Never Too Young To Save

Rudy is totally pumped about his savings plans. His grandma got him started with the bottle bank which is about the same size as Rudy at 7 weeks old. Rudy already has received several loose change contributions.

Rudy also has a savings account. The interest rate isn't much to write about but it's more than he's making on the bottle bank.  Minor savings accounts are cool because you don't need a minimum balance. Not that Rudy has any problem in this area...yet.  Rudy's just getting started.

I see CDs, IRAs, and Stocks & Bonds in his future.  Maybe even a 529 after his first IQ test.

Rudy's 1sr Dollar

As you can see, we decided to frame Rudy's first dollar. I found a currency frame at the local craft store, on sale for 50% off. The discount made the expense more palatable.  Framing the dollar reminded me of an episode of The Jeffersons where George Jefferson framed the first dollar he earned at his dry cleaning business. The episode was really about the customer who gave him that dollar. Years later she had fallen upon hard economic times but George remembered that she was his first sale so he would dry clean her clothes and put it on her "tab"...that always had a zero balance.

With this frame we hope that Rudy will always remember his first dollar - gifted to him by his grandma - and who gave it to him.

Looking Good Is Never Easy

Ok, you have to admit it, Rudy looks so cute in the suit. I took a lot of pictures for our holiday card. This pic wasn't the the winner but he looks so adorable I had to share it.  Getting him into the suit was a challenge. I bought it online so I didn't know how it was designed.  I soon found out that the designers focused more on fashion than function.

The suit has a few buttons at the top and some going down the legs that stop at the ankle cuff. I had to slide the feet through the cuff then button up the legs, this is after shimming Rudy through the top part. Luckily he's still very flexible so no bones were broken. In the end I got him into the suit using a lot of patience and although there were a few grunts here and there he didn't crack a cry. I, on the other hand, may have shed a tear or two.
Unfortunately Rudy was exhausted from the dressing session and quickly fell asleep once he was in full costume. He still looks absolutely fabulous but you know what they say, "looking good is never easy".

I think this is the last time he will ever where this outfit. I actually considered cutting it off of him. Seriously.

Filing The Krueger Claws

Rudy was born with  serious Krueger Claws. Recently he had another filing session. The trick to getting him to stay still during the filing session is based on timing. We found doing it after he eats, when he's almost in a food comma, is the best time. He doesn't like it that much but he's too full to care.

We haven't used the clippers yet, per the advice of the hospital nurses. When his doctor gives us the thumbs-up, we'll get to cutting. Until then, filing after his feeding is the way to go to keep Rudy from having Krueger Claws.

Picture of the Day - 4 Weeks Old

Thanks Aunty for the Cool Hat.
(It matches my suit.)

Giving The Gift of Gab

Hallmark has recordable story books. They market them for kids but I'd love for someone to read a story to me. Rudy's grandparents are game. We'll probably do a book for Rudy too. Then we only have to flip the pages. Ok, that may be a little lazy. Rudy's pack-n-play allows us to record things for him, music or voice messages. Pretty soon we'll have avatars.

So, if you know someone who loves technology or loves to hear them self talk they will like making a recordable story book.

Rudy's First Birthday

Between feedings, burpings, and changing diapers, last week we managed to give Rudy his first birthday party. The party was inspired by a client who suggested that dad have a congratulations cake for me when we return from the hospital. Daddy decided to change it up a bit.

Why wait a year for a birthday party?

Rudy probably won't remember this joyous event and to be honest, we were so tired we barely remember it now.

Rudy's (finally) sleeping now and I sleep when baby sleeps.

Wishery Video

My sister just IMed me this video. It made me feel so happy I couldn't resist the urge to share it.

Rudy's Finally Home

I've been MIA for several days because 1 hour before checkout I got the news that I had to go home, but Rudy had to stay. Rudy had higher levels of jaundice than the pediatrician likes to see. My world was turned upside down because I hadn't planned to leave the hospital without Rudy.

After some UV light treatment and an increase in food, Rudy was released on Friday.

One day I'll blog about how we as parents survived the experience.

Colicky Baby, Rudy Is Not

Rudy isn't showing in signs of colic. I wish I could say the same about the baby next door. He/She crys about twice an hour. Rudy didn't even cry when he came out. Seriously. He made some cute baby noises and then we went straight into the bonding phase - we stared into each other's eyes like it was love at first site.

Rudy's Here!!!

