Sweet Dreams

This is Chunky. Isn't he cute? He looks like a precious little angel all ready for bed in his cute little PJs.

Except he isn't...

In fact, my sweet baby Chunky doesn't sleep much at all. He was a wonderful sleeper for the first 2 months of his life. We thought we had it made. On August 1st (yes, I remember the exact date) Chunky stopped sleeping. His current sleep looks something like this - down at 7pm after bath, bedtime routine and nursing. Awake at 8pm (rocking and patting), 9 (eat), 10:30 (eat), 12 (eat), 2 (eat), 4 (eat) and 6 (for the day but does not eat until later.) He really does get up that many times at night. Many nights he gets up even more than that. It is a "wonderful" night if he only gets up 3 times to eat. I'm convinced he spends over half the night eating in bed with me. I've made it too comfortable for him to get up whenever he wants to have a little snack. I know he doesn't need to eat that often - he goes 3 to 4 hours between feedings during the day.

No more...

Tonight was Chunky's first night of "progressive waiting" sleep training. He lasted an hour. Mom lasted an hour. Dad's heart broke, and he had to go walk the neighborhood.

No, not my son...

No, my son did not allow our indoor cat outside to play.

 No, he did not laugh hysterically as they rolled in the birdseed on the concrete patio together.

 

No, he did not carefully watch as she chomped down on a few blades of grass.

 No, he did not copy that bad cat by eating that grass.

 No, not my angelic son...

Photobooks!

Did you know that you could post your Shutterfly photobook creations straight to your blog? No!? Me either! Until tonight anyways...  I learn something new everyday. I've mentioned my love of photobooks before and thought I would share a few of my recent ones with you now that I know how to do so!

Halloween 2010

Click here to view this photo book larger

Monkey turns 2!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Chunky is 6 months old!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Busy, Busy

Has it really been a week since I last posted? It has been a very busy week over here.. including finishing Step 2 of the US Medical Licensing Exam.  Only about 777 things left to do on my list.
It seems like my list just keeps getting longer and longer. I cross off a few things everyday but add 20 more.

Some of my "major" accomplishments from this past week:

1.) Chunky & Monkey visited Santa!

 

2.) Took Christmas pictures and designed our Christmas card!

3.) Started a new rotation - Acting Internship in Pediatric Chronic Care/Special Services

4.) Took Chunky to get his 6-month pictures taken

5.) Updated the Picture Wall for the first time in many, many months...

6.) Cleaned my office... except it only lasted about 30 minutes.

Weekend To Do List:
1.) Thank you notes to last 2 interviewers
2.) Design a few more Shutterfly photobooks
3.) Address and mail Christmas cards
4.) Finish planning for Disney!

Interview #6

Pros:
- amazing schedule! Best part is getting off at 3pm every other day with 2 full weekends off each month...
- friendly housestaff - quite a few are married with children, many are currently pregnant
- awesome program director who seemed very approachable, down to earth and genuinely nice
- very comfortable, laid-back atmosphere, non-competitive
- medium-sized program with all available subspecialties + all surgical specialties on site; only a few fellows
- amazing food, great culture, fun place to live
- lots of things to do with the boys nearby; good private schools
- fun place to live for 3 years

Cons:
- housing availability is questionable...
- hurricane possibility

Interview #5

Pros:
- medium-sized program with strong focus on general pediatrics
- plan for new duty hours changes with "practice" before July - night float (4 nights working, 3 days completely off, 4 nights working, 2 days completely off and then transition back to days - unsure of how many "sessions" of this will be required during 1st year)
- lots of devoted time in outpatient setting
- fun, hilarious program coordinator
- extremely nice, sweet residents - quite a few are married with kids
- program director very supportive of families (wanted to know all about the boys, husband and even asked me if I needed a breastmilk pumping break)
- less ER and more "walk-in" type clinic rotations
- excellent Developmental pediatrician
- best food. I love Mexican food.
- lots of new affordable neighborhoods in the area
- comfortable atmosphere

Cons:
- far from family (if you haven't noticed this is a recurring con in almost all of my posts)
- WebCT/Blackboard/whatever its called for required learning modules
- almost entirely Spanish speaking population for continuity clinics. I don't speak Spanish...
- older facilities and split work time between two campuses (mostly at one so probably not too big of an issue)

Shutterfly Addict: Christmas Cards

I have a confession to make. I have a slight photo addiction. Specifically, I have a Shutterfly photobook addiction! In the past week I have made FOUR photobooks - one for Monkey's 2nd birthday party, one for Halloween, one of Monkey's 2yr old pics, and one for Chunky's first 6 months of life. The books are extremely easy to make, great quality and look ADORABLE! The best news about Shutterfly? They make MORE than just photobooks!

Chunky's birth was announced with the Sincere Embrace (blue) birth announcement! (Chunky not picture below...)

