it's been such a busy week, i've barely had time to check my email. my husband has been away on a business trip so it's just been me and the boy. mom's in charge ;)
it's tough when my hubby is away because he's such a great support, husband and dad! Cruz always misses his dad too. when i pick up my cell phone, he instantly starts saying, "dada dada." it's so cute!
yesterday, we went to Stroller Strides. i got my workout on and then the mommies had coffee talk. Cruz was on his best behavior but after an extra hour sitting in his stroller, he got a little restless, so i took him back to the beach park so he could play at the playground. he played till he could hardly keep his eyes open. it's nice when he tires himself out like that.. gives mom a nice long break during nap time :)
we enjoyed a fun day at Gymboree today. Cruz crawled and walked over everything in his path. he's getting so brave!
the rain stayed away today which was nice. the weather forecasted off and on drizzles all day but what do they know :p
hopefully, the rain will hold off again tomorrow so we can enjoy a nice day outside for Stroller Strides.
Feb 27, 2007
Feb 20, 2007
my baby finally says "mama"
this is the happiest day! my baby boy finally says "mama" to me. for a while now he has mumbled it but when i asked him to say "mama" to my face he would say somethng else.. usually "dada." grrr! that always broke my heart. LOL
my mother says i'll be hearing it now for the next 18 years and i'll wish he never learned my name, but for now, it makes me so happy :)
in other news, i'm looking forward to mom's night out tomorrow. the other mamas and i will be out bowling and maybe having a cocktail. good times!
my mother says i'll be hearing it now for the next 18 years and i'll wish he never learned my name, but for now, it makes me so happy :)
in other news, i'm looking forward to mom's night out tomorrow. the other mamas and i will be out bowling and maybe having a cocktail. good times!
Feb 19, 2007
children's book banned
[quote - NYTimes.com]
With One Word, Children’s Book Sets Off Uproar
By JULIE BOSMAN
Published: February 18, 2007
The word “scrotum” does not often appear in polite conversation. Or children’s literature, for that matter.
Yet there it is on the first page of “The Higher Power of Lucky,” by Susan Patron, this year’s winner of the Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award in children’s literature. The book’s heroine, a scrappy 10-year-old orphan named Lucky Trimble, hears the word through a hole in a wall when another character says he saw a rattlesnake bite his dog, Roy, on the scrotum.
“Scrotum sounded to Lucky like something green that comes up when you have the flu and cough too much,” the book continues. “It sounded medical and secret, but also important.”
The inclusion of the word has shocked some school librarians, who have pledged to ban the book from elementary schools, and reopened the debate over what constitutes acceptable content in children’s books. The controversy was first reported by Publishers Weekly, a trade magazine.
[/quote]
first of all, it really upsets me, as a mom, when quality children's literature is banned by schools!
secondly, my son hears much worse on tv commercials that i have no parental control over.. enlarged prostate, erectile disfunction, condoms, and menstruation products to name a few. none of which seem any more controversial than the word "scrotum."
chances are by the end of the book, most kids are not even going to remember "scrotum" on the first page. instead, they will remember the book as a whole being a great story.
lastly, hearing mature words is a life lesson every kid will be able to relate to. it's just part of growing up.
With One Word, Children’s Book Sets Off Uproar
By JULIE BOSMAN
Published: February 18, 2007
The word “scrotum” does not often appear in polite conversation. Or children’s literature, for that matter.
Yet there it is on the first page of “The Higher Power of Lucky,” by Susan Patron, this year’s winner of the Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award in children’s literature. The book’s heroine, a scrappy 10-year-old orphan named Lucky Trimble, hears the word through a hole in a wall when another character says he saw a rattlesnake bite his dog, Roy, on the scrotum.
“Scrotum sounded to Lucky like something green that comes up when you have the flu and cough too much,” the book continues. “It sounded medical and secret, but also important.”
