Our Thanksgiving, belatedly

It's after Thanksgiving. After Black Friday and at the end of Cyber Monday, and I'm just now updating. I took a break from the computer, albeit, we skyped with JJ once or twice, but other than that, didn't use it during the holiday. I hope everyone had a great one, we did. Lilly had a fabulous first Thanksgiving.

We left for Monroe last Tuesday night. We wanted to go after work, so it would be near her bedtime and she would sleep on the drive. It's anywhere between 4-5 hours, and we made it in just about 5. I fed her, we changed her into her nightgown (in retrospect, not a good move, yes good for the pjs, but not the gown. The carseat seat belt cut right up into it, bunching it. With pants it would have been just fine). I hate driving at night, especially long car rides, but Mark's a great driver, despite being legally blind in one eye. He was calm, cool, collected, sucking down the Diet Cokes and Mountain Dew.

We had no traffic, and once Lilly got into the car, she fell asleep. And she was good, she would awake every now and again. But it wasn't until we got to Vicksburg, MS, about an hour from Monroe, did she awake and not want to go back to sleep. She made do for about 20-30 miles until we stopped in Talluah (see pics from the Travel America truck stop parking lot - everyone needed a break, to stretch legs, use the facilities, eat (we tried to feed her, but she wasn't hungry. But I found a small package of Fig Newtons, delicious!). And then once we put her back in the seat, she fell back asleep and was good until we got to Mo and Mel's house. She went straight to bed in the pack and play. And after the long car ride, so did we!

More to come!

I win!

So I win! I was in the right range for her weight - 16 pounds, not 18 like Mark originally thought. Lilly had her 4 month check up today. SShe's up about a pound, from 14lbs, 14ozs, to 16lbs. 1.5ozs, which drops her to the 90th-95th percentile (down from straight 95th!). She gained an inch, and is now 25 inches, and in the 75th percentile. And her head is 42, which places her in the 75th percentile. She's smiling, and rolling over, cooing/squealing, standing (with assistance!) and enjoying life. She got a shot (purple bandaid on the thigh), and didn't even cry when the needle went in or out. She took it no problem. She's sleeping her much needed nap now. And we'll head back to see Dr. Gorman one month from now. We head out to Monroe tomorrow, where she will get to see (and meet some) family!

Last Infant Massage Class

Our last infant massage class was yesterday. We learned facial and back strokes. Lilly LOVED the back strokes - you move downward, not upward, as the instructor says, move down like the growth of hair. Move with the hair. She didn't mind being on her tummy as I was doing the back strokes. And she really didn't mind the facial strokes, mainly to help the sinuses. It was a weird sensation to her, I'm sure. But we saw Clair and Amalia, and the two babies, at one point, were on the stomachs, facing each other, and Lilly reached out to grab her. Not once, but twice. I'm wondering what was going on in her head. What was she thinking about Amalia?

But we also made a new friend in Kate and her daughter Emma. Kate goes to the Tuesday class, so we are going to exchange info, and hopefully meet up in the park. So we definitely had a good time in the class. I've got handouts if anyone is interested in learning the different strokes.

Addicted to Parenthood

Or at least that's what one author believes. (check out the article on Slate.com at http://www.slate.com/id/2274721/) That as much as people complain about parenthood, the exhaustion, the spit up, the crying, the frustration, that as soon as the child gives a smile, a hug, a kiss, a coo, etc, all bad is forgotten and only the good remains. Mark sent this article to me about a week ago. I read it, in between nap times, I might add, and it totally rings true. I can be so frustrated with her, for the smallest things, like why are you crying? I just fed you 6 ounces. Why are you not liking your car seat? It's an easy way to get around. And once she gives me a smile. All is forgotten and all is love. Take yesterday for example. I was feeding her a bottle of expressed breast milk. Because of the water restriction(power outage at the Sewage and Water Board Friday night, have to boil water to drink, eat, etc) we aren't able to wash the dishes, or we could but I am fearful of the minute risk that is entailed with the restriction so we aren't doing it until its lifted. Anyway, I digress. So I am done with one bottle (leftover 2 ounces) and about to move onto the other one (fresh 4 ounces) but I have to pour the 4 ounces into the leftover bottle. Well, she's hungry and all she wants is her food. So once its taken away from her, she goes crazy. She starts to cry. And then scream. And then cry louder. I know its because she's hungry. But its still not happy to hear. So once I transfer the liquid, the bottle goes back into her mouth and she's a happy camper.

