Babywearing Article

If you are interested...

This article makes me want to start a Jersey Babywearing Group/Website!

It helps if I include a link. duh mommy brain

I have been to thebabywearer.com and also wearyourbaby.com (both excellent resources)
I am pretty sure there is no one running a New Jersey group. I am going to look into it for sure.

Still here...Update

I spent my second night in the hospital last night. Pete was going to stay but I couldn't leave my pumpkin. Tonight I might have no choice because I am not feeling so well myself. I think I might have a bladder infection too and I really need some rest. I am hoping we are out of here quickly but I don't think that is going to happen. The doctor said three to five days.

Last night was a little bit rough. We are sharing a room with another mom and baby who is 5 weeks old. I am sure you can imagine how it is at night with two little sweeties in one room. Eliza was up a lot and had quite a coughing spell. The nurse heard her with the door closed and came in to help me out. After that the IV backed up and the nurse had to drain it out- which woke me up. Then at 7 a.m she was out cold and they came in to draw more blood which of course woke her up. I was kinda annoyed-but I know it is necessary. Don't they know you shouldn't wake a sleeping baby? or is that a sleeping dog you shouldn't wake? haha Overall the peanut is in good spirits. She loves all of the doctors and nurses coming in to see her. She is such a ham all smiley and happy. However, it is very hard to entertain her in this tiny room- but we are doing our best.

Eliza has not had a fever since late Saturday night which is a very good sign. We are still waiting for the blood and urine cultures to come back to see what- if anything-grew. We know she definitely had some type of infection because her white cell count was elevated. Depending on the results of the urine culture she might need an ultrasound of her kidneys. She has had some diarrhea from the antibiotics and now they are giving her probiotics to help.

The pediatrician feels strongly that we should take her out of day care. Eliza's little system is just not handling the germ overload well. I wish we had some other option. Pete and I plan on trying to find private care for her.

I just want to thank everyone for all of the well wishes. It really has made me feel wonderful to know so many people are thinking of our family.

We have taken a lot of pics but I haven't been able to get them on the computer. Hopefully I will get to do that soon.

Admitted to the Hospital

So Eliza was admitted to the hospital last night. We decided to go to the medi center because her fever kept spiking yesterday. They were closed so we headed over to the the ER. We were in the ER for 7 hours. They had trouble getting blood from her and had to try in four different spots. They had to put in a catheter to get a urine sample. I was very upset through the hole ordeal. I even had to leave at one point.

The urine was cloudy and had some abnormalities. They think she has a urinary tract infection but it will take 24-48 hours for the culture to come back. She has an IV and is getting fluids and antibiotics.


We found out we were being admitted around 6:00 p.m. and didn't get a room for about another six hours. Pete came up to the room to help us get settled but only one parent was allowed to stay the night. My accommodations ( a chair pull out bed) were less than accommodating. I will have pictures- don't worry!

So we will be here for a while. Pete will be staying the night tonight. I will be blogging via my husband's laptop.

Beautiful Slideshow

I found this link over at Baby Love Slings. It is a compilation of baby wearing mothers from all over the globe. The wraps are gorgeous and the baby's are adorable. I watched the whole thing and it is really awesome. My personal favorite is the mom who is rowing a boat while wearing and breastfeeding her baby. Why the heck am I complaining about not being able to get things done? Check it out- even if you don't view the whole thing.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/ethnicbabycarriers/pool/show/

Date Night Recap & Sick Baby AGAIN

So Pete arrived home a little early from work which was a bonus. One of the first things he said was that Eliza felt a little warm. I thought she felt warm all day and had been checking her temperature. NO fever! So we decided to check it again using the thermometer from the ER visit and lo and behold 101.7 . My sweet pea had probably had a fever all day and I was using a faulty thermometer. GGRRRR So we gave her some Tylenol and she went to sleep. Grammyita and Aunt Amber arrived to watch Eliza and Pete I headed off to dinner. The picture on the left is how I feel that my daughter is sick AGAIN! No, actually I was watching top model and wanted to do one of those mean shots they are always doing. What do you think my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are thinking?

In case you were wondering I did get to shower and also found some deodorant to use. Here we are before leaving the house. Really date night is as big as prom and warrants a photo shoot. It really might only come once every four years as some other Mommy bloggers have informed me. I was not about ot let this photo op. slip away.

Dinner was great and it was good to get away. I had a Yumm-O grilled veggie Panini. I only checked my phone about five times even though we were gone fore 90 minutes. I discovered my tolerance for alcohol has gone WWWAAAYYYY down. I had a vodka cranberry and felt like I had been doing shots all night. I was still feeling it at about 3 a.m.

Why was I up at 3. a. m. you might ask?

Eliza woke up at around 2:30 with a fever if 103.4. Pete and I were very upset. He called the answering service at our pediatrician and they gave us another number for an on call doctor. After calling that doctor Pete reached another answering service that said for all emergencies to go to the hospital. The lady could not advise us as to whether or not this was an emergency. I am a new parent and everything is an emergency to me. I decided to giver her some meds and see what happened. We were pissed to say the least. I gave her some Tylenol and dressed her in light clothing. She drank a bottle and a little Pedialyte and after about two hours went back to sleep.

So I am guessing her fever, rash, diarrhea, and congestion are all somehow related. She has been home with me all week so I am not sure where she picked it up. I do have one idea- at the doctor's on Monday. She did get that dumb vaccine and I am sure there were a million germs floating around the office. I am just so frustrated with her being sick for so long. I want my healthy baby back.

Let me not forget this lovely tidbit of info. In a minute of insane cheapness I bought Target brand diapers. They are the worst diapers I have ever used! Eliza was in bed with us last night and let me just say that her diaper did NOT do its job. I won't go into any more detail than that. I am going back to Pampers ASAP. Lesson learned!

Random Recipe

I was inspired by Pam to post my version (from Racheal Ray) of Philly Cheesesteak Pizza. I made this recipe B.V. (Before Vegan)

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil


• 3 large onions, sliced


• Salt and freshly ground black pepper


• 1 can Pilsbury pizza dough


• Cornmeal for sprinkling


• 2 cups shredded provolone cheese (get it in the bag!)


• 1/2 pound deli-style roast beef torn into small pieces

Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. If you're using fresh dough from a pizzeria, take it out of the fridge and bring it up to room temperature before stretching it out.
Place a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, add EVOO. Add the onions to the pan, season with salt and pepper and cook until caramelized, about 15-20 minutes, stirring every now and then so the onions don't burn. When caramelized, remove from heat and reserve.

Sprinkle some cornmeal or flour on the baking sheet so it doesn't stick on the bottom then roll out the dough and stretch it to make it fit the pan. Brush it with EVOO and bake for 10-15 minutes, until almost cooked through.

Spread the caramelized onions out over the dough to cover. Add the torn pieces of roast beef and cover with cheese.

Bake for about 5 minutes, until the cheese bubbles and brown up.

I am still working on a Vegan pizza recipe.

Stinky Date Night

Tonight is date night with the Hubs. Grammyita is coming over to watch Eliza while we go to dinner at Pete's Golf Club. We really have only been out a few times since the baby was born so I am looking forward to the outing. However, since I am off and we are not doing day care Eliza is way off schedule this week. Today she was refusing to sleep in her crib at all. I love that peanut be she is driving me batty. I don't think she feels well to boot. She has a runny nose and a cough still. She also has a rash on her neck and tummy. oh and let's not forget the diarrhea. (oatmeal allergy? we have stopped giving it for now) So basically I have had no time to shower and my deodorant went missing at some point. You are all lucky this isn't a smelloblog. It is hard to feel overly excited about going out when I stink and look like a hot mess. Should I call and ask them to have my glass of wine waiting at the door?

Anyhoo, before Lil E was born Pete and I planned to have date night once a week.

OK. I have recovered from the fit of laughter at that idea.

But in all seriousness I think we do need to make more couple time. Having a baby puts a lot of stress on a relationship. Everything becomes "about the baby" and that just isn't healthy.I really want to make it a point to have some alone time with my hubs in the future.
I know someone was blogging about date night this week but I have Momnesia. Maybe I will find it on the google reader.

Working on my Resume!

