Help Me to Remember

Lord, I thank and praise you that you've chosen me to be the mother of one of your children. I am in awe at the little life that is changing before my very eyes.

Please help me to remember these fleeting days. I never want to forget them. I want to remember each giggle and each accomplishment. I hope to look back on these years and smile.

Please help me to remember that he is your child, not mine. Guide us as we sculpt him into the man he is to become. Give us strength for the hardships and difficult situations that we will no doubt face as he grows.

Please help me to remember that I am very fortunate. Allow me never to forget those that will never be "mommy". Keep those that have had to say good-bye to a child before they were ready in my constant thoughts. I never wish to become complacent, but always thankful.

I ask for Your continued and constant guidance as I thank and praise You.

Amen

Happy Birthday, Bubba!

My baby isn't a baby. I'm in complete denial and today is the day that I can no longer be. When your "baby" turns one you can pass them off as your baby for a while longer. When that baby turns two, there's nothing you can do.

Two years ago I celebrated my own personal Mother's Day. I remember vividly walking out of the bathroom in my hospital room, stopping in the doorway and saying, "I just pushed a kid out." I was grinning from ear to ear. It didn't matter that my hooha hurt from the stitches or I couldn't sit because of "The Gang", I was on cloud nine. The day that I thought would never come, came. I was a mommy.

The first year flew by, as promised. I watched that tiny, helpless infant grow into a cute, (almost pudgy) wobbly toddler. Today I'm watching that same toddler change into a little boy right before my eyes.

His singsong-y little voice makes my heart melt, his giggle makes me giggle right along with him, his love for trucks, mud, tractors, and sports leave no room for denying that he's a boy through and through. (Or that he's his father's son.)
If there's a puddle, he's in it. If there's dirt, he's covered in it. If there's food, he's eating it and if there's a chance to rough house, he's certainly doing it.

This evening we celebrated that little boy with a farm themed birthday party. We feasted on sweet corn, baked potatoes, ham and baked beans. All of the slaving in the kitchen was worth it!

When we took a break from playing so we could open gifts, someone showed us his age. ;) ***Let me preface this by saying I was hesitant to even open gifts at that party. I was toying with the idea of just bringing them inside and opening them later.*** I knew that several of our guests were looking forward to seeing him open their gift so I caved. He wandered around the yard playing with "old" toys while a friend's little girl and I opened the new ones. He ran as fast as I've ever seen him run when we told him we'd opened a train though.

I sang "Happy Birthday" to my not-so-little boy while trying to hold back tears. There's just something about celebrating the birth of the child I never thought I'd have that makes me overjoyed.

Happy second birthday, buddy!

(Pictures to come)

When I Grow Up

Remember when you were little and you used to dream about what you wanted to be when you grew up? At different points in my childhood I aspired to be a teacher, an astronaut and a marine biologist. I'm sure you have a similar story.

There are days when I still wonder what I want to "be". When I started college I had visions of strutting my stuff in tailored business suits and pricey pumps while dreaming up fancy marketing schemes. After I graduated, that dream job just never surfaced.

At some point after getting married it dawned on me that what I really wanted to be was a mommy. I'd always knew that I wanted kids but suddenly, suits and heels were the last thing on my mind. I just couldn't picture myself in that line of work. I wanted to be someone's mommy.

That finally came true. I am someone's mommy and I wouldn't have it any other way. But, like many mommies, I'm finding myself wanting more. At some point our kid(s) will be in school and I'll be looking for things other than laundry folding and lunch packing to fill my days. Actually, that point is here much earlier than expected.

I've toyed with the idea of taking some online classes. I've have aspirations of starting my own business. The list goes on...

I was finally able to pinpoint one of my dreams the other day. I really want to take the necessary classes to become a car seat technician. I really do. I'm so sad when I see kids improperly restrained in their seats. (It's a much more prevalent occurence than you may think.) I want to be able to help. I want to be able to speak up and say, "I'm a certified technician. Would you mind if I gave you a hand with that car seat? It looks like your child could be a little safer." without having people think that I'm just butting in without knowing what I'm talking about.

Getting to this "dream" may prove to be a little more difficult though. The classes are generally a week long. They're from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm. There is a written test and there is a "field test". It's not like you sit in a class for an hour and they hand you a piece of paper. It's serious stuff. The certification is good for two years.

After we move, I'm going to start gathering information on a more serious level. I'm going to find out where the classes are and line up a babysitter so I can attend. This is something that I feel so convicted to do. I really think that I can finally do something that will (hopefully) help people.

Just One Reason I Love This Seat

Sunshine Kids' Radian65 Proves It Won't Crack Under Pressure

SUMNER, WA – July 8, 2009 – Last week's freak collapse of the five-story Centergy parking deck in Midtown Atlanta left onlookers, bystanders and victims alike stricken with awe as it was revealed that not a single person was harmed in the crumble that damaged or destroyed a total of 38 vehicles.

But for Sarah Maglione, whose vehicle was among those destroyed, the spectacle had only just begun. Her SUV was parked on the structure's second level when the incident occurred; it was the thirtieth vehicle pulled from the wreckage. "I had three floors of a parking garage collapse on top of my car," Maglione said. "It is flattened beyond belief."

The particular that astounded her further: the fact that her child's car seat, a Sunshine Kids Radian65 positioned on the passenger side of the back seat in her SUV, completely withstood the force of the collapse and upheld its section of the car, as well.

"Amazing," Maglione said. "That thing did not bend an inch," referring to her Radian65 car seat. "They are built using steel alloy frames, and I always heard they were the strongest. Now I know it."

Radian®, by Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products, is constructed with an exclusive steel alloy frame for superior impact protection. Seven-inch-deep, high-impact-grade engineered sidewalls reinforced with EPS foam provide superior side impact protection, absorb crash energy and protect the child from intrusions making it the strongest car seat available. Radian is a convertible car seat built to protect children between 5 and 65 pounds.

The Radian® car seat line is available through independent juvenile stores across the US and Canada, as well as the Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products web site (www.skjp.com).

Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products is the manufacturer of more than 80 innovative juvenile products, including car seats, storage solutions, and related travel and stroller accessories, designed to facilitate today's on-the-go family lifestyle and assure the maximum in safety protection.

======

Here are pictures of the actual crushed car with Radian65 In Tact ...



__________________

How It's Done

Yes, my husband is gone right now. Yes, he'll be gone for five-ish more weeks. Yes, it stinks and yes, we miss him. No, I'm not crying my eyes out.

There are certain people that are very close to us that seemingly can't wrap their minds around the fact that I can survive without my husband. The fact that there is zero military presence here is really showing this week. "Civilians", as we like to call them, can't seem to grasp this whole concept. Just because I'm able to go about my day and function as a normal human being without him here doesn't say a darn thing about how much I love him.

