Emily's baptism was Sunday, and there are pictures of her in her pretty dress posted at the picasa website. She was beautiful and calm and quiet, and the congregation laughed when she moved the minister's hand off her head during the blessing. I guess the humor was that she looked up at his hand first, then slowly reached up and moved it off her head. Her grandmother was in tears, because she looked so much like her dad when he was baptised. It was a really nice moment for all of us together.
Then we came back to the house and partied all weekend long!! There were about 15 of us here for lunch - my parents, trav's parents, mommo and poppo, jenny's family, kerri, mark, and pat. It was crazy, but lots of fun. Emily received some very thoughtful and special gifts for her baptism, and it was a wonderful weekend. I have spent all week recovering, though, both myself and the house, but it was well worth it and I'm glad everything worked out the way it did.
Monday, I got out on my bike for the first time, which actually went pretty well. I've got a long ways to go before I've got the strength to do a full day of Ragbrai, but I wouldn't say it's much worse than other years, actually. I'm thinking I'll pick out Tuesday mornings to go biking, because Amanda said she has an opening to watch Emily while I go out. Now, to pick out a suitable route from her house, which I think should be fairly easy since it's so far on the west side of town.
And, yesterday was Travis's birthday, so I made him dinner and he had a Guinness. Then we went to bed by 10:00. Man, we're old!!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Happy Birthdays
Last Wednesday was my birthday, and next Wednesday is Travis's birthday, so we went on a date tonight. We left Emily with friends who have a 21-month old that thinks "Emmie" is pretty fun, so she had a good time too. She's at the stage that unless she has a need where she specifically needs me (hungry, mostly), she's fine as long as there's stuff going on. It was nice to reconnect with Travis and remember how fun it was to be carefree DINKs (dual income no kids). It was nice to have a classy, delicious, relaxing dinner, and have a chance to think uninterrupted, larger-scale.
I am surprised how much I like working part-time. Even though I wasn't crazy about working with warranty data and I don't know that much about my new job, I kind of like still having the responsibility of a job. There are some real rewards, although I wonder if my self-confidence is so low that I'll do anything to hear someone say I did something well. But, I did hear that at my mid-year review, and it felt good, so I guess I'll take it. I also wonder if I'm a sucker for hard work. In high school and college, I had such an insane schedule and I was so busy, but I didn't really need to. Am I really that much of a masochist that I'm overscheduling myself again, just because I can?? Just in case, I am being careful to put Emily's wellbeing first, and when the benefits of her being at daycare no longer outweigh the disadvantages, I'll quit. Maybe it just feels good to work when I know how easy it would be to quit. Like the herd of cows that is always trampling fences to get out, but if there's corn in the trough you could leave the gate open. A nice little farmy analogy for all of you Iowans-turned-cityslickers out there.
Anyway, that's the latest on me and my work situation. All that agonizing, and it's turning out fine!
As for the latest in Emily - she is starting to "hop." She bounces up and down while sitting, and actually scoots herself forward a fraction of an inch at a time. It's surprising to look back at her and have her not be exactly where I left her! She especially likes to bounce while sitting on my bed, which, although queen-size, is not big enough to contain her reach. She's starting to pull herself up to see things, but the same thing trips her up here that keeps her from getting her legs under her to crawl: her feet end up facing each other and get pinned there!! I hope she figures out how to untangle them, just for the sake of her own frustration. I'm perfectly happy to have her not be mobile yet, but I'm very happy that she's starting to figure out how eating works. She really likes sweet potatoes, and cereal and green beans are all right too. Still working on all the other new tastes for her, but she'll get it. I tried Cheerios the other day, and she liked to nibble on the singular O that I'd hold up to her two tiny teeth. It was pretty cute. :) Most of all, she smiles and laughs all the time now. She's so joyful! I just love it!
I am surprised how much I like working part-time. Even though I wasn't crazy about working with warranty data and I don't know that much about my new job, I kind of like still having the responsibility of a job. There are some real rewards, although I wonder if my self-confidence is so low that I'll do anything to hear someone say I did something well. But, I did hear that at my mid-year review, and it felt good, so I guess I'll take it. I also wonder if I'm a sucker for hard work. In high school and college, I had such an insane schedule and I was so busy, but I didn't really need to. Am I really that much of a masochist that I'm overscheduling myself again, just because I can?? Just in case, I am being careful to put Emily's wellbeing first, and when the benefits of her being at daycare no longer outweigh the disadvantages, I'll quit. Maybe it just feels good to work when I know how easy it would be to quit. Like the herd of cows that is always trampling fences to get out, but if there's corn in the trough you could leave the gate open. A nice little farmy analogy for all of you Iowans-turned-cityslickers out there.
Anyway, that's the latest on me and my work situation. All that agonizing, and it's turning out fine!
As for the latest in Emily - she is starting to "hop." She bounces up and down while sitting, and actually scoots herself forward a fraction of an inch at a time. It's surprising to look back at her and have her not be exactly where I left her! She especially likes to bounce while sitting on my bed, which, although queen-size, is not big enough to contain her reach. She's starting to pull herself up to see things, but the same thing trips her up here that keeps her from getting her legs under her to crawl: her feet end up facing each other and get pinned there!! I hope she figures out how to untangle them, just for the sake of her own frustration. I'm perfectly happy to have her not be mobile yet, but I'm very happy that she's starting to figure out how eating works. She really likes sweet potatoes, and cereal and green beans are all right too. Still working on all the other new tastes for her, but she'll get it. I tried Cheerios the other day, and she liked to nibble on the singular O that I'd hold up to her two tiny teeth. It was pretty cute. :) Most of all, she smiles and laughs all the time now. She's so joyful! I just love it!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
In anticipation of my first Mother’s Day, I’m going to give you a few things I love about being Emily’s mom. I don’t think any flowers or chocolate or breakfast in bed could top these things:
· I love how Emily fits in my arms. The curve of her head matches the shape of my hand, and she’s just the right size to snuggle in my arms or against my chest. It sounds weird to say, but she and I just fit!