Rudy must have read my last post and decided to join us in the world. Rudy was born this morning, Nov. 2, 2010 at 3:48 AM!



He weighs 8 lbs even and is a towering 20.5 inches long.

Labor and delivery went very well and as far as I know, Rudy is 100% healthy.

Oh, "nutrition" just dropped by with my super deluxe breakfast order.
I'll write more later and post a pic or two.

Cb

We're Ready But Rudy Isn't

October 28 has come and gone, still Rudy is hanging out in my belly. His first Halloween will be next year. Over the weekend I discovered dust on the diaper wipe warmer. At that moment I realized that I've been ready for Rudy for a month.

Rudy has a 3 week supply of clean clothes, bedding, bibs, towels, etc. The drawers are organized and labeled. Labels may seem like overkill but when you have a lot of little drawers and multiple people accessing them, after a while, you forget "where what is". Now we only need to keep track of Rudy, everything else will fall into place.

Rudy also has a 2 month supply of diapers & diaper wipes and baby bathing supplies.

The car seat is in the car, the stroller and diaper bag (Similac Sling Pack) are sitting in the corner eagerly waiting for their first outing with Rudy.

The contact lists (email, phone, & text message), birth plan - all ready to go.


Rudy, we hope to see you soon.

Baby Promos - A New Way to Market

Now I'm sporting the free Enfamil Carryall bag & the Simalac Sling Pack. I used the Enfamil bag at the grocery store the other day. The Simalac Pack is loaded with all the stuff I need for taking Rudy on his first trip post-delivery (probably to the pediatrician's office).

One thing I noticed about the bags is the lack of bold-in-your-face branding. The brand isn't on the bag. The Enfamil bag (inside) tag  says 'Made In China'. Simalac actually has their name on a little discreet tag on the outside of the bag. Why are they so shy?

I say, because they want people to use them. And when I say, people, I mean people like me. I wouldn't walk around with a backpack that screams SIMALAC, or use a multi-purpose bag that yells ENFAMIL. The promo stuff inside the bags is what's suppose to wheel you in. The bag is just an added bonus. In my case, the sample can of Similac powder was one of the recalled cans because of BEETLES. The powder has been trashed but I still plan to use bag. It's the only diaper bag I have and that I need at the moment. Thanks Simalac (but not for the formula). :-)

Rudy's 1st Baby Shower

Waiting for Rudy's arrival has given me time to reflect on the events that have happened to celebrate Rudy. The first big celebration was Rudy's 1st baby shower. It was an amazing luncheon, in a lovely setting with good eats and great peeps. I relive the moment by looking at pictures like these.

Location: The Portafino Inn - a beautiful Victorian house.

H'orderves: Stuffed shrimp wrapped in prosciutto, tartlets, and drinks - in the garden.

Table Setting: Linen table cloth & linen napkins.

Lunch: Caprese salad, polenta, chicken rollatini, & squash

More Lunch: Stuffed eggplant & peach dessert in a wine reductions sauce

Party Favors: Each guest received olive oil with a hand written thank you card and a murano pearl bracelet.

Beetles Vs Breast Milk

The hospitals give expecting moms free promo bags of coupons and formula complements of big companies like Infamil & Similac (Abbott). I have the Similac Pack which came with formula samples. Also I signed up for their StrongMoms group where they send you emails with all the needed 411.

Today I checked their Web site and found out that they have a recall on several formulas because they may have beetles or beetle larvae. OMG. Beetles? Seriously? Why didn't I get an email from StrongMoms about this not-so-little recall?

I'm going to be the poster parent for breast feeding. Rudy won't be getting in beetles out of my boobies!

 

It's "D" Day

Ladies and gentlemen, here we are Oct. 28, 2010, and Rudy is still living in mommy's belly. He hasn't dropped yet but by the way he's moving it could happen at any moment. I'm a little scared because my appetite is really picking up, but I haven't gained 1 pound. Where is all of that food going? I hope Rudy doesn't get too big in my belly. Why?

In my baby book, I'm reading the chapter on labor and delivery and the reiteration of the labor back pain, episiotomy, tearing & pushing, catheters & IVs; the 3 phases of labor - early labor, active labor, transitional labor - is giving me mental contractions. Now my brain needs an epidural. But I digress.

I'm thinking for the real "D" day an epidural is more likely than not. Daddy says Rudy's going to be a big one.

Pray for me and Rudy.

