A Smashing Good Time {Part One}

I'm not a big Saturday poster, but we're back home this week, and I'm hanging out with the Dude while he naps.  That we he actually, you know, naps.

His big birthday is on Monday, so my head has been spinning with ideas for celebrating.  We've pretty much decided to pump him as full as sugar as possible, and then no doubt wonder why he won't nap.

On the Sunbean's first birthday, we took her to Picture People to have a 'cake smash' photo.  It was such a fun, fun thing and I just love those photos {and the memories!}, so we decided to make that an official first-birthday tradition.

Since I don't take my kids to stupid photo places anymore, I'm going to just take them on my own.

We obviously went the giant cupcake route with the Sunbean, but I decided not to mess with it for Little Dude.  Since we're not at our house, making something this elaborate wouldn't really work out.  So here's my inspiration for his smash cake {all from Pinterest}.

I really love the layer cake with the fluffy icing, but MacGyver likes the middle photo the best.  I made a cute little banner, too.  We'll see how mine actually turns out.  I have a really good skill of creating things based on Pinterest ideas that look nothing like the inspiration.

I'll make sure I post the pics from the cake smash!

Happy Monday

• I really was happy to see Monday this week.  MacGyver was traveling for work last night, and my nights are usually restless when he's gone.  Even if I do have a cute baby boy sharing my bed when he's gone.
• Speaking of cute baby boys, can you believe this one turns 1 in just one week?  Here's a sneak peek from his birthday photo shoot.  He's just so darling.  Even if he's grabbing at the computer as I type this.
• The next few weeks are busy ones for us:  Little Dude's birthday, my mom's 50th, my brother-in-law visiting from Utah, and then Little Dude's party.  The kids and I are staying at 'home' for over a week, too, so there's the packing/planning/preparing for that.
• This is the last week of preschool.  Goodbye, calm and easy mornings.
• I'm excited to share my ideas for the little guy's birthday and party.  It's no secret we celebrate birthdays like crazy people, so I've been a busy little planner.
• MacGyver was a dear and bought me a pretty pink beach cruiser.  We hooked the bike trailer up to it, and I spent the weekend pulling our heavy kids around.  We live in a great place for this:  there are miles and miles of wonderful bike trails that are accessible right from our front door.  We're lucky.
• Right now I'm so hungry, and need to go to the grocery.  I'm always stumped about what to eat for lunch.  I usually have cereal.  Or cookies.
• I'm wearing a maxi skirt today.  I kind of have a hard time with maxi skirts, because I grew up in an area with a ton of amish/mennonites/apostolic christian.  Whenever I wear long skirts, I feel like I'm channeling them.  Not a bad thing, just usually not the look I'm going for.
• On the agenda for today:  finish laundry, groceries, work on a headboard I'm making, and clean up the basement.

Happy Monday to you!

Stuff I Like

Just when I was running out of blog-spiration, Emily had a fun post today.  So here's some stuff I'm into lately.

• These earrings I found on etsy.  I've been super into nautical things lately, these would match most everything in my closet.

• Shortbread cookies from Panera.  Oh, yum.  The littles and I went there for lunch today, and I got a shortbread cookie to go.  I'm enjoying it right now.
• Saved By the Bell is on Netflix right now.  I seriously love this show.  I've seen every episode multiple times, but I've never actually watched them all chronologically.  It's a good time.

• The Domino magazine special edition is out!  I saw it at Lowe's on Saturday, and couldn't resist.  It's such a great mag with tons of modern decorating tips.  There's another special edition coming out this summer.  Can't wait!

Monday Hodge-Podge

 

