Welcome to the World Kent Xavier

Just wanted to send big love and congratulations to my friends Joan and Tony Peco on the birth of their firstborn, baby boy Kent Xavier. Joanie and Tony, I know you will make great parents.

I love you guys and I wish you all the happiness in the world. Enjoy the new love of your life.

XOXO

~Syl

Sophie Lovvvvvvvves Yogurt!

Sophia is finally slowly coming out of her non-eating phase. When she first started eating solid foods, it was great; we could not get her to stop eating. She was constantly shoveling food into her mouth and we were confident that she was getting all the basic nutrients needed to grow up healthy and strong. Then, what Tom and I refer to as "the depression" began when Sophie just stopped eating. She became picky about EVERYTHING and we began to worry about her and her non-existent eating habits. We voiced our concerns to her doctors, to our mothers, to our friends and to anyone who would listen and there was a consensus that babies Sophia's age go through these phases. We were repeatedly told that Sophie would eat when she was ready. Well, that was easier said than it was to live through. We did everything we could to creatively come up with ways to get this kid to eat and....nothing. She would pick and pick and pick and once in a while our hopes would be lifted when she would have two bites instead of one...only to be let down when the second bite was followed by her plate and everything on it hitting the floor or the dogs (who would conveniently camp out under Sophie's chair).

Recently Sophie has started to eat again; showing some interest in something other than her bottle or juice cup or anything equivalent to infant junk food. We've been able to re-introduce fruits and vegetables and even meat back into her diet and boy what-a-relief! Sophie's most favorite food is yogurt...she loves the stuff! She eats it until it should be running out of her ears. Her favorite is Stoneyfield yogurt with real bits of fruit mixed in (especially blueberries). Our initial experiments with Sophie and yogurt proved to be productive yet quite messy...many a shirt was destroyed by her uncoordinated eating. We finally figured out that there was only one way for Sophie to eat yogurt.....shirtless!!!

Great Summer!

I haven't posted in a while because I've been pretty busy with family and work lately. Tom, Sophie and I have been trying to squeeze as much out of the remaining days of summer that we possibly can. Our trip to Denver was great; we had a wonderful time sightseeing and spending time with family. Sophie has had plenty of play dates and birthday parties to attend; this little girl is some socialite. Pretty sad to say but Tom and I would probably have no social life if it wasn't for Sophie's social calendar.

Sophia will be turning 2 years old in January and I can't believe how fast time goes. She is growing up to be such an amazing little girl. She is speaking really clearly; saying full words and half sentences, almost sleeping through the nights but there is the occasional bad dream or upset tummy. Her level of responsiveness is awesome; she is so empathetic. I love to hear her talk and in the midst of a "Sophie" sentence she giggles like what she just said (which in most cases, only she can understand) was the most hilarious thing ever.

Although Soph is around kids everyday, I still see hints of her experiencing that "only child" syndrome. She normally plays well with others but she has no problem with just playing by herself from time-to-time. Occasionally, I've noticed, when playing with others, that she will become possessive of the things she is playing with and will not want to share (even if the things she's playing with don't belong to her). We try to immediately help her to understand that she needs to share with others; that is something that we try to instill in her daily even at this age.

We have noticed something in her development lately; we believe Sophie will be a "lefty." She has been eating pretty consistently (and pretty messily) using her left hand. Every once-in-a-while she will switch hands but for the most part, she almost always uses her left. I'm told that left handed individuals use the right side of the brain more and tend to have a higher IQ and be more artistic.....we'llllll seeeee.

Colorado Crazy

We recently returned from our trip to Colorado with mixed emotions; mixed because, while there is no place like home, Colorado was awesome and a beautiful place to visit and we really didn't want to leave. This was an important milestone for our little Sophia too because not only was this her first official vacation but it was also her first official road trip. We originally planned to fly to Colorado but decided against it after the horrific thoughts of Sophia having a "Sophia" tantrum and disturbing a plan full of folks who want nothing more but a safe and QUIET plan ride to their destination.

