Madi says mama when she's sad or when she wants me. It's nice.
Showing posts with label crying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crying. Show all posts
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Anxiety
Teeny has major separation anxiety. She has major crying fits, big tears and all, when I'm not with her. I don't even have to be holding her. As long as she can see me and maybe reach me with her big toe, she's fine, happy, relaxed.
These crying fits are a major source of anxiety for everyone but me. Her poor dad... poor nana... eh, I don't think it bothers tata as much. When she's into a fit, there's almost nothing that can distract her for more than a breath, although being taken outside seems to help some.
It makes it that much harder to leave her, knowing that she's torturing people who love her.
These crying fits are a major source of anxiety for everyone but me. Her poor dad... poor nana... eh, I don't think it bothers tata as much. When she's into a fit, there's almost nothing that can distract her for more than a breath, although being taken outside seems to help some.
It makes it that much harder to leave her, knowing that she's torturing people who love her.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
time out
So here's what happened:
I was moving laundry from the washer to the dryer. Animalia was actually helping me until the bag of dog food caught her eye. Then she started playing with the dog food. I told her to stop. I know, playing with dog food isn't the end of the world but she's acquired the bad habit of also torturing Cooper with food items, so I feel the need to retrain her to leave Cooper's stuff alone. Anyhow, she's sticking her hands in it. I tell her no. She does it again. Etc. When my hands aren't full of laundry, I physically move her away from it and she stops momentarily. So.. major plot point.. this is a rainy day. Some of the laundry needs to hang dry, so I scoop it up and start to hang it in the bathroom. She follows me and closes the door. I'm in the bathroom, hands full of wet clothing, and she's in the laundry room. Alone. I hang up the laundry, calmly, but irritated. I walk out of the bathroom when I'm done, only to find her standing in a puddle of dog food. Laughing. She's testing me. And she thinks it's funny. I'm irritated. I tell her that I told her no and she didn't listen so she's gotta go to time out. And I take her to a chair in the children's paradise that is our living room. And I sit her in it. And she cries. And cries. And wails her objections. And cries some more.
Two minutes later...
I tell her she can leave time out. She cries some more and stays in time out. Another minute or so later, she walks over to me, gasping. "Mommy, I'm sorry," she says. I say something parental, like "You got time out because you can't play with Cooper's food." She says something like, "Mommy, I'm really really sorry." She's dramatic, my child is. Then she asks for a hug and I give her one. Then she asks for a kiss and I give her one. The kiss part is weird because she grabs my face, one of her tiny hands on each of my cheeks, and squeezes me a little, and kisses me really hard. I can't help but think that this is the kiss of death, that my tiny child is some sort of mob godfather and I'll be smothered in my sleep tonight by a paid hitman. But I digress. So she gives me a kiss. Then she says, "Little girls don't play with Cooper's food." And I tell her that she's right.
I was moving laundry from the washer to the dryer. Animalia was actually helping me until the bag of dog food caught her eye. Then she started playing with the dog food. I told her to stop. I know, playing with dog food isn't the end of the world but she's acquired the bad habit of also torturing Cooper with food items, so I feel the need to retrain her to leave Cooper's stuff alone. Anyhow, she's sticking her hands in it. I tell her no. She does it again. Etc. When my hands aren't full of laundry, I physically move her away from it and she stops momentarily. So.. major plot point.. this is a rainy day. Some of the laundry needs to hang dry, so I scoop it up and start to hang it in the bathroom. She follows me and closes the door. I'm in the bathroom, hands full of wet clothing, and she's in the laundry room. Alone. I hang up the laundry, calmly, but irritated. I walk out of the bathroom when I'm done, only to find her standing in a puddle of dog food. Laughing. She's testing me. And she thinks it's funny. I'm irritated. I tell her that I told her no and she didn't listen so she's gotta go to time out. And I take her to a chair in the children's paradise that is our living room. And I sit her in it. And she cries. And cries. And wails her objections. And cries some more.
Two minutes later...
I tell her she can leave time out. She cries some more and stays in time out. Another minute or so later, she walks over to me, gasping. "Mommy, I'm sorry," she says. I say something parental, like "You got time out because you can't play with Cooper's food." She says something like, "Mommy, I'm really really sorry." She's dramatic, my child is. Then she asks for a hug and I give her one. Then she asks for a kiss and I give her one. The kiss part is weird because she grabs my face, one of her tiny hands on each of my cheeks, and squeezes me a little, and kisses me really hard. I can't help but think that this is the kiss of death, that my tiny child is some sort of mob godfather and I'll be smothered in my sleep tonight by a paid hitman. But I digress. So she gives me a kiss. Then she says, "Little girls don't play with Cooper's food." And I tell her that she's right.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Teeny tiny frustration is hilarious.
Frustration, from the self-labeled "teeny tiny girl" is so funny we can't help laughing. It begins with a shriek or a complaining noise, possibly a whine, and then ends up with her saying, "WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE!" while stomping. The demands soon follow. And then sometimes a scream or two, or a fake cry where she actually says, "AYA'S CWYING!" It's really hard not to laugh. Especially after being told by a not-quite-two-year-old to wait a minute.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Arizona Tour '09
Three days in a pickup truck. Four adults, one toddler. Jerome, using the wrong directions through Prescott, getting on the right path to Crown King and onto the cabin in Horsethief Basin, then through Sedona and Flagstaff to our ultimate destination, the Grand Canyon. Back through Valle, AZ to see Flintstones Bedrock City and the Chapel of the Holy Dove, through Flagstaff and Phoenix and HOME! If Google Maps is correct, we traveled over 1300 miles. That's true insanity.
