Friday, May 30, 2008

House Search Update

Many people have been asking me where we are with the house. I thought I might give an update. We submitted our final revisions of the offer back to the seller one last time. Our agent has been speaking with the seller, by phone, all week. We think we have reached a mutually agreeable deal. The seller has until 2pm today to respond. If he likes everything he sees, then we are a go. If he doesn't, then I don't know what happens next. I am really getting tired of the back and forth, but I understand it is necessary for a purchase this large. I am really nervous. I hope it all works out.

What lays ahead makes me nervous too.

To Do List:
  1. Clean entire house top to bottom (2710)
  2. Clean entire house top to bottom (1281)
  3. Pack entire house
  4. Move entire house without threatening my husband with divorce
  5. Get Maggie settled in to her new room
  6. Be prepared for a few rough nights
  7. Unpack boxes at new house
  8. Sell Dan's car
  9. Get mountain bike refurbished so Dan can ride to work "Hippie Chic"
  10. Finish all projects at 2710
  11. Get renters for 2710
  12. Die from exhaustion

I know I am forgetting the UMPTEEN "to do's" that are laying in wait, but hopefully by September (Maggie will be 1 on the 19th) we will emerge from the fog and be settled into our new home.

Here's Hoping!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Bad Karma

I am waiting for the third incident.....bad things happen in 3's right?

Incident 1....I went to the grocery store today. I have been putting it off for several days because a. It's a chore b. I have to practically take out a small business loan to pay for them c. I have to make the list. Anyway, Maggie and I headed off this morning around 8am to just get it done. When we got there, I knew something was wrong...the shelves were mostly bare and there were people everywhere. Today they started a 15 month remodel project on the Clintonville Giant Eagle. They hadn't restocked anything because EVERYTHING was moving, including the racks themselves. Even the staff had no idea where the canned veggies had been moved to. So I opted for frozen, which is probably healthier anyway. But, WHO REARRANGES THE GROCERY STORE??? Aren't some things sacred? I used to be able to zip in and zip out and organize my list, basically, by aisle. OH NO!! NOT ANYMORE!! Next time I go I will need to hire a Sherpa and bring a compass and a sack lunch. Dreams of getting the shopping done in a half hour are long gone!

Incident 2...after I returned home and got Maggie down for her nap, I proceeded to get groceries put away and meats, fruits, and veggies prepped for the week's meals. I also cleaned out the fridge and got rid of anything that was green, fuzzy, or generally seemed too old to eat. My husband would argue that some of the stuff could still be eaten if you removed the top layer. A gamble I am not willing to take. I think he would play Food Russian Roulette if I would let him. It is always so cleansing for me to clean out the fridge. Anyway, after all of that, my trashcan overfloweth, so I tied it up to take it out. About halfway to the giant trashcan in the alley.......A BIRD POOPED ON ME! It splattered all down my right arm. EWWWW!! The darn thing just kept sitting on the wire above me singing away. Meanwhile, I had it's poo running down my arm. I don't think that has ever happened to me. YUCK!

So, Incident #3 is impending. The day is still early yet. What could be my fate? Step in dog poo? Leak through my breast pads? Put dinner in the oven only to come back an hour later and discover that I never turned the oven on? Leave the back door open and unlocked for every vagrant to come in and help themselves? The options are endless.......

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Warning About Nipple Creams

I am going to try to post some less personal stuff....I came across this warning this morning...


ATTENTION NURSING MOMS!!


FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 23, 2008


Media Inquiries: Rita Chappelle, 301-827-6242Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA


FDA Warns Consumers Against Using Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream

Product can be harmful to nursing infants


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use or purchase Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises, Inc., because the product contains potentially harmful ingredients that may cause respiratory distress or vomiting and diarrhea in infants. The product is promoted to nursing mothers to help soothe and heal dry or cracked nipples. Product labeling specifically states that there is no need for mothers to remove the cream prior to nursing. However, the ingredients contained in the product may be harmful to nursing infants.


