Ask an expert...no...seriously.

It occurred to me recently that I have the most amazing resource on hand and I have been a greedy bugger by not sharing.

A mere phone call away, I have access to an expert in education, children, and family dynamics. And I don't use the term lightly. She has several graduate degrees (in both education and counseling), and by several I mean a couple of Masters, a Specialist and she's currently working on her Doctorate . She taught self-contained special ed for 15 years and was an unbelievable advocate for getting her kids mainstreamed and treated appropriately by the school system. She has been a school counselor ever since (another 11 or 12 years) and all the while has had her own private practice counseling children and families. Not to mention the fact that she raised 4 kids of her own while working and getting all those fancy degrees.

Granted, you may think I'm a little biased since this amazing woman is my very own mama, but I promise you I'm not. She is wicked smart and better at her job(s) than anyone else I've ever seen.

I asked if she would be willing to be my very own bloggy expert, and she agreed. So ask away. Anything you want to know about kids, family, learning disabilities, behavioral disabilities, developmental issues, school problems...you name it.

{source}

Feel free to either post your question in the comments or email me at unofficialmom@gmail.com if you have a question you'd like answered but want to remain anonymous.

If there's enough interest, we may make this a regular thing. I'm excited to see if this helps anybody!

Wordless Wednesday {Pillow Fighting Baby Style}

 What? You don't lick your arm when you're resting?

Help my clever mamas and dadas!

Big Sister will be making me an aunt for the sixth time in a few weeks. She will be adding another, no doubt, gorgeous baby girl to the family.

So we're going to have a little mini shower for her this weekend and need something awesome to give her. I have a little stash going for when Little Miss arrives (Brandi I'm looking at you) but need something really good for the shower.

So tell me the super, duper, best, most incredible thing you got as a baby gift. HELP!!

The Truth About Pie

I think it's finally time to tell you all something about Pie. I feel bad about having kept it from you for so long. But here, finally, is the truth about where she came from...

We went to Ikea for a bookcase, and there in a bin full of stuffies was a little Pie. It looked like the last one too. We lucked out!

Man I love Ikea. :D You just never know what you're going to find. And it's all so affordable!

So what's the best thing you've gotten at Ikea?
**I think little chunk was about 9 months in these less than awesome quality cell pics. I just got a new phone and found them when I was transferring everything over....she cracks me up.**

I was clearly not a part of this

Sometimes Dada makes decisions that are...questionable at best. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Thankfully all that spaghetti sauce washed off..of Pie anyway. My carpet not so much. 

Wait. What's that? A little more sauce on the couch? 

Don't worry Dada, I'll get. 

 Awww. Now it's all gone. Sad face.

Trikes are the new walkers

A week or two ago we got Pie a tricycle. She's poked at it little bit, but after we mopped the kitchen floor, which involved moving the table out, she was ready to give it a go.


At first I needed a little help from Dada.

Then I sort of got the hang of it...left foot, right foot, left foot...

But I gotta say, going backwards is a whole lot easier.

Now stop distracting me with tthe camera. I really have to concentrate.

Yeah, yeah...pedaling. But seriously what are these dangly things.

How am I doing Mama?

Are you little loves rocking a trike this summer?

Alright. I give. Jimmy Buffett isn't all bad.

I posted last week about Husband's yearly voyage to see Jimmy Buffett in concert. Be thankful...really, really thankful that I didn't give you more of this year's details. Although I couldn't tell you much since Husband doesn't remember much. I will say, however, that Husband was HUGELY over served (by himself). And as a result of him becoming Drunky McBoozerton, he threw up all over just a little bit down the side of Big Brother's car. Good stuff.

To right that terrible party foul, Husband found a mobile detailer to go over to BB's house and clean his car up. He chose Final Finish, and the wonderful Drew showed up. He certainly got a workout trying to get BB's big-ass Suburban clean.

Husband and Big Brother were both really happy with the work and the service. So to thank me for taking such good care of him in his many hours of need, Husband surprised me by having Drew come out to the house over the weekend and detail my car. And it is amazing! Well worth the water, aspirin, crackers and trashcan I put out for Husband. He says it was the cold washcloth that I put on his forehead that really made the decision.

Whatever it was, I'm loving the result! Hello Gorgeous...no no baby. I'm not talking about you this time...

I'm talking about you, my beloved car. After Drew was finished it looked new again (from a respectable distance anyway). Would you ever guess that my house on wheels is over 8 years old? 

Vacuum marks on the carpet? Be still my beating heart. No gunk in the cup holders? Swoon. 

No dust bunnies on the dash? How is that even possible?  

So after a few days of driving around in my gorgeously clean car, I am forced to admit that Jimmy Buffett may not be completely terrible. His music still sucks though :D