Occasionally, they deserve it..
Current mood: distressed
Category: Blogging
I had in my mind what I wanted to blog about earlier but meh.. This pregnancy is eating my brains! I will say however, that I have mistaken this behbeh for a quiet little wallflower..
Last night while enjoying my regular hot shower in which I pamper myself wiffs all my scrubs and oils, I was reaching over for my shampoo when I received a sucker punch to my right side.. - It startled the shit outta me! Lol.. I even cried out loud, you know, like you do when you think somethings hurting you and then you sit back and realize you're not really in any pain and then you feel like a dumbass? Lmao.. I even dropped to my knees like I was taking cover from something! It was just the one kick but I don't recall ever being kicked before with such force.. And especially for a tiny little thing as it is now! I tried provoking another kick for the rest of the night but to no avail ?
On a more serious note, Pedro is gone to Iraq for a few days for a tech conference for work.. Not something either of us is relishing.. And before he left this morning I was under the impression that he'd be there all week – maybe even for two.. So I've been pretty down in the dumps about it. I was also upset because that meant I was going to have to postpone my big prenatal appointment on the 3rd. But yes, before he left he told me he'd be coming back Thursday night.. And then he made some off color joke about me receiving one of those bad DoD letters.. That's when my hormones go the best of me and I broke our hands-off policy and smacked him one! Like.. what a retard! What a thing to say to your pregnant wife.. Anyway, even though he deserved it I was immediately mortified.. Luckily he laughed it off – although still in disbelief by just being slapped – and we had a good good-bye.. I just hope he doesn't freeze his ass off sleeping in those tents.. Poor guys over there! I wanted to send some cookies with him for the soldiers but he had his suitcase and Kevlar to lug around so.. I guess I can just do it through the mail..
Anyway, bout time for the Taters to wake up from her beauty rest so I better jet.. I painted her nails hot pink yesterday and she is so adorable about it! She stops what she's doing sometimes to blow on her fingers.. Love havin' a girl!
January 29, 2008
January 25, 2008
Gettin' Up There (week 18)
Gettin’ Up There..
Current mood: calm
Category: Blogging
Wewt! Up to week 18 now! It's still a long way off so that's why I've toned it down with the weekly updates.. It makes me feel like this pregnancy is taking forever.. and I haven't even reached the half way mark yet! I'm starting to get all fluttery @ the thought of my appt on the third though.. I realize it could go either way but I've never felt so strongly before that this is what I think it is.. My mind is so wrapped up in boy thoughts.. Don't get me wrong, I'm just thrilled to be having a baby period - but this intuition is pretty strong..
Before I had kids I thought to myself that I hoped I never had any boys.. I can't tell you why exactly.. I suppose I thought they'd be ucky or tough to handle.. OF COURSE, now that I have a daughter I can tell you there is absolutely NO difference in the sexes when it comes to being yucky OR adorable/hilarious! Boys are just as much fun.. In fact, all the girly crap they have out there these days kinda nauseates me.. I can enjoy some of it but man, it's just sickly sweet overload! You know they're now making a freakin' throne for a toy?
(barbie/mattel makes it, go fig!) - What the hell are we trying to tell our daughters I wonder? It's gonna be a sad day for her when she gets her first highschool job slapping together club subs at Subway and taking out the trash before getting off shift @ 9:00pm..
Anyway, back to the baby (sheesh, I think I'm more scatterbrained this pregnancy than ever before) - It's week 18 and by this time the other two were working the bongo drums in my womb.. This behbeh kicks but no where as often.. I'm hoping this'll be my calm baby.. Drake has his bursts of energy throughout the day and Tatum is just non-stop.. It'd be great to have a mellow kid around to even things out..
Other than that, I'm putting the finishing touches on my registry.. I think all I need to do is find out the gender to put a few other specific things on there but on the whole this baby isn't going to need much.. I'm determined not to have a ton of baby crap and to get things that are slim-lined and/or multi-use.. With the logistics of traveling and carting around three children looming, I have to be on my game and not bogged down by gear..
Today, I did make my first baby-thing purchase though. I know I'm going to need a new playard.. My old one is still functional but it's kind of bulky and just a plain ol playard.. I wanted a newer smaller one with a bassinet so I can keep it bedside the first few months til baby can sleep through the night.. SO, I bought the one I had picked out on my registry.. Well, actually I picked a nice cherry color but that was out of stock - but they had the same model in an Aqua color and it was $33 dollars off so I snatched that one up, better belive!
I think I'm really going to like it.. Another plus is that it's getting shipped directly to my APO address.. I didn't have to go through my shipitAPO address (which always ends up costing twice the shipping price but in most cases is STILL cheaper than buying baby crap over here! I don't know why baby stuff is so expensive over here but if it's an American product you best believe you'll be paying out the ass.. F that noise!). I think this Aqua one will actually go a lot better with the nursery theme I have in mind (which I will reveal after my ultrasound.. I just have to settle on a fabric choice).
I did had a bassinet for D & T but I pretty much gave ALL my baby gear away to the salvation army.. I really didn't plan on having another kid for another 5 years at least and by then they would have came out with all kinds of cool new baby shizz.. All I have left is some special/expensive clothes I love, my bath sling, my baby carrier sling and my boppy pillow.. Other than that, I'm starting fresh..
Next I'm going to go ahead and get my Joovy Caboose Ultralight Double Stroller
- which I know will have to go through SIAPO but at least it's an Amazon Prime item and the initial shipping will be free. (Btw, internet shoppers, I highly suggest getting an Amazon Prime membership.. It's only $75 for the whole year and you're able to get a lot of items shipped free *if it says "prime" on the product page* OR/& you can get a lot of items upgraded to two day shipping for free.. It's been a life saver for me, an admitted Amazonaholic). I'm also going to get my crib, which will be a bit expensive to ship but A.) it STILL won't be as expensive as the cribs over here adn B.) the cribs over here suck! They're not height adjustable and sit so high, once baby is able to pull themselves up they'll be falling out of it in no time! I'd rather get a simple convertible crib that I can use for early toddler years.. Then when they get a little older and develop some taste they can pick out their own big people bed..
Anyway, that's my deal the past few days.. Just been wrapped up with the whats and hows.. Now, I'm going to go have a spoonful of frosting and enjoy the last hour of naptime before I have to take the kids outside to play and do crafts.. I think it's a sidewalk chalk/play-doh kinda day.. Toodles!
Wewt! Up to week 18 now! It's still a long way off so that's why I've toned it down with the weekly updates.. It makes me feel like this pregnancy is taking forever.. and I haven't even reached the half way mark yet! I'm starting to get all fluttery @ the thought of my appt on the third though.. I realize it could go either way but I've never felt so strongly before that this is what I think it is.. My mind is so wrapped up in boy thoughts.. Don't get me wrong, I'm just thrilled to be having a baby period - but this intuition is pretty strong..
Before I had kids I thought to myself that I hoped I never had any boys.. I can't tell you why exactly.. I suppose I thought they'd be ucky or tough to handle.. OF COURSE, now that I have a daughter I can tell you there is absolutely NO difference in the sexes when it comes to being yucky OR adorable/hilarious! Boys are just as much fun.. In fact, all the girly crap they have out there these days kinda nauseates me.. I can enjoy some of it but man, it's just sickly sweet overload! You know they're now making a freakin' throne for a toy?
(barbie/mattel makes it, go fig!) - What the hell are we trying to tell our daughters I wonder? It's gonna be a sad day for her when she gets her first highschool job slapping together club subs at Subway and taking out the trash before getting off shift @ 9:00pm..
Anyway, back to the baby (sheesh, I think I'm more scatterbrained this pregnancy than ever before) - It's week 18 and by this time the other two were working the bongo drums in my womb.. This behbeh kicks but no where as often.. I'm hoping this'll be my calm baby.. Drake has his bursts of energy throughout the day and Tatum is just non-stop.. It'd be great to have a mellow kid around to even things out..
Other than that, I'm putting the finishing touches on my registry.. I think all I need to do is find out the gender to put a few other specific things on there but on the whole this baby isn't going to need much.. I'm determined not to have a ton of baby crap and to get things that are slim-lined and/or multi-use.. With the logistics of traveling and carting around three children looming, I have to be on my game and not bogged down by gear..
Today, I did make my first baby-thing purchase though. I know I'm going to need a new playard.. My old one is still functional but it's kind of bulky and just a plain ol playard.. I wanted a newer smaller one with a bassinet so I can keep it bedside the first few months til baby can sleep through the night.. SO, I bought the one I had picked out on my registry.. Well, actually I picked a nice cherry color but that was out of stock - but they had the same model in an Aqua color and it was $33 dollars off so I snatched that one up, better belive!
I think I'm really going to like it.. Another plus is that it's getting shipped directly to my APO address.. I didn't have to go through my shipitAPO address (which always ends up costing twice the shipping price but in most cases is STILL cheaper than buying baby crap over here! I don't know why baby stuff is so expensive over here but if it's an American product you best believe you'll be paying out the ass.. F that noise!). I think this Aqua one will actually go a lot better with the nursery theme I have in mind (which I will reveal after my ultrasound.. I just have to settle on a fabric choice).
I did had a bassinet for D & T but I pretty much gave ALL my baby gear away to the salvation army.. I really didn't plan on having another kid for another 5 years at least and by then they would have came out with all kinds of cool new baby shizz.. All I have left is some special/expensive clothes I love, my bath sling, my baby carrier sling and my boppy pillow.. Other than that, I'm starting fresh..
Next I'm going to go ahead and get my Joovy Caboose Ultralight Double Stroller
- which I know will have to go through SIAPO but at least it's an Amazon Prime item and the initial shipping will be free. (Btw, internet shoppers, I highly suggest getting an Amazon Prime membership.. It's only $75 for the whole year and you're able to get a lot of items shipped free *if it says "prime" on the product page* OR/& you can get a lot of items upgraded to two day shipping for free.. It's been a life saver for me, an admitted Amazonaholic). I'm also going to get my crib, which will be a bit expensive to ship but A.) it STILL won't be as expensive as the cribs over here adn B.) the cribs over here suck! They're not height adjustable and sit so high, once baby is able to pull themselves up they'll be falling out of it in no time! I'd rather get a simple convertible crib that I can use for early toddler years.. Then when they get a little older and develop some taste they can pick out their own big people bed..
Anyway, that's my deal the past few days.. Just been wrapped up with the whats and hows.. Now, I'm going to go have a spoonful of frosting and enjoy the last hour of naptime before I have to take the kids outside to play and do crafts.. I think it's a sidewalk chalk/play-doh kinda day.. Toodles!
