Happy Halloween

Sigh

Sometimes, out of nowhere, it creeps up on me ... like a sucker punch to the heart and soul.

Gone ...

Slap a chef's hat on me ...

... and call me a cooker*!

I attempted my first batch on garlic naan bread and it was a success. I am a little worried because Dave said "see you can bake" so there might be expectations associated with such a statement. Though in my defense (or offense?) there was no baking, just dough making and then grilling. There were a lot more when I started but I gave some to the neighbor and we ate quite a few with dinner (Chicken Tikka Masala - no culinary excitement there except opening up a jar of Patak's Tikka Masala sauce).

I used the recipe found at All Recipes and I highly recommend reading the comments. There were a few really useful tips in them.

* Not to be confused with a hooker, this is Molly's term for a chef.

Not Me! Monday!

I did not spend a good chunk of the morning and afternoon at the urgent care clinic with Molly. We did not have to get her an x-ray to rule out pneumonia. (It DID turn out to be (just) bronchitis. Phew!) I did not do a little happy dance at the idea of Robitussin with codeine possibly making Miss Moo a little sleepy -- 'cause I would never wish for a nap.

Not me. Nope.

I did not obsessively use antibacterial wash on our hands after seeing several people wearing masks in the waiting room (and one guy with blood all over his leg!?!). We also did not ask the nurse if we could see her x-rays just because -- and it did not freak Molly out a bit to see her insides.

I also did not break into the Halloween candy when we got home.

Nope, not me!

So what did you NOT do today?

Sunday

We took a family trip to Vander Mill Cider Mill and Winery this afternoon to get some pumpkins and other goodies. We got some tasty Apple Blueberry Hard Cider that is surprisingly not overly sweet. We got to sample their other hard ciders -- so fun! I have not gone wine tasting in years. Need to do that soon.

A lifelong love of reading ...

"I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library."

— Jorge Luis Borges

I was blessed to have been raised by parents who always encouraged my love of reading. Books have always been an escape for me -- an adventure to a new and exciting place. One of my favorite things to do as a child was to go into my closet with a book and a flashlight. Something about the close quarters and a good book was a comfort for me. I never remember my Mom discouraging me from reading a certain book -- even through my unfortunate V.C. Andrews stage.

I started reading to my children before they were even born. With Jacob, it was Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney every night to my growing belly. Molly, being a second child, was stuck listening to whatever her brother chose at the time. Both kids but especially Jacob have inherited my love of books. Between the two of them, we read six books a night before bed.

I can't say that I always enjoy the books they choose (how many Fancy Nancy books can one read before their head explodes?) but I never tell them "no" when choosing a book. A friend of mine once told me that the surest way to discourage your child in becoming a reader was to continuously tell them they couldn't read a book.

While at the library yesterday, I overheard a mother telling her three kids at least 8 times that they couldn't borrow the books they had chosen. Eight times they were discouraged because the mother didn't want a movie-related book or a book about princesses or a book about superheroes ...

All I could think was that her kids spent time looking and picking (I saw them doing it) and her she was slamming their choices. I am not saying kids should be able to read inappropriate material (be that because of content or maturity of the child). But how many times can you say "no" before the kids stop asking? Its just not a risk I want to take.

And the winner is ...

Danz!

Through scientific methods, you were chosen as the lucky winner! Let me know what book you'd like.

Parenting Advice ... with a giveaway!

When I was pregnant with Molly, she was constantly moving in utero. I would lay down to sleep and she would start her own her own version of placental disco fever. So it shouldn't have surprised me that at 30 weeks my water broke -- she probably kicked a hole in it. When I was on the monitor in L&D for eight hours -- she rested no more than 20 minutes. That's one 20 minute period in eight hours, folks!

I sometimes think she came into the world at 32 weeks because she was too impatient to wait and "dang it!" she wanted things HER WAY! That has pretty much been her motto since birth -- I want what I want NOW and I will do whatever it takes to get it. So, needless to say, parenting her can be a bit of a challenge at times.

So in an effort to help you through your challenging parental moments -- I am offering you a chance to win one of four parenting books. If you win, you choose the one that you want to get.

Do you need advice on potty training? Then you might want to pick "Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day" by Teri Crane. How about whining? Then I suggest "Win the Whining War & Other Skirmishes" by Cynthia Whitham. Is your child particularly strong-willed and oppositional? Then "Parenting A Defiant Child" by Phillip and Nancy Hall might be your answer. And for those of you with children on the Autism Spectrum, I have a book of social stories - - "My Social Stories" by Carol Gray -- that can help your child with everything from washing their hair to going out to eat.

All you have to do is leave a comment with the BEST and WORST parenting advice you ever received. Then tell me which of the books you would like to get. Molly will get the honor of picking a winner through very scientific means and I will announce the person tomorrow.

P.S. Coming tomorrow ...

In honor of my recent frustration with my children, I will be giving away a parenting book to one (of my three) lucky reader!

