Our move is finally on again!

Well, my husband's new job with Yahoo is finally finalized! He's supposed to report to work on Jan.7th, 2008! So we're back in the process of getting ready to move to Sunnyvale, California. The Silicon Valley will definitely be a change from the frigid wintery weather that we're experiencing here in the Chicago area right now. We've even had a few snow flurries already! Now we're just waiting on the movers to see when the big moving day will actually be! Along with preparing to move, we're also planning a couple of trips to visit family over the holidays. So... I may not be posting to my blogs as often as I'd like to during the month of December either.
But have no fear! Once we get settled in the Bay Area, I will be back and ready to keep on postin'!

Our move is on hold!

Well our move to California is sorta on hold right now. Due to a series of unfortunate events, everything has been delayed and is actually up in the air until further notice. My husband is still waiting for the Final Offer letter to arrive, which they say they are still working on. Needless to say it has been a bit frustrating. I guess I'm being taught a lesson in patience!
Anyways, I decided to start working on my Monkey Baby Boutique website a bit again until we have more concrete info on our move. I had put everything on hold. But with the holiday season approaching, I don't want to miss out on offering my new merchandise during the busiest shopping time of the year!
I did spend a little time today just browsing the web and checking out a few other blogs, and I wanted to share this REALLY CUTE fabric activity book that I found.

I am considering trying to make an activity book of this type to add to my Boutique. Of course it won't be exactly like this one, but something similar... I wouldn't want to "copy" this design! Anyways, check out the blog she wrote and read the cute poems that go with each page.

California Dreaming...

Wow! How things can change overnight! One day I'm at Hobby Lobby buying fabric and planning my next project (to make some cute little stuffed toys to sell on my website) and the next day my whole life takes a new turn! My husband just got accepted into a new job in California and they want him to start working on Nov. 1st! That's less than three weeks away! So, needless to say I have not been updating this blog because I have been a busy, busy bee! I didn't want anyone to think that I've abandoned this blog, so I thought I'd better let you all know what's going on. For the next couple of weeks, I'll be sorting through everything in my house (from my kids' toys and clothes they've outgrown, to all of my knick knacks that have been stashed away in closets). We'll be downsizing big time! We're going to be selling our 4 bedroom house and moving in with friends out there until we can find a place of our own. Everything will be in storage and we may just get a small apartment to begin with. *sighs* I've already donated tons of things to NCCS, and I am also Freecycling alot! So, if you don't hear from me for awhile, never fear! I will be back with new adventures to tell you all about! My California Dreaming is becoming a reality! Until next time...

Potty Training Update...

Well it's been about 3 and a half weeks since we started Potty Training, and Caitlin took right to it! I think she had a couple of accidents during the first week, but after that it has been smooth sailing! She has pretty much stayed dry ever since she had an accident during our garage sale excursion the first weekend. I felt so bad, because I didn't have any extra clothes with us... We had just decided to walk the neighborhood.
I'm still putting a pull-up on her at night though (for sleeping) just incase... But she's even been staying dry through the night. So I think we're just about home free! I'll give it a bit longer before I remove those... Now, if only Brandon will train as easily! *keeping fingers crossed*

Kids not eating their fruits and vegetables?

I have a shameless promotion that I just wanted to share with you... It's a wonderful product that contains 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains! My family and I have been taking this for nearly 2 years now! Getting my kids to eat their veggies has always been a struggle... But I found something that they do like and it's "the next best thing to fruits and vegetables!" I take the capsules myself, but they have these wonderful gummies for the kids and they love them!


Check out the website and let me know if you have any questions! You can even place an order online, directly through my site... It's such a simple, convenient, and inexpensive way to add more nutrition from fruits and vegetables to your child's diet, every day.

Hilarious Baby Shower Video

My sister just sent me this link through e-mail and it had me totally cracking up! You've got to check it out... This has got to be a new mother-to-be's worst Baby Shower nightmare! It's actually very funny... as long as it's not your shower!
Click Here to view!

Monkey Baby Boutique Update!