• First and foremost, it's Sleep Week here at the homestead.  Both of my kids have naughty, naughty sleep habits.  I've reached my breaking point, so this week is going to be rough.  For Little Dude, he's learning how to put himself to sleep.  So far, we're doing great.  He fussed for his morning nap, but fell asleep on his own and in his bed.  We did this with the Sunbean at 4 months, so we're a little behind with the dude.  But he's doing great!  As for the Sunbean, she's still using a pacifier {insert guilty mommy look here}.  I know.  It's ridiculous.  She's just such a good sleeper {12 hours at night + a 2-3 hour nap} that I hate to mess it up.  But it's time {it's been time for 2 years...}.  So for FHE tonight we're sewing her pacis inside her favorite stuffed animal.  Here's hoping she doesn't tear open the animal tonight.
• Have I told you about my calling?  I teach the 10-year-old Sunday School class.  The kids are way smart, and I have to work really hard on my lessons to occupy them for the full hour.  But the really incredible part is after my lesson when I go with them to Singing Time.  These kids are like some kind of elite choir.  They all sing {even all of the boys!} and they all harmonize.  The music leader teaches even the 3-year-olds melody and harmony.  It's so amazing to sit there and listen.
• I'm getting excited about Valentine's Day.  I know that sounds odd, but I remember holidays being a really big deal when I was a kid.  It occurred to me the other day that it's my job to create that for my littles.  So the Sunbean is getting jazzed for another holiday {she loooooved the Christmas season}.  I've got some fun meal ideas, and I ordered some super cute things on etsy.
• MacGyver and I have decided to get serious about getting rid of this 'happy weight' we have.  You know, the weight you gain when you get married and happy and comfortable and have no one to impress.  Since January 2nd, we've both lost 7 pounds.  Go us.
• Do you have an iPhone?  You need the camera+ app.  It's so amazing.
• On Saturday, we spent the whole day at our friends' house.  You know, the ones who have 3-year-old twins and 4-month-old triplets.  Our 'baby gift' to them was to paint the less-than-appealing wood paneling in their family room.  Wow.  What a day.  Our painting 'plan' is always for MacGyver to do the rolling and I do the cutting in {trim work}.  So, I ended up doing 2 coats of cutting in and then 2 coats on all of the crown moulding and baseboard.  My body still aches!  Aside from that, the triplets {who are usually such mild-mannered babes} were having a bit of an off day.  And then you factor in that we had 7 children 3 and under in one house for the whole day....well, 'loud' is an understatement.  But we had such fun hanging out with our friends all day, and the room just looks great.  Such an improvement.
• We visited the local science museum on Friday, COSI.  It's so great.  The second level is devoted entirely to children in kindergarten and younger.  Like, if you have an older kid with you, they can't come in.  It was awesome to just let the Sunbean explore and do her thing.  Not awesome?  Carrying around my 22-pound 7-month-old for 3 hours.

Happy Monday to you!

Let's Hear it for the Boob

 

Over Thanksgiving, I was blessed with mastitis.  For added fun, my children had the flu at the same time and we were traveling.  Such fun.

Here's how it all went down.  I think, in my sleep-deprived state, when my little monster was waking up to eat, I was mistakenly not alternating sides.  So I woke up on Thanksgiving morning with a rather tender and hot left gazonga.  Happy holidays to me.

I did a little Google-based research, and tried some heat and massage.  It just got worse.  The obvious choice would be to just pump, but we were at my parents', and so my $300 pump was 3 hours away.  My parents live in the middle of nowhere (no, really), so running to the store was out.  You're lucky if their grocery has fruit that isn't moldy, so an affordable hand pump was clearly out of the question.

In desperation, I called my high school bestie.  She just had a baby, and I was hoping she had a pump.  She did, and being the saint that she is, let me use it.  Now that's friendship.

While that helped, I knew I was going to need something for the rest of the time I was at my parents'.  Hello Target on Black Friday.  There, amongst the crazies, was a $16 hand pump.  Phew.  So, for the next two days, I hand-pumped on the unaffected side while Little Dude ate on the infected side.  25 ounces later, and I have a lovely little date-night stash.  Also?  I happened to catch the Sunbean trying to use the pump.  Pretty much made my weekend.

But the real point of this post is to give all of you working-and-pumping-moms a big ol' high-five.

Here's the thing.  I love nursing my babies.  It is such a sweet and wonderful thing.  This experience is pretty much the extent of my complications, so it's been an easy road for me.  I really can't say enough good about it (though I'll certainly try).

But.  I do not like pumping.  What a freaking pain in the neck!  There are parts to wash and rinse, then you've gotta pour the milk into a bag, and label it and freeze it, and two hours later....you're back and it again.  I have a hospital-grade double electric pump, so I know it's a bit easier with that kind, but still.  Pumping just isn't fun.

So if you're a working mom who hauls that breast pump into work every day, 10 points to you.  That's love.

Family Home Evening

When it comes to living the gospel, there are so many things that we are so bad at.  But one thing we've really been enjoying lately is Family Home Evening.  Basically, we set aside one evening a week to spend as a family.  We typically sing some songs, have a quick lesson, and then play a game or make a craft.  Oh, and treats.  Always treats.

The Sunbean has really been getting into FHE the past few months, and it is so cute.  She gets so excited on Mondays, and loves to help me think of a game or craft.  Her favorite treat is to put some chocolate chips in muffin cups for everyone.  Love that girly.

Yesterday, we made some little pinecone Christmas trees.  They absolutely didn't turn out cute at all, but it was fun to craft with my family.

I just wanted to take a minute to remember this little moment.  Lately I've been feeling like time is zipping by...I know that all too soon I'll be wishing for these crazy days of laundry and messy faces and sticky floors.

Homebucks

It should come as no surprise to you that I've completely trained my 3-year-old to love Starbucks.  It is our easiest bribery tool, and also works well for rewards.  And snacks.  And lunch.

The Sunbean at a tea party at Starbucks on her 3rd birthday.

Sometimes, she gets a hankering for Starbucks when it just isn't possible to go, like when our fun money is spent for the week or on a Sunday.  So MacGyver and I play a little game called 'Homebucks'.  We make a 'brown milk' and eat a treat.

