Oral B Stages Mommy Party!

We have kind of got to the stage where brushing teeth is hit or miss. He wants to do it himself and having mommy help creates a tantrum of epic proportions. When I got selected for an Oral B Mommy Party, I was excited hoping maybe something could help things get a bit easier!

I like the Oral B Stages line because it's perfect for each age and stage. Stage 1 is perfect for those little ones who are just getting teeth and those learning to brush! The brushes are soft enough for that gummy smile! Stage 2 is perfect for Toddlers and growing kids!

We started the party with Brady's first movie, Winnie The Pooh! He loved it and so did the other kids! 

The kids went home with a fun bag full of goodies to keep them nice and clean from Oral B Stages and Disney's Natural line, which smells great!

To learn more about Oral B, check out their Facebook page and follow on Twitter! 

Thanks, Mommy Parties! We had fun!


Disclosure: All products were provided  by Oral-B and Mommy Parties in exchange for hosting a party and sharing these products. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

The magic of Christmas

This is technically Brady's third Christmas. His first Christmas, he was almost 2 months old and to be honest, I can't remember a single thing from it!  Last year, he was almost 14 months and he didn't quite get it. He was more excited about the balls on the tree than anything!

This year, he will be 26 months and boy, does he get it!

This year, he says that Santa is bringing him a 'BIG truck!' Sometimes, he'll  joke and say that Santa is bringing him poop or a dirty diaper and then says, Noooooo!

This year,  he sat down and played with baby 'Jeese'(Jesus)  and his mommy and daddy.

This year, he brought back the magic.

I've always loved Christmas but it's not quite the same as it was when I was a child.

That is, until I had a child of my own.

This year, it's magical.

This year, I have a giddy feeling inside.

This year, I'll be full of that sleepy excitement as I try to sleep on Christmas Eve.

The holidays are hard. We have too many people to miss but the magic helps.

The magic is back and it does nothing but make me smile.

Apparently, it makes him smile too. He asked Santa for a Trash man. (His biggest obsession right now is the weekly trash truck and the mailman!)

First, I just have to get through this week. I have a gazillion things to do. Somehow the only one that is pregnant and has a two year old is hosting Christmas this year for two sides of the family. My dad's side of the family will be over for brunch and my IL's for dinner. I am hoping the magic keeps me sane through it all. At least I don't have to cook dinner, it will be brought to us! Whew, right?

Lessons of the week

1. Child safety really means momma is the only one who can't open it.

2. Poison Control is a handy number to keep around.

3. You can order free stickers, magnets and stuff from our local Poison Control office.

4. Apparently, a small dose of a prenatal vitamin is like crack to a toddler. The kid reacts by jumping incessantly the entire day, not napping and running nonstop.

5. Vaseline in a child's hair is one of the hardest things to get out.

6. Baking soda and dish soap help a bit.

7. Peanut butter. Peanut butter is the magic solution!

8. A mix of Vaseline, baking soda, dish soap and peanut butter, makes your hair REALLY soft and shiny!

9. I think I just let out the best kept secret, ever.

10. Toddlers keep you on your toes and turn your hair grey.

11. Toddlers are amazing and exhausting but the things that come out of their mouths, can leave you laughing or bring you to tears.

12. A simple, 'I wuv you, mommy', is sure to create waterfalls especially to an already emotional pregnant woman.

13. Having a child, brings back the magic in Christmas.

14. This is the most excited I have been about Christmas since I can even remember.

15. I.just.cannot.wait!

Sometimes, there are no words.

Sometimes, there really are no words....when

TODDLERS STRIKE.

The kid really cannot be trusted alone for even five seconds. Clean up after dinner? Right. 

What? I'm not doing anything wrong mom! Just washing my hair with TOAP!

I think I might need my own version of this site. I often wonder if people don't think that we watch our kid but it literally took him less than a minute to do this. Then, of course, we had to take photos!

