Mixed Messages at the Dr

So today Paige and I headed into the Dr.'s office for her nine month check up. I admit I may be a bit gun shy about Pediatricians after the "barbarian" incident, but I always get a bit of anxiety before going to these appointments. Yes, the new pediatrician is a bazillion times better than the first, but every time I go I leave more confused than ever. Maybe I'm the only one this happens to, but I totally feel like all Dr.'s have a handbook - probably a prerequesite before graduating - that explains how to be elusive and vague with patients, yet self-assured enough to make you (the patient/parent) feel like a complete moron. Who's with me on this one?! SERIOUSLY! Here's what happened today... Paige is a chunky monkey - not a secret : ) She weighed in today at 24 lbs and measured almost 30 inches. So the Dr comes in with their fancy schmancy growth chart and shows me that Paige's stats are "off the chart". Ok. Not a suprise there. But they said I should make sure I'm not overfeeding her. Then, She directly followed that statement with a disclaimer, making sure to tell me not to withhold food from her or try to get her to lose weight... Interesting. I jokingly said, "Oh, So you think I should unsubscribe her from the Jillian Michaels and Weight Watchers emails?!" The Dr didn't find it as amusing as Paige and I did : ) Anywho!! So then they ask what her feeding schedule is each day. I give them the run down of about 3-4 4-6oz bottles, plus 2 meals. I start to go into what kinds of foods she's eating - you know, all organics since I am super mom and all...), when the doctor cuts me off mid sentence. "She's only having 20 oz of formula on average a day?!?!?!" I did some quick calculations in my head before answering "Correct. About 20 oz each day. Plus two meals. And about 8 oz of water via sippy cup." Come to find out
she "should" be having 24-28oz per day, plus THREE meals! WHAT?! Didn't you just get done telling me that she is a baby sumo wrestler? And now you want me to feed her MORE? I obviously
couldn't really wrap my mind around this concept. I never withhold food from her - and she stops eating when she's full. There is no way I could fit in another 1 or 2 bottles AND a meal. So I basically said that, and the doctor said to try and "sneak" in the formula. Ok... Sure : ) I'll add it to her bath water and hope it absorbs through her pores : ). So then we finish up the exam. I got dinged because Paige wasn't waving "bye bye" yet and laughs when I say "no", but I totally think I got those "parenting points" back when Paige looked at me and said "Mooooooooom." I chimed in that she also says "Daaaddddddy", which she promptly noted on her clipboard. And as the Dr is leaving she says this exact statement: "Paige is absolutely perfect! Keep doing what you are doing and don't change a thing!" Then the door closes, and I'm left totally confused. Didn't we just spend the last 15 minutes reviewing everything I was doing wrong? Ay-yi-yi!! So basically I will spend the next week doubting, worrying and stressing over every little thing. And just when I think things are going smoothly, it will be time for another Dr visit. Fun times!!

FINALLY We're Better PLUS Carter's Sweepstakes Winner

After about 2+ weeks, we are FINALLY all better! WOO HOO! Yes, we all have a few last sniffles and sneezes in us - but my-oh-my, this virus was sin serious! We still have no idea where it came from or how it took out our entire family (even Lenni LuLu was feeling under the weather!) but I can tell you this: Virus, you are not welcome here!!!

In other news, the winner of the Carter's $50 gift card sweepstakes is......

LORRAINE ROBINSON from Hamtramck, MI

YAY!!! Congrats!

Publish Post

You Know It's Bad When I Refuse French Fries...

