tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28255325889750698782024-03-13T08:40:08.011-07:007x7xMommy7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-55089413520305300092011-05-24T08:49:00.000-07:002011-05-24T08:49:25.707-07:00ROUND 2: Wish Us Luck...It's Vaccination Day<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Remember this? <b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/03/wish-us-luckits-vaccination-day.html"><span style="font-size: large;">{Wish Us Luck...It's Vaccination Day}</span></a></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Here was the result...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibrgSdGxDTk/TdvS_Nm-2sI/AAAAAAAAD58/3SXXM30ikgY/s1600/IMG_3086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibrgSdGxDTk/TdvS_Nm-2sI/AAAAAAAAD58/3SXXM30ikgY/s640/IMG_3086.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8HENlynwW0/TdvTCAazXKI/AAAAAAAAD6A/P6g1n0CKiVU/s1600/IMG_3087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8HENlynwW0/TdvTCAazXKI/AAAAAAAAD6A/P6g1n0CKiVU/s640/IMG_3087.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6KJGXEvCu5Q/TdvTExB4XsI/AAAAAAAAD6E/8WrCM0cAl14/s1600/IMG_3088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6KJGXEvCu5Q/TdvTExB4XsI/AAAAAAAAD6E/8WrCM0cAl14/s640/IMG_3088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So sad, right???</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And guess what today is?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You guessed it...<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ROUND 2...</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The good thing is that we'll also get to find out how much she's grown over the last two months - stay tuned!</span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-27134721904884618042011-05-24T08:42:00.000-07:002011-05-24T08:42:14.760-07:00The Panda Report: 4 Months<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>At 4 months, Abigail is sporting <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/05/teething-and-breastfeeding-ouch.html">one extremely sharp tooth,</a> she's "talking" and <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/05/little-laughter-is-best-laughter.html">laughing up a storm</a>, she's <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/first-we-could-get-used-to.html">sleeping through the night</a> consistently, and she's drinking out of adult glasses...</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7A9NHTo30OU/TdvPJ8cd0NI/AAAAAAAAD5I/weTBN8TQ5ng/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7A9NHTo30OU/TdvPJ8cd0NI/AAAAAAAAD5I/weTBN8TQ5ng/s640/DSC_0085.JPG" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Well, the last part is just a joke but let's just say our little newborn is growing up and enriching our lives like we never thought possible. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Here are a few pictures from her 4 Month photo shoot.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NU2pC1Wawyo/TdvPef0bcGI/AAAAAAAAD5M/nytX6PkZXNo/s1600/IMG_3851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NU2pC1Wawyo/TdvPef0bcGI/AAAAAAAAD5M/nytX6PkZXNo/s640/IMG_3851.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIwA0-iUjqI/TdvPgnsZmeI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/HWeVTHg79IY/s1600/IMG_3860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIwA0-iUjqI/TdvPgnsZmeI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/HWeVTHg79IY/s640/IMG_3860.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gcvXjT2BA4Y/TdvPjidz0MI/AAAAAAAAD5U/cnxh-_obUyM/s1600/IMG_3865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gcvXjT2BA4Y/TdvPjidz0MI/AAAAAAAAD5U/cnxh-_obUyM/s640/IMG_3865.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LPI4auTTkJI/TdvPmNF8m4I/AAAAAAAAD5Y/gKZzB1UQY0k/s1600/IMG_3872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LPI4auTTkJI/TdvPmNF8m4I/AAAAAAAAD5Y/gKZzB1UQY0k/s640/IMG_3872.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>And this little one had quite the day...she attended her very first Giants game (well, <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2010/09/theres-panda-inside.html">unless the ones she attended in my belly count</a>). The game went into extra innings (ended in the bottom of the 11th), the Giants won, Abby was awake for almost the entire event, and we're pretty sure she had a great time with Mommy and Daddy...</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9xQzLNTxfQk/TdvQvi3oGlI/AAAAAAAAD5k/eS6alNuzTec/s1600/IMG_3890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9xQzLNTxfQk/TdvQvi3oGlI/AAAAAAAAD5k/eS6alNuzTec/s640/IMG_3890.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2GVNx3sx2I/TdvQx8MsptI/AAAAAAAAD5o/w7g6sErP27U/s1600/IMG_3898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2GVNx3sx2I/TdvQx8MsptI/AAAAAAAAD5o/w7g6sErP27U/s640/IMG_3898.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wbu46KtyVDw/TdvQ49aynrI/AAAAAAAAD5w/jQhte5nuAsw/s1600/IMG_3902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wbu46KtyVDw/TdvQ49aynrI/AAAAAAAAD5w/jQhte5nuAsw/s640/IMG_3902.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bxAAeFEL_zI/TdvQ604h97I/AAAAAAAAD50/4kaxazBexMs/s1600/IMG_3911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bxAAeFEL_zI/TdvQ604h97I/AAAAAAAAD50/4kaxazBexMs/s640/IMG_3911.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjrtLUkoIuw/TdvQ9dMDzOI/AAAAAAAAD54/0FRBdZkdzoA/s1600/IMG_3916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjrtLUkoIuw/TdvQ9dMDzOI/AAAAAAAAD54/0FRBdZkdzoA/s640/IMG_3916.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>I'm sure it'll be a day she will always remember (well, I actually doubt it, but at least we have pictures to remind her!). </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Take a look back at previous <b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/search/label/The%20Panda%20Report">Panda Reports</a></b>:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/panda-report-3-months.html">The Panda Report: 3 Months</a></b></span> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/03/panda-report-2-months.html">The Panda Report: 2 Months </a></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report-1-month.html">The Panda Report: 1 Month</a></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/abby-panda-on-etsy.html"><b>Abby (the Panda) on ETSY!</b></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report-3-weeks.html"><b>The Panda Report: 3 Weeks</b></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report-1-week.html"><b>The Panda Report: 1 Week</b></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report-birthday.html">The Panda Report: Birthday</a></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report.html"><b>The Panda Report</b></a></span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-57787690739955376852011-05-24T08:22:00.000-07:002011-05-24T08:22:30.478-07:00(UPDATE) Bye Bye, Blogger!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Well, I'm sad to say that <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/05/bye-bye-blogger.html">the transition to WordPress</a> is going to take MUCH longer than I originally thought. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Silly me for thinking it was going to be easy...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Silly me for thinking Abigail was going to assist me throughout the process (by taking long naps and maybe even formatting a few of my posts)...something like this...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKZxQIv-BVI/TdvM_qseH3I/AAAAAAAAD5E/NScR8cxvlXk/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKZxQIv-BVI/TdvM_qseH3I/AAAAAAAAD5E/NScR8cxvlXk/s640/DSC_0051.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Silly me for failing to remember that I only have so many "free" minutes in a day and that blogging is rarely priority #1...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Man oh man. It could take YEARS!!! (haha, that may be a bit of an exaggeration) </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Oh well...as I continue to navigate my way around WordPress, I still have some updates for you.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Stay tuned!</div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-58601361918034282942011-05-20T15:29:00.000-07:002011-05-20T15:29:45.170-07:00Bye Bye, Blogger!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Borrowing a few famous words from Mr. LeBron James himself,<b><span style="font-size: large;"> I wanted you all to know that I will be "taking my talents" to WordPress...</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X4DhAmnrR74/TdaIqQo_A0I/AAAAAAAAD34/HlACKU05UuQ/s1600/wordpress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X4DhAmnrR74/TdaIqQo_A0I/AAAAAAAAD34/HlACKU05UuQ/s200/wordpress.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Blogger has disappointed me time and time again. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">From going down regularly enough for it to be annoying, to losing a few of my posts, to making it difficult for my friends, family and followers to comment...I've officially had it!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As I make the transition, please be patient with me</b></span>...I'm not totally sure how long it will take (especially considering the fact that I have about 2 hours in an entire day of 'Mommy Time'), but I'm hoping the transition will be completed before Abigail can crawl...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">How's that for a deadline? Wish me luck! </div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-59313520589966660822011-05-19T09:37:00.000-07:002011-05-19T09:37:15.436-07:00Teething and Breastfeeding (OUCH!)<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Abigail's new nickname?</div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sharkie.