Blue New Year

During the holidays you often hear of people saying they're having a "Blue Christmas", but this year, the whole season seemed to have just a spirit of "blah" over it. Everyone, whether financially secure, single, married, divorced, kids, no kids, except for a few jolly souls out there, seemed to have the same feeling this holiday season.

This year was the first without my mom. I won't lie. It was rough. I drank. A lot. I wish I had more. Not the healthiest, I know this in my heart of hearts, but I didn't get smashed, drive, or drink while the kids were awake, and 99% of the time I was with others.

I wanted to stay in the bed, with the comforter pulled over my head, and live off of cocoa and yogurt, but I knew that wasn't a possibility. The kids were more devastated that they couldn't go to grandma's on Christmas morning like we usually did for breakfast and presents from Santa. It sounded like it was all about the presents, but I think it was their way of dealing with it.

My sister had her party on Christmas Eve, like she always does, then my dad came by on Christmas Day. He graced us with only a few hours, and it was rough. Especially because he's only given us a few hours less than a handful of times over the course of the year. Like an ass, I thought that after my mom passed away, my father would step up. Join our family, and my children's lives again. Visit the school for Grandparents day, and go to recitals, and all of the things a normal grandparent does for their grandkids.

I find myself watching people.. at the mall, at the store, even church, and feeling so jealous of them. Mothers and daughters about my age, laughing while carrying bags full of holiday goodies, talking over recipes in the baking aisle, grandmothers giggling with their grand baby every time she raises her toes in the air so grandma can kiss them. Hell, I didn't even take my kids to see Santa Claus this year because he's old.

I still pick up the phone a gazillion times a week to call her. I take pictures of my amazing baby, who's turning into a toddler, doing amazing toddler things, and hit send before I realize that I'm sending a picture to someone in cyberspace, or to whomever inherited her phone number.

Mom's Facebook account is still "here". One of her friends used to play games out of it.. it was her way to stay close to my mom. My sister recently changed the password to it. I cannot tell you how many times I've messaged that facebook account, because I want to talk to her, or vent to her, or have her tell me every thing will work out in the end.

We're at another crossroad in our lives.

Our lease is up.

We don't wish to renew it, but finding another home in our area, in our price range, is proving very difficult.

My husband had a great job here. My heart and head want us to be able to head back up north, but I know it would be difficult to make it through a transition of that magnitude without my best friends. My friends have become my lifeline. My encouragement. The oomph I need when I'm dragging my feet. Perhaps if I felt more mentally and emotionally stable, that might be an option, but right now I'm certain moving back up north is off of the table. On top of that, we can find housing, but finding a job for my husband hasn't been successful. We have a job down here, just no housing.

Until today. We found a house we love. Now we just need to have the deposit, plus security, plus first month.. about $2000. My husband keeps telling me not to stress, and that God provides, but my faith is so jacked this year.

It's the kids bed time now, so I'm going to have to leave this post at this point. I pray that it all works out. I miss my mom like crazy, and I think I need a glass of wine after the kids go to bed. But I'm out of wine, so I'm going to grab the rum. I just want my blankey. And my mommy.  

   

 

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Elf on the Shelf: A Birthday Tradition

Birthdays are the number two (after Christmas, of course!) most requested time for The Elf on the Shelf to visit. In Santa’s Christmas village, the elves have their own special way of celebrating birthdays—a tradition that goes back thousands of years.  Now, at the request of children around the world, Santa has given special permission for his scout elves to share that tradition with the families who love them.  But an elf cannot come to a birthday party unless it is invited.  You can invite your elf online here.

On October 22, The Elf on the Shelf: A Birthday Tradition will be available! The Elf on the Shelf: A Birthday tradition tells the little-known story of the North Pole tradition and includes special instructions for families to invite their scout elf for a birthday visit. Written in the same signature rhyming style as the original title, the book set features the beautifully illustrated book and a Claus Couture Collection birthday outfit for the elf to wear to the celebration.

Grab your Elf on the Shelf: A Birthday Tradition, this Tuesday!  Look at how adorable their party outfits are!! Start a new tradition with your Elf this year.

