More Fun With School Zone Products

If you read Danielle's post yesterday, you would know all about School Zone publishing company and their Peek-a-Boo Puppy book.  I was lucky enough to receive some products from School Zone as well and I took them along babysitting last night for the kids to play with.  Here is a pic of Owen enjoying his peek-a-boo puppy book.  He basically tested it out by dumping all of the cards on the floor and then throwing them around the room.  He is a big fan of peek-a-boo, however being a boy he just wanted to be a little maniac instead of actually sit there and read.  Notice the photo of Eliza sitting nicely and reading with mommy & daddy from yesterday's post.  I guess this is the difference between boys and girls!  We give this product a good grade for sturdiness but do agree with Danielle that if it was an actual book instead of cards, it would probably be a lot easier to work with.  

While he was making a big mess, Layna & I were enjoying our School Zone flash cards.  I got 3 packs of cards for preschool aged kids to learn the alphabet, numbers, and shapes.  She is not even in preschool yet (starts in September) and knew almost all of the letters and numbers.  She knew all of the shapes including rectangle and oval which impressed me for some reason.  I would have thought she would say it was a square & a circle.  Is it just me or are kids today much smarter than we were when we were this age?  I totally remember learning letters in kindergarten and now every little kid I see already knows them at 3 years old.  I guess when you spend $1000 a month on a nanny & daycare they better be doing something constructive with you!!  One of the packs was especially cute...the cards showed either an uppercase letter with a drawing of an adult animal with a name starting with that letter or a lower case letter with the animal baby.  The adult instruction cards also showed the technical names of all the baby animals so they have even more things to learn.   She really enjoyed one of the packs of flash cards because they were hologram pictures.  When you hold it up a certain way it will have a number 4 and then if you move it around you will see a drawing of 4 things.  I thought it was a very cute idea.  She was having so much fun, she didn't realize it was educational.  

They also sent me 2 of their newest products which are the Math Readiness sticker book and the Big Alphabet workbook.  These 2 activity books mix fun filled content with learning skills and they are prefect for kids in preschool or kindergarten.  Since we had a lot of fun with the other products and Layna isn't even in school yet, I figured I would save these for her birthday or just another day in the future.  I am sure she will be a big fan of the stickers when she gets to play with them.  Here are some concepts that kids will learn while using the math workbook: number sequence, telling time, counting money, matching numbers, and of course addition & subtraction.  The alphabet workbook will teach them all about letter sounds and recognition, as well as writing upper case and lower case letters.

Getting back to what I was saying before, i think it is amazing that products like these can be aimed at such young kids.  They must be getting smarter these days - all I remember doing in preschool was playing with dolls and now these kids are doing sign language, yoga, & learning spanish.  If you have a chance to pick up any of the School Zone products, your child will certainly be on the right track for success in school.

Hair Today- Gone Tomorrow

I decided to ditch the long locks for some spunky new ones!

Before

After

and let me add that teething- if this is what it is- is a nightmare- the horrible sleep, the runny nose, the crankiness.-and that is just me! Eliza is a whole different story.

School Zone Products!

Like all babies Eliza loves touching everything I don't want her to touch i.e. remotes, cell phone, and keys! I used to be able to hide the stuff behind a pillow and POOF! out of sight out of mind. Well, now Eliza knows where I have hidden these desirable objects. Darn that object permanence. Know that she knows things are gone for good she is really loving to play games like a Peek-A-Boo. She actually hides behind the couch and waits for me to scare her, It is actually pretty adorable. She also enjoys life the flap book more than she did a few months ago. So when I was given the opportunity to test out a Peek-A-Boo puppy game form School Zone I said of course! Since this object permanence is here to sat I might as well work with it and find a better place to hide my cell phone!

School Zone publishing recently sent me an adorable puppy Peek-a-boo game for Eliza. It is called Peek-a-Boo Puppy Surprise Party. However, I think E's favorite part is the Velcro! I like the concept but the magnet could definitely be a little stronger. It is a tad bit wimpy in my opinion. I was dissapointed that the cards tend to fall of easily. My 10 year old niece said she would like the game better in the form of a book. I think I agree with her. Sometimes I think kids have a better perspective on these things than adults. E does like to play with the cards and loves to lift the flaps. The puppy at the top is adorable and I love how you can cover and uncover his eyes. peek-a-Boo is a favorite game of E.

It comes with magnetic cards with flaps and a base card with a magnetic plush toy, and a parent guide. The cards are sturdy and have so far withstood Eliza's teething. She will play on the floor with the velcro cards for quite a while.
In addition to the puppy they also have a bear and a bunny. School Zone also has some other great baby products I would love to get for E like the Fuzzy animal cards. They also have many other products for kids of all ages. I actually used School Zone flashcards for centers in my Kindergarten classroom. The worked great in pocket charts.

Peek-A-BOO!

Am I the only one who is in shock that back to school is only right around the corner?

Wordless Wednesday

Happy 3 Year Anniversary to my Amazing husband Pete.

I love you!

and of course we can't forget our beautiful miracle!

Tasty Tuesday

Hi! Here I am when it is almost Wednesday with my Tasty Tuesday recipe. Dana had it to me early, but I have been a bit hectic lately and totally forgot to put up the post.

Why have I been so hectic? I have been trying to get out the invites for E's Eco-friendly first birthday, packing for our vacation, write posts, scheduling posts, and deciding to chop off all of my hair! So I am sorry if I haven't been commenting much. I am still thinking of everyone!

Minestrone Soup
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of garlic
1 pound of chopped celery
1 3/4 pound shredded carrots
3 tablespoons of Parsley
3 tablespoons of basil
1 tablespoon of pepper
3 gallons of beef stock(you can use vegetable or chicken stock)
1/2 # 10 can of diced tomatoes
1/2 # 10 can of green beans
1/2 # 10 can of kidney beans
1/2 # 10 can of garbanzo beans
1 pound of elbow macaroni

Preparation

Saute the garlic and onions in olive oil.

Add parsley, basil, and pepper.
To this add celery then the carrots.
Add small amount of water and par boil until the vegetables are tender.
Add beef stock and bring to a boil.
Add diced tomatoes, green beans then kidney beans and garbanzo beans.
Bring to a boil then simmer on low for 2 hours.

Tees for a Change

I am so excited tell everyone about this amazing website that was recently brought to my attention. It is called Tees for a Change and was started by mom Andreea Ayers. The site sells adorable Eco-friendly tees! I really enjoy reading the About Us section of websites. I enjoy learning the back story behind a creative idea and I promise you Andreea's did not disappoint. Tees for a Change was inspired by her home birth experience in 2007. Reading her story made me want to “Be Courageous” too!


Each tee delivers an inspiration meesage. Simple and powerful these tees remind you to 'laugh often' and 'practice kindess'. This company is partnered with Trees for the Future and they plant a tree for EVERY Eco-friendly tee we sell. I checked out the site and it looks like I might help plant a forest.

Check out their site at http://www.teesforchange.com/. They introduce new lines in March and September so be sure to stop back for new items!

