misspriss.org

Post went up at askpatty yesterday. Here’s an excerpt…

Busy moms need a way to keep their cars organized. Between grocery shopping, doctors appointments, sports practice, and other errands, we need a way to keep stuff in the car within a short reach and make it easier to entertain the kids. But we also need to keep the kids clean and safe, too. What’s a mom to do? Here are a few products to help you out. At the end, we’ve included some bonus links to additional resources.

First, keep baby occupied while you drive with the Baby Einstein Move & Go Music Mirror. Yes, it plays music, but you can control the volume with a remote control. If baby isn’t put to sleep by the motion of the car, maybe this mirror will entertain him. And while he’s in a rear-facing seat, you can set it up in order to keep an eye on him, too. ($24.99 at Babies R Us)

Tired of cleaning spilled food and drink from the nooks and crannies of your back seat? Try an Especially for Baby Car Seat Mat to catch the dirt and grime. ($12.99 at Babies R Us) Or you can try the two-stage seat saver which works with rear- and forward-facing child seats. ($21.99 at Babies R Us) Anything to keep that rear seat a little cleaner, right?

Keep those car seats locked down tight with a car seatbelt tightener. Many safety seats are not properly installed and your child’s seat may move during an accident. A belt tightener can help you cinch the belt down better, preventing the seat from rocking or sliding. The CG-Lock stabilizes a booster seat (note: their site has several videos, but not a lot of other information). It retails at $39.95, but you can use coupon code “BetterWorld” for a $5 discount. The Mighty-Tite also helps with seat belt slack. While it looks more plastic and lighter weight than the CG-Lock, it got high ratings by reviewers at Babies R Us. ($16.99)

While you’re at the grocery store, do you hesitate to plop your little princess in those cart seats? If so, then think about these shopping cart seat covers. The Floppy Seat is a cushiony cover with a storage bag and its own seat belt. ($39.99 at Babies R Us) For a more deluxe apartment in your cart, take a look at this Deluxe Shopping Cart Cover. It has tons of pockets for storage, a pillow, safety belt, and padding. It even doubles as a changing pad. Now that’s nice, but it comes with a steeper price tag, too. ($59.99 at Babies R Us)

Click here to read the rest of the article.

I am humbled and awed by people’s kindness and generosity.

My office held a baby shower last week, and this weekend my friends held a shower, too. I don’t know how to put it into words. People have been so generous to us, knowing that this is our first baby together and that we are starting from scratch (and that I’m totally clueless – it’s been years and years since I’ve cared for infants). They’ve given us diapers, swings, monitors, clothes, everyday stuff (baby wash, shampoo, thermometer, diaper ointment, bottles, etc.), blankets, and stuffed animals. We still have several big items we’ll need to pick up, but they have joined in to take some of the burden off.

And I am so grateful that other people are excited for us. My best friend is almost as excited as we are. I am surrounded by such kind, amazing people. I am grateful for the outpouring of love and help. And deeply humbled. We don’t deserve any of this, but we are so happy that our son will enter a world where he has been long-anticipated, and welcomed with open arms by our friends and family.

Today, I sit and think of an early Thanksgiving. Because today, we are thankful.

thanksgiving, baby shower, pregnancy

So, I have less than 6 weeks to go. As I’ve said, I can’t wait to meet our son.

But I’m in a quandary.

After Sunday, we’ll have had our baby showers. And people have given us wonderful stuff so far: swings, a monitor, boppies, blankets, burp cloths, pacifiers, diapers, etc. I’m at a loss, here, though.

What are the everyday things I’ll need? Things like baby lotion and dreft and an ear thermometer (and maybe another type, too?) and … I have no clue. I want to have a few things on hand so I’m not running to rite aid every few hours.

So tell me? What are the essentials, after the big stuff is out of the way? It’s been years since I’ve been around a newborn. Call out the guard, because I need a lot of input/ help on this one.

Ah, the fabulous pregnancy dreams. They do keep getting stranger and stranger.

The other night, I was looking out a window in my dream when a guy stepped over the landscape, almost like he was emerging from a painting. But he stepped over everything, like he was walking on water. And later, I stood up my dinner date but was wondering how I could be so mean even as I did it. I had a couple of plates of food, and I knew it was his. But I went to sit outside under the moon with a girlfriend and eat the food I’d stolen from him.

And in a dream from a while back where my belly was really elastic, and I could see the baby’s handprint. And then I watched as his hand rose up, my skin stretching around it like Stretch Armstrong. Oh, and then he grabbed my finger. I think I woke up at that point, a little freaked.

