Lilly's 1st Po-Boy Festival

We took Lilly to the 4th Annual Po-Boy Festival on Oak Street. The festival has grown so much since 2007, when we lived on Oak, and could easily walk across Carrollton and get in and out with loads of food. But over the past four years, the festival has exploded in popularity and food booths, and it's a lot more difficult to maneuver. Now they extend the festival from Oak and Carrollton to Oak and River Road. So the merchants and restaurants all benefit from the increased exposure. Weather was overcast today, there was a chance of rain in the afternoon and the cool front moved in last night. So we were dressed (well, all except Lilly and Mark) in long sleeves and jeans. Mark, Lilly and I went with Lara and Cliff.

Uncle Cliff wanted to 'Bjorn' Lilly, so he strapped her in and carried her throughout the festival. She fell asleep pretty much as we got there, and stayed asleep for about an hour and a half. So we ran into cousin Glynn, as we sampled the sandwiches. Mark had BBQ shrimp from Manale's. And then we split a bowl of Collard Greens with pork from Coquette (delicious). Mark, Lara, and Cliff wanted to try the Fried Maine Lobster Po-Boy from GW Fins, so we got in line for that one. And boy was there a line. This turned out to be an extremely popular sandwich. We waited for about 45 minutes for it, but according to three, it was well worth it!

By then, Lilly awoke (she actually did when we all took turns using the Port-a-Potty, and was taken out of the Bjorn). And she was hungry. So after they ate the lobster sandwich, we went through the crowded street (thank goodness we didn't bring the stroller) before making our way to a side street (no crowds) and got Lilly her bottle. She ate, and then we made our way back to Oak and Carrollton and found the Boucherie booth. There they were in their purple food truck and were making a delicious pulled pork and cabbage Po-Boy and salted seasoned fries. We waited probably about 30-45 minutes for these sandwiches and fries. And Lilly did extremely well. She was looking all around. Even spit up some of her lunch. And she let us know when enough was enough not by crying but by insistently sucking on her thumb. So after our sandwiches we walked back to the car, and Lilly then fell asleep on the way home.

Second Infant Massage Class

We had our second infant massage class yesterday. She did much better, reacting to the other babies. She was definitely stimulated by the surroundings, especially five babies, but she only cried once in response to their cries! Much better than last week. She was particularly interested in our teacher, she kept tracking her as she moved us through the chest and arm strokes. Lilly did not enjoy the chest strokes as much. Luckily there were only two. Arm strokes were pretty much the same as the legs, so it was a good review, but even better to have an awake baby to practice on ( she was sound asleep last time, for pretty much 3/4 of the time. But yesterday was a good class. And then we went to lunch with Clair and Amalia. Lilly was so relaxed from the class, that when we got into the car at 11:17, she fell asleep. And stayed that way through lunch and into getting home. She had little under than a 2 hour nap. So I'm glad she's liking the infant massage. We've got one more class left - facial and back strokes.

Daylight Savings

Daylight savings has screwed with Lilly's sleeping. Well, it hasn't messed with her actual sleeping just the time of it. She's going to bed about 30 minutes earlier and waking up at 5:30AM instead of getting up between 6:30-7AM. This morning I tried to feed her with the lights out and not really saying anything to her, as I thought she might be fooled into going back to sleep. Nope. Not interested. She wanted to eat, get dressed, and play. So that's what we did. By 6:30AM, she was fed, dressed, and ready to go. More than I can say for Mark and myself. But she has been napping well (something I should be doing, getting up at 5:30 is not so fun!). This morning, after the second feeding, she was seated on our bed. And before I knew it she rolled over, found her thumb and started sucking away. Her eyelids started drooping, and she got comfortable on the bed. And off to sleepingland she went. Here's to hoping she'll stay up until about 8PM and get up at 6:30AM, not 5:30AM. But either way, I'll take a napper like her any day.

A nice little Saturday

This morning Lilly and I met my friend Clair and her daughter Amalia at the Parenting Center at Children's Hospital. Clair and I met in pre-natal yoga, took the Positive and Prepared Childbirth class the same weekend, and had Dr. Peeper deliver our babies (though not at the same time. Dr. Peeper had been her doctor all along. Amalia was born June 30). So we hung out during our maternity leaves and have been in contact since. Anyway, I digress. I went last Friday to check out the Parenting Center, on a recommendation from a friend. I got a tour of the facility, couple classrooms, indoor play area, kitchen, and library. It's really close to us, juts up to the edge of the park at Calhoun and Camp. So we can easily walk there (which we did yesterday, to meet a friend of a friend). And I digress again, but last Friday I found out that there was an infant massage class and sent the info to Clair. It is three Saturdays and sounded like a great class. So I signed up as did Clair.

So we got to the class this morning. The instructor told us to bring a blanket so the babies could lay on. Clair was already there when we got there, so we sat next to one another (it was really great to know someone in the class, to see a familiar face). Amalia had change so much since I last saw her, her hair is strawberry blonde and she was wearing super cute yellow pants. There were four other babies in the class. The instructor had us undress the babies down to their diapers and then put them on their individual blankets.

