Oh. My.
Not even sure where to start on this one.
4:30 decision was made to move our weekly Bible study to our house for the evening. Quick glance around the house, not too shabby yet since we haven't even unpacked from our halfway-around-the-world trip, so sure, no prob.
5:00 Baby Bird is still sleeping and the last-minute cleaning is going pretty well. As in the toilet no longer has 3 months worth of boy grime on it. Wait, that's not fair. In all honesty my husband probably did clean the toilet at least once while we were gone. Thank you my husband, for sparing me the worst of the boy grime.
5:30 Baby Bird's up, Papa's on the phone, the dog's begging to go outside and oops I think we forgot to feed her? and my friend is ringing the doorbell which makes the dog go ballistic and the house still looks like a furball exploded in it and we have people coming over in 30 minutes and Baby Bird's whining for food and I haven't started dinner yet but it's okay because we still have time. We can make it.
6:00 House is vacuumed, dog is crated, child's happily smearing I mean eating peanut butter and pizza dough's in the works. No sweat.
6:20 Child is now covered in peanut butter so off to the tub you go. Baby Bird promptly stands up in the tub, slips, smacks the back of her head harder that she ever has before, screeches bloody murder, and gives me a minor heart attack. The front door's opens, she's stark naked and covered head to toe in peanut butter, I scoop her up so I'M covered head to toe in peanut butter and people are supposed to be here any second and she's not bleeding but she hasn't stopped crying and we're both still covered in peanut butter and at least she hasn't peed on me... yet. Where's the towel?
6:30 We're both clean. And dry. And peanut-butter free. But Baby Bird has a nasty welt. And the leader for the Bible study just drove up. But that welt has me worried, so I call Daddy. Who's at work. With the car. And the carseat. No worries, he's on his way (thank God!) and my friend is here with her baby and we watch Baby Bird to see how she's doing and Daddy arrives just moments later.
6:40 Baby Bird seems to be okay. Mama? Maybe. Still trying to put my stomach back in its proper place. Did I mention I still haven't eaten yet? Everyone seems to be okay. Daddy and my friend are doing a great job helping me be steady. Head injuries scare me. We have experience with those. They're not good. But Baby Bird's okay :).
7:30 Baby Bird lets a Big One. Shoulda' paid more attention...
7:45 Emergency call home has turned into lunch hour for Daddy, and I've enjoyed a catch-up talk with my friend. The Bible study never really happened since noone else showed up. We make plans to restart this week's lesson and get ready to send little ones to bed. Hmmm... Baby Bird's a bit fragrant.
7:50 Really??? I mean REALLY?!?! Glad we did this diaper in the tub, because there's no just wiping this one down! Apricots! In her hair! And corn! And oh Daddy, you gotta' come see what you're getting out of tonight!
One baby girl. Two baths. Three sets of clothes. And I'm done for the night.
Was that water dripping on my shoulder just now? No. I do not have time for a flood tonight. Where's the Bailey's?
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 8
Tuesday, June 7
And So It Begins
Our daughter is 15 months old. She does not attend daycare. She's had a whopping one small virus in her whole life, which consisted of a fever and runny nose. She eats like a horse and meets or exceeds all the "milestones" for her age. She's small but very healthy.
When Baby Bird was about 3 months old we became more aware of the vaccination controversy so I did what I always do, I started researching heavily so we could make our own informed decisions. What we came up with is really a work in progress since vaccinations and available research change too.
In general, I'm not opposed to vaccines. However, I AM opposed to some vaccines for our child. Take chickenpox for instance. Really? A childhood disease that is relatively harmless if no other health conditions exist (which they currently do not) plus a vaccine that is mediocre at best means uuumm.... no. We'd rather she just get the chickenpox thanks.
Enter the government.
The governmental powers that be have taken it upon themselves to require the chickenpox vaccine for all children who congregate. Not just at school, mind you. No, there is apparently a regulation that "requires" us to have our child "fully vaccinated" in order for her to enter a playroom run by the base's family readiness center. It's not a daycare. It's a room. With a chance of other people being in it at the same time our daughter is.