I think I might need a few extra arms and set of eyes once this new baby is born! The worst part of all of this is the kid's hair. We washed it like 100 times, used baking soda, some dish soap and by then, he was so over being in the tub, I gave up. I then realized that we didn't get any further because his hair still looked wet when he went to bed. He was so upset too because he couldn't twirl his hair the way he wanted because it was still goopy. Round two of 'Operation get the goop ou't starts tomorrow. Normally, I wouldn't dare let him go to bed like that but I really give up.

I'm waving a big white flag. This week should be over by now, right?

12 weeks: Blissful

First of all, thank you all for your kind words, messages and everything. I have never felt more blessed than ever and while it may sound cliche, it's nothing short of the truth. I'm trying to get caught up on weekly posts, so here we go!

Last week, I had my NT ultrasound where they do some measurements and stuff to tell you some calculated risk for Downs Syndrome and Trisomy.   I wasn't going to do any genetic testing this time around after our experience with Brady but I wasn't going in for those results, I just wanted to see the baby again for my own selfish reasons. I just needed more validation that everything was okay which may or may not sounds nuts but after bleeding and cramping for over a week, I needed it. I would be okay with weekly ultrasounds if that were possible! I know this may sound funny but we swear that that baby has the same nose as Brady! I plan to do a comparison after our anatomy scan so we' shall see!
It was nothing short of amazing. I can tell you that the worry has never truly left my head though I think I knew deep down this baby was a fighter and was doing just fine. I know as a mom, it's hard not to worry and sometimes your head wins over your heart.

 I watched as the baby (I keep calling the baby a him just because it's what I'm used to but I go back and forth on my gut feelings. I was thinking girl up till this week and now I'm not sure.) move around like crazy doing somersaults and kicking those sweet little legs. At one point, he had them crossed and I almost melted right there! I almost forgot how amazing those ultrasounds are when they start looking like a baby and not a little sea horsey blob. I schedule my anatomy scan when I go in the first week of Jan and I'm so stinking excited.

I have not taken a single picture yet but that was more because of my own fear than anything else and hopefully will change that very soon. I swear I'm going to be HUGE this time around, not like I wasn't last time. I've already brought out the maternity pants and oh, my! I forgot how amazingly comfortable they are!

I stopped taking progesterone over the weekend, per doctors orders and I won't lie and say I'm not nervous about it.

At week 12:
 Morning sickness: None really. Some days I'm ready to eat a horse others I would just rather not eat.
Cravings: Food? Ha. I was really obsessed with Salads and ranch dressing and that one has still stuck around. Heartburn and well, just plain reflux has really been killing me this time around. I can't eat anything before I go to bed anymore or I pay for it in the morning but I'm ALWAYS starving around then!
Blue veiny highway? Check.
Exhaustion? Check. I'm hoping to get some energy back soon but I think the fact that my 2 year old is cutting several 2 year old molars right now has something to do with this. For reals.

 Baby: Looks like a baby! Cute little fingers and tiny little toes!

Brady's reaction: He has his own ultrasound picture the tech printed out for him that has his name on it. He found an older one this weekend and goes, "more baby' and went and grabbed the new one! When we ask him where the baby is, he points to my belly! I can't wait until they can meet! Until, then, we found a sweet little doll at Target for $3 that says, 'Little Brother.'

How to give your mom a heartattack.

This morning, I was taking a shower before work. Brady has decided that the umbilical cord was cut way to soon and he can't be a foot away from me at all times. Usually, he hangs out in there and plays with his toys or plays with the toilet paper (and boy, that is a fun mess to clean up!) I am constantly poking my head out to see what he is up to because as you will see, the kid can't be left alone for a hot second.

Then, I hear him make a spitting sound.

I look at him and he has something in his mouth. I notice he has my pill case and I jump out of the shower butt neked. (The case was high up on the counter in a child proof container!)

He ate part of my prenatal. I read the back and see in big bold letters, 'Iron is lethal for children under 6. Please contact your local poison control if ingested.'

I had him spit out what was left in his mouth and wiped out what I could. I immediately grabbed my phone and dialed Poison Control. Did I mention it's not even 7 am?