Wednesday mail

I got some goodies in the mail from Boiron Homeopathic that couldn't have come at a better time since Molly was home sick (again, for those keeping track of our illnesses). The deal was if you were a "Mommy blogger" you could get samples of three of their children's medicines: Children's Coldcalm® Pellets, Children's Oscillococcinum® and Children's Chestal

Molly tried the Chestal and couldn't get it down. She said it was nasty despite its supposed "pleasant taste". It even smelled horrible so I had a feeling she wouldn't like it. The ColdCalm pellets were easier -- and she immediately said she wanted to take those again. Which, if you follow the directions, she'd have to do every 20 minutes for the first hour and then every two hours thereafter. I don't know about you - but that seems like a lot.

That's my biggest issue with homeopathic -- the dosing is so frequent that it becomes tedious. I am really interested in safer and more natural treatments to illness especially in this day of over medicating. So I guess I just need to deal with the frequent dosing -- especially if the results are positive.

P.S. I also got a free sample of Burt's Bees Acne spot treatment. If you know me, you know I love a freebie. I learn about most of my freebies at Money Saving Mom.

Dealing with miscarriage ...

A few of my favorite Mommy bloggers talking about something so many women experience ...

Five years ago today ...

I was 30 weeks pregnant with Molly when my water broke at 3 a.m. We had suspected it the day before but were told I was fine. The late night trip to the ER confirmed all was NOT fine.

I would spend the next 12 days watching Gilmore Girls and eating hospital food.

(And consider being wheeled down to the u/s room a big outing.)

Happy Fall Days ...

A girl and her chicken ...

Who needs a teddy bear when you can have a rubber chicken*?

* A rubber chicken that screams when you squeeze it and can only be found at Spencer's in the mall. Which is a FABULOUS place to take a four-year-old.

Covet

God, forgive me but I covet this necklace from Lisa Leonard something fierce ...

So if anyone wanted to buy me a gift, I wouldn't object.

Channeling my inner Martha ...

(... minus the whole urge to take insider tips, of course, and land myself in prison.)

When Martha does a project, I imagine it goes something like this:

Martha: First you take your glue gun, add some glitter and *voila* your masterpiece is done.

When I do a project, it goes more like this:

Me: What the ...? Ow! Stupid glue gun! No! NO! NO! Don't fall. DON'T FALL! Oh forget it ...

Good News Bad News

First, the good news:
* My hubby made me apple turnovers and fried egg sandwiches. Yum.
* I got a lot of reading done this weekend.
* It is getting cool enough to put the flannel sheets on the bed.

Then the bad news:
* I have been sick all weekend.
* Since I have spent most of my time in bed, I didn't notice until today that the house is a mess.

I'm hiding ...

... 'cause the cold bug is knockin' at the door.

My head is stuffy, my nose is drippy and I can feel drainage at the back of my throat. I am also overwhelmingly tired. It doesn't help that it is a rainy and cold day. I want to crawl into bed, pull the covers over me and wake up tomorrow feeling better.

(This, by the way, is not my bed. This bed was made by Shawn Lovell. I am not sure it really falls under the "comfortable" category. And you better hope no birds to decide to nest there.)

Sleepy days

Rainy and cold days are perfect for naps. Nothing is more calming than the pitter-patter of rain on the roof while you snuggle under a warm blanket. Don't you agree?

Miss Manners

Miss Manners once called me collect. My question is -- does that show good manners?

Not Me! Monday!

You know the drill ...



I did NOT spend all day and evening and most of the night thinking I was NOT going to participate in this week's round.

I did NOT send my hubby a picture of myself holding a (scrumptiously adorable) two-week old baby and try to convince him I won the baby at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers).

I did NOT partake in some wine at 4 p.m. with a friend. We both needed it.

I did NOT wish I could put a "Do No Disturb" sign on my life ... at least for today. Possibly tomorrow.

So what did you NOT do?

Silent Sunday

Somebody's watching me ...

Do you have a preschool-aged child? Perhaps you can relate to this song then. Molly is constantly watching me, following me, asking me questions, etc. It seems like the more attention I give her, the more she demands.

Today we ate breakfast and took her brother to the bus stop. We have done a craft and read some of her Brain Quest cards. She also pretended to get ready alongside me in the bathroom.

Its just 11 a.m.

My Mom tells me to appreciate that she wants to spend time with me because one day she won't and I understand this concept. Really, I do. But seriously .. when someone is watching you poop it gets a little hard to see the trees through the forest.

Or alternately she will demand my attention, get distracted and then I will move on to do something else. The minute I do, she is pissed because I am not paying her attention.

I am not good at getting down on the floor and playing Polly Pockets, Barbies, or other imaginary games. Puzzles, games, crafts and reading are more my forte. And while its still not my favorite thing to do (minus the reading) it certainly beats playing "Barbie is Mommy and you are the babysitter so here watch my baby named Bella/Sara/Jazz for the 100th time".

I have read varying opinions on how much time I should be spending with her and how much I should encourage her to play on her own. Its hard to know what is right. I want her to be independent but not feel neglected. But I am her Mom, not her constant playmate. Sometimes I just want to use the bathroom without having to leave a detailed map to my location and/or giving a play-by-play of the action.

Someone tell me this is phase and that all preschoolers go through it. Tell me I am not raising a girl who will seek attention -- positive or negative -- her entire life. Or give me the number to a good convent in Siberia.