Noreply-comment@blogger.com

I'm re-posting this post I wrote a while back, since I've recently gotten a few comments and wasn't able to reply back to those people.  :(
 
Have I told you guys how much I LOVE getting comments from you all??  Like, love.  I really do.  I get so excited when my phone vibrates, and I check my email to see it's a comment from my blog.  I get all giddy.  (I'm a dork like that, I know.)

But, the worst part about getting comments, is when I go to reply to that comment, and I see 'Noreply-comment@blogger.com' as the email address.  :(   Boooo.  
 
Sooo, here are the easy! step by step instructions on how to change that!  (Ahem, *Kate*)  ;)

And, while you're at it...leave me a comment!  Please!  I want to hear from you!  Even if it's just to say hi...I don't care.  :) 

You never know, maybe we're meant to be BFF's and you just don't know it yet.  :P

 

1. Click on the Customize link in the upper right hand corner of your screen.

2. Click on the Dashboard link in the upper right hand corner of your screen.

3. Click Edit Profile, which in on the left hand side of the screen next to your profile picture.

4. This will take you to the Edit User Profile screen.

5. Look in the Privacy section.

6. Click on the box that says, "Show my email address."

7. In the Identity section, enter in an email address.

8. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on Save Profile.

And, that's it!  I hope to hear from you all soon!!  :)

Swing Into Spring!

Errrr...Winter?

We had another unseasonably warm day in the good 'ol Northeast the other day.  And, since I've been dying to take B on the swings for the first time, we finally did!! 

Honestly, you can't really tell from these pictures or video what her thought is on this whole swing thing, but I'm pretty sure she liked it!  Even if she does look like she's bored to tears.  ;-)

See for yourself.  What do you think?

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics

 

 

 And, a little video to go along with the pictures!

Please ignore my annoying 'trying-get-Isabella-to-smile' voice.  Thanks.  ;-)

(And again, I'm sorry for the sideways video.  I've tried to flip it on YouTube many times, and the changes just won't show up.  :-/)

And, that's that...don't mess with Mama Bear

In case you didn't know, Isabella has been going to daycare since she was about 3 months old. It kills me to send her every day, and I would do anything to be a SAHM, but, it's just not financially possible right now. Hopefully someday.

Anyways, so with that said...

We've been really happy with our daycare choice, and every day I hear nothing but great things from her teachers about how well she's doing, and how much everyone loves her. That makes me one happy mama.

The one issue I've since since day one, though...the school nurse. For some reason, she feels the need to get way too involved in Isabella's daily routine/diet/life. And, she seems to think that talking to me like I'm an ignorant child, rather than Bella's mother, is a good approach to things.

Yeah, notsomuch.

Things started getting stressful for me less than a month after she started going there. This nurse seemed to think she knew my child better than me, and with that, she started telling me that I needed to give B more breastmilk in her bottles that I sent every day.

Excuse me? Am I her mother, or you? Let's get this straight...

And for the next few months, she would bring it up again, and again, and AGAIN.

"I think you should start giving her 4 1/2oz. I think she's still hungry, she needs 5oz. You should probably start giving her 5 1/2 oz."

I drew the line when she told me that she needed 6oz bottles. Apparently she didn't hear me when I told her that B loves to suck. It doesn't matter what it is...bottle, binky, finger...she just has that innate need to suck. Just like many infants do.

So, from the first day of daycare, I made sure to tell her teachers...as soon as she's done with her bottle, you need to give her the binky. She used to drinking at her own pace (from mama), and by sucking down her bottle so quickly, she doesn't realize she's full yet. Hence the binky. After about 5 minutes or so, she's usually completely content, and good to go for another 3 hours or so. End of story.

Well, after I started yes-ing her to death (but really completely ignoring what she was saying and bringing in bottles filled to the amount that I knew was good enough), she finally stopped bringing it up. It only took 4 months or so.

Now? Her latest thing she's been hounding me about since the day B turned 6 months old...giving her rice cereal. Which, coincidentally, the day she turned 6 months old, I said I didn't want her having. I was fine with them giving her the oatmeal/barley cereals they have, but, I just didn't want her having the rice. (It doesn't matter what my reasons are. I shouldn't have to explain myself and defend every decision I make for my daughter. Just sayin.)

Anyways, just like the breastmilk issue, she feels the need to bring it up 392 times, asking me over and over if it's ok if they give her rice cereal.

Apparently I wasn't clear the first 391 times I told her no.

Fast forward to this past Friday...

I walk into her classroom to find two of her teachers changing her diaper/outfit, since she had a blowout and poop was literally up her back. I didn't bat an eyelash, since that's a somewhat usual occurrence around our house (even though it's much less frequent than it used to be.)  But, it comes with the territory of having a breastfed baby.

So, I don't think I'm in the room for more than ten seconds before the nurse (who was already in the room) says, (in her flustered/annoyed voice):

"Can we start giving her rice cereal, please?!"

I mean, really lady? You do not. give. up. EVER!

She seems to think that by her having a little rice cereal a few times a week, that that will bind her up, and she won't have blowouts anymore.

Seriously? You don't think the bananas/apples/oatmeal and all the other 'binding' foods she eats are good enough? Rice cereal is going to be the magic trick? Please.

At this point, I'm so fuming and frustrated that she's still asking me about this, just staring at me, waiting for an answer. So, I spit out my usual "I'll have to talk to my husband and let you know" line, and run out of there as fast as possible.

Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of confrontation. My stomach was literally in knots all weekend thinking about what I was going to say to this woman today, and how I could go about getting my point across, without telling her off and making things even more awkward.

But, seriously? Who does this woman think she is? I highly doubt I'm the first mom that she's talked to this way, either. I don't know how she's gotten away with it for so long. And? She talks down to the other teachers, as well. It drives me IN-sane. It's like she has to have control, and if everyone doesn't bow down to her and agree with everything she says, then we're all wrong.

So anyways... I swear I have a point, and there's an end to this post soon. 

I ended up talking to her teachers today...who, by the way, I totally love, and are on my side...and they assured me that it's not just me that she talks like this to, and they're not worried about B or anything.  And, of course, just as we're about to leave, The Bitch walks in the room.

So, her main teacher enthusiastically chimes in that B ate great today, and that she tried little bites of pears, apples, and bananas this weekend.  (Instead of purees.)  And, of course, what does she say?  

"Oh, so did you decide on the rice?"   


I looked her right in the eye, and I say...

"Yes.  And, we're going to stick with our original decision of no rice cereal.  Thanks." 

And, with that, she gives me her typical smirk/smile, trying to hide the fact that she's annoyed with my answer.

And, I?  Turned around, and completely ignored her after that.  

I mean, do you think I finally got through to her?!  I mean, this is getting absolutely ridiculous.  Oh yeah, and, my husband and I definitely plan on talking to the director about all of this.  I don't appreciate being talked to the way she does, and, as Isabella's mother, I deserve a little respect.  

The end.  

Phew!   I'm pretty sure that was my longest post of text yet.  THANK YOU, if you got this far!  ;)

Flashback Friday

Where has my tiny baby gone?!  I honestly cannot believe how quickly they grow up! 
Just another reason why I should try for #2 right??  ;)







I hope everyone has a great weekend!  :)

The Sickies have arrived...

It starts with just a little random cough every once in a while, which then turns into a heavy/phlegmy nasty cough, and, a sad, sick little baby.  Breaks my heart.   :(

Isabella's been coughing here and there lately, but it wasn't anything too serious, and I wasn't worried.  But, as of last night?  Yeah, I'm a little worried now for my little peanut.

I'm praying that it's just a little cough and nothing more, but, let's be real here...when it comes to kids, is it ever just a little cough?  Especially when that child is in daycare every day?

:::sigh:::

And, don't even get me started on how unbelievably terrified I am of her getting the stomach bug.  It makes me nauseous just thinking about it! 

Thankfully, we already have an appointment with her doctor today for a weight check, so we'll definitely be having her checked out to make sure nothing serious is going on. 

**fingers crossed**

PS - I'm posting for the first time on the Blogger app i downloaded yesterday.  I hope it looks ok!

PPS - Apparently this app sucks.  :(  FYI. 

Mama's Must-Haves {Baby Edition}

I did a 'must-have' post waaay back when Isabella was just a few months old, and, I haven't done one since.  So, I figured it was about time that I did another edition of my favorite things that I couldn't live without.

I always love when other moms/bloggers do posts like this, whether it's baby things, beauty products, etc...I love them all!  Hopefully I can help another mom out there, since there are SO many baby products out on the market today, with about a million different choices for each product. 

Here are some of my favs...in no particular order:

The Boppy Pillow

Yep, I still LOVE this pillow.  I know most people either love or hate the Boppy, but, I definitely wouldn't be able to live without it.  I still use it every day, multiple times a day while nursing Isabella.  And, the Husband actually uses it while feeding B, too, to keep her propped up. 

