Judge me

So a little status thread on my friends facebook page got me thinking of a good topic.  The parents who think they're better than the rest of us and like to judge.  But then again, don't you yourself find that you sometimes judge others?  I know I catch myself doing it.  We're only human.

So, I admit it.  I use the electronic babysitter quite often.  And I'm not ashamed.  I pretty much leave the TV on all day long.  It's on either Nick Jr. or Disney.  But I do leave it on.  And it does help me when I want to do the dishes, or do a load of laundry, or vacuum the floors.  Now does that mean Julia sits and watches it from the time she wakes up until the time she goes to bed?  Thank goodness no, but I'd go crazy if it was quiet in the house all day, with no TV, and only the sounds of either the dog barking, or Julia screaming.  I need background noise!  She crawls laps around the room, plays with her toys, practices walking by cruising the furniture, and occasionally sits and watches the TV.  I know many parents who think TV is so awful for your kids.  But whatever.  No matter what you or I do as a parent, we will always be judged.  Someone will always have an opinion about it.  I watched TV as a kid and I think I turned out alright.  Same with my hubby.  And there are those who never watch TV as a kid because their parents think it's bad and turn out to be drug dealers or school drop-outs (I don't know any of this for a fact, but I'm more than positive it has happened).  Plus, it's not like I can send her outside to play.  She's only 10.5 months for cryin' out loud!  When she's 5, we'll talk.

So what I'm saying is, who are we to judge how someone else decides to raise their kids?  Of course we're going to catch ourselves judging.  It just happens.  But what one person thinks is good or ok, another might see as bad.  You can't please everyone, and you can only do YOUR best to raise YOUR child how YOU see fit.

My 10 month old watches TV.  She even has favorite shows already.  So what!!!!  It's not going to stop her from getting exercise, doing well in school, having a good job, being a good American citizen, raising a nice family one day.  :)

p.s. She just took a 2.5 hour nap!!!  Holy moly!!!

My baby is a caveman

So last night I started reading the book The Happiest Toddler On The Block by Harvey Karp.  I figured since his other book, The Happiest Baby On The Block was so successful for us and many others I know, I would read this as well.
I got through one chapter.  Downside to starting a book right before bedtime.  But it is VERY interesting and I can't wait to finish it.  It's all about raising a respectful, patient, and happy one to four year old toddler.  It explains how a toddler sees the world.  So far, it compares toddlers to cavemen.  And if you think about it, it's kinda true.  So it's all about communicating to them in ways a caveman would understand.  Simple words, tone of voice, not using adult-like sentences, etc.  Also talks a lot about different types of temperaments and how to figure out which one fits your child and how to deal with each type (there are 3 different types).  It's very fascinating so far.  And of course I've only gotten through one chapter out of many.  So I haven't even skimmed the surface yet.  It even says to start practicing these techniques as early as 9 months.  Oh no, I'm already a month behind!  haha.
Anyway, even though I've only read a little bit, I already would highly recommend it.  Especially if it's anywhere near as affective as his first book.  His 5 S's techniques those first few months Julia was here really were magical!  This Harvey Karp guy is a genius!

Has anyone else read this book, and did it help?!

Happy Tuesday :)  Keep cool if it's hot where you are like it is here!  In the 90's and HUMID!  Bad hair days for all!

First Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband, Tim.  He is such an amazing dad.  Julia already looks up to him so much.  It's the most beautiful thing to watch them together.  She is a daddy's girl and has had him wrapped around her little finger since day one.

And a very happy Father's Day to my dad and Julia's Pappy.  Sad we can't be there with you.  Thank goodness for Skype!  

Hope all of the dads out there had a fantastic day!  

10 Months

I can't believe she's in the double digits already!  And only two months away from being a ONE YEAR OLD!!  Whoa....that's crazy.

So, since I only have two months to plan her 1st birthday party, I've been trying to figure out a theme.  And struggling.  Haha.  We've talked about Minnie Mouse and Princess and stuff like that.  But I kind of want to do something a little more unique.  The last couple of days, I've been thinking ladybugs.  I found some cute little ladybug theme birthday supplies online.  But I don't know if I really have my heart set on the ladybug theme.  I don't know.  I'm stumped.  I mean, it's her 1st Birthday.  And I know it's more for us than her, she's not going to remember it....she'll just have a ton of pictures to look back on some day.  But it's a BIG DEAL!  I want it to be perfect.

I neeeeed to figure out this theme thing, because in about a month, we're going to Carlos Bakery (yes, that's the Cake Boss from the TLC show) and ordering her birthday cake.  It has to be with the theme.  So if anyone has any cute ideas that they don't mind sharing, I would love to hear them!!!

Happy 10 months, my beautiful baby girl!  You are my world, I love you so much!  <3

MIA, whoops

Sorry I haven't updated in a week.  I had family over and they just left this morning.  Been busy!
My sister and her fiancé came this weekend for a visit.  It was so nice having them here.  And we did plenty of stuff: Reading Terminal Market (tons of yummy food!!), Independence Hall in Philly, King of Prussia Mall.  We kept busy!  Hopefully they had fun :)

Nothing exciting has been going on other that having family here.  I'm having a bad case of writers block.  This SUCKS!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend.  Can you believe it's already mid-June??!!

