Baby Shower Invites!

Baby Shower

Hi All;

Just an update, the girls (Hannah, Tina, Denise, and Gena) will be sending out the invitations to the baby shower very soon! The day is May 5, 2012. I'm very excited! It will be a couples shower... and kids are welcome! Its really just going to be a fun picnic outside! No games, but tons of fun! Just what I would like! Hopefully its beautiful! :)

Name Picked!

Grayson Force Henry

Yes, we decided on a name! Since I realized Ross was not going to give into Jackson and we both like this name AND it was Aunt Pooh's favorite name of our group... we chose Grayson! :) The middle name is Ross' family name that has been passed down to many men! :)

Less than 4 months until we get to meet our little Gray man!

PS... No one call him G-Force or Ross will make me change the name! :)

6 months! 4 to go!

This week I had my 24 week check up aka 6 months! Wow, I can't believe I have been pregnant for 6 months... Monique and I were joking we should go to an AA meeting and get a pin for 6 months sobriety! :)

I'm so conflicted with this pregnancy. I want to enjoy it, but am so damn sad most of the time that I can't seem to be excited anymore. I have 4 months to go and Aunt Pooh has 3 months to live. The math just isn't in my favor. Some times I just think I wish time would stop and then I'm like... I can't be pregnant forever!

I also can't help the feeling that I don't want to annoy people with talk of me too much so I'm probably just going to keep to myself for a little while. Lay low, especially this weekend. Normally I would talk to Aunt Pooh about my pregnancy stuff but right now she is consumed with what is going on with her and I feel like I'm being selfish if I talk about me. I tried talking to some friends but I would start talking and kept getting interrupted by different stuff so I didn't really feel like they REALLY wanted to know. lol... They just asked to be polite... and it made me think I was being the debbie downer... sooooooooo another reason I am just going to keep to myself for a while.

Anyways, I'm feeling him kick a lot. My back is starting to ache a little and I think I had my first taste of acid reflux the other day. So, I am getting some of the pregnancy symptoms people talk about all the time!

Pancreatic Cancer

So, last Thursday,... less than a week ago, Aunt Pooh learned she has Pancreatic Cancer. She has a large (6cm spot) on her pancreas but it has spread also to her liver, lymph nodes along her aorta, femur, hip, and spine. :-( She has been given three months live... maybe longer with chemo.

Now, if you are reading this... then you probably know me... and if you probably know me... then you probably know how head over heels in love with my aunt I have ALWAYS been. This is the Aunt that bought my the coach diaper bag I showed you in a previous post. ;-)

She has always been the absolute best to me. I grew up with a single workaholic mother and often times felt very much alone. I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad, but its definitely true. My aunt always had a way of making me feel special. She would spoil me rotten on a pretty regular basis. I remember when I was 8, I flew out to Nevada by myself for the first time to visit her. I was soooooooo in love with her, I demanded that she take me to get a haircut so that I could look just like her. I remembered just thinking that she is what I wanted to be like. Now, Aunt Pooh did have a SHORT haircut and my grandfather called me Steve when I got back, for it seemed like forever... :-)

When my grandfather passed away a few years later, I was devastated. He was my entire world. I remember feeling like no one would ever love me like he loved me. I was heart broken and devastated. Aunt Pooh was the person that stepped into my life even more to fill that void. It was during her trip home for the funeral that she taught me the expression "Just charge it." :)

In the years that followed my brother and I would visit her yearly. After a while, it was just me visiting her but I loved that even more because I got her all to myself. We could do girly things and watch girly movies and talk about SHOES! We both share an extreme passion for shoes and purses... and most recently we have bonded over decorating.

A few years ago I lost another extremely important person in my life, my grandmother. She had been sick for a little while, but not too long. I took for granted that she would get better because I was naive to her age and illness. But again, I had Aunt Pooh there to curl up in bed and cry for the loss of a woman that raised both me and her.

Everyone asks me how I am feeling these days... mostly sad, but kind of angry. I'm not going to have her with me during this difficult time, like she was with my grandparents. I'm not going to have her for Christmas or Thanksgiving... I have always wanted to have this family that I see my friends have. I have wanted a family that makes time for each other during the holidays and travels to see you or even just makes sure they call. I have,since turning into an adult (recently), tried to reach out to people and invite them to our house, but I haven't had much luck. It always hurts my feelings, but in the end I was grateful that I had Aunt Pooh. She always made sure to try to spend every holiday that she could with me. If I invited her and she COULD make it, she did. Heck! She even came for my housewarming party!

