You Can Call Me Josephine.

Josephine March, that is.  I'll also answer to Anne (the "of Green Gables" variety).

If you're a literary buff, you might already know what these two amazing characters aspire to do: write.  You can literally feel their joy when you read (or watch or perform) how they have overcome cruel editors - or best friends who add in bits about baking powder - and achieved their wildest dreams.

Ever since I was a very little girl, I have dreamed of writing.  My first story, Valentown, was written in second grade.  I'm pretty sure I still have the first draft somewhere (along with some delightful illustrations crafted by my friend Holly).  That one may not have made its grand debut to the world, but I have still had fun over the years composing short stories, fan fiction (Anastasia, Phantom of the Opera, and a few others I'm far too embarrassed to admit), and script adaptations. 

In 2011, I was given the opportunity to write on a daily basis for a local KC coupon blog.  It was a fabulous learning experience, but ultimately I realized that it wasn't my cup of tea.  It didn't require a lot of actual writing; just a lot of deal-seeking and fast fingers.  I have the utmost respect for frugal bloggers after having been in their shoes!  Once that endeavor reached its end for me, I decided that this little old blog needed a pick me up.  And while I was working on that project - another opportunity landed in my lap.

I was contacted by KC Parent magazine and asked if I would be interested in writing as a contributor for their quarterly editions of KC Baby.

Um, what?!  My name in print?  YES, please!

April-June 2013 KC Baby

KC Baby is a free publication which is distributed in over 327 locations in the Kansas City metro area.  It's the only resource in KC targeted to the pregnancy through preschool (ages 0-3) market.  So, in my book?  That's kind of a big deal.

My name in print. Excited doesn't even describe it!

My recurring article is a product review column, featuring the latest and greatest pregnancy and baby products I have encountered.  In my first issue, there's a nursing tank top by Glamourmom, a Britax car seat, and more.  If you live in the metro, make sure you grab a copy next time you are out! 

Now if you'll excuse me... I think I'll start my epic novel project next.  It worked out for Jo, after all!

Adelaide: 6 Months Old

It's been half of a year since our baby girl arrived.  Half.of.a.year.

Unbelievable.

Milestones: Rolling, rolling, rolling!  Literally, in the last three days, you are suddenly going places with your rolling.  I turn my head for two minutes and you are halfway across the room.  Yikes - our house needs some pretty serious baby-proofing if you're about to become mobile!  I don't know how we're going to keep all of Lincoln's tiny little cars away from you! 

You're obsessively interested in the food that Mommy, Daddy, and big brother eat - and now that you are six months old, we may look at starting solids.  But yay us, we easily made it to six months of exclusive breastfeeding!  I made baby food for your brother, but think we may try a more baby-led weaning approach for you.  We'll see.  I'm not quite ready to go there yet.

Sleep has been off and on this month - but mostly off.  You are still swaddled when you sleep (I can't get you to stay sleeping otherwise), but I think you're uncomfortable and would do better if you had some room to stretch.  I've started sort of trying to break the swaddle habit, but I'm not entirely sure how to go about it.  I'm hoping you just magically decide you don't need it. :)

You gained not one, but two teeth this month!  You had a few fussy days, but overall maintained your happy baby attitude throughout this first bout of teething.  Here's hoping you feel that way about all the rest of the teeth!

You are not sitting up yet, but in the last few days, I've noticed you gaining more balance - it could be soon!

Loves:  You are so happy when you can bounce in the exersaucer - although Lincoln keeps sitting on it and breaking it.  You love your Nuby Bug-a-Loop teether, your Sophie, and any of Lincoln's toys you can get your hands on.  Lincoln has been trying to play with you a lot this month, and your best and biggest laughs are reserved just for him.  My heart melts when I hear you two laughing with each other (and I'm doing my best to keep him from smooshing you with love).

You are kind of a mama's girl, which is fine by me.  This month, you started giving big sloppy kisses and they are my favorite thing.  Just this morning, you reached for me for the first time!  I love it!

This look of adoration? It's for Daddy.

Hates:  Sleep is still not fun, although it's marginally better than last month.  You've started going down for naps better again, and every few days I get a 1.5 - 2 hour nap from you.  Compared to the 20 minute naps you've been taking for two months, this is incredible!  You've been going to sleep anywhere from 8:30-10pm lately, with lots of nursing required to get you to sleep.  It seems like you're falling asleep a little faster this week, so I'm hoping we're starting to reach an easier routine.