Lesson #1: Keep Poison Control on Speed Dial. Here is the number. I urge you all to put it in there now.
1-800-222-1222

Lesson #2: Child proof does not necessarily mean Brady proof.

She asked for his age and weight. I had figured he ate about  half or a little more because the rest was spit out on my bathroom floor. Luckily, he would have had to eat 40+ mg of Iron to be worried and one pill had 28mg. I made him some toast and tried to force feed him a glass of milk while I tried to stop my heart from racing and keeling over.

Lesson #3: Never leave this kid out of my sight..EVER!

Here is to hoping the rest of the week is uneventful.

You hear that, Brady??

Note to self: Teach my kid not to eat anything he finds anywhere. The kid ate a crumb off the floor last night!!!

Words are powerful.

Take a minute to watch this. As a parent, I want to reach out to him and tell him it will all be okay.  As a human being, I want to reach out and hug him. You can just see the pain in his eyes and a kid so young should not know that kind of sadness.

I'll warn, it's heartbreaking but I encourage you to watch it because this is something our kids may face. They may even be the one who feels pressured to bully, tease or call names.

 We as adults teach our kids a lot. As long as adults think it's okay to bully each other, this chain will never be broken. We can pretend that this is not something we have to worry about but the truth is, it is and bullying will not go away unless we teach our kids differently. We as parents have a duty to teach acceptance, to teach respect and furthermore, to teach that this will not be tolerated! I love being a mom more than anything but raising a child in a world where things like this happen terrify me and I want to shield my child from it all but I know it's not possible.  I'm not sure some kids understand what power their words have on another. Words do hurt and they can be our most powerful tool.

 I pray that my child never has to suffer this pain but I do know one thing, my child will know that we treat each person with respect and that bullying is NEVER okay.

Here are some resources:
http://www.stopbullying.gov/
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
http://www.pacer.org/bullying/

Ellen DeGeneres's has a whole list here too:

My favorite from November

This is of course, my favorite photo I took in November.

Pray hard, my friends.

I've posted a little about lil miss Olivia before. Tomorrow, they move into the hospital for an unknown time. Olivia starts conditioning (radiation and chemo) for her bone marrow transplant. Please, send loads and loads prayers their way and pray for a safe and uneventful stay and that this cures her sweet little body. 

You can follow her journey, here. Every comment, every prayer and every encouraging word is needed right now. Reading her story will change you and if anything, I ask you during the Christmas season, take time to be thankful for the life you have, for the health of those you love and for the gift of parenthood.

Operation Evacuation

I've been wondering what kind of birth I was going to have with our next baby before we even thought about having another. Heck, I thought about it right after Brady was born! His birth was traumatic, along with recovery. Then, eight months later, I had to have an incisional hernia repair and could not pick up my chunky baby for over three weeks!

When the worry subsided a bit and hope was found, I started wondering how the hell I was going to get this baby out! I knew that sitting down and chatting with my doctor would ease my worries but in fact, while I feel more educated and more prepared on the worst case scenario, my head is still swirling due to the fact there is no real clear answer.

Another c-section for me means lots of risks. If I have another another c-section, she would have to cut through the mesh that was placed to repair the hernia. While we don't know for sure, there is a good chance I would have to go back later to have another hernia repair. Also, just the sheer fact that the mesh is there increases my risk for infection post partum. Awesome, right?  After Brady's birth, I had a lot of adhesion's that were removed during my hernia surgery and I'll spare you the details but the difference was night and day. I had a lot of stomach issues that miraculously went away after the surgery.

Then, to add to the fun, there is of course an increased risk for the hematoma since I had a wound complication the first time. At 12 days post partum, I was rushed to the hospital, not once but TWICE because my incision opened (and I was then separated from my brand new baby boy!) and I had to have gauze placed inside it until it closed. I had a home health nurse that visited everyday and then my lucky husband got to shove gauze into my stomach! He told me the other day, he was SO not doing that again! Yeah. That was loads of fun! I felt like my maternity leave was kinda of ruined and I really don't want to have to go through that again. Also, it was concerning that my platelets were low that I ran really close to requiring a blood transfusion. It was all traumatizing in a way for me and after a long talk with my OB, we discussed VBAC in great length.

