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.