Cheesecake VS Vomit

It has been a rough couple of weeks here.The Stomach Bug has made it's way into my house.

Connor battled with it for a long weekend and now has passed it on to his sister....

Y'know...when I encourage my son to share....SOOOO not what I meant...sigh...but such is life...

So I'm blogging to let you know...I have been vomited on 3 times in the past week. Aren't you pleased to know this vital piece of information pertaining to my life? No? ...You are going to turn off the computer and go see what lame movie is on TBS now aren't you?....Well I already checked...and it's something starring Matthew McConaughey...and nobody wants to see that. And we all know that my life, no matter how vomitous it may be right now...is better than pretty much any McConaughey movie? Agreed? okay...shall we???

3 times....yes 3.

When you are holding a baby pretty much all day because they feel absolutley pitiful...it's pretty much inevitable. I am posting this today because after the 3rd time, which happened at the doc's office, I thought to myself, ugh...I hope this comes out in the wash. Which reminded me how so many of my clothes...cute clothes...have become ruined with a stain courtesy of my children...which reminded me of my blog. Applesauce is the new black.

Being a parent, makes you let go of a lot of things. Tonight, I was supposed to go to a mom's night outing. Girls night. At the cheesecake factory...mmmhmmm. Cheesecake. And no children. Just girls...dressed up cute. Eating our cheesecake...enjoying adult converstaion...which would probably end up with us tlaking about our kids anyway....but instead...

I ended up at After Hours Pediatric Care with my sick baby. And you know what....

Even though Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake is maybe the best dessert in the world. And having a girls night out was long overdue for me. And I know confidently I could have left Addi with my husband and she would have been absolutely fine in his care... I couldn't bring myself to go have a good time with the girls knowing my baby was feeling so yucky. My place was home with my girl. And I was totally okay with it.

Even with the vomitlicious (Ok, that is a horrible word isnt it?) afternoon we had...I think God gave me some sweet little moments and some events I was thankful for in the midst of it all.

Tonight-

My mom just happened to be at the exact same intersection I was when I was driving Addi to the after hours care...so she was able to meet me at the corner and take Connor so I could focus on Addison.

We had the sweetest nurse take care of us and worked hard in order to get Addi to take her anti-naseau medicine. (For those of you who don't know Addi...she's a gagger...she gags on everything...including teeny tiny anti-naseau tablets apparently). She also gave me an After Hours tshirt to change into since my shirt was....ummm...gross.

My son on the way home prayed outloud in the car ..."Dear Je-jus, thank you for this day and thank you for Mommy findin' her keys" (I was frantically looking for my keys in order to get Addi over to the doctor. She wasn't doing to well at the time....I was praying outloud and Connor must have heard me). When he said that...I just about melted.

And then about a half hour ago...my son just gave me the biggest laugh. Already in bed for a half hour...I heard him call out, "I forgot my cherry icecream!" We had promised him some cherry icecream if he ate all his dinner, and I guess we forgot about it...but he didn't. (Obviously he takes after his mother. Dessert is nothing to be trifled with.) I let him hop out of bed, scooped some icecream, rebrushed his teeth and then tucked him back in. Totally made me laugh though.

Anyway...I hope this stomach bug passes by soon. My heart aches when one of my kids are sick...literally aches. My next post I am going to share a copy of a poem I have heard that really describes mommyhood I think to it's fullest. ... so be on the look out. In the meantime...go ahead and turn on the McConaughey movie....we all know you want to. It's okay, I won't judge.

Rules...rules...rules....oh....and art too.

Ok so I was told to blog about this

...it was more of insist than a "tell."

My sweet friend...at http://www.sweetjeanette.blogspot.com/

pretty much convinced me this needed

to be shared with the blogging world...

This is my latest artistic creation.

My Family Rules board.

Now, I know classrooms have rules...aftre all I taught for a few short years before becoming a mama and rules were ESSENTIAL for having a classroom that had some order.

But I got to thinking...after repeating some of the things you see listed to my son a few billion times...our family has rules too...what harm would it be to list them...in a totally artsy, cutesy, non-threatening, quainlike sort of fashion?

So i did. And then...I posted it to facebook....and then...I got a response...I really flattering response from many of my friends...and a few orders are being taken now.

Anyway..if you have an artistic bone in your body and have access to canvas, scrapbooking paper and embelishments, modge podge, elmer's glue, Sharpie markers and decent handwriting...you can do this too.

Oh and you'll need that 40% off Sunday coupon from JoAnn fabrics too.

sugar and spice and dinosaur screeches...thats what little girls are made of...

My daughter is all girl....just girly girly...when she was born i thought she had "girly eyes"...whatever that means....

She has no choice but to love pink...seeing how almost 85% of her wardrobe is pink (thanks to my mother and grandmother) and if she doesnt love it....then I guess she won't like her room either because it's pink too. But thats okay...because one day she will may decide she really loves the color blue and tells me that Charlotte's Web is nothing in comparison to Stuart Little. And she wants to paint her room green. And.....I will help her paint over the pink in her room...I will purposefully NOT look at pink clothing and help her look for that perfect blue shirt (No not that shade of blue mom...darker...mmmno...not that dark)...and when she gives me that malarky about Stuart Little....I'll tell her to go re-read her copy of Charlotte's Web and make a better educated decision. Some things are worth arguing.

