Let’s Talk About Sleep Sacks

June 29, 2020Leave a comment

I decided a while back that, since I’m doing the baby thing for a second time, it might just be that I have some advice – at least in terms of baby gear – that might help some moms out as they are thinking about what they need or want for their littles.

Since I am once again in the throes of sleep training (and it’s not going particularly well), I thought I’d start off by sharing some suggestions for sleepsacks and swaddling.

Sugarpie is long out of the swaddle, and there are many schools of thought on the swaddle (to swaddle, not to swaddle) and on sleepsacks in general. But here are some items we gave a go (and how it went).

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The Point of Swaddles and Sleepsacks

Sleepsacks come in all styles, prints, and fabrics, and every mom has her favorites. The general purpose of them is to provide a layer of warmth for baby without having to resort to loose blankets in the crib, which can be a major risk factor for SIDS. Toddlers benefit from sleepsacks because they can’t be kicked off, which makes it a little easier when trying to keep your kiddo warm at night, especially in the winter.

As far as swaddling goes, the idea is that a snug swaddle helps supress baby’s Moro reflex (that “jerky” thing babies do in their sleep), also known as the startle reflex. This reflex is something baby will grow out of by 4 to 6 months of age, but while it’s present can be a cause for premature waking from a nap or at night. Swaddling technique is tied to the swaddling product, and while some baby’s do fine without being swaddled, most need some sort of swaddling for at least the first couple months of life.

Incidentally, the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends to stop swaddling at 8 weeks of age, if baby is showing signs of rolling from back to belly, OR if baby CAN roll over, as this is a major safety risk in a swaddle. Every baby is different; our pediatrician gave us the thumbs up to keep swaddling Sugarpie when we went to our 4 months well child check. Her startle reflex was still super strong at that point, she still slept in our room and I was hypersensitive to her every move and sound, and she wasn’t rolling yet. (I have since decided that, like her father, she is just a restless sleeper.)

Swaddling and Swaddlesacks

If you are in the swaddle-baby camp, there are a lot of options out there. Many people like going with standard swaddle blankets, which are usually made from muslin or some other type of breathable material that has some give to it. It’s also helpful to have a swaddle blanket that’s on the larger size, as it gives you the ability to swaddle more securely and longer for larger babies.

There are many different ways to swaddle using a blanket, but the key is to make sure that the swaddle is snug, the fabric is well away from baby’s face, and that baby can’t break out. (Some babies break out but still need to have that swaddled feeling – if they’re breaking out of a traditional swaddle blanket, you may need to consider a different product.)

So what are Your Options?

There are a bunch of different brands out there that offer a swaddle sack, which is a sleepsack that has attached “wings” of some sort that easily swaddle with velcro. They’re pretty foolproof. I have personally been a fan of the Halo sacks since Babycakes was a newborn. They come in different fabrics, from cotton to microfleece. I also liked that when you ARE ready to transition baby, you can do so with these sacks by leaving the arms out and swaddling around the chest, so baby still has that snuggly feeling. While the swaddle sacks only come in newborn and small sizes, the line of Halo sacks goes all the way up to size 5t “Big Kids”. So if you like them, you can use them for a long time.

But Sugarpie was a crap sleeper, and I was desperate to figure out how to help her get some sleep. Early on, I tried out this all-in-one style sack from SwaddleDesigns, that gave us the option of arms in or arms out but up. It was a reaaaally nice sleepsack, but it only comes in size 0-3 months. So unless you have a super small baby, you’ll size out of this pretty quick, like we did.

Another option for babies who like to sleep with arms up so they can self-soothe, but still need some resistance, is the Love to Dream SwaddleUp sack. This particular brand even offers a style where you can remove the “wings” to help baby transition to a regular sleepsack. For us, unfortunately, Sugarpie didn’t like to have her arms restricted in the “touchdown” position, so we passed this particular product on to friends.

One product that seemed like an odd option, but ended up being the key to getting Sugarpie out of the swaddle once and for all, is the Zipadee Zip. It’s this sort of weird starfish-shaped design, with hands in. It allows for very free movement, a great thing if your baby is rolling or mobile in any other way as it provides the free range of motion necessary to make it safe. But because of its design, it provides “edges”, if you will, so the baby still feels secure. If your baby is on the smaller side, Sleeping Baby (the company) also sells a Snuggle Strap, which is basically a velcro belt that goes under baby’s arms to cinch the fabric of the Zipadee Zip to give more resistance.

