Confessions of a Mommy Blogger

1 month

2010-08-11T07:59:00.001-04:00

Although he was just a scrawny peanut when he was born (the smallest of all my kids), Oliver is growing quite nicely. At his 1 month well-baby appointment, he weighed 10 lbs. 6 oz. and was 22.5 inches long. He has gained 3 lb 6 oz. since birth and grown 2 inches! Chunky Monkey!

I love the way he loves him

2010-08-09T20:55:00.001-04:00

If you give Ainsley a camera…

2010-08-06T10:25:00.001-04:00

These are the pictures you’ll get:

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

2010-08-05T07:46:00.001-04:00

Here’s the recipe Ainsley and I used:

http://thefrugalgirls.com/2010/05/tastebud-squealin-lemonade-recipe.html

At the river

2010-08-03T21:08:00.001-04:00

Last weekend we made a short trip to the New River. My grandma has had a house right on the river since I was a little girl. I have good memories of playing in the river. Now my kids are doing it.

My grandma even came to visit and see little Oliver. I love this picture.

Did I tell you about the 4th of July?

2010-08-02T21:10:00.001-04:00

No? Oh, woops. That’s because I didn’t blog for much of June or July. Well, there’s no time like the present!

Well, the 4th was also Henry’s birthday. So we made him a cake.

He was thrilled.

For some reason, the kids thought July 4th/Henry’s birthday means Dress Up Day as well. Ok, whatever.

We grilled out, played with sparklers and smoke bombs and watched the fireworks from our backyard.

Fun, fun, fun.

I’ve been wanting to post this…

2010-07-26T22:38:00.001-04:00

I’m going to get caught up this week with my posts. I got so behind! First I was fat and hot and pregnant, and didn’t feel like posting to my blog. Then I had a baby, and didn’t feel like posting to my blog. Now I feel like posting to my blog. And I have pictures, and things I want to say. So, I’m going to.

Jason is the best dad in the world. The kids have so much fun with him, no matter waht they’re doing. Recently, he’s been taking the (older) kids on these “adventures.”

They find a little spot in the woods. Sometimes there’s a creek.

They search for rocks, crawdads, minnows, tadpoles and other creepy crawlies that I’d rather not know about.

They catch fish! And bring them home to eat (ew).

I’m so glad they have a dad that can help them find a love for the outdoors. They are really lucky.

And silly.

I’m in love

2010-07-16T14:32:00.001-04:00

With this little boy.

Announcing…

2010-07-14T14:15:00.001-04:00

The birth of Oliver Cameron Dickinson

July 8, 2010

1:18 pm

7 lb. 0 oz.

20 1/2 inches

(Don’t you think it’s about time I posted this?)

Zucchinis and Big Bellies

2010-06-19T22:25:00.001-04:00

Ainsley: Mommy, will you take us to the pool one day?

Me: I will if I can find a bathing suit to fit my big belly.

Ainsley: Well, you can just wear a zucchini. Zucchinis don’t have a belly on them. They just have a top and a bottom. Just wear a zucchini, mom.

Me: Well, I will not be caught dead wearing a bikini at the pool, but thanks for that suggestion sweetie.

Jackisms

2010-06-17T21:11:00.001-04:00

Jack: Mommy, I know why we flush our poopies down the potty.

Me: Why?

Jack: So they can go to fishy heaven!

* * *

Jack: Mommy! My shoulder hurts cause that polka-dotted beetle landed on me and scratched me!

* * *

Jack: Look, Mommy, I got a scratch on my foot.

Me: What did you scratch it on?

Jack: A razor blazer.

* * *

(When he saw a picture of his pawpaw) Jack: Look, there’s my grandson, Pawpaw!

Ainsley’s Graduation

2010-06-14T20:57:00.001-04:00

Ainsley graduated from preschool Friday night. I was worried she would be shy, but she was actually pretty outgoing. She sang songs, did a little dance, got her diploma and then partied with her friends. She was so proud that her “whole family” came. I wish I had better pictures, but most of them were blurry. I’m not going to name any names, but I was not the photographer of the evening. :) I liked this one because you can see what kind of mood she was in.

And this one because she held her friends hand through most of the program.

I am alive.

2010-06-12T22:51:00.001-04:00

Are you still there? Now that school is over, maybe I can start blogging some more again. I really do this so I’ll have memories to look back on. However, a blog is no good with no memories, so I need to get things back on track.

Things have been so crazy around here! I posted a few Wednesdays ago that I finally washed all the receiving blankets I had. Well, that night I got a phone call to start subbing for a 3rd grade class at school. I was with them until Friday when school was over, and although I had a lot of fun, it was hard work!

I’m at 35 weeks and a few days now. The doctor says I’m a little bit dilated and starting to thin out, but I don’t feel like labor is anywhere close. I’ll probably make it the whole 40 weeks.

We had some friends here last weekend, and Ainsley fell in love with their little dog, Cooper. She carried him around like this for most of the day.

Speaking of Ainsley, I’m going to be posting pics of her preschool graduation (sniff sniff) soon. I have so many to go through, and many of them are blurry, but I will show you a few :).

Wordless Wednesday: Clean, folded receiving blankets

2010-05-26T20:51:00.001-04:00

31 weeks

2010-05-16T19:41:00.001-04:00

I can’t believe I’m 31 weeks pregnant. I feel so unprepared to add a third child to this family.

Crib: Still in the attic, still unassembled. I think it is actually recalled and needs to be replaced.

