Restaurants and Rugrats

Before Carly, I was the waitress who would snarl after the families with babies left once all the pancakes and crackers were embedded into the carpet floor.  I also would become annoyed with cries and screams  across  restaurants as I tried to enjoy my dining experiences.  Fast forward twenty some years later and I am now the annoying one again.  Now on our weekly outings, I think back on those years and try be cautious of everyone at the restaurant-our neighbor tables, our waiter/waitress-even the bussers. 

We make sure never to forget our bag of tricks which is sure to include a Gerber Grabber, Cheerios, Goldfish and flavored puffs.  Instead of extra diapers we have crayons, rubber duckies, play dough and books.  Sometimes we are lucky when we come upon a restaurant that has color pages, crayons, and crackers on the plate just for Carly!  We might even get that understanding waiter or waitress who actually has a two year old and "gets it".  Even better we might get the old couple who become entertained with our child making googly faces at her and laughing at her comedic attempts.  Those visits give us a sense of calmness where we don't have to worry so much and can also enjoy our meal. 

Sometimes, yes our little sunshine will become a storm in a hurry, but our bag full of tricks along with much patience knowing this too shall pass has helped carry us through our meals-sometimes to the bathroom or in some cases out the door.

I wasn't sure if what we were doing was the "right thing". At the tender age of 1, its hard to have expectations for our girl, but as she gets older, here are some tips to consider on your eating outings:

• Don't Have Expectations for Little Ones.  It is very unreasonable to expect a certain behavior from babies and toddlers. It is up to you the parent to be prepared and be on your game.  Come with your bag of tricks to include books, quiet small toys, crayons and coloring books.  Order your child's food right away and/or have their food on hand.  Other restaurant goers do not think your toddler running up and down the isle is cute.  If they need to be out of their seat, have their seat planted on your lap. Try to pick up best you can after your little one and give a big tip (at least 20%) if the wait staff has gone above and beyond for your family and your toddler.
• Discuss First At Home For your older children-before you head out, explain where you're going, what you'll be eating and the manners you expect: sitting up straight in a chair, napkin in the lap, using a fork and knife, inside voice, and so on. Give continual praise for positive behavior throughout the dining experience and have a reward waiting at home.  This reward could be stickers for a chart which could add up to one large reward or small ones such as a sweet dessert from the freezer or Dairy Queen.
• Pick the Right Spot. You'll have a much easier time of it if you choose a restaurant that suits your child's age and maturity level. If your child is under 4 or just generally wiggly, you'll probably want to stick to family-style restaurants that offer wide booths, crayons, kids' menus, and a forgiving serving staff.  Some great family restaurants in our community include Ruby Tuesdays, Ground Round, Texas Roadhouse, and Grizzlies.  Space Aliens is great for older children who can play games. Older kids may be able to handle the wine glass/cloth napkin establishments, but unless your child is unusually quiet, you'll probably want to avoid these places until age 10. Otherwise, you may spend your evening worrying about what the other patrons are thinking rather than savoring the meal.
• Explain the Inside Voice. Tell your child that people don't like loud noises when they're eating, so he'll have to use his "inside voice." But don't be surprised if you have to remind him about this during the meal. Just do it calmly and move on.
• If All Else Fails, Leave. Try not to get angry if, after all your preparation, your child is disruptive. Instead, call for the check and carry-out boxes, and finish the meal at home or somewhere where your child can run around.

This morning I had the great opportunity to visit with Kevin and Monica on North Dakota NBC Today on Rug rat Etiquette.  Watch raising-well-behaved-kids interview here. Do you have any tricks that work for your family?  Please share! 

What a Treat!

Some of my fondest memories were around the holidays.  Easter time mom and I would get our hands full of dye trying to decorate the eggs for the Easter Bunny.  Dad and I baked the day away one Christmas making cut out cookies.  I also remember mom's Christmas baking and her letting me put the kisses in her peanut butter cookies.  Halloween was making the pumpkin seeds and carving out the pumpkin with dad.  He was the carver and I was the gooper scooper.  We spent Valentine's eve before the school Valentine's party making treats and Valentines to give out (even to the boys with cooties).  I will always treasure those times.  This past Halloween, Carly finally got to enjoy the pumpkin carving with us and was entranced with the lights glimmering within the pumpkins. 

