We're not doing anything -- we never do anything. We pretty much yell "Happy New Year" at nine when the ball drops in New York and that's it for us, other than being awakened when the fireworks go off.
Zadie has a tooth so close to the surface of her gums that I can see it, which means she's been cranky and clingy all day. Normally, she's a happy baby, and if she wants to be held, she'll come to you. But this photo we took this morning has been typical of today. We'd go "Zadie, come here," and she'd sit there and cry. She is, in fact, crying right now. Which means I'd better go.
Mom and Boompah come home tonight from Catalina Island. Maybe we'll pay them a visit tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Berkeley
Monkeygirl, Sweetie and I had planned to go into San Francisco today, but MG had a long drive and long day yesterday, and Sweetie was feeling homebody-ish, so I figured I'd just drop the idea, too. But Sweetie practically kicked me out of the house, so Z and I drove not to San Francisco, but to Berkeley. (I hate driving in SF.) I parked in my usual spot on Dwight, just off Telegraph, and then popped into Bongo Burger, the burger joint that also serves falafel and hummus. Zadie had quite a bit of each, and they were pretty tasty.
Then we walked down Telegraph and stopped into a vintage clothing store. They didn't really have things sized and I didn't want to try stuff on. Also, their dress selection was pretty spare. Anyway, I walked out with nothing. Then I went to American Apparel, thinking that I could get a jersey top or dress that I could wear around casually this summer and feel cute in. I did try one on, but it struck me as $30 cute, not $48 cute, so I left. Then I went into the stationery store I liked and bought a card and some thank you notes. Finally, I went into Urban Outfitters and tried on a few dresses, all three of which stretched almost to transparency over my expando-boobs. Bah.
I knew Z was hungry, but one of the things that area is missing is coffee shops with comfy chairs. I didn't know where to find one, but I did know where to find a Peet's with a public restroom. We went to the 4th street shops, where I used the restroom then sat outside on a ledge to nurse Z. She was very distracted by Gomez, the dog we met who kept barking and howling. Also, some chick's cell phone went off right behind me. She ended up only eating a little, then we headed home. By the way, I cannot recommend the chai at Peet's*. It tasted thick and weird.
Zadie has been much better in the car lately, and today she slept all the way there and all the way back (I did time it to coincide with her naptime).
*How on earth do you punctuate something-belonging-to-Peet's? I asked Sweetie and he said to phrase it differently, which I did. But seriously, is it Peets'? Peet's'? Peetses? I'm going to go look it up.
Then we walked down Telegraph and stopped into a vintage clothing store. They didn't really have things sized and I didn't want to try stuff on. Also, their dress selection was pretty spare. Anyway, I walked out with nothing. Then I went to American Apparel, thinking that I could get a jersey top or dress that I could wear around casually this summer and feel cute in. I did try one on, but it struck me as $30 cute, not $48 cute, so I left. Then I went into the stationery store I liked and bought a card and some thank you notes. Finally, I went into Urban Outfitters and tried on a few dresses, all three of which stretched almost to transparency over my expando-boobs. Bah.
I knew Z was hungry, but one of the things that area is missing is coffee shops with comfy chairs. I didn't know where to find one, but I did know where to find a Peet's with a public restroom. We went to the 4th street shops, where I used the restroom then sat outside on a ledge to nurse Z. She was very distracted by Gomez, the dog we met who kept barking and howling. Also, some chick's cell phone went off right behind me. She ended up only eating a little, then we headed home. By the way, I cannot recommend the chai at Peet's*. It tasted thick and weird.
Zadie has been much better in the car lately, and today she slept all the way there and all the way back (I did time it to coincide with her naptime).
*How on earth do you punctuate something-belonging-to-Peet's? I asked Sweetie and he said to phrase it differently, which I did. But seriously, is it Peets'? Peet's'? Peetses? I'm going to go look it up.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
What Not to Wear
They've discovered a new mental disorder wherein you believe you're on a reality show. I don't have it, but I do occasionally fantasize about what would happen if I were on What Not to Wear. I was thinking about fashion today a bit, and looking at pictures online of people's fashion choices, and in general, I think I know enough about fashion to know what works and what doesn't. And then I went grocery shopping dressed like a chubby cat burglar. I was wearing my new lounge outfit (black velour), and Sweetie offered me a stocking cap, as it was cold and my hair was damp.
