Don't Forget Dessert - finding my sweet spot

Back to Work – I’m now a Working Mom

Written on April 25, 2013 by Jessie in Baby, Work

As of this week I have been back to work for 1 month. The time has flown by! I was really anxious about returning to work. I liked my company (and my boss) a lot but I wasn’t super excited about my position. I didn’t want to put Levi in daycare. I didn’t want to be away from him all day. I didn’t want to feel like I was missing out on his milestones while I was sitting in an office doing something I didn’t love.

As the weeks of my leave dwindled down I was dreading the day I had to reach out to my boss to start discussing my return. So much so that he reached out to me before I reached out to him. Fortunately I have a really awesome boss. Even before I left for maternity leave I had a candid conversation with him about my feeling about my position (I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it) and my desire to work from home upon returning from leave. So when we started having conversations about my return to work none of my feelings were a surprise to him.

After hearing my concerns my boss presented me with some possibilities and went back to some of the decision makers in my department to see what we could work out. I ended up with 2 options. Ultimately I returned to a position I had worked in previously and enjoyed (let me geek out with spreadsheets over working with clients anyway!) working from home on a part-time schedule.

So far things have been great. I have a great setup in my office. My office mate is kind of chatty but I can’t understand a word he says. I do have a babysitter a few hours most days and get plenty of work done at nap time too.

I have bi-weekly calls with my boss and this arrangement seems to be working well for everyone. I feel like I have fantastic work-life balance. I’m not missing out on any of Levi’s milestones and I get to see his smiling face when I need a quick break.

I am so thankful to have a boss that I feel like I can be honest with and a company that is facilitating my career goals and work-life balance. I am enjoying being back to work, talking (okay, IM-ing) with my coworkers and keeping my skills sharp and continuing to develop new skills.

I look forward to seeing what the future holds for me as a professional and a mom.

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Favorites and Flops – 4 Month Edition

Written on April 23, 2013 by Jessie in Baby

As far as faves and flops go I don’t feel like I have many new additions at four months.

Faves

Most of our faves from 3 months still stand. Especially the Little tripper diaper bag and extra large canvas tote. Other favorites this month are:

Sounds Machine: This sound machine stays on most of the time. We use it for nighttime sleep and all of Levi’s naps (when he is in the nursery). It has great volume and plenty of sound options although I have one sound that I use all of the time. This machine has comes with an AC adaptor but also has the options for batteries. The battery only option isn’t great because with the amount of time we keep it in use it goes through 3 batteries every 24-48 hours, but I like that I can use the batteries as a backup if I need to.

Kick n’ Play Mat: I originally saw this on Erin’s blog. We had a Skip Hop play mat that I got at a consignment shot and was working just fine but then I saw this and knew Levi would love it. He is constantly kicking and I love this give him something to kick. This is definitely our number one toy and allows me to get a lot more work done when the babysitters aren’t around. I got lucky and scored this at a consignment store for $7.50 when I was visiting my parents and needed to get a swaddle since I left ours at home. Such a lucky deal but I think this item would have been well worth the $50 retail price tag.

Between kicking, hitting and trying to roll he wore himself out!

Halo Swaddle/Sleep Sack: We are still holding strong with the swaddling. When I visited my parents the other week it only took one rough night to get me out shopping for a swaddle. We swaddle for naps and nighttime since Levi still seems to startle himself awake.

We don’t always use the sleep sack but we always swaddle with one are out. Looks like we will need to start using the breathable bumpers soon.

Boppy: This pillow allows me to work and hang with Levi when his toys just aren’t cutting it. This pillow stays in my office all of the time and is a huge helper. It props Levi up in the pack n’ play for one handed feeding or props him in my lap for feeding at my desk and acts as a bumper if Levi is sitting in my lap at my desk (gotta protect that noggin in case he gets bobble-head-y on me when sitting in my lap).

Carrier Toy Bar: For months we have had toys dangling in Levi’s face when he was in the carrier just waiting for the day we was ready to play with them. Finally I saw this carrier toy bar and thought it was perfect. Levi seems to be a fan too. He has toys to play with but nothing hanging in his face!

