One of the things I’m enjoying most about my laptop is reconnecting with my CDs, many of which I have loaded. During college my grandparents gave me a set of really nice headphones. The first time I listened to them, even my untrained ear could notice how much better the sound was compared to a normal set of speakers in a house or car or a normal set of headphones. By blocking out the outside noise and producing sound with high accuracy, they let me hear tiny details that I’d missed – understanding certain lyrics for the first time, hearing the echoes of the concert hall, picking out individual instruments and voices. I used them a lot while I had a roommate at Baylor but not as much after that once I got my own place. Now I happily take them with me and plug them into my laptop during my downtime at work. I must fight the temptation to sing along, especially when I’m listening to voice-focused CDs like Acappella or the King’s Singers.
Phone Book Opt-Out
This might not be as effective as the National Do Not Call list, but it’s a start. A new organization called YellowPagesGoesGreen.org gives you an easy way to tell your local phone book publishers to quit sending you phone books that you never requested, don’t want, and never use. We get at least 2-3 phone books a year and immediately dump each one into the recycling bin or the trash. I think they are a ridiculous waste of paper in the Information Age. Sign up today via the link above and let me know if it works!
Also, vote in my phone book poll on the right. Thanks!
Brenden Sitting and Looking Cute
I haven’t posted many pics of my adorable son lately, so here are a few we took tonight:
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- I am so cute! I am so cute! C-U-T-E! This is a Bumbo. I am borrowing from cousin Reagan b/c she’s still too small for it.
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- Mommy helps me work my legs
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- I can sit fairly well with help. I am strengthening my core.
SWA to LGA 2009
SWA is in the process of securing 14 slots at New York City’s LaGuardia (LGA), marking the first time we have ever entered the NYC market (ISP doesn’t count since it draws mainly from the Long Island area, not NYC proper). Historically we have avoided the 3 New York metro airports due to high costs, lack of gate/slot availability, and chronic delays. However, by staying out of the largest aviation market in the world, we have cost ourselves huge amounts of revenue. We are now getting a few slots from ATA, which should allow 7 daily round trips to and from LGA. I have mixed feelings. The extra revenue will be significant, but LGA is an operational nightmare, similar to Philadelphia (PHL) if not worse in terms of delays.
Link Between Poverty and Childhood Obesity
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram posted an interesting article about childhood obesity. I’ve thought for years that fat children were generally fat because they ate too much and/or didn’t exercise enough, just like fat adults. This study found that children who were both fat AND poor generally don’t consume enough calories, which surprised me. The problem is that the food they do eat has such low nutritional value that they aren’t getting enough nutrients for their metabolism to work correctly.
Observations from a New Momma – the 3.5 month edition
So, Brenden turns 4 months old later this month. He’s been around for almost a third of a year! We’ve headed into the territory of “almost a year ago you found out you were pregnant” and “last Thanksgiving there were no babies around” comments – it’s weird to think about because it seems like he’s always been here. So here are some new observations for you to think about:
* B sticks his bottom lip out as far as humanly possible before crying. The farther out the lip is, the louder the cry will be once he gets it worked up.
* The boy is going to be tall – he’s wearing 6-9 month outfits, but some of them are too short, so he looks like he’s wearing man-pris (boy capris) all the time. I even had to go buy new socks because the old ones are too short for his big feet.
* It’s so fun to watch the rest of our family dote on him. Since I see his cuteness all day everyday, I’m not as tuned in to the novelty of it.
* Since hubs works nights, there are time periods when both Andy and Brenden are sleeping. They look alike when they’re awake, but when they’re sleeping, it’s really freaky.
* He likes to talk. Especially when he thinks no one is paying attention.
* Two things we’re very glad for: He hasn’t developed a fear of other people, and he can sleep anywhere. Hopefully this will stay around!
* Isn’t it amazing that we will go out of our way to act like an idiot to get a baby to smile at us, but we don’t make any effort at all with the adults around us?
* A friend of mine at work, when she returned from maternity leave, made a comment about wanting another one because hers was so grown. He was only about three months and I thought she was crazy. I understand that now!
* Trying to dress a kid that can grasp things is like trying to dress a cat. Sometimes it just doesn’t seem worth it. 🙂
*We’ve started trying to set up a bedtime routine. We read the Very Hungry Caterpillar and sing a few songs before each time he sleeps. I can’t remember the lyrics to anything, so we’ve been singing Christmas carols.
*We’ve renamed the vibrating bouncy seat the “poop chair”. If he sits in it longer that a few minutes, he’s gonna need a new diaper.
That’s it for now! I’ll try to get some new pics up soon – we haven’t taken many lately!