Last night we had a bizarre and horrific wind storm blow through that caused my mom and grandmother's house to lose power. It is also in the 90s around here right now, so not having power is a bad, bad thing. My grandmother is also 86 years old, so there was no way they were staying at their house without power. At lunchtime they came to our house and stayed til about 730 when the power finally came back on.
We decided to have fast food for dinner and I was going to go get it. Karina was playing around on the couch with Bill, who asked her if she wanted to go with me to get dinner. She squealed, "Yes!" and he got up and started to walk to the other room. She stood up on the couch and called out to him, "Daddy! Get me down from here! You know I can't fly!"
Have a nice night and cross your fingers the storm coming our way tonight isn't as bad!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
I'm still here
Hi all, I'm still here just really really busy. Elena almost never naps, and when she does it's super short. I don't like to take too much time when she is sleeping to do stuff on my own, because I really treasure the time I have with just Karina because it's so short. I thought I'd get all this baby nap time with her and I don't. So I try to do as much as I can at night, and I'm really tired then so not much gets done. Some day I'll be around more but for now, I'm sorry I'm kind of sporadic, more so than usual.
You probably noticed a long post about baby stuff. It's really for my cousin (I think it's okay to say it's my cousin now that she announced it on Facebook), but I hope it might be helpful for anyone.
I am working on getting some pictures ready to post, but again, long slow process due to time constraints. But they're coming....
You probably noticed a long post about baby stuff. It's really for my cousin (I think it's okay to say it's my cousin now that she announced it on Facebook), but I hope it might be helpful for anyone.
I am working on getting some pictures ready to post, but again, long slow process due to time constraints. But they're coming....
Baby item list (a post for new moms, the rest of you might want to skip this one)
So my relative is having a baby. Yay! She's a new mom, and I am chock full of advice and ideas for her, but I don't really want to overwhelm her and be annoying. So I've sent her some of my top picks and things to skip, and decided I'd put the rest of it here, for anyone to enjoy (He he). I've tried to organize this some to make it easier, so check out the headings and that way if you want to know what I think about, say, bottles, you don't have to read about strollers to get there. You can also use the "find" feature in your browser (if you have that) to look for key words you might be interested in. Or you can just read the whole thing!)
Brands I have had a lot of success with, across their product lines
Graco
Britax
Fisher Price
Bright Starts
Munchkin
Equipment
bouncy seat or vibrating seat (I have a Boppy brand and really like it). You won't hold your baby all the time and you'll want a nice place to put him or her down. Elena loves her bouncy seat.
swing (look for one that plugs in; otherwise stock up on D batteries). This is another must have, in my opinion. When Elena was smaller, she was often hard to get to sleep in anything other than the swing. The one in this link is very similar to ours.
floor gym (mine is Bright Starts) The little flower plays the sweetest tunes when you pull the tab under it. Unfortunately, when we stored it between kids, all the slobber from when Karina was a baby kind of, um, made it dirty....so it's gone. I miss the flower's tunes! I wish I could play them for Elena.
Fisher Price rocking bassinet (this thing is amazing!). Some days I wished I had two, one for upstairs and one for downstairs! Elena loves it and prefers sleeping in it to anything else in the house. She sleeps longer overnight in it than in her crib. And it was perfect when we were dealing with the bad, bad, horrible, horrible, awful, bad, bad reflux. Did I mention her reflux was bad?
Some type of exersaucer or walker. As baby grows, you won't want or be able to carry him or her around all the time. Karina's was by Safety 1st and had dinosaurs on it; she was fascinated by the lights.
Doorway jumpers--we used ours all of three times. I say either skip it or get it on consignment.
Bumbo seat. Very useful, but not used for very long. This is one of those amazing baby items that is so awesome for the one month or so that you use it. As soon as baby can sit up unassisted, you don't really need it anymore. I recommend finding one on consignment or a hand me down from a friend.
Monitor. I have two Gracos and both are great. The older one is analog and you can't get it anymore, but we are still using it 3 1/2 years later and it works great. Then we have a new digital one that has talkback, and I love it. I also just won (I know, this is so cool!) a V-tech audio-video monitor and it is AWESOME. I wish I had had one with Karina because I worried so much, and it would have helped me a lot to be able to see her as well as hear her. Go ahead and spend the money on a good baby monitor. You are going to use it for many years, well into the toddler years. Get one with talkback so that when your sweet toddler starts the nightly, "Mommy can I sleep with you?" calls, you don't have to get up out of your bed to tell them no.
Diaper Bag. If you use cloth diapers like I did, you will need a very large diaper bag. Larger than a standard bag, because the basic truth is cloth takes up more space than disposables. There are lots out there. I have a Carini Bambini that I used constantly with Karina, and now I'm actually using a Miche bag my friend gave me. It's not quite big enough all the time, but I like it so much I keep using it anyway! I also had a smaller bag for quick outings. I would suggest that you shop in a store though, so you can really tell how big it is and how the pockets work etc. Buying online can be great, but sometimes you get the thing and it's not at all what you imagined.
Carriers
I have used Baby Bjorn, Infantino, Baby K'Tan, and Munchkin jellybean slings, which was a regular stiff cotton sling. Karina liked them, Elena hates them. My recommendation is to see if you can borrow one from someone first and see if your baby likes it. If so, spend the money on a good one, especially if you plan to use it a lot. The Baby Bjorn I used has lumbar support but the Infantino did not, and it made a huge difference. Same with the two slings, the Baby K'Tan was much more versatile (because you can put the baby in more positions) than the other sling, although Karina liked both of them a lot. (I think the Infantino link is the one I have). This is just one of those items where spending more on a quality item is really worth it. And if you didn't know it, I'm a tightwad. :-)
Feeding
Unless you breastfeed at home and never leave your baby with anyone until s/he weans, you will need bottles. I use formula and we have used the Playtex Vent Aire Advanced with both our girls and I love them. They worked so well with Karina that she almost never had to burp. For breastfeeding moms, I have heard great things about Avent and Tommee Tippee, though I have not had experience with either one. I suggest buying just one of several brands and styles and see what your baby prefers (because they do have preferences!)
Get a good drying rack as well as a dishwasher basket. You'll also probably want a microwave steam sterilizer, unless you would rather just boil water on the stove, which you can very easily do. To sterilize this way (I have done both) just boil water in a clean pot and drop the desired item in for about five minutes. You probably don't even need to do it that long, but that's what I do.
Get a high chair that reclines and then sits upright. I have never used those clip to table styles because I personally am afraid they'll fall off (but that's my paranoia). I also got the Cooshee booster seats for when Karina outgrew the high chair. I really love them because they grip without straps, and are nice and soft.
If you breastfeed, get a brand new, high quality pump. Don't borrow or buy used as I am led to understand that bacteria can linger and you don't want that. Plus, we're talking about your parts here, so let's take good care of them, right? :-)
If you use formula, I recommend a partitioned formula dispenser, but not a mixing pitcher or electric mixer. They just aren't necessary. I have both and don't use either one. In fact, I actually do use the mixer...for hot chocolate!
When you buy baby spoons, I recommend the long ones made by Munchkin, because when the baby graduates to the larger size jars, you won't get as messy digging out the last bits with the long spoons.
Brita makes a water bottle with built in filter. Great if you use formula so if you run out of water you can have clean water from any tap.
Nuby sippy cups were a great transition for Karina. They have a textured spout that is more like a nipple than most sippy cup spouts. With Karina, I had found one, and she loved it, and then I could never find anymore just like it. I found some recently and got two for Elena.
Bottle brushes--I found a soft rubbery one recently made by Sassy, and it has saved my hands. I also use a regular bristle one by Munchkin. I use the bristly one on the actual bottle part, and the soft one on the small parts that I have to hold in my hand and rub the brush across (this is why I love the rubbery one; no more scratching my hands while cleaning the bottle parts).
