Please Excuse the Mess, My Kids are Making Memories

A very special friend reminded me of this saying, which is on a sign in her house, while I complained about the overflowing toys, dishes, & clothes that are consuming my house.

Sometimes we could all use a little bit of this mentality.  As I prepare to take my kids to Disney this weekend, I need to really step back and focus on the memories.  I can become so consumed in day to day tasks that I don't take the time I should to really imprint these wonderful moments like I should.  If I forget to pack something, or if I leave and the beds aren't made, or if there is still mail to file, it will all be here when we get back, and we will survive.

They are growing too fast, and in a few years when they are in school, there will be time for all the cleaning and organizing I could ever want.  For now, I need to make a promise to them that I will slow down, try to ignore the little things that can wait an extra hour (or day!), and enjoy every minute with my sweet babies.

Because, really, could they be any more precious??

aden + anais

So, this weekend was another weekend of baby talk with my chickies, and I even found out about another little one who will be entering the world next year, so my brain is back to shower gift ideas.

A good friend of mine introduced me to aden + anais and their cotton muslin products when I was pregnant with Bean and since then I have seen and heard about their products EVERYwhere!  They have quickly become an obsession of mine, and it seems like it has hit Hollywood too.  Check out these hottie's and their babes snuggled up with their aden + anais swaddlers and blankies.

So, other than their obvious trend appeal, why should you try these? 

Well, first, the material is amazing.  Super soft, breathable, and gets better with every wash (which obviously is important with little ones...trust me...1 kid and my laundry doubled.  2 kids and it quadrupled.  Not sure how that works, but it's true!).  The swaddles are also very large which makes the actual swaddling process soooo much easier!  And of course, the research that says swaddling can help prevent SIDS and help your baby sleep better are HUGE reasons to try it with your baby.

Second, the designs are to die for. 

 

Whether you go with the original swaddle, like this four pack of baby cakes swaddles...

 

Or you prefer the organic cotton swaddle ...

You really can't go wrong.  

Plus, aden + anais, is way more than just a swaddle company.  They also have other fantastic products like the burpy bibs that I couldn't live without.  This burp cloth easily converts to a bib with a little snap closure, and protects your baby's clothes sooooo much better than a traditional bib.  And of course, the fact that it is soft and made from 100% cotton muslin doesn't hurt either.  Like I said, I didn't know about this company until right before I had Bean, but if I had known with P, I would have totally stocked up on this prince charming design. 

A-dorable!! 

Or these issie security blankets.  They conveniently come in a pack of two so that you have an extra for when one is in the wash, or heaven forbid, you lose one.  I still have these on Bean's wish list...perhaps Santa will stick some in her stocking...

And maybe a coordinating dream blanket will be under the tree :)  (Santa, are you reading??)



So, if you are expecting a baby gift from me in the near future, you may be receiving some of these amazing products.  And if you are expecting a baby in the near future, be sure to add some of aden + anais goodies to your registry.  They even have a line at Target now...could you ask for anything more?! ;)

Want to be a local hero?

Well, if so, here's your chance! 

LeapFrog is giving 50 libraries the chance to win a $1,000 LeapFrog Tag™ Reading Kit! 

Yup, all that could be given to your library if you follow these simple steps.

1.  Send an email to loveyourlibrary@leapfrog.com .

2.  In your email, include

Name of Library & Branch
Address
City
State
ZIP code
Phone

Could they make it any easier for you to win?!

In case you haven't heard about the LeapFrog Tag System, (and you live under a rock :P), the Tag system helps your child learn about sound recognition, and comprehension by reading to them as they follow along with this little guy...



Your child can interact with the characters & play games, while learning how letters form words.  They are also introduced to new vocabulary and get to read about all their favorite friends like Buzz, Tink, the Cat in the Hat, & (my personal favorite) Fancy Nancy.  ;) 

One of my favorite things about the tag system is that it also works with the Tag Interactive Maps.  With family all around the world, and our love of travel, P & I often talk about different states and countries and the distances between them.  These maps would give him a visual to look at while we chat.  Coming from a former teacher, geography skills are lacking in a major way in our elementary schools, and this would be a fantastic addition to any library or school.