We, of course, thought the perfect solution would be to drive because that way if Sophia decided to take one of her special tantrum trips, no one would have to experience it but us. What a wonderful surprise to find that our daughter is the ultimate road dawggg; she embraced the 16 hour ride there (with an overnighter in party town, North Platte, Nebraska...that's me being really sarcastic). Of course with a little help from a few of her favorite toys and a mobile DVD player that was constantly playing some of her cartoon favorites, Sophia was a joy throughout the duration of the trip. The drive was somewhat tortuous but doable. We drove I-80 all the way into Colorado, passing through Iowa and Nebraska. Not the most scenic of states but Iowa was somewhat fascinating with its abundance of wind farms. Giant wind turbines engulfed us as we drove through Iowa...ominous but fascinating. We did not encounter many in Illinois and none in Nebraska but Iowa was crawling with these massive structures; it was like something right off of the Sci-Fi network...very surreal.

We stayed overnight in North Platte, Nebraska (yawnnnnn), I wish we'd stayed in Omaha; driving through Omaha was like driving through Chicago, very lively. We stayed in a Quality Inn right off of the interstate and shared a room with a bunch of these huge beetles that just happened to infest North Platte during the time of our visit.

Once we got into Colorado, the view slowly changed and we desperately anticipated a glimpse of the glorious mountains that we'd heard so much about. Suddenly, far away in the distance, they slowly came into view and the closer we got to Denver, the larger they became...the view was breathtaking. As we drove into the Denver area, we instantly noticed the differences in this city compared to that of Chicago. The first thing we noticed was, of course, the elevation but something else that hit us pretty quickly was the cleanliness of the city...everything was soooo clean. Tom and I found ourselves looking for imperfections just so we could say "see...they have nasty folks living here too." Our hotel was located just outside of Denver in the suburb of Littleton and what a beautiful suburb it was...beautiful land, beautiful homes, booming businesses and lots of new construction...commercial and residential. Denver may have a smaller real estate market than Chicago but it is definitely is working to change that fast.

We had a wonderful time spending time with family (considering we were there primarily for my family reunion) and a great time sightseeing, driving into the awww-inspiring mountains and visiting Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. We took Sophia to visit Denver's Zoo which was beautiful. We stayed at a wonderful hotel ***** (Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows) that offered excellent service and fulfilled all of our needs.

So, Colorado was definitely a great vacation spot and one which I hope to return to again one day. We did not see half of the state and look forward to visiting those areas we missed. This state has such a rich history and you need more than a week to visit all of its historic landmarks and embrace its natural beauty. We can't wait to go back.

The Little Monster

The Twinkie Frenzy

Sophie got her first taste of a yummy twinkie today and I can honestly say that it went well...a little too well. Her first bite, she slowly nibbled at the outer cake part of the twinkie and then it happened....she got a tiny taste of the creamy filling. She looked up at me and then back down at the twinkie as if to say..."could this be....heaven mommy?"In a blink of an eye the frenzy began. The next thing we knew she had the white filling surrounding her mouth with it slowly encroaching upon her nose like huge waves coming ashore. Sophie looked like one of the "got milk?" commercials except it would have been called "got twinkie?" I turned my back for a nanosecond and when I turned back to look at her again, the twinkie was gone and there stood my little-one with two humongous cheeks, slowly trying to chew through the entire twinkie which she had stuffed in her mouth.

She could not speak...she could not smile and she could barely chew. With her eyes closed, she courageously and with sheer perseverance, continued her quest to devour the entire twinkie in one big swoop as her father and I watched in horror. With an occasional peek to see if we had noticed her sequester of the entire twinkie from its now shredded package (how could we not), she continued to fight the good fight until she reached her final swallow. Slowly she opened her eyes and quickly surveyed around the mouth with her tongue for any remnants of the twinkie's delight before lifting her big bright smiling brown eyes and exclaiming "hmmmmmmm....more!"

Fun in the Sun

Sophia is having a wonderful summer with LOTS of swimming (we can't keep her out of the pool) and play dates at the park. We'll be leaving for Denver in a few weeks for my family reunion and Tom and I are excited about taking Sophia on her first trip out of state. We decided to make it a road trip instead of flying and we're just praying we made the right decision. Although we plan to make the trip over the course of two days...car trips and 1-year old doesn't always mix well. We'll see and at least it will give more interesting stuff to post on my blog.

Here's some more Stinky McDinky (Tom came up with this name for Sophia when he had to change her first really stinky diaper and unfortunately for her...it stuck).

