So the question is how many miles and steps does a mom of toddlers walk in a day? Let’s think this through: from that moment just after sunrise when the alarm sounds, and yes, I’m referring to a very cute alarm clock that prances in the room with a princess dress, a tiara, and little warm hands that yank at the covers as a sweet voice rings anything from: “I wanna cuddle with you!” or “I leeeeeeaked!” or (to the tune of "Jingle Bells") "Raisin Bran! Raisin Bran! I want Raisin Bran," that is when the mad-race begins.
Let’s review a typical day’s not-so-brief checklist of events:
Dream someone is poking you. But wait, this is no dream! Pry eyes open. Unsuccessfully ask Toddler to go back to sleep. Numerous pokes later ...
Put toddler-girl on the potty. Wipe, get her new pull up or panties. Wash hands!
Get baby boy. Hold breath while changing poopie diaper. Dispose of diaper somewhere far far away out of sight and smell—aka, the garage. Wash hands again!
Bring both children downstairs. Holding toddler girl’s hand and carrying baby boy while counting the steps down.
Brew coffee.
Put boy in high chair and give him a bottle.
Give Toddler girl juice and make and serve breakfast.
Sit on the couch, sip coffee, and stare at the wall (a most important task that is constantly interrupted with numerous requests)
Wash baby boys face and hands.
Clear table.
Wash high chair tray, seat, and crumbs on floor so baby boy doesn’t eat them later.
Unload dishwasher from last night.
Kiss Daddy Goodbye.
Another potty visit for Toddler girl.
Toddler girl requests art time. Get her set up while chasing baby boy around who still walks like Frankenstein but is so much cuter.
Bring both kids upstairs.
Brush teeth of all who have teeth.
Get baby boy dressed for day. Don't forget the hair gel!
Get toddler girl dressed for day. Get the detangling spray!
Chase after Toddler girl who stole the lipgloss.
Get self dressed while chasing baby boy who wants to put his hands around the potty seat or eat plant dirt or touch the TV or pull down the shades or climb the gate … you get the picture.
Oh No. Toddler girl is trying to use potty by herself but was unsuccessful wiping!
Wow, and that’s all before 9:00 A.M.
So fast forward a bit more: 10:30 A.M. Baby boy goes down for nap, while mommy has toddler girl play with playdough as Mommy cooks dinner (this is a new thing I’m trying on my days off from work where I cook dinner in the morning cause I’m waaaaay too exhausted by 5:00 P.M.),
Suddenly, it's time for lunch. Get baby boy. change diaper. Prepare something. serve food. Repeat the meal cycle. oh, yeah! Mommy needs to eat too--but eats standing up while cleaning up the mess from cooking dinner and lunch!
Play with both kids, folded a load of laundry, administer several time outs, chase after baby boy who wants to crawl up the steps, into the cabinets, and eat a book or a shoe or some foreign matter under the couch. Have chat with toddler girl: that yes, we should share; but NO don’t share any cheese with baby boy!
Nap time-only for baby boy. Toddler girl is making lots of requests to play. Mommy encourages her to have quiet time in her room but for some reason Mr. Poopie attempts to make an appearance right around this time. Will a mother ever get to sit down?
Finally a moment of peace. A Moment of free time comes and goes. Oh, it is time for snacks. Yes, let's watch some "Baby Can Read" so mommy can wake up from the nap she never took.
Add a Target run or a short walk to the neighborhood playground.
A bathroom break for mommy, when be careful, the unexpected is bound to happen (a later post shall explain.)
Oh My! Daddy is home! Another adult to talk to!
Have kids greet Daddy in Greek! It makes his day.
Repeat the cycle for Dinner! YAY! Family dinner time is one of Mommy's favorite times of the day!
Clean up a big mess while Daddy plays with kids OR while daddy cleans mess and mommy lays down. Daddy is awesome like that!
Perhaps a stroll to the park or just stay at home playing with kids as a family.
Bath time, Reading time, Bed time!
Mommy and Daddy perform the famous tucking in. Mommy can hear the hallelujah chorus as the children finally drift off to wonderland.
8:00P.M. Mommy looks at a monstrous pile of laundry that gnarls at her from across the family room, but she cannot fathom folding anything right now. She cannot fathom doing anything at all. Mommy is comatose. Daddy is comatose too.
11:00 P.M. And the pedometer reads: 14,881 steps and 7.03 Miles. SEVEN MILES! What, what! Seven Miles! That's a whole lot of walking in diapers, potty training, and mommyland for one day. I've done this now for three consecutive days, nothing out of the ordinary. They are all reading just shy of 15,000 steps! Wow! No wonder this mother be-ith tired.
Working Moms: Aside from working at home in the evenings, I work as a copywriter at the office two days a week. On those days, even though I sit mostly at work in front of a computer writing, it is the hours before and after work that I am pressured to get even more done than a typical day because of all the required preparations for two kids and the house. Thus, today, for example, a day in the office the pedometer read 9,303 steps and 4.39 miles. So working moms, you too should pat yourself on the back cause not only are you working hard all day, but you are getting extreme amount of steps before and after work to do the juggling act you do.
