Superhero Overload

There is an overwhelming amount of superhero paraphernalia in my house.  It's on P's sheets, and walls, and clothes, and toy bins, and lunch boxes, and backpacks, and...you get the idea.  Especially anything Spiderman.  You see, Spiderman's real name is Peter Parker, and well...Parker's name is Parker...so, you know, he wants to BE Peter Parker.

Anyway, on our trip to Baby Gap today, we came across the new junk food line that is sporting none other than - you guessed it! - Spidey!

It took so much self restraint not to grab every piece of Spiderman apparel that I laid eyes on and run.  First of all, how freaking cool are these shoes?!?

They come in Batman & Superman too...I actually was really digging the Superman ones ;)  And seriously, how cool would P look sporting those slip on shoes with these jeans...



And this shirt...



So - if I did what my shopping crazed mind told me to, I would have left Baby Gap with a $100 outfit for P.  To jump, climb, run and roll in the backyard with.  Hmmm...probably wouldn't have gone over so well with the hubby.  So I left it.  But, don't think I won't be stalking Baby Gap and Babygap.com to grab these bad boys when the go on sale!  Good thing Gap is amazing when it comes to sales...I wonder if I could hide P's size... ;)

Looking for a hat...

One month from tomorrow, the kids and I will be Orlando bound!  This is the first trip I have taken with the kids - without my husband, and I know I will miss him terribly.  But, luckily for me I have the best family in the universe and my sister, and parents will be along for the ride.

This will be Bean's 3rd trip, and P's 5th....4th for Bean if you count the time I found out I was pregnant in FL.  <3 The difference is, this will be the first time I have two walking children with me.  (At least I hope so, Bean is still trying to figure it all out, but by then she will be 14 months, so we'll see!)

So - anyway, the last few times that we went I was able to keep the little one in the stroller for the most part, and keep her out of the sun with this amazing sun shade by Kidpotomus.

This sun shade is fabulous!  It folds up small and flat, and then springs open to easily attach to the stroller when you need it.  I love my double stroller, but I never liked how little sun protection it gave my kids.  (More on that another day...)

Now, I have no idea how to keep my kids protected from those August FL rays...especially their heads.  I drench my kids in sunscreen and we reapply frequently, but I just don't feel like it's enough.  I can get P to wear a hat...if it has a superhero on it...but I cannot get Bean to leave one on.

Has anyone found a hat for their daughter (or son!) that they love and that their baby is comfortable wearing??

I Crave Sleep like I Used to Crave Chocolate

Oh, who am I kidding?!  I obviously still crave chocolate too, but I really miss sleeping through the night!

I don't know what it is about my children, but while they can sleep *oh so* soundly in places like this...

(Their stroller at the reception of my besties wedding - DJ blaring and all)

(Outside in the snow while her brother played - don't worry we were outside for less time than it took me to bundle everyone up...)

My children cannot figure out how to sleep in their own rooms, in their own beds, for an entire night.  And I just don't know why.  I have tried sound machines, and toys that attached to the crib, and leaving my shirt in their room with them.  We have picked out special bedding, and gotten every last requested drink, snack, book, etc. but they just won't do it.  So, I am desperate.  A friend of mine recently told me about these stuffed animals that can be warmed up for your babies to sleep with called Cozy Plushes.  I checked out the website and here is what I found out from one of the company's reps.

A cozy plush = a good nights' sleep because...

1. The warmth makes the bed an inviting place to be.
2. The lavender aroma is proven to soothe and relax, allowing the child to gently drift off to sleep.
3. In the night the child has a warm companion (the Cozy Plush will maintain the same temperature as the bed).
4. When the child rolls over they will roll into a warm and relatively heavy companion that almost feels like a parent is there, reassuring the child and allowing them to sleep longer and with a sense of well being.

So, two of these cuddly friends are on their way to my house.  I am hoping that by the weekend I will be the proud parent of two children who SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!  I will keep you updated...in the meantime, check out these precious designs...(oh - they are sold on amazon as well, and in a few of my local stores...no need to order them straight from the UK if you don't want to.)



Amazon Moms

I am so surprised when I talk to moms and they tell me that they have never heard of Amazon Moms.  This seriously might be the best thing Amazon has ever done, (and it has certainly fueled my online shopping addiction.)

So, for those of you who aren't an Amazon Mom (or Dad), or who haven't heard of this before, here is the deal...

First of all, to sign up, all you have to do is go here.  It's completely free.  Just tell them if you're a mom, dad, grandparent, etc.  Now, here's the best part.  Once you have signed up, you are automatically given free Prime shipping privileges for THREE months!  And every time that you spend $25 on baby items (i.e. one pack of diapers!) you get another free month of prime shipping.  (Prime shipping is FREE 2-day shipping on ANY item!)

