Marlie and Me

Preview: EdenFantasys {Giveaway Coming Soon}

2012-01-24T09:41:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching. Are you tired of the same, old dinner-and a-movie routine? Why not try a date night with more sizzle?! It's time to start thinking out of the box. Hop on over to adult shop EdenFantasys and pick out something that will blow his mind!

It case you think that I have become a smut peddler, get your mind out of the gutter! EdenFantasys is not a porn site, but some of the items and pictures might be considered NSFW, so do your shopping from your personal computer.

EdenFantasys offers a large selection of romantic and sensual products that will earn you an A+ chemistry! You are going to look so hot in the sexy lingerie that your bedroom will burst into flames, but then you can both cool off with a shower and the fun bathroom accessories you bought. If you are a little less daring, try setting the mood with some candles followed by a nice massage. Whatever you decide, you can get everything you need for an unforgettable Valentine's Day at EdenFantasys.

Come back February 1-7 for a chance to win a copy of a $50 EdenFantasys gift card in the All for Love Giveaway Hop!Meanwhile, connect with EdenFantasys on these social media:

Facebook
Twitter

*disclosure: I received a free gift card for the giveaway in exchange for mentioning the above company on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 23 Weeks Old

2012-01-22T00:00:00.000-06:00

This week I had my first my-kid-embarrassed-me-in-public experience. We were at a take-out place called picking up dinner on Friday evening standing in line to order our rotisserie chicken meal. A teenage boy on metal crutches joined his father who is in line in front of us. Marlie points and loudly says, "look mommy, a robot!" I wanted so badly to make us invisible. Other things my observant toddler said this week:

"Look! Daddy has a tail!"...said while catching a glimpse of her daddy in the shower.
"Be careful! Don't get it in your eyes!"...said while I'm peeling an orange. She's wary of citrus juice squirting in my eyes ever since a lemon got her.
"Put on your seat belt mommy!"...said while I am backing out of our driveway. I always put it on after I've backed out, but she insists on reminding me.
"Don't talk to me like that!"...said in response to be verbally reprimanding her.

What else? She has been spoiled by Netflix and Pandora and YouTube. Now she thinks we can summon whatever tv show or song she wants to watch/listen to anytime and anywhere. This makes car rides tricky. I'll be driving her to school and she'll ask for the "stereo song." What am I a genie?! I explain that I can't just make the song play in the car, we need a computer. Sometimes she accepts my explanation, sometimes she starts throwing a tantrum in the backseat. In that case, I turn up NPR and drive a little faster.

Mommy got some me-time on Saturday. I went to a little art shop and painted pottery for three hours! It was so quiet and relaxing. I really enjoyed it. I made a mental note to make more of an effort to get out and enjoy activities like this more often.

Seeking Sponsors for Marlie and Me Virtual Baby Shower!

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

When I was pregnant with my first child, I became so overwhelmed by the process of creating a baby gift registry. I did not know which baby products and gear were the best. There were literally hundreds of car seats to choose from! I did read the online customer reviews, but the conflicting testimonies made me more anxious.

I those months leading up to the birth of my daughter and ever since, I have relied heavily on mom blog reviews for information about products for my family. It's a source I have come to trust!

Now that I am expecting my second child this April, I feel better educated about what brands to buy. Some of that confidence comes from the experience of trial and error, but I largely have mom blog reviews to thank. This is a gift I want to share with my readership.

So I am hosting a virtual baby shower for the entire month of March featuring reviews and giveaways of products that with help expecting moms get ready for baby! Please contact me at t_freckleton[at]yahoo[dot]com if you have a product that is right for this campaign (pregnancy, postpartum, or newborn). I will send you my pitch letter right away! I am open, but not limited to:

baby clothes/layette
cloth diapers and cloth diaper accessories
nursing items
blankets and bedding
babywearing gear

ABOUT ME

Wordful Wednesday: It Goes by in a Blur

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

We took Miss Marlie to the park so she could get some practice on her balance bike. Her daddy did all the work. I stood by taking pictures, but at one point I put the camera down and just watched her. Do you sometimes look at your child and try to remember when they were just babies? I feel like mine is growing up way too fast and soon she's going to be taking driving lessons (in my car!).

Rafflecopter Launch Party Giveaway: #Win an iPad2 or Kindle!

2012-01-17T00:00:00.001-06:00

It's no secret that I love Rafflecopter, the contest widget. It has totally transformed the way I manage and enter giveaways. The program has been in beta testing for almost a year, but now the developers have released a new and improved version to the public!

