The Honest Toddler

Yesterday, my honest toddler said "Wake up, Lazy Bones!" when I fell asleep on the couch.  He was right.... I was a "Lazy Bones" yesterday.  Maybe because he comes into my room at all hours of the night ready to play or eat breakfast?  He's asleep on the couch now... think I should return the favor?  JUST KIDDING!  I will just sit here and enjoy my peace and quiet.

Anyway, today I discovered "The Honest Toddler" on Facebook and I followed a link to the actual website.  This post about a birthday party had me cracking up.  Totally spot-on!  Enjoy!

Confessions of a Letter-Writer

I'm a letter-writer.  What does this mean?  It means that I write letters when I feel like a company needs to hear what I have to say.  Sometimes it's good stuff... but most of the time, it is because a product let me down.  And more times than not, I never actually write the letter.  My family makes fun of me for this.  Steve actually just made fun of me today for writing letters.  But hey... wouldn't you want the chance to make things right with a customer?  I feel like I am helping them!

Seven years ago (wow--I feel old), I got a flat iron for Christmas.  It was great and I loved it.  Then one day about a year and a half later, the top plate stopped working.  I remembered that it had a warranty.. but I didn't have the receipt or any of the original packaging!  I got online to see what I could do.  I mailed them my broken flat iron with a 3x5 card with my name and address scribbled on it.  Two weeks later, I had a brand new flat iron in my possession.

And I rewarded this great customer service today.  After 5 1/2 years, that replacement flat iron finally bit the dust yesterday.  It was weird because it still felt hot, but it was doing nothing to my hair.  So today, I got online and bought the new version of the same flat iron.  I'm really picky about stuff like this... so I decided that the best bet was to go with what I know!  Plus, I know that their customer service is awesome!  So I will probably have a Jilbere titanium flat iron for life.

Saturday night, Steve and I noticed that our Sonicare was on the fritz.  It was a gift, so once again, I had no purchase information!  We got it almost 2 years ago (this summer).  I got online to see what I could do, and within 20 minutes, a customer service representative filed a claim and we have a new toothbrush coming in 7-10 days!  So, Philips has won a customer for life.

Also on my "great customer service!" list:  Bounce (sent a coupon for "free--any product, any size" when I told them I hated their dryer bar.)

On my "Terrible Customer Service" list:  Rhodes Rolls (said they would send 2 coupons for free bag of rolls--never did.), Tresemme (took so long to respond that I threw away my broken dry shampoo... then months later they said they would replace it, but wanted the broken bottle back), Aveeno (hasn't responded to my email saying that my lotion tube just fell to pieces... it litterally just cracked like a potato chip every time I put lotion on G).

George's Luck

This morning, George asked if he could watch "Cars."  I said no because we had somewhere to be and I knew how hard it would be to turn it off.  I told him to watch tv while I showered and got ready.  I came to check on him after the shower and don't you know "Cars" was on tv??  Like, playing on Disney Channel... he didn't put it in himself or anything.  But... seriously, Disney?? We had somewhere to be!

Surprisingly, he let me turn it off and we went to a fun Easter Egg Hunt with some friends from church.  We each brought 12 eggs per kid and put them all over this field next to the playground.  At first, George was more interested in the playground.  I had to coerce him to look for eggs.  Once he picked up the first egg, he was in business!  And he kept saying "OH, BOY!" every time he found an egg.  It was precious.  Of course, no pictures.  I am really bad at taking pictures!  I will be sure to take pictures on Easter when we go to my aunt's house for a little hunt and dinner.

So we came home and I tried to feed George his usual lunch, but he must have been full from the candy.  I was wrapping up his lunch and he said, "whatcha doing, Mom?"  I told him and he said "oh" and ran away!  I  got a diaper ready and said, "do you need a new diaper before your nap?"  He looked and me and in a very serious face said, "No.  I need chocolate."  Looks like he takes after me...

Yesterday was a terrible day... but so far, today is better.  Thank goodness for days like today that keep me sane!

What We Believe

Thoughts on Birth

I have been reading a lot of birth stories lately.  Seriously, everyone who has had a baby in the last 6 months has posted their birth story this week.  I haven't posted Ruth's birth story... for a reason.  It's very personal... and kind of sad... and really scary.  I have shared it with people when asked... but I don't care to post it.  I am going to write it in my journal... but not on my blog.

I am a little jealous of the perfect birth stories I have read, but also I am so happy for my friends who have had perfect birthing experiences.  That being said, not all birthing experiences are perfect.  Even though both of my pregnancies have been by the book, and I have felt great the entire time, that last part (the birth) is the most important part... and the part that I apparently can't get right.  I am grateful for the many choices available for child birth.  And I think that women should research them all and do what makes them comfortable.  For me, I am so grateful for doctors and hospitals and modern medicine, without which, my babies may not have made it.  Both of my birthing experiences (and subsequent time spent in the hospital...) were as pleasant as they could be given the circumstances.  The staff was polite and respected my wishes.  I was comfortable in my hospital room.  And really, it's not about my comfort at all... it's about what my babies needed.  And my babies received the help that they desperately needed immediately... as in, without delay.