The Zipadee Zip comes in several fabric options, from a light polyester summer weight to microfleece for winter. I started off with the summer weight Zippy and the Snuggle Strap, but ended up liking the regular cotton sack better. As Sugarpie grew, even without the Snuggle Strap she was nice and secure and snuggly. The fact that her hands were covered were bonus points, because she couldn’t scratch her face. Plus she liked to suck on the ends of the hand points. My only beef with the Zipadee Zip is that, unlike most sleepsacks, the zipper is not two directional, so middle of the night diaper changes can be tricky.

The Nested Bean Zen line of products offers a weighted sack option that safely provides a little extra comfort (so the company professes) to your baby. In addition to standard style sacks, Nested Bean also offers a swaddle sack, onesies, and jammies with their patented weighted “chick” design.

I guess they kind of work like weighted blankets would for adults. We tried out the Zen Sack, but did not get the “miracle” of 8+ hours of sleep within a week like the ads promised. In fact, the first time we tried sleeping Sugarpie in the Zen sack, she kind of hated it. (Maybe if we had used the swaddle sack initially, I don’t know.) Eventually, I figured out that layering the Zen sack over the Zipadee Zip worked well at night (both in terms of layers and security). And then the Zen sack just turned into a really nice sleepsack. The fabric is a soft cotton that washes well, and the zipper goes around the seam, rather than up the front of the body. We’ve grown out of the size we have, but I will not be buying another.

If you are looking for a transitional swaddle product, there are others besides the Zipadee Zip, SwaddleUp, and Zen Sack that many parents love. The Merlin Magic Sleep Suit, besides making your baby look like the State Puff Marshmallow Man, is an option that supresses the startle reflex but allows baby access to their hands for self-soothing. But once baby is rolling, you have to ditch the Merlin. (We tried this for Babycakes, to no avail. Plus she sized out of it really fast.) Other families love the Woombie line of products.

Once your baby is out of the swaddle completely, there are a lot of regular sleepsack options out there. As I said earlier, we are fans of the Halo line of products, but there are options out there from just about every baby sleepwear company you can think of, at a price point for just about everyone. Sometimes you have to see what your baby likes, or you can just decide on a brand and stick with it.

Now as for actual baby sleep, that’s a whole different post…

Is Bad Grammar Putting a Damper on Your Love Life?

February 10, 2016August 4, 2017Leave a comment

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, a lot of people have love and romance on their minds, and are probably finalizing plans and solidifying the final details of romantic gestures.

Valentine’s Day has a long history, from its origins as an attempt by the Roman Catholic church to Christianize a pagan feast day, to its connections to love and romance starting in medieval times. The exchange of valentines and love letters rose in popularity through the Victorian Era, though beyond greeting cards and kids valentine kits, we’ve sort of lost the beautiful art of expressing love in writing.

The huge rise in the popularity of online dating points to some interesting trends when it comes to romance. According to a joint study done by and Grammarly eHarmony, the way we communicate in writing, be it through text or email, has an effect on our prospects in love. Check out the statistics:
Valentine's Day Grammar 2016 Infographic

Funny this study should pop up right now. I actually met my own Romantic Hero of a husband through eHarmony back in 2006 – but that’s a story for another time.

And I always advocate for good grammar.

This Thanksgiving, I’m Counting My Blessings

November 26, 2015November 26, 2015Leave a comment

Let’s face it. Our entire world seems to be heading to hell in a handbasket.

That’s an unusually pessimistic statement from me, someone who is generally a perpetual optimist. But given the events in recent weeks and months, both in the US and abroad, it seems true.

Humanity is in trouble.

And it’s not just the terror attacks overseas. It’s violence right here in America against our fellow citizens. It’s individuals and groups who are calling for increasingly intolerant measures to label, track, and not-quite-but-almost persecute people who should be protected under the laws of this nation. (I would argue that most of them don’t actually understand the Constitution and Bill of Rights, based on comments they’ve made. But that’s another post.)

It’s easy for us, as we go into the holiday season, to obsess, worry, and otherwise feel like there is nothing good left in our world for which to be thankful.

But even as those terrible, nightmarish things are happening across the world and even just across my city, I actually have an easier time being thankful.

