A Politician Or A Preacher

A Politician or a preacher...

Are what my father thinks Pooh will be be when he grows up. Mainly I think it's because Pooh will happily tell everyone and everything about his baabaa's, daadaa's and naanaa's....not necessarily in that order. He is gregarious...and animated....and I guess both of those are considered good traits for either becoming a Preacher or a Politician....

I am not so sure that when I was 14 month's old...my mom and dad looked at me and said....I think she'll be a mom or a....well....just a mom.....not that there is anything wrong with having that be your life's ambition.....heck I had no idea that it was going to be MY life's ambition until I was 28....(I come late to the party sometimes)....I see my parents looking at an absolutely adorable mini me...and saying "she'll be a doctor.....or a aero-space engineer...(okay maybe not that lofty)....or the best darn nail tech this side of the Mississippi...."

Maybe had I known my preset career path earlier....I would have gone to less keg parties in college...and applied to the pre-med program instead....I blame it on a BIG lack of communication.

Putting my pre-med goals aside...I am extremely happy with the path in life I've chosen thus far. I whole heartedly love the industry I was in for 6 years....which had my parents noticed how many times I dressed and undressed my Barbies...may have rethought their ideas about me in scrubs....or heading my own mulitmillion dollar marketing firm....

and...after years of the corporate world....I whole heartedly love being one under paid, overworked personal assistant to a future Politician or Preacher, with a small dream of having a one woman blogging/baby wear/mommy type empire....

This little thing we call Life is really quite funny.....dontcha think?

The twists and turns that shape and mold the directions and paths we end up taking.....

I mean who knows.....Pooh could follow in his dad's footsteps and give service to his country....

or

be a doctor

or artic explorer

perhaps a stunt man

or my favorite, nude model

I just know whatever he decides to do...he'll be brilliant....

Come One, Come All, Welcome to The Mommyhood Circus

Welcome Welcome Welcome.....

SITStas...BITS...strangers and friends....


Come one come all to the Mommyhood Circus....

With fabulous finds...

and dangerous rides...

There are so many thrills...just waiting inside....

From Diapers and Doody.....
To Dogs, Dads and Cooties.....

So much to see and plenty more to do....

It's all here just for you....

I will attempt to amuse, excite, tickle and tease...

(though you won't find a lion tamer, fire breather or a girl on a flying trapeze)

Sad things....and Glad things....

and a few that will make you pee your pants....

There are even some pretty sweet songs...that can get your booty to dance....

Here are a few of my Favorite Rants, Raves or Rambles...

Come in and take a peek...

There's lots to see...and lots to read...

you might actually see a baby butt cheek....

Bah Humbug.... and Stick It Where the Sun Don't Shine

Santa....Just Like Everyone Else

Your Neck and the C Word

Did you Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind

Mommy Blind Date with Joaquin Phoenix

Have You Seen



Thanks for hanging out....and spending some time....

I'm awful sorry about my really lame rhymes....



What....oh you haven't gotten enough of me yet?....

Well you're in luck....I have two other faboosh places for ya to see....(I stay up late)

Project Mommyhood Reviews

Noah Baby Boutique The Blog

AND...

Just so you know, your ticket is always good...

For another trip into Project Mommyhood...

It's about Giving Up....

Really it is....






I'm one of those people....that fight hard....just ask Juice....he'd rather shut up and color...but there I am hiding the crayons because I'm wanting to hash it out....no surrender....and no art projects.

"Just let the poor man go and color"




I have and do apply this same mantra to almost every other aspect of my life....with regards to Parenting, Pooh-milestones, my Etsy shop....even my own personal fitness goals....






"ahem...that's stretching it a little don'tcha think?"






okay...so almost everything.....






There are those things though that I have been fighting so hard for....but feel I'm pushing up against a 6 foot 5...350 lb hungarian wrestler named Istvan....








Pooh's nap schedule....has been something I have been fighting with for weeks....two naps....one nap....no nap....two naps....1/2 a nap......and as with a hungarian wrestler....I was getting my butt kicked....hard core....





and my Etsy Shop.....I completely understand it's about promoting yourself....no pain...no gain....and I've been promoting out the wazoo...between particpating in events....providing items for giveaways....listing...and relisting....I gave ole Istvan another kung-fu mommy move....but still getting body slammed...and the peoples elbow in the ribs.....





So last week I decided.....I Give Up.....Istvan you win.....I'm not fighting with you anymore....I'm taking my leotard and going home.....


