Our Sophie

Since I have started my blog, I haven't blogged much about my other babies: Turbo and Sophie. Today's edition is devoted to Sophie.

Before Damien and I married, we knew we wanted another dog. What kind of dog was the question. Since Turbo was technically "mine", Damien got the say so on the next dog. He, without a doubt, wanted a female and for her to be a smaller dog. We did lots of research on the personalities of dogs and even took quizzes to see what dog was right for our lifestyle. The dog that we kept coming back to time and time again was the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and we wanted a black and tan one. We did some shopping around, and they were expensive, anywhere from $800 -$1200. We could not justify buying a dog for that much when there were so many sweet dogs that could be adopted/rescued. Thus, the search began.

I started searching on petfinder.com for a dog that fit the bill, even though, Damien and I hadn't decided on when we would get said dog. I came across "Heidi" a small black and tan female who was a chihuahua/terrier mix (close enough to the Cavalier I guess). I showed Damien her picture and we called to inquire about her. Later that week, Damien, Turbo and I went to visit "Heidi". We fell in love and Turbo seemed to care less about her. We made the arrangements and began the adoption process.

Damien picked her up that Saturday, so that we could begin our new family. Since we weren't married, she lived with Turbo and me, so they could continue to get acquainted. She was renamed to Sophie.

We have had Sophie for a little over 3 years, and she is by far one of the sweetest dogs that you will ever meet. I think Turbo had a great influence on her as she is not a small yappy dog. However, she does bark when necessary.

She has lots of pet names (hehe I had to). First, she was known as Sophie Nubbins since she doesn't have much of a tail, just a nub. Later, she picked up Miss Independent since she wasn't as needy as Turbo and was content sitting by herself. We also lovingly refer to her as Momma since she takes care of Turbo's hygiene needs.

Her favorite things to do are: lick, beg for food and hunt rabbits.

Here she is cleaning Turbo's ears...she also does his eyes Here she is looking for any rabbits that dare come into our yard

Claims made

As a new baby product consumer, I am noticing that a lot of the manufactures make the same claims to get you to purchase their products.  I know this isn't just in the baby world, but it's what I have noticed most recently as I research my purchases.   

One of the claims that are made can be found on most baby bottles.  I am sure everyone with children know this claim..."reduces colic". My question is how do they know it reduces colic?  What kind of testing/research are they doing?  Is there any regulation put on the manufactures that they have to meet certain criteria in order to slap this claim on their product or can their marketing departments put whatever on their packaging willy nilly. I have a feeling it's the latter. We were using Dr. Browns bottles for Dylan, but after some changes in my diet and the type of bottles we use, we noticed his colic like behavior decrease significantly. Personally, I think it was the bottles. He was sucking them down too fast and was on the slowest flow nipple, so he will have to wait until he's a little older to use those bottles again.  My point is, they are supposedly the best bottles on the market. 

  

Another product that I notice that makes the same claim is formula.  Now I haven't personally purchased formula, but as a new mom, you get all kinds of product information and coupons in the mail, especially for formula. I have noticed that the formula manufactures claim to be the "closest to breast milk". Again, how do they know that?  What studies are they performing? I want to know if they have some doing tastes test too.  (I don't think that's a part of the claim, more like the nutrients, but I wouldn't put it past the companies.)

Can you think of any products that make claims that make you go hmmm?

Mommy Wisdom #2

4. You get all these clothes (either you purchase or as gifts), and you find that you put the baby in the same outfits over and over. Really there is no need for all these clothes.

5.  Babies don't nap when you want them to.  Yeah, they say nap when he naps. Well, when he naps, I am not really that tired, but when I am exhausted, he's wide awake....UGH

6. No one can resist a baby.  I was at Target the other day, and the guy checking me out (who was elderly) asked about Dylan and how old he was and made a fuss over him. When the guy at the next register (an older teenager) was finished checking out his customer, he turned around to fuss over Dylan as well. Although, his comment was "he's going to be a rockstar with all that hair" Babies span all generations. 

7. Babies have the loudest poops, and Dylans are juicy sounding.  They are so loud, that they wake Turbo out of his deep sleep and he jumps up to look around to see what caused the noise. I hope to get this on video one day. 

Who will you choose?

Now, I am not one to get involved in politics, especially this presidential election, but I had to share this video clip. I am sure that this clip is a little biased and probably has some "facts" that may be a little off, but it still makes me wonder who will I choose.  Really, I am not super impressed with either candidate, but for me, it will be the lesser of two evils...in my opinion, and that's all this is, that would be McCain. Yea, Obama has charisma and youth on his side, but what else does he have?

