2.28.2010

Becoming Mom: Having Hobbies

I have always been a project starter. Some projects I have even finished! However, since Oscar has entered our lives, my projects have taken a back seat. In fact, I am not even sure that they are still in the car! But now that Oscar is a year old, I think I am feeling pretty good about adding some of these things back into my life. For instance, we still don't have a kitchen back splash. Remember this post from 2008?

Well, it hasn't happened yet. In fact, despite my premature posting of my newly painted kitchen, the half that ISN'T in the picture remains unpainted. Maybe this week? I hope. And while I'm at it, I sure would love to finish that backspash, paint the cabinets and redo the floors. But lets not go crazy.

I can say with some certainty that the kitchen WILL be painted before I start any of these projects, but here are a few things that are on my plate for the spring.

For instance, this table. This is a table I got at a consignment sale in January for $5. I am not in love with the creepy mickey face peering on or the assortment of superhero sticker that are peeling off. So, it's getting painted. At least white if nothing else.

I am also taking over the vegetable gardens this year. After last years unfortunate "nature's catbox" incident, well, let's just say Jerry became disillusioned with the idea.

I'll still use the two garden boxes we already made, but they will have a new home closer to the house and in what we think will be better sun. I don't plan to have a lot of variety this year. Just the basics I know we will eat. Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Basil, Squash.

If I am still feeling ambitious after all that, I have a hallway to paint, shelves to install and closets to organize. In fact, my list is growing as I type. It feels good to get going again!

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2.27.2010

Nap Update

I am happy to report that we are entering day 4 of Oscar taking only one nap. It has been shockingly smooth which has been nothing but confirmation that we are doing it at the right time. It's funny because I never thought he would switch as young as 13 months, but that is even more proof that every child is different. And that Oscar loves his sleep, for which I am eternally grateful.

Yesterday we had lunch with some friends and pushed the nap to 1pm. This is where I hope the new nap will fall on a regular basis. It was a 2 hour nap and he made it to his normal bedtime of 7pm! Today we are hoping to make it til 1pm again and this time we'll use Marbles Kid's Museum to pass the time. And as an added bonus, dada will be going with us! Yay! 4 hands are better than 2, I always say.

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2.26.2010

Friday Favorites!

In the spirit of Follow Friday (a term used in social media to promote others on Fridays) I am going to link up some of my favorite blogs! I hope you like them as much as I do!


Saving Money: 

These are two of my favorite money-saving blogs. One covers everything from groceries to buying a home with CASH, and the other focuses on how to get the best deals on all things Organic. 

 Organic Deals - Helping Moms Go Organic Without Going Broke

Helpful Tech-Stuff:

Chris Brogan is social media. Reading his blog will both inspire and make your head spin! In other words, BOOKMARK IT.

The other blog I want to promote is that of another NC Mama. She is Kelby Carr and the mastermind behind Type-A-Mom. She is also a deep well of useful information and I am constantly learning from her. 

Fun Stuff:

What would surfing the internet be without some fun stuff? I love looking at these sites because not only do they feature great ideas and resources, but they are also just really fun :-) Enjoy!














Mom Blogs:

These are just a few of my favorite mamas to read. There are some CUTE kids out there!

     Artsy Craftsy Babe   

I hope you find something helpful and new! What are some of your favorite stops on the internet? Happy Friday Everyone!

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2.25.2010

It's a Dada, It's a Lion...It's Oscar!

This is a little video I made of Oscar for a contest I entered. It makes me want to get all of Oscar's animal sounds on video! Someone's going to have to get us a server the size of Texas by the time this child is in 1st grade.

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Lil-Kid-Things is Going to BlogHer 2010!

And that might mean nothing to you! That's ok. I am just so excited!

A little back story. Last year when I really kicked my blog into gear and started advertising and networking, I unearthed a goldmine of information about blog conferences. They are everywhere, and from what I can tell, they are loads of fun and crucial to building your brand. So I set my sights on BlogHer 2010 for a few reasons.

