Give Me Something Good To Eat

Charlotte had her first "solid" food today.  I've waited until now because she has mad acid-reflux skillz.  The reflux situation is waaaay better than it used to be, but today after eating this she still refluxed (is that a word?  It is NOW) some of it up...so while the eating went well, I don't know if we'll continue if the refluxing (see above) continues to be an issue.  I might just wait until it is gone so as to make things better for all of us...I mean, who wants to taste their food again ever?

Also, could I have used the term reflux any more in that paragraph?

Anyway, here's the evidence:

Completely unsuspecting.

Still doesn't know what hit her.

Hey, wait a second... 

See-food!!!

Oh, no - more?!?

Dear Lord, give me strength.

Maybe it's not soooo bad.

I mean, if sister likes it...

An Announcement:

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

3:07 pm

6 pounds, 1 ounce

18 inches

teeny tiny toes

Happy Birthday to our third little girl, Charlotte.

Finito

The so-called infant pod is finished. Please forgive the baby doll in the above photo; I went with what I had. I made the pod to specs, inches-wise, and I must admit that I think it will be waaaayyyy long for a newborn mostly because they tend to keep their bodies all smooshed up

If the child wants to stretch his or her legs, however, it is long enough to accommodate that for an average newborn...which is a good thing I suppose.

Better too big than too small, yes?

Also, I am certain that there are some mistakes in it, which is to be expected when one has been driven crazy by the business of the present giving season.

Regardless, I am very happy with it and excited that I now have a rather unique gift to give people who have little ones on the way. I learned a few new stitches/cast-ons/seam methods with this project, and that is always good.

Carry on, people, carry on..

Well, That Makes Sense

So...

After another night of oh so little sleep, I made the executive decision on Saturday that the little one needed to see a doctor.

We call and of course he'll see her.

Have I told you that I chose the best Doctor ever?

We go and I told the admitting nurse that I was hoping that they would find something wrong with her.

How awful is that, people?

But twas true.

They check everything - her throat, her lungs, her ears, her eyes, her body...

and...

nada.

At which point the Doc tells me he wants to put a urine bag on her for a sample and he wants to take some blood.

Woot.

We do both, all the while I should mention, Little Miss Itty Bitty is tired, cranky, and kinda impossible. I mean, usually she watches the doctor and pulls on him and smiles at him, but this time? Not gonna happen. Crying galore is on the menu, folks and she hates to disappoint.

After a while, we get some urine, and the tests show nothing wrong there.

They take the blood, and might I add that they are way more proficient in doing so than the lab tech who did her nine month blood work. Jeepers creepers, man, learn to take blood from babies.

The blood shows that she is fighting a virus.

Yup, no symptoms, but a virus indeed.

No wonder she was not sleeping and was fussy and the works.

We are told to do the benadryl/tylenol regimen and that if any symptoms develop, to call him day or night and let him take some of the responsibility for making her well.

What a nice Doctor.

We comply and things have been better. Sleep was achieved and a happy baby has emerged.

Thank goodness for that.

Yesterday LMIB crawled into our closet and grabbed my running shoe to gnaw on the laces (or whichever part she could get in her mouth) and Rocket Man declared that THAT IS WHY SHE HAS A VIRUS.

Uh huh.

That must be it.

May I include that the WOMAN, SO WHY DON'T YOU KEEP HER FROM DOING IT part of that declaration was left off, but clearly received.

To which I would just like to respond:

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

and:

Let's see you try, Mister.

I mean, this is the man who used to escape the house with his brother when they were children and run down to the goose-poop infested pond and "swim". We all know that they ingested some of the water. And most likely they put it in their mouths and spit it at one another amongst other things that brothers do to one another while swimming.

This goose-poop pond? The water would turn their little white undies a fine shade of black.

Oh, yes, but keep the running shoes away!

I mean, when she goes to the playground and comes home with feet that look like this:








Really, what's the point?

Aye, mi hija...

My child, whom I would love nothing more than to refer to her (when speaking with my husband) as YOUR DAUGHTER...but then that really isn't fair as we all know whatever difficult-ness she exhibits comes directly from yours truly, is currently in her swing, both hands behind her head, snoozing and snoring away.

Nice, huh?

Not so much.

You see, yesterday's sleep consisted of a mere 25 minutes in the stroller during Cooper's morning stroll.

Last night's sleep consisted of a mere 5 hours. Oh, yes. She "went to bed" at about 6:45 pm, but she woke up about a bazillion times between then and 11, when I went up AGAIN to help her get to sleep.

It took over an hour.

