Mommy Vomitpants

Thanksgiving Traditions

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:22:02 PST

Can you think of any Thanksgiving movies? Christmas has a ton and even Halloween has "The Great Pumpkin", not to mention your run-of-the-mill horror stories. My husband likes to point out that his favorite Thanksgiving move is "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" (hence the lovely graphic at the beginning of the post). Halloween has pumpkin carving and dressing up. Christmas has Santa and presents (Jesus seems to get lost sometimes, if you ask me). What do you think of when you think of Thanksgiving? Yesterday I talked about Christmas traditions and today I'd like to talk about Thanksgiving traditions. What makes Thanksgiving special to you and your family? Do you truly "give thanks" on that day? Most people associate Thanksgiving with the MEAL. Ffoooooooooooddd. I am guilty of...

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Christmas Traditions

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:04:10 PST

As the Holidays are fast approaching, new families (like mine) may be on the lookout for some new traditions to start. My daughter is only 2 years old and doesn't really understand the concept of Christmas. But, that hasn't stopped me from buying (when I was on maternity leave because I am slightly nutty) something that we are going to use every year called the Elf on the Shelf. Now, I did talk about this last year but here's a little refresher course. From their website: How does Santa REALLY know who’s been naughty or who’s been nice? After much urging by the elves and Mrs. Claus, Santa has allowed his biggest secret to be revealed in the book, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition®. Santa has partnered each book with a magical scout elf which children name. They can then...

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Pass It On

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:42:40 PST

As a mother, I think about the things that I am "passing on" to my daughter. I see every day the personality traits she gets from her father and I wonder what I can offer her. You know, aside from the whole "giving her life" thing. When I was a kid, my mother was always crocheting or knitting or cross stitching. I always thought it was neat, but it never occurred to me to ask her about it. And, she never volunteered any information. So, I have decided that I am going to be proactive. I don't know if it's the Holidays coming up, or if it's my feeling a little "domestic" in my "old age", but I think I am going to learn how to crochet AND knit and teach it to Willow, if she would like to learn. I am not a stay-at-home mom. I know they have less time than I do to do fantastic things...

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Patriot Day 2009

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:50:31 PDT

September 11th Memorial wall in Second Life is etched with nearly 3,000 names of victims of the 2001 terrorist attack against the United States A Prayer of Hope and Healing for Patriot Day By Mary Fairchild Dear Heavenly Father, Today is a difficult day. The memories are painful and some of the wounds I fear may never heal. Yet I pray you will help me to go on living for truth, firm in my hope of your salvation. May I live for you, Lord, and by doing so, be an example to my friends and family. I pray, just like Jesus, I may learn obedience through these things that I have suffered. Help me not to question why, yet even if I do, give me courage to continue to trust you. Help me take the comfort and strength you've poured into my life and use it to comfort and strengthen others who...

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What Does "Gifted" Mean?

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:00:57 PDT

When I pulled Willow out of Montessori School a few weeks ago, I decided to do some research on "early learning". I inevitably stumbled upon "gifted" programs in my search for answers. So, I talked to a ton of moms and teachers to get their thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages in giving your kid a "head start" in education. First, let me tell you a little about Willow. She is going to be two in mid-September. Right now she can sing the alphabet song (recognizing some of the letters) and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. She can "read" Yummy Yucky and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. I put the word "read" in quotation marks because even though she can say the words and turn the pages at the right times, that doesn't mean she can read. It means that we have read them...

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Are You Constantly Running on Full?

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:00:03 PDT

My daughter watches Elmo a lot. Her favorite video is Elmo's Potty Time. One part of the video has a giant blue monkey who is "in tune with his body", meaning he knows when he's thirsty or hungry, etc. because he listens to what his body is telling him. This is helpful in learning to use the potty. I find this to be an interesting concept, especially because I don't think most people are in tune with their bodies (me included). My weight has been an issue for me ever since the 7th grade (or so). I was never really "fat" (like I am now at a size 18, which is over the average size of 14 for women in America), just overweight. As I am sure I have mentioned in here before, I think it's important to set a good example for your young, impressionable, children. That's why I exercise...

