I know I just posted something about car seats, but I just came across this booster that has a latch system and is very inexpensive (compared with what I'm used to paying). I just wanted to share this with you. There are two boutiques in town that sell these. Here is a link to both the full back and the low back versions:

full back and the low back

They have some pretty cute designs too. Maybe eventually I'll buy a spare for Tatum.

Seriously, we aren't living in 1985!

I felt the need for the post since I am SO sick of people breaking the law when it comes to child safety. I can't tell you how many times I've driven down the road to see a child sitting on someone's lap or a car seat sitting in the front seat of a vehicle that has airbags and nothing sitting in the backseat. I just don't get it! My friend Melissa just told me about a lady who had her newborn (riding backwards) in the front seat and the airbag went off snapping the baby's neck. Now they want to charge her with manslaughter and I think that's an excellent idea. People should know better now with the internet, news and your pediatrician being informative on this kind of stuff. I also don't understand the rush to move a child to a booster so young...Tatum is finally 41 lbs and at the age and weight where I'm fine if she rides in one (although we won't need one since her booster/car seat goes up to 80 lbs). I do know that some vehicles come equipped with a button to turn off the air bag and especially in a truck with no backseat, it's understandable...The age and weight is not one or the other, it's one and the other and I know people tend to get confused about that. Here's a bit of info if anyone needs a refresher car seats and boosters :).

We’ve learned a lot about car seat safety in recent years. In 1996, it was discovered that the front seat was very dangerous for young children. Even in low-speed crashes, babies were dying when they were hit by front seat airbags. In addition, the front seat placed children closer to the point of impact in front-end crashes, which are usually the most deadly. And unrestrained children in the front seat tended to hit the hard dashboard and be thrown through the windshield of the car, which could be fatal. Since then, all safety experts have recommended that children ride in the back seat from infancy through age 12. Babies should start in the back seat in a rear-facing infant seat up to 1 year and 20 pounds; then a forward-facing child car seat up to 4 years and 40 pounds; then a booster seat up to 8 years and 80 pounds; then a seat belt afterward. Many states have also passed laws requiring children to be in the back seat using the appropriate safety restraint for the age and size. Parents can get a ticket and a fine if their children are not safely restrained.

Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox for now...

Osborn District Reunion..Of course I was there ;).

With the principle from Encanto (at the time) Mrs. Murphy.

With Michelle and Mrs. Bafouloukus (sp?), one of my 8th grade teachers.

My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Fritch. Still looks amazing!

With Mr. Merrill (the principal from Clarendon..he still remembered me and my mom!).

Posing with Michelle in front of our old cafetorium.

Michelle and I thought it would be fun to recreate an old scene from an old picture. Noah helped us out with this one since Jessica and the stroller weren't there. I wish I would have gotten my arms a little better.

Fun with friends at Enchanted Island!

Our Presidents stand on abortion

I took this link from my friend Jenn's blog and this link from Angie's. I found it completely repulsive...you all know how I stand on this and it's completely disgusting.

Another to add to my list of must have gadgets!

I was watching The Doctor's the other day and saw this on there and fell in love. Many of you know my past obsession with high end diaper bags (well still obsessed, but it's died down some lol) and purses. I can also be a bit of a germafobe, so this was perfect. It's also perfect when you are at a fancy restaurant with the rounded backs on the chairs and you don't want to plunk your purse down on the floor or on the table.

Corbin's First Field Trip!

Last week we went with Corbin's school (Litchfield Elementary) to the World Zoo. They have a new aquarium there and a new log ride (and a fun new price too of course). We went on a few rides and made a day of it. It was fun that Daryl was able to go with us now that his back is starting to get much better.

Marley is still woman..hear her ROAR!

I took Marley to get "fixed" last week at the Humane Society since their prices are so good (I think we did it in time since she's 7 1/2 months and was starting to act like she was ready to go in heat any day). It was a rough day..just to check her in it took almost 2 hours (not to mention the hour long drive in traffic at 6:30 in the morning) and then I had to come back in rush hour to get her. She was so out of it when I picked her up. I put her in trunk of my van (it dips down where the seats would be folded down) and put a blanket down. I wasn't planning on her needing to use the bathroom and she did. I need to rent a carpet cleaner and clean it out..so disgusting! The next day I put the cone on her when she started acting interested in her wound and she HATED it! So after about an hour of her pouting (pictured) I took it off. That night I was scared she would open up her stitches, so I put her outside with the cone on in our back porch and she just sat the entire night and peed where she sat on the mat and wouldn't lay down at all (I kept checking on her..rough night). So we were pretty much done with the cone after that scenario. She's healing well now and the extra $14 ended up being a total waste since we don't use it.
She doesn't normally have that "look" (pictured above), but for whatever reason, she had her tooth caught on her lip and I was able to catch her in the moment. Hilarious!!

What do you have there buddy??

So many of you know that Corbin had a HUGE obsession with flashlights. He still does at times, but what he can't get enough of is change. He LOVES holding money in his hand. He LOVES having his pockets full of change as well. He sleeps with it..he pretty much does everything with his change. Rather than put up a fight with him over it, I just make sure it's clean and squirt the change down with hand sanitizer and then wash it with soap and water. If he doesn't have change on him (which is rare these days), the following words usually come out of his mouth before anything else, "Mom, where's my money?" (in his Corbin voice which only few can fully understand).

(The pictures above were taken at the zoo while he was eating his lunch..I noticed his right hand was closed and asked him to open it and show me what he had..sure enough...;P).

The morning after with Corbin and Everett...

Tatum comes and gets me at about 7:30 this morning to tell me she hears the boys talking. I go in there and Everett is in the pack-n-play and Corbin is standing next to him saying, "beebee in my room" as he throws toys in. The three of them are all playing happily together right now. Everett is a super easy kid to watch and I'm glad that we all get to bond together :)).