I was sitting on the couch yesterday morning, putting on my heals for work, and I said to Alexis, "These are such a pain to have to wear. Are you going to be a business woman like mommy?" Suddenly my mind started shooting in all different directions thinking about what she could/would be when she grows up.
It is obviously WAY too early to start to thinking like that, but we do start awfully young with that concept, don't we? Once children start dressing up, possibly like firemen, nurses, or police officers, they begin to be exposed to the idea of deciding on a career at a young ago. It's interesting, of course, that those are the few choices you have as a child...service folks that are gender biased. Of course fairy and cowboy costumes are available, but both of those suggest much larger lifestyle choices that we definitely can't touch on yet at that age, right?
When you start to progress though elementary school and junior high, the pressure begins. "You need to do well if you want to get a good job someday." And then college. A major needs to be selected at 18 that determines the knowledge you will learn to prepare yourself for what you think you want to be when you grow up. At the same time, you're also told, "You can be anything you want to be. Just follow your dreams."
I hear my dad telling my brother that line (he's in his second year of college), and I even find myself pushing that same thing on the poor sophomore. But then I tell my dad, and myself, that he can't hear us right now or understand it. We're all told this at that age, but none of us "get it". I don't think you can "get it" until you're out of school, beginning a career, and then realizing that you are or aren't in the right place.
I do want Alexis to dream. I want her to enjoy learning and learn about things in all different fields. I want her to be comfortable with herself so that she can be confident in the decisions she makes. I want Jamie and I to be confident in her ability to make decisions, and hope that we raise her in a way that makes her feel like she'll be accepted by us, no matter what. I know it'll be tough. I'll want to say the same things to her that I heard, even though I know it'll fall on selectively deaf ears. That's just how it goes. Maybe her nurse's uniform costume will stay with her until she jumps into the "big kid" world (I consider myself to still be a part of that), and as long as that makes her happy, it'll make us happy. Let's just hope the nurse's costume doesn't translate into something she wears on a stage that has a pole. But I did say I'd be accepting of her dreams...
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
rock out with your bottle out...
I was desperately trying to figure out what rhymes with "rock" other then the naughty "c" word that actually belongs in that title, but there is absolutely nothing baby related that rhymes. I was thinking "block", but she's not playing with them yet. Oh well...apparently creativity is lacking this morning.
Jamie and I have similar taste in music, though my preference leans toward hard/heavy rock, while Jamie's tends to be more of the ska/punk variety. We both dabble in each other's music and do throw the occasional 80's, classic rock, or even pop song in there.
Then came baby. Both of us agreed - there was no reason to change what we deemed as our musical pleasure. Music is critical in my morning and evening commute. I hang on to my $12.95/month XM (oh wait, XM Sirius...no, Sirius XM...gosh darn mergers and acquisitions) solely because I need to be entertained by a huge range of selections in my car. And since my commute now includes the little one, she gets to enjoy it as well.
I'd like to think that because I still listen to what I did while she was in my belly, she should enjoy whatever is on. But I wonder whether some of the things are inappropriate. Hatebreed's "I will be heard", for example, doesn't have any singing in it...the lead singer isn't really a singer as much as a deep voiced screamer. Slipknot's "Psychosocial" is probably is a bit heavy as well (as it should be if every member in the band wears freaky looking masks). But those are extremes. In most cases it's not quite that mind-numbing. Jamie has a song that's an ode to the "F" word...now that one is crossing the line, whether she can talk or not.
I've never believed that music and video games are what causes violence in children. Just because the "trench coat mafia" listened to Ozzy and Marilyn Manson does not mean that they were suddenly swayed to murder tons of people. Jamie and I listen(ed) to Manson as well - unless one of us has some serious skeletons in our closet, it didn't effect us. I think that it's all about the way you were raised and whether you have a good head on your shoulders (though in some cases, kids simply just have a screw loose, regardless of their upbringing).
So we will continue to play what we love (with the occasional filter here and there in extreme cases) and will not, at this point, succumb to playing nursery rhymes. If at some point, playing something like that will keep her content on a long drive somewhere, we'll probably break down. But until then, I hope she enjoys what she's hearing and all I can hope for is that, as a result, she'll have a great appreciation for all types of music.
There's a reason "Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing is from the "Prom Scene" from my soundtrack. Music can be the soundtrack of your life, and while we're still on the first track of her CD, there'll be tons of songs that will touch her heart and fit the moods and situations she'll be faced with as the grows. Happy listening.
Jamie and I have similar taste in music, though my preference leans toward hard/heavy rock, while Jamie's tends to be more of the ska/punk variety. We both dabble in each other's music and do throw the occasional 80's, classic rock, or even pop song in there.
Then came baby. Both of us agreed - there was no reason to change what we deemed as our musical pleasure. Music is critical in my morning and evening commute. I hang on to my $12.95/month XM (oh wait, XM Sirius...no, Sirius XM...gosh darn mergers and acquisitions) solely because I need to be entertained by a huge range of selections in my car. And since my commute now includes the little one, she gets to enjoy it as well.
I'd like to think that because I still listen to what I did while she was in my belly, she should enjoy whatever is on. But I wonder whether some of the things are inappropriate. Hatebreed's "I will be heard", for example, doesn't have any singing in it...the lead singer isn't really a singer as much as a deep voiced screamer. Slipknot's "Psychosocial" is probably is a bit heavy as well (as it should be if every member in the band wears freaky looking masks). But those are extremes. In most cases it's not quite that mind-numbing. Jamie has a song that's an ode to the "F" word...now that one is crossing the line, whether she can talk or not.
I've never believed that music and video games are what causes violence in children. Just because the "trench coat mafia" listened to Ozzy and Marilyn Manson does not mean that they were suddenly swayed to murder tons of people. Jamie and I listen(ed) to Manson as well - unless one of us has some serious skeletons in our closet, it didn't effect us. I think that it's all about the way you were raised and whether you have a good head on your shoulders (though in some cases, kids simply just have a screw loose, regardless of their upbringing).
So we will continue to play what we love (with the occasional filter here and there in extreme cases) and will not, at this point, succumb to playing nursery rhymes. If at some point, playing something like that will keep her content on a long drive somewhere, we'll probably break down. But until then, I hope she enjoys what she's hearing and all I can hope for is that, as a result, she'll have a great appreciation for all types of music.
There's a reason "Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing is from the "Prom Scene" from my soundtrack. Music can be the soundtrack of your life, and while we're still on the first track of her CD, there'll be tons of songs that will touch her heart and fit the moods and situations she'll be faced with as the grows. Happy listening.
Friday, December 26, 2008
xmas eve pix...
Some pix from Xmas eve at my parents' place. She was 17 weeks on Thursday... The third one is my absolute favorite. That's the kind of picture that's going to go in her "baby's first Xmas" ornament frame. When she's in her teens and above, I think she'll appreciate that photo, and that's the kind of faces that I want to remember! As you can tell, that finger is pretty darn yummy at the moment...it's rare that she's not munching on it.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
this just in...
A quick update on the rash situation (see "pretty in pink" post).
After switching to the Soy formula, which seemed to be working, dear Alexis became clogged, if you will. When number two did come out, while easier to clean up in it's small form, by no means was it the mess that's normal for these little buggers. (You know you're a mom when you ask the caregiver or your husband, "How did her poop look? Did it look messy? What color?") Last Friday, I just about ran out of the Soy formula, so I figured an experiment was in order.
I thought run the test, not because I see a lab rat when I look at my daughter in a certain light, but because during last week, the caregiver was diligently monitoring the situation and taking copious notes, and we didn't seem to have much of a rash issue. It was sometimes light, sometimes nonexistent. If you really are allergic to something, it doesn't just change from day to day. Allergic to peanuts? A PB&J sandwich is going to kill you, regardless of what time of day or which day of the week you eat it on. I still had plenty of the Enfamil Gentle-Ease left (which was the one she was on originally). Over the weekend, we fed her only bottles of that formula to gauge what shade of pink she might turn. Wouldn't you know, she was fine! Even her poop returned to normal (which presented itself during our last trip to Friendly's, where she decided to squeeze away in her seat...lovely).
I have no idea what the heck was going on. Maybe like my co-worker said...it might have been physiological. She absolutely loves to eat and we switched nipple sizes. Maybe she was so excited to be getting more formula that she couldn't contain herself. Who knows? But it doesn't matter at this point, to be honest. It wasn't harming her before, and now she's fine. I do have the awful pictures to prove that I haven't been a crazy mommy, but it does seem silly now.
I guess I can cancel my GI and Allergy Specialist appointments at CHOP (Children's Hospital of PA - or is it Philadelphia- renowned for it's quality care). And now I'm even more certain the my decision to change pediatricians was warranted. Sure, she may not be a physiologist, but instead of telling me that "I know what a rash looks like, try Alimentum", we could have tried to figure it out a bit more. If she's so quick to brush off a rash and "prescribe" a new formula, why wouldn't she be quick to identify an ailment and medicate immediately?
So, to quell everyone's worries about the wellness of Alexis (I know you were all sleepless waiting for an update), she's fine. She's precious as ever, and if she does get the occasional splotches, I just chalk it up to being in love with me...and with formula of course. Piglet.
After switching to the Soy formula, which seemed to be working, dear Alexis became clogged, if you will. When number two did come out, while easier to clean up in it's small form, by no means was it the mess that's normal for these little buggers. (You know you're a mom when you ask the caregiver or your husband, "How did her poop look? Did it look messy? What color?") Last Friday, I just about ran out of the Soy formula, so I figured an experiment was in order.
I thought run the test, not because I see a lab rat when I look at my daughter in a certain light, but because during last week, the caregiver was diligently monitoring the situation and taking copious notes, and we didn't seem to have much of a rash issue. It was sometimes light, sometimes nonexistent. If you really are allergic to something, it doesn't just change from day to day. Allergic to peanuts? A PB&J sandwich is going to kill you, regardless of what time of day or which day of the week you eat it on. I still had plenty of the Enfamil Gentle-Ease left (which was the one she was on originally). Over the weekend, we fed her only bottles of that formula to gauge what shade of pink she might turn. Wouldn't you know, she was fine! Even her poop returned to normal (which presented itself during our last trip to Friendly's, where she decided to squeeze away in her seat...lovely).
I have no idea what the heck was going on. Maybe like my co-worker said...it might have been physiological. She absolutely loves to eat and we switched nipple sizes. Maybe she was so excited to be getting more formula that she couldn't contain herself. Who knows? But it doesn't matter at this point, to be honest. It wasn't harming her before, and now she's fine. I do have the awful pictures to prove that I haven't been a crazy mommy, but it does seem silly now.
I guess I can cancel my GI and Allergy Specialist appointments at CHOP (Children's Hospital of PA - or is it Philadelphia- renowned for it's quality care). And now I'm even more certain the my decision to change pediatricians was warranted. Sure, she may not be a physiologist, but instead of telling me that "I know what a rash looks like, try Alimentum", we could have tried to figure it out a bit more. If she's so quick to brush off a rash and "prescribe" a new formula, why wouldn't she be quick to identify an ailment and medicate immediately?
So, to quell everyone's worries about the wellness of Alexis (I know you were all sleepless waiting for an update), she's fine. She's precious as ever, and if she does get the occasional splotches, I just chalk it up to being in love with me...and with formula of course. Piglet.
Monday, December 22, 2008
the big chill...
I completely forgot to tell everyone about our Xmas tree adventure!
Every year, my family would go out on a mission to find a live Xmas tree to chop down. Once Jamie and I became "serious" (which was what, 9 years ago?), we allowed him to partake in the ritual. We had one specific place we ventured to each year, however, to our surprise (and dismay), one year it was suddenly closed. Had the tree business become too expensive? Should they have stopped handing out free hot chocolate to keep costs down? What about Santa? Were his wages too much for the tree farm to handle?
In any case, we had a few years of driving around randomly in search of a comparable location. We'd follow the hand painted signs promising available foliage, but most of the time they were cruddy little lots or fields of mediocre pines. Suddenly, a couple years ago, we came across a great farm that had potential. For some reason we did not go there the last two years (was it because we'd found it via random turns, hence not being able to find it again?). This year, we were on a mission to find it again. A google search got us there.
Upon arrival, you can either choose a pre-cut tree (where's the fun in that?), or hop aboard a cart that is pulled by two large horses. While I don't think they're Clydesdales, they're pretty friggin' huge. Out we go to the field. This is where the tradition really gets fun. We all split up and start scouring the field for the perfect tree. Inevitably, we find one early, but what if there is a better one out there? Someone needs to stay put and guard that tree while the rest of us trek the lot looking for more. For some reason, we seem to always go back to the first one. Gut instinct I guess. This year, we apparently ventured into the high end trees, as this 7 footer ended up costing about $80...thanks mom! (I guess they need to get their horse maintenance expenses somewhere.)
