mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

Wordless Wednesday: A kid and some dice.

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A kid & some dice. from Candy Tai on Vimeo.

Jacob was playing a counting game with dice. When I looked over and saw this, I made him do it again just so I could capture it!

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This kid.

Oh, how I love him so . . .

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My sweet Jacob will be 27 months on Thursday and I feel like his toddler-hood is just slipping away from me oh too quickly.  Our Christmas was fabulous and it was especially joyous to see the magic of the holiday through his beautiful eyes.  He is at such a great age right now and I just want to hold onto it so tightly!!

Captial One, are you watching this?

 Why yes, Jimmy Fallon, he DOES want 50% more cash!

 

 

Motorola Xoom Movie Studio is da' bomb!

I have been using my Motorola Xoom's video feature almost daily.  Seriously.  It's THAT good and THAT easy to incorporate into my everyday routine of running around with my kids to their daily activties.

I've been able to capture video of their football games, their violin lessons, and other random cuteness.  Like this:

It was totally filmed and edited ON the Motorola Xoom tablet itself using the Movie Studio software it comes with.  I LOVE this software!  It is SO easy to use and you can add audio, edit clips, add text overlays and transitions, and more!

So what's your favorite way to capture videos of your everyday moments?

{Disclosure: I am part of the Verizon Wireless #MidwestMoms project and am being compensated for this series of posts, however, the opinions expressed herein are those of my own. No one's the boss of me!}

 

 

DIY: Camo bandana 2nd birthday t-shirt

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Today my baby Jacob is TWO!  Seriously?  Nu-uh?  Really?  Yep, he sure is.  Sigh.  Where's my little baby gone?  Even my older two kids are a bit disturbed that he's growing up so fast.  Last night as I was putting them to bed, they both started crying because they were suddenly realizing that Jacob's growing up before their very eyes.  Serioulsy, it was a weird experience for me to have been consoling them for something that they're guilty of doing themselves! 

They went on and on about how "cute he is" right now and how they "don't want him to get bigger because he's so cute right now."   They were crying their little eyes out and I had to remind them that that's exactly how I felt about them growing up, too.

Ok, but that's a whole other blog post.

I'd had this idea a while back, of taking an old bandana and using it to cut out a number (in this case "2") that I would then sew onto a plain t-shirt.  The problem is that I didn't have an old bandana.  Well, I do, but not one that I wanted to use for the t-shirt that ultimately Jacob would wear on his birthday. 

So, I took my craft store coupons and went to work.  I took this:

and made it into this:

And I am SO not a crafter or a seamstress so for me, this project was HUGE!

I simply took the camo bandana and sketched out the number "2" with chalk.  Yeah, I ended up messing up a few times but the chalk came off pretty easily with a damp washcloth and I was able to start over until I got just the look I wanted.

Then I cut it out, stitched it up with needle and thread, and voila!  It came out just perfect for that special someone:

I'm pretty stoked about this project because it came out so dern cute, yet was a steal to make!

$.35 - embroidery floss (you could just as easily use thread)

$.1.29 (after 40% off Michael's coupon) - packages of 8 embroidery needles (I needed these but if you use regular thread, a regular sewing needle is sufficient)

$1.79 - camo bandana

$1.97 - plain black toddler tee (after 40% off Hobby Lobby coupon)

Total including tax:  $5.87 = not too shabby!

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Wordless Wednesday: Diaper changes

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Suffice it to say, I was more than elated that my camera was nearby when I looked up from checking email and found this:

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Wordless Wednesday {sorta}: Girly toys

With 3 boys in the house, we NEVER have toys like this:

But, thanks to one of my dear friends Jacob received this cute little babydoll-sized stroller after going over for a playdate.  Apparently he never left the thing alone so the little girls he was playing with decided to just give it to him!  I think they owned like half a dozen anyway so to their mom it was a win/win. 

Let me tell ya', Jacob has NOT. LEFT. IT. ALONE. SINCE.  He loves toting around the Strawberry Shortcake doll (about the only darn doll in this entire house -- unless you count the Little Bo Peep figurine from our Toy Story collection) and any other random obejcts like cars, green soldiers, and the like . 

