Christy Allbee's Mommy Blogging Beehive

My Mom Logic

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

For the first six months of parenting, I couldn't believe I was allowed to have a baby without getting a degree in it first. I also couldn't believe that my mother had me when she was 20, and yet somehow I was still alive. I was so afraid of screwing up that I did a lot of things by the book. Literally. I would take a book, read aloud the chapter about how to give a bath, dictate to David what we needed to do, and then ready, set, GO. If a book didn't have the words baby or breast in the title, I didn't read it. At the time, I was hoping this phase would be temporary, so that by the time I would have to teach her about the birds and the bees, I would be able to wing it. ::fingers crossed::

Now that I have approximately 17 months of parenting under my belt, I am able to improvise now and then. So in addition to wiping her nose when it runs, making sure she is breathing in the middle of the night, and kissing her boo boos, I am now able to mock her for boogers, build her an afghan fort, teach her how to say poop and burp, and feed her peanut butter and nutella on a spoon, all without a book. ::pats on back:: I know, you wish I was your mom too.

When I became a mother, I expected to love my baby girl unconditionally. To this day, what defies my Mom Logic completely is my ability to love her so deeply that I am consumed with her. She is on a pedestal of perfection, my golden child. She is the measure of my worth. Without her, I am nothing. When she looks at me, I know that she embodies the epitome of everything I have worked for in this lifetime. I was meant to be a mother, to be HER mother. Together, we have made a cocoon for the two of us, a bubble of our life together. A bubble that no one can enter because it is her and me, me and her, against the world. Daily, she reminds me of who I am and what I want to be for her. My baby girl has taught me more about how to be a mother than any book I could have ever read.

Please don't pop my bubble yet to warn me of the teen years. It will fall on deaf ears. I prefer to live in blissful ignorance and make every day the best day ever.

NOTE: This was my post for the MomLogic Mother of All Bloggers Contest. Thank you so much to everyone that signed up to nominate me. I'll name my next ~~child~~ fish after you. April 30th they will announce the top 10 bloggers and then they will be put to a vote.

KFunk Guest Blogger

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0000

NOTE: Kristin of Love, Life, and Coffee is good friends with my SIL, Jinnie. We had our babies three months apart and have gotten to know each other through the power of blogs. Her post is a perfect example of something that I have never touched on. I struggle every day with the guilt of not having an office job, yet if I were in an office, I would struggle with the guilt of being away from H. for so long. Enjoy!

Being a working mom isn't easy. And I wouldn't know because I'm not one. But now that I'm back in the working world, I feel like I sort of dance the fine line between working-mom and stay-at-home-mom.

Back when Madison was first born, I made the wise decision of taking six months off from my job. Who knew the economy would tank and I'd end up getting laid off. Hindsight is 20/20! But in retrospect, I'm actually glad I took the time and spent it with my baby, no matter what the circumstances. I never felt like I was climbing the walls or itching to go back to work. I think that alone tells you I was never in the mode of "working mom." However, when it happened, I was still caught off guard.

Madison was almost a year old when I started contracting with my old company. I had just mastered the art of everything about being mom, when I was suddenly bringing her to day care and heading back to work. Being back in my same old office was like "Groundhog Day" - it was so "normal," it was surreal. On my first day back, someone actually came up to me and said, casually: Oh hey, what's up? Are you back from maternity leave? It was as if nothing had changed.

And yet, as all of us moms know, everything had changed.

So now, when we go to a playgroup, I don't feel quite like I fit in with the rest of the stay-at-home moms. And when I go to the office, I don't feel quite like a real coworker. My conversations range from edible playdough to software coding standards. I applaud the moms who go back to work after three months because ultimately, I don't think I could do it. Luckily Madison is at the age where she wants her independence and "freedom" (ha), and doesn't always need me right at her side. So that helps ease the guilt, just a little bit. Whatever the case may be, seeing their little faces at the end of the day is priceless. And I think in our collective mom hearts, we're all just trying to do what's best for our children anyway. And hey, does it really matter? They'll get even with us when they're sixteen anyway!