The last few times Paige has been sick, I've managed to avoid catching it. This go round, I wasn't so lucky. The stinkin' virus swarmed our house like bedbugs in a NYC hotel. And it's been going on for over a week now! It all started when Daniel came home from a weekend away with a sore throat. Then, on Tuesday night, Paige woke up with a 103 degree fever. When I brought her to the doctor on Wednesday, they tested her for strep (which thank goodness she didn't have!) and then diagnosed her with a bad sore throat virus. BOO! She was pretty miserable for two days, and seemed to bypass the stuffy nose the doctor warned me about. And just when I thought we were in the clear, it happened... I GOT SICK! NOOOOOOOOOOO! I'm the caregiver, not the receiver! All day Sunday I was completely useless - I couldn't even get out of bed. Monday was a bit better, but was in no shape to be a mommy... luckily my mother-in-law was able to come over to watch Paige while I slept off the fever and achiness. Daniel surprised me later that afternoon with my favorite Chic-Fil-A french fries. I was SO excited since I hadn't eaten anything in 48 hours. I shoved about 4 into my mouth at the same time and just as I was savoring their crisp, saltiness, they hit the back of my throat. OH. MY. GOSH!!!! The Pain!!!!! Sadly I handed the french fries back to Daniel, which is when I think it finally hit him just how sick I was. The 103 degree fever didn't show him. The moaning and groaning didn't show him. It was only when I refused the french fries that he realized : ) Go figure! So the only silver lining to this pile of poop week we've had in the Billups' household is that this morning I stepped on the scale and I have lost 5 lbs! Woo hoo!! I know, I know - it's because I have eaten in 3 days. But I'm going to savor it for a bit and put on my skinny jeans - even if I am just schlepping around the house in them, wiping Paige's runny nose and wiping sweat off my brow as I fight off this fever. The joys of mommyhood : )

Who Loves Carter's? Sweepstakes and $50 Giveaway! Enter by Monday!

Do you love Carter's? I guess that's kind of like asking if you've ever eaten ice cream sans bowl in front of the TV while watching Bravo, Style or E!... Um, HECK YEAH! SERIOUSLY!


So here's the scoop...You have exactly two days left to enter a fab two-part contest from Carter's - entries are due end of day Monday, September 13! So... ummm... yeah - Better get on it, mamas!! Here are all the details:

Carter’s is celebrating the funny things that kids say and do by giving away 70 gift cards worth up to $1,000. Every parent loves sharing stories about their child, and let’s face it, kids are hilarious and they can make you crack up at the most unexpected times! Enter your e-mail or share your funny story for the chance to win a Carter’s gift card. Those interested have until Monday - September 13, 2010 to enter the sweepstakes – no purchase necessary.

Official rules are located here: carters.promo.eprize.com/kids/display_page?page=rules


The Easy-Peezy Sweepstakes (aka No Thought Required): Click HERE and enter your email address for a chance to win...

• Grand prize: 5 winners will receive a $250 Carter's gift card
• First prize: 20 winners will receive a $50 Carter's gift card
• Second prize: 40 winners will receive a $25 Carter's gift card

The "The Funny Thing Is..." Contest (aka Some Thought Required, but Still Pretty Darn Easy-Peezy): Click HERE and enter your email address, and then tell Carter's about the funniest thing your baby has done for a chance to win... You know you've told the story a million times anyway - so now just put it in writing!!

• Grand prize: 1 winner will receive a $1000 Carter's gift card
• First prize: 4 winners will receive a $250 Carter's gift card

JUST FOR SWEET LEIGH MAMA READERS!
And then, once you get done entering the Carter's sweepstakes/contest, fill out the form below for ANOTHER chance to win a $50 Carter's gift card. (Or click HERE to enter if you can't see the form below.) This one is thanks to the super fab Carter's PR folks who kinda just love you all. You have until EOD Sunday the 18th to enter this one - lucky you! One winner will be chosen at random, and will be announced on Monday a.m.

Speechless Saturday: Paige in Boots

I'm not ashamed to admit it - I am totally turning Paige into a Mini-Me! Yesterday Daniel and I stopped by Old Navy so he could get a new pair of jeans and I couldn't help but make a beeline to the children's section. See, ever since I purchased my slouchy brown boots, I've been on the lookout for identical ones for Paige. Don't judge - you know every girl needs a perfect pair of slouchy brown boots for Fall! So I spotted a great pair and as I searched for Paige's size,  Daniel walked up behind me. Here is the conversation that followed:

Daniel: What are you doing?

Me: Ummm... what? Nothing. Nothing. I'm just looking for something.

Daniel: Paige doesn't need shoes. She isn't even walking.

Me: She does. She desperately needs brown slouchy boots.

Daniel: What? Why? What 8-month-old needs brown boots?

Me (trying to distract him): Don't worry about it. Are you going to try on those jeans or what?

Daniel: Yeah. But are you seriously going to get Paige these boots?

And then it happened. These words literally came out of my mouth as naturally as if I was saying my name and phone number.

