Mom of the Year

Mom of the Year - she is not what you think. Let me take a moment to explain. This morning I was working from home while a person (who said he would be there at 8 am, but really arrived at 9 am) was doing some installation work for us, when I get a phone call from my husband asking me why I wasn't at 4K orientation for our son. I look at the calendar on the fridge for the school and I see orientation for this weekend, which I had on my calendar, but nothing for this morning. I call the school and they oh-so-politely inform me that, yes, today is registration and I should have received some information with a schedule according to last name to come today to pay book fees, pick up the school supplies (did order those), etc. I frantically look through all the letters and paperwork, but I have NOTHING with that information. Hysterically call my husband to see if he can go to the school, because remember, I am at the house with the installation guy, waiting for him to finish his work all while working from home. Note: Everything with the school registration has worked out and my son is set for the school year. Despite that, here's what was going through my mind: failure, being disregarded as a good mom because I missed one thing that I didn't even have information on and all of those other awful feelings of letting your child down. This is the next thing that came to my mind: Mom of the Year - who is she? Is she the mom who never forgets a lunch, always looks flawlessly put together or never seems ruffled? Or, is she me - the mom who makes mistakes, but loves her children so very much that she would die before she let anything happen to them? Mom of the Year (MOTY) is a tongue-in-cheek refernce to mom's who are trying their damnedest but who occasionally let their kids eat a sandwich three nights in a row, or who forget a 4K registration or who even (GASP) forget to brush their kids teeth one night because they are so exhausted from trying to hold everything else together that something is bound to slip through the cracks. My girlfriends and I often present MOTY awards to each other for various things like using the 30-second rule - you can eat that chip you dropped on the ground at the birthday party that sat there for a full 30 seconds and became infested with harmful germs. No big deal. Or, you don't change your baby's wet diaper the second he fills it up because you are trying to cook, change out laundry and yell at your oldest child for kicking the dog. So fellow MOTY's, here's to us and all the mistakes we will make. Like leaving four bottles of pumped breast milk out on the counter overnight and having to pour it down the drain as you cry hysterically because it is like burning cash that you were going to spend at the Nordstrom half-year sale. For those of you who are perfect mom's - you have my admiration and your kids are lucky to have you. Stay tuned for more Mom of the Year stories. There are thousands to share!

Alabama Livin'

I was telling someone the other day about our trips to Alabama and what we do. I think this person was wondering if I wear camo the entire time and that my child runs barefoot all over the countryside.

While some of that may be true, I had to tell them what we do when we go to visit our Alabama family and I have to tell it sounds pretty good.

My parents live out in the country. They have a beautiful home that is nestled snuggly between a hay field, woods and water. They have a natural spring beside the house that feeds in to a pond which feeds in to a creek. Yes, when I was younger we played in the spring, pond and creek.

You can see deer, rabbits, turkeys and a whole host of other creatures while sitting at the table enjoying breakfast.

Evenings involve sitting outside on the porch in front of a fireplace with music playing, delicious food and the occasional adult beverage. If it is football season, the Alabama game will be on.

We definitely do not go hungry while we are there. And, my son does not go without love and attention while we are in Alabama. We get to visit with parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, siblings, grandparents and so many people who love us. We are blessed!

So that is just a little bit about what we do in Alabama. Roll Tide!

Here's to you Grandad!

My mom's dad passed away 11 years ago today. My blog today is what I wish I could say to him.

Hey Grandad,

I hope Heaven is treating you well! I hope they are enjoying the sound of your boisterous laugh, your jokes and sayings and your great attitude. Do you get to watch baseball and take naps? I miss all of those things about you more than I can ever say.

I wish you were here and could be around my son. He is a character, a lot like me. He is so personable, fun, loving and I know that you would love and adore him like we all do. He is going to be a big brother next year, and I know he will be a great. He loves his family so much and I wish he could have met you.