Worst are my shoes. I wear terrible shoes. I have a LOT of shoes, and in the summertime I wear cute sandals a lot. I have cute boots, cute wedges, platforms, mules... but do I wear them? Not often. See, when I have to stand for 8 hours a day, I just don't buy that pointy heels can be comfortable. Not for 8 hours. I know they always show people going "oh, I didn't know they could be comfortable!", but that's for a few minutes in front of a mirror, not all day. So what do I wear? Oxfords. Big, chunky clunkers. And then I wear them so frequently that I just slip them on for quick trips on the weekend, too. I more or less wear something like this every day.
Anyway, I've really been slacking on my personal style with the thought that when I've lost some weight, I'll pick it back up. But I really shouldn't wait. I really should try to look my best now. At least I shouldn't go out of the house in my loungewear and a stocking cap. Sheesh.
Worst are my shoes. I wear terrible shoes. I have a LOT of shoes, and in the summertime I wear cute sandals a lot. I have cute boots, cute wedges, platforms, mules... but do I wear them? Not often. See, when I have to stand for 8 hours a day, I just don't buy that pointy heels can be comfortable. Not for 8 hours. I know they always show people going "oh, I didn't know they could be comfortable!", but that's for a few minutes in front of a mirror, not all day. So what do I wear? Oxfords. Big, chunky clunkers. And then I wear them so frequently that I just slip them on for quick trips on the weekend, too. I more or less wear something like this every day.
Anyway, I've really been slacking on my personal style with the thought that when I've lost some weight, I'll pick it back up. But I really shouldn't wait. I really should try to look my best now. At least I shouldn't go out of the house in my loungewear and a stocking cap. Sheesh.
Lovely vacation
This has been a great vacation so far. I spent the first few days of it preparing for Christmas -- making last minute goodies, wrapping, etc. Then on Wednesday, it was Christmas eve, and we spent most of the day with family, from a nice brunch at Evan's Kitchen (click on it to see the funny logo) to the evening at my grandma's house with almost my whole family (including the cousin I rarely see and her new baby). After that, we assumed we'd meet my dad and stepmom's whole family at their house, but it was just the two of them. We made it quick so we could get the baby home to bed. It was a nice, mellow Christmas.
That night, we opened a present each, and I got my new Paul Frank Julius jammies! I slept in them, so when we got up in the morning, I stayed in my jammies to go over to Mom's house. Mom always makes pancakes and they make us coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice. We opened a ton of presents, but then the baby got sleepy, so we left a few unopened and headed home for a nap.
Later that day, we went back for a traditional Christmas dinner of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, rolls, salad, and cranberries. We put Zadie into this death trap:
... and during dinner she fell over headfirst, strapped into the seat. I'm not sure I've ever moved so fast to get her flipped over and unstrapped. Mom and Boompah decided to get rid of the deathtrap. We had a nice dinner otherwise. Then we opened a few more gifts and hung out for a bit.
The day after Christmas is a blur. We cleaned, put presents away, made a list for the thank-you notes, and Sweetie walked to the game store. It was a chore-centric day, but that's okay.
Yesterday we had a Dr. Who-a-thon! We watched several episodes with Leela the cave girl and one with K-9. We had chips, pretzels, bread, tapenade, four kinds of cheese (cheddar, herbed chevre, brie, and "drunken goat"), coffee with brandy, ginger ale, crackers, hummus, cream cheese with pepper jelly, Candy Cane Joe's-Os, chocolate candy, cookies, peanut brittle, mushroom turnovers, mozzarella sticks, raspberry-brie fillo thingies, and probably more that I'm forgetting. It's really as much about the snacks as it is about the show. I have to say -- of all my friends, I am probably the lesser Dr. Who fan. I watched a few episodes when I was a kid, but it didn't go much beyond that, and I've certainly never sought out the show as an adult. But since we've been having these Who-a-thons, I can see the appeal. I enjoy watching them. I really like Tom Baker -- he's got a funny comic timing. I get a kick out of it when he inserts himself into some situation with the simple explanation "I'm the doctor."
