Preschool

So Nick did awesome going to preschool yesterday! He was shy and hid behind my legs at first, so I walked him back to his new classroom and got him settled in. The thing I love about this preschool is that it is based at our local high school; therefore the students work one-on-one with the kids as a high school course, under the supervision of a head teach & student teacher (also in the CR). I know Nick is receiving a lot of attention and energy from the students!

So he was paired up with male students which was great. They started playing ball as I was leaving. And when I went to pick him up...he was running around with his new buddy Kyle! I had a hard time getting him into the car, lol.

As for me!? I was very sad leaving him til I got in the car kid-less and realized I had 3 hours to myself! LOL I ran some errands and then went home to rest (since I am 36 weeks pregnant). I did not nap however;I wanted to nap later when Nick went down for his. So all in all....a great day and looking forward to another one today ;-)

Going to preschool

So my son starts preschool this fall and he will be going 3 days a week for 3 hours at a time. I thought this would be great so that I have some alone time w/the new baby, however now I am starting to get a bit nervous....why?...I just got an invitation in the mail for him to attend THIS week for 3 days before the school year ends. It's one thing to prepare myself for the fall but to have him go now, all of a sudden....? I think I will really miss the little guy! LOL As much as I complain about trying to keep up with him while being 9 months pregnant, my true emotions are starting to shine through.

Oh but Nick is VERY excited at the idea of going to school and leaving me, LOL. I am sure he will be fine as he always has been. It seems over the past 3 years that it is more ME that has a hard time with new milestones than Nick (ie. removing the pacifier, sleeping in big boy bed, staying w/my mom for overnights, etc...)

Well we're off to get ready for school! Wish me luck, lol :-)

I would love to hear from some of you about you felt leaving your little one for their first day at preschool!?

Wordless Wednesday

Water play on Memorial Day at a family BBQ

Free Joovy Ultralight

Enter the Stroller Depot Stores' FREE giveaway ... Signup here and look for your weekly opportunity to enter for a chance at receiving the ...

You will have weekly chances to enter to win this fantastic from now until June 1st at Midnight.

How to pick blue crabs...

With the Holiday weekend approaching & crab season in the near future...I thought it only appropriate to write this post. For those of you that do not know how to eat Maryland Blue Crabs, here is how it is done (courtesy of Captain Trey's in Cockeysville, MD - just down the street from my hometown)!

Accompanied with your favorite beer and Old Bay fries with a splash of malt vinegar, you have one excellent summer meal!

How I got my baby to sleep through the night....

So as I posted a comment on my friend Colleen's blog over at Classy Mommy, I decided to share my experience with everyone here on my blog!

When my son was 5 months old I decided to participate in a video diary for Baby Center (long story how this can to be so I will spare you). Looking back now, what was I thinking for taking on such an undertaking AND with my 1st child!? Postpardum craziness I tell you!!...

So view this video & you will see a VERY candid experience of what I went through trying to get my son to sleep through the night at 5 months old using the Ferber Method. Now just make sure you then read my update interview because in the end, my most valuable lesson was to listen to my OWN maternal instincts! I stopped reading baby books, watching baby shows, etc...because (for me) it just stressed me out too much. And my husband said one day, "Margie, ultimately, they're all (meaning doctors and authors) just trying to make money...."

Wordless Wednesday...Cousins

Are YOU ready for another Party!?....

Get ready for two weeks worth of games to celebrate the arrival of Candace’s baby boy....

Chesapeake Ribbons is proud to be a sponsor at her cyber shower!

Talking monster trucks!?....

If you have a little boy than you have to check out this show - "Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks" on the TLC channel weekday mornings at 8 AM. No matter what age, your little man will be sure to love this cartoon with talking monster trucks. How exciting!? I just had to share this fantastic new discovery that gives me a 1/2 hour of peace :-)

"Trendy little belt from Chesapeake Ribbons"

Want to win a unique & stylish belt of your choice from Chesapeake Ribbons? Then hurry over to Hip Mama's Place to enter this contest because it ends on Tuesday, May 20th 12 MN CST. Simply post a comment to be entered in this fabulous giveaway!

ps. Shop now through 10/31/08 and you'll get 20% off any order by entering special20 during checkout.

All dressed up with Chesapeake Ribbons...

I am so excited to see Baby Sophia from 5 Mintutes for Mom, wearing one of my Chesapeake Ribbons' barrettes in their Wordless Wednesday photo! She is wearing the pink carnation infant barrette...isn't she such an adorable model?

