Birthday party

Little red wagon
Originally uploaded by countmockula

There are approximately one billion new pictures on Flickr, and a few of them are even good. Just click this picture and it'll link you.

We had a great time. I decorated my first cake (I don't usually make cakes, and when I do, it's German's chocolate), and I think it came out okay. Zadie had fun, even if she didn't really understand the whole presents thing. She did especially enjoy her new swing, riding in her new red wagon, and eating her cupcake. I tried to convince her to blow out the candle, but she made a grab for it instead.

In future, we may have to have parties at the park, because it was really crowded in the house. Well, we love our house, but it's not really set up for entertaining. Sorry if anyone was uncomfortable.

She was squirmy at dinner tonight, and had been squirmy at sushi on Friday, too. I'm hoping she's not in a phase where we can't take her out to restaurants. It's been really nice to be able to take her everywhere.

Now I'm exhausted. Good night!

Goatee

fumanchu
Originally uploaded by countmockula

Our baby has been getting rather more junk food this week than usual, but I think we'll slow down after her birthday party. Anyway, she had chocolate ice cream at Gunther's last night, and we were able to see what she would look like with a goatee.

The other day, we generously gave up the swing to another mother, not thinking that she would then monopolize it for half an hour with a parade of different kids, but whatever. Zadie played near the sand, and she likes climbing on the handles of this sand shovel.


This is technically not my photo. It was taken at a birthday party by the parents' friend Roy Yang. So he's the photographer and I have stolen this off his Picasa page, but I swear I'm not making any money off it. I just wanted to show it off.


He took a ton of cute ones. Here's one with Daddy.

Great day - doctor and zoo

I took the day off work, and I'm so glad I did. Zadie and I nursed, then got dressed and went to Cafe Bernardo for breakfast, where we shared eggs, potatoes, and toast. Then we went to the doctor's office for her 1-year checkup. She is above average in height and weight, and the doctor noted several times that she was "very verbal." In fact, she asked Zadie if she knew where her ear was, a question she says she usually asks 3-year-olds, because Zadie seemed so bright. I think Zadie does know where her ear is, but she didn't point to it. She is doing everything she's supposed to, eating well, and impressed the doctor with her words, signs, and animal noises (they gave us a book, and we turned to a page with an elephant and Zadie made a trunk motion with her arm and an elephant noise).

She said it seems like Zadie has outgrown her milk sensitivity (I had a few concerns, but she said they were nothing to worry about), and that it looked like Zadie has two teeth coming in. Then we had to get shots, and there were FOUR today. Zadie was not happy about it. When I picked her up, she clung to my neck. They had said we could go get blood drawn today or wait for another day, and I thought we'd better wait.

We came home, nursed, had a short nap (interrupted by a garbage truck), and then we had the afternoon free and she was in a good mood, so we went to the zoo! At first, I thought it was going to be a bust: She couldn't see the birds, the lemurs were being lazy, there was a crowd around the chimps... But then we stopped by the giraffes to have a picnic, and she was watching them (as well as all the babies that passed by). It improved from there. We saw koi, red pandas, the reptile house, some very active and noisy flamingos, ducks, and big cats. In the reptile house, she said a new word. One of the small frogs hopped and I said "Oh, the froggy hopped!" and she replied "Hop!"

Still to come: dinner, and a walk to the park to play on the swings with daddy.

From her actual birthday yesterday, here are some pictures.

First thing in the morning


Lounging and eating a sandwich for dinner


Opening her first birthday present


It's a popper!


Playing with it outside


Out for froyo with auntie Monkeygirl


I would prefer she went to college

Huggy bear

My sweet little thing is becoming a hug-monster. Today, Mom told me that Zadie had met a little girl named Audrey and given her a hug. I was sorry to have missed it, but then I took her to the park tonight. She saw a baby and wanted to go play with her, so we went over to play in the sand. The girl's dad said "Sophia, give Zadie a kiss." Sophia looked skeptical, but Zadie threw her arms around Sophia and gave her a kiss, then pulled back, took her in, and then gave her another hug. It was so sweet. I love watching her get to know the world and other kids.

