Fail

I have really been slacking on my blogging duties! First, I had a sick baby and now we are dealing with a hurricane! It's not bad where we are, just alot of wind and rain, but it caused daycare to shut down so we have been trying to figure out how to work AND take care of a kid.

 

I hope to get back to my writing soon, because I really enjoy it! I also have some great products to review- Tommee Tippee sent me some sippy cups, Calmoseptine sent me some diaper rash lotion and Aquaphor sent me an awesome sample pack! I cannot wait to write up my reviews- they are some really great products that I think my fellow  moms will really enjoy!

 

So stick with me, I'll be back soon!

She has Redeemed Herself!

I’m not sure why, but I feel the need to offer back stories before each of my posts so here is the one for today- I love celebrities and anything related to them. That’s just how I am. I subscribe to Us Weekly and read People.com (because I’m too cheap to subscribe) and watch a lot of TV. It’s my thing, don’t judge me.

Big Grips iPad Case

Welcome to my first product review! One of the main reasons I began my blog was to talk to other parents and find great products that I might not have found out about otherwise. In full disclosure, I have approached these companies and asked to test their products. Some have ignored me, some have sent me samples, and some have sent me not only a product to test, but a product to giveaway! Big Grips is one of those companies and I am so excited to give you my incredibly valuable opinion on this awesome product!

First Day of School

Little background- I love a good celebration! I memorialize everything. That doesn't mean I go all out, or expect something big for every special day, but I try to celebrate the day/occasion with happiness and excitement.

(I even have 3 anniversaries that I actively celebrate- dating, marriage and wedding. We had Big Poppa's grandfather marry us about a year before our actual wedding so that he (BP, not his grandfather) would be covered under my insurance. We had been together 7 years and knew it was just a matter of time. To add to the funny story- we weren't even actually engaged yet. We got married in May and he proposed to me on his birthday a few weeks later. But I digress.)

Home

Ahhhh, home. I am finally here! This weekend has been something else. Big Poppa left for the hunting camp Friday night, which got me all kinds of excited because that means I would get some one-on-one, uninterrupted time with my computer. Unfortunately, I OD'd on birth control pills (bet you didn't think that was possible, did cha'?) and ended up sick as a dog, puking in the bathtub. The very same one I was bathing in. And since BP was gone for the night, I was also the very same one who had to clean it up, which I couldn't do because the vomit STOPPED UP THE DRAIN. I always thought it would be a better idea to puke in the tub because you wouldn't have that nasty toilet water splashing up in your face but as it turns out, tub drains are made for water and toilet drains are made for chunky puke. (Bet you're glad you stumbled upon this tonight, huh?) Lesson learned. So that was my Friday night.

Note to Self

World Breastfeeding Week was last week. I don't know about you, but that's a pretty big deal in our house! Well, no it's not but it should be. It should be a time for Big Poppa to celebrate me and what I so selflessly did for the first year of T's life. (Did I lay it on thick enough you think, because I am waiting for Big Poppa to shower me in praise and Cookie Company cookies and Victoria's Secret gift cards!)

Lessons Learned

This past weekend, I was a part-time single mom. Trust me when I tell you, it sucked! Big Poppa has to work weekends for the foreseeable future so I will be T’s sole caregiver until about 2:30 each day. “He’s just a little baby”, you say; “How much trouble can he be?”, you wonder. Honestly, he’s really not that bad- the bad part is that I. NEVER. GET. A. BREAK. Before you even think it, yes he does nap. But he will nap for 30 minutes in his crib or 2 hours in my arms. Can I be more productive if I place him in his crib? Yes. Can I watch more TV if I hold him in my arms? Obviously. Soooo arms win every time.

Starting Young with the Ladies

T will be attending his first dance today. You know T- he can get a lil rowdy but I think the 10am start time might mellow him out a little. I just hope peer pressure isn’t an issue today- it can be tough to resist at any age. I can hear it now- “It’s just a sip- this non organic milk will rock your world”, “Come on, a couple teething tablets won’t hurt, just put them under your tongue and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them”. I hope he doesn’t corrupt too many kids.  

Front Seat Diva

While en route to get blog notebooks today (office supplies are a shared passion of ours), I told Holly I perform concerts whilst driving. Who doesn't? Well Holly, thats who. So who's with me?! How many front seat diva's do we have out there?

Big boy!

Could he be any cuter? This makes all the stretch marks, mystery pregnancy rash, hormones, love handles and all the other fun associated with procreation worth it. Wait- no it doesn't. But he (along with his daddy) did teach me the meaning of true love and happiness so I guess I'll let the body dysmorphia slide

Cryyyy Baby

I finally bit the bullet- even if it was by default because my video monitor mysteriously stopped working last Wednesday night, I have ventured into the scary territory of cry it out!

