September Mommy Moment Winner

I've never gotten as many submissions for my "Mommy Moment" contest as I did this month, I blame it on my wonderful sponsor this month, Tamara with Couturière. She's giving a beautiful diaper bag and matching changing blanket to the winner this month.

My wonderful judge Kayce had the chance to choose a winner. It would have been WAY too hard for me to choose just one... Especially since I love you all! I also want to say that Kayce is the best for always answering my random questions about doulas, labor and midwives! If you have questions on the topic ask her :) And check out her blog too, she's a master doula in the making!

Ok now on to the winner, I'm sure you can't take any more suspense...

Reiza with "Restoring my Faith in Humanity"

Honorable mentions:
Krystal with "A Lesson from a Dandelion"
Erin with "Rocket Man"

A big thank you to Kayce for judging! She said it was so hard to choose a winner and I completely agree! Be sure to read these other amazing entries!

1. Elizabeth with "Precious and Few":I found my 'mommy moment' in the process of losing my child. It happened on a Friday, after four carefree and blissfully pregnant months followed by two terrifying and desperate weeks of bleeding, cramping and bed rest...
2. Mom of Three with "Carefree Abandon": Today I was reminded of what childhood carefree abandon felt like.As I watched my boys frolic in the water in the hot hot sun with their friends I was transported back to my childhood.It didn't start out that way...
3. Zealandsmom with "Growing Up": Zealand is finally mature enough to sleep in his own little toddler bed. I knew this day would come, I forced him to sleep in his pack and play after he climbed out of his crib...
4. Beth with "School, 'Beep Beep', and Sleep... Life is Busy": A First for Grace: Tuesday was Grace's first day of preschool! She goes twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, for three hours. She took off when they got there the first day and didn't want to wait for Brian to gather her stuff out of the car...
5. Josiah's Mom with "Life with a Reflux Baby": After posting for support on a few different websites, I decided to start a blog about my life as a brand new mom with a Reflux Baby. I thought I was just posting on the sites for my own support and mental well being, but it turns out that people really care about how we are doing (more than I could've ever imagined).
6. Heidi with "Me.. Ooh My": Where does the time go?? I still can not believe that my baby girl is almost 9 months old or that my little man will be 4 next month. Where have I been, it seems like just yesterday I was a Baby Making Machine...
7. Diva Scrapper with "Optimism Meets Serendipity":Optimism....Optimism is an outlook on life such that one maintains a view of the world as a positive place. A general disposition to expect the best in all things...
8. Natalie with "Party Like it's 1979": Husband is old now. I feel suddenly stressed to have kids. I keep doing this math, audibly, like "holy crap if we had a kid tomorrow, then our kid would be 10 and you would be 40 and we'd have another 10 years until the kid would leave the house and..."...
9. Prissy Mommy with "Our Mommy and Me Swim Class Experience": You all may remember when I blogged some months ago about wanting to begin the Mommy and Me swim class at our neighborhood YMCA....
10. Dagmar's Momsense with "Extended Co-Sleeping": Since we moved, I have been sleeping in Landon’s new big-boy twin bed with him. And Daddy is sleeping on the couch. Our new bedroom needed to be painted, so we don’t have our bed set up yet...
11. Fabulously Foxy with "Reminiscing": Last night, Y woke up because she went poop (it always wakes her up if she's asleep, but luckily it doesn't happen too often). And while I was putting her back to bed it reminded me of a some thoughts that I wanted to use in a post last week....
12. Jessi with "My Life in a Nutshell Or Crazy House...": So I have not really been posting much because of my blog giveaways taking up so much time I feel like there is never enough time in the day to play mommy, maid, doctor, wife, cook, maid again, jungle gym, teacher and dog walker. Of course I do all this and so much more and I do it with ease...
13. Sonya with "Rough week? We all Feel Your Pain": It's been one of those weeks, and I'm sure that you all have been through one like it (or worse) before. Earlier this week my friend sent me a link to this video, and it brought tears to my eyes... tears of laughter, that is!...
14. Alison with "Thankful": Yesterday, Sunday, September 20th a good friend of mine was pushing me to take a pregnancy test. You see, I felt for the first cycle we hadn't had that good of timing, since ovulation caught me off guard (very early - rare!)...
15. Problem Solvin' Mom with "Better than a Nap Even": I could tell I wasn't going to get a nap again today, and knew as the frustration set in that I needed to get started reviewing my gratitude list. Once both girls were asleep, I had ten minutes until a friend was stopping over...
16. Natalie with "Reflections and Anticipations": This weekend has been a very lazy one, which I'm not complaining about. Hubby and I were laying on the couch just lounging, and I got up and went to the bedroom to retrieve a pillow and our blanket...
17. Karla with "My First Mommy Moment": Very recently, I started to fully realize how badly I want a baby; to fill our home with all the love, laughter and joy that it can hold. My husband and I have been trying for our first baby for four months, but there is one precise moment where my heart melted. Suddenly everything that we have been striving for seemed so worth it...
18. Kristina with "My Favorite Mommy Moment": My most favorite(s) have been births of all my angels. Each preggo is soo different and each delivery, whether it be natural or surgical is always so different from each other...

And there you have it! I hope you'll take a few moments and read all of these posts! I must say I laughed, and cried reading through all of them! And if you're looking for new blogs to read... This is a wonderful place to start!

I'm going to take a break from Mommy Moments for October. The fundraiser is taking a lot of time, and I'm going to get back to "normal blogging" soon after! Feel free to link them up though so we can visit your blogs! I won't have a judge or a winner, but I'll promise to read them all!

The Best Breastfeeding Posts You've Ever Read!

*To enter this month's contest go here*

It's a topic I know draws LOTS of controversy. I'm not sure why to be honest... We are all adults right? We can choose what's best, and what works for us. Well, I truly enjoyed reading through these amazing post from (men and) women who spoke their minds about breastfeeding.

