Is it already February?

I am flabbergasted that it is almost my husband's birthday at the end of February.  Wasn't it just the holiday season yesterday?  I feel like I should still be shopping for Christmas and Hanukah presents when in actuality we will probably be seeing St. Patrick's Day decor in Walmart by tomorrow!

This time warp is extra fascinating this year because that means I have been true to my New Year's Resolutions for well over a month...I am impressed.  First, I had way too many resolutions for 2015 for no apparent reason other than the fact that I guess I needed to add more things to my "to do" lists? Well for whatever reason I made a bunch of resolutions and I have been very good about adhering to my personal improvement agenda.

1.  Get my girl ready for school in a calm and positive manner.  This one was numero uno on my list.  I was literally hating myself and the morning in my house.  Granted, I was still up all night with insomniac baby, but that is no excuse.  It is not my pre-schooler's fault that I am tired and cranky.  I was getting so impatient trying to get a slow moving four year old ready and the guilt was making me miserable.  That is not the mom I had set out to be so I changed it.  And simply put, I made a rule: "There is no yelling allowed."  Sounds silly and simple but I am a rule follower so this simple strategic motto is actually working for me.  I am just "not allowed" to raise my voice.  Instead I remember that really the worst thing that could possibly happen is that we will be late and miraculously that has not yet happened.

2.  Use heavier weights when I go to Jazzercise of Clinton for my workouts.  I have been exercising for fifteen years with the same 5lb weights.  Me, the self proclaimed fitness guru, the girl who knows something about every type of workout on the market, the lady who exercises on vacation...How have I let myself get away with this?  The golden rule of the exercise plateau,..change your routine.  So anyway, yeh I went up to an amazing 6 lbs lol :)

3.  Get dressed and put on some make up everyday.  OK, so I have slacked a little here, but I have improved and that is the point.  Not that I was wearing my pajamas everyday in 2014, but being a stay at home mom does lead to some degree of jean phobia.  I wore my sweatpants more than I like to admit. Every now and then we all deserve to lay around in jammies all day with a good book and a cozy blanket, but I do believe that you feel how you dress.  When I put "real" clothes on and take a few extra minutes to apply blush and mascara I feel different.  I tend to accomplish more and I feel better about myself.  This resolution was not a self centered appearances are everything kind of improvement.  It was more that I deserve to take the time to feel good.  I spend the rest of the day doing everything for my family, the extra time to take care of myself is a great way to begin the process of caring for others.

4.  Last to be listed but probably the most important; communicate better with my husband.  Ah, the foundation of a good marriage: talk to each other.  Sounds so easy.  Then  comes the long work week, the endless cycle of caring for children, busy weekends, tired weeknights, and much less time to spend with your beloved.  It is quite ironic that when you first start dating, there is less to talk about and so much more time to talk.  Once you become a family there are constantly issues that need to be discussed and finding the time to communicate with one another almost becomes a chore.  So sad.  But if you believe in something enough, you make sure it happens.  No excuses.  I love talking to my husband anyway, he is a great listener.  Being too tired is a terrible excuse, if I have something to say, it must be said.  Would I rather wake up 20 years from now and realize that we are suddenly complete strangers with no kids around as a buffer?  Definitely not.  So, I will not wait until the one night every few months we are lucky enough to have a date night.  That is not enough.  Say something to my husband every single day, so far, mission accomplished.

I don't want to get too ahead of myself.  It is only the second week of February.  But I am off to a great start .  But if you catch me at Shop rite with my sweats on, well hey, they are comfy!

Fabulously Mismatched

I was sitting in my rocking chair in the left back corner of my bedroom.  While I was nursing my infant, I was also watching my four year old get dressed.  She was sitting in the chair at my desk, a piece of furniture that belonged to my husband when he was a teenager.  The desk is in the front right corner of the room, and it acts like a vanity.  I have a mirror, make-up, and hair products at the desk; it's where I get ready.  My daughter was wearing sea green leggings, a black dress with little pink hearts all over it, and a pink baby doll sweater.  She had white socks pulled all the way up, and her shiny black dress shoes on her feet.  If you didn't guess from my clothing description, she dressed herself.

