Forget about it Friday!

What is it about Friday?

It's not like as a mom Friday is a work day and Saturday is an off day. But still...TGIF! Friday just reminds us that the week is over... And we made it. Did we make it? Sure we did. It is Friday, and my kids survived another week with me as their mom. However, there are a ton of things that happened this week, or that I did (or did not do) that quite honestly I would rather forget.

So.... Let's Jump in to Forget About it Friday!

-I licked peanut butter off all 5 fingers of my 2 year old instead of getting up and getting a wet paper towel

-I gave my kids strawberries and whip cream for a snack, and admit that I served them a 2nd bowl of just whip cream.

-I attempted to do 3 days worth of Beth Moore Lessons in 30 minutes the day of Bible Study. Can you say Procrastinator??

-I have tried to smile nicely when people keep saying "you still haven't had that baby???" No, I STILL haven't had that baby yet.

-I wiped my child's nose with my hand way too many times to remember.... and I wonder why I am sick?

-My culinary skills were critiqued by not only my 3 year old, but my opinionated and quite verbose 2 year old...as they proclaimed "Grandmommy makes cornbread with stew". Well, we had biscuits. Sorry! (it was a very cute moment that had David and I laughing) I was also corrected that stew is served in a bowl, not on a plate. All righty then! We'll leave the Stew up to Grandmommy!

-Adding all the cookies together, I probably ate a total of 2 boxes of Girl Scout cookies entirely by myself.... totaling I am sure well over 2,000 calories and I am sure 100g of Fat. And people wonder why I birth almost 9lb babies. Hmmmm..... we just won't look at the scale at Dr.'s this week.

-A friend wrote me a note and I admit I had to look up a word because I was not certain what it meant. I had a good guess, and I was pretty close...but admittingly her vocab is way better than mine.

And these are just a few of the things I would rather forget about this Friday... and you can forget you ever read that they happened!

On a serious note... it is comforting to know that we can proclaim like Paul in Philippians:

"Forgetting what is behind, and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the Goal to win the Prize which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:13-14

What a comfort to know we can forget about it and move on! I am far from the perfect mom, the perfect wife, the perfect friend. I make mistakes all week long. Big ones too! I find comfort in knowing that can I press on towards the goal, and forget about what is behind me. And even in some of the BIG mistakes (like majorly losing my temper at my kids, or a grumbling heart towards a situation or person) I find even more comfort that "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12) Even God forgets about it! (see Isaiah 43:18)

So, let's Forget about it Friends! Enjoy the Weekend and Press on!

What are you wanting to Forget about this Friday??
Do Share with me! And I promise to forget I ever read it!

Little Llamas Losing Sleep! Mama Llama starts to Weep!

What is the magic trick to getting your children to sleep?

This pic of the clock is a big joke. In our house by 7:00, we have already had our early morning snack (breakfast isn't until 7:00) mommy has already had a cup of coffee (working on cup # 2 right now at 6:45), we have already been sent to our rooms a few times, they have demanded kid shows (no, way!). And that is our morning until 7:00.

So.. .We have sleep issues.

My rule is that we don't get up until 6:00. But We have been battling some night time sleep issues lately at night as well.

FYI For those of you with babies and no toddlers yet--That whole "sleep through the night" thing is a joke. Once they get in a big kid bed.. they wake up more than they did as babies!

Carson--- He wants to cuddle, he wants his blankee, he wants a train. I am fine getting up and handing him a blankee, patting his back and done. But no... this high maintenance llama will start a screaming rant for me to sleep with him. And scream that child can do until everyone in our house is awake and we are MAD.

Charlotte---we are trying to get her to stay in the Big Kid room. As we have a baby coming any day now, we need her sleeping in the Big Kid Room.

So...We resorted to bribery.

We told them that if Charlotte stays in bed all night and Carson has no screaming in the night they get a special Candy treat in the morning. Well, 2nd night and no candy for them. But we did make progress. Charlotte did stay in bed all night, and Carson didn't have any screaming fits. YEAH!

