I’ve been working with Ryan and Cole for a few weeks now, on cleaning up their playroom, and organizing everything. It is amazing at times how two boys can be so messy.  We started with the bookcase.  I took out every single book- all 500 of them (so it seems) and kept the ones that are age appropriate, and packed up the baby ones. 

Then we started in on the cars, trucks, trains, and anything else with four wheels.  Then I started finding  tire treads everywhere.  Evidently, Cole likes to take the tread off, and then throw all of them behind larger objects in the playroom. 

Every toy has many other little parts, and trying to find all the parts to the toys to put them away is taking so long.  Cole has been practicing cutting with scissors.  There are always scraps of paper everywhere that makes the floor look like Times Square after New Year’s.  Add to that, Ryan now uses the playroom as his “classroom” to play school.  Everytime I pick up a marker, or put a book away, he tells me he needs that- those are his teaching materials.   He really does have a class too.  He’s recruited the neighborhood children, and after they are all home from real school, they are now assembling in our playroom to play school.

The room is a wreck, and on Friday I finally had some more time to work with the boys and I was determined we were finally going to get the playroom clean and organized.  All was going well until five minutes into it, when I discovered “spit balls” all over the place.  When I asked what they were, Ryan said that was his science experiment- he was making paper.  

I told the boys that there was to be no more water in the playroom.  Then I uttered those five words- those five words I heard growing up: “This room is a pigsty!”  The boys looked at me. The rest of the interaction went like this:

COLE: Mommy, what is a pigsty?

ME: A pigsty is where pigs live, and it is dirty, messy, and gross.  Just like this room.

COLE: But we aren’t pigs- we are boys.

ME: But your room looks like where pigs live.

RYAN: Pigs live on the farm, in mud. There’s no mud in here. 

ME: Yes, but their sty is where they live on the farm, and there probably is mud in here- we just haven’t found it yet.

RYAN: When did you see a pigsty? 

ME: I see a pigsty every time I walk in this room.  

RYAN: Pigs like to be dirty.

COLE: Yea, pigs like to be dirty, and we like our playroom.

ME: Well I don’t, and we aren’t going to keep this room like a pigsty anymore.  We are going to clean it up, until we are done.

RYAN and COLE (silence and then): OINK, OINK!

On Saturday we worked all day, and we made a lot of progress.  After the second trash bag was filled, I realized I am a full-fledged pigsty expert. And I remembered this: (watch at the 3 minute mark to 4 minutes)

Clearly, I’m following the universally-accepted-standard-mother sayings.  When we start in on the pigsty room again, I”ll just have to step it up a notch and tell the boys, “if you think this room is going to stay a pigsty, you have another thing coming.” 

I am sure the response will be the same: oinks, and they will probably ask what is the other thing coming is.    

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When I was a new mom, one of the biggest changes was how much stuff I always had to take with me.  My purses that previously held all I needed in life were not bigger than a piece of paper.  After having a baby, I couldn’t leave the house to go five minutes away to the grocery store without taking a bag that made it look like I was going on an overnight trip.  Packing the diaper bag became a part-time job in itself. 

And if you did not pack the diaper bag every time, than the baby God’s knew this.  If you didn’t pack a clean outfit- baby spit up over everything.  If you forgot the binky- baby needed to suck.  If you didn’t have enough diapers- well, you can imagine that.  Probably every new mom does this once, and only once.  Then the diaper bag becomes your reassurance.  When it is you and baby out, and against the world, the one thing that can save you from every potential disaster is your properly packed, 25 pound diaper bag.  (Yes, the diaper bag weighs more than the baby for several months.) 

So three and a half-years after having my last baby, why am I still lugging stuff around? I don’t have a “diaper bag” any more- now I have reusable Envirosaxs, which can hold even more stuff than a diaper bag, and weighs more than my youngest child.  Instead of diapers and clean little baby outfits, I am transporting books, toys, sports shirts, water bottles, soccer balls, jackets, boots, gym shoes, hats, snacks, and the list goes on.

I figured out something the other day.  This never stops.  I had it easy with the diaper bag.  From here on out, the “diaper bag” only gets bigger and changes names.  When the boys start playing sports regularly, then it will be a duffel, or sports bag.  As they get bigger, the equipment gets bigger, and the “diaper bag” gets less and less fashionable.  Last time I checked, Kate Spade doesn’t have a soccer duffel bag line. 

I realized the diaper bag’s job is to train you that you can never, and I mean never, leave your house without some sort of equipment bag.  I think the diaper bag should be renamed The Mom Equipment Bag.  Because diapers are only the beginning.  Your real job as a mom, is the equipment manager.

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I am pleased to have an expert at CSN Baby.com, Suzanne as a guest blogger today. 

Suzanne’s post is a guide for tips on selecting the right stroller for your baby and your lifestyle. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, trying to learn and research baby items.

When I bought my first stroller,  I thought any stroller with four wheels would do.  However, I didn’t consider that I did a lot of walking, and did not get a stroller that was very comfortable for Ryan, for long walks.  Needless to say, I could have made a better purchase- one that would have saved me a lot of hassle and would have made it more comfortable for Ryan.    I hope this guide will be informative and helpful if you are researching a stroller purchase.  