It's pretty cut and dry in my world. He had to leave for six weeks. End of story. If I cry when he leaves and promise to mope around the entire time he's gone, The Man isn't going to change his mind and say he can stay. In my way of thinking, he's leaving either way so I may as well make the best of it. The time sure goes much faster if I do.

Now I realize that we're fairly lucky. We get to talk to him, however brief it is, every day. I am painfully aware that there are thousands of husbands, wives and children that go to sleep each night praying that their family member is safe. I get that. I realize that we're lucky in that respect, but even those people handle such situations in a similar manner. You gotta do what ya gotta do. You may not like it but it has to be.

So next time someone asks me if it's been "three weeks" when it's only been one and gives me those sympathetic eyes I may just come unglued. Please try not to make me feel like the most heartless wife on the planet just because I'm not in mourning over the fact that my husband is gone for a few weeks.

Almost a Full One

I am happy to report that we have nearly survived the first full week of Daddy being gone. Not that I had any doubt that we wouldn't...

We've been keeping busy. So far we've attended Ben's party and made a Walmart run. LOL Sounds like a jam-packed week, huh?

Tomorrow, I'm contemplating attending a special event at our local library. He really loves music and dancing BUT this event takes place at nap time. There aren't many things that trump a nap so the jury is still out on that one.
Bubba will get to stay with Grandma in the evening while I do a Pampered Chef show though. That should be fun (for both of us). He likes playing with Grandma and I need some time away from the house without my shadow. It's a win-win.

I do feel bad for my little Bubba though. He is so confused and it breaks my heart. He'll pick up my cell phone and say, "Daddy?" or just randomly say, "Daddy home." in the middle of the day. He doesn't want to talk to Daddy when he calls because, quite frankly, I think he's mad at him for leaving. He doesn't understand that he'll be back in a few weeks. I'm sure it will get better as the weeks go on.

So other than a few stressful situations and moments where I was at the end of my rope, we made it unscathed through most of week one. The next couple of weeks should zoom by as my brother and sister-in-law will be in town visiting. After they leave we should find out where home sweet home will be so then I can spend my days daydreaming about unpacking the things we haven't seen in nearly a year. :D

Even More Reasons to "Go Green"

In my search for a diaper rash/heat rash remedy, I came across this. For some reason I never thought of using Baking Soda in the bath!
I thought this was interesting and worth sharing. Here is the direct link to the page:

Using Baking Soda for Baby’s Bath, Diaper Pail, Cradle Cap, and More!

Discovering new ways to use natural, inexpensive products gives me a slightly bizarre thrill—like winning the lottery, fully reversing global warming, or seeing my toddler son first thing in the morning.

You can imagine my euphoria when I found out that a fifty cent box of baking soda could replace diaper cream, eco-friendly cleaners, and baby bath without any artificial ingredients or phthalates. For those of you that didn’t catch last week’s post, you might want to read up on how baking soda can also replace deodorant, shampoo and even toothpaste!

“Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, and Frugal Uses You’ve Probably Never Thought of” offers a plethora of ideas using for baking soda with babies and throughout your house. The book is chock full of ways to replace potentially toxic mainstream products and expensive green cleaners with simple baking soda solutions. The list below is compiled from the book’s section on caring for babies and children.

Diaper rash treatment. Generously dilute baking soda with water and gently sponge onto baby’s skin to neutralize the acidity of urine.

Baby bath. Skip the bubbly stuff, and add a few tablespoons of baking soda to baby’s bathwater to soften the skin.

Bath toys. If you have bath toys that are prone to mildew or mold, sprinkle them with a bit of baking soda every now and then. It will prevent the green stuff from growing on junior’s rubber ducky.

Cradle cap treatment. Make a paste of baking soda and add a bit of baby oil. Then gently work the mixture into baby’s scalp and carefully rinse.

Deodorizer for baby bottles and nipples. Soak baby them overnight in hot water and a half of a box baking soda.

Cleanser for baby’s room. Rather than using harsh chemicals, just mix baking soda and water to clean cribs, bassinets, and the changing table.

Diaper deodorizer. Whether you add it to your load of cloth diapers, dump it into your diaper pail, or sprinkle it into your wet bag on the go, baking soda can make cloth diapering infinitely less smelly.

T-Day

Today Chris left for Texas. His flight left from Pittsburgh at 7:30 am so we decided to get up in the middle of the night (3:00) to drive rather than making the trip the day before. If we would have gone on Wednesday afternoon/evening, we would have had to spend the money on a hotel, a dinner out and fight with Alex to sleep (he is NOT a good hotel sleeper). It was just much easier, as crazy as it sounds, to get up at early and be home by 7:30.

We had a rainy drive in the dark. I was glad that Chris was driving because there is nothing I hate more than driving in the rain in the dark. I have horrible night vision and the rain just makes it worse. Makes you wanna take a ride with me after dark, doesn't it? ;) Thankfully, I had a much less rainy drive home AND it was light out. Bonus!

Our good-bye was short and sweet. I could barely talk in the car without wanting to cry so I just didn't say anything. I always try so hard to be "me" when we have to say good-bye.

I guess it all stems from our good-bye before he left for Korea...

With all of the stress and preparations with our move from Texas, I hadn't really had much time to actually think about how he would be gone for an entire year. The night before I was to leave for the drive home, I lost it. The house was empty and we were sleeping on a pile of borrowed blankets. It all just sunk in and I bawled like a baby. Chris asked me if I could do him a favor. He asked me if, when we said good-bye the next morning, I would try hard not to cry. He wanted to have a happy image of me to take with him.

I'm proud to say that I did it. I'm not sure how, but I did. I always think of that now when he has to leave for an extend amount of time. I thought about that again this morning.

The next six weeks will be a mix of things, I'm sure. I know there will be sleepless nights, early mornings, frustrating days, and huge messes. I know that there will be afternoons without naps and late evenings. I also know that there will be lots of laughs and several milestones. The biggest of those milestones being a second birthday.

In a really weird way, I'm looking forward to this time. It's always nice to prove to myself that I can do things alone. It's really empowering. I'm looking forward to some time to gather my thoughts to get ready for the next chapter of our lives.

I guess what I'm saying is that I know these next few weeks are going to be hard but we can't move forward without them. And moving forward is good.

Family Fun Day

We decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather today and go on a little family outing. We opted for the zoo. I really wanted to do something as a family before Chris leaves on Thursday. We had a great time!

Alex wasn't too sure at first. He, most likely, doesn't remember his first Erie Zoo trip. He was over a year old but he had no fear. This time, however, he was a little nervous about all of the strange critters wandering about. He kept saying, "Out, out, out." I can't tell you how many times I reassured him that the animals couldn't get out. I kept telling him that that was their home, their "kennel". (He understands that Molly stays in her kennel sometimes so I thought maybe he'd understand that the animals would stay where they were.)