I love reading about things I have no clue about, so this was definitely a great experience for me! Thank you SO much for sharing your wonderful posts and for helping me learn a little more about this beautiful process, and for getting me even more excited to have a little one, and that bond of my own!

I'm really so glad I didn't have to choose a winner between all of these posts because they were all so wonderful. Sweet Wifey from Prissy Mommy was wonderful enough to help me out with this task. Please check out her awesome blog too! She has the most adorable little boy and I love reading about her "first" with this cute little baby. She also is a successful woman (a clinical psychologist) which really just inspires and proves to me that you don't have to choose one or the other, and you CAN do it all if you want to!

Also a big thanks to LaDyLaDukes Etsy who is donating a feeder frock to this month's winner!

Prissy Mommy said she loved all of the posts, and had a really difficult decision but she said "The post that I thought was the sweetest and most endearing and poignant was by Krystal." So congratulate Krystal with her post: "Thank you God for This Child"! She wins a Feeder Frock from LaDyLaDukes Etsy, and I'll be featuring her on my site later this month!

Honorable mentions:
1. Mami to Mami: "Mamí Exposed: A Personal Look at Breastfeeding":Please don’t be misled by the title of this post. I have no plans of showing off “the girls” but you might be thinking some of this is still T.M.I. – Too Much Information. Sorry folks but you’ll have to deal. It’s time to expose the underbelly of breastfeeding...
2. Reiza: "Life, Death and Nourishment": On the first anniversary of my brother's death, I nursed my daughter while praying and I will be eternally grateful for that experience.My brother was given six months to live. He never made it that far. Cancer stole him from us the day we found out we were pregnant with twins...

Other wonderful posts I hope you'll read (in the order they were received):
3. Mom of Three: "When Did I Become My Mom?": I've been thinking about how lucky I am to have been able to spend this much time at home with my baby. Her brothers are 6 and 8 and was back out to work early on with them...
4. Rebecca: "Mommy Moment": I knew the moment I was having a baby that I would breastfeed this little tike inside of me. I just knew it would be so lovely, such a wonderful bonding experience that only he and I would share. So why pray tell did he and I both feel like this while doing it?...
5. Ang: "Mr. Smiley Gave Mommy Boo Boo":The baby commonly is known around this full house as Mr. Smiley. Every child has had a nick name through their first year. Mr. Smiley got his as soon as he started to smile, why?, because the little cutey does not stop smiling...
6. The king family: "My Breastfeeding Post": When I got pregnant I knew I was going to have to take any route I could to do it as cheaply as possible. This meant researching cloth diapers, breastfeeding, making my own baby food ect...
7. Jenn: "I Love the Mechanics of Nursing": The whole supply and demand thing. It blows my mind. I love it. Sabine has, I believe, hit the six month growth spurt. For the past few days she has been in non-stop nurse mode...
8. Jake: "What to do When a Woman Breastfeeds Near You on and Airplane":Seems odd to me that people are confused about what to do when a woman is breastfeeding her child on an airplane. If you have ever walked on a plane with a small child, you know that look on people's faces – that look that says "please, please don't sit next to me."...
9. Mommy News: "My Journey Through Breastfeeding": Weaning begins when your child starts to take something other than your breast milk as part of his diet. For most of us, that is around the six month mark. Weaning for some happens quickly, and for others lasts for a very long time...
10. Amanda: "Classy Never Trashy":Last week, I got a question: "Mrs. Hebert, what's the definition for classy?" (apparently some kind of language arts assignment... I get these questions a lot to be a science teacher. It makes for interesting times.)...
And "Bff Probaby Not": So... I've been getting a lot of straight-up questions, round-about questions and unsolicited "advice" (opinions) from friends, family, and (real shocker) complete strangers about breastfeeding...
11. (A dad's perspective) Daddyclay: "Public Breastfeeding": Daddy Brad and Daddy Clay tackle the baby nursing issue. How do you feel about women breast feeding in public? Is it okay for moms to breast feed their baby in front of others?... (A video)
12. Monicasalazar: "Is it Possible to Nurse in a Back Carry?": Is it possible to breastfeed while wearing the baby on your back? You might think this is impossible because of the location of our breasts, right?... WRONG!...
13. Marketingmamamn: "How to Pump Successfully at Work": Pumping breast milk at work can be overwhelming for many new mothers. Especially when you consider that you are separating from your baby for the first time for more than a couple of hours, hormonal, sleep deprived, all while trying to transition back to the workplace...
14. Milk and Honey Mommy: "It's Been a Boobiful Ride": Wow! It is an entire week devoted to the boob…all boobs…okay, just boobs. Yes, I guess I could be a little more tactful. It is a week of awareness as the issue of breastfeeding is promoted. Before I had children, I never realized how important the issue of breastfeeding would become to me...
15. Mrs. Bri: "Due Date" (Explicit): I am glad to be back, a bit worse for the wear, highly traumatized in the nipple and abdomen areas and a bit traumatized in the overwhelmingness of life area as well...
16. Cberbs: "What is the Goal in Breastfeeding?":The other day, I was looking at the search results and I found this one: “What is the goal in breastfeeding?” I loved that question, because I think it is such an open ended question...

Thank you to everyone who submitted a breastfeeding post! It was a great way to recognize World breastfeeding Month, and so fun learning more about it!

This month I'm going to do "Mommy Moments" a little different. I set up a Mr. Linky so it's easier for you to submit your posts to me, and easier for people to read them all month!

Enter the September Mommy Moment Contest here.

***
Winners for the Bellybar giftpack giveaway:
#171 Huguette E. #63 Jessie #81 Emi : OMG Emi, you just asked me to choose a winner and I swear Random.org just chose you! How funny! CONGRATS!! Please email your address to babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com so I can get them shipped to you!

Mommy Moments of September!

Below is a list of Mommy Moments for September. As you write a post about your family (or future family) post the link here so we all can read it! Remember, you don't have to be a mom to have a "Mommy Moment" in my book!