Then a little after 5 am, she woke to eat, then blabbered in her bed a bit, then rolled/crawled/slobbered over me when Rocket Man moved her to our bed while he got ready for work.

Just what I wanted, let me tell you.

Oh, and she head-butted the headboard like a champ.

I don't think THAT is why they call it a headboard, but try telling HER that.

Some good news is that she has another tooth - this time the center one up top, so no more vampire in the family. Also, the snotty nose/cough/irritable cold that comes with the teething appears to be diminishing.

Yesterday she crawled all over the place downstairs, as in real crawling, not army crawling, during her marathon do-everything-I-can-to-stay-awake session also known as the entire afternoon.

More fun was the way she played with her Chompy-lones, and he with her. She crawls to him, tries to touch him, he grumbles and shoots away, which makes her belly-laugh in delight. Other laugh-worthy doggy activities include: "chasing" him, watching him fetch his toys, touching his tongue when he's all worn out and panting, and bullying him out of his bed.

When she learns to walk and run, he is in for a world of hurt.

A good kind of hurt, but still - he's going to be so worn out!

All I'll be able to say is welcome to the club.

Eight Months

Señorita Clementina,

On January 29th, you turned eight months old. Yup, I'm late again. Welcome to life; things are never perfect.

You spent the first eighteen days of January being sick. One would think this means that I don't have very much to write about this go around, but boy is that far from the truth. You change too much in these early months for me to ever have only a little bit to write about. Plus, I want to remember all of the little things you do from month to month, which makes for a rather long list.

One good result of your illness, besides the fact that you now have some immune defenses built up, is that you became a napper. No worries about that, my dear as you have already begun to worm yourself away from it, but for the month or so that you did it, boy was it great. You would get up in the morning and wear yourself out playing and then into the swing you'd go to have a quick chat with your fishes and a short snooze-a-roo. Then you'd be up for a bite to eat and some more action. Around 1:00 you'd go back down for a longer nap, wake up and eat, then go for a walk with your chompy-lones in the early evening, eat some more, and go to bed!

What's that? A schedule!

As I said, you are quickly ridding yourself of such things, but hey - that's life too I suppose.

You didn't eat too much the first part of the month. I don't blame you; who has time to eat when they are busy trying to breathe? You began to eat more the last part of the month. You quite enjoy the peas and you inhale bananas. Your mouth is open for both before I can get the food up there. This is very encouraging since you took quite awhile warming up to the food-eating process.


We have spoken before about the fact that you were taking your sweet time on the tooth front, and this month you have finally broken through. I mentioned that your teeth were playing the drama queen and were waiting for a special event to reveal themselves; this event just happened to be the Presidential Inauguration. Oh, yes. The day after was your day to shine! You got the bottom center left tooth first, followed one week later by the bottom center right tooth. Two days after that you got an upper right tooth.

We can already tell that you are a non-conformist as that top right tooth is not the center one, but one to the right of that. Oh, yes. And you only have three thus far; so much for teeth coming in pairs.

In order to soothe your gum you chewed on your exer-saucer quite a bit. Usually you chose the apple in the photo above, but occasionally the platform on the bottom was good enough although apparently you do not want to be caught doing so:


Another major development this month is that you reach for things all the time. You finally figured out how to grab the dangling toys on your exer-saucer, you are constantly reaching for and grabbing faces, and then there's your favorite thing to reach for:


That's right, you love your doggy. You haven't quite figured out how to play with him yet, but his movements absolutely delight you:


Speaking of delight, you are a pretty happy little girl. You only fuss when things are wrong these days, and you are starting to entertain yourself, which is a relief for me.


You are becoming more mobile by way of rolling and scooting. The scoot is normally about half a scoot and then you roll. It takes you absolutely forever to get to most things, but you set your sights on them and are a determined little one; you always figure out a way to get there.

You have also begun a new sound this month, that of happy squealing. It isn't very loud, and definitely nowhere near a screech, but a little high-pitched squeal it is. You are so very funny when you get excited and make these noises because you are obviously very happy about it:


You began the month with a new face. You would stick your tongue out and curve it up towards your nose and talk. You did it almost exclusively for a couple of weeks, and then you were done.

One activity you are not done with is that of sucking your fingers. You suck them when you are hungry, bored, tired, or just need soothing.


You discovered textures this month. You roll/scoot over to things and proceed to touch them, smack at them, grab them, pull them, and basically see what you can make them do. This includes things like your hat:


You love all of the pieces on the floor of your play mat that flap and crinkle and move. Included in this list is the tag on the play mat and any other toy you can get your hands on. You chew on the tags every chance you get. Also? The straps on your car seat and stroller. Oh, yes. Tags and straps. Who knew?