I have been working on my resume- you know just in case my SAHM or a WAHM pipe dream doesn't come true. HA! and I started thinking of all the new and wonderful skills I have as a mom. So here is the start of my mommy resume. I did this in a rush and left out so many wonderful thins I am sure. Please feel free to suggest additions!

Danielle The Mom

Mommyville, USA

Objective: To raise a child who does not need therapy or hate her parents

Education:

• 30 Minute Discharge Class at JFK Hospital


• Babyzone Due Date Club 2006-present


• University of Google

Experiences:

• Changing explosive poopy diapers


• Rocking until I can't rock no more


• waking up every two hours despite fatigue

Special Skills:

• baby wearing


• swaddling


• soothing a crying baby


• folding laundry with one arm


• making dinner with baby on my back or in my arms


• leaving a room without waking baby


• typing while holding baby


• taking rectal temperatures


• blogging while entertaining baby


• forgetting to administers administering baby vitamins


• singing nursery rhymes and finger plays


• bathing a slippery infant

References:
Nana Tamez
Grammyita Miller
Happiest Baby on the Block

On Becoming Babywise

The Baby Whisperer

Anyway, I know many of my blogger buds are in the education field so if you would like to help me out and give my real resume a once over- drop me an e-mail. Anyelday@aol.com

so now I really have to go work on my resume for real!

Being a Stay at Home Mom...is it the right choice for you?

I have noticed many of you commenting about wanting to stay at home with your kids. There are obviously pros and cons to this situation and everyone must weigh them individually to see what works best for their family. I found 2 tidbits of information that make it hard to decide what I would do if I had to choose...


One reason to stay home:
One article I was reading basically was saying that many moms don't realize how little their income actually contributes to the family. Instead of comparing how much you make to the cost of child care...make sure you also take into consideration the cost of a work wardrobe, gas, eating lunch out, and that everyday cup of coffee at the fancy coffee shop. One mom who had a salary of $25,000 per year was actually only bringing home $6,000 after day care and all of her work related expenses.


One reason to work:
Another article stated that when women decide to leave the workforce permanently, they are aware they will be losing their paychecks...BUT they are also losing retirement plans, pensions, and other benefits that come along with their full time jobs. It is possible for a woman who gives up her career to lose out on $700,000 to $1 million in income with all of these factors included.


check out this stay at home calculator if you are interested in finding out if it is possible to be a Stay At Home Mom.

Swaddling Blogroll, & EEEWW Oatmeal

So I was thinking about the Adventures in Babywearing Blogroll and thought I would love to do a blog roll of mommas who swear by swaddling. If you had a baby with colic or sleep problems you know the power of the swaddle. Now the problem is that I need to design a button. So, that is my little project for now. The fact that I have not a clue how to design a button is irrelevant. If you want to get on the swaddling blog roll just drop me an e-mail or a comment. Anyelday@aol.com. If not I will just hunt you down through my Google alerts!

on to her feeding
Her Royal Highness Eliza has been rejecting the Royal Organic Oatmeal. She takes a few bites and then does something with her body that makes me and my husband go into fits of laughter. She squeezes her face all up and tenses her little fists at her sides. It looks like she has a bad case of the willies but worse. I wish I had a picture but didn't have the camera on hand. Note to self- always have camera on hand you are a blogger for cryin out loud.
This is how feeding went yesterday:

• 10:00 a.m. She started screeching in her high chair and I gave her the rest while she sat on my lap. She did that willies thing a couple of time.



• 5:00 Screamed and cried until I put the cereal away and drinks down her bottle in ecstasy.



• 7:30 Takes two bites and then cries. Lets the cereal hang out on her tongue and gets the willies. I try and hold her but that doesn't work either. Daddy gets home and she makes me a liar by happily taking a few more spoonfuls. Then she shows daddy how she gets grossed out by scrunching up her face and body. After this she tenses up when I go near the bowl.

I know she just may not be ready for solids yet. My mom suggested trying the airplane but I don't think that will help. She takes a few spoonfuls before deciding it is the grossest thing she has ever ingested. I would like to try bananas but I am going to give it a few days or weeks. There is really no rush with the solids. Yes I know I will probably have to swaddle and give my daughter a bottle on her first day of Kindergarten. That will be after she wakes up from sleeping in my bed.

Check out Motherland for some great info on babies and sleep. Is that an oxymoron?

Napping & Babies

I know a lot of us have been talking about slowing down to appreciate the small things in life. I think slowing down is also really important in the first few months of a baby's life. I stumbled upon this article concerning naps and wanted to share the wealth. This article discusses Dr. Polly Moore's new book,

"The 90-minute Baby Sleep program:Follow Your Child's Natural Sleep Rhythms for Better Nights and Naps"

Dr. Moore goes into 90 minute sleep/alert cycles and the importance of protecting the sleep of our babies.

Eliza took a lot of naps when she was little- and still does. She always went down about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs after waking. I knew she was getting cranky and saw no point in keeping her up. The more tired she became the less she slept- during the day and at night. I think it is a shame when new parents keep up a busy schedule even with a new baby. On Christmas Day, I think my relatives thought the hubs and I were a little nutty when we strictly adhered to her nap schedule. We really believed in her need for sleep. I did not want an overstimulated baby. Eliza is easily stimulated to begin with- without the hustle and bustle of a crowded party.

I really believe babies need scheduled sleep in those early days. This is one reason I did not want her in day care- I would lose control of her sleep. In these early months babies do so much growing and they need to recharge. I agree 100% with this article. We do need to stop worrying about our busy schedules and protect the sleep of our babies.

got the blogroll up

I put up my blogroll link. It isn't quite finished but at least it is up. Thanks Lori for the help!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and Pregnant Husband?

Today was a beautiful day! I took Eliza out for a stroll. It was very windy but also warm. I am so ready for the warm weather. I hate winter. It is just one reason why I can't wait to move out of New Jersey. My toes need to feel the fresh air. I am a flip flop girl all the way. I am ready for the park and the beach and everything that comes along with the summer. The hubs and I plan on moving down to Charleston, SC as soon as this housing market improves.



A friend sent me this today and I was like WHAT the- you fill in the rest! Pregnant "Man" Due to Give Birth in July Check out the article here. I have a relative who underwent a sex change operation and it is a very serious thing. I am not one to judge and I believe we should live and let live- but this is highly controversial. It is terrible that the couple had difficulty conceiving but I just don't know what to think of their final decision. I just don't know what I would say to Eliza if she ever saw a pregnant man. How the heck do you explain that one? Apparently he is not the first man to carry a baby. I found this site with more info.

HHMMM I think it might be a good idea if Pete carries our next baby. I have just finished getting down to my regular weight and it is time for him to get all fat and flabby. I wonder if he will breastfeed too. This could be good- VERY GOOD! If Pete can carry the babes- I have decided I would like a ginormous family.

All jokes aside-What are your thoughts on this HOT TOPIC ?

I have been snapping some great pics of the peanut today and will post tomorrow. I love being home with my sweet baby girl! I really need to find a way to fund my SAHM dream.

Wordless Wednesday

GO VEG!

Holding my breath and New Mei Tai Moves

I have pretty much been a nervous wreck all day because I gave Eliza some oatmeal this morning. It was her first time with solids since the ER trip last Sat. I know the doc. thinks it was a stomach flu but I can't get past the idea it might have been a rice allergy. So I have been watching her like a hawk all day and holding my breath.

Also, this past weekend I decided to try a new carry with my Mei Tai. It is the high back carry. I need Pete's help with it before I can do it on my own. I did use the shoulder toss to get her up there. I still need a LOT of practice with this one. It went reasonable well. This carry also seems to be kitty friendly
Pay no attention to the snowman pajama pants!

