I was recently reading the April issue of Glamour magazine and saw this very important article about ways to stop global warming. I have not seen "An Inconvenient Truth", but I realize the importance of stopping global warming. Plus, the little things you can do make a huge impact. So, I'm posting the article from Glamour here so everyone can read it. Let's all do just one thing to help stop global warming. Here's the article:

The top 10 things you can do for the planet
By Lori Bongiorno

Odds are, you’ve been wondering how you can help our precious environment, but you may feel overwhelmed (even the experts do!). Yes, the news is bad: Everyone’s been consuming increasing amounts of energy—using a whole lot of electronic stuff, burning lights, you name it—and guzzling gas. This means that more carbon dioxide, one of the main culprits behind global warming, ends up in the air. Is it a coincidence that 2006 was the hottest year ever in the United States? Scientists think not.

Thankfully, the situation is reversible—and many solutions are simple and bite-size. “These problems are significant enough that we need to do big and little things,” says John Passacantando, executive director of Greenpeace USA. Start with a few of these steps—a list our advisers came up with. They’re in no particular order, but each will make a difference.

1. Change a bulb.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use about 65 percent less energy than regular ones—which explains why a big government campaign, “Change a Light, Change the World,” is pushing for them. CFLs cost about 30 percent more but last up to 10 times longer. Buy a “warm white” kind, and the light should look the same as usual (stores like Wal-mart and Kmart have them). If every Glamour reader switched just one bulb, it would prevent major pollution—the equivalent of taking 82,000 cars off the road a year. Speaking of which…

2. Drive a fuel-efficient car.
“Driving a gas guzzler (as many SUV models are) for a year produces 95,000 pounds of global-warming pollution,” says Kathleen Rogers, president of the Earth Day Network. Hybrids use less fuel and don’t muck up the air as much.

3. Even better: bike or take public transportation.
And best of all: Walk! It’s good for you and the environment.

4. One word: recycle.
You’ve heard it a kajillion times: Recycle plastic, glass, paper and cans. It keeps them from filling up landfills and saves trees and energy. “It takes 20 times more energy to make an aluminum can from scratch than from a recycled one,” notes Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense. But there are other things to recycle, including “e-waste”—electronic goods like phones and laptops (for info, see rethink.ebay.com). You can also recycle shampoo and lotion bottles; look for the triangular recycling label.

5. Clean green.
Ordinary household cleaners tend to have potentially toxic chemicals; pour them down the drain and they can make their way into groundwater (buh-bye, clean drinking water). There are lots of effective eco-versions out there, like Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyer’s.

6. Eat local or organic.
Getting veggies from a farmers’ market saves fuel, because produce isn’t transported long distances. And organic farming keeps chemicals out of the soil and you. “It’s win-win,” says Robert F. Kennedy Jr., president of the Waterkeeper Alliance. “You get better food and protect the environment.”

7. Buy energy-saving things.
Look for the “Energy Star” label on everything from computers to air conditioners.

8. Conserve water.
It’s in more limited supply around the world—including in the Western U.S.—due to increasing pollution and drought. “Fixing leaks can save hundreds of gallons of water a month,” says Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Also, try shorter showers.

9. Adjust your thermostat.
Move it down a degree in winter and up a degree in summer, and you’ll spare the air 500 pounds of carbon dioxide—and save up to 15 percent on energy bills.

10. Speak up!
Send an e-postcard to your Congressional rep at nrdc.org/action asking him or her to back legislation on global warming. Mention tips you liked from this piece to a pal. Tell Mom to buy a CFL bulb. But whatever you do, don’t get paralyzed by the enormity of the problem. “It’s not about doing everything,” says Laurie David, author of Stop Global Warming: The Solution Is You!. “It’s about everyone doing something.”

Lori Bongiorno’s guide to green living comes out in spring 2008.

MORE STUFF YOU CAN DO (PER GLAMOUR)
1. “Plastic bottles take a lot of energy to produce.” Most experts agree that bottled water isn’t any purer or safer than most of the nation’s tap H2O. Take your used plastic bottles (or, better yet, mug) and hit the faucet.

2. Watch out for "eco-friendly" stuff, but don't get scammed. Here are some things to watch out for:
Eco products are springing up like wildflowers. Good news—except that some companies are making unsubstantiated claims, known as greenwashing. The most common cons:

Bamboo clothes
A hot item at boutiques: sweaters and T-shirts made from this fiber. Sadly, though, it’s not all that environmentally virtuous. When a bamboo plant is turned into fabric, the process releases toxins into the atmosphere. Not good.

“Natural” stuff
These days, everything from cereal to laundry detergent is touted as “natural”—and often sold at a higher price. While the word can mean that something is made with truly natural ingredients, there are no government standards for anything except meat (where “natural” means there are no additives). Your best bet is to read labels and check for ingredients you recognize and that don’t sound synthetic or chemical-y (you can always go home and google anything suspect).

Organic fish
Sorry, Charlie: There are no guarantees that fish described as organic either at a supermarket or restaurant is free of pesticides or antibiotics, because here, too, there aren’t any government standards (though they are in the works).

