Rain From The Heavens Above
Wednesday, August 29, 2007

I think our cats are vying to see which one gets killed first. The competition just seems to be getting fiercer. At first Bodie was in the lead because he tore my legs up with his claws. Jimmy says it is because I kicked him which is UNTRUE. I nudged him away from the open front door as there was a cat in our yard and Bodie freaks when he sees one on HIS PROPERTY. The gentle nudge did not warrant bloody scratches. My darling husband sure changed his tune when the same EXACT thing happened to him a month later. Then Scout started winning by peeing on the carpet and bathmats, and knocking over a 4 1/2 oz. bottle of freshly pumped breast milk (which took me 45 minutes to pump). Now, Mu, the darlingest cat imaginable, has handed in her entry. I can forgive her for using my face as a landing pad. I can forgive her for nibbling my food when I am not looking. But, two nights ago, did she have to chew on a plastic bag, eat most of a poisonous plant, climb to the top of her kitty perch, and then vomit the entire contents of her stomach all over our couch??? Fortunately, the protective sheet Jimmy uses to cover the sofa caught most of it. It looked like the Armageddon of throw up. I am still shaken.

This photo was taken after we started cleaning it up. Here is a picture of Mu viewing the devastation she has inflicted on our poor couch. I think (hope) she looks guilty.

How will Ski ever top this? I don't want to know. I really, really don't.

Twilight Zone
Monday, August 20, 2007

On Saturday, Sasha actualy allowed us to put her down for a nap. "Down" as in IN THE CRIB which was great because I had my arms free for the first time in a week. I didn't know what to do with these appendages; they are only good for carrying around a baby, right? Jimmy suggested I could mop the grimy floors with them. I ignored him. And, it gets even wierder. Sasha slept for FOUR hours. In the middle of the day. We thought she must be sick but she didn't feel hot. By hour three, we were going into her room every few minutes to poke her to see if she still moved. We also put our fingers under her nose to see if she was still breathing. We didn't know how to handle this behavior. Jimmy and I actually started to get antsy. The only thing that calmed us down was to watch a movie. We even got to cuddle and HOLD HANDS!!!!

The best part? She slept her usual amount during the night. Is this how normal babies work???

Five Little Dwarfs
Thursday, August 16, 2007

I think mine is called "Grumpy".

These are five of the seven babies in my New Mom's Group (one couldn't make it and the other is still baking). They are all within a few weeks of each other. Adorable, huh? Well, except the one boy looks terrified to be in the midst of so many females. Poor feller. I had to wake Sasha up to get the pic which is why she looks slightly cranky. By the way, my daughter has decided that she will NOT be put down for naps. No way, no how. I have to hold her while she sleeps or she won't snooze at all. As soon as she feels she is leaving Mama's arms, she howls. I guess I should get used to doing everything one handed...like typing.

Sasha Battles On...
Sunday, August 12, 2007

Yesterday, Sasha developed a fever from the immunizations (the whooping cough one to be exact). I sort of freaked out when I read 102 degrees off of the thermometer. This led me to call my doctor every other hour until her fever went down (three rather hysterical phone calls). I just wanted to know when I needed to rush Sasha to the emergency room. However, my pediatrician was able to direct me in administering the right dosage of baby Tylenol to my febrile daughter. She swallowed the drops very enthusiastically as the medication is basically corn syrup and flourescent red dye. Yum, yum! Watching her smack her lips happily, I knew that Sasha inherited the sweet tooth from both Jimmy and me. Our genes have doomed her to an insatiable lust for ice cream and candy.

The Tylenol did do the job, though. After seven more temperature readings, she was down to 99. Sasha was admirably stoic about the thermometer (and Mom's craziness). I wouldn't have tolerated as much up my butt. Sasha is by far the better person.

Last night, we went over to Sasha's BFF's house. I think they ignored each other pretty much the whole time. Sasha was more interested in eating continuously and Ila was entranced by a stuffed catepillar.

