Thursday, June 4, 2009

"Liberated and Unhappy" - Just Food for Thought

Interesting article from the New York Times

Op-Ed Columnist: Liberated and Unhappy By ROSS DOUTHAT

In the 1960s, American women reported themselves happier, on average, than did men. Today, that gender gap has reversed. Male happiness has inched up, and female happiness has dropped.


"...all the achievements of the feminist era may have delivered women to greater unhappiness. In the 1960s, when Betty Friedan diagnosed her fellow wives and daughters as the victims of “the problem with no name,” American women reported themselves happier, on average, than did men. Today, that gender gap has reversed. Male happiness has inched up, and female happiness has dropped. In postfeminist America, men are happier than women."

Side Note: I've had a lot of fun running around Corporate America and am grateful to be treated equally. I DO think however that men and women are just plain different. And while women are certainly MORE THAN CAPABLE of ROCKING the workplace and even tackling labor jobs successfully, maybe these numbers just illustrate the point that we are most happy when we find joy in our God given strengths? What's wrong with excelling at and embracing motherhood? Certainly more satisfying than documenting profit and loss margins at HP, trust me.

Could it be we've spent all these years trying to "prove" we are equal to men, by simply trying to BE men?

I am woman, hear me...?

Oh how life changes...



Before Marriage

  1. Monthly Spa Trips
  2. Anthropologie/BCBG Shopping Sprees
  3. $100 hair cuts
  4. Handbags: Prada
  5. Shoes: Lanvin

After Marriage

  1. Massage from Kris
  2. Shopping, what's that? Oh, you mean the grocery store?
  3. I actually cut my OWN hair last time
  4. Handbags: Rrright
  5. Shoes: Wearing the old ones

You could say my life has changed a bit :) Kris's fault? Actually, no. We set aside money every month for each of us in our "kitty account" to use at will. When we first got married I plowed through it, but I started using it less and less and after a year I gave it up entirely. It all goes to the house fund now.

So maybe my life isn't as glamorous but if I really wanted that stuff, I'd get it. Somehow it's just not as enticing. Interesting....

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Vote of the People Stands :)


The ruling was announced this morning. Prop 8 was upheld in courts.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Tof's First Modeling Gigg

Toy Box Tees

Love it! Love it! So our buddies Ryan and Steph Blad made an online t-shirt company for kids. These t-shirts are awesome and a GREAT idea for baby showers, birthdays, Christmas, whatever. We have two onsies already. Go get one!

Saturday we had a photo shoot for the company website. It was a blast. And Mr T's first modeling shoot :)

He's lookin' all tough and studly in this one. Really, he was looking at the camera, wondering what on earth it was and why he was laying on the really hard, uncomfortable wood floor - hence the furrowed brow.

These kids were SO DARLING! It was a blast for Kris to help with the shoot. Seriously, look at them. Soooo cute.

Ok so I can't remember what cartoon character this reminds me of. Somewhere in between an alien and a beetle. Cracks me up.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

BURNT EXPOSURE

Seems like Kris has been out shooting pics several times a week lately. I try to come when I can. I've got to say....I never get sick of looking at his stuff. He rocks the photog world.

Below are a few from the latest shoots. Check out more: http://www.burntexposureblog.com/












Miracle Product

Not to sound like an infomercial or anything but you know all those miracle drugs out there and they have all these "testimonials" of people who swear by them, and really, it's just crap? Yea, that's like half of the products out there.

Anyway, I feel it is my duty to report a product that is actually AMAZING.
Note: I have no affiliation with this company ;)

So, it's called Colic Calm
http://www.coliccalm.com/?gclid=CIrF78q3vJoCFQRkswod3mA1cA

Bottom Line:

It's expensive, it's all natural, and it is AMAZING. It works for gas, acid reflux, colic.... I've had SEVERAL great experiences with this. Just yesterday Tof was getting fussy and not wanting to eat. I think his throat may have been irritating him from the acid reflux (although the meds ARE helping a ton). Anyway, he wouldn't eat for about 7 hours and screamed every time I tried to feed him. Finally I gave him some of this and ten minutes later he sucked down 6 ounces.