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And guess what? <span style="font-size: large;"><b> Sharkie just BIT me! </b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FyGbdVkR4MY/TdVBq4FMTkI/AAAAAAAAD3w/nXSCVYX-Mps/s1600/IMG_3691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FyGbdVkR4MY/TdVBq4FMTkI/AAAAAAAAD3w/nXSCVYX-Mps/s640/IMG_3691.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This is her laughing at Mommy after taking her first bite...what a sweetheart...<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You see, <b><span style="font-size: large;">Abby cut her first tooth at the <i>EXTREMELY </i>young age of 3.5 months.</span></b> And while I thought it was pretty cool at first (<i>"She's SO advanced!!!")</i>, now I'm not so sure. <span style="font-size: small;">After experiencing Sharkie's first CHOMP I think it's safe to say that I'm officially frightened...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>These are not teeth. These are mini serrated knives. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oyrPd_bI1yk/TdVF1rKKqBI/AAAAAAAAD30/vMp6Sgjtr8Y/s1600/serrated-knife.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oyrPd_bI1yk/TdVF1rKKqBI/AAAAAAAAD30/vMp6Sgjtr8Y/s320/serrated-knife.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Doesn't she know she's supposed to save the teething for <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/05/meet-sophie-teether-toy-miracle-worker.html">Sophie</a></b></span>? Oh, right...she's a baby and doesn't know the difference.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And while a few nibbles won't stop me from breastfeeding (as my goal is to continue for 6 months to a year), a few more severe chomps from Sharkie might have me covered in band-aids and tears...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">But I can do it...<span style="font-size: large;"><b>if I could survive the first few weeks of breastfeeding which were by far the most difficult, I can most definitely survive Sharkie. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let's just hope the next teeth take a little longer to cut through...</span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-51027428536845614352011-05-18T14:53:00.000-07:002011-05-18T14:53:04.744-07:00MAQs: Where Did You Buy Maternity Clothes?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Last week, I tackled a soon-to-be/new-Mommy question <b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/05/maqs-how-did-snap-n-go-work-as-travel.html">{Read HERE}</a></b>.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><div><br />
</div><i>This </i>week I'm going to tackle a question frequently asked by pregnant friends. It's a question I think all newly pregnant women ask their previously pregnant friends, so I'm hoping my answer will be at least somewhat helpful! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/search/label/MAQs"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>MAQ</b></u></span></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Where did you buy maternity clothes?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ket2TskPtF0/TdQ1KZ2N26I/AAAAAAAAD2c/ShZD3O4VJ3w/s1600/IMG_6197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ket2TskPtF0/TdQ1KZ2N26I/AAAAAAAAD2c/ShZD3O4VJ3w/s640/IMG_6197.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>7x7xMommy</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Ohhhh, maternity clothes...I feel like women are either <i>super </i>excited about shopping for them or they're absolutely dreading the experience. For me personally, I was excited (I wouldn't say <i>super</i>, but I was definitely not dreading it)...I just saw it as an opportunity to expand my relatively pathetic wardrobe. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Let me put it this way...to this day, Travis still tells me my maternity wardrobe was better than my "normal" wardrobe (think: black yoga pants and a black North Face 90% of the time). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">That being said, I must have done <i>something </i>right when I purchased my maternity clothes. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Here are my thoughts on the experience:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. WAIT</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Yes, even those of you who fall into the category of "super excited." I <i>highly </i>recommend waiting to go shopping for maternity clothes until you're <i>at least </i>5 months along...either that, or <b>wait until you're showing </b>(which for some could be before or after the 5 month mark). <span style="font-size: large;"><b>You won't really know <i>how </i>your body will change until it <i>actually </i>changes</b></span>...avoid the return line by being patient...and while you're working on your patience, invest in some Belly Bands...which brings me to my next tip... </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Buy a Belly Band</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">What's a Belly Band? Well, it's a life (and a money) saver. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZrEjRRCkQc/TdQxvBjONUI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/IgRRkuokZNI/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZrEjRRCkQc/TdQxvBjONUI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/IgRRkuokZNI/s640/IMG_0032.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back when I was about 27 weeks along, I wrote my<a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2010/11/top-10-tips-for-pregnancy-impending.html"> <b>Top 10 Tips for Pregnancy & (Impending) Parenthood</b></a> and #1 on my list was a Belly Band. I said it before and I'll say it again, <i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>You’ll never know how amazing an elastic tube around your belly feels</b></span> until you’ve purchased a Belly Band. I’d buy one or two of these right away because you never know when that magical day will arrive…that magical day being the one where you can no longer button your pants (or zip your zipper for that matter).</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I found my Belly Band at Target, but I've seen them pretty much anywhere you can purchase Maternity clothes.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Plan Ahead</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">When the magical day I mentioned above actually arrives, I think it's about time to find some maternity clothes. And before you head out,<span style="font-size: large;"><b> I recommend taking some time to evaluate your day-to-day life.</b></span> What will you really need? What's your dress code at work? What can you "make work" in your current wardrobe? </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The reason I think this step is so crucial is because <span style="font-size: large;"><b>you're only pregnant for 40 weeks (give or take a few)</b></span>...in the grand scheme of things, that's <i>not </i>a long time. You don't want to go spending a ton of money on items you're not going to use regularly (unless you have an unlimited budget, of course...but something tells me the majority of new moms don't have unlimited budgets!).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another good question to ask yourself is: <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are we planning on having more than one baby?</b></span> I know not everyone knows the answer to this question, but for me personally, knowing that we plan on having more than one baby means my maternity clothes will resurface someday (they're currently in a bag in my closet waiting patiently for bump #2). Knowing that, I was able to justify purchasing a few "nicer" items for special occasions.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Planning ahead allowed me to go shopping without feeling overwhelmed and without making ridiculous purchases. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Save on Staples</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two stores where I found some essential wardrobe staples were <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.motherhood.com/">Motherhood Maternity</a></b></span> and <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/division.do?cid=5997">Gap</a></b></span> (mainly online for the latter). <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Motherhood Maternity </b></span>was the first place I went shopping and it's where I purchased the majority of my layering tops, my skinny jeans (Heidi Klum's brand), my black leggings (comfiest things EVER when you're pregnant), and a few other staples. Their prices were right, their clothes fit me well, and they lasted throughout my entire pregnancy (oh, and I still wear them from time to time even though I no longer have a bump). </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-em_csncKy-0/TdQ554mPbgI/AAAAAAAAD24/1inS-deL1Ys/s1600/IMG_0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-em_csncKy-0/TdQ554mPbgI/AAAAAAAAD24/1inS-deL1Ys/s640/IMG_0332.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>One of my Motherhood Maternity Outfits</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In my opinion, if you're looking to buy a variety of items without spending a lot, these are two great places to check out!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">5. Spend on Special Occasions</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every once in a while, it's nice to treat yourself to something special.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Toward the end of my pregnancy, I got a little antsy...I was ready for Abigail to arrive, I was sick of wearing the same outfits over and over again, and I knew we had a <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2010/12/maternity-shoot-with-brooke-bryand.html"><b>Maternity Photo Shoot</b></a> coming up. I HAD to find something new...