Just stuff...

Monday, 21 May 2007

My love hate relationship with Starbucks continues (yes, at times even I can hate the mothership). While I am finding them a very good place to nurse with their comfy chairs, liberal staff, and good stuff to drink (hydration and all), there are issues. Staff inability to make a drink right continues, and the new crummy thing, many of their restrooms don't have diaper chaning facilities. Seriously, in this day and age, with all of their kiddy friendly drinks, they don't have a place to change a diaper. So I changed Sprout's in front of everyone, then nursed her, so :P.

In other nursing news, the Galleria in Edina rocks. They have a family restroom with a glider! A really nice leather glider, perfect for nursing in. Just totally cool. I continue to be amazed and dismayed about the facilities available to nursing moms. I do believe I'm becoming a lactivist. I've always thought that breastfeeding the best option if you can do it, and with the medical community backing me up, I fail to understnad why the world in general isn't more accomodating. The other news is that we're working on switching positions. Sprout has outgrown the football hold. She isn't tollerating having her legs bunched up when we're on the couch, so I've had to go to the cradle hold. She feeds for longer, which I don't understand... How can a hold make a difference in length of feed? And if she is actually eating more and not just taking longer, just how big is she going to be?

And finally... I feel really guilty about disposable diapers. They come with a bunch of negatives that really go against my upbringing. I try to rationalize them to both myself and my mother, and I guess its good that I think about their impact. Especially since I have a child that seriously goes through them. The kid can poop. However, my guilt is not enough for me to go to cloth, either on my own or with a service. Day care wouldn't cooperate anyways, and I've cleaned enough dirty diapers... thank you mom and Katy. Get to the point, I know. I found something that at least helps a little. I found Seventh Generation unbleached diapers and wipes. Still disposable, but less dioxins going in to the environment. The cost is similar to premium diapers (that we were getting anyways because pooper blows out the cheapies), and I can get a good price by subscribing to them on Amazon. The wipes are here, and the diapers should be here tomorrow. I'll report on if they're any good. The reviews I saw were pretty decent since they improved their design recently. If all goes well, hopefully the guilt will at least reduce a little.

Great...

Sunday, 20 May 2007

Right after signing up for consumer reports, and obsessing over getting the next level of car seat for the Sprout (who has been growing like a weed and will most likely be out of her bucket before I go back to work), I see this on the Strib site. It happens to be that heavy metal contamination is one of my biggest fears. Just to let you in to my head a little... I worry because there are some that link it to autism. And if there is anything that developmentally I fear for the Sprout, its that. Because it usually comes with the inability to communicate. I've spent a lot of time trying to communicate better, and the thought of not being able to communicate with my spawn, scares me more than broken bones, cancer, and just about anything. I'm paranoid, I know. I have a daughter that is growning so fast she's sitting in my arms wearing a 6 - 9 month sleeper that seriously fits entirely too well for her being less than 6 weeks old, and I worry every day that she's not getting enough to eat. I'm going to have to take another look at better living through chemistry before she goes to pre-school. To heck with the side effects.

Its the middle of the night...

Friday, 18 May 2007

Mmm... that was good, thanks for the great meal mom. No really, couldn't have another nibble. Very tasty. No really, I'm full.

10 minutes later.

Damn woman, why won't you feed me. *grasping at nightgown* Seriously, I'm hungry. here. I'm going to suck on this cloth until you feed me more. What do you mean I'm going to pay in another 13 or so years. Whats a mu-mu?

Mom's Day

Sunday, 13 May 2007

I have a new favorite holiday. It used to be my birthday, but after this year, I'm changing my mind. Its at least third on the list. I'm having one of those zero birthdays this year and I'm not entirely sure I'm old enough to have one. Its not that I mind aging, just see my gray hair, its that I don't feel like I've earned the distinction of another decade. I'm not good enough for 30. So, my new favorite holiday is Mother's Day. Not because I got out of almost all of the dirty diapers, but because I really like being a mom. Having a day to have that appreciated is really cool. I got the most amazing card, where the Sprout listed off some of her favorite things about me. Her dad helped her write the lists of course, since she is all of a month and a day old. Most of them involved food, but it was cute and special in a way I didn't expect. Being a mom has really made me appreciate my mom more as well. Not only did she help me grow up to be a strong independent woman, she was also willing to let me go when it was time. I only hope I can do as good of a job as she did. Oh, and my other majorly favorite special day, my anniversary. Because without that, I wouldn't have all of this. And this really rocks.

