First Birthday Letter

My dear, little Squirrel,

One year - ONE YEAR!!!  Can you even believe it?  Well, I'm sure you can't since time is awfully irrelevant to you these days.  But your parents are floored!  We can't believe how quickly this year has gone by.

You are, simply said, amazing.  I am so impressed with your strength and courage.  To think that this time last year, we were terrifying at what the year would hold.  Don't get me wrong, we've had our ups and downs.  But from the second you were born on August 4, 2010, you have defied the odds, left the doctors in wonder, given your father and me a true belief in faith and hope and been an answer to so many prayers.  I can remember having to hold you down daily while you were in the NICU so that we could put your bandages on.  You would sit quietly, looking around, like you knew that what was happening was for the best.  And you bounced right back after your surgery this summer!  You are one tough cookie!

You are also the most easy going child a parent could ask for.  Your smile can light up a room and bring tears to your momma's eyes.  You are curious but cautious, always making sure you can master a task before you dive into trying it.  You love to be out and about and you love to people watch.  We sometimes have to have talks that its rude to stare at strangers but you don't care.  You usually have them waving and googly-eyed by the time you're done. 

You are so delicate and dainty.  Where did you get this??? Certainly not from me.  I can see the little lady you'll one day be. 

You have given me a purpose to my life.  I never thought that "Mom" would become my most important job title but I love my job and I'll happily claim my title any day. 

Thank you for the laughter and smiles you bring our family.  Thank you for your sweet nature and random kisses you like to dispense.  Thank you for loving your parents as much as you do.  And thank you for making our days complete. 

I love you little birthday girl!

Mommy

Thumbs Up Thursday - Birthday Edition

In honor of a very special 1st birthday, I give you the Birthday Edition!

Thumbs Up for sparkler candles.  What better way to say it's a special day than with fireworks!

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Thumbs Up for birthday head wear.  Now you know I love a hat on the girl.  She'll have some kind of birthday hat for all future celebrations.

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Thumbs Up for the red plate.  Jared and his brothers always got to eat on a special red plate when it was their birthday.  For Christmas a few years ago, I was given a red plate to carry on the tradition.  Here's a few examples of some that might soon be added to our red plate collection. 

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Thumbs Up for a birthday wreath!  Yes, I know.  Another flipping wreath!  But I couldn't help myself.  This one was put up on July 5 to let the whole neighborhood know that it's a birthday month in our household.



Do you have a favorite birthday tradition?  I want to hear about it.  I'm always looking for new ways to celebrate that special day around the Meabon household!

I receive no compensation for these reviews - I just like 'em.

25 Manners Kids Should Know

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I came across this list on Pinterest.  This was an article originally posted on http://www.parents.com/.  Now I'm not promising that my kids will be the most well behaved at the birthday party but I think these are great essentials to start with.  In fact, I think we adults could take a few friendly reminders from this list as well!

25 Manners Kids Should Know
#1: When asking for something, say "Please."
#2: When receiving something, say "Thank you."
#3: Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.
#4: If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation.
#5: When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.
#6: The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults.
#7: Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome.
#8: When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.
#9: When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.
#10: Knock on closed doors -- and wait to see if there's a response -- before entering.
#11: When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.
#12: Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.
#13: Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.
#14: Don't call people mean names.
#15: Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.
#16: Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.
#17: If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse me."
#18: Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public.
#19: As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.
#20: If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new.
#21: When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.
#22: When someone helps you, say "thank you." That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!
#23: Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.
#24: Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.
#25: Don't reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

Why didn't anyone warn me?

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So I got the message that after having children, there would be times that kids music would get stuck in my head. I was fully prepared for The Wiggles, Raffi and Disney to fill my head with their tunes that are easy to learn since they are aimed at those below 3 feet.

I was not, however, prepared to get the songs that every blinking, flashing toy in my house begin to spew the moment they are tapped stuck in my head. What makes it worse is that most of them take a classic song from my childhood and twist it into a monstrosity about walking, cooking, counting, wagging your tail, being your best friend or snuggling. What the heck!

Before we retired the jumparoo, it was:

(sung to Ol' MacDonald)
Lots of friends live on the farm,
Come along with me!
There's so much for us to do and animals to see.
Flocks of hens and horses too,
Roosters crow and cows say moo!
There's so much for us to do,
ON! THE! FARM!

Harper was close to out growing the jumparoo but I think I jumped the gun a little on retiring it to the attic just so I wouldn't have to hear the song anymore.

Right now, there's two that keep making a daily appearance in my brain. The first from the walking dinosaur:

(think Mary Had A Little Lamb)
Happily we ride along, roll along, stroll along,
Happily we ride along on our dinosaur!

And from the toy kitchen:

(stolen from Dinah In The Kitchen)
Someone in the kitchen is laughing,
Someone in the kitchen today,
Someone in the kitchen is laughing!
Make friends every day!

Almost each toy also has their own strange version of counting to ten and a weird twist on the alphabet. If I start counting something, I'm usually singing one of the toy songs.

The worst is when you're sneaking across the room to peak at a sleeping child and your foot happens to encounter a stray toy lying in the middle of the floor. Not only does it scare the bejesus out of you and wake your child, but low and behold, now the freaking song is back in your head! So for those of you planning children in your future, consider yourself warned.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Birthday Week

According to urbandictionary.com, birthday week can be defined by the following:

- The week surrounding one's birthday when they SHOULD get any wish they desire and all of their friends and family should bow to all of their whims of fancy.

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Happy birthday week Squirrel!!!

Ahhhh....sleep is good

So I realized I've been a little remiss in my blogging duties over the past few weeks but I have an excuse....LACK OF SLEEP! Man, oh, man can sleep deprivation really throw a girl off!

