tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86665574696311324092024-02-20T16:25:20.325-08:00Hello Blog World!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-70037327805754068872013-01-11T14:35:00.003-08:002013-01-11T14:35:51.890-08:00The Return of the Butternut Squash <!--StartFragment-->
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Everything had been going smoothly. For an entire week we
had made it germ free. I swore after the last sickness, once I got better,
things were going to change! I was going to become the best mother EVER! There
would be no stopping my wonderful motherness. I would let no more illness take
me down! Yeah well that was short lived. It all started this past Saturday.
Emma and I went to visit her Nana. I had made butternut squash for lunch,
Emma’s first time having it. Everything went really well, better than expected.
She loved it! I was pleased to be able to check off another veggie on her
growing “love to eat” list. </div>
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So, what does butternut squash have to do with germs and
sickness? Well, after a hearty lunch I gave her the rest for dinner (another
large portion). At both sittings she ate a lot, more than I thought she was
capable of eating. Then came Saturday night, the beginning of the worse
vomiting/ diaper explosion nightmare I have ever seen and she had plenty of
squash to fuel everything. I wish I had known that she was about to get
violently ill from a stomach virus so maybe oh I don’t know, I wouldn’t have
fed her 2 lbs of squash earlier in the day! My heart went out to my poor baby
as yet again there was little I could do to help except bath her 3 times a day
and do a million loads of laundry after endless secretions kept coming out. </div>
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Of course, like a rapid wild fire the virus took first me
and then my husband. So once again, nothing got done around the house for a few
day<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>s. I was very upset because we have now spent a month
and a half in and out of quarantine. I am pleased to report that we are finally
on the mend and making progress toward symbolizing a normal family unit. We
even got our Christmas decorations put away. I told my husband last night that
I finally had energy so we needed to do it now or never because who knows when
the next evil virus would strike. I did see Emma’s nose running the other day.
Maybe I should make her some butternut squash….just in case. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-55187072097113425772013-01-08T16:16:00.000-08:002013-01-08T16:16:00.492-08:00Daycare Separation Anxiety<!--StartFragment-->
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I of course am talking about ME, mommy having separation
anxiety being away from Emma. The thing is Emma LOVES being at daycare but
mommy does not like being away. I had a hard time letting go when I put Emma in
daycare, especially in the beginning. I did not mentally prepare myself well
enough for the transition from maternity leave to daycare. Going from everyday
being with your baby almost 24/7 to suddenly having this huge 8 hour gap in
time together was extremely traumatic for me to say the least. Not to mention
that Emma was still pretty much helpless at that point and was not getting
attention every second like I had given her, which really upset me. I think she
started daycare to early, but that’s a whole other post.</div>
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Right now, I have the amazing perk of her daycare being
located right inside my office building. I know it is a rare and magnificent miracle
and for the past 4 ½ months I have been able to go down and see her everyday
which has helped both of us tremendously. In fact, in the beginning, I would go
twice a day. I finally scaled it back to once a day a few months back. I am by
no means trying to wave my good fortune in the face of others that don’t have
daycare in their building but it is amazing to be able to leave the spread
sheet you have been staring at for hours or run out of a two hour meeting to go
sit and play with your child for a few minutes. I love every minute of it. </div>
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After going to visit Emma at day care every day I started
getting to know the ins and outs of the place pretty well. I got to know the
women who were taking care of Emma. I got to get to know the other kids.
Everyone started to know who I was. It has been my second home. I never thought
it would be so hard for me to let go, to not be with my child every second of
every day (trust me I don’t really want to be with her EVERY second) but still
having daycare so close is a nice arrangement for someone who is new to being a
parent and a working parent on top of that. </div>
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I am finally getting to the point of my long winded mushy
mush post. I think the day has finally come where I can’t go see Emma at daycare
every day any more. She has entered her attachment phase. She cries when she is
aware I leave the room. Drop offs are easy because she is still sleepy and
disoriented, but when mommy shows up in the middle of the day to play then
leaves? WHOLE different story. Not to mention she is moving around on her own
now and is comfortable with the other kids. Hello independence! So, the need
for me to see her everyday has lessened but that does not mean I want it to
end! Where is the happy laughter I got to hear after a droning conference call?
What excuse will I have to give my eyes a rest from the 1 point font hundred
page spread sheets? The truth is, sometimes I wish I was working at the daycare
and not doing other work. (A post on my job to follow). I suppose for now I
will sacrifice my wants for my child’s well-being. I will stay away from daycare
until Emma is over the clingy phase. I guess only one question remains … do
they allow daily visits in elementary school? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-70640614511926744112013-01-06T16:10:00.000-08:002013-01-06T16:10:00.547-08:00Teeth and Standing, The Milestones Keep Coming<!--StartFragment-->
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We have teeth! That’s right we have not one, but TWO tiny
chompers a comin in! Land ho! Ahoy maties we have two tiny barnacles sailing
through the drool tides to stake claim in the land of Baby Gum Isle! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say that my husband is the
most excited of all about the whole thing. Every time he sees her he asks her
“how the teethies (pronounces teefies) are doing” like an excited little kid!
It is hilarious to see my husband, a big burly dude, squealing over two little
baby teeth! </div>
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We also have a stander-upper! That’s right, Emma is pulling
herself up on the couch, in her play yard, in her crib, and on her taller toys.
The look on her face when she moves is amazing to me, almost a matter-of-fact,
ho hum look like she knows exactly what she is doing and what she is trying to
accomplish. Like standing unassisted oh yeah I know that, now let me try it.
She just turned 7 months old and here I was thinking I would not have to worry
about having a walker for a few more months, but it seems like that was wishful
thinking. Not that I don’t want her to walk, I’m thrilled she is making moves
and developing at her own pace, it just that my baby is growing up so fast (yes
nostalgic<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a> mother moment here) I remember the days when
rolling over was a big deal and now that seems like just a faint memory. </div>
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I will keep you posted on these new developments but for now
I thought I would share the good news! We are knee deep in milestones here! </div>
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What milestones are you going through with your little one
right now? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-6215699301599281702013-01-04T16:02:00.000-08:002013-01-04T16:02:12.214-08:00Hello, Mr. Sandman a Little Help?<!--StartFragment-->
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So if the Sandman had an evil opposite twin it would be who
we have been dealing with these past few weeks. We have managed to clear the
sleep regression hurdle and are back to sleeping through the night but we never
shook the desire to not fall asleep and then scream uncontrollably when we get
anywhere near the crib. </div>
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Last night I found myself trapped in Emma’s room. She was rustling
and tussling while we rocked squirming and squealing while I hummed. I kept my
eyes on the warm glow of light coming in from the hallway. The key to my sanity
salvation lay just beyond. After a half hour of rocking and standing over her
in the crib, while she fussed and fought, there was finally a glimmer of hope,
she had gotten comfy in her crib. I saw my chance to escape. Ever so slowly and
cautiously, I lifted one foot at a time and gently placed them on the ground,
jumping at any sign of the slightest creek from the floor. My whole body was
tense as I inched for what seemed like hours over to the door. Once at the door
I smiled at my small triumph only to realize a much greater challenge lay
ahead…opening the door. This posed two monumental problems that could lead to a
potential slumber meltdown. One, as soon as I open the door, the light from the
hall will flood the room and could wake Emma. Two and probably the most
important since one will not even happen if I don’t get past two, I need to
open the door without it squeaking. I am not sure if I have ever mentioned it,
but the house we currently inhabit is my husband’s stepmother’s house, as in
the house she grew up in, so it is getting up there in age and it seems like
everything squeaks and creeks and generally is not baby sleep friendly.
Anyways, so there I was clutching the side of the door, looking longingly at the
light from the hallway….freedom! After what seemed like another hour of
inching, I finally got the door open (squeaks and all) and made my escape! </div>
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The thing is, I get it, I know what the bedtime problem is
and I know what to do. This is where we need to work on reestablishing our
routine. We had fallen off the wagon while Emma and I were sick so now I am
trying to go back to getting her to calm down right before bed, bathing and
feeding. It is difficult. I can see a lifetime of disagreements about bedtime
ahead. That would be my child though, spirited and stubborn just like her
parents. I will do my best to have patience and continue establishing a solid
routine. After all, we have years to perfect it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
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Have you had difficulty getting your little one to sleep?