Heath Ledger & Misguided Christians
Heath Ledger and Misguided Christians
Current mood: disappointed
Category: Religion and Philosophy
I've been keeping up with the news lately (for a change – I'm a very sporadic news watcher) and I have been following the Heath Ledger story as I'm sure some of you have.. He was a great actor of our time and his presence will be missed.. It's always shocking when someone goes right at their prime.. It's a sad topic but I think what's even more saddening is all the press that certain religious groups are getting for "boycotting" his upcoming funeral and all making their own dissertations on whether this guy is on his way to hell or not.. [all this being sparked because of the fact that he played a homosexual in a very popular film - in case you're wondering wth I'm talking about.. I'm pretty sure everyone knows though!] I really hate it when things like this come out and start to happen.. As a Christian, it deeply disturbs and angers me that these people like to say they're speaking on behalf of all of us.. All organizations have their small cells of "loonies" and unfortch, they're usually the ones that make the headlines.. Christians have'em, Muslims definitely have'em.. Heck, even PETA has'em.. But what is most maddening to me, is that from a Christian standpoint – these few radicals are completely in the wrong.. Not only is their behavior appalling from a modernistic societies POV - It is the complete OPPOSITE of the Christian way to judge others.. (Let He who is without sin cast the first stone.. Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged.. any of this a'ringin' a bell?!? ) - It isn't up to us to say whether or not someone is going to hell or heaven.. That isn't our job, and none of us are anywhere NEAR being that infallible to make such a decision. This is why we believe in God people! And I don't know about you, but my God is a merciful one.. he doesn't hate homosexuals.. It's a complex subject in that department to be sure but I truly believe he loves us all.. There's all these people who want to control and govern the way others live but the only life you can truly run is your own.. And I think that's just what we should stick to.. It's part of our unique human nature to judge but it should at the very least be kept to ourselves.. They forget that there are people who loved this man and are grieving for him.. Being spiteful and hateful at such a fragile moment just destroys the good reputation that I think most Christians deserve.. It's not fair and I wish that people didn't associate something so unloving and cruel with something that I hold dear in my life.. I know peoples preconceived notions about Christians – I used to be a skeptic.. I can tell you it isn't good.. Alls I can do about that is march on and keep living my life as a decent, compassionate human being.. I don't preach but golly, if anyone ever wants to talk I'm all ears and mouth.. RIP Heath Ledger.. I hope you now have the solace you couldn't seem to find in this life..
I've been keeping up with the news lately (for a change – I'm a very sporadic news watcher) and I have been following the Heath Ledger story as I'm sure some of you have.. He was a great actor of our time and his presence will be missed.. It's always shocking when someone goes right at their prime.. It's a sad topic but I think what's even more saddening is all the press that certain religious groups are getting for "boycotting" his upcoming funeral and all making their own dissertations on whether this guy is on his way to hell or not.. [all this being sparked because of the fact that he played a homosexual in a very popular film - in case you're wondering wth I'm talking about.. I'm pretty sure everyone knows though!] I really hate it when things like this come out and start to happen.. As a Christian, it deeply disturbs and angers me that these people like to say they're speaking on behalf of all of us.. All organizations have their small cells of "loonies" and unfortch, they're usually the ones that make the headlines.. Christians have'em, Muslims definitely have'em.. Heck, even PETA has'em.. But what is most maddening to me, is that from a Christian standpoint – these few radicals are completely in the wrong.. Not only is their behavior appalling from a modernistic societies POV - It is the complete OPPOSITE of the Christian way to judge others.. (Let He who is without sin cast the first stone.. Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged.. any of this a'ringin' a bell?!? ) - It isn't up to us to say whether or not someone is going to hell or heaven.. That isn't our job, and none of us are anywhere NEAR being that infallible to make such a decision. This is why we believe in God people! And I don't know about you, but my God is a merciful one.. he doesn't hate homosexuals.. It's a complex subject in that department to be sure but I truly believe he loves us all.. There's all these people who want to control and govern the way others live but the only life you can truly run is your own.. And I think that's just what we should stick to.. It's part of our unique human nature to judge but it should at the very least be kept to ourselves.. They forget that there are people who loved this man and are grieving for him.. Being spiteful and hateful at such a fragile moment just destroys the good reputation that I think most Christians deserve.. It's not fair and I wish that people didn't associate something so unloving and cruel with something that I hold dear in my life.. I know peoples preconceived notions about Christians – I used to be a skeptic.. I can tell you it isn't good.. Alls I can do about that is march on and keep living my life as a decent, compassionate human being.. I don't preach but golly, if anyone ever wants to talk I'm all ears and mouth.. RIP Heath Ledger.. I hope you now have the solace you couldn't seem to find in this life..
January 21, 2008
I Wish We Could Keep Our Kid Heart..
I Wish We Could Keep Our Kid Heart..
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life
Something this morning made me want to cry.. it could have been part hormones but more than that I think it was that ever confusing jumble of sadness AND happiness that someone can feel @ the same time.. First a little backdrop. Yet again, over here in Kuwait, there is a fucked up way how things work.. I've mentioned before that all of the manual laborers here are TCN's (3rd Country Nationals – Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and the like..). Every morning you see these men, in their little yellow jumpsuits, bundled up in threadbare scarves and gothbas, sweeping up sand and trash from the curbsides of busy roads.. My attitude towards them is akin to my attitude towards homeless.. Regrettably sympathetic.. But unlike (most) homeless, I respect them because they have jobs and are doing their part to support their families.. They brave the harsh desert elements and sometimes barbaric treatment for what amounts to pittance to you and me.. I respect them, but I can't bring myself to look them in their eyes.. Part of it is not wanting to make them feel ashamed about what they're doing or who they are.. Part of it is the large spectrum I see between me and them.. Why should I be so lucky to have been born where I was? The most any of us do usually is hand over a couple hundred fils so that they might have a decent snack during their strenuous day.. As soon as you drive off though, how amazing it is how quickly you forget that moment.. What's even more sad is that some of us have such an air of self-importance about us.. I see some assholes throw shit out of their car right in front of these guys.. I'm sure I'm completely wrong in assuming this is what goes through EVERYONE's mind when they encounter the impoverished.. Especially in this place where its an everyday occurrence and they're so easily brushed aside.. Worse yet, I can't truthfully say that I think about the welfare of these people nearly as often as I come into contact with them.. It's easy to get wrapped up in this place, meaning, wrapped up in yourself.. But this morning, as I was driving Tatum to school – there was one of these men right near our car, doing his job, sweeping the road.. This is something Tatum does often but today I actually watched her and took it all in.. No matter who it may be – be they American soldiers she sees @ Camp Arifjan, a random Kuwaiti stopped @ a red light, a Filipino waiter, or a TCN worker on the side of the street – She musters up the cutest smile and waves incessantly, shouting, "Hi! Hello! Hi!" - until she gets some kind of response.. Usually she gets a smile and a wave back.. Then as we pull away she softly yet cheerfully says, "Bye! Buh byes!" What I wouldn't give to go back to a time when I saw everyone as true equals.. EVERYONE deserves a morning smile.. No matter what corner of the world they hail from.. No matter what they look like.. No matter what they do for a living.. No matter how much money is in their pocket.. If we all had our kid hearts again.. The world would be what it should..
Something this morning made me want to cry.. it could have been part hormones but more than that I think it was that ever confusing jumble of sadness AND happiness that someone can feel @ the same time.. First a little backdrop. Yet again, over here in Kuwait, there is a fucked up way how things work.. I've mentioned before that all of the manual laborers here are TCN's (3rd Country Nationals – Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and the like..). Every morning you see these men, in their little yellow jumpsuits, bundled up in threadbare scarves and gothbas, sweeping up sand and trash from the curbsides of busy roads.. My attitude towards them is akin to my attitude towards homeless.. Regrettably sympathetic.. But unlike (most) homeless, I respect them because they have jobs and are doing their part to support their families.. They brave the harsh desert elements and sometimes barbaric treatment for what amounts to pittance to you and me.. I respect them, but I can't bring myself to look them in their eyes.. Part of it is not wanting to make them feel ashamed about what they're doing or who they are.. Part of it is the large spectrum I see between me and them.. Why should I be so lucky to have been born where I was? The most any of us do usually is hand over a couple hundred fils so that they might have a decent snack during their strenuous day.. As soon as you drive off though, how amazing it is how quickly you forget that moment.. What's even more sad is that some of us have such an air of self-importance about us.. I see some assholes throw shit out of their car right in front of these guys.. I'm sure I'm completely wrong in assuming this is what goes through EVERYONE's mind when they encounter the impoverished.. Especially in this place where its an everyday occurrence and they're so easily brushed aside.. Worse yet, I can't truthfully say that I think about the welfare of these people nearly as often as I come into contact with them.. It's easy to get wrapped up in this place, meaning, wrapped up in yourself.. But this morning, as I was driving Tatum to school – there was one of these men right near our car, doing his job, sweeping the road.. This is something Tatum does often but today I actually watched her and took it all in.. No matter who it may be – be they American soldiers she sees @ Camp Arifjan, a random Kuwaiti stopped @ a red light, a Filipino waiter, or a TCN worker on the side of the street – She musters up the cutest smile and waves incessantly, shouting, "Hi! Hello! Hi!" - until she gets some kind of response.. Usually she gets a smile and a wave back.. Then as we pull away she softly yet cheerfully says, "Bye! Buh byes!" What I wouldn't give to go back to a time when I saw everyone as true equals.. EVERYONE deserves a morning smile.. No matter what corner of the world they hail from.. No matter what they look like.. No matter what they do for a living.. No matter how much money is in their pocket.. If we all had our kid hearts again.. The world would be what it should..
Just A Blueberry Day..
Just a Blueberry Day..
