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Every day with my little one is a new experience, and a reminder of how sweet and simple life really is. Even with yukky diapers.
Monday, June 30, 2003
More than just a toot!
Cassidy pooped in her tubby last night. I couldn't believe it! I was getting her ready to go watch daddy play an early show that was being taped on OPB, and of course I wanted her all spiffy and clean. I set her in her tub, and all of a sudden I heard this loud explosion, followed by quite a few bubbles in the water, and it did cross my mind at the time that maybe this was a little more than just some good tootin'. But I didn't see anything, so I kept letting her play in the water. Next thing I know, the little pumpkin is scooting over to the side of her tub, exposing a nice brown lump that she'd left for me. I about died!!! So I whipped her out of the water, put her on the floor on a towel, and had to figure out a recovery plan! I was laughing and cringing at the same time! I scooped out the offending lump, had to drain the rest of the water into the big tub......then of course out came the Clorox Cleanup, and I thoroughly washed both tubs, rinsed, then had to get her back into the clean water to finish up her bath! I guess the water must have been pretty relaxing.....
She had kind of a tough day yesterday. We really think she's going to walk before she crawls. She's so close to getting her legs up underneath her, and since she doesn't seem to like to be on her knees, she pulls herself up and tries to stand. We can now hold her hands, and help her pull herself up from sitting to standing with very little intervention from us. It's crazy!! But of course, with learning to walk and crawl, you also learn how to fall. When she bonks her head it just makes her soooo mad! So yesterday we had a couple of bonks, one in particular that just set her off. She was sitting on the kitchen floor and fell backwards and bumped her head. Not hard enough to really hurt, but enough to REALLY make her mad. It was the first time I couldn't get her to stop crying. I finally gave her a binkie, and she fell asleep. I felt so bad. She'd had a couple of those yesterday, once she'd bonked daddy's head, and a couple of times she'd fallen over on her gymini from her back to her tummy. Sometimes she forgets how to roll over, and it's so hard not to try and help her, but I know I've just got to encourage her to try on her own. But last night, after all of the activity and bonks, she was her same happy little girl self, smiling and giggling with me on the floor. It's amazing what absolution your child's smile can bring.....
Cassidy pooped in her tubby last night. I couldn't believe it! I was getting her ready to go watch daddy play an early show that was being taped on OPB, and of course I wanted her all spiffy and clean. I set her in her tub, and all of a sudden I heard this loud explosion, followed by quite a few bubbles in the water, and it did cross my mind at the time that maybe this was a little more than just some good tootin'. But I didn't see anything, so I kept letting her play in the water. Next thing I know, the little pumpkin is scooting over to the side of her tub, exposing a nice brown lump that she'd left for me. I about died!!! So I whipped her out of the water, put her on the floor on a towel, and had to figure out a recovery plan! I was laughing and cringing at the same time! I scooped out the offending lump, had to drain the rest of the water into the big tub......then of course out came the Clorox Cleanup, and I thoroughly washed both tubs, rinsed, then had to get her back into the clean water to finish up her bath! I guess the water must have been pretty relaxing.....
She had kind of a tough day yesterday. We really think she's going to walk before she crawls. She's so close to getting her legs up underneath her, and since she doesn't seem to like to be on her knees, she pulls herself up and tries to stand. We can now hold her hands, and help her pull herself up from sitting to standing with very little intervention from us. It's crazy!! But of course, with learning to walk and crawl, you also learn how to fall. When she bonks her head it just makes her soooo mad! So yesterday we had a couple of bonks, one in particular that just set her off. She was sitting on the kitchen floor and fell backwards and bumped her head. Not hard enough to really hurt, but enough to REALLY make her mad. It was the first time I couldn't get her to stop crying. I finally gave her a binkie, and she fell asleep. I felt so bad. She'd had a couple of those yesterday, once she'd bonked daddy's head, and a couple of times she'd fallen over on her gymini from her back to her tummy. Sometimes she forgets how to roll over, and it's so hard not to try and help her, but I know I've just got to encourage her to try on her own. But last night, after all of the activity and bonks, she was her same happy little girl self, smiling and giggling with me on the floor. It's amazing what absolution your child's smile can bring.....
Thursday, June 26, 2003
Learning to Fly
Or in Cassidy's case, the struggle to crawl. Last night was so sweet. We walked over to the local McMenamins to grab a quick bite with one of Eric's bandmates, and Cass took a little nap while we were there. She's so good, and really enjoyable to take out. She's does great at restaurants, never fussy or loud. I have a feeling that will come to an end when she gets more active, so for now we're really enjoying it and trying to capitalize on going out with her.