· I love that she flaps her arms and smiles at me when I walk in the room, whether I’ve been gone for 2 seconds or the whole day. Someday, she’ll be able to run over and hug me, but I love that she can already express that emotion to me without mobility.
· I love the smell of her head, and fussing with her wispy, beautiful hair.
· I love watching her be comforted in the arms of her dad, whether it’s after her immunization shots or when I just don’t have the strength to hold her any more.
· I love when she naps for more than an hour!!
· I love watching her experience something new. Today, she and I sat on a quilt in the shade of the maple tree in our backyard, and she just looked around, watching the blossoms fall, listening to birds (and I-80), and feeling the grass around her. The outside world is really a new place to her, and it’s so cool to see her discover it.
· I love nursing Emily, and I’ll be really sorry when she outgrows it (I suppose the more teeth she gets, the more I’ll be ready to let it go!). I feel so good that I can give her exactly what her little body needs, and that she is so comforted by it at the same time. It also makes me feel like she’s still my little baby, even though she’s looking more and more like a little girl every day.
· I love when she “kisses” my cheek, and I can see her bright, beautiful, clear blue eyes looking right at me. Then I get to wipe the slime off my face, and see her smiling at me. And pull the hairs out of her hands that she's ripped from my head (hey, sometimes she gets hold of my ear, and that's even more painful!)
There are so many special children in my life, and I know that I really do love them. But, Emily is just the best. It’s a whole new level, just for her!
· I love how Emily fits in my arms. The curve of her head matches the shape of my hand, and she’s just the right size to snuggle in my arms or against my chest. It sounds weird to say, but she and I just fit!
· I love that she flaps her arms and smiles at me when I walk in the room, whether I’ve been gone for 2 seconds or the whole day. Someday, she’ll be able to run over and hug me, but I love that she can already express that emotion to me without mobility.
· I love the smell of her head, and fussing with her wispy, beautiful hair.
· I love watching her be comforted in the arms of her dad, whether it’s after her immunization shots or when I just don’t have the strength to hold her any more.
· I love when she naps for more than an hour!!
· I love watching her experience something new. Today, she and I sat on a quilt in the shade of the maple tree in our backyard, and she just looked around, watching the blossoms fall, listening to birds (and I-80), and feeling the grass around her. The outside world is really a new place to her, and it’s so cool to see her discover it.
· I love nursing Emily, and I’ll be really sorry when she outgrows it (I suppose the more teeth she gets, the more I’ll be ready to let it go!). I feel so good that I can give her exactly what her little body needs, and that she is so comforted by it at the same time. It also makes me feel like she’s still my little baby, even though she’s looking more and more like a little girl every day.
· I love when she “kisses” my cheek, and I can see her bright, beautiful, clear blue eyes looking right at me. Then I get to wipe the slime off my face, and see her smiling at me. And pull the hairs out of her hands that she's ripped from my head (hey, sometimes she gets hold of my ear, and that's even more painful!)
There are so many special children in my life, and I know that I really do love them. But, Emily is just the best. It’s a whole new level, just for her!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
My spring cold
I remember last year at this time that I had a cold, and I couldn't take any medicines. I remember being miserable on my birthday, and that was the day I met my horrible horrible ex-boss, and I didn't shake his hand because I had just sneezed in it. The things I regret... Anyway, I've got a cold again this year, so it may be somewhat allergy-related but there was definitely some fever and chest congestion too. I've discovered that it really does help to "rinse" sinuses with saltwater solution. Travis thinks it's horrifying, but it really does feel good - not so much the process, but the end results. You're supposed to use a neti pot (also called a nose bedet, I think), but I don't have one. I tried just using a small glass, but that didn't work and I didn't want to actually snort water up there. So... I got out the turkey baster. That's right, I've got a giant syringe that I use to get water up my nose. Then I snort it out into the sink, and *ahhhhh* I'm a new woman. I can't get the water to actually go in one nostril and out the other (there are clips of this on youtube if you want to be grossed out), so I don't know if I'm just way congested or I've got screwy sinuses - or perhaps it's that I'm using a turkey baster!! (Did you think I was joking?? I wasn't! :) )
Anyway, Emily and Travis are getting over their colds, too. They didn't get hit as hard as I did, which is nice for them. Emily had a hard time getting back on a sleep schedule after visiting both grandparents' houses this past week, which is part of the reason I got hit so hard, but I think she's back on track. I guess I'll get to bed now, too, to try and kill off the remainder of my sniffles.
Anyway, Emily and Travis are getting over their colds, too. They didn't get hit as hard as I did, which is nice for them. Emily had a hard time getting back on a sleep schedule after visiting both grandparents' houses this past week, which is part of the reason I got hit so hard, but I think she's back on track. I guess I'll get to bed now, too, to try and kill off the remainder of my sniffles.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Deep thought
I remember when I was an early teenager, and learning how to put on make-up, I wondered at what point women wear makeup to look younger instead of to look older. Answer: age 27. Just like I suspected, I only realized it after it passed!! Rats.
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