2 Days Left: How Am I Feeling???

What can I say? It's almost 12 noon and I just woke up. Seriously! How can an adult sleep so much? Of course, I do wake up in the wee hours of the night - sometimes 4 AM sometimes 6 AM - then I'm out like a light by 7 or 8 AM. These days I read, eat, and sleep. Sometimes I play video games on my DS.

Aside from sleeping like a baby, I have major sciatica, a real pain in the butt. It flares up from sitting. Rudy and I are most comfortable when I lay down on my left side; a little hard to do when driving to doc. appointments.

Ooh, I think Rudy's trying to tell me that it's time to eat (again), gotta go...

Today I had "The Talk"

Today I found a show called 'The Talk". I guess the idea is there are 4 women - host, guest, and 2 popular females in the entertainment industry - that talk about a specific topic. When I tuned in the guest was a 5-month first time pregnant lady (I think she's a GMA correspondent). The topic was labor pain. How appropriate, I thought.

One lady referred to it as hell, another said picture being repeatedly beat over the head with a rock, and lastly, like menstrual cramps times 100. In response, the 5-month pregnant lady said she's considering getting drugs via a catheter as the epidural could wear off. Nice!!!

Needless to say after I had "the talk", a c-section was sounding pretty good. In order to preserve my sanity I quickly changed the channel. I don't think 'The Talk" is the show for me.

Fat Feet. Fat Ankles

For several months my baby barring lady friends have asked me if I have swollen feet & ankles. My answer was no. Then a few days ago I was laying in bed and noticed that my feet and ankles were looking a little...fat. I'm not sure when this happened because most of the time I can't see my feet over my Rudy bump (belly).

I finally have fat feet and fat ankles! Luckily they are only visually disturbing. Yesterday I took a 2 mile walk and didn't have any problems.

Rudy Where Are You?

It's getting down to the wire, 16 days until the due date!!! Last week was pretty crazy. I got stung by a bee, the first time in my life and bitten up by a mesquite - not my first time. Aside from a little itching I survived.

Yesterday I went in for my weekly check-up and next think I know, I'm in the hospital getting fetal monitoring. Not exactly what I was expecting. Long story short, I hadn't felt Rudy move for a while. Even though he had a good heart beat, the doc wanted some long term monitoring done. They forgot to mention that I couldn't leave until I felt Rudy move.  Since I was there I decided to make the most of my visit. While sipping on cold water and refreshing apple juice from concentrate, I discussed the birth plan with the nurse and had it entered into the computer. A few hours later, I felt Rudy move. The shackles were removed and we were free to go.

The basic rule of thumb is you have to feel your baby move at least 10 times in a 2 hour window. Rudy's pretty big now so I don't feel kicking. Movement is usually a little tickle in the stomach area. Some moving is better than none. Rudy's monitoring results showed great movement but if mommy doesn't feel baby, mom goes and stays in hospital.

What to Expect... When Your Expecting

Remember when expecting moms learned all they needed to know about having a baby from oral tradition? Ladies sitting around talking about being pregnant and what to expect?  Those days may still exist but not in my world. My girl  friends, including moms, talk about TV shows, work, politics, and the economy.

Rudy's grandma is very hip, so rather than nag me about all I needed to know, she mailed me 2  What To Expect books: What To Expect When You're Expecting and What To Expect Eating Well When You're Expecting.

I started with the Eating Well because I didn't have any pregnancy side effects. Recently with some ligament & sciatic issues I realized I needed to read more of  the other What To Expect book. My issues were all in there, in black-and-white. Each problem, causes and solutions, even the physical and emotional effects.

There's something relaxing about being able to identify the changes you're body goes through while having a baby. When you know that everything is normal and there are others experiencing the same aches and pains you don't blame your baby (but life still can suck at that intense moment). It's just part of the process. The doctor only addresses issues as you are or after you have experienced them, which isn't that helpful.

For those who are planning on having a Rudy of their own, I say get a head start on the reading so you know what you're getting yourself into. The authors' have a great quick reference on pregnancy symptoms. Just remember every women is different. I didn't have any issues for the first 6 months, which is 2/3 of the blessed battle of pregnancy.

The No-Sew Blanket

Rudy has received so many handmade gifts - shoes, hats, blankets - crocheted and sowed. I feel like I have to make Rudy something. So I started to reflect on my past crafts. I used to sew throw pillows, but I don't have a machine. Then it hit me, several years ago I made a no-sew fleece blanket for my friends kid. You tie two pieces of fleece together and viola, you have a blanket. Several years and countless washes later, she still has and uses the blanket, hole free and still tied together. So I'm going to make Rudy a blanket too.