I'm not even going to start on the other valid health risks of getting children together in one room, but I am not at all concerned about whether or not those kids are vaccinated. The stuff I'm worried about our kid getting, she's protected against through vaccines or oh I don't know, washing our hands. I would surmise the other parents have done the same for their children. So where's the problem?
Well, for now the problem is ours. I see no good reason our child cannot participate in this wonderful opportunity. Now we have to convince the "powers" of the same thing.
Have any of you any experience with vaccination exemptions, especially overseas?
When Baby Bird was about 3 months old we became more aware of the vaccination controversy so I did what I always do, I started researching heavily so we could make our own informed decisions. What we came up with is really a work in progress since vaccinations and available research change too.
In general, I'm not opposed to vaccines. However, I AM opposed to some vaccines for our child. Take chickenpox for instance. Really? A childhood disease that is relatively harmless if no other health conditions exist (which they currently do not) plus a vaccine that is mediocre at best means uuumm.... no. We'd rather she just get the chickenpox thanks.
Enter the government.
The governmental powers that be have taken it upon themselves to require the chickenpox vaccine for all children who congregate. Not just at school, mind you. No, there is apparently a regulation that "requires" us to have our child "fully vaccinated" in order for her to enter a playroom run by the base's family readiness center. It's not a daycare. It's a room. With a chance of other people being in it at the same time our daughter is.
I'm not even going to start on the other valid health risks of getting children together in one room, but I am not at all concerned about whether or not those kids are vaccinated. The stuff I'm worried about our kid getting, she's protected against through vaccines or oh I don't know, washing our hands. I would surmise the other parents have done the same for their children. So where's the problem?
Well, for now the problem is ours. I see no good reason our child cannot participate in this wonderful opportunity. Now we have to convince the "powers" of the same thing.
Have any of you any experience with vaccination exemptions, especially overseas?
Thursday, April 14
Lemme Tell Ya' about Our Day
We experienced many firsts today. First sidewalk chalk, first point-to-something-and-Mama-carries-you-there excursion, first tornado sirens of our trip. Oh wait, back up, forgot the exciting part. Yes, first I-can-open-my-diaper-and-poop-in-the-crib adventure too.
It's been a gorgeous day all day today, a bit windy but a great day for outdoor play. So play we did. We explored so many nooks and crannies in the yard that it required a bath before afternoon nap. Well, it's been so comfortably warm in the house and baby Bird's napped in just a diaper before, so I opted to give her little body some air time while she slept. She snuggled down into her crib; I tucked her all 'round with her blanket and softly closed the door, blowing a kiss on the way out.
I didn't hear a peep for probably an hour and a half. Now baby Bird typically naps about 2 hours in the afternoon, so the early wake-up should have been a clue. She wasn't fussing though, just talking, so I gave her about another 30 minutes while I finished up some work on the computer. Hmm. How much you wanna' bet I should have gone in right when I heard those first little peeps?
Baby Bird did start fussing a little so I went in to rescue her from her nap. I cracked the door open just a hair so we could play peek-a-boo on my way in. It took a minute to click that something didn't look right. Baby Bird was sitting a bit lower in the crib than normal (actually a mesh-sided pack-n-play) and the colors were off. Even if I can't see her clearly through the mesh, I can usually see the bold swatch of color that's her cloth diaper. Huh. No swatch of color. That's odd.
I peeked over the side and that's when it dawned on me, "You look like you're missing something!"
She peered up at me with her still-sleepy eyes, looking a bit confused. It took me another few seconds to realize that she wasn't alone in her crib. Flashbacks to friends' posts about their kids' diaperless naps blazed before my eyes. How bad was this going to be?!
Well, thank God for solid foods. It wasn't that bad. Not that I'd care for a repeat. Or to try that while pregnant. Or in a hurry. Or like ever again. But ya' know, all things considered, it wasn't that bad. The poop stayed on the blanket, the diaper was bone dry (phew, because she'd launched it out of the crib!), and since she was already stark naked she just went straight to bath #2 for the day.
Did I mention this was going on at the exact same time we had storms rolling in and the dog was begging to eat and dinner was supposed to be getting worked on?