 Special thanks to Elf on the Shelf for allowing us to review the new Birthday Tradition set. We decided to spread some holiday cheer, and gave our sample to a single mom and her two beautiful children this holiday season.  

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Apps for Education: Art ABC

The iTunes App Store is filled with apps that are designed to enhance childhood learning, but Art ABC truly shines when compared to its competitors. This new application from Oh Factory offers a delightful synergy between the fine arts and learning the alphabet, and it’s sure to be a new favorite amongst parents and children alike.

  

Weaving traditional concepts (using one word to demonstrate the use of each letter in writing, reinforcing the common “ABC” order) with new possibilities opened up by touchscreen and iOS technology, Art ABC combines the best of both worlds. Enhancing children’s alphabet studies with fine arts illustrations is the icing on the cake. Each letter is gorgeously demonstrated using an interactive backdrop from paintings by the likes of Rousseau, Degas, and Renoir.

  

Soothing music, clear narration, and a well-executed, elegantly simple user interface complete the package. Art ABC is, without a doubt, one of the best new educational apps available. It is available for the iPhone and iPad for only $0.99.

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Back to school blues-

This time of the year is always bittersweet. Our babies are growing up..

A little old lady in an elevator told me when I was pregnant with Alex to enjoy every moment, because in a blink they start to walk, in a blink they graduate high school, and in a blink they have families of their own. As we left the elevator, I thanked her, and thought to myself how easy that would be, he was my baby.

Having a child with special needs- especially one who wasn't diagnosed for so long- is hard, I'm not going to lie. Having a child who's smart is hard, too. One way or another you're looked at weird. Your child is different. As a mom, we encourage our children to be different, but when they're born different, most try to shelter or hide that. Why is it?

I love my kids. All three of them are so unique and so special.. They all have different strengths and weaknesses, they all have different features and different voices. Different attitudes, and different skills. I can't wait to see how the baby grows up and the little person he becomes.

But I can.

It seems that it was just a few months ago, when I held Abbie to me as an infant. She's now going into first grade. She's got a brand-new-to-teaching new teacher. She seems very sweet. I'm not bothered by the fact that she was only hired a week ago. She's still young enough, and new enough to have that passion for teaching, to not be burnt out like so many teachers we've crossed paths with, and is still excited about teaching. That excites me.

Alex has the same teacher he had during the last semester last year. This is our first full year in a self-contained ASD class. I'm excited for him, but nervous. He adores his teacher, and actually seems excited that he's going back there. I think he's more excited that his buddy Jonathan is back in his class.

This is the first year that I'm not up, literally making myself sick over worry because of his placement, since he started school.

None of my family and friends understand it. Heck, I don't even think my husband understands it. For the first time since the first day of Kindergarten, I'm excited for back to school.

But then I step back, and watch the both of them get ready. They get their shoes on, make their hair perfect, eat some breakfast, and kiss me good bye as they climb on the bus. And I stop. I remember them little, holding my hand while they drank their bottles, promising them I'd love them forever, and treasure every moment always.

Sometimes it's hard, but I think that's truly being a mom.

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The Third Kid Crazies

That's what one of my friends coined it.. "The Third Kid Crazies". It's stuck, because frankly, it's true. One kid is amazing. Two is fun, a little hairy at times, but nothing nearly as insane as having three kids.

Everyone I talked to while I was pregnant with Baby #3 warned me.

"Just wait and see, the third child just pushes you over that edge that you're barely grasping onto now," {maniacal laugh} says my friend Kat one Friday night.

My friend Stacey has five kids. I know her through the kids school, but we talk on Facebook. She tells me that after three, four and five were much easier. It's my turn for the maniacal laugh.

More kids are not in our future, mainly because my body can't handle it. Perhaps we'll adopt one day. One day after the kids are all old and grown. 

I honestly have no idea how people with more than two kids do it.. it's just grace, I'm sure. But one things for certain, The Third Kid Crazies keeps things interesting.

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New from Danimals: Rally For Recess!

RECESS: The moment children wait impatiently for all day, hoping little Tommy Trouble Maker won’t get into mischief . . . again, and ruin it for the rest of them. The only 15 minutes of the day that is theirs to go wild, scream like an indian chief, and run like Forrest Gump all around the playground just because they “ . . .felt like running!”