I was watching my young daughter brush her hair with my brush while looking at herself in my mirror.  She was very pleased.  As she brushed through her hair, she kept asking me if she was, "doing it," meaning, "was she getting all the knots out?"  The true answer to that question would have been "no."  She only brushes the hairs in front where she is coordinated enough to reach.  She lacks the motor skills needed to brush the hair in back of her head.  I lied to her.  I told her she was successful.  I didn't feel like I was not telling her the truth though.

She successfully got herself ready for the day all on her own and she liked the way she looked.  It was obvious by the way she twirled herself around in front of my full length mirror later.  My daughter was very proud of herself and as her mom I was proud too.

I am sure there are some parents who would have had their child change their clothes before they left the house, making sure the outfit matched.  Maybe they would have also brushed her hair to ensure that it was nice and neat.  Not me.  We left just as she was.  The moment was too special to ruin with worries of what other people might think.  Not to mention, I would have been interfering with her growing up right in from of me.  I might have risked stealing some of her confidence,  some of her independence, and her pride.  I didn't have the heart to take those things away from her.  She was amazing and I didn't want to interrupt.  So when you see us out and about, my four year old might not match.  Her outfit might be quite silly.  We have even gone to the grocery store in dress up clothes.  But she is on her way to becoming a very confident, independent, and proud woman.  What more could I really ask for?

Sleep Deprivation: My Own Realizations

Really, really, my baby does not like to sleep.  She is six and a half months old, and on a typical night she wakes up about five times.  I cannot let her "cry it out" because I feel bad, but also because of the fact that my older daughter is in the same room; she gets woken up after two minutes of baby screams.  Rubbing her back, shaking her booty, and gently stroking her nose and forehead do nothing for my little one, believe me I have tried that and more.  I have no idea how to get my infant to sleep through the night; I am pretty sure she just hates sleep.  I am the one who wakes up with her most of the time, and I am beyond tired.  At this point there are no words to describe the amount I crave uninterrupted shut-eye.

But, there is a silver lining here, and that is why I am writing this blog tonight.  I have come to many realizations over the past few weeks that I need to share.  They are remarkable.

1.  Sleep deprivation directly effects brain cell function.  The other night I was driving home with the two girls in the back seat.  It was raining; I am not the biggest fan of driving while precipitating.  For some ridiculous reason I thought that if I put my sunglasses on I would be able to see better.  After fitting my face with my glasses, I started to look at the road and wonder why it was SO dark.  Did they forget to turn on the streetlights?  Is there a power outage?  Is this some new money saving idea from the department of transportation?  Ah, and then, after about three miles, I realize....I AM WEARING MY SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT!

2.  Lack of sleep causes hallucinations.  In the middle of the night a few days back, my husband got out of bed to use the bathroom. When my 5'11" husband was at the doorway to our bedroom I looked over at him and he looked like a giant.  Seriously, like a giant from a sci-fi movie.  At that moment, I thought (no joke) that no one will ever mess with me, my husband is a freakin' giant!

3.  When your body is not getting the proper rest, it goes numb and resembles a sort of gumby like character.  I notice this when I go to my Jazzercise of Clinton class to get my workout.  Sometimes I am nervous attending my fitness class because I think, how will I be coordinated enough to follow the instructor when I can hardly focus on making breakfast?  Turns out though, my body actually turns to a sort of clay like device.  Somehow, I am more flexible when I do not sleep...go figure!

4.  I am ALWAYS hungry because I am ALWAYS awake.  I get to eat all the time since I am never lying down and in effect calories are burning....total bonus to a foodie :)

5.  The very best way to stay awake during periods of sleepiness is to pretend you are sleeping in front of your young children.  My almost four year old HATES to see me relax in any way, shape, or form.  Never mind the fact that she LOVES fantasy play; that game is simply not fun when the fantasy involves me pretending to sleep.

