Car seat shopping is a beastie!
We've been using a Graco Snugride that is on loan from my nephew's family. It is an infant carseat/carrier thingy - you know, the kind that you can pop the whole thing in and out of the car on a base. It is rear-facing only, up to 25 lbs. Infant carriers are really useful because tiny babies fall asleep in the car all the time, and considering that they don't always want to fall asleep any other time or way, this allows you to get the baby in to where ever you're going without waking them up. Brilliant. Also, if you just need to contain the little squirmer in the grocery store, or something, these work great. And, of course, we bought the adaptor for the BOB, so ours snapped right into our awesome stroller and the Z could sleep safe and sound while Mom/Gramma/Dad wandered around outside with her. We had 3 bases for the infant carrier, the loaner, plus 2 more we purchased, so that my car, P's car, and Gramma's car could all accomodate the Z. The carrier stayed with the baby, and everyone could use it. No prob.
At a certain point Gramma and I noticed that it was becoming really difficult to carry the carrier with the Kid in it. Heavy, awkward, etc. But we persevered.
Then Gramma went and quit on us and daycare presented a new problem: I was going to be dropping the Z off, but P was going to be picking her up. And there was nowhere to store the carseat at daycare.
Enter into the picture: convertible carseats. These are carseats that are supposed to take your tyke from birth to the end of carseat-dom. They're big. And expensive. And they aren't carriers. Honestly, for the first several months of a baby's life, I'd want the carrier for the reasons listed above. BUT it'd be silly to purchase another carrier to fit on that base in my car only for a few months, when for way more money I can get a carseat that will last the next few years.
I did some searching around on mommy-boards, and the general consensus is that you want a Graco My-Ride 65 ($150) or a Britax Marathon ($270). Once we got to BRU, I was briefly wooed by the Graco SmartSeat, because let's face it, for $30 more than the Marathon I'd end up with a nicer looking, better reclining carseat that also converts up to a booster seat. Last. Carseat. Ever. But ultimately frugality won over and we went home with the My-Ride 65.
P installed the thing, and let me tell you, rear-facing, this thing is H.U.G.E. And I drive the Red Menace, not some family sedan (yet). It's a freaking SUV! And the passenger seat was pulled all the way forward to accommodate the carseat monstrosity behind it. And of course, now the AAP recommends leaving kiddos in the rear-facing position until they are 2 years old. I couldn't picture having my car in this configuration for 17 months, and couldn't picture how the thing would even fit in a smaller car which I think (hope) I might (maybe) be buying in the next 17 months. What to do?
Well, we decided to take it back and see what else we could do. We waited around BRU forever to get an "escort" to allow us to try the floor model in our car (why can't they just take your license and let you do it yourself??), but no one ever responded to us, so finally we just purchased the Britax Marathon. Now that it is installed, I can tell you that it is a few inches shorter than the My-Ride 65, so that's good. It doesn't have cupholders, though, so that is a downer (for $120 more). Hopefully this means it'd fit if I got a new smaller car! Not sure if we'll choose another Marathon or if we'd go with something cheaper once Z is legal to forward-face and we need a 2nd convertible carseat. At least that bridge is a little farther away!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Daycare Drop-off
He: I don't have to work tomorrow.
Me: Great!
He: Will you still drop off the baby at daycare?
Me: Why?
He: I've got a 7:24 tee-time.
Me: You want me to go to work AN HOUR LATE so you don't miss a GOLF DATE?
And so I got to come in at my old, early time today!
Me: Great!
He: Will you still drop off the baby at daycare?
Me: Why?
He: I've got a 7:24 tee-time.
Me: You want me to go to work AN HOUR LATE so you don't miss a GOLF DATE?
And so I got to come in at my old, early time today!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Various and Sundry and Whatnot
Ok, so here's how it all went down:
On Friday the 13th, P graduated from his electrical apprentice program. A graduation 5 years in the making. Z spent the night with her Nana so that we could go to graduation and celebrate. Yay, Journeyman Preston!
On Saturday, we woke up early at the hotel and headed to get Z, by way of stopping at my ex-boss's garage sale and the Friends of the public library's annual book sale, where we got some more rock-bottom priced board books. After that we hung out at Nana's for a few hours, then headed home to do laundry and other weekendy things.
