If your almost-four-year-old daughter sprints past you, hollering over her shoulder, "MOMMA! I didn't do it! It was the monkey!" and you do not, in fact, have a pet monkey, then you can be sure that this is not going be a good afternoon.
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October 2008 posts
Pretty Places
There are a million reasons to love Arkansas. I spent this weekend at one of them: Petit Jean State Park. The sky was blue, the weather was perfect, and I didn't even take my cell phone or computer. Here are a few highlights:
We did a little hiking, and, as you can tell, we are serious about it. Because only the most seasoned hikers take pink hairbows and stuffed dogs out on the trail:
My 7yo son took a look at this view and said, "So, those would be 'rural' areas?" And I thought, "oh my stars, I'm raising a city boy..."
I hollered "boys-slow-down-don't-go-too-near-the-edge" so many times that the sentence no longer holds any meaning:
If there is anything sweeter to a momma's heart than watching her oldest hang on to her youngest, then I don't know what that would be:
Another reason to love Arkansas? Signs like this one:
Shey B Camera Strap Covers
It's another crafty girl giveaway! Shey B is the maker of whimiscal covers for your camera strap. Shey's a photographer herself, and she got tired of her nylon camera strap rubbing her neck raw. Her solution was her Etsy shop! You have to love that smart thinking.
These handmade creations cover your camera strap, adding a splash of color and making them much more comfortable. Because they're removable, you can take them off for washing, or interchange them for a different look. This would be a lovely and affordable Christmas gift for the photographer (or blogger!) in your life.
Shey B is offering one lucky winner any one camera strap of your choice from her shop. Stop by, look around, and come back here to leave a comment telling me your favorite of her designs (this one is the one I love best!)
I'll draw a random winner from all comments on Tuesday, 10/21. International participants welcome.
COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
$5 Dinners
Cheap recipes. Um, yes, please.
Woven and Spun :: 6-Year Med
A blog I've really been enjoying lately, written by a pediatric resident.
Holocaust Love Story Inspires Book :: MSNBC
Babies Aid Mothers' Brains :: The Sun
"Mums become braver and faster at finding food."
Is it a sign of intelligence, or a sign that we don't have time to finish a meal?
Halloween Treats To Enjoy and Avoid :: MSN
Okay, fine, whatever. In this family? The Three Musketeers are MINE.
Soldier and Daughter Reunion :: MSNBC
Money Saving Mom
Great source of bargains and frugal-living tips.
WFMW: Turn Down the Volume :: Are We There Yet?
Clemntine and I had an e-mail exchange that was great I told her she had to post it! Thankfully, she did.
What I'd Like For You To Know: A Mother of Multiples
Welcome to another edition of the What I'd Like For You To Know series. If you're new here, the idea behind this series to is to ask women to share something about a specific life challenge or circumstance, addressing some of the misconceptions and (most importantly) telling us all how we can reach out better.
Today's guest poster is Jen from 4Tunate--she's mom of quadruplet boys! Here's her story...
Never in all my days of playing "house" as a child, did I ever, EVER, pretend to be a mother to quadruplets. When I'm approached in public with the infamous "Did you plan on having quadruplets?" question, I cannot help but chuckle. I'm completely tempted to answer with a, "Yes ma'am. We ordered the 4 for the Price of 1 Full Meal Deal." I think it's safe to say that no one plans to leave the reproductive endocrinologist's office with a litter of babies in tow.
Likewise, I could have never imagined a life full of so much joy, satisfaction, and laughter. Instead of focusing on 4x the diapers, teeth, food, emergency room visits, and eventually driver's licenses, I daily make a conscious effort to see my glass more than 1/2 full. You see, we have the privilege of living a miracle.
August 2006 turned out to be THE defining month of our lives. On the seventh of the month, we were given the news that we were finally pregnant after a difficult battle with infertility. The "catch" was that despite our conservative efforts, there were three babies. Two weeks later, after the shock of triplets had subsided ever so slightly, we found out there were two babes in one of the sacks, upping our count to four. Carrying quadruplets is an extremely high-risk situation; however, there were even more risks associated with our pregnancy. We were told that our particular scenario was undocumented, extremely unlikely, and most likely unsurvivable for the 4 heartbeats that were beating strongly on the ultrasound machine. However, God had control over those tiny lives, and chose to give us the best case scenario: Four Healthy Miracles! In addition He decided to display His sense of humor by giving us all BOYS!
Although I'm experiencing a life that not many can imagine, I'd like to believe that we have more in common than you realize. Although I'm a mama to four little guys, I'm still technically a first time mother. I have countless flaws, weaknesses, and struggles that disqualify me from superhero title that is often assumed. Hindsight has taught me much, and I'd love to share a few ways to encourage a mother of twins, triplets, or more.
*TIME
Often times people are intimidated by the overwhelming number of babies and shy away from offering help to a new mother of multiples. They picture a house of complete chaos and disorganization. On the contrary most high order multiple families discover that routine and organization is their sole means of survival. Countless times a relieved first-time volunteer would say, "This is not what I expected at all when I signed up to take a shift." Your time is a priceless gift. Although we currently take care of the boys independently, we could not have weathered the first few months without our faithful volunteers.
If babies aren't your specialty, offer to serve by washing bottles, helping with neglected yard work, delivering a prepared meal, or washing a few loads of laundry. You will be blessed by being a blessing!