I wanted to go to the horsey place because I know that Alexis will enjoy it as much as I do. That being said, it's just like everything else this Xmas - she's a bit too young to appreciate it. Before heading out, I purchased an inexpensive baby carrier thing so I could strap her to my chest to lug her around the field. She was wearing tights, fleece pants, long sleeves, fleece hooded jacket, and a hat (she never wears them b/c she hates them, but no choice in that weather). She was in the carrier, and I then covered her whole body with a heavy fleece blanket. Alas, it was the kind of weather where the wind chaps your face and it's hard to talk b/c your lips are frozen. She was ok at first, but in time I ended up covering her entirely with the blanket, face and all.
I meant well, but we probably should have waited a year before taking her along (were the near purple feet an indicator of that when we got home?). Next year, she'll be covered top to bottom, including mittens, scarf, hat, boots, etc. But I am very happy that we kept the tradition going and had our fun picking out the tree (freezing weather and all). You can't plan traditions, but those that do arise are what makes time with the family that much more enjoyable, even if it does cost $80 in foliage fees.
Every year, my family would go out on a mission to find a live Xmas tree to chop down. Once Jamie and I became "serious" (which was what, 9 years ago?), we allowed him to partake in the ritual. We had one specific place we ventured to each year, however, to our surprise (and dismay), one year it was suddenly closed. Had the tree business become too expensive? Should they have stopped handing out free hot chocolate to keep costs down? What about Santa? Were his wages too much for the tree farm to handle?
In any case, we had a few years of driving around randomly in search of a comparable location. We'd follow the hand painted signs promising available foliage, but most of the time they were cruddy little lots or fields of mediocre pines. Suddenly, a couple years ago, we came across a great farm that had potential. For some reason we did not go there the last two years (was it because we'd found it via random turns, hence not being able to find it again?). This year, we were on a mission to find it again. A google search got us there.
Upon arrival, you can either choose a pre-cut tree (where's the fun in that?), or hop aboard a cart that is pulled by two large horses. While I don't think they're Clydesdales, they're pretty friggin' huge. Out we go to the field. This is where the tradition really gets fun. We all split up and start scouring the field for the perfect tree. Inevitably, we find one early, but what if there is a better one out there? Someone needs to stay put and guard that tree while the rest of us trek the lot looking for more. For some reason, we seem to always go back to the first one. Gut instinct I guess. This year, we apparently ventured into the high end trees, as this 7 footer ended up costing about $80...thanks mom! (I guess they need to get their horse maintenance expenses somewhere.)
I wanted to go to the horsey place because I know that Alexis will enjoy it as much as I do. That being said, it's just like everything else this Xmas - she's a bit too young to appreciate it. Before heading out, I purchased an inexpensive baby carrier thing so I could strap her to my chest to lug her around the field. She was wearing tights, fleece pants, long sleeves, fleece hooded jacket, and a hat (she never wears them b/c she hates them, but no choice in that weather). She was in the carrier, and I then covered her whole body with a heavy fleece blanket. Alas, it was the kind of weather where the wind chaps your face and it's hard to talk b/c your lips are frozen. She was ok at first, but in time I ended up covering her entirely with the blanket, face and all.
I meant well, but we probably should have waited a year before taking her along (were the near purple feet an indicator of that when we got home?). Next year, she'll be covered top to bottom, including mittens, scarf, hat, boots, etc. But I am very happy that we kept the tradition going and had our fun picking out the tree (freezing weather and all). You can't plan traditions, but those that do arise are what makes time with the family that much more enjoyable, even if it does cost $80 in foliage fees.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
tissue please...
Alexis has become absolutely adorable, and not just in terms of her appearance (though she's painfully cute in that arena as well). She has become so interactive, so aware of her surroundings, and so easily amused (and also easily bored, but that's not what this post is about, so moving along), that I love spending time with her. I believe that I might be able to attribute some of this to her time spent in daycare, where she has gazillions of toys to play with and multiple adults and children to flirt with (oh yes, she no longer saves her smiles just for us...traitor).
In any case, last night I was sitting on the couch and had her on her back, laying on my legs, looking up at me. I was holding a toy above her head, and while the toy is incredible light, eventually my arm was ready to fall off and I had to pull it from her grasp and put it down. Perhaps it's time to hit the gym again to build the endurance to hold that thingy up? Anyway, I started talking to her about random things, and I realized that she was reaching for my face. I'm glad I recently cut her nails, or else I'd be coming in to work with some lovely little scratches on my cheeks. And then she did the cutest thing. She took each hand and placed them flat on my cheeks, as if cupping my enormous head in her tiny hands. And she just looked at me.
Jamie was sitting next to me, laughed, and asked if I needed a tissue. I'm a person that cries easily (which of course is lovely for Jamie when we argue), but I held it back. Had she done it again instead of looking to the side and eyeballing the toy I was holding before, I might have become a sap in this situation, but regardless, it was sweet enough that I got all cheesy about it. Why am I mom, now accepting times when she's a miserable mess? Because of moments like that. Keep the Kleenex handy, I know there's more to come.
In any case, last night I was sitting on the couch and had her on her back, laying on my legs, looking up at me. I was holding a toy above her head, and while the toy is incredible light, eventually my arm was ready to fall off and I had to pull it from her grasp and put it down. Perhaps it's time to hit the gym again to build the endurance to hold that thingy up? Anyway, I started talking to her about random things, and I realized that she was reaching for my face. I'm glad I recently cut her nails, or else I'd be coming in to work with some lovely little scratches on my cheeks. And then she did the cutest thing. She took each hand and placed them flat on my cheeks, as if cupping my enormous head in her tiny hands. And she just looked at me.
Jamie was sitting next to me, laughed, and asked if I needed a tissue. I'm a person that cries easily (which of course is lovely for Jamie when we argue), but I held it back. Had she done it again instead of looking to the side and eyeballing the toy I was holding before, I might have become a sap in this situation, but regardless, it was sweet enough that I got all cheesy about it. Why am I mom, now accepting times when she's a miserable mess? Because of moments like that. Keep the Kleenex handy, I know there's more to come.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
doctor who...
Near the end of my pregnancy, I began perusing for a pediatrician. Online you can find all sorts of interview questions to ask the doctor during a "get to know the pediatrician" appointment (I had no idea there was such a thing). I decided to stay in the same group of health care professionals as my OB/GYN and my neurologist. I met the doc, and she seemed fine. How can you tell? They all seem nice when you meet them. It's not like she's going to say, "I really don't enjoy being a doctor and I probably won't be able to diagnose lots of childhood diseases, but we'd love to have you as one of our patients."
During our well visits (the routine ones where all the shots and physicals happen), the pediatricians were nice (I tested all three in the practice to help me figure out the best one). Give a shot, check the eyes, mouth, etc, ask if I have questions, and out they go. Redress the baby, gather up her things, pay the co-pay, and you're done.
Once this rash thing came up (see an earlier post), I of course took her to the doc to figure this whole thing out. I knew, heading to that appointment, that I wasn't going to leave there with the answer. That's just not how it works. I went to the appointment with pictures of the rash at its worst and a bottle in hand to feed her in front of them so that they could see this instantaneous magically appearing and disappearing rash. It made sense to me. I told the nurse that was checking her in that I wanted to feed her in the room so that they could see. "Oh, you don't need to feed her" I was told twice. Hmmm...ok.
The doctor then came in and I told her about the rash. I realized I'd forgotten the pictures outside, and groaned out loud that I didn't have them. Loved what came out of her mouth..."We don't need that, I know what a rash looks like." I was given a number to a GI doc. I asked whether I should try Soy formula. "If you'd like to try that, here's a sample size." Why did I need to suggest that?? Shouldn't she have thought to offer up options until we really figured this thing out? Interestingly enough, she seems better on the Soy (though a bit "clogged", but I'd rather have a constipated baby then a red one, though she may disagree).
I've decided to try out a different practice. Pediatricians should know that they're dealing with first time moms with little infants. Knowing that, they should comfort me while talking reason into me where necessary. Don't coddle me, but don't dismiss me.
I've never liked the medical community, and I don't think that will ever change. I've been told, and have now learned, to follow my gut. My little one can't tell me what's wrong, so I have to use that instinct I apparently developed when the baby popped out and help her "speak" to figure things out. That's what I'm here for (hopefully among other things). They don't call it practicing medicine for nothing.
During our well visits (the routine ones where all the shots and physicals happen), the pediatricians were nice (I tested all three in the practice to help me figure out the best one). Give a shot, check the eyes, mouth, etc, ask if I have questions, and out they go. Redress the baby, gather up her things, pay the co-pay, and you're done.
Once this rash thing came up (see an earlier post), I of course took her to the doc to figure this whole thing out. I knew, heading to that appointment, that I wasn't going to leave there with the answer. That's just not how it works. I went to the appointment with pictures of the rash at its worst and a bottle in hand to feed her in front of them so that they could see this instantaneous magically appearing and disappearing rash. It made sense to me. I told the nurse that was checking her in that I wanted to feed her in the room so that they could see. "Oh, you don't need to feed her" I was told twice. Hmmm...ok.
The doctor then came in and I told her about the rash. I realized I'd forgotten the pictures outside, and groaned out loud that I didn't have them. Loved what came out of her mouth..."We don't need that, I know what a rash looks like." I was given a number to a GI doc. I asked whether I should try Soy formula. "If you'd like to try that, here's a sample size." Why did I need to suggest that?? Shouldn't she have thought to offer up options until we really figured this thing out? Interestingly enough, she seems better on the Soy (though a bit "clogged", but I'd rather have a constipated baby then a red one, though she may disagree).
I've decided to try out a different practice. Pediatricians should know that they're dealing with first time moms with little infants. Knowing that, they should comfort me while talking reason into me where necessary. Don't coddle me, but don't dismiss me.
I've never liked the medical community, and I don't think that will ever change. I've been told, and have now learned, to follow my gut. My little one can't tell me what's wrong, so I have to use that instinct I apparently developed when the baby popped out and help her "speak" to figure things out. That's what I'm here for (hopefully among other things). They don't call it practicing medicine for nothing.
Friday, December 12, 2008
easy does it...
During a pregnancy, you're blessed with a baby shower or two (I had one at work and at home). I say blessed because you get a ton of things you need, plus lots of gift certificates, which are so needed when a little critter comes that eats and poops you out of house and home. (That sounds funny...I mean money for diapers and formula, of course...not actual poop overflowing in our home that forces us to live outside.) You also get bigger gifts from family members. These are the expensive ones that help you get on your feet and make you realize that not only are grandparents great for the love and attention they provide, but also for the cash they're willing to spend on her! (Just kidding grandmoms...sort of.)
One of the most pricey items, to my surprise, was the stroller system. This $300 jobbie allows you to pull a baby carrier in and out of the stroller with one click, and you can also click it in and out of a car seat base that's strapped to your seat. Another benefit? You can buy two bases and just use one seat. Another supposed benefit? If baby is sleeping, you can just pull the carrier out of the car and either tote her around or drop her in the stroller without disturbing her. Yeah...right.
The other day she was sleeping soundly in the car (as most babies do, thank god), and had been grumpy that day, so I didn't want her to wake up when we arrived at our destination. I said to Jamie, "pull her out of the car gently so she doesn't wake up." By the time we had her out of the car, both of us were laughing at just how un-gently we pulled her from the vehicle. In Jamie's Audi, you have to climb into the back on a knee, then grasp the front and back of the carrier, find the magical orange lever, jostle it to get it loose, then swing her out of the car holding on to the large handle at the top. This is NOT a smooth ride. Even in my Element, where she's more accessible, lifting her out almost begs for her to raise her arms up in the air and coo in glee as she rides the car seat roller coaster.
The Chicco folks had the best intentions with this bright red contraption. All baby brands have similar stroller systems. As expecting moms, we decide we have to have them...we're supposed to right? Never mind the fact that once she's too big for the carrier (approx 30lbs), we then have to invest in two convertible, bigger carseats (which run about $200 a pop). But I'm being rude to the systems - there really is a benefit to them, and dropping $300 on it (or having Omi drop $300 on it) is worth it. I just wish that on the box they showed that little baby with their arms in the air, and below that a picture of a parent squashed into a vehicle trying to grasp the handle, and finally a picture of a baby crying in the seat next to the car because she woke up. I'd like a warning label and a line on the box that says "you must be this tall to ride".
One of the most pricey items, to my surprise, was the stroller system. This $300 jobbie allows you to pull a baby carrier in and out of the stroller with one click, and you can also click it in and out of a car seat base that's strapped to your seat. Another benefit? You can buy two bases and just use one seat. Another supposed benefit? If baby is sleeping, you can just pull the carrier out of the car and either tote her around or drop her in the stroller without disturbing her. Yeah...right.The other day she was sleeping soundly in the car (as most babies do, thank god), and had been grumpy that day, so I didn't want her to wake up when we arrived at our destination. I said to Jamie, "pull her out of the car gently so she doesn't wake up." By the time we had her out of the car, both of us were laughing at just how un-gently we pulled her from the vehicle. In Jamie's Audi, you have to climb into the back on a knee, then grasp the front and back of the carrier, find the magical orange lever, jostle it to get it loose, then swing her out of the car holding on to the large handle at the top. This is NOT a smooth ride. Even in my Element, where she's more accessible, lifting her out almost begs for her to raise her arms up in the air and coo in glee as she rides the car seat roller coaster.