UPDATE***
Yay! New Mommy Rant readers can now use the coupon code RANT for 15% off until August 31st!

Milestone Monday and The Force!

What's my lil' E up to these days? E is 10 months old and she has grown so much over the past months. She has been practicing many new skills lately. Here are some of the milestones she has reached at 10 months of age.
• Reaches for toys
• Drops objects and then looks for them
• Becomes interested in grabbing the spoon during feedings
• Picks up tiny objects
• Understands the concept of object permanence
• Gets upset if toy is removed
• Transfers object from hand to hand
• Stands holding onto someone
• Pulls to standing
• Claps hands
• Waves bye-bye
• Bangs two objects together
• Crawls well
• "Cruises" furniture
• Pulls off hat and socks

and in crazy mommy news...

Also, E has felt warm a few times over the weekend and again this morning. I am a nervous wreck because we are leaving for vacay on Saturday and I don't want her to be sick while we are away. However, I can't seem to find a good thermometer. Taking her rectal temp is nearly impossible. Plus, our thermometer gives out crazy readings sometimes. MY body temperature can be= a bit below normal like 96.6- so I am not a good benchmark. She had a horrible sleep last night and was tossing and turning and practically throwing herself all over the bed. She has also been tugging her ears and rubbing her nose (or maybe her upper gums) a lot. I don't know if it is still the Coxsackie or if it is some major teething. The doctor checked her ears last Wednesday and they were clear.

Whenever I think she isn't feeling well I go into high stress, high anxiety mode. I know exactly what it means to go into fight or flight mode because I feel it all the time. I know I need to relax but that isn't as easy as it sounds. I have a tendency to lets thoughts control me. I get nervous and anxious and start to worry for nothing. I start worrying it is another UTI and we will be back in the hospital- or that she sill have permanent damage because I didn't catch the UTI in time. I try to dismiss these thoughts but they creep back in my head.

If that wasn't enough, I also have phone anxiety. For most people calling the doctor is no big deal. However, for me it IS a big deal because I make it a big deal. When I have to call I have a panic attack. The best way I can describe it is that I feel like I want to burst into tears and I have and no idea why. It is like a volcanic build up of emotion. However, it completely goes away after the call is made. This is why I schedule my dentists appointments in person every six months- just to avoid that feeling. And they know I will never cancel, because that would require a phone call. Stranegly, once I become familair with the receptionists and workers at a place I no longer feel this anxiety. I guess Eliza and I both have starnger anxiety.

I know it isn't healthy that a simple act like calling the doctor or ordering pizza has the same effect on my nervous system as getting mugged in a dark ally. It also doesn't help that in a fight or flight situation I usually choose flight. I told you I'm a big chicken. I would much rather cower behind my husband than face the bad guys in my brain. But I know their reign must end and I am working on getting in control of my thoughts. I am not sure how I plan on doing this but I know it is possible.

Maybe I must channel the force.

Size matters not. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmmm...and well you should not! For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter! You must feel the Force around you, here; between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere!...yes, even between the land and the ship. ~Yoda

I'm a Big Chicken and Where are all my "People"?

Part I

So it turns out that I am a huge scaredy baby. I am not quite sure when this happened but I think it was right around when I got preggers with E. I used to love, love, love horror movies. A a teen I read every Dean Koontz and Stephen King book imaginable. I enjoyed being terrified out of my mind. Now, not so much. Last night the hubs suggested we watch The Eye! The title sounded scary as I was pretty sure it was not an optical love story, but he reassured me it was PG13. First, it was a horrible movie. Second, it scared the SH$T outta me and I ended up reading Eat, Pray, Love through the end. The I went up to bed alone and couldn't even sleep with the light off. I had to go to bed with the light on. Thanks scary movie for making me waste energy. No more scary movies. I guess there is so much negativity in the world that I just don't want to go to bed at night thinking about seeing dead people. I do have to exclude all CSI's and Law and Orders- for some reason those don't scare me so much.


Part II

I have been trying to do my best to be earth conscience. I realized that although I was using cloth bags at the supermarket, I wasn't using them at other stores. So, yesterday at Target I used cloth bags. Then the hubs, Eliza and I ran to Home Depot to pick two small items. The hubs was using the self-check out and I said, "We don't need a bag." He gave me kind of a nasty look. I new I had just irritated him. When we got into the car I was markedly upset. I told him that I was just trying to do something good by not using plastic bags. He said he didn't see what difference one bag made. And I know this is the mindset of many, many people. Of course this brought me to tears as I tried to explain that one person can make a difference and just because a lot of people use plastic bags doesn't me we should. Do you think it is that time of the month? I love my husband but he is not one of my "people". I don't know where my "people" are as I haven't been abler to find them yet."

* Side not- My niece Alli started me using the term, "My People". She uses the term when she sees other who also have sizable ears. She calls them her "people". her ears are just perfect in my opinion.

Where are my people? Why can't I find them? Am I Eco crazy or something? Should I scout out the super market for people whose carts filled with organic produce, green cleaners and a variety of tasty nut butters? Of course they will also be using cloth bags at the check out.

I am sad that my husband is not my "people." He tries for me, but he just isn't that into the GREEN thing. He uses cloth diapers no problem, eats my non-meat concoctions, replaces our light bulbs with energy saving ones, and tries to shut off the water when he brushes his teeth- but only because I ask him too!

His people are "golf" people I suspect.

If you are my "people" please come and find me so I don't feel damned crazy!


On a happier note, I won some fun Eco-friendly products from Green and Clean Mom. When my prize came in the mail I was ecstatic. I could barely wait to use my Toilet Bowl Fizzy Tablets! I also received The Kitchen Cleaner and The Bathroom Spray Cleaner and I have already used them both. Joyful Girl Naturals also has a line of natural beauty products!

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I went to the dentist on Friday morning and they gave me a little pink toothbrush for E. It is so darn cute. I figured we woudl start brushing her two tiny little teeth as part of our bed time routine. We tried it our for the first time and I would say there was more chewing than brushing going on.

I don't know about this mom!


Watch mommy!

My little nibbler

Eliza had her first teething biscuit this past week. As a new mom this was very exciting for me. It is strange how the things that tickle your fancy change when you become a mom. I used to get excited about parties, dancing and jell-o shots. Now I get excited about organic wheat teething biscuits! WOO HOO!

Here is my little nibbler in action...

I adore her contemplative face in this picture. Is it food? Is it a toy?


I'll just take a teeny tiny nibble.


YUM! and some more nibbling and chewing! HHMM it is getting all mushy!


OK heck! I'll just try to get the whole thing in my mouth!

Save the Placenta!

So, last Saturday my husband and I went on a cute date to the hospital. No, it's not what you are thinking. Nothing was wrong. We were attending our first baby class: New Beginnings Family Birth Center Orientation!

