From Dates to Diapers, and beyond!

Samantha was so tired of putting two socks on her 1 year old little boy (Phoenix-hence the name) before leaving the house, but coming home time after time with only one remaining. She desperately wanted socks for him that would not only be cute, but would stay on his feet!! She searched everywhere for the perfect old-school style tube-socks for babies but suprisingly, she found none.

She had always had a sort of strange passion for cool socks, so she took it upon herself to design and manufacture the perfect sock for her little boy with the hopes that she could also share them with as many little boys and girls as possible.

The Nix All-Star Socks were born!

So many of us are Dr. Seuss fans... Hop on Pop and The Cat in the Hat were favorites of mine growing up. In fact, I think they were among the first books I ever read to myself! One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish is certainly a favorite around here!

That is why I was excited to receive this onesie from Obli...

Obli, which stands for On Borrowed Land, Inc., is a sister run operation. They have created a line of clothes for babies, toddlers and even doggies!

Borrowing famous lines from Dr. Seuss, and priding themselves on using only products which are made of 100% certified organic resources and are produced using Fair Trade practices, Obli Organics was created as a great place for the ecolectual to shop!

As I type this my crew of six are watching the tail end of our That Baby DVD... All of them! Julia is dancing with Noah, Ben is singing, Josh is pretending not to watch by torturing his little brother (to no avail), and the twins are trying to appear coy because they are, after all, watching a show for "babies"!

This is not your run-of-the-mill kids' music. That Baby was created by mom and pop, Rob and Lisi Wolf. Along with their good friend (and their children) they have put together a fresh and fun compilation of music that will capture your kiddos attention. With songs from Natalie Merchant, Fleetwood Mac, and Joni Mitchell you are sure to love it, too.

Every one of my kiddos enjoy the That Baby CD and sing along to all of the songs, so it was no surprise that all of them would enjoy the DVD. With acoustic versions of the songs that I enjoy listening to, this set is certainly on my favorites list!

Here is what Julia, my 6 year old, had to say about the That Baby DVD:

"I love the music on the DVD, especially the singing! The dancing was fun and seeing the kids sing the one song (Brass in Pocket) was neat. I think Noah liked listening to the pretty songs, too."

If you'd like to try the That Baby DVD or CD you can enter the coupon code "MotherTalk" when purchasing and save 20% on your entire order! And, from now until May 18th, all orders using the coupon code "MotherTalk" will be entered in a drawing to win a new iPod nano!!

You can buy the That Baby products at www.ThatBabyDVD.com and Amazon (That Baby DVD and That Baby CD).

Oh, and get this - I just discovered that That Baby offers free replacement of scratched or damaged discs. Whoa, you don't realize what you just promised us, Lisi and Rob!

There is quite a buzz these days about being a successful MommyBlogger (or Bloggin' Mama as I like to call myself). There seem to be two camps of noisy vocal Mom Bloggers.

There are those who whine about the fact that they don't get pitches from companies. They complain that they were not invited to Disney World, San Diego, or New Jersey. These same bloggers have accused those of us who do get free stuff, and go on all-expense paid trips, of "pimping our blogs," and "exploiting our children for personal gain." They've called us "Blog Whores," and "greedy," while secretly wishing they could do what we do.

Then there are many Blogging Moms who are asking the questions because they really want to know how we do what we do.

How do I create a successful and sought-after MommyBlog?
How do I get these companies to send me free stuff?
What do I need to do to get the PR people to notice me?
How can I get on the invite list for free trips?

These Mom Bloggers genuinely want to know.

First off, I don't feel the need to defend why I blog, or that the reason why I participate in Wordless Wednesday is not to increase traffic. The voice that Mom's who blog have is HUGE, regardless of whether you write as an outlet, for the pure pleasure, to post pictures of your family or you write for the free stuff.... In the end, we're just moms who blog.

All of us. (Yes, even Dooce!)

We each bring a unique perspective to our readers.

Let me give you some examples...

• I have six children - My daily experiences, however, are quite different from those of my blogging buddy, Dawn, who also has six children. She is writing a book about her adventures.
• I homeschool, but my daily life is very different from that of my good friend, Melissa. She has all girls, and they are all beautiful and proper. Have you seen my family?
• I have a baby boy. My opinions about the clothes he wears, food he eats, and toys with which he plays differ from that of Shanda, who also has a baby Noah's age.
  

