Night night Papa for the third time

Look what Ray brought to contribute to game night dinner. :D

Ari has been into decorating herself lately. She found where we had our Sharpie markers- thank god, she was mostly interested in drawing on herself. Yesterday, she had to have two baths due to close encounters with food dyes and some washable markers.

Mind, I've been writing this entry over several days, so "yesterday" in the prior paragraph is like, Sunday.

Today, on the other hand, has been a pretty exciting day. Ari cooked with me for the first time today. It was a pretty mixed success. :) She had been having kind of a rough, tantrumy day, and when I started cooking soup, she was really interested. I went ahead and got out a chair for her so she could see what I was doing, and I gave her a spoon to stir the broth, and so on.


Then I started seasoning the broth, and she was super interested in that, so I started aliquoting herbs and spices into a little cup, and letting her dump them into the broth. She was having a great time.

Then I had to go upstairs. Then, when I came downstairs, I discovered that, in cooking the five pounds of brisket that I cooked yesterday, I left the celery salt out on the table. I discovered this by finding the empty celery salt jar next to my beautifully seasoned beef broth! There wasn't much in the jar, but she'd still dumped about a tablespoon and a half of it into the now-incredibly-oversalted broth. I was able to rescue it with two more cups of unsalted broth and some tomato juice, but still. It just wasn't quite the same.

It was really cool cooking with her, though. I hope I get to do it LOTS more. :D

Second exciting thing is that Ari has- at long last- started to show interest in the potty. We went out and got one of those potty seats that goes on your big toilet, and she was very taken with it. She spent about an hour sitting on it this evening.

She has definitely not progressed to knowing what to use the potty for, mind. But this is still a big jump up from the little girl who didn't seem to notice that the potty existed at all or what we did with it.

Couple of other things: we taught Ari how to blow on dandelions for wishes. She really digs it. She's been really tantrumy of late. I choose to hope that this heralds the cusp of a new developmental stage.

Oh, and she's been really freaking me out on the playground. I try hard to stand back and let her find her own boundaries- which she's really quite good at- but she's constantly attempting things I don't think she should be able to do. She's always either succeeded at them safely, or turned back if she didn't think she could do it. And I really do want her to learn to not do things because she knows they're not safe, not because I told her so.

But still. She's climbed to the top of the jungle gym, and I don't think she can get down without falling. I'm there biting my nails and making myself wait until she asks for help. She doesn't, though. She always climbs down on her own.

Shocking

Thad didn't end up getting a job today, so we had kind of a lazy day. We spent some time cleaning for my dad's impending visit. It was remarkably futile... :) There's nothing quite like spending 30 minutes picking up toys and books, only to have them all spread over the floor again in 30 seconds.

Ari has started using the -s plural morpheme spottily in the last few days... I've heard "bears", "birds", and (yesterday) "cats". A whole new level of linguistic expression is opening up to her! :D

Here she is, showing that she knows how to use a hairbrush:

Fitting it all in

Augh, when it rains it pours. I've ended up hosting someone for prospectives weekend (damn you, spare bedroom!). Which is this weekend. Which is the last weekend before my presentation. :( I'm going to be spending every spare minute- after we clean up our house for the incoming guest- working on aforementioned presentation. Wish me luck. I have to have a version of it done by Monday... Oh, and my ICHL abstract. Mustn't forget my ICHL abstract.

Ari is a sweet little snuggle girl. She didn't nap this afternoon for her papa, and thus had kind of a rough evening. She did pass out right when I got home, and I have to admit, I just loved having her all passed out and snuggly in my arms for a while. I always miss her when I'm gone, and I love having a chance to hold my chubbly, snuggly little girl when I come home.

Today, Ari said "please" and "bye bye". I think she thinks "please" means "read me a book!", but it's hard to tell.

So much Dunwich Horror

Oooh, man. I just stayed up way too late. The date tag lies, but it's 3 AM. Wheee! :D

We went to the department Christmas party tonight. Ari was sweet mostly. There was another mama there with a tiny 7-week-old little girl... so little. It was kinda cool to run into another mama who wraps and cloth-diapers and breastfeeds, outside of my existing hippy mama group.

Ari things:

• She has another sign- she's definitely done "more" a few times now.
• She has two molars coming in. Ow, the lack of sleep.
• She likes to clap for herself when she thinks she's done something good.
• She imitates us shaking our heads 'no', but doesn't seem to actually understand what it means.
• She likes to play a game where she points at different people, and we say their names.
• She knows where our noses are, but not other face parts.
  