I don't know why it made me so upset, but here I am, feeding her the 1:30PM bottle, and tears are in my eyes, I feel like I failed, and I am apologizing to her. And then later that day, as I am changing her into the PJ's (couldn't give her a bath, water restriction, they said not to shower if you have open cuts or wounds, just not going to chance it!), I have her on the changing pad. And she's happy but tired. And I am taking her clothes off, first the multicolored fleece hooded vest, then the magenta fleece pants, and as I at the brown longsleeved onesie, she gives me a big smile. All the while I am singing a silly song to her (I've taken Madonna's 'Who's that girl?" to the tune of "Who's that baby?" all along while butchering the lyrics too.) And then she laughs! And it's been a while since I've heard it. And it's the most glorious sound you've ever heard. And then she does it again! I yell down to Mark, and then she does it again. And again. Four times in a row. So awesome.

I want to hear it again, so I keep singing. But she's done for the night. If I'm an addict, all tears mostly forgotten, smiles remembered, then I'll keep on singing. Just don't tell me I'm tone deaf. I know. But she doesn't.

4 months and counting

Yesterday we celebrated Lilly's 4 month birthday. Crazy how the time has just flown by! But she's now 4 months and 1 day. I was at Slice yesterday, which is a pizza place, but also have delicious cupcakes. I couldn't decide which ones to get, they all looked so good, so I ended up getting four, one for each month. Two were called 'old school' which are like Hostess cupcakes, one was pumpkin maple (what I had last night) and the other was red velvet (what I will have today). Lilly was interested in the flame from the candle but I blew out her candles as we finished singing "Happy 4 month birthday to you" She's smiling, sleeping, observing, and just a lot of fun to be around. Regina has nicknamed her Fuzzy Wuzzy as her hair is starting to stick up on top. It's quite cute. But we go back to the doctor for two more shots and the 4 month check up Monday. Mark thinks she's 18 pounds I think she's definitely under it. My money is on 16 pounds. We'll see who does the buying Monday afternoon.

Sock Rattles

My friend Clair told me about sock rattles. They are exactly what they sound (no pun intended) like - rattles attached to socks. Clair said Amalia really liked hers and enjoyed the sounds. Another lady in the infant massage class said the same thing about the sock rattles, so I decided to give them a try. Last Saturday I ordered a pair off Amazon.com, and they arrived yesterday. I put them on her last night, and let her make noise. They were on her feet for about five minutes and she gave them a good whirl. I don't think she was too impressed, but they were really cute.

Today Regina let her play with them, and she didn't put them on her feet, rather, as she is doing with most items these days, the top part of the sock, the rattle, in her mouth. And she gummed it. And loved it. And it became all wet, but boy was she happy. So while she might not enjoy them on her feet, she has found a new toy to gum. And that right now is worth every penny!

Snuggles and Struggles

This morning Lilly and I went to the Snuggles and Struggles class at the Parenting Center. It's designed for mom's and dad's and newborns (0-6 months). And it's a discussion. Group setting. We got there at 10, as that's when I thought it started. But turns out it wasn't supposed to begin until 10:30. My bad. So I fed Lilly and then we talked to another mom who was in a different class, but also there early. It was really cool, being around other moms and dads, with their babies. It was great to have infants who are so close in age to Lilly and have either gone through or going through the same things, like taking/not taking a pacifier, drooling, pooping ( a popular topic!), etc. The facilitator had a doctor's appt, so she ran late, but the adults were talking to one another. I actually went with a friend, her daughter is 3 weeks, so it was really nice to know someone there. But, I did worry about our first impression. I worried over Lilly's outfit (silly, huh?) and mine, but in the end, everything turned out fine. It's a real low-key environment, the babies lay on the mat, like in infant massage, and adults sit around it. It's set up in a T formation. There were four moms from infant massage class there, which was cool to see a familiar face. So I think I am going to see if Regina can switch days, so we can start going on a regular basis. I'd been feeling lonely lately, and feel like things are going in a new direction, and hopefully will get to know the other moms and dads further.

Lilly didn't nap this morning, and she fell asleep on me for a little bit at the beginning of class. So when we got home, she went straight into the pack and play, and has been sleeping for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Almost time to get her up.