Then 5:13 rolled around...

I almost thought it said 6:13 and was so proud of my little llamas for sleeping the whole night with no incidents. I was prepared to walk in with a bag of Gummy bears singing Hallelujah Chorus! And then that second glance made me realize that the clock said 5:15! Carson was screaming "Breakfast time" and charlotte was screaming "I need a hairbow!"

Are you kidding me?? At 5:15???

I knew there was no hope to get them to go back to sleep.

Nice mommy quickly flew the coop and I sternly threatened them and told them that they must stay in their room with no screaming until 6:00. I actually think charlotte attempted to go back to sleep. But carson was perched on the edge of his bed the WHOLE time. Gripping every blankee and animal he had found in his bed... waiting for the timer to ring and the gates of heaven to open up.

So how do some of you do it? I hear some of you moms say "I just tell my kids they cannot come out until 7:00." Seriously...7:00? how do you just teach you children to do this? I am convinced that you all have much more compliant, calm, and easy going children than I do. Because this crazy herd of llamas wakes up with a vengeance. My strong willed, highly opinionated, dominant little toddlers are not ever going to sleep until 7:00.

So..what are your tips to my sleeping dillema??

Please post your tips in the comments and the lucky winner will get one overnight stay with my toddlers to put your plan into action! Just Kidding...that wouldn't quite be a prize now would it? But you will get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped Mama Llama out.

A Little Singing with Daddy...

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

So...I understand it is no longer Tuesday. A day late, oh well! This really did make us laugh this past week... and I wanted to share with all of our Bloggy friends. And the Riggs Family is a really neat family that I have been so encouraged by.

So, hear goes.... One of my husband's great and endearing qualities is that he has a way with getting anyone in our family to start singing any song. It could could be worship songs (and usually really cheesy ones that stick ion your head forever!), old 80's music, or songs he makes up.

One of Daddy's favorite Christian hiphop artists is the Amabassador. This is no cheesy Christian rap artist. His lyrics are very deep and thought provoking. Hip Hop is not my number 1 choice of music...we call this "Daddy Music". When Daddy drives the van he brings "Daddy Music" when I get back in the van I hear "No, Mommy...No K-LOVE.... we want Daddy Music". It didn't take our kids but 1 day of listening to Deuce's new CD that they were singing 3 songs on it.

Here is a little clip of Charlotte (aka Cha Cha) and Daddy singing a few of their favorite hits.
Hope it makes you smile as much as it made us smile. And just look at the smile on Charlotte's face! Daddy time is absolutely priceless!

Mama talk...How long to keep your toddler strapped in?

This is Mama Talk:

I want to feature issues that are pertinent to our roles as mommies. So whenever there is a big piece of info in the news, or an issue I am debating over, I will post it for all of you to know about, or chime in and comment on. See... most of my friends know that I am pretty "up and up" on all most current "kid news". BPA in bottles, delayed vaccinations, new studies on such and such. This is something I find essential as a mom...you've got to know what is going on out there and how to care for our children.

But sometimes knowledge can be your worst enemy.

Example...
When all the studies and recalls about lead in kids toys came out I read, I looked...and honestly I wanted to ignore. I really didn't want to dig through every drawer and basket and compare my Playskool toys with the ones online. I admit, I played the role of "ignorant mom" on that one. Please don't report me... and please still come over to play. I'll keep the basket of lead tainted toys away from your kids.

Now when my crib was recalled this summer, I gladly disassembled it, mailed in the hardware and used the $275 voucher they mailed me to purchase Helen a brand spanking new crib! (yes, 3rd babies can get new things too...even if it is because of recall)

Enter my current dilemma... This recent piece of mommy information has got me all in a conundrum. It is about carseats.

Those necessary, lifesaving, EXPENSIVE, pieces of baby equipment.

(note..this pic was from almost a year ago...but isn't is SO darn cute?)