Sword in one hand, surcoat in the other.

Ugh- I'm about to pass out. The days I work are just exhausting. I'm looking forward to being home tomorrow.

A complication with our current schedule is that the way Thad's work goes, I don't get any time to work on Wednesdays, so anything that I need to do in advance of Thursdays has to be done on Tuesday- so, I work 9 hours and then have to come home and cook/nurse Ari/do homework.

I think I'm gonna hope that Ari naps tomorrow, though, 'cause I'm not finishing this homework tonight!

Thad and Ari went out in the bike trailer today. They went all around the town! Thad rode over to a baby thrift store and bought her some adorable warm jammies, and went and deposited his paychecks. Then, he took Ari out to lunch at a noodle bar. They had pad thai, and apparently, she snarfed it right up with great gusto.

On another note, I've decided to stop pumping at work. I find I feel kinda strange about that... The other day, though, (last Thursday) I didn't get a chance to pump because of this and that, and I wasn't engorged by the end of the day. Ari must really be eating, because that definitely wasn't the case two months ago... just another sign of how she's growing up.

Of course, so is the rank, rank poop we've been getting lately. X-P

Every other day

I'm feeling all weepy and what's the word? Verklempt. Because I just watched this documentary about these guys who fostered SIX kids that no one wanted, mostly HIV positive kids, and couldn't adopt them because Florida won't allow gays to adopt. In fact, one of their kids wasn't HIV-positive after all, and when they found out (he was like, 3 at the time) the state of Florida immediately said, "Oh, really? Well, then, now we want him! Since he's healthy, he clearly needs a mother and a father both (unlike before), and you homos won't do."

One of their kids died, and back in the day, the expert opinion was that all those kids were going to die in only a few years. I can't imagine what kind of people would have the strength to keep taking in those kids, knowing (mostly wrongly, thankfully) that they'd just lose them, but not wanting those kids to die just having lived in hospitals. The whole thing just makes me want to kick Jeb! Bush in the everlovin' teeth. With some of Rebecca's steel-toed boots.

Anyway, sorry. That's not the point of this blog, right? But this wouldn't have meant as much to me before I had a child. I wouldn't have really understood in the same way...

Whoo. Um. Yesterday was uneventful. Jaime came over, and played games with us. Thad worked last night.

Today was cool because I got to go work out! Brooke met me at the RPAC in between her classes, and watched Ari for me for a 1/2 hour while I went and weight trained. It felt good to be working out, and it meant alot to me to have Brooke take her for that small amount of time. We're to meet again on Wednesday for that purpose as well. :D

Tomorrow I teach, and tomorrow is more Pendragon!

A distinct lack of beignets

Today was another nothing day... I totally failed to work on costumes, for the most part. I worked an itty bit on redcap, but otherwise... Thad was up with her in the night, and slept all day. And worked tonight- so he wasn't around. I may ask Thad to take her away on Wednesday, so I can just focus on getting things done.

It's weird, but I find it really hard to work on things, just because I can't focus. I remember reading a science fiction story once where there was an obsession with making everyone equal. In order to level the playing field, really smart people wore and earpiece and a horrible loud noise would go off every minute or two, to keep them from being able to concentrate. It feels like that. Every minute or two (or more often!), I have to do something baby oriented, and it's really hard for me to get anything done on large projects. :P

Anyway, this is Ari, trying out a spoon. She seems to understand that spoons are food related now, and she kinda wants to try it out. We thought about getting baby spoons, but they were weird and expensive, and I'm not sure why they're good. I am doing research and shall decide what to do about this. :)

Working days 'till D*Con: 12
Costumes to finish: 7 (J redcap, J sluagh, J Inara, A monster, A Sandy, A bunny, T redcap)

Mystic ninja (with claws and flames)

We spent all day cleaning up the basement (thanks, all y'all who helped)... it's not quite done still. I took some "before" pictures, but I'm not quite ready for "after" pictures yet. Probably tomorrow. Anyway, not much to say about today... We spent alot of time cleaning. Picking things up; organizing them, throwing things away. We moved so precipitously after Ari was born that everything just kinda got shoved in there and left (remember that, Mom?). It was beyond High Time for it to get cleaned out.

Ari's been utterly refusing to nap the last couple days... I don't know what's up with her. No nap yesterday, no nap today.

You know something I love about her though? I love how, when she's falling asleep at the breast, she hums, just a little, into my boob. It's startlingly adorable.