No sooner did I get baby Bird hosed off and back into a diaper (with clothes over it this time), I heard the tornado sirens going off. Back into the bathroom we go!
Hmm. Never a dull moment.
It's been a gorgeous day all day today, a bit windy but a great day for outdoor play. So play we did. We explored so many nooks and crannies in the yard that it required a bath before afternoon nap. Well, it's been so comfortably warm in the house and baby Bird's napped in just a diaper before, so I opted to give her little body some air time while she slept. She snuggled down into her crib; I tucked her all 'round with her blanket and softly closed the door, blowing a kiss on the way out.
I didn't hear a peep for probably an hour and a half. Now baby Bird typically naps about 2 hours in the afternoon, so the early wake-up should have been a clue. She wasn't fussing though, just talking, so I gave her about another 30 minutes while I finished up some work on the computer. Hmm. How much you wanna' bet I should have gone in right when I heard those first little peeps?
Baby Bird did start fussing a little so I went in to rescue her from her nap. I cracked the door open just a hair so we could play peek-a-boo on my way in. It took a minute to click that something didn't look right. Baby Bird was sitting a bit lower in the crib than normal (actually a mesh-sided pack-n-play) and the colors were off. Even if I can't see her clearly through the mesh, I can usually see the bold swatch of color that's her cloth diaper. Huh. No swatch of color. That's odd.
I peeked over the side and that's when it dawned on me, "You look like you're missing something!"
She peered up at me with her still-sleepy eyes, looking a bit confused. It took me another few seconds to realize that she wasn't alone in her crib. Flashbacks to friends' posts about their kids' diaperless naps blazed before my eyes. How bad was this going to be?!
Well, thank God for solid foods. It wasn't that bad. Not that I'd care for a repeat. Or to try that while pregnant. Or in a hurry. Or like ever again. But ya' know, all things considered, it wasn't that bad. The poop stayed on the blanket, the diaper was bone dry (phew, because she'd launched it out of the crib!), and since she was already stark naked she just went straight to bath #2 for the day.
Did I mention this was going on at the exact same time we had storms rolling in and the dog was begging to eat and dinner was supposed to be getting worked on?
No sooner did I get baby Bird hosed off and back into a diaper (with clothes over it this time), I heard the tornado sirens going off. Back into the bathroom we go!
Hmm. Never a dull moment.
Tuesday, March 15
Day at the Doctor's
We went in this morning for a follow-up on little Bird's 12-month well-baby. Appointment time? 9am. Final departure from the hospital? 1:45 pm. Why? Well, apparently our baby is shrinking. On her birthday she clocked in at 19 lbs 6 oz. Today she was 19 lbs 2 oz. Down 4 oz. The point of the follow-up was to show she was actually growing. Dang. Sortof.
The doctor is concerned enough that he ordered a blood workup and urinalysis just to rule out unhealthy reasons for her weight loss. Fine, I don't have a problem with that. He's not suggesting we make any dietary changes, just that we monitor her until she "picks her own growth curve." Blood workup on a 1-year-old means me holding her on my lap, pinning one hand, hugging her around her chest so she can't squirm away, and having a tech hold down little Bird's free arm while another tech ties off the turniquette and draws the blood. Oh yeah, it was just as much fun as it sounds. Bird started squalling before they even got the needle close. The tech holding her arm commented, "She's strong!" Yeah, coulda' told you that. She doesn't like being pinned down and poked either. At least it was fast. I sang to little Bird and fought back tears.
Nursing break. Not sure who needed it more - little Bird or me. Did I mention we were already an hour past her nap time?
Next was the Immunization Office. 5 pokes were on the schedule for today. I got it down to 3. Bird's not a drug user, and I'm pretty sure we'd notice if she was having sex with multiple partners, so no thanks on the Hep A. Flu shots are a bit of a crap shoot in my opinion, so we forgo them unless required for work. Down to 4 sticks. Last one I declined was the Chicken Pox vaccine. Given the statistics and data I've researched I'd rather she just get the Chicken Pox and be done with it. 3 pokes. She was as happy about those ones as the blood draw. This was turning into quite the day.
