Some husbands believe that the day is solely about celebrating the “mother” — their mother and NOT the mother of their children. Others (the smart ones) send their well wishes, flowers and cards to their mother but they also celebrate their wife and the mother of their children. Mother’s Day is about celebrating anyone that is a mother as Mama sees it. You celebrate all of them.

While Mama still has small children, one cannot just take the day off. You are bound to do a dish, change a diaper, read them a story or be on bath duty. Now when they’re a bit older like the tween and teen stage of life, you just want them to spend time with you. So what’s better for Mother’s Day — a day without them or a day with them? Mama is undecided because at this point both sound right. In fact the Mother’s Day Mama had was not what Mama had in mind but just the fact that Mama spent the whole day playing with them and refereeing them will have to do.

On another thought…Mama is absolutely appalled at the idea of getting an appliance as a gift. Some people are not offended, however, Mama thinks that a gift should be something that one would want for themselves but would never splurge on it themselves. An appliance is a need. Is a gift bag full of workout wear a subtle hint?!

Enough of Mama’s day already…the hubs will make it up by taking Mama to see the new Cirque du Soleil production, TOTEM, that is currently in San Diego, NOW through May 27, 2012. Mama is obsessed with Cirque shows and often has dreams of running away with  the Cirque. Headquartered in Montreal, Cirque is an amazing culture in itself having over 50 nationalities and languages but they are all artists.

They are flexible and put on an amazing show that is unsurpassed in beauty. Mama got a behind-the-scenes tour the other day and was amazed to find out that…

• Cirque is a “green” company and each member has their own coffee mug hanging up backstage with their name on it (who knew?!)
• When traveling they stay in luxury apartments with their families. Mama always thought being on tour with a “circus” you live a lonely life…so not true!
• It takes 160 people and three days to raise the Big Top!
• They do “school” on tour for those still in elementary, junior high and high school and follow the Montreal curriculum where Cirque is based.
• They hold open auditions for specific acts based on new shows.
• Each costume is handmade and embellished and takes hours and hours to make. Check out those life-like monkey faces!

Totem is a show about the coming of human life — it’s 2 hours and 30 minutes of pure entertainment that will make your mouth drop open in AWE and AMAZEMENT. We’re doing a date night to see the show but it’s also kid-friendly and perhaps they’ll come home saying they want to “join the Cirque”…just like Mama!

Tickets are currently available in San Diego, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com. See you there!

In fact our weekday mornings are so routine now that it almost seems like Groundhog Day…everyday…all day. Hmmm…makes you think how Everyday Mama came to be! So summer is on the horizon and Mama can’t wait for the freedom of the alarm clock, free of daily scheduled activities and the freedom to just hang out…where we want…when we want. It will be awesome. Now Mama is not entirely crazy because while we are looking forward to no scheduled activities, one week alone with the three kids is enough to drive anyone insane so we did schedule a few camps to keep the kidlets busy and Mama away from the crazy farm.

Oh, and how could one forget Mother’s Day which is coming up quick…more on that later. For now let’s think sunny days, blue skies and lots of mini-vacations in our near future for our May Must-Haves!

Must-Have: The beach. Mama loves the beach. Mama and the kids love building sand castles, watching the waves break and sometimes if it’s really warm out…going in for a quick dip. The beach is the place to go to have some summer fun and frolic. However, one cannot forget all the items one must bring to the beach for all the littles. Mainly lots of towels and shade are in order…not to mention snacks and sand toys for ultimate digging. Mama is L-O-V-I-N-G the idea of a new beach bag and this one is not only personalized but it’s also budget-friendly too!! Check out the beach bags from Simply-Bags.com and pick your favorite one to be personalized just for you. From striped boat bags to paisley prints to cooler bags, you can get a personalized bag for $21.99!! That’s the best deal of the month. Take a look at Mama’s…guess Mama won’t be incognito with this gem but that’s okay no-one will be tempted to steal it either. Order yours at Simply-Bags.com and come summer…you’ll be ready to hit the beach, pool or park in style without being set-back in the bank account.

