13 Weeks (1st Week of Her 4th Month!)

Brooke is 13 weeks old today, and tomorrow she is officially 3 months. Babycenter says that although babies can recognize their parents when they are only a few days old, at this age about 50% begin to demonstrate an obvious recognition. While babies at this age still smile at strangers, they are starting to sort out who's who in their life and prefer their parents (and perhaps a few select others).

While it's a while until Brooke utters her first official word, she is developing language skills already. According to Babycenter, "research shows that babies whose parents speak to them extensively have significantly higher IQs and bigger vocabularies when they get older than other children". While babies can't repeat words yet, they are storing information in their rapidly developing memories and parents can set a foundation by exposing baby to a variety of words.

Big Leap For The New Year
Tonight Brooke will be spending the first night in her crib, in her own bedroom. Up until this point she has been in a bassinet in our room. I'm pretty sure it will be more difficult on her parents than it will be on her, but all of us will probably take some time to adjust to the new sleeping arrangements.

Thank Goodness Brooke Isn't A "Winter Baby"

Studies indicate that (on average) winter babies (born in January, Febuary or March) grow up to be "less educated, less intelligent, less healthy and lower paid" than those born in other seasons.

There have been a wide variety of suggestions as to why this happens, including weather and school age cutoffs. But new research suggests that the mother is actually the root of the problem! Economists have found that these winter babies are more likely to have mothers who are unmarried teenagers who lack a high-school diploma. Thus, being born to a woman of lower socioeconomic status, not their month of birth, is what puts winter babies at a disadvantage. The study suggests several reasons why there is a correlation between unmarried teenagers and winter babies, but one of them is quite interesting: prom. Turns out that winter occurs about 9 months after high school proms :)

Christmas Loot

Brooke got lots of great things for Christmas ... mostly hands-on, educational-type toys (just like she requested!).

Here is the next edition of her video blogging. It was taken early this morning when it was still a bit dark out - so the video ended up being a bit dark. Sorry :(

Anyway, here she is playing with her new Tiny Love play gym. There is also a special guest appearance about 1/2 way into the video...

Merry Christmas!

Brooke asked Santa for something very simple this Christmas .. her
thumb! Looks like she got what she wanted :)

Too bad he couldn't teach her how to keep it in her mouth! She can get it in,
but soon loses it, and the pic below is a pretty good explanation of what happens after that :)

12 Weeks!

Brooke was born 12 weeks ago today, on January 1st she'll officially be three months old. Seems like she has grown so much over the past 12 weeks ... and so have we! Last night was a huge milestone - Brooke slept for 9 HOURS. I'm thinking its a fluke because its so out of the ordinary, but I'll take a fluke like that anyday.

Babycenter suggests that we start reading to Brooke, because her ear for the spoken language improves by hearing us speak.

They also talk alot about hands this week - which is Brookes primary focus lately. She stares at them, licks them, sucks them ... basically everything is about her hands! Occasionally she has been able to grab and object with her hands and try to pull it into her mouth. Watching her concentrate on such an activity is both amazing and hysterical and gives us hours of fun :)

Socially she is developing too - becoming quite the "conversationalist". She will coo and gurgle (when in a good mood) in response to us, and stick out her tounge when we do the same to her. Her noises have begun to sound more like words, and we swear she can already say "Hi", "Yeah" and "No". While it will be quite a while before Brooke is putting words together to make small sentences, talking actually isnt too far around the corner. Between the ages of 4 and 5 months babies start to use simple words like "mama" and "dada"!

Brooke's First Babysitter

Yesterday I had to run to a neighbors for a few minutes and Aunt Jean (who is in town from D.C. for the Holidays) had the opportunity to be Brooke's first babysitter! Both Brooke & Aunt Jean survived their time together without incident :) In addition, Aunt Jean found the time for some photos. Brooke may not seem thrilled in this picture, but trust me, they had a great time :)

Later in the day (after Aunt Jean had left), Uncle Brad stopped by to drop something off. Brooke showed off skills. First she offered him a few smiles, then she demonstrated her lung strength by having a fit. After Uncle Brad left and Brooke improved her mood with a nap, she and Wrigley cheered the Chicago Bears onto a victory!

Cooking For Baby?

Babies begin to eat solids somewhere between 4-6 months. It's suggested to wait as long as possible until introducing solids in order to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction and shorten the transition time between spoon- and self-feeding.

When To Introduce Solids
It might be hard to tell if your baby is read to introduce solids, but BabyCenter offers some cues:
• Head control
Ability to keep head in a steady, upright position

• Losing the "extrusion reflex."
To keep solid food in his mouth and then swallow it, baby needs to stop using tongue to push food out of mouth.

• Sitting well when supported.
Baby needs to be able to sit upright to swallow well

• Chewing motions.
Baby should be able to move food to the back of mouth and swallow, you may notice less drooling and baby may also be teething around the same time.

• Significant weight gain
Most babies are ready to eat solids when they've doubled their birth weight (or weigh about 15 pounds) and are at least 4 months old.

• Growing appetite
Baby seems hungry — even with eight to ten feedings a day

• Curiosity about what you're eating.
Baby may begin eyeing or reaching for your food

How To Introduce Solids
It's generally suggested begin with rice cereal, which is gluten-free and less allergenic than other foods. After rice cereal is accepted you can introduce strained or mashed fruits and vegetables, and after that its time for finely chopped table foods, including meat and other protein sources. Each solid should be introduced gradually, one at a time, waiting at least three days after each new food. This will give clear indications to any sort of allergic reaction.

To Cook Or Not?
There is a pretty big movement away from the jar baby food towards more organic and home-cooked meals. While this may actually be best for the baby as it removes all preservatives and (often unecessary) added sweeteners, colors and flavors ... how the heck am I going to cook for Brooke when I cant even cook for myself? At almost 3 months and already at the recommended weight for introducing solids, I have a feeling we will be moving to them sooner than later. I want to do whats right for her, but becoming a full-time Baby Chef was not in my plan :)

I have seen a lot of great reviews of the Beaba Babycook, which many swear makes cooking for baby almost as easy as opening up one of those jars. The Babycook is an all-in-one steamer, blender, warmer and defroster. If I'm going to become Brooke's Personal Chef, you better believe some sort of all-in-one tool is going to be necessary ;)

For a better idea how this contraption works, check out the video on Williams-Sonoma.

Santa!

Of course we had to let Brooke meet Santa. She doesnt know who he is yet, and prob wont next year either ... but soon enough he will be her favorite guy in a red suit.



Brooke also got a letter from Santa yesterday! Apparently, she wrote him a letter and he was writing back to her. We knew she was pretty smart, but I had no clue she was already writing letters! (Thanks to whoever did this for her, I'll put the letter in her keep-safe box so she can see that Santa wrote to her for her 1st Christmas!)

Mothers Get High On Baby Smiles

Research has suggested that a baby's smile "lights up the reward centres in the mother's brain in a way similar to that observed in experiments on drug addiction".

I have to admit, seeing Brooke smile is pretty amazing. The one time she laughed (yeah, its only been that one time) was awesome and we wait each day to hear it again. Who knew this whole time I was getting high? Thats just an added bonus I guess.

The article lists a lot of technical mumbo-jumbo, but there is a suprising additional finding: mother's do not react as strongly to their babies sad faces as they do to their smiling faces.

And on that note, a little smiling-related humor

Welcome To YouTube

Brooke's Grandpa is away on business and has not seen her in a few weeks. In Brooke's world, a few weeks = a few lbs ... and some interesting new tricks (like putting her whole fist into her mouth). So, we became part of the YouTube network and Brooke is gonna try to vlog.

Don't expect anything amazing, but here is our first video. Its pretty quiet because I didnt not want to hear the sound of my voice projected onto the blogosphere - and she doesnt say a whole lot yet. In fact, she doesnt do a whole lot yet either ... so this video doesnt include a whole lot of action :)

11 Weeks Old: Reflexes Become Voluntary

Brooke is 11 weeks old today and is about 16 lbs 9 ounces. I say about because our scale is severly suffering and gives different weights each time you step on it. I'd say there is a fairly large margin of error - but she is definitely over 16lbs!

BabyCenter talks alot about physical development this week, as baby movements are getting a bit more coordinated. The jerky arm and leg movements of newborn days are becoming smoother, more circular motions (especially when they're watching people). 11-week-old babies need space to stretch and move their arms and legs and should be allowed opporunity to move as they please. These movements can help baby strengthen and tone developing muscles.

Reflexes that were present at birth are now voluntary actions. The big example is sucking. Babies suck to soothe themselves, to learn about the objects they place in their mouths and for pure pleasure. In the past 2 weeks Brooke cannot get enough of her hands. First it was the left only, now she seems to have realized that she has two hands! Between staring, licking and sucking ... those hands have become full-time companions to Brooke.

Parents.com talks about social development. Babies at this age have less of a need for nighttime feedings due toncreased stomach capacity. However, this doesn't mean they stop waking up. As social development continues babies now discover a new reason to cry in the night--it brings a sleepy but loving parent to their side.

Brooke is getting a bit better at entertaining herself. Lots of that involves her hands, which she just stares at and snacks on. But she is also sitting for longer durations in the bouncy seat. I put her in it each day and pull her out before she has a huge fit, just to get her used to it. Today she sat in it for a good 10 minutes - enough for me to make my coffee and pull a few things together. She genuinely seemed to like it today and has realized that the dangling toys are within her reach. Now if only I could convince her to nap by herself versus on my lap ...

Mittendorf Dot

I noticed at Brooke's 4-week check-up that there was a fleck of something on her pupil. Obviously worried, I asked her pediatrician about it and was referred to an eye specialist.

We went to one appointment around 4-weeks and she had another one today. It appears she has what is referred to as a Mittendorf Dot. Its actually a form of a cataract that is formed when the anterior part of the hyaloid (which supplies nutrition to the lens during the first three months of gestation) is not completely absorbed.

While it's scary to have anything wrong with your baby, we have been told its unusual for a Mitendorf's Dot to progress and treatment is generally unnecessary. Our eye doctor has been really great about keeping up-to-date with Brooke & her development and we go back again in a few months to make sure that there has been no impact on her vision (which is unlikely to happen anyway).

Macy's Believe Campaign

Children can help grant the wishes of other children battling life-threatening medical conditions just by writing a letter to Santa! How? By writing a letter explaining why they believe in Santa Claus and dropping off the letter - stamped and addressed to Santa At The North Pole - in the official R.H. Macy Santa Mail Letterbox at the Believe Station at any Macy's store. As part of the Believe campaign, for each letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation (up to $1 million).

The most recent news is that 392,721 letters to Santa have been delivered to Macy's. Thats great ... but are a lot more letters to be delivered (and wishes to be granted!). Drop your letter off before its too late - and make a difference in the life of a well-deserving child.

Adventures In Bouncing

Brooke got a new bouncy seat and isn't sure if she likes it ... But
Wrigley does. In fact, Wrigley seems to like ALL of Brookes toys.

There Is Nothing Good On The Internet Today

Brooke & I were surfing the Internet and couldn't find anything exciting. She got so bored she passed out. This would be a good time for me to take a nap too ... But Ive been eating cookies and drinking coffee for the past 2 hours and find myself a bit too wired to sleep.
Big suprise, huh?

No Starbucks Today

Brooke went to bed at 11:30 last night and didn't wake again until
5:45. After she ate she slept 2 more hours!

Since she was so good to her mommy I decided not to tale her out in 0
temperatures and make coffee at home instead.

Brooke is just chillin by the tree while I enjoy my morning caffeine.

Never Too Young...

To keep up with celebrity gossip! Brooke loves perezhilton.com.

10 Weeks Old - Sleepping, Drooling & Rolling

Babycenter talks alot about sleep (or lack thereof) this week. I know that every parent wonders "when will my baby sleep through the night"? And in fact, while we think 8 hours is "through the night", generally the concept is much less time for a baby...think 5-6 hours. Though Brooke and I have been struggling with sleep the past few weeks, I am aware that I'm not alone (thought it often feels like it). Most 10-week-old babies still wake up in the middle of the night and parents with a baby who does go 5-6 hours straight are part of a lucky few. While she may not be sleeping all night, she is suppposed to be sleeping and staying awake for longer intervals rather than cycling back and forth as much. At this point she should have two to four long sleep periods and as many as ten hours of awake time in 24 hours.

An interesting tidbit from Babycenter: "Whether your baby is a night owl or a morning lark, a long sleeper or short sleeper, that pattern will probably stay the same throughout childhood."

Want to know what else is new in Brooke's development? DROOL, and lots of it. Drooling is not necessarily a sign of teething (a common misconception). Babycenter says "the vast majority of babies sprout their first tooth between 4 and 7 months of age", 3 months for early developers.

Another new step in development is rolling. At this age, most babies are able to move from side to back and back to side. The complete roll over won't come for another month or so, though, due to a need for stronger neck and arm muscles for that maneuver. Brooke has been rolling on her side for almost 2 weeks now ... so much in fact that I can no longer swaddle her at night. This change in how she sleeps (I think) is one of the primary sources of our new sleep problems each night!

Does She Know Her Name?
Parenting Weekly says there is another milestone this week - 10-week-old babies generally begin to start responding to their names!

Guess Who's Up At 4AM?

Don't think Brooke is gonna let her good night of sleep be anything more than a fluke. Last night was a clear indication of that.

She fought going to bed, but was so tired and cranky. We started trying to get her down at 9ish and it was after 10:30 when she fell asleep. She got up at 1 and then again at 4. She decided it was party time then and Mommy & Daddy officially threw in the towel at 4:30. We were up for the day.

After an hour of partying Brooke realized it was a bit too early for her and is now dozing off. Too bad we can't sat the same about her parents. She couldn't even make it until 6AM :( Guess I will just have to continue this awesome party all by myself.

Last Night Was The Best Night Of My Life

Ok, maybe not my life ... but for sure it was the best night I have had in weeks!

Brooke finally went to sleep at 11:30PM, and didnt wake up again until 4:55AM! That's 5 1/2 hours of sleep ... for her and me! After she woke up at 5AM, she was back asleep at 5:30AM and slept until 7:45 ... another 2 hours! This is a vast improvement from our nights in the past two weeks and I am ecstatic.

I am sure that this is going to be the "new Brooke" and we are all going to live happily-ever-after, right?

All Is Right With The World

Despite the fact that I (along with Brooke) had to sleep in the rocking chair last night Im in a pretty good mood. Why is that you ask?

Well, first I put Brooke into her stroller for our morning coffee run and she immediately fell asleep. Then when I got to Starbucks they started on my latte the minute I walked into the door (yes, I'm here that much). The place is empty with plenty of available seating ... And I got my favorite spot by the fire!

Choosing Formula

Every day in the mail we get some sort of coupon or sample of baby formula. There are several different brands, and each brand has several different types. All this got me wondering someone who is using formula chooses the best option, and I found this article that offers some advice.

Form: ready-made, concentrate, or powdered?
Powdered formula is considered a safer choice because it contains far less BPA. (Read more about BPA).

Types: Cow's-milk-based, Soy-based, Lactose-free, Extensively hydrolyzed, Formulas for premature and low-birth-weight babies, Human milk fortifier and Metabolic formulas.
See the article for comparison of these types and info on which to choose.

Ingredients:Carbohydrate, Protein, Soy protein isolate, Fat, Vitamins and minerals, Nucleotides, Rice starch, Dietary fiber, and Amino acids.
See full article for a description & comparison of these ingredients.

Generic vs. Name Brand
"Brands of formula must meet requirements from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for nutrients in formula, so in many instances, the only difference between generic and brand name is the price. Whether you're buying generic or name brand, though, take a minute to look at the label before you purchase the formula. Specific ingredients do vary from brand to brand, and this can make a difference to your baby."

Additional Concerns
Parents need to worry about more than just choosing the right formula from all of the available options. There is also the current concern over contaminated formula from China, the chemical melamine found in formula , and the issue of diluting formula. As if parents of don't already have enough on their minds these current issues and threats make the formula subject both prevalent and a bit touchy. It's important to do your research before selecting a formula, and a chat with baby's pediatrician prior to your selection might be a good idea!

First Laugh!

Tonight we were doing what we do every night - trying to keep Brooke
entertained. She is unusually fussy this particular evening and is
getting passed back and forth as we take turns with her. We cycle
through the same stuff over and over and during a game of "make funny
faces and noises" Brooke laughed for the 1st time! It was really
amazing ... And then Laughing Brooke went away and Fussy Brooke
returned :)

The Measure Of A Baby

Brooke is a big baby - she was born "average". At 7 lbs 14 ounces and 19.5 inches long she was in the 62nd percentile for weight and 53rd percentile for height. Since being born she has gained about a pound a week pretty regularly - at her two month checkup (where she was actually 9 weeks old) Brooke weighed 14 lbs 15 ounces and was 24 1/8 inches long. That puts her in the 97th percentile for weight and 92nd percentile for height! The doctor suggested at this rate she might play for the WNBA :) Each time we meet other babies near her age (or older) I'm always amazed at how big Brooke is in compaison. I wondered what the "average" baby is compared to her but wasnt to sure, but then found a small blip in the recent issue of American Baby Magazine.