You also get 30% off of diapers and wipes when you subscribe and save, and 15% off almost all other baby items.  I bought 204 size 4 diapers for $26!  That's like $0.13 a diaper...not bad!  So, if you are obsessed with Amazon like I am, or if you just like a good deal, check it out.  Then, come back and leave me a comment if you find any super price cuts so we can all enjoy the benefits ;)

I'm a MAM mom.

I adore MAM pacifiers!  (And bottles, and teethers, and toothbrushes...)  And so do my kids.  Well, P has finally let them go, but Bean will only take a pacifier if it is a MAM.  The only problem in our house is that the puppy really loves them too.  And they aren't cheap!

I love all of the different designs that the MAM pacis come in, and because the mutt keeps eating them, we have tried almost all of them!  Just recently I found these...

The MAM Soft Pacifier.  How cute is that little bird?!  And the best part?  Those pretty pink edges are meant for teething!  Unfortunately, our pup has already eaten the birdie one, and the other is missing in the mess, but for the few days Bean got to use them, she loved them!  It was a fantastic distraction when she was trying to fall asleep, but really didn't want to ;)  They also make fantastic seasonal designs, and their Winter/Christmas ones are precious!  I'm not sure what it is about these pacis, but they are number one in my book!  Oh, and while your checking them out, look for the MAM Perfect. 

This ultra thin paci is designed to keep your kiddies teeth from becoming misaligned.  And it has the same texture as the traditional MAM that my babies (and dog) love!  (This also became a causality of puppy teeth at our house.)  Anyone else have a pet who binges on baby products, or am I the lucky one?!

(As a side note, I am in no way being compensated by this company or any other...I just truly love these products and hope they might help you or your little ones. <3  But MAM, if you're out there reading this, feel free to send me some more pacis...preferably in indestructible, pup proof plastic. :) )

Quiet. And a personal assistant.

You know what this mom loves?  Quiet.  I really, really, really love quiet.  I don't get much of it, but when I do, it is indeed golden.  So as I write this, incredibly frustrated by the mess in my house, the persistent whining this morning, and my lack of sleep, P has decided it would be a good time to lather me in kisses.  (Insert - Mom Guilt.)  So, let me say this.  I love my children more than anything and I wouldn't change a thing about my life, but sometimes, I really miss a little quiet time.  Oh - and I could use a personal assistant...anyone??

Wedding Weekend!

This weekend is my best friends wedding!  A wedding that, like girls everywhere, we began planning in our heads long before we had our grooms, and I could not be happier for her!  In addition to the excitement, I am also feeling the stress of having my 3 year old and 1 year old be a part of the wedding.  I am so honored that my bestie wants my kids to be there for her special day, and I can not wait to see them in their formal wear, however, I am terrified that they will not cooperate when it comes time for them to do their part...which is why I am going to be prepared...with bribes.  And no, I'm not above it.

The Beautiful Bride, Bean & Me

So, what will be stashed in the pocket of my husbands suit, you ask?  Well, in addition to the candy reserved for desperate times, he will be sporting a colorful pocket full of Ella's Kitchen Smoothie Fruit. 

The Red One for P, and The Purple One for the Bean.  As unbelievable as it sounds, my kids go crazy for these delicious and organic pouches of smooshed fruit.  Even at 3, P calls it his "special juice" and jumps at the chance to suck one down.  Bean on the other hand sticks with her "mmmmm mmmmmm" sound, but trust me, you know she wants it! So, the hubby's job - taunt my children with snacks so that they walk quietly down the aisle and then sit even more quietly in their chairs for the ceremony. Now, all I have to do is find her a bib that will match her flower girl dress...suggestions, anyone?

If you want to find out more about Ella's Kitchen and all of their super delicious baby food and smoothies, head over here.  You can also become of friend of Ella's and stay up to date with all their new products and promotions.  A little birdie told me you might even be eligible to win some of their amazing products...

My Kids Don't Do This, but...

Well, sometimes they might.  Only one or two twenty three or twenty four of them...I'm sure. 

Thank you, Babble for this article...I guess I'm not alone.

24 Habits of Highly Annoying Toddlers (Who, of course, we love anyway)

Why Blog?

Here we go again...

This will be my second attempt at blogging.... The first started less than a week before my Bean was born, and let's just say it slipped my mind after that. So, after attending the Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower this week, I decided it was time to start blogging again, but this time to share with other moms (& dads!) all of the little things that make my life easier as a parent, and the thigs that help my kids stay healthy and happy!

I do NOT claim to be an expert, nor do I think I know everything. I am just a parent who is head over heels in love with her kids and wants what is best for them. So, hopefully anyone who has found me out here in cyberspace will find some useful bits of information that will help you (& me!) maintain sanity as we navigate through this wonderful thing called "parenthood".