Monday, September 29, 2008

Mike and Lindsey Smith -- est. September 20, 2008

I know, I know--it's been a week and still no post about Lindsey and Mike's wedding. You know how it is...you come home from a trip and have 45 things you have to get done and the week flies by before you know it. I promise I will get to it, but until then, check out my sister's blog for details and pictures (half of them are from my camera anyway). She is obviously way more on top of things.

http://lallycakes.blogspot.com/2008/09/wedding-of-year.html

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

the nerve of some people!

I've got lots of picture to post from our trip to San Diego for my sister's wedding, but before I have time to get to that, I had to tell a story from our travels.

I always stress out a little when I travel with Reese--not because she is not a good baby, but because it's a long time to expect a newly-mobile baby to sit still and be quiet. We flew direct to and from San Diego because I figured it was the lesser of two evils--either you go direct and have one really long flight; or you have a layover, have to move all of your gear on and off planes, and have one extremely long day with twice as many opportunities for ear-popping pain for the little one.

On the way to San Diego, Reese and I sat by a very kind, older couple who had just spent a week with their own grandchildren. The lady even offered to hold my drink on her tray table so that Reese would not knock it over and poured it into my glass from the can whenever it got low. And for the ten minutes or so that Reese screamed (on a 5.5 hour flight, that's pretty good), I heard the man lean over to his wife and say, "Poor baby is so tired," or something like that, rather than "Geez, I wish that mother would shut her baby up!"

When we boarded the plane to go home, I found that we were again seated by an older couple and hoped for the same kindness and understanding. But, when I told them we had the window seat, they both looked a little put out that I was asking them to get up. Maybe I was imagining it. As I sat down, and started to get all my stuff organized, I suddenly smelled a very yucky diaper. Can you believe that I actually thought for one split second how bad it would be if I waited until we were in the air to change her diaper, so as not to inconvenience this couple? But I quickly realized that if I could smell the foul diaper (with my sub-par olfactory sense), then it must be really bad and I better change it as soon as possible. I grabbed a diaper and a travel pack of wipes and said to the woman next to me, "I'm really sorry, but I have to go change her diaper really fast." She looked at me straight-faced and said "Oh, Jesus!" (in the most annoyed tone of voice you can imagine) My jaw literally dropped open as I waited for her to laugh, hoping she was just being sarcastic; but then she said, in the same annoyed tone, "This is going to be pleasant." I could not believe what I was hearing. I asked her if she would like me to try to moves seats, not exactly sure what else to say...

As I walked to the back of the plane, I fought back tears wondering how in the world we were going to get through this flight. I asked the flight attendant if it would be possible for me to switch seats and she told me that they had over-sold the flight by 30 seats, so it would only be possible if I could find someone to switch with me. As I changed Reese's diaper, I silently prayed that Reese would be the best baby she has ever been, and not make a peep, and sleep the whole time, and make that lady eat her words. I knew that if Reese cried even for one minute, the lady would probably bite my head off and I would completely lose it. When I finished changing the diaper, I tried to compose myself and take some deep breaths before going back to my seat.

Reese whined for no more than 60 seconds when we were taking off before she fell asleep. She slept for over two hours and I don't have to tell you how sweet babies look when they are asleep! She woke up happy as can be with just under two hours left until we landed. I was so relieved that she got such a great nap and knew that at least should wouldn't cry because she was tired...I would just have to entertain her for two hours. And that is just what I did. When we had about 30 minutes left, Reese got hungry and fussed for a minute as I got my hooter-hider out (so impatient!). After she ate, she was completely content for the rest of the flight! Best baby ever! And the old grouch did eat her words--she apologized for being so "crabby" to me before and said what a good baby Reese was.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

my little buttercup...has the sweetest smile

This is the way I found my little angel when I went to get her when she woke up yesterday. In fact, believe it or not, she is always this happy to see me when she wakes up...which makes me completely forget how many times I had to get up to replace her binky, or rock her back to sleep, or listen to her scream when there is nothing left to do.

Back to the way I found her--with one arm out of her jammies--I'm not sure how she managed to do that. Maybe she had finally had enough of her drab pajamas and decided to do something about it. I can just imagine her thinking, "Hmmm...now how can I improve this old nightgown?...maybe if I can just get my arm out...and make it a miniskirt...tahdah! Much better." My little diva...already designer her own sleepwear. She is so fashion forward!

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

this baby's got moves!

Reese has been working on her new moves for a couple weeks now. She started pulling up onto her knees from her tummy and then rocking back and forth. Then she realized that if she lunged forward onto her tummy from her knees, she would end up that much closer to her goal. It wasn't long after that she realized her arms would move forward too (what a concept!), and now there is no stopping her!



It cracks me up every time!

dirty little secret

Since having a baby almost seven months ago (where has the time gone?!), I've come to learn of a few small details of early motherhood that no one really talks about. Or, shall I say warns you about. Like breastfeeding. Why won't people level with you about what it's really like in the beginning? I mean, I had countless people ask me if I planned to nurse my baby, but that was pretty much the end of the conversation. And most of the people in the hospital make you feel like a bad mother if you say you are even considering not nursing your baby, but do they prepare you for what you can expect for those first miserable weeks? No. Ok, so maybe it is an awkward topic of conversation, but c'mon, if your girlfriends won't tell you about it, who will?

Ok, enough about that--the dirty secret that is really plaguing me at this point is the massive amounts of hair that I am currently losing! I remember one person telling me about losing hair after you have a baby. This was right after Reese was born, and at the time it hadn't started...so, like an idiot I thought, "Oh, goodie, maybe I am one of the lucky ones and this won't happen to me!" Ha! At exactly three months postpartum, it started. At first I thought, "oh, ok, so this is what she was talking about." Four months later, I want to cry every time I wash my hair, brush my hair, even touch my hair. Ok, so maybe that is a little dramatic...or maybe I really am losing more hair than the average person. I've been taking Biotin like candy, but it hasn't helped. I try not to complain about it too much, (because, really, what are people going to respond? "you're right, your hair really is thinning!" I don't think so.) but I really do feel like I am going to be bald at the end of this. In fact, I am about ready to get pregnant again just so my hair will stop falling out! Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I got my hair cut last week and while my stylist was combing my wet hair, and could see the gobs of hair that were falling out, she was even surprised! Should that make me feel better that I was not just being a baby about my hair loss? Or worse, that it is actually way more than normal? I choose to feel better. She recommended some hard core pills that she said would help. Not that I don't trust her, because I completely do--but at this point, I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep the few hairs I have left in my head! Here's to hoping that these little pills will save me.
(Note: sorry for the ranting. I try to tell myself that it could always be worse. and I'm not writing this so you will post a comment about what great hair I have and how you can hardly even tell that my ponytail is a fraction of the size it used to be...if you do, I know you are lying...but for the journal-keeping sake of this blog, I felt the need to say it once and be done with it.)

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

swing, swing

Reese and I went to the park today to enjoy the beautiful weather we've been having. Reese loves to put her feet in the sand box and jump and dance around (she pretty much likes to jump and bounce whenever her feet touch the ground). Today we decided to try the swings. I don't think she quite knew what to make of it, but it was so funny to see her experience something new!