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I finally reached my breaking point (which you know isn't hard to do when you're pregnant), Travis basically forced me to go to <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.momsthewordmaternity.com/">Mom's The Word</a></b></span> in San Francisco and I'm SO glad he did. We had the <i>best </i>experience...the sales associates were super nice and helpful, the clothes were comfy <i>and </i>fashionable, and we walked out of there with a few new outfits and an amazing dress for our photo shoot. The result?</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-JuxWc7zFM/TdQ9CFgwnvI/AAAAAAAAD3I/XRaSlMfWIUk/s1600/IMG_6095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-JuxWc7zFM/TdQ9CFgwnvI/AAAAAAAAD3I/XRaSlMfWIUk/s640/IMG_6095.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yy51qzW-jd0/TdQ9GRswr4I/AAAAAAAAD3M/X_vYcgI9fAE/s1600/IMG_6217-bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yy51qzW-jd0/TdQ9GRswr4I/AAAAAAAAD3M/X_vYcgI9fAE/s640/IMG_6217-bw.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">And while the clothes at <b>Mom's the Word </b>were definitely more expensive than at the other stores, they were worth every single penny. They're high quality, they're classics, and they'll be ready to come out and play next time! </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Bottom Line</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">When it's time to go shopping for maternity clothes, try to make it an enjoyable and memorable experience...it's definitely not your average shopping trip. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Find items that make you feel sexy, comfortable, and confident because that's how pregnant women <i>should </i>feel</b></span>. Take your best friend, your Mom, your Husband, or just your bump...but be sure to take your patience because clothes will be fitting you in a way that they never have before. :) Happy shopping!!!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>What Else?!?</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Friends, Family & Followers...where did you find your favorite maternity clothes? Any tips or tricks you'd like to add or share?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/"><b>7x7xMommy</b></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Read more MAQs <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/search/label/MAQs"><b>{HERE}</b></a></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-43775754188447961962011-05-18T09:53:00.000-07:002011-05-18T09:53:54.589-07:0030 Day Blog Challenge: Day 29: a Person I Love<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>This guy.</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uk5nq8DxW-Q/TdP3pmRdjFI/AAAAAAAAD2I/ZxXY4HMpNFQ/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uk5nq8DxW-Q/TdP3pmRdjFI/AAAAAAAAD2I/ZxXY4HMpNFQ/s640/IMG_1599.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And as much as I want to insert hundreds of hilarious pictures and stories of him and how he enriches my life, I'll keep this short...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I simply love him. </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He's the best (and in case I ever forget, he'll be sure to remind me). :)</span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-56472448226982750862011-05-17T15:40:00.000-07:002011-05-17T15:40:50.413-07:0030 Day Blog Challenge: Day 28: a Place I Love<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I love this place...</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--8uySi_JAGU/TdL4R8I9bpI/AAAAAAAAD04/3isPgvnn9yo/s1600/IMG_3905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--8uySi_JAGU/TdL4R8I9bpI/AAAAAAAAD04/3isPgvnn9yo/s640/IMG_3905.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>New York City</b></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...there's just something about it. I absolutely LOVE it. </span>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-91359016456439045202011-05-17T09:05:00.000-07:002011-05-17T09:05:44.857-07:00Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Someone in our family is balding and it's <i>not </i>the man of the house (way to point and laugh, Daddy).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zO4BW1cKqz4/TdKU2KXTf9I/AAAAAAAADz0/oXneatNCItc/s1600/IMG_3729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zO4BW1cKqz4/TdKU2KXTf9I/AAAAAAAADz0/oXneatNCItc/s640/IMG_3729.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Our little pumpkin pie is going for a new look: <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bald is Beautiful (either that, or she's going for a modified mullet) </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And she's working hard for it. Every night when we put her down, she puts herself to sleep by twisting her head from side to side (hence the reason she's balding in one main area and a little rat's tail is left behind). I think she's trying to tell us something...maybe that she wants to be a little blondie like her Daddy...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-geZK1PZ4NJo/TdKZB53e2BI/AAAAAAAADz4/dkbFAUBZEDg/s1600/T_1980_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-geZK1PZ4NJo/TdKZB53e2BI/AAAAAAAADz4/dkbFAUBZEDg/s640/T_1980_10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or maybe light brown like her Mommy...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RkYkp-0cyJ8/TdKZU_VxV6I/AAAAAAAADz8/Yn4jIBLAtNk/s1600/A_1985_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RkYkp-0cyJ8/TdKZU_VxV6I/AAAAAAAADz8/Yn4jIBLAtNk/s640/A_1985_9.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Heck, I don't care if it grows back </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="color: #674ea7;">purple</b></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...all I know is that I want it to grow back soon because I can hardly wait to give her pigtails (plus, I think the pigtails will help with the confusion as to whether she's a boy or a girl when I have her in full Giants gear...)!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">What do you guys think? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Will Abby have blond hair? Brown hair? Red hair? No hair? Mullet hair? </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I suppose time will tell...</span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-69900239110698010712011-05-16T08:04:00.000-07:002011-05-16T08:04:59.794-07:00Little Laughter is the Best Laughter<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Just like little toes, little fingers, little hiccups, little sneezes, and little smiles,<span style="font-size: large;"><b> little laughter is by far the <i>best </i>kind of laughter there is...</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you feel like smiling today, take a minute and watch this video.</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QOdBarf6OWU" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Have a <i>wonderful </i>day!</b></span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-76919331848714534202011-05-16T07:58:00.000-07:002011-05-16T07:58:20.792-07:00(UPDATE) Abigail's (Ever Expanding) Library<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Way back in February (and in new Mommy mode, that was FOREVER ago), I wrote about <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/abigails-ever-expanding-library.html">Abigail's Library</a></b>.</span> At the time, she was only a month old and was solely focused on eating, pooping, sleeping and screaming at me, so I can't say we got a whole lot of quality reading time in (lazy baby!!!).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Don't you worry though...she's become quite the bookworm at the mature age of four months minus ten days.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zUN9ZIcw5AM/Tcv5wFnpdBI/AAAAAAAADyQ/zUEtSgcDmhs/s1600/IMG_3677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zUN9ZIcw5AM/Tcv5wFnpdBI/AAAAAAAADyQ/zUEtSgcDmhs/s640/IMG_3677.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On a typical day, she enjoys reading her fabric book to <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/05/meet-sophie-teether-toy-miracle-worker.html">Sophie</a></b></span> (as she wouldn't want to give her a paper cut).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPXJzsK7eW8/Tcv6AQ_OYyI/AAAAAAAADyY/cytqNN5mcJk/s1600/IMG_3689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPXJzsK7eW8/Tcv6AQ_OYyI/AAAAAAAADyY/cytqNN5mcJk/s640/IMG_3689.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then, around mid-day, she'll request one of her favorite stories (typically involving a very lopsided picture to text ratio) out of <b>The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury</b>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPtF1PgX6DU/Tcv6LmY-B0I/AAAAAAAADyc/CWzIflwGxjo/s1600/IMG_3688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPtF1PgX6DU/Tcv6LmY-B0I/AAAAAAAADyc/CWzIflwGxjo/s640/IMG_3688.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And every night, before she heads to bed for her 8-9 hours of beauty rest, she reads <b>Good Night San Francisco </b>with her Daddy...the perfect way to end the day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kbBqBhKjGF4/Tcv6dAS7cBI/AAAAAAAADyk/aECUimYMVY0/s1600/IMG_3690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kbBqBhKjGF4/Tcv6dAS7cBI/AAAAAAAADyk/aECUimYMVY0/s640/IMG_3690.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">At this rate, I'm pretty sure it won't be long until she starts requesting the classics...I'll keep you posted. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Just remember, they're NEVER too young to start reading!!!</b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u5egH2_1PJM/Tcv6uG4igXI/AAAAAAAADyw/ca1bmRK1ht0/s1600/IMG_3684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u5egH2_1PJM/Tcv6uG4igXI/AAAAAAAADyw/ca1bmRK1ht0/s640/IMG_3684.