GOTV

For those of you who didn't take advantage of early voting, please remember to VOTE tomorrow. If you have already VOTED and you're able to volunteer, please help get out the VOTE. Republicans have an amazing track record for getting people to the polls. To VOTE. That's what turned the tides with the last election. We can't let our country down. G.O.T.V.!

VOTING is a right and a responsibility. One to be taken seriously. Just ask Noah. I'm not sure that he was a regular VOTER before he met me. But he hasn't missed an election since!

Seriously, people, take part in history. VOTE!!

And if you are sick of listening to me, listen to Truett!



Tomorrow will be one for the record books. Keep the faith!! But just remember to pee before getting in line...they may be wicked long tomorrow.

PS -- if you go in to any participating Starbucks tomorrow and tell them that you VOTED, you'll get a tall drip on the house.* Free! Gratis!

* Limit one per person. Good while supplies last (um, nice try Mr. Legal Disclaimer Guy....the day a Starbucks runs out of brewed coffee is the day that, well, McCain gets elected President and pigs fly). Void where prohibited by law.

Halloween, Take Four

Hard to believe that we've lived through four Halloweens, four birthdays, and probably about 400 pounds of candy between them all.

Today is Lily's actual birthday. Her fourth. I can't believe it. In fact, it sort of hurts my brain to think about it. For those of you who are married.... do you remember when you switched from saying "my boyfriend" to "my fiance"? Remember how weird it seemed at first? THAT is exactly how I feel today. I've been saying "my almost four year old" for months, but to actually have a four year old seems mind-boggling. How in the world have four years passed? How can I be old enough to have a child this old? I'm sure my parents scratch their heads and say that almost daily. Good lord. That probably means I'm turning in to them.

Today I should be writing a sentimental entry addressed to my beloved birthday girl. But I'm too darn exhausted from the non-stop partying we've been doing for the last 72 hours. And the two glasses of wine I had with dinner tonight. So for that one you're going to have to wait a day or so.

In the meantime, I give you the "Hallweenies"....my awards for the best of the best!

The cutest Mermaid



The cutest Skunk



The cutest Huckleberry classmate



With a group award going out to the whole "cast"



The cutest Montessori classmate (OMG -- hello officer!)



The worst spot for a class photo (full morning sun -- eye burn!)



The best pre-trick or treating meltdown



The most candy



The GROSSEST candy I've ever seen. Ever!

BOO

Little Mermaid (or two!)

'Lil Stinker

Here's a preview of coming attractions. And there have been/will be many Halloween appearances this year!

New school. New friends. Still a ring leader!

Between last week's Boo at the Zoo....yesterday's parade at Children's House Montessori, and today's parade at Huckleberry Cheesecake....neighborhood trick or treating tonight...a Halloween "spooktacular" party tomorrow night....and a "costumes encouraged" invitation to Lily's birthday party on Sunday...Halloween '08 is getting quite a bit of air time.

My 'lil stinker, along with some of her blueberry pals

Perhaps I was dreaming

Ask any parent of a small child what they miss most about their pre-baby lives, and I'll bet you $100 the answer is unanimous -- sleep.

Some babies sleep through the night early. Others take longer. Some people hire sleep experts to help them with the process (I want a potty training expert this time around...I'd pay real money for that!). And those sleep experts aren't cheap and aren't easy to book; as you can imagine, they're in high demand.

We were really lucky with Lily; she started sleeping through the night at 7 weeks. Honestly. For 8+ hours at first. Soon she was dead to the world from 7/7:30 p.m. until 7 a.m. It was heavenly.

Anna took a bit longer to come around to the concept; she got hung up on the 5 o'clock hour (maybe she's bound for a Wall Street job in another 23 years, if those jobs still exist then). By 10 1/2 weeks she was sleeping for about 10 hours a night. Life was good again!

But any little thing trips her up. Ear infection. New tooth. Congestion. General grumpiness. If there's anything out of the normal, my sweet baby is up during the night. Usually only once. But, uugh, you try going to work and actually being productive when you had to get up in the middle of the night. Not easy!

The last three nights, though, Anna has been slumbering away. A minor miracle considering the fact that she's so congested she's got gross goop draining from her nose day and night. And a brewing ear infection (Dr. conformed fluid in her right ear last night, although no infection as of yet).

