Paid in Hugs

Halloween

2010-11-02T13:23:00.000-05:00

Lots of fun!! We went trick-or-treating with friends on a trailer with hay that they decorated. No walking and the kids had a blast!

Check out these turkeys...

2010-10-14T21:09:00.000-05:00

Mackenzie's first soccer game

2010-09-12T15:22:00.000-05:00

Mackenzie was not too sure about playing soccer, but she did great on Saturday. There are 6 kids on her team, 3 boys and 3 girls. I don't think any of them have ever played before but they did great at their first game. They really got it and scored a lot of goals. Mackenzie scored the first goal and a couple more later.

First Day of School

2010-08-23T21:14:00.000-05:00

Today was the first day of kindergarten for Mackenzie and second grade for Katie. The drop off for Mackenzie was a little hairy. She didn't want me to leave. Her class was pretty crazy and lots of parents were hanging around. But Mrs. Brown is a pro and I got out of there unscathed.

Katie was very excited while we walked up to the second floor to her new classroom. Her classmates were very calm, already sitting at their desks doing work. Katie's desk is across from her friend Kendall's, so all was right in the world.

They went to extended care after school and I picked them up this afternoon. When I asked Mackenzie what she did at school, she said "I don't know." I finally got a few details out of her and Katie. They both had great first days.

New backpacks from Kay-Kay!

Mackenzie's 5th

2010-08-23T21:08:00.000-05:00

We had a pajama party for Mackenzie on Saturday morning. Lots of her friends came and they had a great time decorating socks and eating lots of sugar!

All-Stars Softball

2010-08-02T21:09:00.000-05:00

After 10 weeks and 48 games (no, that's not a typo), All-Stars is over. The girls played their little hearts out in the 100 degree weather last week at Nationals in Round Rock. They played 3 "pool" games and 2 tournament games. And while they lost their tournament games, they lost both games by only one run. BUT, they beat their arch-rivals for the first time all year at one of the pool games.

The girls started off Tuesday with a limo ride to opening ceremonies at The Dell Diamond. Wednesday was rained out so they played all three of their pool games on Thursday. Friday, they had the two tournament games. And Saturday, Katie joined some of her teammates to play a softball game against a Special Olympics team. The girls did awesome to help the players out. I was really proud of Katie and the other girls for their participation in this!

Softball team and siblings

2010-07-22T19:36:00.000-05:00

I thought this photo was precious.

More softball!!

2010-07-19T20:35:00.000-05:00

The Lady Diamonds are going to nationals! Luckily, they are played in Round Rock this year. They start playing tournament games on the afternoon of Thursday, July 29th. If anyone wants to come watch, let me know and I can forward all of the info to you! We are very excited!!

Also, there's a fundraising event this Friday at Panera Bread at the Hill Country Galleria from 6-8 pm. They are donating a portion of the sales during that time to the Diamonds and their trip to nationals. So come buy some yummy dinner & hang out with us.

We had a round robin this past weekend. It was hot but the girls played great.

Birthday party for the twins

2010-07-19T20:23:00.001-05:00

My sister, my cousin and I gave a 60th birthday luncheon for our moms (the twins!). We had some yummy food and great company. We served chilled avocado soup, brie in phyllo with french bread, fruit skewers, shrimp pasta salad and a few tasty desserts.

July 4th weekend

2010-07-07T20:56:00.001-05:00

We had a great long holiday weekend at the barndo with friends!

See all photos

Photo to show to the future girlfriends

2010-06-29T09:52:00.000-05:00

Softball Sectionals

2010-06-29T09:49:00.000-05:00

This past weekend Katie played in a tournament and they qualified for regionals. It's a pretty big deal since no other past teams have done it! Katie played catcher and third base and got lots of hits. I enjoyed watching the games while M and J stayed home and had fun with the babysitter! I got lots of great photos. Good luck to the Lady Diamonds at regionals!!!

Weekend

2010-06-21T16:56:00.000-05:00

We had a great weekend at the farm, fishing and swimming (and drinking for the adults).

