Recent Blog Comments : Raising Bakersfield

: "Her Sweetness"

it took a while to convince ethan that just because the sun is up doesn't necessarily mean it's morning as in GET UP morning. especially on a saturday!!

daddy in a strange land : "Ten Years"

so cute! daughter DEFINITELY looks like mommy! congratulations!

Overdue! : "Parenting Alone"

it's true. sometimes you feel more helpless when you know you have someone reliable in your life. if my husband comes home even 15 minutes late, i sometimes feel totally overwhelmed with the kids because i know what a huge asset he is when he comes home.

On-Air : "Fire TOO CLOSE to home. Literally."

that's horrible. i'll pray for those people who have lost so much.

Slowing Down the Blur : "Happy Anniversary, Jill"

sweet kevin! i wrote my hubby a poem for our seven year anniversary last month :). I never got around to buying a card because of the kids, so i took a recent picture of the two of us and faded it out in my photo program and then overlaid it with the poem and stuck it in a frame. charles loves it! now, i'm glad i never got a chance to buy a card because he likes the poem so much better. happy anniversary!

: "Her Sweetness"

Heh. Our precious little one woke up in our hotel room on Saturday morning at 5:40. "Go back to sleep, sweetie." "The sun is up." "No it isn't, sweetie." <pulls back the curtains vehemently> "Yes it is! It's morning time!>

The Crayon on the Wall : "Be Smart, Don't Use Illegal Fireworks"

I am anxious to see what the 'safe and sane' fireworks are here. This is my first 4th of July in California. It is going to be hard because growing up this has always been my favorite holiday, and the fun for us was always in doing our own fireworks. I have a feeling a lot of what was legal back there is not legal here.

On-Air : "Fire TOO CLOSE to home. Literally."

Wow! That is scary. Thankfully everyone is okay.

: "Her Sweetness"

thats fun. I love moments like that!

Slowing Down the Blur : "Happy Anniversary, Jill"

Happy anniversary! Man, my poem wasn't NEARLY as good when I was dating Becky. Mine went like this:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Sugar is sweet

And you are hot.

daddy in a strange land : "Ten Years"

congrats on 10 years! Here is to the next 10!

Overdue! : "Parenting Alone"

I havn't had to 'babysit' 2 kids, but I've been with our daughter when my wife has been out of town. I like to try to make it like a special 'daddy daughter' time so its not like mom left, but its like we have the time actually for US. Then try to plan little things like trips to McDonalds, etc. Can be hard though especially the longer that your spouse is gone!

daddy in a strange land : "Ten Years"

Happy Anniversary to you two! Ten years, time flies! I recall saying I do to my hubby 11 years ago this year, and it seems like yesterday, also! Best wishes for many happy years to come!

Slowing Down the Blur : "Happy Anniversary, Jill"

Happy Anniversary Kevin and Jill! What a sweet poem! May you have many happy years to come!

Slowing Down the Blur : "Happy Anniversary, Jill"

Happy Anniversary!

This is also my anniversary too! Steve and I got married today in 2001 also - but here in Bakersfield at Rio Bravo Contry Club. I don't remember the heat, but it was definately the best day of my life>

Beautiful poem!

Karin

Slowing Down the Blur : "Happy Anniversary, Jill"

That is such a sweet poem! Happy Anniversary you guys!

daddy in a strange land : "Ten Years"

That was beautiful! Congratulations on your many years together and here's to many more to come! Happy Anniversary!!!!

daddy in a strange land : "Ten Years"

Happy Anniversary!

Slowing Down the Blur : "Happy Anniversary, Jill"

Happy Anniversary! Enjoy your time together.

Living My Childhood Dream : "Addiction within my Addiction."

I'm impressed Christina. I can't sew at all, so anyone who can create things that can actually be used is great! Have fun with your hobby.

Slowing Down the Blur : "Miss Hollywood's Dance Recital"

Adorable costumes! My daughter took dance lessons when she was little and it was so much fun watching her on stage!