Johnson's Hand & Face Wipes

I LOVE these wipes!  I'm a huge germ-a-phobe, so I use these wipes multiple times a day....in the morning right after she wakes up, to clean off the sleepies; as soon as we get home after daycare, you know, to clean off all the daycare germies (yuck!); and the many occasions we go out in public, and people feel the need to touch her hands/face.  So, I always make sure I have a pack in my diaper bag.  I know they're a little pricey for wipes, but, they're worth it in my opinion...for peace of mind.  Oh yeah....And?  They smell deliciously like baby.  I love the smell.

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Jumperoo

Isabella L.O.V.E.S this thing!  It's probably one of her favorite toys yet...out of the 3029 that she already has.  ;)  She's honestly been using this since she was about 4-5 months old, and still loves it to this day.  She was a bouncing machine yesterday!  It really is the cutest thing ever.  And?  This wonderful toy gives this mama many, many minutes to do whatever I please...eat, clean, blog...you know, all the important things.  Hey, whatever keeps the baby happy, keeps mama happy!  ;)

See exhibit A:

(Sorry, I can't get the video turned the right way!  :(  )

  

California Baby Shampoo & Body Wash

After hearing/reading about all of these baby products with carcinogens, formaldehyde, and all kinds of other chemicals that shouldn't be in baby products, or ANY products, I decided we would be better off paying a little bit more, and be comfortable that we were using the best/safest products for our baby.  And, honestly, it's so worth it!  I've had this big bottle of shampoo/body wash since mid-November, and it barely looks like any has been used.  And, Isabella gets a bath every night.  Love this stuff!

Earths Best baby food

Before Isabella was born, I was so gung-ho about making her pureed food.  And, I did make her food for the first few months...bananas, avocado, sweet potatoes, pears, carrots, plums, etc.  But, then, work/life got crazy...and, honestly, I got a little lazy.  I admit it.  

The thing I love about this baby food, is that I know exactly what's in each jar I give Bella. The simple ingredients are right on the jar...Organic Carrots, Organic Apples...and that's it.  No additives or anything crazy.  It makes me feel good knowing I'm still giving her safe/organic meals each day.  And, the best part...she LOVES them!  Every single new jar she tries, she gobbles up!  That makes this mama very happy.  :)

And, that's it for this edition of Mama's Must-Haves.  I'm sure I'll have another post of favorites soon enough, especially when Isabella starts walking and becomes a toddler.  Eeek!

Isabella's first Christmas!

We had such a great first Christmas with our baby girl.  And, for the first time since I was, like, 10 years old, we stayed home on Christmas all. day. long.  Literally, in our pj's ALL day.  It was absolutely perfect.  (Well, other than a little drama from my own mother, but, what else is new?)

And, I'm pretty sure we decided that, after this year, we'll be staying home on Christmas Day from now on.  Besides the fact that it's also my birthday (and I should get whatever I want.  ;)  Kidding.), it really is just too much to drag a baby all over the place in order to please everyone else.  I'm sorry.  If you want to come see us/her, you're more than welcome to come here.  The end. 

My dad and his parents ended up coming over for dinner/gift opening that night, and we all had a great time!  No stress, nothing fancy...it was so relaxing, for once.  Hubs made an amazing meal (what else is new?) and Isabella was spoiled beyond belief by her grandpa.  She loved it!

Here are a few {hundred} pictures throughout the day on Christmas and Christmas Eve, and also a few from the weeks leading up to it...

 Opening her very first gift!

More excited for Fozzie Bear than presents

Opening gifts on Christmas Eve (she did have socks on...she just rips them off now)

Clapping for all her gifts!

Me and my peanut

Being a little mischievous on Christmas morning  :)

Cheeeese!

All her loot! 

Hanging her 1st Christmas ornament with daddy

Blurry, but so sweet

Getting ready to open all of her gifts from grandpa!

Love that silly face  :)

'Stop, Mom!  No more pictures!'

We had such a great holiday this year.  And, I'm even more excited for next year, when Isabella will really be able to get into it and we'll be able to see the magic of Christmas through her.  :)

Diet Coke no more

Yep, I did it.  I quit Diet Coke.  I've been a die-hard DC fan since, I don't know...I was 5.  And, I finally gave it up.

I recently came across this article, and it really just sealed the deal for me. 

I mean, I knew that soda in general wasn't good for me.  And, I also knew that diet sodas were just as bad as regular, with all the artificial crap in there...but, they just tasted SO good to me.  Like, I literally crave Diet Coke sometimes.  It's bad. 