All three of my friends have a good number of readers every day, as do I. Do the same people visit each of our blogs? No. That is what is so great about blogs. It's all about variety and diversity.

Now, I don't know the secrets to being a successful MommyBlogger. (In fact, if you can find someone who does, please let her know that I need to talk to her!) I do know that I work very hard, and spend too much a lot of time researching, writing, replying to emails and comments, networking, and building my community.

Consistent writing, quality content, having fun, and being in the right time at the place are all sure to help. I say be real, be yourself, write about what you know, and work hard. It might not hurt to email a few companies after you've written about their products, just to let them know you've blogged about them. Who knows they may come to you the next time they want to get the word out.

But, let the PR folks come to you... And they will, when you start writing about the things which they would like to promote. Ultimately, they look for the bloggers who have a wide range of different readers who all value your opinion about what you know best.

If you are still interested in finding out more about this genre of blogging, there are several Mommy Bloggers who have written wonderful posts about Mommy Blogging. Here are just a few...

• The Mommy Story How to be a Popular MommyBlogger
  
• Scribbit on ProBlogger Five Reasons Why Mom Blogs are the Blogs to Watch
• The Velveteen Mind MommyBloggers - The Resource

Are you a Mom who enjoys blogging? Why do you like to blog?

Andi, over at Mama Knows Breast, is having a contest and wants to know how the Graco Activity Center can make your life easier!

You would think that I would have realized how much easier one of these would have made life 8 years ago when my twins arrived! Or, maybe after Julia was born 19 months after the twins. Or, maybe after I had five little ones under 6.

But hey, my youngest is 8 months, so maybe I should focus on how much easier it would make life NOW.

Let's see...
I'm sure Little Noah would be quite content to play in this fabulous activity center while I teach my three oldest their school lessons, make breakfast (or lunch, or dinner), fold my mounds of laundry, sweep the buckets of cheerios up off the floor, or maybe (just maybe) put on some makeup!

Thanks Andi (and Graco) for such a great giveaway!!!

Now, I need to find someone who is hosting a giveaway for a Graco Pack 'n Play, since mine is now toast - It lasted a good 8 years, so I can't complain.... But, I need a new one BAD!!!

Thanks, Graco, for spoiling us... I now refuse to have anything but you!

Mama Knows Breast has got to be one of the best books out there about all things breastfeeding. Andi Silverman writes with a fresh and fun attitude, sharing everything a beginner needs to know about this new adventure you are about to embark upon. Best part is, this is real - No fluff, no sugar-coating. Andi tells it like it is!

If you're new to breastfeeding and need another ('cause you know I'm always here) girl-friend from whom you can get advice, grab Andi's book... Andi will become one of your new breast friends, as she shares about all of the ups and downs of this incredible journey.

About Andi
Andi Silverman is a mom, journalist, and lawyer who spent nearly ten years as an on-air television reporter. She writes the blog MamaKnowsBreast and lives with her family in New York City.

It's been quite some time since I have listed some of the giveaways and other great things happening out in the blogosphere. Here are some you may want to check out...

Carissa has a friend who is gathering adoption stories to add to her hew book. Head over and read the letter from Deanna.

*****


Everything in this ebay store is being auctioned to raise money for the care of Jeni. Jeni has been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. She is a valiant, courageous warrior. You can read of Jeni’s story in her own words at The Comfy Place.

*****

Local Northeast PA 1st grader, Meadow Quinn, needs to raise $70,000 to pay for a feeding clinic program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Would you like to help? Then please take a look at the FIVE ebay auctions that Shannon has set up to raise the funds. Once each auction is live, they will be linked directly to the auction page.

If you would like to make a direct donation to Meadow Quinn, you can do so via sending a check to the following location:

Wallenpaupack North Primary
c/o Becky Schaepe
158 Atlantic Avenue, Hawley, PA 18428

Whether person or business, if you make a direct donation to Meadow, please let Shannon know and she will publicly thank you and link to your blog or business (once your donation has been confirmed by the family--please put A Girl's Gotta Spa in the memo section). (**A ChipIn Widget is also available in the sidebar for your convenience.)

