I'm A Smart Mom!

So you might remember that from time to time, I throw my hat in the ring over at Triangle Mamas, a local blogging collective run by the fabulous and talented Marty. I followed a rabbit trail one day through various blogs here and there and discovered that there is a really great blog community right here on my doorstep! So when I was invited by Erin aka Marketing Mama to participate in the SmartMom Solutions Roadshow, I jumped at the chance! My friend Jessica was also planning on going so we each got babysitters and had a real mom's morning out!

Before I get into the actual event, I just want to say how refreshing it was to be in a room with so many talented women! I didn't get to meet them all but the atmosphere was really great. There was definitely a level of professionalism, but at the same time an almost camp-like camaraderie that made me feel instantly welcome. 

After a quick meet-n-greet, we were entertained by several different speakers who each gave some really helpful information on how to be more efficient as moms. RealLifeSarah gave some wonderful tips on couponing including one shocker that blew me away! So good that I am going to share it with you. Did you know that if you see some beef or something on sale (like a chuck roast) but what you really want is ground beef, you can march it right over to the meat counter and they will grind it for you!? Who knew? Ok,  maybe you did, but I definitely did NOT.

Maria Bailey of MomSelect is the brain behind this operation and many other wonderful things including the upcoming Mom's Night Out. Her goal is to bring moms and companies together and figure out what works for everyone. Seems simple right? Well it is! We got to check out some great new products and hear from a number of different industry women. I am particularly excited about the Ionator HOM (link below) so stay tuned to this blog because you might see it around here soon!

Honestly, to try and relay all of the quality information we got would take all day, so I'll just say it was a great time and I was introduced to some really great products! Thanks so much to Maria and the sponsors (below) for putting together this road show. I can't wait to do it again!

• 
  
  Zippity Doo's - children's daily-use hair care products that prevent lice (zippitydoos.com);
• My Job Chart - an online source for a job chart your kids will love (www.myjobchart.com);
• BioGaia probiotic straws and tablets - safe, effective probiotics that promote healthy tummies; (childrensprobiotics.com);
• ionator HOM - chemical-free cleaning with ionized water (www.activeion.com);
• Hot Locks dolls - spunky, funky dolls with lots of fun and fabulous hair (www.wowwee.com/en/special/hotlocks);
• Fisher-Price Trio - a creative building set for children ages 3-5 (fisherprice.com);
• Smart Mom Solutions pads - products designed for busy moms (SmartMomSolutions.com);
• Puma  - gift cards for this popular kid's clothing line (Puma, LRG for Boys, Akademiks,
• Scandinavian Child- bags with safety information (SCIchild.com);
• Catch A Character (catchacharacter.com);
• Milson Road -  give the perfect gift of "The Daily Portrait" for special occasions (milsonroad.com);
• LikeWear - fun, boutique children's clothes that children love. (likewear.com)

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Winner - 500 Free Business Cards!

Thank you to all who entered our Suprise giveaway for 500 free Business Cards! The winner is comment #4 The Gosfam from Enjoy Life, Enjoy, Now! Congratulations! Winner has been notified via email and has 24 hours to claim her prize.

Still want to win something? There is still time to enter the P'Kolino Chalk Table and Stools giveaway! Good luck!

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Welcome Spring

How we've missed you!

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The Squeaky Wheel gets the Grease...

Ahh politics. I have missed you. In the past few weeks as I have been following the Wake County School Board drama, I was reminded of how getting involved makes me feel. I realize that everything isn't about me, but things DO affect me. And I have thoughts. And opinions. I used to be very outspoken about my opinions. Probably obnoxious (ask my roommates from during the 2000 Presidential Election debacle and they will tell you it was Chris Matthews all day all the time for me!) but at least I was dedicated. This week I wrote my first ever Letter to the Editor. And it was published at the very top of the Editorial page of the Sunday paper! I don't know why I got so excited about it. But I felt heard. SOMEONE listened. And then I realized, that I finally got squeaky. And it's been a long time since I made any noise.

My degree is in Political Science (International Affairs) and I chose it because I am genuinely interested in the world around me. I think I "get" certain things about the political landscape that are somewhat shocking to a lot of people (like political game play and how e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e. does it. period.) And if I am honest, the game play is part of the appeal. Which is also shocking to some, especially when we are talking about people's livelihood. But it's an important piece of the puzzle because once you get that, you can move on and just work with the system to bring change. And as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day.

