How a Moment Lasts Forever

The world needed Beauty and the Beast. I'm certain of it.

Yesterday a coffee barista asked me out of the blue if I had seen it yet. I gave her a 15 second review. She gave me my coffee for free. Walking the halls at the hospital I stumbled past 3 conversations going on about it. "Have you seen it yet?" "YES!!" "Me too! What did you think?!?" From young and old, male and female, everyone has been touched by the original story, and now this film as sparked something new.

This was not a film for just "Disney fanatics." This was nothing short of a gift. A breath of fresh air. A respite. And the world agrees. It was beautiful, thoughtful, and intentional. And it was all because of the hero, who probably isn't who you think it was. Was it perfect? No. But that plays into my point even more. We'll get to that later.

My family has been a long time admirer of just about everything Disney has had their hand in (except maybe Good Dinosaur). But for some reason, Beauty and the Beast touched our souls. You know, the deep, deep part. Deep.

My brother and I grew up watching the animated classic. We listened to the cassette tape in the car over and over (thank you Alan Menken for shaping my childhood in so many ways). My mom and I started seeing Beauty and the Beast on Broadway in New York followed by every time it came into town (around a dozen times now???) where I got my favorite coffee mug to take to work. The only phone case I've had for the past 2 years has been the famous animated stained glass picture of Belle and the Prince dancing. Performing as Belle in the headlining song "Belle" at a church event was one of the best 5 minutes and 17 seconds of my life. (And plenty of fodder for later Gaston jokes..."I know!!!") Just a few notes of the opening song can make my heart jump into my throat and my eyes burn with the glint of tears. And Beast's song in the musical? Oh heaven help me.

This story is in. my. soul.

So the announcement comes out that the power house Disney is going to tackle Beauty and the Beast as a live film. And I'll admit it. I was nervous. So we wait. And wait. Like a young child for Christmas, we wait.

The trailer arrives. It nearly breaks the internet and is the most watched trailer to date. Tears. Everywhere tears. Yet. We still wait.

We bought tickets for mom's birthday 12 days before the release. And more waiting.

Now something happens a week before the theatrical release. I won't get into the details or even how I feel about some of the things that were said because if you're still reading this, you likely already know, but echoing the brainless townspeople in the film came the cries of our culture, "Kill the Beast!!!" Talks of boycotts and nasty reviews sprang out! (By people who had not seen the movie and were basing their reviews off of...a trailer?? what they had heard through....other reviews???) Jeepers.

The day finally comes. I get dressed in my "Unleash the Beast" t-shirt dress and a Lumiere embroidered long jean jacket, finishing it all off with a red felt rose in my hair. Because after all, this is a monumental event for someone who knows every drop of music from both the animation and the musical. One must look the part.

I anxiously and expectantly sat in the theater for the opening notes of the film to start, wondering, "will this tank? are the awful things about it's shallowness going to be true??" But, I kept my mind open to thinking for myself. (gasp!!!)

Now to the down and dirty. Did I love Emma Watson? No. She was visually beautiful as Belle, but she seemed somewhat timid and flat. I prefer the strong Belle from the animation and even more so the stronger Belle from the musical. Dan Stevens? Wonderful. Magneto as Cogsworth? Perfect. Gaston? Magnificantly evil. A true villian. Not just a good-looking dope that wants a pretty wife. This guy was bad. LeFou - I absolutely adore Josh Gad and will never say anything but praises about his performances. A nice fresh spin on LeFou. A sidekick that thinks for himself. A new kind of funny in unexpected places. Well done. I only wish there were about 5-10 more minutes of the film. It felt a bit rushed like they were pressed for time in spots. And truthfully, with as much ground as they covered, they were pressed for time. Sitting for just a couple of more minutes in the dungeon with Maurice and Belle would have served us a much bigger picture of the sacrifice being made. But even in the light of my criticism, I was mesmerized. And backstory y'all. We get backstory. Praise the heavens!

SPOILERS AHEAD

So. Something wonderful and rare happened. The audience got a beautiful mix of the animated classic, animated spin offs (the addition of Cadenza), the broadway musical, the original fairytale (Belle asking for a rose from her father who finds it in the garden of the Beast), and somethings new. They kept all our favorite dialogue and lyrics from the animation but added some beautiful elements to new songs and a fresh take of the dialogue. They inserted some choreography, staging, and directing that was original to the musical. (Yes, y'all, I recognize choreography from the original musical...judge me. I don't care.) Although they took out 2 of my favorite Beauty and the Beast songs - huge, powerful numbers that drop you smack dab in the middle of the pain that Belle and Beast shared separately in "Home" and the eleven o'clock number "If I Can't Love Her," I surprisingly liked the new songs and felt they added something to the story. (On that note, that's the problem with casting movie actors and not stage/broadway actors in a musical film of this nature. You get "actors" and not strong "singers." But autotune saves the day, in the opinion of some. Instead, "Home" was removed all except for hearing snippets of the melody as the background theme, and "If I Can't Love Her" was replaced with a touching, but much less difficult to sing song for the Beast's heartbreaking realization of reality.)

I saw the story in a new light just as I had done when I saw the musical for the first time. But this was bigger. I realized that the main character in the story is not Belle. It's not the Beast. It's not even the charming, lovable, and relatable enchanted household. The main character is Love with Justice being the best supporting actor. Yes we know Belle and Beast fall in love. Yes we know Gaston gets what's coming to him. But in this adaptation, Love and Justice are deep seeded. It's not just romantic love but familial love and friendly love. It's not justice just for the good guys, but the bad guys too. One of my favorite moments in the film was seeing the heart of LeFou change, namely in the mob song..."There's a beast running wild, there's no question..." It was courageous and raw.

Back to Love....every type of love shown was imperfect, and they recognized that!!!! How refreshing!! We see a different kind of love that Maurice has for Belle and his wife than the animation allows. He loves Belle deeply and fully, not wanting to see her hurt. Or die from the plague, for that matter, which is obviously not ideal. So he creates this holed up life for her in a little town that's a quiet village. Every day is like the one before. His love for his wife is imperfect. He loves her deeply and dreams of her daily, yet he left her to die (yes, to save his daughter...there could be arguments here, but just don't do it please). We see Beast imperfectly fall in love with Belle. He's fine having her as a prisoner, for crying out loud, only until he sees how utterly broken she is that her father is in trouble. We see Gaston's lust-love for Belle - no need to explain the imperfection in that one, surely. We see LeFou's love for Gaston. He genuinely idolizes this guy. Like, woah. Every guy here wants to be you Gaston, including LeFou. Does that translate to romantic love? Maybe. Maybe not. You be the judge. That's not the point of the relationship though.