But for now...at 8 months...she is all girly girl. Well...that and the dinosaur screeches. Thats what we are doing right now. Dinosaur screeching. Well not NOW...because what kinda mom would I be if I blogged while my child let out dinosaur screeches. (She's sleeping right now, dreaming of raptors probably)

Back to the dinosaur screeching...we are screeching because we are teething. I hate teething. I hate it with a hate that boils hotter than a thousand suns...it's horrible. What's even more horrible is the fact that Addi hates tylenol with that thousand sun thing too. As in gagging and worse. So we use umm...other methods of tylenol (ahem) and teething tablets (which I think are just sugar pills really) ..and no, not the recalled kind. And teething rings. And she screeches...dinosaur like and all.

So thats my girl...wearing pink and calling for dinos....(the video below is not the teething screeching. I wouldnt subject you to that. This is more of a happy screech)

Sweet Jeanette

I am guest posting today on a blog of a dear friend of mine, Jeanette. www.sweetjeanette.blogspot.com

In hopes of....

A)making people smile.
B) Giving people some cute ideas for Christmas
C) having more people follow my blog...although I DO love you, 5 followers!
D) annnnddd...having world peace around the world....thats right..puppies and rainbows for everyone....

D) probably won't happen....here's hoping for A) B) and C) though!

Take time to read through Jeanette's blog though...she's incredibly crafty (not like in a bad way...like you know...crafts) Also one awesome cook/baker. Although I do not recommend licking the screen when you see some of the yummy goodies she has featured on her blog. Computer screens leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

Enjoy!
Brooke

Baby Jee-jus and the sheep daddies

Connor has loved having a play nativity in our house the past few weeks. A gift from his Nana and Grandpa. I am quite relieved to see something other than numbers that he is crazy about. We've had a LOT of imaginative play when it comes to the nativity. And I'm okay with that. Seeing how, up until now, if it didn't involve numbers, Connor would lose interest, fast...so welcome to our humble abode, Fisher Price Nativity! We will continue going deeper into the Christmas story as he grows older. A 3 year old has the attention span of about oh...2 minutes. He has the names down, basically... "Baby Jee-jus"..."Baby Jee-juses Mommy"..."Baby Jee-juses Daddy" or sometimes he calls him "Joseph"...and the "sheep daddies"...shepherds...we're working on it.

He does know that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. So we are getting the basics down.

Here's some insight into the imaginative play that revolves around our nativity.

::Connor puts baby Jesus by the door:::.....Me: "Why did you put Baby Jesus over there, buddy?"

Connor: "He's not borned yet."

"Jee-juses Mommy is going to work!" Connor announces. :::Mary is riding on top of a tonka truck::::

Me: "Where is Baby Jesus?"

Connor: "His daddy is watching him."

I was calling him and Connor quickly shushes me. "Shhh mommy, Baby Jee-jus is sleeping." Connor had tucked him away in his bed.

Connor: :::Excited and smiling:: "Baby Jee-jus is 16 years old now! He can drive!!!"

::In a sweet soothing quiet voice::: Shhh, it's okay Baby Jee-jus. You don't need to cry. Everyone's is here ...Santa...this Mouse's grandmother.... (ornaments off our tree).

So like I said, we have some 'splaining to do when it comes to the nativity. But is has been pretty funny.

Mommy Wars

There is a battle upon us...be prepared!!! It's lurking around every park bench, every McDonalds play area, every playgroup gathering. ...It's the mommy wars!!!



Mommy Wars are the sides that moms take on controversial topics about child rearing. Yes there is controversy in raising children. Debates and drama aren't only for politics and Dancing with the Stars you know....

there's:

Breastfeeding vs formula

Crying it out vs Rocking to sleep

Vaccinating vs Anti Vaccinating

Organic foods vs Non Organic

Working moms vs Stay at Home Moms

Public school Vs Alternative Education choices

Spanking vs Time out

Cloth vs Disposable

Co Sleeping vs Crib sleeping

Bristol vs Brandy ......oops wait, no wait, that one snuck in there. Sorry.

Topics such as these can turn the most mild mannered mom into a soapbox speaker. We all have opinions. We all love to share them. That's what's great about America. Opinions. That and Freedom. And Moon Pies...but I digress.

The concept of Mommy Wars is a tricky thing though...

On one hand, you have people who will out and out tell you that if you DONT do something in a certain way...your child is certainly doomed for a lifetime of hardship. And its not done by gentle encouragement...Its shoved down your throat.

Quoting a book called Babywise: "If you want a fussy baby, never let him cry, and hold and rock, and feed him as soon as he starts to fuss."

Well gosh!....I dont know about you...but I dont want a fussy baby....so this must be the right way to raise my kid right? Right? Or no...maybe not right after all. Not for me anyway.

