... and baby makes five!

{merry} christmas!

2011-12-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season to you and yours. I'm looking forward to this magical time of the year... I have great childhood memories of Christmas and I hope that I can give those same special gits to my children as they grow.

{GOBBLE} {STUFFING}

2011-11-03T16:00:00.002-06:00

I've posted about a great pair of coupon codes for shopping with Everything Birth, Inc. over at BirthRoots blog.

The best part is that every on-line purchse made this month will be an entry into a giveaway for an Everything Birth gift certificate! Just make sure to read the rules...

you win!

2011-09-11T21:47:00.006-06:00

... and we have a winner!

Leslie is the lucky one who wins the package of Seventh Generation Free & Clear disposable diapers. Please email me with your name, address, phone and what diaper size you would like (2, 4 or 5) by Wednesday, September 14th to claim your prize!

creeping up on us.

2011-09-01T10:09:00.001-06:00

Fall that is.

I love fall. I am certain that I mentioned that about 57 other times on this blog, but I thought I'd throw it out there again.

As we welcome in September, we are packed and ready to head out to Four Corner Bluegrass Festival for one last hurrah of the summer.

We haven't been for a couple of years. The last time, Miss Finley was just a wee little babe that spent most of her time snuggled up agaist my chest in her bEco carrier, sleeping the days away. The year before that, she was a distant memory and Rowen was the little guy getting our full attention.

This year? They'll be the ones running wild throughout the campground and festival with a little sister in tow... who fully believes that she is just a big and capable as her older siblings. They have their pocket money, and have been compiling a list of the things they want to buy from the vendors -- kettle corn is high on the list of ptiorities.

Enjoy the holiday weekend. Get out and do something memorable while welcoming in the cool, crisp weather. Prepare your space mentally for leaving pool floaties for piles of crunchy red and orange leaves.

Garden salads for apple pies.

Boisterous Memorial Day barbeques for fun-filled tables of mashed potatoes and green bean casseroles.

Skin-blistering temperatures for the perfect day to throw a sweater on as you dash out the door.

I love fall and I hope that welcome it into your lives as well.

We'll be shaking our groove things this weekend, cuddling up under layer upon layer of sleeping bags and enjoying the festival life that we so routinely visited before kiddos entered our world. I love the bumpersticker, "Festival Life is So Much Better Than Real Life." I think I agree...

try it, you'll like it! {GIVEAWAY}

2011-08-31T23:08:00.005-06:00

I cloth diaper.

Not only do I cloth diaper, but I ONLY cloth diaper. I jumped into fluff a bit late in the game -- Campbell celebrated her first birthday the first time that she wore a cloth diaper.

Rowen spent a week in cloth when he was a baby.

Finley... well... once I stopped using cloth with Rowen, I never thought about it again until Campbell was born. I began seeing more and more friends with cloth on their little one's behinds. And not just the "typical" people that you would think would cloth diaper their children. I often did a double-look and thought, "You? You cloth diaper? Really?" And so it began, my love affair with cloth.

And now, I ALWAYS cloth diaper.

We use cloth while we are camping.

We use cloth while we are on road trips.

We use cloth when we are battling diaper rash.

We use cloth when we are on vacation.

We use disposables when we are on an airplane.

Wait... what? Yes... that was right. When I'm dragging all three children thought various airports, my backpack is so full of a laptop, video games and headphones, as well as snacks and games that never get touched, the last thing I want to do is think about one more thing. The "thought" of a used cloth diaper in my bag during the last leg of our flight isn't a big deal, however.

It is simply that the absolute, very LAST thing I want to have to do is mess with cloth while I'm changing a kiddo at next gate to our destination or in the airport bathroom.

So... when we fly, we use disposables. When we get to our destination, we use cloth.

You can imagine my surprise when I was asked by Seventh Generation to give a try to their Free and Clear diapers. At first, I thought, "Great. Why couldn't FuzziBunz or bumGenius ask me to review their products?" But then I thought, "Hey... we ARE leaving for Michigan in a couple of weeks. It would be great to not have to go and buy any disposables... and it would be twice as great if I could actually try a 'greener' diaper product."

See... I used to be a Pampers Sensitive girl. I tried the Wal-Mart brand (yuck). I tried Huggies (ick). I stuck with Pampers (which for doing what a diaper should DO, they were great!), but never even ventured out into the wide world of eco-conscious disposable diapers. Why? Well... good question... that's a topic for a whole other post.

But when the opportunity presented itself for me to review these diapers, I was totally on board -- providing that I was able to wait to try them out when we began our airline trip, and not before.

Long story short? I loved them. Not only do Seventh Generation Free & Clear diapers not include chlorine processing, fragrances, latex and petroleum based lotions, but in an effort to contribute less overall landfill waste and continue to ensure a premium standard of absorbency, the new Free & Clear diapers have been redesigned with a lighter-weight core. With processed chlorine-free wood pulp in the diapers, Seventh Generation also makes certain that no chlorine is released into the environment during the totally chlorine-free (TCF) whitening process of the diapers (and also in their training pants).

Seventh Generation has also reduced the size of the diapers’ plastic packaging, meaning that each pack now contributes even less overall landfill waste than before. In fact, the packaging can now be recycled at local supermarkets where plastic bag recycling collection boxes are available.

But even more important, they never leaked! And... we loved using them so much, I must admit Campbell sported a Seventh Generation Free & Clear diaper on DURING our vacation a few times!

So... I get to hold my very own giveaway for a very lucky reader to win a pack of Seventh Generation Free & Clear diapers! Cloth mommas, don't worry... these will be great to have stashed away somewhere for when you need them the most.

For a mandatory entry into this giveaway, please comment below and tell me what kind of diaper usually is found on your baby's bottom!

For each additional entry, please complete any or all of the following and leave a separate comment for each, telling me what you did. Don't forget to include an email address!

1) Blog, Tweet or post about this giveaway on Facebook! (Leave a separate comment for each media)
2) Follow ... and baby makes five! using Google Friend Connect.
3) Follow ... and baby does reviews, too! using Google Friend Connect.
3) Follow BirthRoots using Google Friend Connect.
4) Like BirthRoots on Facebook.
5) Like Seventh Generation on Facebook.
6) Follow BirthRoots on Twitter.

In addition, Seventh Generation is providing my readers (that's you!) a printable coupon for $2.00 OFF any ONE Seventh Generation Baby Product (Diapers, Training Pants, or Wipes)!

This giveaway will close Sunday, September 11th, so make sure to get your entries in soon!

(For full disclosure, the coupon, my prize pack, the information provided within this post and the giveaway were all provided by Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.)

real women use cloth.

2011-07-14T08:48:00.000-06:00

New guest post up over here today, ladies...

happy.

2011-07-13T11:48:00.000-06:00

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Gearing up for Hypnobabies class #3 tomorrow evening, scheduled a new series with a new couple registered (and hopefully more to follow). Lots to stuff to prepare tonight for class.

Waiting patiently on some River's Edge business money to find itself in our mailbox because I haven't been able to be paid yet this month, I'm ignoring bills and living on pennies right now because of it (what scraps can I make into dinner tonight?).

Planning on what we are going to enjoy during Cattlemen's week, and watching the kiddos play with scissors, tape and construction paper.

First day of bright sunshine in many days, but actually miss the rainy, thunderstorm-y days in the past.

No gymnastics classes this week, and I secretly love that there is no plans for this afternoon... long naps, anyone?

Expecting a new juicer soon and cannot wait to be able to afford a trip to the grocery store to stock up on juice-making fruits and veggies.