The love I was most pleasantly surprised by was the love between the enchanted household. Wow.

How beautifully Lumiere loves Plumette (not in the lusty, meet-me-behind-the-curtain-every-second-of-the-day kind of love that we get in the animation) but a love that misses holding her and touching her face and truly being with her. Lumiere and Cogsworth's love for each other as shown in their final farewell before turning forever into their permanent states of candelabra and clock. And how about the love between husband and wife Cadenza and Madame de Garderobe?! There is a brief but touching moment between Beast and his enchanted household when he expresses his sadness over the inability to change them back into their human forms. But I truly started to lose it when our beloved enchanted characters began their permanent change into the objects they've become. Mrs. Potts frantically searches for her son. The thought of becoming a permanent pot without him by her side was more than she could bear. He arrives, nearly shattering on the way, and as he falls, he is caught by the doorman/coat rack who's final moment in life is carefully setting the quickly changing Chip by his mother's side after she herself has already been changed.

Love. All of it. It's all Love.

Tears. Tears. Tears. Sobs stuck in the throat. And more tears.

Now, Beast's song. Do I even dare. His song from the musical is so moving that I feared what would happen here. I barely moved in my seat when the music started. For a split second I willed time to stop so I could steel myself for the heartbreakingly honest grief that was about to unleash on the audience. (And for those unfamiliar with the musical, first of all, shame on you. You need a spanking. Secondly, there were hints of the original song in this new one, both the old and new were written by my main men Alan and Tim. I believe this new song was written only because Dan Stevens likely doesn't have the vocal range for the original. Because the original was perfect. There is no other explanation for replacing it....I digress.) Obviously, I could discuss this few minutes of the story for hours. So get to it already. Something we see during this performance is again, deeper than romantic love and heartbreak. Those emotions are just the products of Beast's realization of reality: everyone is created for relationship, and he has missed it. Belle or Beast, we all need love. NEED. Beast realizes this in, "I never needed anybody in my life, I learned the truth too late." Even as "she fades from view," he realizes that his love for her has permanently changed him. "She will still inspire me, be a part of everything I do...for evermore." That's what love does. It inspires TRUE change.

All of this is an echo of eternity. Love changes things. Permanently. It makes your last acts ones of service and sacrifice like the doorman. The most beautiful picture of how love changes is the obvious one - when we see Beast's transformation from a hideous beast with horns and claws back into a (beautiful, blue-eyed, long-haired Dan Stevens) prince. The only thing capable of that transformation was Belle's love. Love love love. Do you see?? LOVE was the hero and heroine. Love is the point. Imperfect love is what we are capable of, but God's love is perfect. It inspires us and permanently changes us. Eternally. Even Disney recognizes this! The song sung by Maurice: "Just when we feel all hope is gone....Through the darkest of our troubles, love is beauty, love is pure, love pays no mind to desolation, it flows like a river through the soul, protects, persists, and perseveres and makes us whole....that's how a moment lasts forever..."

If you are not part of the masses that have already flocked by the millions to see this film, join us.

And then join the conversation. I'll be talking about it. Evermore.

  

Kid and Baby Sales!! (Disney, clothes, and more)

My husband said to me the other day, "You like to shop."

My response, blank stare.

The truth is, I can rarely resist a good sale. Lord, help me. Because a lot of them have been made known to me recently. So I'll share them with you in hopes I won't be the only one spending their hard earned pay checks over the interwebs these days.

Zara
Ooh goodness, be careful. Lots of really great kid clothes here. The kid clothes seem to be higher quality than the adults. But there's good options for us as well. Sizes for the wee ones tend to run large.

Disney Store Sale on Sale
I always love this. An extra 25% off clearance items TODAY ONLY (July 10, 2015) with code extra25

Boon at Target 
Their super cute drying rack (good for bottles, cups, pacifiers, etc) are too cute. And 10% off until the end of the month.

Disney Baby Feeding at Babies R Us
Come on. What baby, toddler, or preschooler doesn't need to show their #DisneySide? I mean, we pretty much drink our tea and coffee out if nothing but Disney mugs. So why shouldn't they enjoy their morning milk out of a Sully cup? Heck, I'll use it. Lots of options with straws too which is good for ALL ages to use instead of the tip-back style sippy cup which is bad for their teeth. (It's basically a bottle with a different shaped nipple on it.) Includes pacifiers, bowls, cups, floor and table toppers, and more. BOGO 50% off until the end of the month.

Zulily
If you don't know Zulily, you're missing out. Get ready to be rocked. Right now some of my favorites sales include rain gear (for all ages), Disney Bumpkins (wet bags, wipeable bibs), MLB gear and decor, whimsical garden decor, various Star Wars costumes and gear, and much more. Beware moms, there's also a shop for Coach, Kate Spade, and DVF. If you can't find something specific that I've mentioned in a sale category, just type it in the search bar.

Redbubble
This is a new one for me. A place where artists can put up their original (and not so original) artwork for sale in different formats. Recently I've ordered a duvet with Peter Pan on it for June's big girl bed and a Beauty and the Beast iphone case that shipped out in under 2 hours after ordering. Also on my list is this Adventure is Out There pillow from Disney Pixars' UP! We'll probably be ordering family t-shirts from here for our September Walt Disney World family vacation. You can use the code lilextra for 25% off, found on retailmenot.com.

Enjoy your spending! And don't blame me. 

Baby Gear Reviews. What You Need, What You Want

If you haven't seen Baby Mama, you need to. Today. It's hilarious. And shows you what can happen if you baby proof your toilet too soon...

There's something about a baby store that makes me want to squeal with glee. And there's a lot of baby store stops for me recently. (Yes, we're pregnant. Yes, again.) And lots of friends are having babies, too!!!

I LOVE babies. And baby stores. And baby registries. And all things BABIES!!!

So! here's a review of my favorite baby things. Click on the titles to check them out. And in my usual broadway style song and dance, "these are a few of my favorite things:"

Boon Flair Highchair
Why I love it: Very, very few creases, no fabric. Translation: easy to clean last night's spaghetti off of it when you decide to watch a movie after bedtime instead of cleaning up. Also comes with 2 plastic trays to have one in the dishwasher and the other on the highchair. Perfect. Comes in a variety of colors.
What I'd fix: the bottom clasp is hard to remove from the chair so it's not as easy to throw in the washing machine. However, it doesn't get as dirty as anything else since it's under the tray.