Really, I feel so sad for my child... he deserves someone that will make time for him.... that will inconvenience their life to make his happier. His loss is what I find myself crying for daily. I have said all of this to Aunt Pooh and her response is just that Ross and I will need to be the ones to shower him with love and affection.

The most difficult part of ALL of this is that the person I would normally talk to about what I'm feeling and thinking would be her and because I don't want to upset her or she get upset by something I say, I don't have anyone to talk to about this. I know I have Ross, but being that he is a guy, he isn't very insightful and most of the time I can tell he is uncomfortable with this. I also know I have 100 friends that have offered their ears, but I just can't bring myself to tell them everything that I am thinking. Plus, I can't help but think they will get sick of hearing me talk about this for the next however many months. My stepmother has been wonderful though. Her mom just went through a lot of what Aunt Pooh is going through and passed away in November, so its nice to hear advice from her and she calls regularly so I know she cares not only about me, but about my aunt which makes me feel good.

Anyways... I wanted to see if writing this down would help me feel better... I guess we'll see.

One Step Closer...

Below are our top 5 names. They are in no particular order (except my favorite is number 1)...

1. Jackson
2. Lincoln
3. Hunter
4. Mason
5. Grayson

The Nursery, so far!

Kicks!

So, I thought I would share that last night Ross felt the baby kick for the first time! :) Yay! The kicks are so low still that I wouldn't feel comfortable with anyone else feeling just yet. :) I'm sure in time! :)

Week 20

Half way there!

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Stary Night

So, Monique found this awesome idea! I showed it to Ross and he says he is IN! yay! :) Now I just hope he isn't going to try to actually make real constellations with the stars above.... which knowing him he totally would. :) But thats why I love him!

You do this by buying end tip fiber optics and running it from the attic into the room. The person that posted this picture says that the picture is over exposed so the room isn't as bright as it appears in the picture.

I think our little boy would LOVE this! :)

Ross' Bday Gift

Ross got his first bday gift that was for the baby! yay! I'm not the only one! :) Thanks to my awesome friend, Denise! :)

I'm not sure why this brings me such happiness, but it does! :-) This does remind me how much trouble I am in when I have two boys in the house ganging up on me to watch Star Wars Clone wars... ughhhhhhhh

10 inches!

Okay, so I was reading at week 20 little Baby Henry is 10 inches long!!!

This is insanely big. I held a ruler up to my tummy and I have no idea how a 10 inch child could be inside my stomach!!!!

Okay, that is just my random thought of the day.

19 Week Sonogram Pictures!

Week 19

Your Baby in Week 19 of Pregnancy

He is the size of a grapefruit! Have you ever seen a mango dipped in cheese? Well, that's what your baby looks like this week due to a little growth spurt (she's about a half pound in weight and six inches long) and a substance called vernix caseosa. This greasy white stuff covers your baby's skin, protecting it from the surrounding amniotic fluid. (Without it, she'd look totally wrinkled as she entered the world.) The vernix sheds as delivery approaches, though some babies still sport a bit of the coating at birth.

Your Body in Week 19 of Pregnancy

One minute you're lying peacefully in bed and the next your calf muscle feels like it's about to explode. Leg cramps during pregnancy are pretty common (no one knows exactly what causes them, but muscle fatigue or compressed blood vessels are the likeliest culprits) and tend to strike at night. You might also be wondering about tingling and numbness in your fingers and toes about now. It's a weird sensation but totally normal, probably a result of your body's swelling tissues pressing on nerves.

Gifts for Expecting Moms

So, I have started to put together a gift basket for a friend for when she DOES get pregnant. :-) I don't think she reads my blog, so I think I'm safe. BUT I thought it would be fun to share! I have noticed since getting pregnant that when people give me gifts or presents they are not really for me, but for the baby! lol I think it is super sweet of them, but it definitely got me thinking that this begins my life of nothing being for me. :-) Sighhhhhhhhhhh

At least this gives me some perspective on what I should do for other people.

So, from now on I will give my friends that are pregnant gifts for THEM!

