In preparation for Valentine's Day, a post on love

I found this wonderful book of bedtime blessings that I bought recently. Every night before I put Little Guy to bed, we read the first few blessings in the book. Tonight he was a little under the weather. He had a low-grade fever and a stuffy nose, but he still wanted to me to read him his blessings.

"Mama, can we read the blessings?"

"Sure we can, hon." I said and began the first one.

Dear God, thank you for the day that's done, the things I did and all the fun. For big adventures, learning more, for new discoveries to explore...

"Mama, wait. Can we say thank you for my new firetruck pillowcase?"

"Well, sure we can. Thank you God for the new firetruck pillowcase."

I continued:

...For being with my family, who loves me lots and care for me.

"Mama, wait. And can we say thank you for Dada and Little Brother and Mama?"

*insert melting heart here (mine)*

"Yes, hon. Thank you God for Little Brother and Dada and me and for you too."

...And for this house above my head and for my comfy, cozy bed. Amen.

Amen. And thank you God for this child. This beautiful, wonderful, lovey child.

You Mess With My Sushi, You Mess With Me

Want to find out what I'm so peeved about? Go check out my latest post at Moms Speak Up.

Co-Sleeping Postscript

Thank you all for your supportive comments on my last post. There was one comment questioning the safety of co-sleeping. I didn't intend to start a debate on it, but I personally feel that the manner in which families choose to sleep together is totally their own business. Also, I do not necessarily think that co-sleeping is dangerous, as long as some precautions are taken (like don't smoke in bed with your baby or go to bed drunk. Heh.). That being said, I am not an expert on the dangers or safety of co-sleeping and I was always a little bit nervous to sleep with my baby because I was afraid he might roll off the bed or that I might pull the covers over him by accident. It never happened, but I guess it could have. But I know many moms who co-sleep and love it and I support them.

Now, while I do support co-sleeping if that's what one chooses, I also support putting a baby in their crib if that works best. And I am happy to report that ever since we put the baby in a crib a few days ago, he has been sleeping like, well, a baby! I can't believe it! The first three days that I put him in the crib were the best nights of sleep I've had since he was born - and he didn't even really cry when we put him down. It was like a miracle or something. I would just nurse him to sleep and lay him down and he would make a few whimpers and fall asleep.

This is like better than winning the lottery. May it continue forever and ever and ever. Amen.

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And an announcement...Green Mom Finds has a fun new collaboration going with the League of Maternal Justice and BlogHers ACT Canada called Eco Moms ACT. Each month will feature an eco-challenge with lots of prizes for the winners. Go here to find out how to participate in this month's challenge - Go Meatless!



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Plus, another great eco-friendly giveaway going on over here!

Husband Moves Back to Bed Tonight

For the last 5 months I've been sleeping with another man. OK, it's not what you think. Our bed is only big enough for two, so I gave Husband the boot so I could co-sleep with the baby right after he was born.

So Husband has been sleeping on the extra twin in Little Guy's room and I have been sharing my bed with the baby.

I never co-slept with Little Guy. By the grace of God, Little Guy was an awesome sleeper who slept in his crib from the day he came home from the hospital, started sleeping through the night at 4 1/2 months old, and still to this day could probably sleep through a MAC truck breaking through our living room without so much as an extra snortle.

But this baby is different. Oftentimes, he can only sleep when he is sleeping next to me. And the thing is: I kind of don't mind. Well, I do mind when he wakes up every hour (like the last three nights) and I worry that he will roll off the bed. But I like the closeness. Ah, the closeness. It is wonderful to be able to roll over in bed, pop my boob in his mouth, and drift off to sleep with him. (Sorry, if that's stated in a vulgar way, but it really is a beautiful thing - trust me on this Facebook execs).

But today Husband decided that it is time to "ferber" the baby. He is 5 months old and he really should be sleeping in his crib - so says Husband. And I kind of agree. Kind of.

The honest truth is that I want Husband back in bed with me. But I want the baby in bed with me more. And they can't both be there. There's just not enough room.

However, I want to honor my Husband's request to come back to his bed. But I am sad. I feel like a chapter is ending. A little prematurely in my mind.

The baby is still, well, a baby. Why should he cry it out in his crib when I can soothe him to sleep so easily? It doesn't seem right - even if we agreed to let him cry for only 5 minutes at first.

