I'm gonna win this!

5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a Dyson Slim Vacuum! And I want it!!!

For those of you who might not have heard yet about the Dyson vacuums, here is a quick overview:

Frustrated by the poor suction of his vacuum, inventor James Dyson began to dream about how to solve the problem. He went through 5,000 prototypes, but several years later he produced the Dyson cyclone - the first vacuum cleaner that doesn’t lose suction.

Now Dyson vacuums are everywhere, with a wide selection of different models to perfectly match your family’s needs. There are even models specifically designed to pick up pet hair like the DC07 Animal and the DC17 Animal.

The latest member of the Dyson family is the Dyson Slim. The Slim uses the same technology and sucking power as the other Dyson uprights, but weighing in at only 15 pounds, it is a lightweight version perfect for moms who are tired of toting babies and vacuum cleaners up and down stairs.

The Dyson Slim works for all floor types with a button that turns off the motorized brushbar to protect delicate rugs and bare floors.

The Dyson Slim also comes with the Quick Draw Telescope Release wand that easily allows you to reach up to 16 feet for stairs and high-reach cleaning.

So go sign up TODAY!

Thanks to the Wooden Porch

As a thank you for creating my cute blog banner, I wanted to thank my new friend for her kindness and time. It's taken me a few months to finally get it done and to her. I felt bad, but she got everything okay and I am so pleased. I forgot to take a photo, so I am glad she did! Go see what I sent to her HERE.

The perfect time for spring

So Liam started sleeping through the night over a week ago. Yes, miracles of miracles! Much rejoicing has been going on in my huge head lately! I've even told a few people that it's happening. And for some reason making this information public hasn't reverted my child back to being up 3 times a night. I am stunned.

In the past year I have reported a good night here and there... even prayed for sleep to come to our household. Suffice it to say, I stopped doing both.

So why all the sudden is Liam sleeping more? I kinda think it's because of the breathing treatments and I kinda think it's because he plays outside more. Plus he is eating much more at dinner time. Whatever the reason he's sleeping better doesn't matter so much. I am just happy to be feeling revamped and normal! I never thought the day would come. Really, I had given up hope. I told myself that I must have one of those children that will be up in the night at 4 years old. Not so, my friends. Not so.

Ah, the good life is back again. Now I just need to learn to go to bed a bit earlier and really enjoy a full 8 hours. I have been stuck at a midnight bedtime for over a year because Liam used to get up at that time for a feeding. So I would stay up. And I am still staying up. I need to quit that. It's just... the time change screwed me up a little more. I started staying up until 1am when that happened. So now I am back to midnight. About a week ago I crashed at 10:30pm. Amazing, right? Well I woke at 2am ready for the day. Yeah, I went back to bed of course. But that totally made me more tired.

You know what I think? Moms are just going to be tired the rest of their lives. No matter what we do, we will never get ahead of the wacked out biorhythms that start when we are pregnant. Am I right?

No fetish here

Stephanie is hosting a tour of favorite shoes. I thought I'd join in even though my frugal and blah taste isn't that exciting these days.

I have been a fan of the Born brand of shoes since high school. And when I was single, I paid full price for those shoes. I called them my Grandpa slippers then... and now, I still have that same exact style. Why? Well, they are comfy and they go with anything but a skirt. This is my anything-but-summer shoe. The current pair are from Bass. I have a brown pair too. Boring yes, but oh so easy and adaptable for my non-glamorous lifestyle.

Book Review: Second Glance

Hi there! I have to document the fact that I read a 400 page book for my book club... my first book for the club, mind you. Granted, my review of the book was much longer and more kind than this one is going to be. Here goes.

Don't read this book. It's slow, boring and simply too long! I seriously would have been content to return this to the library after the 2nd chapter. I felt tortured that I HAD to keep on reading. If a book doesn't hook me in the first two chapters, well folks, it's not worth my time. I was so bugged that I HAD to complete this book because it was my first book assignment since joining the club. So the pressure to read was one thing, but the slow-ness of the book had me finishing the book a week after the review was due. Yeah, it took me over two weeks to read a book! Stupid, right? I seriously asked Ian to read the rest for me so I didn't have to. He declined of course.

Anyway, every book I read I try to walk away with a quote from it that will continue to inspire me. Here is the excerpt that really got me to the core:

"Heroes didn't leap tall buildings or stop bullets with an outstretched hand; they didn't wear boots and capes. They bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving. Heroes were ordinary people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else's. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back."

How stinkin' adorable

I saw THIS commercial on TV tonight and just thought it was awesomely cute! My good friend Kate thinks I look like Claire Danes and I never really thought she was stunningly beautiful or anything until I saw THIS tonight. What a doll! OH and Patrick Wilson isn't bad either!

2 good things in 1 good day

Tuesday I got my carpets and my microfiber couch cleaned! I was so excited to have this done... It's been a long time waiting. Our couch looks like new and my carpets are all fluffy! Yay for a cleaner house!

That night I had an evening to myself. I called my friend, Judy, to tag along with me. We went to Bath and Body Works and I got the 3 for 10 anti-bac soaps and my favorite Cherry Blossom body butter. After that we went to my favorite ice cream café and got Almond Joy Sundaes. It was an excellent treat all around. I loved chatting about all kinds of randomness with my friend and eating sinful chocolate, almonds and coconut! It was a nice break from the house.

Just Barely

I just barely wrote a poem over on Liam's blog. I am no poet but I needed something to accompany the great photo I took of him this evening. I needed to express the deep love I have for him. The love that jumped out at me once again when he reached for me to get him out of his carseat today. Just his movement, it gets me emotional. He will not stay this small, he will not keep some of these baby/toddler mannerisms - and dang it, it makes me really sad!

I just want to drink it all in, but how?

I am terrified that I am going to forget all this goodness.

You know, I never thought I would be one of those possesive mothers that never just LETS GO! I have an aunt that is kinda overbearing and considers her kids babies and they are MY age. She won't let go and that has always bugged me. Now I fear I will be exactly like her.

Granted, Liam hasn't verbalized any of his feelings, wants or goals. I may know him better than anyone, but I don't know who he is just yet. He may be easy to let go of. I may trust him more than I trust myself one day. I do hope that is the case.

I want to be a mother that can let go when my child becomes an adult.

Here's hoping.