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It goes without saying, choosing a name for your child can be a difficult task. My husband and I came up with a bunch of great names for our first child, who turned out to be a boy. But when we found out we were having another boy, chaos ensued. It took us eight months to come up with a name for him. (You can read about our baby name adventure in the article, “One-of-a-Kind Baby Names” in Pregnancy Today.)

Like many parents my age, we were slightly obsessed with finding the perfect unique baby name. In our effort to be different, sometimes we make big mistakes. Well, the list of baby names below may make you feel better about yourself. Take a look at actual baby names given to real kiddos living in the United States (according to the US Census):

-Uranus Stukey
-Ghoul Nipple
-Acne Fountain
-Lust T. Castle
-Mary A. Jerk
-Ima Whore
-Mutton Bucker
-Hugh Jass
-Fanny Whiffer
-Tackle Feigenbutz
-Envy Burger
-Bum Snoddy
-Mule E. McCart
-Lard Mooney
-Good Hell
-Emma Royd
-Noble Butt
-Monday Monday
-Naught E. Bishop
-Stud Duck

I’m sure you’re thinking, “Come on, MommyQ. You can’t be serious?” Oh, but I am. And on this note, I would like to add my two cents about an awful baby name, Brain. You see, whenever I mistype the name ‘Brian’ as ‘Brain’ I have a complete laughter meltdown. I’m sure there is a kid out there somewhere who is actually named Brain. And if people ever see his name written down on a list, they always assume it’s a typo and call him ‘Brian.’

“Okay, next up is Brain.”
“Oh no, that’s not his name, That must be a typo.”
“No, it says so right here B-R-A-I-N.”
“Yes, but NOBODY is named Brain, that should be Brian.”

Omg! I have no idea why that cracks me up, but it does. Every time. So, what’s the WORST baby name you’ve ever heard? (Yes, I’m still giggling right now about the Brain thing….)

Before I had children, I always thought “educational” was a nice was of saying “boring.” Now that I’m the mother of two rambunctious youngsters, I’m all about educational. Bring on the stuff that makes my kids brainy. What makes an educational show great? The fact that you might forget you’re actually learning, because your too entertained to think about it.

Today, the big hit in our home is Martha Speaks. This chatty pup (who resides on PBS) began talking after she ate a bowl of alphabet soup and instead of going to her stomach, the letters went to her brain. Now she “speaks and speaks and speaks and speaks and speaks.”

In addition to the television show, the online community for Martha Speaks is incredible fun for my kids. In fact, the other day I heard them laughing and laughing. When I came in to see what all the fuss was about, I found them playing Martha games online. Oh my! They thought one game in particular, Stickerbook Mashup, was hilarious. They kept shrinking the characters and putting them in the soup bowl. If this video isn’t a great testament to educational shows, I’m not sure what is…

I’m so excited they both love this show, because it’s a great learning tool. It’s also perfect for my older son who happens to be autistic, because it really focuses on the importance of talking, expressing feelings and sharing thoughts. Now instead of encouraging him to “use his words,” I tell him to “use your words like Martha does.”  He likes that! In many ways, my son is like Martha. His language has improved so much over the years, he speaks and speaks and speaks and speaks too!

More MommyQ: You can read my posts, Top 5 Reasons Kid Shows Make Me Wince or the less snarky one I wrote for Babble, 5 Kid Shows that Won’t Annoy You. What’s your fave kid’s show?

P.S. – Anyone else notice my son’s Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings jersey? Can you tell my hubby is an OU fan? And he obviously dressed the kiddos that day.

I hear myself saying things to my rambunctious children like, “Don’t leave your shoes in the middle of the floor,” and “Pick up your messes,” and often notice, I don’t do these things myself. It makes me wonder, are all parents hypocrites? When it comes to the little things, are we walking contradictions?

