MOM CONFESSIONALS

If you’ve got a little girl, good chance you found yourself with a Little Mommy.  I got a chance to check out Mattel’s new Little Mommy brand, featuring a fresh new look for girls’ playtime that celebrates the major milestones of motherhood.  These babies are born with style!

“A” loves her Princess and the Potty doll as “M” is just in the midst of potty training.  As any typical sibling rivalry goes, she loves showing off to her baby brother that her princess “goes” potty already.  She gets to sit her doll on her special potty to hear silly sounds and giggly phrases while her doll goes potty.  She then checks to make sure her doll has finished and the flushes to watch the potty go from dirty to clean!  I have to say that part was “interesting” to say the least and hopefully now she won’t forget to flush.  I love that it comes not only with a sparkly sippy cup but a “hand-sanitizer or hand-soap” accessory to enforce good hand hygiene.  If anything I hope “M” rises to the challenge and starts to go potty on his own… one can wish…

Equally as such, I was thrilled to see there was an Asian Little Mommy Sweet as Me Doll who is a rocker like my Little Mommy.

For more information and to browse the new doll line, visit http://www.littlemommy.com/.

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Earth Day is officially celebrated on April 22 but at Cascadian Farm, they treat every day as Earth Day – working with the Earth, not against it.  We love Cascadian Farm, a brand that has been organic before “organic” was a trend.  It’s funny how once you start a family, eating healthier becomes one of the most important things in your life, but it should always be.  Muddling the world of organics can be a little confusing but brands like Cascadian Farm makes it easy.  With all our staples covered from Breakfast cereals including M’s favorite Clifford Crunch and my favorite French Vanilla Granola which can go on smoothies, yogurt and simply a plain snack to Muir Glen Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes with Basil, which I didn’t know was a Cascadian Farm brand, which we have been using for years to make the most delicious marinara sauce.  Listening to concerns worldwide, they are now canned in a BPA free liner. You can taste the organic difference and it’s divine!  When I work the night shift at work, I love to stock my bag with Cascadian Farm Granola Bars.  They are a healthy and nutrition snack alternative to all the junk food in the hospital I could be eating.

What is Organic and Why Eat Organic you ask?

Organic refers to the way agricultural products and foods are grown and processed. Organic production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. To maintain the integrity of the final product, organic foods are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives, or irradiation.  Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers or genetically engineered ingredients which you want to avoid especially in young, growing children.  The dangerous effects of these products are just coming light in recent years and the information is simply scary.

FIRE ROASTED TOMATO MARINARA

Heat deep pot with olive oil on medium.  Toss in garlic cloves and roast until golden.  Pour in organic fire roasted diced tomatoes and mushrooms.  Simmer on low for 40 minutes, salt and red pepper to taste.  Serve over pasta or even fish!

For more amazing recipes for cooking organic, check out the Cascadian Farm webpage and Muir Glen webpage.

GIVEAWAY: Enter NOW!  Cascadian Farms wants to help you make eating Organic an everyday occurrence.  From now until April 22nd 2012 – EARTH DAY — you MUST visit this FORM and leave a comment.  ONE (1) lucky winner will win this amazing  Earth Day Celebration Kit, seen above, containing:

• Cascadian Farm products
• VIP coupons for free products
• Amazing recipes
• a gorgeous Picnic cooler basket to tote all the amazing food you’ll be making

For an additional (3) entries – 1st Option – If you follow me on twitter @momconfessional and re-tweet this giveaway (I just entered @momconfessional’s @CascadianFarm #Giveaway and you should too! http://wp.me/pLvfH-1f6) – 2nd Option – If you “like” us on Facebook and share the giveaway with your friends.  – 3rd option – subscribe to Mom Confessionals.  DON’T FORGET to leave a comment with your favorite organic tip and leave a separate entry for each action on this FORM. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses and must be 18 years or older. Giveaway ends on April 22nd 2012 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.

Check out and “like” the Cascadian Farm Facebook page to find more information on ideas for celebrating Earth Day your way!

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Mamas & Papas Baby Snug is a two stage seat that can be used indoors or outdoors. The first stage is recommended for ages 3 months to 12 months and the second stage is recommended for 12 months and up. Although we had already been gifted with a Bumbo, I gladly agreed to review this product based on the sleek design, and Mia being able to use this product for a much longer time.