Two hours past her naptime. Lunch break - I'm starving and she's exhausted. We left long enough to get lunch and nap then came back so see if we'd collected enough pee.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the bag. Have you ever tried to collect pee from a baby? Well apparently they've thought this one through at least a little. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say it was a pain. And we had to do it twice since the first time we missed and the pee hit the diaper instead. Fun stuff.
So all of this is because she's been losing weight. Not an insane amount, but enough that we've had plenty of people comment on it and the doctor wants to watch her. I will point out that the last time we had her weighed was at her roly-polyest right before she started walking. She started walking early - at 9 months. She's getting around pretty well these days. All the time in fact. So I'm not surprised she's thinning out. It just might not be good if she continues to thin out.
Today's appointment spurred me on to do some more research and this is what I found:
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/babyfoodcalories.html
I had assumed little Bird was losing weight due to increased activity, which is very much a part of it I think. However, she's actually started losing weight FASTER since she increased the amount of solid foods she was eating. Based on the chart, that makes sense. Her belly can only handle so much food at a time, be it milk or solid foods. If she is eating solid foods INSTEAD of breastmilk, then she is actually getting fewer calories (and fats and nutrients, etc.).
So, I think we're going to work on INCREASING the number of nursing sessions per day and see how that goes. I'm not so much concerned about her size or her health, but I am mildly concerned about the prospect of her weaning earlier than I think is healthy. At the rate she's inhaling table foods this could be a possibility. I see no point in having her wean, then having to give her cow's milk to replace the lost fat, calories, and nutrients. That's ridiculous. Hopefully she'll slow down the weight loss a little bit and start growing out as well as up so we can just go on our merrily-nursing way.
The doctor is concerned enough that he ordered a blood workup and urinalysis just to rule out unhealthy reasons for her weight loss. Fine, I don't have a problem with that. He's not suggesting we make any dietary changes, just that we monitor her until she "picks her own growth curve." Blood workup on a 1-year-old means me holding her on my lap, pinning one hand, hugging her around her chest so she can't squirm away, and having a tech hold down little Bird's free arm while another tech ties off the turniquette and draws the blood. Oh yeah, it was just as much fun as it sounds. Bird started squalling before they even got the needle close. The tech holding her arm commented, "She's strong!" Yeah, coulda' told you that. She doesn't like being pinned down and poked either. At least it was fast. I sang to little Bird and fought back tears.
Nursing break. Not sure who needed it more - little Bird or me. Did I mention we were already an hour past her nap time?
Next was the Immunization Office. 5 pokes were on the schedule for today. I got it down to 3. Bird's not a drug user, and I'm pretty sure we'd notice if she was having sex with multiple partners, so no thanks on the Hep A. Flu shots are a bit of a crap shoot in my opinion, so we forgo them unless required for work. Down to 4 sticks. Last one I declined was the Chicken Pox vaccine. Given the statistics and data I've researched I'd rather she just get the Chicken Pox and be done with it. 3 pokes. She was as happy about those ones as the blood draw. This was turning into quite the day.
Two hours past her naptime. Lunch break - I'm starving and she's exhausted. We left long enough to get lunch and nap then came back so see if we'd collected enough pee.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the bag. Have you ever tried to collect pee from a baby? Well apparently they've thought this one through at least a little. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say it was a pain. And we had to do it twice since the first time we missed and the pee hit the diaper instead. Fun stuff.
So all of this is because she's been losing weight. Not an insane amount, but enough that we've had plenty of people comment on it and the doctor wants to watch her. I will point out that the last time we had her weighed was at her roly-polyest right before she started walking. She started walking early - at 9 months. She's getting around pretty well these days. All the time in fact. So I'm not surprised she's thinning out. It just might not be good if she continues to thin out.
Today's appointment spurred me on to do some more research and this is what I found:
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/babyfoodcalories.html
I had assumed little Bird was losing weight due to increased activity, which is very much a part of it I think. However, she's actually started losing weight FASTER since she increased the amount of solid foods she was eating. Based on the chart, that makes sense. Her belly can only handle so much food at a time, be it milk or solid foods. If she is eating solid foods INSTEAD of breastmilk, then she is actually getting fewer calories (and fats and nutrients, etc.).
