We will resume on thurs!

With both Amy and I traveling, we will resume our normal blog post on Thursday.

Thanks and stay safe from hurricane Sandy east coasters! And fingers crossed as Amy and fam are trying to reschedule their flight from Cali.

I'm going back to Cali (for the first time) : by amy

Going to have to keep this one short because I'm 1) watching Obama and Mittens duke it out again and 2) need to finish packing for our trip to California.  Hard to believe that this will be my first trip to Cali, right?  We are going to San Diego and Irvine to see our beloved friend, Neah, get married.  Hopefully Logan will stay awake for some of the wedding.  Given the time change, we are expecting to have some early evenings in the hotel-- perfect opportunity to catch up on movies I've wanted to watch over the past year or watch a Korean drama.  But I won't waste my days in Cali in front of the tube.  We'll probably check out the zoo, Balboa Park, the New Children's Museum, a beach, numerous taco joints and In n' Out.

But before I can even really plan that,  I'm a bit terrified for the 6 hour plane ride.  Logan, while typically a pretty good kid, is an active toddler.  I can only arm myself and pray.  We bought Logan his own seat on the plane, some new toys and books, packed a bunch of squeezy packs and snacks, and...I bought an iPad.  It's my last resort.  It pains me to put him in front of the iPad for more than 20 minutes, but I will do what is necessary to get us (and everyone else on our plane) to San Diego in a sane state of mind.  I was going to get an iPad eventually anyway, so this just seemed like an opportune time to execute.  In fact, I am writing this post on my new iPad!

Wow, Obama just reminded Mittens that we don't use horses in our military.

Gotta end it here.  Back to packing!  
Blogged from my iPad.

Korea part 2 : by jean

Jetlag.  It's the worst thing ever.  Why can't everyone just live in the same time zone?  ;)  Dealing with your own jetlag is hard enough, but dealing with your own jetlag plus your baby's is a whole new level of jetlag. 

We first arrived in Korea around 5pm and got to my parents by 7pm.  (Read about our plane ride here!) That day is still a  bit of a blur.  We gave Miles a nice bath once we unpacked and settled and put him down by 10ish.  I think he woke up about every 2 hours that night.  I felt like I had a newborn all over again.  My friend Dave, a new dad, said it best: "8:13am feels like 3:13am"!  When you have a newborn, you try to sleep whenever the baby is sleeping.  When you are jetlagged, your body knows it's not really time to sleep, so you aren't able to sleep when you want to.  This results in you being in a daze for the next few days. 

By the 2nd or 3rd day, Miles had some sort of a schedule going:
- 9:30pm-1:30am sleep
- wake up, drink bottle, play for a bit
- 3:30am-6am sleep
- wake up, eat breakfast, bottle
- 9:30am-??? he seems to sleep about 6-7 hours during this time since its "night" time for him
- 7pm wake up, play, eat, drink bottle, bath...and the cycle begins again.

Now, with only 1 week left in Korea, Miles's schedule is like this:

- 5:30pm-5:30am sleep (full 12 hours!)
- wake up, drink bottle, play for a bit
- 7am-8:30/9am nap
- wake up, eat breakfast, bottle
- 2nd nap anytime around noon-2.

I've heard that some parents wake up the kids a bit earlier to help them adjust to the local time.  I have been too much of a chicken to do that yet since I didn't want him to be more fussy than he needed to be especially since Miles had a bit of diarrhea the first couple of days from the change in water.   He woke up at least every 1-2 hours because of his upset stomach and diarrhea.  The diarrhea resulted in bad diaper rash which resulted in me having to hose him down after each poop diaper instead of using wipes to help alleviate his rash.  Note to all parents: ALWAYS TAKE TRIPLE PASTE WITH YOU!  Thank God I brought it with me because it works wonders!  Also with the water change, I initially thought boiling regular water would be the same as giving bottled water so we were making his formula with boiled tap water.  But once he had his diarrhea, a nurse friend of my mom's suggested boiling bottled water to be extra cautious.  So far, that's has been working. 

By the 5th, 6th day, Miles adjusted well to the local time.  Its also been great having him sleep full 12 hour stretches so we can go out and explore Korea a bit when he goes down for the night.  Back at home, he normally slept from 7:30/8pm~6:30/7am so he's doing great getting a full 12 hours of sleep every night.  I just worry what his schedule will be like once we are back in NY.  For now, I have seen the sun rise EVERY morning.  Hopefully, I don't have to do that once we are back!

view of thde daily sunrise from my parents' veranda

hanging out at the playground

Korea part 1 : by jean

We survived!  After 3 bottles, 5 diaper changes, countless amounts of Cheerios and Puffs, 1 hour nap before flight, 45 min nap during flight, and 6 hour sleep mid flight, we made it to Korea!!

our plane to korea!

