life – Page 22

Saint David

I don’t go around handing uber important religious titles to just anybody, but my husband’s behavior lately definitely merits it. Maybe a knighthood, too. We’ll see.

Don’t get me wrong – putting up with me and my (ahemmoodinessahem) idiosyncrasies day in and day out probably earned him sainthood before we even got married. Lately, though, he’s got Super Hubby written all over him.

You see, this week was my Return to Work. (Yes, it’s so important it needs full-blown capitalization. Be grateful I’m not messing with the bold/underline/italics toggles!) My first time being away from Hadley for more than a couple of hours at a time – and there were only two or three of those getaways, tops. It was agonizing, and I’m sure equally as agonizing for my husband.

For several reasons (not being on a great schedule yet, still seeming a tad “young” for daycare, finances, and more), we’re lucky enough to be able to take Dave’s mom up on her offer to watch him. Talk about saints, this woman also watches my sister’s cutie pie, who’s about to turn one year-old. Two babies, varying ages (ie varying needs…varying levels of activity and movement…varying insanity!). Whew!

Yesterday was my first day back, although it was a Superintendent’s Conference Day (less hands-on work meant time to think about the baby and how he was doing), and today’s the first day with students and classes (lots of work, ie distractions to keep my mind occupied…kind of). I can’t tell which is worse. I’m progressively getting better, but the tears still hit occasionally, in random fashion. The thing getting me to push through it is the thought that millions upon millions of women have done this before me, and that I should suck it up and just get used to it. *sigh*

But, I digress. Why is my husband up for sainthood? I hate to brag, but he has ROCKED. Because his mom lives in the city in which he works (vs. 45 minutes from where I work), he has both dropped off and picked up the little guy. All I’ve had to do is figure out our schedule to get them out the door at the right time. Well, okay, I’ve done a tad more than that, but the hard part is really on Dave’s shoulders. He not only got his work schedule adjusted, but has become instantly more confident in his parenting in the process. It’s incredible.

Here’s a sample of our morning: After Dave gets up to shower and get ready around 5:45 (neither of us is a “morning person”, so this is miraculous to say the least), I get Hadley up at 6 (he’s been fussing, but still asleep) for a changing and to settle in for a solid feeding. While I breastfeed, Daddy puts the final touches on what we’ve prepped the night before — putting the icepack in the milk cooler to bring, throwing a lunch together (for BOTH of us — this is perhaps the 2nd time he’s ever done this for me, and I think it’s the sweetest thing ever), making breakfast(!), scooping kitty litter, plus going through his own mental checklist of work stuff. They’re out the door by 7am, so I have about an hour to get ready, having already eaten my yummy oatmeal (side note: he puts blueberries in it, and, in mine, maple syrup, brown sugar, and some cinnamon so it’s almost like a blueberry muffin — delish, AND it boosts milk supply!).

We do a lot of night-before prep, like making sure there’s milk thawing for the next day in the fridge, taking a shower (I take mine and give Hadley a bath), washing all the breast pump stuff, prep lunches (today’s was more complicated, though – reminiscent of my old, healthy, snack-inspired pregnancy lunches), etc. While the organization is helpful to my anxiety-riddled mind, I don’t mind admitting that I’m giddy over the thought of Friday night, with its list-free schedule and some sort of easy take-out dinner option.

So, what else makes Dave so great? Other than, simply, what a great father he is, he’s had a daddy blog since before I gave birth. Peruse through it and see if you can pick out the charms that have made me fall in love all over again since having Hadley.

Kitty Pics

Why in the heck am I sifting through kitty pictures?

…other than the fact that these faces are the cutest thing in the world…

…for now. (Who am I kidding? These are our first children.)

Let’s just say that I’m working on some one-of-a-kind nursery art. And we can’t leave our “first babies” out of our “first baby’s” space, now, can we?

I’m still working out which style of art we’ll land on, but introducing our guys to the “little one” is just one more step in this crazy process. What sentimental item(s) or art do you surround yourself with everyday?