Romper style outfits: These are like onesies but better! Now that the weather is warmer I want my little guy to be comfortable. Onesies are super cute but sometime his diaper hangs out the side. Lately I have been scooping up all of the little rompers I can find. I have also been buying them in the next size up (6-9 months) and letting him wear them a little big now and hoping they will last all summer.

Flops

Sleep Sheep: For us the Sleep Sheep was a huge wast of money. The sound only stays on for 45 minutes when we want it on all night. I had hoped this would be a handy travel sound machine but it just doesn’t work for us. When we have traveled we have either used an app on our phones or I have taken our normal machine. If I find a portable sound machine that I like I will definitely share. For me, sound machines are worth the money since I plan to use one with Levi for years to come. I still use one and they make a huge difference in my sleep too.

I think that is it for now! What are your favorite baby products?

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Fave Photos – 3 Months Old

Written on April 22, 2013 by Jessie in Baby

I have had these photos sitting in a draft post for weeks. There are some of my favorite photos of Levi at 3 months old. He just turned 4 months old on Saturday so I am a little behind but I though family and friends might like to see some pics while I am getting caught up!

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Sleep Training with The Happiest Baby Guide to Sleep (plus a Happy Mommy!) {Sponsored Post}

Written on April 9, 2013 by Jessie in Food

Sleep. Such a precious activity that is slowly taken away from you during pregnancy and through the first months (or years!) for your child’s life.

I don’t know much about other babies sleep but I feel like we have gotten pretty lucky with Levi. We try put him down at 9 PM and most night he wakes up anywhere between 2 and 4 AM and then again 3-4 hours later. After the second wake up we can usually coax him back to sleep until we are ready to get out of bed around 7:30 AM.

Although I feel like this is pretty reasonable sleep schedule sometimes I feel like it lacks consistency, 2-4 AM is a fairly big window in my opinion, and I still look forward to a time when we get more hours of uninterrupted sleep. With Levi being about 3 and 1/2 months old I am still not sure when that will happen but I am definitely open to reading up on the subject.

Dr. Harvey Karp

Enter: The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep by Dr. Harvey Karp.

I was very excited when I saw the opportunity to read/review a new book dedicated to sleep by the popular author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block.

I am a believer in the 5 S’s that Dr. Karp details in his other books (swaddle, sucking, side/stomach, shushing, and swinging) as techniques for calming a child. The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep takes these 5 S’s, that activate an infants calming reflex, and teaches parents how to use them to facilitate better sleep habits for their little one. I always thought I would be a parent who followed a “cry-it-out” method but I am finding that I am not well suited to it. I have enjoyed reading more about “no cry” methods to sleep training and have been trying to incorporate more of Dr. Karp’s techniques into our daily routines (specifically, more morning time outdoors/in sunlight and dream feeds).

Lets face it, books on infant sleep can be boring with a capital B. I tried flipping through 3 or 4 different books while pregnant and can’t imagine having the energy or attention span to read most of then in my sleep deprived role as new mommie. As much as I enjoyed the content of this book I also appreciated the breakdown and layout of the book. I found the key points at the beginning of most chapters and the Crib Notes at the end of most chapters to be particularly helpful in referring back to information that had already been covered. The content is easy to read and digest with charts, bold text, bullet points and breakouts to draw your attention to key points (very helpful in keeping a weary mind from missing important information!).

This book covers sleep techniques for children from birth to 5 years and I know I will be referencing this book in the months and years to come!

I am participating in a book review campaign with One2One Network. I received this book from Harper Collins for the purposes of reviewing it. I have not received compensation however my participation in the campaign enters me into a drawing for a gift card. All opinions here are my own.

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Favorites and Flops – 3 Month edition

Written on March 21, 2013 by Jessie in Baby

This month I have a huuuuge list of faves. There seem to be so many things making our lives easier with our baby boy!

Favorites

Little Tripper Diaper Bag - As I mentioned in my last faves & flops post I hated my big, fancy diaper bag. It was just too much to lug around with a baby and carseat. Although it was smaller than I expected it has worked perfectly. I can carry all of the necessities in this bag and keep some of the extras in the larger bag in my car. My back is thanking me big time!