Easy Meals for Mommies

Here is the second installment of Easy Meals for Mommies on Tasty Tuesdays. If I keep getting such yummy recipes that are sans meat I might move them to Meatless Mondays!
Spicy Potatoes Tacos

• 1 TBL Spoon Vegetable Oil


• 3 TBL Spoons (About half a packet) of Taco Seasoning


• Cayenne Pepper to taste (if you like spicy)


• 1 (16 oz) Bag of Diced Potatoes (I recommend Red Skin Potatoes)


• 1/2 Cup sliced Mushrooms


• 1/2 Cup Reduced Fat Mexican Blend Cheese * Leave tis out for Vegan Tacos


• 1 (16 oz) Can of Vegetarian Refried Beans


• 3/4 Cup (plus more for serving) of your Favorite Salsa


• 1 Box Taco Shells


• Chopped Red Onion, Tomato, Lettuce, Olives, Cilantro, Sour Cream (you can also use Tofutti NOn Dairy Sour Cream) for serving

Pre Heat oven to 350, line a baking sheet and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together oil and taco seasoning. Add potatoes and mushrooms and toss until well coated. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Meanwhile, stir together beans and salsa in microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes; set aside

Check out more of Dana at Just Talk

Eliza's 6 Month Appointment

Today we had Eliza's appointment. She weighed in at 14.5oz and measured 27 1/2 inches long. The doc. never gives me her percentiles so I check them out here. On Monday the 17th she was 14.12oz. The poor little peanut lost 7oz from being sick. She also got vaccines today-which I hate. I am not exactly pro vaccine. I think we way overdo them with babies. However, I won't get into that now.

Eliza was very cranky tonight and I am thinking the vaccines were the cause. It took over an hour to put her down for a nap. I was about to lose my mind. I tried to go to the peaceful place I was in while rocking her yesterday. At her appointment the doctor asked me if she sleeps through the night and I said, " NO ". I am usually pretty hush hush about her sleep because we co sleep a lot and I know doc. does not approve. He mentioned "sleep training" and I just nodded my head. I read The Baby Whisperer and On Becoming Babywise and was not really that sold. The other issue is that she still needs to be swaddled and I just don't know how much longer we should keep swaddling her at night.

Anyhoo, my brain is tired now and am going to go watch House- or what is left of it.

and I can't resist a pic as usual...

Larabar Fan of the Day! and "Mommy Bangs"

I am so excited! Eliza and I are featured on the Larabar blog. I am trying out some new flavors and will report back my findings. They are sooo yummy! Check us out- you need to scroll a bit.


Larabar Blog

In other news...

I am wondering how many of you have seen the Friends episode where Monica bangs Ben's head into the ceiling. Here's a refresher.



Well, today at my house we had Mommy Bangs. Poor Eliza- I was trying to cheer her up and bonked her right into the ceiling. I was so upset. I know I am not the only mom to do this but I still feel so bad. My husband said mommy can't play like that anymore. :( I am just happy Eliza can't yet talk and won't be able to tell the doctor I am lying when I blame the bump on her Nana!

We are going for Eliza's 6 month check-up at 1:15. Will report back later .

Eliza's First Easter

Hello! I just wanted to wish everyone a happy Easter. I hope you all had a wonderful day!

Eliza's first Easter basket.


Mommy and Eliza


Daddy and Eliza



Today when Eliza woke up early from her nap she was still a little sleepy and I decided I would sit and rock with her. I don't know what it is about that darn rocker but it always gets me feeling a little sentimental. Maybe it is because my baby is getting bigger and my arms are getting smaller. Maybe it is because I think of the story I'll Love You Forever and I get teary eyed. While rocking in the dark, quiet room I started to think about how big Eliza has gotten over the past 6 months. I know I spend most every day rushing around and attending to things that don't really matter in this life. I also know that holding and rocking my baby does matter because it won't be long before she will be too big and too independent. Childhood is ephemeral and in these cherished moments I try to drink in the essence of my daughter's infancy. I know it will not be here long.

I started thinking of a list of things that you will NEVER hear me say.

1. I should have spent more time cleaning


2. I wish I had held my daughter less


3. I should have let her cry it out in her crib


4. I read to many books to her when she was little


5. I called the pediatrician too many times


6. Going to the emergency room was a mistake


7. I spent to much time worrying

There is nothing that is so important that can't wait while I hold my sleeping baby or spend time with my husband or talk to a friend in need. The dishes, wash, cleaning, bills, etc will get done eventually and if not- WHO CARES! Sometimes I think we get so caught up we forget to stop and appreciate the small things. I know I forget this all the time. And then it is usually in the quiet moments when I remember and things come back into focus.
I hope everyone had time to cherish the important things today.

I could not help but share one of my favorite books. ENJOY!

My 100 Things Post

I am happy to be back to the blog & posting 100 Things About Me. I was sick all this week (I think I had the same thing as Eliza.) Congratulations to my partner Danielle on making it through 100 Posts and hoping we will make it hundreds more. Keep up the great work. And also many thanks to all of our readers!

So here are 100 things about me-Enjoy!
1. I was born August 18, 1980 in NJ.
2. I have lived in NJ all my life and I am not planning on moving out of state.
3. I have lived in 8 houses/dorms/apartments in my life so far.
4. Out of those 8, Danielle was with me in 5.
5. My parents still live in the house where I grew up.
6. They are planning on moving in the next few years to North Carolina which I am not looking forward to.
7. I have one younger brother who is 24.
8. My only real pets (other than goldfish) have been rabbits.
9. I had Oreo when I was younger, he lived for 13 years.
10. I have Chewy now, she is 1 1/2 years old.
11. I have wanted a dog ever since I was a kid and am still waiting to get one.
12. I am 27 and my husband is 30 (his birthday was yesterday)
13. I was the captain of the track team in high school.
14. My best event was the 100 meter high hurdles.
15. I also did the 400 meter hurdles
16. And the long jump
17. And the 100 meter dash.
18. I did not participate in sports in college.
19. My major in college was Computer Graphics & Graphic Design.
20. I was a sister of Theta Phi Alpha sorority in college.
21. I held positions of: corresponding secretary
22. recording secretary
23. and pledge educator.
24. I was introduced to my husband by our mutual friend Dana.
25. At first I did not want to date him because I was still obsessed with my ex who broke up with me.
26. My hubby graduated from college at the same time as I did (from a different school) with a degree in communications.
27. He is currently back in school for a degree in accounting.
28. I worked at a job for 4 years and left last summer for a new job which is down the street from the old one.
29. My daily commute is 1 minute each way and I come home for lunch everyday.
30. I am way under mileage on my lease.
31. I hate doing most chores including cooking and cleaning.
32. I hope someday I can afford a cleaning lady.
33. I love doing laundry!
34. I would do other people’s laundry if they let me.
35. My 2nd favorite chore is food shopping.
36. I also don’t mind loading the dishwasher but hubby must unload it.
37. My favorite thing in the house is the TV.
38. I leave the tv on all night while I am sleeping.
39. I turn on the tv as soon as I get home from work everyday.
40. You will normally see me watching Dr. Phil
41. or Jon and Kate plus 8
42. or anything else on TLC
43. or HGTV.
44. If I get bored and nothing is on tv I will take a nap.
45. I have way too much free time.
46. I got engaged on August 16, 2003.
47. I got married on May 29, 2005.
48. My niece was born 20 days before my wedding.
49. My nephew was born last October.
50. I was with Danielle when she crashed into the toll booth
51. …and the yellow pole at 7-11
52. I don’t drive with her so much anymore :)
53. I usually don’t drink alcohol anymore so I won't have to give it up when I get pregnant.
54. Whenever I buy someone a baby gift, I will buy something baby for myself & put it in the guest room closet.
55. I have quite a collection going in there!
56. I also have boxes of maternity clothes in the attic…
57. and baby clothes (boy and girl) in the attic…
58. and more baby clothes in my brother in law’s basement.
59. The hubby will finally be done with school at the end of 2009 YAY!
60. I am planning on having a baby in 2010.
61. I am planning on moving in 2010.
62. I am planning on getting a new car in 2010.
63. I will be turning 30 in 2010.
64. 2010 will be a busy year.
65. I am very cheap with most things. I will harass the hubby for spending $2 on a coffee if I don’t think he was that tired.
66. I don’t normally buy clothes if they are not on sale.
67. I do enjoy Coach purses but I won’t spend my own money on them.
68. I will save up Christmas and birthday money for as long as it takes to get one.
69. I am extremely good at spelling and grammar and can’t understand it when people can’t spell, use the wrong punctuation, etc.
70. I proofread and correct all of hubby’s college papers.
71. All of my husband’s friends have kids.
72. Only one of my friends (Danielle) has any children.
73. I am not a big jewelry wearer except for special occasions.
74. I always forget to wear my engagement and wedding rings.
75. I never wear them to work, on trips, or anywhere that I can loose them.
76. Even though they are covered by insurance.
77. I would love to back to school one day, but not sure for what.
78. I just like school for some reason.
79. My hubby was never on vacation until he met me.
80. We have been to Disney World,
81. honeymooned in Mexico,
82. and sailed on a Caribbean Cruise so far.
83. My favorite holiday is Christmas Eve.
84. My favorite color is blue.
85. My favorite soda is Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper.
86. My favorite movie of all time is The Sound of Music.
87. I will not drink tap water or anything with ice in it.
88. I normally sleep until noon on the weekends if I have nothing to do that day.
89. My favorite baseball team is NY Yankees.
90. My favorite football team is Miami Dolphins.
91. My husband is the only man I know that does not golf.
92. My father and father in law are both obsessed with golf.
93. I bite my nails and would love to stop.
94. I am thinking about trying hypnosis to stop biting my nails.
95. I wear jeans and sweatshirts to work.
96. I would rather email someone than call them on the phone.
97. I hardly ever have my hair down, it’s always in a ponytail.
98. I just got Hip Hop Abs so I will keep you all posted how I do.
99. I am working on my website for my new invitation business.
100. I will definitely post about it on the blog!

