My Rant

I was watching the Today Show this morning as I do everyday now. I figure I can switch the TV from Elmo's World to Matt and Meredith as long as Fisher's high chair is not facing the flat screen, because I can only take so much of that high-pitched little monster (Elmo, not Al) before 9AM. One of the lead stories was about a doctor who was claiming that his life has been threatened due to his medical work on vaccines for children which some now believe are a direct cause of autism. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27440647/

It was good to hear the medical side of the story after reading so many articles and watching a number of TV apparences by Jenny McCarthy, who has become an anti-vaccination heroine for parents with children living with autism. From what I understand, she believes that the series of shots and liquids caused her child's autism. I also have read that she is not encouraging people to stop vaccinating, but instead, is hoping for safer vaccines. They took the mercury out-according to doctors, it's safe. Therefore, I think I side with the doctors who have scientifically proven that the vaccines, as they are currently made, do not cause the disease.

That being said, my heart breaks for any parent whose children is sick in any way. I appreciate a parent's search for answers and cures, but I also think there is a point where you have to give into science and facts-I'm not saying to give up or even give into the disease-I'm just saying that it might not be such a terrific idea to convince other new parents that vaccinating their child is a bad idea (Jenny).

What scares me is the idea of Fish growing up around children who are completely suspetable to fatal diseases like polio or small pox that doctors of our generation have not been truly trained to treat. Some of these illnesses haven't shown up in the emergency rooms of America for 30 years-in my mind, it would be like expecting a doctor in the ER today to be able to treat the plague.

The doctors on the Today Show took a very strong stand on the topic. I was really impressed by NBC chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman's facts on the subject. She totally convinced me that I had done the right thing by allowing Fish to get his vaccines.

Until. Until. Until.

Some people shouldn't be allowed too much airtime. Some people should make their points gracefully and then have their IFB's and mics pulled immediately-even before the clip is over. Because the minute Matt Lauer thanked Dr. Snyderman for speaking up on this controvesial topic, she lost it. She kept getting louder and louder, while speaking over Matt-who was clearly trying to wrap up the segment-that this is not a controversial issue, there is no controversy, it shouldn't be considered a controversy, etc. etc. I was so upset-it was like watching your favorite candidate say something stupid...now I know how the Republicans must feel.

So to Dr. Nancy Snyderman, as a disappointed ally, I say this-controversy; a noun; a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views; a dispute.

You might be right, but the other side disputes it. Looks like your in the middle of a pretty serious controversy. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/27453507#27453507

And Who Are We Today?

Today's Thursday, our usual playgroup day. There are 9 mommies and 9 babies in our group that normally meets around 11AM at someone's house. This week Maria (mommy) and Caroline (baby) threw a fun trick or treating Halloween party, complete with costumes and candy!

As you can see, Fish traded his skeleton and Humpty Dumpty outfits for a rooster...G-d forbid he'd be caught in the same outfit twice! He wasn't totally into it due to his recent aversion to sleeves, jackets and coats. I can't wait to put him in a snowsuit everyday for 4 months-what fun that will be.

Back to the party-the moms had a great time taking as many pictures as we'll need for future rehearsal dinner embarrassment while the kids put all of Caroline's toys in their mouths. Typical playgroup activity. Picture of Fish freaking out at the party is on its way...stay tuned.

The Way We Were

I was discussing life BF (before Fish) a few days ago and found myself saying that for the last few years, I have just been waiting for him to come along. And while I'm incredibly grateful that Fish showed up when he did, Brad and I are no different from any other new parents. We know that life has changed forever-our first trip with Fish comfirmed that beyond a doubt! There's nothing like spending a night in a shared hotel room with your 6-month-old baby who can't sleep to prove that you'll never go on vacation again. No, from here on out, trips with the kids are just that, trips-not vacation. The only thing that hasn't changed is how much it costs to spend that sleepless night together and what's more, your paying to spend a weekend without luxuries like a germ-free crib, a changing table, a real high chair, the belted in carseat base, the "good" stroller, etc. Not the point. The point is that although Brad and I laugh at ourselves all of the time for being thrilled about being in bed before SNL on Saturday nights (bonus points for sleeping before they say "live from New York"-sorry Sam) or knowing every word to Elmopalozza, we also remember life BF. Before Fishie, there were 4 star restaurants, 5 star hotels, Sunday mornings in bed with the Tribune, Tivo time and our favorite, movies-in movie theaters! As amazing as that all sounds, I'm happy to give it all up for my boys-I'd live in a cardboard box with them and the way the economy is going, we may end up in whatever UPS delivers next. However I'm the kind of person who wouldn't change a minute of my life-the good and the bad-because everything that happened before now has gotten me to this point. But still it's fun to remember... Our last condo A last minute trip to NY Our babymoons to Jackson Hole and Hawaii

Our weekend in LA where Brad proposed

So life with Fish will never be the same-but it's so much better. I don't even mind Elmo that much!

That New Baby Smell

Today Fish and I went to the Kaplans to see their beautiful new baby Eliza. She is such a little lovebug-so sweet and tiny. As for all mommies, it's hard to remember Fishie at that size, even though it was only 7 months ago. Sissy looks wonderful and although we haven't seen Danni yet, we're sure she's going to thrive in her new big sister position-though Fish might get a little jealous since he is currently Danni's favorite baby. See for yourself...

Now Fish has two ladies to hang out with. He's so cool!

Let's Backtrack a Little

It's Fall and we've been taking great advantage of the beautiful Chicago weather-no, I'm not kidding-and the fun events around the area. The first week of October, our friends Halley, Josh and little Elle came to stay with us. We had so much fun together, but the kids enjoyed themselves even more. Although Fishie is used to playing in the living room by himself, he loved having a friend to share his toys with!

The next day we went to Farm in the Zoo in Lincoln Park to hang out in the pumpkin patch. Jeff, Sissy and Danni Kaplan met us there too.

A few weeks later, our playgroup met at the Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago to see the Halloween show that the city puts on every year. Some of the kids wore costumes-Fish was a scary skeleton that day! We went to Grandpa Richie's office to trick or treat before the show and Daddy's office afterward.

In the middle of October, Fish took his very first plane trip to Portland, Maine to see his cousin Reece, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jonathan and go to Emily and Stanley's wedding. Mommy and Fish were making funny faces at the airport on the way there. Fish was a terrific passenger but they didn't give him any wings-we assume they were worried about what kind of on-board trouble a baby would cause with sharp edges. Will the racial profiling ever stop?

Fish was also lucky enough to have his first out-of-town sleep-over at his Aunt and Uncle's house on the night of the wedding. He came home a very happy little boy because Reece shared all of her toys...even her exercauser!

The entire trip to Maine was so much fun! We got to spend time with friends and family-there's nothing better than that! We can't wait for the Grevens trip to Chicago in November. In the meantime, with Halloween only one week away, we spent last weekend getting all of our decorations up. That meant a trip to a farm to scout out the pumpkin patch for the biggest and best pumpkins we could find. Grandpa Richie joined us for the day-it was really windy and cold, but we had fun anyway!

On Tuesday of this week, we had a costume party at Fishie's Wiggleworms music class. Fish went as Humpty Dumpty and Noni Laurie came downtown to hang out and sing songs.

You can see Fish's friends Ethan-the turtle, Liv-the chick, and Henry-the puppy in some of these photos. His friend Caroline was a pumpkin and Kyle was Superman. Although everyone was dressed up, they didn't know they were anything but babies.

It has been an awesome month filled with activities, friends, family and fun! Our pumpkins are outside waiting to greet trick or treaters on Friday along with a big bowl of candy. Happy October!