And now, I am reminded of my Italian Grandmother, who after a long day working and then pruning the rose bushes, would collapse in the recliner and gasp a loud bellowing cry, "E'MADONE (that's Italian for Oh, Mother of God) I'M-A DEAD-A!" Yes, dead is how I feel too, Grandma. Good thing like-it-or-not, resurrection comes in the morning.
Please keep the votes coming! You can vote 1x per day by clicking right to this post. We are almost ranked in the top 25 over all in the top mommy blogs and are the #2 humor blog.
Posted by Laura
Showing posts with label about me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label about me. Show all posts
April 22, 2010
How Many Miles Does Mommy Walk in a Day?
How Many Miles Does a Mother Walk a Day? The Pedometer reading says …
Come over to my house around 8:00 P.M. and you’ll see a not-so-pretty sight: a woman with frazzled hair (sorry, it was either make-up OR hair today not both), a greasy forehead (hey, I’m Italian and hoping it will later pay off with fewer wrinkles but in the mean time, pass me the proactive bottle) and a shirt with special markings decorated by tiny fingers as her lifeless body melts into a couch with her arm and legs spilling over the edges—but she doesn’t have the strength to clean herself up. In fact, it takes all the energy in the world for her to simply lift her nail-chipped finger and press down on that TV remote to change the channel. Why is she so tired? After all it’s only 8.P.M.
So I bought myself a good ole pedometer to wear through the day to see why is it that at only 8 P.M. after having just put the kids to bed, I am lying there lifeless on the couch. I mean, I used to train for marathons (only one but the plural sounded better), work out all the time, and have energy after a long day’s work teaching to conquer the world—one student at a time even if only in my dreams. Now, I’m struggling to simply conquer the massive piles of laundry. Either I am getting old OR could it be that I am walking more miles per day than I did in my college years or professional life as a teacher?
Let’s take a step into a mommy’s world where the daily-to-do-list meets a pedometer and mommy meets self-validation. Let’s review all that a Mommy of toddlers or little ones does, exhale with great awe and amazement, and pat ourselves on the back even if just mentally cause the strength isn’t there at the moment. After all, don’t athletes pause and look at their trophies or olympians wear their gold metals? I may not have a monument, but I surely have a monumental pile of diapers that I individually unfolded, wiped, and wrapped one-handed! I may not have made it to the gym, but my barbells weigh 30 and 24 pounds each and require lifting every hour on the hour--and they kiss me when I do! After all, doesn’t everyone need a pat on the back and recognition for a job that may not always get the visibility or appreciation it deserves … but is certainly one of the most important of all—being entrusted with the task of raising the next generation!
Come back tomorrow to find out the pedometer reading and miles tracked. I will also include my checklist of tasks!
Also consider this your invitation to join with me. Go out and get a pedometer and lets encourage eachother together. I've been tracking my results. And let me say, they will astound you! We mommies are doing more than we think!
Don't forget to enter our Thirty-One Purse Giveaway which ends tomorrow!!
Thanks for voting. We are almost ranked in the top 25 over all in the top mommy blogs and are the #2 humor blog.
Posted by Laura
Come over to my house around 8:00 P.M. and you’ll see a not-so-pretty sight: a woman with frazzled hair (sorry, it was either make-up OR hair today not both), a greasy forehead (hey, I’m Italian and hoping it will later pay off with fewer wrinkles but in the mean time, pass me the proactive bottle) and a shirt with special markings decorated by tiny fingers as her lifeless body melts into a couch with her arm and legs spilling over the edges—but she doesn’t have the strength to clean herself up. In fact, it takes all the energy in the world for her to simply lift her nail-chipped finger and press down on that TV remote to change the channel. Why is she so tired? After all it’s only 8.P.M.
So I bought myself a good ole pedometer to wear through the day to see why is it that at only 8 P.M. after having just put the kids to bed, I am lying there lifeless on the couch. I mean, I used to train for marathons (only one but the plural sounded better), work out all the time, and have energy after a long day’s work teaching to conquer the world—one student at a time even if only in my dreams. Now, I’m struggling to simply conquer the massive piles of laundry. Either I am getting old OR could it be that I am walking more miles per day than I did in my college years or professional life as a teacher?
Let’s take a step into a mommy’s world where the daily-to-do-list meets a pedometer and mommy meets self-validation. Let’s review all that a Mommy of toddlers or little ones does, exhale with great awe and amazement, and pat ourselves on the back even if just mentally cause the strength isn’t there at the moment. After all, don’t athletes pause and look at their trophies or olympians wear their gold metals? I may not have a monument, but I surely have a monumental pile of diapers that I individually unfolded, wiped, and wrapped one-handed! I may not have made it to the gym, but my barbells weigh 30 and 24 pounds each and require lifting every hour on the hour--and they kiss me when I do! After all, doesn’t everyone need a pat on the back and recognition for a job that may not always get the visibility or appreciation it deserves … but is certainly one of the most important of all—being entrusted with the task of raising the next generation!
Come back tomorrow to find out the pedometer reading and miles tracked. I will also include my checklist of tasks!
Also consider this your invitation to join with me. Go out and get a pedometer and lets encourage eachother together. I've been tracking my results. And let me say, they will astound you! We mommies are doing more than we think!