I finally got the eco-friendly Hemp Baby Slings listed in my shop! I'm really excited about finally finding some Organic product companies out there that are willing to work with me!
I also had another fabulous find a few days ago! As you all know, Robeez are all the rage these days! I even posted a pair of the Robeez Monkey Red Soft-Soled Leather Shoes in a previous post.
Well, by serendipity, I stumbled upon a young graphic designer in Portland, OR that is actually crafting and designing this style of shoes herself! The quality is comparable to Robeez, with unbeatable prices and unique, one-of-a-kind designs! So... of course I contacted her and she has agreed to let me carry her shoes in my shop! You've got to check them out! They are so adorable!
Just click the Bugaloo link on my page!

(update on Nov. 9,2007) The Bugaloo shoes are no longer available on my website... The designer is taking some time off from crafting these for a little while)



I'm also in the process of adding Soft Star Baby Shoes to my site. These are also amoung the most popular soft soled baby shoes these days. They're lightweight, flexible & breathable, and their designs are recommended by children’s podiatrists for simulating barefoot conditions.
There you have it! I have been a "busy bee" lately... Staying up until all hours of the night... researching products, contacting companies, and working on stocking my inventory! Nobody told me that this would be so time consuming! LOL But I'm loving every minute of it! And I can't wait to find the next "gotta have it" item!

Pretty Momma Slings

Well, as if you couldn't tell, I've been really focusing on Monkey Baby Boutique lately... I've been adding some finishing touches, and seeking out new merchandise to add... Nothing but the BEST for my little Monkeys! I will never sell anything that I myself don't really love!
Anyways, I found these awesome Organic Cotton Baby Slings, so I just had to add them to the Shoppe. I will also be adding eco-friendly Hemp Baby Slings soon.


These are Pure, natural and chemically-free grown cotton! How wonderful for the environment this cotton is, and great for your baby as well. Afford your baby the luxury of snuggling up in this chemical free grown cotton! Carry your baby in style with these delightful, eco-friendly baby slings, and forget about those awkward, mass-produced baby carriers. Pretty Momma Slings are designed with comfort and ease in mind, and are fashioned from certified 100% Organic Cotton to ensure the ultimate in coziness and durability.
These slings are fabricated with unique and powerful adjustable rings to ensure effortless use, and safety. Tested for strength and resilience, these slings can safely cradle a tender premature infant, up to a child weighing a hefty 35lbs.

Robeez Monkey Red Soft-Soled Leather Shoes Red

I think these Shoes are Possibly the cutest shoes around, Robeez's distinctive line of footwear is as adorable as it is practical. Medical professionals and child experts agree that babies should wear soft-soled shoes during their formative years. Made from the softest leather imaginable and appliqued with mischievous monkeys, these fun little shoes promote healthy foot development. The ankle band is elasticized for a comfortable yet secure fit -- you can trust they won't come off until you take them off. Perfect for indoors or light outdoor use, the textured, skid-resistant suede sole offers protection but still allows your baby to feel the floor and gain balance when cruising around.
Just click on the image above for more info or to purchase these cute little shoesies! Or, visit my website: Monkey Baby Boutique for more choices!

Monkey Baby Halloween Costume!

Halloween will be here before we know it! I stumbled upon this adorable Baby Monkey Infant Halloween Costume. So I just had to share it with you!
This Baby Monkey Costume includes the headpiece and the Monkey Costume romper with inner leg snap closure and nonskid soles. 100% Polyester. Hand wash with cool water. Line dry. No bleach. Click on the image to purchase it!

Let the Potty Training Begin!

I took Caitlin shopping for BIG GIRL panties yesterday! Then we went to the library and got a couple of children's books that dealt with Potty Training. (so we've been reading those) I also picked up FOUR books for myself on the subject. I figured I better get educated so I'll know how to deal with the frustrations and accidents that will happen along the way! They didn't have the book that I was really looking for. The one about Potty Training in less than a day. Maybe I can find it on eBay? Anyways, Caitlin was so excited when she woke up this morning, because she couldn't wait to wear her Princess panties! All in all, the day went pretty well, with only two accidents. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Share a Square Program

I've finally started a separate blog for one of my favorite obsessions, Crochet! You can view it HERE @ Cafe Crochet... I thought that this would also be the perfect place to share a bit of info about a program that is dear to my heart because it involves children.