6.  The very worst thing you can do during episodes of sleep deprivation is get one full night of sleep. This will only cause further exhaustion.  Do not attempt.  Rather than being thankful for the one night of uninterrupted sleep, your body will totally hate you for the cruel joke you played.  Everyone knows you will not get a second night directly following the first night of sleep.  Do not confuse your body.  It has to be one or the other...you either sleep every night or never.

The Clean House Conundrum

So I have a child who does not like to play independently.  My almost four year old is not the type to go off into a room and play with a toy by herself.  She likes company, and if you ask her why she does not like to play alone, she will tell you that she does not like to be lonely.  How can I argue with that? There are personalities in this world that are more social, and enjoy the presence of others.

In truth I should feel good that my child wants to play with me, she likes me!  Yay, I am doing something right!  Not to mention the fact that this too is just a stage that will come to an end, and won't I feel like an ass if I let this phase pass by and then it is too late?  She will not want to play "Princess" with me forever.

As much as I love playing with my daughter, the reality of the situation is that we do own a house that requires some attention.  Cooking, cleaning, laundry, organizing...blah, blah, blah.  So after much deliberation I have come up with some ideas on how to solve this dilemma.  Main idea here is that I do not want to hurt my daughter's feelings, I hate saying, "No, I do not want to play with you."  I feel like that is offending.

Here is my list, ways I get things done without using the words, "No, I do not want to play with you:"

1.  I pretend I am "Cinderella of the Castle" and the evils make me do all of these chores all by myself :(  My daughter then saves the day by helping me do the work.  We pretend to be princesses who need to finish their work before they can play.  Worked every time so far!

 *This scenario can be changed to fit the like of your own child.  You can be superheroes that have to save the land from the mess monsters, or house doctors who have to make the sick house feel better.*

2.  I compromise.  I tell her I can play for some amount of time, then I need that same amount of time to do "Mommy Work."  This is a great way to teach the balance of relationships, you are after all how your children learn to create their own accords.

3.  I do housework during her quiet time.  This can be challenging if you have more than one at home, you have to bank on them both being quiet at the same time...YIKES!

4.  My daughter has a chore chart.  This in detail is a new blog post on its own, but in short, she has to do two chores a day and gets paid for her work.  I conveniently make her chores convenient for me :)

5.  We make dinner together, she loves helping in the kitchen.  There are so many kitchen tasks for little hands, and she is learning so much.  And of course, the quality time is invaluable <3

I am not claiming to have this whole clean house, totally organized thing down to a science.  There are plenty of times when I should have mopped the floor yesterday.  We also have eggs for dinner a lot.  However, I can say that most of the time we have things (slightly) under control :) 

Every Day Heroes

There are people we think of when the word "hero" is mentioned.  Police officers, firefighters, soldiers, and people who sacrifice themselves for a greater good are the images that typically come to mind.  Of course I agree, how could you not.  These individuals risk their own lives to save, improve, and protect others.  They should be honored and respected for all they do.

Today, as I did the typical duties of a stay at home mom, I was a bit enlightened.  Walking into my exercise class I saw the faces of women who live and work in my area.  They do not run in to burning buildings or capture hardened criminals, but they do care for, shape, and guide the lives of others.  Today I thought, women really are everyday heroes, albeit, different from the above mentioned figures, but the everyday things I see women do is absolutely inspiring.

There are women who regularly attend my exercise class with serious injuries, just recovering from surgery.  There are moms who recently sent their first child away to school and miss them intensely.  Moms who spend their days caring for their home and children, then spend the night working while their family sleeps safely at home.  I meet women who are pregnant with second and third babies running around the playground with their kids.  I know moms who spend their only free minutes volunteering their time to help less fortunate people in the community.

Besides the unrepresentative number of amazing tasks I mentioned, we do these while lacking months of sleep.  Women work that hard to care for their families regardless of what might be happening in the rest of their lives.  We are women with very personal stories who put it all aside to create, help, and enrich the lives of others.

We easily adjust ourselves as needed to fit the current role of the day, from business professional to house cleaner to nurse to chef.  We become teachers when our kids come home from school with homework, then wives when our husbands come home from work.

