Mommy must-have

I cannot live without my sleep book.  This book was recommended to me by my friend Nella aka http://mcdsinheaven.blogspot.com  She is my mom idol.  And seriously folks this woman was born to be a mommy and is amazing at it.  Now she would tell you differently but she is SUPER MOM believe me.  Anyway, she told me to get this book and now 5 years later it is ighlighted, bookmarked and the pages are starting to curl from use.  This book has been a lifesaver! 

I had no idea going into this parenting thing when babies should sleep or how to get them on a schedule.  This book breaks it down into months, when they should nap, how many times, wake up times, bedtimes and even how to solve sleep problems such as night waking, etc.  There is even a section to deal with fussy, colicky babies and twins.  I am sort of a sleep Nazi but honestly it is worth it.  To have well rested kids and some mommy and daddy time every night is priceless!  If you are having sleep issues, get this book :)

My babies are Growing up

My big 5 year old is off to school next week.  We had Open House today and I did hold it together until we were driving home.  He found his chair and his name, got all "moved in" to his classroom, was very happy they had toys there and his favorite ice cream bar in the cafeteria.  Oh and did I mention his teacher is cute and has long blonde hair.  She is just Brady's type!!  He loves blonde hair which is BS because mommy is a brunette.  He gets all nervous when he gets close to her and it's adorable.  He is going to do great because he is a social butterfly and he LOVES to talk.  Steve and I joke that he says 10,000 words a day but we are pretty sure he does.  He even talks in his sleep.  I only had to tell him his bus number once and he remembered it.  Here's the problemo: his very cute backpack from PBK is on backorder until Sept. 9th!  School starts the 5th so I am stalking my email and praying that his backpack gets made quicker over there in good ole China and gets here for the 1st day!!  And lunches?  Brady is very picky but I am hoping he is so hungry at school maybe I can send in some different things and he will eat them.

And my very soon to be 16 month old is getting so big so fast.  He says momma, dada, papa, ball, duck, mo for elmo, mmm. mouse for mickey mouse, baba for bottle, bubba for bubble, juice, more.  The other day he said more juice and I was like holy crap he just put 2 words together already!  Chances are he won't be as much of a talker as Brady because he won't be able to get a word in.  But I love his little voice.  He is still wearing 18 month sleepers and 12-18 month clothes.  He has 6 teeth, 4 on the top and 2 on the bottom.  He goes to sleep at 7 and wakes up at 7, sometimes I have to wake him up.  He naps twice a day, usually at 9am for just a quick 45 minutes and a longer nap at around 12:30.  Pierce loves watermelon, he calls it Ball but he is obsessed with it!  He wants to eat it everyday.  He likes his teddy grahams, not a huge fan of eggs, but loves pancakes and noodles.  Pierce likes to get a book and backs it up and falls into your lap with it.  I secretly love it! and he has gotten way better at laying down and getting his diaper changed.  It used to take 2 of us to get him ready for bed.  Oh and he has decided he doesn't need a bath seat anymore.  So now baths are a lot more fun and dangerous.  Little stinker!  Wish I could slow down time and keep them little and at home with me.  I snapped these in their shark jammies before bed. 

And last I checked, I am super duper prego.  Major complaint: swollen giant man hands.  Literally thought I might have to break out the butter to get my bangle off today.  Who am I kidding, I wouldn't use Butter I would use Steve's Promise Lite.  Wouldn't want to waste good butter.  I keep thinking of the Seinfeld man hand episode.  So if anyone wants me to crack their lobster in half or uncap their non-twist off beer I can!  About the only thing I miss is wearing my engagement ring.  Haven't been able to in a very long time and I miss my emerald cut diamonds.  Can't wait to see this noddle and hear him cry for the first time.  Can't wait to see if he has Steve's chubby 1st toes.  3 more work shifts left, Thank God.  I think little guy finally has a name because Steve is leaving it up to me.  It won't be official till I look at his little face and fill out the paperwork though.  Really hoping I won't go early because I have it all planned out and you know I like control.  I have been having a lot of Braxton-Hicks contractions.  I find myself holding my breath and then realize why.  They don't hurt (yet) but just an uncomfortable tightening.  Had a whole bunch as I walked around Target the other night.  That freaked a few people out for sure. I had to stop a few times and wait for it to pass.  Those people were probably thinking "please don't have your baby in aisle 9, go home Lady!"  The carpet project is over and Steve was wonderful.  I couldn't do anything to help, I am so darn tired every night after getting the kids in bed.  He did it all!  I was beyond happy when I cam home from work to our house put back together.  And the carpet is nice and soft.  He has been kicking my butt in the spouse dept. lately.  I will hopefully be able to step up my game after baby.  I did bring him home some banana cheesecake from The Cheescake Factory after lunch with the girls to try and be a good wife.  I did clean my car out last weekend from top to bottom.  Vacuumed for an hour, with help from Brady.  No more goldfish, candy, juice residue and dog hair!  I think we did a rpetty good job considering I could barely fit in between the seats.  I dropped a little and can now breathe and eat - wahoo!  Hoping to end up right around 160 pounds like I did with Pierce.  But there are ho-hos on the counter people so I can't make any promises :)   