Write a post about a crazy moment, a precious moment, or anything that reminds you or represents motherhood to you. It can be a story, a photo, a movie, poem, or anything your heart desires!

Kayce from Kayce's Doula Journey is this month's lovely judge. She had a great blog with a plethora of information and advice about pregnancy, labor and beyond! I just love chatting with her about all of my pregnancy questions!

At the end of a month she will choose a winner who will get a BEAUTIFUL $100 tote/ diaper bag of choice from Couturière (depending on your motherhood status would deem how you'd use it). Every lady wants to be stylish!

"Couturière is a premier line of baby accessories specializing in handmade diaper bags that make a statement.

We are based in the Metro Atlanta area. Our mission is to create a unique, eye-catching product that appeals to the style-savvy mom, while catering to the baby’s needs."

More info about the bag: The Kaasy Bag is the first creation in Tamara's premier line of Couturière baby products. Its dimensions are approximately 15” x 17” x 5”. Each bag comes with a matching changing Pad, and 3 clear vinyl inside pockets (2 elastic and 1 larger pocket). All diaper bags are lined with oil cloth to protect the bag’s exterior.

The winner will also get a feature on Baby Makin(g) Machine! Somewhere in your post just please leave a link to this post. No biggie, anything small will work. Good luck, and have fun with it! Please link DIRECTLY to the post you want to be judged.




If you'd rather you can email your entry to babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com. At the end of the month I'll feature all of the entries in another post with the first few sentences of your post like I did here. Thank you so much for sharing your Mommy Moment with everyone! I can't wait to read them all!

This contest has ended but you can link up to the October list HERE.

The July Mommy Momment Feature!

I had the pleasure of interviewing Kelly, winner of July's Mommy Moment Contest. Be sure to check out her blogs and show her LOTS of comment love! :) Oooh ooh... Especially cause she JUST had her 2nd baby on Friday!!! Yay!

Want to be featured? There's still time to enter this month's contest.

Blog Name? Original was ‘Amelia Takes on The World’ but transitioning to ‘Dyar GirlsTake on Their Parents’ since #2 will be here soon; I also have a wine review blog that is somewhat on hold since I’m pregnant and a photography blog as I learn about our DSLR camera.

How many kids do you have? Amelia just turned 2 and baby girl #2 will be here sometime in the next two weeks.

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? How much love is in your heart for this little person, and how much it just keeps growing over time, especially when they start saying ‘I love you’ and look to you for comfort.

What is the hardest part about being a mom? Balancing being the best mom you can be while also retaining time for yourself and your husband which I believe are also keys to being a good mom; it’s really hard to find time for all three things so it is a balancing act that is never perfect but you try your best.

What is your blog about? Mostly about Amelia and her growing up; I don’t often write about issues of motherhood or marriage itself,although I’ve considered starting a separate page or blog where I would do that; I wanted her blog to be about her so it would be something I could print and save for her when she is older.

How did you start blogging? I actually started it because we started a wine review blog (http://www.ddwinereview.com/) with our friends – and when I was talking to a co-worker they said it would be funny if I also had a baby food review blog. That started when Amelia was around 5 months old and just grew into a journal of her life. I’ve gone back and added a few posts for those first 5 months just to have some documentation.

How long have you had your blog? Just over a year and a half since the first two started.

What are some tips for new bloggers? Write from your heart and just keep in mind, it will evolve. What I have now is not what I started with – and I never would’ve considered myself a good writer but I’m constantly having friends and family telling me a post makes them cry or just how they love my style of writing. I just go with my heart,very little editing involved, and I think that is the best advice I can give.

Your 3 favorite posts you've written ? The one I submitted here, Bunnies Eat Cereal, is one of my favorites. I also love my monthly updates where I write a letter to Amelia about her accomplishments – here was her 2 year letter. One of the few posts that I’ve written that isn’t necessarily about Amelia was about my experience with the 3-day Breast Cancer Walk and it is also one of my favorite posts; while its not really about her, she is one of the reasons I participated. I hope to see the day when our girls don’t have to worry about breast cancer.

Spread the love: 3 other blogs you love?
Besides Baby Making Machine of course – the first three blogs I followed on a regular basis back when I started blogging myself are still three of my favorites. All three get checked daily during the week – I tend to be more relaxed about getting on the computer on the weekend to spend more time with Amelia.
Dooce – while I don’t always agree with her politics, her writing about being a mother and family resonate with me; her letters to her daughter Leta were my inspiration for my letters to Amelia even though I take a different perspective on them.

Wouldashoulda- Mir cracks me up and can make me cry – she is just so real and I feel like she could be one of my best friends,things I look for in a blog

Motherhood Uncensored- At first I found Kristen a little too frank for me, but overtime I kept coming back and now I check daily for posts and follow her tweets (I follow all three on twitter actually). She is just refreshingly honest about motherhood.

The Breastfeeding Awareness Mommy Moment Contest

This month I'm doing the contest a little differently, and the winner will receive one of these... A Feeder Frock from LaDyLaDukes Etsy.

The Feeder Frock Was Specifically Designed to Help Moms Who Breastfeed in Public, Cover Their Backsides, and Nurse Their Babies Sitting, Standing or Moving! Sometimes, Moms Have to Chase Their Kids, or Push a Stroller, and Grab Things--Moms Have to Move!

If I wasn't totally sold on breastfeeding in public before I think this helps me with the idea. It's like a stylish shirt you can hide baby under! The style I'm featuring here is called Pop Princess and it's worth $59.99! But the winner gets to choose the style they want. And if you're not a mom like me... It can be a great gift (or something to save)!


Excited yet? My wonderful guest judge Sweet Wifey from Prissy Mommy will choose the winner for this contest. And this month for my contest your "Mommy Moment" doesn't have to be this month. You can write something up if you want or it can be anything you've written in the past, but I'm giving you a "momyish" topic to write on... Breastfeeding. It's breastfeeding awareness month and I thought it is only appropriate.

