Tag: babycostsmoney

Monday’s Mama is a Virgin Who Can’t Drive.

Published on by Darlene Dee3 Comments

(RIP Brittany Murphy.)

Our December 25th Monday’s Mama is perhaps the most famous mama of all. She is SO famous, that when people say “Mother and Child”, they usually mean this chick.

Happy Labor Day, Mary of Nazareth.

mary pieta

Merry Christmas, to those of you that celebrate.

Merry Monday, to those of you that recognize the Roman calendar.

Babystar is growing up in a blended household. My husband is a practicing Christian. He even served a few years as a deacon in his church. A DEACON, Y’ALL. I was a Deacon’s Wife. I love his awesome multi-denominational Mennonite church. Everyone there is a hippie liberal social justice warrior. They all try to be like the chill Jesus dude. The Jesus that fed the hungry and welcomed immigrants and sheltered the homeless and advocated for the marginalized. On (most) Sunday mornings, Babystar goes to church with my husband and plays in the nursery with her friends. She sings songs and does crafts and has a snack and sits with the (three year old) big girls and she freaking loves it.

I love it too. I drink coffee in bed and enjoy the time to myself. I get a little upset when they don’t go to church. I’m not gonna lie. I may have insinuated insisted more than once that Jesus is probably crying because he misses them so much. (To my husband, not to Babystar. I’m not a monster.)

According to my husband, I am basically a hippie witch. I believe that everyone is right when it comes to religion. And everyone is wrong. I dig the ancient remedies, and I’m all about some candle magic and essential oils and herbal potions and putting spells into the Universe. Love and light, my friends.

We respect each other’s faith and spirituality. It works for us. We discussed this AT LENGTH before conceiving a child. We decided to expose her to both of our views, and other views, as they come up in life naturally. Babystar will someday choose for herself. And she will likely change her mind again and again. That’s ok.

Back to Monday’s Mama, who throughout history is the most famous Madonna of the two  Major Madonnas. Wikipedia says there have been between three and six billion bibles sold and only 300 million Madonna albums sold worldwide. (To be fair, the OG Madonna had a huge head start.)

Mary deserves better. If the hype is legit, Mary had a freaking BABY in a freaking BARN with no epidural, no drugs of any kind, no midwife or doctor or shaman. And the woman was surrounded by literal animals. Have you ever seen a Nativity Scene without at least a sheep and usually a camel? No.

Put the camel outside, people.

After all this, she gives birth to a god and THEN WHAT? How is she not a Goddess?!? At least the Catholics know she is Divine and made her a Saint.

mary halo

Jews for Jesus is a thing. A strange thing, but a thing nonetheless. Imma tell my husband to start Mennonites for Mary. I’m sure he’s going to get right on that.

 

The Long Long List.

Published on by Darlene DeeLeave a comment

Santa’s not the only one with a list that goes on forever.

Sometimes I wonder why I am keeping track of every penny we spend raising Babystar.

That number at the bottom is mildly soul-crushing.

And then I think how satisfying it’s going to be to show her when she is nine and doesn’t clean her room. Or when she is sixteen and scratches my car. Or when she is forty and picking out nursing homes.

Mostly that last bit.

But keeping all of these notes is tedious and sometimes a bit boring. Not everything deserves it’s own post.

I bought a new outfit for Kelsey, which is Babystar’s favorite baby doll (these days). Kelsey is the cheap Honestly Cute brand baby doll from Target. (Babystar ignores her pricey American Girl Bitty Baby. It’s kind of hilarious.) I have no idea where Babystar heard the name Kelsey, but she named her all by herself. We don’t even know anyone named Kelsey. The $9.99 outfit was definitely a bribe, but I don’t remember for what exactly. Life, probably.

I bought a hat and mittens set for $7.99 because I couldn’t find any of Babystar’s hats. I later found three hundred hats in the closet.

I bought four sets of mittens for fifty cents each, hoping to have at least two mittens in the house at all times. I am not hopeful.

I have bought four really cool packets of on-the-go fun. They are little coloring books with a few crayons and stickers. You can find them for $1 each at Target or Micheal’s. We have already used the Rudolph one and the My Little Pony. I still have dinosaurs and Trolls in case of emergency. I really need to create my own busy bags. Maybe that will by my New Year’s Resolution. It’s nice and attainable.

Oh, and I spent $3.60 more on sticker packs. Usually as baby-be-good-bribes.

I broke my car-screen cherry with this kid and paid $3.99 to rent Trolls Holiday on my iPad last week for Babystar to watch in the car while we ran four hundred errands. Bonus: I now know all the words to Trolls Holiday.

Just kidding. I already knew all the words.

We paid $17.99 to buy Blue’s Clues Season 3 because we were tired of streaming the free Season 1. And Season 3 has the holiday episode. And Babystar we both love Blue’s Clues.