Birthday List

I haven’t been very focused on the fact that my 30th birthday is coming up in less than a month (ack! May 1st, if you’re keeping track). We’ve been a tad distracted by the growing little being in my stomach. Lots of reading, planning, and even a little chatting going on around here. As it is, I’m not the type of person to chat about “my special day” or draw tons of attention to it. Everyone has a birthday, right? As long as I get a shout-out here and there and get to spend some special time with the hubs and family (whether it be the day/night of, or the weekend following), I’m fine. I actually prefer less of a fuss.

But, the big 3-0 is a pretty big deal. Again, not that I want a fuss (hey, it’s not like I’m taking the day off or anything silly like that), but the fact that I’m the “baby” as far as my siblings are concerned, I tend to think more about them and my mother when the ol’ birthday rolls around. Even my sister once said (when she was asked if she felt old when SHE turned 30), “No, not at all. When Megan turns 30, then I’ll feel old.” Yep.

Not to mention that whole “when my mom was my age, she already had 3 out of 4 kids” thing freaks me out. It makes me feel like I’m way behind on things! I know it’s not a race or anything, but…it’s hard not to think that way. And be overwhelmed.

So, I’m not great at saying, “I want *yada yada yada* for my birthday.” With a baby coming, I want as little cashola spent as possible – and don’t want to have to find SPACE for a bunch of stuff. (Considering that my shower will be shortly after my 30th, and I’ll be getting to that “Whoa, you’re gonna pop, huh?” stage, simplicity is a great thing.) While that limited edition glass-and-stainless-steel pump of Mrs. Meyers’ hand soap looks appealing, my mind is less on “things” and more on “wishes” for the big day (besides, we’re still working on our soap stash from our anniversary trip to Middlebury). So, here’s my birthday list this year:

– A happy, healthy baby. Kinda self-explanatory, eh?

– Baby names. We’ve had some good conversations about names, but I can’t say that there are many (if any) that we’re both gung-ho, in lurve with. If we could have at least one per each sex that we are confident with, I can officially go into labor. (No. No, I can’t. Stay in there!)
– One, count it, ONE night a week where the cats don’t try to kill each other so that we can get some uninterrupted sleep. I know, I know – “uninterrupted sleep” will be a thing of the past when Baby D comes. But, that’s my point! I’m trying to get it while I can!! It’s almost always Winston who instigates it, and usually Jasper as his sparring partner. C’mon, guys, can’t we all just get along?! (We hardly ever hear any distress cries and practically never any hissing, so they’re playing and wrestling as much as anything, but MAN does it wake you up when you hear the “rolling” start.)
– To actually tackle some of that 30 Before 30 list. More for the guilt factor (and the fact that I WANTED to do this stuff!) than anything else. 😉
– To be able to say that I accomplished some stuff over my impending spring break. That’ll be good.
– Overall, a happy, satisfying life. We’re ecstatic (albeit nervous and, at times, overwhelmed) about our soon-to-be-new-family-member, and we’re pretty darn solid as far as friends and family are concerned, but there are parts of our life that feel like an unfinished puzzle. Gotta put those pieces together!
– Continued enriching writing experiences, such as the one I just had as a contributor to Kaia Magazine. I loved writing for them, and already know that I’ll have an article in their upcoming edition, as well! It’s such a great publication. I’m just looking to continue branching out – and, hey, maybe even get a bit of dough in the process! *And a HUGE “Hey, how ya doin’?!” to any folks who are reading this because of the ezine. Feel free to leave a comment!*

– Hmm. Yeah. If I could stop running into setbacks (and I’m a snail in the first place) as far as my bathroom reno (if you could call it that), and finally get the nursery done, that’d be golden.

The neat thing about most of my “birthday wishes” is that I have control over them! (Again, MOST of ’em.) So, maybe I’m just wishing for a bit of empowerment, confidence, and a truckload of motivation for my 30th. Yeah. That’d help.

