Baby Rabies
  • Start Here
    • About Baby Rabies
    • Baby Registry Top Picks
    • Favorite Pregnancy Apps
  • The Book
  • Pregnancy
    • Birth Stories
    • Perinatal Mood Disorders
  • Parenthood
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • School Age Kids
    • Parenting LOLZ
  • Photography
    • Photography

      6 Stunning Photos You Would Never Guess Were…

      February 11, 2019

      Photography

      Simple Tips For Editing Snow Photos On Your…

      December 13, 2018

      Photography

      I Wrote A Photography eBook And This Is…

      December 6, 2018

      Photography

      Creative Lighting Ideas To Help You Take Great…

      November 27, 2018

      Photography

      Learn How To Take And Edit Photos On…

      November 19, 2018

  • Reviews
    • Reviews

      The Answer To Last Minute Holiday Gifting For…

      December 19, 2018

      Reviews

      I Was Never A Barbie Girl Until Now

      October 1, 2018

      Reviews

      Finally! Jeans For My Jean-Averse Kids!

      August 22, 2018

      Reviews

      If Your Kid Loves Dump Trucks & Garbage…

      August 13, 2018

      Reviews

      Nobody Tell My Kids ABC Mouse Is Part…

      September 4, 2017

  • Subscribe

Baby Rabies

pregnancy & parenting

  • Start Here
    • About Baby Rabies
    • Baby Registry Top Picks
    • Favorite Pregnancy Apps
  • The Book
  • Pregnancy
    • Birth Stories
    • Perinatal Mood Disorders
  • Parenthood
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • School Age Kids
    • Parenting LOLZ
  • Photography
    • Photography

      6 Stunning Photos You Would Never Guess Were…

      February 11, 2019

      Photography

      Simple Tips For Editing Snow Photos On Your…

      December 13, 2018

      Photography

      I Wrote A Photography eBook And This Is…

      December 6, 2018

      Photography

      Creative Lighting Ideas To Help You Take Great…

      November 27, 2018

      Photography

      Learn How To Take And Edit Photos On…

      November 19, 2018

  • Reviews
    • Reviews

      The Answer To Last Minute Holiday Gifting For…

      December 19, 2018

      Reviews

      I Was Never A Barbie Girl Until Now

      October 1, 2018

      Reviews

      Finally! Jeans For My Jean-Averse Kids!

      August 22, 2018

      Reviews

      If Your Kid Loves Dump Trucks & Garbage…

      August 13, 2018

      Reviews

      Nobody Tell My Kids ABC Mouse Is Part…

      September 4, 2017

  • Subscribe

father’s day

“Helping Hands” DIY Handprint Gift
Crafty!

“Helping Hands” DIY Handprint Gift

by Jill June 13, 2014
written by Jill

HelpingHandsDIY

Fathers Day is less than 48 hours away, so naturally I just finished the DIY project with the kids I’ve been planning on making for weeks.

Procrastination, why can’t I quit you?

The theme for this year’s Fathers Day is Operation Garage Clean Up. I know that sounds horrible, but Scott is so practical, and that space is where he does so much that I am pretty sure he’ll love the garage floor coating epoxy kit we got him and this “Helping Hands” shelf the kids helped me make.

Here’s what you need:

IMG_3740-2

A shelf with space big enough for your kids’ handprints. I got this one at Hobby Lobby. It has a removable panel that came in handy. I think it’s regularly priced about $16. Don’t forget to install their app and access their 50% off coupon in store (or print it off at home).

Paint. I chose a can of spray paint because it’s just so dang easy.

A Versa Tool for wood burning. This is optional, and you can choose to use something like a Sharpie if you want. If you decide to go the wood burning route, though, you can get this at Michaels (and probably Hobby Lobby). Again, don’t forget to try to use a coupon on it. I used at 50% off coupon at Michaels, making it $15.

First, I took the panel out, and spray-painted the shelf in the garage.

While that was drying, I traced the kids hands onto the wood panel that was removable. I also had Kendall sign his name on the back, and I wrote Leyna and Lowell’s names on the back, along with the date.

Next, I used the flow point of the Versa Tool to go over the handprints and the writing on the back of the panel. Super, duper easy.

IMG_3743-2

The shelf dried really fast because spray paint is so awesome like that. So I was able to use the Versa Tool and the same flow point to write “Daddy’s Helping Hands” on the top of the shelf.

IMG_3746-2

Finally, I popped the panel back into the shelf.

IMG_3745-2

 

IMG_3747-2

Keep in mind you can use this idea for all kinds of objects. While this is intended for Scott to hang tool belts and other things from in the garage, you could easily adapt this to a kitchen shelf if the recipient is a cook, or a bookshelf for the home office.