My thank you cards to all of my interviewers were made with the customizable Shutterfly stationary. I made 3 different sets because I couldn't decide a favorite with all the amazing choices.


So now that October is over... It is time for me to start thinking about Christmas/Holiday cards! Of course I will head back to my favorite site and search for the PERFECT Christmas card here: Shutterfly Photo Cards or browse through the offerings here: Shutterfly Holiday Cards



Shutterfly also offers really cute customized photo calendars. I did one of these last year that proudly hangs on my office bulletin board. These would make super cute gifts for the grandparents: Shutterfly Wall Calendars

Right now I am still browsing through the 352 flat stationary cards trying to pick out this year's Christmas card design. I guess my choice will have to depend on what our family photo looks like (if I ever get them done!)

I know Monkey's favorite would be this one because of the choo choo trains:

 

I think I'm leaning towards this one:

Which are your favorites?

Bloggers can get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly just by blogging about your experience!
Bloggers: 50 Free Holiday Cards

Trick or Treat - Chunky & Monkey style

Monkey went as a farmer... but it was virtually impossible to get a picture of him. He had a little too much cake at his birthday party earlier in the day.

First stop - Trick or Treat at Gammy's house!

Gammy has the BEST candy!

A little pick-me-up before starting the night... Smarties!

Chunky wasn't too impressed with the whole trick or treat thing, but he happily rode around in his stroller playing with lion.

Cutest baby cow ever!

I see candy!

Chunky was so excited to join in on the candy eating!

Here, Bubba, have a taste of this!

Yummy! (No, I didn't let my 6-month old continue licking a blue raspberry dum dum... nope, not at all.)

Interview #3 + #4

So I originally wrote this post a while back and was never able to finish it... and then I forgot to publish it. I've already been on another interview since #3 so I decided to combine them. I do these lists to help me remember what I like and didn't like about particular programs - and they are geared entirely to what I am personally looking for in a program. Everyone is looking for something different - everyone has a different "fit." This is my attempt at finding my "fit" (and helping me remember it...)


Interview #3

Pros:
- extremely nice facilities geared entirely towards children; comfortable atmosphere
- chiefs and program director receptive to input from residents
- duty hours changes: already in place and already making adjustments to make/keep interns and upper levels happy, mostly consisting of night float
- family friendly program (even has a lactation room for employees)
- excellent, interactive learning opportunities with noon conference, morning report
- no fellows so resident 1 on 1 with faculty while on service
- good place to raise the boys: good schools, lots of recreation activities and parks
- great shopping nearby

Cons:
- paper/electronic medical record chart hybrid
- traffic
- cost of living for buying a house in a good location is a little pricier than we want
- none of the current interns have children. Most are single... 
- didn't get that amazing gut feeling of pure love. However the more I think about the practical aspects, the more I love it and think I could be happy.
- far from home/family (5 hours)


Interview #4

Pros:
- best facilities and resources of any program I have interviewed with or applied
- over 700 faculty physicians with multiple subspecialists in every imaginable area making it easy to find mentor in particular area
- amazing, diverse learning opportunities; "quaternary care" center with a patient population consisting of entirely "weird and wonderful" kiddos
- opportunities to do continuity clinic in private practice clinics
- friendly housestaff
- close to home/family (<2 hours)

Cons
- duty hour changes: have no plan in place and no plans to execute any changes until next June, could only answer that it will probably consist of night float
- not many of the residents have children/families
- interaction with faculty is limited due to large number of fellows
- would be quite a commute from where we live now, would most likely have to move
- traffic, traffic, traffic...
- no warm, fuzzy feeling whatsoever - more a feeling of "wow, I could learn great things here" which I'm not sure is a con. Just concerned that the gut feeling of pure love wasn't quite there

Happy HALF Birthday, Chunky!

If you cannot guess by the pictures, today was Chunky's HALF birthday! We threw him a little party. He had his first taste of vanilla icing (yes, I totally let my 6 month old stick his hand in a the goopy blue mess of a cake and shove his messy little fingers in his cute little mouth!) and got to open his first presents. He had a blast! I'm guessing he is a little over 16lbs and almost 27inches long. He doesn't seem to be gaining too much weight lately, but I'll find out at his 6-month doctor's appointment soon. He is definitely growing and changing daily! We call him our weeble because he can't quite sit on his bottom.... he weebles and wobbles and then he does fall down. He LOVES toys! He has decided for the past 3 months that he likes to sleep on top of daddy or not sleep at all. He also recently started a little bit of solids - not much and not everyday. He does enjoy his pears, though! He is a total Momma's boy and loves to cuddle.

I cannot believe my little baby Chunky is already half a year old! (and my big boy is already 2!)
Where the heck has the time gone?

Party!

The Invite:

The Decorations:

The Presents:

The Cake:

THE Tractor:

 

The End: