Swimming!!!

Harrison was pretty freaked out with the water the first couple of times I put him in the pool....so when I tried again Saturday morning I was sure that's how it was gonna be. BUT NO! After a couple of minutes he was loving it and splashing away!
getting the hang of it--nice tan lines mommy!
This water is not so bad!
YAY water!
mommy and Harrison!! (keep in mind I had slept for like four hours the night before..and just ran five miles...so not bad! )
Yeah..he's that cute :)

Concerning H.R. 2998 (Waxman-Markley comprehensive energy bill, known for short as "ACES," which included Cap and Trade)

I am so tired of the misdirection and force-feeding going on by the Congress and the Obama Administration. As a result, I sent a letter to my Congressman, Harry Mitchell, begging him to vote no on this bill simply because of the way it is being done. I'm am asking everyone to do the same. Contact your "representatives" in any way you can and tell them this is not the way to make law. Only harm can come from such rushed legislation.

Congressman,

I support energy independence, and I am in favor of developing alternative, less destructive and more efficient sources energy.

I believe most Arizonans and probably most Americans have similar desires, although our ideas of arriving at those goals may differ.

What I think we can all agree on is that it is not helpful to anyone when measures are passed with little or no time for consideration by those being represented. Even less so for those who have been chosen to represent us, such as yourself. Indeed, how can the peoples will be represented at all if the information is not in hand for the people to even have a will?

Committees may debate, delete and add points and amendments ad nausium but that is to be able to have something to present to the representatives and by proxy to the people that an opinion may be formed and debate ensue.

Instead, It seems measures are decided upon and the requisite votes obtained long before these measures are presented on the House floor, and before those outside committees have an opportunity to understand any of the details and possible implications on how these measures will be implemented, even when the general intent of the bill is known.

It seems to me to be unconscionable then, for any person who considers themselves a representative of the people's will, to vote in favor of any measure without a reasonable amount of time understand and grasp it implications, regardless if one agrees or disagrees with it's intent.

As a registered voter in the 5th district of Arizona, I beg you then to not vote in favor of H.R. 2998, or any bill, unless a reasonable amount of time be given the general assembly of the House to read and discuss this measure.

If then this bill passes, it will with eyes wide open by leaders and not with eyes shut from blind followers.

Sincerely,
Cory Brown

Update: I got a response back from Harry Mitchell regarding my email to him. I am pleased to hear that he did not vote for this bill (I suppose I could have checked that on my own) and that he had some of the same concerns as I had. Despite his vote on other bills that I disapprove of, I am glad to see that he is not a strict party line Democrat and can at least stand against of his own party when he feels it necessary. Here is his response in full:

Dear Mr. Brown,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the H.R., 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me on this important issue.

One of my chief priorities in Congress is to improve our nation's energy policy. I strongly support an energy policy that fosters the development of clean, alternative domestic sources of energy. This will improve our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, boost our economy by creating jobs and spurring economic development while combating global climate change by reducing carbon emissions.

In considering how to vote on H.R. 2454, I focused on two key questions: First, will this bill fight global climate change and make the investments to deliver the results we need? Secondly, will this bill provide Arizona with the opportunity to develop our burgeoning green economy?

Unfortunately, the answer to both of these questions is no.

Despite my no vote, the measure passed by a vote of 219 to 212.

In my view, this legislation is an example of Washington at its worst. Instead of working to implement a transformative, forward-looking energy policy, this bill turned into a partisan political game, with concession after concession granted simply to round up votes for passage rather than strengthen the bill.

If enacted, the bill will literally re-commit the United States to coal. This is a step backwards at a time when it is so vitally important for us to move forward. Clean, renewable energy should be our chief priority, not fossil fuels.

H.R. 2454 would invest $60 billion in an attempt to develop technology to capture coal carbon emissions and bury them underground or in the ocean. The process known as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), raises many troubling questions. First, we do not even know if such technology is possible. More disturbing, however, we do not know what the environmental consequences of burying all that carbon would be. The idea reminds me of the Yucca Mountain project in Nevada, which was supposed to become a repository for our nation's nuclear waste. It sounded like a good idea at first, but after billions of tax dollars spent, it raised serious safety and environmental questions.

I believe that investments in carbon-neutral energies like solar are ultimately a better use of our precious research and development dollars.

On this and other fronts, I believe that the bill is a bad deal for Arizona. It asks us to pay more for our energy, but fails to deliver what we need to help us grow our emerging solar industry.

Solar energy is an abundant and free energy source that generates energy during the hours of the day that electricity costs are the highest. Moreover, large-scale solar projects will stimulate our economy by creating jobs and boosting commercial development.

In Arizona, Abengoa Solar and Arizona Public Service are developing the world's largest solar energy plant outside of Gila Bend. The Solana solar generating station will create 1,500 to 2,000 jobs and provide clean, emission-free energy for 70,000 homes. Solana is expected to ultimately spur $1 billion in economic development.

