family

The Messiest Moments…

Posted by Nat on Nov 10, 2011 | Comments Off on The Messiest Moments…

…are the ones that make you laugh hardest after they happen. Am I right, or am I right?

Having a baby brings messes.  There’s just no way around it.  There are many evenings that I marvel at our play room after it’s been cleaned up, and 10 minutes after the kids are awake the following morning, all of our cleaning up is for naught- it’s a mess again.  But that just means they are playing and happy.  And the laundry…oh, the laundry.  There are few moments when I can say “I’m caught up on the laundry.”  As a family of five AND a newborn in the mix, there’s always something to wash.

But all the best stories, it seems, revolve around poop.  Poop puts a whole new spin on every aspect of a story because, well… there’s poop involved.  And it always shows up when you least expect it.

Case in point:  Meet Emily.  I’ve taken to calling her Em. 

 (above photo by my friend, Jenna)

She’s our #3 baby.  The one who completes our family. 

She is delicious.  She smiles, giggles and coos right now more than I remember our other two doing- or perhaps I’m just soaking it up more because I know once she stops I won’t have that in my life in the same way ever again {insert tears here}.

(newborn photo by LifeArt Photography)

She is, essentially a perfect baby.  The first few weeks were rough, but that was more just us getting used to a new baby again, recovering from labor, etc.  She’s so easy.  I can leave her on the floor in her little play bed for long stretches of time.  She grabs her toes, rolls over and is generally cute unless she’s tired or hungry.

(photo by my Dad, with his iPhone)

There’s just one problem.  Emily poops.  Well, every baby poops, so I should preface that with another statement:  Emily doesn’t poop very often, but when she does, it’s explosive.  It’s everywhere.  And it’s always at a really inconvenient time.   Always.

Case in point #1:

My parents were visiting from out of town.  Emily was just about three months old.  We dropped our two older kids, Jack and Anna, off at preschool and headed out to have breakfast at one of our favorite local places, the Hash House A-Go-Go.  Amazing food.  Great location.  Amazing food.  Did I mention the amazing food?  My husband went in late to work so he could come because we’ve only tried going with kids once and it just wasn’t as fun, so he wanted in on the deliciousness.

We got to Hash House and ordered our food.  Emily slept happily in her car seat and slept through the entire meal- it was awesome.  As we were finishing I looked over at her car seat, which was sideways in the booth, so I couldn’t see in.  I saw her little feet kicking, so I leaned over and popped her pacifier back in her mouth.  Seconds later I saw it fly out of her mouth and her feet gyrating and I realized, “Oh dear.  It’s the move.”  That move they do when they are uncomfortable.

I stood up and went over to look at her more closely and then I saw it.  Emily was wiggling and squirming because she was swimming in a sea of her own poop.  It was everywhere.  And if you’re thinking, “Oh, it couldn’t have been that bad,” let me tell you:  I could have ladled the stuff out of the seat.  Ladle.   I looked at my mom and we headed to the bathroom.  We were in there for about 15 minutes.  I had to throw her clothes away, and there was definitely poop in her hair.  Definitely.  Later, when we got home, I had to completely disassemble her car seat so I could sanitize it with wipes and wash all fabric contents.  There was even poop in the car seat base which means…. it LEAKED THROUGH THE SEAT.  It was, in a word, disgusting.  I know, I know- infant breast milk poop is not that bad, but it’s still POOP.

Case in point #2:

We went to the library just a few days ago.  As I put Emily in my Ergo carrier (love the Ergo!) and got ready to buckle her in, I could smell it.  She hadn’t pooped for 3 days.  I knew it was coming.  But at the library?  Really?!   I undid the Ergo, but it was too late.  Stain on the Ergo.  Emily looked at me with those blue eyes as if to say, “I feel sooooo much better.”  Lovely.  I had to change her on the floor of our Odyssey, and I used about half a pack of baby wipes.  I’m sure there is poop on the floor of our van somewhere.  There has to be.  But the real kicker of this particular story?  I forgot about the stain on the Ergo.   So the next day, as I’m in a public place getting ready to strap her in, I see it- that mustardy-yellowy-brownish color.  “What’s that?” I asked myself.  “Oh, right.  It’s a poop stain.”  Lovely.  “Hey everyone, check out my nice Ergo, complete with… poop stain.”