Morning food and the North Broadway exit

Sorry yesterday's entry was so disconnected... I was pretty loopy by the end. Ari didn't get to sleep until four in the morning. She was back up at 10 AM, and wouldn't nap (fought and fought) until about 2:30 PM, when she finally succumbed to the power of the booby. She did get a decent nap at that point (2 hours) but that was her last nap for the day.

It was another nothing day, but we had a nice evening over at a friend's house. She has two walking around (running around? :D) boys and a little girl with the new-baby smell still on. We had a nice evening, with dinner and kids running around. It was really cool to watch Ari playing with her boys (who have awesome names, by the by- Johann and Sheamus). It was the first time that I've seen Ari actually play with other kids. She wasn't just playing in the same space as those boys, she was actually playing with them... at least a few times.

It was also neat to see someone parenting older kids like that; it's kind of a mental disconnect for me, how Ari is now vs. how she will be. Up 'till recently, we've very much been in that little baby space where she can't ask for things she doesn't need, and I just get used to giving her everything she asks for. She's not in that place anymore, and it's just going to get more and more complicated... Ah, well. I just trust that I'll figure it out somehow when the time comes. Patience, and calm, and a sense of humor, right?

I think this week has been my official First Week of Summer- I remember when I was in public school still, every summer, I spent the first week doing nothing much. I watched TV... read... laid about... And then, the "nothing much" got to me, and I had to start doing something useful. I think I needed the "nothing much" for a little while, but it's time to get to doing things before I go spare!

Lost to history

Today is yet another boring day. I did review with my students for their midterm (handed out in class today) and today was an Irish/Mycenean day. Oh, and we talked about contact in the Socio seminar. Anyway, class was pretty good all things told, and I had fried chicken.

Ari was sweet as cream when I got home. She was on the floor playing with her daddy and when she saw me, she immediately started crawling over to me and crying to be picked up! She's really started going after things she wants like that. Oh, and we're starting to wonder if she might be starting to understand speech sounds. Sometimes it seems like when she says "mamamamama" she means me... hard to say, really. How do other parents pick out a first word? There's lots of stuff that could be words, and it's just hard to tell!

My eyeballs are melted in my head

Aaah, Daylight Saving time*. Ari, you see, doesn't know how to read a clock. She doesn't know that we screw around with our time measurement system at this time of year. Therefore, Ari's mama didn't get to go to bed until 2:00 AM last night, even though she had to be up at 7:30 to make an appointment with her advisor.

I was so tired today. This is not really a new thing, though, so I think I'll try not to belabor it.

Ari had a bad day, too. She wouldn't sleep for Thad and was just tired and fussy as anything. We had kind of a cute if sad moment this morning. I had to get out early to make my aforementioned appointment with my advisor, and I was just about to pack up and go, when I remembered that I had forgotten a book upstairs (I keep reading material in the cosleeper there, for reading while nursing) and so I went to get it. Ari had just woken up, and when she saw me, she was all giggles and smiles and tongue stickin' out. You know, adorable babyness from my little girl. So I smiled at her, and said good morning and told her I had to go. I picked up my book, and walked out the door. She immediately started bawling. I turned around and looked at my little girl and I couldn't leave. I ended up being a little late for my meeting (although he was a little late, too, so it was alright) and I went in there and gave my little girl cuddles and nursies. After just a few minutes, she was okay when I left. I guess all she wanted was a few hugs from mama before I went.

I had a long day at school, but it went okay, I guess. I got to hug and cuddle my girl after I came home, at least. :) Oh, and we redid our bedroom to be a little safer with a more mobile little girl. Pictures to follow.
________
*Apparently, this is the correct term- not Daylight Savings time, as most people say it. I learned this from a student last quarter

Big honkin' baby steps

There was all kinds of exciting baby-ness today. First of all, this morning, I noticed her folding her tongue in half lengthwise (slightly different than the mid-mouth tongue curl many people can do). I can do this. I think my brother Phil can do this, and I'm not sure about my sister. Thad cannot, nor can any of his family, so if Ari has the ability to do it, she must get it from me. :D It's a bit silly, I know, but it makes me happy to see some physical proof that she's my daughter. Particularly since she favors my husband so much in looks!

Secondly, today is the first day that she has really been sitting unsupported. She's leaning forward in this picture, but she was sitting up, too. She was able to sit up and use both her hands to play with toys, which is really exciting!

Thirdly, today is the day she took her first crawling steps. She hasn't quite got it totally worked out, but I saw her take three bona fide crawling steps today. She was up on hands and knees and crawled! The three steps took her to a stuffed bear, and she immediately dropped to the ground and stuck it in her mouth.

