Bottles of Fun!

As if it weren't hard enough standing in front of the walls of options at Babies R Us, I have recently determined that I should make my decisions even more complicated by researching the effects of chemicals and plastics on our chromosomal and hormonal systems. I know it sounds crazy, but having been on the receiving end of a chromosomal abnormality with my second miscarriage, I thought I should at least look into it.

Now, I will admit - I'm not 100% sure I believe that this is such a huge issue that it warrants every mother on earth opting for the expensive, chemical free bottles. Plenty of babies drink out of regular plastics and live wonderful, healthy lives. But I'm sure you can understand my tendency to look into it since I have experienced some form of effect in my body and in that of one of my babies.

For those of you that are not familiar with this research, it basically states that many plastics we encounter every day (baby bottles, water bottles, etc) have a chemical in them called BPA (I'll spare you the full spelling and stick with the abbreviated version). When heated or left in the heat (for instance, water bottles left in a hot car), this chemical seeps into the liquid in those bottles and when we drink that liquid, seeps into our bodies causing all kinds of hormonal and chromosomal havoc. Again, I'm not sure how much I really think this is the direct cause of what I experienced or really will make a huge difference, but if I can take precautions to help my baby live a healthier life, then why shouldn't I?

Here's a link to a helpful site that lists BPA free baby bottles. They just introduced this handy wallet reference card with the names of the companies they recommend. Now don't think I'm that over the top. I'm not carrying it around with me or anything. Although I did take it with me to Babies R Us when I registered!

http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2008/02/z-report-on-bpa-in-infant-care-products.html

I know I will not be able to shelter Hope from every harmful chemical in her food or her environment. But I might as well take the measures I can when I am aware of them. This is probably a much bigger deal if you are planning to bottle feed. Obviously the more the baby gets a bottle, the better it is for it to be chemical free. After meeting with my first pediatrician on Friday and hearing her say, "Oh, I'm sorry to say this but you're not going to be able to breast feed after your surgery," I suppose I'm gearing myself up for that and thus am thankful that I've been made aware of this information.

Knowledge is power, right? So enjoy!!

New Template

So I'm sure you can see by now that I have a new blog template. I saw this website on my friend's new blog and had to check out what they offered. Can you believe they had one that said, "Hope Springs Eternal." ???? It's a little bright, but I love it. Enjoy!!

Sweet Anderson

This past weekend I had the privilege of spending 3 nights with my friend Amber in Kansas. Remember Amber? I wrote about her a few months back. She was about to have a baby boy. Well since then, she has had that sweet little boy (Anderson). . . and I won't go into the details of her super easy birth. You all might get jealous. I know I am!

It was so amazing to spend that much time in a home with a newborn. I felt like I got a crash course! Amber is doing such a wonderful job. She carries herself through life with this new little one (not to mention being a CPA during tax season when the world doesn't stop even for an infant) with such ease. She really is a natural and I am so proud of her. I learned so much from observing and trying my best to help out every now and then. I changed a few diapers but got completely stuck when trying to change Anderson's clothes. I'm not sure why, but this is one of the things I'm just scared to do. I think I'm afraid I'll break them as I wiggle them out of their onesies. Amber assured me that they are much less fragile than we think and then proceeded to show we what to do like it was no big thing. I think it might still take me a while. Perhaps I'll have Dave change Hope's clothes every day!

Anderson is so cute. I could just stare at him all day. I'll post a picture as soon as I get them downloaded.

Another week behind me, so much learned and so much more to learn. I feel like a sponge, trying to take in every thing possible in the next few months. Yet I know the learning will be never ending.

May 23rd!

This week, Dave and I scheduled my induction for May 23rd! It's hard to believe there's a date in sight for our pre-baby journey to come to a close. Perhaps it will be a little anti-climactic, but we felt that with all of the possible complications that gestational diabetes has to offer, we should play it safe and have Hope a little early. Of course I don't mind at all. I absolutely cannot wait to hold her. I got over my fear of induction and my fantasies of having an uneventful, natural birth and I just determined that I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this experience healthy and peaceful for me and for Dave and for her. I realize she could come earlier if she decides to and that I would welcome. We plan to have everything done by May 1 just so we can enjoy our last few weeks of freedom and be completely ready and peaceful for her arrival.

But let me tell you, the list of things to do is growing and becoming more and more overwhelming. I'm not sure why women feel the need to have everything in perfect order before they welcome a new life into their home . . . like somehow we have to achieve complete financial success, domestic order and world peace before we can give our attention fully to a newborn. I just keep thinking Oh gosh, we need to get on a strict budget. I need to transfer our finances into Quicken. I need every piece of paper in my home office to be filed tightly. My kitchen cabinets are kinda messy, I should reorganize those before the baby comes. Goodness, there is no way I can do it all in the next 2 months! I need to find a stinkin' pediatrician first!

So here I sit, to do list in hand, with 70 days left until my life changes forever. And I'm pretty sure that as soon as I take one look at her sweet face, I'll forget all about these silly, little chores. They will get done, eventually. But I'll only welcome my baby girl into this world once. And from then on, she'll be number one on my list.

The Curtains From You Know Where

So you know that "to do" list you make while you are pregnant. . .complete with all the things you'd like to accomplish before the little one arrives? Well I have one of those lists. It contains lots of baby-related entries like "paint the nursery" and "interview pediatricians." But it also contains lots of house projects that we've been putting off since we moved in over a year ago. "Seal the deck" is one that I'm begging my husband to do (or hire someone to do) in the next month. Poor thing is just waiting for the weather to become more predictable. "Iron the curtains" is one that has been a thorn in my side for months!

Not long after we moved in, I bought the greatest (or so I thought) blue/green velvet curtains from West Elm. I had my eye on them for months and when I finally went to purchase them (after convincing my husband we HAD to have them) they were on clearance! They were an amazing find!! When I went to put them up, I got out the ironing board and iron and I spent over two hours ironing just two of the six panels I had to hang. My arms were killing me from pressing the iron so hard on those suckers and yet once I got those two lonely panels up, they were no less wrinkled then when I removed them from the package. I convinced myself to just hang the rest up and let time and gravity work the wrinkles out. That was about 11 months ago and gravity has not done its work. So that brings us to "iron the curtains" making its way on the pre-baby to do list.

I think I've written CURTAINS in my planner on six different days over the past two months. And then that day comes and I don't iron the curtains and so I move it to another day on my planner. Well finally, yesterday my mom came over to help me get it done. Please note that whenever I say, "My mom came to help" it really means, "My mom came to do." She's such a servant and now that I'm pregnant she just wants to do everything for me. So she ironed and I worked on email for about two hours and guess what? All she accomplished was the re-ironing of the first two curtains I hung 11 months ago. Then my sweet mom went to my house today while I was at work and ironed all the rest of those blasted velvet curtains (not to mention the while sheers I have since added under them).

So mom, if you are reading this. . . thank you for being such a servant. Thank you for taking care of your baby girl while she takes care of her baby girl! I just pray that I will have the grace to be as loving and nurturing and caring to my little girl as you have always been to me. I love you!