If you crochet, you'll want to visit The SHARE A SQUARE PROJECT.
It is ongoing right now and they are searching for people with big hearts.
140 afghans will be given to children at Camp Sanguinity in JULY 2008.
Please visit their blog for more info!

Our trip to Brookfield Zoo

I meant to get these zoo pictures posted a few days ago, but life happened! Here are a few of my favorites! I thought that this polar bear and her baby were just too adorable! I couldn't believe I caught such a cute pose!


"Daddy" held Caitlin up so that she could get a better view of the elephants:

I myself loved seeing the giraffes!

I wish I had gotten some good pictures of the monkeys, as they are my favorite! But my camera battery kept dying and I didn't catch any really good ones... Most of them were too far away to really see anything... Oh well, maybe next time!
Then it was time to go home! Brandon was all tuckered out after all that walking... He was soon fast asleep in the car on the way home...

Amigurumi Crochet

I love to crochet! I don't know if anyone else finds these little Japanese characters as adorable as I do, but I thought I'd share a pattern with you! I received this free pattern from Lion Brand yarn in my e-mail tonight! I'm definitely going to have to make this for Caitlin! You can view the pattern by clicking HERE!

Toy Recall

As I was glancing through today's newspaper, I noticed an article about the Toy Recall... As a parent, I've been shocked at the number of items they've discovered that contain high levels of lead. Just recently I even heard that some vinyl bibs purchased at Toys R Us were among the list! Anyways, back to the article that I read today... I can totally relate to the author, Desiree Chen | Tribune staff reporter... You can read her story here: Can't they recall a toy because parents hate it? I REALLY relate with this paragraph:
"My husband and I fight a constant battle with a growing collection of toys that the kids have outgrown or rarely play with, yet which they ferociously protect whenever we try to, shall we say, move them along." Yes, this could be my husband and I that she's writing about!
On to the Zoo! We DID make it to the zoo yesterday! Against all odds! I will have to post some photos tomorrow... They're still on my digital camera at the moment. We had a great time despite my aching feet! I wore a brand new pair of Bass sandals and they rubbed sores on my toes and heels... Ouch! Guess I should have broken them in first...
The kids loved the zoo and they did wonderfully until we stopped to sit down and eat lunch. They wouldn't sit still. The only high chair left had a broken buckle, so I couldn't strap Brandon in. He kept standing up in the seat. Then a couple of minutes after my husband had left to find a restroom, Caitlin decided she wanted to go with him. So she took off in the direction that he had gone, and here I was with Brandon in one arm, chasing her all the way across the restaurant and halfway down the staircase! (Mind you, our food and the diaper bags were still sitting on the table) So you can imagine how frustrated I was! It's seems funny now looking back, but I was definitely not laughing at the time!
Brandon fell asleep in the car on the ride home... Little guy wore himself out! He actually wanted to walk most off the time while we were there. Caitlin on the other hand, wanted to ride in the stroller. Once we got home I realized just how tired I was too, so I hit the hay with the kids!

Brookfield Zoo & Serta Counting Sheep

Weather permitting, we are planning a trip to Brookfield Zoo tomorrow! Yesterday we were under a Tornado Warning... with lots of rain... hmmm... and as I type this it just started raining again! Hopefully it will all clear up by morning... (fingers crossed) Caitlin is really looking forward to going to the zoo... and to be honest, I am too! I've always loved the zoo! Especially the monkeys! My absolute faves are the Golden Lion Tamarins and Marmosets! I've loved them since childhood...



I just downloaded all the pictures off my digital camera to make room for the zoo photos that I hope to take tomorrow... Here are a couple that I couldn't resist sharing with you!


Oh Brandon! What a messy mess!!! Doesn't he look like he's trying to hide from me? I will normally feed him myself if it's something really messy (to avoid this)... But I thought I'd let him have a go at it for a change!


Look out behind you! Is that a giant sheep? No, it's just a cardboard stand-up of the Serta Counting Sheep that we ran into while shopping at Menards. I couldn't resist getting a picture of the kids with it! You can actually view Sheep Commercials and download desktop wallpapers HERE!
Look at the time! Well, I think I'd better get some sleep if I'm going to get up early tomorrow... I look forward to sharing our zoo trip with you!

