So it mostly annoys me when Amazon suggests that I link a purchase to my Facebook wall. Not only do I not want everything linked together, but of all things, do I really want my FB wall littered with "look what I just bought on Amazon!" posts? No, I do not.
But seriously, even if there are some people who do use this feature, do you really think that of everything I bought tonight, I wanted to shout to the world about the box of nursing pads? No thank you, I do not. Instead, I'll just blog about it.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
internet, you have failed me
It's not very often that the internet fails me. I pride myself on my ability to find just about anything. My search terms might start out rather broad, but I can usually narrow it down fairly quickly. I am disappointed to report, however, that the internet has failed me twice recently.
First, there's just not much information online about etiquette for the extended family of a birth mother. Oh sure, there's plenty of information about how to help and support a family member who has placed a child for adoption. There's also a ton about proper etiquette for the birth mother, the adopted child, the adoptive parents, and even the extended adopted family. I'm sure this lack has a lot to do with the fact that open adoptions are a fairly new phenomenon, but they're not that new!
Second, there's next to nothing about how to make a planned c-section as natural as possible. Yes, I realize the reason for this: the readers, writers, and outlets that are writing about natural births are very anti-ceserean. The articles elsewhere on the web about repeat c-sections are very short and generally include information about recovery or risks. Here's my thinking: there are tons of articles about choosing an OB and what kinds of questions to ask to see if your desires for your birthing experience are realistic with a particular doctor or practice. Why isn't there something like that about choosing an OB for a repeat c-section? I wish I wasn't having my third c-section. I am a huge proponent of longer labors, fewer inductions, and VBACs. But here I am anyway. I don't need to read something about how the rising c-section rate is ruining America (seriously, that's the tone most of the time). I already know or agree with most of it, and the guilt is really overwhelming when I'm in an emotionally unstable place (aka pregnancy). What I do need is what kinds of questions I can ask my OB and what kinds of demands I can make. Here are a few of the things I'd like to know about:
-Number of c-sections (I know this varies from person to person, but would there be certain surgical steps or certain things I can do in planning my pregnancies [hahaha, like pregnancy can be written in the schedule in ink] to reduce my medical risks if I have more children.
-Immediate bonding opportunities with the baby. Skin-to-skin contact right after birth is something lots of doctors and hospitals allow these days for vaginal births. What about c-sections? Obviously the needs of the mother and child are different, but what kind of accommodations can be made?
-How much of the operation can Josh be there for? In Alabama, they made him wait outside until just before the surgery. When Jonah was born, he was with me the whole time. I might be a ninny, but I really prefer to have him there with me the whole time.
-When will I get to see the baby? Where do we recover? For how long? Again, not counting cases where the mother or baby might need extra observation, what is the standard? If they take my baby to the nursery for observation, how long? Are they looking for a specific milestone or timeframe?
I have gotten answers to most of these questions from my current OB, no thanks to the internet. After delivery, if things go as planned, maybe I'll write down some of the ideas. At this point, though, I'm more interested in squeezing in a few more naps and park visits while I still have the same number of hands as children.
First, there's just not much information online about etiquette for the extended family of a birth mother. Oh sure, there's plenty of information about how to help and support a family member who has placed a child for adoption. There's also a ton about proper etiquette for the birth mother, the adopted child, the adoptive parents, and even the extended adopted family. I'm sure this lack has a lot to do with the fact that open adoptions are a fairly new phenomenon, but they're not that new!
Second, there's next to nothing about how to make a planned c-section as natural as possible. Yes, I realize the reason for this: the readers, writers, and outlets that are writing about natural births are very anti-ceserean. The articles elsewhere on the web about repeat c-sections are very short and generally include information about recovery or risks. Here's my thinking: there are tons of articles about choosing an OB and what kinds of questions to ask to see if your desires for your birthing experience are realistic with a particular doctor or practice. Why isn't there something like that about choosing an OB for a repeat c-section? I wish I wasn't having my third c-section. I am a huge proponent of longer labors, fewer inductions, and VBACs. But here I am anyway. I don't need to read something about how the rising c-section rate is ruining America (seriously, that's the tone most of the time). I already know or agree with most of it, and the guilt is really overwhelming when I'm in an emotionally unstable place (aka pregnancy). What I do need is what kinds of questions I can ask my OB and what kinds of demands I can make. Here are a few of the things I'd like to know about:
-Number of c-sections (I know this varies from person to person, but would there be certain surgical steps or certain things I can do in planning my pregnancies [hahaha, like pregnancy can be written in the schedule in ink] to reduce my medical risks if I have more children.
-Immediate bonding opportunities with the baby. Skin-to-skin contact right after birth is something lots of doctors and hospitals allow these days for vaginal births. What about c-sections? Obviously the needs of the mother and child are different, but what kind of accommodations can be made?
-How much of the operation can Josh be there for? In Alabama, they made him wait outside until just before the surgery. When Jonah was born, he was with me the whole time. I might be a ninny, but I really prefer to have him there with me the whole time.
-When will I get to see the baby? Where do we recover? For how long? Again, not counting cases where the mother or baby might need extra observation, what is the standard? If they take my baby to the nursery for observation, how long? Are they looking for a specific milestone or timeframe?
