Consultant for hire

It was only about five years ago that I started baby shopping for myself.  Since I had a pretty posh job, I would spend hours a day reading reviews on baby products, researching prices and trying to figure out what the latest and greatest was all while trying to stay in the dental student budget.

I had the notion that bigger was better and if it was expensive, it meant it was good!

Last Saturday, Creed and I snuck away and went to babies-r-us. I had a gift card burning a hole in my wallet {or on the verge of getting lost} and we need a new stroller so I went to go get myself one.

I walked into the store and starting strolling down the aisle's. Yes, I strolled. I only had one child and he was sound asleep.  I took my time, looking at this and that and wondering what we needed and why some strollers cost $100's more than others, are they really worth it??

Anyway. 

There were SO many young couples registering for baby gear or checking out this and that. After all, I do live in Utah County also known as baby making capital of the world. 

In the stroller aisle, I couldn't help but want to shout "don't buy that monster of a stroller. You'll hate it. It will take up so much room in your car and you'll be pregnant again in a year and need a double stroller so just save your money and trunk space. Get this one."

Looking at bathtubs I wanted to tell them "don't buy that big bathtub that you'll use for two months, and then have to figure out where to store it for another few years, buy this little foam thing, you'll love it and it's so compact and look, it's only $4.99"

Same thing with high chairs, "Just buy the one that goes on a chair, it takes up less room and you'll use it longer"

My mind was a fountain of what I would call useful information.  Things I wish someone would have told us when we baby shopped. For now, that huge monster of a stroller, large bathtub and high chair have all been replaced by simple, smaller and less expensive counterparts. Oh, to pay for something twice.

So, I'm thinking about getting a job at babies-r-us. Surely, my opinion on baby gear will be everyone's opinion- right?  

Well I didn't get my stroller. It was out of stock and since the gift-card was still burning that hole, I ended up with an activity mat for the little guy and a few other "necessity's". Really, the bath mat was a necessity, the poor kid was starting to smell.

Am I the only one who has regretting or changed her opinion on baby gear? Maybe it's because with the third kid, the house is already full of toys and other treasures that take up space that I like compact things or the car has three car seats in it, who has room for a monster of a stroller when the umbrella stroller will do?

The point being....I'm for hire as a consultant, I have three kids....makes me qualified in my book! 

Magic Skor Bars

{picture stolen from Sue's blog}

I'd like to publicly thank Sue for helping me gain back any of the weight I've lost since having Creed. Really, Sue. Did you need to post this recipe on your blog??


40-48 saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Line large cookie sheet with saltine crackers. Boil together butter and brown sugar for 4 minutes. Pour butter mixture over crackers. Bake at 350 degrees for 4 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake for an additional minute, then spread chocolate evenly on top. Sprinkle with finely chopped pecans. Cool a little, but not too much before taking out of the cookie sheet. {I thought these were much better the next day, or at least when all the chocolate was completely cooled and hardened. }

Make a list of everyone you're going to give them to. They are rich and delicious and so "bite size" it's easy to eat several without even realizing it! 

Sweet Spirits

I stopped at the cemetery yesterday afternoon as my mom decorated the graves of many of my ancestors. This is something she does each and every year. I remember going with her as a young girl, not fully understanding the reason but always sensing the respect and admiration she had for those who have passed on before us.

I had Creed with me who was unhappy sitting in his carseat as we pulled into the cemetery. Hearing his cry and seeing his big alligator tears rushed me to get him out and comfort him.

I lifted him up and automatically pressed him to my shoulder. Within seconds his head was arched backwards and his eyes adverted all around. I turned him around so he was facing outwards and his eyes darted around and then he began "talking."  I didn't think much of it until my mom reached out and grabbed him.  She instinctively faced him towards her and he began to cry. She then turned him outwards and once again within seconds he looked around and began talking.  

Twice more he did this. Communicating with the sweet spirits that I believe are among us.

If I ever doubted that sweet newborns are closer to heaven and to God than say, me. I doubt no more. Seeing and hearing my little Creed communicate with something unseen, brought tears to my eyes and a smile. I wonder if he was speaking with my grandma Maline whom I was named after or my grandpa Bandley who died when I was pretty young. I imagine they were all there.  Generations and generations of family. Oh, what a feeling.

I'm glad I made the stop at the cemetery. I'm even more glad that I had a newborn with me that opened my eyes and my heart to the generations past. It has made this Memorial Day just that more memorable.

O Happy Day!!

This kid slept through the night last night! 10 p.m. to 6:15 a.m.

Oh Yeah!!

We're all smiles today.

I LOVE this kid!

dirt and all!

Stain Control

{my current stain control remedy}

The weather here has gotten "warm". Well, it did get warm just to get cold again. No wonder we're all sick and have been for weeks!

One warm day several weeks ago I took the boys to the park. We played, we swung {I pushed and performed under-dogs and the boys swung} and we got all "hot and sweaty" as Gibson says.

We headed to our local grocery store for a few items for dinner and walked out with a watermelon {first of the season} and 100+ popsicles.  Did I mention the boys were hot and sweaty???

So, since that day we have gone through a watermelon every 5 or so days and we go through  bag of popsicles a week.  This is in addition to the 5 gallons of milk, 4 qt's of orange juice, and 3 gallons of apple juice A WEEK we go through. 

Since the watermelon's and popsicles have joined our families diet, I have been overcome with stains, stains and more stains that I just can't seem to get out of my boys' clothes.  I've tried numerous stain removal products, I've soaked, I've washed in cold and then in hot...and yet, the stain remains.

Loyal blog readers, I'm seeking help! How do you get out tough stains from clothes? What's your secret product that you swear by? Do you wash in cold? Do you wash in hot? Do you soak in a stain removal secret solution that leaves your clothes new and stain free?? 

Please share!