To celebrate the new year and it's public launch, Rafflecopter is going to give away a 16GB Apple iPad2 and two Kindle Fires. To enter, simply tell Rafflecopter who referred you to this giveaway (say Marlie and Me, please). You can receive additional entries by tweeting about this giveaway, following Rafflecopter on twitter, and giving feedback. In addition, you can suggest a mascot name for another entry. That certainly makes things more fun!

This giveaway is open for the US and Canadian residents and will close February 9th at 12:01 a.m. EST. Suggest a Mascot Name
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Win $100 Family Prize Package to Ring in the New Year (US/CAN)! #ToastTo2012 Giveaway Hop Jan 10-17

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year Internet Friends! New Year's is generally an adult holiday what with the resolution-making and midnight-kissing and the alcohol-drinking. But the kiddos can have fun too! Imagine their delight if you win my awesome Toast to 2012 Giveaway Hop family prize package filled with cool stuff they will enjoy!

Toast to 2012 is hosted by Sweep Tight and Just Married with Coupons and the Grand Prize is sponsored by Likeographers.com. Likeographers.com is a website where users from all over the world can enter awesome giveaways where they can win items such as gift cards and makeup by simply signing up and uploading a candid photo. Likeographers.com is dedicated to providing a place where users can upload a picture of their likes, share them with the world and win awesome prizes.

Here's what ONE lucky Marlie and Me reader will win! Even if you don't win, I encourage you to visit all of my sponsors in this prize package because each has a charitable focus, so you can shop for cool gifts and contribute to some good causes by making a purchase:

Go! Go! Sports Girls Doll of choice ($19.99 value): Dream Big Toy Company™ created Go! Go! Sports Girls™ as a fun and educational way to promote self-appreciation and the benefits of daily exercise, healthy eating and sleeping habits, self-esteem and overall healthy life-skills for girls ages 3-12. A portion of their profits is donated to organizations that encourage girls to participate in physical activity and develop healthy lifestyles. Read my REVIEW.

Lovable Labels Friendship Pack ($24.99 value): Lovable Labels was launched in 2003 by a mom to fill the need for durable, personalized labels to identify our children's belongings. The collections includes Regular and Slimline Stickers, Shoe Labels, Iron-ons and Bag Tags in bright, fun, and colorful designs. Lovable Labels has generously supplied us with a "Friendship Pack" of 120 labels for one lucky winner! Thanks, Lovable Labels! They are also generous supporters of breast cancer research. Read my REVIEW.

Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure book ($12.99 value): Cooper and his doggie pal Bella get lost in a snowstorm and must find their way back home. This book provides a wonderful opportunity to teach children the importance of making good decisions and the gentle lesson of how to be prepared in case they get lost. $1 of every Winter Adventure book sold will go to advance research and treatment of pancreatic cancer via the Lustgarten Foundation. Read my REVIEW.

S2S Nation t-shirt of choice ($35 value): S2S Nation makes Eco-Fashion hip with their limited-edition bamboo/organic cotton apparel that is designed by the People for the People. 10% of each purchase will go to the charity of your choice based on the acronym N.A.T.I.O.N (Nature and Environment, Artists; Town and Community; Imagination and Happiness; Orphanages and Children; Nurture and Health. Take 25% off your next purchase with discount code: S2SM2M25

A shopping trip to Target on me with a $10 gift card (self-sponsored)! That can buy you 10 items at the Dollar Spot!

This family prize package is worth $103! Open to US and Canada. After entering my giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the post a the list of all the blogs in this hop. And don't forget to ENTER TO WIN the Toast to 2012 Grand Prize 1 of 5 $100 PayPal or Visa gift cards!

Please Read How to Enter This Giveaway: you must use the Rafflecopter form below to record your entries. Comments left on this blog post for the required or extra entries don't count unless you record it on the Rafflecopter form. There have been some changes to Rafflecopter! For instance, you now have to login with Facebook or your name/email address. This enables you to see your entries in a giveaway and edit them if needed. Please wait for the form to load, it may take longer to pop up than the rest of the web page. Make sure you have java script enabled and your browser updated. If you encounter an error, refreshing the page usually resolves the problem. If problem persists, please report the issue to Rafflecopter. Login to get started, click "Do It" next to each task to see the instructions, and start collecting your entries!

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Comment Consideration #2

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

I'm focusing this week's Comment Consideration entirely on this comment from DuPont Representative Sara on my eco-eggs post.
She writes:

I applaud the idea of creating a safer home, and because there's so much misinformation out there about PFOA and the Teflon® brand, I'm not surprised that you are concerned. I'm a representative of DuPont though, and hope you'll let me share some information with you and your readers so that everyone can make truly informed decisions.

Regulatory agencies, consumer groups and health associations all have taken a close look at the Teflon® brand. This article highlights what they found -- the bottom line is that you can use Teflon® non-stick without worry.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/105953916/_

I'd truly be glad to share additional information about it if you are interested, and appreciate your consideration of this comment. Cheers, Sara.