My family has had more than our share of tragedy and struggle over the past five years. I’d like to think we’ve managed to triumph over all of it – but again, I’m the perpetual optimist. Even if I’m leaning to the “rose-colored” side of things, I can still find so much to be thankful for today.

I can count my blessings, and they are the simple things.

Seeing the joy in my daughter’s eyes as she toddles to meet me at the front door each afternoon, arms outstretched for “Mama.”

Falling asleep each night next to my own Romantic Hero of a husband, even if he does sometimes steal the covers.

A solid roof over our heads, good food on our table, warm clothes on our backs.

Good jobs with good pay.

Knowing family and good friends are only a phone call away, even if it takes a plane ticket to see many of them.

It’s the little things. The simple blessings. In a world seemingly gone mad, it’s important to keep things in perspective. We can’t control what happens outside the circle of our lives. We can only be grateful for what blessings we have.

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How Much Do You Know About Illiteracy?

September 14, 2015August 4, 2017Leave a comment

I’m a little late on sharing this particular infographic from Grammarly.com, as September 8 was International Literacy Day. But better late than never, right?

As a teacher, I know how important it is to foster good literacy skills early on in a child’s educational journey, and as a writer and reader, it worries me now many people still struggle with literacy as adults.

We can do a lot to make a difference in the lives of those struggling to read. Being aware of the problem is the first step.

Literacy Day

An Open Letter to DestinyUSA

January 9, 2015January 22, 20157 Comments

(For those not in the know, DestinyUSA is a very large mall in Syracuse, NY, with a ton of great stores, restaurants, and attractions.)

Dear DestinyUSA,

You are, in general, a very awesome mall with lots of things to do, places to eat, and stores to shop in. The “green” expansion is pretty great too, even if we did have to wait a long time for it to be finished and opened.

However, I have a smallish bone to pick with you.

The hubs and I took Babycakes, who is about five months old, to DestinyUSA for the first time. She had a great time. So did we, except when it came time to see to her needs.

You see, Babycakes is a breastfed baby. We’ve started her on a select few solids, but breastfeeding makes up 99.9% of her nutritional intake. Now, I’m not really squeamish about breastfeeding in public spaces. I do try to find a quiet, somewhat secluded corner to feed her, but it’s not about me, or the rest of the public. It’s about her.

When she’s eating, Babycakes needs it pretty quiet and free of distractions. Otherwise she really can’t eat well. We use a cover when necessary, but it makes feeding more of a circus than anything else. So I really do try to find a private space to nurse her if she’s hungry when we’re out and about.

Many people would likely say, “Why don’t you just give her a bottle?” Believe me, DestinyUSA, I would if she’d accept one. But she won’t accept any type of container that even remotely hints at being a baby bottle. Sippy cup, yes. Straw cup, yes. But she’s just learning to use those and isn’t good enough with them to get a full feeding. And besides that, she really doesn’t eat well in general if she’s distracted, be it breast, cup, or spoon.

Here’s the issue I had today. There are no nursing rooms anywhere in DestinyUSA. This surprised me, especially since a competing mall (which shall remain nameless), had very nice, new nursing rooms by the food court. I mean, private, quiet, slightly softer lighting, with a changing station (though no sink, and that was a small complaint I made to them), with an actual cushy chair and cushy love seat. It was surprising and wonderful to find.

At DestinyUSA, however, my only option was a family restroom. It was clean, I’ll give you that. But the only non-toilet seating option was a hard plastic chair, the type you’d put on your back porch. It took some serious finagling with my coat to make it remotely comfortable for Babycakes and me. The lights were super bright. Plus, the changing station was broken. Lastly, because it’s a restroom placed between the men’s and women’s facilities, every time someone used the hand dryers, she unlatched and stared at me like it was the scariest sound she’d ever heard in her life. And (okay, this is lastly) the music piped into the mall was so loud, it was another distraction.

She didn’t eat well, and then I had to change her on the station out in the corridor, where it was cold.

Now, this was in the old section of the mall, so I thought the family restroom in the new section would be a little nicer. We shopped, ate lunch, and then went to find the family restroom.

Sadly, it was out of order. So not wanting to traipse all over the mall searching for another family restroom, we returned to the one we used upon our arrival. At this point in the day, it wasn’t that clean anymore. It was till bright, loud, and distracting. I still had to change Babycakes in the hallway. And she still didn’t eat well. I foresee a wakeful night for her, because she didn’t get enough calories today despite my best efforts.

