They usually play well together, but sometimes their games get a little rough.
"Annie, Annie, are you okay?!"
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Alice and Ann
This is a little girl and her new best friend.
They usually play well together, but sometimes their games get a little rough.
"Annie, Annie, are you okay?!"
They usually play well together, but sometimes their games get a little rough.
"Annie, Annie, are you okay?!"
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Weekend with a good friend
My friend Julia came to visit us last weekend. Due to some strange blip in her work schedule, she had a 3-day weekend at the end of March and she decided to spend it with us. Woo hoo!
It was dreary, cold, and wet the whole time. We did regular day-to-day stuff, but every day felt like a holiday because we had someone new to share it with. Julia and I cooked great food together, went to a baby shower, helped serve dinner to 50+ ladies at the church, and then met with some other friends at a chocolate cafe. That was only Saturday! (Thanks to Bobby for watching Alice while we went gallivanting about town all day.)
Sunday morning was church. We forgot to bring the diaper bag, but thank goodness for the "emergency" car kit in our trunk. It had dipes and wipes so we didn't have to drive home and back during Sunday school (that's a 30-minute round trip!). I gave the lesson in Relief Society and learned a lot about myself and the women in my ward. I didn't expect such an outpouring of so many emotions. It was group therapy. After church, Julia and I lounged about the house reading, playing with Alice, and preparing good food while Bobby did all the gallivanting.
I don't know how she does it, but the simplest questions from Julia just pull the deepest, most elemental response from me. I give it willingly and I'm never embarrassed for answering so honestly. That doesn't happen very often in my life. More often than not, a good soul-bearing session from me leads to an instant dissolution of the relationship. I've hurt a few very good, very dear friends that way. I just can't stand to have someone know me so intimately, or need me too intensely. Julia and I have known each other for years. We've had some rough bits, but we somehow continue to be friends. Maybe that history has freed us from all the small talk.
Anyway, Monday was great, too. We ran errands and played with Alice. Alice went down for her afternoon nap and we popped in a DVD of LOST (3rd Season) and watched as much as we could before Alice woke up...and then some more while Alice was awake. Julia's work schedule doesn't allow for much leisure time, so she's still working through Season 3 for the first time. She happened to be up to the exact point in the season when Bobby and I stopped watching TV last year. I got to see 3 episodes I missed! (We still don't watch TV much, but I've managed to keep up with LOST through the online releases at abc.com) It was great seeing those episodes for the first time but still knowing how things turn out in the future. All the subtleties actually MEANT something since I knew the answers to some of the questions.
Julia had to leave Monday evening after dinner. Alice had actually started warming up to her by then. We made a delicious seafood bisque. Yes, I actually enjoyed it, even with my general aversion to all things fishy-tasting.
It was raining pretty steadily and water was overflowing from our roof gutters, but Alice wanted to play outside. We waved goodbye to Julia as she drove away, then Alice started exploring the driveway as if the rain weren't there. She noticed her hair was wet and she didn't like the water landing on her face, but she was having a great time. She pulled a soggy leaf off the ground and flung it around.
Julia took a few pictures throughout the weekend. When she forwards them to me, I'll post a couple here.
It was dreary, cold, and wet the whole time. We did regular day-to-day stuff, but every day felt like a holiday because we had someone new to share it with. Julia and I cooked great food together, went to a baby shower, helped serve dinner to 50+ ladies at the church, and then met with some other friends at a chocolate cafe. That was only Saturday! (Thanks to Bobby for watching Alice while we went gallivanting about town all day.)
Sunday morning was church. We forgot to bring the diaper bag, but thank goodness for the "emergency" car kit in our trunk. It had dipes and wipes so we didn't have to drive home and back during Sunday school (that's a 30-minute round trip!). I gave the lesson in Relief Society and learned a lot about myself and the women in my ward. I didn't expect such an outpouring of so many emotions. It was group therapy. After church, Julia and I lounged about the house reading, playing with Alice, and preparing good food while Bobby did all the gallivanting.
I don't know how she does it, but the simplest questions from Julia just pull the deepest, most elemental response from me. I give it willingly and I'm never embarrassed for answering so honestly. That doesn't happen very often in my life. More often than not, a good soul-bearing session from me leads to an instant dissolution of the relationship. I've hurt a few very good, very dear friends that way. I just can't stand to have someone know me so intimately, or need me too intensely. Julia and I have known each other for years. We've had some rough bits, but we somehow continue to be friends. Maybe that history has freed us from all the small talk.
