Shout Out to Lansinoh

As a nursing mom who works full time, an absolute essential in my life is my breastpump. Without it, I'd swell up like a balloon and baby wouldn't get fed.

Over at "How to Have a Baby," I've written of some of my initial struggles to get a breastpump that really worked for me. My Lansinoh double electric was my third option. (The expensive Medela pump I had at first was a total failure for me. Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch.)

So when my pump crapped out earlier this week, I panicked. My budget doesn't include buying a new one. But I need one. And then I remembered...the warranty.

I got on the phone to Lansinoh, and the line was ANSWERED by a REAL PERSON on the second ring. I was almost too shocked to respond to her cheery hello.

After a painless 5-minute phone call, I had a return number, and was promised that if I overnighted the broken unit to them, they'd overnight a new unit to me in return and I'd be back in business. Off to Fed Ex I went (thank GOD for my work discount) and off the broken pump went.

Yesterday afternoon, my new pump arrived. Not only is it a new pump, it's their new design. (My old one was purchased a month before their new design went out.) And it works like a charm.

Many, many, many props to Lansinoh for their awesome customer service. I only had to "make do" with my old pump for 2 days before moving back to a much preferred format.

I cannot say enough good things about this company.

YAY for Lansinoh!

Political FRAUD

I'm from Pennsylvania. Almost seven years ago, I moved to Texas.

Back in PA, there is some political FRAUD taking place right now. Long-time Republican Senator Arlen Specter has decided to flip to the dark side and become a Democrat.

Fraud. FRAUD.

The people who elected you, Mr. Specter, are your Republican constituents. As a former member of that class, I'll tell you that we always knew you were a pretty left-leaning Republican, but you were a Republican nonetheless. You were elected time and time again INSTEAD of a Democrat.

My dad, who you knew for decades, liked a lot of your politics. I'm glad he didn't have to witness this debacle, however. I imagine he's just flipped over in his grave.

So thank you, Mr. Specter, for abandoning your electorate in an attention-getting move that shows your willingness to pander to our new administration.

And may you be soundly defeated in your next re-election attempt.

I'm ticked!

Moving, Moving, Moving

Relax, we're not actually moving.

We're just moving furniture.

Again.

It's like we get bored every few months, and just have to change things up.

So here I sit in bed, contemplating my aching back, because I leveraged a desk from an upstairs bedroom to our bedroom downstairs last night by myself.

I know, yell away.

But dang it, I'm independent. I shouldn't need my husband to do things for me!

In any case, I often wonder what it is about me that prompts these kind of moves. It's like I have a gypsy instinct...I have to have constant change. In fact, I get itchy if I don't get out of Texas every so often.

I wonder what it will take in life to make me feel truly settled. Don't get me wrong...I love my life. But I just always feel a little bit antsy to change things up.

Which is also pretty bizarre...because I have an obsession with schedules and status quo.

But not when it comes to my surroundings, apparently.

Oddness!

On Not Writing

I love writing. It makes up a goodish portion of my total income, after my full time job. And I love writing fiction, as well. But I have this issue.

I can't write.

Ok, that's not true. It's just that with fiction, I can't type new portions of my writing. I have to write longhand, or it doesn't get out. Why?! I don't know. It's been going on for a year now, though.

When I try to write new fiction by typing, I just sit and stare at the screen. Eventually, I give up.

Longhand? I can't keep the pen moving fast enough. In fact, I can't write as fast as I think, so I end up losing thoughts. So then I use my phone to record some notes while I continue to write.

So it's GREAT that I can at least write longhand. But it SUCKS to have to transcribe. The last time I did major transcribing, I had an ENTIRE single subject notebook to type in. This time, it's about half that. Takes a LONG time.

Anyone else ever have this kind of block? If so, how did you get over it?

On Sleep and Exhaustion

I'm pretty sure that every friend that I have who has children has managed to find a way to tell me over the last few months that their child/children slept through the night by the time they were 3/4/5/6 months old.

So here I am, with a six month old. Almost 7 months old, really. Not sleeping through the night. Still up 1/2/3 times. Completely inconsistent bed times. Completely inconsistent nap times. Completely inconsistent get up times. We've tried to do the same things at the same times every day...and we've been consistent in trying.

Side note...if you know me, you know how type A I am. Trust me when I say that we've tried and tried and tried and tried.

In any case, if she's not ready to get up or go down, she completely resists. Like we're talking flat out fits. Screaming, shaking.

So she ends up going to sleep at night, napping, and getting up in the morning when she wants, resisting all scheduling attempts.

And naps for *maybe* 45 minutes at a time. Sometimes stays down for up to 4 hours at a stretch at night...but sometimes half that or less.

I'm feeling a little frustrated. Anyone have any advice to offer?