Later last night, Eric and I were playing with her, and she was trying so hard to crawl. We layed on our stomachs with her, and got down to her level while she struggled at first to even roll over. It's tough when her arm gets in the way! She hasn't quite figured out how to easily pull it underneath her. So after practicing rolling over a few times, she would get onto her tummy, and bring her little leg up almost underneath her and try to push with it. Very frustrating for her, and we cheered her on from the sidelines. It was so sweet, she'd try on both sides, struggling to get that leg in the right position to crawl. When she couldn't do it, she'd yell, and sometimes put her little head down on the floor out of sheer exhaustion. Poor thing. But every time she'd try and fail, Eric and I would rub her back and pat her head and tell her to keep trying, that we had faith in her, and that she could do it. Through all her frustration, each time we'd give her some encouragement, she would look at us and smile, or just give us a look that said, "Thank you." I really felt like she knew we were trying to help her, and it seemed to make her more calm about the whole thing. I think we were on the floor with her for about an hour! Of course she wasn't trying to crawl the whole time, and we did alot of playing with her during that hour, but it really seemed like she tried for soooo long. Eric was especially sweet in his encouragement; he kept telling her to keep trying, that he knew she'd find a way to make it work, but that it takes lots of trys to find the right way. I'm probably just a naive new parent, but I really think she hears us, and I think it makes a difference to her.
I also think she may just walk before she crawls. She prefers to scoot around on her back, and since she's way more mobile that way, it's almost like crawling isnt' something she's truly interested in. But she can actually stand (!!) holding onto something on her own! It's hilarious too, because she'll just giggle and giggle, like it's the best thing in the world to be standing on her own. She's finally realized that she's got to keep her feet flat on the ground in order to balance, but often times she'll keep one foot flat, and stand on her tippy toes on the other foot. It's really funny. I'm not ready for her to walk yet. She just started sitting up!!!
Tonight we'll take her into NE for Last Thursday, an event that happens every month to showcase local artists and vendors. Should be fun, and some bands will be playing too, which will be interesting for her since she loves music. Shocking, I know! I'll write about that experience tomorrow most likely. That's it for now, getting ready for the big trip to the Lake, and I have to put together a list of all the things she'll need. Planning never ends!!
Oh, and on a quick note, Eric had something really funny happen yesterday. She had like, three poops yesterday, all pretty solid. Well, apparantly, one of her poops was like a golf ball, and since she's been know to pee on herself the second we take off her diaper to change her, Eric's really been concentrating on taking the old one off, and getting the new one at least under her so that if she does pee, the diaper's there to catch it and it doesn't get all over her clothes and changing table. So he changed the golf ball poo diap, stuck it in the diaper genie, and was off. Well,the next time he went into her room to change her, he noticed this round dark thing in between the changing pad and the table....apparantly he'd been trying so hard to get the old diap off and the new one on, that the poop had rolled out! HAHAHAHAAAAA!!! I was cracking up sooo hard when I heard that one!! He couldn't believe it! He's still mystefied by the physics of how that poop just rolled right out of the diaper!!! Hilarious! I'm telling you, the fun never stops!!
Or in Cassidy's case, the struggle to crawl. Last night was so sweet. We walked over to the local McMenamins to grab a quick bite with one of Eric's bandmates, and Cass took a little nap while we were there. She's so good, and really enjoyable to take out. She's does great at restaurants, never fussy or loud. I have a feeling that will come to an end when she gets more active, so for now we're really enjoying it and trying to capitalize on going out with her.
Later last night, Eric and I were playing with her, and she was trying so hard to crawl. We layed on our stomachs with her, and got down to her level while she struggled at first to even roll over. It's tough when her arm gets in the way! She hasn't quite figured out how to easily pull it underneath her. So after practicing rolling over a few times, she would get onto her tummy, and bring her little leg up almost underneath her and try to push with it. Very frustrating for her, and we cheered her on from the sidelines. It was so sweet, she'd try on both sides, struggling to get that leg in the right position to crawl. When she couldn't do it, she'd yell, and sometimes put her little head down on the floor out of sheer exhaustion. Poor thing. But every time she'd try and fail, Eric and I would rub her back and pat her head and tell her to keep trying, that we had faith in her, and that she could do it. Through all her frustration, each time we'd give her some encouragement, she would look at us and smile, or just give us a look that said, "Thank you." I really felt like she knew we were trying to help her, and it seemed to make her more calm about the whole thing. I think we were on the floor with her for about an hour! Of course she wasn't trying to crawl the whole time, and we did alot of playing with her during that hour, but it really seemed like she tried for soooo long. Eric was especially sweet in his encouragement; he kept telling her to keep trying, that he knew she'd find a way to make it work, but that it takes lots of trys to find the right way. I'm probably just a naive new parent, but I really think she hears us, and I think it makes a difference to her.