Finding the Right Stroller

Parents of babies and toddlers know that there are two major purchases:  cribs and strollers.  While cribs can be determined largely on style, color, quality, there are other important factors to consider when looking for a stroller.  We’re going to outline a few things that you should consider when shopping around. 

Your Lifestyle

A stroller should compliment the daily lifestyle of yourself and your baby.  Are you planning on driving around a lot with the baby?  Then you might want to purchase a foldable stroller or a travel system (which is a stroller that supports an infant car seat).  If you live an active lifestyle, then consider a jogging stroller.  These types of strollers are designed for parents who want to run with their baby, so they come with a sturdier frame and swivel wheel to ensure maximum maneuverability.

Size Matters

Of course your child will grow, but if you are planning on buying for a newborn, keep in mind that most strollers will not do, as infants have to travel lying flat on their back to ensure their safety.  You will need either a fully-reclining stroller, a travel system that can hold an infant car seat, or a pram.  Once your child grows to toddler size, most strollers should be able to work for them as they should be able to sit straight up.   

Your own space matters too!  The safety and comfort of your child should be paramount when it comes to this purchase, but the stroller should also be easy and convenient for you to use and store.  If you might need to bring it on a train or subway or have limited space to store it, then you should be looking at collapsible lightweight strollers.  Foldable strollers may not have as many features as others, but are a lot easiest to push and to store.

Features!

Strollers these days come with all sorts of features, from storage areas to pivoting food trays, cup holders to adjustable handlebars.  Of course a lot of the features make the stroller more convenient to operate and more comfortable for the little passenger, but bear in mind that these accessories also add to the price tag.  So think long and hard toward whether these add-ons are necessary or whether you’d be better off with a stroller that has fewer features, but is less expensive and just as durable.

Choosing the right stroller is an important decision, and it often comes down to personal tastes and needs.  But hopefully these tips will help get you on the path to getting your child on wheels!

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I will admit it- I LOVE Hamburger Helper.  My mom used to make it a few times a month, when we were growing up, and somewhere along the way, it has joined the ranks with homemade macaroni & cheese, lasagna, and chicken enchiladas as a comfort food for me. 

This is pretty ironic, since all the other comfort foods I make are from scratch.  I suppose at times, everybody craves a processed, sodium, preservative enriched food. One time I posted on Twitter I was making Hamburger Helper for dinner, and one person told me that is THE meal her husband requests every year for his birthday.  The flavor he always wanted?  Beef Pasta!

The ONLY flavor of Hamburger Helper that I have ever eaten and probably ever will, is the Beef Pasta.  That was the only flavor my mom ever served, so Hamburger Helper to me, means Beef Pasta (but when we were growing up, it was called Beef Noodle).  With green beans.  Plus, I add a little Worcheister sauce to it as it cooks.  And I always use milk instead of water, to mix up the special seasoning packet.  It ends up much thicker that way.  On a cold winter night, it is hard to find anything that tastes as good as Beef Pasta Hamburger Helper cooked this way.

Because it is a comfort food, I don’t eat it very often.  Maybe three times over the winter.  I hate that it is processed, but it tastes so good.  Ryan and Cole are picky eaters.  I have no idea where they get that from (me).  But, even they like and will eat good old Hamburger Helper.  They will even eat some green beans with it.  Maybe Hamburger Helper is a taste that is acquired genetically.

Because it is not the healthiest food to eat, the other day I was in the store and spotted Annie’s Homegrown Organic Cheeseburger Macaroni.  The boys’ favorite food ever is Annie’s Mac & Cheese, and I don’t feel quite as guilty giving it to them, since it is all natural and doesn’t have the additives and preservatives in it. This looked great!  It was Hamburger Helper, with no guilt.  I bought a package and decided to make it that night.

The boys always ask what is for dinner, and I told them we were going to have Hamburger Helper with cheese- like mac & cheese.  They got that look- where they know you are trying to pull something over on them, but don’t know what it is yet.  I made green beans too. 

I was convinced the boys would dig right in, and I would feel good they had a healthy dinner.  As soon as Ryan and Cole  the food critics saw me bring their plates to the table, they faces turned down.  They looked at their plates and at healthy organic version of Hamburger Helper that I might add, costs almost double what the original version of Hamburger Helper does, as they turned up their noses.

My precious two-and-a-half year old looked at me with his blue eyes and asked,

“What the heck is this?” 

I didn’t even know he knew the word ‘heck.’

My other precious son, had to get his two-cents in, so he just made the comment,

“Gross.”

I was the organic Hamburger Helper cheerleader. I told them to give it a try- they might like it.  I even sang the old commercial song about Hamburger Helper:

“Hamburger Helper Helped her Hamburger, Make a Great Meal!“ (click on the link to hear the song.)

The boys were not amused.  And it wasn’t even because of my singing.  They ignored my cheerleading, and asked if they could have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I told them they had to eat some of their Hamburger Helper.

“But Mommy, this isn’t Hamburger Helper.”  Ryan told me.

“Not Hamburger Helper- this is YUCKY!” Cole added.