Drunk off the Sun - 4th of July 2010

Our 4th of July weekend was packed full of family and fun. My sister held her annual 4th of July BBQ Bonanza at the South Shore Cultural Center right off the lake. As usual a ton of great food, live DJ for those who love to "shake the booty" and plenty of space for the kiddies to move around. My sister always makes sure there are plenty of toys and interesting things present to keep the kiddies occupied. Sophia had a ball running around. It was pretty much the perfect day with the warm temperatures and low humidity. Sophie was completely drunk off the sun; she was so excited about being out, Tom and I could hardly keep up with her.



I've seen kids who are pretty shy when meeting new people. They have a tendency to cling to their parents when put in a unfamiliar environment. Sophia is just the opposite, she is pretty outgoing and loves to meet and interact with people and what a flirt! A little worrisome for her dad and I that Sophia loves to bat her big brown eyes and smile at the boys. Little girls will try to talk to her and she will have nothing to do with them but a little boy or a man (like her doctor who she loves) and she turns into little miss cheesy. I tell Tom all the time that his daughter is going to age him quickly with her flirtatious nature....he agrees.

So, Monday is our recover day; luckily I have the day off. We had a great weekend thanks to our family and friends. Thanks also to Lisa and Dennis for the swim and Joanie and Tony for the great eats and fun in the sun.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life, my husband Tom. We've been married now for 8 years and it has been a whirlwind experience. As with many couples, we've had our ups and downs but we've fought through the obstacles and conflicts to come out, together, on the other side.

A few years ago, I think I had a very idealistic and naive view of what a relationship (both marriage and friendship) was suppose to look like. Life has a way of putting all things in perspective for you if you live long enough. My life experiences have matured me in so many ways and while many of the lessons were difficult to swallow, I am thankful that I endured and lived through them. I am a stronger person today because of what I endured yesterday and I believe the same applies for any relationship. If you can weather the storm together as a couple and harness your emotions so that they work for you instead of against you, I believe that any relationship can come out of conflict stronger than before it went in.

In our 8 years together, Tom and I have experienced many things as a couple; we've been on the brink of destruction just to turn it around and walk hand-in-hand on cloud 9 (the birth of our daughter). I could not see going through it all with anyone else other than him. He has been my strength when I was weak, my common sense in the midst of anger, my comfort in sadness and despair. He is my husband, the father of my child, my lover and best friend. Seeing our relationship change and grow has given me a renewed faith that maybe there really can be an always and forever.

I love you honey; Happy Anniversary!

The #1 Greatest Dad!

We celebrated Father's Day yesterday; this will be Tom's second Father's Day as an official "daddy" and he's done a great job for a first time father. I could not ask for a better father for my child; he is everything a father should be...patient, encouraging, loving...etc, etc, etc. During my pregnancy, I went through all the normal stages that a mom-to-be goes through. I had the hormone attacks, the unusual eating habits (midnight runs to the store for ice cream) and Tom bore it like a champion. He went to almost every doctor's appointment and if I ever forgot something the doctor had told me, I didn't have to worry because Tom always kept the best mental notes. He would rub my feet and back after work even though he should have been the recipient considering his laborious trade was much more taxing on him physically that mine was on me. During my labor, a time that some men cannot handle, Tom was by my side the entire time, coaching me, holding my hand, telling me that he loved me and when Sophia was born, Tom was there to cut the cord and be the first to embrace our child. There was not a day that went by that I was not absolutely sure that he was happy and exciting about being a dad and now almost two years...I still have no doubts.

I tell Sophia everyday how lucky she is to have such a wonderful man be her father. Tom's love for his little girl is so powerful and it is reflective in everything he does and says daily. Parenthood, as any parent knows, is not easy but it is so much easier when you share it with someone who has the same hopes and dreams for their children as you do. Tom and I, don't agree on everything (who does), but we share a belief in the core ideals and values that we want to instill in our child.

