Things are still just as crazy...

How I wish that when I work at something I would be guaranteed to see some results. Well not true for wedding planning, let me tell you! Having a 9mo old and trying to plan a wedding is...difficult...to say the least. Anyway, I thought I found the perfect venue (thank god!) but then found out that I was supposed to reserve it the moment I saw it. Who knew? Well, apparently the person after me who saw the place and jumped on it.

So that leaves me going back to the drawing board and unsure if I even can still have a wedding at this pace. Everything depends on the venue so I'm incredibly stressed about that.

Also, now we are going to hop on a plane and go to Japan! So now I'm trying to plan that (along with the wedding, work, taking care of Dean, being a good wife, cleaning, cooking, being a good friend, etc) along with all of my other tasks and chores and responsibilities! And now we are all sick again! AGAIN!

Well, I was going to tell you about the new baby food I just found. It is called Sprouts and apparently it is designed by/made by some chef on food network. Actually the reason why it caught my eye is because it is in one of those food pouches so it is super easy to pack and bring along for the trip. Of course I'm hording the ten I bought (woot woot Bel air was having a sale 10 for 10) for the trip so I have no idea how much he'll like them. I've read good things, though.

In case you all were wondering: yes, infants (no matter their age) need a passport. So we had to super rush order D's passport this morning and hopefully it will be back in about two weeks. This was after I drove up to Auburn to get his birth certificate. In the rain. Not knowing where I was going.

So we had D's 9mo doctor's check-up this week. Doctor told him (or us, rather) to eat as much fatty food as possible. I think this is funny but hell, why not! I'll let him down the full-fat yogurt and munch on the buttered toast!

Ugh, I cannot believe that it is so late! Why can't I feel good enough to go to bed?!? Well...I'm going to try anyway! Night!

Priorities

Without delving into my personal life too much I'd like to reflect on priorities just a bit.

With so many things on my list of priorities, how should I differentiate between the true and the pseudo priorities? Everything seems to be a priority nowadays and I can't help but feel completely overstretched and overwhelmed.
1. My son
2. My husband
3. My house (and cars and other things that need maintenance and such)
4. My work
5. My family and friends
6. My wedding
7. Any other thing
8. Me
How do I balance trying to keep a happy, healthy relationship with my husband while caring for my son and cleaning the house, organizing the house, getting rid of clutter (thus making it more childproof, too), working as much as possible while my account keeps going lower and lower, scheduling with my friends and family, going to venues, meeting vendors, making decisions (not a strong suit of mine), and doing other things as needed? Oh, it'd be nice if I were able to take care of myself, too.

The trigger? I broke my breastpump and now I'm unable to pump and yes it is almost 3AM now. Sorry for the run-ons but I figure 3AM is ok for verbal (or typed, in this case) diarrhea. I looked up the nicest one (since I figure I'll hold onto it for the next child in four years) and it is over 300 dollars! Close to 4. So now the stress of money and time are playing against me and I need to make a decision (which basically I have done already). I'm going to Target when they open (in about five hours) and just bite the bullet and buy one. If I can, I'll get a replacement part for the one I broke and then I might even have the luxury of having two pumps (I do hate bringing one back and forth from work to home to other places as needed.

As for the list of priorities, I'll be sure to post again. If I figure anything out, I'll share my wisdom. Until then, I'll just bring up questions.

Pro Tip for Today

So today I am going through all of Dean's old clothes (0-9mo) and even some current ones if they are small. I thought that Dean would need a TON of clothes....that is really not the case. I honestly think I was given (as presents and as hand-me-downs) enough for several kids. So, to keep with good karma, I am separating out all the clothes I'm not super attached to and giving them away.

I think one of my friends has the key to handling baby clothes: several onesies both with long and short sleeves, a couple of pants (and/or skirts if a girl), some footsies (nightwear), jacket or two, bibs, a jumper or two and THAT'S IT!

I, on the other hand, have so many items that I don't really get to enjoy him in my favorite outfits because I'm too stressed about making sure he gets into each thing we have been given. I know that may sound funny but I want to make use of everything that we have been blessed with and...well...that can be slightly stressful.

So, to recap: don't buy so much! Keep it to a couple of weeks' worth of clothing and that's it. You won't have to buy much (or receive much) and it'll keep clutter and stress levels down. Now I'm off to separate more giveaways!

A little humor

So funny! Please read -- I did experience some of these and there is SO much truth to the post! Guys: read it and get it!!! It can really suck for women and any help (a nice massage, making dinner, etc) is always appreciated!

http://skepchick.org/blog/2010/02/what-pregnant-women-wont-tell-you-ever/

Looking at Booster/Toddler carseats

So now we are looking for the next step in car safety since we are about to graduate from the infant carseat (and since one of the people who was kind enough to lend it to us would like to now lend it to one of her friends).

Although I'd love to get a Britax (ooooh so pretty and cool with all those bells and whistles) I don't think I can honestly afford that cost. Did I mention that I'm trying to plan a wedding too? How is it possible to be able to spend and spend and spend and still not have everything that I feel I need? Anyway, I digress.