I also think she may just walk before she crawls. She prefers to scoot around on her back, and since she's way more mobile that way, it's almost like crawling isnt' something she's truly interested in. But she can actually stand (!!) holding onto something on her own! It's hilarious too, because she'll just giggle and giggle, like it's the best thing in the world to be standing on her own. She's finally realized that she's got to keep her feet flat on the ground in order to balance, but often times she'll keep one foot flat, and stand on her tippy toes on the other foot. It's really funny. I'm not ready for her to walk yet. She just started sitting up!!!
Tonight we'll take her into NE for Last Thursday, an event that happens every month to showcase local artists and vendors. Should be fun, and some bands will be playing too, which will be interesting for her since she loves music. Shocking, I know! I'll write about that experience tomorrow most likely. That's it for now, getting ready for the big trip to the Lake, and I have to put together a list of all the things she'll need. Planning never ends!!
Oh, and on a quick note, Eric had something really funny happen yesterday. She had like, three poops yesterday, all pretty solid. Well, apparantly, one of her poops was like a golf ball, and since she's been know to pee on herself the second we take off her diaper to change her, Eric's really been concentrating on taking the old one off, and getting the new one at least under her so that if she does pee, the diaper's there to catch it and it doesn't get all over her clothes and changing table. So he changed the golf ball poo diap, stuck it in the diaper genie, and was off. Well,the next time he went into her room to change her, he noticed this round dark thing in between the changing pad and the table....apparantly he'd been trying so hard to get the old diap off and the new one on, that the poop had rolled out! HAHAHAHAAAAA!!! I was cracking up sooo hard when I heard that one!! He couldn't believe it! He's still mystefied by the physics of how that poop just rolled right out of the diaper!!! Hilarious! I'm telling you, the fun never stops!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
What Not to do at a Sales Conference
Ok, for all you new mommies who have to go back to work, I write this for you. We have a great arrangement where my husband Eric stays home with Cassidy and I work, since I happen to have the better benefits. Well, that also meant that I had to go back to work three months after Cass was born. Never underestimate how hard that is, even if you leave your baby with someone you absolutely trust. I was lucky in that I could nurse Cassidy easily, and had been pumping and storing my milk for the full three months in anticipation of going back to work. Turns out the week I went back we had to attend a sales conference in CA. I live in OR. So i was gone for three full days from Cassidy which really is a kind of torture.
First let me say how pathetic I was. I carried around this little album of pictures that "talked". So when I pushed a button for each picture, I could hear her little cry that I'd recorded. I only burst into tears twice, and was able to escape to the bathroom both times. So here's the funny/tragic part. I'd been saving up all this milk for her so she wouldn't (god forbid) have to have formula. I just wasn't ready for that yet. I called home one day and Eric said she was running pretty low, and we might actually run out before i got home. (!!!!!!!!!) Now, keep in mind, I'd planned for this possibility. I'd called the hotel ahead of time, arranged for a box to be delivered to my room, so I could Airborne Express my breastmilk home. Yes, I brought the pump and stored it there! I also asked our event coordinator to make sure I had a refrigerator so I could store what I'd pumped. Finally, since I'd needed dry ice to send it, I called the local Albertsons' and arranged for the dry ice to be there.
Well, here I am, in a cab, on my way to Albertson's, all ready to Airborne my milk home. Tragedy of all tragedies, they actually RAN OUT of dry ice!!!! Do you have any idea how hard it is to find that stuff?? So I rode around in the cab for an hour, hitting every grocery store, Baskin-Robbins, and liquor store I could find to see if I could get dry ice, crying my eyes out the whole time! I never did find any, and Cassidy made it down to the last packet just as I got home. So the moral here is, don't panic! Cass drinks formula now, and even though I pumped for a full 8 months, she's now on solids and doing just fine. Formula didn't stunt her growth, she's obviously smart and healthy. As usual, it's always harder on mommy that it is on baby!!
