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5/22/2012

Holy chopsticks-Easton goes out to eat!

Easton enjoying chopsticks at Wild Chef
These days going out to dinner is a luxury.  Adam and I are normally avid "out-to-eaters" but for the last 8 months I can tell you we've put the brakes on this tradition.   Mostly because we're terrified of what may happen with a busy baby boy in our booth.   We have managed 2 restaurant outings with Easton which he slept the whole time.  Other than being on pins and needles we made it through without a peep from our little peanut.   Now that our parenting confidence is up and with a tuckered tot in tow we decided that we should try for a Friday night dinner when my in-laws were in town.

The big idea struck when the coupon-saver envelope arrived in the mail.  I saw a 2-for-1 for a Japanese Steakhouse, "Wild Chef", and I thought that it would be a fun dinner for all.  I figured if Easton did wake up he would likely be mesmerized by the chef cooking in front of him.   So I picked him up from daycare on Friday afternoon, pleased to see he was due for an afternoon nap (fingers crossed for a sleeping baby during dinner), and stopped at home to gather the group.  

I packed the diaper bag, making sure I was covered for any situation.  Puffs for snacking, a bottle, diapers, change of clothes, toys and the list goes on.  We load up the car and hit the road.  Now, in true grandparent form, Easton's grandma and grandpa sat in the backseat with him and were enjoying gushing over him and playing with him while Adam and I sat upfront crossing our fingers that he'd fall asleep.


Little stinker fighting sleep

When we got about 1 mile from the restaurant Easton started crying- hard.  I told Adam to keep driving, told everyone to stop talking to him and we'd drive until he fell asleep.   That didn't exactly work out.  After several drives around the Sam's Club parking lot and the backwoods of Alpine Ave. we looked at each other and said, "What do we do?!"   Now officially starving I decide we should go to dinner and hope for the best.

As I step out of the car I reach in the back for the diaper bag hoping the "puffs" or the "bottle" will save the day.  That's when I realize I forgot the diaper bag!  AHHHHHH!  I can see it sitting on the kitchen chair and I just cringe.  My mommy bag of tricks is beyond out of reach and I'm filled with hunger and dread.   We get seated- order drinks and have the same conversation several times.

  "Should we leave?"

"What do you think?"

"I don't know.  What do you think?"

"Maybe we should just pick up a pizza and go home".

"This isn't gonna work.... what do you think?"
Wild Chef capturing Easton's attention


I finally make the executive decision we're staying.  We got Easton a high chair and pulled him up to the table which he seemed to like a lot.   I gave him a pair of chopsticks (yes a def. eye poking out danger but hell what am I supposed to do?!) and the paper from the chopsticks and he went to town playing.  I couldn't believe it.  I had to pick them up off the floor every 2 seconds but I didn't care.  He loved watching our chef do tricks on the grill and he didn't say a peep.  I was completely shocked when we got back in the car and realized it's a half hour past his bedtime and even without a bottle he acted like an angel.  

Lesson learned: Give your baby some credit and don't forget the damn diaper bag!

5/03/2012

Shop till you drop- West Michigan Mom's Sale May 19!!!

Saturday May 19th 9-3pm DeVos Place
I'm so pumped for my first mom to mom sale coming up on Saturday May 19th.  One of my best friends is a die hard mom-to-mom sale shopper and when I was pregnant she was always picking me up great maternity dresses, shirts, shorts ect.  I'd say, "how much do I owe you?" and she'd say, "don't worry about it, it was so cheap".

Now that Easton is growing like a weed I can't keep up with his sizing and neither can my wallet (or grandma's for that matter).  So my mom, future sister-in-law and I are packing up the stroller and the diaper bag and heading out to the Mid-West's largest Mom Sale at DeVos Place on Sat. May 19th from 9-3pm.  If you've never done a sale like this, it's a giant "garage type sale" where mom's can buy a table and sell their gently used baby clothes/toys/gear and maternity wear, and then mom's like me can pick it up for sweet prices that are actually affordable.

I've seen some pictures from this particular sale and it looks fun but hard core.   You've got to be prepared!  Don't forget the reusable shopping bags to tote home your finds and if you get a chance scout out the website early so you know which tables you want to get to first.   If these other moms are anything like me- we'll be like a heard of elephants rushing straight for the baby gap and bouncy seat booths LOL.

I'll be sure to take lots of pics to show you how my first shopping experience goes!  Also if you're looking to make some serious cash- they've got booth space still available.   $35 for a 10x10 foot booth and the seller gets to keep 100% of what they make.  Whoot-whoot!