He eventually warmed up to the idea and spent most of the day running alongside the stroller. He especially loved how the ducks were begging for his peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

I wish Chris was going to be here for the month of August. I'd really like to enjoy the nice weather while we can. I guess Mommy and Alex will have to go on adventures alone.

Here are a few pictures from our day.


THIS WAS WHAT BROUGHT HIM OUT OF HIS SHELL. THE KITCHEN. THAT BOY HAS QUITE THE CULINARY IMAGINATION!



PLAYING WITH DADDY IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA



ONE OF THE DUCKS TRYING TO SCAM SOME PB&J



ANOTHER DUCK POSING AT LUNCHTIME



THIS IS AS CLOSE AS I'VE SEEN EITHER OF THESE GIRAFFES. HE WAS SNEAKING LEAVES FROM THE TREE OUTSIDE THE FENCE.



SOME SORT OF MONKEY

Cracking

I feel like I'm going to break. I have so many emotions swimming around in my head now and I'm not really sure what to do with all of them.

I'm really looking forward to our next adventure. I'm excited to move and I'm reeaallly excited to find a place to call home. Coming into this, we thought we'd only be "homeless" for a couple of months. When it's all said and done it will be a year.

I feel like we've had to put our entire lives on hold for that year. I feel like we haven't been a real married couple and a real family. It's hard to have any conversation without someone seemingly hanging on your every word. It's hard to get into a routine when you have to follow the one already set by the household. It's hard to be yourself sometimes even when it is just family around.

I feel like I'm going to go nuts over the money issue. Overall, we've done really well. We've basically lived off of our savings and extra money we earned from moving for this year. We're at the point where that money is almost gone and I'm worried how we're going to make it through September, let alone set up a new home. On one hand, I am thankful that we really beefed up our savings when we had the opportunity. On the other, I am just raging mad that that money is gone. We had a decent down payment saved. It's gone.

I want to have a wonderful birthday for Alex, even though I know he doesn't know the difference. I don't want him to have to go without. I think any parent can relate to that. That goes for just about everything, not just birthday parties.

I feel like I'm being taken advantage of too. I am constantly cleaning up other people's messes and washing other people's clothes. It gives me something to do but I hate that it feels like it's expected. Is it so hard to take the trash out or wipe the counter off after you make breakfast or lunch for yourself? I only wish I could be a fly on the wall after we leave. Then, and only then, will everyone realize just how good they had it.

I'm bubbling with excitement, sad that Chris is leaving, worried about money, frustrated with our situation and hurt by my family. I wish that is was all just a dream and I'd wake up tomorrow in our new home.

A Few of My Favorites

A couple of my favorites from the Fourth of July. The second one was a complete accident but I think it's really awesome.




The next few are from camp. I walked down to the lake during my second session to see if i could get any better sunset pictures. It was pretty cloudy but I got a few.

I found this stump that had drifted to shore overnight really neat.


This is a picture of The "Cathedral" that I referred to in a previous post. Pictures really don't do it justice. It's a fairly steep slope down to a cross (you can barely see it here). The "pews" are railroad ties that are set in the ground. It's really very pretty.
And, last but not least, what would a photo tour of Camp Judson be without a stop at the prayer tower. Soon, it'll have fresh artwork on the walls inside.

Crazy Mixed Up Mess

The next few weeks are going to be a few of the hardest ever. They are also a few of the most exciting. On July 23, my husband will leave us for six weeks. At the end of that six weeks we'll finally be moving. The latter can't happen without the first.

We've dealt with separations before. The longest was a year. I'm not doubting that we'll make it through one bit. We've just never been in this exact situation while dealing with a separation before. I'm sure the days will crawl by one moment and speed by the next. All in all, it's really only the month of August. The only "biggie" is that Alex's birthday also comes in August. :(

We're going to try to take advantage of the next week or so. I'd like to take a zoo trip or go to the spillway. You know, do something fun before Daddy leaves. It looks like summer has come to Northwestern Pennsylvania today. I hope it's here to stay so we can get out and enjoy it.

I am actually really excited about what's in store for us. I know some people don't like surprises but I think this will be a good one. We're ready to see what's next. We NEED to see what's next because the situation we're in isn't as pleasant as it once was. Ah, family...

This song spoke to me today. Ok, so it didn't "speak" to me it sang. I know the lyrics aren't really about living in the same ol' town but that part really caught my ears. It's what I've been feeling a lot here.
I really enjoy Leeland's music. If you'd like to listen to this song and a couple others, check this out. My absolute favorite is Carried to the Table.

Opposite Way by Leeland

Living in the same town For all these years Doing the same old things Hanging with the same crowd And it’s starting to get crippling You’ve never felt in place And you tell yourself it’s all okay But something’s different today You want to run the opposite way And it seems like you’re locked in a cage And you need to find a way of escape When everyone is setting the pace It’s okay to run the opposite way The Father sent His Son down The light of men The cross He bore was crippling Rejected in His own town They couldn’t see the sun shining He knelt in the garden and prayed Father, let this cup pass from me It’s not Your will for me to stay Your will for me is the opposite way And it seemed like He was locked in a cage And He couldn’t find away of escape But through the cross He conquered the grave My Jesus ran the opposite way Oh, and through the cross He conquered the grave Oh, He ran the opposite way Yeah, through the cross He conquered the grave So you could run the opposite way © 2008 Meaux Mercy (BMI) / Meaux Jeaux Music (SESAC) / Meaux Hits (ASCAP) (adm. by EMI CMG Publishing). All rights reserved.

@!#$%&!

Ok. Seriously. So I don't have to keep writing things like this... PROPERLY RESTRAIN YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR!!!!!!!

If you don't know how, ask. If you're in an accident, the only thing protecting your most precious cargo is that car seat. Use it correctly.

The End

Hail to Camp Judson

I had a blast as a Program Director at camp! I'm wondering why I didn't go to camp more often as a kid. Actually, I don't wonder. I had a not-so-pleasant experience during day camp one year. I was young enough to think that camp was like that all the time. Stupid counselor. You ruined it for me. hahaha

In any event, it was a wonderful week teaching second and third graders about Jesus. They learned what it means to be fishers of men and I'm fairly sure they had a blast doing it. I am so blessed that I had this opportunity. I am thankful that I was led to direct this week.

We had a beautiful week (we only dodged rain showers one day). I'm looking forward to doing it all over again next week! I only wish I didn't have to spend three nights away from my baby and my husband. :(

I was even able to sneak away one evening to snap some photos at the lake. I was hoping for a nice sunset but it was really cloudy so it wasn't great. Thankfully I have three more days to try. Here are just a few pictures from the week.

