I hope you’re all as glad to be alive as Meredith is:
Author: Kathleen
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Review and Giveaway: SnapSac!
I was happy to be contacted by SnapSac! for a review and giveaway, because they make awesome reusable totes which are just the kind of thing I use all the time. And also, because isn’t Snapsac! such a fun thing to say? (Exclamation point added by me, because I think it’s appropriate.)
So anyway, SnapSac makes reusable bags that are perfect to stock up on for the grocery store, weekend outings, or really anything. Here is the one they sent me:
It’s a super tote, and it IS super. Excuse my awkward posing.
Right after I got it I put it to the test and I used it all during my brother’s wedding day. I had so many errands to run and supplies to lug around and it held up like a champ. I was seriously so glad to have a big bag like this to just throw stuff into. The other weekend I used it to hold several books for book club as well as my computer that I was taking to get serviced. That’s some heavy stuff, and it was great! I think the super tote would also be perfect for Christmas shopping, a day trip like to the park, or even for the weekend.They make other sizes as well, two smaller ones and one even bigger. They also make a lunch bag and cooler.
Some other features that I love about it is that it is machine washable, has a small inside pocket that snaps closed, it folds up and snaps into a small square, and the fabric feels a lot more durable than some other reusable totes I’ve tried. Plus, they’re really cute. :)
The super tote is a bit large for general use in my opinion, but I’m really glad to have it for bigger errands, and I hope to get some of the smaller bags for groceries and such. Want to try one? You can buy them for cheap at their website, or win a super tote from me! To enter, use the form below.
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meredith at four months
She:
>Weighs 15 pounds, 3 ounces and is 25 inches long (near the 75th percentile for both)!
>Could fill a lake with all her drool (this is my least favorite part of babies I think).
>Looooves her hands, especially when they’re in her mouth.
>Also loves being naked, and is starting to actively resist a new diaper.
>Is interested in toys now! She reaches for them and stuffs them in her mouth and hugs them. So cute.
>Smiles unfailingly when we hold her up to the mirror next to our faces.
>Had her first real sickness requiring a doctor visit and time home from daycare. It was bronchiolitis and it was not fun for any of us.
>Will actually take a pacifier now, sometimes, which was a big help while she was sick.
>Does this whine/grunt hybrid thing when she’s feeling particularly needy, and it’s pretty annoying except that she’s still super cute while doing it.
>Has hair like a horse’s mane or a rooster.
>Wakes up earlier than she used to, around 5-6 a.m. She squirms, blinks her eyes, stares, and then smiles hugely when she sees me.
I:
>Have been feeling weirdly disconnected from Meredith lately and I don’t like it! Thankfully we have the long weekend coming up for Thanksgiving to spend time together.
>Heard her laugh a few times (best thing EVER), and saw her roll over once, front to back!
>Really need to go clothes shopping because it doesn’t look like I’ll be fitting into my old wardrobe anytime soon.
>Got all excited to start running with Meredith in the jogging stroller, but then realized that by the time I get home from work now, it’s already dark outside.
>Have been in the mood to finally decorate our bedroom, but don’t have the time or money.
>Love mornings with Meredith most of all, even on work days.
>Am really looking forward to the holidays with her around.
For reference:
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Christmas Wish List
Every year my family is supposed to finalize our Christmas lists by Thanksgiving. When I was coming up with mine, this is what came to mind:
- New tires for my car
- Our carpet replaced
- Hire me an electrician to fix the broken outlets in our house
- New blinds in our bedroom
- Exterminator services
- Cloth diapers
But since that’s completely unsatisfying for the giver and receiver, instead I’m asking for these things:
- Keurig Elite – as much as I love my French Press regular coffee, I think I’d love the Keurig to save me time and give me more options.
- The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides – It’s the next book for #twookclub, too popular to get from the library in time, and since it’s by one of my favorite authors I know I’ll want to own it anyway.