Current mood: blah
Category: Blogging
First of all – today I broke the cardinal rule of grocery shopping.. I went hungry.. All I had this morning was coffee so, it was totally my fault.. I was just in a time crunch today because I actually, for the first time in awhile, got the kids ready for school completely by myself.. (Usually how it goes is I pick out the kids clothes, Teresa (my maid) changes the kids/puts on their socks&shoes/combs their hair/and gives them their morning cup of milk – While she does this I usually pack their breakfasts and lunches for the day and do my makeup.. and sometime in between I put them on the potty and brush their teeth) Ever since getting back from vacation though Tatum has been throwing the biggest shit fits in the morning because she doesn't want Teresa coming anywhere near her.. And Drake, sadly, has never really liked Teresa much to begin with.. (I have no idea why, she's such a nice soft-spoken lady – never loud or rough with the kids.. In fact, she tears up when we discipline them in front of her). So to skip out on morning scream fests I think I'll do all the changing and do what I can to prepare the night beforehand.. Well that went WAY off topic! Oh well, got it off my chest.. It's something that's been bugging me lately.. I hate hearing a toddler scream their head off first thing in the morning.. SO – I was hungry @ the Sultan Center.. And maybe it was a subconscious craving (I sure wasn't cognicent of it @ the time) but as I was driving home I realized the crazy amount of blueberry shit I had just bought.. And go fig, I bought everything BUT real blueberries.. A ½ pint of fresh blueberries here is an astronomical $15+ - F*CK that! But anyway.. I got blueberry cobbler coffee creamer, blueberry muffin mix, a blueberry jelly filled doughnut, a low fat Otis spunkmier blueberry muffin, blueberry pie filling AND a blueberry apricot facial scrub! LOL WTF? Downright bizarre, but I wasn't even thinking about it when I was buying it all.. Honestly I was feeling like utter and complete shit so all I was thinking about was eating my muffin and doughnut on the way home – hahaha! Okay – so that was my non-sensical blog of the day.. What's yours? :P
First of all – today I broke the cardinal rule of grocery shopping.. I went hungry.. All I had this morning was coffee so, it was totally my fault.. I was just in a time crunch today because I actually, for the first time in awhile, got the kids ready for school completely by myself.. (Usually how it goes is I pick out the kids clothes, Teresa (my maid) changes the kids/puts on their socks&shoes/combs their hair/and gives them their morning cup of milk – While she does this I usually pack their breakfasts and lunches for the day and do my makeup.. and sometime in between I put them on the potty and brush their teeth) Ever since getting back from vacation though Tatum has been throwing the biggest shit fits in the morning because she doesn't want Teresa coming anywhere near her.. And Drake, sadly, has never really liked Teresa much to begin with.. (I have no idea why, she's such a nice soft-spoken lady – never loud or rough with the kids.. In fact, she tears up when we discipline them in front of her). So to skip out on morning scream fests I think I'll do all the changing and do what I can to prepare the night beforehand.. Well that went WAY off topic! Oh well, got it off my chest.. It's something that's been bugging me lately.. I hate hearing a toddler scream their head off first thing in the morning.. SO – I was hungry @ the Sultan Center.. And maybe it was a subconscious craving (I sure wasn't cognicent of it @ the time) but as I was driving home I realized the crazy amount of blueberry shit I had just bought.. And go fig, I bought everything BUT real blueberries.. A ½ pint of fresh blueberries here is an astronomical $15+ - F*CK that! But anyway.. I got blueberry cobbler coffee creamer, blueberry muffin mix, a blueberry jelly filled doughnut, a low fat Otis spunkmier blueberry muffin, blueberry pie filling AND a blueberry apricot facial scrub! LOL WTF? Downright bizarre, but I wasn't even thinking about it when I was buying it all.. Honestly I was feeling like utter and complete shit so all I was thinking about was eating my muffin and doughnut on the way home – hahaha! Okay – so that was my non-sensical blog of the day.. What's yours? :P
I Hate My Pregnant Nose!
I hate my pregnant nose!
Current mood: irritated
Category: Blogging
I'm currently suffering from that lovely side-symptom of pregnancy called "rhinitis" - I've got the works.. Stuffy nose, broken capillaries (ie; bloody snot), sneezing, congestion.. I'm in desperate need of a humidifier.. I wonder if a cold one will do.. oh well, I'll take what I can get.. Maybe that's why I'm especially lovin' my hot showers these days.. But in addition to that I'm also quite sensitive to smells.. Which you wouldn't figure with such an effed up nose @ present.. I wouldn't say I'm one of those hypersensitive pregnant women.. I don't go vomiting everywhere @ the slightest smell.. I'm usually able to hold my shit down (except for the ONE time I threw up while pregnant with Tatum due to an adverse reaction to a pumpkin room spray I got @ Bath & Body Works.. to this day I hate that smell.. sad..).. Anyway, what I was getting @ is I feel kinda bad for Pedro cause lately here I've been telling him how bad he smells to me.. Lol! I'm always telling him to change his clothes or take a shower or brush his teeth again.. And then still, when he comes to kiss and/or hug on me (which is like, every 15 minutes these days) I have to tell him not to breathe on me.. Lol - and then yesterday when we were going out to eat with the kids we got into the car and I started whining about how it smelled like summer sausage in there.. This kinda sucks! I always thought that pregnant women who bitched about smells were just embellishing! I havent' really had this problem before, save for the bad room spray.. Whatever it is I hope it goes away! I want my old nose back.. This one is like.. burning! /cue the deep bellowy preggy growl
I'm currently suffering from that lovely side-symptom of pregnancy called "rhinitis" - I've got the works.. Stuffy nose, broken capillaries (ie; bloody snot), sneezing, congestion.. I'm in desperate need of a humidifier.. I wonder if a cold one will do.. oh well, I'll take what I can get.. Maybe that's why I'm especially lovin' my hot showers these days.. But in addition to that I'm also quite sensitive to smells.. Which you wouldn't figure with such an effed up nose @ present.. I wouldn't say I'm one of those hypersensitive pregnant women.. I don't go vomiting everywhere @ the slightest smell.. I'm usually able to hold my shit down (except for the ONE time I threw up while pregnant with Tatum due to an adverse reaction to a pumpkin room spray I got @ Bath & Body Works.. to this day I hate that smell.. sad..).. Anyway, what I was getting @ is I feel kinda bad for Pedro cause lately here I've been telling him how bad he smells to me.. Lol! I'm always telling him to change his clothes or take a shower or brush his teeth again.. And then still, when he comes to kiss and/or hug on me (which is like, every 15 minutes these days) I have to tell him not to breathe on me.. Lol - and then yesterday when we were going out to eat with the kids we got into the car and I started whining about how it smelled like summer sausage in there.. This kinda sucks! I always thought that pregnant women who bitched about smells were just embellishing! I havent' really had this problem before, save for the bad room spray.. Whatever it is I hope it goes away! I want my old nose back.. This one is like.. burning! /cue the deep bellowy preggy growl
January 18, 2008
I'll Go Straight Up George Banks on Your Ass!
I’ll go straight up George Banks on your Ass!
Current mood: pissy
Category: Blogging
(That was a toss out to "Father of the Bride" – If you haven't seen it, DO)
I'm not a mean-spirited person, nor do I go looking to stir up trouble.. But excess hormones can really tip you over the edge @ times.. I don't know why, but it seems as if there's this huge paradox that envelopes this place. For friendly service I'd rate Kuwait a 10, but as far as common sense practices and other small things of seemingly insignificant nature (that you'd expect to not be a problem in most places), I'm afraid they rate pretty damn poorly..
Example: Today after leaving Baroue, me and the kids were tired and thirsty from all the running around they did. There's a nice smoothie shop called D'Lush right adjacent to Baroue so I stopped in there to get us a little slushy treat..
I ordered two drinks, one for me and the other I intended to split between the kids because their "small" is actually a good sized medium.. I asked the cashier if she could split one of the drinks into two small cups and she told me she couldn't. I figured maybe she didn't understand me correctly and I asked her again, "You mean, you can't give me an extra cup? I mean, I'll do it myself..". She says, "No maam, it's against store policy.". I understand an employee not wanting to go against the boss but c'mon – you see I have two small children here and it's just one cup! Use some common sense! Make a judgment call..
I told her that it was a pretty stupid store policy and then she quickly set to work making the drinks. Luckily I had two sippy cups with straws with me. They had some really thick mango juice in them still but I went over to the counter with all the straws and napkins and began cleaning them out.. In this process I used half the napkins and I made very sure to be as obnoxious as I could about it – doing it in plain view of the woman.
She handed over the two drinks and I uncarefully split one between the sippy cups.. After handing those to the kids I used the rest of the napkins to clean up the sundries counter. I turned back to her and told her "If you had just given me the extra cup I wouldn't have had to use all these napkins up.. You see I have two kids here – You could have helped me out.. This is the LAST time I ever come to this shop..". And with that her jaw dropped and the kids and I happily slurped our way to the car..
In retrospect, this seems pretty darn bitchy – maybe even uncalled for but what can I say? Moments like these are few and far between for me but sometimes, something really tiny is all it takes.. I usually try and keep in mind that these people, the civil workers here, get treated like crap by Kuwaitis 24/7 so I don't try and give a hard time when it isn't due.
Something I've noticed though is like, if I'm dealing with a Filipino worker (like today) – they're more by-the-book and less likely to accommodate smaller needs you may have. Every Lebanese waiter/cashier I've ever dealt with has been super nice and flexible.. If I need something done for my kids (ex; get a plain chicken breast instead of the breaded kind on the kids menus – which they can't have), there's no argument - (btw, Lebanese people seem CRAZY about kids – the kids constantly get freebies and sweets when we go out to eat and have a Lebanese waiter – Tatum also shamelessly flirts with them).
I realize this probably sounds incredibly racist but it isn't meant to – it's just the facts of life over here.. This also probably sounds pretty weird but most of the "social" civil workers (ie; foodservice & retail) are either Lebanese or Filipino.. I don't know why, it's just how it is. I also think that Lebanese folks get paid considerably more than the rest because they're actually Arabs.. Every one else gets paid pretty poorly.. (I think "minimum wage" here is 50KD = $185.. A *month*)
The manual labor force is primarily made up of Indians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankans.. Of course there are exceptions to every generalization and I'm not saying EVERY Indian or Filipinos is a poor and/or undereducated worker.. I have friends of all these nationalities and I can tell you there are intelligent successful people from all heritages/corners of the world.. But still, in Kuwait, if you aren't Arab or Western you're pretty much treated like a third-class citizen.. It's pretty darn depressing..
Anyway, well, that went off on a tangent but I guess I just wanted to explain a little bit how the system works over here.. I really do try and keep my temper under wraps by remembering how incredibly hard some of these people have it.. @ the same time I also expect discretion depending on the circumstance and a little common sense.. If I was at home I wouldn't put up with the same crap but at the time it'd be worth my while to speak my mind there because I know that someone who's trying to sell something will do everything in their power to keep a good customer spending money..
Oh well. I guess it's just that sense of "wrong" and "right" that I really miss and that's what sparks my rants.. We've got it pretty good @ home.. I just hope everyone realizes that.. In closing, pray for the next person that pisses me off.. I don't see an end to my sporadic grouchiness anytime soon..
(That was a toss out to "Father of the Bride" – If you haven't seen it, DO)
I'm not a mean-spirited person, nor do I go looking to stir up trouble.. But excess hormones can really tip you over the edge @ times.. I don't know why, but it seems as if there's this huge paradox that envelopes this place. For friendly service I'd rate Kuwait a 10, but as far as common sense practices and other small things of seemingly insignificant nature (that you'd expect to not be a problem in most places), I'm afraid they rate pretty damn poorly..
Example: Today after leaving Baroue, me and the kids were tired and thirsty from all the running around they did. There's a nice smoothie shop called D'Lush right adjacent to Baroue so I stopped in there to get us a little slushy treat..
I ordered two drinks, one for me and the other I intended to split between the kids because their "small" is actually a good sized medium.. I asked the cashier if she could split one of the drinks into two small cups and she told me she couldn't. I figured maybe she didn't understand me correctly and I asked her again, "You mean, you can't give me an extra cup? I mean, I'll do it myself..". She says, "No maam, it's against store policy.". I understand an employee not wanting to go against the boss but c'mon – you see I have two small children here and it's just one cup! Use some common sense! Make a judgment call..
I told her that it was a pretty stupid store policy and then she quickly set to work making the drinks. Luckily I had two sippy cups with straws with me. They had some really thick mango juice in them still but I went over to the counter with all the straws and napkins and began cleaning them out.. In this process I used half the napkins and I made very sure to be as obnoxious as I could about it – doing it in plain view of the woman.
She handed over the two drinks and I uncarefully split one between the sippy cups.. After handing those to the kids I used the rest of the napkins to clean up the sundries counter. I turned back to her and told her "If you had just given me the extra cup I wouldn't have had to use all these napkins up.. You see I have two kids here – You could have helped me out.. This is the LAST time I ever come to this shop..". And with that her jaw dropped and the kids and I happily slurped our way to the car..
