Blog Post Fail

We're in the midst of decorating madness here at the H.I.T. household, so without further ado, you're blog post:

Don't forget to enter my Secret Santa Giveaway!

Contest ends Tuesday, December 7th at 11:59 p.m. ET

M.I.T. Mondays: Cyber Sister Giveaway

Babes Age: 7 Months

Disclaimer: This post has absolutely nothing to do with Babes, but everything to do with her aunt and a giveaway!

When my sister began talking to me about blogging, I knew it would be a great idea.

Because she’s almost as funny as me.

Almost.

But she’s definitely more talented than me. when it comes to sewing.

So when she came up with the name, Me Sew Crazy, I knew it was perfect.

Because she writes post like Cartoon Diary Entry, One of Those Days, and Emergency Evacuation Plan...for Birds.

And because she can make the most adorable toddler clothes like her Upcycle Project #3 - Pleated Skirt, fashionable purses like the Gathered Cosmocup, and can take my your grungy baby bedding and turn it into something new and fabulous.

Like me and don’t have the kahoots to sew?

Well it’s a good thing we’re hosting a Cyber Sister Giveaway!

Suburban H.I.T. and Me Sew Crazy are teaming up to give away one handmade toddler duvet cover and sheet set - just in time for the cold weather (or holidays or any other reason you can think of for hosting a giveaway)!

Made with the newly released fabric design, “It’s a Hoot” by MoMo for Moda Fabrics, this set is 100% cotton for pure comfort. The set was made to fit standard Pottery Barn Toddler Bedding (ex., comforter is 36” wide x 50” long).

Here’s how to enter:

In ONE comment:
1.  Let me know that you are a follower of my blog (or become one).
2.  Leave your e-mail address in the comment (or activate e-mail in your profile). If I can’t contact you, you can’t win.

For additional entries (please let me know what you’ve done in the SAME COMMENT above):

3. Let me know that you are a follower of my sister’s blog (or become one).
4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link to your tweet**.
5. Add the giveaway button to your blog and tell me where to find it.
6. For 3 Extra Entries*** write a post about this giveaway on your blog, linking back to this post through the phrase: Suburban Housewife-in-Training & Me Sew Crazy Cyber Sister Giveaway, and leave the link to your post in the comment (so you post first, comment/enter second). Without the proper link, you will not receive additional entries (so no just linking to the word “contest” or “giveaway”).

**If you have a private twitter account, you MUST add me as a reader so I can view the tweet. Otherwise, you will NOT receive an additional entry. You will only receive ONE extra entry no matter how many times you tweet about the giveaway.
***You will only receive three extra entries once, no matter how many times you post about the giveaway.


Rules:
*Only open to residents of the continental U.S.A.
*Winners are chosen by random.org.
*Once selected, winner has 48 hours to contact me, otherwise another winner will be chosen.
*Contest ends Monday, December 13th at 11:59 p.m. ET. Winner will be posted the following day.
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid. Blog author has right to refuse any entrant or entry. Any attempt to obtain additional entries, beyond ways listed above, will cause entrant and all entries by that person to be VOID.

Give Thanks With A Giveaway!

From my family to yours!

It's important to give thanks for all our blessings - good test results for Babes, a healthy, happy family, blog giveaways, and being able to stay at home and care for our daughter, to name a few.

Oh, so you didn't miss that?

Well be sure to check back on Cyber Monday for a sister-style giveaway. That's right, my supremely awesomer than all the rainbows in the world sister (What? She's older than me and can totally beat me up. Maybe I should put the rainbow one back in...I kid, I kid.) at Me Sew Crazy and I are teaming up to bring sexy sister back! Eclipse, eclipse, eclipse!

And, have you entered my Secret Santa Giveaway yet? You know, the one where you receive a gift that's tailored to your likes? I've added in a few more ways to receive extra entries...make sure you check it out!

Still not a Facebook fan? What the heck!?! I promise it's more interesting than just post updates. Want a good reason to join? How about, behind the scenes of H.I.T. posts before they're revealed here, more pictures of Babes and family, and a giveaway just for fans. 

That's right. I said another giveaway.

We have holiday fever here at Suburban H.I.T. and will soon be offering a giveaway just for Facebook fans. So what are you waiting for? Begin stalking already!

I Could Never Love Anyone Like I Love My Sisters

I love the movie Little Women.

Ever since it came out on VHS (for all you young folk, that’s what we used before Internet Streaming, Apple TV and DVDs), my mom, sister and I would turn it on every Thanksgiving.

