Break a baby... be my hero?

Any interest in being a super hero today? Tell me what to do to get Charlotte to drink milk. Any kind of milk. From a cup.

She has never drank from a bottle so that is not a problem, but the thing is she won't drink anything from this:

except water. Which is great. Water is really good for you. But here's the thing... if I ever want to stop nursing her, she needs to drink some kind of milk. And while I don't mind nursing her at bedtime but I would like to be done otherwise. Because this is getting bigger:

And I would sort of like my body back.

I have tried just forcing the issue to no avail. All she drinks all day is water. I have tried just giving her nothing but milk. She just doesn't drink at all -- instead she screams all day because she is thirsty. Any ideas?

Short of bribery? (I've considered that too -- it just doesn't work well on one year olds!)

I was mean to THE mouse today.

That's right, I -- the queen of the complaint email-- sent one expressing my "exceptional dissapointment" (it's my catch phrase of the year -- that and "Epic", lol...) to Mickey Mouse today. Okay to Disney World not the man (mouse?) himself.

You see, the way Disney works dining reservations is not exactly first come, first serve. You may start to make advanced dining reservations 180 prior to arrival (For me that was today!) at 6:00 a.m. Of course to save people the trouble of calling back daily they allow guest staying in one of their resorts to book for their entire stay at 180 prior to arrival -- so you can book for 180 days from now -- plus ten extra days. Which is all well and good, except it means that there is NEVER a day when you are getting "First serve" at unless you are staying 11 days and can book at the furthest out + 10 day. Naturally we are staying seven.

So today, when I woke up at 5 to "be ready" to start my reservations at 6, I was unable to book Molly a Princess dinner in Cinderella's castle. I was unable to book her anything. Throwing my schedule away I frantically searched every day and time that we will be in the world's happiest (most disappointing) place. There were no times available. Not a single time slot in my entire week's vacation. :( I know in the grand scheme of things it is not the bitter end of the world, but I was so sad. I was crying on the phone when I called the phone reservations to make sure that there really was nothing at all available, at any time ever, and she confirmed it. The thing is, "it's always an excuse to make another trip" doesn't fly here. (Yes someone told me that today.) We can't afford another trip. Disney isn't an annual occurrence here, it's a once in a lifetime occurrence. A trip Molly's been waiting for since she was old enough to know you CAN go to Disney World. And it seems I have screwed it up -- and what sucks is that there is nothing else I could have done. I wasn't able to even try before 6 am today. I even tried looking for reservations for six, I would just wait outside. I am so bummed, and so disenchanted. Good thing we have six more months before we go.

Wordless Weekend Post

Photo Challenges for Saturday Supper

1. For Live Every Moment.

This week's theme. "A Different View"

(and for you regular blog followers, NO that is not my kid. It's the neighbor girl, Molly's BFF, who coincidently is more cooperative sometimes than my own kid.)

2. For The Paper Mama (seriously one of the cutest blogs on the web).

This week's theme: Sweet.

That's about as sweet as they come in my book.

3. Finally for Bugaboo, Mini Mr., and Me.

This week's theme: It's Still Up In The Air.

'

Friday Night Leftovers (The here we go again.. edition.)

*Jason has to work tonight, and tomorrow morning, and again tomorrow night. I am starting to remember why he quit the second job at the bar. At least the tips are good..

* I think I have developed a secret crush on Jimmy Fallon. I don't usually "go for" the funny guy, but man he's a riot. Plus he's close enough to my age that I totally "get" all his weird little references -- like the Gummi Bears. :) He's not hard on the eyes either.

* The plan is to be in a new van by Easter. Which is pretty ridiculous since we were in need of a new van since Thanksgiving. Wish us luck -- we haven't had a car payment in YEARS and I am so not looking forward to it. But it's really the only way at this point.

* Speaking of plans, I can make my advanced dining reservations at Disney starting at six a.m. Tuesday. Who knew a vacation was so much work? But we're on the dining plan and those restaurants will fill up (or so I'm told.) We aren't going at a "peak" time of year but I am still worried about getting into Cinderella's Royal Table. I need to eat in that castle -- I mean, "Molly" needs to eat in that castle.

* Overheard in our house:

ME: Jason what did we do before we had Google?

(as I looked up some obscure statistic)

JASON: We guessed.

ME: Yeah I guess.

JASON: Or we just made shit up alot.

* We have two Chinese restaurants in town that I patron. One has AMAZING food but doesn't deliver, the other has acceptable food and does. Guess which one I eat at more often?

* Yesterday was Jason's birthday and in typical fashion around here we didn't do anything for it other than say "Happy Birthday". I know people think this is odd but we both really feel like at some point in life your birthday becomes just another day. The kids however did ask him if he had "black and grey TVs when he was little or they just had radio shows?" I love those kids, they also think I am 16. :)

* The "redecorating" has hit a stall this week but we're hoping to see paint this weekend.

* Finally I have put a one week moratorium on the Magic Cards in the house -- I am tired of looking at them. It's just as annoying as the Wii.

* And the feel good moment of the week: Every morning when she wakes up I pick Charlotte and give her a big hug telling her "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you" while I pat her back. Today I picked her up and gave her a big hug and she patted my back and said "la' you, la' you, la' you" :)

Go ahead.. click the "vote"button. You know you want to. ;)

An award... for us?!

Our good friend, Ashley, over at little (mrs.) sunshine, gifted us with this beautiful blog award! I'm touched. Really, truly! I've been reading Ashley's blog almost from the beginning and I think she was one of my first followers so from us to all of you .. THANK YOU!

As these things tend to work, in order for me to accept these "pretties" as Charlotte would say I need to share a photo (so NOT hard!), and three things I love aboout myself, as well as share the "pretties" with a few other awesome bloggers.

First and foremost a photo:

How cute is that? :)

And three things I *love* about myself....

* #1 I SHOP. I mean, I have turned baby bargain shopping into an art form. My kids wear Gymboree, Gap and the like for less than most Walmart clothes, and I resell the hand me downs every year for HUNDREDS of dollars. I bought my beautiful DSLR with the money last summer and went on vacation. So sure, when you see their closets it looks nutty, but it's an investment. ;)

*#2 I'M COMMITED. When I make plans, or tell someone I will be somewhere, or do something I do it. Even if it means I move heaven and earth and make myself mighty uncomfortable to do so. I can't stand people who ditch plans or flake out all the time.

and finally

*#3 I'M a PRETTY GOOD COOK. And I like to do it. (90% of the time!) I like to make new recipes and I love it when the family requests the old ones time and again.

And for the fun apart... I offiicially award this "pretty"to the following blogs:

*Kari, at Love, Luci ;; Blog

and

* Life On Planet Criddick

Both super fun, super funny blogs I read almost daily. :)

What They Said Wednesday... the BIG ONE.

This week's edition of "What They Said Wednesday" is so special it's brought to you via video. Because some things you have to hear straight from the horse's mouth. ;)

This weeks theme for Vloggin' Wednesdays? My guilty pleasure. Mine is totally giving in to my kids. Even (especially) when it's something big. I can't help it, seeing them that happy is like a drug!

My thoughts on the new car seat recommendations.

Because you know you all were dying to hear them right? First let me say I am not gonna judge anyone here, I have friends who do things VERY differently and that's okay. But for me, I am kind of the car seat nazi. I guess I have known and loved to many people seriously injured or worse in car accidents to understand why taking a lax attitude on vehicular safety is EVER a good idea, to understand why you would EVER choose to err on the side of "less safe."

Part one of the guidelines is almost a no brainer to me. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics has been recommending rear facing for two years.. not one for at least a year already. Car seat techs have been recommending it longer. The reality of the matter is that we would ALL be safer riding rear facing and in a five point harness. Obviously that is not practical for adults, you can't drive backwards. ;)

Going along with the whole infant seat thing -- frankly if it were up to me they should seriously consider "recommending " an age for children to move from 5 point seats to booster seats that is not 3. (Which is the minimum age on all booster seats I have ever seen.) Five point safety belt harnesses save lives.. period. Why do you think Nascar drivers use them?

But the issue in the new guidelines that seems to be getting the most attention is the booster seat guidelines themselves. Which is that a booster is suggested until the rider is 4 foot 9 inches tall. Now, here in Michigan the age is 8 OR 4' 9" by law. (And I have heard a LOT of grumbling on this too.) You know what? The law is that way because seat belts don't fit properly until you're so tall. That is the way it works.

I gotta say -- when we were in our accident last year Samuel was not sitting in HIS seat. He was sitting in the middle row, next to Charlotte because they were the only two I had in the car. So, he was sitting in a high back booster seat at the time of the accident. While traumatic in MY life, our accident was by no means a "on the news" awful accident. It was your run of the mill car accident. (Not a fender bender, but not horrific like they CAN be.) Upon inspection in the days following the accident the back of high back booster seat cracked right down the center of his seat in absorbing the impact. Had he NOT been in that seat SAMUEL would have absorbed that impact himself. And before anyone says "I drive carefully." - So do I. I don't really know a parent that doesn't. But it's not YOUR driving that is the problem on the road, often its someone else's driving. I was at a complete stop at a red light.

Car seats, even booster seats... save lives and prevent injury. They are the best investment you can make in your child's safety. Let's face it -- we all put our kids in the car almost everyday. So yes, Molly is nine and still rides in a car seat. She's barely four feet tall, the seat belt won't fit her properly otherwise. Did I ride in a car seat at that age? No. But when I was a kid it was cool to carry your baby in your lap in the front seat too and I 'm not going to do that either! IT's not about the "government telling you what to do" -- it's about doing what the SAFEEST thing possible is for your kids.

I am linking a few you tube videos here of the results when you choose not to, and why car seat safety matters. The US is FAR more lax than other countries in this area and as a result children in this country are severely injured and killed in auto accidents at a shockingly higher rate.

The importance of rear facing... CLICK HERE

The importance of harnassing little kids over boosters. Click HERE.

We really need votes. Show a little love... click the box below!

Wordless(ish) Weekend Post

So yeah.. Luke was there I promise. But I have not a single picture of him looking at the camera, or not actively running from it, or hiding from it. I promise he was there! (The kid HATES the camera!)

There's something about that one that made me think of my Grandma Clara. I think she and Molly have a bit of spitfire in common. :)

We really need votes. Show a little love... click the box below!