Anyway, Monday was great, too. We ran errands and played with Alice. Alice went down for her afternoon nap and we popped in a DVD of LOST (3rd Season) and watched as much as we could before Alice woke up...and then some more while Alice was awake. Julia's work schedule doesn't allow for much leisure time, so she's still working through Season 3 for the first time. She happened to be up to the exact point in the season when Bobby and I stopped watching TV last year. I got to see 3 episodes I missed! (We still don't watch TV much, but I've managed to keep up with LOST through the online releases at abc.com) It was great seeing those episodes for the first time but still knowing how things turn out in the future. All the subtleties actually MEANT something since I knew the answers to some of the questions.
Julia had to leave Monday evening after dinner. Alice had actually started warming up to her by then. We made a delicious seafood bisque. Yes, I actually enjoyed it, even with my general aversion to all things fishy-tasting.
It was raining pretty steadily and water was overflowing from our roof gutters, but Alice wanted to play outside. We waved goodbye to Julia as she drove away, then Alice started exploring the driveway as if the rain weren't there. She noticed her hair was wet and she didn't like the water landing on her face, but she was having a great time. She pulled a soggy leaf off the ground and flung it around.
Julia took a few pictures throughout the weekend. When she forwards them to me, I'll post a couple here.
First Nectarine
Yesterday was a very busy day for Alice and me. We dropped Bobby off at work across town and had half an hour to kill until our first meeting of the day. It didn't make sense to go home since we'd get home just in time to turn around and come all the way back across town. I decided to take Alice to Schnuck's (a grocery store) for a little walk.
I let her walk on her own. She's so fun to watch in a new place full of exciting things. She squealed and pointed at all the balloons in the floral department. She waddled along the refrigerated islands in the deli department and found a whole shelf of Easter candy on clearance. Then we entered the produce department. She talked and pointed, smiling at everything. Then she got down on her hands and knees and seemed distressed, pointing at something under the display. I crouched down and saw a lonely little potato that had rolled under there. Alice got a little antsy trying to figure out how to get it. The display was too short for her to crawl directly under it. She'd have to slide down there on her stomach and she didn't quite know how to do it. She finally gave up on the potato and moved on.
Suddenly, she stopped again. Her eyes got big, her arms shot out in front of her with grabby hands, and she waddled as fast as her little legs could take her to this enormous bowl of red, juicy nectarines. I watched her carefully as she gently maneuvered one out of the bowl with both hands and brought it over to me. I told her this would make a delicious addition to our lunch today. We continued to wander through the store exploring the packages and people in every aisle.
Well, our busy day plowed on. We were in and out of the car a hundred times. Alice missed her morning nap. Lunch time arrived, but we had one more thing to do before going home. I gave Alice the nectarine to enjoy while I drove us to our final destination that morning. (Of course, being the mom, I had to take the first bite and "start it" for her..."mom bites" don't seem to bother the babe just yet.)
I have a confession to make. I repositioned the rear view mirror so I could catch glimpses of Alice eating while I drove. Boy, was THAT worth it. This girl started out dainty, but it didn't take long before she was all over this poor little Chilean fruit. She shaved off all the skin with her teeth (uh...did I remember to take off the sticker?). She smacked and snorfed and grunted and licked the WHOLE fruit gone in a matter of minutes. And as she slowly sucked the last piece off of the pit, her eyelids fluttered closed and her hand dropped. Apparently the nectarine was the only thing keeping her awake.
I should have taken a picture right then. Nectarine pulp smeared up to her hairline, all over the front of her red fuzzy jacket, and coating her hands up to the wrists. There was even a big sticky spot on her legs where the naked nectarine sat between bites. I like to see food all over a baby's face and hands. It's a picture of utter enthusiasm...or maybe poor motor skills...but charming nonetheless.
I let her walk on her own. She's so fun to watch in a new place full of exciting things. She squealed and pointed at all the balloons in the floral department. She waddled along the refrigerated islands in the deli department and found a whole shelf of Easter candy on clearance. Then we entered the produce department. She talked and pointed, smiling at everything. Then she got down on her hands and knees and seemed distressed, pointing at something under the display. I crouched down and saw a lonely little potato that had rolled under there. Alice got a little antsy trying to figure out how to get it. The display was too short for her to crawl directly under it. She'd have to slide down there on her stomach and she didn't quite know how to do it. She finally gave up on the potato and moved on.
Suddenly, she stopped again. Her eyes got big, her arms shot out in front of her with grabby hands, and she waddled as fast as her little legs could take her to this enormous bowl of red, juicy nectarines. I watched her carefully as she gently maneuvered one out of the bowl with both hands and brought it over to me. I told her this would make a delicious addition to our lunch today. We continued to wander through the store exploring the packages and people in every aisle.
