I Want My Toes Back!

So, I had another play date the other day & Aidann was calmly playing in the den with her sister & another lil' girl ( I mean I had literally just checked on them) when suddenly she started yelling, "Help, Mommy! Noah's eating it!". I knew she was playing with her Noah's ark, but had no clue what she could mean. I walked in only to find my daughter had somehow managed to get her toe YES TOE stuck in the toy ark. It was so hard not to laugh. "I want my toes back!" she kept yelping as I tried to pry her free from the boat! We came out victorious, toes still attached haha!

Before the incident

Later on in the day I took the babies through the gardening section of Lowe's to let them see the flowers. They loved running up to each bright bunch & giving them a big sniff. Some left them saying "Eww!". Well, they were totally occupied by smelling flowers when suddenly a man's voice comes over the speaker. "Daddy! Daddy, where are you?" Aidy starts yelling as she starts looking around the garden center. Every time that voice would come back on she would talk to it so loud-Like loud. It was part funny part you want to shush her a lil'. Lol! When her dad came back from grabbing grass seed she was like "There you are!". Crazy kids!
After playing at the park yesterday and a nice dinner, we began our bedtime routine. I brushed Aidann's teeth 1st. As soon as I finished she started running around grabbing her mouth and screaming "Ahh Ahh!". She then ran & grabbed the towel & started licking it!?  After she had finished, I asked her what was wrong (It was the same toothpaste we always use)? She replied, "It tasted like cheese!". I have no idea, but it was hilarious to watch.Kids are nonstop entertainment I tell you!
-M&M Momma

Will the Perfect Mommy Please Stand Up?

Saturday was my nephew Liam's birthday party. It was at 1 of those indoor gym places with tons of slides, bridges, tunnels, & all that other fun stuff that kids love & parents can barely fit through (Makutu's Island for those of you who live in Arizona). Well, while getting the girls ready I laid Asher down to change her diaper & bumped her head slightly. A total accident, but I felt so bad. Later on at the playland Aidann & I went to go down a seemingly innocent slide. Well, when we initally started down she was in my lap, but somewhere in the middle of this freakishly fast slide I lost her & she zoomed ahead of me. She shot out of the tunnel so fast & landed on the mat a few seconds ahead of me. She wasn't hurt, but a lil' startled. I once again felt so badly.I definitely think I am my toughest critic.I tend to be pretty hard on myself when I make mistakes. Maybe 1 day I don't get to play with the girls as much as I would like, or our morning routine doesn't run as smoothly as it should, maybe 1 day I am a lil' less patient with the kiddos or Jay, maybe I don't get the house cleaned up completely, or dinner cooked. I tell you, I obsess over it. I honestly just want to be the best mommy/wife possible & when I see an area where I am not quite where I want to be yet it annoys me. I completely forget to look at what I am doing right, ya know? Which I think a lot of mommies tend to do. We need to just stop & take a deep breath sometimes & stop being so hard on ourselves. We aren't perfect, but as long as we are trying our best & making the steps to improve each & every day then that's what counts! We will never "arrive" & the fact that we want to be even better/improve says a whole lot about what type of mommy or daddy you are. Its not a mistake or by chance that you are your child's parent-You were chosen specifically & for a reason so don't doubt yourself!We can do it!-M&M Momma

Checking out
the fish!

Climbing the longest
ladder ever. Haha!
She did
Great!

Austin posing
with Papa

Birthday Boy!

Cheezing
with Papa!

UPDATES!

New activity in "Fun 4 Lil' Ones" tab!

-M&M Momma

They Have a Voice, Let Them Use It!

Something we have to learn to restrain ourselves from is answering for our children. They have their own voices, let them use them. If someone comes up & asks them a question, give your child a chance to formulate & respond with an answer. Sometimes a child may choose to not "feel" like responding. Then of course you must interject & remind the child that we need to have manners & be polite. "Well, they're shy". It is never cute when a child doesn't have manners. We also have to remind them to have eye contact with people when they speak. Its just a sign of respect that they might as well learn early because they will definitely need it later on.Older brothers & sisters also LOVE to respond to questions for their siblings. True they are just trying to help, but in the long run it is really helping no one. Just explain to the older ones, how their lil' brother or sister needs to use their own voice, but you also know that they were just trying to help.A good thing to exercises with your kids at home is using open ended questions (They will require more then just a "yes" or "no" response) when you talk to them. By doing this you are helping them learn how to generate responses beyond just "Yeah", "Yes", "No"-I hate those responses by the way. Lol. You could have them describe a picture they have drawn to you. Or once they tell you about something that happened in their day ask them how it made them feel. By you asking questions, it not only will improve their ability to really communicate with others verbally, but it will allow them to improve on the way they write as well-They will know how to be more detailed/descriptive. As I stated before-Kids have a voice, let them use them!-M&M Momma

Austin Rose!

I found her
asleep like this.
Who needs a bed
when you have the floor?
Lol...

Put her back to
bed & this is how I find her!

