Eight Months

Eight Months Old.

This has been sick central since Thanksgiving, and the Christmas holidays aren't looking much better. There are lots of stomach bugs and pinkeye going around daycare, and Emma's been kind enough to bring it all home. Our girl's very good at sharing.

Between the illnesses & teething, I haven't been taking regular photos, and the few I have taken have been either pre- or post-puking - so, yeah, those will remain in my personal collection.

Likes: Pulling up on furniture to dance and cruise around (!!!); eating (current favorite is yogurt, but have also enjoyed spinach, pumpkin, and white potatoes); and playing in the kitchen, which you've just recently discovered (sliding things across the smooth floor, banging on the dishwasher, and trying to sneak into the pantry to play with the recyclables).

Dislikes: TEETHING. BEING SICK. (OK, maybe those are Mama's dislikes, but I'm sure you feel the same way!)

We've introduced Emma to Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and Fraggle Rock (an oldy, but goody), and have really enjoyed watching her bounce-dance to the music. She loves dancing. And when she gets really excited, she lets out this loud gasping sound. Scares the snot outta Mama & Dada, especially when she does it from the backseat of the car. Not cool.

We also have our first recognized word, I think. When we ask where her ball is, Emma will crawl around saying bah, bah? And when she wants it, she'll repeat bah bah bah until we bring one of her balls over.

Ah, communication - it's a beautiful thing.

Book Review: Rebecca

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
(Last read December 4, 2003)

This is one of only two books my mother recommended to me in my youth that I actually enjoyed — so much that it’s become my favorite story.

Daphne du Maurier’s characters got my attention, and her beautiful imagery kept me rapt. And it’s not just that famous opening line, either; the ending is just as beautifully written, but receives much less attention. Her subtle hinting throughout the book is well done (especially in that last chapter), though you can’t really appreciate its significance until you’ve finished reading (all the more reason to start it over again!).

Our unnamed heroine, the second Mrs. de Winter, was always hard for me to like. I didn’t not like her, as was the case with Rebecca, but I’m shocked at just how shy and spineless this girl is. I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s fought off irrational bouts of paranoia or fantasy, but hers are so extreme! But I guess that’s typical of the character.

Our leading lady is the opposite of Rebecca in most respects — shy, quiet, scared — but I’ve often played out one particular scene, which is more temper-tantrum than timidity, in my head: I envision her throwing a Cindy Brady-like fit (“It’s always Rebecca, Rebecca, Rebecca!” she tells Frank Crawley) while walking up the drive to Manderley (something I certainly couldn’t imagine Rebecca doing). And, now that I know the BBC2 has made a movie of it, I’ll have to search the library and local video stores to see if Joanna David does as good a job at this scene as the actress in my imagination!



View all my reviews

It's a Tooth!

Teething babies are drooling machines - even more so than normal babies. Emma has been covering everything in sight with a nice layer of slime, so it wasn't much of a surprise when I noticed this pearly white nub sprouting from her gums during lunch today.

As exciting as this new milestone is (and no one is excited by milestones like new mamas are excited by milestones), I have to say, I'm going to miss that gummy little smile.

Seasonal Baby Food

I'm not a big squash fan. I can eat it -- it just doesn't get my mouth waterin'. But they're healthy and cheap and who am I to pass on my palette prejudices to my daughter?

So at market this morning, we picked up a few gourds -- a ginormous butternut squash and a mini pumpkin.

SQUASH

Split in two length-wise, scooped out the insides, and placed cut side up in a casserole pan with less than an inch of water. Roasted at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, scooped out the insides, and pureed in the blender. Separated into individual helpings and frozen most in an ice cube tray for easy thawing.


 
PUMPKIN
Cut off the top, split in two, and scooped out the insides, setting the pumpkin seeds aside. Placed cut side up in a casserole pan with almost an inch of water. Roasted at 400 degrees for 45 minutes, scooped out the insides, and pureed in the blender. 

Emma especially liked these purees mixed with pears or applesauce, on the sweet side of the spectrum, and with chicken or rice on the savory side. I tried adding a little cinnamon, but she was not a fan.