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The School "Edge"?

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:00:09 PDT

My daughter turns two on September 17th. In Texas (as in some other states, I am sure) the cutoff for beginning school is September 1st. So, she will miss the cutoff by 17 days and when she enters Kindergarten she will be almost six years old. At first, this was bothersome to me. Being from new York, whose cutoff is in December, I started Kindergarten when I was 4 (since my birthday is in October) and I graduated high school when I was 17. Since my daughter is a fall baby as well, I thought the best thing would be to find a way to help her "get ahead" and start school a year earlier, when she was about to turn five. I mean, it's a whole YEAR, right? Aren't I doing my child a disservice by making her wait? So, the search for a private school that didn't strictly adhere to the...

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It's Been a While

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:55:56 PDT

I feel like I have been neglecting this blog and I am hoping to remedy that. So, be on the lookout for more frequent posting! In the interim, please check out our new neat FaceBook box at the top of the blog! See you soon!!

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Welcome the Pad

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:24:05 PDT

A discussion about feminine products and my evolutionary views on them as I have aged into my 30's. When you're young and hip and on the go, you tend to use certain "products" over others during your Aunt Flo's visit. Am I right? And, let's be honest, when you're young the tampon is what most women use. Especially in this day and age when it seems (to me, at the risk of sounding prudish) like young women are wearing less and less. We can't have that bothersome pad sticking out and ruining our outfit, can we? However, since having a baby, my views have changed. And I am uncertain as to whether it's to do with the fact that something so large came out of an opening that was so small, but tampons just don't seem to FIT like they used to. And, since I was bleeding after giving birth...

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Courteous, Polite, Kind

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:28:28 PDT

These are words that we want people to associate with our children, aren't they? How awesome does it feel when someone compliments you on your child's behavior? I have gotten compliments on my 22-month-old so I can safely tell you that it is pretty awesome. It makes you feel like you are doing something right. So, the questions is, why do we want to instill traits and behaviors in our children that we do not ourselves pattern? We "roll through" that stop sign but if our teenage child did the same we'd surely say something. We complain when the neighbor has a party, but when it's our turn we are just as loud. Ever since having a baby I have learned a little more about consideration for others. This is because I am considerate (or at least try to be) for my child. You would think...

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Happy Birthday America!!

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:00:27 PDT

Happy 4th of July to you all!! As we celebrate the birth of our amazing country, please be mindful of fireworks and their use. Here are a couple of useful links from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 9,800 People Treated in Emergency Departments for Fireworks-Related Injuries in 2007 Fireworks Injury Prevention Have a wonderful weekend!! If you liked what you read here and are a member on FaceBook, please become a fan of Mommy Vomitpants!

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National Ice Cream Month

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:56:11 PDT

You may not be aware that such a thing existed but July is National Ice Cream Month! It was designated such in 1984 by then President Ronald Reagan with the third Sunday of the month designated as "Ice Cream Day". This year, that Sunday falls on July 19th. For some Ice Cream Facts (Courtesy of IceCream.com) It takes 12 lbs. of milk to make just one gallon of ice cream. Wonder how they fit it all in one carton? The U.S. enjoys an average of 48 pints of ice cream per person, per year, more than any other country. Maybe we should make ice cream the fifth food group! It takes an average of 50 licks to polish off a single-scoop ice cream cone. Challenge your family to a Lick-a-Thon, and see who finishes first! The biggest ice cream sundae in history was made in Edmonton, Alberta,...

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Sweating the "Parenting" Thing

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:11:38 PDT

I live in Houston and I hate to sweat. Not a good combination, right? I mean it gets hot here (heat index in the 100's lately), not to mention the hurricanes we see every year. Sweating in the heat, to me, is kind of like sweating the whole parenting thing. See, when I was a kid I always thought that I'd have two children. A boy and a girl (of course). The American family, with me living the American dream. Now that I am a parent and I intentionally have only one child, the dream has changed to one of raising a happy child. So, I am reading parenting books. Right now I am reading (and loving) Parenting an Only Child: The Joys and Challenges of Raising Your One and Only by Susan Newman, Ph.D. Like all parenting books, this one tries to tell you what to do (and not do) when...

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Happy Father's Day!!!

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:00:22 PDT

Today is the day we celebrate the dad's in our lives. As a wife, I have to admit that there are times when I feel like I should be appreciated more than I am. So, it stands to reason that my husband (and father to my lovely daughter) would feel the same from time to time. So, today I have set out to celebrate his wonderful "fatherness" with a few gifts and a couple of cards and a whole lot of family time. I will start off with a new phrase I am trying out with Willow: Seriously though...he is a wonderful father and husband and neither I nor Willow (not just because she can't talk well enough yet) could ask for someone better. If you liked what you read here and are a member on FaceBook, please become a fan of Mommy Vomitpants!

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An "Ideal" Life?

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:40:46 PDT

When you make the decision to become a parent, you have ideas about how you want to raise your child and what kind of parent you want to be. You have seen how well your parents did and what mistakes they made and you vow to be and do better. But, is such an idealistic way of parenting reality? Being the parent of a toddler, I find it incredibly hard to abide by the "rules" I have set for myself as a parent. And I am strict. There is no cursing in front of the toddler. That little mimicker is already picking up my bad habits of picking up the bowl to get the last scrapings of food (it's cute but messy). The last thing I need is for a curse word to "slip out" in public. And I think I must have hit the cat once or twice in front of her because she seems to think it's not only okay,...

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Best Selling Car in America?

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:14:10 PDT

I saw this on the NBC Nightly News and thought it was hilarious... June 11: The yellow and red Little Tikes Cozy Coupe sold more than 457,000 units in 2008 - more than any other car in the U.S. NBC's Brian Williams reports. (Nightly News) Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy If you liked what you read here and are a member on FaceBook, please become a fan of Mommy Vomitpants!

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In The News - Understanding the Risks (and Rewards) of Pills and Pregnancy

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:08:21 PDT

My husband reads Time Magazine and thought sharing this article with my Mommy Vomitpants readers would be a good idea. After checking it out, I have to agree!! Having been pregnant, I can attest to the desire, at times, to pop a pill to fix what may be ailing you. But, it's important to remember that your body is no longer your own when you are pregnant. Everything you ingest is ingested by your baby. Believe it or not, even over the counter drugs can be harmful to your unborn baby. It can be hard for a first-time mother to know what is safe to take and what is not. I mean, let's face it, we live in a "pill-popping" society. People just "pop a pill" when they have indigestion or a headache or allergies without thinking twice about what they are putting into their bodies. That's...

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Reading to Willow - No, David!

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:00:00 PDT

David Shannon wrote this book when he was 5 years old. Many years later his mother, who had saved it, gave it to him. Rightfully so, he decided that it was well worth publishing. Many parents, like myself, agree. What Daddy says: I think it's neat the the author made the book or at least the idea of the book was born when he was 5. He drew up each situation and put in what his Mom said. There really isn't very much to read in this book, each page is just a few words of admonishment from Mom to David. I usually add a bit, explaining to Willow what David did wrong or why that made his Mom angry. What Mommy says: The illustrations are wonderfully colorful and fun in this book. The only bad thing I wonder when reading this books is "Am I teaching Willow about the things that...

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Reading to Willow - The day the babies crawled away

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:54:25 PDT

Written and illustrated by Peggy Rathman, this book is nothing short of awesome. Also, I have it on good authority that the rest of her books are just as awesome, but we don't own any...yet. What Daddy says: This is a very beautifully illustrated book. Equal to but different than the Puff the magic dragon book. The pictures in the book are silhouettes with colorful (think sunsets) backgrounds. To me, it's a little be hard to get the rhythm of the story down, it's more like a poem than prose but the pictures are full of detail and I notice something different every time. What Mommy says: I don't know what it is but I find myself crying at the ends of lots of books lately. This one is no exception. I think it's that at the end, the little toddler is sitting on his mothers lap...