The Baby Snug has three major parts – a plastic seat which is used for older babies, a soft insert to be placed on the plastic seat for younger babies, and a plastic tray. There are a few pieces that must be assembled for the plastic tray, but the directions included were clear and it was simple enough. The seat is stylish, well made, very sturdy, and easy to clean. The seat also has a wide base to prevent it from tipping over. The tray is a little difficult to put on as you have to move the baby’s arms/hands out of the way in order to lock the tray in the slots on the sides of the seat. The good news is that once you lock in the tray, it is very secure.

All in all, the seat is great if you plan to use it for a long time. We plan to use it for feeding once the pediatrician gives us the go ahead to start solids since we have not yet purchased a high chair.

The Baby Snug retails for $59.99 and comes in three colors – Teal, Raspberry, and Apple.

PROS:

• Great design/Stylish
• Well made with a secure wide base (in comparison, the Bumbo may tip over)
• Two stage seat (in comparison, Mia may not be able to use the Bumbo much longer. Chunkier legs may have to cease use of the Bumbo even earlier as they will not fit into the Bumbo.)
• Plastic tray is very secure once it is on

CONS:

• At $59.99, it is a bit pricey for a baby seat (though arguably, you will be using it a lot longer than cheaper seats…)
• The plastic tray was a little annoying to put on
• Even with the insert, the seat may be a little big for smaller babies.

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When you go on a vacation, I believe everyone’s goal is to have the best time ever and yet the planning process is often headache inducing.  Having visited a few cruise ships recently, I am convinced that cruising may be the best vacation option yet.  After visiting the Disney Fantasy, the newest in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, it should be every family’s only option.

I was recently invited to take a very thorough 6-hour family tour of the cruise ship and was absolutely blown away by the Disney Fantasy.  From the moment you step foot onto the ship, you know you’ve been transported somewhere incredibly special.  Exuding first class all the way, and none of the over the top, in your face mouse everywhere scene you would have expected.  There is an understated elegance to even the way the mouse is present.

There is something for every age and every level of engagement.  For kids ages 3 to 10, they have the amazing Oceaneers Club and Oceaneers Lab built with 4 themed spaces like the ever fun Andy’s room from Toy Story where kids can pretend to be a toy or have a turn at the Monster’s Inc.  Laugh Factory.     I know my Ava would be overwhelmed by Pixie Hollow.  Inspired by the series of Tinkerbell movies, this fun interactive space transports children to the magical world inhabited by fairies. A pixie dust tree stands in the corner of the room, with glittering lights twinkling among its leaves, and fun acorn and mushroom stools are sprinkled about for children to sit on. This endearing and tranquil environment is designed for dress-up play, individual craft projects and storytelling sessions.

While the It’s a Small World Nursery, for ages 3 months to 3 years, requires an additional fee, it is a very reasonable $6/hour service charge for the 1^st child and $5/hour for each additional child. It’s a really nice feature to have on a family cruise ship.  The norm being, children under the age of 2 usually staying with their parents, leaving the parent unable to really appreciate the cruising experience.  Open throughout the day, It’s a Small World Nursery invites parents to enjoy more adult-oriented adventures during the cruise while their children are safely cared for by trained Disney counselors.  Parents should provide baby food, formula, milk and bottles as well as include diapers or pull-ups, diaper wipes, extra clothing and a baby blanket or pacifier, if applicable, when dropping off their child.

While these two areas may keep your kids engaged for hours, there are plenty of family-fun activities to be had all around the ship.  I couldn’t help but be impressed by the Aquaduck, the amazing water coaster  and AquaLab, the  1,800-square-foot water play area is designed to delight young Guests and their families.  With unique design details depicting Donald Duck’s nephews  and tons of pop jets, geysers, bubblers and other interactive elements.  Right off the pools with shaded protection from the sun, is the adorable 1500-square-foot Nemo’s Reef for ages 8 and under where parents can watch poolside while sipping a pina colada.

My most favorite experiences had to be going to the Animator’s Palate.  Combining two of my favorite things, eating and design, families are treated to a truly entertaining dining experience.  An experience that’s exclusive to the Disney Fantasy, Sorcerer Mickey leads the fun as black and white explodes into color and “Be Our Guest” reaches new heights. Everybody’s own hand-drawn characters join the colorful production!  I can just picture how excited my kids will be to see their drawings come to life.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the offerings on the Disney Fantasy and we can’t wait to go on our very first cruise, a Disney Cruise! Cause NO ONE does it like Disney.

For more information on the Disney Fantasy, please visit their website at: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/fantasy/ To plan your very own Disney Cruise experience order their free DVD here.