I've decided I can't wait for the holidays to have these moments with my girl.  There are so many things that we can make and enjoy together.  And I would have to say (by the looks of me) the best thing ever to enjoy would be FOOD!  We just made a cereal necklace together.  It was more exciting for her I think to take it apart and of course throw to the floor to share with her furry brother. 

This morning I had the great opportunity to share some fun kid's healthy snacks with Kevin and Monica on our local NBC Today show (view it here: Healthy kid's foods segment on KFYR-TV).  We made lady bugs, monkey tails, and Mustache faces on rice cakes.  Here are the recipes we made today if you are interested:

Photos for Apple L

PhotosApple Ladybug Treats

"Red apples are decorated to look like lady bugs. This is a quick and fun snack that kids will enjoy making and eating. For once kids can play with their food."

Ingredients

2 red apples

¼ cup raisins

1 tablespoon of peanut butter

8 thin pretzel sticks

Directions

1. Slice apples in half from top to bottom and scoop out the cores using a knife or melon baller. If you have an apple corer, core them first, then slice. Place each apple half flat side down on a small plate.
2. Dab peanut butter on to the back of the 'lady bug', then stick raisins onto the dabs for spots. Use this method to make eyes too. Stick one end of each pretzel stick into a raisin, then press the other end into the apples to make antennae.

Fruit Kabobs

Servings: 2 Prep 20 minutess Chill Up to24 hrs

Ingredients

• 4 cantaloupe or honeydew melon slices
• 2 ounces  reduced-fat cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese slices
• 4 fresh blackberries
• 4 whole fresh strawberries

Make It

Use 1- to 1-1/2-inch cookie cutters to cut shapes out of cantaloupe and honeydew slices and cheese. Thread fruit and cheese onto 4 small skewers. Place in a flat storage container and chill until serving time (or up to 24 hours). Serves 2.

Pretzel/Grape Trees

Start with a few different kinds of pretzels (Rod for the trunk/regular pretzels for the roots/braided pretzels for the branches). Encourage them to think about which parts of the tree each kind of pretzel could represent.

Cut grapes in half so they lay flat and not roll off the table while the kids are creating.

Have plenty of space to create their trees.

Silly Kids Snack: Hummus & Cracker Mustache Faces

What You’ll Need:
Crackers
Hummus
Baby Carrots
Celery
Olives

To Make Mustache Faces:
Spread about 1 tsp. of hummus on each cracker. Slice baby carrots and use for eyes. Cut olives into many shapes and go crazy with your mustaches. Add a simple sliver of celery for the mouth.

Fun Kids Snacks - Goldfish in the Pond Rice Cakes

Kids snacks can be healthy and fun to prepare, too. In fact, these Goldfish in the Pond snacks are one of my favorite healthy snacks for kids, because the kids can do everything themselves.

Rice cakes, cream cheese, Goldfish crackers and blue food coloring are all you need for these fun kids snacks.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 plain rice cakes
• 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
• 2 drops blue food coloring
• Goldfish crackers for decorating

Preparation:

1. Put the whipped cream cheese into a small bowl, and add two drops of food coloring. Stir until it becomes the color of the sea.

2. Spread one tablespoon of cream cheese on each rice cake.

Cereal Bracelets

Pipe cleaners and colorful cereal are used to create cereal bracelets in this fun snack. Choose O-shaped cereal and allow your child to thread the cereal onto the pipe cleaner. The ends of the pipe cleaner are twisted together after all of the cereal is threaded. Your child can wear the cereal bracelet and snack at the same time. A necklace can be created by twisting two pipe cleaners together.

Frozen Banana Pops

Frozen banana pops are versatile because any toppings may be used. Cut a banana in half width wise. Your child can carefully push a Popsicle stick into the banana to create a handle. Assist your child in spreading either peanut butter or honey on the banana. Your child can then roll the banana in his choice of toppings. Granola, crushed cereal or chopped nuts work well. Place the banana on a plate and freeze for three hours. Another option is to help your child dip the banana in melted chocolate before freezing.