So, this Father's Day we celebrated my awesome husband for being a magnificent father. I know so many kids who are fatherless or whose parents are separated or divorced and the father is not in the home and it makes me feel so blessed...not just for myself but also for Sophia. There are many single parents out there who have the incredibly difficult job of raising a child or children alone and they deserve serious kudos for what they do. It is not easy to raise a child with both parents in the picture, I can't, and hopefully will never have to know, what it's like to raise a child alone. I'm sure, for those who have had to, they would not choose to do it alone but because of some unforeseen circumstance this is the hand that they were dealt. So, Happy Father's Day to all those dads and moms out there who are raising their kids together or alone...you are amazing. Oh! and don't forget those wonderful grandparents who are raising their grandchildren....kudos to you; you, too, are AMAZING!!!

To my husband, Tom...I love you with all of my being. You are a great father and wonderful man. I am so happy to be spending my life with you and raising our daughter together. I look forward to our future together and the many adventures yet to come.

Happy Father's Day to my daddy, Rudy and to Tom's dad (also my daddy), Ed. We miss you and we love you. You are always in our hearts and minds.

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle

Sophie loves Yo Gabba Gabba; she loves the characters, the music and Tom and I love the fact that the show actually tries to spread positive messages to kids. The show teaches children about such things as the importance of getting enough sleep or how to clean your room and it does it in way that children, including children Sophia's age can relate to. You can tell that the creators probably grew up in the 80's because the show has many elements that are "totally" byproducts of the 80's, especially the music...not to mention the host, DJ Lance Rock who is dressed in a frothy orange outfit. I love the show and so does Soph...this is the show that taught her how to wiggle wiggle wiggle.

Growing Up

It never stops amazing me how my daughter is growing and turning into this amazing kid who is trying so hard to be independent. She is saying new words everyday, trying to put on her own clothing, climbing on and off chairs and couches... It seems that with every passing minute, my "kid" is learning something new and growing up before my eyes. I know...I know...she's only 16 months but she went from cooing to smiling to giggling, pointing, singing, walking, running and dancing all within a blink of an eye. Part of me wants time to slow down, stand still even, so that I can embrace and hold on to my little baby forever, while the other part of me is getting a kick out of watching her grow into this cute kid who will eventually grow into an amazing woman. Wow! I feel so fortunate, so blessed, so lucky to be a mom to this precious little being who has changed my life forever.

HOT! HOT! HOT!!!

Well we are on the brink of summer and the days are already getting hot, hot, hot. Sophie is now old enough to get in a pool (a toddler's pool of course) to keep cool from the heat. She has been swimming practically  every hot day we've had and loving it! I've known since she was an infant and we started giving her baths that she was a lover of water. I've never seen a baby want to live in water the way my child does.

Speaking of hot days and water, parents should take the proper precautions with their infants/toddlers during the summer to keep them safe from over exposure to the sun or dehydration and other possible dangers. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have some really helpful tips to keep your children safe while enjoying those hot summer days. Here are a few that I'd like to share:

FUN IN THE SUN
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/tanning.htm

Babies under 6 months:

• The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.

For All Other Children:

• The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
• Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater that protects against UVB and UVA rays.
• Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
• Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

HEAT STRESS IN EXERCISING CHILDREN
Source: http://www.aap.org/policy/re9845.html

• The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach critical levels.
• At the beginning of a strenuous exercise program or after traveling to a warmer climate, the intensity and duration of exercise should be limited initially and then gradually increased during a period of 10 to 14 days to accomplish acclimatization to the heat.
• Before prolonged physical activity, the child should be well-hydrated. During the activity, periodic drinking should be enforced, for example, each 20 minutes, 5 oz of cold tap water or a flavored sports drink for a child weighing 90 lbs, and 9 oz for an adolescent weighing 130 lbs, even if the child does not feel thirsty.
• Clothing should be light-colored and lightweight and limited to one layer of absorbent material to facilitate evaporation of sweat. Sweat-saturated shirts should be replaced by dry clothing.
• Practices and games played in the heat should be shortened and more frequent water/hydration breaks should be instituted.

I hope this helps a little, especially with those first-time parents who need all the information that they can get to ensure the safety of their little ones. For a complete list of helpful summer safety tips, visit AAP's website at  http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips.cfm.

Say Cheez!

What If?!!!