Slowing Down the Blur : "Happy Anniversary, Jill"

Happy anniversary, Kevin and Jill! :)

Living My Childhood Dream : "Addiction within my Addiction."

well, bill gates had an obsession with a user friendly computer system. yet, somehow, i don't think he minds the obsessivenes now. okay, was that a total mom saying, "yes honey, of course you're special" or what??? :)

whenever i see your tote bags, i think of all the things i could blissfully put in them. are you well versed with ebay?? if not we need to have a pow-wow.

Slowing Down the Blur : "Miss Hollywood's Dance Recital"

She dances at a place called Dancers' Turnout www.dancersturnout.net

: "Water Shoes"

We were just at that spray park yesterday! I too was VERY impressed and especially loved that the bathrooms are RIGHT next to the toys. They were still icky park bathrooms but still :)

Oh and we used our "crocs" for water shoes too.

Slowing Down the Blur : "Miss Hollywood's Dance Recital"

Congrats to the lil one! Where does she dance? Those outfits are ADORABLE!

Living My Childhood Dream : "Too Quick to Medicate?"

Don't know much about the medical stuff...but our doctor recommended Cetaphil lotion for the excema that my son has...we just started it so I don't know if it will work or not. She also said you could mix it with hydrocortisone and put it on to help.

The toe walking I think is a concern. If she is doing it on a continuous basis, she runs the risk of shortening her achilles tendon. If she physically cannot place her whole foot down on the floor, I would ask the doctor to see a physical therapist who can work on it with her and give you excerices and stretches to do at home. The only really pediatric based PT or OT in town is at TerrioKIDS. Hope this helps.

: "Water Shoes"

My mom bought my kids some water shoes at Vons. :) They worked great at Lake Isabella last week!

: "Water Shoes"

Check out WalMart as well. I bought the boys each two pairs last year for about $6 each (I think...) they usually have a good selection of sizes. If you don't get there fast - they'll be clearanced and out before you know it! (Like the bathing suits that were out in February!) Enjoy the waterplay! Smoke has kept us in since the particulate matter is so bad and my little guys asthma has been a challenge. Yesterday morning, we were able to swim until about noon - then the wheezing took us in for a treatment. It was a nice morning of cool water and funtimes!

: "Water Shoes"

Silly me! I didn't even think of Croc-like shoes as water shoes - great idea. And I did't even think of Target. For some reason I was thinking water shoes were specialty shoes, and I was going to have to search children's shoe stores or athletic stores. I so glad there are brilliant people like you on RB who can help me when I can't think.

: "Water Shoes"

Target has water shoes that look like those Crocs! We haven't gotten any yet, no use for them so far.. but they also has the actual water shoes by Speedo, but they are a bit more expensive - around 20 dollars.

: "Toys"

My kids also have too many toys. Like the others, most of the toys come from loving grandparents. We've suggested other things in place of toys, but it hasn't done any good. They like to buy "fun" things for the kids.

With my 20 month old, I rotate toys. I put some in containers and rotate. I also get rid of them when he is sleeping. I did this with my daughter too until she was old enough to understand donating. She now goes through her own things and decides what to get rid of.

We have toys all over the house. In our living room I have a bouncy seat and activity gym for the baby. My 20 month old has a tub of toys and a play tent filled with balls. Because he isn't able to play well unsupervised, I like having his toys in there. There are also some toys in our den/office, so when I am working he can play nearby. Then of course all of the kids have toys in their rooms. I figure the time will fly by that they are actually playing with toys. My daughter stopped wanting toys at about age 8. She still likes Webkinz, but she's pretty much outgrown other toys. I don't care if they are in each room. We do try to keep them organized, but our house definitely looks like a kid house.

With toys, we also have books in every room. All of our kids like to read, so they each have a bookshelf in their rooms and we have baskets of books for the little ones in the living room.

My daughter now has a Wii. She is ten. She loves it and so does my husband :) At least she has to move to play it and so far she hasn't wanted to play ALL DAY! I agree she should play more outside, but right now with the air and heat it is hard.

: "Toys"

Something I started with family...give the boys savings bonds (or contribute to their college funds).... I think that's more worthwhile anyway, and it will keep the toys off the floor! However, the kids still get so many toys for birthdays and other holidays. I don't mind a few toys; but, it seems like overkill when they are strewn from one end of the house to the other! I have tried to encourage one toy, with a donation to the savings fund! Computer games are the big fascination for my oldest. I don't mind if they play educational type stuff...but, I do have to limit the time on the computer or they will be there all day!

