Clover Lane

That picture is absolutely adorable! We finally ditched the pacifier with my two year old (he will be three on Saturday) and I miss it more than him I think. Naps seemed to have vanished with the pacifier... so sad.

As for your #3 category, all I can say is A. MEN. Seriously couldn't agree more!!

Oh Sarah- I so agree with you about that show. It wasn't so bad in the very beginning but in the past 2 or 3 years it has been just crummy. I quit watching it...although I was not an avid fan anyway. But...Kate Gosselin, Pam Anderson? Please....

As far as the pacifier...he won't walk up the aisle with it..lol And, I, too had a tender and sweet little boy that loved his "baby" (a Cabbage Patch kid named Mike). He is the dearest adult man and everyone loves him. He is good to his wife, a lot of fun & as tenderhearted as all get out. He loves babies and kids and we are just waiting for them to have one of their own. You're doing a good job, Mom!

Have a wonderful get-away and I hope you come back feeling refreshed and renewed. Hugs- Diana

I have three daughters and would be happy to submit a app :)

lol......... I feel ya on the idea sounding better and better. I am watching dancing with the starts, BUT only because Kurt Warner goes to my church. It would be neat if he won :)

I love that picture Sarah! I wish I had a younger one so my daughters itty baby could get some more use. TV? All trash!! Have a great day.

A. He is ONLY 2. His pacifier is fine right where it is. and it's sweet.
B. I totally agree with you on the whole DWTS thing. I also do NOT watch Bachelor/Bachelorette anymore. It's pathetic and drives me crazy--especially since almost NONE of them make it. It's a meat market. :/

Boys should learn to nurture, too, I agree. And you could have posted just that photo all by its lonesome self and I would still be smiling.

Hmmm. We are going to spend Oct. 16th at a big race, ourselves. My husband and I are supposed to be in the half marathon (which I'm NOT ready for) and the kids are all signed up for various races, too. If it is the same one, perhaps we can have a parent meeting and discuss dowries for the arranged marriages. I'm really, really tempted by the motherhood retreat, but that is a big birthday weekend at our house. I think I'll have to wait for another time. I hope you'll tell all about it.

We have an itty bitty baby too! I had gone all out and bought my two youngest daughters each an American Girl doll two Christmases before and then we were visiting my oldest daughter and her family in Ohio and went to a thrift store (my old love) and one of my girls picked up this doll that looked strangely familiar....$2 was all it took to have a nearly new bitty baby. Now my girls are grown up and the dolls are waiting for the next generation of playtime.

OK, you can arrange marriages for the rest of your kids, but have you forgotten Patrick and Maggie's agreement? Maggie certainly hasn't :)

Maggie still has her "nuby" too because I know once I take it away, her naps will most likely disappear too. As long as she loses it before 4, I'm good with that :)

what a precious picture!! My 2 yr loves babies too and my only daughter NEVER played with them no matter how hard I tried. And dont fret over the binky- my 3 (almost 4 yr old) still takes one- but I do know (from past experience) they eventually give it up. Its better than trying to break thumb sucking. :-)

sean and talby had their pacis till after three.
and craig took both of them away....not me.
and i was mad.
the day he took talby's was the last nap she ever took.
never slept again.
great idea buddy.

To say that I love your blog is an understatement. You are so wise and have some great points. Number three is my favorite today. Thank you for always giving me something to think about. Love the picture of your little boy with the baby doll - you are such a good Mom. Have a great day :)

I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm all for arranged marriages, but I'm not too far from the idea either. It just seems curious to me that our children grow up totally dependent upon us and then one day they are supposed to be let loose to make such a life altering decision without us. Uh...I don't think so. I have only met one boy that I would choose for my daughter to marry so far. We'll have to wait and see about him later in life.
I love that your little guy loves baby dolls. My son Jack had a doll for a long time. He named him and everything. He doesn't play with dolls anymore, although, if I took him to the American Girl store with his little sister, I'm sure he'd pick out a baby doll. Jack does carry around a teddy bear still though. He is going to be 10 in November and I'm a little worried about this. He takes his teddy bear "Max" everywhere with him and he sleeps with him.

