Busy Weekend

As of yesterday my baby boy is 3 months old. Time is flying by!

We spent the weekend visiting friends and family in my hometown. We ate good food and watched lots of football. Luke got to meet my step-mom and step-sister and spent lots of quality time with my Dad. We were hosted by my Bestie Rachel and her family - Luke has no shortage of people that love him! He also went to church for the first time and was very well behaved. Here's my favorite pic of the weekend.

Luke and my Dad

In other busy news, I'm an aunt! My step-sister Chelsea had her little girl, Emma Faye, yesterday evening. This little cutie weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces and 20 inches long. Chelsea and Emma are recovering well and will get to go home on Wednesday. I'm terrible at remembering birthdays, anniversaries, or other dates but since she and Luke are exactly 3 months apart, I think I can remember this one!

Oh, I am one proud Mama and Auntie!

Book Report: Belly Laughs

I just finished reading Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy.

It's a light and fast read. I read it in 4 days, picking it up here and there, but you could easily read it in one sitting. Each chapter is only a few pages long and it reads like talking to a girlfriend.

It's light-hearted, honest and straight forward. However, do not read this to dip your toe into pregnancy reading material. This tome is her telling of her individual pregnancy experience. She had every symptom and side effect possible, so it might freak you out if you haven't read a more balanced perspective.

For the most part I enjoyed it, but there were a few chapters that I questioned. In her section on food and cravings, she mentioned that she craved brownies. So she baked and ate a WHOLE PAN of brownies EVERY NIGHT. She even went so far as to say this is the only time in life when you can pig out, so really enjoy your cravings. Then, two chapters later she quips about gaining 60 pounds as opposed to the doctor recommended 20-35. I'm thinking 'Hello? It's because you ate your weight in brownies!' In the words of Shatner, I CAN'T GET BEHIND THAT! I'm not about to say a woman shouldn't indulge her cravings, but come on! Have some limits! If you gain weight in moderation, you won't have to end up a spokeswomen for Jenny Craig. Meow

But please, don't let my rant discourage you from picking up this book. If you ignore her advice on cravings and weight gain this is a good read. A very refreshing change of pace from the super serious What To Expect series.

Um, What Now?

I just have to share this article my mom sent me. If you've already been through this, or are dreading going through this (like me) you will relate to this.

I'm not going to reprint the entire article, but I wanted to share an excerpt:

"In the meantime, though, I'd like to encourage the pregnant women of America to try a little experiment. The next time someone admonishes you for eating Brie or sipping a cappuccino, turn the judgement and invasion of privacy back on the other person. Tell him fatty cheese and coffee aren't good for anyone, and you really don't think he should eat or drink them either. If someone says you've gained a lot of weight, respond, "At least I have an excuse." And if, say, a near-stranger asks you if you're lactating yet, answer the question, then smile earnestly and ask him about his breast fetish. I promise you, he won't bother you again."

Since I'm not showing yet I haven't encountered any unsolicited advice or belly rubs but I'm already practicing my smiling, gracious and snarky responses.

A Quick Rant on the Commercialization of Mommyhood*

I'm just going to put this out there: one of my biggest parenthood fears is being that Mom that has to arm herself with a mountain of stuff just to successfully navigate running some errands with her child.

All this was brought upon by a trip to the grocery store and seeing a Mom with her toddler. Mom was pushing her cart and toddler was sitting in one of those puffy shopping cart covers. You know, one of these:

image via BabiesRUs

The idea of this just irks me in so many ways.

1- I have read studies that indicate raising your child in a germ-free bubble only increases the likelihood that the child will have asthma and/or allergies in the future. Now, I'm no scientist, but it makes sense that if you eradicate every possible germ your child will never build a tolerance to such things.

2- The damn thing seems completely pointless. The purpose of the cover is to keep the baby from touching things like shopping carts and restaurant high chairs. But this is negated by the fact that you, as a parent, touch these things to put the cover on it and then turn around and touch your baby! Unless you walk around Purell-ing yourself each time you touch your baby, you are going to transfer germs to him or her. This takes me back to point #1.

3- In putting the cover on the shopping cart (or in solo shopping expeditions, sans cover) you, the adult parent, touch the shopping cart, the self-checkout screen and countless other surfaces in your daily life, yet you don't get sick. And why is that? BECAUSE YOU WERE ALLOWED TO TOUCH GERMS AS A CHILD! And now you have a functioning immune system. Next time you see your mother, tell her "Thank you for letting me eat dirt when I was a kid."

As much as I stand behind those points, the real basis of this rant came from what I saw in the parking lot. On my way out I saw the same Mom and toddler getting into their car. Mom had lifted the child, removed the cover then sat the child back into the *gasp* unsanitized shopping cart, possibly to put the cover into her car. I'm standing there, screaming inside my head, "What's the friggin' point?"


Of course, I can't step into this woman's shoes and really know why she does anything, but the whole exercise seemed a bit stupid to me. That is all.


*This is only my opinion and I certainly can't speak for moms and moms-to-be everywhere. If you disagree with me and ohmygod, can't live without your shopping cart cover please don't be offended. Ha! Who am I kidding? I just made fun of you, to your face! Try to only be moderately offended.

Post #1

I thought I would start off this blog with a bang. I hope you enjoy this excerpt from Jen of Maybe If You Just Relax.

"I was really anxious about the results of the ultrasound. So anxious, in fact, that I forgot to hide my underwear! Ack! I was scooting down on the table and already in the stirrups when I looked to my left and saw the horror of all horrors! Undies right on top of the clothing pile! This is the most ridiculous notion, and I know everyone does it - hiding your underwear from the gynecologist and/or RE. You're in the stirrups showing it ALL, but gawd forbid you don't hide your freaking underwear because that would be indecent. I wonder if they care? Like, if they mark on your chart: WHORE, FORGOT TO HIDE UNDERWEAR."