What bedtime routines do you recommend? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-51486364780311093892012-12-28T13:58:00.000-08:002012-12-28T13:58:02.640-08:00It’s Two Days After Christmas and My Child Has Barely Played with Any of Her New Toys<!--StartFragment-->
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That’s right, as you might have deciphered from my last post
because in my junked up cold medicine head it is so clearly obvious, Emma has
only gotten to play with about two or three of her new toys. Most of them are
still in a pile. In fact ALL of our Christmas presents are in a pile because
mommy has been very sick and completely out of it. I don’t even remember half
the stuff we got. Santa was good to Emma, but her Mimi, Nana, Aunts, and Uncles
were EVEN BETTER to her. In fact she got so many wonderful new things (and by
wonderful new things I really mean space sucking stuff) that we are going to
have to create a whole new area for her in the house. I was thinking of
rearranging her room because there is a lot of untapped potential in there but
we usually spend the majority of our together time in the main living room/
dining room of the house. </div>
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I was prepared for this day to come. I thought we might make
it a little while longer before we needed it, but it finally has to go….daddy’s
precious bar. The one his mother lovingly restored for him. The one that has
not moved from its same spot in the house since I moved in (ok it was moved
away from the wall for a day so we could paint) but other than that it has been
dead space. It usually ends up getting cluttered with all of our junk mail or
odds and ends and becomes an eye sore so in a way I am glad it is going. My
husband and I never drink any more so there is no use for it in that way
either. </div>
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Now the only problem I am having is that officially baby
stuff will be taking over a portion of our adult living space and I don’t think
I like that. True as previously mentioned the bar space was used as a dumping
ground for junk mail and other thingamabobs but still they were “adult”
thingamabobs gosh darn it and I am not ready to see my thingamabobs go! I guess
I feel like I keep losing more and more of my adult self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should go back to when it all started
… first, the play yard came into the living room after Emma out grew the basinet
and I was ok with it because it has wheels and is self-contained which means it
is not a permanent fixation if we don’t want it to be. Then, the next item was
the bouncer which made an appearance early on and seemed to fit just perfectly
in the space between the front door and the chair. It has been there so long it
has blended into the living room scenery for me. So now literally the walls
have been closing in on me with baby stuff. I remember watching those house
selling shows pre-parenthood and thinking “geez people you are soooo
disorganized with all of your baby stuff I mean COME ON!” And now I find myself
in that group. In fact I believe the title of president has been reserved for
me. </div>
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Bickering aside we will have to cope at least for a few
months until I hopefully wrangle this promotion at work and we can finally
move. Until then, I am giving myself a baby challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clean up old adult beverage space and
make it a happy, colorful play space and do it within the next month so these
Christmas toys don’t start to collect dust. Also do it with a smile because
after all, I am doing it for my daughter. <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
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Think I can meet my one month challenge? I will write on my
success or failure. Have you set any goals or challenges for yourself to get
“baby” stuff done around the house? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-34640074936656821512012-12-28T13:56:00.000-08:002012-12-28T13:56:06.021-08:00The Patterson’s Night After Christmas<!--StartFragment-->
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T’was the night after Christmas and all through the house </div>
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Not a creature was stirring, except for an annoyed spouse</div>
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The stockings fell off the bar they were taped with little
care</div>
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Because St. Nicholas had already been there</div>
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The baby was screaming unsnug in her bed</div>
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While painful teeth were coming through her little head</div>
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Mama drinking cough syrup and dad in his Redskins cap</div>
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Were hoping to pass out for an after Christmas nap</div>
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When out in the dining room there rose such a clatter</div>
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We rock paper scissored each other to go see what was the
matter</div>
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Away to the dining room I shuffled not being rash</div>
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Tripped on a dog and heard a splash </div>
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I looked down as the dog vomit did grow</div>
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I rolled my eyes and groaned to the puddle below</div>
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When what to my blood shot eyes had appeared</div>
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But a mountain of presents that had done what I feared</div>
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They crashed to the ground; it happened so quick</div>
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So many toys and most did not come from Saint Nick (he was
too broke to afford all that)</div>
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My feet did not move rapidly as crashing they came</div>
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Down on to the floor, there was no one to blame</div>
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Now Playskool, Now Fisher Price, Now Little Tikes, Now
Disney</div>
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On Melissa and Doug, On Crayola, On Lego, and Etsy</div>
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Toys stacked to the top of the tree, to the top of the wall</div>
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Now reorganize, reorganize to fit them all!</div>
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Mommy had to come up with a plan she knew</div>
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St. Nick would not be back to help tame this shrew</div>
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Then up in my head, an idea, I felt like such a goof</div>
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Just restack them nicely it will be full proof</div>
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I have skipped a few lines don’t think me not merry</div>
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If I don’t get more sleep I will become quite scary</div>
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So laying a finger aside of my nose</div>
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I blew it and headed back for a doze</div>
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Tomorrow will be a good day to deal with this, I thought as
I left the sight</div>
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Of the fruits of Christmas past so I say to all a good
night!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-29821520247069863502012-12-23T16:16:00.002-08:002012-12-23T16:18:15.547-08:00The Great Santa Debate<!--StartFragment-->
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Success! We made it to see Santa without any major catastrophes!
Everyone had a great time! We met Nana and Grandpa, Uncle Thomas (not to be
confused with daddy Thomas), and Mimi for brunch. Everything went well at
brunch and thereafter. Smile after smile, picture after picture everyone was
jolly and full of cheer.</div>
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We were in a very well decorated location (not a mall but a
grand hotel if you can believe it) so grandpa wanted pictures taken at every
turn. As dutiful children excited to show off their kid on her first Christmas
we happily stopped every few feet to smile and Emma followed suit. </div>
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After two hours of a very good baby, we sauntered over to
the line to see Santa. At this point, someone was starting to get a little bit
cranky. Afternoon naptime had come and gone and mommy started to get worried. By
the time we got up to the front of the line, I knew we would need some kind of miracle
to get a smile from Emma who was obviously all smiled out. </div>
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It all happened in slow motion. Thomas walked up to Santa
with Emma as I ducked behind the cameraman. I missed the initial pass off, but
by the time I had positioned myself and was able to look back I saw it. A face
I know so well because it is the only time my child looks like me, her all out
screaming crying face! I was not too upset because I was mentally aware that
this was a probability. In that moment everyone stopped and stared at her, the
camera guy, the line lady, the 20 other families in line. I could hear everyone
give a collective gasp and then time froze and I did what any mommy would do.