Pear Mouse

Canned pear halves transform into an edible mouse in this kid's snack. Have the child place a pear half, flat side down, on a plate. The small end of the pear will serve as the mouse's head. The child places two cloves in the small end to make the eyes and a raisin below the eyes for the nose. Use two banana slices for the ears. Carefully break a toothpick in half to hold the banana slices in place. Remove the toothpicks before eating the pear mouse.

Rice Cake People

This kid's snack idea makes plain rice cakes more appealing. Help your child spread softened cream cheese, hummus, peanut butter or another spread over the rice cake. The child can use small food items to create a face on the rice cake. Foods that work well for facial features include carrot shreds, cheese, raisins, chocolate chips, apple slices, dry cereal, licorice, coconut and banana slices.

Zoo Animals Lunch

Ingredients for Zoo Lunch: 2 Pieces of Bread Peanut Butter Pretzel Sticks A Few Keebler Animal Crackers Directions to Make Zoo Lunch: Spread peanut butter on one piece of bread. Cut out the middle of another piece of bread (the end piece of the loaf works great) leaving the edges. Place the cut out piece of bread on top of the peanut butter bread. Place a few Keebler Animal Crackers on top. Place 4 pretzel sticks on top of the Keebler Animal Crackers. Now your kids can have a lunch-time trip to the "zoo"! -



The best treat of all is Carly.  You could say she is my Olive Garden never ending bowl of soup. I could and do just eat her up everyday and can never get enough of her.  She fill my cupeth over.  Bon Apetite!

I'm a Big Girl Now!

Hard to believe one year ago this little waddler was sitting in a bouncy chair on my counter cooing and smiling away.  Now she wiggles her but as she dances and is everywhere and into everything.  More locks have gone into place on drawers and cupboards as she not only explores with her hands and feet, but also her mouth.  Lavender Johnson and Johnson baby lotion along with pieces of baby wipes and toilet paper pieces are some of her favorite flavors. I now have the poison control phone number memorized. One needs to be quick as even if those cupboards are open for a second, she is there right under your nose attempting a taste while emptying it out.  If you don't catch her soon enough coffee filters, cans of  Busch's Baked Beans and dog treats are strewn throughout the kitchen and living room floors. The k-cups to the Kirig are also fun to walk around with and shake. 

I find myself constantly moving about the house cleaning one mess up after the other.  Whether it is the coffee table remotes and centerpieces, the dogs water dish(alongside the spilled water), the entire dishtowel drawer, or picking up the many books she likes to empty off the shelves.  Sometimes Carly thinks she is cleaning as mommy does and will take many household items and the search is on to find them in random drawers, the laundry basket, the toy box, or inside of a box in her closet.

It is amazing how much our daughter has learned in a matter of months. Grandpa has taught Carly many things like sticking treats between her toes and now how to crawl up and backwards down the stairs.  So now we're up and down, up and down, up and down-who needs a stair master?  She is like a mermaid who just discovered she now has legs.  She loves to walk even run, wherever she can especially when she is in trouble round tables, throughout the house, and everywhere she can move outside. 

Carly has developed her own language as she visits with you using many expressions while pointing her fingers in several directions but sometimes becomes frustrated when others do not understand what she happens to be saying especially if she wants something.  Our communication barrier however is continually shrinking as Carly seems to know what we say.  "Bath" means- go to the bathroom and pick out  toys and put them into the tub.  She finds her jacket and shoes and tries to put them on when she hears we will be going outside.  When Grandma says "lets read a book", she is off to her basket of books in the next room. It won't be long and she will also be speaking many of our words and most likely non-stop. 

My daughter definitely knows what she wants.  If you give her a preference of color- it must be blue!  She walks around the house with her blue boat from the sand table, blue fish from her tub toys, and when shopping selected the blue elephant at Target.  When making our food choices, we have learned that if we aren't going to eat it, neither will she.  Don't try and fight it, she wants to feed herself, even if the food lands everywhere but her mouth.

Carly is a girly girl through and through as she loves to empty her tub of her many, many pairs of shoes and carry them around the house .  She also loves to play dress up with all of mom's old necklaces, hats, and sunglasses.  Boomer has even been caught in the action walking around the house with a necklace or two. She is wishing she had more hair as she tries to brush her hair or attach mom's ponies and clips.  We know our daughter is going to have good hygiene as she will become extremely angry if you are near the medicine cabinet and do not give her the green toothbrush.  Her dentist will be proud, we are brushing her new set of pearly whites an average of three times a day and have to sneak the brush away from her. 