Plates that suction to the table tend to not work, in my experience. I say skip them. Instead, just get some of those grippy drawer liners (you can usually find the stuff at the dollar store) and use them as a placemat. It will grip any of the plastic plates your child is using enough that it will be hard to knock it on the floor.
Diapering
I love cloth diapers and if you read this blog you know that already. Cloth is cheaper (it has a higher start-up cost, but in the long run, they are much, much--like thousands of dollars--cheaper. And they can be reused on subsequent children. Seriously I haven't bought diapers for Elena since I bought the newborn ones I didn't have with Karina. I have spent probably a total of $50 on her diapers in 5 months and that was only those newborn diapers), better for your baby's health (disposables are hot and use chemicals to absorb the urine), and better for the environment (reusable and recyclable). I often hear people express the opinion that they are "gross" because of the poop. Well, the truth is that if you have a baby, you are going to deal with poop. Cloth or disposable, and you are more likely to have blowouts requiring massive poop cleanup if you use disposables, because the slipperiness of the diaper interior doesn't 'catch' the poop like cloth fibers do. So I recommend cloth, but not everyone wants to use cloth. Okay, that's fine, just please, please flush the poop down the toilet, even if it's in a disposable. Poop is NOT meant to go into landfills. It creates a biohazard waste situation and most people don't realize this. Please flush the poop. :-)
Rash cream. I talk below in the bathing section about Grandma El's, but I'll repeat myself here. Grandma El's makes a diaper rash cream that is cloth diaper safe and I love it. It smells good and allows baby's skin to breathe, unlike most creams you buy in the store. These creams usually form a barrier between baby's bum and the diaper, so they don't get a rash from sitting in all that wetness. You can't use barrier creams on cloth diapers because they will cause the diapers to repel instead of absorb. Since you want a barrier cream if you use disposables, I'm sad to say you should probably not use Grandma El's.
Diaper sprayer. If you use cloth, please just get one. Really, just do it. It makes poop cleanup so easy. I didn't have one at first, and once I got one, I felt like I had a new lease on my cloth diapering life!
Diaper Pail. Not a clue, really. Sorry. I don't use one, so I don't know. I do know that the wetbags I use for my cloth diapers do not smell nearly as much as any other diaper container for disposables I've ever come across (probably because no one flushes the poop, so it sits in the diaper pail making stink. Flush the poop, really.) I've hear Diaper Genie, Diaper Champ, some other brands, but to be honest, if you use disposables, don't flush the poop, and don't take each individual diaper to the trash outside, you're going to have some level of stink. I have a level of stink with cloth, but it's not that bad really.
Wet bags. Not just for cloth! These things are good for wet swimsuits, wet clothes, spitup on clothes, soaking soppen wet burp cloths, transporting things that can leak, such as shampoo and so much more. And unlike plastic zipper bags, you don't throw them in a landfill, you just wash them and reuse them. Woohoo!
Sleeping
Woombie--I loved ours. It's a swaddler that stretches kind of like baby is still in the womb, plus it has a double zipper, so once it's zipped up and baby needs a change, you zip it UP again from the bottom only as far as you need to. You don't need to remove the entire thing. Awesome.
White noise machine--helpful if your baby doesn't like quiet or needs some kind of noise to sleep. You can get lots of them and they have pretty standard sounds. You can get some that even have "womb" noises. Elena didn't like that setting but she does like the ocean waves.
Crib Mobile--Take it or leave it. Elena hasn't really needed one, but Karina and I had a fun time making one anyway. Karina had one and it was more of a pain than it was worth, in my opinion. It hooked to the crib, so as soon as she could reach for it, it had to go. Of course, that's when she finally got interested in it. Elena's is actually suspended from the ceiling, far from the reach of anyone including me.
Bathing
Get lots of washcloths. Lots, because they're also great for keeping in the kitchen to wipe messy faces off. So get some for the bath and some for the kitchen. You won't need as many towels as you think though. I have five and I never need that many, ever. I could have done with three and been fine. The towels with hoods are good though to keep baby warmer when s/he comes out of the water.
A good bathtub is essential. Get one you can use in the sink and transition to the tub. Mine is by Summer Infant and I love it. It locks onto the center post in the sink, and can also be used in the tub. Plus, it came with this hammock-like netting that I used when the girls were infants.
I say skip the tub kneeler. You're just being raised up higher, which only makes your back hurt more. I just use a towel folded up, which does double duty as a catch for the water that sloshes over the side when toys are set on the side of the tub or little hands splash too much.
Shampoo. I really love Grandma El's shampoo. You can get it at Target.com, and if you have a Target card the shipping is free. It also appears on sites like babyhalfoff.com sometimes. I love it because it got rid of Karina's chronic cradle cap. We literally spent $70 on a prescription foam because the stuff wouldn't go away. The Grandma El's arrived in the mail, and after only one application of the foam, and shampooing with the Grandma El's, no more cradle cap, ever. Really. (No one paid me to say that, it's just true). Waste of $70. (If you read the diapering section above, you've already read this part) Grandma El's also makes a diaper rash cream that is cloth diaper safe and I love it. It smells good and allows baby's skin to breathe, unlike most creams you buy in the store. These creams usually form a barrier between baby's bum and the diaper, so they don't get a rash from sitting in all that wetness. You can't use barrier creams on cloth diapers because they will cause the diapers to repel instead of absorb. Since you want a barrier cream if you use disposables, I'm sad to say you should probably not use Grandma El's.
Tub spout cover (see below in safety-household)
Safety Items-Household
Doorknob covers, outlet plugs, and cabinet locks are a must.. We did not need toilet, fridge, or stove locks with Karina, but every child is different. I think you will be able to tell by your child's behavior if you need these items, but I would say wait to purchase them later. I'm thinking we're going to need every kind of lock available for Elena. She's such a turkey.
Cushioned corner covers. These don't have to all go on one item. We have them only on exposed corners, such as the corner of Karina's nightstand that was at a higher level than her toddler bed (I worried she'd bump it in the night). I didn't get the all-around table cushion, although that would work well if you have a table in your living room. Ours is pushed to the side because our room isn't that big and Karina needed room to play. You probably also want a tub spout cover. But check your tub first--if the shower pull is at the back of the spout near the wall, you may have trouble finding one that works. So check that before you buy or register for one.
Safety Items/Mommy Helpers-Travel
Car mirrors. These are useful but some of the small ones that go on the rear-view mirror don't work well. I got one that velcros on. I tried one style that had this bungee type cord, and it didn't work for me. The larger mirror that goes in back doesn't seem to make much difference, although I have found all the ones I've ever used to be hard to position easily. It just takes trial and error.
Swiv'lrs stroller hooks--I like these more than the carabiner type hooks because there's nothing to open when I want to hook something on, they're strong, and they fit just about any stroller because the two C-shaped ends are different sizes. You just snap it on.
Clothing
Lots of footy pajamas/sleepers/creepers/whatever they call them. Lots. And lots. In lots of sizes.
Pedoodles makes fantastic first walker shoes with very soft soles. They have high ankles and velcro, and for us, they were the greatest shoes for Karina. She was comfortable and the shoes stayed on.
BePe Baby is a small business but they make the only slippers that stayed on Karina's feet, and they are now the only slippers she will wear. I get her new ones now every winter. She loves them. They make very tiny ones for babies, even newborns, but I don't think they're necessary. The toddler ones have no-slip grip on the bottom, too. Sizes are pretty true, although when you order them sometimes they look really big.
Socks usually fall off. Carters and their subsidiary brands (Child of Mine and Just One Year) made (and might still make) some with thick, terry cuffs that didn't fall off. The other really random place to get good baby socks that I had a lot of success with--the Target dollar spot. No kidding, I got lots of cute baby socks there and they didn't fall off. Most of the other ones I tried, even name brand ones, fell off. Not until baby is a little older do the socks start staying on!