On Sunday (8 days ago, not yesterday), the Z got a little congested. I couldn't believe that she had only been well for 3 days and was already going to be sick again! Further proof that starting daycare is super-lame-o. A few hours later, I got a little congested. And my throat hurt a bit. Neither of us was running a fever, so we carried on with our normal Sunday (which is primarily prepping for Monday).
Monday morning when I woke up to pump I felt really crappy. Took my temp and was running a low-grade fever. Made the decision right then to stay home, since Z and I were both showing symptoms on Sunday, I was sure she'd wake up with a temp and wouldn't be able to go to daycare. I thought the day at home with the increased nursing that it would bring would help her to fight off infection more quickly, also. And I just felt terrible, so I was phoning it in. What turned out happening is Z never developed a fever and seemed fine (other than the congestion) all day Monday while I felt totally crappy all day. I figured if I was still only running a low grade fever, I'd suck it up and go in to work on Tuesday.
WRONG. Tuesday morning when I woke up to pump I was running a 101.4 temp. Called immediately for a doc appt. When Z woke up, she was still fever free, so I shuttled her off to daycare so I could sleep. Went to doc, EAR INFECTION. Seriously?? Seriously. Spent the next several days fighting it. Started feeling half-human again on Thursday. Still weak, went into work for half a day Friday. Still congested, even now, because you can't take a decongestant while breastfeeding because you risk drying up your milk. But I'm finally feeling quite a bit better.
With all the recovery going on, we didn't do much this weekend. But, IMTX was taking place about 20 minutes from my home on Saturday, so we did make an afternoon trip up to Market Street to spectate/cheer for a bit. I have to say: I've always wanted to do an Ironman. The allure of pushing my body and mind is difficult to deny. Of course, I know/knew I was nowhere near ready. Before I got pregnant I was trying to build up my tri distances slowly with the goal of getting to the iron-distance within a few years. Pregnancy changed everything. And the baby changed even more. I cannot imagine doing an Ironman now. Not like this. Not with a little one in the house. It would just take too much time to train for. But not only that, I was watching these athletes walk/run/shuffle by me, knowing that all of them had been on their feet for 9+ hours. They looked worn out. They were doing it, don't get me wrong. They were duking it out with 140.6 miles, and they were becoming Ironmans. But the suffering - to me it wasn't inspiring. The feat is inspiring, but the actual seeing of it, the evidence, the minute-by-minute grind of it was the opposite of inspiring to me. It was a turn-off. I remember how I felt near the end of my marathon. I reckon I looked pretty bad there at the end. I know I felt bad! And I don't know why I would want to do that to myself, again, even more extremely? At least not right now. So here I'm telling the world about the official tabling of my Irondream, at least for the forseeable future. And that is ok. I'll focus on getting my fitness back (was already obviously trying to do that), then on short races and maybe building a little speed back into the old rusty machinery. Because I can be my best runner, athlete, triathlete without going long. At least for now.
On Friday the 13th, P graduated from his electrical apprentice program. A graduation 5 years in the making. Z spent the night with her Nana so that we could go to graduation and celebrate. Yay, Journeyman Preston!
On Saturday, we woke up early at the hotel and headed to get Z, by way of stopping at my ex-boss's garage sale and the Friends of the public library's annual book sale, where we got some more rock-bottom priced board books. After that we hung out at Nana's for a few hours, then headed home to do laundry and other weekendy things.
On Sunday (8 days ago, not yesterday), the Z got a little congested. I couldn't believe that she had only been well for 3 days and was already going to be sick again! Further proof that starting daycare is super-lame-o. A few hours later, I got a little congested. And my throat hurt a bit. Neither of us was running a fever, so we carried on with our normal Sunday (which is primarily prepping for Monday).
Monday morning when I woke up to pump I felt really crappy. Took my temp and was running a low-grade fever. Made the decision right then to stay home, since Z and I were both showing symptoms on Sunday, I was sure she'd wake up with a temp and wouldn't be able to go to daycare. I thought the day at home with the increased nursing that it would bring would help her to fight off infection more quickly, also. And I just felt terrible, so I was phoning it in. What turned out happening is Z never developed a fever and seemed fine (other than the congestion) all day Monday while I felt totally crappy all day. I figured if I was still only running a low grade fever, I'd suck it up and go in to work on Tuesday.