1) It isn't until August whereas some of the others (Blissdom, Mom 2.0) were this month.
2) It's in NYC (hooray for the East Coast!)
3) It's one of the best known and respected conferences that sells out every year!

I applied for one of their Conference Volunteer Blogherships and I was accepted! What this means is that for a couple hours out of each conference day, I will be helping out at the registration desk. In exchange? Free conference registration! Yay! Honestly, without this opportunity I really don't think I could have pulled it off. I am so thankful that I got picked! And humbled.
(sidenote - if you are a blogger and want to attend, register before the 28th for early-bird pricing!)

I only found out about the Volunteering opportunity a week or so before it ended and I am SO glad I applied! Thanks Beth! You rule!  So with registration fees out of the way, I am left to focus on my travel/lodging expenses. I am looking for part time work and have put resumes out, so hopefully that will do some good. I am also looking into the idea special advertising packages for partial sponsorships. That prospect is very exciting to me. Well honestly, the whole thing is exciting. I am just SO excited! Did I mention that I scared the *youknowwhat* out of Jerry yesterday morning when I squealed upon opening the email?

Yeah, that happened.

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2.24.2010

Nap Shmap...

If you follow me on twitter (follow me on twitter!) you might have seen that today we are trying a little experiment. It's called, let the child take one nap instead of two.

For many of you, this is just another one of those things that just sort of happens naturally. But not me. For me, when it comes to sleep, I tend to get a little psycho susie. I need my sleep, my child needs his sleep. And I NEED my child to sleep to maintain my sanity and ability to mother appropriately.

I know it comes and goes and I can deal with the crazy day here and there. But I would be lying if I said we liked going with the flow. We have pretty structured days for the most part and that's how we thrive. That is, until this week.

For the past several days, Oscar has been super fighting his first nap. This is a child who used to go looking for his blanket and ask to be put in the crib. Once he finally slept for 30 or 40 minutes in the morning, we would go about our day as usual. Only then the afternoon nap got all wonky and then all bets were off. And again, if I am honest, I've been dreading the 2 to 1 nap transition as I don't really know how to entertain Oscar for more than 2 hours at a time.

But today we are taking the plunge.

I am sure this will be a process just like everything else up to this point. And maybe today will be an experiment where we'll learn that we aren't ready. But so far, it's gone really well and I think we are both happier. This morning we played at home for a while and then went to Marbles where it was CHAOTIC. Despite the craziness and the fact that we flat out skipped the morning nap, Oscar did great. We came home, had an early lunch and he went down for his nap without issue. I am sure I will have more to say about this on the other side. One mother I spoke to said it took a good 2 weeks for her daughter to make the switch, so I know it won't happen overnight. Others have said it was a really tough transition, while more still sing the praises of the super-nap. For us, only time will tell. What about you? How did the 2-1 nap transition go in your house?

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2.23.2010

Becoming Mom: On Getting Paid

A transition. It's such a sneaky thing. Even when it's what you want. As i look back over the past year I can see things that I was expecting, sleepless nights, learning patience, falling in love with a baby and even more in love with my spouse. But many times, it's the surprising changes that make me stop dead in my tracks to say, WHOA, where did that come from?

I always dreamt of being a stay-at-home mom. I knew that it might not be possible or that I might never be able to have children, so I prepared for life in an office too...just in case. I got my degree in Political Science, minored in Spanish and traveled to many places. I worked for 15 years in various office settings learning new things and increasing my earning potential. I never wanted a career, honestly. I really looked forward to being a mom. And then I was blessed, SO blessed with not only a healthy pregnancy, but the opportunity to stay home and raise Oscar.

Why then, did I start to worry about my value as a person once I stopped getting a paycheck? That was the slap in the face. I don't want to stop being a stay-at-home mom. I would just like my check please. I mean how else do I know that I am doing a good job? It's not like I can get fired. And after a life full of pats on the back, bonuses, and annual raises, sometimes I feel like I don't know how to qualify success.