It’s hard to come up with cute, sentimental gifts that are also practical for my very practical husband, but I think this might be a home run.

 

June 13, 2014 2 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail
Crafty!Home Decor & DIYSchool Age DaysThe Story

Children Can’t Be Trusted

by Jill June 17, 2012
written by Jill

A week.. two weeks.. quite a while ago, I asked Kendall what he thought we should get daddy for Fathers Day.

“Do you think he’d like a tool belt?” I finally asked after hearing out Kendall’s suggestions – like Power Rangers, candy, and Playdoh.

“Sure!” he replied, clearly on board.

“It’s a secret, okay? You can’t tell daddy. Alright?” I whispered, feeling a little more confident than I have in the past that a now 4-year old could maybe be trusted.

I snuck out of the house today to go to Home Depot for a nearly last minute gift pickup. I wound up getting a tool “caddy” a tool “tote” and a canvas tool “apron.” (The guy is forever wandering around looking for his hammer and tape measure while he’s fixing and building things. They are all much needed.)

I also came home with two arms full of groceries, to a crying, sick toddler. I dropped everything on the table, scooped Leyna up from Scott’s arms and told him to just avoid going out to the Jeep until I could get some “things” out of it.

Of course, we both completely forgot about that agreement when he and Kendall took off on an ice cream run tonight.

“Jill, uh… don’t you need to get something out of the Jeep?” he asked sheepishly as he walked back in the door.

“Oh, shoot! Did you see it?” I asked.

“No. I mean, I saw something but I don’t know what it is,” he tried his best to lie. He’s terrible at lies.

From behind Scott, in an excited whisper, Kendall tugged on his shirt and said, “It’s a TOOL BELT! Dad, dad, it’s a tool belt.” Scott laughed and played dumb. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.

“Mom, dad? Come ON you guys. IT’S A TOOL BELT!” he shouted, not understanding why we didn’t seem to hear him.

“Well, technically it’s not a tool belt. So, you’ll still be surprised… a little.”

June 17, 2012 8 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail
ParenthoodStuff

Best Fathers Day Card, Hands Down

by Jill June 13, 2012
written by Jill

Via my friends at HaHas for HooHas

The amazingly talented Anna took this picture, this picture, and this picture and turned them into this masterpiece, which I’m going to print off to give to Scott this weekend… along with some other stuff I’m not entirely decided on just yet.

How awesomely unique is that?!

If you want to get in on the custom portrait card awesomeness, which you can send as an e-card OR you can print off (Anna sends you a hi-res version), head on over to HaHasForHooHas.com. They are only $9.99 for Fathers Day!

June 13, 2012 2 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail
Moms, If This Father Is Your Partner, Wake The Hell Up
ParenthoodThe Story

Moms, If This Father Is Your Partner, Wake The Hell Up

by Jill June 17, 2011
written by Jill

With Father’s Day this weekend, so many of us have big plans to thank that very special man in our kids lives. But what if your kids father is, well, absent? And I don’t mean not physically there. What if he’s just not interested in taking an active role in your kids lives? While I can’t personally comprehend this situation, Jeff Pearlman writes over at CNN.com about physically present/emotionally absent dads who, unfortunately, do exist. (A Father’s Day Wish: Dads, Wake The Hell Up.)

In it, he describes dads who would rather play golf for 5 hours on Sunday than spend quality time with their kids, painting their toenails pink and waking up early to play. He makes the argument that just because you spend time at the office all week, doesn’t mean you have the right to come home and spend the rest of your time recovering from it.

Can I get a freaking AMEN?

I, and most of the moms I know, am lucky enough to have a partner in this whole parenting deal who follows each of Pearlman’s 10 Commandments of Righteous Fatherhood. Sadly though, I’ve seen many moms who aren’t technically single parents, but are still left doing this thing alone.

Related: Moms, Direct Your Own Photos

And while I’m not meaning to put all the blame on these women, and I DO think the men should MAN UP and take on their fair share, I’ve got to say, some of these moms are… enablers.

Moms, I know we have a tendency to feel like our way is the only way, but the lesson to be learned here is just because it’s not done the way you would have done it, doesn’t mean it’s not right. Don’t nag your partner because he doesn’t match the kids clothes like you would, he doesn’t do the dishes like you would (guilty!), he doesn’t swaddle like you would.

While it’s one thing to offer help and suggestions when they are entirely clueless, it’s something completely different to say, “Ugh. You NEVER DO THIS RIGHT. Just give the baby to me. I’ll do it myself.” And then, from then on, you just assume you are the only person intelligent enough in your household to put a diaper on the correct way and take on the responsibility yourself. The result? A father who never changes diapers.

