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Archive for November, 2009

Quack Quack

Monday, November 30th, 2009

So Camper started screaming today. Not like…mad screaming. Like,

“HEY I CAN MAKE A LOT OF NOISE IF I JUST DO THIS? CAN YOU HEAR ME? ISN”T THIS GREAT????”

screaming.

He’s always been a bit of a quiet baby. I mean, he could cry with the best of them, but even if he heard another child run by screaming like a crazy person he would imitate him quietly. Instead of the AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! he heard he’d emit a small “ahhhhhh” in response. Then he’d flash us a smile like, “Didn’t I do that CUTE-LY? Wasn’t that a CUTE yell?” And I’d say “Yes, that was a very cute yell.”

No more people. I’m not sure what switched in his brain but tonight during his SUPA BUSY time after dinner he ran around, walking in short spurts from me to the couch, from the couch to me, from me to Dad, etc. and SCREAMING.

It was pretty interesting.

Another amusing thing this holiday season has been his incessant quacking. Ducks are his best animal. He can say both duck AND quack, and aside from some confusion in the tub with a rubber ducky that has a pig’s head (yeah, are you trying to fry my kid’s brain?) he was really good at quacking whenever he saw a duck. The last week, however, he’s been quacking non stop. I finally figured out that he’s quacking when he sees ducks, penguins OR angels. Yup. Pretty much anything with wings.

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I’m so cool…

Tags: baby stuff, Holiday!
Posted in All About Baby | 1 Comment »

Monday Morning and a Rainy Day

Monday, November 30th, 2009

While I LOVE spring rain, winter rain is sometimes depressing. I think because it’s so cold and dark- and you know there’s no chance of it clearing up and the sun coming out later in the day. The only real upside is that I was able to get a REAL nap while Camper napped- which after a few nights of me not sleeping (no real reason, just crazy brain) was very refreshing.

I used to feel guilty about napping during the day. Sometime after my baby started sleeping through the night (sporadically, at about 8 months? was it?) I thought I should be able just soldier through and not need to lay down when he did anymore. Most days that’s true. However, I’ve learned that if I’m tired I should just lay down for a bit. My job does not end at 5pm, and sometimes Camper is still up throughout the night. If I nap, I’m not as tired. If I’m not as tired, John doesn’t have to deal with the freaking out tired breakdowns. As often. So now I don’t feel guilty anymore. (Too much, anyway. I still wish John had naptime, too.) If I can actually fall asleep, I just feel relieved.

Today has been pretty slow. I have yet another mountain of laundry to fold and put away- so I think we’re headed upstairs to do that soon. I’m still trying to get a few Christmas-y things done. I did manage to do our Advent Calendar and help my mom put up some decorations this past weekend. I’ll have to post pictures of a babyproofed Christmastime. Very interesting indeed. I still have our Christmas letter to prepare- and one other project that I’m doing for my parents and parent’sinlaw. Besides MAYBE trying to get a picture of our family for the letter I’m going to send to everyone, I think that’s about as crazy as I’m getting this year. We don’t really have the $$$ to buy and send presents to everyone- and it’s helping me focus on actually getting in touch with people. Not just sending a gift, but an update and an invitation to be part of our lives. We’ll see if I get it done by Easter.

But yeah. This post is sorta lame. Here’s something kinda cute to tide you over til I get my funny back.

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Behold, the Baby Jesus that we had to superglue into his manger so as to not have him take a little pre-Christmas trip through my child’s digestive system.

Tags: holiday prep
Posted in Day to day, Holiday! | 1 Comment »

And Unto Us Is Born a Gas Baby

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

It’s been a Happy Thanksgiving out here. It’s been nice to be home, wear pajama pants all day, etc. At the same time, there’s something appealing about traveling and buying new “holiday” outfits and being around LOTS of family. It’s a toss up, and this year pajamas won. Budget restraints and all. And I thoroughly enjoyed the day.

We woke up to a Thanksgiving miracle, Camper slept until 8:30am! Whoa, wait…let me back up.

