tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80150029380508992542024-02-20T05:48:53.597-05:00My Own Little CornerThis is predominantly what is probably best described as a 'Mommy Blog', but there may be other random musings that you just might find vaguely entertaining...LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-36064377631562073482011-12-17T21:01:00.002-05:002011-12-17T21:04:12.415-05:00Wisdom from an Unexpected Source<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><i>"I have 2 kids, a big dog, a crazy cat, and a parrot, and I still don't feel like I can manage my own life... The beauty (and challenge) of life is that there's always more to learn."</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Sounds good, eh? I like to think so, even if I was the one to post that to a friend's status on Facebook earlier. Now I just need to remember it for myself. Life is beautiful in spite of the challenges because each day is new... an adventure if you will. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">That needs to be my new mantra. It's true. I know that its true, but that doesn't stop me from forgetting it sometimes. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">It goes along with that new resolution to have more patience... a resolution that didn't go as well as I would have liked today. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">But to quote my favorite author, L.M.M., (Yes, I know, <u style="font-style: italic;">again!</u>) "Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" </span></span><br />LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-41959404991078881932011-12-17T14:37:00.000-05:002011-12-17T14:38:40.032-05:00Bravery or Stupidity?The husband and I had some Christmas shopping to finish up, and here are some things we learned today.<br />
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1. Best Buy really isn't all that kid friendly. We noticed that the movie aisles (where we spent most of our time) were surprisingly narrow, making it hard to navigate through without Gideon clearing the movies off of their shelves or Kieradyn thoughtlessly knocking into other shoppers. </div>
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2. Shopping with a newly potty trained child means a lot of false potty alarms. </div>
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3. In addition to these false alarms, Gideon is apparently terrified of public toilets. Hubby says he burst into tears at the sight of it. </div>
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4. More than 10 minutes is too long in an electronics store with two kids along. (We were there for an hour).</div>
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5. There are still nice people in the world. Thank you fellow shoppers who offered us their spot in line because our kids were melting down. </div>
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6. Probably the most important lesson of today was that next year we need to get a babysitter and go shopping without the little bra-- DARLINGS. Without the little darlings! </div>LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-74503664268530095892011-12-14T22:13:00.000-05:002011-12-15T15:10:40.712-05:00More Scope for the Imagination<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for the imagination then, would there?"</b></div>
<b> ~ Lucy Maude Montgomery, <i>Anne of Green Gables</i></b><br />
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It is amazing what kids will come up with when left to it. My kids aren't lacking in the imagination department even if it sometimes drives me a wee bit crazy.<br />
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The husband and I were trying to enjoy some random television show (I don't know why we bother because we both know that this is usually futile before 8pm when both kids are here)when we noticed that Kieradyn had a jump rope looped under her brother's midsection while she had herself haphazardly strapped into their little wooden chair. (This is the same little wooden chair that was mine when I was a youngling.)<br />
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She was calling out for him to "Get on, Reindeer! Ya! Ya!" or some such, and he was successfully dragging her across the room, much to what seemed to be their mutual delight. Shortly thereafter, she strapped Gideon into the chair with a jump rope (I thought it was cute that she was at least <i>trying</i> to be safe) and treated him to the same ride. There was much giggling from both and cries of "Look Mommy!" </div>
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I am none too proud to admit that I almost missed this little moment. Don't get me wrong. I know this isn't anything monumental, but their joy... their inventiveness...! It was almost missed because I nearly shouted a complaint that they were playing too loud. Part of me wanted to put a stop to it because what if they scuffed up the floor? Too often I get caught up in what I like to refer to as "frazzled-mommy-mode" where I just want a bit of peace and quiet... where its easier to say, "Just a minute, Sweetie. Momma's doing something." Ironically, I find myself yelling in a bid to achieve this, but my re-evaluations about that situation are for another blog post, methinks. </div>
