Naptime Blog

A mommy friend and I were discussing how we both feel like we need that show that does makeovers to come whisk us away to New York for a makeover.

You know, I used to have style, but lately, I finding myself with unbrushed hair and in my pajamas most days. At least when I worked out of the house, I had a reason to get dolled up. It is a self esteem boost to dress up, so why don’t Mommies do it more often? Well, when you know your cute outfit will just end up covered in spit-up and other things, it’s not often worth the effort, right? I think that’s why mother’s groups were organized. Sure, they are a great support, but I think a lot of us just want a reason to pull out a pretty outfit, put on some earrings and feel pretty. Who is with me on this?

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a mommy makeover show? I certainly wouldn’t object to a new wardrobe, hairstyle and a coat of freshly applied makeup.

By Shannon

Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Am I the only one that feels like I live in my car lately?

I have had other moms say they welcome the respite of summer. They enjoy days spent lounging by the pool and the fact that they don’t have to run their kids to school, after-school practices, soccer games, dance classes, etc. Maybe it’s just because I have a son who attends therapies to help him walk better and talk better and catch up with his peers, but I am always on the road or in an appointment. There aren’t many days where we just relax.

That being said, my three year old will start back to preschool later this month and my two year old will start Mother’s Day Out two days a week. Looking at the schedule that will leave me about two hours on Tuesdays and about two hours on Thursdays where I am completely alone without my sweet kiddos. What on earth will I do with all of this time? Anytime I procure a little time like this, I always seem to wander around like a lost puppy. While shopping, it just feels weird to not be wrestling two wiggly boys or constantly stopping to retrieve sippy cups that have been launched from the stroller. I love having them with me, so taking me time is a bit difficult. I know it is much needed though. It always refreshes me when I actually do it.

By Shannon

Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Am I the only parent that feels this way? I know parents who go to the gym and go to get massages and manicures and pedicures. I think maybe I should jump on that train. What do you think?

Welcome to another installment of adorable things kids say and do. As many of you may know, my oldest son has developmental delays. My youngest son runs all over, but has been a bit behind in speaking. He has taken his sweet time.

The last few weeks he has started to mimic all sorts of sounds and babbles on constantly. He is quite humorous. He likes to imitate quack (kack) and baaaa and moo and ball, etc. Recently, he started trying to sing the cleanup song.

For those that don’t know the song, here are the lyrics (it is usually sang by parents and teachers to get wee ones to help clean up their toys): “Clean up clean up everybody everywhere. Clean up clean up everybody do your share.” He says, “Ee up, Ee up” and then kind of makes a sing-songy sound with his mouth for the rest. It’s so cute! He usually only does it when we do it first, but yesterday he ran outside to play on his play climber. He climbed the stairs and when he arrived up top, he found a bunch of leaves and tiny branches from the tree above. He stood there looking perplexed for just a moment then proceeded to start throwing the debris off of his play equipment and onto the ground while loudly singing “Ee up, Ee Up”. I was at the door, giggling and as proud as a mother can be. He had no clue I was watching this as he was in his own little world.

Gotta love kids! What cute thing has your little one done lately?

Shannon
Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Wow, is it really August already? I cannot believe that school will start later this month. It’s been a really busy one for us.

My three year old went to a program all summer called PALS. He really loved this program. It was taught by a preschool teacher and a speech language pathologist and he not only learned socialization skills, but had a blast with craft projects and dancing to music. He has also had a ton of fun in the pool during his physical and occupational therapy. It seems like we are never home though and the school year will almost be a respite (even though he does go to preschool and my youngest will start mother’s day out).

A big highlight of the summer was our trip to Destin, Florida last month. It is gorgeous there. There was no oil on the beach and the water was very pretty. Every night, the boys would swim themselves to sleep (literally, in the case of my youngest). I have so many cute photos of them.

Here is my favorite of my youngest son:

And of my oldest son:

So, what did you do this summer? I wish we could go back for one last beach trip. Ahhh, to dream!

Shannon
Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Is it just my grocery store or are they all doing it? I have noticed that a lot of times they will have a deal where if you buy the name brand version of a product, you can get the
store brand version of the product for free with an in-store coupon (they usually have them on a tear pad right by both products). This is genius.

Many times people are reluctant to purchase something they aren’t familiar with if they have a tried and true favorite. This way, consumers can compare the two and not be
out any extra money if they don’t like the generic version. I have found several new favorites like this. For example, one of the local grocery stores now has a pure can
sugar version of their store brand cola. I loved the brand name version, so I was happy to try out the store brand version. Surprisingly, I liked the taste better than the national
brand and the price was much better. The store now has a long-time customer for this product for the cost of one free product via that coupon promotion.

I have also found new cleaning products and snack crackers this way. So, whoever came up with this promotion, thank you! Keep up the good work.

Shannon
Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

When I was a little kid in the 1970s, we lived in a teeny tiny town. There were only several hundred people in our community. It was a different time and place and we’d
run and play outside from morning until night. We’d ride our bikes to elementary school a couple of blocks away from our home (these were country blocks… about 10 of them would make up a city block these days). Our parents worried more about us falling out of a tree or wrecking our bikes than about us getting abducted by a stranger.
These days that’s not the case anymore. Parents have become hyper-vigilant (and rightfully so) about keeping an eye on their children when they are outside. It’s sad
in a way that the world has to be like that. These days, many activities are indoors (gymnastics, dance, karate) and I wonder if children sometimes miss out on some
of the things I experienced as a child… roly polys in the yard, climbing trees, riding bikes on winding trails and experiencing that carefree childhood. Of course, I was
a good bit older than my children are when I was allowed to run and play freely.

This past weekend, I watched my two children and their very different personalities emerge. We went in the backyard and the boys played and played. My three year old
spent most of his time in the sandbox, scooping up sand and raining it on his head. He enjoyed running his small fingers through the dirt, rolling his cars over sand mountains
and giggling at his brother. My two year old ran constantly. He ran from one side of the yard to the other side of the yard. He ran up slides and slid down slides. He dug his
hands in the mud and squealed past me as I tried to catch him. He would stop only long enough to take a few long drinks of the ice water I had prepared for him. He picked up
bugs and giggled at the hopping frogs. He chased the dogs and grabbed onto their tails.

He enjoyed being a boy, being free (as free as you can be in a fenced in backyard).

It was bliss (for all involved).

Shannon
Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

As I sit at a local bagel shop enjoying a cup of coffee and a hot toasted bagel slathered with cream cheese, I reflect on life goals.

Don’t many of us have the dream of working our way up through school and the corporate ladder? We are taught that hard work and determination will help us attain goals of the perfect job on our preferred rung of the ladder. A big office with a comfy chair and a huge window with the perfect view is part of many of our plans. But, what happens when you climb that ladder, arrive at your preferred destination and realize you want something else?

Although I was never management and didn’t aspire to be, I was slowly climbing that ladder and enjoyed learning new things. When I found out I was expecting my first son, I figured I’d stay home with him for 12 weeks then pick back up where I left off before maternity leave.

Yeah, not so much.

I know many people that are able to do this, don’t get me wrong, but having a baby changed something in me. I would come to work every day, longing to be elsewhere. I longed to be home holding my child and watching him grow. I couldn’t see a way to make that work so I continued working, but then came our blessed surprise. When my first born son was only a few months old, I found out I was expecting my second son. Out of necessity, I became a stay at home mom when he was born (we couldn’t afford two in daycare). In hindsight, this was the best decision for us. We didn’t know then that my oldest son would have so many health issues and need the intensive therapies that I drive him to several times a week.

I have never really looked back. The good thing is this. I am still able to do things I love. I blog, I do freelance work and guess what? I have a corner office with a view… right here at my favorite bagel shop that offers free Wifi. I sit here blogging and working while my oldest son is at his summer morning speech / preschool class and my youngest is spending a few hours with his grandparents.

