"They're so Cute when They're Sleeping..."

Well it's true! This particular naptime, I just had to snap some shots.

Poor Gigi wasn't there to enjoy the attention.

H1N1

It took me less than a second to make the decision not to vaccinate Gigi for H1N1. We aren't vaccinating her for anything else, firstly. Also, H1N1 vax contains thimerisol.

I won't get started on vaccinations other than to say that the companies who provide them are legally protected from liability should something go wrong. This vaccination is no exception, and was hastily concocted to boot.

I will take my own meager precautions now:

• No more touchy strangers. If you want to see how quickly I can move, step toward my daughter with your hand outstretched while saying "oh she's sooooo beautiful..."
• No high risk places. Gigi was invited to Chuck E Cheese for a little one's birthday. There are just so many reasons to avoid places like this. My conclusion was that they didn't base their business model on how clean they are, and I'll just leave it at that.
• I will periodically sanitize her hands. After the market, after playgroup. I know that there is a anti-hand sanitizer movement out there, but I'm on the fringe. I dont see the harm in a little alchohol now and then.
• And of course, I will KEEP BREASTFEEDING. Gigi has been sick once in her little life, and that was because I foolishly kept her in close proximity to three sick children for 6 hours (I didn't know!) when she was 4 months old. Even when I came down with something 2 months ago, Gigi stayed in her protective BF bubble.
  
  

I fully expect to come through this unscathed. However, I won't feel like I neglected Gigi if she gets sick. Ive struggled with the vaccination question already and made my peace with the risks on both sides. I gave the H1N1 vaccination question its due, however, and I still do not feel compelled to cause potential harm to my precious daughter over it.

Apples and Co-ops and Gym Class, Oh My!

Last week was a week of buying and recieving. I probably mentioned to G-Grandma Detkos that I was wanting to buy some more PJs for Gigi and so when they came by... more PJs! And other things. Grandma Bernie came also and brought a gorgeous pair of UGGs (is that what you say when you see the price??) and a pop-up halloween card. I will soon get the camera out and take some modeling pictures.

Also, apples. We have recieved so many apples from G-Grandma & Grandpa that I think we've given up trying to use them for something! We have made Apple Cakes, apple sauce, baked apples, sauteed apples and oatmeal... I cant remember what else, it's all an apple-y blur.

And co-ops. I belong to a buying cooperative and October is the time for holiday shopping. It takes awhile to get your items in coops, and manufacturers and retailers are too busy to deal with coops in December, so October is the time to buy. We ordered a wooden toy for Gigi, clothing for Nick, some stocking stuffer type gifts for various family and friends and some everyday things we've been needing, like a pound of organic Taco mix! It sounds like alot, but since Nick generally gets his way around here, we eat tacos once per week!

We signed Gigi up for Winter gymnastics too. We go "all the way out" to East Amherst for gym mainly because the facility is extremely clean as well as toddler and baby oriented. The gym was running a special for 15% off if we signed up way before the session began and it was worth it. A sign of the times, too. I wish there was an equal facility a bit closer- there isn't. Gigi and I went to a trial class for the toddlers, just to see if she still enjoyed it and yes she did!

A busy, productive expensive week. Maybe we should eat tacos twice a week?