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Anyway, I guess it got me thinking back to the things I came up with back in my own childhood. I remember overhearing my gramma on more than one occasion commenting on how I was a bit of an odd duck with all of the little make believe games that I'd drag my sister into. Back then I embraced that uniqueness. I could entertain myself for hours outside with a little pot and leaves which would become stew or a bubbling cauldron filled with a magic potion. Or maybe we'd be superheroes with blankets for capes... </div>
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The possibilities were endless, and I remember feeling so special and invincible... </div>
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When did I lose that feeling? More importantly, how can I keep my kids from losing it? </div>
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Okay, please excuse this unexpected and only slightly related tangent...</div>
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This isn't where I was going on this post, but now I am reminded of a song that I discovered a few months back written and performed by a young lady by the name of Dani Shay that I think I'll link here: </div>
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Yes, she bears a certain resemblance to a particular teenage heartthrob, but please don't let that take away from her amazing song and talent. </div>
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I guess the point of this little blog post is that I want to nurture these moments instead of shutting them down before they really even begin. It isn't New Year's yet, but I resolve to have more patience. I want my kids to have all of the 'Scope for the Imagination' that they need, and I want them to continue to face the world with their heads held high like all kids seem to do naturally until a certain point in their lives when they become more like us all too ho-hum adults. </div>
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I like how they can look at something so commonplace and make it... magical. </div>
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</div>LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-87514661001292191592011-12-11T21:05:00.001-05:002011-12-11T21:30:34.554-05:00My Mother & Anne ShirleyWhen I was a little girl, I can remember my mom reading to me. We did the usual picture books, of course, but pretty early on, she started reading chapter books as well. I think she wanted me to understand the beauty of words. One of the first books that I remember her reading to me was <i>Anne of Green Gables</i>. I also remember having marathon sessions of the mini-series based on the book that was produced by Kevin Sullivan.<br />
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A lot of things from that have stuck with me. My love of red hair, for one. Ever since I've been old enough to do what I want with my hair, there have almost always been at least a few streaks of red in it. Just a random little quirk of mine.<br />
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It was this time with my mom that fostered my love of reading. I often feel bad because my younger sister doesn't have as many of these strong memories.<br />
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Our mom died in August of 1995 in a car accident. I was 11. My sister wasn't yet 5. Our mother was only 28. I read that book, particularly the last chapters after Anne lost the beloved Matthew, a lot those months after my mom passed.<br />
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To this day, when I am feeling particularly low, I pick up one of the Anne books, and not only do I feel like I'm curling up for a chat with an old friend, but I feel closer to my mom too. Maybe it is because I am going to be 28 in just a matter of months, but I want more than ever to forge these types of memories with my own children. I guess that's the reason that Lucy Maud Montgomery's precocious redhead has been so much on my mind of late.<br />
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I'm need to get my hands on copies of the movies, but I have the books already. Tomorrow, Kieradyn and I might try out the first chapter tomorrow. Trying to sort out my thoughts, I was inspired to start a Squidoo Lens... something that I thought might help to introduce my 5 year old to the characters that I hope she will grow to love as much as I do. I thought that others might like to see it too. You can visit it <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/AnneofGreenGablesCharacters" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Feel free to visit my other lenses as well, in case you're curious:<br />