Wow, so there you go! That's me in a nutshell :) Hope to blog again soon, I missed it!

We're gonna rock, we're gonna roll

I took down my blogroll thr week of the blog party so I could revamp the list. If you want me to add you to the roll let me know. Most of you know that I read your blogs and you will be on there! If you are a lurker drop me a line so I know you are here. Thanks!

and I am in a Grease 2 mood now so here you go

100 things about me!

I have reached and surpassed the 100th blog entry. I figure better late than never. So here are 100 facts about me for your reading pleasure or displeasure or whatever.

1. I was born in Rahway Hospital on New years Day 1980. I was not the first baby born so I was gypped out of all the goodies. I have been playing catch up ever since.
2. I hate my birthday. Everyone is always busy.
3. My full name is Danielle Marie Tamez.
4. I did not change my name when I got married.
5. I got married in Cancun, Mexico at the Moon Palace Resort and Spa.
6. I have lived in New Jersey my whole life
7. I plan on getting out of New Jersey ASAP
8. My first dog's name was Rags and he was an awesome wired hair fox terrier
9. I am 28 years young. Actually, I don't mind growing old- it is better than the alternative.
10. I have hazel eyes- but sometimes I say they are green
11. I am 5'2 1/2- don't forget the half
12. I am vegan
13. I have always driven Volkswagens. I have had 4 VW's
14. My next car will most likely not be a VW
15. I once crashed into a toll booth.
16. and a yellow pole at 7-11
17. and a tree
18. and lots of curbs
19. and a car- oops. In my defense I Will Always Love You was on the radio and you really need to belt that one out.
20. My husband and I both graduated from Monmouth University
21. We were both president of our Greek organizations. Phi Sigma Kappa and Theta Phi Alpha
22. In college I earned a full academic scholarship for three years of school. I am not smart- I just work hard.
23. I went to France for a month to learn French. Je m'appelle Danielle. That is all I remember
24. My favorite movie is Gone with The Wind. I want to be Scarlett O' Hara- or at least I want her waist size.
25. I also love the movie Almost Famous. I secretly wish I could live the life of a Band Aid.
26. I decided to get bangs after I saw Kate Hudson with bangs. I hate my ginormous forehead.
27. I don't shave my legs much in the winter. Ew gross- I know. I'm a woolly mammoth
28. I don't know my limits when I drink alcohol. I am like the Energizer bunny- I just keep going, and going...
29. I had a miscarriage on Thanksgiving Day in 2006. It was one of the worst day's of my life
30. While pregnant with Eliza I had a Doppler because I was so nervous about losing the baby
31. I love the Beatles
32. and Bob Dylan
33. and Johnny Cash
34. and anything my parents listened to when I was little
35. I have half of my master's completed (Reading Specialist)
36. I have three cats: Gary, Tigger and Myrtle- all rescued
37. I used to work at a Veterinary Hospital
38. I wanted to be a Vet but did not have the self-confidence to pursue this dream
39. I think it is more important to be smart than attractive
40. I helped my dog Chiquita (you are missed) deliver two amazing litters of puppies.
41. I am a huge Harry Potter fan- hence a cat named after Moaning Myrtle.
42. I currently teach Kindergarten
43. In the past I have taught 3rd and 4th grade
44. I listen to Howard Stern even though he can be off color. I like the sound of his voice
45. I do not gamble- I have no luck. I don't even know what I would say if I wanted a lottery ticket
46. I love to swim. I am pretty good considering I never had any lessons.
47. I suffer from anxiety and have troubling calling places of business
48. I also don't like new experiences at first. There is my anxiety again.
49. My favorite color is Purple. I have a purple couch. My husband has cut me off from buying things that are purple.
50. I went to England for two weeks when I was 12 to visit a family I met while in Jamaica.
51. I am an aunt. I have two beautiful nieces and a handsome nephew.
52. I have been to 3 Madame Tussaud's wax museums.
53. I can't sing or draw very well. I refused to sing in third grade and told the teacher my parents would disown me if I sang in public.
54. I tried to learn to knit but it didn't last. I did make a few scarves
55. I love, love, love to dance
56. I dance with Ellen DeGeneres almost everyday
57. I am a huge Smallville fan. I have a thing for Super Heroes
58. Reading is my favorite hobby. I can get lost in a book. I will read almost everything.
59. except Mrs. Dalloway. I just can't understand the writing style of Virginia Woolf-she makes my brain hurt
60. When I was a preteen I watched Nick at Night all the time. I idolized Mary Tyler Moore and finally met her when I was 15.
61. If I did not have to work I would grow my hair into dreadlocks
62. Writing is a challenge for me. Even though I enjoy it - I can't always find the words to say what I mean
63. I type V-E-E-E-R-R-R-Y SSSSSSSSLLLLLLLLOOOOOWWWWWWLLLLLLLLYYYYY. If I typed faster I would post more entries
64. I love salsa and hot sauce. I can eat hot sauce on almost anything
65. I once refused to sit on the leather couch in my apartment for a year. It was a roommate 's and I didn't want a leather couch. SOOOO-I sat on the floor.
66. I have had red, black, and blond hair.
67. In college I cut my hair off and it was only about an inch long.
68. I am a sloppy mess. There is nothing clean about me. :(
69. I have had braces two times. I might need them again if I don't get a retainer for my bottom teeth. If I didn't have social anxiety disorder my teeth would be straight- because I could call and make myself an appointment.
70. I am learning HTML and CSS for fun. It makes my brain hurt too.
71. I can never remember if turkey has an e in it. turky or turkey
72. My favorite word is genre. I love the way it rolls off the tongue. Say it with me- GENRE
73. There aren't many pets that I haven't had. I have had birds, cats dogs, frogs, turtles, mice, snakes, hamsters, fish, rabbits. I had a two pet Caterpillars. They lived in my window box but were gone when I got home from Mexico. I miss you squishy one and squishy two.
74. Thinking of 100 things is much harder than I anticipated
75. I love Christmas and Christmas Carols. I watch One Magic Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life every single year
76. I work over an hour away from where I live
77. I actually live at my mom's house during the week
78. I do not excel at any sport that involves an apparatus- bat, ball, hoop, racket, etc.
79. I love to cook- but not clean up after I cook. Isn't that why you have kids?
80. I hate to shop. I hate to spend money. I am cheap.
81. I walk around the store with any item I am going to buy. I usually can convince myself I don't need it and end up putting it back.
82. I can never remember birthdays. Maybe it is because I hate mine. Or maybe I think you all should have been born on a holiday to make it easier for me.
83. I love to take pictures and would love to learn more about photography. My husband shares this passion.
84. I hate golf. My husband does not share this passion. A ball and a club- GGGRRR Want to go swimming instead?
85. I never run a fever when I am sick.
86. I rarely wear jewelry and if I do it is usually rings. I never wear a watch.
87. I like the smell of Pete's armpits. YUMM-O
88. My bathroom is Pepto Bismol pink. The hubs said no more purple.
89. I suffer from IBS. I once took a medicine for this ailment that ended up killing people.
90. I want to be a SAHM.
91. I picked up my husband at a frat party. I took him for a ride in my Volkswagen Corrado. I thought I was hot stuff driving my stick shift.
92. My husband says I was terrible at driving stick that night. I still think I was hot stuff.
93. I am in desperate need of a pedicure but I am too afraid to get one after seeing a a Rachael Ray episode on staff infections and salons.
94. I have zero sense of direction. When people give me directions I just smile and nod.
95. I have no intention of going to my class reunion. In the end I will probably change my mind and go.
96. I would love to own my own business someday. I just don't know what it would be.
97. I want a large family. I just don't want to give birth that many times. I would adopt in a second if I had the money. I would also like to have foster children.
98. bottles of beer on the wall. OK that is cheating. But seriously this is no joke thinking of all these things.
99. I would like to get pregnant again as early as this summer- or as soon as my abs go back in place.
100. I am so thankful for my blessed life and all of the people who are a part of my wonderful journey.
101. and one for good luck