Let's Talk about Push Presents

I am scheduled to have the baby Sept. 9th and my Birthday is on the 12th.  So I am getting a baby for my 34th Birthday which is awesome!  (Am I really 34? How the &%^$ did that happen?)  Anyway, I would like some push presents even though I don't push.  What should we call them?  Incision presents?  Surgery presents?  IDK!  But here are some things I have been wanting lately.

C. Wonder Black skinnies (preferably coated)  Although, buying someone jeans they can't fit into at the moment does seem unfair. 

I also want these Tom's flats in a 6.5.

I would like a new Chewbeads necklace in red.

And I would love a mommy necklace from Stamped under the Moon in squares instead of circles.  Although, this would require a name for our 3rd child.  Which is something I am still working on.

Just some things I want.  Hope the hubs reads the blog!! 

Still Waiting on Baby Over Here

Just hit the 37 week mark so getting pretty close.  Weekly appointments which really aren't that much fun with 2 kiddos.  I admit I passed on the internal this time. 

Still need a name!  Steve should just give in and let me handle this one.  Still need to buy a BIG box of newborn diapers.  I never invested in cloth newborn diapers and my all-in-ones claim they start fitting at 8 lbs.  In reality it's more like 10 lbs.  so we will be using disposables for the first 2 months till this little guy gets his weight up.  We went for a 3-D ultrasound and both thought the baby looked just like Pierce.  I got all sad walking out thinking this could be our last ultrasound.  I asked Hubs if he thought it was sad and he said No and said that was our last ultrasound forever.  Boo!  I go back and forth about a 4th all the time.  It's not that I want a girl either.  I could have 4 boys.  It's that getting those tubes tied is so final.  But then adding up how much money we have spent getting 1 child ready to go to school makes me think we should be done.  Because eventually we will be shopping for supplies for 3!  I cheaped out and went to Wal-Mart and you all know how much I detest Wal-Mart.  I still needed to hit up Target for 16 ct. crayons anyway and a pencil box.  $65 later in school supplies and he is ready.  And let's not even talk about the new wardrobe.  Here's a pic of #3.  They are anticipating him to be high 6's or low 7's for weight.  Can't wait to meet him!!! I actually told Steve I was exited about breastfeeding after buying new tubing and bras and pads... And he remarked "I will remind you of that when you are pumping."  Hey Dude, I said I was excited about breastfeeding, not pumping! 

Still need to clean out the truck, put the seat in and re-arrange all the car seats.  I always have the carpets cleaned before we bring a new bundle home but this time we are getting brand new carpet downstairs.  I was torn because I know the boys will trash it but our old carpet just wasn't looking good anymore even after the carpet cleaner came.  And he was coming every 3 months!  Steve and I are both drawn to light carpeting but that isn't practical at all.  So we picked out a color called Glaze that is a light taupe.  1st column, 3rd down. 

 

Sunday night we have to move all the furniture and toys (cringe!) and rip out the old stuff.  In a way I am excited because I love to throw stuff out but the stress of turning our lives upside down for 2 days has me a little freaked.  I just wanted nice soft carpet because we spend more time on the floor than the furniture.  We went with Stainmaster carpet but you know I will still be on sippy cup patrol.  It's 2013, Can they make one that doesn't leak for crying out loud?!? 