When I decided not to move away 5 years ago, or pursue a career on the International stage, I think I threw the baby out with the bathwater. I stopped following politics (international and otherwise) so closely and kept my opinions to myself. But as with everything else in my life after having a baby, I feel those clipped wings starting to grow again. Only this time, I am finally free to get involved locally. I have roots and weight behind my voice. I can't explain why really, as I am pretty sure my voice always mattered. But for some reason I am no longer ashamed to have an opinion.

I do prefer diplomacy to debate and that has always been true. If I sense you are a die hard (blue state or red) I am going to try and pull you to the middle. That's just what I do. But I'm not gonna lie. I am excited to get back on this bike and I hope I can do some good in my community. As a result, you might see my opinions pop up more around here as I decide what they are. And if you agree or disagree, I would love to hear about it.

No, really.

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Surprise Giveaway! 500 Free Business Cards!

Hey everyone! Hope you are enjoying this beautiful weekend! I am about to go get my hands dirty in the garden, but first, I wanted to open up a new giveaway! 

My friends over at Uprinting, where you can print online, have generously provided a giveaway for one (1) Lil-Kid-Things reader! The prize is 500 custom business cards! And now for a breakdown:

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Starting Over....Again...

We've been doing some spring cleaning over at the Updyke house in the past couple weeks. But not in the home. No, this is cleaning out the heart stuff. And man has it gotten dusty in there! Jerry and I have both seen a lot happen in our lives in the past year of having a child. We are learning, growing, changing. In a good way! We have personal goals and mutual goals and we support and push each other to get there. It's a beautiful thing.

I recently re-joined a gym and I am really stoked. I feel energized like never before (or at least not in a LONG time) and I am finding motivation in the most unexpected ways. Jerry has been working on his own goals and we have had some of the most wonderful conversations over the past weeks. We are really learning to focus on God and our faith and how to follow Him as individuals, but also as a couple and as parents. We're settling in.

I almost feel like the honeymoon is over. But not in a bad way! No, just the opposite. When we came home from our actual honeymoon almost 3 years ago, we were exhilarated to be home. To be starting our lives together as husband and wife. We had a great time, but there was so much more to experience together than a week on the coast. And that's how I feel right now. I feel like we have been married for a couple years. We have a son. Our feet are good and wet. And now the fun really begins. There is security here. Safety. And knowing that we can weather the storms we might face together.

That love, it's there and it's deep. It's lovey and sweet and ooey gooey and fun. But it's friendship, and honesty and camaraderie. It's hopeful and faithful and truthful and comforting. It's just what I need. And I am all settled in. I'll take 50 more years of this please. Yes.

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Playroom Update

I love having a  playroom. Especially a family playroom! You might think having a computer, toys, AND music equipment all in one room would be a challenge. I call it cozy. And it's not bad! As long as the toys win.In this room anyway, I don't mind. I love having lots of floor space for Oscar. And as he gets older, we see what works and what doesn't. 

This was the original playroom and since then, some things have changed! Oscar has outgrown the exersaucer (sniffle) and we were given an awesome little tikes desk! We also inherited a few more toys from the older cousins and I got a little bookshelf so Oscar can see what his options are.

The book organizer is the most recent addition and I love it! I got this one from Target and at my store it was 50% off! Definitely a good deal if you are in the market. It's smaller than I imagined but perfect for Oscar. Our little playroom is really coming together!

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A Visit With Grandad...

Jerry's Dad came down a couple weeks ago for a visit and to see his youngest grandson. It was a nice chance to take some time off and enjoy it with family! The weather was just starting to turn nice and we had one of our first really beautifully sunny days of the year. Oscar had a good time with his Aunts and Grandparents, and we had a good time catching up. It was great to see them and we look forward to doing it again soon.  We have such a great family!

Three generations of Pranksters

Learning how to be silly...it's not hard!

Mom legggooooo

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More thoughts on Starting Small...

