5 minutes for Mom has another contest/giveaway going on... and there's a photo contest. I have posted this lots of places, possibly even on here already... but this photo reflects a little bit of what motherhood means to me right now.
My sis in law, Caslon, took this one with my camera. Bear already loves to kiss her baby brother. She also likes to lift my shirt up to "feed" him dinner rolls or milk from her sippy cup. It's pretty sweet. I'm amazed by how much she seems to "get" about the "baby in mommy's belly." Watching her grow from an only child into a big sister is going to be an adventure around here!

Giveaway Gazette

If you haven't been over to 5 minutes for Mom's 2 weeks of toys giveaways, you simply must. They have so many contests going on for some really awesome toys.

Plus, Stephanie over at Punkin' Press is doing a drawing for an awesome kids' book.

Just so you can't say I didn't tell you... they are clickable in my sidebar!

It's been a while since I visited their site, but Sara linked to this contest over at 5 Minutes for Mom, and I had to go check it out! You can't win if you don't enter, right?

Contest results are in!!!!


Congrats to Kristi, a friend I met on Baby Bear's birth board. I'll be sending her a $10 gift card to use at her nearest Starbucks.

While I would have been glad for anyone's name to be drawn, there couldn't be anyone he deserves a day brightener more than Kristi. She's been through so much the last few months, and I will always wish her precious Eli and our little guy would have been able to meet here on earth. So I am especially glad to send her a little something to brighten her day, though nothing could ever replace what she's lost. The faith and strength God has given her through her grief has been phenomenal.

Congratulations, again, Kristi! E-mail me your address, please!

Thank you to everyone who participated. It was fun!

New Poll AND contest!

Contest closes Tuesday, at the beginning of my ultrasound appointment, 3:15. Leave a comment (click on "wandered along") with your prediction here after you vote in the sidebar and I will do a drawing from those of you whose guess matches what the sonographer sees on the ultrasound. The lucky winner will win a $10 Starbucks gift card. So if you participated in my little informal survey a while back, play again! (You may have even changed your mind, and that's ok!) This time you could get something for it!

If you post "anonymously", be sure to leave your name... anyone could claim to be the anonymous winner.

The Faces of Autism Website

is a FINALIST in ideablob's February contest, thanks to everyone who had voted for it! Please click on the button below to ensure your vote gets counted and help Sunny win!

It's not too late!!!!

Haley is hosting a giveaway of some scrapbook kits. Go to her blog for details! She's doing the drawing tomorrow, so get over there and enter!

5 minutes for Mom is going retro for this giveaway!
Head over to their blog and post a link on yours to have a chance to win this pedal car or something else (like an old-fashioned record-player) from their Pedal Cars and Retro Store


Their store has a lot of things I can only dream about getting for my daughter,
so winning something would be awesome!

Good luck!

Tomorrow's the last day to enter to win a PINK camera!

Another great drawing from 5 minutes for mom!
They are giving away an Insignia® 37″ Flat-Panel LCD HDTV!!!
This incredible prize is valued at $799.99 and is courtesy of Best Buy.

I must say, this would be very nice...
Go enter for yourself if you want a chance to win.

i'm about 0 for 20 on my contest entries, but i'm not going to stop entering them yet!

Steph at Adventures in Baby Wearing and Jenn from All Natural Mommies
are going to give away a Podunbutai baby carrier.

After reading books such as Babywise and Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, I started out motherhood with a fear of anything remotely related to AP. Both books implied that baby-wearing would result in a clingy, needy child with issues. They did have some helpful points in them, but I should have read more from "the other point of view" and relaxed a bit.