 

And more stress - Steve has decided to go back to school.  For those of you that don't know, Steve met me in July and I started nursing school in August.  And let me say he was wonderful.  He supported me through it all, even knocked me up the last 2 semesters - haha!  So I will of course be supportive of him but already thinking how hard it will be on us as a family.  He will be working full time and going to school/clinical 4 nights a week.  In the end I know it will be worth it.  Nursing is a great job to have with kids.  He could work 3 days a week, I could work 2 and we could let papa be retired.  Although I know he would be over here because he misses his boys after only a couple days.  Steve has to take 3 or 4 courses but hopefully he can start the program next Fall.  I think he should start hosing out all the poopie diapers and manning the puke bucket next time one of these kids gets sick just so he's prepared for all the bodily fluids. (yeah right!)  And Steve would like to be called Steve RN in the future just so ya' know ;) 

 

And I added just a little more chevron to the office.  Let's hope Hubs can actually hang it on the wall this weekend. 



I was that crafty mom

I am just about the most non-creative person ever.  I was all about Pinterest in the beginning and then I got off and now I'm on again.  It has made me realize how crafty people are and I'm very jealous.  I do set Brady up to paint every now and again and we do play-doh, which Buttercup usually enjoys because she ends up ingesting a lot of it.  But I am not that mom doing crafts every week with the kids.  BUT I made an exception when I saw these cute bird feeders and thought we could make those during the babies nap time.  So I was that mom for a whole 30 minutes.  And here is the photographic evidence:

This is what you will need.  If you like the mini spatulas they are from the Current catalog.  Amazing wrapping paper by the way! 

Spread the PB all over the TP tubes. 

Roll the tubes in the bird seed.

And Voila, hang them from a tree.  And as an added bonus, the 5 year old sat quietly by the window for a whole 20 minutes waiting on Mr. Bird to come and get himself some food.  As a side note: Brady's apron is from Land of Nod.  I have had so many compliments on it and feel like everyone is scrambling for an art smock because it's back to school time.  And really who is going to send their child in with one of dad's old shirts?  I was telling people to go on their website and they stopped carrying them.  I dropped them an email the other day to beg for the company to carry them again.  They are super cute and wipe clean.  I would love to get 2 more.  So please Land of Nod - bring them back!!   

Stuff I Don't Want to Share

I wanted to call this blog "Shit I Don't Want to Share with My Husband" but I censored it.  I have 2 siblings so I am accustomed to sharing.  Actually I can remember one Christmas when we ALL got a kitchen set.  Yup all of us.  One of us got the fridge, the other the oven and the last the dishwasher.  So if you really wanted to play a good game of kitchen, sharing was a necessity.  I taught my son the saying "Caring is Sharing" which was great until his father didn't want to share his iced tea and Brady repeated it.  Which I thought was hilarious!  Even as adults there are some things you just want to yourself or times you want to say screw sharing. 

Tend Skin:

 I discovered the amazing product Tend Skin a long time ago and a bottle would last me forever and a day.  Which is good because it can be pricey.  I only need it in the bikini area after waxing or shaving.  It reeks like vinegar but I don't care because it takes away the redness, bumps and prevents ingrown hairs.  It is some good stuff!  Well, then the Hubs discovered it worked great on his neck after shaving.  So now my bottle gets used a lot and of course he never replaces it.  PS, don't waste your money on the roll-on, it sucked, you need a bottle and a cotton round. 




My Clarisonic:

Which technically he bought it for my Birthday but I still don't want to share it.  I love it!  It exfoliates and makes my skin cleaner.  Well, the hubs discovered it did the same for his face, too.  And of course he never takes time to charge it or switch the heads. 




My Eye Cream:

Yup he likes that too.  My problems under my eyes are bags and dryness.  There are some mornings after I sleep on my stomach (not pregnant) that I would have to check those things if I were getting on a plane.  I searched forever for a serum that would moisturize and de-puff.  And this one does it!  I admit Steve does have some circles but I have caught him "trying out" the eye cream a few times now. 




Here are some things I would like to share: laundry, dusting, vacuuming, dishes, breastfeeding and pumping.  I'm guessing he wouldn't be into those! 

Weekend Breakfasts

I don't know about you but breakfasts in our house during the week are nothing special.  The boys get up SO hungry that I have very little time to whip up anything.  And usually I am trying to make something while my 1 year old attempts to pull down my pj bottoms so seconds count!  Usually it's microwave pancakes, waffles, French toast sticks, or toast with cinnamon and sugar and fruit.  I hate being the one that always has to cut up the fruit.  I never appreciated my mom for doing it.  But if it isn't cut up, they won't eat it.  So me and my favorite knife from Pampered Chef are always hard at work cutting up melons.  I got this knife so long ago but it has held up wonderfully and the wells in this cutting board collect all the juice from the watermelons so it doesn't get all over the counters.  It's from Pampered Chef too.