WRONG. Tuesday morning when I woke up to pump I was running a 101.4 temp. Called immediately for a doc appt. When Z woke up, she was still fever free, so I shuttled her off to daycare so I could sleep. Went to doc, EAR INFECTION. Seriously?? Seriously. Spent the next several days fighting it. Started feeling half-human again on Thursday. Still weak, went into work for half a day Friday. Still congested, even now, because you can't take a decongestant while breastfeeding because you risk drying up your milk. But I'm finally feeling quite a bit better.
With all the recovery going on, we didn't do much this weekend. But, IMTX was taking place about 20 minutes from my home on Saturday, so we did make an afternoon trip up to Market Street to spectate/cheer for a bit. I have to say: I've always wanted to do an Ironman. The allure of pushing my body and mind is difficult to deny. Of course, I know/knew I was nowhere near ready. Before I got pregnant I was trying to build up my tri distances slowly with the goal of getting to the iron-distance within a few years. Pregnancy changed everything. And the baby changed even more. I cannot imagine doing an Ironman now. Not like this. Not with a little one in the house. It would just take too much time to train for. But not only that, I was watching these athletes walk/run/shuffle by me, knowing that all of them had been on their feet for 9+ hours. They looked worn out. They were doing it, don't get me wrong. They were duking it out with 140.6 miles, and they were becoming Ironmans. But the suffering - to me it wasn't inspiring. The feat is inspiring, but the actual seeing of it, the evidence, the minute-by-minute grind of it was the opposite of inspiring to me. It was a turn-off. I remember how I felt near the end of my marathon. I reckon I looked pretty bad there at the end. I know I felt bad! And I don't know why I would want to do that to myself, again, even more extremely? At least not right now. So here I'm telling the world about the official tabling of my Irondream, at least for the forseeable future. And that is ok. I'll focus on getting my fitness back (was already obviously trying to do that), then on short races and maybe building a little speed back into the old rusty machinery. Because I can be my best runner, athlete, triathlete without going long. At least for now.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Angry
I've been gone for a while, because I've been quite sick. I'll post a recap of all the joy, but right now I just need to vent. If reading venty posts isn't your style, you're excused.
I am *so* sick of people who recognize a problem in a routine, yet allow that routine to persist week after week, day after day, even when that problem disturbs them or prevents them from doing what they want to do. Don't just complain about the problem, find a solution and implement it. And stop complaining. Just stop it. If you can fix what you're complaining about, then you're just a lazy loser who complains too much but takes no action. And if you can't fix it, then it isn't worth wasting your energy on.
I need some positive people in my life.
Thanks for reading.
I am *so* sick of people who recognize a problem in a routine, yet allow that routine to persist week after week, day after day, even when that problem disturbs them or prevents them from doing what they want to do. Don't just complain about the problem, find a solution and implement it. And stop complaining. Just stop it. If you can fix what you're complaining about, then you're just a lazy loser who complains too much but takes no action. And if you can't fix it, then it isn't worth wasting your energy on.
I need some positive people in my life.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Postpartum Weight Loss and more Breastfeeding
I just read this, and lmao.
But she has a point. I've been working out postpartum for what, 4 months now, and I see at best half a pound of weight loss per week. It is really fascinating... it doesn't seem to matter how well or badly I eat, or how or if I work out. I lose an average of half a pound a week. I mean, I even didn't gain weight in Austin when I ate out every day and didn't work out at all! I'm starting to think it is the breastfeeding... can't let too much weight go in case of famine. Or something.
I was reading a mommy message board this morning and saw the old refrain, "9 months on, 9 months off", but at this rate, in 2 months when I hit the magical 9 month postpartum mark, I'll still be 5-10 lbs over pre-preg weight. Bah-freaking-humbug.
I'm hoping when I quit breastfeeding I'll see a big change. I think I'll plan to do a hard core diet/exercise push in conjunction with the quitting. When I quit. I'm starting to want to quit... not sure if I'm just going through a rough patch or if it is real. Going to stick with it until I'm sure of my feelings. It has been a rough few weeks at work and that has all probably contributed to it. Add it to the Z's fever which is making her latch/unlatch over and over and I'm just feeling fed up. And tired. I cannot wait to kill the 3:15am pump session. I am sure of my feelings about that!!