You're not very happy if Mommy is not in your sight.  You cry if you see me go downstairs to do laundry, and you're not pleased if just about anyone else tries to hold you.  I don't mind, but I think it's frustrating for others to want to hold a baby who only wants to cry. :\

Weight/Height:  You are still growing fast, but I think the super fast weight gaining may have plateaued.  You're in 6-9 month clothes comfortably; a few 9-12 month outfits fit but some are still too big.  Diapers are still size 3 (though Mommy is considering trying cloth diapers for the first time ever...maybe I'm crazy?).  Your hair is starting to come in a little bit more, yay!

I really can't believe that you have been with us for half a year.  Your pretty smile lights up our home and our family could never be complete without you.  Happy half-birthday, Adelaide!

How To Prepare for a Kid's Consignment Sale (or, 11 Things No One Tells You About Consigning)

So you're planning to sell all of your kid's outgrown clothes, toys, and gear in a consignment sale?  That's great news!  Consigning is a fantastic way to get a lot more profit for your items than you would reap if you held a garage sale or tried to auction off your items to your friends!  I should know - I've tried both. 

This week, my stuff is for sale at a Kansas City consignment event.  This is the sixth time I have placed items in a sale, so I feel like I have a decent grasp of the consigning process.  I absolutely feel that consigning is the best way to make money from your pre-loved kid's items. 

But I also know from experience that the week of the consignment sale can be absolute insanity. Here are a few reasons why.

1. You Will Procrastinate. 

Last-minute tagging. May 2013.

When you sign up for a sale, it may be months away.  You'll probably think oh, I have soooo much time to get ready!  It will be no problem at all!  Then you'll get an email reminder that the sale is next week, your drop-off time is tomorrow, and suddenly you'll become a crazed woman digging through closets and drawers and tote boxes of too-small clothes, trying to establish what you will sell and how much the current retail value is, and oh-no-you-don't-have-any-hangers-and-all-the-dry-cleaners-are-totally-out-since-it's-consignment-season!!! 

If you didn't know - most dry cleaners will give you a bunch of wire hangers for free.  Just call and ask! 

2. Your Home Will Be Overtaken With Clothing Hanging From Every Random Place You Can Find.

Boy's Clothes, organization in progress. May 2013.

If you're consigning while your first child is still immobile, this one might not apply to you yet.  But as your innocent baby turns into a lively toddler, he will probably discover that dragging clothing which has been safety pinned to a hanger is one of the most fun things to do in the world.  During consignment season, we have to duck to get into most of the rooms in our house because the door frames are all overloaded with clothes.

3. You'll Get Really Familiar With Duck Tape (or some other personalized tagging system).

May 2013.

This one kind of depends on how many items you have decided to sell, and what the policy is at your particular sale.  Some places sort your unsold items for you at the end of the sale, but a lot do not.  If you have a handful of clothing items - like twenty - it might not be a big deal to you to go searching for your unsold inventory at the end of the sale.  But if you're like me and routinely bring 300+ items to consign, let's just say you're going to need a system.  My current marking trend is a piece of black duck tape on top of a piece of purple duck tape.  My husband can probably tag hangers in this fashion in his sleep.

4. Boxes of Toys May End Up In Random Places, i.e. Your Kid's Bed.

May 2013.

As you get closer to the sale, you'll find you are running out of places to store the prepared items.  I typically have totes on top of my kitchen table, piles on top of the piano, stacks of clothes in door frames and on the back of the couch, and one time I completely filled my scrapbook room with stuff.  If you have that aforementioned lively toddler, he's probably going to try to reclaim everything in the boxes, so be prepared!

5. It Doesn't Matter How Hard You Try, At Some Point You Will Get Confused.

May 2013.

There is nothing like getting all the way through your consignment pile and then realizing that you have no idea if you got all the items entered.  Or if you tagged one incorrectly.  Or if you accidentally put a $50 tag on a $5 item.  You get the idea.

5. Loading And Dropping Off Your Items May Take FOREVER.

It won't be so bad if you only have a small stack of clothes, like this one.

May 2013.

But sometimes, you will be convinced you need to invest in a moving truck just to get it all to the sale location.

August 2012.

Drop-off is typically done best when you don't have to worry about bringing kids with you - but sometimes that is inevitable.  Just make sure the tagged items are out of reach so that your little one doesn't gleefully rip tags off all of the clothing you painstakingly worked on for five days!

October 2012.

My favorite tip for keeping clothing organized while in transit: put a rubber band around the hangers in each size section.  Take a pair of scissors with you and just clip the bands once everything is in order on a rack.  Super easy and everything stays in the correct order!