These boys never met a melon they didn't like!  What I did appreciate my mom for when I was growing up was her Belgian Waffles. They were my favorite. She must have gotten the waffle iron for a gift or something but she would make them and they were delicious.  She had some recipe that called for club soda which thinking about now is weird.  For our weekend breakfasts I like to make them a little more special from during the week. I keep a can of pie filling in the house at all times.  The boys love Strawberry or Blueberry and some whip cream on their pancakes.  I do like cool whip better but storing it in the freezer is a pain in the you know what because you can't eat it frozen.  Pie filling and whip cream is a great way to fancy up some homemade waffles or pancakes.  And I get to use my gridle.  Ya' know the gridle that you probably registered for when you got married and never use.  Well, I use mine now and I love it!  Having sausage and bacon cooking is a great way to wake up, lucky Hubs!   

My Favorite Season

Fall is coming!  Hands down my favorite season.  My B-day, Cider, donuts, cool weather, chili, football, pumpkins, Apple Cheesecake, Halloween costumes, I could go on and on.  And a baby for us - yay!  I am excited be in the baby cave in Fall.  I am already thinking about costumes for the little nuggets. Brady wants to be a wrestler and he's thinking a costume with built-in muscles.  I am hoping for Hulk but he's probably thinking something not cute whatsoever like Kane or the Undertaker.  I recommend that moms (while you can) pick their costumes get cute, furry ones and take lots of pictures.  Because before long they will want to be green army men or something else heinous.  Pierce was an owl last year and apparently didn't appreciate being dressed up as an owl. I think I got 2 or 3 pics before he started crying. 

This year I am thinking monster. 

 

I would love to say that $50 is my limit when purchasing Halloween costumes.  But I had to break that rule last year when Brady wanted a Jake the Pirates costume and it was sold out everywhere! Backordered till Nov. 8th - Now what's the point of that!   I was scrambling to say the least.  I ended up finding it on Amazon (I love Amazon to pieces and their 2 day shipping) for way too much money.  And then when you add the sword that he HAD TO HAVE, I spent well over $75.  So this year I am buying early and hoping to adhere to the $50 limit.

 

I know it's only August But... we may have had cider and donuts for breakfast this morning.  We let Dad sleep in on the weekends till 8:30 or 9.  I know, I am the best wife in the world.  Me and the boys got up at 7am and after watching Sesame Street we headed out.  The cider Mill is only about 8 minutes away from our house.  Not only is the cider delicious but their donuts are amazing.  Steve has a little addiction to caramel and so do I and they have caramel donuts.  The sprinkle donuts are my favorite.  And I forgot to mention the cider slushies, OMG so good. 

 

I will not be 'Fall Ready' until I stop at Yankee Candle and get some Fall scents and Bath & Body Works for some pumpkin soap but I'm getting there!  And hopefully those nice folks at Oreo will make candy corn Oreo's again.  I will share our favorite Beer Chili recipe and Apple Cheesecake recipes soon.  I figure I should wait until at least September 1st.

 

 

     

What I am Loving right now

I am still in love with my keurig.  Don't ask me why I started drinking coffee pregnant, it just happened.  1 small cup a day is all I allow myself.  I have been known to eat blue cheese and feta pregnant too.  I know, I am living on the edge!  But this is my 3rd time.  I did find THE BEST iced coffee ever in my search for k-cups.  It's from Donut Shop Coffee.  It has cream already in it (magic right?) so it comes out light and sweet.  Brew over ice and it is amazing. 

Hubs is loving himself some Snapple k-cups.  He drinks iced tea everyday.  It does give it a nice brewed taste that you don't get with the stuff from the bottle. 

Another thing I am loving is Pottery Barns amazing Bento box.  I had to stop by the store to see it in person.  And while I was there a saw a bunk bed that we will need soon.  It had a bookshelf and a little desk.  I fell in love on the spot!!  Anyway, here's the bento box. 

This is going to save me from using a million baggies!!  And you know how I love saving the earth :)It fits right into one of their lunch bags.  Brady got the navy color to go with his lunchbox.  Brady has been digging some camo since pre-k.  We went with the blue camo and size Large.  Which is a little big for him but I would like it to last a few years! 

