twister and shouter

Our little Maddie is a very different baby than she was even two weeks ago. With the babies, it feels like they hit a plateau of sorts now and then, and you think "Huh? Why aren't you (fill in the blank -- eating solid foods yet, crawling yet, sleeping better yet, etc.)" And then, all of a sudden, practically out of nowhere, they start doing something new!
Maddie is now sitting up super well by herself, and figuring out how to get places by sort of falling forward or sideways, then rolling one way or the other or stretching herself out or any non-crawling way to get whatever it is that catches her eye. I'll leave the room for a minute (usually, Lizzy's in there with her, so it's not like Maddie's alone), and I'll come back, amazed at how far she's gotten -- usually stuck in a corner of some sort, but often not unhappy about it. Again, she's not even crawling yet! Though she has started to do a backwards scootch sort of thing. I had to start making sure she was wearing a solid (snap-crotch) top as part of her outfit, because she would get a rug burn on her tummy when the backwards scootch made her top slide up. What a turkey.
She started eating solid foods all of a sudden, too. One day, I tried feeding her chicken, and that was a spectacular success. Today, she ate an entire container of baby food (applesauce/cherries), plus some of a peaches container, from me at home! Unprecedented. She's been reserving that trick for the ladies at day care. And she's been a Cheerios fiend for a couple of weeks now. She LOVES her Cheerios! I've heard it said before, and I'll repeat it: Whoever invented Cheerios, it's as if they did it with babies in mind. Those little pincher fingers learn so well on Cheerios.
All of this new movement has its downsides, of course -- Maddie's now rolling around on the bed, so the fact that we don't have her in a crib is suddenly a real problem. We got out the crib months ago, and Matt has it mostly set up, but naturally there's one piece missing, and naturally it's not something you get get online ... ugh. Lizzy practically skipped the crib stage in favor of a high-sided bed from Ikea. I'm tempted to try the same with Maddie, but this probably breaks all kinds of vital baby-survival rules, so I imagine we'll have to fix or get a crib that actually functions. Drat.
Also -- Maddie has gotten stellar, pretty much as of this weekend, at twisting herself onto her tummy almost immediately upon being placed on the changing table. I have yet to master changing a diaper when the kid is face-down, so I'm at a disadvantage. I think it's suddenly a two-person job, this diaper-changing -- one person to distract one end, and the other to take care of business at the other end.
One last Maddie note. I've decided that if Maddie were a superhero (bear with me on this one), her super power would be a supersonic screech. I believe those of you acquainted with my daughter in person have probably heard what I'm talking about. The difference these days is that she's hitting that high note (or frequency?) FOR FUN. She'll be sitting on the floor, playing, and shrieking her head off. The screech has never bothered me overly, but it makes Matt's head just about explode. I've not seen a baby as screechy as ours. Good thing she's mostly good-natured. But when she shrieks (with happiness) these days, I picture superbabies all over the area (and perhaps dolphins and dogs, as well), pricking up their ears and preparing to lend a super-hand. She's got the communique part down, plus, she can pierce the eardrums of any bad guys! Pretty sweet.
I'd post a photo of the increasingly chubby child, but my computer has decided that it doesn't want to be terribly user-friendly about downloading photos from my camera. Which is a real shame, since that's much of the reason I purchased the piece of crud. I'm still pretty unhappy with the computer situation, but I don't have enough free time these days to mess with it to have it occupy much of my mental capacity for outrage.

our little model

We had a practice photo shoot with the uber-talented iPete earlier this week. As expected, he pulled out some great effects! Though he had a pretty cute subject to work with, in my opinion.
He said I could share the results, so here are a few shots. Again, that's courtesy of iPete! Photog (and musician, and friend) extraordinaire!

I'm editing this to clarify -- we're not practicing modeling for Lizzy, we're helping Pete launch a second (third? fourth? fifth?) career in child photography! I'm not sure how much 'help' he needs, but we didn't mind reaping the collateral photos that came along with it.