I love you, Emily.  I love you with every ounce of my being.  You are wonderful.  I do not, however, love your poop.

Love,

Mommy

I received information about Clorox’s Bleach It Away campaign and am sharing my messy moment for the chance to win prizes from The SITS Girls. To learn more about the messy moment program, check out www.BleachItAway.com.  Sharing your story on the Clorox fan page gets you entered for the chance to win $25,000 and daily prizes, and you can grab a coupon for Clorox® Regular Bleach.

Inspired by Erma

Posted by Nat on Oct 27, 2011 | Comments Off on Inspired by Erma

Did you grow up reading Erma Bombeck?  I did.  I kind of miss her.  There’s no one like her, really.

When I was old enough to read, and wanted to impress my parents and grandparents, I knew I couldn’t *just* read the comics anymore.  I think I was probably 12 or so.  And conveniently, in our newspaper, Erma’s column was near the comics, so it was an easy migration.  I started with that, and then I think my mom may have read some of her books, so I read them, too.  I love her sense of humor, and her healthy grip on the reality of motherhood and all that it entails.

Pretty soon I’m going to whip my laundry room into shape.  It’s getting there, and I’ve already done a few things, but have so much more to do.  In the meantime, you’ll have to settle for this sneak peek.  There was a little spot over our washer that I stare at a lot.  I decided that it would be nice to have something to look at instead of a blank wall, and I’ve always liked this quote from Erma.  So I fiddled around in Photoshop and here’s what I came up with:

I’ve had this panoramic, 12×4 photo frame for years.  Nearly a century, I think.  So I spray-painted it a creamy white, added some twine, and voila- this is much nicer to stare at!  And this was all free- my husband likes free.  So do I.

I also figured that you might not want one in 12×4, just in case you aren’t a frame-hoarder like myself.  So I also made it in 8×10 format.  Hope you enjoy! You should be able to right-click on either to download to your own computer, but let me know if that doesn’t work.

I can’t wait to show you more of our laundry room, but I have a pretty big project for it before I can show it to you.  🙂

A Month of Easy Dinners at Crafting Crazy

Posted by Nat on Oct 18, 2011 | 1 comment

Dinner time.  Such a dreaded time for so many mothers out there- what to make, what to make?  It was never a challenge for us before kids- it was an adventure.  Stop at the store on the way home from work- grab amazing ingredients, and spend the evening cooking up a storm, making a mess in the kitchen, and enjoying the fruits (and meats and cheeses, maybe a few veggies) of our labor whilst watching the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy on DVR.  Those were the days…

Now we’re knee-deep in picky eaters who turn up their noses at the most awesome stuff.  We offer them home made mac’n’cheese and they dubiously push it away saying, “No, Mommy, no mac’n’teese.  No like it.”  (That would be Jack.)

A few things have helped me and Michael.  One is to plan our meals on the weekend for the upcoming week.  Even if we don’t stick to the plan, we can at least modify it and know that we have ingredients in the fridge to make something. But we get stuck in ruts left and right, staring at the list of the days of the week as if we’re grasping at straws.  We’re bored in the cuisine department.

Last month, however, Real Simple magazine came out with an issue that really caught my eye.  The cover boasts “A Month of Easy Dinners” (October) and shows some lovely shrimp tacos with black beans.  You had me at shrimp…

I was intrigued on many levels.  One is that even as a recipe-seeker I tend to stay in my comfort zone.  I do not wander from my box.  I think my box is pretty big, mind you- I like a variety of foods, and don’t consider myself picky.  I will try anything aside from the obvious cow brain, etc.  But I do tend to look at recipes I’ve never tried before that don’t sound amazing or delicious and I just skip them over.  I like the idea that Real Simple proposes- they give you a grocery list for everything you need for the week, and *pow* you head to the store once, get everything on the list, and you’re set for the week with 5 easy dinners to make for your family.