Fashion & Beauty Businesses (family friendly)--If you make a direct donation to Meadow Quinn of $100 or more, Shannon will give you free ad space for 1 week in my sidebar. Please email her for details.

*****

You can win your choice of the "MOM" charm with a large traditional charm bracelet, or the charm with a box chain necklace from Charming Gifts. Visit Tip Junkie.

*****

While on trips in the car there is nothing worse than when one of my little guys lose their cup, or favorite toy, while strapped in to his car seat. No one is allowed to take off a seat belt while we're driving, so what are we to do?

Even while strapped in to the stroller, it seems that Ben is constantly losing things, especially his cups. (Those suckers are expensive. I can't afford to lose any more!)


My Book Fairy had the perfect solution to my dilemmas - The Oopsi! TheOopsi is one of those "why didn't I think of that" products that was created and made by a mom.

By pulling on the Oopsi, my kiddos are able to retrieve items themselves, without my help. No more unpleasant screaming in the car due to a lost toy, and no more lost cups during our walks in the park!

It's easy to open, easy to pour, easy to close, and easy to store! Makes my job as a short order cook so much easier!

With the new SanDisk USB Gator Flash Drive you can fashionably store a plethora of pictures, home videos, special songs, and more. In black, pink and red, the stylish design blends well with the most desirable purses and handbags out there.

I was thrilled when I received my brand new Sandisk USB Gator Flash Drive, in RED... Just the perfect match for my lovely red gator laptop bag! Now I can show off pictures of my kiddos (who ROCK, by the way) wherever I am.


SanDisk would like to give all of you the opportunity to win one of FIVE USB Gator Flash Drives, here at From Dates to Diapers, just in time for Mother’s Day!

Here's how to enter:

1. Write a post on your blog about your favorite Mother's Day memories, or what you love about being a mom. Include pictures, fun antecdotes, and a link to this giveaway in your blog post.

*If you don't have a blog, that's okay -- Just leave your memories or thoughts in the comments here. (Please note: Comments such as "please enter me" or "I love being a mom" are not valid entries.)

2. Sign the Mr. Linky linking directly to your post.

3. U.S. entrants only, please.

4. Do all of this before May 10th, when I will randomly choose FIVE winners from the list of eligible entrants.

Have fun and GOOD LUCK!

See other Wordless Wednesday Participants at 5 Minutes For Mom

Keebler has just introduced FlipSides, the delightfully different Pretzel Crackers. With six kiddos who are constantly hungry, these tasty crackers are a big hit around here. They even make for a good snack for me with some pepper jack cheese... Yummy!


Part Pretzel.

Part Cracker.

All good.

New Town House Flipsides combine the versatility of a cracker with the taste of a pretzel. They’re great for entertaining or eating alone.

Try Town House Flipsides Original or Town House Flipsides Cheddar.

Poi Wear created the Hi-Chair Bib, designed for use in the high chair, with more kid coverage in mind! This unique bib covers the entire front of any messy little guy, including his legs, saving on extra laundry - A plus, in my book!

The "stage" appropriate full body bib that provides more clothing coverage (especially the lap and legs) was designed and created by an Auntie who saw the need after watching her niece's messy lunch time adventures. It was her niece that inspired the bib and her poi lunch that inspired the name.

The Hi-Chair Bib comes in a variety of different fabrics, including lots of Hawaiian prints... Super cute!

* One size fits 6 mos. - 3 yrs. plus.
* Clothes saver!
* Machine wash and dry.
* Lays lightly on a child's body.
* Lightweight around the neck.
* Great for restaurant high chair, stroller and car seat use.

* Unique baby shower gift!

Moms, are you ready for a giveaway just for you?

Here's what you gotta do:
Visit all of the featured sites in my Mother's Day Gift Guide, and list in the comments your favorite item from each.

You can earn an extra entry by posting my Gift Guide button on your site, and incorporating your favorite items in a fun and witty post. If you think about it, this would actually kill two birds with one stone -- Your hubby would have your wish list at easy access AND you would be in the running for some great prizes! Make sure that you leave me a separate comment with the exact link to your post!