In less than a year, our daughter has gone from the counter top to running through our home and into our hearts. Whether we like it or not right before our eyes our little baby is indeed becoming a Big Girl.  In the meantime, I am enjoying every minute of every moment keeping these unforgettable precious memories I can share with her as she grows(and a boyfriend or two) for the rest of our lives.

A Year In Review

Boomer the dog has made it ten years, the plant downstairs is going on three years, and now we have a baby who made it to one year!  Happy Birthday Carly! Hard to believe it has been a little over one year since our little one came into the world changing life as we know it. 

Three years ago after many tests, procedures, and disappointments I never thought God would let me be a mom.  But he answered our many prayers and here she is! Not only have our lives changed for the better, we have learned so much about life and have been on a continuous learning curve on how to raise a baby.  

It is kind of surprising how hospitals don't send you home with a set of directions like the store does when you purchase a Baby Alive.  Brent and I were also surprised that there wasn't a background check on us as you never know what that little bundle is being brought home to. In contrast, when I adopted Boomer, I was given the third degree and a home visit to make sure I was a suitable dog mom.  And what about taking classes?  You take classes to become a doctor, a teacher, a hair-dresser, a power plant worker, but they don't make you take classes when you become a parent and are bringing home a little, fragile, innocent baby. Kinda scary when you think about it! My sixth grade teacher let me take home the class turtle over a weekend.  He didn't ever come back.  Alive anyway.  Maybe if someone gave me directions on how not to feed him Spam, Mertyl could have enjoyed the rest of the year with us.

I have done quite a bit of research on how to raise my daughter "the right way" from Doctors, Family, Friends, Professionals, and of course Google (read my articles in the City Magazine or upload issues at www.thecitymag.com) , but came away learning the most valuable lessons were the life experiences no one tells you about. 

First: Being a stay at home mom is the toughest job you will ever love.  I've worn many hats-retail, restaurant, office, professional, teacher, you name it.  Today as a full time mom, I say-all those jobs were easy (and I consider myself a hard worker)....Enough said.  Anyone who thinks being at home with one child, two, three, or any number of kids is for someone lazy who eats bon bons (whatever those are) needs to stay at home and see just how many bon bons will get eaten.

Lesson Two: There is no such thing as "the right way".  Many people will give you advice and sometimes it will be unwanted. You need to bite your tongue (oh and it is EXTREMELY hard) and smile.  If you ask for their advice, you can try it if you feel it is right for your situation, but don't feel bad if it doesn't work for you and your baby. What works for other people's children more than likely isn't going to work with your child because...they are different children with different needs.  No one knows or understands your child like you do or know what is best for your child so you do what works for you and your child and that is okay.

Lesson Three:There is nothing greater than holding your baby in your arms while she sleeps and if you want to do it all the time, there is nothing wrong with that either!  The work will always be there when and if your arms tire, Eighteen years from now you will be missing her as she is off to college so hold on as long as you can!

Lesson Four:Your baby will melt your heart.  Lots of times. Like when she takes your face into her hands, talks in her alien baby language and says "ooooh" and then proceeds to lick or suck on your cheek (her current kissing method)or when she is in someone else's arms and wants only you.  The best are all her first moments like her first steps or climbing up the stairs followed by her baby claps because she is so proud of herself.  Just watch one of those Pampers or Johnson and Johnson commercials....those might be actors, but that really is how you feel when you are a mommy.

Lesson Five:  Your baby knows more than you think.  She not only is called monkey because she is cute and funny, but because it is now the game of Monkey See, Monkey Do with watching, listening and now doing.  Luckily for now it is all good.  Whether she is helping to load the washer, attempting to fold clothes out of the laundry basket, pushing her vacuum toy when you vacuum, putting on jewelry just like mom or even flushing the toilet-over, and over, and over, and over.

Finally, just as you have unconditional love for her, she has that same feeling for you.  You are all she wants or cares for.  Just as you chose to have her, she wants only you.  Just as you need that love fix (many times during the day), so does she.  So kiss, kiss, kiss those chubby little cheeks, nose, tummy and little feet away!