From Mother to Grandmother

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:33:00 +0000

NOTE: Here is our first guest blogger, MY MOM! This is fresh off the presses from my parents visit this past week-end. The minute Nana stepped off the plane and sat next to H. in the back seat, she and H. were new BFFs. All week-end it was Nana this Nana that, where's Papa and Mom who? Little know fact, my mom is a Reverend, and I'm a PK (Preacher's Kid). Suddenly you are thinking, this explains a lot.

I have never understood how grandparents could just up and leave their homes to move closer to their families. Until now.

My daughter, son-in-law, and first grand baby live 2,000 miles away from us. My son and daughter-in-law live 10,000 miles away. 2,000 or 10,000, it doesn’t make any difference. It is too far. Long ago and far away families all lived within a few miles of each other. Now, in the 21st century, that is no longer the case. Employment opportunities call us to different places now. We are a less localized society.

But then a grandchild comes along and it makes the distance even harder. We try to see H., our first grandbaby, every three months. So far we have been pretty successful at that, but it is still hard to be away from her for periods of time. She would forget us if it weren't for video Skype. Even with video, it is not the same as seeing her every day or every week. But we do the best we can and we love every minute of our time together.

The other expression I’ve never understood is this: “If I knew it was this much fun, I would have had grandchildren first.” I have actually seen this on t-shirts. It is a lot of fun to have grandchildren. But I had a lot of fun with our own children. They made me laugh every day (except for some of those teenage years). They are/were so full of life and joy it was contagious. Christy began talking very early and was a regular motor mouth throughout the day (and into the night in her sleep) and Michael began to walk when he was 6 months old which is why I didn’t gain weight for awhile. Of course we had the usual worries with one child who climbed over a gate as soon as it was assembled and proceeded to fall down the steps and another who had a couple of hospital trips for tonsils and adenoids – really minor things in comparison but nonetheless worrisome to ignorant parents such as us. Being a grandparent is a little easier. Poopy diaper? Must be someone else’s turn. Cranky baby? Hand off to Daddy.

Spending this last week with our grandbaby made me realize once again that millions of grandparents across the country are raising their grandchildren and they are exhausted, understandably so. We are blessed that our granddaughter has capable and loving parents and we get to hold, cuddle, read stories, play and then hand her back to Mom and Dad. I just want to do it more often than every couple of months.

Guest Bloggers Coming This Week

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:58:00 +0000

I had 2 takers to be guest bloggers here at the Beehive. Coming up bright and early tomorrow, my mom chimes in with her 2 cents on being a grandparent. Having been here this past week, this is hot off the press with new cute pics.

And on Friday, I have a great guest post from Kristin at Love, Life and Coffee about what it means to dance the fine line of working and being a stay-at-home.

Thanks so much for all of you moms out there that signed up for Mom Logic just to nominate me. I am 3 nominations away!

MomLogic Blogging Contest

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0000

I know I ask so much of you dear readers. I force you to name my fish, look at picture upon picture of my little girl, live through our laundry dramas, sit through endless rhetoric on poopy diapers, and poopy dogs, and still here I am again with yet another request. We here at the Beehive would like to be entered into a Blogging Contest being hosted by Mom Logic. In addition to writing an upcoming post for the Mom Logic community, in order to be entered, I need 10 of you go to my wall here at the Mom Logic Community and write "I nominate you to be the Mother of all bloggers." I believe you need to sign up for Mom Logic to do so. Okpleasethankyou.

And the Winner is...

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:32:00 +0000

drum roll please. As of 6:00am on Wednesday, April 8, Vince was in the lead as the name of our new Beta Fish. And it's a good thing because I couldn't get Hadley to say the name Lloyd. Thank you all for playing along.

Lands End Petting Zoo

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Lands End moved into our Sears several years ago in Cherry Creek. I love Sears, not only for their longevity, but also their customer service. But I also love having Lands End there too. Good quality clothing and they have crazy sales there all the time. I got a brand new winter jacket there last year for $20. This week-end, in their kids department, they had a lot of fun farm animals that Hadley flipped for. All the fun of a petting zoo minus the screaming case of e-coli.

Duck, Duck, SWAN!

I'll take them all.

Sticker shock. I wonder if my Dad knows how much these things are because he's promised me about eight of them by now.

Don't you just want to cuddle them like a big wooly blanket?

