Saturday Southern Slang - The Sensitive "M" Words

WARNING: This post contains sensitive information and will self-destruct after you read it to protect the integrity of it's author.

Do you have daughters? I do, two of them who are now ages 25 and 22. The secret language we created to talk about sensitive things like lady parts and poop are still used today. Why do we take things that already have a scientific name and rename them to sound, well..., sweet? Scientific names are not dirty words. They simply sound too grown up to use with children. Oh, and southern slang keeps us ladies proper.



I can't remember how my mom talked to me about female anatomy or if she did. It may have been "one of those things we don't talk about." I have been open with my girls about everything. And I mean everything. So we, maybe I, created cute little words to replace vagina *gasp* and feces. I'm sure you do the same thing even for boys. Remember "pee-pee" and "wee-wee"?

Today's Saturday Southern Slang is brought to you by the letter M

The 'M' Words for today are:

1. Moo Moo - precious name for lady parts

2. Monk Monk - cutesy name for poop       

  

I have no recollection how these words originated. I just know they work for us. I love it when we are shopping and my 25-year-old daughter looks at me and says "I've got to monk monk." I know we need to look for the restroom. I'm passing on the words to my granddaughter. During bathtime (she's 2 months), I say in the sweetest voice eevvvveerrrr "Grandmom's gotta wash that little moo moo." I swear she coos "moo moo" and smiles. Don't judge.

Feel good about your slang. It shows you have a bonded relationship with your kids. Help us other moms/grandmoms out by sharing some of your sweet words for sensitive subjects with your kids. We just might adopt them for our households. Leave some of your cute, sweet words in a comment.

Defining life,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

1st grandchild creative writing Saturday southern slang

DIY - Vintage Crib Makeover

My sentimental side came out just lately...wwaaayyy out! The vintage love started oozing about 11 months ago when my daughter showed me a blue plus sign on a dip stick. Fast forward to November 20, 2013 and my first grandchild skyrocketed my sentiments to explosive levels. Have you ever visited Disney World and watched the fireworks over Cinderella's castle, felt for yourself and saw the wonder in children's eyes? YAY? Well...You don't even know!Having a grandbaby is better than fireworks at Disney! Try to imagineer that.



My first DIY mushy project was a vintage crib makeover that both my daughters slept in as youngsters. The bed was stored in the barn for 20 years. I wish I had wrapped it in plastic but no, I didn't. Cleaning the dust from the spindles took the absolute most time of the entire project. Here's a picture journey of bringing a vintage crib circa 1988 back to life.

rescuing from the barn

cleaned and ready to paint with my fav, Krylon

putting it back together

amazed we had all the parts and they work

bought a new crib set from ebay $15

finished project about $50 including paint & bed set

Lisette, 2 weeks old enjoying Grandmom's treasure

 

Leave me a comment and tell me about your sentimental projects. Do you think the crib look outdated?

Simply gushing,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

1st grandchild DIY project

5 Things the New Grandmom Learned

MY OH MY have things changed! This post could be titled...

The last time I held a baby was some 25 years ago...literally. The lack of any brothers and sisters doesn't offer many opportunities to hold babies. Our family welcomed Lisette Arabella Epperson on November 20th weighing 7 lbs. 6 oz. She's a beaut!

Check out her vintage onesie she wore home. Lisette's mommie Sydnee wore this onesie home on July 6, 1988 and her auntie Sloane wore it home on October 28, 1991.

  Here's a picture of all three of my angels.

What are the 5 things the new Grandmom learned you ask? 

1. Formula is not warmed when given to a baby. Formula works best when fed at room temperature. I was ahead of the curve on this one. Laziness probably but I fed my girls room temperature bottles 25 years ago. But last week, I learned it is OK and I can put all guilt aside now!
2. Belly Button Cords are not cleaned anymore. Researchers have learned that the cord produces an enzyme that heals the naval naturally. Who knew? I like it though! It's like a "Get the cord out of the belly FREE card!"
3. 48 hours is no longer the magical time to leave the hospital after giving birth. You can leave anytime before 48 hours (even C-sections) if the doctor feels you and your baby are ready.  I raised an eyebrow at this but it seems to be working out just fine.
4. No food restrictions when breastfeeding! What? Everyone knows broccoli and chocolate causes breastfeeding babies to have gas. Not any more...I guess EVERYTHING is GMO...for the better?! NOT!!!
5. Babies stay in the room with the parents at all times, you can't take your baby out of the room until you leave the hospital to go home, the mommie and baby bonds best with Skin-to-Skin contact directly after birth and finally, parents and baby benefits from a "Golden Hour" after birth where they spend the first hour together, just the 3 of them.

Okay, that was more than five! But...this new Grandmom feels way enlightened, do you? I'm sure I'll be learning much more and I can't wait to be edge-u-ma-cated some more!

Leave me a comment with your tips and tricks you've learned that all us new Grandmoms should know.

So excited and blessed,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
 

1st grandchild tips

Baby Shower Cupcakes for the Daddy!

My first granddaughter is due in 13 days!

Tonight is the "man-shower" for the Daddy

My contribution to the party are these cupcakes

I found these darling free printables at Embellish

I printed them on a sheet of Avery 8165 label paper

then stuck them to a piece of card stock for stability

Cut a regular straw into 3 pieces, slit the end and inserted the topper!

So simple....

Extra simple cupcakes using Pillsbury cake mix!

Easy Classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting from Savory Sweet Life

The only ingredient not pictured above is the butter.

WHY?

because it's imperative NOT TO USE SALTED BUTTER.

Don't do it!

I think me and salt have a love/hate relationship

and...this time I hate salt.

Did I say not to use salted butter in this recipe?

I used Wilton "PINK" to color the frosting

What do you think?

I think they are girlie enough for a shower

and an expectant grand-girl

but still a touch manly 

with the brown's and yellow.

Can't wait for our new arrival,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

1st grandchild recipe

Why I want to be called "Grandmom"!

Feast your eyes on these precious red patent shoes! I'm anxiously awaiting my first grandchild in November. Those beauties belong to her!!! I knew right off what I want her to call me.."Grandmom!" And, here's why....

My daughter Sydnee was born in 1988. One week from returning to work, I didn't have a babysitter! You moms know what a dire, uncomfortable situation this is!  Please, appreciate my dilemma. I continued to pray for a babysitter with no luck. My husband and I didn't talk about the "what if's", if we didn't find a suitable babysitter. Looking back, I guess we trusted God enough to provide one, and he did!

A couple of days before I was scheduled to return to work, my cousin suggested Susie Stephens. I didn't know this lady but ironically she lived a mere mile from our home (isn't God awesome?). I called her and wouldn't you know it, she had an opening (isn't God awesomer?) I went to her home for an interview. When she opened the door and I saw this sweet face, all my fears disappeared and I knew she was the one God had handpicked for my children!

God worked it out so Sloane, born three years later had a spot to stay with Susie also. My daughters called her Grandmom as she requested. I'd never heard this endearing term and fell in love with it and her. She kept my girls from eight weeks until they started kindergarten. Grandmom was there when they learned to crawl, to walk, to talk, weaned from a bottle, stopped taking their passey, used the big girl potty and beyond! I long to see all those things with my grandchild. I always said if I had grandchildren I wanted to be called Grandmom.  My dream is getting closer (God is awesomest, isn't he?) I pray I do the name justice and fulfill it as well as Grandmom did!

Thanks Grandmom Susie,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

1st grandchild