It's not a climb-the-ladder thing. I don't want to get to the top. And it's not a money thing. While it would be nice to have some extra income, we are making it work for now on just Jerry's salary. Yet, all of a sudden I  feel this need to contribute financially. Like I am somehow no longer pulling my weight. Of course, none of this is from Jerry. In fact, he said the nicest thing possible when we talked about this very thing. He told me, "but you ARE successful! Just look at Oscar, he's awesome".

And so I am learning to find my 'paycheck' in the little things. Oscar's satisfaction when he learns a new skill. Or when he says 'thank you' as I hand him his milk. Or gives me a big giant lick to the face which is his way of kissing at the moment. They are truly more valuable than anything I could earn in an office. And I get that. I love it. I stumbled across this blog which focuses on this very thing. I think it will come in super handy on those low self-esteem days. And who knows, I still might get a job one day that pays actual money. But for now, I am going to see each day as a bonus.

***image via blogpaycheck.com

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2.22.2010

A child's learning process....

It's so interesting to watch Oscar learn. I am constantly having to remind myself that something that looks like misbehavior can often be simply explained as scientific experimentation.

Lately, Oscar has been interested in trash cans. Not all trash cans. Just the ones with lids. Fun swinging lids that spin when you hit them just right (provided the trash isn't too full). I mean what kid wouldn't want to play with that? Unfortunately, this means the diaper trash can and the kitchen trash can. Gross and double gross. We are teaching him that we don't play with the trash. But as you know if you are a parent, repetition and consistency are key.

Fast forward to yesterday, when I sat on the floor to show Oscar how to put all of his magnets in his pot. He has his own stockpot with a lid that we keep down on his level. I thought it would be a good way to start teaching him about inside/outside and sorting. Right now all he wants to do is take them OUT of the pot. I put them in, he takes them out. And so that was that, no worries. We had fun and that was enough.

Until this morning. Suddenly, he got it. And what better way to experiment than with the trash. Poor Elmo bit the dust. With purpose, into the trash he went. Followed by UH OH UH OH UH OH! At first I went through the normal no-no speech about not playing with the trash. A few minutes later, one of the magnets met his doom. And later, when I handed Oscar a treat to give to Krusty (as he often does), he marched right over to the pot and threw in the treat! And come to think of it, several things have 'gone for a swim' lately too! Most recently a CD that ended up in the toilet.

AHA! Now I get it. He is LEARNING. Neat! Now obviously we have some course correcting to do, but it sure is fun to watch those dots start to connect. And if I have to wash a few toys in the process, I guess I can handle that.

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2.21.2010

Happy Belated Birthday!

Yesterday we finally got to have Oscar's first birthday party! We considered canceling it altogether due to the fact that the original date got snowed out. But I just couldn't do it. Not for his FIRST birthday! I fear that having a January birthday in NC might give us some trouble for years to come, but we'll manage!

We moved the party to yesterday, which turned out to be a beautifully sunny 50 degrees! We had windows open and pancakes and cupcakes and coffee. It was great! Oscar had a great time with his friends, and we had a great time with ours! Thanks to everyone who was able to come out!

And now....CAKE!

 
  
 
 

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2.19.2010

Pajama Pals!


Jerry and I are participating in the Give a Day: Get a Day program through Disney for our upcoming Florida vacation. Through this program, we agree to volunteer with a local organization in whatever capacity needed.

Well, we were accepted by Pajama Pals and I am so excited! Over the next couple weeks, we will be doing a Pajama and Book drive to collect PJs and books for children in need! It's an awesome non-profit program to give these kids some basic essentials that we often take for granted. And another really great thing about this program is that it will be helping out kids right here in North Carolina!

So, how can you help?

We will be collecting NEW Pajamas (with tags) and new or gently used children's books. Sizes range from infants to adult xxl. We would love to bless the socks off this organization and more importantly, these kids! Please let me know if you would like to donate and I will arrange a time to pick-up or send you our mailing address.

Thanks so much!

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2.18.2010

The 3/50 Project

I came across this project while browsing the website of a local business here in Raleigh. The store is called Babiology and oooh boy is it fun! They sell new items as well as consignment AND cloth diapers!!! YAY! Found out about the store from my friend Regan and loved it immediately. Sidenote, this is completely relevant to the book I am currently reading called The Tipping Point, which is all about interconnectedness and social epidemics. Love.

So anyway, I found the 3/50 Project and I love it! See if you can spend $50 a month at a local business and how much it will help! Not suggesting an EXTRA $50. Just, if you need something, try and see if you can shop locally first. I know 'shop local' seems to be everyone's mantra these days, but this just makes it more tangible if you ask me. Certainly there are things I could get from a local vendor instead of oh I dunno, Target? Plus I love that hometown feel. So there! Go shopping!

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2.17.2010

Fruits and Veggies for a Toddler?

Oscar is a large child. He always has been and I love it. But I want him to be large in the strong sense and not so much the "in charge" way...He really loves protein, dairy and breads. We can do all kinds of meats, beans, rice, breads, milk, cheese and yogurt. But his Vegetable and fruit vocabulary has gotten decidedly smaller. Bananas are in, apples are in. Citrus is out. As are blueberries and grapes. I'm not really sure what else to try! Peaches are hit and miss. I am looking forward to summer and local foods more because I think they taste better.

As for vegetables, it's more about texture than taste. He will do very overcooked broccoli (I just learned by accident) and cooked carrots as long as they have cinnamon on them. Spinach is out, tomatoes are out (unless it's sauce), no potatoes, green beans or cucumbers either. He will eat the yogurt meals that sneak in fruits and veggies, but I have to be careful or we overload the dairy.

Do you have any fruit/veggie tricks? How do get your kids to eat more?

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Becoming Mom: Letting them G(r)o(w)

I love baby feet. If there is one thing I could kiss all day long, it would be the little feet of my baby. When Oscar was a newborn I would tickle and kiss each toe. As he grew and became ticklish, This Little Piggy brought lots of laughs and created such sweet memories. And now that he is a full blown walker, nay Toddler, those feet are on the move. And I miss them!

Most days he is either wearing socks or shoes because hardwood floors can be pretty chilly! And while I do love his shoes, I sure can't wait til summer rolls around cuz those toes are gonna be ALL mine. I love watching him grow. It's the letting him go part that grinds at my heart and makes me want to stop time. But it's all part of this becoming mom thing. I don't think it ever really stops. With each new stage I feel like I am starting all over. What a magnificent journey!

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2.16.2010

Surprise Giveaway! FREE Tag Jr. Books!

Hey Everyone! I hope you are having a great week so far. I know I am. Today was a great "mail" day in that I received not one, but THREE Tag Jr. Books! You may have seen this deal advertised on the YoBaby yogurt packaging to get a free book with the purchase of so many packages of yogurt. Well, we love some Yo Baby in this house and have been able to get this deal several times, which means more for you!

 
I have two (2) Tag Junior ABC Animal Orchestra Books to give away. And each book comes with a $5 off coupon for the Tag Jr. Reading wand also!

Just leave me a comment telling me your favorite yogurt flavor and you will be entered to win!

You can gain extra entries by:

- Following this Blog
- Following on Facebook
- Following on Twitter
- Tweeting with a link to this page
- Blogging about this contest

Just leave a comment for each extra entry and that's it! Winners will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond to their notification. There will be two (2) winners and each will be chosen by random.org. US entries only. Contest ends 2/20/2010.

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Fun with Friends!

Last night we hosted Community Group at our house. We haven't done a lot of entertaining since Oscar was born and I always forget how much fun it is! Oscar got to stay up for dinner and then we put him to bed once Bible Study Started. Jessica and Joe brought their son Jude, who is much better at staying up later. He was cracking us up walking around with this big margarine tub on his head and giving high-fives. It was hilarious! I have a feeling watching these boys grow up is going to be a lot of fun.

Oscar hangin out before bedtime and Jude shows us his style tips!

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2.15.2010

The Importance of Date Night

When Jerry and I got married it seemed like everyone's first line of advice was to make Date night a priority. It's not a new idea and in my own life, I have been fortunate enough to have parents who have been faithful to each other in marriage for almost 43 years. And I can not think of a season in their marriage when dates were cut out. Like many families, we had seasons of more wealth than others. But even in those lean times, they would find a way to have a date. I remember a season when my folks were both working and very busy. They were just meeting their goals and really didn't have a lot of resources to go around gallivanting. But they made it work. Every Sunday morning, they would get up early, go through the drive through and get 2 breakfast sandwiches for $2 and drive to the dock with their lawn chairs. They would set up camp and eat their breakfast, talk and connect before another busy week. It was small, but intentional. Time and money can be hard to come by, but don't let excuses keep you from this very important factor in marriage! Whenever I hear my parents refer to dating, even all these years later, they most often refer to those humble dates at the dock.

This weekend, Jerry and I had planned a fancy date. We made reservations downtown to get sushi, planned on going to the newly released movie, Valentine's Day, and we were really looking forward to it. But as Saturday loomed closer and closer, with car trouble (the key broke off in the ignition of our older station wagon) and other various expenses, we feared that if we wanted to stay true to our budget, we might have to cancel. This was especially hard for me to consider because I was really eager to go out. But as we sat down together and ran some numbers, we realized we could still make a more modest date happen. We opted for our favorite pizza place and a movie we hadn't yet seen at the $1.50 theater. I still dressed up and did my hair, and we still had a great time! In fact, I think we might have had a better time!
 As we were standing in the lobby of the $1.50 theater we had some time to kill so we played an arcade game and I joked about Jerry getting me a stuffed animal in the "claw" game. Well he tried twice and I ended up with the ugliest stuffed dog you have ever seen. And I love it! We laughed and talked and carried on. It was really refreshing. And even though we really didn't talk about it, I think we were both proud of ourselves for sticking to our larger goal of not overspending. We saw the movie Couples Retreat which was both hilarious and heartwarming. Oscar was hanging out with his Aunt Amy and cousins Canyon and Aly and they also had a great time.

It was just what we needed.

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2.12.2010

Look Ma...No Hands!


This is Oscar's new favorite way to drink. It really frees him up to do all those other really pressing things that can't wait for him to hold a cup with one hand.

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2.11.2010

Reader Response: Question 1

Submitted by @mattstevensnc:

If you and your husband were Superheroes, what would your powers be?

In order to answer your question, Matt, I must ask a question. What is a Superhero? And to answer that question, I turned to the wisdom of the internet. Or more specifically, Wikipedia.
a superhero: (sometimes rendered super-hero or super hero) is a fictional character of "extraordinary or superhuman powers"[1] dedicated to protecting the public.
Now, since Jerry and I are not historically fictional and we don't exactly consider ourselves protectors of the public (I mean we do recycle, ok?), I can see how one might think this can go nowhere productive. Then again, this is merely a hypothetical question in which case it is perfectly rational for me to assume a few things for the sake of getting to the revelation of our super-powers.

Let's first talk about Jerry, my partner in crime (fighting). He is tall. He loves cowboy boots and belt buckles. And barbershop. And bass guitars. He is funny, witty, smart, and logical. I also happen to find him ridiculously good looking.