Name Our Beta Fish

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Hadley loves fish. Whenever she sees a picture of a fish, she starts screaming ffisccchhh which she says as if she has a mouth full of marbles. I was desperate for an activity this week to stimulate her, so we headed out to the Denver Aquarium. Let's just say her excitement started to rise just seeing pictures of fish as we entered the building. Imagine her wide eyes as we walked for 40 minutes through a maze of swimming fish, turtles and sharks. Sadly, a much cheaper play date is just to take her to Petsmart to look at the fish tanks. Seriously she is just as excited, and she gets to see parakeets, rats, and guinea pigs too.

DG has been rallying for a fish tank since, oh I don't know...THE DAY WE MET! Last Friday night, on the way to the store, he was pleading for a gerbil as well. But I was all "Dude we are sooo not ever getting a gerbil." And he was all "But, but, *gulp* I'll take care of it, and feed it, and clean it's cage, and call it George, and rub it's fur backwards."

We ended up coming home with just one new pet, so and so, our new male beta fish. Here's the fun part, YOU, the internet, get to help us name him by picking your favorite of the following choices. All names are from our favorite show, Entourage.

We leave his name in your hands, our faithful readers. If you don't like any of the names below, feel free to comment your choice. This contest will last 48 hours from now and then the lines will close and we will post the winner with his picture.

Hung Out to Dry

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0000

I have told my husband what every man wants to hear: "You are no longer allowed to do laundry. EVER." I mean really you do so much. You clean every bathroom in this house, you vacuum, you do all the yard work, all the while holding a full-time job. Let me do the laundry. Really, it's the least I could do to step up and be a better wife. And if by taking it over, somehow I manage to get everyone's clothes clean, not just my own, and not shrink any delicates, dry anything that shouldn't be dried, ruin new $80 sweaters, mix darks and lights, or leave wet laundry in the washer to mold for a week then I will consider it a victory for Team Gibson.

Now folding on the other hand, that I could use some help with. You have a LOT of underwear.

Parenting Styles

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0000

A funny thing happened last week-end as several parenting styles came together in what I found to be a very amusing scenario. For those of you who don't know, Holly and Lora are two of my best girlfriends. They are my Sex in the City ladies. When shit hits the fan, these are the women that drop everything and leave work to come be with me. Here's a little back history:

(Lora, Holly, and Me on top)

Holly and I have been friends since I moved here 13 years ago. A lot of people never understood our relationship because we were so close. My father always considered her the son-in-law he never had. Holly and I often joked that we would remain single and end up in the nursing home together offering sponge baths to get dates. God forbid if I were to ever fall into a coma, Holly would come and clean up my eyebrows every few weeks so they wouldn't get too unruly. No seriously, she's already agreed to this. Holly will also NEVER read this blog because she claims that she doesn't want to learn about things I'm doing in life online along with everyone else. She wants me to pick up the ga' damn phone. She is an engineer with an analytical mind and at 5'9" a force to be reckoned with. She is an Alpha Female.

A few years after Holly and I met, Lora came into our lives like a hurricane. We had no choice but to declare her our new BFF. Lora is usually the most beautiful woman in the room. She will do or say anything for a laugh. On her wedding day, with her beautiful dress, hair, and makeup, I watched her run across the dance floor and slide under her husbands legs. On Holly's wedding day, in her bridesmaids dress, I believe she did the worm on the dance floor. By day she is a social worker and her gracious and sincere nature makes you feel immediately like you are her soul mate. Yet her friendship is so fierce, that sometimes you feel completely unworthy of being her friend. She is obsessively loyal and if you ever got into a fist fight in a dark alley, Lora would have your back. She is an Alpha Female.

Now Lora has always been the disorganized dirty one. And when I say dirty, I mean years ago, Holly ordered her to find the source of an odor in her apartment and it ended up being a dead mouse under her bed. This of course comes from Holly who consistently had three-year old expired condiments in her fridge and if she owned a vacuum, you wouldn't know it my going into her house. That leaves me as the cleanest, the most organized, and dare I say, often the voice of reason. Alright, alright, I'm a Project Manager, I LIKE ORDER.