Any parent knows that children need this small outlet to burn off some of that energy. Twitchy kids can’t focus, especially when there is a bright shiny blue slide staring at them through their class window, beckoning them to come and play. I am currently going to school to be a teacher and have observed and volunteered in many classrooms. Throughout all of my observations, I have never failed to notice how much more attentive the class was after P.E. and recess. Once they got rid of that extra energy (in the hot Florida sun no less), they were more than happy to come back to the air conditioning, get a drink, and sit quietly and listen to their teachers. I also noticed that the teachers who did not allow recess typically had some crazy kids filling their afternoon hours.

So why is recess being picked on? Sadly, more and more schools are being forced to adopt “no recess” schedules because of strenuous curriculum standards *cough* FCAT and other similar standardized tests*cough*. I am not a fan of such policies, and am all about standing up for our children's needs at school. That is why I was so excited to receive an opportunity to share with you that involves recess, AND one of my kids favorite afternoon snacks—Danimals!

You know, the yogurt snacks that your kids (well, at least mine) beg you for every time you’re trying to pick out dairy products. Danimals are actually one of the few things I give in on; the kids are happy because they think they suckered me into a treat and I get them to eat something nutritious—it’s win/win. But now, there’s another reason to buy these great snacks. It’s called the “Rally for Recess”, and it is a new campaign to help keep recess in schools. We were given a gift card to try a Danimals product, and we (by we-- I mean my eight year old daughter) chose the smoothies. They were really good, and are apparently still “cool” for middle school-ers too, because my son slammed one and then began “monkeying” around with his sister. (I don’t think he has recess at middle school, hahaha)

Now, when you purchase a Danimals product, it comes with a code which you can enter at their contest site: http://rallyforrecess.com . Five schools will win a $20,000 playground make-over and an “Ultimate Recess Day!” When you visit the site, there is a place to register, enter your code, and also some fun stuff for the kids to do as well! Me and my goofballs had a bit of fun creating our own “playground” game levels and playing them. You can also create posters too. The contest is running through February 8, 2012, so go get some Danimals and try and help your kids school! For more information visit: RallyforRecess.com.

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Danimals and received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

www.momcentral.com/mcc

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Kids Foot Locker Nike Shox Review + $50 GC Giveaway and FREE SHIPPING Code!

Looking for some cute new kicks for the kids this summer? Kids Foot Locker has a whole new line of kids sneakers that are sure to please the little ones, and you! We were recently sent a pair of the new girls Nike Air Shox--and they are unbelievable. They are white leather with pink shox and a holographic swoosh. My daughter wore them to school and her friend thought they were so awesome she told her mom she wanted them. Her mother stopped us at the school to see the new shoes (we are friends, she isn't a random classmate) and her only question was, "Do those come in adult sizes?" I laughed and said "I sure hope so because I want a pair too!"

My daughter's review was, "They feel like they massage my feet when I wear them. It's like I'm running on pillows." She is also impressed that the "shox" add an inch to her height, she believes this will be her breakthrough to getting on the big roller coasters at the amusement parks this summer. For a leather running shoe, these are surprisingly lightweight and seem like the perfect shoe for active summer fun. My daughter loves them and wears them everywhere!

Want a new pair of shoes for the kids this summer? Visit Kids Foot Locker now to see the great selection of sneakers for kids of all ages. Kids Nike Shox come in sizes ranging from "Toddler" through "Big Kids", for both boys and girls. And of course the parents out there that want a pair too can check out Foot Locker for their selection of Men's and Women's styles.

Now for the awesome news.. Not only did my daughter get to try a pair out, (and be one of the first kids at school to have these amazing shoes), but our friends at Kids Foot Locker have offered a $50 gift card to one lucky winner to use towards a pair of new sneaks this summer!  Plus, save even more with FREE SHIPPING on your purchase of $50 or more using the promo code: IP22V65N at the checkout. Hurry, because this offer ends soon!

Here's How to WIN!
Visit Kids Foot Locker and tell me which pair of sneakers you would use the $50 gift card towards. Be specific, tell me why you like those kicks, too. Please leave your email in your comment, if it's not in your blogger profile.

