Saturday, March 8, 2008

A Big Blog Party!

Hello Internets! I'm Amy, and this is my blog. I originally started writing e-mails to my friends and family when I was pregnant with Mary Grace, my now-two-and-a-half-year-old. We called them the "Peanut E-mails" and I wrote from her point of view in "the womb with a view." Since then, I've had another baby, Claire, who will be one next week, and my distribution list got long, annoying, and hard to maintain. Plus, I was clogging up everyone's inbox with photos and stuff, so last May I decided to blog, instead.

Then I got involved in the Mommyblogger community, and here we are. I especially enjoy participating in Works for me Wednesday. I also recently started a series of posts on the topic of having two kids under two.
Pretty Babies do not always behave at parties.

The blog party isn't just about getting to know each other, though. It's about prizes! As a "thanks for stopping by!" gift, I'm giving away a $20 Amazon.com gift certificate. In order to win you need to read my archives (start with WFMW and Two Under Two, above, if you'd like) and tell me which of my tips you liked the best. I'll use this info to brainstorm future tips, and to try to generate more content that my audience (you) will enjoy. On March 14, I'll put all of your names in a hat and I will have Mary Grace draw a winner!
Pretty Babies wear matchy matchy cute suits at parties.

And since I like prizes, too, I'm interested in the following prizes from The Big Blog Party Prize Page (jeez, I hope I am doing this right!), in no particular order...

#37 - Moby Wrap
#55 and #59 - cash (who doesn't love cash?)
#60 - Amazon.com gift certificate (we'll just pass it around)
#84 - sling
#112 - Starbucks
Pretty Babies always wear their best hats to parties!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope we'll see you again! Please sign my "guestbook" by leaving a comment before you go!

43 comments:

jayedee said...

loved the tip about drawing a circle and telling your child to keep their hand there! wish i'd have thought of it when mine were younger! nicetameetcha! i'm jayedee, mom of 12, living in the sunshine state! party on dudette! lol. if you love chickens (and what woman doesn't love chickens?) check out the awesome giveaway on my blog this week!

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of using google docs for a grocery list. I've never used that before but I've tried so many different things trying to find something that works.

lace said...

I loved the tip about DayTipper. I just checked them out. I think I might sign up. Thanks.

Kristen M. said...

The quick rice bag idea is great. I never thought about making a temporary one out of a sock. Best part is that it doesn't require sewing.

Superdumb Supervillain said...

okay, the burn remedies were my favorite because they made me laugh. (sorry for chuckling about your pain, by the way...) But the Getting Things Done made me feel better about how totally unorganized I am now that we have two kids instead of one. This too shall pass. Sooner than later, I hope!

Betsy said...

The post about Google Calendars and Doc's was very interesting! I had no idea! Thanks!

Phyl said...

I am having a Birthday-Blog-Bag-Give-A-Way! Come by my blog for a chance to win a handmade handbag.
http://scrappynhappy.blogspot.com/2008/03/birthday-blog-bag-give-way.html

I found you via the Blog Party at 5 Minutes for Mom:).

Thanx for having me!

Angela said...

I LOVE Your post on nursing two... I have no idea how people do it and I hear you on the not loosing weight while breastfeeding... ugg

We added your contest to Prizeatron!
http://www.prizeatron.com

Bunny B said...

That first picture is hilarious. It's so cute!

Oh, like you, I love Google too! I use their spreadsheet documents and reader. My sis and I used it when planning for a party. It's great that multiple users can use the spreadsheet to edit it, since it's web-based - just need to log on their respective accounts.

Happy partying!

Amanda said...

I like the tips on helping the older kid adjust to a new baby - especially having a special song and nickname for each.

Anonymous said...

I love the tip about the Magic Bullet! I've been talking myselff out of buying one forever, but now I must have it! LOL! Especially the diaper rash remedy for the bathtub!
Bravo!
dansan826 at yahoo.com

~Denise~ said...

Checking google for coupon codes is a MUST when buying online!

Happy blog party!!

Andrea said...

I loved your post (all of it!) on helping a child under 2 or around 2 yrs. adjust to having a baby bro or sis! My son is going to be just under two years old when his little sister will be born this June! So I definitely needed to read that post about how to help prepare him...I especially liked the part about teaching him to wait!

Uniquely Yours said...

Great minds thing alike. Love the sock idea for a rice bag.

Marilyn B said...

My favorite is How to save money when shopping online. Since I do alot of online shopping I love getting tips on it.

Maude Lynn said...

I love the Crazy Burn Remedies! Chocolate cures everything!

ChicMama! said...

Hi, it's your new blogging friend from Chicago. Have soaked in pretty much every word written in the Two Under Two series. Love it! And now I see I need to review a number of other posts (sock for rice?) and catch up on tips.

Stop by my pad sometime soon.

The Downtown Boutique said...

Definitely the "spread out a beach towel on the sick bed" advice! We do that! I can't stand to clean up vomit, and if it gets all over the sheets, pillowcases, etc, it's just nasty! It tends not to run down towels, like it does the other things...so towels are great!

Come on over to The Downtown Boutique blog when you get a chance. We're having a little party, and giving gifts too! It's the second post down, but feel free to enter to win the item in the first post too!

Angie

Doreen said...