Like the beginning of a slow clap at the end of a movie, I started clapping
really loudly and yelling “YYYYAAAAAAYYYY!!!” at the top of my lungs. All of a
sudden everyone in the crowd joined in and we were all cheering for this sweet
baby to smile and she did! Ok so maybe the entire Santa line wasn’t cheering
but it sure sounded like it. Anyways we got our smile. Followed promptly by a
glance upward at Santa’s face only to rediscover there was a scary man in a
psychedelic shirt (to be explained later) holding her which lead to another
meltdown. Luckily daddy swooped in to save the day! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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To back track, while we were waiting for Santa, everyone in
our party made a very profound observation. None and I mean NONE of the kids in
line had any holiday attire on, even the babies! One baby boy was in a blue
jumpsuit and another baby girl was wearing a pink shirt and jeans. So did I
miss the memo? Is it no longer “cool” to dress up your child like they are
headed for the North Pole? My husband did make a comment the other day about
how the corduroy jumper I put Emma in for picture day was sooooo 80s! Maybe I
am behind the times, but this is my kid’s first Christmas, in fact I might only
have a few Christmases to put her in a cute little holiday outfit so I am
running with it! </div>
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Just to be sure, my mommy friend who had taken her son to
see Santa the week before at the same place said the same thing. Her son was
the only child in Christmas gear. Maybe it is the posh people who go see the
hotel Santa that don’t dress up their kids? Maybe people just so happened to be
walking by and saw Santa and said hey why not? I thought this was something you
meticulously plan out? Maybe only the type A folks. </div>
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The other problem that came up was of all things … Santa’s
attire. So not only did the kids not have Christmas cheer, but Santa was not in
his complete red suit, which sent my ultra traditionalist mother off her
rocker. He was wearing a psychedelic blue shirt with multicolored hot air
balloons! I was kind of taken back by the whole thing myself. He was
“authentic” if you know what I mean, but something to me said Santa might be on
hiatus from his North Pole biker buddies. </div>
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Which leaves several questions at hand: Are certain
traditions going out the window? Do you dress up your children in holiday outfits? Is Santa trying to keep up with the Katy Perry/
Niki Minaj generation? Or did he get lost on his way from a Grateful Dead
concert? (see picture below – sorry it is a little burry) </div>
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What do you think? Weigh in on the great Santa debate!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJHGA6NaHtQP0bPosi9C_XzcWWBYI5NhWOWolEiBc4_i3NhnQBSUS85VXdFwrARwCzPewZ6pMBUnb2zinoVdKgv9fhgZyObPOIeA0RGsS_I0KlvtKXRDZCwWeB8jxB06Lq0gcLKTzTrNt/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJHGA6NaHtQP0bPosi9C_XzcWWBYI5NhWOWolEiBc4_i3NhnQBSUS85VXdFwrARwCzPewZ6pMBUnb2zinoVdKgv9fhgZyObPOIeA0RGsS_I0KlvtKXRDZCwWeB8jxB06Lq0gcLKTzTrNt/s320/photo-2.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-32641107230929470652012-12-21T17:43:00.000-08:002012-12-21T17:43:24.292-08:00The Cupcakes I Made For My Office Holiday Party Fell Down An Elevator Shaft; And Other Holiday Pleasantries I am really, really trying hard not to show my bah- humbug
face but it seems like the Grinch has cast a dark cloud over me and even the
magic of Christmas cannot make it go away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been waiting for Tiny Tim to pop out and make
everything all shiny and magical but there has been no such Christmas spirit in
sight. It has been a difficult holiday season to say the least. I thought I had
gone through a few early holiday snafus and I was headed back on track when I
got a call from daycare, while I was offsite at one of my two office holiday parties. Emma has a fever. Those four words sent me spiraling back down my happy
Christmas chimney so fast and I felt a lump of coal rise up in my throat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After being sick a week earlier and
missing two days of work, Emma was even more sick than before!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To top it off, right before the holiday
party I decided to get my flu shot. Yes, great idea! An event that requires you
to be lively and social when normally you sit in a cube and stare at a spongy
cloth wall, I decide to inject myself with this “harmless” helper that ended
up rendering me helpless to any sick childcare much less any holiday party
socialization.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course I panicked that she had a fever but my previous
experience with panicking and running her straight to the ER when she had a
fever proved detrimental so my husband offered to get her and take her to the
pediatrician. After the coast was clear and I didn’t have to panic (just a bad
virus again), I settled into being sick at home with a sick baby. My husband was a
great help and we made it through all of the middle of the night coughing fits
and snot sucking screams fairly well. In the process however, we missed several
more specially planned holiday events. If you recall, we missed out on going to
the tree farm and now we missed out on our ugly Christmas sweater party (I had
even found a ugly baby sweater for Emma at the thrift store).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All the merriment I had left in my Christmas plans
was going to my other office Christmas Party (the one I planned specifically
for my smaller team). I needed it to go well. My husband was good
enough to get a half day off on Tuesday, the day of the party, to be with Emma which gave me a few hours out of the house to set up and attend the beginning of
the party. Needless to say everything that could go wrong did. The caterers
were a half hour late preparing the food (that I called to check on the day
before), the room we had reserved in the building had “otherwise been occupied”
by another group whose holiday cheer did not include sharing, or even giving a
damn that someone else already had the nice party room reserved, so after all
of this chaos I could only manage to do what was within my power and grab the
decorations and cupcakes I had so loving baked and frosted the night before. Of
course being all sweaty and discombobulated from the previously stated
atrocities (including having little sleep from being up with a sick baby), I
was out of it and shoved everything onto an unstable push cart and raced toward
the new party destination (the not so private, overly crowded cafeteria). As I
ran to catch the elevator, the wheels on the cart got stuck in the slat at the
bottom where the elevator connects with the floor and well ... the cupcakes did not make it. They flew through the air and landed all over the floor coming to a
rest in the elevator shaft. So, I ended up literally scrapping the office Christmas
party cheer off the floor of an elevator. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point I broke down and cried. I ended up not even
returning to the party. I left humiliated and upset. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess my mommy strength is really being tested because I
have yet to have one great holiday experience (excluding craft club quilting).
I am trying desperately to have one happy experience for Emma on her first
Christmas. In looking back, maybe spending all that time with her while she was
sick was all she really wanted for Christmas. It was simple and uninterrupted
time that was not a stressful event with massive potential for something to go
wrong. There was no pressure to just sit on the floor and play with her. So maybe
we both got what we really wanted for Christmas. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-75511580266020707502012-12-21T17:31:00.003-08:002012-12-21T17:31:49.898-08:00Yes I Am Right On Trend In 2012<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I’m sure you’ve seen the posts. You’ve read the lists,
counted the tallies, and even rolled your eyes a time or two. The list of the
most popular baby names for 2012 has come out and guess what…(yes I am sure you
already know what but I am going to point out the obvious anyway) since it
seems that I am an unoriginal fool, my child’s name is the second most popular girl’s
name for 2012. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have I sent for the name change form? Have I dusted off the
old baby name book to see where I went wrong? Am I frantically trying to think
of a nick name that is funny, yet appropriate for an academic setting….not
exactly. You see I really do like the name Emma. In fact, the rest of the Emma
name lovers out there probably like it for the same reasons I do…short, easy to
spell, easy to pronounce, sweet yet strong, works for young and old, a Jane
Austin nod, I mean really I see little that could ever go wrong with a name
like Emma … other than every kid in her class having the same name. I am
hopeful at the moment because she is the only Emma at her entire daycare center
(ok only 18 kids out of the whole place are infants, but Emma was a pop<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>ular name last year too.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In our unoriginal name choosing defense I wanted to name her
Leah but my husband was not on board with that. Leah is in the top 100 by not
top 10. There were a few other very close number ones such as Riley and Morgan.
Even the great goddess Athena was in the running for a brief period of time
(meaning aside I am really pleased we did not go with that one.) My name is
Kathryn and my husband’s name is Thomas so I think we ere on the side of
traditional names. We will never name one of our kids Wind or Rainbow or Bear. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was aware
that Emma was top 10 in 2011 and knew it would continue to be popular in years
to come so I made my choice knowing the consequences she would have to face. I am
in no way trying to have history repeat itself, but I know exactly what the
road ahead looks like for her because being a Kathryn in the 80s and 90s, I was
never short on company in Kathrynland. To this day, I know 4 Katies and 3
Kathryns at least. In school I was corralled into the last name adder club and
it was not too much fun (especially since my maiden name is hard to pronounce.)
Emma lucked out in the last name department with pronunciation, but our last
name is once again pretty commonly found. Lucky for me we chose Riley for her
middle name, so if anyone needs her, they can just yell for ERP. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-68716659866046368302012-12-12T16:30:00.003-08:002012-12-12T16:30:49.823-08:00Adaptation and a Throbbing Wrist: Both Things You Need to be Ready for As a New Parent<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
News Flash!!!! If you are planning on becoming a parent and
you are not good at embracing change, start mentally preparing now! Changes
happen so often and come so quickly it is like having to upgrade from Windows
XP to Windows 27 and every update in-between in a mere few months. Imagine
needing to learn a new operating system every few weeks, maybe even every other
week! Well that is baby development (geez am I a nerd or what using a Microsoft
analogy – odd because I am more of a mac person but anyway). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think you get the point. If you are the person who still
does not know what Twitter looks like or you have been wearing the same 1990s
flannel shirt for years then you might want to open your mind to exploring new
things because that is what your baby will be doing. Every object is a new
experience and every week holds new untold adventures, everything from different
amounts of poop to new body movements. We are talking constant routine changers
here. As a younger parent and having grown up in a world with rapidly changing
technology you would think I am well equipped to jump right in with fast paced
changes. I’m hip, I’m down… yeah ok maybe not. I guess I am losing my touch or
my knack for learning quickly because I cannot keep up with this girl! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It all started with the car seat. That’s when my ability to
adapt took a wrong turn. I had been up to speed with moving her from the playpen
to the crib to sleep. I had been ready with new toys and tethers when she
needed extra stimulation and comfort. Then came the car seat. I think up until
that point I had been ok with the changes. They didn’t seem so epic and were
easy for me to grasp (ok the bed switch was tough the first week.) Now she has
gotten to the point where I can barely lift her when she is in the car seat.
