Cotton Babies made me cry....

I was reading through a Cloth Diaper blog that belongs to Cotton Babies and found a giveaway for a $100 gift certificate to their website.  The post is suppose to show how thankful you are for your little one in your life.  Below is my post. I placed it her as this blog is about me, my feelings about being a Mom and a few other things.  Someday, I would like my children to be able to read what I posted here.  I want them to know what my feeling about things were.  This is the premise of the Cotton Babies giveaway post too.  How cool that I get to enter a contest and mark my entry for prosperity.  


Now on to the post I wrote as a comment on their blog!


After 7 years of waiting for a baby to enter my life here is my story of how our family grew:

My husband and I tried for many years to conceive a child after 7 years and many failed attempts, little man, you were born. My life felt complete. I thought I could never love anything as much as I love you. I love hugging you, talking to you and playing games with you. I never knew how wonderful being your mother would actually be. You amaze me every day and my heart grows every time you smile! 3 years had passed and our family grew larger. Baby girl, you were born at a time when I needed to love even more. You came along and my life completely changed. You show me every day how to love more than ever. You helped me find emotions I never knew I could find. You make me cry with happiness every time I think of you. I never wanted to have a little girl, honestly, but without you I would never be the Mom that I always knew I had in me. I love that you're my daughter. Thank you both for choosing me as your Mommy!

Love, Mumma


If you would like to enter the giveaway click here.  It ends on May 14, 2010!

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Motherhood Monday 5/10

What's the longest you've been away from your children? 

• I've never been away from my kids for longer than a few hours.  Minus the week I spent in the hospital after a c-section.  My son and daughter only spend a few hours a day without me.
• Recently, They have been going to pre-school for 8 hours 2 days a week and it is a long time for both of them and me!

Did you do it for personal reasons? 

• Yes, it was for personal reasons.  I started a new position that required some day shifts and could not pass up the opportunity to be on salary! I miss them and they break my heart every time I drop them off!

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Monday Mayhem 5/10

1. How old is your Mom? If she has passed away, how old would she be?

• She would be 71, she passed away at 52.

2. What is/was your Moms worst habit?

• swearing

3. What famous person does/did your Mom resemble (a picture of that famous person would be nice)?

• I don't think my Mom looked like anyone famous but her personality reminded me a lot of Rosanne.

4. What would be one meal that you would love for your Mom to cook for you right now?

• not a meal but home made popcorn made in a pressure cooker... I always loved that!

5. Was your Mom a Stay at Home Mom or did she have to go to a work/job (and yes, Mayhem understands and knows that being a Stay at Home Mom is work/job) when you were growing up?

• She worked but was usually home by the time I was home from school.  That is if my Dad picked her up on time. She didn't drive.

6. If you could change one thing about your Mom what would it be?

• The only change I would make is that she didn't die.

7. Did you ever make your mom cry? if so, explain.

• Not that I ever saw but I am sure something about her made me cry at least once in her life.  The only instance I can think of is she cried when she found out she was pregnant with me. Cried and swore a whole lot from what I've been told LOL!

8. Have you ever told a lie to your Mom to protect yourself or someone else? If yes, have you come clean and told your Mom the truth?

• I lied to my Mom a lot and no, sadly I never got the chance to come clean on any. She died when I was 18 so, who owns up to anything at 18?

9. What is the one thing that you most admire about your Mom?

• I admired her determination.  She fought brain cancer for 6 or 7 years (that I know of) and she was very determined to live to see me graduate from high school and go to college.  She lived 3 months past my high school graduation!

10. In 10 words or less, describe your Mom.

• Loving, determined, crafty, patient and missed!

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Getting to Know You @ Mannland5

The questions..

1. What has been your most memorable Mother's Day? (with your mom, as a mom, or with your wife)

• This Mother's Day was my most memorable (well the best one so far that is). I actually got what I wanted every year. Something handmade by my babies! I got a frame that my daughter colored and my son put stickers on. I also got hand prints and foot prints from each of them with poems that they made in school!

2. Have you ever been pulled over for speeding and were you able to talk your way out of it?

• Yes, and was not able to get out of it but then again, my comment to the cop was, "just give me the ticket and let me be on my way, I know I was wrong but I wasn't going that fast!"

3. What's the oldest thing you have hanging in your closet?

• a pair of jeans from when I was 16 that I will never fit into for the rest of my life but they have memories and I can't give them up!

4. Do you whiten your teeth?

• nope

5. Underwear or Panties..What do you call your "unmentionables"?

• underpants

6. If you could go on vacation right now..today..where would you go?

• California, I'd like to see my friend and my God daughter before she get's so old she forgets who we are!

7. Do you get offended when people cuss on their blogs?

• No, I could care less. It's called freedom of speech! 

8. If you had to give up one luxury item, it would be....?

• I guess you would like me to say my laptop however, I won't. I would give up TV before anything!

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Bummis Cloth Wipes Winner's Review

Bummis Cloth Wipes are amazing.  I use them for myself and my kids.  They are great for nose wipes, as well as, washing faces! They are small and compact so I keep them in my purse and diaper bag for times when we are out and about.  They come in very handy when we are out to eat or at the park.  Just a small amount of water and a hand-made soap bit get's them clean the green way! 

Bummis Wipes are super soft and absorbent! We love them and are looking into purchasing a couple more packages! Thank you to Shannon from Coupon Mommy of 3 for her great review and giveaway.  Without you, I would have never found this wonderful product. If you wish to purchase your own, please head over to the Bummis shop.  They have a new color combination coming Spring of 2010. I might have to purchase them myself now!

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Leg Huggers Winner's Review

I won Leg Huggers from Emi at The Cloth Diaper Report back in December.  I've had quite a few opportunities to use them.  My daughter looks absolutely adorable in them.  As a warning to those with boys, they are more of a purple/lavendar color than a blue/grey color.

What I like most about the Leg Huggers is they are made from a bamboo blend that is super soft on my daughter's skin.  

Another great reason to love Leg Huggers is cloth diapering.  Since I cloth diaper, Leg Huggers have been a blessing.  No need to strip down my baby in the cold weather to change her diaper.  I stopped using tights all together.  Leg huggers and socks were all the rage for me during the winter!

I'm also attaching a link to Emi's review and the giveaway I won.  Check out what she has to say about them.  I'd like to add a huge THANK YOU to Emi for such a great review and to Agoo Apparel, Inc. for sending me such a wonderful surprise.

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Happy Mother's Day to a Mom long gone....

I've been thinking of my Mom a lot lately. A lot more than I ever did in my entire life.  I don't know if it's this new blogging thing I've been doing but, I really have started to miss her. Finally! It's not like it's a bad thing that I miss her. It's actually a good thing. Maybe I am starting to finally grieve?  Anyway, I decided to write her a letter and tell her all about my life and what has happened since she left... so, here goes....


Dear Ma,

I miss you deeply.  I wish you never left when you did.  I am glad I was there to hold your hand, to lay with you, to watch you take that last breath. I'm happy you were surrounded by love.  I don't remember much of you, after all, I was just a teen.  You were my Mom, and sadly, not yet a friend. After you left, my life went on.  I married Keith and I know the promise he made to you.  We finally had children, your youngest grandchildren.  Mom, they are so awesome! I wish you could share in their lives with me!

X-man is a great kid, he's smart. He's a lot like I was at four. He wants to know everything and learning comes natural to him. I just wish he enjoyed reading as much as I did.  Addy-bee is a sweet little girl.  But, she is definitely your curse on me! :o) She is so stubborn at times.  She's truly a girl.  She wants what she wants and when she wants it. Much like I was. No, exactly like I was.  You would love them Ma and they would have loved you.  It's tough trying to explain to them that you were their other Grandma. It's hard for them to understand.  They do say they know you're with Jesus in Heaven so, maybe they have some sense of who you were.

I wish I had pictures of you.  Lots of pictures and not just a simple few.  I wish I had more to remember you by, more photos, momentos and such.  I do have your passion for yarn. I even have all your needles.  I try to teach myself to knit, it's hard.  I crochet instead.  You taught me how when I was seven and I never forgot. I've made a lot of adorable things for the kids, just like you would have!

Ma, though you were only in my life for a brief 18 years, you taught me a lot about what being a loving parent means.  You taught me to sacrifice things for my family. You taught me to enjoy my children while I have them, to always hug them and always tell them I love them (all the muches in the world).  I'll never forget your last words to me, "Remember I love you and always will." Have a great Mother's Day, Mom, watch over us, we know you're always there!

Your Loving Baby Girl,
Patty

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Win a Cascadian Farms Live Green Together Prize Pack (5/11)

Mummy Deals is having a Cascadian Farms Prize Pack Giveaway.  You can win some wonderful organic food products for you and your family.  The "Live Green Together" prize pack includes Cascadian Farm cereals and granola bars, including:

• Fruitful O´s cereal 
• Cinnamon Crunch cereal 
• Chocolate Chip Chewy granola bars 
• Dark Chocolate Almond Granola 
• Dark Chocolate Almond granola bars 
• Oats & Honey granola
• and an eco-friendly grocery bag.

My children would love the granola bars. I would love the peace of mind knowing the ingredients were organically grow!

You can also head over to the Cascadian Farms Facebook page for eco-friendly tips and choose one of eight pledges to living green. For each person that signs a pledge now through May 31, 2010, Cascadian Farm will donate $1, up to $40,000, to the Organic Farming Research Foundation, which fosters the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems.

Since I already cloth diaper my daughter, buy pre-owned clothing and donate all our clothing that no longer fits to charities and friends/family who have children younger than us, I figure that I'd pledge to continue re-using clothing.  

Contest closes on Tuesday May 11 at midnight

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Lamebook Funny

Found another Funny from Lamebook!

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Post It Note Tuesday 5/4

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Monday Mayhem 5/3

1. What time do you usually wake up in the morning?

• 7:45 MTR
• 9:00 WF

2. What do you do for the first hour of your day?

• try to wake up! 
• Shower 
• wake the kids and fight for the rest of the hour to get them dressed!

3. Where did or will you have for lunch today?

• Subway 

4.  What did you or will you be eating lunch? 

• 6" Italian on wheat toasted with all the veggies they could fit in it!

5. What is your best high school memory?

• probably would have to say any time I was in Band Class

6. Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes.

• Love my Crocs and recently love a pair of flip flops I purchased at Payless, they are brown leather with little stones on them. So Cute!

7. What does a perfect Sunday afternoon include for you?

• Family time.. actual family time.. not just being in the same room as the family but actually interacting and TALKING with them.

8. Was there one book that you read as a child that you still cherish?

• The Light in the Attic. My SIL recently found the book I had as a child. I gave it to my nephew when he started to read.  My SIL gave it back to me and now I read it to my son and daughter!

9. How would the people that know you personally describe you?

• Hilarious, kind, honest, fair and generous!

10. How would the people who only know you online describe you?

• Friendly, honest, determined? (well, I do enter a lot of contests LOL)

11. How will you be treating yourself today?

• I had some chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in a chocolate dipped cone for a snack tonight... half licked by my daughter but it was a cool relief to the heat

12. What is your definition of being spiritual? Are you spiritual?

• Spiritual to me is believing in the higher power and living his way. I am sort of spiritual.

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Monday Minute @ DDoR

1 - How much would you have to be paid to eat a human cadaver's finger?

You could NEVER pay me enough. I can't STAND the smell of formaldehyde and eeeuuuu it's a human being!

2 - Describe the worst physical fight you've ever been in.

9th grade year, sucka punched a douche bag in my French class for calling me "Fat Pat" for a week straight during class (during the entire class repeatedly, over and over again! Yah, annoying right?)  He never said it again. He got suspended for 3 days. I got sent back to class. (I drew blood sucka!)

3 - Name one song that if you never heard it ever again, you'd be thrilled.

Celebration... oh Dear God, that song goes right through me!

4 - Describe the "drunkest" situation you've ever been.

I don't think I have EVER been drunk. Seriously, I've drank but never to the point that I didn't know anything that was going on.  Never to the point that I did not know what I was doing. Just enough to get red, warm cheeks. :o)

5 - What's your biggest regret?

Wishing away my childhood.  Always wishing I was older like the rest of my brothers and sisters. Taking my Mom for granted and not truly sitting with her when she was alive.  I regret not giving her time as a teen (but I was a teen and that's what they do). I regret not asking my mother all the questions I have now about parenting! Ya, I have a lot of regrets but, now I move on and try not to develop any more!

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The Keurig Coffee Maker!

We have a Keurig at work and I LOVE IT! It makes the most perfect cup of coffee.  I usually drink Wild Mountain Blueberry by Green Mountain and it's so blueberry tasting.  I can't drink other coffees now. I found a giveaway on the Keeping the Kingdom First blog and thought I would share it with my readers.  HERE is the link to the contest.  It ends on May 1st so not much time left to get in your entries. Hurry over!

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Origin of a Name..

I was looking through some winery blogs today and discovered the origin of my last name.


The most widely-planted red wine grape in France is Carignan (sometimes spelled Carignane in the US, a.k.a. Carignano in Italy,Mazeulo in the Rioja or Cariñena in the rest of Spain). It is most frequently used for blending. On it's own, it is used to make inexpensive wine for everyday consumption. Carignan mostly produces wines that have high color, acidity, and tannin, without displaying much distinct flavor or personality and with very little unique appeal. (Learn more)


I've often wondered the origin of my last name.  Now, I know! 

So to sum up, I am a boring, everyday personality with very little unique appeal! 
(I hope not) LOL!

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Make a Baby Romper (Onsie) from a T-Shirt!

I am linking up to Cheaply Going Green's blog with this tutorial.

Make a baby/toddler Romper/Onsie from a t-shirt.  She has simple instructions with TONS of pictures.  Hope you find this as cool an idea as I did. I'm going to try and make a couple!

CLICK HERE to head over to her blog!

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Fluff Talk Thursday!

Cloth diapers! Earth Day! What a wonderful combination! 
Do you know how long a disposable diaper takes to completely degrade in a land fill?500 years! Yes, I said 500.  Did you know that? I can't imagine what people are going to think thousands of years from now.  
Do you know how long an average cloth diaper takes to degrade in a land fill? 0 years! I say 0 years because you can reuse them most times through multiple children.  Cloth diapers today are so simple to use and are extremely well made!
What cloth diapers have I tried and what do I think about them? (This is going to take a while.)
My first cloth diaper I ever tried was gDiapers but, I must admit they were not "cloth" they were still disposable diapers.  Well, not really disposable in the traditional sense of the word. gDiapers are hybrid cloth diapers.  They have a cloth diaper outside cover that is washable with an inside waterproof liner that houses a  disposable "pad".  These diapers really lead me down the path to modern cloth diapers I use today!

Next I made my own fitted diapers from adorable flannels. Love those and still use those today! I attempted a few covers on my own however, they did not fit very long and I found that they were made much better from a few WAHM I found on Etsy and eBay! I used these type of diapers for almost 5 months before I decided to try some pocket diapers.

My first pocket diaper was bumGenius.  I bought them from diapers.com and pretty much got them "free"! I was impressed with them, really, I was! I only had a couple so I would rotate them through my own made fitted and sometimes would use them as covers over the fitted ones. They worked great.  

Next I ventured into prefolds because I thought they were more simple and frankly, I wanted to see how they worked out.  Loved them too.  They are one of my favorite systems for out and about because they are more compact taking up much less space in my ever shrinking diaper bag! I purchased my prefolds on diaper swappers and got an awesome deal.  Mostly I use them folded in thirds and laid into whatever cover matches my daughters outfit for the day. I can usually get by with one cover since she really messes off the prefold.  Sometimes I need a bit more reassurance in the prefold's ability to hold in a particularly messy poop so, I Snappi it on then use a cover.

I discovered many other cloth diapers through entering contests on various blogs, winning a few.  I won FuzziBunz, GroBaby, Kissaluvs Marvels, Softbums and some Etsy made cloth diapers.  My favorite concept in cloth diapers it the GroBaby system however, it does not seem to hold in the messes for me and I have yet have to opportunity to use a cover more than once before washing it.  

My absolute favorite diaper is the Softbums diaper system.  they have an incredibly absorbent and soft snap in liner that is sort of double the absorbency when folded down in the front to fit your little one.  My favorite part of this system is that it is completely adjustable and usable form birth to potty training.  I have made this diaper small enough to successfully fit onto one of my daughters baby dolls that is slightly smaller than an average newborn.  The amazing drawstring adjustable elastics in the legs and cross over velcro make them so simple to use.  Also, they are super trim and fit under everything my daughter wears especially jeans! My only wish is to purchase more so I can fully use this system when out and about.  I just don't have enough liners to make it through a day out or I would! 
Now that I have briefed you on what is good about cloth diapers, head out and save the planet this Earth Day 2010 and consider changing your baby's diapers to cloth.  The planet and your babies bum will thank you! :o)

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Motherhood Monday 4/18

I've been following J. Leigh Designz blog for about a month or so. Recently, I started to follow her Motherhood Monday! This week, Jennifer asks about shower etiquette.  bring children that are not specifically invited on the invitation. You can view her post here.

My thoughts are:

As a Mom?

Everyone knows I have two young children. Since having children, when I am invited to a Bridal or Baby Shower I bring my kids.  It never dawned on me that they were "not" invited.  I guess I just assumed that even though they were specifically named on the invitation, they were welcome to go.  I guess I have always just thought no one would care that they were there.  They are pretty quiet for the most part and very well behaved.  I guess I always thought that everyone expected me to take them.  They are really young and there is really no one to watch them.  If the bridal or baby shower is on my side of the family, I would be able to leave them with my in-laws.  However, I know my family does not get to see them as often as I wish so, I take them.  I know my family would want to see them.  Likewise, a "party" on my husband's side leaves me without childcare.  I guess I have always thought everyone knew that.  Maybe they do? I'll continue to take them to bridal and baby showers because if I am close enough to the person that it is for or there family then I would expect they know that me kids go everywhere with "ME"!

As a Host?
I don't really care who brings who. My teenaged/twentyish nieces and nephews always bring a friend, boyfriend or girlfriend to functions I am hosting.  They don't usually ask and they are not usually specifically invited but, I don't care. My thoughts are the more the merrier.  I guess because I don't care who brings extra guests to my parties, I have never thought anything about bringing extra guests to other parties. This is not to say I would bring my kids to a party that is not appropriate for them.  I would never take them on a couples night out or to an adult only party.  Baby showers and bridal showers are not always adult parties. Yes, these showers are suppose to be about the honoree however, I've found most of the brides and mommy-to-bes LOVE having babies and little ones at there parties but maybe that's just the family I live in. I have truly NEVER had anyone upset at me for bringing them. However, I have had them get upset because I didn't bring them.

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Crispy Oven-Roasted Rosemary Chicken with Potatoes

Prep Time:
20 Min

Cook Time:
1 Hr

Ready In:
1 Hr 20 Min

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 2 1/2 pounds chicken pieces
• 1 pinch kosher salt to taste
• 2 pounds potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Prepare a large baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Pour the olive oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the chicken pieces in the hot oil 7 to 10 minutes; season with salt while cooking; set aside and return the skillet to heat. Heat the potatoes in the skillet until lightly browned. Arrange potatoes and chicken in the prepared baking dish; season with salt and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil; sprinkle with about half of the chopped rosemary.
3. Roast in the preheated oven 15 minutes. Turn each piece of chicken over and stir the potatoes. Sprinkle the remaining rosemary and the red wine vinegar over the dish; cook another 15 minutes.

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Giveaway Finds Week Ending 4/17

Here is what Mumma Tutu found during

Week Ending April 17, 2010

These Links will bring you to my blog posting 

from which, you may click to enter the giveaway 

should you so choose!
_________________________________________________________

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5QF'er Posting My Answers!

Found a cute blog follow today called Five Questions Friday at My Little Life!

Questions for today are:
1. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
2. Did you ever go to summer camp?
3. What sends you running and screaming in the other direction?
4. What is something you do that drives your spouse nuts?
5. What is currently your favorite song?

So, here goes:

1. Who would play me in the movie of my life?
• My life is so interesting enough to make a movie.  No, really it is! I think I would want someone hot, skinny and sexy to play me like maybe Jennifer Aniston (spelling) but, once the producers saw me, I'd get Rosanne Barr! Ahh, she's alright I guess.  At least she would have my attitude!
2. Summer Camp? Did I "get" to go?
• Unfortunately (or fortunately whichever) I never went to summer camp.  My block was my summer camp. My parent's did really believe in all that send your kids away crap or maybe they were just too cheap? I always thought I missed out on something but, I would have probably been the outcast anyway which makes me happy my parent's didn't do such a thing to me!
3. What makes me run around screaming and ranting and sweating and heebie jeebering?
• Spiders... Need I say more!? Okay, not just spiders but really any creepy crawly with 8 or more legs! OK, yah spiders! Also, the treat that the person who killed it for me might actually try to put it's dead, smooshed carcass anywhere near me! God, I HATE spiders!
4. Do I really need to answer this question about what drives my husband crazy? Can't I just tell you what he does that drives me batty?
• I think everything I do and don't do drives him nuts.  If I wash the dishes, I didn't wash the floor. You know what I mean? Nothing seems to make him happy, I just ignore the signals... kind of... and that "what-did-you-do-all-day" question of his drives me batty! I got 2 kids running around this house like a band of hooligans tearing the place apart.  When it's "his day" with the kids and "my break", he does the laundry while "I" watch the kids and keep them entertained.  He goes shopping for things (anything) while "I" stay home and entertain the kids.  Hmmmm, I wonder why he can get so much done!?
5. What is my favorite song at the moment?
• Currently, my favorite song is pretty famous but not sung by anyone famous "yet".  I love listening to my 21 month old daughter sitting in her crib singing "Some Where Over The Rainbow". It's the most beautiful way to wake up in the morning.  She has such an adorably sweet voice.  If you could only hear it! Oh wait, you can sort of since I uploaded her and my son singing to this blog a while back!

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