My Photo

Who I Am

  • Hi! I'm Ainsley, and I'm the mother of two adventurous little boys named Wyatt and Dylan. I'm here to blog about the joys of parenting and all the resources out there to help us. But most of all, I hope you'll come back here for a community of friends.

Recent Comments

Hoochee Moms

Currently Reading

Mr. Linky


« December 2007 | Main | February 2008 »

January 2008

The flow, going with it, and other stuff

I know I've said it before, but Man, teachers have a tough job. I volunteered in Wyatt's class this morning, and now I'm exhausted and my back is aching. If I were a teacher, I'm certain that my family would never get another home-cooked meal.

On another note, Dylan woke up super early this morning, so he zonked out on Ben's shoulder around 11:30. Not a big deal - if I didn't want him to take a nap this afternoon! Playday_023 We're making the most of it... he gets to watch Blue's Clues while I get to read my new copy of Nursery Style that Serena and Lily sent me this week.

I highly recommend it, especially if you're expecting and wondering how to create a unique and inspiring space for your baby's room. It'd also make a fabulous gift for expecting friends and family... which leads me to tomorrow's post.=)

January 31, 2008 at 03:32 PM in Books, Resources | | Comments (1)

A little perspective with your cheese.

World_eats_4 Check out TIME's What the World Eats, a collection of photos taken by Peter Menzel from the book Hungry Planet. All I can say is WOW. It made me feel less and more guilty of gluttony all at once.

HT: Lisa

January 31, 2008 at 09:30 AM in Food | | Comments (2)

Thankful Thursday

Boys_004_3

Today I'm grateful for:

  1. Having boys that love to play together
  2. The way Dylan loves taking pictures and saying "Chee" while he snaps the button
  3. Spending time with my Hubs after the kids go to bed
  4. The snow is finally melting
  5. Going out to eat last night
  6. Today is my 'special day' in Wyatt's classroom
  7. Spending time with new friends
  8. Laughing with my boys until we we're practically crying
  9. LOST is tonight... sorry Babe ;)
  10. Jeremiah 29:11

January 31, 2008 at 07:07 AM in Thankful Thursday | | Comments (0)

He makes it look so comfortable

Playday_020_2 Playday_019_2Playday_021

January 30, 2008 at 02:21 PM in Family, Toddlers, Toys | | Comments (0)

Best Picks for Family Cars

Parents is sharing their favorite family cars in the upcoming March issue. But they gave a sneak peak on the Today Show this morning. Watch the clip over at the Goody Blog.

January 30, 2008 at 01:39 PM in Safety, Television, Travel | | Comments (0)

Best Laid Plans

I know we all have something we swore we'd never do as parents, but ended up doing anyway. I personally have a lot of them=)

Here are just a few:

  • Take my kids to indoor play gyms at the mall
  • Serve different foods at mealtime, even for picky eaters
  • Let my kids use pacifiers past their 1st birthdays
  • Sleep with my babies in order to get some much-needed rest
  • Wear a shirt all day that has spit-up on it
  • Let my kids watch T.V.
  • Yell, whine, and occasionally act worse than my 3-year-old

How about you?

January 30, 2008 at 01:29 PM in Parenting | | Comments (5)

Conversation somewhere between scooters and action figures

The other night, we took the boys to Toys R Us for only the 2nd time in either of their lives. Wyatt calls this place "super awesome," and I think somewhere among the toy-studded aisles he thought he aged 20 years...

Wy: Hey Mommy, I have an idea!

Me: What's that?

Wy: Let's split up!

Me: What?

Wy: Yeah, I'll go this way and you go that way, okay?

Me: O-kay...

Wy: Hey, Mommy. What are you doing?

Me: I'm going with you, Bud.

Wy: Oh man!