Tucker's cry used to bring me to my knees. I could not stand to listen to it for even one second- I thought his insides would shrivel up and die if I didn't stick a boob in his mouth or do something to ease his troubled mind! As he grew older, and I weaned him onto the cow milk, his cries stopped bothering me as much. If he is hurt or sick, all bets are off; if he is just cranky or doesn't like his current prediciment, my skin has gotten a little thicker!

For the last month or so, he has been waking up during the night. He would cry and cry and cry but as soon as his head hit my pillow, I kid you not, that little con artist would be out like a light.

Look how sweet that is! How can you say no to that?! What this little snap shot doesn't show is the approx nano-nonexistent sliver of bed I occupy and the 4 feet of sleeping bliss that Wes enjoys- he didn't even notice Tuck was there!

King bed hierarchy:

*Tucker 

*Wes 

*Blue Monk-Monk (who came with his own boppy for support)

*Me

This can't be right......

If you are a part of my inner circle, you remember that my lil sweet canine angels used to sleep with me as well- 

That's alotta butt in the bed!

Well they had to go- even before Tuck was born, I just had to get them moved out because I was convinced that once they left, I would never have to worry about bed intruders again!

Anywho, back to the story. So about a month ago, under the guise of zombie transformation teething, he started manipulating me into inviting him into my bed. I swear, no boy has even worked that hard to sleep with me! And I caved like the wuss that I am- not my strongest mommy moment. I convinced myself that his little mouth hurt so bad and only my touch (bed) would soothe him. Fast-forward to the night my baby monitor went out (the charger doesn't stay connected so well anymore. Might have something to do with the fact that I find the monitor disconnected from the cord and wedged in between my mattress and bed frame and that s@#* eating grin on Tuck's face. naahhhh)- I slept like an adult (I sure don't want to sleep like a baby) and Tuck woke up with a big grin on his face! We survived!

So I did it again the next night. I allowed him a 10 minute crying window but he put himself to sleep in 6- whattt whatttt! That's my gifted boy! And I had to wake HIM up the next morning- thats my favorite kind of role playing, role reversal! It's been happening ever since. I feel like I have really accomplished something- I tackled the sleeping beast, and I won! Take that, zombie baby! That being said- teething is a Bitch with a capital "B" and it better end soon or I am hiding in the closet and the pups can take care of Tuck until he has a mouth full of chompers!

Tucker's Day Job

I always assumed, growing up, that I would stay home with my children and have no need for daytime care. I also assumed I would marry a rich man, and live happily ever after. You know what they say about assuming, right? Not only does it make me an ASS, but this assumption makes me a double ass because who picks their mate just because they are rich? A stupid girl, thats who! Lucky for me, I found an amazing man who gives me so much more than money can buy- but that also means I have to work to support our ballin' lifestyle. So off to daycare little Tuck goes.

Foodie PenPal

This is such a cool idea- Lindsay over at The Lean Green Bean started a penpal program for fellow food lovers. It connects people from all over the country but I will let you read the details for yourself over at her blog. Point is- this is going to be so fun and I cannot wait to participate in September! Go sign up!

Really, Six?!

One of my pet peeves in life is moms who act like all areas of child birth/rearing/caring are just the best things since sliced bread. I think they feel like if they are not ohhh-ing and ahhh-ing over every single aspect of their child, that they are a bad mother. They then try and turn around and say things that are going to make you feel like a bad mother, unless you agree with them- ya dig?

Case in point- I was reading  Jenna von Oy's blog post over at people.com and came across a few choice phrases that made me shake my head. The one that sent me over the edge was this, and I quote- "Sometimes it takes twice as long to change a diaper as it does for it to be soiled again … There’s an average Pampers lifespan of five minutes in our house. It’s crazy! Crazier still? For some reason, I find this utterly endearing." Really, Six from Blossom (it was a great show though-gotta give credit where credit is due), you think changing sh#$% diapers is fun, not only a few times a day but every 5 minutes? Because I love the hell out of my boy but sure hate what comes out of him- and if I didn't have to change another poop diaper in my life, I would be a-ok with that. And no one really thinks you feel that way- we see through you and your opaque skin. I call bullshit!

My Mission

I am no longer a blogging virgin! I have been reading blogs for quite some time, but never thought I was interesting enough to have my own. Correction- I thought I was interesting enough, but I wasn't sure if anyone else would! So let me know what you think- unless you hate it. In that case, no one cares about you or your stupid opinion.

This blog will most likely center around the center of my universe- Tucker. I will drop some other knowledge nuggets on you, but I can almost guarantee you can (and I will) link it back to Tucker. Now, before you worry about this being another sappy, stupid "My kids are the best, most important thing in my life" blogs, know that he is the center of my life by default. I birthed him, and we are stuck like glue for the next 17 years (forever). Luckily, I love him with all of my heart and don't mind being his #1 girl, but I will try and save all my sappiness for other like minded, sappy people! This blog is going to show the good, the bad and the ugly so get ready! And if you don't love a good "!!!!!!!!" you better move on, because I am full of excitement both on and off the blogesphere!