This is what 46 campers playing games looks like. They were a pretty impressive group. I was anticipating total chaos but they were wonderful.

I'm guessing it was a good plan to play lots of running games right before Vespers and bed. ;)







They were a riot playing Run, Rabbit, Run and Zookeeper.






On Sunday night, we walked to the lake to have Vespers. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset (I forgot my camera), learned a few new songs and got the campers geared up for what we would be learning about and talking about over the next couple of days.

On Monday night, we walked to The Cathedral in the woods. (pictured) This is a pretty amazing site and I'll have to remember to take pictures of the "pews" next week. Here is a picture of the "altar" and our little Vespers fire.

Our Vespers for Tuesday night was scheduled to be at the Prayer Tower but it was really wet so we just held it in the pavilion. I'm hoping that next week will be dry so I can take photos at all three places.

Here are a couple from my trip down to the lake. There's just something about being there all alone that takes my breath away every time. I am always truly in awe of His creation.
We had several small showers and a couple pretty good downpours that day so the sunset wasn't great. Plus, the windy weather made for a very angry Lake Erie. Even so, it was still beautiful.

Product Endorsement

I just have to share this for all of you with small children!

I've been searching for those old school watercolor books that don't actually use paint. You know, the ones where the kids just "paint" with a wet brush and the picture magically colors itself. Either I haven't been looking in the right places or they just don't make those anymore.

When we were out and about yesterday, I mentioned to my sister-in-law that I was searching for one of those for Alex. I figured I'd take a look since we were at Michael's. She mentioned something that she and my brother had purchased for some friends' children.

It's called Water WOW Doodle Book. This is what the front cover looks like. There were a couple other characters but a certain toddler here is completely obsessed with The Backyardigans.



It comes with a brush that you fill with water. Of course, you could just use a regular paint brush too. This is the good part. You paint with the water, this really vibrant picture appears AND THEN IT FADES AWAY!! They can use it over and over and over again. Genius! Here's one of the pictures. I left part of it "unpainted" so you could see.



It was well worth the $3something that I paid because Alex can use it again and again. Although, I'm not sure who is having more fun with it, him or me. :P

Those Summer Nights

Let me start by saying that I realize the temperatures are by no means hot compared to other parts of the country. I get that. We've lived in San Antonio. You don't have to explain to me what 100*+ feels like.

Let me continue by saying that if this was as good as summer got, then I'm good. I'm sweating my tooshie off!

All winter long we thought that the temperatures were pretty reasonable. There were even a couple of days when we cracked a window. I'm not sure if this was due to the fact that it was actually nice out or because the rest of the family insisted on keeping the thermostat at nearly 78*!!!

I now have confirmation that my blood is, indeed, still thick. I guess that's what three years in Alaska will do to you, right?

Day Five: Friday

Seriously. I need a vacation.

I was planning a very lazy day today. The only thing the two of us were going to do was run to town on a couple of quick errands. Other than that I was planning a day of playing outside and relaxing. I planned wrong.

My mom called at around 10:00 to ask if we were planning on heading to Edinboro for anything. I told her no. She explained that they STILL needed to pick up archery pins for camp and that some kids would be earning their pins today but wouldn't get them. I felt horrible for the little kid who earned it but wouldn't have anything to show his mom when she came to get him.
I agreed to go and pick up the pins. Edinboro is only about 11 miles from here. Camp is just as far IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

Alex started a major protest when I told him we had to go "bye-byes" and then see Grandma at work. Apparently that wasn't in his plans for today either.

It takes us over an hour to drive to Edinboro, pick up the pins and drive back to North Springfield. Seriously? We get there and go into the office to visit Grandma. She asks if we want to go to Tasty Twist for lunch, her treat. Another car seat protest ensues.

In any event, it was nearly 2:00 when we got home. I let Alex play outside while I cleaned out the car. Even at that point it was very evident that a nap was not happening.

In an attempt at some quiet time and a chance for him to relax, I've started a Backyardigans DVD. He loves those critters too much to fall asleep in the middle of one of their episodes.

Oh well. Tomorrow will be a nice, relaxing day at home for him. While I'd really like to take him to the airport with me to meet Daddy, I think he's going to stay home with Grandma. I just don't see it being a very pleasant ride for him. He'll stay home, take his nap and we'll be home by the time he wakes up. He'll never know he missed a thing. The best part will be that Daddy will be here to greet him!

Here are a few pictures of the cooking fun we've been having.

This first one is the cleaning of the food that took place in the bathtub. LOL







Next we have the organizing of the new kiddie cookware I picked up last night. He's loving it!


***Daddy Update***
I got a message at around 0930 this morning that said "I'm going to Texas in July!!!" That's code for "I made it!".
I am sooooo happy for him. I knew he'd make it but just having the official word makes it that much better.
He'll go to Lackland AFB in mid July for a six-week training. After that? Who knows?
I can't wait to see him tomorrow!!

Day Four: Thursday

It was another semi eventful day. Should I have expected any less?

We passed up the opportunity to run an errand with Aunt "Chelle" so that we could have a normal morning at home. I just knew we'd never make it through a whole week without at least one bloody lip. We had two. Within ten minutes of each other.

Bloody lips are a common occurrence so other than a little crying, he knows the drill. He actually giggled when I pointed out that he got blood all over my shoulder. Stinker.

He really looks pitiful here but he's just between smiles. The smiley picture didn't really show the "damage" as well. I have to say, this is the nastiest lip injury to date. (The first one coming when he was just six months old...)

Other than a little complaining when eating certain foods, he's fine. I do think that this one may scab. Yuck.





After a nap and delivery of the new kitchen :) I was able to sneak away with Aunt "Chelle" alone. We needed to make a Michael's run for craft supplies for our week of camp. Let me just say that beads aren't cheap!!
In any event, it was nice to get away for even just a couple of hours.


***Daddy Update***
Chris called when we were on our way home. I am so proud of him!
They had just finished their "class dinner". He mentioned that he didn't have to pay. When I asked why he explained it was because he recited the ten phrases that they had been working on all week VERBATIM! I guess that semi photographic memory and all of those plays in high school paid off!
The instructors said that they haven't had anyone all year do that and they can only think of two or three that have EVER done it. *beaming*
They'll find out between 0800 and 0900 tomorrow if they've made it or not. It seems like a done deal but stranger things have been known to happen.

Day Three: Wednesday

Wow. I'm going to need a vacation after this week! We've been going non-stop! It's been fun to pass the time more quickly but I keep wondering if we'll do the same thing when Daddy is gone for six weeks. I don't think I have it in me.

Today we went to visit Grandma H at work. My sister-in-law and I will be directing a week of camp soon so we needed to get some scheduling things straightened out. I thought it might be fun to visit Grandma at the same time.

