Thankful

My New Year's resolution in 2007 was to have an "attitude of gratitude." At the time, I had become a whiny 5th grade teacher that complained more than my share about my students, salary, and loneliness. So, I made it a point to reverse that rottenness and focus on the fabulous things in life.



In the spirit of my '07 resolution, here's my "Thankful List" for 2008:

-A little boy that laughs at puppies, cries when his Daddy leaves for work and holds my heart in his pudgy, little hands

-A husband that says "you were right" on occasion and brings me flowers or cheese fries when I've had a bad day.

-Being 1 hour from my family instead of 7

-My incredible friends that run when I need them, laugh when I screw up and don't really mind that I feel I am a medical expert now that I have a baby

-My family, who have given me such a rich heritage and such a warm place to come home

-My husband's family, who make life so much fun

-The annual family football game, especially since I didn't get picked last this year

-A new home with my very own bathroom and hot pink laundry room

-A Dad that listens, a Mom that encourages and a little sister that kicks arse

-A God that loves me....truly, really loves me

The Snotty Nose and the Drama Queen

It finally happened. The thing I've been trying to avoid for 11 months.

My baby is sick.

It started Wednesday night with a fever over 102 degrees, (which makes a new mom freak), and continued into the weekend. My arm and hip ached from holding him all day, and we lived on fast food for a week because I couldn't put him down to cook.

My doctor said to keep an eye on him and watch his fever. Ever the drama queen, I took his temperature, shot saline solution up his nose, and called my mom every 2 hours. I might have over-used my calling privileges to the nurse at my doctor's office as well. When I brought him in today, she immediately recognized my voice and knew why I was there. I'm not even embarrassed.

It hit me, sometime between tearing through Target looking for the perfect vaporizer and trying to figure out a way to sleep in his room that I am, oh crap, the mom now.

My friend Carolyn read my thoughts when she said, "you're wondering what you did wrong." Yes, exactly. How could he get sick when I've done everything the books, doctors and mommies told me?

The answer didn't come to me until Dr. B. took one look at my panicked face and said, "Sara, you can't keep him in a bubble." She's right, and I'm going to struggle with that until my son looks at me, one day, and tells me the same thing his daddy does:

"Leave me alone, I'm a man and I have the constitution of an ox."

Thank goodness, my poor, 'ol heart can't take much more of this.

I Can't Help It!

Every mommy gets more unsolicited advice than they will ever want. I used to get all testy when a well-meaning mom would give me suggestions. How dare she! Of course, now that I am a mom, I find myself "sharing my thoughts" before biting my tongue when I realize I'm doing the exact same thing I used to gripe about. Even though I think I have some fabulous tips, I will keep them to myself unless asked...and, write them on my blog to no one in particular.

What I've Learned in the First Year of Mommyhood: Part I


1. Stop reading so many parenting books, they'll make you crazy. My husband was going to revoke my library card at one point. That said, these are my only recommendations:

• Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth (the baby sleep BIBLE!)
  
• The Baby Book by Dr. William Sears
• The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood by Dr. William Sears
• Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron
• Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy (she's hilarious and I needed a laugh!)
  

2. Try the attachment parenting theory when they're newborn, there is NO FREAKING WAY you will ever put a newborn on a schedule until they're fat, happy and less gassy. you'll start sleeping again around 4-months.

3. Get over life never being the same.

4. You know those nice clothes you used to wear? Get yourself to Wal-Mart and be introduced to your new wardrobe for the next few years. Yeah, you know you look sexy in those Hanes t-shirts! Work it, baby!

5. Krispy Kreme has a drive-thru. Use it on those really bad days. Don't even be ashamed.

6. Things to register for: A Medela Breastpump, a video monitor, (it's not a waste of money if you're paranoid like me and check on your baby every 10 minutes..), a bottle warmer, and an easy stroller.

7. Get out of the house at least once every day. Fresh air is revitalizing.

8. Give your baby 1tsp of flax oil everyday after they're 6 months old and you will never have constipation drama again. Try to make sure your husband is on duty when that flax kicks in.

More to come, I have to get this all out before my friend has her first baby. It's like I have advice diarrhea!

My Rampage

I didn't want to be that mom.

You know, the know-it-all that walked into her pediatrician's office with an armload of research and 1,000 questions to squeeze into a 10-minute well-baby check-up.

And then he came along, and I can't stop reading and questioning.

I'm learning, after countless hours of research and interviewing, that the current load of vaccinations given to children could have an adverse affect on their health. There are compelling arguments for both sides:

Why would I subject my baby to a disease if I could protect him from it?

Why would I inject my baby with a substance that has been linked to autoimmune disorders or, quite possibly, autism?

I thought my biggest battles would be the sleepless nights and the "extra love" that hangs over my jeans now. Not so much. I've scoured the library and the internet looking for information to give me peace and knowledge about vaccinating our son. I've quizzed parents, nurses, doctors and health nuts, trying to find a solid answer. I've been told a range of things from, "stand your ground, girl, this is your baby and the doctors don't know everything," to, "there needs to be more vaccinations because, praise Jesus, they are just wonderful."

I trust my mommy instinct. I trust, after all of my reading, that the mommies are on to something, and they won't be quiet about it until appropriate research is done into this very important matter. So, I'm going to continue researching, asking and terrorizing my pediatrician. (I think I'll bake her cookies next time...)

Why be a nutcase about it?

Because he's worth it- and I'm just a little nutty anyway.