She's ALIVE!

I am in fact still kicking.

Despite my long disappearance.

The Jellybean had another double ear infection along with bronchiolitis and I had a cold too. Urgent care last Sunday for an antibiotic for him. 2 days home from daycare. Antibiotic still wasn't working so back to the doctor we went. 

Saturday he finally puked up all the phlegm he'd been swallowing down.

Along with his dinner.

All over me, him and the dining room floor.

That was FUN!

He is feeling much better now.

I am trying to get caught up.

Hubby's new job has him home at night but he works pretty long hours so I am still doing a lot of solo parenting. With a fearless child. Who has started taking steps already. I predict full out running by the end of the week.

Also...he turned 10 MONTHS OLD, yesterday. That is just not friggin possible.

I mean I was just taking belly pictures, wasn't I?

So, now I try to get caught up with all of you. I'll be extending my Veggie Tales Giveaway! Since I haven't had a chance to promote it at all.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Love, Jellybean

PYHO - Sharing A Night

I have a giveaway going on! If you have kids or know anyone who does you should totally enter! :)

As Jellybean's first birthday (Eek - Hold me!) and Christmas are fast approaching I am often asked what we are getting him for presents. Because you know the kid doesn't have enough toys already...

Jellybean's arrival was unexpected, early and terrifying. I was reminded again how tiny he was last night as I was making dinner and I realized the chicken I was baking weighed more than he did at birth! Jellybean was transferred shortly after his birth to a NICU about 40 miles from our home and spent the next two weeks there as a grower and feeder. I checked out of the birth hospital 2 days after an emergency C-section and spent the next 12 days living in the Ronald McDonald house on the NICU hospital campus. We can honestly say we would not have made it through that ordeal without the Ronald McDonald house. Joey and I will be eternally grateful for the Ronald McDonald house being there for parents like us. Joey was still able to go to work every day and then come back to the Ronald McDonald house to spend time with Jellybean. I was comforted in knowing I was never more than 5 minutes away.

So as soon as we were released from the hospital and we checked out of the Ronald McDonald house we knew we wanted to be able to give back. Although we hope to never have to use their services again, we wanted someone else whose sweet child is unfortunately stuck in the hospital to be able to have a place to come back to and relax. The way we plan on doing that is simple - every Christmas and every birthday one of Jellybean's presents is going to be a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Share a Night Campaign. $15 so that another family can have what we did. It’s a simple gesture and doesn't require any extra work from us. I also plan on putting a little blurb about it in our Christmas newsletter so others may be inspired to give to them also. As all of you start your Christmas shopping and start getting sucked into the mayhem that is the holidays I hope you to will think of donating to your local Ronald McDonald house - you never know when you may end up needing their services yourself!

This post is linked up with Shell as part of Pour Your Heart Out Wednesdays.

 

Simple Truths

I have a giveaway going on! If you have kids or know anyone who does you should totally enter! :)

This started as a Facebook status I posted and it ended up being the catalyst for a blog post. Please feel free to post your own simple truths too! In fact maybe we should make it a weekly thing?

There are dishes from last night's dinner in my sink, my floors need to be swept and mopped.

There is laundry begging to be put away.

I think I smelled the cat's litter box as I was walking out the front door this morning.

I have two closets that I just make sure to keep the door closed because I don't feel like dealing with the mess they contain.

That wall in my bedroom that we moved the door on - still not painted.

We need to replace the carpet in all the bedrooms too.

My home may not be perfect but the dishes are there because we eat dinner as a family every night.

The floor and laundry are pushed off so that we can instead spend time together - playing, swinging in the front yard and giggling - lots of giggling.

The litter box didn't get changed out so I could spend some time on the couch with my hubby once Jellybean was asleep.

The closets stay a mess so I can watch Jellybean destroy his room instead.

The bedroom and the carpet are because I can't bring myself to make the hubby work on the house all weekend after he has just worked the whole week.

I'm happy that we manage to keep our heads above the water.

We have clean clothes to wear.

More often then not dinner's are homemade.

Jellybean rarely eats "baby food" (although he does love the Gerber Pasta Pickups!)

