I'm *that* Mom, Whatever.

Today is Picture Day at daycare. I mean, I remember a time when daycares didn't have picture days, because that was a special right and priveledge held for our school age children (plus, what parent doesn't take a bagillion pics of their little one from birth until 5 years anyway, right?) Apparently, the school photo people were not raking in the dough and decided to start doing the preschools about ten years ago.

Currently, we are more preoccupied with Jacob's diet and why he seems to have no interest in breastmilk, formula, purees, or table food beyond a little at the time (that's another post entirely) so I forgot about that sticker on our progress sheet a week ago that shouted in flourescent highliter yellow "WEDNESDAY THE @*TH IS PICTURE DAY!"

Half asleep still and in a funk over J's refusal to eat breakfast this morning, I arrive at daycare wondering why all these kids are suddenly dressed to the nines. Then I go to put his carseat in the storage closet and see, hanging on one of the little girl's cubbie, no less than a pristine white communion-looking gown. I look back down at Jacob in his cute little cotton striped Osh Kosh onesie and brown flannel pants that we think are clean and think, "yes, I'm that mom".

You know, the one that doesn't remember to dress her son up on picture day so that his yearbook picture shows him sulking with unkempt hair while all the other kids are shiny-clean in their polos and khakis. Okay, maybe I'm being a bit melodramatic about it, but seriously, there were 3 year olds in khakis and polos.

Maybe I'm a picture day hater in general? I mean, I hate to think that the teachers spend all day terrified to take their kids outside in fear that one will get dirty and the parent will be pissed about it. Or god forbid they serve grape juice that day, right? But still, don't you think it's a little overkill to dress your kid up in their Sunday best for school pictures? I honestly got better shots with my digital camera when we were all dressed up for Easter. Hell, Picture People takes much better pictures than the school photographer in my opinion, and I still don't even consider those "professional" pictures. Am I a picture snob? Or a mom who sucks?

(I know I don't suck. I just mean, do I have a kind of sucky attitude about this whole deal?)

They Say It Can't Be Done...

I'm here to prove them wrong.

I just lurve how everyone who has or has not given birth and/or raised a child loves to dole out advice before the baby arrives. I am guilty of this as I have two close friends due this winter, but I have forewarned both of them with a disclaimer that I can be told to shut up at any time. I have also done two things: tried to wait until they broach the subject before offering my two cents, and tried to remain positive. My absolute pet peeve is when women tell a pregnant woman how much her life is going to "change" (aka "suck") when baby is here.

Come on, people! Your life does not end...of course you get less sleep, of course you make sacrifices, but it is all so worth it when your baby looks at you and you know they recognize you. If it sucked all that bad, why did you have two? And honestly, you can still do adult things!

Behold, my proof:

This is my artistic statement. On Sunday, I had a lovely brunch with my husband, sister, brother in law, and yes, my two month old son at a white tablecloth restaurant in Philadelphia. It was wonderful. Jacob amused himself by looking around at everything before having a meal and falling asleep in my lap.



And one of the waitresses let me change him on one of the tables upstairs in a room no one was using. Think about that the next time you wonder if you should wash your hands before eating.