My little monster put on quite a few miles running around the office and playing ball. We even walked up to the dining hall and had lunch before coming home. I, by the way, planned the trip home perfectly. We ate, I changed his diaper and we left right at nap time. I *knew* he'd fall asleep and I'd be able to lay him down when I got home. (The ol' car to crib routine doesn't work often but I had an inkling it would today.)

After nap time and Grandma's return home, we headed to a jewelry party. I'd never heard of this "brand" before (Silpada), but it was very nice. Pricey, but nice. It always turns out that I fall in love with the $250 piece. I did, however, find a nice simple pair of earrings that were very, very reasonably priced. Extra money for such items is coming at a premium these days but I felt bad attending and not buying anything.

The most exciting part of the evening came when I friend mentioned she and her mother-in-law were going to be having a yard sale on Friday and Saturday. I just casually asked if they had a toy kitchen or a sandbox and she said yes! They had a kitchen in the sale. She proceeded to tell me about how they had a bunch of food, plates and, "silver"ware with it. She said to swing by and look at it if we wanted. We stopped by on our way home (the back way home).
My jaw about hit the pavement when I saw that they had a sticker for $7 on it! Sold! It's really cute and Alex immediately flew to cooking up a storm.
We came home and took a bath with the new food and dinnerware. (He'll often take a washable toy to the tub to "keen it".)

I'm so excited that my little pretender now has a kitchen. He has such a great imagination and loves to pretend to cook things for us. I wonder if I have a little Emeril in the making?

I didn't get him in bed until nearly 10:00!!! Sign me up for Mother of the Year.

***Daddy Update***
Chris called during the jewelry bonanza tonight. He sounds really great. I can hear the confidence in his voice and it just makes me so happy.
The memorization part is really easy for him so he's feeling good about that. They had to do short speeches today and he said his went really well.
Tomorrow they have a longer speech (5 minutes or so) and then Friday they have a presentation/interview before a panel. I'm really looking forward to hearing all about his week. I'm really excited for him!

Day Two: Tuesday

Today we were on the hunt for a sandbox. I am determined to give this child a place to dig. He's starting to unearth things he shouldn't be.

We were up and running far earlier than Monday. We were both dressed (and me showered) and out the door before 9:30 this morning. I figured we'd start our search at Wally World. I'm really only looking for a kiddie pool and there are a few other things on the general list so it seems logical.

As soon as we pull into the parking lot, I notice that Grandpa C is working. We head back to the automotive department so we can watch him work on a Suburban. I have a feeling Alex would have stood on that chair all day if I'dve let him.

After a jaunt around the garden-y things, I find a really small $10 kiddie pool. Sold. Until I realize that I forgot to take the stroller out of the trunk. How in the heck am I going to get this thing home?!?! I remember Grandpa C. We shop for the other items on the list and then head back to the Suburban.

Grandpa C says, sure, we can put the pool (I mean sandbox) in the back of his truck. Score!
I promise to pick it up later but Grandma C has other plans. LOL (If you know Grandma C, this won't surprise you.) She offers Grandpa C's delivery services.

So, late this afternoon Grandpa C dropped off the "sandbox" and three bags of sand. I wish someone could have taken a picture of all of us gathered around it playing like kids again.
Grandpa H even got in!

I'm having trouble with the video uploading so here's a couple pictures of the festivities.


He absolutely *would not* get in the sand without his boots on. I'm not sure what it is about those boots. I think it has something to do with his being able to put them on himself. I guess we'll just have to sport barn boots at the beach.






This is my new hangout for the rest of the summer. Just get me a foot rest and a fruity drink and I'm golden.

Notice he's still standing in the sand with his boots on. He wouldn't sit down in it either. *rolling eyes*






***Daddy Update***
I received another text this morning. The running portion of his PT test (1.5 miles) went well also. He ended up with a total combined score of 80.5 This is slightly lower than what he was hoping for but good considering the minimum expected was a 75. The scoring for PT tests is really weird and complicated so don't ask how it's done because I won't be able to explain it well.

He called this evening and said that it's going well overall. He has a semi-photographic memory so he's not having any trouble with the memorization portion of the week at all. LOL
Everyone seems to be getting along really well and he's enjoying himself for the most part.

When I asked him if they'd said anything about the openings for the July class he said that there are eight. This means that, unless something really crazy happens, he'll be going to Texas for six weeks in mid July. Yeehaw!! There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Day One: Monday

Our first night/day went really well. Alex seemed a little confused as to why we left daddy sitting on the shuttle bus in Pittsburgh but as long as he has mommy, nothing seems to bother him for too long. ;)

We spent most of the morning inside. I know. It was a waste of a beautiful day. We really just needed a low-key day. I spent the morning unpacking, washing and putting away while Alex played with his toys and watched a couple Backyardigans episodes. Thank goodness for those little buggers, by the way.

We headed outside when I needed to hang a load of clothes on the line. This was a poor decision on my part. It was nearly 11:00. He'd had a snack but he was fading fast. Lunch is normally between 11:30 and 11:45 around here. I have no idea what I was thinking. I *knew* it would be nearly impossible to get him inside when it was time but I did it anyhow. I felt bad for depriving him of his Vitamin D.

After a few trips around the yard with the bubble mower, a brief stop in the hay field, some digging in the mud and several trips down the slide, I realize that it's waaaay past lunchtime.
I couldn't persuade him inside so I end up lugging him in kicking and screaming.

Needless to say, the handwashing and shoe removal don't go very smoothly. I fix him a grilled cheese sandwich and give him an organic juice box (juice is a treat around here). The screaming subsides and we (mostly) enjoy lunch.

***Daddy update***
Chris texted me early in the morning to let me know that the sit-up and push-up portion of his PT test go well. He says he won't be able to talk much because they have a mandatory study time after dinner. I'm a little concerned about how Alex will ever get to talk to him this week but I know we'll figure it out.
That night, before bed, we tried to call but he didn't answer. Alex was really confused as to why we weren't actually talking to daddy before bed. When Chris is away we *always* call and say good night. Thankfully, we got a call back during our second time through Arthur's Tractor. ;)

Love You Forever

If you can read this story without tearing up or getting a lump in your throat, then you are a much stronger person than me. I love this book. (Especially the end.)

A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
And while she held him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and the took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet.
Sometimes his mother would say, "This kid is driving me CRAZY!"

But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words.
Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo!

But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

The boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music.
Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo!

But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew.
He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town.

But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town.

If the lights in her son's house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, "You'd better come see me because I'm very old and sick."
So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song.
She sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish because she was too old and sick.

The son went to his mother.
He picked he up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be.

When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs.

Then he went into the room where is very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
And while he rocked her he sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

~Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

You're Welcome

After a very exhausting weekend, we had the most wonderful experience on our way home.