You are a great mall, DestinyUSA. But you dropped the ball on this one. Perhaps you should consider allocating some of the available space (and there is some because you’re constantly adding new stores and restaurants) for the purpose of nice, clean, quiet, softly lit, well appointed nursing rooms. The breastfeeding moms (and probably some bottle-feeding moms) of Central New York will thank you.

Time to Bite the (Microsoft) Bullet?

April 14, 2014Leave a comment

I’m a long-time user of Microsoft products. I’ll admit it. And to be honest, the main reason is because of necessity. The computers in my high school had Windows 95. All the campus-owned computers at my college ran Windows 98 or XP. The computers at work run Windows XP (though we’re now slowly upgrading to Windows 7). All of our personal computers have run a Windows operating system of one generation or another.

And with that came the productivity software. When I purchased my first computer for college in 1999, we dropped the dollars to have it come with whatever version of Office was current at the time. I purchased MS Office 2003 when I upgraded my computer for grad school. And the hubs and I gladly reused that Office 2003 license on our home computer when my grad school machine finally gave in to The Blue Screen of Death.

In the past couple years, however, we’ve avoided anything related to MS Office on our home computers. Our desktop needed a major reinstall of Windows about a year ago, due to some freak registry error I couldn’t comprehend, and we just barely managed to save the contents of our hard drive (including thousands of vacation photos, the value of which cannot be priced). We decided not to bother reinstalling Office 2003 and went with OpenOffice instead.

I had made the decision to do the same for my Acer netbook. Yes, the one that nearly died six months after purchasing it, and which the hubs resuscitated.

For a really long time, this seemed to be a good decision regarding our productivity software. I mean, free is always the best price, and I don’t do a lot of fancy stuff with Word or Excel or anything like that. Plus, since I use WriteWayPro as my writing software, all I really needed a word processing program for was to format drafts in their entirety and work on stuff from, well, work.

We’ve batted around the idea of biting the bullet and purchasing MS Office again for quite a while. For one thing, just about every file I transfer to and from work requires some fixing on either end, because we upgraded to Office 2010. And despite OpenOffice being “compatible”, it really isn’t. The formatting is off 99% of the time.

And as for writing – well, OpenOffice has decided it no longer knows how to recognize American English, despite the US dictionary extension being installed. I can’t do a true spell check if the program thinks every word is spelled wrong. And the formatting issues irritate me too. It’s just really getting to a point where OpenOffice has outlived its usefulness.

Microsoft has its ups and downs. I think we’d be hard pressed to find a productivity suite anywhere that does everything just as its supposed to, with no bugs. The bigger headache now is that you can’t even buy a multi-machine license anymore, unless you want to “subscribe” to Office 365 – for $99 a pop every year. I get that the point is so you can get the latest updates every time you renew. But really, Microsoft? You’re that short on funds that you have to make your productivity software a subscription? I can’t even just buy Word?

Greedy bastards.

You do not play fair.

A Bit O’ Irish Mini Blog Hop

March 16, 2014March 16, 20141 Comment

Join us for some Blarney and bits and pieces of the Emerald Isle.

Sign up now through March 17, 2014

Welcome to the Bit O’ Irish mini blog hop.

Rules: bloggers must post something Irish, even if it is vacation pics taken while on the Isle. Participants may join in any day before St. Patrick’s Day. Please make sure to visit fellow hoppers. If you would like to add something to the main giveaway, please notify me with a comment. All participants are welcome to add their own giveaways on their site. Erin Go Bragh!

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I never knew I had any Irish heritage until 11th grade, when I was assigned a family tree project for my AP U.S. History class. Low and behold, my paternal grandmother’s branch of the tree had more than a little bit of Irish! Granted, the family lines that heralded from Ireland settled in Canada before coming here, but it was still a delightful revelation to know I didn’t have to pretend to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day – I really am part Irish!

Celebrating this holiday – one which really originated in the United States as more than a religious observance – isn’t something I’ve ever done to any great extent. I wear green. I listen to some Irish reels and may sometimes be heard singing things like “Danny Boy.” A chocolate Irish stout cake may have made an appearance in my kitchen last year. It’s interesting to note that since the 1970s, a celebration, which began to recognize Irish-American culture during the 19th and early 20th centuries, has taken its place in Ireland itself.

