Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Debbie Downer

Some days, I miss Lydia after she goes to bed. I want to snuggle her and play with her a little more. I didn't get to see her practice her scooting, or laugh, or shake her head back and forth while making different sounds (her current favorite thing). I would never, ever keep her up later than we should, and I relish the time with Robin, but tonight was a night when two hours was just not enough time with my little girl.

Baby in the Corner?

I was hoping to get the starting point marker in this photo, but it was just below where the picture cuts off. Lydia has mastered the backwards and turning scoot, and it has all of a sudden become intentional, but her lack of ability to move forward means she wedges herself into some weird spots and then turns to get out of them.

Cue Dirty Dancing references here... Lydia, didn't we tell you that nobody puts baby in the corner?


-- Post From My iPhone

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Pacifist?


Stanley is trying to calm himself.

Teef--the Photo Edition


There's not one, but two poking through, and capturing them on film might have been a miracle. You have to look very carefully, but you can definitely feel them with your finger and see them in person.

Lydia and Her Pumpkin






Carnivore?

She started with hot dogs,
and then moved on to bigger and better things--the t-bone steak,

until she realized it was all a farce and they were both made out of wood.

Mobility is Coming!!

She started on the blanket.


-- Post From My iPhone

A Privilege

I have been meaning to write about one of my favorite blogs for awhile, but I have trouble actually admitting that I follow blogs. It's one of those things that just seems so dorky, but I am hooked. In the case of www.thespohrsaremultiplying.com, though, I know it is not just me that has been hooked by this heartbreaking story of an absolutely mesmerizing little girl.

I found it through Matt Logelin's blog, which I saw on Oprah, when he announced with great sadness the death of Maddie Spohr, a 17 month old who died from a serious respiratory infection due to complications from lung disease caused by prematurity. The thought of a child's death is always sad, but it is particularly stomach-churning once you have your own child. Maddie died suddenly after what seemed like a very triumphant birth and life overcoming lots and lots of odds.

Heather Spohr, Maddie's mother, has continued their blog, which has literally thousands of readers. Hundreds and hundreds of people who had never met the Spohrs in person came to Maddie's funeral because they knew about it through her blog. They were the top family team for the March of Dimes walk, and there were Friends of Maddie teams across the country. I probably start crying while reading two out of every three entries she posts. Her writing is heartwrenching and difficult to read at times, but I read for three reasons. 1.) You can't help but fall in love with Maddie and Heather and her husband, Mike, 2.) I believe that reading Heather's reflection on parenting and Maddie have made me a better mom, and 3.) I know that if something were to happen to Lydia, I would want everyone that never had the chance to meet her to "know" her, and I want to do this for a mom that has lost her daughter.

Heather's blog has become particularly relevant to me during these past two days, because yesterday while perusing Facebook, I learned that a person I went to high school with lost one of his twin daughters this summer when she was a few months old. The obituary that I found online said she died suddenly, and it read "She thrived, she lived, she was our little blossom." I haven't really stayed in touch with this person other than a few facebook messages when we "friended" each other, right after his girls were born and around the time Lydia was born, but I remember him fondly as a kind, genuine person. I have been thinking about him and his family non-stop since I found out about their tragedy. These moments make me stop and realize that when things are rough, the privilege to watch Lydia grow and thrive, to deal with the everyday joys and battles of parenting is something so many people crave and can't have.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Where I'm At


This may have been intended for a First Year Teacher, but I think it applies to all of us. Please note the October phase, and know that this is EXACTLY where I, along with many of my colleagues, am at. And yes, I am blogging from work. Sue me. I'm trying to avoid grading.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Teef!


It's not quite official, but I'm fairly confident that Lydia's first tooth has begun to cut through. It's her bottom left front tooth, and I'm resting a little more easily knowing that she actually does have teeth. I was worried she would remain toothless forever. This also explains why she's been a touch more quick to start crying these past few days.

Lydia also would like to thank her Aunt Judy for the bibs and the rubber ducky (I'm actually very excited about the rubber ducky, because it has a temperature sensor on the bottom that turns white if the water is too hot), and I am SUPER excited for the fleece blanket that was in the box! Robin's trusty Minnesota Gophers blanket has just about seen it's last day, so we were due for a new one, and this one is super cozy!