Lovely walk through town this morning to take care of errands with my girls while Rowen was in Wild Wednesday class. Finley sure appreciates some individual attention... I need to make time for that more often.

What's on the menu for lunch? Standard PBJs and the fruit that we still have, probably.

{featured}

2011-07-13T11:26:00.000-06:00

Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The most recent guest blogger post from Birth Radical Doula was featured on Childbirth Solutions today. Go on over and check it out if you haven't already... and why don't you go ahead and follow BirthRoots while you're at it. We have a few giveaways lined up and you'll already be well on your way to adding entries...

We are always looking for guest bloggers. You don't have to be a professional in the health care field, either... you can be a mommy, a soon-to-be-mommy, a grandparent... just about anyone who has an interest in writing about pregnancy, childbirth or natural parenting. The sky's the limit!

Knowledge is Power

2011-07-10T21:53:00.001-06:00

photo by Chelsea C. Photography

New guest blogger post over at BirthRoots! Come check it out... and make sure to follow BirthRoots while you're at it... there are some great giveaways lined up!

{ready}

2011-06-30T14:50:00.000-06:00

Three hours and counting for my first class in my first Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis series! I have two wonderful couples signed up -- and still am thinking positive thoughts about perhaps another signing up today!

I know one of my student's has particularly enjoyed the pre-class CD tracks that they listen to before class actually begins, so I'm very excited to see what she thinks of the first handful of scripts that we do...

I feel as prepared as I can be, am excited about this class material that we cover, and cannot wait to start focusing on the next class information as soon as possible!

Wish me luck!

morning light.

2011-06-27T06:17:00.002-06:00

There is something magical about waking up before the rest of the family.

Listening to the early songs of the birds outside the windows that stayed open overnight.

Turning on a freshly-prepared coffe-maker and listening to the friendly burbles of percolating coffee.

Relaxing in front of the laptop, seeing what early-morning emails are of high importance for the day and which can be easily deleted to never think of again.

Watching the sky get brighter as my body wakes up, instead of being the last one awake at night, my body slowly getting sleepier and sleepier, until the bed wins out.

Yep... I love sleeping in lately, and I have a terrific husband that gives me that opportunity. But these mornings when I am the only one awake for an hour or so remind me why I should do it more often.

finally.

2011-06-05T15:25:00.001-06:00

This little one finally is getting her canine teeth poking through... ever so slightly.

We've been battling unconsolable screaming at night and extra grumpiness in the day. It's nice to have a possible reason for these un-Campbell-like behaviors. I'm looking forward to my Inspired by Finn amber necklace review to see if that will provide some much-needed relief.

Poor baby-girl!

win a {Hiney Lineys!} cloth diaper

2011-06-05T15:14:00.001-06:00

No... it's not time for my giveaway (yet!), but Everything Birth, Inc. is giving away one during their weekly giveaway.

And while you entering over there, go ahead and "like," "follow," and "subscribe to" my pages and blogs so that you are a step ahead of everyone else when the time comes.

Make sure to also follow me here at ... and baby makes five! through Google Friend Connect as well as subscribing to my blog feed if you haven't already.

I have reviews and giveaways coming up for Inspired by Finn, Teething Bling and more! Stay tuned!

challenge: 30 days of photo fun {day 5, my breakfast}

2011-06-05T14:20:00.003-06:00

Day #5, My Breakfast

challenge: 30 days of photo fun {day 4, clouds}

2011-06-04T21:27:00.007-06:00

day #4 - clouds

challenge: 30 days of photo fun {day 3, hands}

2011-06-03T15:41:00.016-06:00

Day #3 - Hands

Sometimes you just have to make an executive decision...

forget about the afternoon nap and bust out the water balloons...

challenge: 30 days of photo fun {day 2, favorite shoes}

2011-06-02T16:44:00.000-06:00

Day #2 - {favorite shoes}

... tomorrow... hands...

challenge: 30 days of photo fun {day 1, self portrait}

2011-06-01T13:51:00.031-06:00

I trying to get back in the swing of things around here.

There's lots of spring cleaning that I see needed around here -- throwing back the curtains and sweeping the porch.

I think a few dead bugs in the windowsills as well.

But for as much as I have NOT been contributing to the blog-o-sphere, I still read some of my favorites...

And Kiki, over at I Still Hate Pickles, had a few recent posts that caught my eye about her participating in the 30 Day Photo Fun Challenge.

And, since I did so fabulously with my 365 photo challenge (HA!), I thought to myself, "why the hell not?"

This is a stripped down, mini version of the overwhelming 365 challenge that I failed at miserably. I take a photo each day for 30 days... and the topics of those said 30 pictures are already spelled out for me. Sounds fun, sounds easy and sounds like a way to ease myself back in to this world...

Day #1 - {self-portrait}

want to win a free diaper?

2011-05-27T23:09:00.002-06:00

Well then, stick around for my next review and giveaway.

I'm VERY excited about working with this company... we have recently started to carry them at my company, Everything Birth, and the owner/creator was gracious enough to agree to a review and giveaway of one of her diapers!

So... keep watching for more details.

And in the meantime... make sure to follow me with Google Friend Connect right over there to your left and get your friends to do the same.

And while you're at it, like me here and follow me here... trust me, you'll want to get a head-start at entering for the drawing!

well, hellooooooo there.

2011-05-23T17:20:00.001-06:00

*cough, cough*

I seem to remember the last time a took a bit of a blogg-y break it was right around the Christmas season... of course the last time didn't turn out being over five months long.

*gulp*

I'm okay with it, actually. It's more like my mom, who possibly checks here daily... and maybe a couple times more than that... to see if I put any pictures up of her grandbabies, that I worry about. I'm beginning to wonder if she is starting to think that they even exist anymore.

Well, I suppose that she does constantly hear the wailing of three small children under the age of five fighting over something or other while we are talking on the phone... she must know they are still here. Plus... there is a Thank You card to her from them on my kitchen counter that I'm going to mail... sometime... so at least she'll know that the ones old enough to write and draw are still around.

I've just been busy.

Plain and simple.

I've been enjoying living and not trying to put it into words for anyone else. I've been enjoying experiencing without feeling the need to document every moment through the lens of my camera. I've been enjoying the realization that my blog will never be popular, nor will it ever make me any money. I've been enjoying not being that blogger who I still love to read... AND I've kind of been enjoying not keeping up with the blog posts that used to keep me rivited to my computer chair at night. Sure, I still scroll through my reader and click on the easy, feel-good posts. I've been keeping up with those pregnant mommas who are right at the cusps of meeting their new little bundles of job.

But I have also been hitting "mark as read," and re-confirming that "yes, I do want to mark these 7,398 posts as read?"

And I'm good with it.

I have big plans for this space. I want to get back. I want to post. We might try a fun little move to a new platform... maybe a new name (any ideas or suggestions?)... definately some remodeling...

I do -- actually -- have lots of fun pictures and stories that I want to share.

So, today I just wanted to feel what it was like to re-visit this space. Look around and see if things on my dashboard have changed... new navigations that I need to learn? Fun new add-ons that I can try?

Mmm... maybe, the next time I come back. We'll see.

In the meantime, I've been busy doing this...

... and this...

Oh! Wait! Not as in HAVING them or anything (although I'll be first in line if given the okay from the hubby), but as in this...

So go on and like me, follow me and connect with me. It would make me very happy.

And I might just be back!

five friday favorites. {links}

2010-12-17T00:00:00.004-07:00

It's back!

