Running Errands With Kids.

Kate's Birthday Party is this weekend, so for the past week, we have spent a few afternoons running errands after school to get things for the party. 

You know, because it's fun to run errands after everyone (including me) is tired from being at school all day.
Normally, I avoid going grocery shopping or on errands with all 3 kids, but I am pressed for time this week.
I usually try and go on the weekends or at night (by my myself or I just bring Luke).

This comic is SO spot on.

{Source}

Times this by 3 kids. It is not pretty.

Let me tell you, running errands with multiple kids is not for the faint of heart. 

People with more than 3 kids....I don't know how you do it. Heros.

Can someone please tell me WHY OH WHY do my children always have to go #2 when we are out in public running errands. Not at the same time, of course. At two different stores.

*Shudder* 

Mel = Germaphobe. Can't handle public bathrooms.

Not surprised Claire has a cold this week......I wonder where she picked that up?

On that bathroom floor of Party City, that's where.

*Shudder, again*

And,  Thank you random lady at Joann's letting me know I have my hands full...Like I didn't know that. 

Your friend's stink eye? Yeah. I saw that too.

Now, please excuse me while I go refill my wine glass.

Get Your Pretty On!

Happy Tuesday! 

Today, I am guest posting at Get Your Pretty On!

 

Ali's blog is full of practical fashion ideas.

She started her blog as journey out of her yoga pants addicion.
(Can I get an Amen?)
She vowed to rebuild her wardrobe, fix up and look put together on a daily basis, even if she never left the house.  Ali says that feeling good isn’t shallow and being a mom shouldn’t mean losing yourself. Ali is married & a mom to 3 kids ages 16, 13 & 8.
  

I can TOTALLY relate to her blog since I am in the thick of having a newborn & being a mom of 3 kids. I was a total FRUMP a LUMP when I was on maternity leave.  I mean, yikes. It was scary.

I was slightly happy about going back to work when my maternity leave was over because it forced me to get ready each day & not be a lazy bum. Who's with me!?!?

Ali asked me to share How I Get My Pretty On.

As a working Mom of 3 kids, I have had to streamline this process.

Click HERE to read my post on Ali's blog that includes 5 of my tips for staying out of Frumpville!  

Things I Forgot About: 3rd Baby Edition (Plus a $100 Visa Giftcard Giveaway!)

Things I forgot about, 3rd Baby Edition.

The girls are only 19 months apart, so when I had Claire, Kate was still basically a baby.

She was still in diapers, still slept in a crib and only said a handful of words.

Fast forward 4 years and Luke is born.

Even though it has only been 4 years since Claire was a baby (and almost 6 since Kate was a baby), I have felt a little "rusty" in the the baby department. 

There are several things that I have "forgotten" about when it comes to having a newborn.

One of those things is teething. Ahhhh.....teething. It's no fun.

Luke is just now 5 months, but over New Year's I noticed that his bottom 2 teeth had popped through....he wasn't even 5 months!!! I was not prepared for this because Kate and Claire didn't get their first teeth until 7-8 months old.

One of the things about teething is that it messes everything up. 

Good sleeping habits? GONE. (Truth be told, Luke doesn't have very good sleeping habits, but for two nights in a row he gave us a 6 hour chunk. But, it only lasted 2 nights....Thanks to teething.)

Another thing about teething that I forgot about is the drooling. 

SO much drool. You can see the remnants of drool on by his collar. 

He SOAKS his clothes from drooling. I guess I should get him some bibs!

Along with the drooling comes him stuffing his fist in his mouth trying to get some relief by attempting to gnaw off his hand.

The final thing about teething that I forgot about is the diaper rash.

All 3 of my kids get a terrible diaper rash when they are teething. 

(You would have thought that the horrible sleeping, drooling, fist in mouth and diaper rash would have clued me in that he was getting teeth, but no.....as a 3rd time mom I was "confident" that he couldn't possibly be getting teeth this early. Imagine how bad I felt when I saw that those 2 bottom teeth had popped in!)

Back to the diaper rash. 

I was so glad that Bourdeaux's Butt Paste had sent me a tube of their butt paste to try out (Seriously, is that the best name or what? Butt Paste. There is a reason I teach 7th grade. I have middle school humor).

Luke's diaper rash was so bad (because of the teething) and I was fortunate that I had Bourdeaux's Butt Paste (giggle) on hand because Luke needed relief, ASAP.

I used it for one day with each diaper change and it cleared up. 

So, now that I know he really is teething and one of his side effects of teething is diaper rash, I am going to make sure I use it with each diaper change.

This is something I didn't normally do. I have normally waited until I saw a diaper rash before I put on diaper cream/paste. 

But, that is going to change now.

So, let me ask you.....

How do you kick Diaper Rash?

Do you (or did you) use diaper cream with each diaper change as a preventative measure?

OR 

Did you wait until there was a rash and then treat it?

Let me know in the comments below and one lucky reader will win a $100 Visa Giftcard!

And for some comic relief, here's a cute little video from our friends at Bourdeaux's Butt Paste:

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d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 1/14/13 - 3/15/13
Be sure to visit the Boudreaux's Butt Paste brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!