Don't forget to enter our Thirty-One Purse Giveaway which ends tomorrow!!
Thanks for voting. We are almost ranked in the top 25 over all in the top mommy blogs and are the #2 humor blog.
Posted by Laura
April 21, 2010
Honest Scrap Award
I am honored to have received this "Honest Scrap Award" from a mommy blogger friend, Cindy, at This Adventure, Our Life. Cindy's blog is eco-friendly and in addition to the cute pictures of her little girl and sweet reflections, you'll find out about cloth diapering and even how to make your own laundry detergent! I also received this award from Cleo at wemmicks-in-training.blogspot.com. Cleo also has a great blog and is a great blogging friend.
The rules of this award are I must state 10 things about me and pass it on to 10 other friends: So here we go:
10 RANDOM facts about me:
1. This may come as a big surprise, but I like to list things
2. Sometimes when being chased by something in a dream, I turn around and realize, "Wait a minute ... I can fly!" and then I fly away. Now that's an awesome dream.
3. I recently spilled chicken juice from a cooked meal on my car rug and didn't realize it until 6 days later and my car smelled like a decaying body. It took 5 car shampoos to get it out!
4. My favorite color is sky blue.
5. I sing in the car but not in the shower.
6. I once trained for a marathon but got injured on my last 20 mile run before the race. And yes, I was discriminated against when I went to get a pedicure and they made me wait forever bc no one wanted to touch my purple toe with the missing toe nail.
7. I love cleaning but NOT diaper explosions or vomit!
8. If I could be anywhere in the world right now, I would choose Greece, sitting on the beach!
9. I wouldn't make it five minutes on Fear Factor because I am absolutely repulsed by bugs!
10. If I were forced to grow an extra limb, I would choose a third arm because it would help with diaper changes!
The Ten Awesome Bloggers I have selected to give this award to are:
1.Kate @ http://www.mommymonologues.com
2.Tractor Mom @ http://frugaltractormom.blogspot.com
3.Mary Allison @ http://www.themsrevolution.com
4.Cleo @ http://wemmicks-in-training.blogspot.com
5.Kat @ http://iplayitbyyear.blogspot.com
6.Jessica @ http://www.thesouthernbellebaby.com
7.Abbi @ http://proverbs31living.blogspot.com
8.Alissa @ http://mommyandmolly.com
9. Law Momma @ http://www.law-momma.com
10. Cascia @ http://www.thehealthymoms.net
Mommyhood: The Job Description
Mommyhood is one of those jobs that has its moments–-some are the most can’t-catch-your-breath hilarious moments that make you laugh so hard you cry.
Some moments are so sweet you want to savor it forever.
Other moments are so frustrating you want to crawl onto the couch and just take a nap or take a bubble bath and be alone.
Yet, in spite of all the eye-tearing, germ-fearing, sweat-dripping, heart-skipping, bottom-wiping, finger-swiping, crumb-picking, toy-tripping, hand-holding, laundry-folding, character-molding, head-turning, stomach churning, patience-testing, non-empty-nesting, mistake-making, self-centered-breaking, life-giving moments—All of it together is what makes the job description so rewarding. It’s looking into your children’s eyes, feeling their soft skin against your cheeks and inhaling their sweet breath that makes you forget how hard it can be as you remember how much you love what you do.
The awesome, fearful, wonderful, terrible aspect of motherhood is that it's made up of moments and moments are fleeting, like water dripping off your hands--one moment it's here, the next it's gone.
Yet, moments like these have the power to wash away all the frustration. Moments like these lift the heart. Moments like these remind me of how precious motherhood is and how it took those moments of frustration to get here. Moments like these make one realize being a mom really is more of delight than a duty, a calling than a just career, and a ministry than just a mission. That's the journey of motherhood.
How do you define Mommyhood? What moments make you smile, laugh, or cry?
Thanks for your voting in the top mommy blogs. Keep it coming 1x per day. We're #2.
Don't forget about the purse giveaway which ends this friday!
Posted by Laura
Some moments are so sweet you want to savor it forever.
Other moments are so frustrating you want to crawl onto the couch and just take a nap or take a bubble bath and be alone.
Yet, in spite of all the eye-tearing, germ-fearing, sweat-dripping, heart-skipping, bottom-wiping, finger-swiping, crumb-picking, toy-tripping, hand-holding, laundry-folding, character-molding, head-turning, stomach churning, patience-testing, non-empty-nesting, mistake-making, self-centered-breaking, life-giving moments—All of it together is what makes the job description so rewarding. It’s looking into your children’s eyes, feeling their soft skin against your cheeks and inhaling their sweet breath that makes you forget how hard it can be as you remember how much you love what you do.
The awesome, fearful, wonderful, terrible aspect of motherhood is that it's made up of moments and moments are fleeting, like water dripping off your hands--one moment it's here, the next it's gone.
Yet, moments like these have the power to wash away all the frustration. Moments like these lift the heart. Moments like these remind me of how precious motherhood is and how it took those moments of frustration to get here. Moments like these make one realize being a mom really is more of delight than a duty, a calling than a just career, and a ministry than just a mission. That's the journey of motherhood.
