A Letter

Dear Mom Lady Who Left The Annoying Message On My Phone,

I am sorry you found the post about my cupboards boring. I didn't get the memo that you are now the Content Editor for my blog. I know it would make you happy if I changed the name of my blog to 'Photos & Video Of Rhys And Nothing Else', but that isn't going to happen.

Sure, I get that not everyone is as excited about my cupboards as myself, but this is my blog.

Anyway...here is your fix.

Mr. Serious, in his dabber 't-shirt over shirt' ensemble:

Sir Eats-A-Lot stuffing his face:

Look, I can stand up like a big boy! :

Hmmm....maybe these sleepers don't fit anymore... :

Hangin' with Crazy Uncle Adam:

Sincerely,

Amanda Cronin

Owner, Writer, Editor, Operator & Overall President of Everything

Cronin Chronicles

P.S. I love you ;-P

Montessori Minded.

One of the gifts we got when Rhys was born was a Montessori book. I had never heard of Montessori before (well, I'd heard the term used in passing, but had never really looked into what it was or meant). I fell in love with the philosophies and ideas and looked forward to implementing some of them into Rhys' everyday life.

Today I felt inspired and had some fun creating a little bit of the 'Montessori Way' for my favorite little guy. First, I organised his nicest toys and 'put them on display', instead of all jumbled together in a toy box...

Musical Toys:

Colors, & Textures:

Puzzles:

Then, I started to put together his 'Basket of Treasures'. I'm having so much fun with this one! Here's where I started:

And this is where I ended up:

1) Natural wood & cloth teething toy with added ribbon for texture.

2) Red, Blue & Natural colored buttons in glass shakers for sound and visual texture.

3) Leather shoes that he has outgrown for texture.

Some other ideas the book has, that I want to add are:

- a salt shaker with potpourri or coffee beans in it for scent.

- a small whisk for metal texture.

- a pumice stone and smooth rock for some natural & cold texture.

- a wooden spoon.

I loved using my creativity and being crafty today. I'm so happy to have a baby to do this stuff with/for! Has anyone ever made something like this? Any other cool ideas I could make for it? I know I have crafty readers, so bring it on!

Clutter Much?

With only a few days left in March, I still have clutter in my house. Dang it. I have put a dent in it though. The following are some BEFORE & AFTER pics, that I think illustrate pretty clearly why I made this resolution to begin with...

1) Kitchen cupboard. Sorry? You need a casserole dish? Good luck! (There are bowls on the floor because they kind of fell out when I opened it...)

AFTER:

I did a lot more in the kitchen, but I messed up and didn't take before pics.

2) Hutch.

AFTER:

Okay. Since posting these before pics is kinda like posting pics of myself in my underwear, please tell me some of you have cupboards like this? Or used to at one point in your life? Closets? Drawers? Anything?

Kiss Me, I'm Irish.

Had a 'Baby Class' get together today, and in a politically correct fashion I won't post photos of all the kiddies because I have no idea how the other moms feel about pics of their kids on the internet. Except for this one, because he was right behind my adorable Rhysie Pie. Warren says Rhys' Great Grandpa was Irish, so this headband was totally legit:

Now for some totally random cuteness I found on my camera...

Rhys trying on some bunny ears at Reid's on 17th last weekend:

Rhys thinking to himself, "Mom, we're going to the park. Is the Jaunty Cap really necessary?" (Warren thinks he looks like a really grumpy old man):

Added some contrast and an antique look to this one - love it! :

Rhys 'riding' porter, and then taking a rest:

Definition.

crawl1   [krawl]
–verb (used without object)

1. to move in a prone position with the body resting on or close to the ground, as a worm or caterpillar, or on the hands and knees, as a young child.

2. to move or progress slowly or laboriously.

(Widescreen Link).

And, some more video from day #2, for the Grandparents...

(Widescreen Link).

BFFs

Rhys & Easton had another 'play date' today. Rhys swiped him and scratched his face within the first 2 minutes. Poor little Easton. But he got his revenge eventually:

These two are 8 weeks and 5 pounds apart. We've decided Rhys will be Easton's protector, so any punks who want to steal a toy from this kid better watch out.

Mr.Clown

Rhys has two very distinct sides to his personality, which is hilarious to us. He can be Mr. Deadpan, and Mr. Clown. He makes us laugh with his ridiculousness, and with his seriousness.

His gummy, toothless grin, that I will miss so much once he sprouts a tooth:

Mr. Serious, thinking to himself as he watches the T.V. "Holy Guacamole, that Drew Carey is sure a great host of The Price Is Right...":

Pose for the camera, like a good boy! :

"Coming to getcha!" :

"Really, mom? Sitting in a box? Really?" :

Friday Love List

A friend and fellow blogger made a list of things she currently loves, and that inspired me to make a list of my own.

Some things I am loving this month...

- Body Butter. Ever since we came back from Maui, my skin has been dryer than ever before. I seem to be going through about a tub a week of the stuff. My faves are The Body Shop's Grapefruit scented butter, and Sephora's Tropical Jasmine. If anyone knows a great generic/drugstore brand, please suggest it to me!

- Invisalign Braces. I haven't thought much about my braces lately...they've just become a part of my life and I'm used to them. Then, the other day I was looking through some recent photos of myself, and I thought that my teeth looked nice. I loved that.

- My PVR. With my PVR, I can watch a 2 HR episode of American Idol, in 40 minutes. Same goes for The Biggest Loser. That's fantastic.

- Blogging. This feels like The Year of the Blog in my circle of friends. We're all posting more. Some friends are starting up blogs, or thinking of starting up blogs. I can't get enough.

- Cappuccinos. I'm laying off the homemade lattes, and opting for the more frothy and creamy homemade cappuccino this month. Uses less milk, and is just as satisfying.

- Baby Mum-Mums. They keep Rhys occupied while I eat or when we're on the go, and they teach him important hand to mouth motor skills.

- Almay Smart Shade Anti-Aging Make-up. This was suggested by a friend/make-up expert, and since I've started using it, it has become one of those 'where have you been all my life?' type of products.

Okay people. It's your turn. Tell the world what you're loving these days.

Hell In A Hand Bag

This post was spurred by a conversation at Glee Club. I asked if anyone had heard Rhianna's new song 'Rude Boy', to which I was replied "Hells no! I'm old! Ask me about a Wiggles song instead!". I heard this song on the radio and could not believe what I was hearing. After Glee Club I watched the video, and, it got worse.

If you're going to watch the video, I suggest you distract your kids for a few minutes and make sure they're not in eye or ear shot.

Rhianna Rude Boy Widescreen Version

Based on this video and song, I'm a little concerned for today's youth.

But I'll still crank the volume when it's on the radio, because DAMN it's catchy.

Stroke Of Genius

Yesterday I got a wee bit more purging/organizing accomplished.

Rhys' closet before:

Rhys' closet after:

With Rhys' room complete, I had a sudden/random urge to deal with my Tupperware drawer.

Before:

The lids were kept seperately, in these fancy dancy holders on the pantry door, circa 1956. When people stayed at our place, they could never find the lids. Not the most user friendly concept:

After:

Fancy Dancy lid holders, be gone!:

At first I was simply going to chuck it all, and go buy the new Rubbermaid 'Easy Find' lid collection, but thought twice, because what's the point of purging if I'm just going to go out and buy more stuff? I know there is more Tupperware lurking in other kitchen cupboards, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it...

As I was about to toss out all the un-matched lids and such, I had a stroke of genius.

Rhys is thinking: "Really? You want me to PLAY with this JUNK?"

Still skeptical:

Oh, okay. I think there's some dried cookie dough on this lid...

Today: Warren is off. I'm going to exercise this morning. Then Warren has a lunch date with a buddy. Then we're off to visit Nana & GranDan (Warren's parents) before they leave for 2 weeks to Mexico. They haven't seen their grandson is ages, due to all the germs at our house. Then tonight - Glee Club! Will it be a swing routine, or another sassy routine in heels? Bring it on!

Conversation Exasperation

Warren will sometimes do his own laundry, and when he does it is out of pure desperation. I've been sick for a week, so...he was desperate. He got 2/3 through the process. He washed & dried. He folded. But at the all important 'put clothes away' stage, he abandoned ship. Here is a word for word recount of a conversation (argument?) we had this evening...

Amanda: (Trying not to sound like a nag by giving an ample timeline) Hon, can you please put your laundry away before going to the gym tonight?

Warren: Ummmm.....no.

Amanda: I think YES is the correct answer to my question (she then picks up the laundry basket which houses his clean, folded laundry and plunks it on the bed beside him, where he's lounging).

Warren: What's in it for me if I do it?

Amanda: If you DON'T do it, I will dump out all your clean clothes onto the floor and mix them back in with the dirty laundry.

Warren: If you do that, I will just leave it there for weeks and weeks and drive you crazy.

Amanda: Okay, then I will throw your clothes in the garbage.

Warren: The garbage is full.

Amanda: OKAY, then I will dump out the garbage onto your side of the bed, and THEN I will throw your laundry in the garbage.

Warren: Then I'll sleep downstairs and you will have to sleep next to garbage.

Do you people SEE what I have to live with over here?!

Arrived!

I Heart Mac. Our Maui photo album (created & purchased using Mac's iPhoto) arrived yesterday, and it was ordered last Tuesday. I Heart Getting Parcels In The Mail. I noticed the Mac People used FedEx instead of UPS, which I attribute to the quick delivery. I Do Not Heart UPS.

Other notes from yesterday: I tackled Rhys' room, which was getting a bit over taken by outgrown clothes & gifts that he's not quite ready for. I got about half-way done. Two things prevented me from completing it. 1st, it was a slightly bigger job than expected. 2nd, I suddenly realized I could only work on his room while he was awake. Because he uses his room to, you know, sleep. So Rhys spent a lot of time playing on the floor beside his crib yesterday. Here are the before & afters of the part I did finish:

Bookshelf top shelves, before:

Bookshelf top shelves, after:

Bookshelf bottom shelves, before:

Bookshelf bottom shelves, after:

Top of dresser (changing station) before:

Top of dresser (change station has been moved to the floor, since Rhys is too 'mobile' to be changed on top of a dresser anymore) after:

Also, some VERY exciting news was announced yesterday. Some of you know my dear friend Tiffany, so I'm spreading her news here, too. Please visit Tiffytopia to congratulate a fabulous couple who have been waiting a while for this blessing. While you're there, you might as well add her to your blog reading list and follow along her journey into motherhood :-)

Today Rhys & I are feeling a lot better, so I am going to tackle some laundry and treat the entire family to some nice clean bed sheets. Oh ya. I also think carrot cake for breakfast sounds delightful.