Must-See: Has Mama ever told you how Mama loves musicals? So does the hubs. In fact, when we met…Mama thought it was a little odd that he knew so much about show tunes…if you know what Mama means. He loves to sing them…mainly in the shower or the car so only Mama gets the pleasure of hearing his vocal stylings (no American Idols around these parts). If you’re in San Diego or perhaps in a town where the touring production of Chicago is coming to town — go see it. Starring Christie Brinkley and John O’Hurley, the production is in town for a limited engagement starting TODAY, May 8-May 13, 2012 at the San Diego Civic Center and tickets are still available. In fact, Mama has a discount code for you which is a perfect reason to go see the show and take your favorite Mama to celebrate Mother’s Day. Use code: MAMA at checkout at ticketmaster.com. It’s the perfect way to treat yourself this month! Plus, Mama thinks Christie Brinkley looks amazing for her age and can’t wait to hear her sing…is it a hidden talent of hers?!

Must-Read: So last month one amazing Mama that Mama knows decided to start a book club for her first grade daughter. They all read the same book (Junie B. Jones), invited the kiddos and Mamas over, had snacks and beverages (wine for the Mamas) and chatted and acted out scenes from the book. How fun!! Lily-girl loves the idea so this summer Mama will be initiating one with her class and it will be a blast…hopefully. Since everyone is so busy reading Fifty Shades of Grey and the other two that follow in the series from Mama’s recommendations last month, let’s make this month about the kids. Lily-girl went into kindergarten knowing how to read and sound out the words, however, not everyone will. For summer reading and learning, Mama highly recommends the getting a few BOB Books sets that teach your child to read and sound out  the ever important ‘sight words’. Sight words are repetitive words that are in every story. For example: the, what, at, if, my, out, in, up, down, etc. Adding to their already popular sight word sets, BOB Books has just released early reader books that are actual stories with flash cards in the back. They were helpful in getting Lily-girl to start reading and we loved Cupcake Surprise! and The New Puppy. Order a few today to take on vacation with you and get your little tikes reading and not only that…excited about reading! Available at scholastic.com, $2.79 each — best money you ever spent!

Must-Do: This might seem so gross but…when was the last time you actually cleaned out your underwear drawer? Or your kids underwear drawer? It’s one of those things that you just don’t do often enough. Well, it’s time and there is no time like the present to clean out those old undies and trade them in for new ones. Don’t donate them by the way…you may want to just dispose of them. It’s one of the few things that Mama doesn’t recommend upcycling as there was a study done that says that germs live on them for years and years to come…ick! So treat yourself and your kids to some new, clean undies for the summer…Lily-girl just pulled out a few that were 2Ts…oops! Mama highly recommends the brand Hanky Panky…so comfortable!

Must-Have: You already know how much Mama loves designer collaborations…remember Missoni for Target?! Targets newest collaboration with The Webster, one of Miami’s hip boutiques, is sure crowd-pleaser and Mama is pretty sure that you’ll be able to find your size online because it isn’t as well known as some of the other big brands they’ve collaborated with. Mama picks for the collection are the Wedges, $31.99 per pair, that can only be found online and not in stores and this maxi dress which Mama is pretty sure she’s wearing to a beach wedding this summer…all for the great price of $44.99. Fantastic finds at target.com!

Happy Shopping Mamas! What are you craving this May?

This month we celebrate Pregnancy Awareness Month (PAM) to empower, inspire and build a community of support for pregnant women and their families. No-one should feel like they are alone in the decisions they need to make involving the birth of a child and providing that information to them and their families is vital to the health and well-being of everyone involved. After having three children, Mama feels pretty empowered to share Mama’s own experiences, learn from ones previous decisions and help you make your own. We are all here for each other and seriously, what’s better than the Internet these days for seeking advice, ranting and what baby gear you just HAVE to HAVE.

This Sunday, May 6, 2012 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Mama is participating in an event celebrating Pregnancy Awareness Month at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. Exciting, right?! Not only that but you know who’s hosting it (celebrities…because after all it is LaLa-land)…Josie Maran (love her Argan Oil cosmetics), Lisa Loeb (famous for the song “STAY”), Anna Getty (PAM Founder) and Catherine McCord (Weelicious Founder and PAM Advisor). Oh, and don’t let Mama forget to tell you that the event is FREE and is geared towards not just the pregnant Mama but also, new Mamas, new Dads, new grandparents and families with young children.