My hubby and I are good about the big stuff we preach to our kids, like no cussing. Once in a while we accidentally let an expletive fly in front of the kids, but it’s rare. When we tell them not to hit, scratch, bite, push or shove each other, we’re on track. We never handle situations in a physical nature. Well, I may have thrown a brush at my hubby 10 years ago, but we weren’t even engaged and certainly didn’t have children way back then. Plus, he may have deserved it. I wasn’t aiming right at him. I digress.

It’s the small things that make me think I’m a hypocrite:

Pick up your mess! – I’m always trying to get my children to put away their toys and pick up the little explosions of stuff around the house. Then I find myself walking through the door with my own ‘mess’ of stuff and it all lands on the kitchen counter. And it piles up higher and higher. No, I’m not great about putting my messy things away.

Don’t leave your shoes in the floor! – I can’t stand seeing shoes scattered all over the place. Then again, I’ll leave multiple pairs of my own shoes all over the house. They rarely make it upstairs into my closet either!

Don’t eat in front of the TV! – I encourage my kids to eat their meals at the table. But sometimes I want to relax and watch TV, so I’ll eat a sandwich or a meal on the sofa like a true-blooded couch potato.

Wear a coat! – In this ridiculously cold weather, my hubby and I are always nagging the kids to put on heavy winter coats. Then, he and I only wear sweaters and walk out without coats ourselves. Sorry, I can’t stand being too hot. Besides, I know I won’t freeze.

Try new foods? Oh yeah, this is a good one. We’re always trying to encourage my kids to discover new foods. I’ve even resorting to bribing them with dessert if they at least taste  a new dish. Uhm, I’m as stubborn as a mule when it comes to trying new foods. But I’m old, I’ve had my whole life to know exactly what foods I might like and which ones I can live without. Doesn’t wisdom make me less of a hypocrite?

What do you think? Are we all hypocrites when it comes to our day-to-day parenting ways? Is it okay to be a walking contradiction as long as our intentions are good? Do tell….

Image: NatalieDee.com

As a mom, does your world come to a screeching halt when the flu or a cold hits? Mine does. Wouldn’t it be great to prevent all of the sad, sick little coughs and fevers and runny noses in 2011?

My friends at Genesis Today helped me kick off 2011 with an amazing care package  including 2 packs of Acai Chews, 2 packs of Vitamin C Chews, 1 Veggie Blast and 1 Cranberry Goji.  I must admit, my kids and I are hooked on the super chews. I have to limit how many my youngest son can have per day because he LOVES them. The flavors are seriously strong, but also very tasty. I wasn’t sure about chewy supplements, but they are actually really great. Much better than swallowing smelly horse pills! Another reason I really like Genesis Today products is you can find them at Walmart. No fancy-schmancy shops necessary.

Below you will find a video of Dr. Lindsey Duncan, the founder of Genesis Today, was interviewed on Fox and Friends, talking about the cold and flu season. Take a look!

Here are some of Dr. Duncan’s tips to help support a healthy immune system when you need it most:

Wash Your Hands – No explanation needed. Just do it. Often!

Zinc - Zinc is an important mineral that supports immune health. Zinc taken before the first signs of a cold or flu may reduce your chances of getting stuck inside with the sniffles. Pumpkin seeds are one of the richest sources of zinc, but one of the best ways to get your zinc is through a health chew that contains this mineral.

Echinacea - Echinacea purpurea may be a mouthful, but this powerful herb can help reduce your risk of catching a cold or flu when taken regularly during cold and flu season. Try taking echinacea for a few weeks then taking a week off and starting it back up again. Add vitamin C and zinc to the mix and you’ll have a triple threat against colds and flu.

Vitamin C - Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps your body fight free radicals and helps support a healthy immune system. Stock up on some delicious vitamin C chews. Vitamin C chews and superfruit juices that contain vitamin C are a great way to get this cold-fighting antioxidant. A nutrient-rich O.J. that’s packed with vitamin C is another great source.Goji berries are also rich in vitamin C.