We had a HUUUUUGE blowout while spontaneously out with friends a while back but luckily we were literally next door to a kid’s consignment shop. Like, the only one in my area. I bought her an adorable Marimekko outfit for $16.95 that is still too big but we rolled the pants up. I also paid $17.50 for used shiny gold shoes because I was a little stressed out and she wanted them even though she didn’t actually poop on her shoes. Thank goddess.

And we have two Advent Calendars for her this year. She loves her $2.59 ‘Snowman Chocolate’ (there is a picture of a snowman on the front) and remembers it every day and she is getting REALLY GOOD at finding and recognizing the numbers so I think we need these babies year round. I also got her a puzzle advent calendar ($4.95) that is less popular but she still likes it. After she gets her ‘snowman chocolate’ and cons at least one of her older siblings out of their ‘snowman chocolate’. Suckers.

We have a really cute snow globe ornament that has never made it on to the tree because  Babystar NEEDED it in Nordstrom Rack and then totally forgot about it. I just found it in the bottom of a bag the other day. Oh well. It’s pretty. And $3.97 is a fair deal for twenty minutes of Toddler Patience.

We also have a vintage Apple Dumplin’ doll. You know, Strawberry Shortcake’s little sister. She already has been separated from her socks and her turtle but they are around somewhere. Vintage toys on eBay combined wth one-touch PayPal and insomnia get me EVERY TIME. This one was $16.95. Plus I totally have Strawberry Shortcake and some of her friends wrapped under the Christmas tree, but Target wasn’t selling the retro Apple Dumplin’ doll. And Babystar loves Apple Dumplin’ thanks to her big sister showing her a few youtube videos.

apple donut

But Babystar calls her Apple Donut. Because what the hell is a dumpling? I love it.

RAISING BABYSTAR: $24,781.46

 

 

 

 

 

We Get Around.

Published on by Darlene Dee1 Comment

Toddlers have a lot of energy. SO. MUCH. ENERGY. It is exhausting. How on earth did I do this with TWO kids twenty years ago?!

Oh right. I was twenty years younger.

Babystar and I go on Little Adventures all the time. We love to take picnics to playgrounds, because picnics at playgrounds are free. But sometimes we have to switch it up.

We took Babystar to National Harbor for ice cream back when it was warmer (November because wtf is wrong with the weather). I spent $23.66 at Ben & Jerry’s and it all goes on the Toddler’s Tab because we wouldn’t have even gone if Babystar didn’t need to run out some energy. Parking was $12 and the playground was $7. Yes. National Harbor charges seven freaking dollars per kid to access to the playground. It’s such bullshit. They get away with it though, because they put a really cool carousel in the fenced in playground area. And the seven dollars comes with unlimited carousel rides. But still. Jerk move, National Harbor.

We paid $1 for a ride on the tiny carousel at Potomac Mills recently. We also paid $8 on that same trip to rent a gigantic fire truck shaped two person stroller thingy. I think we could have gotten fifty cents back if we had returned it but we left it at the door to the mall because we are terrible people. No. Wait. We are JOB CREATORS. Someone must make a living collecting those things, right?

We rode the train (AGAIN) at Springfield Mall. The mall trains are all $5, but it really cost $10 because the guy in the conductor hat at Springfield Mall charges for adults too. More bullshit. Springfield Mall also has a soft play room with a bunch of bouncy houses. Babystar was a bit scared, but I think she was just too young. We basically paid $7.42 for her to sit at the table with us and watch the big kids play. Whoops.

We went to Tyson’s Corner Mall recently and rode the train there too. The train guy only charged us $5 for Babystar and let me ride free, so there is still SOME kindness in this world.

We went back to Scramble today. ($10 plus $8.75 at the snack bar.)

We paid $11 to park at the zoo (member discount) to see ZooLights. And another $7 for the carousel that night.

Are you noticing a carousel trend? Last week, Babystar stopped nursing, and looked up at me and said, “I love milk. And water. And carousels.” And then went back to her milk business.

RAISING BABYSTAR: $24,672.98

Monday’s Mama is Queen Bee.

Published on by Darlene Dee2 Comments

And she’s a BUSY Bee, too.

Bee’s blog is called I Just Wanna Finish My… (Um, that’s the end of my sentence but how do you add a period after ellipses points?)

Bee wants to finish her coffee, her meal, her sentence, her thought. Her anything. Momlife is hard, y’all. However, she does finish her blog posts. I Just Wanna Finish My… is one of my favorite new blogs. Bee has only been blogging for about six months and I Just Wanna Finish My…  is FULL of awesome crafts and parenting hacks and activity ideas and yummy recipes and hilarious stories.

Bee2

Bee is a pediatric occupational therapist turned stay at home mom. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have two adorable, wonderful, hilarious kids. These two children stole her brain, though. She realized she couldn’t complete a sentence or even a thought. Bee started blogging to reclaim her own brain and to think about more than just which store has the cheapest diapers or when was the last time her toddler went potty.

Bee is awesome and hilarious and extremely HELPFUL. Her pediatric occupational therapy background completely shows in her writing. You should totally read her blog and follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Who among us can’t use a little help?