Here are the rules: Write up a post about breastfeeding, or find something you've written in the past. It can be any humorous/ informative/ opinionated post on breastfeeding you've written, or you can write it this month. Somewhere within the post put a link to this contest. I don't care how small it is just try to include it.
Then, you can share the link to your post with me in the comments section or email it to me. You can email your entry to babymakingmachine{at}gmail{dot}com. As I always say you DON'T have to be a mom to win! Anwayone can have a "mommy moment" and anyone can have an opinion on breastfeeding, so have fun with it! I'll also link up all of the entries so everyone can read in the order I receive them!

You have until August 30th to enter so go write write write!



Again, the winner will get a fashionable breastfeeding Feeder Frock of their choice from LaDyLaDuke and a feature on my site, and my guest judge Sweet Wifey from Prissy Mommy will choose the winner. Oh, and no, she is NOT accepting bribes! Good luck!

What do you think? Excited about the topic?

Ok, now on to July's winner!:
I always have such a fun time reading your "mommy moments" from moms to moms-to-be future moms! I share my stories here but I love reading yours! I've asked you to throughout the month, be on the lookout for post you've written about being a mom. And to share your favorite mommy moment with me!


I got a lot of entries and all of them were beautiful! Some were funny and others were clever! Luckily I had my friend Quel aka my HomeGirl be the judge so I wouldn't have to make the tough decision!


She loved them all and this month the winner is...



Dyar Baby Momma with 'Bunnies Eat Cereal'


And she wins a beautiful customizable photo tile necklace from iGotSquares Etsy, and later this month I'll be featuring her! So be sure to check her out and send her congrats!


Here are the honorable mentions:
Liz from (Loving Mom 2 Boys) with 'Fabulous Weekend'
Little Nut Tree with "The Things they Say"
John Deere Mom with "Rite of Passage"
supah ~d with "Week Madness"
~M~ with "Nanny Nanny Boo Boo"


So be sure to check out all of these wonderful posts and share some comment love!




Aren't feeling lucky? LaDyLaDuke is having a sale all month and is offering 1/2 off gift certificate purchases with a Frock purchase.

The June Mommy Moment Feature

I always love reading your blogs and reading about cute mommy moments that I felt like I've already felt, or experiences that I can't wait to experience, and am for now--Enjoying them through you. Share your "Mommy Moment" with a link to your post in the comments section for a chance to win!

Check out my interview with J, our winner of the June Mommy Moment Contest! She had a beautiful post about her daughter, and won a beautiful necklace from Haber Heartworth's Etsy shop.


Name? J

Blog Name? Babies and Battlefields

How many kids do you have? Two.

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? The quiet cuddly moments. But dancing around the house singing showtunes is pretty great too!

What is the hardest part about being a mom? Feeling like I don't have enough time to spend with my husband and, of course, being patient.

What is your blog about? A little bit of everything really. I talk about my kids, my relationship, social awkwardness, and the craziness that is my life!

How did you start blogging? I've been home with my kids for three years now and I had a lot of pent-up writing in my brain. I needed an outlet!How long have you had your blog? Since the end of May.

What are some tips for new bloggers?Hmmm, well I'm still a newbie myself but I like to just write what I feel and try not to censor myself for the most part.

Your 3 favorite posts you've written? Ten Things You Wish You Didn't Know About Me, Why I should live on Mars, and Baby Cuteness

Spread the love: 3 other blogs you love? That is a really difficult one, because I am obsessed with a lot of blogs right now. I guess if I narrow it down to Mommy Blogs, it seems like I'm always reading i come to the garden, My Life...or is it? and The Mahogany Way. And that's not including this blog of course! I can't wait to hear that Future Mama is pregnant!!!

You can see the list of last months' entries here. Well, it's that time of month again where you nominate your favorite post from this month. Your favorite "Mommy Moment" post that is! It can be anything relating to you, your child, your future child, or thoughts of your future children.--Be creative! I'm sure you post these all of the time... I know, I read them! Luckily I don't have to choose the winner though... Raquel, aka Quel, from Homegirl will have the difficult task of choosing her favorite!
The winner for July will get a beautiful necklace of your choice From iGotSquares Etsy! You can choose whichever one you like but I especially like this one cause it's a personal one of a picture of your choice... I'd put a picture of me, hubby and Snoop on mine, but you can choose whichever necklace you want!

So nominate away!! I'll take submissions until July 25th! if you don't want to post the link in the comments section you can email your favorite post you wrote to babymakinmachine{at}gmail.com.

The June Mommy Moment Winner

Wow, we got a great slew of entries in the June Mommy Moment Contest! A big thanks to Kari from Alas 3 Lads for being my guest judge this month!!

She wanted me to let everyone know that it was so difficult to choose just one favorite; they were all really great. She smiled, laughed, identified with, and even shed a tear while reading them. She says she enjoyed reading your posts and appreciated what you shared.

And without further adieu, the winner is:

J with Baby Sleep

And she wins a beautiful necklace from HaberHeartWork's Etsy Shop, and I'll be getting her feature up this week so we can learn a little more about her and her blog. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story about your little baby!

I read and loved each and every post as well, I'm SO glad I didn't have to choose because I loved them all! I suggest you also check out these honorable mentions, cause they will make you laugh and cry for sure!:

Homegirl with My Cleaver Boy : He's too smart for his own good... Or for Mommy's good!
Natalie with How Do I Look as a Mom? : Good! Now join the club already--No, you first!
OMG Pregnant with It's a Girl : The amazing story from a DAD's perspective, finding out he's having a daughter.
Heather with For Poop's Sake : We've all heard about them.. Many have witnessed them firsthand... The BLOWOUT!
Mama Notes with My Little Man : The beautiful birth story of her little boy
Emmy with If I Was Only So Free : A beautiful scene of a mother watching her little girl dance.
Kiki with Bathroom Dancing : The wonderful tale of finding out she's going to be a mommy.. I can't wait to be there.
Jenna with How to Defeat a Cockroach : They're terrifying, and we'd even consider using our offspring to help us defeat them.
Amy with Dear Dignity : What dignity? Where did it go? ...Sometimes the baby can take it.
Mama Notes with Husky What? : Oh no you didn't call her baby that!

