Is Annoyed

Disclaimer:  I love my husband dearly.  He is GREAT father, I am just in a grrr... mood.

The longer I am a mom, the more apparent the differences between Mom and Dad become.  Just a few case in points....

1-  He gets to go alone to the bathroom for how ever long he chooses.  I get to go with kid, for mere seconds, while completing some other task.  I just want to pee in peace!

2-  He upsets the kid, I get to deal with it.

3-  Dad is the fun parent.  Mom is not.

4-  Everything is better when Daddy gives it/does it/looks at it.

5-  I want to cut the grass and have 2+ hours of time to think an adult thought without have a conversation about the potty, Caillou, or Dora.

What have you learned?

The Things Mom Gets Excited About...

My goal for the summer was to get Maggie potty trained by the time I went back to school.  We started as soon as school got out and she did really well while we were at my Dad's (I am talking doing EVERYTHING in the potty).   Then came a 9 hour car ride, a bunch of 2 hour car rides, and we were back to square one.  She would do better when not at home but still... #2 just wasn't happening.  However.... we went out the dinner tonight with my parents.  Maggie tells me about 3/4 of the way through dinner "Potty Mommy, Potty".  So away we go (me thinking this was just her way of getting out of the high chair).  Into the stall (I've cleaned them all in town!) and I stand there... and stand there... and stand there.  You done?  Nope Mommy, poopy.  Huh?  I think not but yet I stand.  And then...

WOOOOO HOOOO!  She was telling the truth!!!!  If there had been room- I would have danced.

Ah, to have come so far in life to get excited about poop.  Welcome to motherhood.

Giveaways Galore

I have two fabulous giveaways to share today for all you mommys!! 

Up first....

Anyone about to or currently potty training.  Bloggymom Reviews is giving away the neatest stool, The Little Looster, for around your potty.  Here is the info...

The Little Looster website states, “As an extension of the toilet, the Little Looster never needs to be shuffled around the bathroom. All grown-ups can use the toilet while standing or sitting without needing to move it out of the way.”

Some advantages of the Little Looster include:

Comfort - Provides total comfort & leg support for years of use.
No more painful pins-n-needles feeling when little legs are not supported

Confidence – Promotes complete certainty.
No scary feeling of “falling in.” Kids legs do all the work.

Cleanliness – Allows children to have their hands free at all times.
No need to grip the back of the toilet seat or the inner, germ covered rim.

Up second...

Hairbows!  Hairbows!  Hairbows!  This woman sells the cutest hairbows cheap ($5).  Unfortunately, now that we have all found her, she is "retiring" for awhile to focus on family and school.  BUT... to help clean out inventory, she giving away a pair of bows.  Check her out at Baby Hair Bows.  Here is an examples of the hair cuteness!

(This giveaway ends 7/16)

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July from the Brown's!

Giveaway

Rachel over at Observations of a Token Yankee is giving away a fabulous mirror.  Here are some details...

•Fluent Wall mirror


•Large round wall mirror

•Solid metal black matte frame surrounds the genuine glass mirror

•The metal frame is manufactured by hand utilizing a technique where the metal is heated, cut with inserts and then pulled by hand into this shape and design

•Overall dimensions: 20" H x 20" W x 0.5" D
 
Go check it out!

Education in Car Trips

My Dad lives about 9 hours from us.  We have made the trek multiple times to visit and have based our adventure on the successes or failures of the previous trips.   Doing so has taught us... nothing.  But maybe it can help any of you that are about to embark on summer vacation trips with a little one.  Although note- Maggie used to riding in the car for 30 minutes multiple times a week to visit my Mom when she is in Aiken, so she is good for at least an hour.  These tips are for trips we take for 2+ hours.

Under 6 months- we drove at night.  She slept, we drove.  Worked really well.

About 1 year- drove starting EARLY in the morning.  Worked OK.  Did realize that she must be WELL fed to stay happy. 

19 months- the DVD player is AWESOME.  We don't pull it out for the first 4-5 hours, trying to wait as long as we can before using it.   We left early in the morning again.  By the time the DVD's came out, she was ready for a nap so they lulled her to sleep.  Would have helped if the snow hadn't caused the trip to take over 12 hours....

25 months- Left in the afternoon, right at nap time. Drove 4 1/2 hours (she slept most of it!), stopped and had a nice dinner.  I let her run around for about 30 minutes after dinner and the last 4 1/2 hours went pretty well.  She did get a little fussy when bedtime rolled around and she couldn't get comfortable.

We always pack a cooler with her milk and couple of snacks (bananas, apples, cheese, etc.).  I try to make sure she eats high protein and carb meals so they last longer.  Rest areas are our friends.  They are great for getting out and running around.  Good places to have a snack at a table.  We also keep a bag of toys by her carseat.   I put toys that she hasn't seen for about a week in it and they are like new toys when she reaches in the bag.

I am sure a bunch of mommies have WAY more tips (probably better too) but this is just what I have learned...  Have a great summer vacation! 

Yeah Me!

I am on a roll- I think I need to go get a lottery ticket!  I have won TWO things in the past week!!!  I never win- hence the pure elation you hear (or read)!

First, I won a neato green shower head from BloggyMom Reviews!

Then, I won a Berenstain Bears book from The Momtage!

Go me! Go me!  Go me!