Zadie's been sleeping well. She still cries for maybe 20 minutes when going to sleep, but then she sleeps for ten hours or so -- eleven last night! I'm glad to see her getting so much sleep. At the moment, we're still battling daytime naps -- she'll sleep with me or on me, but if I put her in her crib, she just screams for an hour.
This morning I was feeding her bites of banana and waffle when she grabbed the waffle from me and decided to feed herself.
That night, we opened a present each, and I got my new Paul Frank Julius jammies! I slept in them, so when we got up in the morning, I stayed in my jammies to go over to Mom's house. Mom always makes pancakes and they make us coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice. We opened a ton of presents, but then the baby got sleepy, so we left a few unopened and headed home for a nap.
Later that day, we went back for a traditional Christmas dinner of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, rolls, salad, and cranberries. We put Zadie into this death trap:
... and during dinner she fell over headfirst, strapped into the seat. I'm not sure I've ever moved so fast to get her flipped over and unstrapped. Mom and Boompah decided to get rid of the deathtrap. We had a nice dinner otherwise. Then we opened a few more gifts and hung out for a bit.
The day after Christmas is a blur. We cleaned, put presents away, made a list for the thank-you notes, and Sweetie walked to the game store. It was a chore-centric day, but that's okay.
Yesterday we had a Dr. Who-a-thon! We watched several episodes with Leela the cave girl and one with K-9. We had chips, pretzels, bread, tapenade, four kinds of cheese (cheddar, herbed chevre, brie, and "drunken goat"), coffee with brandy, ginger ale, crackers, hummus, cream cheese with pepper jelly, Candy Cane Joe's-Os, chocolate candy, cookies, peanut brittle, mushroom turnovers, mozzarella sticks, raspberry-brie fillo thingies, and probably more that I'm forgetting. It's really as much about the snacks as it is about the show. I have to say -- of all my friends, I am probably the lesser Dr. Who fan. I watched a few episodes when I was a kid, but it didn't go much beyond that, and I've certainly never sought out the show as an adult. But since we've been having these Who-a-thons, I can see the appeal. I enjoy watching them. I really like Tom Baker -- he's got a funny comic timing. I get a kick out of it when he inserts himself into some situation with the simple explanation "I'm the doctor."
Zadie's been sleeping well. She still cries for maybe 20 minutes when going to sleep, but then she sleeps for ten hours or so -- eleven last night! I'm glad to see her getting so much sleep. At the moment, we're still battling daytime naps -- she'll sleep with me or on me, but if I put her in her crib, she just screams for an hour.
This morning I was feeding her bites of banana and waffle when she grabbed the waffle from me and decided to feed herself.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
An embarrassment of riches
A few days before Christmas, there was an article in the paper about how to deal with your dysfunctional family. How lucky I am, I thought, that my family isn't dysfunctional. Not that they're perfectly, you know, functional, but I genuinely like and love everyone and don't dread spending time with them, but rather look forward to it. I think I would love Christmas as much if there were no presents anywhere -- just a deli tray and my Aunt Jeanette's treats at Grandma's, brunch with Aunt Nancy and my cousins, a late evening visit with Dad, pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice at Mom's, a nice nap, then dinner with Mom and Boompah. It would only be improved if Eugene, Oregon were next door and we could spend time with Sweetie's family, too. But as lucky as I am to have such a wonderful family, we also got stuff -- lots and lots of stuff!
Zadie pretty much tripled her toy count, adding a musical table (for which I have to go buy batteries), a singing, dancing Care Bear, a snowman, two different Christmassy stuffed dogs, a Where the Wild Things Are monster, a peapod baby, a mooing cow, and a ball popper. She also got many new books, too many to list, and a huge number of cute outfits.
We were spoiled, too. I know I'm silly, but I forgot that I had put several items on my wish list, so every time I got one, I'd go "Oh, how did you know?!" I'm almost ashamed to admit how spoiled I got, but I have to tell you that my Sweetie got me Paul Frank pajamas and slippers, plus a cool titanium chain for my favorite necklace (which Zadie recently broke).
