Henna

I got my belly "Henna-ed" and it was so much fun to sit there with my friend who was doing it and just laugh and relax for an hour or so.

She let me pick from several designs but the one with the baby feet stole my heart. Look how tiny and cute they are.

There were several pictures but this one showed off the tiny feet.

If you are pregnant you have got to do this!

The Henna is a mud and it is mixed with sugar and lavender. It smells so good and is very light feeling on your skin.

I enjoy looking at my belly now. Being at the end of this pregnancy that is not a very fun thing to do because I cannot believe how much my stomach is stretched. Now I just giggle when I see the design and remember the great time I had getting painted on.

The design fades slowly so there is time to enjoy it, take pictures and lift up your shirt to show friends and family...and blog viewers....

Through The Eyes of A Child

Have you ever downloaded your pictures and found one surprise picture or, say, 20 that you didn't take.

It happens to me a lot.

I actually adore seeing the pictures that my oldest son takes. Before I had my phone/camera I would develop pictures of Hot Wheel cars being held in his tiny hand. Now I find a sort of still life movie he takes one frame at a time of toys he moves a quarter of an inch and takes the picture as the toy makes it's way in and out of the "stage" where this action is taken place. Here are three pictures I found, they are a sample of the kind of movie frame pictures he takes.

These are the dragons that stared in this movie. Here the Green, blue and red dragons are all posed together.
This photo shows All the dragons a bit closer...ok very close. "Drag-ity Dragon"
Earlier this summer it was this shark that was the star of the feature. "Shark-ity Shark".

I hope this is an interest that I can help him along with and we can add music, words and more props. Until then I will enjoy the surprises he leaves me and wait for what my other two children will take pictures of and capture on screen.

Pretty Pretty Princess

I am a girly girl, I will admit to as much. I like the color pink, I love to dress up. I like to have my hair cut and styled, my nails painted and my toes in a very pretty painted color at all times. I don't mind panty hose and slips, I love perfume and jewelry. I like to coordinate, match and blend.

I do like to run, play tennis, ride my bike, debate, cook and garden. I'm not afraid to get dirty, messy and sweat. But if I had to pick, I'd like to be cool and be fanned... ha! I like to shop, craft, "do lunch" with friends and surprise my friends with gifts.

So how did I do as a mom of two boys?

Well, at first I was confused because I thought there was more to dressing and grooming them, no fancy hair, no diaper covers, and the clothing for the boys are very limited to pants, shirt, jeans, shirt, shorts, shirt. and at sometime around 5 it becomes camo for everything including pajamas. I did the longalls, the shortalls the blue bubble suits as long as I could but around three, the cute is over. My second boy is two I have another good year and then poof... all done with the adorable little boy clothes.

BUT guess who is on the way!!.... baby girl!! yipppp!

I am really getting into this now that the idea of having another child and having a GIRL has registered in my brain!!!

So.... I have been internet window shopping and look what I have found!! These are so fun!

oh my goodness! The pink the poof and the dressing up is just going to be a hoot! I have about a month left until she gets here and the fun will begin!

Yeah Girls!!

A Place for Toddlers

Gymboree!

This place is such a fun place to take a toddler!

When I was a first time parent I lived in Connecticut far away from friends and family. My hubby was at work and the friends that I had made before I got pregnant were at work too. So, when I was at home with my baby, I found that I wanted a new mommy social life and I needed it fast!! I signed up for classes for myself and oh....my baby. Did I mention that I very much needed the social interaction that these baby and mommy classes would bring?

I signed up my 6 month old, Benjamin, for Gymboree class, Baby Library time, Border Story time, Kindermusic, and "Mom's Cafe" at church. We had a very full month and busy schedule of an hour here and there each week. I was loving it and I bonded with Benjamin so much too going, doing and learning how to be a mommy watching him interact and play with other babies. I made some of my life long friends in those classes. I adore all of those moms and their children so much and we still keep in touch, our kids are now in the 3rd and 4th grade...sigh.

