One day at a time...

Rites of passage

Today, sadly, Ally and I attended a Funeral Mass for our friends Dad (and Grandpa). I brought Ally along becasue she and J. were good friends at one point, and I am friends with her Mom, who's name, oddly enough, is Wendy Lee, too.

Another friend came in, without her daughter, and said, Oh, Ileft my girls at home, I didn't want to expose them to this. Its her kids, her decision, but I think absoultely it was the best place for Ally. I think that at age 9 she is old enough to experiece  the rituals of death, the rituals of the Mass of Christian burial.(We attend a Presbyterian church) and how it affected everyone. I was glad for her to see that it was also a celebration of J's Grandpa's life, even though there was a lot of sobbing going on.

Chian and Earthquakes

My heart is breaking for those poor people in China who were affected by the terrible earthquake.  I cannot imagine being one of the parents wondering where their child is, not being able to get to the school or even if there, to look for your child.  The numbers are astounding- 12, 000 people  or more?   All I can do is pray for them all, but I feel so helpless for them .

It's May....

And its FREEZING.

That's it. I'm cold. I need these 46 degree days to end, please.

Sigh. Someone remind me of this in mid August  when I'm HOT!

:)

Happy Mother's Day...

Today, I was feted and loved and gifted by my children and husband.   I am sop thankful for my children,and the opportunities that I have with them. I am good mom. It's nice to have a day, but I'd be ok with skipping it.  But, Mother's Day still makes me sad.

You see, I miss my Mom.Listen to this song:

Here's the lyrics's:

Is it me, Or have I deceived myself
I thought I heard you call my name
Out in the pouring rain
I really thought...
I thought I saw your face
But after a second look
I saw I made a clear mistake

Mother I miss you
And nights I just wish you
Were here with me
So we can laugh and talk again
Mother I miss you
But I'll just kiss you
And send it on the wind
'Cause you know
I plan to see you again

So much I wanted to show you
So much I wanted to give
I thought our time
Would be much longer
Missing my best friend

Mother I miss you
And nights I just wish you
Were here with me
So we can laugh and talk again
Mother I miss you, I miss you
But I'll just kiss you
And I'll send it on the wind
'Cause you know
I plan to see you... again.
 

My Mom died  4 years ago. I wake on Mother's day thinking of her, wishing for her.   I'd give anything to have one more conversation with her, see her eyes just one more time, hold her hand. I entered this contest today on this amazing photographers website to win a photography session of your children,a and I asked if it would be all right to have a session with Mom  and Kids.  You see, Idon't have many photos of my Mom and myself as a child. I have lots of them when I an grown, when I realized the importance or it.  But, to have e photo of my mom and I smiling, laughing at something silly when I was a a kid would be priceless.  Here is my recommendation today for all mothers, if possible.

Go out and take a photo of you and your children.  Smile, be silly, don't worry if your hair is all right, and  if the clothes are perfect.  Look at your child with all the love in your heart, let it shine through your eyes, and  have someone to snap the photo. I guarantee that one day your child will be eternally thankful to have the photo.   I wish I had one.   

Breast Fed Babies are Smarter

Did you hear about this study that says that  babies that are breast fed exclusively are smarter than babies that had formula?  Now I have to wonder:

I nursed Ally for 10 1/2 months, exclusively, until she went on a nursing strike and switched over to formula for 1 1/2 months. From then on she started on milk, and homemade, organic baby food.

Aedan, I nursed until he was 2 1/2 years old. His only experience with a bottle of formula was when he was 2 weeks old, I had surgery and had to pump and dump for a bit until I was able to stop taking medications.  He ate organic food,  jarred food, whatever we all ate ( you know, 2nd baby syndrome) but he nursed longer.

Is one smarter than the other?  Did I give one more attention than the other?    I used those moments of "Only Aedan and I" as alone time with him as I nursed him, otherwise I was chasing a busy 3 year old and sharing my attention with her.  They are both smart, happy, well adjuted kids (well, mostly!)

I'm interested in hearing YOUR thoughts on this. Please share!

Nuetering costs HOW MUCH

If you've read any of my puppy posts, you'll know I am a responsible pet owner. I vet my dogs, they get all their shots, and whatever they need.  So, I waited until my pups turned a year, and got ready neuter them. I called my vet- It is OVER $500 to neuter the dog that is "normal". My dog Winkie not only has one eye, but also has one testicle. yes, he has cryptorchidism, or undescended testicles. So, that mean his will be even more, because he'll need exploratory surgery to find and remove that wayward bugger.  It's even more important to neuter him, because dogs who have this also have a higher chance of getting testicular cancer. What's more, they are not always sterile, (they usually have one good testicle) so they can and do pass on the trait, therefore a dog with an undescended testicle should ALWAYS be neutered!

Of course, I'm going to do it no matter the cost,  (I have a great lead on a low cost neutering clinic, please pray they'll help me!) but I couldn't help but think that maybe the cost of spaying and neutering is what keeps some people from "fixing" their animals. I thought long and hard about this - would I rather see a dog "fixed" but unloved in shelter, or loved dearly  but intact.  what do you think? 

ARGHHHH

The past few days were yucky out- cold and wet and rainy and just NOT spring weather. So,  today is FINALLY nice, and guess what?

I HAVE A COLD. ARGH!. Maybe its' just allergies, but really, now, enough already. 

I want to be outside in the warm sunshine,  planting bulbs.  Geez.

We did go to Rye Playland yesterday for Mayfair.  It was fun, but FREEZING. So cold that there were not many people there at all. Aedan rode the Dragon Coaster with me, the brave boy!  Maybe all the pollen from the beautiful flowers is what is making me (and Aedan, too) sick. Oh, well, it was worth it.

YAY- I won! GO SAHM's!

Look what I got in my mail today.....

Congratulations Wendy!  Your comment was the big winner in the b5media Business Channel's "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" contest. A Barnes and Noble gift certificate is on its way to you!

Thanks for participating!

~  taxgirl

kelly.erb@b5media.com

www.taxgirl.com

Thanks for reading!

Oh, yeah, baaby (yes, you know how it's said)! This blog post about my job as a SAHM won!    A Stay At Home mom won the Business Channels contest. It's hard sometimes, even  knowing you are doing the best thing for you and your family, not getting the respect that other high powered moms get- I know my job is as important, im my view, even more so, but it sure is great being validated!

Thanks, everyone for your vote!   Remember to tell all the SAHMs you know  that they are doing a great job at the BEST job!

What a cool contest!

I love Blogging contests, I really do. I saw this one, The NETFOOL Outrageous Contest and waas BLOWN AWAY!

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Check them out for yourself:   

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Miley Cyrus

I'm wondering what others think about this Miley Cyrus  photos  think going one.  You know, the one where she is upset about the way a photo came out, (It really was a somewhat suggestive pose, in my opinion)    and apologized for it in advance. She said :  "My goal in my music and my acting is always to make people happy. For Vanity Fair, I was so honored and thrilled to work with Annie [Leibovitz]. I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed."  This was, of course, in the same interview that quoted Miley as saying her favorite show is Sex in the City.  (and I'm a Mom who wan't let her kids watch "The Suite Life of Zac and Coty " after the episode where the twins were obsessed with finding a way to get a girl alone in their dad's apartment- even showed them settingthe stage for ramance with candles, music, ect-It's Disney Show, too!)

Look at these other poses:  I don't think I'd want my daughter acting like this at 15.  where were her parents?  The were there? Who was watching out for her?? I'm sorry, but I can't imagine letting anyone take pics of their YOUNG  daughter in a pose that suggests that she is nude.  (or nearly)

What also bothers me are some of the pics taken of Billy Ray and Miley. They are not  normal father daughter shots, but fairly suggestive.See this video on the shoot Not the kind of pics I'd chose for my family. I suppose the worst part of the whole thing for me was my 9 year old daughter's reaction-she was disappointed in Miley. She said, "I used to look up to her, and now I don't.". There are so few people in show business that our children are able to look up to now, especially young girls. I can get started on a rant about how we sexualized our daughters at younger and younger ages, but that's another post.

I'm interested in other opinions. Do your daughters care? Do you care?  Am I out of my mind? (don't answer that last one!)