I'm so behind, folks... really, it's quite embarrassing.

Not only for those few people out there that probably click on over here daily (hi, mom!) but for myself. There is so much LIFE that I'm missing out on posting.

I guess, however, that this just means that I'm LIVING LIFE right now instead of constantly documenting it. Right? RIGHT?

The more behind I get, the more frustrated that I get when I think about catching up.

I suppose that I just need to just right in where I am and not think too much of the months that have gone by with no posts or pictures. I so wanted to post about our wonderful Michigan vacation... BACK IN AUGUST! I guess that you can always look at the pictures here, but still... I'm behind on there, too.

But, here it is Friday again. I've had some great links throughout the last few weeks that I've wanted to post about, but, well, you know how things go.

So without further ado...

1. Seriously... perhaps the best link I've found! Don't forget to scroll ALL THE WAY through the photos.

2. Hee hee. These are too cute.

3. This was fun for Rowen and Finley. Give it a try!

4. My blogg-ity friend, Kiki, is doing a cool new idea for a 365 project... go check it out and please join her in her journey!

5. Speaking of cute things... I want these... and these... and these... and these for the kiddos. But something tells me that it wouldn't make dinnertime any more calm, quiet and collected. They might make me crazy enough that poor Mr. Superhero spoon *might* meet an untimely fate at the hands of Mr. Garbage Disposal and Mr. Face Plate *might* just accidentally slip and break... off the porch and onto the rocks below.

Your turn!

christmas card making is just right around the corner.

2010-12-03T15:09:00.001-07:00

Head on over here to my review blog for a look at some ideas and examples of Christmas cards that you can make for your friends and family. It's still not too late!

giving. thanks.

2010-11-25T21:38:00.052-07:00

Why did the turkey cross the road?

Because it was the chicken's day off!

How high must a cranberry bounce before it is harvested?

Four inches!

How many degrees can a turkey see with it's eyes?

270 degrees!

If the Pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for?

Their AGE!

What vegetable did the Pilgrims have available for Thanksgiving, but did not use because they thought it was poisonous?

Potatoes.

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

Gladys.

Gladys who?

Gladys Thanksgiving, aren't you?

Which gender of turkey says "gobble, gobble?"

The male, but only seasonally, and only when going to sleep!

What percentage of Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower survived to celebrate Thanksgiving?

50%

Turkeys can drown if they look up when it is raining.

Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State building?

Yes! A building can't jump at all!

A spooked turkey can run at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. They can also break into flight approaching speeds between 50-55 miles per hour in a matter of seconds!

How do you make a turkey float?

Two scoops of ice cream, some root beer, a turkey...

Plymouth Rock is how big today?

The size of a car engine. It has cracked three times over the years, each time getting smaller and smaller...

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

Olive.

Olive who?

Olive stuffing too!

The original Thanksgiving lasted three days.

Who was the first president to make Thanksgiving a national holiday?

Lincoln.

In 1939, 1940 and 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt, seeking to lengthen the Christmas shopping season, proclaimed Thanksgiving the third Thursday in November. Controversy followed and Congress passes a joint resolution in 1941 decreeing that Thanksgiving should fell on the fourth Thursday of November, where it remains.

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?

The OUTSIDE!

Where did the mail "tom" turkey get it's name?

Benjamin Franklin named it after Thomas Jefferson when he would not allow it to be the national bird.

I have so many wonderful reasons to be thankful this holiday season...

:: My wonderful -- if not crazy -- kiddos and my lovely husband. ::

:: My dear, sweet Campbell Quinn, who took her first steps today! ::

:: Four spectacular days that daddy gets to be around for most of the day! ::

:: My awesome in-laws and terrific Michigan family. ::

:: The beautiful mountains that surround my home and my families determination to grow this business of ours. ::

:: My new career path and the mommas out there with whom I will soon get to join in experiencing their lovely births. ::

:: My friends, who are more like family, and the joy I get in weaving our

lives together. ::

:: Seven kiddos between three mommas who are becoming more and more fun to have around all at one time. ::

:: A husband who can solve my holiday kiddie table dilemma by saying, "Hmmm... I could make a couple of benches for the coffee table," and actually making them in less than two hours, right before the party began. ::

:: The third pumpkin pie that didn't get eaten at dinner and the knowledge that I get to indulge in dessert for a few days. ::

:: My gym and those spin and plyometric classes that are calling my name through mouthfuls of said pumpkin pie. ::

:: The fact that, here it is, three days later and I have decided that tomorrow is the VERY last day of Thanksgiving leftovers. Done. No more. Gone. Fresh veggies and steamed rice, here I come! ::

:: Friends who I haven't seen in so long, but who are beginning to make many appearances in my world again. ::

:: Finally solving my Kindle issues! You think that shouldn't be such a big deal, but it is... oh how it is... ::

:: My dear blog readers. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be doing this! ::

:: My freshly made bed that is calling my name. ::

falling backwards.

2010-11-07T01:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Daylight Savings Day!

how big is campbell?

2010-11-06T21:50:00.004-06:00

SO BIG!

wait... HOW BIG?

SO BIG!

days of fall :: beaver ponds.

2010-11-03T13:54:00.001-06:00

Rounding out a fabulous fall season, we headed out to the Beaver Ponds, a favorite place that is quickly accessible for those that need an afternoon nap, has an easy trail for the little hikers and beautiful scenery for everyone involved.

Us Gunni-ites love fall around here.

It's just too bad that it shows up and leaves all too quickly. We've already had out first snow of the season, with Crested Butte reporting over 36 inches in one system!

But for now, the sky is still blue, the last few leaves are clinging tightly to their branches and people are wearing their hoodies and flip flops just a little longer. We inhale deeply the smell of freshly raked leaves and the novelty of the first few fires burning in the wood stoves, warding off that early morning chill. We pile on layers of hats, scarves and jackets first thing in the morning, only to throw them off into the passenger seat of the car by noon when it's too nice of a day. We snuggle deeper into our blankets before the sun rises, reminding ourselves to soon pull out the heavier blankets, or maybe to just put socks on the night before.

We watch the calendar inch closer and closer to Halloween and then closer and even closer to Thanksgiving, while politely ignoring the sparkly ornaments and and inflatable Santa Clauses that pop into view a bit too early.

We embrace the need to start the car in those early morning and try to remember to dig out those ice scrapers before it's too late...

Living in a ski town makes us ready for winter and we do a good job of enjoying it. We like telling people how many feet of snow the mountain received the night before. We like watching the Weather Channel like it's the nightly news. We're good at bragging at how many days never warmed up to above zero and how many cords of wood we've chopped by hand.

We giggle at how long it took to drive down valley and complain that the snowplows hadn't been out and the roads were terrible... or were out and made the drive worse.

We love winter.

We're just not ready to let go of this wonderful season called fall that hurriedly arrives without much warning and doesn't stick around long enough.

wordless wednesday :: last days of fall.

2010-11-03T12:44:00.000-06:00

main street {photo} treats.

2010-10-31T12:00:00.004-06:00

boo.

2010-10-31T00:00:00.001-06:00

(I know, I know... not the greatest background...)

michigan vacay DAY TWO

2010-10-29T20:46:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

Stretch!

Rise and shine!

Lots of fun awaits...

Splash!

Explore.

Smile!

Love. Love. Love.

My heart melts...

Game on!

Wheeeee!

Overwhelmed.

Focus.

So tired...

Prizes.

Ready for a new day.

sandy.