There are times I think I am jealous of my husband, sometimes being a man seems so much easier.  If they need to make a doctor appointment or get a haircut, they just go on the way home from work.  Being a man allows you to be just a professional when you are at work and then a husband and father when you get home.

I thought I wanted to be a man, so I can put on nice clothes every morning and head out the door, coffee in hand and just one job to think of.  They get to shower alone everyday, and listen to whatever radio station they want to listen to in their cars.  So many perks of manhood, how could you not be jealous?

But after my realization today I no longer want to be jealous of these small manly bonuses.  I am proud to be a part of the hero gender.  The gender that wholeheartedly cares for their families and takes on the roles of many to get the job done.  I love being a part of the feminine gender so that I can easily transform from a responsible mom in to a giggling best friend.  I am so proud of women and everything they do every day to make life special.  Women are my every day heroes.

Stop Hating

This Is Me

I already know I annoy some people, I must.  I am back to my pre-baby weight five months after giving birth, I find the time to exercise everyday, and my kids are always well groomed.  I also spontaneously decided to take a writing course at Duke University requiring about ten hours of school work a week.  During pre-school orientation I volunteered myself to be the class mom and was super excited to do so.   Besides all of that, I blog,  and care for my house in a meticulous manner. To top it off, I always have a smile on my face. I am not bragging, I am acknowledging the reasons why you hate me.  I am THAT mom; the one who turns her kids food into smiley faces and remembers to label all of their school belongings.

I just want you to know, I do not do these things to irk you.  When I smile at you, I am not judging you.  I am just nice (I know, now you want to hate me even more).  I do what I do because I am a doer.  I like to have a lot of things on my plate at once because I enjoy being busy.

  What you do not realize about me is that sometimes I am jealous of you.  Your ability to relax is actually a skill I am working on gaining.  I am sure that sounds ridiculous and quite frankly I know that is hard to believe but,  I am the person who sits on her hands just to stop fidgeting.

 So, here is the point of my posting.  Rather than judge each other, maybe we can all learn from one another.  Perhaps I can teach you how to accomplish more tasks while you help me calm the F down.  In fact, the  more involved I become with my children's social life the more moms I meet that I want to learn things from.  We should all stop judging and instead make an effort to help each other and learn from each other :)

What I Have Learned As An Adult

My older daughter started preschool today with the excitement of a young and eager learner.  I listened to her new teacher as she told us about show and tell, the letter of the week, and the many projects that young children use to explore the world. Even the teachers had the first day disposition of excited preschoolers as they shared their expectations of our young ones.

Driving home from the school this afternoon, I had that natural high that follows a wonderfully eventful morning.  I am ready to admire all of my child's art work and letter tracing and share my love of learning with her as we begin our school year.

My daughter is very young, turning four in the beginning of November.  She has two decades of schooling ahead of her.  With the start of her academic life, I thought it only proper to share with you the things I have learned recently, in my adult life:

• The perfect hard boiled egg is simmered gently for 11 minutes.

• Exercise is very important, but sometimes lunch with your bestie is more important.

• Do something for yourself every day.

• You are NEVER too old to climb around on playground equipment with your kids.

• No matter how many "new mom" articles I read about ignoring the laundry, I know that cannot happen.

• Toxic relationships are just that, TOXIC.  

• Children exhibit very frightening symptoms when they have the every day virus.

• You will not treasure every single moment of parenthood.

• You can learn as much from a child as you can learn from an adult.

It happened to Us

We are now a family of four, and the inevitable finally happened to us:

My older daughter got sick.  She had a nasty virus for over a week.  She could not sleep which means Mommy and Daddy could not sleep.

At the tail end of my daughter being sick, it was transferred to me, the Mom.  My daughter is still coughing all night, so we do not sleep.

My daughter is better, and so is Mom, but now the baby has something and she could not sleep.  Mom does not sleep.

