Wordless Wednesday

The Great Wall of Greenwood

The other day, I decided that the plant bed by our patio had been neglected long enough and, while I was baby free for a few hours, I would remedy the situation by pulling out the weeds. Great plan, except that the landscape timbers were rotting and some of the crazy-long-weed-like-vine-crap that only grows in swampy 'ole Florida had also grown through some of the timbers.

In effect, my pulling of the aforementioned crap resulted in the collapse of the landscape timber retaining wall which resulted in the sudden realization that we would need to rebuild it, or something like it, in the near future to avoid that part of the yard being washed away.

Upon discussion, we decided that we did not want to rebuild another wall in 4 or 5 years when more landscape timbers rotted so we would build it out of masonry pavers. Not rocket science, right?

Well, we spent all weekend working on it and all we have is a trench dug. That's it.

You see, when you have a baby, apparently both parents cannot work on the same project simultaneously because some one has to entertain the baby. And, wall building is only interesting to an almost 11 month old baby for, oh, about 20 minutes.

The plan is for me, yes me (because although Jonathan is more reasonable, he voted me more patient) to go out tonight after work and level the ground in preparation for the stones.

I have to say, I would much rather being doing this than saaaaaaayyyyy, oooh, I don't know-getting ready for our trip to Spain.

Just the facts, m'am

Last night, my thankfully very reasonable husband told me that I could not draw any conclusions. He DID NOT, however, say that my blog readers could not draw conclusions.

So, here are the (mostly) relevant facts.

About a month ago, we mistakenly bought a tub of the Similac Soy Go and Grow formula as opposed to the regular Similac soy stuff. Soon thereafter, MRA did not so much go and grow as much as he went and went. Diarrhea, that is.

Unfortunately, this occurred right before we were to leave for Denver and after the hospital thing,we are a little diarrhea shy. There was some talk of canceling the trip.

After a few days, we decided to switch back to the formula he is used to and the issue seemed to slowly start to get better. Veeeerrrrrry slowly.

On the way out to Denver, MRA went and went - once at the airport and three more times on the flight. Now, having a baby with this issue on an airplane is not fun for anyone. Its not fun for me, who was doing most of the holding of the baby. Not fun for Jonathan who has to get access to and then rifle through our impossible to get to securely stowed carry on baggage/diaper bag.

Its not fun for the guy in the aisle seat that has to get up every time we need to get out. Its not fun for the already unlucky passenger who got seated in the very last row with the seat that won't recline right next to the lavatory that we have to stand next to in all our stinky glory while waiting for the lavatory to be unoccupied.

Its not fun (for me and even less so for Jonathan who is already cramped in the lavatory when he is all by himself let alone with baby) changing a squirmy baby in a airplane lavatory nor for the person who will be using it after we are done.

But we got through it and as the new/old formula got into his system the diarrhea stopped.

Fast forward to last night.

Those of you with babies or who watch the news probably heard that there is a huge Similac recall. It seems that the people that make Similac "...detected the remote possibility of the presence of a small common beetle in the product produced in one production area in a single manufacturing facility. The ...FDA has determined that while the formula containing these beetles poses no immediate health risk, there is a possibility that infants who consume formula containing the beetles or their larvae, could experience symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort."

Upon hearing about the Similac recall, I start checking the formula that we are currently using. Luckily, no recall. I then decide to check that old tub of Go and Go Grow. And... voila! Its lot number matches for a recall. It is one of the affected products.

Again, I cannot draw any conclusions but, you can. What's your theory?

Wordless Wednesday

Obviously not written by my breast friend

Several months ago, my employer switched healthcare providers. As it was, at that time, I was too busy trying to figure out the choreography of being a new mom who was returning to work while breastfeeding (and then the pumping) to pay much attention to the change. The pumping was the focus of my attention back then and I had bought the mac-daddy Madela double, electric pump for speed and efficiency.

Yet, it was complicated.

When I first went back to work, my primary concern was staying on schedule so my milk production did not diminish and getting a lock for my office door. You see, the people in my office are famous for the knockknockknock and walk-right-on-in move.

When I asked my boss about a lock, he asked if I could just do it in the bathroom. I responded with, " Yeah, the moment you decide to eat your lunch on the toilet - I don't think that is the most sanitary place. Could I just swap door handles with some one who has a lock?"

I did get a lock and felt lucky that I could pump in the privacy of my own office. Until the day I forgot to lock the door and was just about to be a little topless and got the knockknockknock and walk-right-on-in move from a male coworker.

When he figured out what was going on, he was pretty embarrassed and I have to say, I thought "Good, that'll teach you not to walk in when a door is closed." He's actually a good guy though, so then I felt a little bad for him.

