Thursday, March 12, 2009
SWEET!
Thanks to themommykelly I received a package in the mail yesterday. Two awesome tank tops and a t-shirt from Bad Baby. For all of the joy I get out of writing this blog, I do occasionally like to get free stuff. Especially when it is as cute as the Bad Baby apparel.
What Time Is It?
What time is is?
4:30.
It's late
No, no, it's early... (anyone out there listen to the Spindoctors back in HS?)
Anyway...
I just got a call from the vice president of my department from a plane in London. He left the U.S. last night at 10:30, flew to the U.K., transferred planes, is flying another 10 hours to Hong Kong and then another 10 to his final destination - Melbourne, Australia.
He is going to Melbourne for a conference that I helped to coordinate. Well, I didn't coordinate the conference, but I did help with a workshop and some association meetings that he is chairing.
He was calling to request that I call in to some of the meetings being held on Saturday (Australia time). According to my handy-dandy time zone chart, he would like me to be on a call Friday evening from 11pm until 1am. And be prepared to speak intelligently.
Dude - I am still catching up from my book club meeting last Saturday. Even with seven uninterrupted hours of sleep last night (10:30-5:30), I am not quite feeling myself. All last week did was alert me to the fact that staying up past midnight is not in my best interest!
And yet...tomorrow night at 11, I will be on the phone. At least I will be in my PJs.
4:30.
It's late
No, no, it's early... (anyone out there listen to the Spindoctors back in HS?)
Anyway...
I just got a call from the vice president of my department from a plane in London. He left the U.S. last night at 10:30, flew to the U.K., transferred planes, is flying another 10 hours to Hong Kong and then another 10 to his final destination - Melbourne, Australia.
He is going to Melbourne for a conference that I helped to coordinate. Well, I didn't coordinate the conference, but I did help with a workshop and some association meetings that he is chairing.
He was calling to request that I call in to some of the meetings being held on Saturday (Australia time). According to my handy-dandy time zone chart, he would like me to be on a call Friday evening from 11pm until 1am. And be prepared to speak intelligently.
Dude - I am still catching up from my book club meeting last Saturday. Even with seven uninterrupted hours of sleep last night (10:30-5:30), I am not quite feeling myself. All last week did was alert me to the fact that staying up past midnight is not in my best interest!
And yet...tomorrow night at 11, I will be on the phone. At least I will be in my PJs.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Something New and Different
Last night the Hoos and I tried something new and different. GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER, my grandmother reads this blog! We had both girls ready for bed by 7:45pm - and AK was sleeping by 8!
A little after 7, LP took up residence on the potty. Because, you know, why would you want to hang out in the living room where there are toys when you can hang out in the water closet. AK and I sat precariously perched on the edge of the tub as the hired entertainers for this bathroom visit.
As soon as she saw the tub, the little peanut, a true water baby, started throwing herself toward it. I figured I might as well use my time in the bathroom efficiently and give AK a bath while we waited. Of course as soon as I start filling up the tub, LP announces that she is done and also wants to take a bath.
By 7:30 everyone is squeaky clean. Shortly thereafter LP alerts us that she is ready for bed, and, even though the Hoos and I have yet to eat dinner, we decide to go with the flow . Considering that AK only took one nap - from 11-12:15 and LP took a 30 minute nap, it sounded like it might actually work. Sure enough AK is down for the count around 10 of. It takes LP a bit longer, but by 8:30 she is snuggled in and snoring. Considering up until a few weeks ago LP's bath didn't even start until 8:30, this is something of a minor miracle.
Everyone was still sleeping when I left the house at 7 this morning (I did feed AK when she woke up at 5:30). Hopefully this is the start of something new, different and exciting - actual downtime for the Hoos and me!
A little after 7, LP took up residence on the potty. Because, you know, why would you want to hang out in the living room where there are toys when you can hang out in the water closet. AK and I sat precariously perched on the edge of the tub as the hired entertainers for this bathroom visit.
As soon as she saw the tub, the little peanut, a true water baby, started throwing herself toward it. I figured I might as well use my time in the bathroom efficiently and give AK a bath while we waited. Of course as soon as I start filling up the tub, LP announces that she is done and also wants to take a bath.
By 7:30 everyone is squeaky clean. Shortly thereafter LP alerts us that she is ready for bed, and, even though the Hoos and I have yet to eat dinner, we decide to go with the flow . Considering that AK only took one nap - from 11-12:15 and LP took a 30 minute nap, it sounded like it might actually work. Sure enough AK is down for the count around 10 of. It takes LP a bit longer, but by 8:30 she is snuggled in and snoring. Considering up until a few weeks ago LP's bath didn't even start until 8:30, this is something of a minor miracle.
