Month: October 2007

Categories
Contests

October GWP Day Two

Four more wonderful entries in the October Group Writing Project today! Here they are:

Definitely read and comment on all of these great entries, and don’t forget to submit your entries!

Today was a little tough, but my favorite thing about this age today was when Hayden found a dishrag and proceeded to clean the dishwasher, kitchen shelves, couch (it was dry, so no worries there) and the entertainment center. Now, if only I could channel that impulse productively!

Categories
Contests

October GWP Day One

We’re off to a good start in the October Group Writing Project! Here are today’s excellent entries:

So read, comment, enjoy all of the ages and don’t forget to submit your entries!

The best thing about today:

When Ryan walked in the door after work today, Hayden was so excited to see him that he started running toward the door.

But he was so excited that his feet couldn’t carry him fast enough—and he fell flat on his face.

But he was still laughing uproariously!

Categories
Contests

October Group Writing Project

This writing project has ended. Please view the full list of wonderful entries at the October GWP Finale, and subscribe to MamaBlogga to find out about the next group writing project!

After the four previous successful Group Writing Projects, we’re gonna do it again. It’s time for the October MamaBlogga Group Writing Project!

The theme for the October Group Writing Project is “The best things about this age.” We’re writing about our favorite things about our children at any age—where they are now, where they’ve been in the past, what you hope for the future. Feel free to go in any direction that appeals to you. Even if you don’t choose to participate, you can encourage others to participate!

  • Your post can take any form as long as it reflects this theme—this includes anything from serious to sarcastic, addressed to your child, your future child, your pet, etc.
  • You can participate with a blog post, a podcast, a video, a page on your website, etc., etc. If you don’t have a website, contact me and I’ll be happy to publish your entry here on MamaBlogga.
  • Only NEW posts (i.e., posts have not been published prior to 7 October 2007) are eligible. Posts must be submitted through the submission form before Monday, 15 October 2007.

Why participate?
There are lots of reasons to participate! All entries that meet the guidelines will be listed and linked to here on MamaBlogga. This an opportunity for you to discover new blogs (and for others to discover yours!). Last week, I came up with five ways to get the most out of the GWP.

And, of course, there is one more incentive: one lucky post author, drawn at random, will receive a $30 gift certificate to Amazon.com (to be announced Monday, 15 October 2007).

Finally, we’d appreciate it if you linked to this post or to the guidelines/submission form on your entry post so that others can learn about the project and participate.

As a side note, I didn’t settle on the topic for this GWP until this morning, so I didn’t get to send out the topic to previous participants early. If you want or need longer, we can change the final deadline (and, therefore, announcement date) of the project.

Now get writing!

Categories
Kids/Parenting Fulfillment

You did it!

Hayden likes to sit on the couch. Especially if I’m there. It’s still a tiny bit too high for him to climb up on his own, so I help him. I can actually just stick my foot out and he can climb on that. So I help him climb up—on my foot, my hand, a step stool, whatever.

He climbs and climbs like he’s scaling Everest. When he finally gets himself situated on the couch, I exult, “You did it!”

Did he do it? Mostly. I helped a little. I realized once that it’s how life is. Our parents get us started. They point us in the right direction, train us up in the way that we should go, instill values in us. And boy, is it ever a big responsibility.

But in the end, it will be mostly our own efforts that count. Our parents can try all our lives to teach us right from wrong, but we have to choose to act on those teachings. And boy, is that ever a big responsibility!

One time, a few months ago, after I helped him up, he turned around, sat down and then lean forward and demanded, “Mmm! Mmmm!”

He wanted a kiss.

I’ll take whatever thank you I can get for today’s boost.

Categories
Random

The Ultimate List of Pregnancy and Maternity Costumes

updated for 2012

Don’t miss the ultimate list of family costumes!

I was almost six months pregnant with my first when Halloween rolled around. I was completely stumped for a good costume, and we had a party to go to. After looking on dozens of message boards and lots and lots of web searches, I assembled the granddaddy of all lists of pregnancy-related costumes.

jrrshalloween05I realize that not everyone is looking for a couple/pregnancy costume, so the list starts off with “stand alone” costumes that highlight your “baby bump.” Next is couple costumes, although there is some overlap between the two. Most of the costumes were fairly self explanatory, but I elucidated a bit for a few. Please note that I’m not saying that I think these ideas are good/creative/funny; they’re just everything I found. Also note that any links in the list are affiliate links; I get a small percentage of any purchase made after clicking on the links. Not all linked costumes are “maternity” costumes, but they may still fit.

Not the costume type?
Check out these “instant costume” t-shirts, including a skeleton baby, “I’m dressed up as my mom,” jack-o’-lantern print and “This year my costume is ‘exhausted pregnant chick.'”

Stand Alone

  • 8 Ball (you could even be magic, if you feel so inclined)
  • alien creature coming out of your belly
  • angel
  • baker
  • Baker’s Wife (“Into the Woods”)
  • Barney
  • big baby
  • Belly Dancer
  • Big Bird
  • Bowling Ball
  • bumblebee
  • angel
  • bump in the road (wear all black, use sticky-backed felt strips to create road markings. Stick some cars on your belly)

Couple Costumes

There were a few things on my list that were “topical” (read: “dated”). Can you tell what year this was?

My favorite idea wasn’t really related to pregnancy, but adorable: Sesame Street Martians (see for awesome instructions instructible and their family song if you’ve forgotten it .) I told my husband it’d be cute to put “Yip, yip, YOU!” on his back and “Yip, yip, ME!” on my back and “Yip, yip, BABY!” on my belly. Ryan laughed at me.

Our choice? That’s us at the top of the post. The day of the party, I got some pipe cleaners and headbands and made myself a halo and Ryan a set of sparkly red “horns.” He wore his red boots and his shirt with flames on it; I wore a flowy white shirt and skirt. It ended up being so flowy that almost no one could tell I was pregnant. Oh well.

Categories
MetaBlogging

MamaBlogga Top Ten

I tell ya, September absolutely flew by. FLEW! But of course, that could be because I spent the last half of it wrapped in a word crazy haze.

But during the month, we had some fun happenings here on MamaBlogga: here are the most popular posts from September!

  1. Four Ways to Encourage Comments on Your Blog
  2. The updated Popular Parent Bloggers list
  3. September Group Writing Project (and days One, Two, Three, Four, Five and the Finale)
  4. The Mom Blogger Quiz
  5. How can I show a mother that I appreciate what she does?
  6. Motherhood isn’t
  7. Hayden’s First Word
  8. The sometimes impossible balancing act of motherhood
  9. A MamaBlogga milestone
  10. To be a better mother

Keep your eyes peeled for next week’s Group Writing Project!