tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378380722024-03-13T06:18:48.182-07:00It's Mommy TimeOne Mommy, Two Daughters, Zero TimeAlisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-1853180376160681592009-04-28T19:08:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:49:43.747-07:00What Not to Wear<span style="font-family: arial;">This post should probably be called What You Can't Wear Anymore or maybe The 5 Things that You Can Wear or more appropriately Another Post Wear I Bitch About Something. Today, I'd like to bitch about my wardrobe or lack thereof. Since I had Sophia and swore off all maternity clothes, I have very little to wear. Every morning, I walk into a completely full closet and pull out one of about three outfits that fit me. "Oh you must be exaggerating," you say. Ha!!! Let me detail exactly what I have that "fits"</span><br style="font-family: arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">1 pair of jeans - they are actually too big, but I refuse to buy a smaller size because eventually, I'll fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans, right? Of course, by then they'll be out of style, but it's the principle of the thing.</span><br style="font-family: arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">1 long black skirt/1 long denim skirt - these have been my summer staple so far whenever I need to look respectable.</span><br style="font-family: arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2 polo shirts - I picked these up at Target a few weeks ago when I literally couldn't fit into anything but a t-shirt. Unfortunately, I later learned that busty women (i.e. breastfeeding Moms) should not wear polo shirts because they make you look like you have a uni-boob. Great. Thanks for the advice!</span><br style="font-family: arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2 casual type cotton shirts - These I bought recently and apparently the v-neck and scoop necklines are better for busty ladies so I guess I lucked out on picking 2 things that actually fit and look respectably good (supposedly).</span><br style="font-family: arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">3 pairs of workout shorts - I'm not proud of these or the white, pasty legs that stick out of them, but it's getting hot here so the world will have to suffer with this fashion nightmare.</span><br style="font-family: arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Endless supply of t-shirts - This is pretty much what I wear every day. I have three types of t-shirts. I'll describe them in descending order from the ones I have the least of which is nice, clean, unstained, well-fitting t-shirts to ones that are either too big, too small, or too stained. This second bunch might still be worn in public, but I would have to justify that by remembering that I have a newborn. Finally, the ones that I have the most of are the too big, too stained, and too deteriorated kind (some that literally have holes in them). These shirts are saved for days when I'm mostly in the house, but let's face it I'm not above wearing them somewhere like the grocery store if I didn't feel like changing. </span><br style="font-family: arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2 sweatsuits - yup, the kind your grandma wears. I'm not proud.</span><br style="font-family: arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ok. That is the full extent of the clothes in my closet that I can wear right now. I'm only about 13lbs above where I was pre-pregnancy, but I think that even if I lose the weight, I'm still not going to fit into stuff. You see things just aren't where they used to be. I've tried to go to the store to buy more clothes, but everything either looks weird with my new shape or is too expensive for what I'm hoping is a temporary size issue. I've actually started walking and exercising this week not because I think that I look that bad but because I'm tired of wearing the exact same 4 shirts, 2 skirts, and 1 pair of jeans over and over again. </span><br style="font-family: arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Plus, let's face it, Sophia is going to be 6 weeks old on Friday, which means that I'm getting dangerously close to not being able to use the newborn excuse for my disheveled appearance anymore. I suppose that sometime in the next 2 weeks or so I'll have to start wearing makeup and combing my hair again. If I don't, I hope that someone has Stacy and Clinton (hosts of What Not to Wear) on speed dial because at that point they might be my only hope. </span><br />Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-5040181864217557052009-04-28T18:53:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:49:42.774-07:00Backward Logic<span style="font-family: arial;">One of Hailey's favorite new words is "because." The way that she employs "because" in sentences is quite unique. Set aside the fact that she could use 4-8 "because's" in a sentence, thereby creating the longest run on in the history of man, and you are left with the use of "because" to create some very backward logic. Let me give you some of my favorite examples...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's a simple one that she used tonight...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Josie's not feeling good because we have to take her to the doggy doctor."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Then, they can get a little more complex...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"I'm hungry because I need to eat macaroni and cheese because it makes me get taller because it comes in a bowl because we eat it for breakfast."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Her turns of phrase are so entertaining (although less entertaining when she's on her 6th because, and you've forgotten what the point of the sentence was to begin with). Being the daughter of an English teacher and a logic master, I can't help but rearrange the sentences and repeat them back to her every once in a while. Still, it's just so cute that I hate to force real logic on her too soon. For now, we can't translate the sentences because we have to sit back and enjoy them because Hailey is her own unique personality because she says the craziest things sometimes. It's actually quite hard to write in reverse logic...you should try it!!! </span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-58896471293714464312009-04-25T06:26:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:49:42.775-07:00Little Miss High Maintenance<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SfMQYccw7WI/AAAAAAAAAr8/GkqRVNJp8d0/s1600-h/photo%2814%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SfMQYccw7WI/AAAAAAAAAr8/GkqRVNJp8d0/s320/photo%2814%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328620796249173346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">She reluctantly took the pacifier yesterday!!!