Taking Care of Business

Since Mommy deprives me of clothing,

sometimes, I get a little chilly.

and so

I have to take care of things

myself.

What's Mine is Yours

"Kimmy?"

"Yes, Lucy"

"I'm cold."

"Then why are you taking off your shirt?"

"I wanna wear one of your shirts.  'Member, when we dug the whole in the snow and you let me wear your shirt to warm me up?"

"Um, they're all dirty.  Here, wear this.  You can wear it over your shirt."

"No thanks.  I'll just wear this."

"Alrighty then."

Be glad it's a picture and not a video

So, I've had this constant ringing in my ears recently...

Not sure which one of us is suppose to be learning patience.

Woo hoo!

2000 (individual) hits!
*jig*

Brand War

In light of my recent fame, I thought I'd post a reminder to enter for the free give-away.  And, because I found it and find it interesting myself, something to think about the next time you are taking your supplements (no matter what brand!)

"I was recently contacted by an interested individual who is researching the difference in Melaleuca and Shaklee (referred to as Shak). She says, based on her research, both companies have the same claims about purity, safety, testing, studies, ect. Melaleuca's been in business 25 years and Shak for 50 years. The only drastic difference she has noticed is the cost. Her question: if both companies claim the same thing then why is the cost so different? Melaleuca is apparently much cheaper.

My Response:

Per your request, I have been working to get additional information as to the difference in price between Shak and Melaleuca. My suspicion is the difference in quality.

Shak products have peer-reviewed published clinical proof of safety & efficacy and this proof is easily located. Challenge Melaleuca or any other companies to provide a list of their published research (in accredited scientific journals). Click these two links - first for the list of Shak's independent clinical research on their formulated products and then for the list of members of Shak's Scientific Advisory Board...."

I was going to post the article that follows, but it's kind of long winded, and I don't want to crowd my blog.  So if you want the rest, go here.

In Daddy's Footsteps

From the moment she was born we've known Samantha has her daddy's feet. Which is good. Because mine are ugly.

But the one thing that drives me nuts about Jer's feet is that they are always fidgeting. We'll be watching a movie and he's clicking the nails, or rubbing them back and forth. And he doesn't even know he's doing it.

You can imagine my excitement when I realized (or felt every time she is eating) that the fidgeting is genetic too:

Jiggles and Grits

A third tooth has sprouted, this time on the top- and Sam knows exactly what to do with it. The thing is barely cutting the gums but she has already figured out how to grind her teeth. The sound sends shivers down my spine. Lucky for me it's her new favorite pastime. And all her smiles are crooked too, as she grits her teeth: bottom right to top left.

I was able to catch the crooked smile and her head jiggle she does now, which freaked daddy out the first few times she did it, "That's not normal! Something's wrong with her neck!"

*chuckle*

I haven't been able to catch the grinding, but I'd rather not remember that sound.

Fly on the Wall

Me: I'd like to start giving her her puppy blanket when she's sleeping. She knows how to take stuff off her face now and there's no way she could wrap it around her head.

Jer: Ug. I'd really like it if she didn't have a comfort object.

Me: Sorry, but I'd really like her to have a comfort object that isn't attached to me.

Jer: Point taken.

8 Months

I know I've already whined about her turning 6 months, and then 7- but it really isn't fair. She's way too close to one year for my comfort. Granted she's just barely 14 lbs, and still prefers laying down to sitting up- all which give her the semblance of being a little baby. But that doesn't change the fact that she is still eight months. In my head she's stuck at 6 months. Any time someone asks me how old she is I have to stop myself. Crazy!
Anywho:

What Samantha can do and what she actually does are two different things at this point.

• She can roll very well. And quickly. But she usually just stays on her back or side. If something's not within a good stretch, it's usually not worth it (the exceptions being cords, paper, my yarn, and any unsuspecting electronic device)

• She can sit up-and for several minutes. But why would she do that? She can whip her head around and see the whole room from the floor- and not have to worry about losing her balance, thus whacking her head.

• She can sleep through the night. But I think she's figured out the one reason I'll go and get her-- a poopy diaper.

• She can mimic the sounds "ba-ba-ba-ba" and "da-da-da-da" and "ma-ma-ma-ma". But doing them on command would just impress everyone. It's much more fun to make mommy feel silly calling to everyone "watch this!" and then do nothing.

And just a few quick notes for the baby book:
She loooooooooves books, bath time is still fun, and I feel like I'm feeding her 24/7 at this point. Solids and nursing alike. She won't eat anything green (beans, peas or avocado), but all orange and yellow items are a go (sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, mango, apples, bananas and peaches).

Oh, and God so knew what he was doing when he made prunes baby-taste bud-friendly.

Nursing in Church

I had a question/dilemma for my readers.

I'm not one to adapt to social demands because of "looks" or disapproving comments. And dissenting comments here probably won't change my habits either (unless given with a large sum of cash).