Fun with Celebrity Look Alikes

Dana over at Just Talk got me thinking about my celebrity look alikes. I have been told I look like Kate Beckinsdale but she didn't come up!




Who do you look like?
Check it out at MyHeritage

My Bazzle Baby!

Last week before the onset of the tummy bug I received a Banda Bib and a Big Bib in the mail. Both products come from the amazing company Bazzle Baby.

Eliza is teething big time and I can barely keep up with her drool. She is a drool queen and her shirt always ends up soaking wet. The day care requests 5 or 6 bibs a day and she wears one all day long. This is not very stylin for my rock star peanut. When I found the Banda Bib I immediately was in lust. It is a bib that looks like a bandanna. How cute is that? It is super stylish and looks adorable with any outfit. This is a great alternative to a standard bib wich did nothing for Elzia's fashion sense. I figure at least one of us had better look good- and these days it most often is not me. It is super absorbent and fits close to the chin so her little neck won't get all wet.


I sent Eliza to day care with her Banda Bib and I am pretty sure the other tots were jealous. The ladies that care for lil E loved it! They thought it was for her head before I put it on as a bib. They were really impressed by how it stayed close to the chin and caught the dribble! I let them know that Banda Bibs are now available at Target!

The other awesome bib from Bazzle Baby is the Big Bib. We started giving Eliza solids and I figured most of the food would end up on her and not in her. Little did I know I started solids on the same day she would end up with a tummy bug! I needed a good bib to keep her dry. I used my new Bib Big which is 10 x 13 inches and it worked great. I especially like the soft chenille backing. Eliza had tons of fun with her cereal and stayed very dry.


Another great thing is that the bibs are adjustable. A lot of the bibs I purchased when Eliza was a baby are too small for her now and in turn a big waste of money. I am adding these bibs to my list of must haves for new moms.


Once you get your Bazzle Baby gear you can take a pic and send it in to the company. They are holding a contest and one baby will be featured on the front page of the website and win gifts valued at $210. I am entering Eliza and she is pretty darn cute! Bring on the competition.

I've lost that blogging feeling

Eliza is still not doing well. It has been 14 days of sickness at this point- 6 days with the stomach bug and the rest with a cold. She is barely eating and started throwing up again some yesterday. Plus, she has had constant diarrhea. I am just so upset because I can't help her and I don't know how long this will go on. Every time she coughs I worry about her choking. My heart literally stops in my chest. I feel so guilty that she is sick. If she wasn't at day care she would probably be well and happy right now. I feel totally responsible for her being sick and it is killing me. So that is why I haven't really been in a blogging mood much. I am hoping now that I have some time off and she will be home she will start to feel better. I am contemplating calling the doctor tomorrow- but I don't really know what they can do.

I don't even feel like eating myself. Whenever I worry or stress it goes straight to my stomach and I can't eat. Today I was so busy at school I barely had a chance to eat. It was a half day so I didn't have lunch and didn't take a prep because the kids had a party. On the way home I started feeling dizzy and I decided to pull over. I pictured myself passing out while driving with Eliza in the back . I drive on some very busy roads and they can be very scary. I took off my jacket, ate an apple and drank some water and started to feel better. I drove in the right lane just in case I needed to pull over. Luckily, I felt better after my snack and we made it home safely. Very scary!

My sweet little peanut is taking a nap. I really hope she starts to feel better soon.

Here she is before she got sick last week.

Wordless Wednesday

Easy Meals for Mommies

Here is a fun new segment for all of my mommy friends and future mommies too! It is called Easy Meals for Mommies. On Tasty Tuesdays I will feature new and YUMM-O recipes for busy moms. This week's mouth watering treat is Southwestern Vegetable Soup. If you've had something similar at Chili's -you know what I'm talkin about. Now since I am vegan I would change it around a bit by subbing veggie broth for chicken and leaving off the cheese. This recipe was submitted by Dana!

Southwestern Vegetable Soup

6 Cups Chicken Broth

1 Cup Water

1 (14.5 oz) can Diced Tomatoes

1 (15 oz) can of Tomato Sauce

1 (19 oz ) can Red Kidney Beans (Drained and Rinsed)

2 (15 oz) cans of Corn (No Salt Added Corn - Drained)

2 (15 oz) cans of cut Green Beans (No Salt Added Beans - Drained)

1 (4 oz) can of Diced Chilies (Try brands like Ortega or Ole El Paso)

1 large Yellow Onion7 diced Corn Tortillas

2 TBL spoons of Garlic Powder

5 TBL Spoons of Chili Powder

Cayenne Pepper to taste

Garnish with Shredded Cheddar Cheese and Tortilla Chips

Combine chicken broth, water, diced chilies, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce in large pot. Drain and rinse the kidney beans, drain the corn and green beans - add to the pot. Dice 1 large yellow onion and corn tortillas and add. Be sure to mince the corn tortillas into small pieces with a sharp knife before adding them to the soup. Add the Cayenne Pepper, Garlic and Chili Powder. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the soup has thickened and tortilla pieces have mostly dissolved. (Make sure you stir the soup often, this is important!) To serve soup ladle 1 1/2 cups into a bowl. Sprinkle grated cheese over the top of the soup and then add heaping tortilla chips over the cheese and Enjoy!

I am a Klutz- VENT

I really can't take it anymore. I just keep breaking things. I don't mean to be so clumsy- I swear.

In the past two weeks I have...

• 
  crashed into the curb at day care and the grill fell off my car as I was leaving. I tried to pretend it didn't belong to me because I was embarrassed. I really pulled this off by driving over it with my own car.


• broken the paper shredder after trying to shred two sheets at a time. The darn machine said I could do up to six. LIAR!!!!


• dropped the tiny penguin head from Eliza's brand spankin new humidifier and cracked the plastic. Now the steam shoots out of his neck and his beak. Why does a humidifier need a head anyway!?

* Even though this does not count as breaking something it still upsets me. Today Pete had to pick up Eliza from day care and take her in to the doctor. He called to tell me he was going and I said, " okie dokie!" Cut to an hour later when Pete is at the day care center and realizes I have the car seat with me. Good job Danielle! He had to go borrow my mom's car to take Eliza to her appointment. I would have killed me. Luckily he was not too mad.

I can't take it anymore! I don't know why these things always happen to me. GGGRRRR! I am sure that after my husband reads this post he will add several other things I have broken to the list.

OK...now that I feel better. Eliza's regular doctor confirmed that the on call doctor was an idiot to tell us to give her 6oz of Pedialyte all at once. Now we are giving her formula mixed with a little water and feeding her less every two hours or so. She is still not herself and has had some bad diarrhea.