 

Monkey See, Monkey Do

I am learning that Monkey See, Monkey Do is very true as our little monkey is following the actions of her two big gorillas.  She intently watches and most always acts out in repetitive motions. If mom and dad do something, she has to give it a shot.  Just shy of a year and she has learned many unexpected interesting things including how to flush the toilet.  Especially when she is in the bathroom while mom takes showers.  Another fun activity is unraveling the entire toilet paper roll and then tearing it into shreds with an occasional taste test.

Other fun toys are the remotes.  We do have old ones that we try to get her to play with, but she knows which ones make the magic happen.  She also has learned how to turn things on like the stereo-- full blast.  Sometime the loud sudden noise will even make her jump!

Out in public, she seems to think this is socialization time.  She sees other people talking and visiting and so must she.  We attract other tables at restaurants and most recently had to leave the Medora Musical early as she thought "she" was the show people came to see. 


It won't be long when Carly will want her own phone plan.  She loves to talk to Grandma on mommy's phone and dad has shown her how to view pictures on his iPhone.  Therefore, if it is in reach, the phone has become hers.  I have had to dry out my saliva soaked phone on several occasions.  She now has an old Verizon phone, but knows it doesn't work quite like mom's and dad's. Just recently she has been making calls out to others that mom is unaware of.

Baby food is "for babies".  Mommy now makes Carly meals in her special monkey bowl and will even give the messy baby food to her with her own spoon for her to practice with.  Sometimes mom will share her soup noodles with Carly in her own little bowl.  Mom was enjoying her soup so much that she forgot her manors and tipped the bowl to get out the last drops.....mom turned to find Carly with a head full of noodles. 

It is so hard to believe our little monkey has grown into a beautiful and extremely smart little girl.  As parents, the time has also arrived for us to watch our own behaviors and act responsibly.  This means no more tipping the soup and cereal bowl or blurting out unflattering words.  We are playing the ultimate game of Monkey See, Monkey Do-we now own a pair of little eyes and ears watching, listening and following our every move.

And We're Off!

It has been a little over a month since our monkey has been on all fours.  I feel like the ghosts chasing after Pacman.  If we were a video game, we have now gone from the Easy level to Moderate.  Anything on her level is fair game.  Items on shelves are now strewn all over floors, cupboards, drawers, and doors are fun, the dogs water dish is always empty, and she's learned how to dumpster dive.  Most recently, she has tapped into the diaper bag pocket with the treats and now crawls through the house with her zip loc surprise-- two dogs following.

No peanut allergies so far since her new chew toys are the dog gongs with left over peanut butter residue. She no longer likes "baby" food. It's mommy's food as well as dirt, grass, rocks, phone book pages, and just about anything she finds on her searches.  Our little squirt has accumulated many toys from those who love her most, however lids, utensils, boxes, cardboard, paper, and most importantly the remote are the only things that seem to keep her happy.  She giggles non stop as the dogs are "hilarious" when they bark or snap back at her after she has invaded their eyeballs, noses, and ears.  When she comes a crawlin, they get a walkin. 

Getting "under" things is fun whether it is under the bar stools (with Snickers), the dining room table or even the bottom shelf of the linen closet or pantry.  Her most favorite sitting spot is under her highchair as it has wheels she can push around the kitchen. She is also standing up onto things most recently the edge of the tub to watch mommy give Snickers a bath instead of her.  

It won't be long and we will be onto the next level of our video game- Difficult.  Soon we will have her on two legs at high speed as well as speaking words with her main vocabulary being "NO".   I love this game we're playing no matter what level we are on.  My little Pacman will continue to run and this ghost will keep trying to keep up, even when I run out of quarters, our game will never be over. 

We Can Keep Her

About nine months ago Mommy and Daddy left us for a few nights and came back with this little creature. Mommy and Daddy call her our "Little Sis". Since then our lives meaning me "Boomer" and my other little sister "Snickers" has drastically changed. Even though I get less ear scratches, belly rubs, or walking of my Mommy and Daddy now adays, I really love my new little creature.

I give her love licks whenever I can. Mom gets mad because she calls my love licks "French" kisses because the little creature gives me love licks back. Her little licker tastes like milk. I just can't stop loving sometimes that Mommy needs to pull me away.