So, that is the plan. To at least attempt this baby to come out without having to cut me open. We won't know till game time how this will play out and who knows how this will go. In terms of possible success, I'm smack dab in the middle but I did have a lot going against me last time. I was laboring well and both Brady and I were tolerating it well but just not dilating. My water had broke the night before and I was starting to spike a fever which is not good and I was rushed to the OR.  Everyone was at a loss in why this kid didn't want to come out. I laugh now because it is totally part of this kid's personality! He is still stubborn!

 I'll be honest, I'm downright terrified of how this will play out. I just have to pray it works out best for me and the baby but in the end, my main priority is bringing this baby into the world the safest way possible. I have to put a lot of my faith into something I can't control and wait which I know won't be easy. I do know that it will all be worth it. I have to remind myself of that and I know I'm incredibly blessed to be in this position in the first place. I know more than ever. Boy, do I ever know that.

The little one that could

It's been a crazy few months. It's hard to believe that we are blessed with this new life and it's been full of it's own ups and downs. I honestly didn't think we would make it this far and I'm overjoyed.

4 weeks :I tested October 8th. Big fat negative.

Tested 10/10. Blake's birthday. Big fat positive.
My reaction: Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!

Just shortly of getting that positive, I started bleeding. I had a chemical pregnancy/early loss the month before I got pregnant with Brady and started to think that was what was going on. I called my doctor and we set up two beta tests for the next day and then two days later. I felt like I was in limbo.

Pregnant? Not pregnant?

The first beta came back with good news: I was pregnant.

I was beyond thrilled but told myself that I couldn't celebrate just yet. My second test showed my levels were rising but my progesterone was a tad low. I was put on progesterone pills and the bleeding had stopped but it was still not reassuring in any way. I know they always say that some bleeding is 'normal' but when it happens, it stops you in your tracks.

6 weeks:
At 6 weeks, we had our first ultrasound. We saw a nice flutter of a beautiful heartbeat. I was starting to feel like I could be happy about this and then not two days later, I started bleeding again. This time it was worse.  I was crushed and not optimistic. I tried to stay away from Dr. Google but my mind wouldn't allow me to do anything but focus on what was going on. The past two years had been full of so many awful things, I sadly, figured this was how life is just going to be.

7 weeks:
A week after our first ultrasound, I had another. My nerves were shaken to say the least and I was about to run in there when she called my name. Then as I watched her turn the screen towards her, I braced myself for bad news. Then, what felt like years later, she turned the screen towards me and I saw the sweet flicker again. This baby, our baby was ok and the little heart was a fluttering at 176 beats a minute! A few days later, more than a weel later, there was no more bleeding.

11 weeks:
Then, yesterday, I heard the sweet swoosh on the doppler. I forgot how amazing that sound was. There is nothing more beautiful. Really, nothing, especially when I was truly feeling hopeless.

Now, we have more than hope. The past two years have been difficult but the beauty of motherhood has got me through it. I got a job promotion last week and more pieces of good news, I'm praying this means luck will be on our side from now on. I can't help but worry but that is life especially that of a mom.

 I sometimes still can't believe it and forget that I'm pregnant. It's been much easier symptom wise this time around. The nausea was bad for a few weeks and evened out which is crazy to me since I was sick half of my pregnancy with Brady! I've been really tired but what is new with a toddler?

By the way, do you know how hard it is to a) Get a toddler to stop moving and b) Have a toddler pose with a picture without having him throw it, eat it, or even hold it?

I'm eleven weeks and the first thought that came to mind mind after it all sunk in was how the heck is this baby going to come out, ha! That is a whole other post in itself! Oh, trust me, a whole.other.post. Sigh.

Look closely

Lots of details to come!

A long week

Whew. It's been a long week here. I'm not sure if this has been national news or not but a horrific crime happened a mere 8 miles from my house when a mother reported her 13 month old child missing and then later confessed she beat him to death. I think I can say it outraged and moved our community and as a mother, it hurt me in a way I cannot describe. I think Brady looked at me like a lunatic when I ran home and hugged him so tight that but when you become a mom, I feel like your heart has a place in it for every child. I hope that through this tragedy, we can raise awareness against child abuse. Maybe we can help save a child like Tyler and I know sometimes we feel overwhelmed, like we can't make a difference but as a social worker whose job it is to provide resources, I see firsthand how a small piece of information can go a long way.

Ugh. Ok, so back to life here in this imperfect household. Not like this compares in any way but then Brady got sick and got his first round of antibiotics this week due to a nasty sinus infection/respiratory crap that is going around like wildfire around here. Our entire house is on antibiotics. We should get a bulk deal, for reals. I'm amazed we've made it two years (well, he did have some in the hospital after his birth) without antibiotics. I am thankful for that but know it won't be the last.

I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week. I'm in denial that winter is around the corner and have not even broke out the coat even though today it got pretty cold!

This age is so much fun but it's hard. The things that come out of his mouth make each day like a new adventure. I call him all kind of pet names and you'll hear him walking around going, 'Oh, honey!' The one thing I am so waiting for is those three magic words. I tell him I love him 100 times a day and I keep waiting but I know the day it comes out of his mouth will be one of those moments I never forget.

Remember post after post about his diaper issues and the damn yeast rash from hell that we've battled over and over? Well we found a solution. Costco wipes. Yep. Since we've used them, no yeast. I can't belive it was that simple. He's still had some eczema but I have my own theories on that!

I know I haven't updated about one of my last posts asking for prayers and I will post more in a big post but I can say, all the prayers worked. I think we are more thankful this year than ever.

The weekend. It's here. I'm ready. I'll leave you with a video of my kid. Since we got this Leapfrog toy, the kid has been able to ID half the alphabet. The pronunciation kills me though. Bubbleyou (W) is by far my favorite.

Last thing and an important one at that. Please pray for little Olivia. They found out recently that even with the bone marrow transplant, she had a 50% chance at relapse. Read her blog and you will be a changed person. It's not fair that kid, a baby, has to go through this. Every night, we pray for her and as they gear up for her transplant, prayers are needed more than ever. Pray hard, my friends, pray hard. 

Happy Weekend, all!

Two is the new three.

You know those doors that say, "Emergency Exit only?

You know the ones that have 'alarms' on them or the sign on the door says so?

Guess whose kid decided it was a good idea to push that door open?

The funny thing is that I was right next to him but the naive mommy in me never thought he would try to do that! Ha, the two year old wins again.

That was fun.

I was then called, "Mean mommy!" because I made him get in the shopping cart so we could run away faster and hope that no one saw what just had transpired.

Another fun thing about two? Well, my child is currently in the phase where he must do everything himself and apparently that includes making his own rules....one being that running away from mommy is the most genius game ever and it's even more fun when he runs into the street and gives mommy a heart attack.

Not cool, Brady. Not cool.

Then, there is the whole, 'Oh crap, they can talk thing' and you have to watch every word. I dropped something the other day and luckily, the worst that came out of my mouth was 'OH CRAP!' which is unusal for this potty mouth. It's lovely to hear your child say, 'oh crap!' over and over but I guess it could be worse, rgiht?

As he learns new words, I get new names, like "Old Mommy' which he says with this half grin on his face.

I hear three is harder. I am not sure I will survive. Send help wine.

At least it is all worth it when I hear him say something funny or a new word that he says with the cutest inflection or the sweetest tone, even if it has an extra syllable.

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! I know a lot of you are big fans of their toys, as we are, so I wanted to share this with you! 




Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Ramblings and a request

Things have been kinda quiet here lately. Things have been kinda stressful around here and to be honest, we could use some thoughts, prayers or good vibes our way. I hope to post more when I can but could really use them. Life is like that it seems with us and hopefully as we get closer to the end of the year, we can leave the bad karma behind in 2011.