We are on the third week of being awake ALL the time at my house.  By week two I came up with some ways to get through the days:

1.  Pretend that you actually slept very well.  This mind over matter trick works wonders until about 3pm!

2.  Enjoy the spaced out feeling - it is like you are back in college, it makes you feel young-YAY!

3.  COFFEE

4.  Loud music, very loud music.

5.  Partake in the ice bucket challenge.

6.  Tell your kids you really want to watch that show with them again, then fall asleep watching it.

How to Be Happier

So, it has been a very long time since I last posted on "This Is Me."  About a year ago was the last time I wrote an article for my blog, and I cannot believe how much that amount of time can literally change one's life.  I have a four month old baby for one and have now transitioned into the multiple children family status.  I also learned a lot about myself, my life, and my views of the world.  There were so many topics I could have written about upon my return to the blogging world, but this is what I chose:  How to Be Happy!

My degree is in Psychology, and I love the study of human behavior; however, I always had one complaint about this particular area of social sciences:  Most of the focus is on what is wrong with individuals and all the disorders that affect people.  There is so much more to our lives than what we need to fix about ourselves, and we should think about being happy as we are and with what we have.

This past year I took a hiatus from my blog and went through some life changing events.  Emotionally, all of these experiences were different, some good and some bad.  There are some very tragic parts of my life that never seem to completely resolve, and I am constantly needing to figure out ways to deal based on my current situation.  However, I am a very happy and positive person.  My life is well balanced, and I enjoy myself every day.  I often wonder, what is it about me that allows for happiness as a general and abundant feeling throughout my adult life?  If I were a drug addict or an alcoholic, I could very well use my circumstances as an excuse, and I am certain everyone would forgive my actions based on causation.

My own personal experiences led me to believe that happiness is mostly choice.  I do understand and know that tragic circumstances cause stress and unhappy feelings, we are human beings with an array of emotions.  I am describing a general feeling of happiness as an overall affect.

So, this blog is to everyone reading who wonders how to be happier.

1.  Have an emotional outlet ready and available somewhere in your home.
I have a jigsaw puzzle set out on a card table in the corner of my dining room.  Whenever the stresses are high, rather than immediately react, I zone out for one minute and concentrate on my puzzle.  When that minute is over, I return to the situation.  By then I am calmer, the situation is calmer, and everything seems less intense.  Whatever you choose as the outlet, whether it be a magazine, puzzle, or calming music; leave it somewhere in sight and easily accessible.
2.  Do some sort of physical activity every day.  
I know that you have read this a million times in every article, but I live by it.  Whatever it is that you enjoy physically, set aside time each day to do it.  Walking, dancing, gardening, kickboxing, yoga, tennis, and so on are vital to mood stability, overall health, and for personal pleasure and feelings of accomplishment.
3.  Eat a balanced diet.
Yes, again, I know you know.  But I cannot stress how much different it feels to eat a well balanced diet full of nutritious foods over a meal plan consisting of fast foods, processed foods, or omitting food groups.
4.  Make time to do what you love.
Our day to day lives get super busy, and it is difficult to find time to do what you need to do let alone partake in pleasurable activities.  Yet, you only live once.  When else do you plan on reading a good book, playing a game with your friend, or enjoying a good bottle of wine?  Make time at least once a week to do something just for fun.
5.  Focus on the positive.
The other day I told my husband that that particular day home with the two kids was exactly like a comedic movie on parenting, except that in real life it was not that funny.  Although my day was filled with ridiculous episodes, I had pleasurable moments.  Those are the moments I CHOSE to take with me at the end of that day.
6.  Surround yourself with people who make you feel good.
This one is a bit complex, being that you do not always have complete control over the people you need to interact with on a day to day basis.  Yet, I make a very big effort to spend my time with people who have a positive impact on me.  I focus my close relationships on those who do not add stress to my life, and when I converse with these people, I leave the conversation feeling good.

So, yes, to some degree, being a happy person takes some effort.  You need to figure out things in each of the above categories that apply to you personally, then attempt to add/remove things from your life.  I suggest these ideas because I live by them, and they help me create happy and enjoyable days for myself.  I hope you can take something out of this entry and use it to make your own life happier!

