Dad days are the best

It was another long day at work. Fortunately, Little S was in good hands. Let's see what fun they had today.

hmmmm... if you don't get too mesmerized by the pattern of the rug, you'll see 

 

a baby practicing sitting while chewing on a cell phone. I don't think they've made that illegal yet.

It looks like Daddy also cleared the living room floor for maximum fun space and then put all the toys out of reach   

Somebody doesn't seem to upset by it.

Thanks for taking photos, and thanks for being such an awesome Dad!

Still more baby photos

This post something every day is really revealing that I just don't really have anything that or amusing interesting to say. My Dear Husband could have told you that though.

So instead, you get more baby photos. The grandparents are probably cheering.

The two biggest things going on in Little S's life are moving towards crawling and feeding solids. Well, at least from an observable basis. Her synapses are pruning neurons at a high rate of speed, or something like that. But since I can't figure out how to get photos of that, instead you get Daddy feeding baby oatmeal 

And baby having her own idea about what she wants in her mouth

(No cats were harmed in the making of this photo)

A body in motion

When put on the wood floor in cotton clothes that are more slippery than helpful, a baby will start here    

A good two feet in front of the chair. (And please you to excuse the random leaf under the table. It's not like she's crawling. Yet)

And over the course of a few short moments, progress to here

Halfway under the chair. (and please you to excuse the mashed potatoes on her chin. They were so very yummy that I had to give her a tiny taste)

And with a few more wiggles will end up here 

Under the chair. Wherein Mommy decides to be a good parent and not see what will happen if she keeps scooting backwards (but oh, would you look at all that great hair coming in). And then Mommy has to very quickly pretend she's a good parent because she sees this

And realizes the end result of that would not be photo-worthy. And probably quite evening ruining.

And hey, if you scroll up from here and look at the photos in backwards-order, you can pretend she's crawling. Forward.

stuffy nose Sunday

We woke at 3:30 a.m. to a stuffy nosed little S. Which also meant she pretty much didn't sleep well from that point on. At 7:00, I gave up and started our day. Which kind of worked well because she was playing in her crib while I folded laundry (yep, that's right glamorous life I lead). I got to watch her work on her crawling skills. Mostly that meant pushing herself backwards, but she's starting to rock on all fours and after that got her nowhere, twice she just flung herself forward as much as she could. It was pretty funny to watch her throw her body forward trying to see if that would work.

She wasn't in much of a napping mood this morning, but fortunately Big S took her a while before he had to go to work so I could catch a 15 minute catnap.

We tried to do as little as possible and encourage any napping we could. And since Dad had to work, we curled up with a chick flick (SATC), which I actually watched half of while she napped. Now I can't wait to see if Miranda and Steve will get back together. But don't spoil it for me.

So, we wrapped up with some baby oatmeal, a warm bath and I now probably had better try for an early bedtime too because I'm sure tonight won't be any more restful than last night. For me. She's already in slumber land. shhhhhh.........

baby vs. lampshade dog

These photos couldn't capture it as I watched it unfold, the camera couldn't keep up. So here's the recounting.

1. Talking to a co-worker with squirmy baby on lap.

2. Put baby on floor to make sure she didn't discover how to crawl suddenly.

3. Baby flips back over to back. Dog sees opportunity to check for any stray food particles*

resulting in:

4. Baby joining dog in "Get Smart" style "Cone of Silence"

You can't really get the full effect of the hilarity of the plastic thing enveloping the baby's head. But, you got a post, a story and some pictures out of the deal. Not satisfied?

Here's a bonus baby photo

You can't really see it, so trust me on this. It's got a big Chewbacca head on it and says "Change me... I smell like a Wookie." And Wookie lovers, don't tell ME they don't smell. Send your angry letters to Aunt A. She got us the onesie.

*Yes, the dog licks the baby. So what. I watched the neighbor kid eat his lawn, where I know their dog sometimes goes, and after about 5 minutes, spit out a rock he'd been chewing on. He's still alive. This is all part of our plan to make sure she never has allergies. Yeah, that's right, click the link. Journal of American Medical Association, only 15% allergies by age 2 compared to those without a herd of furry creatures. So put that in your judgmental pipe and smoke it.

