Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Vacations with Babies...
...are not really vacations at all. Especially when your other half is not "vacationing" with you. Here's why you need to bring back up.
* Two extra hands to fish random stuff (that belongs to your relatives and is usually breakable or an heirloom) out of the toilet.
* You'd be surprised how difficult it is to unload groceries or shopping bags...or anything for that matter...in six inches of snow with a child on your hip because you can't leave them alone inside the un-childproofed house.
* At some point you're going to want to eat (sleep, have a conversation, handle a crisis, be able to hear your own thoughts for two seconds) on this trip.
* Childproofing means very different things to different people...even if they have kids.
* The child you have at home is not the child you have on vacation. Suddenly they do weirdo things like pinch, hit your mother's dog, and totally flip out when you try to go to the bathroom...or make a phone call...or breathe.
* If you are a "napper" you can kiss that pipe dream goodbye.
At least you leave with a greater appreciation for your hubs (plus great pictures and memories).
* Two extra hands to fish random stuff (that belongs to your relatives and is usually breakable or an heirloom) out of the toilet.
* You'd be surprised how difficult it is to unload groceries or shopping bags...or anything for that matter...in six inches of snow with a child on your hip because you can't leave them alone inside the un-childproofed house.
* At some point you're going to want to eat (sleep, have a conversation, handle a crisis, be able to hear your own thoughts for two seconds) on this trip.
* Childproofing means very different things to different people...even if they have kids.
* The child you have at home is not the child you have on vacation. Suddenly they do weirdo things like pinch, hit your mother's dog, and totally flip out when you try to go to the bathroom...or make a phone call...or breathe.
* If you are a "napper" you can kiss that pipe dream goodbye.
At least you leave with a greater appreciation for your hubs (plus great pictures and memories).
November...
Well we can all agree that this "picture a day" thing aint happening :) But here are some highlights from November!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Growing People While Raising Them...
Apparently all it takes to upset a Gentle Parent's gentle rhythm is growing a person inside you. As I write this entry, I simultaneously want to throw up, eat a pound of french fries, take a nap, and throw something at my dog. Who am I today??
It's no secret that Charlotte has bouts of sleeplessness at night from time to time, so I'm no stranger to under eye concealer. But last night's 800-Round sleep battle certainly didn't do my mood any favors. Neither did my neighbor coming over at nap time and sending my idiot dog into a frenzy. I've never wanted a tranquilizer dart for him more badly than I did today. Does anybody want a dog?
And if anyone is familiar with the side effects of taking Zofran for nausea, then I don't have to explain my horrendous tummy troubles. Well guess what...Charlotte has been attending Karate classes when I'm not looking and this week's homework is to kick me as many times as possible right in the gut at every.single.diaper.change. It's also apparently freakin' hysterical.
So I thought I'd do everyone around me a favor and take a hot bath. Maybe I'll relieve some stress, chill out a little bit you know? (I'm laughing an evil laugh in my head right now). No. No, that's not what happened. What DID happen was that my Curious George toddler dropped something, I can't remember what, behind the cabinet and when I bent down to pick it up I smacked the shit out of my forehead on the towel rack. And yes I'm going to say "shit" in this post because, you know what? Today is a shit day. And after I hit my head on the shit towel rack, Char put an entire roll of toilet paper into the bath water. Why on Earth would I leave toilet paper out for her to play with? What a shitty parenting move.
And if I have to pick up 5 million freakin' cheerios ONE MORE TIME I'm going to lose it. "Stop giving them to her, then" you say? You know what's surprisingly MORE annoying than picking up a shit load of cheerios 8 times a day? A whiney toddler who WANTS.HER.CHEERIOS...NOW!
I can't believe I've filled as much white space with my complaining as I have. I am not this person. My daughter does NOT drive me crazy. I don't want to sell my dog. I don't mind picking up messes. This is my welcome mat to prenancy while raising a toddler...