</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Sophia is just a wonderful, happy baby (for the most part), but I have to say that I forgot how high maintenance infants are. Or, maybe it's just that Sophia herself is a little high maintenance. She is certainly more demanding than her sister was both in the fact that she doesn't take a binky and that she hates to be wet or cold or not in someone's arms. She also isn't a big fan of the bottle, but she'll take it eventually when the milk starts to choke her. Although I have a list a mile long of things that I want to accomplish while on maternity leave, it's hard to do much other than hold her, feed her, watch her, etc. Still, I must remind myself that the reason I'm on maternity leave is to hold her, feed her, watch her, etc. That should be enough, and when it's not, she reminds me to focus on what's really important - her! </span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-68908969633006405662009-04-21T14:47:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:49:42.775-07:00A Funny Conversation<span style="font-family:arial;">Hailey: "Mommy, I want to ask you a question about Cato (a boy from her class). Cato said that he would come to my house this weekend and dance with me. First I'll put on my dress and then my slippers then Cato will come and he'll dance with me." (I don't know where the question went because she didn't ask me if Cato could come over. She just told me that he was coming over.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Mom: "Did you ask Cato to come to your house or did he just offer?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Hailey: "I asked him and he said that he would, but I didn't ask Marley. Cato is a cute boy, and he's a good listener."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Oh my...I guess this is starting already. I'm not ready for this silliness. </span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-75392230506497933122009-04-15T11:40:00.001-07:002009-04-15T11:41:00.411-07:00Breastfeeding...The Ugly Truth<span style="font-family:arial;">If anyone ever tries to tell you that breastfeeding is the most wonderful experience in a woman's life, just look at them and say "Liar, liar boobs on fire." Because it is a lie, a lie that is perpetuated breastfeeding extremists and Mom's who are so far removed from the actual experience that they have the same rosy yet warped memory about breastfeeding as they probably have about childbirth. Let me be perfectly clear...breastfeeding is not fun!!!! Nope, it's hard work, especially at the beginning. Just to give you some context in case you've never breastfed before, you can simulate the breastfeeding experience by following these simple steps:<br /><br /></span><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Go out to your garage, get the most coarse sandpaper you can find, take your shirt off and rub it on your nipples for 10-15 minutes. That's what breastfeeding feels like at the beginning. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Wear a bra 24 hours a day for 4-6 weeks. You have to protect those tender nipples and this is the only way. Now, don't you feel a little less than fresh? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Stuff two small watermelons (or heavy bocce balls) in your bra and try carrying them around all day long. Does your back ache yet? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Drop what you are doing every 2 hours so that you can sit perfectly still for 20-40 minutes. Don't move or you might as well throw a clothespin on your nipple because the baby has just bitten it off. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Throw away all of your cute tops that you used to wear because those won't fit you for a very very long time. Nope. It's time to invest in some XXL tops because that's all you can wear. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Every morning be sure that you put a nice swath of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-family:arial;">deodorant</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> under each boob because now that they hang down to your knees, you really need to be sure that the area doesn't get as stinky as you might imagine knee length boobs getting underneath. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Finally, next time you are out in public or maybe at work, run into the restroom and splash some water on the front of your shirt to simulate the milk leakage that you get from time to time. As an extra bonus, you should get some sour milk and dump a little on your shoulder. That way you can smell spit up all day long.<br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />If you think that I'm exaggerating, consider this...I was a C-cup before I had Hailey and Sophia. Right now, I'm an H-cup. FYI - They don't do the double D system anymore, they just keep counting up the letters. So, I'm five cup sizes bigger than I was before (and 2 underwear sizes, but let's not go there). Of course, in a few months this won't seem so bad. Sophia will be eating on some type of schedule, she'll be taking bottles some of the time, and I'll be used to my new XL wardrobe. Plus, I'll enjoy curling up each night to reconnect with her after a long day's absence. Still, right now those days seem like they are so far away, and I'm very tired. I think it's time to start her on a bottle before I lose my mind. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As bad as it sounds, I would never consider not breastfeeding. Shockingly, the advantages really do outweigh all of these disadvantages, I swear.</span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-39508007633122935052009-04-14T18:30:00.000-07:002009-04-15T08:42:01.222-07:00UPDATESince I started this blog in 2006, quite a number of major changes have happened in our lives. We moved from Nashville to Atlanta. Hailey is now 2, turning 3 in July, and I had a second daughter, Sophia Catherine on March 20, 2009. So, we're back to the beginning in terms of child rearing. Life with 2 kids has been quite different so far.<br /><br />When we found out that we were having another girl, I was incredibly scared. There is so much drama with one girl that I can't imagine dealing with two. Plus, can you imagine when they are teenagers????