Hey, happy 4th of July everyone! I totally dig freedom. Because if you want to wax your back and dress up like Marilyn Monroe to celebrate 60 years of awesome livin’, gosh darn it, you can do it.

You know… like this dude. Recognize him? Unless you are tight with my in-laws, you probably don’t. Yes, they associate with this shy guy.

Trust me, you would want to hang with him too. He’s way funny, super tan and enjoys a cocktail or two. Those are pretty much the qualities I enjoy in a friend.

Freedom also rocks because if you happen to be 3 1/2 and just feel like your split ends are making you crazy, well, you don’t have to wait for your busy bee parents to take you to the salon for a trim. No, no, no. While Daddy is making dinner and Mommy is taking a little power nap and your sister is playing with that has been baby doll, you can just grab your kid scissors and do it all by yourself.

Although the tuft of hair was a bit startling to look at, the damage to Dylan’s do seems to be very minimal. Will confirm in the daylight. Since it took Dylan about 2 years to even GROW hair, I’m feeling ridiculously relieved.

And freedom also kicks arse because if you want to put on a pair of fairy wings, throw your hair in piggie tails, don some princess heels and relax in the sunshine, well… then go ahead.

Because it’s just that kind of country.

So thank you to all who made freedom ring. Because if the Brits were still in charge, we’d all be eating bangers and mash and drinking warm beer this weekend and well, that would totally suck.

But, of course, we would all have those sassy accents and we’d be totally cutting edge with our smart, natty fashion - so maybe that would be pretty brilliant after all.

Alright, alright… go kiss a Brit this 4th of July. Just nothing open mouth because the hubbys get their knickers in a bunch over that.

mama bird notes
I’m giving away two reusable totes that fold up so small, it’s like a friggin’ magic trick. Courtesy of eco-artware. You’ll swear off plastic forever. Click on “drooling over this” to enter.

After going to dinner in our neighborhood the other night, Rick and I popped by a German bar called the Lederhosen. I figured “Lederhosen” must be the name of an awesome German ale or perhaps the name of some big European soccer star but no, it just means, “leather shorts.” Oh, well, ok.

Before I go any further, I fear that I’ve given the impression that Rick and I are constantly out and about… living it up at burlesque shows, doing the safety dance in Atlantic City and putting back the pints at the European-themed bars.

Let me reassure you that we have plenty of tedious, boring nights at home. Rick is shaking his head vigorously in agreement. My dear Rick - Just know that I’d rather be horribly bored with you than anyone else on this planet. Yes, if you have any friends planning their weddings, I am available to write romantic, personalized vows.

Anyway, on this particular night, we found ourselves at the Lederhosen. We had been there once before and the owner just LOVES Rick. Apparently, a big Fox 5 fan. So Rick signed something for him during our last visit and this time around, we saw this up on the wall….

Yes, Rick’s photo on display above the bar! Even more glorious, he’s right next to Kiefer Sutherland!!!! The way I see it, the producers of “24” now have no choice but to offer Rick a recurring role on the show.

I’m sure you are desperately wondering whose photo is on the other side of Rick? I don’t really know. Some football player or maybe it was soccer? There was a number on his jersey for sure.

Ok, enough of Kiefer, Rick and that guy with the number on his jersey…

Because this past weekend was Gay Pride in New York City.

We live in the West Village (the epicenter of the pride). Despite the crowds and the chaos, I love Gay Pride weekend because it’s just the kind of thing that makes New York so New York. I mean, where else can you walk down the street at 6 pm and see this…

and you know, a guy handing out fliers like this…

Those must be some pretty interesting fliers. In addition to the surplus of banana hammocks, there were also a tremendous amount of….

cops. Apparently for crowd control. Nearly naked guys are bound to draw crowds. And bloggers. And for some reason and I’m not sure exactly why, all these NYPD officers now seem enormously overdressed. Not a banana hammock or lederhosen in sight.

mama bird notes

Contributing mama Daphne Biener goes into the wild wilderness with her family this summer. Brave girl. Click on contributing mamas to read more from this always entertaining mama.

Not long ago, I discovered a blog called Mean Mommy which isn’t very mean at all. In fact, Ashley wrote such nice things about me that it made me blush. So thank you for the love!