Me (in an exasperated, unnecessarily loud voice): YES! I planned Paige's ENTIRE Fall/Winter wardrobe around these boots. We NEED the brown slouchy boots!

Needless to say, we got the boots. Mama always wins : )
 

"I Hate to Break it to You Babe, But I'm Not Drowning..."

At the moment, I am 100% obsessed with the new Sara Bareilles song "King of Anything." Love it. Love it. LOVE! IT! It totally reminds me of the phase of life that mommyhood spurs... the phase where you stop giving a hoot about everyone else's opinions and start trusting and relying on yourself and your gut instincts.

I feel like when you find out your prego, you quickly get your priorities in check and figure out what really matters. Then, when the baby arrives, the initial exhaustion and fear of the unknown leads to a vacuum of self-doubt. Am I doing this right? Will I be a good mom? How on earth am I going to take care of this little tiny baby? You ask everyone's opinions and forget about your own maternal instinct. And then finally - after you've heard all the opinions of how everyone else would do it if they were you - you realize that YOU are the one in control. You are the mama... the one who carried this tiny being for 9 months and gave birth to him or her. You are the one who is with the baby 24/7 - who sees the good and the not-so-good. And you start taking everyone's advice with a grain of salt. We may be new mamas, but we're not drowning. We don't need saving. God blessed us with the gift of maternal instincts... and no matter what crazy advice or opinions people throw our way, we know what's best for our individual babies. As the song says, "Who cares if you disagree? You are not me. Who made you King of Anything?"

Keep drinking coffee, stare me down across the table
While I look outside
So many things I’d say if only I were able
But I just keep quiet and count the cars that pass by

You’ve got opinions, man
We’re all entitled to ‘em, but I never asked
So let me thank you for your time, and try not to waste anymore of mine
And get out of here fast

I hate to break it to you babe, but I’m not drowning
There’s no one here to save

Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

You sound so innocent, all full of good intent
Swear you know best
But you expect me to jump up on board with you
And ride off into your delusional sunset

I’m not the one who’s lost with no direction
But you’ll never see

You’re so busy making maps with my name on them in all caps
You got the talking down, just not the listening

And who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

All my life I’ve tried to make everybody happy
While I just hurt and hide
Waiting for someone to tell me it’s my turn to decide

Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

Let me hold your crown, babe.

Schmying to Schmoncieve

Schmying to Schmoncieve... that is my code word for what has been going on lately : ) Yup - that's right... we're trying for baby #2! We've actually been trying for a few months now without any luck. You all know that the first time around was a real surprise (read this for a refresher: 4 Pregnancy Tests Don't Lie ). And because of that, I figured whenever we would try for number 2, it would be a total breeze. WRONG! This baby-making thing is hard work! : ) When we started out, we figured we should try and track when I'm ovulating. So what's a techno-phile family to do? We downloaded an iPhone app called "P Tracker". You enter in your past few periods, and then it takes the average and figures out when you might be ovulating. Well - no dice on that one. So then I decided I would track mucus... yes, totally gross. But if you've ever been in the phase of Schmying to Schmoncieve you know exactly what I'm talking about. Who knew there was actually a change with all that throughout the month? So fingers crossed the "raw egg white" stage does the trick. If not, my next step is to buy one of those "ovulation prediction tests." Aye-yi-yi! It's amazing to think about how blessed we were with Paige. And we're trying hard not to get discouraged! We know it will happen when it's the right time... but it sure is hard to wait : )

Top 10 Beauty Buys for New Moms!

Hey mamas! Check out the latest article on TheBump.com: Top 10 Beauty Buys for New Moms. SweetLeighMama is featured, offering my suggestion for brightening up those sleep deprived first weeks of mommyhood.


Mom favorite #9: Benefit Ooh La Lift eye cream
Why it works: "After you give birth, your belly is bloated, your boobs are swollen... The last thing a new mama needs is for her eyes to be puffy too! While I may have been running on pure adrenaline postdelivery, operating on about 20 minutes of sleep took its toll on my tired eyes. Thank goodness for this eye cream. A few dabs under the eyes not only reduced puffiness, but it made my eyes look bigger and brighter too." –Erica from SweetLeighMama.Blogspot.com
What it will cost you: $22, Sephora.com

Enjoy!