The inclusion of the word has shocked some school librarians, who have pledged to ban the book from elementary schools, and reopened the debate over what constitutes acceptable content in children’s books. The controversy was first reported by Publishers Weekly, a trade magazine.
[/quote]
first of all, it really upsets me, as a mom, when quality children's literature is banned by schools!
secondly, my son hears much worse on tv commercials that i have no parental control over.. enlarged prostate, erectile disfunction, condoms, and menstruation products to name a few. none of which seem any more controversial than the word "scrotum."
chances are by the end of the book, most kids are not even going to remember "scrotum" on the first page. instead, they will remember the book as a whole being a great story.
lastly, hearing mature words is a life lesson every kid will be able to relate to. it's just part of growing up.
Feb 17, 2007
backyard
today was so beautiful!
i thought i would waste my morning cleaning house, but when walked out to the garage to start a load a laundry, i instantly couldn't bare the thought of wasting this day inside. temps in the high 70s and not a cloud in the sky.. perfect weather for hanging out in the backyard. i put shoes on Cruz and removed the lid to his sandbox. my son had a wonderful time playing and running around. the best part for this mom was.. no fuss when nap time came around ;)
after nap time, we returned to the backyard after a trip to the grocery store. my husband fired up the grill. a little more playtime and then we set up Cruz for an outdoor dinner. by the time he was done eating, our steaks were ready.
what a perfect day :)
i thought i would waste my morning cleaning house, but when walked out to the garage to start a load a laundry, i instantly couldn't bare the thought of wasting this day inside. temps in the high 70s and not a cloud in the sky.. perfect weather for hanging out in the backyard. i put shoes on Cruz and removed the lid to his sandbox. my son had a wonderful time playing and running around. the best part for this mom was.. no fuss when nap time came around ;)
after nap time, we returned to the backyard after a trip to the grocery store. my husband fired up the grill. a little more playtime and then we set up Cruz for an outdoor dinner. by the time he was done eating, our steaks were ready.
what a perfect day :)
Feb 14, 2007
i feel like a hot mama on Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day!
i have a romantic dinner planned for my husband and me. steaks with cognac sauce and a salad with blue cheese and hazel nuts.. i hear hazel nuts are an aphrodisiac.. ew lala! ;)
this day has finally given me an excuse to wear my red shoes. being a mom doesn't exactly give you much opportunity to play dress up and feel sexy, but just slipping on these red lace beauties make me feel great! i have to honest.. on days when i'm feeling a little down, i put my red shoes on while cleaning the house for a little pick me up. i may look a little funny since my go-to outfit is usually sweat pants, but hey, a girl's gotta do what makes her feel good. anyway, today i'm getting all dolled up to surprise my husband and my red shoes will be making an appearance tonight.
i'm keeping my fingers crossed that Cruz will go to bed on time so my hubby and i get to spend some time alone, if you know what i mean ;)
i have a romantic dinner planned for my husband and me. steaks with cognac sauce and a salad with blue cheese and hazel nuts.. i hear hazel nuts are an aphrodisiac.. ew lala! ;)
this day has finally given me an excuse to wear my red shoes. being a mom doesn't exactly give you much opportunity to play dress up and feel sexy, but just slipping on these red lace beauties make me feel great! i have to honest.. on days when i'm feeling a little down, i put my red shoes on while cleaning the house for a little pick me up. i may look a little funny since my go-to outfit is usually sweat pants, but hey, a girl's gotta do what makes her feel good. anyway, today i'm getting all dolled up to surprise my husband and my red shoes will be making an appearance tonight.
i'm keeping my fingers crossed that Cruz will go to bed on time so my hubby and i get to spend some time alone, if you know what i mean ;)
Feb 11, 2007
baby's sleeping habits need some adjusting
i don't know what's the deal, but Cruz's sleeping schedule has been off. when Cruz doesn't go to bed on time, it makes me cranky! mom work takes up most my day, and i look forward to some free time once my son is sleeping. the past couple nights he has been going to sleep 1-2 hours past his bedtime which is usually 8:00 pm. to make matter worse, my husband was out tonight at an award show and i was home alone with a baby unwilling to go to bed. he was fighting it hard!