Extra Entry Opportunities:

• What's not to like?! LIKE 4BabyAndMom on Facebook
• Follow us on Google Friend Connect (located on right tool bar)
• Subscribe to our feed via email (also on right tool bar)
• Did you grab and share our button? What about our Spring into Summer Button? Double entries for this! (please leave two separate comments)
• SHARE or BOOKMARK this post using the share tool at the bottom of this post.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US, and will end on June 7th, at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced on this post and on our winner's page. We will also email the winner. Winner has 24 hours from the EMAIL to claim his/her prize. Special thanks to Kids Foot Locker for allowing 4BabyAndMom to review these sneakers at no cost and for supplying our winner with one $50 gift card. Our love for Kids Foot Locker and their products is strictly our opinion(s) only, and your experience may differ. No monetary compensation has been received for this post.

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Agoo Argyle Leggings 40% off Coupon + Giveaway to Celebrate International Argyle Day!

Nothing is cuter than a baby with leg huggers.. well, maybe if the leg huggers are argyle! Tomorrow celebrates International Argyle Day, and to celebrate Agoo is offering 40% off of your purchase from now through the end of November! At the checkout just use the coupon code argyle40off to receive your discount.

What are Agoo Leg and Arm Huggers?

Bamboo leggings for your baby, toddler child or tween that provides a colorful splash to their adorable outfits.

There are 33 different designs of arm and leg warmers for you to choose from at Agoo4u.com for boys, girls and babies. One size fits all from infant through tween-age children, and are super cute under just about anything. These innovative, eco-friendly accessories are made from sustainable Bamboo fibres. No complaints about being itchy with Agoo Bamboo baby leg warmers, because they are so soft and silky, and perfect for kids with sensitve skin.

These leggings stretch and still maintain their designs, which is hard to do with most competitor brands. Many tweens have even started wearing them as arm warmers under tee shirts as a fashion statement, and they've grown in popularity in this market tremendously.

Our friends at Agoo have offered 1 of our readers their chance to WIN a three pack of Argyle leggings for their child.

Here's How:
Visit the Agoo Facebook page, click "Like" then leave them a message on their wall. Be sure to let them know that @4BabyAndMom sent you!! Then, come back here, and tell me what you wrote on their page!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

Please refer to our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to claim your prize!

 This Giveaway has been chosen by Prizey.net as a Prizey Editor's Pick!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US &Canada.  This giveaway will end on November 28, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. After winner validates entry, the gift code will be emailed directly to the winner. Please include a valid email address and your user id in your comment. If we cannot find a way to contact you, we will not, we will choose another winner. We do try to email all winners, but due to the volume of giveaways offered on our site, delays can be expected. If you catch your name before we email you, please feel free to contact us first. :) Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. As always, what you have read is strictly the opinion of 4BabyAndMom. Your opinions may differ.

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What's in Your Locker? Kids Foot Locker Asks, Do You Have What You Need?

School is in session ("officially"), all over the country. From Elementary through college, students are scrambling to get back into routine, show off their new fancy kicks, and remember where their classes are.

This is the time of the year that is usually the most hectic for us, simply for the fact that it's now that we realize we don't have enough socks in our drawers- because the sock monster struck again- and that the sneakers he had to have just aren't "cool" enough. Don't forget about the backpack.. it's already got a hole starting in it, because she had to have the pretty pop-star one! Ugh.

Right now it's the "End of Season" for most retailers and finding 'cool-enough' stuff is not as hard as I thought it would be at Kids Foot Locker. We told you about all of their great sales and promotions right before school on Twitter and Facebook, and now, we want to make sure that your child's locker has all of the right gear that will last the whole year long.

From Kids Foot Locker:

Backpacks are not only one of the most essential accessories for its obvious function, but they are a great way for children to express their individual styles. For those looking to make a bold statement, the YakPak Splash Backpack with its burst of color will certainly grab attention. You also want to look for one that is durable enough to lug all those books back and forth while maintaining that desired cool factor. The Jordan collection and Jansport Superbreak have double-shoulder straps to ensure weight is distributed evenly, and is lightweight so your child is comfortable.