So, without trying to scare anyone.... while home births and birthing centers are popular these days, there are a lot of unknowns in child birth.  I am grateful that I gave birth in a hospital.  Obviously that's the route that I am forced to take from here on out, but if I were to go back and choose again, I would still choose the hospital.  And I don't feel bad about it.

They're Cute.

...most of the time.  Just as long as you don't show up unannounced between about 4-7pm.  That's when things fall apart around here.

We have been keeping busy with babysitting, library days, errands,and visitors.  Steve's brother Tom was here for a few days about 2 weeks ago.  We went to the zoo and I must say that it was awesome that Tom chased George all around!  

Our niece Suzy was here last weekend and it was so fun!  She was only here for about a day, but she watched G while I went to a baby shower and then we had to go to a baptism.  So for dinner, we went to Potbelly and then we went shopping.  Steve should never have suggested that I go shopping with Suzy.  We made the best Dream Bars that I have made so far (I have been toying with a few recipes to figure out the Dream Bar from Potbelly).  They were gone by lunch time the next day.

This week is spring break... not that it means a lot around here except that I am not babysitting.  George has been a little under the weather and it's nice that we have had nothing to do.  We have been hanging out at home.  The weather is great outside, but taking a walk by myself (with the kids) is always super awkward.  Both kids had doctor's appts yesterday.  George is 33 lbs 3 oz and Ruthie is 15 lbs even.  Big kids!

My dad & step-mom will get here tonight.  They drove for 3 days with all 4 dogs!  They have way more patience than I do!  So they will be camping here for a week! We will be camping during the day and coming home to sleep in our nice, comfy beds.  The best kind of camping!  

And that's what is going on here!  Ummmm.... but this is real... and I just saw this on tv.....

She's a Roller!

And I have proof!

Ruthie is 5 1/2 months old, technically... but since she was early, she is developing closer to her adjusted age (based on her due date), which is 3 1/2 months.  It's been difficult having to wait for her big milestones, especially when I see babies born around the same time as her who seem to be doing so much more than she can.  The pediatrician reminds me at every appointment that she is exactly where she should be for her adjusted age and that she should be caught up by age 2 (when a mere 2 months isn't much of a difference).  So, she hates tummy time... but lately has been lifting up better.  She started to roll the other day, but gave up.  Today, she did it!! 

Here is the beginning (the toilet flush is G's training potty... just so you know):

and I gave up recording it because I've been burned so many times before (jkjk!).  But then I got the camera again just in time!

And today she also showed me that she may be rolling back-to-belly soon!  She was so interested in the kids at Toddler Time that she was on her side with her back and neck arched to see them!  It won't be long!  Our baby is growing up!

Stuff George Says

Steve has been asking me if I write this stuff down.  I haven't been... so I'll start throwing them on the blog to remember them.

Lately we have had a problem with G running in the parking lot.  Saturday, I put on his shoes and told him that we were going to the store.  He walked over to the sliding glass door and pointed to the parking lot.  Then he said, "No running in the parking lot, Binky.  Cars will hit you."  So... at least he hears me... even if he doesn't listen.  Last night to be a comedian, he was saying, "cars will hit you, (applesauce/milky/pancakes, etc)."  So we have established that he is, in deed, not deaf.

I put a toddler cd into the car (mistake #1) and then I let G call out requests from the back seat (mistake #2).  We now listen to the same song about firetrucks over and over every time we are in the car.

When I try to sing anything (especially songs that G knows and loves), G yells out "MY TURN!" from the back seat.  It is always his turn.  It is never my turn.  I never get to sing in the car anymore and that makes me really sad.

Yesterday, G got in trouble for not eating his vitamins.  Not just not eating them, but putting them in his mouth and making them all sticky and then just rubbing them on things.  I took his vitamins away and washed his hands and he was crying and then said to me, "I want Daggy!" (Daddy).  It was all I could do to not laugh... but I had to tell him that Daddy wouldn't let him do that either.  But he probably would.  And George  is a smart kid who knows which parent is the push-over.

Ok--Ruthie started fussing and G ran in there and I don't hear her anymore... so let's hope that she's just smiling and laughing at him and that he isn't smothering her.  Gotta run!

From Our Home to Yours!

We celebrated Valentine's Day a little early around here.  Complete with an actual kid-free date!  (If you know us, you know that this is very rare.)  I finally got to see Les Mis!  It was great and we had the theater all to ourselves!

We hope you all have a great Valentine's Day!!  

I just love a day that celebrates love!

(trying to get 2 kids to cooperate for a card was impossible.  so this is the best we could do this year!)

My Inner Blair Waldorf

Sometimes when I watch a lot of Gossip Girl (like how I have watched 2.5 seasons in the last month), I want to be Blair Waldorf.  Headband, prep school uniform and all.

(Not Leighton Meester.  Just Blair Waldorf.  Blair would be appalled if she saw the way that Leighton dresses.)

Anyway, my old roommate posted something on Facebook that was pretty funny.  In a way, I am the Blair Waldorf of my home.  Except without the wardrobe.  Or headbands (I try, but they squeeze behind my ears and give me a headache).  And definitely without the power.  No one here fears me... or even does what I ask.  But look at all the ways that my life is like a celebutante!  (I prefer the word "socialite.")

Now seriously... I need to channel my inner Blair and come up with a scheme to get people around here to fear me!