Katie and Dylan

Then we spent Sunday at the barndo with the fam to celebrate Father's Day. Chip got lots of great homemade gifts from the kiddos. And Jack enjoyed his time with his namesake.

Jack and Jack (aka "Papa")

Mackenzie starts ballet and...softball

2010-06-15T13:24:00.002-05:00

Our lives have been consumed with softball lately but Mackenzie also started ballet and tap last week. She was so excited to dress in her tights and leotard and go to class.

Katie had a tournament this past weekend. They got fourth place and Katie is learning so much. She has a great coach (thanks Coach Erin!) and Chip is helping out too.

Katie out in the field.

Mackenzie and Jack watching the game with fellow siblings (and snow cones!)

Jack's hats

2010-06-07T20:35:00.000-05:00

Every night, Jack puts certain toys into his crib. He plays for awhile and then goes to sleep. The other night, he asked for two hats, a bucket hat and a Texas Longhorn baseball cap. I gave them to him and kissed him good night. A couple of hours later when I went in to tuck him in, he was asleep with his bucket hat on. I took the camera in there and snapped some pictures of him with the flash on. He didn't stir.

Flower girls

2010-06-07T20:30:00.000-05:00

Katie and Mackenzie were flower girls this weekend at Chip's niece, Caddie's wedding. Caddie and her sister, Berkley, were my flower girls 13 years ago. Katie took her flower girl responsibility very seriously, especially since she had already been one. She told Mackenzie everything she needed to know!

Here's Jack holding hands with his cousin Tim.

Family Portraits

2010-06-03T09:39:00.000-05:00

We got our portraits taken a few weeks ago by Virginia Oxford.

Softball party

2010-05-25T12:10:00.006-05:00

Katie and her team, the Red Diamonds, had a little party at the park. They got their trophies and had some softball cupcakes that I made.

Katie's 7th birthday party

2010-05-25T11:34:00.007-05:00

Katie had a Hello Kitty slumber party for her 7th birthday. The girls had a lot of fun and stayed up until midnight (which is later than I usually stay up). The next morning, we played Wii and Rock Band, which was a big hit.

Mackenzie graduated...from pre-K!

2010-05-19T20:36:00.004-05:00

We went to Mackenzie's graduation from pre-K. It was really cute. The kids sang some songs and showed us how much they've learned. Here's Mackenzie crossing the graduation stage.

Mackenzie and her friend Riley.

Katie's loving softball

2010-05-19T20:26:00.000-05:00

Katie is just finishing her regular season and is now starting all-stars!

What we've been up to lately

2010-05-13T13:44:00.000-05:00

Some rock climbing and snow cone eating at the school carnival:

Jack got his first haircut. It was painful to watch the "wings" and curls go bye-bye, but he looks so grown-up now.

We had a great Mother's Day with the whole family. Here are all of the little cousins!

Katie got an early birthday gift from Kay-Kay and Pops...a bike!

Katie's concert

2010-05-13T13:09:00.004-05:00

The first grade at LTE had a concert after the PTA meeting on Tuesday. They did a few songs, one being a rap (!), and then did a "parachute performance." I don't remember having that much fun with those huge parachutes when I was little. Here's a video of one of the songs. Katie is in the back row with a green shirt on.

Katie's playing softball

2010-04-22T11:58:00.003-05:00

Katie is loving softball. It's more involved than her soccer teams were and she's learning tons. She loves to play third base and got two outs last game. That's a big deal since they usually play 4 runs/inning and rarely get three outs in an inning. Here's one of her at bats from Tuesday's game:

Easter

2010-04-07T19:51:00.000-05:00

We had a great Easter at the farm with family. The kids hunted for eggs and got lots of candy (which they turned over for a toy-yay!). I had fun making lunch & goodies and I think a good time was had by all.

Spring Break

2010-03-23T07:46:00.000-05:00

Spring Break was really fun this year. The last few years, it was just like any other week. But this year we took advantage of having a school-aged kiddo. We took the fam to the barndo for the weekend and then the farm for the week. Since we just moved into the house, we did a lot of work on the place, including completely redoing the master bathroom. It wasn't that big of a job since the bathroom is tiny! But it's a lot cleaner and nicer now.