Brady. Oh, Brady. I'm still behind on what I think will be his last monthly letter. Partly because of everything else going on but partly because I'm still in denial my kid is two. He sure does act the part though.

Saturday, in what was supposed to be nap time, I found this.

 Luckily, it's paint and washable at that! I wish he could have at least picked a nicer color than poo brown. I swear I might have enough to add to that website. I can at least say that it all came out except the carpet but we'll have to shampoo those this weekend!

I have to add that no, I don't leave fingerpaint around his room but he decided to open the closet doors, climb on his chair and open the plastic container with his art supplies. Sneaky little toddler

I have to admit. I did have a hard time washing that off. Tiny prints just get me. 

 Halloween was a big hit here. He ran up to the houses like he's been doing it all his life. The candy was a bit hit too but that was a given!

 I learned that taking my kid to the zoo to trick or treat then attempting him to nap while hocked up on sugar is not a good mix for taking pictures later that evening. We had a deal from LivingSocial we need to use up and oh my. The kid never napped and let's just say, there is a reason I don't take my kid to those places often. He did look cute in his outfit though.

The kid is on a roll when it comes to words. I swear he gets at least 10-20 new ones a day, the newest tonight was nipple! At least the kid can properly identify all his body parts! He also runs to me when I get home from works and says, "Mommy home!" and it is a good way to be welcomed home! 

I'm in denial the holidays are approaching but more excited than ever to celebrate them with our little family! 

Kashi Kid Approved Snacks!

I'm a big fan of Kashi. Brady loves their fruit bars. He would eat them all day if I would let him. Kashi’s products are natural, minimally processed, and free of highly refined sugars, artificial additives, and

unnatural preservatives, which makes this mom very happy. 

 Recently, I got to try Kashi's TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola bars and shared them with my book club, thanks to Moms Meet! Brady is not very picky when it comes to food, he'll actually eat just about anything. Just until recently, the one thing I have a hard time getting in him is oatmeal or granola. 

 Then, peanutty and dark chocolate goodness met granola. The kid almost ate the whole thing in one sitting which is pretty much a rarity since the kid never sits still. I've actually been able to get him to eat "Eatmeal' as he calls it! The best part is that each Kashi ®TLC ® Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bar has 7 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, making me feel feel good about giving it to my child but also indulging myself. I won't lie and say that I wanted to hide most of them for myself. I even got my junk food loving husband to eat them! They were a hit among the moms and kids from my book club as well! The layer of chocolate on top is so oohey and gooey, they are hard not to love.

You can find these delicious kid friendly snacks at most local grocery stores. Join the Kashi community online at and on Facebook! I highly recommend you check them out because they send yummy samples in the mail often! It was how we discovered their delicious fruit bars and they've been a staple in our house ever since. Some little boy might find them in his stocking this Christmas instead of candy since they are better for him and he is sure to gobble them up!

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Reminder!

Just a reminder to enter this giveaway!  It never showed up in my Google reader so I'm extending it a bit through tomorrow night!

Two

Dear Brady,

As I sit here thinking of the past year, I can't help but smile. There were some bumps in the road but having you in our lives has made the ride smoother and much easier. You have always been there to make us laugh and to bring a big smile to our faces. I can't help but thank you for that.

I found myself looking at pictures from your birthday last year and you've lost the chub in your cheeks and started looking more like a little man. You have more words and hit new milestones but deep inside, you will always be my little baby.

Today, you turn two. Another year has come and gone and I find that I love the same things about you but I am always finding something else. That is the thing buddy, with each age and stage, I find more to love about you.

I love each part of you, each piece of your puzzling personality.

I love the way your hair curls on the top of your head and the way you twirl each strand when you are sleepy.

 I love the way that when you laugh, your whole body laughs with you and how contagious it is. I even love how when you get mad, you can see it all the way from your head to your toes.

 I love that you do your own thing and I hope you never lose that as you grow up.

I love your red boots too, buddy. 