B-vitamins – Boost your intake of B-complex vitamins. These vitamins not only help reduce stress which can wreak havoc on your immune system, B-vitamins actually support healthy immune function.Vitamin B1 (thiamine) enhances your body’s immune response and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) helps your body build antibodies to fight infection. So, load up on vitamin B rich juices and supplements.

Steam - Take a steamy shower, or hold your head above a steaming pot of water to relieve congestion. Steam is soothing and helps open up blocked sinuses so you can breathe a little easier. If you want to make the steam even more therapeutic: add a little eucalyptus or tea tree oil to a boiling pot of water and breathe in every 1-2 minutes for about 10 minutes. The essential oils combined with the steam will help your body discharge all the mucous, in your nose, lungs and throat. You’ll be amazed at what comes out of you.

Garlic - The Italians may be on to something. Garlic is naturally antiviral and contains a potent compound called allicin. Garlic helps fight viruses by destroying the virus cells before it enters your body. So if you want to fight a cold or flu, load up on garlic. Raw garlic is best, but cooked garlic has less of an offensive odor if you consume a lot of it.

Oil of Oregano - Oil of oregano contains carvacrol and thymol that are active polyphenols which attack viruses like the cold and flu. Before a cold hits, or at the first onset of a cold, take a few drops of oil of oregano on your tongue and hold it in your mouth for thirty seconds – it’s strong but works well. If the taste of taking it straight on your tongue is too much for you, you can put a few drops of oil of oregano in water and drink 3 times a day which will help support your immune system and pack a powerful punch against colds and flu.

Stay healthy, friends!

Like most moms, I’m in a constant battle with my kiddos to make sure they follow a healthy diet. Both of my children are picky eaters, so getting enough vitamins and nutrients in their diet isn’t easy. I’m not sure how much B12 exists in chicken nuggets, but I’m guessing it isn’t much. Ha! Luckily, my kids love fruit and drinks lots of orange juice. Seriously, like a gallon of orange juice a week!

A few weeks ago, the fine folks at Genesis Today sent me a bunch of juices to try. I got Coconut Boost, Acai Berry Boost and my new fave, Omega Orange Juice.  I knew all about the benefits of these superfruits – they’re packed with nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, essential fats and especially antioxidants that combat free radicals in the body.

My concern about these juices was the taste. Would I really want to drink them and more importantly, would my kids like them? Would these juices pass the sniff test? I was totally impressed with all three drinks, my favorite being the new Omega Orange Juice. The Acai Berry Boost was surprisingly tasty too. My least favorite was the Coconut, but I’m not a big fan of coconut in the first place. A few of my friends swear by the Coconut Boost, so I’m assuming if you like coconut, it’s really good.

The best part is my youngest son who is an OJ fanatic, loves the Omega Orange Juice. He thinks it’s great and calls it the “really good juice.” I was really excited to see the Omega OJ has less calories and more vitamins than the OJ we usually buy. It gets an A++ from my family. See for yourself!

I was blessed with two very healthy, very picky eaters. And I mean PICKY. Imagine facing mini food critics at every meal. It’s like Top Chef, but the judges are unpredictable toddlers who won’t even try your food if they don’t like how it looks. It’s too brown or too green or too chunky or too hot. Not even a nibble, folks.

I was in a restaurant last week and overheard a mom complaining to her friend about how much her toddler eats. “Oh, my! She eats everything I put on her plate. It’s just crazy!” She said that as though it were a bad thing! I was instantly jealous. Earlier today, a friend of mine mentioned on her Facebook status about putting in hours of work to cook a nice meal, only to have everyone (her children) NOT like it. I felt bad for her, but I was also relieved. It’s not just happening in my family. Thank goodness!

