{{ANNOUNCEMENT}} Springtime Soiree Twitter Party

March 2, 2013 by trialbyerrormama

Everyone loves a good giveaway, right?!?

The Springtime Soiree Twitter P arty is brought to you by Mommy’s Craft Obsession with co-hosts Thrifty Nifty Mommy, Viva Veltoro, and My Four Littles!

This great party will have 10 awesome prize packages totaling up to $800! Wow! You do have to RSVP to the event to be able to enter so make sure you head over and do so before March 20, 2013!

Check out below for all of the prize packages. So what are you waiting for? Hurry on over and RSVP!!!

The Prize Packages:

#1 – The Little Teether

The first lucky winner will take home a Nuby USA Twisty Bugz Teether and Hyland’s Baby Teething Tablets! ARV $16.98

Photo Credits: Nuby

Photo Credits: Hylands

#2 – The Baby Wearer –

The second lucky winner will take home an Infantino Mei Tai Sash Carrier & Hyland’s Teething Tablets!
ARV $42.98

Photo Credits: Infantino

Photo Credits: Hyland’s

#3 The Breast Feeder –

One lucky winner will take home a Nuby Rhythm Breast Pump & Sanitation Kit, a Peek Away Nursing Cover, and Hyland’s Teething Tablets! ARV $155.97

Photo Credits: Nuby USA

Photo Credits: Peek Away

Photo Credits: Hyland’s

#4 The Baby Food Maker –

One lucky winner will go home with an Infantino Fresh Squeeze System, a Box of 50 Reusable Pouches, a Silicone Squeeze Pouch, and Hyland’s Teething Tablets! ARV $57.96

Photo Credits: Infantino

Photo Credits: Hyland’s

#5 The Watchful Eye –

One lucky winner will go home with a Dropcam Baby Monitor and Hyland’s Teething Tablets!

ARV $156.99

Photo Credits: Dropcam

Photo Credits: Hyland’s

#6 The Baby Wearer Pt 2 –

Another lucky winner will take home an Infantino Mei Tai Sash Carrier & Hyland’s Teething Tablets!
ARV $42.98

Photo Credits: Infantino

Photo Credits: Hyland’s

#7 The Mom Who Needs Pampering –

One momma will get to go home and pamper herself with Nautropathica’s Cassis Replenishing Cream, Oat Facial Polish (2 oz) and Hyland’s Teething Tablets! ARV $105

Photo Credits: Naturopathica

Photo Credits: Naturopathica

#8 The Cloth Diaper Guru –

One lucky winner will go home with a SoftBums Omni + Stay Dry Pod, a 6 Pack of Woolzies Dryer Balls, a 45/90 bag of Rockin Green Detergent, and Hyland’s Teething Tablets! ARV $84.79

Photo Credits: Softbums

Photo Credits: SoftBums

Photo Credits: Woolzies

Photo Credits: Rockin Green

Photo Credits: Hyland’s

#9 The Baby Food Maker Pt 2 –

One lucky winner will go home with an Infantino Fresh Squeeze System, a Box of 50 Reusable Pouches, a Silicone Squeeze Pouch, and Hyland’s Teething Tablets! ARV $57.96

Photo Credits: Infantino

Photo Credits: Hyland’s

#10 The Homeopathic Lover

One lucky winner will go home with a Hyland’s Baby Gift Basket! ARV $80

Photo Credits: Hyland’s

Above taken from Mommy’s Craft Obsession.”

LINC AND MAMA: Chinese/Vietnamese New Year

February 14, 2013 by trialbyerrormama

Chuc Mung Nam Moi,

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

photo (1)
We wish you all a prosperous, joyful, lucky, successful new year! Mama L. says this year (the year of the snake) is very good for girls! Regardless, baby boys or baby girls are blessings all the same =)

Lincoln and his cousin Kyler had a great weekend celebrating their first new year together. They were loved on by all of us and had so much fun together! Cousin Kyler who has been battling a horrible case of eczema seemed to be improving so much after they found out the cause of it. He was his happy self again and played side-by-side with Lincoln.

My sister Thao who is also a photographer (and took kick-ass maternity pictures for me) took the time to take some pictures for us. I didn’t want to bother her as she was enjoying her new baby and my go-to photographer so I never got any new born pictures of/with him. I’m also usually the one taking his pictures so I have barely any with him and it made me sad. He did get grumpy (being naked and all, the boy hates it!) so we had to cut it short but I know that she got some good shots and can’t wait to see the rest!

BIG EXHALE: Rant of a Tired Mama

February 2, 2013 by trialbyerrormama

MAMA RANT

angry

MEAN-MUG BABY!

Every mama out there has only good intentions for their children. Ok, there are those parents out there that really shouldn’t be parents but that’s besides the point. This mama, and others like me do what they do for the sole purpose of raising good, healthy children. Right? Correct me if I’m wrong.

Not all parents choose to do everything the exact same way! I don’t know how many times I wish I could scream this at people. Especially after repeated unsolicited advice or direct questioning of my parenting choices. How frustrating! Especially as a FTM who’s trying her best to figure out what works best for HER and HER child.

Not all of my choices mesh with what you do and not all of yours will mesh with mine! What someone might have done 50, 30, 10 years, even last month might not be how I want to do things with my child. Even if your suggestion is unsolicited I thank you for wanting to help but please please please don’t beat a dead horse. Once is enough. If I am obviously sticking to what I’m doing and my son is thriving perfectly than what’s the point in repeatedly doubting my parenting skills/choices?