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<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/Medieval-Fantasy-Weddings" target="_blank">Medieval Weddings Lens</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/trumpia-not-your-grammas-way-of-marketing" target="_blank">Mobile Text Marketing</a>LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-69084524043076547542011-12-10T08:43:00.001-05:002011-12-10T14:32:05.492-05:00Potty Training TriumphOn Monday morning I was nearly in tears of frustration because nothing seemed to be working getting Gideon to use the potty. Granted, we'd only been trying consistently for a couple of days previously, but that made it no less discouraging to have him sit on his little blue and green potty for 15 minutes only to have him pee no more than 3 minutes after getting up.<br />
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Ironically, later that same day it just seemed to click for the kid. Since then, this week has consisted of, maybe, 3 accidents... 2 of which being when he was on his Dad's watch while I was at the grocery store or shut away writing a paper for my marketing class. For whatever reason, he doesn't seem to do quite as well for Daddy, or maybe it has more to do with Kieradyn being home, distracting him. He does think his big sister is the best thing since sliced bread, and when she's not at school, he's usually following her into whatever trouble she may lead him.<br />
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I've come to the conclusion that pull ups drastically slowed down his progress. After a day or two of soaking through his pants, he seemed to be much more aware of his body's pottying needs. Honestly, he's been easier to potty train than his sister, even though I've always heard that boys are so much harder.<br />
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Of course, he's been strictly at home this week. Other than venturing out to wait for Kieradyn to get home from school, he's not left the house. So it will be interesting to see how he does when we're out visiting over the holidays. (That <i>is </i>where Pull Ups come in handy, though he has been waking up dry from naps and bedtime the last couple of days as well.)<br />
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I buzzed off his curls on Tuesday too, and I was practically in tears to see him looking and acting like such a big boy. How has my baby become this? (Do excuse the blurriness. The kidlet never stands still, and the Christmas Tree was on its flashing setting.)<br />
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<br />LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-63570945811513140402011-12-08T14:07:00.001-05:002011-12-08T14:20:29.376-05:00My Poor, Neglected Blog!Well, I feel rather sheepish just now. The last time I posted, my son was just an infant, and my little girl was a chatty 3 year old. My daughter's chattiness hasn't changed, but she is a big kindergartner now. My boy-child will be 3 in February, and this week he has been mastering potty training. It amazes me to think back on where I was in 2009 when I first started this thing...<div>
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I don't really have an excuse as to why I've not been posting. Life just got the better of me, I suppose. I find that I am in need of an outlet lately, though, and I stumbled upon this little blog in stowed away in my bookmarks. So I figure that I'll give it another shot. </div>
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That said, look for more from me soon. I doubt there will be anything incredibly profound, but you might find something amusing from time to time. I hope that anyone who takes the time to read this is doing well! I promise to try to do better. </div>LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-21490834872876713532009-05-20T10:38:00.006-04:002009-05-20T11:13:58.058-04:00I Need Your Help!Kieradyn loves being in front of the camera so much that I've decided to submit her photo to the CuteKid Contest this month. Each picture that is submitted for the contest is $19.95, and since I'm not made of money, I want to pick her very best one. We did a little mini-photo shoot yesterday at my grandma's house, just for fun. There are really good ones, but they're all so different! It doesn't help that I'm naturally terrible at making decisions. (Seriously, a run for milk and diapers can take me two hours while I debate over which would be the better deal...)<br /><br />So, I've decided I'd post them here first and use the nifty poll feature blogger provides.<br /><br />Whaddaya think? Are you willing to help me out?<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />The Photos:<br /><br />READY FOR MY CLOSE UP<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/CuteKid%20Possibilities/?action=view&current=DSC02247.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 421px; height: 307px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/CuteKid%20Possibilities/DSC02247.jpg" alt="Ready for My Close Up" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />ATTITUDE<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/CuteKid%20Possibilities/?action=view&current=DSC02299.