I love reading your tips! I enjoyed the one on nursing two.

Unknown said...

Quick note: If you don't win the Moby Wrap consider buying one. It is so worth the money. I love mine and it's held up well through frequent washings. It's very comfortable to wear and easy to use.

I like your idea of teaching the child to wait before the baby is born. I never thought of that but it would definitely make things easier.

Also, consider adding more recipes especially kid-friendly ones. I'm always searching for those.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I like the "go to bed" when the kids are sick tip. Towels--lots of towels.

And I heat up a wheat bag for me and the kids every night in the winter.

And your daughters are beautiful!

Shawna said...

You have a really neat site. I saw several things that were good tips: the Day Tipper. I so would like to make some money while my 2 year old is napping. I already use the Early Defense so that was a good idea. I also like the frozen peas to cool mac-n-cheese. I normally just let a small bowl sit in the freezer, but it still takes a few minutes. I already have something similar to the Magic Bullet. It would be so easy to make baby foods. I didn't even realize. Lastly, the beach towel idea for the stomach virus. I so needed to know that. Please come by and visit me at Scamp's Place and Teen Lit Review for some book giveaways.

Mandy said...

I started blogging for somewhat the same reason as you...I was keeping a baby blog for my son (who is now 3 months old) and felt the need to write about something other than my pregnancy...and out of that came my blog!

Thanks for having me over! Hopefully you'll stop by my place, too! http://mrs-mandypoo.blogspot.com

danandmarsh said...

Such a cute lil girl you have, love curly hair!!!
I liked the articule of WTF, about the New Kids on the BLock, reuniting!!! WOW!
Happy partying!

Stacey Moore said...

love your post about helping the older child to adjust. my bf is expecting her 2nd this summer and i am afraid her little diva is going to have a hard time. i forwarded her your post!!! hope you have a great week and stop by my party post if you get a chance!! thanks

Chief Family Officer said...

I really like the restaurant supply store tip. Of course, I love anything that saves me money! :D

Having two under two is quite the experience, isn't it? Someone just said to me that having two kids close together must be like having twins and I had to say, Uh, no, having twins would have been a heck of a lot easier! Their needs were so different, I felt like my head was spinning sometimes trying to keep things straight.

Fortunately, they pretty much eat at the same time and eat similar foods now, and nap at the same time, so things are getting easier! And I'm sure that as they get older, it will be kind of like having twins!

Ivÿ said...

hey, welcome to the party and hope you're having a blast. Do call me Ivan Girl and I'm from Manila, Philippines.

I love your blog. :) Pleased to meet you! Will definitely visit you again.

Do stop by my blog and join me for the party... :)
UBP 2008

Have Fun!

Theresa N. said...

I liked the Feeding a crowd tip. I didn't know that about GFS, it's a good thing to know.
Theresa N
weceno@yahoo.com

Tarasview said...

I had two sons under two- they are 5 & 4 now and I have a 1 yr old daughter. I used the beach towel idea too- it was a lifesaver!

taradawnrobertson at hotmail dot com

Jessie R. said...

I love the rice bag idea for sure! I cannot tell you how many times I wish I had one! Great idea!

Sara L said...

I've gotta get a hot water tap - we love tea - and that would be a time saver! Thanks for the tip!

bonggamom said...

I stir frozen peas into my kids' mac-n-cheese too! That's my favorite tip :) My second-fave is the one about the restaurant supply shop. I'll have to look for one in my area. Thanks for the tip!

And thanks for hosting such a great party with a super giveaway -- come on over to my blog party as well (and join my blog giveaway!).

Anonymous said...

I liked your tips on time-outs - thanks! mnlefty (at) gmail (dot) com

Angi said...

I love your tips at Two Under Two! My favorite would have to be how you "gave" eldest a song that was all her own. What a great idea! I would love to win the GC - I am an AMAZON machine - it's my favorite place to shop! I'm giving away books if you'd like to enter!
connievail at hotmail dot com

Jinxy and Me said...

Hi! Nice to meet you. The restaurant supply store tip is great.

Amber said...

I love the How to quickly cool mac n cheese tip! I've never thought of adding frozen peas....I've always just thrown the bowl of mac n cheese in the freezer. The problem with that is that it gets too cold or the macaroni on top cools, but the bottom is still too hot! Thanks for the great idea!!

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

Well I don't have kids yet, but I'll be bookmarking you for tips for when I do.

My favorite right now is tips for shopping online...we can all use those, right?

Come by my party in southern Italy when you get a chance!

Bleeding Espresso

Anonymous said...

Great meeting you at the party. Your kids are so cute.

Angela

Brooke said...

Great ideas! I'm going to use google docs straight away!

Tammy said...

WFMW: Frozen Bananas for Teething!

what a great idea!

Thanks for the chance

Jessie R. said...

You do have pretty babies! My mother put my twin sister and I in very similar dresses to the ones your daughters have on in those pics! I love them! Great tips, Thanks!

Candi said...

Your girls are so adorable!!

I loved the Daytipper tip. I could always use some extra cash---especially since next week our bathroom is due to be gutted and remodeled!!

I've got a giveaway on my party post if you have time to check it out!!

Unknown said...

Still hopping from blog to blog... my goal is to post at each blog at least once. Nice to meet you. Happy blogging!