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-30768187785473100632011-05-16T07:55:00.000-07:002011-05-16T07:58:47.079-07:0030 Day Blog Challenge: Day 27: a Child I Love<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Wow...this one's going to take a little extra brainstorming. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Child I Love</b></span>...hmmmmmm... </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh, I know! I love this one. :) My cute little Giants fan.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ggcj2IkeYo/TdE6lOVPynI/AAAAAAAADzo/EzUuf0UtKIo/s1600/IMG_3740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ggcj2IkeYo/TdE6lOVPynI/AAAAAAAADzo/EzUuf0UtKIo/s640/IMG_3740.JPG" width="462" /></a></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-29321677401507217952011-05-11T13:26:00.000-07:002011-05-11T13:26:29.183-07:0030 Day Blog Challenge: Day 26: a Funny (True) Story<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I'm absolutely determined to complete this <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/search/label/30%20Day%20Blog%20Challenge">30 Day Blog Challenge</a></span></b> that's been 5 months in the making...so like <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/03/30-day-blog-challenge-day-24-travel.html">Day 24</a>, I'm going to cheat on this one as well. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The thing is, <span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm not exactly funny.</b></span> My brother has actually counted the number of times I've said something truly funny and let's just say we're still in the single digits. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Anyway...I'm also not a big storyteller. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">But I want to get to Day 27 in this challenge, so I'm going to recycle a story that I found quite humorous at the time. And someday when Abigail is old enough to appreciate it, I'm pretty sure she'll get a chuckle out of it as well. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">That being said, please enjoy <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2010/09/breaking-news-is-abby-really-boy.html"><b>{BREAKING NEWS: Is Abby Really a BOY?!?}</b></a></span> - I know you all know the final result here, but it's still hilarious to me that we even dealt with this in the first place.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Oh, and when I saw my doctor <i>after </i>Abigail was born, she informed me that she'd NEVER had this happen to a patient before...in a strange way, it made me feel quite special. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3OOE_FXG1I/TcrwmlfmZ4I/AAAAAAAADxQ/5tibkhddLZY/s1600/IMG_3375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3OOE_FXG1I/TcrwmlfmZ4I/AAAAAAAADxQ/5tibkhddLZY/s640/IMG_3375.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-79395643291175128192011-05-11T10:41:00.000-07:002011-05-11T10:41:15.713-07:00MAQs: How did the Snap N Go Work as a Travel Stroller?<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks to Megan B.B. over at <b><a href="http://meganbbmemoirs.blogspot.com/">The Memoirs of Megan</a></b>, we officially have our first MAQ (or I should say soon-to-be-MAQ because Megan is currently pregnant with her first little one!). So here goes nothing...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>MAQ</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">How Did the <a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2327597"><b>Snap N Go</b> </a>Work as a Travel Stroller? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GsJIcd5VoFM/Tcq_csSy63I/AAAAAAAADwo/ZaWqgxZ7ZbM/s1600/IMG_3387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GsJIcd5VoFM/Tcq_csSy63I/AAAAAAAADwo/ZaWqgxZ7ZbM/s640/IMG_3387.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>7x7xMommy</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As many of you know,<a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/seeking-advice-flying-with-3-month-old.html"> I was a little nervous about traveling with a 3 month old</a>. It wasn't because I didn't think we could do it, it was simply because I'd never done it before and I didn't know what to expect (I call this "new Mommy fear of the unknown syndrome"). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In planning for the trip, I took into account all the activities we had in store and <span style="font-size: large;"><b>I knew we'd be walking...a LOT.</b></span> That basically meant one thing: <span style="font-size: large;"><b>we needed to bring a stroller.</b></span> And as much as I <i>LOVE </i>my BOB for our daily hour and a half long walks around San Francisco, I knew it would be a pain in the rear end to navigate (not to mention carry and fold up) such a massive stroller around the airport and in new cities.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Enter: a lightweight stroller...</b></span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">After chatting with some experienced parents and observing smaller strollers in some frequently visited Mommy destinations (I know this is a stereotype, but think the grocery store and coffee shop), I decided to take my 20% off coupon to Babies'R'Us and purchase the <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/its-snap-n-go.html">Baby Trend Snap N Go stroller.</a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9cVaw5-Eyk/TcrAQ7d4mWI/AAAAAAAADws/lpN6WH0Ol5g/s1600/IMG_3364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9cVaw5-Eyk/TcrAQ7d4mWI/AAAAAAAADws/lpN6WH0Ol5g/s640/IMG_3364.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It was the best $60 I spent in a LONG time. Well, I'm lying...I'm typically not the type to purchase warranties, but I spent $8.99 on a warranty for the Snap N Go. It covers the stroller for 18 months and even protects against airport wear and tear (since many people mentioned how their strollers were DESTROYED by airport employees). So I guess you could say <span style="font-size: large;"><b>it was the best $70 I spent in a LONG time. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">While the ride isn't nearly as smooth as the BOB, the Snap N Go is a <i>fantastic </i>lightweight travel stroller for the following reasons:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">1. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>It weighs <i>nothing</i></b></span>...well, it's 12 pounds but compared to my BOB (and compared to Abigail), it's light as a feather.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">2. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>It folds up easily</b></span>...I was able to hold Abigail in one arm and fold the stroller up with the other. It's <i>that </i>easy. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">3. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>It's small</b></span>...so not only is it light, but it's easy to navigate in crowded places (think the airport where it's <i>very </i>easily to feel stressed and overwhelmed with a baby, a stroller, and everything else you're carrying).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">4. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>It has a cup console</b></span>...this may seem ridiculous, but having two cup holders is the best - even if it's Sophie who's getting a ride in one of them. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCF8_YDVQMQ/TcrGNoVYORI/AAAAAAAADww/Wn6Is6Q7Bjc/s1600/DSC_0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCF8_YDVQMQ/TcrGNoVYORI/AAAAAAAADww/Wn6Is6Q7Bjc/s640/DSC_0475.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">5. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>It's compatible with many car seat brands</b></span>...it worked perfectly for Abby's Graco car seat, but it's compatible with a wide variety of brands (Baby Trend, Graco, Evenflo, Britax, Peg Perego, Chicco, Combi).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">6. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>The price is right</b></span>...as I mentioned before, it was one the best baby purchases we've made...it was worth every penny and it can be reused for baby #2 whenever Abigail grows out of her car seat. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Bottom Line</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you're in search of a lightweight stroller and/or if you're in search of a travel stroller, I would highly recommend the Snap N Go. It truly made our back to back cross country trips a <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/05/abigails-first-flighta-success-story.html">Snap</a>...read more about our adventure<b> <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/05/abigails-first-flighta-success-story.html">{HERE}</a></b>.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LTN_ziBJE_g/TcrGjuszacI/AAAAAAAADw0/XeU_uk4bcdg/s1600/IMG_3367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LTN_ziBJE_g/TcrGjuszacI/AAAAAAAADw0/XeU_uk4bcdg/s640/IMG_3367.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>What Else?!?</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Friends, Family & Followers...are there other travel strollers you'd recommend? Lightweight strollers you love? We'd love to hear about them! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/"><b>7x7xMommy</b></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Read more MAQs <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/search/label/MAQs"><b>{HERE}</b></a></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-4509249413347451292011-05-10T13:27:00.000-07:002011-05-10T13:27:33.074-07:00MAQs: Mommy Asked Questions<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Friends, Family & Followers:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let me preface this by saying that I am by no means an expert when it comes to pregnancy and/or motherhood.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Now that I've made <i>that </i>clear as day, I'd like to announce that I'm going to start a new "Label" on my blog that's dedicated to <span style="font-size: large;"><b>MAQs</b></span>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are MAQs?</b></span><br />
<br />
Well, they're similar to FAQs but instead of Frequently Asked Questions, they're <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mommy Asked Questions</b></span>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4N-e5iy7YgI/Tb8tOAp8HsI/AAAAAAAADuo/qJ2CECrfIk0/s1600/question-mark1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4N-e5iy7YgI/Tb8tOAp8HsI/AAAAAAAADuo/qJ2CECrfIk0/s320/question-mark1.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Why?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Well, because I've had many friends ask me loads of questions about many topics...everything from fitness to pregnancy cravings to traveling with an infant.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I guess it has a lot to do with the fact that amongst my friends, I'm one of the first to be going through many of these new life events and experiences. You could consider me the guinea pig of the group and<span style="font-size: large;"><b> I just so happen to be a guinea pig who's more than happy to share my stories of both <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/03/mommy-challenge-4-rainy-days.html">epic failure</a> and <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/05/abigails-first-flighta-success-story.html">triumphant success</a></b></span> as I figure out this new adventure called Motherhood. <br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And as my friends, family and followers ask me questions that I think might be helpful for many Mommies or soon-to-be Mommies or someday Mommies, I'll include them here...in the MAQs section of 7x7xMommy. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">That way, we can start a discussion...I'll post the question, include my personal opinion (which will not always be a popular one), and then open it up to anyone else who might like to add their own opinion from their experiences. Additionally, if you have any questions you'd like to ask, let me know and I'll get it on the blog.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Bottom line: <span style="font-size: large;"><b>We have unique experiences, diverse backgrounds, and we can all learn from each other. If you have any questions, leave me a comment and let me know! </b></span> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>7x7xMommy</b></a><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/"> </a></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-15161243038692485662011-05-10T09:57:00.000-07:002011-05-10T09:57:23.139-07:00Meet Sophie: Teether, Toy, Miracle Worker<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Let me begin with a little conversation I had with a friend when Abigail joined the world.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Friend:</b> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i style="color: #990000;">Does Abby have Sophie yet?</i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Me:</b> <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Who's Sophie?</i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Friend: </b> <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #990000;"><i>Oh, you'll see...</i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Now let me fast forward to last week when Abigail's first tooth joined the world.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Me to Abigail:</b><span style="font-size: large;"> <b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I think it's about time we find you a teething toy...let's walk down to Giggle and see if they have anything interesting</i></b> </span>(yes, I have full on conversations with my three and a half month old).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Abigail:</b> <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #274e13;"><i>Drool...</i></b></span>(and yes, I consider this a response worthy of a quote)<i></i></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i> </i><i></i></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So that very day, we strolled down to Chestnut Street, walked into Giggle, and there she was in all her glory...<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.giggle.com/eng/product/sophie_the_giraffe/616324">Sophie The Giraffe</a></b></span> (or more accurately, Sophie la Girafe - the box said she was "Born in Paris" - <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.sophiegiraffeusa.com/story.html">read Sophie's story HERE</a></b></span>).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It was almost as if she had a light shining down on her and some magnetic force drawing me toward her...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T1JvzCEAkzk/Tcls8hsMkLI/AAAAAAAADv4/hE6vJkaDvI8/s1600/DSC_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T1JvzCEAkzk/Tcls8hsMkLI/AAAAAAAADv4/hE6vJkaDvI8/s640/DSC_0270.JPG" width="496" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I finally "met" the infamous Sophie...and her marketing team.</b></span> Check out everything Sophie is capable of... </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="style15 style8">SIGHT</span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">At the age of 3 months, a baby’s eyesight is still limited and he can only make out high contrasts. The Dark and contrasting attention-catching spots all over Sophie the Giraffe’s body provide visual stimulation and she soon becomes a familiar and reassuring object for baby.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="style15"><b><span class="style8">HEARING</span></b><br />
</span>Sophie the Giraffe's squeaker keeps baby amused and stimulates his hearing. To begin with, the funny sound Sophie makes when she is squeezed helps to stimulate baby’s hearing, and then later, helps him to understand the link between cause and effect.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="style15 style8">TASTE</span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">A Sophie the Giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint, and is completely safe to chew, just like a feeding bottle teat. Her soft texture and numerous chewable parts (ears, horns, legs), make her perfect for soothing baby’s sore gums during teething.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="style15 style8">TOUCH</span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Touch is the first means a baby has of communicating with the outside world. Sophie the Giraffe’s soft feel, like baby’s mother’s skin, stimulates physiological and emotional response that soothe baby and promote healthy growth and well-being.. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="style15 style8">SMELL</span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The singular scent of natural rubber from the Hevea tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all his other toys. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="style15 style8">EASY TO GRIP</span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Sophie the Giraffe’s shape and 18 cm (7 inches) size are perfect for baby’s small hands. She is very light, and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip, even from his earliest days. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm still a little disappointed Sophie doesn't change diapers...</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">After reading all about her, I justified her seemingly ridiculous price tag and practically ran home to unwrap her and introduce her to Abigail (I suppose you could say I was more excited to meet her than Abby was, but that's beside the point).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The two seemed to have an instant connection...</b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6AYuwz9dMPU/TcltPt2D28I/AAAAAAAADv8/zJorMd84vSE/s1600/IMG_3611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6AYuwz9dMPU/TcltPt2D28I/AAAAAAAADv8/zJorMd84vSE/s640/IMG_3611.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wFJ_xYL3rRs/TcltRPaCVAI/AAAAAAAADwA/bOPjc9ESzMg/s1600/IMG_3616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wFJ_xYL3rRs/TcltRPaCVAI/AAAAAAAADwA/bOPjc9ESzMg/s640/IMG_3616.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I think this could be the beginning of a long friendship...I'll keep you posted on their bond and on whether or not Sophie <i>actually </i>helps with Abigail's time of teething. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fingers crossed Sophie turns out to be the Miracle Worker both her marketing team and my friends claim she is </b><span style="font-size: small;">(not to mention strangers at the airport - I swear <i>everyone </i>knows Sophie)</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">...we ha</span>ve some high expectations!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">But since she's still brand new to the family, we're being as warm and welcoming as possible...after all, she could very well be Abigail's new best friend (after me, of course).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITmmOFx2dSg/TcltaKiogzI/AAAAAAAADwI/JlJJDhruhLg/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITmmOFx2dSg/TcltaKiogzI/AAAAAAAADwI/JlJJDhruhLg/s640/DSC_0029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Anyone else have any Sophie stories? I'd love to hear them! </b></span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-85279129689553911542011-05-09T10:58:00.000-07:002011-05-09T10:58:34.866-07:00A Very Special Mother's Day<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Not only was it my first Mother's Day, but I was able to spend it with my wonderful little Momma, my brother and sister-in-law and their puppy, my little pumpkin pie, my uber-thoughtful hubby, <i>and </i>my Dad.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I don't think I could have asked for anything more.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to everyone for making it so special, from my card in the morning to my flowers at the airport, it was the perfect day.</span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Happy Mother's Day (belated) to all the Mothers and Soon-to-be-Mothers I know and love! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Here are a few pictures from our very special weekend. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmREMT_B8mI/TcgqnDg957I/AAAAAAAADvg/rqxquvPNxrs/s1600/DSC_0295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmREMT_B8mI/TcgqnDg957I/AAAAAAAADvg/rqxquvPNxrs/s640/DSC_0295.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjbEpIFF-ys/TcgqnnnGU6I/AAAAAAAADvk/jPUyjX6G95U/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjbEpIFF-ys/TcgqnnnGU6I/AAAAAAAADvk/jPUyjX6G95U/s640/DSC_0315.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNMiQBSX9A0/TcgqoJuaDpI/AAAAAAAADvo/B4tyhJlo28o/s1600/DSC_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNMiQBSX9A0/TcgqoJuaDpI/AAAAAAAADvo/B4tyhJlo28o/s640/DSC_0355.JPG" width="462" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvsD661Y6-E/Tcgqo9xQv4I/AAAAAAAADvs/Z8i8fyXyAns/s1600/DSC_0393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvsD661Y6-E/Tcgqo9xQv4I/AAAAAAAADvs/Z8i8fyXyAns/s640/DSC_0393.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BvbdUzFdj0k/TcgqpY1VD0I/AAAAAAAADvw/YsdVCHFoufA/s1600/DSC_0396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BvbdUzFdj0k/TcgqpY1VD0I/AAAAAAAADvw/YsdVCHFoufA/s640/DSC_0396.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WixWQpj0DE/TcgqqZi_yJI/AAAAAAAADv0/t4q5jR3AC14/s1600/DSC_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WixWQpj0DE/TcgqqZi_yJI/AAAAAAAADv0/t4q5jR3AC14/s640/DSC_0435.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-74678297761730245232011-05-02T10:29:00.000-07:002011-05-02T10:29:41.351-07:00Abigail's First Flight...a Success Story<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Even with two blown out diapers (<i>through her clothes and onto Daddy's pants and Mommy's breastfeeding cape while the 'fasten-seat-belt-sign' was illuminated due to turbulence</i>), I'm extremely happy (and proud) to say that Abigail is a wonderful jetsetter.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGWn9T8YAYY/Tb7j1fOh1jI/AAAAAAAADuU/6m67L7o0YI4/s1600/IMG_3380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGWn9T8YAYY/Tb7j1fOh1jI/AAAAAAAADuU/6m67L7o0YI4/s640/IMG_3380.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If we were to have changed anything about our trip, it probably would have been her diapers.</b></span> Two blow-outs on one flight? Really? Good thing Mommy over-packed the diaper bag with three extra outfits (I knew this so-called flaw of mine would come in handy someday!). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Other than the blow-outs, both flights were a monumental success. And thank <i>goodness</i> that's the case considering Abigail and I will be flying again (this time with KiKi) on Thursday. Had it not gone so well, I'm pretty sure I'd be freaking out right about now. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As I said before we left on Thursday, thanks again for all your tips over at <b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/seeking-advice-flying-with-3-month-old.html">Seeking Advice: Flying with a 3 Month Old</a></b>.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And as promised, here are a few tips of my own:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Arrive Early</b> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I'm sure some people might disagree with me on this (as they wouldn't want to spend a bunch of extra time at the airport with a newborn), but <span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm a strong believer in having extra time for peace of mind.</b></span> We were at the airport two hours before our flight and it gave us plenty of time to check in (which is much more complicated with a baby in tow), get through security, get to our gate, and have time to feed <i>and</i> change Abigail. By the time we were boarding, Abigail was soundly asleep on my chest in the Baby Bjorn (where she slept peacefully for the first two hours of the flight). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-farIgoInHI0/Tb7kIJiU1-I/AAAAAAAADuc/tV36QmUz76k/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-farIgoInHI0/Tb7kIJiU1-I/AAAAAAAADuc/tV36QmUz76k/s640/IMG_3374.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>She was obviously very excited to be at the airport</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Wear Comfy and <i>Easy </i>Clothes</b> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This goes for Mommy <i>and </i>baby <span style="font-size: large;"><b>(Daddy can wear whatever he wants as long as he's okay with getting pooped on)</b></span>. A flight is not the time to put baby in their cutest outfit...it's the perfect time to have them in their EASIEST outfit (think long sleeve onesie with a zipper). You won't have much space or much time to change diapers so keeping things easy is extremely important. And Mommies, if you're breastfeeding it's <i>much </i>easier to navigate your favorite sweatshirt than your favorite fashionable blazer...think COMFORT. My limbs are long so it was a bit of a struggle getting comfortable while feeding Abby on the plane...I couldn't imagine wearing anything that was difficult to move around in. And good thing I was elbowing my husband and not some total stranger. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YmKmLNUVQ5s/Tb7koeYh0DI/AAAAAAAADug/2xEYPjYnxu4/s1600/IMG_3384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YmKmLNUVQ5s/Tb7koeYh0DI/AAAAAAAADug/2xEYPjYnxu4/s640/IMG_3384.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Wearing our travel "uniforms"</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pack Extra Clothes</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Pack extra diapers and wipes too...more than you think is necessary...but packing extra baby clothes is just as important. You never know what might happen. I was not expecting Abigail to soil, if you will, two outfits on the way there but I'm SO glad I packed all the extra items I did. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>We would have been pretty far up $hit's Creek</b></span> (pun intended) had I not. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Remain Calm</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This may seem obvious, but don't underestimate the power of calm parents. And I'm not just talking about remaining calm for baby...I'm talking about remaining calm for each other. When Abigail blew out her diaper(s) and we were stuck in our seats due to turbulence, Travis and I took a few deep breaths...we could have started freaking out but had we done that, Abigail would have (more than likely) freaked out as well. So we just laughed. What else can you do? <span style="font-size: large;"><b>A baby doesn't have an "on-off" switch and they surely don't have a "don't-poop-too-much" switch either</b></span> (though wouldn't that be a wonderful feature). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Work as a Team </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Travis and I made a promise to each other before we traveled that we were going to work as a team because that's what it takes - a whole lot of teamwork. And while I know you're not always able to fly with your full team (husband, wife, partner, Grandma, Grandpa, friend, or whomever your teammate(s) might be), be sure to work as one when you can. Remember that <span style="font-size: large;"><b>you're only as strong as your weakest link</b></span> and if Mommy's having a panic attack because baby's crying, your team is going to suffer...big time. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rl3ox4QbqD4/Tb7lX2pZy9I/AAAAAAAADuk/qKf_z_sBMcU/s1600/IMG_3367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rl3ox4QbqD4/Tb7lX2pZy9I/AAAAAAAADuk/qKf_z_sBMcU/s640/IMG_3367.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our Team</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In closing, I'd like to quote Nike for my final thought on traveling with a newborn...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"Just Do It"</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It's an adventure, yes...an adventure that no new parent is ever fully prepared for...but that's just what parenthood is all about. Are you ever really <i>FULLY </i>prepared? If you're being honest with yourself, I would think the answer would be "HECK NO." But if you're the type of person who wants to continue living your life once kids enter the picture, get out there and continue doing what it is you enjoy. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Everything will be OK...even if you're covered in poop by the end of your first flight.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As they say, $hit Happens. </b></span> </div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-67850106289856444622011-04-27T12:30:00.000-07:002011-04-27T12:30:33.589-07:00It's a Snap! (N Go)<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Alright everyone...we're doing it! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Abby and I are hard at work preparing for the first of three cross-country trips</b></span> in the next six weeks. Yesterday we kicked off our travel prep by making a purchase that we're both <i>very </i>excited about...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We decided the BOB was too heavy and awkward for travel (and we wouldn't want it to get destroyed by the airlines) so we took our 20% off coupon to Babies'r'Us and bought the Snap'N'Go. I still can't believe how lightweight it is! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Mommy just assembled it in the kitchen...