A couple of weeks ago I posted about a contest I entered to win a partial sponsorship to Blogher 2010, from Seed Power Body Care and Hip As I Wanna Be. I focused on small beginnings and why this is particularly inspiring to me. There is just something about seeing things through from beginning to end. It's not all about success either. There are sure to be plenty of wrong turns. I think there is something about me that is drawn to trial and error. I love that Rebecca's journey to co-founding Seed was just that. She researched, she did her homework, she made personal decisions that worked for her family  and I am sure, plenty that didn't!

I like to think that we do that as well. Especially now that I am a mother, I am far more diligent about what comes into our house and especially what goes into my son's body. I feel that it is trickling UP to Jerry and I as well. We have continued our garden endeavors for the 3rd year in a row and are using cloth diapers at least part of the time with Oscar. We try to make little changes here and there so that over time, we can look back and see that we really made a difference. It is about small beginnings. I get that. I love that about my life and I appreciate the honesty that Rebecca and Benjamin have shown through their mission statement and their company as a whole. It's a good feeling to know what you are doing matters. Whether it is only for your family or for others, we can all do our part to make our our lives safer.

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This is an Opinion Post.

I'm going to share my opinion today. Something I don't often do but today I'm going there. I'm going there because I am tired of being marginalized. And I am SICK and tired of being boxed in and grouped in with stereotypical caricatures. I think that any number of people on any given day feels the way I feel, depending on the issue. But today is my day. And in the interest of full-disclosure, I am white. I am female. I am not by American standards wealthy, but I am in the wealthiest 10% of people in the world.

You may or may not know about a local decision that was made in our county. The Wake County School Board has recently decided to end diversity-based busing in favor of community schools. I am neither for OR against this decision. But if I had to lean, I would lean toward FOR. I am telling you this because I am really, SO sick and tired of being marginalized as a Segregationist or an Elitist as many are calling those who support this decision.

If you are against this decision, and that is what you REALLY believe about the opposing opinion, then I can't see how anyone will ever bring change to the table. The Wake County School System as it stands needs serious help. It NEEDS CHANGE. Now, perhaps this isn't the best way, but I think the fact that things are happening is a step in the right direction.

Right now, my home is in a low-income neighborhood. We chose this neighborhood because it was affordable and diverse. The school we are zoned for however, is in an affluent neighborhood and only about 15 minutes away. The school right around the corner is one of the lowest rated in Wake County. So you might ask, WHY then am I for the end to busing?  And I would answer, because this is my community. I want to love it. I live here and if there is a part that is hurting, I want to help fix it. Not shrug my shoulders and send my child to a school in a better neighborhood.

Many children would not be zoned for a school 15 minutes away but an hour or more. That is NOT acceptable! Children that are riding a bus for several hours each day are NOT reaping the benefits of a better education. They likely will not be able to participate in extra-curricular activities because of the bus schedules, will have LESS time to do homework and will be getting up earlier potentially getting less sleep than if they were able to attend a community school. The fact that they would be in a school with many different color faces and different sized pocketbooks does not seem like a good enough trade off to me.

I concede that putting an end to busing is not the end all-be all solution to the problem. But it does not a racist make. As concerned parents, we need to let our actions be the guide to what we want for our children. Are we better people by living in gated communities and opening the doors of our schools to the less fortunate while still enjoying our affluence? Or maybe, just maybe, could we disperse into the communities of need and get involved? Could we meet people and love our neighbors instead of shipping them off to be someone else's problem? If my son ends up in our neighborhood school when all is said and done, I want to love that school. Get involved and do my part. It is after all, my responsibility as his mother. If there are communities that need more help, then by all means LET US HELP THEM. To redirect the problem does not solve the brokenness. That requires personal, hands on involvement. And if you ask me, THAT is the conversation we should be having.

***image via flickr commons

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Let the Gardening Begin!

Saturday marked the official first day of Spring, I know this because Rita's was giving away free Italian Ice, a provision that would have been awesome had my local store BEEN OPEN. I digress.

The weather was nice and I decided it was time to get our square-foot-gardening boxes prepped for planting. This year, we decided to move them closer to the house because a) The sun is better, and b)last year they turned into giant litter boxes. We are hoping that having them closer will also make it a wee bit easier for me to maintain them since Jerry has decided to be hands off (see giant litterbox).

old location

Although, I don't know if we can really consider prepping the lawn, digging trenches and shoveling dirt hands off. You decide. We moved the old dirt to the back of the yard and cut new weed cloth to lay down. Jerry dug a couple trenches to level the boxes and we were done!

 new location!