I've become a good little helper! I love to help with baths. I will help Mommy clean the little creature by licking those tasty lavender bubbles off of her back, head, arms and ears. I especially love it when she needs cleaning of the left over sweet potatoes, squash, or other residuals on her face, hands, and clothes.

My other little sister Snickers has become quite jealous. She thinks all the new little dollies now in the house should be for her so she will sneak away with them and chew off their faces, hands and feet. I only got in trouble once at Valentine's Day when we found two new little red toys stuffed with beads that looked much like ours so we each took one. Because no squeaker was involved, I gave up, but Snickers emptied both out and pooped beads for a week! Snickers also does not like it when Daddy is on the floor with the little creature so will wiggle her way between them so Daddy will only pet her and not the little creature. Lately, she has been so desperate for attention that now when visitors come, she will roll on her back hoping people will get on their knees and give her a free belly rub. I just wait until they sit, then I prop myself next to them. This has been the most successful way to obtain free scratches behind the ears.

Even though Snickers sometimes paws Mommy and Daddy to pet her because she isn't the baby anymore, she loves our little creature too because she drops EVERYTHING! One of her new hang outs is under the big blue high chair to catch banana chuncks and other tasty droppings. However, sometimes other things that are big and hard will also drop. Luckily, the sky hasn't fallen on her yet.

If our new little creature is going to stay, she has a few annoying habits we need to work on with her. It has been very hard to enjoy our doggie dreams as our little creature makes these loud wails as if she is in great despair all through the night and during our daytime doggie naps. We need our doggy rest to bark at strangers and chase after the gophers in our yard. We also need to be very careful when we are around the little creature as she has been known to pinch us and if we aren't fast enough, she will get a chunk of our fur in her little paws. She even trys to grab my licker when all I want to do is kiss her!

As the big boy of the house one of my jobs is to be the watch dog and protector even though I am a lover and will probably just lick you. I keep a watchful eye on the little creature because well, I love her. I'll think I'll tell Mommy and Daddy we can keep her.

Sleepless on Stonewall

When you breastfeed, you get a lot of time to bond and sometimes even watch TV if you so chose.  I have been keeping up with shows I haven't seen in quite awhile including Super Nanny and Wife Swap evenings on Lifetime.  I used to watch these shows and think the parents were crazy and that it was their own darn fault their kids are having melt downs and their house was in disarray.  I always told myself "When I become a parent there is no way that will happen".  Now I wonder how many years it will be until I am featured on Super Nanny or maybe Dr. Phil will have us on and say "What were You Thinking?!!" in his southern style accent because we let our baby sleep in our room for too long or because we rocked her to sleep every night or picked her up when we heard her cry. 

Here I am now as the parent and I am doing exactly the opposite of what I thought I believed every parent should do.  I even have a degree in Early Childhood Learning and know what I am doing isn't "correct" according to the childhood experts we studied back in the day.  It is so hard not to pick her (my little Carly Anne) up when her cries sound like she is being tortured not to mention you hear a mama mamama ma (even though she doesn't know yet that is me) in the crying/screaming mix.  I am trying to let her cry but an hour an a half later she is still crying, not sleeping and neither is her mother. I pick her up, feed her, rock her and she sleeps until an hour later and then the cycle starts all over again until our 5 a.m. wake up call.

Today I am thrilled about a two-three hour stretch of straight sleep. It is a catch 22-either I let her cry all night long and we both don't get any sleep or I wake up every hour to hopefully get 45 minute naps all night.  Then we have the story of the dogs who also sleep in our room, who also help keep us awake with their toe tapping, shaking, and ruffling of the beds.  We just can't win.

 My little one surprises me as to how little sleep she can live off of and still smile. I wish I could reciprocate, but unfortunately I need a little Folgers to help me with that these days.  I keep praying that this too shall pass, but I'm reminded that when the endless nights pass so will my time to snuggle, cuddle, and kiss my little monkey who will be 25 before I know it.  So until then I will take the sleepless nights on Stonewall.  For the rest of you out there- Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite!  Nighty Night! (Dr. Phil, I still would love to meet you).

You Know You Are a Mom When.....