Last week-end the ladies came over for brunch with all the kids. Lora and Holly were watched the girls in the back yard for a bit while I was cleaning up the mess in the kitchen. When I was finished, I went out to join them and noticed naked little girls, pails of water, Holly barking orders, and big pregnant Lora hurriedly trying to get a diaper and clothes on Hadley. I watched this scene in full amusement as suddenly it dawned on me that they thought that I would be mad that Hadley was running around naked rolling in mud and grass and dumping water on herself.

It made me realize that we have 10 years of experience together being single, and drinking bloody mary's at the bar on Sunday, but parenting is still fairly newish to all of us. Yet our parenting styles are not far off from from our personalities. Do I let Hadley run around using marker on herself head to toe getting filthy outside? Mmm, not exactly, but I also don't think that there is anything wrong with her getting dirty and having fun. As long as I know that she is safe that is really all that matters to me.

Gummi Crib Rail Cover Review

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:30:00 +0000

Last month, when I went to get Hadley from her nap, I noticed a few teeth marks on her crib rail. It looked like a beaver was using the rail to teethe on, and the paint was taken off down to the wood. Upon further inspection, I noticed that there were additional marks up and down the rail. We needed to do something fast before I started having panic attacks about lead poisoning, so DG got online and found this Gummi crib rail. We purchased one of them and I have to say that it completely fixed our problem. It went on very easily and is adhered so that it covers the rail that she chews on. It was also one of the cheaper products we found.

And to our comfort, her lead levels came back clean too!

Phase 1 of Potty Training

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:01:00 +0000

WARNING: This post contains comments that may be offensive to people who like to go into the bathroom, shut the door, turn on the water to drown out noise, come out, and never again talk about what happened in there. Don't worry, I'll be gentle with you.

This week we started Phase 1 of potty training which consists of Hadley coming into the bathroom everytime I go in, pulling down her pants and sitting on her potty next to me. But she's only 15 months, you say? I know, I know, but it is stress free with no expectations. It really has all started because our neighbor gave us a hand-me-down potty last week. I was going to store it in the garage, but then it ended up in the bathroom and I figured, I might as well start with the positive reinforcement now. It's all about repetition and comfort.

For example, I started teaching her to brush her teeth when she was 12 months. Once or twice a day we would go into the bathroom and go through the ritual of brushing our teeth. I would wet her toothbrush and hand it to her and then sing the Raffi song and she would watch me brush. About two weeks in, she finally put the tooth brush in her mouth. Now I have to limit tooth brushing to twice a day. She would live with that toothbrush in her mouth if I let her.

And no, I don't think she's going to be peeing in a toilet any time soon. Realistically, I don't expect this to happen until after she is two. Her head barely comes up to the toilet as it is. I'm just starting now with the fun part. Watching her sit on her potty with her pants around her ankles listening to hear me tinkle is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. Well, next to her asking for her ducks, or doing Ring Around the Rosie, pretend peeing comes in a close third.

But what do I know about potty training? Nothing. I don't even have a book for that yet. When did you start potty training your kids?

Virtual Management Systems

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:02:00 +0000

Announcing the opening of my new company, Virtual Management Systems. Dave just finished my site this week-end and it is ready for review. Be gentle. No, no, tell me like it is. I mean let me have it, but with a delicate touch.

We are still doing some tweaking: my face won't be on every page and I need to add a blog to it. That being said, I'm anxious to hear your thoughts both good and bad. Please leave a comment with the following in mind.

1) What is the feel of the site? Does it look professional? Is there too much text?

2) Can you tell what a Virtual Assistant is?

3) Is it clear how I can help your business?

4) And most importantly, would you contact me if you needed help?

And, GO!

NOTE: Thanks for all of the emails. It would help if I opened up the comments.

Say Bye-Bye to Bottles

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:46:00 +0000

And just like that, the bottles are gone. January 27, I asked everyone in the internet world how to ween a child from a bottle. I got a lot of great advice from all of you. Here is what I did.

Step One
I went out and bought a bunch of different sippy cups; different brands, different colors, different spouts. My intent was to find one that she was comfortable holding and drinking water out of.

Step Two
I did nothing. While I promoted her continuing to drink water out of cups, I really stopped trying to get her to drink milk out of the cups. I didn't even think of it. I didn't even threaten it.