His Dark Materials trilogy (with massive spoilers)

So... here's what I thought. I read "The Golden Compass" and was totally taken in by this feisty, rough-and-tumble, courageous little girl, Lyra. I loved that she did what she thought was right, whether it was to bully some Gypsies into taking her on a mission or to befriend a fierce armored bear. She occasionally had bad judgment, but she made decisions for herself. The world that Pullman built around her was interesting, suspenseful, exciting.

Then there was "The Subtle Knife." This one sort of felt like a middle book. It introduced a new character, Will, and a couple different worlds, but in general it felt short and like a transition between the first book and some kind of conclusion. In fact, I was surprised when I came to the last page and remember thinking "Oh! That's it?" Still, I was engaged in the story and was looking forward to the concluding book.

And then there was "The Amber Spyglass." Which DRAGGED ASS. Here would be a touch of interesting, familiar stuff related to the plot, and then there'd be thirty pages of sentient wheeled sheep. And then there'd be some more back-to-the-action stuff, and then they'd decide to take an arguably pointless side trip into, say, the underworld. And then back to the sheep-with-wheels. And somewhere along the way, Lyra became dull and subservient. She had this machine that gave her answers called an alethiometer; she had the unusual ability to read it. But at some point, she decided she needed to follow Will on his big adventure and stop so much as consulting the alethiometer without asking him first. What happened to feisty? I guess it grew up and fell in love and turned into a pansy.

Worst, the whole series leads up to this big conclusion: There's going to be a new Adam and Eve, and Lyra's Eve, and she's going to be tempted by a temptress (this chick named Mary), and she's going to give into temptation. So what happens? She and Will end up hanging out with Mary, then go into a pretty forest setting, where Lyra gives him a piece of fruit and they fall madly in love and do it and it saves the world. But then they can't be together anymore, so they just, you know, are cool with that.

Wait, what? First of all, what's the temptation? The nookie? And how was Mary involved with that? The temptress isn't much of one, the temptation isn't much of one, and it's completely unclear why their horizontal bop saves the world (or, if you've read the books, causes Dust to flow normally instead of into the abyss).

Anyway, it was a bit of a let-down. I really had to slog through the last book, and when I got done, I didn't feel particularly rewarded. Well, the good news is that now I can go back to my magazines.

Which is funniest?

I can't decide.

OMG!

IMG_2799
Originally uploaded by countmockula

Well, I had been having Z nurse on both sides before work, and the not-pumping had been going fine. Until today. I failed to have her nurse on both sides, and now I can't take off my sweater, because I have one giant hard boob with a big wet spot on my t-shirt. Good times.

I also forgot my purse today, so two of the errands I wanted to run after school are out. I need cake frosting color and I have a skirt that was altered that I need to pick up.

Anything else interesting? I'm taking the day after Z's birthday off for her 1 year checkup. Presumably the doctor will notice how amazing, smart, strong and healthy she is.

This is spirit week, and I'm excited to dress up. I have a new hat that's perfect for crazy dress day. I think I'll wear my wacky orange stewardess outfit with it. And Wednesday is "twins" day, so the other teacher for whom I am frequently mistaken and I are dressing identically. We happen to have the same boots and skirt! Great minds shop alike, apparently.

It's sunny but cold today. I tried to get some sun at lunch, but was freezing. Luckily, there was magic chocolate in my bag! It must have dropped out of a previous lunch I packed! I had a delightful .17 oz serving of Scharffen Berger chocolate.

Oh, that reminds me. Weight Watchers is sucking right now. In the three weeks I've been sticking to it super-carefully, I've lost exactly 1 1/2 pounds (it may be a little more than that, but not according to the scale this morning). I've added in workouts -- in fact, I've gone to the gym ten times already this month. I've cut down on snacking. I have been practicing good portion control. I don't know what's up! Is it my stupid post-30 metabolism? Last time I was really into WW, I lost 40 pounds in about 6 months, and my average at the beginning was like 4 pounds a week (afterward it slowed down to about 2 pounds a week). Is this just stubborn fat? Am I doing something wrong? Is it that medication (many people have trouble losing weight on it, but that's because it's an appetite stimulant, so it makes you EAT MORE, and I've been really careful with what I eat)? Anyway, I'm just feeling pissy about it right now, because my goal is to be in my normal Summer wardrobe by May. And those are my pre-baby fat clothes, not my when-I-was-a-size-8 clothes.