<br /><br />I decided to start this blog again to provide insights and thoughts about being a feminist and raising two daughters.Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-19799202695542010602009-04-09T19:14:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:49:42.775-07:00Respect the Mommies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/Sd6vLo3omeI/AAAAAAAAAq8/K-fCedUWd4o/s1600-h/IMG_0514.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/Sd6vLo3omeI/AAAAAAAAAq8/K-fCedUWd4o/s320/IMG_0514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322884424082692578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/Sd6vIAT9o1I/AAAAAAAAAq0/lc-jfTw2aDk/s1600-h/IMG_0539.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/Sd6vIAT9o1I/AAAAAAAAAq0/lc-jfTw2aDk/s320/IMG_0539.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322884361656050514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/Sd6u7hQfwBI/AAAAAAAAAqs/T_tVvTIbZxE/s1600-h/IMG_0503.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/Sd6u7hQfwBI/AAAAAAAAAqs/T_tVvTIbZxE/s320/IMG_0503.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322884147161579538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Being at home with two girls for even a few days over the past few weeks gives me an all new respect for stay-at-home Moms. I've always thought that being a stay-at-home Mom would be more difficult for me than being a working Mom. I've said repeatedly that working makes me a better Mom, and I truly believe that. I guess I never realized just how much harder staying at home was. I'm honestly getting the hang of it now. I've been able to take the girls on multiple outings all by myself. I've also learned to multitask with them so that I can feed Sophia and entertain Hailey at the same time. I've got a decent </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-family:arial;">rhythm</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> going. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Still, it's exhausting. If stay-at-home Moms were fairies, they would be patience talent fairies (a rare talent, indeed). Yes, I've been watching a lot of the Tinkerbell movie, and you would get the reference if you live with a 2-year-old. Anyway, I wonder what my fairy talent would be? Disillusioned fairy? Impatience fairy? No...has to be Moo Cow Fairy. </span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-73350330293185786052009-04-07T09:25:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:49:42.775-07:00Worst Mother EVER!<span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes when I hear Hailey's call for "Mommy" in the middle of the night, I wonder to myself "who is this mythical Mommy character that she wants?" Surely, she is not referring to me. She could not possibly expect me to get out of my warm bed to attend to her lost glow worm, dropped blanket, unquenchable thirst, etc. I heard the call again this morning around 5:00am. Keep in mind that I've had a chest cold for a few days now so I'm not sleeping or feeling well. Regardless, I went in to find Hailey searching for her glow worm, which I quickly found and returned. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">My general rule is that I will go into her room one time to be sure that there isn't an emergency, but after that she's on her own. For some reason, I broke the rule this time. We proceeded to play the call Mommy game for about an hour. She was complaining that her stomach hurt, which if fairly typical when she's hungry or has to poop. After eliminating those two causes, I finally made Daddy go in. At that point, Daddy brought Hailey into our room to "sleep." What ensued were 2 hours of screaming almost hysterically about her stomach, ears, and neck hurting. While I considered the possibility that she was really sick, I thought that the more likely scenario was that she could not sleep and wanted some attention. She got attention, Tylenol, milk, a bagel, and three episodes of her favorite show. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">By the time real morning came (8:00am), she seemed fine again. She didn't feel particularly warm as if she had a fever. She was smiley and talkative. I thought the earlier 2 hours were a fluke so I let her go to school. About 3 hours later, I got a call from school. Hailey has a fever and needs to go home. Argh! So now Hailey and I are home sick, AND I feel like a horrible mother for ignoring my child's symptoms. I AM that mother who people curse for sending their child to school sick. What a horrible, crappy, cold, yucky day. Thank goodness Sophia is fine, so far.</span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-15953847520185595682009-04-02T17:39:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:49:42.775-07:00I Survived<span style="font-family: arial;">Hailey came home from school with pink eye on Tuesday. Of course, she couldn't go to school on Wednesday or Thursday, which meant that I had both girls at home with me for two days. I have to say that it was a fairly eventful two days even though we didn't actually do much. Here's everything that we survived together...</span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial;">2 Severe thunderstorms</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Trip to the doctor</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Sophia poop explosion in the middle of CVS</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Sophia melt down in the middle of CVS</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">3 sets of eye drops every day</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Bout of pink eye for Hailey</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Bout of pink eye for Mama</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Josie bite to Hailey's forehead (not severe)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">2 Baths - one for Hailey/one for Sophia</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Timeout</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">It doesn't sound like much, but this stay at home Mommy stuff is really hard. By the end of today, I was pretty desperate for Luke to come home</span>. <span style="font-family: arial;">I think that it would have been better if the weather had been nicer today so that I could have taken the girls out somewhere. However, the rain was pretty bad, and I don't quite have the 2-kid-confidence yet to venture out under those conditions. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it eventually.