It's no secret that Charlotte has bouts of sleeplessness at night from time to time, so I'm no stranger to under eye concealer. But last night's 800-Round sleep battle certainly didn't do my mood any favors. Neither did my neighbor coming over at nap time and sending my idiot dog into a frenzy. I've never wanted a tranquilizer dart for him more badly than I did today. Does anybody want a dog?
And if anyone is familiar with the side effects of taking Zofran for nausea, then I don't have to explain my horrendous tummy troubles. Well guess what...Charlotte has been attending Karate classes when I'm not looking and this week's homework is to kick me as many times as possible right in the gut at every.single.diaper.change. It's also apparently freakin' hysterical.
So I thought I'd do everyone around me a favor and take a hot bath. Maybe I'll relieve some stress, chill out a little bit you know? (I'm laughing an evil laugh in my head right now). No. No, that's not what happened. What DID happen was that my Curious George toddler dropped something, I can't remember what, behind the cabinet and when I bent down to pick it up I smacked the shit out of my forehead on the towel rack. And yes I'm going to say "shit" in this post because, you know what? Today is a shit day. And after I hit my head on the shit towel rack, Char put an entire roll of toilet paper into the bath water. Why on Earth would I leave toilet paper out for her to play with? What a shitty parenting move.
And if I have to pick up 5 million freakin' cheerios ONE MORE TIME I'm going to lose it. "Stop giving them to her, then" you say? You know what's surprisingly MORE annoying than picking up a shit load of cheerios 8 times a day? A whiney toddler who WANTS.HER.CHEERIOS...NOW!
I can't believe I've filled as much white space with my complaining as I have. I am not this person. My daughter does NOT drive me crazy. I don't want to sell my dog. I don't mind picking up messes. This is my welcome mat to prenancy while raising a toddler...
Monday, October 3, 2011
Toddler Carriers...Wearing My Big Baby!
Miss Charlotte is just growing and growing! So much so, that my beloved (and I mean that) Beco Gemini is no longer usable :( Seriously, insert sad, slow music here. I loved it so much, that I am having a really difficult time deciding on a toddler carrier. Will I love it as much as my first love? Sigh...I fear I'll never find as perfect a match as I did with ol' Gem.
Why do I need a new carrier? Child carriers need to provide support in such a way that the child's knees are slightly higher than the pelvis. The carrier should provide a deep seat, and should mimick the way the child would sit if you were holding him or her. The Beco Gemini, in all its greatness, has a narrower seat than an Ergo, Mei Tai, or Beco Butterfly II. (note: I would still choose the Gemini over these carriers). Charlotte has some pretty long legs, so the support is just not ideal anymore. Toddler carriers are designed to keep the knees in the ideal position for longer as your toddler grows.
So, like I always do...I've started researching. I have narrowed it down to two soft, structured carriers: The Boba, and Olives & Applesauce.
Boba 3G http://store.bobafamily.com/baby-carrier/
Olives & Applesauce http://olivesandapplesauce.com/catalog.htm?item=499
I've heard great reviews on both carriers, and the prices are relatively similar. I'll keep you all posted on my decision...
Why do I need a new carrier? Child carriers need to provide support in such a way that the child's knees are slightly higher than the pelvis. The carrier should provide a deep seat, and should mimick the way the child would sit if you were holding him or her. The Beco Gemini, in all its greatness, has a narrower seat than an Ergo, Mei Tai, or Beco Butterfly II. (note: I would still choose the Gemini over these carriers). Charlotte has some pretty long legs, so the support is just not ideal anymore. Toddler carriers are designed to keep the knees in the ideal position for longer as your toddler grows.
So, like I always do...I've started researching. I have narrowed it down to two soft, structured carriers: The Boba, and Olives & Applesauce.
Boba 3G http://store.bobafamily.com/baby-carrier/
Olives & Applesauce http://olivesandapplesauce.com/catalog.htm?item=499
I've heard great reviews on both carriers, and the prices are relatively similar. I'll keep you all posted on my decision...
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