5 things I would NOT recommend

I love hearing about sales, products, recipes, books, dentists, etc that people have "tried" and feel confident in recommending. I'd like to share with you 5 things that I have recently experienced that I would NOT recommend:)

NOT RECOMMEND:

1. When you are oh, 7 or 8 months pregnant wearing ugly clothes (because you can't fit into anything else) going to the gym and participating in the body step class when the instructor says "oh I'm just video taping myself because I'm getting certified". You might want to notice that the front wall is lined with MIRRORS and YOU WILL be in the video tape after all even though you think you are far away from the video camera and your friend will somehow manage to get a copy and blackmail you with it!

2. I would highly NOT recommend being pregnant, having a baby (and 3 other children), and putting your house on the market while you husband is working in another city. Enough said.

3. I would not stay up a little bit later (this is funny because what I now call late, used to be called "early"---this can be explained by #2) because you have not read a book in a long time and you feel the need to "treat" yourself and you've already had to renew the book and you're moving and are not sure the new library will have the book and you already started it like 5 weeks ago. I know you are considering the treat because you have finally cleaned the house for the 700th time and the finances are caught up and the laundry is drying and you finally feel like you can relax in between feedings, but you know that what will happen---- your 2 year old will wake up only 1/2 hour later crying and then again a couple hours after that and then get up around 5:30ish to stay up and continue the crying. In between that time your newborn will wake up wanting to eat. Just put the book down....and go to bed.

4. I would not attempt to take 4 beautiful children to an end of the year picnic by yourself. Of course you would want to go because you don't have to cook dinner, or clean up for that matter. This is a big bonus when you are trying to sell your house and you are trying to keep it spotless (I have definitely learned the difference between a clean house and a show house). You also want to go because your son has been in this program for 4 years now and you're moving and this is your last time to go and you want your son to feel like you care about what is going on in his life because things have been a little different when you have a brand new baby and you have all these changes and you are trying to stay on top of all the kids needs/feelings and so you think we should go. Certainly the older kids will help and the little ones can be in a stroller and car seat. What you don't know--

that of course, it will be colder than expected, that you get your food at one shelter but then have to walk to the shelter on the other side of the playground because they painted those tables that morning--so of course someone is kind enough to help you because obviously I am going to need help carrying 3 plates, a stroller, and a car seat, ( I can imagine what thoughts were going through people's heads but I am choosing to ignore them) which is really nice but then once you get there you don't count on walking under a bird's nest and getting POOPED on by the flying bird overhead:( Your kids eat great (minus toddler age 2 --see #5) and you start to think---we're good, we're doing alright---and you get everyone to the playground for some run-get-tired time and then one of them has to go to the bathroom. Four vs. one What were you thinking?? Of course the bathrooms are back up where you were eating and toddler #2 just got freedom from the stroller and doesn't want to get back in just to take her sister to the bathroom....Next time--follow the instinct to hire someone to come along with you.

5. Following doctor's orders:) So Megan was a little chubby bub about 4 or 5 months old but has since then fallen off the chart for her age and weight. Her doctor told me several months ago I could try that pediasure to help her sleep longer (she was waking up at like 5 a.m. so tired but hungry because she wasn't eating very much) and to boost her up. She also said that at that time she wouldn't recommend a strict diet of only eating at 3 meal times but that if she was hungry to go ahead and give her something to eat. Now I'm sure I didn't do it exactly right but seriously--I have created a monster. It is amazing to me how she can stay alive with hardly eating. Instead of eating more or better, she tells me she is "hungy" about every hour and then sits at the table to only take a mini bite of all the yummy stuff I've put in front of her that she told me she would eat....right. It is mind boggling to me how one day she will eat something like it is going out of style and I think "finally I know something I can give her so she will eat". For example she would eat string cheese at 6 a.m. However then the next time you offer it to her, she acts like you are trying to get her to eat mashed up garbage or something. Then this week---it is 4:20 A.M. and you might think "she is up with her newborn" Nope...Megan has woke me up yelling "Mommy, I need my chocy" (aka chocolate milk---no I am not joking) And yes, I am crazy and give it to her---why? I am only feeding into making the monster. I know this. I also know it is 4:20. She sleeps for 3 more hours...Sometimes I want to get all the "experts" I've tried reading and applying their "techniques" on my children and have them at my house at 4:20 a.m.