Or maybe its more of a gentle yet still judgementally approach....like that mom, at the park, who has like 5 kids and feels like she is the mother of all mothers....and she sees you giving your kid a bottle of formula and then sucks in her teeth and says "Oh, I breastfed all my children for 2 years each and now they are all baby geniuses. " Insinuating that maybe you don't really care if your child is a baby genius, because you're giving him FORMULA!

When my son was born...everyone was quick to give their opinion...."Don't rock him to sleep or you will spoil him. Let him cry it out." or "You're still breastfeeding? When do you plan to stop?" "He still has a paci? He's going to need braces eventually."...sigh

But mommies have a tendancy to take on their own beliefs, despite what others or books say. But this is not where this vicious cycle ends. Because eventually, a new mom comes along and she is a mom who tells you she is deciding to let her 4 month old cry it out....and you find yourself either agreeing...or sucking in your teeth.

Now dont get me wrong...Im not saying dont have an opinion. And I am not saying not to share your opinions. But I am also saying don't start throwing organic apples at the mom who is buring that package of Del Monte fruit cups.

The truth is...there is no ultimate RIGHT way when it comes to issues such as these. If there was...along with your hospital bill, your paperwork and baby, they would give you the baby manual when you walk out of the hospital.

Moms have to find what is right for THEM and THEIR babies. THEIR being a key word. Because it's their baby. THEIRS. Not yours. You may have breast fed your kids until they were 3 years old...but if that mommy over there on your playgroup couch wants to feed her little one a bottle of Similac, she is not committing a crime against all humanity. If that new mom in your family swears that crying it out worked wonders for her child...there is no need to call Social Services for child endangerment.

These are choices as moms we all have to make, to see whats fit for our own kids. I have my own opinions of course and I will share them if a mom asks me how it worked out for my kids...but I try really hard not to be all judgy....TRY being that key word in that phrase...because Mommy Wars are very hard not to fall into.

Stay strong mommies. Share your opinions when asked. Support each other. Try not to be a teeth sucker. May the force be with you.

Thirty Thankful Things

You look up the word "thankful" on Wiki and you will find out two things...
"Thankful" may refer to "gratitude."
It also may refer to a Kelly Clarkson album.

hmmm....well sadly enough, no, my post will not be about Kelly Clarkson...no matter how thankful we are for her paving the way for American Idol contestants....

It will reflect on the first reference...gratitude.....

So...

30 Random To-Be-Thankful-For things....in no particular order

1. I am thankful...That my baby daughter sleeps much better than my son did as a baby.
2. I am thankful...That I am so close with my mom, that I consider my "girl time"...is "mom time."
3. I am thankful...My husband, who despite all my faults, and I mean all of them, loves me all the same.
4. I am thankful...That there is not a Chick-Fil-A closer to my house. I would be there everyday.
5. I am thankful...for 100 calorie snack packs.
6. I am thankful....that my husband remembers to feed the cat, because she would starve if it were up to me.
7. I am thankful...for my playgroup...mommies and kids. You guys brighten up our midweek!
8. I am thankful...that my son now regulary says, "I love you too, mommy." Best words ever spoken.
9. I am thankful...that the media hasn't gotten all "Swine Flu epidemic Crazy" on us again.
10. I am thankful...for Publix BOGO deals.
11. I am thankful...that my grandmother is a Breast Cancer survivor...twice now.
12. I am thankful...for my neighbors. We enjoy our 5:00 pm playyard dates on the lawn with the kids.
13. I am thankful...that I am a full time stay at home mommy...and that God has blessed our family with that opportunity.
14. I am thankful...for Spanx.
15.I am thankful...that the yappy dog who used to bark his way through my kids naptime, yaps no more.
16. I am thankful ...for my church and what it means to our family, and so many other families.
17. I am thankful...for bedtime...the kids' and my own.
18. I am thankful...that my husband likes to play with our kids.
19. I am thankful...my son loves learning and his inquizzativeness. (Is that a word? No. Perhaps I should be thankful for spellcheck). Even though we have to explain EVERY road sign we pass...I love that he wants to know more
20. I am thankful...for peppermint mocha coffee creamer to put in my fake coffee.
21. I am thankful...for our health.
22. I am thankful...that my gray hairs can pass off as highlights...so far
23. I am thankful...that my town despite all its Applebees-iness, also has mom and pop places like Campell's Dairyland and Babes Pizza.
24. I am thankful....for the Sprout channel and its sweet and simple preschool shows...and that they dont shows like SpongeBob. Sea Sponges shouldnt be that hyper. Lay off the crabby patties Bob.
25. I am thankful...for my extended family. As crazy as they sometimes are...(just them mind you...not me...ahem)...I love being apart of their craziness.
26. I am thankful...for being married to my best friend and high school sweetheart.
27. I am thankful...for Redbox...best...idea...ever. I love you and your cheap rentals! Muah!
28. I am thankful...for Edy's icecream. I do not need to have an explanation for this.
29. I am thankful for knowing that He is a God who has all things....and still He wants me.
30. I am thankful...that my son is slowly adjusting to daylight savings time.'

What are you thankful for this holiday season? Kelly Clarkson, maybe? No?