Aussie Update

So my lil' Austin is just about to reach the 5m mark. I tell you this may be my 3rd kid, but each milestone reached is every bit as much exciting with this lil' lady! She is cooing up a storm, loves to eat her hands, kicks & wiggles her arms like crazy when you talk to her, she is a total smiler, tries to do mini crunches when she is laying down on her back, loves rolling over, reaches for toys, great at tummy time, had her 1st taste of baby rice cereal, & loves plowing her head into the ground while trying to crawl (You can't just use your legs, Silly).

Aussie Sandwich

Oh, she has also developed this habit that absolutely drives me up the wall. Those of you who know me well are aware of my "fear" of cutting babies' nails. I refuse to do it! I once saw a mommy cutting her baby boy's nails and she sliced his lil' finger. Blood everywhere. Call it tramatized, I don't know, but I just REFUSE to do it. So, Austin's nails are a lot longer then they probably should be. Well, she has just figured out how to scratch absolutely anything. Put her in the swing, she'll scratch the cushioning-Like nails down a chalkboard! She'll grab your arm & pratically draw blood. I can tell when she wakes up in the morning because she'll scracth her nails on the sides of her bed-Ahhh! I guess its on me though-Haha! Tune in, Austin's 1st mani pedi coming soon to a nail salon near you!
Its been a great past few months & I look forward to what lies ahead. Such a beautiful, happy, stylish, & easy-going lil' baby! I love you, Austin Rose.-M&M MommaEnjoy the videos: 1st one is this odd snore she does sometimes & 2nd her just being her-lol!

UPDATES!

New product added to "Products You'll Love"!

-M&M Momma

It May Be a Circus, But You Are the Circus Master...

I swear every time we go out & about it is this huge spectacle that has everyone stopping in their tracks, not in a bad way. I honestly get stopped so many times because people have to ask, "Are they all yours!?". Lol! Its a circus, but a very organized & well behaved one at that. It has taken much practice, but I think my husband & I have it down to a pretty close science. Today we went out to eat with some old friends & I had to laugh at myself when I really thought about how long it took for us to actually sit down & join them for lunch-I would say it felt like a good 10 minutes lol. You have to get the highchairs, wipe them down or use your cart cover, wipe down the kids, put on their bibs, set out the place mats (Table Toppers), pull out the crayons or books, set out the snacks & sippys, & then you are just about ready to sit down. Haha. I can only imagine what it looks like the single life person who doesn't have kids-A lot of work! But I honestly love it & cherish it!If you have multiple kiddos then lean in really closely so I can give you the secret to making life sooo much easier on yourself & the kids..... (I'll assume you have leaned in close).... PREPARATION/ORGANIZATION!First, I recommend every parent get some form of a calendar. I even color coordinate my kids events/appointments so I can easily tell them apart (can we say OCD...Lol). Writing lists is another great organizational tool to help keep track of the things you need to buy, repair, & so forth. As far as preparation goes, planning ahead of time for the next day is an awesome way to just make life easier on all parties involved. With 3 kids, I don't know how I would get anywhere on time if it wasn't for setting out their outfits the night before (even your own clothes). I am talking the whole enchilada-outfits, underwear/diapers, bows, socks, & shoes! I also put together the diaper bags & busy bags ahead of time. Always plan (as much as possible) for the unexpected so your never caught with your "pants down". Extra outfits & underwear, bibs, cart covers, snacks, sippy cups, antibacterial wipes, Table Toppers, Potty Toppers,  & whatever else you could need. It just makes trips here or there far less stressful on everyone & saves priceless minutes that really count when trying to get ready to head out somewhere. Load that stroller up the night before, its just easier-Why not? Planning out the next day's meals/snacks ahead of time is also really helpful. After the kids go to bed, if there is anything you can slice or season/marinate ahead of time-Do it! Also, throw another load in while you catch up with your DVR.Another organizational tool to implement is using your mate's help strategically. When we are out & about, before we leave the car, we kind of discuss a "plan of attack" if you will. Like when we pull up to Gymboree class, I automatically get the 2 older girls out & head right in so I can get them into class more quickly. Jay automatically finishes parking then grabs the diaper bags & younger baby before coming in. It just works out best that way. You & your husband are a team & when you get to know each other's strengths & weaknesses you can truly compliment each other & get stuff done so much faster & more smoothly. Another example, Jay is an expert at packing up the diaper bags, loading the diaper bags, buckling in the kids, & remembering all the last minute stuff I forgot-Oops. My strengths are being in charge of dressing the kids, last minute potty runs, diaper changes, etc. At night, after Jay kisses the girls "Goodnight" & they do their little fun special things, it works out best if I do the rest of the actual bedtime routine (baths, pajamas, brushing teeth, etc) while he straightens up the last bit of touched toys for that night. You just find out what works best for everyone & run with it!I can hardly remember what it was like to be the mom of 1, because I have been doing this juggling act for so long. But you know what? I embrace the challenge! I would not want it any other way...Night!Stay organized & prepared!-M&M Momma

Thanks for waiting

Enjoying her
apple slices

Cheesing at our
favorite buy
in bulk store-Lol!

Sisterly love!