I must say, though, it's nice to just be able to push the stroller out of the way when straightening up the house.  It isn't that easy to clear a room full of Legos!

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Wiggle Baby

After 3 boys you'd think I'd have diaper changing down to a science. Yeah, not so much. Look at this face:

Don't let his good looks and charm fool you. When it comes to fighting against having his diaper changed, this kid can hold his own. In fact, all 3 of mine have been able to do that. But Jacob has just recently hit the age where he is really starting to fight us when he just doesn't feel like changing his "boof", which is what he refers to as his poop, pee, etc. I know, TMI.

We have our normal routine -- hubby gives him a shower or bath each night and then hands him off to me so I can slip him into a fresh diaper and his pajamas for the night. But Jacob has a different plan. I usually lay him on our bed and finish drying him off then reach for the diaper. And that's when he does it.

He'll start to giggle really loud then get on all fours (bare-butt naked, mind you) and crawl over to my spot on the bed, pull back the comforter and slip underneath. All while laughing and giggling because he knows I'm trying to finish up getting him ready for bed! Frustrating, I tell you!

But, I love that he is comfortable with his body, I guess. Maybe he'll grow up and live in a nudist colony when he's an adult -- who knows??! What I do know is that it takes the help of my oldest son, Nathan, for me to finally be able to get Jacob's diaper on.

I usually have to end up grabbing him from under the covers then plop him down (again) on the bed and call for Nathan to come over and hold him down. Of course, Jacob's laughing his evil baby laugh all the while, just daring me to actually change the diaper. It's part funny. And part frustrating.

Eventually I get it done but I am usually in a sweat by that point after all the work for one measley diaper change! If I say something to try and distract him from wiggling so much, that usually works. Like I'll say "oooh, listen, do you hear that??". And even if there is nothing to listen for, it gets him to at least stop for a split second. Which, by the way, is just enough time for me to pull those tabs on the sides of his diapers and finish the job!

I think my husband and I have always referred to our babies at this stage as "Wiggle baby" because of when my oldest was into the Wiggles on TV. The name fits perfectly.

So, I can't wait for these:

Huggies is introducing their new Slip-On Diapers, which I - for one - cannot wait to try out on Jacob!  They will make diaper changing so much easier and prevent our little babes from scooting and squirming to avoid it all!

So what about you? Do you struggle to get baby to be still enough for diaper changes? How do you deal? I'd love your thoughts and comments!

{Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Huggies blogging program, for a gift card worth $35. For more information on how you can participate, click here.}

Jacob in July

My baby is growing up lightning fast.  I know ya'll can relate to this - well, those of you with little ones of your own.  I thought I'd show you a glimpse of him right now since it's been a while since I've done that.

I must admit that I am dreading back-to-school because I absolutely ADORE having summers with my kids -- the hot weather, the "no-schedule" schedule, grilling outdoors, swimming, and almost-daily outings -- all of it!   But the one thing I have started to get excited about is that it will give Jacob and I some very much needed one-on-one time together for the first time in his life!  It will be much like having an only child, I suspect.

I'm not fooled, though.  I know it won't all be cupcakes and milkshakes.  The fact that I'll have the alone time with him means that no longer can I look to the big brothers to entertain him.   I remember what that was like from when Nathan was the only child.  He would follow me around the house, from laundry room to upstairs to back down and all over the place!  But we all know time freakin' flies and it just DOES. NOT. LAST. THAT. LONG.!!

So here's my sweet Jacob in July:

Here's where I found him after dinner.  Sneaking Tostito's.

Busted!

So then he went to get his flip-flops on.

He SO LOVES to just be outside!

Pointing out the soccer ball he sees out in the backyard!

And then I was lucky enough to capture this!

The hair

It's one of his best assets.  And who could argue, really?  I love waking up to this happy little guy each morning!  I've given him a couple of haircuts in the past few months but just can't let myself chop his hair off!  I just LOOOOVE it!

Totally makes my day!