Hopefully, somebody’s still giving St. Patrick his due…

Interested in more St. Patrick’s Day history? Check out:

Georgia Public Broadcasting – The Origins of St. Patrick’s Day

National Geographic – Saint Patrick’s Day 2014: Facts, Myths, & Traditions

History.com – History of St. Patrick’s Day

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We will be spotlighting Jill Bisker’s inspirational story Within Reach and giving away a variety of ebooks and two $5 Amazon gift card.

Within Reach is the story of Emma, a woman coming to terms with her mother’s increasing dementia and the everyday challenges associated with it. Inexplicably, she finds herself ‘re-living’ specific events from her past. She soon wonders if her own sanity is slipping, and only her mother can help find the key.

About The Author

Jill Bisker lives in Stillwater, MN with her husband and a calico cat named Senora, and a grown son who is in college. She believes in empowering women to be strong enough to protect themselves, while still soft enough to be loving and compassionate. Her work includes paranormal mystery, traditional high fantasy, as well as contemporary and humorous fantasy and an everyday living blog. Once a dedicated stay at home Mom, Jill now writes full-time.

Connect with Jill:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorjillbisker

Pinterest Page: http://www.pinterest.com/jillbisker/

Website/Blog: www.jillbisker.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JillBisker

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/102225571446174386202

Email: jkatbisker@gmail.com

Join in the Blarney. Click on the Pot of Gold below for a chance to win cash prizes great reads.

Choose from the following ebooks:

Within Reach

By Jill Bisker

Merry Christmas, Henry

By Aubrey Wynne

Contemporary Romance

Craving Vengeance and Covert Exposure

By Valerie Clarizio

Romantic Suspense

Morna

By Mary Kate Brogan
(Romance set in 1950′s Ireland)

Symphony of Light and Winter Imposter’s Kiss

By Renea Mason

Paranormal Romance

Muir Bhreatan

by K.E. Shade

Historical Romance

Click below to add your link. Remember to stop by these blogs for more luck o’ the Irish:

http://new.inlinkz.com//luwpview.php?id=381178

1. Aubrey Wynne: Historical Romance

2. Valerie J. Clarizio: Romance Author:

3. Jill Bisker | Author

4. Coffee Talk | Great women. Great books.

5. Melange Books, LLC

6. Shelley R. Pickens | Author –

7. Author Elisabeth Hamill

8. Erin Elliott Author

9. Blog | Renea Mason | Author

10. J. Lynn Rowan | Acts of Literature

11. The Eclectic Zaftig Chick

Note: When you add your link, you can copy and paste the thumbnails to your page and the links will be all done for you. Less work and more time for green beer and corned beef with cabbage.

Things I’m Thankful For

November 24, 2013November 24, 2013Leave a comment

Since it’s Thanksgiving week, I thought it might be a worthwhile endeavor to reflect a bit on the things I’m thankful for this year. A lot of people are doing the “30-days of thanks” thing, which I have done in the past, and it reminded me that I need to stop more often and consider my blessings.

So here they are, in no particular order.