Before going to the class we stopped at Perkins for breakfast. I had a craving for chocolate milk. I don't think I have had chocolate milk in over five years (I also haven't had Taco Bell in over five years but NEEDED it for lunch the other day!). The place was an icebox! Why do they make restaurants SO COLD?! I couldn't enjoy my meal :(

Anywho, things turned around when we pulled up to the hospital!!! It is so pretty, located in a very cute neighborhood. I love how I base my choice of where I am going to give birth to my child based on the looks! Even better....free valet parking!

Once we arrived at the classroom other new parents started arriving. There were probably about 20 couples at the class. I felt so young, but I am sure we were all in the 10 year age range. I know the maternity clothes out there are not the best looking, but you can still dress hip. Some of these girls looked like they were wearing my grandma's clothing!!! Personally, I like the site Mom4Life that I found in a free magazine that my doctor gave me (they even sell those crazy wraps that you baby-wearing moms are into). It is also so funny how pregnant women act....they all have that "pregnant stance" where they are slightly leaning back, legs spread, rubbing their bellies. I am sure I will act like that one of these days, but for now I just laugh and continue believe that I will NEVER act like that.

Once we sat down we were given a folder of information and the nurse began her talk. My husband and I had a little bit of ADD and chose to half-listen and talk about the other couples in the room. One couple looked like they were of Indian descent, but had a red haired man with them. Like, what the heck was going on there? Seemed like a personal coach or something...or maybe a sperm donor. They were the only couple that brought someone else along. I am still wondering. As you can tell, I am VERY nosy.

The nurse spoke about the other FREE classes the the hospital offers (Lamaze, breastfeeding, a grandparents class, c-sections, etc). I plan to sign up for all! Why not, they are free! What is there to lose? THEN she went into the procedure of what happens when you are in labor....fast forward....you deliver....."and if you want to bring the placenta home, you are more than welcome to!". WHATTT?!? Now, if you know my lovey dovey husband he began to make (fake) gagging sounds and pretends to throw up. Then we both bust out laughing. WHOOPS! WHO DOES THAT? Who acts like that AND who brings their placenta home? The nurse explained that some people do it for religious reasons. If you have a weak stomach please scroll past the following the I got from the site Placenta Benefits.info:

"Among the Chinese and Vietnamese, it is a customary practice to prepare the placenta for consumption by the mother. The placenta is thought to be rich in nutrients that the mother needs to recover more readily from childbirth. In Italy, women have been known to eat parts of the placenta to help with lactation. Hungarian women bite the placenta to expedite the completion of labor. And knowledgeable midwives in this country have their birth mothers take bites of raw placenta to help stop hemorrhaging, due to its beneficial oxytocin content. There are a variety of potential benefits to placentophagy. For one, the placenta contains vitamins and minerals that may help fight depression symptoms, such as vitamin B6. For another, the placenta is considered rich in iron and protein, which would be useful to women recovering from childbirth, and a particular benefit to vegetarian women."

Anyway, then we took the hospital tour. The nurse showed us where we come in, the triage where we wait to see if we will be admitted, a labor room, the nursery, the JACUZZI (yes, the place sounds like a 5-star hotel, huh?), and a room where the hubby can even stay the night! She also told us that after we deliver they give us a pair of Victoria's Secret underwear!!! My husband makes the comment, under his breath of course, that "of course his wife chooses a hospital with valet parking, a spa, and Victoria's Secret underwear!". HAHAH!

I don't remember much detail of what was said on the tour because I became very emotional. It was happy emotional though. I had to hold back my tears of joy! My husband told me later on that I was glowing all day! I am just SO excited and am loving this stage of pregnancy! (Forget that first trimester....morning sickness took over my life!) The little babes in the nursery were SO cute....so innocent, so tiny, so delicate. Everyone was so nice!

We went on to Babies R' Us to register, but that is a whole other post! Hope you have a wonderful weekend....I am off to a Tupperwear party tonight with my mom (who knew they even still had these.....maybe I'll find some good stuff), crib/furniture shopping and a 30th birthday party tomorrow, and dinner with the out-laws (whoops, did I write that?) on Sunday.

***Mommy-to-Be Stacie

Beach Reads?

We leave for Hatteras in just over a week. I am relying on my fellow blogger to give me some beach read recommendations. What are you favorite reads? Or your favorite authors?

Dads in the Delivery Room

If you are a mom who had (or is planning to have) a natural birth, it is no secret that the whole process may take a while.  Many dads probably don't know what they should be doing during this time...but I'll give them a hint - do whatever you say!  I have heard some very interesting stories from friends & family members about what their husbands were doing in the delivery room and I am really not expecting much from the hubby in this department.  A few years ago we were discussing with a friend whether the dad would want to be up by the wife's head or "down there" when the baby is born.  I would really prefer the first option, but when I looked to the hubby for his answer, he tells the friend that he will probably be out looking for the vending machine. 

I found this funny article on the cradle where women wrote in stupid and annoying things that their husbands & boyfriends were doing while they were in labor.  Here are a few of the best ones...

1. talking on the phone to friends or making work phone calls

2. surfing the web or returning emails

3. fighting with them over the remote

4. chewing gum & blowing bubbles during contractions

5. flirting with the nurses or talking about golf with the doctor

6. telling people it's ok to come in the room to say hello or to stay for the birth

7.  asking the doctor to bring them a coffee

8.  fainting

9.  laying in the bed

10.  asking her to be quiet during contractions because he is trying to sleep

How helpful was your husband/boyfriend during the birth of your child? Anyone with funny stories to share?

A rash is never just a rash...

So Eliza has Coxsackie virus. She broke out with a rash the past few days so I took her to the pediatrician (the new one) for a check. Yes! She was just at her 10 month check up on Monday. No the doctor didn't mention anything wrong with her throat. as for the rash, I was hoping it was just prickly heat.

I should have known that with E a rash is never just a rash. Whenever there is something going on in he teeny weeny body, she gets a rash. The doctor took one look in her throat and said it was Coxsackie. They also did strep test and that came out negative. Thank goodness. So she needs plenty of rest and fluids over the next few days. My poor lil' angel. I do believe she will have had it all by one year of age.

Wordless Wednesday

The ants go marching- buh bye!

We finally had someone professional come in about the ants! They put out baits and gel and all kinds of yummy ant treats. They warned us it might get worse before it got better. It turns out they were getting in through the electrical outlet. I hope they have enjoyed there stay because it is time for them to MOVE OUT!

Tasty Tuesdays

Happy Tasty Tuesday. Thanks Dana for this awesome recipe!
CAJUN STYLED SWEET POTAOTES

Ingredients:
2 Sweet Potatoes
1 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
1 teaspoon Brown Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Onion Powder
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/4 teaspoon Thyme
1/4 teaspoon Rosemary
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/8 teaspoon Cayenne


Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together paprika, brown sugar, black pepper, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

Slice the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Brush each half with a bit of water. Rub the seasoning mix over the cut surface of each half.

Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet, or in a shallow pan. Bake in preheated oven until tender, or about 1 hour.



EAT & ENJOY!!!

Happy 10 Months!