Potentially harmful ingredients in Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream are chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol. Chlorphenesin relaxes skeletal muscle and can depress the central nervous system and cause respiratory depression (slow or shallow breathing) in infants. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications. It also can depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.


Mothers and caregivers should watch for a decrease in an infant's appetite. More serious signs would be difficulty in awakening the child, limpness of extremities or a decrease in an infant's strength of grip and a change in skin color. Please seek immediate medical attention if your child is showing these signs and symptoms.


"The FDA is particularly concerned that nursing infants are being unwittingly exposed by their mothers to this product with dangerous side effects," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director, FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Additionally, these two ingredients may interact with one another to further compound and increase the risk of respiratory depression in nursing infants."


Though the FDA has not received any reports of injury to infants, the agency is alerting the public because of the potential harm this product can have on a child.


Chlorphenesin can also harm the mother by causing dermatitis, a skin condition that can worsen the drying and cracking of nipple skin.


MOM Enterprises, Inc. is based in San Rafael, Calif. The company has stated that it has discontinued marketing the nipple cream with the potentially harmful ingredients. The FDA is advising consumers to discontinue use of Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream and to consult a health care professional if they experience problems or believe that their infant may have experienced problems due to this product. Nursing mothers with cracked, painful nipples, which is often a side effect of nursing, should speak with their health care professional or a certified lactation consultant if the problem is severe or for other treatment options.


Consumers are strongly encouraged to report adverse events related to this product or any FDA approved product to MedWatch, the agency's voluntary reporting program, by e-mail at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm, or by phone at 800-332-1088, or by fax to 800-332-0178. Consumers may also mail reports of adverse events to MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852-9787.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Grammy and PapDaddy



I totally forgot that the wonderful weekend actually started on Thursday! Grammy and PapDaddy (my mom and stepdad) came up for a quick visit last Thursday. They took us out to dinner to Aladdin's on Thursday night for some yummy Greek food. And it was YUMMY. Then on Friday we took a walk around the neighborhood of the Dennison house and I showed them around the outside of the house. It's vacant so we looked in as many windows as we could. They had to get back to Lexington for church duties, so they left soon after we got back to our house and got Maggie into her crib for a nap. Thanks for visit us! We enjoyed it!




During bathtime Friday night Daddy captured this precious moment:

Monday, May 26, 2008

What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

Oh What a Wonderful World....

What a wonderful weekend!

It all started Friday night when I headed out to Brandi's house for a moms night. We met up after the kiddos went to bed. Brandi's husband, Doug, had taken their oldest to Gramma's house to give Brandi a break. She then invited me and some other mommy friends over. It was nice and relaxing to enjoy some beverages while gathered around the fire pit. Laughing about family and life and just generally swapping stories. It was awesome to get so relaxed. They were a great group of women. The one funny thing about the night was that when we went to start up the fire pit, we all kind of looked at each other hoping that one of us felt capable of getting it up and going. The general response was "Oh that's (insert husband's name here) job at our house. I'm not sure what the best way is....I was never a Girl Scout" Even though we scoff at the idea of gender roles and we talk about how equal it is/should be, it's kinda different when rubber hits the road....

Saturday, we were supposed to meet friends at the zoo, but naptime didn't allow. So we headed to the Clintonville Farmers Market. Dan, Maggie and I just walked around and had a relaxed afternoon. Then later, we discovered Weiland's Gourmet Market. AWESOME PLACE!! We decided it was so cool that we needed to get our dinner from there and share it with friends. We called Mitch and Becki and asked them to come over and hang out, toss some Cornhole in the backyard, and have dinner with us. We met them at the market and picked up 2 kinds of chicken sausage (Brats and Italian Sausage), pea salad, potato salad, coconut cream pie, Pattycake Vegan Bakery Cookies (x2) and, of course, a 12 pack of Mike's Hard Lemonade. YUMMY. As the nightfall came, Dan brought out the fire pit and built a great fire. We sat around and talked. It was a great night.
On came Sunday...we met up with Nate, Kelly, and Grayson at Max and Erma's. What a cute kiddo! Check out the pictures from our outing. It was great catching up with them. They have another on the way and hopefully we will meet her before she's starting kindergarten!! :)




Then Sunday night we headed over to Brent and Mandy's house to hang out with them and our niece and nephew. They are getting so big! Maren is 4 and Ben is almost 2. It's amazing how much they seem to grow between each visit. Guess what we did there? We sat around the fire pit making s'mores and then followed that with some cornhole. Brad and Tracie came over and joined in for awhile. Another wonderful evening!

