This weekend I tried to get the house ready for Christmas. I threw away three garbage bags of junk and donated another three bags to Goodwill, and unfortunately, it looks like a barely made a dent in anything.

I told Summer to make way for a Christmas tree and new presents, we had to clear out her toy area. (I should mention the “toy area” is also our sunroom, but it looks more like Toys R Us.)

While Saylor napped, I got three garbage bags and told Summer we would sort by: garbage, toys to give to kids who don’t have toys and things she’s outgrown but Saylor may want later.) Actually that’s part of the extensive toy problem, I have a wide-range of toys right now because Saylor has toddler toys (basically anything with music) and Summer, well, she has too much of everything.

In addition to all her Disney stuffed animals and probably 40 or so dogs, Summer is really into My Little Pony and Littlest Pet Shops. Have you seen the little pieces that come with these? Every time she looked away, I tossed those teeny tiny bottles, food trays and Little Pony ice skates. She really only plays with the animals and those little pieces are just a choking hazard for Saylor, who like most babies will find the smallest thing in any room to stick in her mouth.

Then we moved on to Summer’s room. (Yes, I was feeling very ambitious on Saturday.) The wide-range of age-appropriate toys holds the same for clothes. I have all of Summer’s old clothes in plastic bins under her bed for Saylor. But Saylor’s small for her age and isn’t moving through the clothes as fast as she could be. Did I mention I live in a 1920s house with practically no closet space?

I haven’t made a New Year’s resolution in about 10 years, but 2007 is the year to get organized. I need to for my sanity.

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Steal this idea: personalized onesies.

We had a baby shower for my sister, Rebeca, this weekend. She’s due in about a month or so, adding another girl to our family!

Each guest was sent a onesie prior to the shower and was asked to personalize it for baby Kaylin.

The onesies were so original and were such a personal way of honoring the new bundle of joy. (I hope to have photos soon.)

I went to Michael’s and scanned the aisles for something cute, but easy-to-do. My sewing capabilities don’t extend beyond replacing a button.

Summer spotted a small dog patch that looked just like Rebeca’s English bulldog (her other baby.)

I picked up an ”I” and a ”♥” iron-on rhinestones and added the bulldog patch.

OK, this isn’t the most practical wear and Janine points out that rhinestones can be a chocking hazard but c’mon this is mostly for show and how many times will a newborn wear each onesie anyway? Either way, it’s a great way to ooooh and ahhh.

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There are several new moms here at the News Center, which is absolutely great for story sharing and mommy questions. No matter the age, there’s always someone to turn to. Sharon has kids the same exact age as Summer and Saylor, but if I want to know what’s in store for the future (softball, Brownies, Math Bowl, sassy back-talk), then I turn to Janine.

This morning I was talking to Lynn about working mom guilt and what exactly we used to do with our free time. I went to D.C. recently for a conference and once I got to my hotel room, I was completely stunned by the … silence. It was just me – all alone – no one asking me for anything.

So what exactly DID I do with my free time? Well, running for one. I ran in several Gasparilla races and smaller races around town. I vow to return to this - I really have no excuse since I own a ridiculously expensive double Baby Jogger. Shopping. I used to love scouting for deals at TJMAXX and Marshalls. I still lust over the clothes and makeup in Allure magazine every month. I also live vicariously through Sandy Hughes’ blog How To Be Fabulous.  Travel. Scott and I back-packed through Europe, now our traveling entails a long weekend at a Disney resort.

Still nothing beats having Saylor tug on my leg saying “mama mama” and Summer bringing home drawing with I ♥ Mom from school. My next marathon will have to wait.

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October is over and it’s been a rough month en mi casa. I used to take pride in my health – I ran about 20-25 miles a week, ate very healthy and rarely, if ever, got sick. Yep, this was pre-kids. I never understood why people in our newsroom were constantly getting sick. Now I am one of “those people”! I count my blessings when we make it through a weekend without someone coming down with something.

I was warned. Everyone told me once Summer started school, she would start coming down with every illness out there. We are very lucky in that we didn’t have to send Summer to daycare. She either spent the days with her dad, grandmas or our very dear family friend, Mary.

In Summer’s first four years, I think we took her to the pediatrician twice (besides her well exams.) So far this school year, we’ve battled head colds, chronic night-time coughs and a very nasty 24-hour stomach virus (twice!). The bright spot? At least we won’t have to go through this again with Saylor.