There will be tons of information from top companies in the baby industry as well as toy and gear manufacturers and guests can enjoy a day of pampering (foot massage, anyone?!), crafts for the littles, raffle prizes, style advice from the BumpItUp Style Lounge featuring Anna Tara Koch, and a an expert panel that is sure to excite you because Ricki Lake will be hosting a panel along the lines of her book and movie, “Your Best Birth.” Awesome, no?!

If you’re not in the area, join in via the live streaming coverage on UStream. For more information and to register for the event visit the Pregnancy Awareness Month Web site and invitation. Also, if you can’t make it to this one, there will be other events going on throughout the entire month.

And now for the giveaway thanks to Britax one of the fabulous sponsors of the event, Mama is giving away a Britax Travel Car Seat Cart (value $80). Um, hello…where was this last month for Hawaii?! You’ll definitely want this for upcoming summer vacations because…every Mama could use an extra hand when traveling. Enter below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

With Mother’s Day approaching, it seems that time of year where you can honor those closest to us. While a Mama’s job is never done, there does come a time when it seems easier than others. Not the nights where no-one in the house sleeps or when you’re in the middle of Target with three melt-down ensued children…those are not the easiest of moments. Nor is it easy to see your children graduate from high school and college and send them off into the big, bad world on their own…that is not easy. Nor is it easy when you see them struggle with the very same moments you had as a Mama…the potty training, the meltdowns and the sleepless nights…but then, and only then can you smile to yourself and think that you’ve raised beautiful, smart children and you know that they are doing the same with their own children.

Growing up, Mama was lucky enough to have not one but eight Mama figures in Mama’s life. While only one actually gave birth to Mama, it takes more than just giving birth to a child to make them a Mama. You must nurture, guide and love unconditionally. My Mama is the oldest of eight children, five of them being girls — Mama’s aunts — with each one bringing something important to Mama’s life growing up and now giving the same love and guidance to Mama’s own children. We struggled a bit with money when Mama was growing up so for a few years, so while Mama is an only child, Mama found herself living with as many as eight people at one time.

Homebase as we liked to call it, was Grandma’s house. Everyone in the family, all the brothers and sisters, have at one point in their adult life moved back while working through life’s little hiccups — divorce, unemployment, going to school or just at a turning point in life. We had one of those turning points when Mama was seven. Mama and her Mama shared the back room of the house, while two of Mama’s aunts occupied the other rooms, Grandma in one and the garage room was taken by an uncle. During this time, Mama not only received guidance and discipline from Mama’s own Mama but every other female in the house. While at times this was overwhelming, Mama is sure that it has shaped who Mama is today because just as each person in our life brings something different to the table – so does each person’s guidance. Especially Mama’s Grandma’s guidance.

She has raised eight children of her own and has helped raise through guidance, ten grandchildren and now, three great grandchildren. She is one of the strongest, most level-headed ladies Mama knows and to this day, Mama’s world would not be the same without her in it. While Mama doesn’t get the chance to visit with her as much as one would like or even the chance to chat by phone (she does read e-mail!), she is always in Mama’s heart and on Mama’s mind. Mama often thinks, “What would Grandma do in this situation?”

When the kids are sick, she is the first person Mama calls. Grandma’s always know what to do, right?!

This Mother’s Day, take the time to honor someone important to you. Someone that makes you a better Mama, a better person.

What is Macy’s Heart of Haiti? Heart of Haiti is a “Trade, Not Aid” initiative launched by artist and social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy’s. Already, Heart of Haiti has led to employment of 750 artists in Haiti, providing financial benefits for an estimated 8,500 people in the country.

Each item is a one-of-a-kind design and handmade by a Haitian master artisan from raw materials such as recycled oil drums, wrought iron, papier-mâché and stone. The collection features more than 40 home decor items including quilts, metalwork, ceramics, jewelry and paintings and is made almost entirely from recycled and sustainable items such as old cement bags, cardboard, oil drums and local gommier wood.