In retrospect, this seems pretty darn bitchy – maybe even uncalled for but what can I say? Moments like these are few and far between for me but sometimes, something really tiny is all it takes.. I usually try and keep in mind that these people, the civil workers here, get treated like crap by Kuwaitis 24/7 so I don't try and give a hard time when it isn't due.
Something I've noticed though is like, if I'm dealing with a Filipino worker (like today) – they're more by-the-book and less likely to accommodate smaller needs you may have. Every Lebanese waiter/cashier I've ever dealt with has been super nice and flexible.. If I need something done for my kids (ex; get a plain chicken breast instead of the breaded kind on the kids menus – which they can't have), there's no argument - (btw, Lebanese people seem CRAZY about kids – the kids constantly get freebies and sweets when we go out to eat and have a Lebanese waiter – Tatum also shamelessly flirts with them).
I realize this probably sounds incredibly racist but it isn't meant to – it's just the facts of life over here.. This also probably sounds pretty weird but most of the "social" civil workers (ie; foodservice & retail) are either Lebanese or Filipino.. I don't know why, it's just how it is. I also think that Lebanese folks get paid considerably more than the rest because they're actually Arabs.. Every one else gets paid pretty poorly.. (I think "minimum wage" here is 50KD = $185.. A *month*)
The manual labor force is primarily made up of Indians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankans.. Of course there are exceptions to every generalization and I'm not saying EVERY Indian or Filipinos is a poor and/or undereducated worker.. I have friends of all these nationalities and I can tell you there are intelligent successful people from all heritages/corners of the world.. But still, in Kuwait, if you aren't Arab or Western you're pretty much treated like a third-class citizen.. It's pretty darn depressing..
Anyway, well, that went off on a tangent but I guess I just wanted to explain a little bit how the system works over here.. I really do try and keep my temper under wraps by remembering how incredibly hard some of these people have it.. @ the same time I also expect discretion depending on the circumstance and a little common sense.. If I was at home I wouldn't put up with the same crap but at the time it'd be worth my while to speak my mind there because I know that someone who's trying to sell something will do everything in their power to keep a good customer spending money..
Oh well. I guess it's just that sense of "wrong" and "right" that I really miss and that's what sparks my rants.. We've got it pretty good @ home.. I just hope everyone realizes that.. In closing, pray for the next person that pisses me off.. I don't see an end to my sporadic grouchiness anytime soon..
January 16, 2008
Take A Look @ How We'll Be Making or Breaking Our Next Kid
Take a look @ how we’ll be making or breaking the next kid..
Current mood: full
Category: Life
I'm in my 5th month of pregnancy now - yays! I was thinking about it the other night, "When do you consider yourself to be in this month or that month?" - For me, being past the 16 week mark is the same as having been pregnant for 4 months so now I'm onto the 17th I'm just gonna go ahead and say 5.. it makes meh feel better! :P Sadly, I ain't nowhere near being even 50% done making this kid.. Late pregnancy takes FOREVER! Aaanyways - I get my next ultrasound (the big name determining one) in less than 3 weeks so I felt it was probably about time for me to reveal our narrowed down list of boy and girl names before I have to completely forget about the other set that will never be.. Of course none of this is set in stone but I've had these names in my head for quite sometime now.. I haven't ever looked through baby name books so there may potentially be something that catches my fancy in the future but for the time being - here goes For Girls We Like: * Storry - (I like Storriña but Pedro likes the shortened version I came up with better.. I've had this name for YEARS) - This is our main consideration * Scarlette * Vyvian - (Vyv Vazquez may sound/look a little wierd tho) * Briella - (this is my like only - Pedro hates it so it's not really up for consideration but I've been hangin' onto it for sometime..) ~ And our "standby" middle name for girls is "Mayree" - again, all my doing.. Pedro tolerates it tho :) And For Boys We Like: * Havenin - (Again, Pedro only likes my shortened version of "Haven" - He didn't like much that backwards it spelled "Ninevah". This is a stong choice for our boy name but it's also androgynous enough to be used for a girl..) * Remington - (In spite of ourselves we LOVE this name.. My grandmother loves it too cause it reminds her of "remington steel" - His nickname of course would be Remy.. Mmm, booze and firearms.. He'd love us! xD) * Talon - just always liked it.. even before fucking Laguna Beach! * Hunter - (Pedro and my Mother have always liked this one and I did too but I've lost my gravity towards it.. I wouldn't mind the shorter "Hunt") ~ And our "standby" middle name for boys is "Elijah" - Not my first pick but Pedro is adamant about it.. He likes it for a first name better but it's too ordinary for me.. Besides, his cousin already has a son with a similar name that they call "Eli" so.. meh.. Well there they are.. Love'em or leave'em.. I'm hoping that once I see they're little bum I'll have an epiphany and the right name will come blazing to the front of my mind.. We'll see.. In the meantime folks, stay cool.. Not hard to do right now is it? :)
I'm in my 5th month of pregnancy now - yays! I was thinking about it the other night, "When do you consider yourself to be in this month or that month?" - For me, being past the 16 week mark is the same as having been pregnant for 4 months so now I'm onto the 17th I'm just gonna go ahead and say 5.. it makes meh feel better! :P Sadly, I ain't nowhere near being even 50% done making this kid.. Late pregnancy takes FOREVER! Aaanyways - I get my next ultrasound (the big name determining one) in less than 3 weeks so I felt it was probably about time for me to reveal our narrowed down list of boy and girl names before I have to completely forget about the other set that will never be.. Of course none of this is set in stone but I've had these names in my head for quite sometime now.. I haven't ever looked through baby name books so there may potentially be something that catches my fancy in the future but for the time being - here goes For Girls We Like: * Storry - (I like Storriña but Pedro likes the shortened version I came up with better.. I've had this name for YEARS) - This is our main consideration * Scarlette * Vyvian - (Vyv Vazquez may sound/look a little wierd tho) * Briella - (this is my like only - Pedro hates it so it's not really up for consideration but I've been hangin' onto it for sometime..) ~ And our "standby" middle name for girls is "Mayree" - again, all my doing.. Pedro tolerates it tho :) And For Boys We Like: * Havenin - (Again, Pedro only likes my shortened version of "Haven" - He didn't like much that backwards it spelled "Ninevah". This is a stong choice for our boy name but it's also androgynous enough to be used for a girl..) * Remington - (In spite of ourselves we LOVE this name.. My grandmother loves it too cause it reminds her of "remington steel" - His nickname of course would be Remy.. Mmm, booze and firearms.. He'd love us! xD) * Talon - just always liked it.. even before fucking Laguna Beach! * Hunter - (Pedro and my Mother have always liked this one and I did too but I've lost my gravity towards it.. I wouldn't mind the shorter "Hunt") ~ And our "standby" middle name for boys is "Elijah" - Not my first pick but Pedro is adamant about it.. He likes it for a first name better but it's too ordinary for me.. Besides, his cousin already has a son with a similar name that they call "Eli" so.. meh.. Well there they are.. Love'em or leave'em.. I'm hoping that once I see they're little bum I'll have an epiphany and the right name will come blazing to the front of my mind.. We'll see.. In the meantime folks, stay cool.. Not hard to do right now is it? :)
January 15, 2008
Initiate Retroactive Blogs (aka Drake's Penis is Gonna Be OK)
I've been pretty lazy about relaying my blogs from my other site to this one.. I want to make this blog my more frequently posted one so I'm going through all the old ones and posting them retroactively so I hope it's not too confusing.. Here goes..
Drake’s Penis is gonna be OK
Current mood: sleepy
Category: Life
I didn't forwarn anyone cause I didn't want to cause any worry but Drake went into surgery this morning to have a smegalen cyst removed from his penis.. Yes that sounds completely weird and semi-made up but the other night Pedro and I noticed, while giving the kids a bath, that underneath Drake's penis was a small glob of white stuff under the skin. We thought it might me an infection so we took him in the next morning. The consulting pediatric surgeon told us that sometimes in the case of little boys who aren't circumcised, a buildup of sebum can collect under the foreskin that isn't yet retractable. (Sebum is a natural secretion all bodies make to lubricate sensitive skin, it mainly consists of fats and other cellular materials).
He said it isn't likely to be causing him any discomfort but if not removed it could continue to buildup and cause an infection in the process. He said for such a sensitive removal he'd have to go under general anesthesia so that meant I'd have to bring him in the next morning before he'd eaten or drunk anything.
Poor baby got his blood drawn, two shots and an IV.. He was also NOT a happy camper about wearing the hospital gown.. He fussed alot but that's kind of normal for him.. He's extremely weary of hospitals and doctors after more than his share of ER visits.. We had to stay pretty much all day there and wait for him to pass urine, which must have been pretty painful for him but he did it and has been doing so successfully all night.. His peepee is a little swollen but otherwise looks just the same.. I don't have it in me to pull back the skin to see more clearly.. We'll wait a week or so on that. You can also see the marks where they did the local anesthetic /shudder.. Poor little guy. He's a trooper though and back in good spirits.. I think he's well enough to send back to school tomorrow so we'll see how that goes.. I can always pick him up early..
Anyway, I hope all my parental compatriots who have uncircumcised sons keep that weather eye out and don't have to deal with messes like this.. They [incidences as such] are kind of unusual.. Foreskin is afterall, a natural occurance. I opted out of the slice and dice for many good reasons (I feel) and have had to field my share of doubts on it by many another mother. The way I see it is, if we're not circumcising our daughters (which would be horrendous) why should we do our sons the disservice? Oh well, neither here nor there but I hope all your sons, snipped or not - are healthy and remain so..
Drake’s Penis is gonna be OK
Current mood: sleepy
Category: Life
I didn't forwarn anyone cause I didn't want to cause any worry but Drake went into surgery this morning to have a smegalen cyst removed from his penis.. Yes that sounds completely weird and semi-made up but the other night Pedro and I noticed, while giving the kids a bath, that underneath Drake's penis was a small glob of white stuff under the skin. We thought it might me an infection so we took him in the next morning. The consulting pediatric surgeon told us that sometimes in the case of little boys who aren't circumcised, a buildup of sebum can collect under the foreskin that isn't yet retractable. (Sebum is a natural secretion all bodies make to lubricate sensitive skin, it mainly consists of fats and other cellular materials).
He said it isn't likely to be causing him any discomfort but if not removed it could continue to buildup and cause an infection in the process. He said for such a sensitive removal he'd have to go under general anesthesia so that meant I'd have to bring him in the next morning before he'd eaten or drunk anything.
Poor baby got his blood drawn, two shots and an IV.. He was also NOT a happy camper about wearing the hospital gown.. He fussed alot but that's kind of normal for him.. He's extremely weary of hospitals and doctors after more than his share of ER visits.. We had to stay pretty much all day there and wait for him to pass urine, which must have been pretty painful for him but he did it and has been doing so successfully all night.. His peepee is a little swollen but otherwise looks just the same.. I don't have it in me to pull back the skin to see more clearly.. We'll wait a week or so on that. You can also see the marks where they did the local anesthetic /shudder.. Poor little guy. He's a trooper though and back in good spirits.. I think he's well enough to send back to school tomorrow so we'll see how that goes.. I can always pick him up early..