The Chicco folks had the best intentions with this bright red contraption. All baby brands have similar stroller systems. As expecting moms, we decide we have to have them...we're supposed to right? Never mind the fact that once she's too big for the carrier (approx 30lbs), we then have to invest in two convertible, bigger carseats (which run about $200 a pop). But I'm being rude to the systems - there really is a benefit to them, and dropping $300 on it (or having Omi drop $300 on it) is worth it. I just wish that on the box they showed that little baby with their arms in the air, and below that a picture of a parent squashed into a vehicle trying to grasp the handle, and finally a picture of a baby crying in the seat next to the car because she woke up. I'd like a warning label and a line on the box that says "you must be this tall to ride".
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
pretty in pink...
We've suddenly run into a new feeding time development. We'd been noticing that her face would get red when she ate, but I honestly thought that she was sucking so hard that she was turning red and that moving up a nipple size would fix it. I kept the nipple size the same though, because when I did go up it seemed like she was backing off because it was coming out too fast. (You just can't make these buggers happy sometimes.)
In any case, I got a call from the family center on Monday. She asked if I could come down and check out Alexis because she had some sort of rash. Turns out that the redness on her face was extending down her body, but since I never feed my child naked (because what reason would I have to do that), I never saw that it was on her tummy and back. (The caregiver noticed because she saw it on her neck and thought to look down her back.) It starts pretty much instantly when she eats (we fed the poor girl in only a diaper in the center and watched her as she ate). It's not raised, it's not pimply, they're not uniform in size. It's just bright pink splotches. If I rub on the splotch hard, it doesn't bother her, so it's not an irritating rash. I have no idea how an infant would scratch, but if she could she doesn't seem itchy. 15-20 minutes later, it's gone. No fussiness, no funny poo, no spitting up or throwing up. Just hot pink blotches for a bit.
I talked to my pediatricians office two days in a row now. First time, since there's no fever or any sort of anything different except for the skin color, they told me to keep an eye on it. Then the next day, when it kept happening (and her body temperature seems to fluctuate with the redness too, going up a notch), I called again. This time? Try Alementum, which is this FRIGGIN expensive formula. Bought that, tried that, and she still got pink today (though less-so). Seems like this will be a bit of testing until we hit the right variable.
This is a perfect example of the trial and error involved in raising a baby. They can't talk, so you simply have to guess based on things like cries, poops, spitting up/throwing up, temperature, fussiness, etc. Trade one thing out at a time and see what happens. It's like that whether it's sleeping habits, calming them down, and apparently figuring out what to feed them. I'm not in a total panic about this since there is nothing else that's happening to her, but it's not normal, so we do need to figure it out.
Someone (a psychologist at my work) suggested that maybe she's just SO excited to eat that she's turning splotchy. Not likely, but an interesting thought. My problem with that concept? She's beautiful, but no one is going to want to date a girl that's a heifer obsessed with food and sitting in the cafeteria turning pink. Sounds like we'll need to line up a psychologist and a personal trainer for her now a while. Wonder if there's a savings plan for that?
(I'll keep you all posted about the food thing. We'll see how it goes!)
In any case, I got a call from the family center on Monday. She asked if I could come down and check out Alexis because she had some sort of rash. Turns out that the redness on her face was extending down her body, but since I never feed my child naked (because what reason would I have to do that), I never saw that it was on her tummy and back. (The caregiver noticed because she saw it on her neck and thought to look down her back.) It starts pretty much instantly when she eats (we fed the poor girl in only a diaper in the center and watched her as she ate). It's not raised, it's not pimply, they're not uniform in size. It's just bright pink splotches. If I rub on the splotch hard, it doesn't bother her, so it's not an irritating rash. I have no idea how an infant would scratch, but if she could she doesn't seem itchy. 15-20 minutes later, it's gone. No fussiness, no funny poo, no spitting up or throwing up. Just hot pink blotches for a bit.
I talked to my pediatricians office two days in a row now. First time, since there's no fever or any sort of anything different except for the skin color, they told me to keep an eye on it. Then the next day, when it kept happening (and her body temperature seems to fluctuate with the redness too, going up a notch), I called again. This time? Try Alementum, which is this FRIGGIN expensive formula. Bought that, tried that, and she still got pink today (though less-so). Seems like this will be a bit of testing until we hit the right variable.
This is a perfect example of the trial and error involved in raising a baby. They can't talk, so you simply have to guess based on things like cries, poops, spitting up/throwing up, temperature, fussiness, etc. Trade one thing out at a time and see what happens. It's like that whether it's sleeping habits, calming them down, and apparently figuring out what to feed them. I'm not in a total panic about this since there is nothing else that's happening to her, but it's not normal, so we do need to figure it out.
Someone (a psychologist at my work) suggested that maybe she's just SO excited to eat that she's turning splotchy. Not likely, but an interesting thought. My problem with that concept? She's beautiful, but no one is going to want to date a girl that's a heifer obsessed with food and sitting in the cafeteria turning pink. Sounds like we'll need to line up a psychologist and a personal trainer for her now a while. Wonder if there's a savings plan for that?
(I'll keep you all posted about the food thing. We'll see how it goes!)
Monday, December 8, 2008
strike a pose...
Our Xmas pictures are done! Instead of a pic to stick into a border with a message on the side, we decided to take some pictures and slip them into each Xmas card that we're sending out. Since we have quite a few people/pets to get into the picture, we decided (correction - I decided and Jamie got into the shot) to set up the tri-pod, have us all hop into bed in our PJs, get the baby and dogs oriented (all of this in the little window of time you have when you set up the auto-timer) and hope it all looks nice!
We took a ton of pictures so that we'd be able to pick out a nice one. There was one that stood out, simply because Alexis is actually looking up (thanks to our brilliant idea of having the ceiling fan on), the dogs are looking forward (we asked them "who's here?!" which put them both at attention) and Jamie and I have great smiles. Unfortunately, I put my chin down a bit too much and I have a fat face. Now people are going to think, "aww...poor girl...she hasn't lost her baby weight", when in fact it's all gone! Oh well - I'll sacrifice my beauty and take one for the team. We also took a close up of the little girl that's absolutely beautiful.
So where are these magnificent photos? You'll have to wait. I don't want to ruin the surprise for those that will be receiving Xmas cards, and for those who aren't, you'll simply need to wait until after the holiday when I'll post them for public viewing. Stay on the edge of your seat - you won't be disappointed.
We took a ton of pictures so that we'd be able to pick out a nice one. There was one that stood out, simply because Alexis is actually looking up (thanks to our brilliant idea of having the ceiling fan on), the dogs are looking forward (we asked them "who's here?!" which put them both at attention) and Jamie and I have great smiles. Unfortunately, I put my chin down a bit too much and I have a fat face. Now people are going to think, "aww...poor girl...she hasn't lost her baby weight", when in fact it's all gone! Oh well - I'll sacrifice my beauty and take one for the team. We also took a close up of the little girl that's absolutely beautiful.
So where are these magnificent photos? You'll have to wait. I don't want to ruin the surprise for those that will be receiving Xmas cards, and for those who aren't, you'll simply need to wait until after the holiday when I'll post them for public viewing. Stay on the edge of your seat - you won't be disappointed.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
lots of new pix...
Lots of new pictures for your enjoyment...
Tummy time!
She's been "spinning" in the crib and I find her perpendicular or backwards in the morning. Not sure why or how, but whatever!
Spinning's ok though mom, thumbs up!
Hangin' out on the mini-boppy
Friday, December 5, 2008
is anybody home?...
I was driving home from work, and was struck by something I saw. While I was keeping my eye on the road with hands at 2 and 10 (or is it supposed to be 3 and 9...I need to go back to driver's ed apparently), I glanced to the side as I passed by one of the nice developments in our area. They're good sized houses. I wouldn't call them McMansions, but it's definitely better then our 1950's little brick cape.
As I'm driving by, I realize that most of the houses are dark. (It's easy to notice how dark things are when it's getting dark by what feels like noon.) Of course they had outdoor lights on...spotlights, lamp posts, sconces, etc. And since it's that time of year, there were plenty of Xmas lights switched on, no doubt, by auto-timers, Home Alone style. I come to the conclusion that even though it's about 5:00PM, no one is home...that's why it's dark. (I'm making the assumption that it wasn't a development full of people with keen night vision that don't need lights.)
Families are away all day long. Mom and dad at work, child at daycare/school. If there are cats or dogs, they're holding down the fort. Everyone gets home between 5 and 6, and nighttime routines start. Unpack daily "stuff" (lunch bags, coffee mugs, paperwork, school work, work from home work, etc). Get dinner ready (if someone in the house cooks, that is...otherwise someone's digging out a take-out menu). Hang out a bit, then time for kids to get ready for bed. Get stuff together for the next day (both for parent and child) and then crash on the couch or dive into bed. Sleep, get up, rush to work, and suddenly the week is over.
We work hard to have bigger homes. But by working hard we have less time to enjoy the large homes we work hard for. We also work hard to provide for our families. But while we're bringing home good dual incomes, we're passing up on quality time with each other. We want dogs for companions, but our companions spend the day at home alone waiting for their owners to come, but we don't have time to fetch or walk with them when we get home.
I'm not trying to be overly dramatic or whine about this. But now that I'm mom, it's really become apparent to me. The fabulous women at the daycare center? They're essentially raising my daughter. I help out 2/7th's of the time (Sat and Sun).
This is our world, these are our norms, and this is what our culture supports. As I mentioned in a previous post, it's all about priorities now for me. It's about maxing out the time that we have in the evenings and the weekends. It's about being ok in our 1950's cape and focusing on our family values versus our property value. We're not going to get this time with each other back. The big house will come in time (though in this economy I'm not so sure). Right now, I just want people to drive by between 4 and 5 and see my kitchen and living room lights. They might not be home yet, but me and baby are!
As I'm driving by, I realize that most of the houses are dark. (It's easy to notice how dark things are when it's getting dark by what feels like noon.) Of course they had outdoor lights on...spotlights, lamp posts, sconces, etc. And since it's that time of year, there were plenty of Xmas lights switched on, no doubt, by auto-timers, Home Alone style. I come to the conclusion that even though it's about 5:00PM, no one is home...that's why it's dark. (I'm making the assumption that it wasn't a development full of people with keen night vision that don't need lights.)
Families are away all day long. Mom and dad at work, child at daycare/school. If there are cats or dogs, they're holding down the fort. Everyone gets home between 5 and 6, and nighttime routines start. Unpack daily "stuff" (lunch bags, coffee mugs, paperwork, school work, work from home work, etc). Get dinner ready (if someone in the house cooks, that is...otherwise someone's digging out a take-out menu). Hang out a bit, then time for kids to get ready for bed. Get stuff together for the next day (both for parent and child) and then crash on the couch or dive into bed. Sleep, get up, rush to work, and suddenly the week is over.
We work hard to have bigger homes. But by working hard we have less time to enjoy the large homes we work hard for. We also work hard to provide for our families. But while we're bringing home good dual incomes, we're passing up on quality time with each other. We want dogs for companions, but our companions spend the day at home alone waiting for their owners to come, but we don't have time to fetch or walk with them when we get home.
I'm not trying to be overly dramatic or whine about this. But now that I'm mom, it's really become apparent to me. The fabulous women at the daycare center? They're essentially raising my daughter. I help out 2/7th's of the time (Sat and Sun).
This is our world, these are our norms, and this is what our culture supports. As I mentioned in a previous post, it's all about priorities now for me. It's about maxing out the time that we have in the evenings and the weekends. It's about being ok in our 1950's cape and focusing on our family values versus our property value. We're not going to get this time with each other back. The big house will come in time (though in this economy I'm not so sure). Right now, I just want people to drive by between 4 and 5 and see my kitchen and living room lights. They might not be home yet, but me and baby are!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
the devil scares me...
Old Navy is one of the best stores for baby clothes. Not only are they cute and un-frilly, but they're also inexpensive. This little number was on sale because technically, it's a Halloween onesie. I don't see why a child can't wear a onesie that says "Daddy's Little Devil" every day throughout the year.
The first picture is while she's still intrigued by the flash and enjoying picture time. The next one? Well that one is her deciding that the flash is no longer fun.
apples to oranges...
Goodness - this posting thing is getting harder as my evenings are getting shorter (or more packed with chores, that is).