Animalia was ok throughout the trip, sometimes complaining that she wanted to go home, asking for her big bed, wanting to see Nanitas, or asking if we were going to see Nina. We were loaded with distractions for the difficult times, having packed several books, some finger puppets from Cayman courtesy of Britta and probably best of all, a Melissa and Doug dry erase/magnetic chalk board that Nana bought her before we went on the trip. She loved the dry erase marker and then the "cleaning" but loved the letters equally.
Destination-wise, she liked Jerome and the wrap she borrowed from begrid to protect her against the chilly air, the lovely shop called House of Joy that used to be a brothel, where she said hi to a fake giraffe outside and told him to say hi to her, reminded herself not to touch anything inside, danced to Russian music and the lady working there (the owner maybe?) asked her name, insisting that we'd see it in lights one day. She loved the cabin in Horsethief as it gave her the opportunity to run around outside with baseball bats and "soccer baseballs" and play with her miniature cast iron skillet. She also seemed to like camping, once we finally settled in at the Grand Canyon Mather Campground. We'd prepared her with the book Maisy Goes Camping and she was pretty happy to be in the tent, just like Maisy. She was thrilled to see a raven the size of a cat in the campground, saying it was the Tata bird and asking where the Aya bird was. And when she saw the Canyon itself? Daht asked her what it was and she responded that it was "a painting."
Other highlights:
At one point she was totally frustrated with driving and started asking to go to the store to buy a bicycle, a toothbrush, and eventually just "stuff." Later, on the way home, she kept asking to stop at the "dancing store." When I asked her where it was she would look around, point at a random store and say "I found it!"
"Where's your mommy?" asked Daht. "Bad boy!" she replied, "Aya's mommy is right here!"
She really bonded with Britta although she called her Brenda for quite awhile til she finally started calling her Brin-ta.
Animalia eating fistfulls of hummus in the truck. She started with carrots and when those were gone decided that she had to use her hands.
Lots of hugs and kisses for me, telling everyone who would listen that "this is Aya's mommy."
Mostly it was a whirlwind, lots of stops, lots of driving, slightly disorganized, sometimes cold. She cried a few times in the car, frustrated at being trapped, but even then I think we were all tired and frustrated so it was understandable. We were thrilled to be home, capping the trip with a car/truck exchange at Nana's and Tata's where Animalia played in her sandbox for a few minutes, touched all her things and took a shower. Then home where she was more than thrilled to see Cooper and he was excited to see her too, nosing at her every time he'd run past her.
There was some laying around for a couple hours, then a dead sleep was had by all and we're back to the routine this morning.
Animalia was ok throughout the trip, sometimes complaining that she wanted to go home, asking for her big bed, wanting to see Nanitas, or asking if we were going to see Nina. We were loaded with distractions for the difficult times, having packed several books, some finger puppets from Cayman courtesy of Britta and probably best of all, a Melissa and Doug dry erase/magnetic chalk board that Nana bought her before we went on the trip. She loved the dry erase marker and then the "cleaning" but loved the letters equally.
Destination-wise, she liked Jerome and the wrap she borrowed from begrid to protect her against the chilly air, the lovely shop called House of Joy that used to be a brothel, where she said hi to a fake giraffe outside and told him to say hi to her, reminded herself not to touch anything inside, danced to Russian music and the lady working there (the owner maybe?) asked her name, insisting that we'd see it in lights one day. She loved the cabin in Horsethief as it gave her the opportunity to run around outside with baseball bats and "soccer baseballs" and play with her miniature cast iron skillet. She also seemed to like camping, once we finally settled in at the Grand Canyon Mather Campground. We'd prepared her with the book Maisy Goes Camping and she was pretty happy to be in the tent, just like Maisy. She was thrilled to see a raven the size of a cat in the campground, saying it was the Tata bird and asking where the Aya bird was. And when she saw the Canyon itself? Daht asked her what it was and she responded that it was "a painting."
Other highlights:
At one point she was totally frustrated with driving and started asking to go to the store to buy a bicycle, a toothbrush, and eventually just "stuff." Later, on the way home, she kept asking to stop at the "dancing store." When I asked her where it was she would look around, point at a random store and say "I found it!"
"Where's your mommy?" asked Daht. "Bad boy!" she replied, "Aya's mommy is right here!"
She really bonded with Britta although she called her Brenda for quite awhile til she finally started calling her Brin-ta.
Animalia eating fistfulls of hummus in the truck. She started with carrots and when those were gone decided that she had to use her hands.
Lots of hugs and kisses for me, telling everyone who would listen that "this is Aya's mommy."
Mostly it was a whirlwind, lots of stops, lots of driving, slightly disorganized, sometimes cold. She cried a few times in the car, frustrated at being trapped, but even then I think we were all tired and frustrated so it was understandable. We were thrilled to be home, capping the trip with a car/truck exchange at Nana's and Tata's where Animalia played in her sandbox for a few minutes, touched all her things and took a shower. Then home where she was more than thrilled to see Cooper and he was excited to see her too, nosing at her every time he'd run past her.
There was some laying around for a couple hours, then a dead sleep was had by all and we're back to the routine this morning.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
18 months?! Already?!
