I have to say that I’ve been busy with other things and haven’t made it back to Jeff’s site for a while to see how things are progressing (see my original post & subsequent update if you don’t know what I’m talking about). As I finally made it back there this afternoon, I was so sad to see that this issue isn’t over for him and his family (or other people for that matter). He has an update on how things stand now and could really use all the support and encouragement you can give (comment and e-mail-wise as well as monetary). I think it is every parent’s worst nightmare to have threats made against your little one and I’m glad he’s taking steps against Deborah Frisch, but I can’t imagine the impact that this one crazy person has made on his life, sadly.

Patterico’s Pontifications has screenshots and other info of some of the (x-rated) comments she has made (don’t click with children around) - also more of her comments at Empty Rhetoric. Michelle Malkin reminds us all not to forget about Jeff as well.

Update: A nice summary at Hot Air…. and others talking about this include Tel-Chai Nation, The Black Republican, JunkYardBlog and The Stout Republican.

Linked to Pursuing Holiness, Third World County & The Bullwinkle Blog.

Posted in General | 5 comments »

Do not, under any circumstances, open that sippy cup that has been sitting out on the patio in direct HOT sunlight for two days. Either throw it away (since we have the take-n-toss it is no great loss) or trick someone else into opening it and putting it in the dishwasher (then run it right away to avoid the spreading of the stench). AGH!!!

Linked to Third World County’s open post (let’s see if David is awake over there…. ;))

Posted in General | 5 comments »

The newest order (personal information was changed) - go to all the girl birth announcement designs.

Posted in Business | 1 comment »

Well, Lil’ Duck has been loving the Backyardigans of late - the TV show, photos of them, coloring books, music, etc. At Wal-Mart we just found this wonderful Backyardigans coloring mat and a book about them as well - it is making for endless entertainment around here. He sits on it with his crayons and chatters away to them, has to name them and their castle and everything around them of course. Usually I get dragged down there too, to help color and generally participate in the joy of the mat. Cheap entertainment!

Posted in Toys | 1 comment »

Rather than just a weekly recap, especially because I was light on real posts and heavy on meme’s this week, here are the best posts of the month! Can you believe it’s almost August already? Lil’ Duck (the toddler, not the blog ;)) turns two in September and I don’t know where the time has gone….

Toddler tips:

Keeping a sick toddler hydrated

Toddler websites - games, activities & more

How to cut a toddler’s fingernails

Protein ideas

Airplane entertainment (look for an update this week!)

Lil’ Duck’s adventures:

Chocolate pudding

Teething drama

The joy of the pool

His first meme!

One of his mornings

Carnivals to visit:

They’ve been kind enough to feature us in the past few days, so be sure to check out all the other posts!

Carnival of the Mundane

Carnival of Kid Comedy

Carnival of the Blogging Chicks - favorite things edition

Linked to Adam’s Blog, Freedom Watch, Blue Star Chronicles, Third World County, Madman Returns & The Random Yak

Posted in General | 5 comments »

During our errands today, I was thinking about our favorite things (the subject of the Blogging Chicks carnival tomorrow, actually). You see, Lil’ Duck’s favorites are always changing, but I’d always assumed that mine would stay the same or gradually change over time. Well, I think I’m becoming more like Lil’ Duck now, because my favorite things about him are ever-changing now as well.

When we were walking to Starbucks, as we love to do, he was so cheerful and friendly, he smiled at everyone and gave them high-fives, then sat so peacefully on his chair, drinking his soy milk & my strawberries & cream drink, and eating MY cookie and his pumpkin bread (why I even try to get anything for myself is a mystery). So I think this is one of my current favorite things, being able to take him out and just enjoy him - his friendly personality, his joy over every little thing (the “WOW, mama, rocks!!” was especially heartwarming), how BIG he is getting, and so on. He can get his own soy milk, put the straw in, climb up on the chair, then sit and drink it and hold onto it properly. He can walk everywhere with me, and seldom runs away anymore (of course after a while he gets the impish gleam in his eye….). He is so amazed by everything - in the fabric store, he has to feel every texture of fabric and yarn and ribbon, exclaiming it “smooth” or “bumpy” or “wow” - in Office Max, he was amazed by all the “markers” and by the sweet little boy who shared his monkey stickers - and in Wal-mart, he saw a little baby girl and had to make flirty eyes and scrunched up smiley-faces at her.

His daddy said last night that he wanted Lil’ Duck to stay this age forever, and while I can’t entirely agree (especially because there is chocolate on my couch AGAIN), I do wish for him to retain that joy and wonder, and to remain so sweet and friendly and mostly innocent ;). I think all of Lil’ Duck’s favorite things would take several more posts, and as my house is a mess and I need some lunch, I’m going to wait for another day to do that, although I certainly will, both for your enjoyment and for our memories!

Linked to Adam’s Blog, Stuck on Stupid, Freedom Watch, Blue Star Chronicles, Third World County, Madman Returns & The Random Yak (you have to read about the spoons, too funny, I wish I could comment on that one!).

Posted in Sweet things | 38 comments »

Parent Hacks had a great idea for cooling down hot pasta - mix it with cold pasta sauce! I usually just stick an ice cube or two in there, rather like Noodad, but not changing anything else like less water as he does, just stirring the ice cube around a little until it reaches edible temperature. Of course I also do this for any hot food…. or I’ll stick it in the freezer for a minute… although I do still occasionally resort to blowing really hard on it and waving it around while Lil’ Duck is screaming for it, ah…..

Posted in Eating | 5 comments »

The time has come - come visit our home! BooMama is kind enough to be hosting the first-ever Tour of Homes, so be sure to visit her to get all the other links so you can spy on take a peek into everyone’s homes! Also go on over to Everyday Mommy to celebrate everyday things…..
Ok! We’ll begin with our computer…..

If you have a toddler, you know why everything, including the CPU and the speakers, is up on the desk…. altho it doesn’t stop him from climbing up and getting them anyway….

On to the living room.

I have to confess that this photo was taken a few months ago, right after we painted the walls. We have more photos up on the walls now, but otherwise it’s about the same, just a lot messier. I just didn’t have time to clean the whole house for photos today, so you get an old photo and the knowledge that no, it is not EVER that clean ;). The dining room is open to this room as well, bookcases, orange walls, Lil’ Duck’s play area….. you get the idea.

Kitchen!

This was actually clean, as the husband was in the mood to deep clean today. You can’t see it, but he polished the toaster and the teapot and everything! I tried to take a photo from the other side so you could see it, but it was too dark and Lil’ Duck is asleep in the middle of the living room, so I didn’t want to turn on a light….. ah well. If you look closely you can see everything living on top of my fridge, as it is the one place where Lil’ Duck has not ventured yet…. so all the knives, pens, scissors, plastic wrap, etc. get to live up there, just lovely, eh?

Finally, Lil’ Duck’s bathroom:

In case you can’t tell, there are flying ducks on the shower curtain…. I just had to pick that room for the tour because it was clean it fits the theme of this site….. plus it’s my everyday thing, you see, it’s so fun and cheerful that you can’t help but smile while you are in there ;).

That concludes our tour, my house IS bigger than that, but it’s also messy, and I’m tired, so we’ll leave it at that. That’s all you get if you come visit too, ha ha ha. Have a wonderful weekend, and post your link in comments if you are doing the tour OR the everyday things meme - I’ll try to get around to visit everyone but if not, the link is a nice reminder ;).

Posted in General | 122 comments »