This was a few months ago, but I don’t think I ever posted them!
A few weeks ago the family went to the California Science Center. Here is video and pictures of the trip.
Video:
Pictures:
They had a computer that would take your picture and change your skin color or gender. It was part of a exhibit on Identity, which tackled issues related to race, gender, and background.
This is me as a black woman:
And this is supposed to be me as a white man, but…
Here is Stan as a black woman and white woman:
I am trying to get back on top of posting our videos. I am a bunch from the past few months. I should post them soon.
I got this baby tooth chart (PDF) from a friend today. It is a super easy way to track the date each tooth comes in. Enjoy!
I still have no idea what I am doing, but I am on Twitter and if you want to follow me click here.
<—– I also put it on my sidebar. I am so on top of this!
I came across my old Meme list today as I was transferring the site back to a blog and decided to do one for Wednesday. This is the question for the I Want… Wednesday meme (from June 10th).
What do you want to do today?
What do you want to do this week?
Wednesday (tomorrow) I would like to:
- Recover completely from the cold I have.
- Wake up refreshed because Lily slept a full 12 hours and so did I (Now ‘m just dreaming).
- Go to Stroller Strides and get my ass kicked with a good workout (Michelle, that is an official challenge.
). - Get an Apple Chai Tea from Starbucks, because I deserve it (And I really do this time).
- Finish a little work while Lily naps (possibly get inspired to start blogging about how to start a baby store).
- Take a nice evening walk with the family.
- Go to bed early for another 12 hour span of sleep.
This week I would like to accomplish:
- Implement some marketing tasks I have for BabyBumpShops.com.
- Finish two websites for a friend.
- Learn how to make a Starbucks Apple Chai Tea Infusion so that I am no longer the main income for the Castaic location.
- Empty my email inbox. I’ve read them all but they are in now way organized.
What do you want to do?
Last week, I moved my online store onto this blog. I thought it would be fabulous idea because I get so much traffic here, and usually it is my target audience (expecting or new parents). But once it was up I felt like I could no longer post the wonderful, personal stories and pictures that I was before. So, instead you can shop the store at BabyBumpShops.com.
BabyBumpShops.com is a eco-friendly online baby boutique that specializes in affordable organic, natural, and/or mother made baby items. I started the store after becoming frustrated with the high prices of organic clothing for babies. They grow so fast anyway, regular clothing was already breaking the bank! After much research I found a way to offer high quality organic baby products at low, low prices. The average organic onesie/bodysuit retails for $25. The same quality onesies/bodysuits are available on BabyBumpShops.com for only $15. In the coming months, I will be adding more products, including toddler clothing, baby carriers, slings and organic shampoos/soaps/hair products.
I will still update you guys with the latest news from the store, but you should also subscribe to the RSS and sign up for the newsletter on that site to make sure you get all of the special discounts and deals.
Happy Shopping!!
Last year my Father was diagnosed with cancer. At the end of February he went into the hospital to have his bladder removed. While this was a risky surgery, his doctors did not foresee any major issues. After the surgery he was in a lot of pain, but more than what would be normal. Because of his already weakened state (diabetes, cancer, among other health issues), his body had trouble healing and the stitches that held his intestines together broke open. He was rushed in for a second emergency surgery, but it was too late. In the days following the second surgery he developed septis, a serious infection that takes over the whole body.
While he was fighting to recover, I would visit him as much as I could. This meant I was typically there from 4am to 6am and from 8pm to as late into the night that my eyes would stay open. Odd as it may sound, I learned a lot about him during this time and a lot about myself. Although he was sedated, I knew he could hear me or sense me. I would read to him and tell him what the doctors and nurses where doing for him. Then there came a point when the doctors started trying to prepare me. “For what?” I thought. I was confident he would make it. They asked what his wishes were in regards to being resuscitated. My mother and him discussed it years ago and she knew he would not want to be resuscitated if his quality of life was not going to be good. So we told them, do not resuscitate.
Sometime later, the respiratory nurse came into his room to check on him. I asked how he was doing. He told me that he was barely breathing on his own, the machine was doing most of the work, but he was fighting. That night, I told my Dad what the doctors had told us. They didn’t think he was going to make it. I told him that it was ok, that I loved him, and we would all be fine. Over the course of the next minute his breathing changed. The screen that monitored his breathing was no longer making large peaks, just small humps. Fear took over and I ran to get the nurse. She said it was fine because the machine was there to keep him breathing. I was there late that night, saying my goodbyes I suppose. I knew what had happened; he let go.
The next morning I came back. He looked completely different. Maybe his skin, the ways his eyes rested. I’m not sure how to describe it. I had a restless feeling, almost angry. I wanted to shut the machine off right then and there. Later that morning, the rest of our family came to the hospital. We had decided to take him off of the breathing machine. My mom and I were in the room with him. It was hard for him to breath without the machine. I spoke into his ear, “It’s ok Dad, God is waiting. We love you.” Forty minutes after being removed from the machine he took his last breath. Death in reality, is not much like the movies I’ve seen. It engulfs all of your senses, not just sight. But it is truly the most beautiful event in a persons life – leaving the world to meet with God.
Of course, there is regret over the things you didn’t do or the things you did do, things said or unsaid. Some days are easier than others. I know that my Dad knows what is in my heart. I’m glad I was able to make peace during his last days, and for the rest of my life I have one constant memory to hold on to: a daughter’s love for her father.
This is the video I made for his memorial:
More Family Pics:
So after a few days of sleep training, we decided that it wasn’t for us. Lily began acting differently in other areas aside from sleep. Also, just putting her in the crib for any reason or anything related to sleep immediatly led to crying. I think we subscribe to the parenting style in which crying is a form of communication. Therefore, when we started ignoring her she started acting out in other ways. It just didn’t feel right to me and my new parenting rule #1 is go with your instincts.
So, instead I have set up a cosleeper (she was sleeping with us in our bed) and I am going to try night weaning first. She is good at sleeping for the length of the night but she still wakes up several times just for a few minutes to eat then she goes back to sleep. I think if I can get her to stop eating at night, then that might gradually lead to her not waking up at night. But my new philosophy is that there is no rush. She is only 10 months old and that last 10 months have raced by.
I’ll keep you posted.
Read the first post on sleep training and what happened on day one here.
Here is what happened today:
After waking up at about 8:20am, she was ready for a nap at 11:30. We went through our process for nap time. I put her in the crib and left the room. She stood up and started crying immediately. I went back in after about 2 minutes, laid her down and left. She cried, but it wasn’t real crying. It was off and on and very light. She didn’t get up again. She held her toy and kicked her legs. After only 15 minutes, she was asleep!!
Compare this to the 45 minute saga that took place yesterday, it was fabulous. Her second nap was similar. She cried for 20 minutes, this time more intense crying. But then fell asleep.
At bedtime, we got home late on accident. A 30 minute trip to Babies R Us for a new car seat turned into two hours. She did nap both ways in the car, so about 40 minutes total. But at 10pm, we were finally ready for bed. I put her down in her crib and she cried for 3 minutes before falling asleep.
To be continued…
Random Pictures
