I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure. - Mark Twain

"You are neither responsible for his tantrums nor for stopping them. The "goodness" of your baby is not a reflection on your parenting ability. Tantrums are common when a baby starts to strive for independence. "

THANK YOU DR. SEARS!!!!

(PS- I have no idea who these people are - but the look on that dad/grandpa's? (?) face says it all)

*Sappy Post Alert*

In case you haven't heard, we are moving to Chicago. As I pack my life away, I wonder what I will miss the most about this house or rather what is the ONLY thing I will miss about this house (aside from the memories)? Easy. Ben's nursery. How can one room have such a lasting effect on someone? Afterall, it's a room in a house. But this isn't just any old room. This is a room that was created out of L-O-V-E. Cheesy, yes, but oh so true. Before even the thought of Ben, his room was the worst in the house. A haven for every piece of crap I couldn't find a real home for (or that I couldn't throw away). When I became pregnant with Ben, I had vivid visions for that space. Before we knew he was a boy, I sketched the entire room down to the details of the pictures in a notebook (full color and all!). I spent many pregnant hours in that room sitting, painting, thinking, looking at baby clothes, dreaming in the glider... wondering what my life was going to be like once there was a real live baby to put in the crib. I wasn't the only one though. So many people came out to help us with this room- because as I mentioned, it was the worst in the house and needed a lot of help! The stripes on the wall were painted by my talented niece, the chair rail installed by my brother(s)-in law, the carpet ripped up and hard wood floor sanded and stained by my husband, brother-in law, and friend. Fan and light fixture installed by a friend, window treatment sewn by grandma, pictures of friends and family in the hospital with their babies carefully chosen, framed, and hung by me. Every clothing item and diaper that filled the drawers were bought for us by someone who cared. It was truly a room filled with love! There's no non-cheesy way to say it. And now, we leave it behind. It will only exist in the pictures that I show Ben one day. I hope it gives someone else as much happiness as it gave us.

A Blog via Blog

My Son is Gay

Do yourself a favor and read this blog post if you haven't already. Bad Ass is the only way I would describe that mom.

Although I don't at all relate to her as my son is *almost* 16 months old, I sadly have already heard comments regarding my BABY when I take out his pink sippy cup (it was the only one they had!), when I let him wear mardi gras beads, and was recently ridiculed because he doesn't own any trucks. Ok ridiculed is a slight exaggeration. BUT to those who think that girls should play with Barbies and boys with guns- keep eating your own boogers.

I have a Toddler.

I just read over my rant a few months back regarding unruly toddler monsters and moms who don't watch them. I *might* should probably kick my own ass for being ignorant to the world of mothers w/ toddlers. I learned a lot from being in a music class over the summer with the only mobile child. It's effing hard. I get it now. BUT there's still no excuse to turn your cheek and let them run around like maniacs or think other people are watching them because they are simply in the same room as you OR think it's ok to let them mess with things that aren't theirs- like my diaper bag. Get your snot nosed toddler monsters away from me!!!!!!! I have my own snot nosed toddler monster to deal with! Sheesh.

Please Give it Up For a Cute Baby (even if he is photoshopped)

Totally sappy and not my style, but damn it makes me teary eyed every time I read it.

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .