When Did This Happen?

Seriously, wasn't Fuss just a baby yesterday!? Tonight I just spent, at least, 5 minutes explaining to her why we don't unroll the ENTIRE roll of toilet paper when we potty. I have tried the "don't do it" thing, but that did not work. So, tonight, I reminded her of the "Love the Earth" DVD with Elmo that we own. She has watched it a million times. I told her to remember Elmo wasting water down the drain. She said she remembered. I took it 1 step further, drawing on the "Lorax" for inspiration here: Toilet paper is made from trees and unless you want all the trees to go away, we don't waste toilet paper. Do you want trees to go away? (No.) Okay. Then please only use a little bit and don't waste. (Okay, Mama)

Really?

That worked?

I guess we'll have to wait and see for sure, but I was really amazed at how much of it she understood.

I really want to know when my baby turned into a bright little GIRL! It was probably those same aliens that stole my baby and replaced her with a tantrum-throwing toddler. I think they enhanced her and sent her back again. lol. Of course, we all know the tantrums are going to last another year at least, so not sure what kind of prank the aliens are pulling on me.

#MMM Slowly Getting There

As I am trying to get back to normal, some things fall by the wayside. Unfortunately, blogging takes a back seat to the needs of my family. After being sick for nearly 2 weeks, Fuss and I are finally on the mend and I have been able to get my house back in order (somewhat). I cannot wait to help out my bloggy friend Angela from Life With My Littles with her big Newborn Event. :) She and I have become very close over the last couple of years after I won my first diaper from her. So, I will continue to work out the details and try to get some more sponsors on board (including the ones I already had) and get this all put together.

Other than that, we have recently found out that my BIL and his fiancee are getting married in June! My sister is due for her first June 6th and is having a little boy!! And my baby sister is graduating! :D So much going on, but so thankful for all of it. Hoping to add our own new baby to that mix soon if the Fates be kind.

Wordless Wednesday

Sickness, please go away.

Fuss and I are both sick. She has a "cold" according to the doctor. She was swabbed for flu and it came back negative, so hoping the 102 fever she had last night was a fluke. Runny nose, watery eyes, and coughing round out her list of symptoms. I, on the other hand, have about 75% lost my voice, have a stuffy nose, and a sore throat. I just started coughing as well. Hubby is the only one who isn't "really" sick. He has had sinus issues for the last 3 weeks but doesn't seem affected by whatever Fuss and I caught.

Late nights with a cranky child are no fun. I did put the vaporizer in Fuss's room the last 2 nights, which has helped. I still need to go out and buy some vaporub for her though. I really don't feel like going out though...nor do I feel like cooking. Such is the life of Mommy.

#MMM Joining the January #Fitness Rush

Hello, January Fitness Fiends! Hubby and I have decided to join the "New Year's Resolution" crowd and joined Planet Fitness this month. I am (somewhat) excited because I would love to have a nice, toned body again. I don't want my 20-year-old body back...maybe 25... I would, however, like to have less jiggle and a little more definition. Not necessarily a bikini body, but to look good and not have a muffin top! LOL. I'll have to post a photo of myself before I start working out. My current weight at 5'1" is 133. Hubby would be upset if I put his stats, so I'll tell you he is 6'1" and hates his weight. His goal is weight loss. Fingers crossed we'll be able to meet our goals and I will be able to keep from hurting my hernia in the process.

Wish us luck! And perseverance!

AAAhhhhh! #TripPlanning with #Toddlers

Anyone else have this problem? We have just found out the official date for my BIL's wedding. Yay! So excited!! The problem? The wedding is in California and we are in West Virginia. 5 hours. In a plane. With a toddler. Actually, after driving 9 hours (which inevitably turns into 10 because around hour 6 Fuss decides to potty every 20 minutes) to my Dad's, a 5-hour flight shouldn't really be all that bad. My dilemma there? The car seat. I have a rather bulky seat, but it is an awesome seat for the price and goes up really high in weight limits. The issue is that it might be too wide at the base to fit in the airplane seat correctly. The average seat width is somewhere around 17.2" (Source) and my seat is 20.8" wide. I asked on a Facebook group what the solution would be and the answer was to lift the arm rests. Okay, I can manage that. What about the weight of the seat carrying it through the airport? (It weighs about 15 pounds.) Well, I can cart it. My other option would be getting a new, but cheap, car seat for the trip. Bonus: That second seat would end up going to my MIL for use when she baby sits Fuss. The second seat is only about 1" less wide, but is 4 pounds lighter!

Secondly, we have to consider entertainment for Fuss. She gets bored easily and when she gets bored she, well, fusses. She will either scream or fight or wander. (Insert reason #1253 for taking car seat here.) On the other hand, it is only 5 hours. I don't want to be "those" people with the screaming kid, but I don't want to have to lug around more than necessary. She HAS to be harnessed according to FAA regulations. So, I can probably take some crayons and some snacks, but what else would you take on a plane ride for a 3-year-old?

Once I get all the planning sorted out in my head, I will be a LOT less stressed about this. Of course, I don't have just 1 trip to plan. Hubby and I also have to plan a trip for my baby sister's graduation! These events will be just a couple weeks apart, so that should be interesting.

Have you traveled with your kids? What did you do to entertain them?

Three Things Thursday

So, I found this great idea posted by April from Mama On A Green Mission and Bri at Eco Baby Mama Drama called Three Things Thursday. Basically we just post 3 things to help our readers get to know us a little bit better. You already know the obvious...but let's hit the less-than-obvious stuff now!

Favorite TV Shows:
1. Once Upon a Time
2. Law & Order: SVU (but really missing Stabler aka Chris Meloni)
3. Supernatural

Piercings: 
1. I have 3 holes in each ear. 
2. Used to have a belly piercing but let it close when I got pregnant. 

Places I Want to Visit:
1. Alaska (all 50 states, actually, but Alaska is the biggie for us)
2. England
3. The Grand Canyon


That's just a few of the smaller things about me. I have lots more to share, so stay tuned! And if you are a blogger, feel free to link up with Bri and April every week!

 

Thinking About #Montessori

Fuss has been literally BEGGING to go to school. Since she will be 3 in April, Hubby and I have started talking about preschool. Naturally, she will only be in school 2 or 3 days a week for a couple hours. I really think she will do well and could use the social interaction. Right now, she really loves going to her sitter 3 days a week and has officially adopted her friends there as her "brother" and "sisters".

The biggest question for us at the moment is should we go with the Montessori school that is about 10 minutes away and more expensive or the United Methodist Church that is only 2 minutes away and cheaper? I know people who have sent their children to the church and know it is a good school. I just keep thinking, though, that Fuss will be better off and do much better overall in the Montessori school.

The key thing is that in the Montessori school, Fuss will be able to explore outside her age range, which we have always encouraged. She will also be able to interact with older and similar-aged children at the same time. Of course, that could be good or bad since she could learn some bad habits from the older children. She already knows numbers 1 through 13, and for some odd reason the number 35, as well as her alphabet by sight. She can spell the first 3 letters of her name. I'm just not sure she will do well in the traditional "sit and learn" school setting. However, the question remains should I put her in a school like that in order to prepare her for "real" school at age 6?

When Mommy Is Sick

Honestly? Nothing changes. Hubby worked this evening, so I get to take care of Fuss while I'm feeling miserable. At least it's only sinus and a sore throat. I have a sinus headache and am a little nauseated, but it could definitely be worse. So, tonight it looks like I'm going to be letting Fuss take over the television and watch anything she wants (within reason) as long as she's quiet. Hubby is home for the rest of the week starting tomorrow, so I hope that if I get worse it isn't until tomorrow and it is before he starts work again for the week.

I will be using my SinuClens pot tonight after Fuss goes to bed in the hopes that I can get some of this cleared out. Fingers are crossed that I am not fighting strep!

Back at it!

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm very glad to be back to "normal" around here at last!

When I went to the hand surgeon in December, he told me that I only had a chip fracture of the knuckle where the ligament attaches. I was extremely lucky that all it was happened to be a severely strained ligament and a chip. No surgery and I was able to go back to work. That being said, I was still only able to do half my regular workload and nearly unable to type after work was over, so I decided to stay off blogging for a bit. **Side note: The doctor sent me my own medical transcription and it made me laugh. I guess he really liked me! lol.**

SIL's Amore Tiles Afghan

Over the break, I had a couple of projects get finished up. I made my SIL an afghan (well, I *finished* the afghan) as a replacement for one my nephew pulled apart. I also made my BIL an afghan.... Honestly, I just tucked in the ends of the one I had made and hadn't managed to get to him a while ago, but SHHH! Don't tell! lol.

BIL's Stained Glass Window Afghan

 Since Fuss had asked for a "purple teddy bear" before Christmas when I wasn't able to do it, I made her this bear in just a couple days' time. She didn't like the face, so I'm going to re-do that, but she picked the yarn color out herself and told me she liked it. If I make another, I might try to make him bigger...

Fuss's Bear

I think I just needed the time away from the computer to focus on my family and enjoy our time together. It was nice, but I look forward to adding content here for the rest of the year, including several giveaways and product reviews (some even from my sister!) of great products. I can't wait to see what this year brings to our lives!