We hated how annoying Amy was, cried every time Beth died, and wished each and every time, that just once, Jo would choose Laurie over Frederick.

But despite all the anger, crying and shouting, we loved watching the movie.

Then, my sister married and began dividing Thanksgivings. On the off years, my mom and I still watched the movie, but it just wasn’t the same. Those Little Women moments became even more memorable than before, because our time together was so little and so precious.

Eventually, I married and began spending all my Thanksgivings with my husband’s family. It’s a big holiday for them and with marriage comes compromise.

The first year, I tried to get my mother-in-law to watch the movie, but her tradition was watching the parade. The second year was an “on” year, so I called my mom and sister and we tried timing the movie - we turned it on at the same time. It was fun, but different.

The third year, I had some prep work to do on Wednesday so I decided to turn on Little Women while I worked by myself in the kitchen.

I enjoyed every minute.

While marriage involves compromise, the holidays are their own cup of tea. At first, it’s a blending of family traditions, but soon you begin forging your own traditions for the holiday season.

So today, while I peel potatoes and prepare the stuffing, green bean casserole and apple crisp, I’ll be watching Little Women as Babes twirls in her exersaucer.

She may not be big enough to sigh at Jo’s choice or roll her eyes at Amy, but one day I hope this movie will mean as much to her as it does to me.

Something To Be Thankful For

We received the call this morning.

The results are normal.

At a time of year when we give thanks for our blessings, we truly have something to be thankful for this year. 

While this doesn't provide clarity as to what happened or why, we know that it's not neurologically related, which is the best news we could receive. Now, we'll be examining her diet to see if we can determine the root of the problem.

M.I.T. Mondays: Little Miss Dress Up

Babes Age: 7 months*

I loved playing with dolls as a little girl. My favorite part was when we would sort through all the clothes and pick out our wardrobe. Full length ball gowns were mixed in with tennis shorts and a polo - the options were endless. After a while, though, it was time to put my dolls away and grow up.

Or so I thought.

I’d be lying if I said I hated dressing Babes up. Since 4-days old, our little doll girl has been humoring mommy.

I posed her.

But she began getting back at me.

I took pictures of her crying.

But she began making faces.

After five months, I realized it was time to grow up. Babes wasn’t a doll to be dressed up and photographed as I pleased, she was my baby! It was more important for us to take photos of the personality she was developing - not the one I was setting up for her.

And you know what? It worked.

Now she’ll smile for just about any picture we take of her.

Whether it’s in her pajamas while she plays.

Or for a birthday card.

But every once in a while the little girl in me comes out, and I dress her up for a special picture.

At least now it’s on her terms...like when I took her picture for our holiday cards.

*Now that she's older, I'm dropping the weeks.

Home Sweet Home

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. If you follow me on either Facebook or Twitter, you know that Babes was in great spirits throughout the test. and was the bravest one there.  And, considering we were at the hospital from 2 p.m. Friday until about 10:00 a.m. this morning, she was an absolute angel.

With the holiday next week, we're hoping to have the results early the following week, but what we really hope for is clarity. We can make it through any storm together, we just need to know what we're up against.

I'll keep you all updated on the situation as more information becomes available. In the mean time, hope you all are enjoying the last weekend before holiday season arrives.

When It Rains It Pours

Naturally, since we're anxious about today, the hard drive of my year old MacBook Pro decided it was a good day to fail.

And naturally, I have yet to back it up since. In the full year that I've owned it.

Let's hope the Apple Gods smile down at us and decide that they aren't going to delete all the files (photos of Babes) that have never been saved.

And with everything we've been dealt this last week, we know that everything will turn out just fine. We are confident that we can overcome this obstacle together and move on to whatever else life has in store for us.

I'll do my best to keep you updated, but I'd recommend checking my Twitter or Facebook page since that's where I'm most likely to update first. I probably wont get back to a computer until Sunday or Monday.

Hope we all have an uneventful weekend!

Perspective

This morning while I was playing with my daughter, she leaned over, turned her face and kissed me.

In shock, I moved backward to look at her. She stared back at me.

Then, before I could change my mind about whether or not she did indeed kiss me, she did it again! I was so happy, I smiled and kissed her back. Which, she reciprocated.

Sometimes I think my daughter is smarter than she really is, but this morning, something tells me she knew I just needed some love.

I know everything will be alright. I know that they aren’t going to diagnose her with something life threatening. And I know that she is in God’s hands, which are good hands to be in.

Feeling Blue

You know the days when you just want to pull up the covers to block out those morning rays...and then the baby cries?

