ExerSaucer Splash Active Learning Center, fun at first...

I got the ExerSaucer Splash Active Learning Center as a gift for my 5 month old son. There’s a reason why the recommended age is set for an older age. At younger age, head and neck support is still developing. If you put your child in this learning center while they are still developing these muscles, the entire learning center turns into a frightening bobble-head like toy, offering no support. So, pay attention to the age recommendation.

During assembly, my boyfriend noticed that there were slots for support props so that the center doesn’t wobble too much. The props weren’t included and after reading the manual, we needed to call their phone number to receive them. Their customer service was prompt and I received three red support props that snap on to support the center. I question why they didn’t include the props in the first place since they weren’t but two or three inch long pieces of plastic.

There are a few simple toys included in the center. I imagined my son growing bored of them quickly but when we put him in the learning center, he liked to touch the fishes, run the spinner, shake the rattle, flip the coins into the cup, and rotate the triangular blocks. I have seen my son put these toys in his mouth by bending them. The toys can come off with a squeeze of the toy base and a pull for removal for cleaning.

The seat does put some pressure on babies’ stomach so I would warn against putting them in the seat immediately after eating. The play area surface can be wiped down but there are lots of grooves and crevices that spit-up curds can become lodged in. Pay special attention to the stickers that are on one of the toys, as well. The glue used to keep the fish stickers on isn’t the best and the fish stickers can become peeled and possibly eaten. Do not let your child eat these stickers. Use a hairdryer to peel them off easily and dispose of them. To keep the toy fun, you can sew on some colorful fabric.

The center is supposed to bounce, let your child spin around and wobble in it. My son likes to do all of those. He likes to move around to watch mommy. The legs have raised bumps that fit into the blue leg holes. I have read reviews about while the baby has been bouncing that the legs can become unfixed and dangerous but that hasn’t happened to me. The wobble feature was one that I became most cautious about and has made me want to not use this product ever again.

My son likes to reach while he wobbles. The cat comes in and my son tries to reach for her. The surface of the center gave to him and pretty soon he was on top of the center, out of the chair. Several dangerous scenarios could have happened but my son was unharmed due to my quick response. If a slower response were had, he could have been injured. Keep an eye on your child if you have a climber or a reacher.

Wikipedia as a source?

"Wikipedia is not a good source." - How many times have we heard that? While it is true that Wikipedia's open edit online encyclopedia, that doesn't necessarily mean any information gathered from it should be terminated. If that were the case, why would it exist?
I use Wikipedia to look up things. If I don't want to know everything about a topic but just want a brief surface estimate, I wiki it. If I want to know the origin of Christmas, the table of contents for Christmas is what I'll look under.
Now, what a lot of people get flustered about with credibility and opinions is that they see paraphrasing from other sources. The paraphrasing isn't the part that needs attention - it's the citations. Those tiny numbers in brackets littered throughout the descriptions. Those are what is clickworthy.
The references and notes, further reading, and external links are where its at. A library of sources on the article you want to research (Christmas) can be found here.

Wall Color, Pants & Showers

We have had wall color ideas picked out, two baby showers, and an OBGYN since my last update. Not that life hasn't been eventful enough, Ive just been one tired puppy.
So let's talk about the colors first. I didn't want the usual baby boy blue but I do like the blue colors. Chromotherapy concludes that blue is a soothing color so that's a bonus. Our last outing to Home Depot consisted of me grabbing a handful of swatches. Most were blue but some were green. After three narrowings, I found a tealy color more aptly named Laguna Blue that both Justin & I liked. He got the paint yesterday and is hoping to paint the room this weekend. So proud of the initiative he's taken.
My mom threw me a baby shower and my step mother threw me one too. They were two different styles so I'm not comparing them.
The one that my mom held took more of a party style approach. Fun and games make one tired momma. The guests got to take home goodies and I took home a lot of baby stuff.
My step mothers shower was more domestic. We played baby pictionary and my team won. Then again, my team always wins in our own unique way I'm still snacking on leftovers. I got loads more baby stuff.
Let me say that my son will never be naked!
At the OBGYN, I measured well according to the doctor. But first the nurse got me confused with another patient and told me to undress. I obeyed but another nurse came in and told me to redress again. "Do I have to?"