January 29, 2008 at 08:05 AM in Wyattisms | | Comments (2)

So much for child-proof locks

Boys_019 Boys_020_2

January 28, 2008 at 10:23 AM in Parenting, Safety | | Comments (1)

Helpful Tactics in Raising a Preschooler

Here's a good article for parents of preschoolers. Having an almost-4-year-old of my own, I think all 7 qualities were spot on... but of course, if you're a parent to a preschooler, you've probably already figured these out. =)

January 28, 2008 at 07:48 AM in Parenting, Preschoolers | | Comments (2)

Saturday Afternoon Post

Ben's at a meeting, the boys are sleeping, and I'm sippingTea_cup_small_4 hot tea and checking e-mail. Just thought I'd share some thoughts...

  • I've been really saddened by the news of Heath Ledger - not because I knew him or loved his movies, but mostly for his little girl Matilda...
  • Very excited about this (via Tricia).
  • I got the 2nd massage of my life this morning and feel very relaxed... but I find myself trying to protect my relaxation, which is making me a little stressed. =)
  • It took me a while to get the point of Facebook, but I've been having fun reconnecting with old friends, and keeping up with current ones... come visit me =)
  • Super excited that my small group from RCC is starting up again in 2 weeks.
  • So ready for some warm weather right now - I think I broke my toe on a frozen snow bank this morning.
  • Wish Target had come out with this when I was expecting. I was in love with Dwell Baby stuff!

January 26, 2008 at 04:26 PM in Current Affairs, Family, Parenting, Places to Go | | Comments (0)

Friday Self-Help

It's no secret to anyone who knowsSelf_4 me that I have some organizational issues. Most everything has a place in our home, and so it usually looks tidy. But I know there's an easier way to do it, especially since moving to our newer but smaller home.

So, I'm looking for a really good organizational system for all the new toys we've accumulated the past few months. The boys have lots of trains, a bazillion tracks, books, play food, etc., and we don't have a play room. Since everything gets stored either downstairs in the living room or upstairs in Wyatt's room, it has to look good, too. =)

So, please help me... If there is one organizational item that you couldn't live without, what is it?

January 25, 2008 at 09:52 AM in Tips | | Comments (12)

A new favorite blog

Politics_2 Fellow blogger and long-time reader of RestonBaby, Natalie, has recently started a blog called Politics for Moms, to help keep busy moms informed about the lastest goings-on in the American political arena.

Even if you don't care a lick about politics, check it out. I believe that being informed women voters is as mutually important as our right and responsibility to vote. And Natatlie is a gifted and intelligent writer who reports unbiasedly about the candidates from both parties.

Read what Natalie said about starting this blog [HERE].

January 24, 2008 at 03:50 PM in Current Affairs, Politics | | Comments (0)

Thankful Thursday

Snowfall_029_4 Snowfall_009_3

So grateful today for:

  1. Finally finding the secret of a no-cry haircut for Dylan =)
  2. How Wyatt doesn't like to see Dylan get punished, even when he's the victim
  3. A car that gets me around and doesn't break down
  4. My loving hubby who is sending me to get a massage this weekend
  5. Dylan finally sleeping through the night again
  6. A small group of friends who make me laugh
  7. Moments that remind me why I love being a mom
  8. The boys rooms being clean
  9. LOST is finally back next week... I can hardly wait
  10. Family that calls and sends e-mails on a regular basis

January 24, 2008 at 01:49 PM in Thankful Thursday | | Comments (0)

Perfect Outing for a Chilly Day

The boys and I recently visited the Claude Moore Heritage Museum in Sterling. I've lived in Nova for 6 years and had no idea this place even existed, tucked right behind the Dulles Town Center.

It's an interactive museum for kids, displaying everything rural in Loudoun County's history. Kids can let their imaginations run wild as they walk among old-fashioned farm equipment, shop for eggs and produce in an old country store, and try their hands at making flour using an old wheat grinder. There are also kid-sized tractors for the smaller kids to enjoy, a cow that you can really milk, and a wheel-barrel that Dylan pushed around the whole time. It's a good thing we had the entire place to ourselves!

