Momspotting

If you follow me on twitter you've probably seen me use the hashtag (#) #momspotting and wondered what in the world that was all about. Momspotters are community journalists - moms that are chronicling their experiences using technology and how it effects our everyday lives. At least three times a day I tweet about technology and parenting and I also participate in the Family Connections forum on BlogHer where I and 19 other moms are writing about our experiences with technology.

We'd love to have you join the conversation. You can simply join in and use the hashtag on twitter or even join the forum and participate there. I'll make it even easier for you - I am doing a meme and I'd love for you to join in, either in the comments or on your own blog. I am really curious to hear your responses to these questions - I'll start.

1. Which expensive electronic device do you most often let your older children abuse or your baby drool on?

My son is two and a half and I let him use my iPhone all the time. He actually started trying to use as soon as I received it in April of last year- right before he turned two. He watched me using the touchscreen and picked up the concept immediately. A friend of mine directed me to all sorts of things that I could download for him and I now have several apps (all educational of course) that my son uses on a daily basis. I also have downloaded episodes of his favorite shows for those times when I need to keep him entertained (especially when we drive in the car, this saved us on our roadtrip to Nashville yesterday!).

2. How many take-out restaurant numbers do you have programmed into your phone? I actually don't have any take-out restaurant numbers programmed into my phone. The only take-out in my area is Chinese (my favorite) but since I've been focusing on my health I've been eating at home (with the exception of when I am out of town) and haven't had Chinese food in 3 months.

3. How many hours of television do you so totally not let your kids watch a week?

Television? Are we counting time spent on the iPhone watching downloaded episodes of shows? Okay, I don't let my son watch "way too much" television although when he does watch television it is educational so that has to count for something, right?

4. Do you think people who say “we don’t watch television” at playdates but really mean “we just watch DVDs” are lying liars from Liarville?

I think that is hilarious and whatever it takes for people to feel better. My best friend and I have playdates with our sons and we chat while they play but we ALWAYS have DVDs on hand to entertain them. It keeps them enthralled and they don't fight when they are watching movies. Sometimes mommies want to have grown up talk without interruption. DVDs help us make that happen.

5. How many miles have you driven with your child and not one device of electronic entertainment in a single car trip? See question 1. Unless we count the miles when my son is sleeping, he usually has my iPhone in hand during a car trip.

6. What’s your record for calls to the pediatrician or Ask-a-Nurse in a single day?

I've been pretty good about not calling my pediatrician excessively. I was most distraught the first weekend I had my son home from the hospital. And of course, my doctor was in the Bahamas. She told me to call anytime so I waited until the morning and called her on a Sunday to ask if my son was nursing enough. She called me within two hours and although I was very apologetic, things worked in my favor because she'd returned home early - the weather was terrible in the Bahamas.

7. What’s the sexiest thing your husband/partner could text you after a hard day?

Don't cook, I'm making dinner (this is a fantasy, my husband will only cook if I am knocked up or seriously sick. Neither of which is happening anytime soon).

8. What’s your favorite iPad joke? Hmm, I am not sure about this one. Something about #momspotters needing an iPad, yeah, I'm sure that was it. LOL

9. What’s the dumbest parenting tool, gear, gadget or device you ever bought?

I can't take credit for buying this but I still think it is a dumb device- a wipes warmer. Mom, I know you had the best intentions but that thing is a breeding ground for bacteria and I stopped using it to heat wipes after the first couple of days. I just warmed the wipes by rubbing them in my hands - worked great!

10. How many years will it take for your child to become more tech-savvy than you?

Years? At the rate he is going, I think my son will be more tech-savvy than I am by next week!

Please feel free to answer these questions too - no pressure, but I'd love to read your answers!

Wear Red Day - Friday February 5, 2010

Go Red for Women
Originally uploaded by rj_ross.rm

Yesterday I went to the doctor. Nothing is wrong but I needed to take care of something that I've been putting off for awhile. As usual, the nurse took my blood pressure and I was a little anxious. All of the women in my family are hypertensive - my mother, my aunt, my grandmother and my great aunt. Although my great aunt and grandmother are no longer with us, they both suffered as a result of their heart disease.

Every time I have my blood pressure checked I worry. I don't want to be in the same boat as the other women in my family and have to take medication to keep my blood pressure down. Of course, this worrying can skew the results and my pressure was 140/80. If you don't know, that is pretty high. The nurse attributed it to my activity before having it taken and she didn't seem very concerned. I just hope that when I have my physical on the 19th that my pressure will be normal.

In addition to my genetic predisposition I have reason to be concerned. Did you know that cardiovascular disease kills approximately 450,000 women each year? That is about one every two minutes! And, more women die of heart disease than the next five causes of death including cancer. And 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease!

The good news is that heart disease is preventable. 80 percent of cardiac events in women may be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking.

All of these facts are highlighted on the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women website. And I am in full support of raising awareness about heart disease among women, especially since I know I am at risk. The fact that I've embarked on a healthy lifestyle including exercise and watching the things that I eat certainly can help diminish my risks for heart disease.

This Friday, February 5th I will be joining thousands of women and wearing red for National Wear Red Day. I will be at Blissdom wearing the outfit I have on in the photo above. Perhaps you can join in and wear red too. Most of us are at risk, help raise awareness and better yet, still living a fit and healthy lifestyle to prevent heart disease!

Operation Weight Loss Week 10- The incredible shrinking woman

Week 1

Week 10

This is week 10 on my journey to live healthy and lose 50 pounds. At my weigh-in today I basically maintained my weight loss from last week - there was a .4 difference but I'll take it! I know that I have been eating properly and exercising so I have no doubt that the scale will move next week. I also monitor my progress by checking out the way my clothes fit. I am proud to report that my size 12 jeans from Ann Taylor are fitting with some wiggle room! I still wear a 14 in Gap jeans but I have no doubt that I will soon be in a 12.

One thing to keep in mind is that all designers clothing fits differently. I can proudly say that despite discrepancies in sizing in "normal" stores, I am now no longer able to fit Lane Bryant clothing. I love you Lane Bryant, you've been a staple in my wardrobe for several years but

all good things must end, it is time for me to move on!

In the middle of typing this post I had an impulse to flex my biceps and to my surprise, I can see muscles. Not anything dramatic but it is a start. I think in the upcoming weeks I will really start adding strength training and toning to my exercise program. Building muscle will help me burn more fat and I love to have some definition.

Tomorrow my son and I travel to Nashville for the Blissdom conference. It will be great to see my bloggy buddies and of course I will be challenged with eating right and exercise. I am confident that I will stick to the plan and not venture too far off course. I am in this for the long haul and I always remember that saying "a minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips" that of course is an exaggeration, however when I think about burning empty calories to prevent weight gain I have second thoughts about eating things that aren't good for me.

*Remember to enter the giveaway of the "Never Give Up" necklace designed by Kristen of Kristen's Custom Creations. I love her jewelry and am so happy that she thought of me with this piece and generously is providing one for my readers!

Until next week's weight loss update - this is the incredible shrinking woman signing off.