Too bad Juice isn't here....he'd love to hear me say I'm not fighting anymore....(sorry hunny not sure if that statement will apply to you....)



But with regards to nap....and business....I've decided....mentally I'm not fighting it anymore...




If Pooh naps...he naps....if he doesn't....he doesn't.....eventually we will get on a schedule that works for us....and you know what...we are getting there....I'm seeing more routine.....and less chaos....



Then there was Etsy....I had to get to the point where I just couldn't do it....I came to the decision that I'll promote when I want....how I want....and that the sales will come....just stopping fighting it....





and when I did....I received an inquiry about a possible wholesale opportunity.....which was beyond what I had thought could happen....



I'm starting to think there is something to this Giving it up......I re-phrase it......Giving up just doesn't sound right...because that's really not what I'm doing....





I'm just thinking it's time to give peace a chance.....







************************************************************************************

And to Help Me In Giving it up

(Cause this is definitely not wrestling Big Hungarian type music)

.....and get me in the mood for flip flops...and dare I say bikini season?....ehhhhh maybe tankini season.....(less of a stretch)

Here is some Mungo Jerry (they know Summertime)

....and my 10 fave blogs reads for the week....

Baby Makin(g) Machine

Fresh Mommy

The Gift Closet

Bushel And a Peck

moms without blogs

Bookieboo Raves

Mama's Losin' It

So Not Mom-a-licious

The Ditzy Duo

flibbertigibbet

Niceeeeeeeeee!!!!!

In The Summertime - Mungo Jerry

The American Hero

The American Hero always comes through
To capture our hearts with a spirit so true

Some proudly are soldiers who march in harm’s way
Insuring our freedom, courageous they stay

While others come forth as civilians so brave
Determined in purpose, so steadfast to save

We should always keep clear a place in our heart
For each has a value beyond precious art

Their duty to country will not be surpassed
Please honor their courage, for some it’s their last

We live in a world which can be hard to bear
Thank God for these people, how greatly they care

Do ponder new heroes and what they will face
And pray for their safety no matter their place

Our heritage brings out the best, we all know
Our great book of heroes is destined to grow

©2003Roger J. Robicheau





In honor of Memorial Day Weekend.....

All In a Name....

Sitting with my friend the other afternoon....basking in the sun...watching our respective small sprites frolicking amongst the swings and monkey bars....(mine of course has to test the taste and texture of the local twigs and dirt).....

the natural course of our conversation moves to names....namely due to her present situation of a new addition to their adorable little family....

I always have a little excitement when it comes to naming.....naming babies....naming pets.....I even got really excited when Juice and I named our first married plant Julio....we are now on Julio III (we go through one a year)....

There is something amazing that comes with a name....importance, meaning....legacy....any or all can piggy back along.....making a name much more...than just a name.....even if said name comes from a page out of steamy smut novel....(there is definitely some importance attached there somewhere).....

Take my name....My lovely parents...couldn't seem to agree on a name....well I take that back...they had a name...but I like surprises....and surprise...I was a girl....and poor Anthony Foster got thrown out with hopes of football scholorships...and good facial hair....

After as I see it...days of deliberation...and stale mates....my paternal grandmother piped in and said....let's name her after her grandfather.....and either from lack of sleep...or the drugs in 1979 were pretty good....both parents agreed.....

I love the story....though I never met the man......

Take Pooh's name....The poor boy may never live it down if he knows the truth....I fell in love as I'm sure millions of other women....and even a few men...(you know who you are) have with a little book/film entitled The Notebook....The story of true love....love lost...love found....love eternal.....and I fell for Noah....those traits that he portrayed....were traits I would want my son to possess.....strength of character, the ability to love with unimaginable depth, integrity....hope....

See...what I find so intriguing...is that I know that the traits I so admire....my son will get from his father...and hopefully me...(minus my propensity for chaos and clutter)....and not from a name that comes from a book or off the screen....

yet here I reasoned...."Well....you can't be a bully and be named Noah" ...."Just look at The Notebook....That is a great Noah"....

at least I didn't name him Fabio......

So....

What's the Story Behind your name?

Today....

We sent daddy off again.....

the start of another deployment....always the same....yet oddly always different....(didn't cry the whole way home this time....I call that progress)

Thinking of the ways to count the time.....77 days = 10 times taking the trash to the curb = 3 times paying the mortgage = 200 hours of potential sewing projects = 154 potential naps for Pooh......

Then...

Thinking of the changes Pooh will make over the next few months....