We stopped at the rest area just outside of Meadville, PA. I love this rest area. There is a ton of grassy area and there are several picnic tables. It is such a park-like setting. It really breaks up the trip to be able to get out and run with Bubba for a few minutes. With so much grass, I don't worry about the cars because we're so far from them.

ANYwho, we had to stop for a couple of reasons (one being to pee and the other being to fix my messed up contact lens). We decided to take advantage of that grass and play. I grabbed the trusty bat and ball (it hadn't failed me yet) and we started to play.

Since we left as soon as Daddy was done with his meeting, he was still in uniform.

*I don't know how many of you know the "rules" of being in uniform but there are a couple. First of all, you have to wear you're BDU shirt outside. You can't just run around in your fancy camouflague  pants and be done with it. Secondly, you must always wear your hat. So needless to say there is no way to make yourself look like you're not in uniform if you're in uniform.*

As the three of us took turns being the pitcher and the batter, I had a thought. How all-American do we look right now? A little boy plays baseball with his uniformed Daddy.
Apparently others were thinking the same thing. A nice older woman came over and asked Daddy were he was serving. She shared that she had two sons in the military, one in Afghanistan and one serving as a active duty recruiter in the Pittsburgh area. She thanked him for his service and went off to continue her journey.
Not much later, another older woman approached us with arms outstretched. She thanked Chris for his service to his country and then turned to me and thanked *me*. She remarked how it was so nice to see a family together, etc.

In his ten years of service, NEVER did a stranger thank Daddy for his service. Certainly no one ever thanked me. I was nearly in tears when I told that sweet woman, "You're welcome."

One Down.

I committed vehicular homicide today. That's what most would call it but I know differently.

It was late morning. I was coming up the driveway at about five-seven miles per hour. All of the sudden, something behind me catches my eye. I realize that it's probably a woodchuck but didn't think that he was actually stupid enough to keep running into an oncoming car. I was wrong.

I feel a bump and hear a crunching sound. I look in my mirror and see the poor thing twitch and take its last breath. I feel bad. I keep driving.

Had I been driving down the road at nearly sixty miles per hour, I probably would have had to pull over and puke. For some reason I handled my first roadkill incident rather well.

In this case, I'm calling it survival of the fittest. Really, woodchuck or human, don't run under a moving car. You're just asking for it.

Weekend Warriors Part II

Bubba and I wake at around 8:00 Sunday morning. We are both in much better moods. Breakfast proceeds a lot like it did Saturday morning. This time, though, he tries his hand at big boy cereal (I added milk). He did really well! Thank goodness for that leather chair though. ;)

Check out was at noon. Toddler Entertainment Time would have to coincide with Packing Time. I decided to take things slow. After all, it was only 8 and I had until roughly 11:30 to pack and entertain. I didn't want to get everything done and have to sit around wondering what to do.

We hung out in our jammies for a little while and watched Special Agent Oso (something we had never seen but he really liked) and Handy Manny. We slowly got dressed and packed.

Toddler Entertainment Time was in full swing with a ride on the elevator and a walk down the fourth floor hallway and back, a trip around the lobby and a walk to the pool to watch a little boy jump in. I was running out of ideas. We had just gotten back to the room and started to play the animal sounds "game" on my iPhone when joy of all joys, Daddy called!! He was on his way.

We each take a trip to the car to load up. We're finally ready to check out and leave. It's around 11:30 (earlier than I was expecting to be out of the hotel) so we grab some lunch and take it back to base. We all sit on a bench outside Daddy's building and eat. Bubba actually eats the most he has all weekend. After a quick walk to the Shoppette, Daddy abandons us. This is where the true Toddler Entertainment Time begins.

It is a balmy 80some degrees out. Even though I've slathered sunblock all over Bubba, I decide we need to find a shady spot to play. We find a big maple tree with a picnic table. We play ball (for the zillionth time since Saturday morning) in the shade of the tree until Mr. Crabby Pants starts to run off. A quick glance at the time alerts me to the fact that it is indeed almost time to meet Daddy AND nap time. Yay!

With about 45 mintues left to kill, I load him in the car and decide to go for a little drive around base. Since this is one of the last times Daddy will have to come here, I want to see what I'll most likely never see again. In about five minutes, I've seen all there is to see. The good news is Bubba is sound asleep. I find a parking space that's a little closer to the building we need to go to and sit and wait. The sweltering heat inside the car tells me it's time to find an outside spot.

It's 2:00 and time to meet Daddy. I remember that there is a little cafe inside the building we need to meet in. Bubba and I go in to wait. Daddy arrives shortly and we make our way to the basement so I can get a new ID card.

If it weren't for a Commander's Call, Daddy probably could have signed out right then and we could have started the trip home. No such luck.

I head to my trusty maple tree for another game of baseball. Bubba really isn't as thrilled this time around. Daddy assures me that these end-of-weekend meetings usually only last 20-30 minutes. I figure I can handle that. Twenty minutes turns into 30 before I know it. We ended up pounding the pavement (I swear we made a path) for nearly an hour.

We both nearly jump for joy when we see Daddy heading toward us. The sight of his face is a promise that the weekend is indeed over and we can start the trek home.

The change of pace was much needed but I think next time, we'll just tough it out at home without Daddy. Almost-two-year-olds are much happier when they have their toys to play with and their normal routine to follow. Mommies are happier that way too.

Weekend Warriors

We had a nice little excursion to Pittsburgh this past weekend.

The idea to make a family affair out of a Reserve weekend is almost funny. Every single time Daddy goes (and doesn't stay with our friends), he stays in a hotel rather than on base. This isn't his choice, but he's not complaining about it. ;)
The first time he called me from one of these said hotels and proceeded to tell me about the MINT they left on his pillow, I wanted to reach through the phone. Not only was he getting a weekend away from everything, he was getting the "special" treatment.
When he called last month and was, yet again, holed up in a fancy hotel I put my foot down. "We're going with you next month", I said.

It was an adventurous weekend but I think next time, we'll just let him go alone.

When we arrived on Friday afternoon, took care of a couple errands on base and then headed to our new home away from home. We stayed at the Sheraton Four Points. It was a wonderful hotel. It would have been more wonderful if it had been just the two of us.

This brings me to the next stage of my weekend: Toddler Entertainment Time.

After a rough Friday night, Bubba and I wake at around 7:30 Saturday morning. This hotel was off my Fancy Meter. No continental breakfast. I could have ordered room service (for nearly $11.00) OR gotten us dressed and went to the restaurant. He's like most kids and doesn't want to do much of anything until he's had something to eat. I plunk him down in the leather covered desk chair (I was planning ahead and figured I could wipe it down if necessary) with a banana, a cup of milk and some dry Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Not exactly the breakfast of champions but I was working on the fly so it would have to do. He seemed happy so I just rolled with it.