We moved the Jade plants to the former garden area because they seemed to get a little too scorched last year. I am really excited about the new setup! I plan to keep it simple with tomatoes, squash, cucumber, peppers, basil, cilantro, and lettuce. We just need to get our dirt mix (we'll use a combination of black kow, black hen, and vermiculite with some peat moss) and we'll be ready to plant!

new home for the jades!

Oh yeah, and don't even ask me about seeds. I have no idea. I deal only with transplants. If you really want to get dirty, check out Paige at Pocket Smiles for some great gardening tips! What are you planting this year? Will you start from seed? Or will you be harvesting the grocery garden?

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An evening of Chamber Music

 

On Friday, Jerry was given a couple tickets to see some local classical musicians. We hadn't planned a date night but definitely needed one! We found someone to hang with Oscar (thanks Monica and Ashley!) and got all dressed up for a grown-up date. We are a jeans and t-shirts kinda couple, but wearing a dress is always a nice change. Besides the weather has been amazing and it felt great! Of course we had to do some pre-game pics in the back yard. And you know how it goes...things get silly around here a lot.

We really enjoyed the music and were just in awe of the dedication of the musicians. To do what they do is nothing short of amazing. And really, when you think about it...instruments? WHOA. I mean who thinks of this stuff? Whether or not classical music is your thing, I highly recommend going to a live concert. It was great for us to try something different and I know we will be doing it again! Our local Art Museum does music on the lawn during the summer and I am already planning a good spot and thinking of which wine will go best with dusk....Happy Dating!

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Organic Baby: Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to comment #14, Debbie from Our Side of the Mountain Crafts! You won our Organic Baby book giveaway! You have 48 hours to respond to my email. Thanks to everyone who entered, and keep your eyes open for more fun giveaways in the future!

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This is why I love boys. And Saturdays.

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Let The Sun Shine

This morning Oscar was watching his favorite dogs and cats DVD. After finding his blanket and paci, he sat right in the middle of the big ray of sunlight that was beaming in through the kitchen window. I decided to snap a picture which he immediately noticed and therefore started hamming for the camera. The fun ended with a rousing game of peekaboo, of course.

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Read This Post

And let it sink deep deep down. My friend Martha wrote an excellent post on comparison today. It brought me to tears. Obviously hitting a very raw nerve and connecting with a deep insecurity that I have allowed to grow. We are who we are. And we are not perfect. Comparison between self and others is a slippery slope.

Let's just don't go there, k?

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Peace and Quiet

For a couple weeks now, I have had my alarm set for 6am. I have been hoping to get up before Oscar so I could grab some quiet time at the beginning of the day. In the past I have found that if I start my day this way, it usually turns out better. Not everyone has this result. But it's true for me.

And for the past couple weeks, Oscar has either been awake minutes after the alarm, or I just turned it off and rolled over. Follow through is not exactly my strong point. Until this morning, albeit with a little help.

Jerry has also been wanting to get up early to take Krusty for morning walks. Today. he managed to throw himself out of bed and get going! It doesn't hurt that Oscar is sleeping later due to the time change, but we're going with it. I figured, if Jerry can do it so can I! I pre-loaded the coffee last night so that was already going. Oscar was quiet as a mouse and Jerry was out with the dog.

I got up, poured my coffee and sat in the sweet stillness of an empty living room. Now, usually when I try to read the Bible I find myself getting bored and wondering just how long this chapter is anyway! I mean, let's be honest. But today was different. I read a few verses, and then a few more. Then moved to Proverbs. Then I read the sidebar which led me to several more verses. It felt good and I was comforted by my lack of boredom.

All of this to say that I am still having a bit of a rough morning.

No, 20 minutes of Bible reading didn't solve the world's problems. But I think it helped me today. Significantly. And if I can keep it up, maybe tomorrow will be even better and my reactions to everyday frustrations will be a little less shrill. I'll keep you posted.

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Last Week to Donate: Pajama Pals!

We have had a really great response so far in our Book/Pajama drive for Pajama Pals!

But there is still time! This is the last week to donate, so if you haven't already now is your chance! In case you missed the original post, here is a refresher:

....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.