So, I think we're going to work on INCREASING the number of nursing sessions per day and see how that goes. I'm not so much concerned about her size or her health, but I am mildly concerned about the prospect of her weaning earlier than I think is healthy. At the rate she's inhaling table foods this could be a possibility. I see no point in having her wean, then having to give her cow's milk to replace the lost fat, calories, and nutrients. That's ridiculous. Hopefully she'll slow down the weight loss a little bit and start growing out as well as up so we can just go on our merrily-nursing way.
Saturday, March 5
Cheerful Obedience
OK, so we're a bit behind the power curve but we have time to catch up.
Before I joined the ranks of mothers I was a teacher. Big kids, little kids, everywhere-in-between kids, I taught them all at some point and in some manner. Over the years I gathered up several ideas for my "bag of tricks" and started to become known as someone who could take nearly any kid-situation I was given and have it run smoothly.
Right before we moved to Japan I had one kindergarten class, and one student in particular, that pretty much took the cake for driving all the other teachers nuts with impulsive behaviors, aggressiveness, lack of focus, etc. By the end of the semester we had everyone in ship-shape and happily working, at least most of the time. How? I'm stubborn. Also? Major shout-out to my aides! LOVE THEM.
Anyway, when this "one student in particular" joined the class his mother asked me, with no little amount of shock, why we didn't lock the school's doors from the inside. A bit mystified I said it was against the fire code and by the way why did she ask? Well don't the students try to leave? Ummm.... no, we've never really had a problem with that. Well, you do now! She wasn't kidding!
Every time this student saw a door he just had to go through it. Every time he got within 2 feet of a classmate he just had to poke her. Every time he got angry and there was paper nearby he just had to stuff it in his mouth. Oh this was fun.
I am not a touchy-feely-let's-discuss-this-this-is-a-democracy kind of teacher. Or parent. Or person in general. This kid lived in timeout for almost 3 weeks straight. But ya' know what? By the end of those three weeks we had a whole new child. He was more in control of his own body and behavior, he joyfully participated in class, and the other staff working with him were awed at his transformation.
Kids crave boundaries. They will push until they find them. That's what they're hardwired to do. Our job as teachers, parents, scout leaders, or whatever is to clearly set appropriate boundaries that allow for safe exploration and learning.
I know this. I've mentored other parents and teachers on this. I have followed through with this in more situations than I can count and it never fails to succeed. Except one.
Yes, I am that parent. You know, the one that gives a sheepish grin and lets her kid run wild? The one who says "she's just so cute" as if it's a reason, not an excuse, to let stuff slide? The one to which I'd previously been so ready to smugly point out her child's lack of boundaries and tips on how to handle it? Guilty. as. charged.
But it's not too late. Tonight is the night I am officially putting my foot down. No more wild traipsing at night! No more junk food at all hours! No more running through school doors and poking classmates!
OK, so she doesn't really do any of those things. She is only one after all. But I did realize tonight that it's time we get our act together and start setting those boundaries that Little Bird so craves. She's already started pushing and it's just taken awhile for us to take the hint. Don't worry Little Bird, we'll be well on our way to guiding you toward cheerful obedience starting tomorrow morning. We love you!
Before I joined the ranks of mothers I was a teacher. Big kids, little kids, everywhere-in-between kids, I taught them all at some point and in some manner. Over the years I gathered up several ideas for my "bag of tricks" and started to become known as someone who could take nearly any kid-situation I was given and have it run smoothly.
Right before we moved to Japan I had one kindergarten class, and one student in particular, that pretty much took the cake for driving all the other teachers nuts with impulsive behaviors, aggressiveness, lack of focus, etc. By the end of the semester we had everyone in ship-shape and happily working, at least most of the time. How? I'm stubborn. Also? Major shout-out to my aides! LOVE THEM.
Anyway, when this "one student in particular" joined the class his mother asked me, with no little amount of shock, why we didn't lock the school's doors from the inside. A bit mystified I said it was against the fire code and by the way why did she ask? Well don't the students try to leave? Ummm.... no, we've never really had a problem with that. Well, you do now! She wasn't kidding!