Ingenuity 2-1 Chair
Why I love it: no creases (see note above about cleaning it); comes in a variety of good colors; perfect to take to a friend's house for dinner when you need a baby seat. Or grandma's. Or the park birthday party, etc. It could be your sole high chair at home and save you the need for a Bumbo seat.
What I'd fix: the bottom safety strap is a little too long for our skinny kitchen chairs. But it's fit on every other chair I've used. It has a back safety strap too so this isn't really a problem. Just minor thing.

Joovy Hook On Chair
Why I love it: great to keep in the trunk to take to Panera when the babe is really too small to fit in a "regular" high chair. Comes in variety of colors (obviously this is important) and cleans well.
What I'd fix: a little difficult to collapse one handed if you have to hold the baby while you put it up. The buttons seem to go the wrong way....but after you figure it out, it's easier. This seat has saved us a ton.

Nuna Pipa Carseat
Why I love it: one simple reason...the anti rebound bar. Europe is way ahead of us y'all. Bottom line. It also goes to a height of 32 inches and 32 pounds which is longer and heavier than any other infant carrier I know of. Also I love the dream drape. Perfection. This will be our next carseat.

Chicco Keyfit 30
Why I love it: great basic seat with 30 pound capacity. Got me through 2 kids around 18 months old each. Smaller frame than some of the other carriers.
What I'd fix: more colorful options. (duh)

Diono Radian RXT
Why I love it: slimmest frame with reinforced steel for side impact. You can put 3 of these seats in a single row. Goes up to 120 pounds as high back booster and 40 pounds rear facing. No need to ever get another seat after the infant carrier. (Actually works at 5 pounds but not a great seat to switch in multiple cars due to the weight of seat. Remember - steel reinforced.) Material is soft and easy to clean.
What I'd fix: fits so well in the seat that it can be difficult to tighten the harness when rear facing. After you get used to pulling on it hard enough, it's great. Uses a ratcheting system to tighten which is a learning curve from the infant carrier.

NuRoo Nursing Scarf
Why I love it: versatility, style, weight of fabric, everything is great about this. Covers just enough (if that's your thing) and then looks like a scarf for the rest of the day
What I'd fix: more pattern options. Although I love the stripes.

Muslin or Bamboo Swaddle Blankets like Aden and Anais or SwaddleDesigns
Why I love it: they're big and lightweight and get softer with each wash. Great for swaddling, playing on the floor or grass, nursing, etc. Perfect for hot weathered states like Texas.
What I'd fix: nothing....absolutely nothing.

Wet Bag
Why I love it: keeps everything from soiled clothes (baby's or your's...), wet burp clothes, dirty bibs, etc. away from everything else in your bag. Seriously, don't roll up a poopy onesie and stick it in the same place pacifiers and bibs go. No. Don't do it.
What I'd fix: nothing. nope.

Medela Pump In Style Breastpump or Hygeia EnJoye with Internal Battery
What I love: the internal battery in the Hygeia is fantastic. You can walk around as needed. The Medela has a letdown phase which is great but a seasoned nurser could do without it.
What I'd fix: I don't love the creases in the Hygeia flange set because it seemed more difficult to clean, but those can be switched out with a medela set.

Medela Washable Nursing Pads
What I love: they don't stick to you like some of the other brands. They are real soft and get softer with each wash. So affordable too. Get a few packs.
What I'd fix: not a dang thing

Shea Moisture Baby Ointment
What I love: great for bottoms, eczema, really dry skin. Smells great and it's organic.
What I'd fix: if it were a couple dollars cheaper I'd have it in every room of the house

Burts Bees Lavendar Bath products especially the bath wash and lotion
What I love: this stuff has seriously helped several mom's I know get their babies into a good night routine. The lavendar works y'all. Tear free.
What I'd fix: can't think of it. Maybe if I could get a subscription for this for the first 12 months.

Summer Infant SwaddleMe wrap and Aden and Anais Sleepsack
What I love: keeps blankets out of the freaking bed!!!!!!!!!!! but makes baby feel secure. Both of my kids used them for a loooong time. Like until 2 years. They come in different weights.
What I'd fix: I still haven't seen a good one with long sleeves for the winter.

Stay tuned for more of my favorite things and things you can do without.

When Should My "Baby" Start Wearing a Helmet?

I overheard a really scary statistic in the office today. In our hospital (to remain nameless to protect the innocent...and myself), less than 10% of bike crashes that are admitted for treatment or observation are wearing a helmet at the time of injury. You wanna know the same statistic for kids wearing helmets on ripsticks and scooters? 0%. Yes. ZERO.

Let me rephrase that. If your kid got in a bike crash and was injured enough to be admitted to the hospital - 9 out of 10 of them weren't wearing a helmet. None of the ripstick and scooter kids who were hurt enough to need admission were wearing helmets. NONE.

Awesome.

So when should they start wearing helmets? When they start picking up some speed? When they are big enough to lose the training wheels when they're tall enough to be more than a foot from the ground?? No. Start the practice of wearing a helmet the FIRST time they ever get on wheels in the first place. Come on. You know the drill. The earlier you introduce good habits (and morals for that matter), the easier they stick. And the less you have to fight with them later about it.

Is there a conclusion for this? Yes. We can't fix brains. So protect them. If your kid doesn't like the helmet, no bike. No scooter. You're the adult. Set the rules. They'll appreciate it when they don't have to go to prom in a wheelchair with a chaperone to suction out their tracheostomy. And if they don't appreciate it then, it doesn't matter anyway.

But this little face matters...






















Lady Bug helmet by Bell on June, age 3 1/2y at time of picture, and Disney Cars helmet on Max age 2 years. Both under $20.

Subscribe or Trash?

I have a new obsession. Subscriptions.

I'm not sure where it started. Oh yes I do. Junior High. Vogue. No, not Seventeen. Vogue. I've always had expensive taste. I can look at a mountain of shoes and my favorites will be the ones that are $500.

Every. Single. Time.

But I digress...

With the internet, Facebook, and Network marketing at an all time high, it's hard to know what's quality and what's just being shoved down your throat for a quick sale.

So here's a rundown of my favorite subscriptions. You can be your own judge. And please, leave in the comments YOUR favorites. I can always use a new one....Click on the title to go to their website.

VOGUE:
Ok, we already covered that one. But here's the thing with Vogue. The contents aren't in my, um, budget. However the artistry in it's pages can sometimes be breath taking.
Cost: $12-18 dollars a year
Pros: beautiful, discounted from shelf price, great cover stories
Cons: unattainable contents, liberal news stories (maybe that's a pro to you...)

