Bucket Head

This bucket head turns 2 in one week!

busy bee

I did it.

And I still have time to get ready.

What Really Goes On When I'm Not Here

The morning after my weekly "knitting night" at Panera, Carter recited this poem to me. I promise you that I instantly rushed up to ask Jeff if Gray really fell on his head. He didn't. It was the only thing they could come up with to rhyme with bed.

I have to put "knitting night" in quotations because it's really just a cover. I mean, occasionally we will dig out our yarn and needles and actually KNIT something, but sometimes we end up just talking and venting and it becomes a wonderful therapy session, plus bread.

I am regretting now, though, that I didn't get a little knitting done because I've needed a gift for a close friend that is moving away and we're having a dinner for her tonight. I just haven't found the perfect present that seems to feel right. So I've decided to knit her a handbag. By tonight. I better get to it...

Babywearing Tip Of The Week: Everything You Wanted To Know About How To Wear Your Baby

It's going on two years that I've been babywearing and I can't believe I've just now watched the tremendous only-one-of-its-kind Tummy 2 Tummy Babywearing Instructional DVD. Over 2 hours of invaluable information- how to wear four different types of carriers, how to choose which type would be right for you, how to breastfeed while babywearing, how to wear baby on your back, and oodles more.

If you are new to babywearing or want to learn more, this is a must-have tool. If you are a bit more seasoned like I am, then I think you will enjoy this great effort by four different prominent babywearing experts- and you are sure to learn something no matter how much you already thought you knew about babywearing!

It's such a handy resource as you can skip to any area of the video that pertains to you. Just interested about properly doing the kangaroo carry in a pouch? Troubleshooting problems with your ring sling? Wondering which type of fabric you should choose? Just how in the heck do you tie a mei tai in several ways? Or babywearing with just a simple piece of cloth? It's all here!

The Tummy 2 Tummy DVD is $20 and available for purchase in retail stores as well as online, including Attached To Baby where you can even buy in bulk and save!

Win your own copy! I have FOUR copies of Tummy 2 Tummy to giveaway! Please leave a comment here if you'd like to win, and just one entry per person please. Four winners will be picked at random Monday night, October 1.

*Winners: Christina, Lace, Allison (please email me!), & Stacey!

Throwback Thursday: Good Times

Remember when McDonald's had the outdoor playland? That was the best. Probably much less germ infested than the lame indoor contraptions now, too. And eating there was a treat, an occasion, not part of your weekly menu and you would never have eaten it in the car! I found a photo online of the Hamburglar jail thing you could sit in and have secret clubs. Loved that.

I am about Noah's age in this photo- I'm guessing 1st grade. I'd like to recapture the pure innocence and happiness in my expression here. Not a care in the world... good times.






Am I the only one craving McDonald's fries and a Coke now?

Wordless Wednesday: September 2001

Truer Words

Noah is being placed in a special reading program to help him along and keep a closer "eye" on his eye. Tonight he said, but Mommy, what if I can't do it?

You can do it.

But what if I get it wrong?

Everyone gets things wrong lots of times. It's ok.

But what if I can't figure it out even the second, third, and fourth time?

You just keep trying until you do.

Girl Party

Whenever I go out with my "girls," the boys always want to know where it is I am so giddy to escape the house to go, so I tell them to a girl party. No boys- and certainly no kids- allowed. And when I get home they are all to excited to know if I had fun at my girl party. And oh yes there is always fun to be had.

Tonight was no exception. Probably on the verge of too much craziness at the ceramics shop with Arianne, her sister Carrington (when are you going to start a blog, mama-to-be?), & Jen. I got there first and picked the cutest teensy weensy gnome to paint and then (great minds think alike) guess what Arianne happened to pick- the big daddy gnome!















We were there until closing and you'd think I would have gotten more done with my little gnome, but it was my first time painting since, like, third grade, so I'm special. I can't wait to go back to finish him (tomorrow, anyone?)

When the ceramics place closed, we were not ready to go back home... so we went to dinner! And talked and talked, ate hot fresh bread and laughed some more. And then ate more bread. And tried to take pictures, but we were so loopy with bread and girl party fun-ness that we forgot how to use a camera (see video and the nice closeup of my salad.)



Finally the lady at the other table stopped laughing at us and offered to take our picture. I was still laughing.


