UPDATE: Weaning is not for this wussy...

As most of you know, I earlier this week I posted about my push to wean my son from nursing at 15-month old-- Weaning is NOT for Wussies. Thanks to all of the wonderful comments from readers supporting both my choice to wean, and reasons not to wean, I have decided that since both Oliver and I are not fully ready to part with nursing, I am not going to force the issues. That's right, no weaning for us just yet...

I have decided to continue to nurse Oliver hoping that he will self-wean.  I have heard that 18-months may be the magic month, or possibly I will find myself right back here at 2 years old.  It was clear that it was just not the right time for us to stop. I am so thankful for all of the comments that helped me make this decision. Another big help was the realization that even though the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing until one, the World Health Organization recommends nursing until the child is 2-years old-- I'm going with the WHO on this one.

I will say this though, in order to meet my selfish needs, I have taken the pressure off of myself in regard to nursing in general.  I am no longer letting his nursing schedule dictate our days or nights.  I know he does not have to nurse at any session.  He can have cows milk, or what he really likes a yogurt smoothie, if I have to be away for a normal morning, nap or bedtime feeding.  Now that Ollie can put away a fair amount of food at meals, I know he will not starve. Not that I plan to make this a regular thing, it's nice to know if I need to do something it's ok to let him miss a feeding.

Clearly this Man-child will not starve if he misses one treat to mommy's milk! 

I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders now that I have decided to quit trying to quit. I know this is best for both of us right now.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but for today I am not stressing and that feels wonderful. We are easy going from here on out!

I will keep you posted on how we are doing and when/if Oliver decides to wean on his own...

PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

One quick click and your vote is cast! 

The best damn invention for moms and dads EVER... Top 10 Reasons Why

                                                                       BABY WIPES

My friends, I am here to tell you that Baby Wipes are the best damn invention ever.  EVER!  There is nothing a baby wipe cannot clean. Over the past week I have used baby wipes for so many things, that tonight I actually looked over at FTD and declared that those little wet squares of wonder are the best damn mom invention in the galaxy.  

When he was finished laughing at me, he asked why. I would now like to share with you the same top 10 reasons I gave FTD.

 Five bucks says you will totally agree, or learn something... or both! 

Baby Wipes.
The greatest little BIG things ever

Create A Mommy Survival Kit For A New Mommy

(Today I am letting a Guest Blogger wow you with some tips for building a mommy survival kit! Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer from Southern California who writes on everything from marketing and social media, to gaming and technology, to health and fitness. As a mother of three, she understands how hectic things can be, especially for a new mom.)

While it’s standard for babies to already be showered with presents, why not go one step further and spoil the baby and new mom with a custom-made gift basket?

Weaning is NOT for Wussies.

After Oliver's first birthday I wrote about how I was determined to wean him from nursing. (Weaning from Nursing-Step 1: Stop Messing Around!) While I was serious about wanting to wean him, I was not as determined as I thought I was.  Weaning your child from the breast is not awesome, and no matter how much you want to wean, it takes serious determination.

How in the hell do I say NO to this face?!

Sunday Book Review -- Hooligan Bear Book Series with #Giveaway

Share what YOU Treasure and #Win a $2500 Home Depot Shopping Spree #Giveaway!

What do you treasure under your roof?  GAF, North America's largest roofing manufacturer wants you to show them your most prized treasures in your home.  Whether it is your sweet baby, furry friend, husband or Lazy Boy, GAF is asking you to upload a photo or link to an album on your Facebook page for a chance at some really great prizes, including weekly $100 Home Depot gift card giveaway, the grand prize of a $2500 Home Depot Gift Card and possibly even have your family featured in a GAF Ad, filmed by a top Hollywood filmmaker, James Minchin III! 

These are my treasures!

Mommy needs to get out of the house before she loses her....

Shit. (We all know I already lost my mind when Oliver ate it while incubating in my belly.)

Over the last two weeks FTD and I have had so much going on between having his family in town, my birthday and a few city wide events.  This busy schedule has breathed new life into us, actually Oliver too.  It's like we have been hibernating in a cave all winter long and forgotten the importance of a adult interaction.

A few days ago a girlfriend took me out for drinks to celebrate my birthday. While we were out I ran into an old girlfriend who I kind of fell out of touch with when I got pregnant. You know, she was still single and going to happy hours, I was knocked up and going to the bathroom to pee or puke every five minutes... So she says to me, "Oh my gosh APRIL!  I have not seen you in forever!"  I started to say, oh it has not been forever... and then I realized IT DAMN NEAR HAS!  Twenty-five months to be exact. Ten months of pregnancy and 15 of being a mom, that makes 25 freaking months of lame-ass-mom-ness! FYI that is 750 days.