For Example

In my last post, I mentioned (briefly) the fact that, thanks to pregnancy cravings and the such, I’ve fallen off the organic-slash-all-natural wagon. They are but brief interludes in an otherwise quite healthy diet. I mean, if I wanted to go nuts, I wouldn’t have folks demanding I gain more weight. The baby’s fine, I’m fine, and I’m not by any means starving myself; I’ve never been one to do that. Call it laziness or lack of willpower, but I’m just not prone to eating disorders.

Tonight’s a prime example of one of my “whoopsies.” My cravings tend to come from a very psychological place, rather than a physical urge for a particular food item…although, from time to time an irrational “Ooohhhh I need a *insert food item here* from *insert unhealthy food chain here*!” It happens, just not much. So, this evening I was considering what I’d like for dinner, since it would be a solo meal (sans hubby).

My thought process followed this stream: something light…like cereal or a sandwich…ohhh, I’ve gotta use up the organic wheat bread before it goes bad…maybe tuna?…I’ve already had tuna this week, that’s a no-no…ohhhh, egg salad, there’s some good protein…what else MUST one have with an egg salad sandwich?…hmm…Jax with ketchup…but the sandwich will be organic and local (the eggs were from pastured chickens and sold at the farmers’ market), so what does it hurt to have some Jax with ’em?…and organic ketchup, of course.

Yep, that’s a moment inside my brain. Wacky, I know. So, that’s how I came to be sitting here, awaiting my egg done-ness to hopefully enjoy a meal of egg salad (quite possibly on toasted bread, the way good ol’ Grandma used to make it), Jax with ketchup, perhaps some chocolate milk (again, how Grandma served it)…and maybe some strawberry Chobani yogurt if dessert beckons. Let’s forget the fact that when I stopped to pick up my single-serve package of Jax, I also grabbed some Twix bars. *ahem*

See? We’re not all perfect. Sometimes it’s about balance…other times, it’s about simply sustaining oneself…still other times, it’s about self-discipline. Of course, I picture myself being way stricter when the baby comes, but that’s yet to be seen. 🙂 Have you had any awesomely simple organic/all-natural meals lately? Or indulged in something wonderful that was more than worth it?

Side note: The Jax with ketchup thing is not a pregnant whim, by the way. It’s a totally real food category that only a few people (namely, those who attended my babysitter back in the day) understand fully. Let’s just say that hotdog day (cut up, with ketchup) + a handful of Jax = accidental tastiness. Let’s just say a hotdog craving isn’t far behind, but I insist on waiting for this summer, after the little one arrives, and eating a nitrate-free, real beef version. See? I’ve still got standards. 😉

Slapdash Sunday

Slapdash Sunday: A day when it’s perfectly acceptable to write a random (ie “train of thought”) blog post with little rhyme or reason…and, yes, I know it’s Monday now. Here’s a bit of what’s on my mind today:

After having read blogs and articles, and heard stories and advice over the years, my mind has been filled to capacity with items to put on our baby registry/wish list. When it comes time to fine-tune the lists and add some of these particularly awesome ideas, my thoughts go blank. Pregnancy Brain strikes again!

Two out of three kitties have become highly interested in my snacking habits; namely, my hummus. We have very strange, very special little guys — as if I didn’t already know this. I’m hoping and wishing that they acclimate well to the new addition come July.