My children don’t eat/drink food you might consider kiddo favorites like:
- Milk
- Cereal
- Hotdogs and/or Corndogs
- Mac-N-Cheese
- Grilled cheese sandwiches
-Spaghetti
- Yogurt

Not to mention, my toddler won’t eat anything with “black” on it, which is pepper or spices or marks left by grilling. Do you know how hard it is to pick the “black” off of a piece of grilled chicken? Let me tell you, it’s hard. If he sees an oat that’s too big in his oatmeal, he calls it a “grasshopper” and demands it be removed immediately. Same goes for pulp in orange juice. And no, he has never found a bug in his food. No mental insect-to-food trauma going on here.

What makes this all tough is I’m not a great cook in the first place. Sure, I can use a toaster and a blender and I know how to stir things together, but that’s the extent of my culinary skills. I don’t particularly enjoy cooking and when I go to the trouble of making something with actual ingredients and a recipe and they won’t eat it… Well, then I become an angry short order cook, preparing a bunch of mini-meals for each kid, plus the hubby. Nobody really likes “angry cooking mommy” anyway.  It’s not pretty.

I think back to my own childhood and recognize I was a picky eater and my father was a really picky eater when he was a kid. He claims he lived on cucumbers and potatoes until he was a teenager. Maybe it just runs in the family. I’ve seen a lot of books about pleasing picky eaters, but I’d like to hear it from my readers. How do you deal with feeding a tough crowd??? Keep on trying or throw in the dish towel?

I’m not a wine expert, although I am a “whine” expert. As the mom of two young kiddos, becoming a master sommelier is not really in the cards for me. I drink what tastes good and I have no idea how to pair anything with anything. In the evenings, I often find myself sipping a glass of wine and munching on kid’s food leftovers like Goldfish crackers or PB&J.

I wrote a post this morning on Babble’s Family Style blog about a terrific Wine Moms Series giveaway event. You can enter to win a free one-month shipment which includes lots of savvy wine goodies as well as the vino itself. (Enter to win here!) I made a joke about what wine to pair with peanut butter & jelly or Goldfish crackers, because that’s my sophistication level. That’s when I found a few awesome articles on Real Simple and other sites, so I just had to share:

7 Surprising Wine Pairings for Parents Who Eat Kid’s Food:

1.) Peanut butter & jelly – Argentine Torrontes

2.) Cheerios – Nigori Sake

3.) Goldfish crackers – Riesling

4.) Fruit leather – Rosé

5.) Classic Cheetos – Verdicchio Di Metallica

6.) Slim Jim – Lambrusco

7.) Cracker Jacks – 10 year or older St-Joseph Blanc

Ah, now this is information you can use. Do you have any pairing ideas to share with us? Please do! Thirsty, snacking moms need to know.

Image:RealSimple.com

Last week MommyQ was lucky enough to take a trip to Portland, Oregon, to witness a “behind-the-scenes” movie experience.  Walmart and P&G invited me to attend, so I could see the guts and the glory it takes to produce a television movie. The movie, “In My Shoes,” is a clever, compassionate and family-friendly project that proves the notion of family movie night is not forgotten.

When I was a kid, I remember sitting with my parents and my sister once a week, usually Friday night, to watch television together. I have to admit, I don’t remember exact titles of the movies we watched, but I do recall the laughter, giggles, communal popcorn tub and the fun. I also know my parents didn’t have to jump up and run to the TV (we didn’t have remotes back then) to change the station because something non kid-friendly was interrupting our viewing pleasure.

From the wonderful folks at P&G and Walmart to the producers to the actors, EVERYONE working on this project is totally aware of the need for family-friendly television entertainment. Even the youngest actor on the set, 11-year-old Jackson Pace, mentioned how important it is to be able to watch television together as a family. (BTW, what a cute little guy.)

I also got to meet some phenomenal women/mothers/entreprenuers as in @MomStart @mamaspohr @eightymphmom @BettyBuzz @OurOrdinaryLife – funny, fantastic and talented, who could ask for more?

Get a taste of what the new and improved family movie night is by watching The Jenson Project on July 19th on NBC. And if you haven’t seen Secrets of the Mountain, you’d better get to watchin’ because it was incredible. Stay tuned!