Anna Pee-peed on the Potty!

Anna peed on the potty today for the first time!!! She stood by the bathroom door and held her crotch, so I tried it... I took down her pants and diaper and sat her on the potty. We talked about poopoo and peepee and then she went peepee! It was amazing! Aside from the fact that she peed on her shirt and stuck her hand in the potty lol! :D But I'm proud althemore!

Guess what?

Congratulations to Our Winner!

Congratulations to Kisha who won the "Smell My World" DVD by Braincandy!
Kisha said:

Mission: to create educationally inventive, enriching, entertaining products that help young children learn about themselves as they fully experience the world around them.

My daughter, Evelyn, would love these!

Please contact me by the end of this coming week (AKA Sunday May 18th, 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time)

Thank you! And congrats! These are great DVDs. My daughter keeps bringing me her DVDs. She loves them! Here she is enjoying her DVDs, fresh from the mailbox, in a way only toddlers can... by gnawing on them! (Of course, the fifth DVD, Smell My World, remained unharmed, ungnawed on, and untouched) ;D

[[photos deleted by author]]

Long Day

I got a response from J. Go figure, I write her letters that she never responds to, but she managed to write me back the exact day with her response this time! She was rude to me, as expected. Told me I had no right to ask her such things. I'm beginning to think that I should just try to let go of this baby, Lilyann (NO APOSTROPHE). I will never see her, she will never be told about Sean, let alone me. Maybe I should just let go?

The wedding went well. It was really nice. I have a new cousin! :D Her name is Lindsay. She is a loving, sweet, kind, funny, strong woman of God! Congratulations to John Jr. and Lindsay! May your marriage be blessed!
I'll upload photos when I get them. We lent out our video cam (it's a JVC Everio digital video/digital cam... so I didn't get many photos) but I'll upload the ones I got.

Today........

Today we are going to my husband's cousin's wedding. I'll post photos this evening. It's actually midnight now, but the wedding is at 1PM Pacific Standard Time.


Oh... I sent off a letter to J. (refer to previous post)... I just asked her if the baby was his. We'll find out soon. Hopefully she doesn't say anything nasty to me.

Braincandy DVD Giveaway! *CLOSED*

This Giveaway is Now Closed.

Braincandy is a Seattle based Award Winning childrens company who approaches learning in a whole new way! Braincandy teaches the five senses (click each for a preview): See My World, Smell My World, TouchMy World, Taste My World, and Hear My World. Braincandy is in a whole new stratosphere as far as children's educational DVDs go. Instead of teaching about the ABCs and 123s, BraincandyDVDs focus on what the five senses are really like. For example, one part of the Taste My World DVD asks if it is "yucky" or "yummy" to have a pencil, bread, turkey, etc. on a sandwich. In the See My World DVD, shadows of children danced, beautiful roses came before the screen, and we saw round eyes, blue eyes, and big eyes.

My little girl, Anna, is on the cusp of a language explosion (expected at around 18 months to 2 years old) and I am excited that she is learning new words that she might not hear on a daily basis otherwise. I enjoyed how interactive the DVDs were. They encouraged my daughter to point to her eyes, nose, mouth, and so on. My daughter is almost 18 months and these videos were perfect for her age. Had my daughter been any younger, I don't think she would have cared for the DVDs much, but she watched each video, laughed, sang along in her own way, and interacted with the DVDs. She loved the creative and fun puppet characters (if your kids like puppet shows, such as Sesame Street, then you should try these videos!) It was also easy for me, as a parent, to interact with my daughter while she watched the DVDs. I could easily ask her, "Where are your eyes, Anna? "

My daughter, who is usually only ever glued to the TV when Spongebob is on, intently watched the Hear My World DVD. She sat quietly, eating ice from a cup (I don't know why she loves to eat ice, but she does!) and laughed at the DVD. I was surprised to see my busy little bumblebee sitting quietly and watching the majority of the Brain Candy DVDs! She loves her Braincandy DVDs!