Onesies with foldover cuffs on the sleeves are the best. Babies can scratch their faces unintentionally and the mittens you get at the stores just don't work well (in my opinion). But those foldover cuffs are lifesavers.
Miscellaneous Things
Lots of Links or other brand of links. They are good for holding all kinds of things and the baby can chew them, too.
O-ball toy. This thing is so cool; it's a ball but it's open inside. Imagine a soccer ball but instead of having a sold outside, all the seams were plastic and the stuff in between was gone. It's easy for baby to grip, and it can be chewed on. It will bounce but not a lot.
changing table covers--you'll need a bunch of them.
wetbags. I recommend these for every mom. They are not just good for cloth diapers, but also for wet swimsuits, spitup clothes, or basically anything that gets wet and you need to transport home. The best thing is, instead of an environmentally unfriendly plastic bag, you just wash these and reuse them. I have to recommend MonkeyFootDesigns on Etsy (or she has a regular shop but I don't know the address for it). I absolutely LOVE her wetbags.
Skip gas drops. They don't work well at all. Some pediatricians also do not recommend using things like baby Orajel for teething babies. I use it, and I used it on Karina, but if you choose to do so you are doing so at your own risk. Always consult your doctor first. I like the nighttime formula better because it seems to be stronger. I don't even buy the regular kind.
I hope this list was helpful to you. I was not compensated for any reviews and everything expressed above is my opinion. Be sure to check with your doctor before doing anything, or if you have any questions. I'm not liable if you do something I suggest and it doesn't work out for you. . This is just what works and worked for me. Others may have different opinions.
Brands I have had a lot of success with, across their product lines
Graco
Britax
Fisher Price
Bright Starts
Munchkin
Equipment
bouncy seat or vibrating seat (I have a Boppy brand and really like it). You won't hold your baby all the time and you'll want a nice place to put him or her down. Elena loves her bouncy seat.
swing (look for one that plugs in; otherwise stock up on D batteries). This is another must have, in my opinion. When Elena was smaller, she was often hard to get to sleep in anything other than the swing. The one in this link is very similar to ours.
floor gym (mine is Bright Starts) The little flower plays the sweetest tunes when you pull the tab under it. Unfortunately, when we stored it between kids, all the slobber from when Karina was a baby kind of, um, made it dirty....so it's gone. I miss the flower's tunes! I wish I could play them for Elena.
Fisher Price rocking bassinet (this thing is amazing!). Some days I wished I had two, one for upstairs and one for downstairs! Elena loves it and prefers sleeping in it to anything else in the house. She sleeps longer overnight in it than in her crib. And it was perfect when we were dealing with the bad, bad, horrible, horrible, awful, bad, bad reflux. Did I mention her reflux was bad?
Some type of exersaucer or walker. As baby grows, you won't want or be able to carry him or her around all the time. Karina's was by Safety 1st and had dinosaurs on it; she was fascinated by the lights.
Doorway jumpers--we used ours all of three times. I say either skip it or get it on consignment.
Bumbo seat. Very useful, but not used for very long. This is one of those amazing baby items that is so awesome for the one month or so that you use it. As soon as baby can sit up unassisted, you don't really need it anymore. I recommend finding one on consignment or a hand me down from a friend.
Monitor. I have two Gracos and both are great. The older one is analog and you can't get it anymore, but we are still using it 3 1/2 years later and it works great. Then we have a new digital one that has talkback, and I love it. I also just won (I know, this is so cool!) a V-tech audio-video monitor and it is AWESOME. I wish I had had one with Karina because I worried so much, and it would have helped me a lot to be able to see her as well as hear her. Go ahead and spend the money on a good baby monitor. You are going to use it for many years, well into the toddler years. Get one with talkback so that when your sweet toddler starts the nightly, "Mommy can I sleep with you?" calls, you don't have to get up out of your bed to tell them no.
Diaper Bag. If you use cloth diapers like I did, you will need a very large diaper bag. Larger than a standard bag, because the basic truth is cloth takes up more space than disposables. There are lots out there. I have a Carini Bambini that I used constantly with Karina, and now I'm actually using a Miche bag my friend gave me. It's not quite big enough all the time, but I like it so much I keep using it anyway! I also had a smaller bag for quick outings. I would suggest that you shop in a store though, so you can really tell how big it is and how the pockets work etc. Buying online can be great, but sometimes you get the thing and it's not at all what you imagined.
Carriers
I have used Baby Bjorn, Infantino, Baby K'Tan, and Munchkin jellybean slings, which was a regular stiff cotton sling. Karina liked them, Elena hates them. My recommendation is to see if you can borrow one from someone first and see if your baby likes it. If so, spend the money on a good one, especially if you plan to use it a lot. The Baby Bjorn I used has lumbar support but the Infantino did not, and it made a huge difference. Same with the two slings, the Baby K'Tan was much more versatile (because you can put the baby in more positions) than the other sling, although Karina liked both of them a lot. (I think the Infantino link is the one I have). This is just one of those items where spending more on a quality item is really worth it. And if you didn't know it, I'm a tightwad. :-)
Feeding
Unless you breastfeed at home and never leave your baby with anyone until s/he weans, you will need bottles. I use formula and we have used the Playtex Vent Aire Advanced with both our girls and I love them. They worked so well with Karina that she almost never had to burp. For breastfeeding moms, I have heard great things about Avent and Tommee Tippee, though I have not had experience with either one. I suggest buying just one of several brands and styles and see what your baby prefers (because they do have preferences!)
Get a good drying rack as well as a dishwasher basket. You'll also probably want a microwave steam sterilizer, unless you would rather just boil water on the stove, which you can very easily do. To sterilize this way (I have done both) just boil water in a clean pot and drop the desired item in for about five minutes. You probably don't even need to do it that long, but that's what I do.
Get a high chair that reclines and then sits upright. I have never used those clip to table styles because I personally am afraid they'll fall off (but that's my paranoia). I also got the Cooshee booster seats for when Karina outgrew the high chair. I really love them because they grip without straps, and are nice and soft.
If you breastfeed, get a brand new, high quality pump. Don't borrow or buy used as I am led to understand that bacteria can linger and you don't want that. Plus, we're talking about your parts here, so let's take good care of them, right? :-)
If you use formula, I recommend a partitioned formula dispenser, but not a mixing pitcher or electric mixer. They just aren't necessary. I have both and don't use either one. In fact, I actually do use the mixer...for hot chocolate!
When you buy baby spoons, I recommend the long ones made by Munchkin, because when the baby graduates to the larger size jars, you won't get as messy digging out the last bits with the long spoons.
Brita makes a water bottle with built in filter. Great if you use formula so if you run out of water you can have clean water from any tap.
Nuby sippy cups were a great transition for Karina. They have a textured spout that is more like a nipple than most sippy cup spouts. With Karina, I had found one, and she loved it, and then I could never find anymore just like it. I found some recently and got two for Elena.
Bottle brushes--I found a soft rubbery one recently made by Sassy, and it has saved my hands. I also use a regular bristle one by Munchkin. I use the bristly one on the actual bottle part, and the soft one on the small parts that I have to hold in my hand and rub the brush across (this is why I love the rubbery one; no more scratching my hands while cleaning the bottle parts).
Plates that suction to the table tend to not work, in my experience. I say skip them. Instead, just get some of those grippy drawer liners (you can usually find the stuff at the dollar store) and use them as a placemat. It will grip any of the plastic plates your child is using enough that it will be hard to knock it on the floor.