Clearly, he would be a svelte thinker with a trick bass full of weaponry and gadgets to fight off the evildoers. However, this would only work against regular humans. When faced with a Supervillian, Jerry would employ his true superpower of singing all four parts of barbershop harmony simultaneously using just his voice. 
the ringing chord is the defining characteristic of the barbershop style. This is a name for one specific and well-defined acoustical effect, also referred to as expanded sound, the angel's voice, the fifth voice, or the overtone. via wikipedia
This 5th voice would be so piercing and beautiful that any supervillian would be instantly deafened by it's tone, at which point Super-Jerry would crush them with his Super Bass and then play a killer Maiden riff as they slithered back from whence they came.


I on the other hand do not have a penchant for stringed instrument/turned weaponry or harmonizing with myself. Actually, the harmony thing would be pretty awesome but I will leave that to Super Jerry. I see myself as an Octopus.(not Ursula so just leave that thought right there.)

And not just any Octopus, a SUPER Octopus! Did you know that an Octupus can lose an arm and it will grow back?? It's true! Now, I can't say that about my regular human arm, but as a wife, mother and homemaker, I have been known to make something from nothing on occasion (I'm talking about you tuna casserole). I am also fast and a super-multitasker. And let's be honest, have you SEEN my hair? It's got tentacles written all over it. I mean look at what they can do to a shark (at about 1:45)


But you didn't ask what I would be. You want to know about my powers. So we know a bit about what an Octopus looks like. Another great thing is that it can change its colors and sort of blend in, unnoticed. And not only can they get all chameleon-ed out depending on their environment, it's a well-known fact that Octopi utilize ink as their main line of defense. And I think you know where I am going with this.

I blog. I use words. And humor and you know, INK. I think we can just go ahead and double over with pun overload at this point, amiright? Recap: Mama Octopus will crush you and then sign her name and hit publish.


We make a great team, Super Jerry and I. He with his harmonious tunes, and me with my inky confusion. SuperVillians beware! Our enemies will be left deaf and disoriented, whimpering and bewildered. All while we victoriously ride off into the sunset hand and hands.

have a burning question? Let me know! You can email me at andrea at lilkidthings dot com. 

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Reader Response

I have a new idea mulling around in my head that I am itching to try out. I think I will open a weekly post for reader responses. I'll do my best to answer any question, or wax poetic about random topics as requested. It could be fun! Or it could be stupid and we can all pretend it never happened. If I don't know the answer to your questions, I will consult the Encylopedia Googanica and maybe we'll all learn a thing or two.

So, what do you want to know?

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A Jack of All Trades but A Master of None...

I have used this phrase many times to describe myself. Sometimes I see it as a good thing. Other times I feel like it's just an excuse to dabble my way through life. I love this blog and I really want to see it grow, but each time I read up on how achieve my goals, all the information I get is about "finding your niche", "gaining focus", writing for your "target audience". Well, the thing is, I don't have a niche, focus OR a target audience!  It would seem then, that I will need to get a job.

I love to cook, but I am not a cook. I love my son, but I am clearly not an expert on raising children. I love so-called "diy" but I am not a designer. I love my city, but I am nobody's tour guide. So what is my blog niche? I think it's the normal person. Most of us are just people trying to do life, raise kids and have fun as much as we can. We like to serve others and learn new things and form hobbies while letting others go. And what is wrong with that?

A lot of times, I feel self-centered when I write this blog because, well it's about me and my life. Chances are, I am not going to increase readership without some big hook to keep people -that I don't already know and love- coming back. And I think I am ok with that. If this blog never turns into anything other than a personal newsletter to my friends and loved ones, then so be it. If it grows and I meet new people and make new friends, then that would be awesome too.

I will keep trying to "find my niche" and in the meantime, keep on living, learning, loving and sharing. I don't think I could stop if I really wanted to. While it would be awesome to make a few bucks with this blog, I would do it for free. Niche or not.

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2.10.2010

Boys Like Trucks

It's a given. Here is Oscar's very first foray in to the big bad wheel world, courtesy of Grandad and Grandma Updyke! He loves it!