Grateful that his first few steps were made in the last few weeks....another milestone his Daddy was lucky enough to see....


Today....we spent playing in the grass....getting used to it being an edited version of our family....It's good to just take it slow....who says you have to jump head first...with both guns blazing....

I'd rather lay on my back in the grass...watching the clouds go by....

(Could that be daddy's plane flying overhead?..... making one final buzz-over?....)

and help a Pooh-nut find fun things....like bugs....and leaves...and dirt....

Simple is good....helps re-put things into perspective....

Even though we said good-bye to Daddy....for just a little while.... and it makes us a little sad...

Today....

Is still a very Good Day....

Spring Fling....

So....as we are still...working diligently on our transition from 2 naps (baby nap schedule) to 1 nap (big boy nap schedule)....my local park has become an almost daily sanctuary....for both Pooh and myself....



When the time comes in the afternoon...when both he and I just throw in the towel...and say enough fighting this...we pack everyone...into the car and head off to the wilds of nature...(as much nature as our neck of the woods can spare)


Even in the midst of this ...ahem....challenge....I am counting my blessings...for I couldn't even begin to imagine waging war on toddlerhood...let's say in January....oh lord...cabin fever mixed with nap changes...equals....bad juju.....very bad juju



On our latest jaunt around our local lake....nature offered up it's cutest...most cuddly bounty in the form of a dozen or so goslings.....not to be confused with the Gosselins.....(easy to do..easy to do)

not only were we able to feed these little webbed fluff balls....while hurriedly trying to avoid any nasty encounters with any mommy geese....but other wildlife critters came out to bask in the warmth of the day....

Ducks, turtles....and overly friendly squirrels kept Pooh occupied...and in awe...for hours....it was the best free entertainment we've had in a very long time.....

And what made our trip to explore nature even more amazing was that Daddy was able to come along and spend the afternoon with us....one of his last for quite awhile.....any moments with Daddy that we can store away in our memory banks....to bring out later after he's gone...are important moments indeed....ones we try so hard not to take for granted....

the cherry on top of this afternoon sundae?...we even got a nap on the way home....I'll take what I can get......

And to add some excitement...and intrigue into the mix....Here are my top 10 blog reads for the week~

SUNDAY BAKER

spearmint baby

...love Maegan

Everything but the kitchen sink

Housewife Savant

Our Crazy Life

kookie girls clothing

Spunky Teddy Graham

Creating Cupcakes

Mission Motherhood

Transitions....take 2....

Most of you will fondly remember a post not too long ago...entitled Transitions.....

okay...hopefully some of you...may remember...if not...Here is where you can refresh your memory...or perhaps read it for the first time.....

As life's journey goes...there is a teeny-tiny....wee...little transition that we at Project Mommyhood have begun to experience.....which has completely and utterly taken over our lives.....

The Two Naps....to One Nap....transition......

It never occured to me...why A) the bookcase full of parenting books I have skimmed over this topic with mearly a sentence or two....and B) why both my mother and sister...who have experienced this and yet have kept quite mum.....until this last week....when I realized....it's a conspiracy....

to DRIVE ME CRAZY...

Pooh....my darling....lovable...squeezable....little boy....takes whatever parenting advice I have gotten on the situation and has said..."ain't gonna happen"...and "not in this lifetime"

We've tried pushing morning nap back by 20 minutes each day....to hopefully by the time he's 4 get him on a nap schedule again....

We've done the play dates till you drop routine....which really means play dates till mommy drops....(I had no idea I had given birth to the Energizer Bunny)

I've tried the "Your Going down whether your tired or not"...and for an hour listen to him try and figure out how to stage a prison break.....

As of this weekend....all bets were off....and the parents finally won a battle....with the nap being taken during an hour and a half drive....to anywhere.....somewhere....just don't stop the car too long...or he'll wake up....

I'm starting to feel that puberty ain't got nothin on toddlerhood.....

Toddlerhood 1.....mommy 0......

3-2-1 Launch....

It's about Seperation.......

There is the seperation of church and state.....

There is the seperation of my meats and veggies on my plate.....

There is the seperation of my underwear and socks....

and Now....

There is the seperation of all my blogs.....


Now....because I obviously am actually 3 seperate gals.....(boy my husband is one lucky man...wink wink).....and I just have so much time on my hands.....

I have decided to create a home....specifically for Noah Baby Boutique......

Not that I don't love sharing the results of my insomniatic nites....however....over the last few weeks...I've been feeling like it....well isn't in the context of what I want Project Mommyhood to be....

