My Mom Genes

Posted by AVM

This is my Lovey.  Twirling, whirling through the holidays – this is the image I will think about when I think about Christmas 2009.  This was the first year Lovey “got” Christmas, and it made everything more festive – the tree was twinklier, the fire cozier, the old, tired holiday songs had new life through her new ears.

Seeing her bound down the stairs on Christmas morning was extraordinary – and I can tell you that I haven’t enjoyed the holidays this much since Santa visited me many moons ago.  By far, her favorite gift from Santa was a digital camera, and she has been snapping photos for a week now like she is our little in-house Stieglitz.

I thought I’d share her world, from the two-foot-tall perspective.  My husband and I are finding it quite entertaining.  While many of the photos are of little toes, some are downright surreal and artistic.  And, still, others show the way life looks to a 3-year-old. . .big and fun and sometimes scary!

Happy New Year, dear readers! From all of us at My Mom Genes – we hope 2010 is your best year yet!  Enjoy!

One of the many in the "Toes" series, alternately called, "How does this thing work?"

Smile, Mom!

Baby Sister CeeCee

Swiper and Macky

Surreal image of the family room and Christmas tree

When you're cute, relatives come at you from all angles.

Posted by Fitz

I hope you all had wonderful, relaxing holidays – we’ve missed you!  To commemorate our family’s Christmas, I have  put together a short list of lessons learned to guide you through your 2010 holidays juggling a toddler, your immediate family, and all of the other people who love you and absolutely MUST see you for the holidays.  Please feel free to comment and add your own!

1.  Realize now that you will never spend enough time with people to satisfy them.  There is always somewhere to go and someone to see, and your best defense is guilt-repellant.  Smear a thick coat on your skin before you leave your house, and you won’t feel so bad when the “Oh, you have to leave now?”s start.

2.  Two year olds do not care about giftwrap.  They love to unwrap the presents, but you could cover them with old newspaper and no one would care.  Take that, Toys R Us: you’re not going to sucker me into buying poor quality, expensive Dora wrapping paper next year!

3.  You should reorganize your playroom/toy area BEFORE the holidays to make room for all of the new gifts that will undoubtedly enter your house.  No matter how much you beg or plead with your family, they are too excited about kids on Christmas to actually stick to a one- or small-gift rule.  You will come home, and you will feel overwhelmed.  Be proactive next time.  Otherwise you’ll be as stressed as I am, and I don’t recommend it!

4.  Your kid is going to eat too many cookies and too much junk during the holidays.  Deal with it, and stock up on veggies and whole grains for the 26th.  In the meantime, do the best you can to get a nutrient in them now and then.

5.  Your personal holiday will never be the same.  You and your husband might agree to forego gifts, you might decide on a practical item for your gift (who wants to see my new Maytag?), and you might never have the luxury to truly splurge or be splurged on again.  Regardless, the look in your kid’s eyes when they are in the holiday spirit (and yes, when they see their presents), will make up for it.  Mostly.

This one was too tough to call.  We loved all of the entries and because many of them were similar, we decided to do the diplomatic thing and put the names in a hat and pick at random.  The lucky winner is. . . .

JESS

who wrote, “I’m so glad that I have pictures of DD with her three sets of great grandparents from various times in her life to date. She’s very lucky to have so many family members in her life that love her so much. A lot of friends our age have lost grandparents, and DH and I are lucky enough to have 6 surviving between the 2 of us.”

Congratulations, Jess!  We know that your session with Crista will give you gorgeous photos for years to come!

Merry Christmas!  And many thanks to all who responded to this special giveaway!

Beyond precious, right? And just one of many moments you’ll want to preserve, because the calendar pages are flipping a lot faster these days.

And with that, dear readers, today we announce the last (but certainly not the least) of our December giveaways:

A free photo session, including an 8 X 10 print from that session 

from Crista Acosta Photography

(This session must take place between January-April 2010 in the greater Hartford, CT area.)

Crista has photographed us, our families, and many of our friends, and we know you’ll love her beautiful work as much as we do! She also has one of those awesome, easy-going personalities that make you forget you’re her subject; even the camera-shy (i.e. active toddlers) come out looking like willing participants.

Good luck!

To enter, please complete this sentence in this post’s Comments area:

 I’m so glad I have a picture of ________, because ______.

Official Contest Rules

1. This contest is open to entrants who are able to schedule a greater Hartford, CT area session between January-April 2010. Participation assumes The Entrant’s agreement to these terms. 

2.  Winner selection  is at the sole discretion of the My Mom Genes bloggers.

3.  Entries will be accepted until 11:59  p.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.

4.  The winner will be notified via email and announced on My Mom Genes.

5.  Arrangements for session and print delivery will be made directly between the winner and Crista Acosta Photography. My Mom Genes is not responsible for scheduling, cancellations or any aspects of prize collection after the winner and vendor have been introduced.

All photographs belong to and have been used with the permission of Crista Acosta Photography.

 MANDY!

Our hearts went out to Mandy after reading her response to our question of why she deserved something beautiful this year.  She said:

 “I deserve something beautiful because I delivered my daughter without my husband and I have been raising her since birth alone without a moments help until he returns (military). She is almost 6 weeks old now.”

We can’t imagine the challenges that Mandy is facing right now, and hope that this necklace serves as a reminder of her strength.  Thank you, Mandy, for the sacrifices that your family is making for our country; we wish we could give a necklace to every mom in your shoes this holiday season.

All of your responses truly touched our hearts, and it was very difficult to decide who would win this particular giveaway.  Thank you for participating, and we wish each of you the best of everything.

Ladies,

You know you want something extra special for the holidays this year.  Something that makes you feel feminine and beautiful whether you’re wearing a cocktail dress or jeans.  Something that has nothing to do with your role as Mom, and something that isn’t a household appliance.  This is your CHANCE, ladies.  I implore you, do not miss this opportunity. 

Designs by Rali – an amazing mom-owned handmade jewelry company based in Norwalk, CT and featured in a recent Momgenius article – has generously donated one of their best-selling necklaces – an $85 retail value –  for our giveaway.  The necklace is on a 16″ chain with hand wired pearls and a gold disc. The wire and disc are gold vermeil (plated) and the chain and clasp are gold filled.

For your chance to win this gorgeous necklace, please answer the following question:

“I deserve something beautiful this season because:____________________________.”

Best of luck to all who enter!

Official Contest Rules

1. This contest is open to anyone who would like to participate.

2.  Selecting the winner is at the sole discretion of the My Mom Genes bloggers.

3.  Entries will be accepted until 11:59  p.m. on Sunday, December 20, 2009.

4.  The winner will be notified via email and announced on My Mom Genes.

5.  Item will ship directly from Designs bty Rali based on the vendor’s delivery terms.

We’re happy to announce that the winner of our Why Knot? Bows tutu and bow giveaway is….

DONELLA!

When asked to share the most ridiculous advice she’d gotten about motherhood, she shared this hilarious story:

“It took me a while to think of some advice because I so disregard much of the junk that I just let it go in one ear and out the other. But I was told that a little soda (think mountain dew) and chocolate (milky way) were ok (baby was only 6 months old and just starting stage 1 foods).”

Because we’d all give our babies Mountain Dew, right?  Congratulations to Donella…and please share pics of your little darling in her new tutu and bow!

Adorn your little prima ballerina with a gorgeous pink tutu and hair bow from Why Knot? Bows!

Started by two moms in New Orleans, Why Knot? gives moms the opportunity to accessorize their little girls in high style.  Featuring bows, ponytail holders, streamers, and tutus for almost any occasion, these moms know how to make little girls feel like princesses every day.

To win the tutu and bow below, answer this question:

“The most ridiculous advice I’ve received about motherhood is  _________________________.”

Official Contest Rules

1. This contest is open to anyone who would like to participate.

2.  Selecting the winner is at the sole discretion of the My Mom Genes bloggers.

3.  Entries will be accepted until 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2009.

4.  The winner will be notified via email and announced on My Mom Genes.

5.  Item will ship directly from Why Knot? Bows based on the vendor’s delivery terms.

We’re pleased to announce the winner of The Martha Hat is…

AMY

who  responded:  “One part of parenthood that has me baffled is how NOT to put my husband last. I am a full-time working mom of an 18-month-old and I also care for my elderly mother. My husband is so amazing and so supportive but he often seems to fall down the list because of other responsibilities. How do I do it all but still make my husband feel like the important person that he is?”

We’re trying to figure this one out ourselves.  Enjoy your Martha Hat and thank you for that heartfelt and honest answer.

Thanks to all of you for your participation, and be on the lookout for more fabulous December giveaways! (Hint: You may want to check out My Mom Genes again tomorrow.)

Posted by AVM

About 20 years ago, I sat on the floor of my best friend’s childhood bedroom as we were getting ready to go to the movies (“When Harry Met Sally” perhaps?).  My friend pulled a gorgeous green striped sweater over her head and said, “Let’s go!”  I said, “WHERE did you get that?  I want one!”  She said, “My sister Martha made it for me.”  A couple of decades, and lots of living later, Kerry is still my best friend and her sister is still knitting the most beautiful things.  Many iterations of “The Martha Hat” are selling like hotcakes by word-of-mouth in Martha’s town and beyond.  Everyone who sees one says the same thing I said over 20 years ago, “Where did you get that?  I want one!”  The lucky winner of today’s giveaway will win one of Martha’s whimsical fish hats (an example is seen here), which will make your toddler the envy of the playground.   Her hats are handmade with the best quality yarns and always made with love.   The hat will go to the lucky reader who best finishes the sentence: One part of parenthood that has me baffled is ______________.

Official Contest Rules

1. This contest is open to anyone who would like to participate.

2.  Selecting the winner is at the sole discretion of the My Mom Genes bloggers.

3.  Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 14, 2009.

4.  The winner will be notified via email and announced on My Mom Genes.

5.  Item will ship directly from The Martha Hat based on the vendor’s delivery terms.