what he wanted to wear: a grey v-neck sweater and plaid button-down shirt. He had recognized it immediately - his daddy's weekend uniform.

E, proudly wearing his sweater.

But for a daddy's boy, it doesn't stop with the clothes. This is the book E brought home from his pre-school library this month for family reading time.

Chinese Cooking, A Time Life Book. Published, 1968.

(I'm just realizing he was wearing his knock off Adidas pants

"like Daddy's" in this photo.)

A little weird? Yeah, probably. But his choice is completely understandable when you look on our back porch and see E's daddy's latest hobby.

If you aren't sure, that is a wok,

sitting on a propane powered cooker,

with a plate of rice, chicken, and veggies. Yum.

I can't even tell you how many YouTube videos they've watched together of Thai street vendors sitting on the back of their mopeds, cooking up fried rice and pad thai. (I'm not kidding.) And let's face it: Thai food, Chinese food, it's all the same when you're four.

So we sat down together, skipped the obviously unbiased chapter, "How Chinese Cooking Survived its Country" (What does that even mean??), and spent most of our time learning different ways to wrap a wonton and looking at pictures of men fishing in the sea. You know, things his daddy knows about.

Boys need their fathers. Intellectually, I know that. It makes perfect sense. But when I see E emulating my husband, down to the tiniest detail, it can be a shocking reminder - both of how much he needs his daddy and that he's taking it ALL in. Every little bit.

Still, when E declared, "Mommy, this is the yummiest taco I've ever had," at dinner last night, I smiled, but I wasn't surprised. After all, he is his daddy's boy.

The Resolution

2012-01-16T08:50:00.000-06:00

For me, writing has always required time. And confidence. A feeling of steadiness. Of security. I like a good night's sleep, too. And did I mention, time?

Throughout the past year, it seems I've been missing one or two of those things, and at times, all of them. It's true; life has been hectic. My husband was away for four months. We moved. We had our third baby, a beautiful boy. Those are the headlines, really. But the little stories, the important stories, are missing. I'm realizing now that I've missed writing them.

My goal for this year is to start again. Put me down for a post a week, four a month. Lord knows I've never had less free time, and I haven't had a good night's sleep in months. There are moments every day that I know I'm in way over my head. None of this points towards success on my part, but I'm hoping to shake off that idea of "perfect" writing conditions, "perfect" writing, and just write again. For me. I'm counting on you to keep me honest.

A couple photos of our sweet Baby C...

Baby C - 1 week old

Baby C - 2 months old

Now You See Him, Now You Don't

2011-05-15T13:25:00.004-05:00

After my last post, our family got a surprise. My husband came home from his deployment early.

****For those of you who are not a part of military life, I want to state right up front that this NEVER happens. If the military changes your deployment length, 99.999% of the time it's, "Surprise! We've extended your deployment two more months!" Please do not ask your military friends if their deployed husbands (or wives) might come home early. The answer is no. And if you use my family as an example, I will pretend I don't know you.****

So for 10 wonderful days, my husband was with us. He gave the boys baths and cooked dinner. We dyed eggs and went to church Easter Sunday. He drove us east, where we had a mini family vacation (and I got a massage at the nicest spa ever!!). And then, he left again. Daddy's second long trip. This time, training. The sole reason his deployment ended early.

The boys and I are finally home again, after spending a couple weeks visiting my family, and we're getting back into the swing of things with the help of Grandma. I was worried that Hubby being home for such a short time would make this separation even harder, but they are adjusting much better than I would have imagined, and I am thankful. Now at two weeks down, we just have eight to go until we can be us again. I. Can't. Wait.

Survival

2011-04-19T19:37:00.002-05:00

In the months leading up to my husband's deployment, my biggest concern was the boys. My boys love their daddy. They relish every second spent in his presence, and when they're apart, they talk about him non-stop. How would they survive his absence without their hearts breaking into a million pieces? And how would I survive witnessing their heartbreak?

I know we're only 5 weeks in, but I'd say the boys have made a fairly smooth transition into deployment life. (And yes, I realize that by publishing these words, I'm jinxing myself.) It's true that we've had our days of acting out - a few the first week, a few more randomly spread out over the rest of the month. Yes, there are moments when E cries because his daddy isn't there to help him with his pajamas, and if you think that a 22 month old wouldn't notice his daddy is away, think again. But with as much as they miss him, they are surviving, and these are some of the things that help them get through the everyday.

1. Daddy Dolls. When we first found out about the deployment, several people suggested I buy Daddy Dolls for the boys. I was a little skeptical because they have never been into stuffed animals - a classic case of "If it doesn't have wheels, I'm not interested." Still, the reviews were great, and I liked that Hubby could record a message on them, so I bought them anyway.

Yep, that hair is for real!

I am so glad I did. The first few days W walked around with that thing non-stop, giving it hugs and asking for "hep" to press the button so he could hear his daddy say, "Hi, W! I just wanted you to know I love you very much!" Now it's something he only gets out to hug occasionally, but the days he needs it, he really needs it. E has slept with his "Daddy Pillow" since day 1, and sometimes after I put him to bed, I hear a soft, "I love you too, Daddy," in response to his recorded message. ::Heart melting::

2. Recorded Books. I spent a couple evenings recording my husband read several of the boys' favorite books on our Flip video camera before he left. Every night they each pick a couple stories and we watch them on the computer or the TV (I plug the Flip camera into our DVD player). The USO sponsors a wonderful program called, United Through Reading, that we didn't know about before making all those videos (which I do not regret!), and we've used it supplement our collection of Daddy Stories. In essence, the program allows the deployed parent to video themselves reading a book to their children, and then sends both the DVD and a copy of the book to the children - not just once, but once a week! How awesome is that?! And here I thought the USO just did comedy tours! I cannot explain how much the boys, E especially, love story time with their Daddy.

Maybe this picture will help.

Sometimes E will grab the book and "read" along, sometimes not, but he's always involved in the story. W is a mixed bag when it comes to books, as most toddlers are. If he loves the story, he's calling out the words that go with his favorite parts, but even if he's just wandering around the living room with a car in hand, there is something about seeing and hearing his daddy that is just...relaxing for him. Which brings me to #3.

3. Skype and FaceTime. Remember when Monica on Friends was dating Jon Favreau (the rich guy who decided to do UFC)? Okay, remember the time all the Friends went to his apartment for some errand and he called for a video chat and they all hid and hilarity ensued? Well, I know for a fact that when I saw that, I never believed my future kids and I would be video chatting with my husband, who would be deployed halfway around the world, EVERY DAY. Of course, I never thought I'd be married to someone in the military, but that's another story for another day. The point is: Skype and FaceTime ROCK.

Evidence Example A

The boys love seeing and talking to their daddy. I love seeing and talking to my Hubby. What's funny to me is that the boys also love hearing me talk to him, while they run around and play nearby. Not every deployed service person is able to make that kind of contact every day. It really depends on what kind of job they're doing, and we are very lucky to be able to talk to my husband so often. We've had better luck with picture quality on FaceTime, but I do love that Skype allows us to send each other text messages - both on the computer and on my phone. For us, the magic of Skype and FaceTime is that despite the truth of the matter, it makes it seem as though he's not so far away.

I would love to hear what other things your family does to survive that separation during deployments, TDYs, or business trips, to make it go a little smoother for your kids, and bring the parent who is away, a little closer to home.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

2011-04-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

Let's see. I have a 3 1/2 year old and a 22 month old. My husband is deployed. I am trying to keep a ~~clean~~ neat(ish) house, play with my kids, cook dinner five nights a week, exercise, get back into writing this blog, knit for my etsy store (to be launched: who knows when), be somewhat social, and keep my sanity. Do I have time to read? Not really. At least not for long spans of time. But since reading is one my sanity savers, I take what I can get, which means I choose my reading material very carefully.

I'm not really up for heavy, emotional, or existential literature right now, or anything that is going to make me want to sleep with a knife under my pillow (see paragraph 1), so The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie was perfect for me.

I don't want to give away too much, so I'll just say that the story revolves around Flavia, an eleven year old girl, who solves a murder mystery, pretty much on her own. I LOVE Flavia, and I don't feel that way about many characters. She is funny, clever, and has a much better vocabulary than I do. I just finished this book and have already downloaded the next two in the series onto my Kindle. It was that good.

But if you're like me, during the day you can only scrounge a few minutes of peace at a time, and that is certainly not enough time to finish a chapter. That's when I turn to the blogs. There are lots of good ones out there, and my side bar lists a few of my favorites, but I don't know how often people (other than me) click on them. So when I received the Liebster Blog Award from Megan*, artist and blogger at Kitsch in the Kitchen, I was not only honored, I saw it as a great opportunity to share some of those blogs with you. More sweetness at the bottom of the pie, if you will.

The Leibster Blog Award is meant to highlight small blogs with less than 300 followers - although, to me, even 100 followers sounds huge! - so my honorees are bloggers who may not be well known, but have a lot to share and do it well.

31 Rubies - A blog by 5 Christian women, looking honestly at their lives, and working to be better every day. If it's in your job description as a mother, you can pretty much count on finding something here to help.

Momalog - I just found this blog last week through 18 Years to Life (another awesome blog that also got this award from Megan) and I love it. I think I have a blog crush, actually.

Mommy Perspectives - Sweet stories and great recipes, from a military wife and mom, who is both funny and kind.

Motherhood Moments - I wish I was as organized as this mom. Great ideas for activities to do with your little ones here!

Yes, Like the Princess in Star Wars - Leia never fails to crack me up, and she is always as honest as she can be.

Awardees: Feel free to pass the award on to others, or if you decide not to, no worries! Just know that I enjoy your writing and appreciate you!

Happy reading, everyone! And thank you again, Megan, for thinking of me for this award.

*Megan is a true artist. She has a background in art and ceramics, but I know her for her aprons. And they are DIVINE. I actually own two, and if anyone is looking for a Mother's Day gift for me, her etsy shop is open 24-7. Just sayin'. Even if you're not planning to buy me a gift, stop by her blog. You might find something for yourself!

Anniversary

2011-04-09T08:00:00.003-05:00

I married my husband 6 years ago today.

And do you know, I am still this excited we get to spend our lives together.

Happy Anniversary to my kind, smart, handsome, absolutely wonderful, Hubby. I love you.

Photo Credit: Kristin Oguntoyinbo, KPO Photo.

Cute Covers for Art Supplies

2011-04-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

A couple months ago, I was flipping through Southern Living and saw these:

Super cute, right? And then I saw the price tag. $45 each, and up.

Did you just choke on your coffee, too?

I mean, I may spend a stupid amount of money on jeans, but these are pencil holders! There is no way I'd pay $45 EACH for these. Are they insane???

Still...they are cute...and I loved the idea, so I got out some left over yarn, and knitted up my own version.

I wanted to make some for the boys' art materials, but spending several hours knitting something that was guaranteed to get marker, crayon, or paint on it was just not going to work for me. I decided that the knitted ones were mine (MINE!), and came up with the idea to make some fabric covers for the boys' art materials.

I pulled out two cans (lids removed with one of those Pampered Chef can openers so that the edges are smooth) and some fabric I bought awhile back, just because it was cute.

I measured the height of the cans, then folded the fabric in half, right sides together, and ironed.

I measured 4.75" (the can height) down from the folded edge and marked a line all the way across. Don't laugh at me! It's the only way I can sew straight!

I sewed the line. You are impressed. I can tell.

I turned the newly sewn tube right side out, arranged my seam so that a full row of owls, or as close to that as possible, would show on the cover, and ironed the edges.

I measured the circumference the can (12.5") and split that distance in half (6.25"). I folded my tube in half, ironed, and marked a line 6.25" from the folded edge.

Then, I just sewed the line.

This last part required some trial and error on my part because I thought I should make the circumference of the cover slightly bigger than the can. WRONG. As I learned, the cotton will stretch to fit, and if it's even a tiny bit too big, when you go to pick up the can, you'll end up just taking off the sleeve.

And violá! The final project!

Don't you want to just sit down and draw with us?

Curses

2011-04-02T13:28:00.002-05:00

I don't believe in the Deployment Curse.

If you are lucky enough not know about it, the main gist of the Deployment Curse is that while your husband (or wife) is away, everything in your life will crumble and fall to pieces. Your car will break. Your washing machine will break. When you get that fixed, your dryer's next. If it's summer, your AC will go out, if it's winter, your heat. Your kids will throw up all over your house and then your dog will pee on the floor. Multiple times. And because your spouse is deployed, you get to figure out a way to take care of all of it. All.By.Yourself.

I decided that I would avoid the Curse by not believing in it.

And I have avoided it.

It is merely coincidence that in the 19.5 days my husband has been gone (not that I'm counting, or anything):

1. Our brand new van was rear-ended by an elderly man, who was not on his son's insurance, and has declined to respond to any phone calls by the insurance company, making it impossible for me to make an appointment to get the bumper fixed. (The good news is that no one was injured, and the van is still drivable.)

2. I had to make three separate trips to the Toyota dealership to fix the van's right mirror, which I broke backing out of the garage before the deployment even started, because the warehouse kept sending the wrong part. (The good news is that the delay meant it was no big deal that the car wash machine smashed into said side mirror the morning before it was actually fixed.)

3. W got a terrible cold, threw up all over himself and his crib, then cried pitifully through naptime, convincing me he had an ear infection. The only other time I can remember in his 22 months that he refused a nap, he had an ear infection, so I knew that's what it had to be. (The good news is that my mom was here visiting, so she helped me clean W and the bedding. Additionally, the base pediatrician was able to see him right away, and determined he did not have an ear infection. Just a cold. Which is good, even if it made me look like a crazy, over-protective mother. Again.)

4. I had a horrible case of food poisoning that kept me up all night long, throwing up everything I had ever eaten or ever even thought of eating. By "all night long," I don't really mean all night long, of course. I was able to sleep for maybe 20-30 minutes at a time before my body woke me to run to the bathroom to throw up some more. And then, shortly after my last "session," it was time to get up and take care of the boys all day! (I'm struggling to come up with good news on this one since my stomach still isn't 100%, but I guess it's a good thing I was sick at night. I'm not sure how we would have survived the day if I had been that sick while the boys were awake.)

5. E, not to be left out, threw up the afternoon of my recovery, which led me to believe the food poisoning was related to the only thing we had in common: a slice of Swiss cheese. (Yes, I was cheating on my dairy-free diet.) Of course, this theory was thrown out the window when he woke up two nights later covered in throw up. Who knows what's going on? A stomach bug? I'm done guessing. (The good news is that in episode one, he knew to get the throw up bowl and made it there in time! And the good news with episode two is that 1 - I was smart enough to buy a waterproof matress cover and have it on the bed, and 2- he really didn't care that I put flannel sheets with a pretty pink flower print on his bed since those were the only clean sheets I had.

6. I caught my toy poodle eating a bird carcass in our backyard after putting the boys to bed last night. Disgusting is right, and my apologies if you are now the one throwing up. I cleaned up the dog, and threw the dead bird in the trash, because those are my hobbies. Oh, and she's peed on the floor at least twice, if not three times. The third might have been W. Hard to say. (I really cannot think of any good news here. I will go with, "Doggie is still alive." Yes. I'll go with that.)

So as you can see, no Curse here! Just a few little things that could all easily happen over the course of a few weeks, even if my husband was here. But I have to tell you, if the next three months are anything like the last three weeks, I will be the crazy lady sitting on the side of the road. Rocking back and forth. Cursing.

Please make me feel better by telling me what horrible things you've endured while your husband was on a deployment or business trip!

Turkey & Black Bean Chili

2011-01-20T12:50:00.004-06:00

Cold days like today always makes me crave chili, and this healthy Turkey & Black Bean Chili is one of our household favorites. I found the recipe a couple years ago in Home Plate Cooking, by Marvin Woods, and decided to give it a go. (I'm still not sure why this chili is considered 'Southern,' but I like it and I'm Southern, so we'll just go with that.) One warning: There are a lot of ingredients. With that said, it's a simple recipe, with not much prep time. And my wannabe vegetarian sons? Well, this is one meaty dish that always has them asking for seconds.

Turkey & Black Bean Chili
serves: 6

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 pounds ground turkey
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 1/2 - 3 tablespoons chili powder, depending on your taste*
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
3 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
3 cups chicken stock
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
Salt & pepper to taste
grated cheese or sliced avocado for serving

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell peppers, and garlic, and saute, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften 5 to 7 minutes.
Add the turkey and saute until cooked through, breaking it into small pieces, about 5 minutes.
Add the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Stir to combine.
Add the beans, chicken stock, and tomatoes with juice, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until chili thickens and the flavors develop, about 1 hour.
Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. In my family we serve the chili topped with grated cheese or sliced avocado.

I hope you and your family enjoy this hearty, cold weather meal as much as we do!

*The recipe calls for 3 tablespoons, but to make it more kid friendly, I only use 1 1/2 tablespoons. It gives the chili a wonderful flavor and is still mild enough for the little ones.

edit: I just made this chili again, and I realized I forgot to include the garlic when I first posted the recipe. It's fixed now, and apologies to anyone who made it without the garlic!

The Cut

2011-01-18T12:25:00.002-06:00

"Mom! Can we get out the blankets? We want to play monsters!"

"Sure!" I said, not really sure what blankets had to do with monsters, but giving myself a mental high five. After taking a sick day the day before (thank you, PBS!), my goal was to keep the TV off for another ten minutes, ten minutes at a time, for as long as I could. Whatever this "monsters" game was, it would take up at least ten minutes, easy.

"C'mon, W! Help me!" E shouted, and together they pulled every single blanket, from the 2x3 cuddly baby blue blankets to the 5x7 afgans, replete with my college alma mater, out of the cabinet and onto the floor.

I folded diapers and watched my boys play together, giggling and shrieking with laughter as they stomped on blankets and put them on their heads, calling out, "I'm a monster! I'm a monster!" (or for W, "Monssa! Monssa!"). And then, as I was thinking about how wonderful it was to listen to their laughter, I glanced up to see W trip - over a blanket, over a toy, I have no idea - and fall face first into our coffee table, then flat to his back. I didn't jump up right away. He and E have both bonked their heads on the coffee table more times than I can count - the very one that Hubby and I bought during our engagement because it's rounded corners made it 'so safe' for our future children - and usually a quick, "Oh, wow! Are you okay?" and a kiss has them up and running again.

But this time, instead of getting up, W cried harder, and I noticed a perfect red line, about an inch long, under his lip. Thinking he must have busted his lip during the fall, I looked inside his mouth and found he had bruised and slightly cut himself. I looked back at the red line, now thick, and wondered how the blood would have gotten there from his mouth. Then it dawned on me. This is a different cut. And it's deep. I picked him up and ran to the kitchen for cloths, ice, water, whatever my brain could remember to do for cuts, yelling to my husband, who had been sleeping off a night flight, "You have to get up! We need to go to the ER!"

Bleary-eyed but quick, he entered the kitchen to find W screaming, E crying (both in sympathy and fear, I think), and me on the verge of tears, applying a cold cloth to W's wound. After a quick look, he agreed. W needed to see a doctor.

We spent a few frantic moments running around the house, grabbing everything we needed, while E followed Hubby, repeating, "The Doctor will fix him," in a creepy Dalek voice until Hubby couldn't take it anymore. (In E's defense, I had told him the doctor would fix W to help him calm down, and my husband wasn't responding. In Hubby's defense, he and I have been watching a lot of Doctor Who lately.) Once everyone was ready, we realized there was actually no point in all of us going; the best option was for me to take W by myself.

By the time we got to the hospital, W had stopped crying and was barely bleeding. I really shouldn't have been surprised. My kids always stop showing symptoms the second we walk into a doctor's office (which is not often, considering 9 times out of 10 there's not much a doctor can do). At the pediatrics clinic on base, that's fine. At the ER, not only do I look like a crazy, over-protective mother, they send out a bill. Still, I stuck with my gut instinct and waited for the nurse to call us back.