My reply:
Please note that I took a week before responding to Sara from DuPont because I wanted my reply to be based on a thorough investigation on my part and not a knee-jerk reaction. When I write parenting posts, my job is to provide facts and that is what I did in the original article about PFOAs in nonstick cookware. I do welcome debate, so I encourage you to read the document she referenced (click Full Screen to read because their is a membership fee to download or print). It is an article by ConsumerReports.org that summarizes lab testing they had done on nonstick cookware. CR found little to almost no PFOAs in the air after using nonstick pans, so they conclude that the pans are safe. I thank Sara for sharing these findings. There are dozens of conflicting studies about PFOAs and nonstick cookware. I found two articles that I felt offered a balanced perspective in examining the pro and cons on this issue. For you research wonks, I also linked up to the EPA and Environmental Working Group's websites. You can draw your own conclusions. I know my mind is made up...

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 22 Weeks Old

2012-01-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

Marlie, who I now refer to as Terror Fabulous (not the reggae dancehall artist), had quite an interesting week. She started off with the bright idea to boycott nap time. Fun for her, frustrating for me. The upside was that she crashed at bedtime, no ploys to delay going to sleep at night.

On Thursday morning she woke up and emphatically stated, "I don't feel good. I need medicine." I checked her temperature, felt her tummy for stiffness and got her ready for school. She ate breakfast normally and we headed out the door. She sounded congested when I picked her up and then she fell asleep on the way home. Then she napped for 2 1/2 hours! I kept checking on her because she was breathing hard. I rubbed some eucalyptus ointment under her nostrils while she was still asleep. She immediately started draining mucus when she woke up. Poor thing had a cold. She was fine except for all the snot. She sat on the couch with me for the rest of the day and we watched tv and shared a mango. That evening, I received an alert from her school that strep throat was going around. aack! Marlie has not shown any signs, so I think she's been spared.

As for chocolate chip...this baby has got the moves like Jagger! The kid dances around so much that it wakes me up at night and I have to go to the potty very often. I take it in stride and just tell myself to enjoy the sensation of feeling him/her move because pretty soon s/he will be out and I will forget this feeling.

Our weekend was uneventful. We did the usual...shopping for groceries, shopping for household supplies. When did my life get so routine? I am hoping to go on a picnic Monday if the weather cooperates (in my language that means warm temps, at least 60 degrees). I need to check our TV listings or Netflix for Eyes on the Prize. Happy King Holiday!

Dear Baby X or Y: Why Mommy Doesn't Prefer That You Are a Girl or Boy

2012-01-12T01:30:00.000-06:00

Dear Chocolate Chip:

Greetings, my beautiful unborn child! I felt it was time that mommy explain why we decided not to find out if you are a boy or girl ahead of your birthday. It's not that we don't care to know everything about you, it's just that we only care that you are healthy.

This planet is very hung up on things like gender and other means of classifying people like race, religion, and sexuality. Everywhere you turn some organization or agency wants you to check a hundred boxes identifying yourself as this or that for some bureaucratic purpose. It's all very tiresome, especially if you don't belong to a favorable group. In America, being born a girl means earning 75 cents on the dollar as a woman and having to decided whether to trade in on your feminine wiles to get ahead. It's even worse in some countries where females don't even get to be born or are sent to orphanages if they survive pregnancy. It's hard being a girl in this world.

But it's not always easier being the opposite sex in our society. If you are a boy you are expected to wear blue and play with trucks and roll around in the mud. My brother recently told me her would never give his son a doll if he asked for one. Rest assured that mommy and daddy are going to do their best to protect you from these "social norms." If you are a boy who wants to sport long hair or a girl who wants to wear polos, your parents will happily accommodate. I'm not the only one who is pushing back against gender identity constraints in case you think your mommy is some renegade, lone-wolf, nonconformist. There is "princess boy" Dyson whose parents let him dress up as female cartoon character for Halloween.Then there is that Canadian couple who refused to reveal their newborn's gender.

I promise your mommy and daddy won't take it that far. We will proudly present you as our son or daughter after you are born. But what we won't do is wish, hope, or pray one way or the other. After reading this article on gender disappointment, I was even more adamant that your sex remain a secret for the duration of my pregnancy. People are free to predict what you might be (I actually like playing the guessing game with folks) but when people ask me if I have a preference, I say no. I get all sorts of skeptical looks and remarks. Few people seem to think that it's possible for me to feel neutral about your sex. But the honest truth is that you are a win-win baby...boy or girl.