John and I had a DATE last night. (I KNOW! Two in one month! Crazy!) We went out to movie and brought some dinner home. My husband must love me, because he sat through New Moon without even groaning at ALL. (Even with all the girls screaming every time a shirtless male wolfager came onto the screen. Which was a lot.) I enjoyed the movie (I’m not even sure why I like these movies/books…I’m not going to defend it. Just going to enjoy) and SUPER enjoyed pawning off dinner/bedtime routine on PopPop and LaLa. I love putting Camper to bed, but sometimes it’s nice to have someone else to do the whole wrestle into diaper/PJ’s/brush teeth, gather the water, the blankie, the book routine. It makes it all that much better the next night. (Except I just realized that I forgot to brush his teeth tonight. Seriously, bad mommy.) We got back around 9pm, and then watched Kung Fu Panda (or part of it anyway) while enjoying a late night Chinese food dinner. And then the baby slept.

Til 8:30 in the morning.

So I got up and got some breakfast. Then we cuddled and watched the parade. La La actually got up and started all the food at 6am, which meant we ate around 12:30. Camper actually napped through the EATING EVENT and for some reason the rest of us all wore yellow shirts by accident. I ate way more than I should, even with John warning me how much I hate to be tooo fuulllll. But I ate that much anyway. And then we watched GLEE on the DVR (this week’s was eh.). And it was very, very relaxing. When Camper got up, I actually laid down for a nap myself. John slept in this morning but I was all full of energy and UP…until about 3 when I got SUPER tired. Full belly needed a nap. And so I slept. John hung out with the Bubbs until he was stolen by La La for some Thanksgiving visiting (he got to go play with another kiddo for awhile, one older than him but one he loves to play with) and then back home for some more chilling.

We ended the day with some walking practice (Camper working off his dinner walking between all of us around the living room) and a teeny piece of pumpkin pie for the baby. A last minute BAP and bed. And now we’re just chilling. And I’m waiting 7 more minutes to eat some Doritos. A self-imposed food ban to allow myself to DIGEST before eating some more holiday favorites. I don’t what is SO DARN FESTIVE about Doritos- maybe it’s just that we only buy them on holidays. Yup. That would do it.

Tags: Thanksgiving
Posted in Holiday! | No Comments »

That’s right. We do stuff.

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

So I told you about the holiday hat, right? Her it is! (WA LA!) I will most likely try to scan in a picture of me wearing it sometime soon. As a baby, I mean. But isn’t it cute? And Camper seems to like it.

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He’s very into loading things on to his little walker toy these days. A drink. A snack. A truck. (RUK!)(Grrrrrrrrrr)

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When it falls off he gets all disgruntled and says, “OELP.” Then I tell him, “You can handle it,” and he reloads and walks on. I would just like to mention that the only reason he has a butt in any picture is because of his cloth diapers. I had to put him in a disposable one day this week (GASP) and I was like, “Er, your butt’s gone. People are going to think I’m starving you.”

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This is very serious business, this truck hauling.

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When not hauling stuff around on his walker, he likes to put things in my shoes and drive them around. (Ca! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.) And yes, I let him run around all unsnapped when I’m waiting for him to poop before bath time. Or if I just don’t feel like snapping him up.

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At the museum. We’ve been to this one (free, library pass) about a hundred times, and I refused to pay extra for the Christmas tree exhibit. ($12!) So we just saw the fish, like usual. John had a day off and came with us. Hence, his butt.

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I really like this one.

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“OHMYGOSH IT’S A STOOL! A FOOT STOOL! LOOK MAMAMAMAMAMAMA I can climb!” And here is the reason we did not pay the $$$ for the extra exhibit. The next day we took a stroll around Target and saw some Christmas trees there. Same difference.