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In a previous blog I wrote about how Summer’s daddy came up with her name. I wasn’t completely sold, but honestly, I thought I was having a boy. Luckily, I love her name now and it fits her well.

After reading this story, I guess I should be thankful he wasn’t a huge sports fan! A couple in D’Iberville, Miss., just named their son ESPN Montana. Apparently it’s not that uncommon, three other little ones were named after the sports network in 2005.

Another reason I refuse to get cable TV!

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Karla Jackson is writing in Monday’s Tampa Tribune about some of the sleep problems local moms have encountered with their babies. We’d love to hear your story in the comments area below.

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Did you catch Mary Shedden’s story ”Big Cash, Big Bash” in the Tribune? It’s an interesting look at how parents are paying an insane amount of moolah for their kid’s birthday parties.

What ever happened to ice cream, cake and pin the tail on the donkey?  I hope I don’t get roped into this birthday party frenzy down the road.

A friend recently took her daughter and a couple of her friends to the Nickelodeon hotel in Orlando as a birthday celebration. Cost per night? About $200 (of course, then there’s food, gas, cake, etc.). She said she would have spent as much on a party. Yikes!

I turned to my mommy friends with all the birthday questions after Summer was invited by a classmate to her first party (outside of close friends). Where’s the birthday party handbook when you need one?

At what age can I start dropping Summer off at the party? Most moms I talked to said 7 or even 8. This also depends on where the party is being held - skating rink vs. house.

What’s the appropriate amount of money to spend on a gift? I got a variety of responses on this one. I usually stay around $15. I guess it depends how well you know the recipient.

Should the birthday boy/girl open presents at the party? I heard both sides. Some say it’s too hectic to open gifts and keep who gives what straight. On the other hand, kids Summer’s age expect presents to be opened. What else is a birthday party about to 4-year-olds?

Do you have any other birthday tips for the handbook?

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I just passed a big milestone this week: I stopped nursing Saylor. I started weaning close to her first birthday and was only nursing her right before bedtime until Saturday. That night I decided to play some music in her crib as a distraction while putting her down and just like that it was over. The finality is bittersweet. After 13 1/2 months, I’m finally completely free (!) but at the same time I already miss her precious little eyes, filled with love, looking up at me.

I nursed both my girls for the entire first year, but nevertheless you won’t hear me lecturing moms to do the same. I’m a big proponent of nursing (health reasons, bonding, etc.), but I won’t sugar-coat it. Nursing is tough and you have to be tough to continue month after month, pump after pump. It’s very rewarding but at the same time very difficult, especially for working moms.

I think the hardest part is the loss of control.  Right now, stop everything you’re doing and find a quiet place to feed your baby. Oh, and you’ll have to do that every two to three hours and several times in the middle of the night. Right now, stop that project you’re scrambling to finish and step away from your desk to pump – twice a day. (Could dads handle that pressure?)

I recently read about Sen. Tom Harkin’s proposal to place warning labels on cans of infant formula that would say the Department of Health and Human services has determined that “breast-feeding is the ideal method of feeding and nurturing infants” or that “breast milk is more beneficial to infants than infant formula.”

Do moms need that guilt? I say no. You have to do what’s right for you. We’re doing the best we can and that should be enough.

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Well, I survived August! Almost everyone I talk to has a similar situation: all our family birthdays are rolled into one month or two.

Not only is it back-to-school month, but we also have Summer’s birthday, Saylor’s birthday, my mom’s birthday AND her anniversary.

Summer and Saylor are three years apart, but were almost born on the same day. It wasn’t my intention, but that’s just the way things worked out. Saylor was also born a week late, so her birthday is just 10 days before Summer’s.

This year I only had one birthday party, but I know I won’t be able to keep that up forever. Soon enough they will have different friends and interests. (This year the theme was all things Dogs!)

In other words, I’ll pretty much be broke every August.

My sister, Rebeca, is due with a baby girl right around Christmas.

I better start saving now.

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I didn’t even know this woman but I felt an instant bond. I’m sure some of you new moms out there can agree.

I promise I wasn’t eavesdropping, but when you’re on the cell phone shopping in Target it’s hard to be discreet. Anyway, I’m totally on her side.

Woman on cell phone: Just make a little snack.

Husband talking.

Woman on cell: You could cut up a piece of cheese or cut up a tomato and dip it in ranch dressing.