I’ve been writing a cloth diaper post for, say, a month or so that keeps hitting snags. My mind is all over the place. I could just go with one brand, or try out a million different techniques (including the good ol’-fashioned one our mama used on us). The issue is that no single brand gets 100% “hooray, this is THE best brand out there!!!” reviews because no two babies are alike. (Most get moderate to great reviews, but all of them have their “don’t use this brand!!!” -type reviews.) You can’t buy Baby’s First Crystal Ball o’ Poop to know whether they’ll tend to have a million blowouts or be a champion, 3-diapers-a-day kid. You also can’t foresee whether breast feeding will be an out-of-the-park home run (which would quite possibly dictate the type of poo you’ll be dealing with). It’s overwhelming. So, I’ve stepped away from it for a little while. My mind is once again leaning towards “simplest is best” (ie one type of diaper, one brand, that’s IT). But, we’ll see. I can tell that you simply can’t WAIT for that almighty post to arrive, when I finally decide. 😉

The nursery is coming along, but only in the sense that it’s becoming less and less of a catch-all room. More on that this week.

It appears that spring has actually accompanied the daylight saving time change (for once, in our area). We had one of the mildest winters I remember having – which is great because there were very few slips on ice (there’s something about falling whilst pregnant…scary), but it felt like we had a “non-season”. Wasn’t fall. Wasn’t spring. Wasn’t winter. ‘Twas nothin’. My irrational, superstitious Irish side forecasts that the summer will be one hell of a scorcher (+ screaming newborn + 3 inevitably shedding kitties + 1 irritable mommy = misery?)…but my ever-rational hubby suggests that it will be as mild a summer as was this winter. Ya gotta love him for talking me off the ledge.

Another awesome thing about spring coming is that it makes me think of food. Autumn brings on thoughts of chili and stews and soups (which I hardly made much of this year), but spring is a reminder of life and growth. Life + food = VEGGIES! I’ve decided that we’re going to utilize the two raised beds (plus one or two potted plants – we’ll see) but plant a smaller variety of foods this summer so that I know that the foods we DO plant are foods that we truly enjoy and will look forward to harvesting. Rather than purchasing a CSA and trying to find a way to use the wonderful (yet new and varied) items while focusing on a newborn (thus costing us more $ than we can afford this year), we’re considering signing up for our local Foodshed Club (at $25/year) to supplement some of our food needs. Of course, a combination of grocery shopping and farmers’ markets along with the Foodshed should keep us well-fed. 😉 More on this later, I’m sure.

We got a butt load done last Saturday, to the point where I was far more tired than at the end of any average workday. Those can be incredibly fulfilling days…or disappointing (come Monday, leaving one thinking, “Where did the weekend go? I’m exhausted!”). I’m hoping it’s not the latter, but it does feel good to see a relatively clean house (the bits that I got cleaned!), a kazillion Goodwill bags, and a much emptier nursery.

This whole “growing a human being in your body” is pretty darn cool…albeit a tad strange and incredibly surreal at times. I’ve been feeling movement for awhile, but it’s definitely become, well, at times more sporadic but more powerful. While Dave hasn’t SEEN it happen yet, the whole belly just MOVES. It seems to be figuring out a schedule…but it hasn’t shared it with me yet. There was a time when every night, upon laying down, it would start up (and would provide for a sweet moment when Daddy could make a connection by feeling it), but not s’much anymore. I only wish I could describe exactly what it feels like. At times a push. Others a tickling. Still others a brush (such as a hand or fist, knuckles and all, rubbing up against me). But, most of the time, it just makes me have to pee.

Yes, we’re working on names. No definites yet. And, no, we won’t be sharing them – not here on the blog, not with friends, not even with immediate family (with the exception of checking in with my sis about any “finalists” in the running – she paid the courtesy to me, simply because there are some family names we might have both wanted, so it’s only fair to do the same. Plus, she’s my best friend). It’ll be a surprise for almost everyone – even us, until we meet the little one! 🙂 (Some folks may take that as a “neener neener”, but it’s just how we feel about it.) The same goes for belly touching. I’m just not cool with it unless you’re the papa. (And I’ve got that narrowed down to 3 possibilities.)