At her OFFICIAL 18 month checkup, the Animalia:
weighed 27 lbs, 8oz
was 32 1/2 inches tall
has a big round head
and screamed her head off at every opportunity.
When the nurse put her on the scale, she screamed. When she measured her, the Animalia wailed. When she took her temperature, someone walking by the room would have thought the Animalia was being beat with hot pokers. It is for this reason that both weight and height is probably off by a bit.
Then she calmed down. She introduced me to the doctor, mama. She introduced herself, Aya. She showed her doctor a stuffed bunny, bailando, bailando. And then the doctor touched her with a stethoscope and the screaming began anew.
I'm buying a play doctor kit. Clearly, we need to practice before the next appointment.
weighed 27 lbs, 8oz
was 32 1/2 inches tall
has a big round head
and screamed her head off at every opportunity.
When the nurse put her on the scale, she screamed. When she measured her, the Animalia wailed. When she took her temperature, someone walking by the room would have thought the Animalia was being beat with hot pokers. It is for this reason that both weight and height is probably off by a bit.
Then she calmed down. She introduced me to the doctor, mama. She introduced herself, Aya. She showed her doctor a stuffed bunny, bailando, bailando. And then the doctor touched her with a stethoscope and the screaming began anew.
I'm buying a play doctor kit. Clearly, we need to practice before the next appointment.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A tantrum that I love
Yes, there is a certain type of tantrum that gives me the giggles. The Animalia yells. She gently tumbles to the floor. She rolls halfheartedly back and forth. She realizes that the wood floor is slipperly against her pants. Then she starts sliding herself backward and forward, like a snake. She realizes that I'm cracking up. She makes a slightly angry noise at me for laughing at her. She hates that, when people laugh at her anger. She slides herself around the floor a minute. She stops, seeming to reconsider her tantrum. She makes one last halfhearted scowl and grunt. She's happy sliding around. And then she gets up and goes about her business like she wasn't throwing a tantrum in the first place.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
My Little
Every day during my lunch break I run over to see the Animalia at the Nana and Tata's house. I open the door and sometimes she hears me and runs and says "Mama!" and I say "Hi, my little!" Sometimes she hugs my legs. Sometimes she throws a mini tantrum, revenge, I think, for not being there all morning. Those times her Nana says that she didn't cry til I got there. But I never touch her until I've washed my hands. Most of the time she's ok with this but sometimes she's impatient and wants me to pick her up and makes slightly angry, slightly dejected sounds. I tell her "lavando las manitas," which is actually a lyric from a song I sing her when I'm washing her up. Sometimes she knows, and it's fine, but sometimes she's still impatient after the explanation.
As soon as I can I lift her up and give her besitos. I ask for an abrazo and she mostly obliges. Sometimes she's too excited though and has to show me what she's been working on. She'll point to her project, usually a pile of libros or her Elmo that is wearing a new vestido or needs to be diapered, a packet of seeds that needs shaking or a puzzle that needs putting together. We'll go look at that for a few minutes. She starts telling me things, her own language, punctuated with the words Nana and Tata. She's telling me what they did so far and I respond appropriately with "ooohhh" and "mmmmm" and "¿si?" and "¿y luego que pasó?"
Then Nana takes over. I need to eat. Sometimes the Animalia is ready for food too though. Sometimes Nana feeds her, sometimes I do. Sometimes she acts like she's not hungry until she sees my food. Those times she wants the food off my plate and hovers around me, mouth open, like a baby bird. Sometimes she's already eaten but does the baby bird thing anyway, with me, with Nana, with Tata, with Tío Tío, whoever is there and eating.
Sometimes she hasn't napped yet and she's cranky so I take her to a quiet room, close the door behind us, and put her to sleep. Sometimes she takes me there, expecting to be put to sleep I think.
Then lunch is over and it's time to get back to work and leave the Animalia behind for a few more hours. I never actually want to leave but it's easier now that we're used to it. I guess.
As soon as I can I lift her up and give her besitos. I ask for an abrazo and she mostly obliges. Sometimes she's too excited though and has to show me what she's been working on. She'll point to her project, usually a pile of libros or her Elmo that is wearing a new vestido or needs to be diapered, a packet of seeds that needs shaking or a puzzle that needs putting together. We'll go look at that for a few minutes. She starts telling me things, her own language, punctuated with the words Nana and Tata. She's telling me what they did so far and I respond appropriately with "ooohhh" and "mmmmm" and "¿si?" and "¿y luego que pasó?"
Then Nana takes over. I need to eat. Sometimes the Animalia is ready for food too though. Sometimes Nana feeds her, sometimes I do. Sometimes she acts like she's not hungry until she sees my food. Those times she wants the food off my plate and hovers around me, mouth open, like a baby bird. Sometimes she's already eaten but does the baby bird thing anyway, with me, with Nana, with Tata, with Tío Tío, whoever is there and eating.
Sometimes she hasn't napped yet and she's cranky so I take her to a quiet room, close the door behind us, and put her to sleep. Sometimes she takes me there, expecting to be put to sleep I think.
Then lunch is over and it's time to get back to work and leave the Animalia behind for a few more hours. I never actually want to leave but it's easier now that we're used to it. I guess.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Tantrums
The following conversation is not imagined but rather inferred.
Me (singing): Poniendo los pantalones, pantalones, pantalones.
Animalia giggles.
Me (singing): Poniendo los calcetines, calcetines, calcetines.
Animalia giggles again.
Me: ¡Manitas pa'rriba!