Sophia is now 16 months old and growing fast. It seems like every time I turn around she's getting taller, or saying a new word or just doing something that reminds me that she's maturing. With every little growth spurt comes a new found independence for my little peanut and I can't say that I'm handling it too well. I'm one of those first-time mothers that, pretty much, worries about everything under the sun when it comes to my child. Sophia is one of those children who wants to do everything on her own, with practically no help from anyone and the older she gets, the more intolerant she becomes of those trying to help her.

This independence thing is hard enough to deal with but when it's coupled with the finicky eating thing and the "I-want-to-do-what-I-want-to-do-without-any-help-from-you" tantrums, well lets just say my nerves are pretty much on edge. I go through all the "what ifs" as I'm sure many first-time parents do..."what if she's got behavioral issues?" or "what if I'm not disciplining her properly?" or "what if I'm enabling her and reinforcing her bad behavior?" or my personal favorite "what if this isn't just a phase?"....what if?....what if?....what it? You could drive yourself crazy thinking about all the "what ifs" and not having any answers. I told myself that when Sophie was born, I would not be one of those parents that smothered my child or worried about every little thing...BUT I AM! I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't call my babysitter a hundred times a day but I can be a bit doting at times.

I'm so excited about watching Sophia grow; I'm overjoyed when she says a new word or does something that she's never done before...I live vicariously through my child. However, I worry everyday about her safety, about her growth and whether I'm doing what I need to do as a parent to ensure that she is being raised properly. As great as it is to be a parent, it is equally as terrifying to have the responsibility because, for me, I'm always worried that I'm doing something that will ruin my child's future. All my friends who have been parents longer than Tom and I, constantly tell us not to worry; they spit that favorite "children don't come with manuals" line at us...a mantra that we have come to respect and repeat whenever we are having doubts. Thank God for all our friends and family who have suffered patiently through all of our questions and irrational fears and offered support and pieces of advice that have guided us along the way.

I have come to learn, or shall I say, I am continually learning to try to relax and enjoy my baby girl. While I know raising her is and will not always be easy, the joy comes from knowing that I, with the help of my hubby, have created this beautiful little girl who, with our help, will one day become a beautiful woman. She will have the whole world to explore and will do marvelous things with the tools we give her today. We will make mistakes (hopefully not too huge) and we will learn from those mistakes and we will continue to heed the advice we receive from those we trust and take it day by day.

Mommy's Home - Advice to a Friend (and Soon-To-Be-Mommy)

One of the highlights of my day is to come home and see my baby girl smiling back at me. I walk into the room and she lights up and then I light up. I don't think I've ever felt so much love as the love that comes from my daughter; she gives it freely, unsparingly and with vigor and true enthusiasm. There are days when I have come home from work just feeling run down and lifeless and as soon as I walk through that door and see Sophia's face, I instantly feel peace and happiness; the peace part is kind of funny considering that I really don't get any peace during the hours that my daughter is awake....but it's so worth it.

I have a very close friend who is expecting her first baby and she emailed me the other day and said that she was "scared to death" of becoming a mother. I could totally relate to what she is feeling because I was in her shoes prior to Sophie's birth. The anxiety over whether I was "truly" ready to be a parent in all senses of the word...ready. I kept having these weird dreams that I had forgotten to feed my babies for days and I just woke up one morning and remembered that I hadn't fed her....in days. I would wake up in sweats. God bless my husband, who did his best at squashing any ridiculous fears that I may have had, while trying to process and reconcile his own fears. You know, I have heard horror stories from some women whose husbands or significant others were completely absent mentally, emotionally, and physically during their pregnancies and I feel so thankful that Tom was not one of those men.

Tom was truly involved during all stages of my pregnancy. He went to almost every doctor's visit, he'd make those midnight runs for me when I had severe cravings, he rode the hormonal roller coaster with me...up and down...uppppp and downnnn and, most importantly (at least for me),  he communicated. I'm a talker and a dreamer and Tom would sit and talk to me for hours about us becoming parents, about my fears and about his fears, etc., etc. He was great and I don't think I've told him enough what it meant to me that he was there. He was also the one holding my hand and coaching me through my delivery which I KNOW I could not have gotten through without him. If you are lucky enough to have someone in your life who is willing to walk this journey with you, let them lead sometimes. Let others help you because you will need it. Don't be afraid to sit down and surrender and let those who love you...help you.

