Bakersfield Stay at Home Mom - BakoMom's Blog - Raising Bakersfield

A picturesque day

Driving with my husband looking up into the sky today, I couldn’t help reminiscing. The bright blue sky was strewn with thick white fluffy clouds. If my elementary school memory serves me, the cloud formations are called cumulonimbus clouds. The fluffy clouds conjured up thoughts of the day I envisioned my first child would be born.

For years I pictured giving birth to a child on a day such as today. A beautiful, picturesque, sunny, cool, bright blue sky, fluffy clouded type day. In fact, if I planned my pregnancy, I wanted a March baby. March seems to be filled with those fluffy clouded days. March isn’t over inundated with other family events and obligations. However, God had a bigger plan for us. He gave me a December baby. In the end, I gave birth via c-section on a cold, dark winter day. And yet, it was the brightest, sunniest, most beautiful day of my life. Turns out I didn’t need those big fluffy clouds after all.

Everyday Princess

Being a diligent mom that I try to be, I searched local stores and online retailers for the cutest Halloween costume possible. After an exhaustive search, it was decided what my sweet daughter will be for her 2nd Halloween. Being that my husband is Texan and a fan of he Dallas Cowboy’s final decision on her costume wasn’t a hard one.

She was destined to be a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader.

After a thorough search, I purchased her costume at an online retailer. It was shipped with plenty of time. She wore the clothing portion of the costume around the house a couple days. She however fussed over wearing the wearing the hat and the boots. And don’t forget the pom poms. She thought the pom poms were fun at first. She antagonized the dog. But the pom pom enthusiasm quickly faded. I did manage to drag her to one Halloween party with her costume in place. Sans hat and pom poms.

The next Halloween party we went to she refused the hat, boots and pom poms entirely. However, she did feel inclined to wear her fairy wings with her Cheerleader outfit. Pink fairy wings with a cheerleading blue and white outfit? Ok, whatever, let’s go kid! She kept the outfit on for about an hour…. Then off it came, wings and all.

I like most parents feel that since she was my daughter, she had to be the cutest. I the idea came to make her a princess. She loves her fairy wings, what a perfect fit. She just needed a tutu. With my ambition and all, off to the fabric store I went. Purchasing shades of pink tulle and ribbon to make the sweetest and fluffiest tutu possible. It took me a couple hours sitting on the couch one night watching TV with my husband to make her precious tutu. The next morning I was excited for my daughter to put on her princess tutu. To my dismay, she hates it. She screams when I try to put it on her. She is refusing to wear her tutu.

So this Halloween, I will have a princess. But she won’t be dressed up. She will be in her “regular” princess clothes. This consists of a pink cotton shirt adorned with ribbons and jeans embellished with embroidered flowers. She is my princess no matter what. With or without wings. With or without tutu.

WARNING: Don't put sunscreen in your eyes (like duh!)

Some of you have already this. I posted it on my other blog at Mom eNetwork

.......Yesterday we were going for a swim. I sunscreen all over my daughter. Literally, head to toe. She managed to get some in her eyes. She started to have a reaction to it. Swelling in the eyes, bright red, runny nose. We gave her a bath and washed everything really well. The reaction lasted for some time. I gave her Tylenol and watched her. This was a scary event. It wasn't the first time she used this sunscreen. It was the first time it got in her eyes. I was thinking about taking her to urgent care to get her eyes rinsed. So now I'm wondering what do you moms put on your children's face for sunscreen. As I don't want to revisit that event. ...

Just wanted to share my experience.

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I have since used the same lotion on her legs and arms. So I'm confident she's not allergic to the formulation. Just the fact that it got into her eyes. After several great responses, I now will use the stick sunscreen on the face. :) Or not put anything on her face.

Technology Crippled. Awaiting a Speedy Recovery.

Though we have a swimming pool I don't always want to go through all the steps necessary to go for a dip. Thus, I purchased a kiddie pool. You know the kind you add water and It's 2 feet high. I never thought in a thousand years I would purchase one. It's perfect because I can keep it under the patio. Which means I don't have to hassle with sunscreen. (My sunscreen drama post to follow...) So, last week when it was like 100 degrees closer to He_ _ (double hockey stick) I set the pool up. I thought, I can site right next to her and work with my laptop. There I was working away. She was so cute. Playing with all her toys. Then....... SPLASH. Yeah, that's right, she learned how to effectively splash about a pint of water onto my laptop. Laptop became toast with the water and heat. I have now become technology crippled. I've been out of service for a week. Lonely without my web presence! It has taken some adjustment. My computer is at the doctor. I'm hoping for a speedy recovery.