I started teaching you to drum on things this month, mostly the desk where we talk on the web cam. I am hoping you will soon transfer this to the drum you received at Christmas. You love it when we help you drum the table as quickly as we can. Way fun indeed.

You still put your hands together and squeeze. You've done this since you were born (you came out doing it, in fact) and you delight in it. You do it when you eat, when you're falling asleep, when you wake up and when you're happy.


Basically you'll do it any old time and it is definitely one of my favorites.

Love,
Mom

I'm not dead yet, thanks for asking...

I've had a few people comment on my lack of posting. All I can say is that the ideas are there, some posts are even begun and some are full of photos and no words, but I've been lacking a very important factor: motivation.

It is my birthday month, and like last year at this time, it might as well not even exist. We are very busy (doing what, I have no idea, but the days go *poof!*) and life is happening and that is all there is to it. I know that I've waited way too long to post when Brian drops me from his blog log.

Also on his log is Kim, a friend of his whom I have never met. I occasionally check out her site and have found that she tells it how she sees it and doesn't waste her breath...um...fingers, which is nice. This is made more apparent by the title of her blog: Talk Less, Say More. She just restarted her blog again, so there's not much there yet, but in the past Thursdays were meme day. I have no idea if this will continue, but this one I found interesting, so I decided to do it.

Yes, I know this isn't original, but hey - my answers are my own, so that has to count for something.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I had a baby and took care of one and I explored some of Houston that we'd previously ignored.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any, as I was extremely busy being pregnant, moving, and having said child. I want to get into shape this year. I'd love for my child to sleep through the night, but that would be her resolution, would it not?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
In 2008? I don't think so, but I am a walking zombie, so forgive me if I am wrong.

5. What countries did you visit?
I was living in Spain, walked over to Gibraltar, and moved to Houston via France, if that counts.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Time with my husband, time to sleep, time to create some schedules/traditions/family activities, time for me to get some things done, both required and those that I would simply like to do for fun. TIME.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I did not really achieve anything - I've been swamped with the little one. Proof of this is that I don't blog lately. OH, WAIT. I did manage to post every day in November...although only a handful of people read it - does that count as an achievement? I'm guessing not.

8. What was your biggest failure?
Staying on top of things. This is to be expected when one has a baby is my guess, so I don't know that it counts as a failure. I am also really bad at correspondence, and even more so now that, [record skipping] baby, baby, baby.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope on the illness. I had runner's knee when I attempted to begin running in the fall. Go figure.

10. What was the best thing you bought?
We bought a lot when we moved: automobiles, house, baby stuff, furniture...I think the best item we bought were webcams for the grandparents.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My Mom - she came to help with the baby and aside from being Guga, she cleaned the house and cooked. And she really hates to clean. Seriously hates it. Like me.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Um, my own when frustrated and defeated and tired from, once again: la bambina. Again, though - I am pretty sure everyone to an extent acts like a crazy person after baby arrives because hello - no sleep.

13. Where did most of your money go?
Towards all of the new things from this year: bills, house, cars, baby, education plan, retirement plan, etc. etc. etc.

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nada. No, wait. I was really excited to travel for a long weekend with my husband to Sevilla and Ubrique in Spain. We also took a day trip to Cordoba that had me pretty excited.

15. What song will always remind you of 2008?
(I love you) A Bushel and a Peck, as sung by Doris Day. LMIB loves it, and it was used in a slide-show for my Granny's 80th birthday.

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
(a)I wouldn't say happier, but I definitely wouldn't say sadder either, so neither and/or mixed bag.
(b)I'm not fat. I am post-baby and I've got some more weight/inches to lose, hence the resolution.
(c)Richer in so many ways, poorer in a few as well.

17. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I'd had more time with my husband; all of us as a family.

18. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Less stressing/worrying about silly things that I have no control of. For example: when baby sleeps in first couple of months, and whether or not she sucks her thumb; they are what they are.

19. How did you spend Christmas?
My parents, Guga and Papa Jim, came here for the week leading up to Christmas Day, then left to see my brother's family. We then traveled the weekend after Christmas to southern Virginia to see my Dad's extended family, whom we had not seen in three years. Good times.

20. Did you fall in love in 2008?
If having a child and loving her counts, then yes. Also, if finding a new TV show that I missed while in Spain counts, yes.

21. What was your favorite TV program?
I started watching Bones and it is my new favorite. Still love me some NCIS, though.

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Seriously? This is one of the questions? Who has time for that?