Having Alexis in the childcare center has been amazing. While there are pros and cons to having a child in daycare, there are definitely benefits that I'm beginning to see. They are constantly interacting with her, providing stimulation through toys, books, talking, etc. When I was home with her, I felt that I didn't have much to offer. Here's your swing...here's your bouncy seat...let's check out the ceiling fan...sorry girl, that's all I have. Just their plethora of toys alone out trumps what I can offer her (plus it keeps our home much less cluttered). I am absolutely in love with Miss Zina and Miss Emily, and dread the day where I need to say goodbye to them for the last time and instead drop my little one off at her new destination - the Goddard School. Wow - I think I just got a bit choked up over that one...moving along...
In the infant room, there were 3 babies at one time. (She has suddenly become the only infant, which guarantees a lot of one-on-one interaction and spoiling, but it seems a bit lonely too.) Each day when I drop her off or pick her up, I'd observe the other two as well. After checking them out, I'd take a look at the white board that charts name, age, next diaper, next bottle, etc. (When dealing with multiple infants, diligent note taking seems to be the key.) I look at their age, then look at what they're doing, then look at my daughter.
Suddenly you start to get that creeping feeling that maybe your child isn't developing properly. He's got that expression on his face and he's a month older then her...she isn't looking at me like that yet...will she? His head seems strong, and he's only a few weeks ahead of her. Will she get that strong or is her neck cursed to be wobbly for life?
If I'm going to constantly play this game in my head, then it's a battle I should be prepared to lose. I've already determined that I need to stop reading the Internet. Babycenter offers a WEEKLY update on what your child should be doing. I understand monthly milestones, but weekly?! Of course it's going to vary and throw you off kilter. What's almost humorous is that at the bottom of each summary, they add the disclaimer that each child develops differently. If that's the case, then don't tell me that on week 3 of month 2 she should be making this or that noise or should be making this much or that much eye contact. Let me enjoy this time with her and allow me and her pediatrician to determine what's right or wrong.
In the baby world, it's impossible to compare apples to apples - babies come in a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables. I, for one, intend to love my grape on a weekly basis, and when, in time, she becomes a raisin, grape juice, and then wine, I'll appreciate the fact that I kept all of my concerns out of my head and loved every second of it.
Having Alexis in the childcare center has been amazing. While there are pros and cons to having a child in daycare, there are definitely benefits that I'm beginning to see. They are constantly interacting with her, providing stimulation through toys, books, talking, etc. When I was home with her, I felt that I didn't have much to offer. Here's your swing...here's your bouncy seat...let's check out the ceiling fan...sorry girl, that's all I have. Just their plethora of toys alone out trumps what I can offer her (plus it keeps our home much less cluttered). I am absolutely in love with Miss Zina and Miss Emily, and dread the day where I need to say goodbye to them for the last time and instead drop my little one off at her new destination - the Goddard School. Wow - I think I just got a bit choked up over that one...moving along...
In the infant room, there were 3 babies at one time. (She has suddenly become the only infant, which guarantees a lot of one-on-one interaction and spoiling, but it seems a bit lonely too.) Each day when I drop her off or pick her up, I'd observe the other two as well. After checking them out, I'd take a look at the white board that charts name, age, next diaper, next bottle, etc. (When dealing with multiple infants, diligent note taking seems to be the key.) I look at their age, then look at what they're doing, then look at my daughter.
Suddenly you start to get that creeping feeling that maybe your child isn't developing properly. He's got that expression on his face and he's a month older then her...she isn't looking at me like that yet...will she? His head seems strong, and he's only a few weeks ahead of her. Will she get that strong or is her neck cursed to be wobbly for life?
If I'm going to constantly play this game in my head, then it's a battle I should be prepared to lose. I've already determined that I need to stop reading the Internet. Babycenter offers a WEEKLY update on what your child should be doing. I understand monthly milestones, but weekly?! Of course it's going to vary and throw you off kilter. What's almost humorous is that at the bottom of each summary, they add the disclaimer that each child develops differently. If that's the case, then don't tell me that on week 3 of month 2 she should be making this or that noise or should be making this much or that much eye contact. Let me enjoy this time with her and allow me and her pediatrician to determine what's right or wrong.
In the baby world, it's impossible to compare apples to apples - babies come in a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables. I, for one, intend to love my grape on a weekly basis, and when, in time, she becomes a raisin, grape juice, and then wine, I'll appreciate the fact that I kept all of my concerns out of my head and loved every second of it.
Friday, November 28, 2008
times change...
Our little one is on a relatively strict schedule in the evening. We found that the schedule works great and ensures a nice quiet night.
7:00 - Miscellaneous nap time...she gets tired and gets whiny, so inevitably one of the pushover parents will hold her until she's asleep and then naps for a bit. Occasionally she'll hang with us and stay awake. All depends on what time she last had the bottle.
8:00 - Mom preps bath, dad preps baby for bath. Once I'm ready in front of the tub, Jamie comes from bedroom to bathroom with poor naked baby hanging at arms length. I guess Karma is a b*tch...pee on daddy twice and that's how you'll be carried. After bath, dad takes baby, puts on diaper, lotion, and PJs while I clean up tub and stuff. Mom's also prepping the good-night bottle so that dad can feed her once he's done getting baby all ready.
8:15 - Dad feeds baby while mom sees if there's any last minute stuff to get ready in baby's room before bed.
8:30 - Dad says goodnight and passes off the drunk baby to me. A little extra back patting on the way to the bedroom (those darn bubbles are apparently very painful). Then we sing some twinkle twinkle (don't have much else in the lullaby arsenal), I put her down, and that's it. Sleeps through until the morning. Beautiful!!
If we stray, we've found that the results are not good. With Thanksgiving yesterday, everything was too bright and new, so she didn't sleep there and freaked out a good bit. Once we got home around 9:00, we did PJs, bottle, bed, and she was out like a light. Then she woke up at 4:30 though. Ugh. She apparently had no intention of going back to sleep, so at around 5:15 I finally gave in with a bottle.
As with dogs, babies seem to thrive on routine and predictable patterns. Hopefully, in time, she'll be more flexible, but for now, don't expect to have much fun with us all night. Even though she's the baby, she's given us a curfew. We'll remember that when she asks to stay out until 12:30am to hang with a boyfriend. Again, Karma's a b***h.
7:00 - Miscellaneous nap time...she gets tired and gets whiny, so inevitably one of the pushover parents will hold her until she's asleep and then naps for a bit. Occasionally she'll hang with us and stay awake. All depends on what time she last had the bottle.
8:00 - Mom preps bath, dad preps baby for bath. Once I'm ready in front of the tub, Jamie comes from bedroom to bathroom with poor naked baby hanging at arms length. I guess Karma is a b*tch...pee on daddy twice and that's how you'll be carried. After bath, dad takes baby, puts on diaper, lotion, and PJs while I clean up tub and stuff. Mom's also prepping the good-night bottle so that dad can feed her once he's done getting baby all ready.
8:15 - Dad feeds baby while mom sees if there's any last minute stuff to get ready in baby's room before bed.
8:30 - Dad says goodnight and passes off the drunk baby to me. A little extra back patting on the way to the bedroom (those darn bubbles are apparently very painful). Then we sing some twinkle twinkle (don't have much else in the lullaby arsenal), I put her down, and that's it. Sleeps through until the morning. Beautiful!!
If we stray, we've found that the results are not good. With Thanksgiving yesterday, everything was too bright and new, so she didn't sleep there and freaked out a good bit. Once we got home around 9:00, we did PJs, bottle, bed, and she was out like a light. Then she woke up at 4:30 though. Ugh. She apparently had no intention of going back to sleep, so at around 5:15 I finally gave in with a bottle.
As with dogs, babies seem to thrive on routine and predictable patterns. Hopefully, in time, she'll be more flexible, but for now, don't expect to have much fun with us all night. Even though she's the baby, she's given us a curfew. We'll remember that when she asks to stay out until 12:30am to hang with a boyfriend. Again, Karma's a b***h.
Monday, November 24, 2008
crack the windows?...
Now that I'm back to work, me and the little one are traveling together quite more then ever before. The drive morning and night is about 30 minutes, give or take how many school buses I run in to (and by run in to, I don't mean actually hitting them) and how many other people decide they need to leave their house or work at the exact same time as me. As a smart mommy, I try to time her feedings around the commute to make sure she's good and liquored up.
Inevitably, people need to stop for small things on their way home. "Honey, can you pick up some milk on the way home?" "Dear, we're out of toilet paper, can you grab some quick before you get home?" Before baby, this was no problem. Run in and a couple of dollars later, you're in the car with the milk or bread or whatever. Need to pick up a prescription and have some sort of odd reason why you can't use the drive through? Take a quick trip into CVS, head to the back, talk to the people who seem to be playing dress up with pseudo-pharmacist garb, and then go home, ready to medicate when needed.
But now, life isn't that easy (which of course was a given considering I'm mom now). I ran into the dilemma today when a milk shortage prompted a quick call. "Hey, since you need to stop and get gas, can you run in and grab some milk?" The question popped into my head as to where all the Wawas were on his way home, but that's neither here nor there. I'm driving along, and suddenly I think to myself, do I need to lug this heavy carseat/carrier into Wawa just for a single jug of milk? It'll only take a minute...can I leave her in the car? Of course I'd keep the doors locked, but is that something socially acceptable? The tinted back windows keep her hidden from outside eyes. But someone would randomly walk past my car, trip, smoosh their face onto my windows, at which point they'd see the abandoned baby and call the police.
Needless to say, I ended up at home milk-less. There may have been a time when parents left their kids in the car while they went grocery shopping. Heck, when my mom did that with me I think her station wagon didn't even have seat belts in the back. I wasn't safe when the car was moving, so what could possibly happen in a stationary vehicle? I'm sure when children were in the wagons on the Oregon Trail, they stayed put while parents went hunting for critters to eat. While I do remember all the fatal things that could happen to you in the Oregon Trail game, I do not recall them ever telling me that my computer child died by being abducted by psychotic wilderness people.
There needs to be a book out there with the protocol for things like this. There could be stipulations. If the register is by a large window 10 feet from the vehicle and the vehicle is in plain sight, it is permitted. If the parking lot is 10 or more feet from the store and there are no windows, then it's a no go. Until I find that book, I will defer to taking her with me whenever I venture in anywhere, no matter how remedial the chore may be. If I knock over the chocolate covered pretzels hanging from a dinky display at CVS with the cumbersome car seat, I'll blame this society that we now live in, chock-full-o psychos and sickos. And then I'll pick up some pretzels for my troubles.
Inevitably, people need to stop for small things on their way home. "Honey, can you pick up some milk on the way home?" "Dear, we're out of toilet paper, can you grab some quick before you get home?" Before baby, this was no problem. Run in and a couple of dollars later, you're in the car with the milk or bread or whatever. Need to pick up a prescription and have some sort of odd reason why you can't use the drive through? Take a quick trip into CVS, head to the back, talk to the people who seem to be playing dress up with pseudo-pharmacist garb, and then go home, ready to medicate when needed.
But now, life isn't that easy (which of course was a given considering I'm mom now). I ran into the dilemma today when a milk shortage prompted a quick call. "Hey, since you need to stop and get gas, can you run in and grab some milk?" The question popped into my head as to where all the Wawas were on his way home, but that's neither here nor there. I'm driving along, and suddenly I think to myself, do I need to lug this heavy carseat/carrier into Wawa just for a single jug of milk? It'll only take a minute...can I leave her in the car? Of course I'd keep the doors locked, but is that something socially acceptable? The tinted back windows keep her hidden from outside eyes. But someone would randomly walk past my car, trip, smoosh their face onto my windows, at which point they'd see the abandoned baby and call the police.
Needless to say, I ended up at home milk-less. There may have been a time when parents left their kids in the car while they went grocery shopping. Heck, when my mom did that with me I think her station wagon didn't even have seat belts in the back. I wasn't safe when the car was moving, so what could possibly happen in a stationary vehicle? I'm sure when children were in the wagons on the Oregon Trail, they stayed put while parents went hunting for critters to eat. While I do remember all the fatal things that could happen to you in the Oregon Trail game, I do not recall them ever telling me that my computer child died by being abducted by psychotic wilderness people.
There needs to be a book out there with the protocol for things like this. There could be stipulations. If the register is by a large window 10 feet from the vehicle and the vehicle is in plain sight, it is permitted. If the parking lot is 10 or more feet from the store and there are no windows, then it's a no go. Until I find that book, I will defer to taking her with me whenever I venture in anywhere, no matter how remedial the chore may be. If I knock over the chocolate covered pretzels hanging from a dinky display at CVS with the cumbersome car seat, I'll blame this society that we now live in, chock-full-o psychos and sickos. And then I'll pick up some pretzels for my troubles.
Friday, November 21, 2008
look at those legs...
I had started the week with sending her to "school" in her PJs. Why not? What was she going to be doing that required her to be dressed to the 9's? Mind you, she the only girl out of a group of 4, so there are plenty of older men to choose from, but PJs might be very appealing to them (PJ's...bed...there's a connection there). However, once I got a compliment on the cute outfit she wore Tuesday, I felt obligated to be cute every day from there on. She will need to recycle outfits quite quickly - she'll need to suffer the embarrassment of wearing the same onesie twice in close proximity...the horror!
