Yesterday she told me that Sara is ready for 6 ounces. This morning she told me it would be a good idea to take Sara to the doctor just to check on the dry skin that seems to be getting worse and worse. She's with my child for more hours of the day than I am, she has a lot more experience at motherhood than I do, and I know she really loves Sara (not quite as much as I do), so I took her word on both counts. I took Sara to the doctor this afternoon to have her dry skin investigated, and he knew immediately upon seeing it that Sara has eczema. Prior to today's visit, the only knowledge I had of eczema was what little I learned from Julian, the little boy in "Big Daddy", when he tells the lady at the grocery store (the one whose genetically gifted bust region Adam Sandler comments on relentlessly) about his itchy arms and she helps relieve his itch with bags of frozen vegetables. Anyway, today I know a little more, including the fact that we should be able to take care of it relatively easily with some over-the-counter soaps and creams. If those don't work in a week or so, we may have to try soy formula, but we'll cross that bridge if we come to it. The doc said Sara's eczema may be a result of her current formula, it may be her body's response to allergy season, or it may just be her. She'll likely be able to control it pretty well and deal only with minor flare-ups from time to time. I'm so glad that our first non-well-baby-check-up-visit was only over dry skin and not a spiked fever or some other serious ailment requiring emergency intervention. It's just eczema ... we can handle that.
On another note, I'd like to ask you to keep my mom's friend, Sue (who has been a close family friend for many years and who helped throw my MN surprise shower last summer) in your prayers. She just became a grandma to a sweet baby girl, Bella. Little Bella was born with a cleft lip and is also fighting pneumonia. I can't imagine how scared Bella's parents and grandma must be; certainly this isn't the way they pictured the start of their life with their baby. Please pray for Bella's recovery ... now as she fights an illness and down the road as she faces surgery for the cleft. Pray for her mom, dad, grandma, and doctors, too! If someone reading this (Mom, Debbi, anyone else?) wants to offer Sue and Tara a cleft success story when the time is right, direct her to this blog and they'll be able to see how happy, healthy, and well-adjusted little Macey is after her surgery back in December!
Like I said above, all we've been dealt is a case of some skin in need of serious moisture; we can totally handle that.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thank God for Ms. Miriam
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Hanging Around & Loving It
As of Friday evening, our plans for the weekend included going to the grocery store and doing laundry (oh, book club for me and an oil change and hair cut for Steve also made it onto the to-do list). Not long ago, that combination of non-events (minus my social book club/breakfast outing) would've made me feel lame, but now I find myself welcoming plan-free weekends. After finishing our second full week-in-the-life, we all needed some serious R & R. I'm proud to say that we've figured out our routine and we've all adjusted quite well to functioning as a family with two full-time jobs and a baby in childcare, but by the end of the week I'm ready for hibernation.
When I dropped Sara off at school on Friday morning, Ms. Miriam told me that they just love having Sara around because she's such a happy baby. She may say that to all of the new moms who are clearly dragging by the end of a long week, but I choose to believe that she saved her kind words just for me. Interestingly, Ms. Miriam also said that they have figured out when Sara needs to be alone, and I told her that that has been a recent discovery of ours, too. Even when it's just the three of us at home, Sara is very clear about needing her personal space. She'll let us hold her for a bit, but then wants to sit in her swing or play on the floor without hands on her and people in her face. This part of her blooming personality reminds me so much of Steve, who sometimes just needs to relax in the peace and quiet of his own space. Sara is becoming her own person a little more each day, with bits and pieces of us manifesting themselves in the mix.
Recently Sara has started rubbing her eyes with her little fists when she gets tired. It's an adorable gesture, and also proof of her growing ability to communicate with us (even if she doesn't know it yet). In other exciting news, Sara is officially sleeping through the night! She's actually been doing so since I started back to work, but I didn't want to say anything too soon in case it was just a fluke. However, after two solid weeks of 9:30ish-6:00ish sleeping, I think it's safe to say we're over another hurdle. There have been a couple of mornings when I've had to work to wake Sara up at 6:00, and she's fought it a little. It's cute now, but I anticipate a few small battles down the road ...
Here are some recent pictures of Sara, who currently loves playing on the floor, watching cartoons, and drinking 'til the last drop at every meal, and who hates having her nails trimmed in the middle of an otherwise perfect afternoon of wriggling around on the floor (see picture #2).
Oh, yeah, and she loves to rock of a great pair of jeans. Monday, February 16, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Allison's Pictures, Part II
Here's the link to the rest of the pictures Allison took (the originals are first, and then the new ones). The blanket around Sara in the later pictures was woven by her very own Great-Grandma Lou!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34434546@N08/sets/72157613069280347/show/
A quick update: Work is great. I'm so glad to be back! Sara is doing wonderfully at daycare, although I'm quickly learning that when they ask for lots of extra clothes, they mean it. Sara has already been through three extra outfits and it's only been two days. Laundry night it is.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Back in the Saddle
Tomorrow I head back to work, and Sara will begin her "school" career at my district's employee childcare center. I'm feeling the following emotions simultaneously: Excitement. Nervousness. Sadness. I'm excited to have the career part of my life back. I'm nervous about establishing a routine that includes getting up VERY early and being places on time. I'm sad because the last eight weeks have been the best of my life, and I'm going to miss spending my days with my Sara-belle. While I am trying really hard not to be sad, I've talked to enough people to know that this week probably won't pass without a fair amount of tears. However, the silver lining is two-fold. For one thing, there is always a break around the corner in education; five weeks until spring break, and then eleven weeks until summer. And second, I truly value my job. I also love the fact that I can shut my office door, put my head on my desk, and have a private moment to wallow in I-can't-believe-I-left-my-kid-at-daycare-self-pity when necessary!
Thanks for your phone calls and e-mails offering words of encouragement as we learn the ropes of this next phase. The goal is a smooth transition for all of us. I'm excited to see Sara grow as she learns to interact socially with other people her age, and I'm confident that she will not achieve any major milestones during the daytime hours; she'll save them all for the evenings when we're together as a family in the comfort of our own home!
Now, who wants pictures?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Stats
Sara had her 2-month check up today, which included the usual once-over and five vaccinations in the form of three shots and some liquid given orally. She did really well until shot time (no surprise there), and then she screamed. A lot. After I had her comforted and calmed down, she let out a few more single screams here and there, just for effect, as we made our way out of the doctor's office. The doctor said she'd probably be fussy for the rest of today, and perhaps run a fever. No fever yet, but plenty of fuss. Sara just ate, and now she's in her crib for a nap. So far, no napping, just screaming.
As of 2/4/09 (just one week shy of two months old), Sara weighs 11 pounds and measures 22 inches from head to toe. Doc said she's growing and developing according to schedule!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Shaken, not Stirred
My parents and sister got me this book, a handful of these, and this scarf (handmade by my talented mom): 
I read recently that 2009 is the year of the scarf. I guess this makes me trendy. I'm so now (name that movie)!
