Baby Carrier Giveaway!

The contest is over and we have a winner, thanks!


Behold!

This, my friends, is the brand spankin' new Britax baby carrier!  It is like the Baby Bjorn and the Ergo had a baby - it's as easy to use as a Bjorn, but positions the baby's spine correctly like an Ergo.

It can be used with babies 8 - 32 pounds (and let's be honest, who wants to wear a baby who weighs more than 32 pounds - ouch!).  The white part on the front is super soft and cuddly.

Unlike the Ergo, where the infant insert is sold separately, the infant insert is built right in to the Britax carrier.  (That makes the Britax considerably less expensive than the Ergo for new babies).

The baby can face in or out - out being Jack's preferred position - in the Britax.  The Ergo is inward-facing only. 

You can't wear it on your back, but to be honest, I've never been comfortable with that position, anyway.  Maybe it's because I have long, pullable hair.

When I first put Jack into the Ergo, he cried and fussed.  We never have gotten the hang of it.  Not so with the Britax.  He was calm and comfortable the entire time we wore it.  I really love it, and I can't wait to test it out at the Children's Museum next week!

I didn't want to wait that long to tell you about it, though, because I have the opportunity to give one away! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post.  Facebook friends will need to click through to my blog (http://prettybabies.blogspot.com) because Facebook comments won't count this time.  You don't have to have a baby to win, either.  This would make an awesome gift for a new parent.  The MSRP is $129.99!

One comment/entry per person, ok? Don't forget to include a way for me to get in touch with you if you win!

Good luck!

Natural Consequences

BJ and I were in the family room watching Season of the Witch with Nicolas Cage (which is supposedly set during the crusades but Nick Cage and the other guy talk to each other like they're in a buddy-cop movie, and it's not altogether that believable).  We had just gotten to the climax of the film, where the devil shows up, and we heard some noise behind us.

"Is that a kid?" I said to BJ as he paused the movie, and we both got up to look around. 

The baby was still asleep, there was no one in the downstairs bathroom or in either of the downstairs bedrooms.

BJ bravely went upstairs (there's no way I would have gone upstairs alone - haha!) where he found Claire.  "That's a really scary movie, Daddy," she said.

He came down to tell me that it was her (we heard her footsteps as she ran back upstairs to bed), and that she's scared, and he's going to stay with her until she's asleep.  I went up and said, "You know the scary part in Sleeping Beauty, where the witch shows up?  This movie is just like that.  And just like that movie, it's just pretend.  You know, the nice thing about movies, don't you?  The good guys always win.  You don't have to worry.  You're safe here, in our house, with Mommy and Daddy.  Nothing bad is going to happen here.  It's just make-believe."  Then I gave her a kiss and said goodnight, and I came downstairs to listen in case Jack wakes up.  BJ is up there with her now.

Poor kid.  I guess sometimes sneaking downstairs is its own punishment.

And sometimes Nicolas Cage movies are their own punishment, too.  Please leave a comment and tell me what movies you've liked lately - I keep picking bad ones.

Hey Breastfeeding Moms!

I found something new for all of you who are breastfeeding and have an iOS device - there's a free app called LactMed that will help you evaluate the safety of medications you might need to take while breastfeeding.

I've got bronchitis again, so I've already used it a bunch.  And it's free.  Hooray for free!

Happy Father's Day!

When I chose a father for my kids, I was so smart. I took all the best qualities of 

and 

plus some of

and

and I found one man who possesses all the best qualities of all the dads in my life.

I didn't know it at the time, but I'm so glad that he already had a whole bunch of

And it was a surprise to find that he even shared some of the qualities that made

...so special.

Add up all of those great men, plus 10 years and three kids, and you get

To all of the dads who taught me to recognize the best daddy I could have possibly dreamed of for my kids, and to my kids' dad, thank you for everything that you are, and everything that you do.

Happy Father's Day!

