Little L's favorite pastimes at 14 months include: running (away from mom) down the sidewalk, wiping her (food covered) hands in her hair, ripping barrettes out of her hair, blowing on her food to cool it off, getting dressed by putting articles of clothing on her head (and then walking around the house that way) and, oh yeah, being cute! What a fun age full of waving, pointing and blowing kisses.
Big Brother C is counting down to his 4 year birthday. He spends his time telling jokes to make sister laugh, riding in boats with Grandpa S, climbing on playground equipment, digging in his sand table, playing in his rice bucket, earning prizes with the city summer reading program, scooping rocks into his bucket at the lakefront, creating new railway layouts, arranging his cars, picking out his top 42 items at Fischberger's Variety store, as well as sleeping through the night... on occasion!
C still really loves to be first at any and everything which is a mystery to someone like me, who is pretty much ready to bow out of any competition... He is genuinely disappointed if I happen to use the toilet before him... "I wanted to be first!" or L finishes her peaches... "She's not the winner! I am!".
Toddler L's dark side? The limp noodle trick when I try to pick her up and bring her in the house. How did she get so slippery? Another favorite is shrieking when I attempt to feed her bites of food. But when I hand her the spoon, she calms down immediately and proudly pokes herself in the eye... I mean takes a bite.
Good times.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
turn and face the strange
I recently sat down to write a bit on body changes during pregnancy as my friend is putting together a zine with the theme , "CHANGES". Just for "fun", I asked a Milwaukee Moms group to fess up to their worst or most unexpected side effect of pregnancy. For starters, the single question elicited 25 comments from a group of about 100 moms, so I guess I am not the only one interested in sharing on this topic!
On the first day of pregnancy my partner gave to me (ok, maybe not the first day)...
Round ligament pain, hip pain, rib pain, depression, anxiety attacks, excessive thirst, extra sneezes, a clear complexion, obsession with grapefruit, desire to eat charcoal, bad smelling hair, cankle ankles...
Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, or PUPP, for short which is a very itchy rash usually occurring in first pregnancies around week 35 and lasting approximately 6 weeks... (who knew?!) also of note: 70% of women with PUPP give birth to boys,
Hypermesis which is a "severe form of morning sickness with unrelenting, excessive pregnancy-related nausea and/or vomiting that prevents adequate intake of food and fluids",
Polyhydramnios (excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid in the uterus). "E" states "I ended up with polyhydramnios in my last trimester, i was 28 weeks, but measuring at 34 and each week i went back it increased, to the point where we were 32 weeks and measuring at 42!! i was huge!"
So many big Ch- ch- changes, all thanks to those two little words... "Pregnancy Induced"
On the first day of pregnancy my partner gave to me (ok, maybe not the first day)...
Round ligament pain, hip pain, rib pain, depression, anxiety attacks, excessive thirst, extra sneezes, a clear complexion, obsession with grapefruit, desire to eat charcoal, bad smelling hair, cankle ankles...
Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, or PUPP, for short which is a very itchy rash usually occurring in first pregnancies around week 35 and lasting approximately 6 weeks... (who knew?!) also of note: 70% of women with PUPP give birth to boys,
Hypermesis which is a "severe form of morning sickness with unrelenting, excessive pregnancy-related nausea and/or vomiting that prevents adequate intake of food and fluids",
Polyhydramnios (excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid in the uterus). "E" states "I ended up with polyhydramnios in my last trimester, i was 28 weeks, but measuring at 34 and each week i went back it increased, to the point where we were 32 weeks and measuring at 42!! i was huge!"
So many big Ch- ch- changes, all thanks to those two little words... "Pregnancy Induced"
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Initiation into... Kids Parties?!
Well those "winter" runny noses which lead to booger covered boobs, have not yet resolved. I had to rip off a black shirt Sunday as we were heading out the door to a 5 year old's birthday party when I happened to notice a decorative "sash" of mucus...
But never fear, the party offered plenty of other opportunities for embarrassment. The most mortifying of my initiation into classmate birthday parties came when it was time to open gifts. Thus far, our parties have involved close friends and families, along with relaxed expectations. This was our first "schoolmate" party and I anticipated our gift of a toy motorcycle would be appropriate.
As gift after gift was opened, my heart sunk. These first several gifts.. were from just one child and included an expensive lego set! I felt like I was back in grade school myself, dreading my turn and hoping it didn't come immediately after anything too extravagant. Well, the little guy beamed at the motorcycle, so all was well. I had to keep reminding myself that the fun the kids were having was the best gift of all. And keep reminding myself.
I lingered in the background of the party chasing my toddler who was taking her new walking legs for quite a spin. As the party wore on, so did L.'s lack of afternoon nap! I had the joy of all eyes on me as she burst into wailing and angry shrieks... all for trying to put her empty juice box in the trash.
Something more subtle is the pressure to measure up to this wonderful party that included bounce houses, cake, ice cream, treat bags... The icing on the cake was the fact that my boy was perhaps the loudest of everyone. But they were shouts of joy. He had a blast and now begins each day with an excited, "Is today my birthday?"
But never fear, the party offered plenty of other opportunities for embarrassment. The most mortifying of my initiation into classmate birthday parties came when it was time to open gifts. Thus far, our parties have involved close friends and families, along with relaxed expectations. This was our first "schoolmate" party and I anticipated our gift of a toy motorcycle would be appropriate.
As gift after gift was opened, my heart sunk. These first several gifts.. were from just one child and included an expensive lego set! I felt like I was back in grade school myself, dreading my turn and hoping it didn't come immediately after anything too extravagant. Well, the little guy beamed at the motorcycle, so all was well. I had to keep reminding myself that the fun the kids were having was the best gift of all. And keep reminding myself.
I lingered in the background of the party chasing my toddler who was taking her new walking legs for quite a spin. As the party wore on, so did L.'s lack of afternoon nap! I had the joy of all eyes on me as she burst into wailing and angry shrieks... all for trying to put her empty juice box in the trash.
Something more subtle is the pressure to measure up to this wonderful party that included bounce houses, cake, ice cream, treat bags... The icing on the cake was the fact that my boy was perhaps the loudest of everyone. But they were shouts of joy. He had a blast and now begins each day with an excited, "Is today my birthday?"
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
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