Right now, I am just dreading hearing him cry at all. From his crib. In the other room. While I lay there in bed with Husband. Missing my baby.

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Update and Request: Following the Environmental Working Group's report on BPA in baby formula (and blogger reactions to it), Congress has launched an investigation into the use of BPA in the linings of formula containers. Yay! Score one for EWG and mamas everywhere! Here's a link to a story on Congress' investigation.

EWG is now surveying parents on their kid's soft drink consumption as a way to gather data about routine exposures to common soft drink ingredients. It's a short survey, and anyone who takes it will get a free update with the results once they've compiled them. To take this survey, and help out with the study, please click here. Pretty please! It's for a good cause!

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Have you seen the cool (and safe!) Klean Kanteen sippy cup and organic cotton Moby Wrap we're giving away over here? We've got a bunch of neat "green" goodies lined up to give away over the next few weeks too!

Take Cover, Mothergoosemouse!

This post was written for Julie of Mothergoosemouse, who is getting a virtual shower today. More details here!

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Dear Julie,

Yes, take cover - but not because you're having a boy. Because you're having another child! Boy or girl it's going to be a ton of work having three kids I'm sure, but it will also be so rewarding. And now you will get to experience what it's like to have a son! What a wonderful time you will have!

Now, I could give you tips on how to clean a penis, but yeah, I'm not going to go there on the blog. Suffice it to say, that it's not as hard as one might think. You'll get the hang of it in no time. (No pun intended - heh.)

OK, all kiddin' aside, the one thing I want to tell you that I have learned as the mother of two boys is that boys can be more sensitive and cuddly and loving that you could ever imagine. When I found out I was pregnant with my second son last year, I was a little disappointed. I wanted a daughter so bad because I felt that girls would love their mothers more and for longer than boys. I'm starting to think that I was just stereotyping. Time will tell. But I can say that my 2-year-old, Little Guy, is one of the most affectionate children you will ever meet. Just a couple days ago, he spent 30 minutes going back and forth between my husband and I giving us hugs and saying "I love you." It was so adorable. Finally, it was time for bed and we had to stop. He cried. He wanted to keep going!

Having boys is a wonderful blessing. At least, it has been so far. Ask me again in 10 years, when the fart jokes begin (and I know they will; I have two brothers), and maybe I'll think differently. But for now, I am really enjoying my boys and I know you have many special times ahead.

Congratulations, Julie. I wish you the best!

xxoo,
Cristina

Outwitted by a Toddler. Again.

So, as soon as Little Guy entered toddlerhood, I started reading every book I could on discipline. Cuz I'm not letting a toddler run my household, right? I'm the parent, right?

Right.

So, I decided that after reading a few books I would attempt the whole time out thing based on the book, 1-2-3 Magic. By some magical miracle, this book claims that time-outs will work if you do it the way they say you should. Yes, the key is that you have to be CONSISTENT and always do it the same way and do it without any emotion or talking. Well, we were doing OK for a while and then we got lazy and then...well...this is what happened last night.

Me: Little Guy stop throwing food across the table!

Little Guy: (throws more food)

Me: I said stop it!

Little Guy: I want a time out!

Me: What??

Little Guy: I WANT a time out.

Me: No, you can't have a time out. I say when you get a time out.

Little Guy: But I want one.

Me: No!

Little Guy: I want to be in trouble.

Me: You are not in trouble. Only I say when you're in trouble.

Little Guy: (throwing food)

Me, completely vexed. If I give him a time out now, he wins and I don't give him a time out he wins.

Me: OK, get down. Let's watch Bob the Builder on TV.

Little Guy: YAY!!

I'm totally flunking parenthood.

Internet Addict

Wow. It's 2:00am and my 4-month-old child is sleeping in his crib. Soundly. He has been for the last three hours.

A sane woman would be sleeping in her bed soundly right about now too.

Instead, I'm blogging on the Internet.

Just more proof that I am losing my mind.

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On another note, I found my cell phone. It was (you guessed it) in the couch. Right where Little Guy had left it no doubt. No luck finding the wallet or keys though.

CleanWell Hits a Homerun with Their New Handsoap

I’ve reviewed a handful of fabulous products as part of the Parent Bloggers Network, but I have to say that that I’ve never been more excited at a review opportunity than when I was asked to try out CleanWell’s new antibacterial soap. OK, I know. Your thinking, "Hand soap? Are you serious?" Yes, I know that hand soap isn’t the most glamorous of products, but don’t run in the opposite direction yet! I have a ton of reasons why you’ll want to try it out – especially if you have little ones and you’re looking for a non-toxic, non alcohol-based alternative to the run-of-the-mill antibacterial soap on the market.