Kevin, save the unopened toys for the Toys for Tots drive, or donate them to the kids in Foster Care this year! Or, you could also "re-gift them" to other kids in another family....just a few suggestions.

: "Toys"

what about game systems? Is anyone to that stage yet? I'm avoiding that as long as I can. My parents bought a Wii for the kids to play at their house and I've already learned I have to put time limits on it or Layton will play 27 hours a day. Plus they are so expensive (and really a rip-off when you consider where technology is today).

I have to force my kids to play outside. Between the internet and tv, they would stay inside all day.

Layton did get a cool toy for his birthday. It's a "Bug Vacuum." It's a little hand-held blow dryer looking thing that you put little containers on the end of. Then you suck up bugs and it traps them in the containers to looke at. Great idea for little boys. He's already caught lots of spiders and beetles and stuff I've never seen before. Jill is less than thrilled when he brings them all in the house, but I figure that when he loses in the house, the cats will have fun with...

: "Toys"

We have a makeshift play room (which is really just the formal living room at the front of our house that we never had any furniture for) where I try to keep their toys. It is a mess most of the time. I try to keep things off of the floor, but I'm starting to think I need to organize or throw out some of this stuff. I have started to weed out the toys that they are too old for or never play with. I have a box going of that stuff which will probably go to Goodwill. Every so often the kids find the box in my closet and want to play with what's inside, so I think toy rotating would probably work well here. I just need to organize my closets a bit better for that.

: "Toys"

Layton "graduated" out of Thomas trains to real model trains, which are more fun for me and we work on them together.

We just had Layton's birthday a couple weeks ago and as we were going through his closet, we realized there were several unopened toys from Christmas... never played with. Crazy. Jill and I don't buy toys anymore. We haven't for years, but between birthdays and christmases, we still get flooded with them.

Anyone have any ideas on how to stop that?

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Jammy Jam Jam"

I am looking forward to our annual trip to San Luis in August to get many pounds of Gravenstein Apples to bring back and make home made applesauce and apple butter! I also love to make my own pickled garlic...(doing that today) and will hopefully get some apricot jam made too! If you can stop by a local strawberry stand (a great one is on Snow Rd. & Old Farm....I think) then you will also have the greatest homemade strawberry jam...yummy! Once you taste homemade anything....you'll never eat the store bought again, especially apple sauce and jams! My boys think that every mom should make homemade applesauce, cookies and jams...a nice memory for your kids as they grow up!

The best thing about making your own is the fun in making it! My mom, aunt and I spend a few days each summer making our own applesauce. My grandma spent 3 seasons "training us" to make it just right.....once she got to the point that she could no longer help, she sat and supervised. Once my boys came along, we began canning at my home to keep the kids entertained while we worked all day long on the chosen Saturdays.....in the end, we had usually canned 100+ pounds of apples and had enough to last 4 families through the year, and have a few left over to share. Making grandma's applesauce is something my oldest loves...he loves to be the taste-tester of each batch as it cools....can't wait for the apples to ripen!

: "Toys"

When we were in the midst of moving and packing, we did a lot of donating and cleaning out of old toys. Whatever was still a good toy, we donated to the preschool if appropriate. If we had clothing or other toys that were appropriate for Jamison Children's center or the homeless center, those went there. Finally, we had a HUGE yard sale! Some things went easily - some went with tears. I explain regularly to the kids that there are those less fortunate, homeless, abused, or just unable to afford things that we have been blessed with. I began that with the first and keep it going....I really want my kids to understand that things are not just handed to us - and that we need to consider sharing with those less fortunate.

On the area of organization....we had a toy room when the boys shared a room. That changed when we moved and the oldest chose his own bedroom. So, we have toys separated and they do tend to travel here and there....when it gets too bad - we purge or do a major "clean up" and get things back in order....then the play can resume! My oldest loves legos and the youngest has a Thomas the train fetish. So, I went to Big Lots and bought the big rubbermaid bins that are clear and we put each thing in a drawer - this has been a process of training the kids to clean up at home like at school. They are pretty good about picking up and helping around the house - especially if I offer a reward to them - like a special treat, playdate, or allowance if they make their beds daily, keep their rooms clean, etc. Finally, I think you just have to put your foot down and stop buying toys....I agree with Kevin and Heather - choose your battles and find what works for you!