Extra large canvas tote – I order this at the same time as my new diaper bag. I mainly ordered it because I didn’t want to waste $9 in shipping when I ordered my diaper bag and thought a very large bag could come in handy. I know this is an odd thought since I was downsizing my diaper bag. The bag was even larger than expected when it arrived! We have taken 2 short road trips since it came and it had been great. We can fit all the bottle, formula, toys, pillows, blankets, and more in this one tote. It make packing and loading the car so much easier.

Aveeno Baby Lightly Scented Body wash - I just love the way it smells!

Vaporizer and replacement pads - When anyone in the house has a stuffy nose this is my go to item. There are separate pads for adults and baby but I prefer the baby pads anyways. This is a great way to get the effects of vapor rub without having to rub it all over yourself or baby. If you still want a vapor rub you can make one with coconut oil and peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils.

Nuk pacifiers - Last month was all about the Soothie pacifiers and this month is all about the Nuk paci’s. These things are miracle workers and I keep one in every room. Sometime Levi gets himself worked up and can’t seem to calm down and these guys help him sooth himself so he can calm down.

Paci clips - As much as Levi loves his paci’s he doesn’t suck on them when he doesn’t need to be soothed. When he doesn’t want to suck on the paci anymore he can spit it across the room…or thats how it feels. I like to keep these clips on them so they don’t fly quite as easily or I can attach them to his clothing and they end up being a toy, something he can grab and wave around. I am glad that I made several before he was born.

Activity gym with toy rings - This toy hasn’t been used much until the past couple of weeks but now he loves it. We have used the toy rings to lower the toys and he will bat and them. It is great when I need a minute to get things done. He often wear himself out with all the hitting and kicking!

Pack N’ Play - I returned to work on Monday (more on that in another post). It is not finicially possible to have a babysitter for all of my working hours (4-5 hours a day) so I put the pack n’ play in my office. This way I can keep Levi nearby. He is really great at playing independently with the activity gym and is usually pretty easygoing unless he is hungry (knock on wood!).

Audio Baby Monitor - We moved Levi to his crib over a month ago and it has been working out great. Unfortunately his room is far enough away from ours that we can’t hear him without a monitor. I found this monitor on clearance at Target for $11 and figured it couldn’t hurt to give it a try. It is a little fuzzy but ultimately does exactly what I need. It is perfect in conjunction with my not-so-fabulous video monitor. When he randomly squeals I can take a peak at the video to see if he is asleep or awake, reducing trips back and forth at night.

Tree lamp - I love the way this lamp looks in the nursery and it provides nice low light. I keep it on all night so I don’t have to fumble with a light switch or flash light during nighttime feedings. Plus, Levi is mesmerized by it whenever we are sitting in the recliner together.

Maya wrap - As much as I want to like the Ergo it is too much of a hassle to put on for quick trips. After complaining about the carseat/carrier on Facebook a friend told me that I needs ring sling and recommended the Maya Wrap. I tried to find a used one on Craigslist but when that didn’t work I went to a local store and picked one up. It has been worth every penny!

Formula mixing pitcher - Levi has been eating formula since he was born and mixing formula is no fun. It can be really messy (try fitting 4 ounces of formula on top of 4 ounces of water in a 4 ounce bottle). Plus shaking the bottles can create bubbles in the formula that lead to a gassy baby. I can mix a days worth of formula and have it handy all day, which is great when you have a screaming, hungry baby.

Formula dispensers - Prepackaged formula packets can be expensive so these formula dispensers are a lifesaver when feeding baby on the go. I like a specific type of Munchkin brand dispenser. There is another model of Munchkin dispenser and an OXO dispenser that I didn’t really care for.

Electric tea kettle - It take forever for hot water to make it to our kitchen. Instead of running the water until it gets hot we boil water and poor it over the bottle parts that we have been collecting in a tub (from the hospital) all day.