As it turns out, I may be crazy, but I was right to take him. After the doctor examined him, she brought in a couple nurses to wrap him in a blanket, burrito-style, and hold him down, while she cleaned the wound and applied the dermabond. I honestly think W was more traumatized by the treatment than he was the cut, but as soon as we walked out the door, he was back to his cheerful self, pointing out cars and trucks and airplanes.

Me, I'm still a little traumatized. Certainly there are mothers who have been through much, much worse, and W's cut was minor, in comparison. But seeing my baby bleeding, not being able to fix it; it was scary. And knowing that my beautiful child will now have a tough guy scar under his lip breaks my heart a little. They say that raising girls is hard, but I will tell you the truth. Boys are not "easy" for this Mommy.

Confession #10: I haven't been feeling like a Super Mommy lately.

2010-11-12T14:03:00.000-06:00

I love my children, love them with an intensity I didn't know existed, but I do not want to see their gorgeous faces before 7am. And to be honest, 7:30 or 8 is more my style. Knowing Daylight Savings Time ended Sunday, and that 7am would soon bear a striking resemblance to 6am, I spent last week preparing my boys for the time change. Each night, I moved bedtime up 10 more minutes. The next day, each of our major time stamp events (wake up, rest time, and all our meals) occurred just a little bit earlier than the day before.

Yes, that's right. I said earlier. When W woke up from his two hour nap at 12:45pm Friday afternoon, a switch flipped, and I suddenly realized I had been training my kids all week long to wake up at 5am Sunday morning.

That's when I burst into tears.

Now, I realize that screwing up the time change is not that big of a deal, and while I can't laugh about it quite yet, it's okay if you do.

The thing is, the time change is just one piece of the puzzle. For the past month, I've just felt off. Impatient. Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Quick to frustration. Quick to tears. I know that a lot of it has to do with the uncertainty our family is facing in regards to my husband's next assignment, his upcoming deployment, and whether we should try for a third baby. Independently, each of these issues would be weighty for me, but combined...I'm struggling, and I don't feel much like a Super Mommy.

So please forgive my silence. I haven't quit writing - it's one of my favorite hobbies - and I have a long list of ideas for posts. But whether it'll be a few days or a few weeks before I dust off the cape again, I can't say for sure. What I do know, is that naptime is over for today, and there are two gorgeous faces I need to go see.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T12:37:00.001-05:00

In case you were wondering...

E's final Jack-o-Lantern design in 3D

Mr. Pumpkin Head

2010-10-28T12:22:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl, every year at Halloween my parents gave my sister and me a sheet of paper, a pencil, and a task: sketch our Jack-o-Lantern blueprint.* The design could be anything we chose, within the realm of possibility (aka, something my engineer dad could carve). For some reason, I remember these planning sessions better than I remember any other part of Halloween. I wouldn't say that we were particularly creative - eyes, nose, and a toothy grin were standard - but having my drawing turned into a 3D reality was more exciting than anything else about the holiday.

This year, I wanted my boys to experience that same feeling. They are a little young for that kind of free-range planning and pencil work, but with the Mr. Pumpkin Head activity I put together, they can design their very own Jack-o-Lantern.

Mr. Pumpkin Head

For each child, you'll need one sheet of orange construction paper, one black foam sheet, sticky magnetic paper, a pencil, and scissors. If you'd rather not free-hand, grab some shapes to trace.

Draw or trace shapes for the eyes, nose, and mouth on the black foam, including some different options for each feature.

Cut out each shape, then cut small pieces of the sticky magnetic paper to attach to the back of each once. I used 3-4 pieces on the mouths.

Cut out a pumpkin, in roughly the same shape as your actual pumpkin, using the orange paper. Ours is kind of short and squat, but yours might be tall and thin. Get out a cookie sheet and put all of the pieces on it, and you're ready for your child to make their magnetic design!

I went ahead and made a Mr. Pumpkin Head, so that when E found it after rest time, he would know what he could do with it.

E and W have had lots of fun making all sorts of faces with their Mr. Pumkin Heads this week, but I can't wait until pumpkin carving time. Something tells me they are going to LOVE seeing their daddy make their designs a reality.

*This probably explains a lot about me.

Quick! Look Over There!

2010-10-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

Can I distract you from my absence with cute pictures of the boys?

Can a 16 month old be that cool? W says, "Ya!"

Concentration.

Did it work?? Hmmm... Well, let me try these.

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Yes?? No. Oh well. I know I haven't posted in awhile, but I have a very good excuse: traveling 3,000 miles over the course of 12 days with an almost 3 year old and a 16 month old does not lend itself well to writing. Nor did the five loads of laundry or three page grocery list I faced when we got home. But now that everything is in its place and I've gotten a chance to rest a little, I'm ready to write again. I mean, assuming I don't get distrac... Ooooh! Facebook!

Yoga For The Stay-At-Home Mom

2010-10-06T07:30:00.001-05:00

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P is for Pumpkin!

2010-10-01T13:54:00.001-05:00

Ahhhh...it's finally FALL. And if your kids are like mine, Fall = Pumpkins! Or, as W says, "Balls!" (That he gets to see "balls" whereever he looks, has been the highlight of every trip to Walmart for the past month!) I've seen lots of great Fall crafts for the toddler and preschool age groups on some of my favorite blogs over the past few weeks: apple garlands, paper mache pumpkins, and one with colored leaves that I will definitely try once the leaves start changing color here...so probably November. But since we'll be visiting the grandparents later this month, I wanted to do craft that the boys could give as a gift. Because my boys love pumpkins, I settled on Pumpkin Paper Weights. (Because really, what self-respecting grandparent doesn't love a good ol' homemade paperweight? That's right - they ALL do!)

To get ready for the craft, I read P is for Pumpkin, one of E's favorite books about Fall. It combines the alphabet, Jesus, and has cute rhymes and illustrations. When we finished, he couldn't wait to do the craft! Luckily I had already made the dough* while the boys were napping, using a classic recipe I got from my friend, Margery, back when E was a tiny guy, so we were able to jump right into pumpkin making.

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/3 cup table salt
1/3 cup water
2 tsp olive oil

Directions: Squeeze the mixture together and pat into a ball.

Violá

I split the dough into three sections (one for each of us), reserving a little bit for stems, and let the boys have fun rolling and mashing the dough and making whatever sculpture they wanted, while I preheated the oven to 350.

W was not entirely certain what we were doing, but he was pretty psyched.

E squeezing his dough.

When it came time to make the pumpkins, the boys used their palms to flatten the dough into a circular-ish shape, then pressed the stem into their shapes. Pretty easy!

I transferred the pumpkins to a parchment paper lined baking sheet, then used a fork to poke tiny holes on the back of the shapes. While older children could probably do this step, I was pretty sure my kids would accidentally mutilate their pumpkins. I've learned through experience that forgetting to poke holes makes for squishy air-filled shapes - not what you're looking for in a paper weight.

W's pumpkin on the left, E's in the middle, and mine is on the right.

Even with E only using part of his dough to make the pumpkin,

MINE is the least "pumpkin" looking out of all of them!

Not that I'm bitter or anything...

Bake the dough pumpkins for 30 minutes at 350. If they have air pockets after that time, use a fork to make a couple more holes in the bottom, and bake for 5 more minutes. Let cool.

Although we could have painted the shapes as soon as they cooled, we waited a couple days to stretch out the fun...and the attention spans. On painting day, instead of breaking out the orange, I decided to add color mixing to the activity. I was 95% sure E didn't remember how to make orange, so he and I sat down at the computer and went to the PBS Kids website to do a little color mixing with Curious George. I'm not a big fan of E playing computer games, but this was a relatively fast and much cleaner way for him to figure out how to make orange, especially since it took him several tries to combine the right colors.

With our orange paint mixed and paintbrushes ready, the boys began covering both sides of their pumpkins.

Happy to be painting

W's first time with an actual paintbrush.

It was a little messy, but the paint came out in the wash.

Teething baby + Paintbrush = Not such a great idea.

(We did catch him before it went in his mouth!)

And the pacifier goes back in...

After another mini-session with George to figure out how to make brown paint, the boys finished up their pumpkins, and we left them to dry.

Once dry, I took them outside and sprayed them with 3 or 4 coats of sealer (which I found in the craft section of Walmart), letting them dry between coats. The sealer makes the paper weight sculptures shiny, waterproof, and keeps the paint from rubbing off.

Doggie checking out the art work.

Once dry, the boys inspected their final products and, as usual, were pretty happy with their work!

Now that our Pumpkin Paper Weights are finished, we're ready to visit the grandparents!

If you decide to do this craft too, please let me know! Happy Fall, everyone!

*Note : The homemade play dough can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator in plastic wrap for up to two weeks.

Lunch Fun

2010-09-29T13:37:00.000-05:00

Lunchables have always looked like so much fun to me. They have those buttery crackers and matching circular pieces of ham or turkey and cheese. Kids can stack them in towers or eat them separately. Playing with your food is pretty much mandatory with Lunchables, and who doesn't love that?!

But - here's what I don't love - they also have high levels of fat and sodium. Comparing the few boxes I saw in the grocery store, the total fat ranged from 13g – 18g and the sodium levels ranged from 750 to 1300 mg. To give you a clearer picture of what those numbers mean, they are approximately half of the recommended daily allowance of both total fat and sodium in a 2,000 calorie diet, making them a not-so-healthy lunch. When you consider that the 2,000 calorie standard was developed for adults, not toddlers and children, those numbers look even worse.

I knew I could make a healthier version for my boys using 100% whole wheat bread, sliced deli cheese, natural ham, and a few cookie cutters.

When you're choosing your cookie cutters, make sure they have sharp edges to cut through the meat and that they're fairly small, so that you can get several pieces out of your food. I preferred using the hearts because I was able to cover more surface area, but E liked the way I turned the circle scraps into moons, to avoid wasting food.

Homemade Lunchable Fun
(serves 2)

Ingredients:

2 slices whole wheat bread
2 slices deli cheese
2-3 slices of ham, depending on the shape of your cookie cutter.

Directions:

Cut shapes into each ingredient using a cookie cutter. (If you’re having trouble getting a clean cut through the lunch meat, add some pressure and wiggle the cookie cutter.)
Stack and serve!

If you're sending your homemade lunchables to school or daycare, they can be packaged in a reusable Ziploc container - either together in 2 or 3 cup containers, or separately in the 4 oz containers. Remind your child to bring the container home to be washed and used again!

These easy-to-make homemade lunchables are significantly healthier, clocking in with only 8g of total fat and 410mg of sodium, while keeping all the fun of the pre-packaged version. Even better, this is a recipe you and your kids can enjoy making together. Now...go play with your food!

Educational link:

For toddlers and pre-school students, sort by ingredient and count the pieces, then make your own patterns. You also can use different shaped cutters and for shape identification fun!
For pre-school or elementary students, discuss the phases of the moon and make edible depictions of all four phases!

I Didn't Notice.

2010-09-23T12:01:00.000-05:00

I didn't notice that I sigh and put my palm against my cheek when I'm tired or that I let my eyebrows do the talking. A lot.

My husband didn't notice that he stands with one hand in his pocket when he's talking to friends or that he crosses his arms and drums his fingers when he thinks.

I didn't notice that I rarely say, "yes" - it's usually mm-huh or yep or sure or yeah. Nor did I notice how often I say, "Not right now" or "I don't think so" or "Let's do ..." instead of, "No."

My husband didn't notice how he wrinkles and wads his napkin while he eats, or that he uses both hands to lightly pat his face with water, after shaving.

I didn't notice that my lips go smack with each kiss I give, or that I always - always - tell Hubby I love him before he goes to work. And he says, "I love you, too."

But E did. He noticed it all.

I recently heard someone say, "The most important stage in the world is our own living room," and I can't get that simple truth out of my head, because one thing is for sure. Whether good, bad, or neither, our children are noticing everything.

What are some of the things your children have surprised you by noticing?

Making Tracks

2010-09-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

I am not artsy. Yes, I do the knitting thing, but that feels more like math than art. Knitting is a formula. I can count on the same solution every single time I cast on. Art, however, is a total crap shoot. The only thing I can guarantee is that no matter how hard I try, my creation that will not turn out the way I pictured it. And for a control freak like me, that means one thing. Stress.

But my children are little. They love to paint and scribble and make things beautiful. That they have no doubts that what they're making IS beautiful, is a true gift. Art, for them, is fun and exciting, and in an effort to keep it that way, I try to give them* lots of opportunities to do artwork. It's a challenge to find projects for W, but making tracks is something he can do. I broke out all the materials a couple weekends ago, for some family time together.

E is a pro at animal track art, having done it a few times before. He chose the paper and paint, picked out a few animals to share, and pointed out where he wanted Hubby to draw each part of the landscape: the tree, the pond, and the mountain. Then, he got busy making tracks.

Why, of course the sheep would hang out with his good friends,

t-rex and tiger, in the forest!

This was W's first time making animal tracks, and even though he was pretty sure ripping the paper was part of the plan (it wasn't), he caught on quickly and loved painting!

W making ostrich tracks.

My biggest surprise, was that E spontaneously made up a story as he painted. The t-rex drank from the pond and declared that he liked to "eat meat," but stayed away from his friends sheep and cow, who enjoyed eating the grass. The buffalo walked up to the mountain and took a nap.

I began to see how this "toddler" art project could be extended into early elementary grades as a language arts writing activity.

When they finished, W before E, we wiped them down with a washcloth and let their artwork dry.

E's final art work.

W's final artwork. Some little fingers came

walking through right after the ostrich!

Their paintings now hang by the front door, making our home beautiful.

*Them, being the key word. I try to stay out of the decision-making process as much as possible, and keep my comments focused on what I see. It was hard at first, but seeing E's confidence grow has helped me keep my mouth shut!

Talk Like That

2010-09-13T14:07:00.001-05:00

Generally speaking, Hubby and I do not say anything around our boys we wouldn't want to hear from their mouths. But a few weeks ago, I was exhausted from too little sleep and too much twoish-ness, and I found myself unable to close my big trap. Now, I'm paying.

It went down kind of like this.

Act ONE

Scene: Our living room, 10:00am on a Wednesday morning, a couple months ago. Toys are strewn around the room and my two children are following me around, whining, rather than playing.

Me: Okay, guys. Let's get these trains cleaned up, and then we'll go outside!*

E: NOOOOOOOOO!! (loud shriek) NO, I NOT CLEAN UP! (loud shriek)

Me: E, you do NOT talk to Mommy like that.

And that is where I made my mistake. Because within a couple days, those few words came back.

Act TWO

Scene: Our living room, 3:30 on a Wednesday afternoon, the following week. The sun is shining through the windows, and my two children have just finished snack.

Me: Okay, guys! We need to go to the grocery store! E, will you pick out the shoes you want to wear, please?

E: NO! You don't talk at E like that!

Me: (speechless.)

Really. I had no idea what to say to that, and not just because I was asking him nicely, making his stern order completely nonsensical.

Of course, you know it didn't happen just that once. The first few times, I was so surprised, I said nothing. The next couple times, I intentionally ignored it. When I realized my silence was being construed as compliance, I knew I had to say something.

But what?

No, you don't talk to ME like that! doesn't seem like the right way to go.

Nor does, I can talk to you however I want! I'm the Mommy! Regardless of how much I want to say it, it doesn't really promote my "we are all kind/respectful/blah blah blah to each other" agenda.

I often use Can you think of another way to say that? when he screams or yells or whines. When I first started, I had to supply him with ideas, but now he usually answers politely on his second...or third...attempt. So far though, it's not working on our new issue. Maybe because he doesn't really understand exactly what he's saying? Or do I need to help him come up with some new ideas for responses?

The way I have ended up handling the situation is to remind him: We do not scream or yell. Then I repeat whatever I asked him to do the first time. But I don't like it. It doesn't address the real issue. Or does that really matter, since he is trying out something he's heard? And trying it out, and trying it out...

At any rate, E shouting, "Don't talk at me like that!" is driving me CRAZY, and I'd like to know, how would you handle it?

*This "Do something not-so-fun, then do something fun" trick usually works really well in our house. Notice there is no "if" - the expectation is that the child will do what you're asking, and in my experience as a teacher and a mother, children do strive to meet expectations within their ability level, especially if they know you are not going to give in or change the rules. The "fun" is a given, not a reward. After all, we're a fun family, so we do fun things! It's just that sometimes we have to do those not-so-fun things, that are a part of life, first.

Quick Bolognese

2010-09-09T14:15:00.003-05:00

I know what you're thinking.

There is no such thing as "Quick Bolognese."

And while technically, that's true, this recipe will allow you to actually accomplish something else the day you make it. Like...leaving the kitchen.

A couple months ago, I stepped outside my follow.each.recipe.exactly comfort zone and combined a couple recipes from The Joy of Cooking, taking a few creative liberties along the way. The result was a Bolognese sauce that takes less than 30 minutes, and is pretty fantastic, if I do say so myself.

Pasta with Bolognese Sauce

(serves 6)

Ingredients:

2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
1 medium onion, minced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 lb lean ground beef
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 tbs dried basil
2 tsp dried oregano
2/3 cup chicken broth
1 to 2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
salt and ground pepper to taste
1 lb pasta (I usually make thin spaghetti for Hubby and me, and penne or elbows for the boys)
grated parmigiano or pecorino* cheese for serving

Directions:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, cook pasta according to the box.
After starting the water, heat olive-oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for two minutes, then add ground beef.

Once the ground beef has browned, add crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, and chicken broth, turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
Stir in sugar, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and cook a couple more minutes.
Mix sauce and pasta together to your preferred ratio, drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil on top, and serve with grated parmigiano or pecorino. Enjoy!

You can also saute a large carrot, peeled and minced, with the onion and garlic at the beginning of the recipe, but I skipped it because I don't really like carrots. (Don't tell my kids!)

I hope your family enjoys this Bolognese sauce as much as mine does!

*Pecorino, made from sheep's milk, is a great subsititution for parmigiano for anyone avoiding cow's milk...which, sadly, I am.

Drumroll, please!

2010-09-03T13:38:00.006-05:00

And the winner is...

Wait.

Before I get to that, I want to explain how the winner was chosen.

I had planned to use some fancy number generator from the Internet, but when I sat down find one, I realized how impersonal it was.* So instead, I cut identical squares of paper, each measuring 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches (those of you who know me, know this is completely true), wrote in each entry, folded each piece twice, and put it in the drawing box.

Then, I waited for E to get up from rest time.

When I explained what I needed, he was thrilled to help. At 2:10pm,** my lovely son carefully selected one piece of paper,

unfolded it, and showed me the winner.

Congratulations, Ali! I will contact you to mail the diaper cover!

Thank you to everyone that entered and everyone who reads my blog!

*Okay, I realized I didn't want to pay for a number generating service.

**Sorry I was a little late!

Diaper Cover Giveaway!

2010-08-27T12:52:00.003-05:00

I can hardly believe it, but I'm coming up on my one-year anniversary for Confessions of a Super Mommy. To thank all of you who choose to read my blog, I decided to do my first Giveaway...

a diaper cover, made by yours truly!

The cover is made from 100% fine merino, and is a size small. It is made to be worn over cloth diapers, but makes a cute cover for disposables as well! Wool is a fantastic fiber that keeps baby warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and this merino is SOFT!

Read more details about this cover at my other blog, Wild Mustard Seeds.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post "Diaper Cover Giveaway!"

For additional entries:

1. Become a follower of this blog - Confessions of a Super Mommy.
2. Become a follower of my other blog - Wild Mustard Seeds.
3. "Like" Confessions of a Super Mommy on Facebook.

For any of those additional entries, please make sure you leave another comment on this post letting me know you did 1, 2, or 3!

If you're already a follower here or on Facebook, that still counts! Just leave a comment so I know to include your extra entries!

