The Little Things

There is a greyhound that gets walked through the neighborhood every day. Today he was wearing a purple sweater.

It's Friday.

Tomorrow I get to go out and do stuff. Without the kids. And I get to go to the knitting shop to get materials for these and these.

I made it through my first NaBloPoMo... all 30 days.

Smile.

Babywearing Tip Of The Week: Buckle Up With The Pikkolo!

I've made it no secret that the mei tai is probably my most worn carrier. It's a great fit for me and Gray as he gotten older and heavier. I've always preferred nursing him in the mei tai over any other carrier. However, I love how easy it is to "pop" him in and out of ring slings and pouches vs. the strappy, knotty traditional mei tai! I find that some Mamas & Papas, new and old to babywearing, are a bit apprehensive about trying the many-limbed mei tai.




I was very excited to try out the new Pikkolo carrier by Cat Bird Baby, available at Mama Kanga. This is one of the newest in carrier inventions- featuring the structure of a mei tai, but with buckles instead of straps. I love how distributed my child's weight is in the Pikkolo, and how amazingly convenient it is to get him in & out! A busy toddler is up and down all the time as you all know, and the Pikkolo is a great creation to have the best of both worlds. I use mine for quick trips to the mall and nursing on the go (as pictured!) or at the park- where I'll nurse him in the carrier until he wants to run and play... and then back up to nurse, then down to play again.

The Pikkolo has quickly become one of the top baby carriers I recommend as it's so versatile, well made, and in style. Wear it as a front, hip, or back carry with babies and toddlers from 8-40 lbs. The Pikkolo features an adjustable waist that you can cinch to make narrower to better carry smaller babies. Another bonus is how easily adaptable it is without having to undo any straps- just adjust at the buckles to tighten or loosen!

It is in high demand and is selling out fast. The understated designs are appealing to every Mom's (and even Dad's) taste and style- choose from Metro Black, Spa, Square Deal, Appletini, or Somerset (the one I'm wearing.) Mama Kanga expects another shipment of the coveted Somerset design due in stock mid-December. If you are in need of a new carrier or ready to make the move to a mei tai but are intimidated by all the straps, I definitely suggest you put the Pikkolo on your Christmas list!

Enjoy free shipping on all orders over $65 and take a peek at all the other fabulous products Mama Kanga has to offer. Save 10% off anything in the store using code: "Dec07" . In the lovely picture here of Gray & me, you'll see how his pants ride up when in the carrier, but to cover the gap between where his socks stop and his jeans begin, he's wearing BabyLegs- also available at Mama Kanga!

*At Kiki's request, here's some photos of the back and how it folds up nice & compact- fits in most diaper bags nicely... and no straps hanging down anywhere!

Breakfast At My House

Last night hubby found an egg under the boys' toybox upstairs. It was broken and from what he could see, had apparently been there a very long time. The explanation for everything: "Gray did it!"

Today Gray was buttering his toast with chapstick.

I won't even go into details about Carter's orange juice that went down and well, came back up. Hence the abundance of chapstick & toast in our house today.

I am still in wonderment at how an egg could make it all the way upstairs carried by a 2 year old.

Some Things For Your Christmas List

Little luxuries are always fun for Mamas to give (and receive) as gifts at Christmas. Here are some of my favorites...

The Posh by Tori bangle clutch available at SoBeBabies. I carry mine everywhere and love how convenient the bangle hangs on my wrist, on the stroller handles, or wherever else you need to hang. It's roomy enough for the essentials: lipstick, phone, camera, debit card & checkbook, but small enough to feel like a sassy handbag. Yes, a bit pricey but I have to say that after months of use, it still looks new. I can't even say that for my Coach bags that I no longer carry! And you or your gift-giver can save $5 off your order at Sobebabies by entering code ABW.

Speaking of hanging your bag, one of my favorite items I've reviewed over at Mama Speaks is the Luxe Link. Such a perfect gift for any handbag connoisseur. I use my Luxe Link all the time and it's a great conversation piece, trust me!

And talk about conversation pieces, try browsing for just one minute over at Etsy and you will agree it can't be done. I could hang out on Etsy for hours. One of my favorite finds is Dandelion Blu (thanks to Cara!) where I found my sweet Lil Blue Bird necklace and now have my eye on the Nesting hair pins. Include "adventures" in the comment field at checkout and your shipping will be free (refunded to you after checkout) at Dandelion Blu! If you have a limited budget but want to find a thoughtful and creative gift, Etsy should be the first place you shop!


You can find me here at NaBloPoMo.

Clouds Today

Early this afternoon I stepped out and saw this sky. I could watch clouds forever. At night, during the day, watching them pass. Wondering where the sky begins and ends. Beautiful. My favorite.