Heart of Haiti products are available online at Macy’s.com.
Thank you to Macy’s Heart of Haiti for sponsoring my participation in this “Share Your Heart” promotion. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

But surely, Mama is not the only Mama losing sleep these days…sick kids, teething babies and just those that won’t go to sleep…all make for frustrating nights. Let’s compare shall, we?!

8:00 p.m. — Books are read. Three babes are bathed and in pajamas. Lights out for Lily-girl and Baby Boy. CeCe stays up for one more feeding.

8:05 p.m. — Lily-girl is sound asleep snoring. At least someone is sleeping!

8:07 p.m. — The first visit from Baby Boy. “Mama, I need water!”

8:10 p.m. — The second visit from Baby Boy. “Mama, I need to go potty.” (side note: he refuses to go potty during the day other than in his Pull-up).

8:15 p.m. — Feed Cece and put her to sleep

8:30 p.m. — Diva Dog starts barking from a noise outside the door. CeCe wakes-up.

8:31 p.m. — Baby Boy arrives outside the bedroom door. “Diva is barking, she needs to go potty!”

8:32 p.m. — March Baby Boy back to bed and tell him that spiders will bite his toes if he gets up one more time.

8:45 p.m. — Put CeCe back to bed again.

8:50 p.m. — Baby Boy bursts in the bedroom again and hops into bed. CeCe wakes up.

8:51 p.m. — March Baby Boy back to bed for the fifth time. He screams and whimpers over and over and over again…“Mama!”

9:00 p.m. — Change CeCe, feed her and attempt to put her back to sleep. It’s a no-go — she’s up now!

9:45 p.m. — Put CeCe down again and check on Baby Boy. He’s still awake, reading. Turn off the light and tell him to go to sleep. (or was it “Go the “F” to sleep”…can’t remember…a little hazy after lack of sleep).

10:00 p.m. — Everyone is asleep. Decide to read but end up falling asleep.

11:30 p.m. — CeCe decides it’s time to wake-up. No, it’ s not time yet.

12:00 a.m. — CeCe goes back to sleep

12:30 a.m. — Baby Boy bursts in and says very loudly, “Mama, I’m all wet” as he jumps into bed next to Mama. CeCe also wakes up at this moment.

12:45 a.m. — Baby Boy is changed and refuses to sleep in his “wet” bed. (Of course, Mama changed the sheets!) Mama attempts to lie on the floor next to him to get him back to sleep. Too uncomfortable, everyone back to bed.

1:00 a.m. — Mama is greeted with two feet pushing her off the bed onto the floor. Oh look, it’s Baby Boy sleeping sideways. LOVELY! Mama decides to count sheep. The dog is snoring so LOUD.

2:00 a.m. — CeCe wakes up again. Feeds and goes back to sleep.

3:00 a.m. — In walks Lily-girl, “Mama, I had a bad dream!” It’s just a dream — go back to bed! There is no more room in this bed for another person.

4:00 a.m. — CeCe wakes up one more time. Teeth? Hunger? Who knows but this night will never end…!

4:30 a.m. — Baby Boy is talking in his sleep and kicks CeCe in the head as we are feeding in bed. Screaming ensues.

5:00 a.m. — CeCe is back in the bassinet and Baby Boy has been pushed aside in the correct sleeping position.

6:00 a.m. — Alarm goes off — time to start the rat race again!

Wasn’t that so much fun! Mama thinks it was at least three hours of sleep that was had. The best part…Mama is sure it will happen again tonight. Sweet Dreams..ZZZZ!

After our un-relaxing trip last week, Mama has decided that it is high time to kick this family into high-gear on healthy habits. Being in the warm weather last week, it was so nice to not crave comfort food and to want to eat FRUIT. So much FRUIT. And luckily, it wasn’t just Mama…it was all of us indulging in the ripe, sweet fruit of the islands like papaya, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries…yummy. So this week we’re starting a new tradition of breakfast smoothies and breakfast treats like whole wheat toast topped with peanut butter, sliced strawberries and a drop of honey. Oh…maybe, Mama did just give you a little recipe!

Let’s get started on these must-haves because really, by the time you read this…it will be May already because time really does go by that fast!

Must-have: Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month. Any Mama that has a son or daughter or family member with autism knows that it is not easy to deal with. It’s painful to see someone you love struggle with something that they can’t really understand and to see their frustration on achieving things we often take for granted that are so easy. High-fives to any Mama that deals with this day-in-and-day-out. While there is still a debate out there on what is causing a rise in autism, what we do know is that continuing the research to find a cure and find the cause is needed. Show your support for those families with the Sole Bracelet, Toujours Bracelet or the Revival Bracelet from Stella & Dot in which 20 percent of the proceeds from the purchase goes to Autism Speaks, the largest national organization for autism research and support programs. Get yours here: www.stelladot.com, $39. Who doesn’t love fashion for a good cause?!

Must-read: It’s official, Mama is dropping everything to read Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. Mama has heard it’s poorly written but the content is…ahem…intriguing to say the least and perhaps will give a spark to your marriage! Don’t take Mama’s word for it…they’re dubbing it “mommy porn” across the Internet. And now…it’s more than just an e-book (if you’re not too embarrassed to be seen toting it around town), $9.57, at amazon.com.

Must-do:  So Mama was noticing the other day that we never change the photos in our house. We have the same photos and frames that we’ve had for years — before the kids and even before the dog. That would be almost 10 years of pictures gone unchanged…just moved from house to house and dusted from time to time. It’s time to give the photos a facelift and perhaps, include some photos of my other two children that have come along in the years since Lily-girl arrived. Seriously, it’s that bad. You should take a look around too and see which photos might need updating…if you don’t do it now, it could be another ten years before you get around to it!

Must-have: Oh yes, we’re doing the healthy habits…but one must be dressed the part in order to get the job done. So Mama is going with a work-out theme and one must, must, must-have these kicks to go running, jumping, walking or just to look like she is. OMG…Tiffany Blue Nikes!!! Look for them on Mama’s feet coming soon…Nike Free Run 3 Running Shoe, $100, at nordsrom.com. Well and since you’re there you might as well check out the Zella line of athletic wear which is like Nordstrom’s version of Lululemon but much more budget-friendly. Loving the Zella Back Cutout Layering Tank, $38.

Okay…off to blend smoothies…what are you craving this month?

Vacation = relaxation in the sun with no-one yelling “Mama”, no-one tugging at Mama for a snack, no poopy diapers to be changed, able to sleep on an airplane as desired, read a book or magazine without interruption, drink a glass of wine without abandon and able to sleep-in past when the roosters on the island start crowing.

Trip = car seats in tow, stroller gate checks, crying children from lack of sleep snacks or anything else they may want, not able to turn the TV on in the room past 7 p.m. for fear of waking the kids, no conversations with your hubs between the hours of 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. for fear of waking the children, dinners consisting of mac n cheese and more mac n cheese and many, many threatening stares of passengers in the airplane, guests of the hotel or anywhere you may see us headed, and two stressed and grumpy parents.

We obviously were on a trip because the above definitely describes Mama and what was happening the entire time. It was nice to be away but at the same time, we longed to be home to have some familiarity so our kids would be sane. Of course, we follow all the “rules” and bring tons of snacks, games, coloring books, favorite toys to entertain en route on the airplane and in the hotel room during rest times post-swimming but in reality, Mama is here to tell you — they don’t work.

Kids are restless by nature and that includes a five hour plane ride to Hawaii. If you do in fact witness a child that does not once get out of their seat, does not raise their voice (screaming and crying included) or kicks and/or hits the seat in front of them, the person next to them or get in the way of the flight attendant in the aisle — then their parents drugged them. Yes, there are people that drug their children with Benadryl or Tylenol to make them sit still, pass out and otherwise just sit and veg out on the iPad. Lovely in theory — in fact, Mama thinks they may be on to something. However, knowing Mama’s kids…the drugs will probably have the opposite effect and get them even more hyper.

So each time we return from “a trip” we vow never to go on one again…but Mama loves traveling so it’s hard not to want to take them. In fact, traveling with kids reminds Mama of childbirth…so soon after it happens you forget the recovery process.

Do you like to take your kids on vacation…er…a trip?

First off, don’t keel over because you’re actually surprised that Mama has been here two days in a row and second, don’t get used to it! While Mama has every intention of life getting back to normal with the three, most of the time life trumps Mama’s actual plan. That’s okay…we’ll get there one of these days. What has returned to normal though, is the never-ending rush for last minute baking and crafts. Mama is always in need of a fast plan to take to the classroom for treats, to the neighbor’s house for an impromptu get together, a party…you get it. And with never enough time to actually plan for these events, you can imagine how we scramble around forging for food to take over because one should never show up empty handed (when in dire need…DO bring wine…Don’t bring a box of store bought cookies).

Usually Mama is so on top of things like this…always having a hostess gift on hand and stocked away in my closet of crafts and goodies. However, this year is a wash as Mama likes to say…as the stock pile has yet to be replenished but once a good sale comes along on candles, pretty serving dishes or something else fan-tab-u-lus then Mama will stock pile again for this next year. But nothing…nothing is as good as giving and receiving a homemade gift.

One thing that Mama’s Mama always had on hand in the fridge or freezer was COOL WHIP Whipped Topping because basically….you can use it to whip up something really yummy, really fast. We do the same thing in our house. Always keeping one handy in the freezer for those last minute desserts or if Mama is really planning ahead…we make some of our favorites like we did today.

Mama’s Five Minute COOL WHIP Dessert

We all know that Mama is semi-homemade so we take pound cake, slice it into 2 inch thick pieces, butter it on both sides, grill it for 2-3 minutes on each side, let cool for a minute. Then dollop COOL WHIP on top and then top it with strawberries and then….top it with chocolate sauce drizzle. It’s yummy and even the kids like it…must-be the extra butter we put on it!

OR if you’re feeling really crafty…

Mama’s COOL WHIP Fourth of July Trifle

Just this last holiday season Mama discovered that we didn’t own a Trifle dish…insanity, right?! They are so easy to make, taste so good and look pretty without having to roll out little animals and people out of fondant. For this dessert you’ll need to make three 9-inch yellow cakes from a box (because that’s how we do it around these parts). Bake according to directions and let cool. Once cool, crumble the cake into big chunks into a separate bowl. Take the Trifle dish and make one layer of cake chunks on the bottom, then add one generous layer of COOL WHIP, then add a layer of cut and hulled strawberries. For the next layer add another generous layer of COOL WHIP, then cake chunks, then COOL WHIP, then blueberries. For the top Mama likes to add a few mint springs and a few extra strawberries for decoration. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes to assemble once the cakes are baked. So easy and pretty to bring to a spring BBQ.

If all else fails….stop by the market, buy some COOL WHIP, a carton of fresh strawberries, plate them both up and bring them over for a yummy, homemade dessert. It’s what all the busy Mamas are doing these days What’s your favorite way to eat COOL WHIP?

Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.

So while all this is happening, Mama still can’t get over the odd, odd things that were circulating around last week. While Mama is totally not one to judge (or am I?!) there are some very, very strange things Mamas out there are not only DOING but yet filming and posting them doing it to You Tube. While to each his own…it’s quite one thing for you to actually do it in the privacy of your own home but if you don’t want to be judged, don’t go posting it on the Internet for all to see. That is how gossip is started but yet this isn’t gossip…it’s real and quite frankly, freaking Mama out. Let’s review and discuss this strange behavior, shall we?!