Tonight Dan and I are sitting in the living room, both buried behind computers. He's working on a project for his dad and obviously I am writing this. I have to get something posted on eBay and remove some fabrics that have sold out when I am done here. After that....I am off to bed. It's only 8:15 but for such a relaxing weekend....I AM POOPED!!!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!

Friday, May 23, 2008

fRiDaY.......

This picture has nothing to do with my thoughts today other than....ISN'T SHE JUST THE CUTEST? Okay, so I might be a little biased, but I had to share.

Things are getting interesting with the house. We are officially trying to work out a deal with the owner. There has been a counter offer suggested and we are possibly putting this thing in motion. We have to research of few of the questions we have (i.e.: possible high ticket items the house might need) before we respond to the counter offer. And, of course, there would then be the traditional inspections, the appraisal, etc. that could all be potential pitfalls. We are a long way from moving in, but at least we aren't standing still.

My nursing cover made it into a photo on another blog site! My friend Michele sent one to her sister that is expecting a little girl (Amelia...really a cute name!). She took a pic and posted it on her site. You can check it out here... www.yogurtandgranola.blogspot.com ... she posted it on Friday May 23rd in case you aren't reading this on the day it was posted. It's fun to see my stuff elsewhere.

In case you are wondering...I still haven't heard anything from EBC. (fingers and toes still crossed)

Maggie's first trip to the Columbus Zoo might be this weekend! We have some good friends, that we met when we live in Baltimore, MD, travelling in from Indiana, where they currently live. They have a 3 year old, Grayson, and she is expecting #2. We haven't seen them in eons! It should be a really fun time to catch upAnd it will be cool to show Magpie the crazy monkeys and elephants. Are elephants considered crazy? Anywhoo....

Grammy and PapDaddy should be over around 11:30 this morning to hang out. I am looking forward to getting breakfast at Jack and Benny's and then going for a walk in the Short North. Hopefully Maggie cooperates.

Lastly, I am on the lookout for some fun easy baby crafts to post. So you Crafty McCraftertons will have something to try out!

That is all...

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Random Thoughts

As I sit here trying to decide what to write, the cat is crawling into my lap to get cozy. I love my kitties, but one can only take so much love. Okay, she is settled, now on to the meat of things.

The house....we put in another offer this morning for a little more moolah. Hopefully we will get at least a counter offer this time. He didn't counter last time, because the offer officially expired before his agent was able to get in touch with him. I honestly don't have much hope. It was worth a shot though. My husband is really not so hot on the Northridge house. I believe he has become a smitten kitten with the Short North/Victorian Village/Goodale Park/Harrison West/Dennison Place area...so we will keep looking. Nothing like spending your Sundays in the car looking for FSBO signs. "We might find a deal!!" I love my frugal husband.

The kid...Maggie is asleep right now. Ali dropped off the new photos from our outing to Franklin Park Conservatory. The look awesome. If you have a spare 1/2 hour and want to look at hundreds of pictures (there are 266 photos :)) of my cutie, go to http://www.teamstamm.com/ and check her out. I take no responsibility for the boredom you might experience. I warned you as to how many there are!!!

The Crafts...I have yet to hear back from the EBC as to whether or not they liked my nursing covers and whether or not they would be willing to carry them in their shop, but I still have a good feeling about things. I dropped them off on Tuesday, with three samples and a cover letter, and by the time my New Moms Group was done, they appeared to be making some rounds through the staff. YAY! Maybe by next Tuesday they will let me know if I need to bring more to stock the shelves with.

New Crafts...I don't know if you non parents that read this are familiar with the "SLEEPSACK", but it's an infant must, with all the fear of SIDS and such. Maggie has 3 right now. 2 fleece and 1 cotton. As summer fast approaches, I am realizing the need for an additional cotton one. So I can wash one and she still has one to sleep in. Unfortunately, those suckers are $20-$30 a pop. Guess what...I think I am going to try to make one. I know, I know, your shocked. How hard could it be? I will use my current ones as patterns and use some scrap fabric I have. I think I only need about 3/4 yard and a zipper. I will have to procure a zipper this weekend as I don't currently have one in my supplies. I will let you know how it goes. Also, please note that this sleepsack should never be referred to as an infant body bag. That's just wrong. By the way...the kid in this picture looks like he just drank a can of REDBULL. Good luck getting him/her to sleep, sleepsack or no sleepsack.

HELP!...ATTENTION COLUMBUS RESIDENTS...I want to take my parents to a family friendly restaurant tonight. Something fun and inexpensive and Columbusy. Does anyone know of a place? Please leave me your comments!!!

Happy Thursday...

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

YAY!

The Toilet Phone Survives! It may be early yet to proclaim full recovery, but by first appearances, the pee phone (as my husband calls it) still works. Hopefully it will continue to work, but if not, I do have a backup. I just need to get all my phone numbers off the pee phone. That way I can still call my mom! I am amazed at how reliant I have gotten on that phone book. I don't memorize any phone number anymore.

Maggie is getting really fussy as I am sitting here ignoring her, so I need to be quick. I just wanted to give you all an update on the house.......no response......so it appears they are ignoring our offer and not even offering a counter offer. Dan and I are discussing the option of submitting another offer at a little more, but we aren't sure yet. We still have hopes that they might come back with a counter.

Grammy and PapDaddy are coming to visit this weekend. Maggie should get a lot of kisses and hugs. They are arriving sometime tomorrow I think and then heading back on Saturday.

Well, I am off to mommy duty.......

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Happy Tuesday!

Good Morning Blog Readers! I hope you are enjoying reading this as much as I am enjoying writing it. Here's an update on life at our house.....

Maggie... is feeling better. Currently she is sitting on the floor playing with some new toys. Daddy and I went to Once Upon A Child on Sunday and got some new things for her to tinker with. I think she was getting bored with the current selection. The new ones are a real hit. Her sickness must have just been a mild virus.

For Your Peanut... is off an running! I have had a good amount of orders. Enough to keep me busy without feeling overwhelmed. I ordered my business cards last night, but they won't be here for about 3 weeks (poo!). I am really excited about how they turned out. Dan took some of my printable ones to work with him today so he can print them on the color printer. That will get me through until the professional ones arrive. Another exciting development in my business is that the EBC is open to discussing carrying them in thier gift shop. They are getting ready to move the gift shop over to the hospital so a lot more people will be shopping and then things could really take off. Dan has offered to help me sew....but I think I would rather have him iron and pin....

Solid foods...are hit an miss. Maggie has been not eating as much, but I think that's because she is having a little trouble passing it all through her little system and she is a little backed up. I don't think she has a lot of places to put it right now.....maybe prunes for lunch? I tried to add her 3rd meal today. Up until this point she has been only eating Lunch and Dinner. I also tried to introduce a new fruit. I think it was too many changes at once. She didn't seem hungry or maybe she didn't like the peaches. I will try peaches again at lunch...maybe...

Photos...were done last night. Allison Herman of By His Grace Photography took tons of pictures out at the grounds around the Franklin Park Conservatory. I think they are going to turn out really cute. Maggie was in a great mood and really hung in there for the 2 or so hours we were posing her. I hope there are some real keepers in there. Thanks ALI!!!

The HOUSE...is still an unknown. We put in the offer on Sunday night, but still haven't heard anything back. We haven't lost hope yet, we still have our fingers crossed. Hopefully we will have a better idea of what is going on, by tonight.

I have officially scheduled my first night away from Maggie. It isn't until July 19th and my mom is coming to visit, but I still am trying to wrap my head around it. I never thought it would be this hard to leave her. Especially in the good hands of my mom....but I am still nervous. Hopefully in the 2 months I have to prep, I won't freak out when the time comes....

Okay...Nap time for Maggie is approaching and I need to get her ready to get some zzzzzz's so that I can get a shower and work on my presentation for EBC. Wish me luck!!!!!

Monday, May 19, 2008

A Very Merry UnBirthday to Maggie!

Little Miss Margaret Anna May is 8 Months Old Today!!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

okay.....we did it....now we wait

Just an update to those following our home search...

We put in an offer on the Dennison Avenue home....we have no hopes that this offer will take, but it's a starting place...They sellers have until tomorrow at 5pm to respond.....

I will let you know what I hear.......keep your fingers crosseed......

Many Fabrics are Selling Out!

If you have an eye on one of my fabrics, please order soon!!
Many fabrics are selling out and I haven't been able to get additional stock.
I will continue to add new selections, but don't miss out on the one you want!!

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Sickness SUCKS

Maggie is sick. She has been running a fever all day, whining, not wanting to be put down, not wanting to be held, the works! I called the pediatrician and they said this virus thing is going around. "Keep an eye on the fever, make sure she is getting her rest and her fluids...if it continues tomorrow, call in again." Hopefully I will get some sleep tonight...I have infant tylenol and motrin....white grape juice....and pedialyte...all to be used as necessary. Send a few good thoughts my way and hopefully I will get some sleep tonight!

Oh, yeah, and I dropped my cell phone in the toilet today......

ARGH!!

Friday, May 16, 2008

New Fabric Choices Posted!!!

9 NEW FABRICS TO CHOOSE FROM!
SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK THEM OUT!

NEW FABRICS!!!

I will be posting new available fabrics for my nursing covers tonight....so watch the area to the right to see if anything new tickles your fancy!!


Check Toys Anytime on Your Mobile Phone

Thanks for the info Francis!

You can check toy safety and recall status anytime on your phone at safetoy.mobi

Fun Maggie Facts

Fun Facts
Maggie's birthstone is Sapphire (Clear Thinking)
Maggie's Astrological Sign is Virgo
Maggie's Flower is Aster or Morning_Glory (Brown, Deep Blue)
Maggie was born in the Chinese Year of The Pig
Maggie will start kindergarten in 2013, be old enough to drive a car in 2023, finish high school in 2026, and will graduate from college with the class of 2030, give or take a year. Can you imagine?
This time last year I was 23 Weeks Pregnant!




HAPPY FRIDAY!!


Maggie will be 8 months old on Monday!!!


Time sure does fly.....

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Check your toys!



SAFETY RECALL NOTICE

Tumble Tower by Manhattan Toy™
Item # 206280

The blue plastic end caps of the rattle can break, resulting in small parts that pose a choking hazard to young children.

STOP USING THE TOY RETURN IT TO THE STORE WHERE PURCHASED FOR A REFUND OR CONTACT MANHATTAN TOY FOR A REPLACEMENT TOY.

For questions about this recall, contact Manhattan ToyToll-free 1-800-541-1345
Between the hours of 8 AM to 5 PM CT

Manhattan Group LLC430
First Ave North Suite 500Minneapolis, MN 55401

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

A walk in the park...

Maggie and I picked Dan up for lunch today to enjoy a nice stroll and picnic lunch in the park. We are trying to get a real feel for the neighborhood of the Dennison Place house. The Clintonville house on Northridge is a known quantity. We picked Dan up, went through the drive through and then headed over to the house. The house is extremely close to Dan's work and that's hard to argue with. As we were pulling up, Dan noticed a neighbor working in her yard and he asked if he could go talk to her and get a feel while I got Maggie into the stroller. Good Idea! He went over and struck up a conversation. I piled our gear into the stroller and then headed over to join them. Marjorie, as we learned, runs the bed and breakfast that sit just about across the street from the house. She and her husband have lived there for 28 years. She loves the neighborhood and takes pride in it. And she runs the bed and breakfast that caters to doctors, lawyers, and other professional that may need accommodations close to downtown. She noted that she has seen an increase in single family homes being converted back to such from duplexes and triplexes. The renters that still are in the area tend to be professionals. There used to be a large student population, but not anymore. There is much more affordable and convenient housing closer to campus. We thanked her for her time and strolled off toward the park. The park was mostly deserted during lunch hour on a Thursday, but it was nice to see some strollers go by, as we ate. Also, the park was pretty decent and had baby swings...a definite plus. We walked into the Thompson Park Rec Center to check things out and it seemed like your average neighborhood rec center, but definitely nice enough for $1 per year membership fee. There is also an aquatic center in the same block, nearly attached to the rec center. They have a big indoor pool, diving pool, and baby pool. They offer swim lessons and have open swim times throughout fall, winter, and spring. It was pretty nice and a BIG plus for the area. As we walked there were people working in their yards and most all said hello. The houses were nice and I enjoyed looking at the interesting architecture. It reminded Dan and me both of some of the houses you will find in Annapolis, MD. We loved looking around at the interesting architecture when we lived there. The houses were all so old! One thing that Marjorie mentioned when we spoke is that the neighbors in Dennison Place may not know each other's names, but they make a point of saying hello and that makes people feel welcome. She mentioned when she lived in Upper Arlington, people got in their cars before the got out of the garage and nobody took the time or made the effort to say hello. It was a very anonymous neighborhood. All of this makes me lean even more toward Dennison Place. Now, I wonder where Dan's head is at? And feel free to make the obvious joke here...I am laughing as I write this :) !!


In case you're curious, the bed and breakfast is located at 78 Smith Pl, Columbus, OH 43201. I have found it listed as either Jones & Jones or Victorian Bed and Breakfast. The lodging price that I found listed was $75/night. Call (614) 299-1656 to make a reservation. Here is a picture:

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The Great House Search Continues!

We are currently looking for a new house and have been looking for several months now. We are very, very, VERY picky about what we want in our new home. The good news is that we plan on keeping our current properties as rentals, so nothing to sell. That's a BIG bonus in this market, where houses sit on the market for MONTHS. But, that also means that there aren't many houses, fitting our criteria, hitting the market. Here's what we want....
  • 4 bedroom
  • 2.5 bath
  • Non-basement Laundry (I am willing to give on this one)
  • 2000-2500 square feet
  • Sidewalks to take the stroller on
  • Old house character
  • Front Porch
  • Backyard to play in

That's not too much to ask, is it? There are very few houses that get anywhere close. So, we have opened up our search area. It used to be Dublin, Clintonville, Worthington, Gahanna, and Upper Arlington. We then realized that the commute to many of these areas may be prohibitive with the current rise in gas prices. So, stop, reevaluate. Let's keep it inside 270. Now we are looking at Old Worthington, Clintonville, and Upper Arlington. Just recently Dan decided to add Victorian Village, Harrison West, and Dennison Place neighborhoods. All of these are near the Short North Area which is fun and artsy, but substantially more Urban in their feel. After many, many house showings....thanks Doug for letting us take you away from your family so often and thanks Brandi for letting us take him.....we may have narrowed it down to 2 houses. Or lets say...there are 2 left that are close to hitting all the marks.

The first is a house on Northridge in Clintonville. Very stable neighborhood, walking distance to the park and community center, safe feel, not much potential for property value growth. Two of the bedrooms are pass throughs to other bedrooms, so that would have to be worked out. It needs a new roof. Basement has storage. Laundry is in the basement :(



The second house is in Dennison Place. This neighborhood has a much more Urban feel and is currently in transition. At one point this neighborhood was full of high powered, Elite, well to do Columbus socialites. Then as the suburbs sprang up and people moved out of the city, the single family homes were turned in to duplexes and triplexes. Now they are slowly transitioning back. How long with that take? Who knows! It seems that from some statistics I read, the area is 75% owner occupied and it is increasing. But, as Dan often reminds me 94% of statistics are made up on the spot. :) But, having said that, the house is gorgeous with lots (4 possibly 5) of bedrooms, lots of old house charm, a big kitchen, totally renovated, mother-in-law suite, 2 car detatched garage, beautiful staircase, and 1st floor laundry. It doesn't have any storage space. The closets are small. The garage needs a lot of work. There isn't any workshop space for Dan. There is no AC, but it could be installed. The neighborhood safety needs to be investigated. There is a park nearby, but I need to find out who frequents it. The neighborhood elementary is not as good as the Northridge neighborhood school. The Clintonville neighborhood is a known quantity....the Dennison Place neighborhood warrants more investigation before I feel comfortable.


If you want to check out the listing pages and read more about each of these houses, please feel free!

Northridge House

Dennison Place House

Let me know which house YOU think we should pick.....

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Tuesday Mom's Group!

What a resource! I love going to my Tuesday mom's group. Today there were about 15 moms and babies ranging from about 4 weeks to 8.5 months. What a strange place it was for Claire and Maggie to be the older babies in the room, and for Yvonne, the parenting consultant, to refer to us as the "experienced moms". What a change. I used to go to the group to have a sounding board for all of the idiosyncrasies I was noticing in Maggie...then it became a what comes next?....and now I mostly go for adult conversation. Even if it is interrupted by the occasional crawl away and perhaps a toy tantrum or two. But, adult conversation, nonetheless. Claire is crawling now and Lisa's life has forever changed. I hope that Maggie crawls soon, but I think I am okay if she doesn't. I honestly think she might just up and walk one day. But, I was happy to see all the new mommies with thier tiny babies today. Their live filled with uncertainty, questions, and wonder. My life is still that way, but different. I think I have earned a set of stripes. My second set if you count bringing her into this world as the first. :) I am just really glad that this group is there. It make me appreciate where I have come from and where I am. I realize how quickly each day flies by and how quickly my little girl changes. Thanks, Maggie, for letting us go today. You sure were a good girl!!



Another great things about mom's group is you get in on Great Resources!! Here is a great link to the NIH website. They have a ton of music and lyrics to all those nursery rhymes that we used to know. Take a refresher course....I know I need one! This old man...he played...something..he played..somthing on .....how did that go? Thanks for sharing!!!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Finger Foods


We started trying finger foods with Maggie. Last week I gave her some banana pieces. As you can see from the picture above....it didn't go so well. So I laid off. Tonight I gave her some sweet potato puffs. I dumped about 5 of them on her tray and then showed her how they worked. Pick them up, put them in mouth, and chew. Yummy...right? We she pushed them around and they proceeded to stick to her hand. She never once tried to put it in her mouth. I then took one an put it on her tongue. She made some CrAzY faces, but then began to chew it as it softened. She ate 3 puffs!! I had to feed them to her, but I think we might be making progress. Tomorrow I will try again and see how it goes. Any mommies want to share any hints on this process?????

Friday, May 9, 2008

Happy Mother's Day!

Kelly-Thanks for sending this to me! Happy Mothers Day to All!!

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, 'It's okay honey, Mommy's here'.


Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.




This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.



For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.



This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.



This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.



And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football , hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they could say, 'Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,' and mean it.



This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.



This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.



This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.



For all the mothers who read 'Goodnight, Moon' twice a night for a year. And then read it again. 'Just one more time.'



This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.



This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.



This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.



This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.



This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.



For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.



For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.



For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.



This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.



What makes a good Mother anyway?



Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?




Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?



The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?



The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?



Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?



The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...



And mature mothers learning to let go.



For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.



Single mothers and married mothers.



Mothers with money, mothers without.



This is for you all. For all of us.



Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can.


Tell them every day that we love them.


'Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall.'
Please pass this to a wonderful mother you know.
(I just did)






I am taking the weekend off! SO...I will see you on Monday!! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!