Everyone was still sleeping when I left the house at 7 this morning (I did feed AK when she woke up at 5:30). Hopefully this is the start of something new, different and exciting - actual downtime for the Hoos and me!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Extraordinarily Ordinary
AK slept until after 5 last night! Woo-hoo! It probably helps that she started a new course of antibiotics after being diagnosed with yet another ear infection during her 9 month check up yesterday. I am hopeful that once the meds run their course more sleep will be in my future.
Too bad her big sister woke up at 2 yelling "MOMMMMYYYYYY!" at the top of her lungs. I found her sitting upright saying, "I want to come in your bed." She might have added "...and watch TV," to the end of the sentence, but I was totally foggy, so I could have made that part up. Umm...no. I reminded her that it was the middle of the night and helped her lay back down.
LP also woke up at 5 and this time the Hoos got up. She was once again sitting up and this time she was complaining that her pillow fell off her bed.
The good news is that we have been leaving the baby gate open at the door to her room as a precursor to taking it down. Either she hasn't noticed or she is so well trained that she won't even bother trying to leave her bed when it is pitch black out.
Back to AK's 9 month check up. My little peanut is almost exactly at the 50th percentile in terms of length, weight and head circumference. She still weighs less (17.9) than LP did at her 6 month (18.1) and almost 1 1/2 pounds less than LP at 9 months (19.2).
All of this means that, despite having two little girls born at exactly the same time of year, handing down clothes may still be a problem. LP was wearing size 12-18 month leading up to her first birthday; AK fills out the 6 month size nicely . Between the size differential and the number of clothing items LP has managed to destroy (mostly via her love for smearing staining foods on herself) AK might just find herself with a whole bunch of new clothes. Or, more likely, swimming in LP's summer outfits.
Too bad her big sister woke up at 2 yelling "MOMMMMYYYYYY!" at the top of her lungs. I found her sitting upright saying, "I want to come in your bed." She might have added "...and watch TV," to the end of the sentence, but I was totally foggy, so I could have made that part up. Umm...no. I reminded her that it was the middle of the night and helped her lay back down.
LP also woke up at 5 and this time the Hoos got up. She was once again sitting up and this time she was complaining that her pillow fell off her bed.
The good news is that we have been leaving the baby gate open at the door to her room as a precursor to taking it down. Either she hasn't noticed or she is so well trained that she won't even bother trying to leave her bed when it is pitch black out.
Back to AK's 9 month check up. My little peanut is almost exactly at the 50th percentile in terms of length, weight and head circumference. She still weighs less (17.9) than LP did at her 6 month (18.1) and almost 1 1/2 pounds less than LP at 9 months (19.2).
All of this means that, despite having two little girls born at exactly the same time of year, handing down clothes may still be a problem. LP was wearing size 12-18 month leading up to her first birthday; AK fills out the 6 month size nicely . Between the size differential and the number of clothing items LP has managed to destroy (mostly via her love for smearing staining foods on herself) AK might just find herself with a whole bunch of new clothes. Or, more likely, swimming in LP's summer outfits.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Saturday Night Book Club
Last night I had the first meeting with my book club. Since we spent approximately 20 minutes of our almost 5 hours together talking about The Book Thief, I am going to say that our meeting was a resounding success. We achieved our objective of not spending the entire evening talking about our kids. In fact, we also talked about million other things; most things for longer than we talked about the book. It was really nice - thanks MLH, DM and RTC!
When I got home around midnight, I immediately went upstairs to let the Hoos know I was home. I explained that after meeting and eating and hanging out in Panera until they closed at 9:30, we moved to the 24 hour Dunkin Donuts strategically located up the street.
He looked at me incredulously, "You have been in DUNKIN DONUTS this whole time?" He then muttered, "I knew you wouldn't have been at a bar." I was out with three other thirtysomething women and yet he was 100% correct, there was really no way we were going to be at a bar.
A few minutes later when I got into bed he rolled over to look at me and said, "You smell like Dunkin Donuts. It is making me hungry." Considering bars are now smoke-free in Connecticut (at least I think I read that somewhere, I wouldn't know from experience), I probably smelled worse than if I had been at a bar.
When I got home around midnight, I immediately went upstairs to let the Hoos know I was home. I explained that after meeting and eating and hanging out in Panera until they closed at 9:30, we moved to the 24 hour Dunkin Donuts strategically located up the street.