Right now P & Bean still play with the Leap Frog Little Touch that we got P for his first Christmas, but I think Santa may have to bring him a new Tag and a set of maps and books to go along with it!

I seriously need to write another post about all of my favorite LeapFrog products because there are soooo many, but let me just tell you, they make a product for every age, gender, and stage of learning that you can imagine.  (And their DVDs are so much fun to watch and have really helped P learn his letters and letter sounds.  Yeah, you might have heard me singing "The A says ahh, the A says ahh, every letter makes a sound, the A says ahh.")

Our family was already a huge fan of LeapFrog, but seeing how much they care about community outreach has made me love them even more.

So, could you be a local hero?  I might be!

Molly the Mermaid & Paul the Pirate

Yesterday we went to a birthday party for the son of some very special friends.  We had a blast!  The kids played in a blow up water park complete with a slide & climbing wall.  We ate great food, and got to hang out with people who we don't see often enough.  (And I forgot my camera...what else is new?)

Our friends had the coolest chairs set up at a kiddie table and when we left they offered us two.

I'm obsessed.  The kids are obsessed.  And even J thinks they're pretty sweet.

Meet Molly the Mermaid & Paul the Pirate.

How seriously awesome are these guys?!  We live in a beach community, and our town has concerts at the park every weekend, so we always need chairs, and so far Bean hasn't had her own...but now she does!  And it is one of the best kid's chairs I've seen.  They even fold up into little carrying cases that have a spot for our kiddies names. 

After a few minutes of  "googling"  I found that the chairs are made by a company called Pacific Play Tents and they come in other designs, like a puppy, kitty, butterfly & elephant. I'm not too familiar with the company, but they have an online catalog, which I obviously had to check out.  Their stuff is too cool!  They even have an Eric Carle line.  

The chairs are currently in my trunk waiting for their first trip to the beach and I can't wait to show them off.  Like I said...obsessed.  :)

Organization

I need help.  I sat up last night for hours thinking about all of the things I needed to do today.  Then I woke up and decided to check out facebook, check my email, read some of my book, blog...and so on.  I haven't started my to-do list, nor do I even remember half of what was on it! 

I have every app that I have found on my iphone to keep my life organized.  Apps for grocery lists.  Apps for to-do lists.  Apps for errands.  Apps with folders inside the app!  None. Of. Them. Work. For. Me.

I seriously need to find someway to keep my everyday tasks in order.  I have spent countless hours lately organizing closets, and cabinets.  And I love it.  It feels great every time that I open my linen closet or my cedar closet...(thanks Chris!  You are the best!! xo)  But, the rest of my house is in disarray and I can't handle it much longer!

What do you do to keep your everyday life organized? 
To keep the piles of the kitchen counter? 
To keep the toys in one place? 
To not lose your keys/sunglasses/credit cards/etc.? 
To show that despite having toddlers running around, you are still sort-of in control of your life??

Helllllpppp!!

The Ultimate Baby Shower Gift

So many of my friends are either pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or have just had babies, that I have spent a LOT of time lately thinking about the ultimate shower gift.  I am trying to come up with a list of the best things that I had as a new mommy so that I can compile a basket of "must-haves" for my besties.  I'm talking about the small items that no one remembers to get or that they pass over on the registry because they are not that expensive.  These are things I like the best!  I am a fan of the overflowing basket of necessities!

I seriously stay awake at night thinking about this.  I know.  I'm nuts.  But that's okay...I'm usually up anyway, waiting for one child or the other to come into our bed. :/

So, here are a few of the items on my list.

1.  MAM Pacifiers.  (A MUST!  They are the only pacis my kids like...you can  check out my post on them here.)

2.  Boogie Wipes.  (Preferably in the grape scent.  Think purple Bubblicious circa. 1990.  These wipes easily get rid of those lovely green crusties that appear on our babies little noses when cold season arrives...and they don't receive nearly as many complaints as a typical wipe or tissue thanks to the saline in them!)

3.  Medella Quick Clean Micro Steam Bags.  (I'm not sure what I would have done without these bags at 2 am when I needed to sanitize pump parts or pacifiers.  They make life soooo easy and only cost about $5 for 5 bags/100 cleans.  Well worth it!  My SIL gave me a whole bunch of these at my shower for Bean and I am still using them!)