I've successfully preformed this seperation operation before...with the launch of P.M.R.....and now with Noah Baby Boutique online....(sounds so ahead of the curve doesn't it?)......I have a space that can have my blankies...and burpies....and other whoziewhatsits....(think pee-pee tee pee)....wrapped up in a nice, organized package....I will even be having some fabulous Giveaways...not only from my shop...but from hopefully others as well....

holy crud....organzied?....me?....maybe this is a new transisiton for me.....(more on transitions later)

So I extend...offer...cajole...bribe....you to come on over and take a look....tell me what you think....tell me I've lost my ever-lovin-mind...and need to re-examine my priorities......or that it is a true masterpiece of the blogging kind....(I prefer the later)....





and the only person, place or thing....that could overshadow...eclipse...or trump the excitement I have for my newest project...



is Pooh....good ole....baabaa toting....speghetti sauce wearing....giggly....snuggly...pooh.....



Pooh is the Featured Baby over at Spearmint Baby....an amazing place....with drool worthy nurseries......adorable children.....and in general fabulousness.....I am so honored that Pooh gets his own spot.....



I think he's pretty drool worthy.......

Fe-Fi- Fo- Fum

Did Mommy really have to have a camera ready when I was touching my bum?

COTTAGE LIFESTYLE

thecreativejunkie.com

We Are THAT Family

Eat at Home

Aunt Spicy

Gussy has a lot to say...

Prefers Her Fantasy Life

Deltakids

Songbird

The Blessed Nest

The Things I've learned from my mom....

Because I am starting to realize that my mom....probably really does know everything.....



1. That you meet the same people going up the ladder as you do going down...


2. That when the streetlight turns green...you'd better go....cause it's the only shade of green they got....


3. Pick your battles.....you may not win this battle...but you still can win the war....



4. Save it for the big stuff.....when it comes to discipline.....


5. It's hard not to laugh when you should be stern....so the turn the head and cough works really well....


6. That the love you have for your child....is a love you will have never experienced before


7. How to be an independent woman....even when you are in a partnership.....



8. That it's not what you go through...but how you go through it....



9. That soap and water don't cost a lot...so there is no excuse not to be clean.....



10. That you don't need to approve...to accept......



11. That there is life after a broken heart....



12. That a mother's love is unconditonal.....





The list could go on and on and on.....with most of the little tid-bits...you don't even realize you remember...until you trip on it....the "oh my god I sound Like my Mother"....phrase...is a good indicator of something you've learned from your mom....



Thanks mom...for the informal...yet extremely thorough education.....



I will make sure to pass it on to the next generation.......

Blankie's Gone Crazy......

It has arrived....the dreaded attachment to the woobie.....dum dum dummmmmm......

Oh yes.....where we need to bring the giant sized woobie with us wherever we go.....because if we don't....who knows what could happen to the poor woobie at home....one of the dogs could bury it in the back yard....or armed intruders could woobie-nap it for ransom....the list is endless...and I have no idea what my sons fears are...considering the only three words he says are baba...dada...and the th sound....

and after the first few "second" trips back to the grocery store...to rescue the woobie from the shopping cart that we left it in....I have said....I can't take it anymore.....

So I decided to make him a mini-woobie....a woobie to go.....and it has made life ever so much easier....





also because sewing helps me work through issues and find some sort of clarity....I've also made two more....(so far) and added them to Noah Baby Boutique....I've been needing some clarity...





they really are the PERFECT size....I can just throw it in the diaper bag when he's done woobie-ing on it.....no second trips to the store....no more case of the dreads with the idea of taking a massive blankie....everyone is happy......for now....dum dum dummmmmmmm

Oh By The Way...

A phrase that's really starting to get underneath my skin.....

Now I'm not going to say never....but I would say 90% of the time...anything that comes after "oh by the way"....usually means...I'm not going to like it....whatever it may be...

Especially when my husband starts out a conversation with those four....very disturbing...quite irritating...words....

Yesterday was the epitomy of why I'm starting to have issues with said catch phrase....

This time it was...."oh by the way"....."I"m deploying in two weeks"....

I'm sorry....what?.....

not to add insult to injury....but is there a methodology as to Why he springs this phrase at a time when I finally get comfortable with planning things again?......Which I fully understand goes against everything I've learned about being a military wife.....never plan anything...

I LOVE what my husband does....and I LOVE being a military wife...but sometimes....I would like to be able to plan something more than 3 weeks in advance....just one time....