Baby clothes: Still in the attic, need to be washed with baby detergent. Need a place to put them!

Jack’s room: Still only Jack’s room. Need to start getting it ready for two boys.

Carseat: None.

Bags packed: Nope. Not even close.

Job for after the baby is born: Still unsuccessful in the job search. I will probably be a substitute with a Master’s degree for another year.

I think I am in denial. I really need to get on the ball. I pretty much have everything I need for the baby, I just don’t have it ready. It feels like I don’t have the space for another person either. I am hoping that by admitting to these procrastinations I will accomplish something this week. Maybe I’ll get down those totes of clothes and start washing. Maybe I’ll clear some space in Jack’s room for a crib. Maybe by the time the little one gets here he’ll have a home :).

Happy Belated Mother’s Day!

2010-05-10T10:45:00.001-04:00

Wordless Wednesday: Princess Party at the Park

2010-05-05T11:06:00.001-04:00

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway! Win 2 full-sized bottles of All Oxi-Active laundry detergent!

All Oxi-Active Laundry Detergent Review and Giveaway!

2010-05-04T18:54:00.001-04:00

The nice people at MomSelect sent me a bottle of new All Oxi-Active Laundry Detergent to try this week. I was so excited because I was getting ready to head to the store and buy laundry soap, but I didn’t have to!

All Oxi-Active promises to remove stains including wine, chocolate ice cream, wine and blood stains. Since I have two children who love chocolate ice cream, I was the perfect tester! I pretreated a shirt with a blob of ice cream on it with the detergent, following instructions on the bottle. Next, I threw the shirt in the wash. Lo and behold, the stains were gone and the clothes smelled great! I loved this product, and I will definitely use it again in the future.

WIN IT!!

I have TWO full sized bottles of All Oxi-active to give away to one of my readers! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post (make sure your email address is in the comment or on your profile). If you follow my blog, you can leave a second comment for a second chance to win. Contest will end on Monday, May 10th at 11:59pm. I will choose a winner using random.org. I hope you’ll give it a try and enter! Family and friends are eligible as well.

18 Things we do when we’re bored

2010-04-30T08:07:00.001-04:00

Every mom has those things she falls back on, right? When the kids are bored, she’s bored, so she pulls something out of her hat to do and everyone is happy. I love looking for new fun things to do with my kids, as I’m sure many of you do too. Here is my “Bored List.” Why don’t you share some of your favorites too?

1. Go for a walk.

2. Play hopscotch.

3. Make greeting card collages.

4. Read books.

5. Draw pictures.

6. Dance.

7. Make homemade playdough.

8. Go to the library.

9. Play with boxes.

10. Make pizza.

11. Play games on the computer.

12. Find bugs.

13. Go see animals.

14. Pick flowers.

15. Go hiking.

16. Watch movies.

17. Go to the tennis courts.

18. Go to the park.

Planting Seeds

2010-04-29T08:09:00.001-04:00

We plant a garden every year. Although it is not quite time to put plants in the ground, it is time to start seeds. Jason let the kids sit down with him and plant the seeds in little seed starter trays.

We started peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, zucchini, corn, parsley, chives, basil, and sunflowers. Can’t wait for summer!

Rainbow Cupcakes

2010-04-28T07:36:00.001-04:00

I saw these cupcakes in an issue of Family Fun a while back, and I’ve been dying to try them ever since. Well, we finally did it! Here is the link for how to make them.

Short version: divide up some white cake batter and dye it the various colors of the rainbow. Pour a little bit of each color into cupcake cups, one at a time. Bake as usual.

Here is how ours turned out :). Not bad…

They were very very fun to make too!

5 years ago today…

2010-04-27T11:47:00.001-04:00

My life changed when this little bundle was added to it. She was perfect, and more beautiful than I ever thought she could be. Ainsley Claire – born April 27, 2005- 7:32 am-

7 lb. 1 oz.

Look at her now!

She is still perfect and more beautiful than I ever thought she could be. I love everything about her from her frizzy hair to her teeny tiny toenails. She is so creative and loves to make creations out of anything I have lying around the house. She also loves to invent games and story lines that we must adhere to. She is sweet and gentle at times, and wild and crazy at others. I wouldn’t have her any other way.

Why?

2010-04-22T12:16:00.001-04:00

Does Jack wait until I get on the phone with the cable company to:

a) get in an argument with his sister

b) throw his Lightning McQueen car at his sister

c) pee on my bedroom floor?

Wordless Wednesday: A Day at the Park

2010-04-21T11:11:00.001-04:00

Boys are gross.

2010-04-19T21:54:00.001-04:00

I don’t mean this in a derogatory way, I really don’t. The one thing that has shocked me more than anything about having a boy is how dirty they are. Jack gets dirty again within minutes of taking a bath. He eats with his hands when he knows how to use a fork and spoon. He rolls around in dirt and mud, climbs trees, hides under our forsythia bush and peeks under rocks for bugs. I am constantly following him around with a washcloth, trying to maintain a sense of cleanliness. Still, every night he has to have a bath because his feet would be black if he didn’t. There’s no way I would put that kid in his bed without a bath, because I would have to change his sheets by the next morning.

Maybe it’s not all boys. Maybe it’s just my boy. Perhaps he’s some long lost cousin of Pigpen’s from Charlie Brown fame. Dirt might just follow him around.

Tell me, moms of boys, is your boy gross too?