As part of WOTV 4 Women, we'll also have a booth across the hall at the free GR8 Parenting Event.  This is super cool, you can watch a demo on making baby food, couponing, ect. or just check out the local businesses that offer family fun activities around town and so much more.  I've written a few stories recently on this event, I'd love for you to check them out:

http://www.wotv4women.com/dpp/baby/cant-wait-for-the-gr8-parenting-event

http://www.wotv4women.com/dpp/baby/save-money-shopping-mom-to-mom-sales



4/30/2012

Our first trip to the ER

Easton brushing his teeth after being sick
We knew the day would come sooner or later and it was so much scarier than I could have imagined.  Easton is of course "teething" but starting coming down with a cold.   I took him to the Dr. (just to be safe) and they said he had a low grade fever (99.0) but it's "probably teething".  My mom instinct said otherwise but I tried to remain calm and collected instead of thinking I'm a Dr.

We got home and Easton took a good long nap.  When it was time to get him up, he lay moaning in his crib, rocking his head back and forth.  I knew immediately something was wrong and he was burning up.  Now I started to feel panicked.  Adam was at baseball practice with his team and our daycare provider forgot to send Easton's Tylenol home.   I called Adam over and over until he picked up and told him to get to the store and get medicine.

I tried to keep a cool wash cloth on Easton's head and fed him a bottle until Adam got home.  We then immediately tried to give him a dose of medicine and that's when he gagged on it and threw up all over me. That's when I lost it and started bawling. I was so scared for him and now we had no clue how much medicine he actually got in his system. Poor Adam. A sick baby and a sobbing wife.  

We eventually get Easton's fever down and get him feeling a little better.   We got him to bed and agreed at 10pm we'd wake him up to try and give him another dose.   About 9:30pm I decided to check him and that's when I found him moaning and burning up.  He wouldn't open his eyes and I watched in horror as the digital thermometer kept ticking higher and higher finally stopping at 104.5!   I screamed to Adam we're going to the ER RIGHT NOW!  We attempted to give him the medicine again and then he gagged and threw up all down the front of Adam's shirt. Ugh..... We threw on a pair of jeans, flips, grabbed the diaper bag and packed up Easton, pj's and all, into the baby carrier and flew out of the house.

I rode in the backseat with him the whole way, and he just moaned with his eyes closed.  We pulled in to the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital ER entrance and rushed him in.  Once in triage they were able to get Easton to swallow the medicine so I knew things were looking up. Turns out he had a chest infection.  They also told us that babies can get fevers up to 105 or 106 degrees without being "Serious".  I was shocked.
Easton is his little hospital gown with his red cheeks :-( Poor baby.


Poor Easton was so exhausted from crying for 4 straight hours he slept the whole night through.  I spent the next day tracking his medicine rotation, his wet diapers, his fluid intake, his temperature.  I was exhausted!  The next day I woke up excepting a healthy baby, but we were back to moaning and a 102.5 fever!  Panic stricken and frustrated I paced the floors for 2 hours until the Dr.'s office opened.  They get us in right away to basically tell me, "You're doing the right thing- this is a nasty virus and it may take a few more days!".  A few more days?!  Luckily they sent me home with a prescription for antibiotics which I swear started working right away! 

Easton sleeping in our bed waiting to go to the Dr.

Easton struggled with his fever for 5 long days!  Honestly it was so emotional and frustrating to see your little precious baby, sick and you can't do anything.  I know that this is the first of many fevers, sickness, and trips to the Dr.  but I can say that I've never more scared in my entire life.   It's so great to see Easton back to his happy healthy self this week.  I on the other hand now have his cold! Go figure ;-)

4/06/2012

Where's the mommy handbook?!

Easton sporting his new Summer hat!


I've got to admit, being a mom is all about learning as you go. Let me tell you, time is moving so quickly! Easton is almost 7 months old and is growing and changing so fast.  Every day he does something different and Adam and I are constantly yelling, "Quick!  Come here and see what Easton is doing!"   He is just soaking everything up around him like a little sponge.  One of my worries about this new "sponge stage" is that if Adam doesn't watch his potty mouth Easton's first word may need to be bleeped ;-)

I wish there was a mom handbook I could consult instead a doing a million internet searches every day or using the dreaded trial and error process. (hmmm... write a book?  Def. don't have enough time for that!) I  have had some serious clueless mom moments lately while trying to keep up with this little dude.  I think this one takes the cake.