2010-10-29T14:21:00.003-06:00

We did some camping at the Great Sand Dunes National Park over Greg's birthday weekend (which was like, a month and a half ago). I had actually never been there, and Greg hadn't been there since he was younger, so it was a great, new trip for all of us!

Most of the park doesn't allow for site reservations, so we headed out early, hoping to secure ourselves a spot.

On the way there, Finley showed off her muscles during our lunch stop...

We were so busy setting up our campsite and trying to get dinner ready before the sun rose, the camera didn't really come out until late...

Campbell was pretty cheerful for a little girl who really never spent any of the weekend on the ground... that was pretty trying for a baby who was just perfecting her crawling form...

We left camp early to make sure that we weren't hiking into the sand dunes during the hottest part of the day. It was nice and cool when we set off, but was roasting by the time we hiked back into camp. We were SO happy that we planned the trip for the morning... we passed too many suckers out there sweating as they were just beginning to get to the dunes...

Plus, the sand was roasting for Lucy's feet...

Had we had no kiddos on our trip, we would have hiked further into the dunes. They were actually an amazing site to see... has anyone ever been there before? We watched little lines of ant-sized people hiking up to the very top of the first part of the dunes. Many with snowboards in tow. The amazing part was this HUGE, GIGANTIC line of sand dunes were just the tip of the iceberg (hee hee hee). The amount of sand that was past your line of sight when you were at the base of the park was immense and hard to actually imagine.

We chose to stick a bit closer to the bottom, and found a nice tall dune that was the right size for our little ones. We spent most of the time sledding and jumping and climbing and rolling... The dune that we stuck to was perfect for sledding down and still a giant workout to climb back up... that's why we enlisted Lucy to do some of our hauling for us!

Finley hiked over to another dune and spent some time doing this... It was such wide-open space and great to let the kiddos explore without them ever being able to get out of our site... or actually being able to climb out and over the dunes on their own...

Getting back to camp found us all tired, hungry, sweaty and sandy... After a quick lunch, we spent a lot of the afternoon trying to convince the kiddos to take a nap in the hot, stuffy tent. We hid out in the shade of our kitchen tent, waiting for the sun to lower itself and give us back some much-needed energy.

Up next... The Colorado Gator Farm!

Yes... really...

five friday favorites. {links}

2010-10-29T13:58:00.000-06:00

Happy pre-Halloween festivities everyone! Here is my list that has been in the workds for the last couple of weeks. I have such a back-log of posts and pictures and stories and thoughts... it gets so overwelming to try and keep this all updated. I won't even begint to promise that I'll get to everything.

One day at a time, right? I STILL haven't posted all of the pictures from our AUGUST vacation!

1. These creative photos...

2. A poetic visual narrative about motherhood...

3. For 70 years this Parisian apartment had been left uninhabited, under lock and key, the rent faithfully paid but no hint of what was inside...

4. These knit hats are just too cute...

5. Wishing everyone enjoyed their job as much as this guy...

What are you waiting for? Link on up... get your blog out there and tell us what you are liking right now!

{september} 365.

2010-10-24T22:08:00.005-06:00

The most current monthly group of my 365 project.

five friday favorites. {links}

2010-10-01T00:00:00.005-06:00

Instead of going through my typical rundown of our Five Friday Favorites weekly post, I'm just going to dive on in... join me if you want. If not... meh... that's quite alright...

Some of this week's links were passed on to me by my most wonderful mother in-law... she's the greatest and I'm happy to share some things that were interesting to her in the last week while she was recovering from some pretty serious dental surgery.

1. A beautiful photographic story of a Cesarean birth.

2. Have not had a chance to read too far into her blog, but hoping to get a moment to sit down and do so. She's a feminist mother, a philosophical doula and a snarky storyteller... what could be better?

3. The MOM Song... have you seen this yet?

4. Why OH WHY have I rediscovered this website?! If you're a gear junkie, I whole-heartily warn you to turn away now... don't click... don't...

5. What Not To Wear: The Pregnancy Edition. Hilarious!

snip. snip.

2010-09-28T14:48:00.002-06:00

This is what happens when we're all stuck in our cramped, crummy little house for too long...

She almost doesn't even look like my little Finley anymore...

but don't worry, she still screams like her...

he's back.

2010-09-28T09:48:00.000-06:00

Well...

After a temperature of 103 that wouldn't respond to Tylenol or IBU, a croupy cough that was making it more and more difficult to breath and a little boy that was somewhat unresponsive, an evening trip to the ER was on our agenda last night.

The nurses loved him and he came home sporting a handful of action figures (he told the nurse that he needed to take them all because he had a little sister at home ???). He drank his fill of apple juice and was given a popcicle (that he very promptly gave to daddy) while they were waiting.

He was given a long-acting steroid to open up his airway (which was the reason why I wanted him to go... they gave that same steroid to Finley the last time she was battling with a serious case of croup and immediately began to feel better) and a heavy-hitting dose of IBU.

He's back in the land of the living today, folks. His voice still sounds like he still hasn't quite kicked a 10-pack-a-day habit, but his coughs are finally productive and it appears that his fever has broken. He ate a substantial amount this morning for the first time in a few days and his is currently curled up on the couch watching cartoons with Finley (who seems to have lucked out with a much more milder case of this infection).

I'm going to enjoy my first shower in two days!

what we've been doing on a cold, rainy wednesday.

2010-09-22T22:04:00.001-06:00

... playing...

... staying cozy and dry...

... napping after our naps...

... drawing...

... chasing...

... reading and studying...

... imagining...

... growing...

... learning...

... immitating...

campbell :: eight months.

2010-09-20T14:40:00.116-06:00

In the last two months, you:

:: are waving ::

:: have traveled across part of the country ::

:: go to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 ::

:: wake up once or twice to eat ::

:: are still sleeping with mommy and daddy ::

:: take a morning nap if you are lucky enough to still be in the house, otherwise you sleep when you can ::

:: still only have your two bottom teeth ::

:: are totally, one hundred percent... CRAWLING! ::

:: have been founding in the standing position while holding onto a toy box or wall ::

:: now sleep in the lowest position of your co-sleeper ::

:: sleep there because you fell OUT of your co-sleeper while it was in the raised position ::

:: can sit up from lying down quickly ::

:: are learning that you don't like having your toys taken out of your hands ::

:: love the sounds of your own screams ::

:: continue to suck your thumb and a paci ::

:: are not attached to any one toy or blanket ::

:: will usually kick your feet on command ::

:: dislike getting strapped into your carseat ::

:: have made a few car trips a bit miserable to everyone else in the car ::

:: were wonderful on your first airplane trip ::

:: have a difficult time nursing happily anywhere except lying down in bed ::

:: do NOT like mommy to talk or move while you are nursing ::

:: still have red hair ::

:: still have curly hair ::

:: are losing some of the dreadlocks in the back of your head ::

:: do not wear clips in your hair as much as Finley did at your age ::

:: have a lot more hair than Finley did at your age ::

:: have big droopy jowls that are just asking to be kissed ::

:: have rolls on top of rolls on your thighs ::

:: are wearing 6-12 month clothing ::

:: are to chubby for 6-9 month pants, but too short for 12 month pants ::

:: still squeeze into some of mommy's favorite 3-6 month clothing ::

:: are wearing sizes that are off-season from Finley's hand-me-down clothing ::

:: have piercing blue eyes that seem to be here to stay ::

:: have tasted your first bite of solid food ::

:: still nurse 6-10 times per day ::

:: eat at the table with us once or twice a day ::

:: have mastered picking up tiny bits of diced food and bringing them to your mouth ::

:: like bananas, avocado, sweet potatos, pears, apples... ::

:: ate baby yogurt for the first time today, on your eight month birthday ::

:: love your baby mesh food bag ::

:: are not so crazy about teething biscuits ::

:: have been camping ::

:: rode in your Ergo carrier up the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes in Michigan and the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado ::

:: love your Ergo carrier the most ::

:: use your Maya Wrap ::

:: do not drink out of a bottle, but love sipping on mommy's water ::

:: love your big brother and sister ::

:: are learning that not everything your big brother and sister do to you is gentle and kind ::

:: like to know where mommy is at all times, but are not experiencing any stranger anxiety yet ::

:: will let other people hold you ::

:: have such a special place in this family ::

:: are loved more than you can fully understand ::

:: are the most wonderful and special baby that I know of! ::

Happy eight months, CQ!

packrats.