Jack - Six Months Old

Dear Jack,

I missed your six-month birthday yesterday.  It was a busy day.  In the days leading up to your six-month birthday your sisters were at Grandmother Diana's and your daddy was on a business trip, so you and I got to spend some real quality time together.  It was precious to get to spend time alone with you.  You spent most of the time looking for your sisters.  You were so happy to see them, you forgot to fuss on the way home from picking them up. 

You have grown and changed so much in such a short time.  It seems like we just met you last week, it has gone by so quickly.  You're already rolling over and trying to crawl.  Your smile lights up the world.  You've learned to laugh and become ticklish (in the same spot that your dad and sisters are ticklish - under your arms).  You've more than doubled your weight. Thankfully, all the bruising you had after you were born went away quickly.  You are such a beautiful little boy.  I know it won't be long before you don't like it when I say that sort of thing, so I'll say it now before you can protest. 

Your personality is beginning to emerge.  You love music.  The song Magic, by Ben Folds, has magical powers to calm you down, especially in the car.  You're a flirt - you have this cute little bashful grin that you give people.  You love toys that squeak, especially Wheezy the Penguin and Sophie the Giraffe.  You love to snuggle.  People always comment about how cuddly you are to hold.  I hope you never grow out of that. 

Your favorite toy for playing is: Sophie

Your favorite toy for snuggling is: Wheezy

Your favorite food is: surprisingly, smushed peas have gone over better than bananas, applesauce, and everything else we've tried (including tiny tastes of ice cream)

Your favorite book is: whatever your sisters are reading to you, especially Blue Hat, Green Hat

Your favorite activity is: trying to crawl

Your favorite place to go is: Karen and Tammy's office, where you get snuggle breaks when we're at work

Your best friend is: whichever sister is playing with you

Something new that you're doing:  trying to crawl

Something you've mastered:  nursing, and it was easy this time, thank goodness

Something people say about you:  "He's so happy!"

Something that you're saying is:  "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"  No consonants yet.

Something Dad and I are proud of you for:  you're so good at the office

Something surprising about you:  you look so much like Mary Grace when she was a baby


Don't be in such a big hurry to grow up.


Love,
Mommy

Got Hair?

There's a lot of hair in this house.  Mary Grace has difficult hair.  It's thick and curly.  Very, very curly.  I tease her that she spends most nights lying in her bed tying it in knots.  Claire, on the other hand, has thick, straight hair, and a very tender head.  And of course, my hair (which desperately needs to be cut) is also thick, but mine is more wavy than curly.

Consequently, I used to spend at least 15 minutes every morning dealing with hair.  Generally this involved chasing a screaming Claire around the house, threatening to shave her head if she didn't just suck it up and let me comb her hair, already.  Mary Grace behaved better, but it still broke my heart to hear her say, "Ouch Mommy, it hurts!" as tears rolled down her sweet cheeks.  I'd tell her that I remember my mom combing the tangles out of my hair, too, and I know how much it hurts, but there's nothing I can do.

Then I heard about a product that has changed our lives.  I loved it so much that I contacted the company and asked them if I could share it with you!  Behold:

That, my friends, is a Magic Flowerpot by Tangle Teezer, and they are not kidding when they say it's magic.

The top part lifts out, and there are eensy weensy little plastic tines on the other side.  Somehow, probably with magic, it takes out the tangles without hurting the kid.  Even Claire's tender head! 

I can brush Mary Grace's hair dry, which is something I haven't been able to do since she was one.  This is going to make our winters so much easier - it used to be that I had to soak her hair to comb it, and then worry about her going out in the cold with a wet head.  We won't have to worry about it next winter!

The kids have even asked to comb their own hair with the Magic Flowerpot, and because of the magic they can actually do a pretty decent job of it - freeing me up to do other things in the morning.  I just give it a once-over when they're done, and we go.  No more 15 minute hair battles in our house!