Anyway, I hope all my parental compatriots who have uncircumcised sons keep that weather eye out and don't have to deal with messes like this.. They [incidences as such] are kind of unusual.. Foreskin is afterall, a natural occurance. I opted out of the slice and dice for many good reasons (I feel) and have had to field my share of doubts on it by many another mother. The way I see it is, if we're not circumcising our daughters (which would be horrendous) why should we do our sons the disservice? Oh well, neither here nor there but I hope all your sons, snipped or not - are healthy and remain so..
January 11, 2008
What is Southern?
In the latest issue of Gourmet magazine, I read an unpublished essay by reknown chef, cookbook author and food writer - Edna Lewis. Forwarding this essay was a mini biography of her written by Gourmet editor Ruth Riechl and she sounds like a pretty amazing woman. A poor black southern girl who left her home @ age 16 to become one of the most influential southern chefs - successfully based @ Cafe Nicholson in Manhattan, New York. She rubbed elbows with the likes of Truman Capote and Marlon Brando. She also went up against three michelin star french chefs and made more of an impression than any of their hautiness could begin to imprint. Reading her essay was very comforting and inspiring.. Like drinking a tall glass of iced peach tea on a sundrenched porch in the springtime.. She exudes such great charisma for her food and her past.. She's very consumed with passing down southern food heritage to younger generations--to let them know and keep them reminded of what our nation's first cuisine encompassed. I'm not from the south but I've spent most of my life there and will always call it home so long as I live.. I had a pretty full childhood growing up in Hawaii but if I could change one thing about it, I'd wish that my Mom was a passionate southern cook just like Ms. Lewis.
Anyway, I thought I'd dictate that article and pass it on. I'm keen to learn more about this Edna Lewis. I've read some of the recipes that she speaks of in her essay and can't wait to try some of them.. The yeast rolls sound out of this world - I'll post the recipe a little later. In the meantime, if you're hankerin' for a feeling of "home" take some time out to read.. If you don't nod your head in agreement @ least once I really feel for ya..
What is Southern?
Edna Lewis
How did southern food come into being? The early cooking of southern food was primarily done by blacks, men and women. In the home, in hotels, in boarding houses, on boats, on trains, and at the White House. Cooking is hard and demanding. It was then and it still is now. What began as hard work became creative work. There is something about the South that stimulates creativity in people, be they black or white writers, artists, cooks, builders, or primitives that pass away without knowing they were talented. It is also interesting to note that the South developed the only cuisine in this country. Living in a rural setting is inspiring: Birds, the quiet, flowers, trees, gardens, fields, music, love, sunshine, rain, and the smells of the earth all play a part in the world of creativity. It has nothing to do with reading or writing. Many of those cooks could not read or write.
I grew up among people who worked together, traded seed, borrowed setting hens if their own were late setting. Early hatched chickens were like a prize. Neighbors would compete to see who would serve the first spring chickens pan-sautéed. The first spring greens, lettuce, scallions in a vinegar dressing with salt, pepper and sugar – no oil. They shared favors of all kinds, joined in when it came to planting or harvesting a crop, wheat threshing, hog butchering, and cutting ice on the ponds to store for the summer in the community icehouse.
I grew up noting the food feasts, picnics, and church revival dinners with long white tablecloths. Families put out warm fried chicken, braised leg of mutton, think slices of boiled Virginia ham. Green beans cooked in pork stock, beets in a vinaigrette sauce. English peas in cream. Baked tomatoes with crusty squares of bread on top. Fragrant corn pudding. Potato salad with a boiled dressing. Watermelon and cantaloupe pickles and relishes, preserves and jellies, and iced tea.
Southern is an early spring morning shrouded in a thick mist. The warmth of a bright sunrise reveals shimmering jewel like dewdrops upon thicket and fence. A large spider web glistens, a spider trying desperately to wind its prey into the web. My father set out to prepare for planting corn. The first day, I walked behind him while he was plowing and singing one of his favorite hymns. For me, it was a great moment. Walking along, pressing my bare feet against the warm plowed earth. All of the chickens were behind me, picking up the earthworms and bugs. He turned up roots of sassafras bushes, which we took to the house for the next morning.
Southern is a spring breakfast of herring with its roe. It is the most delicious of the first-caught of spring. Shad is more advertised. They both are spring fish, then they disappear until the next spring. Herring row is of a finer quality than the shad and wonderful sautéed in garlic, lemon juice, butter and herbs.
Southern is a meal of early spring wild greens—poke sallet before it is fully uncurled, wild mustard, dandelion, lamb’s quarter, purslane, and wild watercress. These are greens that are looked for as the first taste of spring, boiled in pork stock and served with cornmeal dumplings. The next delightful green vegetable is wild asparagus, delicious and tender, found around fence posts where birds drop the seed. They are picked at the right time, steamed and served on toast, with a rich cream sauce spooned over. Southern is a midday dinner or potted squab, tossed until done in a covered iron pot. Served with those first wild greens, a casserole of white potatoes baked in a chicken stock, and a delicious strawberry shortcake of biscuit dough.
Southern is an evening of turtle soup. We would find the turtle, having been washed out of the stream in a thunderstorm, crawling towards the house, so we would pick it up, keep it for a few days, then clean and cut it up. There would be great excitement if it contained eggs, which we would add to the stew. After cooking the turtle slowly for hours, we would strain the broth, season it well, add good Sherry, chop up some of the meat, and make dumplings to add to the soup with the eggs.
Southern is a guinea hen, a bird of African origin. They live in trees around the house and make a big noise if strangers come around. Like any game bird, they have to be aged before cooking. They have a delicious flavor and are best when cooked in a clay pot with butter, herbs, onions and mushrooms.
Southern is Bessie Smith. Give me a pig foot and a bottle of beer. Southern is a great yeast roll, the dough put down overnight to rise and the next morning shaped into rolls and baked. Served hot from the oven, they are light as a dandelion in a high wind. Southern is a sun dog—something like a rainbow, or the man in the moon—on a late summer afternoon.
Southern is a mint julep. A goblet of crushed ice with a sprig of mint tucked in the side of the glass, a plain sugar syrup the consistency of kerosene poured over the ice, then a jigger of bourbon. Stir and bruise the mint with a silver spoon. Sip and enjoy. Southern is a hot summer day that brings on a violent thunderstorm, cooling the air and bringing up smells of the earth that tempt us to eat the soil. Southern is a springhouse filled with perishables kept cool by a stream running through. And a spring keeper—a salamander—is there, watching over.
Southern is Bourbon St. and Louis Armstrong. Southern is seafood gumbo of crab, okra, tomatoes, scallions, onions, green pepper, bacon, garlic, and herbs. Southern is fresh made corn fritters, light and crisp enough to fly away. Southern is an okra pancake in a cornmeal batter. Southern is a platter of deviled crabs prepared with soaked slices of white bread torn and mixed with chopped onion, fine-cut scallions, melted butter, fresh-ground black pepper, cayenne, eggs and the best crabmeat. Baked in the over, served hot, a morsel to die over. Southern is a pitcher of lemonade, filled with slices of lemon and a big piece of ice from the icehouse, and served with buttermilk cookies. Southern is a delicious chicken salad at a bride’s luncheon.
Southern is a bowl of shrimp paste, rich in butter, shrimp, Sherry, spices and lemon juice. Blended to a soft consistency and served over a plate of grits, a delicious breakfast treat. Southern is a barbequed pig that was cooked for hours and served with a tomato or vinegar-based sauce, as well as coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, hush puppies, and iced tea. Southern is a bowl of homemade peach ice cream, served during the peach season. Southern is an oyster roast. Guests are presented with white gloves for shucking and pots of melted butter. Southern is leftover pieces of boiled ham trimmed and added to a saucepan of heavy cream set on the back of the stove to mull and bring out the ham flavor, then served spooned over hot biscuits, with poached eggs on the side.
Southern is hunting season, a time that men take off to hunt rabbits, squirrel, opossum, deer, quail, partridge, plover and dove. We used to trap snowbirds and enjoy a pan of them baked. Southern is a Brunswick Stew of squirrel or rabbit (or chicken), beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, herbs, fresh-ground black pepper, and salt. Long cooking results in a great stew. Southern is a wild pig served with pork liver sauce, peanut sauce, rice for spooning the sauces over, and spicy sauces for the sliced pork.
Southern is a country steak smothered in onions on a Sunday morning, with gravy and spoon bread to spoon the gravy over. Southern is she-crab soup, thick with crab eggs and crabmeat, served with benne biscuits. Southern is a lemon-flavored pound cake served with brandied peaches and homemade blackberry wine.
Southern is a moss rose, a camellia, a buttercup, a tea olive tree sending its fragrance through the air and into the kitchen. Southern is the call of the whip-poor-will at midnight. Southern is a pot of boiling coffee sending its aroma out to greet you on your way in from the barn. Coffee was always served piping hot, so much so that if someone talked too much, they were told, “save your breath to cool your coffee.”
Southern is a walk along the streams in September to find out if the fox grapes were ripening. The aroma they send out is a sign of where they are. Southern is weeks of canning, pickling, and preserving—cucumber pickle, artichoke pickle, pear pickle, tomato pickle, watermelon on rind pickle, citron preserves, green tomato preserves, fig preserves, cherry preserves, grape conserve, crab apple jelly, wild blackberry jelly, fox grape jelly, quince jelly, guava jelly, wild plum jelly, wild strawberry preserves (the best).
Southern is Christmas, a wonderful time of the winter. In the early history of the South, there was no Christmas tree. Beautiful flowers such as Camellias were used in Charleston. And it was a German professor—a refugee—who, while boarding with a family in Williamsburg, brought them stories of Christmas decorations in his native Germany.
Our house was decorated with running cedar branches with juniper berries. Red tissue-paper bells were hung throughout the house, lending a festive air. ON the sideboard were the Christmas foods such as fruitcake, homemade candies—divinity, peanut brittle, and ribbon squares—nuts, oranges, and coconut made into confections.
Christmas was ushered in before daylight with the thunderous noise of Roman Candles—our father waking the community from its sleep. Southern is a delicious oyster stew or sautéed oysters, cream, Sherry, salt, cayenne, fresh-ground black pepper, salsify, a spoon of butter in the bottom of the bowl and a garnish of chervil. Southern is a hoppin’ John black-eyed peas cooking in a hogs-head stock—served with a dish of greens on New Years. This is to bring good luck in the new year to come. Southern is Martin Luther King Jr., with a dream.
Southern is beautiful dish of fried chicken, cooked carefully in home-rendered lard and butter with pieces of country ham added, then served with brown gravy spooned over spoon bread. Southern is desserts galore—coconut cake, caramel layer cake, black walnut whisky cake, groom’s wedding cake, fig pudding, mincemeat pie, lemon meringue pie, fried apple pies, damson plum pie, rhubarb pie with orange zest, peach cobbler, blackberry cobbler, blackberry roly-poly with a blackberry sauce.