(my, my, my somebody's a little feisty today. Good thing she finally has a day off tomorrow. Even though she'll probably be thinking about work still)

(Are you still up blogging? Spare the people and sign off already)

ACK!

Stupid NaBloPoMo. I just want to go to bed but most post first.

It's late. I'm as finished as I can be tonight for my presentation tomorrow. I'll be so happy to be done, although my plate is still so full, more long nights loom in the next month. I actually took cute photos of Little S today. I guess they will be tomorrow's post instead.

I warned you that posting every day could result in less than interesting content. I have just proved myself right.

Little Sister for a day

Due to a baby sitter cancellation, Little S got to go to a different babysitter today, an old friend of mine who is currently nannying for her sister while she finishes up teacher re-certification.

I didn't even think about a camera, which is too bad because the 2 year old was being very sweet to the baby. The good-bye kisses were adorable and the 5 year old remembered her name to say good-bye. I like when she can be a little sister. I'm hoping it will help her not get too full of herself.

I also realized how fortunate I am to have been settled here long enough, and met enough great people over the years that when a sitter cancels, I have options. Another sitter awaits on Saturday when work calls. Maybe we can avoid stranger anxiety with all this exposure to other people.

My little native Oregonian

It's been raining here. I know, it's Oregon, it shouldn't surprise anyone. But it's not just normal rain, it's pouring. I  think the paper said something about "jet stream aiming a fire hose at the state". But, it's warm, like 60. So on our walk, little S refused to have her head covered, preferring to wallow in the "liquid sunshine".

So instead of just furry S needing to be dried off when we got home, Little S needed a full change into dry clothes and all of her hair that's starting to come in was plastered to her head. But, she was happy, and warm, and adjusting well to Oregon winter.

(I know, you can't really tell from the picture, but could you just humor me and pretend you can tell how wet she is? Thank you)

Perspective

I was all prepared to whine and snivel on about how AWFUL my day was. But then I checked a few of my favorite blogs on my feed reader. And you know what? Things just really ain't that bad round these parts.

This one is doing better than she was yesterday. Finally able to get comfortable despite the omnipresent lampshade, and sleeping.

This one had a great 6 month checkup. Clocked in at 27 1/2 inches and 15 pounds.

Took her shot like a champ and is getting 2 teeth.

And I will try to be more thankful of all the amazing things I am blessed with, and have faith that everything will work out the way it's supposed to in the grand scheme of things. And a good night's sleep can't hurt.

Things that go bump in the night

The adrenaline is still coursing through my body, and I have a baby to get back to sleep and here's why.

Some time around 11:30 last night, I woke up to the dog racing outside, barking. Her bark was serious, and I knew it must have been raccoons.

I bolt out of bed, yelling for S and run out back to try and see what's going on. As I'm trying to see what's going on, in the dark and without my glasses, the dog yelps and starts whining the noise of a dog that's been hurt. I yell urgently for her and scream for S again (it seemed like forever since the first one) Panicked that she's in a losing battle and I can't see a damn thing to figure out what to do, I am very relieved when furry S comes running to me tail between her legs.

S goes outside and determines it's several of the bastards. He smartly blocks the doggie door so none of our furry friends can get out and none of the rabid beasts could get in, grabs a flashlight and the hose. We've had visits from raccoons before, and the only deterrent is the hose on high power stream. So while he's protecting the territory, I'm tending to a very awake baby, and trying to figure out if the dog is injured. I sit on the floor by her, petting and calming her. I don't see any wounds on her neck, head, chest, legs, abdomen or even her back, so maybe she's okay and yelped because she was "outgunned". Then, she starts licking her hindquarters as I notice blood on the floor.  Sgt. S comes in to give an intelligence briefing and we look at her butt. She's been bit somewhere, but there's blood all over so it's hard to figure out how much of a wound.

He goes out to try and eradicate the last insurgent stronghold in the tree. I ask if we can't just get a gun and shoot them. He assures me that would be illegal in city limits. I tell him it might have to be in self-defense. Still trying to entertain/calm a baby and dog, my militia man is able to warn the neighbor who has just let her dog outside. Although I think her pitbull, who is a total sweetheart, would probably make quick work of a raccoon, I don't think she wants to test that theory.

