They're ready for order!

Remember my post on these wonderful kits last month? I just received email confirmation this morning that orders are ready to be processed at the website!! Here's a little review to bring you up to speed.

Emergency situations can happen anytime, anywhere - even in the comfort of home. Baby MEDBASICS® gives you the tools you need to give your Infant the care he or she needs while help is on the way. Keep Grandma, Grandpa and the babysitter 100% informed with the Baby MEDBASICS® home pack. Our larger, more comprehensive pack designed for home use• Hangs conveniently on a hook or doorknob so you'll always know where to find it.

• Color-coded tabs help you quickly identify each topic.

• Topics include: CPR, Choking, Fever, Bleeding, Burns and Poison

• Spiral binding keeps the pages open while you help your little one.

• Detailed instructions with easy to follow illustrations.

• Instructions for what to include in your baby's medical history.

• A checklist to help you prepare for an emergency.

• A page for your emergency contact information.

• An inside pocket to keep your child's important health documents easily within reach.

For more info on the Home and Travel Packs, check out the Medbasics website.

I've been bitten... something fierce!

So after my love affair with Twilight, I found myself twitching with the need to continue forward in the series, and rather swiftly- patience is not something I have much of. It's been a few days since I completed the series and I'm still feeling just as I did after first meeting dear Edward in Twilight a couple weeks ago. Ridiculously in love with a fictional being is perhaps the most exuberant feeling one can conjure up. And quite convenient for the married woman if I might add. Being head over heels for a character in a novel=no harm done to husband's ego or territorial instincts.

Amidst my uncontrollable love and adoration, I managed to infect a few of my amigas- and all it took was a few sentences for them to fall just as hard, and as fast, as I did. What a lucky 17 year old vampire Edward is :) Girls and Women everywhere can't keep their minds off of him! It's as if the definition of most women's ideal soul mate (even though we didn't know this until we met him) has been created out of words, expressions and thoughts. Flawless... What's most amazing to me, is how the characters of the book, Edward in particular, stay with you. Like a seed is planted, and it lives and grows inside of your brain. Not a day has gone by that I haven't been marvelling at my new found love! Husbands everywhere are screaming "You're such a nerd," at their wives, all while rolling their eyes at the very thought that we could be so involved with a book. Most don't seem intimidated by the thought of Edward, which is comforting- no fighting now boys ;) My own darling husband refers to him as "Frances" because he couldn't remember his name and made something completely ridiculous up to antagonize me.

He's benefiting from this sickness though too- well really, everyone I know is. Either I have infected them and their now living in their own little Edward Cullen loving world, or they are blessed with the new and improved ME. I have discussed this among friends and discovered I am not alone when I say that the books have changed me. As a full time, stay at home Mother raising 2 small boys, owning and operating a business, being the good wifey and still coming up short- you could say a fire escape looks mighty tempting to me. Reading these books, was like jumping out the fire escape for a while, getting some fresh air, resetting my patience and self control, falling in love and then stumbling back inside, dopey grin and all- to resume my duties. Now I can get the same effect by simply reminiscing the words in my mind at any time of day. It's like an instant drug that changes the way I see reality all together. I am stronger, happier, peacefuller, lighter, better... so many things, all good things too, have started emerging from their little hiding places inside of me. Born again, through the will of a vampire. Who would have thought?

So, everyone has my complete recommendation for the Twilight series, for so many reasons! I am attempting to come down from my high just a tad this week to get back into the swing of things and catch up on some neglected and abused areas of my life (the laundry and other miscel chores for example). Will I ever move on from here? Hmmm... hope not :)

What I'm reading... (read, actually)

I get frequent emails from Borders full of new and exciting reads, discounts etc, and had been seeing a lot about this summer's hot release-- Breaking Dawn. Not only was Borders flooding my email with it, I saw it everywhere. Up until this week I had been able to resist it's flurry and temptations. After all, I have a large stack of books I need to catch up on anyways, and put off any interest in this hot item due to lack of free time. Then it arrived.

It was a rainy Wednesday evening when my husband walked through the door with the package. I'd been waiting for it, though I didn't know what IT was. A relatively new and interesting friend had asked me earlier in the day if I'd received a package yet. Much to my dismay, the doorstep was bare. When husband walked casually through the door holding the box that evening, I attacked him with eager anticipation. I ripped open the box, ignoring his confused expressions and questions- and there it was. The window out which I would be escaping my long, less than stimulating day, into a mesmerizing world of unconditional love and adoration. Twilight had arrived. (Along with an exciting and beautiful book for my boys to enjoy. Perhaps my new friend had sensed I would also need an offering for them to go along with my "I'm sorry Mommy's been preoccupied" apology?)