</span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-69976476336772959632009-03-30T07:32:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:49:42.776-07:0010 Things You Forget<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SdDZ8otyXeI/AAAAAAAAApo/d97deN6-coY/s1600-h/photo%288%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SdDZ8otyXeI/AAAAAAAAApo/d97deN6-coY/s320/photo%288%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318990795669396962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Napping in bed...shhh...don't tell anyone that I let her sleep on her side!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SdDYUibFycI/AAAAAAAAApY/uAjGj92X2xo/s1600-h/photo%2810%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SdDYUibFycI/AAAAAAAAApY/uAjGj92X2xo/s320/photo%2810%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318989007273970114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's my hand for some size perspective.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SdDYOO7J3bI/AAAAAAAAApQ/rAezdE2SCHk/s1600-h/photo%289%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SdDYOO7J3bI/AAAAAAAAApQ/rAezdE2SCHk/s320/photo%289%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318988898960530866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Satisfied customer</span> after the Mommy buffet<br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">With the second one, you think that you should know what you're doing. Here are 10 things that we definitely forgot about between #1 and #2...</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">10. How quickly you become exhausted</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">9. The consistency of baby poop</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">8. The unpredictability of baby poop</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">7. How often they have to eat</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">6. How precious they are when they're asleep</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">5. How demanding they are when they're awake</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">4. How much laundry is required to keep them in clean, dry clothes</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">3. How quickly you become exhausted (wait, did I say that already? Too tired to read back to see)</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">2. How difficult breastfeeding really is</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">1. How sweet and cuddly they are</span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-68265712440996944302009-03-25T13:57:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:49:42.776-07:00It Doesn't Come Back to You<span style="font-family: arial;">Note: If you have a weak stomach or are easily grossed out, stop reading now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke, Sophia and I curled up on the couch this afternoon to watch movies. Luke was holding her when we heard massive rumblings in her nether regions. I explained to him that whoever was holding her when she did it had to be in charge of changing the diaper. When we thought she was done, he put her on the floor to change her. Apparently, we forgot the consistency of infant poop, which resembles chocolate pudding before it's congealed. Needless to say, we ended up with poop flowing out the back of the diaper, up her back, onto her clothes, onto the carpet, and everywhere else. In the midst of my laughter, Luke was running to the kitchen to get towels because we were totally unprepared for any of this and everything is now covered in uncongealed pudding. It was bad news, but everyone and everything has been cleaned up. So much for this parenting thing coming back to us!</span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-20925152974141326022009-03-24T09:13:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:53:14.085-07:00Why Natural???<span style="font-family:arial;">When I tell people that we do natural childbirth with no epidural or drugs of any kind, I get some strange looks and lots of questions. To be honest, I never really have been able to articulate why in any concise or convincing way, but having just been through the experience one more time, I figured that I'd give it one more try. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The main and most important reason that we do natural (and I do mean "we" because it's a 3 person job) is that it's actually safer for Mommy and baby. There are countless studies out there that suggest that medical interventions, including epidurals, tend to lead to more complications, higher c-section rates, and longer recovery times. I'm pretty big on letting science and research guide my big decisions, and the science is pretty convincing on this one.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">But science alone is not enough. I guess that the main reason why we do natural childbirth is because we can. Many women fear the pain of natural childbirth and are happy to relinquish control of what will be one of the most defining moments of their lives so that they can eliminate the pain. I don't want to make a decision out of fear, especially since there's no medical reason why I need to (and I realize that's not the case for everyone). <br /><br />In order to really commit to natural childbirth, you have to believe a few important truths about yourself and the process:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">1) Women have been giving birth naturally for millions of years. If they can do it, you can too.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">2) There will be pain, but that pain is logical, manageable, and purposeful.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">3) You must take control of the decisions about your labor and simultaneously relinquish some control to your support partners.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">4) You can do it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Having just had Sophia naturally, the one truth that was so abundantly clear to me this time was #2. I was very nervous about trying to do Sophia naturally because I honestly knew what was coming and had to more consciously choose the path of more pain. However, the whole process of birth is so logical. The contractions are painful, but they are </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-family:arial;">rhythmic</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> and predictable. I knew that each one was moving me closer to Sophia. Especially at the end when we were waiting for just that last centimeter so that we could push; every contraction was an exercise is letting go, relaxing, and inviting her to come into the world. Those are the most difficult and painful contractions, but you're so close at that point that it's easy to focus on the goal. Even the pushing is rhythmic, and if you listen, your body tells you when to push and when to rest. That makes it a lot easier to be efficient and keep yourself whole.