Now batting... Lil' MD

“You’ve created a monster – you know that, right?” (El Opinionated Woodbutcher, aka my brother-in-law)

Many years ago, my darling little wifey-pooh was the quintessential Southern Belle - always prim and proper, never a cross word, and definitely not a confrontational person in the least. Three years of chasing dating, a year of enslavement engagement, and nearly ten years of yardwork marriage have changed a girl. She’ll throw down with Hulk Hogan or Doc Holiday if they get cross with her. Or another person telling her something ‘bout her child.

Time to unleash the beast.

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. Making her blogging debut, the Sultan of Spit-up, the Duchess of Diapers, the Princess of Poo... the one and only – as far as she knows – Mrs. Misawa herself, Lil’ MD...

Being a new mommy has changed my world inside and out for the best and I am still in awe that God has blessed us with this journey. Every day is a new adventure and I love experiencing life again through the eyes of my child.

That said, I have a particular problem with people - whether they are a part of the parenthood or not - that know a better way to raise your child and decide that you need to know it.

Since our little 8-month old “Pork Chop” - as Misawa has nicknamed him. I prefer “Baby Bear”, or “Love Bug” but I can understand why he would need a masculine nickname from Daddy - was born back in April I have noticed that not only do people like to give you advice while you’re pregnant but boy does Pandora’s box open when the child actually arrives. Here are some of the comments I’ve received:

• You know what they say about babies that skip crawling don’t you? They become developmentally delayed.

As my hubby would say – bullbutter. This scenario came about because Pork Chop has recently shown an interest in walking but not in crawling. There are plenty of children that have developed just fine by skipping the crawling phase. Most pediatricians don’t even consider it a developmental milestone anymore. In fact, most studies conclude that kids crawl later nowadays due to the Back-to-sleep campaign – more time spent on the back equals... well figure it out for yourself. If my boy is not interested in crawling and just wants to chase the cat by rolling after him, so be it. I think it shows creative problem-solving skills.

• I should write you a manual on how to raise a child.

This statement has come to me several times from a dear friend of mine. I love her but I think its time to say enough is enough. Just because you have more children doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing. I may have never been a mommy before Pork Chop, but I am now and know my baby more than anyone else. Here’s the ironic part... that same friend told me later she wished her two children were as laid back as mine. How ‘bout them apples?

• I don’t see how putting your infant in front of the TV before going to bed will make any difference on how he sleeps. It wasn’t a problem for my children.

When Pork Chop was around 3 months old, Misawa and I didn’t want him watching TV after 5pm because it stimulated him and kept him from sleeping at night. We had someone tell us that idea was crazy and that TV was never an issue for her children. My answer is – GREAT – I’m glad it didn’t bother your children but it does mine. Now that same person is amazed that we can put Pork Chop to bed at 7pm and he’ll sleep until 7am (most of the time).

In summary, I just wanted to share my thoughts on people sharing their opinions that ought not to. Just because I raise my child differently doesn’t mean its wrong. Every baby is different. Even if you do know more be sensitive and understand that your way may not be the only way. Also, if you refer to "they" when giving advice but don’t remember all the facts, don’t mention it at all unless you can back it up. New moms [and dads] have enough worries to deal with.

Misawa and I have another name for parenthood: crisis management. Parenting isn’t easy but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Thanks for listening. Have a blessed and Happy New Year!
Lil’ MD

Change? Really?!

John Stossel with a dead-on assessment of our new President's ideas for "changing" our economy:

So they will "transform our economy." Obama's nearly trillion-dollar plan will not merely repair bridges, fill potholes and fix up schools; it will also impose a Utopian vision based on the belief that an economy is a thing to be planned from above. But this is an arrogant conceit. No one can possibly know enough to redesign something as complex as "an economy," which really is people engaging in exchanges to achieve their goals. Planning it means planning them.

Read the rest of Arrogant Conceit here.

100 things

Generally, I don't care for these, but... oh, what the hay!

1. Started your own blog. Uhh, duh?
2. Slept under the stars. Thank you RA camp.
3. Played in a band. Bass, backup guitar, the 88's, and some vocals.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower. Still do this anytime I can.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain. Does climbing out of Talulah Gorge count?
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. More times than I probably should.
11. Bungee jumped. No, but this is so on my bucket list.
12. Visited Paris. No - and my gosh why???
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. I'm an origami swami.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked. Thanks to a guy that got us stuck in the mud while finding a fishing hole.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort. Thank you blizzard of 93.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping. With my natural furry g-string? Heck no!
27. Run a Marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse. Elementary school.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run. If inside the park counts, then yes. No over the fence homers - yet.
32. Been on a cruise. If you answer yes to this and no to 30, something's wrong with you.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. Most of them, actually.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock (wall) climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. And given all my musical training and abilities, how did I do? Lousy.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. Oh yeah...
46. Been transported in an ambulance. Rode with my grandmother.
47. Had your portrait painted / drawn. Do the caricatures at Six Flags count?
48. Gone deep sea fishing. I don't think 10 ft off the coast of Steinhatchee counts.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. Bahamas and Grand Cayman island.
52. Kissed in the rain. Drug the wife outside during a real frog-strangler. Darned near turned in to skinny-dipping...
53. Played in the mud. Uhh, duh? I'm a boy!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. Actually watched the movie... and fogged up the windows!
55. Been in a movie. Had a real chance at this one. Our high school band was invited to be in a movie set the 60s... which meant we would have had to separate in to white and colored bands. Decided it just wasn't worth it.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China. I'm guessing Google Earth doesn't count.
57. Started a business. Working on this one...
58. Taken a martial arts class. Aikido.
59. Visited Russia. Really - no Google Earth love?
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies. I can't believe I've done this. Sister was a Girl Scout.
62. Gone whale watching. There's a cruel joke in here somewhere about an ex-girlfriend...
63. Got flowers for no reason. Received? No. Given, yep.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving. On the bucket list.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. Star Wars and Transformers.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar. Bleh!
72. Pieced a quilt. Granny recruited me.
73. Stood in Times Square. Much cooler in real life than on TV.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone. Pinky finger and maybe a rib.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. 2000 Honda Civic.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible. I don't know that I've ever done the "read the Bible straight through" thing, but I know I've read every book in the Bible at sometime or another.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox. Totally and completely sucked.
89. Saved someone’s life. Physically? No. Spiritually? I think (hope) so.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous. Chipper Jones, Mark Wohlers, Steve Bartkowski, Billy "White-Shoe" Johnson.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one. Dad.
94. Had a baby. Well, I yelled "Push!" Had a little something to do with the conception, too.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.