My favorite get-up is a simple white onesie (of which we have plenty) and her pink argyle tights. The tights are size 0-6 months, so on her, they're relatively easy to put on and take off. Were they not, I'd be concerned that the nice ladies at the center would give me dirty looks as I dropped her off and picked her up. When I set her down the morning she wore these tights, she looked awfully slumped. I tried straightening her out (such a heavy head on a wobbly body, I thought), but again, head down. I then realized that she was enthralled with her tights. Babies like contrasting colors, and as you can see by the picture, these jobbies are quite the eye-catchers. She sat there, staring at her tights, and almost seemed to be moving her legs and at the same time reaching for them. I'm pretty sure, however, that she has no idea that the legs are hers, that moving them has nothing to do with the argyle print moving, and that reaching for them means reaching for her own toes. Regardless, I wish I could put on an article of clothing and be content with staring at them. Such inexpensive hours of entertainment.Wednesday, November 19, 2008
didja miss me?...
I missed Tuesday's post. Something tells me this is going to begin to be an every-other-day blog. Such is motherhood.
Today was our third day back to work. I'm starting to get back into the groove of things, but I must say it's been a bit tough to be productive. I have quite a few relationships with employees throughout the company (as in connections/friends, not inappropriate work affairs), and anytime I walk somewhere, I'm stopped frequently to engage in a conversation with someone welcoming me back. My favorite part of each of these conversations is the "you look so great" and "we missed you so much" phrases. Because of the pure enjoyment I get out of hearing this things, I allow myself to become distracted and have these chats. It's fair to be selfish like that, right?
Not only am I adjusting well, but so is Alexis. Each day I receive a sheet that outlines her every move from that day. Times of feedings. Nap times and durations. Diaper changes (complete with places to mark whether it was just wet, whether there was a poopy, or both). It was nice to see that her nap times have extended to longer time periods each day, which is fabulous (the first day it was 15 min there, 20 min here). There is nothing worse then being excited to see your daughter after a long day only to have her scream in your face because she's tired. Thanks dear...great to see you too.
What cracked me up is that this morning my feelings suddenly stopped being about her and were all about me. We arrived and I again looked around the room to find the best spot. I decided on the pile of boppy pillows close to another boy (who can roll around...I was hoping her pillow barrier would keep her safe from the rogue roller). When I looked back as I ventured out of the infant room, I was actually saddened by the fact that she was content and seemed happy! Wait a second dear daughter. Aren't you supposed to miss me? Aren't you supposed to at least give a little whimper because you're going to miss mommy? Do you like being here better then with me? What is wrong with you?!? Speak up little girl!!
But in all honesty, she really is doing well. The teacher told me that she's adjusting well for someone that's only been there three days. Initially I thought, "she tells everyone that", but was informed by a credible source that she does not make a habit of saying things like that. I guess it's important for parents to hear if their kid is a nuisance that just can't hang with the other kids.
We take it one day at a time. By week end she'll scoff at my when I come to visit her, as if to say, "mom, I don't need you here, thank you very much"....they just grow up so fast.
Today was our third day back to work. I'm starting to get back into the groove of things, but I must say it's been a bit tough to be productive. I have quite a few relationships with employees throughout the company (as in connections/friends, not inappropriate work affairs), and anytime I walk somewhere, I'm stopped frequently to engage in a conversation with someone welcoming me back. My favorite part of each of these conversations is the "you look so great" and "we missed you so much" phrases. Because of the pure enjoyment I get out of hearing this things, I allow myself to become distracted and have these chats. It's fair to be selfish like that, right?
Not only am I adjusting well, but so is Alexis. Each day I receive a sheet that outlines her every move from that day. Times of feedings. Nap times and durations. Diaper changes (complete with places to mark whether it was just wet, whether there was a poopy, or both). It was nice to see that her nap times have extended to longer time periods each day, which is fabulous (the first day it was 15 min there, 20 min here). There is nothing worse then being excited to see your daughter after a long day only to have her scream in your face because she's tired. Thanks dear...great to see you too.
What cracked me up is that this morning my feelings suddenly stopped being about her and were all about me. We arrived and I again looked around the room to find the best spot. I decided on the pile of boppy pillows close to another boy (who can roll around...I was hoping her pillow barrier would keep her safe from the rogue roller). When I looked back as I ventured out of the infant room, I was actually saddened by the fact that she was content and seemed happy! Wait a second dear daughter. Aren't you supposed to miss me? Aren't you supposed to at least give a little whimper because you're going to miss mommy? Do you like being here better then with me? What is wrong with you?!? Speak up little girl!!
But in all honesty, she really is doing well. The teacher told me that she's adjusting well for someone that's only been there three days. Initially I thought, "she tells everyone that", but was informed by a credible source that she does not make a habit of saying things like that. I guess it's important for parents to hear if their kid is a nuisance that just can't hang with the other kids.
We take it one day at a time. By week end she'll scoff at my when I come to visit her, as if to say, "mom, I don't need you here, thank you very much".
Monday, November 17, 2008
zina, warrior princess...
This morning I dropped Alexis off at the SEI child care center. While "checking in" for the first time, I started to feel it. I think only women can understand the feeling of tears "welling up" inside. I really do think it creeps up from the heart, as sappy as that sounds. As I'm talking to the infant room teacher I can hear the telltale sound in my voice. Any man that has argued with a woman on the verge of tears knows the sound. The throat tightens, the pitch comes up a bit, and the words come out a bit differently. A woman is at the breaking point at that point. Choose your words wisely. Tip the emotional scale and the waterworks will start. I held on for dear life and managed to suck it up...this was my first day back to work and I couldn't ruin my subtle office mascara.
I then asked where I should place my dear little one, since for some reason it didn't seem that all teachers were rushing my way to dote on her and her alone. One was checking in my bottles, the other was feeding some undeserving little boy. She tells me to put her somewhere she'd be comfortable. I look around...nothing looks good enough for my little diva. I finally opt for an interesting thing that can only be described as a baby pool made out of pillow material. She gives me "the lip". Oh goodness it was terrible. I shook a stuffed fish in her face, the lip went away, and I finally decided to leave quickly and quietly. It was like the feeling before diving into a frigid pool...just do it and get it over with...it's going to feel bad no matter what.
The whole way back to my desk all I can see in my head is my daughter, terribly alone and abandoned, doomed to sit in a strange stuffed pool all day. And that lip...I see the lip in my head the entire time. As a side note, another phenomenon with women's teary state is that, if you do manage to hold the tears back, you can't actually talk about what's wrong. Doing so will break down whatever wall you've managed to build and the crying begins.
I get to my team's area and someone says, "welcome back...how did it go?!". I simply shake my head, raise my hand as I walk by, and hope that she understands - I can't talk now or I'll start weeping. My team is almost all mommies, both new and old, so I was given some hugs and reassurance from the women around me. I dove into a 10:00 meeting which was incredibly rewarding and productive, and for a second I almost forgot about my trying morning. A mid-day visit showed me that my daughter was not still in the makeshift pool, that everyone loved her, and that they seemed to be playing musical Alexis.
This morning I placed my little girl, who I saw every day all day for 10 weeks, in the care of someone else. Zina, the fabulous, kind, and experienced caretaker in the infant room made me feel so at ease. She is strong, confident, yet also understanding of the needs of both the child and the parent (and in the end it really is much harder on mom then baby). She's in good hands with her - Zina is not frail and looks quite tough. If one of the kids from the toddler room starts talking smack and startin' s**t, Zina will be able to rough them up to protect my little one.
I then asked where I should place my dear little one, since for some reason it didn't seem that all teachers were rushing my way to dote on her and her alone. One was checking in my bottles, the other was feeding some undeserving little boy. She tells me to put her somewhere she'd be comfortable. I look around...nothing looks good enough for my little diva. I finally opt for an interesting thing that can only be described as a baby pool made out of pillow material. She gives me "the lip". Oh goodness it was terrible. I shook a stuffed fish in her face, the lip went away, and I finally decided to leave quickly and quietly. It was like the feeling before diving into a frigid pool...just do it and get it over with...it's going to feel bad no matter what.
The whole way back to my desk all I can see in my head is my daughter, terribly alone and abandoned, doomed to sit in a strange stuffed pool all day. And that lip...I see the lip in my head the entire time. As a side note, another phenomenon with women's teary state is that, if you do manage to hold the tears back, you can't actually talk about what's wrong. Doing so will break down whatever wall you've managed to build and the crying begins.
I get to my team's area and someone says, "welcome back...how did it go?!". I simply shake my head, raise my hand as I walk by, and hope that she understands - I can't talk now or I'll start weeping. My team is almost all mommies, both new and old, so I was given some hugs and reassurance from the women around me. I dove into a 10:00 meeting which was incredibly rewarding and productive, and for a second I almost forgot about my trying morning. A mid-day visit showed me that my daughter was not still in the makeshift pool, that everyone loved her, and that they seemed to be playing musical Alexis.
This morning I placed my little girl, who I saw every day all day for 10 weeks, in the care of someone else. Zina, the fabulous, kind, and experienced caretaker in the infant room made me feel so at ease. She is strong, confident, yet also understanding of the needs of both the child and the parent (and in the end it really is much harder on mom then baby). She's in good hands with her - Zina is not frail and looks quite tough. If one of the kids from the toddler room starts talking smack and startin' s**t, Zina will be able to rough them up to protect my little one.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
whatever shall we do?...
For those of you that are very concerned about what will happen with this blog upon me returning to work, do not fret. I know that some of you have been watching your calendar, shedding tears about the 17th looming over your head, knowing that your daily, entertaining break from work may come to an end.
But fear not! I do plan to continue. I won't be able to write in the morning, since that time has already been allotted to all sorts of un-fun things. I can't write during the workday. First of all, that would be a poor use of company resources. Second, and more importantly, there are timestamps on these posts, and if someone from work were to put one and two together, they might say, "wait a second...Jessica wrote this at 11:00...I think she's abusing her computer privileges."
So that leaves the evening. While I know there will be a lot for me to do, I think this will be a nice way to wind down at night before bed. Now, mind you, bedtime may become 8:00 (which is technically before Alexis', but we'll ignore that for now), but I really do want to continue. As my previous post said - prioritize!
I look forward to continuing to share my rants with you (and of course showing you all pictures of my ever growing sweetheart). You better keep reading! I don't just do this for my health you know. Well...maybe I do. Doctors say that journaling is therapeutic, and this is pretty close to me jotting away in a small pink diary, complete with lock, hidden under my mattress. So be my apple a day and help me keep the doctor away.
But fear not! I do plan to continue. I won't be able to write in the morning, since that time has already been allotted to all sorts of un-fun things. I can't write during the workday. First of all, that would be a poor use of company resources. Second, and more importantly, there are timestamps on these posts, and if someone from work were to put one and two together, they might say, "wait a second...Jessica wrote this at 11:00...I think she's abusing her computer privileges."
So that leaves the evening. While I know there will be a lot for me to do, I think this will be a nice way to wind down at night before bed. Now, mind you, bedtime may become 8:00 (which is technically before Alexis', but we'll ignore that for now), but I really do want to continue. As my previous post said - prioritize!
I look forward to continuing to share my rants with you (and of course showing you all pictures of my ever growing sweetheart). You better keep reading! I don't just do this for my health you know. Well...maybe I do. Doctors say that journaling is therapeutic, and this is pretty close to me jotting away in a small pink diary, complete with lock, hidden under my mattress. So be my apple a day and help me keep the doctor away.
the time has come...
Well, ladies and gents, Monday marks a momentous occasion. It is the date of my return to work. SEI and I will be reunited. I'm hoping the transition back into the work-world is a smooth one. Before my pregnancy, it was all about my career. Then, during my pregnancy, I started to think about things a little differently, but it was relatively similar to my pre-maternal state. However, I realized that I had no idea where my head would be when I returned. I'd be returning from 10 weeks of time away. I'd be mom.
Would I be as career driven as before? Would I be even more so then before, realizing that a progression in my career would eventually result in more financial stability for our little family? Or would I decide that my career isn't as important as it was; instead it was simply an income to support us, with my only priority being mom? I have a feeling things will be somewhere in the middle. I didn't go to school for 4 years and work hard since then to simply give it all up. At the same time, I do have a new role as mom (one which I didn't interview for yet hope I qualify for).
I think the word of the day for me will be prioritize...or I guess the word of every day. Also, compromise. If I keep those things in mind, then I should feel fulfilled. I want to set a good example, I want to enjoy myself, and also want to be able to look back and say, "I'm glad I made the decisions I did, and me and my family are all the better for it." I'll take things one at a time, follow both my heart and my brain, and see where it takes me.
Would I be as career driven as before? Would I be even more so then before, realizing that a progression in my career would eventually result in more financial stability for our little family? Or would I decide that my career isn't as important as it was; instead it was simply an income to support us, with my only priority being mom? I have a feeling things will be somewhere in the middle. I didn't go to school for 4 years and work hard since then to simply give it all up. At the same time, I do have a new role as mom (one which I didn't interview for yet hope I qualify for).
