all three, in one picture, LOOKING at the camera, and looking pleasant, if not smiling! WOOHOO
Author Archives: Lindsay
How to remove Aquaphor/Vaseline from your child’s Hair
Well that’s an interesting thought? Yes, it is and let me tell you, go Google that title and see that there are over 5,000 links that pull up. Apparently it is a quite common thing among the 3-4 year olds these days.
The other night after coming home from a wedding shower, Hayden greets me with what appears to be soaking wet hair. I thought it was odd because I left her with soaking wet hair straight out of the bath, yet here it was still wet. I was puzzled and BJ tells me, it’s not water, its AQUAPHOR.
Maybe you are not familiar with this product, so let me just tell you. It is magical for clearing up diaper rashes and preventing them. We have used it since Hayden was born and now with Ella, who has the most sensitive bum ever. It is thick like Vaseline.
Anyway, so, Hayden, being the 10 year old, oh I mean 3 year old, that she is decided to pitch in and help Daddy while I was away. So after she woke up from her nap, she went in to play with her sisters like she does every day, before we get them out of their cribs. Well, apparently Ella had a wet diaper, so Hayden, climbs up the changing table gets the Aquaphor down, which is up on a shelf, high out of reach of any curious hands, climbs down, gets the changing pad and wipes, puts all of the above into the crib with Ella, climbs into the crib (mind you this is my child who never attempted to climb in or out of her crib, not once) removes Ella’s diaper, wipes her then begins applying Aquaphor to Ella. THEN! She gets the idea that this kind of looks like the stuff mommy puts in her hair to make it stick up…….so Hayden gels her entire head and Ella’s. Luckily Ella has the equivalent of two hairs. This is how BJ found them. This all occurred in the course of a few minutes with monitors on, so BJ had no clue it was happening. Oh, and she even put a new diaper back on Ella. Luckily it wasn’t a poopy diaper or I think BJ may have completely lost his mind.
He tried to wash her hair and it would not come out. Hayden’s hair was like a greasy mop. It looked like she never had a bath in her entire life. It was disgusting. The next morning I Googled my aforementioned title and was astounded by the results. People all over the world had gone through the same scenarios and basically said, bummer for you, it doesn’t come out. And then listed a bunch of home remedies they had tried that may have worked and some ended up cutting their kids hair or just waiting for a week or so for it to finally wash out.
I’m thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I finally found a site that listed things like baby oil, peanut butter, baking powder and cornstarch. So I decided we would start trying each one. First, I tried baby oil. I figured that would be gentle on her hair and not be too messy, so back to the bath we went. People…DO NOT USE BABY OIL. That only intensified our problem by like 1000. Then her hair looked like it was dripping wet and her face was shiny from the oiliness. I dried her hair and it still appeared soaked and greasy. She went over to her Grammy’s house and she tried hand sanitizer. That didn’t work. So today I decided to go with Baking Powder first and then rinse out with Dawn dish soap (it’s a degreaser) and then regular shampoo. So we applied the baking powder all over. She looked like a person from the colonial times with a white wig. I massaged it in to make sure all of the hair had been covered, then rinsed with Dawn and immediately I could feel the hair felt normal, and then washed out with her regular shampoo and SHE WAS CURED!!!!
So, if you stumble upon this blog in the same situation, do not give up hope, I have found a cure for you!!!
The Day of Love — Part 1
Although I am not a fan of only recognizing those you love once a year, I do love Valentines! This year I wanted to have a really fun get together with some of my mommy friends and their littles who aren’t yet in school. Since Hayden is home this semester she was really looking forward to exchanging valentines, so we planned ourselves a little soiree.
Kristin & Lola/Sarah & Skylar Meredith & Taylor Leslie & Lenorah/Alli & Canon
It was so much fun! Everyone came over for breakfast, the kids played and the mommies gabbed our little hearts out! It’s so nice to have other mommies to hang out with and socialize with.
I must tell one funny story. Hallie was wearing an adorable flower headband and Christian (Meredith’s little boy) didn’t know her name…so, he came in to tell Hallie’s mom, Jordan, something and said “Rosehead won’t give me the toy back (or whatever it was)”….It was so funny that he called her Rosehead”. LOL!