He looked at me incredulously, "You have been in DUNKIN DONUTS this whole time?" He then muttered, "I knew you wouldn't have been at a bar." I was out with three other thirtysomething women and yet he was 100% correct, there was really no way we were going to be at a bar.
A few minutes later when I got into bed he rolled over to look at me and said, "You smell like Dunkin Donuts. It is making me hungry." Considering bars are now smoke-free in Connecticut (at least I think I read that somewhere, I wouldn't know from experience), I probably smelled worse than if I had been at a bar.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Get Over Yourself!
There was an article in yesterday's NY Times that I just noticed today, When Grandma Can't Be Bothered. It discusses how new parents - particularly new moms - have this expectation that their parents will want to drop everything, change their lives and become full-on babysitters, day care providers, or in some other way extremely active in their grandchild's life.
This is ridiculous.
My parents and in-laws are wonderful grandparents. They are very active in the lives of all of their grandchildren (to the extent possible given geography, etc.). They babysit when possible and convenient, take care of sick children, tend to them when day care or school is closed, have sleepovers, etc. I am confident that there is no doubt in the minds of any of their collective nine grandchildren that their grandparents love them.
The Hoos and I made a conscious decision shortly before getting married that we wanted to live near our families when we had kids. Not because we expected free day care, but because we wanted them to experience the joy and love of having a close relationship with their extended family. And they do. We see my parents several times a month, video conference with them on the computer at least once a week, and see my in-laws (who live closer) pretty much weekly. We also spend time with my brother-in-law and his family most weekends, giving the kids a warm and wonderful relationship with some of their older cousins.
Just because my parents are retired doesn't mean that they want the next chapter of their lives to revolve around their grandchildren. They raised me and my brother, we turned out okay and blessed them with four beautiful granddaughters, now is their time to have some fun. Sure, some times that fun involves their grandkids (as we speak my parents are on a plane to visit my nieces in California and it was less than a month ago that my parents took LP to see Sesame Street Live), but that doesn't mean it HAS TO.
I joke with my parents that I could rent them an apartment in CT for less than I pay for day care every month. They could live in CT and watch the girls during the week and return home to Long Island for the weekend. This is totally true (and very sad) but absolutely a joke. I recognize that my parents have their own lives and things to do.
I don't know why this article made me so angry. I feel better now for having vented.
This is ridiculous.
My parents and in-laws are wonderful grandparents. They are very active in the lives of all of their grandchildren (to the extent possible given geography, etc.). They babysit when possible and convenient, take care of sick children, tend to them when day care or school is closed, have sleepovers, etc. I am confident that there is no doubt in the minds of any of their collective nine grandchildren that their grandparents love them.
The Hoos and I made a conscious decision shortly before getting married that we wanted to live near our families when we had kids. Not because we expected free day care, but because we wanted them to experience the joy and love of having a close relationship with their extended family. And they do. We see my parents several times a month, video conference with them on the computer at least once a week, and see my in-laws (who live closer) pretty much weekly. We also spend time with my brother-in-law and his family most weekends, giving the kids a warm and wonderful relationship with some of their older cousins.
Just because my parents are retired doesn't mean that they want the next chapter of their lives to revolve around their grandchildren. They raised me and my brother, we turned out okay and blessed them with four beautiful granddaughters, now is their time to have some fun. Sure, some times that fun involves their grandkids (as we speak my parents are on a plane to visit my nieces in California and it was less than a month ago that my parents took LP to see Sesame Street Live), but that doesn't mean it HAS TO.
I joke with my parents that I could rent them an apartment in CT for less than I pay for day care every month. They could live in CT and watch the girls during the week and return home to Long Island for the weekend. This is totally true (and very sad) but absolutely a joke. I recognize that my parents have their own lives and things to do.
I don't know why this article made me so angry. I feel better now for having vented.
Food Chasing
A couple of weeks ago AK started getting into a sitting position by herself. We realized this when we went in to her room while trying to get her to nap and saw her on her knees holding on to the crib rail. Needless to say we immediately lowered the crib.
She has been getting around no problem, mostly by stretching, sitting up, stretching sitting up (repeat) until she has what she wants or scooting backwards. This is very different from LP, a world class roller. LP would roll all over he house - from room to room even. AK started rolling a few weeks earlier than LP, but never really used it as a mode of transportation.
Last night AK really got moving and grooving forward. Shockingly (note sarcasm) it was in an effort to stalk my dinner.
The Hoos was late getting home last night so I was eating my turkey meatloaf and baked sweet potato on the floor of the living room while playing with the girls. LP instantly was upon me, stealing my fork so she could eat my potato "like a grown up"(e.g., WITH A FORK). Never mind that both girls had just eaten.