I found this video which accurately shows how to make the no-sew/ tied blanket.

The Gopher II: Don't Be Shy, Give It A Try

As I enter my ninth month of pregnancy normal actions like picking up something on the floor seems like a hassle. This could be because my - brick hard - stomach is so big I can't even see my toes or even bend down to tie my own shoe laces. Getting help with these types of little tasks from Daddy or the closes nearby person was diminishing the self-sufficient independence I've tried to maintain though the years. My independence level was quickly hiked up with the gift of the Gopher.

The as seen on TV Gopher II Pick Up and Reaching Tool helps me pickup things around the house, like bags in hard to reach places. I can pick up almost anything (solid) that I drop, except for the Gopher. I can pick up my shoes with the Gopher then sit down and put them on. It also works with doing things above the waist, like changing a ceiling light bulb (which I haven't tried). It's retractable too!!! So if your purse is big enough you can take it with you.


Using the Gopher can make you feel like you are elderly or crippled...if you let. I say forget about the stigma - don't be shy, give it a try.

Don't Believe Everything You Read

Last week we put together Rudy's bassinet, a 5-in-1 with a lot of bells & whistles. If you want bells and whistles I suggest buying a pre-assembled model. It'll save you time and probably save some relationships. The process was intense but we got the job done.After the bassinet was put together I carefully read through the manual. I wanted to make sure I knew how all 5 of the components worked. After all, this machinery will soon be housing my precious cargo - Rudy.

In my reading travels I discovered that one of the skirts was supposed to have 3 pockets to store diapers, towels, etc. for easy access. (One of the functions is a changing table.) I didn't recall seeing any pockets. I carefully searched the skirt - several times - in search of these pockets. Finally I accepted that we had put it together correctly and the pockets were missing.  I called customer support and quickly found out that the manual was made before the product. When the product was produced they decided not to add pockets.

According to the customer service rep, the elimination of the pockets has not been a problem for the company because most people don't read the manual. There is a picture with the pockets, but I guess people don't realize that either. I guess I should have know not to believe everything I read.

Costco - The Gift That Keeps On Giving

One restless evening soon after I got my ultra comfy bed, I flipped through the pages of Costco Connection magazine.  About a third way through I discovered a full page ad on a product that I was very familiar with. It was my ultra comfy bed. $100 off the price I had paid.

Apparently my bed when on sale 48 hours after I purchased it. The kicker was the sale period ended one day prior to me reading the ad. After a brief moment of shock, I tore the ad out of the maggy for future reference -  when I would be more coherent (as it was the middle of the night).

The next day I called Costco and spoke with a manager. In the end the manager left a costco gift card in the amount of $100 for me to pick up. Since the promo came from the product manufacturer and the sale was over, Costco did me a favor and absorbed the cost. I'm sure this was an isolated event and I am so thankful.

When I picked up the gift card I thought it only fitting to buy some things for Rudy. I got some perfume free detergent, a big box of 900 diaper wipes (these should last a month), some thank you candy gifts for people coming to my next shower, and a few pairs of baby clothes for Rudy.

Costco really is the gift that keeps on giving. I love Costco.

Pregnancy is so Comfortable - Or Is It?

With Rudy's birth date near approaching changes have been made to make life more comfortable. My Water consumption is out of control so we invested in an office-type hot/cold cooler that hold 5 gallon bottles. It's really nice when you wake up mid-night for a quick glass of cold water.

For additional comfort  I added a foam mattress topper on top of the built in one on the posturepedic mattress. The bed feels like laying on a fluffy cloud. In preparation for the bed ridden times of pregnancy we've added a full entertainment system to the sleeping quarters. It's heavenly. Adding a mini-fridge would be excessive, but the thought did cross my comfortable mind.

Speaking of excess I persuaded Daddy to allow me one small item that I couldn't justify purchasing, Lysol's Healthy Touch no touch soap dispenser (I had 2 coupon). If I can find a way to reduce the cost of soap refills the Healthy Touch may be practical and sustainable. But for now it's all about comfort.

With all of these comfortable stress reducing amenities I still have trouble sleeping at night. Well, at least I'm comfortable when I'm not sleeping.