I hope you'll take the time to read these great posts!

I also wanted to share my "Mommy Moment" this month... And no, it wasn't with my dog.

I was babysitting J, the little boy I watch twice a week, and was feeding him some of his baby food. Every time I'd give him another scoop I'd make the "Mmmm" sound and he'd kind of look at me like I was crazy.

Well, after like the 20th bite and right after I made my yummy noise, he goes "Mmmmm." I had to yell to hubby and tell him how proud I was that I taught him something! Oooh I can't wait to be a mommy!! Just WAIT 'till you see what I teach 'em!

The Eye's on the Prize

I've been so busy, and mentally my mind is racing a million miles a minute. Some days I wonder how in the world I have time to blog--Ever! But I love it so much I just have to write something!

I was reading one of my journals the other day--One I kept right before and once I met my husband. It was funny reading what I thought about him when we first met. One thing I read that I thought was funny was how we were talking about "starting a family." We were contemplating it not long after we got married. I was ok with the idea, but I still wanted to "finish school, start my career, go 4-wheeling, jet skiing, and visit another country." I've done all of those things in the past year.

Next Tuesday we'll have officially been married for four and a half years! It's so crazy how time flies. Sometimes I still feel like a newlywed. One thing I've been thinking is I'm really going to kick up the notch with this Baby Bucket List of mine. I'm getting so much closer to turning my Baby Makin' Machine on, I can taste it! I've got a sorta-deadline in mind to try to make a baby, and completed list or not--I'm getting busy!

Pertaining to the list and deadline--I have fun news and exciting things in store soon, and I can't wait to put it all out here to share!

In other news, for the next little bit I've decided to spruce up some blog stuff around here. I know more of yall don't visit my blog for the giveaways cause... Well, I don't do many for one, and two... Frankly I think most of you like to help me out, give me advice and share your experiences rather than win a prize... Which is one reason I heart you!

One thing I want to do to show my gratitude I'm going to not only offer a feature the winner of the Mommy Moment contest, I'll also give a prize to the winner! Yep! Right now I'm into necklaces so the July winner will win a necklace from Haber HeartWork's Etsy Shop. I picked out this necklace for the winner:

It's a scrabble tile measures approximately .75" square. It's sealed with an acid-free, non-toxic, clear gloss sealant for a brilliant shine. It's handmade by the designer. The pendant includes free 18" Nickel plated steel 2.4mm ball chain and connector-made in USA. And it arrives in cotton lined small gift box with heartwork sticker.

Not a mom, or want a different necklace? Pick out your favorite from her shop instead.

So, want a feature on my blog as well as a an adorable button and beautiful necklace? Enter my Mommy Moment contest. Let me know your favorite "mommy moment" post this month!-- You don't have to be a mom to have a "momish moment." Don't have a mommy moment this month? Share with me a past post about your/a labor story instead. All of the entries will be featured on my site with links to the entry posts.

Leave me the link in the comments section of this post, or my first announcement post or email me at babymakingmachine(at)gmail.com. I have entries coming in already, so let me know yours! My guest judge, Kari from Alas 3 Lads will be reviewing the posts and choosing a favorite after June 25th. So get them to me before then!

FYI: Pendant is WELL SEALED but is NOT waterproof Small parts-not intended for young/small children.

***

And I almost forgot! Thanks to RANDOM.ORG the winner of my 6-month blogiversary contest where I gave away the necklace from CarrieAnneJone's Etsy Shop is commneter #28 Kathi! Who liked the same necklace I did! Congrats! And email me your info so I can get your prize shipped to you!

The April and May Mommy Moment Features

It's time to open up nominations for the June spotlight! So share your favorite "Mommy Moment" you have this month--Remember, in my world, you don't have to be a mom to have "mommy moments". In your post, let people know it's an entry for the Mommy Moment Contest with a link to this post! Then, let me know where it is in the comments section, or email it to babymakingmachine(at)gmail(dot)com.

Our guest judge this month is Kari from Alas 3 Lads. She is like me.. a little OCD, a night owl, and dog lover. But she's also a wife, former nurse gone stay-at-home-mom from Kentucky. Check out her blog.. But no, she's not taking bribes.

I'll accept the entries until June 25th and we'll announce the winner shortly there after! Good luck! Can't wait to read more of yalls fabulous posts! To see all of last month's entries click here.

But before you run off to write about your adorable stories I want to introduce you to the April and May winners. I had the pleasure of interviewing both Sarah P from Seraphim and Marybeth from Desperately Searching for my Inner Mary Poppins. Both have wonderful blogs!

Here's a little more about them:

Name? Marybeth

Blog Name? Desperately Searching for My Inner Mary Poppins

How many kids do you have? 3

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? Cuddling with my kids and listening their conversations!

What is the hardest part about being a mom? Listening to children bicker!

What is your blog about? Desperately Searching for My Inner Mary Poppins.....it's the name of my blog, and sorta the way I live my life. From the wonderful joys of being a mother to my moments as an aspiring author, I'm always searching for the magic and perfection!

How did you start blogging? A friend of my sisters kept posting her blog on facebook and her post insanely entertained me. Then I thought, “I could do this.”

How long have you had your blog? 3 Months

What are some tips for new bloggers? Be yourself while still being relevant. People love to read what is real!

Your 3 favorite posts you've written ? The Invasion

Why Motherhood is Masochistic

Is Coffee the Key to Success?

Spread the love: 3 other blogs you love? Just three!?!?! Ok...