Ty, Hallie AKA “rosehead” and Hayden
I’m so sorry I didn’t get pictures of Christian, Jace or my Preslyn and Ella 😦
I think we need an official playgroup for all of us in the area!
Recent Fun
I’ve been right smack in the middle of planning a few things lately and haven’t allowed myself to do much else. Those things all ended this weekend so I have a few fun things to post about.
Last weekend we took the girls out in “THE BEAST” (triple stroller, grrr) to the real ZOO for the first time. I couldn’t believe that Hayden is already three years old and had never been to a zoo. She has been to small petting zoo’s from time to time, but never to see the Lion’s, Tigers, and Bears…OH MY!It was high-time we ventured out. So we woke up that morning, ate breakfast and left. We knew our best shot would be between the hours of after breakfast until naptime, which for the babies is not really that long. It was a perfect day for the zoo. The weather was gorgeous. We didn’t need jackets, and we didn’t break a sweat!
We had a great time, Hayden was so excited and loved seeing the animals. I think she loved the zoo playground, carousel and the petting zoo the best. She said her favorite animal was the goat. Kind of dissappointing but oh well. She liked brushing him in the petting zoo. We really liked the giraffes. They are just so tall when you are standing right there in front of them! Oh, also the gigantic python and King cobra were pretty phenomenal to see. I would be totally scared to death if I ever came face to face with one outside that glass window. And then there was this one animal, I can’t remember what it was called, but it was a cross between a donkey and a zebra??? Strange!
It was a fun family day and definitely a cool “life” event, I guess you could call it. I mean, what kid has never been to a zoo before??? Its like an American must! So I’m glad my children can finally say they have been.
Today is the day!!!
I’ve been anxiously waiting for this day to come, very similar to how I waited for it last year, but in a different way! Today is the day that Ella has been home with us for a year! Finally. It seems like forever ago that I posted about their birthday. Sheesh! I’ve had three haircuts since then, yet, it is true, all that time last year, Ella was waiting not-so-patiently to come home and join her family. Oh it was a grueling three months without her. The drive to and from the hospital was sickening. Sickening because going there, I knew we would only be able to stay a few hours, since we had Preslyn and Hayden at home with babysitters, and leaving was like tearing my heart out every single time. I have never wanted to be in two places at once more than then. I remember BJ physically pulling me out of the NICU every single time. I hated leaving her. I especially hated it when she was wide awake, which was pretty much most of the time that she was feeling ok. She would look at you with these HUGE gray eyes almost as to beg for you not to leave. It was gut wrenching.
Today was the best day ever for our family, one year ago. People kept on saying, “oh its going to be so hard,” and “how are you going to do that”. Pretty much I didn’t care if having twins and a 2 year old was the hardest, most exhausting thing I’d ever done, it would be easier than having one in the hospital, very sick and at one point almost losing her, and having two healthy children at home, who needed me desperately as well. 
February 11, 2008–It was the happiest day ever, and I remember driving away with her in the car and not feeling like it was real. Feeling like someone was going to stop us on the way out and say they made a mistake. I think I remember us even saying on the way out, “is this for real?” and then followed it up with, “just keep walking before they stop us.” We probably looked like we were kidnapping a baby we were walking so fast. Oh Ella, how we have loved having you in our lives this past year. You were in our lives in the hospital, you were deeply in our hearts. But having you home was finally a chance to get to learn your routines, learn how to make you “all better”. I learned how to change your ostomy bag, which was a nightmare the first couple of times, but I soon became very good at it, as did your nanny, Misti. We were a team! Even Granna gave it a shot one time. It is not for the weak that’s for sure! But we all loved you so much and hated for you to have that thing on you.
When you came home, your sister Preslyn, just loved loved loved you to death. She loved to just get cuddled up on you and then you released your famous squeal! Oh the squeal! It is still with us today and is heard daily. It is extremely loud and you have no patience whatsoever. You squeal when you are hungry and if I am not running around trying to get another bite in your mouth you squeal. You squeal when you get squished by your sisters. It is so funny.