Here’s a video except from the Disney Fantasy Christening which the husband and I got to attend featuring the ever talented Neil Patrick Harris.  I am still pinching myself.

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Going about your normal routine, sometimes a little self absorbed, doing the things you normally do like getting in the car and turning on the radio.  You start a little swagger in your seat with the beat and soon you’re in full swing singing along with the radio.  You listen to the weather update, the traffic update and the sleeze report.  You’re laughing, it’s a good day!  They start playing the phone tap and you’re cracking up.  They work up the Topic train and you’re shaking your head in agreement and laughing!  Until a little voice behind you asks, “What stick does she want to smell Mommy?“  Oh CRAP!

Suddenly I realize, I’m carpooling a bunch of 4 year olds!  Who have no idea what Elvis Duran and the Z100 Morning Show are talking about.  The potty talk is just way over their head and completely inappropriate for the ride to school.  I’m sad.  I’ve been listening to Elvis Duran and the Z100 Morning Show for ages!  But alas, I’ve got to grow up and pray none of these 4 years olds go repeating to their parents any of the potty humor mention during our rides to school.  Yikes!

For my own sanity though, I can’t be singing the Wheels on the Bus or Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes on the way to school.  There has to be a happy medium.  So hello PANDORA!  You may have ads but at least they are short, sweet and clean.  Sorry Elvis, it’s been great, but I have to set an example, you know how it goes.  Turning off the radio and tuning into Pandora.

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After my 2nd night shift in a row, I had trouble sleeping and decided to watch my DVR of the latest Grey’s Anatomy episode entitled One Step Too Far.  It began as every episode does with a monologue, fading into and out of each characters lives.  After about 5 minutes I was gripping my bed sheets as the medical drama this week was an arachnoid cyst, the very same diagnosis that M has.  I was literally flabbergasted that this was their choice of medical portrayal of all things, paralleling my life.  There’s nothing I hate more than when a television show mirrors that of real life because it really messes with you.  Granted this case was an adult, but she had an incredibly promising future ahead of her as M does.  The episode plays out with the bold removal of the tumor by Lexie Grey which results in the patient having dysphasia – difficulty speaking.  The actress who portrayed the patient deserves an Emmy or something because the reaction and horror she was portraying was very real for me.  Just like her, I was screaming inside my head but it wasn’t coming out right.  I almost threw up right then and there.  And of course, sleep was even harder to come by then.

My mind was once again fixed on my little man.  My heart was breaking and my mind completely spacy.  You see I’m kind of at a stand still.  I don’t know what to do.  The neurosurgeon who we were seeing, wants to have MRI’s every 6 months to monitor the growth of the tumor and in between I am simply to doing nothing.  NOTHING!  For a person who is so completely task oriented, this defies every bone in my body to play this waiting game.  This game of will we operate or will we wait.  I am definitely not a gambler.  Ask my husband.  Every time he hits the tables, I have to go for a walk.  I can’t handle the unpredictability.  I’m not a risk taker.  I like to know my cards and play them accordingly.  This time I feel like a gun is being held to my head and I’m being force to play this game.  Is surgery inevitable?  I don’t know.  Will he be operated in 6 months, 1 year? 5 years? 15 years?  I don’t know.

Every time I am asked how M is doing, I say he’s doing good, but really… I just don’t know.  It may sound stupid but I feel this immense pressure to find a solution for everyone who asks as if he just had a cold and can get over it.  Sometimes I want to say, to be honest, I don’t know how he’s doing.  He’s happy, he’s M.  As for his tumor which you’re referring to, it won’t get solved overnight.  I may be his mom, but I don’t have all the answers.  Don’t expect me to answer like I got it taken care of yesterday after I went grocery shopping.  All I know is that I love him more than life itself and he brings me so much joy it hurts to imagine a day without him.  He lights up the world and is such a happy happy baby.  He always has a Hi! and a Bye Bye! for everyone he crosses paths with and when he says Thank you without being prompted everyone smiles and I am brimming with pride because he wasn’t taught this, it simply is M.

As for my husband, I can’t even have this conversation with him at all.  Although he is M’s father, I can’t share the burden of this with him, because I know it’s too much for any parent to handle.  I mentioned the Grey’s Anatomy episode and he said he was “completely freaking out now.”  I’m not just M’s mom, but I’m a medical professional who bears the responsibility of knowing what the right thing to do is and yet I just don’t.  It’s so much easier to answer the question, How are you doing? Not so good.

