Go-Go Mommy is starting a new tradition: Photo Friday. With summer coming to an end let's stop to smell the roses (or tulips). Poppy, Sweat Pea and I did it with a friend and her toddler who visited us in April. Here is a photo from our trip to Filoli Gardens. Thanks, K & I, for a great visit!
I'm happy to sound like a proud mommy today. "Sweet Pea" has made her modeling debut! She was invited to be a baby model for a very worthwhile cause. Okay, so she wasn't invited unless you count the general invitation sent to the hundreds of parents who belong to our Parents' Club as "being invited." Anyway, she fulfilled the photographer's requirement - sitting up but not yet walking. So she is now one of four babies on a T-Shirt asking; "got breastmilk?" This shirt is being sold to raise money to support La Leche League.
In today's world where you don't know which toy is safe or which bottle to use, let's remember there is one thing we know for sure - our bodies are made this way for a reason. Let's face it, breastfeeding is a big commitment. We deliberate over it while we are pregnant (at least with our first baby), then we have to wait and see if it all works out when it's time to try it. There are so many variables that must fall into place for mom and baby to be successful that it's time we celebrate it when it does happen.
If interested in showing your support, just go to www.gotbreastmilk.org to order a TShirt. And if you're in the Bay Area, I'm sure you'll see me proudly wearing mine!
You can also find me on Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.
Originally posted on Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.
Haven't we all been here? Feeling a little guilty and maybe even silly because we are looking for a "hideout" in our own home? In my home, the only room with a lock on it is one of my bathrooms. Unfortunately, I just found out that the lock can be bypassed by simply turning harder on the handle.
My day began well enough. I found myself actually making a dent in my to-do list:
-attend morning swim class with the girls
-pick up grocery essentials for dinner
-get Poppy (3 year old) signed up for "Pre-dance/Tap Class" for fall semester
-start to tackle laundry from vacation
-catch up on email since vacation (ie: planning playdates and sending out vacation photos)
-work on planning a September Kids Outing for our local Parents' Club
-feed Sweet Pea (9 month old) at appropriate times and get her to take 2 naps to help with nighttime
sleep
I guess I got so into the groove of moving from task to task that it didn't occur to me that I set up a recipe for disaster until it was too late.
Sweet Pea had been cranky on and off due to teeth numbers 3 and 4 now doing their best to push through those beautiful little pink gums and make their appearance. This combined with her usual nighttime fussiness started to fuel her cries just as I made my way to "the haven." Poppy (whom I'm told has the "energy of a boy") then runs around wildly in and out of the baby's room screaming "it's okay, it's okay, calm down" and then running to the bathroom door looking for mommy. According to Poppy, she wanted me to 1) stop the baby from crying, and 2) send some attention her way since I was so busy "accomplishing" so much today. And, of course, all of this chaos begins just as my husband returns from a work trip where he spent all day in meetings and an airplane and was in recovery mode.
Was it wrong of me to take advantage of the reinforcements (okay just one - my husband) and put my foot against the unlockable door to gain some "me" time and do a Sudoku puzzle? Should I admit that I cranked up the fan to drown out some of Sweet Pea's complaining cries? And should I apologize when those 3 year old fists on the door were met with my response "Sometimes, mommy needs to go potty too."? I now realize that kids aren't the only ones with potty issues. Where is your haven?
Today should be the day from hell. Today should be the day that I travel on a red-eye flight with my infant and toddler to see all of our relatives. However, that will not be happening today. I will not have to endure checking-in luggage and car seats, hauling diaper bags, bottles, and a double stoller through security. I will not have to explain that it is baby formula in the baby bottles or try mixing dry-powdered bottles on the plane. Nor will I have to figure out how to navigate the airplane bathroom with my toddler and choose which flight attendant is the most responsible to watch my infant while I'm in the bathroom with my toddler.
I won't have to do any of this because I just found out yesterday (the day before we travel) that my return flight has been cancelled. And not just cancelled but totally eradicated from the airline's flight plans. As of the beginning of September, this airline will "no longer be flying" anywhere closer than a 6 hour drive to my airport. So, rather than flying out today and getting stuck paying thousands of dollars to get home (amazingly this airline has no reciprocity with any other airline on this planet), Go-Go Mommy has made the executive decision to Not-Go for once.