DOLLAR SHAVE CLUB:
This was a fantastic little facebook find. You get 4 razors a month and a handle to start off your subscription. Honestly, I don't use 4 razors a month, but good grief, that's substantially less expensive than buying them at the grocery store. Not only that, these guys are pretty hilarious. Your monthly box comes with a quippy little magazine to read, complete with jokes, satire, and the occasional off-kilter comic. That alone is worth the subscription. Can be shared between 2 shavers.
Cost: $1-9 a month
Pros: great razors, ingenious packaging, attention to detail, satire
Cons: maybe too many razors?? (if that is a con...)

CITRUS LANE:
This is a really fun and creative subscription box for kids. It comes with 4-5 items per box ranging anywhere from toys, clothes, feeding utensils, books, snacks, and there's usually something for mom. A nice bonus. One of June's favorite toys has come from this box. We look forward to it every month. A lot of the items are also earth friendly in someway. There is also an option to switch from month to month gender and age.
Cost: $19-$29 a month
Pros: great content for kids, bonus gift for mom, earth friendly
Cons: a little more costly although worth the money, no way to automatically switch between children (have to log in each month)

VEMMA:
Come on, you know I had to do it. There's too much to say about this in a short paragraph. But let me say a few words: energy, health, wellness, freaking fantastic. Vemma itself lowers your infection markers, naturally increases your anti inflammatory properties, and is a highly absorbable antioxidant. Vemma is the main flagship product with these wonderful benefits. Verve is the healthy energy drink that has a dose of Vemma in it. So who doesn't love healthy energy?
Cost: $64+ depending on products
Pros: again I say energy, less copays at the doctor, less missed work days (yes that's a pro), can provide income
Cons: the Verve packs need to come in 30's instead of 24 so you can have one each day a month

GRAZE:
This is a new one to me, and I'm really excited to try it out. I have a hard time remembering to eat during the busy day with 2 ankle biters. And sometimes all June wants to eat is a "bar." I'm hoping this one gives us more options. There's a ton of natural ingredients. Looks fun.
Cost: $6 per box, ships weekly or every 2 weeks
Pros: healthy, gives you the option of "trashing" certain ingredients, tons of options
Cons: don't have any yet...stay tuned

PARENTS MAGAZINE:
I absolutely LOVE this magazine. It has a ton of fun (and realistic) options for family entertainment, meals, outings, you name it. The parenting suggestions are also doable, realistic, and won't leave everyone scarred at the end of the day. I also appreciate their stance on medical issues. Follow them on twitter.
Cost: $7.99 for 2 years
Pros: affordable, helpful, creative, realistic!
Cons: I need more time to sit down and read them

PRIZE CANDLE:
This was a fun idea but it missed the mark in a few places. They hide a ring (made in China) in a candle, and you burn your candle down to find the ring. They claim to have a $5000 ring in a candle somewhere...Each ring comes with a code to appraise your ring on their website. SPOILER ALERT: it's worth $10. You get a discount for your first candle, so it's worth doing one time. After all, you could have the $5000 ring.
Cost: $15-$24.99
Pros: fun idea, creative gift
Cons: a little on the expensive side, rings are too big for my scrawny fingers

Leave your favorites in the comments!

Cheers!!

I remember as a young child seeing my mom smile over us one night as my brother and I were eating our dinner. When I asked her what she was smiling about she had a simple reply that has lasted all these years in my memory, "Mother's love to see their babies eat."

I don't know if it stuck with me because it was such an odd reply for an young child to fully grasp? Or maybe I had already begun to understand God's working in my heart to fight for impoverished children. Either way, it stuck with me.

During lunch when I sat down with my nearly three year old over grilled cheeses and Sun Chips, we get a knock on the door. (Yes a knock. All potential ringers are warned of their responsibility to babysit if they ring the doorbell.) It's a bright orange box. Vemma.

As I bring it in, June starts saying, "NEXT?? I want NEXT! Pleeeeeease!!"

There goes that same smile across my face and warmth in my heart just as my mother had all those years ago. And I get it. Fully get it.

Cheers Junie. And Cheers to you Vemma NEXT.

                  

"Pollen Vortex!!!" "Shower Before Bed!!" And Other Tales of Allergies in the News....

Although allergies are no joke, this made me chuckle as I opened my inbox this morning. The Pollen Vortex!!! (Gasp!!!) And crunchy ways to take care of yourself during it's brutal quake!! Including a shower!!!!

I wanted to find a picture of the Mucus Queen from Billy Madison, but there wasn't a good one that didn't seem inappropriate in someway. So insert that memory of her wiping snot on her chest . 

Ok all kidding aside, if you need some natural help from allergies (that won't break the bank and won't have you reaching for homemade granola....although there's nothing wrong with that if that's your deal), then for the love of Pete, try Vemma. It's gotten my mom off allergy meds and chronic sinus infections, and it's helped a handful of our friends write farewell letters to their monthly (and sometimes weekly) dates with a needle-wielding allergist. For you - Vemma 1 Pack for a month. For your kid - Vemma NEXT 1 pack for a month. It's under $2 a day, so quit your belly aching and do it. Unless you're one of those people who likes to be miserable. But I hope you aren't. 

(To hear more about what Vemma has done for us and can maybe do for you too, see my page at the top take back your life.)

Now...for your reading pleasure....

“Brutal” Allergy Season Expected.

ABC World News (4/13, story 9, 1:30, Muir) reported, “We’re going to turn now to what is expected to be a brutal allergy season.” Due to the polar vortex and a longer lasting winter in much of the country, “so much is budding out there at once, it’s creating what some are calling the pollen vortex.”

        NBC Nightly News (4/13, story 11, 1:25, Quintanilla) reported that Dr. Mika Roberson, of the Care Point Health Medical Group in Hoboken, NJ, explained that immunotherapy shots taken three to six months before high pollen season may help some people, but people suffering right now are advised to see their physicians and “get skin tested” to ascertain precisely what allergens are bothering them. Over-the-counter nasal sprays and antihistamines can provide some relief.

        The ABC News (4/14, Mohney) website reports, ABC News medical correspondent Jennifer Ashton, MD, “says there are new medications available to those in need including Oralair [grass pollen allergen extract], a new medication made up of freeze-dried grasses that can help combat allergies.” According to experts, “using a neti pot, showering before bed to get rid of pollen particles on the body and keeping windows closed to keep out errant pollen particles are all key.”