They had a point- it didn’t look like our beloved Beef Pasta Hamburger Helper. 

“This isn’t even mac & cheese.” Ryan told me upon further inspection, poking the hamburger around on his plate.

“This is YUCKY!”  Cole added, holding up a piece of hamburger.

I was not defeated yet. I sat down and told the boys this was a very good dinner and I was going to eat my plate of Hamburger Helper.  I took my first bite, and it wasn’t bad- but it wasn’t Hamburger Helper.  Ryan and Cole watched me eat a few more bites, and then Ryan tried a bite.  He looked like he was eating a cross between some dirt and some mud.  After he took a huge drink of milk he told Cole, “It’s not too bad Cole.”   Cole’s response was, “YUCKY!”

I had Cole eat a few bites, which was not fun, and the boys ate their green beans.  Then they were done.  As I was clearing the plates away, I overheard Ryan tell Cole “to watch mom at the store, and make sure she never buys that yucky food again.” I think the food critics have evolved now into food spies- they are going to cut me off at the pass. 

Since we don’t eat regular Hamburger Helper very often, I will just stick to the original processed version.  The boys like it, I like it, and they won’t have to hear me sing a commercial jingle from the 80’s.  Some things shouldn’t be changed, and Hamburger Helper is one of them. 

Now it is your turn- do you like Hamburger Helper? Do your kids like it? Which flavor is your favorite?  Let me know I am not the only Hamburger Helper lover out there. 

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I admit it.  I am not an electronics or gadget junkie.  I had no idea what the big fuss was when the iPhone was released.  I thought it was ridiculous anyone would spend that much money on a phone and wait in line overnight and camp out for one. 

In Colorado, where I live, people used to only camp out for Denver Broncos play-off tickets, or something equally as important- like Colorado Rockies World Series Tickets, or Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup tickets.  I can understand that- after all, cheering on your favorite sports team when they have made it to the big game- it can be a once in a life time event.

I have failed to see what is so exciting about the next big ‘must have’ electronic device that motivates people to spend all night laying on the sidewalk in a sleeping bag in front of Best Buy.  Whether it is the latest phone, Mp3 player, computer, HDTV, or video game system.  It is just a thing. 

A little less than a month ago, I wrote that it was finally time for me to replace my almost two-year old cell phone, which was absolutely ancient in electronic years.  I had decided to get a Blackberry Pearl.  One of the reasons I liked the Blackberry was because it was not an iPhone. My boss has an iPhone, and I have used hers before.  I don’t like how sensitive the touch screen is.  Every time I thought I was touching what I wanted, I had touched something else instead.  I realized I need buttons I could push, and the Blackberry Pearl has buttons- yay! 

I knew there were other features that I would like, but the main reason I decided on the Blackberry was because of the buttons.  How high tech is that?  My friend, Amy, told me to watch out- I was getting a ‘CrackBerry.’  I laughed and thought that was funny, but I would never become that dependant on a phone- it is just a thing. 

Not even a month later, I am not laughing.  While I haven’t officially signed up at CrackBerry.com, I find every day I am becoming more and more dependent on my Blackberry.  I love it.  Never mind I can make phone calls.  It has a calendar in it. I no longer have to wait until I get home to write on the wall calendar an appointment- better yet, I don’t have to try to remember to write it down.  I just pull out the Blackberry and  presto- the appointment is in the calendar.  It even sends me a reminder just to make sure I really remember it.  My mommy brain doesn’t even do that. 

It has a note pad.  Now I don’t have to carry around 10 different pieces of paper with me (a.k.a. my memory), with the grocery list, the Target list, the Costco list,  the errands I need to do, or the tasks I need to complete.  I can start a new note for each one, and when I need it, I push a few buttons (love those buttons) and presto- my memory is at my fingertips.

I no longer have to be at the computer in the house to check e-mail.  I can receive and send e-mail from the phone.  I can respond to the important ones right away, like the one I received from my boss this week. I was out and about and it would have taken me hours to get back to her.  Instead I was able to respond moments after she sent the e-mail.  I was able to respond quickly to some e-mails regarding my blog too.  I can keep up with my family and friends via the cool Facebook application. 

There is a camera and a video recorder on the phone.  The other night Ryan was doing something cute, and instead of lugging out the video camcorder, I just hit the button for the video recorder and recorded him dancing.  There is a password safe, that keeps all my passwords in one place.  There’s an address book, voice dialing, speaker phone, Mapquest, the weather report, a multimedia player, and more features I haven’t even gotten around to learning yet. 

I can’t believe all the things this phone does.  Now I understand why people will camp out for an electronic thing- it makes life easier.  Instead of having a big, thick, day-timer that I have to lug around or relying on the calendar hanging on my kitchen wall, everything I need to run my life and stay on top of our schedules, fits in the palm of my hand. 

While I doubt I will ever be one of those people camping out for electronics, I do understand it now.  It is great when there is a gadget that can make our hectic lives run a bit smoother, and if you want to be one of the first people who has the latest gadget, more power to you.  I think I’ll save my camping out for the mountains, or maybe just maybe, Broncos play-off tickets in the near future. 

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