It was during my time with the girls tonight that I had a wonderful feeling come over me of pure happiness. My laughter was that true, uninhibited laughter coming from some place unexpected, deep down, and free... it was just what I needed. I feel like I've stepped out of a very dark, heavy cloud into an amazing, warm & fuzzy hug. It feels so good to be here right now.

There is a party
girl in all of us. If you're ever looking for supplies
for your party, don't forget the games!
You can find party
ideas online along with finding party
supplies.

Look Ma, No Hands!

Carter informed me yesterday that his bus driver can drive with no hands!

"Realllly... why does she drive with no hands?"

"So she can clap (demonstrates a high handed clapping) and tell everyone to BE QUIET AND SIT DOWN!"

Okaaay. Great.

Jenny McCarthy Wore A Mod Blue Dress, Sassy Shoes, & A Mother's Heart On Oprah

The shoes and blue dress. EVERYONE is searching and googling, dying to know what Jenny was wearing the other day on Oprah. I really hope I find out because lots of people are coming here expecting me to have the answer...

ANYWAY. Jenny is on ABC's 20/20 tonight. Might want to catch her then if you can. (Be sure to watch the right one- looks like it's on for two hours and she's the second segment.) I'll be watching.

*Click here for all the other scheduled shows Jenny McCarthy will be on in the upcoming week!

Also, if you want to know how I check my stats and know what I'm being googled for, I used Sitemeter and click on "recent visitors by referrals" - this way you can see what brings people to your site!

Babywearing Tip of the Week: It's So Beautiful!

There is something about seeing a mom (or dad!) wear their baby that is just beautiful. I am excited to share with you some beautiful babywearing photos submitted by my readers.



Farrah from Baby Loves Slings sent in these two precious photos, her current favorites. She is a work-at-home mom that makes ring slings so she can stay at home with her son.







Andrea over at Sgt And Mrs. Hub is one hot babywearing Mama.
Check out these cute cute pics of her wearing her son Judah!!







Andrea at The Laughs Will Go On shares a darling photo of her snuggling & wrapping her little man Tate. What a beautiful smiling Mama!



















Amy from Crunchy Domestic Goddess gets the whole family into babywearing- here's photos of Amy wearing her son Julian & hubby Jody wearing their daughter Ava! Amy also owns the fun babywearing advocacy shop Attached To The Hip!




Everybody loves Nell from Casual Friday Everyday and I just love her babywearing pics wearing her little guy on the front & back in the Podonbutai! Don't they look beautiful & happy?!








Lori from Communi Kate is wearing her daughter Kate in this sweet photo at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, TX.








And what's my favorite babywearing pic? I have so many! Here's a more recent one of Gray napping in the mei tai at t he park. Kissing his snuggly head when he's like that... there's nothing like it! I love the latest ones Ashlee took of Gray and me modeling her Nest slings. I also adore our happy pics modeling the Podonbutai for Jenn at All Natural Mommies!

Keep your babywearing pics coming! Email me (jsprecourt@yahoo.com) and maybe you'll see them here!

The Sling Station is holding a Beauty Of Babywearing photo contest that you just might want to check out. You could win a $100 gift certificate to The Sling Station or Peppermint.com!

Also today is the last day to enter the Protect-A-Bed giveaway! You could win sheet protectors for all your kids!

What's Up With Me

I thought I was doing much better with it being toward the end of the week but Carter hopped off the bus today and I realize he had his shorts on backwards. What mother lets her child go to school with their SHORTS on backwards? We get inside and I see that Gray has hummus on his shoes. At least I get a knitting night tonight. For now I'm going to finish some laundry with my tunes on shuffle... oh iPod, you always know the right thing to play.

Looky

Drea is making me fall fancy here again. You might notice a new look here and there! She's such a great blogging friend, designer, & reviewer over at her new site DE Reviews with her gal pal Elizabeth! Check them out!

Throwback Thursday: RV'ing It

Here's a throwback from a family roadtrip in March 1981. I was 4 years old (that's me in the pink jacket probably already hesitant to join this group of country-western wannabes in a photo...)

You'll also see my cool cat of a Dad with his steering wheel handle-bar mustache, my mom holding my brother Nate, and my Poppal who owned that camper with an assortment of twelve horn tunes to wake up the neighborhood.

Pinks & Blues has got the Throwback Thursdays going on each week!

