2 toys to try...

We have a ton of toys around the house.

Much like you do I suppose...not sure about you...but my house went from tidy to looking like a day care center overnight. But this blog is about 2 toys and not the general madness strewn across the living room floor.

These two toys stand out from the pack....

1. Leap Frog: My Pal Violet & Scout.

This toy is awesome. There is a Scout version for boys.Quite simply it's a bear that can be hooked up to your computer and fully personalized to/for an individal child. Battery life lasts, the toys is great size..and soft. They say the kid's name, sing several songs..love...love...love  'em.  Priced at about $25. new.

2. V Tech Alphabet Train.

This toy has happy sounds. It can be pushed, pulled, climbed on, knocked over and of course...has songs that teach letters, words, etc. It is a favorite for all ages that come through our doors...I found mine gently used at around $20. Retail is $45. at Wal-Mart.

If you have opportunity to try either out...let me know if you agree.

Finding a daddy. Progress.

Finding a daddy...

I'm not sure where or how this started, but we play with Mimi with expressions like..where's the mommy..get the daddy...instead of using correct sentences.

Last week I went to pick her up from school and walking out the door we were playing let's go home and get the daddy...which turned into let's go find a daddy..which turned into laughter as I realized I made the statement while a man held the door open for us as we exited the building.

I hope when tells this story at parties about the mom and baby going daddy hunting right after daycare..he makes it extra juicy.

Progress...

The final mock-up for the Mimi-zilla.com Web Site is complete. I am super excited. It looks great.

I spent 3 hours today doing inventory on clothes. While it's fun...it's also work.

Can't wait for the next milestone!

Taking young young children to the mall playground

The weather outside is blustery.

The mall playground is free and warm.

Mimi is 16 months old.

I stressed out every parent in that place by taking her there and placing her around older kids running this way and that.

Some kids wanted to hold her and carry her to the dismay of parents.

"Don't touch..don't touch..put her down..PUT HER DOWN!"

Apologizing to me, and me apologizing to them.

Some wanted to put a sock and foot very close to her face.

Some whacked her lightly with hands like a get it away bug kind-of-deal and she whacked them back.

She simply wanted to climb (with assistance) to the tallest item, the giant cheeseburger, and then jump off of it while I held her. The small kids toys were not for her.

I was tired. We were only 15 minutes in. We called it a day at 20 minutes and I came home for a nap.

It was fun, but I think it will be a bit before we venture that way again.

It looks like a boy's room.

We'll have a count of 3 soon...tick tock goes the clock..wait..wait..can't wait to meet the next one.

#1 is almost 17 and I remember being sooo excited at the news of a girl. I envisioned many girly adventures, and we have had many of over the years. She is a mini me in many ways and it a great source of comfort and deep love as well as struggle on occasion.

#1 is smart, beautiful, personable, artistic.

#2 was conceived at what we hope to be the height of teen age girl angst involving #1.

I left the doctors office after the sex ultrasound and called my sister crying from the car because I knew the universe was trying to slowly, painfully kill me off with another girl..either that or my mother's curse had been said on multiple occasions. You know the one..."you wait until you have kids"..yes..yes. Maybe she put extra pepper in that magic potion..because..

#2 is peppery..in way that is all her own. She is a force of nature with a touch of shy. Fearless. This one will have broken bones before kindergarden.

#3 is still cooking. The positive thing about a girl is you kind of know what to expect. A boy? My adventure has already been different this far and we haven't even really begun.

The nursery.

#1 has had more bedroom makeovers than a few.

She has slept in baby dream world, Disney magic, white furniture with little bows, twin beds, bunk beds,queen beds, girl decor, young lady decor..and a few others I'm probably missing. She was very happy with each change. Movement, motion, creativity...

#2 decided she was done with the crib at 9 months.

She is our mountaineer. We have moved on to the low plastic bed on the floor. I think she'll probably be happy for a bit. As long as it has an element of pretty and she can jump on it...

I imagine she will be fine with whatever. She seems to really like routines unlike #1 who always has been a bit more of a free spirit. I forsee a few room makeovers, but not a lot.

#3 needed a new dresser.

I moved the old crib into his room with a twin bed...they are almost the same color.  Put curtains on the window and a single picture with cars on the wall.

The dresser was delivered on Sunday and as it was placed I sat back and thought..

This looks like a boys room.

Take out the crib and this could take him through high school.

It almost looks like a young man's room too....minus the car picture on the wall. Switch out a flag and it's good.

I was amazed at the simplicity of it.

Excited at the possibility of the simplicity of it.

And suddenly a little nervous at the simplicity of it.

To Leider Leider or not to Leider Leider...Deeter Deeter

There is a great benefit in daycare.

There is also a benefit to having both of us (adults) working in the medical profession.

If there is a germ on the planet, it is coming through my home. Usually sooner than later.

If you are ever worried about a great outbreak, we'll make great proverbial canaries.

I believe in science and the pharma industry and am so glad we can dose the munchkin when she is ill.

Mimi has a great personality. Unless she is sleepy, tired, bored or getting sick. This is when we see the transformation to Mimi-zilla and the world just needs to be aware. A war cry generally comes with the transformation from cute toddler to monster. Appropriate I think...as in the movies there is also a dramatic transformation, right?

Last night she was warm and sniffling and I gave her the appropriate dose of pain reliever and help you breathe and 30 minutes later she was just out. Sleep. Slumber. Quiet.

My first meeting of the morning was scheduled today at 0800. Off to bed, early to rise. Satisfied, I went to sleep for about an hour and then woke and thought if she spikes a fever in the night when this wears off how will I know? Then I could not go back to sleep. Call it my OCD.