Socks- Pulled up to the knees or pushed down to the ankles, it’s all about sock appeal this back-to-school. Fun prints and bold color accents make this one of the hottest classroom trends. Mix and match to create your own style with Littlemissmatched socks (available in packages of three designs) or Kids Foot Locker’s new ultra-lite, low-cut socks for boys and girls.

So now that we're scrambling trying to make sure to get super-cool replacements and restock on fun socks to compliment all of our outfits, we want to make sure that you have everything you need and more!

Our friends at Kids Foot Locker have offered one of our readers their chance to win a $50 gift card.

CONGRATULATIONS!

 Please visit our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to claim your prize.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US. This giveaway will end on September 22, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Please include a valid email address in your comment. If we cannot find a way to contact you we will not, we will choose another winner. We do try to email all winners, but due to the volume of giveaways offered on our site, delays can be expected. If you catch your name before we email you, please feel free to contact us first. :) Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. As always, what you have read is strictly the opinion of 4BabyAndMom. Your opinions may differ.

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Tie Buddies Encourages Kids to Tie Shoes Easily *Review + Giveaway*

Abbigaile is going to Pre-School this year. She will be there all day long, and for the most part I was ok with it until I bought her her book-bag earlier this week. I can't believe my baby is going to school full time. I'm nervous, and excited all at the same time. I may be blowing up Facebook and Twitter next week ridiculously with "OMG my baby is in school" posts.. please just offer me some love and encouragement. It really takes a village sometimes.

Along with all of her back to school supplies, I've purchased her several pairs of shoes, one of which has "real" laces. I must admit, I'm really frustrated that most of the kids shoes on the market right now don't have laces. I firmly believe that it is super important for children to learn how to tie their shoes. Not only to help develop their fine motor skills, but problem solving, and patience, as well.

When Alex was in preschool, he couldn't tie his shoes if I paid him. I wish I knew about Tie Buddies back then, and I am so excited that I've been introduced to them this year!

Invented by a mom, Tie Buddies are these great little squares that attach to shoe laces to encourage little fingers (and minds!) to learn to tie their shoes all by themselves.

Available in both girl and boy colors, Tie Buddies are as appealing to kids as they are parents. In fact, anything that can help with the frustrations of learning to tie shoelaces, is very appealing to parents.

I received our sample to review at the beginning of this summer, and to be honest, Abbigaile wanted nothing to do with them, or her laced shoes. With summer in full force in Florida, she began wearing slide-on's and flip flops almost constantly.. so I waited for when I thought she might be ready to try it again. One of the pairs of shoes she got for back to school has laces, so I was eager to see how she would do.

She has taken to the laced shoes much better than she did earlier this summer, but I'm still trying to encourage her to tie her shoes with her Tie Buddies. At only 4, she's insisting that I do it.. and I will, but every time I offer for her to try. I have a feeling that very soon she will want to try it on her own because I catch her playing with her laced shoes while they're on the shoe rack, attempting to tie them without anyone looking.

I think that for a child in kindergarten, or a child who really wants to learn how to tie their shoes, Tie Buddies would be a great product for them. I do like how Tie Buddies work, and the fairy and magic wand on the tabs themselves. I really think that when she's ready, that Tie Buddies will really help her out.

Our friends at Tie Buddies have offered a package of Tie Buddies to one lucky reader!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US. This giveaway will end on August 21, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. This product was provided to me at no cost by Tie Buddies to review. As always, what you have read is strictly the opinion of 4BabyAndMom. Your opinions may differ.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

Please refer to our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to claim your prize.

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Jumpstart Online Provides Educational Fun for PreK-age 10! Review + GIveaway!

About a year ago our family was introduced to JumpStart, an online educational program for children from preschool through about 6 years of age. When we first reviewed JumpStart, my son loved it. He went on for about 6 months almost daily.. and then it slowly faded. He went on every now and then, when the themes changed because of a holiday, or because he wanted to play on the computer. He loved seeing the new changes, but the educational games were not so educational for him any more. As a gifted kid, he runs into that problem often.