That ladder may not always take us where we think it will, but if we follow our heart and go with the flow, it can lead us to where we should be.

Shannon
Potamus Prefers
http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Hello everyone!

So, here’s my question for today. What is your favorite leftover lunch? I have found that, many times, leftover lunches are some of the yummiest meals.  Being summer, I don’t want to heat up the kitchen more than necessary, so I’ll make a big batch of whatever it is I’m cooking and repurpose it throughout the week.

Recently, we had brisket for Sunday dinner. We ended up having a lot left over so I have been coming up with leftover lunches all week. My favorite so far is stuffed baked potatoes. I took one large baking potato, wrapped it in saran wrap and baked it in the microwave until tender (I used the potato setting on mine). After that, I took some leftover brisket, chopped it up and mixed it with my favorite barbecue sauce. I then warmed the mixture for about a minute in the microwave. I split the potato and added a little butter and cheese then topped it with the barbecue mixture. On top of that, I added a dollop of sour cream. I have had similar at barbecue restaurants but I saved a lot of money by doing this with leftovers. If you prefer, you can add some green onions. Stuffed potatoes are also delicious with barbecued or roasted chicken or sausage.

Another thing I have done with the leftover brisket is chop it up and make a sandwich on a hamburger bun with a little barbecue sauce and sliced pickle. My husband really loves this easy lunch. And, believe it or not, my boys really like barbecued pizzas. I will use barbecue sauce instead of pizza sauce and top with brisket and cheese.

I know a lot of people entertain during the summer and sometimes cook too much food. What is your favorite recipe to repurpose or change up leftovers?

Shannon
Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

1. He will have a diaper disaster.
2. He will get really thirsty and need a big drink of Mommy’s iced tea. Most of it will end up on his brand new, ready-for-a-photo-session shirt.
3. It will rain and the dog will need to go outside to use the restroom. The dog will then come and wipe her paws on the aforementioned boy’s second clean shirt of the day.
4. He will use his freshly washed hair for a napkin at dinnertime.
5. He will decide that it’s fun to shower in sand from his sandbox.
6. Oooh looky! The dog is rolling in something in the yard. That looks fun… Yeah, you know where this one is going.
7. He decides to give himself another bath in the dog’s water bowl.
8. Uh oh, up comes lunch. Where is clean shirt number three and who is going to draw another bath?
9. “Don’t shake that ketchup bottle!” – Too late! Sigh.
10. What’s that all over that child? Oh, never mind! Forget another bath… where’s the water hose?

Shannon
Potamus Prefers
http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Do you ever wish you knew how to do something that someone else knows how to do? I have always wanted to learn how to sew and how to crochet. I missed my window of opportunity to learn to crochet as a young girl. My grandmother crocheted beautiful Afghans, but I didn’t ever learn. What a waste.

I always thought it would be neat for stay at home moms or others on a budget to do a co-op of sorts. Women could teach mini-classes to their friends and vice versa. For example, if one mom knows how to bake a mean chocolate cake, but her newlywed friend burns pancakes, she could get several friends together and have a little baking class. In exchange, maybe her friend can knit beautiful scarves and might give her (and other friends) a little lesson in knitting. I think it would be cool for a group of six or eight friends to pool their talents and teach each other. Wouldn’t that be fun? Not only would it be free, but it would be wonderful to have some “me” time with friends. During the “classes”, everyone could chat about their day and just relax and unwind.

Maybe this is something others already do, but I was just brainstorming ways to learn new things without forking over money to the community college or paying for a babysitter (the kids can have a mini-play date while we learn or put the dads to work).

I know I’d love one of my organized friends to teach me her tricks! I’d be glad to teach my talent of changing two diapers in no time flat.

Shannon
Potamus Prefers
http://www.potamusprefers.com/