Pajamas and Coffee

Welcome to the Momplex

Maneuvering Motherhood

****

Name:
Sarah P

Blog Name:
Seraphim

How many kids do you have?
I have three children, my eldest is six and is known as Mr Large on my blog. My daughter is nearly five and she is known as Miss Medium and my youngest is nearly two and known as Mr Small.

What is your favorite thins about being a mom?
I could write you a really long list but I'll condence it to this. The unconditional love it creates within me.

What is the hardest part about being a mom?
See above. Unconditional love is wonderful, but it can also be exhausting.

What is your blog about?
It’s largely about motherhood, juggling work and family, but for me a very important part is working with mothers who have lost their babies or their children. So often they get great support immediately afterwards, but then their story is gradually forgotten. I lost a sibling many years ago to SIDS. I’ve never forgotten him and it’s really important to me to honour these women and their babies. I’m working with my brother on creating beautiful images for these women and their families. I’ve only started this recently, and I’m not really sure where I’ll be taking it. I like the sense of unknown with this blog.

How did you start blogging?
I started blogging when I was trying to research about a friend’s infertility. I’d had some difficulties falling pregnant myself but knew nothing about what she was going through. I wanted to know more, so started researching and came across all these amazing blogs by all these amazing women. The trouble is, until we face a hurdle, we often take motherhood for granted, a given. And for so many women it’s not.

How long have you had your blog?
Oh gosh, over a year now. It’s undergone new looks frequently, thank in large part to Danielle. She keeps coming up with all these news looks and designs and I love them so much. Like me, my blog keeps evolving!

What are some tips for new bloggers?
When I started I distinctly remember saying, I didn’t know what the purpose of my blog was. You don’t have to have a purpose in mind. Just enjoy the process. Read other blogs and comment on them as well. That way people get to know you too. Join forums to discuss topics that you are interested in. I began at LFCA, a site that provides support for women struggling with infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy.

Your 3 favorite posts you've written?
The one I nominated for: Say it with flowers and Love’s Brother and one I wrote about a wedding I’m planning: The Wedding Spanner

Spread the love: 3 other blogs you love?
Apart from yours you mean? That’s really tough because if you saw my blogroll you’d realise I follow a lot of wonderful blogs. But, if you pinned me down and threatened me then I’d pick:
My friend Carly’s blog, she does wonderful work with her “Write their Names in the Sand”
Stacy’s Blog “He will carry me”
and because it is just so cheering to read, I love Kelly’s Korner. (I don’t think she even knows I exist, but it’s a really heartening blog to read)

****

Want to be featured? Don't forget to submit your post here!! You have a couple of weeks, but don't forget! :) Oh, and remember... You don't have to be a mommy to a human to have a mommy moment!

The May Mommy Moment Winner(s)!

I read ALL of your submitted posts and I loved them all! I'm so glad I didn't have to choose a winner cause they were all SO GOOD! Thank you so much for the submissions!

Danielle had her work cut out for her but she made her decision. The May Mommy Moment of The Month Winner is....

Seraphim from Oh the Possibilities: "Say it With Flowers"
Oh but wait, it doesn't end there. I didn't have a winner for April and Danielle loved this post from April too so the April winner is...

Marybeth from Desperately Searching for My Inner Mary Poppins: "The Fate of 'Roger' the Ant"

Congrats! I'll be emailing both of you some questions for your feature post!

Now I also want to highlight these honorable mentions
1. Natalie from The Bobby Pin: "Smile"
Natalie, is also a future mama! I loved this post because I have absolutely been there, and felt this feeling. It's sure to put a smile on your face.
2. Quel from HomeGirl: "My First Day Back at The Gym"
Ok this one made me laugh because I've been on the other side of this situation several times working at daycare, and yes, when I'm a mom, I will be jealous of things my kid likes.

And please check out the rest of these posts. I loved each and every one of these and suggest you read all of them when you can! In the order they were received:
1. April from At Home with the Holmes: "Stir Crazy"
We all know there are some misconceptions with SAHMommyhood... I know I learned that the hard way, but after reading this post, I'm seeing even some simple tasks can turn difficult, yet very entertaining very quickly.
2. Emmy from Emmy Mom--One Day at a Time: "Backwards, Sideways and Inside out"
Umm, can I just say I remember these days?--Back when underwear was so hard to put on correctly. Oh, it won't be too long until I have my own little one like this struggling with the same problem.
3. Yakini from The Prissy Mommy Chronicles: "(Mis)Adventures in Eating Solids"
Ok this was is HILARIOUS and has a great video to prove this exact title. Believe it or not I've had the same situation with the boy I babysit, however I didn't have a camera rolling.-- This is a must see.
4. Kelly from Kelly and Her Boys: "Ode to Me! Hey, I'm the Mom Around Here"
A different twist on a Mother's Day poem. Not all roses here, she told her kids what she really thinks. It's really too cute.
5. Christy from That's Who I Am: "This is Why I Go To Work EVERYDAY!!"
Ok this one has a special place in my heart because she, like me is a future mama, but experiences little mommy moments every day at her job. I hope you'll take a moment to check this out cause while this moment made her day--Reading it, made mine.
6. Kate from Simply Mother: "Dinner Dilemma"
Sadly, I'm already there, but she sums this up better than I ever could--Even when I am on the mommy side of the road! Let's just pray I don't raise my kids at McDonalds.
7. Slee from Paisley and Pretties: "Selfish Mamahood"
This one seriously made me smile I can picture my husband and I having this same discussion over my little one. As a matter of fact, I think I've been here already with my puppy!
8. Cat aka Mama Nut from 4 Nuts in a Nutshell: "Sammy Finds Jesus"
Cat has a beautiful family and this is a great video of a beautiful milestone with her sweet son. You've gotta check it out!

****

And for all of you who were wondering about my pregnancy status... False alarm my friends, false alarm. I'll have more on that later.

Oh, and I was on the Chatterbox Radio today talking about being the 4th Wheel Blogroller to BlogHer '09. You can listen to it here.