Today was crazy busy. I was up early getting ready to take Eliza for her 10 month check-up. (our pediatrician is an hour away) I also had to drop Alli at my mom's house. She is heading back to N.C tomorrow. I will miss her a ton- even if she told me Pete in unhappy and plays golf so much because I have no boobs or junk in the trunk. Apparently these things are very important to men. I was a little teary eyed as I drove from my mom's. Maybe I was sad because I long for junk in my trunk.

We had our final appointment with our pediatrician. I handed in my request for Eliza's medical records. We are switching to a doctor that is closer to where we live and who takes our new insurance. Eliza's appointment went well. The doctor commented on how strong and active she is a.k.a. had to be restrained just to get her measurements taken! She weighed 18lbs 12oz and is 30 1/2 inches long. I felt a little sad throughout the whole appointment. Eliza's doctors were there through the difficult time when she was hospitalized for a UTI and I have grown attached to them more than I realized. At the end of the appointment E had a Hep B shot and only cried a little. I fought back a tear as I left the building.

She cried the whole hour trip home. When we finally got home she was covered in hives from crying and her poor little eyes were very bloodshot. She cried right through her nap time. I took her out of her seat and realized that she had pooped through her diaper and it was all over. I wonder if it was from the vaccine? I brought her straight upstairs and put her in the tub. Luckily I was able to contain the poopy explosion.

I took her for a walk and she finally fell asleep. I felt so bad for her after the crying/pooping episode.

Pete got home around seven and I went off for my book club meeting. As usual we chit chatted most of the time about everything but the book. My neighbor Kathy made awesome salad pizza and now I can't wait to make it for dinner. It was awesome.

I am exhausted now and need to get ready for bed. I have to admit is was an emotional day.

Meet Stella Mackenzie!

My Lil' Angel& Congrats Tracy!

I want to say Congrats to Tracy. She is now the mommy of two beautiful girls. Stella Mackenzie was born today weighing 6lbs 12 ozs! E can't wait to come and meet Stella.

What day is it?

Friday is supposed to be the easy day. The laid back get ready for the weekend day. I don't know what happened this week, but my Friday started acting like a Monday and I was soo not in the mood.

The day started out relatively well. Eliza slept in a little- probably because she spent most of the night pulling my hair and squirming in bed instead of sleeping. We went on a relaxing morning stroll. I made an appointment for the ant exterminator to finally come take care of those little buggers.

All was going well until...
I locked myself, Eliza and my niece out of the house. We were on our way to the mall and I handed the keys to my niece so that I could carry the baby and the diaper bag down the stairs. She absentmindedly put the keys on the dining room table and then we both walked out of the door. As soon as it shut it I turned around and said, "Do you have the keys?" I already knew the dismal answer. Luckily we were in the air conditioned hallway and not in the scorching heat. She said she had a feeling she was forgetting something- but figured it couldn't be that important. Luckily I was able to laugh, a little, because it is something that I would have done. You can't cry over split milk!

The only people with a spare key to my house are my husband who was over an hour a way at work and my mother-in-law who is visiting her other son in Kansas. GREAT! My niece tried to jimmy the door with a credit card. I let her try just for SH^T$ and giggles. It didn't work. I call my hubs and told him the deal. He called his mom in Kansas who called my sister-in-law. It turns out that the spare keys were at my MIL house 5 minutes away and not with Dorothy and Toto! We were back in the house within a half hour.

Undeterred we decided to venture out to the mall. I was a woman with a mission. I had GymBucks to redeem! I took a bottle because E had to eat before too long. We picked up some stuff at Gymboree and then headed to Old Navy to find some vacay clothes for me. Cut to me trying on a dress in the Old Navy dressing room, discovering that the top of the bottle was not fastened correctly and has now spilled everywhere. Eliza is fussy and hungry. I hand my clothes to the dressing room attendant and mutter something about seeing her tomorrow. Is it time to cry over the split milk yet?


I say aloud to myself, "This is not a good day for me."


My niece responds, "It is never a good day for you."

The topper of the night occurred when E starting gaging and threw up all over the carpet. In the vomit I found a piece of the carpet that looked especially most! Now my daughter loves to pick up fuzzies off of the carpet, but has never eaten one before. I can't even get her to put one of those Gerber Puffs in her mouth, but somehow I am think the stars aligned and she found the coordination to put carpet in her mouth. Makes a momma proud. It is definitely ok to cry over milk that has been vomited all over the carpet.

By that time the hubs was home and mommy ate her pizza, cheese less of course, in peace- and it finally felt like Friday.

Fun Ecoleeko Giveaway!

Check out Recycle Your Day for a fun GREEN giveaway. You can enter for a chance to win a Handmade Eco Friendly Plush Doll from ecoleeko. Also, you can read an interview with Sue the designer who hand makes each doll! They are fun and unique and I would love one for Eliza!

Pregnancy Dreams

Happy Friday! I am surprised that I even know what day of the week it is, considering that I do not have a summer job (so who really cares what day of the week it is because I don't have to be anywhere important at any time!!!) and I have been pretty out of it because of lack of sleep. I have not been sleeping very well the past couple of weeks. I wake up at all hours of the night, just staring at the ceiling. I am not sure why. It is not like I am worried or thinking about things. I am nowhere near stressed - I lay by the pool all day, read my book, and nibble on Bon-Bons! A few times I have felt the need to use bathroom, but other than that, I just wake up and cannot fall back to sleep. I am wide awake for about an hour or two. I have tried counting sheep, stars on the American flag, putting the pillow over my head, and reading. Nothing really seems to work! It is very frustrating because I become very tired and sluggish around three o'clock (after I get home from the pool and should be doing some form of housework so my hubby doesn't think I was lounging poolside all day).

Along with this lack of sleep, I have had some really crazy and disturbing dreams. When I am actually able to sleep, these dreams have woke me up out of dead sleep. They are so real and I can remember every detail so vividly. I did a little research online and babycenter seemed to sum it up why I am having these wacko-Jacko dreams in the best way:

"Dreams are like funhouse mirrors that reflect your emotional state. Since pregnancy can feel like an emotional roller coaster, don't be surprised if your dreams become more vivid and crazy than usual. Dreams also become more vivid during pregnancy because of increased progesterone and increased awakenings from dream-filled REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

Some experts think pregnancy dreams — which can be about everything from tadpoles and fishes to talking animals and towering skyscrapers — symbolize your excitement, fear, and apprehension about the physical and emotional changes happening to you. They believe that certain themes are common to each stage of pregnancy."

Well, I am not dreaming about tadpoles and fishes. My dreams are more about running down the street to my favorite bagel-joint butt-naked and growing a thick beard and then ripping the hair out (it didn't hurt though). So, I decided to go a step further and research some of the looney dreams I have had the past couple of weeks. I used one of my favorite new sites, babyzone, to decipher some of dreams.