All this school shopping has been fun I just wish Brady wasn't going to be gone all day.  And I almost forgot the best $39 I have spent recently.  Land of Nod has these awesome wire ball bins.  I think the company might be related to pbk.  Cute bedding, similar furniture and the catalogs just started showing up one day. 

We have a million balls, actually I think Ball is Pierce's favorite word.  Anyway they are everywhere!  I bought one of these bins for the garage and I love it!!  You need a place to put your balls, especially when you have boys. Lol.  Brady likes to pretend it's a hoop and tries to bounce the ball in when it's time to clean up.  They are made with sturdy heavy wire, not cheap at all.  I got the grey color because it matches the garage but the other colors are fun! 


 

Strawberry Cream Pie

We have a picnic today and tomorrow.  I am guilty of bringing things to picnics I know the boys will eat.  My kids love fruit! So I usually bring a fruit salad because it guarantees I can feed them some  with whatever else they have.  And you can put the bowl right on top of the cooler.  I wanted to make a dessert for tomorrow's picnic because there will be a fridge to put it in.  I published the recipe before but I'm a visual person and now I have pictures.  I hate recipes without pictures.  This is Steve's favorite and after making the fruit salad I had enough strawberries left to whip up some pie.  You only need a cup.  I like really red ones because then the pie turns out more pink. 

Strawberry Cream Pie:

1 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. powdered sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
dash of nutmeg (I sometimes skip it)
1 c. mashed strawberries
Store bought graham cracker crust
Strawberries to garnish

Get 3 bowls.  Whip heavy cream and powdered sugar till peaks form and set aside.  This usualy takes 5 minutes and make sure your cream is cold.  Combine softened cream cheese with sugar, vanilla and nutmeg.  Mash strawberries and stir into cream cheese mixture.  Fold in the heavy cream mixture.  Pour into crust and top with sliced strawberries.  I usually put one sliced strawberry on each piece just so it's pretty. Chill overnight or several hours.  Enjoy!! 

Not loving how big my big boy looks in his pj's in this pic. 

Brady was the masher.  Kids love this step!   

Add mashed strawberries to cream cheese mixture. 

Prepared pie crust.  What's the term - semi-homemade :)

Fold in whip mixture to cream cheese mixture.

Happy Hubs, Happy Life! 

Fun Summer Weekends

I am not the biggest fan of Summer because I do not like the heat.  Especially being 8 or 9 months pregnant.  However, we have been having some great weekends as a family and the weather has been nice and cool in Buffalo.  Summer in Buffalo is the best!!  Tons of stuff to do before hibernation season begins.  Last weekend we went to Darien Lake.  Brady got in some mommy and daddy time and it was fun just the three of us. 

Steve on a moose, lmao!

This and the bee ride was all mom could do.

On Sunday we went to the playground.  Brady was able to cross these poles for the first time and was very proud of himself. 

This past weekend we took the kids to the Eden Corn Festival.  They had an auto show that Steve and Brady loved.  Brady got to sit in a real race car!  Se fb for that pic.  I enjoyed some fried dough and a caramel apple. Next stop is the Fair and some more picnics with friends and family. 

Purchases

I shop online a lot.  Usually during morning nap time.  I thought I would do a blog on what I have purchased recently.  I started shopping Sephora online out of necessity but now I love it.  They have weekly specials, a sale section, 3 free samples and you still get to cash in on your beauty insider points.  I am addicted to Philosophy shower gels and was running low.  I got this on sale at Sephora for $11. 

It smells like lemon custard.  In case you didn't know I LOVE food scents.  I know some people hate candles or lotion that smell like food.  Well not me!!  And while I was on the Philosophy kick I took a gamble on a new scent I had never smelled before and got this:

I also got a new bronzer for my legs.  My legs don't tan as much as I would like so they need a little help in shorts or a dress.  It's from the brand Soap N Glory, which I have mentioned before.  Not too expensive and their products are fantastic and available at Sephora. 

And my last purchase was for a wetbag.  What the heck is a wetbag you are probably wondering?  For cloth diapering mamas on the go it is a must.  These bags hold the wet diapers till you get home and can put them in your pail.  But really these bags can be used anytime you travel with wet stuff.  So they are perfect for the summer when you go to the beach or pool.  I ordered a large wetbag from Planetwise after reading all the stellar reviews and how these things do not leak.  I think this print has BOY written all over it :)  It's a limited edition so I had to hurry up!!  At least that's what I will tell the hubs.