I think the word of the day for me will be prioritize...or I guess the word of every day. Also, compromise. If I keep those things in mind, then I should feel fulfilled. I want to set a good example, I want to enjoy myself, and also want to be able to look back and say, "I'm glad I made the decisions I did, and me and my family are all the better for it." I'll take things one at a time, follow both my heart and my brain, and see where it takes me.
Friday, November 14, 2008
her new stats...
Pediatrician appointment today. Here are the new figures:
12 pounds 10 ounces (85th percentile)
24 inches long (95th percentile)
She's also in the 90th percentile for her head circumference. She's got a big noggin' like her mommy.
Everything checked out ok. Her neck is strong, she follows lights and voices, she's eating well.
Routine maintenance completed. Next inspection due in four weeks!
12 pounds 10 ounces (85th percentile)
24 inches long (95th percentile)
She's also in the 90th percentile for her head circumference. She's got a big noggin' like her mommy.
Everything checked out ok. Her neck is strong, she follows lights and voices, she's eating well.
Routine maintenance completed. Next inspection due in four weeks!
says who?...
Not really a fun topic today, but I can't be witty every day, now can I?
Having a baby, you're suddenly barraged with all sorts of medical decisions that need to be made. Right from the get go, you need to let them know whether or not she should get her first shot at the hospital. Then there was the choice between breastfeeding versus formula. I needed to decide whether the benefits of breastfeeding outweighed the potential risks of passing my anti-seizure medication to my child. Next are all of the vaccinations that are delivered in droves. Each monthly appointment comes with a new shot(s) with a seemingly new name (I can't keep them all straight...good thing I have my handy vaccine card to keep track).
The one that's most concerning to me is the possible link between autism and vaccines. There is speculation that they're connected, but supposedly there is no proof. So maybe I want to be selective about what she gets. But how the heck do I know which ones to allow? It's much like when you install a computer program, you can either select "full install" or "custom", though you get the warning that custom should only be if you are familiar with the separate files.
I went to the pediatrician today positive that I was going to spread all of these shots out. Such a little body, should she really get four injections plus some sort of oral liquid that covers stomach viruses? But then I start talking to the pediatrician, and I can't figure out, from our conversation, which she should get today and which we can schedule later (particularly because she's starting daycare on Monday). I mention my concern about the autism/vaccine issue, but of course am told that there's no evidence. So I give in and say ok, let's get them all.
Now I carry the weight of, if she were to come down with something like autism, it's my fault. But we're in the hands of the medical community. I selected this pediatrician because I like her and trust the practice. Therefore, shouldn't I default to her recommendations? But as many people joke, doctors practice medicine.
It crosses my mind that there is information out there about drugs, their side effects, the risks, etc, but because there is big business in the pharmaceutical companies, isn't there the potential that they'd cover something up?
Big brother watches us, but who turns around and watches them?
Having a baby, you're suddenly barraged with all sorts of medical decisions that need to be made. Right from the get go, you need to let them know whether or not she should get her first shot at the hospital. Then there was the choice between breastfeeding versus formula. I needed to decide whether the benefits of breastfeeding outweighed the potential risks of passing my anti-seizure medication to my child. Next are all of the vaccinations that are delivered in droves. Each monthly appointment comes with a new shot(s) with a seemingly new name (I can't keep them all straight...good thing I have my handy vaccine card to keep track).
The one that's most concerning to me is the possible link between autism and vaccines. There is speculation that they're connected, but supposedly there is no proof. So maybe I want to be selective about what she gets. But how the heck do I know which ones to allow? It's much like when you install a computer program, you can either select "full install" or "custom", though you get the warning that custom should only be if you are familiar with the separate files.
I went to the pediatrician today positive that I was going to spread all of these shots out. Such a little body, should she really get four injections plus some sort of oral liquid that covers stomach viruses? But then I start talking to the pediatrician, and I can't figure out, from our conversation, which she should get today and which we can schedule later (particularly because she's starting daycare on Monday). I mention my concern about the autism/vaccine issue, but of course am told that there's no evidence. So I give in and say ok, let's get them all.
Now I carry the weight of, if she were to come down with something like autism, it's my fault. But we're in the hands of the medical community. I selected this pediatrician because I like her and trust the practice. Therefore, shouldn't I default to her recommendations? But as many people joke, doctors practice medicine.
It crosses my mind that there is information out there about drugs, their side effects, the risks, etc, but because there is big business in the pharmaceutical companies, isn't there the potential that they'd cover something up?
Big brother watches us, but who turns around and watches them?
Thursday, November 13, 2008
public displays of whining...
Yesterday was a long day of miscellaneous chores and errands (and Jamie's birthday, by the way). Obviously our little girl trekked along with us since leaving her in the car with the windows cracked would not have been appropriate. First we went to my work (SEI) for a tour of the child care center and for a flu shot (how's that for a birthday present?). Then off to Friendly's for lunch. After that, a trip to the mall for Jamie to get an eye exam and a new pair of glasses. I'd say we were out of the house from 9:30 to 4:30.
At work, she did relatively well at first. Then about an hour into our visit there, she began to get grumpy (not exactly what we hoped for while waiting in a room with my coworkers, awaiting the impending doom of this flu shot). Same situation at the eye doctor. Same thing the day before when I had lunch with a retired co-worker.
She's the kind of child where, if she gets tired, she refuses to stop looking around and fights sleep as much as possible. The result? We move from whimpering to whining to crying. This is accompanied by us walking around, bouncing her a bit, and sometimes doing a side to side little dance in front of everyone. And then suddenly.......silence..... Out of nowhere she'll just fall asleep.
My problem with all of this is not that I feel bad for her. I mean, I guess I feel bad that she's tired, but in my mind I think "well then give in and go to sleep silly girl". My issue is that I get this strange sense of embarrassment. I almost feel the need to go around to everyone and apologize for my child's blatant attempt at ruining their day. It's obvious that my daughter is being rude and disruptive. You want to finish your deliciously prepared fried meal at Friendlys in peace? Oh I think not.
I've been told, however, to chill out - it's ok. It doesn't really seem to bother anyone. People would get mad if we were at a movie or at a fancy restaurant, but we wouldn't go there unless we called one of our many eager babysitters. And I realized, for example, that when I'm grocery shopping at places like Walmart , there is sometimes a chorus of miserable little babies (and who can blame them...they're at Walmart for goodness sake). Is it possible that I'm embarrassed because I've been annoyed by crying babies in the past? Was I so cold-hearted that I thought the parents had pinched their child just to get him to cry in public?
Who knows. Now that I'm "mom", I guess I do need to relax, do what I can to calm my baby, possibly get up and walk around for a bit, and just remember that "it is what it is". As long as I'm showing effort and not just ignoring her, leaving her in her seat to scream while enjoying a low cost meal, it should be fine. Hey, I'm trying. Do you want to hold her and give it a shot??
And if you don't like it, then you can take your kickin' chicken buffalo strips in a to go box and enjoy it somewhere else, thank you very much.
At work, she did relatively well at first. Then about an hour into our visit there, she began to get grumpy (not exactly what we hoped for while waiting in a room with my coworkers, awaiting the impending doom of this flu shot). Same situation at the eye doctor. Same thing the day before when I had lunch with a retired co-worker.
She's the kind of child where, if she gets tired, she refuses to stop looking around and fights sleep as much as possible. The result? We move from whimpering to whining to crying. This is accompanied by us walking around, bouncing her a bit, and sometimes doing a side to side little dance in front of everyone. And then suddenly.......silence..... Out of nowhere she'll just fall asleep.
My problem with all of this is not that I feel bad for her. I mean, I guess I feel bad that she's tired, but in my mind I think "well then give in and go to sleep silly girl". My issue is that I get this strange sense of embarrassment. I almost feel the need to go around to everyone and apologize for my child's blatant attempt at ruining their day. It's obvious that my daughter is being rude and disruptive. You want to finish your deliciously prepared fried meal at Friendlys in peace? Oh I think not.
I've been told, however, to chill out - it's ok. It doesn't really seem to bother anyone. People would get mad if we were at a movie or at a fancy restaurant, but we wouldn't go there unless we called one of our many eager babysitters. And I realized, for example, that when I'm grocery shopping at places like Walmart , there is sometimes a chorus of miserable little babies (and who can blame them...they're at Walmart for goodness sake). Is it possible that I'm embarrassed because I've been annoyed by crying babies in the past? Was I so cold-hearted that I thought the parents had pinched their child just to get him to cry in public?
Who knows. Now that I'm "mom", I guess I do need to relax, do what I can to calm my baby, possibly get up and walk around for a bit, and just remember that "it is what it is". As long as I'm showing effort and not just ignoring her, leaving her in her seat to scream while enjoying a low cost meal, it should be fine. Hey, I'm trying. Do you want to hold her and give it a shot??
And if you don't like it, then you can take your kickin' chicken buffalo strips in a to go box and enjoy it somewhere else, thank you very much.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
take a day off...
I went to the bank today and found a big "sorry we're closed" sign. I've decided that I too am going to recognize Veteran's Day. See you all tomorrow.
Monday, November 10, 2008
poo poo on pooh...
If you read the post immediately before this one, you will undoubtedly notice my aversion to Pooh Bear. It's not limited to simply Pooh either. It extends to Pooh's entire community. The Pooh bunch is not something that I feel children should learn from. Here is my issue:
Pooh himself is quite dopey and is overweight (which you see when he gets stuck in fallen trees and such). He eats a carbohydrate laden diet of honey. We have a huge childhood obesity issue in this country - Pooh does not exemplify the FDA's approved pyramid of nutrition.
Eor (spelling?) is incredibly depressed. His depression may stem from the nail in his butt, but it seems to extend deeper then that. Something must have happened in his childhood that scarred him for life, leaving him deprived of emotion and unable to exhibit joy or happiness.
Then there's that rabbit. I think his name is Rabbit, which is so original. Maybe the fact that his name is so asinine is why he is so angry. Rabbit is miserable and seems to yell at all of the other characters. They try to be nice to him, but he doesn't waver. Again - do we aspire to have our children learn to be mean to other children and have zero empathy?
Of course we can't forget Tigger. This tiger has major issues. I think some medication should be prescribed for his severe case of ADHD. He may also be taking some street drugs since no tiger tail should be able to sustain the stress of a large tiger bouncing around on it. Speed or opiates may be at play here.
Finally we have Piglet. I have to say this is probably the only character that I sort of like. Unfortunately, there is one fault to this petite farm animal. It's a gender bending little pig. I think it's the pink shirt that makes me think she's a girl, but after I pondered it a bit more, I realized that he could also be a boy. Children may associate with the wrong gender, thus making them feel that they need a sex change later in life.
The fact that the baby world is sponsored by Pooh is something I simply don't understand. Diapers, PJs, sippy cups, books, pacifiers, burb cloths, etc. I found it difficult to find non-Pooh PJs the other day. Is it assumed that all parents and their children like this cartoon critter? Obviously this mother doesn't. Does Pooh receive royalties every time his face is used? If so, that's one rich mogul of a bear.
I say manufacturers should leave animated characters off of their merchandise and allow parents to make their own decisions about which cartoons they'd like to endorse. I for one will boycott the Pooh franchise, even if it means that my daughter may need to go to bed in just a diaper because mommy can't find the appropriate Jessica approved pajamas.
Pooh himself is quite dopey and is overweight (which you see when he gets stuck in fallen trees and such). He eats a carbohydrate laden diet of honey. We have a huge childhood obesity issue in this country - Pooh does not exemplify the FDA's approved pyramid of nutrition.
Eor (spelling?) is incredibly depressed. His depression may stem from the nail in his butt, but it seems to extend deeper then that. Something must have happened in his childhood that scarred him for life, leaving him deprived of emotion and unable to exhibit joy or happiness.
Then there's that rabbit. I think his name is Rabbit, which is so original. Maybe the fact that his name is so asinine is why he is so angry. Rabbit is miserable and seems to yell at all of the other characters. They try to be nice to him, but he doesn't waver. Again - do we aspire to have our children learn to be mean to other children and have zero empathy?
Of course we can't forget Tigger. This tiger has major issues. I think some medication should be prescribed for his severe case of ADHD. He may also be taking some street drugs since no tiger tail should be able to sustain the stress of a large tiger bouncing around on it. Speed or opiates may be at play here.
Finally we have Piglet. I have to say this is probably the only character that I sort of like. Unfortunately, there is one fault to this petite farm animal. It's a gender bending little pig. I think it's the pink shirt that makes me think she's a girl, but after I pondered it a bit more, I realized that he could also be a boy. Children may associate with the wrong gender, thus making them feel that they need a sex change later in life.