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Jammy Jam Jam"

When I first started to read and you were talking about wardrobes and skirts I thought this blog was about pajama's! Ha! Wow, you are an adventurous and ingenuitive woman! Braving the heat, with not one kid, but TWO and one in a sling!! Wow! You are a domestic goddess!!

: "Toys"

Toy rotators impress me beyond words. Now that I think about it, you impress me in many ways, Heather - toy organization, creative writing, culinary skills (baking) - wow.

Kevin, I like the idea of donating before Christmas. I do find myself storing things the kiddo outgrows (toys and clothes) for our next child. I really need to be pickier about what I save.

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Jammy Jam Jam"

hmmmm - jammy jam jam..... sounds like a song (note to self..)

: "Toys"

i'm a toy rotator. i got extremely ambitious one time and found myself at lowe's buying closet organizers, shelves, and plastic boxes. i organized everything and most of it is out of reach from the little man. thus, i pull out a box every week or so then we put it back and pull out another one. it works well for us.

oh yeah, we also stopped buying so many toys!! that helped too!

Living My Childhood Dream : "I'm so proud."

I'm so excited! Maybe there is hope for me too! HOW did you make this beauty? Did you use a pattern? I have found LOTS of sewing made easy books at my grandma's - a whole collection for me, actually! She knew I would need all the help I could get! Anyway, I am dying to hear how you made it! Maybe I will try to make one too!?

BTW, how is your toe doing? And Kaitlynn's cough? Hope all is well!

: "Toys"

we donate toys every year before Christmas because we know the kids are going to get a whole new round of toys from the grandparents. There's just not room to keep them all. We don't try for too much organization. Gotta pick your battles. If the toys end up in the vicinity of where they are supposed to be, we all go to bed happy. We've started a routine where the kids have to pick up their rooms before they go to bed, so that the next day we can start in some degree of clean. It seems to be catching on. Now if I could only apply it to myself and clean our room, we'd be getting somewhere.

Slowing Down the Blur : "#5"

Congratulations on #5!

The Crayon on the Wall : "Gotta love the healthy requests!"

Yeah, we're big on fruit, too. We really need more veggies - not that we don't eat them at all, but we don't snack on them like fruit. But come on, raw broccoli doesn't compare to a juicy strawberry or perfect banana!

Slowing Down the Blur : "It's been a while..."

Well, your wife is a tutor, so if you need one for math . . .. :)

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Jammy Jam Jam"

I am impressed. Hats off to you!

Living My Childhood Dream : "I'm so proud."

Lovely!

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Jammy Jam Jam"

MMMMMMM! Yummy!!!! so I assume it's better than the store-bought stuff??

The Crayon on the Wall : "Gotta love the healthy requests!"

LOL! Although my son does like his fruit (he had strawberries for breakfast this morning), one of his frequent requests for a snack lately is Chex Mix! My hubby was on a Chex Mix kick, and let the boy have some. Now, if he's in the mood for a salty carb snack, he usually wants Chex Mix.

The Crayon on the Wall : "Gotta love the healthy requests!"

aw, i remember those days. that was before commercials during cartoon breaks. thanks to those, my son thinks the only appropriate breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack is a nice bowl of sugary cereal.

Slowing Down the Blur : "It's been a while..."

i can't believe they make you take an assessment test. It's not like an adult does not have the capacity to adjudge what classes they need to take. Like Sonya said, you start at the beginning and move up. They make you take a test for that process? maybe you should ask them to take an assessment test on how they plan on allocating your tuition :)

Living My Childhood Dream : "I'm so proud."

can't wait to see that dress!

Slowing Down the Blur : "It's been a while..."