Sent from my iPod

What Not To Say To A Pregnant Woman

For the record, only a few of these has been said. Other than that, most of these are what I've heard from friends and family or overheard.

• Are you sure you're not having twins?
• How much longer is that baby going to stay in there?
• Any expectancies you have to the pregnant woman.
• How much longer are you going to stay barefoot and pregnant?
• You sure are looking round these days.
• Your face shows you're pregnant.
• You walk like an (insert animal here)
• (after being told planned baby name) I don't like that name.
• You can't blame everything on pregnancy.
• You need to eat less.
• You need to eat more.
• You should eat healthier.
• You're gaining an awful lot of weight lately.
• I think you should...
• Insults unless you'd like a telling off to shame your whole family and future children.

Suggestions of What To Say To A Pregnant Woman

• I'm on it dear!
• You look beautiful.
• I'm sure any choice you make will be for the best.
• When are you do?
• I can't wait to meet the little one.
• Yes, m'am!
• That's awful! Let me get you something to prop your feet up on.
• Would you like... (suggestions: ice cream, back rub, a fan, etc)
• Carefully worded compliments. You don't want us to get angry.

Hell hath no fury like a woman with child.

Sent from my iPod

Barefoot and Pregnant

I thought the phrase "barefoot and pregnant" referred to some piggish man concept on pregnant women. Boy was I wrong.
This is what "barefoot and.pregnant" refers to:

[IMAGE 1]

Swollen feet!
Now my feet haven't changed size much since middle school but with this pregnancy, I think that idea has changed drastically.
I go barefoot around the house because Justin thinks that I trudge through dog poop in sneakers outside. But bare feet are so much more comfortable than the restraining sandals I'd normally die without. I wear shoes only when going outside.
The more uncomfortable shoes are becoming for me, the less I leave the sanctity of indoors. We must go shoe shopping.
Normally shoe shopping would be exciting for a female but I shop like a male. I hate it. The styles are excruciatingly ugly and hurtful and more than likely will break in less than an hour of wear.
Here are my shoe requirements:

• Sandals for the southern summers
• No heels for my clumsy self
• Breathable but not abrasive
• Comfort above all

You can forget about toe polish. I can't even see my feet half of the time. I've heard of women getting pedicures. While that would be nice, I just don't have the money.

Sent from my iPod

New Stuff!!!!!

I'm so excited about my baby! He's going to be so darn spoiled but not rotten. He'll never be rotten.
After the second appointment at the OBGYN, we went to Burlington Coat Factory to investigate their supposed deals on maternity clothes. While they were cheap, you get what you pay for. Cheap materials and ripped clothing with that preworn and dirty looking. I don't like the raggedy ann jeans that some designers deemed stylish. They are also catering more to the fresh outta high school baby mommas who still want to dress as teenagers. Not for someone seeking sophisticated, conservative, mature clothing on a budget for sure. I left with a night shirt that says bun in the oven priced $9.99 and a tee shirt sporting baby feet that says 'what's kicking?' for $7.99. My synopsis: never shop there again! The secondhand clothing I received from one of my dad's coworkers were much better.
When we finally got back, we discovered another package. This time it was a bedding set! Pics promised.

Sent from my iPod

Busy Momma

We had 2 appointments today. The first was a pediatrician interview.
Let me tell you how much of a responsible and responsive partner Justin is. I only mentioned that we needed to start looking for a pediatrician for our son and he made us an appointment for the interview.
I had no clue what a pediatric interview consisted of. I voiced my concern and he sent me this link.
http://assets.babycenter.com/ims/Content/first-year-health-guide_doctor_interview.pdf
It's a basic guide. Now some things I didn't find absolutely necessary such as the doctor's views on breastfeeding, circumcision, and immunizations (of course they'd be proponents of such medical precautions) because I'm going to breastfeed no matter what anybody says and circumcision is our decision to make, nobody else's.
The two candidate pediatricians we interviewed were well-informed and seemed very straight-forward. While I'd be leaning to the female candidate side, I think we're siding with the male just because my son may be more open towards a doctor of the same sex.
We did see a rabbit on our way to the truck. It's a young one that although wasn't scared off, was cautious towards us. Could it be a sign we're headed for good things? I certainly hope so.
Can you spot the rabbit?

[IMAGE 1]

Sent from my iPod