Diapering
I love cloth diapers and if you read this blog you know that already. Cloth is cheaper (it has a higher start-up cost, but in the long run, they are much, much--like thousands of dollars--cheaper. And they can be reused on subsequent children. Seriously I haven't bought diapers for Elena since I bought the newborn ones I didn't have with Karina. I have spent probably a total of $50 on her diapers in 5 months and that was only those newborn diapers), better for your baby's health (disposables are hot and use chemicals to absorb the urine), and better for the environment (reusable and recyclable). I often hear people express the opinion that they are "gross" because of the poop. Well, the truth is that if you have a baby, you are going to deal with poop. Cloth or disposable, and you are more likely to have blowouts requiring massive poop cleanup if you use disposables, because the slipperiness of the diaper interior doesn't 'catch' the poop like cloth fibers do. So I recommend cloth, but not everyone wants to use cloth. Okay, that's fine, just please, please flush the poop down the toilet, even if it's in a disposable. Poop is NOT meant to go into landfills. It creates a biohazard waste situation and most people don't realize this. Please flush the poop. :-)
Rash cream. I talk below in the bathing section about Grandma El's, but I'll repeat myself here. Grandma El's makes a diaper rash cream that is cloth diaper safe and I love it. It smells good and allows baby's skin to breathe, unlike most creams you buy in the store. These creams usually form a barrier between baby's bum and the diaper, so they don't get a rash from sitting in all that wetness. You can't use barrier creams on cloth diapers because they will cause the diapers to repel instead of absorb. Since you want a barrier cream if you use disposables, I'm sad to say you should probably not use Grandma El's.
Diaper sprayer. If you use cloth, please just get one. Really, just do it. It makes poop cleanup so easy. I didn't have one at first, and once I got one, I felt like I had a new lease on my cloth diapering life!
Diaper Pail. Not a clue, really. Sorry. I don't use one, so I don't know. I do know that the wetbags I use for my cloth diapers do not smell nearly as much as any other diaper container for disposables I've ever come across (probably because no one flushes the poop, so it sits in the diaper pail making stink. Flush the poop, really.) I've hear Diaper Genie, Diaper Champ, some other brands, but to be honest, if you use disposables, don't flush the poop, and don't take each individual diaper to the trash outside, you're going to have some level of stink. I have a level of stink with cloth, but it's not that bad really.
Wet bags. Not just for cloth! These things are good for wet swimsuits, wet clothes, spitup on clothes, soaking soppen wet burp cloths, transporting things that can leak, such as shampoo and so much more. And unlike plastic zipper bags, you don't throw them in a landfill, you just wash them and reuse them. Woohoo!
Sleeping
Woombie--I loved ours. It's a swaddler that stretches kind of like baby is still in the womb, plus it has a double zipper, so once it's zipped up and baby needs a change, you zip it UP again from the bottom only as far as you need to. You don't need to remove the entire thing. Awesome.
White noise machine--helpful if your baby doesn't like quiet or needs some kind of noise to sleep. You can get lots of them and they have pretty standard sounds. You can get some that even have "womb" noises. Elena didn't like that setting but she does like the ocean waves.
Crib Mobile--Take it or leave it. Elena hasn't really needed one, but Karina and I had a fun time making one anyway. Karina had one and it was more of a pain than it was worth, in my opinion. It hooked to the crib, so as soon as she could reach for it, it had to go. Of course, that's when she finally got interested in it. Elena's is actually suspended from the ceiling, far from the reach of anyone including me.
Bathing
Get lots of washcloths. Lots, because they're also great for keeping in the kitchen to wipe messy faces off. So get some for the bath and some for the kitchen. You won't need as many towels as you think though. I have five and I never need that many, ever. I could have done with three and been fine. The towels with hoods are good though to keep baby warmer when s/he comes out of the water.
A good bathtub is essential. Get one you can use in the sink and transition to the tub. Mine is by Summer Infant and I love it. It locks onto the center post in the sink, and can also be used in the tub. Plus, it came with this hammock-like netting that I used when the girls were infants.
I say skip the tub kneeler. You're just being raised up higher, which only makes your back hurt more. I just use a towel folded up, which does double duty as a catch for the water that sloshes over the side when toys are set on the side of the tub or little hands splash too much.
Shampoo. I really love Grandma El's shampoo. You can get it at Target.com, and if you have a Target card the shipping is free. It also appears on sites like babyhalfoff.com sometimes. I love it because it got rid of Karina's chronic cradle cap. We literally spent $70 on a prescription foam because the stuff wouldn't go away. The Grandma El's arrived in the mail, and after only one application of the foam, and shampooing with the Grandma El's, no more cradle cap, ever. Really. (No one paid me to say that, it's just true). Waste of $70. (If you read the diapering section above, you've already read this part) Grandma El's also makes a diaper rash cream that is cloth diaper safe and I love it. It smells good and allows baby's skin to breathe, unlike most creams you buy in the store. These creams usually form a barrier between baby's bum and the diaper, so they don't get a rash from sitting in all that wetness. You can't use barrier creams on cloth diapers because they will cause the diapers to repel instead of absorb. Since you want a barrier cream if you use disposables, I'm sad to say you should probably not use Grandma El's.
Tub spout cover (see below in safety-household)
Safety Items-Household
Doorknob covers, outlet plugs, and cabinet locks are a must.. We did not need toilet, fridge, or stove locks with Karina, but every child is different. I think you will be able to tell by your child's behavior if you need these items, but I would say wait to purchase them later. I'm thinking we're going to need every kind of lock available for Elena. She's such a turkey.
Cushioned corner covers. These don't have to all go on one item. We have them only on exposed corners, such as the corner of Karina's nightstand that was at a higher level than her toddler bed (I worried she'd bump it in the night). I didn't get the all-around table cushion, although that would work well if you have a table in your living room. Ours is pushed to the side because our room isn't that big and Karina needed room to play. You probably also want a tub spout cover. But check your tub first--if the shower pull is at the back of the spout near the wall, you may have trouble finding one that works. So check that before you buy or register for one.
Safety Items/Mommy Helpers-Travel
Car mirrors. These are useful but some of the small ones that go on the rear-view mirror don't work well. I got one that velcros on. I tried one style that had this bungee type cord, and it didn't work for me. The larger mirror that goes in back doesn't seem to make much difference, although I have found all the ones I've ever used to be hard to position easily. It just takes trial and error.
Swiv'lrs stroller hooks--I like these more than the carabiner type hooks because there's nothing to open when I want to hook something on, they're strong, and they fit just about any stroller because the two C-shaped ends are different sizes. You just snap it on.
Clothing
Lots of footy pajamas/sleepers/creepers/whatever they call them. Lots. And lots. In lots of sizes.
Pedoodles makes fantastic first walker shoes with very soft soles. They have high ankles and velcro, and for us, they were the greatest shoes for Karina. She was comfortable and the shoes stayed on.
BePe Baby is a small business but they make the only slippers that stayed on Karina's feet, and they are now the only slippers she will wear. I get her new ones now every winter. She loves them. They make very tiny ones for babies, even newborns, but I don't think they're necessary. The toddler ones have no-slip grip on the bottom, too. Sizes are pretty true, although when you order them sometimes they look really big.
Socks usually fall off. Carters and their subsidiary brands (Child of Mine and Just One Year) made (and might still make) some with thick, terry cuffs that didn't fall off. The other really random place to get good baby socks that I had a lot of success with--the Target dollar spot. No kidding, I got lots of cute baby socks there and they didn't fall off. Most of the other ones I tried, even name brand ones, fell off. Not until baby is a little older do the socks start staying on!
Onesies with foldover cuffs on the sleeves are the best. Babies can scratch their faces unintentionally and the mittens you get at the stores just don't work well (in my opinion). But those foldover cuffs are lifesavers.
Miscellaneous Things
Lots of Links or other brand of links. They are good for holding all kinds of things and the baby can chew them, too.