Even if you're done having babies or aren't ready to start, please enter anyway! You never know when you'll need a baby shower gift for a special little girl!

I will pick a winner at random at 1pm Central Time on Friday, September 3!

Thank you so much for reading, commenting, supporting, and encouraging me over the past year!

Cattle Drive

2010-08-26T16:15:00.013-05:00

I know that when some of you saw the title of this post, you probably thought I was writing about herding toddlers...or organic beef...or maybe even another road trip.

But no.

Today we saw a Real. Live. Cattle Drive.

Through the Air Force Base.

Yes, really.

Every year, on opening day of the rodeo, cowboys and cowgirls come from all around to drive cattle right through the base.

First the cattle and the horses hang out in the ~~softball fields~~ holding area.

Daddies in flight suits leave their offices to share the excitement.

Cowgirls (and cowboys) bring their horses over for the little ones to pet, and even let them sit in the saddles.

Then, somewhat suddenly, the drive begins, with the base commander in the lead.

The cattle know exactly what to do...

even on an Air Force Base.

I know I talk a lot about how we live in the middle of nowhere,

but sometimes, it's the very best place to be.

The Deployment

2010-08-23T13:41:00.002-05:00

Well.......

He got it.

Four months in the sand, leaving this Spring.

And even though I am going to miss him terribly and the boys are going to miss him terribly, and he's going to miss us terribly...we have so much to be thankful for.

1. It really is a "good deal" deployment. The place he's going is safe, relatively speaking. He's deployed there before, and probably will again, so we know what to expect. The boys and I will be able to talk to him, and even Skype, every day. And although there will be days that 4 months seems like an eternity, compared to 6 months, 12 months, or forever - it's nothing.

2. Sometimes the countdown to the coming deployment is horrible. As one friend said, "It's like a spring that winds tighter and tighter every day." But for now, I'm thankful we have plenty of time to prepare. Time to record Daddy reading stories, time to buy a van, time for Hubby to teach me his recipes, time to organize the garage, just...time.

3. We have great family and friends. My mom is retiring in a couple months, so she'll be able to come for an extended visit, and we have lots of other family and friends to visit too - I have a feeling we'll be putting some miles on that van! And if you don't already know, let me be the first to tell you, Air Force wives are amazing. In the few days since we found out about the deployment, I've already had 5 invitations to dinner and an offer to mow our yard while Hubby's away. Not that I'll take anyone up on the yard mowing, but having the support of friends goes a long way towards survival.

4. Even though my husband's work is taking him away from us for a few months, I am so thankful that he has a job that faithfully provides for our family. In this economy, having no fear of lay-offs is a rare and wonderful gift.

5. My husband is worth missing. I am a very lucky girl to have found my bag, and I will not forget it.

All that said, I do have my worries. Sometimes I think that knowing he will walk through the door at 5pm is the only thing that keeps me sane. And my heart is already breaking for E and W; they are Daddy's boys.

So, sure. This isn't something we especially want to do, but we've had 4.5 years without a deployment, and its our turn. We can do this. We will do this. Proudly. And when it's over, we will hug and kiss and dance and sing and breathe.

A Toddler

2010-08-19T13:30:00.002-05:00

Every time I talk to my parents, my husband's parents, my sister, my best friend, my oldest son's teacher, my housekeeper, my check-out lady at the grocery store, they have one question for me.

Is he walking yet?

And for about six weeks, my answer has been,

Ummmm...kind of.

You see, six weeks ago was about the time that W was taking one step. One good step, and then falling straight down on his face. Then one day he was taking three steps, five steps, ten steps.

I never know what actually constitutes "walking," as opposed to taking steps. Two steps? Walking everywhere he goes? What's the cut off? Do I just like to make things complicated?

At any rate, I realized sometime last week - when I first saw him walk the entire way across the house without falling down - W is definitely walking. Sure, he's a little slow, but he chooses walking over crawling 75% of the time. That absolutely amazes me, because he is a FAST crawler. Oh, and because I thought he was still a baby.

It's not the best video, but I think you get the point: I have a toddler.

Dallas

2010-08-17T12:55:00.009-05:00

The Volvo, being 8 years old, finally developed a problem last week that needed the care of a specialized Volvo mechanic, which meant a 2.5 hour drive north, or a 4 hour drive south. We decided to go south to Dallas and make a weekend of it, taking the boys to museums and the pool, and eating at restaurants we could only dream about, living in the middle of nowhere, as we do. With temps in the 100s by 10am, 1/2 price admission day at the zoo, and a serious lack of sleep due to two early risers, it was not exactly the relaxing, end of summer, fun-filled family adventure I had hoped it would be. At least it wasn't for my husband and me. But for E and W...it was a BLAST! I know, because the last two nights E has talked straight through his bedtime song, barely taking a breath.

I rode a train! And I saw a tiger and he was schweeping! And I saw a goat on the dirt, and it was really so funny! And I see toucans! And the toucan eat a bewberry! And I saw sloth!

And I see sea horses...I see horses?...I saw sea horses! And W see sea horses!

And I saw crocodiles in the water! And they were like logs!

And I saw sharks, but I was really so scared. I don't like to see sharks. I like to see fish and sea horses. And I saw a dinosaur! And he bit me on the finger, right there, and it hurt! And E and W were CRAZY!

Excepting the dinosaur bite, it's all true - especially the CRAZY part, which he may or may not have heard a couple times on the way home. Let's just say, 4 hours is a long time to ride in a car with no DVD player, especially if your children are refusing to sleep. Still, I wouldn't have traded last weekend for anything. Spending time with our boys, seeing the world through their eyes, sharing in their excitement...that's what it's all about.

Confession #9: I ate my lunch in the bathtub today.

2010-08-12T15:11:00.002-05:00

I didn't sleep very well last night. It took me hours to fall asleep, then when my husband came to bed, I woke up for a couple more. I laid there trying all my methods: counting, deep breathing, intentionally relaxing my muscles. Eventually I guess one of those worked. Still, exhausted mommy is not a good mommy around here.

Last week was a tough one with E. He didn't nap at all during "rest time," which isn't a huge deal, but the fits were unbearable. E is not really one to throw fits often, but this was happening multiple times a day, every day. Hubby and I were re-reading parenting books every night, and somehow, through some combination of magical tricks, he stopped. The testing and boundary pushing hasn't stopped, but hey, he's two and a half.

W, at 14 months, is starting to test some boundaries of his own. Can I tell you how many times I caught him standing in a chair yesterday? Nine.

We have a deployment looming over our heads again. It's a "good deal" - and I can't even describe how much it sickens me that any deployment, in our current situation, would be considered a good deal. We're almost hoping my husband will get it so that all of these threats of deploying to somewhere worse, for longer, will go away for awhile.

With all of that going on, I decided to skip out on eating lunch with my boys today. I wanted to avoid requests to eat off my plate and I didn't feel like jumping up three times to get more water and answer the phone and wash faces. Instead, I cleaned the kitchen and got out a few things to pack for our weekend trip, taking care of their needs between tasks.

After I got them in their cribs for rest time, I made myself a sandwich, grabbed a few chips, sat in a hot bath , and ate my lunch. Life isn't so bad.

All About Me

2010-08-06T12:47:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago, my friend Dawn wrote about herself on her blog, Mommy Perspectives. I know what you're thinking. Aren't all mommy blog writers writing about themselves?? Well...yes. And no. As Dawn says, "We get so wrapped up in being a mom that many of us lose what makes up the rest of us." In writing about herself in a non-mommy way, she inspired me to do the same. Here are a few things you may not know about me.

I am a Christian. I require a lot of sleep. I go to bed around 9 - as in lights off - every night. I don't really enjoy cooking that much, unless I have the time to really do it right. I love to eat good food. I have one sister, and we are very close. I graduated 3rd in my class in high school, got a BA in Communications Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Masters in Elementary Education from Campbell. I taught for 7 years. I studied abroad in Italy in college, and taught in England for a year. I met my husband in Rome that year I lived in England. I never in a million years pictured myself married to a military man, but I know without a doubt he is the person God intended for me. I am very proud of my husband and everything he does for our country. I love to travel. I've visited 15 different countries and a fair bit of the US. I also love to come home and sleep in my own bed. I believe home is where the heart is. I like to knit and read, usually romatic comedies, in my spare time. I can't watch any of those murder drama shows, like CSI or Law & Order or NCSI because they give me horrible nightmares and I don't like seeing how terrible people can be. I stay away from the nightly news for the same reason. I don't watch very much TV, but my favorites shows are Modern Family and 30 Rock. I also love Mythbusters and Doctor Who. I don't like going to movies in theaters because I like to talk and ask questions while I'm watching. Intentional misspellings and backwards letters (like in Babies R Us) drive me crazy. I cannot stand clutter. I am almost never bored. I love to learn new things. I was once described by a friend as someone who follows the rules to the point of rebellion.

I'd love to hear who you are, when you're not busy being a Mommy.

A New Kitchen Sponge

2010-08-04T12:59:00.000-05:00

A couple months ago I got an email from a friend from high school. She said, "I was buying kitchen sponges today, and I thought of you."

Hmmm......................

Normally, this isn't the sort of reputation I shoot for, but when she went on to tell me that they were reusable "green" sponges, I decided to take it as a compliment.

I promptly went out to buy some and try them out. They were a little tough to locate, but eventually I found Libman's Scrubbing Bubbles 2in1 Kitchen & Dish Sponges hanging on a rack above the regular kitchen sponges in my grocery store. And I have to say...I love them!

Sponges have always been an issue for me. I love the way they clean and their small size (so as not to clutter up my countertop), but I also know they harbor disgusting germs. Hubby and I (okay, usually Hubby) used to put them in the microwave to sanitize them, but they still smelled funny afterwards, and I would end up throwing them away every week.

But these sponges are machine washable! That's right - just throw them in with your towels, and they come out germ-free and smelling clean! They are also covered in microfiber to help remove stuck-on food, and the corners are perfect for cleaning between fork tines and other tight spaces. I've rotated between my 2-pack for two months now, and they are still in great shape!

If you're looking for a "greener" way to do your dishes, try them out! And thank you, Tonya, for sharing your great find!

Reunited

2010-08-02T13:00:00.002-05:00

After a week of using disposables, can I just tell you how happy I am to be reunited with my...ummmm...I mean, W's cloth diapers???

I missed the colors...

And having virtually nothing to throw in the trash...

And their breathable-ness...

(It's okay to make up my own words, right?)

Ahhhh....Just sweet, bamboo and cotton cuteness
for my baby to pee in.

Who knew that this would be one of the best things about being home???

Friday Five

2010-07-30T13:50:00.000-05:00

After a spending a week visiting with family and attending our annual reunion, I have come to one conclusion...we live much too far away!

Dutch country. We spent the week in the Dutch country of Pennsylvania, near my cousin's farm, and it was gorgeous: green rolling hills, farms and pastures, and stone houses, like the one we rented. I really think I could live there...from May to September, anyway!

Photos. We took "one year photos" of W (just a month late!), and some of E too, in the backyard garden. We all loved the rocking horses! (And did I mention how green it was?!)

My fearless baby on the rocking horse.

I could just eat him up!

And him too...

Reunions. Every year, for at least the past 40, my great-grandparents nine children and their families have gotten together for a reunion. I think this is even more spectacular when you consider that my great-grandparents passed away around 30 years ago, and that only four of their children are still alive. The location changes every year, as different people take responsibility for hosting, and there are usually around 60 people in attendance, this year, ranging from age 13 months (my W) to age 83. Seeing my boys spending time playing with their cousins, aunts and uncles was so very special to me. And they had a blast!

Playing with his cousin's trains at the end of the day.

Not picky about teethers...

Good babies. Seriously. Sometimes they drive me absolutely crazy, but I really could not ask for better boys. It was in the 100s the day of the reunion, and even being outside all day long (in the shade, but let me tell you, it was still HOT!), they never once whined or cried. They slept great every night, and entertained themselves with only a quart-sized ziploc bag full of toys...just the toys, not the bag...anytime we weren't on the go. I am one lucky mama.

With my big baby.

Sleep. I didn't experience much of it on our trip, but maybe that makes me even more thankful for sleep. In fact, I think we all feel that way, because as we were walking through the terminal to pick up our luggage, E told us, "We're going home now. And we're going to sleep."

Zombie Hour

2010-07-26T17:00:00.001-05:00

It's 5pm. What are your children doing?

In my house, E is probably playing with his trains. Or pretending to cook dinner. (Chicken fried rice and smoothies are his specialties.) Or maybe watching Dinosaur Train, if I'm feeling like a nice Mommy today.

But W...he is guaranteed to be doing only one thing.

Some call it the witching hour. We call it the zombie hour.

He can be the happiest baby in the world, but the second he sees me starting to make dinner, my baby turns into a zombie. Tugging at my leg. Following me around the kitchen. Crying and speaking his baby zombie language, which I decipher to mean, Food! Food! I need food!

I'm not too worried. We went through the zombie hour with E too, and survived. Just...check on me if I don't post for a few days, okay?

*Why, yes! That is the whale print diaper I bought from BubuBebe!

SMOOTHIES!!!!

2010-07-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

The boys and I have become OBSESSED with smoothies over the past couple weeks, specifically the Strawberry Banana Smoothie on my friend Dawn's blog, Live Well Cooking.

The recipe is quick, easy, and I love how healthy these smoothies are. I make a batch every day, and we either drink them for snack or as a dessert, although I honestly think we would drink them nonstop if I allowed it. I really like that they aren't icy; they're more creamy, like a milkshake. I'm guessing that's because of the almond milk - something I had never heard of before making these!

Being me, I had to try a couple variations to the original recipe. I substituted whole milk plain yogurt for fat-free Greek yogurt because I wanted W to get those fats, which are important for brain development during the first two years of life. I also stopped using honey, after I forgot to add it one day and realized it was still sweet and delicious without it. (It might help thicken the smoothie though...sounds like a good science experiment!) We also tried out the recipe with frozen peaches, instead of strawberries. We had to add 1 1/2 to 2 cups to really bring out the peach flavor, but it was great that way, too!

Head on over to Live Well Cooking and add the smoothie ingredients to your grocery list. Dawn's also posted several other healthy recipes, but I'm going to have to wait on those...right now I hear the blender calling my name!

Spinning Wheels

2010-07-20T21:14:00.001-05:00

Some days I feel like I am spinning my wheels, getting nothing accomplished. Today was one of them. It was partly because I had specific non-child-related goals for the day: finish packing for our family reunion trip, get to a better stopping point on the diaper cover I'm knitting, and jot down a few thoughts for future posts. All between the hours of 8am and 6pm.

In addition to trying to accomplish those things, I had my normal daily tasks: cooking meals and making snacks, cleaning up hands and faces and dishes, and washing and folding loads of laundry before lunch, only to see the basket full again at bedtime. I changed diapers on one and helped the other with his pants at the potty. I straightened up toy bins, then straightened them up a few more times (with the lackluster help of a disinterested 2 year old), since the boys' favorite activity these days is emptying them.

And every time I tried to sit down to knit or write (or maybe check Facebook), I was mauled by little children, until in my frustration, I cried out,

"Oh, dear Lord!"

But instead of hearing it as a curse, God heard a request for help.

It was then, I was reminded that I'm not spinning my wheels. I am the spinning wheel. With His hand, I am turning my children into precious threads.

And I stopped. I put down the yarn and put up the computer. Those things can be done another time...or never at all. This is not to say that my boys should not learn patience or that my interests aren't important. But teaching my children the daily lessons about caring for others and that they are worthy of my attention...those are things that can't wait. So I will keep spinning.

The "Coop"

2010-07-19T12:34:00.001-05:00

When we first moved to the middle of nowhere 2 1/2 years ago, not being able to buy locally grown vegetables or organic meat was a huge surprise for me. Somehow, I equated farm land with fresh produce (wrong), and knowing we were in cattle country, I thought organic beef would be a given (wrong, again). While I had never placed a lot of importance on those things before, having a new baby brought healthy eating with quality ingredients to the forefront of my mind. I asked friends and members in our church, but although many shared my frustration, no one knew where we could buy those sorts of things. After a visit to the farmer's market, which had a grand total of 5 stalls, I kind of gave up on the idea of using organic, or even local, ingredients to make our family meals, except for the few items I could find in our grocery store. When I saw pictures on Facebook of friends' co-op orders, or read about their amazing dinner with veggies fresh from the farmer's market, I was jealous. Why couldn't we have something like that here?

It turns out, we do have state-wide Food Cooperative! But like so many of my friends, I just didn't know about it until a couple months ago, when my friend Kelly learned about it at a book club meeting, of all places. When I visited their website and read the tag line, "From our family farms to your family table," it sounded like exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. Looking further, I saw meats, fruits, vegetables, honey, dairy, and eggs, many of which are organically grown or pesticide-free, and all of which are locally grown or produced!

We paid a yearly membership fee and joined the "coop," as we like to call it. I'm sure each cooperative does things a little differently, but ours uses an online order form, which is so easy and allows you to learn more about each producer. They deliver once a month to a pre-arranged location, where my husband picks up our order. We've enjoyed grape tomatoes, organic filets, whole cornish hens, New Mexico style tamale dinners (which probably aren't that healthy, but taste amazing!), fresh peaches, and some of the best corn I've ever had - to name just a few! So far we are supplementing our regular grocery shopping with our "coop" order, but we hope to buy more local meats and produce every month. It shouldn't be hard...every order has been fantastic!

To search for a food cooperative in your area, try Cooperative Grocer or the Cooperative Directory Service.

I used the peaches from last week's order to make my favorite peach cobbler recipe, from Home Plate Cooking, by Marvin Woods.

Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
4 cups sliced peaches with juices
1 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped cream or ice cream for serving

Directions:

Place the butter in a large casserole or cast-iron skillet and put it in a cold oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. (If the peaches are not juicy and sweet, sprinkle them with some of the sugar.)
Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the remaining sugar, milk, and vanilla extract and stir until evenly blended. When the butter has melted and the oven has reached 350 degrees, pour the batter all at once into the dish and add the peaches and juices to the center of the batter.
Return the dish to the oven and bake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick poked into the batter comes out clean, about 1 hour. Serve hot, war, or at room temperature with whipped cream or ice cream. Enjoy!

Friday Five

2010-07-16T13:40:00.000-05:00

When my mom and sister were here, I was reminded again how much I wish we lived closer to each other - and not just because Hubby and I got to spend our first night away from the boys in over two and a half years! My sister, awesome photographer that she is, took all the photos representing five things I'm thankful for, from their visit this week.

Little feet.

Thanks to lots of hard work with Grandma, W is taking 3 and 4 steps at a time, all on his own!

Happy Boys.
Is there anything better than happy little boys at home?

I think not.

And Grandma & Auntie were the biggest part of that.

Baby Wisps.
We are planning to get W's hair cut for the first time this weekend, if we can force ourselves to go through with it...and I do mean "we." I think Hubby is having a harder time with the idea than I am. We just love W's wispy baby hair.

Lots of playing outside...

especially when I was cooking. It was so peaceful in the kitchen for a change!

Learning to swing.

I absolutely love seeing my boys play with

their grandparents (and Auntie).

It's one of my favorite things, any week of the year.

Failure is Always an Option

2010-07-14T13:45:00.000-05:00

If you're a Mythbusters fan, like we are, you've seen Adam wear a lot of funny t-shirts. One of my favorites says, "Failure is always an option." That shirt always made me laugh (if you watch the show, you know why), but after listening to his explanation on a recent special, I've decided to adopt the quote as part of my parenting theory.

When Adam says, "Failure is always an option," what he means is that, despite research and careful planning, sometimes an experiment doesn't go the way you want it to go, or even how you predict it might go, and that's okay. Failure isn't a negative thing. It's a learning experience. You take the data you gathered, tweak your process as necessary, and try again. And sometimes again after that. Each time, you learn something new.