23. What was the best book you read?
Oh, how I miss reading. OH HOW I MISS READING! I am pretty sure I read the new J.D.Robb book from her "in death" series. Mindless fun.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Simply for the calming effect it has on Rootin' Tootin' Cowgirl, A Bushel and a Peck.

25. What did you want and get?
I wanted a healthy baby and that is what we've got.

26. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to do a little more traveling before we left Europe and we so did not get that. Also, see above question regarding wanting more time for things - all of those things.

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Oh, jeepers. I only saw a couple of them...The Dark Knight was good as was Mama Mia.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29. I did nothing. We were in the middle of moving and acquiring everything we needed to live here, so no time for the birthday...and those of you who know me realize what a total bummer this was as I normally enjoy celebrating my birthday month. I think that little tradition has pretty much been shot down for the foreseeable future.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Oh, I dunno. Many things could have been different. We were so busy that we didn't have time to enjoy anything really, so maybe that could have been different. Then again, maybe not.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Maternity clothes and comfortable shoes followed by maternity clothes and/or whatever fits and sneakers.

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy? I dunno.

32. What political issue stirred you the most?
My answer isn't really an issue as much as it is the way that the country responded to voting this year. People who in the past didn't take action got up of their tuckus and made their voice heard. The fact that the younger, previously more apathetic generation got so involved is especially encouraging.

33. Who did you miss?
People I met in Spain.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I don't know that they are life lessons, but here you go:
Babies make you stoopid.
My life is not about me ever.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck
A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and a heap and I'm talkin' in my sleep
About you, about you
'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo

I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck though you make my heart a wreck
Make my heart a wreck and you make my life a mess
Make my life a mess, yes a mess of happiness
About you, about you
'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo

I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and it beats me all to heck
It beats me all to heck, how I'll ever tend the farm
Ever tend the farm when I wanna keep my arm
About you, about you
'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-ooh-doo-doo

Or Sumthin'

Happy New Year!
Or not.

This right here pretty much sums up what the new year has been like for the three of us:



One word: Awesome.

So very much so that even Rocket Man, who usually never even gets sick, announced today that he was....brace yourselves...

...staying here to work from home.

HOLY SMOKES, THE WORLD, IT IS A-ENDIN'!

Yes, I haven't posted a seven month letter yet. The photos are ready and I know what I will say, but the holiday traveling and added gift of a rhino virus for three (what fun...see above photo) has thus far prevented me from posting it.

DEAL WITH IT.

Until we are feeling better,
Running on Fumes (That moniker was never more true than right now...)

Carrots

Little Miss Itty Bitty had carrots for the first time today. Here is a photo of her after the first bite:


She appears to be thinking about the taste...either that or about the fact that her father took a photo so that we can all see up her nose. Thanks for that one, yeah?

Here she is a little later:


Think she enjoys the carrots?

I must say, getting her to eat carrots was much easier than getting her to eat cereal. Yup, even with that face, the carrots went down more easily. Or in more easily.

We have a few days of this vegetable, and then it is on to squash or sweet potatoes. Coming soon: fruits!

Six Months

Señorita Clementina,


Today you are six months old. This photo? I put it first to show that you are tired.

Sleeeeeepyyyyyy.

In need of a snooze.

I would like to make a suggestion. No need to accept it; I am just throwing it out there.

Sleep. All night long. Just once.


Don't look at me like that. I am not crazy. In fact, there are many babies out there who manage to sleep all night long pretty much every night.

Holy smokes; I know!


Oh, stop it. I know what you are trying to say: "Bull!"

It is not. I am telling the absolute truth, miss thing. Oh, how much happier you and I would be if you slept all night.

Mostly me, but also you, so just get with the program already!

Okay, I'll leave you to contemplate that one.

As should be pretty obvious at this point, you don't sleep through the night and haven't ever since we visited Virginia for your Geat Ganny's birthday. Woe is me.

On the plus side, this has been the month of making faces. My, oh my have they been varied and entertaining. They are due in large part to the fact that your teeth are a movin'. You just shove everything you can into your mouth and even chew on your tongue and lips. Whatever works, I say.

Towards the beginning of the month, your Dad and I fed you some cereal just to see how you would take it.


You were less than impressed.

The cereal itself is so thinned out that you could have been taking it from a bottle, so I am fairly certain that the faces were more about the spoon in your mouth than anything else.


Seriously guys? What is that thing, and why are you shoving it into my mouth? Also, why exactly am I naked? Are we supposed to remove our clothing to eat?

That could be a problem in a year or so. I can see it now...we'll be out at a restaurant and you'll be flinging your clothing all over the place. Excellent.