O-ball toy. This thing is so cool; it's a ball but it's open inside. Imagine a soccer ball but instead of having a sold outside, all the seams were plastic and the stuff in between was gone. It's easy for baby to grip, and it can be chewed on. It will bounce but not a lot.
changing table covers--you'll need a bunch of them.
wetbags. I recommend these for every mom. They are not just good for cloth diapers, but also for wet swimsuits, spitup clothes, or basically anything that gets wet and you need to transport home. The best thing is, instead of an environmentally unfriendly plastic bag, you just wash these and reuse them. I have to recommend MonkeyFootDesigns on Etsy (or she has a regular shop but I don't know the address for it). I absolutely LOVE her wetbags.
Skip gas drops. They don't work well at all. Some pediatricians also do not recommend using things like baby Orajel for teething babies. I use it, and I used it on Karina, but if you choose to do so you are doing so at your own risk. Always consult your doctor first. I like the nighttime formula better because it seems to be stronger. I don't even buy the regular kind.
I hope this list was helpful to you. I was not compensated for any reviews and everything expressed above is my opinion. Be sure to check with your doctor before doing anything, or if you have any questions. I'm not liable if you do something I suggest and it doesn't work out for you. . This is just what works and worked for me. Others may have different opinions.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Story (has a bad word in it but it's funny)
Just a quick post because I'm so overwhelmed with stuff to do and not enough time (thank you, non-napping baby).
The other day, Karina and I decided to have lunch on the back porch. As we gathered up our things for lunch, crackers, cheese, fruit, water, and put them out on the tray, Karina put several crackers on her plate and came to stand by me. As she did, she was carelessly holding her plate, and I said something like, "Watch out so your crackers don't fall on the floor." Following is an approximation of our conversation.
Karina answered by addressing her crackers, "Stay on there, you rasters."
WHAT??? I swear she was trying to say 'bastards'. Now, my husband has been known to drop the f-bomb on occasion, but he has worked really hard at not using bad words in front of the girls lately. He has really been doing a good job, but I felt pretty certain he was where she'd heard this word.
So I asked her, "Did you say 'crackers'?"
"No," she said, "Rasters."
Okay. "Karina, are you saying 'rasters'?"
"Yes. Stay on there you rasters."
Oh. I figured she just didn't know exactly how to say the word. "Karina, where did you hear that word?"
"From Grandma."
Insert hysterical laughing here. My mom does not use that word, but Karina, if you ask her where she learned just about anything, will tell you, 'From Grandma".
I just went on about our lunch after that, and didn't really make any more issue of it. I told Bill what had happened, and reminded him to be really vigilant about his language because Karina is repeating it. The next day we all went to my mom's house and I related the story to her. As soon as I said it, her face lit up, and she said, "Rascals."
Mom and Karina play a game outside where they hide these tiny little My Little Pony figures and then take turns finding them. Apparently, Mom said to Karina on at least one occasion, "Let's find those rascally ponies".
That's my girl. Mind like a steel trap.
Rascals. Not Bastards. Thank goodness!
The other day, Karina and I decided to have lunch on the back porch. As we gathered up our things for lunch, crackers, cheese, fruit, water, and put them out on the tray, Karina put several crackers on her plate and came to stand by me. As she did, she was carelessly holding her plate, and I said something like, "Watch out so your crackers don't fall on the floor." Following is an approximation of our conversation.
Karina answered by addressing her crackers, "Stay on there, you rasters."
WHAT??? I swear she was trying to say 'bastards'. Now, my husband has been known to drop the f-bomb on occasion, but he has worked really hard at not using bad words in front of the girls lately. He has really been doing a good job, but I felt pretty certain he was where she'd heard this word.
So I asked her, "Did you say 'crackers'?"
"No," she said, "Rasters."
Okay. "Karina, are you saying 'rasters'?"
"Yes. Stay on there you rasters."
Oh. I figured she just didn't know exactly how to say the word. "Karina, where did you hear that word?"
"From Grandma."
Insert hysterical laughing here. My mom does not use that word, but Karina, if you ask her where she learned just about anything, will tell you, 'From Grandma".
I just went on about our lunch after that, and didn't really make any more issue of it. I told Bill what had happened, and reminded him to be really vigilant about his language because Karina is repeating it. The next day we all went to my mom's house and I related the story to her. As soon as I said it, her face lit up, and she said, "Rascals."
Mom and Karina play a game outside where they hide these tiny little My Little Pony figures and then take turns finding them. Apparently, Mom said to Karina on at least one occasion, "Let's find those rascally ponies".
That's my girl. Mind like a steel trap.
Rascals. Not Bastards. Thank goodness!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
I got a new razor. Exciting, I know.
I did, I got a new razor. I actually got it for free after reading this post from my friend's blog, Second Time Around. You can go there if you want and sign up to get a free razor, too. If you want to. I usually use another brand of razors, but they stopped making my favorite one, which was this flat, ovally-rectangley shaped one that I looooved. Sigh. But anyway, I finally had to get a new one, so I tried that brand's newest style of razor, and it works just fine, and I have no complaints, but frankly I do not like putting my hand on some lady's body parts every time I need to shave my armpits. So, I decided to give this free razor a shot. I mean, it's free, right?
I like it. I like it a lot. I don't normally buy Schick razors, but I'm really happy with the way this one shaves, although I was a little unsure at first because it has this hydro thingy that is water activated or something, I don't know. I just know when I tried the other brand's version, I hated it--I felt like I was shaving too fast and I was too afraid I'd cut myself. I don't use shaving cream, just water, so using anything at all is really foreign to me. But this one, it's okay. I like it. I plan to keep using it. It shaves really well and that is nice, too. My skin does feel pretty darn smooth. And the best part is, no fake body parts. :-)
No one paid me to write this. I just liked the product I signed up to get, and I will buy some more in the future (using the very nice coupons they included, yay) because I like them. This post is my opinion and others may feel differently.
I like it. I like it a lot. I don't normally buy Schick razors, but I'm really happy with the way this one shaves, although I was a little unsure at first because it has this hydro thingy that is water activated or something, I don't know. I just know when I tried the other brand's version, I hated it--I felt like I was shaving too fast and I was too afraid I'd cut myself. I don't use shaving cream, just water, so using anything at all is really foreign to me. But this one, it's okay. I like it. I plan to keep using it. It shaves really well and that is nice, too. My skin does feel pretty darn smooth. And the best part is, no fake body parts. :-)
No one paid me to write this. I just liked the product I signed up to get, and I will buy some more in the future (using the very nice coupons they included, yay) because I like them. This post is my opinion and others may feel differently.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Friendships (kind of long, sorry)
Introvert or extrovert? If you have ever taken one of those personality quizzes, you probably know what these words are describing. If not, here's a quick description. An introvert gets their energy from solitude, and expends energy being around others. An extrovert is the opposite; they are energized by people and being alone expends energy. Introvert: shy, extrovert: outgoing. (Very broad generalization)
I am an introvert, and have been for as long as I can remember. I like it this way, being that I'm me and it's all I've known. Sometimes I've wished I could be a little more outgoing, and honestly, I've gotten better about it as I've gotten older. But for the most part, I'm still pretty shy around big groups of people. The introvert-extrovert scale is like a continuum, it's not just one or the other. You can be very introverted or less so, and same for extroverts. I am not an extreme introvert anymore (I used to be highly introverted), but my mom is almost off the charts introverted. I think for me, being a teacher helped.
Being shy definitely affected how I make friends. It's not a bad thing, it's just how I am. I have always preferred smaller groups of close friends. Since I started this blog, I have made some more friends, even people I have never met before, and it is kind of cool! I was so nervous starting this blog, because, you know, people were going to read it. But I'm so glad I did.
(I hope I haven't already shared this story with you. If I have, I apologize, and you can quit reading. But this person was on my mind recently, and it sometimes helps me to talk about it.)