It's that simple! This is a wonderful organization with a great heart for kids who need some serious TLC. Please let me know if you would like to participate! Leave a comment here or please feel free to email me at andrea@lilkidthings.com.

Thanks so much!

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Surprise Giveaway! P'Kolino Chalk Table AND Stools!

You guys. I don't even know where to begin! When I was contacted by CSN stores to host a giveaway, I thought it would be a lot of fun. They have a huge inventory with everything from kids bedding to furniture. You know I don't focus on the giveaways here, but I love to do it when I can.

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Cue The Golden Girls Theme Song...

I'll be the first to admit it. I love the internet. I do. I have been online in some format since the early 90s when we used Prodigy. When my family traveled to Israel in 1994, we lugged our 40lb laptop with us so we could write to the other 3 people back in the states who had email. I had a (now defunct) Geocities site and started blogging in 2003. I have made a lot of friends "online". I read my news online, I consult Dr. Google countless times each day, and every major purchase we make as a family is only after an excessive  significant amount of time spent doing online "research".

I'm just geeky enough to admit all of those things to you. But, I am also honest enough to say that it isn't enough for me. And sometimes I forget it. I am a very social person, yet thanks to the internet and text messaging, I find myself struggling to make conversation one on one or over the phone. Why the social angst all of a sudden? Since when do I second-guess everything I say? (not always a bad thing - ahem)

I think it's because of the wit of online personalities (my own included). Online, it's almost a requirement to have a hook or say something catchy in as few words as possible. You need to stay relevant. With a blog, you need to stay relevant AND be entertaining. That doesn't translate well into the real world when you just need to be yourself. We all know that guy. You know, the one with a comeback for EVERYTHING. Don't you just want to say, HEY that guy! Not everything has to have a punchline.

OH I am SOOO that guy.

Today I had the honest pleasure of spending time with a friend I don't get to see nearly enough. We had lunch sans children and electronics and it was just lovely. I found myself being real and even a couple times caught myself before talking when I realized, no I can say that. This isn't my blog. It's my friend.

I am pretty honest over here on LKT, but there are definitely lines I don't cross. I love having the internet as my sounding board. But having good friends is not only crucial to good parenting, but also a healthy marriage, and just becoming the best version of yourself that is possible. I am genuinely thankful for my friends. IT should go without saying, but I doubt I am the only one who can look up after a week and realize I haven't connected with anyone. So, don't just sit there. Call your friend! I am sure they are only a beer away.

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Psst....I have a Secret

Moms and Dads I think you might want to check back on Monday for an awesome giveaway!

I mean it.

Bigger than anything we've done yet.

So.

Awesome!

See you Monday MONDAY MONDAY!!

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Daddy's Home = The Best Part of Our Day

Every day.

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Keeping Busy

I am amazed at the rate Oscar is learning. He has started to really grasp inside/outside this week and has been stacking his cups and his favorite, Dada's CDs (which are conveniently located right at toddler eye level). He is playing with his toys differently too. I don't know if it's being around older kids from time to time or if something just clicked, but he is defiintely a little individual who knows what he wants.

His eating has drastically changed this month too. He isn't eating as much volume at each meal, but rather sometimes he eats a TON (like this mornings 2 waffles and a banana) and other times not much at all. He is heavy on the dairy and bread and light on the protein. He will still eat meat, but now shuns vegetables and beans. He loves peanut butter so I imagine we'll add more of that for now. I still offer a variety, but I am not going to worry, I know this to be normal and we'll just ride it out. We did try baby food veggies again to see if he would take to that, thinking it was a texture thing, but no go. One thing I am noticing is that he wants to eat the big pieces. If I let him take a bite of a big slice of something, he is more apt to try it. Go figure.

This week has been full of amazing weather so we've been outside as much as possible. Oscar has been back and forth with his napping, but being outside is a definite way to keep him happy. He LOVES running around in the grass and playing in the dirt. He's on the fast track to being all boy, that's for sure. And I am really enjoying the process! Today it's a little rainy, so we'll hopefully get some of our errands finished. It's been a good week. 