Animalia complies happily.
I take off her shirt to replace it with a clean one.
Animalia screams: MOTHER. I DO NOT WANT TO WEAR A SHIRT TODAY. ONLY PANTALONES AND CALCETINES. PERHAPS ZAPATOS. PERO NO QUIERO UNA CAMISA. NO. NO. NO.
Right after her first birthday she started throwing these tiny little frustrated tantrums. I've read that it's right developmentally, no big deal, but damn. They only last a minute or so, sometimes less, but still. Damn. She just TELLS me but good. Sometimes she throws herself backward and if I'm right next to her, I'll grab her and lower her tiny little head to the ground where she'll proceed to roll back and forth for a minute until she's not as mad anymore. This also happens when we take something away from her. You know, like a dime or a button or something else tiny and potentially hazardous. Sometimes, unconciously, we take something away from her that isn't hazardous and she gets mad before we realize that we took a spoon or a cheerio, something totally safe. Sometimes she finds an errant cheerio on the ground and puts it in her mouth and we see her chewing and automatically sweep the mouth only to get smooshy cereal on our fingers and a guilty look from the Animalia that says, "What the hell?! Why did you force my papa out of my mouth? I was eating!" And then she screams and we feel bad and give her whatever it was we mistakenly took away and also we apologize. Profusely. Because she's rolling around on the floor and at that particular moment, we could have avoided it by not taking our eyes off of her for a second and knowing, somehow, maybe telepathically, that it was indeed JUST A CHEERIO.
Me (singing): Poniendo los pantalones, pantalones, pantalones.
Animalia giggles.
Me (singing): Poniendo los calcetines, calcetines, calcetines.
Animalia giggles again.
Me: ¡Manitas pa'rriba!
Animalia complies happily.
I take off her shirt to replace it with a clean one.
Animalia screams: MOTHER. I DO NOT WANT TO WEAR A SHIRT TODAY. ONLY PANTALONES AND CALCETINES. PERHAPS ZAPATOS. PERO NO QUIERO UNA CAMISA. NO. NO. NO.
Right after her first birthday she started throwing these tiny little frustrated tantrums. I've read that it's right developmentally, no big deal, but damn. They only last a minute or so, sometimes less, but still. Damn. She just TELLS me but good. Sometimes she throws herself backward and if I'm right next to her, I'll grab her and lower her tiny little head to the ground where she'll proceed to roll back and forth for a minute until she's not as mad anymore. This also happens when we take something away from her. You know, like a dime or a button or something else tiny and potentially hazardous. Sometimes, unconciously, we take something away from her that isn't hazardous and she gets mad before we realize that we took a spoon or a cheerio, something totally safe. Sometimes she finds an errant cheerio on the ground and puts it in her mouth and we see her chewing and automatically sweep the mouth only to get smooshy cereal on our fingers and a guilty look from the Animalia that says, "What the hell?! Why did you force my papa out of my mouth? I was eating!" And then she screams and we feel bad and give her whatever it was we mistakenly took away and also we apologize. Profusely. Because she's rolling around on the floor and at that particular moment, we could have avoided it by not taking our eyes off of her for a second and knowing, somehow, maybe telepathically, that it was indeed JUST A CHEERIO.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Oh the cold! And the busted lip.
Oh the cold. The Animalia isn't as yucky sick as she was a few days ago, neither am I but those boogers, they just hang on, don't they? She is still a little congested but she absolutely rages when I try to suction her. Or when I try to wipe her nose. Or when I put vaseline on her raw-ish nose region. Still gross.
In other news, the Animalia got her very first major injury. A couple of nights ago she was playing with something on the coffee table, seemed kind of tired and wobbly, turned around and took a step and planted her face on the living room floor. Tooth hit inside top lip. Blood. Screaming. Blood. Screaming. It was really very frightening but she was ok after a bit. It swelled up pretty badly that night, though I did give her a bit of Tylenol and iced it. The next day, not as swollen, but ugly for sure. Last night she opened it up a little, or it opened up, not quite sure what happened but maybe because her lips are chapped? Anyhow, it seems to be much better now, thank goodness. I was a little afraid that people were going to think we beat her but the reaction was "Now that she's walking, she'll be hurting herself more." Yay.
Heading to San Diego in a couple of days. Very excited to take the girl to the beach!
In other news, the Animalia got her very first major injury. A couple of nights ago she was playing with something on the coffee table, seemed kind of tired and wobbly, turned around and took a step and planted her face on the living room floor. Tooth hit inside top lip. Blood. Screaming. Blood. Screaming. It was really very frightening but she was ok after a bit. It swelled up pretty badly that night, though I did give her a bit of Tylenol and iced it. The next day, not as swollen, but ugly for sure. Last night she opened it up a little, or it opened up, not quite sure what happened but maybe because her lips are chapped? Anyhow, it seems to be much better now, thank goodness. I was a little afraid that people were going to think we beat her but the reaction was "Now that she's walking, she'll be hurting herself more." Yay.
Heading to San Diego in a couple of days. Very excited to take the girl to the beach!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Injury inspired laughter.
So the Animalia, she likes to climb into this tiny box. Last night, she pushed down on it and it kind of flipped, hitting her on the forehead. She was startled, not terribly injured but started to cry. The whole thing was too funny, though I know it doesn't sound that hilarious now, but it just was. I laughed, her Da laughed. She screamed. Everytime she saw her Da laughing at her she screamed louder. I was trying to soothe her by picking her up and saying shhhh shhhh shhhhh but her Da was right there laughing. She was too angry to stop crying and us laughing was just making her more upset. Screeching followed, and pretend crying. I had to hold her and hug her and hide my face so she wouldn't see me laughing.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Injuries and other fun stuff.