<a href="http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/2008/04/mothers-day-gift-guide.html"><img src="http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p159/youngmommy99/Stripes2-1-1-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

What could you win for all this hard work? Well, the winner will receive a gift box filled with a special item (or two) from each of the following companies:

*Honey Cat
*Belisi
*Strappys
*Starbucks
And for good measure, I’ll throw in some chocolate. Because all moms deserve some of that yummy goodness!

Make sure you do all this before May 10th, to enter.

My precious Baby Noah had quite a little accident today... He burned both of his hands very badly on the glass covering our fireplace. Boy, doesn't it look like it hurts?

Fortunately his left hand does not look nearly as bad as his right.



We are supposed to keep a close eye on his hands, cover them if necessary, but not let him on the floor, as the blisters may pop allowing for infection.

I feel so bad for the little guy, and there is nothing I can do to alleviate the pain. A horrible feeling as a mom who wants to just make it better!

Even with badly burned hands he is still all smiles... As long as I am close by, of course!

cross posted on Organized Chaos

I have a few giveaways going on right now. Make sure you enter them all!

• The Lote Tree - Enter by midnight April 21st April 25th
  
• The Portable Parenting System - Enter by midnight April 28th

Josh loves robots these days, and was excited about his robot themed birthday party. Well, I found on the GoodyBlog some fun robot cupcakes, and couldn't wait to make them. I have had such a ball creating edible masterpieces for each of my kiddos special days, and these were no exception.

Mine were a bit different than the cupcakes featured on the GoodyBlog and Parents magazine, but they were a big hit.

Here's how I made them.

I decorated graham cracker halves, quarters, and sticks with brightly colored frosting and sprinkles. A half for the head, quarters for the legs, and sticks for the body.

I took two large cupcakes, frosted them, and placed them together, to create the body.

I then decorated them with dumdums, fruit loops, m&ms, and black decorating frosting.

Here they are:

As parents we must be consistent when disciplining our children. It can be difficult though, especially when we are out and about.

A mother of two boys created the Portable Parenting System to help aid in discipline. The Time-Out Mat is a durable rubber mat that can be placed any where you are, without the need for a large stool, or cumbersome blanket. While I do not use time-outs as a consequence for bad behavior, this mat has been helpful for the many parents who seeks to enforce this method of discipline, especially since it can be so easily packed for those trips away from home, whether it be to the store, the pool, or even vacation.

Portable Parenting also offers a unique way to reward good behavior, with their Star Stash Reward System. These special stars can be earned any number of ways, including completing chores without being asked, helping their siblings, and unusually good behavior. The idea is that then these stars can be traded for a specific treat. Good behavior doesn't only happen at home, so this portable system makes it easy to reward your kiddos wherever you are.

You can enter to win the entire Portable Parenting system!

Here's what you have to do to enter:
Check out the system at PortableParenting. com, and come back and leave a comment here, by midnight April 28th, telling me why you would like to try this system. A winner will be chosen, at random, notified, and announced here on Tuesday, April 29th. (Please make sure you leave me an email address or blog address, otherwise your entry will be deleted!)

And, if you would like an extra entry, you can spread the word by linking to this giveaway and to Portable Parenting. Make sure you sign the Mr. Linky (only if you decide to help spread the word) with the exact link to your post to receive the second entry.

Good luck!


This giveaway is now closed!

Congratulations to ihchicky who said…"I would like to try this system because I know for a fact that rewards definitly encourage good behavior. I try to use stickers but it isn't all that effective once I stick them onto the paper we have on the fridge. I'd like to try this out instead."

Mother’s Day is just around the corner!
Do you have the perfect gift for the special moms in your life? If not, you’ve come to the right place! Take a look at the following gift ideas…
You are sure to find a wonderful and thoughtful gift, or two, for your mom, wife, sister, and friends.


Give Simple has some great gift ideas… Check out their Top Ten Mother’s Day Gifts. They even offer Free standard shipping on orders over $125.00!
Hey Moms, keep kids and husbands out of the dark – Create your wish list so they know exactly what you want! Create your Wish List now!
Enter our special discount code, datestodiapers, to receive 10% off your Give Simple purchase, through May 7th.