i held him on the couch hoping he would fall asleep in my arms.. still awake. i laid him in the crib because i needing something to eat and Cruz cried in his crib. i picked him up after 2-3 minutes and held him on the couch hoping he would fall asleep soon.. still awake. i needed another break, so i put Cruz back down in the crib and got the laundry out of the dryer, but Cruz was still crying so i picked him up and held him on the couch to try again to get him to sleep.. still awake. my patience was wearing thin around 10:00 pm when my husband called to say he was on his way home. i grumbled on about how Cruz was not sleeping yet and how i needed some "me time." then i hung up the phone and waited for him to arrive home. Cruz fell asleep 2 minutes before my husband walked in the door. i was still mad and now too tired to enjoy some down time as much as i would have if Cruz went to bed on time.
in these times my husband feels my wrath. i'm not mad at him but he's the only one around. it's not fair to him but i needed to vent. i felt bad and apologized for bringing out my inner beast. my husband is such a wonderful man and is the best daddy! he's very understanding when i'm ranting. i shall try better in the future to not take my frustrations out on him. i love him so! i'm very lucky to have this great family.
back to my problem with baby's sleeping habits.. starting tomorrow i think i will try to get an earlier start on the bed time routine. i think bath time might have to move up a half-hour earlier so Cruz gets more time to wind down. i'm crossing my fingers we will get it under control soon ;)
i held him on the couch hoping he would fall asleep in my arms.. still awake. i laid him in the crib because i needing something to eat and Cruz cried in his crib. i picked him up after 2-3 minutes and held him on the couch hoping he would fall asleep soon.. still awake. i needed another break, so i put Cruz back down in the crib and got the laundry out of the dryer, but Cruz was still crying so i picked him up and held him on the couch to try again to get him to sleep.. still awake. my patience was wearing thin around 10:00 pm when my husband called to say he was on his way home. i grumbled on about how Cruz was not sleeping yet and how i needed some "me time." then i hung up the phone and waited for him to arrive home. Cruz fell asleep 2 minutes before my husband walked in the door. i was still mad and now too tired to enjoy some down time as much as i would have if Cruz went to bed on time.
in these times my husband feels my wrath. i'm not mad at him but he's the only one around. it's not fair to him but i needed to vent. i felt bad and apologized for bringing out my inner beast. my husband is such a wonderful man and is the best daddy! he's very understanding when i'm ranting. i shall try better in the future to not take my frustrations out on him. i love him so! i'm very lucky to have this great family.
back to my problem with baby's sleeping habits.. starting tomorrow i think i will try to get an earlier start on the bed time routine. i think bath time might have to move up a half-hour earlier so Cruz gets more time to wind down. i'm crossing my fingers we will get it under control soon ;)
Feb 10, 2007
a mom is always calm under pressure
ok, my heart is starting to slow back down.. we just had a scare. here's what just happened:
Cruz is lying in his crib after his bath and i'm attempting to diaper him. he hates putting on a diaper and fights me the whole time. i sing a song to take his mind off the process at hand. after getting the diaper on, i look and he has managed to get his leg caught between two of the slats and it's stuck. i try to move it slightly to get unstuck but it's not budging. at this point, Cruz is starting to panic and so is Mom. i call for my husband, yelling, "baby Baby BABY!" getting louder with each call. my emotional state is not helping at all because my husband come running into the room full charge thinking it's a life or death situation. we get his leg unstuck and then have to calm our crying baby boy. luckily, his leg is going to be ok!
now i know in an emergency, the best thing for a mother to do is act calm, but oh my, that is so hard when your baby is in trouble! note to self.. this is definitely something i'm gonna have to work on for the sake of my child.