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2.09.2010

Twinkle Twinkle Little Bedtime Routine

When Oscar was just weeks old, we decided to establish a bedtime routine. It was basically the same for all naps and bedtime so that he would get a cue that sleeping comes next. When trying to decide what we would do, a lot of the books we read suggested thinking ahead a few months and deciding if what you do today is what you will want to do every day for the next several years.

We decided that we wanted something simple and sweet that we could do anywhere. Basically, the routine is get changed into jammies and a new diaper, grab blanket and paci and sway standing up next to the crib while we sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Then we say a prayer and into the crib he goes. This routine has served us well and Oscar loves it, save for the times when we say AAAA-MEN, and he realizes he is being lowered  to the cage of slumber. However, most times, he welcomes sleep and we like that.

I chose Twinkle Twinkle for no reason except for the fact that one day as I was trying to get Oscar to sleep as a newborn, I realized that I had forgotten the words to every single nursery rhyme in the history of the world, except for good ol Twinkle. Now it has special meaning, but only after seeing how Oscar loves to hear it. As the months drew on, he became interested in his ABC poster and I started singing the ABCs to him and ....wait a minute.... IT'S THE SAME SONG!

How did I never realize this???

Since then, it has become my personal quest to find out how many other songs are cheats like this. BAA BAA Black Cheap is a definite offender. Who knew?

I think I'll try it this way next time -

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2.07.2010

Have I ever told you about my Grampy?

Grampy and yours truly, circa 1978

My mom's dad, affectionately termed Grampy was everything a Grampy should be. He was strong, loyal, caring, fun and loving. He had a pretty cool life too. During most of my mother's childhood, he was a dairy farmer in Maine. She remembers collecting eggs from the chickens and helping to milk the cows. They had dogs and cats and all the fun (and work) that farm life brings. Prior to that however, he was a Baker. More specifically, a donut maker.

In fact, he was so good at making donuts, that during WWII, his boss wrote a letter to the US Government every single month for the duration of the war, stating that my Grandfather was a vital component to the success of his business and therefore should not be drafted. He never did have to go to war.

As a result, my childhood was full of love and donuts! Grampy could always be counted on for molasses and chocolate donuts any time we went to visit. He passed away when I was a teenager, but we have many wonderful memories. Since then, my mom has taken on the task of donut-making. Yesterday, Oscar and I went for a visit and we were met with Molasses donuts! What a treat. She sent some home with us and this morning Oscar had his very first Molasses Donut. He loved it and I loved remembering my Grampy. What a sweet sweet memory it is.

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2.05.2010

Who can resist a dancing baby?

I know I can't...

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Children's Books: New Favorites

Oscar is really getting to the stage where books are more than just something to look at. He will sometimes even make it through a whole story! Mostly, we point out things in the pictures that he would recognize such as trees, bananas, dogs, etc. and that seems to work really well. Recently, I picked up the book Mommy Hugs because I thought it was a sweet idea and I liked the artwork. We go through all the animals and then we get to hug at the end! What could be better?

Well yesterday, I discovered Daddy Kisses! I am not sure who likes it more (Oscar or Jerry) but it is a big hit already. And the funny thing is When I gave it to Oscar he said Dada! Now when I show him the male and female versions of animals, I don't say boy or girl. I usually say Mama or Dada. The cover of the book has a male lion so maybe he knew? Either way, he loves it and we have a new favorite book! My only question is how come the Daddy gets to be a Lion while the Mommy is an Elephant? Hmmm...

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2.04.2010

A Little Adventure

Today I decided it was time to emerge from our cozy cocoon of home and do some exploring. Since Oscar was sick last week and then it snowed over the weekend, we really haven't done very much other than the essential trips to get groceries and whatnot. So we were due for some adventure!

