That 'Splains It

Well, that explains the odd fussiness...Kate sprouted her THIRD tooth yesterday! We stupidly never suspected that her fussiness was due to teething...but here's why: most babies get the bottom two teeth first, then the top two front teeth next. So, when she was fussing last week/over the weekend, I was feeling her gums in the top CENTER of her mouth. Had I thought a little and run my finger over her entire top gum, I would've felt the new tooth which is one of her top canines.

Getting teeth out of order is not unheard of, and because all babies develop differently, I am not alarmed. I think she's gonna look pretty funky for a while, though with her top canines and nothing in the middle...can you all say "vampire baby?"

Of course this will be SO cute, so I'll take some pictures as soon as we can see it better.

She fussed a bit last night, but I think that's 'cause she feel asleep before she got much milk last night before bed...so I fed her at 9 and again at 1. Just call me Elsie the milk cow!

Attitude...It's All About Attitude

Really I think it is.

Since the new leaf has been turned over on Sunday (see yesterday's post), I've really not napped much, but I'm feeling happier. That...and the baby has slept for a second night in a row. She was a bit thrown off yesterday...not a lot of napping, Gymboree excitement, etc. so by about 5:30 she was pretty melty. So I decided to put her to bed early. Not really early...just about a half hour early. We had a nice warm bath and she was eating (chowing I might add) by 6 and then in bed and sleeping at 6:30. I was a bit worried that she'd be up and ready for the day at like 5 a.m., but Jon just sent me a message and confirmed that she woke just after 6 and quietly cooed in her crib until he went in to get her at 6:45. What a good little girl.

So, because she went down a little early, so did I. I just don't understand why I feel so tired today. Ahhhhhh, two and a half more days until the weekend.

A New Leaf

I've turned over a new leaf...one that I'm not proud about having to turn over in the first place...so I'll just come out and say it.

I am going to stop getting angry at the world (including our precious baby) when my little bit of sleep gets interrupted by an awake and crying baby. I've realized that me getting angry doesn't change anything. She's still going to cry and I'll still be awake. Getting angry just adds to the discomfort. So, starting Sunday night, when she woke at 9:30 crying...I didn't get mad...I just got up and dealt with the situation, and frankly, I was able to go back to sleep faster because I wasn't all worked up. The solution to this issue would be to stop nursing and let Jon give her formula and I'm not ready for that, so I am accepting the challenge of very little sleep and I pledge to do it with more of a smile from now on.

With that said, I've also tried to prevent the 9:30 waking. I switched her meal of solids from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. I think by having this meal later in the day, it helped her stay asleep last night...or so I'd like to think.

Actually, the last several weeks have been a crapshoot. We don't know what to expect. So, if I approach the madness with a lighter attitude, maybe...just maybe it will be easier.

Summer Fun!

Summer came early...we had a great weekend outside. Saturday we went to an outdoor festival at the park by our house and today...Kate took her first swim in her new pool! Soooo fun! Although, it's over 90, so we've got the air conditioning CRANKED!

A Question for Pfizer

If there is baby asprin, baby tylenol, baby orajel and baby motrin...why the hell isn't there baby ambien?

Seriously, I think Kate would be a great candidate for this. In reality, I'd never give it to her because we have only given her tylenol just a couple of times as we don't like to medicate her...but seriously, it would be nice to have that as an option.

She just isn't sleeping...consistently. She had her good nights during the week, but then again last night...whamo...she's up at 10 and stayed up for quite some time. Then Jon said she was up again wailing at 3, and again at 4 and so he brought her in and the two cuddled the rest of the night. Is it that she's hungry? I fed her at 10 and again at 12:30....could it be that she's starving again at 3 a.m.? What is UP with that?

We had plans to attend an Earthfest this morning (my friend is organizing it...so we were going to support her) and I'm scrapping that. I'd love to see Kate have a long morning nap...she's going to need it. Then this afternoon, I have a sitter coming so I can go to lunch with my two girlfriends. I'd hate to hand a screaming and fussy Kate over to Dama, so the nap this morning is going to take precedence over going to the festival.

Tonight I plan to not see Jon. Sad but true. I'm going to go to bed when Kate does like I normally do during the week and I'm planning to have a bottle ready for Jon to feed her during the night. I just need to catch up on sleep. So does he, so in the morning, I'm going to get her up, feed her and then go outside for a walk so he can sleep in.

I haven't blogged all week because it just seems repetitive to moan about my lack of sleep, so sorry dear readers.

In other...totally different news...lots of happy things this week (all of which involved spending money...why is that?).
-First, I bought my plane ticket to go to Michigan for my sister's 40th birthday in June. It'll be fun. So glad I can celebrate it with her. It will be Kate's first flight and Jon has to say here because of the DTV transition, so Kate and I will be flying alone. Any tips from other moms would help (Stephanie).
-I've also MEGA added to my spring/summer wardrobe now that I'm in the way-before-pregnancy size (GOD I love breastfeeding). I'm a little out of control, but it's such fun!
-I went to the garden store yesterday when it was windy and cold and empty. I bought four 2 cubic yard bags of topsoil and my deck ferns. This weekend when it's 85 and sunny and when everyone else and their brother is in line at the jam-packed garden store, we'll be at home getting the garden beds ready. I'm such a plan-ahead nerd.

We plan on grilling all weekend long...I'm thinking grilled pizza with jumbo prawns! Mmmm, slammin'! And...with some caught-up sleep and perhaps a margarita (light on the tequila...cuz of the whole nursing thing), I think we'll be fresh and new and rested by Monday...when the madness begins all over again.

Little Insomniac

We are learning that Kate doesn't like to sleep. She doesn't like to nap and now, our little all-night sleeper has turned into an all-night thumper. WHAT GIVES????