How do you define Mommyhood? What moments make you smile, laugh, or cry?
Thanks for your voting in the top mommy blogs. Keep it coming 1x per day. We're #2.
Don't forget about the purse giveaway which ends this friday!
Posted by Laura
April 16, 2010
You Might Be a Back-Seat Driver if . . .
It never dawned on me as to how bad of a back-seat driver I have become until my 2YO started back-seat driving. Yes, a toddler exhorting: “Put on your seat belt, Daddy!” and “Slow down, Daddy!” Or “Red Light, Daddy!” Yes, Congratulations, this is the sign that you efficiently back-seat drive!
Perhaps you’ve found yourself OR someone you know guilty of more than one of the following:
1.) You grab your heart and gasp, “God help us!” at least once during a five minute drive to the store.
2.) Your nails, when not digging into your knees, are grasping the handle bar on the door or the bar on the car roof for extra security.
3.) You yelp “Wait!” or “Watch Out” or “Red Light!” periodically throughout each drive.
4.) The driver (in my case husband) tells you “Calm down,” “You’re overreacting,” or “Chill” multiple times per drive.
5.) In warning the driver of the upcoming red light, you try to yell “stop” but instead gibberish comes out: “ut tat tat tut da!” Hey, the important thing is that you got his attention.
6.) When your hands are not glued to the handle bar, they are pointing and gesturing to each stop sign, yellow light, and old man biking in spandex.
7.) You check the blind spots more than he does to the degree that you block his peripheral vision during right and left hand turns.
8.) Your toddlers know how to back-seat drive before they can ride a bike.
9.) Your husband/significant other puts his/her hand on your knee, but NOT as a romantic gesture, but instead to say, “I pray God delivers you from this anxiety.”
10.) Upon reaching the destination, he thinks: “You are the world’s worst back-seat driver!” She thinks, “You really need to learn how to drive!”
Look, don't feel bad about it. Don't live in denial. My husband tells me I excel at back-seat driving. Let's celebrate doing what we do so well.
Don’t forget to vote for me in the top mommy blogs by clicking to the right of this post! We’re # 2 in the humor category!
Oh, and don't forget to enter the thirty-one-gifts giveaway for your chance to win an awesome monogrammed purse for mother's day.
Posted by Laura
Perhaps you’ve found yourself OR someone you know guilty of more than one of the following:
1.) You grab your heart and gasp, “God help us!” at least once during a five minute drive to the store.
2.) Your nails, when not digging into your knees, are grasping the handle bar on the door or the bar on the car roof for extra security.
3.) You yelp “Wait!” or “Watch Out” or “Red Light!” periodically throughout each drive.
4.) The driver (in my case husband) tells you “Calm down,” “You’re overreacting,” or “Chill” multiple times per drive.
5.) In warning the driver of the upcoming red light, you try to yell “stop” but instead gibberish comes out: “ut tat tat tut da!” Hey, the important thing is that you got his attention.
6.) When your hands are not glued to the handle bar, they are pointing and gesturing to each stop sign, yellow light, and old man biking in spandex.
7.) You check the blind spots more than he does to the degree that you block his peripheral vision during right and left hand turns.
8.) Your toddlers know how to back-seat drive before they can ride a bike.
9.) Your husband/significant other puts his/her hand on your knee, but NOT as a romantic gesture, but instead to say, “I pray God delivers you from this anxiety.”
10.) Upon reaching the destination, he thinks: “You are the world’s worst back-seat driver!” She thinks, “You really need to learn how to drive!”
Look, don't feel bad about it. Don't live in denial. My husband tells me I excel at back-seat driving. Let's celebrate doing what we do so well.
Don’t forget to vote for me in the top mommy blogs by clicking to the right of this post! We’re # 2 in the humor category!
Oh, and don't forget to enter the thirty-one-gifts giveaway for your chance to win an awesome monogrammed purse for mother's day.
Posted by Laura
April 15, 2010
What Makes You Happy?
If you're here for the Thirty-one-giveaway click here. Enter to win a cute monogramed zipper purse for Mother's Day!
Kate at mommymonologues gave me this award on her blog Thursday! Thank you Kate! Kate is evidence to me that you can make new awesome friends in the mommy blog world. Though also new to blogging, Kate has quickly grown her blog and is constantly inspiring me with new ideas. She also has a very fun sense of humor and the cutest little boy. I really enjoyed this post on blogging tips.
The rules of this award are:
1. copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. list who gave the award to you and use a link to her/his blog (or hyperlink).
3. list 10 things that make you happy.
4. pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.
Ten things that make Melodramommy happy: (in no particular order)
1.) Successfully transferring napping toddlers from the car seat to their beds! Watching them sleep makes my heart skip.
2.) Watching baby boy squeal hugging his "ning kee" (monkey) and then laugh while hugging me
2.) Hearing Toddler girl sing "Dancing queen" at the top of her lungs in her plastic microphone. That's my melodrababy in the works.
3.) Date nights alone with daddy and the many laughs in between
4.) Having my mom live close by. She's a HUGE help! And my best friend. And did I mention, she's my melodramommy role model! Second only to my Italian Grandmother.