My little monkeys!

I just wanted to share a picture of my 2 little monkeys, Caitlin and Brandon. I can't keep them out of the kitchen cupboards! I actually had to empty nearly everything out of this one except for my Tupperware!

Is there anybody out there?

I just added a counter to my blog this afternoon, because I am curious as to whether anyone has found me yet. So far it's still only showing 1 visitor, and more than likely that was me! I'm really new at blogging, so I'm anxious to see how this works and how long it takes to show up in Search Engines, get visitors, etc... I'm actually reading a book about blogging that I picked up at the library. It's titled Blog Wild! and it's written by Andy Wibbels. It does have some helpful tips and information in it... But the tutorials in the book are based on the TypePad platform. All in all though, I think the book is worth checking out if you're new at blogging!
While I'm on the subject of the library, mine has a section of books that are for sale. These have mostly been donated and are in "like new" condition at bargain prices! I bought one the other day that caught my eye, and it only cost me $1! It's titled The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp, M.D. I couldn't pass it up because the cover reads "The New Way to Stop the Daily Battle of Wills and Raise a Secure and Well-Behaved One- to Four-Year-Old" Wow, this sounds exactly like what I need right now! I plan to start reading it next. I'll let you know what I think and whether it helps out or not.
On a lighter note, I finally got a chance to watch a movie tonight after the kids went to sleep. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, which I also checked out from the library! I had never seen it, but had wanted to ever since I saw previews for it when it came out. That just goes to show how often I get to see movies! Anyways, it wasn't what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised. It has a lot more depth to it than I thought it would.
Last but not least, I added some banner links to the right hand side of my frontpage today. Be sure to sign up for the FREE BABY STUFF and then check out the Limited Edition Pink Jogging Stroller (which benefits breast cancer research), I think it's so cute!

Play Dates and Potty Training

We've just gotten back from our play date/lunch date with my friend Mary. My daughter and her daughter are only a few months apart in age, so they really get along well... And the one on one "mommy time" is also a rare treat for me!
Anyways, this blog may actually morph into more than just my kid's everyday antics, as long as you don't mind a peek into my personal life! I'm thinking about sharing info on some of my recent discoveries, fresh new toddler and baby products, and sensitive topics, along with some of our daily struggles... Right now I'm on a hunt to find Potty Training methods... My friend Mary potty trained all three of her children using the Potty Training in Less Than a Day method as seen on Dr Phil. There's also a book by the same title which I may have to get! She actually used the book. Sound to good to be true? Well, it worked for her, so I think I may have to give it a shot! My daughter turned 3 in April and it's still a daily struggle with her! Does anyone out there have any other tips or ideas?

Innocence

The children were nestled all snug in their beds... Don't they appear so innocent when they're sleeping? It's 2:45am and I'm about to head off to bed myself. Seems like lately this is the only chance I have to do any research! I've got so many ideas swimming around in my head for my new online Boutique "Monkey Baby". My original plan was to only sell products that I had handmade myself. But time is not on my side right now. So I'm searching out some fresh unique items to add to my store.
If you or someone you know might be interested in submitting a product, I would love to hear from you. Just shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment here!

Another day in the jungle...

Well this morning started out with a bang! Brandon had already pulled leaves off of my artificial tree, pulled a mound of CD’s down from my CD tower, and dumped nearly half a box of cereal on the floor… All before noon! The cereal incident actually happened while I stepped outside to check the mail… Does anyone else’s children do these things? Sometimes I wonder! I’d love to hear your monkey tales too! So, leave me a comment with your stories!

My Little Monkey Baby!

I thought this would be a fun place to share some of the antics that I find my “little monkeys” doing on a day to day basis… I have a 3 year old daughetr, and an 18 month old son, Brandon, who has just become a real climber! As of lately I’ve found him flipping over the back of our couches and even standing on the kitchen table! Can't keep him in his playpen, because he climbs right out! So it's become more of a toy box than anything else... If I step out of the room for just a second, I never know where I’ll find him next! Yesterday he actually pulled down the kitchen curtain! Does anyone else out there have children like this?