As someone who has a lot of learning experiences under her belt, I can tell you, E's transition to a big boy bed was a definitely a failure.

The first few days went well. Then, he stopped napping. Instead, he would knock on his door, turn on the light, play with his white noise machine, and ask to go to the potty every fifteen minutes. At two and a half, I know he won't take a nap every day, but sleeping at night is non-negotiable, and that's the next thing that went. He was staying up late (mainly to knock on the door), falling asleep on the floor, waking up later, confused and upset, and then waking up very early in the morning, at which point he would knock on his door again and wake everyone in the house. All of these things are irritating, but because E is very much like his Mommy, the worst part was that he was an emotional wreck from the sleep deprivation. Yep, we were having a great time over here.

After almost two weeks of this, I was lying in bed not sleeping because E was not sleeping. I was so frustrated. We had tried so many different things to get him to stay in bed and nothing worked. As I considered threatening to take away the big boy bed, the thought crossed my mind...maybe he wants his crib back. I decided to ask him first thing in the morning. And do you know what? He did.

Changing his bed back into a crib has been a good thing for our family. Even though he knows he can climb out, so far he seems to want to stay there. He's spent the past week catching up on sleep. He's happy. We're happy. In a few months, we'll try the big boy bed again, hopefully with better results. Still, failure is always an option...and that's okay.

Relaxing in his crib.

Cleaning everything out to sleep.

Pretending to sleep. (I didn't realize how his pajamas blended with the sheets!)

Awake and ready, but still in the crib!!!

Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken

2010-07-05T12:59:00.000-05:00

My stepmom is the kind of person who will sit down on a Saturday afternoon, scroll through online recipes, and decide what to make for dinner that night. I am not. If I don't know what we're having by 10am, that means we're probably having sandwiches for dinner. But like I've always heard, if we were all the same, the world would be an awfully boring place, and that couldn't be more true in this case. You see, not only does my stepmom find these delicious dishes, she also shares the recipe, making it easy for me to add variety to our regular dinner rotation. The last time we visited, she found the recipe for Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken on allrecipes submitted by Lisa Ramos.

This is one of those easy meals that everyone in our family enjoys. It might have something to do with the cup of heavy cream that makes up the sauce (concentrate on the extra calcium, not the fat!), but honestly, the chicken is so good I've thought about making it on its own. Although an hour is longer than I generally like to spend making a weeknight dinner, baking the chicken ahead of time makes my life much easier at 5pm. I usually serve it with broccoli or a side salad, but next time I might go wild and add asparagus to the pasta. If you beat me to it, let me know what you think!

E refuses to look at the camera, but nothing comes between him and food!

Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 lemon, quartered
2 teaspoons garlic powder, divided
1 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth (I like Swanson's reduced sodium brand.)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (2-3 lemons, depending on their size & ripeness)
1 (8 ounce) package rotelle pasta*
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
3 Roma tomatoes, diced**

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place chicken in a lightly greased baking dish. Squeeze lemon over both sides of the chicken breasts and season both sides using 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Bake for 40 minutes, or until juices run clear and chicken is no longer pink inside.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, season the chicken broth with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil and add lemon juice and pasta. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all liquid is asorbed, about 25 minutes.

Cut cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and stir into cooked pasta, along with the cream, lemon zest, and tomatoes. Cook, stirring, over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Stir thoroughly before serving.

*Rotelle is a small, wheel shaped pasta. We use rigatoni, instead.

**Tomatoes are not in the original recipe, but makes the dish a little brighter, and much better, in my opinion.

Friday Five

2010-07-02T18:34:00.001-05:00

It's been a tough week to be two in our house. I know, because it's been a tough week to be the Mommy of a two year old! Between shrieking when things don't go his way, ordering me around all day (cue the shrieking), and knocking on his bedroom door throughout rest time (cue my shrieking), E's cuteness has gone a looooong way towards keeping him alive this week. To that end, I'm dedicating this week's Friday Five to some things that make me thankful I have a two year old in the house.

Questions. Several times a day, every day, E asks me, "What are you doing, Mommy?" I answer. I'm making dinner. Cleaning up. Folding clothes. Emailing Auntie Lissa. Whatever answer fits. He listens and waits. "What are you doing, E?" I ask. "I'm doing GREAT!" Alright, so he doesn't really understand the question, but hearing how happy he is never fails to put me in a better mood.

Answers. E woke up Tuesday morning a little out of sorts. So much so that he kept asking to get back in bed while he sat on the potty. When I helped him get down and asked if he wanted to put on some underwear before going back to bed, he cried, "No...I want to sleep in my penis!" Which is exactly what I let him do. After I stopped giggling.

Teaching. E helped me teach W to sign the word "please" this week! W's version is to pat his tummy with both hands like a fat old man at the end of the meal...and I love it! That baby is overboard with cuteness! (Okay, I admit it. I totally sneaked in this one about W, but E really did help me.)

Praise. Before dinner last night I helped E wash his hands. As we were drying them off, he looked into my eyes and said seriously, "Good job, Mommy, on cooking our dinner for us." I make dinner most weeknights, but it's so nice to be appreciated for the little things.

Compliments. This morning Hubby made breakfast while I got ready. When I came into the kitchen, E welcomed me with, "Hey, Mama! You're looking really nice!" - completely unprompted, my husband swears to it! Now that's the way to start off the day.

Sooooooooooo....I think I'm going to keep him. Two-ish-ness and all.

Family Trip Calculator

2010-07-01T12:45:00.005-05:00

With the holiday weekend coming up, I thought some of you might appreciate some help preparing for your family's travels. I can't pack your suitcases (I have enough trouble packing mine!) and I can't entertain your children, but I can share this handy equation for determining your travel time, developed by my friend, Scott. (He's an accountanting genius and father of three girls, so you know it's true!)

Family trip calculator:
(Arrival time on GPS upon departure)
+(1 hr x # of children)
= Actual Arrival Time

In light of that, we'll be spending the 4th of July...

running through sprinklers,

playing in the water table,

and relaxing at home.

Wishing everyone a safe holiday weekend!

Sleep Tight

2010-06-28T13:13:00.000-05:00

Becoming a mother is a wonderful thing. But if you have any sense at all, you're also nervous about that little bundle of joy, long awaited and much loved, who is about to turn your world upside down and spin it around on its head. Although every baby is a family adjustment, none is more shocking than your first. Mommies-to-be ask everyone they know for advice about what to expect and how to prepare. I know I did, and I loved it when friends would give me specifics! ("You'll figure it out," stressed me beyond belief! What do I do before then?!) So when my friend Jennifer, who is expecting her first child in just a few weeks, asked me about bedtime routines, I shared what worked for us. I told her about swaddling and white noise, and then I told her something I always forget to share. I told her to choose a bedtime song.

Before E was born, my friend Tara gave me the Celine Dion CD, Miracle. I'm generally not a Celine Dion fan, but neither is she, so when she told me she liked to listen to it while she was preparing her son's nursery, I figured I should give it a try. The first night we were home from the hospital, I popped it in the player during E's "bedtime" feeding.

It was beautiful.

My post-partum hormones may have had a little something to do with it, but tears streamed down my face as I listened to the words of each song, words that so perfectly described how I felt about my precious baby boy.

Over the next few weeks, E & I listened to that CD every night. We transitioned from playing it through the entire bedtime routine to rocking for just a few songs before I put him down. Eventually, we listened to only one, E's bedtime song: Sleep Tight.

Little did I know, defining a bedtime song for E was one of the best ideas I've ever had, and when W was born, I chose the same one for him without hesitation. It's a ritual with a clear beginning and end, impossible to stretch out. As much as I love cuddling and discussing their day, the hours after my sons go to sleep are gold. It's the only time I can talk to my husband without interruption, watch whatever I want on TV, and read for longer than 30 second bursts. And let's face it, when the day is over, I'm done, so having a quick and reliable bedtime routine is important.

But what I really love about our bedtime song, even more than what it does for me, is how it comforts them. On a rare occasion, one of the boys will wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. Maybe they had a bad dream. Maybe they miss me. Maybe they're convinced it's time to get up, even though it most definitely is not. We try pacis, Tylenol, teething tablets, changing diapers, rocking - nothing works. Except that bedtime song. There's something about hearing their song that helps them relax and go back to sleep, without fail.

Having a bedtime song has made traveling easier too. We take our iPod and mini-speakers everywhere we go, and no matter where we are, playing that song is their cue that it's time to sleep. And it works!

If you're expecting, or if you're having difficulty with your current evening routine, try choosing a bedtime song. Because even away from home, even experiencing a birthday sugar overdose (Sorry about that, W!), even the first night in a big boy bed (E did great, by the way!), the bedtime song works magic for us.

My Babies Before Bed

Friday Five

2010-06-25T14:14:00.004-05:00

Five things I'm thankful for this week...

Good eaters. It's no secret that E and W's favorite hobby is eating. At lunch on Monday, I made calabaza, a New Mexican dish that includes corn and zucchini, to go along with their sandwiches. That night, my Hubby, who was sad he missed it, asked if it was good. E answered, "No, Dada. It was not good...It was DELICIOUS!" (And really, it was! I ate it and I don't even like zucchini!)

Brothers. The older they get, the more E and W play together without me...and I LOVE it! Yesterday they were pushing their ride-on trains around the house. W, who isn't walking on his own yet, lost his balance and fell to the floor. I listened for crying, but what I heard was "It's okay, W. Try again!" and when I peeked around the corner, I saw E helping W stand up. I can only hope they will continue to be there for each other, as they grow up.

First steps. I guess all that practice pushing the train paid off, because W took his first unassisted steps last night - as in one step, fall down, get up, one step, fall down...you get it. Sure, the second step didn't go well, but that first one was pretty steady! I'm one proud mama!

Big boy beds. Yes, I am putting this on my list! If you read yesterday's post, you know how nervous I was about this transition. It turns out, E's a little bit like his Mommy in regards to change, because when my husband started removing the screws, he freaked! "No big boy bed! I don't want a big boy bed!" Shocked, I promised that if he didn't like it, we would turn it back into a crib, but when the front panel came off and the toddler bed rail went on, he was SO excited! As he climbed into his big boy bed for rest time, I reminded him to stay in the bed until I come back...and he's napping there now, as I write this! Wow! Hopefully tonight will go just as well!

Milestones. I've had a heavy dose of reality this week - my babies are growing up. W stopped nursing and took his first steps. No more cribs for E; he's sleeping in a toddler bed. Although those transitions have been a little difficult for me, it's exciting too. More independence leads to greater adventures...for all of us! And I'm so thankful I'm able to witness all these milestones.

My Big Boy

2010-06-24T13:22:00.002-05:00

"Hey! You're here!" he says, and slings his leg over the side of the crib, sliding down to the floor in under a second.

I sigh and try not to smile, not wanting to encourage this new trick, but thankful he waits for me to come in. E, on the other hand, is grinning widely. He's glad to see me, sure, but mainly, he's proud of himself.

E is two years and 7 months old. He's been potty trained for close to a year. He drinks out of real cups, not the sippie kind. He speaks in complete sentences and can dress himself...partially, anyway. I'm not sure when, exactly, I was planning to transition him to a big boy bed. Maybe sometime around his senior year of high school...I wouldn't want him to be the weirdo that sleeps in a crib in his college dorm room!

And really, there was no reason to make the transition before now. He sleeps 13 hours a night in his crib, and enjoys a good "rest time" there too, even when he doesn't nap. He's been happy; we've been happy. Who would mess with that?

But E's new trick tells me that even if my husband and I aren't ready, he is. Each time I've mentioned the toddler bed this week, he's more excited. So tomorrow night, my ~~baby~~ big boy will sleep in his new bed. He's growing up, and this is just the first transition of many that will be more difficult for me, than for him, I'm sure.

Reading before "rest time."

What did you do to make the transition from crib to big kid bed a smooth one?

And That's All, Folks

2010-06-21T21:08:00.002-05:00

I nursed W for the last time, this morning.

And even though I reached my goal,

and I'm ready,

and he's ready,

I can't help being a little sad.

My Bag

2010-06-20T13:18:00.003-05:00

Picking up my luggage from the airport baggage carousel is always the same for me. I see a bag and think, "Oh, is that my bag?" I check the tags, and nope, it's not mine. Then I see another one. It looks like it might be my bag, so I check those tags, and...wrong again. This may happen a couple more times, but when my bag finally comes through the curtain, I recognize it immediately. That's my bag.

The instant I met my husband, I knew. Now that I see him as a father to our children, it's even more obvious. He's my bag.

My husband is the kind of man that bathes the boys, gets them ready for bed, and pulls bedtime duty every night he's home.

He plays cars, builds train tracks, and reads the same story five times in a row.

He makes up songs, runs through sprinklers, and watches Dinosaur Train on a Saturday afternoon.

He puts things together, takes things apart, and fixes stuff when it breaks.

He shares the cooking, helps with the cleaning, and documents our lives with the most beautiful photographs.

He talks to our boys, listens to them, and teaches them what is right.

My husband is the kind of man that loves his family with all of his heart.

And that is definitely my bag.

Thank you for being a wonderful husband and daddy.

Happy Father's Day! We love you!

The Gift of an Ordinary Day

2010-06-19T14:41:00.005-05:00

If your week has been anything like mine, watch The Gift of an Ordinary Day.

Thank you to my friend, Caroline, for sharing this video with me and reminding me, again, to enjoy every minute.

I Need

2010-06-17T19:20:00.001-05:00

When I got up yesterday morning, it was calm and quiet. I leisurely brushed my teeth, washed my face, got dressed, and put on a little make-up. Then, the daily barrage began: feeding, clothing, cleaning, taking E to the potty, changing W's diaper, pre-cooking dinner, and preparing toddler crafts. From the time the boys woke up to the time we left for playgroup over two hours later, I was working non-stop.

My sister called as we were walking out the door. When she asked how I was, I told her, "I'm in a bad mood." I started explaining how I'd been running around all morning and hadn't sat down for more than 15 seconds, but mid-way through, I realized that wasn't the problem. I do most of those things everyday, and I'm certainly am not the only busy mommy in the world. No, the real reason I was in a bad mood is because I was exhausted from E's constant stream of "needs."

I need cereal!
I need a big one!
I need water!
I need clean up!
I need book!
I need yellow one!
I need Thomas!
I need go outside!
I need see airplanes!

I need, I need, I need,

Until I need to step out of the room to take a deep breath and count to ten!

Whew!

This "need" thing is new. E has been using that word for a few weeks, but it's only in past few days that it's become completely overwhelming. I don't really expect him to understand the difference between "needs" and "wants" at the age of 2 1/2, but I do expect him to recognize when I'm doing what he's asking. While I'm making breakfast, I hear, "I need waffle. I need milk now. No, I need applesauce." All of those things are part of his normal breakfast, but when he's firing a list of demands at me, repeating himself over and over while I'm making it, I want to scream! Not to mention W has his own set of needs, and to be honest, I do too. Coffee is important!

I know I created this situation. Or if not created, enabled. But now, it's time for things to change. I see it as a three part process.

Teaching E the language I want him to use. Instead of, "I need," I want to hear, "Can I please have..." or "I'd like the..." or even "I want." I think this is going to work most of the time, and hopefully it won't take long before it becomes natural for him to say what he wants in a different way.

Ignoring what I don't want to hear. I am a big fan of reflecting what my child is saying or feeling, so he knows he is understood, but in this case, it's just not working. When I'm doing something for him and he starts one of his "I need" soliloquies, I plan to tune him out, and calmly finish the task. When I'm doing something for W or myself, I'll explain that I can help him as soon as I'm done, then ignore him if he continues.

Time outs when he crosses the line. I don't expect it to happen often, but hitting, throwing things, and screaming when things don't go his way will result in instant time outs, as usual.

It feels good to have a plan. Now I just NEED it to work!

LA LA LA LA LA!

2010-06-15T14:04:00.006-05:00

***fingers stuck in ears***

I'M IGNORING YOU!!!!!

Okay, it's not exactly like that, and I really hope I don't jinx myself by saying this, but ignoring is working! While I can't say that W has completely stopped rocking his dinner chair, he is well on his way there. A couple weeks ago I was stopping him from rocking 5-6 times a meal...now I'm "ignoring" him once or twice a day. I'd call that significant improvement!

E seems to be on board...for the most part anyway. When he does join in on the rocking, I raise an eyebrow, then he stops and reminds us all that "Rocking is for horses." (I have no idea where that came from. He said it one day when W was rocking his chair, I agreed, and he's been saying it ever since.)

Another couple weeks, and hopefully W's rocking habit will be broken! I'm so glad. It's tough to ignore a face like this...

Adventures in {Baby} Food

2010-06-14T13:58:00.008-05:00

I'm excited to announce that I will be one of the contributing authors for a new online magazine, Adventures in {Baby} Food!

Adventures in {Baby} Food is full of great recipes and product reviews for families with children of any age. Written by real moms, this is a site that will help make your life easier and give you great ideas for feeding your kids fun and healthy food! The official launch starts this week with tons of great giveaways, so head on over, and check it out!

Click Links Below to Enter Giveaways

(Drawings take place 2 weeks after giveaways start,

so there's still time to enter!)

Rainbow Light Fiber Garden Gummies™ Giveaway

Munchkin Baby Food Grinder Giveaway

Little Grips™ Utensils Giveaway

My Plate-Mate™ Spill Guard Giveaway

organicKidz™ Stainless Steel Baby Bottle Giveaway

Tastybaby Organic Baby Food Giveway

Friday Five

2010-06-11T20:23:00.002-05:00

Five things I'm thankful for this week...

Grandparents. My boys have visited with all three sets of their grandparents over the past month. This is no small feat, considering each set lives a thousand miles away, and none in the same state as any of the others. I am so thankful that my sons are able to have these relationships with their grandparents. To know them and be known by them. To laugh and play and learn from them. It makes my heart happy.

Photography Skills. My husband always has a way of making me feel beautiful, even when I don't believe it. He gets all the credit for the new photo of me on the side bar.

Scissors. I had to have a mole removed today. This would not have been such a big deal, except that it was on my head. Not my face. My head. So when the nurse came in and told me she'd have to shave a spot, about the size of a 50 cent piece, right on the top of my head, I couldn't help but cry. Yes, I knew it was important to have the mole removed, that I could just part my hair a different way, or wear it in a pony tail for two years until it grew out. But it was still hard. She left, I guessed to give me a chance to accept my fate without an audience, but when she returned, she didn't have the razor. Instead, this lovely nurse had found another doctor, who used scissors to trim my hair around the mole. When my doctor finished stitching up the excision, there was no bald spot. I am so thankful for their true kindness.

Airplane. E has long been able to recognize "Daddy's airplane," but this week, he looked up and said, "I see airplane! I see a big one! I see a tanker airplane!" "Tankers" are the other airplane at our base, and for E to be able to distinguish between two aircraft, while they're flying, absolutely amazes me!

Birthday. W was part three in God's series for me entitled, "My plan for you is SO much greater than your plan." (In case you were wondering, part one was marrying someone in the military and part two was needing fertility treatments to get pregnant with E.) Celebrating his birthday this week reminded me, again, just how thankful I am for my little surprise.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby

2010-06-09T21:21:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby W,

From your first smile in the morning to your sighs at night, you bring such joy to my heart. You are such a happy baby, and I hope your love of exploring leads you to some amazing places. I love to watch you think and figure things out. You don't give up easily, and I pray that is a characteristic you keep your entire life. And your hugs...I could never tire of feeling your arms around me, squeezing me tight. Please don't ever be afraid to love with all your heart. Your presence in our lives has blessed this family more than you will ever know. Daddy, Evan & I love you so very much.

Mommy

Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby.