I have waited for weeks for Easton to get his teeth.   I've wiped up countless puddles of drool,have been drooled on and (prepare yourself..) have had Easton's drool fall directly into my mouth!  ewww.   Let me clarify- I'm not Alecia Silverstone, but I often will lay on the couch and hold Easton up over my head to play with him.  As I'm making cute baby voices and faces- BAM!  He hits me with the drool bomb.  Anyway, on to the clueless mom moment.

Cool dude drooling in his shades
So I wait and wait and wait for these teeth.  I can be a bit impatient.  Every day I feel the two little bumps on his bottom gums get bigger.  Soon I can feel a little sharp corner poke through, but still no actual teeth.  I give him baby Tylenol and frozen teethers ect. ect.  Finally my mom and aunts came to visit and my mom exclaims, "he got his teeth!"

I of course barrel by her like, "Whhat!?  Let me see!"  I feel his mouth and sigh, "nope not yet.  Its just the tops still.  It's been like that for a week."

The girls look at me and laugh- "Carly you'd better get out the baby book because that is considered getting his teeth."

Irritated and shocked I reply, "what do you mean?  I don't see two 'tall teeth'?"

They then let me know that once the teeth break the skin that's it.   It takes actual time for the teeth to grow upwards into 'tall teeth'.  I was, well shocked and replied,

"Well shoot.  He's had those for a whole week then!"

I have teeth but I'm not gonna show you for the picture!

3/20/2012

Operation Baby Food: I'm up for the challenge!

I love spending time in the kitchen cooking up all sorts of new recipes.  Now that Easton can eat solids he gets to partake in eating mommy's culinary creations!   This is extremely dorky but it's so important to me that Easton grows up with a good palate, because I refuse to have a picky eater on my hands.   I'm trying to expose him to fresh healthy foods.   Am I going to let him eat Cheetos and cupcakes when he's old enough?  Of course!  BUT I feel like starting him on fresh food instead of processed will help him appreciate good fruits and veggies.

I thought for weeks about what his first food would be.  Savory or sweet?!  I toyed around with doing sweet potatoes but I heard about kids turning orange from eating too many orange foods (not going there just yet).  Then I thought I know, Avocado!  But my own mom looked at me like I was crazy and what baby would want their first food to be an avocado?  I finally settled on Butternut Squash which was also my husband's "first food" as a baby.

I was so excited I bought these fancy little baby Tupperware containers in bright colors to store the food, and got everything prepped. (I paid way to much for these but when you're an excited new mom buying baby's first food containers- you just toss it in the cart and throw budgeting to the wind).   I lugged out the food processor from it's dusty hideaway above the cookbooks and got to work.

Step 1: Peel and chop.   I opted for the busy mom "food prep" and bought a bag of pre-peeled and cubed squash.  So this step was more like, "Cut open the bag". ;-)

Step 2: Steam.  Again- I took the easier route and used a ziplock microwavable steam bag.

Step 3: Puree.   I put the steamed squash in the processor added a little water and presto!  Baby food.

pureed pears
Step 4: Taste.  Here is where I found out that I didn't steam long enough.  Whoopsie!   Totally gritty mess.

To say the least I had to scoop all of my gritty baby puree back into the steamer bag- resteam and repuree.  (Ok- I actually had to do this about 3 times because I obviously do not understand how long it takes to steam a butternut squash.)

Step 5: Cool and feed to baby.  Easton looked at me like I put a spoonful of doggie doo in his mouth.  I had to laugh.  He eventually came around!   Though the squash wasn't a huge hit he is loving, sweet potatoes (and has not turned orange), apples, pears and bananas.  Next up peas, then peaches.

peas and peaches
apples and sweet potatoes
I learned a great tip (Thank You Sarah Lake!) to ditch the expensive little containers and freeze the food into ice cubes trays.  It's the  perfect portion and you just store them in a ziplock.

sure I would love to eat dinner in my Elmo bathrobe!

 Easton Update: 6 month checkup: 19.5 LBS (must be loving the baby food) and 29.5 inches long.

3/07/2012

Ok- you can stop growing up now

Easton will be 6 months old in just a few days.  How did this happen?!  I mean come on did time fly or what?!  He's just doing so much cool stuff these days.  I can see the wheels really beginning to turn all of the time.

