With my flip flop stuck again to the kitchen floor, even after just mopping two days before, I think that maybe I am not necessarily a bad housekeeper. Maybe it's just having a house full of little boys.
I find it is quite impossible to ever keep up. Unless of course the kids were to go away for a while. But then how empty that would be.
We didn't even have pancakes for breakfast today, but somehow stickiness just happens here.
Lately, I am taking more notice of how often I do straighten the couch's toss pillows, say, eleven times on a slow day. And the bed. I made our bed in the morning (though no one could tell now!) but then it's just so perfect for jumping and cuddling and wrestling and spelunking.
Books. They are everywhere. But I am happy that my kids carry books from room to room, plopping into chairs and under tables, into all sorts of nooks and crannies to read their favorite tale.
In the back of my mind is a constant loop of a favorite poem "Babies Don't Keep"
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking...
...The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
A pile of dishes before me and dirty socks below, I am feeling quite fulfilled tonight.
-Steph
Friday, August 31, 2007
Sticky Flip Flops
Babywearing Tip of the Week: It's So Hollywood
Have you seen the latest place that Grayson and I have been able to model the lovely Nest slings?
It's the Celebrity Baby Blog! We've hit the big time! It's so wonderful to know talented friends in high places!
But really- more & more new celeb moms & dads are wearing their babies. I think babywearing is a wonderful trend, if you want to call it that. Let it be trendy! What an awesome thing for babywearing to become popular and eventually "the norm" as it should be!
Check out the Celebrity Baby Blog's babywearing archives for photos of all your favorite Hollywood mamas & papas doing the sling thing. Mamma's Milk also has a great gallery of celebrity parents wearing their babes.
By the way, be sure to note the rockin' discount you can get at Nest right now! I hope my favorite Dragon Blossom doesn't sell out too soon...
And I know that 'Babywearing Is So Bloggy', too. Share your babywearing pics for a future post! Email me at jsprecourt@yahoo.com with your photo and a link to your blog!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
The Choice Is Yours
Overheard in the playroom:
"Will you pick to have a bad day or a good day, Carter? The choice is yours."
This public service announcement brought to you by the very proud mother of a very wise six-year-old.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Get Silly With It!
Imagine a baby blanket that is actually made for playtime- indoors or out! The Silly Billyz Play Blanket at Live Love Dream is the ultimate all-purpose blanket for your wee one!
With a soft fleece front, nylon backing, & generous size, you can take this blankie anywhere. Just like the popular Silly Billyz bibs, they are durable, come in vibrant color combinations, and will always be PVC Free, Vinyl Free and Phthalate Free! And speaking of bibs- how genius are these long-sleeved bibs!
During a recent babysitting adventure, my niece Abby just loved our Silly Billyz blanket, as you can see!
Look up a store near you for where to find Silly Billyz.
Purchase through this link and save 10% off your order!
Live, Love, Dream... and be silly!
Bloggymeetup Fiesta Style!
Calling all NW Indiana bloggers- we're having a bloggy meetup this weekend at Don Pablo's... email me at jsprecourt@yahoo.com if you are interested!
So far on the list:
Adventures In Babywearing
Crooked Eyebrow
Oh Me, Oh My, My Wonderful Men
More Than A Single Mom
Mimi's Toes
I Should Be Folding Laundry
*Also- I am really brainstorming the idea of a really big blogger meet-up sometime, but don't know where or when yet!!
Sesame Street Was Down With It
The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog posted the BEST video...
you have to check it out here.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Keep It Neat!
A while back I was one of the big winners of the new NeatReceipts Scanalizer over at 5 Minutes For Mom. This is THE way to finally conquer your paper clutter!
The NeatReceipts Scanalizer is a scanner and software solution that helps you organize receipts, bills, medical forms, business cards- pretty much everything! It scans, analyzes and organizes your papers and stores everything in a database on your PC.
And every month NeatReceipts has an awesome contest- this month you can win $500! All you have to do to enter is submit a video of NeatReceipts, and it's open to your interpretation! The more creative, unique, funnier it is, the better! Enter by August 31!
Be sure to check out all the fabulous contests going on here in blogland at my contest page here!
knittybloggymeetup
I finally was able to meet up with Arianne from To Think Is To Create last night. I think she found me while reading the Chicago Moms Blog and she lives close by. We finally had the chance to have a knitting night together at Starbucks!