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OeVP-hWWLAk/TbhtvJGEMmI/AAAAAAAADts/OqB-DKrzqDk/s1600/IMG_3364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OeVP-hWWLAk/TbhtvJGEMmI/AAAAAAAADts/OqB-DKrzqDk/s640/IMG_3364.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>While Abby slept in the living room...she's obviously <i>extremely </i>proud of Mommy.</b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXV9IKXFPb8/Tbhtwnsg8zI/AAAAAAAADtw/iKqRSLIL8LQ/s1600/IMG_3365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXV9IKXFPb8/Tbhtwnsg8zI/AAAAAAAADtw/iKqRSLIL8LQ/s640/IMG_3365.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We're officially one step closer to feeling prepared...wish us luck!!!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thank you ALL for your advice over at </span><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/seeking-advice-flying-with-3-month-old.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Seeking Advice: Flying with a 3 Month Old</b></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> - I look forward to having some pointers of my own upon our return. </span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-41606788829311427222011-04-25T08:46:00.000-07:002011-04-25T08:47:23.443-07:00Decoding the Cry of the Baby: The "Burp-Me" Cry<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The <span style="color: #38761d;">Burp-Me</span> Cry</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This one can be confused easily with the <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-that-hurt-cry.html"><b>That-Hurt</b></a> cry because of its shrilling nature.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can, however, decipher between the two because typically, the <span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Burp-Me</b></span> cry happens relatively soon after a feeding. That being said, <span style="font-size: large;"><b>some stubborn bubbles lurk in the depths of her body and rise with a vengeance hours later.</b></span>..that can be a little confusing for me, a little frustrating for others (<i>why won't that baby stop crying!?!</i>), and <i>very</i> uncomfortable for Abigail. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Luckily, once the gas bubble has left her body, all is right with the world again and Abigail's back to her smiling ways. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbDwgnyXLqs/TbWWaxdaMVI/AAAAAAAADtE/b1Hm6P3IPb8/s1600/IMG_3283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbDwgnyXLqs/TbWWaxdaMVI/AAAAAAAADtE/b1Hm6P3IPb8/s640/IMG_3283.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Read more about <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-overview.html"><b>Decoding the Cry of the Baby</b></a>: </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-overview.html"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>The Overview</i></span></b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-that-hurt-cry.html"><i><b>The That-Hurt Cry</b></i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-burp-me-cry.html"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b></b></i></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><a href="">The Burp-Me Cry</a> </b></i></span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-59269092629043050852011-04-22T11:08:00.000-07:002011-04-22T11:08:45.782-07:00The Panda Report: 3 Months<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It's hard to believe she's already 3 months old...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And it's even harder to believe that since I posted <i><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/first-we-could-get-used-to.html">A "First" We Could Get Used To</a></b>, </i>Abigail has continued to sleep through the night. Last night was her longest stretch - <span style="font-size: large;"><b>she was asleep peacefully in her bassinet from 10:00pm until 7:00am.</b></span> It was amazing. And while we're still not expecting it to last or happen <i>every </i>night, we're definitely appreciating each and every full night of sleep we get!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In other Abby news, she's getting stronger, more talkative, and more aware of her surroundings every single day...oh, and she's still growing like a little weed. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Think she's getting bigger???</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j59slGeiq8A/TbHD2folwZI/AAAAAAAADsI/saYek75n73A/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j59slGeiq8A/TbHD2folwZI/AAAAAAAADsI/saYek75n73A/s640/IMG_3349.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3nL7fJUmEKo/TbHD6FhZExI/AAAAAAAADsM/MTM2BMRQR8Y/s1600/IMG_3352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3nL7fJUmEKo/TbHD6FhZExI/AAAAAAAADsM/MTM2BMRQR8Y/s640/IMG_3352.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QzGGArsqTY8/TbHD8yrjMzI/AAAAAAAADsQ/uaXjYbUQaQg/s1600/IMG_3353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QzGGArsqTY8/TbHD8yrjMzI/AAAAAAAADsQ/uaXjYbUQaQg/s640/IMG_3353.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">One more thing...last night while I was changing from my casual clothes to my even <i>more </i>casual clothes, I put Abby on our bed and set Panda on top of her...<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm pretty sure she was trying to devour Panda...</b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cZdc5yV_7U/TbG9ozRwjyI/AAAAAAAADrU/jxnSKq20AsY/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cZdc5yV_7U/TbG9ozRwjyI/AAAAAAAADrU/jxnSKq20AsY/s640/IMG_3337.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mN8YPrBVlqg/TbG9zGazkcI/AAAAAAAADrc/mmMquPYEGz8/s1600/IMG_3342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mN8YPrBVlqg/TbG9zGazkcI/AAAAAAAADrc/mmMquPYEGz8/s640/IMG_3342.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vPxm_GsMkj0/TbG94g3UMqI/AAAAAAAADrg/PWFHumGKpJ0/s1600/IMG_3344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vPxm_GsMkj0/TbG94g3UMqI/AAAAAAAADrg/PWFHumGKpJ0/s640/IMG_3344.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQiZef0cuBM/TbG9-TrSITI/AAAAAAAADrs/cV-HlSytT2c/s1600/IMG_3345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQiZef0cuBM/TbG9-TrSITI/AAAAAAAADrs/cV-HlSytT2c/s640/IMG_3345.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Take a look back at previous <b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/search/label/The%20Panda%20Report">Panda Reports</a></b>:</span></div><div><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/03/panda-report-2-months.html">The Panda Report: 2 Months </a></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report-1-month.html">The Panda Report: 1 Month</a></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/abby-panda-on-etsy.html"><b>Abby (the Panda) on ETSY!</b></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report-3-weeks.html"><b>The Panda Report: 3 Weeks</b></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report-1-week.html"><b>The Panda Report: 1 Week</b></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report-birthday.html">The Panda Report: Birthday</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/02/panda-report.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>The Panda Report</b></a></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-8708356416668208002011-04-21T16:24:00.000-07:002011-04-25T08:47:52.137-07:00Decoding the Cry of the Baby: The "That-Hurt" Cry<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The <span style="color: #38761d;">That-Hurt</span> Cry</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I hate this cry because it typically means that either I've hurt her or she's hurt herself...and it always seems to involve her crazy fingernails that grow like weeds.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm not ashamed to admit I've trimmed her <i>finger </i>instead of her finger<i>nail</i> </b></span>(what!?! Her nails are as thin as paper and feel the same as skin...not to mention they're <i>tiny</i>). This little accident (which I <i>am </i>a little ashamed to admit has happened more than once but less than five times) results in the <span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">that-hurt</span> </b></span>cry. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Believe it or not, <span style="font-size: large;"><b>it's a cry that has ZERO buildup. </b></span> It starts at the loudest possible point (or so you think) and then progressively gets MUCH louder, MUCH more dramatic, and it's even accompanied by tears. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This is the saddest cry of all...but like some of the others, it's a quick fix. The <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #38761d;">that-hurt</b></span> cry just needs LOVE. Quickly. Oh, and lots of it. It passes just as quickly as it began, but it has been known to break hearts (and make Moms and Dads everywhere feel like they're the <i>worst </i>parents on earth).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I just hope Abigail doesn't hold the finger incident(s) against me</b></span>, though something tells me her Dad will never let her...or me...forget. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Here's a look at the <b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">that-hurt</span></span> </b>cry...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RokGj7-W-IU/TbDoMnCBr9I/AAAAAAAADrM/i_3pcg3DH5g/s1600/IMG_3087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RokGj7-W-IU/TbDoMnCBr9I/AAAAAAAADrM/i_3pcg3DH5g/s640/IMG_3087.