The other day as I was changing Carly, I had a good view of the inside of her nose.  I noticed an obstruction (use your imagination) so what did I do?  I got right in there and dug it out.  Now if you would have told  me five years ago,even a year ago that I would be doing something such as this, I would have given you a gagging reflux reaction.  Now, I don't blink an eye, it's no big deal.  I must be a mom. 

Sometimes it's hard to tell if Carly is wet or smelly.  The best way to know is to lift her little bum and take a whiff.  It's no big deal.  Brent looks at me and asks how can I do that but gag when he does what men do.  Its different I told him. I almost feel like a doctor seeing and doing what I do as it doesn't phase me. It comes along with the job of being a mom.

Since becoming a mom, I've been peed on five times, had spit up in my hair and on most every shirt (sometimes even down to my underwear). I've also gotten my hands dirty(if you know what I mean) and Blow-outs are called Blow Outs for a reason. 

I grew up needing eight, nine, ten, and sometimes even more hours of sleep.  If you did not let me rest, I was a bear.  That is all past tense now as I only get (maybe if I am lucky) four to five hours of sleep straight in one night, after that, it is all down hill.  Surprisingly, I am still happy and with only one cup of coffee!  My grumpy bear goes away when she looks at me and smiles.

B.M.-(Before Mommyhood), I always had to have a new outfit for any exciting event and wouldn't be seen by anyone or in public without hair, make-up, and nails to par before heading out of the house.   Now I don't care if you come over and I am in my pjs or when leaving the house will even wear my sweats over my pj's with a stocking cap if I REALLY don't care that day. I don't have time to worry anymore if people will judge me about how I look.  When at the store, we never can make it out without something in the cart for Carly-even though I haven't made a purchase for clothes in almost a year for myself. 

I love sitting on the floor with Carly and listening to nursery rhyme songs, singing at the top of my voice "Wheels on the Bus", reading Dr. Suess, and playing with  "Sophie" the sqeaky giraffe. 
while these activities may not sound very grown up, I think I may have indeed "grown up". I've learned its not about me anymore.Its about my little smiley, loveable, (sometimes dirty and stinkable), adorable Carly.    I must be a mom.

The Monkey's Room

 I have a new favorite room in our house.  It is green, taupe, pink, and filled with Monkies.  It belongs to our "Little Monkey"-Carly.  Now that Christmas is over, I am trying to find where I am going to place all of her new toys and yes...more monkies.  Some people ask me, why monkies?  Well, first of all, what monkey isn't cute?and babies are fun to call "Little Monkies".  I also thought about Peanuts as people sometimes call their babies Little Peanut, but where can you find a bed set with pictures of peanuts?  I guess we could have gone the Charlie Brown route, following the Peanuts theme, but I am very glad we stuck with monkies.  

Decorating a baby nursery is fun.  I don't care who you are.  Whether you are looking for wall colors, bedding or pictures.  Pictured here is a mural that our friend Lisa painted. (Her husband Jason is rocking one of our monkies to sleep). Now that Carly is getting older, it is fun to watch how she laughes and giggles at the monkey tree when we are nursing.

Since we would be spending a lot of time in the monkey room, we picked neutral yet fun colors that either kind of "Little Monkey" would prefer.  We could later add the pinks or blues.  Furniture was probably the most difficult to find as Bismarck-Mandan lacks in baby furniture options.  Target has it going on as it is the only place in town for baby registration and offers the largest variety for furniture options and most anything for baby. One furniture store did have a crib, but it was crazy expensive.  Some great local places for monkies and other fun themes include:
Hobby Lobby-Letters
K-mart-Bedding
Target-Furniture

We are always on the look out for new additions to our little jungle.  We also love our fun monkey gifts from friends and family.  We found some cute monkies at a boutique in Medora this past summer and even Cracker Barrel has some goofy things we've added. 

We hope our little girl, I mean "Little Monkey" likes her room as she grows and we can keep this theme for awhile.  It won't be long and she won't be our "Little Monkey" anymore.  Who knows who or what we will be painting or hanging from the walls?-As long as it literally isn't our "Little Monkey" we should be good.

Are you expecting?Want some nursery ideas?  Vist thebump.com at http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/nursery-ideas.aspx; HGTV at http://www.hgtv.com/topics/nursery/index.html; or Parents.Com at http://www.parents.com/baby/nursery/