Bad Diarrhea + Poop up the back = Lots of extra laundry

Potty Training 101

I read an interesting article this morning about a potty training class at the Children's Hospital in Boston.  This 6 week program uses books, music, and art to help children that are afraid to go on the potty overcome their fears and learn how to use it.  While the children are in "poop school", a psychologist talks to the parents in a separate room and gives them advice on potty training.

read the article

According to the hospital's website, the average age for toilet training is 27 months.  You should not begin until they are ready; it can turn out to be a battle for you and the child.  Signs they are ready to begin toilet training include:

• asking to have their diaper changed or telling you they are about to pee/poop

• showing discomfort when their diaper is wet/dirty

• following you into the bathroom to see how to use the toilet

• wanting to do things to make their parents happy

more about toilet training on their website

Obviously I will not have to worry about this anytime soon with my own child.  My niece (turning 3 this summer) is almost completely potty trained.  She loves to get a sticker or an m&m when she uses the toilet.  She was fairly easy to potty train, I have heard it is much easier to do it with girls than boys.  I know she learned from books and potty-themed episodes of her favorite shows.

Anyone out there have any good tips or tricks to make it easier to potty train your child?  Or you can feel free to share any funny potty training stories!

Dehydration & Babies

My big concern when Eliza was sick on Saturday was dehydration. It seemed like everything that went in was coming back up and I started to get scared. The fact that it was a weekend and the doctor on call at my pediatrician was not a doctor I know or have even ever met all added up to one thing- PANIC! I am sure that my husband and I panicked a little by bringing Eliza to the ER- but the alternative to panic is always the driving force behind many of my decisions. I didn't want to wait and wait and have it be 2 a.m. with my daughter still throwing up and still have no answers. Dealing with the doctor's answering service is no fun- AT ALL! As new parents we just weren't sure what to do and it was scary. As a mother I wanted to make my baby girl feel better. My inability to do so was killing me.

After this upsetting episode I decided to look into signs and symptoms of dehydration and found the following. At the ER the nurse practitioner showed us how to check her fingers for dehydration. She gently pressed them (she did tips- but I read you can press the nail beds) and took note of how long it took for the capillaries to refill and go from white back to normal. She said any longer than 2 seconds is a sign of dehydration.

Other signs

• More than six hours without a wet diaper
• Dark urine with a strong odor
• Lethargy
• A dry, parched mouth and lips
• No tears while crying
• Sunken eyes
• Hands and feet that feel cold and look splotchy
• Excessive sleepiness or fussiness
• Sunken soft spot

Eliza was drooling and had tears which was a good sign. However her hands were very cold and she was very sleepy and fussy. If I had to do it again I would still bring her in for a check. In my opinion it is better to be safe. When this happens again (and I am sure it will), I will try giving her just a little tiny bit of Pedialyte every fifteen minutes. The doctor on call said to give her 6 oz and that all came back up. That was just bad advice! I know we should have tried giving her smaller amounts more frequently- but like an idiot I listened to the doctor and went against my own better judgement.

Thank goodness that the next time this happens I will be more prepared to handle the situation. As a new parent these things can be very scary. I personally think the best way to handle them is to cry and panic arm yourself with information.

For more information on treating dehydration check out this article from the Mayo Clinic.

Fantastic Bean Chili

Pam is hosting a Tex-Mex Random Recipe exchange! Here is a great Vegan Tex-Mex recipe for all of you Chili fans!

Fantastic Bean Chili

1 onion, minced
1 clove garlic minced (I grate mine on a micro plane)
1 shallot minced
1 green pepper chopped
1 (15 oz) cans black beans, undrained
1 (15 oz) cans pinto beans, drained
1 (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
1 (14.5 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 package frozen corn
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon Mexican oregano (or regular if that is all you have)
1 tablespoon basil leaves
½ tablespoon cayenne pepper
½ tablespoon Cumin
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

In a large heavy pot over medium heat, cook onion, shallots, green pepper and garlic until all are soft. Stir in beans, corn, tomatoes, chili powder, cayenne, cumin, oregano, basil and vinegar. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the beans. Reduce heat and simmer! Add whatever beans you like. You can use all black bean or kidney if you wish. Play around with the spices to make it a spicier or milder chili. Just have fun and make it your own!

Eliza Update

My little peanut is doing better. Last night at the ER she threw up all over the table when we were with the triage nurse. I felt so bad for her. They took an x-ray and there was no obstruction in her belly and her lungs were clear. She wasn't dehydrated so we were sent home. We gave her about 1 oz at a time throughout the night and sat up with her a little to make sure she was OK. She kept it down and is doing much better. I will thank her when she is older for making the first time I fed her solids so memorable.

My Sick Little Girl

Eliza has been very sick today. She has been getting over a cold and she has a ton of phlegm dripping into her belly. I thought she was doing OK in the morning so we introduced rice cereal. About 3.5 hours later when my hubs gave her the next bottle she threw it all up everywhere. I was worried about a rice cereal allergy but the doctor on call mentioned she might have a tummy virus. After talking to the doctor he said wait four hours and give her Pedialyte. We did that and she immediately threw it up all over. I am so worried about my little peanut. She has had a low grade fever been so sleepy and cranky all day. She has barely had anything to eat. DH is trying to give her a little more pedialyts and we will see if she can keep that down. she threw it up- we are off to the hospital

Pretty Momma Sling

I recently decided to try a ring sling and purchased one from Pretty Momma Sling. I had been enjoying my Hotsling, but after losing some weight it just didn't fit right anymore. I figured ring slings are adjustable and could be used by more than one person. Are you listening Nana?

I finally decided on this brand after reading about their amazing Hemp baby slings that are made with organic hemp fibers. It is an Eco-friendly sling that also provides UV protection for my fair skinned beauty. I know I will get lots of use out of this sling because it holds up to thirty-five pounds and my little peanut is only about 15 lbs right now. The lightweight material makes it a great sling for all seasons. Plus, I do like the fact that they are pretty momma slings! Us mommas need some lovin too.

I was so excited when I received my sling in the mail that I decided to rewatch my Tummy-to-Tummy video to review some of the different techniques and carries you can do in a ring sling. I set up the sling and once I got it into the correct position we were ready to baby wear!

I tried Eliza in a few different holds including the Snuggle Hold, The Hip Hold and the Kangaroo Hold. Eliza really liked the Hip and Snuggle hold. The sling is very easy to use after a few tries. You shouldn't be deterred by a ring sling because you think it will be difficult to use. If you are pregnant it is an excellent choice because you can adjust it as your drop the baby weight. I really love this sling. It was very comfortable to wear. The fabric is soft and I know it will get a little softer with each use. I can't hardly wait!

Here are the pics of Eliza and I on the Pretty Momma Sling Website!

http://www.prettymommasling.com/store/Wsancillary.asp?ID=123

If you decide you want to purchase one of these beautiful slings you can click my pic. above, copy and paste the link below or click the button on my sidebar! Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions Anyelday@aol.com

http://prettymommasling.com/store/affiliate.asp?aff=195

Kagome Juice! YUMM-O

Prior to becoming pregnant I started to think more about what I was putting into my body. At the time I drank a lot of diet coke. I used to crave diet Coke and look forward to a cold can every day at lunch. My father enlightened me on the truth about artificial sweeteners- but I continued to drink the fizzy goodness. After a while my mom and dad stopped buying soda of any kind and I eventually decided to try and kick the habit. It was very difficult at first, but like anything else it became easier in time. Now that I don't drink anything with high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners, I pretty much live off of seltzer and water. This can get a little bit boring so I am always on the lookout for healthy beverages.

And now I bring to you Kagome...

A friend at school recently introduced me to this juice. I tried Yellow Mango Orchard and it was Mangolicious. The juice is filled with amazing veggies, including mangos, apples, carrots, beets
and bananas. They carry this juice at wholesale clubs, supermarkets and other natural health food stores. Just head on over to the website and pop in your zip code to see where you can stock up on this healthy goodness in a bottle. Or if you can't manage to get your lazy butt out of the house you can order some online! If you are really feeling adventurous the website also features some great recipe ideas!

Who wants a clean house? I do! I do!

Yes! It is true. Deep down inside I know there is a neat freak just dying to break out. I am like Felix and Oscar trapped in one body. It is not easy being both parts of the odd couple. I love having things neat and tidy. Mess annoys me to no end. I spend most of my time annoyed at the disorganization in my house, car, purse, desk, etc However, everything I touch turns into a disaster area. It couldn't have been gold. No! Instead of the Midas touch I got stuck with the messy touch. Why is it that I just can't get it together and get it clean. When I am not making a mess, I spend the rest of the time devising lists and plans on how to get it clean and keep it clean. That leaves zero time for actual cleaning. I also spend a small amount of time waiting to hear Niecy Nash calling outside my door, "Who wants a clean house?". To which I shall reply, "Me! Me! Me!"