The fact that the baby world is sponsored by Pooh is something I simply don't understand. Diapers, PJs, sippy cups, books, pacifiers, burb cloths, etc. I found it difficult to find non-Pooh PJs the other day. Is it assumed that all parents and their children like this cartoon critter? Obviously this mother doesn't. Does Pooh receive royalties every time his face is used? If so, that's one rich mogul of a bear.
I say manufacturers should leave animated characters off of their merchandise and allow parents to make their own decisions about which cartoons they'd like to endorse. I for one will boycott the Pooh franchise, even if it means that my daughter may need to go to bed in just a diaper because mommy can't find the appropriate Jessica approved pajamas.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
luv, hugs, and a little pampering...
The diaper world is hard to navigate. There are a variety of different brands to choose from. Each mom seems to have a diaper of choice, leaving me no better off narrowing the field then I was before. It would be easiest to gauge these things if I could try them on myself, but first of all they're too small, and second of all when you're a potty trained adult, that would just feel wrong. You have to go by what happens when the baby wears them. I've discovered:
- Huggies seem to be the softest and look like they'd be the most comfortable, but the leg holes seem to have been the weak point during this test drive. Obviously, leg elastic is key in this case.
- Pampers look like a cheaper diaper and have a strange fuzzy texture to the outside, but on a wet dry run, they stood up quite well. And they also don't have Pooh on them, which is a much needed relief from the crazy Pooh sponsored baby world (but I'll save my anti-Pooh rant for another time).
- Luvs are a brand I didn't even think about. My mom asked about them, which means that these are old school diapers as my little brother is 19. The price of these things is fabulous, which is nice to see for a poo pouch. They feel thinner and smell a bit strange, but I've fallen in love with this brand. And they have Blue from Blues Clues on them (again, Anti-Pooh is key).
So I've decided on Luvs. But wait - there's more. Nightime diapers aren't like daytime diapers. Since the missus is sleeping longer now, it seems that there's a leak every morning. This means that the PJs and the sheet are shot (plus her dignity). The solution here? I need to revert back to the Pampers (see bullet two), but in size 2 versus 1 (a suggestion on the part of a few other mommies). While these things could go up to her armpits, it seems to do the trick. Makes sense now in retrospect.
In the end, we purchase Luvs for daytime, Pampers for nighttime. I secretly love that we've opted against Huggies (again, my Pooh aversion). I have noticed is that while most sizes (as in the height x width x depth size) stay the same as diapers get bigger, less diapers fit in the box/pouch, so while you get a bazillion diapers in the newborn pack, for the same price in the size 4 pack, you get a pair of diapers.
Between diapers and formula, this child is going to eat and poop us out of house and home. But of course, we can't let her go potty in her pants. And while she has a reserve of fat that could hold her over for a bit, she needs her liquid gold to drink too.
During sex ed in school, forget responsibility and STDs and such. They should simply make the kids buy diapers and formula for their hard boiled egg baby or flour baby for a month. That should teach 'em.
- Huggies seem to be the softest and look like they'd be the most comfortable, but the leg holes seem to have been the weak point during this test drive. Obviously, leg elastic is key in this case.
- Pampers look like a cheaper diaper and have a strange fuzzy texture to the outside, but on a wet dry run, they stood up quite well. And they also don't have Pooh on them, which is a much needed relief from the crazy Pooh sponsored baby world (but I'll save my anti-Pooh rant for another time).
- Luvs are a brand I didn't even think about. My mom asked about them, which means that these are old school diapers as my little brother is 19. The price of these things is fabulous, which is nice to see for a poo pouch. They feel thinner and smell a bit strange, but I've fallen in love with this brand. And they have Blue from Blues Clues on them (again, Anti-Pooh is key).
So I've decided on Luvs. But wait - there's more. Nightime diapers aren't like daytime diapers. Since the missus is sleeping longer now, it seems that there's a leak every morning. This means that the PJs and the sheet are shot (plus her dignity). The solution here? I need to revert back to the Pampers (see bullet two), but in size 2 versus 1 (a suggestion on the part of a few other mommies). While these things could go up to her armpits, it seems to do the trick. Makes sense now in retrospect.
In the end, we purchase Luvs for daytime, Pampers for nighttime. I secretly love that we've opted against Huggies (again, my Pooh aversion). I have noticed is that while most sizes (as in the height x width x depth size) stay the same as diapers get bigger, less diapers fit in the box/pouch, so while you get a bazillion diapers in the newborn pack, for the same price in the size 4 pack, you get a pair of diapers.
Between diapers and formula, this child is going to eat and poop us out of house and home. But of course, we can't let her go potty in her pants. And while she has a reserve of fat that could hold her over for a bit, she needs her liquid gold to drink too.
During sex ed in school, forget responsibility and STDs and such. They should simply make the kids buy diapers and formula for their hard boiled egg baby or flour baby for a month. That should teach 'em.
Friday, November 7, 2008
photo op...
We're finally getting tons of pictures of the little one with her eyes wide open (and they're such big, pretty eyes, aren't they?). I think one of these pictures even has a hint of a smile. The other one was shot so that it was cropped just right to remain PG. This will be one of those pictures that we'll show her boyfriends (but just a few boyfriends...we're not shooting for a promiscuous daughter here).
Thursday, November 6, 2008
safety first...
I need to take a short disability break from blogging. Was trying to make a cucumber salad for me and the hubby yesterday. Was using one of those veggie slicers where you slide the veggie back and forth to make discs or whatever (it's a mandolin, but not sure that everyone would know what that is). It's "as seen on TV".
Anyway, it comes with a safety guard. I, apparently, am above that, so wouldn't you know that I just about sliced a finger into the cucumber salad? I'm sure that this may have required stitches, but I had a salad to finish, so I just kept wrapping more and more bandaids on it as each one bled through. Lesson learned...always use the safety guard...you're not that much better then everyone.
So, this post has hurt my hand a bit more, and that's no fun. I'll be back tomorrow. Enjoy the day, and see you Friday!
Anyway, it comes with a safety guard. I, apparently, am above that, so wouldn't you know that I just about sliced a finger into the cucumber salad? I'm sure that this may have required stitches, but I had a salad to finish, so I just kept wrapping more and more bandaids on it as each one bled through. Lesson learned...always use the safety guard...you're not that much better then everyone.
So, this post has hurt my hand a bit more, and that's no fun. I'll be back tomorrow. Enjoy the day, and see you Friday!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
vote!...
Completely non-baby.
Get out there and vote today! The lines are long, but it's worth it, especially since PA is so critical in this election.
This year it feels like a red versus blue battle...Bloods vs. Crips. I'd sport the bandanna reflecting my gang affiliation, but that might result in a drive by shooting, and I can't risk that with a youngin'. I live out in the country...you can't underestimate the gun ownership rates. While they weapons are intended for deer and other game, if in the wrong hands, a gang war could ensue. Crossbows may even emerge. And sometimes, instead of wearing the gang colors of red or blue, they'll be decked out in camo and really catch you off guard.
So pick your side, wear your gang colors proud (though discreetly), and let's make this election one for the record books!
(FYI - I went to vote at 10am thinking that would be a quiet time...I was dead wrong...line went around the township building. Grab a coffee and a book before you go, but don't be discouraged!)
Get out there and vote today! The lines are long, but it's worth it, especially since PA is so critical in this election.
This year it feels like a red versus blue battle...Bloods vs. Crips. I'd sport the bandanna reflecting my gang affiliation, but that might result in a drive by shooting, and I can't risk that with a youngin'. I live out in the country...you can't underestimate the gun ownership rates. While they weapons are intended for deer and other game, if in the wrong hands, a gang war could ensue. Crossbows may even emerge. And sometimes, instead of wearing the gang colors of red or blue, they'll be decked out in camo and really catch you off guard.
So pick your side, wear your gang colors proud (though discreetly), and let's make this election one for the record books!
(FYI - I went to vote at 10am thinking that would be a quiet time...I was dead wrong...line went around the township building. Grab a coffee and a book before you go, but don't be discouraged!)
Monday, November 3, 2008
divide and conquer...
We're starting to get a routine down, and the pattern is broken down into routine tasks. Once I go back to work, we'll need to split certain baby chores between each other. I'm not sure we'll need a chore board complete with star stickers showing who has gotten what done, but if it comes to blows, I'll be the first to post one of those on the fridge.
Now, of course, this could definitely become an argument about who does what, who does more, who has harder chores, etc. Currently I am certain that I'm the star sticker champion by default, but that's not what I'm posting about. I'll save that rant for a later date if/when I have real evidence to back it up.
Baby care items seem to come in bunches. Whoever does bath time at night will get the lot of evening requirements. You have to prep the bath. Babies are fragile and can drown in an inch of water, so getting back up to grab the washcloth you forgot is not an option. The "poof" hanging in the shower probably isn't gentle enough, so I guess a sock can stand in in such a situation. After bath, put on the PJs. Then comes the bottle. I imagine you could put the evening bottle anywhere in this scenario, but you're supposed to allow 20 minutes after eating before swimming, so eating before bathing might result in cramping.
I guess whoever isn't bathing is the person that's packing. I can't wait to get the list of things the childcare centers want us to bring (I'm hoping there's a list, otherwise we'll be the negligent parents who were dumb enough to not provide certain items). Pack adult lunches. Prep bottles while that person is at it, since they'll be holed up in the kitchen for most of this time. Should this person also lay out adult and baby clothes too (those aren't in the kitchen, by the way.)? Oh goodness it's getting complicated.
We'll see who gets which chunk. I'm thinking Jamie gets the former while I'm blessed with the latter...much more planning and tactical work in the second, while the first is more general (but still very important, especially with those rolls that she's growing - can get lint and formula trapped in there).
I'm sure, as with anything, we'll find our niches and proceed accordingly. For now we'll pretend to pick one or the other (or I'll assign one or the other...that's more realistic) and see what our ultimate fate will be when the time comes.
Now, of course, this could definitely become an argument about who does what, who does more, who has harder chores, etc. Currently I am certain that I'm the star sticker champion by default, but that's not what I'm posting about. I'll save that rant for a later date if/when I have real evidence to back it up.
Baby care items seem to come in bunches. Whoever does bath time at night will get the lot of evening requirements. You have to prep the bath. Babies are fragile and can drown in an inch of water, so getting back up to grab the washcloth you forgot is not an option. The "poof" hanging in the shower probably isn't gentle enough, so I guess a sock can stand in in such a situation. After bath, put on the PJs. Then comes the bottle. I imagine you could put the evening bottle anywhere in this scenario, but you're supposed to allow 20 minutes after eating before swimming, so eating before bathing might result in cramping.
I guess whoever isn't bathing is the person that's packing. I can't wait to get the list of things the childcare centers want us to bring (I'm hoping there's a list, otherwise we'll be the negligent parents who were dumb enough to not provide certain items). Pack adult lunches. Prep bottles while that person is at it, since they'll be holed up in the kitchen for most of this time. Should this person also lay out adult and baby clothes too (those aren't in the kitchen, by the way.)? Oh goodness it's getting complicated.
We'll see who gets which chunk. I'm thinking Jamie gets the former while I'm blessed with the latter...much more planning and tactical work in the second, while the first is more general (but still very important, especially with those rolls that she's growing - can get lint and formula trapped in there).
I'm sure, as with anything, we'll find our niches and proceed accordingly. For now we'll pretend to pick one or the other (or I'll assign one or the other...that's more realistic) and see what our ultimate fate will be when the time comes.
Friday, October 31, 2008
merry hallowgiving...
For those of you that know me well, Halloween is the holiday which trumps all others for me. It's the one day each year where mischief is expected and you can be anything you want. The air smells great, the leaves are changing, and people actually leave their homes to interact with neighbors.
This year, I feel like the three holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Xmas), are all occurring while Alexis is still too young to appreciate them. No need to dress up a 2.5 month old...costumes are expensive, it'll never fit again, and she's too young to go trick or treating anyway (and this, coming from me, is insanity). Thanksgiving...well that's easy. She can't eat solid food. We'll give her an extra 2 ounces and loosen her diaper. Then there's Xmas.
You'd all be impressed by the story my parents would tell us so that we believed that Santa flew over from
I'm will return to the dark side though, since I feel like having a child will completely change Xmas. It'll rejuvenate it...remind us what the essence of the holiday is. BUT, this year she is only going to be 4 months old. She will not understand Santa except for admiring the color red. She won't really know what an Xmas tree is (the dogs will be more interested in eating the ornaments). Presents? Can't unwrap them. We of course still anticipate and appreciate gifts she'll receive. A jumperoo will be coming from Omi and Opi, and Grammy loves to give gifts too. Surrogate Aunts and Uncles will bring offerings like the wise men did to the manger (Is that right? I don't know any of that stuff.). Jamie and I will get her something that she can have as a keepsake that she can look at when she's older and know that it came from her first Xmas. We won't get her much else, since any other money will go toward diapers, formula, or childcare!
Next year and for years thereafter, THEN we'll decorate a tree, have Santa's snacks out, open presents as the sun rises, have pancakes, etc. It will be fun and we'll be able to create our own traditions, something that warms my heart (awww...how cute).