Baby's Aren't Cheap

A really good thing about doing a baby registry online is you can pick out all of  your baby's needs and see how much everything costs. The old fashion way is to write a list and go price hunting, physically price hunting. I saved $$$ on gas and saved my precious time by doing my comparative shopping online. Thanks Al Gore (who claims to have invented the Internet).

Target has the best rep. for baby products but Walmart, or Wally World, as grandpa G. calls it, has the best online prices for the same items. Speaking of online prices, they are better than the in store prices for almost all (corporate) stores. Walmart let's you ship to store for FREE. But be prepared to wait 2 weeks to get your order. You have to be ahead of the game to save more $$.

Now that I'm in shopping mode I did a tally for Rudy's Walmart registry and all the needs - for the first year - are a little over $1000. That's right, 10 Benjamin's not including diapers, food & clothes. How can a hungry naked baby cost so much?

The fact is baby's aren't cheap. So take advantage of all of the free promotional items that come your way. Enfamil, Similac, and Gerber all have promos for free diaper bags filled with coupons & goodies.
Also ask the doctor's assistant for freebies. I found out that they have promo items but only give them to you when you ask.

Free Baby Stuff

Gone are the days where raising your baby is by trial and error and word of mouth. With the Internet there is so much free information right at your finger tips. You can download PDFs or if you're a paper person but don't want to use up all of your printer ink, they'll mail you the stuff for free! Sometimes even CDs.

Both corporations and the government agencies - CDC, FDA, EPA - are giving their two cents.

Lysol's Looking After You and Your Baby Booklet gives free items like an emergency contact sheet to keep by the phone and take with you on travel. The CDC's Learn the Signs gives free fact sheets, resource kits,  and a growth chart. There is information on laundry care, oral care, even food care. With all of this information Rudy should have a very safe & healthy life.

Tip: All disinfectant sprays should be EPA registered. Look for the reg. # on products.

Home-made vs. Pre-Made

There are many baby benefits from breast feeding, like building a strong immune system (probiotics). Products like Similac are including special additives to produce the same effect. I believe natural is always better so breast feeding seems like the way to go.
When Rudy starts eating solid food, we're going home-made. Well, that's the plan anyway. Geber baby food is high in sodium and sugars, relatively speaking. Thanks to Rudy's aunt's financial support, I purchased the award winning Beaba Babycook baby food maker from Williams Sonoma. I had my eyes on this beautiful piece of machinery for a few months - reading reviews and watching how-to videos. It defrosts, purees, and heats food. Even though I have 8 months before I need to use it, I'm already reading recipes and scoping out the Beaba accessories bundle (only available in the store). The bundle costs about $15 more than the Babycook - Yikes - and will be on my Christmas wish list. Of course the Babycook is good for veggies and fruit, but what about juice and cereal?

Rudy will have fresh juice made with my Jack LaLanne juicer. I hope Rudy likes carrot, beet & celery juice, one of mommy's favs. We'll be serving Cream of Wheat and Cream of Rice as the hot cereals. Maybe even some Malto-Meal.

Like I said, this is the plan. Home-made takes more time than pre-made so daddy and I will have to be a tag team for this plan to work. I think Rudy is worth it.

Watch Out for The Baby Maker

The last few weeks I've been catching up on my mother-to-be reading. Most recently I got a few sample magazines - American Baby and Baby Talk - when visiting Motherhood and Baby's R Us. I found the most useful read in the Family Health Program mag by Lysol. At first when I saw the Lysol mag with sheets of Lysol coupons I thought it was for OCD moms. I'm not out ruling the OCD part, but they do have really useful tips for first-time moms like me.

I learned that when changing a boy's diaper, while disposing of the dirty diaper you have to lay the clean diaper over his "baby maker". This is for protection. The cool air causes the baby maker to stray - "on you, the walls, or anything else in range". Taking it step further you have to position the baby maker in the downward position before sealing up the diaper. This is done to prevent waistline leakage.

I'll probably forget most of the baby stuff I'm reading, but one thing I will always remember is to watch out for the baby maker!


Lysol, I solute you!

Rudy Needs His Own Bed

In prep for Rudy's arrival, we've been going through our things, doing a late spring cleaning. I came across a teddy bear that my grandma gave me at least 20 years ago. It's in great condition because my mom taught me how to wash him. I wouldn't try this with a the newer teddy bears as they may fall apart.