I'm still in the post-partum shed - I don't know how I actually have any hair left to lose at this point, because it has been six months, but I'm losing a TON of hair every day.  It was all over the bathroom before, because the brush I used to use didn't grab it as well.  The tines on the Tangle Teezer actually grab the hair better, resulting in less mess (and fewer loose hairs all over the house).

You can buy the regular Tangle Teezer at Sally Beauty Supply (which is what I did) or you can order one online.  I'm excited to be able to give you an opportunity to win one, too!  All you have to do is go to the Magic Flowerpot by Tangle Teezer's Facebook page and click "LIKE," then post a comment on the wall saying that you came from http://prettybabies.blogspot.com, and why you need a Magic Flowerpot by Tangle Teezer.  One winner will be randomly selected to win!

Good luck!

Torin's Story

My friend Cate, who knows Torin and his family personally, asked me to share this video with you.



Precious boy, I wish continued health and healing for you and your family.

If you are moved to help Torin raise money for the hospital that saved him, please click here.

Habiba

Please go to this link and read about Habiba - a woman whose 15 month old child was removed from her custody by authorities in Morocco.  Her mother's crime?  Breastfeeding her child.

I am horrified.  Just sickened.  I breastfed my girls until 28 months and 22 months.  I don't intend to stop nursing Jack until around the same age.  Please sign the petition and join the Facebook group, and spread the word.  Let's use the power of the internet and the power of mothers to help this woman get her baby back.

Thanks to PhD in Parenting, one of my favorite blogs, for getting the word out.

35

Happy birthday to the best husband and father in the universe.  We love you so much.

10 Things I Didn't Appreciate...

10 Things I Didn't Really Appreciate About Babies Until I Had Older Kids

10.  Babies don't complain about their outfits.

9.  Babies rarely skin their knees and demand Bandaids.

8.  Naps.

7.  Babies are happy with a toy or two, and none of those toys have thousands of tiny pieces.

6.  When babies say, "Mama!" it's cute.  They never just say, "Mommy?" and then leave you hanging.

5.  Babies do not require endless team practices, outings, lessons, classes, and playdates.

4.  Babies never say, "I'm bored!" in spite of all the carefully planned playdates, classes, lessons, outings, and team sports.

3.  Babies are endlessly fascinated by simple things, like keys.  As early as age 4, children develop more expensive tastes.

2.  When you put them somewhere and walk away for 10 seconds, they're still where you put them when you get back.  An older child could be three zip codes away.

1.  You can solve almost all of a baby's problems with a clean diaper, a little Tylenol, or a boob.

Bossy and Cecily are Cooler than Amy

When one is talking about Bossy, one must do so in the third person, which is why Amy is writing this, to inform all of you (Council?) that Bossy, and Cecily and Brad's Deals are over at Bossy's blog giving away an iPad 2. 

Amy would like to win it for her children.  Amy took Claire to Best Buy recently and Claire was playing Angry Birds on the iPad 2, and the sound had been turned off.  Claire said, "I want the sound on."  Amy said, "I think they've turned it off so it doesn't drive them nuts."  Claire then proceeded to go into the settings, turn on the sound, and return to her Angry Birds like it was nothing.  Council, she is four years old.

Good luck!

Elaine Gleason

October 19, 1922 - June 5, 2011

Rest in Peace, Grandma.

Gobbling Cheeks

A couple of days ago, I posted that I could just gobble Jack's cheeks right up.  Uncle Chuck pointed out that the propensity for cheek gobbling must run in the family.

The Big News

My brother is getting MARRIED!!!

His girlfriend, Sara, said yes when Chuck proposed a couple of weeks ago.

Chuck has asked BJ and me, and Megan and her husband Trey, to stand up for him.  And Sara has two brothers and two sisters-in-law who are going to stand up for her.

I love the symmetry of it - a groom with two sisters, a bride with two brothers.  It's going to be awesome.

Sara and Chuck teach at the same school.  They've been dating for... gosh, a while now.  I can't remember how long.  

Best wishes to Sara and Chuck!