Also, it seems like the poll isn't working correctly, at least on my end.  In case you can't see it either, the question is: On average, how many naps does your baby get in a day?

And the word is NO

Aside from "da-da", the word 'no' may end up being Julia's first word (I've already given up on the ma-ma thing lol).  I find it crazy that she's only 9 months, yet I'm already having to tell her no, many many times a day!  My little explorer is just getting into everything, and I just hope she starts to understand what 'no' means and SOON!  According to her pediatrician, she is at the point where she is able to start to understand things like this, which I also find crazy!  She's already at the place between infant and toddler.  HOW DID THIS HAPPEN SO QUICKLY??????

And if something is baby-proofed, she will sit and try to figure out how to un-baby-proof it. Like today for instance.  I had placed Kid Kushions around the sharp corners of our wood TV stand back when she first started to crawl, so about a month ago.  All over it!  I think every corner and every edge on every shelf has a Kid Kushion.  I even got them in black so they would blend in with the piece of furniture in hopes she wouldn't even notice them.  Honestly, we (Tim and I) can barely notice them!  But Julia goes right to them and has now figured out that they are not permanently attached and they come off!  She pulled about 3 pieces off, and now those pieces no longer stick well, and there are sharp dangerous edges and corners threatening my poor baby's beautiful head!  So I will be ordering more until I find a better solution.  Don't even get me started on the fireplace.  She pulls herself up to standing on that glass when she knows I'm not looking, and I just have visions of the glass caving in and just bad bad things.  It's a gas fireplace and with no door, but not sure how much weight the glass can hold.  The thing is impossible to baby-proof though.  Since we rent this place, I will be calling the maintenance dude asking if there is anything they can do to make the fireplace a little safer.  Worth a shot, right?!

Like I've said before, I will not feel comfortable until my house looks like a rubber room!!  And that's not even close to all she gets into in a day.  I have dreams of the word 'no' at night!  I hate saying that word to my sweet little girl all day long, but how else is she going to learn?  I think 'no' is now my least favorite word, and I'm sure Julia would agree.

Also, it's Poll Day Monday!!!  Don't forget to vote!  :)

Dinner Disaster

Usually when we go out to dinner with Julia, she behaves very well and we get compliments ALL THE TIME about how well behaved she is.  But, she decided she would rather be quite the diva lately, and...well...no more Miss. NiceBabyEveryoneIsJealousOf.

After having quite the cranky last several days, which I blame on the budding top right tooth viciously trying to break through her sensitive little gums, we decided to go to Olive Garden for dinner.  Many of you can already see this was a bad idea.  But I figured she was cranky all day, and now daddy's home (which usually does help, damn it!), a change of environment would be good, and she would be tired from all the effort it took to be cranky all day.  What was I thinking???  I'm a new mom, I'm still learning...

We sat down in an area in the restaurant with not a lot of people.  Which made me feel good.  Then about 2 minutes later, an elderly couple gets seated right next to us.  Red flag!  I knew at that point, we were no longer safe.  10 minutes later...half way through appetizers, and the all important salad and breadsticks, she starts getting fussy.  Then the screaming happened.  And there was no end in sight.  After looking around and seeing EVERYONE staring at us, we decided to find our waiter, ask to get our order that we had already placed boxed up to go, and to give us our bill as quickly as possible.  It was quite the spectacle.  And of course once we're outside and finally in the car, she's as happy as can be.

So now we really need to find a babysitter.  Something I have been dreading since I found out we would have to move here and away from my parents.  I loved having them close by.  Because honestly, I'm never going to trust ANYONE with Julia as much as I trust my own mother.  That's just a fact, and I'm sure other moms who are close to their own mothers can agree with that.  But now we're 9 hours away from her, and Tim and I still need to be able to go out alone without our lil cranks every now and then.  It's time we need for us.  Sigh, so now I'm on the hunt for the best, most experienced with babies Julia's age, most loved by all (lol) babysitter in our area.  Good luck to me!!

What is the going rate for babysitters these days anyway?  I'm sure it's way different than it was when I was a babysitter myself.  Oy vey...

Girls Night Out

Last night I went out for a Mom's Night Out as part of the mommy group I joined here in Doylestown.

Can I just say how much I LOVE Sex And The City!!  I know it's had mixed reviews, but it is definitely the best girls night out movie.  I think the people who say it's not good just don't get the whole SATC thing. It was so nice to get out of the house, not worry about the baby, and do something that I thought was fun.  Very much needed.

And for those who have seen it already, the part where Charlotte and Miranda are having drinks and talk about being mothers.  I totally felt like Charlotte.  These last two days with Julia crying all. day. long. have been making me nutty.  And I admit, tearful at times.  Charlotte got it spot on, I was almost in tears listening to her because I felt just like her in that moment.  And don't even get me started on the clothes..and the shoes.  Oh the SHOOOOEEESSSSS.  I was in designer HEAVEN!  I would do anything to have Carrie's closet.  One can dream...

I need a girls night out more often.  I didn't realize how much I really do need a night out for myself every now and then.  Especially after spending all day with a teething, screaming, cranky, crying, completely unhappy (but beautiful and adorable and wonderful) baby girl.  haha.