(Picture taken from American Baby Magazine, February 2013 issue, pg. 45)

Yes, my 11 week old has an early bed time and is on a sleep schedule (I believe that he needs his rest. At least 10-12 hours a night which is already hard enough for him to get since we don’t get back from daycare until at least 7pm. That’s the time for him to grow.) because he has to get up early and I need enough sleep so that I can drive him to daycare safely. I work banking hours and am the one taking him to daycare and back. I’m a working mom who solely cares for him Monday-Friday, ok? Nap time at day care does not count towards his sleep time…. they’re naps. Cat naps at best. He isn’t going to be up until 11 or 12 am, sorry. Even if it’s the weekend. I’m building healthy habits for him for the future.
Yes, he needs independent play time. I do not want him held 24/7. I want him to be able to play on his own when he’s older and not have to be coddled all the time. Believe me when I say that I wish I could hold him the whole time I’m with him but I adhere to his sleep schedule. I barely get any of his ‘awake’ time just bonding with him. It’s more like getting him ready for bed.
No, I am not ‘hogging’ my son. Instead, I am trying to not depend on others to help me because I won’t always have that help. I need to be able to care for him. I am his mama after all. I do deeply thank anyone who does give me a hand here and there but again, there will come a day when we live together on our own. When I’ll have nobody to lend a helping hand and that’s why I need to be independent with him now!
Yes, when he’s old enough he will be eating homemade pureed veggies and fruits. He won’t be chomping down on candy or chugging down pop in his early years… even his juice will be cut with water. I don’t want him to have the dental/health problems that I do. When he’s my age he’ll appreciate it. Health/dental insurance is EXPENSIVE! Why not proactively prevent deterioration?
That bottle/paci? Yeah, as soon as I can he’ll be off them. Refer to #4 for explanation.
No, I’m not a 100% all natural/green mama. I wish I could be but at the moment I can’t be financially. I do use what I can afford right now though and am going to test out cloth diapers for at least part-time use (slowlyyyy building up my stash).
This list could go on and on and on….. and I’m sure you all have some of your own to add.

If any of the above offends anyone I come in contact with, I’m sorry. Those are just some of the things that are currently working for me and Linc-Monster. I know as he grows things may change. I may have to tweak my choices with his personality and likings but for now what I’m doing is working and I believe whole heartily that Lincoln is happy with my choices. He’s a happy healthy baby boy. He’s so alert/aware, smiling his gummy smile non-stop (sure, his mean mug comes back every now and then). I’m quite lucky. I know I am and I thank Buddha/God/whomever for my baby love.

This isn’t directed to any one person. As a parent we are all dealing with family/coworkers/strangers who always want to put their two cents in or pass judgement.

I’m sure all of you have dealt with people questioning your choices/over-suggesting. Let me know one thing you do that people always have something to say about! I’d like to hear… why not vent to me a little?

//END RANT

REVIEW: Earth Mama Angel Baby, Angel Baby Bottom Balm

February 1, 2013 by trialbyerrormama

Popping my post cherry with a product review of Earth Mama Angel Baby‘s Angel Baby Bottom Balm! I ordered this before Lincoln arrived after reading some good reviews on their products. I ordered it through Amazon from a different seller and waited for it to come… it never did. Which leads to the first reason of why I like this product although I don’t know if this is a product policy or just the seller. It wasn’t shipped to me because the original batch wasn’t up to standards which although it took longer to receive I liked.

{{PRICE}} $12.95 for a 2 fl. oz. jar and $8.95 for a 1 fl. oz. jar.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION FROM THEIR PAGE:

“Your new angel’s skin – is anything softer? Is anything sweeter? Hey! What’s that crud, and that rash, and those scrapes? Being a baby is a hard business, from diaper rash to tiny fingernail scratches, and then bangs and scrapes galore as they begin to explore. Clinically tested Angel Baby® Bottom Balm has got her back, his bottom, mama’s dry skin, papa’s razor burn and gazillions of other owies that come your family’s way.

Earth Mama’s #1 best selling salve is clinically tested, safe for cloth diapers, and safely battles existing diaper rash and protects against flare ups. The only balm made with organic olive oil infused with a proprietary blend of naturally antibacterial and antifungal organic herbs, shea butter and pure essential oils, soothes thrush, itchy bug bites, scrapes, chicken pox, minor rashes, and burns.

Allergy tested, non-irritating Angel Baby Bottom Balm is vegan (no beeswax!), smooth and soothing, and works especially well with all kinds of cloth diapers. Check out what the cloth diaper experts say: Here!

While any cream, balm or lotion can stain if you slather too much on, the optimal amount of Angel Baby Bottom Balm is a light coating – just enough to deliver all the herbal goodness to your baby’s skin, but not too much to leave a residue. You shouldn’t be able to write your name in the balm on your baby’s bum!”

{{LIKES}} So far Lincoln hasn’t had a diaper rash *knock on wood* so I can’t speak on how effective it works on that but his bum has gotten irritated and red. When I used the balm right after noticing the redness and by the next diaper change the redness is gone.

Multi-purpose. Lincoln’s chin was chapped due to the cold weather and frequent paci use. Lotions didn’t work and I didn’t want Vaseline all over the place so I tried this balm on it. I only applied it twice on two separate days and it cleared it right up. Also, it went into his skin very well so there wasn’t stains/residue on his clothes or me. It also worked well on my knee when it was incredibly itchy!

Goes on smooth. It’s very easy to apply and a little goes a long way. When I saw how small the jar was I was scared that I was getting jipped but now I can see that it will take quite a bit to use it all up. Because of all the natural oils this stuff melts on your finger and glides on baby’s sensitive skin.

It smells heavenly (at least to me!)

{{DISLIKES}} So far I have no qualms with this balm. As I said earlier I haven’t gotten a chance to test it out on diaper rashes but I’ll add to this as I find any dislikes.

DISCLAIMER: This product was purchased by myself and was not given to me for review nor was I paid to review this product.