Luvs diapers - I am a big fan of Pampers (Swaddlers and Baby dry) but only like to buy them when they are on sale and I have a coupon. Otherwise I have been buying Luvs diapers, which are made by the same company as Pampers, instead. Luvs are way cheaper, $6.79 vs $9.49 at Target, and work just as well for us. My sister-in-law, who has a 1 and almost 3 year old, recommended them to me.

Flops

Swing/Bouncy seat – We have a swing/bouncy combo and Levi just isn’t into it. Plus he is having issues with a flat head and we aren’t supposed to put him in “equipment” if we can avoid it per the physical therapist. Since we want to avoid little man being in a helmet in the dead of summer and he doesn’t really enjoy it this is easy to accomplish.

Baby bath tub – Too much work. Instead I run a couple inches of water in our master bath tub and sit him on a bath seat (similar). Levi loves bath time and this give him plenty of space to splash around!

Changing pad/table – We never use the designate diaper changing area in his room. I have mini diaper changing stations through the house with wipes, diapers, and waterproof pads and they work great for us.

4 oz bottles – Levi is eating 5 ounces at many of his feedings we have just outgrown these.

Infant carrier/carseat -All of a sudden Levi cries almost anytime we go to buckle him into the seat. Once we get moving in the car he doesn’t seem to mind, but getting him into the seat feels like an ordeal.

**This post includes affiliate links**

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How can I let him go?

Written on February 27, 2013 by Jessie in Baby, Family

Levi will be 12 weeks old on March 14th. I can’t believe it. March 13th marks 12 weeks since I went into labor and the beginning of my maternity leave.

March 13th is exactly 2 weeks from today. I may have to leave my baby boy with strangers 14 days from now. Not that I think it would be any easier 30 or 90 days from now….

This hit me hard today as I finally forced myself to go to the daycare that has a spot for Levi to pick up paperwork for his enrollment. I have been procrastinating for weeks in hopes that an alternative would present itself.

I never saw myself as a mom but now that I am a mom I have really embraced the role. I want to be the one with my son all day, not the one who only gets to be with him for a few hours at night. I want to take him to playgroup with my friends. I want to get to enjoys the mornings, when he tends to be in the best mood and offer the most smiles, rather than rushing out the door to get to daycare and then to work on time. I also genuinely believe this would be best for him and our family.

Who would want to leave that face?

I continue to pray that this knot in my stomach will go away and that God will make a way for me to be with our son. I will be holding out hope until the day I sign back into work (and probably beyond).

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What We’ve Been Up To {aka phone dump}

Written on February 25, 2013 by Jessie in Baby, Food, Restaurants, Work

The past 10 weeks have flown by. Me and Levi have been having a great time so I thought I would share some photos from recent weeks.

At the beginning of February my Mom and I took Levi to the beach and we put his feet in the sand for the first time. We were lucky that it warmed up a bit one day so we could take Levi down to the beach. I am not wishing him to grow up any faster but I do look forward to the day he can appreciate the sand and the water.

B and I got a feast of a meal from a local Peruvian restaurant. It included a whole roasted chicken, tostadas, plantains, salad and french fries. The tostadas were my favorite, I only wish we had order guacamole to go with them.

B’s parents came to town last weekend and we did a brewery tour of Charlotte. New breweries have been popping up everywhere! On Friday we visited Triple C and OMB and then visited Heist, Birdsong, and Noda Breweries on Sunday. The weather was pretty chilly since it snowed on Saturday so we had our little guy bundled up.

Speaking of snow, Levi saw his first snow!…not that he will remember. I wanted to commemorate the moment since snow is somewhat rare in our area but it was cold and I didn’t really want to get him out in it.

Recently 4 fairly large deer hopped our fence. B saw it and called me to check it out. I have no idea where they came from and where they went since my area is primarily residential.

I made chili for dinner tonight and someone decided they wanted a handful. Fortunately his hands are small.

Check out this side by side shot of me with Levi at 4 weeks versus Levi at 8 weeks. He grew so much! I can’t even believe it.

I will now spend the next 2 weeks freaking out about our next steps. Going back to work of some kind is a must but now I am left trying to decide if I want/have to go back to my previous job and put Levi in daycare (which I do not want to do) or find/take on some part-time, work-from-home opportunity for much less money (my preference) and then get B on board with the decision. Wish me luck!

