show and tell: messy

This post is my first contribution to Mom's Marble's new "Show and Tell" feature. Go check it out and play along! (Though it may not be 100% what they're going for, I wanted to participate -and encourage you to as well- and hope to do so more in the future.)

As some of you know, Punkin has "issues" with food - especially certain textures. He's also not a fan of trying new things most of the time. Whenever he does try something new, I get super excited. We do our best to get him to try new things/textures, even if it means we're "forcing" him to eat ice cream or other yummy (though nutritionally devoid) items. (We're so mean!)

Here's his first experience with pudding.

Not too sure:




Hmmm... this might not be too bad:





Pudding is awesome (and MESSY):




Having that mess on his face is quite an accomplishment. Though he did demand its removal within .5 seconds of the picture being taken!

i...

I hate:

• when I yell at Punkin
• that I feel like sometimes the only way Punkin hears me is if I yell
• that when I make dinner (which is a rarity) I expect applause and cheers and a parade thrown in my honor
• when I make dinner (which is a rarity) but it doesn't turn out how I hoped
• that I'm disorganized and can't seem to hold on to the motivation to do much about it
• that middle school doesn't feel so far away some days when I wonder if people like me
• that this list has become self-indulgent and whiny

I love:

• that I'm married to the most wonderful man in the world
• that Punkin loves to talk and ask questions (even if it is "why?" every 3 seconds)
• Punkin's toes. Seriously, they're the only toes I've ever not thought were completely and utterly disgusting
• that my relationships with my brothers have grown as we've all gotten older
• that I'm actually looking forward to the day my parents move to the same town as me
• that I've been blessed by the friendships of great women from my moms group
• that God is faithful and loves me unconditionally
• that this list makes the first list seem so small

What about you? What makes your lists?

wordless wednesday: stylin'

success!

Sunday was a beautiful day! My friend Ems* agreed to walk with me at the March of Dimes March for Babies walk. I had a great time catching up with her. This is a picture of us at the start of the race. Ems is proudly showing off her beads that symbolize that she is walking for her future babies. :)

image courtesy of TheMomExperience

Here we are at the end of the walk**. We made it! I was worried beforehand that I wouldn't succeed, but it was so easy walking with a fun friend.

image courtesy of theotherjackson5

We also met a lot of other cool bloggers (like mooshinindy, designhermomma, theotherjackson5, TheMomExperience, ordinarysarah, karensugarpants, and many others***).

It was a great experience walking for such a great cause. Maddie touched many lives and I hope that the money raised from these walks will help other families not have to go through what Maddie's mom and dad have.

I heard on the news that Indy raised over $125,000 for the March of Dimes! Go Indy!

* Ems said I couldn't link to her blog if I posted a picture of her. Since I posted 2, I figured I really better not. She's convinced these pictures are horrible. I think they're great, so I'm hoping she changes her mind and lets me link! UPDATE: Ems posted a comment so she inadvertantly linked back to her blog, so I went ahead and made it easier by linking above too!

** Okay, so we're also cracking up because we made theotherjackson5 re-do the picture she originally took of us. We were horrified about the # of chins in the picture. Let's just say there were more chins than people... not a good thing! I think this is the longest my neck has ever looked in a picture. Tyra would be so proud.

*** If I met you at the walk but don't have you listed, let me know your blog address, and I'll add you!

UPDATE: karensugarpants kindly sent me this group photo. I think it makes the post more complete.

added to your life, your blog

excitement builds

Okay, so I still have no idea if I can really walk 5 miles all at once or not, but I'm getting more and more excited about the upcoming March for Babies walk for the March of Dimes.

1) The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend. Sunny. And. Warm. I could really use some Sunny. And. Warm. right about now.

2) I got an email from the local coordinator discussing the details of the day. Sounds like they have some great things planned. And the walk ends at a local park, so the Hubs and Punkin will be able to meet me there and Punkin will be able to have some fun while he waits... and waits... and waits... Oh, and also the email mentioned a 4 mile walk... so maybe Punkin won't have to wait quite so long.