Sometimes there are friends who come into our lives and then leave, and even if the end was necessary or natural, it's hard to let them go. Even if you don't want to be friends anymore, they can still come back to your thoughts now and again. Such is the case with an old friend of mine. We met and became friends when we were new teachers at the school where I used to teach. She had been teaching for several more years than me, but we hit it off and became (what I thought was) good friends. Back then, I was married to my first husband, and as things got worse and worse, I would confide in her, even things like, "I'd rather be miserable than divorced." (Yeah, well that didn't last long thank goodness.) She was divorced from a really awful man, and she and her three kids were living with her boyfriend, who turned out to be not so nice, either. We would bake brownies all the time, those 13x9" pan size brownies. We got 6 brownies out of those pans. Oh, yeah. We totally drowned our sorrows in brownies! She was good at teaching math, and I was good at English. We shared the roles and she rescued my class from a bad math lesson on more than one occasion! I thought we were great friends.
I helped her out when she was in a car accident and was recovering from that (I got her using her seatbelt, and thankfully so or she could have been killed), as well as when she was on bedrest with her fourth pregnancy when she remarried.
She taught me to sew. We would spend whole days sewing. The only time I have ever used a serger was at her house. When she remarried, that was where everything fell apart. Apparently, she only needed a friend until she found a husband. After they got married, and she had a baby, she sort of dropped off the planet. But I still thought of her as a friend, even though we didn't do as much together.
I moved to Florida with Bill, and even though we had almost stopped talking, I valued her friendship and wanted to try to reach out to her and maybe be better friends again. I missed her. I invited her to our wedding, and she RSVPd that she would come. She didn't. On our honeymoon, she called me (the last time I think we ever talked, actually) and told me she didn't come because she had a bad hair day. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head and went on my honeymoon.
Then, I got pregnant with Karina. After much debate with my other friend, Stephanie (who was also friends with this woman and had also been blown off by her), we decided to give her one last chance. We invited her to my baby shower. She didn't even RSVP. This woman, who had twins, a daughter, and another son who she thought she was going to lose when she started spotting and was put on bed rest halfway through her pregnancy, couldn't even acknowledge that I, a formerly close (I thought) friend, was having my first baby. That was it for me. I was done.
Not long after that, several months I guess, I got a request to friend her through an email program. I was furious. I wrote a very long letter to her, being very careful how I phrased things (English major--I always thought we should get a BS instead of a BA, ha ha), and basically told her that she had hurt me too many times for me to put myself out there again. However, I was willing to hear her side and possibly give the friendship another go, but I was going to protect myself if that happened. Her response? She just told me to ignore the friend request. I was so hurt. I couldn't figure out how someone I had once spent so much time with could so completely turn her back on me.
And yet, every now and then I still think of her, and I miss the friendship I thought we had. I often wish things had gone differently, and I wish she was still my friend. For someone like me, who usually has a small circle of friends, losing even one is a big deal. I'm fortunate that she is the only one who has really ever done that to me, although it is not the only friendship that has ever ended. A high school friend and I drifted apart, a work friend and I parted ways gradually. Most of the lost or ended friendships were ready to go, naturally, and for good reasons. This one, I don't know. Obviously on some level it needed to end, because clearly she did not value my friendship as I did hers. But sentimental me, I still sometimes wish I could just call her up and fix things, even if we didn't become friends again, which really, I don't think I want. I guess what bothers me is the way it ended, finally.
I should just move on and be happy, and I am, because I have some really amazing, steadfast, wonderful friends. I don't need an unhealthy relationship with someone who doesn't value me. I know this. I do, really. But I'm still sorry it ended the way it did.
Sorry this post got so long!
I am an introvert, and have been for as long as I can remember. I like it this way, being that I'm me and it's all I've known. Sometimes I've wished I could be a little more outgoing, and honestly, I've gotten better about it as I've gotten older. But for the most part, I'm still pretty shy around big groups of people. The introvert-extrovert scale is like a continuum, it's not just one or the other. You can be very introverted or less so, and same for extroverts. I am not an extreme introvert anymore (I used to be highly introverted), but my mom is almost off the charts introverted. I think for me, being a teacher helped.
Being shy definitely affected how I make friends. It's not a bad thing, it's just how I am. I have always preferred smaller groups of close friends. Since I started this blog, I have made some more friends, even people I have never met before, and it is kind of cool! I was so nervous starting this blog, because, you know, people were going to read it. But I'm so glad I did.
(I hope I haven't already shared this story with you. If I have, I apologize, and you can quit reading. But this person was on my mind recently, and it sometimes helps me to talk about it.)
Sometimes there are friends who come into our lives and then leave, and even if the end was necessary or natural, it's hard to let them go. Even if you don't want to be friends anymore, they can still come back to your thoughts now and again. Such is the case with an old friend of mine. We met and became friends when we were new teachers at the school where I used to teach. She had been teaching for several more years than me, but we hit it off and became (what I thought was) good friends. Back then, I was married to my first husband, and as things got worse and worse, I would confide in her, even things like, "I'd rather be miserable than divorced." (Yeah, well that didn't last long thank goodness.) She was divorced from a really awful man, and she and her three kids were living with her boyfriend, who turned out to be not so nice, either. We would bake brownies all the time, those 13x9" pan size brownies. We got 6 brownies out of those pans. Oh, yeah. We totally drowned our sorrows in brownies! She was good at teaching math, and I was good at English. We shared the roles and she rescued my class from a bad math lesson on more than one occasion! I thought we were great friends.
I helped her out when she was in a car accident and was recovering from that (I got her using her seatbelt, and thankfully so or she could have been killed), as well as when she was on bedrest with her fourth pregnancy when she remarried.
She taught me to sew. We would spend whole days sewing. The only time I have ever used a serger was at her house. When she remarried, that was where everything fell apart. Apparently, she only needed a friend until she found a husband. After they got married, and she had a baby, she sort of dropped off the planet. But I still thought of her as a friend, even though we didn't do as much together.
I moved to Florida with Bill, and even though we had almost stopped talking, I valued her friendship and wanted to try to reach out to her and maybe be better friends again. I missed her. I invited her to our wedding, and she RSVPd that she would come. She didn't. On our honeymoon, she called me (the last time I think we ever talked, actually) and told me she didn't come because she had a bad hair day. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head and went on my honeymoon.
Then, I got pregnant with Karina. After much debate with my other friend, Stephanie (who was also friends with this woman and had also been blown off by her), we decided to give her one last chance. We invited her to my baby shower. She didn't even RSVP. This woman, who had twins, a daughter, and another son who she thought she was going to lose when she started spotting and was put on bed rest halfway through her pregnancy, couldn't even acknowledge that I, a formerly close (I thought) friend, was having my first baby. That was it for me. I was done.
Not long after that, several months I guess, I got a request to friend her through an email program. I was furious. I wrote a very long letter to her, being very careful how I phrased things (English major--I always thought we should get a BS instead of a BA, ha ha), and basically told her that she had hurt me too many times for me to put myself out there again. However, I was willing to hear her side and possibly give the friendship another go, but I was going to protect myself if that happened. Her response? She just told me to ignore the friend request. I was so hurt. I couldn't figure out how someone I had once spent so much time with could so completely turn her back on me.
And yet, every now and then I still think of her, and I miss the friendship I thought we had. I often wish things had gone differently, and I wish she was still my friend. For someone like me, who usually has a small circle of friends, losing even one is a big deal. I'm fortunate that she is the only one who has really ever done that to me, although it is not the only friendship that has ever ended. A high school friend and I drifted apart, a work friend and I parted ways gradually. Most of the lost or ended friendships were ready to go, naturally, and for good reasons. This one, I don't know. Obviously on some level it needed to end, because clearly she did not value my friendship as I did hers. But sentimental me, I still sometimes wish I could just call her up and fix things, even if we didn't become friends again, which really, I don't think I want. I guess what bothers me is the way it ended, finally.