When summer began, on rainy days or 'boring' days Alex started visiting again, and noticed there were tons of changes. You can have a pet dragon now, (when I visited with him earlier, it was sleeping!), and there are more areas on the map. The Jumpeez (avatars, computer people, characters) can interact with their pet dragon and go through these different areas and worlds ('like Future Land and Story Land', Alex says), on learning adventures. MarineLand, FutureLand, and Uncle Milton’s Amazing Science Land are the new lands, and Alex says 'they're pretty cool', too.

I love hearing him play on JumpStart, and I love listening to him teach Abbie the new worlds. She's starting to get really good at the computer (now that her big brother has given her the ability to work on it alone) and enjoys her little Jumpeez too! The names of the Jumpeez are anonymous and fictional, and always gets a giggle from her as it pops up over her character's head, which is new to her!

Today, we got a "mission" as we signed on, and both of the kids were so excited!

They had to go and find pieces of a treasure map in order defeat an evil Sorcerer that is trying to take all of the energy from JumpStart.

They were even more upset when I told them that they could do their mission tomorrow, as it was bed time.

One of Alex's favorite places on the JumpStart map is the Stadium. At the Stadium, kids can go and play either football, volleyball or basketball (all with an educational twist!). The only thing Alex says that he doesn't like is the fact that they don't have soccer. Overall, he does enjoy all of the new upgrades they have done, and honestly has the desire to play every single day again. He's excited about it, and as a mom, that makes me excited.

I have a tendency to want to try all of the games my kids play, and before they played JumpStart for the very first time screened it completely. That said- I tried playing the volleyball game at level three today, and it was CRAZY! Even though the words are not hard it's like mind-hand-eye coordination at it's finest. Of course, if I wasn't still sick, and had a mouse for my laptop, it may have been easier.. but I digress!

I love the fact that you can link your Facebook account with your JumpStart account, so you can keep track of your kid's progress on Facebook, earn extra coins and meet up with friends (using top-secret-buddy codes to locate them).  If you prefer the traditional way, you can see your child's progress right in your email, or on your account page at JumpStart.com.

The bottom line is, now that Alex is older and brighter, he's found a place that he's familiar with to fit into his world that's both educational and fun. It's fun enough to keep him coming back to it, and once again, advanced enough that he can really learn and sharpen his skills on the educational side of it. The boy is happy, and mom is happy- win, win!

Speaking of winning... Our very good friends at JumpStart have offered one lucky reader their chance to score a 6 month paid subscription to JumpStart online!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!!

Please refer to our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to claim your prize!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US & Canada. This giveaway will end on August 15, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. Disclosure: I received a membership to JumpStart to review at no cost. This did not affect my opinion of the product and any opinions expressed are 100% that of 4BabyAndMom. Your experience with these products, website and companies may differ.

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Tomorrow starts our Back to School Bash! Did you RSVP?

Well, I know Lauren put out the announcement and a few of you grabbed our button and posted it to your blog walls or facebook pages, (HUGE THANKS!!) and are earning extra early bird entries for doing so! I'm so excited for the party to start tomorrow!

We have been working very hard behind the scenes trying to get everything ready to go. We will be working with a very diverse and interesting bunch of companies this month- from Marcal, to Elmer's, to Seventh Generations, to Crayola and so much more. We're even going to have a food week, with special deals, coupons, and giveaways from some of your favorite kid-friendly food products!

We've had a couple of questions emailed or facebooked to us regarding the Back to School Bash, and as always we enjoy hearing from you, our readers on anything and everything- especially when a blog party is involved.

Okie dokie-

If you would like to add our button to your Facebook Page, please copy it from here.. Try not to copy it as a jpg, keep the original file type (png). Then go to your Facebook page, in your status update, tell your friends that you are participating in the Back to School Bash @4BabyAndMom-- As you are typing @4BabyAndMom, there should be a bar that comes up underneath and automatically pulls up our fan page. Click it and it will become a hyperlink sending your friends our way. If you are having a problem getting it to show up as a hyperlink, t-y-p-e-s-l-o-w-e-r. Some times Facebook needs to catch it's breath. ;)


Anyway, then click on attach photo, select our back to school bash button, and post it to your wall. Ideally, we would love for you to put our direct domain- http://www.4BabyAndMom.com - in your status update too, but we'll leave that up to you!