AND HERE ARE SOME MORE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT (PER GLAMOUR):
…dry-clean clothes?
Probably not good for you, definitely bad for the environment. Fact: 85 percent of cleaners use a chemical called Perc that may be linked to cancer and reproductive damage, though there isn’t conclusive research. But it does pollute the air, and all that plastic wrapping takes lots of energy to produce. To protect yourself and the planet, you could “wet clean” (for locations, go to earth911.org, click on “green shopping tips” and “innovative technologies,” then enter your zip code) or “carbon-dioxide clean” (visit findco2.com for places). You can also ask to skip the plastic. If not, take clothes out of it and air for an hour, outside if possible.

…microwave in plastic?
It could be harmful to you and the environment. If a container’s not labeled “microwave safe,” check the bottom. See a number 3, 6 or 7? Don’t heat food in it; it has toxins that may seep into your meal, and it’s also less likely to be recyclable.

…cook in Teflon pans?
May be bad for you, definitely bad for the environment. Nonstick cookware is made with a substance that’s a probable carcinogen. But the biggest threat, experts say, is all the air and water pollution caused by the factories that make the chemical. So copper or aluminum are the more eco-friendly options, but there’s no reason to ditch anything unless it’s scratched.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to Glamour for producing a great article! I'm so much more educated now.

I've been wanting to do a post about this for a long time, but I keep forgetting. I finally remembered to do it, and it's going to be sort of an ongoing post.

It's always helpful to know what baby products out there are really useful to have while ALSO being worth the money. A lot of times people register for things and don't necessarily end up using them. So, here's my list of helpful baby items(if you click on the item, you can go to a link on the web that displays it. Some links don't show are the exact item I bought, but is very close and gives you a good idea):

1. Bumbo baby seat: I like it because sometimes, Naveen gets really tired of laying on his back or his belly. This helps him sit up with support until he learns to sit up by himself. Totally worth the money.

2. Pacifier clip (aka pacifier leash): Make sure you buy one if you are going to use a pacifier, and make sure that it snaps on to the pacifier with snaps, not velcro. The velcro will come undone the minute your baby learns how to pull on the pacifier. I bought mine at Babies R Us for like $2. SO WORTH IT. Minimizes me having to wash the pacifier everytime it falls on the floor.

3. Graco Pack N Play playard/bassinet: This is a great thing to have because you will get 3 uses out of it. It serves as a bassinet while the baby is little so he/she can sleep in it. We put it in our room next to the bed so we could easily feed him and check on him at night. It also has a little changing table and a tray that hangs off the side where you can keep diapers and anything else you need. It's so convenient for middle of the night changings. Once you don't need it as a bassinet anymore, it can be the playard that you keep the baby in when you have to leave him unattended to do something. Definitely worth the money b/c you are getting 3 things in one: bassinet, convenient changing table, and playard.

4. Graco Swing: This is the greatest invention. When Naveen is cranky and wants to fall asleep but can't, I plop him in this and he's out like a light. Plus it's another great thing to snap him into when I need to cook or clean. It has harnesses so he's safe and secure. A must have.

5. Papasan: Another great item to have to help hold the baby when you can't or your arms get tired. Naveen falls asleep in this too. It plays music and vibrates as well. The vibrations are supposed to settle a baby's stomach.

6. Sleep positioner: This item will give you peace of mind. It prevents the baby from rolling over on his sides or tummy. It keeps him on his back, which is how the American Pediatric Association recommends babies should sleep to prevent SIDS. Because of this item, I can sleep at night knowing Naveen can't suffocate himself. Plus it's adjustable as the baby grows. Very handy. Side note: we have another sleep positioner that keeps the baby at an incline. This one is also very good. I recommend having 2 positioners, because babies diapers leak at night and if one positioner gets wet, you have a second available and can wash the dirty one.

7. Diaper Champ: Can't live without this. We throw all of Naveen's dirty diapers in here, and you can't smell ANYTHING. We chose this over the Diaper Genie because you can use regular trash bags, and believe me you need this option. We empty this thing and change the bag once a week. The Diaper Genie only takes its own trash bags. I recommend this Diaper Champ over anything. It's awesome.

8. Changing table: You have to get one. I don't know how I could have gotten along without one. Yeah, you could position the baby on the bathroom counter or a dresser, but if you get a changing table, you'll be able to store everything you need in one place. It also helps when you have a wiggling baby and can't afford to leave him/her unattended to go grab a diaper or diaper rash cream from somewhere else(plus, in that split second you walk away, you better believe he/she is going to pee everywhere). We even use this table after we bathe Naveen because it gives us a place to lay him while we dry him off, put lotion, and get his diaper and clothes on. And ours has a mirror at his eye level, so he loves staring at himself in the mirror while we get him dressed or changed. Very handy b/c it stops him from wiggling all over the place, sometimes. Get a changing table, it's worth the money. You'll use it to death.