But, as of today...I've been DC free for 5 days now.  That's HUGE, people.  This is coming from the girl who used to have at least one glass/can of DC a day.  Usually more like 2-3 glasses...especially if I had it in my fridge at home. 

I'm really hoping this will make me feel less bloated throughout the day.  It really is amazing to me the difference in the size of my stomach from the time I wake up, to the time I go to bed.  (I'm a huge salt fan, too, so that doesn't help!)  And, maybe if I'm lucky, I'll even lose a little weight.  ;)  We will see!

Now, I just hope I can keep this up and don't slip!!  **fingers crossed**

Baby #2 talk

First, let me preface this by saying, I am NOT pregnant.  This post is just me talking about all my thoughts/feelings on baby #2, and when/if we will have another. 

Now that I've gotten that out of the way...  ;)

If you follow a lot of blogs, or are on Twitter, I'm sure you know by now that there's a serious baby boom out there on the interwebs.  Nothing like the thought of a million squishy little newborns that I'm going to be seeing in a few months to really get my ovaries to start aching.  For reals. 

Even before having Isabella, whenever anyone would ask me how many kids I want, and how far apart I want to have them, I would automatically say we would 'start trying' when my first was around two years old.  I don't even know why...that just seemed like the perfect answer, and a good age gap between kids. 

But, now?  Now that I have this perfect, amazing, angel baby?  I want 47 more just like her.  But, at the same time, I always think "This is too good to be true.  Easy pregnancy, easy newborn, easy baby.  My next pregnancy/baby is going to kick my ASS."  I mean, I get can't this lucky twice, right??

And, don't even get me started on my conversation with the hubs the other night.  You know, when he told me he doesn't know if he wants to have anymore babies, since Isabella is so great.  He thinks she's perfect and we should just keep things the way they are, since they're so good.  Yeah.  You can just guess how well that conversation turned out.

Anyways...back to the baby boom and my baby fever.

It's really starting to hit me....HARD. 

I mean, I know there are SO many factors as to why would we shouldn't can't have a baby right now. 

The top two reasons why...money and space. 

To be honest here, we have way too much credit card debt that needs to be paid off before we even think about more expenses...daycare, diapers, clothes, etc.  I definitely think that's Hubs' main concern.  And, once we take care of that situation (in about 2 years or so, we should be debt free...thank the Lord!), then I think he'll have a much different mindset on baby numero dos. 

The second issue...space. 

We are seriously already BUSTING out of this house.  No joke.  We live in an 864 square foot house, with only 2 bedrooms.  And 4 rooms total.  You do the math.  (Oh yeah, and we can't move for at least another year or so, since our house is worth over 50K less than what we bought it for.  Awesome.)  Every single inch of this house is filled with junk stuff.  And, ever since Christmas, and with Bella's first birthday coming up...this house honestly looks like Toys R Us threw up inside of it. We don't have the room for anything else...especially another little person!  I mean, where would we put him/her??  Kidding.  Sort of. 

So, why is it, when I know all of these things and the fact that it's just not going to happen right now, that my head/heart will not stop screaming at me...  :::chants::: 'Baby, baby, BABY!' 

:::sigh:::

Can't we just win the lotto or something?  That would solve our money AND house issue.  Seriously, can someone put in a good word to Publishers Clearing House or something?  I'd love to be their next million! dollar! winner!

No?  Not so much? 

Hey, it doesn't hurt to dream/pray.  ;)

8/9/10 months!!

Isabella Grace...HOW are you 10 months old already?!?!  Stop growing, please...stopitnow. 

And, an even better question...how is it that I'm already having to plan my baby's first birthday party already???  :::breathe, breathe:::

Bella has grown up so much in the past three months...it really is amazing.  She's like her own little person now, and has such a personality already.  I absolutely love it.  She's at SUCH a fun age now.  :)

Isabella - here are all the exciting things that have been going on these past 3 months:

~  You have TWO teeth right now!   I felt them coming up around October 25th (and I only remember that exactly because it was the day before your cousin Bennett was born!)  It's the two bottom teeth, and they both popped up at the same exact time.  Other than that, you're still gummy...which I love.  You still look like my lil baby.  :)

~  You LOVE to clap AND wave!  All of a sudden one day, you came home from school (aka: daycare) and starting clapping like you'd been doing it for months.  Ha!  It is TOO cute.  And now, whenever anyone says 'yaaaay', you clap afterwards.   And when we say 'bye bye', you wave.  Too cute!!