*PRAYERS
Praying for a mother of multiples is the greatest gift you can offer. What an incredible way to show your love for their lives!
*NOTES, CARDS, EMAILS
While hospitalized over a month on bed rest, I received a note a day from a beloved friend. After reading them about 5x each, I would use them to decorate the white walls of my hospital room. It was comforting to know that even though I felt so isolated she was thinking of me daily.
*PHYSICAL PROVISIONS
Anything from registry items to diapers in ANY size, even gift cards to restaurants or grocery stores, are an enormous blessing! Did I mention diapers?
*FRIENDSHIP
It becomes exceedingly difficult to maintain friendships during the first year of raising multiples, so please, please continue to pursue your relationships. Your friendship is highly valued.
Finally, I would like for you to know some phrases or conversations that are not beneficial to a mother of multiples. Words have a way of causing unintentional wounds. Please use careful discretion when discussing the following with multiple mamas that you may meet:
~Questions Regarding Infertility Drugs or Treatments. Infertility is a painful struggle. It isn't pleasant to be singled out for it constantly, when thousands of single babies have been conceived through the same methods. On top of that, it's inappropriate to have these discussions in front of young children. (You can find excellent insight on this topic in the What I'd Like For You to Know:Infertility
~Telling us about every set of twins you've ever come in contact with...(If you're about to start your sentence with "My aunt's brother's great uncle's best friend's barber was a twin...", refrain from doing so. Instead, just stop and smile.)
~Asking if they each have their own personalities. Yes, they are humans AND they are individuals.
~Talking about how it "only gets worse." Definitely NOT beneficial.
~ Even though it might be the first thing that pops in your head, don't say, "Wow, you've got your hands full!" We know. We've heard it a million times, and you aren't the first one to say it out loud today.
~Comparing your non-preemie baby in size or development
~Mentioning how "lucky" they are for having a c-section, having time to sleep while the babies are in the NICU, or getting out of part of the pregnancy due to premature birth. We fought hard to keep these babies on the inside for as long as possible. A mother already struggles with guilt associated with premature birth.
Thanks to Shannon for asking me to be a part of this insightful and impacting series. Also, a heartfelt thanks to you as readers for allowing me to share a little piece of my heart today.
To read more of Jen's posts, visit her blog here.
Works For Me: Scheduling Laundry
The last few months, I've been trying out a new way to manage my laundry, and it's working really well for me.
And it's a good thing, because my laundry? It needed managing. Before, I was letting it all pile up, and then, overwhelmed and stressed, I'd feel like I needed a marthon laundry day to catch up on it all. It was a constant battle.
Instead, I've made out a schedule for myself. I've assigned each day one or two specific loads of laundry that need to be done that day. Wednesday, for example, is towels and Adam's laundry (which he does himself, but a fair bit of supervision is required). Thursdays is for mine and Hubs' whites and lights.
Each day I try to get only those couple of loads done. I don't worry about trying to have a moment when all the laundry in the house is finished (does such a thing even exist?), I simply concentrate on each day's particular "assignment". The best part is that when (not if) I get behind, I only have to catch up to that particular day of the week, which is much less overwhelming than trying to launder everything. I keep a copy of the schedule taped to the washer, and another copy to my upstairs bathroom mirror, to remind me each morning to get that load downstairs and started at the beginning of the day.
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Leave your Works-For-Me Wednesday links below. First timers, check out the guidelines here. Please note that the links will close at 8 pm CST tonight, in order to keep away the spammers! And please, no political posts.
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(And? Psssst...don't forget about the really lovely Vintage Pearl giveaway right here. It closes tomorrow!)
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Links are now closed. Please join us next week!
Smart and Crafty Women Change the World!
{Stay to the end for a fantastic giveaway!}
Is it just me, or does it seem as though blogging is changing the face of small business, particularly for women?
One of my favorite parts of what I do is having the chance to rub shoulders with some brilliantly creative, entrepreneurial women. I'm blown away by some of the women I've met, working in their homes to produce (and sell) something remarkable. Whether they're promoting their writing or creating items with their hands, the blogosphere feels, to me, like a renewal in the cottage industry set-up of 150 years ago.
I love it. It's empowering, don't you think?
This year, I'm planning to do as much of my Christmas shopping as I can from these entrepreneurial women, at Etsy and other similar small businesses. I'm hoping to feature some of them on my blog this fall, as well, and send a little linky love their way.
So I'm starting today with one of my favorites, Vintage Pearl. Erin, the owner, hand creates this lovely personalized jewelry in her home. I have this piece, and I wear it almost every day--I absolutely love it. I was so crazy about Erin's work that I ordered this children's piece for my niece's fifth birthday--it was a smashing 
success! And look at these personalized baby spoons, which Erin just added to her shop recently. I think that may be my new favorite baby gift (but shhh, let's keep it between you and me that they only cost $15).
Erin has graciously offered to give away any one piece* from her shop to one lucky reader here. To enter, simply visit Vintage Pearl, browse around, and come back here to leave a comment saying which item you love the best.
Erin ships internationally, so anyone is eligible to win, no matter where you live. I'll keep this giveaway open until Thursday morning, October 16th.
*Winner will receive any one piece, your choice, but if you want more charms on your piece than the way Vintage Pearl has listed, you'll need to pay for the additional charms.
COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