Enter mommy mistake #1: Grab the child and pull her into bed with me. Where she proceeds to kick me until she wakes at 0230.

Enter mommy mistake #2: 0230...change diaper since she is in bed with me.

Enter mommy mistake #3: Turn on light next to bed to prepare the meds. Give meds.

Crawl back into bed and think...in 30 mins we'll both be in slumberland. Night, night..baby.

Kick, kick, kick..toss...turn..check clock as I'm feeling like I'm in the 5th level of hell. She is singing to herself.

War cry: Leider Leider Leider Leeeder...Deeter Deeeeter...arms wave in the air. She's at least polite about it. Usually it's at the top of her lungs. Last night it was quasi quiet..as if to make sure I knew..but not wake the dog.

Help the kid breathe medicine did not help her sleep...just the opposite.

She was everywhere at once...standing in the bed climbing the wall...pull her back down..she stabs me in the eye with a pointy finger..."eye"...leider leider...

Clock check: 0430.

Toss turn...want to cry until..she finally crashes.

0545.

Alarm goes off at 0615.

Off to the races...I was the baby today. All day. Not myself due to lack of sleep...sucking back sniffles of my own..felt like crying all day.

We all have these stories. I wanted to write this one so that years from now, I have a golden ticket to wake her one random morning running in her room with my arms waving high above my head yelling at the top of my voice leider leider deeter deeter. Maybe I'll jump on her bed at the same time and shake my butt just for extra kicks.

I'm think it might be great when she is a teen and maybe stayed out too late the night before...done some great misdeed...I dunno.

She probably won't appreciate it..but I will.

Here's to you moms. *Cheers*

Keeping Clothes in Great Condition

Bibs, of course work wonders.

Until, of course...our children learn to rip them off..or better yet...pull a Mimi and just grab the thing and hold it at arms distance while acting like the cloth is the most painful item ever...while whining and borderline choking. I'm a pushover. The bibs are long gone. 2 seconds of that action and we were both over it.

We've discovered 2 classes of clothes. The everyday play that I get at the local box shops and clothes that are for better days. Daycare and the playground see the $5 tops (you'll never see them...they are trashed). Church, outings, days with friends and family see the better stuff.

On cold days we layer with the box brand shirts under a button up sweater or jacket and open the outer layer when eating. It helps. We do occasionally have stain casualties. Who doesn't? I'm still not responsible enough for white...and I'm pushing 40.

We use a method of putting the nice clothes on hangers in the closet, and the everyday wear folded in the dresser. You'll find a system that works for you.

There are a few other things to try. They seem to work well:

1. Wash in cold water when you can.

2. I really don't buy a lot of whites, creams, very light colors. You are just asking the universe for trouble. Don't get me wrong, stains are stains...but I'm a sucker for not asking for issues.

3. Stain sticks/Stain pads. Oxy Clean is magical. Stick them in the diaper bag or your purse. If the stain goes through the dryer..generally...it's part of the item. Treat ASAP even if it's just with water. Don't let it sit sprayed in the hamper for a week (We learned this the hard way).

4. Wash only when needed. Not all clothes need laundered with each wear.

5. If the tag says Dry Clean only. The manufacturer means Dry Clean Only.

6. Choose the appropriate washer and dryer settings.

7. Starch. I'm not this good--but it's a pearl..so I'm passing it on..starch and an iron act as a stain repellent.

Dinner & A Doggie Bag

I have a pearl to pass on. You'll either love it or hate it.

I once knew someone who knew someone who was a true mover and shaker. This individual would go to an eatery and place his order and ask for his check at the same time...by the time dinner arrived..he had already paid.

Now.

Some people are horrified by this.

I don't do this on a regular basis...but I must say..keep this pearl. Maybe try it on an occassion like my dinner earlier tonight..I believe it truly helped all the fine patrons in Olive Garden.

I do usually wait until my meal is delivered, as it's a great gauge for the eating part of the meal. Miss Monster was surfacing..it's very nice to just have the option. Ask for your check and a box..or two..or whatever you need.

This way you do not have the long wait while the child is whining, or in my case screaming and doing backbends trying to escape the high chair... as I try and contain the situation on my own after the meal waiting for someone to bring a check.

At the point when you are ready..you just get up and leave..at your time..and on your terms. If you don't use the box..no loss. My teenager was horrified at this practice when I first started it. She thought it very rude.

I simply tell the waiter/waitress that the baby has about a 20 minute expiration time and he/she will appreciate me so much more this way..and so will everyone around me.

So far the reception has been warm..and my service is still great.

I now find the teen trying to use this even when the baby is not around.

The Perfect Diaper Bag

This isn't my first go round with small children. Mimi has an older sister, she's driving. There is quite a difference with raising children in your 20s vs. your well...almost 40s.

Interestingly, a good..no..no..a great diaper bag is critical at this point in my life. I don't remember this being the case the first time around. Cute is great but functional is critical. I have a wide range on hand as I really did not know what I wanted.

I have small bags, and large bags, and the Coach bags and well.. I'm sure you get the idea...

My perfect bag has not been a traditional diaper bag at all. It actually belongs to my spouse as he wanted something manly. We bought him a backpack diaper bag. It's just awesome. Target brand. $80. Navy. No frills. I find myself stealing it and claming it as my own.

Too many zippers and pockets, but I have to say that really doesn't matter as it's perfect. Spills, smashes, fill it up..no issues. Dirt. Wash. Dry. Good to go.

If you are like me and no bag is quite right for you, take a spin with a backpack you have lying around. It may change your whole life. The airport and flying with the thing? Amazing.