He's 3 And He's Still The Baby

It seems hard to believe that my youngest child is now three years old. When my oldest turned three I thought he was so old...probably because his brother was in my belly. And now that my youngest has turned three I still call him my baby and that feeling that he is growing up into a big boy just hasn't come to me yet...mostly because I don't want it to. As far as plans go (which can get screwed up at anytime really) he is my last child and the last baby that I will ever have so, you see, I have a hard time giving up on his baby status even though he turned three years old two days ago.

I guess I should be glad that the terrible two's are supposedly over but really the terrible three's as I remember them are worse and so there's really no cause for celebration any time soon. The moments of pure joy with him when laughs come from the deepest parts of him completely outweigh those terrible two moments so I guess these phases really aren't all that bad. Actually I wouldn't want him to be any other way than he is... terrible twos or threes and all.

And here comes the part where I talk about him on his special day(even if it is 2 days late) so that I can remember what he was like at three...

He is the sweetest little quirky boy who yells for me to get him every morning when he wakes up and will only let his Daddy takes his clothes off during bath time. He's not much on watching TV but he sure does like his Lightening McQueen toys, his art, and his never-ending pile of books. He is the little guy who is always talking very LOUDLY about something and demands that everyone do everything he says. He is like his mama after all. He loves his older brother so much and hangs on his every step most of the time. He melts every heart that comes his way.

While writing this he is trying to drag me into the kitchen for lemonade and then for a romp outside so I better go and do just that.

Happy 3rd birthday to the littlest man in my life. I hope you love your party this coming Sunday.

A Smile For Monday

Here's something to make your smile this Monday... Laughs courtesy of my 2 year old son (soon to be 3 in 2 days!)




Stop by amomsreview.com to win a Handy Burpee!

I've Got Nothing For Ya Except This

Some days my motivation for blogging isn't there and I just don't know what to write about. This is one of those days or maybe one of those weeks. Luckily, I do have some things to get you excited about. Does the words FREE STUFF sound exciting? I thought so.

There are 3 new contest/giveaways that I want to tell you about. You can click on the links below for more information and to enter these fun contests today.

RealSavvyMoms.com Funny Vacation Picture Contest: Enter your favorite vacation picture for a chance to win an 8 day, 7 night vacation package for a family of 4 to Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort in St. Thomas. There are so many extras included that you need to go to the site to read them all. Click here for more information at RealSavvyMoms.com and to enter this really fun contest! I encourage you to go over just to view the photos submitted already. They are hilarious. Can you guess which one is mine?

ContestForMoms.com & LTDChix Contest: Go to the main homepage of ContestforMoms.com to enter this contest as we have two more t-shirts to give away! To enter all you have to do is sign up for our free newsletter.

Handy Burpee Contest: Leave a comment over here on this post over at AMomsReview.com for your chance to win a Handy Burpee for your baby or give it as a gift! Two lucky commenters will win! Yippee!

Wii Love You!

Normally our Father's Day celebrations involve a card, some hugs, some I love yous, and a night out for dinner or sometimes lunch. But this year I wanted to surprise my husband, and what better way to surprise him than to buy him something he really wanted but thought I would never ever ever buy him since I'm evil like that. Actually I'm not that evil. Just call me the budget/cheap queen.

So the boys and I got their tech-savvy Daddy the Nintendo Wii. He loved it! We loved it! It is more than the latest and greatest game system. It is a gift of togetherness. And, that is priceless! Not to mention a quick cure for buyer's remorse...

Yes, the Nintendo Wii will be reviewed over at amomsreview.com coming soon accompanied by some homegrown video footage. Go over there now to enter and check out our newest contest!

What do you think of this shirt? SERIOUSLY

I'm a fun kind of girl and wearing this shirt is fun for me not to mention attention-getting! LOL! Besides, I'm all about breaking the normal(whatever that is) mom mold!

So now I turn to you dear Internet (or real life) friends, what do you think of this shirt? Would you include it in your wardrobe? Why or why not?

You can get yer's over at Dad Gone Mad

And for another fun t-shirt, enter our LTDChix.com contest today! It's free and so easy to do!

America's Favorite PastTime...

or is it?

Here's my little guy playing his first year of summer baseball or teeball or I guess whatever you want to call it where they hit the ball off the stick. We've been pitching him the ball since he has been 3 years old and now he's 6 and doesn't know what the hell is going on with that tee. Hopefully he will get to do pitch ball next year. At least he is having fun and socializing. Hopefully it will prepare him for the year that tore his whole world apart and caused the tantrum of the year or otherwise known as school/kindergarten.

Lots of Kids Equals Lots of Chaos

I took on the task of taking care of four kids for 2 days this past weekend which included my two boys and both of my sister's daughters. Yeah, I know, I'm crazy like that. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and it was a lot of chaos!

But I'm not so certain that I could do this on a daily basis :)

Here are some photos of our adventure...

**Don't forget to stop by AMOMSREVIEW.COM and enter to win an LTDchix.com T-shirt. Deadline is June 18th, 2007. Leave a comment to win!

And Now A Post On Religion, Well Sort Of

It doesn't seem fitting to be posting about religion in this context the day after saying that my husband thinks I'm the Antichrist. Of course you all knew that was a joke didn't you? Surely you did or else my attempt at being funny really sucks.

Anyway, over at amomsreview.com today I am reviewing the book, Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion. You should check it out. This doesn't mean I am against religion but I guess it does kind of single me out as being sort of non-religious at this point(if being non-religious means questioning things,asking WHY, and not attending church).