Ok, for all you new mommies who have to go back to work, I write this for you. We have a great arrangement where my husband Eric stays home with Cassidy and I work, since I happen to have the better benefits. Well, that also meant that I had to go back to work three months after Cass was born. Never underestimate how hard that is, even if you leave your baby with someone you absolutely trust. I was lucky in that I could nurse Cassidy easily, and had been pumping and storing my milk for the full three months in anticipation of going back to work. Turns out the week I went back we had to attend a sales conference in CA. I live in OR. So i was gone for three full days from Cassidy which really is a kind of torture.
First let me say how pathetic I was. I carried around this little album of pictures that "talked". So when I pushed a button for each picture, I could hear her little cry that I'd recorded. I only burst into tears twice, and was able to escape to the bathroom both times. So here's the funny/tragic part. I'd been saving up all this milk for her so she wouldn't (god forbid) have to have formula. I just wasn't ready for that yet. I called home one day and Eric said she was running pretty low, and we might actually run out before i got home. (!!!!!!!!!) Now, keep in mind, I'd planned for this possibility. I'd called the hotel ahead of time, arranged for a box to be delivered to my room, so I could Airborne Express my breastmilk home. Yes, I brought the pump and stored it there! I also asked our event coordinator to make sure I had a refrigerator so I could store what I'd pumped. Finally, since I'd needed dry ice to send it, I called the local Albertsons' and arranged for the dry ice to be there.
Well, here I am, in a cab, on my way to Albertson's, all ready to Airborne my milk home. Tragedy of all tragedies, they actually RAN OUT of dry ice!!!! Do you have any idea how hard it is to find that stuff?? So I rode around in the cab for an hour, hitting every grocery store, Baskin-Robbins, and liquor store I could find to see if I could get dry ice, crying my eyes out the whole time! I never did find any, and Cassidy made it down to the last packet just as I got home. So the moral here is, don't panic! Cass drinks formula now, and even though I pumped for a full 8 months, she's now on solids and doing just fine. Formula didn't stunt her growth, she's obviously smart and healthy. As usual, it's always harder on mommy that it is on baby!!
The Love of our Lives
I've waited my whole life for this baby. And I have to say, so far she's really met all my expectations! I suppose most mothers would say that, but really, I mean it. She's so sweet and funny. We just started swim lessons, and yesterday I took her to the pool to swim around. She's only 8 months old, but she did great! We even went underwater, which I have to admit made me more nervous than her. Apparantly at this age, they don't have an innate fear of water, I'm guessing because it wasn't that long since they were surrounded by it. She's starting to teeth now, so she's a little bit uncomfortable, but really is a trooper! If I had all those teeth coming in at once, I'd be crying all the time! But she really just wants me to hold her alot, which I do. I indulge her quite a bit in that area. I'm sure many people wouldn't agree with my belief in attachment parenting, but I've surprised myself and really do think that it's good for the child. And she's been so incredibly adaptable. We did co sleep until she was six months old, then Eric put the brakes on that. He was right to get her into her crib, but it was a painful transition for me. Last night though, was a good example of why it's best for her to be in her crib; Eric was at rehearsal, and I was so tired i just finally brought her back into bed with me. She did fall asleep, but not before pummelling me with her little feet. She's a big twister in bed, and she'll roll closer and closer until she's just snuggled up against you. But then the kicking starts! I realized that I too slept better with her in her own crib, but I'm so incredibly glad I had the first six months with her. I'd do it again with the next one.
Cassidy is really a very sweet child. I'm going to have a real problem if other kids ever pick on her. It's going to be my first instinct to want to read them the riot act, but I know I can't do that. It would be a disservice to her if I were to intervene each time she faced a challenge. It was kind of funny, but I got a glimpse of how challenging this is going to be. We were at a party and there was another little girl Cassidy's age there too. The first thought I had (shame on me!) was that Cassidy was so much cuter!! That's horrible!! Then I watched how Cassidy reacted to this girl-- she was so excited, reaching out for her, wanting to make friends. Well this other little girl had just woken up, and was kind of out of it and not really paying any attention to Cass. I truly wanted to reach out and shake her and say "Hey! Pay attention! Cassidy wants to make friends!" Ok, hello! High strung mommy!