 I love the curiosity in your eyes and your love for animals, things that go and anything that bounces. I even love that you call cats, 'pumas,' and  horses  'Annie!'

  I love that you are happy. It makes me feel that I have done my job and done it well. Seeing you grow, seeing you learn new things and each little thing you accomplish makes me proud to call you my son.

I love to watch you sleep. I still love to watch your chest rise and fall with each restful breath. There is something calming, something peaceful and something beautiful about watching you sleep. 

I love that you notice everything. We joke that you don't miss a beat but you notice all the details. It makes for a fun shopping trip as you point out everything!

                            

 I love your self-confidence and self-determination you carry at such a young age. The accomplishment in your eyes shines bright and I know that will continue to grow as you do.

 I love those dimples. Oh, how I love those sweet dimples.

 I love how sometimes when you get really silly or laugh really hard, you squint your eyes and throw back your head. Then, you look at me with those big eyes of yours that are so full of love and trust, it can bring me to tears.

 I love your sense of style and how you find joy and excitement in every small moment.

I love that you love to read and pick me to read with you. 

I love that each holiday is so much more special with you in our lives. Birthdays and Christmas carry so much more meaning and you make me feel like a kid again. 

I love that you are my child. I love that I was given the gift of watching you grow and being your mom. I am so blessed beyond measure. There is not an emotion that can describe the feeling we feel for you but it is an immense love that grows with each day.

Happy Birthday, baby boy. I hope your day is filled with love, laughter and cake :)

Yep. That happened.

Some days, laying on the floor at the dollar store is necessary in the eye of an almost two year old because apparently life is so hard.

Later that day, he poured mouthwash into the toilet (um, he can open childproof things now?)

Took a bite of my chap stick.

He figured out how to open our screen door and ran out the door....while I was making dinner! Good thing, I'm always asking him what he is doing so I caught him right after he ran out there! (Childproof locks, check!)

Unrolled half a roll of wrapping paper

Took his pants off 100 times but then get this. He runs to his room and brings me a PAIR OF UNDIES and says, "I pee!"

<----nearly passed out.

Needless to say, I'm exhausted and I'm afraid of big boy undies.

Very afraid.

It's almost that time of year: Tiny Prints

Christmas season is going to be here before we know it. I find that each year as the holidays approach, my giddiness grows. With the excitement my child exhibits with the smallest things, I can't wait to see him when we put up the tree, decorations and after Santa visits!

I'm already thinking of Christmas cards. We have SO MUCH going on between now and the the onset of the holiday craziness and this is my attempt at avoiding procrastination (which I run into every.single.year. I must learn!)

Tiny Prints always seems to amaze me on their selection and well, they are adorable, modern and classic.

I love that this one doubles as an ornament. I mean, what a fabulous idea! I love that it can be used as a keepsake and not just thrown away! I always hate throwing away Christmas Cards. It feels wrong to me! 

I love that this one is simple, elegant and modern.

Gotta love polka dots. You know I have a thing for dots. 

 Wow. This one would be perfect for my child. 

I like that this one it different yet reminds me of classic cards. 

Lastly, I love the saying on this one but unless I borrow a sweet newborn from someone...

Do you send out Christmas Cards? I know I love receiving them!



I was given the opportunity to write this post in exchange for holiday cards. I've always ordered from Tiny Prints before and the opinions are all my own. I mean who can resist cute cards? 

Bad days

Some days, I'm tired. 

Some days, I'm just a little cranky. 

Some days are full of spilled coffee and running ten minutes too late. 

Some days, just suck. 

Then, there are those days full of meltdowns, tears and constant battles of will. 

 Then, there are smiles.

 Big cheesy grins.

 Smiles that are so full of excitement, joy and pure happiness. 

Smiles that are full of the future and hold memories of the past.

It's that smile that makes my bad days seem to dissipate as soon as those sweet dimples appear and I feel my lips turn into a smile. It's that smile that defines so much of him and that I love so intently.

That smile. Oh boy. I'm in trouble.