5.) Watching my munchkins play "ring around the rosie" --this is a new one for us. Yaaaaay to sibling bff.
6.) The extremely RARE occasions I get to sleep in!
7.) Spending time with Jesus
8.) A big cup of Starbucks coffee while writing.
9.) This picture
10.) Capturing and defeating Mr. Poopie. Come on now, my hands are being trained for battle.
And how exciting that I get to pass this award on to some special friends:
1.)Dana at dancing guitar girl Dana has been a longtime friend of mine who's friendship has always inspired me in the creative arts: both in dancing and writing. Thanks Dana for encouraging me to start blogging!
2.)Diana at hormonal imbalances Diana has an awesome eco-friendly blog and has been a kind friend who's helped me out tons as I've started blogging. She has a cute baby girl and a great sense of humor.
3.) Lily at a lil story Now this is a blog to visit to be inspired with faith: check out her "spiritual sunday" posts. What an awesome Mommy! She doesn't really know I follow her, but I think she's amazing! And her posts have ministered to me : ) Check out this post!
4.) Tiffany at Tiffys tea room Tiffany is a long time friend of mine a mommy of three toddlers! What an inspirational mother of three. Rooted in her Christian faith, her blog gives a positive outlook on the blessings of children and the journey of motherhood. I love her story about taking three kids grocery shopping and saving with coupons!
5.) Amy at Roars and Rambles Amy is friend of mine who I've lost touch with in recent years. But back in the day we used to go to coffee shops and write with our laptops and dream about being published. Amy is now an accomplished freelance writer with two published books and her blog is hysterical. She's now getting back into blogging. I can't wait to read more of her posts!
6.) Anne at Deal wise Mommy Anne doesn't know I follow her, but her blog is amazing. This is the place to go if you want to save a good penny and get the latest on coupons and bargains. Now that's a blog to be happy about.
7.) Cindy at Aguilar family adventures Cindy is a sweet mommy friend who leaves the nicest comments on my blog. Yay to encouraging friends. Her blog is cute and explores her reflections as a new mommy and lots more.
Okay, so before you go check out these cool bloggers, please share, what makes you happy?
Posted by Laura
Kate at mommymonologues gave me this award on her blog Thursday! Thank you Kate! Kate is evidence to me that you can make new awesome friends in the mommy blog world. Though also new to blogging, Kate has quickly grown her blog and is constantly inspiring me with new ideas. She also has a very fun sense of humor and the cutest little boy. I really enjoyed this post on blogging tips.
The rules of this award are:
1. copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. list who gave the award to you and use a link to her/his blog (or hyperlink).
3. list 10 things that make you happy.
4. pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.
Ten things that make Melodramommy happy: (in no particular order)
1.) Successfully transferring napping toddlers from the car seat to their beds! Watching them sleep makes my heart skip.
2.) Watching baby boy squeal hugging his "ning kee" (monkey) and then laugh while hugging me
2.) Hearing Toddler girl sing "Dancing queen" at the top of her lungs in her plastic microphone. That's my melodrababy in the works.
3.) Date nights alone with daddy and the many laughs in between
4.) Having my mom live close by. She's a HUGE help! And my best friend. And did I mention, she's my melodramommy role model! Second only to my Italian Grandmother.
5.) Watching my munchkins play "ring around the rosie" --this is a new one for us. Yaaaaay to sibling bff.
6.) The extremely RARE occasions I get to sleep in!
7.) Spending time with Jesus
8.) A big cup of Starbucks coffee while writing.
9.) This picture
10.) Capturing and defeating Mr. Poopie. Come on now, my hands are being trained for battle.
And how exciting that I get to pass this award on to some special friends:
1.)Dana at dancing guitar girl Dana has been a longtime friend of mine who's friendship has always inspired me in the creative arts: both in dancing and writing. Thanks Dana for encouraging me to start blogging!
2.)Diana at hormonal imbalances Diana has an awesome eco-friendly blog and has been a kind friend who's helped me out tons as I've started blogging. She has a cute baby girl and a great sense of humor.
3.) Lily at a lil story Now this is a blog to visit to be inspired with faith: check out her "spiritual sunday" posts. What an awesome Mommy! She doesn't really know I follow her, but I think she's amazing! And her posts have ministered to me : ) Check out this post!
4.) Tiffany at Tiffys tea room Tiffany is a long time friend of mine a mommy of three toddlers! What an inspirational mother of three. Rooted in her Christian faith, her blog gives a positive outlook on the blessings of children and the journey of motherhood. I love her story about taking three kids grocery shopping and saving with coupons!
5.) Amy at Roars and Rambles Amy is friend of mine who I've lost touch with in recent years. But back in the day we used to go to coffee shops and write with our laptops and dream about being published. Amy is now an accomplished freelance writer with two published books and her blog is hysterical. She's now getting back into blogging. I can't wait to read more of her posts!
6.) Anne at Deal wise Mommy Anne doesn't know I follow her, but her blog is amazing. This is the place to go if you want to save a good penny and get the latest on coupons and bargains. Now that's a blog to be happy about.
7.) Cindy at Aguilar family adventures Cindy is a sweet mommy friend who leaves the nicest comments on my blog. Yay to encouraging friends. Her blog is cute and explores her reflections as a new mommy and lots more.