This problem goes way back to my childhood. I was cursed with NEAT parents. In my mom's house you buff the knobs in the shower to a shine when you are finished. No piece of clothing or paper is ever let astray. I grew up with this level of cleanliness and I am still not sure how my mom manages to make Danny Tanner look sloppy. This is where the problem lies. I am messy at heart but grew up with things neat. I am at constant odds with myself.

Maybe one day they will discover a gene abnormality for messy people. I am probably missing the clean gene or something. There must be a good explanation for my anal expulsive personality. I just haven't discovered it yet.

Now that I am a new mom and a working mom the mess just seems to be getting worse. So I have put together this handy list so I know when it is time to complete some common household chores.

You know it is time to . . .

• wash the kitchen floor- when you can make a thirty minute meal from the crumbs
• dust the living room- when you use the dust on your t.v. to play pictionary during game night
• water the plants- when they turn brown. Brown is the new green.
• vacuum the rug- when you can make a cat hair coat with the hair in the vacuum bag
• do laundry- when you have no clean socks but find 8 dirty pairs tangled in your bed sheets
• clean the litter box -when the cats have packed up and moved out
• fold the clothes- when there are no more laundry baskets left to use
• clean out the fridge-when you get tired of playing "Name that Smell!"

I am not really all that bad. And I would really like to get things organized. To redeem myself I do have a Danielle Checklist of staples that I use before I go food shopping. I do plan meals for the week. However, when it comes to cleaning I am a slacker. I know some of you have channeled your inner Monica Geller and have mastered the art of NEAT! Let's hear from you anal retentive super organized moms. What are your tips on keeping a clean house?

Wordless Wednesday

Sleepy Wrap Contest

OK...well I know I already have too many wraps- but if I want a sleepy wrap it is my business. haha . I am an addict. I know! I know!

If you want to win a sleepy wrap check out the contest at An Ordinary Life and also check out the sleepy wrap site to check out these great wraps. My favorite line from the testimonials is, "“Sleepy Wrap-How do I love thee. Let me count the ways."

Baby Shower Ideas & Fun with Rectal Thermometers

Before I get to my cute baby shower ideas I am going to tell you why taking your baby's rectal temperature on lack of sleep can be hazardous to your health. I took Eliza's temperature the other night to see how her fever was doing. I am a crazy mom who always things the thermometer is lying and that my daughter really has a 105 degree fever even though the reading says it is 100.8. So after I take her temperature and it is about 100.4 I decide I am going to take my own temperature. Now I have NEVER really had a temperature. I know it is hard to believe but it is true.I just don't run fevers and I never have. After giving birth I had a low grade fever of like 99. Pathetic! So when I take my temperature- under my arm- it comes out to 94.6. Now I am thinking the stupid thing is broke even though the hubs only bought it five hours earlier. So I am like the arm pit must be inaccurate and I go to pout the thing in my mouth. Oh yea! It was in Eliza's booty not only 10 minutes before. Good thing I realized what I was doing and stopped myself. Good Grief!


I know I have a few baby showers coming up and I am trying to think of some fun gifts for the moms-to-be. I know many go the registry route but I think sometimes the best gifts are the unexpected ones that really come in handy. At my shower a friend gave me the cutest gift. She used an inflatable duck from Munchkin and filled it with tons of bath goodies. It was awesome. This is great go to idea. Here I am with my tub-goodies!

Also, I have been thinking of putting together a Happiest Baby on the Block gift basket. I would choose from a few of the following items depending on my price range.

• Happiest Baby on the Block book or DVD
• A Binky
• Some swaddle blankets.
• A kiddotpotamus Wrap.
• White Noise CD
• Bounce-a Bye Baby

What are your fun baby shower gift ideas?

Should You Pierce Your Baby's Ears?

While taking Danielle's baby carrier quiz, I came across an interesting slideshow about piercing baby girls' ears.

check it out

I have always been opposed to piercing a baby's ears for many reasons. I heard somewhere that all of the nerve endings in their heads are very closely connected and pain in their ears can be felt all over. Also I know that there is no way I can sleep at night with earrings in because of the backs of them poking in my head while I am laying down. It hurts! Imagine how annoying this is to a baby. Also the earrings often get tangled in the baby's blankets and clothing and can possibly rip out.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like the child should be old enough to make this decision themselves. My 2 year old niece had her ears pierced and was very upset about it and was begging for us to take them out. She is ok now but I was traumatized looking at the pictures of her getting her ears pierced. I also feel like people do it mostly for the selfish reason that others can't tell that their baby is a girl. I feel like maybe wearing pink or purple clothing or a hair bow would solve this problem much easier.

I also know that the accessory stores in the mall will pierce a baby's ears and I think that is just wrong. I feel that if you absolutely need to have this done then your child's pediatrician should do it (most are qualified and trained).

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Babywearing Quiz from Babyzone

We are home sick today!

Here is a fun quiz from baby zone. It said my baby wearing style is a wrap or Simple Piece of Cloth.(SPOC) Don't tell my husband- he might try to stop my baby carrier addiction. What kind of carrier are you?

http://www.babyzone.com/quizzes/quiz.asp?quizid=135

Also, here is one of my other favorite un-baby related products. It is a Netti pot. I use it to clean out the old nasal cavities, yummy! I swear it does help if you have allergy or sinus problems. I would have made my own video if I had my camera computer cord thingy ma bobber. It really is as fun as it looks.

Meme Monday

Thanks to my partner Danielle for tagging me!

1) Link to the person who tagged you.
2) Post the rules.
3) Share six non-important things / habits / quirks about yourself.
4) Tag at least three people.
5) Be sure the people you tagged KNOW you tagged them by commenting what you did.

OK 6 random things about me...

1. My job has an extremely relaxed dress code so I wear jeans to work everyday. Well that's kind of a lie, sometimes I wear sweatpants!!

2. My favorite drink in the whole world is Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper and I drink 3-5 cans per day (I know, I know that is not good.)

3. I asked (more like forced) my husband to buy me a designer diaper bag for my birthday 2 years ago because I thought it would make him get used to the idea of having a baby. (It didn't and everyone just makes fun of me about it.)

4. I hate ice in my drinks! Not because it's cold, because I don't know where the water that made the ice cubes came from. I will also not drink water unless it comes from a bottle and the bottle is sealed...Yes I know it's psychotic.

5. I love Dr. Phil and I record his show everyday and watch it at night while hubby is doing homework.

6. I really want a dog (a boxer) but our townhouse is kind of small so I got a bunny instead. Her name is Chewbacca...Chewy for short. She hops around the house and goes potty in a litterbox just like a cat.

I think the people who I normally read were tagged for this one already, so I am going to branch out and tag 3 recent commenters on our blog. Looking forward to making some new bloggy friends!

I am tagging

Lisa

Laura

Sheri

Monday Meme and a Quickie

Meme Monday!

Lori and Pam tagged me for this Meme and I am just getting around to it!


1) Link to the person who tagged you.
2) Post the rules.
3) Share six non-important things / habits / quirks about yourself.
4) Tag at least three people.
5) Be sure the people you tagged KNOW you tagged them by commenting what you did.

OK...these are all from my husband!

So here are six strange facts about me:
1. I chew with my mouth open. Gross! I know. I know.
2. I hate when people put mail on the kitchen table
3. When it comes to undies- I always go for comfort
4. I spend way too much time trying to get new baby wraps
5. I like my food to be burning hot- I remicrowave several times to achieve this goal
6. I put salsa and/or hot sauce on everything.

I tag Heather, and Amber


OK...and since I have a story I will tell it now. I have not been feeling well and yesterday I was sooo tired. I made some yummy bean and rice burritos for dinner. I spread delicious Tofutti sour cream on the tortilla. I was enjoying my dinner and my husband inquired, "Are you tired or did you mean to put cream cheese on your Burrito?" Enough said.