<br /><br />I guess all in all I have even greater respect and appreciation for the process after Sophia. I also have great appreciation for my Mom and Luke who traveled down the road with me. It's just a beautiful thing, and I'm so glad that we did it again. </span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-81231173277609504502009-03-22T18:22:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:53:14.086-07:00The Details<span style="font-family: arial;">I think that I mentioned previously that I decided to start my maternity leave on Friday even though I hadn't had Sophia yet. I was very excited to just relax and run errands on Friday, and Mom and I headed out pretty early to run around. We stopped at a few stores and then went to Home Depot to pick up some flowers to plant later in the day. While at Home Depot, I started having mild contractions. I thought it was more fake contractions so I didn't worry, but headed home just in case. By noon, our contractions were about 9 minutes apart and still fairly mild. We progressed pretty well at home until we were about 4-5 minutes apart, which was of course, around 5pm. I couldn't believe that we went into labor during the day, that we had to drive to the hospital during rush hour on a Friday, or that this was finally happening after all of the waiting! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">We got to the hospital and into a room by 6:30. I was 6-7 cm dilated when we got there, which was exactly the same as I was when I got to the hospital with Hailey. We progressed pretty quickly although it felt like an eternity. The doctors and nurses were very patient and supportive. Everyone kept telling us how great we were doing, which was extremely comforting. By the time I was 9cm, I was ready to push and getting a bit impatient. I let the doctor break my water and within minutes, I was pushing. 12 minutes of pushing later, Sophia was born.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">She had a big head full of brown hair and a lot of fluid (because she came out so quick). I got to hold her right away until the respiratory therapist came and cleared out her lungs for a while. She wanted to eat almost immediately. She nursed twice in the first few hours. She was starving!! The good news is that she's a good eater and a good sleeper (so far at least). I've already started giving her a pacifier because I just can't keep up with her. However, she's been known to sleep for 3-4 hours at a time.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the next morning Luke woke up with a horrible case of food poisoning. It was very sad for him to miss any of Sophia's first day, but he was violently ill and mostly just rested. Hailey and the grandparents came in the morning to spend some time with Sophia and take Luke home. Hailey just giggled and giggled when she met Sophia for the first time. Then, she wanted to sit with Sophia in the Boppy. The Boppy was the most popular "toy," not sure why. <br /><br />Anyway, Sophia is a little eatin', sleepin' angel. Mommy is feeling really great (much better than with Hailey). Pushing for 12 minutes really did make a huge difference in terms of my overall health. We're home now and each of the grandparents has had a chance to hold her. I'm going to try to rest for the next few days. I have doctor's orders not to lift anything over 10lbs (including Hailey) and not to climb the stairs more than 3-4 times a day for several weeks...several weeks!!!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are some pictures of </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lukehamilton/sets/72157615687562801/">Sophia.</a>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-17505202797637667522009-03-20T13:18:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:53:14.086-07:00Sophia's Sense of Humor<span style="font-family: arial;">We've waited for 9 days past her due date for Sophia to come. She decides that we need to drive to the hospital at 5:00pm on a Friday in Atlanta. Really?!?!?! This one's gonna be trouble. I can tell already. Contractions are 4-6 minutes apart now. Probably going to the hospital soon.</span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-63821270720030091452009-03-17T13:16:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:53:14.086-07:00Bring on the Beer<span style="font-family:arial;">Just returned from the doctor where they checked my amniotic fluid levels to make sure that Sophia has a safe environment. It's a lovely environment; so I can continue the pregnancy until I'm rechecked again on Friday...yippee (I guess).<br /><br />I was so disillusioned by the doctor's visit that I decided to stop to get beer on the way home (for myself not my parents, although they may need it too). Of course, the woman at the gas station just had to ask "when are you due?" It's hard to be polite at this point, but I put on my happiest Mommy face and said "I was due six days ago, that's why I'm buying beer. I may just have to drink her out." I think that she wasn't sure if I was kidding. On second thought, I'm not sure I was kidding. Happy St. Patrick's Day!</span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-59048721401793946562009-03-11T12:08:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:53:14.086-07:00What's a Due Date Anyway???<span style="font-family:arial;">It's just an estimate, and apparently not a very accurate one either. I mean what are the chances that I'd be 2 for 2 with going later than my due date. Inaccurate due dates or stubborn children? You decide.<br /><br />PS: Of the 20 of you who gave me a birth date guess, 14 of you have already lost. Only 6 still left in the running!<br /></span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-49343102904153735532009-03-10T06:07:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:53:14.086-07:00Excuses, Excuses<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CAHAMIL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">Every day now, I try to evaluate just how ready I am to have this baby on that particular day.