Eating in Public or Milk and Boobs Everywhere

Wednesday, 9 May 2007

Today the Sprout and I did our first attempt at eating in public. Lets just say, not so good. Fortunately it was at our very cool baby massage class (already found the magic way to help with gas), unfortunately for him, there was one dad there. Poor guy, didn't know what he had coming. There are some issues I have, the first is that Sprout really only gets in a good position when in the football hold. Helps her sit up more, which keeps the gas to a minimum. The second is that I have to watch her because she detaches, or will choke. I need to keep her from swollowing as much air as possible. The third is that I've got milk. My nickname in the house is the Milk Machine or Silver King. If I'm not careful, it goes everywhere. All of those issues, no comfy chair to nurse in, and I was flashing the world, and I got milk on my shirt, all over the Sprout, and the stuff I bring with to try and mop it up.
The only good thing to come from it all is that I found out about Hooter Hiders and because she had eaten, I had time to go looking for one. I didn't find one right away, but I did get a Baby O Nursing Cover that seems like it will work ok. The only real issue is that its silk, so it may not go so well with lots of milk. I eventually found the Hooter Hider, and it only took two visits to posh baby stores. Which, btw, is a good way to fall off of my accidental anti consumerism wagon. Especially when you add in a visit to Whole Foods as well. (they carry all kinds of cool baby stuff) Our big find there was a stuffed broccoli. Need I explain why?
Issues aside though, it was a good day. I'm really getting to the point where I miss talking to other adults, (other than ajd that is) and who can resist going out in public and having people tell you how cute your kid is. Speaking of adults, I'm really hoping for the plant sale, it will be a good way to test my Hooter Hider. :)

Its more than the cheese...

Thursday, 3 May 2007

I didn't realize that giving up dairy would be so hard. The worst part is, the Sprout still has major gas issues. Hopefully thats just an issue of time. Dairy is in the cream of mushroom soup I was using to make easy chicken and rice. Its in things like the cool sauce the serve with the sweet potato fries at the restaurant by our house. Thank god it isn't in mayo, or burgers would really taste like crap.
If this works, I'll be happy that the Sprout may actually be able to get some rest. If it doesn't, I'm having a cheese binge like no other. I expect Pusher's help. It will be bad enough that I should set a budget for myself before I go to Surdyks. It will also involve a chocolate malt, a blizzard (yes I know they are almost the same thing) and meat marinated in yogurt (because of course its grilling season and I have a lamb craving).

On another note, other than some online purchases of slings and a breast pump, I've unintentionally become far less of a consumer. Excluding things like diapers and wipes, of course. I really was inspired by Syl. I've bought a pair of capri's because I need something other than sweats to wear out. (I'm really hoping that I can fit in prepreg clothes after 12 weeks) Other than that, I haven't really gotten much of anything. That will change when Sprout outgrows some of her first set of clothes (something thats very close to happening). However, I've managed to save quite a bit of money. I no longer make daily Starbucks runs, I only eat out rarely because I lack the coordination of schedule to shower more than every other day or so. So, less money spent. I will splurge on a good haircut since the long hair just isn't working. Buts thats really not that much. All crafty spending is done because having cleaned out the room of crafts I know what I have, but I don't have the time to do anything with it. Hopefully these are habbits I can keep when I go back to work. Which would be nice, because we'll be bleeding money to day care.

The office chair rocks...

Tuesday, 1 May 2007

Stupid website froze my browser and lost my post.

The office chair rocks like a rocking chair, something that is saving my butt. I know I should use the swanky glider but that puts me to sleep too. Two and a half weeks old, and we're finally having one of those sleepless nights that everyone kept warning us about. So I'll take the opportunity to share some of the more amusing things about the Sprout. Keeps my mind off the screaming.

She may grow up to be a model. She's already has her first look ala Zoolander.

She snorts when she cries. I'm betting that she'll snort when she laughs when she's older. I can't wait to make fun of her. (I know, horrible parent for looking forward to laughing at/with my kid.)

When she smiles, which is mostly involuntary at this point, she already has her dad wrapped around her little finger. Something he willingly admits. I may have to be the one who disciplines.

She just made a noise like Chewbacca. Its one of the many really funny noises she makes. I wonder sometimes if we find them funny to keep her alive and safe. Otherwise, the upset stomach all the time would get really trying.