6. You'll Build Some Awesome Muscles Dragging a Clothing Rack Around.

May 2013.

These things are heavy.  Hopefully you'll be lucky enough that there is one available for your use, because let me tell you...it is even more work to unload everything without one!

May 2013.

7. When You Are {finally} Done With Drop Off (or shopping, or pickup), You May Feel Disgusting. 

I get seriously sweaty when hauling this stuff around. And it is gross.  It's especially bad when you are pregnant.

August 2012. 6 months pregnant with Adelaide.

8. If You Volunteer To Work The Sale...Bring Food.

If you don't, and you feel like you might starve to death - don't blame me, okay?  This, again, is an important one to remember if you are pregnant.  Volunteering at the sale while pregnant is in and of itself a feat of amazement. 

Pzone in October 2012. 32 weeks pregnant.

9. Whether You Think You Care Or Not, You Will Obsessively Watch Your Sale Totals Roll In Each Night.

I'm actually doing this as I am drafting this post.  I'm refreshing the page over and over, waiting to see if I have made any money.  It's a crazy consignment mama rush to watch those numbers pour (or creep) in!  It's always worthy of a whoop of joy, whether you sell a $70 stroller or a $1 set of binkies that your child wouldn't touch.

August 2012.

10. If You Take Your Kids Shopping, You'll Probably Have To Bring Home A New Toy.  

This is how we ended up with a large plush Sally car yesterday afternoon.  The boy has 23810473820 cars and trucks, and even a couple of plush cars and choo-choos, but with a $2 price tag and the biggest smile you can imagine...how is a mama supposed to pass up this deal?  It was quite distressing for him to have to hand her over for the four seconds it took to scan her tag, though.

May 2013.

11. If You're Not Very, Very Careful, You Will Spend More Than You Make.

I always go to these sales with the best intentions.  Especially when I'm consigning - because isn't the point to make some extra cash, not spend it all away?

But I almost always find a thing or two or twenty-six that I just can't imagine living without.  Pink ruffle romper?  Addie NEEDS it!  Random American Girl book that I don't already have? Get that in my stroller.  Batman t-shirt that won't fit Lincoln for four years?  Um, duh!

So, yeah.  It's really easy to buy more than you need when everything is so very accessible and conveniently placed all in one place.  I'm happy to say that I only spent $13 at the sale this week and I'm not really planning to shop anymore.  We'll see how that goes.  But, I certainly have not always done this well!

My best suggestion is this: take a list with you.  Make a physical list of the specific things you actually need, and only buy those things.  Feel free to laugh at my idea; I rarely adhere to it myself!

April 2011.

So, spill!  Are you a consignment mama?  What's your best trick of the trade?

Nuby Bug-a-Loop Teether {Review}

Disclosure: Nuby sent us the Bug-a-Loop teether to review.  All opinions expressed below are my own.

Little Miss Addie has popped not one, but two tiny little teeth in the past three weeks.  Needless to say, there has been a bit more fussiness, a lot more snuggling, and a lot of chewing and drooling from our baby princess.

This fun Bug-a-Loop Teether from Nuby caught my eye and I thought it might be something to entertain her amidst the annoyance of growing new teeth.  After a couple weeks of playing with this toy - I am so glad it's in our collection!

This teether is designed to assist with the teething process by gently massaging baby's gums with its raised and offset surfaces.  It is adorable to look at and Addie will not let it go.  For a five-month-old, she is pretty attached to this toy!  It definitely ranks as one of her very favorites.

The circle shape makes it easy for her to hold with one or both hands, and it is lightweight enough that when she swings it around in the air, it doesn't whack her in the face too hard!  The little bugs are beyond cute and each bead has a different texture.  The beads are contained on two strands of very thick cord - I'm not worried at all about them breaking free, even when Lincoln manages to get it away from his sister.

The Bug-a-Loop teether has become a go-to toy for us, whether playing at home, outside, in the stroller, in the car, or anywhere!  I may have to get an extra one in case we lose it - she loves it that much.  I'm glad to not have to worry about what she is chewing on - since Nuby products are always BPA free!  I think we're going to get a lot of continued use from this teether!

You can find the Nuby Bug-a-Loop teether at many online and local retailers, including Buy Baby Direct, Kohl's, Diapers.com, Amazon, Target, CVS, BuyBuy Baby, and Sears.  Make sure you follow along with Nuby on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram to keep up with all the latest products and promotions!


 I am writing this post as part of the NUBY Mommy Blogger Program.  I did not receive compensation for this post, although as part of the program I may receive items to sample or review.  All opinions are my own and are 100% honest.