Jon and I are about ready to fall over. She's been waking almost as frequently as she did when she was a newborn, and when she's "sleeping", she's thumping her legs which means she's not deeply sleeping anyway. I am a bit concerned about this lack of sleep...both for her sake and ours. Jon is up after I go to work, and before I leave, he's trying to keep her quiet so I can sleep. Last night, I got up when I heard them at 11:30...so I've been up since then. And it's only Monday. Ugh. She did, however, take short naps yesterday so there is hope in that department. Poor thing. I wish she could tell us what is bothering her.

We know that this will pass, but it was a rough weekend with not a lot of sleep, so it makes Monday all the more difficult.

The Gang

So it was beautiful outside today...finally! I'm home nursing a cold, but it was nice to get outside and hang with "the gang" Here's Kate with her little buddies. They are...twins Mason and Max and Logan. They all live on our street. Nice to have other babies around!

Gymboree!

Kate had Gymboree class today and we had a ball! Here are some shots. Mommy has a head cold so not much in the mood to write....

Easter Pics!

Rocky!

We went to walk the Kelly Drive in Philadelphia on a wonderful sunny day...even had a picnic today. Lots of fun...and of course...we had to run "the steps!"

What a goofball! We were playing on the couch last evening about a half hour before we went up for bath time and she got all goofy! Silly goofy smiles, so luckily, the camera was in reach! Of course she looked like a hot mess with drool everywhere and a sweet potato stained shirt...but she was happy and having fun.

Jon and I have decided that she is going through a growth spurt right now. She woke up two of the past three nights screaming for food. She's got her bottom teeth and nothing coming in on top yet, so we know it's not teething pain...she just seemed so hungry. Heck, she even took a bottle from the babysitter yesterday...a first! She still wanted to nurse two hours later...and then two hours after that! Last night she slept very well (well, up until I left...I have no idea what's going on at home now...), so maybe the spurt is over? But...naps won't be an issue for me the next few days...my parents are coming today and while I'm over the moon happy to see them, I'm secretly more excited to have them there to watch Kate while I nap...just a little ;-)

Not a lot planned while they're here...just plenty of walks and cuddle time with Kate. Jon and I are having dinner in the city (our first since the baby) on Saturday night at a new restaurant and I can't wait. I hear they have a raw bar which I plan to gorge on! We are both so excited for a real date!!!!

It's Come Down To This...

I just sent an e-mail to Jon. The subject: Kate's poop.

If you're asking yourself if that was really necessary, the answer...is yes. See, she ALWAYS poops every day...at least once, sometimes twice. Oddly, yesterday...no poop. I actually think that's a first. So, I wanted to warn Jon so that he should take cover if needed.

This is all because I want Kate in a non-poop stained outfit when I get home. You see, I have a hair appointment today. I...AM...DESPERATE to get my hair done. I had an appointment last Thursday, but had to cancel it because of my computer issues at work. (Oh and by the way, I haven't had my hair done since the middle of January, so it's kinda a desperate situation). So, I re-scheduled it for today. Thursdays are the only day I can go to the city for a hair appointment because we have a sitter. Well, for the first time since she's been with us, the sitter cancelled on us for today. I understand. She has a very sick kid at home...and that stuff happens. But, that doesn't change the fact that I have JET BLACK roots and split ends. Plus, I'm working at CBS this weekend and they have HD cameras, so that shiznit won't fly down there.

So last night, I made a desperate call to my wonderfully understanding hairdresser and told him I simply couldn't make it AGAIN today. He said...relax...and bring the baby. So, we're going to try. He's going to pop a couple of quick foils on my part and says he can have me done in about 45 minutes. She should be o.k. Another fly in the ointment, is that the appointment (I'm a poet and don't even know it) is at 10:30. Kate eats at 11. So, I'm getting there a little early, then I'll have to nurse her at the salon right after. What we women go through for beauty...is actually quite ugly.

So, cross your fingers for lots of reasons:
1. That Kate poops before Jon dresses her in her outfit
2. That I get a good parking spot in the city
3. That Kate sleeps at the salon
4. That Kate doesn't poop at the salon
5. That next week when my parents are here, I'll get to go back to the city to get my split ends cut....oh yeah, and some MUCH needed naps.

Peace out.

I Got It!

I was able to capture some of Kate's beautiful laugh. It's near the end of this video. Please excuse my loud voice :-) Also, if you look closely enough...in the middle of the clip, you can see her teeth!

A Skeptic No More

We've all heard of Gymboree and/or Mommy and Me classes right? Well, I gotta admit that I thought they were just expensive classes designed for stay-at-home mommies who wore pearls on a daily basis. Really. That's what I thought.

Well, my neighbor invited me to join her for a free trial class at our local Gymboree. It was...in a word...amazing. So much interaction with the baby and SHE LOVED IT! All of the bubbles, puppets and songs...she was so stimulated and smiled, laughed and cooed the entire time. I loved it for that reason plus, I was able to meet some other new mommies. It was SO GREAT! I have decided to sign up. Kate really needs this stimulation and to be around other babies. It was so adorable how all of the babies kept looking around at one another. She really had fun.

There was a clown puppet that we used at one point in the class and she loved him so much that I bought her one of her own. When we got home, after her LITTLE nap, I got the clown out and showed it to her, and it was like she remembered it from class. She was laughing and laughing at him. I will try to get her adorable laugh on video this weekend. It is so cute I can't stand it.

So, we'll join the ranks of the pearl-wearing mommies and join up with Gymboree...thing is...the mommies were great and so were the teachers...a great thing for us both (and I didn't see a single strand of pearls)!