the nine-fingered mommy

Last night Mooseyman gave me a wild surprise. Usually when I try to check in his mouth for new teeth he tries to take off the tip of my finger. No, seriously. I have never been bitten so hard as my son will bite me. Ouch! So anyways, I'm brushing Moose's teeth and Papa is there tickling him and distracting him. Suddenly, I get the reckless notion to stick my finger in his mouth...

I pause. Am I ready for the possible consequences of doing so? Am I ready to become the nine-fingered Mommy?

Breathe in, breathe out.

I plunge my precious finger into his mouth. I pry open his jaw and inspect around as my hubby continues to play, unaware at the risks I am taking right before his very eyes. He doesn't know the ferocity of our little piranha.

As I'm exploring this treacherous territory, I slide my finger across some manner of stalactite in the back of his mouth. Can it be?

A molar! Half grown in already! I had no idea. I suspected due to the fussiness, the crankiness, refusal to eat, drooling and a finger (his own) permanently residing back there for a week or so, but he had just popped out his last incisor a few days before, so I just chalked it all up to that tooth.

I excitedly proclaimed "Eureka!" and showed my husband the newly-found treasure. Okay, not really (because he would have looked at me like I was nuts and then would have proceeded to imitate such an exclamation for weeks). But I did excitedly show him the tooth before promptly removing my fingers from the dangerous cavern.

That would explain some of the beastliness of my little man the last few weeks. He has gotten at least two new teeth and come down with the flu all at once.

He's feeling a bit better today...

blogging: considering the "big switch"

I've been researching a lot lately about making the "big switch" from Blogger to Wordpress. Overall it seems really complicated and confusing (and potentially expensive), but what keeps me thinking about it is the fact that by posting on Blogger, Google owns all of your content, pictures, videos...everything. I don't like that. I much prefer the idea of owning my own content (for very obvious reasons). However, I'm still in the process of weighing the pros and the cons.

I'd love and appreciate any feedback from anyone, Blogger or Wordpress user. I'd particularly love to hear from people who switch from Blogger to Wordpress about how tough the process was, the cost differences, and how long it took to master Wordpress.

the ban is lifted!

I am so excited!

I had my 28 week appointment yesterday with my OB and asked her if they had lifted the ban on children under the age of 14 being allowed in the hospital. She said they just lifted it this month!

I am so excited and relieved that my (big) little man will be able to meet his little brother in the hospital. I'm so grateful that I will be able to have someone bring him to see me during the day. This is such a huge weight off my shoulders.

In other news, I passed my glucose test with flying colors and got the shots I need to get my body ready. My doctor gave me my birth plan to fill out and started me on kick counts. We talked about the new labor and delivery facilities and the location. I should be getting a tour soon!

It all makes birth feel so soon. I can't believe that I will be meeting my (little) little man in just a few months.

Stella & Dot Jewelry Giveaway!

What totally rocks and makes me excited for warm weather? Summer jewelry! I love it, love it, love it. I will admit to being a complete jewelry hoarder. With every season I like to find new pieces of jewelry that compliment my summer wardrobe.

Enter Stella & Dot Jewelry!

We are Stella & Dot. We are a company inspired by and created for strong women. Named after our beloved grandmothers, Stella & Dot honors that generation of women who crossed oceans, rolled up their sleeves, won the vote, raised kids, went off to work, and did it all with style and grace. Today, this is how they'd do it. -From Catalog

I absolutely love their summer collection. A mix of bright and bold colors, flowers, and dainty pieces are beyond fabulous. There really is something for everyone in their collections. Like this gorgeous Summer Soiree bracelet that makes me drool all over my keyboard:

Striking turquoise bead punctuates warm wood beads with Czech stone accents on rondelles. Stretchable bracelet adjusts to fit with a 2.5" inner diameter. Fits a small to medium wrist.

I was sent one of these gorgeous bracelets to try out. Can I just say that I absolutely love it? I adore turquoise paired with chocolate wooden beads and Czech stone accents. It is truly a stunning combination. I personally love turquoise it all year long, but the blue stone is especially fabulous in the summer. This bracelet reminds me of lounging on a sandy beach with a tall virgin strawberry dacquiri complete with a little umbrella.

(sigh)

....

So anyways, back to their awesome jewelry!

Because you know you want a new piece of fabulousness for this summer, my friend Missy, a Stella & Dot Stylist, is offering up a gorgeous Summer Soiree bracelets for...you guessed it...one lucky Life Happens During Naptime reader!