Well, my child will probably have issues anyway. I have issues, and anybody who is human has issues. You don't? Well, then, you're in denial and that's an issue all by itself! Right now one of my irking issues is how to get things done with a toddler hanging off me. EVERY time I try to sweep or Mop, someone wants to help. The problem is, the dirt and junk doesn't get picked up when she "helps." Watering the garden? Toddler gets soaked so she needs a change of clothes at best, and if she's covered in mud, a bath. I can't corral her and hold a hose. Normally, I just don't bother trying (to get things done). This results in a less than sparkling kitchen floor. There are times I want to give the whole baby-wearing thing a try. I keep telling myself it won't be long before Baby Bear will not want to be held so much... as she clings to my leg with a death grip. Anyway, if I win this contest, I will have to get hubby to take pics of me looking ridiculous trying to figure out how to get bear into a carrier. And if the experiment fails, and Baby Bear does't go for the confinement thing... I'll either have a tool to try with my next baby or a great baby gift to pass on to someone else!

So cross your fingers for me... or go enter the contest for yourself!

It's STILL contest time!

These are the drawings I'm entering, but there are also others!

Krups Ice Cream maker & bowls for dishing up the treat!!
Lands End Custom Swimsuit
Momager Calling Cards
a Mommy resort getaway!
Metrowrap
Living the Dream T-Shirt
Designing Diva Handmade Jewelry
Personalized Placemats
Lil Sugarplum Hairclips
Days-Ago Digital Counter
Patriotic Toddler T-Shirt

2 more days left until the giveaways... I hope I win something!

I don't know about you, but I don't own an apron. One of my sisters-in-law loves them,
and this contest reminded me of her.
Then I got to thinking...
it sure would be fun to win an apron!

Nan, over at Life Is Like a Lunchbox, is sponsoring thi series of giveaways.
She has links and giveaways from several Mom-made apron-sellers.
So far, my favorites are at Momo's Retro Fashions and Apronique.

I think wearing one of these and blasting Staci Orrico on my stereo
could put me in housekeeping mode!

Boo-boos, anyone?

Our favorite contest coordinators have done it again. They are partnering with NexCare, and a lucky winner will receive 45 boxes of band-aids!!!!

I can only imagine what my nieces would find to do with 45 boxes of band-aids?

If you want to enter, go to the contest at 5 minutes for mom.

i will resist one urge, but not another...

i will resist the urge to complain about the temp in our house.

i will NOT resist the temptation to register for more mother's day giveaways at 5minutesformom. some of their friends are giving away some pretty cool things. such as:

• fabulous jewelry from designing diva
• more fabulous jewelry from alli's originals
• mommy cards from fruition designs
• organizational tip book by Amy Knapp
  

you can't win if you never enter, right?

Another installation of the Mother's Day Giveaway for from 5 minutes for Mom!

They are giving away a copy of Hannah Keeley's Total Mom Makeover.

The author has a fabulous first name, and it sounds like I could use some of her tips.

I like winning just about anything, but these drawing giveaways from 5minutesformom (who else?) are especially great Mother's Day ideas...

http://www.5minutesformom.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/review-mei-tai.jpg
Mei Tai baby carrier
It works up to 35 pounds, so I could still use it for Baby Bear and
future kiddos! Or it would make a GREAT Baby Gift.

ipod nano and chocolate gift set
i don't have an ipod. i love chocolate. need i say more?

Visit 5 minutes for Mom to sign up and read the details if you'd like to win!

Another contest sponsored by 5 minutes for Mom!

Madison's Room provided them with a set of hair clippies to give to a lucky winner, and is offering a 15% off discount when you enter the code "mom" at checkout.

Wanna win a Phillips digital photo frame?


I do! Go to my favorite contest sponsor to sign up and find more contest opportunities!

I couldn't resist this contest!

5 minutes for Mom is sponsoring another contest. And of course, I have to win! It's the Sick-Bear contest, and Baby Bear just needs one of these fancy puking buckets. Okay, maybe it's not a need. I mean, a 5 gallon icecream tub or even a mixing bowl work just fine. But they aren't as cute as this! And they don't have handles, so they are more likely to slip when her hands get slimy....
They come in blue for the boys, too. So if you have little ones, go enter... you know you want one!!!