Sasha Hates Immunization Shots
Saturday, August 11, 2007

Sasha went in on friday for her two month check-up and recieved the dreaded immunization shots. Five of them in her sweet little legs. She behaved much the way I do when being pricked with huge needles: a lot of screaming and flailing of the arms. But, again like her mother, she calmed right down when offered food (though I much prefer chocolate). Our pediatrician is amazing and lets me breastfeed in the examination room as long as I need after the visit. I can't sing enough praises about Dr. L....especially because she always exclaims how cute our daughter is. I don't care about our ped's credentials; I just want a lot of compliments. Now, I have started to fish for them. Our check-ups have become much lengthier as I have to show Dr. L all the amaaaaazing things Sasha can now do and which put her faaaaaaar ahead of peers. Uh huh. Right. And, Dr L. has the fortitude and graciousness to refrain from rolling her eyes repeatedly. But to be fair, Sasha has a huuuuge range of vocal sounds and she has greaaaat head control and she traaaacks so well with her eyes and, and, and....

Our daughter gained 2 1/2 lbs this month putting her at 10 lbs 7 oz. Yikes!!! It is kind of my fault because everytime my daughter fusses, I feed her. Sometimes she is gulping down milk every hour. I feel guilty for setting a bad precedent. We are going to have a 300 pound toddler because of me. Jimmy is just as bad; he gave her two 4 oz. bottles in less than three hours. Shifting the blame is fun! Plus, I think my breastmilk has the consistency of lard.

Sasha at Two Months
Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Sasha has gotten so much bigger this month. I feel like she is growing at a crazy fast rate. Her thighs have become chubby (no more chicken legs!) and her face has filled out. Her flesh has become round and soft. I just want to nibble on every part of her! I think she has gained two pounds this month but we will find out for sure when we visit the pediatrician on Friday. She has also grown more hair....although the duck tail in the back has become more pronounced. Jimmy keeps threatening to cut it. And, Sashi's eyelashes have become so long and beautiful. She got that from her Daddy. She is starting to look more and more like him. And, she inherited his squirminess! That girl loves to wiggle...and kick...and wiggle some more....

My junebug has gotten more vocal. No more weak pitiful cries but loud, robust screaming. She is pretty good natured except if she is hungry, tired, or wants to be held. In fact, she is blissful as long as there is always a boob in her face and she is never put down. While I am developing great biceps, my back is KILLING me. Sasha has started cooing and gurgling and is very interested in carrying on a conversation. During Mommy and Me yoga, she talked the entire time leading the instructor to comment on my daughter's "chattiness". Hmmm....that's not a Goldberg trait at all!

Sasha's head control has gotten much better thanks to a lot of tummy time on her playmat. She enjoys peering over my shoulder although when she is tired of being held in that position, she throws her head back. I have been able to catch her. No sense of danger, that one. Next, we shall practice sitting.

There have been any big milestones this month and won't be for a while. But, the little stepping stones of progression are so enjoyable to watch. She has discovered the pleasures of cramming her fists into her mouth. She will also suck her thumb but sometimes, the whole hand is much, much better. I prefer the pacifier because Sasha's hand can be so wet and sticky afterwards. Baby loves sticking out her tongue. I guess the oral phase is upon us.

We have started giving Sasha baths. Everytime we submerge her partially in the water, baby becomes very still and round eyed. She'll occasionally give a few kicks but mostly our daughter is in a state of wonderment. We are so worried that she'll start disliking the water, that we have her in and out of the bathtub in less than five minutes. Jimmy can clean quite frenetically.

Having Sasha in out lives just keeps getting better. Everyday she is more responsive. We are pretty damn lucky.