Here’s your dose of M, playing at the park yesterday on the most gorgeous of spring NYC days, happy as can be.

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If you know me, you know I’m a busy gal.  Between juggling being a mom, a wife, a student, a designer, a nurse, certified lactation counselor and blogger, I’m often asked if I get any sleep at all.  Many days I definitely look like I haven’t gotten any in a long while.  This year I’ve made it a priority to love myself again.  To kick my butt out of that mommy slump and bring back that hot mama that use to be in me somewhere.  Like everything else in my life, it’s a work in progress.

On days I barely have time to sleep, I definitely have less time to take care of me and even 5 minutes extra in the morning can be hard to come by.  How do I make the most of the 5 minutes I set aside for myself you ask?  I’m a multi-tasker of course!

I’m usually at my worst coming off a night shift, barely able to stand and yet sleep is still out of reach with kids to get off to school and chores to square away for the morning.  I usually come through the door and straight up to the bathroom where I shed the night off and jump into a refreshing shower.  I love using my loofah to waken up my skin with a vigorous scrub and I have this divine peppermint bar soap that just perks me up.  Once out of the shower it’s like a timer is counting down.  I quickly lotion my body from head to toe and then brush my teeth.  While blow drying my hair, I’m usually also post-rinsing my teeth with my listerine rinse.

With my hair somewhat dry, I pull it back quickly and mix up Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Serum, with one squirt of liquid foundation and one squirt of tinted moisturizer.  A quick blend with my fingers, I apply it quickly and evenly with a sponge. I’ve combined just enough coverage and waken my skin to feel like myself again.   A little dab of blush and CoverGirl Nature Luxe Gloss Balm and I’m off!

If I know I’ve got to be a little more than presentable, I make time to shave my legs, trim that bikini line with the newly Venus Gillette Bikini Trimmer.  I’ll even throw in Aussie’s 3 minute miracle right before I brush my teeth and rinse for hair that once again has life.  I’ll peel off one Crest 3D White 2-Hour Express Whitestrips treatment and gather my thoughts/ to do’s for the day.

It’s not much but just taking that extra 5 minutes does wonders for the outlook of my day.  I feel much better, refreshed and ready to take on the day… even on no sleep.  Just another day in the life of a mom!

GIVEAWAY: Enter NOW!  Making those 5 minutes a priority can do wonders for yourself and for your day.  P&G wants to help you find those 5 minutes with this amazing P&G Beauty Giveaway.  From now until April 5th 2012 you MUST visit this FORM and leave a comment with your beauty tip.  ONE (1) lucky winner will win this amazing gift set containing:

• Aussie 3 Minute Miracle (Elle Essential)
• Crest 3D White 2-Hour Express Whitestrips (Elle Essential)
• Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof (Real Beauty Gold Star Awards)
• Venus Bikini Trimmer (Marie Claire 25 Products That Will Change Your Life)
• Olay Regernerist Micro Sculpting Serum (Redbook MVP Awards)
• Covergirl Nature Luxe Gloss Balm (Oprah Spring Makeup O-wards)

For an additional (3) entries – 1st Option – If you follow me on twitter @momconfessional and re-tweet this giveaway (I just entered @momconfessional’s #PGBeauty #Giveaway and you should too! http://wp.me/pLvfH-1d8) – 2nd Option – If you “like” us on Facebook and share the giveaway with your friends.  – 3rd option – subscribe to Mom Confessionals.  DON’T FORGET to leave a comment with your beauty tip and leave a separate entry for each action on this FORM. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses and must be 18 years or older. Giveaway ends on April 5th 2012 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.

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Well it’s been just about 3 weeks since we started the Oral Care Challenge and while I am sad to say we are still a work in progress, I think we are on the road to setting some #HealthyHabits for a lifetime.  The most consistently healthy oral care habits have actually been from my own darling Apple.  We have our own chore rewards chart and it has made for quite the incentive combined with the Barbie Toothbrush and Listerine Smart Rinse.  Initially we had to work up to brushing for 2 whole minutes.  Now that we have that down pat, we’re working on the finer details of brushing, like all the sides of your teeth. She still struggles with rinsing for 1 full minute, but I’m giving her some leeway as she’s only 4 years old.  We haven’t gotten to flossing yet, but like I said, work in progress.