She has grown too much to be lovingly cradled around from car to house and car
to daycare in her safe seat. My main problem with this is that it has gotten
cold outside now and I have her wrapped in a blanket in the seat with a fleece
jacket on. Taking her out means I have to wrap the blanket around her and try
to run to the door with diaper bag, purse, and whatever else in hand. For some
reason, my brain cannot let go of the old habit of grabbing her car seat and
going. I finally hurt my wrist carrying it, which was the worst because I type
for a living (zing). So now I am stuck with a dilemma. An easy fix really, yet
for some reason I can’t let go. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Besides the car seat dilemma, she is eating solids now and
the pediatrician said to introduce a new food every 3-4 days! Um I don’t think
I even know enough foods to introduce a new one every 3-4 days. She has also
started to crawl which I am thrilled about! It has come with her trying to pull
herself up too. All at the same time! So now, I am thinking we need to jump on
the shoe wearing bandwagon. But for crying out loud she is only 6.5 months old!
Can’t I just keep her in socks and booties a little bit longer? What if she
only eats sweet potatoes for a week straight? Will this put her behind somehow
in life? I think part of it all has to do with the fact that I work full time
and I don’t get to see her as often as I would like so I try to make up for it
by going through the stages at my own mommy processing pace. I can’t seem to bring
myself to keep on pace with her. At the same time I don’t want to be the old
fuddy duddy mom who is trying to look cool using a jitter bug. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How do I get on the same page developmentally with my child?
Anyone else have these problems? </div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-75240995457461725662012-12-11T16:04:00.000-08:002012-12-11T16:04:02.910-08:00This Year’s Christmas Family Tradition: Daddy picks out the tree from a store lot<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes that’s right, the magical journey to the tree farm did
not happen. The Christmas Carols on the car ride to the farm, the hot chocolate
at the farm, the hour(s?) spent hunting down the perfect tree, the crisp air
and smiling faces of other families enjoying the same magical togetherness …
did not happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma was very sick
last weekend and the beginning of this week (thus why I have been on hiatus).
Her health is priority number one and I did not want to put her in harms way,
so I did what any mother who has to stay home with a sick child when they so
desperately want to pick out the perfect Christmas tree will do, I looked my husband
in the eye and told him to find the tree of all trees. A tree so magnificent
that it would make the Grinch cry tears of joy. So magnificent that it makes all the toys in toy land say Whoomp there it is! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I do not consider myself someone that is extremely hard
to please. I wouldn’t even say that I am picky, ok maybe just particular.
Needless to say I was a little worried about daddy having to venture out on his
own to find a tree and not just ANY tree, Emma’s first Christmas tree. The tree
she would see in all of the pictures of her first Christmas. The first tree she
would see all lit up with lights and sparkles, her first taste of Christmas
magic. (I mean come on now people you can’t tell me that doesn’t elevate this
to def con 5.) I told my husband to make sure it was full and sturdy. The
results were better than I had imagined. The Christmas tree fairy must have
been with him because he came home with a tree that looked just as good as if
we had cut it down, maybe even better. In fact the more I look at it, the more
it looks like the best tree we’ve had since we’ve been together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, life got in the way of the “perfect” holiday plan. I’m
sure it’s not the last time something I have planned gets put on the back
burner for something more important because even though having a great tree is
part of the overall Christmas experience I want for my child, it’s really the
love, the people that make the holidays. Cheesy yes, but very true, in all of
the holiday hullabaloo I can never lose site of the health and happiness of my
family. That is all anyone wishes for. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you have any stories of holiday plans gone wrong?</div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-80008238992562408382012-12-10T17:09:00.000-08:002012-12-10T17:09:10.897-08:00The Things They Don’t Teach You in Baby Class<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here we were, a month before Emma was born, taking a how to
prepare for baby class. They went over lots of major things, like how to
properly feed the baby, change a diaper, cloth, swaddle, nurture, and other new
parent need to knows. BUT as I’m sure you have now discovered, there are many
things you cannot prepare yourself for until you find yourself in that
situation with a baby. Here are a few gems I will share about what I have learned
along the way in hopes to be able to enlighten others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There will be a time when you get sick AND have to take care
of the baby. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I inevitably caught one of Emma’s colds and her daddy had
exhausted his leave from work after she had been sick, before, so here I was
with an energetic baby who just got over a cold and I was pretty much out of
commission. I was able to nap with her in bed and did my best to keep her entertained
until daddy got home but needless to say no one ever prepared me for how to
take care of a child when you are sick. I was so surprised, the idea had never
crossed my mind. No one I had had bothered to mention to me during my 9 months
of pregnancy or ever during my life, that when you are a mother there is no
sick day. There is no time off for you to rest in bed to get better. That only
exists in the land of your pre-baby bliss days. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There will be a time that you are alone with the baby and
have to go to the bathroom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After her four month appointment with the pediatrician, I
really had to go to the bathroom and I knew I would not be able to hold it in
Friday afternoon rush hour traffic (side note: do NOT schedule a doctor’s
appointment on a Friday afternoon if you know rush hour is bad in your area,
yeah I wasn’t thinking at the time) so I had her in the car seat, with my
purse, and diaper bag flung over my shoulder and marched off to the bathroom in
the office building. To my shock and amazement in a medical building, the
bathroom DID NOT have a handicap stall and to top it off, all of the stalls
were very narrow! Here I am with a car seat and the afore mentioned baggage and
I could not fit any of it in the stall with me. I could barely fit my
postpardum hips inside the narrow opening. I had no choice but to plop Emma
down in front of the stall with the diaper bag, during which time I used the
facility hoping no one would walk in on a very discombobulated mom with the
stall door open and her child in a car seat on the middle of the bathroom floor.
I mean really what bathroom does not have a handicap stall?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You will find yourself in very odd circumstances.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As if the bathroom story is not enough, about a week after
that we went to the mall on a Saturday while daddy was at work. When I got out
of the car in the parking lot I noticed something under my tire that looked
like it splattered. I shrugged it off thinking it had been there for a couple
of days, put the baby in her stroller, and proceeded to enjoy our girls only
shopping trip. All thoughts of the car left my mind. Upon our return to the car
I realized quickly what had happened. I had run over a piece of rotten fruit
and a swarm of yellow jackets had engulfed my car. My mommy protection devises
went into over drive trying to figure out how to safely get my child in the car
among a swarm of rotten fruit loving bees. My first thought was to move the
car, but being on my own I could not leave the baby in the stroller in the mall
parking lot. I finally calculated a resolution in my head. I unlocked the car
from a safe distance and threw a blanket over the car seat (we have a stroller
car seat combo) I cradled the car seat as much under my body as I could and
sacrificing self for child I ran to the car as soon as I saw a break in the
bees. I somehow was able to miraculously secure the seat and retreat without
getting stung or having any bees get into the car. I can only imagine what any
onlookers seeing me running to the car with a car seat oddly placed under my
upper body, while quickly slamming the door must have thought. Probably that I
had gone off my mommy rocker. I smile at this thought now, but at the time it
was a really stressful situation to say the least. SO if you ever find that you
have driven over a piece of rotten fruit and come face to face with a swarm of
yellow jackets, there is my recommendation on how to handle the situation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you have any crazy mommy stories while it was only you
and the baby? </div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-91098782529676405542012-12-10T17:06:00.003-08:002012-12-10T17:06:56.624-08:00I'm back! I hope everyone's holiday preparations have been going well. I must apologize for my brief hiatus. Emma got very sick. That is a whole other story. I will be posting on our recent adventures soon, but in the mean time, I wanted to share some vintage classics that I was waiting to post until I heard back from the site I submitted them to. It has been two months with no word back from the blog site, so I am going to assume I did not make the cut... this time around. I have not given up yet and even if I never make this into a dream career I still have all of you, my faithful followers, or maybe you are just bored or accidentally kicked on this blog, but you know what... I'll take it!<br />
<br />
Read and Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-61948164136739235972012-11-30T16:02:00.001-08:002012-11-30T16:02:26.981-08:00And So Begins Round Two of Sleep Deprivation<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought the coast was clear. My bed and I had once again
found our harmonious existence together after months of separation. My brain
was finally able to function at work. I could problem solve! I started
remembering dates of events, even days of the week. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, all of that has been (hopefully) temporarily thrown
out the sweet moments of the past window in favor of sleep regression misery. I
should not say misery, since it is an understandable occurrence but this side
of several days with little to no consecutive hours of sleep is difficult to
handle to say the least. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being in mommy world, working, trying to get back in shape,
blogging, and preparing for the holidays have me stretched very thin at the
moment. Emma of course is priority one, so I want to be able to help her though
whatever phase she is in. I am concerned she is having difficulty sleeping
through the night. I think this means she is on the verge of crawling and or
teething. We go to the pediatrician on Monday for her 6 month checkup, so
hopefully we can get some answers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have not co-slept in about a month (except for weekend
morning sleep-ins) and I’m thinking of going back to that if it would comfort
her more. When we do go to check on her in the middle of the night after hearing her, we often find her on her hands and knees awake wiggling around. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m willing to try anything at this point for one night of
blissful, uninterrupted sleep. I am nearly at the point where I am slurring my
words and I have completely lost all sense of time including the day and the
hour. I also just happened to look down at my work outfit I am still in at 7pm
at night, brown pants, green shirt, gray shawl cover thingy, oh boy thank
goodness I did not have any meetings today. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you gone through sleep regression with your little one?