<span style=""> </span>Most days so far I’ve been able to come up with excuses for why Sophia should hold off a little longer.<span style=""> </span>I’ve used all of the following:</p> <ul style="font-family: arial;"><li>Mom isn’t in town yet,<br /><br /></li><li>Hailey’s sick,<br /><br /></li><li>I didn’t sleep well the night before,<br /><br /></li><li>My bag isn’t packed,<br /><br /></li><li>Luke has an important meeting at work,</li><li>The weather is too nice to be inside a hospital,<br /><br /></li><li>I have half a carton of ice cream in the fridge that I need to eat first,<br /><br /></li><li>My friend is getting married next Saturday, etc.<span style=""> </span></li></ul> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">Here’s the problem…I’m running out of excuses.<span style=""> In fact, all of the above have been remedied except the last two. </span>I’m going to the doctor today.<span style=""> </span>My due date is tomorrow.<span style=""> </span>This baby is coming at some point in the very near future, and I’m getting a little nervous.<span style=""> </span>Now that I’ve been through natural childbirth once, it’s a lot harder to be excited about it.<span style=""> </span>So, I better start psyching myself up because it won’t be long now.</p> Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-58603121568251124432009-02-26T08:20:00.000-08:002009-04-30T10:53:14.087-07:00TPE and TPA Defined<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CAHAMIL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tactical Parenting Error (TPE) - Everyone makes them, and you usually know as soon as you do because your child reminds you of your error constantly.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">For example, mentioning the park if you have no intention of going there, giving your hyper child chocolate milk before bedtime, making a promise that you can’t keep, introducing your child to a sugary food (like M&Ms…thank you Grandma).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I call these tactical parenting errors because not only do they affect the parent/child dynamic at the time, but they also might have long term effects if, for example, your child asks for M&Ms every time you go to the store.</span></p><p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><span style=""> </span></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Tactical Parenting Adjustment (TPA) – This is a moment when you have to draw a line in the sand and dare your child to cross it so that they can experience the consequences.<span style=""> </span>We’ve had two of these in the past two days.<span style=""> </span>Two nights ago I had to tell Hailey that she would not get a story before bed if I had to come downstairs and carry her up for bed.<span style=""> </span>I gave her every chance to make the right choice, and she did not.<span style=""> </span>There was no story.<span style=""> </span>There was 20 minutes of screaming and crying for Mommy to read her a story before she fell asleep.<span style=""> </span>Next night no arguments before bed.<span style=""> </span>Perfect TPA.<span style=""> </span>This morning I had to take her Cheerios away because she kept getting up from the table and running around.<span style=""> </span>Gave her two warnings and the Cheerios were taken away each time.<span style=""> </span>On the third, she was told that this would be her last chance and the Cheerios would not come back if she got up again.<span style=""> </span>She sat in her chair and ate them all with no questions asked.<span style=""> </span>Classic TPA.<span style=""> </span>No one likes having to make TPAs, but idol threats only work for so long.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes you have to make the hard choices, and luckily for Hailey, I’m just stubborn enough to out stubborn her (at least for now!).</p> Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-29986157217726546182009-02-23T06:30:00.000-08:002009-04-30T10:56:04.546-07:00Best Hailey Quote from the Weekend...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SaKzb_RvRaI/AAAAAAAAAnY/WUMUdCsPh9k/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SaKzb_RvRaI/AAAAAAAAAnY/WUMUdCsPh9k/s320/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306000604419540386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CAHAMIL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >“I’m sad because you’re making me crazy.”</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, child, it's only just the beginning. I will be making you crazy for many many years to come. HAHAHAHAHA (evil laugh).</span><br /><br /></span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-80492099559042417302009-02-17T11:51:00.000-08:002009-04-30T10:56:04.546-07:00I Need a Nap; You Need a Nap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SZ2q0IOk27I/AAAAAAAAAnA/XwjJllPtjuI/s1600-h/Playing+outside.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SZ2q0IOk27I/AAAAAAAAAnA/XwjJllPtjuI/s320/Playing+outside.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304583748650851250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SZ2qnA2yVVI/AAAAAAAAAm4/w_bQZTrSXyc/s1600-h/Bike+Riding.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1rLn-ozKi40/SZ2qnA2yVVI/AAAAAAAAAm4/w_bQZTrSXyc/s320/Bike+Riding.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304583523333723474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link style="font-family: arial;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CAHAMIL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">By the age of 4, 50% of children will give up their afternoon naps.<span style=""> </span>By the age of 5, about 70% stop napping.<span style=""> </span>Well, Hailey’s a bit ahead of the curve.<span style=""> </span>She’s only 2 (and a half), and she’s given up her nap.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t really realize it until the teachers at school started telling me that she will just lay on her mat for 2 hours every day with her eyes open.<span style=""> </span>She plays with her hair, sings songs to herself, talks, etc, but does not sleep.<span style=""> </span>I protested for a while that she was a fabulous nap taker at home, sometimes sleeping for 3 hours in the afternoon.<span style=""> </span>Well, turns out I’m a big fat liar.<span style=""> </span>She doesn’t necessarily sleep at home.<span style=""> </span>She plays in her bed (now her bunk bed) until I come to get her.<span style=""> </span>She used to sleep really well, and from time to time if she’s been up late, she might sleep a little.