The (New) Mommy Moment of the Month Contest

Ok, so I mentioned it on my blogiversary post and I've already got several submissions! It's not too late if you want to join in!

Since I'm getting more entries than I was expecting, and because they're ALL so good I've decided I'm going to have a guest judge decide the winner.

So I introduce to you Danielle. I've told you about her before... Blog designer extraordinaire. But she not only deigned my blog, my business cards, and this new button for the award, she also just started her own stationary line! Her prices are fair and her products are SO CUTE! So head on over and enter her contest for some free stationary.

I also can't go without mentioning her other blog: Well That's Just Fabulous. It is fabulous, and keeps me rolling, from her comments on celebrities she crosses on the streets, to bad spray tans... She's quite entertaining.

So she'll be reading all of your posts, and pick the winner. You have until Sunday May 31st at 11:59 pm to still enter! (Don't worry I'll give you more time next month).

Just submit your best "mommy moment" post from this month (or a recent month) in the comments section. And no... You don't have to be a mom to experience a mommy moment :o)

I'll announce the winner later in the week, and then spotlight that blogger later in the month! Woohoo! Fun right? Oh, and now to the NEW button I promised:

Cute, no? Ok ok, I know some of you don't believe in bottles/ binkies but I didn't think it would be appropriate to put a boob on it. Hope you like it and will wear it proud!

You can email me with your link to your post babymakingmachine(at)gmail.com or comment here, or on on my Blogiversary post for an entry in my contest for a necklace.

Whew! That was a mouthful. Well, have fun!

PS: My visitor still has not come to greet me, and I may take another test--Correctly, sometime Monday. But um yea, I plan on telling my husband of any positive results first, haha! Thanks Emmy :)

The 6 Month Blogiversary!

Yay! I've officially kept this blog up for 6 months now. Wow, has it flown by! This month had been the first month I've cooled it down a little and stopped posting DAILY! While I still think of enough things to write about EVERYDAY I'm having fun posting when I really feel like it. ...Though trust me, I think I'll be picking up the pace again soon.

For my 6 month Blogiversary I want to bring back something I haven't done for a couple of months. Mommy Moment of the Month! But I'm going to do it a little differently. For now, instead of nominating others, I want you to submit your best post of the month that is an example of motherhood. You don't have to be a mom to enter. The winner will get a pretty new button that I'll be revealing soon, as well as a little feature about your blog! So will you enter? Yes, please do! No specific topic this month except Motherhood! Look back in your archives for something you wrote this month or write something up (or months past if you want this time) that displays a classic "mommy moment" be creative and have fun! Feel free to nominate someone else if you'd rather.

And in true Future Mama style I'm gonna give away something special for any lady! A beautiful tile necklace of your choice from CarrieAnneJone's Etsy Shop. My personal favorite is this one:
But she also has a really cute one that says "Hot Mama" I'll definitely have to get one of those one day... If I'm still hot after being a mom that is.

In the comments section just let me know which one you want if you win (or parents with little girls you can choose one of her adorable headbands instead) and I'll draw a winner via Random.org on June 8th.

You get extra entries by letting me know if you:
-Have asked me a question for a Q&A
-Have nominated a post of yours/a friend's for Mommy Moment of the Month
-You follow my blog
-You have my blog button (now two entries)
-You subscribe to my blog
-You favor my blog on Technorati
-You Tweet/ Facebook about this contest
-You post about this contest (now two entries)
-Vote for my blog in the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards (worth 3 entries!)

Good luck! And don't forget to let me know your favorite post.

The February Mommy Moment of the Month

February came and went so fast that I almost forgot to tell you about one of the best mommy posts I read last month!!

I LOVE reading about Mallory's Motherhood Lamentations.

It's refreshing about her joys, struggles and humors of being a lover and mother. She's honest and hilarious! I'm always entertained when I'm doing my routine stalk visit. But most of all I love how real and candid she is. It really is opening my eyes to the not-always-rosy side of motherhood. But she still claims her kids are better than yours (not mine) haha, see here.

I've been blog stalking her for a little while and when I came across this post, I ABOUT died laughing. She talks about an experience at a restaurant when she's trying to feed her screaming baby while everyone in the restaurant is staring at them rudely. But what does she do? She doesn't excuse herself or ignore the rude people, she CALLS THEM OUT! You go girl!

No really, I think this is one lesson and story I want to remember so if I breast feed and I'm in this situation I can do the same thing! Tell 'em like it is hunni... That's what they get!

But her pain = my pleasure, therefore gets here this awesome award! Congrats Mallory and thanks for taking one for the team!

If you have a post you'd like to recommend for this month let me know in the comments section or email me at babymakingmachine (at) gmail (dot) com.

The January Mommy Moment of the Month

I had to make a second post today because it's award time!!

Well getting nominations for this actually made my job a little bit more difficult than easier. I loved reading the posts you suggested well as posts I randomly came across and suggestions that were emailed to me. I hate having to choose a "winner" myself BUT I'm excited to follow all of your blogs and keep them in mind for the next few months!!

The February Mommy Moment of the Month: Heather's post "I've been thinking..." She starts with a a poem about sticking to things. To be honest what won be over was the line:

"To be honest, being a mom really sucks sometimes. It is easy to get down or
frustrated or indifferent when you are still in your pj's at 4pm cleaning the
13th poopy diaper of the day and watching Elmo in Grouchland for the 3 millionth
time."

I loved her blunt honesty and how she expressed the ups and DOWNS of the precious calling, but most of all shares her love for motherhood. The Team Williams blog features Heather, her husband and her adorable little children who she's constantly educating about things such as Chinese New year. She shares a Flashback Friday picture every week which sometimes gives us a glimpse at what her life was like before motherhood.

I chose this post because it really hit the nail on the head with feeling like crap since being back from my vacation and getting back in the grove of LIFE... *sigh* but STICKING TO IT! :o)

It's a great little boost for anyone so be sure to check it out! I'm sure I'll look back at it in many years to come... especially once I've got my OWN rug rats!