It's All My Sister's Fault
Sunday, August 5, 2007

My in-laws are in town this weekend and today, we went out to lunch at California Pizza Kitchen and then over to their place to watch home movies of Jimmy as a child. Sasha was asleep for lunch but she woke up part way through the video of one of Jimmy's pee wee baseballl games (by the way, he was so adorable when he was twelve. With his longish blond hair and egg yolk yellow and white uniforms, he looked right out of The Bad News Bears, one of my childhood favorite movies. It made me love Jimmy even more!). Anyway, as soon as Sasha stirred, I placed her on Jill's lap where she immediately went twosies for a very, very long time. She continued pooping through the changing and since we didn't have enough wipes to catch everything, we had Jill running back and forth from the kitchen to get paper towels and plastic bags and eventually an umbrella. Jill kept exclaiming over the quantity so I had to defend my daughter. It wasn't her fault at all; I place the blame entirely on Beck's shoulder. Entirely.

Last night, Beck generously offered to watch Sasha so we could go see Bourne's Ultimatum (Jimmy's pick but not a bad movie for its genre). I pumped five whole ounces which is the most I have ever pumped. It's an amount that SHOULD last for two feedings. I fed Sasha right before we left so I thought she would be fine for a few hours. At most, Beck would have to use two, maybe three ounces. When we came back, the entire bottle was gone. Drained. Sasha was asleep with a horribly distended belly. She just laid there groaning. My sister's defense: "She was hungry! If she cries, she's hungry, right?" Well, with little babies, what goes in must come out. And, Jill was the unfortunate victim.

Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating. I just don't get it. Sasha only poops once or twice a day. That's it, I swear. But it ALWAYS happens at the worst possible times like in the middle of the meditation part of Mommy and Me Yoga or at a nice restaurant or as we arrive to a party. Sasha was the ONLY baby to do her business at my New Mom's Group (for that one, I went through three diapers in under four minutes). Why can't she do it in the privacy of our home (preferably during Jimmy's turn to change)??? Can my daughter already have IBS? She is so lucky she is cute!

Flagstaff
Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Last Friday, Jimmy decided we needed to get out of Phoenix. Everyone we knew was on vacation and it was a million degrees outside and I had been cooped up on the house for waaaaaay too long. Apparently I become a little crazy when all I do all day is nurse and read back issues of the New Yorker. Who knew that foaming at both the mouth and boob isn't adorable??? Well, getting a room at an affordable cute B&B or historic hotel a few hours before one decides to take the trip is super easy. With so many options, we settled on a quaint establishment that ironically was called The Quality Inn. There was a sign on our door that read, "Please don't smoke because we once cleaned this room to get out the cigarette coating."

I was scared to make the two hour drive to Flagstaff but Sasha fell asleep quickly, thank god. I was able to finish Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows and with remarkable self-restraint, I did NOT blab the ending to Jimmy....although the really immature part of me was tempted. But, I wanna make it to my 33rd birthday and Jimmy usually carries through on his threats. When we arrived, Jimmy unloaded our small overnight bags and Sasha's suitcase, diaper bag, stroller, Bjorn, sling, and car seat while Sasha and I checked out how many cable channels there were (44). After enjoying a few reruns of Law & Order: SVU, Jimmy insisted we take a walk and get some dinner. I bundled Sasha up (how would a baby survive 70 degrees without four or five layers????)

and she dozed throughout the constitutional, the yummy meal, and a movie. We got payback for this because she slept a total of 15 minutes that night (and the next when we repeated the above activities). It was worth it because the food and films (Sicko and The Simpsons) were fabulous. We had to sneak her into the movies in this sling that covers her up so well that I can fool myself into thinking that it looks like an overlarge purse. Fortunately she did not make a peep and most people there were more concerned with the gaggle of noisy kids (with the tiniest of bladders and the largest of appetites) running up and down the aisle. Yay for our well-behaved baby!!!

We also took a bunch of hikes and we all survived the frighteningly fresh air. It was wonderful to be outside and not instantaneously combust from the heat.

The best part was we got to have a lot of family cuddle time and it only took us three days to recover from our vacation!