        The New York Post (4/12, O'Neill) and the Slate Magazine (4/12, Holthaus) “Future Tense” blog also used the phrase “allergy vortex” in their coverage.

Copied from NAPNAP Publication "PNP Daily News"

"Popular! I'll Help You Be Pop-uuu-lar" In The News

And you thought it was just the nerdy kids that got bullied. Popular kids, watch out!!  

Popularity Tied To Increased Risk Of Getting Bullied.

USA Today (4/1, Healy) reports that according to a study published in the April issue of the American Sociological Review, “as students become more popular and climb the social hierarchy of middle and high school, they are at increased risk for gossip, harassment and even physical attacks from rivals competing for status.” The study of 4,200 eighth, ninth and tenth graders also revealed that “adverse consequences of that bullying – including increased depression, anxiety and anger, and decreased school attachment – are magnified the more popular the victim.”

Copied from NAPNAP publication PNP Daily News

(New) Baby Mama Drama, Part 2: CHILD PASSENGER CAR SAFETY

If you offend easily, this is not the blog for you...

I've made a very good living off of other people's bad choices. And frankly, in this day and age, there's no excuse for ignorance in the arena of car safety. I've seen statistics anywhere from 73-98% of car seats are used incorrectly. So here's the down and dirty on keeping your kiddos safe in the car.


THE LAW

Law mandates that a child less than 8 years old and less than 4 feet, 9 inches must be in a car seat device at all times and restrained according to the seat's instruction. Right off the bat that means if you have a 1 year old, they must be in a 5 point harness and rear facing. Period. It's law. Along with that, if you have an older child that no longer sits in a safety seat, they have to be in a seat belt at all times including the shoulder strap. So if you're taking a long road trip and Jr wants to lay down to sleep, he has to stay in the shoulder strap. Period. It's law.

Why is the "law" important? Well if you're asking that question, we have several other things to talk about. But think of it this way....the law is always several years behind expert recommendations. So if it's written in law that something is necessary.....it's really, really necessary.


THE RECOMMENDATION

So what do the experts recommend? A big push that we are trying to make is to keep your baby rear facing until at least 2 years of age or longer. 

Longer?!? But my kid can't see!! His legs are bent!! He doesn't look comfortable!!!

So what. He doesn't know any different. Comfortable? You know what's uncomfortable?? A traumatic brain injury. Skull fractures. Having your face busted into a hundred tiny pieces. That's uncomfortable. And you know what? It happens all the time. Often. Frequently. Don't test me on this. And honestly, have you not seen how kids sit on the floor? If he has to sit with his legs crossed in his seat, he'll live. Thankfully. (And on that note, children are not to ride in the front seat until their 13th birthday.)

And guess what? Other countries with lower death and injury rates keep their kids rear facing well through the toddler years. Think 4 years old. And this is normal to them. Read about it here and watch the video below.

INSTALLATION (of seat and child)

Some installation tips and videos can be found here on the Safe Kids website.

There was once a time when people said you can go to the Firestation down the street to get your seat checked, but that's no longer a great idea. Firemen are not car seat technicians. They can help you read the directions, but that's about it. If you're in the Fort Worth area you can call Safe Kids Tarrant County at 682-885-2634 to schedule a FREE car seat check. Other car seat techs can be found by visiting the Safe Kids website of your area.

But how do you know if your child is in the seat correctly?? Here's a good list to review! Unfortunately this list doesn't discuss proper clip placement. The chest clip should be at the nipples/armpit area. Not lower - this can cause significant abdominal organ injuries.

The tightness is also important. Children do in fact fly out of seats and through windows when their seats are installed correctly but aren't tight enough in the straps. Do the pinch test.

The safest place for them to sit is in the back middle seat. If you don't have a back middle seat, the next safest place is directly behind the driver. (I can already hear the cries of the ignorant mothers...."But I can't see him! What if I need to get to him?" Again I say this: So what. You can't see him. You really need to get to him? Then pull over. You shouldn't be reaching back there anyway to get to a rear facing child. Pull over.)

If you have multiple child passenger safety seats that need to be installed, the infant seat should go in the middle. It is not side impact reinforced. Larger convertible seats are, so they are safer to go behind the driver or passenger. And they should be rear facing. Still.

A NOTE ON FLYING OBJECTS (CHILDREN INCLUDED):
If you don't want your children to be flying objects in a crash, don't put them in a big fluffy coat in their car seat or booster. I promise they won't freeze to death. Just take their coat off before getting in the seat and give them a blanket (as long as they aren't newborns) and they'll be fine. I can't make that same promise if you put them in a fat coat. When a crash happens, the coat compresses and they can fly out of their seats. At high speeds. Through windows. Please hear me: soft skin does not fair well against concrete and asphalt. Nor do growing brains.

Other flying objects include coffee mugs, cds, books, strollers, or anything else you don't have tied down. You think this is over reacting? Let me tell you the story about a kid I saw who had a wreck with a box of ceramics in the back.

And next time, put your paint in the trunk.

Here's the thing guys. This is simple. It's not difficult. We aren't suggesting you build a fort to place around them anytime they leave the house. This takes no extra time and very little if any extra effort. I would love to place pictures of what my forward facing patients look like, but apparently that's illegal. It's a shame. I think that's the only way some of you would see the risk you take. But please, let my professional knowledge and experience be enough for you to do the wise thing and follow these recommendations.

The Breastfeeding Propaganda

Oh yes. Yet another post about breastfeeding.

I've become very weary of the anti-breastfeeding world. And I'm not talking about the mamas who feel like they can't do it, or even the mamas who don't want to do it. I'm talking about the mamas who treat those of us who are doing it like we're weird or crazy or "granola." Whatever that means.

You wouldn't be calling Eve "granola" or treating her like she's a loon for feeding her child the way God made her body to. Even the formula companies agree that "breast is best."

And HEAR ME - I am NOT saying if you didn't nurse your kid that you made a wrong choice or that you're a bad mom. What I am saying is just because you didn't breastfeed doesn't mean you should make me feel like a Crazy for doing it!! It may have been inconvenient for you to nurse but it's extremely convenient for me (and my baby) to nurse. And we'll do it until he's done.

This blog popped up in my feed today and it was a homerun as far as I'm concerned.

If I get one more question or snarky comment about covering up in public for modesty's sake (which I do) or about people's "rights" to do as they please in this arena, I might pop.

What the non-breastfeeding crowd doesn't understand is that those of us who do nurse our children are just as much (if not more so) persecuted for our choice than they. There's a lot of irony there.

Eat up babies. No matter how you do it. And tell your mamas to be nice.

