Let's Hear It For....Sarah Scoville!

Thanks to all who visited That's My Boy and shared their thoughts and remembrances in honor of the March of Dimes National Prematurity Awareness Day. Thanks to those who joined me on Facebook and Twitter, as well! I'm happy to announce that the lovely

Sarah Scoville

is the winner of the Vintage Pearl necklace! Congrats, Sarah! Email me at your earliest convenience.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

A Boy and His Dog

I had a good thing going. It was easy. It was simple. It gave The Boy such satisfaction: the relationship he had with his beloved blue sidekick, a ragtag little dog named Bobo. I'm not sure who passed this small stuffed gift-from-God to him the day of my/his baby shower, but I know that they probably had no idea at the time what effect that precious pooch would have on Matt. Bobo is a trusted friend, never far from his side when duty calls: bedtime, belly aches, even stealing away in his backpack and secretly hanging out at preschool a few times last year when Matt was still unsure of the whole "higher education" thing.

Their pairing started out like this. A sweet, quiet and cuddly something to catch a few zzz's with.

As time passed and The Boy grew older, Bobo became a wrestling buddy.



Matt's down.



Bobo's down.



I don't think a move like that is sanctioned.



Love again.

The Boy grew older still and we decided to bring him to the land of his (partial) heritage. For fear of many sleepless nights, we paid for a seat for Bobo, and he travelled the countryside with us.

Bobo napping in the rental.

Bobo in Florence.

Bobo at The Vatican. They wouldn't let him in (pants are required).

Bobo at the Coliseum.

Bobo and The Boy, looking longingly at the land of their ancestors. Wind in their hair and all.

This dog has been faithful, loyal, obedient, and respectful of all things MINE. He never once dug a hole, peed in my living room, tore through a sofa cushion, decapitated a garden hose, or rendered an innocent screen door a doggie-door with his own brute force. So why, I ask you, WHY (other than my own stupidity and guilt over the ridiculous "only-child" thing), would I purchase THIS?!

Miss Ruby. Part good dog/part Lucifer.

The moral of this story, my friends: if you ever feel guilt over not giving your kid a flippin' sibling, get over yourself. The child will survive. Your sofa and your garden hose, on the other hand...

To Tweet or Not To Tweet,That's The Question

If you're a Facebook junkie, you might think that Twitter's for the birds, as I did before I jumped in with both feet. 140 characters, all those @ signs, trends?! Confusing to someone logging on for the first time. If you're social networking solely to keep up with friends or just to see what your neighbors are up to (admit it, you nosy girl, you), then FB is the way to go, but if you're looking to spread the word about a cause, project, or business endeavor, you simply have to tweet! It's the most effective way to spread the word and learn more about your industry.

Okay, so the thought of Twitter brings about a nervous eye twitch. I get it, but relax. In my search for answers to my own questions (is it "tweeting" or "twittering" and does that make me a "tweep"?), I found a fantastic book for the newbie. The first time I looked through it, I barely knew what a hashtag was, and it had taken me three weeks to figure out how to retweet. This book made it so much easier. I loved the visuals!

Request it at your local library or go nuts and pick up a copy for yourself. And no, Tim and Sarah did not pay me for this post. When I like something, I just have to share. Next installment in my "go-buy-this" series: my steam mop. Oh, the glamour.

National Prematurity Awareness DayInspires A TMB Giveaway!

I've been pregnant three times, I've been in labor twice, I have one living child, for whom I am most grateful. Though not with me physically, my twins, two teeny girls nicknamed Maddie and Charlie, are always close to my heart. I honor them by wearing their names around my neck, along with that of their little brother, the ever-crazy Matthew. The idea came to me when I first laid eyes on a beautiful necklace in a magazine, which had been created by the wonderful women of The Vintage Pearl. It featured three delicate birds sitting on the branches of a tree (check it out below). My three birds. Exactly how I'd always thought of them. Had to have it.

I think every mom should have a necklace honoring her children (think of it as a medal of valor). Inspired by the March of Dimes National Prematurity Awareness Day (this Wednesday, November 17), That's My Boy (aka TMB) and The Vintage Pearl (alias, TVP) have teamed up to give away one Vintage Pearl necklace (up to a $50 value) to a lucky TMB reader! I wish it could be more, but hey, I'm not Oprah. Take a gander at the rules below, because there are many ways to enter! To view TVP's product line, please click here.

1. Leave a comment here at TMB and tell me which necklace you're hoping to win, and how you'd like it inscribed;
2. Join the TMB Facebook page, and leave me a comment telling me you're a new fan (along with which necklace you'd like and how you'd like it inscribed)!
3. Follow TMB on Twitter (it's easier than you think) and tweet (or write me here) telling me you have! Don't forget to include same info from Nos. 1 and 2.
4. Share TMB with your Facebook friends, and let me know you've spread the love. Give me the names of those who've "liked" me and each new mutual friend counts as another entry for you! Easy peasy.

This giveaway ends Friday, November 19 at 12 noon (EST). The winner will be announced on Saturday, November 20. Good luck, mommies!

Share the joy and let others know of this fabulous giveaway, and please don't forget those friends who have suffered the loss of a child. Society may forget that they are mothers, but you don't have to. Help them celebrate those children they are only able to carry in their heart. It's healing.