Naptime Blog

When Daddy was a little boy in the 1900s (in the early 70s), he won a train set. He thought it had been given away years ago. Imagine his surprise (and our utter delight) when Grandmommy found it at our our great-grandparents’ house this weekend. Daddy fiddled with it until he got it working perfectly and then when we woke up this morning, it was like Christmas morning. We couldn’t hold in our happiness.

See the little chair that Kieran is sitting on? That chair belonged to our daddy’s daddy when he was a little kid. Mommy now calls it the “magic chair” because Kieran will sit still in it for long periods of time. Kieran NEVER sits still. Magic indeed!

We think Daddy enjoys playing with this set too! He sure was happy when he saw his old train set along with some of his other childhood toys. We hope he will share with us.

Grandmommy also brought the old packaging to Daddy’s Fisher Price Little People plane. They don’t have what was in it (bummer), but Mommy was excited about the packaging. She wants to decorate our playroom in vintage toy photos and this will look cool when she’s done… or so Mommy says. We trust her!

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

Don’t you hate it when your mouth is too small for the awesome cupcake you want to eat? My youngest son is my eater. Boy does he love to eat. Can you believe one of his favorite foods is fresh cut green beans? Yep it is! Another favorite is blackberries.

The boys are learning so much every day and are such entertainers. My first born son is walking so much on his own now and walks what we call his obstacle course all over the house. The funny part is he doesn’t like doors open so he closes them all (including baby gates behind him). Then he has a little issue when he comes back around the “course”. lol

My youngest likes to dance along with The Wiggles on Sprout and spin and kick with the Nutcracker ballerinas. He even tried to “skate” across the living room when watching Olympic speed skaters. When they skate off of the TV screen, he runs and looks behind the TV to find them. Classic! Such a comedian that boy is.
They’ll turn 2 and 3 in April. I can’t decide what to do for their birthday party or parties. Since their birthdays are just a day apart, it makes sense to combine them. I, however, love birthday parties and since I have two kids, I want to have them two birthday parties. I am looking for ideas. Do you have kids with birthdays close together? What do you do for birthday parties?

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

Have you noticed that a lot of companies are jumping on the Twitter and Facebook bandwagon? Why not! These are two super popular social media outlets with tons of members. Add to that the instant feedback companies can receive and who wouldn’t want to utilize these two popular websites?

I’ve also noticed that a lot of companies will give coupons for a free product to people who become fans of their Facebook page or retweet a line or two on Twitter. In my opinion, this is smart because the company is getting the word out about their product and fans are learning about new products and saving money. With the economy the way it is, it’s good to see that companies are getting creative to not only help market themselves, but help out the economy.
Many times, people can print coupons from Facebook or Twitter (through links) or directly from company’s websites. This is convenient for digital moms that may not take the Sunday paper or just don’t have the time to manually clip coupons.

Another way that companies are saving on advertising dollars is through working with mom bloggers. I am a mom blogger / review blogger and have had the opportunity to work with many companies. Companies will send these moms a product to try out in exchange for their honest opinion. Many mom bloggers also choose to write about these products on their blog and sometimes offer a giveaway of the product. Moms trust other moms.

Do you read blog reviews? Are you on Facebook or Twitter?

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

I know my first born son loves trains. His Thomas the Tank never leaves his side (and if it does, I am summoned to immediately fetch it with pleas of, “Tuss, Tuss, Tuss!”). He sits in his chair, in his bed, on the floor, in his car seat and wherever else he is, running his trains over his limbs and head. He spends much time at his beloved train table (if you read my personal blog, you might remember this post, this one that started his love for trains and this one of him admiring the trains). A huge smile pastes itself on his little face when he sees his Thomas book. When I go get him from nap or in the morning, he frantically searches for his Thomas and Percy before he’ll leave his room. He and trains (also known as the aforementioned “Tuss” or “Choochoos”) are BFFs.

So, I shouldn’t have been surprised when hubby found this in the living room recently…

It’s a remote, it’ s a book, it’s a car, it’s a binky…. these are my first thoughts when seeing these items strewn around on the floor. Leave it to a toddler’s imagination to turn them into exactly what HE wants them to be.

“Nooooo, it’s a TRAIN, Mom! Isn’t it obvious?” Well, now it is!

And, I do have to take notice that my youngest son’s binky is bringing up the end of this train as the caboose. Maybe Finley is hauling it off to the dump?

Who knows, but you gotta love kids!

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

For those that follow my blog posts here or at my personal blog, you know that my oldest son has had some difficulties and developmental delays. He is super smart, but has trouble walking and had been using a walker. I wanted to share a little on his progress and share this video that just makes a mother’s heart smile.

He is now walking more and more. He still falls a good bit, but is walking more than he is crawling. He has AFOs (orthotics) on his feet that have helped with stability. We have also added physical and occupational therapy to his treatment (he also benefits from Early Intervention services).

Both of my boys just make me so proud (you will see my youngest son in the video as well) and I wanted to share.

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

Shameful right? Please don’t judge me. 

Yes, our Christmas tree is still up. Yes, it’s Jan. 31 when I’m writing this (and February when you’re reading it).

Is it just me that has that one task that really needs to be done, but no matter how many times I try to get it done, something gets in the way, almost like fate? Yeah, fate is why our tree is still up. Seriously though, I have gone over there and started to box up the ornaments about 15 times in the last few weeks. I’ll get a couple off, then my 2 year old will need me to play with him and I surely don’t want to say no. I’ll try again and the phone rings causing me to be on the phone with doctors and insurance people for the next couple of hours ironing out details of my son’s treatment and appointments. We’ve also recently upped my sons’ occupational and physical therapy appointments.