So go on over and say hello to the Williams family! And if you see or write a post you like in February, be sure to nominate!

Ok I can't do it! I can't go without mentioning these other wonderful posts which were nominated:

Shayla was called a "wonder woman" and I COMPLETELY agree! She has 6 kids, her family is GORGEOUS! I don't know how she does it! But what I love most: She's keepin' it real! Check out this post, where she sets her daughter straight after throwing a temper tantrum.... My parents didn't play that either and after busting my butt they'd do this.

And did I mention I'm obsessed with twins? Well I am. And the Rosenthal Family is living my fantasy with two BEAUTIFUL boy/girl twins. Oh they also have adorable puppies who look like twins too which I think makes their family even more adorable. Their twin babies just turned one! Mrs. Rosenthal wrote a beautiful poem for them on their birthday that brought tears to my eyes. Check it out here.

So there it is! And here is your award!

Congrats! And keep the nominations coming!

The Mom Moment Awards

Who needs an Emmy when you can get one of these?:
Common, you know you want one! As I've been blog stocking people I've been trying to remember the coolest mom moments I read during the month so I can feature them here on this blog! These are moments I may want to remember once I'm a mom... Whether it's something that makes me laugh, something that'll keep me grounded, or something that may just help me feel a little better about myself ;o)

Since I've been so busy this month I haven't had as much time to find a cool January post, so I need your help with nominations! I plan on doing a better job featuring them from now on. Instead of just a small commentary and re-post I'll do a more detailed commentary and small feature of the blog itself too!

Remember, It doesn't have to be an actual MOTHER (as in birthed a human being) to be nominated. I'm not even a mom myself so I don't discriminate. I welcome posts from potential, future and maybe-one-day mothers as well!

If you have a nomination please send it my way in a comment! And don't be shy, if you have a post you've written that you like please, have no shame nominate yourself! (I'd do it!)

The Mommy Moment of the Month Pt2

Well, continuing in my tradition I just started last month I'm doing the second Mommy Moment of the Month- this time for December!

I can't imagine what it's like trying to get 3 kids under five ready for church every Sunday. Tyne does is every week! It's hard enough trying to get MYSELF ready and to church on time. I'm not sure if every Sunday is a battle like this with breakfast, screaming kids and flaming popcorn (I sure hope not). But one thing's for sure... Any mom that can go thorough all of this and STILL make it to church (with the whole family) deserves a medal!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sanctuary has Come Undone!

Crushed red pepper flakes, shards of glass, toothpicks... all just signs of the madness that was to come to my sanctuary on Sunday morning.

McClaine wakes, screaming at 7:30 am. My sweet husband retrieves McClaine and his siblings, that he managed to wake, and takes them all to the playroom so I can continue to sleep. Caleb can do this, he has a supernatural ability to sleep on our horribly uncomfortable couch, with three children crawling on top of him and that dang "Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggety Dog" song blasting in the playroom. He has the safety gate up, I am sure, otherwise I would have been woken by more children than just Avery.

And she was so sweet and quiet when she came in, that I hardly woke from my sleep to nod incoherently, that she could heat up my corn bag in the microwave. People, I was nearly unconscious, that is the only reason why I gave my four year old daughter permission to put the sock filled with deer corn (that when microwaved for 2 minutes brings deep relief to my aching muscles) into the microwave. So I doze back to sleep, and Caleb continues to sleep through Little Einsteins.

12 minutes later I wake to the smoke alarm going off and what smelled like a movie theatre burning to the ground. I run out of the bedroom, frantic and disheveled, and find Caleb looking just as confused and dazed standing at the open microwave door wondering what in the heck exploded in our microwave. So he unplugs the microwave and I proceed to explain what I thought had happened.

8:20 am, we have a plan... I will take a quick shower and he will feed the kids breakfast so we can make it out the door to church on time. 8:28, I am out of the shower and hear Caleb yelling for me to help. Audrey's diaper had exploded, and apparently he needed assistance because he was making french toast and it was burning on the stove. French Toast, delicious, thoughtful and a HORRIBLE choice when you only have 35 minutes to get 5 people out the door. So I run into the kitchen in my towel, pull the pan off the stove top and pour three bowls of cereal while Caleb changes Audrey's diaper. Then I run back to my bathroom to dry my hair and put on my clothes.

Avery is screaming. Screaming. "Sit down, Audrey. You better sit down. Daaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddy, Audrey's standing up in her highchair. Daddy, Where are you?"

Great question. Where the heck are you and how hard is it to feed the kids three bowls of cereal? So I run again, hair half-dried, only in my undergarments into the kitchen to find...

AUDREY STANDING ON THE HIGHCHAIR TRAY! One foot dangling on the edge, clapping her hands at her proud accomplishment of escaping the straps, the tight tray and climbing on top of the slippery tray 4 feet above our tile floor. I grab the crazy toddler and proceed to run around the sanctuary looking for Caleb. I finally found him out in the back driveway and gave him the look of a crazy woman, "What are you doing?"

"I am trying to extinguish your corn bomb!"

Apparently, when Caleb closed the microwave, it continued to smolder, and smolder, and smolder. When he noticed that smoke continued to spill from the microwave, he took it out. Immediately the oxygen aroused fire, so he threw it out in the back driveway, where the winds caught the mild flames and it combusted into a huge corn bomb. All the while, Audrey is attempting new acrobatics over our tile floor.

9:17, all three children dressed, loaded in their car seats and the White Family leaves their little sanctuary, smelling like they barely escaped a popcorn volcano, to go worship the Lord at a more peaceful and fresher smelling sanctuary...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
See the story on her blog here.

I'm looking for a January post! Let me know if there's one I should check out!
Once again, since I'm not even a mother myself and this blog is about ALL types of motherhood (pre, to-be, one-day, and actual) I'll look at blogs from my friends who may not be mom's yet either, because those stories are just as great!