The DeAnna Cochran Eternity Necklace from Skimbaco.
I have one of these beautiful necklaces, with each of my six children’s birthstones. This would be the ultimate gift for the special mom in your life to help her show off their most precious jewels – her children!


Personalized jewelry makes a great gift, especially when it means showing off any woman’s children’s names and birthdates. Each piece is custom-made to order. Surprise your mom with a beautiful and thoughtful piece from Alli’s Originals.


The Mommy bracelet, from M Jennings Designs, is a simple and elegant gift for any mommy, from new moms to seasoned moms. Any mom who loves jewelry will love this bracelet.


Dainty Deity Designs uses interesting fabrics, top quality beads and crystals to create stellar hair accessories. Every headband is custom-made to order, so order one today for a special mom in your life.
Please note: Dainty Deity's shop may say that they are closed through August. HOWEVER, they will make any From Dates to Diapers readers a custom headband to order, AND they are offering 30% off! Go check them out!


All moms, at some point, have been extremely annoyed by unsightly bra straps. Well, Strappys has the solution... Treat the mom of honor with a pair of classy Strappys bra straps.


Mother's Day Gifts from Belisi are sure to bring a smile to the face of that most special woman in your life. From designer silk scarves and jewelry to beautiful dresses, their collection of Mother's Day gifts is sure to delight.


You’re sure to find the perfect gift for any mom from Karen Neuburger. Perhaps maternity KN pajamas for the mom-to-be, KN Cool(R) Daywear for the sporty mom, or specialty teas and flavored sugar for the gourmet mom.
Enter our special discount code, mom2008, to receive 15% off your Karen Neuburger purchase.


This hot tank from Tuni & G would be perfect for any Hot Mama!
Enter our special discount code, datestodiapers, to receive 15% off your Tuni & G purchase, through April 30th.


For the mom who is committed to nurturing the earth, as well as her children, go with a hip and stylish tee from PeaceLoveMom.
Enter our special discount code, datestodiapers, to receive 10% off your PeaceLoveMom purchase of $20 0r more, through May 7th.


The minky nursing cover, from Alex Casey Baby, would be a fabulous gift for the new mom… Luxurious and stylish for the milking mama.


A Cupcake Courier would be the best gift for the mom who loves to bake! She would be thrilled to be able to transport her homemade cupcakes and muffins safely and in style.


Modern June is a shop that features Cool Stuff for the Hip Housewife! For the mom who loves to be in the kitchen preparing special treats, a lovely apron from Modern June is sure to please.

Every mom needs a night out with the girls every now and then. A gift from The Box Girls would be the perfect gift for the mom who needs some time away.


Every mom loves to be pampered! Pamper your mom with a fun gift basket full of delightful ways to pamper herself from Honey Cat Cosmetics.
Hey Dads, this is a perfect gift for your wife… Couple this with a homemade coupon good for time by herself to take a long bath, while you watch the kiddos, and believe me, she’ll thank you!


A custom-made Fuffy J original handbag would be wonderful for any mom with an eclectic taste. Charm a mom in your life with one of these handmade handbags.
At Fuffy J they can incorporate sentimental fabric or jewelry into the design, so your mom, wife, sister or friend can carry their memories with them everywhere!
Enter our special discount code, datestodiapers, to receive 15% off your Fuffy J custom purchase.


The fun Flip and Tumble Bag is sure to draw hugs from the green moms in your life… Just fill it with her favorite snacks, or yummy and wholesome goodies, and she will be happy for days to come.


A BusyBodyBook is a must for any busy mom. She will thank you, a million times over for helping her get and stay organized!


And, we can't forget about the teenage mom-to-be. The book Hope...Joy (and a Few Little THOUGHTS)™ for Pregnant Teens is the first in a series of books dedicated to inspiring parents and young adults to consciously create a life filled with hope and joy.


Remember to use the special discount codes when shopping.
Have fun!


For more gift ideas, check out what our friends recommend...

Enter to win one of FIVE SanDisk USB Gator Flash Drives,
by sharing your Mother's Day memories!