Why I Will Raise My Daughter A Mets Fan

I grew up watching the NY Mets with my dad, and going to Shea Stadium was a regular family outing.  We used to sit way up in the top bleachers, and I was as loud as the beer belly man sitting next to us.  When we went to the game, we saw players who are still talked about today; Strawberry, Cohen, Gooden, and Darling.  We wore cones on our heads, and did the wave as an enthusiastic crowd.

To say that I am a "die-hard Mets fan" is somewhat of an understatement.  I love baseball, the dirty dogs, the home run apple, and the corny chants we engage in while drinking overpriced beer.  I get low spirited when the Mets lose, and over the top happy when they win.  I once put a hole in my bedroom wall when the NY team won the National League Championship. I do not think baseball is boring like many people claim, and every game matters to me, even though they play every day.

This past Father's Day, my husband and I brought our daughter to Citi Field for her first live Mets game.  I was overjoyed with sentiment as I watched her eat ice cream out of a blue plastic helmet.  I spent a little too much time dressing her up in  my 1986 Mets shirt, and fitting my modern pink cap on her little head.  The anticipation to start time made me feel like I was a kid again.

As we sat in our seats in the bleachers, behind home plate, I could not help feeling nostalgic.  I wanted to show her the big apple that rises from a top hat when a Met hits a home run.  I brought her Mets ABC book so that I could point out all the pictures she had only seen on TV and paper.  I hoped that this would be a regular part of her childhood, so I could instill the same love I have for baseball to my daughter.

Citi Field is different than the Shea Stadium NY used to play in, and going to a baseball game is different in 2013.  The seats are more expensive, as is everything else in the arena.  There aren't as many beer bellied men with their butt cracks hanging out of their jeans.  We did not do the wave while we watched the Mets play the Chicago Cubs.  You can buy fillet minion sandwiches and sushi along with your cracker jacks and hot dog.

Although there are anomalies at today's game that did not exist 30 years ago, there were also some things that I hope will never change.  There were fans of both genders and every age wearing all kinds of Mets gear.  We sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch, and Mr. Met is still our beloved mascot.  The people in the stands had the heart of NY Met fans, cheering for the good plays, and booing for the bad.

I guess some of you want to know why I have the desire for my daughter to grow up a Mets fan; I have the choice to show her a team that wins more often, like the Yankees.  However, I do not have the love for any other team, and therefore, the heart behind it is not genuine.  I am a die hard Mets fan, I love the struggle they go through year after year, it gives a bigger sense of accomplishment when they win.  To me, the Mets give off a feeling of belonging to a team, win or lose.

The Queens, NY team play as a uniform baseball team, not like individual ball players only there for their own baseball stats.  We have the 1986 team, which is of no comparison in baseball.  We have coneheads and Mookie Wilson.  The best home run hitting catcher in baseball, Mike Piazza, was our all-star.  There is a big, red apple that signifies a home run, and of course the seven train to bring us to the field.

Mets fans are the best.  We stick by our team, whether we are having a good or bad season; we don't just show up when it is convenient.  Fans of the Mets remember the good times, and watch baseball because it is a game of heart.  We chant, we cry, and we punch holes in our bedroom walls.

Being a mother is a gift I treasure,

 the importance of lifework I cannot measure.

 Teaching the values and morals I believe in,

 hoping she can form her own system of reason. 

Growing and changing,

 improving herself,

 loving her body and enjoying good health. 

Being kind and forgiving,

yet not before self. 

Shaping a person that can be courageous,

 standing up for ideas,

to believe in oneself. 

To encourage dreams and the ethics of work,

to support all their faults as much as it hurts. 

To help them stand up when it’s easier to fall,

 to take a step back,

 but be there if they call. 

To watch from afar,

yet be by their side,

 to tell them you’re proud as long as they try.

Celebrate accomplishments, and learn from failures,

to take the lessons from mistakes,

to stay out of danger. 

To first learn to love and try not to hate,

 to see all the good,

to try and relate. 

To lead by example,

to learn from each other,

to take the high road because I am the mother. 

Love her entirely without any reserve;

give her the respect and life she deserves. 