9 & 10. Changing pad/covers: You'll need both of these things. The changing pad comes with straps so you can strap the baby in while changing. Keeps him secure. The covers are great. If he/she pees before you can get the diaper on, you just pull off the cover and throw it in the wash. I recommend getting two so if one is in the wash, you can put the second one on the pad. I have terry cloth ones and they work great.

11. Waterproof pads: These are the best because they are washable and save everything from getting wet or stained. We have about 8 of these and lay them everywhere Naveen lays. We have one in his bassinet, on the quilt he lays on when playing, his crib, one for our couch in case he lays with us, and on his changing table pad over the changing pad cover. If he pees, drools, spits up, or anything else, it goes on the pad which absorbs it. Then we wash the pad and it's clean again. It has really preserved everything and keeps all of his linens looking clean and new. It has saved our couch too. You gotta get these.

12. Fisher Price Aquarium: I wrote about this toy in a previous blog. Check out my post and get one. Naveen loves his.

13. Little Tykes 5-in-1 Adjustable Gym: LOVE THIS TOY. It keeps Naveen busy for at least an hour, sometimes more. It's adjustable as they grow. Right now, as a baby, he lays underneath and kicks the spinning ball and rattle with his feet which causes music to come on and the lights to flash. That helped him develop purposeful, controlled movement with his legs and feet. Now that he can reach the balls/rattles with his hands, we position it over his hands so he can learn to grab things and develop purposeful movement with his hands. It's an awesome toy. Totally worth the money.

14. Infant Carrier Toy Bar: We bought this to attach to his car seat bar. It keeps him busy when he is in the car seat. It plays 4 different songs and also has things hanging down from it so he can use his hands to play with them. Naveen loves it. A great thing to have to keep him busy in the car. I searched high and low to find something to attach that would fit on the carrier bar, stay attached, and keep him busy. Bought a couple of things before I bought this. This is the winner.

15. Baby Einstein DVD's: A must-have. They are about 1/2 hour each and a set of 10 is $100 at Costco. Buy it, it's worth the money. Naveen is completely fascinated by the videos, talks at the TV when he watches them, and of course, he is learning too. We let him watch one a day because we don't want him to watch too much TV. It's a great investment.

16. Crib sheet clips: These keep the crib sheet securely fastened to the crib mattress so in case the baby pulls on the sheet, it won't snap off and suffocate him. And they are super easy to install.

17. Stay-Tuct suspenders: When you put a shirt on a baby, it constantly rises up when you pick him/her up, when they wiggle, etc. They never stay straight on, unless there are snaps on the bottom. These solve that problem.

18. Summer Infant video monitor: This is an awesome monitor. It's audio and video. It took us 5 minutes to hook it up and voila! We could see Naveen on the screen, in color. It's obviously pricier than an audio monitor, but we bought it anyway because we initially had an audio monitor and I still felt the need to check on him visually. You never know when babies can pull blankets, bibs, or anything else over their faces and suffocate themselves. And the handheld has a stand and belt fastener so you can prop it on the counter or fasten it to your pants. The picture is very clear too. We also didn't have any interference problems, even though we have cordless phones and wireless internet running in the house all the time.

So far that's what I have. I'll be adding to my list as he grows. Hope this helps, especially if you are a new parent!!

Yesterday was weigh-in day with my trainer, along with it being my last session. Drum roll please....................I've lost 3 lbs!! Woo hoo! Plus, I've lost INCHES. I lost an inch off my waist, an inch from thighs, 1 1/4 inches from my arms and 1/8 of an inch from my forearms. I'm very excited and motivated to keep going. I actually lost 5 lbs, but 2 of those pounds converted from fat to muscle (my trainer did all the measurements and some calculations and came out with that) so they are technically not a loss. I'm really excited.

So Naveen had his vaccinations on Tuesday. He had the regular vaccinations, but I also opted to give him the new RotaTeq vaccination that protects him against rotavirus. This vaccination was just approved by the FDA last year and I read in one of my magazines that all children should get it because they get rotavirus really easily. And apparently the virus causes severe dehydration because it makes you vomit and have diarrhea like crazy. Little children then end up in hospital inevitably on IV to get rehydrated. I don't want Naveen going through that so I chose to have him vaccinated. I'm just a little worried because in very rare cases it can cause intestinal problems. So for about the next week I'm keeping a close eye on him. Hopefully it's ok because he has to get the second dose of the vaccination when he is 6 months old. Apparently the vaccination series cannot be started after babies turn 6 months old, so it's do it now or don't do it all. We'll see how it goes.

So here's my weekly American Idol recap:

1. Haley Scarnato: Surprisingly good. She might just bring it. The song choice was very good for her because it was upbeat and actually kept my interest! I caught myself smiling while watching her this week. Still a wait and see for me, but I cannot tell a lie: I liked it. She tapped into her strengths. FINALLY.

2. Chris Richardson: Good. He's a little nasal-y (is that a word?) for me, but I liked it. The only thing I don't like about him is that he sometimes seems a little cocky. This is a downer for me. But, he's got the stage presence and this week he showed a different side to his singing which turned out really well.