There are lots of things listed that I have either never tried to make or have never cooked at all.  For example: beets.  I have no idea if I like roasted beets, but I’ll be trying them soon.

So, next week I will let you know how Week 1 went.  Here’s what we’ll be eating for dinner:

Monday: Salmon with Gingery Green Beans and Bok Choy

Tuesday:  Tomato Soup with Roast Beef, Cheddar and Horseradish Panini

Wednesday: Pork Chops with Roasted Beets and Oranges

Thursday:  Chicken with Potatoes, Bacon and Cabbage

Friday:  Tortellini with Butternut Squash, Mushrooms and Fontina

You can read about other people trying RS’s Month of Easy Dinners here.

Best. Swagbox. Ever.

Posted by Nat on Sep 15, 2011 | 1 comment

Are you a brand person?  I’m a brand person.  My husband is not a brand person- he’s a “generic stuff is just fine” kind of guy.  The last time he bought me oatmeal at the grocery store he got the store brand instead of Quaker.  I sucked it up and tried it, but it wasn’t as good.  I’m very attached to a brand once I like it, and will buy it whether or not I have a coupon.  I think that makes me a typical female consumer- but I’m okay with that.  I stick with what works.

At BlogHer this summer one of the biggest pieces of real estate on the expo floor was Proctor & Gamble’s “booth.”  You can’t really say it was a booth- it was essentially a house that you could take a tour of.  Throughout the house you could see different products that were in the P&G family.  They also gave you a little questionnaire to fill out, and at the end you gave it to a guy with a bunch of raffle tickets.  I think the raffle was for a new washer & dryer- I didn’t win that.  However, turning in that questionnaire also allowed me to give them my address, and they promised to mail me a “swag box” that I wouldn’t have to lug around the conference- rad!  The guy I spoke with said, “Believe me- it’s a great box.”  He wasn’t lying.  It showed up on our porch a day or two ago and as soon as the kids were in bed, Michael and I opened it up.  It was sort of like “home product Christmas.”

I am amazed at how many of these products I will actually, honestly try and/or use.  Many of them I already use- score!  I also liked that they included a challenge to all of the BlogHer participants to save energy.  Thanks P&G!!!

Here’s a few photos of what was inside:

…and here’s a list of what was in my P&G Swag Box.  I’ve broken it into 2 lists, Health & Beauty, and Home.

Health & Beauty:

1 Box of Tampax Pearl tampons

1 Box of Always Infinity Maxi Pads

1 Jar of Vicks Vapo Rub

1 Bottle of Vicks Nature Fusion Cough Syrup, Honey flavored

1 Box of Vicks Nature Fusion Cold & Flu Relief

1 Bottle of Ivory Simple Clean Body Wash

1 Gillette Venus ProSkin Razor

2 Cover Girl NatureLuxe mascaras, 1 in black and 1 in very black (I’ve been wanting to try this- woo hoo!)

1 Box of Pantene Damage Repair for Curly Hair

2 Boxes of Pantene Damage Repair for Medium-Thick Hair

1 Box/2 Bars of Oil of Olay Body Bar

1 Box of Oil-of-Olay 2-in-1 Daily Facial Cloths

1 Bottle of Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex

Home:

1 roll of Bounty Paper Towels

1 bottle of Febreze Air Effects Air Refresher

1 Bottle of Febreze Fabric Refresher

1 Bottle of Downy In-Wash Scent Booster

1 Swiffer 360 Duster Kit

1 Sample of Tide Washing  Machine Cleaner

2 Samples of Cascade Complete Action Pacs

1 Thumb Drive, 1 GB; this also has some tools for conserving water & energy on it

I think this is an incredibly nice gift- can’t wait to try them all out- thanks again, P&G!