Make sure she knows how proud I am;

tell her I love her as much as I can.

Contingent Kindness

My baby and I are out on the town all the time.  We go to the park, supermarket, library, shopping, beaches, and all kinds of fun day adventures.  I must honestly say that more often than not, we are face to face with thoughtless and inconsiderate bystanders.  People watch you struggle with ten bags, a stroller, and a kicking toddler, and literally bump into you.  My favorite act of indecency is the mindless door slam when you are just two feet away and trying not to drop your child on their head.  While this is crude, by the time my day is over, I usually forget all about these episodes; they leave no lasting impression.

Last week however, my heart was touched, my soul was warmed, and I cannot stop thinking about this one simple act of cordiality that literally changed my day.  Little one and I were at the grocery store, where of course, my toddler refused to sit in the cart.  Normal toddler behavior, I walked slowly around the store, while she helped me push the cart, and threw supermarket merchandise in every direction. When my daughter was finished with this activity, she wanted to be carried for the remainder of the trip. I have this new olympic maneuver which I cleverly named the "the one arm foot push."  I carry my flailing toddler in one arm, and use one hand and one foot to push, steer, and turn the cart.

After checking out in this fashion last week, my daughter and I were leaving the store, and about to walk through the exit.  The woman behind me asked if she could help me.  Being shy, modest, and stubborn,  I said, "no thank you." This incredibly kind woman inflexibly insisted on helping.  She handed her full grocery cart to her husband, and took my cart from me.  This gentlewoman then walked my shopping cart all the way to my car, which was at the far end of the parking lot.  As she gracefully walked away, I welled up inside.  This stranger selflessly took time out of her day to help another able bodied person.

During dinner that night, I told the story to my husband, as I said, I could not keep myself from thinking about this random act of kindness.  While reciting this to my husband, he guessed that my story was about another shopper pushing me out of the way, or being rude in one way or another.  I excitedly corrected him, and confessed that I usually forget all of the rude people I encounter, and those stories never make it to our dinner table.  That moment I realized that good really does conquer evil, and that one act of kindness overpowers multiple acts of barbaric behavior.

I found it heartwarming and soul strengthening that in all of our stresses and anxieties, one simple act of generosity  made my day better, and created wonderful dinner conversation.  It was fascinating and touching that altruism  turned my day around, and eraded meaningless negative events.  I hope that when I said "thank you" to this stranger, she could hear the sincerity in my voice.  My husband suggested that I blogged about this selflessly good deed, and so I also want to say thank you to him for the great idea.  The world needs more stories like this.

Keeping Toys (semi) Organized!

I love the abundance of toys my daughter has, and I personally feel lucky that she can enjoy so many play things.  Knowing that not every child is as fortunate assists in my appreciation for her games, dolls, puzzles, books, blocks, and all the other toys she collects.  Rather than wish my house was bigger, or her playthings would evaporate, I do my best to keep them organized.  I do believe that some amount of toy clutter stimulates and develops a child's imagination, so I do not go overboard.  I like to think of my home as "pleasantly plump!"  I am not embarrassed to have unexpected guests, however, there is a cozy and lived in feeling when you come in to my house.

First, I completely accept  that having little ones means that there will be toys in just about every room.  I keep 1-2 pretty baskets or bins in the master bedroom, a toy chest and a bin in my daughters room, some shelves in the living room, and an empty drawer in the kitchen.  My daughter also has a playroom where most of her toys are kept.

Next, my husband and I decided on a few house rules concerning which toys are kept in which places.  For example, in my daughters's room we keep stuffed animals and some of her books, since her room should be associated with sleeping.  In addition, we decided to only have the amount of toys that fit on the shelves in the living room.  We do not want two playrooms in our house!