AK decided she wanted in on the action and so I moved my plate out of her reach. "Out of her reach" is no longer an option, apparently, because she just chased it down and attempted to shovel meatloaf into her mouth with her cute little fingers. Every time I moved my plate, baby girl followed.
I am in for it now.
As an aside, last night I just cut up a Morningstar Chik N Patty and put it on a plate with ketchup and melon and put it in front of LP without saying anything. I am always trying to get her to eat more protein. Amazingly, she just ate it! Didn't refuse it, ask for pasta (her usual dinner of choice), just ate more than half of it. I am going to have to try this strategy more often!
She has been getting around no problem, mostly by stretching, sitting up, stretching sitting up (repeat) until she has what she wants or scooting backwards. This is very different from LP, a world class roller. LP would roll all over he house - from room to room even. AK started rolling a few weeks earlier than LP, but never really used it as a mode of transportation.
Last night AK really got moving and grooving forward. Shockingly (note sarcasm) it was in an effort to stalk my dinner.
The Hoos was late getting home last night so I was eating my turkey meatloaf and baked sweet potato on the floor of the living room while playing with the girls. LP instantly was upon me, stealing my fork so she could eat my potato "like a grown up"(e.g., WITH A FORK). Never mind that both girls had just eaten.
AK decided she wanted in on the action and so I moved my plate out of her reach. "Out of her reach" is no longer an option, apparently, because she just chased it down and attempted to shovel meatloaf into her mouth with her cute little fingers. Every time I moved my plate, baby girl followed.
I am in for it now.
As an aside, last night I just cut up a Morningstar Chik N Patty and put it on a plate with ketchup and melon and put it in front of LP without saying anything. I am always trying to get her to eat more protein. Amazingly, she just ate it! Didn't refuse it, ask for pasta (her usual dinner of choice), just ate more than half of it. I am going to have to try this strategy more often!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
My Snooze Alarm
AK is once again KILLING ME.
I had just gotten used to the whole routine of her sleeping from 8 or so until 4:45, feeding her and having her go back to sleep until 7:30. I figured 5.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep was better than the 2 or 3 hours I had been getting previously.
And I was right.
Last night went a little something like this:
At 1:45 I gave her the paci.
At 2:00 I applied Orajel and reinserted the paci
At 2:30 I kicked the Hoos out of bed to give her Tylenol
At 2:33 the Hoos asked where the Tylenol was
At 2:35 AK started screaming
At 2:37 the Hoos finally gave AK the Tylenol
At 2:50 the Hoos finally got AK to go back to sleep
At 4:45 AK woke up again
At 4:47 I found her SITTING UP in her crib staring at me
At 5:06 after feeding her, I crawled back to bed
At 6:30 my alarm went off
I had just been thinking about how I was going to eliminate the 4:45 feeding when the time comes to stop nursing. I jinxed myself.
I had just gotten used to the whole routine of her sleeping from 8 or so until 4:45, feeding her and having her go back to sleep until 7:30. I figured 5.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep was better than the 2 or 3 hours I had been getting previously.
And I was right.
Last night went a little something like this:
At 1:45 I gave her the paci.
At 2:00 I applied Orajel and reinserted the paci
At 2:30 I kicked the Hoos out of bed to give her Tylenol
At 2:33 the Hoos asked where the Tylenol was
At 2:35 AK started screaming
At 2:37 the Hoos finally gave AK the Tylenol
At 2:50 the Hoos finally got AK to go back to sleep
At 4:45 AK woke up again
At 4:47 I found her SITTING UP in her crib staring at me
At 5:06 after feeding her, I crawled back to bed
At 6:30 my alarm went off
I had just been thinking about how I was going to eliminate the 4:45 feeding when the time comes to stop nursing. I jinxed myself.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Squeaky Clean
I have so much bath related stuff to talk about today.
AK LOVES the bath. So much so that she scares me. While undressing her in the bathroom next to the tub she attempts to throw herself out of your arms and into the warm water. Once in the tub she splashes with so much reckless abandon that I cringe at the thought of taking my hands off of her. Even with the little grass no-slip mat on the bottom of the tub, she manages to squirm everywhere and anywhere in the bath, and even attempts to pull herself up on the faucet.
Last night I stuck her back in the baby bathtub, sitting up. I filled it with enough water that she could splash, but because of how smooshed she is into it there is no way she can flop over. Whew! Unfortunately, I don't think she will tolerate this situation too long. Any one have a bath tub insert or related product they can recommend to keep me from having a heart attack?