My gift basket for my mystery friend will include:

• Preggatini's Recipe Book


• Spa Gift Card


• Foot soaking solution


• Belly Band


• Organic Belly Lotion


• Tummy sooothing snacks


• Tylenol


• 12 Hours in 12 weeks book


• Organic Shampoo & Conditioner

I'm sure I'll find some more fun stuff to include! But its a start!

Week 18

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Sushi

At first I thought I was going to have a terrible 9 months without sushi, but then I realized there are TONS of rolls that I can still have while pregnant! You just have to stay away from RAW fish. Cooked fish (tempura shrimp, lobster, crab, eel) are safe and vegetable rolls are safe!

I went to eat sushi, this past weekend, with a friend and we both noticed there were TONS of options! She even said she didn't miss the fish at all. Which made me feel good! :)

Funny Stuff!

Okay, I just wanted to share with you what I find absolutely hysterical at work. People that do not know that I am pregnant, no longer look me in the eyes when talking to me! They talk to my belly!!!!!!!!!! It's like they are too scared to ask me if I am pregnant (with good reason)! I love it! I usually tell them at the end but I get a chuckle out of our entire conversation until then! :-)

14 Week Sonogram Pictures

I finally got around to scanning the 14 week sonogram pictures. My favorite is his little hand! :) Next week we'll have the 3D sonogram pictures!

First Prenatal Massage

So, yesterday I had my first prenatal massage! AND I'm in love. I'm going to try to do this once a month until I give birth because I definitely had a lot of tension in my neck and back.

I went to Massage Envy and I signed up for their membership plan which really is a great deal!

The difference in this massage and other massages is that you lay on your side, hugging a body pillow. I was a little skeptical how this could be as relaxing a regular massage, but it was fine. The massage you receive is a Swedish massage, which I do love. I had her solely concentrate on my neck, back, and shoulders. The lady did say there are lots of trigger points in your legs that can induce labor.

Anyways, I highly recommend it for any preggers friends! :)

Siri, every pregnant girl's best friend.

So, my memory was already shot pre-pregnancy. As of a result of "pregnancy brain", I am even more lost!

Here steps in Siri. She is the new personal assistant app exclusive to the iPhone 4s. My favorite feature of this app is the location based reminders. I can't tell you how often I have said, "Siri, remind me when I get home to _________" OR "Siri, remind me when I get to work to _______." She uses your location to determine where you are. You can set this up in your profile: the addresses for your home or work and you can have her learn other locations as well. Its.Amazing.

You can ALSO have her remind you at certain times of the day of something. Seriously, this really is perfect for my lack of memory. :)

Week 17

Don't look now, but... your baby is EVEN bigger, cuter, AND smarter than last week!

Yes ma'am, your fantastic little bean stalk has added yet another half inch to their overall height - making them nearly half a foot long!

Their little limbs have nearly reached their proper proportions and will continue to grow evenly with the rest of the body from here on out.

They're now becoming capable of hearing and reacting to sounds even though their ears are not yet structurally complete or fully functional.

Meanwhile, different parts of your mini-Einstein's astonishingly complex brain are developing to process your little one's hearing and other senses, (you know, sight, smell, taste and touch).
Mind boggling factoid of the week: if you're having going to have a little girl, her ovaries have already produced millions of primordial egg cells, which, within a few weeks, will develop into actual eggs! Phew… just wait till she's a teenager eh?

He's the size of a red onion this week!

Best Aunt EVER!

Aunt Pooh bought me the Coach Diaper bag!!! yayayayayayayayayayayayaya! I think she knows her nephew-in-law very well and knew he wasn't going to buy it for me. :-)

Thank you so much Aunt Pooh!

Birthing Class Booked

Okay, I signed Ross & I up for our birthing class! This should be interesting! It is about a month before we are suppose to give birth, so hopefully I can retain the information. :-)

This is what we are suppose to learn:

A childbirth class is a great way to prepare for labor and birth. The typical class includes up to eight weekly sessions and consists of lectures, discussion, and exercises, led by a trained childbirth instructor.

While approaches vary, the goal is to provide you with information to minimize your fears and help you make informed decisions. You'll also learn techniques to help you relax and cope.
Most hospitals offer classes, or you can take one through an independent instructor or organization. Classes range from intensive courses that begin early in pregnancy and continue through the postpartum period to one-shot refresher sessions.
Classes should cover:

• The signs of labor


• The normal progress of labor and birth


• Techniques for coping with pain


• How your partner can help you during labor


• When to call your doctor or midwife

In addition, they generally cover some of the more common childbirth complications and how they might be handled. Most will show videos of both a vaginal birth and a c-section.
Classes should also teach the basics of breastfeeding and newborn care. (If you'd like more detail about nursing and baby care, you can generally find separate in-depth classes on these topics. Early pregnancy classes are usually available as well.)