This month you have been very content on your belly for long periods of time. Recently you've been figuring out how to scoot yourself around a bit. The fact that you insist on having both hands in your mouth while you scoot has impeded your movement, but you don't let it get to you.

You are also changing in the looks department. You began life looking exactly like your Daddy did when he was born. Then you changed and looked very similar to my baby photos. Now, you are changing again. I enjoy these changes because we all get to discuss who we think you resemble most.


You are definitely looking different than the beginning of the month:


In addition to shoving your hands in your mouth and chewing on clothing, cloth diapers, lips, tongue, and whatever you can grab, the feet are still high on the list of things to put in your mouth. You are able to grab them and shove them in there as easily as you breathe, and you are quite adept at getting just the first two toes in so that you can suck on them.


The weather finally cooled off enough this month that we needed to put a hat on you. We both promptly died from the cuteness.


We soon recovered and were able to take you walking and out and about. Oh, how you love to be out and about. You are so very happy if you get a field trip and you absolutely expect your evening walk.


There you go with the faces again. I know, we put your hokie hat on ya and we want to take a picture. You're just starting to figure out the photo thing. I guess I've shoved the camera in your face often enough now that you're starting to understand what is expected of you:


Then again, it lights up and beeps, and we all know you enjoy those things, so perhaps you're just demonstrating your pleasure.


I am thinking it may be the latter.

Why?

Well, aside from the fact that you are only six months old, and are therefore technically still zero, there's this:


I am pretty sure you're not just saying who's number one.

How 'bout this. I'll try not to take too many photos and pester you with the camera if you try to sleep through the night.

What's that?

Oh.

I agree: we're pretty much both gonna fail on that front.

Oh well. This too shall pass...

...right?

Love,
Mom

Oh, the cuteness...

It was finally chilly enough here in the southwest to wear *gasp!* warm clothing.

Rocket Man and I opted for sweatshirts today, but Little Miss Itty Bitty, she needed a hat:



Oh, she thinks she is something special in that hat.

I am not sure she even knows she is wearing one.

We were out and about this evening and she had a brief snooze in the car just before her normal bed time. This provided her with quite the energy boost. It lasted about twenty minutes, but oh were they well spent.

First she rolled onto her stomach. Then she commenced squealing and screeching and blabbing and (just about) causing the dog to pass out from the excitement.

Oh. So. Hard. To. Stay. Away. From. The. Little. One.

It took him all twenty minutes to think that phrase, people. I saw the words slowly seep from his tiny head.

She then decided to go after the one true love of her life.



Do you see the look in her eyes? That is (crazy) anticipation if I've ever seen it.

Success:



Oh, hands, how I love thee.



Needless to say, LMIB was slightly amusing and terribly cute this evening.

Just had to share so you can all join in the baby-induced melting.

Cruel, cruel world...

DUDE...

I was just posting a comment on a friend's blog, and as you all know I am "Running on Fumes".

This would be due to the baby in the house, and of late it all too true.

Much to my chagrin.

Google is apparently apprised of the situation because the word verification I received in order for my comment to post was "rested".

I've got nothin'.

Geat Ganny

Courtesy of Thing Two, my Granny has a new name. It is Geat Ganny. That's right, no R people. Get with the program.

Little Miss Itty Bitty finally got to meet her Geat Ganny this past weekend. Maybe I should switch that since LMIB had no clue she even had a Geat Ganny until then. GG was so exceptionally excited to get her hands on LMIB, though.

We traveled Thursday, via plane and car, to Virginia. Then I was up all night long as apparently traveling changed LMIB's clock and made it all wonky. Excellent indeed.

Friday we were at the house in the morning along with my brother's family. It was wonderful to spend time together. LMIB had never been around children who were that excited to see her or who could get that close to her, though, so she did not know what to think!

After spending her morning in very close proximity to Thing One


and Thing Two


she was a little worn out. We went up to see Geat Ganny so that they could spend some quality time together one-on-one. The initial meeting can be summed up by this photo:


LMIB is about to pass out and Geat Ganny is just a talking.

After sitting with her in a dazed state for a while, LMIB got very tired and just fell right to sleep in GG's arms. GG didn't like that one bit, no she did not. She also did not tell everyone we met as we were leaving that it had happened, no siree.

Once LMIB was recharged, things got more interesting. For example, she actually noticed GG:



Then they had some fun:












We always enjoy visiting with Granny, and she with us, but this time I have a feeling we both enjoyed ourselves a little more than usual. One thing is for certain: LMIB loves her GG!