Cruz is lying in his crib after his bath and i'm attempting to diaper him. he hates putting on a diaper and fights me the whole time. i sing a song to take his mind off the process at hand. after getting the diaper on, i look and he has managed to get his leg caught between two of the slats and it's stuck. i try to move it slightly to get unstuck but it's not budging. at this point, Cruz is starting to panic and so is Mom. i call for my husband, yelling, "baby Baby BABY!" getting louder with each call. my emotional state is not helping at all because my husband come running into the room full charge thinking it's a life or death situation. we get his leg unstuck and then have to calm our crying baby boy. luckily, his leg is going to be ok!
now i know in an emergency, the best thing for a mother to do is act calm, but oh my, that is so hard when your baby is in trouble! note to self.. this is definitely something i'm gonna have to work on for the sake of my child.
this mom's thoughts on motherhood
there are so many things i love about motherhood! i love my son's smile most of all. his smile brightens my day. it is the first thing i see when i wake up in the morning and what a wonderful way to start the day :)
being a mother has taught me so much about life. i have learned patience which is something i always lacked. i have learned it's ok to be silly and to not care about what others thing when they see you making silly faces and goofy noises. my baby's laugh blocks out the rest of the world.
things that surprised me the most when i became a mom is i can change a poopie diaper and overcome the smell no matter how pungent.. and i didn't care when i got spit up on new clothes.
becoming a mom has empowered me and i have done things i never thought i could do. being a mom is the hardest job i've ever had but it is the most rewarding. payment is in giggles and hugs!
being a mother has taught me so much about life. i have learned patience which is something i always lacked. i have learned it's ok to be silly and to not care about what others thing when they see you making silly faces and goofy noises. my baby's laugh blocks out the rest of the world.
things that surprised me the most when i became a mom is i can change a poopie diaper and overcome the smell no matter how pungent.. and i didn't care when i got spit up on new clothes.
becoming a mom has empowered me and i have done things i never thought i could do. being a mom is the hardest job i've ever had but it is the most rewarding. payment is in giggles and hugs!
no family pet for now
last night was a long night. Cruz woke up in the middle of the night wanting to play so my sweet hubby stayed up with him so i could catch up on some much needed sleep. oh how i love that man of mine! :*
we got a late start this morning. i was hoping to be up and going at our normal time, between 6:30 and 7:00 am. instead, we didn't get out of bed till almost 9:00 am. the extra sleep was nice but i wanted to get down to the local animal shelter early for their adoption event today. my husband and i talked it over and we decided getting a family pet for Cruz would be ok.. we also agreed a cat would suit us best at this time. i was very excited to take Cruz to the animal shelter, but the cat we liked earlier this week had already been adopted. darn it! we got there too late :(
i am glad that cute cat got adopted and i hope he spends the rest of his life with a loving family. unfortunately there were not any other cats at the shelter today we were attracted to. so it just wasn't meant to be today, but we will be getting a kitty when the right one comes along.
the lady at the shelter said that they get in more kittens in the spring time so i'll be taking my son there every so often to visit the animals and eventually adopt one to take home.
Cruz is really going to enjoy having a pet. he giggles every time he sees a dog or cat or any animal either in person or on tv. having a pet will teach him how to act around animals and he'll learn some responsibility when he gets old enough to help out with feedings and cleaning up. he's a really good boy who will love a pet.. i can't wait to get him one!
we got a late start this morning. i was hoping to be up and going at our normal time, between 6:30 and 7:00 am. instead, we didn't get out of bed till almost 9:00 am. the extra sleep was nice but i wanted to get down to the local animal shelter early for their adoption event today. my husband and i talked it over and we decided getting a family pet for Cruz would be ok.. we also agreed a cat would suit us best at this time. i was very excited to take Cruz to the animal shelter, but the cat we liked earlier this week had already been adopted. darn it! we got there too late :(
i am glad that cute cat got adopted and i hope he spends the rest of his life with a loving family. unfortunately there were not any other cats at the shelter today we were attracted to. so it just wasn't meant to be today, but we will be getting a kitty when the right one comes along.
the lady at the shelter said that they get in more kittens in the spring time so i'll be taking my son there every so often to visit the animals and eventually adopt one to take home.
