Friday, May 13, 2016

7 Quick Takes about Dubious Moral Codes, Things Babies Don't Like, and Outside-the-Box Thinking for Mother's Day

It's 7 Quick Takes Friday! Where I give to you in random order 7 funny things that happened to us this week. How did the last 7 days go for you?

1


We survived our first week home with a new baby. In some ways, I've felt like we're doing pretty well. I've slept for more hours than I have fingers and I even cleaned junk out of my kids' craft cabinet.

But to keep me humble, there have also been several moments where I realized we did not have it all together. Such as:

  • Not even realizing until someone pointed it out that we were sitting down to dinner with a trash can as a centerpiece on top of the table.
  • Discovering I'd gone through an entire doctor's appointment with a giant dump truck sticker on the butt of my jeans (thanks, 2-year-old, I know it was you.)
  • Noticing there's a random can of tuna underneath my kid's car seat and I have no idea how it got there or long it's been there.

2


I recently learned that I have license to do a lot more than I think I do. 

I was snacking on some chips, to which my 4-year-old was voraciously helping herself, and I told her she'd had enough. Of course I kept eating them (come on, I know you do it, too) and after observing me for a while she said, "But you can keep eating, because you're a mom and moms can do anything except kill people."

I still need to think about all the implications of this.

3


After hearing a heart murmur, my newborn's pediatrician sent us to a cardiologist to get it checked out. (He's fine, it's a tiny hole that will never cause him difficulties and will most likely close up on its own.)

To get an ultrasound of his chest, they rolled in this ancient-looking machine. I mean ancient.

It's 7 Quick Takes Friday! How was your week?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}

It had space to insert your floppy disk, people.

Needless to say, my son did not enjoy being unwrapped and stripped down to his diaper for the procedure. The tech kept trying to think of ways to keep him happier so she could continue with the ultrasound, asking "Does he want to eat? What does he want to do?"

Well, what he wants to do is: not this. He's a newborn; his interests are nursing and pooping. If it doesn't involve those activities, it's safe to assume he doesn't want to do it.

We weren't able to finish the complete ultrasound, but they got enough that they have a handle on what's going on. We go back in a year for another ultrasound... wait, are we really expecting it to go any better with a wiggly one-year-old?

4


How was your Mother's Day? Mine was the standard breakfast in bed and homemade cards from the kids, which is just how I like it.

The older ones usually make some sort of project at school directed by their teacher, but my 4-year-old was left totally to her own devices. So I got a UFO for Mother's Day:

It's 7 Quick Takes Friday! How was your week?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
This is what a self-guided preschool art project looks like.

5


A while ago, I polled readers on the blog's Facebook page to see if getting a faceful of urine while changing a boy's diaper is a thing that actually happens in real life, or just in the movies. You see, I've been doing boy diapers for years and I've never been peed on.

I guess I got cocky.

While changing the baby's diaper I (regrettably) waited to put the new one on until I'd thrown the old one away, and in that instant he peed all over the bed. Really. It arced 3 feet up in the air and went everywhere.

It ended up being a lot a laundry for 3 seconds' worth of poor decision-making.

6


I was surprised to see this up there since I didn't know it had been accepted, but I was featured on Mamalode again this week for "Your First Pregnancy Versus Your Last Pregnancy."

It's 7 Quick Takes Friday! How was your week?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}

You know how things are all shiny and new during your first pregnancy, and then it loses its luster somewhere around your three millionth prenatal appointment? Go visit, read, and comment. Which ones can you relate to?

7


My second grader is riding the bus across town next week to practice for an end-of-the-year concert at another school, probably a 5-minute ride, tops, and brought home a permission slip asking me to:

"...forever release, acquit, discharge, and covenant to hold harmless the school and the town from any and all actions, causes of action, and claims on account of, or in any way growing out of, directly or indirectly, all known and unknown personal injuries or property damage which [name of student] and/or I may now or hereafter have as the parent of said minor and also claims or right of action for damages which said minor has or hereafter may acquire, before or after he/she has reached his/her majority resulting from his/her participation in the aforementioned activity."

I read it out loud and my 12-year-old wanted to know why it didn't just say "It's not the school's fault if your kid gets hurt." I was wondering the same thing.

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29 comments:

The Lady Okie said...

#3 and #7 haha! Too funny. Sounds like you're doing great! Happy one week!

Ann-Marie Ulczynski said...

Yes, but was the can of tuna open? I'm glad you made it through the first week!