He makes me smile

Are there some things that you see that makes you smile, and when you don't see those things in a while, you look for them so you can get that happy feeling.  Well, one of the things that always makes me smile, is this man who can be see walking on the streets around the mall.  I love his joy for life.  I haven't seem him in a while, so when I saw him today, I got so excited.  I dug down in the diaper bag, found my camera, so I could video tape him to share with you.  I felt like I didn't get good footage, so after my Cosco trip, I drove around to find him again.  

My apologies for the bad footage, but I was trying to be discreet. He busted me the second go round and stopped. I should have hid in the bushes.  (Sorry once again for failing to remember that I have to hold the camera a certain way and that I cannot rotate the video when I edit it.  It happen all so fast that I didn't think about it.)

Anyone else seen this man?  

Green Wednesday #2

Today's tips are things that you can do around the house. Not only will you be helping the economy, but you will be helping your wallet.

• Sign up for greendimes. It's an organization that seeks to cut down on junk mail. Not only does junk mail clog up your mailbox, it also requires an estimated 100 million trees and 20 billion gallons of water every year. For about a dime a day, Greendimes will stop 70 to 90 percent of the junk mail you're now getting. They also plant a tree a month for every member. Go to http://www.greendimes.com/. (It also makes a great gift.)
• Cut back on the use of your napkins. The average person uses 6 napkins a day. If we all gave up one napkin a day, we could save a billion pounds of paper waste.
• Use eco-friendly cleaners inside your house. "Clean, real clean, doesn't have a smell" Some eco-friendly cleaners are Shaklee, Method, Meyers and 7th Generation. (As my mother's day gift, my friend, Lindsay, bought me some 7th generation and Meyers cleaning products. Thanks Lindsay!)
• Use the same cup all day long to cut down on dishwasher cycles.
• Appliances that are plugged in still use energy even though they are off. Plug your electronics into the Smart Power Strip, which retails for $32.95. Then, when you turn off the power strip, all the items plugged into it will also power down.
• Use Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL). They are 70 to 75 percent more efficient than other bulbs and last 8 to 10 years. If we all change one light bulb, it would be like reducing carbon emissions from 800,000 cars.
• Recylce anything and everything. Why? Because one four-foot high stack of newspapers is the equivalent of one 40-foot fir tree, and glass takes 100 years to breakdown in the landfills. Each city has their own guidelines when it comes to recycling so go to http://www.earth911.org/ and type in your zip code to get specifics.
• Wash your clothes in cold water.
• Crank your thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer months.
• Turn your thermostat a degree lower in the winter. If every home in America did it, we'd save enough energy to power all the homes in Iowa for one whole year!
• Take a shorter shower. If America subtracted just one minute from their daily showers, we'd save twice the amount of freshwater withdrawn from the Great Lakes every day!
• Reuse ribbon and wrapping paper. If two-thirds of Americans each saved an arm's length of ribbon this year, we could tie a bow around the earth

Me Venting

What is it with solicitors?  This guy from Frontline (pest control) came to our house last week and Damien talked to him.  We told him that we were canceling our service with Terminex but were not ready to sign up with anyone at this point.  Well, Monday night...at about 8:30...ding dong, the door bell rings.  I get up and go to the door, as Damien was out playing pool with the church league, and it's Steve the pest guy. It's pouring down rain, thundering and lightening and he's there telling me they have a spot open tomorrow if we want it. I tell him that we just were serviced last week, that I tried to call and cancel Terminex and they sent out someone else today to rectify the situation.  He keeps talking. Mind you, I am holding Dylan, the door is cracked and my knee is up over the crack so the dogs don't run out...uh hello, I've got my hands full.  He asked for a phone number to call so he can talk to Damien, so I gave him our number. 

Tonight, I am sitting on the couch feeding Dylan (not with a bottle) and ding dong...at 8:45!!! Are you kidding me!  I get up and peek around a corner and see that his car is parked in front of our house, on the street.  No way am I answering the door.  Does he not realize that it's bed time for a lot of people, especially those who have newborns!  I dare him to come by here tomorrow night.  I am going to tell him that yeah we do want to get rid of our pest, but somehow they keep coming to our house every night around 9pm, ringing our doorbell. 

There will be a no solicitation sign going up on our door tomorrow as well.  It's ridiculous for someone in sales to come by that late at night, especially when a)he's got our phone number and b)he knows we have a newborn.  Be prepared Steve! Be prepared!

Mommy Wisdom #1

Earlier this week, I started the green series and in that post, I mentioned that I would be starting 2 series. This, is the second one.  