Anyway, for me, the motherly instinct instantly kicked in as soon as Sophia was born; I felt it right away, the anxiety of whether she was ok, the need to hold her and protect her from the world and make sure she had everything she needed to survive. I, instantly, knew that it was my job to make sure that this little baby would grow up happy and healthy and I knew that I wanted that job. I didn't know if I was completely ready or prepared for it, but I knew that this was MY job and I wanted it. This would probably be the only job, in my lifetime, that I would actually welcome and truly love.

So to my friend, who is now only a few months away of becoming a brand new mommy to a baby boy (just found out today Yayyyyy!) I say...be happy, enjoy motherhood (the good, the bad and the ugly) because there is nothing like it. One day you will turn around and have this amazing, overwhelming realization that you are a mommy and as scary as that can be, there is no other feeling like it in this world. There will be days when you feel like you are going insane, when you feel like you just want to crawl under a rock but trust me...even those days you will come to love. It's the terrifying, never ending roller coaster that you will to love to ride. I have had an amazing ride thus far and I look forward to the numerous rides yet to come. I can tell you that your life will be enriched by your son's presence and he will bring you joy like you never felt before. Good luck sweetie and be the great mom that I know you will be.

On The Go Go Go!!!

My little Sophinator has been on the go lately. Now that she has mastered the art of walking (and running) nothing stops her. Play dates, birthday parties...this kid schedule is full...she has more of a social life than her mom and dad.

She cracks me up with her silly little faces. Sophie is the ultimate comedian.

Soph is such a little goofball! She loves the swing.

 

Soph rides in her cousins corvette

I told Tom..."Oh boy, you know what this means now...

she's gonna want one in hot pink."

Enjoying a little wagon ride with her buddy Lance

Happy Mother's Day

This is my second Mother's Day as an official mom. Motherhood has meant so many things to me; it has meant maturity, responsibility, bliss, fear, anticipation, unconditional love, anxiety, pure happiness and the list goes on and on and on. When I was in my late teens, early twenties, I really could not see myself as a mom or at least it wasn't foremost in my mind. I liked kids but, at that time, I could honestly say that I didn't want any (a blessing to my parents) but I always knew that down the line, I would.

It was until Tom and I began dating and got married that I really had a desire to have a child. I knew I was with the person that I wanted to spend my life with and share the responsibility and joy of raising a child. I had previous boyfriends that, in my own immaturity, I thought were "the ones" that I wanted to marry and have kids with but let me just say "thank God for divine intervention." Raising kids is probably "the" most important job there is and it's not one to take lightly. I would never recommend it to someone who was not strong of heart because it can be a thankless job and you have to really want it.

Sophia was dearly wanted yet unexpected. She came during a very tumultuous time in my life, but again, divine intervention was definitely at play. I have grown in so many ways since this little being has blessed my life. I can sincerely say that I didn't truly know love until I knew Sophia...she is my day and night and all in between. I love her as I could love nothing else. Of course, I love my husband and my family and friends, but a mothers love for a child is altogether different. I could never understand my parents and why they put up with so much crap from me and my siblings...well now I know.

I don't want to belittle what great things and great human beings fathers are, but mothers have a special gift...they have the gift of opening their souls and releasing life into the world. The bonds between mothers and their children are different for just that reason because the mother is the bearer of life. Now, we know that that life could not be without the father but the mother has to nurture that life from its conception and she is the one that feels and experiences every initial movement of growth. How lucky are we?!?! Also, I want to emphasize that when I say "mother" or "father" I am referring to those individuals who not only create the life but who are a strong and positive presence in those lives throughout. Anyone can create life...what you do next matters just as much. Oh, and don't let me forget kudos to those mom and dads out there who didn't create the life, for whatever unfortunate reason, but who choose to adopt and raise that life as if it were truly their own.

Anyway, since I have become a mom, my life has completely changed, for the better. It has not always been easy and there have been many a night that I've cried myself to sleep wondering if I'm doing right by my little one, but when I wake up in the morning and see her smiling at me, I know it's all worth it.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms in my life and to all mothers everywhere.