I had planned to meet a school friend that day. She was swinging by the hotel at around 9:45. That meant I had roughly two hours of Toddler Entertainment Time. Since the hotel was still fairly new to him (this was his first time in a hotel room), he enjoyed diving on the huge pile of pillows and driving his tractor on the bed. We did end up going for a ride on the elevator and took a quick walk around the building.
Thankfully at around 10:00 M arrived. She was smart and brought presents (aka bribes) It takes Bubba a while to warm up to strangers. He's normally very shy around new people. This time, the new person brought a plastic bat and ball. Jackpot! She also brought his favorite-animal crackers. I'm not sure how she knew but she sure guessed right!

After a quick baseball game, we headed to her house to run outside and play with the dog. He was in heaven again with a big dog to fetch with and a dirt pile to play in. He enjoyed the dirt so much that I literally had to scrub him and change his clothes before we could go and get some lunch. He was having fun so that's all that matters.

M dropped us off at our hotel at around 3:00ish. Little did I know that I had nearly two hours of Toddler Entertainment Time ahead of me. This time, it didn't go as well because the toddler in question was hot, sweaty, dirty AND hadn't had a nap.

Daddy finally arrives! We decide to just stick close because I can tell Bubba isn't up for another car ride. The notel's restaurant was very nice but it wasn't what I would call kid friendly. There was literally nothing on the menu that he would have liked. We didn't want to be rude so we drank our Yuenglings and ordered an appetizer. Our usually very well mannered restaurant going toddler morphed into another kid. He was running away (no high chairs) and throwing fits when we would bring him back to the table. Remember, no nap.

I was so tired that I finally lost my patience and took him back to the room. I remembered to grab my beer. LOL We made it back to the room in about 45 seconds. He was just happy to be out of the restaurant. I was just happy to be out of public so I could cry. Daddy arrived about 10 mintues later with our leftover food. He then proceeded to go to Sheetz so we could all actually eat.

Thankfully bed time went much smoother Saturday night. I think we all needed it. If I had only known what I was in for on Sunday, I would have gone to bed much earlier.

TO BE CONTINUED...

That's What Friends Are For

Have you ever just been in awe of something that someone has done for you?

I am so thankful for a good friend tonight. It's the times when you're in a tight spot when you find the ones you can really count on.

We honestly weren't expecting the call for Daddy to go to training this month. In the back of my mind, I let myself believe that there was a possibility but I've learned the hard way not to expect things (especially when you're dealing with the military). I never really thought that he'd leave this month.

Next week Daddy was going to go through the uniforms he has here and find others in storage. He knew he'd need a couple new sets of Blues so he wanted to take inventory and then order the necessary pieces so he'd have them in time to leave in late July.

Wrong.

We've had to step it up a bit. Since we are no longer close to a base, we've had to rely on AAFES.com for a few things. The last time he ordered a ribbon rack, etc. it only took a week, at most, for the items to get here. This is what we were planning on tonight when he logged in.

Wrong.

Pants are "not available at this time" and shirts will take up to two weeks to get here. We don't have two weeks. This is not what we needed right now.

The closest base with a Clothing Sales is Wright-Patterson in Dayton, Ohio. Yeah, let's hop in the car for that drive...for PANTS!
I immediately think of two friends in Alaska. I call the one who I think is a little less busy at the moment (sorry Miriah) and explain the situation. She *immediately* agrees to go to the BX, drop nearly $150 on the things we need and ship them ASAP. I'm floored.

What an incredible friend. Not only does she agree to do it but she literally leaves the house at that moment to do it. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. How on Earth am I so lucky to be blessed with such wonderful friends? I only hope that I am given the chance to repay her with more than a simple thank you.

Sleepless Nights

Daddy and I, as parents, haven't really had many of those classic sleepless nights. I realize how fortunate I am to be able to say that. Bubba was a great sleeper right from the start. Sure, he'd wake to be fed when he was teeny tiny but we never had a marathon screaming session that ended with everyone in tears.

Recently, I feel like we're eating our words. We're getting a second chance at that newborn stage but this time, it has nothing to do with newborns and everything to do with teeth.

I hate teeth. I've come to realize that not actually remembering getting our own teeth is probably a good thing. The payback for not remembering is having teething children.

After nearly three weeks of what I would call questionable bowel movements (LOL), we now have four eye teeth. (I know they are his teeth but WE ALL earned them.) Just as I started to bask in the glory of eye teeth and normal poop, the molars rear their ugly heads.
Did I mention I hate teeth?

All of the tooth talk leads me to a recent night. I knew that his teeth were starting to bother him but he doesn't do any complaining during the day. He gnaws on his fingers but doesn't whine about them one bit.
Daddy worked last night so I was, once again, flying solo. I knew it was going to be a long night when I was still tossing and turning at 12:00.
I am awakened (if you want to call it that) at about 12:30 by a very whiny boy. I try to ignore him and see if he'll lay back down on his own. The cries intensify. When it comes to night waking, we try to have him self sooth to a point. Once he passes a certain point, he's wide awake and it's nearly impossible to get him to sleep again. I go in and he immediately lays down. I cover him and tell him goodnight.

The quiet doesn't last long though. He starts up again at just about 2:00. When I go in, he's standing there giving me the most pitiful look ever. I gather Bubba and his choo-choo blankie and we cuddle in the chair. He can barely keep his eyes open. After twenty minutes of cuddling we have success, once again.

I am awakened AGAIN at just about 3:00. I decide that if I don't put my foot down this is going to continue all night long. I ask him to lay down and tell him goodnight. Again. This time he responds by screaming at the top of his lungs. Nice. I give him kisses and tell him night night.
He screams louder when I leave the room. I let him cry/scream/fake it for ten minutes.

After the ten-minute tirade, I give in and get the Motrin and teething tablets. He calms down after the tablets and I cuddle him again. By this time, I have a enormous headache and I'm begging for sleep.

This is where I reeeally give in. I whisk him off to bed with me. I secretly love this. When he was just a few days old, cuddling in bed with him was the only way to get him to really sleep. I get teary just thinking about it.
ANYwho, we go lay down. I can tell he's on cloud nine because he starts jabbering and wanting to play with the clock, etc. I am in no mood. In my mommy voice, I tell him to lay down and go to sleep.

This is where all of the crying and sleeplessness is worth it.

He curls up next to me and takes my hand in his. He holds my hand to his chest and gives it a little squeeze. (I used to cuddle with him *just* like this when he was a newborn.)
Then he starts gently rubbing my arm as if to say, "It's ok, mommy. Just relax and go to sleep."

We both finally drift off snuggled together. Boy, will I miss those nights.

It's Not Easy Being Green(er)

Like most people my age, I didn't grow up in a "green" household. Who did, really? Back then (LOL waaay back then), being green meant being rich. Thankfully, things have come a long way and now we can all reap the benefits of living a cleaner, greener life.