Anyhow, I have just gotten around to checking out the new health care coverage.  I was on the provider's website this morning where I stumbled into this little gem of exclusions:

Personal Care, Comfort or Convenience Exclusions

· Supplies, equipment and similar incidental services and supplies for personal comfort. Examples include:
- Air conditioners, air purifiers and filters, dehumidifiers.
- Batteries and battery chargers.
- Breast pumps.
- Car seats.
- Chairs, bath chairs, feeding chairs, toddler chairs, chair lifts, recliners.
- Electric scooters.
- Exercise equipment.
- Home modifications such as elevators, handrails and ramps.
- Hot tubs.
- Humidifiers.
- Jacuzzis.
- Mattresses.
- Medical alert systems.
- Motorized beds.
- Music devices.
- Personal computers.
- Pillows.
- Power-operated vehicles.
- Radios.
- Saunas.
- Stair lifts and stair glides.
- Strollers.
- Safety equipment.
- Treadmills.
- Vehicle modifications such as van lifts.
- Video players.
- Whirlpools.


I don't know about you but classifying breast pumps in with saunas, hot tubs, pillows, and personal computers seems perfectly logical, n'est pas?

A theme song for the double digits!

Well and wow, we have made it to ten months. That means double digits. What else does it mean?

Let's see, MRA points to objects and the direction on which he wants you to take him. He has decided he is done with crawling and terrorizing Cooper and taken up walking. Actually, its assisted walking. He cannot quite walk on his own so he just wants to grab YOUR hands and have YOU walk him wherever HE wants to go. (Not a bad gig, if you can get it.)

He is honing his grooming skills. If you brush his hair, he will take the brush and try to do it himself. Same with the toothbrush and he LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the toothbrush. As soon as it comes out, he opens wide and cranes his little neck toward you.

Jonathan said he has figured out that the remote control operates the TV but I have not seen that happen yet. I guess we need to close the armoire doors more often.

Now, I don't know about you, but I have a theme song. Eileen gave me the idea - she has a theme song too. It's the theme to Rocky (mine, not hers - not sure what hers is) but I sometimes alternate it with Eye Of the Tiger. I know, not necessarily original but it works.  I tend to listen to it before big events or when I am nervous like before a job interview or a big work presentation.

Its never failed me. I have gotten every job and done well with every presentation after listening to my theme song. In fact, I am pretty sure I "leant" my theme song to Jonathan for his last job interview... that was six years ago. I highly recommend the theme song.

It has taken ten months but we officially have MRA's theme song . Here is a little sample of the lyrics and a clip that follows:

Busy Bee by Frances England

Last night about a quarter to eight, you came into my room
You said, “Honey, it’s getting late, it’s getting late.”
I said, oh no Momma this cannot be,
I got too many things to do before I sleep, before I sleep
I got songs to sing and stories to tell,
I got animals to talk to, make sure they’re doing well, before I sleep

Don’t you know I’m busy, busy, busy as a bee
Don’t you know I’m busy, busy, busy as a bee
No sleep for me





Just curious, any of you out there have a theme song? If so, what is it?

As promised

The video I promised Robin. Enjoy... its 3 minutes but the end is worth it.

Technically, Ralphie is a Cow

We are back from Denver and had quite the adventure. Hopefully our hosts, Mike and Leona, are on their way to recovering from a having an infant in the house. An infant with a cold and an altitude adjustment problem, no less.

We started the weekend by introducing MRA to the Pig Palace (Mike and Leona's Basement) for the Fantasy Football draft. There is never a bad time had in the Pig Palace! The flames leading the way to the entrance should give you an idea of what is in store.

Then, it was on to college football. Labor Day weekend is the official start of college football. A weekend, we, in the Angel House, look forward to every year. This year was particularly eventful with a house divided - LSU was set to play UNC. Needless to say we dressed appropriately.

LSU won but probably shouldn't have. That's ok, though, we have plenty of baby blue for basketball season.

We did and saw so much out west but rolling with the theme here, we concluded the weekend with a quick trip to Boulder to check out Colorado University and the town. Georgia is scheduled to head to CU in a few weeks to play the mighty Buffaloes. So, while there, we introduced the Notorious MRA  to Ralphie (or a reasonable facsimile).

The funny thing is, Ralphie is a she. Which technically makes her a cow. Go Dawgs!

For Robin

We are headed out to Denver for the long weekend and are so excited to see some great friends. Unfortunately, we are giving up a fabulous weekend with Robin. Actually Aunt Robin was forced to give up a fabulous weekend with her baby nephew. Jonathan is still in the doghouse over this.

This video is for her. It's extra long. 5 looooooong minutes.Cooper makes a couple cameo appearances. I have to mention, there is a much better video with less walking and more dancing that is far more entertaining. It was taken with the high def video camera and I have spent hours over the last two nights trying to get on-line to share but --aaaagghghhhhhhhhhhh -- still have not figured it out. As soon as I do, it will be posted. This will have to do in the meantime.

Happy Labor Day! And, Go Dawgs, Geaux Tigers.