So, did you see the spot we were in on The Morning Show live, or maybe online? I apologize if you're already tired of hearing about this, but I just must tell you all about it... This was HUGE for Ray and me! Appearing on national television is not something average parents, like us, get to do every day. What an experience!

Besides, I just had to share with you the fantastic tips we got from Sanyika Calloway Boyce, Mike and Juliet's financial fitness coach.

So, first to fill you in on all of the details. If you haven't read my post on how this all came about, go do that now. We had the camera crew here on Tuesday filming our family... They got shots of the kiddos having pillow fights, wrestling with Daddy, eating lunch, and even loading up in our Yukon XL.

They also interviewed me and fed me some sound bites. Ugh, that was my least favorite part. I hope you didn't laugh when you saw the pre-taped interview segment, and if you didn't see it - good! It was a trip, however, to think about how much milk, eggs, and cheese we consume every month. I guess I had never really added it all up before - I just knew how much to buy whenever we went grocery shopping. But, wow!

I didn't have much time after the crew left to get things ready for the kids night at Mimi and Poppy's, let alone figure out what to wear, and pack myself and Noah. The car arrived much earlier than I would have hoped and we left him waiting for 20 minutes before we were ready to head to the airport. I guess that's what happens when you give a family of 8 less than 24 hours notice.

After a grueling night of travel, with an 8 month old, we arrived at the studio bright and early yesterday morning. We had to change in the bathroom, but managed just fine. Thank God for the hair and makeup team... They made us look good, if I do say so myself. They would have changed their minds about having us on the show if we had to appear on TV looking like we did when we arrived!

Mike and Juliet, their crew, and Sanyika were all wonderful! They couldn't have made us feel more comfortable. I truly forgot that I was being watched by thousands of people on national TV! I was watched by thousands of people!! If you haven't already checked it out, go watch.

While I thought that I had some pretty good tips, of my own, on how to cut food costs when shopping for a large family, I was excited to hear from Sanyika.
Here is what she suggested:

Create a plan

• Draft up a menu and take it with you on your shopping trip. This is very helpful in avoiding coming home with a random assortment of items and not knowing how to make them transform in to a meal.

Stretch your food and your dollar

• Purchase whole chicken versus parts, and use every piece of it, from the skin to the gizzards, to prepare different meals.
• Make your milk stretch by adding 1/3 cup water to every 1 cup of milk. You'll get 3 cups more milk by doing this and the kids will never know. (Unless, of course, it's broadcasted as a suggestion to your parents on national television - My kids have not stopped asking if we water down the milk!)
• Begin the habit of portioning small quantities of snacks for the kiddos in to small ziploc baggies. Doing this will also help teach healthy eating habits.

Grow your own garden

• Now, this is something that my kids are super-excited about. They can't wait to help till the ground, plant the seeds, and tend a garden full of tomatoes, watermelon and herbs. We're thinking about a few fruit trees, too.
  

Thank you for all of the great tips, Sanyika!

You can check out Sanyika's Smart Money Blog, where she enjoys sharing her financial expertise. She is such a beautiful person, both inside and out. Don't you just love her name?

Do you believe that your baby can learn to read even before they can talk? It's possible!

Your Baby Can Read!, an early language development system, was developed by Dr. Robert Titzer, a dad who taught his 9-month-old daughter to read words, even before she could speak them. Dr. Titzer extensively researched infant and learning development and created this program as a result of his vision of "making the world a better place by allowing children greater opportunities and successes throughout life by developing reading skills early."

Thanks to the Parent Bloggers Network I had an opportunity to try the Your Baby Can Read! system with my children. This program consists of 5 DVDs and are especially appealing to the 2-4 year old crowd, however they claim to be created for even a 3-month-old in mind.

I was excited to show the dvds to my little ones, but couldn’t help but be just a tad bit skeptical. Josh, just shy of 4 years-old, loved the Starter disk… He was so excited at the possibility of learning to read, that he diligently reminded me to allow him to watch it every day, for several weeks. You see, the program works best if you show each disk a number of times a day for up to a month, in order for the information to “stick” before moving on to the next.