And here’s a random memory for you:

When we were living in South Carolina I had a wiggly tooth at school. I was eating lunch and realized that it was going to fall out- so I went to the nurse. I asked her to pull it, which she couldn’t. Some nonsense about not being a dentist. I had NEVER pulled a tooth on my own before. Usually my Dad did it, and it involved me voluntarily being held down, but not until AFTER I got some Ambesol. I made them call my Mom and she said to pull it myself. At which point I remember almost blacking out in fear. I HATE teeth. My Mom and Dad used to make me sit and wiggle them while watching TV because I would literally let them ROT IN MY HEAD. And I would watch TV and wiggle my gums instead, because I was a coward. So back to this particular day and this particular tooth. I got that grand idea to just EAT MY LUNCH. Tuna Squish Sandwich. And it fell out in the sandwich and I didn’t have to grab and yank and the crisis was averted. Phew.

And now that memory can get out of my head. Thankyouverymuch.

Tags: random crap
Posted in All About Baby, Day to day, Holiday! | No Comments »

The 20 Minute Mile

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

I’m such a workout loser. I seriously haven’t done any serious exercise since Camper was born. I remember after I had him I tried to do a workout tape that I had done many many times before. I was astounded that my joints felt so weak, my balance just off. And let’s not even talk about my stamina. Turns out a lot of things changed. So I put it away and said, “later.” As if my pre-baby balance (and body, for that matter) was just on vacation and would come home again soon. A year later, and I’m starting to think this is no vacation.

I’ve been thinking about Scranton lately. When I could run a few miles, never well, but average. We’d go to the gym and I’d run 3 miles in under 30 minutes (before dinner, at which time I’d eat a cheesy quesadilla, yum) or we’d run around town, or we’d (GASP) run the stairs. Usually I only did that last one if it was required by the crew team. I also ate enough Doritos to stay pretty static in the weight department, but I felt good. I could do things, I was pretty fit. My friends said my curves were “womanly.” I think they were right. I could wear my friend’s clothes- and they were pretty skinny.

Now I’m downright pudgy. I told my Mom the other day that I’m starting to understand what Oprah goes through. Up and down, up and down. Of course, the medicine I’m on doesn’t help. (Two more weeks!) But what ALSO doesn’t help is the fact that I haven’t exercised in FOREVER. I did lose the baby weight last spring with a little help from Weight Watchers, but that got old. Fast. I think I much prefer being able to eat what I like and just making sure I stay more active. I think that post baby, I’m going to have to settle for being able to eat SOME of what I’d like and getting a lot more active.

And that big lead up leads me to: the basement. The treadmill. 20 minutes and 1 mile tonight. Well, it was a little over a mile, and I wasn’t running, that’s for sure. But I had it on full incline. And I was again, surprised at how unbalanced I felt. But it’s going to get better. Because although it was fun for awhile, I’m sick of being pudgy.

Tags: urg
Posted in Mommy Upkeep | No Comments »

Pictures

Friday, November 20th, 2009

November 001

November 007

These were taken before “the illness.”

This is what we’ve been up to tonight.

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The pile of laundry that blocked out the sun. You didn’t believe me when I said that I let it stack up, did you?

At least it’s done. Phew. Now on to some sleep.

Posted in Day to day | No Comments »

What I Think About You

Friday, November 20th, 2009

During times like this, when my child is sick and I’m sticking around the house watching WAY too much TV and not getting dressed for real, very often, and just generally feeling like a baddie mom…I start thinking about you. As in, other internet people, mostly you other internet moms. And in a big reality showdown, I thought I’d let you know.

- I seriously think that you fold all of your laundry as it comes out of the dryer and put it away. Every time. You never have a Pack ‘n Play filled with random laundry that you later have to rewash because it’s so wrinkly.

-I think that you use your baby’s naptime to exercise.

-I think that you have a never-ending reservoir of healthy meals that you cook for your child that have nothing to do with the freezer and that your child eats happily. Including fresh veggies that you bought at some kind of outdoor market that you can still find in the middle of November. With avocados.

-I’m pretty sure you never, ever use your credit card. And if you do it’s just for the airline miles.

-Not only does your husband get to do something he loves to do, but you’ve got something lined up, too. You know, something that allows you to make loads of money while cuddling your child every time he needs it.

-Your clothes fit. All of them.