Wordless Wednesday: Sweet Summertime: Coming Soon!

Mother's Day 2013 Recap

I went to bed Saturday night kind of hoping for a Mother's Day miracle - you know, one that involved my kids sleeping longer than three hour stretches.  Not only did that not happen - it was actually probably the worst night of sleep we have had since Addie was born in November.  Or maybe ever. 

My incredible husband was up half the night with me and the kids, but let me stay in bed for several extra hours in the morning.  Even though I spent most of that time nursing/cuddling with one child or the other, it was glorious to not get up at 6:30am.  We were all dragging so much that we did not make it to church that morning at all.

Due to our sluggishness in general, we were late to lunch at my parent's house, but they saved food for us and we were able to spend time with my mom and dad and grandparents.

Addie & Lincoln with my parents.

My grandparents, me, and Addie.

Lincoln thought he was pretty clever when
he climbed up to snatch this cookie.
Why does he look like he's 7?

We took the kids outside for some sunshine-y photos, and naturally all Lincoln wanted to do was run around the yard.

Three generations of girls!

What it looks like when you try to take a photo with two babies.

Being chased by mama.

My sweet little man.

The princess riding in the swing.  She actually did enjoy it.

After this, we packed everybody in the van and headed to Andrew's parents house.  Neither of the kids had had a nap and Addie was just about beside herself.  She ended up nursing to sleep and snoozing in my arm for a little while, as Andrew, Lincoln, his parents, and grandma played out in the backyard.

Lincoln never, ever runs out of energy.

Grandpa pushing Lincoln on the swing.

Andrew's parent's dog, Candy, is used to this sort of treatment from Lincoln.

Addie and Lincoln with Andrew's parents. 
You can tell how cooperative the kids were acting.

We got home in time to feed Lincoln dinner and start bathtime.  He went to sleep right away.  My parents ended up coming by because our dishwasher decided to start leaking - and we had dishes piled high on every kitchen surface.

My mom rocked Addie and my dad fixed the dishwasher while Andrew and I went on a walk by ourselves for a few blocks around our neighborhood.  It was calming and really, just what I needed at the end of the busy day.

Holidays tend to stress me out, since we tend to be running around town all day long.  I don't know why this is, since I want to go see all the family and the kids usually have a great time.  Probably stems from my constant pessimism.

So, it was a busy day - but good overall.  Aside from the lack of sleep!

So thankful to be called "mama" by these precious little people!

I'm linking up with Growing Up Geeky today for Toddle Along Tuesday!  Hop over to check out more Mother's Day recaps!

Nuby Flip-It Easy Grip Toddler Cup {Review}

Disclosure: Nuby sent us the Flip-It Easy Grip Cup to review.  All opinions expressed below are my own.
 

Summer is on the way, and with a two-year-old in our family, that means we have a lot of adventures ahead of us.  Trips to the park and the zoo, backyard playtime, and probably other fun stuff will come our way.  Lincoln only has one speed (running), so my job this summer is going to be keeping him hydrated! 

We had the chance to check out the Flip-It Easy Grip cup from Nuby, and it is a great addition to our sippy cup collection.  This cup features a super easy-to-use flip top cap, which makes it a perfect cup to take along on our adventures.  No worries about spills on the carseat or Lincoln's clothes - and if it happens to drop into a pile of dirt or something like that, the straw won't be contaminated.  I definitely am not going to have time to worry about rinsing off a sippy cup every time Lincoln lets it fall to the ground.

This no-spill cup design holds 10 ounces of liquid, which is just about right for my toddler.  If he has too much more than that, it's unlikely to stay cold by the time he can drink it all!  Lincoln loves the straw feature and is constantly wanting to play with the flip-top.  He's not as confident using a straw sippy (he tends to tip the cup upside down, thus sending all the liquid away from where the straw will find it), but I think he just needs more practice.  We'll definitely take care of that this summer! 

Nuby products are always BPA free, so my mind is at ease when Lincoln uses this (or any) Nuby cup. The Flip-It Easy Grip is a success at our house for sure!

You can find the Nuby Flip-Top Easy Grip at Buy Baby Direct, Diapers.com, and Amazon - as well as Walmart, TJ Maxx, DD's Discounts, and Baby Depot at Burlington.  Make sure you follow along with Nuby on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram to keep up with all the latest products and promotions!

 I am writing this post as part of the NUBY Mommy Blogger Program.  I did not receive compensation for this post, although as part of the program I may receive items to sample or review.  All opinions are my own and are 100% honest.