2010-09-17T12:03:00.000-06:00

This pile was collected from in, on top of and behind the kiddo's beds.

I just did this three days ago...

five friday favorites. {links}

2010-09-17T01:00:00.001-06:00

Welcome to our weekly Five Friday Favorites link up!

Now... there were too many of you that chose to stay quiet last time. A very special thanks to Kiki and Summer, so I didn't get totally shot down for being brave enough to host a Mr. Linky.

You could almost hear the crickets chirping when you looked at my last post.

Nevertheless, I do these weekly posts anyway, so I'll continue hosting a link up and hoping that more people will find it interesting and worth their while to join on in!

So... lets see... the GOLDEN FFF RULES:

Link on up to your FFF post using Mr. Linky below.
You MUST link back to my most current Five Friday Favorites post (or Kiki's) in your own post.
Please - oh - please leave us a comment after linking up! Today it's your choice. Tell me ANYTHING!
Feel free to download my FFF button to use in your post. I'm STILL trying to get a "Grab My Button" scroll box happening, but I can't seem to get it all centered and purdy like. So... until then, just right-click to 'save picture as' and get it that way.

So... here we go!

1. This moving account of a photographer's last moments with his aging father.

2. This same artist also used his camera to tell the tale of his first few months with his daughter, Loulou, and his journey of reluctant fatherhood.

3. These sculptures from Dimitri Tsykalov are wonderfully amazing... and amazingly strange. He has also done some wonderful work in wood and some... well... some quite ~~disturbing~~ strange work in meat...

4. This video is heart-squishingly cute.

5. In the memory of her mother's death as the age of 32, this woman is beginning a blog as she enters her 32nd year of life. Follow her as she tackles a new project each month and realizes that she still has a lot of living yet to do.

{august} 365.

2010-09-16T15:40:00.000-06:00

This month was still a bit of a disappointment for me. I mean, I love my photos that I did take, but I missed so many days, I am wondering if I should continue to post them as a 365 project.

I know that this project is supposed to make me work at these photos and get me out of my comfort zone, but I hate trying to take some random shot at 11:00 at night because I never took the camera out of it's bag all day. I hate seeing those kinds of photos for the day and have them not move me at all... blech...

I also hate looking back and noticing how many days totally escaped me with NO photos to show for it.

Oh well.

You just keep going, right?

days of fall :: hartman rocks.

2010-09-10T15:18:00.046-06:00

I love fall.

I know that, technically, it is not autumn yet.

But the crisp morning air and the frost on my windshield as I drag myself out of bed in total darkness to make it to the gym before my little ones wake up to begin their day, tells me that it is already here.

Never mind the calendar.

The leaves are changing. The sunny days are shorter. The fleece hoodies are pulled out from behind the summer dresses and t-shirts.

Socks have even made their, albeit brief, appearance in our lives recently!

We headed up to Hartman Rocks the other weekend to do some exploring. Do some climbing. Hang out as a family.

The wind had made an appearance and decided to stick around for the whole afternoon. The kiddos were determined and strong. Finley's wild hair was whipping around her face, and with no hair tie to tame it, we stuck it up inside her hat the best we could.

And just rolled with the punches.

Greg and I used to spend quite a bit of time up here in 'our youth.' Greg and his mountain bike explored these paths and rocks most every day when he was in school. We spent a lot of nights camping in different areas, sometimes returning to our favorites. We drove over rocks and tree limbs, following the creek, to a cozy little spot that felt, at the time, like no one else knew about it. I did my homework there along the creek. Greg spent time trying to make me forget about homework.

And now we get to bring our children back to this place.

They love it. They are all getting big enough to enjoy it that much more each time we come. Rowen is fearless. Finley is clumsy with toddler feet. Campbell is happy to be along for the ride.

We ended the day with windswept hair, chappy cheeks, a potty training little girl with dry undies and a fabulous lunch at FireBrand. The little ones curled up into their beds for an afternoon nap pushing 3:00 and I knew that they wouldn't get up until dinner or go to bed at any reasonable hour.

And I didn't care a bit.

five friday favorites. {links}

2010-09-09T23:06:00.008-06:00

I know that today is NOT Friday. Labor Day has totally messed with the calendar in my mind.

So... my very funny friend Kiki over at I Still Hate Pickles and I have decided to pool our brain cells and work together on my Five Friday Favorites. We will be asking for y'all to link on up and show us your top five favorite webosphere sites, pages and information that you've discovered throughout the week. Luscious photographs? Great tips or info? Someone's blog post that moved you? Just something funny that you want to pass along?

We want it all!

This is totally, totally, totally in the very beginning stages. Kiki and I really haven't even gotten our heads quite all the way together yet. You might find something doesn't work quite right... you might find a flaw in the design... the links might not work... buttons might not go where they should do... no one might hop aboard this Linky Train... Just hang tight and bare with us! You just never know... this might be the next best thing since bribing your child with stickers and army men for going potty!

So... lets see... the GOLDEN FFF RULES:

Link on up to your FFF post using Mr. Linky below.
You MUST link back to either my most current Five Friday Favorites post or Kiki's in your own post.
Please - oh - please leave us a comment after linking up! Today, I want your comments to be about yourself. Give me some juicy tidbit about who you are!
Feel free to download my FFF button to use in your post. I'm trying to get a "Grab My Button" scroll box happening, but I can't seem to get it all centered and purdy like. So... until then, just right-click to 'save picture as' and get it that way.

So here we go!

1. This funny first hand account of a baby's birth... from the dad's point of view.

2. I've just discovered a new store for all things Bento! I might just have to start adding to my Bento pick 'n' stuff collection to make using these even more fun!

3. Speaking of fun... I've been receiving some pretty fun goodies in the mail lately. My newest splurge is this book. I see a cake pop birthday party in the future...

4. Their story is featured in the October issue of Parents. I love this family (and so do 5,687,266,386,449 other people) and can't get enough of her beautiful words and heart-wrenching photography.

Photo Credit/Source

5. It's 11:00 and instead of packing for our weekend camping trip here, I'm here trying to put this post together. I hope it works out and you guys can join us here at the end of the week.

today's the day.

2010-09-07T22:20:00.002-06:00

Well... my little boy started four-year old Preschool today.

He was happy. I don't think he blinked twice when I bent down to hug and kiss him (for the fifth and final time). He smile politely for the camera and gave his sister a hug.

I took Campbell and Finley to the grocery store... and changed many wet undies, as predicted. We stopped by Lynna's house for a quick diaper change as well.

When 11:30 rolled around and I walked the girls back into his school and down his hallway, we found him outside on the playground in the sandbox. He beamed a HUGE smile at me when he saw us walking towards him. We couldn't find his hoodie that he wore to school, and Rowen STILL couldn't find it while staring blankly in his cubby, making sure to look down in the corner of the box and along each wall...