If you aren’t that mom, and you could drop your baby with a loaded diaper on his lap, walk away for 30 minutes, only to come back to a man who still flat out refuses to change it? Whoo boy. Wake the hell up. Poopy diapers are probably one of the least messy jobs of parenting.

And he’s never been alone with the kids? Ever? Why? Is it because he’s terrified? Is it because you think you’re the only person qualified to keep them alive? Try this little experiment. LEAVE. Without the kid(s). Just leave. It’s not illegal. You’ll come back. The kids will be fine. And, when faced with the challenge, I’m pretty sure you’ll find he won’t kill any of them. If in your heart of hearts you are genuinely afraid he will, wake the hell up and leave with the kids.

What I’m trying to say here is don’t make yourself a martyr. It takes equal parts mother and father to make a baby, and it takes EQUAL parts to raise one. (Edited to add- This isn’t me saying single parents aren’t capable of raising a kid. It’s just me saying that those who have a partner in all this, should expect equal input.)

And this isn’t just a SAHM thing vs. a WOHM thing. It doesn’t matter what your 9-5 is. The hours you and your partner are with the kids together you should be approaching parenting as a team. Yes, even at night.

I understand there are exceptions. My best friend’s husband flies planes for a living. Obviously, the nights before he flies it’s pretty imperative he gets good sleep. But you know what? He makes it up to her on the weekends. My husband, on the other hand, is not responsible for keeping anyone alive at his job… like I am. And napping at home with the kids, for me, is not an option these days. We share in the misery of frequent night wakings TOGETHER right now.

Related: I Like Feeling Like This- Like I’m Good At Parenting

So you’re crying about how little time your husband spends with the kids, how little he does to help you out? I ask you, is it because you’re enabling him? Playing into the stereotype that men can’t ever parent as good as women can? If so, wake the hell up and realize you’re creating your own hell. If it’s because he genuinely, flat out refuses to be an equal partner in this? Wake the hell up and… get thee to counseling.

Be good to your baby daddy this weekend if he’s your equal parenting partner. If he’s not, well you probably already bought him a gift. Go ahead and give it to him on Sunday, make him pose for pictures with the kids. Then, starting Monday, wake the hell up and expect demand more from him.

Moms, If This Father Is Your Partner, Wake The Hell Up

Kendall is 3 years old and Leyna is 5.5 months, and I am damn blessed to have procreated with such a fantastic man.

June 17, 2011 94 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail
BabiesThe Story

Showoff

by Jill June 19, 2008
written by Jill

Just wanted to take a minute to show you all how much Kendall really has grown, and of course to show off my handsome little man. That’s what moms are supposed to do anyway, right? Here are some recent pictures of him taken on Father’s Day.

These were taken when he was about a month old on our trip back home to Texas.

Yes..that’s the same outfit. I spent $25 on it at Baby Gap. He’s going to get some use out of the damn thing!

And just to really show you how much he’s grown, compare this picture from the day we took him home from the hospital…

to this one taken on Father’s Day at six weeks and two days old.

I can’t believe we spent so much money on a carseat the kid will probably outgrow by the end of summer!

Six weeks 5 days old

June 19, 2008 9 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail
BabiesThe Story

How motherhood has changed me

by Jill June 15, 2008
written by Jill

I am a gift giver.  I live to find the perfect gift, wrap it up in the most adorable/creative wrapping, and pair it with the perfect card that I found after flipping through nearly every single one at Hallmark. It used to almost be a hobby for me.  If we were celebrating my husband’s first Father’s Day without all this hassle of being new parents (I know…but stay with me here…), I would have undoubtedly spent more than 5 minutes picking out his card.  I wouldn’t have just grabbed the first semi-funny one in the Shoebox section.  And I certainly would have wrapped his power tool set in something appropriate, perhaps some brown paper with a satin blue ribbon tied around it.  I may have even had Hailey help me draw tools all over it with crayon.  Instead, since I am so ridiculously tired and used every ounce of energy I have for the week schlepping Hailey and Kendall into Home Depot yesterday amidst the other frantic last minute shoppers and in the middle of a torrential downpour, this is how I presented my husband’s first Father’s Day gift –

I threw the boxes in Hailey’s room, topped them with the cards, covered them with a blanket the dogs have obviously been lounging on, and had Scott do the “grand unveiling” this morning.  The old me would have been appalled.  The new me is thankful I didn’t have to look for the Scotch Tape.

6 weeks 2 days old

June 15, 2008 3 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail

@babyrabies

Instagram did not return a 200.

Buy Jill’s Book

50 Things to Do Before You Deliver: The First Time Moms Pregnancy Guide

Up Your Phone Photography

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

©2019 | BabyRabies.com


Back To Top