Perks of Being Short

For my vertically challenged friends--here are some awesome things about being short. Thanks for your help Steph. :) Warning: some of these are my imaginations of "if I were short" from my perspective.


1) I could shop in the kids section and spend less on clothes--I actually know a woman who does this
2) My kids wouldn't outgrow their baby clothes so fast ??? hmmm
3) I would wear rockin high heels all the time???? hmmm
4) I could do gymnastics
5) People think you are younger than you are because they associate height with age
6) Toddler bed fits your toddler +
7) Bigger pool of men to date (Thanks Lauren)
8) Better at LIMBO (Brittany)
9) Flats look cuter (Reba)

And to quote Steph:

10) "Shorter people have faster reaction times, greater ability to accelerate body movements, stronger muscles in proportion to body weight, greater endurance, and the ability to rotate the body faster." This is true as I know it's easier for my short kids to start walking. You can also look at gymnasts and other such athletes. You can't be 6 feet tall and spinning around on the pommel horse.

2) "Shorter people are less likely to break a hip from falling. Another advantage of smaller people is that they are less likely to die in auto crashes." We don't break bones. Too close to the ground.

3) "Reduced negative impact on the environment, water needs, and resource consumption" Because you tall people eat so much, the environment is going to pot. I think we should just limit the number of tall people rather than recycling. Much easier.

4) This one is Steve's--inhale less smoke in a house fire. We are already low to the ground. Who knows what your chances are of survival:)


So basically "Shorties" are more coordinated, less likely to die, and less harmful on the environment. Glad I have a few in my back court.

Quotes from shortsupport.org

See if you can figure out why shorter people live closer to the equator and taller people in the North (i.e. Russia--Scandinavia--Northern China) . . .

Soapbox 101

At Sierra's 4 month appointment her pediatrician said "we like to see their weight a little less than their height." He continued about how they shouldn't weigh more. Blah blah. I was ready to drop kick that little man as he touched a nerve in my big body. Note: I refer to men shorter than me (6 feet) as short. Apologies to those "short" men out there. I know the "average" man is 5'7" but everything's relative.


Is there not enough emphasis on body size and shape in today's world? Let's start at 4 months old thank you. Not like girls don't have enough pressure later in life.

And fyi--I am 6 feet 0 inches tall and will never be a single digit size and that's fine by me. Even if that means that I usually weigh more than E when I am pregnant. Whatever. Here's my 9 month glory:


Life is too short to stress out about stuff you can't control. And yes--I guess I could "control" my weight by going anorexic. But then now that wouldn't be any fun now would it?

You just do the best you can and eat nutritiously and take care of yourself so that you feel good and healthy. You do the best you can with your kids and hope genetics is in your favor. Did you know that for about every inch over 5' 9" you are supposed to gain like 10 lbs (with all the bone mass--muscle--etc.)?

I have friends of all different sizes and shapes and I love their uniqueness and individuality and beauty. Here's a pic from my prego days to demonstrate what I mean:



Anyhow I thought I would laud SOME of the benefits of being my size and you can do the same for yourself:

Some of The Perks of Being Tall:

1) You can Eat MORE than shorter people (ask E--I eat more than him since I'm nursing).
2) You can hide 5 or 10 lbs pretty easy (maybe not--but thanks for the false sense of security)
3) You have great leverage to do chest compressions.
4) You are usually picked as one of the 1st in gym class for basketball teams because people THINK you can play. Keyword: THINK
5) You can reach those "HARD TO REACH" spots
6) Pregnancy is easier because you have more room for the belly bean to grow. (Possibly too much room aeb my breech babies?)
7) A mini potty and footstool are not necessary when potty training for your tall kids
8) You don't notice people's bad breath (note to tall people: make sure YOUR breath smells good for those who get your breath downwind)
9) You can put the star on the Christmas tree without a ladder
10) Easy to find your way in crowds because you can see over people (i.e. picture Dad running/leading the family through Disneyland)
11) Kids can reach the bathroom sink to wash their hands at 2 years old
12) You have the potential to dunk the basketball--if only you could jump.


There's a few off the top of my head. Think of any more?

I hope my girls grow up with their heads held high (and not slouched trying to fit in cause they're tall) knowing that they are beautiful and worth loving inside and out!