Okay, so before you go check out these cool bloggers, please share, what makes you happy?
Posted by Laura
April 13, 2010
Why a Mother Might be Late
So the annual 5 minutes for mom Ultimate Blog Party 2010 is going on, and I'm showing up fashionably late or shall I say mommy-of-two-toddlers-late: like this morning when just as I finished applying the lipgloss, grabbed my car keys and go to load up Toddler-girl only to find her naked! Gone was Mommy's selected polka-dot dress and matching tights; all was gone except the princess panties and plastic tiara. Now baby boy,
And that's what this blog is about. This isn't the candy-coated, life is bliss, I-have-it-all-together blog. This is the no-one-warned-me-life-was-going-to-get-this-crazy-spacing-my-kids-this-close-together-and-now-I-feel-like-I-have-twins-God-help-me-blog. The goal? Validating new moms that they are not alone in feeling challenged; honoring experienced moms in what they've already overcome; informing working daddies on what goes on all day long when Mommy is left alone; reminding grandparents of sacred memories IF you can call anything involving Mr. Poopie sacred that is. And yes, there will be more to come: giveaways (have one coming tomorrow), recipes, parenting tips, inspirational stories, mommy interviews, creative ideas, a lot of culture, and other fantastic surprises. Join me on this journey of experiencing motherhood as hard but ever so hilarious; unending but extremely entertaining; messy but oh so meaningful; And yes, knowing all that I do now, I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you're looking to be inspired read this or this
If your just here for a laugh see this or this or this
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll keep reading and if you really want to make my day, become a follower, facebook fan, and follow me on twitter. Please don't go without telling me something about you--like what usually makes you late? Or who do you blame when you're late? I'd offer to bribe you with a gummy treat as a reward, but I had to flush them today to join Mr. Poopie.
Oh, as for prizes, which you can see if you check out the ultimate blog party, I'll take the 3. US40- One winner will receive a 3 day 2 night stay from Holiday Inn Main Gate East in Kissimmee, FL (less than 2 miles from Disney World) a value of $250.Provided by: Holiday Inn Main Gate OR the $100 dollar gift card to restaurants.com because Mommy and Daddy could use a good date nite. Now that's for investing in the marriage, which ultimately is investing in baby.
Posted by Laura
April 4, 2010
About Me: My breaking points ...
A sign that you're at your breaking point is when your face hits the carpet, your skin digging into the scratchy fibers in a puddle of your own tears as you cry out for a miracle. Last year this was a familiar place for me. In Friday's post, I asked you to tell me where you get your strength. Today, I’ll share where I get mine.
Only a few weeks after just giving birth to my precious baby boy, a series of sicknesses and unusual circumstances hit my family and me so forcefully I quickly realized I needed a strength greater than my own ability to get me through: 7 straight days of vomit and diarrhea hit my NON-potty trained toddler-girl where the first 6 days I cried for her, and finally on the 7th day, I cried for myself in exhaustion. Let’s skip over the surprise emergency appendectomy that sent me running to the emergency room in my bathrobe in severe pain, realizing I had no stored breast milk for baby boy and following surgery was not allowed to pick up infant boy for 4 weeks and toddler-girl for 6 weeks; pass over those two other bouts of the flu and stomach virus that again went through my house that left me begging my Urgent care doctor to just go ahead and inject me with whatever anti-nausea med available. Skip over the normal adjustments of a very strong-willed creative toddler girl who was fascinated with taking off her poop diapers and painting the crib and walls with it’s contents and a determined but exhausted mother who nursed an infant with one arm and had the Clorox wipes in the other. And of course, skip over the five times total that both cars broke down, we refinanced the house, got into a minor accident, and toddler-girl fell down the entire flight of stairs but was unharmed!
But there’s one story in the mix of stressful things listed above that would be an injustice to skip over. Let’s go straight to the part of series of events where I am crying in my room in the middle of the night, and I am completely overwhelmed: Toddler-girl had suddenly developed all the symptoms of what we later realize is Kawasaki disease: 105 degree fever, rash starting on hands and feet then all over body, sores in mouth, red eyes, we spend all night in the emergency room, FIVE different doctors, none could help. It was too early to diagnose, but if you don't treat it by day 10 (treatment means hospitalization), it affects the heart. Two days later, the symptoms are raging. I read about how John Travola's son died of heart disease and he had Kawasaki disease as a child! I read about how the research shows that kids who contract it (as it is not contagious and they are not sure how children get it but believe it is caused by a microbe) have had recent exposure to carpet cleaning or stagnant water. Just the night before Toddler-girl spent the night at her grandparents’ house whose 20-year-old carpet was just cleaned! I have never felt so overwhelmed in my entire life than to see your precious child sick and helpless and all you can do is wait on tests. The more I researched on the Internet and looked at pictures of other kids with Kawasaki, the more overwhelmed I felt as my daughter looked just like them and all the symptoms matched. What happened next is nothing short of an absolute miracle. I was completely overwhelmed with fear in my room, I didn’t know what to do, it was the middle of the night everyone else was asleep, even my husband was knocked out from having spent the previous night in the ER with her. As I’m praying, all of a sudden I went from feeling 100% anxiety to 100% peace—a peace so overwhelmingly comforting and outside of myself that I didn't feel I deserved or even expected, I just knew God was answering my prayers. As I was praying I was reminded of how God did a great miracle in my past and how I had told him I would NEVER forget that miracle. As I was praying for her, I heard Him say, "It's time for a new miracle. Do you believe I will heal her?" I had no question in my mind he was with me because there was no way in my own human strength I could find an ounce of peace. Well, within one hour of praying we checked her temperature and it was gone! It dropped from 105 to 98 degrees and the rash disappeared. That's my greatest miracle!