The Braincandy DVDs are full of music, interactive activities, and new vocabulary for your little one! Would you like to try out a Brain Candy DVD for yourself? I have a Smell My World DVD from Braincandy for one lucky winner!

Click here for a fun preview of what you have a chance to win!

For all entrants:
Go to the Braincandy Website and tell me what the MISSION of Braincandy is. OR one award that Braincandy has earned. (Hint: click on the ABOUT tab)
Comments submitted without following my simple guidelines will be ignored/deleted on the day I tally votes. It's only fair to my totally generous sponsors.
Oh, it's not required, but I'd like to know who this video is for if you win.

Bloggers:
For a second entry, blog about this giveaway and come back to Mommyology and leave a second SEPARATE comment with the URL. Be sure to link your post to Braincandy and Mommyology.

Nonbloggers:
You can post a comment on this post for an entry with no problem. You can also email me at: (mymommyology at gmail dot com)


Entry Deadline: May 10th

The winner of this giveaway will be drawn randomly via Random.org. Please come back to this site on Sunday, May 11th to find out who won!

Feeling Frustrated!

A few of you remember this.... When I first started this blog... like my first or second post... I wrote about my brother Sean. He died in December. He killed himself. He left behind not only all of his sisters but also a wife who was pregnant. She is due in July. Why am I frustrated? She doesn't return emails, she doesn't answer calls, she doesn't return calls---she is basically trying to cut the entire Ta-- family out of her life! Normally I wouldn't mind, but with that baby being *possibly* my brother's...
Lately, I've seen on her myspace (I know, I hate myspace drama as much as the next. I never get involved in it until NOW...) I've seen friends asking her what she is naming the baby. She said she was going to name her Lily'ann Brooke (WHY the apostrophe!!!!???) I messaged her back the SAME DAY and asked her the baby's name and she never got back to me. Two weeks before that she told me she didn't know. This is almost a month later and still no letter.
I have been talking to Sean's best friend from high school and she told me that J. doesn't intend on giving the baby the last name of Ta--!
I am beginning to believe that the baby is not Sean's. I can't help but to theorize that Sean discovered the baby is not his.... on top of that J. was threatening an abortion and threatening to leave him... and ON TOP OF THAT she moved in with one of Sean's best friend's THREE months after his death. She's living with him now! My theory is that Sean couldn't stand this. It broke his heart. It tore him apart.
I know he left a suicide letter. I wish I could read it, but I'm afraid.
I also feel helpless. I don't want to confront J. because she might alienate me further. What if the baby really is Sean's? I don't want the baby to never know me.
But a part of me wishes that the baby is not Sean's. I don't want to know that my brother's only child is thousands of miles from me and I will never meet her.

Favorite Foto Friday

[[photos deleted by author]]

Today's Theme is Mommy & Me
See More FFF posts at Kiss the Frog 4 Me

These are three of my favorite photos. They were taken last October or early November when Anna was 11 Months old... I remember that. She was 11 months. ;)
It's hard to believe that the sweater that Anna is wearing in that photo, the one with the sleeves rolled up once so it fit right, now it fits well... but almost too well... give it a month or two and she will outgrow it! It really goes way too fast, really.

Rockin Mama Has Free Shipping In May!

A friend of mine has a WAHM business. She makes wonderful wraps and blankets. She has a myspace page for her business if you are interested. Here is the URL http://www.myspace.com/rockinmommababygear

Bekah has many products at Rockin Mama including:
Wraps:
Stretchy wraps: $30
Wraps with a silk panel: $40
Pouches:
One layer: $25
Two layer/Reversible Cotton: $30
Two layer/Reversible Silk and Cotton: $40
Two layer/Reversible Silk and Minkee: $45
Blankets:
Rag Quilts, Depending on Size: $35-$80
Baby Fleece blanket: $30
Adult Fleece blanket: $75
Personalized Onesies: Size Small (0-3 Months)
With Initial: $10
With Design: $12
Matching Headband: $5
Extras:
Add a pocket: $5
Add a key loop: $3


Please check her out. Bekah is a wonderful mom to three beautiful children: Ben, Abby, and Sam. She loves breastfeeding, babywearing and cloth diapering her youngest. She is very personable and loving. She is so creative with her business! Please feel free to check out her myspace. You can also email her at:
rockinmommababygear@live.com
Thank you!