Step Three
I watched her garner interest in sippy cups when she was around other kids. She would see them drinking out of their cups and she would try and steal their cups for a drink of the precious liquid inside.

Step Four
Then today, I really felt like she was ready. So when I knew she was super hungry for milk, I made a big ado about how we had to put all of her bottles in a bag and give them to babies. "Babies NEED your bottles", I told her. "But you are a big girl who drinks out of a cup." This was more for me as I don't think it had any affect on her drinking out of a cup. I then gave her a cup of milk and she sucked it down. Success!!! ::cheers of glee::

Our next issue is attempting to switch from two naps to one a day. More on that later.

No Fear

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0000

If the sun is out, Hadley wants to be outside. She will sit and play in the mulch for an hour while her Dad is out raking, watering the compost, filling the bird bath or doing poop patrol. Then she needs to be dragged inside for stupid things like eating and nap time. She usually won't go without a fight though. This week-end, she found her outdoor house and LOVED it.

I am really going to try my best not to pass on any phobias to her. But seriously this thing is a breeding ground for wasps and spiders. Ew. But for her, it's a fairy tale cottage and like totally the funnest thing ever.

The Best $2.50 I Ever Spent

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Hadley loves balloons. Pointing to them at the grocery store is one of her greatest joys in life. So at the St. Patty's Day parade in Denver, how could I deny her a balloon?

Hours of fun.

At last you are mine.

Gratuitous Toddler Shot

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:27:00 +0000

Guest Blogger Anyone?

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:10:00 +0000

I am looking to add a few guest bloggers to the mix in the next few weeks as it appears that starting a company, looking for a job, and running after a toddler equals less time for me. If you are interested in writing a guest post for the Beehive make a comment or shoot me an email.

There is only one rule. I'm a Project Manager, of course there is a rule. tsk tsk. I would prefer that the post be relevant to this blog. Luckily we talk about almost everything including parenting, pregnancy, raising kids, cooking, cleaning, art, music, restaurants, crafting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, pooping blah blah.

In the meantime, I'm working on the Dysfunctional Housewife, aka Cynthia to cook something up for us.

Virtual Assistants are the new Pink

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:39:00 +0000

Outsourcing has been going on for over 20 years. But in today's age, the new flashy term is Virtual Assistant. People all over the world are able to stay at home and work remotely for companies. I've been letting my mind open up with an entrepreneurial spirit lately and began to consider starting my own virtual business. It started when my friend and colleague Lydia that I've worked with for over 15 years said to me: "We need to start our own Virtual Marketing Business". Then I read in Fast Company that the whole world is going to start doing Google searches about how to work from home. I thought, I could write a blog on how to work from home. Needed: PJs, coffee mug, baby in lap, oh and a computer. Ready: Set: WORK.

In a flash, I went to GoDaddy trying to find a Domain Name. Here's what we came up with: Virtual Management Systems. Professional, descriptive, everything I'm looking for in a serious company. I wonder how many other companies created their names with what they could find on GoDaddy? On a sidenote, I also own PurlPrincess for my knitting blog someday!

David is working on my website a little every night. I need to start whip cracking him, or offering back rubs, or coffee, or something. I have two clients/projects, my friend Jeff and another that I found on HireMyMom. In the meantime, you can catch me on Twitter here.

Angel Face vs. Grumpy Old Man

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:43:00 +0000

Hadley really loves bath time. When I yell out the words "Bath Time" Gibson stops in his tracks before running under the bed, and Hadley starts pounding her chest like Celion Dion and demanding her ducks. Her ducks live under the bathroom sink and only come out during bathtime. Well bathtime and extreme playing emergencies. I now have to be careful when I utter those words because she thinks she's going to be stripped naked in 2.2 seconds and the fun is going begin on the double. I love this picture of her post bath because it makes me think of lying on a cloud of soft toilet paper rolls in heaven.

This picture is my new favorite because it makes it look like we don't own a brush. But she had just woken up from a nap and was completely into cheesing it up for the camera.