He is really improving his coordination.  He looks at something, grabs it and puts it right in his mouth.  Maybe it doesn't sound like much but watching him learn all of the steps and put it together is so cool.  He puts everything in his mouth and loves to grab my hair and either, pull it or put it in his mouth... sigh.  At least he hasn't found my earring.

He LOVES to jump.   His grandma and grandpa bought him a Johny Jumper for their house, so of course we stole it for our house.   He will just jump and jump and jump.  He is also rolling over like a crazy man.  If you put him on the floor he'd roll straight across the room if you'd let him.


He's got the energy for it all because he's now eating some solids.  I am making his baby food (which I find super fun) and he's tried:

-Butternut squash- (Easton gives it 4 of 5 stars)
-Pears (Easton gives it 2 of 5 stars)
-Sweet Potatoes (Easton gives it 4 of 5 stars)
-Bananas (Easton gives it 5 of 5 stars)


 Tonight I found myself at dinner chatting to Easton, asking him about his day and dreaming up all of the fun scenarios that may have happened at daycare.

Easton did you go outside today and take a stroll around the neighborhood?
Easton did you eat pears or sweet potatoes for lunch today?
Ut-oh Easton those aren't the clothes I sent you in this morning.  I bet I can guess what would require an outfit change ;-)

 I finally looked at Adam and said, "Won't it be fun when he talks back ;-)"   Now I'm wondering what does a Easton think about?   Here's my best guesses:

1.  Boy these two are funny- I think they're my mom and dad.
2.  Where did that short dog with the funny smashed face go?
3.  Hello!  Hello!  God, they must have awful hearing, it's 2am -Mom I want you to wake up from your warm bed and come get me- hustle up!
4. Food
5. My teeth hurt :-(
6. More food
7. Yah! It's my grandma & grandpa.  I love all of them!
8. If I could j--u--s----t pick this up and get it into my mouth.  Victory!
9.  Oh that's a good lion's paw (sucking on his little stuffed lion toy)
10. I wish someone would play Justin Beiber again. (see video below of the cutest baby dancing to "Baby-Baby" by the Beibs ;-).



2/24/2012

Toy Takeover! What happened to my living room?

Now that Easton is 5 months old he loves to play!  He is learning to use his hands and his coordination is quite entertaining to watch.   He often looks at his own hands as he opens and closes them, scratches at things and tries to shove his entire fist into his mouth- Delicious!

For Christmas he got loaded up with new toys.  I thought, "how cute" and bought and assembled a special shelf for his room to display the toys on (true Carly fashion right there!).  What I didn't take into account is that lugging the toys from the "cute shelf" out to the living room every five minutes is super annoying.  Thus the toy takeover has begun!

I remember 5 months ago when my living room was spotless (if my own mom is reading this she probably is picking her jaw off the ground, shaking her head and thinking ya right, it's only spotless if she cleans it, but hey I have a "selective" memory lol).   Now every nook and cranny is packed with toys.   It started off innocently enough.  I would bring out A (singular) toy for Easton to play with.  Then I would put it back.  Then it grew into a small toy area on the fireplace next to the box of doggie toys.  Shockingly Otis knows the difference between his toys and the baby toys.

Next, I was able to get rid of the swing but swapped it for a bouncy seat.  Then Easton grew into his walker toy, so that gets parked next to the bouncy seat, across from the fireplace toybox.   Then we moved his pack and play into the living room which is squeezed next to the tv, next to the bouncy seat.   Did I mention he also has a little baby playmat jungle gym too?!  Ahhhh! 

In addition to all of his "gear"- we often store the baby carrier on the dining room table next to the high chair which is home to several bibs and toys to occupy his during dinner.  My favorite is when I'm laying on the couch and am like, "ooh what's stabbing me from under the cushions?!"  Oh of course a set of baby keys! LOL

Every night I have to do an entire sweep of the house to help with the toy takeover.   Clear the coffee table of bottles, pacifiers, a bib or two, check the cushions, push the walker and bouncer back to it's corner parking lot and shove the basket of clean baby laundry to it's hiding spot next to the couch.  AND of course put all of the doggie toys away.  They love the "Baby Stuff" (see pic below!)



 Funny thing is- though I miss my "aspiring pottery barn" style living room I can't imagine it any other way than littered with Easton stuff.  I mean look at him?!  Hugging his little moose toy- god he is so cute!  I'm sure in 20 years when I get my living room back, I'll be wishing it was still covered in his baby things :-)

2/08/2012

Meet the Modern Day Mommy

I got the chance to sit down with the hosts of eightWest to talk about my baby boy, my blog and my new role on WOTV 4 Women as the Baby Expert.