Monday Morning Parenting: How to make eco-eggs

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-06:00

Non-stick cookware made with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is no-good. The chemical PFOA, used to make the coating in non-stick pots and pans like the brand Teflon, has been shown to emit toxic fumes that leech into food during preparation. The EPA even got involved after the science community labeled PFOA a likely carcinogen and recommended a voluntary phaseout program. Every PFOA manufacturer agreed to cease the production of PFOA by 2015. No word on what DuPont will use to replace PFOA.

I'm not waiting until 2015 to get rid of my chemical-coated, non-stick cookware. Until we can afford a set of eco-cookware like Chantal or Green Pan, I insist that we use only our stainless steel pots and pans. Things can get messy when cooking with stainless steel if you're not careful. Take eggs for instance. No one wants to scrap the egg remnants from a pan after breakfast. So follow these tips for making eco-friendly eggs in a stainless steel pan that won't stick:

When eggs taken directly from the cold refrigerator hit a hot pan, they stick. So bring eggs up to room temperature before cooking them by placing them in a bowl of hot tap water for 5 minutes.

Warm up the pan on medium-low heat before adding oil.

Now your eggs won't stick! I was going to make a demo video, but my flip camera is full and I was too lazy to go through the video library to make space. So you'll have to take my word on the eggs!

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 21 Weeks Old

2012-01-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

Two things I confirmed about my child this week.

1. She has the gift of gab. I am a talker too so this isn't a shocker. What amazes me sometimes is the way she turns a phrase. She is so articulate. Here are some gems from this week:

"I'm hungry. I need ice cream."
"What's wrong mommy? you tired?"
"I see the moon! Where's my camera? I want to take a picture"
"Mommy, where's the remote? I want to watch tv."
"Good job, mommy!" (after I've used the toilet)
"Don't touch my hair, daddy. That's not nice."
"Look, a bug. Don't kill it mommy!"

2. That last one brings me to conclusion #2. She's a total tomboy...the frogs, and snails, and puppy dog tails kind who likes to climb and jump off everything. She gets that from me too. I give her space to romp while keeping a watchful eye, but I can't help remembering the accident at four-years-old that sent me to the ER to get two dozen stitches to my forehead. Especially when she somersaulted off our bed on Thursday and crash-landed upside down on the floor. I am amazed that we haven't had to take her to the ER yet. I get palpitations just thinking about it. This is what my mother must have felt like seeing me running around wild with reckless abandon.

Not much is going on my planet. Did I tell you about the dream I had about Tim Tebow? I dreamed that the Broncos won the Super Bowl and Tebow got on the microphone to announce that he was actually Jesus Christ and has come to bring about the Rapture. He explained that he returned as a football player because Super Bowl has the largest captive audience to get the word out. Strange, huh?!

What else? I feel like a walrus. At a neighborhood social on Friday, an acquaintance I hadn't seen in months exclaimed that I must be due any day now. That is the second time someone has said that I look ready to deliver. So, I guess I must look like a walrus too. It's great for my self-esteem.

I won a cool prize this week....a Mommy 'n Me apron set from 5minutesformom.I have been slacking in the giveaways lately because I've had two prizes I won not come through and it just mad me mad that sponsors would offer, get all the web traffic and social media exposure, and then not fulfill their obligation to the winner. I am over it now. I am participating in several cool giveaways hops in the next few weeks. The Toast to 2012 Hop starts on Tuesday. I have an amazing prize package up for grabs that includes: a $10 Target gift card, a Go! Go! Sports Girl Doll, a Lovable Labels Friendship Pack, a copy of the Cooper and Me Winter Adventure book, and a eco t-shirt from S2S Nation. So come back and enter!

Cooper and Me Book Review

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-06:00

All the child experts agree that reading to your child everyday boosts his educational development. But not all children's books are created equal. I look for several things when I pick out books for my two-year-old: age-appropriateness, phonics, illustrations, and an inspirational message.

The Cooper and Me series of books meet all my requirements and then some. They are written by a child for children, which is probably one of the reasons my daughter is so taken with them. We have been reading Cooper and Me and Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure for the past week and she never tires of hearing about Cooper the lovable black Labrador Retriever. In Cooper and Me he helps a little girl overcome her anxiety about the first day of school. In Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure he and his puppy pal must find their way back home in a snowstorm. Both stories are so endearing and teach important life lessons!

Marlie's literary comprehension is advanced for a two-year-old. She prefers we read her books several levels above her age. She really loves the Cooper and Me books and continues to select them for her bedtime stories.

Check out the Cooper and Me online store and give the gift of reading to a special boy or girl in your life! Also Connect with Copper and Me on these social media:

Facebook
Twitter

Come back January 10-17 for a chance to win a copy of Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure in the Toast to 2012 Giveaway Hop!