I've learned to count my blessings...and that sometimes it's more about winning small battles...than winning the war....and I am so extremely happy that Juice was able to spend Pooh's first birthday at home....It helped make up for the lost holidays we have had...

It's just...

I think that the "oh by the way" this week....has just really bummed me out....not only is Juice going to miss Father's Day....again.....but also has to make a call to his brother now....to say he can't stand up with him at his wedding...

I hate it....that he has to feel like he's letting others down....and I hate that the first day he "oh by the ways" me......I somehow always think about myself....not nice....bad me.....

wow...that sounds whiney....see what "oh by the way" has reduced me too?....

I do think there is a provision in the "military wife handbook"...that allows for moments dealing with "oh by the ways".....page 52 I think....

It always turns out the same....the cycle.....

Oh by the way.....moves to me being a wee bit selfish......moves to me being a wee bit selfless....moves to homecomings......


I just wish he could come up with another phrase...

A Toddler's View on Escapism....

Wow...you would totally think after my 100th post...with all it's accolades...and do I dare say moment of written clarity....a rarity for me to be sure....I would be on a roll...and my 101st post would be just as entertaining and perhaps even a little prophetic.....

Yeah not so much.....

I think perhaps I excercised a little too hard, the limited brain cells I have left...(after transferring most to Pooh ineutero)....and maybe they just need a few spa days to rejuvinate their creativity.

I certainly hope this isn't the beginning of a dry spell...wouldn't that be ironic....hit a milestone...lose my ability to blog.....(knock on wood)

So unfortunately this post will be mostly limited to this......I call it Pooh's sojourn: Journey to Enlightenment......

Or....

Becoming one with nature....by eating Dirt.....

I think the next culinary experiment....shall be mudpies.....

And even though the writing side of my brain has put out the be back at 3 sign.......I have still thouroghly enjoyed reading some amazing bloggers....

Here are my TOP 10 Blogs of the Week.....

the Mom Buzz

Keeping Up with the Cases

Who Put Me In Charge Of These People???

Elevenish Illustration

A Fabulously Good Life

The Blushing Bride

The Daily Dear

Love Reign Over Me

FranticMommy

Gossip, Hearsay & Tittle Tattle

I made it....Call Willard Scott....

Cause I need my mug on the Smuckers Jar.....

It's hard for me to believe that Since the Birth of Project Mommyhood, I have had 100 somewhat relevant ideas to write about....and have gained over 100 followers...who actually enjoy reading these somewhat relevant rants, raves and rambles.....

and can I just say....giving birth to a blog...was markedly much easier than giving birth to an 8 lb 11 oz baby boy....

My life since the beginning of this journey....has had highs and lows.....excitement and loneliness....and most if not all I have bared for all the world to see....since my cajones are not big enough to become a nude model.....(sorry Playboy...I'm still turning you down)

From Deployments....and Homecomings....to excitement over an upcoming baby....to sorrow at it's loss.....From Holidays....to Birthdays....and everything in between.....the last 8 months are just a snippet of a lifetime of experiences...that I am blessed to call mine....

Not to sound as if I have become quite narcissistic....I am more in love with the hundreds if not thousands of other bloggers....women and men.....who have allowed me...and the rest of the blogosphere to gain entre into their lives...and share in their lifes journey.....or their culinary...or design....or product sampling journeys.....

I have learned about how to comment correctly....what EC credits are....how to make money off of Clicky Love....(should be a VH1 reality show).....I've entered enough giveaways to get me closer to the Publishers Clearing House....and have won some great things...that have pumped my ego....and made my husband shake his head.....

I have opened an Etsy store....and have sold a few items....with hopes of one day turning it into a full time occupation....

I have gained friends....who....if I'm asked the question..."If you could have lunch with anyone...who would it be....."....they would be my answer.....

I have met so many bright....intellegant....vibrant....fascinating.....kind....beautiful.....
generous...people...who have showed me the vastness of good there still is in the world....


I have laughed until I've pee-ed my pants.....and have cried myself sick over stories such as a parents loss....I have prayed with so many for others to find peace...and hope....and a miracle....I have asked with so many for an answer to the question why?......


I have been both enlivend and humbled....entertained....and educated....This blogging world has been a place of solace, comfort...and maybe a tool to help drive my husband crazy.....


These last 100 posts have been fan-ta-bulous....and I'm anxious to see what journey the next 100 posts takes me on....