Rach got married this summer and she was the most beautiful bride you have ever seen! She married a wonderful guy and is doing well. I know you would be so proud of her. We had such a great time with the entire family - we even got Mom Hilde out on the dance floor!

I can still hear you saying "kid, how's it going?" or "where ya been, kid?" Coming to your house and spending time with you and Mom Hilde are some of the best memories of my life.

Mom Hilde still misses you just as much now as the day you died. She still honors your memory like the most faithful wife I have ever seen. Your example of marriage, even when you drove Mom Hilde crazy, is one I carry with me to this day. I am not crazy enough to think it was perfect all the time, but I do know how much you loved each other. I remember how much you laughed and talked, the kind things you did for one another and how it delighted you to make her happy.

I miss you Grandad. After 11 years, I still miss you.

Love always,
M

For the readers: Mom Hilde is my grandmother in case you weren't sure.

Mommy Card Sample

Mommy Cards!

Hi all,

I decided to do a new project: Mommy Cards! I did not want to give out the business cards I use for work, and I wanted new teachers, baby sitters and other mom-friends to have my personal information. So, I decided to design my own cards. They have been so well received by friends and family that I decided to start selling them.

I have included a sample in this post of the design I did for myself. I can design cards that have your child's photo, allergy, pediatrician info or whatever information you want on the card.

The pricing is $37 for 250, $43 for 500 or $55 for 1000. The cards are full-color, printed on one-side and you can do either a matte or gloss finish. I can do matching notecards too!

Please contact me at mlharbor@bellsouth.net if you are interested.

From the Mouth of a Little Boy

My son is a very talkative, energetic young man. He is a lot like me in that he does not really like silence when people are in a room, car or other confined space. I have come to appreciate the few moments of peace and quiet when they come.

The other night, I was pretty tired after working all day and I was cooking dinner while A was in the living room watching a little TV and unwinding from his long day. As I was cooking, and not hearing anything from the living room, I said, "Hey A! What are you doing?" He responded, "Watchin' TV!" Cool. He wasn't in to anything and had not escaped the house.

A few days later one of our air conditioner units had gone out so we had to rearrange our sleeping situation so that we could sleep in a cool room. Let me tell you that A has slept in his own bed since day 1. He does not sleep in our bed at all. When the air went out we moved an inflatable matteress to another room to sleep - my husband opted to stay in our bedroom and be hot. I just couldn't do that.

So A and I pile up on the inflatable matteress since our rooms were the hottest, and we lay down to go to sleep. A few minutes into laying there, after he had thrashed about like a fish on dry land, he said, "Mommy, what you doin'?" I sighed, and said "Sleeping." To which he responded, "Why you sleepin'?"

As you can imagine the conversation continued from there until he finally drifted off to sleep. I couldn't get mad at him for asking me what I was doing since I do it to him all the time, and I couldn't help buy smile as that is one more way I realize that he is my child through and through.

Homemade Ice Crem Recipe

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

You need an ice cream maker (duh). We got ours at Target - it is an Aroma 4-qt. Traditional Ice Cream Maker and is about $65.

Items you will need:
Rock Salt
3 cans Sweetened Condensed Milk (you can use fat free if you like)
Milk (I use 2%)
Vanilla

I put the metal container that holds the ice cream in the freezer before I get started. I don't know that it actually does anything, but I like for it to be super cold.

Place 6 cups of cold milk in the metal container. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of vanilla. Add 3 cans of sweetened condensed milk. Put the lid on the top and set it down in the bucket. Once you get the crank on, and get it situated, you add the rock salt and ice.

I do a sprinkle of rock salt on the bottom and about an inch or two of ice, followed by more rock salt and then another inch or two of ice. I continue this until the ice meets the top of the container.

Once I turn it on, I add about a half cup of cold water.

It usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour and then you have delicious homemade ice cream. You can put it in the freezer before you serve, or serve it straight out of the container.

Enjoy!