What have you been up to lately?

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Shopping for Baby – Most Stylish Baby on the Block {Sponsored Post}

Written on February 13, 2013 by Jessie in Baby, Sponsored Post

Shopping. Definitely one of my favorite activities. Even when funds are tight and I can’t actually buy anything I still enjoy it. Seeing the new styles that I will never try to pull off, people watching, finding a great deal…

One fun, and overwhelming, thing about having a baby is all of the shopping. Yes, people give you gifts, but there is still a lot to pick out and purchase. Furniture, bottles, clothes and much more. Realistically a baby doesn’t need a ton, but there are a lot of things that make this big change easier on the parents. Other things are hit or miss, a baby may love one bottle and not another and the same with carriers and so many other things. One thing that a baby needs for sure is clothes and you start that wardrobe from nothing.

I have had so much fun shopping for Levi! We have been fortunate to get some awesome hand-me-downs, but I spent plenty of time during pregnancy (and, truthfully, since he was born) “building his wardrobe”. I may have no style but I want my little guy to be comfortable, easy to dress, and super cute.

Knowing that there is so much to buy I am always looking for a good deal and one of my go to spots to shop for Levi (and myself) is Old Navy. I know I can always find stylish items at affordable prices. So when I learned about Old Navy’s kids and baby sale I knew I wanted to check it out. I know Easter is a few months out but I have to make sure that my little guy has a stylin’ Easter outfit since his first Christmas was kind of a bust thanks to jaundice and the bili-blanket.

How cute is this outfit? We also picked up some little boat shoes to go with it. I can’t wait to take photos!

The store was neat and there was a great selection. There are a few items that I still want and may go back to buy. This kid is going to have a bigger wardrobe than me! If only he didn’t grow out of these things so fast, I wish I had some of these (blue hoodie especially) in several sizes because I can’t get over their cuteness.

I also like to shop a few seasons out so we picked up a few items for the summer too. He is going to be looking good for the months to come and we didn’t break the bank!

Where do you like to shop for baby clothes? How do you find great deals on stylish baby/kids clothes?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Favorites and Flops – 2 Month edition

Written on February 12, 2013 by Jessie in Baby

I can’t believe I just typed 2 month edition. This Thursday my baby boy is 8 weeks old. I just can’t believe how quickly the time has gone by.

Over the past (almost) 8 weeks there have been some baby items that have been a huge help and a few that have been flops so far.

Favorites

Boppy – We have used the Boppy as a spot to hang out (under close supervision) and a place for feedings even though he has been bottle fed. We also like to use it for tummy time to give Levi a different angle.

Baskets – We have baskets all over. I keep basked with diapers and supplies in our master bedroom, living room and den. Plus we have baskets with toys, blankets, bibs, and burp clothes. So far the baskets are helping contain the massive amount of miscellaneous baby stuff that could easily take over our home.

Waterproof pads – I love these guys. I keep some on the changing table and one in each diaper basket. They are soft to lay him on and easy to wash.

Aden + Anais burpy bibs – These things are huge and soft. I love that they can act as a large burp cloth or can snap around baby’s neck for feedings. Levi is a very messy eater and I quickly learned that I needed to have something tucked under his chin otherwise formula would be all over his chin, neck, and clothes.

Aden + Anais swaddles – First of all, these swaddles are super cute! They come in so many fun patterns. They are also lightweight and super soft. I have never swaddled Levi in them but I like to use them as lightweight covers for his carrier/stroller when taking walks. I make sure we have one everywhere we go.

Halo Swaddle/Sleep Sack – These are amazing. I learned about them while pregnant and at a baby shower. This product is a sleep sack with a swaddle attachment for the arms. Once Baby no longer needs to be swaddled you still have a sleep sack to keep using. I also love that these unzip from the bottom so no need to unswaddle for middle of the night diaper changes!

Graco SnugRide Stroller frame - This frame is made to go with our infant carrier and is super lightweight. As long as Levi is in the carrier this is my go to stroller option. It is easy to fold/unfold and get in and out of my car.