Babymoon

Just like a honeymoon is a relaxing time to spend with your hubby after a hectic wedding and before the daily routine of married life begins, a babymoon is a vacation you take before the arrival of the baby. The purpose of a babymoon is to give us one last relaxing vacation before our vacations involve Disney World and revolve around our little guy's interest. :)

I think I know what weekend, President's Day weekend. That way, I don't have to take as much time off from work and it is in our second trimester. Doctors advise you not to travel during your third trimester.

Soooooooooooooo where to go!

We don't want to spend a lot of money because we have so much to buy for the baby! But we want to have a nice relaxing time. Really, I can't do much. :-( I pretty much can lay out, swim, and snorkel. I am usually the most active person on our vacations. I love being adventurous and para sailing, zip lining, swimming with sea turtles, jet skiing, taking hard hikes, really you name it and I will do it!

Choice 1. Take a Cruise

We have only been on one cruise but LOVED it. They are so inexpensive and all the food is free! Alcohol isn't but since that isn't a problem for me I am thinking this option is more and more the way to go. We loved the excursions you could sign up for but of course I can still snorkel and if we port in a city, we can just explore!

Choice 2. Bahamas

This place is relatively inexpensive if you compare it to other destinations and a fairly easy flight. I haven't found an option for under $3,000 so that's a bit of a bummer but I'm looking at some options of shortening our stay a bit.

Choice 3. Key West

This was Ross' idea. At first I wasn't thrilled about it because you DRINK in Key West. I mean, don't get me wrong I LOVE Key West but I would be scared I would feel left out with all the drunk people. I could still go snorkeling though and just lay by the pool. Key West is definitely not known for their beach.

Choice 4. A Sandals Resort

I have always wanted to do an all inclusive resort but I just don't think now is the time. I had heard from a friend that the Sandals she went to let her have an alcohol credit because she was pregnant. I emailed a couple of the Sandals and they all said no to this. :-( So, I'm not sure it is worth the price.

Choice 5. ???????

Email me with a suggestion!!!!

My Preppy Baby

So, as anyone close to Ross and I know I dress my husband. Well, I pick out the clothes he should buy or buy them for him. He is getting better about picking out clothes for himself, recently but I think he just knows to stick to JCrew or Banana and he's safe. ;-)

Anyways, I'm sure you can guess that I will dress my little man in VERY similar outfits. :-) Who knows, I might even be able to get a matching outfit to Ross! :)

Boy clothes aren't as cute as girl clothes, but I did find some super cute ones below! I can't wait to prep this kid out! :-)

(I'm pretty sure Ross has this exact outfit, above)

Prenatal Screening

During our 16 week check up, I had blood drawn to check for birth defects in the baby. I got the results today and we are NEGATIVE! yay!!! :)

Even if this test does come back positive, it doesn't definitely mean your baby has birth defects, they would just send you to a specialist to do a sonogram and check for abnormalities.

The main one this test checks for is down syndrome (trisomy 21) in which the baby has an extra chromosome.

They not only look at your blood work results, but also look at your medical history. This information is used to interpret the test results and includes any history of diabetes, your race, age, weight, and the number of weeks you have been pregnant.

Ross said he wasn't worried, but of course I was. :-) So, I'm relieved to make it past this and ready for my next hurdle which is the 20 week marker. The technician that did our sonogram said that if you make it to 20 weeks, you are good to go in your pregnancy! :-)

What.To.Read....

Of these two books, I'm all for the first one! Ross and I are in this alone and I love the Step-by-Step Plan! Tell me exactly what I need to do!!!!!!!!!


Baby Wise is also a great book, but Twelve Hours' Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old I think is the one for me.


"Babies need it, parents want it-- the call for a good night’s sleep has parents everywhere looking for a solution like this: an easy-to-follow plan from a renowned baby sleep specialist that delivers on the promise of its title. There is no bigger issue for healthy infants than sleeping through the night. In this simple, straightforward book, Suzy Giordano presents her amazingly effective "Limited- Crying Solution" that will get any baby to sleep for twelve hours at night—and three hours in the day—by the age of twelve weeks old.