- Tech Candy iPhone case – mine is chipped and this is the cutest, most versatile case I’ve seen.
- LUSH Alkmaar soap – these soaps are perfect, except that they’re a little pricey and melt kinda fast so I never buy them for myself.
- Earrings – I wear the same two pairs of stud earrings all the time, so I want to expand my collection.
- Cloth diapers – so what if I left them on the list…for “Meredith”?
Also on Meredith’s list are classic children’s books, Robeez socks, and baby leg warmers. What’s on your Christmas list? -
a day in the life of this working mom
1:00 AM – Meredith nurses, then back to sleep5:00 AM – My alarm goes off. Meredith nurses again and I press snooze a few times.5:27 AM – Time to get out of bed & get ready! Meredith is still sleeping so I get dressed and get breakfast prepared.5:50 AM – Get Meredith up and dressed.6:00 AM – Say goodbye to David and make sure he gets out of bed.
6:07 AM – Leave the house!
6:10 AM – Drop Meredith at daycare and linger for a few minutes.
6:14 AM – Leave daycare and start the drive to work.
6:56 AM – Park at the remote lot and get on the train.
7:08 AM – The train drops me off.
7:14 AM – Arrive at work too early to clock in. Put things away in my locker and go get my patient assignment.
7:23 AM – Clock in on the computer and start getting things ready for patients to arrive.
7:45 AM – My first patient arrives.
8:20 AM – Start the infusion & go pump.
8:40 AM – Back at my desk I chart, check work email, and do open enrollment.
9:29 AM – Discharge patient 1.
9:35 AM – Patient 2 arrives.
10:10 AM – Discover one of my patients is in the hospital.
10:18 AM – There is a delay with patient 2 due to order clarification so I start on chart audits.
10:27 AM – My dad visits Meredith at daycare and sends me pictures!
11:05 AM – Infusion started on patient 2.
11:20 AM – Patient 3 arrives.
12:00 PM – Discharge patient 2.
12:15 PM – Patient 4 arrives.
12:37 PM – Start patient 4’s infusion.
1:04 PM – Start patient 3’s infusion (are you confused yet?).
1:05 PM – Pumping again!
1:25 PM – Eat lunch & read
2:00 PM – Discharge patient 3. Chart & continue audits.
2:46 PM – Start second infusion on patient 4.
4:00 PM – Pass off the patient to another nurse and pump one last time.
4:13 PM – Clock out!
4:25 PM – Back on the train.
4:35 PM – In my car, headed a different route home due to traffic.
5:27 PM – Arrive at daycare to pick Meredith up. Have a conversation with the afternoon worker about her cloth diaper sizes. (The afternoon lady has OPINIONS.)
5:36 PM – Finally home. Do chores to prepare for tomorrow while Meredith sits in her Bumbo.6:00 PM – Diaper change o’clock.6:10 PM – I have some cereal for dinner while I nurse Meredith because we’re both starving!6:25 PM – Do some reading on the couch.7:00 PM – Go to La Leche League. I bring Meredith and she nurses & sleeps. (On other days during this time I’d either be reading, watching TV, or at a family member’s house for dinner.)8:10 PM – After the meeting I talk with my friend Sara for awhile.9:00 PM – Home again. Put the diapers into the wash (oops, forgot about this earlier) & nurse Meredith while David takes my car to get gas.9:17 PM – Give Meredith a bath.
9:30 PM – Diaper, dress, and nurse Meredith. We’re running behind because of the meeting, so I seriously consider skipping my shower.9:42 PM – Put the diapers into the dryer, then take a shower (mostly because I knew I was recording this day), and David hangs out with Meredith.10:00 PM – Blow-dry my hair (hate).10:17 PM – Get in bed and nurse Meredith to sleep!This was a fairly typical day, except that I’m usually in bed around 8 or 9. It’s manageable, but by Friday I’m certainly ready for the weekend!
