Making Friends In The Baby Aisle

I was perusing down the baby aisle of my grocery store the other day trying to figure out if I could justify spending $20 on a baby toy when there are two perfectly good cat tails for Jacob to pull at home. Why the heck do baby toys cost so much anyway? Is it because parents will easily drop a a fortune on baby products that offer immunity from the student-mom guilt? And you know, if your baby (who just as easily would prefer to chew on your hair than an expensive rattle) doesn't get the latest and greatest in scientifically proven baby products, he may, not develop to his potential! And WHO would risk that!!! At least this is the justification I use whenever I cave into baby-related consumption practices.

Anyway... (venting complete)...

In the middle of my internal moral dilemna, another young mom had pulled her cart up alongside mine. Glancing at Jacob's JJCole BundleMe, she commented on how much she loved the product. I looked up at her and smiled. We instantly began chatting. In ten minutes I learned about her online accounting classes, her husband's job, her family, her love for the beach, her love for yoga pants and her two sons. She has a three year old and a four month old. We chatted up a storm about our shared addiction to Desperate Housewives and how the heck could Susan divorce Mike after all these years? He's like the hottest guy on the show and she waited by his side for months for him to come out of a coma. Sorry but if a guy freaking comes out of a coma for you- you just don't go throwing away that kind of love!

As it was getting late, we both realized we had to go. But the funny thing is neither of us wanted to say goodbye. Our conversation had been so smooth and refreshing, like we were old friends catching up. I think we were also both starved for young mom comraderie. Let's face it, as good as your old friends are, when you become a mom there is a part of you that craves the friendship of people who know what it is like to sacrifice sleep for a pooping machine. A part of you needs to be able to talk about the little daily milestones your baby accomplishes without getting funny looks. Part of you craves interaction with someone who understands exactly what you are going through each day. Because being a mom, much like surviving law school, causes you to forge an unbreakable bond with others over shared trials and joys. (The people who I suffered through 1L year with continue to be my closest friends at law school despite not having any 2L or 3L classes with them).

After several failed attempts to just end our chat, it became clear that we were both needing and craving more from each other than just one time passing conversation. We were both hoping this chance meeting could turn into much needed friendship. But we were both too shy and coy to be direct about it. So we stood there in the baby aisle, as ten minutes turned into twenty, waiting for the other person to suggest something while we each stalled for more time.

Then I did something totally unlike me. I reached deep into my stock pile of social courage and flat out begged her for a play date! For those of you who easily make new friends it might seem weird that it was such a big deal for me to befriend someone I just met. But it felt good to be bold and it feels even better knowing that tomorrow I have a play date with another maternal/baby unit!

If only I could be that bold when it comes to my inner baby toy impulse buyer.

Bear Sightings & More

Last weekend, Jacob went on his first road trip. We traveled five hours by car to visit my sister at her college way out in the middle of nowhere. The town she is lives in was basically built around the university. Once we got about 1.5 hours outside of Seattle, the roads were basically empty- and it was kinda spooky. After we traveled down the mountain pass, all you could see for miles was flatlands. We passed farm after farm, field after field. I forgot that at least half of Washington looked like this!

I am 100% a water person. I grew up on an island (7 miles across by 12 miles long). The only time I don't remember living in the Seattle area (I lived in Alaska was I was really young) I was in college living on the edge of the country's largest lake- Lake Michigan. If I am not near water and if I am surrounded only by land, I begin to feel claustrophobic. I guess you would call that landphobic? So while it was nice to visit my sister, I could never live there.

The highlight of the trip: the hotel! I LOVE hotels. I can't describe it. I love staying in hotels more than I love travelling to other cities. I love the smell of hotel rooms- chlorine, cleaning products and freshness. I love the feel of cool hotel bed sheets against my skin. I love staying up late sitting in bed watching the news in a foreign city. The feeling of relaxing in your room after a dip in the pool- clean and refreshed. I love the possibility of adventure that hotels give. Looking down at rooftops, cityscapes, beaches, and alleys from hotel windows. I love the sound of flip flopped or sneakered footsteps echoing down hotel hallways. The hustle and bustle of people coming and going. Continental breakfasts and late night trips to the vending machine. And don't get me started on Hotelsex! I just love everything about them!

At the hotel we stayed at this weekend, Jacob got to go into a pool for the first time. He loved the water and laughed when his Grandpa splashed about making funny faces. Then he sat on my lap while I dipped my feet into the hot tub. It was heavenly!
The next morning we took a tour of my sister's college town. Enjoyed some yummy lunch and passed by a bear conservation! My little bear got to meet a couple of real bears! The bears definately rank second among trip highlights, after the hotel of course.