My first nut-so pregnancy dream was about running down the street naked to my favorite bagel shop. When I mean my dreams have been vivid, I can say I was clearly naked - not one piece of fabric to cover any part of my body. Everything was out in the open on the warm and sunny morning when this all took place. When I was almost there I questioned how I was going to go any further without getting arrested. That is when I woke up. I looked up "nudity", since that was the "main theme" of the dream, and it stated that nudity represents "feelings of vulnerability and symbolizes how a pregnant woman's condition is exposed to the entire world." Oh, did I expose myself to the entire world in that dream or what!!!

The second dream that I had was about how I was walking around a market fair that was in a white tent (everything at that was being sold was very girly - hair things, pink and purple, ribbons, sparkles) and I had a beard. Now, I couldn't see my whole body in this dream. It was almost as if I were looking at my mouth in a hand mirror. The hair on the beard was on the longer side (about 2-3 inches) and it was a light tan (much lighter than my current hair color) and soft. I was pulling it out, but it did not hurt. Then I woke up. According to babyzone, dreaming about hair "has many meanings. It is associated with beauty, where lack or loss of hair symbolizes passing youth. Long hair represents creativity, while short hair, or hair that's been cut, indicates lack of creativity." I am just going to say that this dream meant I am getting more beautiful and creative as I get older...hahaha! There was nothing about "pregnant women growing beards" on babyzone!

My third, and nicest dream, was about my grandfather who passed away about eight years ago. It took place in my parents backyard. My dad, husband, and I were sitting outside by the pool on a gorgeous day. It was sunny, warm, and not a cloud in the blue sky. My grandfather pulled into the driveway in a maroon car. He was about twenty feet away. He got out of the car, smiled, and waved. That was it! I decided not to look anything up on this dream because I truly believe that it was just my grandfather coming to say "hi" (he came to say "hi" one other time in my dream about five years ago). I was very close to him growing up...my mom and I lived with my grandparents for a long time. He was always the "father figure" in my life, until my dad (stepfather, but I call him "Dad") came along. It is sort of ironic how it was just myself and the most important men of my life in my dream. I think it's neat!

My last and MOST RIDICULOUS dream that I had took place on a couch. I was sitting next to my husband and on my baby bump there was a smaller bump near my belly button. I was telling my husband to pet the baby's head. He took a razor, cut a two inch slit through my yellow shirt, and I pulled out, basically a toddler. Now, this was no ordinary baby/toddler. I hate to say this, but, IT WAS THE UGLIEST BABY I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. It had a huge head, a mop of black hair, weirdo eyes, and a full set of adult teeth. In the dream I thought it was cute. I kept telling my husband to figure out the sex of the baby. Of course it was wearing a yellow, green, and white striped pajama set so he yelled at me and told me to put it back before it got an infection. So, I put it back and that is when I woke up. I was too afraid to look up "ugly baby" so I chose to look up baby and this is what it told me that "expectant parents and parents of young children often dream of babies. These dreams take many forms, from babies who are born deformed or become lost, to dreams of abandonment and death. These dreams are not premonitions; rather they are simply a parent's way of dealing with the anxiety and responsibility inherent in parenting. " I guess I am scared of having an ugly baby???

Did you have wacky-tabbacky dreams when you were preggo? I would LOVE to hear about them!!! Have a great weekend!

-MTB Stacie

The trials of mommyhood

I caved. In a moment of weakness I grabbed a copy of Sleeping Through the Night off the shelf at my local library. I hastily flipped through pages looking for answers as to why my daughter is such a handful when it comes to sleep. Did I mention her new thing is looking into my pleading eyes, smirking, pulling the Binky out of her mouth and flinging it across the room. Sometimes nap time is a battle of who cries first. I usually lose. I just want the poor thing to sleep. As I frantically turned pages, Eliza stood, twisting in her umbrella stroller intermittently yanking books off of the shelf and straining to catch a glimpse of some other kids playing with a nearby dollhouse. MMM Did they have a book on behavior in public?

I didn't intend to peruse the parenting section of the library. However, it was calling to me and my eager eyes could not avoid scanning for titles even though I promised myself I would STOP reading about how to be a good parent and focus on responding to Eliza's needs. I checked out the book. I was weak and confused. I felt good about the book for the whole five minute ride home. Nap time was upon us and with no time to read the book, I held it close to E as we walked up the stairs hoping the sleepy vibes would jump to her through osmosis.

I cried first! I think just having that darned book in my house made me more frustrated than usual. Instead of just going with the flow, as Eliza fought me like a fish out of water, I went into full on Danielle panic mode. This involved calling my husband at work. Never a good idea. I started rattling off jargon like self-soothing, bed times routines, structure, earlier bedtimes, vacation, sleep training, etc, etc, etc. My husband's response to me was that Eliza would most likely end up an only child. This did NOT help my crying as I abruptly ended the call. I retrieved E from her crib and planned to try again with the nap a little later. Remarkably, my frustration eased and I realized why I originally decided to STOP reading books on parenting. I was frustrated because I wanted Eliza to nap. Eliza didn't want to nap and I obviously am not a magician who can put someone to sleep. If anyone knows a sleep spell please e-mail me. Thank you!

I have a nasty habit of letting what other people say get in my brain. My mom and dad telling me I trained Eliza to be a poor napper/sleeper. WRONG! Other moms telling me how their babies take several 2 hour naps a day and sleep all night long. Frankly, it makes me want to poke out my own eyes with dull cuticle scissors. I know every child is different. E is just the kind of different that doesn't like to sleep. I hate to sleep during the day so I know how she feels. The truth is I am very happy co-sleeping with E. I think it has many, many positives that outweigh the negatives. I do struggle with the day time naps but we get through most of the time. A car ride here, a stroller ride there, and a battle of the wills on occasion. I guess it all evens out. I remind myself that she won't die from not napping. She will be a little cranky. And so will I!

I knew it was a mistake to get a book about sleep training. It just isn't for me. I strongly believe that as a parent you have to do what feels right. Listening to Eliza cry never feels right to me. Listening to others tell me Eliza needs to cry it out doesn't feel right to me. The answer is not in a book. It is in me. Even if she is just crying because she misses me- who the heck cares. She is 10 months old and wants her mommy. I am 28 years old and sometimes I want my mommy too. sniff sniff

"After all, tomorrow is another day!"

Parents Just Don't Understand...How to Name Their Kids

So I was trying to think of something interesting to post today...Since I only have one day I'd better make it good! Then it came to me...weird baby names. I was thinking about all the celebrity babies born so far this summer and it seems like one name is wierder than the next...like it's some kind of competition. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying everyone should name their kid Michael or Jennifer. Wait I think I'm back in the 80's...I mean Aiden or Madison. (Not that there is anything wrong with those names at all!)

What I am talking about is parents who get creative...or a little too creative. I like interesting and different sounding names...such as Eliza. AWESOME!! Because it is an actual name. If you have a child and give them a really cool, different, interesting name-then more power to you for being creative! This is not what I am referring to. If your child has a name that is an actual name - I am not talking about you!