Arianne, let me just say that I think you are a delight and I am so excited to have a knitting friend! Here's a photo of the first knittybloggy club.
Hubby encourages me to go out, too, as he noticed how much happier I am after I get out and recharge my batteries. Even if it's just for an hour or two, it does help, I admit! And I make a point to be thankful for every time I can escape- no matter how short or long. I don't come back home saying I wish I could have stayed out longer. I just say how nice it was to get out. I am sure it's a blessing to my hubby to have a happy wife!
Cross posted at And She Knits.
Monday, August 27, 2007
A Little Bit More Famous
You gotta check out Jenn's post today and read about how my picture was in the Washington Parent magazine!
Best Buy Techs U Out
You know I already love Best Buy. Well, they asked college-aged YouTube users to submit a video explaining why they need to get their dorm rooms "teched out." A winner will receive $15,000 to tech out their dorm room!
Best Buy's panel of judges has narrowed down the entries to 20 finalists and you can vote for your favorite here. Voting ends tomorrow and finalists will be announced on Aug 31!
Next I suggest that Best Buy asks housewife YouTube users to submit a video explaining why we need our laundry rooms and kitchens "teched out." I'll take this and this and this and this for starters...
Confessions Of A Really Bad Housekeeper
With school starting this past week I am hoping to finally fall into some sort of routine. Lately, the following has been my current schedule for housecleaning:
-My flip-flop is officially stuck to the kitchen floor: I guess I need to mop.
-Kids have to drink their morning OJ out of fine goblets: maybe I should do the dishes.
-Kids wear Christmas pjs to bed (it's August): time to do some laundry.
-Hubby towels off with a yellow ducky hooded towel: time to do more laundry.
-Kids have made drawings in the dust on my dresser: I probably should get out the Pledge.
-"Wouldn't it be fun if we went out to eat as a family tonight?!": I really need to get groceries.
Please tell me that you are not repulsed by my nice housecleaning schedule, but rather, you can relate.
And I am feeling a little bit validated after catching a small mention in the recent issue of Baby Talk about the new book A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder. Although I rarely agree with anything published in that magazine, I definitely will agree with what this book suggests. Such as: clutter can provide stimulation for developing minds. Your kids "mix and match things in creative ways. Having lots of things to look at and manipulate can be good for small brains," says co-author David H. Freedman.
Hmmm. I will say that I think that I am happier and more productive when I have a clean house, but when was the last time I put myself first? I think I can put off vacuuming for one more day, you know, for the sake of my kids' creativity and all...
Cross posted at the Chicago Moms Blog.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
So I Think You Should Feel Good
Friday, August 24, 2007
Ups and Downs and Ups
This past week has been such a roller coaster for me. I am on little sleep- really just catching up the past few nights, but no more 'sleeping in' for me since school has started!
We had flooding from all the storms here, tornado warnings, more flooding. Hubby whipped up a solution to the problem with our basement and we have had no more water coming in the house, Praise God! I am still recovering from an emotionally draining day yesterday. It's not something I feel like blogging about, but some of you can probably tell I am just not myself lately. I should have been focusing on Carter starting his very first day of kindergarten, but my day was just cloudy. I am glad it is over and today is a brand new day.
Carter wanted to have lunch immediately after breakfast today because he goes to Kindergarten right after lunch. He is made for school. Last night at Back To School night, Carter's teacher told us "He sure is a wealth of knowledge with wonderful information!" She said it quite delighted. I told her I almost sent a note in his backpack to warn her of that. He is one of a kind.
He couldn't get on the bus fast enough when it came yesterday, so I didn't get a good picture. I decided to drive to the school so that I could capture him getting off the bus to go into class. This picture just makes me happy. He didn't even stop to say hi- ran right into class. He saw his name immediately, sat in his seat, and started on his work. It was his very first day but he looked like a pro. I know that much of the behavior that our children exhibit is learned from the parents, but I do think that I am learning something new about myself because of them every day.
