Move complete

We officially moved into our new house last weekend. I just have to ask, how the heck did we fit all of this crap into our tiny 800 sq ft house? It is amazing! But, we are here. Unpacking is going much slower than I ever remember in the past (I used to be a frequent mover, just ask my aunt how many pages are dedicated to me in her address book). Unpacking with an infant in the house is a much different experience.

Almost a week after the move, I finally have my kitchen mostly done. The rest of my house leaves something to be desired. Poor Caiden is going to be living in a room of boxes for quite some time I'm afraid.

On another note, keep your eyes peeled for a new exciting review and giveaway for my readers in the coming weeks. I'm super excited!!

Simple steps to avoid tragedy

We have all heard a horrific story or two about a parent who forgets their child in the back seat of their vehicle and doesn't realize it until it is too late. I found a great article on parenting.com which has some very simple steps to make sure this doesn't happen to your family:

• First and foremost, always put your cell phone, purse, or briefcase, and anything else you'll need that day, on the floor of the backseat. When you retrieve it at the end of the ride, you'll notice your child.

• Seat your younger (or quieter) child behind the front passenger seat, where he's most likely to catch your eye. Parks's, Balfour's, and Edwards's babies all were behind the driver's side when they died.

• Keep a teddy bear or other stuffed animal in the car seat when it's empty. When you put your child in the seat, move the animal to the front passenger seat, to remind you that your baby's on board.

• Ask your child's babysitter or daycare provider to always phone you promptly if your child isn't dropped off as scheduled.

• Make a habit of always opening the back door of your car after you park, to check that there's no kid back there.

• Never assume someone else -- a spouse, an older child -- has taken a young kid out of her seat. Such miscommunication has led to more than a few hot-car deaths.

• Invest in a device to help you remember small passengers. The Cars-N-Kids monitor plays a lullabye when the car stops and a child is in the seat ($29.95; carsnkids.com). The ChildMinder System sounds an alarm if you walk away and leave your child in the seat ($69.95; babyalert.info).

• Put visual cues in your office and home. Static-cling decals reminding you to check the car seat are available at Emmasinspirations.com and Kidsandcars.org.

You can read the full article here.

Huh...

So, someone tell me how long my blog has looked like this....it used to look different. It had a layout from The Cutest Blog on the Block. I never removed it. What the heck happened??? *scratches head* Wonder how long it has been like this and I haven't noticed until now!! Well, guess I'm off to search for a new layout!

*Edit: I fixed it!! Yippee*

Changes...

In less than 2 weeks we will be moving into this house! Beautiful isn't it? I'm super excited!! The move will be the first of a few changes in our family. I'm hoping the Caiden will adjust well to his new room. In his new room he will have a new twin sized bed. Right now, he is still in a toddler bed, but when we move, we will finally get to set up the crib for Bennett, so we will need the crib mattress from Caiden's toddler bed. I'm hoping he will adjust to both of these changes pretty quickly.

Then in August will be our next big change. Caiden will leave the daycare he is in now and begin Kindergarten in his new school, in the school district we are moving into. Which means he will not know anyone. We toured his new school a couple of weeks ago and I think he was pretty excited. We'll see what he thinks when the day comes. I am dreading it, because I still remember what it was like when he started his new daycare/preschool a year ago. But of course, I don't tell him this! And of course I am sad because my first baby is going off to school. I think I'm going to have to take the whole day off to recover! On the plus side, the school is less and a mile away from our house! YAY!!

And then there is Bennett. I now have to start the mission to find a new in-home daycare for him as well. I am dreading this. I was really hoping I would never have to do this search again. Yuck. But the little booger is growing like a weed. Today I have him in an outfit that is size 6/9 months and it fits perfectly. He is 2 days shy of 3 months old!! At his 2 month checkup a couple of weeks ago, he was 13 pounds 2 ounces!! He is a healthy guy, that's for sure. Also had his 2 month pics taken about a week ago. They turned out adorable!! This one made me laugh out loud when I saw it, and seems to be many people's favorites.

Mother's Day

As I approach my first Mother's Day at a mommy of two boys, I can't help but to think of my own mom. So this post, I write to her:

Only after being a mommy myself can I fathom all that you have done for me and everything that you have been through with me. The love, happiness, is all too great for words, but so is the worry. I cannot imagine how you must have felt all those times you had to watch me go away in the hands of the surgeons, holding me down while they poked me with their needles. Putting on a brave face for me when you are a nervous wreck inside. I had the easy part, I slept right through it!

I now understand all of those crazy rules you gave me growing up. Now I can't figure out how the heck you ever let us walk across town, ride the bus to school, let some high school kid watch us, stay home alone...DRIVE A CAR!!! The thought of my two boys doing any of this stuff scares me silly!

While I sit here writing this, listening to little Bennett babble and almost laugh at me...at 10:00 at night...it brings tears to my eyes, thinking of you. While I am enjoying my first Mother's Day as a mama of two...such a happy time...you are dealing with the first Mother's Day without your mom. If I'm not able to see you tomorrow, please know I am thinking of you. I know Mother's Day will never be the same for you, but even though you are sad, remember, this day is to celebrate you too. For being such a wondering mother to your three kids, giving us all the love and support we need and helping all three of us become the wonderful, caring, successful adults that we are.

For Monkey

I came across a post on Boobies, Babies and a Blog asking for Prayers for Monkey. Monkey has been recently diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is a horrible disease for anyone and no one should have to suffer from it, but especially not such a young child.

Please pray for Monkey.

My life is crazy!!

I've now officially been back to work for 2 weeks. It is tough getting up early and going to work because Bennett still isn't sleeping all night long. But other than that, it is going well. It truly is nice to use my brain again. Some people may not understand this, but I am a better mom working than I would ever be staying home. Stay at home moms are awesome, and I am totally jealous as times, but I just couldn't do it full time...I think my mind would get bored.

Bennett is doing well at daycare and she just loves having him there. Everything is going great...

So, apparently because things were going way too smoothly, I decided a couple of weeks ago to throw a wrench in the whole thing, by putting our house up for sale. We got it listed a week before I went back to work. That same weekend we toured the big city and surrounding area to look at about 10 houses. We really just need something bigger, our current house is 816 Square feet on the main level...400 finished in the basement. Bennett has been sleeping in a bassinet since he came home from the hospital. First in the living room with me on the couch, and now in our bedroom. With 4 people and a dog...this house is just too darn small!!!

My title says it all, my life is crazy! Things like this always happen to me! I got a call at work Friday morning that someone wanted to look at our house at 5:00 that night, so I had to go home and clean the house. While I was there, my realtor called and said that the person looking at our house still wanted to qualify for the first time home buyer tax credit. To make a long story short, we sold our house and bought a new house in 2 hours with 1 and a half hours left until the end of tax credit!

With the purchase of this home, we have actually moved to a suburb of the city we live in, which means I have to change Caiden's school. I had just registered him for Kindergarten in March and now I have to start the process all over again! Luckily, we haven't missed the Kindergarten open house at his new school. Not so excited about making him make new friends all over again though :( I know he will be fine, but it makes me sad to think I'm doing this to him all over again...we just went through this last August when I changed him from an in-home daycare to a daycare center/preschool.

So, now we have just over a month to get everything packed. We close and move on June 11th!! Oh how I wish it was here already, I can't take many more days cramped in this tiny house! 2500 Square feet, 4 bedrooms, THREE BATHROOMS...HERE WE COME!!! I can't wait!