For old time sake, I decided I wanted to sleep with my teddy. Later when daddy came to bed he grabbed for some sheets and suddenly there was a big black mass that flew across the room and hit the wall. It was teddy! The next morning I woke up and found teddy in a corner on the floor with his head between his legs. My teddy is the size of a one year old child (2 1/4 feet), just lighter.

We've heard about the parents who have their kids sleep in bed with them until age 5 or 7 to build a connection. Truth be told, after what happened to teddy, Rudy won't be sleeping with us any time soon. The crib and toddler bed combo is a must have!

Glucose Drink 050: Orange Kool-Aid or Sugar Attack?

Last week I had a routine glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes. According to Google Health Gestational Diabetes is a glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Intolerance meaning high blood sugar levels. In pregnancy these levels are dangerous for both me and baby Rudy. From my light reading it looks like I have 4 out of 7 primary causes of gestational diabetes. The test & post-test experience was wild enough to right about.

First I had to fast for at least 2 hours. Then they gave me a 50 gram bottle of liquid sugar, a.k.a. orange flavored Glucose Drink 050
. I had 5 minutes to pound it down. It was like taking a shot or maybe a sake bomb but much more intense; sweeter than southern sweet tea. After chugging my glucose drink, since I had to wait 1 hour before the testing phase, I walked back to work. There was an extra pep in my step. Even Rudy was kicking around. I also typed faster and talked faster. I walked back to the doctor's office and was tested. They will call with the results if and only if there is bad news. Bad news being a blood sugar level of 140+.

The rest of the day I kept using the bathroom and was thirsty. Then that night I couldn't sleep because I was being attacked by a nomadic spider - biting me from neck to foot. Of course there was no spider and no spider bites. The next day I Googled-it and discovered these issues were symptoms of HBS (High Blood Sugar). Hmm, sounds like Glucose Drink 050 has some unpleasant hangover effects. After this experience, I had to know my test results. The no-news-is-good-news plan wasn't going to work.

My results came in today...my glucose levels are perfect. Rudy and mommy are OK. The Glucose Drink 050 was a definite sugar attack on my system. Would you believe it comes in 75 and 100 grams?

BevMo Is My New Licka Sto

That's right, we are getting a Beverages and More. You heard it here first!

Just before we were blessed with baby Rudy I had a delicious Belgian white beer called Wittekerke . Wittekerke is refreshing and has a very nice smooth finish. I remember it like it was yesterday (more like 7 months from yesterday). From the first sip I knew this was a beer worth having my personal supply on hand.

We found out that BevMo carried Wittekerke in cans and bottles. But we didn't have a local BevMo. The city and BevMo have been going head to head since Rudy was conceived and today - Victory! BevMo won the battle.

BevMo opens - in late September - a little before Rudy's birth date. If you want to know where I'll be on Oct. 29, 2010, I'll be at BevMo, my new licka sto.

(You have to be 21+ to get in the door so Rudy's staying home with Daddy).

Eating to Live: Eating for Life

This weekend I read more of What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff. This is one of the 2 books Grandma Jo Jo got me to insure the safe and healthly delivery of her first grandchild. This book is easy to read and has a lot of great information. Murkoff covers everything from physical and emotional changes to cravings and weight gain/loss. Based on the book and my doctor, I'm right on target.

Early in the pregnancy I made a conscious decission to start eating to live instead of living to eat. In my late teen years I used to be a hard core healthnut, reading countless books on nutrition and living a lifestyle filled with exercise and healthy eating. My nickname was Rabbit, which I lived up to for several years. Then there was college...I didn't make the freshman 15 but there were plenty of free disserts & ice cream to indulge my sweet teeth (yes, I have more than one). The college living to eat lifestyle rolled over into my adult years. That is, until now.
Thanks to Rudy, I eat to live. Unlike my teen years, I'm eating for two - eating for me and eating for Rudy's life.

This means low-to-no preservatives, refined sugar, proccessed foods, etc. I've chosen a high fiber, high protein, and high vitiman diet. So far this plan is working for both me and Rudy.

I'm Glad I'm Not a Teen Mom

Yesterday I found the MTV Teen Mom marathon. I think Teen Mom is a spin off from MTV's 16 and Pregnant. I watched a few episodes of 16 and Pregnant and they were Ok. Teen Mom had my attention for a few hours. The show is interesting because the moms all have different situations. One teen couple gave their baby up for adoption but have the best loving relationship. Another is verbally and physically violent in front of their child. Then there's the couple that doesn't see eye-to-eye on anything. Of course they added the single teen mom who loves to go partying and meet new guys. But why is it so interesting to me???