What got me through?
1.) Having a supportive and encouraging husband who is great at making me laugh in just about every situation, a mom who came to my rescue on numerous occasions, great family and friends.
2.) Friends who didn’t judge me for all my complaining, when I felt at the end of myself and didn’t feel like being positive!
3.) A Moms' group: a group of 2-3 other moms that I consistently met with once a week for play dates (when we were healthy). This helped me keep my sanity, knowing there were other moms going through the same struggles.
4.) This is the most important of all for me: God. I am extremely thankful for having such a supportive husband and family and friends but . . . It was many times in the middle of the night when no one else was around that I felt God meet me where no one else could. In my extreme neediness and exhaustion, I found strength beyond my own capabilities extended by a loving God who freely gives to those who ask.
Only a few weeks after just giving birth to my precious baby boy, a series of sicknesses and unusual circumstances hit my family and me so forcefully I quickly realized I needed a strength greater than my own ability to get me through: 7 straight days of vomit and diarrhea hit my NON-potty trained toddler-girl where the first 6 days I cried for her, and finally on the 7th day, I cried for myself in exhaustion. Let’s skip over the surprise emergency appendectomy that sent me running to the emergency room in my bathrobe in severe pain, realizing I had no stored breast milk for baby boy and following surgery was not allowed to pick up infant boy for 4 weeks and toddler-girl for 6 weeks; pass over those two other bouts of the flu and stomach virus that again went through my house that left me begging my Urgent care doctor to just go ahead and inject me with whatever anti-nausea med available. Skip over the normal adjustments of a very strong-willed creative toddler girl who was fascinated with taking off her poop diapers and painting the crib and walls with it’s contents and a determined but exhausted mother who nursed an infant with one arm and had the Clorox wipes in the other. And of course, skip over the five times total that both cars broke down, we refinanced the house, got into a minor accident, and toddler-girl fell down the entire flight of stairs but was unharmed!
But there’s one story in the mix of stressful things listed above that would be an injustice to skip over. Let’s go straight to the part of series of events where I am crying in my room in the middle of the night, and I am completely overwhelmed: Toddler-girl had suddenly developed all the symptoms of what we later realize is Kawasaki disease: 105 degree fever, rash starting on hands and feet then all over body, sores in mouth, red eyes, we spend all night in the emergency room, FIVE different doctors, none could help. It was too early to diagnose, but if you don't treat it by day 10 (treatment means hospitalization), it affects the heart. Two days later, the symptoms are raging. I read about how John Travola's son died of heart disease and he had Kawasaki disease as a child! I read about how the research shows that kids who contract it (as it is not contagious and they are not sure how children get it but believe it is caused by a microbe) have had recent exposure to carpet cleaning or stagnant water. Just the night before Toddler-girl spent the night at her grandparents’ house whose 20-year-old carpet was just cleaned! I have never felt so overwhelmed in my entire life than to see your precious child sick and helpless and all you can do is wait on tests. The more I researched on the Internet and looked at pictures of other kids with Kawasaki, the more overwhelmed I felt as my daughter looked just like them and all the symptoms matched. What happened next is nothing short of an absolute miracle. I was completely overwhelmed with fear in my room, I didn’t know what to do, it was the middle of the night everyone else was asleep, even my husband was knocked out from having spent the previous night in the ER with her. As I’m praying, all of a sudden I went from feeling 100% anxiety to 100% peace—a peace so overwhelmingly comforting and outside of myself that I didn't feel I deserved or even expected, I just knew God was answering my prayers. As I was praying I was reminded of how God did a great miracle in my past and how I had told him I would NEVER forget that miracle. As I was praying for her, I heard Him say, "It's time for a new miracle. Do you believe I will heal her?" I had no question in my mind he was with me because there was no way in my own human strength I could find an ounce of peace. Well, within one hour of praying we checked her temperature and it was gone! It dropped from 105 to 98 degrees and the rash disappeared. That's my greatest miracle!
What got me through?
1.) Having a supportive and encouraging husband who is great at making me laugh in just about every situation, a mom who came to my rescue on numerous occasions, great family and friends.
2.) Friends who didn’t judge me for all my complaining, when I felt at the end of myself and didn’t feel like being positive!
3.) A Moms' group: a group of 2-3 other moms that I consistently met with once a week for play dates (when we were healthy). This helped me keep my sanity, knowing there were other moms going through the same struggles.
