Not Your Average Baby Shower Invite

This is not going to be a post about Lent! Really!

Do you know about Minted? They are one of the coolest cards/stationary/fabric/art sites around. Seriously, their choices for personalized Christmas cards and the like are stunning. And you know why I like them? Because they have designers across the country submit designs in contests to be sold. 

For real. 

That's awesome. If you can't find something to love on the site you're probably not trying hard enough because all the different creative minds really cover all the bases. 

Recently. they had a Baby Shower Invitation Design Contest. Now come on blog world, you've seen your share of baby shower invites. There's your flowers, duckies, balloons etc. But have you ever seen an invitation like this?

I didn't think so. I'm not going to lie, I think this would be a fun shower to go to! 

This is a little something Husband put together for the design contest. if he wins, there's some prize money and his design will be available for sale. Which is pretty cool I think. Now all he needs are good votes! 

I'm not going to beg for votes here. But I'm going to let you know the contest is going on, and if you're a member of Minted (or want to be) and you think there is a mom or dad to be who would think this Space Invader Baby Shower Invite is way cooler than the normal assortment, then vote away! 5 is good, 1 is not as good. 

You do have to be a "memeber" of Minted to vote. But I'm telling you they have the coolest stationary etc. so it may be worth it. Anyway... there's a link over on the side bar or you can go HERE to vote too! 

You can vote on all the deisgns and there's over 1000 to vote on so it could also be fun!! 

Gotta Get Down...

It's Friday. Woo! Sometimes I jump in for quick takes but I know I haven't got 7 things to say.

I feel like the February doldrums are creeping in. I have a great desire to write an intellectually stimulating post about something but alas, no inspiration. I have no desire at all to discuss the 50 Shades movie or vaccines. I have opinions on both topics certainly but I don't feel the need to debate them or convince anyone that I am right.

While tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I am a lover of love, our plans for tomorrow are minimal at best. Which is fine. Sometimes the best thing of all is just a normal day celebrating love as a family. (Lame alert! But it's how I feel.) Besides, if I could choose my perfect day, it would involve them anyway because my minions and Husband are my favorite people. We'll probably Skype with my parents which is not a shocker since we do that most every day but mushy hearts day is fun anyhow!

I am ready for Lent. I am not looking forward to the inevitable quiet that will come over the blog world because of Lent but that's life. (Seriously, how many times can I lament that I think the blogs are dying? One more? Let's count this then.)

Ah okay. I'm going to keep binge watching The Amazing Race because I love it and I am grooving on the brainless television. Happy Friday!

Just One of Those Days

Last night our resident needy baby was the neediest.

Some of us suffered the loss of sleep because of it. 

And the day has gone accordingly. 

But whatever. This is my not caring face.

It's 9:06 and the lights are off, the doors are locked.

I am writing this from bed. Everyone is asleep already.

I am not far behind.

Tomorrow is another day.

Thank goodness.

Dear Social Media Acquaintance

Dear Social Media Acquaintance,

This is hard for me to say. I am from Minnesota you see, the land of 10,000 lakes and non-confrontational people. So please know that this is coming from a well meaning place.

I'm not going to tell you what to do. But please read your car seat manual.

Even if you've done it before. Even if you are 100% certain you know how to use you car seat. Maybe you do. But I've got to tell you, some of you don't.

I'm sure you've seen social media rampages of people posting pictures of their little cutie going home from the hospital/sleeping in the car/whatever and then a litany of comments telling them how they're using the car seat wrong.

I'm not going to do that. I am not a car seat expert. I am not certified. I am not up to speed about every make and model of car seat and what the recommendations are for it. But I'll be honest here, my pediatrician went to college with me so I am lucky enough to be Facebook friends (and actually friends) with my children's doctor. I always read her links because it's actual advice from my doctor without a copay!!

She links about car seat safety a lot. I feel like we do a pretty good job. No aftermarket products, chest clips at armpit level and our toddler is still rear-facing. But even we screw up from time to time. And that's why our pediatrician links to good articles. Sometimes a reminder is necessary. It's good to reread our manuals and be refreshed on the recommendations for our specific seat.

I'm not trying to start a war. I don't really care if you want to front-face your one year old. (I mean I am going to pray that nothing happens to your kid but I'd do that even if they were rear facing.) I am not going to comment and link to articles under your pictures. I don't want to be that person.

But I am going to ask that you think about rereading your manual. Just to make sure you're doing the best you can. Because I know that's all we can do as parents.

Love,
Madeline

7 Things We Love: Round 2

Wednesday, during our pre-dinner Skype with my dad M rolled over for the first time, back to tummy. Husband was home and didn't miss it. C was right there excited for her. My dad was able to watch it live. It was all very exciting. By all accounts M is actually hitting her back to tummy roll very early. I am proud of her! But seriously kid, let's slow the train down a little!

Want to know to know the real difference between your first and second baby? With your first you anxiously await each milestone and celebrate when it's  achieved. If the first hits it early, you gush. "So strong! So advanced!" With your second baby you just want to scream "Slow down!! There's time for all that! You'll be able to make it across the room soon enough. Just enjoy your time on the blanket!!"

And then there's baby stuff. M didn't get a lot of things that are just only hers. Primarily clothes. She certainly wears some of her brother's old pajamas and onesies but a girl's gotta have some girly clothes too. But there are a few things that we've found to be excellent that I for sure wish we had the first round.

I am not an affiliate blogger so any links do nothing for me. And no one paid me to write this I just actually love all these things!

1. Fisher Price Rock n Play. 

These existed but I didn't know about them the first time around. I honestly find it even more important now than I would have then. When C was just an only, there was always someone to hold him and if I set him down on the floor he was perfectly safe. It's a little harder to put M down and not think her brother may trample her. Cue the Rock n Play.