This last Sunday, it was me who needed the Homebucks.  I really wanted one of those giant oatmeal cookies from Starbucks.  A little Pinterest-addiction later, and I found this recipe.  Oh man, it was a dead ringer for Starbucks.  I even made them giant-size.  I used the berry medley from Trader Joe's, instead of the raisin/cranberry mix the recipe calls for.

They were so tasty.  I'm only a tiny bit embarrassed to tell you that between MacGyver and I, we ate the entire batch on Sunday night.  Calories don't count on Sundays.

One Thing I'll Miss

There's lots about this town I'll miss.

We have so many great friends in our life here, and so many family members close by.

But here's one thing I'll miss:  fun nights out with fun friends.

 This particular friend happens to be a photographic genius.  He snapped these with a Polaroid camera.  He's the only person I know that actually has one of those.

This is my new favorite ever.  Their crazy boys, and my sweet Sunbean, just enjoying a summer night.

We finished the evening by staying up way too late and laughing way too hard at things that are barely funny.  The best kind of friends to have.

Household Happenings

• We went back to the lake again this week.  I guess that's what summer is all about.
• This week we need to make a major life decision about MacGyver's {future} job.  Seriously so stressful.  I'm thankful we can pray about it and receive some guidance, but it's still weighing heavily on both our minds.  We need to decide by Friday, so this weekend we'll be celebrating either way.  I just want this week to be over.
• Little Dude is so big.  Like, 6-12 month clothes.  He's not yet 3 months.
• I got my hair done last week.  It was so great.  It was also the first time I'd been more than one room away from baby boy.  We both survived.
• Sunday was Ward Conference.  It was so great.  I loved the meeting beforehand, and got some good inspiration for Primary.
• The Sunbean loves Wonder Pets.  Therefore, I love Wonder Pets.  In fact, this blog post was brought to you by the Wonder Pets.
• All I can think about is bullet point #2.
• Today we're delivering Primary treats, doing laundry, and cleaning the floors.  You're jealous of my life.

Happy Hump Day!

Old Navy: Epic Fail

I've always been an Old Navy fan, and now that I have children, I really like their kids' clothes.  Cute and reasonably priced, plus the clearance racks are pretty good.

Well.  That's all a thing of the past.

A few weeks ago, my mom bought two pair of swim trunks at Old Navy, one pair for my dad and one for MacGyver.  She had accidentally gotten the wrong type or size or something, and made an exchange on that original purchase.  When she went back again, she grabbed a size large of the correct type for my dad.  She discovered when she got back to my house that the swim trunks were sized incorrectly, and were actually an extra small.  My dad isn't a big guy, but an extra small sure ain't gonna cut it.

So she left both pair and the pile of receipts at our house, since she doesn't actually live in town.  The plan was for MacGyver and I to exchange them for the correct size.  One weekend, before heading to the lake, we stopped in.  I had the receipts stapled together, beginning with the original purchase.

When we walked in, MacGyver told the Old Navy people that we had an exchange, and started to set the swim trunks on the counter.  One of the clerks said, "We aren't gonna watch your stuff for you.  You'll need to carry those around."

Mmmmmkay then.

We headed over to the swim trunk section, and found the right sizes and styles.  The price was still the same, so we figured it would be a quick and easy exchange.  After all, we just wanted to do an even swap for the exact same item, just a different size.

Ha.

We got up to the register, and they started telling us that the swim trunks weren't scanning in on the receipt we had.  Um, well, I'm no Old Navy associate, but I could read the receipt.  And it was quite clear to me that both pair of trunks were right there on the receipt.  But whatever.  Clearly the two teenagers working know more than I do.

They tried scanning it over and over for about 5 minutes, and then started asking for my mom's credit card.  Um, no.  The receipt clearly stated that she paid with cash.  I called her anyway, just to make sure I wasn't losing my mind.  She went ahead and gave me two card numbers for them to look up, though she remembered paying in cash.

So after about 15 minutes of nonsense, I reminded the associates that all we really wanted to do was an even exchange.  Surely we didn't need a receipt for that.  The trunks still had the store hangers and tags.

But, apparently, you can't do that at Old Navy.  No receipt, no can do.  Ridiculous.  Another phone call to my mom, some general crabbiness on my part, and two very un-helpful managers later, the best they could do was an in-store credit that had to be mailed to us.  Seriously?!?

I left the store soooo pissed off.  I mean, for real.  I had two items clearly purchased at Old Navy, with a receipt.  It was not my fault that they weren't smart enough to read the receipt.  And all I wanted to do was exchange for the correct size.  No money involved.  And let me remind you, Old Navy, the whole reason we got the wrong size is because you tagged the item incorrectly.

So, they had promised the in-store credit would arrive in 10 days.  15 days later, it finally came.  My mom took it in, and apparently is a better complainer than me, because she walked out with cash.

I decided to see if it was a company policy, or just the general stupidity of the associates working.  I called two other Old Navy stores, and explained that I bought the wrong size shirt, and wanted to exchange for the correct size.  I explained that the shirt still had tags, but I didn't have a receipt and I paid in cash.

Guess what?  They said no!!

So, Old Navy, you've officially lost a customer, and for two reasons.  One, your employees were rude to me and my family.  Two, your company policy is utterly ridiculous.  I completely understand not accepting an exchange if an item doesn't have tags, but with tags and for an even exchange?  That needs to happen.

Epic fail, Old Navy.

25 Bits of Random

 I love our zoo!

 
I saw this on Jones Design Company.  Thought it looked fun.

#1  Both of my darlings are sleeping right now.  I'm blogging/sewing/eating/watching Netflix.  I'm not a napper.  I find it quite difficult to nap.  But sleeping in?  I'm very good at that.  Too bad my kids aren't.

#2  Why is it, when you're out in public and one of your offspring cries, people feel the need to comment?  Drives.  Me.  Crazy.  Yes, lady, I know my kid is screaming.  I'll get right on that.

#3  On July 15th, the final Harry Potter movie arrives.  Also, 'Winnie the Pooh Bear', as the Sunbean calls it, will be in theaters.  I think our family will be single-handedly supporting the movie industry that day.

#4  I'm making my kids matching July 4th outfits.  Stay tuned.

#5  Why do I always gain 70+ pounds when I'm pregnant?  It makes for a crazy year:  gaining and losing all that weight within a calendar year.  At least I lose it, right?  Right.

#6  Pinterest.  Love it.
 
#7  We recently watched The Kennedys on Netflix.  A fantastic miniseries.  Put it in your instant queue right now.

#8  I'm ready for my clothes to fit.

#9  Also?  I'm ready to not look 4 months pregnant.

#10  I'm having a meeting at my house tonight.  I really need to clean, make an agenda, and make a snack.  Right now, it appears that only one of those things will get done.  I'm going for snack.

#11  I got some pictures printed of the kids at a nice photo store.  So much better than Wal-Mart quality.  Not that I'm surprised.

#12  The farmer's market starts in 1 week.  I'm mostly ready, though a little anxious about how I'm going to help customers/take orders/nurse an infant all at the same time.

#13  I believe that I have a clogged milk duct.  Ouch.

#14  In 3rd grade, I was Peter Pan in an operetta.  I know.

#15  I hate my serger.  But I love my serger.  It's complicated.

#16  I've been jonesing for a vacation lately.

#17  I went to school at Ohio University in Athens.  I miss it.  The campus, the people, the community.  Everything but the homework.

#18  I met my husband 9 years ago this summer.  So crazy.


#19  I love York Peppermint Patties straight from the freezer.  Almost as much as I love Starbucks.

#20  A very sweet family friend send me a box of cloth diapers + cute outfit + gift for the Sunbean.  We got it today, and it made for a very exciting pre-lunch activity.  You are too sweet, 'Lorlie'.  Proper thank-you to come.

#21  Speaking of....why don't people understand how to send thank-you notes?  Like, in the mail.  If it's not hand-written and mailed via USPS, you're doing it wrong.  Sorry.

#22  I'm growing my hair out.  Right now I'm rockin' the awkward stage.

#23  I love cucumbers.

#24  I really love to move decor items around my house.  People always say it looks different every time they come over.  It's often not meant as a compliment, but I always take it that way.  I don't like my house to always look the same.  That's just boring.

#25  On my Facebook today, three people's statuses were about their kids crying when they left for work.  Staying at home isn't for everyone, but it's for me.  I'm thankful I get to do it.

Copy, paste, and play along!  I love to read these things.

Officially A Mom

Nope, I'm not going to bust out the mom jeans, a la SNL:

I've officially joined the ranks of momhood because I've donned an official 'mom necklace'.  Before you get any crazy thoughts in your head, it's not one of the creepy ones.  I'm not creepy, I'm classy.  But you already knew that.

Here's the mom necklace I really want.

But the price tag is a little more than I had in my mom-necklace-buying budget, so I had to look at other options.

Off to etsy I went, and found a pretty good second choice.

I love that it's simple and dainty.  It's something I can wear often, and with most things in my closet.  Perfect for me.

The only thing I don't love is that my kids' initials spell dumb things.  It either needs to spell 'eh' or 'he'.  I went with 'eh'.

So there.  I'm now a bona-fide member of the mom club.

Terrible Two?

 via me on Pinterest

Someone {well meaning, of course} sent me a poem the other day.  It was a poem about going from having one child to having two children.  It talked about learning how to split your love in half.  I'm not going to post it here, because just thinking about that wretched poem makes me start sobbing, and I really don't want to stare at it on my blog.  Sorry.  Use your imagination.

But this thing has had me thinking {and bawling my eyes out}.  I know this is an emotion that nearly every mother has experienced, but that doesn't make it easier.  I want my little Sunbean's life to be happy and fun.  I want her to feel the love of her parents, and I want to teach her to feel the love of her Heavenly Father.  All of these things are possible with several siblings, but the transition will be tough {for both of us}.