Sorry to say.....even gen ed. requirements are at least Advanced Algebra....at least that's what they used to be. I despised math....and waited until the LAST classes were done before I tackled math...and had to start at math A (Algebra for people like me!) Anyway, I took that and did okay! It FINALLY clicked. (High School was a flop for me...I just sat there and filled in the bubbles at test time - had NO clue what X=3 meant!) Anyway, I then moved on to advanced math, and then the scariest of all.....Statistics! I actually got that without much struggle. Then on to Cal State and their classes (I major in Psychology....minor in Sociology) and I had to take even harder statistics classes (tests and measurements was nothing compared to the Bio-Psychology class that we had to take....looking at the brain, disecting the cow's eye - GROSS)! Give me a MILLION math classes before I have to do that again....

Anyway, the point is, you can do anything once you start at the bottom and learn the basics! Math isn't that bad, you just need a good teacher and a different perspective (and a little maturity in my situation!) ;) Congrats on completing the registration process at BC - even testing and doing the basics can be a REAL challenge! Good luck!

Slowing Down the Blur : "#5"

Congratulations! Just having one book published is quite an accomplishment!

Everyday life at home.... : "Getting ready for the 4th of July!!"

Last year we went to the beach and it was so much fun that we're now making it a tradition. We spent the day in Morro Bay and Cayucos and watched the fireworks in Cayucos. My husband has asthma and my kids have bad allergies, so it was so nice not having to deal with the bad air here! We're looking forward to our mini vacation next weekend!

The Crayon on the Wall : "Gotta love the healthy requests!"

My daughter is a fruit-eating monster. My son won't touch it. He's almost as picky as my wife when it comes to food... is it genetic? My daughter and I will eat anything within arm's reach!

Slowing Down the Blur : "#5"

That's great! Congratulations! :)

: "Adoption Insanity"

wishing the best for you!!!!

daddy in a strange land : "This one's for her therapist in 20 years..."

we show supergirl photos of rotten teeth and threaten that they'll all turn black if she doesn't let us brush her teeth. when we let her do it, she doesn't hit all the spots, you know.

i wanna hear the wife sing the lonely goatherd song!!!

: "Adoption Insanity"

look at those chubby knees! the kiddo was and is a beautiful little girl. hope your new baby arrives sooner than later.

Slowing Down the Blur : "#5"

congrats!

Slowing Down the Blur : "#5"

how cool is that???? congrats, kevin....

Slowing Down the Blur : "#5"

Congrats on the conference call and your 5th book deal...that's awesome!

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "Our worst summer fears"

Hi all! We're still at home, the fire was put out in about 3 hours, still have some smoke from it but otherwise it's out. We haven't had a fire on this part of the mountain where I live in a long time, so the brush is really thick in areas and the dry season makes it worse. Thanks for thinking of us, hopefully that's our only scare this summer. And the neighbors ranch was never touched by the fire, came darn close, but their land and buildings are okay.

I may complain about my house sometimes, but when we get a call to be on standby to evacuate, I get sick to my stomach to think my house could burn and we'd lose everything precious to us.

: "Adoption Insanity"

amen!

daddy in a strange land : "This one's for her therapist in 20 years..."

Well, we did show the kiddo a pic of rotten teeth which motivated her to let us brush her teeth.

The kiddo has picked up my dislike of bugs and taken it to a whole new level. She freaks out. We had a fly in the van the other day. Ugh. I had to reassure and reassure that it was okay.

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Can't Fool Him"

That is just hysterical. Does the poor dog have to walk the plank, too?

Everyday life at home.... : "Getting ready for the 4th of July!!"

I grew up about two blocks from BC and the fireworks show...loved the fun, not the noise! Now, the boys are really into the fireworks and watching them...I still hate the noise, but not as bad! Happy birthday to your soon to be 6 yer old! I thought I would have a melt down with my first born turning 6 - it wasn't that bad...just reminds me that I'm getting older! (since my b-day was this month...) Have a Happy and Safe 4th everyone!

Living My Childhood Dream : "Too Quick to Medicate?"

Sonya - you need to watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding :)

Everyday life at home.... : "Getting ready for the 4th of July!!"

We're going back home for the weekend (minus my hubby who will be in FL) because I have an aunt and cousin w/her two kids that will be visiting for the first time in about 4 years! I'm really excited to see them :) Otherwise I bet we'll just be seeing the show at the junior college down South that night with my sisters or something.

Everyday life at home.... : "Getting ready for the 4th of July!!"

Eek don't remind me. I'm excited and I'm not. It's one of my favorite holidays but my sweet baby girl is turning 6 the day before and I just can't believe it!