According to the article, average measurements are:

Length
Birth = 20 inches
3 months = 24 inches
6 months = 26 inches
12 months = 29 inches

Weight
Birth = 7.4 lbs 3 months = 12 lbs 6 months = 16 lbs 12 months = 22 lbs

Of course, every baby is different! Brooke being a big baby doesnt necessarily mean she will be a big adult. In addition, her growth rate might slow down and she might end up "average" somewhere down the line. Parents are always told not to compare their baby with others, in physical, social or intellectual development. Each baby takes his/her own path as they grow and no path is the right one or the wrong one. For now we lug around our big baby (who the doctor referred to as "Buddha") and are amazed by each and every change she makes every day.

ARRRRHHHHHHHHHHH!

It happened again! I took Brooke out in negative temperatures for my own selfish need to go to Starbucks ... and when we get there the seats are all taken! There were actually two extra seats, next to a homeless/bag lady. I've seen her in there before, she parks in front of the fireplace with all of her bags and sits there forever. She talks to herself, and last time I saw her she was obviously sick (like cold/flu sick). So technically, yes, there were seats - but there was nowhere for me to sit :( So I took my coffee & scone (at least I got my order right) and we are back at home, trapped inside on this sub-zero day.

On A Better Note
Brooke had a "normal" night of sleep last night. She fell asleep at 11:30 and woke up at 5, falling back to sleep around 6 and getting up for the day at 7:45. Of course "getting up for the day" means "waking Mommy up for the day and falling aleep to take a nap about an hour later" ... but still, its quite the improvement over the past two weeks. I'm not going to get my hopes up and assume we are on any sort of path to improvement, but at least we had one good night. For some reason I am even more tired today than I have been on all of the sleepness nights, but I cant blame that on her for once!

Another Sleepless Night

Yesterday Brooke had her 2-month checkup which included a series of immunizations. Everyone told me that Brooke would likely sleep alot after these shots, some friends said their babies slept for about 48 HOURS! I was ecstatic. As Brooke is currently on a sleep strike I thought I would get a decent nights sleep, and perhaps if she did sleep a long time it would put an end to this strike and we would be back on track.

Her appointment was at 1:15 yesterday, and she did sleep alot afterwards. I woke her up once to eat and she went back to sleep, and woke her up again to eat so that I could put her (and myself) to bed around 9:30. When I was getting her ready for bed she was really awake, smiling and wiggling all over her changing table. I thought I was going to be in for some trouble. And I was right...

I got her to sleep around 10:30 (which wasnt too bad compared to our recent routine) and promptly passed out myself. I was woken up at 1:45 ... actually earlier that she has been waking me up since on this sleep strike :( I fed her and around 2:30 tried to get her to go back to sleep. SHE KICKED, WIGGLED, GRUNTED, WHINED AND FUSSED UNTIL 5AM. After 2 1/2 hours of trying to get her to sleep she finally did ... and at 5:30 AM Daddy's alarm went off and Brooke woke up crying. I fed her again, put her back in her cradle and tried to get her to go to sleep ... but she was having none of it.

We finally got up for the day at around 7 and I debated whether or not to make the trip to Starbucks (which we do daily). Its my only chance for "me time" and my most enjoyable time of the day ... but it was 18 degrees out, 14 with the windchill. Would taking her out in this weather make me a bad mother? I debated for about 2 hours and finally gave in. Mommy needed her coffee after that long night (and now going on almost 2 weeks of this) and also desired that special time I spend with my cup of coffee & a paper (while Brooke sleeps) at Starbucks. So I bundled her up and we headed out...surpisingly it wasnt too bad. She was passed out when we got to Starbucks (good sign) and I placed my order. I got my coffee and pastry and then noticed there wasnt an empty seat in the place. There goes my "me time". So we begin to head out and I notice my bag with my pastry seems bigger than usual. I look inside ... its a muffin not a scone. I wanted a scone! I look at the line and there are about 10 people in it. We gave up and went home.