<span style=""> </span>However, for the most part, she does not take naps.</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">Here’s where Mommy panic sets in.<span style=""> </span>I’m not ready for her to give up her nap.<span style=""> </span>That’s the only time on the weekends when I can really attack my “to do” list with reckless abandon.<span style=""> </span>That’s my quiet time, my football time during the season, my Mommy time!!!<span style=""> </span>Ugh.<span style=""> </span>Ok.<span style=""> </span>Stop panicking.<span style=""> </span>The best approach in this situation is denial.<span style=""> </span>She still takes naps.<span style=""> </span>Yup.<span style=""> </span>I’m going to continue to put her down for naps just like normal, if she sleeps fine, if she doesn’t sleep fine.<span style=""> </span>Everyone needs some quiet time in the afternoon, even Mommy.</p> Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-3942542750581471732009-02-10T18:58:00.000-08:002009-04-30T10:56:04.546-07:00Chores and the Evil Parents Who Create Them<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CAHAMIL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:1763722377; mso-list-template-ids:118120082;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;">Ever since we found out that we were pregnant, we’ve tried to instill in Hailey a sense of chores and housework.<span style=""> </span>We bought her a tall stool for the kitchen so that she can help cook, put away dishes, wash things, etc.<span style=""> </span>Whenever I talk about her helping, I can’t stop myself from putting the word “help” in annoying little air quotes.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes helping looks a lot like making a bigger mess.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes it looks like only doing half of the job before being distracted, and sometimes it looks like Mama doing most of the actual work.<span style=""> </span>So, you could say that we have a “helper” (if you include big air quotes and roll your eyes a little). </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Still, she is getting much more independent, and she actually does help at times.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">For example, she often picks things up for me so that I don’t have to squish my belly trying to bend down.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Picking things up for Mommy is an important chore at this stage in the game.</span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, I wanted to document some of the chores that she does around the house at the ripe old age of 2.5.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">And, no, we have not introduced the idea of an allowance so this is slave labor at this point….shhhhh don’t tell!</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's the list of things that she does when asked:</span><o:p></o:p></p> <ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Put away the clean silverware in the drawer;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Feed the dog;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Make tacos or pizza;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Snap green beans or broccoli;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Dispense water for dinner (we keep towels handy);</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Put dirty clothes in the hamper;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Help fill the washing machine (excuse the black sock in with the whites, please);</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Put away her clean clothes (ok not yet, but this is coming shortly);</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Wipe up spills that she makes;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Throws things in the garbage can (hopefully only when instructed);</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Put things in the recycle bins;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Put (more like throw) her dishes in the sink after a meal; and</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Wipe any surface with a baby wipe when given the opportunity.</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:arial;">For the most part, she loves doing these things. If you have any other chores that she could do, please let me know. I’m sure that she’ll be in charge of many other things when Sophia comes.</span><o:p></o:p></p> Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-15310410472417514332009-02-09T07:01:00.000-08:002009-04-30T10:56:04.547-07:00Binky Capers...The Finale<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CAHAMIL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">I’m sure that you were on the edge of your seat all weekend wondering how the Binky Capers story would end.<span style=""> </span>Well, let me tell you that our child is a champ!<span style=""> </span>The night that we gave her the card from the Binky Fairy was the first night in her new bunk beds (pictures coming soon).<span style=""> </span>She helped us round up all of the binkies in the house and put them in a Ziploc bag for Mommy to put on the porch (as per the Fairy’s detailed instructions).<span style=""> </span>Then, we read a chapter of her Cindarella story, turned off the light, and she said “night night” as usual.<span style=""> </span>Not another peep the rest of the night.<span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal">On Sunday morning when she woke up, she found a present and a big stuffed animal on the edge of her bed.<span style=""> </span>She didn’t touch the present, but was giddy as a clam when I went in to wake her up.<span style=""> </span>She was thrilled with the tea set that the binky fairy brought for her and played with it for a long time in the morning.</p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I would say that the whole thing was a huge success.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">She hasn’t asked for a binky since and even was brave enough to sleep on the top bunk last night.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, she didn’t take a nap on Sunday, but that’s a story for another blog.</span><span style=""> </span></p> Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-64434553223292284282009-02-04T04:47:00.000-08:002009-04-30T10:56:04.547-07:00Binky Capers<span style="font-family: arial;">The bunk beds arrived tonight and are in great condition. I was really concerned about what the"damage" would be. I mean, what damage could possibly be worth the $1,500 that I saved by purchasing them as returned merchandise? Well, the inside bottom of one of the drawers is smashed to the point that we'll need to replace it. Nothing cosmetic at all. They look perfect from the outside. It's no problem. Now we just need mattresses.