Wordless Wednesday: O Christmas Tree Part Deux

Read about Part Deux here.

A Project X-Style Christmas...

Today is Community Outreach Topic day at the Chicago Moms Blog and you can read my post about Project Xavier here. If you are able, reach out this Christmas. Whether it be monetarily giving (might I suggest this $8 lamb for the NICU babies?) or just giving of your time. It means more than you can measure. One of my very favorite things.

O Christmas Tree, Why You Not Like Me?

I am just not in much of a Christmas decorating mood, but am the odd one out here as it's all my boys can think about. So today we put out all the decorations and set up the tree. We have the kind that you have to attach each color-coded branch individually. Do they even make these anymore? The tree box was too heavy for me to bring up from the basement so the boys made a chain-gang line up the stairs and brought each branch. I think Gray found that the most fun. I found that putting them to work is quite useful!

And then I had my first taste of what it's like when the lights won't work. I tested the first strand and... nothing. Then the next strand... nothing. Then I thought maybe I should try a different outlet. Same thing. So the next strand lit up the half end, but was dark the first half. I still strung it on the tree and made do with what was lit up. Then the next 5 strands all did not work. I am just not up for going to Target (is that possible?) and I'm even contemplating a Freecycle post "Wanted: WORKING Christmas lights, white or red preferred" but I am not even in the mood for that. So I guess I'll do the lights tomorrow. If I feel like it. In the meantime there's a small glob of white lights at the bottom of the tree. Not our best look, but at least I made the effort.

When the tree is all decorated and the house is all quiet and I have some John Denver Rocky Mountain Christmas music playing, it's one of my very favorite things.

Aaand Knitting Aaand Knitting...

The only crafty thing I really do is knitting, and I love it. I even have a knitting blog. One of my favorite things to give as gifts are my knitted creations, and so far it's been limited to those with babies (sweaters) and necks (scarves). And then recently I get in the mood to make the occasional handbag.

For my friend Carrington's new baby I knitted one of my most favorite baby sweaters yet- chocolate brown with pearl buttons (her baby's middle name is Pearl!) I started this sweater on Wednesday and was so relieved to finish it in time for her shower today. I am just a little bummed that the photo isn't as good as I'd like, but maybe I can update it when there is a little baby Capri wearing it!


Well, it's scarfy time (we had snow again today!) and I would like to give away one of my Cactus scarves. Just leave comment here if you'd like to win! I'll choose a winner Friday Nov 30, the last day of NaBloPoMo!

Bonus points for the first commenter to guess which movie this post's title came from...

Oh, and also to those that send a vote my way (We're the Precourt family...) : )

This giveaway has ended and the winner is Beck from Frog And Toad Are Still Friends! If you know Beck, you know it's cold where she is and this scarf will be well-needed! So excited that she's the winner!

Sleep! Glorious Sleep!

I just had EIGHT UNINTERRUPTED HOURS OF SLEEP last night and I don't know what to do with myself. I can't even remember the last time that has happened. Maybe back in 2004? Does this mean I am going to be expected to think clearly and all today? Maybe I should have kept this on the down low...

Shall I Have Some Tea?

I love blogger meet ups! Today we had a dainty bloggy meet-up at a tea room and I just realized that I never really had any tea. (So, yeah, I'm faking in the photo.) But I did have some delicious strawberry-stuffed French toast and ate every bite. Including whipped cream. Mmm Hmm. Crooked Eyebrow took most of the good pictures and I can't wait to see what everyone else took. Arianne's got a great group shot here.



They were there:
Peanut Butter & Jelly Boats
More Than A Single Mom
Glass Half Full
Milk & Honey
Mommy Instincts
To Think Is To Create
M.O.M. On A Mission
The Berger Buzz
Rip, Runnin & Roarin
Sunny Side Of The Street
Crooked Eyebrow

And while you're here, please vote for my family's holiday photo in the SuperMomz photo contest!

You can find me here at NaBloPoMo.

Not A Dime

I didn't spend a cent today. It feels good. I am finishing up a knitted gift (photo to come soon) and also have new ideas for handmade gifts that just might complete my Christmas list this year.

One of my favorite things about gift giving and getting is the thought behind it. It might be homemade or inexpensive, but if it comes from the heart, it's priceless.

And P.S. at this very moment all three of my children are napping like sweet angels.

Babywearing Tip Of The Week: Babywearing Tips For Plus-Sized Parents:

This week's tip is brought to you by Heather over at Not A DIY Life.