-You know how to throw a football, and you can go run two mile right now if you want to. Or five. Or a marathon.

-I think that you’ve already taught your child how to read, in Spanish AND English.

-I think that you have each day full of amazing activities designed to stimulate you and your children, and for the life of me I can’t think of what any of those would really be. I mean, besides going outside…and eating stuff…and reading some books.

-You never eat after 7pm. Especially not chocolate.

-You DVR lots of shows, but never have time to catch up on them because of your rigorous social commitments. Commitments that don’t make you cry because you feel overwhelmed that OH MY GOSH SOMEONE WANTS TO SEE ME?

Now, there are a few reasons why I shared these things. Mostly, because while some of them may be true…I’m actually betting that these things that I happen to REALLY believe about EVERY other mother in the world aren’t really as true as I think they are. And maybe, just maybe, if you know that I think these things, then you don’t have to think them, too. So there ya go. All my cards laid on the table. Now I’m going to take my pajama’d self away from the computer and the DVR and try to fold some laundry. Because naptime only lasts so long. And I really should figure out something for dinner ;)

Tags: lazy day, sicky kid
Posted in Day to day | 2 Comments »

As the one who gets puked on…

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Being a mom changes everything. I know, trite, right? But seriously, even getting sick. Seems like everyone around me is feeling sick and getting fevers, and I’m ok. *Knocks on wood. Then on some more, just in case.* I mean, I’m suffering from some weird sort of sick child tunnel vision that makes normal mommy stuff seem more intense, but other than that, I’m ok so far. I’m learning that when my child is sick I do two things: I fix food for him (all.day.long.) in the frantic hope that he EATS something and I do laundry. Snotty laundry. Poopy laundry. And now tonight, the newest addition, pukey laundry. But even after Camper puked down both of our pajamas and into his crib (I know, awesome, right?) after we got him out of the bath, he basically jumped out of John’s arms into mine for a happy, naked baby hug. He seemed to feel better after the puking. And he kissed my cheek, and we got him dressed. And I realized that puke and all, I really like being his mom. I would chose to be his Mom every time I was given the choice. Even if I knew how many times I’d have to wipe his highchair tray, wash his clothes, fix him food he rejects, and get puked on. Every. single. time. I really like being his mom.

And I also like the peanut M&Ms John got me when he went out to get more medicine. Yeah, I like those, too.

Posted in Day to day | 2 Comments »

EWHOLYEW

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

John is still sick. In our whole marriage he’s never had a fever, and tonight when I got home from teaching piano he was at 101.9. ON medicine. Here’s hoping that one more night sleeping with nighttime meds will kick it out of him. I told my mother earlier that I quite regularly realize how much he does for me and for Camper, but I realize EVEN MORE when he’s sick and I’m stuck running around getting sippy cups of water and finding the right diaper and the cushy blanket and all that stuff on my own. And for instance, if I super want some chocolate ice cream, I either have to do without or go for it myself.

Yeah.

Thank goodness for him usually, yeah? (It’s driving me crazy, I was just reading this lovely blog and now I feel like I’m stuck in her sarcastic, satirical voice. Anyone else out there wish they had thought of monetizing the whole mocking the Mormon Mommy Bloggers thing before she did? Yeah. Me, too. frownsmile.)

But anyway. Yeah. Not cool. For two nights now I’ve been setting up humidifiers, rubbing people down with Vicks and dosing out meds and sleeping in Camper’s room. Poor John and poor me! Poor Camper who thinks I’ve moved in and now wakes up 15 times a night to make me get his paci because why would he get it himself when I’m laying right there?

Sigh.