Finally, I’m am so OVER plastic bags. Will you join me in saying no to plastic bags? To read more, click on drooling over this. You can even leave a comment and enter the reusable tote giveaway.

There comes a time when a family needs more than city cement, incredible restaurants and burlesque shows to survive. That day has come.

So we decided to go Folbaum family road tripping to the country. Bucks County, PA or bust - or maybe a brief stop because Dylan has to poop.

Buck’s County is quaint and countryish (It is too a word! Or at least sort of a word.) and green and awesome.

We saw a “Duck’s Crossing” sign. No ducks but the sign itself was really enough of a thrill.

At one point, Rick and I had a conversation that went like this…

Me: That woman we just passed was doing some kind of interesting gesture with her hand. Did she want us to pull over or something?

Rick: I think it was a wave. I think everyone here just waves at each other.

Me: A wave? I love that.

And we picked berries! Lots and lots of berries.

Dylan loved it. And Summer…

Oh crap. Someone wake up Summer. She’s missing our country adventure! Just like her to nod off during the fabulous blueberry and raspberry picking. If she thinks she can just take a long snooze and then eat our hard earned berries without lifting one baby finger in the hot Pennsylvania sun - well, she’s probably right about that.

And then we ate ice cream! And pizza! The pizza tasted much more charming and far less greasy in the lovely surroundings.

I even had a hankering to peruse and purchase antiques, although I am not really into that sort of old, dusty furniture thing. If you adore antiques, please substitute, “beautifully preserved and crafted treasures” for “old, dusty furniture.”

Frankly, I was completely swept up in the fresh air euphoria until the trip back to Manhattan.

Since my dad came along and it gets very tight between the two car seats, one of us had to sit in the WAY back. And boy does it make your arse hurt to hang out back there for extended periods of time.

I kind of felt like the family dog or like Rick’s smuggling me across state lines. And no, my kids aren’t on drugs. They are just so very tired and watching the DVD player.

Apparently, we didn’t tucker my dad out enough because the next morning, he was willing to go to his first yoga class ever with me.

Here he is practicing his downward dogs before the class…

He was pretty damn good for an inexperienced 65 year-old yogi. Then he left to catch the Amtrak train back to his home in Cape Cod.

As the train pulled out of Penn Station, he texted me, “This downward dog has left the station.”

I wished him a peaceful, kid-free, zen ride home.

mama bird notes
Sandrine won the boys’ baby giveaway!! Congrats Sandrine. Send me your address and I will mail these goodies off to you.

I don’t know how I am going to return to my actual life. I mean, am I expected to change diapers and listen to whining and wipe faces again? There must be some kind of horrible error.

The Graco and the LBi production team made me feel like a princess. You know, a working princess. I spent my second day in “the” ATL (thank you Allison T and Buffy for that because I’m getting cooler and younger by the minute with all my new groovy lingo) shooting footage for the Graco car seat campaign. It’s set to air on the web later this summer. Yes, future links promised.

First they made me look pretty…

Umm… who hired the sweet makeup artist, who clearly moonlights as a freakin’ super model?

Then I quickly learned that installing a car seat is actually a snap when a professional like Carol explains it to you.

Despite my initial nervousness, I ended up kicking the arse of those latches and tethers and seatbelt retractors. Once I had conquered the car seat challenge, they sat me down for an interview to glean all my parental wisdom.

Hey wait - is this a game show? I hope I win the Nautilus 3-in-1 car seat. That was the seat I installed during the demo and frankly we got very emotionally attached working together. You know how the sparks fly on these fancy production shoots.

During the interview, the production guys (and there were a lot of them)….

would say things to me like…

“You have a great smile.”

“Fantastic!”

“You’re doing a great job.”

Wow. I think I’ll start expecting that kind of feedback from Rick and the girls each day. It’s the least they can do for all my efforts on the home front.

After the interview, another blogger, Victoria, and I hopped in a town car and jetted to the airport which makes me wonder (I’m channeling a little Carrie Bradshaw), am I really supposed to go back to life as usual, that constant state of toddler chaos that seems like a distant big apple memory?

Yes?

Oh thank goodness because I can hardly wait. I miss those cute, little sticky faces.

mama bird notes

Last chance to enter this week’s baby giveaway package. Two pairs of super cool Robeez shoes for boys (sizes 18 - 24 months and 20 - 24 months), an organic cotton and hemp burp cloth (see photo) from Burp Armor and the Melissa Errico “Lullabies and Wildflowers” CD. And all these goodies come in a fabulous recycled cotton tote from Joy by Mellim. Just leave a comment on the mama bird diaries this week and you are entered to win.

Hey. You’re so awesome to follow me all the way to Hotlanta or A.T.L as apparently the youngsters call it (thanks Sandrine for the 4-1-1 on that).

I think the term Hotlanta is roughly equivalent to, “The Big Apple.” I never refer to NYC as the big apple and I can’t imagine there are large swaths of Atlantans who go around saying things like…

“Hotlanta is such a great place to raise kids.”

“But I do wish Hotlanta had less traffic.”

“So what part of Hotlanta do you live in?”

But I promise here and now, if I ever relocate to Atlanta, I am totally calling it that.

I’m here, along with three other bloggers… Sheila from Xiaolin Mama, Joe from Joeprah and Vicky from The Mummy Chronicles to film a Graco car seat campaign. I’m going to have the opportunity to share my parenting know how (must quickly think of brilliant, clever parenting tips) and demonstrate how to install a car seat (First step: Turn to your spouse and say, “Hey, can you please install the car seat this morning?).

The video will go up on the Graco website, as a resource for parents. I must say, so far, it’s a very good gig. I’ve been white wined, lobster tail dined and pink pedicured, all courtesy of the cool folks at Graco. Apparently, they are actually going to make me do some work tomorrow. Alright, alright. Seems like the least I can do.

I miss my little cupcakes Dylan and Summer dearly (I mean really, who wants to actually pee alone?) but it is so nice to have a little calm and quiet and -

Wait, is that a baby?

And another one? Oh mercy. Who invited the kiddos?!

Actually, those adorable twins belong to my awesome college friend, Lanie. I was thrilled to meet them. They are named Hot and Lanta which is a bit odd but I think they can pull it off.

Note to reader: Their parents may actually call them Fletcher and Alyssa but I’m not confirming that.

Note to husband: Yes, I miss you too. I will confirm that.

mama bird notes

Don’t forget to enter this week’s baby giveaway package. Two pairs of super cool Robeez shoes for boys (sizes 18 - 24 months and 20 - 24 months), an organic cotton and hemp burp cloth (amazingly stylish and practical) and the Melissa Errico “Lullabies and Wildflowers” CD. And all these goodies come in a fabulous recycled cotton tote from Joy by Mellim. Just leave a comment on the mama bird diaries this week and you are entered to win.

So, of course, two days after I write all about the the quirky behavior of my lovely, beautiful Dylan, she has the nerve to go to bed in long sleeve pajamas…

plus a princess nightgown…

plus a winter hat with attached scarf combo. Dylan, I already wrote the, “Is My Kid Weird” post. Jeesh.

So do you think we have the air conditioning on too high or something?

Meanwhile my friend Julie recently dropped her cell phone in the water at the playground. She immediately asked for my expertise on the situation because of my long history of damaging technical gadgets.

I leaped into action, instructing her to immediately douse her cell phone in salt. The salt would suck out all the water and could bring her phone back to life, I explained. A friend suggested this brilliance on the mama bird diaries after my own phone dropped in a public toilet. Umm.. yeah. Still gross.

So Julie, believing that I am a trained tech professional, followed my instructions.

Except at some point, when her phone was buried deep in salt, Julie started having doubts about my yoda master skills and had the smarts to actually look up this advice. She quickly found out, it’s RICE that works like magic. Not friggin salt.

Oh. Did I say SALT? Rice. Uh, that’s what I meant.

Julie’s phone is a bit salty but hopefully working.

So yeah, today’s my birthday. How did you know? Oh, the heading of the post? So flashy, don’t you think?

Did I sit back and cry old tears on my 38th birthday? No. I. Did. Not.