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We All Have to Start Somewhere

You might have noticed that little button over in my sidebar that says I'm Going to the BlogHer 2010 conference. (yay!) I posted about how I won the opportunity to attend the conference for free provided I volunteer for BlogHer (double yay!). And I am so beyond excited about going that I have been thinking of every way I could get there. I still need to cover travel/lodging expenses and I don't want it to cause any stress on my family or our budget, so I am trying to get creative.

I am actively seeking Sponsors for the conference and came across a contest hosted by the blog Hip As I Wanna Be and Seed! This post is an entry into that contest.

Seed is a natural products company that uses sustainable processes to create soaps and lotion from grape seeds! This is a business that is getting it right. While I am not writing a review of the company, I have to say that just in poking around their site, I really like what I see! The shampoo bar looks awesome and ever since having Oscar, I am on serious chemical patrol. Their philosophy is even better.

Everything begins with a seed.

Basically, we can't do it all, but we can do our part. That idea is SO resonating with me right now. As a wife and mother, I just want to do it all. And on top of that, I would like to be thin and pretty and popular and also have a really successful blog, thank you very much. I mean really? Who needs that kind of pressure?!? What I need to do is my part and do it well. And that's what a seed does. It does its own little share. That seed doesn't know that one day it will be a beautiful grapevine. It just knows it is supposed to go down into the ground and absorb all the health the earth can give. Then it splits open and goes forth. The outcome is an amazing fruit!

One of the reasons I love BlogHer and all these businesses and blogs, is that it reminds me that everyone is getting there, one idea at a time. We all have our role to play in business, family, relationships, parenting....the list goes on. I would love to partner with Seed at BlogHer this year. Not only because they are offering a sponsorship, but also because they represent small beginnings.

And we all have to start somewhere.

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A Beautiful Day

Oscar watching boats at the Museum of Life and Science

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Separation Anxiety at 13 months old...

Oscar is experiencing what I'd like to believe is his peak of Separation Anxiety. Experts agree that it can start anywhere from 4 months of age and peaks around 13-15 months (usually) before tapering off. And after a particularly frustrating morning yesterday, I am starting to agree.

Couple that with the fact that we are in no-man's land for naps and we could have a recipe for disaster. Or be fine. You just never know. For instance, today Oscar will have 2 naps. He woke up at 6am and pretty much just laid on the floor in the kitchen just begging to be put down. So he is asleep. Other days he will play right on up until lunch and be fine. But the hard part is that you don't know what it will be until the moment comes.

Which makes it hard to go to church.

In hindsight, yesterday definitely should have been a 2 napper. But we decided to go to the 9:30 service based on the fact that it was closer to the time he woke up and we'd have a better chance of capitalizing on his good mood. But then that pesky little Separation Anxiety showed up and Oscar panicked when we walked into the building. We weren't even in the kid's area yet! This has been happening for the past few weeks and it's so frustrating for me. Since I stay home and enjoy the benefits of a relatively easy baby, I don't think I know how to properly deal with the fact that he hates the nursery right now. I want him to love it! To be social! To be everyone's favorite! Not the baby that cries all morning and probably drives the volunteers crazy. Yes, I know a lot of this is about me in the long run. I want to be able to relax and enjoy a 1 hour worship service. Is that too much to ask?

Honestly? Right now, yes. Oscar is normal. He is growing appropriately and learning about object permanence. And it's not as bad as it could be. He does fine in his crib and plays well on his own, though he does come and check in with hugs and kisses quite often! My theory is that now that he can really walk with confidence, he is starting to understand more about being apart and when we leave, he senses the distance. He does fine when we leave him with familiar faces like my Mom, Sister, or our friend Jessica, so I am thankful for that. It could always be worse.

I think another layer to my frustration is the possibility that I put too much pressure on the Sunday morning service. I look forward to it. And not just for the sermon. I enjoy the music, the atmosphere and yes, the social interaction. I just really really miss church! Being there and being present are two different things. I really get bent out of shape when we have to rush in and rush out because Oscar is losing it. And that's really not fair to him. I am the adult here. I have the ability to be logical and deductive and deal with it.

