Baby Einstein

So did you hear? Disney is offering a refund for anyone who has bought a Baby Einstein video or DVD. Anyone. Apparently, they have been sued up one end and down the other for claiming that the videos are educational and beneficial for babies and toddlers, despite the APA reccomendation that children have no TV screen time until they are 2 years old, and numerous studies that TV is not educational or beneficial to babies.

Duh.

Did parents actually believe that these videos were educational? Did anyone use them as more then a temporary baby sitter when they needed 15 minutes to cook dinner, take a shower, take a break? Did anyone really think these videos were going to make their children geniuses? I can't believe that they did. I feel like people had to know the videos were basically high tech baby sitters.  I feel like stating that is akin to putting "This beverage is hot" on the side of McDonald's coffee cups.

I mean - I've put Baby Einstein on for Geoffrey. The TV is always on in our house. Is that a good thing? Probably not. But I like the background noise. I've never seen Geoffrey sit and watch a video. If it is playing, he is on the floor playing. We're talking, singing, dancing.

Life in moderation, folks. Use media wisely. Balance. Interact.

And if your kid turns out to be a dumb ass,   there is probably more involved then the fact that they sat to watch a few Baby Einstein Videos.

31

I turned 31 on Sunday.

Birthdays. make me nervous. Not because I mind getting older, I just get embarrassed by the attention.

On this particular birthday I was not feeling so hot. I was fighting a cold. I had a dissappointing lunch at Jamba Juice, Disney was packed (but I did get my b-day fun card!), and Geoffrey was tired (read: fussy) for the first half of dinner at Gyu Kayku (plus they put us at this tiny table - not helpful.)

On the bright side, I got to spend my birthday with Grant and Geoff, Donna made me a delicious strawberry cake, and I got to talk to my Mom and Bobby. Grant and Geoffrey got my Disney Guide for 2010 and Beatles Rock Band, Blake got me Dan Brown's newest book, The Lost Symbol, Donna and Gary got me Toddler 411, Midway Mania for wii, and some clothes, and Mom and Bobby got me a swing for Geoff and an Amazon gift card. Plus I got cash and gift cards from Dad, Delaine, Heather, Katherine, and Cathy. Pretty good stash!

I am feeling very grateful and loved!

Legally Blonde

We saw Legally Blonde a few weeks ago. I really liked it! The story is fun, the music is catchy... a great show all around! Maybe in my top ten!