We have:

- the infant seat (which I still need to go wash the cover and get it ready for our Littlest Llama)

- the convertible carseat (can face rear or forward) -- Carson is currently in this now

- the toddler seat with buckle that can turn into a high back booster. -- Charlotte's throne

One would think that would "get 'er done" But no....One would be WRONG!

You see... our current toddler carseat only holds children in the buckles up to 40 lbs. After 40lbs you are supposed to begin using the seat as a booster with belt positioner. And guess how much my healthy little 3 year old.... yep, you guessed it... 40lbs!

(thought you needed another cute, year old picture)

I know that the user manual gives me adequate permission to put her in the seatbelt as a booster. But my mommy instinct says "no way am I doing that" She is just 3. Not to mention that SO many studies are recommending you have a chidlren in a 5pt harness as LONG as possible. Well in order to do that, you have to have a seat that enables them to be in a 5pt harness past 40lbs. When you are buying a toddler seat for your 20month old (because you have a baby who needs the convertible) you just don't really think how quickly they will become 40lbs. I know...not all of you have beastly (I mean Healthy) children like I do.

Thankfully many carseat companies are falling in line and stretching their weight capacities to 50lbs.

So... after battling in my mommy heart. Knowing I needed to buy her a new seat. Then justifying it by saying.... but she is tall and 40lbs.... and "so and so" put's their 3 year old in a seat belt. I have decided that I just can't do it. I just can't.

**note---if you are one of the "so and so's" who puts their 3 year old in a seatbelt, no judgment here. Well, maybe a tad of judgment (just being honest). But for me, and my 3 year old...I just can't do it. **

This video sealed the deal for me... a very sad story of Kyle David Miller.

So we are buying a Graco Nautilus.

This baby can hold my BIG babies up to 65lbs in the buckles. Then act as a high back booster, then act as a low booster. It is a great seat. A little on the larger side, but we've got a van with lots-o-room ... so I think we're set.

A few other options I looked into were:

-The Safeguard Go Booster - But it only went up to 60lbs and didn't look like it would work well with an under 2 year old.

-The First Years True Fit Convertible - Probably what we will get if/when we need to replace our current convertible seat (which I WILL find an excuse to replace it eventually...see my Spit on this post) But this is a great option for you mamas looking to get your babies a convertible... get one they can last in!

Of course there are the trusted Britax seats.... but the Roundabout only goes to 40lbs. The Marathon does go to 65lbs. But I just don't want another convertible. I want a toddler seat that converts to a booster eventually.

So there you have it... part Public Service Announcement, part "what would you do?". The PSA part is for all you mamas about to go buy another carseat... to take a look at the weight limits and don't buy something that limits the buckles to 40lbs.

-----
UPDATE-- We found a STEAL on a Apex 65 that will harness to 65lbs. bought it and love it!

Littlest Llama is coming soon!

Did you know that Llamas are pregnant for 11 1/2 months?

Thank you LORD for not making me a Llama.

Though any of you who know my track record with pregnancies, know that I have carried my babies a whole 10 days overdue. So perhaps my body thinks we are carrying llamas. Another fact about llamas... their babies weigh anywhere from 18-24lbs. My babies were both just shy of 9lbers. So.... essentially I gave birth to a half a llama.

I have never taken maternity pictures. I don't really think I will frame the above picture and hang it in my hallway. But their is something glorious about being pregnant. And I really do love my pregnant belly. When a local mom, Laura Brett, offered to do some pictures for me (at a killer deal) , I totally took her up on her offer. I am SO glad I did. She gave me some great images of this precious time that I will treasure!

We are nearing our time....Baby Helen is due in less than 3 weeks. And we are hopeful that she might come earlier than the first two. Hopeful...but not holding our breath!

Little Llama turns 2!

Well, Carson turned 2 yesterday!

When asked a few weeks ago what kind of cake he wanted, we fully expected hi mto say "chocwat" or "banilla". The answer we got??