3) I am completely overwhelmed and grateful to my many sponsors. I had no idea what to set my fundraising goal at, but I am thrilled to see that I have blown right past it. I can't believe how generous so many have been! And it's for such a great cause!

If you'd like to join this awesome list of sponsors, go here: http://www.marchforbabies.org/punkinmama

4) I am hoping to meet some wonderful ladies whose blogs I follow or who I follow on twitter. It's been amazing to see the internet community band together and support Maddie and her family. We may not all have met Maddie, but she has impacted so many people in so many positive ways. I hope the walk can be another celebration of her much too short life... and will help improve the health of babies everywhere.

marching for maddie

I’ve decided to participate in the March of Dimes “March for Babies” walk on April 26. Yes, that’s only 16 days away (and no I haven’t done any preparation for this).

Why the sudden urge to exercise?

I’m marching for Maddie.

Who’s Maddie?

Read more about her here: http://www.marchformaddie.com/about-madeline-alice/

Short summary:
- Maddie was born November 11, 2007, 11 weeks and 1 day premature. After 68 days in the NICU at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, January 18, 2008, she was finally able to go home with her loving parents, Heather and Mike Spohr. While in the NICU, Maddie’s mom kept regular updates of her site for family and friends. Maddie’s time at the NICU has been chronicled at Heather’s blog.
- Earlier this week, on April 7th, Maddie passed away unexpectedly. She was only 17 months old.

I’m also very grateful to have a healthy, happy son. We’ve had a small share of health issues with Sam, but it pales in comparison to what so many other families go through. I want to help those less fortunate!

The March of Dimes champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise for March for Babies will help:
- support all-important research offering preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects
- educate women on things they can do to increase their chances of having a healthy baby
- provide comfort and information to families with a newborn in intensive care
- push for newborn screening and health insurance for all pregnant women and children

Won't you please help me in this worthy cause? Contributing to my walk online is fast, easy, and secure. You can donate directly from my personal webpage with a credit card or PayPal. If you prefer, I can also accept cash or check. Just click the appropriate box on my webpage.

My webpage: http://www.marchforbabies.org/punkinmama

I appreciate any support you can provide! And if you want to see me gasping for breath only half way through the walk, please join me and walk with me!

daycare FAIL

Dear Daycare Teacher,
If a parent is repeatedly telling another child to not throw toys, you are not doing your job.


Just one of the many reasons I'm excited to start a new venture in Punkin's care.
I work part-time outside of the home, and since Punkin's been about 4 months old, he's been at a daycare fairly close to home. He's had some good experiences - he's learned a lot. But more recently, the Hubs and I have been concerned about some things that were happening (or not happening) at the daycare.

I could make a list, but instead, for now, I'll just focus on what we've decided to do. Today marked Punkin's first day of "in-home care". Another family in our neighborhood (who also used to attend the same daycare and had very similar concerns) approached us about sharing a "nanny"*. Two days a week, Punkin will be with the other two boys and one day a week he'll be by himself with the caregiver. She just happens to be one of his former teachers from the daycare - who has always done a great job - and who we've also used as a sitter on occasion.

Since we live in the same neighborhood, time will be split between both houses - that should help with any one child feeling like they always have to share "my" toys. Today, they started at the other house and walked down to our house after lunch. Hopefully that will help get them some fresh air and exercise and encourage good naps.

Even though I wasn't completely happy with the daycare situation, I was still nervous about whether or not the Hubs and I were making the best decision for Punkin. I have to say that the first day couldn't have gone much better. Punkin ate a Grilled Cheese Sandwich for lunch. Seriously. You have no idea how big that is.**

I feel 100 times better about the decision we've made. Who knew Grilled Cheese could cause such euphoria?


**Punkin has texture issues and food aversions. He's often times literally scared to try new foods. He's not a fan of much that isn't crunchy or breaded (ie. crackers, chicken nuggets). We're working on it. And now so is the "nanny".*

*I need another word for the "nanny". I'm not sure what the right term is, but I don't think "nanny" fits completely. I always think of a nanny as someone who lives in or someone who is in the home the majority of the time... Any suggestions?


This post is included in Your Life, Your Blog at Real Life. Go check it out!