Debbie Downer a bit today, but that's life, isn't it? We're all on a roller coaster and I'm just keeping it real and looking forward to the upswing.
But she has a point. I've been working out postpartum for what, 4 months now, and I see at best half a pound of weight loss per week. It is really fascinating... it doesn't seem to matter how well or badly I eat, or how or if I work out. I lose an average of half a pound a week. I mean, I even didn't gain weight in Austin when I ate out every day and didn't work out at all! I'm starting to think it is the breastfeeding... can't let too much weight go in case of famine. Or something.
I was reading a mommy message board this morning and saw the old refrain, "9 months on, 9 months off", but at this rate, in 2 months when I hit the magical 9 month postpartum mark, I'll still be 5-10 lbs over pre-preg weight. Bah-freaking-humbug.
I'm hoping when I quit breastfeeding I'll see a big change. I think I'll plan to do a hard core diet/exercise push in conjunction with the quitting. When I quit. I'm starting to want to quit... not sure if I'm just going through a rough patch or if it is real. Going to stick with it until I'm sure of my feelings. It has been a rough few weeks at work and that has all probably contributed to it. Add it to the Z's fever which is making her latch/unlatch over and over and I'm just feeling fed up. And tired. I cannot wait to kill the 3:15am pump session. I am sure of my feelings about that!!
Debbie Downer a bit today, but that's life, isn't it? We're all on a roller coaster and I'm just keeping it real and looking forward to the upswing.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Day 3 of Daycare annnnnnd....
The Z is sick. Booooo!!! 101.5. We knew this would happen, but NOT COOL.
Thank you, and you may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.
Thank you, and you may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.
Monday, May 9, 2011
First Day of Daycare
And mommy is a mess.
(And poor. Or planning to be. HOW do people afford multiple kids??)
(And poor. Or planning to be. HOW do people afford multiple kids??)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Car Shopping
Preston went with a MazdaSpeed3. Pics to follow.
Now we're looking for me, assuming I have a job next week. Looking for me is a little more difficult... what I want is a sporty, practical family vehicle with decent gas mileage. Looking at:
Sporty 4-doors:
Volkswagen GTI
Subaru Impreza WRX
Mid-sized Sedans:
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Sonata
Honda Accord
Mazda 6
"Compact" SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
Toyota RAV-4
Chevrolet Equinox
Honda CR-V
I realize this is all ridiculous. I find it fascinating that I can have such a clear idea of what I do/don't want and still have a list that long. Perhaps it speaks to my arrival in the smack-middle of the middle-class family market. Or to my lack of caring. All I want is a fast car that my kid fits in! How hard can it be?
I'll keep you posted.
Now we're looking for me, assuming I have a job next week. Looking for me is a little more difficult... what I want is a sporty, practical family vehicle with decent gas mileage. Looking at:
Sporty 4-doors:
Volkswagen GTI
Subaru Impreza WRX
Mid-sized Sedans:
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Sonata
Honda Accord
Mazda 6
"Compact" SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
Toyota RAV-4
Chevrolet Equinox
Honda CR-V
I realize this is all ridiculous. I find it fascinating that I can have such a clear idea of what I do/don't want and still have a list that long. Perhaps it speaks to my arrival in the smack-middle of the middle-class family market. Or to my lack of caring. All I want is a fast car that my kid fits in! How hard can it be?
I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Goals
April Goal Review
1. Get calorie counts on recipes and start tracking calories again. (Seriously. I need to get it together here. I can do this. I have no excuse.) Well... I got some calorie counts. The blueberry muffins I've been making only cost me 150 cal. 1/4 of a quiche will be more acceptable next time when I use low-fat mayo. This isn't a "check", but I did work on it, and I am working on it.
2. Run at least 2x per week. Super-mega-fail. Try twice in the month.
3. Core at least 2x per week. Even more epic of a fail. Once in the month.
4. Finish taxes and submit on time. Check, and a big fat check already in the bank that we used to buy P's new car.
5. Get Preston to finish the upstairs floor. (Or call a handyman.) He started working again. Yesterday. So I guess that one is a fail.
