while I ponder, time Marches on

suddenly it is mid-May... been almost a month since I last posted (the hard-to-write "working mom" post), and I have pictures going back to mid-March floundering in Picasa. Clara looks entirely different now. her hair is longer, thicker and curlier. she's visibly stretched upwards in the last month like she's been put on one of those medieval torture devices. everything except her growth is static. work, the house, my health - going along with the motions while I wait to win the lottery or something.

my laughing, smiling beacon in the night keeps shining, though, inspiring me everyday to do better for myself, our family and the world. I'll be catching up on photos over the next week or so, detailing her 15 month stats, telling hilarious stories involving zombies and babies, and more. so look for a lot more action on the Zoo starting now, starting with March wrap-up pics:

I'll just climb in and inspect the dirt, ok?

Mama, no more pictures, I'm trying to concentrate

dressed by Dada.  hyper when Mama gets home.

out of Goldfish? nooooooo

you expect me to climb through this for water?

hey! how do I get back to the top?

not scared of heights (Mama taking pic while gripping the rail)

hmmm something is off...

only babies ride in cars

feeding the fish 10x what they need

move, Dada

mmmmm Indian food

rice is tricky

she's so much more steady and less Frankenstein-esque with her walking now that it's funny to look back on this video from the end of March. it's insane how fast she changes and grows.

have a good week!

G.


ps.  if you don't already know, Jen of Maybe If You Just Relax lost her daughter Ainsley over the weekend. this little girl's fight was inspirational, and her loving parents had already lost her twin at birth 16 months ago. if you are so inclined to offer condolences, here is their website.

fun times

We celebrate holidays year-round here... valentine's PJs and an Easter basket in late Feb.?  Why not?!

{screeching like a madwoman}

Uncle Jeremy came to visit... he's so much fun :D

 Clara is still a pretty good eater. Of this plate of kidney beans, oranges and brie, she liked everything but the brie. (Wait... is this really my child?? Oh well, more for me!)

 The cyclone bowl... not QUITE toddler proof, but better than an open bowl.

This is one of my favorite pics of her ever:

 She drinks her  (frozen breast-) milk from a sippy now! 

First busted lip... she didn't cry long and seems to have totally forgotten it now. My little Angelina Jolie.

Will be back soon with a video and some "milky matters."  Have a great rest of the weekend!

G.

lots o' updates and a few pics

• Scott and I have started running (see our widgets to the right). It's been a few years since he's run regularly; I've never exercised much, despite some pretty serious health issues that would really benefit from it.  I've just never enjoyed it, but now that I have Clara to think about, I want to suck it up and get in shape so I have the energy to keep up with her! Plus, it will instill good habits in her early on to see us exercise and eventually get involved herself.  Scott is doing some of his running with her in the BOB stroller. Now THAT is a workout!
  

  

  don't worry Mom, I didn't get mugged

  

• I'm also trying to force myself to have a little bit of a life outside the baby. This is hard for me since I work all the time and really don't get to spend much time with her, but I know it's important. For Scott's birthday last week, we went to dinner and my friend from work Brandi babysat Clara. Brandi has 2 kids and I trust her 100%, but I was worried Clara would freak out being left with a "stranger" (she'd previously only been babysat by my mom).  Well, she did perfectly fine and we had a nice dinner. Totally worried for nothing.  Just a couple of days later, Brandi and I went to a local art studio called Easely Amused, which is kind of like paint-by-numbers for grown-ups, with alcohol. It was a blast, and not just because of the pitcher of chocolate martinis Scott sent with us!  That was the first time I hadn't put Clara to bed in many months, but we all survived, obviously :)

• Clara is now 11 months old. She's staying up a little later, usually til about 7:30, and sleeping til about 7 am.  She still takes 2 naps. She nurses twice a day and has about 1.5 bottles during the day, plus assorted solids. She's cutting down on her milk intake so much that I'm starting to think I will have to donate milk before it spoils (after 12 months in the deep freeze - but we have more than 2000 ounces I believe).  She'll probably have enough breastmilk to last her until she's nearly 2, which is crazy, but awesome!
• At 11 months, her favorite food is mandarin oranges (Sundia brand in the fresh section). She is obsessed with books and our cats.  She's not walking yet but can stand up for awhile without holding on to anything and can stand up from sitting now.
• Her bday party is going to be rock and roll themed and I cannot WAIT to post all about it!



sharing blocks with Bailey (who is less than amused)



yes, I'm this happy even with a busted nose





my first Christmas ornament! (from Little Sapling @ etsy)

I like expensive handmade things like mommy

Happy New Year everyone!

G.

busy, happy days

are my (non-family) readers still here?! sorry I have been so slack on posting.  some more quickie updates...

Clara and Dada have chik-fil-a every week after music class.  she loves her deconstructed grilled chicken sandwich :)

these little curls kill me. so precious.

my mom is including this pic with her Christmas cards. happy girl :)

being sneaky

I love the next two. these were Thanksgiving pics I forgot to include in my Thanksgiving post. so independent in the airport.

Clara has learned how to do SO MUCH in the last couple of weeks:

• stacking blocks
• nesting objects
• putting her cup back in the cupholder in the highchair tray
• sharing toys with us
• initiates peek-a-boo
• waves bye-bye reliably
• understands how to work (and loves) peek-a-boo books

other randoms:

party-planning is in full-swing for her retro rock-and-roll party in late January.

we got her a nice drum (Remo Kids) and some baby-safe art supplies for Christmas. surprisingly, she hasn't bothered our tree at all.

as soon as I post this, I'm going over to the Breastfeeding page to do an update, so check that out if you're interested.

have a great week!

Ginger



better late than never...

So it's taken me an inordinate amount of time to post about our whirlwind Thanksgiving trip to see Scott's family... Here's the skinny:

• The plane ride there: We brought books, snacks, a small new toy, and a bottle in case Clara was too distracted to latch (supposed to nurse or give a bottle on the way up and down for their ears). It was easy as pie. We decided that we indeed have the perfect child, furthering our resolve to never risk it with another.
• The plane ride back: In the first five minutes, Clara was screaming, arching, and turning purple. I was so averse to drugging her this time, but next time we may seriously consider Benadryl.
• Clara met numerous aunts and uncles for the first time. She was generally scared of them. It appears that she doesn't mind crowds at all, but doesn't want any stranger up in her face, in any environment. I think this is fairly common for her age and developmental stage.
• I was swabbed for explosives at both airports. Apparently they always swab parents who are carrying a baby on their lab.  In Jackson, but not Orlando, they did the vapor test on the breastmilk we had with us.  None of this was a big deal at all, thank goodness.
• We used the Ergo carrier in the airport instead of a stroller and that was great (freed up our hands).  Button-down shirts were ideal travel attire for the nursing mama.
• Clara slept in a pack and play for the first time. She slept about 2 hours less per night than she does at home and her naps were generally shorter.  We put the pack and play in a walk-in closet so it would be as dark and quiet as her room at home. Scott kept calling her "Clara Potter" (like Harry Potter in his cupboard).

 

heading out!



this lady is like "please don't let the baby be on my plane"

the first of many unhappy moments in the rental carseat

this doggie gave me kisses. loved it!



my cousins showed me the ropes on their old toys they gave me :)

mama's favorite picture EVER

sassy and proud

mmmmm Auntie Jane's Thanksgiving meal

meeting the fabled Auntie Jane!

thanks for the cool monkey Uncle Bob!

Happy extremely belated Thanksgiving to everyone! Will be back soon with some videos :)

-G