The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and running around outside. We have old monkey bars that are a big hit and bugs were are a big entertainment as well. The "sand pit" is a favorite at the barndo.

MamaCents' huge consignment sale

2010-03-09T13:38:00.000-06:00

MamaCents Children's Consignment Sale (formerly Mommy and Me Consignment Sale) is having a huge consignment sale at Palmer Events Center from March 24th through 28th. Mark your calendars. They have everything from baby and children's clothes to gear to maternity clothing to toys to furniture. Read More...

Jack's first tumbling class

2010-03-04T14:09:00.000-06:00

Jack had his first tumbling class last week and he loved it. The girls have already had so many activities but this was Jack's first. He lit up when he saw all of the colorful equipment and he joined in to sing the songs and even dance.

2010-02-24T19:32:00.000-06:00

IKEA is a great source for furniture, home accessories, bedding and more, but have you seen all of the great items they carry for kids? You could buy everything necessary for your little one at IKEA. Read More...

Sesame Street Live

2010-02-21T19:43:00.000-06:00

We went to Sesame Street Live on Saturday morning. It was fun but a little long for Jack and Mackenzie. Jack loved it the most, laughing and clapping and screaming the characters' names. They had two 40 minute acts and a 15 minute intermission. By the middle of the second half, most of the kids in there were done. My advice to SSL: make the show a total of 50 minutes long with no breaks. But the story was cute, the characters were awesome, the sets were fun and the songs were gitchy.

Jack after the show:

Austin artists make beautiful baby products on etsy.com

2010-02-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

Blue Minky with Charmeuse Satin Blanket from littlebnursery

Etsy.com is a popular web site for artists to sell their handcrafted items and millions of these are for babies and kids. Many Austinites sell their products here and some even have an option to pick up their goods instead of shipping them. Read More...

Rolly Pollies opening in Bee Caves

2010-02-17T21:54:00.002-06:00

The first Rolly Pollies gym is being opened in Austin this month in Bee Caves. Rolly Pollies is a fun and colorful kids' "gym" offering many types of creative classes for ages 6 months through 7 years old. There are gym classes based on age throughout the week as well as music and art classes. Read More...

What should be on my baby registry?

2010-02-16T14:14:00.000-06:00

Many first time parents have no idea what to put on their registry. There are some items that are must-haves and some items that are just really nice to have.

The must haves are:

1.clothing - a few oneises, a few sleepers, few pairs of socks, a couple of hats. Read More...

Newborn blood samples stored in Texas

2010-02-16T13:12:00.001-06:00

Most of you probably heard about the controversy lately about the State of Texas taking and storing baby's blood when they are born. Apparently, starting around 2002, the State started taking the leftover blood from screenings and storing it without parents' consent. This prompted several families to sue the State claiming violation of the 4th and 14th Amendments.

The state claims that it kept the blood for reasearch and followed all state and federal laws in doing so. Because of this suit, the Texas Legislature passed a law to allow the State to keep the blood for research but the parents must be informed and have the option to decline. If the parents opt for it to be destroyed, the State must do it within 60 days.

The new law does not dictate that any information received from the blood has to be deleted. It also says that the records are confidential and are exempt from the Texas Public Information Act. Any information about what research is being done or who is involoved with the research is not publicly disclosed. Other states are having this issue as well and have been trying to determine what is best for its residents.

The lawsuit was settled and the State of Texas agreed to destroy about 4.5 million samples taken between 2002 and May 27, 2009. The State will now abide by the new law and ask parents' permission before doing any research on their baby's blood.

Celebrity baby clothing lines

2010-02-16T10:41:00.000-06:00

Celebrities love their clothing lines and fragrances. Clothing designers have learned that celebrity names can sell their products like no other. Many celebrities start their own baby and kids clothing lines once they have children. Read More...