OK, well, maybe the baby isn’t in all your scenarios, but she’s certainly in mine and on those days the only thing that helps is coffee. a good breakfast. coffee. a good breakfast. coffee, then a good breakfast.

And nothing beats a good breakfast like cottage cheese pancakes with fresh blueberry sauce.

This isn’t something I grew up with - it’s something my Mother-in-law told me about. Yes, I really just used the M-word on my blog in a positive sentence. They aren’t all bad, I promise.

I had my first bite a few years back when I was commuting back and forth from the suburbs to the city for work. Soon, I became the vampire of cottage cheese pancakes - unable to resist a batch and searching for new conquests each morning.

Then, I must have tasted a batch with some vervain or something, because I was thrown off the scent for a while...that is until this morning.

As the morning sun crept through our window, shedding light closer and closer to my face, I knew the only thing that would keep me alive satisfy my insatiable desire to stay in bed was some cottage cheese pancakes with blueberry sauce. my daughter. some cottage cheese pancakes with blueberry sauce. my daughter. seeing my daughter’s morning smile and then eating some delicious cottage cheese pancakes with blueberry sauce.

Hopefully these will help motivate you too.

H.I.T. Arsenal Recipe #17: Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce

1 large container of blueberries, rinsed (or 2 small)
1 egg
1 4oz cottage cheese container
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1. In a food processor, combine egg, cottage cheese and milk. Blend until smooth. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Continue blending until creamy.
2. Add about 1/2 inch water to a small saucepan. Add blueberries. Cook on medium until blueberries begin to burst, about 4-5 minutes. Continue cooking on medium-low and using fork, mash blueberries to create a syrupy consistency. Keep sauce warm.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add small amount of butter. Using a large spoon, add batter to skillet, creating desired pancake size, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula and continue cooking until browned on the other side.
4. Top pancakes with blueberry sauce and enjoy!

Have a baby that is past purees and want to make her breakfast too*? It’s easy!

Set aside one small handful of blueberries
Cinnamon (or a vanilla bean or whatever spice/flavor your baby would prefer best)
Vitamin-enriched Oatmeal for baby

1. Add a 1/4-1/2 inch of water (depending on how thick your baby likes oatmeal) to a small saucepan, add blueberries (and vanilla bean, if using). Cook on medium until blueberries begin to burst, about 4-5 minutes.
2. In cleaned food processor, add blueberries, cinnamon (or other spice/flavor) and 3 TBS of oatmeal (more or less depending on desired consistency for baby). Blend until almost smooth (or smooth, again, depending on desired consistency).
3. Cover baby appropriately with bib and watch her enjoy!

*Before introducing any new foods, especially berries, to your baby, it is important to first speak with your pediatrician.

M.I.T. Mondays: But It's Tuesday...

Babes Age: 31 weeks or 7 months


I was going to wait until next week to do our M.I.T. Mondays post, especially since it's no longer Monday and all, but something came up that I need to share.

Remember back in September when Babes went through those shuddering spells? Well, her EEG came out fine and for a while, she stopped shuddering all together. We thought we were in the clear.

Until this morning.

We pulled up to our Sign and Sing class and Babes, who had fallen asleep the last 5 minutes of the ride, was just waking up. I walked around to take her out of the car seat and when I opened the door, I witnessed her entire body shaking. Her lips were tucked under her teeth with her mouth clenched. The entire incident probably lasted about 30 seconds...although it felt like an eternity.

I called our pediatrician who recommended we call the pediatric neurologist. When we spoke with him, he decided that we needed to conduct an overnight EEG to make sure we didn't miss anything the first time. We're getting an appointment for this weekend.

So for now, we're just sending up prayers and remaining positive. We have a few things on our side - the fact that her eyes didn't roll up, that she doesn't have a fever, and that within 15 minutes she was totally fine and playful (and remains that way even now). But the doctor called the episode "worrisome," which worries even the most positive of mothers.

I'm thankful that we have a capable doctor whom both my husband and I trust. I'm thankful that we live in a community that can handle these types of observations close to home. I'm thankful for all the love and support of our friends and family. And I'm thankful that He watches over us and has blessed us with such things to be thankful.

If it was easy, it wouldn't be called life.

Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back

*Added in another way to receive Extra Entries! 


We temporarily interrupt your regularly scheduled M.I.T. Mondays post to announce this urgent message.

Welcome to the new Suburban Housewife-in-Training site!

This has been a few months in the making (and not just because it took me so damn long to get back to Krystyn) (as I’m sure some of you noticed when the navigation bar was added a few weeks back), and is still in works while I finalize a few things (like my Favorites and Policy) but I’m super excited about everything.

