the happy homewrecker

Graco to pay $4 million for failure to report defects related to a product. From the article (emphasis mine):

"The record penalty came after the CPSC said Graco failed to report possible defects on various products to the government agency for almost a decade.

The CPSC said Graco didn't report hundreds of injuries related to 16 different products. Recalls have been announced for most of those products, which include strollers, high chairs and infant carriers. In the case of a recalled infant swing, the company failed to report six deaths."

Maybe it's just me, but $4 million seems like a too-small price to pay. My heart goes out to those parents whose babies died because of an unsafe product. I would be livid if I learned that the company didn't even report my child's death or injury.

One hour.

That's the total amount of time Ginger slept today. I've spent 8+ hours walking her around and around the house, and she's still awake. I feel like I'm going to collapse.

What is it about my children that they won't sleep?

A daily dose of Ginger:

. . . and the baby lovin' continues. We've received some beautiful gifts from readers and friends over the past week. Auntie Ali sent a few things that I'd been coveting from the Gymboree kitty line; reader Rachel sent an adorable pink kitten playsuit (yay for more kitties!); and yesterday we received this from Ellen. It's a kitty lovie, personalized with Ginger's name! Very cool, and very thoughtful of everyone to welcome Baby Ginger so warmly.

Things are going pretty well here at our house. (photos in the 'more')

Wow, so many wonderful wishes from so many people . . . I'm overwhelmed!

We've been home since yesterday afternoon. We're tired but otherwise I feel pretty good. Sometime I'll write up a more detailed birth story for the journal, but in a nutshell, it couldn't have gone better. The only tiny wrinkle? When we got in the car to drive to the hospital, the car had no gas! Picture me in the Citgo parking lot, groaning through contractions, shooting evil looks at a very sheepish Gary, and praying that our child would not be born at a gas station.

I've been getting all kinds of goodies in the mail lately, wonderful gifts for the baby. Check out what Shannon knit (click to enlarge):

Isn't it pretty? (Go say congrats to Shannon on her recent engagement, too!) This week I also received a beautiful crocheted blanket from reader Angela. Too sweet! Thank you so much for thinking of Ginger and I, I know how much hard work goes into handmade gifts.

Out of desperation and boredom, this morning Spencer and I hit the mall. I did one lap, limping along and clinging to the stroller. I stopped into Gymboree to see if maybe they'd have that newborn kitten-themed line marked down. There was a marked-down sticker on the playsuit that was hanging under a 'sale' sign; it had been "reduced" from $19.50 to $18.99. How in the world is that a sale?

Check out the beautiful diaper bag/changing pad set sent to me by one of my clients (and longtime friend and reader!), Kim from Whimsical Wears (click to make bigger). Isn't it great? She does amazing work. Thank you again, Kim, I can't wait to use it!

Good mail day! My Moby Wrap was waiting for me when I got back from the post office. It looks very cool. I tried it on and I'm too huge for it now; maybe I'll have Gary give it a go when he gets home. We could always stick one of the cats in it . . .