A Bouncy Birthday

Well my daughter's 6th birthday went off without a hitch, whew! A great time was had by all. There were 18 kids in total, which doesn't include her 3 teenage aunts and uncle, who also took part in the bouncing festivities.

i have to say it was worth the hefty price tag to not have to organize every aspect of a party for so many guests. i was able to actually enjoy the party as well. I watched the kids run and bounce play and scream, and it wasn't in my house!lolol, YEAH! I loved seeing them thoroughly enjoy every minute they spent there.

I got to speak to the parents of Angie's classmates, they were all really nice and had the sweetest things to say about Angie, which every mom loves to hear.. hehe.

after they were done bouncing we all had pizza sang Happy Birthday and had some yummy cake. Nope I didn't make it myself, I had 11 people in my house that weekend and there was no way I was gonna bake my own cake. So we ordered this adorable Princess Castle cake for $45, great deal and it was yummy!It was even more special because we were able to share it with Our families. My in laws came down from N.Y to celebrate with us. So did my BFF Kimmy who is also Angie's Godmother. She was so happy to see them and share her day with them. It was so great to have both my husbands family and mine there. We got a great pic of Angelina with both of her Grandma'sA few more pics of the day.

A New Look, and a Happy Birthday!

I gave my blog a makeover, hehe. I like it. This could become very addicting . If I change designs as much as I change my hair color this could get messy. Maybe the hubby will buy me a custom design for my birthday next month. That would be so sweet, hint hint wink wink ; ) Speaking of birthday's today was my princess's 6th birthday. Happy Birthday Angie! Cant believe how fast she has grown. Unfortunately she wasn't feeling too good, but she still had fun running all over Chuck E Cheese. The real birthday bash is this Sunday, 20 kids, In-laws and friends coming down from N.Y and all my kids are sick. I pray I make it out alive! Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it.

My Reflection

   Okay, maybe this will sound dumb, but does anyone remember the song Reflection from the Disney movie Mulan. Well this is a little bit of it:

Look at me

You may think you see

Who I really am

But you'll never know me

Every day

It's as if I play a part

Now I see

If I wear a mask

I can fool the world

But I cannot fool my heart

Who is that girl I see

Staring straight back at me?

When will my reflection show

Who I am inside?

Well this song pretty much sums up, how I have been feeling for a while now. Honestly probably since I had my daughter six years ago. Yes becoming a mom changed my life in the most fantastic ways imaginable, yes I love my kids to with all my heart. That said, I have let it change me in some not so great ways. I let myself fall into the I'm just a mom mentality. I let the pieces of me slip away.
   I thought that being a mom was all about sacrifice. That if I wanted to hang out with friends, or go out with my hubby for a few hours I was abandoning my child. My life belonged to my children and was not about me anymore. In a way it's true, being a mom is about being selfless and giving of yourself  completely. The thing I didn't realize is that there has to be something there to give. If you forget or forsake all the things that make up who you are,then there really isn't anything left to give. You just become a mommy drone, going through the motions. I love my family with all my heart but I think I need to work on loving myself a little more.
   I don't recognize the girl I see in the mirror anymore. I don't see myself. I don't like who I see, it's just not me. The real me is so much better then the one I show to the world. Not just physically, but in all ways.
  I think the rest of this year is going to be spent on some major self improvement. not just for myself but for my whole family. I deserve to live up to my full potential. My kids deserve to have a happy and whole Mommy at her best and my husband deserves to have the woman he fell in love with, he didn't marry mommy, he married Jessica. They should be the same person!

MOTHERHOOD

This is the moment, I became a Mommy. This little girl redifined my life in an instant, just by taking her first breath.