But for now, bah humbug. Well...just bah...I'll give in a little, and I have no idea what a humbug is anyway.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
babies r stupid...
Quick complaint. Loved Babies R Us for my registry. Loved using the reviews as a guide for what I needed and what I shouldn't buy. Bought so much stuff we needed with gift cards and loved that I could return things to the store for new things that worked better for us (or to get store credit and buy diapers or something).I received a few gifts (from my registry) from people who ordered the item online and had it shipped to my house. One of those items, a sling, just didn't work for my sweetie. I took it to the store, and was told that they didn't carry the in stores, so I'd have to return it by sending it in. Ok...makes sense. Figure I'll get a store credit sent to me so I could buy something else (which is the typical process for registry items). Sent it in via instructions on gift invoice. It was weeks ago and I hadn't gotten anything, so I called. Here's what I was basically told:
Returns need to be in the form of the original payment. Because Barry bought this item, it was credited back to his credit card. So I basically gave back my gift to Barry. Am I now supposed to say to Barry, "Hey, can you buy me something new?". The woman tells me that if I had returned it to the store, I would have gotten store credit. But I COULDN'T return it there. "I'm sorry, this is the policy". I told her it was asinine...that isn't how registries work. "Would you like to talk to a supervisor?" Yes please! On hold... "I'm sorry, no one is available, probably because it's our lunch hour. I can have him call you within the next 24 hours...what number would you like us to use?". Are you kidding me??!! Like he's actually going to call me!!
I find this all outright ridiculous, and if he does call, I'm going to see that I get something. When we had a mix up with furniture at Ikea (we've all been there) that resulted in two trips out there, I was nice about my complaint and got a $25 gift card out of it. Let's see what I can finagle out of this one. Dumb-asses...
new pictures!...
Our precious little one. So many of the pictures we have of her are her sleeping in her car seat, but she's so darn cute in there. As I mentioned in a previous post, she HATES wearing hats, so we've taken to putting her in hoodies, the next best thing. This hoodie is courtesy of surrogate Auntie Collen. Thanks for the cute duds!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
euphoria...
There are few things going on in her life right now. While there isn't much in her DayTimer at the moment, those things that she does do are frequently quite pleasurable for her:
- Eating. Duh. I love when we're feeding her and her eyes start to close and her arms hang back. There is nothing better in the world for her at that moment. Burps in between cause short blips, but the bottle suddenly returns, and all is well in the world.
- Having a poopy diaper changed. She hates actually pooping and sometimes cries about it (doesn't Freud have something to say about what effect bowel movements have on the Ego/Id or something?), but she is always quiet and content when I change the poopy diaper. Ahhh...cleanliness is Godliness.
- The bear blanket. I think we're beginning to see the connection to a "security blanket". This blanket has an unusual soft (but not hairy) synthetic fuzz to it. Anytime she is fussy, we can count on bear blanket to make it better. A second one is being purchased for Xmas, as my biggest fear is something happening to this thing and havoc ensuing.
- And that brings us to the Almighty papasan swing. A deep, round seat...sheer netting (much like a bug net, but I can assure you we don't have rain forest pests in our home)...butterflies that spin overhead...butterfly light show projected onto the netting. Oh yes, this is the mother of all swings (and cost enough that it should spit money out while it's at it). She will take a 4 hour nap in this thing in the morning (which is nap/blog/laundry/etc time). Might be throwing nighttime off, but who gives a crud? You get 4 hours, you take 4 hours.
- Finally, car rides. We all know this is a surefire way to get a baby to sleep. When you've run out of things to soothe a baby with, hop in the car and drive to nowhere. With gas prices what they are, it's an expensive pacifier, but all in a day's work.
If only these five things were enough to please us all. I think I'll try to hop into the papasan with her, cover myself with the bear blanket, and see what this craze is all about.
- Eating. Duh. I love when we're feeding her and her eyes start to close and her arms hang back. There is nothing better in the world for her at that moment. Burps in between cause short blips, but the bottle suddenly returns, and all is well in the world.
- Having a poopy diaper changed. She hates actually pooping and sometimes cries about it (doesn't Freud have something to say about what effect bowel movements have on the Ego/Id or something?), but she is always quiet and content when I change the poopy diaper. Ahhh...cleanliness is Godliness.
- The bear blanket. I think we're beginning to see the connection to a "security blanket". This blanket has an unusual soft (but not hairy) synthetic fuzz to it. Anytime she is fussy, we can count on bear blanket to make it better. A second one is being purchased for Xmas, as my biggest fear is something happening to this thing and havoc ensuing.
- And that brings us to the Almighty papasan swing. A deep, round seat...sheer netting (much like a bug net, but I can assure you we don't have rain forest pests in our home)...butterflies that spin overhead...butterfly light show projected onto the netting. Oh yes, this is the mother of all swings (and cost enough that it should spit money out while it's at it). She will take a 4 hour nap in this thing in the morning (which is nap/blog/laundry/etc time). Might be throwing nighttime off, but who gives a crud? You get 4 hours, you take 4 hours.
- Finally, car rides. We all know this is a surefire way to get a baby to sleep. When you've run out of things to soothe a baby with, hop in the car and drive to nowhere. With gas prices what they are, it's an expensive pacifier, but all in a day's work.
If only these five things were enough to please us all. I think I'll try to hop into the papasan with her, cover myself with the bear blanket, and see what this craze is all about.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
edited to fit the time alloted...
I'm starting to make plans for my impending return to work (Nov 17th). I'm torn as to how I feel about going back. Part of me is quite sad - I've spent every day with this little girl for the past 8 weeks, and while there are times that are a tad taxing, I've become closer and closer to her and have begun to feel much more like "mom" then I did in the beginning. I've been told that when you return to work (10 to 12 weeks) is around the same time when they start to really become fun, which breaks my heart. The other part of me is relieved to get back into "work Jessica" mode...I just wish there was a way to do both and still make enough money to eat, keep the house and cars, and of course feed the dogs.
While beginning my slow mental transition to work-life, I've realized that I'm not sure how everything fits into a work morning/night. Here are the things I think will need to get done:
Dogs (I'll get them out of the way):
- Potty
- Feeding
- A bit of playtime to keep them from needing Prozac
Us (can't forget us!):
- Eat dinner/breakfast
- Pack lunch (no more buying it with cost of childcare)
- Make coffee (again, homemade and now a staple)
- Shower
- Pick out clothes (which will make getting dressed in morn easier)
- Hair/makeup (just me, though I'll still love Jamie if he chooses otherwise)
- Alone time (nothing risqué - though we can't forget that either, but just something to remember that we are husband and wife)
Baby (which is pretty much a part of the "us" category):
- Eat/sleep/poop (those are all a part of the same category as far as I'm concerned)
- Prep bottles
- Pack diaper bag
- Get dressed (though PJs are easily transitioned from day to night, much like a black dress and pearls)
- Bathtime
- Read book/sing song/etc (we haven't really figured out which is her wind-down method of choice)
I'm positive I'm missing stuff here. And this doesn't include things like grocery shopping, chores, etc, which I guess all gets saved for the weekend, which should be reserved for family bonding and fun, but that seems out of the question.
How does all of that fit into a morning (which I'll estimate being 6:00AM to 8:00AM) and evening (estimated to be 5:30PM to 8:00PM with baby, then 8:00PM to 9:30PM, since I have an early bed time, for Jamie and I)? If my math is correct (which it typically isn't), that's only 6 hours.
Any time saving suggestions to max out this time efficiently while still enjoying our time together? If you have time to comment, that is.
While beginning my slow mental transition to work-life, I've realized that I'm not sure how everything fits into a work morning/night. Here are the things I think will need to get done:
Dogs (I'll get them out of the way):
- Potty
- Feeding
- A bit of playtime to keep them from needing Prozac
Us (can't forget us!):
- Eat dinner/breakfast
- Pack lunch (no more buying it with cost of childcare)
- Make coffee (again, homemade and now a staple)
- Shower
- Pick out clothes (which will make getting dressed in morn easier)
- Hair/makeup (just me, though I'll still love Jamie if he chooses otherwise)
- Alone time (nothing risqué - though we can't forget that either, but just something to remember that we are husband and wife)
Baby (which is pretty much a part of the "us" category):
- Eat/sleep/poop (those are all a part of the same category as far as I'm concerned)
- Prep bottles
- Pack diaper bag
- Get dressed (though PJs are easily transitioned from day to night, much like a black dress and pearls)
- Bathtime
- Read book/sing song/etc (we haven't really figured out which is her wind-down method of choice)
I'm positive I'm missing stuff here. And this doesn't include things like grocery shopping, chores, etc, which I guess all gets saved for the weekend, which should be reserved for family bonding and fun, but that seems out of the question.
How does all of that fit into a morning (which I'll estimate being 6:00AM to 8:00AM) and evening (estimated to be 5:30PM to 8:00PM with baby, then 8:00PM to 9:30PM, since I have an early bed time, for Jamie and I)? If my math is correct (which it typically isn't), that's only 6 hours.
Any time saving suggestions to max out this time efficiently while still enjoying our time together? If you have time to comment, that is.
Monday, October 27, 2008
hush little baby...
When I'm out with my offspring, people tell me she's cute and then ask how old she is. Standard question and totally understandable, since when you start breaking a person's age down by weeks, it's hard to know what age they look like. And then comes standard question number two..."Is she sleeping for you?".
When you're pregnant, sleep is an issue, since this enormity of a belly is hogging half of the bed, and your husband is lucky if he has room to sleep amidst the piles of pillows around you, supporting hips, knees, stomach, toes, nose, butt, whatever. Plus you get up to pee 3 to 4 times a night to the point where you contemplate whether women do have a prostate and whether it's enlarged. People tell you it's "preparing you for when you have the baby".
Then baby comes. You knew about sleep deprivation, you read about it, people warned you about it, but it's not until you experience the sorrow and frustration that accompanies you in the rocking chair at 3AM that you start to understand it. You suddenly learn that there's a big difference between 3AM and 4:30AM - one feels like the middle of the night, the other starts to feel like morning (and is therefore more acceptable).
Week one through five pass, and it feels like par for the course. But then six weeks comes, and mothers start to brag to you that their children slept through at six weeks. Then week seven and eight hit, and suddenly you think you're a failure because yours still gets up at 3:30AM. "What have we done wrong?!" But you're told, frequently, that this magical cereal concoction is going to be the miracle that changes everything.
Why is sleeping through the night the one item people are focused on? I guess at this point in her life, it's one of the only things that we might have control over, and it's the first sign of whether or not we're "good parents" because it does feel like there is a right and wrong answer to this question. And it's not a multiple choice question...you either select A or B, Yes or No, and it's up to you if you want to make it a True or False item.
No, she's not sleeping through. Yes, she likes to get up every 3.5 to 4 hours (I affectionately consider her a piglet that loves to eat), but does fall asleep immediately when we put her down versus needing to rock her to sleep for an hour (thank God). Is it too young to crush an Ambien into her formula? Forget I said that...I don't need Human Services at my door. No one knows when we're telling the truth, but our dark circles might give us away. For now we grit and bear it, and only time will tell!
When you're pregnant, sleep is an issue, since this enormity of a belly is hogging half of the bed, and your husband is lucky if he has room to sleep amidst the piles of pillows around you, supporting hips, knees, stomach, toes, nose, butt, whatever. Plus you get up to pee 3 to 4 times a night to the point where you contemplate whether women do have a prostate and whether it's enlarged. People tell you it's "preparing you for when you have the baby".
Then baby comes. You knew about sleep deprivation, you read about it, people warned you about it, but it's not until you experience the sorrow and frustration that accompanies you in the rocking chair at 3AM that you start to understand it. You suddenly learn that there's a big difference between 3AM and 4:30AM - one feels like the middle of the night, the other starts to feel like morning (and is therefore more acceptable).
Week one through five pass, and it feels like par for the course. But then six weeks comes, and mothers start to brag to you that their children slept through at six weeks. Then week seven and eight hit, and suddenly you think you're a failure because yours still gets up at 3:30AM. "What have we done wrong?!" But you're told, frequently, that this magical cereal concoction is going to be the miracle that changes everything.
Why is sleeping through the night the one item people are focused on? I guess at this point in her life, it's one of the only things that we might have control over, and it's the first sign of whether or not we're "good parents" because it does feel like there is a right and wrong answer to this question. And it's not a multiple choice question...you either select A or B, Yes or No, and it's up to you if you want to make it a True or False item.
No, she's not sleeping through. Yes, she likes to get up every 3.5 to 4 hours (I affectionately consider her a piglet that loves to eat), but does fall asleep immediately when we put her down versus needing to rock her to sleep for an hour (thank God). Is it too young to crush an Ambien into her formula? Forget I said that...I don't need Human Services at my door. No one knows when we're telling the truth, but our dark circles might give us away. For now we grit and bear it, and only time will tell!
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