Every time this student saw a door he just had to go through it. Every time he got within 2 feet of a classmate he just had to poke her. Every time he got angry and there was paper nearby he just had to stuff it in his mouth. Oh this was fun.
I am not a touchy-feely-let's-discuss-this-this-is-a-democracy kind of teacher. Or parent. Or person in general. This kid lived in timeout for almost 3 weeks straight. But ya' know what? By the end of those three weeks we had a whole new child. He was more in control of his own body and behavior, he joyfully participated in class, and the other staff working with him were awed at his transformation.
Kids crave boundaries. They will push until they find them. That's what they're hardwired to do. Our job as teachers, parents, scout leaders, or whatever is to clearly set appropriate boundaries that allow for safe exploration and learning.
I know this. I've mentored other parents and teachers on this. I have followed through with this in more situations than I can count and it never fails to succeed. Except one.
Yes, I am that parent. You know, the one that gives a sheepish grin and lets her kid run wild? The one who says "she's just so cute" as if it's a reason, not an excuse, to let stuff slide? The one to which I'd previously been so ready to smugly point out her child's lack of boundaries and tips on how to handle it? Guilty. as. charged.
But it's not too late. Tonight is the night I am officially putting my foot down. No more wild traipsing at night! No more junk food at all hours! No more running through school doors and poking classmates!
OK, so she doesn't really do any of those things. She is only one after all. But I did realize tonight that it's time we get our act together and start setting those boundaries that Little Bird so craves. She's already started pushing and it's just taken awhile for us to take the hint. Don't worry Little Bird, we'll be well on our way to guiding you toward cheerful obedience starting tomorrow morning. We love you!
Daddy's Girl
Tonight we had stroganoff for dinner. Little Bird carefully separated the noodles from the beef chunks and proceeded to eat every stitch of meat before touching any noodles. She is soooooo daddy's little girl!
Sunday, February 20
Happy Birthday Baby Girl!
Our Little Bird turned ONE this week! Wow! Yikes! Phew! Amazing!
Daddy and I (yes, he's home! more on that later ;p) have been walking around in a bit of a daze, looking at each other and saying with no small wonder, "We have a daughter; she's one!" It's a shock to the system I tell ya'.
She's been saving up, too. Despite our valiant efforts to get our bird signing since day one, the most interest she's shown to date is a general look of what-on-earth-are-you-doing. In the last week our toothless munchkin (yes, still zero chompers) has suddenly started signing MORE, ALL-DONE, and NIGHT-NIGHT consistently, with some MILK, MAMA, SHHH, and PLEASE tossed in randomly. She's also started climbing in and out of her chairs by herself, asking us for food by walking to her chair and waiting, blowing kisses, waving bye-bye, and occassionally telling people "Hi!" in her tiny little voice. What happened to our baby?! When did this little toddler sprout up in her place? When did rattles get traded in for toy trucks and colored pencils?
Little Bird (I've decided to dub her this on the blog because of her adorable habit of bouncing her head up and down like a baby bird when she's waiting for food) has the habit of breaking out with skills I had no idea she could do. Like eating with a spoon. By herself. At 10 1/2 months. After having been spoon-fed less than 5 times in her life. Yeah.
I'm kindof afraid to see what she comes up with next - driving? Can I vote for doing the dishes? How 'bout making the beds? Hmm... should look into those :P.
Well, baby girl we are proud of you and we love you and we are so blessed to have you! Happy 1st Birthday!
Daddy and I (yes, he's home! more on that later ;p) have been walking around in a bit of a daze, looking at each other and saying with no small wonder, "We have a daughter; she's one!" It's a shock to the system I tell ya'.
She's been saving up, too. Despite our valiant efforts to get our bird signing since day one, the most interest she's shown to date is a general look of what-on-earth-are-you-doing. In the last week our toothless munchkin (yes, still zero chompers) has suddenly started signing MORE, ALL-DONE, and NIGHT-NIGHT consistently, with some MILK, MAMA, SHHH, and PLEASE tossed in randomly. She's also started climbing in and out of her chairs by herself, asking us for food by walking to her chair and waiting, blowing kisses, waving bye-bye, and occassionally telling people "Hi!" in her tiny little voice. What happened to our baby?! When did this little toddler sprout up in her place? When did rattles get traded in for toy trucks and colored pencils?
