"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 .

UH-MAZING

Rainbow Pancake

Recipe courtesy of Amanda Rettke
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon flax seed
1-6 drops food coloring per color choice (I use gel coloring, which requires a fraction of the amount of
regular food coloring)
Directions:
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt ,sugar, and flax seed. Make a well in the center
and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle,
using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Attention Non Attentive Moms of Walking Children

Warning: Rant Ahead!

First let me begin by saying I am a mom of a non-walking child (for maybe a couple of more months). I don't live in your shoes. I don't know, yet, what it's like to run after a kid on their feet. However, I do comprehend the meaning of 'annoying' and 'lack of discipline'.... and when you let your kid run around like a maniac in a social setting harassing people around them, it's all I can do to keep myself from tripping your precious snot nosed ankle biter! It is annoying when I take my infant child to story time at the library and you let your walking child run around the room while my baby is trying to pay attention (ie: stare) at the lady reading the book. It is annoying when your walking child has found his/her way to my diaper bag where they start taking stuff out of it forcing me to deal w/ your child while you sit clueless on the other side of the room (again, during story time). It is annoying when your walking child is climbing on everything and causing a rucus (yes, during story time!!). Why are you even AT the library? Better yet why are you crashing the infant class where the good moms are sitting on the floor with their kids listening and singing songs w/ Mother Goose? (the lady who runs Tiny Tales- her name not mine!). Oooooh, I know why... because this is your time to socialize with OTHER moms who are there not watching their walking children...I get it. Here's a thought, either put your kids on a leash, or teach them how to act in a library. That does not include ripping books off shleves and throwing them on to the floor, climbing up on stacks of chairs, and/ or running and being loud. Yes, I realize they are just "babies" and don't "know better" but ......um........when do you think would be an appropriate time to teach them? Just sayin. Believe me, I am not on a high horse here... my kid can be just as annoying- but when it becomes an issue of me not being able to control it, I TAKE MY KID OUTSIDE. This is not an occurance that exists only inside library walls...no, no..... this happens at the park, at the grocery store, bookstores, starbucks, the list goes on. I think a lot of this mommy angst stems from being a teacher of 8-9 year olds where the annoyance factor runs HIGH and if you don't nip those annoying behaviors as soon as they start, then it's like letting the genie out of the bottle. So please non-attentive moms of walking children, do us other moms a favor and take your kids to a chic fil a playplace where you can sit inside and ignore how annoying your child is being toward other adults and children through the glass....because why waste the time and energy of actually TEACHING them?

Sincerely,
Short Fuse