I grabbed life by the handle bars and went biking with the crew.

Ok, so we all look kind of, incredibly dorky with our helmets (not a hint of Giselle or Leo). But safety first people. I’m not as sharp on the ole bike trail as I used to be.

Despite the fact that we were an hour late to pick up the bikes…

And then it took an additional 45 minutes to gear up.

And then it started raining.

And then Summer started crying.

And then full on tantruming.

This birthday family biking extravaganza all kind of worked out in the end and rocked.

And really tuckered us out.

This 38 year-old is headed down south to HOTlanta this week, courtesy of Graco. More later. Gotta keep you coming back.

mama bird notes

Mama bird Daphne Biener won the beautiful notecards by the 10 year-old artist Alexa Maizes. Congrats Daphne! No special treatment for Miss Contributor. Randomly picked. Mama’s promise.

This week we have a baby giveaway package for you. Two pairs of super cool Robeez shoes for boys (sizes 18 - 24 months and 20 - 24 months), an organic cotton and hemp burp cloth (amazingly stylish and practical) and the Melissa Errico “Lullabies and Wildflowers” CD. And all these goodies come in a fabulous recycled cotton tote from Joy by Mellim. Just leave a comment on the mama bird diaries this week and you are entered to win.

This week I took Summer for her 18 month-old check-up. I still dread those vaccination visits. I don’t mind the crying. Although the first time Rick and I took Dylan as a baby, all three of us were pathetically sobbing. Note to new parents out there: Hysterical moms and dads don’t really calm newborns.

No, I don’t cry anymore. I just worry. And frankly, I’m far more talented and experienced at worrying than crying anyway.

It’s the whole could-there-possibly-be-a-connection-to-autism-thing that just makes me queesy. But on the flip side, I’d sort of definitely prefer my kids not get polio or the mumps or the measles. Because that sounds like a major bummer. So I buried my angst and headed to the doctor’s office.

At which point I learned that I never brought Summer in for her 15 month check-up.

Or her 12 month check-up.

In fact, Summer hadn’t had any of her shots for 9 months. I know my friend Adam (the pediatric ER doc - aka the red headed George Clooney) is just shaking his head right now in disapproval. Oh, Adam. I’m not perfect.

Summer has been to the pediatrician 12 zillion times for chest congestion, coughs and colds. But apparently, I had forgotten all about those nifty “wellness” visits.

It’s kind of out character for me because I’m pretty insanely organized. So maybe the fears in my subconscious took over my appointment calendar. Anyway, we’ll will be catching up on her shots over the next month which is good old fashion summer in the city fun.

Meanwhile, 38 is roaring towards me like an Amtrak Acela train (without all the delays). I don’t even know why I give a crap about 38. It’s really her step sister 40 that I am truly afraid of.

I know, all of you out there who are already 40 are thinking, “Com’on Kelcey, don’t be such a friggin’ wimp. 40 is nothing.” And I’m sure I’ll feel that way on the day after my 40th birthday. Or at least, I will absolutely feel that way about 40 on my 60th birthday.

It just all goes so darn fast.

I still keep thinking that I’m going to wake up and be 24, sitting in a cafe with some friends, listening to Blues Traveler and not stressing about child immunizations or 40th birthdays.

Totally hasn’t happened yet. Strange, right?

Instead I will celebrate what 38 years has brought me. Things I dreamed of but could not have ever imagined at 24…

Oh wait. Scratch that. I mean, he was fun. But not that guy. I meant this guy and his girlie sidekicks.

mama bird notes
I really am ashamed of myself. WEEKS ago, the very funny site GoodMom/BadMom featured one of my stories on their Sunday Blog wrap up. You know that story I wrote about my atheist dad. Anyway, I never properly thanked them for the awesome honor. It’s embarrassing really. So please head on over and check out their site and I will rest easier tonight. Thanks to Jennifer H. for unintentionally setting me straight.

And check out our new mama bird poll. How would you feel about your husband going to a strip club?

I feel like I’m always try to reassure my husband that our 3 1/2 year-old’s behavior is COMPLETELY NORMAL for her age.

Like when Dylan wakes me up in the morning by licking my arm.