I've also felt frustrated lately because I am not able to read everyone's blogs as I'd like, and comment, and participate in more of your fun memes and contests and such. I try as much as I can, but often I'll get a moment to sit at the computer and then realize that the playroom really needs to be vacuumed. And on the way to get the vacuum I notice the dishes in the sink. So I get those things done and then have something else to tend to. And lately by evening, I am just too tired to even think about turning on the computer. Then when I do get a chance to catch up, I see that I've missed you having your baby last week, or you having a really fun contest, or you just making a really good point about life. I hate missing out on these things!
I think learning to keep a balance between my real life and my blog life is a constant process. But, I do ask that if you have something big and important that you've just posted about or that is going on in your lives, please email me or comment here to let me know. I hate missing out!
So, to end this on an up... I get a girls night out tonight. My neighbor is having a jewelry party and it will be nice to get out- even if it is just next door.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Throwback Thursday: Firsts
My first day of first grade, 1983. My mom wet-braided my hair the night before so that I could have those waves. And my Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox- had to have one of those! I also remember the purple shoes... I think they were called "Roos" ? They had a zipper pocket on the side that you put pennies in.
Noah's first day of first grade, 2007. He had a haircut the day before, making sure that the stylist didn't cut any of the top... he's liking the longer look. He had his Star Wars Lego tee laying out to wear for the first day of school for several days. He also came home yesterday with a love note in his backpack from the next door neighbor girl. Oh my.
Thanks to the Pinks & Blues Girls
for Throwback Thursdays!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Water Water Everywhere
Oh, and I forgot to mention that there was lots and lots of water at my vacation destination. We've had so much rain lately- causing a flood in the finished part of our basement a few nights now (Carter thought it was blood in the basement and was so disappointed to see that it was just water.)
Yesterday I could be seen outside at 2:30 in the morning barefoot and emptying our basement window wells by the bucket. I scooped up a couple little toads, too. By the time hubby and I had everything under control, it was 4 AM and we were wide awake. So, we watched Soul Man and I did some knitting. At four in the morning. Soul Man. Yes, I think we were on the verge of craziness.
I never did go back to bed. Gray woke up right as I was feeling like I needed to crash. Then Noah & Carter were up soon after. And I didn't even have a Starbucks or anything to keep me going- not sure how us Moms do it, but we must run on Mother Power or something. Mine really kicked in and I made it through the day!
Also yesterday, Carter broke the lens on my kinda new camera and this had me quite upset because school starts tomorrow! This Mama needs her camera! So I trekked up to Best Buy to see what they could do for me.
They could send it off to be serviced but it might take a week or two. I let them know my disappointment about school starting and they're my babies and they must have photographs. The guy had mercy on me and said I could pick a new camera. And since they no longer carried my camera model anymore, I got an upgrade. And it was an even exchange! And I must say that I think Best Buy has the best customer service. Love the Geek Squad, too! There will be First Day Of School pictures after all!
Of course, my sleep schedule is way off and I am blogging at 4:30 in the morning again. My Mother Power is saying Starbucks is definitely necessary today...
Monday, August 20, 2007
A Just Cool Baby Dagny Giveaway! *Updated With Winner!
It's crazy! They're almost giving it all away!
Everyone knows Baby Dagny has just cool baby stuff and right now they are having a warehouse moving sale- everything is 75% off! The sale is in its final days, so start shopping & saving while you can!
The Organic Robe with Trim is a perfect baby gift- top it with a rubber ducky and it would be just too sweet! Snatch these Funky Sweat & Stripe Footed Sleepers for only $5.25!
You'll definitely want to check out Baby Dagny's registry next time you're needing some giftage! And be sure to check back soon after the big warehouse moving sale for new products.
WIN! You can win this sold-out Baby Dagny-exclusive multi stripe Peekaboo Pouch!
HOW TO ENTER: Just fill in the Mr. Linky below and then link to this contest and Baby Dagny's big sale in a post on your blog before Wednesday August 22, 9 PM (CST.) If you don't have a blog, still enter your name in the Mr. Linky and please email your friends to tell them about this contest and Baby Dagny's big sale! Leave a comment here saying you'd like to win! Be sure I can contact you through your blog or email in the Mr. Linky and/or your comment.
This pouch is a size small, for a thin to average build.
Anyone may enter! Winner will be chosen randomly from the Mr. Linky after 9 PM Wed. August 22.
*Also be sure to check out the big End Of Summer Party going on now at The Pumkin Patch!*
Congrats to the winner, Wendy at The Adventures Of... MomLady!