I think this is weighing especially heavy on my mind, in particular, because I don't have happy memories with my siblings.  That's because I don't have any siblings.  I'm an only child, so I don't know the fun, excitement, and camaraderie of brothers and sisters.  I witness it all the time, especially with MacGyver and his family, but that doesn't help in this particular scenario.  I've enjoyed being an only child, but it makes this next step in our lives something quite new for me.

So after a few days of moping and freaking out, I decided the best thing to do would be to just make each of these last days with the Sunbean count as much as possible.  I know that when Little Dude arrives {seriously, buddy, any freaking time now}, I'll need to give him more of my time at first.  There will be the hospital stay {my first time away from the Sunbean}, and then the first few days at home, getting nursing established.  So while I'll still be there for my little girl, my time won't be all hers anymore.  So we've been playing the games she wants to play, getting out the toys she wants out, and even going to the places she wants to go {how lucky am I that her favorite place to go is Starbucks?!?}.

But the past few days sure have been fun!  It's not a parenting style I could do every day {there are, unfortunately, things like dishes and laundry and dirt and dust and church responsibilities and groceries and bow businesses that also fight for my time}, but I have loved setting everything else aside for a few days.  It's been fun to see what the Sunbean chooses when the choice is all hers.

Lots of people {again, well meaning, I'm sure} have been telling me how 'terrible' the Sunbean will act when Little Dude arrives.  They've been sharing stories of their own children who stopped eating, sleeping, had potty trouble, etc.  I really hope that this major life event doesn't shake her to the very core {as so many helpful people predict}, but I know it will change all of our lives.

And why shouldn't it?  Our family is getting a new person!  We'll all need to get to know each other, and that will take time and patience.  But we figured out life with one kid, so I think we'll figure out life with two kids.

So from now until Little Dude decides to make his debut {I'm hoping for right now}, you can find me playing on the floor with my little girl.

The Checklists of Pregnancy

When one is with child, there are oh-so-many lists.

There's the list of names.

The list of things you need to buy.

The list of things people have bought for you.

The list of thank-yous to write.

The list of nooks and crannies in your home that need cleaned.

The list of projects that need done.

The list of fun things to do before your life is about nursing and poop.

The list of questions for your doctor.

The list of questions for your baby's doctor.

The list of people to call when you finally burst.

The list of things to bring to the hospital.

And all of this is fine with me, because I am a list girl.  I love 'em.  I write things on lists just for the joy of crossing them off.

But here's one list that just can't be ignored in those final weeks:

This is one list that I've completed.  Go me.

Let's Discuss: The Circumcision Decision

The past few months have been an interesting journey for me.  I've really thought long and hard about circumcision, and done a lot of research.  To be honest, I'm pretty surprised by the decision MacGyver and I have made about circumcision.  I hesitated to blog about our decision, because I know that not all of our family will understand our reasoning.  I really don't care if they 'approve' or not, I just thought maybe avoiding a blog post about the subject would be wise.  Obviously I'm blogging about it anyway.

Had the Sunbean been a boy, I'm sure we'd have had her circumcised.  I just don't think I would have thought twice about it.  I can't speak for everyone, but I know I'm looking at things more closely with my second child.  Things aren't as new and overwhelming this time, so I'm able to think more clearly about the experience I want for my child and I.  Is that a function of the second child, or it is just me?

So MacGyver and I have decided not to circumcise Little Dude.  Our decision to leave him intact was a difficult one, but I feel like we're making the right decision for our family.  In case you're interested, here's our thought process.

The first thing I did was talk to Maya, an awesome mom of two little boys.  I had no idea what decision she'd made about circumcision, but I certainly value her opinion and I know that she makes well-thought-out and researched choices.  After talking to her, I did more research.

I was surprised to learn that the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) doesn't recommend routine circumcision.  They don't necessarily recommend against it, they just recommend not making it a run-of-the-mill, routine procedure.  I think this was the first wake-up call for us.

After that, I put in a call to our pediatrician.  We switched to this pedi when the Sunbean was about a year old, and we love her and trust her.  Again, I was pretty surprised by her comments.  She told me that circumcision is a cosmetic procedure, and she doesn't feel that the medical benefits outweigh the consequences.  She said that she'd be happy to perform a circumcision on Little Dude in the hospital (and she'd give him pain meds...not all places do, FYI), but if she were choosing for her own children, she would leave them intact.

I think the combination of my hippie tendencies (as MacGyver calls it), the recommendation of the AAP, and the recommendation of our pediatrician kind of sealed the deal for us.

There are so many points of debates about circumcision.  I can't believe how fired up people get, on both sides of the table.  One of the top arguments is the 'locker room' factor.  Proponents of circumcision will say that intact boys will be teased around their peers.  I think this one is a tough one to argue, because our  generation was routinely circumcised.  So yes, an intact male that is my age may have been teased (not sure...I was always in the other locker room).  But according to the CDC, the circumcision rate in the US is currently at 32.5% (this does not include circumcisions performed outside of a hospital, like at a bris).  That statistic tells me that Little Dude will not be the only intact male running around.  Of course, we live in the conservative Midwest, and I'd imagine the rate around here is a little higher than it would be, say, on the west coast.  I did ask our pediatrician how many she performs, and she estimated that about 50% of boys in our area are circumcised.

Another point of debate is the idea that intact males are more likely to catch an STD.  This one in particular makes me laugh.  The studies for this debates were done in an area of Africa with a high rate of HIV transmission, so not even our reality (thank goodness).  In my opinion, the best way to prevent my little boy from transmitting an STD is to teach him to wait until he's married to have sex.  I just don't think the STD argument is a valid one.

The other 'big one' is the UTI argument.  Many will say that intact little boys will get lots of UTIs.  I've done the research (and again, talked to our pediatrician), and I just don't think the risk of Little Dude getting a UTI is a valid reason to have him circumcised.  The current statistics (again, from the CDC) states that nearly 500 circumcisions would need to be performed to prevent 1 UTI.  For us, that's just not worth it.

So those are the big arguments, but there are tons of other points of debate, too.  This was a difficult choice for us to make, and I think there are valid ideas on both sides.  We're feeling at peace about the decision we've made, though we're prepared to hear some criticism from our friends and family.  This is the right choice for us, but I don't think it would be the right choice for everyone.

Tell me:  what are your thoughts?  Do you think we're total crazy hippies, or do you agree with our choice?  Do you have a religious perspective?  I'd love to hear what you think!

Review: Mail Delivery Services

Just in case you guys are getting bored of all the baby-related posts (and I'm not even close to being done), here's a break with my review of mail/package delivery services.

When you're stuck on the couch whilst trying to prepare for a new person to enter your life, you become very thankful for ecommerce.  I mean, really.  Just a few short years ago, my online shopping options would have been pretty limited.  Believe me when I say you can order anything on the internet.  Anything.

But after you order, the products need to be shipped.  Most companies don't offer the consumer a choice of carrier.  Meaning, they are contracted with a particular company (UPS, Fed-Ex, USPS), and so they may offer shipping options (based on speed or price), but you ship with the company they choose.  Since the price of shipping most directly depends on the company you've ordered from, I'm not including price as a factor in my review.

In the past few months (but especially in the past few weeks), I've had at least one item shipped with the three major carriers:  UPS, Fed-Ex, and the good ol' government (USPS).  Here are my thoughts.

UPS

Of the three I'm reviewing, UPS is my favorite.  They have a great website that is easy to navigate.  When you have your tracking number, there is a place right on the main page to type it in.  I really hate having to click two or three times just to get to the tracking page.  Their tracking information is updated several times throughout the day, and has always been 100% accurate for me.  I think that is probably the most important feature for me.  I *need* to know exactly when my package will arrive.

One thing that makes me love UPS is our delivery man.  He is so great.  We had both our stroller and carseat delivered via UPS.  Rather than just dropping off the package and ringing the bell (standard procedure), he waited at the door to see if he could help me pull it into the house.  How nice is that?!?  This very pregnant momma appreciated that.

Fed-Ex

Oh, Fed-Ex.  My thoughts?  Epic fail.  I hate Fed-Ex, pretty much for all the reasons I love UPS.  First of all, I hate their website.  You have to click twice just to get to the place to put in the tracking number.  Not that it really matters, though, since they update tracking info about once a week.  Usually all on the day it will be delivered.  Not helpful.  One positive thing about their tracking, though, is that if you're looking at a tracking email on an iPhone or iPod, it recognizes it as a tracking number and all you have to do is touch the number and it pulls up the page.  That's a plus.  Not sure if that's thanks to Steve Jobs (Apple) or Fed-Ex, though.

Here's a little story about Fed-Ex.  A few weeks ago, I realized that MacGyver would be graduating while I was two weeks from my due date.  This was back before we realized Little Dude was trying to escape early, so I decided I wanted to order a new dress for the occasion.  I decided to pay for the extra shipping charge so that it would be delivered in 2-4 business days.  That way, I could wear it as often as possible to get my money's worth.  I ordered from Old Navy, and I knew they had a distribution center in Columbus, Ohio, so I figured the dress would probably arrive in 2 days.  And I was (kind of) right.  In 2 days, the tracking info was finally updated, and it showed the package had made it to my city in the early morning hours.  But wait.  Was it on the truck for delivery?  Of course not.  The website said "Not due for delivery".  What on earth??  What kind of a business plan is that?  Yeah, let's not deliver the package even though it's sitting here.  We'll scrape by with the bare minimum.  So frustrating.  I called the shipping center and asked that it be delivered the next day (which would have been day 3).  Guess what?  They said no!!  Since I paid for '2-4 day shipping', my package wouldn't be delivered until the 4th day.  Ohhhhhhhh I was so mad.