Now I'm enjoying a little soy nog and a truffle we got for a gift as the baby puts herself to sleep. It's been such a nice holiday, and I'm glad to have more time off from school. Tomorrow we have another Dr. Who-a-thon. We have to only invite a couple people at a time to each event, because our living room is so small! I hope tomorrow is an okay day to have a fire in the fireplace (our region has prohibited burning at times). And soon, my friend Suzanne will be here for a visit! Yay! Okay, now I'm rambling. Bye!
Zadie pretty much tripled her toy count, adding a musical table (for which I have to go buy batteries), a singing, dancing Care Bear, a snowman, two different Christmassy stuffed dogs, a Where the Wild Things Are monster, a peapod baby, a mooing cow, and a ball popper. She also got many new books, too many to list, and a huge number of cute outfits.
We were spoiled, too. I know I'm silly, but I forgot that I had put several items on my wish list, so every time I got one, I'd go "Oh, how did you know?!" I'm almost ashamed to admit how spoiled I got, but I have to tell you that my Sweetie got me Paul Frank pajamas and slippers, plus a cool titanium chain for my favorite necklace (which Zadie recently broke).
Now I'm enjoying a little soy nog and a truffle we got for a gift as the baby puts herself to sleep. It's been such a nice holiday, and I'm glad to have more time off from school. Tomorrow we have another Dr. Who-a-thon. We have to only invite a couple people at a time to each event, because our living room is so small! I hope tomorrow is an okay day to have a fire in the fireplace (our region has prohibited burning at times). And soon, my friend Suzanne will be here for a visit! Yay! Okay, now I'm rambling. Bye!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Our Christmas in pictures
Assaulting cousin Grant after brunch.
Slightly skeptical of the new toy.
Yay, wrapping!
Daddy tries on a new hat, and Z makes the sign for hat.
Trying on her new hat.
Excited over Christmas dog.
Mom stuck a bow on my head.
Enjoying her new blocks.
More blocks.
By the way, yes, she has a giant forehead bruise. She took a header off the couch.
PS - She said "ball" this morning and stood on her own for about 5 seconds last night. She's 9 months old today.
Slightly skeptical of the new toy.
Yay, wrapping!
Daddy tries on a new hat, and Z makes the sign for hat.
Trying on her new hat.
Excited over Christmas dog.
Mom stuck a bow on my head.
Enjoying her new blocks.
More blocks.
By the way, yes, she has a giant forehead bruise. She took a header off the couch.
PS - She said "ball" this morning and stood on her own for about 5 seconds last night. She's 9 months old today.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Goober for Christmas
I admit it: I LOVE Christmas. I have a tree, decorated with all the ornaments I've been given over the years. I have stockings -- I ordered one with Zadie's initial on it this year. I baked cookies and made candy. I sent out cards. We've been playing Christmas music. We have lights on the house. There is a display of nutcrackers on the mantel. The tree has presents overflowing from underneath it. I've made a few crafts. I've been trying to teach Zadie to say "ho ho ho." There is an angel on the TV. I watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" last night. Total, utter, geeked-out-ness. I'm so happy it's finally here! (I know it's only Christmas Eve, but two parts of my family celebrate together today, so it's as good as here.
After all the destruction Zadie has committed under the tree, it'll be funny if she isn't interested in opening her presents. She's so far torn off a bow and a ribbon and a card, opened a present of her own, brought me one of my presents from inside a gift bag, and torn the paper on two gifts.
The sleeping thing is still improving. Two nights ago she cried for 20 minutes, then woke once in the night. Last night she cried for 25 minutes, but didn't wake at all. On average, she's getting just less than ten hours a night, which is much better than the 8 1/2 she was getting, so I know we've made a good decision. We're, uh, still working on the nap situation.
Okay, lots to do this morning. Have a great holiday yourself, if you celebrate, and if not, enjoy The Wire (or whatever). =)
Love to all,
CM
After all the destruction Zadie has committed under the tree, it'll be funny if she isn't interested in opening her presents. She's so far torn off a bow and a ribbon and a card, opened a present of her own, brought me one of my presents from inside a gift bag, and torn the paper on two gifts.
The sleeping thing is still improving. Two nights ago she cried for 20 minutes, then woke once in the night. Last night she cried for 25 minutes, but didn't wake at all. On average, she's getting just less than ten hours a night, which is much better than the 8 1/2 she was getting, so I know we've made a good decision. We're, uh, still working on the nap situation.
Okay, lots to do this morning. Have a great holiday yourself, if you celebrate, and if not, enjoy The Wire (or whatever). =)
Love to all,
CM
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Shhh...
Guess what I'm doing?
I'm fooling around on the internet, uploading some pictures, and I'm about to read the paper. Why "Shhh"? Because the baby has been asleep for ten hours straight. She didn't wake up at all last night. Even better, she only cried for about ten minutes after being put to bed. I still feel awful when she cries, but she is starting to get the picture. Last night, the first thing she did was lie down with her pig. Then she stood up and screamed at me, then lied down with the pig, then stood up and screamed, then lied down again.
I'm going to work on getting her to be earlier, but I think it needs to be a gradual process, so that by the end of vacation, she's going to bed at 8. Right now, it's more like 9:30, but we're making progress.
I'm fooling around on the internet, uploading some pictures, and I'm about to read the paper. Why "Shhh"? Because the baby has been asleep for ten hours straight. She didn't wake up at all last night. Even better, she only cried for about ten minutes after being put to bed. I still feel awful when she cries, but she is starting to get the picture. Last night, the first thing she did was lie down with her pig. Then she stood up and screamed at me, then lied down with the pig, then stood up and screamed, then lied down again.
I'm going to work on getting her to be earlier, but I think it needs to be a gradual process, so that by the end of vacation, she's going to bed at 8. Right now, it's more like 9:30, but we're making progress.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
She walks upstairs, alone or in pairs...
We don't have any stairs. So last night, at Sweetie's staff party, when she had been carried around for just about as long as she could stand, I took her to the sunken living room. I figured there wasn't much there she could attack, and nobody else was down there. Plus, the only way out was two stairs, so she couldn't get out.
Wrong! Several baby-admirers joined us in that room, and as we watched her crawl around, someone said "Oh, she's going for the stairs." "That's okay," I foolishly replied, "I don't think she can navigate them." I think I had JUST gotten it out of my mouth when she got one leg up on the first stair. Then she got the other leg up, stood up, and flopped belly-first onto the second stair, then cruised proudly underfoot into the kitchen. I retrieved her, but that was clearly the new fun game. She climbed those stairs like she was trying to improve her personal best time. It just surprised me because she's never seen stairs before, so I assumed she wouldn't know what to do. But she's a stair-climbing champ!
We had a great night's sleep last night. I kind of cheated -- she fell asleep while eating, so I put her down asleep in the crib. The Sleep Lady says to put them down "drowsy but awake," but it was later than it should have been, so I just put her down asleep. She woke up at 12:30 and I fed her, then put her down. She wasn't sleeping, but I put her down, patted her, shushed her, and left. She cried for maybe five or ten minutes, then fell asleep again and slept until 8am!
Wrong! Several baby-admirers joined us in that room, and as we watched her crawl around, someone said "Oh, she's going for the stairs." "That's okay," I foolishly replied, "I don't think she can navigate them." I think I had JUST gotten it out of my mouth when she got one leg up on the first stair. Then she got the other leg up, stood up, and flopped belly-first onto the second stair, then cruised proudly underfoot into the kitchen. I retrieved her, but that was clearly the new fun game. She climbed those stairs like she was trying to improve her personal best time. It just surprised me because she's never seen stairs before, so I assumed she wouldn't know what to do. But she's a stair-climbing champ!
We had a great night's sleep last night. I kind of cheated -- she fell asleep while eating, so I put her down asleep in the crib. The Sleep Lady says to put them down "drowsy but awake," but it was later than it should have been, so I just put her down asleep. She woke up at 12:30 and I fed her, then put her down. She wasn't sleeping, but I put her down, patted her, shushed her, and left. She cried for maybe five or ten minutes, then fell asleep again and slept until 8am!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
On teeth and cookies
Well, we have a new tooth. Maybe that would help to explain the four ("Five," interrupts Sweetie) hours of screaming last night.
I made a kind of cookie last night with which I am very familiar. They're called peanut butter blossoms, and I used to help Mom make them when I was a kid. She makes them every year at Christmas and usually gives me some.