Wordless Wednesday

Our Mother's Day tradition every year is to participate in the Race for the Cure in Philadelphia and then go to the Irish Pub for brunch. Unfortunately I was not able to walk due to my pregnancy, but my husband and 3 of his 4 sisters still went and took all of the cousins as well! Our families walk in memory of his mother & in honor of my mother, a survivor to breast cancer.

I need YOUR advice!....

I would love to "go green" with my business, Chesapeake Ribbons. I was thinking...why not involve everyone out there to help by mailing me their leftover ribbons, so I can recycle them?

When I attend parties and showers, everyone knows I am the "ribbon girl" so I leave with a bag of beautiful grosgrain ribbons to recycle, rather than the host throw them away with the wrappings. So now I would love come up with a crafty way to include my readers & clients!?

Would youu mail me your leftover ribbons instead of throwing them out?...and in return for the time and postage, I give a free product in return!

What do you think? What FREE product should I giveaway? Would you even take the time to do this?

If you live in the Philadelphia area, my "Lovely Baby Bump" photo (posted just before my cyber shower) will be aired on the NBC 10! Show at 2 pm, Monday(5/12) during their special "Baby Shower" episode. Enjoy!

3 P's in a Pod Summer Vacation Giveaway is going on now...

Are you already planning your summer vacation and counting down the days until your much needed getaway? Our family usually has several vacations planned throughout the summer however this year we are taking a break for the birth of our newest addition "Baby Gunn"...due June 22nd. (And no, we do not know if it will be a boy or girl. I need the surprise to get me through my labor & delivery).

Fortunately I have a very active mom who has offered to take Nick on vacation for a week at the end of July, to the Old Forge, NY in the Adirondacks. This is one spot we go every year as a family but I am looking forward to having a week at home with just Dad & new baby. Now we are still venturing to the Outer Banks with the whole family at the end of August!? We are renting a house with several other families so I hope the baby will cooperate, LOL. I will keep you posted!

In the past summers, we have a few vacation traditions (Adirondacks & Beach in NJ or MD) as well as a new destination. My husband and I believe in getting away just the two of us as well as doing something as a family.

So what do you like to do over the summer? Participate in 3 P's in a Pod Vacation Summer Giveaway and share your summer plans as well as win from a great selection of prizes! I plan on participating all week so here are my top 4 favorite prizes:

Daisy Layne Boutique
Ga-Ga Baby Boutique
Be Jeweled Designs Tutu (for my niece, since I don't have a little girl yet!?)
GirlMogul

Wordless Wednesday

Nick and his little buddies taking a break from play...so exhausting right!? Don't they look so mischievous?.....

Summer Vacation Giveaway going on now!

Loads of giveaways, fun and games daily, opportunities for extra entries and some really good surprises so plan to stop in each day. Click here to see the great sponsors lined up to give away prizes! May 6th - 13th

Go Flyers...again!!!!

Now for the 3rd series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs....

Have your little fans show their support by wearing a one-of-a-kind Flyers barrette.

A huge 'thank you' to all the wonderful businesses that sent me these awesome baby shower gifts AND donated such generous prizes! Be sure to read my review to learn about each item that was sent to me.

My heart and prayers go out to "Eight Belles" and her family.....

&
Congratulations to "Big Brown" and his jockey K. Desormeaux!

Now to my hometown, Baltimore, MD, for the Preakness....

And the winner is....

Congratulations to Kaydence Lynne...winner of the Chesapeake Ribbon's Gift Certificate! Thank you for participating in my Cyber Baby Shower and goodluck to you & your family.

Take Action on the EPIAA Bill!

Help Autism Speaks get House and Senate cosponsors for the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act (H.R. 1881, S. 937), a bill that will provide $350 million in new money to the states to provide services for individuals with autism from childhood through adulthood.

Click this link to take action now!!

Winner for Chesapeake Ribbons Giveaway

Congratulations to Milk Mama...winner of my Chesapeake Ribbons Giveaway, which included a set of 3 adorable bows: Meggan, Lauren, and Hearts.

Stay tuned for more giveways coming soon....

Baby Cyber Shower ends Friday, May 2nd....

Scroll down or click here to join in on the party!

Win a FREE Joovy Ultralight Caboose

The Stroller Depot Stores' FREE giveaway ... Signup here and look for your weekly opportunity to enter for a chance at receiving the ...

You will have weekly chances to enter to win this fantastic from now until June 1st at Midnight.

So, what do you have to do?
1. Signup on the list
2. Confirm your registration.
3. Read the weekly email to enter for another chance to win.
4. Tell your friends for even more chances to win!

Munchkin Giveaway

One winner will receive this fabulous basket filled with Munchkin products!

Enter here and be sure to leave a comment about your

favorite Munchin product.

Our family loved the teether toys!.