And finally, this picture is a reminder of how I need to remember that when I dress her, at any minute a Paparazzi can sneak up out of nowhere. Get it? PAPA - razzi hehe. Wearing red and light blue is not perhaps the best choice I could have made for her that day. But when you look like a grumpy old man it kind of takes away the focus of what you are wearing.

Neutrogena Makeup

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Growing up, my mother never wore makeup. Mom considered herself dressed up if she had lipstick on. When it came time for puberty and I was ready to don my war paint, I had to look to my BFF Joy to learn how to put on makeup. Joy also did my makeup for prom, and even on my wedding day, she helped me put on my eyeliner because my hands were so shaky. When I was finally allowed to wear makeup in the 80's, I carefully chose my first eyeshadow quad in the colors of eggplant and gray. You know, real natural looking, like a bruise. I have come a little way since then, but my idea of makeup is still pretty simplistic and always includes under eye bag hider and lip gloss. So having me teach you how to put on makeup would be like the Dalai Lama giving a seminar on how to fight wars.

That said, Neutrogena just sent me some new makeup to try out (through a BzzAgent campaign I am working on) and I thought I would do some before and afters for effect. Here is what my package included:

Mineral Sheers Concealer Kit SPF20
Nourishing Eye Quad
Nourishing Eyeliner
Healthy Volume Mascara

I've always thought Neutrogena had great face cleansers and moisterizing products, but was not even aware they had a makeup line. What I really like about the Neutrogena makeup is that they are really reasonable priced. The mascara is only $8.99, compared to $16-$20 for Benefit or Lancome. The eyeshadow palette is only $9.99 and it includes a base, highlighter, crease and accent color. It is also marked for people like myself who need a paint by numbers outline of how to apply eyeshadow.

After seeing these pictures, what I really wish Neutrogena would create is a magic wand to erase my crows feet. Gawd, how long have I had those? Since that, like winning lotto, is a pipe dream, I will have to settle for their concealer kit (which included a base and powder), because it did a nice job of giving me an even skin tone. I also like the natural look and don't feel like I am overly made-up. As for the mascara, it went on really well, no clumping, though I'm not sure I believe their marketing about 400% fuller lashes. Compared to other products I have, it did not make my lashes fuller. And by the end of the day, it was completely under my eyes.

I wish I had a bunch of fancy giveaways, but all I've got are several coupons for Neutrogena makeup for $1.50-$3.00 off these new products. If you see something you like, comment on this post and I'll send you one in the mail.

Celebrate Rare Disease Day

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Believe me, I know it sounds odd. Seriously, the Rare Disease people need to get a PR person to spin this in a better way. That said, I was recently contacted by the California Department of Public Health Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program announcing February 28 as Rare Disease Day.

As most of you know, Hadley was one of 72 infants per year in this country to contract infant botulism at the age of 4 months. Without the work of these people, we could potentially have been in the hospital for over a month. But with their funding and their fairly newish drug Baby Big, our baby girl has grown up to be a strong and smart as crap toddler. Oh, and did I mention cute too?

From the Rare Disease Website:

On this day, millions of people around the world will observe Rare Disease Day. NORD is the U.S. coordinator, working in partnership with EURORDIS in Europe and other organizations around the world. More than 200 organizations, societies, and companies have signed on to support this effort as Rare Disease Day Partners. We applaud and appreciate what they are doing to focus attention on rare diseases as a public health issue.

Ring Around the Rosie

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:51:00 +0000

For Christmas, my brother sent a cd of kids music with 44 songs. To say it has changed our life, would be an understatement. This CD has created the closest thing we have found to Peace On Earth. It took screaming car rides and turned them into smooth, serene, calmness. God forbid if NPR plays for more than 3 minutes into the car ride, a little someone starts making demands from the back seat that sound a little something like "turn on my music, TURN on my Music, TURN ON MY MUSIC MOM!!! Hence, this CD does not leave our car.

Of the 44 songs, several have struck a chord with Hadley including Ring Around the Rosie, which she requests by saying "Ashes". Though the way she says ashes sounds like a young girl with a mouth full of metal and headgear. She loves to spin around to the song and this video is hot off the press. I swear I wasn't being a stage mom in the background demanding another take. She was on a roll and wouldn't stop spinning.