But I like to know when I'm being facetious.* It's so much more fun when you're "in the know". So here it goes:

When Samantha was 3 weeks old, I remember a mom sitting behind us in church with a simple, large blanket, nursing her son. The only reason I noticed her was because I had to get up and nurse my own in the bathroom (I was still learning and needed to see what I was doing). I was very jealous (and impressed) and wondered if I would ever get to that point; that is, comfortable enough to nurse in public, and smooth enough so as not to flash the whole congregation.

Fast forward to now. I have to say I'm quite proud of myself. Sam and I have the whole visually appeasing routine down pat. However, with as loud as Samantha eats (and demands to eat) one may as well have x-ray vision. There's no question as to what is going on under the blanket.

Because of this, when at our parish (the one with the cry-room) I will nurse in the back or in the cry room itself. When at the other parish (the one with no cry-room) I've decided it's more distracting to get up and find a place while she's begging to nurse then to just let her eat in the pew.

A couple of weeks ago, however, I was at the church with the cry-room, but I was smack dab in the middle of the pew. I ended up just nursing her there. Sam was actually fairly quiet (despite a couple suction-cup like pull offs). Whilst doing so I got many different looks. One lady smiled knowingly. A few quickly looked away. My favorite was the glare-from across the church.

Anyway, my question to you all is, what do you think is appropriate for church? Even if you yourself wouldn't do it, is it ok for other moms who feel comfortable?

And what do you do if there isn't somewhere you can go?

And if there is a cry-room, is it kosher to nurse in there? (for reasons why it's worse a lot of times in a cry-room, see here and here)

Ok, that was more than one question, but take your pick!

*thank you, spell check- I was WAY off

Sitting Pretty

Another benefit of Baby Einstein has been it gets Samantha to sit up. As long as you place her in a sitting position before you turn it on, the Zombie-like state that ensues gets her to stay sitting.
Audra (almost 3 months younger than Samantha) is pretty much sitting by herself too. I find it depressing that my almost 8-month-old is being left in the dust in physical development by a 5-month-old.

At least her bald spot is finally filling in.

It's a Hard Knock Life

I know posting has been scarce recently. We've had a lot of this:
Last Friday Samantha puked at playgroup and has since contaminated half of Lincoln. We've been staying at home for two reasons.
1. Duh, she's sick
2. I feel like this:Since she was already fussy and not eating well, her body took this as a cue to start breaking in two more teeth as well. It's like she's two months old again.

Anyway, one of her Godparents sent us a Baby Einstein CD and DVD right before she got sick. It's not something I would have ever asked for, nor bought myself--but have called twice to thank them for. It's the only peace I've gotten the past week. This is her watching Windows Media Player play the CD (with all the cool colors and shapes that bounce around):


and the DVD:
The one silver lining of all the puking...

...a new outfit! I never have a spare outfit, as I've only needed one twice in her life and I like to keep the diaper bag smaller than an african nation. So, when she puked at MilkWorks, I just mosied on over to the clearance rack. Cost $10...which is a steal at this place, but the most I've ever spent on a single item for her.

Circle People

Lucy drew a picture for my dad:

"Oooo, does daddy like lots of muscles?"

"No, remember he was trying to show me how to draw people without sticks? He wanted me to use circles. So, see? I used circles."

New Fashions are Born...

...When Daddy dresses me!

"I wondered why the tag was in front..."

"Look what I found at the bottom of her drawer!"

Silly Daddy!

Work it!

wMany of you have been wondering how Samantha keeps such a slim figure. Well, in addition to eating well, she actually keeps up quite the exercise regime. The following is a typical daily workout. See if you can match her stamina...but I'm warning you...she's well trained:

(queue Rocky music)

First, we always make sure to get in a good stretch:



Then we add about 30 minutes of Cardio (the pilates here really works the core)


Sometimes we like to shake things up a bit:

Now for some ab work
and...

crunch!

and...

crunch!

and...
crunch!
Can you feel the burn?


And finally, some arm toning.

and...

Pull!

and...

pull!

and...pull!


Before you know it you'll look great and feel as young as this:

Christmas 2009

Last year I made a family video that won second prize in a contest.
I've decided to make this an annual thing. So here's this years Christmas video. Enjoy!

2008 Video

I'm famous!

Ta-da!

Scroll to the bottom to see the reference to yours truly and enter for the free give-a-way!

Lucy Story

Since Lucy has been born my mom has called me with what we call "Lucy Stories." Being here with her I now have the joy of witnessing them for myself. Today, for instance:

Me: Lucy, do you know what a Viking is?
Lucy: Yes! Yes, I do.
Me: What is it?
Lucy: It's like a Husker
Me: ?? A Husker?
Lucy: Yes, you know, the big guys that play football. Some of them are Vikings.

Not wanting to crush her spirit, and since she was technically right, no one corrected her.