Curtain Rods

2009-10-11T19:42:00.003-05:00

Chip and I have been concentrating heavily on curtain rods since Austin home building is basically non-existent these days. We have been telling each other for years that we need to start pushing the curtain rods more, come up with new product lines, etc. But we've always been to busy. Well, now that we do (somewhat), it's really taken off. I've also been learning about SEO (search engine optimization). It's a crazy world, and I'm positive I'll never understand it completely. But, we are selling lots more curtain rods to people all over the country.

School is Starting

2009-08-18T13:51:00.004-05:00

Yay. School is starting next week. Summer was fun, but I'm ready to get back into our routine. And I think the kids are too. Katie is really excited about first grade and Mackenzie goes into her new pre-K classroom at day care. Jack doesn't know the difference, but he does move to an older kids classroom as well.

And with school, starts the activities. Katie's playing fall soccer and probably attending a tumble & cheer class at My Time Kids. Mackenzie is going to continue her weekly tumbling class there also. She loves it! I guess it's time to get Jack into something as well. What could that be? A baby and me class? What else is there for 18-month-olds?

Wow...

2009-08-11T18:49:00.002-05:00

My girls ate dinner in their pj's from last night. Yes, they did not change their clothes today. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Sleep ...after 6 1/2 years

2009-08-09T12:20:00.002-05:00

My oldest kiddo is 6+ and my youngest is 18 months. After about 6 1/2 years, I am consistently getting good sleep. Or should I say longer sleep. I've almost always slept well. It's just that for awhile now, I haven't been sleeping enough. I can now go to sleep around 11 pm, sleep until 8 am, and get 9 hours!! It's incredible. There were periods of time (when my kiddos were newborns) when I got interrupted sleep and times when I got less sleep because I had two or three kids on different schedules. So hang in there..."good" sleep is in your future.

New dentist

2009-08-05T21:07:00.004-05:00

We went to a new pediatric dentist last week, and Katie had her first cavity. But I was too amazed by the doctor's office to really notice. The lobby was decorated very nicely and there were plenty of toys to keep the kids entertained. But the exam area had my mouth on the floor. They had televisions on the ceiling so when you lay down, you can watch a movie. They chose their movie and their cleaning flavor and their fluoride flavor. At the end, they got goodie bags with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, toys, pencils and stickers galore because there's a filled sticker hanger in every room. My girls LOVE the dentist. I asked when I could sign up to come there.

My Son the Biter

2009-06-17T18:38:00.005-05:00

My son is 16 months old and is officially a biter. My oldest went through this period when she was about the same age, although it was quick and pretty harmless. My second kiddo never bit, which is somewhat surprising to me.

I got the call today from the day care center saying your kids are great...nothing is wrong with them. It's just that J bit another child on the face and broke the skin. And drew blood. She was quick to add that it was only one small drop of blood, but they have to call when the skin is broken. She already called the victim's parents and they were very understanding. Apparently, the victim is a frequent biter.

So what is a parent to do? When I try to discipline him, he laughs. Which is what he did to his teacher today. Does he understand that biting is wrong when we tell him? I guess I'll go Google it and see what the experts have to say. Is it wrong that Google substitutes for a pediatrician?

You know you're a mom when...

2009-05-12T20:19:00.000-05:00

-You pull some toilet paper off the roll and it has holes in it where your one-year-old clawed the roll.

-You can't figure out why the zipper on your pants won't work until you realize that the pants are on inside-out.

-You constantly have food stuck to the bottom of your feet.

-Stories on the news about kids seriously affect you.

-Even though you don't agree with leaving your kids on the street, you understand the impulse to do it.

-You have bruises all over your body without knowing how they got there.

-You are truly thankful for Spongebob (and you've seen most of the episodes).

-You are totally out of shape (who has the time?), except for your arms which are like He-Man from picking up kids all day.

-More to come...

New Blog

2009-05-07T20:25:00.004-05:00

My hubby and I are building a "barndominium" for my parents as a ranch house. I started a blog so friends and family can follow our progress. I'm also hoping that others reading the blog can get some useful information if they are building something similar. See the blog at Texas Barndominium.