I finished my burrito when I was done laughing/crying.

Blog Layout Props!

I just want to thank Shera from Sweet 'n Simple Designs. She did an Amazing job and created a design that was exactly what Heather and I wanted. Please check out her site and her AbFab designs!

Also props to my bloggy partner Heather for making the cartoons hot like us!

Saturday Social Meme

I am a day late- but Lisa tagged me for her new Saturday Social Meme.

How long have you been blogging and what do you love best about it?

I have been blogging since December. What I love most is the chance to be creative. I enjoy trying to think of new and interesting things to blog about. That and posting cute pics of ELIZA for everyone to enjoy.

I tag Sheri!


* From now on I am going to save my Memes for Monday. I think I have another one to do around here.

Blog Party Slideshow

Blog Party Woo Hoo

We are rolling out a new layout for the blog party! Please let us now what you think.

Hiya! I am Danielle aka. Thirty Minute Mommy. Welcome to the New Mommy Rant. I started this blog because I am a golf widow. I needed something to fill the time when my husband (Peter) was at the course. He suggested blogging and it took off from there. Now, I am a full blown addict. What will you find here? - Lots and lots of pictures, book reviews, recipes, product reviews, and hopefully a lot of laughs. I am the mom of a beautiful 5 ½ month old girl named Eliza. I am also a Kindergarten teacher. Put it all together and what do you get- one craaazy momma.

Here is my pic. Take a long hard look. Burn the image into your memory because it is probably the only time you will ever see me with my hair done. Also, Chewbacca called and wanted his eyebrows back so I finally had them waxed. I had to grow them out after the wax lady gave me the Lil Bow Wow look.

They just don't make wine glasses big enough for new mommies! Cheers! Let's get this party started!

AND NOW MY BLOGGY PARTNER!

I am Heather aka. Future Mom. I was a faithful reader of New Mommy Rant ever since Danielle started it. I have always been to into baby products, parenting books, and basically everything baby for as long as I can remember. The only issue so far seems to be that we aren't really ready for a baby at this point. Let me rephrase that statement...I have been ready for years but hubby left his job to go back to school and thinks that it's a bad time to add to the family.

So since he is in school full time and working part time, I am home alone and bored a lot. I guess I have a lot of knowledge about kids for someone who doesn't have any...so Danielle thought I should get on the blog bandwagon and start my own. Honestly I don't know if that would have been very good because I can't get as much content as she can since she has an actual child. So I came on board here and I am loving it.

What you can look forward to from me: random stories about my pseudo-children (my niece and nephew), polls looking for reader input on various situations, and summaries of books I read and would like to pass on to you. Also I might decide to write my thoughts on TV shows about babies, articles about babies, products for babies...I think you get the gist of where this is going. Anything baby is right up my alley!

Aside from spending time blogging, I am a graphic designer for a living and also have a side business of designing invitations.

Here are two of our favorite recipes!

Chickpea Tacos

from Danielle
1 medium onion, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 celery stalk- chopped

1 medium green bell pepper- chopped

3/4 packet of Taco Seasoning Mix- Your Favorite

15-ounce can chickpeas, drained

Salsa- to taste- about 5 tablespoons

Burrito or Taco Shells

Heat oil in a pan. Toss in onion, celery, and green pepper and cook until softened. Add chickpeas, salsa, and taco seasoning mix. Cook until warmed. Use an old fashioned potato masher to mush it up a little. Fill em up and top with your favorite taco toppings, YUMM-O



Slow Cooker Pot Roast

from Heather

what you need: slow cooker, slow cooker liner bag (optional for less cleanup), skillet or large frying pan, tongs

ingredients:

boneless chuck roast (2-3 lbs)

vegetable oil

garlic powder

black pepper

1 onion (medium size)

3 bay leaves

4 beef boullion cubes (crushed)

2 garlic cloves (crushed)

1 can Campbell's Golden Mushroom condensed soup 10 3/4 oz (if you can't find this one regular cream of mushroom works too)

1 can whole white potatoes1

lb. bag carrots

water

Sprinkle meat on all sides with garlic powder and black pepper (to taste). Heat up a skillet and pour in some oil so that you can sear all of the sides until brown. Then take it out with tongs and place in the slow cooker. Slice the onions and place them in a layer on top of the meat. Peel the carrots and cut them into halves or thirds and put them on top of the onions. Drain the can of potatoes and put them in whole or cut in half. Next add the bay leaves, crushed boullion cubes and crushed garlic. Pour in the whole can of condensed soup and then add enough water so that everything is covered.

Cook on low setting for 8 hours.

Interesting Vaccine/Autism Article

I was catching up on my posts and this article caught my eye over at Adventures of a Breastfeeding Mother.

Super Tabs- I think NOT!

Here is proof that teaching Kindergarten makes me do cooky things

February 1986

Here I am in first grade at a new school. As many know, February is Dental Health Month and lots of students get a fun little packet from the dentist (or toothpaste companies) to take home. You know- the toothbrush and little coloring book- maybe a tooth magnet if your lucky. This particular February, I kept hearing from my friends about these little red tablets that you chewed up to show the plaque on your teeth. Apparently, they all had received them in the dental goody bag the year before. My previous school must have been LAME. I was so exited as these tablets were the talk of my class and I would finally get to try them out. I was just sure my teeth were covered in plaque that would magically turn red before my eyes. Finally, the goody bags arrived. My friends and I opened them up only to discover- NO TABS! I was jipped that year and every year after. In my mind these magic tabs were an urban legend. I doubted if these tablets even existed.

February 2008

It is once again Dental health month and I am now teaching Kindergarten. The goody bags arrive at my classroom door ready for distribution along with some special instructions. Please remove the Crest Supertabs from each packet. WHAT? SUPERTABS? The name is even cooler than I had imagined. I guess the higher ups figure the little ones might end up eating the tabs and thought it best to remove them. GOOD CALL! My guess is that this is probably why I never ended up seeing these tabs during my school days. My aide carefully removed each and every tab packet and I nonchalantly volunteer to take them. I couldn't watch all those magic tabs go into the circular file. I figured my nieces would enjoy them when they came up for a visit. I had no intention of using them myself. That would be just silly.

A few nights later I was getting ready for bread and brushing my teeth. I remembered the tabs and decided to give them a try. Now I did brush before using this tab. I had to brush about five times to get the red off. My toothbrush is now pink. Somehow these tablets did not live up to my dream. Instead I ended up looking like I should be hunting for real estate in Transylvania.



I checked it out and they are not for kids under 6. This is what was in my kids packets at school. I never bothered to read the directions.

Day Care Update

There was no day care for Eliza because she was up with a fever Thursday night! Sick!!!!

Say Whaaaaaaat?

Before Eliza arrived I never thought I would be a baby talkin momma. However, I now hear the most ridiculous things coming out of my mouth. I wrote them down and realized I use the word stinky a LOT. It isn't like Eliza is a smelly kid or anything. I just really like the word I guess. It makes sense that one of my favorite kid's books is I Love You Stinky Face. I hope my daughter doesn't grow up with a stinky complex.

Here is my list

1. Who has a booger nose?



2. Are you a stinky ba-dinky?



3. Let me hear a big girl burp!



4. Did you make stinky farts?



5. That was a big pooper dooper!



6. Are you doing a stinky doo doo?



7. Who's my Eliza, Beliza, Deliza, Meliza- you get the drift.

I see a bodily function theme here. I am sure there are more and will jot them down if I remember. I will also seek psychiatric help as it appears I must have some sick fixation with stinky farts and doo doo.

Eliza did really well at daycare again. I called at lunch to check on her. I tried not to but I am WEAK! I picked her up at three thirty and the lady was singing to her and rocking her with her bottle. Eliza had a huge smile. When she saw me she started giggling and squealing. She seems to really like it there. That makes me so happy. I guess she was tired of being with boring old mommy all day.

Here she is on her first day of school. Do you see the look she is giving her carrier?Here she is on her second day of school.

I do have one gripe. They wanted me to bring diaper rash cream. I only use Vaseline on her and Triple Paste when she really needs it. I don't like the chemicals components in many diaper creams. Desitin is a 5 at the Skin Deep site and I would just rather us something else.