The Wee One has been extremely active the last couple of days. All over the place. Wanna see a tootsie roll? Just watch my belly for about 5 minutes. I swear he’s throwing a party in there, practicing his breakdancing moves. Um, yeah, because that’s totally going to come back into style when he gets old enough. Shut UP, it will too!

this is cross-posted over at askpatty.com

My dad restores cars as a hobby. He does it because he likes it, not because he has to or because he’s trying to make money off of it. It’s relaxing for him, even when he hits a difficult spot. And it’s a hobby that I’ve gotten to share with him over the years.

Soon after I moved out of my parents’ house, Dad started restoring a 1960s-era Mustang convertible—my dream car. I was busy with school and didn’t get to help him as much as I wanted. Even though I’m not a mechanic by any stretch, I was still Dad’s helper when I was around. It was my job to help organize things as he took the old motor apart, scrape paint, fetch tools, hold the light, and just be a general “gofer.” I found the tasks, and our talks, relaxing as well.

I moved out of state before the car was finished and never got to drive my dream car. But I did enjoy the time spent with my father — the most important part for me.

Each time I go back to visit, if Dad’s working on a car I go out to the garage to help. My husband, a mechanic for 20 years, also gets in on the act. While we help with the car, we talk about what’s going on with everyone in the family and generally catch up on each others’ lives. Dad also tells stories about the adventures he and his siblings had as teenagers. I really enjoy those times, as I get to know my dad better.

With a child on the way in less than two months, I’ve been thinking a lot about family and how we can all spend time together and make memories. There’s nothing like putting your head under a car hood, getting dirty, and working on a project with your family. Conversation flows easier when you have something to keep your hands busy and your attention diverted. It holds a lot of special memories for me, something I’d like to pass on to our son.

I spent a lot of time with my dad and our cars. Our son will spend time with his dad AND mom learning about cars. Because I want him to be confident in his car knowledge. I also want him to look back with fond memories of our family time under the hood. Do you consider your time with cars an opportunity for making memories?

Suddenly, the time left in my pregnancy is flying. At first, it seemed to drag. Nothing really changed and I sometimes wondered if I was really pregnant. And then my boobs got huge and I stopped wondering… a little. But then there was another period where nothing seemed to be happening and time dragged on and on.

Then I started showing a lot. And then the Wee One’s movements could be felt. And suddenly, it’s like that bit Robin Williams does on “Inside the Actors Studio” where everything’s in slow motion and suddenly you’ve gone into warp drive speed and you’re not really sure when things shifted.

And before I know it, I have just over six weeks left. And probably only four at work. Mentally, I’m prepared to meet my son. I truly am. But in everything else? WAIT A MINUTE, HOLY MOTHER OF POP TARTS, I AM NOT READY FOR THIS! We have two showers coming up, and I’m sure we’ll get a lot of what we need. But the house isn’t ready, the furniture isn’t ready, our FINANCES aren’t ready and I have way too much to do. Where did this time suck come from and how do I stop it?!

Lawdy gracious. I have a LOT of work to do. I’m scared. Hold me?

Now I’m beginning to understand why women in their third trimester are anxious to meet their new baby. Yes, we’re excited to see what this new little life has in store. Yes, we can’t wait to meet this tiny person that we already love.

But let’s be honest here. The real reason is that we’re cumbersome, irritable, tired, uncomfortable, and cranky. We can’t sleep, and it is tough to roll over at night, much less find a good sleeping position. As the baby gets bigger, he gets more active. He also gets stronger and dammit, some of those movements hurt. I find myself wishing he’d sleep for just a little while. (Yeah, I’m going to be wishing that when he’s here, too.) I’m walking slower and slower. And I’m starting to waddle. Go ahead and make fun. Why not? I look funny. And tired.

J said that last night he had his hand on my belly while I was asleep and the kiddo was moving all over the place. He was surprised I was sleeping through it. Know what helps? Sheer exhaustion. And I think I’m broken. Why am I not nesting yet? I really couldn’t care less about the state of the house right now. Cleaning urges? Nah, sleeping’s more important.

I can’t wait to meet you, Wee One. Truly. And not just because you’ve taken up permanent residence on top of my bladder. But if you wanted to appear a week or two early, Mama will not argue with you one bit.

I begin my 33rd week in this pregnancy. Only 7 to go.

I’m 33 this year.

In 4 weeks, I’ll 34.

In 7 weeks (or so, I realize that’s iffy), I’ll hold my son –my firstborn– in my arms. J will meet his second child.

In 9 weeks, my parents will hold their first grandson in their arms, my brother his first nephew.

This is going to be quite a holiday season.