“Kiss-Feeding aka French-Feeding” — if you haven’t yet seen the video that actress Alicia Silverstone posted of her feeding her 11-month old son Bear, then you should…just for giggles sake. It’s one thing to breastfeed which is a completely natural thing because our bodies make milk to nourish our babies and you can feed them for as long as you like — that’s your own choice. However, we are not birds so therefore Mama is pretty sure we shouldn’t teach our children to eat like baby birds. In the video that she posted, Alicia puts the food in her own mouth, chews it and then Bear leans in for what looks like a kiss but really, she is feeding him the chewed up food. It’s their way of bonding. It’s really…um…disturbing…or just quite odd. Mama can think of a hundred different ways to bond other than feeding them like a baby bird…perhaps just a cuddle might make bonding a bit more sanitary. Like Mama said to each his own but Mama has to wonder about all the bacteria and virus swapping that is happening in that video…not only that but Mama is also questioning the delicious breakfast that she describes as “miso soup, collards and radish drizzled with flax oil…” — Mama knows that there is no way that Mama’s kids would even go near that even if it was from my own mouth. Would you feed your kids this way…or have you already and Mama is just so old-fashioned?

“Placenta-pill popping” — of course another thing straight out of Hollywood is the new trend of having your placenta after birth made into pills or powder so you can ingest it to help ward off post-partum depression, replenish nutrients lost during pregnancy, aid in breastmilk production and act as a uterine tonic. Actress January Jones (Mad Men) admitted that she took placenta pills after giving birth to her son to People Magazine….um…okay. While there isn’t any proven science to eating your own afterbirth, people that have done it say they feel more energized and…?! In fact, it is a growing trend and people have posted recipes online that include your placenta as a “snack”…such as throw it into a smoothie or sprinkle it on your baked potato. Doesn’t that just sound delicious…?! Perhaps I might dine with Alicia Silverstone and not January Jones…

“Pink Slime Meat” -- this is just disturbing. How can meat companies think that we won’t find out that they are polluting our meat with what is in fact pink slime (beef additives) that are unhealthy and unsanitary. We should walk into a store or purchase our kid’s meals from school knowing that they are getting PURE 100 percent beef. Perhaps it’s not organic or grass-fed beef (because that would be really expensive) but it is REAL. When it says hamburger…it should be a hamburger and not hamburger with a side of SLIME. Retailers have come out saying that they don’t carry this kind of beef including: Whole Foods Markets, Fresh & Easy Markets, Trader Joe’s. Retail giants like, Safeway Corp. (Von’s) and Kroger have come out saying they have stopped carrying this type of meat as well. Well, isn’t that fine and dandy…considering we’ve already been consuming it for…who knows how long?! This is one issue that is not going away and just goes to show we need to be aware of what we’re eating and putting into our bodies. Perhaps if we swapped the placenta pill for meat we would all feel less sluggish…?!

“Reborn Dolls” — this is last one is not gross…it’s just a little odd…or a lot odd, Mama should say.  Mama is used to people oohhing and ahhing over little baby CeCe…she is adorable after all but one fact remains…she is real. She cries, she poops, she needs to be fed. She is not a doll. However this morning on TODAY, there was a segment about a women that carries around this very life-like Reborn Doll like a real baby. She puts it into a carseat, straps it in, takes it out and into public places like a real baby and watches while people oogle over her “baby.” The owner of the “baby” has two kids of her own but yet is a collector of these Reborn Dolls and if asked, she will tell you it’s not real. However, why in the first place would you take that doll out of the house like a real baby…it is really, really creepy. She better not be getting in the carpool lane because of that thing…!

So just when you think you’ve seen it all…more comes along — would you do any of these things?

Guilty.

Mama clearly doesn’t take Baby Boy out in public enough or at least to drop-off and pick-up Lily-girl from school. The Mamas at the school all know about CeCe because there was no denying Mama’s giant stomach four months ago but Baby Boy…he gets to stay at home where he is happy playing his cars, playing with Play-Doh or taking a nap because he really, really needs it. As you know all too well Mama is sure, that dining with a three-year old is a less than pleasant experience and so is school pick-up when you’re half dragging him up the hill while pushing a baby stroller with one hand past the speeding cars and speed bumps. So Mama prefers not to do it and then cart him all over town while Lily-girl does her gymnastics, tennis, dance…you get it. He likes his cars and rather be home sleeping with them or crashing them into our walls.

Perhaps Mama will try taking Baby Boy this week for a pick-up…just for fun…so then Mama can remember why we actually leave him at home.