cuddles

Recently, an old (as in longtime) friend who has a baby around Maddie's age remarked on her blog that around 6 months was one of her favorite 'baby ages' -- they're cute and cuddly, interactive, but not too mobile (and independent) yet. I commented that I was having a hard time with the stage. Missing my newborn, and yet a bit impatient with my child's impatience to be able to amuse herself (by scooting around and getting into trouble).
I think I've changed my mind.
Maddie is such a treat to merely pick up these days. It's like handling a koala bear. She kind of curves herself into you -- until she feels like pushing away a few seconds later in pursuit of something new, that is -- and the top of her head is so soft. She (physically) reminds me of Verne the turtle, from the 'Over the Hedge' comic strip. He's got a little spike of hair on top, and a prominent nose, and cute little fingers, and a poochy tummy, just like my wee girl. As her daddy said, Maddie looks like a cartoon character -- all circles held together with chub.
And she's reaching for us these days, which of course warms my heart. Reaches and rewards with big smiles. Unless she sees me and she's hungry, in which case I get cries. But that's okay.
When we put her on her tummy, she pushes herself way up, and sometimes leans back on her haunches, as if considering the possibilities. It's getting easier to imagine the day she will be scooting around, exploring all on her own.
She's getting more of the hang of the solid food-eating, too. Still not exactly all the way there, but so much better. Not sleeping terribly well yet, either, but I'm dealing.
Big girl, getting bigger.

tonight's dilemma

A movie of the highest importance -- to one of us, at least -- is released on DVD today.
Also, the first 'America gets to vote' episode of 'American Idol' is on tonight, complete with the loathsome Tatiana.
What to do? What to do?
Do I deny the 6-year-old her right to watch the movie I didn't get her to the theater to see? No way am I staying up late enough after her bedtime to watch 'my' show. Two hours of A.I.? Sounds like a bit much, and yet -- I've GOT to be there!
The Hubby says, no big deal! We have two TVs.
And I wonder: It's bad enough to be the family that will be watching TV all evening. Do I really want to be That Family? The one who is watching two DIFFERENT TVs all evening?
Ugh.

vermin update

It's now more than halfway through February. Time to take stock of certain things.
I am ready to declare our home lice-free (as judging from my child's bugless, non-itchy hair and scalp) and squirrel-free (as judging by the lack of noises in the attic. And trust me, I'm awake plenty often to have heard them).
May I take this opportunity to simply say,
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

winter of my content

As I rode home on the metro yesterday, I contemplated the fact that I was slightly annoyed that it was still light out, and I'd been a little too warm all day.
And then I realized, with some shock: I'm actually not tired of winter. I would like it to continue for a bit longer.

I've been conditioned for so long -- living anywhere that I've lived but the D.C. area -- to dread winter, and rejoice as it passes. No more cold, dark days! Time to get back outside and enjoy God's green, thriving, awakening creation!
I used to think of February, and even March, as it's too much of a tease, as being the bleakest time of year.
But here? I'm just too darned hot most of the rest of the year. Especially, what, May through (insert month that seems to occur increasingly later in the year -- September, say?).
I enjoyed the cold this winter. It felt like some sort of interesting blanket about me as I walked down 14th street to work each morning. Cold and alive and stimulating.
Also, I seem to equate 'cold air' with 'clean air'. Germs can't live in cold air, right? Cold air seems to smell fresh and clean. In summertime, D.C. smells (and feels) like one giant armpit.
I think what alarms me somewhat as I come to enjoy winter, and dread summer, more each year is the possibility that this is a sign of age. Is it? Does this mean I'm getting old, as surely as do the gray hairs and longer list of things my digestive system won't tolerate?
If so -- eh. So be it. Right? I can't change it, so I should embrace it. (right???)
And, granted, this winter was quite mild. We had, what ONE snow day? Yes, I'm wishing doom upon myself by saying this less than halfway through February. You can all praise (if you're a student or a teacher)/blame (if you're anyone else) me for the three-day snowstorm we'll surely have late next week.
It surely feels about time to move to a colder, less humid place. Hm ... I bet there are places in Washington state that might fit that bill ... ;)

one way in which Lizzy is utterly unlike me

My dear little Lizzy, who suddenly seems to be on fast-forward en route to growing up, decided last night that I should set her alarm clock for "whenever she needs to get up tomorrow morning."
Yes, she has an alarm clock, but it's a Hello Kitty clock she's had for years -- basically so we can tell what time it is when we're in her room. We've certainly never used the alarm function before.
Since wake-up time for her is a) whenever she wakes up, or b) 10 minutes before Matt and I are ready to scoot out the door, it's hard to pin down an exact time.
When I realized I was running late this morning, I actually sneaked into her room to set it back 10 minutes. So I suppose, yeah, she does have a snooze button just like Mommy!
Maybe we're not so unlike after all.