As a bonus for the grown ups, I rinsed the pumpkin seeds; tossed them in butter, sugar, and cinnamon; and placed them on a baking sheet in the oven at 300 degrees for about an hour. I'd never tried roasted pumpkin seeds before, but I'm a big huge sunflower seed fan, so I figured why not, right?

Yeah, they were gone in an hour. I might've shared with Carl.

Proof

Yo, you got more beets, man?

Because some people don't believe a baby would like something as gross as a beet.

There it is. The face of a beet fiend.

And for the record, it's just as difficult to wash off skin as it is clothes - the puree left a bright pink stain on everything it touches, including Emma's chin! She had a pink goatee all weekend, but man was it worth it.

Seven Months

Seven Months Old.

Yep, we officially have a crawler. Emma's like Jack-Jack from Pixar's The Incredibles - superfast, zoom-zoom! One second, she's at the coffee table, the next second she's under the dining room table, and if I blink my eye, she's under her high chair in the kitchen. Yeah, get around 'round 'round.

Likes: FOOD all sorts of flavors and combos; feeding yourself - you've perfected the pincher grasp; and crawling at supersonic speeds!

Dislikes: Cutting teeth (your poor gums are so pink and swollen!). :(

Carl is a picky eater, and there are a few things Mama flat won't eat (seafood) or doesn't like (the gourd family), but Emma seems to have the least-picky palette in the house. We have been trying a lot of different foods with our adventurous eater in a curiosity-driven attempt to find something she doesn't like. New flavors this month included: apricots, avocado, ham, turkey, beets, pumpkin, chicken, and all varieties of Gerber Puff Cereal. All hits. Next up we'll try different breakfast-type foods.

Keep it up, kiddo!

Six Months

Six Months Old.

Oh, Emma.

This has been my favorite month, by far. There's so much going on inside that little big head of yours, and it sometimes pains me to think I'm sitting in a cubicle at work missing all these tiny developments and breakthroughs that turn into neat tricks like rolling over and creeping, and pulling apart your stacking rings.

Independent. Your military-style crawl cracks me up, but your determination to get where you want to go is fierce - and frankly, a little frightening coming from a six-month-old. You always want the toy that's just out of reach. You always want to go check out unfamiliar spaces and objects. And you're always frustrated by those who don't let you accomplish these things on your own. I know where this comes from. But don't fret - you'll be full-on crawling soon, and I just know you'll be walking before you turn one.

Persistent. Your favorite toys are the ones you haven't figured out how to use yet. You practice and practice, watching Mama or Dada do something, and then do your best to imitate our actions. Alas, your motor skills aren't quite there yet for some of these toys, but that doesn't keep you from trying again and again anyway. I adore this about you. Don't get discouraged.

Adventurous. Right now this mostly applies to your palette, but if it's any indication  to your developing personality, I believe we have a little explorer on our hands. We haven't found a food you don't like. The sweets - applesauce, bananas, carrots, peaches, plums, pears, prunes, sweet potatoes - are no surprise, but you're also a fan of brown rice, corn, green beans, peas, and squash. We're going to have to step up our game and try more non-typical baby foods. I'm thinking avocado and mango, two staples from Mama's Spanish roots, are definitely must-try items.

Talkative. You've been practicing your syllables with the same persistence you apply to mastering tricks & toys. The first non-baby-babble syllables came earlier this month when you started saying dada. That was only four days ago. You're now working on lala and baba, which is just awesome. You know what would be even awesomer? If you started practicing mama, too. No pressure.

Love, Mama

Five Months

Five Months Old.

We finally found a routine, an easy-going ebb and flow, that works. Which means our little Peep will be changing things up soon, of course. But for now, it works. She spends mornings with Dada, feedings with Mama, and is totally in love with her adopted daycare family.

We're currently on our first family vacation. The trip down was tough - it involved crying, frustration, and many not-nice moments, but things immediately got better when we arrived at Hilton Head. My parents and siblings (minus the youngest sister) and Carl's mom are all here. We took over two timeshare suites that are practically next door to each other and have been floating back and forth between them, visiting, cooking, eating, playing games, laughing, being family.