"Where is your hoodie?"

"I don't know."

"Where did you take it off?"

"I don't know. Hmmm..."

We discovered said hoodie on a bench outside on the playground.

He was Snack Captain this morning and handed out cups and plates... but he really wanted to water the plants.

He stood on the white snowman with a big, black 4 written on his belly, while lining up to go to gym. Gym class was hula hooping. Rowen states that he now knows how to hula hoop.

But you can't hit anyone with a hula hoop.

And he didn't.

His best friend is currently named Jackson and they played cars.

My friend, who was dropping her little one off as well, asked me for some jumper cables because her car wouldn't start. I didn't have any. We asked at least seven other mommies.

No one had any.

How could so many of us NOT have a set of jumper cables??

We got home in time to eat lunch, get Campbell put down for a nap and unload the groceries. Rowen was looking awfully tired and I commented to him that he "looked dazed."

"Yeah... I am dazed... and I don't even know what that means."

He and Finley slept all afternoon until I finally had to wake them up.

I'm still not to sure of this "all the time" thing they have going on with school and all. I like the randomness of toddler-hood. I like the "Hmmm... what should we do today" plan. I don't mind having structure to my mornings every once in awhile... but jeez... four days a week?

In a row?

My baby -- who isn't much of a baby anymore -- is going to love it. He does love it. I read this blog post today about a momma who was sending her three boys off into various grades today. She wrote that she was excited for her boy. Excited to send them off as independent young men, interacting with the world around them. You see, she raised them and prepared them for these moments. To be confident and sure.

She wrote that she would be more sad if they cried and clung to her leg. That meant that she hadn't done her job by raising them with confidence and curiosity. She wouldn't have done her job of preparing them for these life steps. That crawled in and dug a little spot deep down in my heart. It was just what I needed.

And so, I stood back and watched Rowen take in his classroom and the world around him. I watched him move from station to station. Trying things out. Touching. Observing. I watched a confident little guy move about with ease in a new situation. I watched until I turned around and drug a little two-year old -- who thought that she had every right to be right there in the middle of things, too, and was put out that I was making her leave before she could sit at the coloring station -- out the door with my baby slung on my hip.

I took a deep breath and continued on with my morning, knowing Rowen was experiencing his own.

what happened?

2010-09-06T17:14:00.000-06:00

How could it already be four and a half years since I first met you...

How could it already be the night before your first day of Preschool?

Now... if you'll please excuse me while...

I try and swallow that big lump that's been sitting in my throat all day,

blot those couple of tears that have fallen,

try and find out why my external hard drive that contains all (yep... ALL) of my photographs from 2006-2008 is NOT working at all (yep... AT ALL),

pack that brand spankin' new backpack (with what, I don't know... he doesn't need to bring anything, but he'll damn sure be walking into school with it tomorrow morning),

finish filling out the massive pile of paperwork sitting on the kitchen counter that needs to get turned into the school office,

plan how I'm going to drop Rowen off in his classroom with two babes in tow, all while carrying my rather large and heavy bag of "suggested classroom supplies," making sure that I photograph this once in a lifetime moment and keeping Finley from wandering away into the three-year-old classroom or out onto the playground,

and go snuggle up with my big boy on the couch for a few more hours of lovin' before he officially begins his school career.

I'm so not ready.

five friday favorites. {links}

2010-09-03T00:00:00.003-06:00

1. These pillows.

2. Although I have no kiddos in school who have to bring a lunch, and I am in no way eager for said kiddos to be in school where they have to bring a lunch, and I have no desire to make seventeen gazillion packed lunches for said kiddos as they manuver through the school system (TOO) soon enough, this website makes me smile from ear-to-ear!

3. In reference to #2, I did, however, break down and buy two of these... It was a moment of total weakness. Picnics in the park, anyone? I admit I can't wait to fill them!

4. I love this simple and yet, oh so intricate, beauty of nature.

5. In the continuation of my HypnoBabies and doula certification, I stumbled upon this business here in Colorado. Oh my! To own and operate something like this would be a total dream for me... So not practical in my little town, but certainly gives me some ideas.

SPECIAL BONUS #6. Missing Missy. Perhaps the best email forward of all time. Just for fun, folks, just for fun!

michigan vacay DAY ONE {by the numbers}

2010-09-02T22:33:00.001-06:00

Planes flown on: 3

Total travel time: 10 hours

Approximate miles flown: 2,000

Cinnamon rolls eaten in DIA: 2

Cinnamon rolls eaten almost entirely by Finley: 1

Number of rows that were behind us in the huge, ginormous plane that we flew from DIA to ORD: 1

Number of seats we took up in each plane: 4

Number of flights were we able to all sit together: 1

How many of the in-seat TVs that worked for the long, long flight to Chicago: 0

Number of Silly Bandz packages that were brought: 8

Number of Silly Bandz packages that got opened: 4

Number of Silly Bandz that ended up either on the floor or shot over innocent people's heads: 4

Number of books read: 2

Number of awesome (thanks, Granny!) Rescue Hero action figures that were a total backpack surprise: 2

Number of video iPods packed and used: 2

DVD players packed: 1

DVD players used: 0

Number of outfit changes needed due to potty issues: 1

Outfit changes I accounted and packed for: 5

Number of us who fell asleep before we touched down in Michigan: 2.5 (Greg's eyes were suspiciously closed for some of the time!)

Times that I asked Rowen if he wanted to play another game on the iPod Touch that Lynna let us borrow: 10

Times that Rowen said "yes": 1

Number of tries it took Rowen to figure out how to use a fancy touch-screen electronic device that he had never seen before: 1

Times I got to use it: 1

Naps that Campbell took on all three flights: 4

Times that Campbell was awake and ready to party: 7,364

Number of times Campbell graced us and everyone else on the plane with her ear-piercing pterodactyl screech: 1

Times that Campbell started to cry when the flight-attendant came on the speaker to tell us all about how to be safe on a plane: 3

Other times Campbell cried: 0

Number of people who eyebrows raised when they saw our family of five walk down the aisle and cram into seats around them: 16

Number of people who probably sighed a great big sigh of relief when we walked right on past their rows: 89

Number of people who complemented us on how wonderful, cute and well-behaved our children were: 8

Times that I sat by the window: 0

Minutes that it took Campbell to get to sleep after landing, kissing and hugging the fam, getting our bags, situating our car seats in the rental car and checking into the hotel: .0006 seconds

celery scientists.

2010-09-02T21:56:00.000-06:00

Well... since it's been awhile since we did this activity, including nine days of vacation, I cannot remember where I saw this online! I do remember seeing it on two different blogs, so if you want to send me a link, I'll update this post with credit where credit is due.

After seeing this project on-line, I realized that we had celery in the fridge and that seeing as how we were leaving for vacation in a couple of days, I though it would be the perfect activity!

Slowly adding the food coloring...

They were both was quite possessive about THEIR specific colors, so it was a challenge to make sure that no stray celery pieces accidentally landed in someone else's cup of color. Finley just wanted to keep putting celery into the cups, no matter which cup, what celery or who's cup!

We talked about what we thought could happen after placing the celery into the different colors of water. Without much prompting, Rowen actually had a pretty clear concept of what would happen, but I think he imagined that the entire stalk would turn color... I have to admit, that's what I might think, too.

They watched and watched the celery for a while...