I should just move on and be happy, and I am, because I have some really amazing, steadfast, wonderful friends. I don't need an unhealthy relationship with someone who doesn't value me. I know this. I do, really. But I'm still sorry it ended the way it did.
Sorry this post got so long!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
A few more things you might not know about me
I last posted a couple of things about me that maybe you didn't know. Here are a few more, before I start in on stories.
1. When I graduated with my teaching degree, I didn't get hired right away. I did a lot of subbing, until I was finally hired by Mr. Thomas, my fondly remembered first principal who passed away not long ago. When I got my long term sub job at the school that became a second home to me, I begged Mr. Thomas to keep me. I told him I'd teach Kindergarten in the morning and fifth grade in the afternoon if only he'd keep me! He did keep me, but he let me teach third grade all day.
2. I love to shop, for anything really, but I used to love shopping for clothes. Since having kids, I don't enjoy it quite as much, but I'm getting used to my new body and trying to make some small changes so that I can improve said body a little. Or a lot,. Yeah, that'd be great. Anyway, now I like shopping for my girls because they are cute in anything.
3. I had the most fun childhood, despite my parents being divorced. I lived with my mom and brother and we all moved in with my grandparents and that was my home. I played with my brother on the weekends and afternoons, because we didn't know any other kids in the neighborhood (there was only one, he lived behind us and his name was Jay. He was the same age as me, and we hung out a lot). We had the best time. We invented tons of games, played outside constantly, and basically life was just gooood. Some things we played: Thundercats, He-Man, X-Men (when we were a little older), riding bikes, riding scooters (my grandfather built them himself using an old pair of metal roller skates that went over your sneakers), and making up stories for games where usually we ran away from "the evil orphanage lady". Ha ha, just remembering makes me laugh! There was one 'episode' of that game where we decided to include MacGuyver (from the show, we loved it) but he kind of ruined the game because he could fix everything. We were quite creative with how we got him out of the game. I'll save that for another day, unless maybe I've already told you. If you already know, well, then have yourself another good laugh about it! If you don't, I'll share another time, don't worry.
Well these are some random things about me that maybe you knew and maybe not, but I'll be sharing some more stories in the future and now I feel like you have some background and kind of know me a little better.
1. When I graduated with my teaching degree, I didn't get hired right away. I did a lot of subbing, until I was finally hired by Mr. Thomas, my fondly remembered first principal who passed away not long ago. When I got my long term sub job at the school that became a second home to me, I begged Mr. Thomas to keep me. I told him I'd teach Kindergarten in the morning and fifth grade in the afternoon if only he'd keep me! He did keep me, but he let me teach third grade all day.
2. I love to shop, for anything really, but I used to love shopping for clothes. Since having kids, I don't enjoy it quite as much, but I'm getting used to my new body and trying to make some small changes so that I can improve said body a little. Or a lot,. Yeah, that'd be great. Anyway, now I like shopping for my girls because they are cute in anything.
3. I had the most fun childhood, despite my parents being divorced. I lived with my mom and brother and we all moved in with my grandparents and that was my home. I played with my brother on the weekends and afternoons, because we didn't know any other kids in the neighborhood (there was only one, he lived behind us and his name was Jay. He was the same age as me, and we hung out a lot). We had the best time. We invented tons of games, played outside constantly, and basically life was just gooood. Some things we played: Thundercats, He-Man, X-Men (when we were a little older), riding bikes, riding scooters (my grandfather built them himself using an old pair of metal roller skates that went over your sneakers), and making up stories for games where usually we ran away from "the evil orphanage lady". Ha ha, just remembering makes me laugh! There was one 'episode' of that game where we decided to include MacGuyver (from the show, we loved it) but he kind of ruined the game because he could fix everything. We were quite creative with how we got him out of the game. I'll save that for another day, unless maybe I've already told you. If you already know, well, then have yourself another good laugh about it! If you don't, I'll share another time, don't worry.
Well these are some random things about me that maybe you knew and maybe not, but I'll be sharing some more stories in the future and now I feel like you have some background and kind of know me a little better.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Maybe you don't know these things about me yet
I was thinking about what I post on here, and I decided to start sharing some more things about me. So today I'm going to start by telling you some things I don't know if I've shared or not, but maybe I have. If I repeat, sorry, but if not, maybe you'll learn a little more about me.
1. I have a bachelor's degree from The College of William and Mary as well as a Master's from another university, both in elementary education. (Proud of my bachelor's degree, as you can see, but the Master's, to be honest, meh. I didn't feel like I had to work for it, and so that's why I don't want to say where it's from. I just felt like I basically paid the university for my degree. Lousy feeling. But my bachelor's? Heck yeah, I earned that baby!!)
2. I got married the summer after I graduated, and got divorced three years later. My ex wasn't a horrible person or anything, he just wasn't the one for me. I had a lot of guilt about it after the divorce, and I also had to reconcile to myself that I might not ever find someone else, get married, or have children. How lucky I am!
3. I love dogs, and I grew up with them as pets. But after losing a very dearly beloved dog in college who was only 10 years old, and then having to put another dog to sleep during my first marriage, I no longer want one. I love them too much and it's too hard to see them suffer and die. The first one was Danny (yes, I know, that's part of my username. See, you're learning all kinds of stuff about me) and he was the sweetest little baby ever. He was part of our family, and losing him was a crushing blow. He had pancreatitis, and died of chronic liver failure. Technically we had him put to sleep, but that was because he was suffering. I'll never forget the vet as she told us she could make him comfortable for a few more days. Saying she had "pulled out the big guns" but it hadn't worked. How she said dogs are brave animals and won't often let you know when they are hurting, so when you can tell, it's usually because they are in extreme pain. Oh, how I cried losing that dog. Aside from my family, I had never loved anyone as much as I loved that dog. If you have never had a pet or one like that, it might sound cheesy or lame, but think of this. We got him when I was ten. That dog was by my side through all of middle school and high school, and hey, what are the worst years of school? Middle school and high school. So, even though he was "just" a dog, to go home to someone who would listen to me go on and on, try to comfort me when I cried, and loved me completely no matter what I did, that was such an important feeling. Wow, that got to be a long story! The other dog was named Sabian and he was a border collie. My ex had really wanted one. Anyway, this dog had a deformation--his lower jaw was a lot shorter than his upper jaw. We got him in spring and by Thanksgiving he had developed what we thought was epilepsy. He had seizures almost every single day between Christmas and the end of February. Before he was ever even a year old, we had to put him to sleep. The conclusion was that most likely his brain was also deformed in some way. I lived in daily fear of him seizing to death in the back yard and coming home to a dead dog, a dog I would have known had died suffering. I couldn't take it. That was pretty much the end of my marriage, too, because that on top of everything else going wrong, my ex couldn't understand that I was not healthy and needed a break from pets. He just kept telling me, "But I want one. It'll make me happy." No matter how much I told him I was going to go into the hospital with a nervous breakdown, how I'd lost so much weight, etc. It always kind of came back to him. What did he want. And that was when I really, really knew: he didn't love me and I definitely didn't love him. So I'm thankful for the dog, because even though he died, he had a happy short life with us and in a way he saved me.
Well I was going to do five things, but the dog one kind of got out of control, so I'm going to stop there for now. Later I'll have some more things and some stories to share.
1. I have a bachelor's degree from The College of William and Mary as well as a Master's from another university, both in elementary education. (Proud of my bachelor's degree, as you can see, but the Master's, to be honest, meh. I didn't feel like I had to work for it, and so that's why I don't want to say where it's from. I just felt like I basically paid the university for my degree. Lousy feeling. But my bachelor's? Heck yeah, I earned that baby!!)