Husband talking.

Woman on cell: But I just got here! This is only my second errand!

Husband talking.

Woman on cell: I told you I had to go (somewhere) and then go to Target. I’ve only been gone 45 minutes!

Soon after hanging-up she calls another person (I bet it was her mom): Can you believe him? I just left the house. This is only my second errand….

Who’s with me here?! I got my phone call about 10 minutes later. I even took Summer with me and only left Saylor behind (while she napped.)

Saylor is being fussy.

You could cut up a piece of cheese I tell her daddy.

Heard this one before?

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It was bound to happen sometime and it took an entire week. Summer is enamored with a boy in her class. And not just any boy. It’s the one who says potty and makes funny faces and sometimes gets in trouble.

To protect his privacy (and so his parents won’t want to kill me), I’ll call him “Elvis.” When I ask Summer how her day went at school, I get the full Elvis rundown. I can barely get her to tell me what she did, but I know allllll about Elvis.

Driving home from an all-girls birthday party this weekend, Summer tells me she’s surprised Elvis wasn’t there. I think it’s pretty funny, Summer’s dad on the other hand, is not laughing. 

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We survived the first day and only one person cried - Summer’s dad. (I won’t embarass him with that photo.)

I let Summer pick her own bookbag. It’s too big and hairy (I braided the pony’s hair), but hey, you have to pick your battles, right?

So grown-up!

Summer has to shove the bookbag into her cubby hole. Just what I thought, it’s too big.

Summer meets a new friend who has the same lunch box in a different color.

Her first assignment - a self portrait. That’s Summer’s teacher on the right, Mrs. Popp. You have to admire someone who can spend the entire day with 20 4-year-olds. My friend, Kelvin, who teaches second grade, says a real job is getting 18 kids on the right bus. Amen!

I must have told Summer I was leaving a dozen of times. “Bye mom,” she says.

You mean that’s it??!

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My stomach is in a knot and I’ve spent the last couple of weeks second guessing myself.

My little girl is going to pre-kindergarten and Summer’s first comment upon learning this is: “I HATE school.”

You’ll meet a lot of new friends I tell her. “I already have friends,” she tells me while rolling her eyes.

My second attempt: Don’t you like to read books, paint and color? “I can already do all that at home,” Summer says.

My third attempt: School is so much fun and you learn new things. How do you know you hate school if you haven’t even gone there yet? “Because I’ll miss you mommy,” she says.

Cue the guilt.

Now what?! I ask friends and family for advice.

A friend suggests I take Summer school shopping. Yes, now that’s one thing I know she enjoys.

We check out all the school supplies at Target and I stress how only she will get these because little sister, Saylor, is too young to go to school. 

Don’t you like all the neat things for school, I ask. “Yes I do,” Summer says. “But I STILL don’t like school.”

Something tells me we’re going to have a memorable first day.

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Does it really take a village to raise a child or should we just keep our mouths shut and mind our own business?

In Judy Hill’s column today, she talks about a woman who witnessed a mother abusing her child in a store restroom. She gave the mother a “look,” but didn’t speak up. Now the woman wonders if she should have intervened.

My co-worker and pal Janine Dorsey over at What’s For Lunch? talks about a recent dining experience amidst some unruly kids. She also made the “look,” but never said a word.

Recently I saw a couple (parents?) pull into a parking space and the woman was holding a toddler in her lap. No child seat in the back. I wanted to say something and thought about that little girl for days afterward.

Granted these are all very different cases, but they all beg the question: When (or is) there an appropriate time to speak up?

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How adorable, now you can dress your baby in a ‘lil beater’ that says Jr. Pimp Squad or Sucka Free Baby (and another that I can’t even mention here!). I read an interesting story recently that mentioned Pimpfants, who (according to their web site) offer clothes “for the new generation of parents who want their children to be both hip and comfortable.” I think they forgot to mention revolting and offensive.

OK, I’m probably not their target age group. But come on, how many people are buying this stuff? Apparently a lot. A report by Packaged Facts called The U.S. Market for Infant, Toddler and Preschool Clothing shows the projected spending on clothing and footwear for infants and toddlers younger than 5 is $17.5 billion. 

I love (and buy) a lot of the trendy kids clothes, but I do hate little girls who are dressed like a mini Britney Spears. If us moms start dressing our girls like that at 3 or 4, what’s going to be in store when they are teenagers?

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