Cruz is really going to enjoy having a pet. he giggles every time he sees a dog or cat or any animal either in person or on tv. having a pet will teach him how to act around animals and he'll learn some responsibility when he gets old enough to help out with feedings and cleaning up. he's a really good boy who will love a pet.. i can't wait to get him one!
Feb 9, 2007
RECIPE: baby's first grilled cheese
i wanted to cook up a grilled cheese sandwich for my son but i found tradition methods did not work out so well. first off, it has to be cut into bite sized pieces and the bread just never stuck together well enough. so i can up with this little variation:
Baby's First Grilled Cheese
ingredients
1 piece of bread
1 individual package of string cheese
directions
1. toast bread
2. pull apart string cheese in small strips
3. evenly cover top of bread with cheese
4. microwave for a few seconds until cheese is melted
(watch carefully and don't overcook)
5. let cool slightly and cut into bite size pieces
(i usually remove the crust first)
Baby's First Grilled Cheese
ingredients
1 piece of bread
1 individual package of string cheese
directions
1. toast bread
2. pull apart string cheese in small strips
3. evenly cover top of bread with cheese
4. microwave for a few seconds until cheese is melted
(watch carefully and don't overcook)
5. let cool slightly and cut into bite size pieces
(i usually remove the crust first)
Feb 8, 2007
my son's fashion trend
this just in.. any fashion with trucks on it is in style this season!
this trend was started by Cruz who refuses to wear anything that doesn't have a truck, tractor, big rig, construction equipment, or emergency vehicle on it. i am constantly washing the few outfits that have trucks on them to make him happy. Cruz helps pick out what he wears each day and always goes for the same truck prints. sometimes he's a little mismatched but he's so proud when he can point at his shirt and pants and say, "trucks!"
this trend was started by Cruz who refuses to wear anything that doesn't have a truck, tractor, big rig, construction equipment, or emergency vehicle on it. i am constantly washing the few outfits that have trucks on them to make him happy. Cruz helps pick out what he wears each day and always goes for the same truck prints. sometimes he's a little mismatched but he's so proud when he can point at his shirt and pants and say, "trucks!"
should we get a family pet?
today i took Cruz (15 months old) to the animal shelter to look at the doggies and kitties. he really loves animals so my husband and i have discussed getting a family pet. my hubby is a dog person and i am a cat person. i am not opposed to dogs.. i like dogs and had a lot of great dogs growing up, but i just found cats to be a better qualified pet to fit my lifestyle.
what has delayed our decision on getting a pet is neither me nor my husband have family that lives close by to pet-sit when we go out of town, and because we have to travel to visit family, we go out of town quite a few times a year, mostly for long weekends. i do have a friend who checks up on the house for us when we are away that would come by to feed the pet but she is not guaranteed to stop by every day we're gone. a cat would best fit this dilemma because it would not need as much human contact as a dog would when we are out of town.
my husband is dead set on a dog being the best choice. of course i know who will actually end up taking care of whatever pet we get.. that's right.. mom.. me! in the daily life of being a mom, my schedule is non-stop. as it is i barely get out of the door on time to attend various activities i do with my son. having to walk the dog before i go out will makes things even harder, i feel. plus, i don't drive a car, and i can't take a pet with me on the city bus when i take my son to the beach park. again, this makes a cat the better pick because it uses a littler box and will be fine hanging out at home until we return home from outings.
getting a family pet is a big decision! my husband and i must decide:
1. should we get a pet now or wait?
2. what pet is best for our son?