Time Outs

I have started giving time outs to my daughter who is nearly 18 months old. It started this past weekend. She was beating my very patient dog, Princess Frankie, over and over again with her bald dolly. I kept saying no and redirecting her. To no avail, she continually made her way back to beating the dog. Poor dog and dolly. I thought now is good as any to start time outs. I sat her on the floor right there at the point of impact. Told her no, and informed her she as on a time-out. She cried and cried. Of course, my heart was breaking. After a short moment in time, her time-out was over. The dog hasn't been beaten since. I'm sure it won't be the last however.

So, I was wondering does anyone else use time-outs? How should I do use time-outs with an 18 month old?

Next post idea.... Mommy Time Outs! :) Much needed!

Mother's Day was Phat and Fat!!

How did you get pampered for Mother's Day? For me, Mother's Day is one of the most special days of the year. A place when I can sit back, eat what I want, have my husband pamper me. This Mother's Day was Phat and Fat.

<u>Phat </u>because it was truly a day where my husband served and showered me with love. A day where my contributions and hard work is recognized. A day where we went where I wanted to go and do. That meant a journey to a craft fair and shopping. A day of pure loving and support. Thank you husband for making it special. A day without cleaning, without laundry, without any chores!

First I must say that we have a low carbohydrate lifestyle. So when I say I had a <u>Fat </u>Mother's Day. I mean it to every letter! My husband got me all my favorite junk food I wanted for the day. For breakfast he made me Belgium waffles and my favorite coffee. For those that don't know me, I'm a coffee freak! For lunch he made me BBQ ribs with his special homemade Texan BBQ sauce. Texans know how to grill, they literally fell off the bone. Yummy! Then came dinner and desert. For dinner he made me what's called a horseshoe. We were introduced to these when we lived in Springfield Illinois. That's where these heart-attack on a plate dishes were invented. I love them! A horse shoe is where take any meat, lay it on top of thick sliced bread, cover with French fries and beer cheese sauce. In my case, I love buffalo style chicken. Hot & Spicy! Lots of French fries and pour on the cheese sauce. What did I get for desert you may be asking? Nothing better than a ding dong and a twinkie! Perfect mix of cake and cream!

I hope everyone else had a fabulous Mother's Day. A day that we remember all year round!

Just a Parent

This was email to me several times this week. In my opinion you can replace the word Mom with Parent. So dads are included! But I didn't write it, just sharing it.
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Before I was a Mom -
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on. Pooped on.
Chewed on. Peed on. I slept all night.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

Before I was a Mom -

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

Before I was a Mom -

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom .

Before I was a Mom -

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important And happy.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Learning as we go....

I've never considered myself a "Dummy". I may not be the brightest on all subjects. However, I am an educated woman, I've traveled nationally and internationally, an honor student (after I applied myself) and can figure things out. Well, today that all changed. I bought my first "Dummy how to book". I think I've been around kids too much. I thought dummy was a bad word! I never thought I would ever buy one of those Dummy books. I always thought they were offensive. But now, I'm part of the Dummy Club and I love it!

Life's delicate balance

I completely understand how precious and how fragile life is. Being a nurse for many many years, I've seen the delicate balance between life and death. And how quick that balance can shift. I think that at times, I/we forget that delicate balance.

I'm ever so reminded to count my blessings as my mom recovers from surgery. Post removal a portion of her jaw due to cancer, as my father-in-law gets a bone marrow biopsy today to rule out leukemia, as my younger cousin goes on 2 years cancer free post bone-marrow transplant. And then last night.....

As I walked into my daughters room to check on her before I went to bed. Her beloved Cozy/Blanket completely wrapped snugly around her head. In a panic, I pulled the blanket off her and waited for her to stir. As a nurse, it's in my genes to think the worse. A grunt, a stretch, and a reposition later.... Shew.... she was still alive. I have never been more reminded then at that moment, how sweet, precious, wonderful, blessed life I have.

My Little Green Angel

This morning was unique in that I was cooking. Cooking is generally my husbands responsibility. However, today I was cooking to bring tacos to my moms group Potluck. My daughter was hanging out in the kitchen doing her thing. Playing, drinking talking (babbling). I went down the hall to the other end of the house to get something...... then from out of know where... she comes in crying and holding her hands out. They were green. I was completely flabbergasted. Not your light, I got a snotty nose green. Green like Shrek. Bright green EVERYWHERE. Her hands, her shirt, her shoes, her legs, in that cute little chunky fold on her thigh. After reassuring her that it wasn't gangrene, I followed the green foot prints back to the scene of the crime. Apparently she wanted to help me cook. She located the spice rack in the cabinet and with a certain amount of precision opened the green food coloring. Green food coloring was everywhere. All I can say is thank God for Tile and hard wood. Clean up wasn't horrible with the use of Windex. my floors are clean now, she's still stained. I'm now considering the possibility of using windex as a body cleanser. Note to self (as I type this with green finger) these are the days....... :)