Now I know all the typical sayings: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." - "It's not what happens to you, it's how you react to it." Or something like that, and that's when I started thinking, I have now been given 2 and a half weeks of something new and unexpected. Yes, I will miss seeing my parents, in-laws, brothers, sisters, etc. But at the same time, over the next 17 days, I will be exposed to people, places, and things that I would have missed if not for this unfortunate event. Serendipity in the making!
So, I choose to open my heart and mind and see just what is in store for me and my little ones. It just better be really good!
You can also find me at Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.
Ten short months ago I was in the hospital after the delivery of "Sweet Pea" - our second girl. While there, "Poppy" (our first daughter) came with daddy to visit us. On the way in, she asked to stop at the water fountain to throw in a coin and make a wish. Daddy immediately obliged and heard the following; "I wish I have a good marriage and marry a good man." Although she was only 2 years and 8 months at the time, it became clear the disney princesses were having quite an impact on our little girl. Okay, so maybe the Barbie videos weren't helping much either.
Fast forward to last month, and at 3.5 years, Poppy is now so in love with her little sister that she introduces her as her baby. That's right, not "my baby sister", but "my baby". She also started acting out a very abbreviated pregnancy, which is a little funny since the whole time I was pregnant she didn't seem the least bit interested. Anyway, she'll put a doll or Pooh bear under her shirt and say "I'm going to have a baby." Whereupon she immediately goes to her room and brings out said baby wrapped in a blanket cooing "Oh, you're such a cute baby." Needless to say, I decided it was time to take action and have the talk about exactly when babies come along.
I am now happy to report that after only a few weeks of brainwashing guidance she now is happy to tell everyone she meets exactly when one has a baby. In fact, we had two new friends over - XiaolinMama and daughter (yes, I'm shamelessly name-dropping) and Poppy was happy to explain this to them: "First you go to school, then go to college, you get a career, get married, and THEN you have babies." Yippee!! Let's just hope it sticks.
You can also find me at Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.
A couple of notes from our trip to Carmel-By-The-Sea.
1. Art? Yes and plenty. Baby formula? Better bring with.
My adventure to buy formula for Sweet Pea resulted in a self-guided walking tour to 3 different stores in this quaint town. It presented great sightseeing potential but, when pressured to find the formula before the stores closed, it wasn't the best. The first stop was a market right by our hotel which had such a small baby section I passed by it the first 2 times I went down the aisle. There was only one type of formula, no selection to speak of, and it was more than double the normal retail price. What?! I'm not going to spend that much money! But I am weaning Sweet Pea so I have to do something. My next stop was at a Pharmacy where such items are typicall sold. This stop produced the same type and brand of formula as the first only there was just 1 can on the shelf which had about a quarter of an inch of dust. Okay - on to store number three! There I found yet the same brand and type of formula (obviously only 1 sales rep deems it necessary to stock formula in this city) and it was actually $2.00 less than the original store. Victory! I scored formula AND saved money - if you don't count the fact that it would have been at least $10 less if I just drove to Safeway.
2. Be prepared to convert Euros to Dollars - AKA the quote of the trip!
I am a lover of fine art and scenic beauty. Carmel-By-The-Sea reigns supreme on both counts. While window shopping, I was drawn into one of the many galleries to learn more about a painting in the window. If you have never been to a gallery in Carmel I highly suggest you go because is turns out it is one of the best places on the planet for a classic quote. Who knew? In the gallery I was steered toward an artist from France. When I inquired about cost, this was the reply: "Well, the artist IS French so I'm going to quote you in Euros...." What?! You mean because it is a French painter I have to do the math? Have I been magically transported overseas? Aren't we still in the U.S? And by the way, how many months have you had that paintiing? Obviously, I'm still only ready for window shopping and nothing more - but KB and I will definitely use the quote when we need some comic relief!
Read my other blogs at Silcon Valley Moms Blog under JB.
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