*disclosure: I received on or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*

Wordful Wednesday: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-06:00

Look at that punim! Do you think it's a boy or a girl?

What I'm Watching on #Netflix

2012-01-03T00:00:00.000-06:00

This week's picks from Netflix Instant Watch:

TV Show:
Inspector Gadget is my favorite childhood cartoon and now I can relive the hilarity of this clueless secret agent who is a cross between James Bond and Maxwell Smart and has gadgets where his appendages should be. In each episode he manages to foil the evil Dr. Claw thanks to his gutsy niece Penny and her trusty dog Brain. They don't make them this funny anymore!

Movies:
Tiny Furniture is an independent movie I have been wanting to see since I heard writer/director Lena Dunham in an interview on NPR In the film, a recent college grad returns home to live with her mother and younger sister to find herself suffering a quarter-life crisis. She is heart-broken, broke, friendless, and doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. She also feels left out of her mother and sister's circle. Dunham does an excellent job of capturing how adrift many of today's twentysomethings feel.

Lovable Labels Review

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

If you have a child in daycare, school or attending camp then you know how important it is to label all of his/her belongings to prevent items from winding up in the Lost & Found box or accidentally being taken by another child.

But why disfigure your child's things with an plain black & white label when you can use oh so cute, colorful, and customizable Lovable Labels?! Lovable Labels were invented my a mompreneur who recognized a need for durable, personalized labels that would withstand the rigors of daily use.

I received a Friendship Pack with my choice of icon for this review. What I love most about Lovable Labels is that they come in a variety of shapes and sizes for a wide range of uses. The Friendship Pack includes 30 regular-size stickers, 80 slimline stickers and 10 fun-shaped stickies, plus you get 40 FREE slimline stickers for a friend all for $24.99! The first thing I did was label Marlie's new balance bike and helmet. I also labeled her coat, jackets, sports bottle and shoes, and the slimline stickers are perfect for book spines!

You have to check out Lovable Labels for all your labeling needs. Connect with Lovable Labels on:

Facebook
Twitter
Blog

Come back January 10-17 for a chance to win a Lovable Labels Friendship Pack in the Toast to 2012 Giveaway Hop!

*disclosure: The product in this review was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.*

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 20 Weeks Old

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

How was your holiday? Mine was fantastically quiet. Just the three of us with chocolate chip kicking and flip flopping to Christmas music. We went to a banquet buffet at one of those fancy hotels for dinner. It was decent, but nothing to write home about. We snuggled on the couch to watch Love Actually, Damon's favorite holiday movie. I bought him the DVD for Christmas. It was definitely more appropriate than the South Park Christmas Special that he let Marlie watch a portion of the night before. Only after she asked why "they were tearing open the rabbit's tummy?" did he realize that it might not be a good idea to let her watch anymore. Where was I? Fast asleep and unaware that my toddler was being exposed to violent imagery. sigh

I woke up at 7 am on the day after Christmas and drove to the mall to score some deals. I was armed with a $10 off $30 coupon for Sears where I picked up new boots for Marlie (because missy outgrew her other boots sometime in the last 3 weeks) and I also grabbed some maternity clothes that were on sale. I get to checkout and was told that the coupon doesn't apply to footwear or the maternity line. Jimmy Cricket! I left with just the boots because baby girl needs them. Once home, I started dismantling the sorry-looking tree (we went back to Home Depot this year...when will we learn?!). Then I left to have lunch with a friend while Damon and Marlie stayed home for quality father-daughter bonding time, which probably included some kind of sports viewing.

Marlie has been spending the week playing with her Christmas gifts including a set of Clementine non-toxic, natural art products from grandma. She has been finger painting and making turtles with the modeling clay (and drawing on the floor with her soy crayons). She has been learning to use her balance bike (indoors at first since mom and dad forgot to buy a helmet...don't worry one has since been purchased). She also loves bowling with her Melissa and Doug Monster Bowling set.

We are also spending the week re-training on the potty. So far so good. Now if I can just get her school to meet us halfway. I have been pushing to send her to school in panties, but her lead teacher has been postponing it. The directors are okay with it, but the lead teacher seems to have the final say. What to do?

On Thursday, I had a visit to my OB for a sonogram because I was told, while we are free not to want to learn our baby's sex, doctor lady still needs to see that baby has two working lungs, kidneys and the like. So, we obliged. We told the technician upfront that we didn't want to know the sex anatomy. Marlie started to cry when the tech lady put the gel and wand on my belly. I have to say she has been more interested in my baby bump lately. She even talks to the baby and rubs my belly. Tech lady put the picture with the baby's sex written on it in a sealed envelope in case we change our mind. Damon says she slipped and used a pronoun at the end of the session. I didn't hear it though. I have not been tempted to look in that envelope either. I must say that I am glad we got the sonogram. I was awash in love looking at that baby's face. (S)he was making a sucking noise with his/her mouth. The face was the only part of the sono scan I would look at, afraid that I might be able to make out the genitalia on a full body image.