I am what the urban dictionary would call crunchy. Here are some of the things I do:

Cloth diapering-This one doesn't apply to everyone (especially if you don't have a baby bum to cover) but I wish everyone that *did* have a baby bum to cover would give it a try. Cloth diapering has come a looong way. It's not all prefolds and pins anymore! A simple Google search will yield tons of results. I won't go into detail here but if you're curious about it, just start reading. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I am thrilled that we made the switch when our son was just little.

Line-drying-Here's one just about anyone can do! You don't need a baby bum for this. If you DO venture into the cloth diapering, hang those suckers up when it's nice out. There's nothing like some good, old fashioned sunshine to make your whites whiter.
When I was little, we had an old wringer washer (it wasn't exactly like this and it DID use electricity but this was the best picture I could find) and my mom line-dried clothes in the summer months. Oh, how I despised laundry days! LOL
Now I'm singing a different tune. A recent dryer issue sent me outside to hang clothes. I'm a convert. Sometimes the "alone time" I get while hanging a load of clothes is all I need to revitalize. Not only that, but we're saving a ton of money with the dryer stuck in the off position.

Recycling-If you live in the boonies like I do, check with your local churches or businesses to see if they run a recycling program. Just because the recycling truck doesn't come down your street doesn't mean you can participate.
Recycling has come a long way as well. A lot of programs don't require much sorting anymore, making it really simple to collect all of recyclable materials. All we need to do here, at our house, is collect the plastic and metal items in one bin and the paper (junk mail, magazines, newspapers, etc.) in another. You really can do it with minimal effort and a small space.
Please check with your local facilities as "rules" vary from one place to the next.

Composting-This is something that I am fairly new at but I'm really getting into it. I'm finding myself searching for more things to add to the collection bucket. Here's a good resource I found if you're just starting out.
We simply collect our kitchen scraps (like egg shells, coffee grounds, fresh fruit and vegetable cuttings, banana peels, etc.) in a plastic ice cream bucket with a lid. When it's close to full, we take it out to the pile. We didn't spend a lot of money on a fancy compost bin either. Keep an open mind and you'll be surprised what you can find that will work for a "bin".

Cleaning-I've turned to making a lot of cleaning products. If you're not aware what a little baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice can do, I encourage you to find out.
If you're not into making your own cleaning agents, you're not out of luck. Nearly every company has a line of green cleaning products now. One that I really like is Method.


These are just a few of the things that we do around here. Of course there are things like turning lights off, shutting down the computer, unplugging those cell phone chargers when you're not actually charging your cell phone and using more energy efficient lightbulbs that make a huge difference as well.

I'd love to hear how you're going green too!

Mother's Day

I was thinking of posting something special for Mother's Day but then a friend of mine beat me to it. Read this entry A Week of Celebration? For ME??? first.

It's like she was reading my mind. When you're struggling to have a baby of your own, things like baby showers and Mother's Day are pure torture. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing more precious and exciting than a new baby but having to endure new baby after new baby while wondering if you're ever going to enjoy that same happiness is heartbreaking, to put it lightly.

I'll never forget my "first" Mother's Day. I was about six months pregnant. Our pastor decided to play a little game after the service for Mother's Day. He had Great Grandmothers stand, Grandmothers Mothers, etc. to determine who had the most children and grandchildren. Every mother got a rose.

I felt a little twinge in my heart for those women that never got to stand.

He then asked anyone that had become a mother that year to stand. We all applauded for a friend who stood with her infant. Then he said, "Anyone who WILL become a mother this year, please stand." (He knew we were expecting but no one other than choir members in the congregation did.) I could barely hold back the tears as I stood. Everyone applauded with a look of surprise.

I always think of that moment when I think of Mother's Day. For me, it's not about having a "day off" (because really...does that actually happen?) or getting cards, candy or flowers. It's about remembering that feeling I had three years ago. I wish everyone could experience that.

So enjoy this Sunday with your family, your kids or your mommy friends. But don't forget those friends that are struggling to become mommies. You can't even begin to imagine their hurt.

Read All About It

Fabulous article! Check it out.

I was doing a little research on the AAP's new advice that children should rear face until AT LEAST two years old (longer if your seat allows it) and came across this article. I wish every parent would read it.

Safety First

I've been waiting for the right moment to post this blog and, after a conversation with a friend this afternoon, there is no time like the present. Plus, Christa at Quintooples had a wonderful product review the other day that deals with this topic.

Many of you know how serious I am about car seat safety. Our children can't make decisions for themselves so they need parents who are well educated to keep them safe in the car (and elsewhere).

Bubba rides REAR-FACING in a Sunshine Kids Radian 65. He's 31 1/4 inches tall and weighs 23.5 pounds and YES he can still be rear-facing. I can't even imagine having him forward-facing.

I was talking with a friend of mine today and for one reason or another we came to the subject of car seats. She said that when her oldest son was still in a car seat she had a cop pull her over and tell her that he "couldn't be rear facing anymore because his feet [were] touching the back of the seat". He went on to tell her that he "does car seat checks all of the time" and that she would have to turn him around. He explained that if she were in an accident and his feet were forced into the back of the seat that his hips could be "dislodged" (his words). Wouldn't you rather have to deal with a broken hip than a broken neck? How many other people that we trust to give us correct information are giving INcorrect information!?!?

www.Car-safety.org states:
In the USA, this recommendation is valid through the 30, 33 or 35 pound maximum rear-facing weight limit of newer convertible carseats, or until the child outgrows their convertible carseat by height. The height limit of a rear-facing carseat may be listed in the owner's manual. A child is also considered too tall for a rear-facing seat if the top of their head is at the level of the top of the carseat shell. It is NOT considered a safety issue if a child's legs are bent at the knees in a rear-facing carseat, or if their feet can touch the vehicle's seat back. At a very minimum, children should remain rear-facing until AT LEAST one year of age AND 20 pounds in weight. *This is simply a guide and by no means a rule!!!*
In countries like Sweden, children are often kept rear-facing much longer, even to 3 or 4 years old. Auto related injury and death rates for rear-facing children in Sweden are near zero because of this.

Maybe we should take a page out of Sweden's book?


THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY
1.) Tighten those straps so their shoulders can't slip out in a crash
2.) Get those chest clips in the right place (even with their armpits not on their soft tummies)!
3.) Get rid of those supposed non slip seat protectors that are under your seats. They could be doing more harm than good. Click here for a few reasons

Please. Children are our most precious gift. Protect them! Don't be in such a hurry to turn them around just because you think that they're uncomfortable facing the rear of the car. They don't know any different! (Actually, I think Bubba loves it. His seat is slightly reclined so I think he's much more comfortable than if he were in a more upright position.)