My little monster loves to spit, so it’s become a little game of open mouth, brush with his Batman “man!” a little and spit… brush a little and spit, brush a little and spit.  You can imagine this takes a while.  I’m just happy he likes brushing.  He’s quite the ham too.  I usually brush along side him and he loves to copy my one hand on my hip and brushing with the other.  Look how cute he is, standing on his chair, pretending to be a big boy, brushing his own teeth.  He’s very serious about his oral care.

As for the monkey, he loved his Phineas & Ferb toothbrush and Smart Rinse.  Each kid really liked having their own set up – toothbrush, cup, toothpaste and Smart Rinse.  In a couple of weeks the kids will be going to their first dentist appointment and I am trying not to let my own personal anxiety get to them.  I am crossing my fingers that all goes well.  I did thorough research on this dentist and if all the review read right, she’s the bee’s knees!

Not only have we been taking better care of our teeth but ever since the mother-in-law left us to our own devices, we’ve been trying to eat better too.  Want some oranges instead of a lollypop?  How about a fruit pop instead of ice cream?  Sliced apples with pancakes are a hit!

To learn more about building Healthy Habits for a Lifetime please visit Walmart’s information page at: http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedRenderContent_ektid102809.aspx

{ disclosure: I received products and compensation from Johnson & Johnson and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the Oral Care Challenge.  All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. }

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As a parent, we’ve gone through many thermometers over the years.  We’ve bought cheap ones to the very expensive ones, utilized ones that came free with safety kits… and the one that stuck and stood the test of time was our trusty Safety 1st ProGrade No Touch Thermometer.  What do I mean by stood the test of time?  I mean, giving accurate readings, easy to use, non-temperamental thermometer that I could depend on.  At one point I recalled using 3 thermometers, each one to verify the accuracy of the other.  Imagine the chagrin when all 3 gave distinctly different readings which could make the difference between waiting and watching or a trip to the emergency room.  Safety 1st has always been a trusted brand in our house and when we finally invested in our Safety 1st ProGrade No Touch thermometer ($59.99), I no longer needed other thermometers to reassure me of its accuracy and I appreciated that.  While it was definitely an investment, it was worth it.  If I calculated how much I had spent on various thermometers over the years, I am pretty sure I spent way more than $60.

When Safety 1st announced their new Safety 1st ProGrade VersaScan TALKING Thermometer, I couldn’t imagine what changes they could make to make it even better.  One of my favorite features of the No Touch Thermometer was that I didn’t need to wrangle an already agitated toddler and try to stick something in their ear.  This NEW thermometer, although an in-ear thermometer, takes a one-second reading, plus it talks!  It has a human voice read-out option, and the VersaScan can also be used to measure object temperatures, like food and bath water.  Other great options include: Fever Light™ Ring shows red for high temperatures, 30 memory recall for temperature which is great for neurotic moms like myself who don’t take temperatures just once (more like 10 times).   It arrived just as my monkey was feeling a little warm.  A quick 1-second reading and flashing red ring gave me 100.9 and a sad face.  Monkey had a low-grade fever.  I wish the flashing red ring lasted a bit longer, but that’s purely an aesthetic thing.  At $39.99, it’s not breaking the bank for a multi-function thermometer.

The all NEW Safety 1st ProGrade VersaScan TALKING Thermometer is available at Target stores nationwide.

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I have to work tonight.  And as usual I am having trouble sleeping during the day.  Today I am lucky though.  My son is sleeping next to me.  I love the days when I’m sleeping for the night and he’s taking his nap.  Although it irks me that he sleeps way better than I do during this time, I do love to wake up and hear the sweet sound of his breathing snoring.  It’s a rather calming sound, strange I know.  I sit here whispering into those darling little ears, almost begging him… Please don’t leave your momma.  I don’t know what I’d do without you.  Promise me you’ll be here with me forever.  Promise your momma, please. My heart breaking at the thought, with tears streaming down my face.  It’s a private pain.

I want to see his first day of school, to see him play his first baseball game, watch him ride his bicycle for the first time.  I want to see beyond the next few years.  It’s every mom’s wish but not many mom’s have to really worry that they won’t.

The questions still come.  How is he doing? What are you going to do?  I never have an answer more than, day by day.

We don’t know much more about M’s condition and where his course of treatment will take him.  It suffices to say that the medical bureaucracy that is the insurance company is not one easy to understand.  We’re still handling issues while he was in utero and I expect we will be battling these issues for a long time to come.

That is why, all I can do is enjoy moments like this.  While I can’t seem to sleep, I can sit here in the quiet of the afternoon and place kisses all over my sleeping baby and listen to the soothing sounds of his rhythmic breathing snoring….

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