The playroom is probably the most challenging to keep organized, but my system seems to be working well for clean up time.  Besides the large floor toys which are always out, I have a toy organizer and four bins.  Each bin has a "general" theme.  Next to my daughter's play kitchen, I have one bin to store all of her kitchen/home accessories.  One bin contains arts and crafts, like crayons, construction paper, sticker, and stamps.The other two bins are larger toys like trucks, shape sorters,and instruments.  My little one's toy organizer is on the small side, so I use those small bins for the little knickknacks she collects that would otherwise have no home :)

I should also mention that all of my bins, except for arts and crafts, do not have lids.  This makes it easier for everyone to take out toys, or put them away.  Furthermore, at the end of every day, my husband and I spend about ten minutes clearing the floors of each room, and putting my daughter's playthings in a bin.

With general rules for where toys are kept, and having containers in many locations,  cleaning up is a breeze.  In fact, my toddler understands where some things go, and can help put things away as well.  Rather than keeping everything in one area, spread it out, and keep storage simple!

"Toy Recycling"

From the time my daughter was a baby, I have been doing something my mother-in-law calls "Toy Recycling."  It was easier to do when she was months old, but I still use this tactic to some degree.  "Toy Recycling" is a great way to decrease boredom, increase brain activity, and save money.  I takes some effort, but not much, and really keeps my daughter engaged.

When my baby was about four months to twelve months old, I kept some of her toys in a closet.  Every month or so, I would take the toys in her closet out for her to use, and put some play things she had out away.  Bringing "new" toys into her world every month was exciting to her, and she gained a new interest in old things.  Also, being at a slightly different developmental level each time she played with one of her toys, she used them differently, and therefore formed new thoughts and skills.

At about a year old, my daughter started to ask for certain toys or activities, and I felt it was inconsiderate to put her toys away at an older age.  Also, at this point, she had too many toys to even keep track of, and hiding some seemed like more trouble than it was worth.  Rather than hiding toys, I rotate them around the house.  I change the location of her toys, books, and dolls.  For example, my daughter has a doll house.  Sometimes the doll house is in my bedroom, and sometimes it is located in my toddler's playroom.  There are also spots for her books in our living room, my daughter's playroom, and her bedroom.  Every so often, I grab a few, and rotate them to different bookshelves in the house.

I find that "Toy Recycling" keeps her interested in her play things and books, and gets her to think of new ways to play with the same toys.  For example, when I brought the doll house upstairs, it made my toddler use rooms of her doll house that she was not interested in before. Not to mention, keeping a toddler interested in the toys she has, means buying less toys.  Since holidays and birthdays only come twice a year, stretching toy enthusiasm definitely helps save money.  Spending a little time each month rotating toys is worth the rewards!

How To Exercise With Your Baby

It has been said over and over, you should exercise while your baby naps. Sometimes that just does not work, so after spending some frustrating thirty minute sessions with my workout DVD’s, I came up with this list of exercises you CAN do with your baby. I have tested them all myself, and they work. I get my exercise, and my daughter absolutely loves all of these activities!

Cardio:

Put your baby in the stroller and go for a walk or a run. If you are feeling really ambitious, put your baby in an infant carrier and you have added weight.

Put on your favorite song playlist, and dance with your baby. Make sure you have enough songs to last at least thirty minutes.

Toning:

My favorite-push ups! Lie your baby down on his/her back. Get into push up position, either on your knees, or all the way up on your toes. Your baby should be directly beneath you. Bend your elbows and bring your body down towards your baby. Each time you go down toward the floor, kiss one side of your baby’s cheek!

Weighted crunches-Lie down on your back with your knees bent; hold your baby on your chest. Lift up halfway, abs tight, and your arms outreached and holding your baby’s waist. Bring your baby side to side; having his/her feet lightly touch the floor.

Lower Abs-Lie flat on your back, legs together, and knees bent. Place your baby's stomach on your legs, directly below your knees. Hold on to your baby; I like to hold my daughter's hands. Bring your knees in towards your chest, then lower back down without touching the floor.

Arm workout-Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and your lower back touching the floor. Hold your baby with bent arms right at your chest. Extend your arms straight up lifting your baby into the air directly above your chest, and then slowly bring your baby back down.

Choose one of the cardio sessions from above. Then, do each move 10-12 times, 2 sets each. If you do not have time to complete all of the moves at once, space them out throughout your day. Make sure you can do each move on your own before you try it with your baby!