Wow… haven’t blogged in quite a while! Not much to say, really… struggling a bit with my decision about college, that probably is the most dramatic thing going on in my life. I have been a photographer for quite a while, but thought it would be cool to teach it in the high schools or middle schools… but after a year of classes, I have begun to rethink my decision. Based on the rate of the courses I’m able to take, I will be about 46 by the time I get my degree – and that’s just the Bachelor’s. I will be about 70k in debt with student loans. And all that to get a job that will make me about $35k a year to start – and doesn’t include the fact that I will have to get my Master’s to continue to teach here in Ohio.

Hm. Probably not the best decision I’ve ever made.

I’m thinking about moving to another school and changing my major to Marketing. I’ve got a LOT of marketing experience, and it could get me far in the company I work for. I can still do the full-time job and maintain my photography business – it’s primarily weekends anyways, and my schedule works around it very easily.

Sigh.

On another note, Autumn is officially a kindergardener! The schools have no problem with me not wanting to legally assault and attempt to murder her with vaccinations, I just had to write a simple letter saying, basically, “Hell no”, and all was well. Brett is a Senior now, still on the honor roll too! Justus is moving to the 7th grade, and we hope he gains some maturity and responsibility over the summer to be more successful. And Ayla is still hangin’ out! I did just find out too that in Ohio, any daycare that is licensed by the state falls under the same guidelines as public schools – so I should be able to put Ayla in daycare in a year or two under the same vaccination exemptions. I was concerned that I was going to have to find a private, in-home care, which I’m not that wild about. So yay!

Hubby and I are trekking along famously. Our 10 year anniversary is next year, and we’re pricing cruises. We’re hoping a few other couples could join us so we can not only get a group rate, but have a blast for a week in the Caribbean. We’ll see!

So that’s my update. Hold yourself down in all the excitement.

This is a “page”, but I felt the need to repost.

 

Safe Co-Sleeping Information & Co-Sleeping Survey - please visit!

Great CIO information (thank you, Mothering.com, for compiling the information – heaven knows I wouldn’t be able to find all the great links you do, what an amazing site of wonderful women you are!):

Responding to Baby’s Cries and why you shouldn’t let your baby “cry it out”
Science Says: Excessive Crying Could Be Harmful to Babies
Dr Sears
http://askdrsears.com/html/10/handout2.asp

EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
What parents and caregivers need to know!
by Phyllis Porter, M.A.
http://www.educarer.com/brain.htm

Crying for comfort: distressed babies need to be held – Art of Mothering
Mothering, Jan-Feb, 2004 by Aletha Solter
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-20039587_ITM

The Dangers of Leaving Your Baby to Cry
By Margaret Chuong-Kim, M.A.
http://drbenkim.com/articles-attachment-parenting.html

The Science of Attachment:
The Biological Roots of Love
by Lauren Lindsey Porter
http://www.naturalchild.com/guest/lauren_lindsey_porter.html

The Emotional Infant Brain
Part 1: The developing emotional subsystems of the brain process various information, including how to relate the state of the world with expectations.
http://www.fresnofamily.com/articles/aa040100a.htm

Stress in Infancy
by Linda Folden Palmer, D.C.
http://www.naturalchild.com/guest/linda_folden_palmer2.html

The Science of Attachment
By Kelley Shirazi
http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/5-ap/312-responsive-parenting.htm

Mistaken Approaches to Night Waking:
Excerpt from Sweet Dreams: A pediatrician’s secrets for your child’s good night sleep, Lowell House, 22-28 By Paul M. Fleiss, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., 2000
http://www.nospank.net/fleiss2.htm

8 INFANT SLEEP FACTS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW
Dr Sears
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070200.asp

CONTROLLED CRYING:
AAIMHI POSITION PAPER
The Australian Association for Infant Mental Health:
http://www.gymealily.org/resources_paperva7.htm

Fatherhood Basic Instinct
A dad can do so much more than defend the cave. New research shows that he too has the biological goods to nurture baby
By John Hoffman
http://www.todaysparent.com/lifeasparent/fatherhood/article.jsp?content=1225399A

MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT WARNS THAT POPULAR ADVICE TO IGNORE YOUR CHILD’S TEARS MAY CAUSE LIFE-LONG HARM
Amelia Hill
http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/con…ioarticle.html

Why babies should never sleep alone: A review of the co-sleeping controversy in relation to SIDS,
bed-sharing and breast feeding
James J. McKenna* and Thomas McDade

Children Need Touching and Attention, Harvard Researchers Say
By Alvin Powell
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/1998/04.09/ChildrenNeedTou.html

CIO? No! The case for not using “cry-it-out” with your children
By Gale E.Ward
http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/attachmentparenting/cio.htm

A RECENT BLOG WITH GREAT INFORMATION AND LINKS:

Parenting Baby to Sleep
http://parentingbabytosleep.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/babies-%e2%80%9ccry-it-out%e2%80%9d-over-the-use-of-unsustainable-parenting-methods/

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http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T130300.asp