Finding financing for large-scale projects like these is difficult, especially in the current economic environment. I introduced an amendment to H.R. 2454 to make financing more available for solar energy, by allowing private and non-profit investors to participate in a grant program that assists with the financing of these kind of projects. Unfortunately, my amendment was blocked, did not receive a vote, and was left out of the final bill.

I am also deeply concerned by a provision stuck into this bill that would give the federal government the power to overrule Arizona's decisions about where we choose to place our power lines. The Arizona Corporation Commission should retain control of these decisions, not regulators in Washington.

Finally, I am also concerned about the impact this legislation could have on our utility bills. I realize that addressing global warming will likely require an investment. However, I do not believe that Arizonans should be asked to pay more to double-down on coal, and leave its emerging solar industry without the help it needs.

I believe we can do better, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to achieve a better bill.

Since joining Congress, I have been proud to help move our country toward energy independence and build a green economy. I voted for the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will create more than 500,000 green jobs through alternative energy tax incentives and investments. I have also supported renewing solar investment tax credits, which are critical for the solar industry. Furthermore, I voted for the Energy Independence and Security Act, which increases fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. This law will cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 24 percent by 2030.

Once again, thank you for contacting me on this important issue. If you have additional questions or concerns on this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.

If you would like to receive email updates about how I am working on behalf of Arizona's 5th Congressional District, I invite you to sign up for my newsletter at http://www.mitchell.house.gov.


Sincerely,

Harry E. Mitchell
Member of Congress

Fun pictures!!

Heidi and I got the chance to go to the Phoenix Children's Museum yesterday (THANK YOU Heidi for letting me use your guest pass!!) and had a great time--I can't wait til Harrison is older so I can take him and he can enjoy all the cool stuff. Harrison and Rebekah had some fun while Alex was playing in the noodle forest and I got some cute pics.

Just chillin. Harrison is not nearly as good a sitter as Rebekah but he's getting there :)
Harrison LOVES Rebekah-he's kissing her feet already (don't you just love how great a mother I am that I took this picture rather than picking him up?)

Rebekah DEFINITELY wears the pants in this relationship....she'll break his heart someday...I can already tell :)

right now though he's just happy with her nearby :) what a romantic!
Heidi and her kiddos are so cute. I hope that someday (in a LONG time..) when I have two kids I'm as cute as her..not likely :)

I'm so glad Harrison and I can study together!!!!

Today, we're learning about community property
So, in Arizona equitable division of community property upon divorce is made without regard to marital misconduct...interesting...
But conviction of a crime against a child or spouse CAN be considered...
Hmm...Bar Bri books are DELICIOUS!!!!
Mommy---stop blogging and STUDY!! how many times do I have to tell you!!!

Update on Sleeping!!

I know you've all been dying to know how the sleeping through the night things has been going.

WELL....last Tuesday I was at the end of my rope (hence, I only blog about something when I can't take it anymore..INTERNET! PLEASE HELP ME!!). That morning Harrison was being so fussy after not sleeping much so I did what I do when he gets fussy and stuck him in the car and went down to babies r us (it's not always babies r us..sometimes its Ross..or Target..or other places I shouldn't be spending money..). Any-schmoo, I was looking for some kind of device I'd heard about that allowed you to somehow sleep babies on their tummy that obliterated all SIDS risk..or something..whatev..didn't exist. BUT I did find this little timer that purported to help you "sleep train" your baby by helping you gradually increase the amount of time you let them cry. I was all for it--I thought, hey maybe it'll be a waste of 30 bucks but it's at least worth a try. SO--I read the little instruction booklet and basically how it works (pretty traditional baby sleep training method) is you are encouraged to give your baby some kind of object to associate with sleep and train them to rely on that to put themselves back to sleep when they naturally wake up. Unlike the baby whisperer book that told me I needed to not give him the binky when he wakes up (you know, just pat your baby on the back until he calms down and then put him back in the crib..of course with Harrison..two hours later, still not calm) this one encouraged using the binky, as well as maybe a stuffed animal, the fan as ambient noise, etc.

So, the first night we did NOT swaddle him, (like we had been-so he could get at the binky..in theory..) gave him his stuffed frog, turned on the fan, and pressed this button on the timer that says "down to sleep." Then when Harrison started crying, we pushed another button that said "crying" and it started a timer that goes off (annoying doorbell noise..but it does wake you up if you happen to doze) when it's time to check on him, and then pushed another button when we finished checking. After that, it automatically starts the next (longer) time to wait. Until he falls asleep-at which time you press yet another button. More crying and the whole proecess starts over again. The wait times started at like 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes the first night and then gradually became greater every night. It promised to have your kid sleeping through the night in ten days. It was really good for me at first because it EASED me into letting him cry. Plus when I can push some button on some device and know that the person who created it, a doctor, thinks it's ok for me to wait until it goes off to check on Harrison..I feel way better about it. And it makes you feel like you are making progress and can do something you can stick to. Oh yeah, and the checking is really fast--binky back in, make sure he's ok, that's it..none of this "just soothe baby til he calms down, but don't give him his binky" garbage.

