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Zhu Zhu Babies Review

September 11, 2011 By 2 Comments

Thanks to Momselect, I was given another opportunity to review a great kids product.  We had a Zhu zhu baby party and it could not have gone better.  Momselect and the makers of Zhu Zhu babies gave me the opportunity to review the Zhu Zhu babies not only with my children, but also with their friends.  Today the stork dropped by and delivered Zhu Zhu babies to our house.

We started our Zhu Zhu adventure with a scavenger hunt.  Being that we just had a baby 2 months ago there were plenty of places to hide everyones Zhu Zhu Baby.  I wrapped them all up so that there was no fighting over who got which Zhu Zhu.  The girls started their adventure with a clue leading them to the high chair, baby swing, cabinet in the kitchen with the baby bottles, bouncy sear, crib and more.  With each clue the excitement grew and grew.  The girls all raced around trying to find the Zhu Zhu baby that was for them.

Once they all had their wrapped Zhu Zhu they tore the packaging off.  The girls LOVED them.  Comments included, “they are so much cuter than the big Zhu Zhu pets.” and “oh they are so cute”.  I let them open them and then explained to them that every baby needs a birth certificate.  I printed up birth certificates to color and decorate for each girl.  Some chose to change the name of their Zhu Zhu babies, while others kept the name that the baby came with.

 

From here it was off to snacks and a Zhu Zhu Babies Dance Recital.  The people at Zhu ZHu were nice enough to send a Dance Recital Zhu Zhu Babies set for the girls to try out their Zhu Zhu pets. With the help of our new mommy Zhu Zhu the Zhu Zhu Babies were able to put their tutus on and dance up a storm.  The girls played and played with them.  They seemed to really enjoy them.

 

All in all this was a huge success!  The girls had a great time playing with their new Zhu Zhu Babies and the moms loved them when they arrived.  I think that they will all be going out and buying a few more Zhu Zhu Babies for their little ones!  The funny part was that I let Emma have this party rather than Abigail.  I felt that she had outgrown Zhu Zhu Pets.  Boy was I wrong.  She did not care that she would be 11 in a few weeks.  She wanted to know why she did not get one!  So the mom that I am I broke down and let her come to the party too!  She seemed to love it more than the 7-8 year old girls.  I was told that I could not tell anyone but oh well.  She even took the time out today to build her Zhu Zhu Baby a little Zhu Zhu home!  Thank you so much to MomSelect and Zhu Zhu for allowing us yet another wonderful opportunity!

Becca

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What to expect in: Week 20

February 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
20 weeks pregnant

Image via Wikipedia

Pregnancy is a fun and exciting time.  Even though this is my fourth pregnancy it is still proving to be an exciting time.  Week 20 is bringing new emotions and feelings.  It also means that the baby in my belly is getting bigger and bigger with each day!  So here are some fun week 20 facts:

  • At 20 weeks the baby is about 6.5 inches long!  More than half of a ruler!  It is amazing how much more the baby will grow in the next 20 weeks.
  • At 20 weeks the baby weighs almost 1 pound.  While that is not heavy it is amazing that by the time the baby is full term it will be between 6-10 pounds on average.  That is a lot of growing!
  • At a 20 week sonogram you should be able to determine the sex of the baby.  I had a sonogram last week in which the baby did not cooperate.  Today I am off for another sonogram.  So keep your fingers crossed for us!
  • At 20 weeks the baby has established a sleep pattern.  All I have noticed is that my baby is always the most awake at 10pm.  This is NOT good!

While there are a lot of fun facts about how the baby is changing this week there are also a lot of fun facts about me!  Here are some 20 Weeks fun facts for mommy:

  • At 20 weeks you are halfway there.  I am lucky enough to be having a planned c-section so I am more than half way there!
  • At 20 weeks pregnant your uterus is about level with your belly button.
  • It is time to sign up for a childbirth education class if you have not already done so.
  • At 20 weeks you may want to start thinking about registering for what you need and want for the baby!  Babies R US is a great place to register because friends and family from afar can shop your registry as well.

The baby will be here before I know it.  Now is the time to start preparing and getting ready!  21 Weeks is right around the corner.  I cannot wait to see what it brings.