Animalia is so mobile now it's ridiculous. She is not only climbing stairs but learning how to successfully go down them, feet first instead of head first. She pulls herself up ALL THE TIME, using whatever she can to get to standing. Occasionally these things aren't the most stable things, like her drum, turned over on its side, or boxes made of these soft foam squares that we made to occasionally contain her mess of clothes. Once up, she'll stand on her tiptoes to reach whatever she sees and wants. The tiptoes cause a little bit of panic inside me but I resist the urge to grab her every single time.
She's thumped her head a couple of times, mostly startled herself and cried but nothing major. Until a couple of days ago. She was at her Nana's house and had pulled herself up on the wood coffee table. She was doing the tiptoe thing and one of her little feet slipped and she hit her mouth, her two new top front teeth, on the table on her way down. There were tears. There was a tiny bit of blood. There was a hidden panic in my chest. She got an ice cube to suck on and she was fine.
The rest of the day I was privately concerned. What if the Animalia lost a tooth and had to endure childhood as the toothless, dirty faced girl? Should I take her to the dentist? Doctor? Of course, I'm a reasonable person and did none of these things. No major swelling, no fussing, and she's fine now. I didn't have to be crazy.
She's thumped her head a couple of times, mostly startled herself and cried but nothing major. Until a couple of days ago. She was at her Nana's house and had pulled herself up on the wood coffee table. She was doing the tiptoe thing and one of her little feet slipped and she hit her mouth, her two new top front teeth, on the table on her way down. There were tears. There was a tiny bit of blood. There was a hidden panic in my chest. She got an ice cube to suck on and she was fine.
The rest of the day I was privately concerned. What if the Animalia lost a tooth and had to endure childhood as the toothless, dirty faced girl? Should I take her to the dentist? Doctor? Of course, I'm a reasonable person and did none of these things. No major swelling, no fussing, and she's fine now. I didn't have to be crazy.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Mama anxiety
The separation anxiety seems to be back but only slightly. She suffered it pretty badly around 5 months, seemed to have gotten over it but lately she's started crying when I leave her again. She doesn't go on and on. Typically she'll stop crying when I'm out of sight although on occasion she's launched herself into a minor tantrum with the mama tears setting her off.
Yesterday, I was dropping her off with her Nana before work. She's usually thrilled to be there, thrilled to see Nana and jump into her arms. Yesterday, she wasn't. Her Nana reached out to her and she actually swatted her hand away and turned back into my arms. I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows.
This morning, to prevent a major fit, her Da distracted her from seeing me on my way out. He even blocked her view of me so that I could get my shoes.
The things we do.
Yesterday, I was dropping her off with her Nana before work. She's usually thrilled to be there, thrilled to see Nana and jump into her arms. Yesterday, she wasn't. Her Nana reached out to her and she actually swatted her hand away and turned back into my arms. I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows.
This morning, to prevent a major fit, her Da distracted her from seeing me on my way out. He even blocked her view of me so that I could get my shoes.
The things we do.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Bumps and bruises
Animalia. Lately she thinks she can stand up all by herself. And no, I don't mean let go of the couch after pulling herself up, which she does often. What she does is push herself up like a little crab and then, when she feels stable on her feet, she pushes off the floor with her hands. I'm not quite sure how she expects herself to stand up like that but I can tell that she's shocked when she hits the floor again, a few times with her face. And then there's the crying. The shocked shrieks. So far these tears go away once she's soothed. I fear the real tears, coming soon, since she's the baby with no fear. Like her Tío Tío was, a baby who would try anything and paid the price with scars and bumps and bruises. The Animalia just goes, goes, goes and explores everything. She has to SEE and TOUCH everything.
The other day after her dinner she was still in her high chair and I was sitting in front of her. I gave her a book. She dropped it. Then she managed to tuck her feet under herself and push herself up and over the tray, looking to see where the book had gone. If I hadn't been there she would have flipped herself completely over.
She's also liking to push things. Thing is, she's not at the point to where she can stand up and walk behind something that she's pushing. She pulls herself up on a large object, like her high chair, and starts to push it. Only she's using it for support so if we're not very vigilant she'll fall along with the movement of the thing.
She's also liking to climb. I mentioned the stairs before, now it's monkey stuff. Like reaching up to grab her her high chair, dangling from it and trying to climb up the legs with her tiny feet curled around them. Like trying to climb a rope. Like a monkey.
The other day after her dinner she was still in her high chair and I was sitting in front of her. I gave her a book. She dropped it. Then she managed to tuck her feet under herself and push herself up and over the tray, looking to see where the book had gone. If I hadn't been there she would have flipped herself completely over.
She's also liking to push things. Thing is, she's not at the point to where she can stand up and walk behind something that she's pushing. She pulls herself up on a large object, like her high chair, and starts to push it. Only she's using it for support so if we're not very vigilant she'll fall along with the movement of the thing.
She's also liking to climb. I mentioned the stairs before, now it's monkey stuff. Like reaching up to grab her her high chair, dangling from it and trying to climb up the legs with her tiny feet curled around them. Like trying to climb a rope. Like a monkey.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Poor Animalia
Thursday. Doctor's appointment to follow up on Animalia's "problem."