Giordano is the mother of five children and one of the most sought-after baby sleep specialists in the country. The Washington Post calls her a baby sleep "guru" and "an underground legend in the Washington area for her ability to teach newborns how to achieve that parenting nirvana: sleeping through the night." Her sleep plan has been tested with singletons, twins, triplets, babies with special needs, and colicky babies—and it has never failed.

Whether you are pregnant, first-time parents, or parents who seek a different path with your second or third child, anyone can benefit from the Baby Coach’s popular system of regular feeding times, twelve hours of sleep at night and three hours of sleep during the day, and the peace of mind that comes with taking the parent and child out of a sleep- deprived world."



"The infant management concepts presented in this book have found favor with over two million parents and twice as many contented babies. On Becoming Babywise brings hope to the tired and bewildered parents looking for an alternative to sleepless nights and fussy babies. The Babywise Parent Directed Feeding concept has enough structure to bring security and order to your baby's world, yet enough flexibility to give mom freedom to respond to any need at any time. It teaches parents how to lovingly guide their baby's day rather than be guided or enslaved to the infant's unknown needs. The information contained within On Becoming Babywise is loaded with success. Comprehensive breast-feeding follow-up surveys spanning three countries, of mothers using the PDF method verify that as a result of the PDF concepts, 88% breast-feed, compared to the national average of only 54% (from the National Center for Health Statistics). Of these breast-feeding mothers, 80% of them breast-feed exclusively without a formula complement. And while 70% of our mothers are still breast-feeding after six months, the national average encourage to follow demand feeding without any guidelines is only 20%. The mean average time of breast-feeding for PDF moms is 33 1/2 weeks, well above the national average. Over 50% of PDF mothers extend their breast-feeding toward and well into the first year. Added to these statistics is another critical factor. The average breast-fed PDF baby sleeps continuously through night seven to eight hours between weeks seven and nine. Healthy sleep in infants is analogous to healthy growth and development. Find out for yourself why a world of parents and pediatricians utilize the concepts found in On Becoming Babywise."

JCrew 10% off + Free Shipping

Okay, another little known secret of mine...

If you sign up for JCrew's email on their website, the next day they will send you a 10% off + free shipping promo code! The code is only for 1 time use but can be applied to non-sale items. They have tons of promo codes for sale items, but non-sale items are RARE.

After you receive your items, I suggest just unsubscribing to their emails and when you need 10% off again, just subscribe again!

Happy shopping!

;-)

Space Nursery

I decided on the space nursery. I have ordered the art for the room and I am super excited because I found this star map for $30 marked down from $90 at Pottery Barn Kids!

Kicks!

So, just now I felt our bundle of joy kick for the first time. It was only 3 little "pops" but it felt like popcorn popping inside of my stomach! How exciting! It was on my right side only, but felt pretty great to know he is letting me know he is in there!

Baby Bennett

Last night we went out to dinner with our CV circle friends and Gena & Nate brought their brand new baby, Bennett! He is 5 days old in this picture but Ross braved his tininess and held him for a long time! I think he is ready!

My Little Jedi

I received this super cute maternity shirt from Brad, Mel, Brady, and Barrett the other day and thought I would share with you! Obviously Ross loves Star Wars so its perfect for my bump! Thank ya'll! Love you!

"The Force is Strong With This One"

16 Week Doctor's Visit

Yesterday we had our 16 week (4 months) doctor's visit. It went really well! :)

I have actually lost 3 lbs. Usually people have gained 5 lbs by now so I'm looking at it as a negative 8 lbs. :)

I'm just trying to eat better food and I think no alcohol and tons of water have also contributed to my weight loss. I know I HAVE to gain pounds during pregnancy but because I have inherited my family's horrible metabolism, I'm trying to be good about exercising and food. :)

So, one cool thing we did was record the baby's heart beat at our visit. I swear, it is music to my ears...

10% off always at Pottery Barn

Okay, so I know a lot of my friends know of my secret, but for anyone that doesn't here it is:

At http://www.potterybarn.com/ and http://www.potterybarnkids.com/ if your registry date passes you get 10% off anything on your registry. Now, you can also add things after your registry has ended AND if you are in store and see something you must have, you can also add them right there and get the 10% off for 6 months after your date.

Say what you will, but I think this idea is brilliant. ;-)

I created a fake birth date of January 4, 2012 and was able to get 10% off my dresser which comes to $80 off. That definitely helped towards the astronomical price of delivery!

But as the 6 month expiration date approaches, I just change the date again so that I always get 10% off. :-)

10% isn't a lot, but its something!

The Perfect Diaper Bag

So, I haven't convinced Ross yet..... but there is plenty of time from now until Valentine's Day... :-) But isn't this Coach Diaper bag awesome?! Here are the reasons I need this:

1. I need a diaper bag.



2. I love coach.



3. It comes with a MATCHING coach changing pad!!!!



4. It matches my purse. Not just that my purse is coach, but it has the tan CC all over it.



5. It has baby blue for a boy.
   


6. I want it.



7. It is under $300. ($298)



8. I have given up Starbucks Ice Coffees, sushi, wine, bubble baths, and snowboarding this season.



9. I can't name my son my dream name of Jackson.



10. Ross can NOT get me flowers and use that money towards this.



11. Are you reading my blog, Ross? Bc these are all good reasons!
    

Week 16

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Ordered!

Yay! Thanks to my parents offering to help towards the dresser as well as my hubby budgetting, I ordered my first piece of furniture for the nursery! :) It's pictured above.

Right now I have a nice huge pile of stuff in the middle of the room from gifts people have given me as well as free stuff I have gratefully accepted! I am a bit of an organizational freak (which is kind of an under statement) so this pile is driving me CRAZY. At least when I get the dresser I can have somewhere to put these things!

PLUS this will be an incentive for Ross to paint the nursery before the furniture comes.

Win/win.

The Bump has arrived.

Every picture I take of myself in my house has a cat in it. They stalk me.

To work or not to work, that is the question.

So, after an extremely heated conversation with my mother-in-law, I decided this was a fantastic topic on my blog.

My mother in law is a stay at home mom with no kids... to be specific her kids have been out of the house now for 15 years. So, obviously you know where she stands on this.

I say, to each their own. Each person has a different personality and perspective on this, so why would you judge anyone for what decision they make? There are benefits to both and negatives to both.

I have decided to go back to work after the FMLA covered 12 weeks. Currently, we have a newly built house and will have new expenses for a child that we didn't have before. So, I do not see an option for me to stay home right now. I make more in a week than I could spend on daycare and I will be able to help provide for my child so that hopefully he has a better life than I did. Which, I'm pretty sure is every parent's goal for their child.

I think my sister-in-law said it best when she said, its easier to go back to work immediately and see if it works than quit and not be able to find full time employment when you need it. If it doesn't work out with times, I can look at possible part time options here.

My mother-in-law just kept saying that she doesn't think its right to have someone else raise your child. I, myself, do not see a daycare provider as raising my child. I believe that is still my responsibility to instill my values and teach them right and wrong. My daycare provider would of course be nurturing, but in an ideal situation it will be much like a learning environment (like school). I would hope other parent's do not think when they send their child to preschool that the teacher is then raising their child. Studies have shown, children who are in quality daycare have increases in cognitive skills, intellect, social skills and social comfort.

What blows my mind most of all about this topic is the sexism it places in favor of men. Men are never EXPECTED to be stay at home dads and what infuriates me is that men are not looked at as being uncaring or neglectful because they miss their child's first step due to working.

These are just my thoughts, right or wrong. I was very upset over the conversation this past weekend and was hoping writing down my thoughts would help me get over it. We'll see! :-)

When you are pregnant everyone is SO opinionated about everything you should do or not do. I say, keep your opinions to yourself. Let someone research for themselves if they should color their hair or go organic or stay at home. Our personalities are different and what is ok for one person, isn't ok for another.

1/2 Green Tea, 1/2 Lemonade

The best kept secret Panera Bread has is the 1/2 green tea, 1/2 lemonade. It is not on the menu, but if you ask for it, it is made. This is what I am craving 24/7. Its delish!

:-)

My Little Boarder

This is a picture of my little boy at age 6. Obvioulsy I got a time machine and found him 6 years in the future! :) I plan as soon as he can walk to get him on the bunny slope. He can then teach his dad how to carve correctly! :-) <3 you honey!

Seriously though, he's going to be the next Shaun White (but way better looking).