Becca

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What to Expect: Baby News

January 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Woman pregnancy month by month.
Image via Wikipedia

As many of you may or may not know… We are expecting a new addition to our family.  It is funny how with the first baby you think of everything, you plan out the child’s entire life before it is born and you baby yourself while you are pregnant.  Well for us, this is number 4 and there is no time for any of it.  This baby WILL be our last baby which brings mixed feelings… On one hand it is hard to say goodbye to the beautiful and wonderful experience that having a baby brings…. on the other hand we are getting older and are ready to embark on the next chapter of life.

So now we beg the question… will it be a boy or a 4th girl?  Personally I say it is a girl.  Part of me is hoping that it will be a girl because it is what I know.  Part of me is thinking that a boy would be a nice change of pace after 3 girls.  I am certainly ready to know what I am having because either way… I have to re-buy everything… I did peak at the price of formula the other day and almost died!  This baby will take some careful preparation.

So after a bumpy first trimester I have moved onto my second trimester.  The feelings of sour stomach and fatigue are beginning to lift and I am starting to feel like I may live through all of this.  So wish me luck and please stay tuned… I am sure that the next 6 months will bring some great experiences.

Becca

Let me know what you think… Is it a girl or a boy?

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YouTube Karaoke: My New Discovery

February 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I know that I am often two minutes too late.  Last night I discovered that on YouTube has karaoke songs.  I am amazed and excited all at the same time.  It was incredible.  I do not know how else to describe it.

A few months ago a friend hooked me to karaoke.  I am not sure that I could go out into the world and try it but in her livingroom I am a STAR!  I cannot do songs that are too loud or too hard rock.  I am a soft rock type of girl.  The song I nailed is “eternal flame”.  I sing it like the pros.  The other night we discovered I can sing Pat Benatar.  I was told that I would have to prefect that too before we hit the road.

I should have started this by telling you that I have a decent voice and I LOVE to sing.  Even Abigail still wants me to sing her to sleep each night.  I sing songs from the Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music and Children’s songs best.  I CANNOT sing hard rock to save my life.  I can rock, “God Bless America”, but do not ask me to sing, “We Will Rock You”.

Back to where we started!  Abby and I have been karaoke QUEENS.  While I am singing classics she is singing, “I Kissed a Girl”.  I have sat wondering where it is that she has heard these songs.  Then I remembered Aunt Alli put them all on her iPod.  Thank goodness for that Aunt Alli!

Becca

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Laundry Tips From a Mom Who Knows

January 22, 2010 By 4 Comments
Woman at the community laundry on Saturday aft...
Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

I would like you to all understand that this is not a practical tip entry.  This is an entry on all of the things that I hate about laundry and tips to make those things better.  I will not teach you how to remove stains or teach you how to avoid laundry from piling up.  To be quite frank with you…. I have no idea how to make there things happen.  Here is what I do know about laundry:

  1. No matter what I do it will never be done.  I know some very nice people say if you do a load a day it will all be manageable.  Either way you still have to do a load a day.
  2. For some reason my almost 3 year old still wears at least 3 outfits a day plus jammies.  This is a huge issue…  I could just let her be dirty all day.   I just do not think that is a good solution to my laundry woes.
  3. My 9 year old is STINKY and CANNOT wear outfits more than once.  I just do not know what else to do about the stink her clothing is bringing to my laundry!  We already have deodorant, sprays and soap.  What else could there be.
  4. Why is it that so few people in my house know how to wipe?  It AMAZES me.  I know it is a lesson we went over 1 billion times!  So why is it that it has not caught on.
  5. There are times that I think that the pile is taller then I am.  I know that this is not too too hard being that I am only 4’11″ but still… this is not good.
  6. I seem to be the only person capable of carrying the laundry up and down two flights to be washed.
  7. God forbid you ask someone to help in any way.  It is like the sky has opened and we are all headed for eternal damnation.
  8. Why is it that my clothing is never done?  I fold and wash and fold and wash and fold and wash but so few of the articles are mine.  How is this possible?
  9. How hard could it be for one to open a drawer, stuff an already folded of clothing and and then shut the drawer be?  One would think that this is an easy task… right?  So why am I the only one who has mastered it?
  10. WHY DOES EVERYONE LEAVE IT ALL UP TO ME?

I am seriously thinking about making disposable clothing.  I think that my tip for today is to quit trying and when they all find that there are no outfits to be had perhaps they will help more.

Becca

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Back to School: What Do You Really Need to Buy?

August 27, 2009 By 4 Comments

We are only 6 days away now and back to school is all I can think about.  I will admit that it is because I am anxious to see the kids out of my house back at school.  They thrive under structure which the summer just does not provide.  So as we get closer and closer I started to think about the fact that I have done NO back to school shopping yet.  For a few moments I was really worried.  My heart beat sped up and the headache started to come on.  I was in a panic yesterday thinking about how I will afford all of it and how will I get it in the next few days.