Soothie Pacifiers/Wubbanub – Levi love his paci. He will take a Nuk or Binky on occasion however he takes the Soothie pacifiers the best. We love the Wubbanub because it give him something to grab onto. MAM pacifiers were an absolute no go.

Flops

Pack n Play – So far Levi has not taken to the pack n’ play. We set it up as soon as we arrived home from the hospital but Levi has never liked sleeping in it. We have also tried a hand-me-down Moses basket until we found out Levi has reflux and he is now sleeping in his infant carrier. Hopefully we will get more use out of this as he gets a little older.

Fancy Diaper Bag – I really wanted a grown up looking diaper bag so when I found a bag at the Coach outlet for less than many of the big name diaper bags I jumped at it. Unfortunately I totally hate it. It holds everything we need when we head out of the house but it is too bulky and heavy, especially when I am trying to deal with the carrier/carseat. This week I broke down and ordered the Little Tripper from Land’s End that was recommended by Emily.

Infant Carrier/Carseat – The carseat/carrier performs its essential function perfectly. It also acts as Levi’s “bed” which is fantastic when we can get him to sleep 5-6 hour stretches at night rather than 2.5-3 hours. My main challenge with the carseat is toting it on errands. It is heavy and bulky and is just tough to carry. I have the stroller frame and a stroller I can use with it but I find them cumbersome to use for quick errands. I have a Baby Ergo and a ring sling and I am hoping those combined with the new, smaller diaper bag will make getting around a bit easier.

Video Baby Monitor – I purchased this monitor without doing proper research. I thought it would be nice to use my iPhone as my monitor. Unfortunately the app times out after 10 minutes and sends choppy feed, plus it does not have any audio. Our bedroom is down the hall making it difficult to hear him at night. We are now looking into affordable audio monitors to supplement this one.

I am sure there are plenty of other hits and misses for us so far but these are the ones that have stood out.

Other Moms (or Dads) out there, what have you found to be your baby favorites and flops?

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Finding Time to Eat Lunch with Lean Cuisine Chef’s Pick {sponsored post}

Written on February 8, 2013 by Jessie in Food, Reviews, Sponsored Post

I have partnered with Lean Cuisine through DailyBuzz Food to help promote their new line of Chef’s Pick products. I have been compensated for my time commitment to work with this product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. Thank you Lean Cuisine!

Sorry for two back-to-back sponsored posts. I have some baby related content and recipes food coming your way very soon!

I thought eating well when working full time in an office was tough. Packing lunches with fresh, healthy food was a hassle and then I had to find time to eat it. Now that I am home with Levi (if only for a short time) I have access to fresh, healthy foods all day but it is still difficult to find time to prepare meals and eat them.

Between diaper changes and feedings every three hours (or less) our days are flying by. Although I usually wake up hungry it is usually after 1 PM before I seem to make it into the kitchen to grab something for myself. I have tried stocking up on granola bars, which has helped, but I still find myself grabbing whatever is convenient. I eat far too many potato chips and other (junky) snack foods and not enough real food or meals.

Cue in Lean Cuisine.

Lean Cuisine was my go to lunch option when in the office so I was excited when I had the chance to try out some of their new Chef’s Pick entrees!

I am a picky eater and a creature of habit (I always pick pizza, pasta or comfort food style frozen entrees) so my top pick was the mushroom mezzaluna ravioli. The ranchero braised beef with chipotle sweet potatoes also caught my eye but I haven’t tried it yet.

Mushroom ravioli is one of my favorite restaurant dishes and this dish did not disappoint! The texture of the pasta was slightly firm but not chewy and there was just the right amount of filling in the raviolis. The sauce had a great flavor, not too salty, and there was just enough sauce to coat the pasta (although I may have picked around the spinach and peppers).

This is not an effort at food styling or plating, I just don’t like eating out of the plastic trays if I have a choice.

Although I need to work on having veggie options prepped and easily accessible I think Lean Cuisine and their new Chef’s Pick entrees will continue to be a lunch time staple in and out of the office.

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