How did you work through it? </div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-60932855371688158232012-11-26T18:59:00.001-08:002012-11-26T18:59:45.368-08:00My Extreme Holiday Predicament<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that you have been introduced to “the fur babies” I
thought I would share a moment of pure anguish and terror that wreaks havoc
throughout my holidays. This is the time when you are supposed to be merry and
full of cheer and, I generally am. Sitting in my tiny two bed room, one bath,
rented house with four dogs and a baby, I am quite cozy and happy during the
holidays, until I turn on the TV.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After I put Emma to sleep and dinner is underway I sometimes
enjoy a bit of mindless TV watching. Yup, it’s just me and my four dogs
snuggling in the living room when it hits, unsuspectingly….the sad doggie/
kitty commercials!!!!!! Oh God NOOOOOOO!!!! There are several different
commercials and they seem to reach their tear jerking peek around the holidays
(probably when they get the majority of their donations so they make sure to run them every other commercial break.) And I HATE THEM! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why, why, must you find the exact moment to come on when the
remote is out of reach or I am temporarily paralyzed from performing various
mommy duties and can’t change the channel! Then comes the sad music and BIG
GLARING DOGGIE EYES! I want to scream at the narrator “But….. I already have
FOUR DOGS!!!” Three of which were saved from a difficult life. Vet bills, toys,
food, and not to mention a human baby and trying to save up for a bigger house
and yard leaves little else to donate for the others and yet, the guilt! Oh the
guilt! Even if I am in another room and I hear the commercial start I want to
cry. There are so many others that need help, that need good homes! The best I
can do is to try to talk my other friends into adopting. I really want to be
able to do more but all I can do is the best for the ones I have and know that
when we can, we will save another furry friend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know adoption is not for every family, but there are so
many ways you can help! Want information on how you can help out a furry friend
for the holidays? Visit: <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><a href="http://www.aspca.org/adoption/ten-ways-to-help-animals-in-your-community.aspx">http://www.aspca.org/adoption/ten-ways-to-help-animals-in-your-community.aspx</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyone have a good adoption story or a good way to cope with the commercials? </div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-89403598982458445422012-11-26T18:49:00.000-08:002012-11-26T18:49:12.896-08:0016 Paws<!--StartFragment-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<!--StartFragment-->
</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No, don’t worry, I am not about to tell a story about scary werewolf
babies. I know Halloween is over and we are in full on holiday mode right now,
but I wanted to take a break from the holidays and the human baby to talk about
4/7<sup>ths </sup>of my family. That’s right, our “fur babies” who outnumber us
humans in the house four to three. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are not animal hoarders, although I feel like I want to
be but just do not have the room. How the heck did a normal, non-hoarding
couple end up with four dogs? So, the story goes that a boy with boy dog met a
girl with a girl dog and they all fall in love. Sorry both dogs were responsibly
fixed and not capable of having puppies, so after some time, the human girl
decided she wanted to get a puppy to add to their doggie family. As it turns
out, she was in luck the boy’s co-worker’s dog was getting ready to have
puppies. Fast forward a few weeks and they went to go pick up the puppy. The
boy’s brother also wanted a puppy, so the boy took one of the puppies for his
brother. Well it ended up that his brother could not take the puppy, so the
puppy ended up staying with the boy and the girl and the other three dogs. Oh
yeah, then the boy and the girl had a human baby girl. The End.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ok I think I summed that up pretty well. Lesson learned, don’t pick up a
puppy for a friend. If they want a dog and are ready to commit, let them go
pick it up! That’s the first sign of commitment! That being said, we love all
four dogs very much and would have it no other way (well except to have a
bigger house). They are all well behaved (when not excited) and are the most
wonderful loyal friends anyone could ask for. Below is a picture/ description
of each of our big kids (the smallest weights over 60lbs). </span></span><br />
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<b>Meet Stanley</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeweysSvloDTuTPJZVaoAFGTr4J6ZsE7v6fYv1DWH-WyK1ovy1q5e71N2nMBUPnUE-VM8YZ3BScgIktKtWM7KYBfXT8VEYiLgEJ9RPDzdtQDMsOmCrPxwgdnjnj3vQs0e4UIiIK6ykgh0/s1600/n1678110409_4061_7680038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeweysSvloDTuTPJZVaoAFGTr4J6ZsE7v6fYv1DWH-WyK1ovy1q5e71N2nMBUPnUE-VM8YZ3BScgIktKtWM7KYBfXT8VEYiLgEJ9RPDzdtQDMsOmCrPxwgdnjnj3vQs0e4UIiIK6ykgh0/s320/n1678110409_4061_7680038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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He looks ferocious but he is the sweetest of them all. Our senior gentleman. I call him ol' boy. </div>
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Dislikes: Cats</div>
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Likes: Laying next to the heater when it's cold outside</div>
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<b>Meet Bella</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTq-a4VNRkm2scURs02oPZB28qogvaXw-E8VKdNdZDvELhSOtenKcLyNNlSVlq88kH6iEQcvSfCaoPUvkHrvjMznFhzKzQalQG67jjtKpALWmhg3xu0XF2RqsVGq11IDQUtXvmBXjIPxx/s1600/P1010036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTq-a4VNRkm2scURs02oPZB28qogvaXw-E8VKdNdZDvELhSOtenKcLyNNlSVlq88kH6iEQcvSfCaoPUvkHrvjMznFhzKzQalQG67jjtKpALWmhg3xu0XF2RqsVGq11IDQUtXvmBXjIPxx/s320/P1010036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My rambunctious lab. My love and best friend. If she wants to get attention she will come right up to you and put her head in your lap. She is a true water dog! </div>
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Likes: Running after tennis balls</div>
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Dislikes: Bringing back tennis balls </div>
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<b>Meet Reese </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoDtpUlHrNu6-n1Xgf6YpXRF7YxofFapm_y8OMd5w3oJHFh1Ymx2iscKsuAoQP0dVQUcwgtuZKu_EOKftgt9e6YFOLRvZTcqEZiA-DkSQkZL0R3VkRBdMbtuq-ihVFKMBw1wHJaFw_958/s1600/P1030220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoDtpUlHrNu6-n1Xgf6YpXRF7YxofFapm_y8OMd5w3oJHFh1Ymx2iscKsuAoQP0dVQUcwgtuZKu_EOKftgt9e6YFOLRvZTcqEZiA-DkSQkZL0R3VkRBdMbtuq-ihVFKMBw1wHJaFw_958/s320/P1030220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I call her my sweet little meat because she always comes into the kitchen when I'm cooking looking for a treat. She is the smallest of our large brood and the shyest but get to know her and you get nothing but love.</div>
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Dislikes: Not getting treats</div>
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Likes: Running around with large strings of drool hanging out of her mouth</div>
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<b>Meet Charlie </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZR8K4jQm-52_MchTZUaEItTVgw7ceak2Xkswh5zIKzuwnHVZ8OqHtTUnFzENVqAgcE3H9-Ua4O1xafk-RXCnrD07rTd7FoNJFJkJyPcmqp9ODsLeScBRxux73xK-CbuaZWU_dCUqWQEz/s1600/P1030225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZR8K4jQm-52_MchTZUaEItTVgw7ceak2Xkswh5zIKzuwnHVZ8OqHtTUnFzENVqAgcE3H9-Ua4O1xafk-RXCnrD07rTd7FoNJFJkJyPcmqp9ODsLeScBRxux73xK-CbuaZWU_dCUqWQEz/s320/P1030225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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She looks like Reese in this picture but she is her own dog! She is brindle and was the surprise addition to our family. She pushes the boundaries and is full of energy but there is one in every family so we love her for who she is. </div>
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Likes: Jumping REALLY high into the air</div>
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Dislikes: When squirrels get away </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-4796279698787193272012-11-20T15:09:00.000-08:002012-11-20T15:09:27.019-08:00Why My Head is Spinning<!--StartFragment-->
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I have already posted about Christmas on here, so I feel
like there is nothing holding me back from going all out with the holiday posts
now. I have to say however, it is hard to get anything done or even concentrate
because my head feels like it is going to explode. No, it’s not a cold, not too
much eggnog, not a bad reaction from a piece of questionable fruit cake, it’s
me trying to process ALL these TOYS!</div>
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I started innocently scanning through some ads we got in the