Little Bird (I've decided to dub her this on the blog because of her adorable habit of bouncing her head up and down like a baby bird when she's waiting for food) has the habit of breaking out with skills I had no idea she could do. Like eating with a spoon. By herself. At 10 1/2 months. After having been spoon-fed less than 5 times in her life. Yeah.
I'm kindof afraid to see what she comes up with next - driving? Can I vote for doing the dishes? How 'bout making the beds? Hmm... should look into those :P.
Well, baby girl we are proud of you and we love you and we are so blessed to have you! Happy 1st Birthday!
Sunday, January 2
Yes, I'm Crazy
I'd like to try having our daughter go diaper-free part time and use elimination communication for pottying but... our entire house (with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom) are carpeted. Hmmm. We shall see.
Wednesday, December 22
I'm Melting
Our 10-month old baby girl has learned how to give hugs. Those little arms wrapped so lovingly and trustingly around my neck. My heart will soon be a puddle on the floor.
Too Much "Little" Time!
You know you need a little more adult interaction when your friend comes over and you tell her, "Beep, beep!" when you get ready to open the oven.
You know you have a good friend when she doesn't even bat an eye :).
You know you have a good friend when she doesn't even bat an eye :).
Tuesday, June 22
Nerves of Steel or a Wet Noodle?
I was 15 when I watched as my mom was wheeled off the ice rink on a stretcher. I was 14 when my brother head-butted our dog and ended up with 47 stitches and skin grafting. I was 10 when my baby brother busted his chin open and was the first of us to need stitches. I've had surgery, I've given birth, I watch CSI. None of these things bother me - buck up and deal. I accidentally pinched my husband one day and nearly threw up. The fact that I had caused him pain, that he was even IN pain or hurt in any way literally made me nauseas. I've watched kids take tumbles and not batted an eye but I couldn't hold my own child down as she got her first round of shots. As she grows and takes her own tumbles, needs stitches, or (heaven forbid) gets wheeled anywhere on a stretcher, will I have nerves of steel or will I be a wet noodle, a blubbering incoherent mess? Lord help me, I have no idea.
Monday, June 7
Wide-Eyed Wonder
Each time we've gone off base with our little one, we've attracted a small crowd. Fellow milfamilies warned us about this phenomenon before our daughter was born but I was unprepared for the gifts! Yes, gifts. Let me share an example:
We and a couple friends spent the day at Mt. Takao a few weeks ago. Lots of fun. Before riding the rail up the mountain we needed to fill our tummies. We sit, we order, we drool over others' food as its delicious scents waft our way. All the while dd wiggles, coos, drools, typical baby stuff. The eyes of the lady and sons at the table next to us are riveted upon all this American babyness - simply unable to look away. Next thing I know one of the pint-sized sons is handing over a toy at the coaching of his mother, "Dozo, dozo, dooooozo." Yeah, we were a little dense.
I'm always afraid of looking the wrong way or saying the wrong thing or just in general looking stupid, but that fear is amplified when out and about in an unfamiliar culture where I can't even pretend to read the signs. My solution? Keep my eyes down, smile, and nod. Periodically toss in the handful of Japanese words I know and hope I didn't just call someone a dufus. My strategy was failing miserably and the pizza hadn't even arrived yet. Crud.
Well as it turns out, this family was being super nice and just wanted to share something cool with our little girl. I'm sure I totally botched the whole thank-you-and-bow bit and they must have walked away wondering just how many more times they were going to have to say "Doooooozo" (please, as in I am offering this to you, please take it dingbat) before the idiot American caught on (they literally must have said it about 20 times), but all in all it was pretty neat.