"Constipation," her mother whispered to not embarrass the delicate sensitivities of the Animalia.
Poor baby. It gets better, then worse and back and forth like that in a way that her doctor thinks is slightly abnormal. But not the most abnormal as she continues to gain weight and grow. She's 21 lbs and 30 1/2 inches now. Go baby!
Anyhow, we'd had a rough patch the night before with the "issue" and well, there we were, at the doctor for the 3rd time in a month. Her doctor ordered tests. Fortunately she combined some that are typical at her next regular well baby visit so she wouldn't have to go through the blood draw thing more than once. So we left the doctor and hit the lab where they proceeded to torture the Animalia. They tried to draw blood from both arms and got nothing. The Animalia left with bandages covering the giant bruises forming on her tiny arms. Sadness. We would have to try again in a few days.
I was dreading the second attempt but it went swimmingly. The Animalia only cried when she tried to struggle and she couldn't move from being held down. It was quick and hopefully relatively painless. Then me and her Tío Tío took her to San Xavier for her to ooh and ahh over the santos and touch San Francisco's head. I said a tiny prayer for her health and then we climbed the hill and stared at the nearly empty grotto and the green fields momentarily before our drive home.
"Constipation," her mother whispered to not embarrass the delicate sensitivities of the Animalia.
Poor baby. It gets better, then worse and back and forth like that in a way that her doctor thinks is slightly abnormal. But not the most abnormal as she continues to gain weight and grow. She's 21 lbs and 30 1/2 inches now. Go baby!
Anyhow, we'd had a rough patch the night before with the "issue" and well, there we were, at the doctor for the 3rd time in a month. Her doctor ordered tests. Fortunately she combined some that are typical at her next regular well baby visit so she wouldn't have to go through the blood draw thing more than once. So we left the doctor and hit the lab where they proceeded to torture the Animalia. They tried to draw blood from both arms and got nothing. The Animalia left with bandages covering the giant bruises forming on her tiny arms. Sadness. We would have to try again in a few days.
I was dreading the second attempt but it went swimmingly. The Animalia only cried when she tried to struggle and she couldn't move from being held down. It was quick and hopefully relatively painless. Then me and her Tío Tío took her to San Xavier for her to ooh and ahh over the santos and touch San Francisco's head. I said a tiny prayer for her health and then we climbed the hill and stared at the nearly empty grotto and the green fields momentarily before our drive home.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
In the last week...
So much has happened in the last week or so that is bloggable.
Object Permanence. I've read about this in many a baby book and developmental stage website. It's where babies start to learn that just because an object is gone it hasn't disappeared completely. Animalia had started to know this awhile ago. She'd sit on her high chair. Throw something. Look longingly at the thrown object. And we'd give it back to her. And peek-a-boo has been played in our house for ages. But lately, she REALLY KNOWS. I can no longer hide the remote control behind me and give her a distraction toy. She'll just crawl over the thing meant to distract her in order to find the remote behind me. I can't leave her with her Da if what she really wants is Mama. She'll just try to follow me to another room, wailing dramatically with the rhythm of her crawling. She just knows where things/people/pets are once they've left her sight.
You're just an udder. This was boymagnet's response to the following story. The other day I was lying in bed, just resting. The Animalia was crawling all over me. She decided to crawl over me when she saw her breast friend. She kneeled, pulled down my convenient nursing tank that I use for a pajama top, and started nursing. Kneeling. Next to me. Like she owns it. It's true. I'm just an udder.
She weighs 19lbs 3oz. We found this out because she had to go the doctor the other day for constipation. Poor baby. She was straining and crying and nothing was coming out. She's better now after a couple of days of extra liquids, nursing and a reduction in binding solid foods. Both the constipation and her weight are the result of more regular solid food eating combined with continuing to breastfeed. She's a big girl lately. And one day she'll read this and be MORTIFIED.
She knows how to tickle me. So we've been blowing on her stomach for AGES now. It's one of her most favorite things that her Da does to her to make her laugh. Once she starts laughing she's ripe for the tickling. Mwah ha ha ha. Anyhow, the other day I was lying on the floor and my shirt was a little bit up. She saw my stomach and went right to it, blowing on my stomach. It was something of a halfhearted attempt though or maybe she didn't do it quite as well as she thought. Anyway, her Da did it after that too to encourage her (really, am I telling the whole world this?) and she got really into it. She blew on my stomach really hard then would look at me, I'd laugh, and she'd do it again. Then she licked me and I decided it was time to stop and move on to other things. But it was hilarious while it lasted.
We still make up stories about her. She's mostly a hobo in these stories or a poor girl who has nothing. Once she asked me "Mamí, puedo prestar una cinta?" and then she used my belt to strap a package on her back and crawl over to the post office to mail it to her Nina and then she crawled all the way home. All by herself.
Object Permanence. I've read about this in many a baby book and developmental stage website. It's where babies start to learn that just because an object is gone it hasn't disappeared completely. Animalia had started to know this awhile ago. She'd sit on her high chair. Throw something. Look longingly at the thrown object. And we'd give it back to her. And peek-a-boo has been played in our house for ages. But lately, she REALLY KNOWS. I can no longer hide the remote control behind me and give her a distraction toy. She'll just crawl over the thing meant to distract her in order to find the remote behind me. I can't leave her with her Da if what she really wants is Mama. She'll just try to follow me to another room, wailing dramatically with the rhythm of her crawling. She just knows where things/people/pets are once they've left her sight.