In a way I identify with these team moms. They have a child and need to finish school. I'm having a child and am in graduate school. Most of them have a lot of support from their parents and all of them want the best for their baby. Me too. I do not identify with the teen moms because they do not have jobs, are financially dependent on their parents and/or the baby daddy,and are always fighting for love and affection. I have a job, am able to be financially independent, and Rudy's daddy loves me and Rudy. I used to think he treated me like a queen but now that Rudy's on the way I get the real royal treatment. I'm so glad I'm not a teen mom!

Shopping for Baby Rudy

This weekend has been a big adventure. Yesterday I went to nearest Walmart - a 25 mile drive - to see if there was some baby stuff to add to the registry, which I did online. I wasn't able to find a place in the store to add items to my registry. I was walking around looking for a registry desk or the product scanner gun that every one was telling me about...nothing. In my travels I did notice that Walmart has a new grocery store inside, right across from to the baby area. So I got side tracked.

Walmart grocery prices are amazing. Walmart has one side of a refrigerated isle stocked with only ice cream! I had to splurge and get the Blue Bunny Peanut Butter Panic ice cream for Daddy because he's a peanut butter man. Don't get me wrong, I've seen one-stop-shop Walmarts across the world - the one in Shanghai is probably the size of the NYC Macy's - just not one so close to home. And by close I mean 25 miles away. While grocery shopping I found eggs from veggie fed chickens and some organic products and no preservative meats all for great prices. I found out that occationally grocery shopping at Walmart can help with our baby budget, but what about my baby registry? Where can I add items???

I found a manager who explained the situation. Basically Walmart recently went through a remodel, (adding the grocery store that I've been raving about) and in doing so they took out the registry scanners. Strike One! They have a new really cool scanner system but it's not hooked up yet. No ETA either. Strike Two! So how do you add items in the store? Walmart has a computer setup in the electronics department for you to login to walmart.com, find your items add them. Strike Three! I drove 25 minutes to have the option to do what I had been doing at home. If only Walmart.com had indicated that the "local" Walmart I chose didn't have the normal registry process in the store.

This trip was certainly a learning experience. I discovered the Walmart grocery store but after about a 2 hour roundtrip drive (15-20 miles/hour traffic on my return at 12 noon), Rudy and I were exhausted. We decided that when Rudy's born, he's staying at home (not alone) while I do the baby shopping at Target, BabiesRUs, and Walmart -all about 25 miles away from home. This is how my mommy friends do it. Now I know why.

Rudy Has Daddy's Eyes???

It's another restless night - too much on my mind - too much to do - not enough time. Rudy's probably sleeping right now. I can honestly say he's not the source of my restlessness, yet!

Normally when I can't sleep I think about my work and school projects or maybe a crazy episode of Dexter, my favorite blood splatter specialist, dismissing the serial killings of course. Today I decided to focus my thoughts on Rudy. What will he look like? Who's what will he have? By the ultra-sound pic I think he has daddy's eyes, or at least the shape. Daddy thinks Rudy's nose is mine. His head could be from both of us. What do you think about who's what?

I think we both have big heads, but we aren't "big headed". I hope Rudy has a regular sized head, partly because I want him to wear one-size-fits-all hats and partly because I don't want a massive cranium pushing out of me on delivery day. :-)

We aren't hairy people so Rudy shouldn't look like Cousin Itt. Even if he does, we'd love him the same (although the shampoo cost could put us in the poor house).
Outer appearance aside, I hope Rudy has his daddy's strong heart and wonderful spirit.

Mommy's Gift to Rudy

After a long week of work and school I decided I should do something for Rudy. The truth is, sewing and crochet - not happening in the next few months. Well, not by me. This is where having a totally awesome grandma comes in handy.

My mom can crochet blankets & booties, even toys. Yes toys, like fish and piggies. So grandma has the crochet covered and my friend is making Rudy a quilt. Of course if they didn't make these things Grandma Jo Jo would buy them. She's no Molly Home Maker, but I have to give her props for her ability to shop.

Since the traditional gifts are covered, I decided to give our baby a blog, also known as a web log. This is all about Rudy's Crib, which happens to be my belly at the moment.  I think Big Rudy will appreciate this virtual scrapbook when he gets older.