I’ve added an About Me section, what can I say, I'm the S.H.I.T.!, updated my badge, and will soon be available by subscription for your Kindle (or Kindle app on your iPad). I’m also available on Formspring if you want to ask me a question (nothing rated R please - I am a part-time Mommy blog) and I promise I’m going to start twittering again! If you want to follow me, just ask - it's only private to keep out spam.

And, most importantly, while I was busy being a bad blogger mother, I went and had my two year blogoversary...with no celebration what-so-ever. That just seems wrong. So I want you all to celebrate with me! That’s right...

it’s time for a giveaway!

Unfortunately, I don’t have any diamonds this time around (ahem, Kohl’s...if you’re listening...), but since it’s almost Christmas, I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway Secret Santa style.

Here’s how it works. You enter. You win. I go through your blog and/or ask you a ton of questions (if you don’t blog) to find out what you like and pick out a present accordingly.

So basically you’re entering a contest and have no idea what you’re winning.

Sounds like fun, right? Here’s how to enter:

In ONE comment:

1. Let me know that you are a follower (or become one).
2. Leave your e-mail address in the comment (or activate e-mail in your profile). If I can’t contact you, you can’t win.

For additional entries (please let me know what you’ve done in the SAME COMMENT above):

     3.  Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link to your tweet**.
     4.  Add my giveaway button to your blog and tell me where to find it.
     5.  Add my NEW badge to your blog (or update my old badge with my new one).
     6.  FOR 3 EXTRA ENTRIES*** write a post about this giveaway on your blog, linking back to this post through my blog title: Suburban Housewife-in-Training, and leave the link to your post in the comment (so you post first, comment/enter second). Without the proper link, you will not receive additional entries (so no just linking to the word “contest” or “giveaway”).
     7. JUST ADDED: FOR 2 EXTRA ENTRIES, become a Facebook Fan. 

**If you have a private twitter account, you MUST add me as a reader so I can view the tweet. Otherwise, you will NOT receive an additional entry. You will only receive ONE extra entry no matter how many times you tweet about the giveaway.
***You will only receive three extra entries once, no matter how many times you post about the giveaway.

Rules:
*Only open to residents of the continental U.S.A. (sorry folks – international shipping is a nightmare).
*Winners are chosen by random.org.
*Once selected, winner has 48 hours to contact me, otherwise another winner will be chosen.
*Contest ends Tuesday, December 7th at 11:59 p.m. ET. Winner will be posted the following day.
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid. Blog author has right to refuse any entrant or entry. Any attempt to obtain additional entries, beyond ways listed above, will cause entrant and all entries by that person to be VOID.

You Know...

You’re going to have a great day when...

- You wake up and your cup of coffee is already made.
- You slept uninterrupted last night for the first time in weeks.
- You actually finish last night’s episode of the Housewives of Beverly Hills before your daughter demands attention.
- You successfully schedule a playdate with friends you haven’t seen in weeks (see sleepless nights above).
- You’re able to shower, get dressed and eat breakfast all during the morning nap.

You know everything’s gone downhill when...

- Separation anxiety rears it’s ugly head on your previously independent daughter, leaving you to only socialize with the babies at said playdate.
- Despite all your efforts to pretend otherwise, you’re sick and need to leave a friend’s house early to run to the doctors office and get meds. (fyi, I'm not contagious).
- Each time you’re in the car longer than 40 minutes, your daughter chooses the 5 minutes before arrival to fall asleep.
- It takes 50 minutes to get home in what should have been 15 minutes.
- As a last ditch to get your daughter to nap, you put her in her crib and proceed to hear raspberries, screams of delight and other sounds that are definitely not made when sleeping.

You know things are about to look up again when...

- The clock strikes 4:30 p.m. and you can break open that bottle of vino.
- Husby decides that instead of making lasagna, we can just order it in at the local Italian eatery.

So what do you think - good or bad weekend ahead?

Happy Veterans Day

To everyone that has served this country and to all their families who made the ultimate sacrifice so we can all live safely, thank you.

All I Want For Christmas

Dear Santa,

I realize it’s been a while since I’ve dropped a line, but I think it’s time we got back in touch...

For Christmas this year, I’d really like just a few, small things:

- Two front teeth. A full set of baby teeth. With. No. Teething. for Babes. See, I’m so thoughtful!
- More daddy and me time, so I can hightail it to the spa one afternoon for Babes. I truly care about other’s needs!
- A regular nap schedule, so I can leave the house for once for Babes. See how concerned I am for people’s health?
- Mr. Belvedere. Some magic elves to quietly do my household chores at night, so I can finally catch up with my DVR so I can spend more time with my family and less time cleaning. See how important quality time is to me?