4.) This is the most important of all for me: God. I am extremely thankful for having such a supportive husband and family and friends but . . . It was many times in the middle of the night when no one else was around that I felt God meet me where no one else could. In my extreme neediness and exhaustion, I found strength beyond my own capabilities extended by a loving God who freely gives to those who ask.
March 24, 2010
Dear Mr. Poopie
March 24, 2010
Dear Mr. Poopie,
I know you must feel ever so proud of yourself the way you brought a surprise attack against me this morning, waiting until AFTER I had already bathed, diapered, olive-oiled, dressed, and put my baby boy down for a nap to disguise yourself as silly putty. I bet you smiled to see him playing with you, rubbing you all over the rails of his crib, his blankee, his teddy bear, his crib sheet, his shirt, his jeans. Perhaps, you even laughed out loud when he mistook you for peanut butter and smeared some near his mouth, his chin, his nose, his cheeks, his hair, his ankles and heels. And, yes, I’ll give you that it was very cleaver teaming up with your friend Mr. Peepee who ever-so-forcefully shot out like a spring rain across the rug and onto my little boy’s dresser mirror for an extra special touch.
Sure, you were successful in getting yourself all over my shirt, my arms, my hands, as I lifted my boy into the bathtub and scrubbed and rinsed him all clean. You know what, I was going to take a shower anyway! And, I’ll have you know that I happened to enjoy sanitizing the bathroom, his crib, his rug, and his bedroom even if it was the third time this week. Have you forgotten that I’m an Italian neat freak who finds joy in cleaning my home? And, my little boy happened to enjoy his second bath of the day.
So, know this: I have a Clorox wipe and I know how to use it! I may have lost this battle, but I will win the war. I’m going to find out all the best products to bring destruction on your front and tell all my mommy friends about how to best combat you. You’re going down. Be afraid.
Sincerely,
Melodramommy
P.S.—By the way, little-toddler-girl no longer thinks you’re cute. In fact, she’s calling her daddy to come after you, cause when she saw the mess you made this morning, she told me: “Don’t worry Mommy, Daddy will clean it!” She knows her daddy can fix anything.
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Posted by Laura
If you liked this post you can vote for my blog by clicking on the Top Mommy Blog badge located to the top right of this post. You can vote once per day.
Posted by Laura
March 19, 2010
Feature Blog Friday
Today I'm excited to share that my blog is being featured by one of my personal favorite mommy bloggers: Diana So, go check it out, share the love, and leave a comment.
Why I like Diana's blog:
1.) Her posts make me laugh.
2.) She ties in sincere, heartfelt topics that are valuable to new moms.
3.) She's a role model in being an eco-friendly Green momma: yes, she only uses cloth diapers! Check out her cloth diaper challenge giveaway where you can win a big bundle of Thirsties gift bundle ($170 value)
4.) She is a networker: get to know her and you'll soon know a wonderful group of other mommy bloggers.
5.) I find her blog to be inspirational.
More on Diana: I asked Diana to share a little about herself.
Tell us a little about yourself:
I'm a mom to my 4 month old Bella, and my husband Sam and I have been married for 7 years. I cloth diaper and try to be eco-friendly, and I'm a bit of a nut about having a tidy house. I love traveling, wine, The Office, and reading. I was a former teacher and now stay at home.
How long have you been blogging for?
Only about 2 1/2 months. I've been really loving it so far.
Why do you do it?
I love to write, always have. As a SAHM, my days are filled with lots of naps. I was wondering how to pass the time, and started blogging to remember my first months as a mom. Then I realized some people actually make money, even just a little, doing it. I hope that perhaps one day I can, so I'm able to continue to stay at home. If not, I'll still keep blogging. I love to look back and read things I had completely forgotten about. I also like to get to know other moms on here. I live in a small town, with lots and lots of snow, so sometimes it's days before I can go anywhere. Blogging keeps my sanity.
Posted by Laura
Posted by Laura
March 4, 2010
Melodramommy Escapes Close Encounter
Yes. That woman. That mother who got out of her car in the parking lot, wrestled the 40-pound double-stroller out of a tiny trunk when she spotted something so terrible in her mommy world, her heart stopped, eyes bulged--even the three hairs on her chin stood straight up—that woman who when she spotted it, in one breath she had that stroller pinned down and shoved back into the trunk all while leaping into the car; in fact, if she could have climbed into the car through the trunk, she would have. Pale trembling fingers gripping the wheel, jiggling keys, a heavy foot commanding a most necessary get-away, all while explaining to the kids there will be no doctor’s check-up today; forget the exciting 2-year-old pep talk given on the drive there on how fun it is to go to the doctor but, of course, DON’T forget the part about how important it is to keep our fingers out of our mouths.
Yes, that panic stricken woman peeling away and leaving a somewhat apologetic message on the doctor’s voicemail that she would need to reschedule today’s appointment because there in the entrance to the doctor’s office was a man wearing a forbidden blue surgical mask that was screaming, “hi there, I have an extremely contagious disease. Yes, come bring your two healthy children in here and let me expose them to a wonderful stomach flu or swine flu if you’d prefer.” That’s what she saw. That’s what she did. And, yes, that woman was me.
And that’s how I handle the doctor’s office. How do you? What would you have done?
Posted by Laura
Posted by Laura
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