3. Stephanie Edwards: She's ok. She won't win. She sounds too much like Beyonce, and we don't need another Beyonce. Plus she doesn't have that exciting stage presence. Tonight when she sang I caught myself updating my calendar. Side note: I really hope AI doesn't come up with another R&B artist. They're all starting to sound the same to me.

4. Blake Lewis: He's good, but I'm burning out on him. I need to see something new or different. I can't quite put my finger on it. And I'm not sure I'm liking the beatboxing thing anymore. The judges really liked his performance tonight, but I thought it was just good.

5. Lakisha Jones: She wasn't that inspiring this week. Some of the low notes sounded a little weird. I think she should have picked the other song that Lulu told her to sing. Simon nailed it...it was a little old, like she was 60 years old.

6. Phil Stacey: Didn't like it. Or didn't like him. I don't know. I didn't really get into the running around the stage with the microphone thing for him. I think my problem with him is that I can't fit him into a genre. None of the songs he sings fits for me. I can't put my finger on it, I just know he's not one of my favorites. I don't know what the appeal is in him. I haven't figured out why America likes him.

7. Jordin Sparks: AWESOME, as usual. The slow songs tend to bore me, but she sang hers with a lot of soul and sexuality. The mood she conveyed matched the mood of the song. Nicely done girlfriend.

8. Sanjaya Malakar: OH GOD. What a freakin' train wreck. And the girl who was crying b/c she liked him so much...NOW WE KNOW WHO IS VOTING FOR HIM!!!

9. Gina Glocksen: Love the chick! And singing a Stones song...totally cool. But it wasn't her best. I feel like she could have a picked a song that showed her singing ability a lot more. I've liked every performance of her up until today. God, I hope she doesn't get eliminated. I don't think she will.

10. Chris Sligh: He was OK. The performance kind of bored me a little. He needs some UMPH in his performances. I need some WOW factor.

11. Melinda Doolittle: As usual, amazing. They should just give her a record deal and let everyone else compete.

I have to say, today's show was the best so far. At least everyone sang decently, except Sanjaya.

My prediction: Phil Stacey is gone this week.

I forgot to write about my excruciating experience at the County Recorder's office on Friday while trying to get Naveen's birth certificate. I saw a sign there that said, "Marriage Licenses and Passport Applications here" (above a different window than the ones for birth and death certificates). I got excited because I thought maybe I wouldn't have to go to the post office or the Federal Building to get the passports done, maybe I could just do them here! So I get to the window and here's how my conversation goes. It's your typical conversation with an annoying government employee:

Shefali (S): Hi. I need 2 copies of a birth certificate.
Clerk (C): OK. Please give me your application.
S: OK. Also, I see you do passport applications. Is that for new passports only, or do you do name changes here as well? I need a new passport with my married last name.
C: You have to have a marriage certificate to do the name change.
S: Yes, but do you process those here, or do you only do new passports?
C: We do passports on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
S: Right, but if I have the necessary paperwork, can you process an application so I can change my name on my passport?
C: You have to make an appointment and you have to have the passport application. (hands me a piece of paper listing the requirements).
S: OK so you do process name changes here?
C: You can go to the post office, they can do it there.

OK what the hell dude?!

Last week was a crazy week and the weekend was just as insane. Chris and I decided that we are going to take a trip to Bangkok, Thailand for a week in April. We're invited to our friend's wedding and really wanted to go, but weren't sure if we could afford to go. Then our friend told us that they are paying for 5 nights at the hotel and two tours of the city, so Chris and I decided that would make it a little more affordable. So we're going. It's going to be so awesome, I can't wait. The first night that all the wedding guests get there, they have invited everyone to a sunset dinner cruise to start the celebrations. How amazing is that going to be?! We're going to take Naveen with us because we want to, and to make things even better, my parents are going to the wedding too so we will have some help. So last week was crazy because we had to get everything in order and apply for Naveen's passport. And wouldn't you know it...I couldn't find his birth certificate. The friends of mine reading this know that I'm SUPER ORGANIZED. So how the hell did I lose his birth certificate? I turned the house upside down looking for it. So on Friday I had to go get another copy and I ended up getting 2. I'm going to put one in the safe at my parents' house in case we ever misplace our copy again. I'm doing the same thing with the 2nd copy of our marriage certificate. Anyway, I also applied for my passport with my married name, so now every legal document of mine will have my married last name. Thank God. That is such an annoying process. Now I have to start planning for the trip!! I'm so excited.

Last week I witnessed something interesting when I went to Whole Foods to get a sandwich for lunch. If anyone wants to leave a comment on this, feel free to, because I'm not sure if I what I saw was good or bad. I was at the sandwich counter and a mom with her 2 daughters were also ordering. They ordered their sandwiches and the older daughter, who was about 10 or 11, told the guy, "Can you make sure you put just light mayo?" Part of me thought, that's really good, she's being healthy. Especially in this day of childhood obesity being so prevalent. On the other hand, I thought, should she have to worry about light mayo, being so young? I don't know why she wanted light mayo, so that would make a difference too. Maybe she doesn't like mayo that much. Or maybe she is worried about how she looks. I don't know. It was an interesting thing to see because I've never seen a child be so conscious of something like that. Interesting.