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 412px; height: 305px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/CuteKid%20Possibilities/DSC02299.jpg" alt="Attitude" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />FINDING DANDELIONS<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/CuteKid%20Possibilities/?action=view&current=DSC02231.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 403px; height: 302px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/CuteKid%20Possibilities/DSC02231.jpg" alt="Finding Dandelions" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />IN THE FRESH CUT GRASS<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/CuteKid%20Possibilities/?action=view&current=DSC02226.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/CuteKid%20Possibilities/DSC02226.jpg" alt="In the Fresh Mown Lawn" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The poll is listed at the top of the column on the right!<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/Family%20Photos%202009/?action=view&current=p11371s1101143_10.jpg" target="_blank"></a><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-12722642397408859602009-05-19T22:15:00.001-04:002009-05-19T22:18:28.257-04:00Parents.comI just entered my girl for Parents Magazine's cover contest. Check out her gallery or enter your own kid!<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/48e3e69fb26623d5/4a1367566dcf83d1/49be70e430fc5047/5da03aae" id="W48e3e69fb26623d54a1367566dcf83d1" width="304" height="254"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/48e3e69fb26623d5/4a1367566dcf83d1/49be70e430fc5047/5da03aae" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /></object><br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-31541651430508390482009-05-14T18:59:00.003-04:002009-05-14T19:42:41.354-04:00I Should Have Listened to My 3 Year Old...Yesterday, I decided that I wanted to go out and do something. My husband was off work, so it somehow became a "Girl's Afternoon" when he suggested that he keep Baby Gideon while I took Kieradyn. Last summer, we discovered this delightful place called Stapp's Circle S Ranch in Greensburg, Indiana, which is about half an hour or so from where we live. This is a place where you can get up close and personal with everything from donkeys and sheep to bears and capuchin monkeys. The place had made a pretty big impression on all of us. (I even volunteered there some last summer and hope to continue that this year.)<br /><br />Ever since, Kieradyn has been asking whether "Lyde the Amel"--which is how she refers to her favorite resident of the ranch, the show stealing Clyde the Camel--when she is particularly excited, is awake yet. Basically, when the weather started getting too cold to go, we told her that the animals all had to go sleep in the big barn until it got nice out again.<br /><br />Without checking the weather, I called over to the ranch to see if they had opened back up yet. "Well, we are so far..." was the tentative (in retrospect) response that I received. It wasn't until I stepped outside that I saw that what had been partly cloudy earlier in the day had transformed into clouds so dark that it was amazing that I wasn't being pelted with rain.<br /><br />I had made a promise, though, and By God, I wasn't going to break it if I could help it. So, Kieradyn and I got into our red chevy venture to try to beat the rain to the ranch.<br /><br />About halfway there, there was a smattering of raindrops on the windshield but not quite enough yet that I had to turn on the windshield wipers. From the backseat, Kieradyn calls up to me, "Mommy, it's gonna rain too much. Take me to Chuck E. Cheese's house." I hadn't notice until that moment how often a trip to the home of that big rat had become 'Plan B'.<br /><br />That realization must have had me a little crazed by this point because I pressed on. "Clyde's waiting on us, Kier-Kier. Its just a little rain." I muttered, trying to peer through the raindrops that were still slowly accumulating. "A little water's not gonna hurt us. Besides, we've got jackets with hoods and everything."<br /><br />"Ohhh..." Came my three year old's voice from behind me.<br /><br />I kept on driving until I reached the ranch, but when I tried to turn in, I found that the driveway was blocked off by the gate. They were closed.<br /><br />Bummed, I tried to explain to my three year old why I'd gotten her hopes up.<br /><br />"I'm so MAD!" I glanced in the rear view mirror long enough to see her furious pouting.<br /><br />"There's always..." Here I grimaced, feeling quite sheepish over the whole ordeal. "Chuck E. Cheese."<br /><br />And I kid you not, it was at that exact moment that the skies finally opened up and the rain started really pouring down. Needless to say, I drove my daughter all the way back to our hometown so that she could play at the kiddie franchise. I mean, what else could I do?<br /><br />I'm just glad that she has yet to learn the phrase, "I told you so"!