4.  A Skip Hop Diaper Bag.  (The perfect packaging for all the goodies you want to gift!  I personally have the Skip Hop Duo Double Bag, which fits on my double stroller like a dream, but I am also a huge fan of their new designs for their smaller bags.  I think these all deserve their own post but here is a preview...)

ooooo, pretty!

5.  Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads.  (Whether or not a new mommy plans to nurse, it is inevitable that they will need to use these at some point.  This brand is unbelievably comfortable and super absorbent.  Having these on hand is a huge help when you wake up in the middle of the night.  Soaked.)

 

These are just a few of the things on my shower shopping list.  I will share more soon, but in the meantime, what things have you purchased/received for a precious little one that you couldn't live without out??  Comment and let me know!  I've probably forgotten some really important ones and could use the input!

CozyPlush Follow Up

I still love our new CozyPlushes, and so do the kids.

I wish I could tell you that the CozyPlush solved all of Bean's sleep issues, but sadly it did not.  What it did do was give both of my kids new lovies that do help soothe and calm them.  I would definitely say that Bean's little lamb has also made it easier to put her down in her crib for bedtime without much fussing.

Both kiddies now sleep with their lavender lovies for naps and bedtime, and P won't even get in bed without his puppy.  Check them out napping in my bed with their new pals...

And here is P sound asleep in his bed cuddling his Puppy who he has named after himself ;)

We haven't had too many opportunities to heat the plushes up because of the oppressive summer heat, but on this particular night it was a bit chilly, so P requested we heat up P Puppy.  He loved it!  I think that is going to be a huge bonus in the fall/winter.

Although Bean is still not sleeping through the night, I think I need to get over the idea that there is some miracle cure out there, and instead work on some sleep training. :/  All in all, I am still sooooo glad that we got these, and they are definitely being added to my must buy list for baby showers and first birthdays!

Glamourmom

I am a breastfeeding mom.  I nursed P until he was almost 18 months old, and I am still nursing Bean.  This is NOT a post to lecture anyone about the pros and cons of breastfeeding, nor do I cast judgement on moms who can't/don't want to breastfeed.  I strongly feel that breastfeeding is a personal choice.

That being said, this IS a post about an amazing product that I just tried out, that I want to share with those of you who are breastfeeding, are thinking about breastfeeding, or need a gift for a mama who falls into one of those categories ;)

I came home to a package Thursday night containing a Glamourmom nursing tank.  Specifically the "Nursing Bra Full Bust Long Tank" in black.

It was love at first sight <3.  First of all, don't you just adore the company name?!?  Who wouldn't want to consider themselves a GlamourMom?!?  Between the rouched top, the long legnth, and the mesh inside the bra to help the girls breathe, I couldn't wait to try the tank on!  I was not dissapoited.  It was extremely comfortable and supportive, and it looked cute!  I felt like I could wear it out with a pair of leggings or jeans, and no one would know that I wasn't wearing a traditional bra.  And so I did...I ran my errands wearing it, and was so comfy that I litterally forgot that I wasn't wearing a bra.  I actually paused in the car when I realized this, momentarily freaking out that I had left the house without one...(I have done this before...on the way to an interview, none the less.  True story...for another time!)  Then I smiled and realized that I was all set with my Glamourmom tank :) 

I have now worn, washed, slept, and gone out in my tank and I am thrilled at the quality of it. My only suggestion when you buy one is to buy up a size or two, depending on your body shape.  I have a particularly wide rib cage, so I don't like the way it feels to have something tight around that area.  The bra clasp in the tank is adjustable, but even on the largest setting I wasn't all that comfy, even though I ordered up a size.  I did however wear it out and about with the clasp undone and I still was very supported and you couldn't tell from the back that it wasn't clasped.

Not only does Glamourmom sell amazing tank tops, they also sell a huge collection of maternity and post-partum clothes for nursing, and non-nursing moms that offer tummy support, soft Pima cotton material, cool patterns and pretty lace detail.

As for me, as soon as I am back to working, I am going to treat myself to the Nursing Bra Nightgown...

and the Nursing Bra Tankini Swimsuit...