We wrapped up the week by celebrating New Year's Eve at home, munching on homemade pizza and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, watching Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve show, me sipping on sparkling white grape and kissing hubby at midnight. Thank God you can't get pregnant when you are pregnant!

I don't do new year resolutions, but I always have a running to-do list and that's enough to keep me busy all of 2012. Happy New Year Friends!

Wordful Wednesday: Christmas Recap

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-06:00

I LOVE opening gifts in my PJs, don't you?

Isn't it scary how fast they learn to tear off wrapping paper? I think she set a world record!

Look at her smile as while she rides her new balance bike!

What I'm Watching on #Netflix

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-06:00

This week's picks from Netflix Instant Watch:

TV Show:
King of the Hill is an "adult" cartoon about a family of in Texas led by its redneck patriarch Hank Hill. Hank is a propane salesman who is sometimes misguided by his conservative and chauvinistic values, but he makes up for it with his aw-shucks charm. Watch him solve family crises and keep his misfit band of friends in line.

Movies:
Gnomeo and Juliet is an animated adaptation of the Shakespeare romantic tragedy. In this version, the star-crossed lovers are garden gnomes from opposing households in England. I get what the writers were trying to do, but it just doesn't work. The animation is great, but the movie is short on laughs and catchy tunes.

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. I was not expecting to like this cartoon version of The Charles Dickens classic made with America's favorite bumbling senior citizen, but it surprised me with it's warmth, jokes, and positive message that both kids and adults will enjoy.

Comment Consideration #1

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

This is a new meme. I borrowed the concept from Tooje at Circling the Square Table. She had the great idea to answer reader comments and questions in a blog post. I do reply to M&M readers by email, but I not everyone is privy to that content. This way I get to expound with you all...

Tooje...
"What a trip. Traveling with a toddler is so, so, so exhausting. Dealing with crazy family just tops it off and pushes one over the edge. I totally get it. BUT...sacrifices for that special meet and greet, eh? :) Did they hit it off?"

I would never travel with a toddler alone while pregnant ever again. But, yes, it was so worth it. She fell in love with her uncle. Every day she has been asking to go on the plane to see him again.

keyalus...
"Off topic - would love to see you post about how pregnancy is different the second time around."

I don't think I have enough to say to fill up a whole post. Physically, this pregnancy feels easier in many ways. I had mild nausea for only weeks 8-11 and that rundown tired feeling was over by week 13, but I'm still exhausted from chasing a toddler all day. One good thing is that I don't have any or the back pain or leg cramps that sent me running to a prenatal chiropractor last time. I think it's because my body is accustomed to carrying a baby now and I was also lucky enough to have gotten into shape with Insanity and P90X right before I got pregnant. It's funny too because I am not as health conscious with this pregnancy. I'm not exercising regularly and I indulge all my cravings, especially Mexican food. That would explain how I gained 25 pounds in two trimesters. I'm not especially worried though. I think this baby is going to be a lot bigger than Marlie was at birth. The biggest difference between my pregnancy with Marlie and chocolate chip is mostly psychological. I'm just more chill with this one. Last time, I was reading pregnancy books and websites every day and acting a bit neurotic with preparations. I was probably driving my husband and midwife crazy with my constant worrying. I'm a lot calmer this time around about being pregnant, but I am freaking out about how I am going to manage a toddler and a newborn.

Toddler Log: Two Years and 19 Weeks Old

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-06:00

Guess who was an angel on the plane ride back home on Monday? I can hardly believe it. Little Miss sat in her chair, ate snacks, played with the little girl in the seat next to us, and read books for three whole hours! I heart swelled with pride and gratitude (because I could not bear a repeat performance of our plane ride down to Miami).

On another note, American Airlines has to be the least family-friendly airline I have had the displeasure of flying. Does bankruptcy mean that you stop caring about good customer service?! On the plane to Miami we got stuck with four other families in the back of the plane otherwise known as the ghetto. It's also the nosiest part of the plane. On the way back the check-in agent gave us opposite aisle seats! Like I am going to sit across the way from my two-year-old for three hours. We switched places with some nice sisters traveling with their parents. Oh, and the biggest insult was no snacks with craft service...just water, soda and juice. My stars, what next? Asking customers to bring their own airplane fuel?

Marlie really enjoyed her time in Miami. She has been asking to go on the plane to see her uncle "An-ju" every day since we got back. It makes me sad that she doesn't get the benefit of growing up around her relatives, but there is nothing I can do about that. It's not like I am going to move back to Miami. That would be mental masochism. Family...can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. sigh.