Or when she kisses every page of the book I’m reading her.

Or at night, when Rick says to her, “Honey, it’s bedtime. Why aren’t you sleeping?” and she responds, “I am sleeping. In a different way. With my eyes open.” Oh, that’s cool. I should try that. I’d get so much more accomplished.

Or when she wears my nude, control top pantyhose to the playground.

Or wears this outfit to the water park on a gorgeous sunny day, despite my suggestion that a bathing suit and flip flops might do the trick. Rainboots? Really!?

Or when she insists that her sister Summer needs to wear a down winter coat on an 80 degree day.

I double insisted that Summer did not.

No worries Rick. I see lots of young kids in the neighborhood and they are all just as nuts. But he always looks at me like he’s not quite convinced. Like perhaps we are inadvertently raising some kind of irrational wild thing.

This past weekend, a colleague of Rick’s told us about an experience she had, in an elevator, with her 5 year-old son.

A very heavy woman got on the elevator and her son said quite loudly, “MOMMY, SHE’S FAT.”

I mean, wouldn’t you just crawl into that musak box right then and there?

Of course, the mother made him apologize and the woman was very gracious about the whole thing but still…

I think I’ll stick with my kid who likes to wear control top panty hose.

Oh and I’ll also keep the other one who wears pink, princess heels to the beach.

mama bird notes
Looking for some children’s music with a little New Orleans funk? Click on “drooling over this” to read about an awesome kids’ CD. They had me at Radiators…

I’m crying in my crab cake sandwich over the closing of New York City’s campy French diner, Florent. You can read more at New York City Moms Blog.

As some of you know, my husband has Crohn’s disease, a debilitating and sometimes life threatening disease that causes painful inflammation of the digestive tract. Since his own diagnosis 17 years ago, medical advances have been made. But instead of becoming less prevalent, Crohn’s is becoming more and more common. Almost a million and a half Americans are now suffering from this disease and many of them are young children.

This week I’m giving away some beautiful note cards, created by artist Alexa Maizes, a 10 year-old suffering from Crohn’s Disease. She also sells her note cards on her website and a portion of the proceeds go the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Just leave a comment this week on the mama bird diaries and you are entered to win.

This week in NYC, Rick will be helping to raise money to find a cure for Crohn’s. If you feel like donating click here.

To view a Fox 5 NY piece on Rick click here. I even make a cameo! And you can’t tell I have a poochy, mama belly!! Oh, and Rick is pretty good too.

Ever been to a burlesque show? My husband and I had the chance this past weekend to experience the Box in New York’s East Village. This risque variety show starts with performers in ape costumes running around and humping audience members (yes, seriously) and ends with me feeling the emcee’s abs (yes, seriously). Oh, here. I’ll show you.

This guy has obviously never had a baby. Who has abs like that? Please don’t tell me your husband does.

And I… uh… noticed that this emcee had a tendency to wear his… um… his privates to the right. So I asked my husband, “Do most men have a preferred side to put their goods on?

The answer from Rick, “Yes. Definitely.” Hmm… Interesting. And you thought I only enlightened you about toxic plastics. If you have a hankering to read more about the bulge (and really, who doesn’t?) visit Memarie Lanie.

We went to the early evening “family” burlesque show (no kids invited) around 7:30 pm. The second show starts about 1:30 in the morning and apparently it’s really something to see. I’m guessing that if you are going to a show that STARTS at 1:30 AM then you don’t care if a big fake hairy ape is humping you. Or much else for that matter.

Boy, after all that… how could Father’s Day ever compete? Luckily, the girls smothered Rick with love.

Dylan’s hugs can be more like strangulation but the girl just has a big heart and a tight grip.

Sunday afternoon, I booked a sitter and took Rick (who loves all things European) to this great pub called The Molly Wee. I figured we could enjoy some relaxing alone time and savor a pint at their sweeping wooden bar.

Except we weren’t quite expecting so many Iron Maiden fans.

Apparently, Iron Maiden was playing later that evening, just up the street at Madison Square Garden.

It was fun to connect with these guys…

In case you are wondering, Rick’s the one not wearing any headgear.