Tomorrow is Carl & my fourth wedding anniversary, so we're planning on sneaking away while the grands care for Peep. Our first official date since her arrival. We waited way too long to do this (make note, new parents: it is important to date your spouse).

Likes: family, cuddles, the water, maybe the sand, rice cereal (solid food success!) spoons, and sucking on her fingers (of course).

Dislikes: long car rides, sitting still in her Bumbo for more than 58 seconds (unless being fed), and missing naps*

*For the record, Mama strongly dislikes that, too.

Next is a trip to Columbia, S.C., to visit some old college haunts, aging college buddies, and their new kiddos before heading home to see what's left of this little routine of ours.

Four Months

Four Months Old.

We have more baby toys than a Toys 'R' Us, but all Emma wants to do is play with her fingers and toes. It's criminal. BUT we're down to one occasional feeding in the middle of the night (fist pump!) and the doctor has recommended introducing cereal to her diet. Progress.

Likes: fingers & toes, tummy time (finally!), rolling and creeping (very slowly), reaching for toys, bouncy and jumper seats, songs, and reading colorful books.

Dislikes: milk that didn't come from Mama, being cold, any form of baby sling, and socks (blasted things make it so hard to reach those yummy toes!)

We've been brave this month and have taken several trips to market and the mall, taking Em along in her carrier instead of just using the stroller. We tried a few slings, but she prefers the Chicco Ultrasoft carrier more. It's much less cute than the slings, but she snuggles right in and doesn't fuss. So the beautiful slings I was so excited to use are going into storage. Mama is now sporting a plain-jane black baby carrier everywhere she goes.

The things we do for our children, eh?

Three Months

Three Months Old.

After three months of sleep deprivation, we're working on eliminating Emma's 3 a.m. feeding so we can all sleep through the night. Our normal morning routine includes a lot of wonderful baby babbling, clapping, and singing, and during the hours when normal people are awake (like, not 3 a.m.), we take walks around the neighborhood.


Likes: Songs - lots and lots of songs! Music in general, really. And trips in the stroller with your favorite toy, a Pooh Bear woobie/rattle.

Dislikes: Girl, you are violently opposed to tummy time. What gives?



I'll be going back to work this month, and I'll really miss our time together. So I'm trying to soak as much up as possible while it's still just me and her and the Elephant Song (or Itsy Bitsy Spider or the ABCs or the 10 Little Monkeys or...).

Two Months

Two Months Old.

The little zoo at the foot of our bed has moved! Emma is now sleeping in her own room, giving Carl & I some much needed sleep. She still wakes up every three hours or so to eat, and Mama gladly - though slowly - obliges. I've finally found the breastfeeding groove, and my milk supply is getting better and better. It was touch-and-go there for a while (too much stress, not enough sleep/food/sanity), but we stuck with it with the help of the most awesome lactation consultant. 

Likes: Her bouncy chair, Being held, kicking her feet, reaching out with her hands, and smiling back at all the new faces that have come into her line of sight. I know it's probably just gas, but she sometimes gives the biggest smiles. AND she's been holding her head up really well.

Dislikes: Not being held, naps (naps are you friend, little girl!), and construction noises (which interrupt the few naps we do manage to take - hmph). 

Next month I'll be going back to work, so I've been busy making arrangements for day care and slowly weeding through my work inbox so I can hit the ground running. But every time I open an e-mail, my mind wanders. We have our tough days, Peep & I, but these few weeks home alone with her - chatting and snuggling and watching and enjoying her - have really been priceless.

I'm going to miss them. I'm going to miss her.

Book Review: Tuesdays With Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
(Originally read May 9, 2004)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is one of the worst diseases I've ever read about. It's an illness that hijacks your neurological system and freezes your motor skills, leaving you motionless. Despite the deterioration of your body, however, your mind stays in tact, keeping you painfully aware of every movement you can't make.

But Morrie, Mitch Albom's beloved teacher and story subject, didn't let his fight with ALS get in the way of teaching one last class about life's greatest lesson: If you lead a fulfilling life, you've nothing to fear or lose in death.

Morrie makes some great points about life, death, and society, but the most poignant, I think is this: "Death ends a life, not a relationship." You are remembered by those whose lives you touched. Chasing fame or wealth isn't going to win you any friends. Morrie says to "Invest in people. Build a little community of those you love and who love you."

