Graem got her first tooth today. We thought that she was teething a few weeks ago, but when nothing came of it, we forgot about it. Plus I read somewhere online that people tend to blame all behavioral changes on teething when it’s usually not the case, so we just assumed that Graem’s change in nap schedule (read: no napping AT ALL) was due to her being crazy baby.
Graem said Mama today!!! It was so awesome: Graem was lying on the floor at work chattering away while I was working, when she said, “Mama mama.” I quickly turned around and asked her, “Did you just say Mama?!” and Kim yelled over, “Yes she did, I heard her!” Then about an hour later she was lying on her belly playing with her Fisher Price fishbowl when she turned and looked up at me and said “Mama.” I was so excited and clapped, hoping that it’ll encourage her to say it more. An amazing day!
I can’t believe that it’s almost been a month since I last wrote. Summer has been exhausting so far–we have softball at least twice a week, which means scrambling from work to scrounge for dinner before leaving again for the fields. Graem has been coming to all the games, and she’s been a great sport. Lydia has been the one getting her to sleep through our games, so we’ve been grateful for that.
We went to Brooklyn this past weekend to see Grandpa and Gala. Graem got a cartload of toys from Toys ‘R Us from Grandpa, and of course all she wanted to do was play with the boxes! Gala also got Graem a bunch of clothes–yes, that does say “Princess!” Graem did great on the car rides, although she knows when we’re about 20 minutes from our destination and schedules a meltdown right for the moment when it’s too close to stop.
Bedtimes are getting a little more difficult–it takes about twenty minutes of kicking and thrashing around before she finally passes out. Tonight she was so cute: she’d fall about 75% asleep, so I’d try to sneak my nipple out of her mouth, then she’d start rooting around and grabbing with her sticky little hands to try to get my boob back into her mouth. For a few seconds her fingers sufficed to soothe her, but she quickly realized that they just aren’t the same. It made me smile.
Graem loves popsicles! Shawna was sharing some with her, and Graem would always grab for the one that she didn’t have. Starting solid foods has been a blast. It’s also given me some reprieve from nursing (don’t get me wrong–I still love doing it, and dread the day we will stop because it’s so cuddly and calming), while also giving Shawna a new way to bond with Graem. To date Graem has had: rice cereal, bananas, squash, peas, applesauce, and guacamole. Eating can be hard work! So far all I’ve made for her is the butternut squash, but I hope to make some other foods. Unfortunately those jars of baby food are so darn convenient! We can’t wait to start her on curry and spicy foods. She has had a couple of illegal foods–tastes of ice cream and strawberries, and I think some melon. Not sure why they’re illegal….
Shawna’s got two more full days of work. I’m both scared and excited for her, but I know it will all work out. It will also make me feel better that Graem will be able to stay with one of us more rather than daycare. Days with her at work are getting a little more difficult, and I wish they weren’t. I’m a little worried that I will give up my time with her before I’m ready, and that I will miss her.
What a long weekend! It was Ithaca Festival weekend, so we’ve been going nonstop since Thursday. We went to Graem’s first parade, and somehow managed to get all separated from each other for about 20 minutes. I thought Shawna and Laura were playing a joke on me and Graem, but it turned out not to be the case. Saturday we partied at the Festival until we were pooped (and pooped on by Graem) and Laura puked.
Graem started rolling over as a means of transportation on Friday, when she rolled from the center of the floor at work into Kim’s purse to grab her keys. She’s also started sitting up more or less, but still tips over to the side. It’s starting to get more difficult to put Graem down for naps, and I wonder if it’s because we have been lax about routines. She just gets louder and louder until she totally melts down and crashes.
Our latest crisis is this dead bat we found in our driveway, and now we’re all freaked out about our cats and getting rabies. Apparently the health department isn’t really on call unless a human comes in contact with a bat, and I’m worried that our cats may have either killed the bat or gnawed on it.
The ongoing antics of two thirty-something *gasp* mamas raising our three-year-old daughter and adding another baby girl to the mix.