So last night, when at about 4 a.m. I heard crying, I stumbled blindly (literally, I couldn't find my glasses) in to the baby's room....only to discover a peacefully sleeping child.

But the crying continued.

I made my way to Lily's room. Yup. She was the pre-dawn culprit. She was, in fact, crying. Complaining that she was SO. HUNGRY. SO. SAD!

I asked if a little snack would tide her over 'til breakfast. That seemed to do the trick. We negotiated for a second over what, exactly, that snack would be and finally settled on goldfish crackers and water.

Off I went, shuffling to the kitchen, to gather the snack. Imagine my surprise when I returned, less than a minute later, bearing the fruits of my kitchen raid only to discover a sleeping child. Soundly sleeping child.

So I don't know if she was talking in her sleep. If I was asleep and imagined the entire thing. Or if her allegedly empty stomach decided that not even it could eat at such an ungodly hour. Who knows. I chock it up to one more bizarre parenting experience. One more "notch" on my belt.

Change

No, I'm not talking about Obama's campaign slogan (although I am dreaming about it!), I'm talking about the changes -- from obvious to subtle -- in Huckleberry Cheesecake Lily and Children's House Montessori Lily.

People often ask me "what is Montessori." Well, two months in to it, I'm still trying to get the Cliff Note's version. The Montessori method -- which is based on the late 19th century theories of Italian educator Maria Montessori -- can, sort of, be boiled down to four basic tenants. Or at least my totally rudimentary knowledge of it can be boiled down to four.

Montessori is self-directed; teachers introduce concepts and then become "observers;" children learn through discovery (ie, doing/feeling/etc.); and children learn best during periods of intense concentration (distractions, including 95% of Lily's wardrobe, are discouraged).

Ok, so there's a ton more to it than just that. But I'm only on pg. 4 of Montessori Today. Full disclosure: I've been on pg. 4 for, well, 2 months now.

Anyway, perhaps one of the most noticeable differences in Lily pre- vs. post-Montessori is in her creative expression....something I was terribly worried, BTW, that she wouldn't be exposed to in a Montessori setting.

Lily's art projects, which she is forever in the middle of, are pretty amazing now. She digs through kitchen drawers, finds bits and pieces of odds and ends, and next thing you know you've got art. Tape and tin foil are now permanently on my grocery store list....all in the name of creativity!

She comes home talking about operas and ballets.

And her song repertoire has changed pretty dramatically. I almost died when, from her carseat in the back, she started belting this one out... I fear, though, that she's inherited my tone deafness.

Rock the Vote!

I just saw the most amazing group of kids on CNN. I mean, they're so ridiculously cute. And smart. And well spoken. Not to mention outspoken! I want to move to Atlanta so that Lily and Anna can attend the Ron Clark Academy. SERIOUSLY.

As Noah would say -- "fo-shizzle!"

Apparently I missed the Oprah episode that introduced Ron Clark to the world. What a shame!

Public Broadcasting Atlanta says:

Three women have had a great influence on Ron Clark’s life. His mother helped make him a teacher. Oprah made him famous. And Kim Bearden made him an Atlantan.

As Disney’s American Teacher of the Year in 2001, Ron’s successes as an educator have been well documented, not only on the Oprah Winfrey Show, but also in his book The Essential 55. Friends star Matthew Perry even portrayed him in a biopic. But when Ron Struck up a friendship with another award-winning teacher, metro Atlanta native Kim Bearden, it quickly became apparent that their concept of a “dream school” could only take shape in one city.

Atlanta became home to the Ron Clark Academy in 2007. Combining state-of-the-art facilities, innovative instruction, and creative, dynamic teachers, the Academy offers a world-class education to not only inner-city kids, but also to visiting teachers from around the world. Educators learn new methods as kids from all ability levels and economic backgrounds get a one-of-a-kind school experience. And, the learning experience extends beyond the brightly-colored walls of the Academy; before the students leave the school in eighth grade, they will pursue a global education that takes them to six of the seven continents.



Here's the longer, although slightly harder to hear, version...



Click here for the lyrics.

Milking the Media

Or, perhaps more accurately, milk IN the media.