So--the point is, for a few days he woke up a few times in the night and went back to sleep in around 10-15 minutes. Then we had a night of crying off and on for about two hours. Then a couple of nights of waking up at around 11 (basically as soon as we lay down to sleep..typical...) and crying for like 10 minutes...then like three minutes..THEN--LAST NIGHT Harrison went to bed at 8 and didn't cry--didn't wake up AT ALL before I went to the gym (after waking up instinctively--how long will that last??) at 545!!! Apparently he cried for a couple of minutes at around six but then went back to sleep til after 7. YAY!! I'll TAKE IT!!!

and I hope I'm not jinxing things...

Here's a picture of my sleep timer this morning that said he'd been sleeping for over 9 hours
See!! Little sleeping baby!! YIPPEEEE!!!!

And FINALLY to all of you who deserve a medal for reading that LONG post about something of pretty small consequence in the grand scheme of things.. here's a fun picture of harrison during his first successful experience with carrots this morning (yesterday they confused him..today..DELICIOUS!!)

YUMMY!! MESSY!!! MORE CARROTS PLEASE!!

Look what I can do!!

Ok, he can't quite sit up by himself but almost (and he actually can do a little better than this but was shy for the camera...) We think it's pretty cute (and try to ignore my annoying voice...)

These days Harrison is also doing a lot of other nifty stuff, like:
eating rice cereal and oatmeal in his highchair---although most of it seems to end up on him (no surprise my kid is messy right?) he gets really excited and seems to like it.
grabbing EVERYTHING around him--forks, spoons, my hair, the wall, if its nearby he'll grab it
smiling and laughing a lot more (and a few less new people freak outs...)
noticing the kitty (not too long til he'll be grabbing her tail I'm sure)
...other things I can't think of right now because he's crying (still knows how to do that too!!)....

Sleeping....what's that?

Harrison's sleeping just seems to be getting worse and worse and I'm running out of ideas. He goes down really easily but then will wake up sometime between 3 and 5 hours later...and at first just needed his binky to fall back asleep..but then we got sick of going in there eighteen times a night (and what felt like every five minutes) to put the binky back in so we tried to not give the binky back and he just cries and cries---nothing will console him but the binky. So we give in (after waiting awhile, going in, consoling, waiting, trying to console..)..and then last night ...he cried for over an hour WITH the binky (like he was preempting us taking it away?) until I fed him...I'm sure he's ridiculously confused and nothing seems to be working. I know with babies you need to be consistent, etc etc...Oh yeah and all three of us have colds which I think have been exacerbated by the lack of sleep. I've read, I've talked to people--apart from letting him cry for hours (not just because I can't handle it..the more practical reason, neither cory nor I can spend the sleepless nights it would cause...) advice??? I know at five months he SHOULD be sleeping through the night no problem and yet he just won't do it.

Farewell pink monster!!

So today, for a mere $750 (ok--maybe that's a lot considering all it's been through and the huge question marks surrounding its condition) I said goodbye to my dear old 1996 dodge neon.

The car that got me through BYU. That I drove from Phoenix to Utah over and over again..with my mom, with friends, alone in the middle of the night, once with my grandpa... That broke down in Santaquin and Filmore (mile marker 147) and probably some other small Utah towns I can't remember. The car with the rims and the oakley sticker that were inherited from its previous owner that really just didn't fit on a candy apple red neon. With the spoiler that fell off during a camping trip (with Jen driving)... and was re-attached... twice. The driver door that didn't open for awhile in 2003 (I had to climb through the passenger side). The rear view mirror that fell off when I hit something while backing out of the parking garage at my apartment building sometime in '01. The car that got FAR too many parking tickets and was banned from campus.. and then banned from campus again.... Yes, that car and I have been through A LOT...

Today the Neon and I parted ways. With her ice cold ac blasting (you know the one that a mechanic told me in 2003 had a leak and would require 2k to fix..yeah right what kind of sucker do you take me for?) I drove her one last time to meet her new owners. I'm glad Harrison got to be there to share this event with me. I'm glad she lasted those three exits on the freeway. I wish I could be the one to take her to car heaven but it was time to move on and clear out the space in my garage. It's bittersweet!! I raise my diet coke to you old friend!!

It's started

The bar studying...and it's gonna be hard...really hard...I don't know why I even bothered to go to law school, I basically just have to learn it all over again. AND I CURSE my civ pro teacher from first semester for teaching me NOTHING because he is so hip and cool and anti establishment and hates rules!!!!

I'll see you in a couple of months...(yeah right I'm sure I'll blog again when I'm dealing with the kid and couldn't possibly concentrate enough to study).....