And tonight, aaahhh, I can't wait - "Dancing with the Stars" is back!! Woo hoo!!

Naveen has a bedtime: 9pm. YAY!!! Sometimes it's even earlier, like 8:30pm. When he was going to sleep at 10pm, he finally stopped waking up in the middle of the night. But all of a sudden in the last couple of weeks, he's been naturally falling asleep between 8:30-9pm. I'm trying to follow his natural lead on bedtimes, feedings, and interests b/c I don't want to be one of those moms who pushes things on him just because it's the "right" thing to do. I'll have plenty of opportunities in his lifetime to teach him the "right" things. Right now, he's young and he seems to be getting things naturally on his own anyway. Plus, I want to do things in stages. Now that we've established a bedtime, the next step in a couple of months is to move him to the crib. I've slowly started the transition by putting him in his crib for his naps during the day. Anyway, we're back to getting up in the middle of the night to feed him, but I don't care. I love the little guy, but it's so nice to have the evening to ourselves. I get to check my email, blog, or just watch TV. I can also finish up housework and get ready for the next day. It's great!

More good news: I lost a pound!! Woo hoo!! My trainer and I have a goal for me to lose 10lbs. I've lost 2. But as I wrote in a previous blog, losing weight is going to come after my excess fat has finished turning to muscle. Let's hope the weight loss continues.

So as I'm writing this blog I'm watching American Idol. It was a pool of mediocrity and a couple of really bad performances. No big surprise, Haley and Sanjaya were the worst. The guys are not that good. I just can't get behind Phil Stacey. I don't particularly care for him, I don't know why. I had high hopes for Brandon, but he ain't deliverin' these days. Chris Sligh was off, and he should have kept his glasses on. It gives him more character. You already know my feelings on Sanjaya. Blake and Chris - if I had to pick guys that I like, these 2 would be it. They are somewhat decent singers and have good stage presence. But as Simon says, this is a SINGING competition. They need to deliver more. The GIRLS - so much better! As usual, Lakisha and Melinda were the BOMB. Stephanie disappointed me. She sang one of my FAV Diana Ross songs, "Love Hangover", but she never went into the disco part. That's the best part! And her vocal was not her best - it seemed she was yelling a little too much. Haley - already said my story. Gina was totally good. Not her best, but she rocks, and the song choice, "Love Child" was awesome. I just love her vibe and I thought she picked a good song. Jordin - LOVE HER! She gets better every week...she's actually one of those contestants that goes through AI doing what she's supposed to do: take criticism and get better. She's awesome and has the cutest smile! Total star quality and the voice is good too. You go girl!

Signing off! Good night.

What a busy weekend! We watched a couple of movies and went out for dinner. We also went to Pinkberry and introduced a couple of our friends to it. Don't know if they will go back, but they tried it at least. I of course enjoyed every morsel of my yogurt!

On Friday night we stayed home and watched "North Country" with Charlize Theron. A very good movie and I would recommend it to people to see. It's based on a true story about a woman who gets a job in mine. She finds out that the few women who work there are being sexually harrassed on a daily basis, including her, along with being demeaned and physically attacked sometimes if they don't succumb to their male coworkers' requsts. You should definitely see it.

On Saturday I was super busy but had so much fun! I went out to lunch with my friend Lisa to this place called Three Square in Venice Beach. It's a cafe and bakery. The food was AWESOME. I can't wait to go back. I shared an appetizer of avocado fries with fire roasted tomato salsa. Then I had a grilled bread salad with mozzarella and tomatoes and for dessert, we shared a plate of honey madeleines with honey thyme ice cream. OMG - one of the best desserts I've ever had. Who thought thyme in ice cream would be SO GOOD?! We also went shopping on the street that the Three Square is on, because it's a street known for its cute boutiques. I bought some Vosges chocolates (www.vosgeschocolate.com) from this boutique. Vosges chocolates are amazing chocolates in really unique, interesting flavors. I bought a box that has 4 bars in it with the following flavors:

Black Pearl - ginger + wasabi + black sesame seeds + dark chocolate
Naga - sweet Indian curry powder + coconut flakes + deep milk chocolate
Red Fire - Mexican ancho and chipotle chili peppers + Ceylon cinnamon + dark chocolate
Gianduja - almonds + hazelnuts + deep milk chocolate

Don't those sound yummy!? I tried a piece of the Red Fire...it was really good!

Saturday night we went to a place called Cinespace (www.cinespace.info). It's a place where you can watch a movie on a theater screen while having dinner. The movies are no longer in the theater. We saw "Half Nelson" with Ryan Gosling. He was nominated this year for an Academy Award for Best Actor. It was ok...a little depressing and slow. He acted very well and it's a good movie to watch on DVD.

