Lora's United States of Whatever

Sometimes I just sit and think about things. I love to analyze and figure things out. One day I was thinking about Izzy and how she is really half of me and half of Greg. Duh, you might say, but if you really think about how bizzare that is... to have one little person that is half of two other people... And that brings me to my first point: some people should not combine themselves! I always knew that Izzy would look like Greg and I... and she's got my blue eyes and Greg's curls to prove it! But it never crossed my mind that she would have parts of our personalities! I am very stubborn, so is Greg; Izzy is super-stubborn! We both have outgoing personalities... you should see Izzy when we're out and about. She thinks that she knows everyone! Izzy tests the limits just like I do, and she's got Greg's wishy-washiness. It amazes me how our good (and bad) qualities are shining through this little toddler! It doesn't matter what we're trying to keep Izzy from tou...

Just the other day I was talking to my newly pregnant friend, Danielle, and offering words of wisdom to help her through her pregnancy. The best piece of advice that I passed on to Dani was that she should do what's best and what works for her and her baby. Seems like common sense, right? Wrong. With all of the books and websites out there, a set of standards has been created for new mommies and their newborns. And it spans from breastfeeding to sleeping to schedules... and it's never ending! The first few days after Izzy was born she cried and cried and cried. I continually put her in her bassinet to sleep at night, and she would just cry! Finally I put her in bed with me (going against everything that I'd read pre-Izzy), and she slept! For the first three months of her life she slept, and I slept. I had to do what was best for me and for her. And when she was ready, she slept in her crib, and I slept in my bed... contrary to what those books said! There have been many sit...