My girlfriend took this photo to
"prove that I actually did leave the house without Ollie and FTD"

Easy Kids Crafts... for Dummies-Wordless Wednesday Edition

When it comes to arts and crafts, I am a complete Dong.  I mean I am about as crafty as a rock.  I wish that was not the case, but unfortunately all I can come up with is that when God was handing out Craftiness I thought he said Trashiness, so I said I would pass.

Don't get me wrong, I like to use a hot glue gun as much as the next girl, but sadly, I end up making a pile of colorful ka-ka. So when I came across a super cute, and what seems to be a super easy, craft project, I was inspired! Check this out...

SO CUTE!

I was so inspired by this little foot print project, I wanted to find more super cute craft projects I could complete with a minimal amount of crafty talent! I set out on a Google search for "Crafts for Dummies" and "Easy Crafts for Kids" and other assorted phrases.  My friends I found some really great shit!  These projects are so great that there is really no explanation necessary--Hence the Wordless Wednesday part.

I'm tellin' you, I bet you can just look at these craft projects and figure out how to duplicate them too...

The Top Baby Names of 2012 according to the US Social Security Administration are out!

For those of you who read my Tired of Being Pregnant Blog, you know what a pain in the ass it was for FTD and I to name Ollie.  I hated his names, he hated mine.  We could not even agree on a short list! When we went into the hospital for delivery I was set on Finley and He was set on Oliver, and neither one of us was going to budge! Then fate reared it's ugly head in my face... the mother in the delivery room next to us had just given birth and named her baby Finley.  I was crestfallen...

The only thing FTD and I could agree on when it came to naming our son was that we didn't want a popular name.  We wanted something different, but not too different, like Coconut- we aren't famous we couldn't pull it off. So when the baby next door was born with my name, I caved.  Oliver it was.

I’m a lover and a hugger and thankfully my son is too.

 My mom was very affectionate and regularly told my siblings and I that she loved us. Because of this, to this day my mother, brother, sister and I regularly hug and say, love you. I love that I grew up in a house of huggers.  I think it is fantastic that my family is like this, and I have every intention of nurturing this same openness in my own family.

One of my favorites moments of the day is when FTD hugs me. Without fail every morning FTD embraces me in the kitchen while the coffee is brewing and tells me he loves me.  I actually feel the beautiful rush of emotion it gives me shoot from my heart down to my toes.  Naturally I want to share that same feeling of love with my son.

Happy. Mother's. Day... Epic Fails!

As I began to write this post my eyes filled with tears.  I was so overwhelmed with joy over the fact that I am the mother of the most amazing and beautiful little blessing.  I instantly had this dialog come to mind where I was going to carry on about how blessed and lucky I was to have Oliver, and you all too.  After all, if it were not for Ollie, I would not have this blog and all of you to share the ups and downs of motherhood with.

My rolling dialog had me going down the path where I break down with tears of joy over just how much of a blessing motherhood has been to my life. Then, I stopped that dialogue. I don't want to write that post. I'm not in the mood to cry or be over the top sappy... BORING!

I've decided instead to find some humor in all of this Mother's Day business.  I mean, surely we all will be opening sweet  loving cards today, so why not flip the script and have a laugh?

My Spa Life at Home Under Eye Spa Treatments. You have got to see this! Review and Giveaway.

It is very rare that I have a HOLY CRAP! moment, it's even more rare when FTD has the same HOLY CRAP! moment--you know being a guy and too cool for school and all. But when I tried out today's review products I yelled out Holy Crap!, FTD came running and blurted out the same! I present to you, AS SEEN ON Good Afternoon America, My Spa Life in Home Spa Treatments.

Baby Trend Sit N' Stand Stroller Review & #Giveaway!

I am so excited to bring you today’s review of the Baby Trend Sit N' Stand stroller.  I am positively in love with it.  When the opportunity was presented to us to review a stroller from Baby Trend, FTD declared we needed a Sit n’ Stand stroller.  I was not so sure since I use the hell out of our lightweight one.  Then FTD started talking about the features of a Sit N' Stand, Oliver’s needs and what kind of stroller would be the best long term for our family. I started to see things his way…

• Ollie is growing up and getting restless in his stroller.  The Sit N stand allows him to have options,   and it makes it easier on us not having to get him in and out repeatedly on walks through the zoo or park.