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T130200.asp

• Attachment is a special bond between parent and child; a feeling that draws you magnet-like to your baby; a relationship that when felt to its deepest degree causes the mother to feel that the baby is a part of her. This feeling is so strong that, at least in the early months, the attached mother feels complete when she is with her baby and incomplete if they are apart.
• We will often use the term mother-infant attachment, not to exclude the father, but because, at least in the early months, in most families the mother- infant attachment is more obvious. This does not mean that a father can’t become deeply attached to the child, but it often seems to be a different type of attachment – not less or better than the mother’s, just different.
• Attachment means that a mother and baby are in harmony with each other. Being in harmony with your baby is one of the most fulfilling feelings a mother can ever hope to have. Watch a mother and baby who are attached (in harmony) with each other. When the baby gives a cue, such as crying or facial expressions, signifying a need, the mother, because she is open to the baby’s cues, responds.
• Initially, her responses may be a bit strained and not always what the baby needs. But as the mother-baby pair rehearse these cue-response interactions hundreds of times, after a few weeks or months into parenting this cue-response relationship becomes more natural and harmonious. The baby begins to anticipate the response that his mother will give and become further motivated to give more cues, because he learns that he will get a predictable response.
• Because the baby gives the mother the feedback that her mothering is appreciated, the mother-baby pair enjoy each other more. They get used to each other.
• One attached mother told us: “I feel absolutely addicted to her” – meaning that the mother feels right when she is together with her baby and not right when separated.
• You will know when you get that attached feeling to your baby. When your baby cries and you respond from your heart with a natural and not a strained response, you are attached. When your baby gives you a cue and you respond with a feeling of rightness about your response, you are well on your way to becoming an attached parent.
• Periodically check your sensitivity index . If you are becoming increasingly sensitive to your baby:
  • Your baby’s cries bother you. You feel for your baby during colicky episodes. You are becoming attached.
  • You are determined to work at developing comforting measures when your baby is fussy. You are becoming attached.
  • You are learning to anticipate your baby’s needs. A facial expression, such as a grimace, precedes a cry. You respond at the grimace stage before your baby needs to cry. You are becoming attached.
  • Your responses are becoming more natural; they flow intuitively. Instead of making a science out of your baby’s cries and going through mental gymnastics (Will I spoil her? Is she manipulating me), you naturally act and feel right about your response. You are becoming attached.

This weekend was so beautiful, the children were able to get outside and really enjoy some fresh cool October air… and I managed to catch Autumn and Ayla doing what they do best – JUMPING!

 

Children to be removed by force and held down and vaccinated while the parents are locked up with out a trial.

“Parents will be incarcerated without trial” if you do not allow police access to your children.

A completely unnecessary, poisonous, unproven vaccine against a virus that is less deadly than the seasonal flu.

Are you really okay with this?  Then sit by and do nothing.  If you’re not okay, you need to stand up for your rights – and your children’s rights.  Our Constitution DOES still exist, regardless of what our “president” is trying to do to it.

Stop the insanity now.

Police to FORCE vaccinations

I wanted you so badly,  I couldn’t stop thinking about being a mom.

Then I blinked, and the pregnancy test said yes!  My hopes and dreams for you began right away.

And then I blinked, and you were in my arms.  I remember holding you that first day, when we had to go home alone.  We laid together in bed and I just stared into your blue eyes, and thanked God for giving me such a perfect gift.

And then I blinked, and it was your first day in school.  I remember walking behind you because you wanted to be a big boy, but you still snuck me a big kiss on my cheek before I snapped your picture and left you to your first teachers.

And then I blinked, and I was in the stands in the school gymnasium, listening to you play the saxophone so beautifully, watching your eyes as you made such stunning music.

And then I blinked, and you turned 16.  This weekend we celebrated this milestone with friends and family, we laughed and loved.  You’re driving, you’re growing, you’ve become such an amazing young man.  I’m so proud of you.

And I’m afraid to close my eyes.

The next time I blink, you will be off to college and a career, off to having your own family, off to making adult decisions and living your adult life.  How I cherish the moments between blinks, and how I wish they could last forever.

I love you, Brett.  Happy 16th Birthday.

We had an impromptu shoot yesterday looking for artistic graffiti in downtown Columbus. We stopped by the museum and by the arts college and snapped a few shots. Girlfriend knows how to work the camera!

All three of them got cute for me a few times too:

Yo Gabba Gabba is just plain creepy.  When I see a man in an orange jumpsuit, all I can think about is “inmate”.

The duck on Wonderpets needs intervention.  Bad.  A lisping role model is not really ideal.

I can’t put my finger on it, but something is wrong with Lazy Town.  It disturbs me.  On many levels.

The chick that does the voice on Wow Wow Wubbzy is the same one that does the Squirrel on Sponge Bob.  That voice makes me want to peel my skin off my face.  Please make it stop.

Someone please tell Ruby that she doesn’t need to begin and end every sentence with the word Max.  And interject it in the middle.  I’m fairly certain she says his name at least 3,629 times per episode.  If you’re the only two people in a room, I’m certain he knows you’re talking to him.

And where, exactly, are Max & Ruby’s parents, while they’re galavanting at the mall and all over town??

Change Sesame Street’s theme song back to the fun sing-song one it used to be.  Not the crap “rap” version it is now.

Let the Cookie Monster eat all the cookies he wants, for God’s sakes.  No kid gets obese from watching a muppet eat sweets.  It’s because the mom drives to the store and buys them, then lets her kid eat them 24 hours a day.

Bring back the Electric Company.  Like it used to be.

Shouldn’t Barney be dead by now?  What exactly is the lifespan of a dinosaur?  They didn’t live this long a billion years ago, for God’s sakes.

The Spider Dad on “Ms. Spider” is scary looking.  I’m all for scary – my kids love horror movies from as soon as they can sit and watch one – but this dude is eerie.

 

Now for some praise.

I can listen to Dora all day.  Really.  I don’t even mind that they’re teaching Spanish in my country, which should only speak English.  I just like the show.

The kids on the Backyardigans can SING.  They’re amazing!  I’m guessing it’s studio-enhanced, but I don’t care.

The best cartoon – no, the best SHOW – EVAH - is Family Guy.  It should be required viewing for all parents so they can work the bugs out of their uptight butts and have a few laughs.

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