Of course, my 1 year old comes wiggling by and I have to immediately stop what I’m doing to smooch him all over and hug him tight. Kids sure are distractions aren’t they? Good ones, though!

So, I give up for a day or two. Some other task gets in the way like the dishes or the fact that every time a cold front comes in the whole house gets sick. As I type, I am miserably sick with allergies or something and even my fingertips are a combination of pain and numbness. Oh, and did I mention that I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel in both hands last week?

Wow, I’m full of excuses aren’t I? The fact remains… why is my Christmas tree still up? Oh well, I am aiming to have it down by Valentine’s day. Wish me luck, okay? If not, we’ll just have a merry Valentine’s Day and I’ll put a few boxes of chocolates under the tree.

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

We just got home a couple hours ago from a weekend out of town. It was a nice weekend spent visiting my parents, sister and her husband, and friends. The boys had a fun time and were totally spoiled by their family and friends and loved experiencing different scenery.

My oldest son (he’ll be three in late April) really loves the farm my sister lives on. He wanted to spend the entire day outside today. It has been raining a lot over the last few days and he had cabin fever. He kept leading me around, showing me different things. He would eventually end up at the big area where the dogs were outside playing. He would stand at the fence for the longest time, just watching the dogs. I had to stand there too. If I walked away to the nearby carport to sit down, he would turn around quickly and walk the 30 or so steps (actually he almost ran) to get me. Once he fetched me, he would take me back and put me in my place. It’s funny because he struggles so much with his walking, but if he REALLY wants something, he can do really well. I think he over thinks it sometimes (as we all do in life).

He would also take his little Thomas and Percy trains that he hauls everywhere and line them up at the fence, facing the dogs so they could “watch” his furry friends as well. Once, I picked his dear trains up to put them away and he got frustrated and put them back, carefully arranging them, faced towards the fence.

At one point, I tried to take a nap while my family was awake to watch the boys, but my sweet son woke from his nap and I was awakened with the ear piece of my eyeglasses poking me in the eye. He was trying to put my glasses on me while I slept. Once he got them on, he grabbed my finger and took me right back where I belonged… outside (and fully awake). At least he was thoughtful enough to get my glasses for me so I could fully enjoy the scenery. My youngest son was content watching football with daddy and rearranging his aunt’s house.

I sure will miss these days when they’re all grown up.

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

For Christmas, we wanted to get the boys some Thomas the Train pieces, but we are on a tight budget. I decided to try Ebay (which is my version of a garage sale… I just don’t have to wake up super early to get in on the deals).

I was pleased that I was able to buy the boys a bunch of very gently used train pieces. We won so many auctions that I put some back for their birthdays. For what I spent for these used pieces, I would’ve only gotten 3 or 4 pieces brand new. I think with kid’s toys this can be a good idea, especially with well-made, wooden pieces like these. I have also bought brand new clothing, shoes and bedding for the boys at a fraction of the price.

Another place I look when I am in the market for toys, books, clothing or other items for my kiddos, is a local community Yahoo group. People who live in my subdivision will post items for sale (and sometimes for free) that their children no longer need. You can also put out a wanted email. This is great for those times that you need an item soon and can’t wait until an Ebay auction ends. I have scored a nice outdoor playset for the boys this way as well as a train table for $25.

My point is this… if you need or want something in this economy, it’s still possible to get it and save a lot of money. These days, for many people, new isn’t always an option with pricier items. Gently used can help both you and the seller. I have sold items we no longer need and used the money for diapers or other things we do need. I made a little money and helped someone else save money and gain a nice item.

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

With the huge amount of “reality” shows on TV right now, I sometimes wonder how real they really are. I mean, if it were really reality, would it be that interesting?

I started wondering about a reality show about me and my life. I can guarantee you that I would bore people to tears and they’d get tired of seeing me in the same old pajama pants and t-shirt. Inevitably, they’d vote me off for not brushing my hair and for having spit up on me. lol I have no time for drama like most on reality television do. I am just too busy chasing two adorable toddlers.
I do think it would be kind of funny to have a REAL reality show where cameras just follow people around totally unscripted. It’s obvious that most of the shows are scripted. Each show has the participants doing something fun and exciting or at least interesting (going on weekend excursions, cool field trips and other things that many stay at home moms can’t afford).

In my reality show, they’d follow me as I wake up, make the kids breakfast, pour me a cup of coffee and check my email before the boys wake up. Once they are awake it would be hour upon hour of reading books, playing with trains, putting together puzzles, learning new things and watching Thomas the Train and Caillou. Naptime finds me blogging and catching up on things around the house. When the boys wake again it’s the same thing. Throw in my son’s ECI and occupational therapy sessions and a few trips to the doctor and grocery store and there you have it. It’s my life and I love it, but I am not sure it’s the reality TV people are looking for.

You’d watch it though, right?

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

Welcome to 2010!

Do you do a new year resolution? Me? Nah! I never really have. I mean, how many people actually stick to them? I am actually so tired during the holidays that I don’t have the energy to be strong and stick to some huge, life changing resolution.

I am happy to start a new year though. I love the winter and January is usually low key, not many parties or planned events, so we can bundle up the boys really well and let them play at the park and enjoy the cooler weather (that’s as long as the freezing rain stays away). The rainy, yucky days aren’t so bad either. The boys can play with all of the neat toys they got for Christmas and not get bored when stuck inside.

So, I sort of enjoy the newness of the year in January and look forward to what 2010 brings. For those that do resolutions, what did you resolve to do (or not do) this year? Have you had success in the past in keeping resolutions?
Either way, I pray your 2010 is a wonderful one, filled with joy, happiness and great things.

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