Informal goals: complete Bellaire Trolley run with a post-pregnancy PR (check!), keep going with the "lots" of workouts of any ilk (especially during out-of-town times) (mega-fail), keep tracking water intake (check!) and try to hit daily goals (well, I tried...), go spend Easter with my family (check!).
Weight on 2/28 was 139.2. Weight this morning: 138.0. Official weight loss this month 1.2 lbs. I only went over 140 once this month, and that was the aftermath of the Austin eating-out-for-a-week trip, so I'm pleased with that.
May Goals
1. Work out every day. No excuses. (Focus on running and core. But ANYTHING will do. Just EVERY day.)
2. Do #1. For serious.
Informal goals: get Preston to finish the upstairs floor, run another 5K (near the end of the month) with another post-preggo PR, don't get laid off (like I have control over that!), have a lovely birthday, eat less ice cream/shakes/cookies/candy (just less, not give up completely), and keep gathering calorie counts for when I do start back counting.
1. Get calorie counts on recipes and start tracking calories again. (Seriously. I need to get it together here. I can do this. I have no excuse.) Well... I got some calorie counts. The blueberry muffins I've been making only cost me 150 cal. 1/4 of a quiche will be more acceptable next time when I use low-fat mayo. This isn't a "check", but I did work on it, and I am working on it.
2. Run at least 2x per week. Super-mega-fail. Try twice in the month.
3. Core at least 2x per week. Even more epic of a fail. Once in the month.
4. Finish taxes and submit on time. Check, and a big fat check already in the bank that we used to buy P's new car.
5. Get Preston to finish the upstairs floor. (Or call a handyman.) He started working again. Yesterday. So I guess that one is a fail.
Informal goals: complete Bellaire Trolley run with a post-pregnancy PR (check!), keep going with the "lots" of workouts of any ilk (especially during out-of-town times) (mega-fail), keep tracking water intake (check!) and try to hit daily goals (well, I tried...), go spend Easter with my family (check!).
Weight on 2/28 was 139.2. Weight this morning: 138.0. Official weight loss this month 1.2 lbs. I only went over 140 once this month, and that was the aftermath of the Austin eating-out-for-a-week trip, so I'm pleased with that.
May Goals
1. Work out every day. No excuses. (Focus on running and core. But ANYTHING will do. Just EVERY day.)
2. Do #1. For serious.
Informal goals: get Preston to finish the upstairs floor, run another 5K (near the end of the month) with another post-preggo PR, don't get laid off (like I have control over that!), have a lovely birthday, eat less ice cream/shakes/cookies/candy (just less, not give up completely), and keep gathering calorie counts for when I do start back counting.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Full Disclosure
This morning was my first run in 3 weeks. Actually, my first real workout in 3 weeks.
It went like this: trip to Austin (the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley and all that - e.g. what was I thinking thinking that I could sneak workouts in while the baby was sleeping in the SAME hotel room with me?? Idiot.), root canal/crown/ finally-finally-the-end-of-the-40-day-toothache-but-only-after-MORE-pain week, and the baby deciding to wake up screaming once every night week.
April was a total bust. I'll do my monthly review in a seperate post, but I sucked it up in April. Really really badly.
But May is a new month. My birthday month. I shall not sucketh in May. (Damnit). So yesterday I walked to bring in the month, and this morning I ran.
It was a beautiful, beautiful morning for a run. Probably 55 degrees and not super-humid. I ran sans iSquishy because it wasn't charged. And it was good.
More later!
It went like this: trip to Austin (the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley and all that - e.g. what was I thinking thinking that I could sneak workouts in while the baby was sleeping in the SAME hotel room with me?? Idiot.), root canal/crown/ finally-finally-the-end-of-the-40-day-toothache-but-only-after-MORE-pain week, and the baby deciding to wake up screaming once every night week.
April was a total bust. I'll do my monthly review in a seperate post, but I sucked it up in April. Really really badly.
But May is a new month. My birthday month. I shall not sucketh in May. (Damnit). So yesterday I walked to bring in the month, and this morning I ran.
It was a beautiful, beautiful morning for a run. Probably 55 degrees and not super-humid. I ran sans iSquishy because it wasn't charged. And it was good.
More later!
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