(New) Baby Mama Drama, Part 1: FEEDING

Don't worry New Mama. We've all been there...what the heck are those for anyway???

Here's the thing. You've heard the expression "There's more than one way to skin a cat," right? Well, there's definitely more than one way to have a baby and raise a baby. I get asked by new mama's all the time about car seats, breast feeding, sleep problems, starting solids....and I'm no expert, but between having 2 kids of my own and nearly 10 years of experience in pediatric medicine, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. So here is one of my favorites:

BREASTFEEDING

I hit this one first because it's the most special to me. Not the most important necessarily, but real dear to my heart. I have been fortunate enough to nurse both of my babies. And loved, loved, loved that special bonding time. My oldest nursed for a little over 12 months, and so far I'm about 7 months on my second one. Please hear me mama's that did nurse or give pumped breast milk - I am not judging you, shaming you, or saying you did wrong by your baby. Again...cat skinning.... Ok. Now that that's out of the way...here's a few tips for you to be successful.
   -  when your baby eats, you are either feeding them straight from the breast or pumping (This is crucial. The amount of milk you make works off supply and demand. So if for some reason your doctor or midwife is having you supplement with formula, give the baby the formula and then pump!!! Every. single. time. If you aren't stimulating the nipple when the baby eats, your body doesn't know to make more.)
   -  your job for the first couple of weeks is to feed that baby whenever they are hungry. If he starts to fuss for more milk just 30 minutes after you feed him , feed him again. If he wakes up at night to eat, feed him. Frequent feedings early on will help set your breast tissue up to make more milk now and in the future. If you want to try to sleep train him later, then wait until you've got a good solid supply which will take a good 6 weeks.
  -  it's always good to take a change of shirts out and about for you when you're newly feeding. Milk happens. :)
  -  the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. This allows baby to get all of their needed nutrients straight from mama with all the added benefits of immunity without risks of food allergies. Some studies have shown that adding in food (or even supplementing with formula) before 6 months decreases the effectiveness of the immunity that baby gets from your milk. So unless there's a milk supply issue, try not to supplement with formula.
  -  keep taking your prenatal vitamin with DHA (good for baby, good for mama's energy)
  -  eat one extra small meal a day. This isn't your cue to go crazy, but if you are still hungry, eat again. Don't worry about losing that baby weight. Breast feeding will do it for you. And if you're hungry, your body needs it. I recommend a daily (or twice daily) Bod-e shake that you can get here. This has great health properties, is super easy, and tastes like melted ice cream. I use it a breakfast, for a snack, and even for dessert occasionally. Yes, I do.

OWIE!!!
  -  If it hurts real bad, there's a very good chance there's something wrong. Check with your hospital to get a follow up lactation consult. Sometimes they'll come to your house, and it may be included already in your hospital stay. You can also contact For Babies' Sake and they'll help you out!
  -  super sore nipples can be cured (yes, cured) with a prescription from your doctor or midwife. (only the midwives with a masters degree in nursing can write prescriptions - so if you had your baby with a midwife in the hospital, they're able to write prescriptions; the majority of RN midwives do not deliver at birthing homes or in homes.) Jack Newman's All Purpose Nipple Ointment will have you better in less than a day. You will need a compounding pharmacy and it may take a few calls back and forth to make sure they have the ingredients. Tell them that it is imperative you get the prescription today and if they can't do it, you will need to call another pharmacy. If you're in Arlington/Ft Worth area, the Randol Mill Pharmacy has been incredible! Some prescriptions call for an added advil powder as well. Make sure your pharmacy is making an ointment and not a cream.  If your healthcare provider is unfamiliar with APNO, tell them the formula and that it can be found online from multiple breastfeeding resources. A lactation consultant will also recommend it.


SUPPLY ISSUES
  -  remember, when your baby is eating, you are either feeding them from the breast or pumping. This is key to keeping up your supply.
  -  fenugreek and mother's milk tea are extremely helpful to most people. Here's more about it from Kelly Mom.
  -  you may have a well meaning pediatrician, midwife, or nurse practitioner that tells you to supplement with formula. This is usually not necessary unless there are other issues going on. If your baby is gaining weight, there is no need to supplement. Doing so will only cause your supply to decrease further. If your baby is not gaining weight properly or is losing weight, you may need to supplement for a short period of time while you work on your supply. You do that by pumping. And pumping. And pumping some more. Feed your baby from the breast first every time, then pump while they take a bottle. This takes time, energy, and a lot of patience. But it can be done! If you're not sure how much milk you're making, you can exclusively pump for a couple of days and give baby that expressed milk. This will let you (and your healthcare provider) know how much milk you're making. Keep in mind that your baby is more effective than a pump so they are probably getting out more milk than what you are able to pump. Here is a great article on the issue.


WHAT DOES IT HELP?
This is a heavy question. Not only is this one of the sweetest bonding times you can ever have with your baby, but you can both have extremely great physical health outcomes from it.  Breast feeding has been known for a very long time to reduce ear infections, respiratory infections, and many other childhood illnesses, (not to mention much faster weight loss for a previously preggo mama!) but we're also finding some new things it does! Including:
  -  reducing obesity
  -  improving brain development 
  -  increasing IQ
  -  reducing breast cancer, heart attacks, hypertension for mom


"I JUST CAN'T DO IT!"
  -  A recent study showed that mom's who had a "breastfeeding only" goal missed their mark. What does that mean? They aren't getting the support they need. Wether that's from healthcare providers answering questions, family members (including dads), or their workplace, mama's need help!! Here's a great link about workplace laws and breastfeeding for us working mamas out there.  Please know this, there is help out there. Ask questions!! Don't give up, because you can do it! You can always email me for ANY questions you have. If I can't help you, I can point you to the right person. It's not a bother. At all.
  -  You're not alone. Other mamas have trouble and need help. So pick up the phone, get on your email, and get some help! We all need help, no matter who we are.

Bottom line is this: if you can't breastfeed, get tired of breastfeeding, don't have the support, or just flat out don't want to do it, that doesn't make you a bad mama. Your child will still love you. They can still be doctors or lawyers or rocket scientists. They can still grow up to be healthy, well-rounded people. So cut yourself some slack. If you are like one of those mama's that really wants to breastfeed and wants to be successful at it, then find the help you need to do it.


RESOURCES:
Kelly Mom
For Babies Sake
La Leche League of Texas
THR Lactation Consultants
Me!!

In The News: Many First Time Mother's Experience Breast Feeding Difficulty

From NAPNAP's PNP Daily News email 9/24/13:

Many First-Time Mothers Experience Breastfeeding Difficulty.