I have gotten answers to most of these questions from my current OB, no thanks to the internet. After delivery, if things go as planned, maybe I'll write down some of the ideas. At this point, though, I'm more interested in squeezing in a few more naps and park visits while I still have the same number of hands as children.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
six, again
Jonah was quick to point out that he was not completely excited about turning six because it would mean that he would have an extra chore. Up until his birthday, he was doing five chores a day. Well for a variety of reasons, today is the first day he's actually done chores since turning six. Let me tell you what: I'm out of chore ideas! Granted, some of his usual options were out because I'd already done them or just didn't apply (it's hard to fold towels when there are no towels being washed today), but he's apparently not the only one having a hard time adjusting to the extra chore. I guess I'd better start making a list!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
six
Six years ago right now, I was walking the halls of the hospital. All of the soon-to-be grandparents were on their way to sleep in the waiting room (We told them it was too early. Did they listen? Of course not.) while my brother slept at my house without any a/c because he was afraid of me. Maybe that's because I had told him "Sure, come over but don't you dare eat all my food" just a few days earlier. In my defense, shopping was getting pretty unappealing towards the end of my pregnancy, and Josh had just spent the entire day wandering Fry's and Costco with my only half-complete lists in hand as a surprise. That is still, to this day, one of the most romantic things he has ever done for me.
Tomorrow, I expect I will be too busy celebrating to sit down and wax poetic about my baby boy, so let me say this now: He was the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen. It took 5 hours from the time he was born to the time I got to hold him, but it was worth the wait. I cried the first time I heard him cry. I spent the night singing to him because I was too weak to get him in and out of the bassinet by myself. We love this sweet, enthusiastic, eager to please, musical, artistic, gentle, funny child of ours. We loved him quite a bit six years ago, too, when we were pacing the halls waiting for him to arrive.
The first time we met our soon-to-be pediatrician (This was after Jonah's birth...we didn't have a pediatrician selected and I'd left our list who knows where, so our kind nurse just put in her kids' doctor. We loved him.), he asked what we we named the baby. We still weren't sure, but we ran our ideas by him. He was very diplomatic and didn't pass judgement on any of the names. At the first appointment out of the hospital, though, Dr. Aaron's first words were, "Oh, I'm glad you chose Jonah. That was my favorite. I've been practicing nicknames. Joan Man, Jonster, the Joan-miester..." Jonster (Joanster? Jonester? I've never actually tried to write that one out) stuck. We still call him that today.
Happy birthday six times, little man!
Tomorrow, I expect I will be too busy celebrating to sit down and wax poetic about my baby boy, so let me say this now: He was the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen. It took 5 hours from the time he was born to the time I got to hold him, but it was worth the wait. I cried the first time I heard him cry. I spent the night singing to him because I was too weak to get him in and out of the bassinet by myself. We love this sweet, enthusiastic, eager to please, musical, artistic, gentle, funny child of ours. We loved him quite a bit six years ago, too, when we were pacing the halls waiting for him to arrive.
The first time we met our soon-to-be pediatrician (This was after Jonah's birth...we didn't have a pediatrician selected and I'd left our list who knows where, so our kind nurse just put in her kids' doctor. We loved him.), he asked what we we named the baby. We still weren't sure, but we ran our ideas by him. He was very diplomatic and didn't pass judgement on any of the names. At the first appointment out of the hospital, though, Dr. Aaron's first words were, "Oh, I'm glad you chose Jonah. That was my favorite. I've been practicing nicknames. Joan Man, Jonster, the Joan-miester..." Jonster (Joanster? Jonester? I've never actually tried to write that one out) stuck. We still call him that today.
Happy birthday six times, little man!
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
"my dragon!"
What do you get when you mix a girl who loves to make animal noises with an older brother who loves all things action and adventure?
A dragon, of course!
Go ahead and watch this on repeat. I already have.
And for anyone who just didn't get enough Caroline the dragon, here was our second (less successful) attempt:
If you don't speak two-year old, I can help with that. She says "I want dragon watch," "I want watch," and "Noo! No picture dragon."
A dragon, of course!
Go ahead and watch this on repeat. I already have.
And for anyone who just didn't get enough Caroline the dragon, here was our second (less successful) attempt:
If you don't speak two-year old, I can help with that. She says "I want dragon watch," "I want watch," and "Noo! No picture dragon."
Friday, May 9, 2014
about that sauerkraut
me, to Josh: Did you see that Jonah wants to try sauerkraut?
Josh: Yes. I'm hoping this doesn't ruin him for wanting to try new things.
me: It won't! This is great. He rarely wants to try something new.
Jonah, from the backseat: Why do they call is sauerkraut? Is it sour?
Josh: A little bit, yeah.
Jonah: Never mind. I don't want it anymore. I don't like sour things.
us: But you love lemons!
Jonah: But I don't like sour things. So I don't want to try it anymore.
Goodbye, sauerkraut.
Josh: Yes. I'm hoping this doesn't ruin him for wanting to try new things.
me: It won't! This is great. He rarely wants to try something new.
Jonah, from the backseat: Why do they call is sauerkraut? Is it sour?
Josh: A little bit, yeah.
Jonah: Never mind. I don't want it anymore. I don't like sour things.
us: But you love lemons!
Jonah: But I don't like sour things. So I don't want to try it anymore.
Goodbye, sauerkraut.
Monday, May 5, 2014
birthday week, Jonah edition
Next week (what?! how??) Jonah will turn six. In preparation for birthday week, he made me the following list of dinners:
cinnamon rolls
hamburgers
pizza
salmon
fruit salad
soup (chicken noodle)
sauerkraut*
*Curious George ate some and liked it. I think the poor kid will be disappointed. Josh loves the stuff, though, so at least it will get eaten.
hamburgers
pizza
salmon
fruit salad
soup (chicken noodle)
sauerkraut*
*Curious George ate some and liked it. I think the poor kid will be disappointed. Josh loves the stuff, though, so at least it will get eaten.
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