You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2009.
Ali & pretend-Chloe
Cutesy Footseys
girly cuteness
are you looking at me?
baby pin-up
cuteness overload
There is a website called Cuteness Overload that I would occasionally peruse if it was a slow day at the reference desk. I loved all the cute little animals that they pictured there. Right now, there is a shot of a squirrel reaching for a peanut and a sleeping kitten with a huge cast on her little kitty arm!! If you know me well, you know that kittens and squirrels are my weakness.
Also found out that there is a website called Cute Things Falling Asleep, which shows videos of cute things drifting off to Sleepyland. Not quite as cute as cute overload, but pretty close. I like the one of the baby falling asleep while it’s getting a bath! How cute! Anyway, I hope that some of these pictures will make you go AWWWWwwwwww!
Alice had her first round of vaccinations on Thursday morning. I didn’t know what to expect. A small part of me was hoping that the shots wouldn’t hurt too much– like maybe it is the FEAR of shots that make them scary, and a baby doesn’t know what shots are, so they shouldn’t be scared of them, so they shouldn’t hurt. Well, I was sadly wrong. The doctor, though she was very efficient and worked very quickly, gave my little baby the shots and immediately her little face turned beet red, and she started to scream. Scream like I have never heard her scream before. I froze, because I have never heard my baby make a noise like that before, and when it was over, the dr. had to tell me I could pick her. I scooped her into my arms and started comforting her. Poor little dear!
Dr. Arabolu and Alice (on a day when there were no shots)
You know how they say that the shots hurt the parents more than they hurt the baby? There is some truth in that. I felt terrible for my little Alice. I know it hurt her, it definitely hurt her in the moment, but she recovered pretty quickly. I have so many fears associated with vaccinations, even though the doctors and scientists and my own husband tell me its OK.
My mind knows that these shots are completely safe, but I would always feel like it was my fault if she had a bad reaction. And the doctors make it very clear that you have a choice in how or when you give your child the shots. So I did feel a little bit of anxiety in how she would take the shots. But, once again, Alice surprised us and did really well. She was only a little extra sleepy and a bit fussy–no fever or vomiting or anything like that. I think she might have even enjoyed the day, since I let her sleep in my arms or my chest for pretty much the whole day. She loves that. And, honestly, it made me feel better too.
Everything else at Alice’s checkup went well. She is now 12 pounds two ounces and she had grown to be 21.5 inches long!
Last week, I decided to take Alice on her first shopping trip. We wandered up a few blocks from our apartment and lazily took in the shops. At first, Alice was resistant, but after a few laps around the block in the stroller, Mommy won and got to spend some time with her daughter browsing and buying.
What happened when we came home? We had a fashion show of course! I had to take pictures of this outfit I bought on clearance because I think it will only fit Alice for a few more weeks! But I loved the Marimekko-esque pattern 0f this romper. We just had to have it.
Alice practices tummy time a few times a day. During tummy time, we put Alice on her belly face down and she tries to lift up her head and shoulders, and kicks her legs like she is trying to crawl. It is supposed to build her muscles up and prepare her to crawl. Sometimes she likes it, and sometimes she doesn’t. This particular afternoon, Alice was totally in to it.
Grandma Jeanne and Alice Daisy
Our family was so super-excited when Grandma Jeanne came to visit last week! Alice is getting cuter by the day, and I think Jeanne really enjoyed spending time with our little one. Alice is just starting to make little noises and smiles for people. It is fun!
While Jeanne was here, we had a great time sitting out on the balcony, hanging out and getting out a little bit with Alice, since she was finally 8 weeks old and old enough to go out to stores and restaurants (according to our Dr’s orders).
We went to the Gantries State Park on the water front across from Manhattan and spent some time gazing at the skyline across the river. We also made a trek out to get some Black & White cookies so Jeanne could bring a taste of NYC back home to Michigan. Then we went out to lunch at Peter’s Diner, a restaurant that keeps separate kitchens for regular people food and gluten-free food. YUM. This was Alice’s first time out at a restaurant. And she was not the only baby there! There was another little baby who was crying up a storm. Ha! Our little angel slept peacefully in her stroller the whole time:) We were so proud of her! Even so, these outings were clearly exhausting for Alice:
We had such a nice time with Jeanne! Thanks Jeanne for your visit! We all really enjoyed your company and your delicious cooking-we can’t wait for you to visit again!
a lovely gift for ali d
We have received so many wonderful gifts for our wonderful girl. I just had no idea how excited so many people would become with the birth of our baby and honestly I had no idea how much people cared about little ‘ol Dan and me ( and Alice)! Though we received many beautiful baby things, it has been the gestures, letters and notes that have meant the most to me.
The gifts began rolling in during the middle of my pregnancy, immediately I was surprised at people’s generosity. A patron at my library, whom I had only spoken to once before, brought two humongous trash bags filled with baby clothes. Then we had three beautiful baby showers. Next more clothes and toys from library patrons. A collection of gifts from Dan’s co-workers at the lab. We were going to have a very well-dressed, well-furnished little baby girl. After the last shower, I assumed things in the gifts department would slow down a bit.
We are still receiving lovely, beautiful gifts! A pretty little gold heart pendant from my Aunt Linda and Uncle Kenny. A set of frilly eyelet dresses from Dan’s Aunt Jodie and Uncle Rollie. A gorgeous gift box filled with presents for Alice and me ( a Ped Egg for me– how cool is that?) from my best friend Emily in Chicago.
Lately, my most favorite gifts are visits from friends. A delicious and safe meal made in my own home by my friends Josh ( who happens to be in culinary school) and Lori was an especially nice treat, since I don’t get much take out with my glutarded-ness. Then Sarah and her mom came by for the afternoon and brought more GF food and some really nice gifts for Alice ( is it OK to eat gluten free cookie dough raw?). A few weekends ago, our friends Lindsy and Simon brought us an afternoon of their company and a pink carnation plant.
But something that really blew me away was this past week when I went down to pick up the mail and found a card from my fourth grade teacher, Miss Jacks. I was incredibly touched that she remembered me and was thoughtful enough to send a card and note. How amazing is that?
Miss Jacks and I did have a special bond. Since my mom was a teacher’s aide for kindergarten, most mornings I would come into school a little early with her and she would send me up to Miss Jack’s room to stay busy. Miss Jacks would give me little tasks I could help her with, like stapling or sorting papers or whatever. Some mornings she would open up the top drawer of the filing cabinet behind her desk and share a spritz of her Charlie perfume with me or offer me some cookies or a sticker or something to thank me for helping her. I felt appreciated and very, very special.
alice reading alice in wonderland
I hope you don’t mind me sharing that memory. I think having a baby of your own makes you return to your childhood a bit. I hope that one day Alice will also have a teacher care about her enough to send her a note when she gives birth to her first little baby. What a gift that will be.
alice sitting pretty
