Commercialism

Well, yesterday was busy. I woke up at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep. I ended up leaving the house for work at 6:30am. Ack. I had a Dr. Appointment that afternoon and was in "training" all day at work. It was tolerable. I got to leave work at 4:30, get my back cracked before 5 (thank GOD!) and relaxed all night. Mom came over and we chatted, and I was in bed at 9 and asleep by 9:30 because I couldn't keep my eyes open on my book.

The backseat organizer came yesterday, and I stashed diapers and wipes and hand sanitizer and other goodies in there. I haven't put it in the car yet. Probably after the baby shower. I am hoping to get the seat protector that goes under the car seat, and then we can install the seat.

At the Dr. Yesterday my fundal height measured the same as it had the week before, and I mentioned that my belly was "changing" and that it seemed lower. My midwife agreed, and I wonder if she's already starting to drop? but the fundal height was 39 centimeters, and I was just past 33 weeks, so for those of you who have been there done that, she's measuring 6 weeks ahead. LOL. Midwife is curious to see what we find at our 3D Ultrasound next Tuesday, as far as just how big the baby actually is. It's all about having the long torso.

I've scheduled my first official hypnobirthing session, and also our waterbirth class and our Intro to breastfeeding class. We have all that next week and also the appointment at the specialists and the 3D ultrasound, AND two NST's (Non-Stress Tests.) It will be a baby-filled week!

Last night I was able to sleep pretty well. I did get up every hour to pee, which has increased from every 2-3 hours, but I was able to get back to sleep. I was awake from 5am-6:30 but thankfully it started to rain pretty good around 6, and by 6:30 I was able to get back to sleep until 8:45. I took a nice warm bath and relaxed, and read my new magazine. I grabbed a copy of "Cookie" which I had never seen before, and I really liked it. Between Cookie and Wonder Time, I am pretty well entertained. And of course I read Parents now too. And Mothering. The best part is that Evan reads them or flips through them too. The issue of cookie has lots of family fun ideas, like vacation spots (mostly overpriced ritzy ones) and cool things like ideas on birthday parties and camping sleepovers. Because the new model mom in this issue had on a $3200 charm bracelet while playing with her barely toddler, I am pretty sure this is designed for the ritzy crowd. Also was surprised to see hundreds of dollars spent on birthday party treat bags for guests... but realize that their ideas were cute, and a thrifty person like me could easily do it for cheaper. Although it will be a while until I have to worry about those kinds of birthday parties!

While mothering magazine can be very granola-y, I do sometimes amaze myself when they bring up something that I had never thought of before, and then I start to wonder why I never did. Like their article on the Commercialization of Book Fairs. Why do they sell whoopie cushions, fashion accessories, bracelets, and video games at a place that is supposed to promote literacy and reading? What mom can sent her kid to school with money for the book fair only to discover that he/she comes home with a bunch of junk that has nothing to do with reading? And why are the majority of the products linked to cartoon and TV Characters, like those evil Bratz or Spongebob Squarepants? I honestly had never once thought of that.

When I was growing up, my parents couldn't afford to spare money to buy books. I almost never got a new book that was all my own, but my mom took us to the library every week or every other week and we were readers. Were we ever! I still get books from the inter-library loan system, and try to donate books to our local library, but I have a passion, a desperate lust, to own my own books. Sometimes I look at them on the shelf, already read and neatly organized, and I feel incredibly guilty. I know I should be donating them to the library, but the best I can do is to give them to friends to read. But honestly, I only have two friends who read. It's frustrating to me. Everyone else out there waits for the movie. I don't want my kids to be like that. I was telling Evan the other day that I am worried because these days, kids barely have time to read a book before the movie shows up. Harry Potter is a prime example really, the books are HUGE and would take a kid a while to read, but every time you turn around, a movie is being made. And the movies are good, don't get me wrong, but the books from when I was a kid, are just NOW coming into movies... and that gave me 20 years to read them! Like the Chronicles of Narnia, Bridge to Terabithia, and The Lord of the Rings. Even favorite books like Indian in the Cupboard and the American Girls books are commercialized. I wonder how many girls today know the American Girl name because of their wonderful books.... versus their overpriced dolls and fashions/accessories? There's even a Nancy Drew movie for god's sakes!

If you are so inclined, hop on over and Tell Scholastic to stop selling evil Bratz in Schools.