Okay, I'm fooling around while my kids write a practice essay. I'd better do some real work. Take care,
CM

Weekend so far

Post-party II
Originally uploaded by countmockula

We got up this morning, ate, cleaned, went grocery shopping, and got ready for a party. We went to childbirth class with a couple we hit it off with, and we've been out to dinner, had them over, they've had us over, etc. over the last year-and-a-bit. Their son, Liam, is five days older than Zadie, and his birthday party was today.

Zadie had lots of fun, eating almost a whole slice of pizza and an entire cupcake! She also climbed up and down the stairs and drooled on Liam's toys. She was so tired afterwards that she fell asleep in the car on the way home, but when we got home, she took her sweater off and I got this picture. Sweet, huh?

We're testing her out on regular milk, and she seems to be okay. I'm monitoring the poo, but I understand that people don't like it when mommy bloggers talk about the poo, so that's all I'll say.

I wrapped her birthday presents, and we got some presents from Auntie M in the mail today. I checked with Granny, and she's coming to the party, and I know all Zadie's Sacramento grandparents are going to be here (she's blessed with a total of 7 grandparents, but not all are local), plus her Monkeygirl and Liam's parents and Liam and her cousins (technically 2nd cousins and 2nd cousins once removed, but who cares) and great-aunt. I'm making a fishy cake (have to go to Cake Castle for colors this week).

I'm reading the third book of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. I'm on page, like 800-something. It feels like I've been reading them forever, and they're starting to get a little preachy. I'm so ready to be done, to catch up on some magazines, and then to start another book. That doesn't even include my work reading.

I guess that's it. Take care, all. Enjoy Spring!

Solved! Rejection! Two videos!

We walked to the store today and on the way there, were behind two young guys with a Blockbuster movie in hand. I put my Netflix in the mail, bought some milk at the store, and we found ourselves behind the same guys, now with a different movie and sodas, on the way home. Just before the corner of our street, they stopped to pet a cat. I was going on to Zadie about the nice boys and how the cat needs love, and then they went to the porch of the duplex on the corner. "Wait!" I shouted. "Does one of you own the "Nuke the whales" car?" The one with the fauxhawk raised his hand. His license plate holder on the front has contained a mystery for me for ages now. "What does 'Shortening the World' mean?" Apparently, it's from some show he watched about a guy claiming to go so fast, he would shorten the span of the world's existence. This guy claimed it and applied it to his driving. Thus, he goes so fast he's shortening the world. "Oh, thank you!" I said. "I thought it had something to do with Crisco, or with breeding with short people!" They likely think I'm insane.

I am probably breeding a tiny attention whore, but I can't help it; when she wants people's attention, I want them to give it to her. So when we were sitting on the lawn and an elderly neighbor came out and Zadie waved wildly and said "Hi! Hi! Hi!" I desperately wanted the neighbor to look up, but she never did. Later, another neighbor failed to hear Zadie's "Hi! Hi! Hi!" but did manage to hear her yell "Bye!" when she started to walk down the street. Finally, a third neighbor was out pruning bushes and her dog was in the yard. Zadie waved and waved and said "Hi" and made the sign for dog for so long that I finally walked over there so we could see the dog. I swear, I just can't take the rejection when she wants people's attention so badly and they don't see her.

Here is a very nice video of Zadie enjoying the swings.


And here is a very naughty video of her saying "Die! Die! Die!" and growling.

Sunshine!!

She was a buffalo soldier... dreadlock rasta
Originally uploaded by countmockula

Oh my gosh, I just want to be out in the sunshine, not stuck indoors teaching.

I got this hat in a gift swap, and I think it looks fetching on the baby. She looks like rainbow sherbet. (Was Rainbow Sherbet one of Strawberry Shortcake's friends? If not, she should have been.)