Swine flu - 1; Me - 0

2009-05-07T20:12:00.004-05:00

So we did have to change our trip. I know it's the best decision for everyone, but I'm still disappointed. We decided to stay in the U.S. We are flying into Phoenix and staying at the Intercontinental Montelucia. It looks like a nice resort, and it has a couple of pools. I'm bummed we don't get to go to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, but I'll still get to relax and sleep late. And I get to spend time with my hubby that includes finishing a conversation and eating a meal slowly.

Swine Flu

2009-04-28T11:17:00.004-05:00

I've had a trip to Mexico scheduled for about 6 months and I have been looking forward to it for that long. As parents know, these trips are rare and very exciting!! If the [insert expletive here] swine flu prevents me from going on my trip, I'm going to be VERY, VERY upset.

Weekend Away

2009-04-23T19:32:00.003-05:00

It's been awhile, but I'm still here. I'm going out of town for the weekend without the kiddos. I'm pretty excited. I am leaving my husband and kids to have a relaxing weekend with the girls, going to the spa and having dinners at places without kids' menus. This brings up another topic. My husband. I am really fortunate to have a hubby who wants to be fully involved with his kids. He has car seats for all 3 in his car, helps full-time when he's home from work, does most baths and story times, etc. As a wife of this kind of dad, it's hard for me to understand dads who don't do this. I guess every couple has their methods, but I really enjoy being able to rely on my hubby to help out. So I can leave tomorrow and not give my husband any directions and things will flow perfectly (unless you count the girls' outfits)! Thanks honey!

Domino Magazine

2009-03-12T13:05:00.002-05:00

I was really upset to go to Domino Magazine's web site and see that their March 2009 issue was their last. Apparently, they couldn't get the advertising they needed & had to pack it up. I thoroughly enjoyed the magazine and the web site, even though, like most decorating magazines I read, the majority of the stuff was out of my price range.

Speaking of, I have yet to find a publication that has decorating ideas and products for the "typical" person. Anyone know of anything out there?

Things on my Mind These Days

2009-03-08T20:20:00.004-05:00

With my type-A personality, I love lists.

1. I'm so glad that someone is opening up a cupcake shop in Lakeway (and right around the corner from me...dangerous).

2. I love the movie Juno. I wish I was as funny as that high-schooler.

3. I'm getting a tad bit nervous about the economy. Being self-employed means you can't get fired, but we can sure as hell not have any business.

4. I really love designing & building web sites. Hmm, maybe a way to make some extra cash (see #3). (Call me if you want a simple web site!)

5. Not really a big fan of Martha Stewart's, but am enjoying the daily "craft-of-the-day" and "recipe-of-the-day" emails.

6. Facebook???

7. Those little sugar cookies with Hershey Kisses in them.

8. I think I watch too much t.v. (DVR)

9. Why would companies & CEO's ever going to change their behavior if we bail them out every time?

10. That's all for today...gotta go watch 24.

Yummy bread

2009-02-25T19:44:00.003-06:00

When I get home from work, I try to find something quick to fix for dinner. But I resist the temptation to heat up another Bertolli (which are AWESOME by the way) and cook something with at least a couple of the food groups. Anyway, tonight I had 3 bananas that were looking a little black so I found this easy banana bread recipe on Simply Recipes:

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Even though she says there's no need for a mixer, I used my KitchenAid mixer. It was very easy to throw all the ingredients in the mixer, pour it in a pan & stick it in the oven. Yummy to the tummy.

Mom Guilt

2009-02-18T22:06:00.003-06:00

I'm sure most of you moms out there have this...the guilt of working and possibly missing out on those "mom moments." I work part-time, but I still have the occasional feelings of oh-crap-i'm-a-horrible-mom-'cause-i-work-outside-the-home. A few weeks ago, my son was really close to walking by himself. I was determined for him not to walk for the first time at day care and thus bring upon some of this guilt. So one of the days I stay home with the kiddos, we practiced until he walked. And it worked. I know it was really selfish, but I wanted to see the first walk. I love to watch him walk around the house looking like a drunk sailor, giggling because he's walking by himself.

Baseball Themed Party

2009-02-12T20:10:00.008-06:00

I'm all about kids' themed birthday parties. I've done Dora, carnival, The Backyardigans, monkey, Aerial and Nemo. For my son's first birthday, we had a baseball party. It was very low-key, but I had a lot of fun decorating the food table.

We had soft pretzels, hot dogs, Cracker Jacks, peanuts and popcorn and the table was decorated with Big League Chew, baseball cards, baseballs, a bat, a glove and baseball lollipops. I got all the decorations, plates, etc. at Oriental Trading, one of my favorite online stores. And I made a baseball cake that was super-easy. If you're doing a baseball party & need help, email me for ALL the details.

Homemade Gifts for old & new

2009-02-05T15:22:00.012-06:00

My family had a big group birthday party for the February birthdays with people ranging from 1 year to 85 years old. So I did small homemade gifts for everyone. For my grandfather and husband, I did caramel popcorn in cute tins from Michael's.

Also for my grandparents was a photo book of their grandchildren. The cardboard book, paper & stickers were all from Michael's and cost $1 each. They have a great new $1 aisle now!

The 7-year-old girls got ribbon belts and ceramic letters with ribbon for ytheir room. The letters and ribbon also came from Michael's.

My grandmother also got monogrammed hand towels.

Everybody really liked their gifts. I was glad to give something different.

Product of the Day

2009-02-02T20:14:00.003-06:00

I love this one. My three year old has a KidSwitch ($9) in her room and uses it every day. I wish I had one in her bathroom and the playroom too.

1st birthday gifts

2009-01-27T09:13:00.009-06:00

My son is about to turn one year old, so I thought I'd share a list of his favorite toys. It's no coincidence that 99% of these make some sort of noise. Do they even make quiet toys anymore? (All prices are from Toys R Us unless otherwise noted)

-Playskool: Busy Basics - Swing 'n Score Baseball - $18

-Lamaze Chime Garden - $25

-Infantino light ball

-LeapFrog Fridge DJ - $20 at Target

-LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table - $48

-Ty stuffed lion

-LeapFrog Learn and Groove: Animal Sounds Guitar - $22

-Fisher Price Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo-Choo Train

-"Pooh Dreamy Songs" book

-Tonka Wheel Pals ($8) and Tonka Wheel Pals Cushy Cruisin' Pickup Truck ($13) at HasbroToyShop.com

-Playskool Lullaby Gloworm - $11

-Fisher Price Laugh & Learn: Learning Toolbench - $21

-play dishes and food - try these: Fisher Price Musical Tea Set - $18 and Fisher Price Mini Meal Set - Lunch - $7.50

-Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn: Musical Learning Chair - $31.47 at Walmart

-Seasme Street pop-up singing toy, like this: Sesame Street: Singing Pop Up Pals - $22

Remember, you can often find great slightly used toys on ebay and great discounts at discount stores like Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Steinmart and Tuesday Morning.

Quote of the Day

2009-01-26T20:23:00.001-06:00

I'm brushing Katie's hair today and she says to me, "Mommy, I'm not going to be a parent. It's just too hard." I laughed and she continued, "But if I did, she would listen to everything I say."

Umpf...

My little thunder thighs

2009-01-21T21:40:00.003-06:00

Jack is my first "non-petite" baby. I call him thunder-thighs (in a very loving way). He's got the cutest legs and feet, and of course that super-soft baby skin. Is there anything cuter than this?

In 2008, you have saved $3268

2009-01-19T20:38:00.005-06:00

That’s what my library printout says. Every Tuesday, I take Mackenzie & Jack to the library for story time. A librarian reads a few books to the kids and we check out books for the whole family. I get some level 1 readers for Katie and Mackenzie chooses about 10 books to take home and read. Jack just loves to sit in his stroller and people-watch during story time. I’m really surprised about how much Mackenzie loves to go to the library and how she thinks so hard when choosing which books we read each night before bedtime.