Since I've been married to my husband (with the exception of the year Lacie was born) we have gone to my inlaws every year. They live right across the street from the college so we get free seats for the big show! All family and friends come from out of town and we have TONS of food. It's hot but fun :)
I think we need to get our decorations out!

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "IF I Ever Have Children "

Isn't this the truth? Teaching our kids by being the example, and trying to explain to them when something is not exactly as we would like it to be...I do agree 100%. Interesting point, I was talking to my mom last night about how we were going through a box we had brought home this weekend from my grandma's house - Colby was there with us while we packed it and he "helped pack" each item handmade by great-grandma with care...very sweet! Anyway, Colby is still talking about how we are sharing everything and making sure we ask before we take something from great-grandma's house....and how he loved the plate my mom had given to him after he asked who was going to take home this beautiful plate (about a million times). He and I talked about sharing the many treasures left by great-grandma and how we want to make sure we share things with everyone in the family - pictures, dishes, memories... I was also going through dishes given to me by grandma, and sending a few to my brother and his wife in Montana. Colby was impressed with this and said, "Mom, that is so nice to share great-grandma's special dishes!" How much better can it get?

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Can't Fool Him"

Another solution for those boys digging in your yard....in the evening when it's too hot to garden in the daytime, I let the boys help me plant new additions to our flowerbeds, bulbs at the right time, or pull weeds...finding worms is fun too! One thing we have always had is the metal Tonka dump trucks....the boys have had a ball loading them up wtih dirt, weeds - anything else to dump and trucking it to the green can. (They also are a ball to sit in and ride in down the drive way into the street....when it's cleared by mom or dad!) The buried treasure is a great idea too - we do something similar with the dinosaur bones fron the dollar store.

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "Our worst summer fears"

You, your neighbors, mountain friends will be in my prayers until I hear you are safe from the fire's path! Let us know when the threat passes! Be safe and take care!

Slowing Down the Blur : "Stayin Put"

We didn't go anywhere after noon, but we did put six miles on the stroller and my son's scooter over the course of two round trips to VBS. Next week, I'm getting a bike trailer to hold both kids and that will stretch our range capabilities to everything we need to get to during the day.

There's a first time for everything : "The baby moves!"

Feeling both babies move was the best sensation! I remember laying on the couch while our first born was running around and playing with dad in the livingroom - I was expecting son #2. Colby ran to me, laid his head on my tummy and said, "brother, play with us!" Just then the baby started kicking and playing with Colby's face...that was the most precious moment! Of course, that was the beginning of our daily play times until Caden joined us in April, 2004. They still love to "whoop-tail" as Colby nicknamed their play time with dad long ago...

Enjoy these precious moments! And make sure to read stories, play music, and talk all the time to your belly - James will enjoy doing this too. You'll be amazed at how the baby will recognize and be comforted by familiar voices when he or she are born...My hubby read a nighttime story to my belly almost every night, or he would lay and talk to it - trying to get it to kick, wake up or respond when I was relaxing.

Slowing Down the Blur : "Stayin Put"

So if you still had to go out and do stuff, what method of transportation did you use that was amenable to moving two kids in Bakersfield heat? :)

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "Our worst summer fears"

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, along with your neighbors.

Mary's Musings : "Bambini Carini is closing!"

Well, I assume they are still open since I got this information from a classified ad in today's paper. I would call first before going!

Mary's Musings : "Bambini Carini is closing!"

I heard they officially closed sometime last week ? Are they still open, cause I'd like to stop by!

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "Our worst summer fears"

i'll pray for your and your home's safety!

Living My Childhood Dream : "Too Quick to Medicate?"

Okay, I'm intrigued...what do you mean, Heather?

"one word - Windex."

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "After delivery care"

Especially when you have two in diapers....! I really enjoyed having some company - and it was nice to have mom stop by to clean the kitchen, play with the kiddo and do the things I didn't get to yet...like fold the load of laundry in the basket or cuddle and rock the baby. I cherish the pictures I took of my grandma - and others - that stopped by to visit after both boys were born...those are awesome pictures to share with the kids as they get older, and those before us are no longer with us!