Now with baby number two things have changed. We live closer to family and friends. We also live in a neighborhood that is a kid haven with a park close by, a pool within walking distance, a lake and places to walk everywhere. The weather is beautiful most everyday and there is NO SNOW for 6 months out of the year!! Things are definitely different. My husband works from home and the hours are filled with the needs of the whole family. So the need to keep busy outside the home with classes has shifted.

But one thing I adored more than any of those classes was to watch my toddler be in his element. Where climbing and sliding and running and skipping, bubbles, music and dancing are all geared to his age and development. "Oh Gymbo, Gymbo, Gymbo. oh Gymbo you're the best!!!"

Ok I admit they push the brand in their songs, toys, chants and well jargon while speaking to us, but I drank their kool-aide years ago with Ben, it's just like old times for me now!

Bray Bray LOVED his adventure and I loved watching him scurry to each new thing to climb on crawl through and slide down.

We definitely had a Gymboree Day!

Sand with Holes in them

Please explain to me why we humans have the need to dig our way to China when we visit the beach.

I have see these holes at every beach I've visited. Sand holes can be found in Connecticut, the Jersey Shore, Hawaii, The Bahamas, Mexico, California, South Florida and at neighborhood lakes. It is not just a summer time activity either this happens at random times of the day and year. It is also not limited to just the young children, I have seen adults, teens and the elderly dig and dig and dig.

My oldest child likes to dig and then sit in his creation, like a fox hole or a nest. This one was wider and named "the crater" by our family.

The next question I have for you is, have you ever been walking in the evening or at night and come across one of these giant holes? What a moment that is. My heart always jumps at the site...what if I was not paying attention? I would have walked right into this thing...ahhhhhhhhhhhh...

Well, I have to admit I dug and dug in the sand as a child. It is fun and it's cheap entertainment and a great way to spend the day.

Are you a digger?

A Talent I Am Amazed By

I love to search the blog world, I always find someone who is doing something they love and are wanting to share it with others. One night as I was getting lost in my blog search I came upon this very talented balloon artist. She creates these balloons and snaps photographs of them. I would love to learn how to do these! I just wanted to share a few of my favorites. Tell me what you think about them.

Chicken Cheese Soup

Ok, I have to share this recipe now because it is so good and we are approaching Fall which for me means, Soup's On!!!

Ok it is SOUPER easy... (I could not resist the pun)

Chicken Cheese Soup

1 cup milk

1 cup water

2 chicken bouillon cubes

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

1/4 cup grated American Cheddar cheese

Salt

Pepper

Paprika

Heat together the milk, water (in which the bouillon cubes have been dissolved) and canned soup. When hot, stir in the cheese and season to taste with salt, pepper, and paprika. Serve when the cheese melts.

Like I said... so easy, warm and hits the spot! Enjoy!

gDiapers My Product I Highly Respect and Adore

gDiapers loves the Earth.

For the last 40 years there have been but two choices in diapers. Cloth or disposable.

That’s it. Now gDiapers offers a third option. 100% biodgradable*, flushable diapers.

gDiapers puts waste where it belongs, in the toilet. Not the landfill.

gDiapers have no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no smell, no garbage and no guilt.

In fact, our gRefills are so gentle on the Earth you can even garden compost the

wet ones in one compost cycle, approximately 50 – 150 days.

Just think of the standing ovation you’ll get from the planet.

Leave less of yourself behind.

While nothing truly biodegrades in a landfill, gDiapers plastic-free refills give you several

disposal options that no other diaper offers. You can flush, compost, or toss them.

Flush and you're putting poop where it belongs. Throw the wet ones in your garden

compost and in 50 – 150 days you've turned a wet diaper into a soil amendment.

You're actually giving something back to the planet and reducing your family's footprint.

Even throwing gRefills away isn’t the end of the world. After all, less petroleum

went into the production of gRefills, so tossing is ok, too.

All we ask is that you put the poop in the toilet first.

Still Shot

Do you ever just take a picture of your child and upon reviewing it you find it really says more to you than it did when you first took it?

I took this picture of my soon to be middle child and when looking over the pictures later I loved the view it shows of him looking a bit reflective.

I love it when a picture starts to talk. It is so rare that he is this still and this one semi-captured the moment without much blur.