Sunday evening we went to a visit one of our couple friends and as I mentioned earlier, we all went to Pinkberry. Sunday night Chris and I FINALLY watched "Borat" on DVD. It was definitely funny, definitely GROSS in some parts. It wasn't amazing, but it was good a movie to watch on DVD. I'm glad I didn't spend money to see it in the theater.

NAVEEN UPDATE
He's holding his bottle on his own (sometimes), but you have to watch him b/c he'll let go and the bottle falls. It's kind of funny. It's b/c he doesn't have total control over his motor skills yet. But he's getting there!

Also, he LOVES Baby Einstein DVD's. We bought a box set from Costco. I don't let him watch everyday, maybe every other day b/c I don't want him to get hooked on TV. But they are good DVD's and they are educational. I like watching them too...LOL.

I also received the Bumbo (www.bumbobabyseat.com/) chair and tray that I ordered last week. Omigod - Naveen loves it b/c he can sit up. That's all he wants to do these days, is sit up! This lets him and I can't wait to take it to a restaurant with us so he can sit with us at the table! Yay! He's going to be a big boy :) He's growing so fast!

Daycare update!! I didn't remove Naveen from the waiting list at the daycare that I complained about. I would have, except that I have waited 5 months already and I don't want to start the clock all over again at some other place just b/c I'm annoyed with the current place. If I do that, the only person that gets screwed is me, unfortunately. And we didn't put our names on the waiting list for the daycare we checked out on Tuesday, because they told us it would be anywhere from 8-12 months before we get a spot. GREAT. I'll just stick with what I've got right now.

So I called the daycare (we'll call it Happy Kids) on Tuesday and talked to someone named Candace who said she is going through the list to find out if people are still interested. She said to call her at the end of the week to find out where we are at. So I called her today and she was really nice and professional. And she told me that there are now 8 people ahead of us, instead of 11. And if 2 of those 8 don't call her back by the end of today, there are only 6 people ahead of us b/c those 2 will get knocked out for not returning the calls in a week's time. SO...everyone cross your fingers. Now let's just hope there are no siblings that pile up on the list again.

OK...I've been blogging about American Idol, trying to express how I feel about the singers. This article that I found on the internet says it all. It's exactly how I feel about the 12 finalists. If you want a really good laugh, check it out. Disclaimer - you have to be watching AI to understand some of his comments. If you want to read the article, click here.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED ON AMERICAN IDOL TONIGHT?! I feel the need to type in caps for this post, but I won't. So I made my predictions of the 4 who were going to be voted off tonight - and I was spot on about all 4 actually - but only 2 of them actually got voted off. The other two, Haley Scarnato and Sanjaya Malakar, SURPRISINGLY made it. How did Haley make it and Sabrina Sloan get voted off? And how did Sanjaya make it and Sundance get voted off? The judges agreed with me on both of those. UN-FREAKIN-BELIEVABLE. America - what happened? Does anyone who reads this blog watch the show? Can someone tell me how Haley and Sanjaya made it? I have no words...This is a total outrage.

Some of you know that I've been really concerned about losing weight so I can get back to pre-pregnancy weight. I hired a personal trainer and have been going to the gym regularly. I think it's working...I feel like some of my pants are a little looser, but my weight has stayed the same. I talked to my trainer yesterday and he said it's totally normal. He told me that because I haven't worked out in a year a lot of my muscle turned to fat. Now, as I'm working out, my fat is turning back into muscle. One pound of fat is turning into one pound of muscle. Doesn't equal weight loss, it means the weight stays the same. But muscle is leaner than fat, and that explains how my clothes maybe a little looser but my weight is the same. He said once the fat to muscle process is done, I will start losing weight. YAY!! Next week is D-day...it's my last personal training session and we are going to weigh in and take measurements...UGH. I'll let you know the results.

One of the things that's been really hard about losing the weight is that I just don't have time on some days to go the gym because Naveen is really active and playful or cranky. Sometimes I don't have have time to go because we are busy running errands in the evening or Chris has work to do at home so I can't leave him alone with Naveen. This started disrupting my workout routine and I didn't know what to do. One day I was reading my FitPregnancy magazine and discovered their "Get Your Body Back After Baby" DVD. It comes with a resistance band which my trainer exposed me to at the gym. I decided to buy it and I tried it today. It's AWESOME. There is an ab workout, a 10-minute workout (b/c they know how busy babies can make you), a circuit workout which is combination of cardio and strength training and is only 16 minutes (again, because they know how busy you can be), and a full 35-minute workout that you can do after 3 months postpartum. I tried the ab workout, the 10 minute workout, and the 16-minute workout today and I was totally impressed - and sweating at the end! It was great, and I can do the whole thing at home. PLUS, they have ideas for working out with your baby - ab crunches with your baby, baby lifts that work out your pectoral muscles and arms, and exercises you can do while putting your baby in a front carrier. And then they talk about workouts you can do while going for a walk with your baby, like squats. It's seriously an awesome DVD and I recommend it to any mom who wants to get back in shape. You can buy it at this website: http://www.globalfulfillment.net/gfsnet/shapeboutique/10browse.aspx

The daycare drama lives on!