Southern is all the unsung heroes who passed away in obscurity. So many great souls have passed off the scene. The world has changed. We are now faced with picking up the pieces and trying to put them into shape, document them so the present day young generation can see what southern food was like. The foundation on which it rested was pure ingredients, open-pollinated seed—planted and replanted for generations—natural fertilizers. We grew the seeds of what we ate; we worked with love and care.
January 6, 2008
Shhhhhh!!
Had my 4 month Prenatal appointment this morning and it went pretty well.. I had to wait over an hour to be seen and I thought I was going to lose it and freak out in the waiting room but I got over it immediately once they called out my name.. These hormones are really freakin' strong this pregnancy!
Anyway, everything went real normal. Gaining weight kind of quickly but that can always be remedied later. Pedro came with me on this one though so I was excited for him to watch in on the ultrasound..
Pretty much the whole time I was getting scanned I had the giggles.. I really had to try hard to compose myself so the doctor could get measurements.. She tried detecting the sex but it's still a little unclear. When I go in on the 3rd next month we should know for sure.. Still feeling boy!
But the ultrasound experience was precious.. Lots of bones! It's a skinny little thing still yet.. They're not cramped in there either as I saw the legs being extended out. I don't think baby liked being poked around so much - After a minute or so of poking it raised it's hands up to cover it's ears quickly (as if to protect itself or say, "ENOUGH!").. Poor bebuh! He just wants to be left alones.. lol
I'm also experiencing a new sensation that I didn't have before with my other pregnancies.. I absolutely hate loud noises. They make me sick.. Whenever the dog barks, or the kids squeal.. Or even when me and Pedro are both in the office doing our own thing and he moves around in his chair too quickly.. It startles me and I get nauseous right away.. Not really liking this part.. Makes me feel like Mrs. Bennet from Pride and Prejudice with her bad nerves..
Anyway, in another month I can finally start narrowing down the name list.. Got 2 or 3 floating around for a boy but I'll wait to unveil those.. Tata!
January 5, 2008
Carlease is a Real Name
Phew! After about 3 months of driving Pedro to work and back we finally got around to getting him a car.. I was a little weary about just going ahead and buying a whole 'nother car to maintain and worry about.. And since we got rid of the Aztek during our trip back home we figured we wouldn't miss the money much if we just leased a car.. Leases are always more expense than what they're worth but A.) We don't have to worry about a used potentially-wrecked-in-the-past lemon breaking down on us and being in the same sharing the car situation and B.) I get to sleep in another hour AND have dinner back on the table at the proper time..
We went to Autolease to initially see about getting a little Mazda 3.. Just something to get him to and from work - nothing fancy. The kids won't be riding in it and I certainly won't have a need to drive it ever so it's all a commute vehicle.. Anyway, when we get there we're told they're fresh out of Mazdas and that we could take a Peugeot for 170KD a month.. Politely but very firmly Pedro told them he wouldn't be paying that - that we had a friend come in and get a mazda 3 for 110 a month. The man asked if she was a teacher (she is) and said that that was the special teacher price they were only doing during the summer.. When we told him she got it just last week he was surprised and when Pedro asked him why teachers get such deep discounts and the rest of us have to pay outrageously he kind of just blinked back at us.. Needless to say, 30 seconds later we got the 110 deal.. So we felt kinda peppy about that..
And the deciding factor in Pedro taking a "french" car was that he actually checked the chassis upon signing the paperwork and discovered it's really a GM Aveo chassis with a Peugeot body.. He felt better about it being an American-backed product (about 70% of a GM Aveo is made "elsewhere" but its still got that GM name on it so.. that's something).
Anywho, it was a surprisingly painless process and we were out of there in about 45 minutes.. We are back to being a two car household and all is well.. I'm still getting the satisfaction of calling Pedro a "traitor to America" /cue the giggles
Here's what a Peugeot 307 looks like (with a bit of a body kit on it) - It's kind of shrimpy but not the smallest model.. I don't think I could have made him drive a clown car with a clear conscience.. *Dar dar duh nuh nuh nuh dar dar dar dar*
** Side note - I just got done watching the show "The Closer" this evening (such a GREAT show!) and was watching the credits roll when I saw that one of the guest stars names was "Carlease" LOL.. I hope my judgement isn't THAT impared when I go to sign the birth certificate..Creature Wonders
Just a quick blurp. We took the kids to the Scientific Center today.. Something we do from time to time. They have an exceptional aquarium there.. Not particularly extensive but lovely nonetheless.. As we made our way through the dark corridors and soothing displays we came to the real gem of the aquarium - The floor to ceiling tank with the bagillion gallons of water and large marine fish. I've always loved watching the aquatic life skim around so serenly in this particular exhibit.. But what I think I realized today is that I have a new favorite animal - the stingray
I've been to this place before and have always been impressed by their beauty but I finally forced the kids to sit down and look for a good while instead of making a hasty exit. I was mesmerized. They were so tranquil - like underwater butterflies..
They have a few different species in there but the one that caught my eye the most was the "Honeycomb Ray". I've always called it a "Leopard Ray" until now because it's markings are seriously identical to those of those magestic cats we all know as Leopards.. Upon searching for images of them I found out that stingrays aren't the only ones that can be found with these markings.. Eels and a few different kinds of fish have similar patterns..
I just think it's so beguiling that such a beautiful (and previously thought, unique) look can be had by two such diverse creatures..
So Far From Home - Nowhere to Roam
I'm usually a pseudo-happy person.. (whatever that means, interpret as you like - I consider it apathetic but with a smile on my face) - All the while I still think of myself as an optimist, but I just don't know what's been going on with me lately.. I like to do myself the honour of considering myself a strong person. I'm a first born child so I've always had a lot of responsibility and have always been mostly self-sufficient. I'm not one to cede to a bad situation. I'm a resolver. Suck it up, march on, get to where you need to be going - done deal. I value resiliency in a person.. I'm not saying I don't ever cry. That I don't ever resent. That I don't ever worry. But I don't usually give into depression.. Maybe it's all this surplus estrogen floating around in my system, but I'm really bummed out.. Pretty much ever since setting foot back in Kuwait.. My attitude towards this place is 'it's comfortable enough..'. It ain't home but it's where I need to be right now. I'm not sure I've ever had a longing stronger than my desire to be home, in America. It's pretty poor thinking to start with when you know that you're going to be in a foreign place for a semi-determined amount of time. My friend Jules probably said it best when she told me, "Until you embrace Kuwait, you're going to be hating life..". She's totally right but.. it's just a hard pill to swallow.. To sincerely say I like the place. For me, it's tolerable and that's just my slice..
Maybe it's getting better though. I think I may have gotten over the 'Wanting to Bellow w/Much Tear-shed' phase.. I seriously couldn't hold my shit together even while grocery shopping.. I had to run to the loo and sob for a bit. I can't begin to express how deeply sad I am @ this moment in time.. I'm downright cheerless.. I've been faking it to get by because well, that's my backup but.. I have no solution to make it better. And I highly doubt they make a 'Preggy Prozac'.. In the meantime all I can do is breathe.. Lord help me and Breathe....
January 1, 2008
The Baby Gear Basics
This started out as me just looking around to make a registry for myself.. I figured it’d be much easier this time around because by the third kid you pretty much know what’s essential and what’s superfluous.. But then I got to thinking about a few of my friends who are either preggers with their first baby or are looking to start a family soon.. So I thought I’d compile a list not only for the busy Mommy of three on the go but also for the first timers.. There’s a bunch of crap that stores are going to bombard you with but I’m here to tell you, you won’t REALLY need but 50-60% of that schtuff.. This list may seem a little long but don’t freak out - it’s only cause I’m giving you a little bit of choice and showing you what’s out there.. So if you’re up to it, here goes..
Logistics & Travel:
Depending on how mobile you are, you may need only a few of these things.. But if you’re like me and you plan on doing long distance trips, maybe even plane rides – here’s some useful gear..
Strollers ~ If you’re a first time mommy then I strongly suggest to you that you forget about those cute little “travel sets” that Graco and the like make.. Baby will grow out of those within 6 months time and you’ll end up looking for another stroller AND car seat, thus spending more dough. I’m the kind of gal that likes to get more for my buck so I buy things that are convertible or that can handle heavier children.
Universal Car Seat Carrier:
This can only accommodate those detachable car seats, not convertible ones that I prefer.. The upside to this is that if baby is sleeping you won’t wake them up, you can just slip their car seat onto this and go. The downside is that, like I said, babies tend to outgrow these seats quickly. But there are a few car seats that will get you a good 9 months use out of (see Car seats #)
Umbrella Stroller:
This is a Maclaren Volo (what I have) and I absolutely love it.. It’s such a smooth ride AND has storage underneath. It’s a bit pricey for an umbrella stroller ($100) but you can get a good quality umbrella for less than half that amount.. Umbrella strollers are fantastic because they’re compact and lightweight (which will matter when you have to schlep around a toddler!) My only suggestion, get one that has a canopy shade over it.. It’s useful to keep sun off baby AND you can throw a light jacket over top of it.
Lightweight Strollers:
This is a Combi City Savvy Select. These are sturdier than an umbrella stroller and will serve you best for a small baby when you’re using a convertible car seat. The downside is if baby is sleeping the car seat you’ll have to remove them and put them in this but hey! It’s a baby! They’ll fall back asleep eventually.. These are good for the money and you may not even want to buy an umbrella stroller if you have one of these babies (if you don’t mind the additional weight and bulk). There’s also little headrest inserts you can buy to place in these to make it more snug for newborns (Boppy makes some)
For Mommies of 2 – If you have an older child to tote around I HIGHLY recommend getting you one of these little beauties!
(You can get this from a website www.onestepahead.com)
It’s a double stroller with a standing platform and sit down seat so that your older/bigger child can hitch a ride by standing (fun!) or sitting when they’re tired.. The extra weight and bulk of it IS worth it! I got sooo many compliments on mine when I had it. My last one got stolen I think so I’m getting this one so I can cart around Tatum too
Joovy Caboose Double Stroller
Logistics & Travel:
Depending on how mobile you are, you may need only a few of these things.. But if you’re like me and you plan on doing long distance trips, maybe even plane rides – here’s some useful gear..
Strollers ~ If you’re a first time mommy then I strongly suggest to you that you forget about those cute little “travel sets” that Graco and the like make.. Baby will grow out of those within 6 months time and you’ll end up looking for another stroller AND car seat, thus spending more dough. I’m the kind of gal that likes to get more for my buck so I buy things that are convertible or that can handle heavier children.
Universal Car Seat Carrier:
This can only accommodate those detachable car seats, not convertible ones that I prefer.. The upside to this is that if baby is sleeping you won’t wake them up, you can just slip their car seat onto this and go. The downside is that, like I said, babies tend to outgrow these seats quickly. But there are a few car seats that will get you a good 9 months use out of (see Car seats #)
Umbrella Stroller:
This is a Maclaren Volo (what I have) and I absolutely love it.. It’s such a smooth ride AND has storage underneath. It’s a bit pricey for an umbrella stroller ($100) but you can get a good quality umbrella for less than half that amount.. Umbrella strollers are fantastic because they’re compact and lightweight (which will matter when you have to schlep around a toddler!) My only suggestion, get one that has a canopy shade over it.. It’s useful to keep sun off baby AND you can throw a light jacket over top of it.