I have not really critiqued the names of most celebrity kids born so far this year - Harlow Madden, Honor Warren, Sunday Urban, and even Knox Jolie Pitt. These could be classified as actual names, Fine. But the last straw was the other day when some guy from General Hospital actually named his son Peanut!!! Seriously...are you kidding me? How much is this kid going to get beat up? Who is going to take him seriously in a job interview? There should be some kind of rules about stuff like this.

Here are some actual celebrities' boy names: Kal-el (aka Superman), Free, Spec Wildhorse, Audio Science, Pilot Inspektor, Kyd, Sage Moonblood, and Pirate.

And here are some actual celebrities' girl names: Camera, Fifi, Moxie, Diva Muffin, God'iss, Dixie Dot, and Jagger.

And don't think it's just celebrities who are this wacky...when my niece was born, my sister in law was sharing a room with another woman who also had a baby girl. The parents thought it would be a great idea to name this child Magi. No not Maggie! The middle part of the word IMAGINE. Pronounced like Majj-ie. I heard that people from the hospital actually tried to convinve them not to name her that but it didn't work. There is a 3 year old named Magi somewhere in New Jersey.

Maybe when it's time to name your baby, you will remember this post and realize that maybe Peanut or Diva Muffin isn't the best idea. Please have some mercy on your child :)

If your thinking of making some Green changes...

Recently I have started to think about clutter. I am talking about physical clutter and mental clutter. I came to the realization that the clutter in my house is having a negative effect on how I feel. The chaos I create for myself is effecting my well being and ability to function efficiently. I often feel weighed down and overwhelmed. For example, my bedroom is often littered with clothes. The nightstands covered with who knows what, and the closet doors flung open wide bearing a hodgepodge of clothes, shoes, hand bags and other misc. items. None of my clothes are actually hanging up. At night when I get in bed, I lay there, unable to breathe, feeling like there is a great big grizzly bear sitting on my chest. A grizzly bear named- CHAOS!

I don't want to live in excess. I want to live simply. I want to live cleanly. I want to live an eco-friendly life. And I want my daughter to see me doing my part to keep our Earth healthy. So what do I do whenever I embark on a new adventure? I get a book. I am a book geek. So when I was offered the chance to check out Eco-Friendly Families before it hit shelves I answered with a resounding., "Heck Yea!"

So I have been reading Eco-Friendly Families by Helen Coronato. I received it a few weeks back and have had my nose in it ever since. It is basically a going green guide for families. This book has really been an inspiration to me because it makes going green seem much more manageable! I just know Pete appreciates how I gently remind him to shut off the water when he is brushing his teeth.

The book has lots of great features that make it easy to use.

• A monthly guide to greening up your home


• Chapter checklists to help you stay organized


• Green cleaning tips and tricks to help get the WHOLE family involved in cleaning. Now if I could only teach E to use a squirt bottle.


• Innovative and fun ways to reuse and recycle common household items. * My niece and I have already recycled some old crayons!


• An awesome resource section in the back with websites galore

Since I started reading the book I have made small changes in my house. The hubs and I are de-cluttering and simplifying. We donated some old clothes (which I normally would do) and I am looking into donating old athletic sneakers to Nike to be recycled (new idea!). I located spots in my community to get rid of old batteries in a safe way. I have also started saving glass jars so that I can reuse them. I plan to bring some down to Hatteras on vacation for collecting shells and sea glass. I think that will be a nice way to make keepsakes from the trip. This is only the tip of the burg for us- but I am careful to make slow, small changes I can keep up with in the future.

The book is a good resource for anyone that wants to make some green changes. It is probably best for those who are just starting out with making some positive changes. Of you have been doing the green thing for a while- you are probably already doing a lot of things suggested in the book. It makes it's debut on August 5th but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now for just $10.85

Wordless Wednesday

Scent of Oatmeal

Oatmeal. I smelled oatmeal as I gently snuggled my face into the smooth folds of her neck, careful not to wake her from her golden slumber. I spent quite a while holding E during a nap today. I had my nose stuck so far into a Wife in the North that the time whizzed by- but every so often I would take the time to drink in my daughters lovely oatmeal fragrance- warm and soothing in every possible way.

Sprout Pouch Winner!

Congratulations to Wright from I Gotta Theory About That- she is the winner of the sprout pouch! Happy Babywearing!

Tasty Tuesday

It is Tasty Tuesday. This recipe was contributed by Dana. Check out her blog for another Yummalicious recipe.

EASY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1 (14-oz.)can Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
3/4 to 1 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups biscuit baking mix
granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350°. In large mixer bowl, beat Eagle® Brand, peanut butter, egg and vanilla until smooth. Add biscuit mix; mix well. Chill at least 1 hour.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on un-greased baking sheets. Flatten with fork.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned (do not over bake). Cool. Store tightly covered at room temperature

PEANUT BLOSSOMS: Shape as above; do not flatten. Bake as above. Press solid milk chocolate candy drop in center of each cookie immediately after baking.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

As a child I spent many, many hours reading. It was truly my great escape from the world. I was a bit of a dreamer I guess. I was the type of kid who thought I had superhuman powers that would become available only if I truly needed them. I believed they were hidden deep inside ready to be unleashed. I should have been born into the Beaumont family. The Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a "savvy" — a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Unfortunately, my super powers remained latent. Even though I don't have any powers I think there is a little savvy in all of us- especially all of you moms.

Now you can check out Savvy, Ingrid Law's first novel. It is sure to grab the interest of readers young and old. Check out the e-book below. You can read Savvy for FREE online from July 14th- July 20th.

Savvy by Ingrid Law - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Savvy by Ingrid Law

Just another Manic Monday

Seriously, is it Monday already?

How come when Friday hits the weekend goes in fast forward. Then Monday morning arrives and it all starts going in sloooow motion.

My weekend in review...

Saturday was the day of NO naps. Eliza would just not sleep.Pete was going to A.C. to see Bubba the Love Sponge and I was heading to a Fiesta at Tracy's. It was a busy day and we just wanted Eliza to be well rested. We tried all the sure things- walks, car rides and still no naps. She kept falling asleep in the car and then waking up and crying. She HATES her big girl car seat. As the day went on it became apparent that she had no intentions of any serious napping. She eventually slept a little bit on the car ride down to Tracy's. Unfortunately, the Jersey shore traffic was a nightmare and by the time we got there we could only stay for a little while.

It was great seeing Tracy and family. I can't wait to meet baby Stella! There was awesome food at the Fiesta as usual. However, it took all of my strength not to eat an Empanada. Sometimes being Vegan in no fun. Tracy looked stunning as usual. or maybe she looked stunned at the thought of being in the house alone with a three year old and a newborn for hours on end! You be the judge! :) Trust me when I say that Madison plans on being a BIG help to her mommy.

The ants go marching one by one- hurrah hurrah
Saturday we stayed over at my mom's house. Then we headed back home on Sunday and spent the day cleaning. This cleaning was comprised of attacking the gazillion ants that took over the kitchen in our absence. I HATE ANTS! As we were spraying them with Seventh Generation Cleaner I couldn't help but go all Pulp Fiction thinking "Any of you f***ing pricks move, and I'll execute every motherf***ing last one of ya." I told you I really, really dislike ants. Oh and im addition to the ant massacre I finally packed away my maternity clothes. It only took me 10 months.