And my bed - it isn't made because I let the Jellybean sleep in until its time to strap him into his carseat to go to day care.

So maybe my house isn't perfect but my family - I'm pretty sure it is!

Conversations with Jellybean - Full Speed Ahead!

Hey Jellybean - Don't you think it might be time to take a nap?

 Umm...No not really, I'm kind of busy here Mom!

 I noticed that, Is there something wrong with how I have your room organized?

 Why do you ask that, Mom?

Oh, Just wondering! So about that nap -

Do I look like I need a nap? Oh look - the dog!

 Hey Jellybean! Your grandpa is here!

Jellybean?

Shhh... There's some important business going on here!

Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Solutions Review

 

Living in Florida has many, many benefits - warm weather, beaches, amusement parks etc. One of the down falls though - it wreaks havoc on your skin. Between the sun and the well water we have  - My skin is DRY. As in so dry my eyebrows get dandruff. Its not pretty. Hubby deals with frequent breakouts from being outside sweating in the sun and all the dirt and chemicals on the job site. To complicate things even further - I have very sensitive skin and am allergic to many many things in cleansers and make up.

Once again Burt's Bees has come to my rescue with their Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin Cleanser and Daily Moisturizer. Since I have started using both I noticed my skin feels much better. I'm not itchy like I use to be and my skin actually has a little glow back in it. I actually bought the Hubby his own cleanser to bring with him to work and it has made a world of difference in his skin too.

 Here is what  Burt's Bees has to say about it:

"Infused with the softening properties of Cotton, Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin replenishes skin in a way only nature can. Tap into the gentle power of natural ingredients, like Cotton, Rice, and Aloe, with clinically proven formulas to hydrate and help shield skin from potential irritants and help replenish skin's outer layer. And since these products are from Burt's Bees, you can be confident they work. After all, Burt's Bees has been creating the best in natural personal care products for over 25 years."

The Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin line:

• Is naturally gentle and skin-friendly for daily use
• Contains Cotton Extract to soften and shield from potential irritants such as harsh soaps or cleansers
• Is Fragrance-Free and Hypo-Allergenic
• Is Dermatologist-Tested and Allergy-Tested
• Can be found in mass retailers (like Target or Walmart), drug stores, grocery stores, and natural health food stores nationwide
• Is 99% natural

Sensitive Facial Cleanser

This soap-free facial cleaner is clinically proven to moisturize sensitive skin while gently cleansing away dirt, oil and makeup without over drying or causing redness or irritation. Also, it:

• Contains Quillaja, which is extracted from the bark of the Soapbark tree and provides a natural foaming lather
• Contains Yucca, a desert plant high in saponins, which have traditionally been used in cleansing
• Costs $9.99

Sensitive Daily Moisturizer

This all day, nourishing moisturizer is clinically proven to moisturize sensitive skin without causing redness or irritation. Also, it:

• Contains Rice Extract to moisturize
• Contains Aloe to soothe
• Is Non-Comedogenic (it won't clog pores)
• Costs $14.99

I am actually planning on also purchasing the eye cream since sleepless nights with Jellybean have led to some major baggage. Burt's Bees can be found at most major retailers such as your local drug stores, Walmart, Target and others.

*I am a BzzAgent and all product in this post were sent to me for free for my consideration and review. All opinions are my own. I am not being paid for this review*

Tonka XT Richochet Trickster Review

Recently, I had the opportunity to test a product through BzzAgent and the product couldn't have come at a better time!

BzzAgent provided me with a  Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster.  It’s a radio controlled car but it really pack a punch!

Product Review:  Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster

 

The Ricochet is actually a "stunt car" and for good reason! It moves, spins, flips and does tricks!

There is a “trick trigger” function that lets you perform one of three pre-programmed stunts:

1. Rampage Flip
2. Buzzsaw Spin
3. Zig-Zag Jolt

An added bonus is that the Ricochet Trickster can drive on two sides and there is no such thing as upside down so the vehicles can flip, jerk, or spin and they just keep on going!