I’m hoping people got that last joke…

The coming of spring definitely has a way of rejuvenating folks, doesn’t it? The sunshine makes you happier, the warmth gives you hope (for some reason…again, it’s not like we had a brutal winter, but when we DO get one, the idea that “nothing bad lasts forever” seems to bring with it some cheer), and the animals remind you of new life. That being said, it also tells me that we need to get our butts into gear on lots o’ stuff. The warmer it gets, the more I’m reminded I need to do. And, yet, I don’t feel overwhelmed. Not quite yet. (Perhaps never! This prenatal yoga’s really helping!)

Happy Slapdash Sunday! Well, I hope you had a wonderful weekend, wherever you may be; enjoy your week ahead.

Prenatal Yoga

I’ve mentioned wanting to try yoga, and most recently prenatal yoga, a few times. My reasons have ranged from exercise to improving my mood to helping in the birthing process — ohhh, there are lots of reasons. So, after work last Friday, I ran home to change into something comfortable and headed to Universal Yoga Center in New Hartford. (That’s about 30 minutes away, for the record. And, no, there’s nothing even similar any closer to home. Boo.) On this particular day, I was lucky enough to have Dave in tow for a post-yoga date.

So, he dropped me off and headed out to kill time while I got my stretch on. I was the first to arrive (I’d been told to come early to fill out a short form), and nervously got myself situated. There were approximately 7 other ladies there (plus the incredible instructor), all ranging from 17 to 36 weeks pregnant.

I don’t remember everything about the experience since I was focusing on learning new stretches and feeling the connection with my body and with the baby. I was definitely the “newest”, so the instructor seemed to pay some extra attention to me at more challenging points. The yoga itself was all about modification — especially focusing on the fact that, being pregnant, we may want to try some moves differently than even other women in the room, and definitely differently than how certain types of yoga might be taught.

What I don’t recall as far as the technicalities of the yoga itself, my memory makes up for with experiences and ambiance. The low lighting (there’s a lot to be said for Christmas lights – it’s the first time I’ve seen lighting like that that wasn’t reminiscent of a college dorm) and Eastern instrumental music were instantly calming. The instructor’s calm sweetness was inviting and caring – and perfect for a bunch of pregnant ladies! The stretching and moving wasn’t altogether too challenging (although there were a couple that proved to me that I need some more balance practice) but just “uncomfortable” enough to provide a mild workout while giving options for relaxation and other needs during labor or as the pregnancy continues. I honestly can’t say enough good about the experience.

The breathing techniques and little “tips” that the instructor provided (such as trying one stretch, in a modified way, to help with sciatica issues — my mom was jealous about that one since apparently I gave her such troubles when she was pregnant with me) were awesome. While the baby stayed pretty much motionless, it started moving during something called the “puppy pose” (an upside-down pose). I like to think the little one enjoyed it, but it just occurred to me that the opposite might have been true, hee hee. At the end of the session, after a long, deep breathing exercise, we made lotus blossoms with our hands and gave up a wish/intention for the baby up and into the universe (or to God, depending on what you believe). THAT was powerful.

The best part of the whole thing (other than that I didn’t realize my first session was free – score!) was when I met Dave at the car. I was throwing my bags in the backseat and getting myself situated while he blabbered on – “How was it? Did you like it? Were they nice? Did something happen? Was it okay? Do you hurt?” I think that he had hopes as high as I did about it, and a quiet Meg is a very rare thing. After I had strapped myself into the passenger seat, I finally said, “I’m relaxed.” “Oh! Good!!” I got to the business of explaining things shortly thereafter, but his excitement (and apparent nervousness) about it all had him bouncing off the walls. Can’t complain about that!

Oh, and for the record, that night he read the children’s book he had purchased (while I was at yoga ;-)) to my belly and got to feel it kick for the first time. Overall, it was a very special evening. Throw in a farmers’ market trip the next morning, and it was one of the best weekends we’ve had in awhile.