2/07/2012

Blog Confessional: Mommy Mistakes- Whoops!

I'm learning that little "Mommy Mishaps" simply happen.  A good mommy friend and I just had a vent session over how easy it is to feel like the worst mom in the world.  So in order to clear my conscious I'm going to have a little blog-confessional. Here goes:

MOMMY MISTAKE: Over-achiever attitude

I'm rushing out the door for work.  I've got the stupid heavy baby carrier in one hand with my laptop bag slung over my shoulder and my purse in the other hand.   Right on cue the over-excited bulldog shoves his way past my feet and tries to escape out the backdoor.  As I yell at him and try to use the baby carrier as a barrier my laptop bag slides off of my shoulder and lands (you guessed it) directly on the baby's lap.    I scream a blur of cuss words and drop to the ground to make sure little man is ok.  I think the swearing scared him more than anything because he looked startled but thank god- unhurt.

MOMMY LESSON LEARNED: Make two trips.   Always ignore the dumb dog.

MOMMY MISTAKE: Bundling blunder

I wasn't so crazy about bundling up the baby at first until my mom finally sternly looked at me and said, it's cold and this kid needs to be in his snowsuit/blanket ect.  I think I may have taken it too far.   I started putting Easton in his fuzzy bear suit (hooded snow suit type thing),  a winter hat AND covering him in a blanket. (writing this now I think I sound like a crazy Eskimo mother!)  I take him to the Dr. for his checkup and they are like- he has a fever!   What?!  Come to find out they recheck him again and I had bundled him soooo much that his temperature temporarily spiked.  


MOMMY LESSON LEARNED: It's west Michigan, not Antarctica.  A coat and hat is suffice.

MOMMY MISTAKE: Hydration Overload

So when Easton got his first cold the Doctor recommended keeping him warm (see "bundling blunder") and hydrated.  Since he only drinks to begin with I thought my best bet was to give him a little bit of a bottle every hour or two instead of a few larger feedings every three hours. But Easton was a little piggy and kept trying to chug way more than he should have.   To say the least the poor little guy got sick 2 times in the night.


MOMMY LESSON LEARNED: Don't put 4 ounces in a bottle when you only want him to eat 1-2.

1/26/2012

Bulldogs and baby baths.

 I don't know what it is about baby baths that our bulldog loves so much.  He personally doesn't enjoy his own bath nearly as much as he loves Easton's.  Maybe it's the lavender scented water that he tries to slurp, or the blue whale bathtub that he wants to soak his giant paws in.

Here is a little look into our most recent bath night...

Me: "Adam can you get Easton's bath ready?"

Otis- Ears perk up.  "Did she say bath?!"  Otis jumps up from his cozy spot on the couch (where he is NOT supposed to be), leaving his half chewed rawhide behind and trots behind Adam to the bathroom.

Otis takes his big bulldog head and shoves the door open and bullies his way in as Adam fills the blue whale baby tub with nice warm water.  "oooh a bath, perfect ending to a rough doggie day of barking out the window and running around the backyard barking at the neighbors," he likely thinks.

Adam grabs the baby soaps and bubble bath while Otis hovers in-between his feet.

"Get out of the way OTIS!"  Adam Screams.  Otis who is unfazed patiently waits for the show to get underway.

I enter the bathroom baby in hand.  I attempt to spread the towel out onto the floor to get Easton undressed.   Just as I get it- Otis flops onto the fresh towel like he's utterly exhausted from all of the excitement.

"Get out of the way!  Adam get Otis!"

Adam grabs Otis by the collar but Otis bobs and weaves to escape his angry grasp.  Finally too frustrated to care Adam lets him slip away while I continue to undress Easton, hoping he doesn't decide to take aim at me while his diaper is off.

Just as I get him settled into the tub I feel a big bulldog head plop onto my leg accompanied by a big "SNORT".  I just roll my eyes and we continue.  Adam always is the "washer" and I'm what I like to refer to as, "The Entertainer".  I get to try and make Easton laugh, splash his hands in the water and shower him with "rain drops" (coolest bath toy ever).  Before I know it Otis is involved.

He is helping to clean the baby by licking his hair.  "OTIS!"   He then points his sad puppy eyes at me as to say, "what? I'm just trying to help."   Then he's slurping lavender scented water as a little mid-bath cocktail.  "OTIS!"  Next he's trying to soak his paws by stepping into the baby tub with Easton in it.  "OTIS!"