Rocking Chair

2010-06-07T14:26:00.002-05:00

W is 20 pounds of pure muscle. You don't believe me? Come over to my house any day, at any meal time. Just put him in his booster chair, snap on the tray, wait just a few minutes, and BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM. What's that? Oh, that's just W rocking his chair. OFF THE FLOOR! Seriously. Once he gets going, the front legs come at least an inch off the ground. So while the noise is annoying, and reason enough to want him to stop, my real concern is that he's going to tip the chair over and seriously hurt himself.

For two months, we've been working on breaking this habit of his, and at this point, we've exhausted all of our ideas. Here's a quick look at everything we've tried, progressing from sane to desperate.

Taking him out of the chair the instant he starts rocking. When he went through the food dropping phase, taking the tray off worked magically. He quickly learned that throwing food = no food. So when he started rocking his chair, I thought, I'll just take him out and that should fix it. I was wrong. He doesn't care a bit! And I think I know why. He likes to rock when he's done eating, so getting down is exactly what he wants. Other times, when he's just rocking for fun, he's quite happy to play with whatever is on the floor until it's time to "try again." Even when there are no toys in the dining area, he finds something to do...playing with a booster chair strap...crawling under the table...peek-a-boo with his bib. I guess I should be thankful he's so easily entertained, but it's really not helping our current situation.

Trying to hold the booster and/or chair down. This never works. I can stop him from rocking the chair, but he's strong enough to rock the booster, even while I'm holding it down. And then he just laughs. What a fun game, Mommy!

Adjusting the booster chair straps. I've mentioned before that my husband is an "engi-nerd," and I am not exaggerating when I say he can usually find a workable solution to any problem. But not this one. No matter how tightly or in what configuration he adjusts the straps, W can still rock the chair off the ground. He has even stuffed towels and toys behind the booster in an attempt to lock it down. No luck.

Moving the chair. Even with the chair backed up to the wall, he can rock it. Only, that way is scarier, because instead of falling back, it looks like he's going to tip onto his face.

Time out. Yes, I'm embarrassed to say, I did actually try sending my 11.5 month old to time out on the official time out mat. It was mainly to send a message to E, who, when he's not saying, "No rocking, Baby W!" is rocking right along with him. (W isn't the only copy cat around here!) Still, I was truly hoping it would work. It did not. I think W rather liked the challenge of trying to get around me and off the mat for that 30 seconds.

Facilitating a "natural consequence." I am not going to win any mother of the year awards by admitting this, but last week I pulled the chair back as he was rocking it. I was hoping to scare him out of rocking without the associated injuries of actually falling. It did scare him, but only through the next meal. By dinner he was rocking again, and when I tried my little trick again, he laughed. Hmmm...definitely did not work.

So, I am stuck. The only thing I can think of that I haven't tried is ignoring. In truth, it's because I'm terrified he's going to rock the chair right over and slam his sweet noggin into the tile floor, causing traumatic brain injury. I can just imagine our trip to the ER.

Yes, Doctor. He was rocking in his high chair, and turned the chair over. Oh yes, I was sitting right there beside him. No, I didn't do anything to stop him. I just let it happen.

And then they bring the shackles out.

But I don't know what else to do, so yesterday I started ignoring. He still rocked. And E still rocked. I said nothing. I didn't even look at him. Until he stopped rocking. And then I looked at him and made some cheery, unrelated comment, like, "Yummy! Those beans are delicious, huh?!" I've only practiced for one day, but I certainly felt better not repeating myself 10 zillion times, and only had a near heart attack once. I don't know that the rocking frequency has dropped, but the duration is shorter. I guess time will tell whether or not this ignoring thing will work.

Seriously though, if you know how to get him to stop rocking his chair tomorrow, please tell me!!!

Friday Five

2010-06-04T13:46:00.006-05:00

It's been a couple of weeks, but I haven't forgotten about Friday Five. Traveling with two little ones, then unpacking, cleaning, and getting settled after those travels, leaves little time for blogging. Now that I've fully recovered, it's time to reflect on some favorite moments from the past week (or three!).

Our New Mattress. I love, love, love sleeping on our new mattress. It was delivered just two days before we left for Virginia, so I barely got time to test it out before we left. Now that I've had a good week to sleep on it, I can't believe we waited so long! The pain I had in my lower back has just melted away. It is a miracle! And since the memory foam absorbs my husband's sleeping twitches, I'm sleeping better than ever before. If we could only do something about his snoring... :-) (edit to add: I am even more thankful for memory foam after last night. My poor, exhausted husband was able to sleep through all of my tossing and turning last night, at least when my coughing wasn't keeping him awake!)

Date Night. We don't get a lot of these, and to be honest, living in the middle of nowhere, we barely care. But while on our trip, we were able to go on a double date with my sister and her boyfriend. It was awesome! We got dressed up (a rare occurrence, these days) and ate at Glenwood Grill, a must, if you're ever in the Raleigh area. And while the food was fantastic, the company was even better. I don't think I had laughed that hard in a long time! I miss living near my sister so much, and I can't wait until she visits this summer!

The Water Table. Last weekend, W played in the water table for the first time ever...and he LOVED it. I loved hearing the squeals and giggles and splashes as he and E played together. Ahhh...my sweet boys...

Chocolate Icing. I'm not actually a fan of chocolate icing, but this picture E's mustache has had me cracking up for days. I love his oh-so-serious look! (Those of you who know me well are probably surprised I let E have chocolate at all, as you know what a spaz I am about sweets and junk food for my boys. All I can say is, it was a birthday party and, as time passes, I am relaxing a little...)

Copy Cats. Tuesday morning, I was helping E put his shoes on, when I saw that W had taken a pair of sandals out of the shoe cabinet and was trying to put them on his feet! I found some that actually fit him, and you have never seen a happier boy wearing big boy sandals! That night at bathtime, when E took his undies off, W tried to pull his diaper down. (Unsuccessfully, thank goodness. I'm not ready for that skill.) And so it's been the rest of the week. If E's doing it, W wants to do it too! Watching W copy cat his big brother makes my heart happy, as it shows how much he already loves him, and I'm so thankful for each day I get to watch these little boys grow up.

I'd love to hear about some of your favorite moments, too!

Teaching My Boys to Be Men

2010-06-02T13:51:00.001-05:00

A couple months ago, I happened to hear an interview on NPR that I can't get out of my head. It was with Eve Ensler, who is most famous for the Vagina Monologues. She recently wrote a new book, entitled, I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World. Now, I don't know much about Eve Ensler, and I really don't have any interest in her play, but when she talked about how difficult it is to be a boy, and how powerful it is to be a girl, I was hooked.

According to her, in our culture, being a boy means NOT being a girl.

Not being emotional. Not caring. Not having feelings. And certainly not sharing them.

Boys must must wear a mask of indifference, of toughness, so that the world can't see who they truly are. And that's very sad.

Listening to that interview made me think back to the day I found out E was a boy. To be completely honest, I wanted a girl. I have one sister, and I had always pictured myself with daughters. When the ultrasound picture made it very obvious that we were having a boy, I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

The next morning, I went for a walk and thought about the baby I was carrying in my belly. I was already desperately in love with him, but it was so hard to picture myself, girly-girl that I am, as the mommy of a little boy! And then it struck me. Maybe I didn't see myself in that role, but clearly God did. Not only that, He was giving my husband and me the opportunity to raise our son to be a good man.

In the current state of our world, that is a tough job. We will be fighting against a lot of negative role models, so popularized in the media, to teach them qualities that may not typically be thought of as "masculine."

Empathy. Respect. Kindness. Compassion.

I want my boys to know it's not only okay to have feelings and emotions, but it's necessary to share them with the people they love. I want them to have the courage to do the right thing in a difficult situation. I want them make promises, and keep them. I want them to take responsibility for their actions, not blame others. I want them to be good sons, good husbands, good fathers, good friends, and good people.

I'd like to think we're off to a good start, and that's a credit to my husband as a great male role model, too. If E hears me stub a toe, clang a pot, or even sneeze, no matter what he's doing, his instant response is, "You okay, Ma?" If W is fussy in the car, he will comfort him by telling him, "It's okay W, we're almost home," and when W is trying something new, he encourages him with, "Come on, Baby W, you can do it!" W, at almost a year old, is picking up on these things too.

Our job will get much more difficult when our sons go to school and are around the influences of their peers and other adults who see the world differently than we do. But my husband and I will keep working, and I pray that through God's guidance, we will do a good job teaching our boys to be men.

Swimming Time

2010-06-01T14:21:00.000-05:00

Our neighborhood pool opened this weekend, and it got me thinking about swim diapers.

E's very first summer, I went out and bought a couple of packs of Little Swimmers, the disposable swim diapers from Huggies. I couldn't wait to take him to the pool! On the big day, I put a swim diaper on his little bottom, then put on his swim suit, hat, and about eight layers of sunscreen before strapping him in his car seat. When we arrived at the pool, I was more than a little surprised to see that he was already swimming, so to speak!

You see, swim diapers are not meant to hold pee. They are only meant to hold poo. I didn't know that, and, judging from conversations I've had over the past couple years, there are a lot of other mommies that don't know that either.

The reason swim diapers don't swell up in water, the way a normal disposable diaper would, is because the water (or pee) is meant to pass through the diaper. Yet, Little Swimmers and other disposable swim diapers do get pretty bulky when they're wet, and if your child plays in the water often, it can also get expensive.

I'm sure it won't suprise anyone that I soon decided to switch to a reusable cloth swim diaper. I found this one for E last year at One Step Ahead and loved it so much, I bought a couple for W this year. Like all swim diapers, it doesn't hold pee, so your child will have to wear a regular diaper until you get to the water, but they are as trim as underwear and so much more comfortable than disposables. The material is 50 SPF, and at $11 each, it's an inexpensive way to feel good about making an environmentally friendly decision!

Cleaning is easy. Most of the time, I just wash the swim diaper with our regular clothes and hang it to dry. On the rare occasion "poo happens," I just flip it in the potty and wash it with our diapers. If you're not using cloth diapers, no problem. You'll find the poo goes in the potty pretty easily (adding a flushable liner will help, if you choose to use one), and then you can wash the dirty swim diaper with a couple of old towels. Everything will come out clean, I promise!

Wishing everyone a safe and fun swimming season!

A Business Trip

2010-05-31T12:15:00.009-05:00

Modern Family is probably my favorite show on TV these days. In a recent episode, the entire extended family took a trip to Hawaii. As Claire and Phil are walking through the aiport, Phil suggests that since they never had one, maybe this could be their honeymoon. Claire answers,

"Sweet pea, I'm a mom traveling with her kids. This is not a vacation for me; it's a business trip."

That line had me cracking up for days, and I think most moms can relate.

Last week, I got to take a business trip of my own when we flew to Virginia to visit my family. For me, a trip always begin with lists. There are the clothing lists and the food lists and the baby needs lists. The 'pack two days early' lists and the 'pack the morning we leave' lists. Yet, even after crossing everything off, I always forget something. This trip, I found out what I was missing pretty early, but it was much too late.

We got to the airport, checked our things, and decided to have a quick snack. While my husband ordered, I took E to the potty. If you have a little boy, you know the very first rule - they even tell you in the hospital when you're changing the first diaper - POINT IT DOWN. In my defense, I tried, but E had to go so badly, pee was already spraying out before I could do anything about it! I ended up lifting his legs, so that he would pee through them and onto the floor. It was either that, or pee all over his pants and undies...and that's when I realized what I forgot. Extra clothes for the carry on. Not smart for the mommy of a 2 1/2 year old and 11 month old who will be flying all day. Especially since the pee did hit the waistband of his pants for a second. (But only in the back. His shirt covered it. And I'm sure it dried quickly. Right??) I spent a few minutes using toilet paper to mop up the lake of pee, while my son repeatedly asked, "What are you doing, Mommy?" I could not believe I had forgotten to bring back-up clothes, but I thanked God that 1- I didn't get wet; 2 - we were in a large stall; and 3 - no one else was in the restroom!

I was going to be very careful from here on out. I had learned my lesson.

Except I hadn't.

When we got to Dallas, W needed his diaper changed. Instead of putting him on the changing table, like any normal person would do, I decided I was too grossed out by all those germs and would just change him on my lap. Since there were no chairs in the restroom, I put paper down and sat on the toilet. So genius, I know. And it was, until I stood up and noticed the water dripping behind me. You see, I had cleverly stuffed W's pants in my back pocket so that I wouldn't have to hold them, but somehow didn't realize that when I sat down, I would be dunking them in the toilet. By some miracle I (again) managed to avoid getting wet, but there was absolutely no way W could wear those pants. The legs were completely soaked. With toilet water! Talk about germs! And as you know, I had no extra clothes in my carry-on. This was one of those days that I could not have been more thankful that I married my husband. Instead of berating me for having to carry W, who was wearing only a t-shirt and a diaper, all the way across the terminal and spending $40 on an outfit he will never wear again (it was literally the only thing in his size at the airport), he just laughed.

I would be lying if I didn't admit to a few more minor mishaps (some bathroom related, some not) throughout the week, but overall, I'd say things went smoothly. We hit some great museums, spent a day at an amusement park, and ate very well. And watching the boys play with their grandparents was worth every ounce of work it took to turn this business trip into a wonderful vacation for my family.

Pad See Ew

2010-05-17T19:29:00.002-05:00

Our family loves Thai food, and my husband's favorite dish is Pad See Ew. Knowing this, I found a recipe a couple months ago, and decided to give it a try. I followed each step carefully...and FAILED! It was totally, utterly, and completely inedible. (To me, anyway. Hubby was able to get it down somehow.) It was so bad that I didn't want to try again. Ever.

Then, my husband's roommate from pilot training came into town. When his wife, Phennapha, who was born and raised in Thailand, heard how much we love Thai food, she offered to teach me how to make a few dishes. How could I refuse such an amazing offer?! Pad See Ew was first on our list.

Phen's recipe was quick, easy, and, as E said many times throughout the meal, "Delicious!" Other than soaking the noodles (which requires no attention), it took no more than 30 minutes to make, and that's including the prep. One drawback to cooking an authentic Thai dish is that most grocery stores don't carry some of the ingredients. Still, even living in the middle of nowhere, we were able to get exactly what we needed at a local Thai grocery.

Thank you again, Phen, for teaching me how to make Pad See Ew and allowing me to share your family recipe!

Pad See Ew
(serves: 4-6)

Ingredients:

two 14oz packages of wide rice noodles*
6-8 tbs canola oil
8 large garlic cloves, smashed and roughly chopped
2 large chicken breasts
1 head broccoli
2 eggs
4 tbs soy sauce with mushroom* (Healthy Boy Brand)
3 tbs Golden Mountain seasoning sauce*
4 tbs sweet soy sauce*
4 tbs sugar

Directions:

Soak noodles overnight, or all day in a large pot of cold water. Drain and set aside for later. (Noodles can be refrigerated until shortly before cooking.)
Heat canola oil in an extra-large skillet or large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant and golden (about 3 minutes). Lower heat to medium and add chicken, cooking until it's no longer pink. Add broccoli and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Add rice noodles and stir constantly to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pan. Be careful not to break up the noodles too much. Cook until noodles are soft (break easily), about 4 minutes.
Move noodle mixture to one side of the pan. Crack two eggs and cook until done on the other half of the pan, then mix egg into the noodle mixture.
Add soy sauce with mushroom, Golden Mountain seasoning sauce, sweet soy sauce, and sugar, mixing well, and cook 2-3 more minutes. Serve immediately.

The recipe is easy to halve for smaller families...or you can make extra! (Even as leftovers tonight, E declared it, "Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, de-wicious!")

*These items may require a special trip to a Thai or Asian grocery store.

Cutting Costs With Cloth

2010-05-16T08:42:00.001-05:00

I have to admit, I was pretty excited that I was able to scientifically prove that spending money on cloth diapers was saving our family money. But after sharing my "research study", I got to thinking. Yes, cloth diapers are cheaper than disposables in the long run, but $1200 is a lot of money. Not everyone is able to lay down that kind of cash right before they have a baby, and I would hate for anyone to think they can't cloth diaper because they can't afford that initial investment. If you feel that way, or if you're just looking for ways to save a little more, here are some ideas.

Try different brands. As with anything else, different brands of cloth diapers have different prices, so try a few at your price point. And feel free to stray from the established names. Bum Genius, Fuzzy Bunz, and Swaddlebees are all great, but Hyena Cart has some amazing diapers at great prices made by some pretty talented work-at-home-moms.

Buy used diapers. Yes, they are clean. No, this is not gross. It’s a great way to buy excellent quality diapers, often for half the retail price. Diaper Swappers is a fantastic site for this. (Speaking of which, you can also sell your cloth diapers on Diaper Swappers after you no longer need them! Definitely can't do that with disposables!)

Buy fewer diapers. As I said in my last diaper post, we did not buy all our diapers at one time. (We didn't even buy all our diapers, but more on that below.) Having fewer diapers may mean nightly diaper laundry, but speaking as someone who did that for six months, it's not that big of a deal.

Put cloth diapers on your wish list. If you are pregnant, a diaper registry is a great idea. (I know that Abby’s Lane offers this service, and I'm sure other stores do too.) Although we didn't make an offical registry, when my parents and sister asked what they could buy W for a baby present, we suggested cloth diapers. Between them, we got our entire newborn stash! When my in-laws asked what W (then, 6 months) wanted for Christmas, I pointed them in the direction of BubuBebe. They were thrilled to pick out a couple cute prints and give him something he would actually use!

Skip newborn diapers. I would be lying if I told you I didn't love seeing W in his Kissaluvs 0, but newborn diapers are a big investment for such a short period of use. If you don't want to skip them, but feel like all the other options are too expensive, you can...

Choose prefolds. These are the "old school" of the cloth diapering world, but lots of moms still love using them from birth until potty training time. Green Mountain makes excellent quality prefolds, and at around $2 each, it's hard to beat the price! Add a couple snappis ($4 each) and waterproof covers ($9-12 each), and you'll be set. We used these to supplement our newborn stash, and my husband (the self described "engi-nerd") loved learning about all the different folds.

Obviously, your own cost comparison is going to vary based on the types and amount of diapers you buy, but I hope these ideas help to make cloth diapering even more wallet-friendly for your family! If you think of any more money saving tips, please leave a comment and share!

Friday Five

2010-05-14T08:30:00.001-05:00

Hubby and I are reading Praying for My Wife/Husband: 100 Daily Devotionals*, and last night's passage focused on voicing our appreciation of the things we're thankful for, often. I've written about some of my favorite things about my little family before, but this lesson inspired me to take time to reflect on my favorite moments from this week. I hope to make the Friday Five a regular post, because I certainly have much to be thankful for.

High Fives. W has just started giving high fives when we ask, and I love it! He will stop whatever he's doing, give the biggest grin, and put his palm to ours. (Come to think of it, this might be an excellent distraction when he's getting into something he shouldn't!)

Giggling Babies. There is no sweeter sound than my boys giggling together, even if they are dumping out every single toy bin, like they were Tuesday morning.

Dinner in Front of the TV. Hubby and I generally eat dinner with the boys, and I enjoy that family time together, despite the number of times I have to get up mid-meal or remove W's tray as he learns, "We do not throw food on the floor." But Tuesday night I forgot that the tamales his aunt gave us took an hour to steam, meaning, either dinner would be late for everyone or Hubby and I would eat after the boys went to bed. I'm sure it's obvious which we chose. It was so nice just to sit beside my husband the on couch, watch TV, and eat tamales (which were so delicious, they really deserve their spot in this list).

Me Time. A two hour drive to the "City" for a dermatologist appointment may not be Me Time for everyone, but I'm learning to take it where I can get it. Not having to worry about anyone but myself for the entire day on Wednesday was wonderful! I also managed to hit Target, Banana Republic, and Moe's while I was there, making it an even better treat!

Hugs. Nothing could be better than coming home to hugs from my boys (all three of them!) after a day to myself. W throwing his arms around my neck and squeezing tight, E putting his toddler arms around both of mine and laying his head on my shoulder, and Hubby hugging all of us together reminded me how thankful I am for this little family.

I would love to hear about some of your favorite moments too!

*We only have 20 days left in this devotional book, so if you know of a good one, please share!

Comparing Costs

2010-05-11T09:27:00.005-05:00

After my last cloth diaper purchase, I started thinking about the cost difference between cloth and disposable diapers. Of course, I knew cloth diapers were cheaper (that's one of their main selling points!), but I was curious as to how much cheaper they were for our family. I'm sure the eyebrow raise I got, when Hubby saw W's new diapers, had absolutely nothing to do with my little research project.

Before I got started, I had to set my parameters. I decided to ignore the cost of detergent and water for washing cloth diapers, and I didn't count the cost of trash bags for disposables. I also didn't bother with the cost of wipes, since I'm still using disposable wipes for now. I chose to focus on the cost of diapers and necessary accessories in the brands that we use, or would use (in the case of disposables), then rounded all prices to the whole number.

I have to say, I was a little surprised by my findings.

Cost of cloth diapering for the first year:

Bringing home a newborn, I needed...newborn diapers, of course! My newborn stash included:

12 Kissaluvs size 0 fitteds
12 newborn Green Mountain prefolds
12 small Green Mountain prefolds
4 extra-small Thirsties covers

Total = $247

I also needed the accessories to begin cloth diapering my baby:

1 large kitchen trashcan as a diaper pail
2 Wahmies pail liners
1 Wahmies wet bag for diaper changes on the go
2 Snappis fasteners for the prefolds

Total = $63

By the time W was 3 months old, he had grown out of his newborn diapers and was wearing one-sized diapers, which can be configured to fit babies from 10-35 lbs. I want to be clear that I did not buy all these diapers at one time. I bought a few before W was born and added to the collection over time. We also bought larger covers as he grew.

7 BubuBebe fitteds
8 Goodmama fitteds
7 Bum Genius Organic all-in-ones
4 small Thirsties covers
4 medium Thirsties covers
3 large Thirsties covers

Total = $775

(Okay, looking at these numbers makes me a little sick to my stomach.)

I also used Imse Vimse flushable liners once W started solid foods at 5 months. The two packs I bought for $24 will get us past his first birthday.

This brings the total amount spent on cloth diapering to $1109.

Except that's not the final number, because W started wearing a disposable diaper at night at 2 months old. Averaging one pack of Seventh Generation diapers a month, for 10 months, works out to $110.

Which means, for W's first year, we have spent $1219 on diapering.

(Yikes!)

Cost of disposable diapering for the first year:

Calculating the cost of disposables required a little more math. Not only did I have to remember how many diaper changes I would typically do in a day, I had to figure out what size diaper he would have worn at any given month, as different sizes are packaged in different quantities. Once my matrix* was complete, it was fairly easy to compute the costs because I always buy the same brand (Seventh Generation in the 4-pack case), from the same store (diapers.com).

I broke the cost down by the number of cases needed each month:

1 - 2 cases
2 - 1.5 cases
3 - 1.5 cases
4 - 1.5 cases
5 - 2 cases
6 - 1.5 cases
7 - 2 cases
8 - 2 cases
9 - 2 cases
10 - 2 cases
11 - 2 cases
12 - 2 cases

Total = $872

Oh, and I consider a Diaper Genie a necessary accessory: $40

That means, if we had used disposable diapers on W for the first year, we would have spent $912.

Seriously?! $912? We spent $1219 on cloth diapering! How is it possible that cloth diapering cost $307 MORE than disposable diapering?!

(Told you I was surprised.)

Then I looked at the data for the second year.

Using cloth diapers, I will spend...Oh wait! I don't have to spend anything on diapers! The ones he has will fit until he’s potty trained! We will need another pack of Imse Vimse flushable liners though, and those are $12. Of course, we will continue using disposables at nighttime. 13 packs will be $143, bringing the total cost of cloth diapering to $155. For the year!

(Definitely feeling less nauseas now!)

Determining the cost for disposable diapers during W’s the second year of life was pretty simple, since I would expect him to wear size 5 for the entire year. Assuming he goes through seven diapers a day, we would spend $960 over the course of the year. That's $50 more than the first year! This seems crazy (especially when you think about how many diapers newborns go through), but as diaper size goes up, so does the price per unit, making disposables more expensive the longer you use them.

This means, for the second year of W's life, we spent $805 less using by cloth diapers! Okay, so it cost more in the beginning, but a net savings of almost $500 in two years is not too shabby! And if you continue diapering after the age of two, or have another baby, that's even more money in your pocket! I knew buying those super cute diapers was saving us money!

I just shouldn’t buy any more diapers for W. And I'm definitely not. Unless I find one with airplanes. I'm a sucker for anything with airplanes...

*I couldn’t figure out how to include my disposable diaper cost matrix, but I am happy to share it with anyone who is curious.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T19:32:00.003-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the Super Mommies out there, whether you hold your baby in your arms, in your dreams, or in your heart.

Moving Day

2010-05-06T19:30:00.001-05:00

At the risk of sounding like a total nutcase, I'm just going to put it out there: I actually like moving. I see it as an opportunity for a new adventure. (Well, that, and it's an opportunity to reorganize all our stuff!) Since my husband is in the Air Force, it's probably a good thing I feel this way.

But when my friends move, it's an entirely different story. I live in denial from the time they get orders until the moving truck pulls away. As excited as I am for them, I'm sad for myself. It's hard when you are the one being left.

Today we said good-bye to great friends, yet again. But this time it was even more difficult. This time, my son said good-bye to his very first best friend.

J, E's going to miss you. Big time.

J and E (right) at 6 months old

J and E (right) at 2 1/2 years old

My Favorite Part of Today

2010-05-03T21:13:00.018-05:00

One of the things I love most about the boys' bedtime routine is our nightly chat about their day. No matter what kind of day we have, that time together helps everyone focus on the positive. Okay, so I have to creatively interpret W's babbling, but at 2 1/2 E is able to recount a lot of the highlights on his own.

A few weeks ago Hubby and I read something, somewhere (a helpful citation, I know), that suggested specifically asking your child, "What was your favorite part about today?" E is so verbal now, we thought it would be a nice addition to our ritual. Each night, his response has been,

"Mommy...Oh, and Daddy too, of course."

I'd say it's pretty obvious he doesn't really understand the question, and not just because he practically lives for the moment his daddy walks through the door.

But tonight was different. Right before tucking him in, I remembered to ask, "What was your favorite part of today?"

"Playing with you," he answered, giving me a hug.

And that was my favorite part of today.

The Long Term

2010-05-01T15:05:00.002-05:00

We were driving to a friend's house for a play date this week, when E exclaimed, "Hey, Mom, look! It's a potty!"

I look to my left, and what do you know? There's a Port-a-Potty just sitting on the side of the road. A strange sight in a residential area for sure, but a road construction crew is redoing an intersection in our neighborhood.

"You're right! It is a potty!" I responded, repeating his words as habit.

Then he says, "Like at Thomas the Train!"

Huh?

Oh. My. Goodness. That's right. There was a blue Port-a-Potty, exactly like this one, that we had the fortune to visit (twice) at A Day Out With Thomas. Which was almost 7 months ago. And he REMEMBERED.

This means one thing.

I'd better be on my best behavior.

Confession #8: I have food aggression issues.

2010-04-28T09:02:00.013-05:00

Yes, like a dog.

Even with a gigantic plate of nachos sitting in front of me, if my husband starts picking, I get anxious. What if I don't have enough to eat? The logical me would say, Order more. But when it comes to food, I'm just not logical.

I would like to blame my issues on my husband's ability to take down an entire jar of salsa in under ten minutes, but I had food aggression well before we met (despite having never gone hungry). Dog trainers will warn you that food aggression can quickly escalate into something more dangerous. Let's just say, Hubby learned early on in our relationship to wait for an invitation to share my food.

So when E is going through a growth spurt, as he is right now, and inhaling everything on his plate...and then wanting what's on MY plate too, I struggle to quell my "inner dog" and tune into my mothering instincts. Yes, there is food in the fridge. Food in the pantry. I can make another sandwich. I will meet my son's needs, and I will not go hungry.

I can only pray that I will be fully reconditioned by their teenage years. After all, I have two boys. They are bound to eat us out of house and home, and the sooner I get over my food aggression issues, the better.

Pesto alla Trapanese

2010-04-26T15:01:00.003-05:00

I made Pesto alla Trapanese Saturday night, and it was a huge hit. Two days later, E is still asking to eat "pasta" every meal. It was that good. Fast, easy, and (relatively) healthy, this dish will definitely be in the regular rotation in our home.

The recipe came from Cook's Illustrated, July & August 2009. I clearly remember when the issue arrived last summer. My husband, the real chef around here, meticulously reads every article, looking for recipes to try. When he pointed out this one, I gave it an immediate "No." The reason? I don't like almonds. (Except in Almond Joys. There is something about chocolate and coconut that can make anything taste good!) He let it go, moved on to some other recipe, and never mentioned it again.

Fast forward to last week. We sat on the couch to watch TV and were faced with the sad state of affairs that was our TiVo (I use the term "our" loosely): 7 Curious Georges, 6 Dinosaur Trains, 11 Sesame Streets, 8 Super Whys, 5 Thomas the Trains, 3 Robot Chickens (which I don't watch), 2 Grey's Anatomys (which Hubby doesn't watch) and 1 America's Test Kitchen, the PBS show and author of the Cook's Illustrated magazine.

We only had one real option. And guess what recipe they were featuring? That's right. Pesto alla Trapanese. At the end of the segment, I looked over at my smiling husband. He knew I couldn't wait to try it.

Pasta with Pesto alla Trapanese
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup slivered almonds
12 oz cherry or grape tomatoes (about 2 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves
1 medium garlic clove, minced
1 small pepperoncini*, stemmed, seeded, and minced
table salt
pinch red pepper flakes
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil (Lucini or Colavita are recommended brands)
1 pound pasta, preferably linguine or spaghetti
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

Toast almonds in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until pale gold and fragrant (2-4 minutes). Cool almonds to room temperature.
Process cooled almonds, tomatoes, basil, garlic, pepperoncini, 1 teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes in food processor or blender until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula. With machine running, slowly drizzle in oil, about 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water; drain pasta and transfer back to cooking pot.
Add pesto and 1/2 cup Parmesan to cooked pasta, adjusting consistency with reserved pasta cooking water so that pesto coats pasta. Serve immediately, passing Parmesan separately, if desired.

*A half teaspoon of red wine vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes can be substituted the pepperoncini.

Buon appetito! I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine!

First Words

2010-04-24T15:40:00.006-05:00

W said his very first word this week!

We were in his room, playing Krazy Kekas during his bedtime song, when he reached out his little baby hand to put the pacifier up to my mouth and said, "Keka!"

Now, I do know that Keka is not a real word. But W doesn't! To him it's just as much of a word as mama or dada or dog or ball!

I am so excited! My baby! Talking!

The Cuteness of Cloth

2010-04-22T20:22:00.002-05:00

There is something wonderful about buying cloth diapers. Yes, there's the environmental aspect, yadda yadda, but they are also unbelievably cute. You know the high you get when you buy a new outfit for a tiny baby? Buying a cloth diaper is even better because you get to see your baby wear that little bit of cuteness several times a week! I can tell you first hand, that high is addicting.

So it's no surprise that after restraining myself for 4 months, I felt I deserved a reward...in the form of more diapers, of course! But what to buy? And where to spend?

My first stop, as always, was Abby's Lane. I buy all my basics there: pail liners, wet bags, flushable liners, pul covers. It's also where I bought W's newborn diapers (Kissaluvs Size 0) and later all of his Bum Genius One-Size Organics All-in-One's. There are so many things that make Abby's Lane my favorite online store: great product selection with discounts for buying in bulk, fast and free shipping on all orders, and (after placing your first order) weekly emails that provide discount codes and troubleshooting advice. Even though I *LOVE* BGO's and secretly want to own a zillion of them, organize them by color, and keep them in a fashionista-style closet, where I could open the door and stare at them for a moment of zen (Nope. Not weird at all.), I was looking for a fitted diaper. Specifically a one-sized fitted, that adjusts to fit any size baby from 8-35lbs. I checked found lots of cute solid color options, but none with boyish patterns. I was in the mood for pattern.

I checked Goodmama's next. We have eight of these diapers and they are the very first fitteds I ever bought, so I have a sentimental attachment to the store. Despite their bulkiness and some recent poor reviews, we have always been happy with their diapers. Inventory was low, but I found two boyish designs I liked. Then I remembered reading that some babies have trouble with Goodmama diapers after they start walking. Apparently the serging is a little rougher than some other brands, and causes raw areas on their legs. W has pretty skinny legs, so I doubt this will be an issue for him, but he is just too close to walking for me to feel comfortable buying more. I moved on.

My next stop was Hyena Cart. If you've never been there, it's a lot like etsy. There are 329 stores that sell cloth diapers. Yes, 329. Not all of them sell fitted diapers, but I had to search through them to see which ones do. For someone as methodical and organized as I am, my search method on Hyena Cart is anything but. I have only one strategy: click on cute store names. I try to go down the lists alphabetically, but I never manage to do it. I'm always distracted by another cute name across the page! I spent about an hour visiting lots of shops, most of which did not sell one-sized fitted diapers, and even fewer that had fitteds with boyish prints, before going to BubuBebe. (Don't you just love that name?!)

This was not my first visit to the BubuBebe shop. I already own four of these diapers, and they are my favorite fitteds right now. They are trim, have 3 levels of snap-in soakers that you can configure to make as absorbent as your baby needs, and the serged edging is soft. Best of all, the patterns are ridiculously cute! Boyish prints can be hard to find, but BuBuBebe was well stocked. I put three in my cart (a whale print, a monkey print, and one with racing wheels) and was checking out before I could blink!

Now I'm just waiting in gleeful anticipation for my fluffy mail to arrive! Even though a big part of me wanted to try a new brand, I know that I will be thrilled with my purchase. And when I see Baby W crawling around with those super cute diapers covering his little bottom, I will know my fall off the wagon was well worth it.

My Secret Weapon

2010-04-19T11:10:00.005-05:00

Whenever someone asks, I'm happy to rattle off a list of positive parenting books and strategies that work for us (most days, anyway!). But I rarely mention my secret weapon: No Time For Flashcards.

As a former elementary and middle school teacher, teaching my sons comes naturally. Shapes, numbers, colors, letters - no problem! We read tons of books and work puzzles for fun! But I have to admit, the thought of doing crafts with my toddler used to make me cringe. I am not artistic. I am not into mess (Paint? No, thank you!). Basically, I had no idea where to start.

That's where NTFFC comes in.

Allie, NTFFC's creator, gives step-by-step instructions for crafts and activities that you and your toddler really can do! There are a few basic supplies that come in handy, but from set up to clean up, it's fast and easy. From letter of the week crafts to sensory tubs, every single activity provides a fun opportunity for more learning. As an educator, I can't help but love that aspect. Oh, and did I mention, it's FREE?!

Doing a daily "art project" gives E focused time with me. As soon as I put the materials on the table, he is right there and ready to go! He's able to be creative, get a little messy (I've learned to relax a little; it can be cleaned up!), and develop new skills. It also helps him understand boundaries, which is important for young children to learn.

One day while making dinosaur tracks, E stuck his finger in the paint. He held it over the T-Rex and paused. I said, "No paint on dinosaur's back. Paint goes on paper." After making a few finger prints, he dipped his finger in paint again, then told me, "No paint on dinosaur's back. No paint on W's face, nose." I somehow managed to keep a straight face while agreeing with him, but I was thrilled. He not only got it, he was able to transfer his understanding to a new situation and restrain himself - no matter how much he wanted to paint his little brother! He happily went on to paint "dinosaur poops" on the paper. (After all, he IS a boy.) I am not claiming NTFFC taught him those boundaries, but doing activities from Allie's site certainly gives him the chance to practice.

NTFFC helped me step out of my comfort zone and find another way to spend quality time with E. It has become to be something we both look forward to, and taking that 10-15 minutes to do an activity together makes a world of difference in our house. E is more cooperative, kinder to W, and able to play more independently. On days E is particularly "two-ish," I admit I sometimes feel like I am rewarding negative behaviors by starting an activity. But truly, the reward is mine. The turn around in his behavior is amazing. NTFFC is one of the most useful tools in my parenting toolkit, and I'm looking forward to the day W and I can do art projects together too!

Some of E's Letter of the Week crafts hanging on his bedroom wall.

Funny Guy

2010-04-08T13:21:00.006-05:00

Even with a cold...

Even with an ear infection...

Even with four top teeth trying to come in at once...

W has an awesome sense of humor.

His new favorite game? Krazy Kekas*. The rules? Well, there are no real "rules," but according to W, it's best played at bedtime or any other time you have both a Keka and a mommy to hold you close. Then, quick as you can, pretend to put the Keka in your mommy's mouth!

He never fails to crack himself up over how silly he is! (Although, I think he also likes the funny lip-smacking sounds I make to play along!) Nothing like belly laughs before bed with my sweet baby!

*Keka is the name E has given all pacifiers. We have no idea where this came from, but it's the only made-up word he's ever used, so we go with it!

Train a child up in the way he should go,

2010-04-04T11:16:00.001-05:00

and when they are old, they shall not depart from it. (Psalm 22:6)

For us, this includes discussing the true meaning Christian holidays. Keeping focused on the true meaning of Christmas was pretty easy this year. E was finally understanding the idea of "birthdays," and celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus was fun, exciting, and a generally toddler-friendly subject.

Easter...not so much. I have really been struggling with this over the past couple weeks. I want my son to know that Easter is not about the Easter bunny, egg hunts, or candy, but how do I talk about something as "adult" as the events of Holy Week with a 2 1/2 year old?

In the end, I opted to skip the scary and sad parts and focus on the most important part to me - the happy ending. I have talked a lot about Easter being a special time to celebrate what Jesus gave to us: Life with Him in Heaven forever. There will be time in the next few years fill him in on all the details. For now, we're going to head outside for another egg hunt.

If you discussed the true meaning of Easter with your toddler, how did you do it?

Polly Want a Cracker?

2010-04-03T13:43:00.002-05:00

E is in that stage where he repeats everything he hears. And what he hears most of the time is me. Here are a few of the snippets that make up a disturbingly large percentage of his daily speech, whether he’s talking to me, Hubby, W, or playing on his own.

“Ummmm…okay. Let’s do that.”

“Okay, I’ll try it.”

“Sure does!”

“How about that!”

“Oh my goodness!”

“Yeah! I know!”

“I don’t know.”

“Ummmm…Not yet.”

“No, not right now.”

“I’m coming right back.”

“In just a minute.”

Then, just when I start to wonder if I ever say anything of substance, I hear, “I love you.”

5 Favorite Finger Foods

2010-03-18T16:24:00.002-05:00

Over the past two weeks, W has grown out of purees and into finger foods. (How is my little baby 9 months old already?!) His 5 favorites include:

1. roasted acorn squash or sweet potatoes

2. bananas

3. macaroni pasta in butternut squash puree

4. pinto beans

5. Cheerios

I love getting ideas for new finger foods to try, so please share your baby's favorites!

One of Those Days

2010-03-17T21:14:00.009-05:00

Combine a sleep-deprived mommy with a little boy smack dab in the middle of being two, add a dash of teething baby, and 9 times out of 10, it turns out to be one of "those" days.

It seemed like every time I turned around today, E was into something. Chasing our 6 lb dog, who does NOT like to be chased. Feeding this same dog his food, W's food, and the foam teeth he pulled off his alligator art (she was too smart for that one). Wrestling W, who thinks it's funny...except when his head meets the tile floor. Testing boundaries left, right, and center.