But after spending ten plus hours in a car all weekend, it was nice to be back home. Next to water. Away from bears. And back in our beds.

Camera Info

Since everyone keeps asking, I requested camera information from my husband. I am definately no photography expert. I took a couple photography lessons in high school which focused on manual SLR cameras. I used to know how to roll my own film, develop the negatives and use them to make prints in a darkroom. But when it comes to all this digital stuff, I defer to my husband.

The great photos we end up with are definately not attributed to our skill. I say it's all camera! Ok my husband corrected me- he says it's not the camera but the LENS. Whatever. All I know is that I turn it on, point it, let it auto-focus and "snap"- I have a photo. My husband bought this camera used on e-bay for like $500 including the lens. It has been the single best purchase we have ever made. Period.


The digital camera is a Canon Rebel XTI. And the lens is a Canon 50mm 1.8 (whatever that means). While the camera in these pics is our camera, the photos feature a different lens.

The only inconvenience is that the lens doesn't zoom in or out. You have to stand back pretty far to fit people into a group picture. But it does phenomenal close ups! And it even has a built in flash although we rarely have to use it.

So if you're looking for a camera- I highly recommend this one! Say goodbye to out of focus pictures forever! Canon should pay me for this review!

Growing Pains

Today I finally admitted to myself that most of Jacob's 3-6 month old clothes are getting too small. I've been in denial for about a week -- purposely not noticing the lack of leg room in his sleepers and how far his bare arms stick out of his shirts.

For bed time I reluctantly took out a pair of his 6-9 month old size jammies...and...they fit! I can't believe this. I love watching Jacob learn new things. I love how he is interacting with us more each day. But I hate that my baby is growing so fast! Where is the tiny little bundle of blankets that use to just stare up at me?

Last week I slowly weaned Jacob and he is now 90% drinking only formula. I only nurse him once a day now-- the first time he wakes up in the morning. I loved nursing him but now that I can pretty much feed him formula anywhere and at anytime I really don't miss it (I was one of those crazy super modest nursing moms- I wouldn't feed Jacob in front of anyone but my husband, including my own mom, even if we were covered! This made feeding a huge preparedness task- I always had to think ahead). The past month and a half he's been catching up in weight (we were told to put weight on him last appointment). Since he's been eating baby food and rice cereal and formula, he's been packing the pounds. He's finally getting those cute baby fat rolls on his legs!

Since he's put on weight he seems so much more durable. He's also had a dramatic shift in his mood. He used to get fussy pretty often. But lately he's just this happy, content baby ALL THE TIME! I feel bad that maybe he used to be so fussy because I didn't feed him enough? But now he's happy and rolly polly and so much more independent AND he sleeps from 9-6 EVERYNIGHT! He's been just a breeze~!

I'm enjoying this happy Jacob now while I can because I know some teeth are lurking just around the corner, waiting to make his life miserable.

The Tummy Time Wars

Jacob used to just kind of roll accidentally, like he was more falling than rolling. But now I believe he is rolling at will. I put him on his tummy for obligatory tummy time and he looks at me like "whatever mom I'll show you."

He immediately starts to lean his body to one side and pushes off forcefully with his hand.

Mid-roll he gets a look like "I made a huge mistake- is it too late to take it back?"

Then his abnormally large Charlie Brown head hits the floor with a loud "thump." And, victorious!, he engages in some friendly gloating.

Before it starts all over again.

Just look at that face! You never know what he is plotting.

When Bad Crushes Happen To Good People

This would be my Postsecret postcard if I ever sent one:

I have a crush on my father-in-law.

Am I the only one? No one ever blogs about that topic...Is it really THAT inappropriate? Or taboo? I've just always had this thing for older men...

*Hangs head in shame*

Go On Have A Few!

There are plenty of ways in which a baby enhances and adds meaning to your life. Here are my all-time top ten favorites:

10. No Surprises Here: Tax deduction!
9. You get to enjoy those big, private family restrooms.
8. You always have an excuse for being late ("sorry, the baby pooped himself as I was strapping him in the car seat").
7. Random people are always smiling at you.
6. Baby smell... "I'm swear I'm not crazy but can I smell your son's head?"
5. You have unlimited opportunities to go to Chuck E. Cheese. And re-watch Disney movies. And play on the swings.
4. After you have a baby- people lower their expectations of your physical appearance (wow, you had a baby five months ago and you don't look like Dumbo's mom? You look fantastic!)
3. You finally have something to make small talk about at awkward social gatherings.
2. Baby cookies taste delicious! And they are low cal! I might share with Jacob.

My #1 favorite: The Carpool Lane! I can't believe babies count as REAL human people!Awesome!

*Note to Octuplets Lady: these benefits don't necessarilly increase with each additional child.