Macy’s Mom

After signing up for Headsprout Early Reading, I received a packet in the mail. Inside was colorful progress map with stickers, and 6 books. We hung the map where Macy could reach..and put stickers on the episodes that she had completed. I pointed to episode 5 and told her that she would read a book after finishing episode 5. I later overheard her telling dad that after 5 she would be able to read! She was very excited when we started episode 5. After we finished it..I took out the first book. (I was so afraid she would be disappointed by the 2 page book) We sat down..and Macy started to read it. 2 pages..7 words. When she finished..”was that the whole book?” uummm..yes…you read the whole book. “HURRAY! I READ A BOOK!” Then she proceeded to dance around and sing “I read a book..I read a book!” She was thrilled and couldn’t wait to read the book for dad and her baby brother.

I heard about PEPS at my pre-natal swim class from Michelle. New moms in the same area/income/baby age meet once a week..and talk.  Sounds good. We signed up and started meeting when the babies were about 6 weeks old. There were two leaders (moms) who got us started on a topic..breastfeeding..sleep..child developments..that sort of thing. We go around the group and share. It was fabulous! Sometimes it was the only day we got out that week. About 6 weeks after we started, one of the lead moms told us about “mom’s night out”…her old peps group would go out about once every few months without the babies. hhhmmm..What a great idea..how about tonight? The five of us that showed up really bonded and still continue to meet for play-dates..(sometimes we even include the kids.. tee-hee) It’s fun..and Macy considers those kids her best friends!

When I was pregnant with Macy..I read all the books. . napped..ate healthy..took pre-natal swim. I knew I was going to breastfeed. I thought breastfeeding was natural and instinctive. Put a baby up to your breast..they nurse. How difficult could it be…boy was I WRONG! I didn’t really pay attention when the nurse was shoving my new baby on my breast. I didn’t think I needed to go to the class on breastfeeding. And when they come in and ask how the baby has been feeding..I’d just say “fine.” I even left the hospital a day earlier than I had too. I knew that I might have sore nipples..but when they started bleeding..you could say I panicked. I called the hospital and asked if I could come back! Surprise..the breastfeeding class is only offered while you are still there..not after you’ve checked out! They suggested I rent a hospital grade breast pump and gave me the number to a lactation consultant. $120 an hour! We drive clear across the city…she hooks me up to all this supplemental tubing..I’m even more confused! She latches the baby on to me and asks if I can feel the difference? Um..yeah? (not at all..I was so sore..pain..pain) We went home..I cried..they baby cried… I started pumping. The baby stopped crying. hhhmmm…much easier…stress free. I continued pumping for about 6 months.

I’m really missing my Graco SnugRide infant car seat. After Macy out grew her Graco snugride…I sold it to a friend who was leaving the country. We weren’t planning on having any more kids…SURPRISE..hey..we don’t have the infant car seat anymore! Another girlfriend let us use hers. Great! We’ll save some money…and my giant babies out grow the infant carrier by 5 months anyway! (2o pounds or 26 inches..which ever comes first..usually the 26 inches!) Let’s just say it’s not a Graco. And pushing on the handle to get it down is really hurting my wrist! It doesn’t seem to be particularly comfortable..and the hood doesn’t block the sun like my Graco did. I keep telling Gavin to drink up and grow…he’s 3 months old and 25 inches…one more inch and he’s out of there!

I bought the Tiny Love Symphony in Motion Mobile 4 1/2 years ago for baby Macy. My husband Craig’s reaction..”$40 bucks for a MOBILE??!!” I was less concerned about the price, and more concerned about it not really matching her room decor…It turns out, Macy was a baby that liked to be held almost constantly! The only time I had to take a quick shower or a moment to brush my teeth was when I put her under the mobile! She was mesmerized..hypnotised…a baby addict that couldn’t look away! Now, Craig tells people..”the best $40 bucks we ever spent!”

I’m a flight attendant and I am always looking for ways to make traveling with my kids easier. When Macy outgrew her infant carrier at 4 months..I thought the Sit-n-Stroll was the answer to my dreams! It’s a car seat..it’s a stroller! It rolls like a dream! Macy was strapped in and wheeled through the airport..down the jetbridge..onto the plane. This is where my happy dream ended. Yes, it fits down the aisle of an aircraft. Just not the one we were on. It turns out that it didn’t fit on any of the narrow body aircrafts we travelled on! (It would fit down wide body aisles..but unless you are travelling internationally..the majority of aircraft flown domestically are narrow body planes!) Bummer! We still travelled with it..but I soon realized that it was kind of hassel when we got to our destination too. We’d spend about a week at our destination..there is no way to secure the sit-n-stroll into the car for a week. Each time we got into the car..Macy went into the 5 pt harness system. (this was fine) Then I had to secure the sit-n-stroll to the car. Anybody who has installed a car seat knows that this involves a lot of tugging and strength as you put your whole weight into the carseat to get it in snug. Imagine making 2 trips a day over a five day period. I was exhausted! The next time I travelled..I decided I would rather haul her Britax Roundabout car seat through the airport and push her in her stroller..than deal with the sit-n-stroll at our destination. As I was lugging the car seat..pushing the stroller full of kid stuff..and keeping an eye on Macy walking…I saw a woman go cruising by with her kid riding in their car seat on what looked like luggage wheels. WHOA! STOP! What is that..and where can I get one??? Go Go Kidz car seat wheels! Needless to say..when I got home..I looked them up! The cost seems a little expensive approx. $90..but well worth it! (I sold my sit-n-stroll on Craigslist..and used the money to by my wheels) FABULOUS!!! I love my wheels!!! Macy gets to cruise through the airport in her car seat..down the jet bridge..and down the aisle of some narrow body aircraft (not all)..and better yet..mom only has to install the car seat one time when we get to Mimi’s house.

I heard about the Headsprout.com reading program from my girlfriend Michelle. She runs her own web design company, and is very computer savvy. She signed up her daughter last month..and Callia is reading simple words. Macy and Callia are 4 1/2 years old. The cost is $100 for 40 lessons. I was hesitant about the price, so I signed up for the 3 free lessons. Macy knows her letters (most of the time) but, according to the website..you don’t need too. She loves her “ALIEN GAME” as she calls it. The games are well done..and just when Macy is losing interest..it’s over. After the 3rd lesson, she asked to play 4…so I ordered it. They have a 30 day money back guarantee and the option to pay once or $20 a month for 5 months. I’m going to have Macy repeat the first few lessons to make sure she gets it. I told her she could only do one per day..and she has to finish the lesson once she starts one. “ok mommy”………..we’ll see how this goes…