Once the novelty of the project worn off, and they realized that nothing was going to happen in the next ten minutes, it was off to play and start the arduous task of packing for a week-long vacation this family of five. I am NOT a good packer. I repeat, I AM NOT a good packer... not for myself and most certainly not for four other people..

Just the carry-ons folks, just the carry-ons...

(The fluffy pink tiara in the bottom right-hand corner didn't make the final cut.)

The next day, we checked back on our little celery friends and found this...

We again talked about what happened with the colored water and how the celery turned the colors that it did. The big question was how did the color of the water end up at the very top of the celery? We discussed what happened with the celery that was split between two cups. I brought up that the ribs of the celery were like little straws and we deiced to tear into the pieces to see everything a little more closely. I think that this (and adding the food coloring to the water) was the kiddos' favorite part of the whole activity.

... and drumroll, please...

2010-08-25T16:00:00.004-06:00

Thanks, y'all for playing along with me! It's quite exciting to host my very first giveaway and I hope that there will be many more to come.

So... here ya go...

The winner, picked using random.org (although I can't figure out how to place the screen shot of the winning number -- come on, ladies... help me out if you can!), was good ol' NUMBER 21! Congratulations, Becky @ misspriss!

Becky said :

Oooh, due in November. Could be perfect for me!

My can't live without? My Moby wrap. Such a lifesaver when my boy was tiny. Lots of closeness but with my hands free so I could use the computer, wash dishes, or just sit and relax w/o my arms getting tires. LOVE it!

Becky, I will email you today to get your shipping address!

I really appreciate everyone who played along. Thanks for making my first giveaway a fun one... and if you didn't win? Stick around... I actually have ANOTHER Teething Bling necklace to giveaway to another lucky winner. Keep checking back to find out more details!

don't forget.

2010-08-22T00:00:00.000-06:00

Just a reminder... the Smart Mom Jewelry Teething Bling necklace giveaway is still going strong!

Click on over here and find seven easy ways you can enter!

This contest will come to an end on August 25th.

just a little life recap.

2010-08-20T00:00:00.001-06:00

So just for fun, I wanted to look back at my posts from a year ago.

Here is where I discuss packing and repacking and packing and repacking... and this was JUST for a three-person trip. Last year, I braved the airports with just Rowen and Finley. Three! Now I'm all-of-a-sudden packing and stressing for FIVE!

Over here is my recap of the first day of vacation... The flights across the country went better than expected!

One year ago today, we were off on another mini-vacation of sorts, as well as struggling with new challenges on the child-rearing front...

But all around this time, this post really tugs at my heartstrings and sticks out as the most meaningful. And here we ar -- one year later -- with our dear, sweet, little Miss Campbell who I just couldn't imagine our lives without her!

It's amazing what a year can bring...

remember...

2010-08-16T12:00:00.002-06:00

... that the Smart Mom Jewelry Teething Bling giveaway is still going on here!

Go ahead and click on over here to find seven different ways that you can enter to win one of these...

Hurry... this givaway ends Wednesday, August 25th...

leaving... on a jet plane...

2010-08-15T10:30:00.000-06:00

So long, folks!

As we speak, we are heading out to make our annual trip to Michigan to see the fam! We're going to be bunking up again at the Great Wolf Lodge and getting our fill of water, sun, good food and the flashing lights of the arcade room.

I'm pretty sure that Rowen and Finley are excited. They know that we are going on an airplane to see Granny, Great-Granny and Uncle Terry. I can't imagine that Finley remembers being there at all last year, although Rowen most certainly does. I think he truly believes that my mom's house IS the Great Wolf Lodge, since we've been staying there on our Michigan vacation for the last few years. He stated that his favorite part of the hotel was the pool and the arcade room... sigh... I shudder to think of wandering that room, listening to the plink, plink, plink of the games and the screaming of teenagers. However, I'm pretty sure the wails that will be heard and the tears that are gonna fall when it's time to leave for the evening will be my little curly-headed one... not Rowen. My favorite part is being five steps away in the morning from a decaf skinny vanilla latte... and going to get it in my pajamas.

My family is beyond excited for our visit... my lovely grandma has yet to meet Campbell. She has been keeping up with her first half-year of life by emailed photos, so this trip is extra-special to all of us.

I'm anxious for the beach and to feel some real sand between my toes.

I'll be back soon... perhaps sooner than later if I can snag my mom's laptop in the hotel. Maybe, just maybe, I'll schedule some posts for while we're are gone.

And don't forget about my giveaway going on until August 25th...

{july} 365.

2010-08-10T22:55:00.001-06:00

Missed three days, but I still loved this month of photography...

365 days going strong.

baby talk.

2010-08-10T16:04:00.001-06:00

So much for eating being the new "thing" in Little Miss Campbell's life.

That's so yesterday...

She's now moved on to yakking and babbling almost as much as her brother and sister...

teething bling giveaway.

2010-08-10T00:10:00.004-06:00

I'm so very pleased to announce my very first giveaway! Since this particular item falls within the BlogHer guidelines, I have decided to keep this post on my main blog. I'll link to it from my review blog, but my review, all comments and the winner announcement will take place here, on ... and baby makes five!

I love wearing necklaces and some of my very favorite pieces are large circular stone pendants. I have a few different styles and colors and have even found some large and flat shell pendants that always seem to find their place around my neck.

Once I had Rowen, I realized that he loved grasping those stone necklaces in his chubby little hands and gnawing the bejeebers out of it. The coolness and hardness of the stone must have felt wonderful against his swollen gums. Who needed to bring along a teething toy when you had something like that around your neck?

Well... once his first tooth popped thorough, I noticed that the playful gumming and slobbering against my necklace gave way to grating bone and enamel.

Yeah... not a pretty sound...

Even as a first time mommy, I knew that wasn't good and so those big stone pendants no longer could be offered up as real estate for his mouth.

And so... later on...

I first heard about teething necklaces after Finley was born.

What?! Actual necklaces that were made specifically for your baby to chew on? AND they looked like my beloved circle stone necklaces? Where DO I sign up?

But alas, I never bought myself one.

So fast forward to my dear, sweet Campbell entering her teething stage. My lovely friend sent me link to Smart Mom Jewelry, a company that sells teething necklaces and other accessories, showing me where she was hoping to make a wholesale purchase to sell in her consignment store.

I promptly clicked on through and bought myself two Teething Bling® necklaces. A girl needs a couple of different color choices, am I right?

Well... honestly, why did I wait so long to actually buy one of these for myself? We all know how much babies love to grab and chew. Teething Bling® is made from the same material as most teething toys and their pendants and bangles look great on the adult wearer but are safe for curious babies to handle and chew.

Smart Mom Jewelry products are designed wholly with both mom and baby in mind. They are non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, PVC, latex- and lead-free and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety measure.

Safety aside, the Smart Mom Jewelry product line simply looks good! There are many different solid colors to choose from for your necklace pendants and coordinating bangles, from cotton candy blue to onyx, as well as patterned colors. The pendant hangs off of a black silky cord that you can cut so that it hangs at your desired level. This easy option of making the length that you want is a bonus feature for me, as I like my necklaces a bit on the shorter side! They are soft and pliable for baby's comfort, but look just like a stone pendant.

As soon as they arrived I promptly tore into the package and chose the black onyx to test-drive with Campbell's rosebud mouth.

We spent the evening out around a bonfire, roasting marshmallows and watching the rain clouds billow around us. Campbell had a few minutes to spend with us before heading off to bed and she spent the entire time gumming at my new necklace. Well, she spent it either chewing the necklace or holding it while sucking on her thumb... However, it was definitely a success! She loves it and I love showing it off to my friends...