The way we treat death -- mourning a loss instead of celebrating a life -- is tragic. Tuesdays is a very honest chronicle of death, but despite that I was able to close this book with a smile on my face. Because Morrie continues to touch people's lives (like mine), even after his death.



View all my reviews

One Month

One Month Old.

There's a small zoo at the foot of our bed.

At night, when all is quiet and still outside, Carl & I are treated to the most amazing show of neighs, trumpets, honks, and snorts. I hope that means you're sleeping soundly, even if it's only for a few hours at a time.

Soon these sweet sounds will be replaced by giggles and coos, and though I'm looking forward to hearing your first laugh, your first words, I will miss the noises of my little Peep greeting a new, unfamiliar world.

Hello, Baby: Birdie Edition

Every year, the same birdie couple comes to roost on our front porch in a dry nook between the fake-me-out shutters and fake-me-out stone wall. It makes for a noisy spring, but we haven't been able to deter them from coming back, and we really don't mind sharing our place with another pair of parents. Good neighborhoods are hard to find, after all.

But this year, the birdie couple has finally outgrown their starter nest. The nest is bursting with babies - literally! This poor little guy took a 5-foot drop onto our front porch. My mom found him chirping pitifully and trying to stand up. He really was a tiny thing, and I suspect his bigger siblings were pushing him around. So when Carl returned Tweets to the nest, I asked that he give the other birdies a stern talkin' to and remind them to be kind to their little brother.

You should've seen the incredulous look he gave me. Like I was crazy or something. Hmph.

One Week

One Month Old.

My dear, sweet Emma -

You'll never know how much you can love until you have a child. I love my husband - the most amazing partner, father, & friend. I love my parents, who gave me life and set an example for how I should live it. I love my siblings, who have given me the type of support & encouragement that only those closest to you can provide. My heart was as full & happy as it could be. And then I became a mother.

Somehow my heart could love more & my happiest moments became more joyful than I ever thought possible. In the first days of pregnancy, you taught me the true meaning of love. And after you were born I became your student all over again. Who knew someone so small could teach you so much? I look forward to our future lessons. There are sure to be many - and not all of them pleasant or easy. But I hope you know everything I do for you comes from a place of unwavering, unconditional, & everlasting love.

Love, Mama

Hello, Baby

Our chick has hatched! Meet Ms. Emma Paige Haas. 7 lbs, 6 ozs & 20 1/2 beautiful inches. Born at 8:46 p.m. on April 8. Our estimated due date was April 7, so not only does she take after her father in looks, but in punctuality as well.

She coos and chirps and melts our hearts with those deep blue eyes. Emma took it easy on Carl & I - she gave us advance notice of her arrival and made for a relatively quick and easy delivery. More importantly, she knows the difference between night and day. (Good girl!) I'm still recovering from the wickedest of wicked neck strains, but we still get our snuggles in. Man, oh, man - so in love.

Sharing

It feels like 20 years have passed since I last blogged, but it's actually only been about two. My husband and I had quit our jobs, left the suburbs of D.C., and moved to Lancaster, Pa. Up until then, I frequently wrote in my LiveJournal to capture my thoughts, chat with friends, etc. But my transition from city life + dream job to Amish country + corporate job was tough, and I didn't want my light-hearted, happy online sanctuary to become a Dark and Scary place. So I retreated back to the world of paper journals (yes, they do still exist).

I jotted my frustrations, disappointments, and other grievances with lots of curse words, vulgar margin doodles, and extreme punctuation (@$#&^%!!). It was a safe place, where Google-searching prospective employers couldn't find them. But I've missed the interaction and inspiration that can come from sharing your stories - your life, really - with people you don't know but have a lot in common with.

And there's so much to share! Work travels, house hunting, parenting ... So I'm back to the blogosphere, trying out new things and updating my webdentity so as not to be confused with my 18-year-old self.

My 18-year-old self would be proud to see me back in the saddle, but probably wouldn't admit to her friends that she knows me.

I'll try not to embarrass either of us. :)

This is Only a Test

This is only a test, too.