Well, our busy day plowed on. We were in and out of the car a hundred times. Alice missed her morning nap. Lunch time arrived, but we had one more thing to do before going home. I gave Alice the nectarine to enjoy while I drove us to our final destination that morning. (Of course, being the mom, I had to take the first bite and "start it" for her..."mom bites" don't seem to bother the babe just yet.)
I have a confession to make. I repositioned the rear view mirror so I could catch glimpses of Alice eating while I drove. Boy, was THAT worth it. This girl started out dainty, but it didn't take long before she was all over this poor little Chilean fruit. She shaved off all the skin with her teeth (uh...did I remember to take off the sticker?). She smacked and snorfed and grunted and licked the WHOLE fruit gone in a matter of minutes. And as she slowly sucked the last piece off of the pit, her eyelids fluttered closed and her hand dropped. Apparently the nectarine was the only thing keeping her awake.
I should have taken a picture right then. Nectarine pulp smeared up to her hairline, all over the front of her red fuzzy jacket, and coating her hands up to the wrists. There was even a big sticky spot on her legs where the naked nectarine sat between bites. I like to see food all over a baby's face and hands. It's a picture of utter enthusiasm...or maybe poor motor skills...but charming nonetheless.
Nesting Instinct
Alice found a short cardboard box in our living room the other day. It once held 10 pounds of pre-packaged portabella mushrooms, so it's as big as an apple box but half the height. It's her new favorite toy to climb into, push around, flip over, fill with toys, and get rides in (her Daddy taught her that last one). This morning she filled the box with her grasshopper blanket, some clean cloth diapers, a few books, and a couple small toys. Then she sat quietly in this little nest and played by herself until breakfast.
She's also developed an affinity for Raggedy Ann and Blue Baby. She hugs them and carries them around the house, often as a pair. She hugs them so tight that she makes a strained hugging sound. I think she actually tried to say "Raggedy" today...something like "do-duh-dee." I'll see if I can't get a picture or movie to share with you soon.
She's also developed an affinity for Raggedy Ann and Blue Baby. She hugs them and carries them around the house, often as a pair. She hugs them so tight that she makes a strained hugging sound. I think she actually tried to say "Raggedy" today...something like "do-duh-dee." I'll see if I can't get a picture or movie to share with you soon.
Aw, man. Sick again?
Yesterday around 4:30pm the babe's behavior suddenly changes...snuggly, warm, strangely timid around the kids she was just playing with. Minutes later I hear a cough, a sniff, and then it dawns on me...this is going to be a rough night. She woke up 5 times. Couldn't find the pacifier, so I rocked her back to sleep every time. Gave her drugs at 3:00am because her fever was making ME sweat.
Alice woke up as always: chipper, talkative, ready to eat and play. She's been a little sensitive this morning, but remarkably pleasant for being sick. I decided to skip Lunch Bunch in case the babe was still contagious. Sad, but helpful in some ways. I had no more excuse to avoid the housework that's been piling up.
Lots more diarrhea, lots more laundry, but it's been better since I learned how to use the diaper liners better. Every time I diaper Alice, I put a thin paper liner (kind of like tissue paper) between her bum and the diaper itself. This liner catches the bulk of her messes so I can peel the mess off the diaper and flush it down the toilet---no diaper dunking required. I've been saving money by buying huge liners and cutting them in half. This works great as long as the kid's poop is firmer than peanut butter and you don't leave it in the diaper too long. It's miserable for runny stools. So, I finally stopped cutting the liners in half. These liners are bigger than the diaper itself! They cover every square inch of the diaper surface! They catch EVERYTHING! Now I understand why they come that huge.
Alice woke up as always: chipper, talkative, ready to eat and play. She's been a little sensitive this morning, but remarkably pleasant for being sick. I decided to skip Lunch Bunch in case the babe was still contagious. Sad, but helpful in some ways. I had no more excuse to avoid the housework that's been piling up.
Lots more diarrhea, lots more laundry, but it's been better since I learned how to use the diaper liners better. Every time I diaper Alice, I put a thin paper liner (kind of like tissue paper) between her bum and the diaper itself. This liner catches the bulk of her messes so I can peel the mess off the diaper and flush it down the toilet---no diaper dunking required. I've been saving money by buying huge liners and cutting them in half. This works great as long as the kid's poop is firmer than peanut butter and you don't leave it in the diaper too long. It's miserable for runny stools. So, I finally stopped cutting the liners in half. These liners are bigger than the diaper itself! They cover every square inch of the diaper surface! They catch EVERYTHING! Now I understand why they come that huge.
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