Things I’m Thankful For

My overall health. I know I’ve been reeeeeally bad about working out and eating right lately, but I just had a physical on Friday, and turns out I’m as healthy as I’ve ever been, maybe more so. So I must be doing something right. I know it’s weird to worry about health when you’re only in your 30s, but since I made the decision to cultivate a healthier lifestyle a couple years ago, it really gives me validation for that decision when I see how healthy I am.
My job. And not just having one, which in this economy is still a pretty big deal. No, it’s really the job itself. Being a teacher is often a thankless job, and I often don’t see the fruits of my labor. But I love it, and I’m lucky to work in a district and a school with such awesome people and a culture of family. Speaking of….
My coworkers. I’m speaking of the awesome people I worked with for the past 7 years (actually, 9) at the elementary school where I taught kindergarten and second grade, because they supported me as a professional and as an individual. They’re my family as well as my friends. And I’m also speaking of the amazing teachers I’ve been blessed to work with since the start of this school year. They’ve made my move to sixth grade and the middle school far easier than I ever expected. We laugh a dozen times a day, support each other, and they’ve filled the past three months with so much awesomesauce, I can’t even explain.
My students. They are awesome. They are the reason I haul myself out of my nice warm bed while it’s still dark. They are truly, above and beyond everything else, what has made my transition to teaching sixth grade not only worthwhile, but possible. They’re friendly and polite to each other, they work harder than many adults I know, they make me laugh, they make me proud, and I can’t wait to see what amazing things they do from here out. I will say it right here for everybody in the world to read. I HAVE THE BEST SIXTH GRADE CLASS ON THE PLANET!
My family. Without my family, I would be so lost. They’ve seen me at my best, my worst, and my weirdest, and I’ve never had a day in my life when I didn’t feel their love and support in everything I’ve done.
My best friends. I don’t have a huge group of friends, but we are tight. We’re the sort of friends who can go weeks, sometimes months, without seeing each other, and as soon as we get together, it’s like we’re picking up right where we left off. And the awesome thing is that, as adults, we’re often more like family than friends.
The CNY Romance Writers. Such an amazing group of authors, and I can’t believe I went so long without knowing they were there! I’ve learned so much from these people over the last year, and I can’t wait to see what 2014 has in store for us.
Last, and never least, my husband. I truly did marry my best friend. Without his support and encouragement, I would have given up on so many things over the past few years. From family stuff to writing stuff, he’s my biggest cheerleader, my coach, my confidante, my partner in crime, and when I really need him to be, the world’s biggest teddy bear.

So there you go.

I’m also very thankful for pie. It’s a wonderful thing.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Surprise Awesomesauce!

September 13, 2013Leave a comment

There hasn’t been a whole lot of writing going on around here since school started last week, unless you count creating social studies note packets and PowerPoint presentations. In fact, other than stealing snippets of time to read Jane Eyre, nothing literary has seen the light of day in a good two weeks.

But I had a fun surprise when I opened my mailbox today.

To be honest, it wasn’t so much a surprise as something I’d forgotten would be arriving. You see, my fellow CNYRW member Christine Wenger celebrated the release of her first cozy mystery, Do or Diner, a few weeks ago. As part of the release awesomesauce, she held a contest in which one could win a copy of the new book. And I won.

When I found out, I almost replied with my usual, “I never win anything!” But if I look over the past few years, it seems to be more the case that I tend to win a lot of contests. Yes, usually they’re silly ones, like at my church’s Mardi Gras party a couple years ago when you won for, say, finding the most Mardi Gras beads. And I am the reigning champion of teachers for the “Show of Love” assembly at school, wherein you have to guess songs from TV shows and movies and general pop culture after hearing only a few seconds of the music. (They may have to invite me back for a cameo appearance this year.)

Anyway, in all the crazy/busy of studying the Common Core modules and prepping my classroom amid construction dust, I completely forgot about Christine’s book. So when I opened my mailbox today and saw the big, bulging envelope, I thought it was something my husband had ordered from Amazon.

I might have hopped and squealed a little when I saw who it was from. Luckily none of my neighbors were around.

And bonus, not only do I have a lovely, signed copy of Do or Diner, but my semi-surprise came with a real surprise!

Yes, that would be my Farberware knife block making a cameo appearance. I thought it was fitting.

Now if you will excuse me, I have a cookbook and a cozy mystery to read.

P.S. In case you’re wondering, I’m totally in love with my sixth graders. I couldn’t have hand-picked a better class to make the transition to middle school with.

New Yorkers Unite for Our State Parks!

May 3, 2013Leave a comment

I don’t often get up on a soap box – at least I hope I don’t – unless I feel very strongly about something. Or if something really catches my interest and I just have to spread the word. That’s what’s happening today.

A couple years ago, when New York State was in the midst of a budget crisis (which is no surprise, really, we seem to have a budget crisis of some sort almost every year – maybe they we should elect a bunch of CPAs to the Legislature and Assembly), one of the ideas put forth to save money was to either severely reduce the operation of or enact the complete and immediate closure of most of our state parks and historic sites.

Fortunately the outcry against such action was resounding from just about every corner of the state, and volunteers emerged from all walks of life intent on saving our state parks. And a good thing too – I don’t know the numbers off hand, but our state parks provide a lot of revenue for the local townships and are a major reason why tourists come here from other states and Canada. New York State is lucky – we really have some beautiful areas, and a variety of parks and historic sites that can cater to people with just about every interest under the sun. And I’m a big fan of state and national parks. Without even any dedicated consideration, I can think of at least twelve I’ve been to in the last two years. And they were state and national parks I’d never been to before, for the most part!