Immediately after dinner I recessed myself to the couch and dove into what I knew would be a promising adventure. I am drawn to Rosalie (new friend) partly because of her exceptional taste in... well, everything. Being gifted with something that you KNOW will not disappoint you hardly requires any effort to indulge in. And that I did. And it felt wonderful. Yes, felt. My favorite part of reading novels, is when you are forced by intrigue into allowing your mind to fabricate the characters and the scenes from your perception- and then fall madly in love with them.

The story bleeds somewhat of a forbidden love between an utterly attractive, fascinating vampire and a slightly reckless, yet average seventeen year old human- it's mesmerizing. Not only did I guiltlessly live through teenage nostalgia episodes, I also open heartedly indulged in a raging passion for love, and life. Quite the far cry from my average daily routine, that's for sure! I compare this guilty pleasure to say... eating a row of delicious Oreos in a single sitting while the kids are napping. (Which I did!!) It's too hard to stop, and no one is looking, so you don't have to! And I feel all the better for it. In fact, I will be sneaking off to the book section during our weekend shopping trip, to seek out the second of the series- New Moon.

I am so thankful to Rosalie for sharing her obsession, and am beyond eager to continue this mission through the Twilight series, it just feels sooo good!! Go ahead, allow yourself to be tempted- it may be pleasantly surprising. Unlike the countless other surprises you're faced with everyday (a toddler in bowel movement training flying sans diaper this afternoon, for example...). Happy indulging :)

Momma's Bliss- Starter Project!

I LOVE to do anything that involves my children’s development. This varies from driving them to dance practices, participating in the PTA, going to church with them or just hanging out watching movies. Without them I wouldn’t be MOM…they make everyday worth living and are my true JOYS in life. Something as simple as wrapping her little hand around my finger and snuggling in a blanket; following me around the house trying to do everything mommy does, she says "Larissa do it too?" which makes me feel like her hero; coming home from work to her squealing with delight, throwing her arms up for me to pick her up, and saying "Yay Mommy!" Having my son and my husband fight to see who gets to kiss me first and the most! "Mommy get up, baby brother's up and needs me to play." When they show love for each other in any way I know I have succeeded as a mother. An example with Annabella was today on our walk to school she told me what a STOP sign meant and how she knew that it was a STOP sign. With Aiden it's when he laughs in his sleep. When Oliver looks straight into my eyes and blesses me with a drooling toothless grin. This seemingly small gesture melts away any stress that had built up after a poopy diaper blowout or a long crying spell. the small amount of time that I get to be me, not mommy or wife, just me. [My Husband] will force me to leave the new babe with him while I reconnect with the outside world. I love spending time with my children and the look in their eyes when we are all just bonding together! Knowing inside of that little body is a person who loves unconditionally, especially you; to watch a child grow in their culture that we created for them; knowing that they need us as much as we need them; open mouth kisses!; then hugging your neck as tight as they can, not wanting to let go. Mostly, the things you can not see. It has to be when I hear my daughter stand up for herself in a cute-girlie way! I feel so proud to know that when she thinks I'm not watching or listening she can take care of herself and doesn't let anyone guide her! That and when shes asleep she looks like an angel! and Margaritas with the girls is always pure bliss!!!!!!! Hiding behind a book or magazine secretly listening to the conversations my 2 year old has with his Dad when they think I’m not paying attention! Starting every morning with my little boy’s screechy voice-- “Hiiiii Momma, Hiiii Baby!” Waking up on Sundays in my husband’s arms to the sound of our kids squawking on the baby monitor (as long as it’s past 8am!) knowing we get Dadda home to ourselves alll day.

Must-Have Product Alert!

I got word of this new product via email today and took the time to go check out their website and become further educated. I know I worry about these types of emergencies frequently and I'm quite sure my CPR certification from high school won't hold up in a real situation! Check out the product and sign up on their site to receive news on the product launch. Seeking perfect baby shower gift? This may be it! They also make a convenient travel sized kit for easy transport.

HOME PACK
Your essential what to do guide to infant emergencies.
Emergency situations can happen anytime, anywhere – even in the comfort of home. Baby MEDBASICS® gives you the tools you need to give your Infant the care he or she needs while help is on the way. Keep Grandma, Grandpa and the babysitter 100% informed with the Baby MEDBASICS® home pack.
• Hangs conveniently on a hook or doorknob so you’ll always know where to find it.• Color-coded tabs help you quickly identify each topic.• Topics include: CPR, Choking, Fever, Bleeding, Burns and Poison• Spiral binding keeps the pages open while you help your little one. • Detailed instructions with easy to follow illustrations.
Also includes: • A checklist to help you prepare for an emergency. • A page for your emergency contact information. • An inside pocket to keep your child’s important health documents easily within reach.
Colors: blue, pink, and cream/taupe