Welcome Home Rosie

Ok, call us crazy but Tom and I decided to adopt another dog. Yes! we are a bit insane but our new addition, Rosie, has now made us a family of 6 including our dog Sammy and cat Charleez which we lovingly refer to as Meow Meow. Rosie is a lab/staff mix and she has a very sweet and fairly calm demeanor unlike the previous dog we looked at that bounced on Sammy's head like a cartoon character at the doggy meet and greet. Needless to say, Sammy was none-to-happy about that one, so we had to go with MY first choice. I can just hear the family members now saying "you did WHAT!?!" Of course we are still wrapping our heads around raising our daughter, Sophie, who is now at the sweet age of 15 months with the terrible 2's approaching FAST!!!. I think they should refer to it as the terrible 1-5's...6 being the golden age of less terribleness...I'm totally fooling myself, right?

We just recently got through Sammy's transition into independence. He, too, was adopted as a pup and although he also had a mild demeanor (not a barker or a biter) we did have somewhat of a difficult time potty training Sammy. We eventually had to crate train him, which is how we should have started but it all turned out for the best because Sammy has full reign of the house now. As I was signing the adoption papers for Rosie, I could not help but ask my self, silently, "ok, why do I want to go through this again and with a new baby on top of it?...oh yeah, that's right...because I'm insane." We couldn't help ourselves with Rosie, though, she was brought into the shelter's veterinarian after being hit by a bus and her owners never returned to claim her. Well, their loss our gain.

And the research begins again, this time on how to introduce your new pup to your old pup and your baby and your home and your garden and......well you get the point. We found some good training advice from this article called Guide to Introducing Your New Dog Into Your Current Dog Family; a sure reader for anyone whose nervous about the introduction of new pets into the family and needs a little preparatory advice.

Well, all we can do is take this one day at a time but I'm so happy we got our Rosie; I just hope she will be happy in her new home.

The Baby Eating Blues

So, Sophia is now 15 months and it's a joy to watch her grow. She's doing new stuff every day and Tom and I find ourselves looking at each other and saying "where did she learn that?" She is starting to pick up on words and the babble conversations that she has with us and with herself, leave you with a sore jaws from smiling so much. However, their have been some other parts of her growth that haven't been so pleasurable such as the tantrums and difficulty getting her to eat. Tom and I find ourselves pulling our hair out trying to figure out what to do to get Sophie to eat and believe me Tom cannot afford to lose anymore hair. I think Sophie's pickiness and downright stubbornness when it comes to eating is probably more disturbing for Tom than it is for me. I understand that children are going to go through phases throughout their development, so after having a little talk with Sophie's doctor and him reassuring us that this is a natural occurrence, I started feeling less worried. Tom, on the other hand, is really starting to stress over this whole eating thing or should I say not eating thing. All I can do is to continue to stress for him that this is just a phase and that we just need to be more creative in getting her to eat but he worries so much.

For Sophia, I think it's a combination of her just being picky about what she wants to eat but also the fact that she's teething. For anyone who has ever had mouth pain, you know how difficult it was to eat when you know that every chew will be accompanied by excruciating pain. So, at this point Tom and I know that we cannot force Sophia to eat and we are actively searching for creative ideas on how to get her to eat during this development period. I've found some interesting ideas on the Internet, some of which came from this website, http://www.thesneakychef.com/. There are some really good ideas here about how to sneak-in nutrition into the yummy foods that your children like to eat.

So far, Sophie's doctor and every article, blog and book I've read regarding this issue have been pretty consistent. Each one says this is just a phase that almost every child Sophie's age or around her age experience. So, I guess this is just one ride that the hubby and I are going to have sit and ride out. I don't know who will give me more grey hairs...the hubby or the baby...we'll see.

Here are some other links to interesting articles dealing with our picky little eaters and ways to help reduce the parents suffering.

• Picky, Picky, When Your Toddler Won't Eat
• Why Won't My Toddler Eat
• My Toddler Won't Eat Anything! Coping with Picky Eaters and Fussy Kids 

Bring On The National Guard!!!

So I'm sitting at my desk at work and I hear one of my co-workers say that "they" are sending the National Guard to Chicago? "Wait a minute...I live in Chicago!" I started to worry and think the unthinkable before I caught my breath and thought that if something significant had happened, I'm sure my husband would be blowing up my phone right now. Nonetheless, I quickly jumped on the Internet, feverishly searching for some explanation to my co-workers outburst and what I found, sadly did not surprise me. The headline read, "Two State Politicians Issue A Request For Military Intervention". Two democratic politicians from Illinois were proposing that the National Guard, America's military reserve, be used to assist police in stabilizing Chicago's most crime ridden neighborhoods.