Yesterday was tough because Jerry decided to take charge and let me enjoy the service. The hard part for me though is concentrating when I know Oscar is having a hard time. It's not that I don't trust Jerry! I know he is fine. I just want Oscar to be ok without one of us back there. And then when they came in for the music, Oscar shunned me! Knife! Heart! I guess it was just too much for him and once he latched on to Dada, that was it. But you know? He is the baby. He gets to have time to learn and grow and figure things out. We are the parents, and we can deal with it. He will grow up before we know it and that time will come all too soon.

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Thanks Zutano!

Last month I entered a video of Oscar into a contest to win a free outfit from Zutano, a children's clothing company. The challange was to show off your child's best ROAR. This was because they just came out with a new line with lions on it. Cute!

Annnnnnd,we won! Yay! You can look at our video here. Oscar got his new outfit yesterday and it's SO cute. Thanks Zutano! What a fun way to start of the month. You know cuz March comes in like Lion! (insert slide trombone here).

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Reader Response: What's in a Name?

An anonymous reader asked the following question via formspring. I love this story so I wanted to share the answer!

How did you choose the name Oscar for your son?

Jerry and I decided to spend our first anniversary in New York City. We wanted to make the most of our trip so we decided to take the train! We hopped on here in Raleigh and rode all the way to Penn Station. That trip was so much fun! I was 18 weeks pregnant with then un-named baby boy, who we referred to as Mr. Tumnus. We were absolutely convinced that we would have a girl and already had a complete girls name. Guess the joke was on us!

We love names from older generations. We always knew we would have what many people would consider an "old fashioned" name. We just hadn't settled on one yet. Before the trip, Jerry downloaded the top 100 names from the SSA for each decade from 1900 to the present. Since we were on the train for 10 hours straight, we took the time to each go through the list and highlight the names we liked. We then went through and crossed out the ones we hated from each other's lists and merged the two. The MOMENT I saw the name Oscar, I knew it was my name. I loved it. Jerry did too but always the practical one of us, wanted to go through all the names to be sure. We had just found out Oscar was a boy a few days before the trip. Deciding on his name made it so much fun to shop for him!

A lot of people choose biblical names, or names based on meaning or some other combination of reasons. For us, we knew that it just needed to be right for our family. We didn't really have many other requirements. Once we chose the name, we looked up the meaning and one definition is "divine spear". That is meaningful to us because the Bible talks about our children being arrows sent into the world by God. As Christians, we hope that Oscar will grow up to be used in a mighty way! Thanks for letting me relive those fun moments!

Have a question? Ask Away!

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Fake 'N' Bake Empanadas!

I haven't posted anything for Meal Planning Mondays in a while because honestly, we haven't done anything new. We like what we like and I guess I haven't been all that adventurous in the kitchen as of late. Until this week! I got a good deal on ground beef and wanted to do something different yet easy. I don't claim this recipe to be all that original, or authentic.But it sure was good!

Easy Empanadas:

1) Saute Ground beef with one chopped onion/drain
2) Season with taco seasoning (or make your own with cumin, coriander, cilantro leaf and salt)
3) Add one can RoTel (I drained off most of the juice)
4) Add cheddar cheese

That's your filling!  
meanwhile:. Preheat oven and roll out croissants (I used Pillsbury)

5) Spoon filling onto each triangle, roll,  and bake!
6) Top with Sour Cream and hot sauce. Yum!

I used a little less than a pound of beef and had WAY too much filling for 8 croissants, just to give you an idea. I piled the rest in a pizza crust and folded it over to take care of the leftovers. That was good too, but the croissant went better with the mixture.

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Reader Response: Send in those Burning Questions!

Hey Friends! I really had a lot of fun with my first ever Reader Response post and would love to do it again! And to make it even more fun, I got all gadgety and made a formspring page! What that means for you is anonymous questions! Ohhhh the possibilities....

So get on it! Just click the above link and ask away. No one will know it was you!

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Becoming Mom: Kisses Really DO Make It All Better

Oscar is full on toddling everywhere these days. One of my favorite things to do is watch him explore. Often times he will trip, lose his balance and fall down. I try not to react too much when it's just a little tumble, but I am always free with the kisses. It's to the point now that when he falls down, he will get up and come over to me for a kiss! Sometimes he just needs the comfort, and I am not complaining!

Yesterday, I fell down. And hard. Oscar was having a snack in his high chair so I took the opportunity to take some trash to the outside can. As I came in, I must not have wiped my feet because as soon as my shoe hit the floor it went flying out from under me!  I banged my arm into the door on my way to being laid out with a THUD!