3. what pet best fits our lifestyle?
we have a lot of love in this house to give to a pet and i think my son would really enjoy having an animal around to play with. he giggled at the dogs and cats at the shelter today. i found out the shelter is having an event this saturday with discounted adoption fees and fun stuff for the whole family. i think i'm gonna talk to my hubby about going. plus, i saw the cutest, sweetest cat there that rubbed up on my son. i guess we'll just see what happens...
what has delayed our decision on getting a pet is neither me nor my husband have family that lives close by to pet-sit when we go out of town, and because we have to travel to visit family, we go out of town quite a few times a year, mostly for long weekends. i do have a friend who checks up on the house for us when we are away that would come by to feed the pet but she is not guaranteed to stop by every day we're gone. a cat would best fit this dilemma because it would not need as much human contact as a dog would when we are out of town.
my husband is dead set on a dog being the best choice. of course i know who will actually end up taking care of whatever pet we get.. that's right.. mom.. me! in the daily life of being a mom, my schedule is non-stop. as it is i barely get out of the door on time to attend various activities i do with my son. having to walk the dog before i go out will makes things even harder, i feel. plus, i don't drive a car, and i can't take a pet with me on the city bus when i take my son to the beach park. again, this makes a cat the better pick because it uses a littler box and will be fine hanging out at home until we return home from outings.
getting a family pet is a big decision! my husband and i must decide:
1. should we get a pet now or wait?
2. what pet is best for our son?
3. what pet best fits our lifestyle?
we have a lot of love in this house to give to a pet and i think my son would really enjoy having an animal around to play with. he giggled at the dogs and cats at the shelter today. i found out the shelter is having an event this saturday with discounted adoption fees and fun stuff for the whole family. i think i'm gonna talk to my hubby about going. plus, i saw the cutest, sweetest cat there that rubbed up on my son. i guess we'll just see what happens...
hi i am Cruz's Mom
my name is Keri and i am the mother of a beautiful baby boy named Cruz. currently, Cruz is 15 months old. he is the happiest kid i know and my husband and i are very proud of that :)
i work hard all day as a housewife and mother. i love my family and i love my job! it is very rewarding to be part of Cruz's milestones. we have fun all day involved in activities like Gymboree, Stroller Strides, the grocery store, or where ever we can have an adventure.. even if it's just staying at home.
being a stay at home mom is not all fun and games. there is a lot of stuff to take care of around the house and errands to run around town. sometimes it's hard to find the time to do it all and sometimes it doesn't all get done. i do my best but kids are very unpredictable and the unexpected can happen at any time. but hey, that's what makes it fun and never boring, am i right moms? to kick start my day, i look at myself in the mirror and say, "I AM SUPERMOM!" that helps me tackle everything the day will bring :)
i'm starting this blog to talk about motherhood. i want to share my experience and get feedback from other moms. i'm not perfect and no expert; i'm just a good mom trying to do my best. i think it's important to hear about other achievements and mistakes moms make so we all can learn from each other.
thanks for reading!
i work hard all day as a housewife and mother. i love my family and i love my job! it is very rewarding to be part of Cruz's milestones. we have fun all day involved in activities like Gymboree, Stroller Strides, the grocery store, or where ever we can have an adventure.. even if it's just staying at home.
being a stay at home mom is not all fun and games. there is a lot of stuff to take care of around the house and errands to run around town. sometimes it's hard to find the time to do it all and sometimes it doesn't all get done. i do my best but kids are very unpredictable and the unexpected can happen at any time. but hey, that's what makes it fun and never boring, am i right moms? to kick start my day, i look at myself in the mirror and say, "I AM SUPERMOM!" that helps me tackle everything the day will bring :)
i'm starting this blog to talk about motherhood. i want to share my experience and get feedback from other moms. i'm not perfect and no expert; i'm just a good mom trying to do my best. i think it's important to hear about other achievements and mistakes moms make so we all can learn from each other.
thanks for reading!
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