Parenting our two boys without (organized) religion in this small rural mostly Christian town is not the easiest thing to be doing but we are doing it. In meeting people and other parents, I just secretly hope to myself that religion is not brought up in our casual conversations but more often than not someone asks, "So what church do you go to?" and then the awkwardness ensues. Just because I'm choosing to parent without religion doesn't mean that we can't believe in God or that my boys can't make a choice to believe in God but we don't really want them going to church right now.

Anyway, before this post goes all crazy head on over and read the Parenting Beyond Belief book review and decide for yourself whether you'd like to read it. We are also giving away 2 LTDChix.com funny mom t-shirts. To win, all you have to do is comment over on that post right here.

Who Me The AntiChrist?

Warning: This post has no actual relation to religion or the Antichrist really but it is sort of funny in a crazy sort of way... You just have to live my life to get it.

The Husband Says To Me: I'd think you were the Antichrist if you didn't bruise so easily. (He's trying to insinuate here that I don't age and that equated to me being the Antichrist or whatever but I'm not very knowledgeable on that subject so it doesn't make much sense to me thus my response below)

Me: Uhh, okay?????????????????????????????????

Was this some kind of screwed-up backhanded compliment? What would you do or say?

Oh, and before I forget, I went and created me one of those them there myspace accounts. I'm all lonely with just Tom as a friend so if you just so happen to have a myspace account please (I'm begging here people) go over to mine here (Yes it's quite bare right now) and add me or request to add me (whatever you gotta do) because you know you want to be friends with someone who could quite possibly be the Antichrist right?

The Shy Child

Our oldest son is smart, athletic, and loving but he is also a shy child. I hate to label him like that but there's really no way around it. He could probably be more accurately labeled as a highly sensitive child. There is a test online at The Highly Sensitive Person where you can get a general idea whether your child is a highly sensitive child or not as well as determine if you have those characteristics. My son scored enough to be considered an HSP and I scored almost enough to be considered an HSP.

Our son interacts wonderfully in small groups or with family. For example, if there is one child on the playground he has no problem interacting with them. However, if you place him in a big group of 10 or more kids he doesn't do well. When he is put into a new situation or in a large group of kids, he becomes withdrawn and fails to interact. It's like he's overstimulated.

I never imagined having such as shy child because my husband is extremely outgoing and even though I was shy as a child, I'm no longer shy as an adult. Our nearly 3 year old is also very outgoing and makes friends very easily. Sometimes our soon to be 3 year old can even be a little obnoxious.

It's hard as a parent to sit and watch your child exhibit shyness and not really understand why they feel and act that way other than being given the explanation that it's mostly genetic. He also lacks some social skills because at 6 years old he has never been in daycare, preschool, or any other structured daily activities other than sports. I have been fortunate enough that both of our kids have not had to ever go to daycare or preschool since I work from home. But looking back maybe our son needed preschool to prepare or to at least get some structure. I know as he enters Kindergarten this August it will probably take him a while to adjust since he will be one of a few children who has never been in this kind of environment. I know he will get through it. Everyone does. But it's something as a parent that I worry a lot about. I just want him to be normal, have fun, do what he wants to do, and overall not be restricted by his shyness.

If you are an HSP/shy person or have a shy or highly sensitive child, what is working for you and your child? What books have you read and what do you recommend?

*** Don't forget to stop by AMOMSREVIEW.COM to enter to win an LTDchix.com T-shirt today! We are giving 2 of these super stylish mommy tees away!

A Glimpse Of Us

We(obviously me and the husband) took this photo on vacation and I love it. I'm getting it enlarged and framed as soon as I remember to do just that. In my old age of 30, I seriously think I'm getting pre-Alzheimer's or maybe it's just a bad case of the "mommy brain".




Stop by our Mom Reviews website tomorrow for an exciting new contest. Two lucky mamas will win a fun t-shirt from LTDchix.com I'm loving mine!

He's Decided The Carpenters Rock!

My nearly 3 year old son has recently decided that I MUST only sing Close To You by The Carpenters. So when he gets tired or just needs some entertainment he will tell me to sing "his song" and by "his song" he means this:

On the day that you were born
The angels got together and decided
To create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair
Of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue

That is why all the girls in town
Follow you all around
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you

All thanks should be given to the MIL. ;)

So, what song do you have to sing?

Even If I Am Busy...

I still have to share this... (or these few things)...

We are NOT moving. We're gonna stick around here and rent for a while longer. No rushing into moving into a permanent house for now. I finally feel better and the stress is gone.

Our little man is starting baseball this week for the first time. I hope he enjoys it. He's never done it before. So far soccer has been his thing.

We register our son for kindergarten tomorrow. Wish us luck or maybe just wish me luck because I'm probably the one who will freak out. Oh My!

I've got some cool new reviews to share with you this week. A t-shirt, a new PBS series, and some books. Sounds great, right? I'll be adding them to amomsreview.com

Oh and this new man..or, um, I mean, song I just found and adore...really, I mean the SONG... kind of a Justin Timberlake voice don't ya think?

Back To Work

So we're back from vacation. I have about a gazillion unanswered emails. As usual I have work to get started on. Updates to complete. Well, you get the picture. Basically, I have a lot to do so I won't have a lot of time to devote here but you already knew that right? I'll be back when I get back on track and caught up...may take a week may take a few days...

See my flickr page for vacation photos. I'll try and get more added soon.