Pop-Pop, these are for you

I think just about anyone else I know is on Facebook, or (in one friend's case) I e-mailed these photos to directly. So, for our family contingent in the Philippines, a couple of cute photos from last week's snow day!

definitely my kid

Last night, as Lizzy and I attempted to make our week to come a little saner by doing her class valentines in advance, she was asking me how to spell a teacher's name. (she wants to give her extra valentines to her art teacher, P.E. teacher, etc.) She pronounced the name "Ms. Deh-vall," so, not knowing the teacher from Eve, I spelled "Duvall". Perhaps it was the semi-late hour, but I had learned by that time in the process that questions only make her anxious. Pretending to know as fact was the only way to proceed. The poor girl had really freaked out earlier over our not remembering how to spell "Ms. Britney" (Britany? Brittany? Britnee?), a woman who works at her day care. Darned if I can remember the Christmas list that the day care ladies helpfully (and hopefully) set out in December.
My little girl definitely takes pride in spelling things correctly. And I, probably foolishly, take pride in her doing so, as well. I wonder where the "anal" gene is located on the chromosome ...
Yeah, so her teacher has about six assignments due this week, if you count valentines. Thanks a heap, I say! We're even supposed to make a creative box for the valentines to be deposited by Friday. Hasn't that always been the purview of the school? A little class art project? A coworker reminds me that the schools are too busy these days teaching to their tests. Oh, goody. So we get to 'teach' everything else in all our spare time at home.
Matt's been (legitimately) consumed with a music project for the past two weekends, and I'm coming apart a bit, trying to be single mom person. Knowing full well that there are millions (probably) of moms out there who do it all the time, either for lack of spouse, spouse serving in military, spouse with off-hours job, or whatever the reason. And, oh yeah, all the undersung stay-at-home types! All I know is, it's darned tricky, simultaneously catering to the needs of an infant and a 6-year-old. And those bins of clothes that I washed two and three weeks ago, but haven't had time to fold and put away, are making me about cry.
Matt had a birthday on Friday. I got him: A card, and two candles that he requested from Target. Which doesn't even count. I feel pretty bad about that. No cake, or anything! Unfortunately, more of the same is in store for Valentine's Day. At least he has no expectations. Nor do I. We can sit down together and romantically write mortgage payments and checks to the day care, if we want to remember why we don't spend money on each other. :)
Lizzy has had her moments, but I don't know if it's ever been worse than this Saturday night. She just LOST it with me. I strongly suspect a late night the night before had a hand in her behavior; regardless, she was particularly vile. I got my first "I hate you," and lots of slamming doors, screeching and nonstop interrupting when I attempted to say anything at all. She was a mess. I admit, I lost it a bit myself, and we were both out-and-out screaming at each other somewhat. I don't remember doing that with my mom. I don't remember thinking I would live to see another minute if I were to do that with my mom. Maybe my parents are right; maybe we've allowed Lizzy to make too many decisions in her short life. She really seems to think she's in charge a lot of the time. Huh? No, I don't THINK so. We allow you certain input. That doesn't make you a co-parent of yourself, or your sister. Ah -- those battles are mostly to come!
And then, almost in the next breath, Lizzy will be so genuinely sweet, helpful and loving ... I just don't know. Don't know what to do with all of that.
It's interesting to me that Maddie remains impassive through these exchanges. Tension among family members seems to bother her not at all. I recall a baby and wee child Lizzy being rather freaked out when her parents argued. (though perhaps she was older than six months; I don't recall.) For Maddie, apparently, it's all good.
I need to convince Matt to hang around the house more, so his girls don't tear each other apart one day.
Maddie continues to wake me up pretty much hourly overnight. I just don't understand it. Where did my good little sleeper go ... at this point, I would kill for the old three-hour sleep intervals. Heck -- two hours! Two consecutive hours of sleep! Sounds way better than it used to.
The notion that this will not go on forever sustains me. Until then, I remain mostly incoherent, most of the time.
Thank God for strong coffee. And thank God I'm in an industry in which a mistake will not kill anyone. Except those of us who die a thousand small deaths when we see mistakes in print. But, with the way the industry is going -- editors being let go, copy editing being outsourced to India, for goodness' sake -- we might as well get used to it.
I'm looking at my nails -- they're all scraggly and uneven. My hair is a fright. My clothes are unironed -- well, okay, that's always the case. I feel like hanging a sign around my neck that says "Don't judge me -- my kid won't let me sleep."
Ahhhh, Monday.

okay, I'm not THIS bad.

Avoid Krispy Kreme because of the Ks? Wow. That's just not enough reason for deprivation. Even for the likes of me.
I haven't even read most of this story, but it's already something I have to share. Enjoy, o wordsmiths among us!