Ladies Night

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:01:00 +0000

In 1995, I moved to Colorado without a job. Oh to be young and carefree again, when all of my earthly possessions could fit in the back of my Grand Am. For seven months I worked part-time at night in an art gallery while during the day I temped hoping to find my dream job. Finally in April of 1996, after answering phones for a week with the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, I was offered full-time work as an admin assistant with a real salary. This is the best possible thing that could ever have happened to me because 1) I could pay rent and buy drinks every week-end while perusing locals looking for marriage material; 2) Stability made me sane; and 3) I met the best friends that a girl could hope for. Years later, the company was bought out and moved to Nebraska and we all went our separate ways, but these ladies that I met are still some of my best friends.

Friday night, we all headed out for ladies night. And oh what a night it was. In our excitement to see eachother, we started partying like it we were in our 20's. We started off mixing up cocktails in our room at The Curtis Hotel. You know you are in for a good night when there is a pre-party to the real party.

The Curtis is a fun and lively Boutique Hotel with funky pop-culture themed floors. It is in the perfect location next to the Denver Center for Performing Arts which was our destination that evening. After drinks, we went out for food before heading to our show.

If you live in Colorado, you must go see Girls Only. It is an amazingly clever and witty two-woman show for all ages. We were in stitches the entire time and my smile muscles still hurt.

It was so good to see the ladies, but time felt so short. I used to spend entire working days with these women, and then go out with them at night, and then hang out with them all week-end, and then on Sunday be sad to say good-bye, even though we would see eachother the next day! They are the type of friends that you never get enough of. Miss you ladies! Though as Connie said, next time we need a coffee date because it took us two days to recover.

Update on Gibson

christyallbee@yahoo.com (AllBeehive) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:44:00 +0000

Sometimes I forget the power of the internet, until I twit about something spectacular like ass cancer in canines, and then my phone and email ring off the hook. As you know, we here at the Beehive love all things tooshie and poop and we don't discriminate against human or canine. So here is the story and the update.

THE STORY
A few weeks ago, Gibson started licking his butt, excessively. "All dogs lick their butts", you say. But when I mean excessive, I mean obsessive. Like I had filled his crack with treats.

The next morning, when he was outside, I noticed he was gnawing on it. I looked on the back patio and saw little spots of blood. Poor dude. I went into Mommy mode, lifting his tail to check it out. I found a big blocked bloody anal gland. Gross! I can pull poop out of my own daughter's constipated butt, but something about the dog totally grosses me out. So I cleaned him up, fashioned him a cone out of a manilla file and packing tape, and called the vet.

Later that afternoon we all jumped in the car to head to our appointment. Gibson, as if knowing where we were going, had a panic attack and decided to jump in Hadley's lap. Hadley, whose car seat is in the middle seat, rear facing, was trying to take a nap at the time. There I was in five lanes of traffic on the highway, and looking in my rear view mirror, all I could see was his cone. *giggle* If you know dachshunds, you know that extensive and loud yelling have no effect on them. In fact, it makes them more headstrong. When I finally got off the highway to a red stop light, we had a stare down, then a "Don't make me undo my seat belt and come into the back seat" moment, followed by maneuvering him into the front seat. Stroking his ears and whispering calming sweet nothings still did not calm him down.

All of that drama, and as it turns out he had a blocked anal gland that we treated with antibiotics, and twice a day warm compresses. You know I LOVE this dog.

But there's more...
During his follow up, the gland had not completely healed, and when the vet did a biopsy, there were some abnormal cells suggesting cancer. Gibson got lots of extra treats and cuddles last week as we continued to nurse him.

Finally today...
We headed back to the vet for one last check-up. This time, Gibson started off in the front seat with me. Upon pulling into the vet parking lot however, Gibson knew exactly where he was and proceeded to freak out with ear piercing barks. Trying to unload him and Hadley from the car became a comedy of cursing and entanglement in his leash. Suddenly I heard my name called and a very pregnant Dr. Amy asked me if I needed help. I can only hope she didn't hear my exchange with Gibson in which I threatened to kill him if the cancer wasn't going to. It was not a proud moment for me.

Things got much better from there as it appears that Gibson's tooshie is safe for now. He does NOT have Anal Gland Carcinoma, just a little scar tissue. Phew.