Crazy Days

Even though Hubs is home, he's been busy with work, so I have seen him for maybe an hour over the past week.

Worth mentioning that Chase decided she was going to drop her nap - and hasn't had a nap all-week-long. And so today was the day where it all came together - or should I say, apart.

She became really hyper, started running around like a little pirate, would not listen, did things that she knows she shouldn't do, and I found myself saying "no" for about three hours straight. My eye even started twitching. I even raised my voice at one point, which I never do. It made her stop immediately, but only for about two minutes.

And so I packed her into the car and within 10 minutes, she was asleep.

Check This Out

http://www.lilliputplayhomes.com/custom-playhouses.asp

Littlest Picasso

So Chase has been drawing people's faces for about 6 months now, so yesterday I took her outside and we picked flowers. We then arranged them on a white plate and she proceeded to paint them. It's just amazing to me that a two-and-a-half year old is capable of painting petals, stamens, shading in areas. I really wonder why there aren't more programs for little children.

Glucose Test Results

All good. Nothing to worry about.

Daddy's Home

Welcome home to Hubs, who has been away on business since Sunday. I didn't get to see much of him today, and none of him tomorrow, but maybe someday soon we can find a little time together. Luckily, date night is Tuesday!

Preggy Update

I had my glucose test today (where they make you drink Orange water that is absolutely horrid and then tell you that you have to wait an hour and have your blood drawn). They say all pregnant women get this test (for gestational diabetes). So why didn't I have to do it in London? Hmmmm. I'm still fighting the crazy sugar low that happened just after the crazy sugar high that made me feel absolutely sick to my stomach.

The nurse asked me how I felt. I told her I was really tired, with no relief in sight. She said, "I know just how you feel. I had two girls and didn't sleep for four years."

Yep, that's about right, although she must have had hers closer together, because at this rate I figure I'm on track not to sleep through the night for 5 years.

Maybe at that point I'll just fall over.

And no one will be able to wake me up for at least a year.

Ooooh La La

So I let Chase pick out a color for her nails and toes. What color did she pick?

Berry Patch Farms

We just returned from Berry Patch Farms, which is located about 30 minutes North of Denver. We met up with three families to enjoy Fall festivities, which included - a bluegrass band, a straw maze, strawberry picking, pumpkin patch and a fabulous little country store.

Conversation With Mom

I was chatting with my mom today and she said, "I probably should have taken up my father's offer to make me the first woman oral surgeon in Washington DC."

To which I said, "but you bought the monkey instead?"

Not Kidding

So today Chase sat down at the top of the stairs and we had this conversation.

C: I'm sitting down.
Me: Why?
C: Because I want to talk.
Me: Okay
C: So how are you doing?

I'm not making this up; I promise.
It was one of the craziest mom moments to date.

New Bed For Chase

It's official - we're set to move Chase into her new, big girl, room. The only problem? Too much time passed between asking her if she wanted to move and actually moving, so now she doesn't want to move. So unless we can talk her into it, she'll be staying in her little room.

In Other News

First - Welcome Auntie Lockett! We are looking forward to hosting Auntie Lockett and Uncle Courtney when they return from Aspen. We were lucky enough to have Lockett come by and spend the afternoon with us. She was such a good sport and read loads of Dora stories to Chase.

Second - We bought Chase a Skuut bike. With a little more practice, she'll be able to keep up with us with no problem. On our walk, we ran into Cooper, one of Chase's little beaus.

Thanks, Nana Cris!

Thanks, Nee Nee!

Politics

So I've been avoiding blogging about politics, but I had to post this!

Dear MomsRising.org Member,

Yesterday, MomsRising.org members tried to deliver our letter--signed by over 21,000 people--to Governor Sarah Palin's office in Washington, D.C. The letter simply asked, "Where do you stand?" on key issues of importance to moms and families.

But, we were turned away at the door.

When pressed, Palin's staff told the group to drop the letter in the mail, refusing to acknowledge the crowd of moms (and adorable baby) who were in the office to hand deliver it.