Costs $5 per adult and $3 per child 2+. The sheer joy my boys had doing something so different was worth the fee.Farm_museum_002_3   Farm_museum_071_2 Farm_museum_032_2 Farm_museum_049 Farm_museum_057 Farm_museum_069_2 Farm_museum_039 Farm_museum_045

January 23, 2008 at 03:45 PM in Places to Go | | Comments (5)

T.V. show saves boys' lives

Sam Sejar and 2 buddies were playing on a frozen pond when the ice suddenly broke and they found themselves submerged in the freezing water. Bear_2 After calling for help, Sam remembered an episode of Man vs. Wild, where the host Bear Grylls puts himself through real life-or-death scenarios and shows the audience how to survive.

So Sam, following the advice of Bear, took off his clothes in the freezing water and swam to the shore. Suffering only scrapes and cuts, he ran to get help. All 3 boys survived with little injury.

You can watch a video and read more of this amazing story [HERE].

January 23, 2008 at 09:08 AM in Media, Safety | | Comments (2)

Breakfast please, hold the food.

Wyatt always asks for breakfast, but he doesn't eat much. Cereal_2 Not being a cereal man, he'll usually eat a breakfast bar, an egg or french toast. Occasionally, he'll just drink milk and say he's not hungry.

But after I read this post from Antique Mommy, I started wondering what the most common practice is for breakfast amongst kids... namely yours. =)

So if you don't mind indulging my curiosity, please do tell. Do your kids eat breakfast? If so, what?

January 22, 2008 at 12:24 PM in Food, Parenting | | Comments (17)

Road Trip Rules

Just got back from a short 36 hour trip to Va Beach, where my hubby had a speaking gig. We make this trip frequently, but before we had kids, we could make it there in 3 1/2 hours or less. Now it takes at least 5 (with no traffic).

We have to make at least one food stop, but sometimes an added potty break is needed. Unless we hit major traffic, travelling with our 2 boys has gotten pretty routine. Here are some things we do to ensure an uneventful trip:

  1. Bring lots of healthy snacks and a couple of bribery snacks - For us this includes Sunbutter sandwiches, apple slices, grapes, Snapeas, fruit sticks, animal crackers, and natural lollipops. And drinks.
  2. Must have DVD player - We don't let our kids ride around town with it, but for roadtrips it's a must (feature movie this trip - Ratatoullie).
  3. Download new music for iPod - self explanatory=)
  4. Turn off DVD player so kids can rest or nap - Even if they whine or cry for 5 minutes, they'll get over it. Even a short nap makes them more pleasant when we arrive.
  5. Keep a sense of humor - Everyone gets a little punchy after 5 hours in a car. We've learned to laugh off the harder, crankier moments (which I'm plenty guilty of).

What are some of your travelling tricks or tips?

Snowfall_046_5 Snowfall_063_2 Snowfall_048_2 Snowfall_061_2

January 21, 2008 at 10:23 PM in Family, Places to Go | | Comments (2)

Snowy Day in Our Home

Did_today Dylan_track Wy_track

January 18, 2008 at 10:10 AM in Family | | Comments (0)

Creepy Baby Doll

January 18, 2008 at 07:42 AM in Toys | | Comments (3)

Caught in the Storm

When I dropped off Wyatt at preschool this morning, snow flurries were flying around but nothing was really sticking. I ran a few errands with Dylan and when I finally left Healthway in Sterling, there was quite a bit of accumulation. I passed multiple cars in ditches and numerous accidents. I literally prayed my way to Wyatt's school, which is off an old country road...

Boys_003 Boys_005 Boys_004_3

January 17, 2008 at 12:58 PM in Environment, Preschoolers, Safety | | Comments (2)

Next »

I'm a Blogher

Categories

Hoochee Reads

Archives

More...