MoMonkey MoMonkey

Home Should Be A Haven

I have a need to live in an environment that is serene, organized, clean, free of clutter, and pretty to look at. I think a large reason why it's so important to me is that the majority of time, the rest of my life feels so out of control. If my home is under control, it has a huge calming effect over me and provides me with much needed sanity!

My husband doesn't understand this. He thinks my incessant need to maintain order and serenity in my home is more of a personality flaw than a necessity. Perhaps it is. But today I received some validation from good ol' Oprah Winfrey.

She had her designer, Nate, on the show and they talked about how your home is a reflection of yourself and that you should try to make it a sanctuary by surrounding yourself with a space that makes you feel better about yourself. I couldn't agree more. They went on to say that some people buy clothing, shoes, gadgets and things that other people see, but that it would be smarter to buy things for your home that you see because that's where you spend the majority of your time. Makes sense to me.

So did I receive validation for an appropriate way of thinking or do I have a personality flaw? You decide.

Mommy Vs. Mo - A daddy's viewpoint

Dad here checking in. I'm here to report that I've discovered a new sport. I am not a participant in this sport, just an on-looker to this battle of wills.

In one corner is Mommy. Staunch defender of all things clean and tidy. In the other corner is Mo. A hurricane of mess and destruction.

Our arena for the latest duel is set at a Picnic grove. Little Mighty Mo takes her place in the dirt. Mommy grits her teeth. You can see the look on Mommy's face that she is slowly losing control of the situation.

The entire time I'm there taking pictures of the whole ordeal. God bless my Uber-Phone. It may not take the best pictures, but it gets the job done.

My newly found favorite sport is one that will go on for years and years to come and I have front row seats to witness it all.

Lucky? Nah. I'll get my own share when she starts dating.. EEEEEEEK.

Look below for some Piccy Pics.

The Last Days...

Erin, a close friend of ours is pregnant and due around the 4th of July. Today I spent some time recalling how those last couple weeks before the due date dragged along ever so slowly with the hope that I would go into labor early. No such luck. So then I settled for right around the due date. That would be fine, right? Nope. Again, no such luck. A grueling 10 days later after the due date is when Mo decided to make her entry into the world.

Erin, I so hope that you don't get to the point where the minutes last forever... We can't wait to meet little Ethan!

Model The Values You Want Your Kid To Catch

In the morning on my way to work, I listen to a local radio station that broadcasts "Focus on the Family" talk shows. The one I listened to the other day was particularly interesting because it featured Dr. Kevin Leman, the author of "Home Court Advantage". It's a book I highly recommend parents read.

Some interesting tidbits from the talk show are as follows:

1. Most parents these days are too busy chasing after their own dreams and not raising their kids. Dr. Leman claims that this models selfish behavior, which is not a trait we should be instilling in our kids.

2. Most parents these days have a tendency to push too many activities on their kids - as if the bazillion activities are what will make their kids sucessful. This is not the case at all. Having a stable home environment where both parents are present and available is what will make your kids sucessful. If you give your kids a great home environment, that is the only tool they will need to grow up and make right choices. Kids need to feel like they belong to a family; not to an activity.

3. Parents should be striving for building kids character; afterall, it's who they are, not what they do that matters (same philosophy should apply to us as parents).

4. Most parents are too busy striving for the big house, new cars and all the latest gadgets. Who cares about that stuff?

5. Too controlling of an environment makes it easy for your kids to be controlled by peer groups.

Of the above tidbits, what area do you struggle with the most? I have to say that I struggle with #4 from time to time. It's not that I have to have the latest of everything; it's more about wanting to live comfortably and give my child everything I didn't have growing up. In fact, I struggle the most about the things I want Mo to have - items like a great swingset, a pool, a sandbox (just to name a few). I know it's stupid and it doesn't matter. In fact, all the material possessions in the world won't matter if I am not available and loving my child with all of my heart. So if you read posts about the latest toy I bought for Mo, please feel free to give me a good swift kick in the butt.

Concerned Parent

I know toddlers go through stages of testing their limits. I know this from all of the zillion things I have read since the day I found out I was pregnant. Yet, none of that makes it any easier to deal with. Most of the time, Mo is pleasant. More and more, though, she is becoming a little brat. The moment she doesn't get her way she screams her head off. And the screaming is relentless. We've tried ignoring and distracting, but nothing works. And now that it's warm out, our windows are open all the time and the poor neighbors have to be subjected to the temper tantrum household. What's a Mom to do?

A Weekend of Firsts

Mo has been a joy this past weekend. Well, most of the time. She was also crabby as hell due to the heat, but I can't blame the kiddo considering I get crabby as well! Did I mention I loathe summer?

Anyhoo, Mo had a few firsts this weekend.

1. She learned how to play pretend. On Saturday night we had to go to Hershey to pick up Hub's Mom and as we rode back, Mo and Gram pretended to eat together! It was absolutely hilarious. If Mo is anything like her father, she is going to have one heck of an imagination!

2. She officially learned to pose for the camera. Even in a state of tears, she can stop cold and give Daddy a big cheesy grin.

3. She pooped in the tub while taking a bath. Eeewww. This was disgusting. And she thought it would be fun to play with it while Mommy was freaking out trying to get her out of the tub and scoop out the poop. Eeewww. Eeewwww. Eeewww.

Off to bed I go for some much needed shut-eye.

Hot and Sticky

It's one of those yucky days that reminds you that summer is near. I hate summer. It's just too hot and miserable for my liking! It's sickening that all you have to do is sit and you have sweat dripping down your neck.

Anyhoo, I can tell it's getting to Mo. She's been off and on whiny all day. She threw one of the dog dishes and broke said dish. (more like smashed into tiny bits and pieces). She's tormenting the dogs by pulling clumps of hair out of them (tis shedding time) and trying to eat them. So all I've heard all day is whining from Mo and growling from the dogs...

It's gonna be a long summer!

Mo's Favorite Pastime

Mo absolutely loves getting baths. If she had the choice, she'd stay in there until she was a cold, wrinkly mess! Anyone have a suggestion on some really good bath toys that will keep her entertained? (More than just the standard duckies and fishies she seems to have in abundant supply)

She's so going to hate me when her boyfriend 15 years from now (or 30 years from now if Daddy has his way) sees this lovely picture!

Taking A Stroll

Remember how I mentioned the other day how we were screwed now that Mo's a busy toddler?

So the other day I was leaving for work and put Mo down on the sidewalk while I took a moment to adjust the straps on her carseat. It took me less than 30 seconds to make the adjustment, and when I kneeled down to get Mo, she was gone! In that short amount of time, she had managed to go nearly half a block and was booking it like there was no tomorrow. I started calling her name thinking she'd at least turn around and look at me, but nope. She ignored me and kept walking. She was moving so fast that it seemed like she was running away from the mob or something.

So let me recap:

Funny? Yes.
Late for work? Yes.
Let Mo out of my sight again? Hell No.