Oh Lord! Did you hear my voice?! When did I start sounding like this? I hate people who talk in “baby talk”. When did I become this ridiculous? I promise I used to sound like a sane adult. Is this just a symptom of new mommyhood? It’s so weird. Sometimes when I’m with her I go up an octave and seemingly down IQ points. Should I be speaking in more normal tones to her? Will my insanity stunt her development?
I have to admit though, if I get a free moment at work I take 30 seconds and watch this on my phone. Even though my voice makes me cringe, I love watching her grow and reach all these baby milestones like holding a rattle. I’m sure I’ll be praising her for the next little thing she does. Yep, praising her loud in my new “mommy voice.”
If you’re my father, my in-laws, pastor, coworker etc. Do yourself a favor and stop reading right now.
Go on…shoo! Here, watch the surprised kitty, or check your bank balance. Otherwise, you’re about to get a big old dose of TMI. It’s not my fault if you read this post anyway and then have to disinfect your brain. Consider yourself warned.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Maybe it’s because I’m feeling frisky on this most amorous of days, but folks I gotta tell you, I think it was a year ago this week (sometime) that we ::ahem:: “made” our daughter.
Let’s flashback a year ago to the second week of February, 2010. Let’s see, that week I went to lunch with my dear friend Blair. I told her all about my big plans for writing a pregnancy/baby blog. I had heard she had one, but I had never read it. So, in my ignorance I told the mom blog queen my piddly plans. He he! I am silly. Maybe my baby blog brainstorming kicked my fertility into high gear.
I saw a Christmas tree someone had just discarded on February 16 and in amazement posted it to my Facebook. The smell of dried up Evergreen does get me hot.
It was the start of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. The Mister and I may or may not have “spent some time on the couch” during the Opening Ceremonies. Don’t judge! The Parade of Nations can get a little boring.
Oh yeah, it snowed. There is no better baby making weather then ice and snow.
So today I’ll eat a chocolate in honor of my little one, and all the other babies Valentine’s Day brings each fall.
Charlotte’s teachers at daycare write little notes on index cards at the end of the day about what she did and how she’s doing. All day long at work I wonder what she’s doing, if she’s happy, how much she ate, if she’s napping, if she’s playing with the other babies etc. So, these notes thrill me to no end.
Here’s one of them…
Charlotte 02/08/11
Charlotte had a very good day. She was happy and quiet. She really enjoyed watching the bubbles float through the air. She painted a Valentine fish today and wiggled her fingers in the paint. Tomorrow we will be doing another Valentine art project with her. Have a great night.
-Ms. Kristie & Ms. Tahra
Here’s what went though my mind when I read it…
“Happy and quiet. Of course. She’s such a good baby. She’s not like those other screaming hellions. Ahhh! She watched bubbles! She’s a genius! So advanced! I wonder if Harvard has a preschool program. Wait, Massachusetts is cold. Duke is just down the road. Maybe Duke preschool. A Valentine fish? Fish? WTF? Whatever, she wiggled her fingers in paint! Mommy’s little Monet!”
Another one…
Charlotte 02/09/11
Charlotte had a happy day. She enjoyed laying back in the swing and watching the other babies play. She did 5 minutes of tummy time with Adalyn and Cadence and did very well. We sat her in front of the mirror in a Bumbo and she enjoyed looking at herself in it. Tomorrow we will be doing another art project. Have a wonderful night.
-Ms. Kristie & Ms. Mireya
Here’s what went through my mind when I read it…
“Oh good, she was happy, that makes me feel less guilty for leaving her. That’s good she laid low and watched for awhile. She’s still new. It’s good to get the lay of the land. Tummy time with Adalyn and Cadence. Cool. They are the babies the same age as her. Maybe that’s the crew she’s gonna roll with. I need to meet their moms. Looking in the mirror, huh? Well, she is pretty. Another art project? Where am I gonna put all these?”
I don’t even want to throw the notes away. There’s no way I could throw the art projects away. Look at the brilliant work of my little artist…
My daughter suffers from an affliction I’ve dealt with my whole life. She has a chronic case of the No Asses. I believe the Latin term is White Girlius Badonkadonkus. She’s three months old and can still wear many of her Newborn size clothes. She can wear 0-3 Month sizes, but 3 Month clothes are too big for my little lady.
The ruffles. I die of cuteness
Puny posterior aside, I’ve learned most baby clothes sizes are relative. It’s much like going into Banana Republic and walking out with a skirt two sizes smaller than you thought. Then you walk into a department store and reality comes crashing down around you since the Misses department hasn’t hopped on the vanity sizing bandwagon.
I’m not saying vanity sizing is going on in the baby department, but sizes seem different at every store. Her Gerber brand onesies are quite snug, the Carter’s and Hanna Andersen fit great, and she’s still slightly swimming in Gymboree. Naturally, the expensive brands from the boutiques fit best, costing me more.
What gives? Do I just have to keep trying everything on her? Is it just my kid with the tiny hiney?
Dear Charlotte, Congratulations. You’ve graduated from newborn to official baby. Right before our eyes you’ve gone from a sleepy little bundle to an alert and smiley infant. It’s hard to remember life without you.
This month can certianly be defined by transition. I went back to work and you started at your preschool in the infant class. To be honest with you, Daddy and I are tired as new working parents. We’re trying to find a groove that works best for our family. You on the other hand, hardly seem phased. You have handled daycare with such grace. You don’t cry when Daddy drops you off. Your teachers say you have been so good as you get used to the surroundings in your classroom. You’re just a little more tired at the end of the day, which means you’re sleeping through the night like a champ!
We see you grow and make progress everyday. You’ve been sitting in the Bumbo chair for extended periods. You love your play mat and mobile. You are reaching and swatting at things. You are lifting your head when you lay on your tummy. You are getting closer and closer to rolling over, which frankly, freaks Mama out a little bit. I’m not sure if I’m ready for mobility. But, I think you are, and there’s no stopping you.
Without a doubt, the best part of my day is coming to pick you up. You greet me with your big toothless grin. You babble and coo. You give Daddy and I the tiniest of giggles. It makes our world go ’round, and makes all the exhaustion worth it. I love you, my darling, darling girl.
Love, Mama
My little groundhog predicting an early spring. (It was unseasonably warm, hence the bare feet.)