I think it’s pretty evident from my Christmas list just how good I’ve been this year.

Thinking of you while I bake a few dozen Christmas cookies for Christmas Eve. You’re favorite is the Spritz cookie, right?

Until next year,
a H.I.T.

Playing Catch Up

The tiresome part about household work is that it's never ending.

It's not like you can finish all your laundry and be done with it. Forever.

There's always something getting dirty, so within two days (one day, if you have a teething baby learning to eat solids), you have a full basket all over again. 

So in honor of laundry day, I'm forgoing the long queue on my DVR in lieu for curling up with a mug of hot apple cider and a good book. 

After all, part one of the last Harry Potter movie comes out next week so I need to catch up on my reading. 

M.I.T. Mondays: Thankful For the Rain

Babes Age: 30 weeks or 6 months

This morning, I was taking some photos of Babes for my girlfriend, Llama Tails. She made some bows especially for our little girl and I thought I would reciprocate the favor by giving her some photos of Babes modeling the headbands for her Etsy site.

I should back peddle.

Lately, Babes has been a total fusspot. Besides being sick, her two bottom teeth won’t budge past the gum line, and to top it off, her two top teeth decided to poke on through this weekend. Painful.

So when she woke up from her morning nap in a great mood, I decided it was the perfect day - freezing rain and all. I plopped Babes in front of a window to get the most natural light and for the first time all morning, Babes was quiet.

She was completely entranced. With the rain.

There I was, all morning, trying to get her to smile with light up toy this and musical toy that but it was something as simple as nature that made her content.

So this Thanksgiving, when we are all giving thanks, I will be thankful for the rain and my daughter. For they reminded me that it’s the small things in life we should be most thankful for, not all the things that we buy to entertain ourselves.

Still sick.

After a week of being on the mend, things have taken a turn for the worse here in the H.I.T. household.

I'm going on the Z-Pack.

Babes's nose looks like a drippy faucet.

And Husby, is sitting pretty, healthy as a bat.

Figures. Welcome to motherhood!

Sleep Talk Monster Strikes Again

This morning, Husby calls to tell me that I was super grumpy last night. Now, I remember feeling tired, but grumpy, no, so I ask him to elaborate.

He explains that he woke up in the middle of the night last night to a grumpy sleep talking monster:

Husby: That was weird, did you hear that noise outside?

H.I.T.: Huh?

Husby: The noise...outside.

H.I.T.: If it’s not the baby, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.

[H.I.T. sound asleep two seconds later]

Husby [to himself]: Because I’m really going to take advice from you on this one...

Clearly, I have my priorities straight, and, thankfully, so does Husby.

In Lust

With these bleach Revas.

I'm thinking they'd be perfect with a pair of skinny cords and a chunky sweater.

Now if someone could please pass me my hot chocolate...

Elf, Reporting For Duty

We are beyond excited here at the H.I.T. household. Last year, we were new homeowners, so many things, such as our new house, trumped the holidays. But this year...

it's Babes first holiday season!

And we're going all out.

I've found her Thanksgiving dinner recipes, finished her Christmas shopping (and almost everyone else's!), ordered all our decorations, and, most importantly, we're about to receive our Elf on a Shelf.

Why is that the most important?

Because this morning I was greeted by this:

We have a top secret scooter on our hands. I don't know when she began "army crawling," but clearly it's time we introduced Babes to her elf...the one who reports mischievous behavior to Santa.

Otherwise, I see many more of this in our future:

M.I.T. Mondays: Sick Day

Babes Age: 29 weeks or 6 months

Babes has been sick since Saturday.

It was my day to sleep in.  I rolled out of bed, inhaled my coffee and found Babes jumping in her bouncer with a face full of snot.

I looked at Husby, who was busy reading Page Six his morning paper, and asked if he took her temperature.

Husby: Why would I do that?

H.I.T.: Because she's clearly sick. Why didn't you wake me up?

Husby: She's not sick...

H.I.T.: Look at her nose! It won't stop running. Her eyes are bloodshot.

Husby: She definitely didn't look like that when I picked her up this morning.

H.I.T.: And I guess she didn't have a full diaper either.

Husby: At least she's in good spirits!

H.I.T.: I'm going back to bed and taking a sick day.

After wiping her nose several times and visiting the doctor, she's finally on the mend. Her eyes are still bloodshot and her nose is still runny, but at least her diapers are being changed.