It has many many positives but I can highlight them quickly for you:

• It's kind of like a baby hammock and keeps them snuggled on the sides. 
• It rocks and vibrates. At least ours does. 
• The liner is completely washable. Great for blowouts and spitups and life.
• It folds up and is very lightweight so it has a very small footprint and is easy to travel with. 
• While we didn't have an issue with reflux, it angles the head up slightly. 

There are many different colors but we have a girly one!

2. Aden and Anais Swaddlers

Let me just say this right off the bat: you can swaddle with anything. Okay. 

Yes they're expensive but you know what? The hype is worth it. They stay in place so they're good swaddles. My kids tend to overheat easily so the fact they're breathable is great. They're big so they also serve to throw down and let the tike do some tummy time! And they really do get softer every wash. Magical.

Plus the company is swell and I love their adult blanket. 

3. Baby Comfy Nose

Everyone is all like Nosefrida! We have one of those too but we lost a piece to it. I went to reorder and the Baby Comfy Nose was $3 cheaper and had some serious good reviews. Now a lot of the reviews seemed like they were paid for. "I love the mesh bag!" "Made in the USA" "More hygienic"

And yet... I agree. It completely comes apart so you can clean it well. It doesn't use foam filters but a piece of toilet paper or a tissue. AND it has 2 sizes. The newborn size is swell for M. We haven't used the bigger one yet (pictured) but I bet it'll work. Oh, both Husband and I like the angle of it, we find it easier to hold while trying to keep her head still. 

For real: Baby Comfy Nose and saline nose drops are my jam. 

4. Mustela Foam Shampoo

C never had any skin issues. M had a touch of baby acne and the very very beginnings of cradle cap. This shampoo kicked it's butt and has kept it away. Plus I like the foam because it's fun to rub over her little head. (I like the smell a lot. Though I have read reviews where they don't like the smell.) 

Then there are some things we love just as much as the first time around. 

5. Boudreaux's Butt Paste

Silly name. Works and smells great. 

6. Summer Infant Bather 

You just stick the little baby bath hammock in your tub and wash 'em up. No need to worry about whether or not the sink is clean or if they're comfy. It looks like in the olden days they were recalled because people are morons and carried their baby in the seat. Don't do that. 

Big pros: it's small and folds up so it travels well and stores easily. You can remove the hammock to wash it. Plus it just gets them used to the big tub right away. 

7. Cloth Diapers as Burp Cloths

If you buy the really inexpensive prefold cloth diapers they work great! Super absorbent, a decent size and easy to clean. Sure they're not decorated with monkeys or flowers but your baby is going to spit up on them. Who cares? 

WWRW: Erin's Ring

At the beginning of January Laura Pearl over at String of Pearls sent me an email asking if I’d like to read her new book Erin’s Ring. Um, yes I would thanks for asking! So as a disclaimer, Laura sent me a free copy of her book, but she didn’t tell me that I had to like it or review it favorably. I’m going to jump right in and tell you that I loved this book. I approach almost any book with trepidation and Erin’s Ring was no exception. I love Laura and really wanted to love her book. Well I did. And absolutely not just because I love Laura!

The barest of bare bones plot summary is that Molly McCormick, the unenviable new girl, finds an old, engraved Claddagh ring outside the church in the Mary Garden. She sets out to find the story behind the ring and along the way makes a good friend and falls deeply in love with her new hometown. (Truly If Dover, NH is half as charming as it’s written, the tourism board will be thanking Laura!) As Molly learns more about the history of Dover she also is given a unique insight into the lives of the Irish-Catholic Mill girls.

Erin’s Ring intertwines a more modern story with a historical story. As much as it pains me to mention, the more modern story is about 1998 so the youth of today would probably cast this entire book as “historical.” Overall it reads like a more mature American Girl story. The historical accuracy and facts are all there but it delves into some more meaty topics that catapult it to a different level altogether. Plus there is some good old fashioned romance, and who doesn’t appreciate an honest love story?

What I most appreciated about the book was that we got to meet several women in a few different time periods and each of them had different, yet relatable struggles. We are allowed inside the heads of most of the characters and it never felt awkward at all. In fact every time I picked up the book I felt as if I was reconnecting with some of my own friends.

What really grounds the characters we meet is their Catholic faith. Erin’s Ring is a practical reminder to a world that faith abounds and that the sacraments are always there. The story eloquently shows that conflicts of faith were just as common in the 1800s as they are now  but also that any obstacle can be overcome.  If you are in need of a strong religious role model in a work of fiction, this is the book for you!

As one might anticipate in reading a book that includes Irish immigrant mill workers there are some intense moments so I would think that readers 6th grade and up would get the most appreciation from Erin’s Ring. I am pretty sure most Catholic young ladies would find Erin’s Ring enjoyable. It is definitely the kind of book I would have loved when I was younger and I certainly found it enjoyable in my old age. The span of the women featured in the book face challenges that can speak to a woman of any age. (I am not a guy, though I would gather that just because the protagonist is a female wouldn’t immediately turn me off of reading the book.)

I am so thankful that Laura thought of me to read her book! I could go on and on about Erin's Ring but let's just say I am strongly encouraging you to read it as well. Catholic YA Fiction doesn’t get any better than this. It is available on Amazon here!

Linking up for the triumphant return of WWRW. It’s only monthly for the time being but we’re all happy Jessica is back at it!

It Snowed

Just in case you didn't know that it snowed in the Midwest.

That's our house. We have the stereotypical ask a kindergartner to draw a house house.  

This is across the street from us. 

 

It did. These are almost straight out of the camera. The sky really was that blue. 

13 some inches. Pain in the neck to shovel but pretty as heck.