Here I sit, exhausted, while Brooke happily dozes in her carseat. I finished my coffee but just couldnt satisfy myself with the muffin. I put in a load of laundry and now sit here watching her sleep. Its been a rough couple of weeks with Brookes cold and the sleep strike, but she's just a baby and I dont blame her. My biggest disappointment is that Starbucks failed me today. Its the one dependable good constant I have had in my life since Brooke came and I feel lost without it. Of course, well be back again tomorrow to give it another go. Just like when I'm upset after a rough night with Brooke she can erase the whole experience with one of her goofy smiles ... Starbucks can easily win me back with a latte, scone and nice, comfy seat by the fireplace :)

9 Weeks Old

Parents.com says that Brooke is "gaining coordination and learning to control her muscles" and that "newborn reflexes like the Moro (startle) reflex are being replaced by voluntary actions". Most of the information I have seen says the Moro reflex doesnt disappear until 3+ months ... and Brooke definitely still has it. During her third month she will be using her arms more by batting at toys and performing the "baby push-up". Generally in the third month is when babies start to roll over. Brooke is already rolling over onto her side when she thrashes about at night. Its enough that I had to stop swaddling her in order to prevent her from any sort of injury at night. As a result our nights have been even more sleepless - she isnt used to her arms being able to flail about and those flailing arms repeatedly cause the Moro relfex which furthur riles her up. In addition, the increased coordination and control that is a positive thing about her development also has a downside ... her ability to take that (now free) hand and put it in her mouth at night. Not only do we not want her sucking her thumb, but her coordination is still quite spotty. This means that she can get her hand into her mouth but cannot keep it there. My nights are filled with sounds of struggle (as she tries to get her hand near her mouth) followed by loud slurping (a few sloppy sucks) followed by screaming (as her hand falls away from her mouth). Its all good fun.

2 Month Checkup
Height:24 1/8 inches
Weight:14 lbs 15 ounces
Brooke is a BIG baby - about the size of an average 6 month old ... but also a healthy baby :) She did great at the doctors office today and showed off her strong legs by kicking the doctor and scooting herself along the examining table when the doctor put her on her tummy. She also got a bunch of vaccines today: hepatitis B; polio; DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); Hib, to protect against meningitis; pneumococcal, to protect against severe bacterial infections, ear infections, and meningitis; and rotavirus (given by mouth), to prevent stomach flu. Watching her get shots was not fun (I didnt even look actually) but she took it like a trooper. She cried for a bit (with real tears) but soon was comforted by mommy & with her pacifier. I popped her into her carseat to leave and she was alseep by the time we got to the car. Right now we are home and she is still in her carseat, snoring away.

All Smiles

Brooke has been showering us with smiles lately ... But we have a tough time catching her on film. She gives us huge goofy grins but then stops to stare at the camera when we pull it out. The smile is then replaced with "concentration face" which is often followed by angry or sad face.

Anyway, here is a bit of a smile I was able to catch her with yesterday.

2 Months Old

Brooke was born 10/1 - making today her 2 month birthday. She was so excited about today that she couldn't sleep last night (which is now about the 5th night in a row I have gotten 5 or less hours of sleep).

Some big steps have been taken to celebrate this event: she is officially now wearing her 3-6 month clothes and we had to adjust her carseat to accommodate all she has grown! She has a doctors appointment this week for her 2 month checkup where we will get her official height and weight, but from my measurements she is in the 75-90% in height for her age and she tips the charts for her weight ... which is why at 2 months we are moving into the next size of clothes (and could have done so weeks ago but I tried to get as much use out of the outfits we had as possible!). She now has a whole new wardrobe, at least until she outgrows the new stuff too.

We commemorated this special event with our usual Starbucks trip but there were two big differences: Brooke wore a new hat ... And we walked in her first snowfall!


Brooke is now enjoying a little Birthday nap (when you are up all night, you tend to get quite exhausted during the day) and I am now onto a new holiday - CYBER MONDAY. Its time to get a little Christmas shopping out of the way, and perhaps get myself a thing or two in the meantime. Cyber Monday is awesome cuz there tend to be some great discounts, and more importantly ... free shipping. You gotta love free shipping.