Her majesty answered a few questions for me. My hypothesis is confirmed. Bee is freaking awesome.

1. I ADORE your blog and I feel like I know you and your kids. Yet you never post pictures of your kids faces. I kind of love that, though I basically do the opposite. How/why/when did you come to that decision?

Ah, so you noticed that! I’m glad it looks intentional and not just like I am that bad at cropping photos, haha. It was definitely a very conscious decision that I thought a lot about before moving forward on the blog. I actually LOVE seeing other people’s kids on their blogs and Instagram, and I know that I couldn’t tell my stories without at least partial pictures of them, but I have a couple reasons for keeping their names and faces off of my blog accounts. First, I think it gives me a challenge to write content that isn’t just about the kids. You (Darlene) have seen my personal IG and Facebook, and it is baby spam, all day, every day. My kids are SO CUTE (totally unbiased…) that I think placing this restriction keeps me from just writing a post each day about how funny the toddler is and how adorable the baby is with a picture to match. The posts that feature the kids become more about the activity we’re doing and less about how adorable they look doing it, if that makes sense. I have to get creative in staging pictures so that I can show, yes, they do exist, but no, you won’t recognize them in public. 
My other (more serious) reason is for their privacy and safety. I share pictures of them constantly on my personal accounts so that relatives and friends can see them grow up, but my husband and I decided that we just weren’t comfortable with putting their pictures out for just anyone to see on my public profiles. Our faces are fair game, though. 
Beekids
2. Your blog covers a lot of topics, and they are all so well done. What is your favorite thing to write about?

Thank you! I do cover a lot, which is probably bad for finding a niche, but it’s good for me because I just want to write about what I find interesting! I love to share activities for families. I had a whole series of “pumpkin projects” in the fall and I would highlight which skills that particular project could address, as well as ways to make it work for different skill levels. Right now, it’s easiest for me to write about activities for the toddler age, but that works out, because that was my favorite age to work with as a pediatric therapist. Posts of that nature are one way I can still feel like I’m contributing to my field, even if I’m not actively working. I also try to present projects that are cheap and realistic. I can’t stand when craft projects are tagged as toddler age, but there is no way a toddler could do even 50% of it on their own. Or, when you need approximately $40 in supplies for 5 minutes of entertainment. No thanks, give me a bunch of construction paper and some scissors and we’re good to go.

3. Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?

I normally don’t because I know that I will only last a week of eating only salads and exercising before I give up on it. I think people put too many expectations on themselves to make major lifestyle changes and it’s just intimidating. 
That being said, I did make one last year that has kind of worked out. I decided I was going to me more intentional this year. I think it sounds kind of millenial, so you can laugh at it with me if you want, but a vague resolution like that actually worked! I started meal planning (some), making smarter grocery lists (most of the time), and being more mindful with budgeting instead of just winging it all the time (except this month). It wasn’t a measurable resolution, just like a “hey, be a better adult” resolution.

4. It’s the PTA Bakesale: homemade, store bought, or NOPE?

Homemade, all the way!! I might stay up until 2am doing it, but those oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are gonna be DELICIOUS and full of real butter and sugar. Treat yo’ self!
Bee is so right. YASSS QUEEN.
Treat yo’ self AND be a better adult. Can you imagine if we ALL decided to be better adults in 2018!? Let’s do it. Who’s in?

Cat and Jack in the Cold.

Published on by Darlene Dee1 Comment

This year I will not buy too many clothes for Babystar.

This year I will dress her in hand me downs and work with less and do more laundry.

This year I will just layer a lot and save some money.

HAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHA NOPE.

Omg I cannot stop buying long sleeves and sweaters and sweatshirts for Babystar. And it’s alllllll Cat and Jack from Target. I don’t even think I have pictures for everything. But my favorite is this Bear Sweater. It’s my favorite because Babystar loves it. And Babystar loves it because it has a Bear Butt.

Y’all. It totally does.

bear butt

I kept a list, though not everything is pictured. And most was bought on sale.

  • Leggings $5
  • Leggings $5
  • Leggings $5
  • Sweater $16
  • Long sleeve shirt $7
  • Long sleeve shirt $7
  • Sweatshirt $4.90
  • Sweatshirt $4.90
  • Long sleeve shirt and pants set $8.39
  • Long sleeve shirt and pant set $11.89
  • Sweatpants $6.99
  • Purple sweater $12.59
  • Sweatpants $4.20
  • Long sleeve shirt $3.85
  • Long sleeve shirt $6.99

My favorite is the ruffly purple sweater that works over almost anything.

new sweater

Babystar’s favorite thing to wear are her new Princess Poppy slippers (Marshall’s $7.99). She doesn’t quite understand that slippers are not shoes, so she wears them everywhere. I guess it’s a good thing that we bought her all those boots.

poppy slippers

Hey, did you know that Starbucks will give you a free small cup of whipped cream for your ToddlerMonster so she can stop asking for the whipped cream from your fancy coffee drink? #themoreyouknow

RAISING BABYSTAR: $24,562.15