I have to agree with srfbluemama - Who would turn down the help or a home cooked meal at your door?! NOT me! :0) But, I always enjoy life going back to normal and being home and independent again with just the boys...especially after hubby's been on vacation, or we've been at the mercy of someone else's schedule....

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Can't Fool Him"

Natalie - I try to do creative things with them as much as possible. Especially in regards to anything piratey! I do love the genre. Two of my favorite things to do are to make a treasure map out of a trader joe's paper bag and to bury gold doubloons in the backyard. I got them at the party store for a few bucks. Ethan is always trying to dig up my yard anyway, so I figure it'll be more fun for him if he finds anything other than dead worms!

I'll have to e-mail you a link to website I found about kid's birthday party theme ideas and crafts. We use that to come up with good ideas to mess around with during the day. Other than the treasure map, our favorite was the pirate ship we made out of sara lee sponge cake, a can of chocolate frosting, and some miscellaneous candy pieces.

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "After delivery care"

I can see what you're saying, but from my personal experience, it was nice to have some help so I could ease into the transition. Instead of jumping into it immediately after I got home, I had some time where I had some help with things. My mom was here for a week helping out, and DH was able to take a couple of weeks of vacation. It was awesome for DH--he got to have a lot of bonding with baby time and bonding with the new big brother time that he otherwise would have missed. I also liked having the help--who wouldn't? But it wasn't that horrible after everyone went back to their normal lives. I don't think it made me less able to handle things alone. I think it helped to prepare me better so that it wasn't so much of a shock when it finally WAS just me and the two kidlets. Because even with the help, you still end up doing quite a bit anyway. It's not like you laze around all day while everyone else waits on you hand and foot. ;D

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "After delivery care"

We had more help with our first born....simply because I was having a difficult time with breastfeeding and he was a difficult delivery for me (I guess relatively speaking...) Colby weighed 9 lbs at birth and was quite large at 1 week early...Although I delivered him without c-section, I had a hard time adjusting to life as a new mom, lack of sleep, hormones....yada yada yada! I'll never forget my MIL coming to see us on Mother's Day, the day my milk came in and I was a wreck! She saved the day by renting me a hospital grade breast pump and delivering it to our home...gave me a hug and just reassured me that it would all be okay...I am pretty confident normally, but, this was all new to me! Food, family and friends were a great help...I never turned help away, especially in the beginning! We didn't have anyone stay with us...but, my mom did bring a bassinet for us (since I had just loaded the dresser the day before - it was backordered and arrived the day before I went into labor). I was up and around much quicker the second time. I had to be! Colby was a climber and I still remember havin to hop up from the chair, while breastfeeding Caden, to get Colby down from the table, counters, or some other disaster waiting to happen! He loved to scale the drawers in the kitchen in order to reach the counters and get to treats - or just see a new perspective.

Being on the other end of delivering food to friends who have had babies, a death in the family, children having surgery....I do it because I enjoy delivering a home cooked meal, chatting, seeing the new baby or offering my support to a friend during a difficult time. (No offense taken, just offering my perspective). My husband used to wonder why I did this - organizing and delivering meals for firends - or those I had just met through a group.....until we had just moved, our oldest had to have his tonsils and adenoids removed, our youngest was having major asthma issues and I was a stressed out mess! When a dear friend showed up with dinner, and a hug, I said to him after she left...."this is why I always organize meals for friends. It's such a relief and a blessing to have dinner and not have to think about preparing, shopping, and cleaning up!" The lightbulb finally clicked on for him a while later at church during one of the sermons about serving your community and going beyond what is convenient for you - like the good samaritain who offered his services and asked nothing in return - going out of your way, sometimes to your inconvenience, to help someone out.

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "After delivery care"

My wife had help, mostly because I am a SAHD to begin with. Our small group from church brought us meals also, and as much as we appreciated it, it actually created a little more work. We wanted the house to be nice and everything presentable. We would never turn it down, but let's call it what it is... our friends wanted to come over and see the baby as much as they wanted to bring us food. No offense to any of our friends who may read this, but I'm speaking from my own experience as a food-deliverer as well. :-)

Nobody needs the help. We weren't created that way. But sometimes it is nice to have it if it is offered. I don't think it is a trend, just something that happens in some circles.

daddy in a strange land : "This one's for her therapist in 20 years..."