Continue reading...

Anyone Got a Metal Detector Handy?

Remember a few weeks ago when I told you I lost my wallet - with all my credit cards, my ID, my health plan cards, a bunch of cool gift cards (*sniff), and even my friggin library card?

Yeah, well, I never did find it. And then about two weeks ago, I lost my keys.

And I never found those so I had new ones made. And then promptly lost one of the new ones before I could get it on the key chain.

Then a couple days ago, I lost my cell phone. I have no idea where it is.

What is going on with me?

Next think you know, I'll be losing my mind. It's not much of a stretch, people.

How About a Little Artificial Coloring with Your Folic Acid?

I've been taking the prenatal vitamins recommended by my doctor for about 3 years now, ever since I became pregnant with my first son. I take the Kaiser brand prenatal vitamins, which are manufactured by Kaiser, the HMO that I belong to. I've always felt that I am keeping my baby safe, both prenatally and while breastfeeding, by taking my vitamins every day. I also feel that I am safeguarding my own health by getting the extra vitamins, especially the calcium.

Then, this morning, I happened to take a longer look at the ingredients in my vitamins. Until today, I had somehow missed the "other ingredients" category. But there, in fine print, at the bottom of the bottle are all the other ingredients I've been ingesting with my daily vitamin dosage - including FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40 and FD&C Blue #1, which are man-made and derived primarily from petroleum and coal sources.

Yep, I've been giving my children healthy doses of artificial coloring while in utero and through my breastmilk all this time.

I'm sure there's a really good reason why there's artificial coloring in my prenatal vitamins. I just can't think of a reason right now.

Hopefully, it will come to me. But I doubt it.

So, WTF Kaiser? Do you have an answer for why you are manufacturing prenatal vitamins with artifical colors? And can you please assure me that these aren't the same artificial colors that some people say cause cancer in animal studies? My children, born and unborn, would like to know. Thanks.

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Since posting yesterday, I have decided to stick to this blog instead of starting a new one. Mainly, because I'm a lazy SOB (to steal the eloquent words of two shews) and secondly, because well, everyone and their mother told me to stay here so I'm doing as I'm told. I'm staying put. :)

A New Year, A New Blogging Direction?

When I started this blog, I found myself naturally inclined towards writing about the more humorous aspects of being a new mom. And I also took some pokes at the hubby now and then. All in good fun, of course. *ahem* (Sorry, hun.)

I became a bit of a blogging junkie - spending hours and hours a week blogging, even at the expense of my sex life. (You know you're a blogging junkie if you're sex life is suffering because you're up late blogging.) Nevertheless, we somehow ended up conceiving another child last year and we are now the proud parents of two little boys.

Somewhere along the way, I began to notice that my blogging style has started to change a bit. I began this blog as a way to entertain myself with funny stories about being a mom, but in the last few months I have found myself wanting to write more about health and social issues like BPA in formula cans or Wal-Mart's role in organics or vaccine safety .

I am at a bit of a crossroads in my life and, hence, with my blog. My blog is a reflection of a piece of me. As are all of our blogs. Part of me still has tons of funny stories in my head about my kids that I want to write down and have later to laugh about. But perhaps a bigger part of me wants to write more about this other stuff rumbling around in my head all the time. Stuff like - how can I live a simpler life, how can I tread more lightly on the environment, how can I make sure my kids are safe in this crazy world of toy recalls and toxic chemical crap all around us.

Moms Speak Up has been a great site for me to get to write about this stuff. I also have a new project that I've been working that I am terribly excited about and that is giving me an outlet for writing about some of this kind of stuff. (I will tell you more in a few days.) But the bottom line is that I am unsure of how I should continue with this blog. Do I start a brand new blog with a new URL and a new name that focuses on my beginning attempts to try to live a greener, simpler lifestyle (with a few cute stories about the kids sprinkled in for good measure)? Or do I keep writing on this blog even though my writing topics might be changing a bit than when I first started? I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, but it's just something that's been on my mind lately and I had to blog about it.

And also, I wanted to say thanks for reading. I'm not sure why you're still coming back, but I'm glad that you do. Happy 2008 :)