Project Runway…for Stuffed Animals?

Posted by Nat on Sep 13, 2011 | 2 comments

I’m sure this would never fly, but it was a funny thing to imagine- I’m sure there are many moms out there who make this and that for stuffed friends and dolls- we should be recognized.  Then my brain had visions of stuffed animals walking a runway, a la Project Runway…. but I digress…

A while ago I introduced you to Bear.   And, drum roll please…  Here are Bear’s finished overalls!

They turned out okay- I won’t be writing a tutorial because I totally rushed didn’t have time to take pictures amidst the naptime and night time sewing that must occur here these days at Crafting Crazy.  I can tell you that it was pretty easy to do, and I learned a few things:  1)  Plan better.  2)  I can do a buttonhole, even if it takes 9 tries.  Yep.  9.   3)  Bear is a tricky body shape to design for.  I liken him to the challenge on PR when they have to design for non-models.

This is what I started with:

Here is the back view (the straps cross, just like Corduroy’s in the book):

And here are a few details:

This was my first sewing venture in a long time, and I’m glad that it wasn’t anything with too much pressure.   My next sewing project, however, is going to be Anna’s part of this costume.  That has lots of pressure because I want her to be able to wear it all winter.  Yikes!  More to come, soon!  My parents are in town at the end of the week- I’m not sure if that means I’ll be posting more because I’ll have some extra hands, or if I’ll be posting less because we’ll be off having fun, but I do have lots of posts to write- it’s a matter of finding a time when I can sit down and stay awake to write!

I’m linking up to

My Friends, Meet Bear

Posted by Nat on Aug 24, 2011 | 1 comment

This is Anna’s bear.  He’s very pleased to meet you.

Every child has some sort of lovey or thing they are attached to, right?  Actually, I don’t remember having one as a child…. oh wait, I did.  It was my thumb.  If I could go back and change things up, I’d pick a bear.

There’s a special project in the works for this bear, though, so I thought I’d introduce you ahead of time.  And this is a special bear for our family.  Special as in, “Oh my LORD we can never, EVER lose this bear because there is no replacement” kind of special.

When I was in 7th grade I had a cyst in my left hand.  It was no big deal in the grand scheme of life, but to a 7th grade girl who is falling in love with the piano it was a rather big deal (and I was pretty dramatic in general- I’m sure my mom and sisters would back that up).  I needed surgery to have it removed, and to our surprise, they put me out for it.  When I woke up in recovery, my hand bandaged up and head throbbing, this bear was the first thing I saw through the hazy effects of the drugs wearing off.   It was the holiday season, so he was actually holding a candy cane and wearing a little knit hat.  He was wonderful- and actually a very well-made bear.

Fast forward to Anna’s arrival.  I’m not sure when Bear came back to me.  Maybe I grabbed him during a home visit, or my mom sent him out with some of my other belongings.  Somehow Bear made it into Anna’s room with her stuffed animals, and somehow she zeroed in on him as “the one” she needed for comfort. Needless to say, I was elated.  I’ve also been heartbroken in the last few months as 4-year-old Anna selects other friends as her #1 choice for playing, comfort and general preschool fun.  But I’ve come to notice that when in a pickle, Bear is the only one who will do.  He goes to school, and just this past week he accompanied us to the dentist and even had his teeth cleaned.

Over the last 4 years he’s gotten a little tired in a few areas…

…but overall he is sturdy.  I haven’t had to sew any holes shut, and when we wash him, he holds together just fine.

Anna also waxes and wanes about Bear’s gender.  Sometimes Bear is a boy, and his name is Bear.   Other times she will proclaim that Bear is a girl.  I’ll ask her, “Well, what’s her name going to be then?  If Bear is a girl we need to be able to tell.”  “Just Bear, Mommy,” she’ll say.  Hm.

However, our upcoming project will perhaps define that scenario a bit more.  Here’s a little hint:

I can’t wait!  More to come!