Dinner for two three
Last night was the first time we ever went out to dinner with E. Peter and I had a gift card for Applebees so we decided to go out. Eliza was very well behaved. I am so proud of my little pumpkin. And because Eliza was so well behaved I treated myself with a giant glass of apple sangria- because I am such a good mommy. YUMMY!

and then I turned into a TWEEN...
So I am like the hugest loser ever and spent my Sunday night watching the new Ashley Tisdale movie Picture This! And no!- my 10 year old niece did not make me watch it. I think I was secretly brainwashed as I saw the preview probably 100 times over the past week. MUST WATCH PICTURE THIS!

Today is mommies group take two. However, he weekend zipped by so fast I hardly feel prepared. Then again, I am never really prepared. Although, I did have Eliza's swim class bag prepared well in advance last Thursday like I said I would. It is part of my new plan to organize and simplify my life. Stay tuned for more updates on how I am taking control of my mental and physical clutter. And no, it doesn't involve more Sangria- although...

NO NAPS FACE! Trust me when I say- I am smiling through the pain.

Lookin' Back

I decided to dig up some pics of myself form when I was about Eliza's age. I don't really think we look that much alike. I had a major pug piggy nose and a ginormous forehead. I STILL DO! However, she does seem to get her baldness from me.
Look at my old school play pen. RETRO! When I found this photo the other day I kept dancing around my mom's house singing, "Look at Nana in the daisy dukes!" She was only 23 in the picture and one pretty hot mama. woohoo! Now I feel like a big loser rocking my granny Bermuda shorts.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

I'm forever blowing bubbles

Today I am off to see Tracy at her Fiesta.

Here are some pics from our bubble blowing session.









Check out our first post from Stacie!

Cheeseburgers and Turtles

Hello! This is Mommy-to-Be (MTB...I gotta keep up with the blog lingo) Stacie. First, I would like to thank Danielle for asking me to join her New Mommy Rant blog. When Danielle first began blogging, she encouraged me to do the same. One night, afer a few glasses of wine, I began to consider Danielle's idea of starting a blog. My one (and only) entry consisted of a bunch of complaints about my teaching career. I felt like I got everything off of my chest in that one entry so I never wrote another entry. BUT NOW that I have something REALLY EXCITING going on my life I feel like I can talk about it NON-STOP. AND now that I was "officially" invited to be an "official" New Mommy Rant blogger....I can write about it and get some feedback (hint, hint...I love comments!). Well, you guessed it....I'M PREGNANT!!!

I am exactly three months preggo today! My due date is January 24th, 2009. So, about two weeks ago (when I was 10 weeks, 3 days preggo) I had my first ultrasound. Boy, I am not that emotional of a person, but seeing that little lovey floating around my belly gave me goosebumps. It all became a reality at that point. It totally amazed me that the human eye could already see the little nose, eyes, and heartbeat. My OBGYN, who has delivered thousands of babies, said that he is still amazed to this day when he looks at an ultrasound...how touching!!!

At this point, almost everyone and their mom knows that I am preggo. Most of my friends and family do not live in the area that I do so they asked me to post the ultrasound picture online. I swore that I would never do anything like this, but after thinking long and hard I decided to post the ultrasound this past week on my MySpace and Facebook accounts. Boy, did the comments
come rolling in...and one really got me going NUTS!

This morning, my good friend from college commented that I must be having a girl because there are "three dots" not "two dots" on the ultrasound picture. I immediately looked at the ultrasound picture and had absolutely no idea what dots she was even referring to. I saw dots all over the picture. I thought was she was nuts! And wouldn't three dots mean a boy? I wrote her back asking her what the heck she was talking about and what dots on the image she was talking about. I waited like 5 minutes for her to respond and couldn't take it anymore so, of course, I Googled it.


WOWIE WOW WOW! Whoever would have thought! I found many forums where MTB's were comparing dots and lines on ultrasound (u/s) images. These people also claim that the technician's told them the sex of the baby between 10-14 weeks...and that these technician's were accurate. From all of the information (or should I say crazy posts/blogs) that I have read, here is what I learned:

-three dots/lines are the buns and the patty, a cheeseburger for a girl
-two dots means a turtle, which means it's a boy

SO, even after hours of research I still have a few questions that maybe SOMEONE can help me out with....

1. Where on Earth do you look for the dots/lines on the image?
2. Has anyone else heard of this before or are these people nuts?
3. Do you think I am having a boy or a girl?


















YES! I even made the deadline! You'll learn real quick that I am a procrastinator....I tend to work well under pressure! Well, I am off to bed! Hope everyone enjoys their weekend and I look forward to reading your comments!

~MTB Stacie

The Blanket Dilemma

So my question is...at what age is it OK for Eliza to sleep with a blanket?

I am one of those mom's who took the no loose blankets thing very seriously. I am very afraid of SIDS. Attending the funeral of a baby who died of SIDS was one of the worst experiences in my life. You can really never be too safe. However, Eliza does sleep in our bed with blankets but we keep them away from her. Although some believe co-sleeping is dangerous I do believe it is safe if done correctly- but that is a whole different blog post. Now I am wondering when it is OK for Eliza to sleep in her crib with a blanket. She does sometimes nap in her crib and I am thinking if she had a lovey or a blanket it might make her enjoy her crib a little more. Just like if I could have a mid afternoon lovey glass of wine- I might feel better.

I did a little digging and pretty much came up with the same answer-NO blankets in the crib until 12 months of age.

According to Parenting.com

Transitional objects like a teddy bear or blankie help make bedtime less lonely for babies. The AAP doesn't recommend that babies sleep with loveys in the crib until they're 1, so remove them after she's asleep. But if your baby rolls over regularly (usually at around 5 months old), she's capable of moving away from a suffocation hazard, so there's less risk of SIDS. A small, crib-size blanket is also fine for a baby 6 months and older, who can push it off or crawl from under it.

So for two more months no blankets for Eliza at night. During the day I watch her on the video monitor so I am guessing it is OK. I would love for her to have a lovey that didn't involve pulling my hair. When Pete brings her in the bed at night she immediately comforts herself by yanking my hair out of my head. It does wonders for her -but for me- not so much. I try giving her all different types of blankets hoping she will fall madly in love and become sleepy and relaxed at the site of her new found lovey. It hasn't happened yet but I will sure let you all know if it does.

Now where did I put that darn wine opener?

Hope you all have a fab weekend!

New Mommy for the Rant!

I have invited mom-to-be Stacie to write for NewMommyRant! I have gone back and forth in my mind about whether or not to add more contributors to the blog. I finally decided that I want a few more perspectives on life as a new mommy and hope to expand even more in coming months. Different strokes for different folks! I am very excited to have Stacie on board and I know she is excited as well.