Your boys will make great husbands! That is the kind of man my husband is - world's best dad material.

I agree totally about the "un-stars." The beauty and delight of a normal life is highly underrated in the media.

I have never watched DWTS..until the other night we turned on the TV and it was on that show and I saw the creepiest thing ever..David Hasselhoff dancing all gross with a girl that could be his GRAND DAUGHTER..click...off..GROSS!!
p.s.poor Bristol...sad

1. Can't wait.
2. WISH Griffin would take a pacifier. I'm his pacifier. Wonder how that's going to work out while I'm gone at #1.
3. I did watch it a bit when Kate plus 8 was on. It was like watching a train wreck..I couldn't help myself.

Cute photo of Patrick!

1. I would love too, but I don't think I'll make it.
2. My kids (so far) haven't taken a paci but my middle one took a bottle till almost 3. And we will take an application, I have 3 girls :)
3. Can't watch, I had thought it would be a fun show to watch with the girls but my then 3 year old wanted to know why they were dancing without shirts on.

My husband's sisters tell me he slept with a doll named Suzie when he was a little boy---that happens to be my name! He is a great husband (a real snuggler) and a wonderful dad!!

Your little boy is so precious!

Prearranged marriages is my next step - the step that follows me first accepting the fact that one day my babies will be grown and actually get married. :)

I have been working on my photo albums too - four years worth. And there are a zillion pictures of my 3 1/2 year old with his pacifier. Oh, how sad he was when he gave it to Santa. Almost as sad as he was giving up his bottle at 3. We are on the slow-release of babyhood in this house - at least with him.

LOL about the pacifier. It's a life saver!!!! I can't wait to hear all about the retreat, I so wish I could attend.
I have not watch DWTS this time but just b/c haven't had a chance. I agree about the limelight, and feel sorry that Bristol and her family are making poor choices and at such a price to her child. Should be interesting to see who wins this year! Hope you have a great weekend! :-)

I think your blog header..is just the BEST!

sandy toe

My two year old has a baby too that he just adores. We call him baby mitch. baby mitch goes everywhere with Landen right now, especially to bed :) I love it, it's so sweet how he cares for his baby.

I seem to pass along the web address to your blog more than any other link. Thank you for always keeping it real and helping us less experienced mommas navigate our new roles.

My 2.5 year old sleeps with her "binky" every nap and at night. I just keep thinking that she's not taking it to Kinder with her and like a previous commenter said, she's not walking down the aisle with it. And if it goes, she might never nap again????!!!??? No thank you! I'm due any day with #2 and nap time is absolutely necessary for me right now. :)

My hubby had a doll growing up, a Cabbage Patch named Christopher that our Tatum loves to play with today. I hate when I see other moms push their little boys away from traditionally "girl" toys. My daughter has more match box cars, tools, and "boy toys" than some of her little boyfriends and I couldn't care less. I like to follow their lead.

Again, thank you for being such an awesome voice of reason. I have saved so many posts for when my babies are older and I'm struggling with how to say no to things they are dying for and how to protect my family and make sure it (and my sanity) always comes first.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

#3. Amen and amen!

Where we live, a good percentage of our neighbors are from India. Most of them are arranged marriages. From what I've been told, it's less of a "you will marry this person or else" these days, and more of an online match-making service, where you & your folks go meet the potential suitor and his family. If you don't click, move on. But your entire family gets to have input. How awesome is that?! As a mom of four girls, it sounds super appealing. {And yes, we'll take an application. ;) }

Considering that, on the long run, marriage is a partnership that must survive good and bad events, arranged marriages might make sense.

As for the application, I have 2 daughters (one is already of fan of your blog), and a very sensible and sensitive boy...

And by the way, I love your new banner!

Love, love, LOVE the flower headbands and clips!

Such a sweet picture! Matt sounds like such a sweet boy. I watched Dancing with the Stars when Donny was on, that's about it. Not my fav show in the world, but goodness yes, why would you agree to it?? Like you said..go hide!