S has done all he can. There's one last one high in the tree, out of hose range. He gives up on Os@ma and comes in. After making sure all three cats are accounted for, Dr. S sizes up furry S and even though she doesn't seem too bothered, makes the call to head to the emergency vet. Considering the masked death squad somehow managed to actually bite or rip a very important part of her anatomy that could make it painful to do her business, that seems like a wise, if expensive option. She's worth it. So, almost two hours later, little S is mostly back asleep, and I got a text asking if we had an E collar, so it must not have been too bad?

We'll have to see in the morning what the body count from the fish pond will be. Bastards.

NaBloPoMo-week 1

It started so well, and seemed like such a great idea. All you have to do is one quick post a day. Everyone else is doing it. You've got more than plenty to say. 21 days to start a new habit, so 30 days will be good for you. If you can keep this up, think how many other good habits you could start.

Those are the lies I told myself. But, I didn't count on the night where a certain 6 month old decided she didn't really need to sleep, which is of course the same night Mommy counted on an early bedtime because she has oh so many hours left to put it on a Major Work Project or 27 before tomorrow. The same day that started Bright and Early thanks to aforementioned 6 month old, so all Mommy wants to do is sleep. The same night  where I also need to go to bed early since tomorrow starts too early with a doctors appointment at 7:45 and ends with a meeting that I am also not ready for in Salem tomorrow night, so it looks to be about 15 hours until I'll be home again. And instead of tackling work? I'm spending time writing, just to prove I can do it. Because the best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can't.

So this nonsense will be tonight's post. We better hope Big S takes some good photos tomorrow, or who knows what crap you'll have to read for the next post.

9 posts down, 21 to go.

Goodbye Ammi

A former co-worker is leaving the rainy Pacific Northwest for the snowy in winter, humid and mosquito-y in summer wilds of Mini-soh-da. So, Little S and I were honored to join her going away party this evening. She hadn't yet met Little S, and I hadn't seen her in a while, so it was a treat for both of us! 

 

And, it was a veritable cavalcade of former co-workers.  Many whom I hadn't seen in a while, one who's name I almost forgot, and another who I think I called by the wrong name. Oops. Had a great beer, played pass the baby so she could maul some other people for a while

then had to call it a night. Instead of late-night bingo and drinking with them, I had a night of rice cereal & squash feeding, followed by a fussy bedtime. Oh the glamour of being a Mom.

Ammi-I'm so glad you have found your happy place. I know it was quite a journey to get there, but seeing you so clearly happy is great. We wish you all the best, wait for news of your new adventures, and can't wait until our paths cross again.

6 months

I can't believe it!

 

There were definitely days I didn't know if I'd ever get to 6 months. And if I did, I was sure I'd have it all figured out and it would be easy. Well, parts of it are easier and some of it's just as hard, but it's so wonderful. I had a much lengthier post written in my head, but someone woke up EARLY after Mom had stayed up late reading and on Facebook last night. And darned if baby wrestling while working from home and trying to finish several major work projects by Monday, plus make dinner and birthday cake didn't pretty much wipe me out.

Yes, birthday cake. Little S won't be eating it. I figure we deserve a treat for making it this far. Instead, Mom broke the rules and fed her some mashed banana mixed with formula. A half-birthday baby milkshake, if you will. I've probably ruined her for life now. At least we'll know where I went wrong.

Food fun

To spare you more deep thoughts, how about some photos from the adventures in solid food series.

For Daddy's birthday last week, we started solids a week ahead of the recommended 6 months. Here's what rice cereal looks like, as modeled by Little S

Here's yummy farmers market squash, roasted & mashed by Mom, fed by Dad

 

and fed by Mom with similar fun results

Furry S is very happy with this latest development, the food flies all over, and she is on floor and chair clean-up duty. It's a win-win for us as it saves mopping and scrubbing after every meal. Besides, it's probably a great addition to her diet. I still feel like I'm doing it all wrong, but we have a doctor's appointment next week, so, we likely won't do much permanent damage between now and then.

Stay tuned for (hopefully) a very exciting post tomorrow!

Hope

Maybe it was the song, maybe it was the rainy weather, maybe it was waking up to a babbling baby, but as I drove down I-5, I was just happy to the core. This despite knowing that my destination would result in two less than pleasant conversations with angry mobs bearing torches. And then I realized, this was what Hope felt like. Having a change in leadership, whether it's the government or your workplace can just leave a gal full of wide-eyed, sparkling optimism about the future, much the same as I feel looking at Little S, and thinking of her wide-open future.