How to win: Go to Stella & Dot and pick your favorite piece besides the ones shown here. Come back here and tell me what it is (or leave the link) along with a valid e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. This one is mandatory and must be completed in full before others count.

Extras:

Follow my blog publically via GFC. (1 entry)

Follow me on twitter. (1 entry)

Tweet this up to 3x daily, at least 4 hours apart. You may use this: Spring is almost here! Win a fabulous Stella & Dot turquoise and chocolate bracelet from @naptimemama and @mamaday831! http://bit.ly/9d6wiA

Subscribe/confirm via e-mail. (1 entry)

Follow @MamaDay831 on twitter. (1 entry)

Become a Stella & Dot Facebook Fan.

Make a Stella & Dot purchase of any amount through Missy. This will be checked! (10 extra entries!)

Enter my other giveaways (1 entry per giveaway)

Blog this, linking to Stella & Dot and back here. Must be a new post on a valid blog to count. (3)

Contact Missy (missyday05 at yahoo dot com) if you are interested in hosting a trunk show (online/catalog parties available if you don't live in the Chicago area). Trunk shows can earn hostesses FREE jewelry and opportunities to buy jewelry at 50% off. You can also join the Stella and Dot team if you would like to become a stylist!

have you seen this monkey?

My good friend Megan over at Newly Wed Newly Bred had such good luck posting about her search for her son's lovey dog that I am shamelessly stealing her idea and posting mugs of George around town. Ok not literally, but I have hope that a blog post with a George mugshot could possibly land me a lead.

This George plush was given to me several years ago, and I have been unable to find another one like him. Sure, there are lots of Curious George plush dolls, and they even have the conductor style one, but the fur is different. If you look closely, our George has a much coarser fur than the smooth and sleek new George. Why is this a problem, you ask? Because I'm almost positive that the fur is what Moose loves so much about George. You see, when he gives his other stuffies kisses he gets fur in his mouth or he doesn't like the texture of them. With George, he never gets that hairball sensation. It was love at first bite I tell you!

We have tried various other texture of stuffed animal and nobody comes close to George. In fact, "George" was not only Moose's, like, 4th word, but is the first word that he says when I come in to get him in the morning, almost as if to tell me "Don't forget about George!" He loves him. I'm terrified that he will lose him.

So, on my quest for a backup George, I bring these photos to my lovely readers. Have you seen this monkey?


Update!: Since I posted this I have been overwhelmed with people sending me links to possible suspects. So many of you have helped me look, and for that I (an Moose) thank you! My wonderful friend Megan, the same Megan from whom I nabbed this idea from, was able me the exact George on Ebay for a reasonable price. I ordered him, so George II should be on his way any day! Thank you so much to everyone who helped me look.

Kolcraft Contours Options II Tandem Stroller Review & Giveaway!

Having two children under two definetely adds a whole new element of chaos into leaving the house. While one child is obviously not mobile, the other is but can easily tire or become distracted and tempted to run amok in public. To remedy this problem, a double stroller is a great way to add an element of convenience to hauling two little ones around.

To make life a little easier, I was sent a Kolcraft Contours Options II Tandem Stroller by the generous folks at Kolcraft to review.

Features: This stroller has by far the most seating options I have ever seen in a double stroller. You can put both kiddos facing forward, both backward, facing towards one another, and facing away from one another. This stroller can be used with one or two infant seats (comes standard with an adapter for one infant seat, but an additional adapter can be purchased if you have twins). You can remove a seat and use it as a single stroller, leaving tooooons of space for storage. And the seats seem comfy for both young babies and toddlers. They recline and have adjustable height canopies, which I love. It is also very easy for Moose to climb in and out of the seats (when not buckled in, obviously). It is so nice not having to lift him in and out of the seat. In fact, he loves it some much that he just hangs out in the front seat at home. He feels so grown up in his throne! Speaking of throne, they even have an i-Pod docking station in each seat...I'm not kidding! Each seat also has it's own cup holder and removable front bar for extra comfy security. And, of course, it comes fully equipped with Mom and Pop drink holders and key/wallet/sunglass storage by the handle. This stroller sports a plethora of cool features, that is for sure. Oh, and did I mention the handles for older kids to grab on to? Moose loves to help me push this stroller. (He's a Big Boy now, didn't you know?)

Can I get out and push now???

