Ick!

Sophia and I are recovering from an awful case of food poisoning. We have both been miserable since Monday afternoon. There's nothing scarier in the world than to see your baby so sick and so miserable. What's even worse, experts now say don't give ANYTHING to a sick child under the age of 2 years..well, except for Tylenol if there's a fever. Thankfully she seems to be feeling much better. Now if we could get rid of the cold she's got!

Regret

So all you moms have heard of the "Moro Reflex", right? If not let me tell you what it is..in short it's that falling sensation you get sometimes when you're on your back. If you'd like a more detailed explanation then go here.

When I had just had Sophia and we were in the hospital the nurses were helping me learn how to breastfeed. Soph, like most babies, kept falling asleep on the boob so I asked the nurses what I could do to keep her awake. All of them told me to either undress her so she wasn't too warm and/or to raise her up in the air because it would startle her. Well, being a new mom I didn't think it was bad..how was I supposed to know? So I did what the educated people told me to do and it worked!

Fast forward about two weeks after bringing Sophia home from the hospital. None of us are getting any sleep. She wakes nearly every 30 minutes because of this moro reflex kicking in. So my mom comes to visit and tells me that Sophia isn't getting good rest. Leave it to mom to know. She puts Sophia to sleep on her tummy and we all sleep peacefully.

Fast forward again to today. She's 9 months old. Every Friday we have gymnastics from 12:15 to 1:00. It's just across the bridge from where we live. Today just happens to be sunny and gorgeous..not too cold..perfect day to walk to and from Soph's class. So I pack her up with some bottles and diapers and extra change of clothes and off we go. On the way she's bopping around with her little hat with the pom poms and wearing her blue shades. Happy as can be. Coming home was a totally different story. She was exhausted. It was going on 2 pm and she'd been awake since 10:20. She cried and screamed all the way across the bridge and I was walking as fast as I could to get her home for a nap. I stop at the light and look at her and poor baby girl is leaning forward in her stroller with her head dropping down banging on the front bar. I tried to get her to lean back but that moro reflex must have kicked in because she would have none of it.

I wish I could find those nurses again and tell them they are horrible for telling new parents to do what they told me. I wonder how many other new moms are paying the price now? And I wonder if Sophia will ever be able to sleep on her back?!

Another great giveaway!

Jen at A Daily Dose of Davis is hosting a great giveaway. If you like paper, go over and check it out!

Finally!

I am SO EXCITED! Finally, Sephora is coming to downtown Vancouver...ACK! I wanted to scream with joy this morning when I got the e-mail. I've been waiting YEARS for this moment..and finally, in July, my dream will come true!

Scam

Last Friday afternoon a woman appeared at my front door asking to rent our townhouse. I told her it wasn't for rent. She then pulled out some papers that she printed off the internet and showed me that it said our address was available for rent for $700 p/month. I was completely shocked. She mentioned that the man posting the ad (on Craigslist) had requested she send him the first and last months rent in order to view the place. When she said that I knew it was a scam.

Yesterday a man came to our door for the same reason. Again I had to tell him, it's not for rent and there's no way you could rent anything in this neighborhood for that amount anyway! He acted a little disgusted with me but whatever.

I contacted Craiglist and told them someone is running a scam on their website and it involves my address and I want them to deal with it. Unfortunately I searched for a bit and couldn't find the posting so it is likely someone else figured it out and got the posting removed.

This morning Jeff called me on his way to work and said there was a notice on the board on the way into the parking garage. Two townhouses in our courtyard were broken into on Tuesday. I don't know if that's related to the shady characters wanting to rent my home but it seems kind of odd. What's crazy is this neighborhood has always been safe, but now I'm not feeling so safe. I just won't be answering my door during the daytime and I'll have to remember to use the deadbolt at all times.

My little teether

Miss Sophia's bottom gums are swollen the size of Texas right now. No wonder the sweet girl hasn't been sleeping well.

On Saturday we celebrated Christmas with the Schafer/Leone/Black clan. The weather was bad at Christmas so we had to delay the celebration. It was nice to see everyone and it was tons of fun watching Soph try to copy her big cousin Gavin!

I can't believe we are nearly halfway through February. Where's the month going? On Friday Soph will be 9 months old! I can't believe it.

Last Friday, Soph graduated from her gymnastics class. She got to stand on a podium while her instructor presented her with her "report card". It was the most adorable thing. She was quite proud of herself and raised her arms in the air excitedly. I'll have to get the photos from my other camera..it was way too cute!