WHEN IS THE WEEKEND?!?!?!?!

Field Trip & stuff

Well, we went on a field trip to CSUS two days in a row. I think the kids got something out of it. They learned some research skills, dicked around some, got to see what college life was like, and then saw a man peeing at the light rail station.

I am really enjoying the weather. It's been in the low 70s. Tonight Z and I ate our sandwich outside on the lawn. I feel revived.

I have decided to quit pumping at work. First, I plugged another device in at my computer area, which means that to pump, I have to crawl under my desk, unplug my printer, and plug the pump in, then reverse the process when I'm done. It's a pain. Also, I noticed that one of my pump horn things is broken. Not badly broken -- it still works -- but it's on the verge of falling apart, and I don't feel like replacing it. And finally, the one thing that I was worried about -- that I would leak if I didn't pump -- didn't happen the last two days on the field trip. So I think the universe is conspiring to tell me I don't have to pump at work anymore. While I am a tiny bit concerned about what this will do for my overall supply, I am mostly relieved. I've felt really isolated this year at work, cut off from both students and other teachers. And it's mainly because at lunch I have to lock myself in my room. It's lame. So I'm glad I'm done with it.

It's almost the Spring equinox, which is also Persian New Year, or Nowrooz. I put up the traditional "haft seen" table. We started doing it a couple years ago, and part of my thought was that our eventual kid/kids would get to know part of their culture. And now she's here, and Nowrooz is close to her birthday. It's all about renewal, Spring, and new starts, and it really feels like it.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

IMG_2801
Originally uploaded by countmockula

Here she is, walking!

We have a...

IMG_2788
Originally uploaded by countmockula

walker.

She has taken one or two steps here and there, but as of yesterday, Saturday the 14th, she took five steps trying to get to her stroller. Then this afternoon she walked to her Daddy. She's doing it!!

12 days!

Naked bootie dance.
Originally uploaded by countmockula

In only twelve short days, this little bootie-shaker turns one. We've been going to the park and playing on the swings, and she laughs and laughs, and I've taught her to say "whee!" She says it enthusiastically. She hates leaving the park; she has so much fun there.

We now take laps around the house, me pushing the stroller and her hanging on to the back of it. She could totally walk if she'd just let go.

She is REALLY into her sippy cup of water. Now that she can both sign and say water, she's drunk with power. She does both, making the sign and saying it at the same time, and we dutifully bring her water. She has been peeing like a racehorse lately. She has even taken up advocacy for the cat, letting us know when Mina wants water (which is when she's up on the bathroom counter meowing -- thanks, kid).

She can pick out who's who in our wedding pictures and has favorite books she brings us to read. She rifles through my purse and gets my lip gloss out to chew on. She bites me and I tell her "no biting," which she thinks is hilarious. She is eating nearly anything we give her. It's strange to see her eating such grown-up food -- she even had a slice of pizza this week!

She points to herself or pats herself on the chest and says "baby." Yes, we tell her, you're the baby. But not for long, my almost-toddler.

She gives hugs. She points out fish and dogs. She thinks there are frogs in a painting her grandfather made. (There aren't, but she's insistent; every time she sees the painting, she makes the frog sign. Apparently she also believes there are birds in Grandma and Boompah's closet. She flaps her arms and says "CAW!" while looking in there.)

I just can't believe it's been almost a year since people were asking me why I hadn't "popped" yet. I even got chastised for eating a cinnamon roll at a coffee shop, apparently so far along that I needed to be housebound. And the whole birth and hospital visit seems almost like a dream now -- a blur of kind nurses and long nights and shuffled walks up and down the hall to see her, her face and body covered in little tubes and monitors. Who knew what a healthy, strong girl she could eventually become? Who knew that in those little pursed lips and clenched fists, there hid such a personality? Who knew that those little ninja hands fighting off the nurses in her first moments of life would translate into a girl who stomps on the cat and growls and laughs? Who knew that the little Granny-face she made on that second day alive would become her perpetual pouty look? Who could imagine teeth in that little face? Who could picture that tiny, oxygenized infant shoving spicy falafel into her mouth just a year later?