Jenny said...

When I found out I was having a boy this time, changing a boy diaper instantly became one of my biggest fears. I mean, I've changed them before. I started babysitting my boy cousins at age 8, I have more nephews than I do nieces, but none of them peed on me. And my girls peed one me...I guess I have been worrying more about hurting the poor little guy and also having more laundry and stuff.

AnneMarie said...

That note from the school is hilarious! That ultrasound machine is crazy old. I wonder how it has continued to work well over the years. Maybe one of those cases where people used to make things that lasted and worked reliably?

Audrey Louise said...

Oh my gosh... This is absolutely hilarious! Kudos to you for surviving week one! Only a few more to go! ;)

The Runcible Pen said...

Eighteen years of raising girls - and my baby boy peed on me, my friend, and the bed when he was one day old. And P.S. - I'm so impressed you managed a 7QT a week after having a baby!

Chaun said...

Ha! That crazy they included "covenant" on #7. People are cray cray

Michelle said...

My brain ACTUALLY HURTS from reading the permission slip. Way to go surviving the first week with the newborn!

jen said...

#7: lawyers apparently get paid per word.

Jenny Evans said...

That explains so much...

Jenny Evans said...

The first few nights were pretty scary. I was convinced I'd never sleep again. We're beginning to come to some sort of an agreement about how to spend the nighttime hours, though.

Jenny Evans said...

I had to laugh at that one, too. And then I looked at the fine print to make sure there wasn't a clause about handing over my firstborn.

Jenny Evans said...

They don't make things like they used to. The best microwave we ever had was this hideous monstrosity we picked up on Craigslist that was probably from the 1970s. Built like a tank and it lasted forever. Couldn't take it with us when we moved, though, because it was ginormous and weighed a ton.

Jenny Evans said...

Thankfully, no. I guess it could be worse.

PurpleSlob said...

Hahahaha, I can always count on you for a great liver massage! (I learned that this week- belly laughs massage all your internal organs, and that helps keep them health! Yay for exercies that's fun!)

Rach said...

"...because you're a mom and moms can do anything except kill people." HA! I like your kid's reasoning. ;)

Also, that release form is ridiculous. But I guess that just goes to show how many people sue over eeeeverything.

Hope you continue to get some sleep and that there are no more pee incidents. ;)

Queen Mom Jen said...

Haha, the pee in the face is kind of a rite of passage event I think. It happened to me right off the bat, but since i have only 1 boy luckily we have not had that same event re enacted many times over. Congrats to you on your new baby!

Jenny Evans said...

Fingers crossed, I don't really like to do laundry so...

Rachel said...

I think my siblings and I tend to feel the same way about our mom, we're fine with anything she does short of murder. I don't know, we're so loyal we might condone that too....might....

AnneMarie said...

Oh wow, that must have been awesome-and quite the conversation-starter in your home! It's too bad you couldn't take it with you, but I'm sure it really wouldn't be worth lugging around, good call :)

Unknown said...

Congrats on your first week home with your newest little one! I can't believe you made it this long without being peed on. It was obviously time for it :). I had this displeasure quickly after my son was born. I had never changed a boy's diaper before and honestly didn't even think about that happening. Your 12 year old is very smart. I always wonder why those forms don't just cut to the chase as well.

AiringMyLaundry said...

My son peed on me so many times. I was too tired to remember to cover it.

That permission slip is crazy.

Shannon Ball said...

My brother peed on me, too! (I don't have any boys...) Or at least he would have if my mom hadn't had the presence of mind to block it with her hand so it didn't get all over the *entire* cabinet. Yuck!

Jenny Evans said...

Well, we've definitely been christened now. Or at least the bed has been.

Jenny Evans said...

Mom reflexes are the best!

Unknown said...

A card my sister-in-law sent me sums it up: "Having a baby boy is no day at the beach ... But you WILL get wet!"

Rosie said...

After several incidences of projectile peeing with our first (and one middle of the night projectile pooping incident, my poor husband!), we learned our lesson by the time we had another boy ;) 18 months old and he still hasn't peed on me! There's always time, of course...

Jenny Evans said...

At least you've learned from the past! (But it's probably still good to stay humble. When you think you're invincible... that's when you get a shot to the eye.)

Jenny Evans said...

"Oh, this microwave? Why, my great-grandpa built it to exchange for my great-grandma's hand in marriage, and it's been in the family ever since..."