<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-47669752918386200462009-05-12T09:27:00.003-04:002009-05-12T09:44:21.435-04:00Check It Out!I'm going to take a moment to shamelessly plug my second blog. You can find it here:<br /><a href="http://muchadomoretosay.blogspot.com/"><br />Much Ado, More to Say</a><br /><br />It is a humble start, but I'm proud of it. I hope you like it and will be kind enough to follow it as you have with this little blog of mine. I'll be glad to return the favor for any friends you send my way too.<br /><br />I'm hoping to have a third blog eventually, inspired by the lovely SquirrelQueen and her writings. (If you haven't already, you should <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> check out her blogs!) I've got some old short stories that I would love to dig up and edit to share with folks too.<br /><br />I hope this finds everyone doing well. I appreciate you taking the time to read this and (hopefully) my new blog as well.<br /><br />Let me know what you think, My Dearies. I absolutely LOVE feedback.LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-17297779019744738572009-05-10T09:04:00.005-04:002009-05-10T09:14:55.800-04:00From One Mother to Another...I just wanted to take a minute to say: <br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/?action=view¤t=MOMDAYBan67.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/LoneMeadowLark/MOMDAYBan67.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I hope that all of you have a wonderful day surrounded by those you love and those who love you in return.LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-87184938127008880352009-05-09T17:17:00.005-04:002009-05-09T17:41:35.787-04:00Early Mother's Day GiftMy sister called me up the other night. Now, with her being eighteen with a boyfriend, a job, and an impending high school graduation, she is usually too busy to spare time for her big sister these days. So, it is pretty rare that she calls me just out of the blue. I get a little bummed about it, but I'm glad that she seems to be happy. (You should see the boyfriend in question. The guy has dimples that would make any girl melt!)<br /><br />Anyway, so she called the other night, telling me right off, "You are going to celebrate Mother's Day on Saturday. Mamaw (We were more or less raised by our grandparents, God bless them.) and I are going to each take one of the kids so that you can go out and do whatever you want for a few hours."<br /><br />As you can imagine, with a very active three year old and a new baby, the hubby and I haven't gotten much time to do anything together but eat and sleep. So, this was a very endearing offer. In fact, I went to sleep last night all sorts of excited. <br /><br />I woke up this morning just as excited as Kieradyn was. (She loves her Aunt Mindy, who doesn't mind spoiling her rotten with taking her places and buying her cute clothes.)I got the kids ready and pulled out the make up that has barely seen the light of day since Gideon came home. (All this despite my husband's chuckling. "We're going to a movie. It's going to be DARK..." Men.) <br /><br />All in all, it was pretty nice. We saw the new Star Trek movie, which I would recommend to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. I'm not a die hard Star Trek fan or anything, but I genuinely enjoyed it. Then, when we went to pick up the kids, we were regaled with tales of what they'd done.<br /><br />Kieradyn had a busy day of swimsuit and purse shopping, followed up by a visit to the KidsCommons-- home of the giant toilet slide once featured by Jay Leno. ( http://www.kidscommons.org )<br /><br />It was a nice break from what's become our usual routine. In case I don't get around to posting tomorrow, I hope that all of you other moms have a great Mother's Day!<br /><br />P.S. Baby Gideon rolled over for the first time today. Now he won't stop! He gets a huge grin whenever we make a big deal out of it and cheer him on.LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-43011750474433481982009-05-08T20:02:00.002-04:002009-05-08T20:19:38.398-04:00Kieradyn-ismsI was sitting down last night with my husband, reflecting on some of the cute things Kieradyn has come up with since learning to talk. <br /><br />One of our favorites occurred last summer when we traveled from Indiana to Iowa for my brother-in-law's wedding. When first crossing the Mississippi, my husband tried to get her to say the name of The Big River to little success. A little while later, when she caught sight of it again, the then two year old looked at me quite earnestly. "Mommy, Daddy says that's for-my-sippy (cup)."