So, will I be going back? Let’s just say that there isn’t a session this week, so I’ll be returning for their next class. I enjoyed the process so much that I can foresee trying the “mommy and me” yoga (or even just “regular” yoga classes) in the future. The exercises speak to me in their timing (not too quick/extreme, not too slow/boring), with their focus on breathing, relaxation, and inner focus, and the underlying calmness from the instructor’s tone and the music (a variation of which I listened to on my Sirius satellite radio the next day – seriously).

Prenatal Yoga

Saint David - image c40fe-yoga on https://megactsout.com I’ve mentioned wanting to try yoga, and most recently prenatal yoga, a few times. My reasons have ranged from exercise to improving my mood to helping in the birthing process — ohhh, there are lots of reasons. So, after work last Friday, I ran home to change into something comfortable and headed to Universal Yoga Center in New Hartford. (That’s about 30 minutes away, for the record. And, no, there’s nothing even similar any closer to home. Boo.) On this particular day, I was lucky enough to have Dave in tow for a post-yoga date.

Mmm…Pie

Just thought I’d check in with my financial progress for 2012. In my mind, every little step is progress, even though I haven’t made my “major” changes yet. My first goal was to observe my monthly spending for January. Well, I did it! (Man, it was tough. You’d think jotting everything you spend down would be kind of…well, child’s play. Not so much.)

Firstly, are we impressed by that pie chart, or what? What can I say – I loves me some pie. I’ve just gotta figure out how to make it look less distorted, but one challenge at a time. 😉

I was surprised by several things – some good, some bad. Otherwise, and generally speaking, there were some purchases that were made that I wouldn’t call “monthly” (more like once in a lifetime…or once every ten years – like an ottoman purchase), but I seem to have some sort of purchase as such every few months or so, so I included it in the chart. There are other areas that, some months, get more cash put towards it (such as the “Pets” category) – but not this month. Then there are the stationary ones – such as the Visa bill, which never gets added to and always gets paid automatically every single month. The “can always depend on you” bills that will be AWESOME to finally pay off.

What shocked me most, though, was the clothes/home goods/gifts chunk. I don’t BUY clothes that much – I just got a few maternity items. So, much of this was actually purchased for home projects from Lowe’s (and that $179 ottoman from Target didn’t help, either). Secondly, while it doesn’t LOOK like much, our eating out is crazier than I expected. It really makes me think…and think…and think…until I will inevitably change, change, change. 🙂

My groceries are mad crazy, too, but I already knew that. I’ve already set a new goal for myself to get it down to a) a twice-a-month shopping trip, b) for a certain set price (ie such-and-such amount for the month, divided by two), and c) in cash. Let’s just call it getting closer to living simply on cash. Technically, I do that now, but I don’t consider a debit card technically “cash”. It’s still plastic, and it’s still a co-dependent tool towards self-ignorance. There were years that I shunned owning one…man, what happened?! So, anyhoo, it definitely does makes me go through the “I’d like to get that, but…” thought process on pretty much every purchase. Oh, and I’m going to try to go back to an Aldi/Hannaford symbiosis – what one can’t get me healthily and cheaply (ie Aldi’s bananas or all-natural juice or awesomely delicious, cheap hummus) the other will provide. Spending $20 in one place and $60 in the other is fine, especially with how much $20 gets you!

Oh, and I figure this will help provide an economic stability when looking at the grocery budget +1. I’d like to keep the budget at the same amount, actually – totally crazy? Maybe. I’ll adjust as needed, of course. No amount of pride or strictness to self-induced life rules would keep our kid from gaining proper nutrition. You can’t complain with TRYING out a budget, though.

Some surprising “good” pieces of the pie? My “entertainment/phone” (really just my Verizon and Time Warner bills) amount is tinier, by comparison, than I expected it to be. I guess that whole going cable-free thing is workin’ for me. Oh, and the avoidance of purchasing a smartphone, let alone any phone with a data plan. We’re not proud…although, in this case, we totally are.