We went and checked out another daycare facility which we ended up liking alot. Of course, you have to leave a non-refundable deposit to get on the waiting list. We didn't sign up. I'm already on a waiting list with a non-refundable deposit, and at least on that waiting list I've been on it for 5 months. If I put myself on a new one, I'll be starting all over again. I'm not kidding - the next time I get pregnant, I'm going to put myself on the waiting list in the second trimester, before I even what the sex of the baby is. Isn't that ridiculous?! Maybe there is a worldwide overpopulation problem - and it's leading to this waiting list crap!

On another note, I watched "American Idol" tonight. The guys totally suck. There was not one good performance and I know I made predictions about who's going to get voted off this week, but after watching it tonight, I say everyone is vulnerable. I don't think any of them will end up as the American Idol.

Baby-related item: I LOVE the Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium. I bought it last week at Toys R Us and finally got a chance to attach it to the crib. That was kind of a pain, but I finally got it and Naveen LOVES it. I turned it on for him, and he just watched it while it made bubbles and the fish swam by on it. For those of you who don't know what it is, I've put a picture here. It's a great toy so far and keeps him totally entertained. It even plays different kinds of soothing music and it has a light in it. Good thing for him to fall asleep to. Love the toy...even I like watching it, LOL.

Subject: "American Idol"

I've never watched AI before, but I like some of the artists it's produced so far, including Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. So I decided, this time, I'm going to watch it from beginning to end, just to see if I get caught up in all the rage.

I started out excited because 6 of the 24 finalists were from California - woo hoo!! Unfortunately, only 2 are left. I have to say, I like it, but I'm not yet totally caught up. I think once the 12 finalists are announced today, I'll get a little more caught up. I think. Now I'm no great singer for sure, so I feel a little bad criticizing the finalists. But then again, America has to vote and these people knew they were up for criticism when they tried out. That said, I have to say that I don't think any of the girls or guys this year has made any kind of impression on me. Maybe that will change, but I was expecting really amazing singers. From what I'm reading here and there on the web, my opinion is in line with many others. Nobody is that super impressive this year. It is early in the competition so maybe these people will develop and get better and better, who knows. I'm still going to continue watching to see what happens. Here are my picks for who I think is pretty good so far:

GUYS:
Chris Richardson - could definitely do the pop genre, has a great smile
Blake Lewis - same thing. I love his beatboxing...fun to watch and he could make some money with 1 record. Don't know if his fame would last past that.
Phil Stacey - I like him because he has some kind of something about his personality, but I don't know just yet if I like his singing. This is a wait and see for me. I haven't totally ruled him out yet.
Sanjaya Malakar - I like him, and of course he's Indian so I'm totally behind my fellow countryman. But he needs to step it up and stop singing songs from the 60s. He's so young - he needs to show his energy. I have a feeling he's going to get voted off this week.

GIRLS:
Gina Glocksen - I've liked her since the original auditions. She has this cool, rocker chick appeal and last week she sang a really great song that suited her. It would be cool for AI to produce a female rocker chick for the first time.
Jordin Sparks - So young, sweet, and fresh - reminds me of Jennifer Hudson. Definite appeal for me. Hopefully she makes it far. Poor thing got caught up in emotions last week during her song. She has a very good voice though. Could totally do the pop thing.
Lakisha, Melinda, Sabrina, and Stephanie - I like them all and see them doing the R&B thing. They have really amazing voices and good charisma.

Who do I think is going to get voted off this week? Haley Scarnato, Antonella Barba (don't like her at all, never have), Sanjaya Malakar, and Jared Cotter.

My other guess: This year AI is going to produce a female Idol. There are more good girls this year than there are guys.

And here's something funny: I was watching "American Idol: Rewind" on Saturday night b/c I couldn't sleep. It was from the first season and Justin Guarini did his performance. After it, Simon Cowell said, "Justin Guarini, Justin Timberlake better watch out" or something to that effect. Um...yeah, anyways.

Subject: Daycare

So let me talk about the RIDICULOUS business of daycare. I'm scheduled to go back to work in April and am having a horrendous time. Here's the quick and dirty story: After researching and visiting a bunch of daycare places and options, we put Naveen on a daycare waiting list in October at a place we really liked. They asked us for a non-refundable $125 deposit and told us that he would most likely get a spot in April or May. We said that was fine because that's when I was going back to work anyway. So we signed up. In January I got a call from the daycare center verifying that I still wanted to be on the list. I said yes and asked them how many people were ahead of me. They said 7, which means we had moved up because when I signed up they said there were 11 people ahead of us. I was happy with that and hung up the phone. So last week I called and asked them where I was on the list. They said there were 10 people ahead of me. Wait...what?! How can that be, I said. So the girl investigates and comes back to me and says that there is a sibling policy they have which gives other infants priority if they have an older sibling already attending their preschool/daycare. OK - what the hell dude?! So I got upset and she offered to let me talk to the owner. So I did, for half an hour, and expressed my complete dissatisfaction at this stupid policy. My feeling about this is that I'm being discriminated against because I don't have a second child. She goes on to tell me that if I had a second kid this wouldn't seem unfair to me...WRONG! This would still feel unfair to me because I have to go back to work just as much as the next person! Regardless of how many kids I have! So then she tells me not to worry because Naveen is on the waiting list until he 2 years old b/c I chose that option. I told her, Are you kidding!? I can't wait for 2 years for him to get a spot! I also got totally pissed at her because they never mentioned this stupid SIBLING POLICY to me. So you're thinking - why don't I just take myself off the waiting list, right? Well then I lose my $125. It's a total freakin' scam and I'm writing this post because I want people to read it and be aware of stupid scams like this. I also went and posted negative reviews about this particular place. I'm basically stuck b/c I don't want to lose my $125. I am looking for new places b/c obviously Naveen is not going to get a spot at this place before I have to go back to work. So here are the tips you should know before you start looking for daycare:

1. Start looking while you are pregnant, like we did.
2. Ask how long their waiting list is. If they say 9 months to a year, factor in some prenatal time into that, plus when you have to go back to work. For example, if you have to go back to work in June, put yourself on the waiting list the June before, seriously. Daycares have ridiculous waiting lists.
3. Don't pay non-refundable deposits unless you have absolutely no other choice. It's a scam that locks you in and makes money for the daycare regardless of whether or not you get a spot there.
4. Ask about all the policies that could affect your spot on the waiting list.

I'll keep you posted on the results of my dilemma!

Naveen has learned to make noises with his lips! It's the cutest thing. He puts his lips together and blows air (I don't know how to explain this, but kids do it all the time) which makes his lips vibrate. He's also teething so some of his drool comes out. It's so adorable. It's like when you say vroom vroom to a kid - that's the only thing I can compare it to. I tried to take some video of it, but when Naveen sees the video camera, he stops whatever he's doing and just stares at the camera. He's getting smarter and more aware so I think it's going to get harder and harder for us to videotape him doing spontaneous things. We're going to have to get all covert about it. Anyway, this little thing he does is too cute.

I'm posting a recent picture here of him in case you haven't been to his website lately. This is one of my favorite pictures ever!

It's been a long time since I've blogged so I'm going to do a couple of posts today because I have a lot of topics to discuss.

So I'm experiencing some new postnatal body issues that I want to talk about. If any of you that have had babies can corroborate these experiences, I would greatly appreciate it!

My hair is falling out in chunks! It's crazy how much hair I'm losing. About 3 weeks ago, I was taking a shower and bam! A chunk of hair came out while I was washing it. I thought it was a temporary thing, but the next time I washed my hair, same thing! I freaked out and went researching online and found out this is a very common postnatal symptom. Apparently when you are pregnant, your body produced new hormones and these new hormones also produce more hair. After delivery, the pregnancy hormones cease production and all of a sudden, all the excess hair that you produced during pregnancy starts falling out. This is what I'm experiencing...and it's driving me crazy. I have to constantly vacuum the floors in my house b/c I find loose strands of hair all over the floor and it grosses me out.

So what can you do to treat it? I've been using shampoo that strengthens hair and my sister-in-law said flaxseed also helps. In addition, I bought ponytail holders that don't pull out your hair when you put them on or take them off. Other than that, I don't think there is much that I can do. Hopefully this post will help other women know that they are not alone in experiencing this madness!

So the other postnatal thing I was experiencing was really bad joint pain and muscle soreness. I didn't know how to stop it and I thought that going to the gym would stretch my muscles out and get my joints going again, hence stopping the pain. NOPE. I was getting frustrated and at the same time, I decided to hire a personal trainer (because I wanted help losing the last 10 pounds of pregnancy weight). What I like about 24 Hour Fitness is that when you hire a personal trainer, they also give you a meal plan with ideas for meals customized for your goals. They tell you to eat 5 small meals a day, and for every one of those meals, they give you 7 alternate choices. That's a lot of help and gives you no excuse to not eat healthy. I expressed my joint/muscle pain issues to my trainer and he told me to start taking calcium pills. I went to Costco and bought a large bottle. I took one pill when I got home and the next day...NO JOINT PAIN. It was like a miracle, seriously. I've been taking calcium pills everyday and since then, my joint pain has disappeared.

So let me rant and rave about my personal trainer now. The muscle soreness continued so I talked to my trainer about it. He told me to stop going to the aerobics classes because my body wasn't ready for it and also showed me some stretches to do to help the soreness go away. And I had told him when I hired him that I felt my core strength was completely gone and I wanted help restoring it. We've had 4 sessions now and my core strength is almost completely back! I couldn't get up from the floor when I first started, and now I can, along with doing other things. You don't realize how much you use your core until it's gone. Plus I've learned so many new exercises that I love doing! So my recommendation for postnatal care after all this: hire a personal trainer when your doctor approves you to start exercising again, and take calcium, also with your doctor's approval. As for the hair loss, my recommendations are above. And of course if everything fails, just remember the amazing little one that you gave birth to - I'm sure that will put a smile on your face, as it does on mine!