One good thing about Fed-Ex is my delivery man.  He's a sweet guy, too.  Fed-Ex usually requires a signature, and when this stupid dress was finally delivered (2 days before bedrest....grrrr), I was home to sign for the package.  He looked at my pregnant belly, looked at me, and then said, "Oh, you're having a little ______, huh?"  In that blank, insert Little Dude's name.  He guessed the name of our baby!  It was crazy, and kind of creepy.  It's not like it's a totally common name or anything.  It totally made my day, though.

USPS

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the government mail agency.  On a day-to-day basis, our mail is delivered on-time and in one piece (except once).  Our mailman is pleasant and usually pretty friendly.  One thing I don't like is the tracking info (again....I'm obviously pretty picky about tracking info).  Similar to Fed-Ex, they update it all on the day the package will be delivered.  Honestly, what good does that do anyone?

I can review USPS in a different light, though:  as a shipper.  I almost exclusively use USPS for my business.  They make it very easy to ship packages, and offer free shipping supplies and free pick-up.  Their rates are low, and it is easy to print labels at home.  Most businesses don't use USPS for larger packages, so my experience with them is a little limited.

UPS Mail Innovations

This is a new service, and the worst idea ever.  UPS has joined with USPS in some type of hybrid mail system.  Maybe they are still working out the kinks, I'm not sure.  And to be fair, my first package with them is still in transit, so I can't really give a full review.

From what I understand, UPS initiates the delivery process, and then somehow it is transferred to the USPS mail carrier?  I really don't understand.  What I can tell you so far is that the tracking info stinks.  Not only is it slow to update, but it doesn't tell you when it will be delivered.  They use tricky language, too, so I can't even tell where the stupid thing is.

When I ordered this particular item (it's MacGyver's Father's Day/Graduation gift, so I'm being intentionally vague), I got free shipping, so I didn't choose this service.  I'm not very happy that it is being delivered via USPS, though, because it is kind of breakable (that's your one hint, babe).  I think I'd feel better if it were in the big brown truck, not the Caprice Classic that our mail comes in.

So, there.  Now you've wasted a good 5 minutes reading my earth-shattering thoughts on mail delivery services.  What's your favorite?

It's the Hats!

Blogger won't let me change the alignment on half of these paragraphs.  Grrr.

Does anyone else wish they lived in England, if only for the hats?  No?  Just me?  Hmm.

So, I've been slightly obsessed with the royal wedding this week.  I'm sure it's a function of having nothing to do but sit here, but I've been loving watching the coverage of this big event.  My grandma came here to the States when she was 8, so I feel like the English culture is a verified part of my heritage, you know?  Had history been just a litte different, I (or some version of me) would be living in England, so I feel connected somehow.

Anyway.  I think Kate Middleton is wonderful.  I think she's so classic and poised.  I thought her dress choice today was perfect!  So classic and pretty, but not frumpy or old-fashioned.  And Pippa!  Loved her dress, too.

As I watched the coverage (all day), I couldn't help but think about how the whole thing just looked like a Disney movie come to life.  I'm sure Kate's new life isn't always going to be a fairy tale, but today it sure looked like it.

I just can't imagine being a little girl growing up in England and then eventually becoming a 'real' princess.  What I think is kind of fun is that when William and Kate become the king and queen, we can all sit around and yap about how we remember watching their wedding on TV.

And.....have you Googled anything today?  Seriously.  The girl got a Doodle!  She's for real.



I've Decided...

...that I'm definitely treating myself to a Shabby Apple dress when I get my body back.  I seriously love this one.  Hopefully a fall dress will be in order and not a spring one...

...that the worst thing about being on bedrest is hearing people say oh-so-helpful things like, "Well, I was dilated to a 1 for three weeks".  Yep, I get it.  It's a total possibility that in a few weeks I'll be released from bedrest and then still make it to (or past) my due date.  You know what else is a total possibility?  A few weeks in the NICU.  Bedrest trumps NICU in my book.

...that MacGyver deserves a medal.  I have lots of time to makes lots of lists during the day.  He gets home from work and then is on the clock for me.

...that I can't decide what to do with my family room pillows/color scheme.  I almost bought a rug at Ikea, and decided not to.  So, we pulled out the rug from the office for a few days to see if we even liked the idea of a rug in the room.  Well, now we love the rug from the office out here.  So, we need to kind of tweak the color scheme to match the rug.  Not a huge deal since the existing pillows are looking a tad shabby, but I can't decide what direction to go.

...that $4.17 is too much to pay for gas.  We'll save a bundle without me running all over town for the next few weeks.  MacGyver is planning to bike to work as soon as the monsoons stop.

...that it is going to be cuh-razy in May.  I'm assuming this baby will come before my due date, and my doctor thinks it will be the second week of May.  Which, conveniently, is the week that MacGyver graduates.  Should be interesting.

...that daytime TV when you don't have cable is so bad.  What did people do before the internet?  Also, why did internet get flagged on spell-check?

...that Starbucks needs to deliver.  You think they would for their #1 fan.

Happy Monday!

The Poor Timing of Little Dude

Oh, Little Dude.  For being 100% planned, you sure are coming at a busy time in our lives.  Well, it's really our fault.  We're (apparently) not good at math, and some things have changed in the past 8 months.

For starters, I found out I was pregnant with you 4 days before my first half-marathon.  Scratch that one.  In case you were wondering, it's a total drag to do all of the hard work and training for a 13-mile race and then not get the t-shirt.  Well, at least I got the half-marathon legs (you know, before I started retaining water).  Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be worth it.

Secondly, we planned for you to be born in May or June (let's just go with May, okay?) so that when Dad was going to graduate, you'd be 6 months old.  That way we could keep at least a few months between major life changes.  Well, the good news is that Dad is graduating sooner than we thought!  Hooray!  The interesting part is that his graduation ceremony is just two weeks before your expected arrival.  Hmm.  I guess if I can be picky, don't come on May 14th.  Or the few days before.  Thanks for understanding.

And third, you're kind of interfering with my love affair with this guy:

It's true.  Your nerdy mom is a Harry Potter fan.  Don't worry...I'll read all of the books to you and your sister someday.  But here's the thing.  The very last movie hits the theaters about 6 weeks after your due date.  Some would say that's perfect timing.  The problem is that I cannot leave my newborns babies toddlers offspring.  I'll admit to a little attachment parenting.  Hey - it works for me, and it worked just fine for your sister.  Don't get me wrong, Little Dude, dad and I enjoy the occasional evening away from sticky children, just not at 6 weeks of age.  Plus, I supply the nutrition.  If you're anything like your sister, I wouldn't be able to leave you for more than 2 hours at that age, anyway.  It's a good thing you'll probably be cute.

So what will I do about Harry?  I'm not sure yet.  I can either wait until it comes out on DVD (sad!) or I can somehow drag you along to the theater (I'm fairly positive that taking a newborn to a movie is included in the definition of bad parenting).  I've been seriously considering the feasibility of taking you to a matinee showing after the crowds have died down.

Even though your arrival is going to interfere with some other life events (yes, buddy, Harry Potter is a life event), we're positive that you're the perfect little boy for our family!

Mid-Week Brain Dump

• Oh, man.  I've got so much going on for the next several weeks!  Mostly because I started a scoring project.  I occasionally score standardized tests from home.  It's a great job with fantastic pay, but it sure does suck up a lot of time.  I'm supposed to score at least 25 hours a week.  Plus, my other job gave me a few extra hours for the next month or so.  Let's just say that finding an extra 30 hours with a toddler running around is quite the challenge.  Payday is great, though!!
• In all of my busy-ness, I did find time to get my hair cut and colored on Monday.  Man, I feel better.  It is ridiculous how much that helps.
• On Monday night I grabbed two Starbucks and went to chat with a good friend.  It felt so good to just talk with no kids pulling at us (okay, her super-cute baby was around, but that certainly doesn't count).
• Nic and a friend are finally laying carpet in the kids' room this weekend.  I have been waiting for this project to get finished so that I can get moving on the room.  It has been at a standstill for a few months, and it is driving me crazy!
• I think we've pretty much decided that the Sunbean is going to preschool in the fall.  She'll be three, and is so ready.  Plus, it's just three hours, three times a week.  We chose a Montessori program, and I love it.  Since she has a late birthday, she'll be able to complete the three-year program, and then start up kindergarten.  It seems so strange to me that she's old enough to be thinking about preschool.
• We got our Peg Perego double stroller (we went with the Aria Twin 60/40) in the mail, and it is great!  The Sunbean loves it (and loves to watch Sesame Street in it....don't judge), and I love it.  Our carseat should come this week.  We sold the Sunbean's infant seat because we hated it.  We were much better consumers this time around.
• A friend gave me a coupon for a $20 gift card to Target.  Talk about a great friend!  I used it to get some new hair accessories, some Starbucks (duh), and I still have some left.  That was a good way to start off the week!
• The Subean is in the 'why' stage.  I might die if I hear 'why?' one more time today.
• At my doctor's appointment, she did a quick check of the ol' cervix (don't you just love those appointments?) and said, "Wow!  Did you know his head is right on your bladder?"  Yes, doc.  I got that.
• MacGyver is really into watching these strange documentaries on Netflix.  I guess I should be happy I'm not missing good TV while I'm grading.
• We're going to Ikea next weekend, and I can't wait to pick up a few things I need.  Why is it that the stuff I want isn't available online?
• I think it's supposed to break 50 degrees today.  I love me some winter, but I'm ready to ditch the maternity coat.

What's on your mind?