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OhtBHkD12U4/TbC7W_cigzI/AAAAAAAADq4/7lNuxR9wriU/s1600/IMG_2499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Read more about <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-overview.html"><b>Decoding the Cry of the Baby</b></a>: </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-overview.html"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>The Overview</i></span></b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-that-hurt-cry.html"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>The That-Hurt Cry</b></i></span></span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-burp-me-cry.html">The Burp-Me Cry </a></b></i></span></span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-49750978697152284432011-04-21T15:47:00.000-07:002011-04-25T08:48:43.238-07:00Decoding the Cry of the Baby: The Overview<div style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Is she hungry or does she just have a huge load in her diaper? </b></i></span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Did I just trim her finger instead of her fingernail (again...damn it) or does she have a gas bubble?</b></i></span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><i><b>Does she want to be picked up or is she just too tired to fall asleep?</b></i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Those are just a few of the stimulating questions I've pondered since becoming a Mommy. And while it may not sound like rocket science, it surely feels like it when you have a baby with a completely devastated look on her face (<span style="font-size: large;"><b>not to mention a shrieking sound coming from the depths of her soul</b></span>).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wUWTeX9GzJc/TbCxFYD5fzI/AAAAAAAADqs/hL3PopsU78M/s1600/IMG_2266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wUWTeX9GzJc/TbCxFYD5fzI/AAAAAAAADqs/hL3PopsU78M/s640/IMG_2266.JPG" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If only this photo had a sound bite...Abigail...8 Days Old</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I must admit that <span style="font-size: large;"><b>in the first few weeks I couldn't tell a difference</b></span>...a cry was a cry and there wasn't much more to it. In new-sleep-deprived-Mommy-mode, all you can really do is start with the necessities of life..feed her, burp her, love her, check her diaper, swaddle her, sing to her, and then pray for her to stop (trust me, I considered that a necessity of life on some days). </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">But after nearly 3 months of 24-7 mommy/daughter time, I feel like I finally have a good understanding of all her cries...<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I think I've finally decoded the cry of the baby</b></span>...here's a quick breakdown of all the cries I've decoded and over the next week or so, I'll go into a little more depth with each one (otherwise, this would be the longest single post I've ever written). </span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE STANDARD CRIES</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-that-hurt-cry.html"><b>That-Hurt</b></a> Cry</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The<b> Feed-Me</b> Cry </i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-burp-me-cry.html"><b>Burp-Me</b></a> Cry</i> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The <b>Tired-But-Don't-Know-How-to-Fall-Asleep</b> Cry</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The <b>Where-Did-You-Go? </b>Cry</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE "EXTRA" CRIES</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The <b>Newborn</b> Cry</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The <b>Stop-Dressing-Me-Up-Like-I'm-a-Doll</b> Cry</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The <b>Pay-Attention-to-Me</b> Cry</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The <b>Hand-Me-Back-to-Mom</b> Cry</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>The <b>Pick-Me-Up</b> Cry </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE IMPENDING CRIES</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The <b>I'm-Sick</b> Cry</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences with decoding baby cries...and what other cries will we have to "look forward to?"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Read more about <a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-overview.html"><b>Decoding the Cry of the Baby</b></a>:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-overview.html"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>The Overview</i></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-that-hurt-cry.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><b>The That-Hurt Cry</b></i></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/04/decoding-cry-of-baby-burp-me-cry.html">The Burp-Me Cry</a> </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-28686128411037422522011-04-18T08:57:00.000-07:002011-04-18T08:57:42.647-07:00Seeking Advice: Flying with a 3 Month Old<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Friends, Family & Followers:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>In the next 2 months, I/we will be flying with little Miss Abigail 3 times. </b> And I'm not talking a quick 1 hour flight down to LA...I'm talking cross country trips.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In less than 2 weeks, we'll be on our way to Washington DC (YAY for Alice's Wedding!!!)...the following week, we'll be off to Atlanta to visit Abigail's Aunt and Uncle...and then less than a month after that, we'll be heading back to Atlanta for another summer vacation...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">That being said, <span style="font-size: large;"><b>I need HELP!</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I have so many questions about flying with a baby...we can't pack her up like we did for <b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2011/03/our-first-family-road-trip-recap.html">our first family road trip</a>*</b>...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ubMgt6hVbkI/TaxdnbYHJ8I/AAAAAAAADo8/AIZ0ruKF_Us/s1600/IMG_2800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ubMgt6hVbkI/TaxdnbYHJ8I/AAAAAAAADo8/AIZ0ruKF_Us/s640/IMG_2800.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And while I've perfected the cross-town trip to see KiKi (stroller for a walk on the pavement...baby bjorn for the walk in the woods...excessive amounts of laundry so we don't have to use quarters at our apartment...diaper bag...etc), I'm a little nervous about the cross-country flight.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">My questions:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>- What is absolutely essential (beyond clothes, diapers and wipes)?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>- Would it be a terrible idea to leave our stroller behind or will our baby bjorn suffice?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>- Do we check the car seat and carry her on? </b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>- What other general tips/suggestions do you have from your experiences?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">These may be terribly dumb questions that even I will look back on and say "really!?! You couldn't figure it out on your own?" but I have this feeling I'm not the only person who will benefit from some advice.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thanks in advance!</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Oh, and like my post on <b><a href="http://www.7x7xmommy.com/2010/09/it-smells-like-cookies-and-other.html">Stretch Marks</a></b>, I promise to summarize all your tips in a (hopefully) helpful future post. Who knows, maybe I'll even have a few tips of my own after all these trips! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>*remember...that was a joke for anyone out there who takes things too literally</b></i>...</div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825532588975069878.post-57209506529093827572011-04-16T10:03:00.000-07:002011-04-16T10:03:22.236-07:00Why is the Easter Bunny so HUGE?<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">When I was a little girl, I wrote a note to the Easter Bunny saying something along these lines:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Mr. Easter Bunny...please don't come into my room tonight. If you could just leave my Easter basket somewhere else in the house, that would be great. </i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I posted it on my bedroom window so the Easter Bunny could read it as he hopped down the street and approached our house. <br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i> </i></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i> </i>I'm not gonna lie...<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was </span><b>PETRIFIED </b><span style="font-size: small;">of the Easter Bunny.</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>But not petrified enough to turn down his candy.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yesterday I was reminded why I found the Easter Bunny so scary when we walked into a mall and saw this guy sitting there...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwstcvoNsNA/TanJZqZRfCI/AAAAAAAADo4/f6iq8RRvfp0/s1600/IMG_3287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwstcvoNsNA/TanJZqZRfCI/AAAAAAAADo4/f6iq8RRvfp0/s640/IMG_3287.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And even though he may have been a little frightening (at least to me), Abigail sat there like the three month old champ she is and stared off to the side while the not-so-friendly camera lady took her picture. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'd call this a success. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I have a feeling this will be the first of many pictures with the Easter Bunny and the rest of the crew (you know, Santa and the others). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So I'm curious...<span style="font-size: large;"><b>were you ever afraid of the Easter Bunny, Santa or anyone else? Are/were your kids? </b></span></div>7x7xMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514894286122507538noreply@blogger.com2