We kept Charlotte at home today as she fights a nasty cold and fever.  After an epic battle between pediatrician and baby this morning, the doc came out on top and was actually able to look in her ears and determine she had an ear infection.   This will be her first-ever round of antibiotics.  I’m not looking forward to the legendary “Amoxicillin diapers” I’ve heard foretold from other mothers.

I opened the bottle to begin an inevitable mama/baby battle of wills.  I eventually waved the white flag by preparing my newest culinary delight, Applesauce a’ la Amoxicillin.

I would know that cherry/bubblegum smell anywhere.  A flood of memories came back as I flashed back to standing in the kitchen as my mom measured out the pink suspension with an old kitchen teaspoon.  Amoxicillin has been a staple of First World childhoods for decades, mine was no exception.  However, I had forgotten all about the stuff.

That got me thinking of all the other childhood things I had forgotten about until I had a child.  I mean, apart from the occasional babysitting job in college, I had little to no daily interaction with children until I had a baby.  My adult life caused me to forget so many things about childhood.

Here’s a list of stuff I forgot about, or hadn’t thought about in many years…

• 3 Blind Mice– You know, the song?  I miraculously knew all the words when Charlotte’s little toy started playing it.
• Rectal thermometers
• Cups with lids
• Mr. Snuffleupagus–  All of the sudden everyone on Sesame Street can see him.  What’s up with that?  I thought only Big Bird could see him?

muppet.wikia.com

• Crayons that come with kids’ menus
• Doll babies with blinking eyes and thumbs that stick in their mouths
• Receiving blankets
• Board books– Now I realize why little ones can’t have books with regular pages
• Johnson’s Baby Shampoo– Ah!  That smell!  Good thing they’re gonna make it cancer-free now.  I guess we adults can expect our shampoo cancer diagnosis anytime now.
• Stride Rite–  I will NEVER go in on a weekend again.  (That shopping trip deserves it’s own post.)

I know what you’re thinking, “Oh God, Amy!  Didn’t you promise not to write about your lady parts on the Internet?!”  I did.  This isn’t about them, so get over it.  Plus, that promise was during pregnancy.  Now that I’ve actually had a baby, much of my former modesty has gone out the window.  So here goes a post along similar lines…

Don’t let these “organics” fool you.  I’m not this cool, nor this green.  I just happened to be at Trader Joes and this is all they have.

Since she was born, Charlotte and I have taken naps on the couch at least a few times a week.  It was often the best time of my whole day after coming home from an exhausting morning shift.  She would snuggle on my chest and I would feel her breath rise and fall with such peace.  I would smell her baby scent and say prayers thanking God she is my child as I fell asleep.  It was our nap time.

One of the first times she fell asleep on my chest in November, 2010

Yesterday afternoon we settled in on the couch, but Charlotte was unsettled.  Clearly she was tired as she thrashed around and whined.  She just couldn’t get comfortable.  I knew she needed a nap so I took her up to rock her and put her in her crib.  We sat in the wooden rocking chair in her room like we’ve done hundreds of times before.  She wasn’t having it, so I just put her in the crib and she went right down.

Today it was the exact same thing.

And my heart broke.

Is she really barreling this fast toward toddlerhood and leaving me behind clinging to last of her babyness?  Does she not feel the same comfort being close to her Mama now that she’s bigger and she’s not nursing?Are all of our snuggling days over?

Then I got to thinking about it.  I mean, she is my child.  I didn’t like to be rocked.  I also don’t like to snuggle, except with Greyson and Charlotte.  I under NO circumstances like to be touched when I’m trying to sleep.  Just ask my sister who was forced to share a bed with me for a number of years.  Lord help the person who breathes on me when I am sleeping!

So maybe she just got that trait from me and I shouldn’t take it so personal.  I should just accept this new phase.  She’s growing up.

Or I could just wait until she’s extra super tired and try to snuggle again tomorrow.  He he!  Wish me luck!