"Fwog cake"

What? A Frog cake? Who ever heard of a Frog cake... he hasn't really been to many parties, and surely has never seen a Frog cake, or any "character" cake for that matter. But our opinionated Llama declared "Fwog Cake". Then we got some more specifics. "Chocwat fwog cake"

And being the perfect mommy I am... hehehe, yeah right.... I got my little baby a Frog cake. Well...you see I am not the best baker. I love to bake. But I am not the best cake decorater. Enter my cake baking friend, Beth. Beth makes cake. And she made us the cutest little Frog Cake you ever did see!

It is so hard to believe that 2 years ago I gave birth to this Little Llama.

And now....

He is sleeping in a big boy bed.
Has this huge vocabulary, and loves to ask "what you doin'?"
He loves dinosaurs, frogs, all animals, and trains.
He can already count to ten...by himself sometimes.
He loves to be the seeker in a good game of Hide and Seek.
He loves his Daddy way more than he loves me.
He already has a mean football pass, and daddy is already prepping his scouting videos.
He could literally eat 8 bananas a day if I let him.

Who knew 2 years could go by so fast!

And as I am nearing the arrival of the littlest llama, Helen (I am already 1cm dilated!) I can't wait to do it all again. These Little Llamas bring so much joy into our lives!

(remind me of that statement the next time I have one of those "Save me from my kids" moments"

Happy Birthday Carson!

War of the Grocery Stores... My inner battle.

Harris Teeter or Walmart... this is the Question I ask myself on every Grocery day. I try to be a "good steward of our resources" and shop frugally. This week, my grocery planning was out of necessity to make it till we get paid on Friday.

So... when I have coupons and there are good VIC specials, I pack up my crew and head over to my local Harris Teeter. (which is literaly less than 1 mile from my house)

AKA-- Teeter Totter to my Kids
AKA- Taj Ma Teeter to me and my husband (this thing is MASSIVE and is basically the Country Club of all groceries in our area.)

Here are my little luxuries I enjoy at Harris Teeter...

1. The Free Samples. Not only do they keep my kids thoroughly entertained, they are a tasty treat for me...especially the nice breads and butters.

2. They have some really great organic and healthy items. I get all gitty when they have BOGOs and VIC specials and I enjoy seeing how much I can save

4. They have a really great two seater airplane cart...not like the big monster ones that are a beast to push... oh no. This is the mercedes benz of kid grocery carts. We love it!

5. They often have wine tastings...at my local grocer! Who knew? Now, pushing a cart with 2 kids and currently being 8 months pregnant, I don't think it is too kosher to partake in these tastings... but I admit I think of myself a little more "cultured" as I walk by

6. They have a Starbucks on site. I don't really indulge in this often... but it is nice knowing it is right there if I have a need for coffee.

6. They have someone who will take your groceries to your car for you, and then take your cart back. What???

7. Let me repeat that last point for those of you who are just scanning... they have a bagger who will take your cart and children out to the car for you. And unload your groceries for you. And you don't have to tip them.

But low and behold.... a trip to the HT is not always in the cards. When I have alot of other necessities to buy...home, beauty, baby...we head to the great world of Walmart. (**Play infamous music here**) And I am the first to admit that Walmart has better prices. (unless, of course, you are shopping the VIC specials at the HT, liek I try so desperately to do)

*Let me start by mentioning the main redeeming quality of Walmart...They have a McDonalds in the store!!!

Yep. I am known to make this our little luxury... do a little grocery shopping, and we get to eat at McD's for lunch. I promise I don't do it every week.

Well... enter my main quirks with Walmart....

1. It is a MADHOUSE. unless you go at 9:00 in the morning... which I really do try to do. Never go after 5 and never go on a weekend. NEVER.

2. Their double kid carts aren't nearly as "pushable" as HT's
3. Their baggers often mix meat with produce or cleaning supplies with cookies...YUCK! I try to group things on the counter by like items to avoid this, but low and behold it happens often.

4. They always seem to only have 2 checkout people for a store that services hundreds at a time. And i am always trying to rush out of the store...only to get up to the line and have to wait literally 20 minutes sometimes! With two hungry, cranky, or sleepy children. They are never happy by the time we get to the checkout.
5. I am responsible for trucking my 2 kids (hungry, cranky, and sleepy), in the huge hard-to-push cart, with my huge load of "parcels" and then I have to get the kids in the van myself, all while protecting my recently purchased parcels from rolling away.