Fourthly, today is the first day that she's been able to consistently move from a prone to a sitting position all by herself.

Boy, it has taken my daughter a while to figure some stuff out, but she's got it all going on today!

Wrapped up in technicolor beetles

Thad's upstairs right now, reading Redwall to the girl. I tried to put her to bed, but she wiggled and wriggled until she woke herself right up, so Thad took her and wrapped her in a blanket and they're having daddy-daughter time. He's been reading to her since the very first night she came home, and it's amazing how much she likes it! She'll happily sit for ages up in the rocker on her daddy's lap, listening to him read. I don't know when she'll start to understand the stories, but I guess she likes having her daddy talk to her, and make silly voices.

We've been having a so-so sleep day. I got her to take a good nap in the morning, but the second nap has eluded us. She went down twice for it, but wouldn't stay asleep. I guess we'll just keep plugging at it- except Thad can never keep her asleep, and starting tomorrow, I leave her four days a week. I'm hoping that I can at least get her down for her nap before I have to leave on the two short days, but I'm gone 8-1/2 hours (it's a full 8 hour day plus transit time) on my full days. I'm trying to decide- should I try to pump on my short days? I'm real nervous about being away from her so much. I guess I'll try to pump when I'm home with her.

One of the moms from my mom's group is supposed to come and watch her while I'm at school on my short days. I hope that works out okay... I guess I'm just real nervous about the whole thing. I keep telling myself, it's what I have to do, it's my job, rent needs paid, I just need to put my big girl panties on and cope.

I just don't want to leave my little girl so much!

I'm sick

I just got done throwing up for the second time tonight. I'm hoping this isn't mastitis; it's very weird. Throwing up, chills, abdominal pain. At least it seems to be passing. It's actually been a little while since I threw up, and I've managed to drink a little water. What is it about throwing up that makes your throat dry, deep inside- you know what I mean? Kind of dry and raw. Duh, it must be all that acid I just washed it with, I guess.

Anyway, earlier tonight I was thinking about things that I love about my daughter, and I thought I'd take the chance to write some of them down for posterity. Like, how she has this one piece of hair right in the middle of her head that sticks straight up. Or her chubby, chubby legs. Seriously, this girl looks like she's wearing big legwarmers of sweet baby chub. I love the serious look she gets when she's playing with something. Her eyes get wide, and her little mouth goes in an "o" shape and she looks at whatever it is like its amazing. I love her wobbly legs, and her clumsy little hands. She works so hard at learning how to use them, and she can do rough or gentle touches now. I love it when she reaches out, very gently, and pats my face. Admittedly, I love it less when- lightning fast- she reaches over and grabs my hair, pulling with all her might. :)

Well, I'm going to try going to bed now. We'll see if more ralphing is in my future, or no.

Ah, sweet irony

I'm typing this left-handed in a desperate attempt to stay sane. Ari woke up a little over an hour ago and has been totally inconsolable. Yup- last night I couldn't sleep to save my life; tonight, I fall asleep no problems and I get woken up by a sobbing baby.

It's pretty unusual for her- I don't know if this is teething or residue from being sick or both, but she's NEVER woken up in the middle of the night sobbing. Had trouble getting to sleep, yes, but never really woken up in the middle.

Anyway, baby crying kinda makes you crazy after a while. I think it's supposed to make you crazy, so you respond and take care of your baby, but hearing it keep going... It's like a fire alarm that just won't turn off, and you're going "what? where? what? FIRE!?" for HOURS. After a while, you just feel fried and you want the noise to stop. So, it's helpful to have something else (like writing this) to focus on for a bit.

Oh, thank god. She finally passed out again in my lap. Poor little girl. I'll wait a few minutes to make sure, and then back to bed for us.

Six months a sick baby

My daughter is sick for the first time today. She has a fever (about 102º under the arm) and green snot coming out of her nose. I was lying on the bed nursing her and thinking that someday I might want to remember this- her being sick and my reactions. So I decided to start keeping a diary.

Well, after many hours of sleeping and getting stuffed with as much mama milk as possible, Ari seems to be feeling better. The fever has broken, and she seems much happier. It was funny for me; my rational brain kept saying "Look, she'll be fine, she's not that sick. You don't need to call the doctor. Just nurse her and let her sleep." But my new-mommy brain was gibbering "My BABY! 102 DEGREES! Oh NO!"

I'm glad the rational brain won out.