Having Marlie home these past two weeks got me thinking about homeschooling. Her speech just exploded in Miami, which I attribute to being around her older cousins. Marlie is no shrinking violet. She kept up with those two. Her new favorite word is "yep." She's a true Texan. I have been having a blast teaching her new things like how to use my old camera and wrapping gifts (now she wants to label and stick everything under the tree). But by Tuesday, I was ready for a break, so she will be returning to school on January 2nd. hee.

We are celebrating another quiet Christmas at home. Opening presents and eating breakfast in our PJs and going to church. Then we are going out to eat because it's more fun to have someone else cook and clean up!I also have to figure out how to increase my twitter ratio because I hot my follow limit!

Merry Christmas!

Things I'm Loving This Thursday

2011-12-22T00:00:00.000-06:00

I'm way behind on listing the things I'm loving. This week I am loving...

Christmas Music. It's one of my favorite things about the holidays. I like the classics like White Christmas by Bing Crosby and Merry Christmas To You by Nat King Cole, but I also love Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas. Of course it wouldn't be Christmas with listening to the Jackson 5 Christmas album a million times.

The 2nd Trimester. There is a reason they call it the honeymoon trimester. Weeks 14-27 are the best part of pregnancy. My energy is back, I feel chocolate chip kicking all the time, and I am eating like a normal human being instead of a vacuum cleaner.

End of Year/Best of Lists. I'll buy any magazine with one of these cover titles. I enjoy reading year in review articles about the best and worst of books, movies, television, music, events, fashion, and celebrity behavior. People magazine's issue was tops, full of pictures and hilarious recaps.

What are you loving this Thursday?! Leave it in your comment :-)

Wordful Wednesday: Family Reunion

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-06:00

p.s. I'm guest posting today over at Life of TOI. She is a new mommy who was super smart to ask readers to share mommy wisdom while she took a blogging break to care for her newborn daughter. Please read my guest post over on her blog and then check out some of pregnancy articles.

Marlie and me took a quicky trip to Miami at the last minute to visit my family and for her to meet by brother for the first time who I haven't seen in three years. Yes, it was expensive. Yes, traveling with a toddler while pregnant was exhausting. Yes, there was drama (because my family can't help but drive me crazy). And yes, I would do it again.

Here's why:


To sit my hefty, pregnant butt down on a park bench and watch my daughter play with her Auntie

To sit on my hefty, pregnant butt and watch my daughter and her cousin "comb" my mom's hair :-)

To take my daughter to the beach

Only to have to turn back because jellyfish littered the shore

To hang out with my 5 siblings because that doesn't happen often. That's all of us...3 girls and 3 boys!

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 18 Weeks Old

2011-12-18T07:44:00.000-06:00

Marlie missed school this entire week. She was sick the first half of the week with what turned out to be a double ear infection. Some ibuprofen and antibiotics and she was on the road to wellness. Then on Thursday the two of us had a red-eye flight to Miami. I felt like a villain taking her on a plane when she wasn't 100%, but we bought these tickets last-minute after my brother was released from jail. I think I mentioned him on my blog before. He has been languishing in jail for 11 months on bogus charges and lacked decent legal representation until recently. His new private attorney is aces. Within a few weeks he was able to secure bail for my bro after demonstrating to a judge all the flaws in the case and the conspicuous lack of evidence. The judge stopped short of dismissing the case, but he did grant bail which is huge for his type of felony charge.

Anyway, I haven't seen my brother in three years. He's never met Marlie. I was determined to get to Miami before the holiday travel rush. Then Marlie got sick. We saw the pediatrician on Tuesday morning and she gave us the okay to fly on Thursday. If you think traveling with a toddler is rough, try traveling alone with a toddler while 5.5 months pregnant. On the flight, Marlie would not sit in her seat (that we paid for) and she would not go to sleep (except the last 15 minutes of the flight). I deplane with a toddler slung over one shoulder and a backpack on the other. I make my way slowly to baggage claim where I pick up the car seat and our suitcase. Thanks to the Smart Carte we make it to the rental car shuttle without incident. The shuttle drops us off at the rental car facility located outside the airport. There are no carts, and our agency is on the bottom floor. A nice lady helps us down the escalator. I find the line and it's 12-15 people deep. I put Marlie down and rummage in my bag for my reservation papers. She takes the opportunity to run off. I catch up with her halfway down the terminal. By the time we get back in line, six more people are in front of us. I am sweaty, frustrated, and exhausted. I am balancing a cranky Marlie on my hip when a concierge from the rental car agency comes by. She sees Marlie whining and tells me that Santa Claus is here and asks would I like for her to go get him to cheer Marlie up. I give her a look that I hope causes her ovaries to shiver in terror. Look, lady who obviously doesn't have any kids judging by your perfect figure...when you see an obviously pregnant woman standing in line and struggling to calm another kid, you DO NOT offer her Santa freaking Claus! You offer to hold her place in line while she goes to sit down!!! Luckily, a sweet couple up front remembered I was in front of them and beckoned me over. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers! Concierge lady saw this and it must have made her feel guilty because she carried our bag and car seat to the car. Things didn't get better though. I split my pants while getting the car seat in place, and I almost got lost on the way to my mom's house. Our trip to Whole Foods for provisions was just as stressful (and Whole Foods usually makes me serene). By the time I pulled up in front of my mom's house three hours after leaving the airport, I was beat up. But when I saw my brother's face, I knew it was all worth it and I'd go through it again.