I mean, really??  Why haven't I ever seen a nursing bathing suit??  It's brilliant!  I hate having to whip 'em out at the beach or the pool.  I would LOVE a little privacy!  I can't bring myself to put Bean's little head under one of those hot and stuffy nursing covers at the beach.  Poor thing!  She would be miserable!

Anyway, check out the Glamourmom website here and you can enter to win $100 worth of Glamourmom products!  Enjoy my fellow glamourous mommies! :)

Germs and Antibodies

Before I had kids I was one of "those" people.  I told anyone who would listen how my kids would never watch television, never eat fast food, never have sugar, would only eat organic, wouldn't whine or throw tantrums in public, wouldn't be coerced into doing something by bribery, etc.

I lied. 

About it all.

But, now I finally have proof, that despite all my "wrong doings" there has been some good gained.

My kids watch television.  Every morning, while I make breakfast, have a cup of coffee, feed the pets, load the dishwasher, and so on, my kids sit in the living room and watch tv.  I do monitor what they watch very closely.  There is no Sponge Bob allowed in my house, or anything like him.  We are strictly a PBS, Disney Channel, Sprout type of family, and once in a while some Nick Jr., but even on those channels, I make sure that what they are watching is appropriate.

Anyway, one of the shows that P loves is Sid the Science Kid on PBS.  He watches it all the time, and I love the vocabulary that he learns, the jokes they tell, and the songs they sing.  (Especially the one that says "I love my mom, my mom is cool!" ;) )  It is a show about scientific exploration.  Now, I know that P remembers almost everything I tell him, but I wasn't aware of just how much he picked up from the television until this happened as I was listening to him and his Best Buddy play.

P:  Let's play superheroes!
BB:  Okay, I'll be Superman!
P:  No, you be a germ and I'll be an antibody!

Me:  Did you just say antibody?!?
P:  Yeah.
Me:  Where did you learn that?
P:  Sid the Science Kid!

He then proceeded to tell me how he needs a shot so he doesn't get the flu virus.  He's 3. 

So folks, looks like TV isn't that bad after all.  Maybe I should watch a little more of it myself ;)  Now if only I could find a positive in all the sugar and fast food I feed my kids...

Bloggers Block

I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July!  I know we did :)  Lots of great friends, great food, and fireworks!  Now that all the excitement has died down and the hubs is back to work, I am trying to clean & detox from the major sugar overload my whole family is on.  I am also suffering from a complete bloggers block. 

I can tell you that I have some exciting new reviews coming up, hopefully this week, but in the meantime, take a look at what I had for breakfast...

Ugh, leftovers...the detox is going well for me ;)

Beach Books

I read beach books all year long.  I am addicted.  I am so mentally exhausted by the end of the day that it is just about all I can do.  Last year, for Christmas, J gave me a kindle, and since then my addiction has gotten worse...

See, Amazon often has free books to download, and usually they are categorized as "romance."  I'm not talking about smut...just your typical girl meets boy, boy screws up, boy fixes it, boy and girl live happily ever after type of stuff.  But, it's free, it makes me happy, and it doesn't take all that much thinking :)

So, when Amazon offered one of Jill Mansell's books for free, I thought I'd try it.  You know, pretty cover, contemporary romance, etc.  Sounded fine.  But really, it was more than fine.  It was fantastic!  It took the typical formula and upped it a notch.  There was more depth to the characters, there was more than one story line, and it wasn't all lovey dovey.  So, I searched for more of her books, and lucky for me, Amazon decided to put two more of her books on their "Sunshine Deals" list, so for I was able to get both books for less than $5!

I have read these three of her books so far, and have not been disappointed!  If you are a girlie girl like me, who loves a good beach read, check these out.

Miranda's Big Mistake

 Millie's Fling 

Perfect Timing

6 Years Ago...

Six years ago, tomorrow, I married my best friend.  I know how cliched that sounds, but it's true.  We were babies...barely 22 when we got married, but already I knew that this was forever.  Now, 6 years later, with 2 babies of our own, I am so thankful for all the happiness and love I have been blessed with, and know that my life wouldn't be the same without my hubby.

So, J, I'm not sure how often you actually check out my blog, but if you do, know that I am as in love and as overjoyed to be your wife as I was on this day...

Here's to many more years of blessings, and to the amazing family we have created.  I couldn't ask for more.  xoxo