Macklemore and Seattle

The ACLU is holding a contest to win a trip to Seattle to see Macklemore in concert and meet him. I would LOVE to win this contest, but I need YOUR help. Please enter the contest through the link on this post, even if you are not really interested, it will up my chances of winning the contest. It would make a great mini vacation for my husband and I, as we haven't gone anywhere major since we went to Orlando back in 2010.  The concert is on December 12th, so you can also think of this as an early Christmas present for the both of us as well as a birthday present for Joe. Your entries will really help out so please go enter. Thank you so much :)

Help me win a trip to Seattle to see and meet Macklemore!

'No' vs Babywearing

I babywear my son when we go shopping, it keeps him close to me, I can still grab stuff I need, and I know he isn't running around with the risk of getting lost. I was told that I need to teach him the word no, and then he wont get lost, and he wont be attached to me. 1) No, doesn't work for a nearly 22 month old, it just upsets, and then they are back to what they were doing. I honestly think this word is very ineffective and should be used sparingly. 2) I ENJOY wearing my son, and he enjoys it too. We are both comfortable doing it, and honestly in a year or so he will be too big/wont want to..I have absolutely NO issue with his being attached.

Remembering Newtown.

Okay,  I want to talk about is the shooting that happened friday in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. As Im sure the entire country knows,  a man shot his mother in the face at their home, then went to the school she worked at as an aid and shot 26 more people..20 of who were students..kindergardener students..none of the children were over the age of seven. The man who did this took the cowards way out by shooting himself. People are saying we need to forgive this man for what he did. I honestly believe what he did is unforgiveable...he went to the school with the intent to kill thkse innocent children. Its been reported that he tried to buy firearms of his own (he used his mothers) and was denied. Its been confirmed he went into the school with a bullet proof vest on..no matter the man's situation, he KNEW what he was doing, he HAD it planned out.  I believe in forgiveness if the action wasnt premeditated..I forgive drunk drivers whk crash and kill the passengers in the other vehicles, speeders who crash and kill, etc..because those accidents werent premeditated. Most murders are...so no, I dont believe in forgiveness for those who murder...especially those who murder innocent children. These children wont get to know what it feels like to grow up and experience the joys of it. Their parents and other family members are going to have an empty Christmas...all because of this man.

There are a few things I want to do in memory of the victims. I already bought a sympathy card to send to the school, I plan to get that sent tomorrow. I want to donate to any funds they have open. I want to make a beaded bracelet in memory. And I want to do a balloon release on Christmas morning .. twenty balloons in memory of the twenty children whose lives were cut short.

First Dentist Appointment

Watch "Declan's first Dentist appointment" on YouTube

'That' is NOT a 'Thing'! He is a living breathing human being with a name!

Yesterday (Monday the 13th) My fiance and I went see the President at a park in our town, we also took our 15 month old son (Declan). We were standing there, in the crowd, and Declan was a bit of a fussy baby..it was hot and he was hungry, we hadnt gotten his snacks out yet because we were still trying to find a place to stand. Anyways, I was trying to get him to calm down a bit, and this older lady (in her late 50's at least, probably mid to late 60s, even 70s honestly) looks over and says in the rudest tone I have ever heard in my life "Couldn't you have left THAT at home?" I turned around and snapped "wow, rude much?!" and she said "yeah, well those 'things' need to be kept at home for these events" ... I was pissed off so much..this event was FREE, and there were so many people there that it was loud all over..and they had enough speakers set up that you could hear the introductory speakers just fine..as well as Obama. ..not to mention the fact that this happened before anything had EVEN started. I feel I handled it well, but I also feel like I should have said more.. No one should be so rude that they call a little one a 'That' or a 'thing' .. they are living breathing human beings with a name..and apparently unlike this lady, feelings.

Bringing babies to the theater

This topic has came up quite a bit since the recent events in Aurora, Colorado.

In the event of this senseless tragedy, a couple had brought their 3/4 month old and their 4? year old to the Midnight premiere of the movie.

Those of us who dont agree with bringing a baby to the movie theater are getting attacked left and right, people are assuming we are calling these parents bad parents (though I will say the father's actions in the situation are very questionable, but I wont get into that). I don't think it is BAD PARENTING persay, but I would say it is VERY inconsiderate and rude to those around you..not to mention the volume level can hurt a baby's ears. If you want to take your baby to a movie, take him or her to a kids movie, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, where there won't be a full house. Dont take your baby to a midnight movie permiere of a HIGHLY anticipated movie! If you can't get a sitter, don't go..plain and simple..the movie is NOT going to change any from when it comes to theaters to when it comes out on bluray/dvd/netflix. If you want to take your baby to the movie, find out if your local theater does movie days/times for children, with the volume set a little lower. I dont go to the movies to hear babies crying, unless the crying baby is IN the movie..it is about respect to the people around you...people need to stop putting themselves before everyone else...

now, just because I disagree with bringing your kid to a midnight movie, does not mean I think you're a bad parent/Im a perfect parent...

Extended Rear Facing

So, this might stir stuff up but.

Today, I went to Ames to go to the library/take Declan to his grandma's. Diana asked me to pick up Joe's nephews (Jack and Jon) Jon is old enough to be out of a car seat, so i didnt have to worry about him..seeing as I didnt want to turn Declan's seat around and I dont think Jack is over the weight, I just put Jack in Rear Facing. He is like three years old...guess what people, he was NOT uncomfy, did not complain that he couldnt see (I could see him looking around through the mirror that we have up for Declan) .. none of that stuff people use as an excuse to prematurely forward face their kiddos...

Soo you're excuses REALLY dont work for me anymore :)