In continuing coverage, Reuters (9/24, Pittman) reports that breast-feeding can prove difficult for new mothers. In an analysispublished online Sept. 23 in Pediatrics, after interviewing first-time mothers, researchers discovered that 92% reported that they experienced difficulty with breastfeeding starting the third day of the infant’s life. Problems included difficulty feeding, concerns regarding milk supply and pain. Reuters adds that exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organization until the child reaches six months. After six months, breast-feeding is to be continued “with the addition of appropriate foods through age two.”

        CBS News (9/24, Jaslow) reports on its website that researchers have reached out to hospitals to “develop strategies to reach concerned moms early on into the postpartum period.” Dr. Laurie Nommsen-Rivers, the study’s lead investigator, stated that a two-prong approach is necessary to assist mothers with breastfeeding: First, “strengthening protective factors,” like peer support andbreastfeeding education, and second, providing professional lactation support to address their concerns.

        Breastfeeding Concern Raises Questions Regarding Bed-Sharing. The Los Angeles Times (9/24, Brown) reports that another study published online Sept. 23 in JAMA Pediatrics explored the relationship between sharing a bed with an infant and breast-feeding, which determined that breast-feeding lasted longer for infants who “slept on the same ‘sleeping surfaces’ as their mothers.” Ninety percent of new mothers reported in this survey that they, too, experienced issues with breast-feeding shortly after childbirth, and while bed-sharing may alleviate those problems, the authors of the study warned mothers of the safety risks associated with infant-parent bed-sharing.

        Reuters (9/24, Pittman) reports that although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants remain close to their parents while sleeping, sleeping in the same bed may increase the infants’ risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

        The story is also covered by the NPR (9/23, Shute) “Shots” blog, the Time (9/23, Sifferlin) “Healthland” blog, HealthDay (9/24, Salamon), and MedPage Today (9/24, Walsh).

From PNP Daily News email 9/23/14:

Nursing Difficulties Could Lead New Mothers To Stop Trying.

MedPage Today (9/23, Raeburn) reports on a prospective study published online in the journal Pediatrics, which found that “new mothers who had problems breastfeeding, especially during the first 2 months postpartum, were at risk of giving up nursing and using formula.” According to researchers, “the peak adjusted relative risk (ARR) for stopping breastfeeding at day 3 was 9.2 (95% CI 3.0-infinity) among women who expressed concerns.” The data indicated that “breastfeeding concerns that yielded the largest adjusted population attributable risk (PAR) for stopping were ‘infant feeding difficulty’ at day 7 (PAR 32%) and ‘milk quantity’ (PAR 23%) at day 14.”

Hot off the Press: US Abortion Rate Declines

Abortion Rate At Lowest Level In More Than Three Decades.

Major newspapers, wire sources and other media outlets report that the US abortion rate has reached its lowest level since 1973, according to a study called “Abortion Incidence and Service Availability in the United States, 2011,” which was issued by the Guttmacher Institute, a supporter of legal access to abortion.
        The New York Times (2/3, A10, Eckholm, Subscription Publication) reports that in the US, “the abortion rate...declined to its lowest level in more than three decades in 2011, according to a new report released Monday.” The report also found that “the decline in abortions from 2008 to 2011 was mirrored by a decline in pregnancy rates.”
        According to the Washington Post (2/3, Somashekhar), the report found “there were fewer than 17 abortions for every 1,000 women in 2011, the latest year for which figures were available.” This represents a decline of “13 percent from 2008 and a little higher than the rate in 1973, when the Supreme Court handed down its landmark Roe v. Wade decision.”
        USA Today (2/3, Jayson) reports that declines “were seen in all but six states.” Study author Rachel Jones “attributes the decline to more women using ‘highly effective contraceptive methods such as the IUD’ and the fact that the study period was during the recession and sluggish recovery.”
        The Wall Street Journal (2/3, A4, Radnofsky, Subscription Publication) notes that from 2008 through 2010, US states enacted 44 laws that restricted how abortion is regulated. In 2011, another 62 laws were passed, but many of these were not immediately put into effect following their passage.
        The Los Angeles Times (2/3, Hamedy) reports other findings from the report, such as the fact that “more abortions came earlier in the pregnancy and medication abortions constituted a larger share of the total.” The report, called “Abortion Incidence and Service Availability in the United States, 2011,” noted, “An estimated 239,400 early medication abortions were performed in 2011, representing 23% of all nonhospital abortions, an increase from 17% in 2008.” The report will appear in the March issue of the journal Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.
        The AP (2/3, Crary) notes that the highest rates of abortions were found in “in New York, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Delaware and New Jersey; the lowest were in Wyoming, Mississippi, South Dakota, Kentucky and Missouri.” But, according to the report, “many women in Wyoming and Mississippi, where providers are scarce, go out of state to get abortions.”
        Also covering the story are Reuters (2/3, Moon), theHuffington Post (2/2, Bassett), the NPR (2/3, Rovner) “Shots” blog, and CQ (2/3, Adams, Subscription Publication).


Post copied from NAPNAP's daily email PNP In The News

On the Menu: Perspective

Ever have those days when you just feel down right sorry for yourself? I wish I could say that was completely below me. That of course I'm never ungrateful. That it can't cross my mind to take for granted all the blessings in my life.

But. Guess what. I can't say that.

And the funny thing is I am usually the first one to remind you that "it can always get worse." I have an entire career involving people's "worse" days. If anyone knows it can get worse...Maranatha.

So on the menu for today: some fresh, clear, well seasoned perspective.

After a while of feeling sorry for myself, I gathered up letters from each of my 5 Compassion children. Each letter is written with care. Nearly every word has a different meaning to me than it does to it's precious author. Why? Perspective. When Ilder in Guatemala says to me "I thank you for the letter you sent me. It is very nice. I keep it in a special place," I wonder what this "special" place looks like. Thinking of the 4 walled home and dirt floor he shares with his parents and siblings snaps me back into reality. No longer can I feel sorry for myself that an offer fell through on a home. I still have a home. With heat. With electricity. And with clean running water. In 3 different places. He prays for "blessings" in our lives. What does this look like to him? What is a blessing to a 16 year old boy living in extreme poverty? It's a little different than the blessings we begin to expect, or heaven forbid feel entitled to.