Remember my outrage at the nerve of PETA to demand that Ben & Jerry's start using breastmilk (as if!) in their ice cream? I caught wind of that one early, saw it play out over the CNN airwaves and thought that it was over. New news cycle. That one, thankfully, seemed to register only a tiny blip on the screen.

Until now.

ProfNet is a service whereby reporters can post their queries and we in the PR business, whose companies presumably pay a subscription fee of sorts, see them and can plug our clients in as "experts." Where applicable. Or our friends. When we can.

Thanks to ProfNet, Noah's friend Steve, and his wife Mariah, were featured in a Parade article (with a great photo!), back in January, about eating healthy and staying fit. You know Parade. It's that weird little insert magazine in the weekend paper. It's a bit cheesy and likely not worth it's weight in paper...but for the fact that it has a circulation of over 30,000,000 (yes million) and every one of my clients would give their right arm to be in it.

I recently saw another ProfNet query on low-cost holiday traditions. My friend Jamie and her siblings have a great one that's developed over the years. They write (roast-worthy) songs about each other. Act out little plays. Film movies. A total riot. She was recently interviewed for, yup!, another Parade article. Thank you ProfNet!

So last night when I saw that Univision.com was looking for nutrition and health experts to comment on the breastmilk issue, I couldn't hold myself back.

NUTRITION/TODAY: Mother's Milk for Adult
Consumption -- Univision.com

I am writing an article about the possible use of breast milk in the making of regular ice cream. I would like to hear arguments (from doctors and nutritionists) for and against the adult consumption of mother's milk. Grown-ups should not drink human milk because -- It is not hygienic? Because it is unhealthy? Because it is immoral? Or because it is an impractical idea? Contact: Maria XXX.

I quickly fired back a response and suggested that the reporter also speak with a lactation consultant. Of course, I plugged Pat Shelly at the Breastfeeding Center of DC (she is among a small group of professionals who should put me on retainer!).

The reporter immediately responded, thanking me for the referral that she was going to pursue, and asked if she could quote ME in the article as well.

"Although I'm a huge proponent of breastfeeding my babies, not only does this idea creep me out but it's completely impractical! Ask anyone who nurses their baby -- especially if they also work outside the home (but even those who stay home with their kids) -- and they'll tell you that they can barely keep up with the demand!"

So look out for a Univision article, in Spanish of course, some time before the New Year. It'll quote yours truly. Because, in her words, "being the mother of two lovely breast-fed daughters makes you an expert and a spokeswoman for many working mothers." So, I've become the voice of working/lactating mothers everywhere. If they only knew...they'd probably ask for their money back!

PS -- also be on the lookout for the April '09 Consumer Reports baby product edition. Yes, I'm quoted in that too. About BPA-free baby bottles. Although you'll have to wait to read my thoughts about the Adiri Natural Nurser. Click on this link, though, to see the product. Then let your imagination wander regarding what I might have said about this "booby bottle"...

Anna Unplugged

Anna and Austin -- my how they've grown!

Remember them here? 6 and 5 months now, respectively.

I may be driving her to a therapist's couch in another decade or two, but I can't resist her in ears...

A preview of Halloween '08, the Skunk edition. This year's costume was a no-brainer...since birth, Anna has had a, well, "smell" issue (the kid is gassy, what can I say!).

Meet Margaret and Helen

Forget Mommy bloggers, the new thing these days is GRANDMA bloggers! I'd like to think that in another 50 years, I'll be as witty and technology savvy as Margaret and Helen. I'd like to think that I'll still have my "girls" (friends that is) in my life. I'd prefer to be on my own two legs and not a Scooter Store customer, but scooting or walking around, my hat is off to these hip grandmas!

Bottom line, I couldn't say it better myself. So I won't. Bravo Margaret and Helen!

Click here, or simply read Helen's brilliant words below.

Sarah Palin is a Bitch… there I said it.

Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?

Well it’s NOT you girl…

Look. I am going to say what everyone at CNN, CBS, ABC and NBC is thinking but is afraid to say. Governor Palin is a stupid, conniving bitch. And it’s not because she is a strong woman - I like strong women… worship them… It’s actually the opposite. She is a weak, pathetic woman who thinks big hair, winking, baby talk and self deprecation is somehow becoming of a woman who wants to lead the free world. My god, where is Margaret Thatcher when you need her!