My first call of action was to keep the hubby from tearing into it when I recieved it. He loves remote controlled anything and gets toys like this every Christmas. Jellybean will be fighting him off for years to come. I was saving this one for my nephew to try though. My sisters two boys have birthdays 1 day apart with the oldest turning 14 and the youngest turning 9. I figured this would be a perfect gift for the 9 year old. 

(If I was a better blogger you would see a picture of Zack opening the gift here - however I had Jellybean attached to me all day so I didn't get any pictures!)

I was right in that Zack and his friends LOVED the toy. They had a little trouble getting it to work at first but once they figured out to put the remote and car on the same channel they were off! My sister's pug was chasing the car, the boys were running everywhere to watch it do tricks and I was the coolest aunt ever. I wasn't counting on the 14 year old being upset that I gave him money instead of a car too but he really was dissapointed and wanred one of the Trickster's too so I think the age group goes wellpast the 10 they have listed on the box. I know I have three more of these on my Christmas list now - One for my stepson, one for my nephew and of course - one for my hubby!

Details About The Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster R/C Stunt Vehicles

• Retails for $24.99
• Require 5 AA batteries (not included) for the controller
• Requires one 20-30 minute charge for 15-30 minutes of run time.  By the way, it is so easy to charge and it comes with everything!
• Intended for indoor use.
• Available at Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us and K-Mart.

Disclosure:

I received a complementary product and was asked to test and review the product by BzzAgent, a word-of-mouth-marketing agency.  All opinions above are my own.

I am a member of BzzAgent and you can be, too.  Click here to find out more about BzzAgent!  It’s so easy to be a BzzAgent member, it’s free, and you get to try some great new products – all for FREE!!!!

Life Lessons - We gave it our best shot

(Psst.... I have a giveaway going on! If you have kids or know anyone who does you should totally enter! :) )

1) Today is going to be hubby's last day with the new job. They wanted him to work overtime this weekend and he refused. He was promised that he would be home on weekends and won't go two weeks without seeing us.

2) He already had an interview lined up for Monday with a new company that would keep him local anyhow.

3) And a side job for this weekend.

4) I am SO HAPPY he will be back home with us.

5) I would not make a good military/trucker/salesperson wife. I like my family at home with me.

6) Even if we do fight more when we're around each other all the time!

7) Jellybean was having a super hard time with hubby being gone too.

8) Super clingy at day care, not napping, not drinking any milk.

9) He was waking more at night too and just wanted to snuggle.

10) When he woke up for the third time in 20 minutes last night I tried to just rock him back to sleep.

11) He totally knows how to give a legit WTF look

12) I now know to immediately offer the boob and skip the rocking

13) It ain't happening!

14) Hopefully now that hubby is home I will be back to blogging more regularly.

15) PS I am starting to get major baby fever. Hoping that my cycles come back early next year so we can start trying again.

16) I must be crazy since I still haven't slept through the night in almost a year.

17) Wait sleep deprivation does make you go crazy - doesn't it...

Things I Love Thursday - Veggie Tales Giveaway

We have a winner!

Lucky number 70 which is Donna!

<a href="http://littlebitlife.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src=" http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad221/littlebitlife/thursdaycopy.jpg"></a> 

I have loved VeggieTales long before I had Jellybean. I use to watch it with my niece's and nephews and just knew it was going to be a part of my household once I had kids. Veggie Tales is wholesome, clean cartoons with a valuable lesson. I'm not scared of what might be said or done while these are on.

That is why I was super excited when Veggie Tales contacted me about its two new videos out now. TThey are part of the all-new “Family Builders” series. The DVD's contain a combo of three stories, including two classic bestselling VeggieTales, along with lots of music and bonus content.

VeggieTales: Larry Learns to Listen teaches Larry an important lesson when his new Space Squadron game finally arrives and he’s so excited to play that he refuses to read the directions. His toy just won’t work but with the help of good friends and the value of listening it all works out in the end. He is taught that God gave friends and family to help us though each day-- so when we listen we don't miss what others have to say! Included in this DVD are the two classics: “Pistachio” and “Josh and the Big Wall” as well as two sing-alongs with “Larry Learns to Listen” and “Song of the Cebu.”