I LOVE THIS STUFF

Warning: It is BLACK and does stain but I would stain all my clothes just to have this on hand. Follow the link and read more about it.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Unexpected

You never really know what kind of side effects meds will have... :)



I'm thinking he's more of a blonde :)

P.S. Other side effects: Last night he slept from 9:30 - 6:30. NINE HOURS!!!!!!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Bragging Rights

Congrats Jer!





My AMAZING brother, Jeremy, was just appointed to a Congressional Committee - the Online Safety and Technology Working group in Washington D.C. They are a working group dedicated to protecting children on the internet. See more about it: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2009/OSTWG_090428.html

NOT TO MENTION, Glenn Beck's team recently called him to interview him for a potential spot on the show because of a press release he and his equally awesome wife, Jill, wrote regarding the nomination of David Ogden to the department of justice...uhmmm, I LOVE Glenn Beck. The DAY he calls me to be on the show. Wow, Jer.

And since I'm on a roll I'll just say...my brother has always excelled at everything he has done! He was a black belt in karate at age ELEVEN, is an Eagle Scout, won state in Pole Vault in high school, went on to Pole Vault for BYU, served an awesome mission in Brazil and then not only went to law school but got his masters in business at the SAME time and EVEN went on to get a Certificate of Dispute Resolution.

But the best part of all, is that even though he is a SUPER STUD ;) with lots of bragging rights, he is so humble and just full of integrity, kindness, and love.

He married an amazing woman and has SIX amazing children.

JER! You are my hero. I love you!! CONGRATS!!

P.S. Keep an eye on him, friends. You will hear his name again :)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Bloody and Bowed


I surrender
What else do you do when you've been up all night, your baby refuses to eat for NINE hours, and you end up force feeding him out of a syringe while he screams?
He is now on meds.
P.S. FINALLY found an awesome pediatrician, thanks to my friend Julie B. We are going to get the reflux straightened out and then do a process of elimination to see about any allergies.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Gastroenterologist

Today me and my little buddy go to the GI specialist. I'm really excited actually. Trying to figure all this out on my own has been nerve wrecking and stressful. What about my pediatrician, you say? Yea, his diagnosis was "grumpy baby". He has since been fired and I meet with my new one on May 1st. It'll be good to go armed with info from this specialist today.

My diagnosis? Poor kid is allergic to the milk and soy protein and responds to the allergy with acid reflux symptoms, among others. We shall see.

He is now on hypoallergenic formula. Tastes like rabbit food smells. Seriously. I tasted it a few times. Nursing has all but failed. I was prescribed medicine to get my milk back but it has some pretty wretched side effects AND is secreted through breast milk so I'll talk to the specialist about that too.
--------------------------------------------------
UPDATE:

Worthless, completely worthless. I waited a month to get into a "specialist" only to have to convince the nurse practitioner that my case was good enough for the Doctor to come in. At one point she even tried to give me the whole "well, you're a new mom paranoia speech" Oh NO you don't!

Little Kristofer was being darling and smiling his little face off too so that didn't help (hahaha) but when the Dr finally came in he was screaming his brains out as I was trying to feed him then making the "reflux" noises after. So finally she tells me, "Sounds like he's refluxing". And I'm like, "YA DONT SAY!" Jeeze. What a waste of time.

So I left with another prescription of Zantac. Thanks. That's two now.

P.S. He's actually doing SOOO much better since he was on milk so I can't help but blame the milk allergy. We are talking SCREAMING all day, diarhea, eating less and less, screaming during sleep, crying when he swallowed, acid smell all over his mouth and my clothes, trouble sleeping, hoarse voice, congestion, it goes on and on. He is 100 times better.

So the lady is telling me to put him on Zantac and I'm like, "Well, if he's allergic to milk, instead of giving him something he's allergic to and then a drug after to fix the allergic reaction...how about let's NOT give him milk and NOT have to give him drugs. It's not rocket science people. Idiots. The only problem is he still shows some of the signs of refluxing, just minor. He said it peaks at four months. He's doing so well, I really hope it doesn't get worse.

My diagnosis: He has a minor case of acid reflux that is aggrivated by a milk allergy
My plan: Keep on keeping on.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Mini

Kris loves having a little mini. They are two peas in a pod and the two best lookin' guys that I know :)