In the end, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Maybe because I had planned for the worst!  Flying with a baby had its own advantages starting with the VIP treatment you get as soon as you get to the airport.  The airline we took, Asiana, has a special "happy mom" service. "Happy mom" provides "3E" services – Express Check In, Express Boarding and Express Baggage.  It's great!  They have a special lane dedicated to moms, so there is no need to wait in line to check bags.  You also board first AND all of your luggage gets a "priority" tag so your bags come out much faster!

Also, their press release says they offer:
(1) A free nursing cover: I wasn't offered one maybe because I didn't ask?
(2) Free sling: I didn't know about that either! But, I didn't walk around enough so maybe they didn't offer?
(3) Cabin baby seat installation and renting service: If you buy a seat for your baby, then the airline offers free installation upon reservation.  It doesn't say if the rental is also free, so I'm guessing it's not, but that still saves the hassle of bringing your own car seat along with all of the other baby luggage you have to take with you!

During mealtimes, they provided baby food.  I brought along several pouches of Ella's Kitchen (which he ate SOO well) so I was set but I still asked for it so I can see what they give out.  They gave baby food made from Beech Nut. Have you guys heard of that brand?  I haven't given Miles juice yet and I think jarred chicken isn't very tasty so I only held onto the fruit.

meal #1: bananas, pears, and chicken & chicken broth, with apple juice

meal #2: apples & blueberries, chicken & rice dinner, chicken & chicken broth, and white grape juice

If you are an expecting mom, they have what they call a "pre-mom" service.  You get an exclusive check-in counter, as well as an electric cart service to the gate so you don't have to waddle there.  Isn't that great?!

miles checking out my seat

miles playing in his bassinet

sleep time for miles!

Overall, Miles was a champion traveler.  During the few times he got fussy, we gave him a brand new toy he's never seen, which helped occupy him, and lots of cheerios or puffs.  The bassinet that was attached to the wall in front of our seat was great because he could not only play in it but also sleep in it, so we didn't have to carry him constantly.  The only issue was that he would wake up easily since he had hardly any room to roll around.  But with lots of patting on the back, he managed to get in 6 hours of sleep once it was his bedtime.

During take-off and landing, I was instructed to hold Miles on my lap.  I would strap myself in and hold him, giving him a bottle in case the pressure was bothering his ears.  During landing, since he played so well in my lap, I strapped myself and him together in my seat belt.  However, I was told that wasn't safe and that I was supposed to only strap myself in and hold him.  I will have to look into this but what if there's bad turbulence?  How is just holding him safe enough?

Getting ready for part 2 next week: All about being jet lagged and taking care of a jet lagged baby. Oye!

whoastones : by amy

Logan's been on a roll with "whoastones" since Friday.  What are "whoastones"?  They're what I call not-really-official-milestones (like crawling or walking), but they make me say "Whoa, you can do that?"  They are often not a big deal, but as the parent, they make you smile (or crack up) and realize how much your little baby/toddler is changing and learning.  They're the things you tell other friends and the response you get is, "oh, that's...nice."  I think "whoastones" occur more with first-time moms-- they probably lose their effect on the latter children.  Here are a few of Logan's "whoastones" from the weekend:

• Hugging older girls:  I don't mean mom, grandma, or babysitter Bina.  I'm talking about girls ages 2-4!  And it's not accidental-- he hugged the girls very intentionally and with a big smile on his face as he wrapped his arms around their bodies.  Whoa, Logan, simmer down!
• Doing the Jersey Turnpike and other freaky dances:  If you're not a fan of the Jersey Shore (husband and my guilty pleasure-- yes, we probably lose brain cells while watching it), the Jersey Turnpike is a dirty dance move that Deena made up, where you bend over and touch the ground while sticking your butt out (typically in someone's face), and start bouncing your butt up and down.  Well, that's how my son likes to dance, and NO, he's never seen the Jersey Shore!  He also likes to stand over me and bounce up and down to music.  It's hilarious and...a little weird.  But, it makes me happy whenever I see Logan expressing himself through dance...even if it is a little freaky.  Whoa, Logan don't be that kind of dancer when you grow up...
• Walking backwards: I saw Logan playing with a truck on Friday, and he was dragging the truck backwards into the foyer.  Then we let him play with his Radio Flyer car (thank you, Shins!) and he insisted on pulling it while walking backwards (and sideways) around the driveway.  Whoa, now you can move backwards on your feet without falling??  
• Sticking his finger up his nose: The kid discovered the two ginormous holes in the middle of his face: his nostrils.  He successfully stuck his index finger up there and tried to shove the thumb up there before I scolded him.  I probably shouldn't have laughed before scolding him-- gonna have to work on that.  Whoa, you can pick your nose now??
• Putting items INTO something: Logan's always been a pro at taking items out of a bag/drawer/bin, but he's never been good at putting items BACK into the bag/drawer/bin.  In fact, he doesn't like to just take things out-- he likes to throw them straight back (with a quick straight-arm motion, like a backwards bowler's move).  So, when I saw him putting a few of his Mega Blocks back INTO the bag, I had a "Whoa, Logan, did you just do that??" moment and showered him with hugs and high fives.
• Doing "more:" My kid is a little slow with the sign language.  He started doing "milk" maybe 2 months ago, and I don't think he even does it when he necessarily wants milk but only when he hears "ooh-yoo" ("milk" in Korean).  I've tried doing "more" with him since he was 4 months old.  TODAY, Logan finally sort of did "more"!  ...but I don't know if he really understands what it means.  It looked like a one-handed "more" + one-handed clap type of gesture, so I encouraged him with more "more" motions to try to reinforce the point.  Then I said, "are you all done?" (and did the corresponding gesture) and he copied me (!!) and then immediately started clapping (which to him, means "good job!" which I usually say to him when he finishes all of his food/milk).  Whoa, Logan, are you actively communicating with me??

I know what you're thinking: "oh, that's...nice."

ovuline : by amy

 my buddy, DJ, sent me this link and asked for my opinion.

Ovuline
http://www.techstars.com/ovuline-smart-fertility/

From their website:

Ovuline helps couples conceive faster. Going way beyond fertility calendars and period trackers, Ovuline tells couples when they are fertile and exactly what to do each day to maximize their chances of getting pregnant. Ovuline can also be used to avoid pregnancy or track menstrual cycles.

Does anyone else think is a little...weird? 

First, I read "Ovuline?"  Where I have I heard that before?  Then realized it was from one of the best holiday movies of all time, A Christmas Story (Be sure to drink your...Ovaltine??  A crummy commercial??  Sonovabitch!)  Pretty crappy name because while this company is trying to inform me of infertility, all I can think about is little Ralphie drinking his Ovaltine.

Sorry, I digress.

I had a hard time understanding what this company actually did.  After clicking around its website, I came to the following conclusions:

• After the free trial, you pay a monthly price of $xx (website conveniently leaves this price out, but at one point, I thought I saw $70/month)
• You get daily notifications like "Don't have sex today, but have lots of sex tomorrow!"
• Stupid reminders that you shouldn't need a service to remind you of, like "Take your vitamins" (might as well say "Eat your breakfast.  Don't hold in your pee.")
• You can ask them a question like "I have pain in my lower abdomen, what can it be?" and their experts will respond with something like  "It could be because of your hormones, PMS, hormones, lack of exercise, hormones, indigestion, hormones, etc." 
• They also have a "Virtual Doctor which is an advanced computer algorithm developed by Harvard Doctors that learns about your unique cycle from the data you enter"  in case you ever wanted to feel like a science experiment while trying to conceive your baby.
• You get a monthly shipment of "fertility supplies" with reminders on when/how to use each item.  If you're trying to have a baby, aren't the "fertility supplies" already, uh, there?  Like, attached to your body?

OK, so I'm a little harsh on them.  But really, wouldn't a woman who is seriously considering to get pregnant speak with their doctor-- a REAL doctor-- first?  Depending your medical history/age/etc., I'm pretty sure doctors tell you what you need to know.  I was relatively young when I first started "trying," so my doctor gave me the basics: prenatals for 2 months, calcium, vitamin D, exercise, and knowing my "fertile window" of the month.  I guess if you're really into the TMI-type-of-detail that they provide (like charts and statistics...really?) then yeah, go for it.   I could see it making a woman become obsessed with the getting-it-just-right aspect, which I feel could almost be counterproductive.  I've heard of (and seen) SO many stories of women who became naturally pregnant once they stopped "trying" and timing it so much.  Stress (and hormones) also can play a big factor on conception.

