Wednesday, October 21, 2009

DVD Winner!

Congrats to Cindy for winning my dvd giveaway!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Great Deal From Fisher Price!






Stella was recently the lucky recipient of two awesome toys from Fischer Price. She got to check out the Go Baby Go!™ Stride-to-Ride® Lion. She absolutely loves to push the lion's nose and dance along to the music. It was amazing to see how quickly she figured out what needed to be done in order to make him sing. I've been trying for a week now to catch it on video but as most of you moms with toddlers know nothing ever seems to happen when the camera is rolling! I love that this toy can convert from walker to ride on because it will last that much longer. Right now she mostly pushes/pulls the lion through the house. She occasionally tries to ride on it like her silly big sister but her legs need to be just a little longer.










The second toy that we received was the Laugh & Learn™ Learning Farm . I have to admit that I haven't taken it out yet because we are in the midst of painting just about every room in our house so a new, large toy needs to be held onto for a bit. I know this will be a toy in our home for years to come though because we still have the Laugh & Learn™ Learning Home from when Madison was a baby. These toys have so many different activities that they keep babies entertained for longer than many of the other toys scattered around our home. The Laugh & Learn™ Learning House is still in such great shape after 4 years of use that I will be donating it to a local daycare where the children there can continue to enjoy it. The age range for both the Laugh & Learn™ Learning Farm and Laugh & Learn™ Learning House is 6-36 months but now even at 4 1/2 I catch Madison playing with the house with Stella. If you are willing to spend a little extra to get a toy that will last these


definately check out the Laugh and Learn Learnign Farm and House from Fischer Price.

For a limited time Fisher Price is offering my readers a coupon $20 off a $100 purchase of Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn™ and/or Go Baby Go!™ Infant Toys on their website. Here is the link for the coupon http://clk.atdmt.com/ECH/go/178001898/direct/01/ . Be sure and act quickly though because I've heard that the coupon code has almost reached its limit and will not be availabe much longer. Happy shopping!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Where the Wild Things Are




Have you seen it yet?
If you don't know what I am talking about I am referring to the movie version of Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" that was released in theaters yesterday. I have not had a chance to take Madison yet but I don't think she will stop reminding me that her "favoritest" book is in the movies until I take her.
In the meantime I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of "Where the Wild Things Are And 5 More Stories By Maurice Sendak" from Scholastic's Storybook Treasures. This video was an instant hit in our home. Maurice Sendak's stories "Where The Wild Things Are", "Pierre", "One Was Johnny","Alligators All Around","Chicken Soup with Rice" and "In the Night Kitchen" have all been animated and given a read along function on the dvd. The dvd also comes with "Where The Wild Things Are" stickers. I don't know if it is the same in your house but in my home everything is better when it comes with stickers!
The Scholastic Storybook Treasures lone comes from Weston Woods Studios,"world-renowned for their acclaimed, unabridged film and audio adaptations of best selling children's storybooks." Each dvd is $14.95 and features at least one hour of storytime along with the read along function. The videos can be purchased at http://www.newkideo.com/. The site also features information on new releases, product reviews, activites for children and more.
Although $14.95 is a great price for these awesome videos isn't it always better to get something for free? Yep, I thought so. I have another copy of "Where the Wild Things Are...And 5 Mores Stories By Maurice Sendak" to give away.
Just comment on your favorite childhood book for a chance to win the video. For a second chance to win post about this giveaway on your blog with a link back. Just be sure to let me know if you have a link.
The winner will be randomly selected Wednesday, October 21st. Please make sure you leave me a way to contact you in case you win. Winner must live within the U.S. and must contact me within 3 days of me announcing the winner. If the winner does not contact me within 3 days I will randomly select another winner.
Good luck to all!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

A New Found MeMe

I just came across this meme over at Adventures in Babywearing. It has been such a long time since I've done one of these and this one looked like fun so I've decided to play long.

It's about our children's names.
1. Do you have any cultural or religious naming traditions?
Nope no traditions. I like the boys to have at least a middle name of an older male in our family but Justin thinks they should have their own names. Good thing we haven't had any boys.
2. Did you or your partner come to the marriage with pre-selected names?
Again with the no. We both had names we have always liked but I don't think we've used any of them.
3. Did you consider the sound of the first and middle and last names together? Did this make any sad eliminations?
Yes. I loved the name Hannah (before Montana was popular) and Hailey but that would be way to many H's with our last name.
4. Did you have veto powers?
Oh yeah and they were used quite often. I mean really who names a kid Mako? Yes after the shark.
5. Did the baby naming cause arguments?
Not really but when Stella was born I think Justin realized I was not giving in on the name and just gave in. Now he admits that he didn't like it at first but loves it now and couldn't imagine her with any other name.
6. Do you think it is easier to name boys or girls?
For us we always had more boys names but never a boy to give one to. Isn't that always the way?

7. Did you eliminate names because of people from your past or present who you don’t like or because a certain image comes to mind.
Being a teacher has eliminated many names over the years. I loved the name Ayden until I head a student by that name who was quite the handful!
8. Did you / would you survey your children to get their thoughts on the name?
Unfortunately yes. Madison was origianlly going to be named Shaelynn but so many people turned up their noses that we caved and named her Madison. If I'm ever brave enough to have a third and it is a girl the name will be back on the table and I won;t be telling anyone until the baby is born!
9. Did you tell people the name or possible names before the baby was born or were they “in the vault”?
Again unfortunately yes. Several people couldn't beleive we would name a baby Stella. After all why would you want people to shout out S-T-E-L-L-A? If there is a third the name will remain in the vault!
10. Did you use baby name books?
Oh yeah. Each time the pee stick came out positive out came the baby name books!
Drumroll Please…What did you name your kids?

Madison Elizabeth
Stella Mackenzie (btw my grandmother's name was Antonia Estella (Stella for short) so she is kind of named after her but I really happened to like the name too)

I tag anyone who feels like playing along! Just let me know so I can read your post!