There are a few different considerations that a plus-sized parent must think about when choosing a carrier for babywearing. Because plus-sized parents are more "squishy," carriers that require tying knots may not be as comfortable. Also, store-bought, one-size-fits-most carriers, probably won't work very well. Find someone who can custom make a carrier for you, or learn to make them yourself!


I have found that an unpadded ring sling works best for us. We are able to use a standard size ring sling, but having someone who can make one for you allows for extra fabric and a longer "tail."

Also, keep in mind that you might have to do more adjusting of the sling while wearing your baby. Because of the aforementioned squishiness, the sling will slide or slip positioning as you move. And, you may not be able to be 100% hands free when using a carrier. Always be aware of adjusting the carrier too tightly, for yourself or your baby. Don't let the need for adjusting discourage you from wearing your baby. It's just part of being plus-sized! If the carrier hurts, it's not right. If it's too tight for baby, baby will let you know!

Thanks, Heather! You also might find this page at TheBabywearer.com helpful: Babywearing For Plus-Sized People.

Nest baby slings are wonderful unpadded ring slings with a longer tail- and if you take a peek somewhere around here you just might find a nice discount code... hint, hint!

If you have a Babywearing Tip Of The Week you'd like to share, email me at jsprecourt at yahoo.com.

You Won't Catch Me On Thanksgiving Day

It's snowing here. Snowed all day. Today has been wonderful. One of my favorites.

Also, you won't catch Carter for Thanksgiving day...

: )

Go here..

Get It Twisted!

I'm an accessory girl. I can do plain tees and jeans every day, but one of my favorite things is to spice it up a bit with funky earrings, a necklace, maybe a cool head wrap. Whatever mood I'm in. Lately my mood has been so Diva and I've not stopped wearing my new Diva Necklace from Twisted Silver. And I think it's Gray's new favorite nursing necklace.

I believe I have discerning taste when it comes to fashion and quality, and Twisted Silver has impressed me more than I can say. Did I mention that I've not stopped wearing the Diva necklace? My friends might have to do an intervention...

You probably should take a peek at the fabulous collection at Twisted Silver and make out a little Christmas list. Or do some Christmas shopping of your own. Check out their handy Gift Ideas page if you're shopping in a certain price range. Just released last week is the new Texture Ring lovingly described as femininity upgraded.

Twisted Silver's got a deal for you: Enter coupon code "Modify" to receive a free Beatnik Bracelet available in silver, antiqued silver, or gold (value of $30) with your purchace of $100 or more. *Make sure you select a Beatnik bracelet and add to your cart to receive the free gift.*


AND if you do make a purchase, be sure to let them know why you love Twisted Silver here for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate!

Win! They are hard to part with, but one reader here will win a pair of Fusion Small Earrings! Leave a comment telling me one other piece of jewelry you'd love from Twisted Silver if you'd like to win! Winner will be randomly chosen Sunday night.

Congrats to Kyra, the winner of these earrings!!



You can find me here at NaBloPoMo.

Four Years In

Four years ago on Thanksgiving Day, a turkey baked in the oven, a new table cloth lay spread on our table, and my 2-year-old son had his first seizure.

We spent that Thanksgiving in the hospital, and not once was a thought of the abandoned turkey or pumpkin pie in our minds.

The following Thanksgiving was a hard day for me to honor. I just wanted to forget that day, and the horrific days to follow, had ever happened. Why couldn't it have happened on a normal day, an easy-to-forget day, like a boring Tuesday or just any other day? But Thanksgiving is celebrated every year without fail and with much fanfare and to-do, with non-abandoned turkeys and pumpkin pies. They always show up. And so do my memories. Of that day.

Each year I seem to "get over it" a little more. The bitterness and hurt that I once felt is now upstaged by the overflowing thankfulness that I have for the healing of my son. That one Thanksgiving day changed my life forever and continues to challenge and shape me every day. Even the boring Tuesdays and the Any Days.

Life shows up. And so do I.


Submitted to Scribbit's November Write Away contest: My Life Is Different Because Of...

Oh O

I've recapped Oprah's Favorite Things here, if you want to see my take on it. I found this year's episode hard to watch, to be honest.

The way the audience gets so unbelievably excited and on fire (or "on far" as Oprah would have said it in her Macon accent today) for these things, these things like bath-sized forty-dollar soaps and $190 lounge pants and a fridge that can tell you the weather forecast.

But how excited are we in our hearts about our spiritual life. Or our love life? You know, the things that, like, really matter?

Dino Road

Here's Gray wearing his favorite shirt while he plays with his favorite dino.


I found this Milk on the Rocks tee at Izzy & Ash. Save 15% at Izzy & Ash on anything for fall, excluding furniture and drop ship items when you use coupon code: babywearing15 !

You can find me here at NaBloPoMo.

King Of The Castle