So I drive to work, and again lose perspective. It's the Lord's Day, Sunday, and I'm going to work. Not only that, but my family is enjoying themselves some dear friends' house. Cue the violin. Agnes from Tanzania says to me, "I am happy at school with tailoring studies. When I am done, I will employ myself because I will make clothes for others, and I know I will get a good place to do my work."  Thank you Agnes. That was a fresh heaping plate of perspective. And it warms my soul.

  

New Look, New Name, Same Great Broadway Style

Hey folks...I'm back.

Yes, after months and months of blogging silence, we're up and running again. With a new and improved look!! Thanks so much Maiedae!!

It was a tough decision because it actually takes time to blog. And with 2 babes....that's a highly valued resource. But I've had several requests for it, so here we are. Lots of changes in the past year and so much to be excited for in 2014.

No big post today, just wanted to let you know we're back. So browse around, tell your friends, and let the games begin!! You can also check out my new pages up top. Gives you something to do other than work. I mean...than...well whatever.

Don't forget to break out into a little choreographed song and dance today. Makes life more enjoyable.

Hasta. 

Hot off the Press

I get a daily email from NAPNAP, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners called PNP in the News. This is a highlight of my morning. Yes, really. Call me a nerd. I don't care. Here's a good excerpt:

In an 1,100-word article, the Wall Street Journal (1/7, D1, Loftus, Subscription Publication) reports that scientists are increasingly looking for new diseases that could be treated with umbilical cord blood. For instance, researchers are attempting to determine whether blood or tissues from the cord can benefit patients with Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, congenital heart disease, or cerebral palsy. Some patients with certain cancers or blood disorders are already treated with transplants using blood from the cords.

I personally chose to save cord blood from both of my kids. And I plan to do it again with the next one. (Hurl. Sorry, just the thought of that brought on "morning" sickness....and yes it's late in the afternoon. That's how I roll.) You can save cord blood too at Cord Blood Registry. They offer discounts and a gift registry. I hope this was this biggest waste of money in our lives. But if we need it, praise God we have it.

Crafty, Crafty! Link test 

Don't Kill Your Kids

"Wow. Why do you gotta start like that? After months of silence?"

Yeah get over it. Just read this crap.

HYPERTHERMIA

No, this is not when your kid runs themselves around so crazy until they pass out from heat exhaustion. Here, hyperthermia stands for a kiddo who dies in a hot car. Texas is the leading state in this tragedy. So pay attention. here's some chilling statistics:

- The temperature goes up 20 degrees in 10 minutes, up 30 degrees in 20 minutes, up 50+ degrees in an hour.
- 51% of hyperthermia deaths are children forgotten by their caregivers
- 30% are children who went to play in the car and couldn't get out
- almost 500 deaths IN TEXAS since 1998

Here's a news story by a nurse at Cook who lost her little 4 year old Lilly last summer in the blistering hot SUV....while she was on maternity leave. Seriously.
Local Mom Raises Warnings After Child's Death

Some great take home tips:
-put something in the front seat or on the steering wheel that reminds you the kiddo is in the backseat
-put something in the backseat by the child like your phone or your house keys (keep them separate from your car key like on a carabiner clip for easy access) So you have to go back there before you go inside
-always lock your car when not in use and check the backseat when you go inside even if the kids aren't with you, put the keys where they're inaccessible to children
-NEVER run back inside to grab something or make a quick trip to the bathroom while you leave the kid in the car. It's not worth the risk of forgetting your child in a car that reaches death temperatures in under 10 minutes!!

Need more REALLY in depth info and stats and such? Here you go: Golden Gate Weather - Hyperthermia

LAWN MOWERS

Don't believe me that they're dangerous? We had 3 amputations and two impalements in ONE MONTH from riding AND push mowers. Here's a story (and a gnarly picture) of one family that was ready to talk about it.

Girl Impaled In Neck

Some more good tips:
- Children (and adults) should be inside if a mower is turned on. They shoot debris out all the time. Don't get caught taking a wire to the neck.
- Children should never be on a riding lawn mower. Period.
- wear boots and jeans when mowing. Even if you don't get debris it'll protect you from snake bites. That's another post for another time. But trust me.

Want to know if your kid is ready to mow the lawn? Here's AAP's recommendations for you:

AAP Lawn Mower Rec's

For those of you who think I'm jaded or over protective or whatever other bull you can come up with to deny the reality of these situations....just ask yourself if you're willing to risk that for your own child.

I'm not.


- Brought to you by 'Can't Fix Stupid' Trauma Publications

Photo A Day

Welp, I am kind of stealing an idea and putting my own twist on it. I'll be taking a picture of baby June everyday this year. (Ok fine, maybe not "a" picture everyday but a dozen pictures everyday...) Then at the end of the year I'm going to have it printed into a book. Yep...365 pictures. That should only cost about...mmm...maybe $300 in a photobook.

Ok, I'll have to figure that part out later.

Until then, here's yesterday's picture. (4th posting if you saw it on Facebook, twitter, and instagram already...get over it. No one's making you read this blog.)

January 1, 2012




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone (in the usual Broadway song and dance style)

There's a kind of a sort of cost

"There's a kind of a sort of cost, there's a couple of things get lost" -Glinda, Wicked

When I entered into the world of Apple, I didn't realize the cost. Not the monetary cost, but the cost of having constant connection to the social networking world at the very tips of your actual fingers. There was rarely a need to use my REAL computer anymore. So what's the cost exactly? Not blogging as much. No keyboard :: no blogging.

Oh yeah. And I had a baby.

There's a lot to say. Some of it will obviously have to wait. Or you'll be sitting here through Christmas reading it. After all, it's been since June 14th that I've posted.

So let's get down to it, shall we?

First on the list....

NEWSIES!!!!! It's coming to Broadway!!!! I say "coming" like I live there. I guess I should say "going" to Broadway. Unfortunately it's an Nederlander Theater which is not one of my favorites. But it's housed quite a few of my favorites, so I guess it's only fitting.

Have you guys read any of the latest blogs from Compassion's trip to Ecuador? Oh holy moly. There's some powerful stuff in there. Read some of them here. Or you can click on the Compassion Ecuador banner on the right hand of the page. My particular favorites are from Ann Voscamp this year.

Speaking of Compassion. We'll be offering the opportunity to donate money towards water filters very soon. These water filters will go directly to our church partners in Kenya. They provide clean water (no dirt, no microbes, no sickness!!) for an entire family for life! In fact, our local water expert Charlie Anderson did the math and he said it would make clean water for 65 people for life!!! And they're only $55!!!!! Crap dang. Sign me up! I want to be a part of that story in heaven!! So hold your horses, it's coming soon.

Ok, we'll do this again soon. It's been nice talking at you. :)