One final development: Lydia has realized that rolling over gets her from one place to another. On several occasions since Saturday, she has rolled all the way across the bed, once grabbing a toy on one end and rolling all the way back to the other with it still in hand!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Spooktacular!!

Lydia is getting ready for Halloween!!














-- Post From My iPhone

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Famdamily

My parents are in town, so in my effort to spend time with them, I haven't written much. We're also hitting that point when there isn't quite as much to report... Lydia hasn't done any new tricks, though she is loving the new sounds she can make with her voice. I'll try to get a video soon.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Closing Time

I have not said anything about this on the blog, but about three weeks ago we received an offer on the "other side" of our house, and today we closed! So much about these duplexes has not gone according to plan that I was hesitant to put anything in writing, lest it go awry. To be honest, I haven't allowed myself to get excited until the moment we walked out of the closing itself. Today we signed all of the papers and the house is sold!!! Hooray!!!

A huge thank you to all of the people who have been so supportive to us during the very trying past months. Only now have I let myself really admit just how difficult the whole process has been. It's over now, and we're so glad!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Fashionista

While our family and friends in the Midwest are experiencing their first taste of winter, we are enjoying a little taste of fall. For the past three days, highs have been in the sixties and it has been overcast and rainy.

As the cooler weather approached, we realized that Lydia has very few articles of long-sleeved clothing. We are going to Chicago in November for a friend's wedding, so we knew we would be purchasing some warmer things for her, but yesterday I decided there was no time like the present. Lydia is now outfitted with pants, long-sleeved onesies, a few long-sleeved shirts, and a couple of long-sleeved dresses (with leggings) that I just couldn't resist. Because so many people have been so generous with giving Lydia clothing, this was the first mother-daughter shopping trip we have embarked upon, and I have to say, I had a lot of fun. A highlight included walking down the sidewalk downtown with Lydia in the Maya wrap. A woman in a car honked at me and flashed the peace sign, and for a moment, I felt like a true hippie mama. Then I realized that were this woman to know that I was indulging in some consumerist bliss and headed to a baby boutique, she might not have had the same sentiment.

One of my favorite things to do when taking Lydia shopping is to allow her to "pick" what we buy. I narrow down the choices to two and will hold both in front of her. Lydia will look between the two and usually reach out for one. I fully realize that she doesn't "get" the little game, but it is fun for me! P.S., she always chooses the cutest choice!

Photos to come of Lydia in her stylin' new duds. (Judy, you will happy to know that many of the articles of clothing include the color pink and two of the pairs of pants even have ruffles on the butt.)

Thursday, October 8, 2009

U Can't Touch This - Lanier Teacher Dance - Homecoming Pep Rally

As teachers, we do many things for our students, and sometimes that includes making complete fools of ourselves for the sake of student enjoyment--even doing the sprinkler, the running man, and a fancy little step known as "bullets." I'm #43 if you're wondering.

Lydia the Chatterbox

Lydia recently added consonants to her vocal repertoire. Since this video was taken on Tuesday, she has started making a few more sounds ("m"s, "y"s, "bl"s, "b"s, "d"s, etc.) and today she became obsessed with blowing raspberries.

Here's the chatterbox at work!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Wearing the Baby



Awhile ago, Lydia decided she didn't like being carried tummy-to-tummy in the Maya Wrap. I was really disappointed, because they are not cheap and I love "wearing" her. A few weeks ago, I decided to try a different carrying style and turns out, Lydia loves the Kangaroo Carry! Today I took her to run some errands while Robin did some work on the house. I brought along the Maya Wrap, and it was fantastic. She tends to be very calm when we are wearing her, and she is pushing the weight limits on the Baby Bjorn. When we do the Kangaroo Carry, she can see everything, and I still have the use of my hands. Gotta love that Maya Wrap! (Thanks again, Jenni!)

On a side note, huuuuuge congratulations to our friend Clark, who not only finished his second marathon today (the Twin Cities), but cut nearly 20 minutes off his time from his last race. We're amazed!

**I know these photos are not the best, but I had nobody to take one for me. I also know that most of you come to the blog to see pictures of Lydia, not me, but the one on the right is one of the few pictures of me from the past few months that I actually like.

Technical Difficulties

Our desktop computer has seen better days, and until we repair it, it is difficult to upload photos from our camera or video camera. Until then, iphone photos will have to do. Sorry!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Go Gophers!!










-- Post From My iPhone