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Happy Memorial Day!

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Mon, 25 May 2009 05:00:02 PDT

In this time of war, it's important to remember that although it's not talked about on the news every day (anymore), there are people overseas fighting for the freedom we enjoy here in America. Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action. So, while you are enjoying your BBQ or on that road trip with your family on this long weekend, please take a minute to just think about the people fighting to...

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Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.)

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:40:29 PDT

So my wife has bought a bunch of how to raise your child books. Similar to her buying books about being pregnant. I fear she might have bought more books than she has time to read. She's read a few and from what she's told me they've had some good information in them. Seeing that I'm a part of raising Willow I figured that maybe if I read some of the books and she the others, we could pool our newly learned knowledge and hopefully be better parents for the effort. So I asked my wife to pick one of the books and I'd give it a go. Which is how I came to read P.E.T. or Parent Effectiveness Training: The Proven Program for Raising Responsible Children. By Dr. Thomas Gordon I think that Dr. Gordon has sold himself short by saying that this book is only for parents. I would say...

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Reading to Willow - Puff, The Magic Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 18 May 2009 05:26:44 PDT

I am sure you've heard of Peter, Paul and Mary. Well, Peter Yarrow is the one responsible for helping to pen "Puff The Magic Dragon" and make it what it is today. What Daddy says: I remember hearing this song when I was little and the Disney movies that combined live action with animation. Disney had quite a few movies where they did that. This really is just the lyrics of the song with pictures. It's quite touching. Too much so. The lyrics combined with the wonderful illustrations ensure that I can't make it through the story without chocking up a little bit. It doesn't help that Willow loves for us to read this book. What Mommy says: I love the illustrations in this book. And I love the story in the back about how the song almost never came to be. I love singing this...

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Shop Amazon for the Summer!!

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:00:01 PDT

Summer is just around the corner, so it’s time to get ready for summer outdoor fun!! Click on the banners below to find a huge selection of toys and accessories for the whole family!! The Outdoor Fun Store has everything to keep kids active all summer, including bikes, skates, ride-ons , playhouses, swings, gyms, trampolines, inflatable bouncers and much more. And you can create your own backyard water park with our pools and accessories, waterslides, and sprinklers. Also, visit our Summer Catalog 2009 for the top Amazon.com outdoor toys, sporting goods, patio and garden items, and home improvement items. I have never gone wrong when ordering from Amazon and neither will you! Their prices and selections just can't be beat! Just a Quick Plug for Amazon Prime. I just signed...

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Happy Anniversary Mommy Vomitpants!!

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:00:01 PDT

I honestly can't believe I have had this thing for a year now. Who would have thought that a name that came to me after my (at the time) 8 month old daughter vomited on me for the umpteenth time would turn in to what you see today? I have worked very hard to make this blog informative and I spend hours researching topics that I come across as my daughter goes about the business of growing up. And, as a first (and only) time parent it's an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. To keep this fun, I thought I'd share some little glimmers of wisdom I have earned in my path to blogging. I hope you like them and find them at least a little humorous. ^_^ Things I have learned in creating this blog: Never let people get to you - it creates problems and letting them get to you doesn't...

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Does Your Toddler Grind Their Teeth?

mommy.vomitpants@gmail.com (Mommy Vomitpants) — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:04:03 PDT

Willow is teething right now with her 4 k-9's getting ready to poke through in the next couple of weeks. After that we are awaiting the last 4 molars (hopefully with a break in between the k-9's and the molars) and we are DONE! I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to once again getting a full nights rest on a regular basis. All that aside, I noticed that Willow has been grinding her teeth. She was doing it in the afternoon and in her sleep. So I wondered, is this normal? What could be causing it? Will it harm her in any way? Is there anything I can or should do about it? According to BabyCenter, about half of young children grind their teeth at one point or another. This behavior usually starts around 10 months, when your child's front teeth - two on the top and two on...

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