She makes me laugh. I miss her when I'm at work, and I miss her when she's asleep. I am so grateful for this last year. I am so grateful for my mom and my husband, people who are, amazingly, now a grandmother and a Daddy. I can't wait to see her even now.

How we know she's my kid.

At the baby shower we attended Saturday, Mom got a plate of fruit, a few chips, and three M&Ms. Before she even sat down, Zadie, with the reflexes of Caine from Kung Fu, snatched an M&M off the plate and popped it in her mouth.

Later she crawled across the room and grabbed a handful of M&Ms out of a bowl before I could get to her.

And as this picture shows, she bit THROUGH the foil of this chocolate bar (which she dug out of my diaper bag) to get to the chocolate.



Other highlights of the weekend -- she has never before said rattle. She's never had one or anything. But she was CRAZY for her cousin Sophie, giving her multiple hugs around the neck. And when Sophie pointed to a plate and said "can you say 'rattle'" Zadie immediately said "rattle." (It didn't have a T so much as a glottal stop in the middle, but it sounded like rattle.)

Also, my kid's a total genius: She now recognizes frogs whether drawn, photographed, cartooned, sculpted, or magnetized. She saw a frog head on a magnet and immediately made the frog sign.

We played poker on Saturday, and as always, our hosts were super hospitable. They love Zadie and are so sweet to us and her.

On Sunday morning I had an odd yoga experience. There was a substitute I'd never met, a guy who had us lay out our mats sideways, then lit several candles around his. I was like "This is loopy!" Then he started our class, and it was a lot of balancing, which I am really good at, so I was challenged, but still feeling really successful (just the way I like it) when I heard a semblance of my name over the intercom, and I had to go rescue the crying Z from the child care center. Still, I got 40 minutes in. (I have a great offer from a friend -- Hi Alicia -- for a private yoga session, and I plan to take her up on it, but I have so much going on the next few weeks, a wedding and two baby birthday parties.)

She ate enchiladas with molé sauce tonight and really seemed to like them. Here is more evidence.


I guess that's about it. Take care, all!

Ain't that about a bitch

Chris Mccandless Bus 142
Originally uploaded by chriso2000

I checked out 35 copies of "Into the Wild" for my 11th graders, and apparently 9 of them liked it so much, they took it home. Now I owe $180 to the bookroom for the books that were checked out in my name. Why in my name and not the students', you ask? Well, because we only have so many to go around, so I checked out one class set to use with two classes. Thought it would help out the other teachers. Instead, I managed to lose 9 of the school's books. Frickin' kids, I swear.

My little deviant

s41228cb115845_15
Originally uploaded by countmockula

When my dearest daughter sees crackers, she yells "Crack! Crack!" and pats the inside of her elbow. (It's her version of the sign for cracker.)

During her nighttime change into jammies, she waits until she is butt-naked, then crawls to the window, stands in the open window staring at our neighbors' house, and starts slapping her own ass. (Again, it's the baby sign for diaper -- she appears to be telling Ed Begley and his wife that she is getting her diaper changed.)

I know it's all totally innocent, but it's amusing to read it otherwise.

Portraits in advance of her birthday!

Yoga

I've been trying to go back to yoga. Two weeks ago, Zadie cried in the child care center and I had to leave early. Last week I had a sinus infection and knew I'd be uncomfortable if I went. But I was back today. A few observations:

1: Yoga music should not have lyrics.

2: Attention yoga teachers -- if you mix up left and right regularly, at least face away from us so we can follow you.

3: If I can't ever get my mind to slow down, maybe it's a sign that I need to keep practicing.

4: I MUST remember to show up early so I can get a spot away from the mirror. It really throws off my "warrior two" to notice that I am shaped like Tweedledee right in the middle of it.

5: They tell you that yoga is not a competition, but I have a hard time letting that go. I'm always thinking "I bet that guy next to me has to put his foot down before I do."

6: It's supposed to be so good for your body, so why the hell do I have sacroiliac pain NOW that I didn't have before I went this morning?