So for the price we have found a nice alternative: the Cosco Scenera. Got it at Target for only 45 dollars so you really can't quite beat that price. Here is the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Scenera-Convertible-Seat-Triton/dp/B001J8DNM4/ref=pd_sim_ba_5

I've done a little bit of research on it and it seems to get so-so ratings. It has a five-point belt system now and apparently no head cover thing so there is much improvement since the last model. But apparently there isn't enough padding and it is a pain in the neck to tighten while the child is in the rear-facing position. Oh! Can I just say that the fact that this booster/toddler seat can do a rear-facing position is a total plus and that I can put my not-quite-toddler in it is fantastic! Update to come on how well it works and how much I like it.

We are also looking into a fancier one (since I do enjoy all of the cushions and the bells and whistles) but that is much more slow going. *crosses fingers* Hopefully we'll find a really good fit (or we'll find that all we need are those Coscos).

Carpe This: California Baby (Lavender Bath Items)

Ooohh I love the smell of this product. I got a gift package of California Baby and I really appreciate it. There is a lot of talk and debate about Johnson&Johnsons bath products and I just feel like I'd rather avoid any iffy products. My first thought was "well I used that when I was a kid" but changes are always being made (and not for the better). Am I well read on this? No, but Kaiser did put out a study on bath products, diapering products, etc and based on what I read it seemed that I'd better just stay away from it anyway.

Yes J&J is cheaper but I actually don't use so much that I'm finding the cost of bath supplies to be a breaking point for us. So yes, I was pleased to receive this from my auntie. LOVE the smell of it too. I also received a diaper rash lotion and a general healing lotion and powder in the gift set. I recommend this item (set) to anyone (shhhh but I like using the stuff on myself...).

What does this say about our society?

Before I begin my story you need to know a few things about Dean. He is super skinny. I've tried to feed him as much as possible but he just doesn't gain much. He isn't sickly (yes, I know I just posted about how we all were sick but this is different) and generally has good color and is typically pretty happy and active. Anyway, he is about 75% in terms of his height but only about 5% in terms of weight.

As a side note, buying clothes is annoying since he never really fits anything. All clothes are geared toward short, chubby kids (yeah, babies are supposed to have a bit of chub! It is healthy!!). Sucks for us but he makes due with clothes that fit his height but in other ways he swims in them. I guess this just makes him look that much skinnier.....

Anyway, on the the story. I was at Costco the other day with Dean and Z. A woman came up to me and said Dean was very adorable. I was pleased (what mother doesn't like to hear that her baby is cute?). She also said he was really cute in that his proportions were really good. Of course I thanked her. But what does that say about our society? That we need really long, skinny babies? That those babies should grow up to be tall, skinny adults?

Don't get me wrong here -- I'm not advocating either extreme. I just think that he really ought to have a bit more on him and I'm a bit disturbed that others see him as "ideal." Isn't that what starts anorexia? Sigh.

Sick Sick Sick

So the reason I've been gone for so long is that we've all been sick with some weird flu. So I went to a mommy/baby group meeting two Saturdays ago. Well Sunday night/Monday morning poor Dean was puking every half an hour to an hour starting at about 2 in the morning! Called the 24hr nurse line. Same info that I'd basically assumed but oh well.

Long story short, come to find out that this was passed around via the mommy group and many of us were puking a couple of days after the meeting. After the tummy part we all got a head cold that stuck around for another week or so. Ugh! Can't wait to be free of any illness. This morning I also got another tummy bug! Had to call in to work sick AGAIN! Anyway, I'm hoping to be able to blog again more regularly.

Carpe This: Moby Wrap

I was totally skeptical about my aunt and her freaking long piece of cloth to tie up and bundle baby in....it just did not seem safe. Plus, it didn't even appear to be all that easy to put on as my uncle was wrapping and flinging cloth here and there.

But then mommy after mommy kept getting it in my group. I felt left out. I all of a sudden needed to get my own wrap. And in a really awesome color! So I went to Amazon and found one:
Here it is on Amazon (where picture came from)

So I got it and I love it! I was able to keep Dean so close to me and it breathed! I can change the holds, too. The only problem with the wrap is that it keeps the weight above my center of gravity so my back can hurt a lot if I carry him around for a long time....but so do others so the point is moot!

Busy Busy Busy

I cannot believe how much time has passed! Seven months and change?!? Sheesh! So Dean has now officially gotten his second tooth (both now on the bottom). I have a picture I want to post but I haven't downloaded it to my computer yet. Stay tuned!

Helpful Gadgets and Registry Must-Haves: A Cuddle for Little Duck

This book is awesome! Cutest little book ever. The illustrations are clearly originally painted so it has a very whimsical feel to it. The rhymes engage little readers, too. It is a book I honestly don't mind reading every day (and actually enjoy it!). I bought this for my cousin and two of my mommy-group friends.

Where did I find it? At my little brothers' book fair of all places. Definitely the best book purchase I've made.

The sun is up and so am I
I've woken Mommy too!
I just can't wait to start our day:
We've lots to see and do!
......
I cuddle up on Mommy's back.
I love you, Mom! I say,
Then fall asleep to dream about
Another lovely day.

I finally carpe'd!

I have been meaning to start this blog for quite awhile now.

Carpe Dean. Seize the Dean! After all, he is starting to scoot/crawl now.

The idea for this blog is going to be for various things son related -- complaints, helpful tools, photos, etc. Look forward to it!