I'm super-mom...

... well, at least according to our vet.

Let me back up a bit. I've been to the vet 3 times in the past week (no the animals are ok, it's just time for their annual shots). So, I walked in today and saw one of the girls from the other day behind the counter and she said, "oh hey, it's super-mom", so I smile and nod and say "good morning", and then another girl comes up and says "oh YOU'RE super-mom? Nice to meet you, you sure DO have your hands full". So now I'm famous huh? Nice. I was thinking, this is nothing... my husband was deployed all last year when I was pregnant and this little one and this one was 1 PLUS caring for 2 cats and a dog!

For the first appointment, it was me carrying Jillie in my ergo baby sport (which I LOVE), holding onto Charlotte's hand  -- which, if you know any 2 year olds, is quite a task especially when they see something of interest or decide that RIGHT there, on the concrete, next to dog poop (vet's office, remember) is a GREAT place to sit-- all while carrying a mewing cat in a plastic carrier. You've been there, right?

It was the second appointment that gave me my 'fame'. It was the same scenario with the girls (ergo baby sport, sitting next to poop, etc), but I was also (succesfully) controlling my 95lb laboradoodle, Duke, on his leash. I like to joke that he is my "horse-dog". When I tell people that I have a laboradoodle, they immediately thing of toy poodle, but no.... this is standard poodle. So mix that with a lab, who is also a very excitable boy... and you get this fella:

Duke

We were on our way out the door after the appointment and the girl asks if I need help. I tell her no, because, really I'm used to it, and I've got it. So I pick up Charlotte (who was getting ornery at this point) without squashing Jillie in the carrier, grab the leash, open the door and away we go.

On my way home from today's appointment I started smiling thinking back to the "super-mom" conversation. All of a sudden I thought, 'you know what, they're right... I AM super-mom. Thanks for noticing!' It totally made my day, I mean who doesn't like being noticed for all they do!

So on that note, here's to all you "super-mom's" out there who don't hear enough how super they really are!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Evening walk with 2 kids + 1 really large dog

I am going to start by saying I have a newfound love of my Ergo Baby Sport.

I just got back from a walk with my 2 daughters, 3.5 months and almost 2 years, and our very large laboradoodle. I'm not sure if you know what one of those looks is, but he's a mix between a standard poodle (yes, the big ones) and a laborador; so picture a lab with long legs and a perm. So anyway, up until this point, I was using a double side by side combi stroller that I had gotten on craigslist for our nightly walks. Don't get me wrong... I love this stroller (and the price was perfect), but it's not ideal for our nightly walks because the sidewalk is littered with uneven cracks and lifted edges and trying to get those tiny wheels over the curb with my 2 year old leaning forward is just about impossible without giving her whiplash.

Earlier today I brought out my Ergo baby sport to see if my youngest had the head control for it (they say not to use it without the infant insert until 4 months), but it seemed to work well. Heck, she even fell asleep in it. So for this evenings walk I decided to put her in my carrier, but Charlotte, my oldest, in her brand new Radio Flyer wagon that grandma and grandpa gave her for Christmas, and leave the dog on his gentle leader leash. I have to say that it was one of the best walks we've had in a while. Jillie was happy, Charlotte had a ball going back and forth between the seats on the wagon; the only one who wasn't thrilled was the dog who was kept on his short leash, but with 2 kids he's lucky he's getting a walk as it is.

I bought my Ergo carrier when Charlotte was a few months old after a college friend recomended and thought it was pretty neat. Although with 2 kids, this thing is fantastic! Now that my youngest is old enough for it, no more squeezing the double stroller through small doorways, no more ring sling (which worked ok for me), and no more HotSling (which I was NOT a fan of).