And in the end, isn’t Iron Maiden what Father’s Day is all about?

mama bird notes
It’s time to announce the winners of the Lands’ End swim package. Robyn is the winner of the boy’s package. And Julie L. is the winner of the girl’s package. Please email me your address and size of your child to kelcey@mamabirddiaries.com. Congrats mamas!

If you live in New York City or plant to travel here, you must check out the awesome site Mommy Poppins. This mama knows it all when it comes to cool stuff to do with your kids in NYC.

And, of course, she just came up with another brilliant idea… The Mommy Poppins Neighborhood Guide for Families, the perfect way to find the best toy stores, parks, shopping, family friendly dining and tons of fun places to visit in each neighborhood. And it just so happens that I wrote the piece on the West Village if you feel like checking it out.

I try to find funny in almost everything. But once in a while, there is nothing to laugh about. Take, for example, a new study by the nonprofit organization, Environmental and Human Health Inc (composed of doctors, public health professionals + policy experts), about the danger of some plastics to children and reproductive health.

Yeah… doesn’t exactly leave you in stitches, does it?

But I’m going to give you the basic facts and some awesome info to help protect your family. And then there will be a hunky reward at the end. Super hunky.

But first, the evil nitty gritty.

This study focused on the health effects from two chemicals found in some plastics - bisphenol A (BPA) and the phthalate DEHP. These chemicals are commonly found in both infant and baby products, as well as many everyday consumer items.

First the way scary part…
“We’ve reviewed hundreds of scientific studies on these chemicals and discovered that this is a far more serious problem than most believe. The plastics industry has escaped serious regulatory attention by federal and state authorities, while producing billions of pounds of resins each year used to manufacture thousands of products. Almost none of it is recycled, and most is buried or incinerated, which explains its presence in soils, groundwater and even air,” said John Wargo, professor of Risk Analysis and Environmental Policy at Yale University.

The two plastic ingredients (BPA and DEHP) are the subject of this report because of increasing evidence that they disrupt normal growth and development due to their hormonal activity.

WOW. THAT REALLY SUCKS.

And this quote really got to me… “While the final verdict on the risks of BPA may remain uncertain for years, the evidence for harm is already strong enough, as this report makes crystal clear, to immediately start protecting potentially vulnerable people - especially children - from any unnecessary exposures,” said Dr. Mark Cullen, professor of Medicine and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine.

DON’T FREAK OUT. Well, freak out a little. But then take action.

FINDING SAFE BOTTLES, CUPS + TODDLER TABLEWARE
There is an excellent list here on Z Recommends of all the companies that manufacture sippy cups, bottles, feeding products, etc.). You simply click on your favorite brand and find out which items are BPA free and which contain BPA. Pretty helpful and easy, right?

Like I was wondering about those First Year Sesame Street Take & Toss cups. Turns out… BPA free. Let me tell you, Summer is going to be quite relieved because I was about to throw those bad boys in the trash.

FINDING SAFE BATH TOY + TEETHERS
Z recommends comes to the rescue again with a list of safe and not safe bath toys.
And click here for their list of safe teethers.

AVOIDING PHTHALATES (DEHP and others)
This gets a little tricky because phthalates are in all kinds of everyday products like cosmetics, perfumes, deodorants, hair gels, hair sprays, body lotions, nail polish, food wrap, shower curtains, automobile interiors, paint, pesticides and hospital supplies. And you often won’t find it on the ingredients’ label. I can’t even get started on that ridiculousness (Hi FDA - you still out there?)

Click on Non-Toxic Kids for some easy ways to avoid phthalates.

Some really big ones…

-Avoid using plastic containers and plastic wraps in microwave.

-Avoid the use of scented candles, air fresheners, dryer sheets, and other heavily scented products, as many contain phthalates.

-And choose products that don’t contain the word “fragrance” on the ingredients list because they will often contain phthalates.

Ok. I’m done with all that. And thank you to you for sticking with me.

So here is a little Sawyer…

Or if you’re more of a Fox fan…

Ok, ok… I now a few dads out there are just sick of all the male eye candy on this site. So here’s a little Lilly for you all out there. Happy Father’s Day.

Ok, I promise, the next post will be a heck of a lot more fun.