BONUS! For some hilarious throwbacks of old school photos, you MUST go vote here at Petroville now for the Worst School Photo... Lori is over there (I'll give you a hint- she's the 1st one and has a VERY good chance at winning- sorry Lori, but yours is too awesome!!) Place your vote! Poll closes tonight!

More On That Oprah Show

I find it a bit humorous that my stats show that I've been googled more for "blue dress Jenny McCarthy wore on the Oprah show" and "shoes Jenny McCarthy wore on Oprah" than anything else since yesterday. But hey- whatever brings people here.

I happened to still be up last night when the show was on again and this time I couldn't watch it. I guess just once was enough for me. It was lumpy in my throat and physically pained my heart hearing her describe her son's seizures in the beginning. That could have been me telling that story- down to the littlest detail like when he slept late that morning and she ran into his room to find him having a seizure. I don't know how to explain it, but my stomach would sink when Noah "slept late." I would be in the middle of doing something and just stop and run to Noah's room and would find him seizing. It's something I hope to forget someday, but I still hang on to that whole "healer's signature" thing, too.

I am loving the dialogue that has sparked since the show yesterday. The comments and emails- this is just something very important to me- the whole Mom's Voice Must Be Heard. Don't suppress it!

I know some parents have lots of questions about many things including vaccinations right now. What do you do right now while you are still learning more or trying to figure out what to do? I say- there is no rush. Take your time and do your research. I have some helpful resources in a previous post of mine here called Stirring The Pot: What I Want Every Parent To Know. Also, arm yourself with FACTS from the CDC's website (Center for Disease Control)- this is where your doctor puts their trust. Be informed of the ingredients in vaccines- this link is to the CDC's exact statements about it.

If you find it difficult to talk openly with your doctor, or feel like you are not being respected, or feel like your concerns are not really being heard, FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR. Remember- they work for YOU.

I've heard a lot of criticism toward Jenny McCarthy, who is infamous for a less-than-wholesome lifestyle... in the past. I see a mother that found something that helped her child and now she wants to tell the world about it and wants to help others. I can relate to that in so many ways. So what about her past? Is our past perfect?

Anyway, I am excited to see what happens next as more questions are raised and more Moms stand up and keep standing up for their brood. We are Mamas, hear us roar.

In the meantime, I am determined to find out what Jenny McCarthy was wearing yesterday because so many people just got to know!!

Wordless Wednesday: Dog In A Box

Win Protect-A-Bed sheet protectors for all your kids' beds
in my giveaway here!

Visit WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes For Mom
for more Wordless Wednesdays!

Why It Hits Close To Home

Today's Oprah had my heart breaking, remembering some very very dark times but also I was jumping up & down so thankful that FINALLY some Moms are getting their say.

Noah was normal just like any other 2 year old when he had his first seizure. We were told it must have been due to an illness or a fever even though he wasn't sick at the time. A few tests were run and we were sent home. Like it wasn't important. Then about a week later he had some very different types of seizures and we were back to the ER, back to more testing, and then told he has epilepsy. Like Jenny McCarthy says on Oprah today, we were not handed a pamphlet telling us how to deal with this diagnosis, we were just sent on our way. On our own.

In the beginning of today's show, Oprah explains that when a child is diagnosed with cancer, families send cards, bring food, and show support. When a child is diagnosed with autism (and in our case epilepsy), no one brings you food or wants to play anymore. In our friends' & familys' defense, I honestly think they don't know how to act, so they don't "act" at all. But I will say that this is a time parents need support more than any other. We were blessed with a few close friends and family that were an amazing support, but let's just say I can still relate.

There was NOTHING that could stop me from getting Noah better. I remember being alone as hubby was off to work during the day and I was home with Noah and Carter who was just 1 year old at the time. It was winter. Noah would have seizures all day long. I couldn't do anything but stay close to him. Or sometimes had to just keep him in a highchair all day so that he could sit up (he could hardly hold himself up) and then that way he also wouldn't fall when he'd have a seizure every few minutes.

I felt like the doctors around us didn't really want to help. They wanted us to just "move on" with how things were. But I KNEW that this was not the plan for Noah's life. When I learned about other ways to treat his seizures rather than medication (meds only made him worse), I was belittled and laughed at. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. If you as a mother have a doubt or gut feeling about something- anything- big or small- you should be able to talk openly about it and N