Storage Space: Did I mention how much you could fit in the basket underneath? It is huge. I would probably have difficulty fitting my double diaper bag in my single stroller basket (and forget hanging it on the back of my umbrella stroller), but in this stroller it not only fits but leaves plenty of room for groceries or shopping bags or whatever else I need to haul. It would be so convenient to have this stroller at an outdoor market, a mall, or at a fair where I tend to lug a lot of stuff around. Or the park, where I bring pizza for Hubby...

Maneuverability: Despite the fact that it is a very long stroller, the wheels are surprisingly easy to maneuver. Navigation is very similar to my single stroller travel system. I don't anticipate having too much trouble navigating this stroller or being limited by it's length.
Weight of Stroller/Ease of Hauling: For the fact that this is a double stroller, I am pleasantly surprised as to how compact it is when folded up. You simply remove one or both of the seats (which is very simple to do) and it folds up nice and tight (please refer to instruction manual for in-depth directions). It will even stand upright while folded, which I love. I have no problem fitting this stroller in the trunk of my sedan. I was a bit concerned about the weight of it, but after folding and lifting it I really doubt if it is any heavier than my travel system single stroller.

Initial Assembly: Comes in many pieces, but the instructions were easy to follow and I was able to assemble this stroller on my own in very little time.
Overall we love our stroller. With so many features and seating options and accessories that make it incredibly versatile, it is like the Cadillac of double strollers.

Suggested Retail: $250

Kolcraft has very generously offered up a tandem stroller to one VERY lucky Life Happens During Naptime reader!!!

Want to win one of these beauties for yourself?

How to enter: Please read this carefully, as this must be completed in full for all other entries to count. This is a big ticket item so the little bit of work is so worth the reward! First, check out Kolcraft and find a product you like besides the tandem stroller. Next, go to their blog and leave a comment saying what your favorite product is, and that you are from Life Happens During Naptime (so they know you are a part of the giveaway). Then come back here and leave the link to the post where you commented and a valid e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

Extras: (will only count if you do the mandatory entry first! please leave a separate comment for each if you want them to count.

Subscribe and confirm via E-mail to our posts. (1 entry)
Follow my blog publically via GFC (1 entry)
Enter my other giveaways (1 entry per giveaway).
Follow me on twitter. (1 entry)
Tweet this contest up to 2x per day, at least 4 hours apart. You may use this: Carry two kiddos in style and ease. Win a $250 Kolcraft Contours Options II TANDEM STROLLER from @naptimemama! http://bit.ly/dDqn3S
Become a Kolcraft Facebook fan.
Become a LHDN Facebook Fan (link on right-hand sidebar)
Grab my button and leave the URL location here.
Blog this, linking to Kolcraft and to this post. Must be a valid blog and new post. (3 entries)

Winning entries will be confirmed, so be honest!


All opinions expressed here are honest and strictly my own. Thank you to Kolcraft for providing a stroller for review and a stroller for the giveaway.


Fine Print: Mainland US Only. Ends 4/5/10.

productive vs. irrational nesting

Yes, there is a big difference.

Setting up your nursery and keeping it clean and dust-free would be considered productive nesting. Ok, so your newborn won't care if there is some blanket lint on the carpet of his room, but you are preparing a place in your home for that child. It makes sense to want it to be clean and ready for his arrival, just as you would want to put fresh sheets on a guest bed even though they would probably never know the difference.

Scrubbing the grout in the bathroom, straining your back to sanitize the shower drain every few days, cleaning out your pantry are a different story. All of these urges, while very useful for the rest of the family, are irrational because they have nothing to do with your newborn. I doubt if your little one will be upset if the pantry is disheveled. Or the shower drain is not gleaming. However, I do love this kind of nesting because it motivates me to tackle projects I have put off for far too long.

When I was pregnant with Moose I went through strong nesting phases starting early, perhaps around 20 weeks after the nausea had subsided. They varied between the productive and irrational variations. By the time I was 38 weeks along I started to keep the house impeccably spotless every day, just in case. Despite all of my best efforts, the morning my water broke and I went into labor followed the first night in weeks I had been too exhausted to wash the dishes, so I brought a newborn Moose home to clutter anyways. Oops.

I have only nested productively with this baby. I have nested in (what has become) the boys' room, coaxing the moving and setting up of all furniture. We cleaned it until it sparkled (yes I love that my husband helped me clean), and now I like to keep it nice and organized every day.

I am still waiting for my irrational nesting to kick in. Maybe because I am just so exhausted from the pregnancy and mommying my Moose. I wait for it, though. Any day now that pantry will be sparkling...