After we check out books, the library’s computer prints out a list of books and when they’re due. At the bottom of the printout, it tells you how much you would have spent if you bought the books instead of checking them out. I love this free activity for the kids. If you want to find the nearest public library near you, visit PublicLibraries.com.

Top Momma

2009-01-18T09:41:00.002-06:00

Vote for my blog at Top Momma. It's a fun site!

Babycenter rocks

2009-01-17T09:07:00.007-06:00

I really love Babycenter. Even as I go through the first year with my third child, I can't remember things like, When do they start eating solids? When do they give up that morning nap? So I go check out babycenter and they have awesome guidelines to help. The age-by-age guide to feeding your baby helped me remember how much and when to feed that baby food. This chart tells you approximately how much sleep your child needs, detailing naps and overnight sleep. Also, they have fun stuff like the top 100 baby names of 2008.

You can also create a free account at Babycenter and enter your children's birth dates or your due date. Then, when you log on, it gives you articles about your children based on their ages. When you're pregnant, they can send you weekly emails that let you know how big your baby is and other helpful information. I love reading that my baby was the size of a fig, then a lemon, then an avocado, etc.

They also have a million searchable articles on everything imaginable and a ton a message boards to talk to other moms or moms-to-be.

Product of the Day

2009-01-13T14:04:00.004-06:00

I just discovered the greatest product. They are called Stroll'r Swivel'rs and Babies R Us has them for $5.49 (2 hooks). You hook them on your stroller handlebar, and they hold your purse or shopping bags or whatever. You can use them in a lot of different places. They swivel 360 degrees. I wish I found these 6 years ago.

Kids’ Step Stools

2009-01-13T09:31:00.010-06:00

Both my girls have a stool to reach their bathroom sink. Although, Mackenzie still has to jump up on the counter to get things or spit her toothpaste out.

I saw this super cute Pink Coco Step Stool at VictoriaPZurcher.com. It can be personalized and is hand painted. But at $68, some of us might want a less expensive alternative. SensoryEdge has the Fancy Butterfly Storage Step Stool for $41.95 and has many other cute designs to choose from.

My stand-by store Target has the Two-Step Stool in stores or online for $29.99. It’s plain white, but is sturdy and does the job. Sometimes you can find this on sale.If you want to go super-reasonable, IKEA has a plastic stool, also in stores or online. It’s a bargain at $3.49. We have one of these & it has held up way past its price tag.

Coolest Wallpaper

2009-01-08T20:11:00.007-06:00

This is really cool wallpaper. Graham & Brown has some really beautiful wallpaper, and this is so original. It's called "frames," and it's black & white frames printed on wallpaper. So you can paint it or hang photos or kids' art in the frames or figure out other super-creative things to do. I'm thinking of putting it on one wall in the kids' playroom in our next house. It would be a perfect way to display some of the millions of pieces of art that the kids bring home.

Three-Year-Old Home Alone

2009-01-07T21:06:00.007-06:00

So I'm getting ready to take the kids to day care yesterday morning. My husband has taken our oldest to kindergarten and gone to work. I start the car because it's 30 degrees out. I take Jack, my 11 month old, to the car and shut the door to my house on the way out so the exhaust smell doesn't go in the house (don't worry, the garage door is open). Mackenzie, my three year old is in her room putting "wickstick" (lip gloss) on. I put Jack in his car seat and walk back towards the door to get Mackenzie. All I hear is "Mommy, don't leave me." I get to the door and it's locked.

The lever works fine, but Mackenzie has locked the deadbolt. I don't have a key to the deadbolt. I don't have a key to the front door. I don't have a key to the back door. Now Mackenzie really thinks I'm leaving her. She starts to get upset.

"Mackenzie, unlock the door."

"Me can't."

I hear her trying to unlock the deadbolt.

"Mackenzie, do you have something in your hands?"

"Yes."