<br /><br />Often, I find myself wondering why we ever taught the girl to talk--especially since she's started into the talking back phase! Little moments like that, though, make it all worthwhile.LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-83145712399524366652009-05-08T12:43:00.002-04:002009-05-08T12:46:05.715-04:00Oops!I just was taking a glance over what I wrote yesterday and realized that, for some reason, the link for Sleeping Baby Productions wasn't there. (I hate being a newbie and having to stretch my already weak Html skills...) <br /><br />Anyway, here goes another try: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.sleepingbaby.net">http://www.sleepingbaby.net</a>LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-47394759038140643192009-05-07T07:49:00.003-04:002009-05-12T10:01:46.691-04:00Sleeping Baby ProductionsI just wanted to take a minute to write about a product that I ordered recently online. Sleeping Baby Productions provides slings for "baby wearing". They are made by Jan, a stay-at-home mother, who has been using them herself since her first child was born 9 years ago. The site is awesome, containing resources for helping you get comfortable with wearing a baby sling in addition to the products. If it is possible to feel "at home" browsing a website, that is the way I feel about visiting SBP. Not only does Jan make the slings to sell, but she has a pattern of her slings posted on the site so that, technically, you can just make your own. (Please read what she has to say about this carefully though.)<br /><br />Of course, you'd be pretty hard pressed to find better prices. You can spend as little as $22 or you can get one of the fancy dupioni silk ones for $80. There are slings at every price in between too. Plus, Jan does custom orders.<br /><br />I was fairly strapped for cash, but I ordered one of her basic $25 slings for myself and one for my friend, Jessica, who is expecting her first baby in June.<br /><br />I've worn slings before with my daughter, Kieradyn, but Jan has perfected a pleated shoulder that makes the sling more versatile than most and very comfortable. (I'm left handed and have had trouble with slings being fashioned with the typical right handed person in mind.)The fabric spreads across the shoulder and back, and I have always loved how ring slings are highly adjustable, which makes it more comfortable for mom and baby. The long tail makes a great covering for breast-feeding mom's too.<br /><br />If you are unfamiliar with ring slings, don't worry. Jan does an excellent job of introducing you to slings and baby wearing. From the construction of a sling to all of the different ways to "wear your baby", she's got ya well covered.<br /><br />Plus, there are some great accessories. I hope to order my daughter a little sling for her dolls soon, and I'll probably get one of the snap on pouches to carry things like my car keys and phone while I'm out and about with the kids.<br /><br />So, if anyone who is interested happens to stumble across my humble blog, I hope you'll check out Sleeping Baby Productions here: <a href="http://www.sleepingbaby.net/"></a> There's even free shipping through the month of May!<br /><br />((Note: I have not been solicited to do this. I mean, what would be the point? I don't even have a single follower for my blog at this point. I just really enjoy the product.))<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-8623413065889302242009-05-06T15:16:00.000-04:002009-05-06T15:30:35.263-04:00UpdatingOkay. I started this thing with the best of intentions, but I fell behind. Life caught up with me in a big way and gave me a swift kick in the butt. The good news is that my son, Gideon, was born on February 17, 2009. The bad news is that he has been in the hospital for everything from dehydration (my body wasn't producing enough milk for him) to RSV. (The doctor thinks he probably caught it during his hospital stay for the dehydration.)<br /><br />Throw in a birthday party for the big sister and a more recent visit to the ER because that same big sister decided to unbuckle Baby from the swing and pull it back to give him a big PUSH and you've got a very frazzled Mommy. <br /><br />I tell ya... This stay-at-home thing isn't half so easy as it sounded!<br /><br />Still, I really do like it. The good times (almost always) make up for the super crazy ones, and being there for the milestones in both of their lives makes me feel like I'm doing something right.<br /><br />And that's a choice I can live with.LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015002938050899254.post-88436197060193743402009-01-21T18:43:00.000-05:002009-05-06T15:05:26.450-04:00Getting Started...I've decided to start a blog. I don't know what sort of things will wind up here. That is, I imagine it will be pretty random... affected a lot by my moods. Tonight, I'm thinking about how awesome it would be to have a maid. My house, as usual, is a wreck. Between my husband, a not-yet-three-year-old, and a doberman pinscher, I am finding it absolutely impossible to keep up.<br /><br />Oh, and have I mentioned that I'm pregnant? Baby Gideon is due February 24. So, yeah... A maid sounds really good about now.<br /><br />Does anyone else feel like no matter how often they clean, it looks like a tornado has gone through their living space by the time they get home from even the briefest of shopping trips? It is doing nothing for my already fragile sanity...LoneMeadowLarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754081798011301360noreply@blogger.com1