The JanSport logo
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The more I thought about it the more I realized that there was just not a huge need, like I kept thinking there was.  So I made a list of what I needed to buy and what I wanted to buy.  I think that given the current state of the economy, I am not alone in my desire to separate wants versus needs.  The school does not help too much.  They want you to buy book sox.  I did find them in Walmart for $.50 each but come on.  Why is it that we do not reuse… You know the keys to a greener earth… Reduce, recycle and REUSE…?  Why do we have to buy something to cover a book?  I remember taking my paper grocery bags and spending time with my parents learning the fine art of book covering.  This was real bonding time.  Instead of this free option I had to add $2.50 to my budget.  Seems wrong to me.

Either way here is what I came up with:

Needs:

  1. All supplies on the kids lists
  2. A bookbag (we have decided to reuse old ones.  We are going to bedazzle them so that they are more fun this year)
  3. New shoes for Abigail: She grew like a flower this summer

I think that all in all that is all of the NEEDS we have.  Grandpa and Grandma were nice enough to buy about 90% of the school supplies.  So once I buy shoes my NEEDS are met.

Wants:

  1. New first day of school outfits
  2. New fall wardrobe
  3. New hair accessories to match all of their clothing
  4. New lunch bags
  5. A JanSport book bag for Abigail
  6. Winter coats
  7. Haircuts for the girls
  8. Fall jackets
  9. Book bag for Emma
  10. New shoes for Emma

The thing is that these are only wants.  It became clear the more I thought about it that we did not NEED these things.  I usually spend about $800 on back to school.  This year I estimate spending about $100.  I am sure that I am not the only one tightening my belt.  Abigail has a birthday in three weeks.  I am sure that between myself and her grandparents she will be the best dressed kid in 4th grade.  Most of the clothing out there for back to school is too hot for September anyway.  I will let you all know how this goes.  I am anxious to see how bad I am going to feel for not buying into the back to school.  I think that I may feel bad for a while but in the long run it will all be just fine!  The kids ARE going to live through it.  They WILL still be dressed nicely.  The most important thing is that it teaches them a lesson.  Money does not grow on trees…

LESSON LEARNED:  You do not have to buy into the commercial hoopla.  You can resist and live through it.

Becca

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Birthday Quandry: Birthday Party For Three

May 8, 2009 By 7 Comments
A birthday cake
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So here is the question for today…

My nephew, my neice and Analiese all have May birthdays all within two weeks of one another.  Each year we do a family and friends party for each kid.  This year we thought that perhaps we should combine all three of them and do one family party.  This means that family will only have to come to one party.  This means that it will be one day in the full month of May to have to donate to these birthdays.

So here is the problem.  Rob thinks that it is wrong.  He thinks that then friends and family will be strapped having to buy three presents all at once.  He thinks that it is just wrong and has told me to back out of the idea.  The trouble is that it was my idea and I still think that it is a nice one.  The other problem is that we have already mentioned it to people and how do we cancel now.  I am not worried about gifts.  Analiese is turning 2 and already has all of the clothing, toys and stuff that any two year old could need.

I want to know what you think?  Is this party a bad idea?

Becca

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Spring Break Survival

April 9, 2009 By 8 Comments

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Oh my… I woke up this morning and remembered something.  IT IS SPRING BREAK.  Now, the words that are to follow are meant with the most love and affection.   I hate Spring Break.  It is not like Winter Break where we all get involved in Christmas.  This Spring Break thing stinks unless you are going away which we of course are not this year!  I remember back in high school and college when I went away with friends.  We had a blast.  One year was Ocean City another year was Disney.  Now I am home with restless kids, a house to unpack and no plan!  So what is a stay at home mom to do with three kids for eleven days?  I am compiling a survival guide in order to make it though.  I need you help though.  Here are a few questions to get started with:

  1. What is there to do that is free?
  2. What can I do with no car?
  3. Is there any activity that you can think of that a 1 year old, a 5 year old, and an 8 year old?  I am drawing a blank!
  4. Is there a magic potion to give children that makes them not whine?
  5. How much is it a mother can drink without it being a problem?
  6. How can I avoid hearing, “I am bored there is nothing to do.”
  7. What fun things can you think of to make the kids tired enough to still go to bed on time?  Oh and I have to be able to do it with my not healed correctly broken foot!