mail to get a feel for what might work for Emma for her first Christmas and I
was floored by the extreme toys I saw! Yes, when I was a kid I do remember a
bunch of different toys and it seemed like each one was special in its own way,
but when I look at any advertisement or walk down any toy isle now, I get dizzy
and feel extremely overwhelmed. No wonder kids have ADD, every gadget has 20+
functions and hooks up to the computer so it can perform 40 more. Even
understanding the simplest of items, a walker, felt like learning a whole new
language. All I wanted for her was a simple toy she could use to help her get
around, but instead I was bombarded with a barrage of strange objects that
seemed to do even stranger things. One walker had so much stuff on it it’s a
wonder any of the kids ever figure out there is a back side where they can
actually pull themselves up to walk. What a novel idea for a walker! </div>
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Anyways, I was tempted to get her the simple Little Tikes
walker that has the car attached to the front and that’s it, but it seemed like
it might be for older kids, so I ended up picking a middle of the road walker.
It has some musical stuff on the front of it, but not an overwhelming amount
and we saw it in action over at a friend’s house so we know she will enjoy it.
Bottom line though, I feel out of it, I feel like while I was off enjoying my
pre-baby adulthood someone turned up the overload button on toys. I am tempted
to buy Emma only simplistic toys but then would she fall behind other kids? It
seems that is a discussion for another post, but for now, I am going to try to
keep it as simple as I can. I mean she’s really going to pay more attention to
the wrapping paper anyway, right? </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is it your baby’s first Christmas? <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Having a hard
time navigating through all of the crazy kid toys? I’d love to hear about it! </span><!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-15851951656287127462012-11-18T18:10:00.000-08:002012-11-18T18:10:01.191-08:00She’s Right In Front of Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just had an Aha moment! About a week ago, I meet up with
an old high school friend to get Emma’s baby pictures taken. I had not gotten
her pictures taken when she was first born and I sometimes regret not doing it
but after seeing her pictures from our photo shoot I realized I had made the
right decision to wait. Emma is so much more expressive now and so much more
animated and it really translated well in the pictures!</div>
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In fact, Monika, our photographer, did an excellent job of
capturing Emma from different angles and in different settings so much so that
going through the pictures I began to see something that I had not seen before.
Emma is in no way a one dimensional baby. In fact, she has already formed an
incredibly complex personality and it came through brilliantly in the pictures.
I was amazed to see the still images capturing the many sides to her
personality. I figured I’d share them with you:</div>
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Bewilderment: As a baby, Emma is totally engrossed and
amazed with the world around her. Everything is a new wonder to discover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some things are harder to figure out
than others but she is ever wide eyed with amazement. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ybh3UQZsBii9WfJPc1bdAglZNGQyPR3S9kc-ej0pcwfJkQvponLaY61TGZNzpyzaV8kRruNI_8Kw4GpiSrxhEO-INKK-qO62aImjpZTQqt4yA-YqJHRkXd5xlSjjZVyO5gc3GVW2UWfJ/s1600/Emma+Sneak+Peak1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ybh3UQZsBii9WfJPc1bdAglZNGQyPR3S9kc-ej0pcwfJkQvponLaY61TGZNzpyzaV8kRruNI_8Kw4GpiSrxhEO-INKK-qO62aImjpZTQqt4yA-YqJHRkXd5xlSjjZVyO5gc3GVW2UWfJ/s1600/Emma+Sneak+Peak1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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The “I think no one is looking so I will take a minute for
myself” look: Emma does like to please the crowd and will smile more often than
not, but sometimes she needs a break and has no problem taking one. She almost
does it in a way where she thinks no one is paying attention and so she lets
her inner thoughts play out on her face. “Yeah I see that they are trying to
take my picture, which slightly amuses me, but I’m going to chill out on this
chair.” </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANj0uweuPNyQlQ9kmdRaBctk8yMLH5n4yNixYh5qdz_TAMSP28p6RmWG0No-KqsoXYwJCwJVcMjjtdWFnTg38ZG17N1ee-UfNuQZYC9hY5IOMu_o5KNh59txWkkMjq5T86HZIPMtrliKj/s1600/Emma2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANj0uweuPNyQlQ9kmdRaBctk8yMLH5n4yNixYh5qdz_TAMSP28p6RmWG0No-KqsoXYwJCwJVcMjjtdWFnTg38ZG17N1ee-UfNuQZYC9hY5IOMu_o5KNh59txWkkMjq5T86HZIPMtrliKj/s1600/Emma2-1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Angelic Innocence: Without even realizing it, she exudes
this angelic sweetness just because. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVJMAldw4qHsoRQl3Vgf0eSBdxanwSDo7Cs7GkTTQ2Rkt4Q7TY90E4W2cnWaqxF4B05BD2CJ-2XYcyfyawHMnkvi1hMcbayBUhlKPesPngxNtINgq-Br61IVPYLY3eTLiFK4XXNR2kHw7/s1600/Emma+Sneak+Peak+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVJMAldw4qHsoRQl3Vgf0eSBdxanwSDo7Cs7GkTTQ2Rkt4Q7TY90E4W2cnWaqxF4B05BD2CJ-2XYcyfyawHMnkvi1hMcbayBUhlKPesPngxNtINgq-Br61IVPYLY3eTLiFK4XXNR2kHw7/s1600/Emma+Sneak+Peak+2.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Joy: Often found on the face of my 5.5 month old, she is an extremely
happy baby who loves to laugh along with anyone she keeps compa<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>ny
with.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4BSXmIOi-9ARFNma_pClFPEXOJ2B1QaAzGGLoSk8DVhrwG8bP7gbAx5ifPMeV_QwcIeErrCJrBTQ9CX8RJe_SeFAKtilA901cUFLyGguFmz1QWJ10D0tQQsgy2Hlv6h8QMp9_lRBQU7J/s1600/Emma+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4BSXmIOi-9ARFNma_pClFPEXOJ2B1QaAzGGLoSk8DVhrwG8bP7gbAx5ifPMeV_QwcIeErrCJrBTQ9CX8RJe_SeFAKtilA901cUFLyGguFmz1QWJ10D0tQQsgy2Hlv6h8QMp9_lRBQU7J/s1600/Emma+3.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Time to “Get Serious”: For some reason, when she is
trying out new sounds, specifically consonant sounds that might be a little
advanced for her, she gets a very focused look on her face, like her future
scholarly PhD essence is coming through.</span><!--EndFragment-->
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7RgZkt13DabnXbmKJ_A3-6q0onFq0356HwoLC5IbS0vgrPaUB8f9Ca5qWSF4jck6yIpwumlHFHxCrzyftSgUP23uZ_-g5YgRWq_1YRwRqw4EnO3JEaofRmZ_ZQIJR31UCPys10nlmlqO/s1600/Emma+Sneak+Peak+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7RgZkt13DabnXbmKJ_A3-6q0onFq0356HwoLC5IbS0vgrPaUB8f9Ca5qWSF4jck6yIpwumlHFHxCrzyftSgUP23uZ_-g5YgRWq_1YRwRqw4EnO3JEaofRmZ_ZQIJR31UCPys10nlmlqO/s1600/Emma+Sneak+Peak+3.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Confident in Herself: She knows what she wants and goes for
it. I see this one as her, “this is me” face. That’s right, this is my first
time on a baby swing and I am doing just fine.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBxRx6OnirIalOeFS6cxZ3uROIDmStDDKDaVtst6Qp2Lps1cnW6DPhSNyJ8fj9K_DG2A2ae-SyGiBzCgp9JycX7KxnHHKNjJXrbJv_l_64Vko4OgCPcKVg4Ho2PInsKLU6H1wD6zm0bqF/s1600/Emma+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBxRx6OnirIalOeFS6cxZ3uROIDmStDDKDaVtst6Qp2Lps1cnW6DPhSNyJ8fj9K_DG2A2ae-SyGiBzCgp9JycX7KxnHHKNjJXrbJv_l_64Vko4OgCPcKVg4Ho2PInsKLU6H1wD6zm0bqF/s1600/Emma+9.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Food is Good/I love to try new things: Ever the explorer,
Emma loves to try new things, solid foods included! She loves being able to sit
up in her highchair like a big girl to partake in a ritual she sees the grownups
doing, eating! She also gets excited if she is held standing up or is able to
sit down next to you so she feels included. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhULufa1ltk5-p34g5v-BsBUk2-tRtkzimc7apB7mkN2bWzskBBC76qqIubOr0Ow49Dy_Z-hEkxupHJQI1kt6IsKMTiLESw93rk3WFGwS531FsAV2XpSY9tTTYIM6zTGNDMwPIGI0ilHA/s1600/Emma12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhULufa1ltk5-p34g5v-BsBUk2-tRtkzimc7apB7mkN2bWzskBBC76qqIubOr0Ow49Dy_Z-hEkxupHJQI1kt6IsKMTiLESw93rk3WFGwS531FsAV2XpSY9tTTYIM6zTGNDMwPIGI0ilHA/s1600/Emma12.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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What are you doing: Ever aware of her human companions, Emma
is like a sponge, soaking up every movement, every word, and every part of
whoever is within close proximity. She observes everything with extreme
attention to detail.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7vGVEYWUBY4ok948AzYdcm45zAu8Huy6KwUipXn1L2BAFdkbrFLd5JDOqzfdFRnOBIu-eNfw-IitNv714IaMCKt5SIgmv7tLv1IUkqXNotM9Fy9f4fMAUqvJxHRnUHzcuZhUT2-c7cNM/s1600/Emma10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7vGVEYWUBY4ok948AzYdcm45zAu8Huy6KwUipXn1L2BAFdkbrFLd5JDOqzfdFRnOBIu-eNfw-IitNv714IaMCKt5SIgmv7tLv1IUkqXNotM9Fy9f4fMAUqvJxHRnUHzcuZhUT2-c7cNM/s1600/Emma10.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All of this was right in front of my face the entire time, Emma’s personality, her human complexities. It took the stillness of the pictures to capture each of her intricacies for me to truly be able to appreciate each of them, and start to begin to piece together who my Emma really is.</div>