We drove to Seaboard Station and looked in a couple shops for a while. I've been wanting to check out the new consignment room at the relocated Beanie + Cecil Baby for a while now. We didn't find anything today, but will keep it on the list of shops to stop into regularly if only to drool over the pretty Dwell Baby bedding!

After our mini shopping trip, I decided to take Oscar to Marbles. Only instead of driving the mile there and back, we walked! It was a little colder than I realized once we got going. But overall it was very pleasant and I think Oscar really enjoyed looking around at all the sights and sounds of a downtown scene.

Marbles was great! It's the first time he has been since he has been walking independently (which is more and more each day) so I think it was a lot more fun for him. He could see everything better and was just going from station to station touching, spinning, throwing, playing. I just LOVE this age! Everything is so magical .
We went to the new exhibit upstairs and as I predicted, he LOVED the ball area. I think he was in heaven! Balls to throw, balls to kick, balls to crawl around in and watch. He cried when it was time to go, but when I told him to say bye bye balls, he said it over and over and the tears stopped. Score!

He was saying ball ball ball on the walk all the way back to the van. Once we got in, I gave him his prized picture of our family so he then switched to Dada Dada Dada and began kissing the picture over and over. Someone please scoop up my melted heart.

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"You seem like you are having a good week"

This was said to me by a friend yesterday and I realized, you know what? I am having a good week. Actually, I am having a great week! And as I was pondering how she would know that, I realized that all my social interaction online has been that of a pretty positive bent. Which led me to wonder why, and moreover, why it would stand out.

I try not to complain, but I also try to be honest and sometimes life sucks. And in those times, I talk about it. Sometimes it's easy. This week feels easy. But I don't think anything is all that different. Jerry is working as usual. Oscar and I are doing our thing and life is pretty much status quo. I think the difference in me is how I am approaching things. Somehow, instead of dreading my daily chores, I am embracing them. I am finding enjoyment in keeping the house clean and playing with Oscar, even exercising! I can only thank God for His grace in allowing that to happen. (especially the working out part) It's interesting because I really don't feel like I am doing anything different, yet I seem to have been given an extra dose of optimism. I'm gonna go with it...because life always tastes better with a little optimism.

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2.02.2010

Happy February!

Well, it's hard to believe that February is here already but it is and I am glad! Something about January that hits the reset button, but February feels like the rubber is finally hitting the road. I lost 2 lbs last month which is less than I had hoped, but still moving in the right direction. We stayed close to our budget and Oscar turned one! It was a great way to kick off the year, but now I am ready to keep it going. I am really excited about this month because 1) February is short so my monthly goals seem easier to attain. and 2) LOST starts tonight!

Let's just talk about LOST for a minute. If you have been following this show in any capacity, you know that it has been a lonnnnng 9 months since the end of season 5. I could have had another baby in that time! Crazy. But the final season is finally here, and I am super excited about it! In fact, I almost jumped up and down when I saw this promo last night including lots of juicy clips from the new season!

Yesterday's grocery trip was also a success! If you get a chance to go to Kroger this week, you should definitely participate in the 10 item promo where if you get 10 participating items, they will take $5 off your total with your Kroger card. You can do this multiple times in one order! Yesterday, I did 33 items and before savings/coupons the total was $102. I spent $39! That's a savings of 62% so definitely worth it. I get so excited about this sort of thing because saving on groceries has become my personal mission. Since I don't bring in a lot of cash, I like to see how I can "make" money by not spending it. Plus who doesn't love a great deal?

It's still pretty snowy outside but we aren't stranded anymore, which is nice. Honestly, I have enjoyed it and Jerry has been able to not go into work until 10am both yesterday and today. We love our mornings with DaDa and the extra time just makes it that much more special!

Goals this month include, staying within our budget, losing at least 4lbs and exercising 4 times each week. I have others, but they are boring and really not blogworthy. Do you have any goals for February? Will you be watching LOST? Did you get any great deals this week?

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andrea@lilkidthings.com

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