I have loved you in our lives and can’t imagine how it would be without you. You bring your own dynamic into our family. You have just learned to play peek-a-boo and many times you will instigate it. You climb wheeled-toys like a daredevil, you love to pretend you are on the phone, you get out of the bath by yourself, you still suck your fingers and can go to sleep with just a soft blankie and your fingers. You are finally starting to play with your sisters and it is so cute. You love to dance. And you only like to be in my lap if no one else is…if they try to impose…..you SQUEAL!You say da-da, mama, a form of Hayden that sounds kind of like aahhhdii, nigh-nigh, eeeee (eat), go go go, du (duck), ba (bath), and He-oH (hello).
Our little belle-belle, we are so thankful for you every day. I have been made aware of so many people lately that have lost a child or baby and it has felt heartwrenching. I know those feelings of helplessness as a parent who’s child is fighting and I am so thankful that your story resulted in you coming home. I love you more than words, my baby. Oh, how I love you!
Some do-dads
In case you haven’t migrated over yet….I wanted to show you some cute things I added to my boutique.
PSA Essentials
TRUMPETTE
SanLori
HappyGreenBee
Bumpy Name Labels (sippy not included)
So go ahead, go on over and be a fan 🙂
Please vote!
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My blog is in the blog awards this year. Found out about it too late last year! I’d love to have your vote, all you lovely readers (and handsome ones as well!) Thanks so much!
The link is in the far right top column!
EYELINER
February Special Offer:
Buy one eyeliner, get the second one 1/2 off!!! I’ve got all kinds of colors here in stock…dark brown, black, slate, violet, charcoal, chestnut, and steely.
Motivation Monday
Ok…today I’m motivated. Some days I’m NOT, and I need it from someone, so today I figured in case anyone is looking for some motivation, I’ve got it for you.
I’m on a mission. I have some projects I’ve been working on and my dining table has turned into a work table, there is stuff scattered on literally every viewable surface in my entire house! GRRRRR….I’m ready to conquer the mess.
So…just to give me a guide, I’m listing my list. I like lists, it helps me stay on task and know that I’ve done what I needed to get done instead of a bunch of other stuff and get sidetracked.
TO DO TODAY:
take inventory DONE–that was a looming task, so I’m glad its done!
Finish diaper cake (just need to safety pin it)
wrap three presents
sign stack of cards
finish hayden’s valentines
mail packages
finish listing girls clothes on ebay
make labels for my new business folders
pay bills
unpack at least one box that is still packed I did two
clean my oven Yep
go through the playroom toys
LAUNDRY Grrrr
Workout update and recipe
We are 4 weeks into our workout program and are seeing results. When we first started we were dying when we would do the workouts, and some of them we couldn’t even finish. Now we can finish every workout and are starting to add harder moves or more weight! Whoohoo! I have lost 6 lbs. and an inch around my stomach, hips and shoulders!! BJ is down 15lbs and I’m not sure on his inches, but he’s doing great! We are learning some healthy meals to make that actually taste good. And things to add to our diet that we never thought of.
Anyway, here is one of our favorite recipes that I wanted to pass on to you 🙂 Hope you like it as much as we did. And! It is healthy so go ahead and try it out!
Pasta Pomodoro
1Tbls. EVOO
1Tbls. chopped garlic
2 Tbls. fat-free chicken broth, low sod.
1/2 cup tomato, peeled and diced
2 oz. whole wheat pasta
6 oz. med. shrimp (we don’t like shrimp, so we sub. chicken)
2 Tbls. basil leaves, chopped
This is my recommended size portion, so I doubled everything and it made enough for all three of us.
All you do is cook your pasta according to the package, while that is cooking, place EVOO and garlic in large saute panfor several minutes until lightly browned. Add chicken broth and tomatoes to pan; simmer for 5-10 min. or until tender. By now your pasta is probably ready, so drain it. Add shrimp to the sauce mixture, or chicken or omit all together. Cook until meat is opaque. Add basil and toss sauce with cooked pasta.
This tastes so good, very similar to capellini pomodoro at Olive Garden! YUM!
This is my norm 