How great that she gets to spend her whole life knowing the president doesn't have to be a white male. Hopefully, before she's old enough to vote, she'll learn the president doesn't even have to be male! What a world of possibilities lay at her feet right now. I can hardly wait to see what opportunities she'll grab a hold of that I can't even begin to dream about now.

In the mean time, I'd be happy if she just would go to sleep.

Don't just eat your ballot, VOTE!

Mommy-Daughter Monday

As a result of working all day Saturday, I had today off. Which worked out well because Big S was winding his way across the country on the way back from his Grandma's funeral. Also as a result of working all day Saturday, Little S was still not happy with me for abandoning her all day. Never mind that it was with a babysitter who likely paid her more attention than her own mother would have. She's just had a hair trigger since then, unhappy about the slightest little thing-very uncharacteristic of her. So today was all about her.

She wore her most appropriate shirt for the day.

(This is the only one that says she "hearts" Mommy. She has several for Daddy though)

We spent most of the day cuddling. The weather was perfect for it; gray, rainy and with a damp chill. Took a long, snuggly nap, built the first fire of the season, walked to drop off our ballot with her snuggled into the Ergo and the Ergo under a raincoat, took a warm bath and now back to snuggling in bed, waiting for Dad to get home and listening to it pour outside. Hopeful Mommy-Daughter Monday, with LOTS of naps & an early bedtime will restore her back to fully happy.

Because nobody puts Baby in a corner.

The cutest Halloween picture ever.

Last weekend we went to the Moreland Monster March, which is an absolutely adorable kids Halloween parade. Grandma W. made Little S the cutest costume

Her stroller looked like cheese and she was the wee little mouse inside. Big S caught the most perfect photo. She's so cute I just melt at this photo. (I am a little biased). It's now my screensaver at work so I can see her all day even when I'm away.

Grandma also made this cute little romper that while it wasn't intended for a costume, worked pretty well on another day.

Thank goodness Grandma can sew and looks forward to many years of Halloween costume creating.

Having already figured out Halloween, she quickly makes a dive for the leftover candy last night.

 

Guess where she got that sweet tooth? I do prefer mine unwrapped though.

Do I have what it takes?

It's NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month and participants are supposed to post a blog post every day for a month. I figure I'll give it a go and either I'll get good at taking and posting baby photos, or subjecting readers to the drivel that fills my brain.

Here's basically how I spent my day today, at work and not with Little S :( This is from last year's Girlfest only replace this Disney pop star

with these

and

and imagine spending a good portion of the day yelling over loud music and screamingly excited tweens, who have perfected high-pitched shrieks. I have seen my daughter's future, and a nunnery is starting to seem like an excellent idea.

Actually, the event always makes me smile and it left me hopeful for the future of all of our daughters. Seeing girls enamored with the fire truck and wearing all the firefighter gear, or others exploring science & robotics, or trying out power tools is a great reminder that the only limit to Little S's future is her imagination.

And I'm never going to allow her to listen to Radio Disney.

...and we're back

Dell came through. Sent a new hard drive lickety-split, and it was so easy to install, even little S could have done it. Okay, not quite, but the point is it's fixed.

So, where were we?

Got an upgraded splint-thingy for the broken finger. It's vaguely bionic looking

We hosted a wedding celebration for Jamie and Nicole who tied the knot in Vegas

Little S wanted to toast them also, we thought it would help her sleep well

Little S is starting to love the cats, which generally means grabbing fistfuls of their fur. They've been very tolerant of this.

Dad & daughter get to hang out 3 days a week, he outfitted her to show the onesie to my sis & step-dad, Bob.

He also took her to the pumpkin patch. He took lots of photos so I put them in a little slideshow. It will open up a new window, and sorry about the wonky html code at the bottom of it

Make a Smilebox slideshow" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow' target=_blank>First pumpkin patch visit

And Mommy got a smaller splint thingy

Which makes it much easier to push the stroller with that hand and run with the leash in the other and not worry about the dog chasing a squirrel toppling us over.

Halloween party today and tomorrow. Photos to be posted soon.