Now all you "SHORT" people out there--I am sure there are perks to being short. Can you list some? Let me know and I'll post them.

Update 4/17/09

Well--here's the latest from the Freeman clan in Ohio--soon to be Minnesota:

1) My DANG COMMA key is BROKEN. Little do you realize how much you utilize something until it is gone. DANG.

2) This little missy--audacious little two year old that she is--has decided to potty train herself. Go figure. Don't ask. Don't tell. We'll see if she is successful. Love the outfit although could use a little less attitude:



3) I LOVE that these two are starting to play together. Or rather--B is starting to love to entertain S with her silly antics and love pats. S doesn't much mind if B is "all up in her business" and laughs lots. Although Mom ruins some of the fun--according to B--by regulating the swiping of S's cool baby toys.



4) This little princess is 4 1/2 months old! Here's her stats: 16 lbs 8 oz (90th percentile) and 26.25 inches (95th percentile). My pediatrician said "we like to see their weight a little less than their height." WHATEVER. Gimme a break. Don't get me started. I'll save my soapbox for another post.

To keep this growing girl full we started rice cereal on her 4 month birthday and tonight she finally figured out how to down it. This is about right on track with what B did as I start my big babies on solids early. And as I recall B finally started sleeping through the night at this age after figuring out the rice stuff. Let's hope S does too.



And just for fun: B is about 35 lbs and 39 inches (last September). She is roughly the size of a 4 year old. AWESOME. WNBA here we come.

p.s. Yes. S does have red hair and blue eyes. And YES--that is my lazy boy.

NOT.

Pictures Galore!

YES. I'M A SLACKER BLOGGER.

ANYWAYS . . . Here's some pictures to satiate your appetite for a while til my next surge of blogging. Plus Eric's on call so why not ? Not like I have a million other things on my TO DO list nagging away . . . But instead I keep waiting for someone to email me or IM me or some other form of human contact (besides this little 4 month old that is cuddling in my lap right now).

So--what have you been up to you may ask?

Well; gentle reader; here is an update (note the comma key is broken).

CLEANING OUR HOUSE. Has it ever looked so purty? Look at that SPARKLING kitchen! We are ready and waiting if you want it!



TEACHING S THE WAYS. Thanks to her big sis who just HAD to get in on the action; S has learned the perfect way to grab the hanging toy parrot and bring it to her mouth.



S can now be found here or in her exersaucer with a ready grin.




Here's a picture of B at that age on the same mat. I love a little flashback.



SHAMROCK SHAKES
Happy St. Patty's Day! Eric and I got our traditional Shamrock Shakes from McDonalds (sans Bella--she was in bed). Note: This is how we usually spend our nights--one on the computer--one with S--on the couch--trying to multitask. Love that we have had this time before the evil Q4 started again.



But at least S got in on the action. I know you're thinking it--I'm a bad mom for giving S a taste of the good stuff on her lips. Whatever. I couldn't eat ANY dairy; nuts; eggs; or spicy food; or peanut anything for MONTHS with nursing B. I've paid my price.



CAR RIDES
B likes to explore both her toy car (pictured here) and our car. Time out is now on our deck which helps B get the hang of this even more. For some reason Elmo's head looks a lot BIGger and the car looks a lot SMALLer. Hmm . . .



I love that B has her "own" set of keys that she managed to jimmy rig to the pretend key spot:



MY FIRST POST-BABY HOMEMADE TREAT
Cooking is not on the agenda as often--although I am getting better. Especially when I have this cute helper to keep me company:



MMMmmmm! Finger lickin' good!



Somebody has sure discovered the joys of licking the bowl!



CUDDLE TIME
Here I believe YO GABBA GABBA is on. Please tell me--why is my child OBSESSED with this show?! She LOVES it.



And here is a final sweet picture of Bella while Sierra is obviously still too entranced with the weird stuffed animal aliens bouncing around on TV.



How I love these sweethearts!

P.S. We did fly out to MN for a week and bought a house!

P.P.S. Please come visit! Summer's are great! (so we've been told)

P.P.S. I KNOW my blog roll is lame and still not updated for you 30 people out there. Sorry. Like I said--I'm a slacker. So just know that I love and care about each one of you and your blogs but right now I have to put this baby to sleep!