I LOVE these cookies. Imagine a fluffy peanut butter cookie but with a Hershey's kiss embedded in the center. They're delightful. And as I rolled them in sugar, placed them on the cookie sheets, unwrapped the kisses... I began to feel quite nostalgic. Unwrapping the kisses was one of my usual "helper" jobs in Mom's kitchen. It brought back many nice memories of baking with Mom at the holidays. And I also realized that I had never made these before by myself. Pretty much all the other cookies my mom makes, I do a decent job of myself. I don't make the raisin drops because I'm lukewarm on those, but sugar cookies, molasses cookies, oatmeal chocolate-chip... I make them regularly. So why not the peanut butter blossoms?
I didn't know, but suddenly I started to feel a little guilty. Every year my mom makes these and I wait to get some. I eat my way around the peanut butter part before eating the chocolatey center. I only ever have a few, because there's a scarcity issue. But if I could make my own, that seemed to make them a little less special. I had that strange feeling the whole time I was making them.
And then they came out of the oven and I ate several. They are delicious. I don't know whether I'll make them in the future or leave them to Mom.
Oh, and I found Hershey's Special Dark kisses this year, so they're a little different than Mom's. Mmmm... Special Dark....
I made a kind of cookie last night with which I am very familiar. They're called peanut butter blossoms, and I used to help Mom make them when I was a kid. She makes them every year at Christmas and usually gives me some.
I LOVE these cookies. Imagine a fluffy peanut butter cookie but with a Hershey's kiss embedded in the center. They're delightful. And as I rolled them in sugar, placed them on the cookie sheets, unwrapped the kisses... I began to feel quite nostalgic. Unwrapping the kisses was one of my usual "helper" jobs in Mom's kitchen. It brought back many nice memories of baking with Mom at the holidays. And I also realized that I had never made these before by myself. Pretty much all the other cookies my mom makes, I do a decent job of myself. I don't make the raisin drops because I'm lukewarm on those, but sugar cookies, molasses cookies, oatmeal chocolate-chip... I make them regularly. So why not the peanut butter blossoms?
I didn't know, but suddenly I started to feel a little guilty. Every year my mom makes these and I wait to get some. I eat my way around the peanut butter part before eating the chocolatey center. I only ever have a few, because there's a scarcity issue. But if I could make my own, that seemed to make them a little less special. I had that strange feeling the whole time I was making them.
And then they came out of the oven and I ate several. They are delicious. I don't know whether I'll make them in the future or leave them to Mom.
Oh, and I found Hershey's Special Dark kisses this year, so they're a little different than Mom's. Mmmm... Special Dark....
First night in the crib.
Well, last night was her first night in the crib. It pretty much sucked. At 8, I read her a story, changed her diaper, and put a wearable blanket on her, then put her in the crib and scooted the rocking chair next to it.
At first, she thought it was a new game, but after I told her "night-night" several times and didn't pick her up at her initial fusses, she got MAD. She screamed and screamed.
I took a break at 9 to go brush my teeth & stuff, then came back. Eventually I lay down on the bed in there and just let her scream at me. It was heartbreaking. She was so tired that she went from standing to kneeling to finally sitting, arms limp at her sides, tears and drool pouring down her face. She was giving me this look of abject misery, saying "You have betrayed me, Mama."
At ten, Sweetie came in and was like "Why don't you turn off the light?" He did, and then she screamed into the darkness for another half an hour. Finally, after 2 1/2 hours had passed, she stopped screaming and fell asleep.
At 1:30, she woke up. I changed her diaper and fed her, then put her back in the crib. She had seemed quite drowsy, but the screaming recommenced. At 3, Sweetie came and said "I don't think your being here is doing any good. Come to bed." So I did. She screamed for another half an hour, then fell asleep anf stayed asleep until 7:30.
All together, she cried for almost 4 hours and slept for only 7. It's supposed to get better on the second night...
I wanted to do this Sleep Lady thing, where I'm there to comfort her, because it seemed kinder than the Ferber method of just letting her cry it out alone, but I'm not sure how well it worked. In a way, I think she was thinking "there's my mom RIGHT THERE and I know if I'm crying, she picks me up. What the hell is going on?"
Ultimately I guess the success is that she DID spend the whole night in her crib and I didn't give in and let her sleep in the bed.
At first, she thought it was a new game, but after I told her "night-night" several times and didn't pick her up at her initial fusses, she got MAD. She screamed and screamed.
