Because You'd Probably Like Some Pictures to Go Along With My Random Topics

This first picture features Eve crying and completely covered in Vaseline.  She had just transferred from two naps a day to just one afternoon nap.  I didn't know what to do about showering anymore, because I usually took a shower during her morning nap.  So I thought the best thing would be to keep her in her room.  I could hear her on the monitor and it is pretty safe.  Well, she wasn't in any mortal danger, but she HATED being locked up, and cried and cried and found the vaseline and smeared it all over herself and other things.  Now, after other experimental set-ups, I just let her  have free reign of the whole main floor while I shower, and  more often than not she just stands at the edge of the tub, watching me and wishing she could play in the water too.  Is that weird?  At least I know where she is and she isn't crying, or rubbing petroleum jelly everywhere.

The only good picture of Eve on Valentine's Day

St. Patrick's Day was very fun and somewhat special.  She reached the one year mark developmentally.  During this year she will hopefully catch up and it will lose its significance for me, but it was strange to think that a year ago, on her due date, I was taking pictures of her for her birth announcement and she was already two months old.  And now, now she is learning to walk, pointing, getting four or five molars in and is generally busy busy busy!

We bought Eve her first real pair of shoes yesterday so she can cruise around the yard and garden, and we also went to the park.  I was shocked, shocked and disappointed that   NO ONE  besides Eve and I was wearing green!  Hell-o, it's St. Patrick's Day!  I was tempted to severely pinch everyone at the park.  St. Patrick's Day isn't a huge deal, but it's fun!  Growing up, the Leprechauns would always leave us a little treasure bowl of treats on our doorstep, and would always magically change the milk and butter at my house green!  I only feel bad that other people don't get to see that much of them on St. Patrick's Day.  I guess they're either too drunk or too boringly rational.  Next year I think Leprechauns will find me and my house and turn our food green.

On a side note, I think April is going to be the beginning of the end for Eve and I and our breastfeeding relationship. Sometimes I change my mind, but I don't want to let anything impede chances of getting pregnant this summer (hopefully).  And Richie puts her to bed half the time anyway, so, why not?  She's pretty chill and will handle it well. Yesterday she fell asleep on the kitchen floor.  That was a first.  I was trying to get Irish scones in the oven and a corned beef in the pot, but she just couldn't wait.  Which brings me to a question--Eve won't take a morning nap anymore, but she's so tired by 11 or 12 that she will often fall asleep in my arms.  I don't want to put her down for a full nap though, because that's lunch time.  Lately I've been feeding her lunch earlier and then putting her down for a nap earlier, but, if I make it too much in the middle of the day, well, I just don't like it.  She's got to choose: morning or afternoon.  Any advice?  Anyway, back to the nursing issue.. I feel good about 14 months.  And it's time to let go.  Just a little bit.

A Hard Fall

So, just a little update:  February was pretty lazy compared with the previous five months.  I have enjoyed doing not much more than scrapbooking, watching movies and exercising.  I am swimming once a week, joined an exercise group that meets twice a week, and run at least once a week.  It sounds like a lot, but it really doesn't seem like much.  It isn't enough, actually, to lose much weight.  But I keep at it because it does feel good.

Eve is doing well.  She is not walking yet, but can stand up and balance on her own and walks with hands held or around furniture.  She is getting at least three or four molars in right now, which was causing her to wake up screaming several times a night for about three weeks in a row, but that seems to have stopped for the most part.  She is becoming a pickier eater.  Yesterday both lunch and dinner were PBJs.  But I'm not too worried about it.  I slip veggies in when I can, and while I do want her to establish healthy eating habits, A) I know that this is a notoriously picky time of life-toddlers! and B) She really needs all the calories and weight she can get, so healthy carbs are a fine diet for her.  

Speaking of her weight, yesterday we went to the Dr.'s office.  She is 16 lb 12 oz.  She gained over half a pound last month.  Only three more and she can turn her car seat around!  Why were we at the doctor's office yesterday?  Eve took a very hard fall.  I had put her on our bed to play while I dressed for the day.  She usually stops at the edge, but decided to attack the lampshade with lightening speed.  Before she had even started I was going to the other side of the bed to get her off, but she was too fast.  She hit the nightstand, flipped completely over, and then literally faceplanted on the hardwood floor.  She cried and I picked her up.  I wasn't going to overreact and call the doctor--I kept telling myself that kids fall and bump everyday and are resilient.  But as soon as I picked her up she sucked her thumb and went to sleep, which I thought was weird and I thought she might have passed out.  Then I noticed that she was not just pale, but totally ashen, with her lips and around her mouth and eyes very grey.  That scared me so I called the doctor and spoke to the nurse.  I thought she'd tell me not to worry but she said "Oh yes, come in right away!"  So I hurry-scurried to the doctor's office.  We waited 2 hours to see the doctor.  And by then I could tell she was alright.  I wanted to say "I think my baby's fine, can I have my money back?"   She had a big red spot on her forehead yesterday.  But, today, she seems just fine and there isn't even a goose egg on her head.  Maybe she used her hands to cush the fall more than I thought, or maybe her guardian angel was there to catch her.  Or maybe there's some serious damage that just hasn't manifested itself yet.  We'll see.  But for now I'm just glad she's alright.