Snail mail can take a while, and we want to make sure that this election covers more than moose burgers and body surfing. All candidates--male, female, Democrat, Republican, and other--should speak to these issues. Some are, and others aren't (1). So, we're bringing our questions to the next level: getting our questions front and center in the Vice Presidential Debate on October 2nd.

Email PBS Senior Correspondent Gwen Ifill, who will be moderating the debate, to tell her you want these important questions asked: http://www.momsrising.org/VPDebateQuestions

The MomsRising.org team has written five questions we'd like to see posed to both Palin and Biden in that debate (see the questions below (2)). Let's get these questions to the debate moderator so the American public gets a chance to hear both candidates, side-by-side, answering the same questions.

When you click the link above, you'll send a message to Gwen Ifill and cc both of the presidential campaigns to let them know that over 21,000 voters want to hear them talk about these issues (which impact millions of Americans) at the debate.

Tell your friends to email Gwen Ifill, too! She needs to know how deeply important these issues are for millions of Americans--and that we demand they be addressed now!

Thank you!

--Kristin, Joan, Mary, Katie, Laura, Roz, Ashley, and the entire MomsRising.org Team

1. MomsRising members are tracking all of the candidates' speeches, tallying any mention of issues that impact moms. See their tallies at www.momsrising.org/candidatesbingo. If you plan to watch the presidential debate tomorrow, September 26th, you can tally the issues, too! Get your scorecard at www.momsrising.org/bingocard -- and keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved as the campaigns continue!

2. Our questions:

* Right now, the birth of a child is the number one cause of a "poverty spell" in America, and 1/4 of families with young children are living in poverty. Do you support a policy to provide paid family and medical leave to parents following birth or adoption of a new child?

* Nearly 1/2 of all full-time, private sector workers in the U.S. have no paid sick days. Do you support a policy to provide paid sick days for workers to use when they or their children get sick?

* In most American families, both parents work outside the home. Please tell us what your administration would do to help parents secure excellent, affordable childcare?

* Studies show that moms are paid 73 cents and single moms are paid about 60 cents to the dollar for doing the exact same job as men. Do you support the Fair Pay Restoration Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act?

* A child is born every 41 seconds without healthcare. What kind of Health Care Policy could Americans expect in your administration?

Littlest Skis Ever

Today we went to get skis for Chase. They are SO cute. They are about as long as chopsticks. Okay, a little longer. But totally cute. We are leasing them for the season; I've heard there are some great tiny tot ski programs at Breck and Keystone. We'll post pics when she's all dressed-up in her bibs and boots.

Baby #2 Update

Nothing much to report, except this baby is REALLY active. Much more active than Chase was. The baby is still really LOW. And as of next week, I'm in my 3rd trimester, so I am starting to think more and more about getting this baby OUT.

Unlike when we had Chase, I feel totally prepared this time around. We have the car seat, the stroller, the baby carrier (that we should have had two years ago), a baby cot, and a baby travel cot (which Nee Nee has volunteered to help us out with).

I have even registered with Babies R Us, so that friends and family who are scratching their heads as the holidays approach have somewhere to go for a list of items we still need. I must also say that while I don't believe in baby or wedding showers, I know people enjoy giving gifts - so gift away if you feel so inclined!

http://www.toysrus.com/registry/index.jsp

Kitchen - What's Left?

All we need now is our new window (arrival TBD) to replace a very old, cracked window, and some lovely custom curtains from Nee Nee, who was kind enough to volunteer to help us out. There's a little touch-up, that can wait until I can paint, and a cookbook nook.... And then, we're done!

Updates

So we've hosted people over here three nights in a row, and I have to say, it could be the secret to keeping a clean house! It's exhausting, but it's been really fun showing friends our new kitchen.

Hubs did the backsplash this weekend and it looks terrific. It's SOOO close to done.

The one strange thing that has happened, is that ever since we added a disposal, it's like it tipped the delicate balance in the house. Next thing you know, the wallpaper the last people painted over is going to start falling off (oh let's hope not). Anyway, we've got "burping" happening in the second sink (the one without the dishwasher), and last night we experienced some DISGUSTING burping downstairs, caused somehow by water coming up (with veggie bits) in the sink next to the washing machine (strange but true) and then today, there was water coming back up from our the spot where the soapy water is supposed to go. And then there was the standing water in the bathroom next door to the washing machine (really weird).

Got Milk?

This from AFP ... Luckily we never drank Chinese milk or used Chinese formula - but we did love Chinese yogurt. Ah well.

This news makes me so sad - take something you think should be safe and find out, guess what, it's killing you.

Speaking of which, if you want an interesting read, check out the China Study!

Death toll rises to four as China milk scandal escalates

10 hours ago

BEIJING (AFP) — China's milk scandal escalated dramatically on Thursday as it emerged the illegal chemical blamed for killing four babies had been detected in a wide range of dairy products, leading to mass recalls.

Authorities in mainland China said melamine, the chemical normally used in plastics that was initially found in infant milk powder, was also in regular milk being sold by three of the country's biggest dairy companies.

In the southern territory of Hong Kong, the government there said melamine had been discovered in drinks, ice creams and yoghurt made by Yili, one of the big brands that was selling the contaminated milk on the mainland.

"We urge the public to stop drinking products from the brand," Constance Chan, the head of Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety, told reporters, after saying melamine was found in eight out of 30 Yili products.

The tainted products in Hong Kong and on the mainland were all being recalled on Thursday.

The discoveries came as Chinese officials reported a fourth baby had died in China's northwest Xinjiang region from drinking infant milk powder contaminated with melamine.

The Xinjiang fatality added to three deaths confirmed on Wednesday by Health Minister Chen Zhu, who also said more than 6,000 babies nationwide had fallen ill.

The scandal had already caused panicked parents around China to besiege hospitals seeking check-ups for their children, and the news that all other types of dairy products may be infected was sure to raise further alarm.

Melamine, banned in foods, was apparently introduced by dairy suppliers in China to give watered-down milk the appearance of having high protein levels.

It then made its way into the baby formula of 22 Chinese dairy firms, authorities said this week.

The three brands identified on Thursday as having melamine in their regular milk were Yili, Mengniu and Guangming, according to a report on the government-run television news station.

Meanwhile Chinese police made 12 more arrests as a probe widened into who added the melamine to the milk, Xinhua news agency reported, bringing the number arrested to 18.

The new arrests came in the northern city of Shijiazhuang, where the dairy manufacturer originally at the centre of the scandal, Sanlu Group, is based.

The mayor of Shijiazhuang was also sacked Thursday, according to Xinhua. Police had also detained the sacked chairwoman of Sanlu on Wednesday.

China's cabinet on Wednesday slammed the dairy industry as "chaotic" and said "flaws" were rife in supervision systems.

Seeking to rectify some of those problems, the government said Thursday it would cancel an eight-year-old system under which food producers could gain exemptions from safety inspections if they had good quality records.

Xinhua said one of the companies utilising that system was Sanlu.

The government also ordered stepped-up tests on livestock feed in an apparent signal of official concern over possible melamine contamination in the wider agricultural sector.

Even before the milk scandal, foreign media investigations had discovered wide use of melamine in China to give livestock feed the appearance of higher protein content.

China has endured a litany of scandals in recent years over dangerous products including food, drugs and toys, many of which were exported.

Two of the 22 milk companies found to have contaminated products exported to Bangladesh, Myanmar and some African countries. However, there has been no evidence yet the tainted products were sold overseas.

While praising China's response since the scandal broke, WHO China representative Hans Troedsson said authorities must determine why it took months for the risks to be made public, even though babies began falling ill several months ago.

"If this was deliberately not reported, that is a serious thing and must be addressed to make sure it is not repeated," Troedsson said.