Do-Over Days

   Yesterday I had a DO-OVER day. You know the kind where you wish you could call a time out,  press a magic button and do your life over again. I'm not a terribly depressed person, I love my family. I know my problems are small compared to what so many endure on a daily basis.
   That said, there are still those days where you just cant keep yourself from falling into that dark place. When the kids have been going at it all day, screaming running jumping on furniture, fighting and locking your 15 moth old in their room by himself cause he knocked down your block tower. so that you have to get out the tool box to take the door knob of the door to get him out,  GASP, kind of day. Oh and then the hubby comes home from work only to be as difficult and unreasonable as the kids.  OH it was just one of those days!
   So I thought I would take to my Facebook page and vent a little. I put up some funny marriage quotes and song lyrics to Soul asylum's Runaway Train, lol. I didn't really expect anyone to respond. But they did. Three of my old pals responded with comments or instant messages or a private message, all asking if I was ok. I was really surprised and it made me feel better to think that someone cared enough to ask.
   The only one who really got it, was an old friend from H.S, we actually worked together at a snack shop in the mall for several months, (BEST JOB EVER!).  Well she's married with a little girl of her own. Anyways she totally got how I was feeling. She got that sometimes it isn't always easy or fun being a wife and momma. It's hard and stressful and draining.
   Sometimes I wish I were like all my single friends living it up back in New York with their cute never had a baby bodies and nice clothes that don't have boogies and spit up and God knows what else on them. They have dinner at real restaurants and travel the world. Yes, I am just a tad jealous. I don't think about that stuff often but sometimes it does pop into my head.
    I don't think women really talk about the other side of being a mom or wife, the side that ain't so pretty. At least I haven't seen anybody doing it much. I think maybe because women can be so judgmental of each other. We don't want anyone to think were bad mother's or wives. I honestly enjoy reading so many different mom blogs out there. They inspire me everyday, they are almost always positive. But sometimes they kind of make me feel like I'm the only woman on the planet who isn't loving every moment of being a wife and mom.
   After reading my friends message I couldn't help but feel better. Knowing that I wasn't alone in what I was feeling meant the world to me. I realized I'm not alone, I'm not the only one who wishes for DO-OVERS sometimes. I'm a mom and I'm human and sometimes Mommy needs a timeout. Sometimes we just need someone to pat us one the shoulder and say, I get it. I know how you feel, your not the only one. It really does help.

Thanks, Mango
  

Ebay Diapers.. Kawaii Baby Diapers, Review

When I first decided to make the switch to cloth diapers, I turned to Ebay to find a good deal. I didn't want to invest a lot of money on something I wasn't sure I'd stick with. I knew I wanted to pocket diapers, but I was on a budget. I found that there were a few sellers, carrying these minky pocket diapers. Some of them were going under the brand name Kawaii Baby, and others had no brand tag at all. Upon comparing them I realized there exactly the same diaper! Although the ones that come with the Kawaii brand tag have more variations to them. This is where I got mine, http://shop.ebay.com/joejoewai/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686.
   These diapers are a one size pocket diaper. They have a 3 snap rise adjustment, for a small, medium and large size. This diaper fit's babies 8lbs to about 40lbs. They come in a variety of adorable prints in a waterproof minky fabric.

The inner lining is a suede cloth material, similar to that of the Bumgenius. The pocket opening is located in the rear of the diaper. It is  large enough to get your hand in to stuff  the the inserts in, and is elasticized to keep the inserts in place. This also helps prevent leaks, and provide a trim fit. My diapers each came with two large microfiber inserts. I can easily get by with using just one insert during the day at home, for naps or going out I would use both. I find that the diapers are surprisingly well made and durable. Even with daily use and some SERIOUS action due to some bad stomach bugs, these diapers have held up beautifully. I have had them for about 5 months now and they are still stain free and look brand new.  They wash up great every time.

  Another plus, for me are the snap closures. Recently I have found them on Ebay with Velcro closures as well. I prefer the snaps, since my little guy has likes to drive Mommy crazy by undoing his Velcro diapers and going commando!

  

 I really love these diapers I find them comparable to my Fuzzi Bunz diapers. they are well made, adorable, and incredibly affordable. I purchased two diapers for $15.55 with FREE shipping! That's about $7.80 a diaper. I think this is a great deal for a one size minky pocket diaper. They are a great way to to build your stash on a budget without having to sacrifice on cuteness. I would recommend these diapers to anyone looking to for a fun affordable easy to use cloth diaper.

   This review is also being shared on http://momcyclopedia.blogspot.com/. Head on over there for more great reviews and tips for moms.

Monday Giveaway

Just stumbled across Sheri's blog, http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/. She hosting a giveaway there for a new Apple iPod touch 8 GB (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL   and a $15 itunes gift card. Head over there to find out how you can enter to win. Good Luck!