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Our awesome photographer, Monika Catanzaro can be found at <a href="http://www.monikacatanzaro.com/">www.monikacatanzaro.com</a> Check out the
work done by this remarkable, creative mom!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-66185455504658614472012-11-18T15:32:00.000-08:002012-11-18T15:32:26.189-08:00Christmas Shopping with a Baby<!--StartFragment-->
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Alrighty, we’ve made it past Halloween right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost Thanksgiving, so I would say
we are ready for Christmas Holiday talk (I see some of you rolling your eyes).
Well, actually, normally I would be on the side of the “Let me enjoy my
Thanksgiving and wake me up from my comatose food sleep sometime in
mid-December” people, but this year requires a little bit more planning. I have
found that planning ahead for things in mommy world makes everything run a
little bit smoother so do not hate me for my haste in planning out my holiday
shopping.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Several questions are burning in my mind as I run through my
long list of family members, co-workers, and other close friends we are
required to have presents for (I am kind of working toward taking a minimalist
approach to gift giving but that topic will be saved for another time.) So now,
I have to figure out when I will either have someone to watch Emma or how many
stores/ sales I can hit up before we reach baby meltdown. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a lot to do and Emma, on a good day, with maybe a nap
thrown in, will last approximately 1.5-2 hours in a store at any given time. As
I have previously mentioned, my child does not like to be confined in any type
of small space. She is a mover so keeping her in the stroller is like torture. Baby
wearing is out as well. She will sit for short periods of time in the stroller
which is why I pretty much need to know exactly what I will be getting from the
store and where it is located. It makes for a less laid back shopping
experience, but I know I will have to bring her with me at some point during
this holiday season. Here is my game plan:<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write
down list of family members/ gifts they are getting</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Do research at home for which store has good
sales on said items</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Plan out which stores I will hit when,
preferably stores I am familiar with the layout</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Have list of each person/ item/ price I will be
purchasing at which store– this also helps me budget!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Pack some good toys/ a binky/ food/ anything
else that will help us make it through an hour and a half at the mall</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
And now I bid thee a farewell from
my holiday OCD planning and say good luck shopping everyone! Do you have a well
laid out plan to tackle your holiday season shopping? Do you have any holiday
shopping horror stories? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-40389102192262491902012-11-11T17:25:00.002-08:002012-11-11T17:27:27.251-08:00My Dream in a Galaxy Far Far Away<!--StartFragment-->
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I know by now we have all heard
the news that Disney bought out George Lucas which includes several franchises,
but the only one anyone should be concerned about (ok the only one I care
about) is the <i>Star Wars</i> franchise, particularly
the creation of the next trilogy. Every day since I heard the news I have been very
antsy and distraught to the point were I feel like I want to jump out of my
skin with anxiety. There is A LOT riding on this. Which is why I am formally
announcing that it would truly fulfill my life’s purpose if I was able to
assist in the writing and production of these films! (No I don’t think I’m
asking too much.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a lot invested in <i>Star Wars</i>. It was the ultimate magical
trilogy of my childhood. It is one of only a handful of things on this earth I
share a strong bond with my father over. It impacted me so profoundly, that I
wrote my own fan fiction sequel (one of my first lengthy pieces of writing). I
should not need to reiterate any more how immensely important the success of
these next films are to me. To add a cherry on top, these will be the trilogy
of my daughter’s generation. I like to try to glaze over the memory of the prequel
films and send out this plea for the next set since in all likelihood, the
execs from Disney will not be knocking at my door. Please DO NOT MESS UP THESE MOVIES
In the spirit of a blog favorite, I have decided to list my top 10 pieces of
advise to Disney that will, I believe ensure the success of any future films to
come. </div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
1. This
I do feel is the most important and I know I might meet some resistance with
this, but for my idea of success, please, please BRING BACK THE PUPPETS!!! If I
have to see a graphically disturbing image of Yoda I might cry. For some reason
to me, a wise, old Jedi is at his expressive best as a tangible 3D entity on
screen </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
2. To
piggyback off of that, if you are going to have any digital graphics at all,
get the best out there, or go back to the models! Yes, I said it! The magic of
the models helped to make <i>Star Wars</i>
what it was. Simplicity is best for this blogger.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
3. The
plot: Do not make it overly complicated, keep it believable, and try to have a
good balance of action and love story (yes I am going to be looking for a Solo,
Leia for the new generation.)</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
4. One
or two BIG TWISTS please! No, not Luke is Jabba’s sister’s baby daddy but come
up with something that will leave us captivated!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
5. Give
us a cliffhanger! By the time I was able to watch the trilogy the whole Han
Solo gets frozen thing was mystery solved. I would like a good nail bitter at
the end of the second film.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
6. Characters
– We all know what makes a great story, character development! Please give us
some substance! (Particularly a badass female Jedi) There needs to be an
absolutely believable villain and well thought out comic relief (R2D2 yes,
JarJar Binks NO WAY)</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
7. Dialog
– Like those that have gone before, the dialog/ acting does not have to be spot
on, it would be good, but not a must if 1-6 are followed!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 8. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>I
am certainly not apposed to bringing back old friends (Mark Hamill and Carrie
Fisher heck even good old Harrison, come on down!)</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
9. Music
– John Williams only – nothing more to say here</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
10. Make it
magical and awe-inspiring. I really don’t think that is too much to ask. People
have to talk about this for another 30 years.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 151.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 151.5pt;">
There is a lot ridding on this for
me as well as others. Disney, I offer my expertise and advise to you free of
charge, but feel free to contact me directly because I have not divulged major details
of my ideas on here. And rest assured blog world I will always be waiting to do
battle with my light saber and use the force but you Disney now hold the power
to bring all of this to reality and for now, I am still nervous. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-37561785211028161532012-11-09T15:26:00.002-08:002012-11-09T15:26:41.411-08:00How Our Family Is Like a Squeaky Rocking Chair<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The house is quite. The faint aroma of baked chicken lingers
in the air. Going down the hallway you can detect the sweet innocence of
infancy. All is zen and peaceful and then…a sudden, loud, squeeeeaaaaak. And
then another and another until a fast paced rhythm of squeaking fills the sound
space. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, this is the scene at our house every evening. Ear
wrenching, squeaking, rocking chair! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is completely unheard of, but we have a squeaky rocking
chair. It is ridiculous I know. I keep wanting to ask my husband to oil it or
do anything really, but I haven’t and maybe there is a reason behind that. The
chair pretty much started squeaking about a month into baby life so Emma does
not notice it. She’s been a squeaky rocking chair lover her whole life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will fall asleep with the rhythmic
squeaks as if it was a sweet flute accompanying my lullaby humming. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why do I keep it? How did this happen in the first place?