So far, in this year alone (2010) as of April, Chicago has experienced 113 murders. So, I never thought that I would say this but my first response to this idea of military action was "Hell Yes!" We have innocent babies dying in our streets senselessly and over what?!?...drugs, some gang banger's idiotic need for retribution or control over what they perceive as their "turf" or something even more ludicrous? I understand that murders occur everyday around our City but there seems to be a large concentration of these crimes occurring in low income, urban areas. Every time I turn on the television or radio, I am disgusted by the stories of lives lost to senseless violence and the total disregard for human life. Maybe it's irresponsible of me to agree with the whole National Guard thing because it could lead to more death but at some point we have to realize that what we are currently doing to combat this problem, is not working.

I get it! I hear the stories of why this is happening...low income + ingrained poverty (or hopelessness) - less resources (or perception of less resources) - opportunity = increased gang and overall criminal activity. However, I've got to ask, how long can we use this equation? Both of my parents grew up in the 30's and 40's during the great depression and lived through the civil rights era. Poverty and inequality were rampant, yet during my parents time, those who suffered through this poverty and inequality still had a higher regard for human life and an overall respect for themselves and those around them. I'm not saying that crime did not exist during my parents lifetime because anyone who knows their history knows that is simply not true. What I am saying is that people had a greater regard for their children, their growth, education and general well being. Also, children were raised to respect their parents, their elders, their teachers and they were raised to believe in something even if they had nothing. In those days people  had a greater regard and pride for their belongings and their community and they suffered many, if not more, of the issues that the impoverished suffer through today with even less resources.Yet, today we have individuals who just don't care; they don't care about human life and they have no respect for themselves or for the other human beings living around them. Some don't take advantage of any of the resources afforded them (the resources that many of our leaders of today and those who came before us have fought so hard for) and seem to rather live in perpetual poverty, hopelessness and chaos.

I have respect for the law enforcers, the politicians and the concerned citizens who have worked diligently to make a difference and get control of this situation but, honestly, something more is needed. How many more people, young and old, have to die before we take a serious stand to stop the madness. The National Guard idea may seem extreme but let's not be fooled, this is a war that we are fighting. So, unless we want to keep sitting by and watching our children die, while we meet, talk, rally and meet, talk and rally again, maybe it's time to take a different approach. I say, "Bring on the National Guard!!!"

Proud Mama

My daughter, Sophia, (a.k.a. stinky mcdinky, peanut, puddi face, etc) was born on January 20, 2009, a very historic inauguration day for the U.S. This was the inauguration day of our first African American president but it was also the beginning of a whole new life for me and my husband Tom. Sophia was an unexpected child, a very wanted, yet unexpected child. Tom and I had gone through fertility treatment to conceive and unfortunately it didn't work. I was suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, a very common hormonal disorder that was treatable. So, when we weren't getting pregnant after treatment the doctors didn't really have an explanation other than to say that it would take a little longer than we expected. Well the stress that all of this put on us was enormous (more so than I truly knew at the time) but we decided that we needed a break and we stopped trying.

I was heartbroken and afraid that this might mean the end of my motherhood dreams but my mother kept telling me to relax because she was sure it would happen naturally when we stopped trying. Sure enough my mother was right and this was the first time that I was truly glad that she was right. I had a wonderful pregnancy, no real issues and my delivery...hilarious, but that's a different story for a different time.

Now that my daughter is almost fifteen months, I am in awe watching her turn in to this little person with such a vibrant personality. Sophie is truly a combination of comedy, fearlessness and strength. She embodies pieces of me and my husband, which can be a deadly combination for anyone who tries to date her when she comes of age. In my eyes, she's the most beautiful baby in the world (of course what every parent thinks of their child) and I know that I will do everything in my power to see that she has a good life....that is my responsibility as her parent. Sophie is the light of my life and I want that flame to burn long after I leave this earth. I'm so happy and proud to be the mama of this little peanut.