Basically, it's little things that become apparent to me, now that I am a mom.  I never realized how life would change so drastically after having a baby, but it does. I mean, people say it will, but somehow you think you will be different and life will go on, pretty much the same with a few exceptions...not so.  By posting these blogs, I hope I am able to provide a little insight to women who want children and happen to wonder upon my blog.

1. Mom doesn't always get to eat when everyone else eats.  Baby comes first.  Dinners may get cold and have to be reheated before she can eat.  

2. There is no such thing is cleaning house anymore.  It's more like clean what looks the dirtiest while you have a minute or two. This usually ends up being the bathroom and the kitchen in my house.  

3.  Where you could sleep through anything before, you get to know your baby's cues pretty fast and can awake before they even start to cry. However, your hubby could get up, take a shower and leave the house, and you'd have no idea.

Stay tuned for more!  

Green Wednesday #1

I am starting 2 new series, one of which will be Green Wednesday, where I will post eco friendly tidbits that will make the world a better place.  Now, I can't say that I will practice all that I preach, but maybe some of the ones that I will post will fit your lifestyle and you will pick them up. 

I will try to post every Wednesday, but no promises there either. I picked Wednesday since our trash and recycling comes on Thursdays, so as I am putting together the recycling, I will hopefully remember to blog.

Now, on to today's post, how you can be green at the grocery store.

• Look for products with minimal packaging.
  
• If you need to use disposable plates, look for ones made of 100% recycled plastic.
  
• Buy recycled aluminum foil; it requires just one-twentieth the energy of non recycled foil. Then recycle it when you are done.
  
• Buy organic produce.
  
• Take your own bag to the store. More than 380 million plastic bags are thrown away in the US every year and those bags can take up to 1000 years to biodegrade. While paper bags do eventually biodegrade, an estimated 14 million trees a year have to be cut down to make 10 million paper bags.
  
• Use reusable water bottles, instead of buying bottled water. It takes 5 liters of water to produce a liter of water. Check to make sure the bottle is safe. If you see a number 2, 4 or 5, the bottle is safe.
  

1 month check up

Dylan went today for his one month check up. He is surely getting enough of momma's milk.  He weighed 10 lbs 11 oz and was 24 inches long. The doctor was shocked at his length. He's in the 97 percentile for length. As for weight, he's in a 50-75 percentile. His head circumference was 15 inches and his percentile for that area is 25-50.  Good news, he doesn't have a big head...whew. 

Snapshots

One of the things that I love about our photographer is how quick she turns around your photos. It's only been 2 weeks. I am sharing with you all some of my favorites.

This one is one of Damien's favorites. He said it makes him laugh since it looks like he's laughing.
Family Photo

Flashback Friday ~ my former body

This photo was taken about 6 years or so ago. I was going to a Janet Jackson concert, so it's a rule that you have to look hot, right.  

Damien saw this photo laying out on the counter as I had to go next door to scan it, and he asked, "what's this, motivation?" I said, kind of, it's going on my blog as flashback friday.  I would like to have the option to wear shirts like these again. I know it will take time. 

Me a criminal?

Apparently that's what they thought at Kohl's yesterday.  Dylan and I had to get out of the house, mainly because he was squirmy and he does better out and about, so we went to Kohl's and Target. I really didn't have any intent to buy anything, maybe a shirt or two if I found something that fit, but really was there just to stroll around indoors in the air.  At one point, I was in the make up/ jewelry section and I look over to see a guy looking at make up.  I thought maybe he's suppose to meet his wife there or something.  I move on and so does he.  Ahhh, I get it, he's loss prevention.  He's checking up on people who could potentially be shoplifters.  I really considered going over to him and saying you know for loss prevention, you aren't that inconspicuous. First off, he was carrying a Kohl's mesh shopping bag.  What guy use a shopping bag? Then he's in the make up section. Then every step I took, he took.  I am not even a professional shoplifter and I noticed his mistakes.  The pros won't be fooled either.  Next time I am in for a stroll, which will probably be soon, I will give him a heads up.  

Stay posted, I am going to post a flashback friday photo later today, if the day goes well.

Dylan's Sneak Peek

We had Dylan's pictures taken on May 24th with the same photographer who did my maternity shots (did I mention that she is fabulous).  Anyway, she posted some of my sneak peeks on her blog, and I thought I'd share the ones of Dylan. More to come when I get all of them.  

If you like her work, check her out ~~ www.kerikayphotography.com

Worth the $$$?

Do you think that 3D ultrasounds are worth it?  Does Dylan favor his?  What are your thoughts? We think that he looks like his ultrasound, but we could just be biased.