Thursday, May 8, 2008

Congats to Corey and Ellen!!!


Congratulations are due to my good friends Corey and Ellen. They were engaged Sunday, April 27th (I think). Corey took her on the Long Walk at Ohio State and in the end was on one knee. She said yes. They are about to embark on the rest of their lives together and Dan, Maggie, and I couldn't be happier for them. I told Corey, the day after I met her, that he would have to be an idiot to let her go. They are great together and so much fun to be around. We can't wait for the big day.....open bar right?

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

What did the 0 say to the 8??






Nice Belt....






LOL!






It seems that the Barenaked Ladies have put out a kids CD and Book. They sang on Regis and Kelly today and the song was great. My friend Brandi, mother of 2 (3 year old and a 7 month old,) always tells me that there is good kids music out there. I loved the track they played...789. Why is 6 afraid of 7 you ask? Because 7 ate 9!! I think this would make a great mothers day gift! I might just go grab a few for the moms I know.



Tuesday, May 6, 2008

By His Grace Photography


We had family photos taken last November and we are about to have some pictures of Maggie done again. I was aiming for 6 month photos, but it was too cold and dreary our and I really like the outdoor photos. So many people have complemented us on them that I thought I would post the info for the photograper's site. Allison is just getting her business up and going, but you wouldn't know it. She is so professional and accomodating. She really wants to get pictures that reflect the subject. I appreciate her care and time with my family. You should really check her out if you are in the Columbus, Ohio area. Her prices are extremely reasonable and you own the copyright to them when all is said and done...you can print as many or as few as you need! There are no packages to buy! If you have a chance, check out her site, you just might see some familiar faces :)!!


Sunday, May 4, 2008

US Consumer Product Safety Commission


I find this to be very helpful, maybe you will too! Sign up to receive the emails, so you don't have to go digging in the site. There have been a few things that came across that I knew people who owned it. I don't know if all of this lead stuff is really worth worrying about, but better safe than sorry!


Saturday, May 3, 2008

I have to have this!

I think this book is a must have for new moms! I found it in my May American Baby magazine. Here's what they have to say about it.....

"Yes! Yes! Yes! When you're over your head in motherhood, sometimes you need a good laugh to save you. And Porn for New Moms, from Chronicle Books, cracks us up, with photos of male models begging to take the baby, complementing us on our sweatpants, and more. ($13; book stores)"

I am already searching for it on Amazon.com and eBay. The excerpt phots are great and the captions are really funny. The one page I saw had a hottie clad in a bed sheet from the waist down saying ....." Let's not have sex tonight. Let me just rub your feet while you tell me about the baby's day." IF ONLY!!!

I love you honey!! Don't forget our anniversary and mother's day are next weekend!! ;)






Friday, May 2, 2008

5 THINGS

5 Things I Never Thought I Would Do.....As a Mom....

1. Call my husband at work to discuss the contents of a diaper
2. Email naked bathtime pictures of my daughter to my friends
3. Lick my thumb to rub something off my daughters face
4. Cruise the Sunday morning paper for diaper coupons
5. Think that sleeping until 7:15am was "sleeping in"
But I love every minute of it! The weekly salary of hugs and kisses is the best payment I could receive!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

WholesomeBabyFood.com

I am so excited to share this news!! For Your Peanut Nursing Covers has officially launched! Maggie, owner and webmistress of wholesomebabyfood.com has really gotten behind me and given me a swift kick in the pants to get this thing off the ground. So...to your right on this page you will see my Handmade Nursing Covers for the mom on the go. They come with matching burp cloth, all for the low, low price of $25.00!! But, you can WIN ONE by going to http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/not-meat-baby-food-recipes.htm and entering the "Oh no! Not Meat!!" contest. The website also has tons of info on all things solid when it comes to feeding baby. So spend some time on the site. Maggie is the mom to twin 6 year olds and has a nutritionist background. The site is in no way corporately supported. SO....YAY!!!

Little Ones

Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers
Lilypie Second Birthday tickers

Where in the World are YOU From?