And this was our parking lot experience Tuesday...

As I unloaded Charlotte and sent her into the van. My cart, with Groceries and child, began rolling down the parking lot.

Leave the 3 year old alone in the van or chase the runaway cart?

Well, of course I ran after the cart! And Thankfully, I have a pretty obedient 3 year old who will stay in the van all the while yelling "Mommy, get it...quick, hurry!" I was then praised the whole way home for "saving the day!"

That's me... the mommy who saves the day. But as I drove home from the craziness of Walmart, practicing my deep breathing and ignoring my screaming children in the back... I couldn't help but wish I was sipping wine at Harris Teeter.

Enter the "Cart Stopper"

I was browsing a few of my favorite blogs today at nap time and one in particular is The Opinionated Parent (of course I would like a blog with this title as any of you who know me know I am never lacking an opinion!) Well, last week they featured an item called the Cart Stopper. You can purchase this nifty contraption from here for just $10! This could totally change my life. (you think I am joking don't you?)

Well, until my Cart Stopper Arrives.... I will brave the hills at Walmart with courage and speed. Or I will just shop at the Trusty HT where Edward nicely unloads my groceries for me. All the while, sipping away on my Latte.

Happy Saving on your groceries fellow shoppers!

PS- HT in my local area was offering Triple coupons from February 4-8th! So, we actually had a Walmart visit (tuesday) AND a HT visit (today) all in one week becasue that is how thrifty i am trying so desperately to be!

Baby Llama Stomps and Pouts... Baby Llama Jumps and Shouts!

So what do you do in these moments??

You see, Little Llama Carson obviously was having a "spit on this" moment. You see, Mama Llama is trying desperately to chronicle the sweet darling lives of her little llamas. And this little tantrum happened all because.... he wanted my camera.
I was simply trying to take a sweet picture of him doing this....

Now is that cute or what? He was making "bubbas".
See...we DO have creative play at my house!

Spit on This!

So... let me begin by introducing a feature on my blog called
Spit on This:

Do you know that Llamas spit???
Spitting is the llamas way of saying "Bug Off!" Normally used between llamas to divert annoying suitors, ward off a perceived threat or, most commonly, to establish pecking order at mealtime, an occasional llama who has been forced to tolerate excessive human handling may have developed an intolerance for or a fear of humans and will spit if they feel threatened by them.

So.... what exactly is Spit on This?? It is my way to say to BUG OFF! Things that bug me, bother me, or rantings about my all around bad day.

So.... here goes the first Spit on This post.

I HATE throw up.
I especially hate throw up in a carseat. Why is it that the few times my children have ever thrown up it has always been in a carseat?? Why Lord? Why must the throw up come in THE most difficult place on the earth? I can clean sheets, I can clean clothes, I can even shampoo my van. But it truly takes a rocket scientist to disassmble a carseat enough so you can un-thread the straps and wash the seat cover.

We currently own the Evenflo Triumph carseat. It has been a great good carseat for us. Becasue of our BIG babies, We had to move out of the little Graco infant carriers early so we needed a rear facing carseat. Then it flips forward up to 40lbs. (Side note.. thanks Graco for FINALLY coming out with a bucket seat that holds babies up to 32 lbs...but I really can't afford ANOTHER carseat) But in order to clean this baby, you literally have to UNSCREW a huge panel on the back in order to un-hook the straps in order to take off the cover. Then what I realize... you can't even take the straps out. WHAT? Well, maybe you can with more disassembling of the carseat. I just decided to clorox wipe the heck out of the straps, spray them with lysol and pray pray that the Lord disinfects the rest.

And even better.... no, my child did NOT have the stomach bug, no he did not eat too much sugar. My Little Llama is obsessed with gagging himself. Why does a 2 year old find this enjoyable??