• In the event that we have a baby 2 (Don’t get any ideas just yet you all!)  The sit n stand is made for just that. We can put a newborn carrier in one section (Front or Back!!) until the baby is big enough to sit upright, while Ollie sits (or stands) in the other.

• For traveling across the world, or just through the airport, the sit n stand holds our luggage.

• The stroller is perfect for our family now and later.

FTD chose The Baby Trend Sit N' Stand® Ultra Stroller- Reseda Item #: SS66436.

All I want for Mother’s Day is a Hall Pass.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been repeatedly asked if I have any big Mother’s days plans. I always answer with No, but secretly think, yeah do my best to hide form my husband and child. I know I must sound like an ass of a mom for this, but hear me out. If I should spend Mother’s Day lovingly embracing my son, thanking God every minute for the amazing blessing that he is -- Read: with my son hanging from me, whining to be picked up, changing diapers and playing with Hot Wheels-- then what the hell is the difference from every other day? I am a full-time SAHM mom; I am lovingly embracing my man-child 24/7! Again I say, HALL PASS PLEASE!

Is it me, or does that really read, Haul Ass?

SAY IT! Come On Spit It Out! Oh, wait… maybe not that…

I have not had a chance to talk about Oliver’s 15-month well-baby check-up last week. Our little man-child is 29 ½ pounds and 33 inches long, putting him in the 95 percentile for boys his age.  When the pediatrician asked the normal slew of developmental questions FTD and I were proud to answer each question with YES! Then, when Ollie’s doctor asked if we had any questions or concerns I told him I had one, his vocabulary, or lack thereof.

For example here at his doc appt.
if Ollie could talk he would have told FTD to put him down
so he could escape before the vaccination. 
Instead he wiggled and fussed.
Same thing.

I went toe-to-toe with a pile of pregnant women and survived!

As most of you know, over this past weekend I delivered a speech on, "preparing for pregnancy." I thought I would share the experience with you...

I walked into the venue and hour early to find about 15-20 vendor tables and what looked like about 50 attendees.  Most of which were very pregnant women, I'd say the majority looking like they were 30+ weeks along.  I started to get a little nervous because I had prepared a speech about, planning for pregnancy and what to expect per the event coordinators request... these women already knew what to expect when they were expecting! 

I quickly found the event coordinator and was shown to the auditorium where I was going to be speaking  After a sound check she left me and my girlfriend to relax before the speech began. (We had just driven 2+ hours and needed some time to unwind.)  The room was set up with about 100-150 chairs. Each chair had a flyer placed on the seat cushion advertising the next big play being put on in that auditorium.  Ironically the play was called 'Menopause!"  Seriously I can't make that shit up!  

If only I looked like her when I was pregnant...
If only my waist looked like that now!

What to really Expect when you are Expecting...

As some of you know (My friends, family and Facebook Fans) I am the Keynote Speaker at a Maternity Fair tomorrow.  Since Speaking is my thing I am not nervous, just having one of the hardest times figuring out what exactly to say.  Well, no, I have plenty to say about pregnancy, but since Baptist Health wants me to talk about planning and preparing for pregnancy, I keep finding myself wanting to talk about morning noon and night sickness, constipation, raging hormones that trick you into believing your husband is a whackass Ogre who should be punished and so on...  Those are not good things! At some point during writing my speech I felt like I was writing a speech for a birth control convention. Not good! 

Thankfully, after a little more thought, and bad memory suppression, I was able to come up with a few good points.  I thought I would share... 

Kinder Kits Monthly Subscription boxes Review and Giveaway- Homeschoolers, you have got to see this!

When I opened today's review box for Kinder Kits, I honestly gasped! Before my eyes was my answer to early homeschooling for dummies- me being the dummy in need.  I am not a teacher, but as you may already know how I feel, with the current state of the US school systems I may just have to become one...

My friends, I present to you, Kinder Kits monthly subscription boxes.

Game of Thrones... Potty training at 15-months...Yes, we need our heads checked. (FTD Post)

Game of "Shit" thrones Episode 1

From Diaper to Despair!

SO... It comes to this then...

Layered Cake Baby Clothes Review & Giveaway!

(Layered Cake baby clothes sent FTM&D a pair of shorts and a 'muscle' shirt to try out, with the hopes that we would share our honest review on this website.  All views expressed below are our own.)

Today's review is without a doubt in the top 5 of my favorite EVER!  "Layered Cake" baby clothes are so cute and so soft and so breathable and so perfectly simple and wonderful for the coming summer season. 

Layered Cake is a unique collection of garments for little ones from birth to twelve months old. Made with the most breathable and cozy 100% muslin cotton.