After all this is our first child and therefore we should have a beautiful, quiet, new
chair to match our new furniture set right? Actually, no. So the story goes,
before I was pregnant or even had a thought about a nursery or booties or any
of that, my husband and I were out driving around a neighborhood to see if we
liked it as we were house<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hunting
at the time. Just as we were pulling out of the end of the neighborhood we saw a
rocking chair on the curb in front of the last house on the street. My husband
quickly pulled over. Free furniture! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner just so happened to be in the yard and was able to
give us the footstool that went with it. There was no real logic behind picking
it up. We kind of wanted a DIY fixer-upper project was all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast forward three months, and we find out I am pregnant.
Crazy right? So I reupholstered the cushions and my husband fixed the broken
wood slats on the back and ta da! Good as new…for the first month. Then slowly
but surely a loud squeak developed. No matter what position I put myself in on
the chair there it is, but you know what else there is? The hard work both me
and my husband put into the chair, each loving stich, each piece of wood cut.
We made something beautiful for our child, something we seemed to have a
futuristic intuition about. We are not perfect parents, we aren’t perfect
people, and the chair is by no means perfectly put together, but like the
chair, we plan to raise Emma and teach her that she doesn’t have to be perfect.
She can grow up to be the person who she wants to be, imperfect, just like her
mommy and daddy who put together an imperfect squeaky chair out of love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what our family is. <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-82732297112365812232012-11-08T18:27:00.000-08:002012-11-08T18:27:22.993-08:00The Technology Meltdow<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I know we’ve all been there, that time when mommy’s
“lovey” aka her cell phone, laptop, fill in the blank tech devise bites the
dust. When your inner voice is yelling, “nooooo I did not back that up!” You
try to keep your cool around the kids too, like no mommy is not freaking out
right now.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well this happened to me yesterday. My cell phone, my
lifeline, had been on the frits for a month or so and yesterday it decided to
go to cell phone heaven. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
naturally was banging my head on my desk at work thinking of what an idiot I
was for knowing the phone was near death and not taking the precaution to back
up my data. Of course by data I mean all of the pictures my husband took at the
hospital when Emma was born with my cell phone camera! (We took pictures on our
digital camera too but those were not the same, ok they kind of were the same
but you mommies know what I mean by NOT the same.) Not to mention all of those
precious moments we had together while I was on maternity leave. Her first time
in her bouncer, several smiling pictures which are SUPER hard to capture, some
videos of her first babbling and laughing, all of those moments you capture on
your cell phone because the camera is never at hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After some extreme mommy guilt I ran over to the cell phone
store at lunch to find all of my precious photos and video memories still
intact after the cell phone associate waved his magic cell phone cool gadget wand.
I was so elated! I have them saved now and I will be more careful with my
“mommy lovey” from here on out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, just a quick word to the wise, plan ahead, back up your
precious materials because you never know when that glass of water will spill
or the dog finds a new chew toy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do not want to lose those precious moments! </div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-86751868766904850982012-11-05T18:00:00.001-08:002012-11-05T18:00:18.311-08:00This versus That Parenting<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">While I am waiting to hear
back on the blogs I submitted for publication, I cannot hold back on one topic
that seems to present itself on almost a daily basis in my realm of mommydom. I
have been letting this bother me since day one. Day one, when I ended up having
a c-section that I did not want. Day one, when I was unable to breast feed.
Here I was, thrown into certain situations that I had little control over that
raised eyebrows among some. What kind of parent am I? How am I doing this and
Why am I doing that? There is a lot being said about parenting, numerous blogs,
numerous studies, basically a kick in the face of all sorts of information you
had no idea you wanted to know about or needed to know about and most
importantly had to have an established OPINION about on each meticulously
outlined method in order to be able to defend yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">As a new parent this can
be exhausting and cause added stress. So, I wanted to let all of you out there
know that you are not alone, I have gone through it all and here is what I have
learned, bottom line (I come from the corporate world so I use this tool to
help me get to the root of whatever issue I am faced with): no matter what
anyone says or does you are able to chose what method of parenting and raising
your child works for you. If you are reading this, if you have spent an entire
afternoon on Google or reading through the American Pediatrics website, or
marking up a book, then you already know you are a good parent. You are taking
time to learn, to weigh all of your options so you can make the best choice for
your child and your family. Some kids wish they had parents that would do that
for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Do you have to bottle
feed? Do you have to work and send your child to daycare? Do you co-sleep? Do
you baby wear? Do you let your baby cry it out? Well that is all up to you. Are
you loving your child and proving them a good home environment and the
necessities they need to succeed? That is the only question you need to ask
yourself or worry about. Don't let others try to talk you down. Have confidence
in who you are as a person and what you do as a family. Besides, we are all
different. The world is made up of such a diverse complexity of people. If we
all raised our children exactly alike we might not get the amazing variety of
humanity that exists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
<br />
Let's not forget, bottom line, we are all in this together, trying to raise our kids to become the people they are gong to be.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666557469631132409.post-4063244805013579932012-10-17T15:10:00.000-07:002012-10-17T15:10:08.822-07:00My first blog everHello, here I am finally! I think, or hope I have found that missing something in my world. I am new to this blog thing even thought it has been around for years. I have always wanted to write, but my attention span/ motivation won't let me get to that novel I was hoping for so I figure baby steps until then. Like a contestant on American Idol, I have idea of how great my writing sounds, where as you, my audience (aka the "Simons") might be rolling your eyes in contempt, well like the contestants say, I am going to keep on pursing my dream! (well one of them anyway)<br />
<br />
Right now, I have a lot going on in my world. I am about to be thirty. I have a new baby girl that I will no doubt be writing a lot about. I have four dogs believe it or not (the story behind that to follow). I currently have a full time job (the story of that will undoubtedly rear its ugly head). I'm an active member in a craft club (pintrest heeeeeyy). I am a wife, a daughter, a sister, and so much more. So I hope to chronical my experiences, to share a few laughs and maybe learn something along the way. If nothing else I will have this to share with my kid(s) when she(they) grow up.<br />
<br />
I would love to hear you thoughts, opinions, ideas, similar stories, soul bearing affirmation, soul crushing opposition and anything in between.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01845438538131299853noreply@blogger.com0