When we got back from Houston, Harper started having some funky nights. As in, waking up at 2am screaming her face off. So I'd get out of bed, pick the girl up and start the rocking routine. She'd fall asleep all nuzzled up on me, I'd creep back over to her crib to lay her down and the minute she hit the mattress, the crying routine would start all over. More than likely, after an hour or so I'd end up shooting her with a mouth full of ibuprofen and waiting until the little Booger passed back out.

Then she went from one time a night to two and three times a night. I was concerned there was something wrong....that she was in pain post-surgery, that those dang teeth were going to pop through any moment or (in a very sleep deprived, 2am freak out) that what if a scalpel or some other piece of medical equipment was sewn back in her and when she rolled over a certain way, it was causing her pain! Not too mention I was starting to feel like I might be over-medicating my daughter so needed to nix the ibuprofen routine. The bags under my eyes were increasingly getting bigger and darker and my ability to focus on a conversation was slipping away.

This last weekend, Jared had his annual D&E Golf Team Reunion and we were hosting in San Antonio. (And let me say, I think they were CRAZY for planning a golf trip in Texas at the end of July. Can you say heat stroke?) So Harps and I got the boot and hightailed it to Honey and Grandy's so that the boys could be boys.

Jared, Chris & Jeromie (They missed Brent Grilliot this year)

Thursday night, The Squirrel went through her 3x wake up routine. Friday night, my mother, God bless her, took the night shift and let me catch up on some zzz's. I think she must have been concerned that I would fall asleep at the wheel while driving her precious cargo of a grandchild around. And on Saturday, Dr. Boswell, a.k.a. Grandy, finally weighed in with his medical opinion. And I quote:
"Brooke, what you have here is a baby! And she's playing you and has you wrapped around her little finger. She knows that she can get rocked by her mom if she wakes up crying in the middle of the night."

"What Mom? I'm perfectly fine for our trip to the Farmer's Market. Why do you look so tired???"

Okay, crisis averted. Time to get serious. And thank heavens we were at H&G's house, far away from a father that wouldn't dare let his baby girl cry it out. Mom and I put on our game faces and after 1 1/2 hours of crying it out (mind you we had the video monitor and I was going in at timed intervals), the Girl gave in and admitted defeat. And low and behold, she slept the entire night! Sunday night, we were back home with Jared in house so I had to have a serious chat about the plan of attack. She will cry, she will be okay and we will not go pick her up. The wake up call started at 11pm, Jared huffed, puffed, moaned and complained but I held my ground and within 35 minutes, she was out - she actually face planted, head into knees while she fell asleep sitting up. And guess who slept the rest of the night? The Squirrel.

Last night I had a meeting and was leaving the house just before bedtime and getting back at 9pm. Okay Jared, man up and be tough. No picking her up, if you go in to soothe her it can only last 1-2 minutes and I promise she will be fine. And, you ask, how did it go? I quote:

"It was tough but I did it and she was fine."

Wahoo! I see sleep slowly creeping back into my future. Thank you, Dr. Ferber, for your harsh and cruel parenting techniques!

Thumbs Up Thursday - Apps Edition

I've passed on some App knowledge recently and thought I'd dedicate this Thumbs Up to some of my handiest, dandiest, most used Apps on my iPhone and iPad.

Thumbs Up for BlogPress.  If you are a blogger and you've tried posting from your iPhone or iPad, you know its not easy.  I introduce you to BlogPress.  Every now and again, I'll have some picture posting problems but it beats trying to post through a web browser.

Thumbs Up for Hanging With Friends.  If you play Words With Friends, try Hanging With Friends.  It's equally as addictive and I'm a fan.  Leave your user name in a comment and I'll happily challenge you to a game.  My only rule with Words or Hanging - if you lost the previous game, the loser has to be the one to request a new game with that opponent. 

Thumbs Up for Allrecipes.com and Epicurious Apps.  These are fantastic cooking apps that will create shopping lists, give step-by-step directions and have user ratings on all recipes.  You can browse by meal, occasion or ingredients in the comfort of a grocery store aisle and you'll always find a crowd pleaser.

Thumbs Up for the Zillow App.  While I am not house hunting and will not be house hunting anywhere in the near future, I love knowing details on a house for sale.  This app allows you to pull up houses for sale by your location and access information and pictures.  So say you're out cruisin' and you pass a fabulous house for sale.  You just have to know what it looks like inside. Wha-la!  All of the details are instantly at your fingertips!

Thumbs Up for White Noise.  With our recent stays in hotels and such, we've been able to turn on the White Noise App, set it by Harps and the Pack n Play and Jared and I can quietly continue on with our evening without having to sign full conversations to each other.

Thumbs Up for the Kindle App.  I've always been a big reader but since the Squirrel's come along, reading took a short hiatus.  Since I introduced this fantastic app into my life, I've been able to read again.  Since I always carry my phone or iPad on me, my books are now always with me.  If I'm rocking a baby to sleep, I can still pull up my book and happily read away.

Thumbs Up for pulse.  pulse let's you access all of your favorite online magazines in one swoop.  You can quickly browse the articles and pick and choose what you want to read at that moment.  If you get it, go through the tutorial.  It will save you alot of guessing on how this app works. 

Thumbs Up for Pandora.  Now I know Pandora is probably an app that everyone uses but if you have young children, check out Toddler Radio.  They put together a great mix of kid friendly music that doesn't make you want to rip your speakers out of the wall and drop kick them across a lake. 

So Peekers, I want to know what Apps you can't live without.  I'm always up for good suggestions and with the rate they produce these suckers, there's always a latest and greatest that you don't know how you previously lived without!

I receive no compensation for these products - I just like 'em.