Momma's Cupids

One of my fave things to do is set up a photo sesh in my living room. Prep time is critical, you've got to gather all of your props and know what the costume changes will be. Get the toddler ready, set up the shoot, then feed and change the baby. Go time! 

My first set up was with my crimson chenille blanket draped over the couch as the backdrop and the kids sitting in front. Baby girl is 6 1/2 months old in these pics and can't quite sit well unsupported for long times. So, onto the bellies we went!  The top shot was the one we used for Valentine's cards that we printed at CVS and sent off to friends and family. Hint: position yourself in front of the tv, so the toddler can smile and giggle at his funny Dreamworks movie du jour and you get the benefits of it on film  memory card.

The baby rolled over so I jumped on the couch and captured these shots of them lying on the floor. There was a shot  or ten with the letters spelling "EVOL".  Not quite the Valentine message of love I was hoping for!  Re-do!

The face in the picture reads, "I love my life and my sweet little sister".  In real life the face was a mish mash of rolled eyes and kicking feet and "When do I get my lollipop?"

One day I will invest in Photoshop and get rid of the creepy arm in her presh pic!  Ruffle bottom bloomers found for $16 at Little Lam Boutique in Richardson, Texas.

I'd like to end the blog here and leave you thinking that I'm super mom. But I am compelled to be honest and real with you.  I felt like a MAJOR Valentine's failure.  Excuses first: We were sick the weekend before and we were also trying to prep for baby girl's baptism the weekend after Valentine's Day. 

Okay, here's the scoop.  The day before I took the kids to Market Street to pick up teacher gifts. I had been looking around for things a month before, but since each kid has 4 teachers at daycare I had to stretch the budget, but still wanted to honor each teacher with a little something special. (And not another damn mug or box of chocolates!)   So we chose little cups of mini chocolate chip cookies and decorated them with foam heart stickers. 

We then went next door to the Christian bookstore to find something special for Daddy.  I ended up with books for the kids (which is a Valentine tradition we started on Cade's first Valentine's) and a book for Daddy. At this point it was cold and rainy so we drove through Chic Fil A for the ride home. (Busted my New Year's Resolution of cooking at home Monday through Thursday nights!)

I wanted to get the kids in bed early, and we succeeded with Devyn but then I realized that Cade hadn't filled out his Valentine's and I wanted him to sign his name. Yes, he's 2 1/2. But out came the green marker.  It was cute to me and I got some cute pics of it, but no other kid did that in class, so it was kind of pointless. We put the lollipops in his Dora and Diego Valentine's and then called it a night. Finally. At 8:30pm. Eek!

In all my hard work I totally forgot to fill out Valentine's for Devyn's daycare friends.  I know they're all under 1 year old, but I felt like Loser Mommy when I picked her up and saw her Valentine bag her teachers had made each child and peeked inside to see 8 little Valentine's to her. Mommy Fail! Sorry little infant friends! Please don't remember this or hold it against me! At least her teachers got their sweet little Valentine cookies.

So then, as if I wasn't Valentine Failure enough, I encouraged Nick to pick up Chili's for dinner. I called it in on his way home and he was going to stop off and get it.  Until he got there and called me saying they didn't have our order. Because I'm stupid. And called it in to the wrong one. And it would take 45 minutes to put in a new order and wait. So he drove across town.  So I could not cook a healthy yummy steak dinner like I had planned, but so I could eat potato skins and ceasar salad. To be fair, work was a total beating that day. Oh, and Chili's failed us too. I had wanted to suprise Nick with a cheesecake for dessert, but he didn't know I had ordered it. He just quickly signed the receipt and didn't check and there was no dessert but we paid for it. Boo!  Valentines Fail. Again.

Oh, and Devyn was so tired she went to bed early, so Daddy didn't get to see her and we didn't get to give her the Valentine's present until the next morning. (Cade remembered to give it to her!).

So my dreams of a perfectly Pinteresty Valentine's failed. :( Mommy Guilt #328329.

Papa's Boy

Fun Party Friends

Friends are starting to turn 3!!! Cade can't wait for his turn.  About once a week he asks me, "Is it my happy birthday to me?"  He has a Toy Story calendar and we talk about how his birthday is in April.  The other day he perused birthday decor in Hobby Lobby. He liked the diggers (construction theme), then the cowboy boots theme, then Diego caught his eye.  I don't want to confuse him by making him decide this early.... and I know toddlers are worse than women when it comes to changing their minds...But I REALLY want him to decide on a party theme ASAP so I can start Pinteresting some cute decor ideas and shopping online for sales.  AND picking a fabulous party venue that can do most of the planning for me.  Here are some pics of a fun party we went to at a gymnastics venue. Super kudos to my friend Amy who planned this awesome par-tay!!! The kids were all on Cloud 9 AND slept well that night.  Success!!!