I guess all the nicknames my boys have could put them on a therapist couch in a few years. My family is big on nicknames, hubby's is not, so he would get upset at all the names I had for the boys and wondered if they would know their real names as they got older. Cole is Coley Bear, puddin', bubba (after Tyler was born), stink pot, and tadpole. Tyler is Tyler Roo, tater tot, or just tater (his initials are TAT, so tater fit right in), velcro, lickle lickle (his words for tickle). Maybe we can get a group discount for therapy sessions!

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Can't Fool Him"

Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A pirate's life for Ethan....poor dog! ;) Fast thinking saved the day! Although, I have to agree with Christina, I would have said, "You broke it, it's gone. That's all!" That has been the rule in our house for some time. Don't treat the toys with respect, if they break, they go in the trash. It has been great for getting the boys to actually take care of their toys they treasure and WANT! :)

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Can't Fool Him"

Did he really break the first one? I've used that line on my boys when I've tossed out toys that I was tired of picking up all over the house, sometimes they were broken, other times they just got in my way and out they went.

Do you do alot of creative things with the boys?

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "After delivery care"

I think I had more help at the delivery then afterwards. My mom missed my 1st son's delivery, she was in Texas for a work, so my dad stood in until almost the very end, he handed that duty over to my sister. When I was attending a MOPS group in Bakersfield I took food over to a new mom, but it was 2 weeks after she delivered, you'd have thought the MOPS group would deliver food within a few days of the delivery. I wouldn't have turned down help if it had been offered, but I don't think I would have needed someone staying with me for 3 weeks. Everyone is different, everyone handles delivery different, just wondered if it was a trend new moms are going towards to have in home care for several weeks after delivery.

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Can't Fool Him"

My lip instinctively made the Billy Idol curl when I read that line. Now I'm singing White Wedding

I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry : "Can't Fool Him"

You are much more creative and motivated than I. My conversation would have had to ended at "you broke it, it's gone". Never would have thought of making my own!

Living My Childhood Dream : "Too Quick to Medicate?"

one word - Windex.

daddy in a strange land : "This one's for her therapist in 20 years..."

Not to burst your bubble, but the Dentist says to brush their teeth for them until they're six! yikes! i told ethan that if he didn't let us brush his teeth, they would all fall out and then the only job he would be able to get when he's older was either pirate or monster. he likes brushing his teeth now.

ethan is also paranoid of police, like christina's daughter. i told him that if he didn't sit still at a concert i took him too, he'd be arrested. now, whenever we walk in the movie theatres, mall, or any other crowded place, he asks if there are cops around. when i say yes, he says he doesn't want to go in because he's got too many ants in his pants.

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "After delivery care"

When my son was born I was VERY LUCKY to have help from my mother and my sisters. We come from a very close family and I know that unless I told them to NOT come over they would be there anyway. I am grateful to them for that. They wanted to be a big part of my child's life and at 2 years old he still has them in his life very much. I do know that if I wouldn't have had that much help then I still would have gotten it done. I would have just done what I needed to do the way you did. My mom doesn't live 2 miles from me, she lives way across town but she WANTED to be here just as much as I WANTED her to be here. I guess all families are very different and they way they function in situations like this is different.

The life of a mountain Mommy, staring Cole & Tyler : "After delivery care"

But, if someone was there wanting to help you, would you turn it away? I watch some of those baby shows on TLC, and it seems the grandparents want to be there to help, regardless of whether the parents need it or not. After I had my second, I definitely was mobile enough to cook, yet, I didn't resist the people from my church who brought meals to us for two weeks following. In terms of co-dependence in raising children, I always like to ask myself, "What would I have done 100 years ago?" Thus, I never gave up on breastfeeding and I don't feel the need to have a million toys to occupy my children.

First Thoughts : "Getting There"

That's great! Congratulations on earning your Master's Degree! I earned mine in '03 (yikes has it REALLY been 5 years??!!) and I'm so happy I did. I also have high expectations for my kids' educations, even though my husband isn't a huge education fan. All I know is how satisfied and intellectually fulfilled I felt going to school and earning that degree. I miss it sometimes.