I took a break at 9 to go brush my teeth & stuff, then came back. Eventually I lay down on the bed in there and just let her scream at me. It was heartbreaking. She was so tired that she went from standing to kneeling to finally sitting, arms limp at her sides, tears and drool pouring down her face. She was giving me this look of abject misery, saying "You have betrayed me, Mama."
At ten, Sweetie came in and was like "Why don't you turn off the light?" He did, and then she screamed into the darkness for another half an hour. Finally, after 2 1/2 hours had passed, she stopped screaming and fell asleep.
At 1:30, she woke up. I changed her diaper and fed her, then put her back in the crib. She had seemed quite drowsy, but the screaming recommenced. At 3, Sweetie came and said "I don't think your being here is doing any good. Come to bed." So I did. She screamed for another half an hour, then fell asleep anf stayed asleep until 7:30.
All together, she cried for almost 4 hours and slept for only 7. It's supposed to get better on the second night...
I wanted to do this Sleep Lady thing, where I'm there to comfort her, because it seemed kinder than the Ferber method of just letting her cry it out alone, but I'm not sure how well it worked. In a way, I think she was thinking "there's my mom RIGHT THERE and I know if I'm crying, she picks me up. What the hell is going on?"
Ultimately I guess the success is that she DID spend the whole night in her crib and I didn't give in and let her sleep in the bed.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Time moves so slowly
when THIS is the scene waiting at home! Come on, who wouldn't want to go home to jammies, the tree, the husband, the baby, the cookie-baking, the merry-making, the drummer-boy-singing, the presents... Sigh. I swear, it's 8:52 and it already feels like I've been here for HOURS. I'm contemplating a bathroom run just for something to do.
Last night was a lot of fun. I'll post pictures later, but we had my Dad and stepmom over for dinner for his birthday. I made enchiladas and then Dad played with the baby. Sometimes she cries around him, so it was really gratifying to see them having fun together.
Today is my annual "poetry cafe" at school. The kids have to recite poems that they've memorized for beaucoup points, but as a reward I provide cookies and, this year, instant cappucino. I'm not sure how I feel about instant cappucino, but it's a treat for the kids. Now just let the time pass quickly!!
Last night was a lot of fun. I'll post pictures later, but we had my Dad and stepmom over for dinner for his birthday. I made enchiladas and then Dad played with the baby. Sometimes she cries around him, so it was really gratifying to see them having fun together.
Today is my annual "poetry cafe" at school. The kids have to recite poems that they've memorized for beaucoup points, but as a reward I provide cookies and, this year, instant cappucino. I'm not sure how I feel about instant cappucino, but it's a treat for the kids. Now just let the time pass quickly!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The crib
Well, we're beginning our gradual transition to the crib. I'm trying to wean her from the boob at night so she doesn't want to nurse from 4am to 6:20 (which she currently does) and every time she wakes up in the night.
We're also moving slowly, every so slowly, to the crib. I figured Winter break would be a good time to lose some sleep if we had to, so on Friday, she's going in the crib for the first time. To get her used to sleeping in her room, I started sleeping with her in the bed in there last night. As of Friday, though, no more sleeping in the bed with grown-ups. I am determined. It is my will. She's going in the crib, and if she wakes in the night, then I'll pat her and shush her, but she's going BACK to sleep in the crib. If I take her back into the bed at all, it's called "intermittent reinforcement," or in baby terms "sometimes when I cry, I get what I want, so maybe I just have to cry longer and louder." If she never gets what she wants, the theory is she'll give up and just settle into bed. Man, I hope so.
I suspect we'll have to listen to some crying for several nights, but my parenting forum folks have reassured me that many babies actually get used to it quickly and sometimes even sleep better.
Wish me luck! Tonight's night two of the very gradual transition. I'll let you know how it goes when we actually put her in the crib.
We're also moving slowly, every so slowly, to the crib. I figured Winter break would be a good time to lose some sleep if we had to, so on Friday, she's going in the crib for the first time. To get her used to sleeping in her room, I started sleeping with her in the bed in there last night. As of Friday, though, no more sleeping in the bed with grown-ups. I am determined. It is my will. She's going in the crib, and if she wakes in the night, then I'll pat her and shush her, but she's going BACK to sleep in the crib. If I take her back into the bed at all, it's called "intermittent reinforcement," or in baby terms "sometimes when I cry, I get what I want, so maybe I just have to cry longer and louder." If she never gets what she wants, the theory is she'll give up and just settle into bed. Man, I hope so.
I suspect we'll have to listen to some crying for several nights, but my parenting forum folks have reassured me that many babies actually get used to it quickly and sometimes even sleep better.
Wish me luck! Tonight's night two of the very gradual transition. I'll let you know how it goes when we actually put her in the crib.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
"Gee," we kept saying...
"She hasn't gone for the tree!"
Yeah, well, that grace period is over. She's really fascinated by the tree, and today she got this Red Queen ornament off and was playing with it. I thought the picture was cute and showed her devilish side.
Incidentally, the other night I said "Say goodnight to the tree!" and she responded "Night!"
I turned in shock to Sweetie and said "Did she just say...?"
He interrupted; "That sounded remarkably like 'night.'"
We just stared at each other in shock.
Yeah, well, that grace period is over. She's really fascinated by the tree, and today she got this Red Queen ornament off and was playing with it. I thought the picture was cute and showed her devilish side.
Incidentally, the other night I said "Say goodnight to the tree!" and she responded "Night!"
I turned in shock to Sweetie and said "Did she just say...?"
He interrupted; "That sounded remarkably like 'night.'"
We just stared at each other in shock.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
So full of brains you'd think she's a zombie
Since I last updated you (oh, last week-ish), Zadie has picked up the "k" sound and is trying to say "cat" and "car" (she can't quite manage the endings, but you can hear the difference), and can caw like a crow (when she sees crows). She has also learned to clap, and thus can show us when she's happy and she knows it. She is standing and briefly balancing (very briefly, like a second or two).
She also now makes the sign language sign for "milk" and uses it appropriately (example: Mom and I said "Are you hungry?" and she replied by making the milk sign). And she made the signs for both "bird" and "duck" at appropriate times today (upon seeing crows and ducks, respectively). Did I mention she's also been saying "bow wow" when the book calls for it or when she hears dogs barking? She also does the baby sign for dog (panting) and flower (sniffing). And on Friday she cracked me up by going "Mmmm" when our guest said "Mmmm" upon seeing the spread of junk food.
If you believe my mom, who doesn't lie, but who does have a very generous ear for Zadie's speech ("Hi" to Mom sounded like "huh" to me for about a week), she also said "Alice" to my Alice in Wonderland memorabilia. Apparently, it sounded like "Ellish," but that was good enough. She was staring at an Alice cookie jar. Pretty cool, huh? Now we're working on Tintin.
She also eats almost everything, having now tried eggs and cornmeal and soy cheese. Seriously, she's a good, healthy eater. In fact, I'm off to feed her now.
Stuff changes so fast I can hardly keep up! I heard that at 8 months old, they really start retaining a lot more and thus learning a lot and going through many changes, but she's just on such a roll. She impresses me.
She also now makes the sign language sign for "milk" and uses it appropriately (example: Mom and I said "Are you hungry?" and she replied by making the milk sign). And she made the signs for both "bird" and "duck" at appropriate times today (upon seeing crows and ducks, respectively). Did I mention she's also been saying "bow wow" when the book calls for it or when she hears dogs barking? She also does the baby sign for dog (panting) and flower (sniffing). And on Friday she cracked me up by going "Mmmm" when our guest said "Mmmm" upon seeing the spread of junk food.
If you believe my mom, who doesn't lie, but who does have a very generous ear for Zadie's speech ("Hi" to Mom sounded like "huh" to me for about a week), she also said "Alice" to my Alice in Wonderland memorabilia. Apparently, it sounded like "Ellish," but that was good enough. She was staring at an Alice cookie jar. Pretty cool, huh? Now we're working on Tintin.
She also eats almost everything, having now tried eggs and cornmeal and soy cheese. Seriously, she's a good, healthy eater. In fact, I'm off to feed her now.
Stuff changes so fast I can hardly keep up! I heard that at 8 months old, they really start retaining a lot more and thus learning a lot and going through many changes, but she's just on such a roll. She impresses me.
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