You're just an udder. This was boymagnet's response to the following story. The other day I was lying in bed, just resting. The Animalia was crawling all over me. She decided to crawl over me when she saw her breast friend. She kneeled, pulled down my convenient nursing tank that I use for a pajama top, and started nursing. Kneeling. Next to me. Like she owns it. It's true. I'm just an udder.
She weighs 19lbs 3oz. We found this out because she had to go the doctor the other day for constipation. Poor baby. She was straining and crying and nothing was coming out. She's better now after a couple of days of extra liquids, nursing and a reduction in binding solid foods. Both the constipation and her weight are the result of more regular solid food eating combined with continuing to breastfeed. She's a big girl lately. And one day she'll read this and be MORTIFIED.
She knows how to tickle me. So we've been blowing on her stomach for AGES now. It's one of her most favorite things that her Da does to her to make her laugh. Once she starts laughing she's ripe for the tickling. Mwah ha ha ha. Anyhow, the other day I was lying on the floor and my shirt was a little bit up. She saw my stomach and went right to it, blowing on my stomach. It was something of a halfhearted attempt though or maybe she didn't do it quite as well as she thought. Anyway, her Da did it after that too to encourage her (really, am I telling the whole world this?) and she got really into it. She blew on my stomach really hard then would look at me, I'd laugh, and she'd do it again. Then she licked me and I decided it was time to stop and move on to other things. But it was hilarious while it lasted.
We still make up stories about her. She's mostly a hobo in these stories or a poor girl who has nothing. Once she asked me "Mamí, puedo prestar una cinta?" and then she used my belt to strap a package on her back and crawl over to the post office to mail it to her Nina and then she crawled all the way home. All by herself.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Animalia takes a trip.
So we took the Animalia to Chicago. It was more difficult than traveling alone or with the drunken adults that I'm used to traveling with but not so difficult that I wouldn't do it again. I was a little concerned for her tiny ears on the flights but she was fine, charming even. She chatted and smiled at flight attendants and other passengers, wiggled around, ate and napped. Nice. She was lovely.
There were more tears once we got there though. I think it was because she was in unfamiliar territory and not following her usual patterns of eating, sleeping and playing. That AND she's teething. That's right. No false alarms this time. There are two teeny tiny baby teeth peaking out of her bottom gums. They're cute to look at, interesting to touch and I'm sure they're incredibly painful for her. Pobresita.
She met her Aunt Barbara and cousin Cathy for the very first time. She bonded with Cathy. She also made friends with BL, smiling at her and trying to eat her watch every chance she got.
Other firsts on the trip:
Her first Cubs game. EVERYONE in the bleachers thought she was the most adorable baby ever in her Cubs cheerleader outfit and red legwarmers. There were even some drunk guys sitting behind us who were discussing the best way to smoke in the "no smoking" ballpark and they were trying to decide whether or not to light one up right there. They decided not to. Because of the Animalia.
Her first frijoles. She had her first taste of frijol at Frontera Grill, the Rick Bayless restaurant. What can I say? She's fancy. She liked the beans too.
Her first (brief) visit to a zoo. We took her to Lincoln Park Zoo. It was near closing time so she just got to see a tiger, monkeys, takin, and sea lions. She liked the monkeys and tiger, she chatted and smiled at them. Didn't even notice the takin. She liked the sea lions too, their big bodies swimming by surprised her I think. Now google "takin."
Her first museums. We took her to the Museum of Science and Industry. She was cranky. The Art Institute was better, though she split her time between cranky and chatting at the paintings. We got dirty looks from people either way, whether she laughed or cried, so we left earlier than we wanted to. At first I didn't care what everyone thought but after about 30 dirty looks it starts to get old so we left a little earlier than planned. She loved the Field Museum, I'm not sure why, maybe it was because there were things to touch, it wasn't as loud and insane as Science and Industry, and there were more animal type things. Or maybe it was because her teeth didn't hurt so much.
Her first aquarium. She LOVED this. She loved the turtles, brightly colored fish and dolphins.
Her first trains, both the CTA in Chicago and the small train on the Jelly Belly tour. Two completely different things, I know, but I thought I'd put them both under the same heading.
What else? She mostly just liked walking around, making her happy noises at passers by. She got some things, souvenirs for when she tells us we never take her anywhere and we tell her that she just can't remember when we did. She got to spend time with Tío Tío and crawl around on his floor. She also got to play with a stuffed puppy that he has and try to chew on his (dirty) carpeting.
I think we can do this again sometime too. I hope our future holds a trip to DC to visit the Nina, a potential jaunt to the Cayman Islands to visit begrid, and maybe a weekend in Puerto Peñasco. Now we just have to win the lottery.
See my next post for information on baby poop while on vacation.
There were more tears once we got there though. I think it was because she was in unfamiliar territory and not following her usual patterns of eating, sleeping and playing. That AND she's teething. That's right. No false alarms this time. There are two teeny tiny baby teeth peaking out of her bottom gums. They're cute to look at, interesting to touch and I'm sure they're incredibly painful for her. Pobresita.
She met her Aunt Barbara and cousin Cathy for the very first time. She bonded with Cathy. She also made friends with BL, smiling at her and trying to eat her watch every chance she got.
