I bought a dress

Yeah, you heard me. I bought a dress. I found it on ebay - new with tags. Here it is:


I secretly wanted to try this dress and a few other dresses that were hot pink. But if I couldn't try it on in person, then I didn't want to risk it.


I bought the dress to wear to my sister's ordination in March in Tampa, Florida. BDR was curious as to why I would buy a dress for this event, when I usually where pants and a shirt to events that he goes to. And even though I joke that I am looking for Mr. Right #2 so we can all move to Utah and be one happy family, I want to see if it is possible for me to dress and look like a beautiful adult. The rest of the time, I have one or two kids to get ready for something, but this occasion will be in a place where I have to take care of no children prior to the event. Can I do it? Do I still have it in me? It might be fun to do this; and so I will try. Who the hell knows, I might look frumpy in the dress and end up wearing a pant and shirt combo. ;)

Mother...

...Nature
I have been eating like a pig all day. And it hasw a lot to do with my hormones. You know... that time. I'm gonna regret it in the morning, but tonight, it feels so right. It's like a hookup that you regret in the morning - except I have never done the hookup thing before, so I really can't speak on that.

Blue Eyes now has two teeth. I spent Wednesday night sitting in a chair holding her all night because she kept on waking up every few minutes, and that was with tylenol. I have been giving it to her pretty consistently but those suckers are still giving her pain. Poor girl. She is going to look absolutely adorable with two little teeth in the front.

BDR and Curious J went outside yesterday in the ice and snow. They last about 5 minutes and then it got too cold outside for J. Curious J has been challenging BDR and I about staying up until 10pm, even when we start bedtime at 8pm. He likes visiting us in our room and tells us he will go to sleep after we go to sleep.

The Return of Happy Girl

This is what a happy girl with a working digestive system looks like. Any questions?

Losing power for about an hour made us go into emergency mode. I married a man who is excellent at staying calm and thinking logically when a problem arises. We prepared for a dark and cold night. Non-essential doors closed. Flashlights and candles ready. A list of meals and a plan on what to do with cold foods (especially Blue Eye's formula). There should be one type of person like him in every family. We realized that BE is really the hardest person to improvise for an emergency. But that will change as she grows older.

We take for granted what we have until we lose it. Tonight I'm thinking of those who are homeless, hungry, without power, without a plan, and those who are out there helping us stay safe.

And for now, the boy is very happy to have the husband home for an extra couple days.

No Business Like Snow Business

Today we ventured to Springfield before the BIG BLIZZARD of 2011. ;) Or at least if you talk to my family, that is how they see it.

Today was Blue Eye's appointment with the pediatric gastroenterologist. Neither BDR nor I slept well last night. Even with the advice of a friend, I could not fall asleep. Hope about the potential changes in BE's mood and health, as well as the reminders from family about the weather, plus BE waking up at 4am for her morning feeding aloud for the perfect storm of insomnia.

Yet, we were wide awake for the car ride. We got there in perfect time - with 20 minutes to spare. No precipitation had started in either Springfield or Savoy. We didn't wait long in the waiting room, which was awesomely decorated for kids. The whole building was clearly a pediatric building. The doctor, Dr. A, was an exceptionally nice doctor. She was lively and friendly. She talked to J instead of just being all business. And BE let her hold her and even smiled at her. If you know my kid, you know that doesn't happen with everyone. She was also a full service doctor and buttoned up BE's clothes after giving her an exam. Dr. A clearly knew her area of expertise, even if she wasn't familiar with the similac brand stuff. They seem to be an enfamil institution. ;)

Here's what we learned:
-BE is in the 82% in weight, 75% in height for her current age. Holy cow.

- Sitting up in a carseat does not actually help a reflux baby because the legs are scrunched and push up on the abdomen. Even though it makes you feel better if your baby is spitting up in their sleep, it is still not the best thing to do. Huh. Propping up the mattress is. Maybe that's why BE hates to travel in the carseat for long periods of time.

- Tummy time and strengthing the abdomen is going to help her reflux get better.

- BE likes doing tummy time on the paper on the table at the doctor's office. Seriously hysterical. We could have gone 10 minutes. Maybe.

- Pear juice is the best juice to give a constipated baby.

- Because of BE's weight, she needs a higher dosage of Prevacid.

- The University Ave Walgreens is the only one that compounds Prevacid pills.

- The soy formula is the formula we are going back on. Worried about her constipation? Us, too. But never fear. Between the pear juice and the stool softener prescribed, BE should be fine. Fingers crossed.

- We need to cut back the amount of formula and increase the number of feedings. Smaller meals more times. Let's hope BE will let us get away with that.

- We have to go back in 6-8 weeks. And next time, we will go to the Pasta House.

- There is a Duncan Donuts in the building.

- J can eat two donuts in less than 30 minutes but cannot eat more than a bowl of spaghetti without getting full. Allegedly. ;)

The weather driving back was not ideal, but I had a good pilot. I sat in the back between two carseats both to and from Springfield. My hips will probably be bruised, but I was able to amuse BE and J for most of the trip.

Next Up: Occupational and Developmental Therapists are coming to our house to evaluation BE's gross motor and fine motor skills next week.