Cash withdrawals were actually, again, relatively small. That may be shifting, especially when I’ll be using the money to purchase other pieces of the pie (groceries, etc). And, come to think of it, the cash advances went towards certain pieness, as well, so it probably shouldn’t even count. But it does, and I’m pretty happy with it. Always like to have some cash in the ol’ wallet. You never know.

So, there it is – a pretty disjointed (but what blog post isn’t?) public display of…well, pie. What’s next? I’m trying to analyze what parts of the pie are necessary (car, mortgage, etc) and what can be shaved further (groceries a tad, home stuff definitely, etc). And that’s where I’ll leave ya.

Any random budget suggestions that you think we all should know? What works for you? Do tell!

Mmm…Pie

Firstly, are we impressed by that pie chart, or what? What can I say – I loves me some pie. I’ve just gotta figure out how to make it look less distorted, but one challenge at a time. 😉

Any random budget suggestions that you think we all should know? What works for you? Do tell!

Parisian Parenting

Let me start by saying that I haven’t been too excited about reading parenting books. Even the pregnancy books, while at times enlightening and highly educational (I do need to know this stuff, after all…apparently *wink*), haven’t gotten me excited. In all honesty, the only thing that gets me REALLY excited is the growing belly (although clothes are the devil lately), the occasional “knock-knock” baby’s giving me (yes, I know you’re there!), and the private conversations I get to have with my husband about everything. Oh, and the thoughts of how to decorate the nursery – those are pretty fun, too.

But, when I saw that this story was going to be on “The Today Show” this morning, I immediately said, “Ohhhh, I hope they post a link for that on Facebook so I can see it!” I adore that Dave watched it, and texted me the title of the book that it was based on. I asked him what he thought about it all (I had been a bit of a skeptic when I heard it, assuming they’d skew it in a Tiger Mom direction), and he said that it “sounded really good”. Wow, a glowing recommendation…about a parenting book…from my man. How could I NOT get a tad excited?

Then, I watched the link (which, side note, I Googled). While the article accompanying the video at first admonishes the idea that one culture shouldn’t blatantly state that it’s better at anything (ironic, being Americans), but goes on to recognize that the author writes in a humorous, thoughtful manner (and apparently from an American perspective – being an American in France). Whew, good to know.

Here’s the video link. Give it a try. 🙂

http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/03/10312701-the-french-are-better-parents-excuse-moi

So, I’ve put the book (entitled Bringing Up Bebe – accent on the “e”s) into my Amazon Baby Wishlist (soon to be my Amazon Baby Registry), although I’m so excited to read it, I may have to purchase it as my “first baby item”. That’s right, we technically haven’t purchased any clothes, books, ANYTHING (other than stuff for the nursery, but I see that more as organization – not fun stuff) for the baby since finding out. I just haven’t found the perfect “first onesie”. Plus, we’ve already been getting awesome hand-me-downs (including my sister’s favorite pregnancy book, which is where I’m getting all my “knowledge” on the ins-and-outs of what’s happening and what will happen), so there’s no point in splurging. Not quite yet. Not if we’re squeezing pennies. (That, and we don’t want stuff for stuff’s sake.)

It’s not that we’re down on American parenting. Heck, it’s what WE had, and we’re (pretty) well-adjusted and (publicly) respectful members of society. But, we’re open to alternate ideas on the subject – anything that may give kids in a 21st century environment greater sensitivity and awareness, and which may make parenting a more connected, less co-dependent situation. After seeing countless American children in my everyday job over the past several years, I’ve seen some wonderful behavior…but I’ve seen absolutely selfish, demanding, relentless behavior. And, I hate to say it, but it’s on the rise. It’s a challenge when trying to teach independent use of the library for future success as young adults and adults, I’ll tell ya that.

So, I’ll be sure to let you know how the book is when I’ve finally received and read it. Heck, that may not be until a month before the baby comes. I foresee that it’ll be hard to put it down for the pregnancy books.

What do YOU think? Are things just fine the way we handle parenting in America? Or, is it right to look for other methods elsewhere? Do tell.