Meanwhile Easton is just cooing and squealing in excitement watching this circus unfold.  He splashes Otis and tries to reach out to touch his puppy face (which is seriously a centimeter from his own).  Easton grabs at him while Otis licks his baby hands trying to clean him and enjoy a few more drops of bath water all at the same time.  "Thank god I'm here," he thinks.  "These two have no clue how to clean this kid!"






Otis exhausted from his hardwork heads back to his cozy couch to get some much needed rest and chew his bone.  "What would they ever do without me?" Otis thinks as drifts of to doggy dreamland.

1/22/2012

Baby Milestone: First Feeding

We got the green light from the doctor to start Easton on rice cereal.  I was so excited.  We went to Meijer and bought him a baby spoon and bowl and of course the cereal.   We took the highchair out of the basement closet and got that put together.  I'm a little frustrated (and feel dumb)  that we can't figure out how to lift up the tray.... seriously why do they try and make it so tough for new parents with this baby gear!

I of course had to video his big moment so here it is!  I thought I'd share because he's really into and making some cute faces that I thought you might enjoy.   Overall he ate the whole portion that I mixed up and seemed to LOVE it.  One step closer to being a big boy!   Check out the video and enjoy Easton's milestone moment.






1/13/2012

4 Months of "Ah-HA!" moments...

1.  Baby poop doesn't smell THAT bad.

2.  Baby poop WILL smell worse later (i.e. solid foods) who knew?! 

3. Breastfeeding is a MAJOR commitment that no one prepares you for.

4. Babies are bendy and their arm will not break when you try to squeeze them into their winter coat.

5. Babies hate when you bend their arm to squeeze them into their winter coat.

6.  Baby Einstein videos will entrance a baby for exactly 32 minutes (or anyone on drugs)

7. A "Sleep Sheep" is not just for babies it puts parents to sleep too.

8. Watching your baby on a video monitor is like your own personal version of reality TV.

9. Sleep is for wussies.

10. If you hated doing the laundry before having a baby- just you wait!

11. Don't kid yourself- your food will get cold before you ever get a chance to eat it.

12. A growing baby gets to wear a new outfit a total of 3 times before they grow out of it.

13. If you are excited to dress your baby in a new outfit- he/she will poop or pee on it in the first 5 min.

14. Grandparents RULE!

15. "We have a kid?"  seriously?

16. Babies ARE expensive! (when people want you to have a baby they say, " it's not that expensive"- liars!)

17. We have the CUTEST baby on earth.

18. Easton will of course be the most popular boy in school ;-)

19. Easton eats like his dad and Uncle Derek.  I'm in serious trouble!

20. Being a mom is pretty awesome.

1/03/2012

My Momzilla Moment of the Week.

There's no real training to prepare you for motherhood.  You just get thrown into the mix the day they hand you the baby and it's go-time!  Your life becomes a three-ringed circus and you are the new ringmaster.  Before you know it you can tackle any task with your right or left hand, you find your normally wimpy self being able to lug a 30 pound baby carrier in high heels and somehow, by the grace of god, you can even get dinner on the table most nights. 

It's all a big juggling act and I never want to "drop the ball"  as a mom.  In turn I think I'm turning into a momzilla obsessing over every little thing. This proves it...

My Momzilla Moment of the week:  
     Easton wakes up from his nap the other day and feels a little warm.  Perhaps it was the fleece blanket or the snugly pajamas, but I immediately jump into momzilla mode and decide it must be fever and I need to take his temperature. (I often think this and take his temp. all the time).

If you have a baby you know they hate the thermometer and trying to get it perfectly placed under his arm (because I'm totally uncomfortable putting it elsewhere) and keep it there is a nightmare.   I manage to get him undressed and pull his little baby arm from his long-sleeved onsie all while he has a total screaming meltdown.   I try to sing all sorts of weird made up songs that you find yourself singing as a mom while trying to squish his arm to his body and not move the thermometer.  After several minutes of waiting (can't these things beep?!) I go to check it, fully expecting the worst.  The first reading came back normal, instead of being relieved I totally questioned it and thought- "it's broken- I know it!."

So..... I took my own temperature to see what it said.  Huh- came back normal.  Was I satisfied? NOPE!  I took his temperature, and my own, with 3 other digital thermometers!  Needless to say he and I both are both perfectly healthy physically.  I might be mentally losing it ;-)