Anyway, long story short, New York’s state parks and historic sites were saved. For the time being. Now, with the effects of the sequester starting to ripple down into the way airports and other nationally funded arenas are being run, it’s only a matter of time before the states have to tighten their belts again and consider what will be next on the chopping block in an effort to save money. I wouldn’t be surprised if the state parks make it to the top of that list at some point soon.

So it’s up to us to keep our state parks and historic sites running, and tomorrow’s a great opportunity to show our support for our fantastic local attractions. Tomorrow, May 4th, is “I Love My Park” Day here in New York State. It’s a day for New Yorkers to get up and go out to our local state parks and historic sites and help clean things up. Pull some weeds. Paint some fences. Sweep some sidewalks. For the seasonal sites, it might be a matter of getting things ship-shape for opening day. For year-round locations, it might involve cleaning up the damage from this winter. Either way, it’s a great chance to do something, and send the message to the people in charge that we love our state parks, and want to keep them going.

I personally will be spending some time tomorrow at Fort Ontario. You can register to help out at your local state park or historic site – or just show up, ready and willing!

Dreaming of Warm Places

January 26, 2013Leave a comment

The past week has been pretty frozen here in the Northeast. Since I live in one of the lake effect belts off Lake Ontario, I find the snow annoying but expected. It’s the cold that gets me. After a week of temperatures hovering around 0 degrees (the actual temperature, not the wind chill), I’m ready to think about some warmer places I’ve been:

Disney World. Also the happiest place on Earth

Ah, Rome! 70+ degrees the whole time we were there! Plus ITALY!

Taormina, Sicily, viewed from the Castelmola (on top of a mountain – that was a hike!)

Savannah, Georgia, of course.

St. Lucia. Ahhhh St. Lucia!

And as for the places I’d like to go:

VEGAS! It’s in the middle of the Nevada Desert. I don’t think I’d want to go there in the middle of summer, but it’s quite pleasant in the spring, I hear…

The Grand Canyon, Arizona. I’ll go when it’s warm. :)

New Orleans French Quarter. Beautiful.

Aloha, Hawaii! I’ll get there someday.

My Prayer for Motherhood

January 19, 20135 Comments

Those of you who’ve read the archives, or followed for a while, have an inkling of some of the personal stuff going on in my life. While I don’t usually hire out skywriters or anything like that to advertise, I also have made no secret of the fact that I struggle with infertility and have had to deal with the loss of a pregnancy.

Some of you may also have realized that, while I’m not exceptionally overt about my faith, it’s an important piece of my life and who I am. If not for my faith, there were a lot of times in my life when I could have given up on everything. My faith has kept me going.

This struggle with infertility has been a true test of my faith, believe me. And I admit, there have been times in the past two and a half years when I was really close to losing my faith. I’m not sure what kept it in place, what continues to keep it in place.

I am at a bit of a crossroads right now, and it feels a little bit like everybody’s got a bit of advice for me on what path I should take. Some of the comments, the attempts to help, are a little hurtful, even though they’re made with the best intentions. A lot of people just don’t have a grasp of the etiquette of supporting a friend or family member dealing with infertility.

I have had to learn to let go of a lot of things, and to ignore a lot of what people say. They aren’t in my shoes, they don’t know what discussions I’ve had with my husband, my doctor, myself, with God. At the end of the day, I just need people to be supportive of the decisions I need to make, based on my beliefs and what’s right for my family.

Those decisions have been weighing on me a lot over the past couple weeks because, as I said, I’m at a crossroads. Actually, not even a crossroads, because that would indicate there are three possible paths to take: keep going straight in the current path, or turn onto one of two other paths. No, it’s more of a “this road has come to a T.” After this month, I can’t go further on the path we’re on.

I don’t know what’s going to happen. There are a lot of unknowns right now, except for the absolute fact that I want to be a mother. Actually, I am a mother. Perhaps that’s part of why my faith has remained, despite everything that’s gone wrong – I have to believe that the baby I lost is in Heaven, and that someday we will be reunited. I just have to believe that.

In the meantime, as I try to get all zen about what could possibly happen beyond this month, there’s going to be a whole lot of praying going on in this house.

My Prayer for Motherhood