Here she is the day she graduated:

Regression

I am exhausted. Sophia has been waking up every night for about an hour. Last night I just couldn't do it, and I asked Jeff to take her. She always wants a bottle. This has made me think she's not eating enough during the day, so I've increased the amount of solids she's been eating but that didn't seem to make a difference. I miss a good nights sleep and I have no idea why this is happening. I've been reading Wonder Weeks. It says that her glucose metabolism is now kicking in but what that means..I've no idea (must research!). Have any of you other moms gone through this? At 3.5 months Sophia was sleeping through the night..seriously. She was sleeping about 12 - 14 hours p/night! And then teething started and that ended (mourning!).
I know this won't last forever - I'm praying it doesn't, anyway. It's just hard to keep that in mind when you're living through it at the moment!

According to Nina

Nina Knows Best is now According to Nina! Check out her new super cute blog. She's got lots of cute giveaways this week and she always has great advice on just about everything!

With that, I am off for a huge coffee. Sweet, sweet Sophia decided last night wasn't a night for sleep. She's got the energy and mama is holding her eyes open with toothpicks.

My first tag!

Abbie, at A Glimpse of the Girl Next Door, tagged me! FUN!

Here are the rules:

Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
Step 2: tag—eight other un-tagged people

Make a list of things you can see without getting up: tv, phone, keyboard, Sophia's toys, Diet Coke, cat

What are you wearing now? tank top, lululemon pants

What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading? Wonder Weeks

Do you nap a lot? I should nap when Soph naps, but I rarely do

Who was the last person you hugged? Jeff

What’s your current obsession/addiction? reading blogs - I have to agree with Abbie on this one. I've discovered some amazing women!

What was the last thing you said aloud? "I love you"

What websites do you always visit when you go online? Gmail and Facebook

What was the last thing you bought? Blackout shades

What are you listening to right now? the tv

If you could have any super power, what would it be? To fly. I know, it's so silly, but we are flying to AR in March and I dread the 6 hour flight with a 10 month old child

What is your favorite weather, and why? Hot..and, dare I say, humid. I miss those kinds of summers.

What time do you usually get up? Well, Sophia seems to enjoy waking up at 5:30 am..so that's when I get up

What is your most challenging goal right now? Saving money to purchase a second home in Hot Springs, AR..and to survive this recession

Say something to the person who tagged you:
Abbie - I've loved reading about your wedding planning! I can't wait to see pictures of your big day..also, I'm so jealous you just got to go back to AR!

If you could have a house–totally paid for, fully furnished–anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? By the beach, any beach, as long as it's warm almost year round

Favorite vacation spot? beach

What is your favorite item of clothing? I'm a mom..I aim for comfort - lululemon pants, baby

Name one thing you just can’t resist no matter how bad it is for you: diet coke..but it is caffeine free!

Favorite pair of shoes you keep going back to over and over, even though your closet is overflowing with a zillion others: I'm a flip flops girl.

Name one thing you cannot live without: a good bra!

*My added question*
What is your favorite childhood memory? My older brother surprised me and picked me up at school. He then took me for ice cream. It was the first time he wasn't picking on me!


I tag:


Hexkitten
G.R.I.T.S.
Ross Family
Waiting for Chloe Grace
Addie and Mommie's Blog
According to Nina
Our Gifts from God

Light as a feather...

Ok, that might be pushing it a little but I am lighter! I joined WW in mid-December. When I was pregnant with Sophia I sort of got out of hand with the ice cream and the chocolate and pretty much gave in to any craving I had at the time. Jeff, of course, was fully supportive of this! Now I am no longer pregnant but you wouldn't know that when I step on the scale. I remember at all my weekly OB appointments I would get in trouble because of my weight. She kept telling me "it's going to be difficult to lose this weight after the baby". Of course, I sort of laughed her off at the time but boy was she right!

Anyway, WW has been successful for me so far. I'm nearly at -10lbs! Once I reach that goal I then have to decide what my desired weight is and aim for that. For my height I should be ranging between 120 - 140. I'm going to go for 130 lowest/135 highest. I've seen myself at 120 and I look like a skeleton.

So it's pretty exciting to know that this is working..what I'm doing is making a difference although I haven't had to change much. I've just become more mindful of what's going in my mouth and making some healthier choices. Thankfully I haven't had to give up my chocolate!