Observations

Carrots, the vegetable-beef concoction ... and the rest of the orange foods: they stain. All of them. And I wash only using the simplest methods: dump in clothes, dump in soap, close the lid and walk away. That means Sara has recently sported a number of outfits with an orange tint around the collar, and it doesn't bother me a bit.

Denim shorts for babies are impractical on every level. But they are so incredibly cute, and when I spotted these on the clearance rack at Old Navy, I took them directly to the register.

Babies don't need toys. Mine goes nuts over a piece of paper. And since I also happen to have a Tupperware cupboard and pots & pans, I should be set for a while.

Teething is painful for all involved parties. As my sister said, at least Sara won't remember her current state of pain (although Steve and I will have many memories of it to share with her someday).

One of the best things about being a mom is that even though Sara is fussy and feverish and a little difficult to please right now thanks to the very swollen bottom gums in her little mouth, she still looks at me like this when I say her name.