Other firsts on the trip:
Her first Cubs game. EVERYONE in the bleachers thought she was the most adorable baby ever in her Cubs cheerleader outfit and red legwarmers. There were even some drunk guys sitting behind us who were discussing the best way to smoke in the "no smoking" ballpark and they were trying to decide whether or not to light one up right there. They decided not to. Because of the Animalia.
Her first frijoles. She had her first taste of frijol at Frontera Grill, the Rick Bayless restaurant. What can I say? She's fancy. She liked the beans too.
Her first (brief) visit to a zoo. We took her to Lincoln Park Zoo. It was near closing time so she just got to see a tiger, monkeys, takin, and sea lions. She liked the monkeys and tiger, she chatted and smiled at them. Didn't even notice the takin. She liked the sea lions too, their big bodies swimming by surprised her I think. Now google "takin."
Her first museums. We took her to the Museum of Science and Industry. She was cranky. The Art Institute was better, though she split her time between cranky and chatting at the paintings. We got dirty looks from people either way, whether she laughed or cried, so we left earlier than we wanted to. At first I didn't care what everyone thought but after about 30 dirty looks it starts to get old so we left a little earlier than planned. She loved the Field Museum, I'm not sure why, maybe it was because there were things to touch, it wasn't as loud and insane as Science and Industry, and there were more animal type things. Or maybe it was because her teeth didn't hurt so much.
Her first aquarium. She LOVED this. She loved the turtles, brightly colored fish and dolphins.
Her first trains, both the CTA in Chicago and the small train on the Jelly Belly tour. Two completely different things, I know, but I thought I'd put them both under the same heading.
What else? She mostly just liked walking around, making her happy noises at passers by. She got some things, souvenirs for when she tells us we never take her anywhere and we tell her that she just can't remember when we did. She got to spend time with Tío Tío and crawl around on his floor. She also got to play with a stuffed puppy that he has and try to chew on his (dirty) carpeting.
I think we can do this again sometime too. I hope our future holds a trip to DC to visit the Nina, a potential jaunt to the Cayman Islands to visit begrid, and maybe a weekend in Puerto Peñasco. Now we just have to win the lottery.
See my next post for information on baby poop while on vacation.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
And now...
She's scared of people walking toward her and Oprah.
The nana and big potato took her for a walk yesterday and everytime someone was walking toward her stroller she'd do her crying thing.
Today, my mom was watching Oprah and everytime my dad walked her into the room she'd crane her head toward the TV and cry.
Note: she's not allowed to actually watch TV.
The nana and big potato took her for a walk yesterday and everytime someone was walking toward her stroller she'd do her crying thing.
Today, my mom was watching Oprah and everytime my dad walked her into the room she'd crane her head toward the TV and cry.
Note: she's not allowed to actually watch TV.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Teeny people
Yesterday my cousin's little boy's (yes, that makes him my cousin) daycare was closed and he stayed with my mom. Animalia and I went over to visit. She was so interested in him. Everything he did, everytime he talked, she'd just stare and stare. She hardly chatted at all, just stared. And he was so helpful. She'd fuss and he'd go get one of her toys or her pacifier. He decided that she's a very cute baby.
Between the staring and her "stranger danger" sense, I wonder if she's not too sheltered. We have a huge family but she doesn't see everyone all the time. The only people she sees regularly are my parents and us-- me and Jimmy. She's fascinated by teeny people. Anytime she sees little kids she just stops doing whatever she's doing and stares. And anytime (lately) she's in the arms of an adult besides the four she knows she frowns, pauses, and then lets out a heartbreaking wail. I know she'll get over it but it's disconcerting sometimes, especially since there are so many people who are interested in her. As my aunt frequently says, "[Animalia] has brought so much joy to so many people." She can't keep bringing joy if she won't stop crying though. Poor baby.
Between the staring and her "stranger danger" sense, I wonder if she's not too sheltered. We have a huge family but she doesn't see everyone all the time. The only people she sees regularly are my parents and us-- me and Jimmy. She's fascinated by teeny people. Anytime she sees little kids she just stops doing whatever she's doing and stares. And anytime (lately) she's in the arms of an adult besides the four she knows she frowns, pauses, and then lets out a heartbreaking wail. I know she'll get over it but it's disconcerting sometimes, especially since there are so many people who are interested in her. As my aunt frequently says, "[Animalia] has brought so much joy to so many people." She can't keep bringing joy if she won't stop crying though. Poor baby.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Reassurance
I know I've written about the Animalia getting happy to see me during my lunch breaks but she's added a new thing to her excitement in the last few days. After she sees me and giggles and wiggles and stretches out her arms, after I have her in my arms, she touches both of my cheeks. It's almost as if she's checking to see that I'm really there.
Today, she's with her Da all day while I'm at work. She's driving him nuts and crying and crying. I don't think she's had a nap all day either. Can't wait to get home and get my face touched.
In other news:
We're getting the house ready for her first party. She's been to a few celebrations, but this one is all her own. It's in honor of her baptism. We're expecting 60 people or so. Exciting. Let's hope her new sense of stranger danger isn't completely overwhelmed.
Today, she's with her Da all day while I'm at work. She's driving him nuts and crying and crying. I don't think she's had a nap all day either. Can't wait to get home and get my face touched.
In other news:
We're getting the house ready for her first party. She's been to a few celebrations, but this one is all her own. It's in honor of her baptism. We're expecting 60 people or so. Exciting. Let's hope her new sense of stranger danger isn't completely overwhelmed.
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