The foam pit was an instant attraction! He took one quick glance at me and soon as I told him it's okay to jump in there he went for it!

He had a blast jumping on the trampolines. There was one for every kid to jump on! There was fun party music playing (aka Kidz Bop--- funny how my idea of party music has evolved since high school. Jamming in parking lots to Tom Petty and Bone Thugs to the rated G version of  Black Eyed Peas songs)

Here he is with the birthday girl, Audrey. They play together so well. It's presh! And please take a moment to notice their perfectly round heads. Bye bye plagiocephaly! Thank you DOC bands!!

My boy loved the princess party and all the girls!  He just got his thank you card in the mail and there was Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Tiana on the front of the card. He pointed to Sleeping Beauty and said, "Look! She's pretty! It's mommy princess!"  I had to clarify, "Is Mommy that princess?" And he said, "Yes! Mommy is a princess! Lives in the biiiiiiiig BIG castle Zurg!"  (Translation: Yes, Mommy is a princess. She lives in the big big castle (the one we see before opening title sequence of Disney movies) with Zurg (the bad Darth Vadar-esque guy from Toy Story 2)  

I haven't figured out how I feel yet about being married to Zurg. Well, I guess he never specified that I was married, maybe I'm living in sin in the castle with Zurg? Hmm...

Things to add to your baby registry...

As a single or child free girl, there was no task I dreaded more than going to Babies R Us to shop for a baby gift. I would have rather dealt with all the car trouble in the world then rode a public bus to a dentist appointment for 3 cavities. Seriously. The ten page mega registry intimidated me, scared me, and made me want to puke. Diaper Genie that twists dirty diapers into sausage links? Gross! Breast pumps and nipple cream? Nasty! Wipe warmer? WTH? I dreaded it.

Then I got pregnant with my first and thought registering would be all fun and games. Who can resist the thrill of the zing with those little radar guns? Ummm, I'm pretty sure they passed us that laser gun scanner deal and let my mom and I loose. First stop--- bottles. Ohhhhh the choices! I about died. BPA free? Nipple that simulates mothers'? Tubes and bag inserts to reduce colic? What's colic? Why don't I want colic? I'm not sure how I survived but I have vague recollections of rocking myself in their furniture department gliders and then following around mommas Mom and I must have thought looked knowledgeable, and scanning whatever they put in their carts.

So I'm going to tell you the items you actually need. Take notes, pregos.

1. A chiropractor. You will need him now. Back pain, sciatica, sleepless nights, stuffy pregnant nose.... he can help you with these things. He can prep your body for an easier labor and delivery and also adjust your newborn who just went through the trauma of squeezing through your tiny pelvis, you Skinny B. He can also get your body recovered from the trauma of labor.

2. An iPad. You need one now because of the same reasons above. In the hospital you'll want it for entertainment and easy access to post pics of your little sweets to Facebook. Nighttime nursing when you are trying to stay awake, but want to keep your baby in a quiet environment you will swear by it! And the baby apps galore! This is a must.

3. A great rocking chair. I found one for my boy on Craigslist. Gotta love nursery shopping on there, I outfitted his whole room with barely used furniture that looks designer. I got baby girl's rocker glider on Target.com. It even has a reclining feature. Which I highly recommend over tripping over an ottoman! This is a non negotiable item.

4. Mommy wardrobe. You will need cute sweatsuits, yoga pants, hoodies, and three quality nursing bras. Buy them a little roomy. A. Because you will look 4 months pregs after baby the first few weeks until your uterus shrinks (sorry to burst your bubble). B. You may have a c-section. C. You may have stitches elsewhere and need something you can gently wiggle in and out of. Nursing bras. Go Bravada or go home.

5. Quality coffeemaker.

6. Boppy pillow. Best baby goods since disposable diapers and Mylicon!!

7. A stability ball. Bouncing your baby to sleep during restless nights. Not critical, but helpful. Lifesaver for my baby girl who had reflux!

8. Strategically placed nightlights for stumbling around the house in the dark.

9. The iBaby app for your Android phone or iPhone. You can track the last time your baby ate, for how long, what side she fed from, when she pooped, peed, and slept, took meds. It's tres fabulous! And free. If you don't get this, grab yourself an ItzBeen timer from Babies R Us. Does the same things, but doesn't store your data like the iBaby app.

That's all for now! Those of you who have been there, done that feel free to let me know what you think are your must-have mommy or baby items.