I assumed this was a one-time deal. Nope! Our daughter has been the oblivious recipient of now two unsolicited gifts from random strangers. I really need to read up on this phenomenon - how do you deal with people giving you stuff you can't use, didn't ask for, or don't know what it is?! I'm not ranting, I'm just curious. I've been told it's terribly rude to refuse a gift in Japan (understandably so) but I didn't even realize that first family was trying to give us a gift - I thought they just meant dd could play with the toy while we were sitting there (which wasn't going to happen - 5 second rule is one thing, but letting your 3-month-old knaw on a toy of undisclosed history is quite another).
This type of event is becoming rather frequent. People here positively gape at our daughter, coo at her, and otherwise indicate that they are impressed. Yes, she's cute (oh I'm not biased at all, no) - all babies are cute (not as cute as she is, but that's okay ;p), but in Japan, the American brand of cuteness is apparently a hot commodity. We've had more than one discussion with strangers running something like this:
"She? He?"
-Yes, she.
"Sleeping? (or drooling, or whatever she is obviously doing at the time)
-Yes, sleeping.
"She has small head, round face, not like Japanese"
-Ah, yes, thank you (seriously, how do you respond to that?).
Families with blond-haired, blue-eyed children tell me they get it the worst. People randomly come out of nowhere and rub their kids' heads. Ack! We haven't had to deal with that one (I have issues with people touching me and I'm not too keen about strangers touching my baby girl!) but I really am at a loss at all this wide-eyed wonder she seems to generate all around her. So much for staying incunspicuous!
We and a couple friends spent the day at Mt. Takao a few weeks ago. Lots of fun. Before riding the rail up the mountain we needed to fill our tummies. We sit, we order, we drool over others' food as its delicious scents waft our way. All the while dd wiggles, coos, drools, typical baby stuff. The eyes of the lady and sons at the table next to us are riveted upon all this American babyness - simply unable to look away. Next thing I know one of the pint-sized sons is handing over a toy at the coaching of his mother, "Dozo, dozo, dooooozo." Yeah, we were a little dense.
I'm always afraid of looking the wrong way or saying the wrong thing or just in general looking stupid, but that fear is amplified when out and about in an unfamiliar culture where I can't even pretend to read the signs. My solution? Keep my eyes down, smile, and nod. Periodically toss in the handful of Japanese words I know and hope I didn't just call someone a dufus. My strategy was failing miserably and the pizza hadn't even arrived yet. Crud.
Well as it turns out, this family was being super nice and just wanted to share something cool with our little girl. I'm sure I totally botched the whole thank-you-and-bow bit and they must have walked away wondering just how many more times they were going to have to say "Doooooozo" (please, as in I am offering this to you, please take it dingbat) before the idiot American caught on (they literally must have said it about 20 times), but all in all it was pretty neat.
I assumed this was a one-time deal. Nope! Our daughter has been the oblivious recipient of now two unsolicited gifts from random strangers. I really need to read up on this phenomenon - how do you deal with people giving you stuff you can't use, didn't ask for, or don't know what it is?! I'm not ranting, I'm just curious. I've been told it's terribly rude to refuse a gift in Japan (understandably so) but I didn't even realize that first family was trying to give us a gift - I thought they just meant dd could play with the toy while we were sitting there (which wasn't going to happen - 5 second rule is one thing, but letting your 3-month-old knaw on a toy of undisclosed history is quite another).
This type of event is becoming rather frequent. People here positively gape at our daughter, coo at her, and otherwise indicate that they are impressed. Yes, she's cute (oh I'm not biased at all, no) - all babies are cute (not as cute as she is, but that's okay ;p), but in Japan, the American brand of cuteness is apparently a hot commodity. We've had more than one discussion with strangers running something like this:
"She? He?"
-Yes, she.
"Sleeping? (or drooling, or whatever she is obviously doing at the time)
-Yes, sleeping.
"She has small head, round face, not like Japanese"
-Ah, yes, thank you (seriously, how do you respond to that?).
Families with blond-haired, blue-eyed children tell me they get it the worst. People randomly come out of nowhere and rub their kids' heads. Ack! We haven't had to deal with that one (I have issues with people touching me and I'm not too keen about strangers touching my baby girl!) but I really am at a loss at all this wide-eyed wonder she seems to generate all around her. So much for staying incunspicuous!
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