Last week was a big week, CeCe turned four months and Lily-girl turned six. It was a crazy week full of baking treats, celebrations, doctor’s appointments and survival. Mama actually loves going into survival mode because then it means that stuff is getting done and at the end of the day you actually accomplished something…which is a fantastic feeling. However, those lazy days where all you do is eat, sleep and watch movies are nice occasionally too and don’t come around nearly often enough. So Mama got to thinking…these past four months with CeCe have gone by so fast and there’s not much to show for it. A few pictures have been snapped here and there but Mama really thought we’d be able to capture more and so far…it hasn’t happened. Always good intentions…never enough time to actually execute it!

So now as Mama starts to pack-up and giveaway the newborn items and the baby-baby things, a tear is rolling down Mama’s cheek and a list is forming of the five things that Mama used to survive the four months with CeCe and as a Mama to three.

Mama’s Must-haves for Baby

SLEEP: This is the bassinet that Mama used for all three kids. CeCe at four months is still in it as she’s not yet turned over but Mama knows that it’s on the horizon soon. You can wheel it close to the bed at night and move it everywhere else during the day. It gives a slight elevation for those with acid reflux or stuffy noses and has a HUGE storage basket underneath for burp clothes, blankets, diapers, wipes, extra clothes or anything else you may need at your fingertips. While this isn’t the original one that Mama had with the Lily-girl, they each got their own new one (long story…), but Mama can’t wait to pass this on to another expecting Mama as it is the perfect bed for your perfect new little bundle of joy. Mama will be sad to see it go! First Years 5-in-1 Bassinet, $89, at walmart.com (Mama bought ours on Amazon.com but Walmart has it for almost $60 cheaper…go figure).

BATHE: When CeCe was first born, Mama thinks it took at least three weeks for her to get her first bath. Even then it was a huge event getting everything together to do it. While Mama definitely gave her a wipe-down everyday (especially in the neck…it gets smelly!), a bath was a different story. Now we’re in more of a routine where she gets a bath every other day and she loves to splash and dance in the water. However, she has now taken to push and arch her way out of the best tub invention ever for newborns — the Puj tub. It is a lifesaver and again something that Mama can’t wait to pass on because it makes giving your baby a bath so easy. It stores flat and snaps together to make a seat for baby to nest in while you bathe them in your bathroom sink. Truly…they fit, it works and all is well with the world. Worth every penny and much, much more comfortable for them than those large plastic tubs that you have no where to put. Puj Tub, $39.99 , at amazon.com.

PLAY: Babies don’t really play that much when they’re just born but they do love looking at you and staring a few colorful objects. Mama’s go-to place for CeCe to play is a soft, plush mat that she can lay flat on but also do tummy time. We pull it out every day and now Mama is thinking about getting one for downstairs too because although she’ll grow out of soon, it is something we’ve used since day one and everyday since. We do diaper changes on it and just gather around as a family to read together to her on it. It comes in all different animals like a cow, bear, hippo, monkey, giraffe and frog. Bestever Infant Play Mat, $44.99, at buybuybaby.com.

WEAR: Only one word needed here — pajamas. As cute as the clothes are for babies…you just don’t have the time nor the need to change them in anything but onesie footie pajamas. Mama’s go-to place for the cutest and most comfortable (and reasonable) pajamas is…Carter’s. Cotton Snap-up Sleep and Play, $9, at carters.com. All three of the kids lived in these for the first six months and Mama thinks they turned out okay…don’t you?!

EAT: This is one of the most difficult things for any new Mama to get used to because it’s constantly changing. They eat so often that both YOU and baby must be comfortable for it to happen — whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Mama has always had to do both in the beginning with Lily-girl and CeCe as they just weren’t proficient eaters or suckers when it came to breastfeeding but Mama always, always uses the Boppy for feeding to prop up Mama’s own arm for comfort and their little body and heads for easy eating. Mama has three of them…one upstairs, one downstairs and one for travel. It’s a necessity and again…Mama will be so sad to part with them when we’re beyond the infant stage.  Boppy pillow with slipcover, $45, at amazon.com.

Mama survived thanks to these five things…what are your must-haves for baby survival?