I will spend the day developing a survival guide.  I hope that it works!  Today, I am just going to wing it.  So far we have had 5 fights, Abigail has bitten Emma, Emma has scratched Abigail and the baby is a whining mess!  HELP!

Becca

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Is My Baby Blind?? Part 1

March 16, 2009 By 23 Comments

analiese-coming-home-from-h

In order to tell this tale I will have to take you back almost two years.  There are two reasons that this story has popped back into my mind this week.  The first reason is that, as I mentioned a few days ago, this month is disabilities awareness month.  The second reason is because in May my “baby” will be 2!

I have to take you back to when the baby was just that, a baby!  I already had two older kids who were now 3 and 6.  They were so excited to have a new little sister.  I remember when they came to the hospital.  Emma who was three at the time was so excited about this new responsibility being thrust upon her and Abigail acted like it was nothing new but she was still excited.

As the baby grew over the next few months I noticed a few things.  She would not look at me.  In my mommy heart I knew that this was not a typical thing.  Then I started to notice that she was not tracking things at all.  In my head I kept saying, “she is fine.  You are just worried because of Emma (who has CP).”  Then I had noticed that she wanted to be held all of the time!  She hated being in a swing and would scream like she was scared if she was anywhere but my arms.

Because she is my baby and most likely the last I was kind of happy about it.  I helped her more then the others and was happy to do so.  She loved it when I played music and talked to her as long as I was holding her.

As the months went on the fact that she was not looking me in the face or tracking the fun toys I was waving in front of her was more and more obvious.  She looked through me.  Certainly not at me.  She would smile a little but was not mimicking faces.  So by the time she was three months old I was worried!  I had decided to ask the Dr. what was going on.

So as we went into her three month appointment I began to worry more and more.  I went through everything with him and when he asked about concerns I blurted out that she is looking through me!  I was on the verge of tears and took a breathe.  Then I explained how she was not looking at bright objects, she was not looking at my face, she would not stay unless held and she was not tracking.  I blurted all of this out as quick as I could.  The next part was for him to tell me that I am being a paranoid mother and to go home.  Well that is not quite how it happened.  He began to wave a light in front of her and nothing!  Her pupils were responsive but it was like she could not tell he was shining a light right into her face.  She did not blink, her eyes did not tear, NOTHING happened.

Links to the Full Series

Baby Blind Part I
Baby Blind Part II
Baby Blind Part III
Baby Blind Part IV
Baby Blind Part V

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Outside Will Get You?

February 12, 2009 By 18 Comments

abby-in-leaves

As a child I can remember going out to play.  Yes it is true!  We would play in our yard or a friends yard.  We would even take a walk around the neighborhood.  We would do anything to get out of the house.  You know we would be kids!

What is going on with the world today that a child can no longer be a child?  Why is it that we do not feel that our children need outside time?  Why have we let the media taint how children grow up?  These are all things that I have become passionate about.  There really is no more risk for bad things then there used to be.  There are just as many bad people out there but lets get real.

  1. The bad guys do not out number the good guys.  I know that the news that we watch would make us think that the bad guys are all just waiting for us to open our doors and let our kids out.  The truth is that they are not!  I do not want you to misunderstand there are bad guys.  There are men and women who take and hurt children.  How many are there really though and why do you think that they want your child?  Statistics do show though that these men and women who abduct children often know the children!  So where is the danger?
  2. The kids are safer inside.  Oh here is an arguement!  You are right it is much better to have your kids cooped up in the house playing video games or watching TV then it is to open the door and tell them to go play.  I do not know the exact numbers here but I am pretty sure that the number of kids who die a little everyday from childhood obesity are much worse off then the kids who are out climbing trees.
  3. Kids will go with anyone.  I am sorry but I know that Abigail and Emma are smart.  I know that they would not talk to anyone or approach a car.   This is because I have taught them if there is stranger danger to say no then go and tell someone you trust.  They have street smarts and are a pair.  They use the buddy system daily.  They know what to do and I am never all that far away.  Not to mention I peek outside from time to time to see where they are, what they are doing and why!

Now I know that some of you will come back and have a lot to say and for you, all I can say is remember.  That is right, take a moment and remember when you were a kid.  You played outside until you heard your mom calling you for dinner.   I think that it would be fair to say that we are keeping our kids back by not affording them the same opportunity.  So if you need to call DSS go ahead but my kids will play outside without me… EVERY day!

Becca

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