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">So, we've been telling Hailey that when the bunk beds come, she would have to give up her binky because she would be a big girl sleeping in a big girl bed. The binky is like toddler crack. You give it to her, her eyes roll back in her head, and she gets all mellow. It's great for us as parents. She really only gets it when she's going to bed, but in an emergency, we can give it to her in the car or on the plane. Here's the problem...it's not good for her teeth and I'd rather sacrifice a few nights of sleep now rather than pay thousands of dollars in orthodontia bills later. Thus, the decision has been made - the binky must go.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">How do you get rid of the binky with minimal pain and suffering? Well, according to my expert friends, you create binky fairy who writes the toddler a letter asking her to mail all of her binkies to the poor babies who don't have any. In exchange, the binky fairy brings the toddler a present and voila, no more binkies. Yeah, I don't really believe that it's going to work either, but I don't have any better ideas. So, off I go to decieve my child yet again.</span>Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-770588293233175692009-01-22T07:23:00.000-08:002009-04-30T10:56:04.547-07:00Eat Like an Italian<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CAHAMIL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal">To say that Italians like to eat would be to say that Hailey just likes her vitamins. No, Italians love to eat, and they take special pleasure in savoring their meals. I know this because I’m Italian, and I’ve eaten enough meals in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> to know how long it can take to get through a typical dinner. It’s true. Each course is ordered and brought out separately with time to spare in between. Usually there are 4-6 courses, and the whole ordeal (I mean extravaganza) can last 2-4 hours. Of course, the time speeds by because you are enjoying lovely company and the most delicious food you’ve ever had in your whole life.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Hailey eats in a similar manner.<span style=""> </span>For example, she may eat an entire bowl of spaghetti one noodle at a time.<span style=""> </span>If she’s having salad, then each piece of lettuce must be dipped in salad dressing and eaten separately.<span style=""> </span>Cherry tomatoes are quite possibly the most complicated because they require her to pick up the tomato with her hand and place it on the flat part of her fork then balance it there until it reaches her mouth.<span style=""> </span>Should the tomato fall off, the procedure must start over from the beginning.<span style=""> </span>Not surprisingly, peas undergo the same process, but there are obviously more of them, which only adds extra time as she balances each pea separately.</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Of course, this whole eating process must be constantly interrupted by stories and anecdotes about anything and everything.<span style=""> </span>The number of times that we must remind her to “keep eating” warrants us keeping a tape recorder at the table.<span style=""> </span>Oh, forget it, Luke’s already building me an iPhone app so that I can just push the “keep eating” button.<span style=""> </span>Or perhaps, I should take a clue from the Italians and enjoy spending that special time with my child every day. Now who is going to make me the delicious Italian food that makes it all worthwhile???</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">PS: Answer to Chinese Astrology Riddle – Snake = Alisa; Dog = Hailey; Tiger = Luke</p> Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838072.post-60522763060967092592009-01-14T11:31:00.000-08:002009-04-30T10:56:04.547-07:00The Relative Length of Eight Weeks<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CAHAMIL%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Consider this - eight weeks ago we were still eating the remnants of our Halloween candy and stores were packed with the first signs of Christmas.<span style=""> </span>I barely looked pregnant, and Hailey was still talking about her Tinkerbell costume (alright, that’s not a good example because she’s still talking about it to this day).<span style=""> </span>Ok.<span style=""> </span>Hailey had just gotten over the initial excitement of being Tinkerbell for Halloween.<span style=""> </span>The leaves were falling off our two trees and littering our front yard with yellow and brown hues.<span style=""> </span>Fall was just barely upon us here in the South; pumpkins were out, Thanksgiving was near, and all was peaceful in the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Hamilton</st1:place></st1:city> house. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Now, think about this…eight weeks from now, we will have another human being to love and care for.<span style=""> </span>We will have a crying, screaming, fussing infant in the house.<span style=""> </span>We will be sleep deprived.<span style=""> </span>We, as in me, will be back to being a moo-cow milk machine.<span style=""> </span>We will have to manage the needs of two children.<span style=""> </span>We may wonder what we were thinking.<span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Then again, we will also have another little girl to love. We will have someone to snuggle with who doesn’t push us away and demand her vitamin again. We will have another source of entertainment. We will have the joy of introducing her to our friends and family. We will have someone to use all of those baby clothes and items that we’ve been saving for two years. We will learn to know and love our second little one just as much as the first. <span style=""> </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to return to my nesting. However long you think eight weeks is, I’ll tell you that it doesn’t seem like long enough to tackle all of my nesting projects. God help my husband and child who must deal with my neuroses (plural) over the next eight weeks. For them, it must seem like eternity. </span><o:p></o:p></p> Alisa Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09744931841088516026noreply@blogger.com1