VeggieTales: Bob Lends a Helping Hand is right up every little boys alley as Bob, Larry and Joe learn how to be “superheros” by helping others. “Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry’s Big River Rescue” and “Lyle the Kindly Viking” are included in this movie.

I watched the videos and loved them. They will be going into Jellybean's stocking for Christmas and I hope he will enjoy them for a few years to come!

Buy It:

You can find these Veggies Tales DVDs in stores now.

Win It!

1 lucky winner will receive a copy of each DVD: Larry Learns to Listen and Bob Lends a Helping Hand

Rules:
This giveaway ends on October 31, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST. November 9, 2011 at 11:59pm EST.
Open to the US only, ages 18+.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me which Veggie Tales video is the favorite in your house.
Please make sure if your email address is not visible in your blogger profile you leave one in your initial entry!  

Extra Entries

• Link up with "Things I Love" Thursday
• Follow VeggieTales on twitter.
• Tweet about this giveaway including @littlebitlife and a link to this post (daily)

       #win newest @veggietales DVDs, Larry Learns to Listen & Bob Lends a Helping Hand http://bit.ly/oSR0kj @littlebitlife  Ends 10/31 #giveaway

• Follow A Little Bit of Life via Google Friends Connect

Link up with Things I Love now!

PYHO - Forgive me, Father...

My PYHO posts are usually pretty serious so this will be a welcome change for you and should bring a giggle or two.

Also my apologies in advance as I am going to deluge you guys over the next few days with reviews and giveaways as I attempt to get caught up.

Most of you know that I am a huge breastfeeding advocate. At 9 months, Jellybean and I are still going strong. I pick him up every day at lunch to squeeze a nursing session in.

I usually go to this park -

which is across the street from this Catholic church.

While there we swing and play...

Then I usually take him back to the car and feed him. I like to park in a nice shady spot. And since Jellybean is a wiggly guy I gave up on using a cover a long time ago since it only produced tears and biting.

So on a few occasion I have parked here -

See all the trees and shade by that pretty yellow house on the corner? An ideal spot for nursing the Jellybean in the car, right?

It was...until I drove by yesterday and noticed a priest standing out front.

Turns out that pretty yellow house is the church rectory.

I've been whipping the girls out in front of the priests for about two months now.

Mary must have breastfed - right?

I think it's time I go to confession...

This post is linked up with Shell as part of Pour Your Heart Out Wednesdays.

 

Monkey Business

I woke up during the night on Saturday because Jellybean was crying.

Jellybean was crying because he had flipped himself out of the play pen and into my bed.

At 9 months.

Isolated incident, right?

Somehow...I doubt it.

This is why we pay for My Gym.

And why you can't fight genetics.

I think I'm going to start researching orthopedic surgeons in the area right about now!

Life Lessons - I can't get it all done

1) Hubby got a new job! Yay!
2) This one pays better and has steady hours - a novel concept I know!
3) Now for the boo part
4) It also requires him to work out of town
    Monday - Friday
    Every week
5) I have been solo parenting all week.
6) It's been super hard.
7) I'm stressed. Jellybean can't understand why Daddy is gone either. And the hubby hates being away from us.
8) None of us are happy.
9) There have been tears from more than just Jellybean.
10) Its a necessary evil to pay bills until he can find something closer.
11) I am EXHAUSTED though. I work full time too then come home to take care of a VERY active 9 month old and our small zoo.
12) On Wednesday - I ate my dinner at 9:30pm
13) I don't know if I can handle all this by myself.
14) It has truly made me appreciate everything the hubby was helping me out with when he was here.
15) So - I haven't blogged.
16) In weeks.
17) I have giveaways and reviews I need to get posted and not a moment to get it done in.
18) I've realized that it may be a long while before I get back to blogging regularly.
19) Anyone who misses hearing from me regularly - please let me know if you'd like to be FB friends. I can do that from my phone while nursing the JB back to sleep so it's easier on me.
20) I'll be back...one day!

From Jellybean's 9 month pictures... He has grown to 26 1/4" and 14 lbs 13.5 oz.