"Mackenzie, put all the toys on the ground and use two hands to unlock the deadbolt"

"Okay." I hear toys dropping. "Me can't unlock."

"Mackenzie, please try again with two hands."

"Mackenzie?" Silence. "Mackenzie?" Silence. "Mackenzie?" Silence. Great, she got bored and went to go play. "Mackenzie?"

"Yeah?"

"Hang on a minute." I call my husband, who I'm sure has a brillant idea. It takes a few minutes, but he figures out that she should try to open the front door because it's easier to open. She does that on the first try and runs to my arms for a hug. This morning's catastrophe is averted.

My Child is Obsessed with Infomercials

2009-01-06T18:44:00.009-06:00

So my five year old is obsessed, and I mean obsessed, with infomercials. I thought it was weird that they played them during cartoons, but now I understand why. About six months ago, she came running into my room and said, "Mom, you HAVE to get the biggest little bag ever." I had no idea what she was talking about at the time. Since then, she'll come and tell me about some product I HAVE to buy.

When I was writing this blog, I looked up some of the products. When I pulled up the sites, the infomercial starts on the web site. She heard it and came running. She stood over my shoulder and wouldn't let me stop the sound. When the Mighty Mendit commercial came on, she screams, "Don't skip this. I love this part. Wait until the end. It's the best." Then she mouthed the words to the online commercial. Maybe my child watches too much t.v.

She told me about Green Bags and said "It goes for 9 days Mom!" And on and on with Aqua Globes, Mighty Putty and Big City Slider. The most recent is the Snuggie. She came in, told me about it and then walked away. Then she stuck her head around the corner and added, "Mom, if you could get me one too, that'll be great."

Sadly, we have yet to buy anything. But, Billy Mays, if you need a wee assistance, my very enthusiastic daughter is your girl.

Collecting Crap

2009-01-06T14:28:00.007-06:00

Do your kids like to collect, well, crap? My girls (ages 3 & 5) think it's the coolest thing in the world to find and keep trash. They see every shiny sequin, piece of glitter, rock, bead, even threads, on the ground, pick it up and put it in their "jewelry boxes." They also take pieces from art projects and hide them away like little squirrels. I worry mostly because my 10-month old WILL put them in his mouth and try to eat them. The OCD in me also hates the mess.

Sometimes I throw their "prizes" away when they're not paying attention. I let my 5 year old make a piece of art with hers because she threw a tantrum when I told her she had to throw them away. Here's my 3 year's old stash after a recent cleaning by me.

Swaptree, anyone?

2009-01-06T10:08:00.004-06:00

Has anyone tried Swaptree? It's my new obsession. You create an account for free and make two lists: one of the books (or DVD’s, video games, CD’s) you'd like to receive and one of the books you have to trade. Then you wait for a trade by another person or their computer or you can initiate one yourself. When a trade is accepted by all parties (some are three-way), you mail your book out and wait for another book to arrive. The whole thing is free except for the postage to mail your book (usually around $2.30), and you can print the postage label right off Swaptree. I've done about 5 trades so far, and it is fun. Now if I can just find time to read the books piling up on my nightstand.

Fresh Food Feeder

2008-12-31T18:11:00.003-06:00

Munchkin makes this great product called a Fresh Food Feeder. It's been out for awhile, but I just bought one for my now 10 month old and he loves it. We put pears and bananas in it and it sucks on it and gets everything out. It has a screen on it so that it almost strains the food. I love it because I have a fear that he's going to choke on table food. It also keeps him entertained for a few minutes, and as we all know, that is a very nice thing. I bought mine at Target, and they are all over the internet. Just search "fresh food feeder."

First Blog Entry

2008-12-29T14:07:00.002-06:00

Hi all (or probably no one at this point). I am going to blog frequently about whatever is going on with me and my family. I am a 33 year-old mom of three, ages 5 1/2, 3 1/2 and 10 months (as of now). I own a company with my husband where I work 3 days a week. The other 2 weekdays, I stay home with my kiddos. Hopefully I can share something useful.

That's all for now. Thanks for looking.