W wanted to be held. Constantly. When I put him down, as I sometimes had to do, he would cling to me and scream. After spending another minute calming him, he would play happily...until he saw me walk by...and the wailing would start again.

If I sat down, I had to get up. If I walked over here, I was needed over there. I couldn't fold laundry, make a sandwich, or even go to the bathroom, without hearing barking, screaming, crying, or some combination of the above.

I thought I would go insane.

Yep. I have those days. And then I have a glass of wine.

Have Baby Food - Will Travel

2010-03-15T21:25:00.004-05:00

Before we got in the car to travel to New Mexico last week, I packed a lunchbox cooler with a few cubes of frozen purees and some finger foods for W. As I mentioned in a previous post about baby food, it's easy to feed your baby healthy, homemade meals while traveling, as long as you plan ahead.

Which we did not.

Between nursing, diaper changes, potty trips, and ordering, at least 30 minutes had passed between parking in front of McDonald's and sitting down with our food. Yet it wasn't until I opened the lunchbox that I realized I had completely forgotten to heat W's food. Not only was it cold, it was still partially frozen! Now W is a pretty laid-back baby, but when it's time to eat, IT IS TIME TO EAT and we definitely did not have time for my husband's patented method of heating the food on the car's engine block.

Mere seconds before certain meltdown, it struck me. Every restaurant - even McDonald's - has hot water that you can mix with baby food to warm it up!

I have no idea why I never thought of this before. Maybe I used more water when I first started making baby food, so adding hot water at a restaurant would make it too watery. Or maybe I just like a good challenge. At any rate, it turns out that it's easier than I thought to feed your baby healthy, homemade meals while traveling, even for those of us who forget to plan ahead!

New Look

2010-03-13T12:38:00.002-06:00

Yes! You are in the right place! After months of wishing my blog looked as good as everyone else's, I have finally created a new layout! I'm sure I'll continue tweaking here and there, but overall I'm pretty happy with the new look and I hope you are too. Thank you so much for your help, Laura!

I'm back!

2010-03-12T12:38:00.003-06:00

Not a week has gone by without my wishing I had more time for writing, but as all super mommies know, there are never enough hours in the day. Still, the ups and downs of the past two and a half months have left me with no extra energy for blogging.

As a quick summary of our life since my last post, Christmas with two babies, followed by a week long visit from my mom, was absolutely wonderful. Then, 2010 hit. Shortly after the terrible earthquake in Haiti, my husband flew relief missions for a week. A few days after his return, we were hit by an ice storm, which caused us to lose power for six days. (And yes, we stayed.) We were able to enjoy a full week of normalcy before my husband was assigned a six month deployment to Afghanistan. Shock. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Oh yeah. We were there. We finally made the decision to focus on the positives and started making plans. Three weeks later, the deployment was canceled. As a planner, my husband's constantly changing schedule is often difficult for me. Not this time! Thank you, Lord, for this answered prayer!

I know it's only been a week, but I have a feeling 2010 is turning around for this family. I hope so, anyway. I have lots to say!

Cleaning Cloth

2009-12-15T10:31:00.008-06:00

Warning: If discussing diaper contents is not for you, neither is this post.

When I talk about making the switch from disposables to cloth diapers, some friends are intrigued, and others think I am insane. Regardless of which camp they're in, the biggest question remains, "How do you clean them?"

The simplest answer is that I just throw them in the washing machine. Really. There's no swishing diapers in the toilet or soaking poopy diapers in pails at our house. Those would be dealbreakers for me. It's true that choosing to be more environmentally conscious requires a little extra effort, but cloth diapering has been an easy change for us to make. Our routine adds maybe ten minutes to my day, and that's rounding up. While everyone has a slightly different method, if you're thinking about using cloth diapers and want to know the specifics of how we do things, read on.

1. Put dirty diapers in the dirty diaper pail.
Clean diaper from the basket goes on the baby's butt, dirty diaper goes into the pail. Pretty similar to diposables, huh? Except that, rather than a trash bag, I put a washable pul pail liner in the tall kitchen trashcan that we use as a diaper pail. If I put a flushable liner* in the diaper, the liner goes straight into the pail with the wet diaper at changing time. (In addition to being flushable, the liners are also machine washable, up to 3-4 times.) If there is poo in the diaper, I pick up two corners of the liner, drop it in the toilet and flush.** Then, I put the diaper in the dirty diaper pail. Occasionally a little bit of poo gets on the diaper, but it will come out in the wash with no special treatment.

2. Wash the diapers.
We've experimented with doing diaper laundry at different times of the day, but starting it after bathtime works best for us. I carry the pail liner full of diapers to the laundry room and dump the contents into the washing machine, making sure to turn the bag inside out and leaving it in the machine to wash. There's a fine line between using too little detergent and not getting the diapers clean, and using too much and ending up with lots of soap bubbles in the fabric, but filling the measuring scoop half-way to the first mark seems to work for us. I program the washing machine to do a pre-wash, a hot wash with cold rinse, then an extra rinse to remove the last of the soap bubbles, and around an hour later, the diapers are clean!

3. Dry the diapers.
I take out the pail liner and any diaper covers*** we've washed and hang them to dry (the dryer can ruin the waterproofing after awhile). Then I put everything else in the dryer, along with a dry bath towel to speed up the process. The next morning, I take the diapers out and put them away. If any diapers aren't completely dry (which occasionally happens with our all-in-ones), I hang them over the shower curtail rail until they dry or just turn on the dryer for 10 more minutes.

And that's it! We generally do diaper laundry every night, but our stash is finally large enough that we may switch to an every other night schedule soon. If you'd like to know what brands we use, send me a message and I will be more than happy to share. If you are looking for more opinions, the Diaper Swappers forum is a great place to get ideas on everything cloth diaper-related.

*We started using Imse Vimse flushable liners when W started solids. In my opinion, they're optional since the poo usually flips into the potty easily. My husband disagrees. When babies are eating solely breastmilk or formula, the poo diapers can go directly into the wash. They don't need a liner and the poo doesn't need to be flushed. Yes, your machine will be clean after washing the diapers. I promise. :-)

**Whether using cloth or disposable diapers, once your baby starts solids you should be flushing their poo. Human waste in landfills creates very serious health hazards, such as ground water contamination and airborne viruses, spread by flies and other insects.

***Fitted diapers require a waterproof cover that are washed on an as-needed basis. All-in-ones do not have a separate cover because, as the name suggests, it's one piece. We have a mix of both kinds of diapers.

You know you're on the right track when...

2009-12-14T15:03:00.004-06:00

You hear your son singing his version of the Clean Up Song,

"Clean up, oh, oh, oh, oh,"

while putting away his cars, trucks, and trains - without being asked!

Or maybe I'm turning him into an obsessive-compulsive neat freak...

Eh. I'll take either.

Growing Pains

2009-12-11T14:55:00.004-06:00

Two days ago, W turned six months old.

Yesterday, he got his first tooth.

Today, I had to pull out the 6-9 month jammies.

Slow down, my sweet boy. You're growing too fast for your mommy.

Confession #7: I suck at "Me Time."

2009-12-09T12:14:00.011-06:00

Becoming a mommy has a way of shedding light on things you don't do well. Some of my recent lessons: I am hopeless at icing cakes. (E's birthday cake still haunts me.) I am terrible at keeping up with music. (Lady, who?) And I suck at "Me Time."

Last night I had planned to go to a book club meeting. It was at 7 pm and only two blocks from my house. I knew I would have a good time. Everyone in the club is nice, and we all have a lot in common. There is more chit chat than book chat, so no pressure to captivate others with a clever plot analysis, or even read the book, for that matter. Yet, as has become the norm, at the last minute I decided not to go. What happened? I used to love things like that! Why can't I get out of the house and do something for myself?

I think it boils down to a couple reasons.

First, it's one more thing to do. Actually, several more. I have to shower, wash my hair, dry and style my hair, put on make up, and find something to wear. I realize that most people do this every day, and I used to too. Now my daily shower comes just before pajamas.

Which brings me to my second reason. I'm exhausted. Being a Super Mommy is wonderful. There is no other job on Earth I'd rather spend my life doing. But it's also hard work. After the boys are in bed, I just want to crash, not get dressed up and go out.

As such, most of my supposed "Me Time" is spent knitting (for my children or someone else's), writing this blog (about my life as a mommy), or reading chick lit (okay, that's just for me). I enjoy doing all of those things, but they don't exactly provide much of an escape from my everyday. It's no wonder that I end up in an emotional meltdown every few months, in desperate need of a break. In my heart, I know that all good mommies need time away to recharge, but I have the hardest time taking it.

Then it struck me. So what if I wasn't going "out" to the book club? I could still take the evening off! My husband was a little surprised at this turn of events, but he went along with it. After all, I do the entire routine by myself one night a week when he's flying, and if I hadn't decided to stay at home, I would have been busy getting ready.

While he bathed the boys and got them ready for bed, I took a long, hot shower, but forgot to turn off the baby monitor. Then he read bedtime stories, and I...picked up the dirty clothes??? How did that happen? Determined to salvage "Me Time," I went back to our room to read, but got distracted by the Christmas to-do list. When my husband walked in and asked me how my time off was going, I had to admit failure.

We had a long talk, and both agreed on the bottom line. I need to take time for myself, and I need to spend more time with my friends without the kids. It means more work for me, but that interaction helps me recharge and be a better mommy. I'm willing to give up on cake decorating, and I'm okay with being the only one who doesn't know the words to "Poker Face," but I'm going to keep working at this "Me Time" thing until I get it right. I'll keep you posted.

Little Star

2009-12-08T09:28:00.011-06:00

The rule is: Do not touch the ornaments on the tree.

E understands this rule, and his self-restraint is allowing me to fulfill a dream I thought was years away. Yes, the lower branches are a little sparse with decoration, and nothing within E's reaching distance is breakable, but we have a Christmas tree...with no gate! In my mind, this fact alone proves what an amazing child E is.

Yet, yesterday afternoon, when E thought I wasn't paying attention, he walked over to the tree and broke the rule. He touched an ornament. It was a silver star. Without removing it, he held it gently in both hands and began to sing quietly.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are."

My heart melted and my eyes filled with tears. How do you send the cutest, smartest, most wonderful little boy* to time out for that? It's just impossible!

Then he looked up, saw me watching, and jumped and ran away from the tree.

I told you he was smart.

*In case you are wondering, W is the cutest, smartest, most wonderful baby. :-)

A Few of My Favorite Things

2009-12-07T10:26:00.010-06:00

The decorations are up, Nat King Cole is singing from the stereo, and I am in the Christmas spirit! As such, I decided to dedicate this post to a few of my favorite things about my boys. I could easily fill book after book with the millions of things I love about my little family, but, in the interest of time and attention span, I'll limit myself to the first five that come to mind.

My Favorite Things About E:
1 - When he puts his trains on the nightstand at naptime and bedtime, he tells them, "Go to sleep, Thomas. Go to sleep, Enry," then calls out "Night night!" as we close his bedroom door.

2 - He is the sweetest snuggler during his bedtime song. I lie on the floor, and he lies at a 90 degree angle, with his head on my chest, arm around me, and butt in the air, as we chat about his day. The fact that he is go, go, go, all day makes his bedtime snuggles that much more special.

3 - He places the adjective behind the noun when he's describing something. For example, the stockings hanging on our mantle right now are, "Sock E" and "Sock Baby W." (This habit is might make me think that his natural language is Spanish, except that whenever I try to give him a Spanish word, like "ojo," he looks at me like I'm an idiot and says, "No. EYE." I can usually convince him to say the Spanish word, but there is no acceptance that there could be two words for the same thing. The discussion ends with him looking intently at me and saying with authority, "Eye." Conversation over.)

4 - He shouts "I love you! I love you!" again and again until we respond with, "I love you, too!" Then, he breaks into a big grin and says, "Yeah," like, "I knew it." (Actually, E repeats everything he says until we acknowledge that he has spoken AND that we understand what he said. That makes things a little difficult when we can't make out what he's trying to say and a little irritating when we're on the phone, but exceptionally adorable when he's saying, "I love you!")

5 - If W is fussy, he will bring him a toy or give him a paci, then sit down and talk to him until either W calms down or I come over to help. This type of kindness and empathy is stunning to me, especially coming from a two year old.

My Favorite Things About W:
1 - When I come in to get him up in the morning or after a nap, he pushes up so that he can see me above the bar of the crib, then gives me the most beautiful smile, as if there is no one else on Earth he would rather see.

2 - He sneaks his thumb into his mouth while nursing. After trying to do both for a few seconds, he shakes his head as if to say, "Silly me!" and goes back to eating again.

3 - He is a great eater and loves his veggies. A lot of babies only eat their veggies mixed with cereal. W likes his straight, and only eats his cereal if I mix some veggies in.

4 - He is the best cuddler. He knows exactly where to put his head in the crook of my neck, how curl his fists into my shirt, and make me forget about everything else.

5 - He loves playing with his big brother. Whether they are blowing bubbles at each other or wrestling on the floor (Who knew a 6 month old would love being crawled over? And over. And over again.), W is giggling the entire time. It's one of the best sounds in the world!

My Favorite Things About Hubby (Yes, he counts.):
1 - He never leaves the house without telling the boys and me that he loves us and giving us kisses (usually multiple times before he's able to get out the door).

2 - He is generous with thank yous and back massages.

3 - He is a fantastic researcher. I am confident that in any major purchase (and many minor ones), we will get the most for our money and have the product that is best for our family.

4 - He does whatever he can to help me. He helps get E up and starts his breakfast most mornings. Every night, he gives both boys baths and gets them ready for bed. He cooks dinner on the weekends. He helps fold laundry, vaccuum, unload the dishwasher, change diapers, take out the trash, and he means it when he offers for me take some time for myself.

5 - He can always, always make me laugh.

What are a few of your favorite things?

Starting Solids

2009-11-09T14:36:00.009-06:00

With the first child, most people can't wait to start solids. It's such an exciting milestone! With the second...not so much. I have been dreading this moment for months. It's one more thing to do in our already busy day, and it's a change in our cloth diaper routine. But W is 5 months old, so it's time to start. And if I'm honest, I'm hoping the extra calories will help to avoid a confrontation with our pediatrician over W's weight at his next well baby appointment, as he's on the skinny side. (But perfectly happy and healthy, I might add!)

Last Saturday was the big day. A true family event. An hour after nursing him, I prepared the rice cereal for W. Hubby adjusted the camera settings to ensure a great shot. E, who believes that no one should eat alone, requested a bowl of Cheerios and sat at the table to watch the action. Doggie took her place at E's feet and hoped for the manna to fall. We were all in place. It was "go" time, whether I was ready or not. Right before I put the first spoonful in W's mouth, I looked at E, and in his face I saw all the excitement and anticipation I had felt for his first bite of cereal. Instantly I knew, this was a moment to cherish.

I can't say W was as thrilled with the experience. And he liked the following bites even less, if his facial expressions were any indication. (All caught on camera, of course!) Today was his third day of cereal, and though I can't say he was a pro, he did smile and open his mouth for more! Ahhh, another foodie in the making. And that milestone is exciting!

Confession #6: Homemade baby food isn't as tough as it sounds.

2009-10-29T13:56:00.015-05:00

Some people love to make baby food. I am not one of those people. That said, I have done a lot of roasting, steaming, pureeing, and freezing over the past couple weeks, in preparation for W to start solids. Why the extra work? I have my reasons.

1 - It's healthy. Looking at labels, you'll find that some baby food actually contains salt or other preservatives! Commercial baby foods generally contain more water too, making the veggies and fruits very thin. I can control the consistency (and texture for an older baby) by preparing the food myself, and I can be sure my son is not eating unnecessary additives.

2 - It's SO much cheaper. Using 3 sweet potatoes, I made 32 servings of food. My average cost per serving was 8 cents, as opposed to 39 cents for a single container of Gerber. 30 cents isn't a fortune, but if your child eats like E did, that quickly becomes $1.50 a meal, and $30 a week. When you consider that you add less water to homemade baby food, you're getting even more bang for your buck. I don't know about you, but I'd rather spend that $30 on something else.

3 - It's easy. It really is. Cook the food (most veggies have little to no prep work), let it cool, puree it in the food processor, spoon it into ice cube trays, and freeze. Notice that most of those steps are unattended! I keep the frozen 2 tbs cubes in Ziploc bags, then defrost as I need them. Some foods, like bananas and avocados, are even easier because you just mash them up with a fork right before feeding your baby!

4 - It's environmentally friendly. I'm pretty sure that most baby food packaging is recyclable, but I think this is a case of less is more. We reuse the ice cube trays, storage bags, bowls, and spoons, so there is virtually no waste.

As this is my second time around the baby food block, I thought I'd also share a few tips and tricks I learned along the way.

1 - http://www.wholesomebabyfoods.com/ is a fantastic website. There are tables that show the foods your baby can have at different ages. They also give recipes for cooking everything from the simplest first foods to multi-ingredient meals for older babies.

2 - Don't put too many cubes in one Ziploc bag. By the time you get to the end, they will have frozen together in one big clump and/or be freezer burnt. Make sure to reuse the Ziploc bag for the next batch!

3 - When making a "new" food, don't make a ton, just in case your baby doesn't like it or has an allergic reaction to it. That said, if your baby refuses a food, keep trying. E would only eat green beans when I mixed them with squash or sweet potatoes, but in the end, I still got him to eat them! (Remember to wait 3 days between introducing new foods.)

4 - Be careful when adding water. Squashes, pears, and apples don't usually need extra water. They have plenty naturally. Green beans and peas don't need much water added, but carrots* and sweet potatoes do. If in doubt, it's better to freeze a thicker food. You can always add water, breast milk, or formula to thin it before serving, if necessary. (*Don't add the reserve water from steaming your carrots. It contains nitrates, which are harmful to your baby.)

5 - Buy bags of frozen green beans and peas. Check the package to make sure there is no salt or other preservatives added. These are two of the cheapest and easiest baby foods to make. Remember, the goal is to provide healthy meals for your baby, not work yourself to death!

6 - Don't bother making peaches. You will work yourself to death. It took forever to peel and slice the peaches, and didn't provide many servings. I feel like the same would be true for apricots and plums. Once your baby is older, these fresh fruits are wonderful, but preparing them as baby food is just not worth the effort for me.

7 - Homemade applesauce is delicious, but I will admit that it does take awhile to peel, core, and cut the apples. If you don't have that time, buy jars of natural applesauce (check the label to make sure there is NO salt and NO corn syrup) on the fruit aisle. It is much cheaper than buying applesauce in the baby food section! Gerber applesauce is smoother, but if your baby isn't ready for the texture of regular applesauce, he's probably not ready for baby food.

8 - Another time and budget-saving tip is to buy canned pumpkin (not canned pumpkin pie), rather than roasting your own - something I have never done! You can get it year-round in the pie making aisle. E used to love pumpkin mixed with his oatmeal, pasta, or other veggies.

9 - Plan ahead for heating food on road trips. We always kept E's food in a cooler, but restaurants don't allow you to heat your food in their kitchens. Since E didn't like anything cold, we had to improvise. The best method we found was to put the covered bowls on the dashboard as we drove down the road, letting the sun do the work. But that is when we planned ahead. The rest of the time we went with the method my husband developed - heating them on our car's engine block. Nothing like standing in the parking lot waiting for your son's food to be ready! I'm sure no one watching thought it was strange when we lifted the hood and put the tiny bowls in our bag...

10 - Don't feel like you have to do it all. I did, and I realized I can't. (And as I learned with the peaches, sometimes I shouldn't.) Do what you can, when you can, and don't feel guilty about the rest. That goes for everything else that comes with being a Super Mommy too.

Thomas and the Potty

2009-10-21T08:21:00.011-05:00

E has a lot of underwear for someone his age. Or any age, really. He has solids, stripes, sports print, reptiles, dinosaurs, rocketships, airplanes, and now...Thomas the Train. (I'm assuming you, too, heard the heavens opening for Thomas.)