Speaking of high strung mommy.....I'm now actually considering growing my own food. I find myself incredibly motivated to make sure I give her the best of everything, including nutrition. We went to another party (these are family friendly parties...) and one of my friends who gave birth a week after me and stays home with her baby thought I was crazy for making all of Cassidy's baby food. But I realize there is so little I can control, and Cassidy's well-being is something I can influence, so I do. I'm very strict about buying only organic vegetables and fruits, but I really think that since we can do it, we should grow our own. I'm so motivated when it comes to Cass, I've never felt that way about anything before. Certainly I wouldn't be motivated to take this good care of myself.......although I've noticed that I too have started to benefit by eating more vegetables and exercising more, to make sure I'm strong and healthy for Cassidy. It's all for her.
I also noticed that I'm experiencing a great deal of mommy guilt. I dont' think that will ever end. I feel great about having Eric home with her, it would be tragic if I had to put her in daycare. But I'M her mommy, and when those little arms reach out for me, I feel like I should always be there for her. As a result, I feel like when I get home I should just concentrate on her, and really play with her. Sometimes it's overload for her because she doesn't need structured, learning play all the time, and it over stimulates her to have me in her face with all these toys that blink and beep. So I'm trying to balance out active play and just holding her. Sometimes I just don't know what she wants, but I do know that if she cries, I always pick her up and comfort her, and that will never change.
I've waited my whole life for this baby. And I have to say, so far she's really met all my expectations! I suppose most mothers would say that, but really, I mean it. She's so sweet and funny. We just started swim lessons, and yesterday I took her to the pool to swim around. She's only 8 months old, but she did great! We even went underwater, which I have to admit made me more nervous than her. Apparantly at this age, they don't have an innate fear of water, I'm guessing because it wasn't that long since they were surrounded by it. She's starting to teeth now, so she's a little bit uncomfortable, but really is a trooper! If I had all those teeth coming in at once, I'd be crying all the time! But she really just wants me to hold her alot, which I do. I indulge her quite a bit in that area. I'm sure many people wouldn't agree with my belief in attachment parenting, but I've surprised myself and really do think that it's good for the child. And she's been so incredibly adaptable. We did co sleep until she was six months old, then Eric put the brakes on that. He was right to get her into her crib, but it was a painful transition for me. Last night though, was a good example of why it's best for her to be in her crib; Eric was at rehearsal, and I was so tired i just finally brought her back into bed with me. She did fall asleep, but not before pummelling me with her little feet. She's a big twister in bed, and she'll roll closer and closer until she's just snuggled up against you. But then the kicking starts! I realized that I too slept better with her in her own crib, but I'm so incredibly glad I had the first six months with her. I'd do it again with the next one.
Cassidy is really a very sweet child. I'm going to have a real problem if other kids ever pick on her. It's going to be my first instinct to want to read them the riot act, but I know I can't do that. It would be a disservice to her if I were to intervene each time she faced a challenge. It was kind of funny, but I got a glimpse of how challenging this is going to be. We were at a party and there was another little girl Cassidy's age there too. The first thought I had (shame on me!) was that Cassidy was so much cuter!! That's horrible!! Then I watched how Cassidy reacted to this girl-- she was so excited, reaching out for her, wanting to make friends. Well this other little girl had just woken up, and was kind of out of it and not really paying any attention to Cass. I truly wanted to reach out and shake her and say "Hey! Pay attention! Cassidy wants to make friends!" Ok, hello! High strung mommy!
Speaking of high strung mommy.....I'm now actually considering growing my own food. I find myself incredibly motivated to make sure I give her the best of everything, including nutrition. We went to another party (these are family friendly parties...) and one of my friends who gave birth a week after me and stays home with her baby thought I was crazy for making all of Cassidy's baby food. But I realize there is so little I can control, and Cassidy's well-being is something I can influence, so I do. I'm very strict about buying only organic vegetables and fruits, but I really think that since we can do it, we should grow our own. I'm so motivated when it comes to Cass, I've never felt that way about anything before. Certainly I wouldn't be motivated to take this good care of myself.......although I've noticed that I too have started to benefit by eating more vegetables and exercising more, to make sure I'm strong and healthy for Cassidy. It's all for her.
I also noticed that I'm experiencing a great deal of mommy guilt. I dont' think that will ever end. I feel great about having Eric home with her, it would be tragic if I had to put her in daycare. But I'M her mommy, and when those little arms reach out for me, I feel like I should always be there for her. As a result, I feel like when I get home I should just concentrate on her, and really play with her. Sometimes it's overload for her because she doesn't need structured, learning play all the time, and it over stimulates her to have me in her face with all these toys that blink and beep. So I'm trying to balance out active play and just holding her. Sometimes I just don't know what she wants, but I do know that if she cries, I always pick her up and comfort her, and that will never change.