Well it was really funny because this was the first time Lilly was really interested in other babies. Perhaps because she was so close to them and could really see them. And here's something even funnier, the babies would set off like a chain reaction. One would start to cry, then another would hear it, and go, and then Lilly, poor Lilly, she would hear it, her lip would curl and she would startle and begin crying. This happened several times. Today we learned leg and stomach massage. Stomach strokes will ease gas and other stomach indigestion. But unfortunately I couldn't practice on my model, as she fell asleep 20 minutes into the class, after crying several times in response to the babies. But she had a nice nap on my shoulder. I saw the instructor practice on the doll and I do have pamphlets with the moves as well as some oil so we can practice. Amalia did great, she loved the massage. I'm hoping Lilly will like it, we go for two more Saturday sessions.

Then this afternoon I went to Harrah's Casino to audition for Wheel of Fortune. Unfortunately my name was not picked to play the game ( you have to fill out a form and then all the forms are put into a bin and 5 at a time are picked at random to play). I still have a chance to get on the show, slim though, as the fake host (no Pat or Vanna) said some spots would be reserved for those who came but were not picked. The show is coming to NOLA in April to film for three weeks worth of episodes. If anything else, I'd love to be in the studio audience. Perhaps we'll get tickets and go!

Anyway, we're in for the night. Mark's going to pick up dinner and after Toots goes down to bed, we've got a movie (Get Him to the Greek) to watch. I'm excited for some chilling and relaxing. I've scrubbed the casino stench off me, so I feel refreshed and good to go. And Toots is good too! Enjoying her mat. Perhaps I'll give her a leg massage! Got to show Mark the techniques.

Wheel of Fortune

So I guess a little bit of me is rubbing off onto Lilly. I love Wheel of Fortune (the Wheelmobile is coming to Harrah's Casino this weekend, so I am going to try out to be a contestant. Imagine! Me on Wheel of Fortune. Awesome). We always try to watch it on Fox 8 at 6:30. And Lilly has become more aware of the tv and the sound and can turn her head toward the television. While she likes HGTV, she loves football and Wheel of Fortune. She just becomes enraptured in it. And can zone out. It's probably not the best thing for her. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 1 hour of tv for two and three year olds. I asked Dr. Gorman about it, and she said not to worry about it now. Basically she said she doesn't want television to be a babysitter, and its not, it's background noise. But she loves it. I told Regina that perhaps she's getting all her tv watching out now. Regina said not likely. I'm probably hooking her to the tube. Well, perhaps one day she'll thank me when she spins the wheel and solves the puzzle.

Baby Einstein Musical Jumper

Lilly's got a new toy that will compete with her jungle gym mat. It's the Baby Einstein Musical Jumper, and it's intense! Loads of stimulation. Regina put it together last week, but said that she didn't think Lilly would be long enough for her feet to touch the ground. Yesterday we tried it out, and when standing upright, her feet don't even come close (box says it starts at 4 months) but when she leans forward to do the activities (so far she likes the lighted triangle, circle and square that play music when you press them) the tips of her toes skim the carpeted surface. The seat swivels 360 degrees and I guess when she's older she will be able to maneuver herself. So far either it's one of us to move her. But it's definitely going to provide lot's of fun! Check her out!

A giggle

Lilly laughed for the first time today. In all honesty, I had been worried because the books say that babies should have had their first giggle between months 2-3. And we passed the three month mark without any laughter sounds. But she smiles and coos, so it was a small worry on the edge of my mind.

But today, this afternoon, she gave out the sound. She had not been having a good day. She slept ok (about an hour) for her first nap. But not so great for the other ones. I tried to let her cry it out (8-10 minutes each time I lasted before they overwhelmed me. The cries are hard to hear. And it felt and sounded so loud) but that didn't work. She was hungry when she woke and was not on her three hour schedule. Twice, she fell asleep eating and when I put her down she lasted about 10-20 minutes before waking up crying. So the cycle would begin again.

By 1PM I was growing quite frustrated with her. The repetitive crying is hard to take. And we were supposed to meet a friend of a friend to go walking in the park. So by 2PM, she finally went down, and seemed to stay down, so at 2:30 I called my new walking buddy and asked for a raincheck (she has a 11 month old) as I wanted to let Lilly to sleep. She said no problem and as we were rescheduling Lilly awoke and her cries and screams reached the phone and I had to go. Needless to say I was a bit annoyed but also worried - what was going on with her?

I got her up. Checked her diaper. Not wet. She just ate. But she didn't want to play on her mat. So I held her. And held her. Until I felt a heaviness in her diaper. Sure enough, she was wet now. So I went to change her and while laying in her napper, and after seeing the new diaper, she gave me a little smile. We talked some more - ok, I did the talking, she just listened. And then before I knew it, she gave me a laugh. It was deep and a bit nasally sounding, but it was her laugh. Immediately I wanted to hear it again. I tried to tickle her. No go. Then I blew my mouth on her stomach and that got her laughing. It was awesome.

I called Mark and repeated the stomach manuever and she laughed. Such a cool sound. She only laughed one other time after that. She basically went back to her not sleeping. Crying. Eating. Until I gave her more than four ounces (thank goodness for the freezer door of breastmilk), and at the 5:30 feeding she wolfed down 7.5 ounces. So she must have been hungry all day. No wonder she didn't want to sleep.