Miami is the same. Warm and sunny and just electric.So how did our visit go? Let me preface with this statement: I love my family, but they drive me crazy. They are loud and disorderly whereas I am quiet and orderly. I never felt like I fit into my family dynamics and this trip has proven my feelings correct once again. After three days of fighting for space to put Marlie down for naps and bedtime and having my family constantly overstimulating her and/or barging into the room were she was sleeping...I left and checked into a hotel. It was for the best. We need our own space and my mom's house was just overcrowded and too noisy. Anyway, we did have a good time in between the chaotic parts. We went to the park, flea market, visited neighbors, Marlie played with her cousins, and tomorrow I am taking her to the beach before we head back to Texas. All in all, our trip was a fun kind of torture. I only see my family once a year and I usually can put up with their b.s., but being pregnant has shortened my fuse. I will post pics this week.

Review: Go! Go! Sports Girls Dolls

2011-12-14T15:30:00.000-06:00

Marlie recently became interested in dolls. She lugs her only dolly around everywhere and engages it in pretend play like rocking it to sleep, reading to it, and serving it tea. I started looking at buying another doll so she doesn't wear this one out, but the choices on the popular market are downright frightening. If a doll isn't perpetuating the princess myth then it's tarted up in heavy make-up and skimpy outfits...not for my two-year-old (or 12-year-old for that matter)!

So what is a progressive parent to do with these limited options? Don't sweat because Dream Big Toy Company™ has created a collection of dolls that send a positive message.

"Go! Go! Sports Girls are a fun and educational way to promote self-appreciation and the benefits of daily exercise, healthy eating and sleeping habits, self-esteem and overall healthy life-skills for girls ages 3-12."

There are 11 Go! Go! Sports Girls dolls representing a variety of sports. I wish there was more racial diversity in the group and that's something all doll manufacturers should strive for in their collections.

At almost two and a half, my daughter already loves physical activity. She does yoga, kickball, and loves to dance so I chose M.C. the dance doll for this review. The doll is made from soft fabric with yarn hair (very eco-friendly) and is taller than I pictured. She is dressed for her activity in a ballet leotard and tutu. She is also carrying a backpack with a tiny towel! When I removed the doll from the box, Marlie exclaimed, "My dolly!" and reached for it. She took off and began playing with it right away. I told her the doll is a dancer and she started to wiggle its hips. My girl is so smart! I can just imagine her taking M.C. to her dance classes next year. I love that we have this doll as a positive role model and teaching tool to encourage her interest sports and exercise.

Connect with Go!Go! Sports Girls on Facebook!

You should definitely buy a Go! Go! Sports Girl for that special girl in your life. The award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls dolls are available through a variety of online retailers. Giveaway coming soon!

*disclosure: The product in this review was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.*

Run Fast to Sprint for 3-Day Sale 12/12-12/14

2011-12-14T15:00:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have been a customer of Sprint PCS for more than 10 years, and I am consistently impressed with their mobile phone products and coverage.

Now I am thinking about getting a smartphone, but I'm not going to jump on the iPhone bandwagon. I will stick with Sprint as my carrier because they are always on the cutting edge of devices and service. When it comes to snagging a great price on a top-quality device, I know I can count on Sprint.

Sprint is playing Santa with more great holiday deals on Android™ powered EVO 4G or EVO™ Shift devices for a limited time! Have you seen these beautiful pieces of modern technology? They are sleek, sexy, and super 4-G fast! And with Sprint's unlimited data plan, I know I won't go broke from overages.

Know someone who would love an EVO smartphone in their stocking? Get the HTC EVO™ 4G or EVO™ Shift for FREE in this online special only on Sprint here: Android™ powered EVO 4G devices.

Plus get activation for new lines of service waived and free shipping on Android™ powered EVO 4G devices with the same offer.

Make it an early Christmas with Sprint!