Like so many little boys, E is completely obsessed with Thomas and all of the other engines on the Island of Sodor. He rarely plays with anything else. So when I saw Thomas the Train underwear, I knew I had to buy it.

In a previous post, I mentioned that E is telling us when he needs to go to the potty. The downside is that sometimes he's surprised. A little bit comes out, making a nickel-sized spot on the front of his undies, and he frantically yells, "Toddy! Toddy!" before taking off for the bathroom. But he never seems to notice the wet spot, and he never seems to care that his "unds" are changed out for a new pair. At least he didn't used to.

Sunday afternoon he was wearing his Thomas the Train undies for the very first time, and it happened. He was surprised. He ran to the potty, with my husband right behind him. From the living room I hear a little voice.

"Oh no, Thomas. Oh NO, Thomas. Sorry, Thomas. I sorry, Thomas."

When I finally stopped laughing, all I could think was thank goodness little boy underwear comes in 3-packs!

Sleeping Baby

2009-10-19T13:22:00.012-05:00

Yesterday I did something I have never done before. I let the baby sleep in our bed.

There are lots of reasons this has never happened before, the top 3 being:
1. I am terrified of smothering and killing my baby.
2. I am afraid of starting habits that will be tough to break down the road.
3. I am a very, very light sleeper.

But W had woken up extra-early and couldn't get back to sleep. Rather than risk him waking up E, I fed him. As his belly got full, his eyes got heavy. Soon, he was asleep in my arms. Somehow (I'm guessing it was a combination of exhaustion and delirium) my husband was able to convince me to let W nap in our bed, while he made breakfast.

I am so glad he did.

I pulled down the covers and laid him down in his classic sleeping pose - legs scrunched under his belly, feet crossed, face turned to the side. I gazed at his long, curled eyelashes and I watched his lips form the perfect pout. My hand ran over the soft fluff of his hair, then felt his back rise and fall with each breath he took. He was beautiful. I breathed in the scent of his baby skin and thought, I am so blessed.

I didn't sleep, due to reason #1 and possibly #3, but lying beside W while he slept was so blissfully peaceful I'm tempted to maybe...just maybe...do it again.

Confession #5: I am a cloth convert.

2009-10-14T12:54:00.033-05:00

When I was pregnant with E, the one thing my sister kept saying was, "You should use cloth diapers." It was like her mantra. But I had heard stories from my mom and my mother-in-law, women who had actually used them. Stories about the stench, the stains, the leaks, the laundry, and the horror of sticking your baby with a diaper pin. I also heard multiple stories about soaking dirty diapers and accidentally knocking the pail over - something I took to understand either happens often, or when it does happen, leaves an indelible print on your memory. My sister could sing praises about cloth diapers all day long, but she obviously didn't know what was talking about. There was no way I was using them.

We decided to go with Pampers Swaddlers, the brand recommended by most of my friends. They were soft and smelled so nice...like a baby! Or the way we thought babies smelled. We quickly learned that real babies don't smell like that, and neither did the diapers after they were worn. Even the Diaper Champ, bought specifically to contain the "stink," was no match for E. It didn't take long before our house began to smell like diapers, and not the ones straight out of the package.

As most people know, when you have a newborn, you go through a lot of diapers. The baby eats 8-12 times a day, and with a changing at each feeding, that quickly adds up to around 70 diapers a week, each one taking 250-500 years to decompose. My husband and I like to think we do our part for the environment. We recycle, turn off the lights when we're not in the room, and don't run the water when brushing our teeth. We even started unplugging the coffee maker after Oprah warned me about "leaking" electricity. We switched from Pampers to Seventh Generation, the most eco-friendly disposable diaper, but even those are not biodegradable. Knowing that I was adding to the problem everytime I threw away a diaper made me sick to my stomach. Still, I did it. Ten times a day, seven days a week.

Eventually, I began to relax in my new state of normal. Throwing away diapers was just part of this stage in my life. What else could I do? Other than a few whispers in my subconscious, I felt comfortable. But the whispers got louder when I heard that other mommies I knew used cloth diapers. "Are they really that easy?" I wondered. They got louder still when E started early potty training. "If I'm already washing wet underwear, why am I throwing away diapers?"

I decided that we should make the switch to cloth diapers when I was 36 weeks pregnant with W. Being the smart man my husband is, he did not dare contradict his very pregnant wife. Instead, we both set to learning as much as we could in the limited amount of time we had left. We researched online, visited message boards, and talked with friends who used cloth diapers. Like a lot of things, cloth diapers have changed a lot in the past 30 years. No more soaking pails, intricate folds, or pins. The problem was that there were a million different options! We were completely overwhelmed and had no time to spare. I emailed my friend, Alicia, who I consider a cloth diaper guru, and asked her to tell me exactly what to buy. She suggested types* and brands to give us a small newborn stash for W, a few diapers for E, who was still potty training, and the necessary accessories (my favorite being the flushable liners). We made the leap with the backup plan of selling everything if we decided cloth was not for us.

Having used them for five months now, I can confidently say, cloth IS for us. We have had our challenges along the way (all fodder for another post!), but the benefits have been well worth it. The diapers are soft, super-cute, and so easy to clean. We don't have the constant problem of our house getting stinky, the way it did with disposable diapers. They are good for our sons' sensitive skin, and knowing that we have made an environmentally friendly choice feels great.

My sister was right. She did know what she was talking about. And I will be standing in the choir right beside her.

*There are four main types of cloth diapers: prefolds, fitteds, pockets, and all-in-ones.

Out of the mouths of babes.

2009-10-08T13:05:00.012-05:00

For the most part, E is finally letting go of baby sign and his language skills are really taking off. I am constantly amazed by what comes out of his mouth, and I love hearing what his toddler brain puts together.

Although E has been daytime potty trained for a couple months now, it was only last week that he began telling us each time he needs to use the potty, rather than us taking him at scheduled intervals. (Interestingly, he reached this milestone the exact same day we took a 2.5 hour drive to A Day Out with Thomas. With an almost two year old, who needs to pee hourly, and an almost four month old, who eats every two hours, let's make that a 3.5 hour drive. I probably don't have to tell you that not a single one of those stops coincided with the other child's needs. We are learning that everything takes longer with two.) Even though E has not had a single accident, I can't stop myself from asking. Usually, he will just say, "No," or shake his head when he doesn't have to go. Wednesday afternoon was different.

Me: Do you need to use the potty?
E: Not right now.

This just cracked me up! Think he's heard that phrase a few times, do you?! :-)

I'm also working with him on letter sounds, to help him recognize and form beginning sounds in words. We played our Montessori sound game Thursday morning.

Me: I'm touching something that begins with "c." (making the hard "c" sound)
E: Car!
Me: Yes! Car! Now I'm pointing at something that begins with "tr." (making the "tr" sound)
E: (no response)
Me: Can you say "tr?"
E: Tr!
Me: Traaain. Can you say train?
E: Yeah. (This is E's standard response.)
Me: Okay, say train!
E: Choo-choo!

Oh well. We'll keep working on it!

One of my favorite stories from this week happened with my husband. E picked out his bedtime story, Lullaby Lion. After Hubby finished reading it, they talked about some of the pictures together.

H: Which one is the Daddy lion?
E: (points to the big lion) Dada!
H: That's right! Which one is the Baby lion?
E: (proudly points to the little lion) W!!

Apparently, all babies are named, "W," now!

edit to add: I am now told that E requests this book by the name "Lion (Why-on) W!" :-)

Love my E!

Thankful for little surprises.

2009-10-07T12:22:00.011-05:00

One year ago today, I woke up and took my monthly pregnancy test. (Yes, monthly pregnancy test. Just to be sure.) I was still breastfeeding and still had not gotten a postpartum period, so I knew it would be negative. I brushed my teeth for the obligatory two minutes, and picked up the test to toss it in the trash. As it left my fingers, I glanced down at it. Thud, went the test, hitting the bottom of the can. Thud, went my stomach, dropping to the floor. Two lines. Positive.

Let me rewind for just a bit. I have always wanted to be a mommy. This has been my dream job since I was two years old and my parents brought my little sister home from the hospital. So not long after we got married in 2005, Hubby and I started trying to have a baby. It turns out that this is very difficult to do when the female (me) does not ovulate. Or rarely does. A 45 day cycle, followed by a 100 day anovulatory cycle, followed by more anovulatory cycles had me turning to my OB/GYN for help. He prescribed Femara, a breast-cancer-turned-fertility drug, that induces ovulation. Two cycles later, still no pregnancy. He switched me to Clomid and started running other tests to make sure my tubes were clear, that there were no other problems. Luckily everything else was okay, but I still wasn't pregnant. He gave me a referral to a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) in Savannah, and I started making the two hour drive for more appointments and more tests. My first cycle with the RE was successful, but the pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage. We were devastated. We waited two months for my body to heal from the D&C, and the next cycle was our golden ticket. 100mg of Clomid, a 10,000 unit HcG trigger shot, 9 months of pregnancy, and countless prayers gave us our sweet E.

Those who have experienced infertility and pregnancy loss know that it can scar you. So when I saw those two pink lines, the thud of my stomach was a reflection of many different emotions. Shock, that I was able to get pregnant without fertility treatments, something we thought was impossible. Excitement, that we might have another child. Fear, that we would lose this baby too. And guilt, that we were wronging E, the baby we had worked so hard for, by having another so soon. When I got him up that morning, I cried as I hugged him and told him how sorry I was. He was only 10.5 months. I'm sure he thought I was nuts.

When my husband came home for lunch, the conversation went something like this:

Me: I think we should have another baby.

Hubby: Okay, sounds good.

Me: I mean, I really think we should have a baby this June.

Hubby: Well, you'd have to be pregnant right now to do that...Wait...(dawning comprehension)...Are you pregnant right now?!

He was thrilled. And the more I thought about it, the more excited I got. I was still nervous about having "two under two," still nervous about a possible miscarriage, but we had always wanted two or three children, and I was so relieved that we didn't have to go through the emotional roller coaster of fertility treatments. More than anything, I was already desperately in love with this little baby.

The feeling of guilt lasted a little longer, until the day W came home from the hospital. Instantly I saw that just like my sister was for me, W is the best thing that has ever happened to E. I'm not able to be the perfectionist mommy I was. I've had to let some things go, and that's probably best for all of us. Today I watched E share his favorite Thomas train with W (who just stared at it, but that's not the point), and saw true love. And there's no feeling on Earth like watching your two babies smile and giggle with each other.

So today I am celebrating the anniversary of those two pink lines that the delivered the wonderful news: miracle on the way. I am so thankful for my little surprise.

Confession #4: I know nothing some things about taking care of sick children.

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Yesterday E had a slight fever. He was a little lethargic, congested, and generally pitiful.

So I wasn't that surprised when E slept until almost 8:00 this morning, after going to bed at 5:30 last night. I knew he didn't feel well and that it could possibly be the flu. But I was surprised at how hot he felt when he woke. I was surprised when he wouldn't eat. And I was really surprised when he threw up.

After so many surprises, I freaked out. I don't know what to do with a sick baby! This is only the second time he has been sick, and the first time only lasted 24 hours! I thought it would be over today! Yes, he's had runny noses before, complete with colors that should never occur in nature, but my child doesn't get sick!

I called the doctor's office, but no appointments were available for today. My husband was flying, which made him unreachable for all practical purposes. He's no expert in this field, but he is great for moral support. My mom was working, and as a teacher, she's unavailable for mid-day crises.

So I did what I always do when I'm in need of baby advice: turn to my Super Mommy friends. And boy did they come through! Between phone calls and Facebook, eighteen different women offered advice and sympathy (both for my little boy and for me!) within the span of a couple hours.

I was already doing some of the things they suggested: Tylenol, a day in front of the TV, lots of cuddles, and washing my hands before touching W. That reassurance helped. But I had forgotten about giving cool baths to reduce fevers, and I would never have thought of rotating Motrin and Tylenol or giving Pedialyte popsicles. I even learned about an old-fashioned home remedy that involves water, vinegar, and extra-long tube socks!

After all of this, the doctor's office called. They were able to fit us in. Our doctor confirmed that E has the flu and gave him a prescription for Tamiflu. He also mentioned everything suggested by my friends (well, except for the tube socks).

I know I have said it before, but thank you to my Super Mommy friends, especially Susie, who bought the Pedialyte for E so that I didn't have to leave the house again, and Kelly, who delivered it. I could not do this job without you. I pray that E feels better tomorrow, and that the rest of us can stay healthy.

The sweetest words ever spoken:

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"I yuv you, Ma."

I love you too, E.

Confession #3: I'm busier than I've ever been.

2009-09-29T13:52:00.023-05:00

A few weeks ago we flew to North Carolina to baptize my youngest son and visit with family. The last night we were there, my mother-in-law said to me, "Now I know EXACTLY why you go to bed as soon as you get the boys down." It struck me that in a few years, I won't remember all the little things I do as a Super Mommy with a 22 month old and 3 month old. I may not even remember three months from now! Some days feel like an eternity, but life with babies changes quickly. And when I come out of this sleep deprived haze, I want to remember.

6:30 -Wake up, brush my teeth, get dressed, and put on just enough makeup to keep from scaring anyone if we happen to go out in public today.

7:00 - E wakes up. I open his door to, "Dada? Dada? Where are you, Da?" After a trip to the potty, E goes to watch "Dada" shave and I get his breakfast started - a sippie cup of milk in the microwave for 30 seconds to take the chill off and a Nutragrain blueberry waffle in the oven.

7:15 - W wakes up. Nurse him, dress him, then bring him out to the kitchen where he sits in the bouncer (no bouncing, please) while I sit with E and scarf down the pancakes Hubby microwaved for me.

7:30 - Kiss Hubby good-bye and have 10 minute conversation with E. "Dada go!" "Yes, Dada had to go to work! He will be home for lunch." And repeat.

7:45 - Start a pot of coffee, put breakfast dishes in the washer, begin a load of laundry, and fold and put away diapers.

8:15 - Check email and Facebook updates, watch E plays with his cars and trains, and cheer for W as he does tummy time and chews animals on his playmat.

8:45 - Put W down for a nap, get E dressed, and watch Thomas the Train while enjoying my cup of coffee for the day.

9:30 - W is up. Nurse him in the living room while singing along to the "Crawdad Song" and "Shortenin' Bread" for E.

10:00 - Walk the boys across the street and enjoy some much needed adult conversation during E's playdate.

10:45 - Head home. Turn on Sesame Street for E, the swing for W, the dryer for the laundry, and the oven for hot ham and cheese sandwiches. Slice up avocados and warm up some veggies for E.

11:10 - Sit down with E and Hubby to eat lunch, while Will practices rolling over on a blanket.

11:11 - Give W a paci.

11:13 - "E, no sharing with Doggie."

11:14 - Put Doggie in her crate.

11:15 - Finish eating, clean up lunch dishes, and wash E's face.

11:30 - Nurse W and put him down for a nap.

11:55 - Get diaper out for E, then check email and Facebook again while Hubby puts him down for a nap.

12 noon - Quiet house! Send Hubby back to work with a kiss and wishes for a good afternoon, then settle down to read and write with my little dog curled up beside me. No cleaning allowed! (After I straighten up the kitchen's junk counter, anyway.)

1:30 - W is up and ready to eat! After nursing, I sing songs, read books, and chat with my smiling baby boy.

2:00 - E is up and ready for snack! (At least that's what I assume from his mood.) Make a sippie cup of milk and put a handful of goldfish on E's plate, and suddenly, all is right with the world.

2:30 - Fold and put away laundry while E giggles with W on the floor.

2:45 - Pop W in the Bjorn and E in the stroller to go for a walk around the neighborhood. Chat about the bright red flowers we see, the feel of the wind in our hair, and, E's favorite, the airplanes we hear flying overhead.

3:15 - W goes down for another nap, and E and I listen to music and work puzzles together.

4:00 - W wakes up. I nurse him in the living room and watch Curious George with E.

4:30 - Start dinner. I reheat frozen lasagna made the weekend before last, put together a bag salad, and cut up a kiwi for E.

5:05 - Hubby comes home and we all sit down to eat.

5:30 - Clean up dinner dishes and start the washer while my husband gives E a bath and W takes a short nap.

6:00 - Nurse W and watch E and Hubby assemble a train track.

6:20 - Help E clean up his toys, read "I Love You, Stinky Face," and give him one more kiss before Hubby puts him to bed.

6:40 - Pass W off to Hubby, who gives him a bath and gets him ready for bed, while I start diaper laundry, then take a quick shower.

7:15 - Nurse W one more time before rocking him to his special bedtime song and putting him down.

7:30 - Eat two cookies for dessert and drink a glass of wine with husband on the couch. We watch 30 Rock, TiVo'd last week, while knitting (me) and surfing the Internet (him).

8:15 - Brush teeth and get ready for bed. Update my husband on all the cute (or not-so-cute) things our sweet boys did during the day while he rubs my shoulders.

8:45 - Lights out for me. Hubby will come to bed after giving W his 9:30 bottle. I know that I will get up at least once during the night to replace a paci or pull an arm out of the crib railing (both W), but otherwise, I'm done for the day. I go to sleep and get ready to do all of this again tomorrow, including the things that can't be put on a schedule: giving 30 kisses, saying "No," 20 times, changing 12 diapers, taking E to the potty 8 times, letting Doggie outside 4 times, and loving 2 boys (3 if you count Hubby) more than I ever thought possible.

Confession #2: I'm a by-the-book kind of mommy.

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Shocker, I know.

If you ever need a book or website for anything pregnancy, baby, or toddler-related, send me an email or leave a comment and I'll share my list. Every single one of the books and websites was recommended by another Super Mommy, and adopted by this one. I am not guaranteeing they will work for you...this is just what works for us.

(I also have an awesome baby registry list that I'm happy to share! It was started by a friend of a friend, and has lots of comments on personal experiences from three different mommies. I don't know what I would have done without it! Just sayin'!)

Confession #1: I'm not really a Super Mommy.

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At least not in the traditional sense. I'm no June Cleaver, and I don't have it all together. I make mistakes, have rough days, and lose my mind at least twice a week, on average. There are times I wonder if I have anything under control.

But I am working my hardest to be the best Mommy I can be everyday, and that is what makes me, and other mommies I know, Super Mommies.

I know that my stint as a mommy with young children will flash by before I'm ready for it to end, and I don't want to forget. Good parts and bad. Rewarding and...not so rewarding. If I can keep up with even just a few of those funny, crazy, and touching moments I share with my two little boys every day and record some of my own fears and victories as a mother, I will feel I have succeeded with this blog.

If I can pass along any Super Mommy wisdom I have collected; that will be a bonus.

Since donning my Super Mommy cape two years ago, I've been asked what books to read more times than I can count, shared registry lists with friends of friends, and given baby advice to girls I've known forever and strangers in Walmart. Where did I learn this stuff? And who has time for the untested when there are clothes to fold, noses to wipe, and bellies to tickle? Every parenting book I've read and every baby-related website I've visited was suggested by other Super Mommies. Sure, not everything works for everyone, but my gratitude can only be shown by sharing with others what my Super Mommy friends shared with me. I hope something here will work for you.

A huge thank you to all of the Super Mommies who have helped me, and continue to help me, along the way: Mom, Grandma, Caroline, Nina, Alicia, Amy, Ashley, Cameron, Darlene, Donna, Elisha, Elizabeth, Erin, Jennifer, Kara, Katie, Kelly, Kristin, Leia, Mandi, Martie, Maureen, Michelle, Nicole, Pam, Ronda, Shannon, Sharon, Shelley, Susie, Sylvia, Tara, Tiffany, and all the other Super Mommies I've somehow left out.

And the biggest thank you of all to my husband, without whom I would never be a Super Mommy at all. I love you.