Lightweight Strollers:
This is a Combi City Savvy Select. These are sturdier than an umbrella stroller and will serve you best for a small baby when you’re using a convertible car seat. The downside is if baby is sleeping the car seat you’ll have to remove them and put them in this but hey! It’s a baby! They’ll fall back asleep eventually.. These are good for the money and you may not even want to buy an umbrella stroller if you have one of these babies (if you don’t mind the additional weight and bulk). There’s also little headrest inserts you can buy to place in these to make it more snug for newborns (Boppy makes some)
For Mommies of 2 – If you have an older child to tote around I HIGHLY recommend getting you one of these little beauties!
(You can get this from a website www.onestepahead.com)
It’s a double stroller with a standing platform and sit down seat so that your older/bigger child can hitch a ride by standing (fun!) or sitting when they’re tired.. The extra weight and bulk of it IS worth it! I got sooo many compliments on mine when I had it. My last one got stolen I think so I’m getting this one so I can cart around Tatum too
Joovy Caboose Double Stroller
And since cool strollers such as these sometimes come sans cup holders you’ll want to get something like this
Stroller Pack from onestepahead
Car Seats ~ As I said, I like convertible car seats the best.. If you’d like to spend a lot of money in this department (such as on a britax) you’d certainly get a very luxe car seat but you really don’t have to.. Example:
This is the Zeus Convertible Car Seat – this baby will hold up to 40lb of kid, newborn to toddler.. This will also run you about $300
This is the Evenflo Tribute Convertible Car Seat – I have something similar to this and will be using it for my next baby as Tatum is getting ready for a booster car seat.. This one is $55 and has good reviews/from a reputable company.. There are little accessories that you can get for these that will boost its comfy points such as a..
Kiddopotamus Snuzzler (buy two for when one is dirty)
&
Prop’O’s Head Support (for an older baby, about +6mo.)
If you’d like to go with the detachable kind of car seat that you can take with you w/o moving baby around, go with something like this Evenflo Discovery
These only accommodate up to 22lbs but if the convenience means more to you go ahead and get it.. Beware of the Graco Snugrides though.. They’re cute but babies usually grow out of them @ lightning speed. I also highly suggest you get covers for your seats in your car, to put under the car seats as babies and toddlers spill A LOT and can mess up a good car PDQ..
(from onestepahead)
Another suggestion – buy a little baby mirror you can attach to the headrest of the seat you have your baby in. You’ll be able to look back @ your schnuckums and know they’re okay (or even when they’re not).. They make mirrors that are fun for baby too! Like..
Fisher Price Deluxe Auto Mirror with Lights
Airport Travel ~ If you plan on traveling through some airports with your spawn you might want to look into these little contraptions
Baby B’Air
You’re basically just strapping your kid to you.. A sling or front carrier would serve the same purpose I’d imagine but this looks like it’d be easier for you to buckle yourself in as well so it might be worth it. Some people like to bring their babies car seats aboard with them but that requires you buy an additional seat. With a baby you’ll be dealing with it the whole time anyway so until they’re age 2, I think buying a seat is a waste and lugging a car seat is too burdensome.. However, if you DO want to lug around that car seat you can get a..
Gogo Kidz Travel Mate
And if you have a big strong husband you can get a Pac Bac (available @ http://www.onestepahead.com/) – I’M sure as hell not wearin’ the thing.. lol!
And if you want to check-in your car seat but want it to stay clean you can get a
Wheel Easy Car Seat Carrier - I have one for my stroller and it’s a lifesaver since it has wheels on it.. I attach mine to whatever large wheeled suitcase I have and cart it around that way..
As far as diaper bags go, I am lovin’ this JJ Cole Logic Diaper Bag
It’s quite slim and isn’t froo froo so your husband won’t mind wearing it.. (it does come in different colors). Despite its size it carries quite a lot.. Besides, when you’re out and about you won’t want to be weighed down by a traditional bulky diaper bag.. If you want something bigger I suggest getting a sling-type bag like this. They’re much easier to carry around.
Urban Sling Diaper Bag
Also if you’re worried about not having everything you need in your bag get an over-the-headrest storage pouch for your car to have extra “whatever’s” on hand.. Get something like the Sunshine Kids Stow’N Go
Slings & Carriers ~ I’m not a big fan of backpack-type carriers so if you want that you’ll have to search around.. However, I do muse about the sling-type carrier.. They may look deceptively complex but they really are easier and more comfy.. Some people think the baby looks squished in these but that’s kind of what they like.. It swaddles and mimics the womb that way.. However, more structured carriers work just as well and are really secure so here’s a couple to look @
Ultimate Baby Wrap Sling (you can use it 5 different ways)
Baby Bjorn Active Baby Carrier (a bit pricey - $100 – but people swear by it)
Hygiene & Health:
Bathing ~ @ bath time I like to keep it short and simple.. I’ve tried a few baby washing techniques and I’ve found using a simple sling in a warm tub works the best. Structured or plastic baby baths seem so uncomfortable (for parent AND baby).. A good sling will keep baby lounging comfortably while you wash and you won’t have to spend half the time holding them up.. Slings also fold up so they slip right under a sink well. I love my Summer Infant Fold Up Bath Sling
Also - to make it more comfortable on Mom & Dad, this Safety 1st Tubside Kneeler can really help ya out
For changing baby after a bath I suggest you have on hand a soft changing pad such as the Basic Comfort Baby Contoured Changing Pad. (You’ll want to get a nice terry cover for these if using for after baths).
Also, after the bath is the best time to cut babies nails when they’re soft and supple. To ease the scariness of this you can get a baby nail clipper with attached magnifying glass like this –
And for diaper duty I like to keep on hand two staples
Desitin (outside of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste this is the best!)
Gerber Roll-on Baby Powder (new and way less messy!)
And for disposing of those little bio-hazard sacks I recommend the Diaper Champ (vs. the Diaper Genie). The Champ uses regular garbage bags and reviewers say it’s less smelly than the Genie.. It also holds more of the icky stuff.
For keeping baby healthy and warding off sickness, I implore you to NOT buy one of those all-inclusive first aid kits. Baby medicine goes stale pretty fast so you’re best off making your own kit and storing it in a Rubbermaid container.. A few items to have that I’d suggest:
* Ear Thermometer (for those, like me, who aren’t a fan of the rectal thermometers.
These are very accurate)
* Soft Tipped Medicine Dispenser
* Nasal Aspirator
* Small band aids, gauze and medical tape
* Baby Aspirin
* Colic Tablets or Drops (for the fussy baby with gas)
* Baby Ambisol (for grumpy babies with gum pain from cutting teeth)
* Small tweezers
Resting:
Sleeping/Crib ~ This is an important area because this is what baby does most.. However with the paranoia of SIDS looming about us I believe it’s best to take the simple approach. You’ll want to get the plushiest cutest bedding set for your baby but the main priority here is safety. Lucky for us in this day and age there are lots of companies that think that way.. I’ll also be talking about convertible stuff because it’s just boss.
Crib: I highly suggest getting a convertible crib. There are a lot of beautiful ones being manufactured as of present. A convertible crib will see you through the toddler years and some even beyond into high school! They don’t have to be expensive either. I’m getting this Graco Lauren 4-in-1 Crib for under $150
Playards: These are useful for sleeping on the go. Whether you’re @ Grandmas or even in a hotel, these are great. I also find them useful for co-sleeping. I personally don’t dig the idea of having my baby in my bed but I do like having them close in a bassinet bedside. A lot of playards come with detachable bassinets (some even vibrate!) for use in the first few months of baby’s life. After they’re too big it’s business as usual and you can use it for naps or just a safe place to keep baby while you’re doing chores or other activities.. I like this Combi Sport Playard in a vibrant Cherry
Breathable Baby Crib Bumper (to use instead of a traditional bumper pad if you’re afraid of the risk of SIDS and yet still want baby to be comfortable if they should roll over)
Sleep Positioner (this is a three in one as it has a slight wedge underneath babies head – if you want to use a real bumper pad this should help but beware, babies are wriggly little things and they can roll out of these
I also suggest some sort of crib toy/and or soother. And if you’re getting a mobile make sure it’s colorful! For Mac freaks like my husband, there’s the icrib – compatible with most MP3 players you can custom make a lullabye playlist for your little dreamer..
Feeding:
I’m not really a breast feeder so I don’t have really any suggestions for you on pumps and accessories on that note but after bottle-feeding two babies, one with extreme colic, I can tell you what works best for that method.
First off, for colicky babies, I cannot say enough about Dr. Brown’s feeding systems..
They’ve got more parts than a traditional bottle but you can just as easily throw them in a special bottle accessory basket and stick them in the dishwasher (OR a microwave sterilizer. Don’t get one that you have to plug in – they just cost too much for the trouble). Additionally, other bottle brands may do this, I don’t know, but I do know that Dr. Brown’s makes Y cut nipples for the older baby that is able to feed on milk mixed with cereal so that’s another plus.
I’ll also tell you that you don’t need to get those stupid bottle warmers or insulated coolers. If you get your baby used to room temperature formula from the get go you’ll be saving yourself a lot of trouble trying to keep the right temperature you’ll baby accept.. (You also won’t have to worry about even burning baby’s mouth). Trying to heat up a bottle under hot tap water in a public restroom while your baby wails till blue in the face is not a position you want to find yourself in.. ALSO, formula mixes a lot better @ room temperature so I suggest you get you one of these..
(formula dispenser by Sassy) They’re pre-measured compartments of powdered formula that you just dunk into a bottle of nursery water. Shake for 30 seconds and presto! You’re baby will be happily slurping away in no time!
For bottle OR breast feeding a Boppy is an absolute MUST! This is a versatile piece of baby equipment that makes feeding more comfy but also serves as a soft place to lay baby- on back or for some tummy time! And they all come with slipcovers in many different prints so you can remove and wash as needed!
High Chair/Booster: I suggest you NOT get a big traditional high chair. They tend to take up a lot of space even when they’re folded up. I much prefer a booster that I can put on a chair and keep @ the family table. Besides, if you really need it while traveling, bringing a booster is just easiest. I like this Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster Seat. But if you want something with a little more pizzazz Fisher Price makes a cute Rainforest themed one with lots of toys attached to the tray..
When starting to feed jar baby food I suggest you invest in either of these gadgets –
The Boon Squirt Feeding Spoon – Ingenious! You just screw off the plastic spoon and fill the orange part with baby food. Screw spoon back on and you’ve got a one handed feeding session while the other hand wipes up whatever messes baby is dishing out..
The Jar Holder (onestepahead)– You won’t have to worry about a frenzied baby knocking a glass jar of baby food out of your hand or off the feeding tray. Also makes one handed feeding easy! I also suggest getting bowls and plates that suction to the tray for this same purpose when baby begins to feed themselves.