I'm also a little weirded out at how technology is finding a way into my ovaries.  What is today's society coming to when you need a technology-generated daily reminder to take your prenatal vitamin or have sex in a certain position for optimal sperm flow?  The only aspect I like is the educational information.  If they weren't trying to sell me anything, then I'd be way more amenable.   And I do understand why this would work today.  In today's world of start-ups, people are trying to make lives easier by turning any "planning" situation into an algorithm and giving you daily "stuff" (advice, reminders, boxes of gadgets and gifts) to keep you on track.  Combine that with today's female generation getting married/pregnant much later in life and you get Ovaltine, I mean Ovuline.

Maybe I'm just too old-school for this.

Interested to hearing your thoughts on this, especially if you had a hard time conceiving.  Does this sound like something you'd consider paying for, or was your doctor's guidance sufficient?

my "friend" is back... by jean

last month, i got my "friend."  after almost a year and a half of not dealing with my "friend," i was annoyed to see her again!  i had just weaned myself from pumping, so i was hoping i would have at least a couple months of freedom, but no, no, no.  my body knew i was done pumping, so then my "friend" arrived.  ugh.

i've always been very regular, so i naturally assumed that since my "friend" was back, i would be back to my regular cycle.  well, that doesn't seem to be the case.  i am 5 days late.  and no, i am not pregnant.  i repeat, i am NOT pregnant.

i KNEW i couldn't be pregnant, but i still panicked.  i mentioned that we were having sex again but honestly, there really was no way i could be pregnant...so every morning when i went on the scale and saw an increase of 1 pound, i thought, omg i'm pregnant.  then all of a sudden i started to have this metallic, bitter taste in the back of my throat.  i've heard some people get that when they're pregnant!  again, i panicked, omg, am i pregnant??  i can't be! 

turns out, the metallic, bitter taste is acid reflux.  i got it all of a sudden, and it messed with my head.  increase of 1 pound each day probably had to do with the fact that i indulged in pizza and wings over the weekend. :p  hehe, whoops.

i still haven't gotten my "friend," but amy assured me and said that it could take some time for the "friend" to come back regularly. 

whew!

did it take you some time before your "friend" came regularly?  i'm not the only one panicking each day waiting for my friend, right? ;)

becoming "that" parent : by amy

Since becoming a parent, I've learned many lessons, but one that I constantly remind myself of is this: Sometimes you just have to throw out the books and do what works for you and your child.  Just do your best-- that's all you can do.

Seriously, as a non-parent, it is so easy to point the finger-of-judgment and say,

I can't believe she's not breastfeeding.

I won't do that when my child acts up.

I won't let my child eat that, only this.

I can't believe she's letting her child just scream and cry.

I'm not going to make my kids "clingy"

I'm not going to be a "helicopter mom"

I won't let my child walk out of the house looking like that.

I won't let my house look like that when we have kids.

I won't get all of those toys for my kids.

I'm not going to let my kid get hooked on the pacifier.

Hell, it even happens before you even have the kid!

I'm not going to eat or drink that when I'm pregnant.

I can't believe she let herself go like that--I'm not going to gain as much weight as she did during pregnancy.

I'm not going to put that on my registry.

Come on, we've all said or thought one of these things at least once, and we all got our butts kicked with a big helping of in-your-face! after we became parents, right?  No matter what you read online and in the books, the one thing you know for sure is that your child is different from "that" child.  Your circumstances are different from "that" family's.  And if people want to judge you for it, then let them.  I can't say that I personally always let it go, but I try.

Case in point: We had a crazy, fun-filled weekend.  By Sunday late-afternoon, the husband and I were ZAPPED.  For 5-10 minutes, we just laid on the play mat completely exhausted while Logan circled around us, climbed on top of us, dug every toy out of his bin, stomped around the house dropping toys and dish towels in various corners of the house, and pretty much turned our 1st floor upside down.  After our respite, we stood up and evaluated the damage:  Our house had turned into "that" house-- the house with toys strewn on the floor in several rooms.  Aside from that, our kitchen counters showed remnants of the weekend-- counters covered with food, snacks and dirty dishes and a pile of bottles and sippy cup parts.  We looked at each other in defeat and dismay, took a swig of black coffee, and started cleaning.  Yeah, we let our house become "that" house. I decided that it's OK if it happens once in awhile because, let's face it-- it's impossible to have a spic n' span house when you've got a toddler trolling the house.  On the other hand, my husband didn't exactly agree since he is a clean-freak.  We will just work harder to keep the house neat and tidy because it matters to us him.

Thank God the cleaning lady is coming this weekend.

Have you found yourself becoming "that" parent?