As I did a mental check to be sure nothing was broken, I was quickly remembering that Oscar was watching it all go down and I wanted to make sure I didn't freak him out. When I got up and looked at him he was watching me very intensely. I walked over to him to let him know that mommy was OK and he leaned in and gave me a kiss. Yep, all better!

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LOST: Required Reading

Just popping in to share some links. If you are a fan of the tv show LOST, then please enjoy these recap blogs/commentary. They are all interesting and entertaining in their own way! Personally, I am loving the last season and devouring it one can of Dharma Peanut Butter at a time. Enjoy!

Lost Mindgrapes

Entertainment Weekley : Doc Jensen

VideoGum

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A Visit With Ms. Betty

Yesterday, Oscar and I walked across the street to visit with our neighbor, Ms. Betty. It was cold and rainy and I almost chickened out. But, thanks to the accountability of the internet and yesterday's post, we soldiered on!

Ms. Betty came to the door and immediately invited us in. Her home was much like my grandparents used to be, a little too warm, full of a lifetime of collectibles, and game show blaring on a too loud tv. It was wonderful. Oscar immediately started groping for every breakable thing within his reach. And let me tell you, it was a porcelain wonderland! Needless to say, he was restrained to my lap for most of our visit.

We came armed with a box of thin mints and Ms. Betty told us all about how her family had just been to visit for her birthday. Her church even threw her a birthday party and over seventy people came! Can you imagine the love she must have felt!? So amazing. Ms. Betty has been in her home since it was built, over 40 years ago. She still takes her own trash to the street and works in her garden in the spring. She lost her husband some years back so, she says, she doesn't do as much as she used to. But I think she is amazing. Every Sunday I see her in her robe picking up her paper, and taking her neighbor's paper to their porch so it doesn't get stolen. I'm so glad we got to spend some time together.

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Community

Growing up, mine was always the house where people congregated. It seemed like there was always an extra person or five in our living room and we loved it that way. There was always a sense of family and safety in our living room. Now that we have a living room of our own,  I really want our door to be open to our friends and our community.

We hosted community group last night and it was great. We've been discussing what it means to love our city and as we were sitting there staring at each other I started to really long for that true community again. We have good friends, don't get me wrong. But there is definitely something lacking in our willingness to be intentional with people, friends and neighbors alike.

This is something Jerry and I have been discussing for a while now as we really dig our roots in to this city and this home as a family. We are in it for the long haul and we want to be that house. That safe house where people know we will welcome them in, whether it be for help, conversation, or just a glass of water. Especially now that we have Oscar, we want to teach him what it means to love your neighbor. And there's no better way than to actually do it.

We are really fortunate to have a home and a life where we can make these choices. It's time to be intentional. To be local. To engage and be the community. Not just look on from my front window. For me, it starts with a visit to Miss Betty, the elderly woman who lives across the street. When Oscar wakes up from his nap, we'll go see her and hopefully have a visit. If she isn't home, we'll try again.

We are neighbors after all.

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Giveaway: Organic Baby a book by Kimberly Rider

Hey everyone. Happy March! It's a new month and I thought it would be a good time for a new giveaway! And I happen to think this is a pretty good one. In terms of eco-consciousness and "green" ratings, I would say my house probably gets a B. It could be better, but it could definitely be worse and we are working on it! I am always on the lookout for tips and tricks to clean up our act.

That's why I am so pleased to give away the book Organic Baby: Simple Steps for Healthy Living by Kimberly Rider to one of you! This book would be great for an expecting or new mom! It not only includes information about how to incorporate sustainable products into your home, it also gives ideas for baby gear, tips on making your own baby food, and even setting up the nursery!

Winning is easy! Just leave me a comment telling me your favorite tip for 'going green'

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! Winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond to their notification. Winner will be chosen by random.org. US entries only. Contest ends 3/20/2010.

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Tag Jr. Book winners!

Congratulations to Jennifer Wells of Jennifer Wells Photography and Suzanne from Pretty Swell ! You each won a copy of ABC Orchestra for Tag Jr. in our Surprise Giveaway! Please respond to my email with your addresses so I can send it to you!

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