2. I got married the summer after I graduated, and got divorced three years later. My ex wasn't a horrible person or anything, he just wasn't the one for me. I had a lot of guilt about it after the divorce, and I also had to reconcile to myself that I might not ever find someone else, get married, or have children. How lucky I am!
3. I love dogs, and I grew up with them as pets. But after losing a very dearly beloved dog in college who was only 10 years old, and then having to put another dog to sleep during my first marriage, I no longer want one. I love them too much and it's too hard to see them suffer and die. The first one was Danny (yes, I know, that's part of my username. See, you're learning all kinds of stuff about me) and he was the sweetest little baby ever. He was part of our family, and losing him was a crushing blow. He had pancreatitis, and died of chronic liver failure. Technically we had him put to sleep, but that was because he was suffering. I'll never forget the vet as she told us she could make him comfortable for a few more days. Saying she had "pulled out the big guns" but it hadn't worked. How she said dogs are brave animals and won't often let you know when they are hurting, so when you can tell, it's usually because they are in extreme pain. Oh, how I cried losing that dog. Aside from my family, I had never loved anyone as much as I loved that dog. If you have never had a pet or one like that, it might sound cheesy or lame, but think of this. We got him when I was ten. That dog was by my side through all of middle school and high school, and hey, what are the worst years of school? Middle school and high school. So, even though he was "just" a dog, to go home to someone who would listen to me go on and on, try to comfort me when I cried, and loved me completely no matter what I did, that was such an important feeling. Wow, that got to be a long story! The other dog was named Sabian and he was a border collie. My ex had really wanted one. Anyway, this dog had a deformation--his lower jaw was a lot shorter than his upper jaw. We got him in spring and by Thanksgiving he had developed what we thought was epilepsy. He had seizures almost every single day between Christmas and the end of February. Before he was ever even a year old, we had to put him to sleep. The conclusion was that most likely his brain was also deformed in some way. I lived in daily fear of him seizing to death in the back yard and coming home to a dead dog, a dog I would have known had died suffering. I couldn't take it. That was pretty much the end of my marriage, too, because that on top of everything else going wrong, my ex couldn't understand that I was not healthy and needed a break from pets. He just kept telling me, "But I want one. It'll make me happy." No matter how much I told him I was going to go into the hospital with a nervous breakdown, how I'd lost so much weight, etc. It always kind of came back to him. What did he want. And that was when I really, really knew: he didn't love me and I definitely didn't love him. So I'm thankful for the dog, because even though he died, he had a happy short life with us and in a way he saved me.
Well I was going to do five things, but the dog one kind of got out of control, so I'm going to stop there for now. Later I'll have some more things and some stories to share.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Book Review; possible spoiler too
I'm pretty sure I mentioned on here a while back about a book I had read that I really enjoyed called "The Hedgewitch Queen". It is by Lilith Saintcrow, an author I'd never heard of, but who has lots of books out actually. I got a Nook from Bill a while back as a gift, and I was really enjoying reading during Sesame Street before Elena was born. I would browse around for cheap books that met my very specific criteria for reading material: I like adventure and action, but not scary or suspenseful; I like a little bit of romance, but not over the top; I can read realistic or fantasy/make believe, but I prefer fiction to non-fiction. The biggest thing is it can't be scary. Oh, and I don't like if there are animal main characters who die. Ick. (Don't even get me started on my opinion of "The Call of the Wild"). Anyway, these kinds of books are pretty hard to find. So when I found this book, it was super cheap, I downloaded it and was immediately drawn into this imaginary world. I just loved that book! Just enough intrigue, action, mystery, romance, adventure--it was just right for me. I was crushed at the end when I had to wait until June for the sequel, especially with a cliffhanger ending!
So, it's June. I had preordered the book's sequel, "The Bandit King" and was eagerly awaiting it. I started reading it on the first and finished it on the second. It was okay. Actually, it was a little disappointing, but that didn't surprise me considering how much I had anticipated it. However, I really felt like it lacked something magical that the first book had. It wasn't terrible or anything, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
The first book is told from the heroine's perspective and the second book is told from the hero's perspective. Although I'm not so sure you can call him a hero. There's a hint of something dark about him in the first book, but he seems so caring and concerned about the heroine, Vianne, that you, the reader, can't seem to believe that he could really be that bad. Well. He is. And worse. It sort of burst my bubble about him. Hearing his thoughts and everything just made him seem, frankly, insane. Plus the whole reason behind his original action, the one that causes the events of the story, is kind of insignificant. I expected something better, deeper, more forgivable. I mean, I get that he doesn't want her married off, but his reasons just don't seem complete, I guess.
Well, it's maybe not a complete spoiler, but it does hint a bit at what areas disappointed me.
Anyway, a bit of a disappointment. I probably won't read it again, but I would read the first one again, even knowing what I do now from the second one.
When I was in high school, we read "A Tale of Two Cities". I hated the ending so much that I rewrote it (in the margins, not anything long or drawn out, just a sentence or two. Essentially, Sidney Carton doesn't die, he escapes the guillotine and goes off somewhere and lives. But I digress.). I keep thinking I could do that with this book too! I kind of have, in my mind, but honestly, I don't have the time or imagination to put anything down concretely, and I wouldn't want to risk any kind of plagiarism, either. It's her book, and her story, and I respect that completely. But I can certainly imagine a different ending.
Sum up: Read "The Hedgewitch Queen" if you like adventure and fantasy, but be aware that "The Bandit King" might be a little disappointing in comparison.
Oh, and I also read another series of hers, called "Strange Angels" about a girl who hunts vampires and stuff, and those five books were fantastic. So that was just another reason I was kind of let down by this book. I read the Strange Angels series while waiting for this one to be released, and I liked it so much, I really had high hopes for "The Bandit King". Ah well....
So, it's June. I had preordered the book's sequel, "The Bandit King" and was eagerly awaiting it. I started reading it on the first and finished it on the second. It was okay. Actually, it was a little disappointing, but that didn't surprise me considering how much I had anticipated it. However, I really felt like it lacked something magical that the first book had. It wasn't terrible or anything, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
The first book is told from the heroine's perspective and the second book is told from the hero's perspective. Although I'm not so sure you can call him a hero. There's a hint of something dark about him in the first book, but he seems so caring and concerned about the heroine, Vianne, that you, the reader, can't seem to believe that he could really be that bad. Well. He is. And worse. It sort of burst my bubble about him. Hearing his thoughts and everything just made him seem, frankly, insane. Plus the whole reason behind his original action, the one that causes the events of the story, is kind of insignificant. I expected something better, deeper, more forgivable. I mean, I get that he doesn't want her married off, but his reasons just don't seem complete, I guess.
Well, it's maybe not a complete spoiler, but it does hint a bit at what areas disappointed me.
Anyway, a bit of a disappointment. I probably won't read it again, but I would read the first one again, even knowing what I do now from the second one.
When I was in high school, we read "A Tale of Two Cities". I hated the ending so much that I rewrote it (in the margins, not anything long or drawn out, just a sentence or two. Essentially, Sidney Carton doesn't die, he escapes the guillotine and goes off somewhere and lives. But I digress.). I keep thinking I could do that with this book too! I kind of have, in my mind, but honestly, I don't have the time or imagination to put anything down concretely, and I wouldn't want to risk any kind of plagiarism, either. It's her book, and her story, and I respect that completely. But I can certainly imagine a different ending.
Sum up: Read "The Hedgewitch Queen" if you like adventure and fantasy, but be aware that "The Bandit King" might be a little disappointing in comparison.
Oh, and I also read another series of hers, called "Strange Angels" about a girl who hunts vampires and stuff, and those five books were fantastic. So that was just another reason I was kind of let down by this book. I read the Strange Angels series while waiting for this one to be released, and I liked it so much, I really had high hopes for "The Bandit King". Ah well....
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