This is a Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder – great for giving baby fresh fruits and veggies to knaw on without worrying about choking hazards.. Throw a slice of peach in there and watch them monch away
And this is the Crunch’N’Sip – Looks pretty self explanatory & you know me, I love to get two purposes out of one product!
Playtime:
When getting your baby those big ticket items such as exersaucers and the like, I suggest getting no more than 3 or 4 of these items.. Odds are your baby won’t even like one or two of them! And look around for toys that, like I say, you can get the most life out of.. Newborn to Toddler toys are always big on me.. Also keep an eye out for weight restrictions. If something says up to 30lbs that sounds like a keeper to me! Keep comfort in mind but also remember that baby responds more to strong, striking and contrasting colors.. So while that pretty crème bouncer might look better in your living room, baby will get more of a kick out of a bright blue or red one.. Here are a few items I’d suggest to any Mom..
Swing: 9 out of 10 babies love a swing and this will most likely be your life line the first 4-6 months.. Easiest thing to get a baby to sleep. I suggest you get a travel sized one.. They’re a bit cheaper, you get the same life and usage out of them, they take up less room AND you can fold them up and take them with you! This is the Fisher Price Aquarium Take Along Swing
Playgym: Again, look for something really colorful and with lots of interesting toys to grab @ and hold.. I’m getting this very vibrant Baby Einstein Play Gym
Exersaucer: These are great cause baby gets to sit up and play with toys. I don’t recommend getting a walker because a.) that could get baby into a lot of trouble or even seriously hurt and b.) it’s not supposed to be good for their legs.. Best to wait for them to start walking on their own. Here is the Evenflo SmartSteps Exersaucer Entertainer
Bouncer: My kids didn’t quite care for them so I’m not getting another but they’re alright for most. Here is one that has a lot going on. The Fisher Price Sensory Selections Bouncer
Rockers: I’m already settled on getting other stuff but this would be very nice to have – and convertible too for extra bonus points! The Fisher Price Newborn to Toddler Rocker
For a slightly different kind of rocker, there’s also the new and super cute Baby Einstein Discovering Water Rocker Seat
Jumpers: These are great for a little bit of leg action (less than a walker) and they’re pretty much just like excersaucers but with way more jumpiness for your little kangaroo.. I’m getting the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo
And for corralling your little escape artist later down the road there are two particular gates I like
The Evenflo Soft & Wide Gate – adjustable to cover as much as 48’’ of doorway, maybe even more because I use it to block the wide entryways between rooms in my villa and they’re pretty darn wide
The Evenflo Top Stair Gate – I have two of these in the box, never used them but they’ve got so many rave reviews and seem to last a long time
I couldn’t possibly comment on baby toys as there’s an unending selection. But I stick to recommending whatever is most colorful and whatever is most interactive.. Babies love music too so anything that plays a tune that you can stand hearing 30 times in a row (with an “off” option of course) would be good.. I also recommend Baby Einstein line of videos and music cds.. I wouldn’t say they’re sure to turn your kid into a genius but they are really engrossing! For parents too! They’re not too painful to watch with your children.. My about to be 5 yr old STILL requests to watch some of them and I have them all..
I’m sure I’m missing a few things but this is the gist of it.. Whatever I didn’t mention that you’re thinking of is probably because it’s a no-brainer thing I know you’re already contemplating.. Either way, I hope this helped you out in any capacity.. I have to do some revamping to my registry so I’m off to do that.. Meh, this took awhile who am I kidding.. I’m really off to take a nap :D
Sleeping/Crib ~ This is an important area because this is what baby does most.. However with the paranoia of SIDS looming about us I believe it’s best to take the simple approach. You’ll want to get the plushiest cutest bedding set for your baby but the main priority here is safety. Lucky for us in this day and age there are lots of companies that think that way.. I’ll also be talking about convertible stuff because it’s just boss.
Crib: I highly suggest getting a convertible crib. There are a lot of beautiful ones being manufactured as of present. A convertible crib will see you through the toddler years and some even beyond into high school! They don’t have to be expensive either. I’m getting this Graco Lauren 4-in-1 Crib for under $150
Playards: These are useful for sleeping on the go. Whether you’re @ Grandmas or even in a hotel, these are great. I also find them useful for co-sleeping. I personally don’t dig the idea of having my baby in my bed but I do like having them close in a bassinet bedside. A lot of playards come with detachable bassinets (some even vibrate!) for use in the first few months of baby’s life. After they’re too big it’s business as usual and you can use it for naps or just a safe place to keep baby while you’re doing chores or other activities.. I like this Combi Sport Playard in a vibrant Cherry
Breathable Baby Crib Bumper (to use instead of a traditional bumper pad if you’re afraid of the risk of SIDS and yet still want baby to be comfortable if they should roll over)
Sleep Positioner (this is a three in one as it has a slight wedge underneath babies head – if you want to use a real bumper pad this should help but beware, babies are wriggly little things and they can roll out of these
I also suggest some sort of crib toy/and or soother. And if you’re getting a mobile make sure it’s colorful! For Mac freaks like my husband, there’s the icrib – compatible with most MP3 players you can custom make a lullabye playlist for your little dreamer..
Feeding:
I’m not really a breast feeder so I don’t have really any suggestions for you on pumps and accessories on that note but after bottle-feeding two babies, one with extreme colic, I can tell you what works best for that method.
First off, for colicky babies, I cannot say enough about Dr. Brown’s feeding systems..
They’ve got more parts than a traditional bottle but you can just as easily throw them in a special bottle accessory basket and stick them in the dishwasher (OR a microwave sterilizer. Don’t get one that you have to plug in – they just cost too much for the trouble). Additionally, other bottle brands may do this, I don’t know, but I do know that Dr. Brown’s makes Y cut nipples for the older baby that is able to feed on milk mixed with cereal so that’s another plus.
I’ll also tell you that you don’t need to get those stupid bottle warmers or insulated coolers. If you get your baby used to room temperature formula from the get go you’ll be saving yourself a lot of trouble trying to keep the right temperature you’ll baby accept.. (You also won’t have to worry about even burning baby’s mouth). Trying to heat up a bottle under hot tap water in a public restroom while your baby wails till blue in the face is not a position you want to find yourself in.. ALSO, formula mixes a lot better @ room temperature so I suggest you get you one of these..
(formula dispenser by Sassy) They’re pre-measured compartments of powdered formula that you just dunk into a bottle of nursery water. Shake for 30 seconds and presto! You’re baby will be happily slurping away in no time!
For bottle OR breast feeding a Boppy is an absolute MUST! This is a versatile piece of baby equipment that makes feeding more comfy but also serves as a soft place to lay baby- on back or for some tummy time! And they all come with slipcovers in many different prints so you can remove and wash as needed!
High Chair/Booster: I suggest you NOT get a big traditional high chair. They tend to take up a lot of space even when they’re folded up. I much prefer a booster that I can put on a chair and keep @ the family table. Besides, if you really need it while traveling, bringing a booster is just easiest. I like this Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster Seat. But if you want something with a little more pizzazz Fisher Price makes a cute Rainforest themed one with lots of toys attached to the tray..
When starting to feed jar baby food I suggest you invest in either of these gadgets –
The Boon Squirt Feeding Spoon – Ingenious! You just screw off the plastic spoon and fill the orange part with baby food. Screw spoon back on and you’ve got a one handed feeding session while the other hand wipes up whatever messes baby is dishing out..
The Jar Holder (onestepahead)– You won’t have to worry about a frenzied baby knocking a glass jar of baby food out of your hand or off the feeding tray. Also makes one handed feeding easy! I also suggest getting bowls and plates that suction to the tray for this same purpose when baby begins to feed themselves.
This is a Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder – great for giving baby fresh fruits and veggies to knaw on without worrying about choking hazards.. Throw a slice of peach in there and watch them monch away
And this is the Crunch’N’Sip – Looks pretty self explanatory & you know me, I love to get two purposes out of one product!
Playtime:
When getting your baby those big ticket items such as exersaucers and the like, I suggest getting no more than 3 or 4 of these items.. Odds are your baby won’t even like one or two of them! And look around for toys that, like I say, you can get the most life out of.. Newborn to Toddler toys are always big on me.. Also keep an eye out for weight restrictions. If something says up to 30lbs that sounds like a keeper to me! Keep comfort in mind but also remember that baby responds more to strong, striking and contrasting colors.. So while that pretty crème bouncer might look better in your living room, baby will get more of a kick out of a bright blue or red one.. Here are a few items I’d suggest to any Mom..
Swing: 9 out of 10 babies love a swing and this will most likely be your life line the first 4-6 months.. Easiest thing to get a baby to sleep. I suggest you get a travel sized one.. They’re a bit cheaper, you get the same life and usage out of them, they take up less room AND you can fold them up and take them with you! This is the Fisher Price Aquarium Take Along Swing
Playgym: Again, look for something really colorful and with lots of interesting toys to grab @ and hold.. I’m getting this very vibrant Baby Einstein Play Gym
Exersaucer: These are great cause baby gets to sit up and play with toys. I don’t recommend getting a walker because a.) that could get baby into a lot of trouble or even seriously hurt and b.) it’s not supposed to be good for their legs.. Best to wait for them to start walking on their own. Here is the Evenflo SmartSteps Exersaucer Entertainer
Bouncer: My kids didn’t quite care for them so I’m not getting another but they’re alright for most. Here is one that has a lot going on. The Fisher Price Sensory Selections Bouncer
Rockers: I’m already settled on getting other stuff but this would be very nice to have – and convertible too for extra bonus points! The Fisher Price Newborn to Toddler Rocker
For a slightly different kind of rocker, there’s also the new and super cute Baby Einstein Discovering Water Rocker Seat
Jumpers: These are great for a little bit of leg action (less than a walker) and they’re pretty much just like excersaucers but with way more jumpiness for your little kangaroo.. I’m getting the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo
And for corralling your little escape artist later down the road there are two particular gates I like
The Evenflo Soft & Wide Gate – adjustable to cover as much as 48’’ of doorway, maybe even more because I use it to block the wide entryways between rooms in my villa and they’re pretty darn wide
The Evenflo Top Stair Gate – I have two of these in the box, never used them but they’ve got so many rave reviews and seem to last a long time
I couldn’t possibly comment on baby toys as there’s an unending selection. But I stick to recommending whatever is most colorful and whatever is most interactive.. Babies love music too so anything that plays a tune that you can stand hearing 30 times in a row (with an “off” option of course) would be good.. I also recommend Baby Einstein line of videos and music cds.. I wouldn’t say they’re sure to turn your kid into a genius but they are really engrossing! For parents too! They’re not too painful to watch with your children.. My about to be 5 yr old STILL requests to watch some of them and I have them all..
I’m sure I’m missing a few things but this is the gist of it.. Whatever I didn’t mention that you’re thinking of is probably because it’s a no-brainer thing I know you’re already contemplating.. Either way, I hope this helped you out in any capacity.. I have to do some revamping to my registry so I’m off to do that.. Meh, this took awhile who am I kidding.. I’m really off to take a nap :D
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