A letter to mom's on Father's Day...

I read this today and am so moved by it.  Thank you to The Better Mom for posting this letter.

Quodlibet, Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts

My Dear, Beautiful Daughter,

Today is Father’s Day. I know there’s a lot for you to do, and this isn’t a day you usually think much about yourself. But in all of today’s busy-ness , there were some things on My heart that I wanted you to know.

I see you. I see you patiently tying the shoes for what seems the fourteenth time in an hour, picking stray macaroni and cheese bits out of the carpet, washing yet another load of laundry. I see you struggling, too often alone and too often unnoticed and unthanked. I see your heart wilting a little when you feel unsupported, and I know you think you fail way too many times.

You need to know how much I love you. I am with you every moment and I do not miss any of those sacrifices you make for your children and family and for the people around you. I see them all. I am so proud of who you are. While perfection feels so far out of your daily, practical reach, I see that perfection already in your life because of my Son. There is nothing you could do today to make Me love you one bit more than I already do. Your efforts make Me smile and they are not in vain!

You know how your heart feels like it could burst when you sneak into the children’s rooms at night and catch a glimpse of those long lashes on rosy cheeks — the way you jump at their every cry for help — that surge of pride you felt at every new step, every accomplishment, every bit of progress as your little and big ones learn new things? All of those feelings originated in My own great heart. And I feel every bit of that same love and glory and pride as I watch your own progress.

I am cheering you on. I will never, ever fail you; I will never, ever leave you; and I will never, ever give up on you.

You are a diadem of beauty in my hand. I am perfecting everything that concerns you. I am the Author and Finisher of your faith.  And I am waiting to refresh you at every step, to strengthen you at every turn, to carry you whenever necessary.

And on this Father’s Day I want you to know that I am proud to be your

~Daddy

Cloth Diapers at major retailers!!!

Just a quick note this morning:

Wow!  I am so excited!  This past weekend, Mommy and Daddy got a chance to be away for a couple hours.  It was SOOOOOO nice.  I love you dearly but one thing that is very important in marriage is that Mommy and Daddy get some time for just the two of us.  So with me being sick (we'll discuss that in another letter) and Daddy not being 100% yet, we decided to stroll into Target and take a quick look around.  I have an addiction to looking at baby items so we went down the baby isle.  And, this is the exciting part!!!  They now carry cloth diapers!!!  Woo hoo!!!  I know it's silly to be excited about that but I am so in love with cloth diapers!  They were too cute on your bum and they help save the environment!  We are becoming a greener and greener family and I'm loving it!

Then I open my e-mail this morning to discover Sears is now carrying cloth diapers online!  You can have them ship free to your local Sears store and pick them up!!!  Yay!!!  Cloth diapers rock!

Love you baby!

Mommy

Always thinking of your safety...

Oh baby girl!  How much I love you and how much you mean to me.  You are so loved by your family and by all those you come in contact with.  You have such a wonderful little personality and I cannot get enough of you!!!

It's that love for you and other children that I have felt very strong in the following area and I needed to write to you and to others about this issue.  Recently, we've been looking for a new carseat for you for your Nanny's car.  We bought one with a maximum weight limit of 40 pounds and a maximum height of 40 inches.  I had no idea just how quickly you'd be at 40 pounds or 40 inches!!! You're not even 2.5 yet and here we are looking to get another one as you're going to be hitting those limits before we know it!!!

In doing this research, I have come across so many many car seats and a few in particular really bother me.  I know people will say, well we did such and such and such without having an issue as a child.  I am one of the first people who will admit that I do/did too!  However, your safety, and the safety of other children are top priority and I just want us all to stay safe.

There are carseats out there that are booster/5 point harness seats.  This is the type of seat I have been looking at since you are now completely forward facing and not yet ready to only be in a booster.  What got me concerned, is that some of those seats say that the 5 point harness is only good to 40 pounds!  The booster is good up to 110 pounds.  Let me tell you, as your mom and knowing you are so close to the 40 pound mark, I just cannot imagine putting you in a booster seat at this point!!!  Then, as I was researching, someone posted this link on their personal page.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk_5JdKlTRE. I knew before watching it that it might cause some serious emotions, well, it did.  I warn you and any others that are thinking of watching this video that I cried.  I cried so much for that baby and her family. 

We need to be informed.  Be your own researcher.  Find what is the safest solution for your children.  That poor mama did what she thought was okay.  Her baby was 3 and 40 pounds so she used it as a booster.  It might be great for an older child, but not for younger ones.  No child should be without a 5-point harness (boostered or otherwise) so young and so small.  To me, that seat is misleading.  Now, I will admit there are children who weigh less and the 5 point harness will last a lot longer on them with a seat such as that.  But for you, I would not place you in that seat!

There is a ton of information at http://www.carseat.org/.  Here is some information on how a booster seat should be used: http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.pdf.  Here is also a link to how to choose a carseat http://www.carseat.org/Resources/650.pdf.  Here is what they suggest:  (the following information and graphic was taken directly from http://www.carseat.org/.) 

Choosing the Safest Way for Your Child to Ride

Choose a safety seat, booster, car bed, or harness system appropriate for your child's age, size and development. Try before you buy! Make sure it can be firmly installed in all of your vehicles.

How parents and professionals can make sure children are as safe as possible

1) Keep children rear facing until at least age two, longer if possible (check maximum weight of seat). It’s five times safer than forward facing! Convertible seats fit up to 30-45 lbs. rear facing.

2) Use a seat with a harness as long as possible (40-90 lbs). Check maximum weight of seat.

3) Use a booster until the child can pass the 5-Step Test (usually at age 10-12; results vary by vehicle). Riding in a booster is almost twice as safe as wearing just a safety belt.

4) Have children ride in the back until they start learning to drive. For children, the back seat is almost twice as safe as the front.