But what really makes me mad is the hypocrisy. She claims to be a Washington outsider and yet is the worst kind of politician. She will say anything and avoid answering any question instead choosing to spout whatever line or soundbite some adviser put into her mouth a few hours earlier. And exactly when did sounding like a hick make someone “more like us”. Last time I checked we were a country striving to educate our children to be intelligent and honest. I think I would die if my daughter came home from school and said something like “I gotta tell ya. Change is a comin’.” At the very least I would remove the Beverly Hillbillies from her approved TV viewing list.

And then there is Alaska. Have any of you been to Alaska recently? Although the largest State geographically, it has less than a million people - about 700,000. (The city I live in now is bigger). Fewer population issues exist for lawmakers to address. And because they make so much money from the oil companies, the Alaskan government actually gives it citizens an annual dividend check (this year $3,200). Exactly what Governor wouldn’t be popular under those circumstances? No wonder they can afford to elect a governor who only has an undergraduate degree in journalism and a few beauty pageant awards. By the way, when you got that journalism degree did they teach you that some journalists actually ask hard questions like what newspapers do you read?

Fact: Sarah Palin is stupid. Maybe not stupid by Alabama standards but stupid enough that she managed to get herself elected Governor while never bothering to educate herself on little things like the Constitution, foreign affairs or appropriate debating practices. She is stupid enough to have accepted a VP nomination for which she is completely unqualified and stupid enough not to admit it - even though the future of our great nation could be irreversibly damaged by the decision.

When exactly do we all get to call “bullshit”?

She loves to talk about being a mother but the last time I checked, having your newborn on national TV at 11PM instead of in bed wasn’t considered “good muthering“. Neither was making your child’s unexpected teen pregnancy the talk of the nation because you desperately wanted to be a politician in Washington DC - or isn’t that exactly what you said you didn’t want. From where I sit, it appears you would sell your soul for the position. Kind of the way that Elisabeth girl on The View sold her soul for fame. Please god get her off the airwaves - she became famous because she ate a rat… but I digress…

Oh and my favorite - my husband Todd (the first dude) and I sit around the kitchen table wondering about the cost of college like many of you… oh really. Your oldest son went from high school into the military. Your next oldest is pregnant with plans to be married to some hockey jock at age 17. Seems to me you’ve got lots of time before you have to worry about college tuition especially being college doesn’t seem to be a priority in your family.

You refuse to give live interviews and then whine when your taped interviews get edited. Then you have a chance to be live in front of the nation during a debate and you respond by not answering the questions (proudly not answering the questions I might add) but rather by reading the cue cards given to you by a group of white old men who sold their souls to the political system when you were in…. I don’t know - 2nd grade maybe. Your insulting to a United States Senator who is so respected that his home state has elected him to office 6 times. And while I am on the subject of the debate - shame on Gwen Ifell for not making her answer the questions. Damn I miss Tim Russert.

Sarah Palin is an ignorant, ranting, whining bitch. There I said it. But lots more are thinking it.

Please take your ridiculous hair, your over lipstick-smacking mouth, your Lenscrafter look smarter glasses and your poorly fitted designer jackets back to Alaska. And when you get there, shove a piece of the pipeline up your considerable ass. I’ll be damned if we’ll put our children’s future in your hands. And the same thing goes for McCain - the ass wipe who gave her this national platform effectively pushing the woman’s movement back into the dark ages - knowing McCain that might have been his plan all along.

A bit confused

Fall weather brings with it a certain level of excitement in our house. We get to partake in all the fun "fall festivals," evidence of which you've seen; we get to eat yummy apples, finally in season, and drink apple cider; and we get to prepare for Lily's favorite holiday, HALLOWEEN, by, well, decorating a gingerbread house. Merry Christmas Halloween?!?


When given the option this past weekend -- carve a pumpkin or paste candy on a cookie house -- she chose the latter. She just couldn't wait. She's been asking to do this for weeks already. Perhaps I should have put a few drops of orange food coloring in to the icing. Humm... I'll try to remember that one for next year's Halloween House (as if my mommy brain has that capacity...oh well, it's a good thought).

I'm sure that this'll be the first of many gingerbread houses constructed in ours over the course of the next few months. And hopefully we'll get those naked pumpkins that now adorn our front stoop carved before the 31st!