My second issues has to do with the shower. For the last month or so the Hoos and I have been using the same shampoo, Herbal Essences None of Your Frizzness. He basically started using mine because he ran out and never asked me to buy him more. I noticed we were running low on my shampoo and bought more on a rare family trip to Target. Yesterday I even put it on the counter in the bathroom, planning to put it in the shower when I next used it.
This morning the shampoo was not on the counter and I thought it was safe to assume it had made its way into the shower. WRONG. When I was ready to lather up my head I found a completely empty bottle. The Hoos had moved the shampoo all right - right back in to the linen closet. In the hallway. Outside the bathroom.
Nothing gets your blood pumping like dripping your way across your home in 15 degree weather to get beauty supplies.
AK LOVES the bath. So much so that she scares me. While undressing her in the bathroom next to the tub she attempts to throw herself out of your arms and into the warm water. Once in the tub she splashes with so much reckless abandon that I cringe at the thought of taking my hands off of her. Even with the little grass no-slip mat on the bottom of the tub, she manages to squirm everywhere and anywhere in the bath, and even attempts to pull herself up on the faucet.
Last night I stuck her back in the baby bathtub, sitting up. I filled it with enough water that she could splash, but because of how smooshed she is into it there is no way she can flop over. Whew! Unfortunately, I don't think she will tolerate this situation too long. Any one have a bath tub insert or related product they can recommend to keep me from having a heart attack?
My second issues has to do with the shower. For the last month or so the Hoos and I have been using the same shampoo, Herbal Essences None of Your Frizzness. He basically started using mine because he ran out and never asked me to buy him more. I noticed we were running low on my shampoo and bought more on a rare family trip to Target. Yesterday I even put it on the counter in the bathroom, planning to put it in the shower when I next used it.
This morning the shampoo was not on the counter and I thought it was safe to assume it had made its way into the shower. WRONG. When I was ready to lather up my head I found a completely empty bottle. The Hoos had moved the shampoo all right - right back in to the linen closet. In the hallway. Outside the bathroom.
Nothing gets your blood pumping like dripping your way across your home in 15 degree weather to get beauty supplies.
Monday, March 2, 2009
It's Snowing Miracles
I don't know how the snow managed to do this - both of my daughters are napping AT THE SAME TIME.
I was a little worried, since LP has given up on napping most days, and both girls are worked up thanks to the show showering down outside, but someone must be looking out for moms cooped up with their little ones due to school closings and inclement weather.
AK is napping nicely in her crib. She didn't go down until 1, since she was busy playing with her big sister, but I expect her to sleep for a couple of hours.
It was also amazingly easy to get LP to nap. I just promised her that she could sleep in her tent in the living room. We went upstairs, got her doggy, a nappy, and a small pillow. As she crawled in to the tent I took AK upstairs. She did call out once I reached the top of the stairs, requiring AK and I to do an about face, but all she wanted was for me to cover her with the nappy.
When I checked on LP after putting AK down, she was awake, but quiet. I just walked away and 10 minutes later she was out like a light, with her doggy clutched in her hand.
If every day was like this I might almost consider staying at home with my kids full time.
UPDATE: Guess who woke up first? If you guessed the toddler, who sleeps beautifully through the night and rarely naps, you would be wrong. At 2:45 AK decided she was done napping and called to me from upstairs. I don't know how she survives with so little sleep. She must have been banking it while sleeping away her newborn month.
I was a little worried, since LP has given up on napping most days, and both girls are worked up thanks to the show showering down outside, but someone must be looking out for moms cooped up with their little ones due to school closings and inclement weather.
AK is napping nicely in her crib. She didn't go down until 1, since she was busy playing with her big sister, but I expect her to sleep for a couple of hours.
It was also amazingly easy to get LP to nap. I just promised her that she could sleep in her tent in the living room. We went upstairs, got her doggy, a nappy, and a small pillow. As she crawled in to the tent I took AK upstairs. She did call out once I reached the top of the stairs, requiring AK and I to do an about face, but all she wanted was for me to cover her with the nappy.
When I checked on LP after putting AK down, she was awake, but quiet. I just walked away and 10 minutes later she was out like a light, with her doggy clutched in her hand.
If every day was like this I might almost consider staying at home with my kids full time.
UPDATE: Guess who woke up first? If you guessed the toddler, who sleeps beautifully through the night and rarely naps, you would be wrong. At 2:45 AK decided she was done napping and called to me from upstairs. I don't know how she survives with so little sleep. She must have been banking it while sleeping away her newborn month.
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