The Your baby Can Read! system includes lots of neat stuff. Each dvd contains many fun activities and engaging dialogue, and shows words that correspond with the spoken word and a picture. The dvds are full of songs, with the words shown karaoke style, so the child will associate the words sung with the spoken word. A series of flashcards are included, as well, each showing a picture to match the word.

In addition to showing each disk at least twice a day, you are encouraged to reinforce what the child is learning by practicing with them using the flashcards. I found this time to be a great time to teach the signs for each of the words as well.

I’m going to be honest here. While I believe the videos could aid in teaching a baby to read, my younger two kiddos would not sit still long enough to even make it through an entire dvd. (They won’t even watch a full episode of their favorite shows – They would rather watch their older siblings!) Even Josh lost interest after a few weeks. He is able to recognize a few words, but is that because I work with him every day or is it because of the Your Baby Can Read! dvds? Hard to know, for sure.

This program definitely could work for the little ones who enjoy watching shows with children engaging with others, a variety of animals, shapes, and colors. The key to Your Baby Can Read! is that it will aid in teaching your child whole language and phonics's using a combination of sight, sound, and interaction.

I truly believe that there is nothing that beats one on one time with your baby, or that any thing can take the place of a human teacher… YOU can teach your baby to read! But, you may want to check out Your Baby Can Read! to help.

9:05pm Wednesday

Wow, what a day! Actually it’s been two days, but it has felt like one loooong day!

It all began on Monday afternoon when I responded to an email forwarded to me by one of my new blogging buddies. It was a request from The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, for a mom with a large family, who needed help with her grocery budget, to appear on the show. Even though I knew I could use help in the area of better budgeting our family’s monthly grocery bill, I honestly didn’t think much would come of responding, except for a possible connection with Fox News and The Morning Show. You know, for the future.

I didn’t hear back from anyone on Monday, and really didn’t think about it again until my phone rang just a little after 6am on Tuesday morning. I knew immediately that it had to be The Morning Show… Anyone else who has my number knows not to call me that early in the morning, unless it’s an emergency. We are not a family who rises early. Yes, I’m fortunate to have my kiddos sleep until 8:30 most mornings!

Thus began a very hectic day – Days, actually.

Phone calls back and forth from me to New York, travel arrangements made, scheduling the camera crew... I’m not quite sure if I ever actually said the words, “Yes, I want to be on the show!” It all happened so fast!

I was a frazzled wreck as I began to think of all that needed to be done, and called Mindy in a panic. Of course she came to my rescue – She dropped everything to help me prepare for the arrival of the camera crew. With all that I had to do to prepare for the shots and interview they wanted of me and my family, I also had to make arrangements for my kids, and get them ready for an overnight stay with Mimi, Poppy, and Aunt Rachel. Mindy was a lifesaver. Thanks, chica!

The camera crew arrived right on schedule – Just as I was putting away the last of the clean dishes. And they set right to work filming my family. They got some great footage, most of which was shown during one of the two segments on the show.

I will tell you all about the show and share the wonderful tips we were given to cut costs in our monthly grocery budget, but for now I am going to leave you with the link to view the segments on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. Ray, Noah and I are still on our way home, stopping just for a quick layover in Salt Lake City, and we are all exhausted.

I will be glad to have this experience behind us, even though it was a wonderful one!

1:45am Thursday

We are home now, finally!

I still can’t believe that I was on The Morning Show with Mike and Janice. Check it out!

Make sure you come back to see pictures and hear all about what I learned!

Christine's friend, Mindy, here.....

Christine and her family (Ray and their 6 kiddos) have been invited to appear on The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet, a national morning show, as part of a finance segment. They will be discussing managing their budget (groceries, saving $, etc.) with a family of 8. A camera crew is at their home at this very moment filming footage of their family and this afternoon Ray, Christine, and the baby will fly to New York to appear on the show tomorrow morning. (The other kiddos will remain here in California.) This was a last minute booking and things have been pretty rushed, but I'm so excited that they've agreed and will get to do it!

This is an awesome opportunity for their family, so be sure to support them by watching or recording The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet. Here in Sacramento it's on at 11am on KCRA3 after the Today Show. Check your local listings and tune in, or check out their website by clicking the link above.

Christine will blog about the trip and their appearance on the show,