In order to keep things more organized Heather will be posting on Thursdays and Stacie will be posting on Fridays. I am a hog and will be posting all the other days.

Random Recipes

I know it has been a loong time since I did Random Recipes but I do have some pre vegan recipes in my collection that I used to love- and sometimes miss. I have to thank my neighbor Stacie for this recipe. It is truly delish. and will become and instant family favorite.

Bacon Crescent Rolls


8 oz Cream Cheese
8 oz Cooked Bacon
1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese
¼ Cup Finely Chopped Red Onion
2 Tbsp. Parsley
1 Tbsp Milk
2 Cans of Crescent Rolls

Preheat Oven to 375
Mix cream cheese, bacon, Parmesan cheese, red onion, parsley and milk, Spread out over crescent rolls.
Cut crescent Rolls and roll up.
Bake for 12-15 minutes- until golden brown.

Hooray For Naps

I just woke up from a great nap and couldn't wait to tell you all about an amazing product called Nap26. It's kind of a funny story how I ended up with it...Danielle was planning on reviewing it but tried multiple times and couldn't fall asleep. Luckily I take naps like it's my job so I was happy to help out.

Did you know that 2/3 of people say that they have trouble concentrating at work because of sleepiness? The average American is getting 6-7 hours of sleep per night. Sleep depravation is a huge problem these days, affecting everything from obesity to sex drive. Although everyone is different and some need more sleep than others to function, I'm sure everyone would enjoy and benefit from a great nap every once in a while. If you need more sleep to be a more productive worker, better parent, or overall happier person, Nap 26 is definitely for you!

I have always noticed that one of the major differences between my childless self and my friends with kids is a huge amount of sleep. I will normally get about 8 to 9 hours on a weeknight and up to 12 on a weekend. Sleeping is like a hobby of mine. Although I am busier than normal this summer between working, babysitting, and starting up a home based business...I still take naps whenever possible. Usually if I have nothing to do after dinner I will hop into bed for a nap. However, I often end up sleeping for about 2 hours and that is kind of a problem. I try to take a short nap but it usually doesn't work that way because I still feel tired and decide to go back to sleep. Feeling groggy when you wake up is the main thing that annoys people about taking short naps. This is because you are waking up from a very deep phase of sleep caled REM. The special Nap26 system makes you feel like you slept for 3 hours and it only takes 26 minutes. You wake up energized instead of groggy. Their special scientific system sends audio signals called Binaural beats straight to your brain while you are sleeping. Pretty impressive considering you can't tell anything is going on! How do you use Nap26? Just download the cd onto your computer's itunes library and onto your ipod. They were super smart to design this for use on the ipod or other mp3 player, however if you don't have one you can also use a personal cd player. Put on your earphones and fall asleep to the sounds of white noise...wake up 26 minutes later to the sounds of birds chirping. Amazingly you are alert, energized, & refreshed!

It is proven that coffee and energy drinks do not help keep you awake because their short bursts of energy are followed by a crash that makes you feel even worse than you did in the first place. And after a while of being addicted to the caffeine, you need more and more of it to get an effect. It is also proven that sleeping pills have very little benefit to helping you get to sleep and eventually your body may also become dependent on them. The makers of Nap26 also make another cd to help you fall asleep and stay asleep at night. For more information about either of these products, or if you want to know how to get yourself into healthy sleep patterns, check out the Nap26 website.

Soothing our way to Slumberville

I recently received a CD called "Dream Baby" to try out with Eliza. I have to admit that I was getting pretty tired of listening to the Baby Einstein Lullaby CD after 9 months! The "Dream Baby" CD is a harp CD by Merry Miller. Before getting the CD I really knew nothing about harp music or how it effected the brain. I was pretty much open to trying anything with Eliza because she has such difficulty settling in for naps and bed time. Yesterday's post was a perfect example of my struggle!

According the paperwork I received with the CD, the harp is medically proven to help stop kids from crying- and adults too. It also states that harp music is soothing for kids with Autism. the notes played on the harp lower the level of stress hormone cortisol and raises the level of melatonin. In other words, it helps to relax you when you are stressed. Eliza does have a difficult time settling down and I have noticed she is much more relaxed after a few minutes of listening she drifts off to slip. She is usually asleep by track number #4. I also feel quite relaxed while listening to the music so I think the harp sounds are helping to relieve my stress as well.

I used it the very first night when it arrived and I have to admit the music is very soothing. It was actually a refreshing change after nine months. I listen to whatever Eliza is listening to through the baby monitor. OK- who am I kidding-we all know I usually end up holding Eliza while she sleeps so I am right there in the room listening too. The CD has some of my favorite childhood songs including "You are my Sunshine", "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Puff the Magic Dragon".

I asked my husband what he thought of it and he said he just wished it was longer. I happen to agree with him on this point. I could use more of the harpy goodness. However, he says it put him to sleep a whole bunch of times. hee hee. I have been listening to Baby Music exclusively since I received it in the mail. I do wish it would help Eliza stay asleep but so far that hasn't happened. A mom can dream right?

Click here to listen to a sampling of the songs.

Mommy Time Out!

I just look innocent!
Today I had to give myself a mommy time out. Eliza did NOT want to sleep at all. I tried putting her down three times with no luck! She would not cuddle with me at all. She was squirming, arching her back and crying. I knew she was tired but she just wouldn't budge. Every once in a while she does this and I just get so frustrated. I start to foresee years of her and I battling it out to see who has the stronger will. It was about 3:30 and I just needed a break. I needed a little bit of silence and calm. So I put her in her crib and went in my bedroom to call Pete for some support. I don't even know what I wanted him to say. I just want him to be there when I want to pull out my own eyelashes one at a time in frustration. Little E was crying in her crib but mommy needed a break. After about 4 minutes I went back in and picked her up. She fell asleep in my arms. I brought her into my bedroom and we took a nap together for about an hour. AAHH the silence that ensued.

She does has one cute tushy butt. Check out her soft Kissaluv's cloth diaper. Super comfy!

Tomorrow we go to swim class again. I needs to pack my bag so I am not running around like a mad woman tomorrow morning. Translation: I will probably not pack a back and end up being a stressed mess tomorrow morning.

Tasty Tuesday er Tasty Wednesday

So this is pretty much my life- always a day late. I am a day late with my Tasty Tuesday but it doesn't make it any less Tasty. Dana knows me all too well and sent me a recipe with black beans and Guacamole. UM- can you say YUMM-O. These are two of my fav foods. Check out Just Talk for another amazing black bean recipe. Her recipe looks so good I just might have to try it out tonight. You won't be sorry!

Black Bean Guacamole

Ingredients:
2 large avocado
juice from 2 limes lime
1 can of black beans(rinsed and drained)
2 green onions chopped
2 tomato seeded and chopped
hot sauce or cayenne pepper to taste



Directions:
cut and scoop out avocado, discarding center. Mash avocado meat, add juice from fresh lime.
Add remaining ingredients with a little salt if desired.

Serve with tortilla chips!

EAT & ENJOY!!