Deep Breathing

Yesterday was a rough day. I'm not sure why, but it felt like Paige was crying aaaaallllll day long. I know she wasn't, but it seemed like every time I tried to do anything - the dishes, laundry, go to the bathroom - she would start screaming. You know the kind - red faced, mouth wide-open, 100% pure wailing. To say I had a headache was an understatement. But, then, just when I thought she would never stop, I walk into the living room and there she is, in her bouncy chair - grinning from ear to ear. And that's when it hit me - even on the worst days when I can't seem to do anything right... when the crying makes my brain rattle around in my head... when I have to change my outfit 5 times thanks to baby puke or poop... when I look in the mirror and see my jeans STILL don't fit right... when the dirty laundry is piled up to my knees and dirty dishes are piled up to my elbows... when The View is my only source of "news" because it happens to coincide with nap time... when I start singing "Old McDonald Had a Farm" in the shower... I am still the luckiest woman in the whole world. That smile makes it all worth while... and I wouldn't change a thing!

Check Out Care.com for FREE this Weekend

The nice folks over at Care.com wanted me to tell you all that this weekend only, you can check out the site for FREE! What is Care.com you ask? It's like a cross between Google and Facebook that us mamas can use to search for babysitters. You can search for babysitters in your area by zip code, and then narrow the results by age, experience, fee, etc. Each babysitter has a profile which also contains reviews from other mamas. I haven't used any of the babysitters I've found on Care.com so far, but it's reassuring to know a resource like this exists. Thanks for the head's up, Care.com!!

Ummm. Thanks?

While I was prego, I didn't really mind people asking me when I was due, touching my belly, or offering advice. The exception would be the horrendous people who commented on my wedding photos (My Body Is Not My Own: Reality Setting In   AND let's not forget this gem - De Ja Vu of the Worst Kind)

So now as I travel around town with a 12-week old baby, I've been encountering a new situation - the nosey stranger. And sometimes not even just nosey, but know-it-alls, too! Here are my top 5 "best" comments (and yes, people REALLY said these things to me... no exaggeration required!)

 5. "Did you velcro that to her head?"
Scene of the Crime: J. Christopher's restaurant
While I was enjoying breakfast with my besties, a women popped her head over the booth to take a peek at Paige. Yes, I had a bow in her hair. But she has A LOT of hair! The woman obviously didn't appreciate my baby-style very much...

4. "Excuse me, but you can't use boiling water in a bottle."
Scene of the Crime: Starbucks
Maybe I look stupid or something? I was out running errands and was only halfway through when Paige needed a bottle. In these circumstances, instead of running home, I usually pop by a Starbucks and order a cup of hot water along with my Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte. I mix the hot water with the cold water bottle I brought along to make Paige's bottle. The barista was very concerned, obviously. I went ahead and explained my methods to her (to her relief), but I SHOULD have said: "Oh really? I think the tequila and margarita mix I'm mixing it with should dilute it enough, don't ya think?"

3. "What a big head she has! You must have had fun pushing her out!"
Scene of the Crime: Hallmark
All I was doing was looking for a new 2010 calendar. And what did I get? An assessment of my post-baby va-jay-jay. Thanks.

2. "Are you going to leave her in the trunk?"
Scene of the Crime: Target parking lot
I live in the South. It's pretty warm here. So when I need to change Paige's diaper while I'm out running errands, I do it in the trunk of my Jeep. What can I say - I just get realllllllly sceeved out by the changing stations in women's bathrooms. So while I was doing a quick diaper change, a woman walking by asked that ridiculous question. And she was dead serious. The look of fear/concern in her eyes was priceless. My response? "Yup! Just loading up for the trip home!"

And now, the best one of all...

1. "I guess you aren't breastfeeding. It really would have helped with losing the baby weight."
Scene of the Crime: Location to remain nameless to protect the innocent
I don't think this one requires any more explanation.... : )