He was a total grump at Music Together today. For the first 10 minutes he sat on the table in the corner and ate goldfish crackers. He wouldn’t give them up, I wouldn’t let him down until he was done (it’s kind of a no-snack activity) and so there he sat. So long, in fact, that the instructor improvised a version of “No More Pie” that included him wanting only goldfish crackers and not wanting to sing or play today. It was pretty funny, and Camper danced and waved his hands at everyone from across the room. I got home from that, finally got him down for a nap, and my mom invited me out to get a manicure with her. I was hesitant, but John said “GO!” so I went, leaving the sicky husband with a hopefully sleeping baby. He slept through the whole thing, and I had pretty nails to get me through all my piano lessons tonight. I think John was sensing that I’m starting to go off the deep end a bit with not having the baby-free time that I need to regroup- as horrible as that is. I think it’s the nighttime that’s sending me overboard. Because I know he can sleep from 7 to 7, if he wakes up a bunch at night (or if I have to sleep in his room because I don’t want to get what John has or because Camper is sick himself) then I don’t get a break and one day just goes into another. I’m all for the attachment parenting thing- but I draw the line at co-sleeping. Nighttime is Mommy time. And I haven’t had that in two nights. Maybe I’ll sleep in the computer room tonight so that he doesn’t think I’ve moved in for real. Or not. Because the bed in his room is actually pretty comfy, to be honest.

And now here I sit. My second night in a row with only my laptop for company. (Ok, and my Mom who just spend half an hour talking to me. But you know what I mean!) Here’s to life coming back into focus soon.

September 2009 034

Posted in Day to day | 1 Comment »

Holy Fevers Freak Me Out

Monday, November 16th, 2009

My child has had a few very, very low grade fevers in his existence. The kind that make you wonder if it really is a fever or a cold or teething and OOOPPS before you figure it out it’s gone. And now would you like some Mac and Cheese? Good.

The one exception was right before we moved back east, my brother and my husband went on a whirlwind trip to Las Vegas. I was supposed to go, as well, with Camper, but sometime before the last minute came upon us I realized: A newborn? In Las Vegas? In December? STUPID. Someone call DCYS. Or PCYS. Or ASPCA. Or whoever those people are. So they went, I stayed home with the Bubbs, and he got sick. Anyway. Sigh. But at least he didn’t develop his first real fever (outside of the NICU, that is) on a one nighter in Vegas.

Yesterday he woke up at about 4am just CRYING his little eyes out. I went in to comfort him, give him a drink of water, make sure his diaper wasn’t leaking, etc. and as soon as I picked him up I thought: Please let me be super cold. He was burning up, a fever of about 101.2. I read online that toddlers actually get and manage higher fevers than adults do, but still. Yo. No fun. I gave him some baby Motrin and it went down, but then went back up to 101.8 before the dose was supposed to wear off. We did that all day, the medicine taking the edge off but the fever still hanging out in real fever territory. His eyes were red and puffy, and all he wanted to do was sit on someone’s lap and watch movies or read books. Just SICK. I slept in his room with him last night and he was up every hour crying. I think he was just mad that he couldn’t stay asleep. When we got up at 4, his fever was down to 99 (which is I think in the range of normal again? even though he is usually at 97.4) and so I dosed him one more time and put him back to sleep. He woke up with a lot more energy, his temp evening out and seeming a lot happier. I promptly asked if my mother would watch him for an hour while I got some sleep.

I love my mother.

She even got the poopy diaper of the day.

Did I mention that I love my mother?

So now we’ll just take it slow today. I’m not sure if we’re done with the fever or not, as he’s been on medicine today, too. With one fever we managed to miss two birthday parties (one of my friends turned 26 and one of Camper’s turned 1) which is sad. But if I’m gonna spout off about mommas taking care of sick babies and not getting other people sick, then I gotta walk the walk.

We did have a fun day on Saturday- our family day was perfect, complete with a happy, bubbly baby, new books (for him) a dinner out (in a place where you sit down! and have someone bring you your food!) and Camper learned to drink from a straw. (Yeah, it just occurred to me that I might want to try that with him sometime.) And as soon as I can convince myself to stand up and move around a bit, I’m sure this week will be great. Let’s just hope the fever stays away…

(What causes a one day fever, anyway? Maybe he still has it and the meds are just taking it away now. Either way, I think I’m going to ditch the Motrin and see if I can get him to eat some garlicky potatoes for lunch. Save the baby liver!)

Tags: sick baby
Posted in All About Baby | 3 Comments »

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