Sarah

rockinmommababygear@live.com

Sick!

Well, this is my excuse for not wanting to post all week. I will post tomorrow for my Favorite Foto Friday, which will be an easy and short post to do... and fun! Saturday, we'll see how I'm feeling. We're not feeling very well in the P........... household. Ugh... my throat hurts, my head hurts.... it all hurts. And in May no less! Not fair! Where's the sunshiny weather?

Thank you for all of your responses in the last few days! :D

Wordless Wednesday: Generations

[[Photos Deleted By Author]]

Paul's grandfather, Paul's great grandmother, my hubby Paul, my daughter Anna, Paul's mom
Anna was 5 weeks old

Me, Anna, my grandmother, my mom
Anna was 14 months old

Thank you for visiting my WW post! I am holding my first giveaway today. It's for a great children's DVD. Please sign up. Even if you don't care for it, it could be a great gift. ;)
Just click on this button to take you to my post. Thank you for your support!
Sarah


Also, added on (I think Monday...) were photos of our Day at the Park! You can see those by scrolling down or by clicking here. :)

Cloth Diapering...

Well, after winning the BumGenius diaper, I've been using it for overnight. Its absorbency is just awesome. I really would love to switch Anna over to all cloth. Not because I'm a nutty hippie or anything (as my dear hubby would say) but because of how much money it would save. I'm willing to do the laundry, I really am. I have been washing Anna's BumGenius every day after she wets it. The only problem that I've come across is finding affordable cloth diapers. I've found a website called Diaper Swappers, but it's just so darn confusing. There are hundreds of brands, pockets, prefolds, and a others... It's just so overwhelming. If I had the money, I'd just buy a ton of BumGenius diapers.... I like them. They do the job and they do it well. Of course that is my only experience with cloth diapers. I've come across a brand called Kushies. It looks like they would be harder work than BumGenius... I'm not sure. The nice thing: the price is right. I can get 8 diapers for around 55 dollars. Has anybody tried Kushies out there? Is there anything you have to say about Kushies? How about another brand that you're pleased with? I'd like to be able to buy enough diapers to diaper my daughter for a day, day and a half for around 50 dollars. Any suggestions? I would be glad if you could suggest anything! Thank you!

Oh, by the way, I'm looking at the Basic Kushies toddler diapers... nothing fancy. Just something she can poop in lol.

Eden's Bouquet Gift Certificate!

You can win an Eden's Bouquet Gift Certificate!

• 1st place: $250
• 2nd place: $100
• 3rd place: $50

Just click here for more details on how to win!

Earth Mother's Day Giveaway

Crunchy Domestic Goddess is having a huge giveaway event on her blog! Aren't you glad that I've been keeping an eye out for all of these giveaways? CDG is giving away a ton of earth friendly products for mom this holiday! Go ahead and check them out! Just click on the button below.

Here Comes the Rain! *sob*

We were supposed to go to the ocean yesterday, Monday, for the first time since last August. I was really excited. We love the ocean! It is so calming. It is a second home! Unfortunately, the tax return didn't arrive as expected. Today, Tuesday, is the last sunny day for more than a week! Ugh! It's supposed to be raining every day (except today) in the next ten days! Oh that's so depressing to think about! The sun has been so nice... such a nice break from that nasty rainy weather we always seem to get around the Northwest. Frankly, I don't CARE if there's going to be May flowers. I don't care if I ever see another May flower again. Let's just get to the stinking SUNSHINE already!!! Ugh!