I think that's about it! Spread the word and grab a button!

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Is it September yet?

Technically, I should be asking if it was August yet, because that is when both of my kiddos go back to school. Part of me is kidding, but the other part totally isn't.

The kids have been at each other's throat for the past four days, and I'm ready to pull my hair out. A bald bridesmaid would not be pretty, so I am trying to restrain. Today we have appointments up the wazoo.. I know the first week or so is rough (packed with appointments you couldn't get done while the kids were in school)- but dear God, give me strength.

What are you and YOUR family doing this week?

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Sonicare for Kids Review

Did you know that dentists recommend that kids brush their teeth for two minutes? As the kids have grown, we have gone through many stages of wanting, and not wanting to brush their teeth. When they want to brush their teeth they scrub for much longer than 2 minutes, then I go in and "check" and go over them all again. Entirely way too much time is spent in my home brushing the kids teeth.. from arguing to get it done, and then when it's time to put the brush down.
I always find it so hard to believe that children can get so many cavities. I know that when I was little my teeth were great- horrible teeth didn't start affecting me until I was an adult. Now, if I could afford to have them ripped out and get new ones (of one way or another) I would. Pregnancy took the worst toll on me.. I digress..

That being said, I wish I could say that I take them religiously to the dentist, but until recently we had no dental insurance for our entire family. You want to know my bad mommy confession? I just made my daughter her very first check-up appointment.

When Mom Central asked if I would be interested in participating in the Sonicare blog tour, I jumped at the opportunity.

From Mom Central:

More than half of parents struggle to get their kids to brush for the dentist recommended two minutes. Sonicare For Kids comes to the rescue with a new way to make daily tooth brushing more effective…and fun! This innovative power toothbrush, designed for kids ages 4-10, incorporates patented sonic technology and has features such as the KidTimer to extend brushing time each day until kids reach the recommended two minutes. The unique KidPacer plays musical tones to indicate when to begin brushing another quadrant of the mouth, and interchangeable design panels allow your kids to choose a style that's all their own.

These features can help parents educate their kids about the importance of oral health during daily routines in a fun and memorable way. If you're one of the 60 percent of parents who struggle with getting their children to stick to morning and nighttime routines, simple steps like guiding them on proper brushing techniques can make everyone's schedule a bit more manageable.

Follow the simple ABC's of Sonicare For Kids and in no time your kids will be reminding you when it's time to brush:
• A: Advise your kids on the importance of oral health—just as milk makes for strong bones, brushing makes for healthy teeth and gums
• B: Brush your teeth with your kids and make it fun
• C: Create special moments with your child after brushing, extending this time into your daily routine

When we got our Sonicare for Kids toothbrush, the kids were eager and excited to use it. (It does need to charge for 24 hours before your first use, so make sure you allot that time.) They picked the faceplate that they thought was the coolest- without arguing- and helped me pop it on.

I love that the Sonicare for Kids comes with two different sized brushes- one for ages 7 and up, and the other for kids 4 and up. Both of the heads that came with this brush work for my kids (Alex is 7 and Abbie is 4), so one got the red smaller size, and the other got the big blue one. The body has two settings, also age appropriate, so you get a gentle cleaning mode for mouths of all different sizes.

The Sonicare for Kids vibrations felt ticklish at first, but after the first five or six times, they both got used to it completely. Over the first 90 days, the time gradually increases to the full 2 minutes that dentists recommend. The kids haven't noticed the time starting to get longer at all; they love the little tune it plays when its time to move to the next section of your mouth. 

Every morning and every night both of the kids ask me if they can use it to brush their teeth. I change the heads, but it's simple enough that they could do it by themselves. They put it back on the charger when it needs it, but honestly, it's got one heck of a shelf life- not like other cheaper brands I've purchased in the past. So far, they treat this toothbrush much better than our past tooth brushes, and I always find it in its spot. I feel that their oral hygeniene habits have definitely improved since we've received our Sonicare for Kids toothbrush.

You can find the Sonicare for Kids on shelves at Walmart, at Target, and online at Amazon.com. The price of this unit is approximately $70.



"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Sonicare and received a free Sonicare For Kids toothbrush to facilitate my review.”

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