 Waving at Daddy

~  You're still exclusively breastfed (go us!), and you eat about 4-5 times a day, depending on how late you sleep in the morning.  I've been getting worried lately, though, since I'm pumping just enough milk (and sometimes a little less) to give you three bottles for the next day.  I've been having to take some milk from my freezer stash, and I'm just hoping we can make it until your first birthday!  *fingers crossed*

~  You're still on stage 2 'solids', and we give you Earth's Best organic jars.  We tried stage 3 jars a few weeks ago, and they were just too chunky/thick for you.  You gagged on every bite...haha!  You LOVE pretty much everything else we give you, though.  The only thing you still hate, and have since the first time you tried it, is avocados...which actually makes me really sad, since it's such a good fatty food for you to have, and would help you get some chunk on your bones!  You're my long and lean gal.  ;)

We've also been trying to give you some finger foods (Cheerios, puffs, etc), too, but for some reason, you don't want to put anything in your mouth yourself!  How many babies do you know that won't put anything in their mouth?  My strange child.  :P  You'll pick up the Cheerio, examine it, play with it, and then throw it back down on the tray or on the floor.  And then, you proceed to whine/cry until we put it in your mouth for you.  You little stinker. 

~  You still loving blowing raspberries at everyone/everything.  It's the cutest thing ever.  And now, whenever we do it to you first, you'll do it right back at us.  I love it! 

Her typical 'blowing raspberries' face

~  You love standing up while we hold your hands, and your new favorite thing is walking all over the place with daddy or I just holding on to your fingers.  You're getting so much stronger every day! 

My big girl! 

 ~  You're finally sleeping through the night again.  *knock on wood*  You went through a phase over the past couple of weeks where you would wake up at 1am-ish, almost exactly, and cry until we came in there.  I finally decided to stop taking you out of your crib, walking around with you, taking you into bed, and all those other things I was trying to get you back to sleep  (I tried letting her cry-it-out for a night or so, and it was awful.  She didn't sleep, I didn't sleep, and I felt horrible.  So, I don't do that anymore.)  Instead, all I do is go into your room, pat/rub your back until you calm down and start getting sleepy again, and then leave the room.  It took about a week or so, but, now if you do wake up in the middle of the night, you'll only cry for a few seconds, and then you go right back to sleep on your own.  Such a good baby!  :)

~  And, speaking of sleeping...you are 100% DONE with the swaddle!!  And, you've been done since a little after 8 months old.  While the swaddle was great when you were little, and it definitely helped you sleep better/longer...it started getting to the point where I was going in your room and re-swaddling you 53 times a night.  So, I knew you were over it.  And now, it's so cute to see you sleeping like a baby!  Crazy positions, your little bum sticking up in the air...I love it.  ;)

~  But, the main reason you starting sleeping without the swaddle...you got your first 'real' sickness a few months back.  :(  At first, you had double pink eye, which wasn't too bad, and you didn't seem too uncomfortable.  And then, a week or so later, you ended up with a double ear infection.  It was SO sad.  You were so tired, that your head barely even hit the crib before you were asleep.  But, thankfully, the antibiotics worked quickly, and you were as good as new after just a few days.  

My poor baby, getting over pink eye

~  You LOVE your animals...Bailey, Roxy, and Fozzie Bear.  Every time you see them, you get so excited and make all kinds of cute noises to get their attention.  And, they love you, too! 

Monthly pics!   

These are REALLY starting to get tough!  Ha!

My future little cheerleader  :)

Hanging out in her little rocker

 Typical  ;)

I honestly cannot believe how quickly these past ten months have flown by.  We love you SO much, baby girl, words can't even express it.  XOXO  :)

Well, you have to start somewhere, right?

Honestly, though, I don't even know where to start.  I think that's why it's been over a month since I last posted.  First, it was just me being tired/lazy most nights after working all day and *trying* to get to bed early.  Then, Christmas craziness came and went.  And now, here I am, already into the second week of 2012, and I still haven't blogged.   

I was just saying to some friends on Twitter tonight...I feel like I have SO much to write about/say, but, at the same time, nothing to say at all.  It makes no sense.  And, I know I've lost a few followers along the way, and even though it's my own fault, it still makes me a little sad.

So, I'm going to do what I do best...

Pretend like nothing ever happened, that I haven't been MIA for months, and jump right back into blogging like I did before Isabella was born.  Post at least 2-3 times per week.  I can do it.  That's my goal.  And, since I've told you all my goal, I have to keep up with it now.  If not, then I'll be a failure.  And, I HATE to fail at anything. 

So, as all of you (those of you who are still here!  thank you!!) as my witnesses...I'm back.  Officially. 

Isabella said she missed you all, too...

Santa's lil helper  :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!!!