Since we've received our necklaces in mail, we've tried it out at many different places. Today, we went grocery shopping and little Miss Campbell spent her time hanging out in the Ergo, happily chewing and sucking away at my necklace.

WANT ONE?

Now you have a chance to win your very own Teething Bling teething necklace from Smart Mom Jewelry. This giveaway is specifically for a very stunning and popular turquoise Teething Bling necklace, just like this one...

To enter, leave a comment telling me of your all-time favorite baby item that you can not live without. Don't have one? Then tell me who this necklace is for, should you be the very special winner!

Once you've entered the contest, please choose any or all of the following to gain extra entries, and remember to leave an extra comment for each additional entry as well an your email address...

1. Follow ... and baby makes five! through Google Friend Connect (right near the top of the left sidebar...).

2. Blog about this contest and link back to this post. (Don't forget to leave me a link back to your blog post in your comment!)

3. Become a fan of my Etsy store -- the littlest apple. -- on Facebook.

4. Share this contest post on Facebook.

5. Follow ... and baby makes five! through an RSS feed (also right over there near the top of the left sidebar...).

6. Follow my new review blog, ... and baby does reviews, too! with Google Friend Connect or through an RSS feed.

So let's see... that makes a total of seven possible ways to win one of these necklaces! And if you don't win, there might just be another way to score one for yourself later on (okay, there most certainly will be...).

Entries for this giveaway will close on Wednesday, August 25th!

Good Luck!

Oh... and just so you know, I purchased my two Teething Bling necklaces myself. Smart Mom Jewelry provided me with the giveaway products for free. My thoughts are my own and I was not compensated in any way for my review of this product!

keep watching for my very FIRST giveaway... I'm so excited...

2010-08-07T23:38:00.000-06:00

I have the pleasure of announcing that I am going to be hosting my very first giveaway!

Tell your friends! Shout it from the rooftops!

The contest will begin soon... keep watching...

five friday favorites. {links}

2010-08-06T03:00:00.001-06:00

1. This woman, her baby and the wonders of photography... simply amazing...

2. I love most everything on this blog, but after reading this specific post, I might have actually 'gufawed' out loud...

3. This video that actually kinda sorta gave me chills as I watched it. Some people have crazy talents...

4. A free 20 page leather-bound photo book here with code FREEBK. Mine is in the mail. Does anyone out there usually make their books with these guys? I'm a PhotoWorks gal myself, so I'm excited for some comparison shopping...

5. This woman is getting *real* close to becoming a first time momma. She's more than halfway there. And she's getting close to mommyhood at 35 weeks with twins. I've recently been enjoying some new mommy blogs that I've stumbled across while poking around over here.

steps for a perfect half birthday.

2010-07-29T22:15:00.000-06:00

1. Let the two kiddos who are driving you bananas at their unrelenting energy, help you make the "cupcakes."

2. While the "cupcakes" are baking, get out the paper and have them paint what will soon become birthday hats for the entire family.

3. Keep trying to remember to call these "cupcakes."

4. Get messy! When it looks like no one wants to paint anymore, bring out the sponges and start cutting out shapes for stamping.

5. Don't forget to acknowledge the birthday girl in all of the chaos!

6. Send the yahoos off to watch Rescue Heroes while the paint dries and you spend more time than you should trying to tape these suckers into a hat-shaped-cone-thingy. Keep calling them over to you for head measuring. Then decide you need to add a bit of 'bling' with some festive ribbon.

7. Remember to document the emotion of realizing that one cannot just climb up on the step stool and stick her finger in the 'cupcake' icing, no matter how delicious it looks. Not even when mommy's back is turned...

8. Set up your hard work right in the middle of the dining room table while everyone is eating supper. That way, everyone will certainly stay focused and eat all of their noodles. I'm sure that no one will continuously whine about wanting to eat the blueberries and lick the frosting off of the 'cupcakes' and wear the hats that they worked so hard at creating...

9. Hurry up and take the obligatory picture of the birthday girl in her birthday hat before she has a total meltdown due to the fact that it is an hour after her bedtime. Try and ignore the fact that she has no pants... have I ever mentioned how damn hot it is in our house???

10. Clear the dinner plates but don't worry about wiping spaghetti sauce off any one's face. Stick the hat on their heads, give them blueberries to decorate their 'cupcakes' and listen to them squeal about how their hat won't stay on. Tell them that they don't have to wear the hat, watch their reaction and then go run off and gather up some hair clips to clip the hats onto their heads.

11. Let them eat their 'cupcakes'!

12. ~~Put the birthday girl to bed and let daddy deal with the dinner dishes and 'cupcake' cleanup.~~ Put the birthday girl to bed and afterwards, walk into the kitchen and realize that nothing has been cleaned up or put away. Grumble, but remember all of your great pictures to document this special day!

{YOU} capture - play.

2010-07-29T21:25:00.001-06:00

Today we were invited over to a friend's house for some Slip 'n' Slide action! It was hot and the kiddos were oh, so ready.

They jumped, they screamed, they ate grapes and oranges like they were going out of style. They found the Oreo cookies and the Capris Sun. Finley horded her little yellow smiley-face ball and shot dirty looks at anyone who got close to it. Rowen played Superheroes loud and proud with his best friend and only other little boy there at the party. Campbell slept soundly snuggled up in the Ergo, although in this heat, we made enough sweat between us for me to lose 15 pounds (no... not really...).

I talked about babies and HypnoBirthing, sewing and my friend's new consignment store that I'm proudly helping out with, trashy reality TV shows and Drive-In movies. I watched my two older kiddos run amok through the driveway and yard, hurriedly making sure I could spot both of their hats at least every few minutes. I made sure Finley didn't fall and bust her head on the little slide they had set up in the kiddie pool and that she didn't love on all of the other babies too, too much.

Around lunch time, the hum of the motor that kept the Slip 'n' Slide blown up was turned off and everyone realized just how loud they were talking and laughing. As it deflated down to the ground, bags were packed and goodbyes said... not too many tears were shed. We shimmied out of our wet bathing suits in the driveway and danced a little naked dance to dry off the last drops. After welcoming some dry clothes, we walked down the road to our car with graham crackers shoved into our fists and sleep creeping into our eyes.

** This post is part of Beth's You Capture challenge. **

five friday favorites. {links}

2010-07-23T00:00:00.023-06:00

1. The work of the unsurpassable artist Margaret Oomen and her crocheted stones.

2. Why having a toddler is like being at a Frat Party.

3. My cousin who totally rocks. I mean, come on... Bonnaroo??? Although... I admit I still think of her as little Sammy Jo, even when her hauntingly good voice was echoing along the river at our wedding five years ago...

4. I can't wait to download these for some creative play with the kiddos. I'm just itching to bust out the watercolors and scissors!

5. Campbell is still nursing exclusively, but when we're ready to start solid foods, I want one of these... badly...

{YOU} capture - black and white.

2010-07-22T21:14:00.000-06:00

This week was filled with nights jumping and giggling around our fire pit and trips into town to celebrate the much-loved Cattlemen's Days.

Parades and carnivals soiled our clothes with a layer of fine dirt that filled the car seats and crept into our beds.

The noises and lights imprinted into our minds hours after we were back home where it was so quiet you could only hear the crickets calling to one another from down by the river.

Marshmallows and chocolate sloppily smooshed between cinnamon graham crackers always taste better two hours after your bedtime...

** This post is part of Beth's YOU CAPTURE challenge **